SPORTS ADVISORS
Louisville (15-9, 7-12 ATS) at (2) Syracuse (24-1, 15-6 ATS)
The red-hot Orange pursue their 12th consecutive victory when they take on Louisville in a Big East battle at the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse topped UConn 72-67 Wednesday night, falling short as a healthy 10-point home chalk as they squandered most of a 16-point second-half lead, but it has still posted an 8-3 ATS mark during its 11-game win streak. The Orange are racking up 81.6 ppg (seventh nationally) and are the top shooting team in the country (52.7 percent), while holding opponents to 64.2 ppg on just 38.3 percent shooting (13th). Also, Syracuse’s 15-6 ATS mark ranks fifth nationally.
Louisville hasn’t been nearly as consistent as Syracuse, going 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS over its last eight starts, including Thursday’s 74-55 blowout loss at St. John’s as a 5½-point favorite, ending a modest two-game SU uptick. The Cardinals are averaging 78.7 ppg and allowing 69.5 ppg on the year, but in road games, they’re getting outscored by about a 3-pointer per game (75.7-72.6).
Louisville has taken four in a row in this rivalry (3-0-1 ATS), winning and covering in both meetings last year – a 67-57 road victory laying one point and a 76-66 decision giving 7½ points in the Big East tournament championship game. The home team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six regular-season clashes, the favorite is 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings and the SU winner is on a 5-1-1 ATS run.
The Orange sport positive pointspread streaks of 24-8 overall, 19-7 at home, 15-5 in the Big East, 20-8 after a SU win, 6-0 after a non-cover, 4-0 on Sunday and 20-7 against winning teams. Despite failing to cover in seven of their last nine – all in the Big East – the Cardinals are still 44-19-1 ATS in their last 64 conference contests, but they also shoulder negative ATS streaks of 0-4 on Sunday, 1-5 after a non-cover, 2-6 against winning teams and 2-5 on the road.
The under is 5-2 in Louisville’s last seven Sunday outings, but the over for the Cardinals is on surges of 5-2 after a SU loss and 7-3 after an ATS setback. The over has hit in Syracuse’s last four Sunday games, but the Orange are on “under” streaks of 5-0 overall (all in the Big East), 5-0 after a SU win and 5-0 after a non-cover. Finally, the over is 4-2 in the last six meetings in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SYRACUSE
(13) Ohio State (19-6, 12-13 ATS) at Illinois (17-8, 10-14 ATS)
Two of the hottest teams in the Big Ten collide when the Buckeyes travel to face Illinois at Assembly Hall.
Ohio State has won five in a row and eight of its last nine, including Wednesday’s 69-52 rout of Indiana as a 10½-point road favorite, halting a 1-4 ATS skid. During their five-game run, the Buckeyes have outscored foes by 14 ppg (72.4-58.4), shooting a stout 49.6 percent and allowing 42.7 percent shooting. However, on the road this year, OSU averages 63 ppg and gives up 66.4, and it shoots just 31.3 percent from three-point range in opponents’ gyms, while allowing 40.5 percent from long distance.
Illinois has followed a three-game skid with a five-game winning streak of its own, including back-to-back victories over ranked teams in its last two starts. On Feb. 6., the Illini dropped then-No. 5 Michigan State 78-73 as a 1½-point home ‘dog, and they followed up Tuesday night with a 63-56 upset of 11th-ranked Wisconsin as a nine-point road pup. Illinois has averaged 69.4 ppg on sturdy 50.4 percent shooting in the last five games, while allowing 63.0 ppg on 38.9 percent shooting.
Illinois has covered in the last three clashes in this rivalry (2-1 SU), after a four-game SU and ATS run by Ohio State. The Illini swept last year’s two meetings, rolling 67-49 at home as a 7½-point favorite and eking out a 70-68 road win catching 2½ points. Illinois is 5-2 ATS in its last seven home starts against Ohio State, and the road team and the underdog are on identical 4-1 ATS runs in the last five meetings overall. Lastly, the SU winner has cashed in seven of the last eight matchups.
The Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last five starts against winning teams, but they are in ATS funks of 2-6 on the road, 1-5 on the highway against teams with a winning home record and 3-9 on Sunday. The Illini have cashed in just two of their last seven at home and are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 starts after a spread-cover, but they are on ATS upticks of 4-1 overall (all in the Big Ten), 4-1 following a SU win and 4-1 on Sunday.
