Bruce's Picks (4 Live)
Bruce's Past Picks
The buy signal flashes for the Texans, now with CJ Stroud back at QB and looking quite menacing as they bring a four-game win streak into Arrowhead. The DeMeco Ryans defense has been ornery all season and has dealt with Patrick Mahomes before, and has allowed 19 or fewer points in five of the last six games. But it's the upside of the offense that intrigues with Stroud back in the lineup last week for the first time since getting KO'd vs. the Broncos on November 1. For the Chiefs, it's been one close game after another this season, with KC mostly losing in those games (1-6 in one-score games), and now leaving itself no room for error to qualify for the playoffs. Play Texans
Though mostly a paradigm of consistency this season, the Lakers were ambushed in Boston on Friday night when minus Luka Doncic and LeBron. Luka returns tonight but LeBron remains doubtful, yet the situation could be problematic again for LA as the Sixers look to be gathering some real momentum. There's a good chance Joel Embiid and Paul George are available tonight but Philly is in the process of switching identities this season; the Sixers are Tyrese Maxey's team now as he continues to blitz the league at 3.16 ppg, and the backcourt has added potency with Baylor rookie VJ Edgecombe emerging. Three straight wins for Philly suggests Nick Nurse has his team on the upswing and on the verge of another signature win. Play Sixers
Well-documented, the Rangers' problems at MSG this season, but we suggest those are mostly behind them now. Improved play across the last week continued on Saturday at home vs. the Avs, and while the Rangers lost 3-2 it took OT for Colorado to prevail and it didn't look like the New York that has struggled earlier this season at home. The Rangers have won in five of their last seven, and turning to Jonathan Quick (1.69 GAA, .944 saves) tonight in goal is no drop-off from Igor Shesterkin. It's been a mini-turnaround the past week for VGK with three straight wins, but the Golden Knights aren't far removed from a stretch of just three wins in twelve. Play Rangers on Money Line
The angle we've been taking with the Grizzlies effectively remains the same...if Ja Morant is out (which is likely the case again this afternoon), we go with Memphis. Morant, dealing with a strained calf (a more bothersome injury than it sounds), has been out since November 15, but the Griz have not coincidentally started to take flight since, winning six of their last eight to revive hopes for this season. Morant, who will be actively shopped at the deadline, has seen his numbers plummet this season anyway...his absence is a plus for Memphis. Meanwhile the Blazers continue on their long road trip and have been laboring, dropping 9 of their last1 2 games. Play Grizzlies
There are Iowa transfers populating the rosters of both of these in-state sides who have their annual battle on Sunday in Lincoln. Last year it was the Huskers who had the edge 74-63 in Omaha, and to this point Fred Hoiberg's 8-0 team looks a bit further along, not to mention getting more out of its Hawkeyes transfer (G Pryce Sandifort at 16.1 ppg) as opposed to the Bluejays' ex-Iowa G Owen Freeman (just 10.1 ppg). Hoiberg's side also has a unique scoring threat in 6-10 Reink Mast (17.9 ppg), while Greg McDermott's Creighton is adjusting to life without the defensive presence of Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is now blocking shots in the NBA. Play Nebraska
A heavy price here on the Billikens, which they could handle, but over might be the preference on Sunday. Saint Louis certainly has the offense to move the scoreboard, scoring at 90 ppg as Josh Schertz's troops hit from all angles, including a unique threat in bespectacled 6-10 Robbie Avila (14 ppg), who does much of his business out on the perimeter. The Bills also hit 50% from the floor with five double-digit scorers led by Xavier transfer G Trey Green (also 14 ppg). We have to wonder about CMU if it lost contact vs. a downgraded Loyola-Chicago earlier this week, but also note that game landed on 155 points vs. a Ramblers side with limited weaponry. Play CMU-SLU Over
It's results in seven straight for Juve since Luciano Spalletti was appointed manager in late October and no better time to get another on Sunday in a slow and steady climb up the Serie A table and perhaps into European qualifying territory. Spalletti's recent form chart also shows two unbeaten in the Champs League, which renews again on Wednesday vs. Pafos, finding goals lately from Kekan Vildiz and Filip Kostic to fuel the offense...and one goal might be all the Old Lady needs on Sunday. Meanwhile Antonio Conte's brand of anti-football at Napoli has resulted in getting blanked three times in seven, suggesting this one is ripe for Juve to at least get a result. Juve on Asian Spread +0.25 goals
Every season we see examples of a sort of anti-basketball in the Metro Atlantic and they usually involve Saint Peter's. The excitement meter likely doesn't budge this afternoon in jersey City for the visit of Niagara, as the Purple Eagles limp in after absorbing an 83-54 beating at the hands of Siena on Friday night. Calvin Murphy isn't walking thru the door anytime soon; Niagara is scoring at barely 62 ppg thus far, hits barely 40% from the floor, and leading scorer G Justin page only registers at 10.9 ppg. The Peacocks aren't much better, in fact they might shoot the ball worse, only 37% from the floor and 29% beyond the arc. Few options beyond G Brent Bland (16.6 ppg). Play Niagara-Saint Peter's Under
How about 3-0 with...and 1-8 without. No, we're not talking about cheese steaks (at least for the moment), but that's the Bengals' record in games with Joe Burrow starting at QB, and games without Burrow starting at QB. Burrow is back and starting at QB again on Sunday at buffalo. There's more, but the Cincy argument always circles back to Burrow, especially in December, when the Bengals rallied min 2021, 2022, and 2024, all with Burrow at the helm (he missed December 2023 with injury). Not sure dominating a fading Pittsburgh last week and running roughshod over an tired Steelers defense was really a buy signal on the Bills, who have had their problems vs. Cincy in recent years. Play Bengals
For the Commanders we think the return of Jayden Daniels is a plus; for the Vikes, the return of JJ McCarthy,...we're not so sure. Te Commanders' seven-game losing streak has lasted long enough, especially as the team hasn't looked so bad behind Marcus Mariota in recent weeks. While the playoffs seem a lost cause, Dan Quinn's squad might have found something in last week's gallant OT loss to Denver, utilizing more quick-hitters on offense and improved schemes on defense. Nothing this season has suggested that the return of JJ McCarthy to the Vikings' lineup is going to be a plus save for the fact he'll likely be an improvement upon last week's rookie starter, Max Brosmer. Play Commanders
The Colts look to be leaking oil, dropping three of their last four and in the process the lead in the AFC South, the offense suddenly looking less potent as QB Daniel Jones has been starting to resemble his old Giants form. Jones wasn't all that bad last week vs. Houston but unlike the first half of the season when making all of the big plays, Jones and the rest of the offense have bene unable to consistently generate winning plays the past month as the downturn has endured. Meanwhile, the Jags are stirring, with wins in three straight, and a defense full of ballhawks ready to pounce on the next Jones mistake. The last three wins have been by a combined 87-33. Play Jaguars