ESPN Streak for the Cash March 4 Picks and Analysis

In one of tonight’s Streak for the Cash Picks, Los Angeles Kings and goaltender Jonathan Quick look to get back on the winning track as they take on the Nashville Predators. Find my free sports picks for that game and many others below. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

It’s “Big Monday” again on Streak for the Cash, but that actually means much fewer picks than we just had over the weekend. Hopefully your streak and record are in good shape coming into the new week. The options early on today’s board come from international soccer and they tonight’s picks are stocked with college basketball picks and props with some NHL and tennis picks sprinkled in for variety. Here’s the picks I’m watching the most today:

3/4 Streak Picks

11:00- Dukia Prague: Prague is -170 favorites with the draw as they take on Slovacko. Slovacko has won just one of their last five matches and dropped their last game 4-0. On the young Czech Liga season they’re 5-5-7 overall. Dukia Prague is 5-8-4 and have earned a draw in four of their last five leagues games. Confidence Meter: 5

3:00- Machester City by 2+  Manchester City head to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa. Villa hasn’t lost my multiple goals in their last seven EPL matches and desperately needs points to escape the relegation zone. City has risen the the #2 spot in the table and are starting to pull away a bit although Man United appears to be out of reach. Villa lost by one to Arsenal on the road in their last EPL game and have played better lately after a horrible stretch at the end of 2012 where they lost three games by an aggregate score 0f 15-0. Man City though will be a tough test for their porous defense that allowed five goals to City when the teams met for the first time this season. City has won three of their last seven EPL matches by two or more goals including an impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea in their last EPL match. Even with City’s well-documented road troubles, I think they’ll have the offensive firepower to take out Villa by more than just a goal. Confidence Meter: 4

Mar 2, 2013; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith (2) drives the ball past Syracuse Orange guard Brandon Triche (20) and forward James Southerland (43) during the second half of a game at the Carrier Dome. Louisville won the game 58-53. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

7:03-Louisville wins by Double Digits: The Cardinals are ten point favorites as they host the free-falling Bearcats tonight at the KFC Yum! Center. Louisville  has won five in a row including four double-digit wins and a five point win on the road at Syracuse on Saturday. Cincinnati hasn’t had much success lately although they were able to get a win at home over UConn. Before that win they had lost five of six with two of those losses by double-digits. They’ve lost their last three road games including a 21-point drubbing at then-#25 Notre Dame a week ago Saturday. Cincinnati is struggling while Louisville is peaking at just the right time as is usual for Rick Pitino’s teams.  Confidence Meter: 7

7:04-Russ Smith: Smith has scored 14 or more points in his last nine games including 19, 18, and 17 in his last three outings. He’s matched in this first-half point prop with Sean Kilpatrick who had 20 his last time out but is very three-point reliant and had just six the game before. Scoring  props can do unexpected things esp in just one half and in college hoops, but I think Smith is the safer pick. Confidence Meter: 5

7:05- Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs are just 4-5-0 at home but they get a chance to level their record with a win over the Devils. New Jersey has lost four in a row since losing goaltender Martin Brodeur to injury. Replacement Johan Hedberg is 0-4-1 with a 3.78 GAA in his past five starts. The Devils have won just one of their last seven and played on Saturday while Toronto hasn’t played since Thursday. Confidence Meter: 6

Mar 02, 2013; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears center Isaiah Austin (21) reacts during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at the Ferrell Center. Kansas State won 64-61. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

9:05- Baylor Bears: The Bears played tough on Saturday before losing to the Dansas State Wildcats. Texas, meanwhile, lost by 13 at Oklahoma State. The two teams meet tonight in Austin in a rematch of the game Baylor pulled out by seven in overtime at the beginning of Big 12 play. Texas knocked off Iowa State and Oklahoma in winning two of their last three home games, but Baylor still come in as two-point favorites. Baylor is inconsistent and needs the win to stay in the bubble conversation, so I think they’ll get it on the road. It’s definitely no lock though, since the Longhorns are tough at home and have incorporated Myck Kabongo as the centerpiece of their offense. Confidence Meter: 4

9:07- Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks lost in a shootout in Phoenix Saturday and will look to bounce back as they take on the Coyotes again tonight in the desert. Anaheim looked like they just ran out of gas in their meeting Saturday, but should better-rested today. Anaheim has won their last six games when they didn’t play the previous day. I think the Ducks are set up well to get back in the win column. Confidence Meter: 5

9:10- Rafael Nadal: Rafa is working his way back from his knee injury as he plays in this exhibition tonight against Juan Martin Del Potro. It’s only an exhibition, so don’t be too confident either way. The reason I’ll go Nadal is that I think he’ll be looking to send a message that he’s back and he’s won seven of their 10 head-to-head matches in the past. Confidence Meter: 2 1/2

10:35- Los Angeles Kings: The Kings lost on Saturday snapping their winning streak at five, and come home tonight to try and get back on track against the Nashville Predators. The Preds have beaten LA twice this season already but have lost four of their last five and six of their last eight. They’ve been struggling to score which is bad news as they take on Jonathan Quick and the Kings who had been very stingy on defense until Saturday’s loss in Vancouver. I think the Kings get the win at home in this one. Confidence Meter: 6

March so far

Yesterday’s Recrd: 8-5

Total Record for the month: 31-19

Confident Picks (6+): 17-5 (3-2 yesterday)

Longest Personal Streak this month: W6

Current Personal Streak: L1 (had W2 before Pacers lost their prop)