Illinois is on “over” runs of 19-7 overall, 11-2 at home, 9-2 after a spread-cover, 5-2 on Sunday and 5-2 in conference play, and the over for Ohio State is on an 8-2 surge coming off an ATS win. The under, though, is 5-2 in the Illini’s last seven following a SU win, 5-2 in the Illini’s last seven against winning teams and 18-7 in the Buckeyes’ last 25 Sunday games. In addition, the total has stayed low in five of the last seven meetings in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
DUNKEL INDEX
Boston College at Florida State
The Eagles look to take advantage of a Florida State team that is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 home games. Boston College is the pick (+8) according to Dunkel, which has the Seminoles favored by only 5 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Boston College (+8)
Game 853-854: DePaul at Seton Hall
Dunkel Ratings: DePaul 56.235; Seton Hall 66.480
Dunkel Line: Seton Hall by 10
Vegas Line: Seton Hall by 14
Dunkel Pick: DePaul (+14)
Game 855-856: Louisville at Syracuse
Dunkel Ratings: Louisville 69.698; Syracuse 74.093
Dunkel Line: Syracuse by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: Syracuse by 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Louisville (+7 1/2)
Game 857-858: Ohio State at Illinois-
Dunkel Ratings: Ohio State 74.268; Illinois 70.888
Dunkel Line: Ohio State by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Ohio State by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Ohio State (-1 1/2)
Game 859-860: LaSalle at Duquesne
Dunkel Ratings: LaSalle 55.972; Duquesne 57.167
Dunkel Line: Duquesne by 1
Vegas Line: Duquesne by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LaSalle (+4 1/2)
Game 861-862: Ohio at Akron
Dunkel Ratings: Ohio 52.821; Akron 61.358
Dunkel Line: Akron by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Akron by 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Akron (-7 1/2)
Game 863-864: Miami (OH) at Bowling Green
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (OH) 55.723; Bowling Green 53.844
Dunkel Line: Miami (OH) by 2
Vegas Line: Pick
Dunkel Pick: Miami (OH)
Game 865-866: Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan
Dunkel Ratings: Western Michigan 50.723; Eastern Michigan 55.448
Dunkel Line: Eastern Michigan by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: Eastern Michigan by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Michigan (-2 1/2)
Game 867-868: Georgetown at Rutgers
Dunkel Ratings: Georgetown 70.346; Rutgers 62.458
Dunkel Line: Georgetown by 8
Vegas Line: Georgetown by 11 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Rutgers (+11 1/2)
Game 869-870: St. Joseph's at Massachusetts
Dunkel Ratings: St. Joseph's 52.728; Massachusetts 56.509
Dunkel Line: Massachusetts by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Massachusetts by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Joseph's (+4 1/2)
Game 871-872: Toledo at Central Michigan
Dunkel Ratings: Toledo 41.289; Central Michigan 53.558
Dunkel Line: Central Michigan by 12 1/2
Vegas Line: Central Michigan by 14
Dunkel Pick: Toledo (+14)
Game 873-874: Minnesota at Northwestern
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 69.144; Northwestern 65.447
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Minnesota by 1
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-1)
Game 875-876: St. John's at Notre Dame
Dunkel Ratings: St. John's 62.115; Notre Dame 65.715
Dunkel Line: Notre Dame by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Notre Dame by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. John's (+5 1/2)
Game 877-878: Boston College at Florida State
Dunkel Ratings: Boston College 65.263; Florida State 70.638
Dunkel Line: Florida State by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Florida State by 8
Dunkel Pick: Boston College (+8)
Game 879-880: Missouri State at Wichita State
Dunkel Ratings: Missouri State 56.860; Wichita State 66.195
Dunkel Line: Wichita State by 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Wichita State by 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Wichita State (-7 1/2)
Game 881-882: UCLA at USC
Dunkel Ratings: UCLA 59.997; USC 69.909
Dunkel Line: USC by 10
Vegas Line: USC by 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: USC (-7 1/2)
Game 883-884: Loyola-MD at Iona
Dunkel Ratings: Loyola-MD 51.614; Iona 55.914
Dunkel Line: Iona by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: Iona by 8
Dunkel Pick: Loyola-MD (+8)
Game 885-886: Siena at Canisius
Dunkel Ratings: Siena 59.799; Canisius 54.416
Dunkel Line: Siena by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Siena by 8
Dunkel Pick: Canisius (+8)
Game 887-888: Marist at Niagara
Dunkel Ratings: Marist 38.939; Niagara 55.327
Dunkel Line: Niagara by 16 1/2
Vegas Line: Niagara by 20
Dunkel Pick: Marist (+20)
Game 889-890: Montana at Eastern Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Montana 56.597; Eastern Washington 50.175
Dunkel Line: Montana by 6 1/2
Vegas Line: Montana by 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Washington (+7 1/2)
NHL
Vancouver at Minnesota
The Canucks look to build on their 10-2 record in their last 13 games versus the Northwest Division. Vancouver is the pick (-115) according to Dunkel, which has the Canucks favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Vancouver (-115)
Game 1-2: Nashville at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 10.515; Pittsburgh 11.986
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-175); Over
Game 3-4: Tampa Bay at NY Rangers
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 12.149; NY Ranges 11.283
Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 5-6: Vancouver at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Vancouver 13.209; Minnesota 10.932
Dunkel Line & Total: Vancouver by 1 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Vancouver (-115); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Vancouver (-115); Under
Game 7-8: Chicago at Columbus
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 12.712; Columbus 11.821
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-140); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-140); Under
Game 9-10: Ottawa at NY Islanders
Dunkel Ratings: Ottawa 12.631; NY Islanders 10.713
Dunkel Line & Total: Ottawa by 2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Ottawa (-135); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Ottawa (-135); Over
Game 11-12: Anaheim at Edmonton
Dunkel Ratings: Anaheim 12.674; Edmonton 10.731
Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-145); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (-145); Over
Marc Lawrence
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan
Prediction: Eastern Michigan
The Eagles host the Chippewas in a MAC matchup of the Michigan's - Eastern and Western - in this Sunday afternoon affair In Ypsilanti. Western Michigan enters off a revenge win over Ohio U with another revenger up next against North illinois. With the EMU's 4-0 ATS in games off a double-digit loss this season, look for history to rear its head once again here this afternoon.
