Sports Picks

We're taking the 'Highest Scoring Half - 2nd' prop in the Hertha Berlin/Leipzig game as your free play for Wednesday. 

Play-by-Play

- Leipzig have averaged 2.33 goals after the half in their last three home victories.

- Hertha Berlin have netted 7 times over their last two games, but all 7 came in the second half of those games. Hertha's first half form meanwhile has been lackluster, scoring an average of just 0.2 goals per first half over their last five games.

- Each of Hertha Berlins last six road games averaged at least two total goals beyond the hour mark in each of those games.

Take the 'Highest Scoring Half - 2nd' prop at -110 on Wednesday to cash as we see plenty of goals coming late in this one.

PLAY: HIGHEST SCORING HALF - 2nd (-110)

Dusseldorf did a solid job in their away match against Koln on Sunday and have been pretty stable, but not very good, over their last matches. They will now try to take advantage of their opponents, as they will host a struggling Schalke side on Wednesday. Schalke met another heavy loss on Sunday and have been in terrible shape for quite a while now.

Dusseldorf (5-13-9) were quite lucky in their away match against Koln on Sunday, where they took a two-goal lead but were equalized in the stoppage time for the final 2-2. That was their fifth consecutive draw in all competitions, losing just once in their last ten matches in all competitions (2-1-7). They are now sitting at the 16^th spot of the league table with 24 points, three below the relegation zone. They have not been very good at home so far (3-6-4), winning just once in their last eight matches (1-4-3).

Schalke (9-8-10) are coming off yet another terrible performance, this time at home against Augsburg. They were really bad at the creative side and eventually lost by a harsh 3-0. That was their second consecutive bad loss after the break, conceding a total of seven goals and scoring none in the process. They are now without a win since January 17^th, a span of 11 matches in all competitions. Schalke are now sitting at the 8^th spot of the league table with 37 points, two behind the top-six. They have not been anything special on the road (4-5-4), going win-less in their last seven matches and failing to score in their last five.

The two teams played for a mouth-watering 3-3 draw in the first round, which was the fifth consecutive match between the two that featured at least three goals. Schalke have done a solid job in this venue over the years (2-1-2) and this could be a chance for them to start scoring again. I am going with the Over 2.5 Goals in this match. 

Germany Bundesliga

(54231821) FSV Mainz 05 at (54231822) Union Berlin

Since the return to action, I was impressed with Union Berlin in their first game, really executing their gameplan and holding the mighty Bayern to just 14 shots with only three on goal which are very low numbers for that team.  Ultimately it still wasn't enough as Bayern won 2-0.  However in their last game, the Berlin derby at Hertha, they were run all over the field and looked completely out of sorts and didn't manage a single shot on goal.  So it two games so far, they have yet to score and while I thought they played well defensively in the first game, they were atrocious in the second.

Mainz meanwhile, aside from the last 30 minutes against Koln in their first game, has not looked good at all and conceded seven goals in their two games, drawing 2-2 at Koln and losing 0-5 at home to RB Leipzig.  They were completely outplayed in both games but took advantage of Koln's subs that weren't quite ready for game action and scored a quick two goals to tie that game and ultimately settle for a draw, otherwise, they have not looked good at all.

But that leads me to the Over in this game as with two struggling defenses and both desperate for points, this game could open up as both press for a much needed three points as they battle against relegation.  On the season, Mainz has a 21-6 O-U mark including 12-1 on the road while Union Berlin is 15-12 O-U.  Union Berlin won the reverse fixture 3-2 with a total 32 shots and nine on goal.  I think we will see similar numbers here which should produce an Over for us.

TAKE OVER 2.75 GOALS

 Line Parameter: 3% at 2.75 up to -130.  Some books still have 2.5 available at around -130 which is good to take as well, but officially releasing at 2.75, the more widely availabe number.  

German Bundesliga - Mainz 05 at Union Berlin

Wednesday's free play is with Union Berlin. After restarting the season with a 2-0 loss at home to Bayern in which they held the league leaders to only 3 shots on goal and only conceded the 2nd late they fell completely apart next time out in the first ever Berlin Derby and looked terrible defensively in what could have been worse than the 4-0 scoreline indicates. They'll look to bounce back at home against leagues worst defensive side and one that were ripped apart at home on the weekend losing 5-0 to Leipzig. Union will also welcome back last seasons leading scorer for their side after a long bout with an injury. With both sides sitting just above the relegation zone full points here becomes key for these sides but we'll look for the home side here to get on the board and score the knockout as your free play.

The Free Play is Union Berlin +126

Brad Keselowski over Joey Logano In the 3 races coming off the break, Brad is averaging a 6th place finish where Logano is outside the top 12. Brad has finished ahead of Logano in all 3 of those races, and he was one of the top cars on Sunday that resulted in the win. Logano had a pit road penalty which pushed him back, but even then Brad was running ahead of Joey, and did so most of the race. There also is a big advantage in strategy. Brad is the best in NASCAR about using pit stops to get ahead of the field, and when it came down to it on the last pit stop, Logano lost spots, and Brad moved up to the lead. I get the better driver, in the better car with the advantage in pit strategy…I’ll gladly take Brad here.