Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
Lakers -5.5 over TORONTO: This is the 6th road game in a row for the Lakers, but luckily for them they had a day off yesterday to rest following a bad loss at New York on Friday. The Lakers have really owned the Raptors of late as they have won 7 of the last 8 meetings and have out scored Toronto by 9.6 ppg in the 7 wins. The Raptors are just 9-19 on the year and the do have a recent win over the Celtics and just a 6 point loss at Miami, but they have also lost by 36 to Boston, 23 at home to Atlanta and 16 at Denver (all that with in last 10 games), so they have had some problems with the better teams in the league. The Lakers have gone just 2-3 on this trip, but they are clearly the better team here and would like noting more than to finish this trip at .500. Lakers easily here.
2 UNIT PLAY
Chicago/ Boston Under 173: Google News Play. I really see this as a low scoring game. The way the Bulls have been playing defense this year, especially of late has been amazing. The Bulls have allowed just 86.9 ppg on 42.3% shooting overall, while in their last 4 games they have allowed just 77 ppg on 37.8% shooting. The Bulls have limited the Celtics to just 79.7 ppg in the last 3 meetings, including allowing just 79 points in an earlier meeting at the Garden. The Celtics know a little something about defense as they have allowed just 86.6 ppg on 41.8% shooting, while at the Garden they have allowed a mere 82.2 ppg on 40.3% shooting. The Bulls have the ability to put points on the board, while the Celtic offense has looked better of late, but still With Rose hurting the Bulls have really clamped it down at the defensive end, while the Celts are still scoring just 89.2 ppg at home. Neither team wants to run here and with both teams playing lockdown defense I expect this one in the 160's at best.
Doug Upstone
Tampa Bay / Pittsburgh Under
The Pittsburgh Penguins were involved in one of the highest scoring games of the season yesterday, defeating Winnipeg 8-5. On Sunday, we look to Play Under on home teams like Pittsburgh when the total is 5.5, off a home win, playing back-to-back days. In the last 15 years this system is 59-21, including 6-2 this year.
Hollywood Sports
Marist at Iona
Play: Iona
The Red Foxes (9-15) have won two games in a row after their 66-47 win at St. Peter's on Thursday as a 4.5-point underdog -- but Marist has failed to cover the spread in 4 straight games after holding their previous opponent to 50 points or less. That game was the first time that Marist has covered the point spread in their last 8 road games. The Red Foxes have also failed to cover the spread in 5 of their last 7 games as a big underdog of at least 13 points. They will face an angry Iona team that looks to bounce-back from their 87-81 loss at Loyola-Maryland as a 2.5-point favorite on Friday. The Gaels are 10-1-1 ATS in their last 12 games after a point spread loss. Iona is also 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games after a straight-up defeat. Additionally, the Gaels are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite of at least 13 points. Iona should roll in this one -- take the Gaels minus the points.
John Ryan
Boston College vs. Virginia Tech
Play: Virginia Tech -12.5
My proprietary sports handicapping database and simulator shows a high probability that V-Tech will win this game by 14 or more points. I fully expect that BC will struggle eon offense and will not score more than 60 points. In past games, V-Tech is a solid 19-7 ATS in home games when they allow 55 to 60 points in a game since 1997. V=Tech is a solid 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in home games after 3 straight games forcing opponent to commit 14 or less turnovers since 1997. This also reflects that they will turn up the defensive heat against a struggling BC offense that ranks 320th in the nation scoring just 59.5 points per game. Moreover, they rank a horrid 287th in the nation posting a 0.775 assist/turnover ratio. This ratio when below 1.000 reflects a team that commits more turnovers than record assists and is obviously not a favorable stat for any team. BC is a sol a terrible rebounding team ranking 319th averaging just 30.3 rebounds per game. V-Tech will dominate on both glasses and will get far more second chance scoring opportunities that the Eagles. Take the Hokies to the Bank.