Matt Fargo
Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia
Play: West Virginia -1
West Virginia returns home following a loss at Villanova on Saturday which dropped it to 6-4 in the Big East this season. The Mountaineers are 3-1 at home within the conference and that loss against St. John’s is the only loss on the entire season at home. This is actually a rare home game for West Virginia as it ten home games are the fewest played by any team in the Big East Conference. The Panthers are 4-0 on the road but those four true road games are the fewest of any team in the Big East Conference. A week ago, it was Pittsburgh that had the depth and West Virginia that was shorthanded but now those roles have reversed. Mountaineers guard Casey Mitchell, who is averaging 15.7 ppg, fifth in the Big East, had not played since head coach Bob Huggins suspended him indefinitely for an unspecified violation of team rules the day after a win over South Florida on January 23rd. He was back with the team Saturday as he played 13 minutes and while he didn’t score, getting him back is a big boost for this team. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh will be without guard Ashton Gibbs who is the team’s leading scorer, leading three-point shooter and leading free throw shooter. The Panthers depth is also in question with Lamar Patterson and Dante Taylor, two of nine players averaging double-digit minutes, uncertain for tonight. This will no doubt help the Mountaineers defense which is allowing only 59.7 ppg on 37.3 percent shooting at home and it has won 39 of its last 41 games when holding the opponents to 69 points or less. If there is a team to take coming off a big loss, it is one that is coached by Huggins. In his last 13 games coming off a loss by 15 or more points, his teams have gone 12-1 ATS the next time out, winning those games by over 18 ppg. The Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games against teams with a winning road record while the Panthers are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 road games after playing four consecutive games as favorite while going 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS win. 3* West Virginia Mountaineers
Jack Jones
Los Angeles Lakers -3.5
The Los Angeles Lakers will be looking for payback tonight in Memphis. The Lakers have lost each of their first two meetings with the Grizzlies this season. Memphis beat L.A. 98-96 at home on 11/30 followed by a 104-85 road victory on 1/02. The Lakers went on to win seven straight after that embarrassing home loss, and now they have their revenge by returning the favor in Memphis tonight.
The Lakers are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a road favorite, including 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite of 0.5-4.5. Memphis is a tired team right now, as they will be playing their 3rd game in 4 days and their 4th game in 6 days. The Lakers are certainly going to be the fresher team, playing their 2nd game in 4 days and their 3rd game in 6 days. I'll gladly back the fresher team playing with revenge. Take the Lakers Monday.
Jordan Haimowitz
Illinois-Chicago vs. Butler
Play: Butler -16½
These are the games that Butler (15-9 SU) need to dominate if they hope to earn an at large bid for the tournament assuming they don't win their conference. UIC averages a mere 62 ppg this season. Tonight they wont reach 52.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Charlotte Bobcats +5
This is a sandwich game for Boston. The Celtics are coming off a big win over Orlando yesterday and they have the Lakers up next. A matchup with a Charlotte team they have defeated 6 straight times won't get their full attention this evening. We saw Boston go down in a very similar situation last week. Off a big win over Portland and win L.A. on deck, the C's laid an egg in Phoenix. The Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest. Boston is also only 4-14 ATS after a win by 10 points or more this season, winning by just 2.7 points on average in these contests. Take the points.
Larry Ness
Cleveland State @ Detroit
PICK: Detroit -2.5
Butler brought Cleveland State back to earth this past Saturday, winning 73-61 on the Vikings’ home floor. Butler ‘limped’ into that game having lost three straight and four of its previous five but placed five players in double digits in a convincing win. It HAD to be a major blow to CSU’s confidence, after losing 79-56 back in Butler on Jan 7. This was supposed to be Cleveland State’s year but one wonders now. Saturday’s loss snapped CSU's six game win streak and as I just alluded to, it may just have also damaged its psyche as well. A trip to Detroit just two days later, will not be an easy game to get up for. Cleveland State likes to play pressure defense but wasn’t able to “pressure the ball” vs Butler and will likely have a difficult time doing so here vs Detroit. CSU owns a terrific guard trio in Cole (20.1-5.6-5.2), Harmon (13.0-4.2) and Montgomery (12.0) but Detroit is LOADED on the perimeter. Freshman McCallulum (14.2-4.5-4.7) leads the way but Simon (13.1-4.2), Blake (10.2), Calliste (9.2) and Foster (5.2) add terrific depth. Up front, Detroit owns a big edge with the 6-10 Holman (11.5-10.0) and the 6-8 Minnerath (9.9-4.3). CSU’s duo of the 6-9 Pogue (7.8-6.4) and the 6-6 Kamczyc (5.5-3.8) really don’t match up. Detroit has covered 10 of its last 12 home games vs Cleveland St and not much changes here.
