NBA Non-Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Philadelphia and San Antonio at 7:10 pm et on Sunday.

I'm anticipating a high-scoring affair between the 76ers and Spurs on Sunday evening as both teams look to bounce back from disappointing losses last time out. Philadelphia blew a big lead in a 102-101 home loss to the Clippers on Friday. The Sixers should know better than to take their foot off the gas but that's essentially what happened in that contest. While they're generally a solid defensive team, they've allowed over 100 points in three straight games and figure to struggle to contain a Spurs offense that has put up over the century mark in six straight games and averages just shy of 114 points per contest at home this season. To say that San Antonio has had its hands full with the Sixers offense in recent meetings would be an understatement. It has allowed 122, 115, 132, 134, 113 and 119 points in the last six matchups in this series going back to the start of 2019. Interestingly, the Spurs have been a weaker defensive team at home than on the road this season, allowing opponents to score 112.8 points per game on 46.5% shooting. The 'over' has gone 10-2 with San Antonio in the role of home underdog this season with that spot producing an average total of 226.4 points. Take the over (10*).

Sunday NBA Free play. My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Orlando at 6:10 pm et on Sunday.

The Magic have played as poorly as any team in the league over their last six quarters of basketball, first coughing up a double-digit halftime lead to lose by 13 in Philadelphia and then falling by double-digits at home against the struggling Lakers. While the Bulls are going to be severely shorthanded for this game on Sunday, I do still expect them to prevail and cover the short number in the process. The last time these two teams met back on January 3rd, Chicago won by just four points, not coming anywhere close to covering the -14 spread. Since then, the Magic have won just once, going 3-6 ATS over their last nine contests. They've been abysmal at home this season, winning only twice in 19 games, outscored by an average margin of 12.1 points. The Bulls are obviously struggling as well, losers of five of their last six games but this looks like their best shot to grab a win on this three-game road trip and here we'll note that they're a perfect 8-0 ATS when coming off six or seven losses in their last eight games over the last two seasons, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 9.0 points in that situation. Take Chicago.

Sunday NHL Free play. My selection is on the 'under' between St. Louis and Vancouver at 10:05 pm et on Sunday.

The Blues roll into this game having scored exactly five goals in three consecutive games. Note, however, that they average just 2.6 goals when playing on the road after scoring three goals or more in three consecutive games over the last three seasons (20-game sample size). The Canucks have no choice but to tighten things up as they're missing a number of key contributors up front including Bo Horvat and Conor Garland due to Covid protocols. They're also without their two top goaltenders for the same reason but Spencer Martin filled in admirably, holding the high-scoring Panthers to only one goal in regulation time on Friday, and should be between the pipes again here. The Canucks have managed to score just four goals in their last two contests and the 'under' is 7-1 with an average total of just 4.4 goals scored when they play at home after winning two of their last three games this season, as is the case here. In fact, the 'under' is 13-3-1 in Canucks home games this season, producing an average total of only 4.7 goals. Take the under.

My selection is on Columbus over Ottawa at 6:05 pm et on Sunday.

The Senators battled hard but ultimately lost their third game in a row, dropping a 3-2 overtime decision (after leading 2-0) in Washington last night. Here, I look for the Blue Jackets to bounce back from Friday's 5-2 loss to the Penguins and add to the Sens misery. Ottawa is now 6-13 on the road this season where it is giving up 3.7 goals per game. The Jackets figure to be able to take advantage, noting that they average 3.4 goals per contest on home ice. You would have to go back six meetings here in Columbus to find the last time the Sens skated to a win over the Jackets in enemy territory, all the way back in 2017. Here, we'll note that Ottawa is a miserable 1-16 the last 17 times it has played its third game in four days, outscored by an average margin of 2.4 goals in that spot. When on the road playing their third game in five days, the Sens have gone 9-36 over the last three seasons, outscored by 1.8 goals on average. Take Columbus (8*).

My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Buffalo at 6:30 pm et on Sunday.