Tom Freese
Miami (Ohio) at Bowling Green
Prediction: Miami (Ohio)
Bowling Green is 12-11 overall and 5-6 in Conference Play. Forward Scott Thomas scores 12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. Guard Dee Brown scores 10.9 points a game while shooting 47% from behind the arc. Center Otis Polk scores 9.5 points and 7.3 rebounds a game. Guard Joe Jackubowski scores 8.2 points. The Falcons are are 1-4 ATS their last 5 games and they are an they are 1-4 ATS off a straight up win. Miami Ohio is 11-3 overall but 8-3 in Conference Play. Guard Kenny Haynes scores 14.3 points a game. Forward Julian Mavunga scores 9.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. Forward Nick Winbush scores 9.7 points a game. Center Adam Fletcher 7.1 points a game and swingman Antonio Ballard scores 7 points a game. The Red Hawks are 18-7-1 ATS off an ATS loss and they are 4-1 ATS their last 5 Conference games. PLAY ON MIAMI OHIO
Sam Martin
Minnesota at Northwestern
We were burned by Northwestern in their last game, a loss at Iowa, but we’re going to back them at home against Minnesota on Sunday. The Wildcats will be in a bad mood after losing that game against the Hawkeyes, allowing Iowa to shoot 50% from the field including a number of open three-pointers. They also remember the Golden Gophers beating them in Minnesota a few weeks back. However, Minnesota has failed to cover the spread in seven straight games, losing five of those games outright. And Northwestern’s loss at Iowa was their first ATS loss in six chances. This game is a pick ‘em, and we’ll back the 12-3 home squad against the 3-7 road team that is struggling on both ends of the court.
Play on: Northwestern
VEGAS EXPERTS
Ohio State at Illinois
Illinois enters in off monster wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin, but we're calling for a letdown against an Ohio State team that has won its last four games all by double digits. Sure enough, the Illini are just 13-28 ATS after allowing 60 points or less the last three seasons. With Evan Turner, Ohio St always has the best player on the floor.
Play on: Ohio St
Frank Jordan
East vs. West
Play: Over 262.5
The East has won three of the last five years and this is always a scoring fest as defense is non existent and the players are You always have to take the over in the All-Star game as it is all about scoring, but with the game in Dallas and at the new Cowboys Stadium it will present a challenge with all that room behind the backboards. Look for the scoring to be down early, but in years past the teams have scored between 115-150 every year. With the pace picking up later as the players adjust look for a 145-138 final. Play the Over
Rob Vinciletti
Miami Ohio vs. Bowling Green
Play: Miami Ohio
Miami Ohio is 31-5 vs teams who score less than 65 ppg and has won their last 5 games. In the series they have taken 4 of the last vs Bowling Green and are 8-2 after scoring 60 or less in their last game. Bowling Green is 1-4 as a home dog of 3 or less and has lost 3 of the last 4 games vs teams who score less than 65 in the second half of the season. Miami Ohio is the play today.
DAVID CHAN
Eastern Conference @ Western Conference
PICK: Over 262
Sometimes the best bets are the toughest ones to make. In my own mind, this total should be 272. That suggests scoring at a clip of 68 points a quarter. That’s almost three 2-point baskets a minute. These guys have to miss sometimes don’t they? They have to breathe sometimes don’t they? Don’t seconds tick off the clock as the rock passes through the hoop and is inbounded and brought upcourt?
