CAPPERS ACCESS
Royals
W. Sox
Raptors
Bobby Maxwell
The Rockets struggled after their 22-game winning streak came to an end but they seem to have corrected a few things and have rattled off four straight wins and are looking to stay in contention for a top-four spot in the Western Conference playoff race.
But the one team in the Western Conference they don't want to see is this Suns' team and they way they are playing right now, they could beat anybody - with ease. Phoenix is winning slugfests and winning defensive struggles. They went to Memphis on Tuesday and beat the Grizzlies 127-113 as 12 1/2-point road favorites and then went to San Antonio the next night and beat the spurs 96-79 as seven-point road 'dogs.
The victory over the Spurs was impressive as they held San Antonio to 34-of-81 shooting from the field and won the rebounding war.
Phoenix has won two of three against the Rockets this season and they are 14-3 ATS in the last 17 meetings with Houston and 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 overall.
Phoenix has size and speed while the Rockets bring no size to the table. Let's go ahead and play the Suns in this one to win it by 10. A big second half will put Houston away.
3* PHOENIX
TONY WESTON
We?re going to switch gears and focus on some hoops as the Seattle Supersonics play at the San Antonio Spurs.
These teams have only played twice this season, both times in Seattle. The first time they played the Spurs won 116-101 as 10-point favorites. However, the second time they hooked up the Sonics stunned San Antonio, winning 88-85 as 7 1/2 point dogs.
And even though Seattle has very little to play for, it's had a little fight in it lately.
Over their last three games the Sonics are 2-1 ATS with those two wins coming against playoff teams Denver and Dallas.
The Spurs, on the other hand, have lost three straight ATS, including their last two where they were installed as favorites.
Also consider that while San Antonio has done a good job collecting rings over the last few years, it hasn't done so in overwhelming fashion. Take this season. So far this year the Spurs are outscoring their opponents by a little less than five points per game, winning by an average score of 95.3-90.6. And over their last five, they've only outscored their opponents by an average of two points 88-86.2.
The number set up for this one is too great to cover, even for the dynastic Spurs.
Take the points and the Sonics.
2* SONICS (1* to 5* Scale)
MATT RIVERS
For Friday take the number back with the Marlins.
Florida may be the weakest team in the National League and own the worst record when all is said and done but Houston has no business ever laying such a price as this team is a 75 or so win club.
Yes Roy Oswalt is a stud and has Cy Young potential but the Astros bats could get shut down at anytime. Bad teams just cannot be giving big numbers, ever!
The Marlins have a guy in Ricky Nolasco on the bump who could get drilled but the righty has also had some success over his first few years in the bigs and has enough to hold his own and at the vey least keep his team in the game.
Hanley Ramirez is a stud and guys like Mike Jacobs, Jeremy Hermida and a few others will take their hacks today in a game in which they are a bigger dog than they should be.
The 'Stros probably should win this game as Oswalt will more than likely shine as usual but to get almost $2 or so back is too tempting too pass up against a bad team!
Gold Medal Club
New Orleans @ Lakers
PLAY OVER 212
What a deep card in the NBA tonight, what better way than to cap it off with a late night winning "Total". Expect a shootout here, with both teams reaching triple digits. We note the Lakers are averaging 100 ppg on there home court, while giving up over 100. The Hornets have put up an average of 104 in there last 5 games. In what should be a closely contested game there is also the realistic chance of overtime here as well.
Hot Lock sports
St. Louis Cardinals vs San Francisco Giants
St. Louis Cardinals -125
The Cards are 7-2 L 9 games on the road. Zito has struggled and while Lohse is not light years better, he just might be at this stage in his career. Giants on a mini win streak which is amazing in itself. I am taking LaRussa's Cardinals here for 3 units!
