Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors
- The Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors will both be trying to pick up a win on Wednesday when they battle at Oracle Arena.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Raptors lost 117-108 to the Lakers last time out, as 13-point road underdogs. The combined score made it OVER the posted toal of 214.
T.J. Ford shot 11-for-23 from the field with 28 points and five rebounds for the Raptors.
Baron Davis had 33 points and nine rebounds to lead the Warriors to a 104-95 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.
Golden State upset Orlando as 7.5-point road underdogs as the teams played under the 230-point total listed by oddsmakers
Current streak:
Golden State has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Toronto: 34-29 SU, 35-28 ATS
Golden State: 39-23 SU, 27-35 ATS
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
Before playing Denver are 3-7
After playing LA Lakers are 3-7
After a loss are 8-2
Golden State most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 4-6
Before playing Phoenix are 8-2
After playing Orlando are 4-6
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Toronto is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Toronto is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Toronto is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Golden State
Golden State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
Golden State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games
Golden State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Next up:
Toronto at Denver, Friday, March 14
Golden State at Phoenix, Thursday, March 13
Is there another George Mason out there this year?
March 12, 2008
A sign in the stands said what Jim Larranaga and his Patriots wouldn't.
``George Mason,'' it read, ``is this year's George Mason.''
Not so fast.
``I saw it, of course, and that was neat,'' Larranaga said over the phone Tuesday afternoon. ``But ...''
But he's not sure he wants to burden any team, especially his own, with those kind of expectations.
What happened to George Mason in the NCAA tournament in 2006 hadn't happened in more than a quarter-century. No school outside the power conferences had so much as stuck a toe across the threshold of the Final Four since 1979. But when the tournament selection committee cracked the door open for a few mid-majors two years ago, the Patriots slipped in with a controversial at-large bid as a No. 11 seed, then proceeded to blow up every office pool in America by taking down Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut before losing to eventual champion Florida in the semifinal round.
``So now everybody that isn't too busy trying to figure out whether their own team is off the bubble,'' Larranaga chuckled softly, ``is going to spend the next week or so trying to pick the next George Mason.''
Some 15 hours earlier, Larranaga and the Patriots booked their return trip to the NCAAs by beating William & Mary in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game and locking up the league's automatic bid. He hadn't slept a wink since.
He gave his staff some preliminary scouting assignments, gave his team the day off, then handled two dozen interviews and planned to watch at least one game - the low-wattage Horizon, Summit and Sun Belt leagues all had finals on tap - before going to bed.
Wednesday was already filled up with recruiting visits. As if anyone needed reminding, that's how George Mason became ``George Mason'' in the first place.
A handful of high school players dominate the recruiting news, and none of them are on Larranaga's itinerary. Those kids still choose the big programs - they just don't stay as long. It's the ones who used to sit behind them waiting for their chance who are likely to find Larranaga and other enterprising coaches from the mid-majors sitting across from them in their living rooms.
They stay together and play together, often for all four years of eligibility, and every so often, the mix is special. George Mason relied on the talent of experience of two senior guards with NBA skills - though not quite the size - for that magical run in 2006. The Patriots have two starters left from that team - 6-foot-4 Folarin Campbell and 6-11 Will Thomas, an inside-outside combination that Larranaga calls ``our Magic Johnson'' and ``our Bill Russell'' - and a handful of upperclassmen who were along for the ride.
``People forget it's always been that way, that with the exception of top-10 talents like Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Greg Oden, most kids stick around for four years,'' Larranaga said.
What's changed, however, is this: with fewer scholarships, more TV exposure for midlevel programs and more attention paid to high school and summer league games, the talent and experience gap has been closing fast.
When the NCAA selection committee began handing out bracket spots to the George Masons of college basketball instead of second-tier teams from the power conference, they weren't counting on a revolution to make them look smart, just an evolution.
But committee members aren't kidding themselves, either. They know the final rungs of the tournament ladder belong to the big guys. As the field narrows, the gaps in talent, pedigree, budget and NBA alums only grows wider. That's what makes this week special. It's a chance for the low- and mid-majors to stage their own championship week, to get stories like George Mason, Drake, Cornell and Siena out there before the power conference championships kick into high gear.
``It's tremendous exposure and a chance for coaches, players, fans and even some towns to celebrate what they've accomplished. But let's be honest, most of us are going to have a hard time topping what we did this week,'' Larranaga said.
Just in case, though, he's already got his staff pointing toward Selection Sunday. He figures George Mason will be seeded between Nos. 12-14 and assigned each assistant a power conference to begin scouting, since he thinks that's where most of the 3, 4 and 5 seeds will be drawn from.
So who will be this year's George Mason?
``If you're talking about someone coming in as a No. 11 seed, being the underdog in every game and getting to the Final Four, that's an almost-impossible pick. But if you want a mid-major who could surprise people, there's Butler, Gonzaga, South Alabama, VCU - they all qualify.''
Pressed for just one team, Larranaga finally settled on Davidson College, where he once worked as an assistant and the coach, Bob McKillop, is a good pal.
``They're going to be a hard out for anyone in the tournament,'' he said. ``Just like we were.''
Big West pairings
* UC Irvine (15-15) vs. Long Beach State (6-24), 6 p.m. -- The Anteaters swept the regular-season series, winning 70-48 on Feb. 2 and 64-57 on Feb. 28. They have won five of their last six games but are 3-14 in games played away from campus this season, including 0-4 at the Anaheim Convention Center. All-conference guard Donovan Morris, the Big West scoring leader at 21.0 points a game, leads the 49ers, who have lost their last seven games.
* Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (12-17) vs. UC Riverside (8-20), 8 p.m. -- The Mustangs, a conference tournament finalist last season, have struggled with their shooting all season and finished the regular season at 40.7%, last in the conference. They are without third-leading scorer Dawin Whiten, who had foot surgery Feb. 25. The Highlanders split the season series with Cal Poly, defeating the Mustangs, 62-58, on Feb. 2 and losing in overtime, 70-63, on Feb. 28. They were 3-3 in their final six games.
