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Tides’ Takes: Free NHL & NBA Betting Picks For Today – March 8, 2022

Timothy Buell Tue 3/8 12:28pm PT
(Jaren Jackson Jr.) Image Credit: Petre Thomas/Imagn

ScoresAndOdds analyst Timothy Buell gives free expert advice and betting picks for Tuesday’s NHL and NBA slates.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Welcome to this new article for ScoresAndOdds, where we will offer betting picks and advice for multiple sports that are happening on a given day.

Now that the NFL season has unfortunately come to an end, we will be focusing on NHL odds and NBA odds and props.

We will also be throwing in some traditional parlays and some same game parlays as we see fit.  

Make sure to use our tools at ScoresAndOdds to find the best lines at your favorite legal sportsbook.  

We  have an 11-game NHL slate and a six-game NBA slate to choose from, so let’s get started!

Free NHL Betting Picks for Today

Florida Panthers @ Pittsburgh Penguins

There is a lot of fire power on both these teams. 

The Panthers are number one in the league in goals forced. 

Despite them coming off of a back-to-back, they got by the Sabres last night so easily, that I don’t think it will have too much of a negative impact. 

Spencer Knight drew the start last night, so we should see Sergei Bobrovsky this evening. 

He has been better this year compared to last season, but he is not the superstar in the making that I thought he was with the Blue Jackets. 

The Panthers play at one of the fastest paces in hockey and this should really be an up-and-down affair.

Jarry should be in net tonight and while he and the Penguins defense have been good this year, the Panthers have three full lines that score. 

There will be a lot of pressure put on both goaltenders this evening and I think the offenses win out. 

Seattle Kraken @ Toronto Maple Leafs

This one simply comes down to can the Kraken hold up their end of this bet. 

Seattle is simply not a good team on either end of the ice. The goaltending has been atrocious and their offense is one of the worst in hockey. 

That being said, it should be Jack Campbell in net tonight, and he has really been a huge disappointment as of late. 

He has given up at least four goals in his last four starts and has given up some really soft ones. 

We all know how powerful the Maple Leafs’ offense is, but they have shown some lackluster performances defensively, which doesn’t help their putrid goaltending. 

I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Kraken put up four goals themselves tonight.

Free NHL Player Prop

I have Auston Matthews projected for well over 4 shots on goal in this game against the defensively inept Kraken squad. 

Despite having to lay some heavy juice with this line, I will be wagering over one unit and might make it a three unit play. 

Despite playing on the second night of a back to back, he is coming into this game with quite a bit of offensive momentum and the Leafs should really be able to dominate possession, allowing Matthews more opportunities to get pucks on the net.  

Free NBA Betting Picks For Today

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers

The Cavs will be without Jarrett Allen for this game but they have the depth to be able to offset that issue. 

The Cavs are far and away the better team.  The differences in defenses alone make me love the Cavs in this one. 

The Cavs rank 4th in defensive rating, while the Pacers rank 26h.  Darius Garland is going to get all the minutes he can handle in this one and should be able to get what he wants in this one.

Evan Mobley can pretty easily fill the void left by Allen and the Pacers just don’t have anyone to match up with him.

The Pacers just are not efficient on either end of the court and the only way this game stays close is if Malcolm Brogdon can have a really big game and I don’t think that happens against this stout Cleveland club      

New Orleans Pelicans @ Memphis Grizzlies

If you look at the defensive rating numbers for the Pelicans over the entire season they are nothing to write home about. 

However, over their last 10 games they rank 7th in the NBA in defensive rating which is up eleven spots from their season total. 

When people think of the Grizzlies ,they think of the superstar Ja Morant, and the fact that he is a true stud in the making.  Although those people certainly are correct, don’t forget how good this team is defensively. 

They have ranked inside the top-10 in defensive rating all season. 

I think this total is a little inflated, due to the fact that there is a lot of perceived offensive talent, but is not accounting for the superb defensives both teams play at. 

Another note about the Pelicans is that CJ McCollum has been shooting 10% better from inside the arc since coming over to New Orleans.  Given the long data we have on him, I expect some regression is coming his way sooner, rather than later.