Brad Wilton
ACC comp play for Sunday is for order to finally be restored at North Carolina, but NOT against the spread!
UNC has been saddled with losses in 4 of their last 5 games, that is the bad news. The good news is the Tar Heels are at home facing a foe that has lost 57 (count 'em) 57 in a row at Chapel Hill!
Have to believe Roy Williams' team will at least win this game, but with just a 1-8 spread mark their last 9 games, cannot lay the price they are asking UNC to cover this Sunday at home.
Clemson is no pushover, as the Tigers head up to North Carolina having won straight up in 5 of their last 7 games, and Clemson is also 9-4 against the spread their last 13 lined games.
North Carolina is just 4-7 against the spread at home this year, so my feeling is the 57 game straight up winning streak is going to continue, but I give the visitor a real shot at coming close to ending this long national nightmare.
Take Clemson plus the points.
3♦ CLEMSON
Brett Atkins
My free play for Sunday is on UCLA minus the points in Pac 12 play against California, as the Bruins will win this one by double digits.
Nationally televised, we're going to see UCLA (15-4, 4-2 Pac-12) continue its torrid run through league play, as it comes in after defeating Stanford, 91-74, in Pauley Pavilion last Thursday night. Meanwhile, California (14-5, 5-1 Pac-12) has been playing well, but doesn't have the firepower like the Bruins and will struggle in this one.
UCLA ranks eighth in the nation in scoring (84.7 ppg), sixth in field goal percentage (50.3) and fourth in assists per game (17.8), while the Bruins rank second in the Pac-12 in points per game.
And this is a well-balanced roster that can put up points and produce in any given game. The Bruins’ current roster features seven players who have scored at least 20 points in a game during their collegiate career (at UCLA). Five of those seven UCLA players have accomplished that feat at least once this season.
These two split a pair of meetings last season, with each team winning on its home court. UCLA has covered five straight on Sundays, seven of 10 against Pac 12 foes and eight of its last 11 at home.
Lay the home chalk.
1♦ UCLA
Dr Bob
Opinion - GOLDEN STATE (-5.5) over Portland
The Warriors are coming off a loss and have revenge so they'll be motivated tonight against a Blazers squad that had to play last night. Golden State applies to a 49-12-1 ATS subset of a 112-48-3 ATS home favorite revenge off a loss angle but I thought the line was a bit too high (I favor GSW by 4.6 points) so I'll just lean with Golden State based on the very good situation.
Wunderdog
South Florida at Memphis
Pick: South Florida +16
South Florida has another tough test here against No. 23 Memphis, but this Bulls team is 4-1 on the road. This is the third consecutive game South Florida's opponent will be ranked in the top 25. They've been slowing it down and concentrating on defense, allowing Cincinnati 61 points in a 61-54 defeat two games ago. They lost to this Memphis team by 14 in December in an uptempo game, 88-73, but are slowing things down more now. South Florida is fifth in the conference in points allowed and field goal shooting defense, just 39.8% shooting by opponents. Memphis is a terrible free throw shooting team, as usual, which makes it tough with covers with the Tigers 1-4 ATS in their last five home games, as well as 1-5 ATS in their last six Sunday games. When these rivals meet, the road team is 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings, so grab the big dog. Play South Florida.
Brian Edwards
California at UCLA
Play: UCLA -7
UCLA brings a 15-4 straight-up record and an 11-7 against-the-spread ledger into Sunday night's home game against California. Steve Alford's team has thrived in the role of favorite, compiling a 10-3 spread record. They’ve won 12 of its 13 home games at Pauley Pavilion, producing an 8-4 ATS mark in the process. The only blemish on the Bruins' home resume is a nail-biting defeat against undefeated and top-ranked Arizona (79-75).
I backed UCLA on Thursday night when it cruised to a 91-74 win over Stanford as 5.5-point home chalk. Tony Parker enjoyed a breakout performance, as the Atlanta product scored a game-high 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Jordan Adams added 19 points, while Kyle Anderson chipped in with 13 points and 10 boards. Adams averages a team-best 17.5 points per game, but Anderson is the catalyst and most complete player for UCLA. Anderson has a very unique set of skills. He's 6-9 with a silky-smooth jumper, excellent passing ability and a nasty streak that comes straight from his roots in the Bronx. Anderson averages 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. He also has 35 steals and 15 blocked shots. Perhaps most impressive, Anderson is draining the nets at a 53.1 percent clip from 3-point range. Another key player for UCLA is reserve guard Bryce Alford, who comes by his shooting skills honestly. Bryce's father had one of the best jumpers in college basketball history during his playing days at Indiana from 1984-1987. The younger Alford is hitting 43.4 percent from deep and playing his role to perfection. Bryce comes off the bench and can play the point or the two. He can't be left alone on the perimeter and takes good care of the rock, evidenced by a solid 54/21 assists-to-turnovers ratio. UCLA has won six of its nine games against teams in the RPI Top 100. All six of those victories have come by eight points or more, and five of those wins were of the double-digit variety. In other words, the Bruins haven't been shy about dealing out pimpslaps.
California has a solid club led by Mike Montgomery, but it hasn't been the same team when it has left Berkeley. The Bears are 4-5 both SU and ATS in nine non-home games (true road or on a neutral court). Each of those five setbacks for Cal came by seven points or more, and three of those defeats were by margins of 11 or more. I'm all about UCLA laying the reasonable number at home tonight against Cal.
AC Dinero
Harvard vs. Dartmouth
Play: Dartmouth +12
Harvard is the darlings of the Ivy league, so their lines get a little inflated. Even though Darthmouth lost a key player for the season in their last game, it is still too much. They beat Dartmouth just 2 weeks ago at home, so it is tough to beat a team, especially by double digits, that you just played not that long ago. Dartmouth has lost 4 in a row, but statistically speaking, they have played close to Harvard all season. Take the double digits at home with Dartmouth.
Charlie Scott
Utah vs. Arizona
Play: Over 129.5
This is a SMALL play that at first I was reluctant to release, but I'm Hot and when plays like this hit they make good seasons Great Seasons ! This is a Very Low Total in which both Teams play at a higher pace. It's a Conference game and the high rate in which the NCAA has officials calling Fouls this Season Add that to talented players who play at a fast pace plus I made this TOTAL 135-36 ALL ADDs up to OVER !