Pacific 10 Conference pairings
* California (15-14) vs. Washington (16-15), 6 -- Washington forward Jon Brockman, fifth in the conference in scoring (17.6) and first in rebounding (11.5), was on crutches Tuesday after suffering a sprained ankle late in last Saturday's loss to Washington State. Huskies Coach Lorenzo Romar said that if this game had been Tuesday, Brockman would not have played. The Bears and Huskies split their regular-season games, each winning on the road. California Coach Ben Braun said center DeVon Hardin, who missed last Saturday's 81-80 loss to UCLA because of a hip injury, would play against Washington and has practiced the last two days. The winner will play top-seeded UCLA on Thursday.
* Arizona (18-13) vs. Oregon State (6-24), 8:30 -- The Wildcats probably need at least one more victory to extend their 23-year streak of advancing to the NCAA tournament, the longest in the nation. Arizona has won only three of its last 10 games but will probably get leeway from the selection committee for the four games it played without leading scorer Jerryd Bayless and the seven without point guard Nic Wise, who returned last week from a knee injury. The Wildcats, who defeated Oregon State by 13 points in Tucson and by 36 points in Corvallis, Ore., are bidding to become the first sub-.500 Pac-10 team to receive an invitation to the field of 65. The Beavers are the first team to go winless in the Pac-10 since the conference expanded in 1978.
latimes.com
Rockets should pass history test
Though losers in its last three trips to Atlanta, Houston is favored tonight to match the NBA's second-longest winning streak at 20.
Matching history should come easy for Houston tonight.
Seeking to equal the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, the Rockets will play the Atlanta Hawks, who have lost 13 of their last 17. With a victory, Houston will have 20 in a row, the same streak Milwaukee had during the 1970-71 season. The longest winning streak in league history belongs to the Lakers, who won 33 in a row during their championship season of 1971-72.
However, the Hawks could be a stumbling block for the Rockets, who are 7-0 since center Yao Ming was sidelined for the season by foot surgery. Houston has lost three consecutive games in Atlanta, including a 105-99 defeat last season. The Rockets' last win in Georgia (86-77) came March 22, 2004.
Houston, now in the hunt for the best record in the Western Conference, also could make some history of its own. The Rockets, who have covered the point spread in all seven of their games without Yao, will be looking for a record 11th consecutive win by double digits. The last time they failed to win by at least 10 points was Feb. 19, when they defeated Cleveland by eight.
While the Rockets have been easily handling their opponents, Atlanta, still in the mix in the Eastern Conference playoff race despite a 26-37 record, has failed to cover the spread in its last five games, according to the website Vegasinsider.com
College basketball
California, which has to be the best ninth-place team in the country, begins Pacific 10 Conference tournament play tonight against Washington.
The Bears, who have lost five of their last eight against the Huskies, will need to win the tournament to get a berth into the NCAA tournament, but Cal probably is better than many of the teams who will be in the field of 65 next week.
A loser by a combined five points at USC and UCLA last weekend, the Bears have split with Washington this season, with each team winning on the road. California won, 79-75, Feb. 2 in Seattle and the Huskies won, 87-84, March 1 in Berkeley.
latimes.com
NBA Tips and Trends
Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks
Rockets (-5.5, O/U 197):The Rockets have extended their franchise-record winning streak to 19 games. With the toughest week of the season coming up, the team insists that they will not overlook their young opponent in the Hawks. During the winning streak, the defense has been the one constant according to head coach Rick Adelman. The Rockets are allowing 84 points per game and are 17-2 ATS.
Rockets are 17-2 ATS during their franchise-record 19-game winning streak. They have tied an NBA record by winning 10 straight by double digits.
Rockets are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games.
Key Injuries - F Carl Landry (9 ppg; knee) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 95
Hawks: Hawks head coach Mike Woodson said he’s hammering home the words “consistency and urgency” to his team, but the only player taking this to heart is Joe Johnson with his 21 ppg. Atlanta’s defense has allowed 100+ points in all but four games since the All-Star Break while going 4-9 ATS.
Hawks are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Key Injuries - G Mike Bibby (13 ppg; heel) will play but has been limited on defense
PROJECTED SCORE: 101
San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Hornets
Spurs: Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is making his team step up its physical play and has started Kurt Thomas in 5 straight games. However, San Antonio may be 4-2 SU in those games but only 1-4-1 ATS. According to team insiders, the players have taken to this more aggressive play, and will employ this scheme against the Hornets.
Spurs are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
Spurs are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Key Injuries - G Manu Ginobili (21 ppg; back/thigh) played 32 minutes Monday night and is reportedly very sore.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Hornets: The Hornets have struggled against top division foes over the last 2 weeks. New Orleans has lost once to the Spurs and twice to Houston in that span by an average of 13 points. The Hornets are allowing 98 ppg over their last 5, but head coach Byron Scott said: “We are not sneaking up on anybody, and we will step up our defense.”
Hornets are 3-1 SU & ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Key Injuries - F David West (20 ppg; ankle) and G Bonzi Wells (9 ppg; Achilles) are both probable to return.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors
Raptors: This is Game 2 for Toronto on its longest road trip of the year. The Raptors are .500 SU and ATS on the road, but they are still without their leading scorer Chris Bosh due to an injured knee. Even with season-high totals from Rasho Nesterovic - Bosh’s replacement - the Raptors are just 1-5 ATS without him while allowing 106 ppg.
Raptors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Key Injuries - F Chris Bosh (23 ppg; knee) is OUT.
