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Va. Commonwealth +3FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Yes we are standing in front of the Billikens again... VCU opens at 1.5 and rockets up to 3 immediately.... Vcu can play D and these Rams are tested in this spot... this is the fifth time in the past seven years that the Rams have played for a conference tournament championship Colonial & A 10. St Louie crushed these Rams 76-62, last month in a sold out Chaifetz Arena in Saint Louis and now a 1.5 opening chalk. IMO way way too easy to grab the Favorite....VCU's tough and rough style of defense has helped these VCU Rams claim the top spot in the country in total steals (382), steals per game (11.9) and turnovers forced per game (19.8). VCU forces a turnover on 28.5% of its defensive possessions, which is also the top mark in the country.
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St. Louis -3FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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This St. Louis team is a fan favorite bet. Personally I don't think they have been over hyped this entire season and this will be one of those teams that everyone bets the first day of the tournament. I think Vegas is keeping this team at a low line now pretty much conceding to the public so they can trap them in the tournament. Call me crazy, but I believe they are excellent at doing this. Take St. Louis
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Miami -3.5FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Yesterday I talked about how coaching meant a lot in these spots, but maybe this year it really just does not matter. Its such a down year that the talent level with the bigger programs just is not there. I think Miami wins this game with bully like defense. The physical level of play favors the Hurricanes here with stronger and more athletic players. Take Miami
Tony George
Brooklyn -4 to 4.5
Like the Nets at home today against the Hawks who they beat up a week ago in Atlanta by 13 points. The Nets defense their past 5 games has been a difference maker and Atlanta struggles with good defensive teams, and tghe nets have allowed just 88 ppg their last 5 games while scoring 98. Atlanta has managed just a 93 ppg output on offense their last 5 and that is not good news considering a week ago Brooklyn held them to just 80 in their own house.
Dave Price
Miami Heat -7.5
Miami buried the Raptors by 15 in Toronto last month, and I expect another double-digit victory Sunday. That win started Miami's 21-game win streak, and I expect no letdown as the Heat have an opportunity to match the second-longest winning streak in NBA history today. Miami has been unbelievable on the road during its streak, winning all 9 away contests by an average of 13.3 points. It has posted double-digit wins at Oklahoma City and Chicago during this span. The Heat have also won 10 in a row against Toronto by an average of 11.9 points. Their last 4 wins in Toronto have come by an average of 13.3 points. Lay the points.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAYS
St Louis -2 over VCU: Well they say defense wins championships and that's where the Billikens have the biggest edge in this game, especially of late. In their last 10 games the Billikens have not allowed more that 62 points during regulation in any game, while allowing an average of 56.4 ppg over that stretch. The Rams come in having no such luck at that department as they have allowed 76.8 ppg in their last 4 games, while also allowing 68.9 ppg on the road, compared to the average of 62.9 that St Louis allows away from home. VCU does get the edge on offense, but the Billikens have been pretty good at that end of the floor as well this year. St Louis has averaged 68.9 ppg on the year, including 72.3 ppg in their last 3 games and they did hang up 76 points on VCU earlier in the year. St Louis won by 14 in that earlier meeting and really nothing makes be think that they can't win this one by at least 7, especially will how well their defense is playing.
Florida/ Ole Miss Over 135.5: The Gators don't really play at a high tempo, but they will when are faced with another team that does and the Rebels certainly fall into that category as they are 13th in the nation in pace. The Gators average 71.9 ppg on the year and they have the 5th best efficient offense in the nation. Ole Miss is 64th in defensive efficiency, but they still have allowed 67.4 ppg overall and 71.9 ppg when playing away from home. The Rebels on offense are 29th in efficiency, while they average 78.2 ppg and they could be going up against a tired defense of the Gators. Yes Florida has played lockdown defense this year, but this is their 3rd game in 3 days and the legs may not just be there to full keep pace with the fast paced Ole Miss squad. This should be a good game and we should also get the added advantage of having a foul fest at the end of the game, as the Rebels could be down 7-10 near the end and knowing they probably have to win t get in the big dance they will play till the final whistle. I look for this one in the 140's.
Harry Bondi
WISCONSIN (+2) over Ohio State
The key to Wisconsin is it's defense. Badgers are 17-3 when holding teams to less than 60 points this season and their defense has keyed their run in the Big 10 Tournament. Wisconsin is not nearly as athletic as Michigan, Indiana or Ohio State but by running clock and hitting three pointers on offense and playing tenacious defense they have beat the first two teams mentioned in the tournament and will take out Ohio State today. Badgers routed the Buckeys 71-49 on February 17th, a season low in points for Ohio State and held Indiana to a season 56 points yesterday. That stellar defense propels the Badgers to the Big 10 Championship today!
Nelly
New Orleans - Minnesota Over
The Wolves have allowed triple digits in six of the last nine games and Minnesota has actually reached 100 points in two of the last three games on offense. This has been an 'under' team for the season, especially at home where the 'under' is 19-11 but the 'over' is 10-4 in the last 14 Minnesota games with a total priced below 190. These teams combined for 201 points in a meeting in Minneapolis just over a month ago and all three meetings this season between these teams has played 'over' with an average of 204 points. Even with that history this season this total is priced lower than the most recent meeting. The Hornets have faded defensively in recent weeks with at least 95 points allowed in 13 straight games, surrendering over 100 points in seven of the last 12 games. The 'over' is 20-14 in New Orleans road games this season when the total is priced between 180 and 190 for the Hornets the 'over' is 19-8 this season. Key defenders Andrei Kirilenko and Nikola Pekovic are likely still sitting out for the Wolves and this game should play out similar to the other meetings between these squads with more scoring than most expect.
