Chris Jordan
One of two free plays for you today, as my second one is on Oregon laying an awfully big number to Colorado. I looked at this one a little extra this week, but don't believe it garners premium selection status with garbage time being our potential enemy.
So I'm rolling with seventh-ranked Ducks (23-4, 12-2 Pac-12) as a complimentary winner only, seeing that they are 16-0 at home this season. They own the nation's longest active home winning streak at 41 games. And, this is the home finale.
Oregon is in second place in the conference, just one game back of Arizona. And the Ducks are in for a big of revenge, as they'll be looking to avenge one of their losses. Colorado beat Oregon 74-65 three weeks ago in Boulder, Colo., where the Buffs led almost wire-to-wire.
Since that loss, though, Oregon has won four of five games, and arrive after a 79-61 victory over Utah on Thursday, when it shot 53.4 percent from the field. Ducks star Dillon Brooks scored a team-high 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting, and I can see him carrying that momentum over in this one.
Colorado (16-11, 6-8 ) lost its first seven conference games but has won six of its past seven to move into seventh place, so the Buffs can be a dangerous team that will aim to keep the margin just under double digits, which is why I couldn't pull the trigger with my premium play.
I'll take a shot with Oregon here.
4* OREGON
RAY MONOHAN
USC vs. UCLA
Play: USC +10
The Trojans and Bruins renew their rivalry and the visitors plus the points are the move here. USC has won 4 straight games and enters playing extremely well. The Trojans are a dangerous team that nobody wants to face.
They have one of the best inside out games in the nation and average nearly 80 points per game. They're one of the few teams in the PAC-12 that can keep up with the Bruins high flying attack.
Some trends to note. Trojans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Pacific-12. Trojans are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Saturday games.
This is a nice move. The Trojans catch a lot of points here and for how well they're playing, it's just too many to pass up on.
ROB VINCILETTI
Panthers vs. Kings
Play: Kings -160
The Kings have won 11 of the last 14 here at home vs Florida and 4 of the last 5 overall against them. They beat them on the road 9 days ago 6-3 and now catch Florida playing a 3rd road game in 4 nights. Florida has lost 7 of 10 with home loss revenge. The Kings are 9-2 on Saturdays and have won 10 of 15 off a loss by 2+ goals.
Stallone Sports
Baylor -2
Kansas has had Baylor’s number in recent meeting but I think this is a good spot to support the Bears. Kansas has been escaping games by the skin of their teeth in recent weeks, going through the Big 12 gauntlet with a target on their backs. Fatigue is beginning to become a real problem for Kansas as was seen in their Miracle win vs West Virginia on Monday. Although they have been off since then I believe there is going to be a let down here. This game means so much more to the Bears who are 13-1 SU at home and looking to avenge 3 straight close losses to the Jayhawks. Baylor has a massive edge inside the paint in this matchup and will do their best to pound it inside and get KU into foul trouble. KU has been on the right side of a lot of coin flip games this year. However, I think Baylor gets them here tonight at home in their “Super Bowl” game of the year. Baylor will slow down the pace of the game and grind KU down late, Ill lay the small price with the Bears.
George Mason +4
The Patriots are playing their best basketball of the season, winning 5 of their last 6 games. The offence has really hit its stride in recent weeks and will be too much for Rhode Island to keep up with. The rams are a very good defensive team but can go through their struggles on the offensive end of the floor. With exception to a 11 point win @ Davidson, they do not have any other impressive road wins this season. They come in losers of 2 straight and seem to be running out of gas down the stretch. George Mason has really been shooting the lights out of late and this is just too much value to pass up on, I had this game lined a pick em. The Patriots also hold the massive edge in FT shooting which will come into play in what should be a tight game throughout. The Rams are only shooting 60% from the FT line in conference play.
USC +9.5
Now that this USC team is fully healthy, I’m really looking for spots to play on them as the season winds down. This is a well coached, balanced team on both ends of the floor. They have defeated this UCLA team 4 games in a row including a 8 point win earlier this season. UCLA is having one of the more impressive offensive seasons in recent memory but their defence still has some big issues. They don’t really take much pride in defending and that leaves them vulnerable in this point spread range. USC will not be intimidated by this team or this environment today and they will come into this game expecting to win, not just compete. UCLA has not been able to win by margin on this floor against the Pac 12 elite; 11 point loss vs. Arizona, 3 Point win vs. Oregon. They have been able to feast on the weak within the conference but they will be in for a real battle here with USC. The Trojans didn’t even have Benny Boatwright in the first matchup when they beat the Bruins. His paint presence will be a big Plus for USC in what should be a tight game throughout.
North Dakota +6
North Dakota has been (quietly) cashing tickets all season long going 13-7-1 ATS. The Fighting Hawks have already taken care of Weber State this season, defeating them 83-77 in mid January. With 1st place in the Big Sky on the line today I expect a tight game throughout, one which ND can without a doubt win outright. Weber State has been poor in this home favourite role, burning money at home this season, going 2-5 ATS. They have only covered 2 of their last 10 games ATS. Meanwhile, North Dakota comes into this game covering 8 of their last 10 ATS. They have also covered 4 times in a row in this matchup. This should be a game that goes down to the wire, with two nearly identical teams fighting for 1st place in the conference.
Georgia +7.5
The Bulldogs have been the kings of the close game this season, including an OT loss @ Kentucky earlier in this season. That was a game they should have won outright and will seek to get revenge here today. This is a role I like to support the Bulldogs, catching +7.5 at home. This is their last chance at a signature win within the SEC. Kentucky has been playing much better defence as of late but has struggled to cover these kinds of numbers on the road this season. If Georgia can guard the 3 point line, I expect them to be in position to win this game outright. Georgia will make it a point to feed Maten in the paint and make the Wildcats really work on defence and try to get to the FT line. This looks like a nice spot to back the Bulldogs, looking to avenge the OT loss earlier this season. Kentucky is still a young team who has its flaws, I don’t think the defence is fixed yet. +7.5 is just too much value to pass up on.
Texas Tech +12
Texas Tech is a hard team to blowout. They take care of the ball, play slow, make good decisions and always give themselves a chance to win. They have played in so many close games, including a 1 point OT win against West Virginia earlier this season. West Virginia is coming off that inexcusable collapse @ Kansas and I have to think there is some kind of hangover effect here. When you make West Virginia play a half court game, you take away their strengths. Tech will not let them get out into the open floor and get easy baskets. Their senior landed team will take care of the ball and work it in the half court. The Red Raiders have covered 4 straight games, and have looked much better on offence than they did earlier in the season. This is just too many points to pass up on with a team who will not be rattled by the pressure or venue. Tech only had 12 turnovers in the first matchup and were able to shoot 50% from the field. If they can duplicate that success today they will easily hang within this number
Buster Sports
Kentucky at Georgia
Play: Georgia +7.5
We know Kentucky are coming off of a very impressive win against Tennessee and now have won 3 games in a row.Just way too many points for Kentucky to lay to a Georgia club that took these same Wildcats to OT on January 31st and lost 90-81. Kentucky is the better team but the home court will be huge for the Bulldogs today. Kentucky is only 4-3 in true road games and with the Bulldogs being 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog, we will be happy to back the revengeful home DOG here. At the time of this writing Georgia are getting 7 1/2 points and we will gladly take them.