PROJECTED SCORE: 107
Warriors (-9, O/U 222.5): The Warriors planned on improving last year's 9-6 SU home record against the East this season, but they enter this contest sporting the same mark of 9-5. The Warriors are 18-0 this season when holding an opponent under 100 points and have held the Raptors to just 95 points over the last two seasons in Oakland – winning by an average of 19 points.
Warriors are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Key Injuries - F Chris Webber (4 ppg; knee) is rehabbing his knee and will not play.
PROJECTED SCORE: 116
NCAAB
SYRACUSE (19 - 12) vs. VILLANOVA (19 - 11) - 3/12/2008, 12:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SYRACUSE is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
VILLANOVA is 3-3 against the spread versus SYRACUSE over the last 3 seasons
VILLANOVA is 4-2 straight up against SYRACUSE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PROVIDENCE (15 - 15) vs. W VIRGINIA (22 - 9) - 3/12/2008, 2:20 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PROVIDENCE is 11-22 ATS (-13.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons.
W VIRGINIA is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
W VIRGINIA is 30-16 ATS (+12.4 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
W VIRGINIA is 16-31 ATS (-18.1 Units) in road games on Wednesday games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
W VIRGINIA is 4-0 against the spread versus PROVIDENCE over the last 3 seasons
W VIRGINIA is 4-1 straight up against PROVIDENCE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH (22 - 9) vs. CINCINNATI (13 - 17) - 3/12/2008, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CINCINNATI is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) on Wednesday games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in road games on Wednesday games over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 12-24 ATS (-14.4 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 55-84 ATS (-37.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 2-2 against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 3-1 straight up against CINCINNATI over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SETON HALL (17 - 14) vs. MARQUETTE (22 - 8) - 3/12/2008, 9:20 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MARQUETTE is 8-21 ATS (-15.1 Units) in road games in March games since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in road games in first round tournament games since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in conference tournament games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
MARQUETTE is 2-1 against the spread versus SETON HALL over the last 3 seasons
MARQUETTE is 4-0 straight up against SETON HALL over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SAINT LOUIS (16 - 14) vs. DAYTON (20 - 9) - 3/12/2008, 12:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAINT LOUIS is 112-83 ATS (+20.7 Units) against conference opponents since 1997.
SAINT LOUIS is 111-77 ATS (+26.3 Units) after a conference game since 1997.
SAINT LOUIS is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) revenging a blowout loss vs opponent of 20 points or more since 1997.
SAINT LOUIS is 42-22 ATS (+17.8 Units) revenging a road loss vs opponent since 1997.
SAINT LOUIS is 71-46 ATS (+20.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
DAYTON is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
DAYTON is 3-3 against the spread versus SAINT LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
DAYTON is 5-1 straight up against SAINT LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
FORDHAM (12 - 16) vs. ST JOSEPHS (18 - 11) - 3/12/2008, 2:20 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FORDHAM is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) in all games this season.
FORDHAM is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) in all lined games this season.
FORDHAM is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
FORDHAM is 2-1 against the spread versus ST JOSEPHS over the last 3 seasons
ST JOSEPHS is 2-1 straight up against FORDHAM over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DUQUESNE (17 - 12) vs. LASALLE (14 - 16) - 3/12/2008, 6:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LASALLE is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) as an underdog this season.
LASALLE is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in road games against conference opponents this season.
LASALLE is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
LASALLE is 18-33 ATS (-18.3 Units) in road games off a loss against a conference rival since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
LASALLE is 4-2 against the spread versus DUQUESNE over the last 3 seasons
LASALLE is 4-2 straight up against DUQUESNE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
RHODE ISLAND (21 - 10) vs. CHARLOTTE (18 - 12) - 3/12/2008, 8:50 PM
Top Trends for this game.
RHODE ISLAND is 4-11 ATS (-8.1 Units) against conference opponents this season.
RHODE ISLAND is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) off a loss against a conference rival this season.
CHARLOTTE is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) as an underdog this season.
CHARLOTTE is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) after a conference game this season.
CHARLOTTE is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.
CHARLOTTE is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) in road games in all tournament games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
RHODE ISLAND is 2-1 against the spread versus CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
CHARLOTTE is 2-1 straight up against RHODE ISLAND over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
BALL ST (6 - 23) vs. E MICHIGAN (13 - 16) - 3/12/2008, 12:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BALL ST is 20-35 ATS (-18.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BALL ST is 20-35 ATS (-18.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
BALL ST is 22-38 ATS (-19.8 Units) when the total is 120 to 129.5 since 1997.
BALL ST is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) on Wednesday games over the last 3 seasons.
BALL ST is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) revenging a road loss vs opponent over the last 3 seasons.
BALL ST is 9-18 ATS (-10.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
E MICHIGAN is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in road games against conference opponents this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
E MICHIGAN is 5-2 against the spread versus BALL ST over the last 3 seasons
E MICHIGAN is 5-2 straight up against BALL ST over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
N ILLINOIS (6 - 21) vs. C MICHIGAN (13 - 16) - 3/12/2008, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
N ILLINOIS is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) after allowing 80 points or more this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
C MICHIGAN is 6-0 against the spread versus N ILLINOIS over the last 3 seasons
C MICHIGAN is 4-2 straight up against N ILLINOIS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
BOWLING GREEN (13 - 16) vs. TOLEDO (10 - 18) - 3/12/2008, 5:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOWLING GREEN is 11-22 ATS (-13.2 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BOWLING GREEN is 7-26 ATS (-21.6 Units) in March games since 1997.
BOWLING GREEN is 17-32 ATS (-18.2 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
TOLEDO is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in road games against conference opponents this season.
TOLEDO is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in road games after a conference game this season.
