Free Picks: Service Plays for Thursday January, 10

Matt FargoFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Santa Clara vs. Loyola MarymountFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: Loyola MarymountFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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We head to the left coast for late action Thursday night between Santa Clara and Loyola-Marymount and will be taking a shot with the home underdog Lions. Santa Clara is sitting at 1-1 in the West Coast Conference and that is already one more win than the Broncos had all of last season as they went through as dreadful 0-16 conference campaign. They defeated San Francisco at home to open WCC play and then lost to Gonzaga last time out but it was a respectable seven-point defeat. They hit the road for just the second time in over three weeks and while things are looking up, the 12-4 record is a little inflated as games against Gonzaga and Dukes have inflated the Santa Clara strength of schedule. The Broncos were not as bad last year as their 0-16 conference record indicated but I also do not think they are as good as their overall record shows this year. Loyola Marymount looks to bounce back quickly following a 2-0 start in WCC action. The schedule did not help as the Lions opened with games at BYU and St. Mary's so getting into a quick hole comes as no surprise. This team was 21-13 including 11-5 in the conference last season so good things are expected. The Lions are 4-2 at home and while two wins came against non-Division I teams, the two losses came by a combined six points to Long Beach St. and Mississippi. This is a start of a five-game run where every game is winnable so in order to get into the top level of the conference where many expected it to be, Loyola-Marymount needs to take advantage of this stretch. The Lions are second in the WCC with 38.6 rpg and they lead the conference with 12.8 offensive rpg so and they should have a big edge inside here. The Lions are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games against teams with a winning road record while the Broncos are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a losing record.

David ChanFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Massachusetts vs. Saint LouisFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: Saint LouisFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Massachusetts is 10-3 SU and 3-10 ATS; it's coming off seven straight victories, including a 75-61 win over Eastern Michigan as a 15.5 point favorite on the 5th. It was however the teams third straight ATS setback, and I believe will once again have a letdown here. Freddie Riley has been on fire of late; after scoring just 4.4 points per game this year, he's averaged 12.3 points over his past four.
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Riley would come off the bench to hit five 3-point shots in a span of just 3:41 over Eastern Michigan.
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Chaz Williams had 14 points and nine assists; Maxie Esho had 13 points and nine boards.
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Saint Louis is 11-3 SU and 6-6 ATS; it's coming off eight straight victories, including a 67-59 win over Savannah State on the 4th.
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Mike McCall Jr had 16 points; Cody Ellis had 15; Kwamain Mitchell added 13; Corey Remekun chipped in ten points and seven boards.
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The Tigers played well, but were forced into 19 turnovers by the Billikens, whose four-game streak of holding opponents to under 50 points was finally broken.
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Ultimately though, this is a revenge game for the home side after it lost 72-59 to the Minutemen back on January 28th.
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And not only is this the final game of a nine-game home stand, but it is also the opener of A-10 Conference play for Saint Louis.
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I believe there are enough significant external motivating factors working in favor of St. Louis tonight to warrant it a second look in this situation!

Jesse SchuleFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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UCLA vs. UtahFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: UtahFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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It's been quite a run with the FREE plays in 2013, after yet ANOTHER WINNER with Toronto on Wednesday, we're now an AMAZING' 8-1 in the New Year with complimentary hoops picks. Tonight's FREE play is on the Utah Utes at home against UCLA.
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I cashed a winning ticket with the Utes on the weekend, when they came very close to upsetting the #3 Arizona Wildcats on the road. While that might have surprised a few people, it really shouldn't have.
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After the game against Arizona, I published an article titled "Flying Under The Radar", describing how the Utes have been one of the best kept secrets in college basketball. Here is an excerpt from that article: "It should have come as no surprise that the Utes would give Arizona a run for their money, missing a potential game tying shot as time expired, and losing 60-57. While the Wildcats failed to cover for their third consecutive game, the Utes are now an amazing 9-2 ATS this year. Even more impressive is their record against Pac-12 opponents, going 9-1 ATS in their last 10. They are also a very solid 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 overall."
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Utah is getting a few points at home, after suffering back to back losses on the road to the Wildcats and the Sun Devils. The Utes came up just short in each of those games, losing in overtime 55-54 to Arizona State, and missing a buzzer beater to lose 60-57 to Arizona. They are in a good spot at home against UCLA, as the Bruins will be playing their first true road game of the season.
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UCLA hasn't looked great in the few games they have played at neutral sites this year, losing to San Diego State, and Georgetown, and recording wins over Georgia and Texas by a combined 7 points.
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I think the Utes are going to give UCLA run for their money in Utah tonight.

