Steven Psihogios

Stevie’s an avid NFL, NHL, and tennis bettor who has no problem talking himself into the underdog. His previous stops include Yahoo! Sports Canada and Toronto Metropolitan University, where he received a degree in Sport Media.

Red Wings vs. Stars prop picks Jan. 19: Bet on Johnston, Stankoven to beat shot props

Red Wings vs. Stars prop picks

The Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars close out Sunday’s three-game NHL slate.

The pregame narrative: Both Dallas and Detroit are rolling with seven and eight wins, respectively, over their last 10 outings. I’m looking for a pair of Stars to shine, however, by taking the over on Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven’s shot props.

Check out my Red Wings vs. Stars prop picks for Jan. 19.

Red Wings vs. Stars prop picks

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Best Bet: Johnston over 2.5 shots on goal (-114)

Dallas epitomizes what a balanced lineup should look like.

The Stars have three forward lines that can deliver meaningful contributions nightly. Their first unit is the most dangerous, however, and Johnston is at the centre of it all.

The talented forward paces his team in ice time per game (19:23) and is third on the squad in points (35).

Most importantly, however, Johnston leads the team in shots with 120.

He’s putting a healthy number of shots on goal in recent outings. Johnston has 38 shots across his last 14 games (2.71 per game), topping this total seven times.

The matchup is another factor that favours Johnston’s over. Detroit is struggling to limit opposing teams’ shot totals and with Johnston logging plenty of ice time, he should be able to take advantage.

Key stat: The Red Wings are allowing the eighth-most shots per game (29.2) this season.

Quick pick

Stankoven over 2.5 shots on goal (+105): Stankoven isn’t too far behind Johnston in the shots department.

The young winger has 119 shots this season, sitting one behind Johnston for the team lead.

He’s been chucking plenty of pucks on goal over the last month of the campaign. He has 41 shots in 14 contests (2.92) during this stretch, beating this number in eight contests since Dec. 20.

Like Johnston, the matchup also works in Stankoven’s favour.

Stankoven is the only player on the Stars averaging over 10 shots per 60 (10.63) this season, according to Natural Stat Trick. He’s poised for a strong performance and to top this mark.

Picks made at 2:07 p.m. ET on 01/19/2025.

Rangers vs. Canadiens prop picks Jan. 19: Bet on Caufield to top shot prop

Rangers vs. Canadiens prop picks

An Original Six showdown between the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens highlights Sunday’s small NHL slate.

The pregame narrative: Cole Caufield is coming off a ridiculous shooting performance and I expect him to keep that energy up on Sunday. Additionally, I’m taking the over on Mike Matheson’s shot total while fading Chris Kreider’s points prop.

Check out my Rangers vs. Canadiens prop picks for Jan. 19.

Rangers vs. Canadiens prop picks

Best Bet: Caufield over 3.5 shots on goal (+130)

Caufield didn’t score a goal in Montreal’s 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

The Canadiens winger totaled 10 shots in the losing effort. It was the first double-digit shot effort of his career and tied for the seventh-most shots in a single game this season.

Sunday’s matchup presents another excellent opportunity for Caufield to rack up the shots.

The Habs battle a New York team struggling to keep opposing teams’ shot totals down. The Rangers are allowing the third-most shots against per game (31.1) this campaign.

The plus-money odds attached to this wager are what pique my interest. Caufield has cashed this prop in five of his last 10 outings, giving us a little value with the over.

Expect him to pepper the Rangers, who are playing their second game in as many nights.

Key stat: Caufield is averaging 4.5 shots per game across eight games in January.

Quick pick

Kreider to not score 1+ points (-130): Kreider is heating up but there’s good reason to fade him.

The winger has four points in his last six games, but his season-long totals show there’s reason to bet against him.

Kreider has 16 points — 14 goals — across 37 games.

He has failed to register a point in 23 games this campaign, cashing this wager in 62% of his outings. That’s significantly higher than the 56.52% implied odds suggest.

