SportsBetsNow
1 Unit Miami Heat +7
ANTHONY REDD
10 Dime - Western Michigan
10 Dime - Providence
10 Dime - Michigan State
RAS
Idaho St +20
N Col -5.5
Brandon Lang
10 DIME - GOLDEN STATE-DENVER UNDER
I met George Karl once.
It was years ago while he was head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, and it was right after they played the Orlando Magic in Orlando.
I went to the game with Ted Tryba and he had played in a pro-am with the head coach so after the game he comes out and meets Ted and I to say hello.
We make small talk at which point I tell him they look sluggish defensively and he says something I still find funny to this day but yet very profound to this day.
"This team couldn't guard their mothers, but a game like this allows me to get their attention."
When you are a Denver team that comes off a devasting loss to Minnesota, a one win team and you lose to them at home, trust me folks, you are not going to allow another team in their home court to outplay them.
A loss like that allows Karl to do just what he said to Tryba and me that day, I can now get their attention and believe me, he will get it.
Denver will clamp down on defense enough to bring the Golden State how power offense to a crawl from what their used to. Compare the fact that 7 of the Nuggets last 8 games have gone Under when they have allowed a 100 points the previous game.
This is a good spot for the Nuggets to refocus with a head coach who chewed some ass and a point guard in Chauncey Billups who will set the tone early.
It's one thing to lose a home game and it's an entirely different thing to lose it the way Denver did last time out.
They will refocus their efforts on defense. Golden State also tends to step off the gas after a straight up win going under 9 of the last 11 next game out.
Watch Denver come out with the defense tonight and put forth a great effort, get the foul taste out of their mouth and keep this one under the total.
FREE SELECTION - PACIFIC TIGERS
National Sports Service Picks
4* Boston -3 over Charlotte
4* N. Carolina -3 over Michigan St.
3* Wake Forest +11 over Purdue
Wunderdog
UT Chattanooga Moccasins @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Pick: 5 units Jacksonville State Gamecocks -6.5
Chattanooga suffered a lot of losses from a year ago as the top four scorers have departed. They have won three games, but they were certainly very soft, confidence-building type games, but the reality is that this team is going to struggle early as they regain identity and experience. Jacksonville State showed signs of getting it together, dropping a close one vs. Georgia by just three. Trenton Marshall has delivered 17.4 points per game. James Green in his second year has shown the ability to make great strides wherever he has been. He turned Southern Miss from 12-15 to 22-11, and Mississippi Valley State from 9-19 to 18-16, so this team will grow from their 11-17 mark a year ago. Marshall just adds to the pieces in place as he was an All-American JUCO and has emerged their best player. I like Jacksonville State here who is simply ahead of where the Mocs are right now by a great distance.
Dave Malinsky
4* WESTERN MICHIGAN over TEMPLE
Western Michigan has a chance to be one of the most improved teams in
the nation this season, but with ingredients that the radar screens
will have trouble picking up. Temple is going to be hard-pressed to
get anything easily on the road because points are so difficult to
come by. So in a game in which the home team also brings a much more
intense and focused approach, we call for the outright upset, with
the points being offered a nice cushion.
The Broncos do not have to make many changes to turn LY?s 10-win
season around; they went 2-9 in games decided by six points or less,
which made things appear much more dark than they really were. But
having top scorer David Kool and two other returning starters back
brings a lot of veteran leadership to build around, and Michael
Douglas and Donald Lawson are bringing more to their new starting
roles than meets the eye. Douglas played in only 17 games as a FR LY
because his two-year brother was fighting a losing battle with sickle
cell anemia, while the 6-10/243 Lawson missed nine conference games
in mid-season because of an irregular heartbeat. After getting off of
a promising start, he never did find his way back into playing shape,
or into a comfortable fit in the rotation. As such neither would have
impressed anyone LY, but now they can bring much more to the table
that those numbers indicate, and in Saturday?s 64-54 win over Holy
Cross we saw career-highs from Lawson in points (15) and steals
(three), while he also grabbed eight rebounds, and Douglas had a
career high of six assists. With the only two home games being that
win, and a dominating 83-67 rout of V.C.U., we see how well these
pieces can fit. And in a rare chance to host a non-conference game
against a team that brings some ?cred? (Temple having been to
back-to-back NCAA tourneys), anticipate a top level of effort,
especially with nothing on deck for the next eight days.
