Steve Janus
New York Knicks +8½
The Chicago Bulls are expected to be without Luol Deng (Doubtful) in tonight's ESPN showdown vs the Knicks. That leaves the Bulls without their best perimeter defender and one of their more reliable scorers. Deng's absence leaves the Bulls without anyone to really matchup with the Knicks Carmelo Anthony, and I believe that will be the difference in this game.
That's exactly the kind of edge the Knicks need to keep this game close. New York comes in having lost five straight, which should have them playing extremely hard to try and get a win. Plus this game being on ESPN, only adds to that.
SPORTS WAGERS
Minnesota +3½/+145 over PHOENIX
Big blow to the Timberwolves when Ricky Rubio suffered a torn ACL and is now lost for the season. Their other PG, Jose Barea is also on the rack and that leaves Luke Ridnour and Martell Webster running the offense. The loss was felt in Saturday's defeat to New Orleans and the T-Wolves stock has hit a season low. However, despite these injury woes, Minnesota is being offered just 3½ points on the road against the surging Suns. Phoenix has won two straight and five of six with only loss over that span occurring against the Thunder. The Suns have also won five straight at home and nine straight over Minnesota. When all is weighed, this number appears to be rather soft. The Suns are fully aware of Minnesota's issues and this number strongly suggests they'll be taking them lighter than they should be. It's time for the T-Wolves to do a gut check, dig down deep and give it everything they have in order to avoid this becoming their albatross. Buyer beware signs written all over the Suns here. Play: Minnesota +3½ (Risking 1.1 units to win 1). Play: Minnesota +145 (Risking 1 unit).
Passing NHL
NHL Predictions
Colorado Avalanche -120
The Ducks come into tonight's game losers of two straight road games. They lost 2-0 to Dallas on Saturday night and 3-1 in St Louis on Thursday. Their playoff chances are very slim now with their 29-30-10 record. The Ducks are just 11-16-8 on the road this season. Colorado is coming off a 3-2 home shootout win on Saturday afternoon, and are winners of 3 of their last 4. Overall the Avalanche have won 7 of their last 10 games which has kept them in the running for a Western Conference playoff spot. Colorado is 36-30-4 on the season and 20-15-1 at home. These two teams have met 3 times this season with the Avalanche winning 2 of the 3, including the latest meeting 4-1 in Colorado. This season the Ducks are averaging less than 2 goals per game on the road, and they are averaging just 2 goals per game over their last 5. They are also just 8-27 in their last 35 games as an underdog and 6-20 in their last 26 vs a team with a winning record. The Avalanche are 7-1 in their last 8 games as a favorite, and 6-2 in their last 8 home games. Take Colorado at home only laying a bit of chalk tonight.
Tony Stoffo
New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls
Play: Chicago Bulls -8.5
It sure seems the magic is definitely gone for the Knicks - as they have now lost 5 straight, and head into Chicago tonight after losing at home against the 76ers yesterday. Plus this sure isn't a good spot for New York as they sure don't play well when playing in back to back scenarios as this trend sure indicates: New York is 6-13 against the spread when playing the second half of a back-to-back. So even with the Bulls nursing a bunch of injuries - I still can see them coming away with the big win and spread cover here this evening. Play against - Road underdogs of 10 or more points (New York) - after failing to cover 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread against opponent after having covered 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread. 56-31 64%
Craig Trapp
Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Jersey Nets
Play: New Jersey Nets +3
Nets are the better team in our mind and lately they have been playing much better going 2-1 straight up and 3-0 ATS. On the other side MIL has been terrible on the road going 1-4 straight up and 2-3 ATS. Darren Williams is top 5 player in league and think you see why tonight.
Jack Jones
Charlotte Bobcats +6½
The Charlotte Bobcats are showing great value as a 6.5-point underdog to the New Orleans Hornets Monday. While the Bobcats own the worst record in the league, the Hornets aren't much better. New Orleans should not be this heavily-favored over any team in the NBA.
New Orleans is just 10-31 on the season. The Hornets have been a great team to fade when playing at home this season, mainly because their attendance is so poor that it's really not much of an advantage for them. They are 4-16 SU & 6-14 ATS in 20 home games this season.
Charlotte has finally gotten healthy and will be a profitable team to back at the pay window the rest of the way. The Hornets are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite. New Orleans is 1-9 ATS in a home game where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points this season. Bet the Bobcats Monday.
John Ryan
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
Play: Montreal Canadiens
5* graded play on Montreal as they take on Buffalo in NHL action set to start at 7:00 PM ET. My proprietary sports handicapping database and simulator shows a high probability that Montreal will win this game. In order to make consistent profits over a long period of time in the sports of NHL and MLB where money lines are used, it is imperative to play dogs that win roughly 50% of the time. By playing the dogs, you enhance the probability that you will make money in these sports. Too many amateurs take favorites of -180, for example, looking at them as lock winners. Well, one loss with a favorite of that size and you MUST win two straight games just to eek out a 0.20 unit gain. I am 43-28 for the year with 58% of the plays dogs. I won my TOP RATED 25* play as well with the last one a 3-0 Phoenix win over San jose using the ‘UNDER’ Supporting this graded play is a system that has produced a record of 228-248 for just 48% winners, BUT has made a whopping 73.3 units per one unit wagered since 1996. Play against a favorite against the money line playing division opponents that are off a close win by one goal over a division rival. Here is a perfect example of how you can hit less than 50% winners and come out significantly ahead in the bottom line. This system has averaged a +141 dog play. Take Montreal tonight.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAYS
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS -5.5 over Boston: Google News Play. Boston is just 1-8 ATS in their last 9 road games and they are 3-8 ATS when plying with no rest this year, while the younger Cliipers are 7-3 ATS with no rest. Last night the Clipps had a tough loss at home to the Warriors, but they were in a tough spot as they were playing their first game at home after a long road trip and that's not a good spot for teams to be in. Tonight they should be a bit more focused. Yesterday the Celtics had a tough emotional game on national TV vs the Lakers, in a game in which they blew a fourth quarter lead, so they may not be as focused in this one. The Clippers do not wanna lose two in a row at home and playing on back to back nights has not hurt them as much as the C's. Boston will wear down in the 4th quarter as the Clipps win by DD.
New Orleans/ Charlotte Over 182.5: Gonna go with the over here with two of the worst offenses in the league, but i believe that both teams will have success vs two teams that just aren't playing well defensively. The Bobcats come in allowing 100.7 ppg overall, including 101.4 ppg in their last 9 overall, while on the road they have allowed 103.1 ppg overall, including 110.3 ppg in their last 4 away from home. The Hornets are 2nd to last in scoring at 88.6 ppg, but they do come in scoring 96.7 ppg in their last 3 and should have a good showing tonight vs this bad defense. The Hornets are 11th in the league in defense (93.9 ppg), but they have allowed 96.5 ppg in their last 8 overall and 96.3 ppg in their last 3 at home, so I expect a decent showing from the bobcats in this one. This one should be played very close to the 190's.
2 UNIT PLAY
Detroit +6.5 over UTAH: The Pistons are playing good ball right now as they come in having won 4 of their last 5 games and 3 in a row. The have still struggled on the road, but they are in a good spot here as they Jazz are off a long road trip and teams in that situation usually struggle in their first game back. Just look at the Clipps last night. I wouldn't be surprised if Detroit took this one outright.