The Hoops Guru Guaranteed Selections
NBA TRIPLE PLAY WINNER
Phoenix -13
NBA QUADRUPLE PLAY WINNER
Utah -14
Tom Freese
Rhode Island
Teddy Covers
Big Ticket - Fairfield
Insiders Sports Network Guaranteed Selections
INSIDERS INVESTMENT NBA EASY MONEY MAKER
Milwaukee +3
Street Rosenthal
*300 Atlanta Hawks +1.5
*200 Chicago Bulls -1
Dwayne Bryant
North Carolina at Duke
Bet: Duke -14.5
Some will look at the team names and think North Carolina +14.5 is a gift. They'd be mistaken. This is a far cry from the UNC teams we've grown accustomed to seeing. These Tar Heels are just 16-14 on the season and just 5-10 in conference play. These two met in Chapel Hill on 2/10. Duke won that road battle by 10 points despite shooting just 32% from the field and 61% from the free throw line!
What do you think will happen now that the scene shifts to Cameron Indoor Stadium? I seriously doubt Duke gets held to 32% shooting at home where they average 86 points per game on 47% shooting, including 42.3% from three-point range. And I doubt they shoot just 61% from the charity stripe, given that they are hitting at a 75.6% clip for the season.
Duke's average home victory margin is 26 points this season. They've held their visiting foes to 60 points per game on 38% shooting. UNC has only shot 40.3% on the road this season, where they are just 2-7. The Tar Heels have already lost by 19 at Clemson, 21 at Maryland, and 17 at Georgia Tech. So don't doubt for a second that Duke can't pound them by 20+ tonight.
I should also note that Duke is coming off a 79-72 loss at Maryland. Duke has only lost three other games since conference play started (one was a non-conference loss at Georgetown). Duke is a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS in the game following each loss. That includes a 20-point home beatdown of Boston College, a 13-point win as just a 2-point favorite at Clemson, and a 19-point home win over Georgia Tech.
Bottom line: Duke will be motivated playing on national TV (ESPN) in their final home game of the season. Coming off a loss only adds more fuel to the fire. Duke played poorly at UNC last month and still came away with a 10-point win. I fully expect them to double that tonight. Don't let the team names fool you. This isn't the same North Carolina you're used to seeing. Lay the heavy wood with Duke.
Youngstown Connection
Georgia +1.5
Youngstown Connection
BYU -11
Mike Lineback
Cleveland/Milwaukee Under 196
Both teams playing b2b, 3 games in 4 nights with travel last night. In addition, Milwaukee playing 7th game in 11 days' with 5 of L6 being on the road. Cleveland exerted a lot of energy in comeback win vs. Detroit last night. Plus, LeBron tweaked his ankle, which is why game is off the board at some outlets. Nevertheless, James played 42 exhausting minutes vs. Detroit, half of those minutes coming after he hurt his ankle. Hence, his foot must be bothering him this morning. Cleveland (#4ppg; # 1fg%) and Milwaukee (#10ppg; #11fg%) are two of the best defensive teams in the league. More importantly, the Bucks have really stepped up their defensive play since Salmons trade. I have personally watched them take opponents out of their game, by extended their D & contesting shots. Of course Cleveland play the same way. Teams' combined for 167 & 187 points in two December meetings. Milwaukee allowing only 89.6 ppg their L5, and that includes a visit to Indiana & an OT contest vs. Atlanta. Discounting Indiana & Atlanta, they have held 6 of their L7 opponents to under 88 points, including three teams' to 74, 71 & 67 points respectively. With or without James, I love this play!! Take the UNDER.
Marc Lawrence
Dayton -11.5
Let us be the first to say that we’re big fans of Rick Majerus and his youngsters (11 players on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores) but he’ll have a hard time keeping them in line for this field trip. Dayton, who lost 68-65 at Saint Louis three weeks ago as 5.5-point favorites, is 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS with revenge in Last Home Games. In fact, the Flyers have been bullies at home all season, posting a 14-1 SU and 8-4 ATS mark. With the Billikens off a triple-revenge loss to Temple and 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS in regular season finales the past four seasons, and the veteran hosts (four returning starters) off a 4-point defeat at Richmond, look for the Flyers to come up big in their home finale at the Dayton Center this evening. We recommend a 3-unit play on Dayton.
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
7* Air Force +13.5
For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on Air Force
The Aztecs can finish in either third or fourth place in the standings depending on the outcomes of conference games today. The goal this season is to post a second consecutive 11-win league campaign. Wednesday night saw SDSU top Colorado State at home, 68-55, the team's fifth win in six tries and the 10th in 15 MWC opportunities.
Dominating in almost every ATS statistical category, it's important to note that this is a position that San Diego State does struggle in; 2-3 ATS vs. good defensive teams that only allow 64 points or less per contest.
On the other side of the court: The Falcons have struggled this year to say the least; they own the last place spot in the Mountain West Conference; they are out of contention for any other postseason play barring a miracle run though the league tournament; all that's left to play for today is for pride on Senior Night!
“There’s an Air Force basketball tradition, and finishing last—it hurts, it hurts a lot,” junior forward Tom Fow said. “Especially because every single one of these guys in the locker room, including myself, we bust our tails every single day. And it’s just not happening for us right now.”
Bottom line: I do expect AIR FORCE to play with some pride today, and also revenge as it was blown out 70-48 by the Aztecs earlier this season at Viejas Arena.
This line is simply too high; play on AIR FORCE!
ASA
8* Dayton
Erin Rynning
20* Playmaker: New York Over 210
Milwaukee +2.5
RAS
Marshall/Southern Methodist Under 135
Houston/Tulane Over 143.5
RAS
Portland State/Montana State Under 149
James Madison/William & Mary Under 130