KELSO
3 units Arizona +2
3 units Va Tech +2.5
4 units Florida +8
5 units OSU -7
5 units Maryland +4.5
25 unts Virginia +8.5
25 units Spurs -3
25 units Lakers +2.5
50 units Butler -7
Wizard of Odds Guaranteed Selections
COLLEGE HOOPS LATE STEAM WINNER
Miami Florida -2
NHL Pro Picks
Detroit +135
LA +153
BEN BURNS
10* Pers Fav - Tennessee -7.5
9* Annihilator - Miami (FL) -2.5
8* Butler/Wisconsin - Under 133.5
10 * Main Event - Boston Celtics
9* Western Conference GOW - Houston Rockets -3.5
7 * Dallas Stars -140
The Hammer Guaranteed Selections
P. I. C. COLLEGE HOOPS TOTAL PLAY OF THE MONTH
BUTLER and Wisconsin Milwaukee UNDER 132.5
The Hoops Guru Guaranteed Selections
NBA QUADRUPLE TOTALS PLAY WINNER
Denver and San Antonio UNDER 198.5
Matt Fargo
Pittsburgh vs. South Florida
Pick: Pittsburgh -3
While I thought the Bulls were a solid go against on Thursday against Seton Hall, I think they are a better go against here. South Florida has won two straight Big East games for the first time ever and either of those games could have resulted in losses. Both wins came in overtime with the first against Providence being a big comeback in the last minute of regulation and the seconds against Seton Hall thanks to a missed free throw by the Pirates. South Florida is now 3-5 in the Big East including a 2-1 record at home but that other conference home win came against 1-8 Rutgers. The lone loss came against Notre Dame by a point but after the Irish loss against Rutgers yesterday, that defeat is looking even worse. Right now the Bulls are the feel good story of the Big East and no longer pushovers however they cannot consistently compete with the upper tier of the conference. That win over Seton Hall, and the two-game streak for that matter, put the opposing teams at attention and not to take these games lightly anymore. The Panthers had lost two straight games after a 5-0 conference start but they rebounded with a home win over St. John’s last time out. It wasn’t a pretty win by any stretch but it was a needed win that stopped some of the bleeding that took place against Georgetown and Seton Hall. Those two games saw the offense struggle but the Panthers will get a break here against the Bulls who have allowed opponents to shoot 46 percent over the last five games. This is far from a must win game on Sunday but Pittsburgh does not want to drop to 6-3 with a brutal stretch coming up. After South Florida, Pittsburgh plays three games against ranked teams in the first three weeks of February as it plays West Virginia twice in a nine-day span and also play host to Villanova. That loss against the Pirates was actually the first road loss of the year as victories this season have come against Cincinnati, Connecticut and Syracuse away from home. The depth of South Florida is a big question. The Bulls had three players go more than 40 minutes Thursday, and only Anthony Crater played significant minutes off the bench. The Panthers have the ability to go nine deep so that is a pretty big edge here. Pittsburgh has played a tougher schedule this season yet have significant edge in key categories including defensive shooting and defensive three point shooting, rebounding margin, free throw percentage and assist/turnover ratio. Pittsburgh is 7-0 ATS this season against teams with a winning percentage between .600 and .800 while South Florida is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games after coming off a conference win by three points or fewer. The Panthers have dominated this series in the three meetings during Big East play with none of those wins being close. Last season, the Panthers were favored by 21 points at home against the Bulls so we are seeing a huge line swing and one that is simply too big in a span of just one season. The winning streak for South Florida ends Sunday. 9* Pittsburgh Panthers
FantasySportsGametime
1000* Play LA Lakers (-1) over Boston
Los Angeles has won and covered the spread in 4 of the last 5 games and they have also won 16 of the last 19 non-conference games. Los Angeles has won 8 of the last 10 games when playing on a Sunday and they are averaging over 103 points a game on offense this season. Boston has lost 6 of the last 7 games against the spread and they have also lost 8 of the last 10 games against the spread when playing their 3rd game in four days.
50* Play Virginia Tech (+2.5) over Miami
Miami has lost 5 consecutive games against the spread and they have also lost 6 of the last 7 games against the spread coming off a road loss by 10 points or more. Miami has lost 5 of the last 6 games against the spread vs. ACC Conference opponents and they are only averaging 64 points a game on offense in conference games this season.
50* Play Arizona (+1.5) over California
Arizona has won and covered the spread in 4 of the last 5 games and they have also won 5 consecutive games coming off an UNDER the total. Arizona has won 11 of the last 12 games vs. California at home and they are averaging over 77 points a game on offense at home this season.
