Brad Wilton
I know the host has won and covered 6 straight in this Chicago-Boston rivalry, and that includes the "phantom" foul call that went against Boston in the last series meeting in Chicago in the middle of February that saw Jimmy Butler sink the winning free throws for the Bulls the last time these teams met.
I also know that Chicago flies to Boston having lost 4 in a row both straight up and against the spread, while Boston plays this game at home after playing their last 5 on the road.
Based on those facts, you would think this would be a "no brainer" to back the Celts, but Boston's 1-3 mark both straight up and against the spread their last 4 indicates that the C's are going to be happy just to get back on that parquet floor and get a win, no matter how it comes.
Chicago is also desperate for the win, and while the home court trend may lead to another victory for the host, today I think the point spread is a little too lofty to lay with the home favorite on Sunday.
Boston with the straight up, but Chicago plus the points the live dog on Sunday.
2* CHICAGO
Steve Janus
Philadelphia at Los Angeles
Pick: Philadelphia +3½
Play Against - All teams where the line is +3 to -3 (LA LAKERS) - off an upset win as a road underdog, a bad team (25% to 40%) playing a team with a losing record. This system is 36-13 (74%) against the spread over the last 5 seasons.
Brandon Lee
Cavaliers vs. Rockets
Play: Rockets -6
Houston is worth a look here against the Cavs. Cleveland hasn't been the same team of late. They are just 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS over their last 8 games. They did just win and cover last night in Orlando, but now they are in a horrible spot, playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back road set against one of the most lethal and fast-paced offenses in the league. Not to mention this is Cleveland's 3rd road game in 4 days, only making it that much harder for them to bounce back with the kind of effort needed here to compete with the Rockets. As for Houston, they are playing just their 3rd game in 6 days and are out for revenge from a 120-128 loss at Cleveland earlier this season. This is a statement game for the Rockets against the defending champs on their home floor.
Jack Jones
Cavaliers vs. Rockets
Play: Rockets -6
The Houston Rockets will be licking their chops at the opportunity to face the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers at home tonight. They are rested after having yesterday off following their 115-94 win at Chicago on Friday.
The same cannot be said for the Cavaliers, who will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd road game in four days. They played at Detroit, at Orlando and now at Houston, which is a lot of traveling in a span of four days. I think it will take its toll on them here tonight.
Cleveland is 0-8 ATS in road games when playing the 2nd of a back-to-back this season, getting outscored by 12.5 points per game on average. Cleveland is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 trips to Houston.
TJ Masterline
Yale vs. Princeton
Play: Over 129
We love one of the totals in NCAAB hoops today. It's an early game, so hop on it now before the line moves. We love the over in the Princeton game. Here are some statistics to back up our play: Over is 5-0 in Bulldogs last 5 overall. Over is 5-0 in Bulldogs last 5 vs. Ivy League. Over is 4-0 in Bulldogs last 4 games following a straight up win. Over is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Over is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games following a ATS win. Over is 7-2 in Bulldogs last 9 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5. Over is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 overall. Over is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 neutral site games as a favorite. Over is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 vs. Ivy League. Over is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 games as a favorite. Over is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 games following a straight up win. Over is 5-1 in Tigers last 6 Sunday games. Over is 6-2 in Tigers last 8 neutral site games. Over is 23-8 in Tigers last 31 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
SPORTS WAGERS
Princeton -7 over Yale
If you bet Princeton yesterday against Penn, you got to the cashier’s window but pretty it was not. Penn led the entire way and should’ve won in regulation but the game went into OT where Princeton would put away a dejected underdog. After watching the Tigers struggle yesterday, the market is not anxious to get back on them today against a more difficult opponent spotting the same number of points. Aside from that, Yale is hot with four straight wins and nine wins in its final 13 games. That’s nice but Yale is not in Princeton’s class. Yale’s out-of-conference schedule ranked 190th in the country while Princeton’s out-of-conference schedule ranked 88th. Yale’s toughest opponent outside of its own conference was Virginia and that was a game it got steamrolled in, 62-38.
Be that this game is in Philadelphia, it would be reasonable to assume that the crowd will be pro Princeton, as Tigers supporters will surely make the short drive to this venue. That can’t hurt but it’s not the reason that the Tigers are the prudent play here. Every team has an off-day and while the Tigers were certainly not at their best yesterday, they willed their way to a victory. When OT started against Penn yesterday, the Tigers sensed a wounded prey and put the hammer down. It appeared as though the Tigers were going to lose yesterday but now they’re back. The Tigers were preseason favorites not just in the Ivy League but among mid-major analysts after returning 14 of 15 players from last season's team. They opened the season by losing four of their first six games but have ripped off 18 wins in a row since Dec. 22, including 13 during an undefeated Ivy season and they've done so by executing the old Princeton offense. The Tigers are slowing the tempo to a glacial pace, passing and cutting relentlessly, creating wide-open looks from behind the arc as well as occasional chances for back-door layups. As Princeton has shown through the years, that's a very effective style that leads to boatloads of 3-point tries -- Princeton is shooting from long range on 47 percent of its attempts, the 10th-highest rate in the country -- and tends to neutralize superior opponents' advantages in skills. The last time the Tigers were this good, they landed a 13-seed in the 2011 NCAA tournament and came within two points of beating Kentucky. Chances are, the Tigers won’t get caught napping again here after a major scare yesterday.
Pass NHL
Wunderdog
Montreal @ Edmonton
Pick: Over 5
Montreal has speed on offense, but comes off a bad offensive game, losing 5-0 at Calgary. Montreal is 7-3 OVER the total following a loss of three or more goals, plus 9-4-1 OVER after allowing five-plus goals in their previous game. The Canadiens get an offensive boost as Alexander Radulov (team-high 31 assists and 46 points) returns to the lineup after missing three games with a lower-body injury. He practiced on a line with Alex Galchenyuk and Artturi Lehkonen on Saturday. Edmonton is #12 in the NHL in goals scored and #7 on the power play. Connor McDavid leads the NHL with 75 points and 52 assists after scoring goal #23 Friday. The atmosphere at Rogers Place will be electric as a visit from the Canadiens always brings out their many die-hard fans spread across Canada, and this shapes up as an offensive show.
Power Sports
Portland vs. Phoenix
Pick: Portland -2
Two teams that experienced different results last night meet Sunday in the desert. Portland lost at home to Washington, in overtime, Saturday. They blew a 21-pt halftime lead, which is the largest lead they've ever blown in a loss in franchise history! While that was going on, Phoenix was winning at the buzzer in Dallas, 100-98. Despite those results being somewhat indicative of the recent play from the respective sides, I'm siding w/ the Blazers here in what is tantamount to a "must win" spot.
I'm always cautious about labeling a game as a "must win" for any team. Just because a team "must" win doesn't mean that they will. But Portland better tonight. Last night's loss leaves them at eight games below .500 and two back of Denver for the final playoff spot in the West. They had won four in a row previous to last night, including twice beating Oklahoma City. While losing in overtime can be deflating, I believe what happened last night to Portland will only serve to motivate them more. Remember, it's important not to discount what they did right against the Wizards. Leading what has been the hottest team in the league in 2017 by 21 at the break is pretty impressive.
Phoenix has inexplicably won four of its last six games. Despite this, they are one of only three Western Conference teams to have virtually no shot at making the playoffs (Sacramento, Lakers are the others). Devin Booker scored 36 in last night's win, but what is even less likely to be repeated is the team holding an opponent below 100 pts. Dallas is one of the least efficient teams in the league on the offensive end. As much as they've declined overall, Portland remains tied for 11th. This line just seems too low to me.