Johnny’s Quick Picks for Dec. 27, 2023
PITTSBURGH—
JOHNNY’S QUICK PICKS FOR DEC. 27 2023 – Welcome to my Quick Picks column, where I hand out winners, winners, and more winners every day. I fire off picks on everything from college hoops to the NHL.
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Read below for more John Fredericks Quick Picks for Dec. 27, 2023.
Good thing the Kansas Jayhawks bailed my sorry ass out yesterday after losing my first two bowl games on the day. Now a lot of NHL action tonight, too! Lets go
 College Football
 West Virginia (-6) Vs. North Carolina
 No Drake Maye, no Tar Heels.
 North Carolina started its season on a 6-0 run. Then the wheels came off with a stunning loss to doormat Virginia, where the Heels were a 25 point favorite.
 NC choked down the stretch, losing four of six.
My son Joe goes to WVU and nothing was expected of them this year. They were predicted to finish last in the Big 12. They ended up 8-4, and except for a late turnover and a Hail-Mary they would have been 10-2.
WVU runs the football with power. Dual threat QB Garrett Greene and a balanced run game has enabled the Mountaineers to average 234 yards on the ground against very good teams in the Big 12.
RB C.J. Donaldson is out for this game, which gives us some pause, however.
The WVU defense is under-rated. Head coach Neal Brown went from the hot seat to a pending contract renewal. He said it would take five years to turn the program around. It took…five years. This is coach Brown’s fifth year in Morgantown. He makes $4.4 million a year. Not a bad gig.
This game means a lot to his program. Country Roads, baby! Lets sing it!
Pick: WVU -6.5
NHL
CAPS (+1.5) at Rangers
Just a hunch here that Washington comes into the Garden to play some hockey. They’ve had a nice four day break after a bunch of OT games in a row. Are the Rangers that good? Maybe. Maybe not. They are not worth this price. I’m taking a flyer on the Caps to give NY a tumble tonight.
Pick: Caps (+1.5 goals, -120)
 Ottawa at Toronto (-162)
No bet against Ottawa on the road right now is a bad bet. I know Toronto is an over-paid bunch of whiney asses—but this is easy money in Leaf-town.
 Pick: Toronto (-162)
 Pens at Islanders (-115)
Pittsburgh is maddening. Who shows up night to night? I’m fading the Penguins on the road until they win at least two in a row. Isles have won five of seven at home and are playing very solid hockey.
Pick: NJ (-115)
 Dallas (-175) over Blues
 Dallas is a talent machine. They are sixth in league scoring. The Blues have won of five of six before the break, but this is a very potent Stars crew. Dallas has only lost two games in the last three weeks. It’s fire away time!
 Pick: Dallas (-175)
 Jets (-1.5 goals, EVEN) at Chicago
 Yikes, Chicago is like the Detroit Pistons of the NHL! What a mess! Winnipeg has won six straight in this series (combined score of 27-9) and nine of 10. What’s changed? No home ice advantage, you can’t walk down the street in Chicago anyway without taking your life in your hands. The Jets are machine-like. No emotion, just goals and wins. This is my best bet of the day.
 Pick: Jets (-1.5 goals)
 Detroit at Wild (-142)
 Why not? Merry Christmas! Home sweet home!
 Pick: Wild (-142)
Merry Christmas All!