KIKKI SPORTS
Pittsburgh -2
Primetime Sports Advisors
10 Units Wichita State -1
10 Units Maryland +5
10 Units St Josephs +7
Sportsbetsnow
2 Units Minnesota +7
2 Units Boston -1
2 Units Detroit +5
2 Units Minnesota -1.5
2 Units Houston -3.5
Mike Lineback
4* (*POD*) Phoenix Suns +4 -120 (½ pt buy)
4* Boston Celtics PK
LARRY NESS
10* Conference Crusher - Clemson
Maryland's senior guards, Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes, will have to handle Clemson's fullcourt pressure and deal with the difficulty of playing on the road in what has typically been a difficult place to play - Littlejohn Coliseum. Last year Maryland turned the ball over just 14 times - Vasquez was charged with five of those turnovers - but never got into a rhythm offensively and shot just 38 percent from the floor in an embarrassing 93-64 loss. Although it's been playing better of late, keep in mind that Maryland is in fact a poor 2-6 SU and ATS vs. Clemson its last eight overall and will be facing a desperate home team today. Clemson's struggles during its current three-game losing streak can be traced largely to an ankle injury suffered by guard Demontez Stitt. Stitt (11.2 points per game) sprained his ankle more than a week ago against N.C. State and sat out the Tigers' loss at Boston College earlier last week. He's expected back today, however, and should provide Clemson with a degree of ballhandling and perimeter shooting that has been lacking in recent games. Clemson ranks second in the conference in steals (8.0) and even when the Tigers don't get steals, their press is capable of disrupting opponents' offenses. North Carolina was the most obvious victim of Clemson's pressure defense earlier this month. At Littlejohn, the Tar Heels rushed their passes, forgot to catch the ball and turned it over 26 times en route to an 83-64 shellacking. When Clemson must run its halfcourt offense, it can turn to one of the league's premier players in forward/center Trevor Booker. The muscular 6-foot-7 Booker ranks ninth in the ACC in scoring (16.0), third in field-goal percentage (.556) and seventh in rebounds (7.2) (note: Clemson is 7-1 SU its last eight at Littlejohn Coliseum). Expect the Tigers to play with a concerted effort at home and stop the slide; lay the points.
9* Sunday Eye Opener - Ohio State.
Minnesota guard Lawrence Westbrook planned to get a mouth guard before the game against Ohio State today. "I'm expecting a lot of dirty play, to be honest with you," he said. "It's going to be a war." The teams' meeting three weeks ago in Minneapolis was punctuated by three separate confrontations -- between Al Nolen and Ohio State's Jeremie Simmons before halftime, between Evan Turner and Westbrook in the second half, and as the players exchanged handshakes after Minnesota's win. (note: Minnesota is just 1-5 ATS its last six overall and a brutal 2-13 ATS its last 15 on the road). Undefeated at home, the 20th-ranked Buckeyes look to avenge that loss as they meet the struggling Gophers on Sunday. While the Gophers went on to lose their next three, the Buckeyes won three in a row - the first two against ranked teams. Ohio State then lost 71-65 at then-No. 11 West Virginia on Jan. 23 before bouncing back four days later with a 65-57 win at Iowa. They're 12-0 at home, beating opponents by an average of 27.3 points (note: Ohio State is 4-1 SU its last five overall and 6-3 ATS its last nine at home). Evan Turner had 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists versus Iowa, falling short of his third triple-double of the season. He's averaging 18.4 points, 5.5 assists and a Big Ten-best 9.9 rebounds. Turner had 19 points, seven assists, four steals and two blocks in this season's first matchup with Minnesota. Minnesota beat Ohio State earlier this month despite getting six points on 2-of-10 shooting from its bench; this won't happen again. Lay the points.
10* Legend play - Timberwolves.
After a 106-104 loss to Toronto on Thursday, New York (18-28) was hoping to bounce back Saturday at Southeast Division-worst Washington. Instead, the Knicks were outplayed, falling behind by as many as 18 points en route to a 106-96 defeat. Last Sunday, the Knicks suffered the most lopsided home loss in franchise history, falling 128-78 to Dallas. They didn’t stay down for long, bouncing back Tuesday with a convincing 132-105 win over the Timberwolves (10-38) at Madison Square Garden (note: New York is just 1-4 SU its last five on the road and 2-5 ATS its last seven vs. Minnesota). After being routed by the Knicks, the Wolves dropped their fifth in a row Wednesday, falling 109-95 at Cleveland. Minnesota returned home Friday and ended the skid with a 111-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers; I expect this team to build off that victory and to definitely play with "revenge" off that embarrassing loss. Last time out, Ryan Hollins matched a career-high with 19 points, shooting 7 of 11 as Minnesota made 52.4 percent of its attempts from the field - the first time this month it made more than half its shots. The Wolves are trying to avoid being swept by the Knicks in a season series for the first time since losing both meetings in 2000-01 and I believe they "return the favor" tonight on their home floor (note: The Wolves are 5-0 ATS their last five at the Target Center). Lay the points.
PAUL LEINER
1000* Nets/Sixers Over 189
100* Pitt/USF Over 126
100* Florida +8.5
50* Arizona +2
SCOTT SPREITZER
3* California