Today bettors have a plethora of sweats to choose from including 11 NBA games, 8 NHL games and a full College Basketball card. For an updated breakdown of Friday's betting action, be sure to tune in to the VSiN Market Insights Podcast with Josh Appelbaum. It will be posted by 2:30 p.m. ET.
I'll also be joining The Lombardi Line at 1:30 p.m. ET to offer a market update and then co-hosting Betting Across America with Mike Pritchard from 3 to 4 p.m. ET.
NHL favorites went 8-1 on Thursday night. Chalk continues to cash in hockey, as favorites improve to 396-218 (65%) on the season. A $100 bettor taking every favorite would be up roughly $2,500 this season.
With this in mind, let's discuss a few Friday NHL games that fit the model...
7 p.m. ET: New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes
The Rangers (26-10-4) have won three straight and are coming off a thrilling 6-3 come-from-behind win over the Maple Leafs, winning outright as 120 home dogs. Similarly, the Hurricanes (26-8-2) have won two straight and just dominated the Bruins 7-1, cashing as 115 road dogs. This line opened with Carolina listed as a -145 home favorite and New York a 130 road dog. Sharps have laid the chalk with the Hurricanes at home, driving Carolina up from -145 to -155. Home favorites with a line move in their favor are 157-71 (69%) this season. Favorites off a win are 219-111 (66%). Carolina enjoys a rest advantage, last playing on Tuesday while the Rangers last played on Wednesday. The Hurricanes are 21-6 as a favorite and 12-4-1 at home. Both teams are allowing roughly 2.35 GPG. The difference comes on offense, with the Rangers averaging 3 GPG and Carolina 3.5 GPG.
7 p.m. ET: Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets
Both of these teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Penguins (24-10-5) have won three straight and just fended off the Senators 6-4, taking care of business as massive -330 home favorites. Similarly, the Blue Jackets (18-18-1) just took down the Flyers 2-1, cashing as 105 road dogs. This line opened with Pittsburgh listed as a -175 road favorite and Columbus a 155 home dog. Respected money is backing the Penguins, pushing Pittsburgh up from -175 to -185. Road favorites -175 or more are 40-9 (82%) this season. Pittsburgh is 17-9 as a favorite and 13-5-3 on the road. Columbus is 11-18 as a dog and 11-6-1 at home. Both teams are scoring roughly 3.25 GPG. The difference comes on defense. Pittsburgh is allowing 2.6 GPG compared to Columbus 3.6 GPG.
10 p.m. ET: Tampa Bay Lightning at Anaheim Ducks
The Lightning (27-9-5) have won four straight and just beat the Kings 6-4, cashing as -220 road favorites. On the flip side, the Ducks (19-16-7) have dropped four straight and just fell to the Avalanche 2-0, losing as 230 home dogs. This line opened with Tampa Bay listed as a -210 road favorite and Anaheim a 190 home dog. Sharps aren't outsmarting themselves on this one. They're laying the big price with the superior team who is playing better as of late, steaming the Lightning up from -210 to -225. Road favorites -200 or more are 27-3 (90%) this season. Tampa Bay enjoys a rest advantage, having last played on Tuesday compared to Anaheim last playing on Wednesday. The Lightning are 24-10 as a favorite and 13-5-2 on the road. The Ducks are 10-19 as a dog. Both of these teams are giving up roughly 2.9 GPG. The difference comes on offense, where Tampa Bay is averaging 3.5 GPG compared to Anaheim's 2.8 GPG.