Ray Monohan Sports Picks

UNDER 6.5

Nashville has been keeping opponents to just 2.57 goals per game on home ice, and that's a big reason I'm grabbing the UNDER 6.5 tonight. Washington is playing its second game in two nights after beating Philadelphia 5-2, so don't expect fresh legs from the Capitals. Nashville averages fewer than 3 goals per game, and its penalty kill ranks fourth in the NHL at 88%. These teams have also stayed UNDER in eight straight meetings, including five consecutive games in Nashville. Recent scoring trends aren't pretty, but this number gives us some breathing room. Locking this in early. Ray’s daily FREE plays are meant to be smaller bankroll plays. Money management is everything in this game, and these freebies are designed to keep you moving in the right direction. Today's FREE selection is a strong lean on the UNDER 6.5. The number makes sense, the spot is right, and it’s a play worth taking. You know what to do. Good luck — Razor Ray.

Thursday FREE NHL O/U Play

The current run has been strong. A BIG Card is going up for this weekend, and Ray’s DISCOUNTED Day Pass gets you full access. Razor is a top-ranked handicapper across every network where his plays are sold, and he’s continuing to climb the leaderboards. As always… “Pad that bankroll one day at a time.”

Pelicans -5.5

Sacramento has been a defensive disaster to open the season, and I'm not passing up the chance to attack that mess with New Orleans laying just 5.5. The Kings are allowing nearly 126 PPG, rank dead last in net rating, and have lost all four games by at least 8 points. That's not exactly a team knocking on the door. The Pelicans have also started 0-4, but three losses came by 6 points or fewer. There's a big difference between competing and getting run out of the gym. New Orleans leads the NBA in paint scoring, and Zion Williamson gets a Sacramento frontcourt missing Murray, Raynaud and Cardwell. The Kings are also shooting just 30% from 3, making their defensive shortcomings even tougher to overcome. Yes, the Pelicans are on a back-to-back, but Sacramento hasn't shown it can stop anybody. I'll trust Zion and company to exploit those weaknesses. Lay the 5.5.

Thursday 4* NBA ATS Play

Panthers +4

Carolina's 43-13 embarrassment against Tampa Bay has bettors lining up to lay points with Green Bay. I'm taking the other side. Wish I locked in +4.5, I'm 2* play OK with +4. The Panthers have covered 13 straight games following a straight-up loss, while the Packers are 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 after a defeat. More importantly, Green Bay's ground game averages just 3 yards per carry, hardly the offense you'd trust to punish Carolina's lousy run defense. Josh Jacobs managed only 36 yards against Detroit. That puts pressure on Jordan Love to carry the attack behind a reshuffled offensive line against a Carolina pass rush ranked eighth in win rate. The Panthers also own the better scoring average, third-down conversion rate and red-zone TD efficiency. Green Bay converts just 46% of its red-zone trips into TD's, and that matters when laying more than a FG. Carolina doesn't need perfection here. It needs to compete for four quarters. Grab the points with the Panthers.

Thursday 2* NFL ATS Play

James Madison -21

Troy has scored just 20 points in its last two games, and now that sputtering offense has to deal with a James Madison defense allowing only 18 PPG. That's a rough assignment for a team that's 0-3 on the road. Troy managed 200 total yards against UL Monroe, including a miserable 47 passing yards, and its QB situation remains shaky. The Dukes have a much different problem: finding enough room on the scoreboard. They're averaging 41 PPG behind QB Camden Coleman and a rushing attack producing 207 YPG. George Pettaway has eight rushing TD's, and Troy's defense isn't built to handle that balance for four quarters. JMU is 6-2 ATS, unbeaten at home, and coming off an overtime loss to App State. I expect a sharp response, not a team feeling sorry for itself. Troy ranks near the bottom nationally in second-half scoring, which matters when laying three TD's. Locking this in early. Lay the 21 with James Madison.

Thursday 3* NCAAF ATS Play