This is a play on the HOUSTON ROCKETS for our NBA Tuesday Supreme Annihilator. This is an interesting line as the Rockets are off to a dreadful start yet are significant favorites behind a number they have not covered all season. They are 0-6 ATS as single-digit favorites of five or more points but we are bucking that and going contrarian tonight and against the 75 percent public consensus. Houston has lost three straight games, all coming on the road, while dropping seven of its last nine games to fall three games under .500 and it is ahead of only Phoenix in the Western Conference. Portland suffered through a three-game losing streak as well as a 1-6 stretch but it has won two straight games although both of those games came at home. The Blazers have lost four straight road games and they have been pretty ugly as the four defeats have been by an average of 23.3 ppg and they are now 5-7 on the highway. Two situations favor Houston. First, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points that are revenging a loss of 10 points or more and coming off two or more consecutive road losses. This situation is 30-9 ATS (76.9 percent) over the last five seasons. Second, we play on teams off a loss by three points or less to a division rival going up against an opponent after two consecutive covers as a favorite. This situation is 49-20 ATS (71 percent) since 1996. 10* (532) Houston Rockets

This is a play on the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS as part of our NHL Tuesday Hat Trick. We played against Toronto on Saturday as it was an overpriced favorite in Boston against the Bruins who are 10-3 at home and now the Maple Leafs are favored again on the road. This time it is legitimate and not much more than the previous game and this time against a Carolina team that is just 7-4-3 at home. Toronto is 10-1 in its last 11 games off a loss by two goals or more to a division rival while going 15-4 in its last 19 games after allowing four goals or more in two straight games. The Hurricanes salvaged their last game of a three-game roadtrip in a 4-1 win over Anaheim, snapping a three-game losing streak. Despite that, the Hurricanes are 0-4 in their last four games after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. Here, we play on road teams with a winning percentage between .600 and .700 off a loss by two goals or more to a division rival, playing a team with a losing record. This situation is 27-6 (81.8 percent) over the last five seasons. 9* (43) Toronto Maple Leafs

This is a play on the ST. LOUIS BLUES as part of our NHL Tuesday Hat Trick. St. Louis has been a big disappointment this season as it has lost 18 of its 28 games. The Blues are coming off a 6-1 loss at home against Vancouver which was their third straight loss at home but that coupled with the overall struggles are keeping this number down. The offense has struggled of late with just five goals over its last four games but faces a struggling defense tonight and going back, the Blues are 42-13 in their last 55 games against teams with a winning percentage below .400. Florida is coming off a pair of losses and while that could normally trigger a play on opportunity, not in this spot as the Panthers hit the road for the first time since November 23rd following an eight-game homestand. The Panthers are 4-10 in their last 14 games against teams with a losing record. Here, we play on home teams when the money line is -100 to -150 in a game involving two teams with winning percentages between .300 and .400 in the first half of the season. This situation is 38-13 (74.5 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (54) St. Louis Blues

This is a play on the COLORADO AVALANCHE as part of our NHL Tuesday Hat Trick. Edmonton won its first game under new head coach Ken Hitchcock back on November 20 and it has not slowed down since then as the Oilers are 7-2-1 in his 10 games and they have moved into fifth place in the Pacific Division. However, they are still on the outside looking in at the playoffs as they are a point out of the final Wild Card spot. Edmonton is 1-8 in its last nine games after a three-game unbeaten streak. Colorado returns home after a 2-2 roadtrip which includes a 7-1 loss in Tampa Bay last time out as it remains tied with Nashville atop the Central Division and just one point out of first place in the Western Conference. The Avalanche are 24-8 in their last 32 home games against teams with a losing road record. Additionally, we play against road underdogs of +200 or less coming off two or more consecutive home wins going up against an opponent off a road loss by three goals or more. This situation is 35-5 (87.5 percent) over the last five seasons. 9* (62) Colorado Avalanche