Kieth Glantz
100* Thunder
100* Missouri
Teddy Covers
Charlotte +9
Sacramento +9
Michigan State +12
Mike Lineback
Chic Bulls 1st Quarter
Memphis
King Creole
2* George Mason
The Duke's Sports
Philadelphia (+3') for 2 Units
The road team in this series has covered 6 of the last 7, including January 28th. We'll look for the 76ers to continue their good stretch of basketball -- covering 3 of their last 4 games. Moreover, the 76ers are playing well on the road covering 6 of their last 7. Memphis, however, has shown recent signs of slippage at home (1-3 ATS). The dog in this series has covered 5 straight and we'll look for the defensively disciplined 76ers to eke out the win here.
Helmut
Northern Illinois Over 148.5
Missouri State Over 133
Maddux Sports
10 Units Georgia State +15
10 Units Miami Under 205.5
10 Units Utah Under 207
Jeff Benton
20 Dime Chicago Bulls
10 Dime Phoenix Suns
Chicago Bulls
Yesterday in this space I said it was an absolutely perfect situation to back Charlotte and fade the Lakers, and the Bobcats not only delivered, they destroyed L.A. 109-89 as a five-point home underdog (handing the two-time defending champs their worst defeat of the season). Well, now I’m telling you it is an absolutely perfect situation to fade the Bobcats.
For starters, Charlotte is obviously in the ultimate letdown spot, having to travel to Chicago and play a very good Bulls team less than 24 hours after beating the Lakers (a team, by the way, that the Bobcats simply own). Meanwhile, Chicago is coming off a five-game road trip that ended with consecutive wins at Utah on Wednesday (91-86) and New Orleans on Saturday (97-88) – that’s right, the Bulls have played just two games in the last six days, meaning they’re very well rested coming into this contest.
With its wins over the Jazz and Hornets, the Bulls are now 27-8 going back to Dec. 4, including 18-2 at the United Center. Now, are the Bobcats responsible for two of Chicago’s eight losses overall and one of the two losses in Chi-town? Yes, in a six-day stretch in mid-January, the Bobcats upset the Bulls 96-91 at home (as a 3-point ‘dog) and 83-82 in the Windy City (as a 7½-point pup). I can’t explain away the first defeat (other than the fact it occurred in Charlotte), but the second loss, well, the Bulls did play in Memphis the previous night and were in a four-games-in-five-nights situation. Tonight, as already noted, the Bulls should be extremely fresh while the Bobcats are in the back-to-back spot (and Charlotte is 6-9-1 ATS in back-to-backs this season, including 3-7 ATS in the last 10). And while this is Chicago’s third game since last Wednesday, it’s the Bobcats’ fifth game since last Wednesday (the third on the road).
Also, don’t you think the Bulls are keenly aware that the Bobcats have defeated them twice this year (and are coming off a win over the Lakers)? Think those two facts might serve as motivation for the home team? I sure do!
Finally, consider these facts:
– Charlotte is coming off consecutive upsets of the Lakers and Hawks and it is 4-1 ATS in its last five games (all as an underdog). However, only twice this season have the Bobcats covered in at least three straight games (and not once has that third straight cover come in a back-to-back situation).
– Since suffering the one-point home loss to Charlotte on Jan. 18, the Bulls are on a 7-3 ATS run, and they’ve won five straight home games, the last four by margins of 21 points (Indiana), 9 (Orlando), 9 (Milwaukee) and 13 (Cleveland). And if you take out the Bobcats loss, they’ve won 13 straight home games. Eleven of those victories were by nine points or more, with the other two coming against the Heat (99-96) and Dallas (82-77), two of the top teams in the league. Average margin of victory in those 13 home wins: 16.4 ppg.
– Chicago is on ATS runs of 6-2 overall, 4-1 at home, 5-1 when coming off a victory, 4-1 when laying five to 10½ points and 7-1 on Tuesdays.
Again, guys, this is just a perfect-storm situation here, with the Bulls being as rested as they’ve been all year, the Bobcats just 24 hours removed from their biggest win of the year and Chicago in a double-revenge spot. Lay the chalk and watch the Bulls roll by 20-plus points!
