The Cheat Sheet: April 14th, 2011

Gather around hockey fans and devoted gamblers, the playoffs are here, and there’s money to be made. While most fans this time of year are looking at the games through “fan goggles”, and betting on their favorite teams, we’ll try to see things from a balanced perspective, and find value where there’s misconception. Today on the docket: 3 games, sorted into Gold picks, Silver Picks, Bronze Picks, and black lumps of coal.

Let’s see how today’s numbers break down, using the trusty database-recall system.

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Thursday’s Sheet:

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– Buffalo seems to be the sexy upset pick that everyone’s been talking about lately. On paper though, the Flyers actually have a way better lineup than the Sabres. Of course, that ‘on-paper talent’ hasn’t exactly transfered onto the ice lately, and Buffalo at +140 is probably well worth a shot, considering how the Flyers tailed-off during the final quarter of the season, and how the Sabres really finished strong. Recent head-to-head meetings have also fallen favorably for Buffalo.

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Agree with the Gold pick? Disagree with it? See a betting line on the board that seems wrong? You know what to do (fill up the comment section).

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