Dave Price
Toronto Raptors -11.5
The Brooklyn Nets (11-30) are an absolute mess right now. There weren't very good to start with, and now injuries have really derailed their season. The Nets are 1-7 SU & 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall with 5 of those losses coming by 12 points or more. You can chalk up another one tonight against the Toronto Raptors, who come in playing very well. The Raptors are 4-0 in their last four games overall, which includes a 91-74 victory at Brooklyn to start the streak. The Nets are 4-15 on the road this season.
Scott Rickenbach
Rockets vs. Clippers
Play: Clippers -5
The Clips have some injury issues that have impacted this line and I feel it has led to nice value with the Clippers. The Clips have a nice rest edge here as this one of just 2 games they had scheduled in a span of 7 days from the 14th to the 20th. Conversely, the Rockets are in a tough back to back spot here as Houston knocked off the Lakers here in LA last night. Now the Rockets get the tougher of the two LA teams in the 2nd night of a back to back and this will be a tough test for Houston as the Clippers are off of a loss and had won ten straight before that defeat. The Clips should get back on track as they look to avenge both playoff defeats and regular season defeats against a Rockets team that has become a nemesis for the Clippers. Houston is 1-5 ATS this season in road games with a posted total between 200 and 204.5 points. The Clippers are on an 8-2 ATS run and that's even after the Saturday loss to Sacramento. After tonight's game the Clips are on the road until the very latter part of this month so look for the Clippers to give a huge effort tonight and 'leave it all on the floor' as they gain some revenge.
Jack Jones
Boston Celtics -1.5
The Dallas Mavericks will be playing the second of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days. I agree that the oddsmakers should have the Boston Celtics favored given this awful spot for the Mavericks tonight.
The Celtics have gotten back on track with three straight victories coming into this one. They beat Indiana by 9 and Phoenix by 14 at home before going on the road and topping Washington by 2. I look for them to win their 4th consecutive game tonight.
The Mavericks are not playing well at all coming in. They have lost four of their last six games with their only victories coming against the Timberwolves and Bulls. They were crushed 83-112 at San Antonio last night in an absolute laugher.
Boston is 7-0 ATS in road games when revenging a loss vs. an opponent this season. The Celtics will also be playing their 5th game in 7 days, but this is a deep team that thrives in these situation. Indeed, Boston is 14-2 ATS when playing its 5th game in 7 days over the last three years.
Hollywood Sports
Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons
Prediction: Detroit Pistons
Detroit (22-18) has won four of their last six games after their 113-95 win over Golden State on Saturday. The Pistons are then 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games after scoring at least 100 points in their last game. The Bulls are just 7-9 on the road -- and Detroit has covered 7 straight home games against teams with a losing record on the road. The Pistons are 14-6 on their home court -- and Chicago (23-16) has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 road games against teams with a winning record at home. The Bulls have lost four of their last five games after an 83-77 loss to Dallas as a pick 'em on Friday. Chicago has then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread loss.
SPORTS WAGERS
TCU +4 over Texas Tech
The Red Raiders were 11-1 after their first 12 games and it raised some eyebrows. Coach Tubby Smith comes from the Rick Pitino school of “how to build up your résumé and bring attention to yourself during the non-conference portion of your schedule”. Texas Tech played a non-conference strength of schedule (SOS) that ranked 262nd in the country. TTU opened up their non-conference schedule with a four-point win over High Point and closed with a victory over Richmond. In between those bookend victories were a bunch of wins over a bunch of marshmallows. Now Tech is 11-5 after losing to every good team they faced. The market, however is excusing Tech’s conference record of 1-4 because they lost to three ranked teams (Iowa State, Kansas and Baylor). We’re not as forgiving. Ranked teams get upset all the time. Just this past week, four or five of the top-10 teams were upset by unranked teams. The Red Raiders had the luxury of playing two of those three ranked teams in Lubbock and lost them both. They are 0-2 on the road. When they lost to K-State, it was on the road and the Red Raiders lost by 13. This is a young Tech team that has been bad for so long. They are going to be bad again this year in conference play. The market’s perception of this team is off because of that 11-1 start and we’re absolutely not ready to concede that the Red Raiders deserve being road chalk, especially with a home game on deck against #11 West Virginia
