SPORTS ADVISORS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Connecticut (13-8, 8-11 ATS) at Louisville (13-8, 6-10 ATS)
UConn tries to snap a two-game losing streak when the Huskies travel to Freedom Hall for a Big East showdown with the Cardinals.
Connecticut dropped a 70-68 decision to Marquette on Saturday as a five-point home favorite. The Huskies dominated the game statistically, holding Marquette to 38.1 percent shooting and outrebounding the Golden Eagles 41-18, but they turned the ball over 16 times compared to Marquette’s two giveaways. Despite knocking off then-No. 1 Texas nine days ago, UConn has lost five of seven (SU and ATS) overall and is just 1-6 SU (3-4 ATS) away from home this season.
Louisville has lost four of five overall (SU and ATS), including Saturday’s 77-74 road setback at West Virginia, but the Cardinals got the cash as 6½-point ‘dogs to snap an 0-5 ATS slide. Louisville shot 51.9 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Mountaineers 32-30, but they turned the ball over 17 times and blew a 12-point lead with 10 minutes to play. The Cardinals are 11-3 at home this season but they have cashed in just three of nine lined contests at Freedom Hall.
The Huskies went to Freedom Hall last season and scored a 68-51 win as a 2½-point underdog. UConn has won two straight in this rivalry and five of the last seven (3-3-1 ATS) dating back to 2006. The road team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six series clashes.
UConn is just 1-4 ATS in its last five after a non-cover and 3-7 ATS in its last 10 after a straight-up loss. Louisville is 43-17-2 ATS in its last 62 Big East games and 7-3-1 ATS in its last 11 Monday contests, but otherwise the Cardinals are on negative ATS runs of 1-5 overall (all in Big East play), 1-4 at home, 0-6 after a spread-cover and 1-4 after a straight-up loss.
The Huskies are on “under” streaks of 9-3 on the road, 5-1 after a non-cover and 9-3 on the road against a team with a winning home record. Louisville has stayed below the total in seven of 10 Monday contests but it is on “over” runs of 11-4 overall, 6-2 at home, 5-1 in Big East contests and 11-5 after a straight-up loss. In this rivalry, the “under” has been the play in three of the last four contests.
ATS ADVANTAGE: LOUISVILLE
(6) Texas (18-3, 7-10 ATS) at Oklahoma State (16-5, 9-5-1 ATS)
The slumping Longhorns make the trek to Gallagher IBA Arena in Stillwater, Okla., for a Big 12 matchup with Oklahoma State.
Since moving to the No. 1 ranking two weeks ago, Texas has lost three of four overall and it has failed to cash in eight straight contests. On Saturday, the Longhorns hosted Baylor and lost 80-77 in overtime as a nine-point home favorite, shooting just 38.6 percent from the floor and going just 4-for-15 from beyond the three-point line. Rick Barnes’ won its first six games (5-1 ATS) away from home but has dropped its last two on the highway both SU and ATS.
The Cowboys went to Missouri on Saturday and got stomped 95-80 as a 7½-point underdog, ending a three-game winning streak. Oklahoma State has won 16 straight at Gallagher Iba Arena dating to last season (11-0 this year), going 8-0-1 ATS in nine lined contests in front of the home fans. That includes a 7-0 SU and ATS mark when hosting Big 12 rivals.
The host has won eight of the last nine series clashes (7-2 ATS), including both meetings last season when Texas scored a 99-74 home win as an 8½-point favorite and then 18 days later the Cowboys won 68-59 in Stillwater as a one-point home chalk. Oklahoma State is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five overall against Texas 6-2 ATS in the last eight clashes at Gallagher Iba Arena.
Texas is 13-5 ATS in its last 18 Monday games, but otherwise the Longhorns are on a plethora of ATS slides, including the aforementioned 0-8 overall, 0-5 on the road 5-20-1 in Big 12 games and 3-12-1 on the road against teams with winning home records. Oklahoma State is on positive ATS streaks of 20-6-1 overall, 34-16-3 at home, 13-4 in Big 12 action and 4-1 after a straight-up loss.
The Longhorns have stayed below the total in 12 of 16 Monday games, but they’re otherwise on “over” streaks of 6-2 overall, 5-1 on the road, 5-2 in conference game and 6-2 after a non-cover. The Cowboys are on “over” runs of 4-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 games, but they’ve stayed below the posted number in 18 of 25 Monday games, eight of 11 at home and six of seven against winning teams. Finally, the “under” has been the play in six of the last seven in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OKLAHOMA STATE
NBA
L.A. Lakers (37-11, 22-24-2 ATS) at Memphis (25-21, 26-19-1 ATS)
The Lakers wrap up their eight-game, 11-day road trip with a stop at the FedEx forum to face the Grizzlies, who look to resume their home dominance..