For Temple the focus is much different. The Owls had high profile
games vs. Virginia Tech and St. John?s at the Palestra over the
weekend, and have a home game on deck vs. Penn State up next that
generates much more attention than this trip. Scoring is going to be
a problem all season for Fran Dunphy?s squad, what has already been
held to less than 50 twice through only six games. They are shooting
a brick-laying 24.8 percent from 3-point range, and even if they are
able to be in the lead in the latter stages that 62.0 percent from
the free throw line makes it awfully difficult for them to increase
the margin. With Michael Eric sidelined again there are also only
seven players in the rotation, leaving a lack of depth that makes it
tougher for them to survive this challenge.
4* COLORADO over SAN FRANCISCO
We went to the well twice with Colorado in Maui last week and should
have been rewarded with a pair of winning tickets, with the Buffaloes
easily covering vs. Gonzaga, and then taking Arizona to O.T. in an
underdog role. And because neither of those solid efforts turned into
an outright win we get to come right back again with an under-valued
side.
Here is the key ? not only were the Buffs on the wrong side of the
scoreboard in terms of market perception, what they put on the
scoreboard was also not noticed. While Jeff Bzdelik has been tagged
with a reputation for running a lot of Pete Carrill schemes, so much
of that came from his seasons at Air Force, when he was forced to
play slower because of the kind of talent on hand. Remember his days
with the Nuggets? Bzdelik is adept at creating designs based on the
personnel on hand, and this year?s group brings the ability to run a
lot of those complicated sets at a faster pace. They are shooting
51.7 percent through six games, and note the 72 points vs. Gonzaga
and 80 vs. Arizona. Those tallies will be far above what those
defenses are going to be allowing this season. Now they have had
ample time to prepare since returning to campus, and Bzdelik is also
back with the team again, which sets the stage for what we believe
will be a dominating win.
San Francisco is vulnerable to a knockout punch. Rex Walters set up
this three-game road trip (at B.Y.U. next before returning home) as a
chance for a young team to develop for conference play later, and it
makes long-term sense when you have two SO?s and a FR in the starting
lineup. But it also means taking some lumps, and the second game in
three days at altitude also creates some major conditioning issues,
especially off of that double-O.T. affair at Colorado State on
Sunday. Want to talk about a team running out of gas? How about the
16-0 run that State went on against them to open the second O.T.
period? That left Monday more as a day to recuperate than to game
plan for a difficult tactical opponent, and the Dons bring a defense
that can be exploited ? in their only outing taking double figures on
the road so far they were helpless to stop Arizona State in a 104-65
drubbing. They will eventually lose contact in this one as well, with
that 81.2 percent free throw shooting by Colorado also helping to
build a margin vs. a team that should be foul-prone in this matchup.
5* DENVER over GOLDEN STATE
There is nothing more difficult that the NBA schedule makers can do
than have a team play in the Pacific Time Zone one night, and then at
Denver the following evening. Not only does a team lose an hour in
the transition, but the altitude taxes those legs even more. That makes
things particularly arduous for the Warriors this evening with their
short-handed roster, especially because they have the worst possible
timing to face a Nugget team ready to throw a heavy punch.
Some nights in the NBA you just take your lumps and move on, and we
expect that to be the Golden State mind-set. Off of a win on Monday,
and with a home game vs. Houston on Thursday that the Warriors are
capable of grabbing, there is no particular reason to burn some
already tired legs in this setting. With Anthony Randolph now joining
an injury list that already includes Anris Biedrins, Raja Bell,
Kelenna Azubuike and Brandan Wright there is precious little depth,
and virtually none in the front-court, where journeymen Vladimir
Radmanovic and Mikkie Moore are badly over-matched, and Ronny Turiaf
is trying to work his way back into shape. It means little chance of
competing on the boards (they rate 29th, with only the Knicks worse),
or in making any stops (28th on our best set of defensive ratings,
with only Memphis and Toronto worse), and against an aggressive
favorite tonight that spells disaster.