TCU is just 9-8. The Horned Frogs do not have a notable win yet either but they’re on the verge of getting one. TCU lost to then #22 SMU by just five points. They hung 87 on West Virginia and lost by eight but the Frogs took a lead into halftime and the game was tied with about five minutes left. TCU has a conference win over Texas, which is the same lone team that Texas Tech has defeated during conference play. The Horned Frogs may not have the top level talent to compete with the top Big 12 teams on a regular basis, but this is a squad that should be able to win a few more Big 12 games than they did last year and take that next step forward. TCU was a much better team last year than most realized and they’re a better team this year. What we like about the Frogs is their frontcourt strength and depth. This is a team that went into #1 Kansas without Malique Trent (suspended and questionable for tonight) and lost by just seven. Trent is one of the top junior college transfers in the country and is leading the Horned Frogs in minutes played and points per game. Whether Trent goes tonight or not is of no concern to us whatsoever. Obviously we prefer that he plays but we’re pretty sure the oddsmakers know exactly what his status is. In the end, Tech has five covers in their last 19 road games and they were a fairly large dog in almost all of them. Now they're favored. Tech opened as a 2½-point favorite. We are going to assume that Trent is out because the line has been bet up to -4. We get inflated points to begin with and now we also get inflated points because of Trent’s status. Again, this intruder does not deserve to be road chalk against any Big-12 team and we’ll play it accordingly.
SPORTS WAGERS
Colorado +125 over WINNIPEG
OT included. We want no part of the Jets as the chalk. Winnipeg has been sloppy and inconsistent all season long. The Jets longest winning streak this year is two games. They’ll win by two goals one night and lose by three the next night. No team in the NHL has taken more minor penalties than the Jets and that makes them an even bigger risk when spotting a tag. Winnipeg is not the same hard-working and determined team as they were a year ago. We have seen terrible lapses in concentration and work ethic for extended periods of time throughout the season by these Jets. If not for the outstanding goaltending by rookie Connor Hellebuyck, we’d be discussing a team in far worse shape than they are in right now.
Colorado is 9-3-1 against Central Division teams this season including a 4-2-0 mark on the road. They have already defeated Winnipeg twice in two tries already this year while outscoring them 9-4 in those two games. Plain and simple, the Avalanche might not be superior in talent to the Jets but they have superior intangibles that have made them a much tougher out all year. The Avs have scored 40 first-period goals, which is tied for second in the NHL and they have also scored the first goal of the game 29 times this season, also second in the league. That’s a key stat to note, as the team that scores the first goal has a much better chance of winning. Colorado had one of the best December’s in franchise history. In January they are 4-4 but absolutely deserved a better fate in Columbus on Saturday. The Avs are a very respectable 8-10 against top-10 competition and from our view, they are simply a more determined and disciplined squad than the Jets are. That’s more than enough for us to step in.
Buffalo +130 over ARIZONA
OT included. While we like the Coyotes and the direction they’re heading very much, we’re not so sure they are ready to be priced in this range just yet. On an offensive roll for more than a month, Arizona’s goal scoring prowess is bound to slow down. Coming off two undeserving losses to Detroit and New Jersey, Arizona may run into a determined and very undervalued Buffalo squad here and that is the main reason for this wager.
It is becoming customary for every team in the NHL to take the players’ fathers on a road trip once during the season. This is that time for the Sabres’ players. What we often see during these trips is the players coming up with huge efforts. It’s an exciting time for all of them to have their dads along for the trip and the players want to make them proud. Buffalo has won three of four. They’re coming off a 4-1 win over Washington, which absolutely had to instill even more confidence into this bunch. While the Sabres obviously have some flaws, they have been a very tough out all year without the results to show for their efforts. Buffalo’s hard work is starting to pay dividends with recent victories over Winnipeg, Minnesota and Washington while outscoring that trio, 11-5. Buffalo has a seriously legit shot of extending their current run to four wins in five games and the price on them here seals the deal.