This game obviously has the makings of an instant classic. I believe we're getting the Chiefs at a discount here after Buffalo got the monkey off its back with a blowout win here at Arrowhead Stadium earlier this season. The Bills offense was unstoppable on that night but the Chiefs defense was playing awful football at the time, having opened the season allowing 29, 36, 30 and 30 points in their first four games. While the schedule has certainly played a role, Kansas City enters this contest having given up 21 points or less in nine of 13 games since that loss to the Bills. Buffalo played a near perfect game, particularly on offense, against the division rival Patriots last Saturday. I don't expect it to come close to matching that level of efficiency here. Most are looking at this game as a 'changing of the guard' in the AFC but I don't believe Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are done yet. They obviously have unfinished business of their own after a poor showing against Tom Brady and the Bucs in last year's Super Bowl. I have a lot of respect for the Bills so there's really not much I can say to knock them here. Simply put, I feel the line is too short with not enough respect being given to a complete Chiefs squad that has a real home field advantage, particularly at this time of year, at Arrowhead Stadium. Take Kansas City (9*).

NFL Divisional Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Tampa Bay minus the points over Los Angeles at 3 pm et on Sunday.

I'm a strong believer that the 'revenge' angle means something when it comes to Tom Brady. While it's true that some teams will get the better of Brady at times, he generally gets the last laugh when the games matter the most. Case in point, the Saints have defeated the Bucs four times going back to the start of last season. However, when the chips were down in the NFL Divisional Round last year, Brady guided the Bucs to a win in what turned out to be Drew Brees' final NFL game, at the Superdome no less. I make that point because here Brady will be facing the Rams for the third time since joining the Bucs at the start of last season. The Rams have got the better of Brady and the Bucs on both previous occasions including a fairly dominant 34-24 victory back in Week 3 this season. We all know about the Bucs injury issues. They're missing a number of key contributors, particularly on the offensive side of the football. They suffered more injuries in last Sunday's win over the Eagles with both Ryan Jensen and Tristan Wirfs, two integral parts of the offensive line, going down and questionable to play against the Rams. Regardless, I like Brady and the Bucs chances of rising to the occasion and living to fight at least one more game in these playoffs. The Rams lopsided win over the Cardinals on Monday night is fresh in the minds of most bettors and they're certainly being given considerable respect with this line sitting at the standard three points for home field advantage. I haven't been sold on the Rams all season and I'm not about to change course here. I have the ultimate confidence in the Bucs defense stepping up and rattling Matt Stafford in this one. The Rams have a track record of failing to deliver when the chips are down under Sean McVay and I expect nothing different here. Take Tampa Bay (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Buffalo and Kansas City at 6:30 pm et on Sunday.

These two teams have been involved in a pair of high-scoring shootouts going back to last year's playoffs so it's not surprising that we're dealing with a total in the mid-50's in advance of Sunday's Divisional Round showdown in Kansas City. I believe that total will prove too high. Both defenses are for the most part healthy entering this clash (with the exception of Tre'Davious White for the Bills who has been sidelined for quite some time). While the offenses generally get all of the press, the two defenses are elite. The Bills check in allowing just 17.5 points per game on the road this season. The Chiefs give up 17.9 points per game at home. While the Chiefs have supreme confidence in their ability to go back-and-forth with any offense in the league, there is some reason for caution here after Buffalo rolled up well over 400 yards and hung 38 points on them here at Arrowhead Stadium back in October. I think it would be foolish to expect a similar performance from the Buffalo offense here, however. The Chiefs defense was a mess going into that matchup, having allowed 29, 36, 30 and 30 points over their first four games of the season. Since then, Kansas City has allowed 21 points or less in nine of 13 games and that 21-point performance came by way of a defensive score from the Steelers last Sunday. The Bills defense has had a giant chip on its shoulder ever since getting run over by the Patriots ground game in that memorable Monday night affair back in early December. They've given up just 77 points over their last five games. I have a lot of respect for both offenses and they'll undoubtedly find some success in this game. But we're talking about an extremely high total here - too high in my opinion. Take the under (10*).