Kobe Bryant hit a fade-away jump shot with less than eight seconds to play as Los Angeles rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Celtics 90-89, pushing as a one-point road favorite. The Lakers have won four in a row (3-0-1 ATS) and are 5-1 (4-1-1 ATS) in their last six games on this trip. The SU winner is 14-0-2 ATS in the Lakers’ last 16 games, including 6-0-1 ATS in the last seven, and the winner is 14-0-1 ATS in their last 15 on the highway.
Memphis has dropped two in a row, including a 109-102 overtime setback to New Orleans on Saturday, falling as a 7½-point home chalk. The Grizzlies saw their 11-game home winning streak come to an end in the defeat despite 25-point games from both Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, who also chipped in a combined 28 rebounds. The Grizzlies are 17-6 at home this season and they’ve cashed in 14 of those 23 contests.
The Lakers have won five straight series clashes (3-2 ATS), including a 114-98 blowout in Los Angeles on Nov. 6, easily cashing as a 9½-point favorite. L.A. has also won four straight games in Memphis (2-2 ATS), including a 115-98 victory in their final visit a year ago, cashing as 10½-point favorites. Despite all that, the Grizzlies are 14-6 ATS in the last 20 meetings, cashing in nine of the last 13 at the FedEx Forum.
Los Angeles is on ATS slides of 0-5-1 on Monday and 1-6-1 on the road against teams with winning home records, but it is on positive pointspread runs of 4-1-1 on the road and 5-2 on the second night of a back-to-back. Memphis is just 8-18-1 ATS in its last 27 home games against teams with winning road records, but the Grizzlies are on positive ATS streaks of 14-6-1 overall, 19-8-1 at home and 3-0-1 on Mondays.
The Lakers have stayed below the posted number in 10 of 14 against Southwest Division teams, but they’ve topped the total in four of six overall on this road trip. The Grizzlies are on “over” streaks of 13-6 overall, 11-5 at home against teams with winning road records, 4-1 against Western Conference teams and 8-1 on Monday. In this series, the “over” has been the play in four of five played in Memphis.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Dallas (30-17, 20-27 ATS) at Utah (28-18, 27-17-2 ATS)
The Mavericks try to snap a two-game losing streak when they visit EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City for a matchup with a Jazz squad that has rattled off five straight wins.
Dallas fell at home in overtime on Saturday, losing 114-112 to the Blazers as 8½-point favorites. The 28-point, nine-rebound performance from Dirk Nowitzki wasn’t enough as the Mavericks failed to cash for the 11th time in their last 14 contests. They are 16-9 (15-10 ATS) on the road this season, but they’ve lost two of their last three SU and ATS on the highway.
Utah has won nine of 10 overall (7-1-2 ATS), including a 101-94 victory over Sacramento on Friday, falling short as an 8½-point favorite without the services of point guard Deron Williams (listed as probable for tonight) and power forward Carlos Boozer (who is out seven to 10 days with a calf injury). The Jazz have gone 9-1-2 ATS in their last 12 games overall, and they are 19-6 at home this season (16-8-1 ATS).
These teams have split two matchups this season, both in Dallas. The Mavericks prevailed 96-85 as a 6½-point home favorite on Nov. 3, but Utah got revenge in a big way with a 111-93 rout as a 5½-point underdog on Jan. 9. The Jazz are 13-3-1 ATS in the last 17 clashes in Utah as the home team has dominated this series, going 21-5-1 ATS in the last 27 games. In fact, the host had won nine in a row prior to Utah’s victory in Dallas last month.
The Mavericks are on a slew of negative ATS tends, including 8-20 overall, 0-5 against Western Conference teams, 1-8 after getting a day off, 1-4 against Northwest Division teams and 2-6 on Monday. On the opposite side, it’s been nothing but positive for Utah at the betting window lately, currently on ATS streaks of 9-1-2 overall, 35-17 against Southwest Division teams, 23-8 on Monday, 3-0-1 after two days off, 8-1 after a non-cover and 6-0-2 against teams with a winning record.
