Steve Janus
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Chicago Bulls -2.5FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Bulls continue to show some solid value due to their slow start. Chicago is just 9-8 overall, but are a miserable 5-12 ATS this season. I was all over the Bulls on Monday as a small 3-point favorite at Cleveland and they delivered with a 95-85 win. They have now won 3 of 4 and I believe it's only a matter of time before this team goes on a run.
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You have to like their chances of covering this small number against a Detroit team that they have completely dominated. Chicago has won 15 straight in the series.
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While most teams struggle when playing on short rest, head coach Tom Thibodeau knows how to get the best out of his team every single night. Chicago is 34-18 ATS when playing their 3rd game in 4 days under Thibodeau and are 10-1 ATS in road games versus poor teams - outscored by their opponents by 3+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
Jimmy Boyd
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Chicago Bulls -2.5FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Bulls are starting to find their groove. They have won three of their last four with each of these wins coming by at least five points. The Pistons, meanwhile, have dropped three of their last four with these losses coming by seven points or more.
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The Bulls have completely owned the Pistons in recent years. Chicago has won each of the last 15 meetings with these wins coming by an average of 10.9 points. All of these wins came by at least three points.
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The Bulls have cleaned up on the road against teams like Detroit that have been outscored by an average of 3.0 points or more per game. They are on an impressive 10-1 ATS against such opponents and have won these contests by an average score of 100.3 to 83.2.
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It is also worth noting that the Bulls are 54-37 ATS in road games under coach Thibodeau.
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Chicago's road success has everything to do with how consistently good it has been defensively. Like clockwork, the Bulls rank No. 1 in the NBA in scoring defense with 90.9 points allowed per game and No. 3 in field goal percentage defense, allowing their opponents to shoot just 42.6% from the field. Bet the Bulls.
Timothy Black
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Play: Over 149FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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In recent years, Iowa and Iowa State have both brought in new coaches that like to push the ball up the court and play at a fast tempo. The two teams have averaged 153 ppg over the last 3 meetings, hitting the Over in each.
HARRY BONDI
OKLAHOMA CITY (-7.5) over LA Lakers
Very rare to see the Lakers getting this many points, but that's what happens when you visit the hottest team in the league, so we'll look for the Thunder to continue their winning ways and get the easy win and cover. Oklahoma City has covered 13 out of 18 games this season, including an 8-3 ATS mark at home. The team has won six-straight games and during that span it has averaged 112.2 points per game. That will be way too much offense for a Lakers team that is expected to once again be without Pau Gasol and has gone just 2-5 ATS on the road and 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games on this floor. Lay the points.
Scott Delaney
On this 45-26-2 run with freebies, I'm in the NBA tonight an I'm siding with the Orlando Magic, catching a small number in Sacramento, against the Kings.
While this is Sacto's final home game before taking for a four-game road trip, as it'll play 11 of its last 16 games on the road, I have to believe the Magic will be out to avenge that dismal shooting night from a couple nights back.
This is is the fourth of a five-game road trip for Orlando, so the wear and tear of this tour on the West coast has already taken its toll, and there's nothing at this point that can slow it down. The Magic beat the Lakers and Warriors before losing to the Jazz on Wednesday.
This is the right spot for a rebound victory.
5♦ ORLANDO
Chuck O'Brien
With my free pick run now at 142-108-3, I'll be looking to improve upon that mark with an NBA comp play on the Indiana Pacers lay a point and a half to the visiting Denver Nuggets, who will be playing their second game of a five-game road trip. The Nuggets opened the junket with a 108-104 loss in Atlanta on Wednesday.
I'm not exactly what is wrong with the Nuggets of late, but they come in mired in a 1-4 slide after winning four straight from Nov. 19 thru the 25th. But that's how it's been the entire campaign for the Nuggets, a season of streaks. To wit: Denver opened the season losing three straight; the Nuggets then won four in a row, to open the season 4-3; they lost their next three games, dropping to 4-6; Denver then reeled off four straight winsm climbing back over .500, with an 8-6 mark; then it was three straight losses en route to this current 1-4 slide.