Mighty Quinn
Braves
RedZone Sports
Yankees
TOTALS 4 U
PHOENIX/HOUSTON UNDER 204
PRIORITY SPORTS
ARIZONA
RAZOR SHARP
ARIZONA (Webb) -145
LT's LOCKS
Mariners -125
Scott Spreitzer
Padres
COMPUTER SPORTS
76'ERS -5 1/2
John Fina
Bulls +4.5
TV HOTLINE
CINCINNATI -110
TRACE ADAMS
St. Louis Cardinals
#1 SPORTS
KNICKS + 5
VEGAS STEAMLINE
Washington/Detroit UNDER the total of 187
HUDDLE UP
St Louis Lohse -130
MIKE WYNN
San Antonio -17
PLATINUM PLAYS
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - 4'
ARTHUR RALPH
PADRES
BIG TIME SPORTS
WASHINGTON/DETROIT UNDER 188
SCOUT
Boston -115
Paul Leiner
5* Twins +125
Tony Mathews
Texas Rangers
Tom Coffaro
Tigers -107
Super Scout
Phoenix Suns/Houston Rockets Under 204
Maximum Fantasy Sports
Red Sox -107
David Page
Pirates +104
Gamblers Data
DBacks -153
Joey Hannigan Playmakers
New York Yankees
BIG SHOW Handicapping
Indians -162
Black Cobras Picks
St. Louis Cardinals -125
Florida Booky Busters
Memphis/Miami Over 193.5
Buck ShotBoys
Houston/Roy Oswalt -1.5
MustWinSportsPicks
Tampa Bay -1.5
PRIORITY SPORTS INFO
D BACKS
INSIDER SPORTS REPORT
New York +4.5
NICK JONES
New York Mets -117
TV Hotline
Reds
Joe Wiz
Lakers
Texas Rangers
Glen Mcgrew
Oakland A's
Big Time Sports
Pistons Under
Bob Donahue
Grizzlies
BIG AL's FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS-OUT BASEBALL WINNER!
Cards
BIG AL's 66-31 NBA CONFERENCE GAME OF THE MONTH!
Rockets
Brandon Lang
20 Dime - Suns
5 Dime - Royals / Padres / Red Sox
FREE PICK - Cubs and Hornets
Drew Gordon
1. 300,000* NY Knicks
2. 50,000* Pacers
3. 50,000* Rangers
Wunderdog NHL
Philadelphia at Washington
Pick: Washington -150
Teams don't get any hotter than the Capitals. They grabbed the division title thanks to closing out the regular season with 11 wins out of their last 12 games. In their last four games, Washington won by a cumulative score of 14-3. Alex Ovechkin has been unstoppable. He led the league in points and goals and should take down the Hart. Martin Biron has been playing well, but Ovechkin is not to be denied right now. Washington is 21-11 vs. winning teams this season including 12-5 in their last 17 and we think they take down game one here with relative ease.
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Cleveland Indians -152
(listing Sabathia and Blanton)
The Indians are an unstoppable 21-5 in their last 26 home games, 23-8 in their last 31 games as a favorite, and 12-4 in their last 16 during game 1 of a series. The Athletics are just 6-16 in the last 22 meetings in Cleveland and 1-5 in Blanton's last 6 starts vs. the Indians. The Indians are 40-15 in Sabathia's last 55 starts as a favorite of -151 to -200, 15-5 in Sabathia's last 20 starts as a home favorite, 16-5 in Sabathia's last 21 starts during game 1 of a series, and 25-10 in Sabathia's last 35 Friday starts. We'll take Cleveland at home with their ace firing today.
Insider Sports Report
4* N.Y. Yankees (Wang) -105 over Boston (Buchholz)
Range +110 to -125
3* St. Louis (Lohse) -130 over San Francisco (Zito)
Range -110 to -145
3* New Orleans/L.A. Lakers (NBA) OVER 212
Range 210 to 214
Armvin Sports
NHL
Minnesota -127
MLB
Tampa Bay Rays -157
MONEYLOCOFTHEDAY
Junior - Yanks
Digger - Atlanta Hawks
Hawker - Pirates over