Dallas has stayed below the total in 10 of 14 Monday games, but it is on “over” streaks of 4-0 overall, 6-1 against Western Conference teams and 11-5 against teams with a winning record. The Jazz are on “over” runs of 5-2 overall, 10-4 against southwest Division teams, 6-1 on Monday and 5-1 against the Western Conference. However, in this series, the “under” has cashed in eight of the last 10 in Salt Lake City.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Terron Chapman
Connecticut vs. Louisville
Play: Connecticut +5.5
Two teams coming off of heartbreaking losses will meet at Freedom Hall in Louisville as the Louisville Cardinals (13-8) play host to the UConn Huskies (13-8) on ESPN’s Big Monday telecast. The Cardinals let a road win slip away Saturday at West Virginia, squandering an 11-point second half lead before losing 77-74 for their third loss in the last four ballgames. The No. 19 Huskies suffered a 70-68 loss to Marquette before 14,338 at the XL Center --- UConn’s second straight loss and fifth in its past seven games.
Which brings us to Monday’s showdown. Figuring out which team is more likely to bounce back should give us an edge. The Cardinals will have the advantage of playing at home in front of their home fans, which should give them an emotional boost. However, the road team has dominated the series, going 4-1-1 ATS the last six meetings. The Huskies won in this building last season rather easily, 68-51. This Huskies team doesn’t exemplify the same road fortitude we saw from UConn last season. The Huskies are 0-4 in “true” road games this season. Rebounding from a disappointing loss like they experienced on Saturday is never an easy task, but without the guidance of your head coach to get you re-refocused, the challenge is even more daunting. But the Huskies seemed poised for the challenge. “I’m ready to play another game,” UConn forward Gavin Edwards said. “I want to get this taste out of my mouth as quick as possible.”
The Cardinals should take the floor Monday evening more angry than anything. The refs didn’t do them any justice in their loss Saturday and they should also have revenge on their minds from last year’s loss to the Huskies on their home floor. These two teams are quite even statistically and both find themselves in a must win situation with their tourney hopes fading fast. The Cardinals have had trouble closing out teams all season and tonight should be no exception. Look for a competitive ballgame from these two resulting in a closer result than the marketplace suggest, which makes taking the points as the way to go. Play on the UConn Huskies for 1 unit.
Rob Vinciletti
Toledo vs. Bowling Green
Play: Bowling Green -15
Bowling Green is coming off a surprising home loss to Central Michigan. Tonight they will make amends against a weak Toledo team that is 0-6 straight up and against the spread when the total is 119.5 or less in their road games since 1997. Toledo is also a poor 2-6 ats as a road dog in this range the past few years. When they play teams who score less than 65 points per game they are just 6-16 ats and 4-14 ats after allowing 60 or less. Bowling Green is 7-2 ats with 1 or less days of rest and should get the cover here tonight.
LT Profits
Texas @ Oklahoma State
The Texas Longhorns are still ranked sixth in the country after reaching the top spot a few weeks ago, but they have lost three of their last four games and now visit an Oklahoma State Cowboys team that is a perfect 11-0 at home.
However, we feel that the real story of this contest will be the play of the defenses, and that should produce a lower scoring affair than this rather high total would imply. Remember that when these clubs played here in Stillwater last season, the total was set at 154 and yet the teams produced only 127 points in a 68-59 Cowboys victory.
Despite the recent struggles for Texas, the Longhorns still rank eighth in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency according to the Pomeroy Ratings, allowing only .864 points per possession after adjusting for schedule. Their defense is also well balanced, ranking 12 in the country defending two-point shots at 41.6 percent and ranks 35 defending the three at 30.4 percent.
Now Oklahoma State does not grade out quite that well, but their defensive efficiency still ranks a respectable 55 with a PPP of .925. Moreover, the Cowboys play much better defense at home, where they are allowing only 62.0 points per game on a minute 39.3 percent shooting.
Now by no means are we expecting a complete half-court game here, and we do not expect this contest to be quite as low scoring as the last encounter between these teams. However, we do project a total point output here of around 146 points or so, go enough for a rather safe Under.
Pick: Texas/Oklahoma State Under 152
Nick “The BookieKiller” Parsons
Carolina Hurricanes @ Edmonton Oilers
PICK: Edmonton Oilers +120
For a number of different reasons I believe we're getting excellent value on the home side in this situation as Edmonton looks to break out of its slump with a concerted effort in front of the home town crowd:
Even if the Hurricanes can duplicate last season’s run, it might not be enough to make the playoffs.