TOLEDO is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) in road games in all tournament games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOWLING GREEN is 3-2 against the spread versus TOLEDO over the last 3 seasons
TOLEDO is 3-2 straight up against BOWLING GREEN over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
BUFFALO (10 - 19) vs. MIAMI OHIO (15 - 14) - 3/12/2008, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BUFFALO is 12-22 ATS (-12.2 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 1-11 ATS (-11.1 Units) on Wednesday games over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 11-23 ATS (-14.3 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BUFFALO is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
MIAMI OHIO is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI OHIO is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI OHIO is 9-0 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI OHIO is 4-2 against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI OHIO is 5-1 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
E CAROLINA (11 - 18) vs. TULSA (17 - 12) - 3/12/2008, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
E CAROLINA is 16-27 ATS (-13.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
E CAROLINA is 16-27 ATS (-13.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
E CAROLINA is 4-11 ATS (-8.1 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 this season.
E CAROLINA is 14-24 ATS (-12.4 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
E CAROLINA is 11-21 ATS (-12.1 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
E CAROLINA is 13-30 ATS (-20.0 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
E CAROLINA is 10-25 ATS (-17.5 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons.
E CAROLINA is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
E CAROLINA is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
TULSA is 3-1 against the spread versus E CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
TULSA is 3-1 straight up against E CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SMU (10 - 19) vs. UTEP (17 - 12) - 3/12/2008, 3:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SMU is 34-61 ATS (-33.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
UTEP is 3-14 ATS (-12.4 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 this season.
UTEP is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
UTEP is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in road games after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
UTEP is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) after scoring 80 points or more this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
UTEP is 3-3 against the spread versus SMU over the last 3 seasons
UTEP is 5-1 straight up against SMU over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
TULANE (16 - 14) vs. MARSHALL (16 - 13) - 3/12/2008, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TULANE is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) against conference opponents this season.
TULANE is 4-11 ATS (-8.1 Units) after a conference game this season.
TULANE is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
MARSHALL is 41-64 ATS (-29.4 Units) in road games against conference opponents since 1997.
MARSHALL is 40-65 ATS (-31.5 Units) in road games after a conference game since 1997.
MARSHALL is 15-30 ATS (-18.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
MARSHALL is 3-3 against the spread versus TULANE over the last 3 seasons
MARSHALL is 3-3 straight up against TULANE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
RICE (3 - 26) vs. SOUTHERN MISS (17 - 13) - 3/12/2008, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SOUTHERN MISS is 31-13 ATS (+16.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SOUTHERN MISS is 31-13 ATS (+16.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
SOUTHERN MISS is 11-0 ATS (+11.0 Units) when the total is 120 to 129.5 over the last 2 seasons.
SOUTHERN MISS is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
SOUTHERN MISS is 24-9 ATS (+14.1 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
SOUTHERN MISS is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in March games over the last 2 seasons.
SOUTHERN MISS is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) after a conference game this season.
SOUTHERN MISS is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
SOUTHERN MISS is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
SOUTHERN MISS is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
SOUTHERN MISS is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) versus poor offensive teams - scoring <=64 points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
RICE is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) on Wednesday games over the last 3 seasons.
RICE is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
RICE is 2-1 against the spread versus SOUTHERN MISS over the last 3 seasons
RICE is 2-1 straight up against SOUTHERN MISS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO ST (6 - 24) vs. WYOMING (12 - 17) - 3/12/2008, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO ST is 18-33 ATS (-18.3 Units) against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO ST is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in March games over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO ST is 16-32 ATS (-19.2 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO ST is 12-24 ATS (-14.4 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO ST is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO ST is 4-11 ATS (-8.1 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
WYOMING is 4-2 against the spread versus COLORADO ST over the last 3 seasons
WYOMING is 4-2 straight up against COLORADO ST over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
LONG BEACH ST (6 - 24) vs. UC-IRVINE (15 - 15) - 3/12/2008, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LONG BEACH ST is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
UC-IRVINE is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 3 seasons.
UC-IRVINE is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 3 seasons.
UC-IRVINE is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.
UC-IRVINE is 30-48 ATS (-22.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
UC-IRVINE is 4-4 against the spread versus LONG BEACH ST over the last 3 seasons
UC-IRVINE is 4-4 straight up against LONG BEACH ST over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
UC-RIVERSIDE (8 - 20) vs. CAL POLY-SLO (12 - 17) - 3/12/2008, 11:20 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CAL POLY-SLO is 46-28 ATS (+15.2 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
CAL POLY-SLO is 46-28 ATS (+15.2 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
CAL POLY-SLO is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
CAL POLY-SLO is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
CAL POLY-SLO is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
CAL POLY-SLO is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
UC-RIVERSIDE is 4-2 against the spread versus CAL POLY-SLO over the last 3 seasons
CAL POLY-SLO is 5-1 straight up against UC-RIVERSIDE over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CALIFORNIA (15 - 14) vs. WASHINGTON (16 - 15) - 3/12/2008, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CALIFORNIA is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CALIFORNIA is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in road games after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
CALIFORNIA is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) in road games after allowing 80 points or more since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
CALIFORNIA is 3-2 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 3-3 straight up against CALIFORNIA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
OREGON ST (6 - 24) vs. ARIZONA (18 - 13) - 3/12/2008, 11:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OREGON ST is 10-19 ATS (-10.9 Units) in all games this season.
OREGON ST is 10-19 ATS (-10.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
OREGON ST is 8-17 ATS (-10.7 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 2 seasons.
OREGON ST is 6-13 ATS (-8.3 Units) as an underdog this season.
OREGON ST is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) against conference opponents this season.
OREGON ST is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) on Wednesday games since 1997.
OREGON ST is 4-14 ATS (-11.4 Units) after a conference game this season.
OREGON ST is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) off a loss against a conference rival this season.
