Kelso
LSU at Boise State
Pick: LSU
LSU has opened the season 6-0, has a signature win over Seton Hall, 72-67, and tonight has an opportunity to prove itself in its first road game of the season. As noted many times, a team is defined by how it plays away from home, period—not exceptions. There is little question the Tigers have talent and have a bit of a hidden edge since this will be Boise State’s first game since it exited for final exams December 5 and figures to be a little rusty. Boise State is 4-0 at home, has a signature win at Creighton, 83-70, when it hit 60.4% of its field goals, but still has much to prove. The Broncos and LSU met last season in Baton Rouge and the latter crushed the Broncos, 64-45.This game figures to be much closer, but the edge goes to LSU.
Jeff Benton
48-36 freebie run.
For Friday, take the points with the Wizards as they play host to the free-falling Lakers.
It is evident things in Los Angeles are less than peachy, as no one can seem to figure this mix out. LA lost again last night in New York, as the Lakers limp into Washington having dropped four in a row and six of their last seven overall. There is just no way I can lay any points with the Lakers right now.
As for the Wizards, they are still just 3-16 straight up, but Washington does come into this home game having covered in three straight, and they are 5-1-1 against the spread in their last seven contests.
Washington did win the last meeting between the teams, and have gone 3-1 against the spread the past four series meetings versus Los Angeles. With just a 3-7 road spread mark for the year, fade the Lakers one more time.
Wizards plus the points the call, as nothing is easy for Los Angeles these days.
4♦ WASHINGTON
Matt Rivers
4 straight comp play winners with New York handling the Lakers last night.
Tonight's comp play is the Thunder to bury the Kings.
Oklahoma City has toyed with Sacramento recently, as the Thunder is 9-1 straight up the last ten series meetings, and they have covered six of the last nine showdowns. Included is a perfect 3-0 mark when laying double-digits.
I see nothing changing tonight, as Sacto is just 1-8 straight up on the road this season, and the points haven't made much of a difference, as the Kings are only 3-6 versus the number away from home.
The Thunder win streak stands at nine in a row, and they have cashed in seven of those nine wins versus the spread. Overall, OKC is 9-5 ATS at home this season, and there is just nothing in the Kings arsenal that suggests they will be close this Friday night.
Blowout City in Oklahoma City tonight. Thunder drill the Kings.
3♦ OKLAHOMA CITY
Charlie Sports
Los Angeles Lakers at Washington Wizards
Play: Washington Wizards
The (9-14) Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA Western Conference pacific division will take on the (3-16) Washington Wizards of the NBA Eastern Conference Southeast division in 2012 NBA action. The Lakers lost again last night at New York and they are struggling in the new system, losing their last 4 staright up. The Wizards have covered 3 of the last 4 Against The Spread vs. The Lakers and have covered theirl ast 3 in a row ATS. Washington gets the home cover.
WUNDERDOG
Sacramento at Oklahoma City
Pick: Sacramento +13
There is nothing about the 7-14 Sacramento Kings, who are also 1-8 on the road, that is going to get the blood thumping for the Thunder in this one. The betting public sees otherwise with nearly 70% in the Oklahoma City camp. While the Kings have posted just seven in the win column, three of those have come in the last five games. Oklahoma City should be on cruise control tonight as they are on a nine game winning streak, and will be eyeing their next contest vs. the Spurs who they consider their biggest threat in the West. The Thunder are just 3-7 ATS vs. losing teams in their last 10, and an even worse 2-6 ATS vs. a team under .400 in their last eight. Sacramento will stick around here against a big number. Back Sacramento in this game.
SPORTS WAGERS
Memphis -104 over DENVER
The Nuggets return home from a tough five-game trip to play perhaps the most physically punishing team in the NBA. The Nuggets have also been very inconsistent this season with and 11-12 record and not winning two games in a row since Nov 23-25. The Grizzlies have lost two straight, suggesting all focus will be on this one. They’re first in the NBA in points allowed and rank high in every other key category as well. In a favorable spot, look for the Grizz to get back to their winning ways against a tired host.
Jeff Scott Sports
4 UNIT PLAY
Lakers/ Washington Under 199: Gonna stay away from the Lakers side on this one, but I do like the Under here. A bii problem for the Lakers has been their defense, but I expect a good showing at that end of the floor from them vs a Washington offense that puts up just 90.4 ppg overall and 91.8 ppg at home. I do not expect the mid 90's or higher from Washington in this one. The Lakers on offense have been inconsistent. Sure they are scoring more under D'Antonio, but Washington is not a bad team defensive team, allowing just 95.5 ppg in their last 5 overall and 97.7 pp[g at home. The Wizards will not run with this team and the Lakers need to start realizing that they don't have the personnel for an uptempo team like the Suns had. I look for this one to end in the lower 190's at best.
3 UNIT PLAYS
Milwaukee/ Cleveland Over 195.5: This has been a rather high scoring series of late as the teams have put up at least 200 points in their last 7 meetings, and the Over has cashed in 6 of those games. Milwaukee's offense has picked up of late as they have averaged 100.5 ppg in their last 4 games, while hitting at least 97 points in each game. That should continue tonight vs a Cavs defense that has struggled this year, allowing 100 ppg overall and 98.6 ppg at home. On offense that Cavs have not been that great, but they do have Kyrie back and with him having a couple of games under his belt he should be ready to get this offense moving. The Bucks have been pretty solid on defense, but they do allow 97.7 ppg on the road and Cleveland should be good for at least that here. Look for both teams to notch at least 98 points as this marks the 8th time in a row that these teams hit the 200 point mark.
Memphis/ Denver Under 195: The other night I had a big play on the Under in the the Phoenix/ Memphis game and it covered by 33 points. Well I will come right back with another Under play in a Memphis game. The Grizzlies have had some scoring problems of late averaging just 88.3 ppg in their last 6 games (Regulation only) and they will be play a Denver team that has surprisingly played good defense at home this year, allowing just 94 ppg. Even though the Denver Geets have struggle of late on defense I just don't see Memphis scoring too much on them. At the other end of the court the Grizzlies have had very little troubles as they have held their opponents to just 90.1 ppg (1st) overall and 92.4 ppg on the road. The Grizz are also 4th in defensive FG% (43.2) and 9th in 3pt defense (34.3%). We know that Denver can score, but they will have a problem cracking this very good Memphis defense tonight. These two met earlier in the year and just 189 points were scored. I expect at most that much tonight.
OKLAHOMA CITY -13 over Sacramento: The Other night the Thunder got a scare from New Orleans at home and you can bet they will come out fully focused in this one. The Thunder are 12-2 at home this year and have outscored their opponents by 11 ppg, while the King have been outscored by 10.2 ppg on the road. The Thunder score 107.4 ppg at home, while the Kings have been able to manage just 90.9 ppg on the road. I just don't see where the Kings will get6 enough offense to keep this one close. In their last 3 road losses the Kings have been outscored by 13 vs Milwaukee, 23 vs Dallas and 35 vs the Clippers and the Thunder are better than each of those teams. This one should be over early.