Their chances for consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since 2000-01 and 2001-02 took a big hit this season with a 5-17-5 start, which included a franchise-worst 0-10-4 skid.
It may be on a big run now, but the achilles heel of this team though has always been its play on the road; 6-19 its last 25 away from friendly confines.
On the other side of the ice: To say that Edmonton is struggling right now would be an understatement of massive proportions.
Edmonton is desperate and offers some real value in this situation as it moves to 9-8 (+2 units) when playing against a team with a losing record.
JIM FEIST
LOS ANGELES LAKERS / MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
TAKE: OVER
The Lakers seem to be back in a groove, winning three straight games after a loss to Washington on Jan 24th. The Lakers are cruising in the Pacific division, up on Phoenix by 9 1/2 games. They have the best record in the west by 4 1/2 over Denver but they are still just about 1/2 game back of Cleveland for the best record in the NBA. The Lakers are coming off a win on Friday over Philly, 99-91. It was the first time in five games the Lakers didn't score more than 105 points in a game. The Lakers are fourth in the NBA in scoring (103.87ppg). The Grizzlies (25-21 SU, 25-19 ATS) have dropped two straight games after Saturday's loss at home to the Hornets, 109-102. The Grizzlies are 6th in the league in scoring (103.54). The Grizzlies don't play a lot of UNDER games. In the last 19 games, just five of the Grizzlies' contests have gone UNDER. Partly do to the team's good offense, but also the team's poor defense. Memphis is 24th in the league in points allowed (103.52). This is just the kind of team that the Lakers will get a bunch against. The Grizzlies good scoring offense should be able to put up their own fair share. Look for the OVER here on Monday!!
JR TIPS
Bobcats at Trail Blazers
Andre Miller scored a career-high 52 points that helped the Portland Trail Blazers snap a three-game skid and they may need another big game from him against Charlotte because it’s unlikely Brandon Roy will return. The Trail Blazers have been as banged up as any team in the league with Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla out for the season and Travis Outlaw still a month away from his return. The Blazers had lost five of their last six without Brandon Roy before they played Dallas on Saturday, but Andre Miller who averaged 5.0 points scored 52 points Saturday including 25 in the fourth quarter and overtime to give the Blazers a 114-112 win. The Charlotte Bobcats dropped three straight from Jan. 22-25 including the opener of their six-game trip but they haven't lost since as Steven Jackson had 30 in victories at Phoenix and Golden State but shot 5 of 19 Saturday at Sacramento. Gerald Wallace picked up the slack pouring in a season-high 38 points in a 103-96 win over his former team and he has averaged 27.3 points and 10.0 rebounds on this road trip. Boris Diaw scored a team-high 21 points in these two teams last matchup while LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 25.3 points in three career home games against the Bobcats. This is a banged up Trailblazer team that needed a superman effort from Andre Miler to get a win in overtime and chances are he won’t ever score 52 points in his career again. The Bobcats have been a hot team of late with their two best players playing their best basketball of the season.
Pick: CHARLOTTE +3
EZWINNERS
Memphis Grizzlies +2
The Lakers are coming off of a hard fought one point win over their east coast rival the Boston Celtics on national TV yesterday and now find themselves as a small favorite as they head into Memphis. The Lakers have not been good to their backers when they have gone to Memphis in the past as they are only 4-9 against the spread in their last 13 trips to Music City. This time LA will be up against one of the most improved teams in the league. The Grizzlies frontline of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol match up very well with the Lakers frontline of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol and Memphis is athletic enough in the back court to make Kobe work for his points. The Lakers are only 0-4-1 against the spread in their last five games as a road favorite of 4.5 points or less while the Grizzlies are 11-3 against the spread in their last 14 games as an underdog. Take the points.
Brad Diamond Sports
Play on: Washington+ over Boston
Under normal circumstances there is no way the floundering Wizards can stay on the floor with the talent level of the Boston franchise. Still, though, must give great respect for the valiant, but failed effort on Sunday against Kobe and the Lakers as the GREEN was unlucky. Playing in back-to-back settings (on the road here)with Washington up tonight makes us wonder, if Boston will be ready in all facets of the game? Boston is just 1-7 ATS of late and 0-4 ATS in back-to-back sessions. Take the Wizards++
BIG AL
Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat
These two teams met this past Saturday at the Bradley Center, and Milwaukee dusted the Heat 95-84. But Heat forward Michael Beasley didn't play in that game, and he's expected back tonight. We'll take the homestanding Heat, as teams off a SU/ATS loss in the first of a home-and-home series are a 60% ATS proposition in the 2nd game, provided they are not an underdog of +3 or more points. Milwaukee went 6-0 at home in January, but lost seven of eight road games since January 10! Look for a Miami blowout. Good luck - Al McMordie
Play on: Miami
VEGAS EXPERTS
Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Hornets
Home court advantage has proven to be vital in the first two meetings between these teams this season with hosts covering by collective 28.5 points. New Orleans certainly won't be an eight-point underdog like the last time the Suns came calling to the Big Easy, but it won't matter as the Hornets have won and covered seven of the last nine games in this series and face a Phoenix team allowing more than 110 point per game on the road this season.