Wunderdog
New Orleans at Minnesota
Pick: New Orleans -1
Two teams out of the playoff race, which means very little defense will be played. But, New Orleans has plenty of offensive punch with guard Eric Gordon giving a big lift since returning to the lineup while reserve forward Ryan Anderson adds to that as a fine outside shooter. Throw in point guard Greivis Vasquez and rookie Anthony Davis, who has five double-doubles in his last nine games and 15 for the season, and there is more than enough offense against a Minnesota team that has allowed 100 or more points in four of the last five games. The Timberwolves are 6-14-2 ATS in their last 22 games playing on one days rest. Minnesota's injury report is mounting with forward Andrei Kirilenko and center Nikola Pekovic doubtful as well as Kevin Love out, who are the team's top three scorers. The Timberwolves have lost two straight as well as ten of 12. They are also 7-20 ATS against the Western Conference. Play New Orleans.
Bruce Marshall
Oklahoma City vs. Dallas
Pick: Dallas
The ownership of this series now rests in Ok City, as Thunder has been getting the best of former nemesis Dallas since last year’s playoffs. Kevin Durant & Co. have now won last nine vs. Mavs, including an 4-game sweep in postseason first round last spring. Yet interestingly, OK City has only covered 4 of last 11 in series since last season, and had to go into OT to beat Mavs at AmericanAirlines Center on Jan. 18 (as Thunder also did when into OT in first meeting on Dec. 27). Durant has personally tormented Mavs, scoring 37 ppg against them in the first three meetings this season. But Dirk Nowitzki more resembling his old self than he did the last time these teams tangoed on Feb. 4, and Mavs have continued an impressive run of pointspread success (22-7 last 29) that has also seen them climb to within sight of last West playoff berth with four SU wins on the trot thru March 13. Maybe this time Mavs get over the hump and actually beat Thunder.
Jeff Alexander
Brooklyn Nets -4
The Hawks check in off a 107-94 home win over Phoenix, and they will be out for revenge for a 93-80 home loss to the Nets. However, the numbers say to fade away. Fading road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points that are out for revenge for a double-digit home loss and are coming off a home win of 10 points or more has produced a 94-50 (65.3%) ATS mark since 1996. Teams fitting this criteria have lost by an average of 9.5 points. In addition, the Hawks have been struggling on the road where they have dropped 5 straight by an average of 8.8 points. Bet Brooklyn.
Jack Jones
Dallas Mavericks +5
It's now or never for the Dallas Mavericks. At 31-34 on the season, the Mavericks trail the Los Angeles Lakers by three games for the 8th and final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. They cannot afford many more losses the rest of the way if they want to continue playing into May.
Dallas has been in a must-win situation for quite some time now, and it has responded really well. In fact, the Mavericks have won five of their last six games overall with their only loss coming 91-92 at San Antonio as a 9.5-point underdog on Thursday. They remain one of the most undervalued teams in the league.
Adding fuel to the fire for Dallas is the fact that it will be playing with triple revenge in mind this season. The Thunder have won all three meetings with the Mavericks this year, so they'll have hard time getting motivated to beat them a 4th time tonight. Dallas has played them tough in two of the losses, taking them to overtime twice.
The Mavericks are 30-11 ATS after successfully covering the spread in 3 or more consecutive games over the last 3 seasons. The Thunder are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Dallas is 18-4 ATS in its last 22 vs. Western Conference opponents. The Mavericks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Bet the Mavs Sunday.
SPORTS WAGERS
Boston +123 over PITTSBURGH
OT included. When these two met up just five days ago, also at the Igloo, Boston surrendered three goals in the final six minutes of the game and lost 3-2. Blowing a third-period, two-goal lead is not Boston Bruins hockey. The B’s responded with back-to-back 4-1 wins over Washington and Florida. They are as physically and mentally tough as any club in the NHL and they’re as talented as well. With outstanding goaltending and defense, a balanced offense and just four regulation losses in 26 games, the Bruins are true contenders.
Pittsburgh has won eight in a row, making them the NHL’s hottest team right now. However, the same issues that have prevented them from winning Stanley Cups are still present. The Pens have two unreliable goaltenders and a defense that makes far too many mistakes. They can thrive in the regular season but come playoff time, those flaws always get exposed and this is going to be a playoff-like game. A high majority of games are won by the team that gets superior goaltending. There is no denying that Boston’s edge in net is significant and so is its defense. That makes their chances of winning very good. Boston taking back a tag is almost always an automatic play and we make no exception here.
OTTAWA -½ +134 over Winnipeg
Regulation only. What a difficult spot for the Jets. They played a highly intense and highly entertaining game last night in Toronto on Hockey Night in Canada's featured game. That contest went into a shootout of eight rounds with Winnipeg finally coming out on top. Less than 24 hours later, (5:00 PM start) the Jets will play their third game in four days and fifth game since last Sunday.
Unlike the Jets, Ottawa played an afternoon game yesterday. Prior to that, they had been off since Wednesday. The Senators are not the team you want to face with low energy levels. Despite suffering more key injuries than any other team, they rarely get outplayed. It may surprise you to learn that the Senators have picked up points in 10 of their past 13 games. Over that span, they lost two of those games to the Bruins, both in OT and they took three out of a possible four points from Montreal. The Sens are well aware of this extremely difficult spot the Jets are in. Given the opportunity to exploit any edge they can get and with a chance to solidify its playoff chances, expect Ottawa to come out strong and put this fatigued guest away.
Pass NBA & NCAAB
Joe Gavazzi
Miami -7
In this contest, the heat travel north of the border to extend their winning streak to 22 games. The team formerly known as the home of Chris Bosch will be eager to snap the streak. Though the Raptors got the post trade bump from Rudy Gay, they enter today on a 2-7 ATS slide with the reality that they are playing out the string. Take advantage as the focused Lakers get their 22nd consecutive victory in style.