The Nuggets (9-10) on the year have been consistently inconsistent, and I don't think they'll be ready to contend with a Pacers team that has won two straight and four of five. Since opening the season 3-6, Indiana has won seven of 10 and currently tied for first place with the Chicago Bulls in the Central Division.
Indiana, which has covered four of its last five against the Northwest Division, is going to take advantage of Denver's rather bleak defense, which is allowing 101.05 points per game - sixth-worst in the league.
The Nuggets, who have struggled to a 4-9 road mark away from the Pepsi Center in Denver, are mired in ATS skids of 2-5 against the East, 1-5 after both SU and ATS losses and 0-4 overall.
Yes, Denver has won and covered the last two meetings, but the straight-up winner in this series has covered nine of the last 10 meetings; and I think the Pacers win this game straight-up. Lay the low chalk with the home team.
3♦ INDIANA
Jeff Benton
Gave you a freebie winner on the Knicks last night in their outright win at Miami.
Now 46-32 freebie run.
Another underdog play tonight, as I back the Wizards plus the points at the Hawks.
Atlanta did wind up winning and covering at home on Wednesday against the Nuggets to improve to 6-3 straight up at Philips Arena, but the Hawks are just 2-7 against the spread in those nine home games this year.
Washington is feeling good about their upset win over Miami earlier this week, and with the points they haven't been too shabby on the road this season, as the Wizards sport a 4-1 spread mark when installed as the +6 points or more pup away from home this season.
The Wizards nearly won outright in the first meeting this season, losing by just one point in overtime on November 21st down in Atlanta, and I see no reason why they won't be there again plus the points.
Take Washington in the underdog role this Friday night.
3♦ WASHINGTON
Chris Jordan
Now on a 6-2-1 run with comp plays, tonight I want you laying the points with road favorite Virginia Commonwealth, as it travels less than 100 miles to take on heated-rival Old Dominion. And though these two hav had some knock-down, drag-outs, this year could be very ugly in a complete mismatch.
VCU arrives in Norfolk, Virginia with a 5-3 record, while Old Dominion is 1-7 and I think coach Shakira Smart will have his Rams fired up for a huge road win. He won't even let up on the gas once his boys get going.
And this is the time of the season his Rams tend to heat up. In Smart’s three-plus seasons at the helm, VCU is 16-4 in the month of December, and comes into this game having won 11 straight December games. Dating back to last season, the Rams are on a 5-2 ATS run in the month of December.
And what's surprising, is Old Dominion normally would be ready at this time of the season for this clash. The Monarchs are notorious for playing the toughest non-conference schedule in the Colonial Athletic Association, but they come into the weekend with a rather low 195th rank in strength of schedule. They've lost home games to Texas-San Antonio, Holy Cross, and Virginia Military Institute. Now here comes VCU. Ram tough?
Fact is, Old Dominion has lost eight seniors over the past two season, and from what I can tell, this year’s upperclassmen have yet to help the team find an identity. And tonight the Monarchs are in trouble. In this series, the Rams have covered 21 of the last 29 meetings, while the favorite is on a 7-3 ATS streak.
Lay the road chalk.
4♦ VCU
Matt Rivers
Going for free play winner #3 in a row after Charlotte on Wednesday, and Dallas on Thursday cash in.
If ever there was a chance for the Pistons to end their losing streak to the Bulls, tonight would be the night, as Chicago is still without their leader Derek Rose. Even still, the Bulls will be inspired to keep alive their 15 game series winning streak tonight when they play at the Auburn Palace.
You heard me correctly, Chicago has won 15 in a row straight up in this series, ad they have also gone 12-4 against the spread the last 16 series meetings in the Motor City.
The Bulls come in off a win and cover at Cleveland, and are 3-1 straight up their last four games.
The Pistons have dropped three of their last four both straight up and against the spread.
Cannot overlook the dominating series numbers, especially with the Bulls laying this small of a number.
Take Chicago to make it 16 in a row over Detroit.
4♦ CHICAGO