Will Rogers Handicapping Review & Free Picks Page

The set-up: What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about these two teams? Offense for me. Toronto averages 3.27 GPG, but it's defense is vastly underrated, as it concedes just 2.66 GPG, which ranks 11th. Off three straight losses, Toronto will be out to "control" this game vs. the Canucks, who finally return to action after a lengthy COVID layoff. Throw out the Canucks seasonal stats for now, who knows what we'll see out of this team over the first couple weeks back. 

The pick: I have a hard time seeing Vancouver mustering much of an offensive attack here. This Leafs team is going to grind out a win here. The fact that we can get 6.5 is a gift in my opinion. Look for Vancouver to double down on the defensive end here as it tries to get its "game legs" back underneath it. A great situational play on the under.

This is a 10* TOTAL ELITE OF THE ELITE on the UNDER Leafs/Canucks.

The set-up: I like the Giants to bounce-back here in the finale of this three-game set. San Fran fell 7-6 last night to Miami, allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth. San Fran had won three consecutive series previous. Alex Wood makes his season debut for the Giants. In his career vs. the Marlins Wood is 6-4 with a 2.77 ERA, and at Marlins Park he's 4-2 with a 3.25 ERA in nine appearances. 

The pick: Pablo Lopez gets the nod for the hoem side and he's 0-1 with a 4.60 ERA. For his career he's 13-17 with a 4.48 ERA. Note that San Fran though is 7-2 in its last nine after back-to-back road losses. I like Wood to come out firing and for the Giants to finally get back into the winners circle.

This is an 8* DESTRUCTION on the Giants.

The set-up: The Blazers have lost five of their last six. They average 114.6 PPG, while conceding 114.8. The Hornets come in equally as hungry,a s they've lost four in a row. Charlotte got hit by the injury bug early, but this is still a great situational spot bet in my opinion, against a Portland team that's struggling in many regards and which is going to get caught looking ahead to back-to-back home games starting on Tuesday vs. the Clippers and Nuggets.

The pick: Charlotte has lost four in a row, but was decently competitive in a 130-115 setback at the Nets in their latest action. The Hornets play with revenge here after falling 123-111 to the Blazers in early March, and note that they're 7-2 ATS in their last nine in trying to revenge a road loss vs. an opponent in which they conceded 120 or more points in. Grab the points and expect this one to come right down to the wire.

This is a 10* COACHS CORNER on the Hornets.