The Nuggets got a rude wake-up call in that stunning second half
collapse vs. Minnesota on Sunday, and we believe they rebound well
from it. They have had two home games this season immediately off of
a loss, and beat the spread in them by a combined 33 points. We see the
attitude as being the same tonight. First, from Chauncey Billups -
"I would have liked to have come out of this (the Minnesota
defeat)
with a win, and I would have said the same exact thing, but I think
we did need this. I don't like losing, but I think we needed this."
And Kenyon Martin - "We got exactly what we deserved." But the
best comes from George Karl, who cracks the whip tonight - "Tell
me my play-hard team. Tell me the five guys I put on the court to play
hard every possession. Tell me. I had it last year. I had a play-hard
team last year. I don't have a play-hard team this year. And it's
making me very angry."
The Nuggets can run the court and score at will against an opponent
that can only play right into that pace, and it is just a matter of
time before this snaps wide open.
Scott Rickenbach
6* CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (+4) over Boston Celtics
Of course, this is a huge revenge game for Charlotte. In their opening game of the season the Bobcats were absolutely embarrassed at Boston when the Celtics drilled them 92 to 59. Much has changed since then and Charlotte has won four straight games heading into this rematch which they gladly get at home. Note that Boston is only 6-10 ATS as a favorite this season. They’re facing a Bobcats team that has kicked their defense into a higher gear. Charlotte allowed just 76 points to Washington in their most recent game. Note that the Bobcats are 18-5 ATS when they’re coming off of a game where they allowed 85 points or less in their prior game. In other words, we’ve got a combined 28-11 (72%) streak here that favors going against Boston and playing on Charlotte. The Celtics have not fared well as a favorite this season and, the Bobcats – over the last three seasons – have fared very well when their defense is clicking which it certainly is right now! Of course NBA players are professional athletes and that means professional pride is at stake every time they step on the floor. The embarrassment of getting crushed at Boston to open up their season is certainly something they don’t take lightly. The Celtics, of course, are a quality team but this is a very tough spot for them and the line is already being driven up to a -4 for the Celtics! Boston, before covering their last two games, was mired in a 1-9 ATS skid! On the road this season the Celtics have failed to cover four straight. With the hunger and energy (off since Saturday) that the Bobcats are going to bring to the floor for this one, we absolutely feel that the Celtics are going to have their hands full in this one. Even before their four game winning streak, the Bobcats four prior defeats had all come by seven points or less. They’ve responded well to coach Larry Brown and since they’ve made some personnel changes, the Bobcats have been a different team. As outlined in our write-up on November 25th: “Note that the Bobcats have averaged ten points more per game plus shot the ball at a much higher percentage now that they’ve got Stephen Jackson on board. In fact, the combination of Jackson and Flip Murray has led to much better production on offense from the backcourt. Note that Murray is averaged nearly 17 points per game in his last four games and Jackson’s scoring average of nearly 18 points per game is leading the team.” Flip Murray has gone cold at times since then but Jackson continues to lead the team in scoring and we feel that the Bobcats surge will absolutely continue tonight. Look for Charlotte to continue crashing the boards, playing solid defense, and watch Jackson and possibly even Murray play key roles in upsetting the Celtics in this “rematch”. Note that neither of those players was on the floor in Charlotte’s first match-up with Boston. Play Charlotte plus the points as a 6* Regular Play selection.
NHL PRO PICKS
Columbus +221
Ottawa +169
Dwayne Bryant
Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets
Pick: Denver Nuggets -14
Yes, it's a lot of points. But the game fits my criteria, so I'm laying it. Denver is coming off an embarrassing 6-point home loss to Minnesota, which had previously won one game all season. The Nuggets were outrebounded and allowed the T'wolves to shoot over 50% from the field. You KNOW the Nuggets will be out for blood tonight. They will definitely bring their A-game tonight on both ends of the floor. On the flip side, the Warriors are coming off blowout home win over Indiana last night. Now they make the trip to Denver for their second straight game and third in four nights. Denver was off yesterday and played that home game against Minny the day before that, so no travel or fatigue issues for the Nuggets. With Golden State off a big win and Denver off a horrible home loss, I expect the Nuggets to dominate this game and win by 20+. Lay the heavy lumber with Denver.
