Paul Leiner
25* NBA Over 202 LAL/Port
10* Blue Jays -130
5* Brewers even
Chip Chirimbes
NEW YORK KNICKS
If recent history is any indication, the Pistons might be able to get a little more rest against New York (21-56). The Knicks have not won in Detroit since an 89-82 victory on March 27, 2002. The Pistons won 98-86 in the only meeting this season at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 21. The Knicks ended a five-game losing streak on Sunday, beating the Magic 100-90. Rookie Wilson Chandler scored a season-high 23 points, nearly four times his season average entering the game (5.9).
Matt Rivers
CINCINNATI REDS
I fully admit that this game is not the epitome of a value as the Brewers are clearly superior to the Reds and playing on the road is never great but I am going to take my chances with this possible next wonderkid in Johnny Cueto. I do not expect Dusty Baker's young hurler to be as unreal as he was in that first start where he struck out 10 and looked like Cy Young against Arizona but if this kid is half of what they are now saying then I cannot help but back him at a price where he is not a heavy favorite. Who knows, maybe this guy is overrated and overvalued because of that initial outing but Jeff Suppan really does not scare me, even with that great first start, and I'll back the fairly impressive Reds. Cincinnati has jumped out of the box very well this season. They had won four of five before being shut down a bit by a stud in Cole Hamels and overall should be feeling pretty good about themselves. Griffey, Dunn, Patterson and Phillips have a ton of potential and this team has a great shot to win this game. I like Ned Yost's team as Ryan Braun and Prince Fiedler should be stars for years to come and Bill Hall, Ricky Weeks, JJ Hardy and others are very good as well but I will give Cueto some love here. If he is overvalued and it turns out this was the wrong side then I learned my lesson. But if this is the next great thing then we are getting a steal!
Bobby Maxwell
3* LA ANGELS -125
The Indians have lost four of their last five after opening the season with two straight wins. And the Angels are coming into this one off one of the most amazing wins you’ll ever see. Los Angeles beat Cleveland Monday when the Angels blew a 2-1 lead in the ninth when closer Francisco Rodriguez gave up three runs to fall behind 4-2. But a dramatic grand slam homer off the bat of Torii Hunter in the bottom of the ninth got the win and cover. He also homered in the eighth to give the Angels the lead. Our guy Ervin Santana (1-0, 3.00 ERA) starts for the Angels and comes off a Thursday debut in Minnesota when he gave up two runs on four hits in a 5-4 Los Angeles win. Now he is back on the mound in Anaheim where he has dominated the last two seasons. Santana is 25-9 with a 3.14 ERA in his last 43 starts in front of the home crowd. This guy has been a cash cow in Anaheim the last few years. Jake Westbrook (0-1, 2.45 ERA) goes for the Tribe and in his first effort he gave up two runs over 7.1 innings against the White Sox in a 2-1 loss. Look for the emotion from Monday’s loss to carryover to Tuesday’s game and the same to be true for the Angels. They stay in the game behind the strong start from Santana.
Spports Gambling Hotline
3* PHOENIX SUNS -11½
We believe the Suns will come out in a fiesty mood tonight, as they blew a 13-point 4th quarter lead at home on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, getting outscored 27-9 in the 4th to absorb a hurtful loss. Memphis has been playing decent basketball to close this lost season out, as they have split their last 10 games straight up, but they have failed in 3 of their last 4 when getting points. Phoenix has big road games at San Antonio, and Houston the next couple of nights, so expect them to take no prisoners in this "gimme" game. The Suns have won the last 7 series meetings, covering the last pair, and 4 of the last 5, and we will ride the Suns once again to dominate the season series against the Grizzlies. Play on Phoenix.
Triple Threat Sports
NY YANKEES
Good value here on the Bombers, especially since most of KC's damage (three of four wins) has come against so far winless Tigers and since Hughes went six scoreless innings in his first start of 2008. Lay the small price here.
Joel Tyson
3* CHICAGO
Chicago (-9) at MIAMI
Lay the points on the road tonight as the Chicago Bulls take on the tanking Miami Heat. Pat Riley can say what he wants, but everyone that has one inkling of sports knowledge knows that the Heat are a typical case of a team that is looking for the number one draft pick.
Miami is 15-36 ATS in their last 51 home games, 6-14-1 ATS in their last 21 versus NBA Central foes, and an awful 18-37-1 ATS in their last 56 overall.