Play on: New Orleans
Tom Freese
Western Michigan at Buffalo
Western Michigan is 11-9 overall and 3-4 in Conference Play. The Broncos have lost 3 of their last 4 games. Guard David Kool scores 21 points a game while shooting 35% from behind the three point line. Martelle McLemore scores 10.7 points and grabs 5.7 rebounds a night. The Broncos score 69.7 points a game. Western Michigan is 5-14 ATS their last 19 Conference games and they are 3-9 ATS their last 12 road games. Buffalo is 11-7 overall and they are 4-3 in Conference Play. They score 74 points a game and they are led in scoring by all purpose guard Rodney Pierce and his 18 points a game. Pierce shoots 36.9 from behind the arc. Cavin Betts scores 11.1 points a game and grabs 7.3 rebounds a game. Four other players score between 8.7 and 6.7 points a game. The Bulls are 4-1 ATS their last 5 games as favorites and they are 4-1 ATS their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning record. PLAY ON BUFFALO -
Vernon Croy
1* Washington Wizards
This pick falls into one of my top NBA systems and the Celtics are coming off a big 1 point loss at home against the Lakers last night. The Celtics are just 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall and they are also just 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite. The Wizards are a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games against a team that has a road winning record above .600 and the Celtics have been out-rebounded by an average of 6.6 rebounds per game over their last 3 games. Take the Wizards.
LARRY NESS
Los Angeles Lakers @ Memphis Grizzlies
PICK: Memphis Grizzlies +2
The Lakers conclude their longest road trip of the season tonight in Memphis. It began back on January 21 in Cleveland (Lakers imploded down the stretch in a 93-87 loss) but after Sunday's 90-89 comeback win at Boston over the Celtics, the Lakers are 5-2 on the trip and going for their fifth straight win. Kobe 'lit up' the Grizzlies back on November 6 in LA, scoring 41 points in the Lakers' 114-98 win. However, he's been slowed by a 'bum' ankle lately (not to mention his finger) and while he came through with the game-winner in yesterday's contest with 7.3 seconds remaining in the game, he was just 8-of-20 from the floor (19 points) for the game. Bynum (15.6-8.3) finished with 19 points plus 11 rebounds and helped the Lakers outscore the Celtics 18-0 in the paint in the final period, as the Celtics were held to just 16 points (Lakers scored 24). Joining Kobe (28.0-5.4-4.8) and Bynum are the frontcourt trio of Gasol (17.4-11.0), Artest (11.2-4.6-3.2) and Odom (9.6-9.8) with Brown (7.50, Farmar (7.3) and Fisher (7.2) contributing on the perimeter. Kobe’s averaging 33.0 PPG and shooting 51.5 percent in his last six games at Memphis and the Lakers have won their last four trips to the FedEx Forum. However, this is a very different Memphis team in 2009-10. The Grizzlies are 17-6 at home this season and just had their franchise-best 11-game home winning streak snapped on Saturday, when they lost 109-102 in OT to the Hornets. No team wanted the troubled Zach Randolph but he has just recently been named an All-Star reserve for the West (21.0-11.6). OJ Mayo averaged 18.5-3.8-3.2 in 82 games a a rookie and through 46 games this year averages 18.3-3.9-3.2. Is that consistent enough for you? Small forward Rudy Gay averaged 10.8-5.5 as a rookie but in his last two-plus seasons, is averaging 19.9-6.0. Pau's brother Marc is in his second full season with Memphis and his numbers (15.2-9.7) look fairly similar to his brother's. Conley (10.5-5.1 APG) played with Greg Oden at Ohio State and like Oden, left for the NBA after his freshman season. Unlike Oden, Conley has stayed healthy and looks to be a solid NBA player. Three rookies have potential but so far only Pitt's Sam Young (7.5) has shown much. Will Carroll (Vandy) or Thabeet (U Conn) come around? Making the playoffs in the West will not be easy but Memphis has a realistic shot. The Grizzlies have a great chance tonight, catching the Lakers at the end of a 12-day trip and off a last-second comeback win over the hated-Celtics. Take Memphis.
