Larry Ness
SAN -8.5 vs GSW
Just when it seemed like time to write off the defending champs (four titles since '99), the Spurs reminded everyone they are still a legitimate title threat. San Antonio dropped six of seven games from Mar 7 through Mar 17, going 0-7 ATS during its slide. However, beginning with a 102-80 win at Chicago on Mar 20, the Spurs have won seven straight (6-1 ATS), which is the longest current winning streak in the league. Golden State enters this game with a streak of its own, as the league's highest scoring team (111.1 PPG) has reached the 100-point mark in 37 straight games. However, while the Warriors are 25-12 SU in those contests, they are just 16-21 ATS. Golden State ended a long playoff drought last year and then shocked the Mavericks, who owned the NBA's best record LY, in the first round. The Warriors have played even better this year but the team's 45-28 mark is good for only 8th in the amazingly competitive Western Conference, a mark that leaves then just a half-game ahead of Denver for the West's final playoff spot. The Spurs' seven-game winning streak has them at 51-23, one game better than the Lakers and Suns (both 50-24) and just percentage points behind the Hornets (50-22), for the West's best record. The dynamics of this game are really interesting, as the teams have met twice already this year with the Warriors winning each time, 96-84 on Dec 11 and 130-121 in OT on Jan 7. However, both of those games were played in Oakland. Believe it or not, the Warriors have lost 19 straight games in San Antonio, by an average of 17.2 PPG, which should come as no surprise when one considers they have only averaged 84.5 PPG in those 19 contests. Let's remember, this year's team leads the league in scoring and has reached triple digits in 37 consecutive games. However, San Antonio (as always) is one of the league's best defensive teams, ranking third in the league in PPG allowed, at 90.9. During the team's seven-game winning streak, the Spurs are allowing only 86.7 PPG. Something has got to give. I'm betting it's the Warriors. Lay the points with the Spurs.
Iceman NHL
5* Buffalo
Bob Balfe
NBA Basketball
Timberwolves +6 over Pistons
College Basketball
UMass +4.5 over Florida
Major League Baseball
Dodgers -155 over Giants
Lowe/Cain
Savannah Sports
NBA
2 Units on San Antonio -8.5
EZWINNERS
Toronto Blue Jays + 151
Its not often you will get Roy Halladay at this kind of price but the New York Yankees name gets us value here. The Yankees opening day starter Chien-Ming Wang was 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts against the Jays last season and he has been knocked around in spring training this year where he finished up with a 8.04 ERA. Roy Halliday's ERA the last three seasons pitching at Yankee Stadium is a microscopic 0.61! I'll gladly take Toronto as a dog with their ace on the mound.
WildBill Boston Red Sox -128
Harris Sports Angels/Twins Under 9.0
JEFF MONEY St Louis Cardinals -114
BoDog Sports Ohio State -2.0
Info Plays
3* on Seattle Mariners -1.5 +114
(Listing Padilla and Hernandez)
Felix Hernandez use being named the No. 2 starter this season to be extra motivated to have an even more impressive 2008. Erik Bedard took his spot as the Mariners’ Ace, and now Hernandez has to prove he is still worth of that spot come next season. It all starts tonight against the Rangers. Hernandez finished with a 14-7 record and a nice 3.82 ERA last year. Texas will counter with righthander Vicente Padilla, who will be trying to bounce back from an atrocious 2007, that saw him post a 6-10 record with a 5.76 ERA. Padilla has never fared well against the Mariners, owning a 2-7 mark with a 6.26 ERA in nine games - seven starts. Ichiro Suzuki has been a particularly big problem for Padilla, owning a .522 (12-for-23) batting average. Felix Hernandez has is 3-0 in his last 3 starts against the Rangers, allowing just 4 earned runs in 22 innings of work. The Mariners easily win this one by at least 2 runs Tuesday. Bet Seattle on the -1.5 Run Line.
Gold Medal Club
Los Angeles @ San Jose
PLAY ON LA.KINGS +
After the prime time beating the Stars laid on the Kings, we have an overlay here. The Kings come into this, with pride on the line, they are rested, and have beaten the Sharks in there own building this year, they also catch the Sharks in a lull, fine tuning for the playoffs, Consider the nice price on LA Tonight.
Tom Stryker
Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings
Play: Houston Rockets
Off Sunday's embarrassing loss at San Antonio, Houston will be champing at the bit to get back on the winning track.
Offensively, the Rockets should have a field day against the Kings porous defense. In case you have noticed, Sacramento has allowed opponents to top the century mark in 20 of its last 21 games. When Houston pops for 100 or more on foreign soil, the Rockets are a solid investment posting an amazing 130-30-6 ATS record in their last 166 games.