Tom Freese
Miami at Portland
Miami is in a 38-14 UNDER System that says to Play UNDER on road teams when the Total is 180 to 189.5 if they failed to cover the spread in 5 or 6 of their last 7 games if both teams in this game have a winning record. The Heat is 9-3 UNDER with one day of rest. Portland is 36-17 UNDER after allowing 100 or more points in their last game and they are 16-7 UNDER their last 23 games. The Trailblazers are 8-3 UNDER their last 11 home games and they are 7-2 UNDER their last 9 games as favorites of 5.0 to 10.5. 10* PLAY 'UNDER'
CHARLIE
500* Charlotte +3',
500* Suns @ knicks Over 225
500*Purdue -10
30* Knicks +7
20* Lakers -13
20* NC State -4'
10* Michigan St +2'
Toronto -7 Free Play
Eric Degarde
2* Phoenix -7
2* Portland Over 184
1* Wake Forest +10.5
Jack Clayton
5-Star NBA Game of the Week
5* Celtics at Bobcats
Beware! The Celtics are getting serious! We’ve been wondering whether the deep and talented Green would start hunkering down and playing some defense. On a 2-0 SU/ATS run, it appears they are focused in, especially after shooting 51% at Miami and allowing 41% shooting. The Celtics withstood the charge and countered with precision, execution, and steady play down the stretch. Beasley didn’t score for the final 8:01 and the Heat didn’t record a field goal in the final 4:27, a testament to Boston’s defensive domination in the clutch. Kevin Garnett spearheaded a fourth-quarter Celtics rally for a 92-85 road win, a gritty victory because they could have relented to the younger Heat. Instead they fought back with fundamentals. The Heat missed 11 of 17 shots in the fourth and couldn’t even rely on Dwyane Wade, who had only 4 of his 27 points while being checked by Ray Allen. Boston has won the last two games by 13 and 7 points. Charlotte doesn't have a tall frontcourt outside of Tyson Chandler, who is not an offensive player. They prefer to slow the pace down, but that will be a problem here as Boston can play the half-court game and has big frontcourt bodies with Kendrick Perkins, Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rasheed Wallace. Even in Charlotte’s surprising road win the last game, at Washington, it was their first road win of the season. Both teams played on Friday night and the Wizards appeared especially drained. The Celtics are 6-1 on the road. You need a defensive backcourt player to guard Ray Felton and the Celtics have one in the quick, long armed Rajon Rondo. Play the Celtics!
Karl Garrett
20 DIMER - CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
10 DIMER - WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS
You think Larry Brown needed to remind his team what happened the last time they faced the Celtics?
On Ocotber 28th, Charlotte went up to Beantown and were drilled 92-59 as the 10-point underdog. 59 measly points was all the Bobcats managed!!!!!
Revenge time tonight, as Charlotte is now playing their best roundball of the season, winning 4 in a row both straight up, and against the spread, and prior to their no-show on October 28th, the 'Cats had covered 3 in a row, and 6 of 7 against the Celtics.
Boston has won their last 4 games, but they are only 3-4 against the spread on the road this year, and 7-10 against the spread overall this season through 17 games played.
Charlotte is both 6-2 straight up, and against the spread this season at home, and with the taste of that opening night blowout loss still fresh in their mouths, look for the Bobcats to get some revenge.
10 DIMER - WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS
Purdue is in the Top-10 in the land right now, but laying double-digits tonight in this spotlight ACC-Big 10 clash is just a little too tall for the call.
The Demon Deacons are a solid unit, and are off to a 4-1 start. I think their loss to William and Mary, 78-68 was a situation of Wake losing their focus, and looking ahead to this "marquee" game.
The Boilers have failed 2 of their last 3 when laying double-digits, and I have a feeling this game will be a lot closer than the linesmakers expect.
Look for Wake Forest to get rid of their upset loss to William and Mary right quick, as they hunker down in West Lafayette, and compete hard for the full 40 minutes tonight.
Purdue keep their record clean, but fails to cover the number tonight.
Take Wake plus the points.