Jeff Benton
Monday night comp play is the Jazz minus the points over the Timberwolves.
Minnesota lost both straight up and against the spread last night at home to Charlotte, as the latest Wolves tailspin is 1-7 straight up their last 8 games, and just 2-6 against the spread in those 8 games.
Utah lost at Golden State on Saturday, but are still a positive 14-5 straight up their last 19 games, and 11-6-2 against the spread in that span.
The Jazz also own the last 3 series wins over the T-Wolves, covering in 2 of those 3 victories.
It's a pretty big spread, but I think you have to lay it here.
Utah to romp Minnesota.
3* UTAH
Brad Wilton
Monday's comp play is Under the total in the Minnesota-Utah contest.
The Jazz played a rare Over on Saturday night in their loss at Golden State, but Utah still stands at 14-3 Under the total their last 17 games contested. Kinda hard to go against a stat like that!
Minnesota is 5-4-1 Under the total in their last 10 games contested, and the last pair of series meetings this year between the teams have also stayed Under the posted price.
If you are looking for offense tonight in Salt Lake City, you better look somewhere else.
Timberwolves and Jazzmen Under the total for Monday night.
4* MINNESOTA-UTAH UNDER
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAYS
Illinois State / Old Dominion Under 128.5: I know the new shot clock rules are expected to increase scoring, but teams have to still be able to score and that is something that ODU has not allowed teams to do this year, especially at home, where they have allowed just 52.4 ppg on 37.6% shooting for the year. In their first home game in the NIT Tournament, under the new rules, they allowed a very good Charleston Southern offense just 56 points. Now they face a weaker Illinois State offense that has scored just 66.5 ppg on 41.4% shooting on the road for the year. The Redbirds can hit their free throws, but other than that they are not a god shooting team and ODU is an excellent defensive team. On offense ODU is not so good, as they come in scoring just 65.3 ppg overall and 67.8 ppg at home, while Illinois State has allowed just 62.5 ppg overall and 66.2 ppg on the road. The last 9 ODU games have not produced more than 127 points in any game, with an average of 117.3 ppg being scored in those games. We also note that ODU has allowed just 52.4 pg in their last 8 games overall. Hard to see either team hitting 64 points in this one. It should be a slow paced game (even with the new rules) and the defense should really have a good showing here, especially that ODU defense. 62-58 sounds about right for this one.
Colorado / Seattle Under 142: Wow a Seattle home game in the 140's? I don't this so, especially since it has happened just once since December 21st and just 3 times all year. All Seattle home games played in 2015 (9 games) so far have seen no more than 130 points being scored, with those 9 games averaging just 106.4 ppg. Incredible and 37 points off of tonight's total. I know that two teams are involved in this game and Colorado has played some high scoring games of late, but still Colorado road games have averaged just 134 ppg this year so far. Colorado has averaged just 63.4 ppg on 40.7% shooting on the road this year and will be facing a Seattle team that has allowed just 56.1 ppg on 37.3% shooting on their home floor this year. Colorado is not a good defensive team, but Seattle really slows the pace and they average just 64.0 ppg at home for the year. Colorado is favored in this game, yet they struggle to score on the road and will be facing a team that plays excellent defense at home. That right there tells me the game will be low scoring. This line is just way too high here, especially for a Seattle home game where their last 9 have averaged just 106.4 ppg.
BEST OF THE REST
Murray State / Tulsa Under 143: Just not seeing this game being that high scoring. i know that Murray State is very good on offense and not so good on defense, but Tulsa at home will really slow this game and not let the scoring get out of have. Tulsa home games this year ave averaged just 126.7 ppg this year and just 2 of their home games (In Regulation) all year have scored more than tonight's total. Both of those games were back in December and since then their last 11 home games have averaged just 122 ppg, with just one of those games putting up more than 131 points. This team will not be sped up at at home on offense, while on defense that have allowed just 58.8 ppg on their home court for the year. Murray State has been good on offense this year, but also remember that they are playing in a very defensive depraved conference, so their offensive numbers are a bit tainted. Defensively they have not been all that good this year, but Tulsa is an offensively challenged team that really plays at a slow pace. Tulsa home games have been very low scoring this year and even with the new shot clock rules I just can't see them playing a game in the 140s at this venue.
Jimmy Boyd
Grizzlies at Knicks
Play: Knicks +13
With the Grizzlies coming into this game off back-to-back double-digit wins over the Mavericks and Trail Blazers and the Knicks off a couple of ugly losses on the road to the 76ers (81-97) and Raptors (89-106), this may seem like a decent price to back Memphis against New York. I don't think that's the case at all. The Grizzlies are 7.5-games out of 1st in the west and know that the top spot is out of question. They are also a comfortable 2.5-games ahead of 3rd seed Houston with just 12 games left to play. I believe the focus here for Memphis is to get a win and not use up to much energy before Wednesday's huge home game against the Cavaliers. Not to mention they host the Warriors on Friday and turnaround and travel to San Antonio on Sunday. This is the definition of a trap game. Adding to this is the fact that Memphis is just 14-34 ATS in their last 48 games when listed as a favorite of 10 or more points and just 13-26 ATS in their last 39 with a total set at 180 to 189.5 points. On top of that the Knicks are 27-11 ATS in their last 38 off back-to-back double-digit road defeats.
Ken Thomson
Colorado -5.5
Bigger game for Seattle and Coach Cameron Dollar out of the WAC. If leading scorer Isiah Umipig the transfer from CS-Fullerton can knock down shots early on, this could be a huge step forward for the Redhawks in D-I hoops. Umipig scores 17 ppg while Jarell Flora another 14 ppg for Seattle U, the Alma-mater of the great Elgin Baylor. Meanwhile Tad Boyle thought his Buffs squad was for sure a Big Dance team coming out of the Pac12, at least at the start of the season. Injuries and inconsistencies set the team back and they were fortunate to get a post season bid. After accepting the bid, starting point guard and leading scorer, Askia Booker said he didn't want to play anymore, that the CBI wasn't worth his time. Coach Boyle has moved on without Booker with intentions of winning this Tournament. I think it's close for awhile but Scott has a huge advantage over Jack Crook, the big man for Seattle. Expect Xavier Johnson to pick up his scoring and for Collier, Fletcher and Hopkins to help Johnson handle the guard duties with intensity and not the nonchalant attitude of the talented Booker.