The Canadiens have been a difficult matchup for Kreider this year. He has zero points in two contests against them this season.

Picks made at 12:22 p.m. ET on 01/19/2025.

Rangers vs. Canadiens prop picks Jan. 19: Bet on Caufield to top shot prop

Rangers vs. Canadiens prop picks

An Original Six showdown between the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens highlights Sunday’s small NHL slate.

The pregame narrative: Cole Caufield is coming off a ridiculous shooting performance and I expect him to keep that energy up on Sunday. Additionally, I’m taking the over on Mike Matheson’s shot total while fading Chris Kreider’s points prop.

Check out my Rangers vs. Canadiens prop picks for Jan. 19.

Rangers vs. Canadiens prop picks

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Embed: #106706

Best Bet: Caufield over 3.5 shots on goal (+130)

Caufield didn’t score a goal in Montreal’s 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

The Canadiens winger totaled 10 shots in the losing effort. It was the first double-digit shot effort of his career and tied for the seventh-most shots in a single game this season.

Sunday’s matchup presents another excellent opportunity for Caufield to rack up the shots.

The Habs battle a New York team struggling to keep opposing teams’ shot totals down. The Rangers are allowing the third-most shots against per game (31.1) this campaign.

The plus-money odds attached to this wager are what pique my interest. Caufield has cashed this prop in five of his last 10 outings, giving us a little value with the over.

Expect him to pepper the Rangers, who are playing their second game in as many nights.

Key stat: Caufield is averaging 4.5 shots per game across eight games in January.

Quick pick

Matheson over 2.5 shots (+150): Again, the plus-money odds have me eyeing another Canadiens shot prop.

Matheson isn’t afraid to let it fly from the point. He’s 35th among blueliners in shots (85) and third among all Montreal skaters.

His most recent effort against New York demonstrates how this is a solid matchup. The two-way defenceman recorded four shots in a win on November 30.

Matheson is averaging 2.6 shots per game in January. He’s worth backing against New York’s leaky defence at this price.

Kreider to not score 1+ points (-114): Kreider is heating up but there’s good reason to fade him.

The winger has four points in his last six games, but his season-long totals show there’s reason to bet against him.

Kreider has 16 points — 14 goals — across 37 games.

He has failed to register a point in 23 games this campaign, cashing this wager in 62% of his outings. That’s significantly higher than the 53.27% implied odds suggest.

The Canadiens have been a difficult matchup for Kreider this year. He has zero points in two contests against them this season.

Picks made at 12:22 p.m. ET on 01/19/2025.

Australian Open quarterfinals picks and predictions: Tennis picks on Djokovic vs. Alcaraz, Paul vs. Zverev

Australian Open picks

Staying up late will be worth it for North American fans and bettors during the Australian Open quarterfinals.

The pregame narrative: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have had some epic duels. I’m siding with the former to take down the latter in a match that could be the best of the tournament. Additionally, I like Tommy Paul and Emma Navarro in other wagers for this round.

Check out my top Australian Open picks for the quarterfinals.

Australian Open picks

Best Bet: Djokovic to win (+180)

Djokovic refuses to let the next generation of tennis superstars take over.

The 37-year-old legend continues to defy father time, advancing to the quarterfinals for the 13th time in his last 14 Grand Slams.

And despite a tough test in Alcaraz awaiting him in Melbourne, I don’t expect Djokovic to be done just yet.

The Serbian dropped his first set of the tournament but has won 12 of 13 sets since. His last two wins are notable as he took down two ATP top-30 competitors, Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka, in straight sets.

Alcaraz hasn’t been quite as tested during the Aussie Open. He is coming off a win over No. 18 Jack Draper, but the British tennis star retired after two sets due to a lingering hip injury.

Historically, this has been one of Djokovic’s best Grand Slams while it hasn’t been for Alcaraz.