Yes, yes, and yes—but the last three All-Star games have seen 285, 262, and 265 points. At 272 this bet’s a serious problem, but I’m ready to hold my nose and go over 262. Einstein said that the definition of insanity was repeating the same controlled experiment, getting similar results, and expecting that “next time” results would be different. I’m not Einstein, and yes this game could stay under, but given recent past performance I’m convinced I need to hold my nose, perservere, and bet the over.
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on St. John's +5.5
With Luke Harangody expected to be out for Notre Dame, look for St. John's to have an excellent shot at pulling off the upset tonight. Harangody accounts for 24.1 of the points Notre Dame scores and it will be difficult for the Irish to replace all of those today. The reason this is just a 1 Unit free selection is because St. John's has struggled on the road and Notre Dame is a quality home team, but St. John's should be plenty motivated in this spot. It returns a ton of experience from a team that was crushed by 19 points the last time it visited South Bend ,and it won't want that same sour taste this time around. The Red Storm are actually 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog of 6.5 or fewer points. We'll take the points.
EZWINNERS
USC Trojans -7
The Trojans are playing well coming off of home wins against California and Stanford and find themselves with the chance to sweep UCLA in the regular season for the first time in six years. The Bruins are struggling having posted their worst record after 23 games since 2003-2004, which was UCLA coach Ben Howland’s first season with the team. Both of these teams struggle on offense, but USC is a great defensive team. The Trojans are number one in the Pac Ten and number three in the nation in defense and I expect them to clamp down on the Bruins again. USC did not let up defensively in the first match up, as they held UCLA to just 33 percent shooting and held the Bruins without a scorer above 12 points. The Trojans are 11-5 against the spread in their last sixteen Pac Ten games. Lay the points.
James Patrick Sports
East vs. West
The world's best basketball players meet to put their talents on display in front of a massive crowd predicted to possibly reach 90,000 fans in Arlington. The Western Conference All Stars will be without the services of Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant and Brandon Roy due to injuries. Last year the Eastern Conference dropped a (146-119) decision and the straight-up loser of the NBA All Star Game has has cashed the winning ticket in the next seasons game at a (7-2) ATS rate and Big Game James Patrick's Sunday NBA selection is East All Stars.
Hollywood Sports
UCLA at USC
Play: UCLA
UCLA (11-12) looks to avenge their worst defeat to cross-town rival USC since World War II a 67-46 loss on their home court on January 16th. The Bruins enter this game coming off a 72-58 home loss to California. But UCLA has covered in five of their last six games bouncing-back from a double-digit loss at home. And Ben Howland's club has been playing better of late as they have won four of their last six games. Some of this recent success can be attributed to their switch to a 2-3 zone defense which has held their opponents to just 43% over their last five games. USC (14-9) plays very good defense as they hold their opponents to 56 PPG. However, the Bruins do score 67.2 PPG on very good 49.8% shooting away from the home court. The Trojans tend to play a grind-it-out style of play that relies heavily on their defense and this is evidenced by the fact that they are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six home games as a favorite in the 7-12.5 range. On the other hand, UCLA has covered nine of their last ten road games as an underdog in the 7-12.5 point range. The Bruins will defend their proud program with a much better effort against USC this evening. Expect a tight, low-scoring game. Take the points with UCLA.
Bryan Leonard
UCLA at USC
The Trojans embarrassed the Bruins in their earlier meeting winning 67-46 at UCLA. It's payback time for UCLA who has always played well on the road in this series. The Bruins have won the last three visits here in straight up fashion and haven't lost by more than four points in nine straight meetings. UCLA has won 4 of the last 6 games after that embarrassing defeat with the losses coming by 12 to league leading Cal and 5 to Oregon. The Bruins traditionally have been a terrific team on the road and even in a lean year they have won 2 of 5 true road games in straight up fashion this season. The Trojans play the best defense in the league but tonight they will take on the best shooting team in the PAC 10. UCLA is a very young team that really struggled in the first meeting, but now that they have faced the Trojans once we expect a more mature effort from the Bruins. UCLA was held to a season low in points in that earlier meeting, we look for a much better offensive performance here. The road team has dominated this short travel series and we expect UCLA to get some redemption.
PLAY UCLA
John Ryan
Montana vs. E. Washington
Play: E. Washington +7
3* graded play on Eastern Washington as they take on Montana in Big Sky Conference action set to start at 4:05 EST. Our proprietary sports handicapping model and simulator shows a high probability that EW will lose this game by fewer than 7 points and does have a realistic opportunity to win this game. What we like best here aside from the model projections is that Montana comes in hot winners of 5 straight ATS and EW has lost 4 of their past 5 games and are 3-8 L11. Earlywine is a solid 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) after having lost 4 of their last 5 games as the coach. Supporting this graded play is a system that has produced a record of 94-52 ATS for 64% winners since 2004. Play on a dog that is a poor shooting team hitting =47% of their shots. Take Eastern Washington.