My selection is on Tennessee minus the points over George Mason at 6:30 pm et on Tuesday.

George Mason is a good team but it is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time in Knoxville on Tuesday. The Volunteers are coming off three straight losses including a disappointing 100-92 defeat on the road against North Carolina last Wednesday. Having had nearly a week off to stew on that poor performance, I look for a massive response from the Vols here. Remember, Tennessee was a perfect 4-0 at one point with quality wins over Wisconsin and Syracuse and a near-miss against Purdue. George Mason hasn't really played anyone yet and will be taking a big step up in class following Saturday's win on the road against Toledo. Note that Tennessee is a long-term 95-69 ATS when coming off consecutive ATS defeats, as is the case here. Take Tennessee (8*).

Big Ten Game of the Month. My selection is on Michigan minus the points over Indiana at 9 pm et on Tuesday.

Indiana is probably feeling pretty good about itself following three straight wins, including an impressive double-digit win and cover at home against Maryland last Friday. I think the Hoosiers will get caught in a letdown on Tuesday, however, as they run into a Michigan squad desperate for a win off back-to-back losses against Texas Tech and Oregon. While the Wolverines are 1-4 over their last five games, only the loss to Long Beach State (a good team in its own right) was truly disappointing. The other four games over that stretch all saw closing lines of fewer than three points - in other words, they all could have gone either way. Looking at the positives, Michigan did score a whopping 83 points on the road against a good Oregon team last time out. KenPom still has the Wolverines ranked 20 spots higher than the Hoosiers at 49th in the country. With a tough road game against Iowa on deck, this is the spot for the Wolverines to turn it around. Note that Indiana is just 6-15 ATS in its last 21 lined road games and a long-term 41-66 ATS when coming off consecutive ATS victories, as is the case here. Michigan, meanwhile, is a long-term 55-35 ATS when coming off a loss by six points or less, which is also the situation here. Take Michigan (10*).

Tuesday NHL Free play. My selection is on New Jersey over Vancouver at 10:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Devils have had a few days off to stew over Friday's embarrassing home loss to the Sharks. I look for them to bounce back as they begin a four-game road trip in Vancouver on Tuesday. New Jersey was one of the league's best road teams last season and it has picked up right where it left off here in 23-24, going 6-4 away from home. The Canucks have been one of league's upstart teams this season but have cooled off lately winning just four of their last nine games. They haven't posted consecutive victories since November 12th and 15th. The Devils have certainly had their number over the years, taking 14 of the last 15 meetings in this series. Take New Jersey.

Eastern Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on New York over Ottawa at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The road team has owned this series in recent years and that includes the Rangers taking each of the last three matchups in Ottawa. I like New York's chances again on Tuesday as it checks in playing some of its best hockey of the season having won six of its last seven contests overall. The Senators snapped their three-game losing streak with a 2-0 shutout win over the Kraken on Saturday but remain just 5-7 on home ice this season. Ottawa has scored a grand total of four goals over its last three games. In stark contrast, the Rangers scored six in their most recent game on Sunday. Take New York (10*).

Pacific Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Phoenix and Los Angeles at 10 pm et on Tuesday.

I just don't see the sort of track meet developing that most are expecting as the Suns and Lakers do battle in the quarter-final round of the in-season tournament on Tuesday. The Lakers have already taken the first two meetings between these teams this season and if the Suns want to change the outcome here, they'll likely have to win ugly, noting they've knocked down fewer than 40 field goals in five of their last six games. The good news is, the Lakers don't figure to really push the pace. They've hoisted up 90 or fewer field goal attempts in an incredible 18 straight games. They've managed to connect on more than 40 field goals just once in their last four contests and that came against the hapless Pistons. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 123-93 in Lakers home games with the total set at 220 points or higher. The 'under' is also a long-term 33-23 with the Suns seeking revenge for a loss in which their opponent scored 110 or more points, as is the case here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Pittsburgh over Tampa Bay at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday.

While I understand this is a revenge spot for the Lightning after the Penguins prevailed 4-2 in Tampa last week, I still think Pittsburgh is in better position to respond here following consecutive losses against the Flyers. Note that the Pens have owned this series in South Florida lately, taking each of the last four meetings at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay snapped a four-game losing streak with a dominant 4-0 win over Dallas two nights ago. The Bolts are just 16-22 in their last 38 games when seeking revenge for a loss in which their opponent scored four goals or more. Take Pittsburgh (8*).

My selection is on Philadelphia minus the points over Washington at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday.

The 76ers are coming off consecutive losses but essentially played with their 'B' squad last time out against Boston (and still managed to cover the spread). Here, we should see Philadelphia back at full strength (or close to it) following a four-day layoff. To say Wizards opponents have been stuffing the boxscore would be an understatement. They've allowed 43 or more made field goals in 10 straight games with three opponents knocking down more than 50 field goals over that stretch. I worry about their offense in this particular spot against an elite 76ers defense (and a rested one at that). Note that Washington scored 120 or more points in each of its last three games but all of those came on the road. Interestingly, the Wiz have averaged just 112.9 points per game at home this season, nearly four points per game below their season scoring average. Philadelphia has held its last three opponents to 83 or fewer field goal attempts with only one of those foes managing to break 40 made field goals. On the road this season, the Sixers have employed a smothering defense, yielding just 40-of-85 shooting on average. Even in a game where Philadelphia didn't bring the proper level of defensive intensity against the Wizards back on November 6th (it allowed Washington to make good on 49-of-96 field goal attempts) it will won by 18 points. Take Philadelphia (8*).