Djokovic has advanced to the semifinals or later in each of his last six appearances down under. Alcaraz has never advanced past the quarters (three attempts).

The head-to-head history of these two competitors is also worth taking into consideration. Djokovic has the all-time series lead, winning four of their seven showdowns.

Djokovic is worth betting on at this price.

Key stat: Djokovic has won three of the last four meetings against Alcaraz.

Quick picks

Paul +1.5 sets (+118): Zverev has only lost one set through four matches at the Australian Open but I’m expecting Paul to push him.

The American’s serve has been excellent in his last two matches.

He fired off eight aces to zero double faults in his most recent victory, a straight-sets sweep of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He had seven aces to two doubles fault the match before, a victory over Roberto Carballes Baena.

Zverev’s 19-aces performance over Ugo Humbert in his most recent match is worth highlighting, too, but there’s one reason why I like Paul as an underdog.

Paul owns a 2-0 head-to-head series lead over Zverev, beating him twice on the hardcourts. He’s also advanced to the semifinals in Melbourne once before (2023).

Navarro to win (-110): This promises to be the most entertaining match of the women’s quarterfinals, but I really do think Navarro is the play.

The American broke through on the hardcourts with a dominant 33-14 record on this surface. She ended the year with her best-ever results at a Grand Slam, a semifinal appearance at the US Open.

Kasatkina hasn’t advanced past the fourth round at a major tournament since 2022, and she’s never done so on this surface.

These two competitors have never battled head-to-head, but recent Grand Slam results and the surface favour Navarro.

Australian Open picks made at 11:02 a.m. on 01/19/25

Australian Open quarterfinals picks and predictions: Tennis picks on Djokovic vs. Alcaraz, Paul vs. Zverev

Australian Open picks

Staying up late will be worth it for North American fans and bettors during the Australian Open quarterfinals.

The pregame narrative: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have had some epic duels. I’m siding with the former to take down the latter in a match that could be the best of the tournament. Additionally, I like Tommy Paul and Emma Navarro in other wagers for this round.

Check out my top Australian Open picks for the quarterfinals.

Australian Open picks

Visit full Australian Open betting markets.

Best Bet: Djokovic to win (+180)

Djokovic refuses to let the next generation of tennis superstars take over.

The 37-year-old legend continues to defy father time, advancing to the quarterfinals for the 13th time in his last 14 Grand Slams.

And despite a tough test in Alcaraz awaiting him in Melbourne, I don’t expect Djokovic to be done just yet.

The Serbian dropped his first set of the tournament but has won 12 of 13 sets since. His last two wins are notable as he took down two ATP top-30 competitors, Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka, in straight sets.

Alcaraz hasn’t been quite as tested during the Aussie Open. He is coming off a win over No. 18 Jack Draper, but the British tennis star retired after two sets due to a lingering hip injury.

Historically, this has been one of Djokovic’s best Grand Slams while it hasn’t been for Alcaraz.

Djokovic has advanced to the semifinals or later in each of his last six appearances down under. Alcaraz has never advanced past the quarters (three attempts).

The head-to-head history of these two competitors is also worth taking into consideration. Djokovic has the all-time series lead, winning four of their seven showdowns.

Djokovic is worth betting on at this price.

Key stat: Djokovic has won three of the last four meetings against Alcaraz.

Quick picks

Paul +1.5 sets (+118): Zverev has only lost one set through four matches at the Australian Open but I’m expecting Paul to push him.

The American’s serve has been excellent in his last two matches.

He fired off eight aces to zero double faults in his most recent victory, a straight-sets sweep of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He had seven aces to two doubles fault the match before, a victory over Roberto Carballes Baena.

Zverev’s 19-aces performance over Ugo Humbert in his most recent match is worth highlighting, too, but there’s one reason why I like Paul as an underdog.

Paul owns a 2-0 head-to-head series lead over Zverev, beating him twice on the hardcourts. He’s also advanced to the semifinals in Melbourne once before (2023).

