There's no shame in being a "square" and back mostly favorites, after all, any way of turning a profit is a good way, and favorites are perfect to use in parlays to turn a quick buck. Due to the high price, you'll need to pick your spots very carefully though.
Here Mike Lundin is taking a look at a couple of favorites from Thursday's NHL card that he would advise you NOT to use in your parlays or singles. Remember, a unit not lost is worth just as much as a unit won in your bankroll.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Los Angeles Kings (-220)
The Kings are sitting top of the Pacific Division, but they're off a 4-1 loss at Colorado as they saw a five-game winning streak come to an end. They're 6-13 in their last 19 games following a loss of three or more goals and 0-4 in their last four after scoring two goals or less in their previous game. The Maple Leafs are off three consecutive wins and won 4-0 at Anaheim last night. Fatigue may become an issue, but this still looks like an unreasonable price on the Kings.
Detroit Red Wings vs. San Jose Sharks (-135)
The Sharks have the league's worst home record at 5-11-0 while the Red Wings are a solid 9-5-2 on the road and San Jose has opened a five-game homestand with a 1-2 record, losing to both Winnipeg and Colorado. The Red Wings meanwhile have opened a six-game trek with back-to-back wins at Buffalo and New Jersey, and backing the Sharks does not look all that appealing to me here.
Note that:
Just because we're fading the favorite does NOT mean that we're automatically tailing the dog. Sometimes the juice the sports books charge takes away the value on either side.