Daily Three 2/3

 Hello,

Yesterday, we went 2-1 with a rough OT loss in Buffalo. We dug deep in college, and we were rewarded for our work. Tonight, we will go into NHL, NCAAB, and NBA to get our three picks

NHL
Columbus Blue Jackets +140 (10 units wagered, 14 units won) at Pittsburgh Penguins

Tonight, we got a good battle between the NHL's best division's second and third best teams. In what order, we are not sure about yet. What we do know is that this will most likely be a preview of a first round matchup in April. I must say it is rather unfortunate that the NHL has created this playoff format. Essentially, each division has their own playoffs. So, teams in stronger divisions, like the Metropolitan get a tough draw, while the teams in weaker divisions, like the Pacific, get a way easier path to their conference final. If the format was simply division champions get the top two slots, and then after that it is best record, the Penguins and Blue Jackets would get easier matchups. At the time the playoff format was announced, I understood the reasoning behind it. After banking on many years of legendary Ovechkin-Crosby playoff matchups, the league only got one in the duo's first ten years in the league. Looking to build fierce regional rivalries, the league created the format to get classic matchups like in the good ole' Patrick Division days. However, the format has punished stronger divisions for being good, and the league should just revert to old form of seeding. Anyway, the Blue Jackets dominated the Penguins 7-1 in their only previous meeting this season. Along with the previous result, the Penguins will also be without star, Evgeni Malkin, Connor Sheary, and Matt Cullen tonight. That is a lot of firepower the Pens will have to make up for. The Pens are good on home ice but not invincible. The slumping St. Louis Blues shutout the Pens in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago with Carter Hutton in goal. Carter Hutton!!! I like the value we are getting with one of the best teams in the league this year against a team that is missing key pieces tonight. Go with Columbus tonight.

NCAAB
Western Michigan Broncos +3 (units wagered 10, units won 9) at Central Michigan Chippewas

 Logic defies this pick. Central Michigan has the highest scorer in the country in 5'9'' guard, Marcus Keene, and are rated slightly higher in the Kenpom than Western Michigan. However, the spread opened up at -4.5 in favor of CMU and has now moved all the way down to -3 in favor of CMU. Not only that, but the the line has moved so drastically despite the fact that 85% of spread bets are on the Chippewas. This is the same exact situation that we were put in with the Ohio Bobcats on Tuesday against this same Western Michigan team. There is some sort of voodoo surrounding this team, and I am going to follow them the rest of the year to try and figure it out. I'm going with the sharp money here and taking the Broncos in their directional battle.

NBA
Memphis Grizzlies pick em' (10 units wagered 9 units won) at Oklahoma City Thunder

 Many people will fall for the Russell Westbrook effect when betting on the Thunder. Yes, Russ is a freak and is probably the most athletic man in the NBA (I guess Lebron could make a nice argument against that claim). Yes, Russ is nearly averaging a triple-double a game as well but look who he has around him on his roster. His other starting 4 are Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo, Andre Roberson, and Domantas Sabonis (who was one of my favorite players in college last season at Gonzaga. I really hope he turns into something special at this level). That is not very inspiring stuff against legit NBA rosters, like that of the Memphis Grizzlies. The guy going head-to-head with Westbrook will be Mike Conley. Many people scoffed when Conley became the highest-paid player in the league this past offseason. Although he is not the best player in the league, it is worth noting that he is quietly having a wonderful season and has the Memphis Grizzlies rolling. The Grizz have won three straight games and are starting to challenge for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Thunder are starting to fade, having lost three straight games and struggling to be competitive against quality opponents. I am going with fire over ice in this one and taking the Grizz to come out victorious in OKC.

Yesterday: 2-1
Overall: 49-31-4 (+170 units)
February: 5-1 (+44 units)