Aaron Rodgers headlines this week's Las Vegas expert picks

Las Vegas Expert Picks: NHL, NCAAB & Aaron Rodgers

Vegas veteran Benjamin Eckstein, author of America’s Line, brings three decades of experience to make weekly picks in his “Ecks & Bacon” column.

LAS VEGAS — Before we get to all the winners, thinking about dropping some chips on the “Where will Aaron Rodgers land?” NFL prop.

The Packers are the favorite to keep Mr. Discount Double Check in a Green Bay uni, but what if the part-time Jeopardy host wants to leave the frozen tundra? The Broncos top the list of others at most sportsbooks at +350, followed by the 49ers at +800, the Colts at +1000, the Steelers at +1200, the Bucs at +1500 and the Saints at +2000. Might take a little tickle on the Niners since Aaron is from northern California and might like to wind up his career close to home.

NHL Pick

Lace ’em up and skate on to the NHL ice with me tonight. Gonna be singing the Blues in St. Louis. But that’s a good thing. St. Loo has been on a sweet run, winning four of the last five, and they’ve been CRUSHING the opposition. How about outscoring the Blackhawks, Senators, Canadiens, Maple Leafs and Flyers by a combined 22-10.

Now the Blues get to play one of the bottom-feeders, Buffalo, and it has been a rough go for the Sabres recently. They have lost four in a row, and have come up on the short end of a combined 19-7 score. St. Loo might be a bit expensive but certainly worth the investment.

Premier League Bet

Quick trip across the pond tomorrow morning and we’ll spend the big bucks backing Manchester United over Watford. The Red Devils are in a tough fight for the fourth spot on the table and a ticket to next year’s UEFA Champions League, sitting just one teeny tiny point above Arsenal and three points ahead of West Ham.

So you know that the Devils are gonna come out flying, and if their last two efforts in the Premier League are any indication, it’ll be a YUGE day at Old Trafford. They beat Leeds 4-2 on the road and threw a 2-0 bagel at Brighton in Manchester. And we expect it to be just as easy against the Hornets this morning. 

College Basketball Pick

On the college hoop card, we’re gonna go back to a team that has been money for Ecks & Bacon, and of course it’s Arkansas. The Razorbacks don’t get the ink that Kentucky does, but MAN, have they been EN FUEGO! The Hogs have won 12 of their last 13 overall and dribble onto the Nolan Richardson Court inside the Bud Walton Arena working on a 9-0 spread perfecto! Yeah, NINE & OH, BAABBBEEE!!!

Kentucky has ramped up its game as well, winning eight of the last nine straight up, but against the spread, it’s just MEH. The Wildcats have covered only four of the last 11, and at my table, that’s a big FAT loser. Stand up with me and start yelling, PIG SOOIE!!! 

And if you want some more winners over the weekend, PLZ hit me on Instagram. I will be doing quick 15/30 second picks at www.instagram.com/vegasvigorish!


Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America’s Line, with the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and over 100 other papers since 1988. You can follow him online at www.americasline.com. He is beloved by most, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. If you wanna piece of Eck, hit his Email...ben@americasline.com.

Back to Top