The Bulls I realize have not been completely lights out, but they have won two of their last four heading into tonight’s match up. Chicago is currently scoring at a rate of just over 99 ppg, while the Heat have dropped their scoring average to 91 ppg. Miami has lost seven in a row, and show no signs about caring to win at this time.
Play the Bulls to win and cover.
ARTHUR RALPH
Superpick: Arizona D'Backs
Regular: San Diego Padres
Free Play: Brewers
Larry Ness
20* Situational GOM
Play Indiana Pacers
REASON FOR PICK: The 36-41 Hawks are on the verge of clinching their first playoff berth in nine years (since '99), which would end the NBA's longest active postseason drought. They own a three-game lead over the 33-44 Pacers (are four games up on the idle Nets), who they play tonight in Indiana. All three teams have just FIVE games remaining, so the Hawks should be able to hold on. They enter with six wins in their last seven games (4-3 ATS) and 10 wins in their last 13 (8-5 ATS). Johnson (21.8-4.6-5.8) and Bibby (13.9-6.2 APG) form an excellent backcourt while as I've said a million times, Atlanta owns a terrific group of young players in the frontcourt. Forwards Josh Smith (17.1-8.2), Marvin Williams (15.1-5.8) and Josh Childress (11.9-4.8) are joined by rookie center Horford (10.1-9.7), giving the Hawks a frontcourt they need to keep around for the next half-dozen years. The Pacers were postseason regulars in the East for a very long time but are now likely to miss for the second straight season. However, don't expect them to "play out the string" in this one. O'Neal is now available and has played in the last four games, coming off the bench, He averaged 10.7 PPG in his first three games and while he scored just one point in Sunday's home win over Milwaukee, he did have nine rebounds. Granger (19.0-5.9) and Dunleavy (18.7-5.2-3.5) have been excellent all season and big men Murphy (12.4-7.2) and Foster (6.4-8.8) are sure happy to have O'Neal back, even if it is for only 20 MPG. PG Tinsley's out for the year but Detroit-reject Flip Murray has scored in double digits in 11 of his 18 games with the Pacers, while averaging 11.2 PPG. Travis Diener is also contributing at the point these days, averaging 9.9 PPG over his last seven games (had 18 vs Milwaukee on Sunday). The Hawks have won their last two road games but are just 11-27 on the road this year, with Bibby's addition not helping all that much (5-10 on the road with Bibby starting). As for the Pacers, they have won eight of their last 11 (7-4 ATS) overall but going back to the beginning of March, are 8-1 SU at home, losing only to the red-hot Hornets! These teams have met twice this year, with the home team winning both times. In the game at Indiana (won by the Pacers 113-91), Granger had 32-9 and Dunleavy 23-12. Hawks will very likely hold on and end that playoff drought (I hope they do) but tonight, the Pacers win and win handily! Situational Game of the Month on the Ind Pacers (7*).
Las Vegas Insider-NBA (13-6 or 68.2%)
Play New Orleans Hornets
REASON FOR PICK: The Jazz haven't played since their 90-64 win Friday night over the Spurs. Utah shoots 49.9 percent from the floor as a team (2nd-best in the NBA) but shot just 41.0 percent against the Spurs. However, the Jazz aren't complaining, as they held the Spurs to just nine points in the 4th quarter, ending San Antonio's eight-game winning streak. The Hornets were happy to see that score as well, as entering tonight's game with the Jazz in New Orleans, the Hornets own the West's best record (54-22), 1 1/2-games better than both the Spurs and Lakers. Both teams are led by fabulous young PGs and outstanding power forwards. For the Jazz it's Williams (19.2-10.5 APG) at the point and Boozer (21.6-10.6), inside. For the Hornets, it's PG Paul (21.5-4.0-11.5) and PF West (20.4-9.0). Both teams have excellent role players and depth, although I believe Utah's center Okur (11.4-7.4) could be overmatched against New Orleans' center Chandler (11.8-11.9). Also, with Peja (16.3-4.3) healthy and in excellent form at the small forward spot, Kirilenko and Harpring may have their hands full. Since acquiring SG Korver from the 76ers in late December, the Jazz have gone 35-10. That's a winning percentage of .778, a figure topped (on the year) by only Boston (61-15, .803). However, the Jazz are still a much better home team (35-4 mark is an NBA-best!), than road team (16-22 SU and 15-23 ATS). The Hornets come in having won five straight, 10 of 11 and are 17-4 (15-5-1 ATS) since Feb 27. The Feb 27 date is important, as it also began the team's 11-game winning streak, in which the Hornets have gone 10-1 ATS. You no longer hear about the Hornets being better on the road than they are at home. The Jazz haven't played since that Friday night win over San Antonio and may just be a little too "comfy," having played EIGHT of their last nine games in Salt Lake City. As for the Hornets, after tonight's game, New Orleans plays four of its final five games on the road, including games at the Lakers and Mavericks. The Hornets will want this one and lately, they've been getting what they want. Las Vegas Insider on the NO Hornets (8*).
