Rickenbach Friday NHL 10* Top Play San Jose Sharks Money Line (-) @ New Jersey Devils @ 7:05 ET - Not only are the Devils off of a huge come from behind win at Ottawa last night, they are also expected to be without their #1 goalie Cory Schneider for this one.  In addition to this being a back to back, Schneider has a lower-body injury. Back-up netminder Keith Kincaid is off of a strong start in his first appearance this season. However, he is the #2 guy for a reason and he gave up 4 goals when he faced the Sharks last season. In fact, San Jose won both match-ups with New Jersey last season and dominated to the tune of an 8-2 combined scored. Although New Jersey has won 6 of 7 this season and the Sharks have won just 2 of 5, the Devils have 22 less shots on goal than their opponents while San Jose has outshot the opposition by 15 shots on goal so far this season. Martin Jones saved 47 of 48 shots in the two games versus New Jersey last season and the Sharks, off of a 5-2 home win versus Montreal, have been targeting this 5-game East Coast road swing as an opportunity to jump start their season! Look for them to do just that here as they are catching the Devils at the perfect time to dominate them. New Jersey has lost 21 of 34 when they scored 4 or more goals in their prior game. The Devils also have lost 20 of their last 24 Friday games! The Sharks have won 45 of their last 74 versus the Eastern Conference and dominate again here. 10* SAN JOSE SHARKS

Rickenbach Friday NHL 8* OVER the total in Florida Panthers vs Pittsburgh Penguins @ 7:35 ET - Big total here but absolutely justified as the Panthers are 5-0 to the over this season and the Penguins are 5-2 to the over. 4 of the Panthers 5 overs have totaled at least 7 goals. 4 of the Penguins 5 overs have totaled at least 9 goals and the other one totaled 7 goals. That said, this total being at a 6 is truly not a mistake. Pittsburgh is known for tremendous "over streaks" when they get hot like this and they've scored 4 goals or more in 4 of their last 5 games. The over is 52-34 when the Pens enter off of a game where they scored 4 goals or more. Florida is 23-14 to the over when off of a game where they lost by 2 goals or more. Also, the Panthers are 16-8 to the over when they enter a game with 2 days of rest. 8* OVER the total in Florida 

Rickenbach Friday NHL 8* Vancouver Canucks Money Line (+) @ Buffalo Sabres @ 7:05 ET - The Canucks are in a back to back spot here but they'll be fired up after their 6-3 loss at Boston last night. Let's not forget that Vancouver won their prior game 3-0 at Ottawa. Let's also not forget that Buffalo is priced at -160 here even though they've lost 6 of their 7 games this season. The Sabres are happy to be back at home but oftentimes the first game back home does not go well for an East Coast team after a West Coast road trip. Buffalo just finished up 4 games in 6 days all in the Pacific Time Zone. The Canucks have only won 2 games this season but the Sabres, simply put, are way over-priced here. Vancouver won both match-ups with Buffalo last season and the Sabres do have a divisional game on deck at Boston tomorrow. Buffalo is still adjusting to new coach Phil Housley and their goaltending has been the worst in the league so far this season. More of the same here. Give me the generous price with the angry underdog! Sabres have lost 9 of 12 when they enter a game having played each of their 3 prior games on the road. 8* VANCOUVER

Game of the Week Friday - Rickenbach MLB 10* Top Play New York Yankees Money Line (+) @ Houston Astros @ 8 ET - Even though Justin Verlander dominated the Yankees in Game 2, Dallas Keuchel dominated the Yanks in Game 1 and then look at what happened in Game 5 on Wednesday! The big key here is not just that hitters are getting a second look at pitchers but also how well they're swinging the bats! Keep in mind, the Astros have scored a total of just 9 runs in the 5 games of this series. That's an average of just 1.8 runs per game. Conversely, the Yankees bats have come to life and they've scored 19 runs in the last 3 games! That's an average of 6.3 runs per game. Just like the Yanks got to Keuchel the second time they saw him, look for the same to hold true here as they get another look at Verlander. As for Luis Severino, he was pulled early in his start at Houston in Game 2 even though he had allowed just 1 earned run. It was precautionary that he was lifted after just 4 innings and Severino insists he is healthy. Remember that in the series versus Cleveland he allowed just 4 hits in 7 innings while striking out 9 in a game that was an elimination game for the Yanks. They were down 2-1 and a loss would have knocked them out of the playoffs. That was a huge stepping stone for the young right-hander and now I am predicting that he steps up and sends the Yankees to the World Series by notching a huge road win here. The Yanks are 15-3 in his last 18 starts! I know it may seem tough to fade Verlander here but remember that New York has the much hotter sticks and remember what they did to southpaw ace Keuchel when they faced him a 2nd time in this series! 10* YANKEES