Pittsburgh +110 over ST. LOUIS
OT included. The Blue Notes are coming off home games against Carolina and Montreal. After being flat and getting dominated by the ‘Canes in a 4-1 loss on Thursday, the Blues defeated Montreal on Saturday night in OT, 4-3. Frankly, it was another embarrassing performance by St. Louis and it was also one of the most misleading scores of the season. In fact, it was a Corsi bloodbath in Montreal’s favor with a Corsi for edge of 75-43. Montreal also held a 49-22 shots on net advantage. Montreal lost 4-3 but should have won, 8-1. Instead of picking up their game after that lousy showing against the ‘Canes, we saw even more regression by the Blues. The Blue Notes have been the NHL’s most fortunate team over the past month. They have won three of their last four games but deserved to win just one. In Los Angeles, they were outshot 27-16 and won again in OT, 2-1. St. Louis has two regulation wins over its past 14 games. One of those came against a depleted Devils team and the other one was back on December 22 against the Bruins. The Blues have a mere eight wins in 22 games against top-16 teams and at least three of those were completely undeserving. This is a team that is high on our fade list because we have not seen any signs of improvement. We have only seen pure luck, which always runs out eventually.
The Penguins will play their third game in four days but we’re not concerned after such a strong game yesterday afternoon against Carolina. The Pens buried Carolina, 5-0 and allowed just 22 shots on net. In fact, over their past three games, Pittsburgh has allowed just 22, 25 and 21 shots on net while recording 32, 40 and 25. The Penguins are coming on strong. The addition of Carl Hagelin from the Ducks adds more speed to the Kessel/Malkin line and it also gives the team a boost of energy from an intense player that has something to prove. What we have here is two teams whose current forms are nothing alike. One team is ascending quickly while the other is rapidly descending. Our fade on the Blue notes will continue until they give us a reason to stop.
SPS Investors
Oklahoma vs. Iowa St.
Pick: Iowa St.
This is no doubt a matchup that the Iowa State Cyclones have had circled on their calendars since falling 87-83 in their first meeting in Oklahoma back on Jan 2nd. The Cyclones had a chance to pull off the upset and even led 41-37 at the half; however they surrendered 50 second half points to the Sooners, ultimately sealing their fate. The Cyclones will look to have a much better performance in this contest and should have a decisive advantage with this game being played on their home court in Ames.
As if the Cyclones needed more motivation than revenge in this contest, it appears that the Oklahoma Sooners will be the #1 ranked team in the country this week after the Kansas Jayhawks fell to the West Virginia Mountaineers. Not only will the Cyclones be playing with revenge in mind, but you can guarantee that they would like nothing more than to knock off the number one ranked team in the country in the process.
Their recent loss to the Sooners cause the Cyclones to head into a mini-tailspin in which they lost 2 of their following 3 games. They have since rebounded and are one of the most offensively explosive team in the country. Iowa State comes into this matchup ranked 9th in the nation in scoring, averaging 85.2 points per game this season on 50.3% shooting from the floor which is good for 6th in the nation.
Oklahoma is a very good team and they will likely keep this game close, however the home court advantage will likely be the difference in this contest as Iowa State goes on to get their revenge and comes away with the win and cover.
Rob Veno:
Rockets at Clippers
Play: Over 209
Skeptics are questioning the legitimacy of LA’s recent hot streak which has seen them rattle off an 11-1 straight up record and a 9-3 mark against the spread in their last 12 games. The Clippers were 11-0 su until their last game where they were beaten as a -4 point home favorite by Sacramento 110-103. During this 12 game span, LA has faced one team (Miami) with a winning record and only two teams that are in the league’s Top 15 offenses. Los Angeles has posted tremendous defensive numbers over the 12 game stretch allowing just 96.1 points per game but the schedule they’ve done it against is being questioned by some. Sacramento’s #3 ranked pint scoring offense scoring 110 against LA two nights ago adds to the argument. Of course in that game, the Clippers did not have defensive presence and rim protecting C DeAndre Jordan (pneumonia) and his status is questionable for tonight. In his place, ex-Kansas star Cole Aldrich has gotten the bulk of the minutes and the defensive drop off is dramatic. Tonight LA plays the explosive Houston Rockets and their defense will be severely tested. Houston has been hot lately scoring 107 points or more in four of their last five games including 112 last night. Injury situations are important here tonight with defensive stalwarts Jordan and Rockets starting PG Patrick Beverley each questionable. If neither goes, huge matchup advantages go to Houston C Dwight Howard and Clippers PG Chris Paul. Nonetheless, this should be a high tempo, high scoring game since Los Angeles is averaging 106.9 ppg in their L12G and Houston is 7-3 “over” the total in the second of back-back contests. Eight of the last nine times these teams have met, the final score has exceeded tonight’s posted total of 208.5. The present fundamentals and situation plus the recent history are all pointing the same way so the play here will be on the “over”.