OREGON ST is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
OREGON ST is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
OREGON ST is 9-18 ATS (-10.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
OREGON ST is 4-2 against the spread versus ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
ARIZONA is 5-1 straight up against OREGON ST over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MOUNT ST MARYS (17 - 14) vs. SACRED HEART (18 - 13) - 3/12/2008, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
SACRED HEART is 3-2 straight up against MOUNT ST MARYS over the last 3 seasons
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
(at New York)
Syracuse (19-12, 14-15 ATS) vs. Villanova (19-11, 11-16 ATS)
Syracuse, firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble, got a much-needed win over Marquette on Saturday, rolling to an 87-72 victory as a one-point home chalk. The Orange (9-9 SU and ATS in conference) have won and covered their last two games after a poorly timed three-game SU and ATS slide in conference play.
Villanova, another bubble team, also enters the Big East tourney with a two-game SU and ATS win streak, most recently dropping Providence 73-63 as a one-point road pup Saturday. The Wildcats (9-9, 7-11 ATS in conference) finished the regular season on surges of 5-2 and 6-2 ATS surge, with the only outright losses coming against NCAA Tournament locks Marquette (85-75 at home) and Louisville (68-54 on the road).
The straight-up winner is 16-1 ATS in Syracuse’s last 17 games, including 11-0 ATS in the last 11. Also, the winner has cashed in seven straight Villanova outings.
The road team won and cashed in both matchups between these teams this season, with Villanova taking an 81-71 victory as a 4½-point pup on Jan. 19, and Syracuse winning 87-73 catching three points on Feb. 2. Syracuse is 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings (2-2 SU). The ‘dog is 6-3 ATS in the last nine clashes.
The Orange are 3-5 SU and ATS in their last eight games, all in Big East play, and they are 5-10 ATS in their last 15 when coming off a spread-cover. On the flip side, the Wildcats are on ATS streaks of 4-1 after a SU win and 4-1 after spread-cover.
For Syracuse, the under is 7-1 in its last eight Wednesday starts, but the over is 5-2 in its last seven overall (all in conference) and 4-1 in its last five neutral-site games. For Villanova, the under is on streaks of 9-1 overall (8-1 in conference) and 4-1 on Wednesday. Finally, the total has alternated in each of the last 10 meetings in this rivalry, with February’s contest hurdling the 149½-point posted price.
ATS ADVANTAGE: VILLANOVA and UNDER
Providence (15-15, 12-16 ATS) vs. West Virginia (22-9, 13-11 ATS)
West Virginia (11-7, 9-9 ATS in conference) padded its NCAA Tournament credentials with an 83-74 overtime win at St. John’s on Saturday, falling just short of cashing as a 9½-point chalk. The Mountaineers have won four of their last five and seven of 10, all in conference action, going 6-3-1 ATS in that span.
Providence (6-12, 7-11 ATS in conference) lost to Villanova 73-63 as a one-point home favorite Saturday, halting a two-game SU and ATS run. In contrast to the Mountaineers, the Friars are 3-7 SU and ATS in their last 10 starts, all in the Big East, with the straight-up winner cashing in every game.
West Virginia is on a 3-0 SU and ATS run in this series, including a 77-65 road win giving two points on Feb. 2 and an 80-53 home rout as an 11½-point chalk on Feb. 23. Going back further, the Mountaineers are 7-1 in the last eight matchups, going 5-0-1 ATS in the last six.
The Friars are on pointspread slides of 3-7 on Wednesday, 1-4 after a SU loss, 1-4 after an ATS setback, 1-6 against teams with a winning record, 1-6 in neutral-site games and 5-9 as an underdog this season. On the other hand, the Mountaineers are on positive ATS runs of 6-2 after a pointspread setback, 9-4 as a favorite of up to 12 points and 20-8-1 at neutral venues.
The over is 10-3 in Providence’s last 13 Wednesday outings, and for West Virginia, the over is on streaks of 4-0 overall and 9-4-1 in neutral-site games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: WEST VIRGINIA
Cincinnati (13-17, 15-13 ATS) vs. Pitt (22-9, 14-12 ATS)
Pittsburgh (10-8, 9-9 ATS in conference) hammered DePaul 98-79 Sunday as a 12-point home chalk, bouncing back from a 76-62 setback at West Virginia as a 5½-point ‘dog on March 3. The Panthers have followed up a three-game losing skid by winning three of their last four. However, they struggled against the number down the stretch, going just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 starts, all in the Big East.
Cincinnati (8-10, 10-8 ATS in conference) was dealt a 96-51 beatdown at Connecticut on Sunday as an 11½-point pup, ending the regular season with five straight losses (1-4 ATS). The Bearcats, who trailed 47-15 at the half on Sunday, are 1-5 ATS in their last six starts.
These teams split their regular-season series this year, but Cincinnati went 2-0 ATS, posting a 62-59 home win catching four points on Jan. 19 and losing 73-67 as a 10½-point road underdog on Feb. 27. Cincy and Pitt met just once each in 2006 and 2007, with the Panthers winning and covering both contests.
Despite their recent woes, the Bearcats are on an 8-1 ATS spree in Wednesday outings and are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 after a SU loss, 13-4 ATS in their last 17 against teams with a winning record and 13-6 ATS as an underdog this season. Meanwhile, the Panthers are on a 7-1 ATS roll on Wednesday, but they’re 0-5 ATS in their last five after a spread-cover, as they haven’t cashed in back-to-back outings since opening Big East play 4-0 ATS.
The over is on runs of 6-0 for Pitt overall 4-1 for Cincinnati overall, 13-5 for Cincinnati at neutral sites and 10-5 when the Panthers are favored by less than 15 points. Finally, the total alternated in the two meetings this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Seton Hall (17-14, 11-15-1 ATS) vs. Marquette (22-8, 13-11 ATS)
Marquette (11-7, 9-9 ATS in conference) was extremely streaky in Big East play this year, starting out 3-1, followed by consecutive losses, a three-game winning streak, two straight losses, five straight wins and finally back-to-back setbacks. In the latter two contests, the Eagles dropped a 70-68 overtime decision to Georgetown as a four-point home favorite, then got thumped at Syracuse on Saturday 87-72 as a one-point road underdog. Prior to the last two contests, Marquette had covered the spread in six straight games.