Top Play Annihilation Friday - Rickenbach NBA 10* Top Play Minnesota Timberwolves (-) vs Utah Jazz @ 8:05 ET - The Timberwolves actually led the Spurs with 5 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. They also were down just 1 point with 4 minutes to go when they missed a 3-pointer that would have given them a 2 point lead. Anyway calling San Antonio an "easy win" Wednesday didn't watch the game very closely as it certainly could have gone either way in the final minutes. In any event, this Minnesota team is well coached and also has added a ton of talent. They've got much more of a veteran presence than the young teams they've had in recent seasons. The result is likely to be a solid season and while they're moving up the Jazz are on their way down. Yes Utah won 51 games last season but they also had Gordon Hayward. You're already seeing what is happening to Boston after they acquired Hayward but he got hurt just 6 minutes into the season opener. The Celtics have seen that no Hayward has left quite a hole. Certainly Utah will be a different team without him. The Jazz did win their home opener but that was against a Denver team projected to be dead last in the division this season. Now Utah is on the road and they've gone 18-50 SU and have covered just 28 of 68 ATS when they are an underdog. That said, I am very comfortable laying the small number with the Timberwolves in their home opener. Minny is on a 45-31 ATS run in games against teams with a winning record and the Wolves are looking for payback here as they've lost 3 of 4 to the Jazz each of the last two seasons. Utah has a home game with OKC tomorrow and they'll be looking ahead to that match-up as they get down by double digits in this one in my opinion. 10* MINNESOTA

2-0 SWEEP with star rated football picks Thursday, Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach is ready to do it AGAIN Friday! Be sure to check out ALL of his star rated picks in ALL sports for another HUGE Friday to get you locked and loaded for a MASSIVE weekend! Though he lost his NBA Total yesterday he is a PERFECT 2-0 with his premium NBA sides this season. Rickenbach's NBA Free Pick Friday: Philadelphia 76'ers (-) vs Boston Celtics @ 7:05 ET - While it may be tempting to back Boston here since they are 0-2 on the season and the Sixers have averaged just 19 wins per season the last 4 years, the fact is that Philadelphia is in a great spot here. Philly is much improved this season and they are hungry for their home opener and, even in recent bad seasons, they are known for giving huge efforts in their home games. The 76'ers did lose their season opener at Washington but they did hang on for the cover. Now they catch the Celtics playing their 3rd game in 4 nights and still trying to get over the devastation of the Gordon Hayward injury. Boston is on a 12-20 ATS run in divisional games. The Sixers are a surprising 5-1 SU and 4-1-1 ATS the 6 times they have been a favorite the past two seasons. In this case, being a small fave versus the wounded Celtics is absolutely justified. Also, the 76'ers are on a 46-30 ATS run in games against teams with a losing record and a 10-5 ATS run after scoring 115 points or more in their prior game. A lot of young talent on this Sixers team and, as long as they stay healthy, this team is going to make big strides this season. Free Pick on PHILADELPHIA in Friday EARLY evening action.

Divisional Dominator Friday - Rickenbach CFL 8* Saskatchewan Roughriders (+) @ Calgary Stampeders @ 9 ET - The Roughriders held the Stampeders (best team in CFL) to just 5 field goals in their 15-9 home loss 4 weeks ago. Saskatchewan QB Kevin Glenn got hurt in that game but he's back now and coming off of a huge game last week (threw for nearly 400 yards) in the one point home loss to Ottawa. This game is very important for the Roughriders as they try to inch closer to securing a playoff spot. Though Calgary still has incentive too (locking up top spot in the league), this is a lot of points considering how well the Saskatchewan defense played against the Stampeders in their most recent meeting. Calgary is overpriced here simply because they've had such a great season (including at the betting window). The result is exceptional line value here. 8* SASKATCHEWAN