Bruce Marshall
Arkansas Little Rock - 7
Decent price for Sun Belt power UALR, which is now at 15-1 after Thursday's 81-55 romp past App State. So we don't mind this fair price at Jonesboro against an Ark State side that just lost to the same App State by 14. One aspect of the Trojans that has been tough on opponents is FT shooting, as UALR connects on 77% and rarely allows its leads to shrink in the late going. Defense usually top-rate for the Trojans, too, as it was on Thursday when holding App to just 29% form the floor.
Harry Bondi
DUKE -11 over Syracuse
Another easy free winner here yesterday with Southern Illinois and tonight we go for our 4th straight Free Winner with Duke. Blue Devils have dropped back-to-back games to Clemson and Notre Dame but will bounce back tonight against a Syracuse team it has dominated over the last 4 years. Duke is 4-0 both straight up and ATS against the Orange and after two lackluster defensive efforts we expect Coach K's boys to turn up the defensive pressure at home against a Syracuse squad that is offensively challenged. Blue Devils also 10-3 ATS after a straight up loss. Fundamentals and trends with us.
PortPortSports
WRIGHT STATE RAIDERS -6
This number seems to be kind of low as we expect Wright State to handle business fairly easily on their home court once again tonight. Wright State has been destroying opponents on their home court lately, as they come in off a 36-point home win over Youngstown State in their last game. They have now beaten their L4 home opponents by double-digits with that win over YSU, a win over Cleveland State by 17, Murray State by 16 and Bowling Green by 36. Not sure how Detroit is going to keep this one within a 6-point spread themselves, combined with the fact they are 0-4 ATS in their L4 as the underdog and 1-5-1 ATS overall, this one is definitely in TOP PLAY status for the home favorite. The Titans have yet to win a game on the road this season, going 0-5 ML, although they do carry a not so dismal 2-3 ATS record with that. Two of their losses came by 5 points (at Oral Roberts and Western Kentucky) but their other 3 losses came by a combined 80+ points. The Raiders have covered in 4 straight contests as the favorite and are now 5-1 ATS when laying the points this season overall with 4 of those 5 wins coming by double-digits. Overall, Wright State is now 6-1-1 ATS in their L8, while Detroit is 1-5-1 ATS in their L7. Sounds like two teams headed in different directions. Roll with WRIGHT STATE at home in this meeting.
SYRACUSE ORANGE +11.5
Two upper-tier programs squaring off for this one and while Duke is clearly the superior program right now, Syracuse is starting to play better in recent games and double-digits should be too much. Duke is coming in off back-to-back losses against Notre Dame (95-91) and at Clemson (69-63) but were rolling prior to that with a 5-0 ML and 4-0-1 ATS record in the previous 5 games. Syracuse has blown out their L2 opponents (Wake Forest and Boston College) which suggests they may be making a turn towards a better 2nd half of the season, as it has started out mostly rough for them overall. Syracuse is 2-4 ML and ATS in their 6 games away from home, but they did blow out Wake on the road last time out by 28 points. In contrast, Duke only won by 16 at Wake. The Orange also dropped their game at Clemson by 1 (74-73) in OT, while Duke also lost their trip there, 68-63. Duke is 3-1 ML and 3-0-1 ATS in the 4 meetings between the two schools since 2014. Two of the three wins for Duke came by 8 and 6 points respectively though.
Jeffrey James
Duke -11
Duke will be very ready here since they desperately need a win coming in off of 2 straight SU losses in conference play. Duke is 17-7 ATS in their last 24 home games and they get to take on a Syracuse team that is not exactly getting it done in conference play. Take the Dukies here to get a big win and cover.
OC Dooley
Texas Tech -3.5
At most offshore locations Texas Tech opened as a 2-and-a-half point favorite which in itself was big news considering the Red Raiders are off to an awful start (0-4) in league play. For those who have been following Texas Christian they have successfully covered the spread “three” times in the last four outings versus high level competiton (Kansas, Baylor, Texas and West Virginia) but they are NOT being given as many points to work with this evening. There is also a matter of DOUBLE REVENGE as a year ago TCU drilled Texas Tech twice by margins of 17 and 20 points which gives the Red Raiders plenty of emotional ammunition