Will Royals cover vs. Mariners? | Stanley Cup picks, predictions

Happy Friday, gamblers.

In the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Mavericks went 0-2 in Game 1s, but then responded with wins, while the Celtics opened their series with victories, only to go 0-2 in their next meetings. So in the NBA Finals, Boston going up 1-0 on Dallas almost felt predetermined. The questions now are whether Jason Kidd and the Mavericks can course correct once again, and if Joe Mazzulla can get the Celtics can avoid that Game 2 malaise when they meet Sunday night. Consider this a sneak preview for the type of expert analysis and insight you will receive as a SportsLine subscriber.

• NFL responds Josh Jacobs' claim that neither the Packers or Eagles will be permitted to wear green for Brazil game.
• Chiefs defensive lineman BJ Thompson isawake and responsive after going into cardiac arrest during practice on Thursday.
• The Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight has been rescheduled for Nov. 15 following Tyson's ulcer flare-up.

All times Eastern |Game odds via SportsLineconsensus

STANLEY CUP FINAL EXPERT PICKS

The Stanley Cup Final starts Saturday night with the Florida Panthers hosting the Edmonton Oilers. In order to reach the NHL's championship series, the Panthers defeated the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final, while the Oilers took down the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. The Panthers franchise is looking for its first Cup; the Oilers are looking to add to their rich history while also becoming the first Canadian team to win the Cup since 1993. (Pete Blackburn has more on how these teams were constructed .) ... But who will win? CBS Sports NHL writers Chris Bengel (yes, me!) and Austin Nivison have made predictionsabout the length of the series and who'll be victorious in this year's battle for Lord Stanley's Cup.

• Nivison: "Sergei Bobrovsky has been solid for the Panthers in these playoffs, posting a .908 save percentage, but he has shown the ability to play at an elite level. On the other side, Stuart Skinner came on strong in the conference final after struggling in the second round. Which version of Skinner shows up in this series will be an X-factor."

• Bengel: "Having to contend with one of the world's top players in Connor McDavid on a nightly basis won't be an easy task, but I think Bobrovsky will be up to the challenge. This will likely be a back-and-forth series and could easily go seven games. Ultimately, I trust the Panthers' goaltending and star power a little bit more."

Mariners at Royals, 8:10 p.m. | TV: MLB.TV

• The Pick: Royals (+108)
• Key trend: The Royals are 7-2 in their last nine home games.

SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman is 6-2 in his last eight picks involving the Mariners.

• Hochman: "Mariners starter Bryce Miller's stats are impressive, but there are some concerns upon closer examination. Miller has a 45.2% hard-hit rate and a 34.9% ground ball rate. Seattle does has a 12-6 record against left-handed starters, but they rank 23rd in OPS (.667) against left-handed pitchers. Daniel Lynch IV will pitch for the Royals, and most of the Mariners lineup has never faced him. The matchup looks favorable for the Royals as they rank fifth in defensive runs saved (+8), while Seattle is ranked 21st (-5). I thought this line would be -110, so let's take the home team at plus money."

Here's what else SportsLine is saying about the game:The Projection Model has a "B" pick on the spread, while having "C" picks on the moneyline and total.Get one week of picks from SportsLine completely free with the promo codeNEWSLETTER*.Sign up here to get started!

Braves at Nationals, 6:45 p.m. | TV: MLB.TV

• The Projection: Over 7.5 (-117)| Grade: B -- Moderate

SportsLine's Projection Model has "B" grades on the total, spread, and moneyline for the contest. The over is 3-1-1 in the Nationals' last five home games, so we'll trust that trend to continue with the Braves coming to town.

SportsLine expert picks:Our staff has combed through the Friday night MLB slate and offered their best plays as the season continues.Get one week of picks from SportsLine completely free with the promo code NEWSLETTER*.Sign up here to get started!

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