Seton Hall (7-11, 8-10 ATS in conference) lost to Rutgers 64-61 Sunday as an eight-point home favorite, ending the regular season in an 0-3 SU and ATS rut. The Pirates went just 2-8 in their last 10 regular-season games, all in Big East play, and they weren’t much better against the number (3-7).
Marquette took both regular-season meetings against Seton Hall this year, but split the cash. The Golden Eagles won 61-56 at home but couldn’t cover the heavy 16½-point spread on Jan. 8, then flattened the Hall 89-64 as a four-point ‘dog on Feb. 12. Marquette is 4-0 in the last four clashes in this series (2-1-1 ATS).
The Pirates have nothing but negative ATS trends to speak of, including 5-16 in neutral-site games (1-1 this year), 1-4 against winning teams, 1-6 in the Big East and 0-5 coming off a SU loss. The Golden Eagles, conversely, are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven Wednesday outings, 5-2 ATS in their last seven neutral-site contests (2-0 this year) and 8-2 ATS as a favorite of up to 12 points this year.
The over is on streaks of 19-7 for Seton Hall following a defeat, 8-5 for Seton Hall on the road this year, 4-1 for Marquette overall, 4-0 for Marquette following a loss, 5-2 for Marquette on Wednesday and 19-7 for Marquette at neutral venues. However, the January meeting between these two fell miles short of the 160-point posted price, and the February contest narrowly cleared the 152-point posted total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MARQUETTE
ATLANTIC-10 TOURNAMENT
(at Atlantic City, N.J.)
Fordham (12-16, 9-16 ATS) vs. St. Joe’s (18-11, 16-11 ATS)
St. Joe’s (9-7, 7-9 ATS in conference) saw its NCAA Tournament hopes take a hit by ending the regular season with six losses in its final nine games, including Saturday’s 79-67 setback at Dayton as a two-point underdog. The Hawks, who won six of their first seven conference games, are just 2-4 ATS in their last six outings.
Fordham (6-10, 7-9 ATS in conference) snapped a three-game losing skid with Saturday’s 69-62 victory over St. Bonaventure. However, the Rams came up short as an 11½-point home chalk, their fourth consecutive non-cover.
The Hawks hammered Fordham 70-55 as a 12-point home favorite in the lone meeting between the schools this year. St. Joe’s has won nine of the last 10 battles, but the Rams are 4-2 ATS in the last six.
St. Joe’s is 2-5 ATS in A-10 road games this year and 2-5 ATS in its last seven on neutral courts, but the Hawks are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 after a defeat.
Fordham has alternated SU wins and losses in its last five games on the highway (all in the Atlantic 10), but is 3-1 ATS in its last four on foreign turf. On the downside, the Rams are 0-4 ATS in their last four neutral-site games and 6-17-1 ATS in their last 24 after a non-cover.
The under is 11-5 in the Hawks’ last 16, 4-1 in their last five at neutral sites, 3-0 in Fordham’s last three and 6-0 in the last six head-to-head meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ST. JOE’S and UNDER
Duquesne (17-12, 10-13 ATS) vs. La Salle (14-16, 13-7-1 ATS)
La Salle (8-8, 9-7 ATS in conference) capped the regular season with three consecutive SU and ATS losses, which comes on the heels of a five-game winning streak (4-0 ATS in lined games). In their two most recent contests, the Explorers were crushed by UMass (100-63 as a 10½-point road underdog) and Temple (86-66 as a three-point home pup). Prior to its current 0-3 ATS slump, La Salle had gone 7-1 ATS.
Duquesne (7-9 SU and ATS in conference) put the brakes on a five-game SU and ATS slde with Saturday’s 85-58 rout of Saint Louis as a 7 ½-point home road favorite. The straight-up winner has covered the spread in each of the Dukes’ last 12 contests.
The Dukes went to La Salle and destroyed the Explorers back on Feb. 9, winning 101-84 as a three-point road favorite, but La Salle got revenge 13 days later, pulling off a stunning 75-72 upset win as an 11-point road underdog. The Explorers are 4-2 ATS in the last six meetings, and the ‘dog is 3-1 ATS in the last four.
Duquesne is 6-2 ATS in its last eight neutral-site affairs, while La Salle was an astounding 11-1-1 ATS away from home, including 2-0 ATS on neutral courts. The Explorers are also 12-5 ATS as an underdog this year, including 8-1 ATS when catching five or more points.
The over is 9-4-1 in La Salle’s last 14, 8-3 in its last 11 on Wednesday, 3-0 in Duquesne’s last three and 5-3 in the last eight series meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: La SALLE and OVER
Rhode Island (21-10, 13-14-2 ATS) vs. Charlotte (18-12, 16-10-1 ATS)
Rhode Island (7-9 in conference, 4-11-1 ATS) stumbles into the Atlantic 10 tournament having lost six of its last seven SU while going 1-7 ATS in its last eight. That includes Saturday’s 74-64 home loss to this Charlotte club as a six-point home chalk. The Rams started the season 19-3 and are just 2-7 since Feb. 2.
Saturday’s upset of Rhode Island was part of a season-ending three-game winning streak for Charlotte (9-7, 10-5-1 ATS in conference). The 49ers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight contests, all in A-10 action.
Charlotte is 4-2 in the last six series meetings (3-3 ATS). Prior to Saturday’s contest, the Rams had covered in three straight battles.
The 49ers are 10-2 ATS as an underdog this season, while Rhode Island is 4-8 ATS as a favorite of seven points or fewer. On the flip side, the Rams are 4-0 (2-2 ATS) on neutral courts, while Charlotte has failed to cash in 19 of its last 26 neutral contests (1-2 SU and ATS this year).