Info Plays
3* Chicago Bulls -2
Reasons why Chicago will cover:
1) Play against - home teams where the line is +3 to -3 (Portland) - after failing to cover 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a winning team, as its 54-27 over the last 5 seasons.
2) Chicago is 11-2 ATS in road games when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%) over the last 2 seasons.
3) Chicago beat the Trail Blazers 110-98 earlier this season, and Portland is just 1-10 ATS revenging a loss where opponent scored 110 or more points over the last 3 seasons.
Black Widow
1* on Murray State -8
Plays on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (MURRAY ST) - revenging a straight up loss vs opponent as a favorite, a good team (60% to 80%) playing a bad team (20% to 40%) are 31-9 (77.5%) ATS over the last 5 seasons. Murray State did lose to Eastern Illinois 60-61 as a 14-point home favorite in their first meeting. Turns out, that was the only loss in the last eight games for the Racers. They have gone on to win five straight since that loss by 38, 6, 17, 9 and 9 points. There's no question that the Racers are the superior team and simply did not show up in their first meeting. Out for revenge this time around, they will not take Eastern Illinois lightly. Eastern Illinois is 0-4 SU & 0-4 ATS since beating the Racers. Eastern Illinois is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in all home games this season. Take Murray State and lay the points.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on West Virginia pk
Morgantown is a tough place to win, just ask Pitt. The Panthers were crushed 70-51 at Morgantown last season for their 24th loss in 32 meetings at WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers are 9-1 at home this season, and I expect their home dominance to continue tonight. The fact that WVU enters off a poor performance at Villanova assures us it will be ready to go this evening. Coach Huggins is one of the best motivators in the business, and it certainly can't be ignored that his teams are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 after a loss by 15 points or more, bouncing back to win by an average score of 80.9 to 62.8. Take WVU here.
Steve Janus
2* Cavaliers/Mavericks OVER 206
The total has been set way to low for these two teams tonight. Cleveland doesn't play much of any defense, and when they lock up against a team with a winning record it usually results in a ton of points scored. The OVER is 17-8 when the Cavaliers play a team with a winning record, plus the OVER is 13-5 when they go up against poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game this season.
This is also a good situation for Dallas and the over. The over is 19-9 when the Mavericks face poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons, and is 20-8 when after Dallas has played 8 or more games in 14 days over the last 2 seasons.
Ray Monohan
Missouri vs. Kansas
Play: Kansas -10½
Tonight from the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence KS we get a NICE 2-seeded teams CBB matchup to make some $ on. My play is on KU minus the points. This one is easy folks. Missouri has lost 14 straight games against the Jayhawks in their house and this season the Tigers are only 1-4 in away games. Missouri will be facing a KU team that ranks 8th in the nation in scoring, 4th in assists per game, and 1st in field goal percentage. The only way they win is if they repeat what they did against Colorado the other night and everyone of their starters shoots in double figures. Not likely folks. Since losing to Texas on Jan. 22, No. 2 Kansas has been on fire. They have scored less than 82 points just twice in Big 12 play. Some trends I like on this one. MISSO are 20-42 ATS in their last 62 road games. KAN are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 Monday games. Give those points folks.
Rocketman
The Citadel vs. NC-Greensboro
Play: NC Greensboro -1
NC Greensboro is 6-1 SU at home vs Citadel since 1997. Bulldogs are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games as an underdog. Bulldogs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games. Bulldogs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog. Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss. Bulldogs are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss. Spartans are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a losing SU record. Spartans are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win. Spartans are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. Spartans are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Southern. Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite. Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite. Spartans are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5. Spartans are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU loss. We'll recommend a small play on NC Greensboro tonight!
Telly
This is one of my two plays. 17-6 last two weeks NCAA
New Mexico St. -10 this is a small play.