Scott Rickenbach Handicapper, Premium and Free Picks

CBB Monday 10* Top Play Texas Tech Red Raiders +1.5 vs Iowa State Cyclones @ 9 ET - I have been betting for 3 decades already. I have been a handicapper releasing plays to the public for 2 decades already. Possibly another decade to go with the handicapping and, as for sports betting, that will likely be a part of my life until I am laid to rest. Why the long intro? What is this all about? Well, I have always been a contrarian and will always be a contrarian as long as I am betting. Of course you can't be contrarian on every single game but the point is there are match-ups where it pays to scratch your head a bit and say "Wait, what is going on here?" and this is one of those. Now, of course, nothing is 100% in anything but being contrarian in the right spots pays off more than not long-term. This is one of those spots in my opinion. Just look at this match-up once! Iowa State is ranked #12 in the country and blasted the Red Raiders by 34 points in their meeting earlier this season and the Cyclones are 15-5 this season. They are basically a PICK'EM yes indeed a PICK'EM here against a Texas Tech team that is 0-8 in Big 12 games this season! So the odds makers must have really messed up here, eh? Of course not! This game is priced this way for a reason and I sense the Red Raiders will come up huge on their home floor and get a much-needed conference win! Texas Tech is off a non-conference win and Cyclones are off a loss so many will look at that and point to a play on ISU here. But note Iowa State has been struggling on the road recently and this Red Raiders team is VERY hungry to get that first conference win. Don't let the line lead you astray here, the home team is the bet! 10* TEXAS TECH +1.5

NBA Monday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -9.5 vs Orlando Magic @ 7 ET - Normally I do not lay big points in the NBA but this is not a normal situation. The 76ers already beat the Magic twice in Orlando. The average margin of those two victories was 19 points and again this was at Orlando! But that is not all. The Sixers were without Embiid, Harden, and Maxey in those 3 games! Those are 3 key players and most likely all 3 will be on the floor here. The only one who might miss is Embiid as he is questionable again with his foot issue. But again, I just do not think he will be rested in a spot like this where no back to back is involved. Also, the Sixers will have Harden and Maxey and those two guys missed the first two games and those games were still big wins and those were both at Orlando. Note that Philly has won 20 of 24 games. The Magic have lost 10 of 16 games and the average margin of defeat is 14.2 points in those 10 losses. Another blowout defeat for Orlando here as the Sixers roll continues! 10* PHILADELPHIA -9.5

NHL Monday 10* Top Play Winnipeg Jets Puck Line -1.5 goals +130 vs St Louis Blues @ 8 ET - Blues have lost 4 straight games and 6 of last 8. St Louis allowed 4.5 goals per game in those 6 defeats. They are struggling on defense and in goal and all 6 of the losses by at least 2 goals! That is why I am comfortable laying the puck line here with the Jets at home. Look for a huge bounce back from Winnipeg who surely have the goalie edge here in addition to the home ice edge. Winnipeg already beat St Louis by a combined score of 9 to 2 in the first two meetings this season and another bloodbath is likely here. The Blues just can not get right. Even though the Jets are also off some recent losses, they have not lost 4 straight games all season. Also, prior to the 4-0 loss to the Flyers - a rare shutout loss for the Jets - Winnipeg had allowed average of just 2.3 goals per game last 9 games. They are the much better defensively and in goal in this match-up and they bounce back huge here in what is the final game for each club before the All Star break. Yes we must win this game by 2 or more goals to win our bet but we get plus money related to that PLUS 15 of the Jets last 19 victories have been by a multi-goal margin. 10* WINNIPEG -1.5 +130

English FA Cup, Fourth Round, Monday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 in Derby County vs West Ham United @ 2:45 ET - West Ham is the "big brother" in this match-up as they are in currently in the premier league. However, Derby has been on fire overall and also has the benefit of having this match on their home pitch as well. This should be a very entertaining affair as a result because Derby has been scoring a lot of goals but will also struggle to stop a West Ham club that is the more talented club and should find a way to prevail. This is why I am looking for a 2-1 type match here. West Ham is known for lower scoring matches but Derby is going to "force the issue" here on their home pitch. It has been a decade since these clubs have met but each of the last 5 meetings between these clubs have totaled at least 3 goals. That may not seem relevant but it does point to what happens when two teams with a talent disparity meet. The fact is that Derby has gone 19 straight matches without losing by the 90 minute mark in any of those matches. They are playing with a lot of confidence and that will have them on the attack here on their home pitch. Derby has scored an average of 2 goals per match during this 19-match streak! West Ham has scored at least 1 goal in 8 of last 11 matches and they averaged scoring 1.6 goals in those 8 matches. Derby will struggle to stop them but will be so aggressive on the attack that I would not be surprised to see a 2-2 type battle here but we should at least see this get to 2-1. 10* OVER 2.5 in Derby County

Romania Liga 1 Monday 10* Top Play OVER 2 in FC Voluntari vs CFR Cluj @ 1 ET - Voluntari is, essentially, a suburb of the city of Bucuresti which is where I am located currently. The weather here as of mid-day is beautiful sunshine. We still have snow on the ground here but the weather is improving for sure and the field should be just fine for this match-up this evening on the pitch in Voluntari. Considering the favorable weather and the way CFR Cluj has been scoring goals of late, I love the value we are getting here with this total at 2 goals. CFR Cluj has scored an average of 1.8 goals per match in last 16 matches in league action! That streak started way back in late August when they hammered this FC Voluntari 4-0 up in Cluj-Napoca. CFR Cluj has scored at least 1 goals in 15 of last 16 matches! FC Voluntari has scored at least 1 goal in 6 straight matches and has averaged 2 goals scored in last 2 home matches! CFR Cluj has had just 2 draws in 22 matches this season so the odds of a draw are not likely here so I am not expecting a 1-1 final but rather that this match finds its way to 2-1. Per the above, you can see why many factors favor at least 3 goals being scored in this one and I am happy to have the added insurance on our side that 2 goals is a push here. 10* OVER 2 in FC Voluntari