The over is 43-16 in Rhode Island’s last 59 overall (10-3 in the last 13), 19-7 in its last 26 Atlantic 10 games, 8-0 in its last eight neutral-site contests and 4-2 in Charlotte’s last six overall, though Saturday’s head-to-head battle stayed way under the posted price. That ended a 3-0 “over” streak in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHARLOTTE and OVER
PAC-10 TOURNAMENT
(at Los Angeles)
California (15-14, 14-12 ATS) vs. Washington (16-15, 14-16 ATS)
Cal (6-12, 8-10 ATS in conference) has lost five in a row and seven of eight (4-4 ATS), but the last three defeats have been by a combined eight points, including Saturday’s controversial 81-80 buzzer-beating loss to No. 3 UCLA. That defeat came two days after a 93-89 overtime setback at USC, though the Bears covered the spread as a big underdog in both contests in Southern California, and they’re 4-2 ATS in their last six, but all four covers came as an underdog.
Washington (7-11, 9-9 ATS in conference) split its final eight regular-season contests (6-2 ATS) and is coming off Saturday’s 76-73 overtime loss at rival Washington State, cashing as a 9½-point underdog. The Huskies are 3-0 ATS in their last three (all as an underdog) and they have cashed in four straight on the highway (2-2 SU).
Back on March 1 Washington went to Berkeley and scored an 87-84 upset victory over the Golden Bears as 2½-point pups. It served as payback for a 79-75 home loss to Cal as a three-point underdog on Feb. 2. The teams have alternated SU wins and losses in the last seven meetings, with the winner going 6-0-1 ATS.
Cal is 8-3 ATS on the road this year, though tonight marks its first neutral-site contest. Meanwhile, Washington is 0-2 SU and ATS on neutral courts, but 6-3 ATS in Pac-10 roadies.
The under is 7-3 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings, but the over is on runs of 21-6-1 for Cal overall, 19-7 for Cal in Pac-10 action and 4-0 for the Huskies overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Oregon State (6-24, 9-19-1 ATS) vs. Arizona (18-13, 15-13-1 ATS)
Arizona (8-10, 9-9 ATS in conference) limped to the finish line, losing seven of its final 10 regular-season contests (4-6 ATS), including Saturday’s 78-69 defeat at Oregon as a 1½-point road underdog, a defeat that cost the Wildcats a first-round bye in this event.. However, one of the team’s three victories down the stretch was Thursday’s 81-45 rout of Oregon State as an 11-point road chalk.
Oregon State (0-18 SU, 4-13-1 ATS in conference) capped a winless Pac-10 season with Saturday’s 77-64 home loss to Arizona State as a 9 ½-point underdog. Going back to non-conference play, the Beavers have lost 20 in a row, going 5-14-1 ATS, including 0-7 ATS to close the regular season.
In addition to Thursday’s win at Oregon State, Arizona also beat the Beavers 76-63 on Jan. 3 in the conference opener for both schools, but failed to cover as a 16-point favorite. The Wildcats have won five straight in this series, with four of the wins coming by double digits, but they’re just 2-3 ATS during this stretch. Going back further, Arizona is 8-1 SU (5-4 ATS) against Oregon State, winning six of those contests by 11 points or more.
The Beavers are on ATS slides of 5-16-1 overall, 1-9 on Wednesdays, 3-13-1 in Pac-10 action and 1-10-1 following an ATS loss. Meanwhile, Arizona is on positive spread streaks of 6-1-1 on Wednesdays and 15-6 ATS at a neutral site.
With the over is 8-1 in Oregon State’s last nine overall, the under is 7-3 in its last 10 on a neutral court, 4-1 in its last five on Wednesday, 5-1 in Arizona’s last six overall, 5-1 in Arizona’s last six on Wednesday and 8-0 in the Wildcats’ last eight when facing a team with a winning percentage less than .400.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
NBA
San Antonio (44-19, 28-33-2 ATS) at New Orleans (42-20, 37-24-1 ATS)
The Spurs try to keep pace with the Lakers for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference when they travel to the New Orleans Arena for a key matchup with the Hornets, who sit fourth in the conference standings, just two games out of first.
San Antonio trails Los Angeles by a half-game for the top spot out West as both teams try to hold off the likes of Houston, Utah and New Orleans. The Spurs have a one-game lead over Houston in the Southwest Division race and 1½-game advantage over the Hornets.
The Spurs snapped a brief two-game losing streak with Monday’s 107-103 home win over the Nuggets. However, they failed to cash as 7½-point favorites and have gone just 1-6-1 ATS since Feb. 28. Gregg Popovich’s squad has won 16 of its last 19 overall (9-9-1 ATS).
New Orleans has won five of it last seven SU and ATS, but lost at Houston on Saturday 106-96 as 6½-point ‘dogs. Byron Scott’s club has won four straight at home (4-0 ATS), all by 11 points or more.
The Hornets have lost nine of their last 10 to the Spurs (3-7 ATS) – all as an underdog – going 0-4 SU and ATS at home during this slump. The teams did split two battles in San Antonio this season, with the Spurs getting a 98-89 win on Feb. 23 as a seven-point favorite, but losing 102-78 as a 5½-point chalk on Jan. 26.
New Orleans 35-17-1 ATS in their last 53 Wednesday games, while San Antonio has cashed in four straight on Wednesday. On the downside for both teams, the Spurs are 1-4 ATS in their last four on the highway and 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 divisional contests, while the Hornets have failed to cash in four of their last five Southwest Division clashes.