Phoenix Suns
Why not back the Suns at this dirt-cheap price? All they’ve done is go 4-0 SU and ATS in the last four meetings with the Jazz, with all four being double-digit routs. And the last three victories came in Salt Lake City (104-86 last April; 110-94 on Oct. 28; and 95-83 on Friday, with Phoenix outscoring the Jazz 51-27 in the second half in Utah’s first game of the post-Jerry Sloan era).
Although the Suns’ three-game SU and ATS winning streak came to a halt in Sunday’s surprising 113-108 home loss to Sacramento (as a 9½-point chalk), they’re still 11-5 SU and ATS in their last 16 games (with the SU winner covering the spread in all 16 contests). Phoenix has also won seven of 10 at home.
Meanwhile, Utah has dropped 11 of its last 15 games both SU and ATS, going 2-6 SU and ATS on the road. And if you take things back to Dec. 3, the Jazz are in an 11-24 ATS funk (6-11 ATS on the highway). Furthermore, Utah has failed to cash in five of six as an underdog and 15 of 21 against Western Conference foes. And even though you’d think the Jazz would be at a bit of advantage here having not played since Friday’s loss to Phoenix, well, not so fast, as the Jazz are 0-5 ATS in their last five games when coming off three or more days of rest.
Throw in the fact that the Suns have covered the number in 14 of 20 as a short home favorite (five points or less), and this one is a no-brainer.
MR EAST
3 UNITS TOLEDO ROCKETS +14.5
The Toledo Rockets are 4-21 on the season, and have lost 7 straight games, and 12 of their last 13. The wins are few and far between but at the same time, for the purposes here, we don't measure teams that way. What they have been is 11-5 ATS taking 9.5 or more points in their last 16. They are also 10-1 ATS when taking 11-18.5 points. Ball St. opened the season at 13-4, but have since really gone sour as they have gone 1-6 in their last 7, with the lone win by a single point. It has been 12 games since the Cardinals have beatn anyone by more than 10 points. I'll go with Toledo in this one.
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: Pacers Under
Chip Chirimbes
Maryland Terrapins vs. Virginia Tech
Play: Maryland Terrapins +4
Virginia Tech (16-7) is ranked No. 24 in the country and playing at home and yet they are favored by only 3 ½ points in this contest. Playing Maryland here puts the Hokies in a tough spot as the Terps lead the ACC in assists per game with 17 and are looking to avenge a 74-57 home defeat to Tech in January. Maryland is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road contests and the underdog is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings.
Ben Burns
10* 76ers / Grizzlies Over
RAS
William & Mary/Hofstra Over 135.5
Delaware/Northeastern Under 129.5
Wayne Root
Millionaire Seton Hall
Billionaire Wisconsin GB
No Limit Kentucky
Joseph D'Amico
Air Force vs. UNLV
Play: Air Force +15½
Living in Las Vegas allows me to really know this Conference and particularly the UNLV team. The Rebels have fallen short of expectations once again. Their inability to shoot from long range has killed the squad. They are a mere 29.9% from beyond the arc. Opponents are aware of this, adjust to it, and make it hard for UNLV’s Tre’Von Willis to get to the hole down low. The Rebel’s have been horrible against the number, going 1-6 ATS their L7 overall. It doesn’t get any better at home where UNLV is just 2-8 ATS their L10 when playing host. Air Force has been solid ATS, going 7-3 vs. the number their L10. The Falcons Michael Lyons and Tom Fow are combining for 25.0 PPG and 7.2 RPG. Outside of their 90-52 beat down at the hands of BYU, Air Force has played some good defense. UNLV has had their way over Air Force recently. But that only motivates the Falc’s in this one. The road team is 6-0 ATS in their L6 meetings. Air Force is 4-1 ATS their L5 at UNLV, 5-0 ATS their L5 as a road ‘dog, and 9-3 ATS their L12 vs. the MWC. UNLV is 1-6 ATS their L7 overall, 1-5 ATS their L6 as a fav, and 1-6 ATS their L7 vs. the MWC. Take the points with the Falcon’s.