SPORTS WAGERS
MEMPHIS +1.03 over L.A. Lakers
The Lakers have so much talent that even when they take a night off they’re still competitive but damn, this is the absolute best time the Grizzlies could’ve caught the Lakers. You see, the Lakers won’t have many big games all year long. They’ll have a few NBC Sunday games and a couple others on national holidays but other than that it’s just a process until the playoffs start. Now, after that nationally televised game yesterday in Boston in which Kobe hit a bucket with seven seconds remaining to win it, the Lakers will head to Memphis to conclude its seven game road trip. In other words, they really don’t give a flying f**k about this one. They wanted yesterday’s win badly, they accomplished their goal and thus, this game, one day after the win over the Celtics, is a big inconvenience before heading home. The Grizz will be waiting and they’ll be ready, as will the packed house. Memphis is extremely dangerous and you can triple that when the other team is not 100% focused. The Grizz is also coming off back-to-back losses, which should make them even hungrier. The Grizz is still 17-6 at home and after a horrible 1-8 start to the year (0-3 at home), they’ve since gone 24-13 overall and 17-3 at home. Play: Memphis +1.03 (Risking 2 units).
WASHINGTON +5/+1.72 over Boston
It’s hard to imagine the Wiz winning this game but one really has to question the C’s frame of mind after that heartbreaker yesterday. Boston was winning the whole way and lead by as many as seven with about four minutes remaining but could not close the deal. The Celtic bench was standing pretty much throughout the whole fourth quarter and the guys on the floor were focused and hand-slapping after every big play. In the end, the players walked off in disbelief and dejected because they really let this one get away. Boston has now dropped three in a row and six of eight and will head to Washington to play its fourth game in five nights. As much as it’s hard to imagine the Wiz knocking them off, it’s harder to envision the Celtics being into this one. They’re mentally and physically drained, they have the Heat on deck Wednesday and they’ll rebound at some point for sure but this small line suggests it won’t happen here. Play: Washington +4½ (Risking 1.05 units to win 1). Play: Washington +1.72 (Risking 2 units).
Charlotte +1.08 over PORTLAND
These teams that get on a road roll are just so tough to beat and after three successive road wins in Phoenix, Golden State and Sacramento, the Bobcats will get back to playing the style they’re much more comfortable with when they visit the Blazers and they must be feeling pretty good about their chances of winning. Charlotte is a tremendous defensive team and again, after playing the aforementioned trio of Sac, Golden State and Phoenix, this will appear in slow motion for them. One can’t help but admire the job the Trail Blazers are doing. This team has more heart and determination than just about anyone but that doesn’t change the fact they’re still undermanned and against the relentless defense they’ll see here, don’t expect Andre Miller to go off for another 50. Playing shorthanded is catching up to Portland, as they have just three wins in its last eight games and two of those wins came against Philly and Detroit. The Blazers are hanging in there and they’ll be better for it when they get some key bodies back. However, right now the Bobcats are feeling it and there’s no denying its chances to win another here is strong indeed. Play: Charlotte +1.08 (Risking 2 units).
EDMONTON +1.28 over Carolina
The Oilers prolonged funk, which has now reached 12 games, has the best chance of ending tonight than it has in a long time. Sure, the Canes are playing its best hockey of the year but that’s like saying Drew Carey can outrun Rosie O’Donnell. Fact is, this is not a good spot for the Canes after coming off its biggest win of the year on Saturday in which they beat the Blackhawks 4-2. Furthermore, they’ve lost 22 of its last 28 on the road and do not deserve this billing over anyone. Meanwhile, the Oilers are a desperate team in desperate need of a win and they just have to smell a bit of blood for this one. They’ve sunk low but a loss to the Canes would hurt as bad as any of the previous 12. They were whacked by the Flames on Saturday 6-1 and that ended the Flames nine-game losing streak. So, to recap, we have the Canes coming off its biggest win of the year playing an Oilers team coming off a 6-1 loss to its biggest rival. The Canes are playing for nothing while the Oilers will be playing for whatever pride they have left. Play: Edmonton +1.28 (Risking 2 units).