Navarro to win (-110): This promises to be the most entertaining match of the women’s quarterfinals, but I really do think Navarro is the play.

The American broke through on the hardcourts with a dominant 33-14 record on this surface. She ended the year with her best-ever results at a Grand Slam, a semifinal appearance at the US Open.

Kasatkina hasn’t advanced past the fourth round at a major tournament since 2022, and she’s never done so on this surface.

These two competitors have never battled head-to-head, but recent Grand Slam results and the surface favour Navarro.

Australian Open picks made at 11:02 a.m. on 01/19/25

Jan-Lennard Struff vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime Australian Open odds and best bet: Pick match to go the distance

Struff vs. Auger-Aliassime odds

Felix Auger-Aliassime’s run at the Australian Open begins with a match against Jan-Lennard Struff.

The pregame narrative: Auger-Aliassime is off to a strong start in 2025, but he faces a tough competitor to begin this tournament in Struff. The two are very familiar with each other, which should lead to a competitive match.

Check out our Struff vs. Auger-Aliassime odds and best bet for their Australian Open match on Jan. 13.

Struff vs. Auger-Aliassime Australian Open odds

Betting marketsBetting odds
Struff to win+155
Auger-Aliassime to win-209
Struff +3.5 games-120
Auger-Aliassime -3.5 games-120
Over 40.5 games-118
Under 40.5 games-120

Tennis odds as of 3:50 p.m. on 01/12/2025.

Best Bet: Over 4.5 sets (+187)

There’s not much that separates Struff and Auger-Aliassime.

Here’s how they stack up in some key stats:

  • ATP rankings, Auger-Aliassime: 29 vs. 42
  • Serve rating, Struff: 276.7 vs. 276.3
  • Return rating, Auger-Aliassime: 140.1 vs. 130.8
  • Under pressure rating, Struff: 201.9 vs. 201.4

The head-to-head history shows there’s even less that separates these two competitors.

Struff and Auger-Aliassime have met four times with each taking two matches. The most recent match occurred on clay at the BMW Open in 2024, and it was Struff who won in straight sets.

Auger-Aliassime enters this contest in better form, winning each of his last five matches after taking home the Adelaide International. He scored victories over Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Sebastian Korda during this stretch.

Struff has been inconsistent, winning four of his last eight, but he has fared well against some top competitors. He has gone the distance with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur since August 2024.

Expect this to be a competitive contest and bet on it to go the distance at some juicy, plus-money odds.

Key stat: Struff has won at least one set in 10 consecutive Grand Slam matches.

Picks made at 4:16 p.m. ET on 01/12/2025.

Jan-Lennard Struff vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime Australian Open odds and best bet: Pick match to go the distance

Struff vs. Auger-Aliassime odds

Felix Auger-Aliassime’s run at the Australian Open begins with a match against Jan-Lennard Struff.

The pregame narrative: Auger-Aliassime is off to a strong start in 2025, but he faces a tough competitor to begin this tournament in Struff. The two are very familiar with each other, which should lead to a competitive match.

Check out our Struff vs. Auger-Aliassime odds and best bet for their Australian Open match on Jan. 13.

Struff vs. Auger-Aliassime Australian Open odds

Go to full Struff vs. Auger-Aliassime betting markets.

Betting marketsBetting odds
Struff to win+165
Auger-Aliassime to win-210
Struff +3.5 games-114
Auger-Aliassime -3.5 games-112
Over 40.5 games-107
Under 40.5 games-118

Tennis odds as of 3:50 p.m. on 01/12/2025.

Best Bet: Over 4.5 sets (+220)

There’s not much that separates Struff and Auger-Aliassime.

Here’s how they stack up in some key stats:

  • ATP rankings, Auger-Aliassime: 29 vs. 42
  • Serve rating, Struff: 276.7 vs. 276.3
  • Return rating, Auger-Aliassime: 140.1 vs. 130.8
  • Under pressure rating, Struff: 201.9 vs. 201.4

The head-to-head history shows there’s even less that separates these two competitors.

