Bruce's Picks (9 Live)
After a brief pause against top-shelf Carolina, the Preds were back at it again Saturday in a 5-3 win over the Leafs. Different from the first month of the season, the Preds are now clearing the zone much better and resultant pressure on the O-zone has been much improved. The big guns have started to fire, too, with Filip Forsberg netting five times across the past five games. Of course the Rangers seem to play better on the road where the offense has displayed more life all season. Note Nashville scorelines have reached six goals or more in six of the last seven games, and Justus Annunen (3.73 GAA) is also in goal for the Preds as Juuse Saros gets a rest. Play Rangers-Preds Over
We've seen enough of the Ducks trying to step up in class, at the Players Era last month in Las Vegas, to recent games vs. Big Ten "West" foes USC and UCLA, to suggest that if Dana Altman's team hits stride as his editions usually do, it hasn't happened yet. Even the return of 7-footer Nate Bittle, who was out briefly, to active duty hadn't lifted the Webfoots vs. top-shelf opposition. Gonzaga certainly rates that much with its near 93 ppg and 53% FG -hooting offense that pounds foes with its twin towners Braden Huff (19 ppg) and Graham Ike (17 ppg). The ravenous Zag fan base will also be well-represented at the Blazers' Moda Center. Play Gonzaga (at Portland)
A bit bumpy lately for the Heat, loser in six of seven and apparently missing explosive G Tyler Herro (23.2 ppg; out the past two weeks with toe.). Herro is slated to miss again on Sunday, and worth noting that before the Celtics' Derrick White erupted for nine triples on Friday to speed up the pace at TD Garden, Miami scorelines has been reducing. The previous five losses in the current slump saw the Heat held to 111 points or fewer. As for the Knicks, they looked a bit tired on Friday vs. the Sixers, and note the last meeting between these two landed on 228 on November 17, the pace much slowed from their previous clash three nights earlier. Play Heat-Knicks Under
Don't be deceived by that 108-99 Indiana State-Bradley scoreline at midweek, as it took triple OT for the Sycs and Braves to settle matters at Terre Haute; the game was destined to be an under result (and ISU cover) had Sycamores' G Jo Van Buggenhout's 61-footer at the buzzer not knotted the score at 74 and caused the first OT. Matthew Graves found a recipe that worked for ISU in preceding games vs. Southern Illinois and Milwaukee, playing at a bit slower pace, and kept tempo to its liking most of the way vs. Bradley. The Redbirds might be the team to beat in the Valley, but asking them to speed up the Sycs enough to clear 151 might be a chore. Play Sycamores-Redbirds Under
It looks like Columbia might be an Ivy League contender this season...not the ACC. Those are the challenges ahead for Mark Madsen's Cal, but the Golden Bears are passing most of their tests thus far, winning 11 of 12, with a win over UCLA as the decorative piece. Cal has plenty of balance in its near-84 ppg offense, with Virginia transfer G Dai Dai Ames (17.4 ppg) proving a very pleasant surprise for Madsen. The Lions have what should be an Ivy MVP contender in G Kenny Noland (17.7 ppg), but the schedule has mostly broken well, and this is a long road trip (vs. what appears a foe of real quality) for a team used to playing in the Eastern Time Zone. Play Cal
It looks like Geno Smith will return to the Raiders lineup on Sunday. At one point this season we would have considered that big news...but not now. Nothing seems to be helping the Silver & Black, whose losing streak has reached eight with several abysmal performances from the offense, which has been shut out twice by identical 31-0 scores (by Chiefs & Eagles). Trading away top WR Jakobi Myers to the Jags at midseason was reportedly against Pete Carroll's wishes and if true another indicator of the dysfunction of the front office. As for the Texans, they couldn't be at a more opposite end of the spectrum, with six straight wins as they continue to bear down on Jacksonville in the AFC South. Play Texans