Don't forget, Tracy McGrady and company has been one of the best in the league when coming off a straight up loss too. In fact, as a guest coming off a blemish, Houston is a profitable 149-86 ATS provided the Rockets are matched up against a non-division foe. In this role running in a back-to-back or with one day of rest, Houston improves to a sensational 134-68 ATS!
Without the services of Mike Bibby (traded to Atlanta), Sacramento has been an average ballclub posting a mediocre 10-11 SU mark. In addition, the Kings are a soft 9-26 SU and 14-10-1 ATS in their last 35 tries against the Southwest Division.
The Rockets have exploded in their last 41 games notching a remarkable 34-7 SU and 28-13 ATS record including a marvelous 14-4 SU and 13-5 ATS in this set as a guest. Let's lay this small number and cash a nice ticket. Take Houston.
Indian Cowboy
Philadelphia 76ers @ New Jersey Nets
Pick: 3 unit(s) ATS: New Jersey Nets -1 (-109) (Play of the Day)
This is a game that the Nets should win outright at home and frankly, this game opened up with the Nets being the underdog off shore and quickly moved to the Nets being the favorite - despite the public heavily in favor of the Sixers. Now, I love betting on the Sixers typically as they are a very good team. In fact, I think if there is any team that is likely to defeat the Celtics in the playoffs in the East as a surprise, it is the Sixers who beat them outright in Boston and it takes a defensive team in my opinion to beat Boston and the Sixers are definitely that. However, don't take anything away from the Nets. They were a lousy team at times with Jason Kidd but this team has been rejuvinated by Devin Harris who has sped up the tempo of this team. In fact, the Mavs have gown downard with comparison to their offense - and this was even when Dirk was healthy while the Nets are the same team that has been competing for that last playoff spot in the East - this is the same team that saw the Hawks pound the Grizzlies yesterday and gain an additional edge and this team has to keep up if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they lost 4 to this Sixers team on the road so this is a key revenge game, they come off back to back losses similar to the Sixers, but the revenge angle and the fact that the Hawks won yesterday makes the difference in my opinion. I expect the Nets to be down early, but then start chipping away and end up winning this ballgame. The Nets are a superior team after a straight up loss given this stretch to get into the playoffs as they are 5-0 ATS after a straight up loss.
New Orleans Hornets @ Orlando Magic
Pick: 3 unit(s) ATS: New Orleans Hornets -1 (-114) (Normal)
The last team the Hornets had revenge against was the Raptors on the road, but I laid off taking them and they just hammered the Raps. Well, why wouldn't I take the Hornets who lay atop the Western Conference Standings, continue to fight hard for the first place seeding with all the potent teams in the west in the Lakers, Suns, Warriors, Mavs, Rockets, Spurs and company right behind them. Heck, with a good run, a team can go from 8th to first as it is that tight in the West. The Hornets have won 8 of their last 10, their sense of urgency for this game is greater, they have revenge againstt the Magic who beat them at home so they will look to re-do the favor in Orlando. Does it seem like a surprise the Magic are dogged at home - it shouldn't as the Hornets are a very good team and you know how tough it is in the West - well consider, the Leader of the West - the hardest conference in the NBA out of the 2- which technically makes this team have an argument for the best team in the NBA this year, in a basic pick-em on the road - that is what you have here - with that team with revenge on top of that and having covered 8 of their last 10.
Golden State Warriors @ San Antonio Spurs
Pick: 3 unit(s) ATS: San Antonio Spurs -8.5 (-110) (Normal)
I suspect the majority of the public will think, the Warriors, Plus nearly 9 points - Wonderful! However, what if you were the Spurs and you were beat by this team twice this year on the road at Golden State, you obviously will not be in a good mood coming into this game. Granted, the Warriors come off a loss, but it was either this play or the Kings at home, but I would rather take the Spurs with double-revenge at home. The Spurs took this team to overtime on the road in their last ballgame, Golden State comes off a big win over the Mavs at home so they are not coming off a loss which is a good thing for this game, the Spurs beat Houston by 21 with revenge this past weekend and they should have no worries about beatig this potential playoff contender by double-digits at home today. I suspect this will be a relatively close game most of the way and the Spurs to lay the clamp down in the second half and pull the cover here in a decisive way. The Favorite is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 ballgames and the home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings not to mention the Warriors are just 1-7 ATS in San Antonio of late.
Scott Ferrall
FLORIDA -4.5 to UMASS--Gators get it done after back to back National Championships they make the NIT Final
OHIO ST -2.5 to Ol' Miss--Buckeyes are playing very well for Thad Motta in this tourney,they get in to Final to meet Billy Donovan's Gators
ATS Basketball Lock Club
4 units Golden State
3 units Hornets
ATS Hockey Lock Club
4 units Over Mon-Ott
3 units Washington
DELANEY
10* Ohio State
10* Padres (RUN LINE)
Stan Sharp Double Dime
Spurs-8.5
ANTON WINS
Toronto/Roy Halladay +145 2 units