Struff and Auger-Aliassime have met four times with each taking two matches. The most recent match occurred on clay at the BMW Open in 2024, and it was Struff who won in straight sets.

Auger-Aliassime enters this contest in better form, winning each of his last five matches after taking home the Adelaide International. He scored victories over Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Sebastian Korda during this stretch.

Struff has been inconsistent, winning four of his last eight, but he has fared well against some top competitors. He has gone the distance with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur since August 2024.

Expect this to be a competitive contest and bet on it to go the distance at some juicy, plus-money odds.

Key stat: Struff has won at least one set in 10 consecutive Grand Slam matches.

Picks made at 4:16 p.m. ET on 01/12/2025.

Vikings vs. Rams wild-card same-game parlay predictions: Bet on Stafford, L.A. in +350 ticket

Vikings vs. Rams predictions

The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams collide on Monday Night Football for the final spot in the divisional round.

The pregame narrative: The tragic L.A. wildfires have changed the location of this game from Los Angeles to Arizona. Still, I’m betting on the Rams to win on a neutral field. I expect there to be plenty of points in a game where Matthew Stafford is slinging the ball all over the field.

Check out my Vikings vs. Rams same-game parlay predictions.

Vikings vs. Rams same-game parlay predictions

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Parlay: Rams moneyline + Over 41.5 points + Stafford over 240.5 passing yards (+350)

Rams moneyline (+118): The NFC North was a pretty sheltered division this season.

A quick look at Minnesota’s schedule will tell you just that. Outside of the teams in its division, the Vikings played two teams that qualified for the playoffs.

Those two opponents were the Rams and the Houston Texans. They beat the latter, 34-7, but lost to the former, 30-20.

The Rams played five games against playoff competitors despite none of the other NFC West squads qualifying for the postseason. They went 2-3 in those contests, winning two of their last three.

Los Angeles dealt with injuries this year, but the team boasts some great records when key players are healthy:

  • 8-4 with Cooper Kupp
  • 8-3 with Puka Nacua
  • 10-6 with Stafford

All three are healthy and I’ll happily pick L.A. to beat a team it already has this season.

Other parlay picks

Over 41.5 points (-250): The Vikings’ defence isn’t as dominant as it was earlier in the season.

Minnesota is allowing opposing offences to rack up the points. It’s allowed 24-plus points in three consecutive games, including 31 to the Detroit Lions in a crucial Week 18 outing.

Los Angeles’ defence isn’t a steel curtain by any stretch. It’s 17th in points against per game (22.7).

Both offences should be able to deliver in this spot:

  • Vikings are 9th in scoring (25.4 PPG)
  • Rams are 6-3 to the over as underdogs

These teams combined for 50 points in their first meeting.

Stafford over 240.5 passing yards (-115): Minnesota’s defence blitzes more than any other team in the league (38.9%).

The good news is Stafford handles the blitz as well as anyone and excelled against it versus the Vikings in Week 8.

Minnesota generated zero pressures or sacks while Stafford went 9-for-12 with 131 passing yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Stafford finished the game with 279 passing yards and four touchdowns. He completed 73.5% of his passes, which was his third-highest mark of the campaign.

The L.A. quarterback has consistently delivered against this line in the playoffs. He has topped this total in four consecutive contests.

Picks made at 2:50 p.m. ET on 01/12/2025.

Roberto Bautista Agut vs. Denis Shapovalov Australian Open odds and best bet: Pick Canadian to win comfortably

Bautista Agut vs. Shapovalov odds

Denis Shapovalov aims to carry his success from the fall into the first Grand Slam of 2025.

The pregame narrative: Shapovalov’s aggressive play leads to inconsistent results. The Canadian has consistently done well against a familiar opponent in Roberto Bautista Agut, however, and I’m backing him to win with little resistance at Melbourne Park.