ESPN Smash Pass Friday - Rickenbach CFB 8* Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (+) vs Marshall Thundering Herd @ 7 ET - Blue Raiders starting QB Brent Stockstill is doubtful for tonight's game but sophomore QB John Urzua now has filled in quite well and this would be his 6th straight game. The key for Urzua is minimizing turnovers and he has been much better about that on the home compared to on the road. Look for another big game from him here at home where he has 3 TDs against just 1 INT plus Urzua has completed 49 of 63 (78%) at home! Overall he has thrown for 292 yards per game in his last 4 games and I like the fact that the Middle Tennessee has played a tougher schedule thus far in comparison with Marshall. Though the Thundering Herd are 2-0 in conference action they've faced Old Dominion and Charlotte - teams that are a combined 2-11 on the season! The teams that MTSU has faced are a combined 6-2 in conference action and none of the 3 teams has a losing record. Also, the Blue Raiders won their lone home game in CUSA action thus far and they won it by 20 points! Middle Tennessee plays this game with revenge after losing badly at Marshall last season due to a 4-0 turnover deficit! The host is a perfect 4-0 ATS all time in this series and I look for the Blue Raiders to make that 5-0 tonight! 8* MIDDLE TENNESSEE 

2-0 SWEEP with star rated football picks Thursday, Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach is ready to do it AGAIN Friday! Be sure to check out ALL of his star rated picks in ALL sports for another HUGE Friday to get you locked and loaded for a MASSIVE weekend! Rickenbach's CFB Free Pick Friday: OVER the total in Old Dominion Monarchs vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers @ 6 ET - The last 3 meetings between these teams have averaged a total of 95 points per game! The weather will be perfect in Norfolk, VA this evening. A pleasant fall evening with light winds and comfortable temperatures. Western Kentucky's plan last week was to get the ball downfield more and it certainly worked with QB Mike White throwing for 5 touchdowns and 398 passing yards. Overall, the Hilltoppers set a season high with 627 yards of offense. That doesn't bode well for an Old Dominion defense that has allowed 530.5 yards per game in their last two home games. The Monarchs are allowing an average of 46 points per game their last 4 games. The Old Dominion offense has certainly struggled at times this season but they have been much better at home where they're averaging 27.3 points per game. The over is 8-2 when the Monarchs enter a game off of two or more consecutive SU losses. The over is 12-3 when Western Kentucky enters a game off of two or more consecutive SU wins. Free Pick on OVER the total in Old Dominion EARLY Friday evening.

Daytime Dominator - Rickenbach CFB Game #371 Saturday 8* OVER the total in Navy Midshipmen vs Central Florida Golden Knights @ 3:30 ET - The Golden Knights should be able to score at will here. UCF is averaging 50.6 points per game and Navy just doesn't have the defense to match-up with the athleticism of Central Florida's dynamic offense. One thing the Midshipmen do have going for them here is the fact that their triple option attack on offense will present a nightmare challenge for a Golden Knights defense that is not used to seeing it. UCF has allowed 300 rushing yards on 63 carries the past two weeks but the challenge for their run defense is even greater than that here. Yes, Navy only scored 27 points last week but that had a lot to do with having 5 turnovers in the game. Look for the Midshipmen offense to be executing much better at home in this one. Remember Navy has averaged 45 points and 520 rushing yards per game in their last two home games. Both those home games went over and this one will too. The Midshipmen are on an 11-5 run to the over in home games and the weather will be ideal today in Annapolis, MD. Central Florida is on a 20-11 run to the over in games where they are a road favorite. 8* OVER the total in Navy

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach CFB Game #398 Saturday 8* Florida State Seminoles (-) vs Louisville Cardinals @ Noon ET - Both teams are having tough seasons but Florida State has played the toughest schedule in the nation this year. The Cardinals defense has been awful this season. Taking a look at their last 5 games Louisville, of course, had an easy time with over-matched opponents like Kent State and Murray State. But, in their other 3 games, the Cards allowed an average of 562.7 yards per game! Compare that to a Seminoles defense that has had no cupcakes and yet is allowing only 330.6 yards per game on the season. FSU also has revenge from last season's embarrassing 63-20 loss at Louisville. The Noles get payback today and the drop in this line has opened up solid line value for us. I'll take it! Also, Louisville is 0-5 ATS when they are an underdog in conference play and coming off of a game where they allowed 35 points or more. After losing 45-42 at home versus Boston College last week, that perfect angle is in play here. Overall, the Cardinals are on a 3-14 ATS run dating back to last season and, though the Seminoles have been struggling at the betting window, the strength of opposition they have faced has had a lot to do with that. Look for last week's win at Duke to be a sign of things to come for the Noles. 8* FLORIDA STATE