Art Aronson

6* Hurricanes (SPECIAL)

It's the final game before the All Star break for both teams. I expect the Kings to just "go through the motions" here though, while I believe that Carolina truly wants to finish off the first half with one last victory, after steamrolling its way to the No. 1 spot in the Metropolitan, overtaking the idle Devils over the last two weeks. Carolina has won five straight and everything points to it keeping the foot on the gas one more night. LA's five-game road trip started well with three straight wins, but it fell 5-2 at Tampa most recently. A loss tonight, and it's still a successful overall trip. Look for Carolina to go up early and keep the pedal to the metal until the final horn blares; lay the price with confidence, the play is Carolina! 

AAA Sports

10* UNDER Northwestern/Iowa (BIG TEN TOY)

Both teams have been playing to several higher-scoring games of late, but I'm expecting a much more defensive affair this evening. Both teams have done decently to this point. Northwestern is 15-5, while Iowa is 13-8. The Wildcats enter on a three-game win skein. Most recently they beat Minnesota by a score of 81-61. I'm expecting a similar final combined score here as well, as Northwestern only averages 69.8 PPG, but makes up for it on the defensive end, holding opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 46.8 percent, ranked 45th. So expect the visitors to slow this one down at all costs. Iowa averages 81.3 PPG, but it's been trading high-scoring "overs" with low-scoring "unders" over its last six games, and off a 93-82 home win over Rutgers last time out, all signs point to this pattern continuing. Expect a more methodical pace here; the play is indeed on the "under!" 

AAA Sports

10* Heat (ASSASSIN)

While I do think an outright win is possible, in the end I'll recommend to grab as many points as you can. Miami's three-game win streak just came to an end in a 122-117 loss at Charlotte, but that's important for us to note here as Miami 7-3 ATS in its last ten after a SU/ATS loss as a favorite. It plays with revenge here as well after falling l13-87 at home to Cleveland as a seven-point dog at the start of the season. That's also signficant to note here, as the Heat are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 in trying to avenge a SU/ATS loss in which they were held to 95 or fewer points in against an opponent. Cleveland has been trading ATS wins/losses over its last seven games, and off a 122-99 home win over the Clippers as an 11-point fav, I expect this pattern to continue here. In what I expect to be a very competitive affair, I'm grabbing the points; the play is Miami!

AAA Sports