Nick Parsons
Play ON Indiana Pacers (-) vs Atlanta
This is a key game for both teams as the Hawks are trying to get closer to notching a playoff berth while the Pacers are trying to stay alive in the playoff race. With a win in this key battle Indiana would be able to move to just being two games behind the Hawks in the playoff standings! Even though Atlanta has been hot there is a flaw in their recent numbers. The Hawks have won six of their last seven and ten of their last thirteen. However, Atlantas schedule has been quite favorable and the Pacers at home are going to prove to be a much tougher test than many of the opponents the Hawks have recently defeated. Jermaine ONeal is back for the Pacers, although still not near 100% but Indianas huge fourth quarter rally versus Milwaukee on Sunday is the key here. The Pacers will take momentum from that victory right into this game as they were down by double digits heading into the fourth quarter of that game! Now, its the Pacers taking advantage of Conseco Fieldhouse where they have won three straight and eight of their last nine! Over the last seven seasons, the Pacers are 12-2 at home against the Hawks and, with a low number posted on this game, were basically just asking Indiana to get the win for us to get the cash! The Hawks have won four of their last six road games but four of those games were against teams that wont make the playoffs this season! This is a much tougher test for Atlanta and the hungry Pacers will not be denied here as they tighten up the playoff race!
Drew Gordon
1. 200,000* Hornets
2. 50,000* Hawks
3. 50,000* Reds
BIG AL
3* Suns
Will Sykes
3* Utah Jazz (+ Money Line)
Dave Malinsky 4* Play
NY YANKEES/KANSAS CITY Under
A cold and wet day in Kansas City is hardly “hitters” weather, so when we have a couple of young pitchers that are going to throw a lot of strikes against lineups that lack experience against them; fully rested bullpens for each side; and a pair of slumping offenses; we have great value for this one.
The Yankees are expecting big things from Philip Hughes, and they should. His last three stops in the Minor’s produced ERA’s of 1.79 at A, 2.25 at AA and 2.20 at AAA, and he was better in the Major’s than his 4.46 ERA would show LY, allowing only 64 hits in 72.2 innings and having twice as many strikeouts as walks. He continued that form in spring training, and in last week’s opener vs. Toronto he worked six solid innings in an economical 87 pitches, allowing only four hits, with four strikeouts and a lone walk. 58 of those pitches found the strike zone. With Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera both rested and ready to go behind him, we can count on solid mound work from the Yankees all afternoon, against a Royal offense that has struggled to the tune of just 23 runs so far (only the Tigers have been worse in the A.L.), despite facing pitching that has not been all that special so far.
Meanwhile Brian Bannister continued his solid 2007 with a dominating win at Detroit in his opener, showing a masterful command of the strike zone. He needed only 85 pitches to get through seven innings, without issuing a walk, and his penchant for getting ahead of hitters takes away one of the keys to the Yankee attack - their ability to wear down pitchers by getting them deep into counts. With Wilson Betemit and his .111 average the likely replacement for Derek Jeter that offense becomes even weaker today, and an under-rated Kansas City bullpen also brings all
DARK HORSE
MLB - Colorado -110 over Atlanta
John Fina
New York Knicks +11
THE VEGAS STEAMLINE
Seattle/Denver UNDER the total of 205
MIKE WYNN
LA Angels w/Santana -120 Over Cleveland
PLATINUM PLAYS
WNCAA: the TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS - 1.5 Over the Stanford Cardinals
NEVADA SHARPSHOOTER
REDS -115 OVER BREWERS
BIG TIME SPORTS
ATLANTA /INDIANA OVER 212
Tony Mathews
San Diego Padres -115
Tom Coffaro
Seattle Mariners -116
The Super Scout
Philadelphia Phillies +134
Hot Lock Sports
New York Yankees -139
Joey Hannigan - Playmakers
Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+205)
DRG SPORTS
San Diego Padres -105
Brandon Banks
Memphis Grizzlies +11.5