Check out our Bautista Agut vs. Shapovalov odds and best bet for their Australian Open match on Jan. 13.

Bautista Agut vs. Shapovalov Australian Open odds

Betting marketsBetting odds
Bautista Agut to win+180
Shapovalov to win-250
Bautista Agut +4.5 games-124
Shapovalov -4.5 games-112
Over 38.5 games-118
Under 38.5 games-118

Tennis odds as of 11:22 a.m. on 01/12/2025.

Best Bet: Shapovalov -1.5 sets (-130)

There are a handful of reasons to like Shapovalov in this match.

Firstly, his results since the final Grand Slam of 2024 are worth spotlighting. Shapovalov showed great resilience when he won the Belgrade Open in November. The Canadian fought through qualifiers in an impressive title run where he only lost one set.

Bautista Agut’s success in the fall is worth noting, too, as he won the European Open in October.

But there have been some developments since Bautista Agut’s tourney win that tip the scales in Shapovalov’s favour.

These two competitors battled at the end of October in a match that Shapovalov won in straight sets.

I wouldn’t read too much into that result if it was a one-off, but there’s a fairly significant sample size in this pair’s head-to-head history.

Shapovalov and Bautista Agut have met three times (twice in 2024) and Shapovalov has yet to lose a set.

Both of their 2024 duels were on hardcourts, which is notable given the setting for this upcoming contest.

Shapovalov boasts the better serve rating (34th vs. 49th), per ATPTour.com. I expect that to be the difference in this match.

Key stat: Shapovalov fired off 18 aces to Bautista Agut’s two in their most recent matchup.

Picks made at 11:45 a.m. ET on 01/12/2025.

Roberto Bautista Agut vs. Denis Shapovalov Australian Open odds and best bet: Pick Canadian to win comfortably

Bautista Agut vs. Shapovalov odds

Denis Shapovalov aims to carry his success from the fall into the first Grand Slam of 2025.

The pregame narrative: Shapovalov’s aggressive play leads to inconsistent results. The Canadian has consistently done well against a familiar opponent in Roberto Bautista Agut, however, and I’m backing him to win with little resistance at Melbourne Park.

Check out our Bautista Agut vs. Shapovalov odds and best bet for their Australian Open match on Jan. 13.

Bautista Agut vs. Shapovalov Australian Open odds

Go to full Bautista Agut vs. Shapovalov betting markets.

Betting marketsBetting odds
Bautista Agut to win+188
Shapovalov to win-240
Bautista Agut +4.5 games-125
Shapovalov -4.5 games-103
Over 38.5 games-120
Under 38.5 games-107

Tennis odds as of 11:22 a.m. on 01/12/2025.

Best Bet: Shapovalov -1.5 sets (-120)

There are a handful of reasons to like Shapovalov in this match.

Firstly, his results since the final Grand Slam of 2024 are worth spotlighting. Shapovalov showed great resilience when he won the Belgrade Open in November. The Canadian fought through qualifiers in an impressive title run where he only lost one set.

Bautista Agut’s success in the fall is worth noting, too, as he won the European Open in October.

But there have been some developments since Bautista Agut’s tourney win that tip the scales in Shapovalov’s favour.

These two competitors battled at the end of October in a match that Shapovalov won in straight sets.

I wouldn’t read too much into that result if it was a one-off, but there’s a fairly significant sample size in this pair’s head-to-head history.

Shapovalov and Bautista Agut have met three times (twice in 2024) and Shapovalov has yet to lose a set.

Both of their 2024 duels were on hardcourts, which is notable given the setting for this upcoming contest.

Shapovalov boasts the better serve rating (34th vs. 49th), per ATPTour.com. I expect that to be the difference in this match.

Key stat: Shapovalov fired off 18 aces to Bautista Agut’s two in their most recent matchup.

Picks made at 11:45 a.m. ET on 01/12/2025.