FANTASY SPORTS GAMETIME
100* Troy +5.5
100* App St. +3.5
50* Memphis -9
Primetime Sports Advisors
20 Units Gonzaga -2 (1st Half)
JB SPORTS
2* Memphis
TRIPLE CROWN
4* North Texas +1
3* William & Mary +9.5
3* App State +3.5
4* Golden State-New Orleans Under 214.5
DON WALLACE SPORTS
4* Cleveland -5
4* Atlanta -6.5
RAS
Troy +5
North Texas +1
Kyle Bales
The Dallas Mavericks, winners of 11 straight, beat the Timberwolves by three last Wednesday in Dallas but failed to cover the 13 point spread. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, this time around they will be without Jason Terry who scored 26 points in that game. Terry (16.4 ppg) will be out two weeks after having facial surgery Friday after being elbowed by Minnesota's Corey Brewer in that game. The Mavericks could also be without both centers Eric Dampier (Mid March) and Brendan Haywood (Questionable). The Timberwolves however will be happy to welcome back Al Jefferson (17.1 ppg) who sat out with a suspension in Wednesday's loss. He was greatly missed in Saturday's loss where the Rockets took advantage on the boards. While the Mavericks look for someone on the bench to step up, the Timberwolves have had great success having Kevin Love come off the bench as he has averaged 16.8 points over the past seven games. With Dallas coming into this matchup playing their third game in four nights I look for Minnesota to stay within the number and possibly upset this tired and hurt team.
Play: 15* Minnesota Timberwolves +7
North Texas is a tough team coming into this game winners of 10 straight and should have no problem winning this game today. These two teams matched up earlier in the year with North Texas getting the five point home victory despite shooting 3-14 behind the arc. Denver went on a solid run to finish the season winning their last 6 of 7 but with this being their third game in three days I think they will be too tired to compete against this hungry Eagles team seeking their first tournament title since 2007. Although this is a neutral court game,Denver is just 2-11 on the road this season.
Play: 10* North Texas -1
MTi Sports
4* Timberwolves
4* Nets Under 198
Will Cover
3* St. Marys +5
Teddy Covers
Hawks
Timberwolves
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: New Orleans Over 214.5
BILLY COLEMAN
3* Atl/NY Ov 210.5
4* Gonz -3.5
3* WM +9
3* N.Tex -1
ATS LOCK CLUB
4 Units Gonzaga -4
3 Units NO Hornets -6.5
ROCKETMAN
4* Dallas +255
Brandon Lang
5 DIME - NORTH TEXAS
Western Kentucky-Troy State will get all the attention in tonight's Sun Belt Conference semifinals, but Denver-North Texas is where the easy money can be found.
Denver carries a 19-12 record into the contest. But did you know the Pioneers were just 2-11 straight-up on the road, including 1-8 SU and ATS in conference play, on the road before beating Fla. International and Middle Tennessee State on Saturday and Sunday.$ So it's hard to believe this is almost a pick-em game considering how bad Denver (15-1 at home) has been on the road - even if this is a neutral site game. And don't forget this is the team's third game in three days while North Texas opened the tournament yesterday with a win over LA Monroe.
Tough spot for the Mean Green Sunday. They had been idle since February 27 when they had beaten that same LA Monroe team on the road 74-71. But they managed to rally from a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes (they were down as many as 14 early) to win it 69-66, extending their winning streak to nine in a row SU (5-2-1 ATS) with the victory. In all, they've won 13 of their last 15 SU, going 10-3-1 ATS.
N. Texas won the only regular season meeting, 64-59, at home on February 13, covering the 4 1/2 point margin.
This is just a bad price considering the Mean Green - unlike Denver - have shown they can win on the road. They overcame a huge deficit in Sunday's quarterfinal round and they've won 5 in a row and 7 of 8 SU on the highway since mid-January. And two of those wins came against Western Kentucky (84-83) and Troy State (75-72), the two teams everyone generally considers the best in the conference.
North Texas should be laying at least 4 tonight because they're winning by 5.
FREE PICK - NEW ORLEANS