Frank Sawyer
Hawks vs. Wizards
Play: Hawks +7½
Take the Atlanta Hawks plus the points versus the Washington Wizards. Atlanta (37-33) has lost four straight games after their 105-90 loss in Charlotte on Monday. The Hawks have then covered the point spread in 12 of their last 15 road games following a game against a Southeast Division rival. Atlanta has also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 road games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% at home. Washington (42-28) has dropped four of their last five games after their 110-102 loss in Boston on Monday. The Wizards have then failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after a straight-up loss — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games on their home court.
Bruce Marshall
Philadelphia at Oklahoma City
Pick: Philadelphia
Philly has continued to cover numbers even in the absence of Joel Embiid, as Monday's spread W at Orlando was 7th straight and 16th in last 19 games. Way back on opening night Oct. 26, Sixers got home dog cover vs. Ok City. Thunder had also been playing well and actually winning games (5 straight, all covers) before running into nemesis Golden State on Monday. For the record, Thunder is 2-1 SU and vs. line in games immediately following the three previous beatdowns administered by Warriors. Now Ok City is in a pitched battle with Jazz, Clippers, and Grizzlies in race to get the 4th seed and home edge in first round of playoffs. At 20-9 as home chalk, very tempted to go with Russell Westbrook & Co., but at DD price, have to side with still-trying Philly.
Carmine Bianco
Toronto at Columbus
Play: Over 5.5
Wednesday's Free Play is a play on the total and the Over 5.5 when the Leafs travel to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets. 8 of last 10 Leafs road contests have produced 5 or more goals 5 of those 8 produced 7 or more.
Harry Bondi
NY KNICKS (+12) over Utah
In a game that pits two teams that are struggling, we’ll take the generous points and call for the Knicks to be in this one until the final buzzer. It’s always a bad spot for a team when they play their first home game following an extended road trip, and that’s the situation the Jazz find themselves in as they return from a one-week, four-game road trip that took them through three time zones. Making matters worse is that they head back out of the road following this game and head to LA to face the Clippers. The Knicks have had success on this court, going 12-6 ATS in their last 18 visits and Utah is just 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games following a loss.
Bruce Marshall
Wizards -7
After losing by 15 at Philips Arena way back on opening night, Oct. 27, Washington has taken flight and won and covered twice vs. Hawks, including 26-point blowout in return match at Philips on Jan. 27. All Wizards starters scored 15 or more that night as Atlanta was limited to mere 36% FG shooting. Unfortunately for Hawks, those efforts have become almost commonplace in recent weeks, with SU losses in four straight and spread Ls in 9 of 11 after Monday's setback Charlotte. Now Atlanta has injury worries, with Paul Millsap likely out and Kent Bazemore (who was injured in the fourth quarter last Saturday vs. Blazers) sidelined for at least a week, both dealing with knee issues. Rookie Taurean Prince has been a bright spot, with two double-digit scoring performances and nine blocks in the last four games. But the Hawks are now closer to sixth place than to fourth and play five of their next seven on the road.
Anthony Michael
Wizards -7
Love the Wizards to get a big win and cover here since they are coming off of 2 straight SU losses and 4 SU losses in their last 5. They will be extra motivated to get a big win here and they have been solid at home ATS all season long. They also have covered 3 of their last 4 against the Hawks. Atlanta is struggling right now covering only 2 of their last 10 and they have not been good on the road all season long.
OC Dooley
Central Florida -3.5
The "intangible" surrounds an anticipated NIT Quartefinals matchup that never occured due to Central Florida traveling to Illinois State a few days ago and pulling off an outright upset. Tonight we could have been the first time in more than FIFTY YEARS that Illinois would have traveled to Illinois State to face an "in state" opponent. Thus in my mind tonight is an emotional "letdown" spot for the Illini and despite facing an opponent from a "non" power conference there has been NO last second offshore action going in their direction. That has pointed me towards Central Florida who is a dazzling 8-1 ATS in the past nine tournament tilts and also 8-1 ATS the past couple of campaigns after a victory on the road