The under is 16-7 in the Spurs’ last 23 road games, 14-5 in their last 19 against Southwest Division rivals and 3-1 in their last four meetings with New Orleans. However, the over is on streaks of 3-0 overall and 12-3-1 at home for the Hornets, who average 102 points per game in their building this year.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO
Gametimepicks.com
Syracuse at Villanova, 12:00 ET ESPN
Syracuse: 0-6 ATS off a home win scoring 85+ points
Villanova: 6-0 Over Away off BB wins
Providence at West Virginia, 2:20 ET ESPN
Providence: 2-12 ATS off DD conference loss
West Virginia: 25-13 ATS as favorite
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 7:00 ET ESPN
Cincinnati: 10-0 Under after allowing 80+ points
Pittsburgh: 7-0 ATS Away on Wednesdays
Seton Hall at Marquette, 9:20 ET ESPN
Seton Hall: 8-0 Over after a loss by 6 points or less
Marquette: 3-12 ATS in conference tournament games
Atlantic 10 Tournament
Opening Round
Atlantic City, NJ
St Louis at Dayton, 12:00 ET
St Louis: 21-8 ATS revenging DD road loss
Dayton: 6-0 Over off DD home win
Fordham at St Joseph's, 2:20 ET
Fordham: 7-16 ATS this season
St Joseph's: 8-1 ATS off SU loss
Duquesne at La Salle, 6:30 ET
Duquesne: 7-1 Under when the total is 160 or greater
La Salle: 12-5 ATS as an underdog
Rhode Island at Charlotte, 8:50 ET
Rhode Island: 4-11 ATS vs. conference
Charlotte: 11-3 ATS as an underdog
MAC Tournament
Opening Round
Cleveland, OH
(TC) Ball State at Eastern Michigan, 12:30 ET
Ball State: 5-14 ATS when the line is +3 to -3
Eastern Michigan: 11-2 Under off home conference win
(TC) Northern Illinois at Central Michigan, 3:00 ET
Northern Illinois: 8-0 Over Away off BB losses
Central Michigan: 8-2 Over playing only their 2nd game in 8 days
(TC) Bowling Green at Toledo, 5:30 ET
Bowling Green: 7-26 ATS in March
Toledo: 16-3 ATS off SU win as road dog
(TC) Buffalo at Miami (Ohio), 8:00 ET
Buffalo: 2-10 ATS vs. teams with winning record
Miami (Ohio): 8-1 ATS on neutral court
Conference USA Tournament
Opening Round
Memphis, TN
East Carolina at Tulsa, 1:00 ET
East Carolina: 7-18 ATS off road loss
Tulsa: 13-5 ATS off home win
SMU at UTEP, 3:30 ET
SMU: 7-0 ATS after playing 5 consecutive games as an underdog
UTEP: 1-7 ATS after scoring 80+ points
Tulane at Marshall, 7:00 ET
Tulane: 4-12 ATS vs. conference
Marshall: 1-9 ATS as neutral court favorite
Rice at Southern Mississippi, 9:30 ET
Rice: 20-5 Under as underdog
Southern Mississippi: 12-0 ATS when the total is 129.5 or less
Mountain West Tournament
Opening Round
Las Vegas, NV
Colorado State at Wyoming, 2:00 ET
Colorado State: 1-9 ATS in March
Wyoming: 1-10 ATS as neutral court favorite
Big West Tournament
Opening Round
Anaheim, CA
Long Beach State at Cal Irvine, 9:00 ET
Long Beach State: 15-4 ATS after a close loss by 3 points or less
Cal Irvine: 1-8 ATS on neutral court
Cal Riverside at Cal Poly S.L.O., 11:20 ET
Cal Riverside: 5-1 Under vs. Cal Poly SLO
Cal Poly S.L.O.: 17-4 ATS off DD loss
Pac 10 Tournament
Opening Round
Los Angeles, CA
California at Washington, 9:00 ET FSN
California: 6-0 Over when the total is 150 to 159.5
Washington: 5-15 ATS off Away ATS win/SU loss
Oregon State at Arizona, 11:30 ET FSN
Oregon State: 5-13 ATS vs. conference
Arizona: 5-1 ATS after having lost 3 of their last 4 games
Added Game
Northeast Conference Tournament
Championship Game
Fairfield, CT
Mount Saint Mary's at Sacred Heart, 7:00 ET ESPN2
Mount Saint Mary's: 3-1 Under in lined games
Sacred Heart: 3-0 ATS in lined games
Houston at Atlanta, 7:05 ET
Houston: 15-2 ATS 2nd half of season
Atlanta: 39-16 Over off road division loss
LA Clippers at Orlando, 7:05 ET
LA Clippers: 5-15 ATS off SU win
Orlando: 24-8 ATS off an Over
Philadelphia at Detroit, 7:35 ET
Philadelphia: 13-5 ATS 2nd half of season
Detroit: 19-10 Under off an Over
Seattle at Boston, 7:35 ET NBATV
Seattle: 3-7 ATS at Boston
Boston: 23-5 Over vs. Northwest Division
New York at Miami, 7:35 ET
New York: 24-10 ATS at Miami
Miami: 0-8 ATS at home vs. Atlantic Division
Cleveland at New Jersey, 7:35 ET
Cleveland: 13-3 ATS Away playing with same season revenge
New Jersey: 12-23 ATS as an underdog
Utah at Milwaukee, 8:05 ET
Utah: 5-1 ATS in March
Milwaukee: 5-1 Over in March
San Antonio at New Orleans, 8:05 ET
San Antonio: 10-3 ATS at New Orleans
New Orleans: 20-8 Under playing with revenge
Charlotte at Dallas, 8:35 ET
Charlotte: 1-5 ATS playing with 3+ days rest
Dallas: 1-8 ATS off BB ATS wins
Memphis at Denver, 9:05 ET
Memphis: 17-31 ATS as an underdog
Denver: 8-1 ATS off BB road games
Toronto at Golden State, 10:35 ET
Toronto: 7-0 Over after scoring 100+ points 3 straight games
Golden State: 7-19 ATS as home favorite