Marc LawrenceFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Florida International vs. Arkansas St.FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: Arkansas St.FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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It’s rare to have a same-season revenger this early in January but that’s the case tonight in Jonesboro as the Red Wolves look to make amends for a 19-point loss they suffered in Miami as 7-point favorites. That loss is even more shocking considering that the clawless Cats’ only other two wins were against Coastal Carolina and Stetson. In fact, should FIU enter this game off a loss (check 1/7 result versus Bethune-Cookman), its 0-8 SU and 1-7 ATS record on the road off a SU loss in this series clearly comes into play. Even if they arrive off a SU win, they still own a distasteful 9-18-1 ATS log against an avenging foe with a better record. And that doesn’t bode well against a Wolves’ squad that is 20-11-3 ATS with conference revenge (5-0 ATS last five) under 5th-year head coach John Brady. Thus, we have no problem laying it – and neither should you – as this man named Brady and his five boys get their revenge. We recommend a 1-unit play on Arkansas State.

Jim FeistFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Mavericks vs. KingsFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Play: Over 206½FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Sacramento is on an 8-1 run over the total playing no defense, 27th in the NBA in points allowed and 21st in field goal shooting defense. At least the are rested, home from a four-game trip as Monday's game against Memphis opened a five-game homestand. Dallas has plenty of offensive punch, on a 11-5 run over the total, but has allowed 100 or more points in 9 of the last 12. The over is 8-1 in the Mavericks last 9 vs. a team with a losing record and 4-1 over the total in their last 5 road games. The over is 34-16-2 in the last 52 meetings and the over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Sacramento. Play the Mavs/Kings over the total.

Bruce MarshallFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Temple vs. XavierFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: TempleFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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A-10 insiders not surprised that Xavier (1-5 SU and vs. line last six) has been losing traction and dropping into serious early Big Dance bubble trouble, especially after G Mark Lyons’ summer transfer to Arizona further weakened an already graduation-depleted Musketeer roster Forced to count heavily upon frosh G Semaj Christon (just 31.5% FGs and plagued by TO problems last four games, plus perhaps hitting the dreaded “freshman wall” after encouraging early-season efforts) in Lyons’ absence, the Cincinnati Jesuits are wobbling. Not so with Fran Dunphy’s Temple, which found its bearings in late December when top scorers Khalif Wyatt and Scootie Randall shook debilitating concurrent early-December shooting slumps (the pair had combined to hit only 8 of 58 beyond the arc in one five-game stretch between Dec. 5-19), helping key rousing wins over Syracuse and Bowling Green, while 6-9 Boston U transfer Jake O’Brien is beginning to make meaningful contributions. A similar-looking Owls team comfortably beat a better ”X” edition last season by 13 at Philly.

Jimmy BoydFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Miami Heat -3½FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Portland Trail Blazers have been playing pretty solid basketball lately, winning their last three games and five of their last six. Two of those games were tough road contests at Memphis and at Minnesota in which they team won as a 5+ point underdog. However, this team is not as good as their 19-15 record would indicate. They have actually been outscored by nearly 2 ppg on the year and opponents are shooting 46.3% against them while Portland only connects on 44% of their shots. Plus I like the fact that Portland is just 3-12 ATS coming off two or more wins in a row the last two seasons.
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Miami is a public team and as such can be over-valued in a lot of situations, but after failing to cover in six of their last seven the public is starting to shy away from them. Miami was beat up Tuesday night in Indiana, scoring only 77 points in a game in which we had the UNDER. Indiana's defense though is a far cry from what the Heat will face in Portland and the double digit loss should wake this team up and it actually puts Miami in a favorable spot as favorites off a double digit road loss who are winning more than 60% of their games on the season are 251-181 (58.8%) since 1996.

Rob Vinciletti

New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
Play: New York Knicks

The Knicks will look to bounce back from a tough loss to The Celtics without Carmelo Anthony as he is suspended from the stalking episode with Kevin Garnett. New York is 4-1 to the spread off a division game and 6-2 off a straight up favored loss. We will get solid Line value with Anthony Being Out. Indian as illustrated below is 0-11 straight up and to the spread at home off a win of 10 or more points if they had less than turnovers. Indian may take a sigh of relief Knowing Carmelo wont be in there. Look for the Knicks to get the cash tonight.

Dave CokinFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Massachusetts at Saint LouisFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: Saint LouisFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Major clash in styles here, as UMass wants to play as fast as they can and Saint Louis prefers to grind. I don't think it's at all likely that the Minutemen will be able to get the Billikens out of their comfort zone, and that's when things have a tendency to go awry for Massachusetts. They're what I call a low IQ team as they only know how to play one way and have shown little ability to function at a proficient level when the tempo is not the their liking. The home team here is a good one, and off a really flat performance against Savannah State last game, I'm expecting full focus tonight. Just off the math, this is fairly close. But if and when UMass gets frustrated, the turnovers will follow and I see the Billikens having a good chance to pull away. I'll go with the Saint Louis side minus the number.

JR O'DonnellFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Troy -3FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Trojans get our early call today as the festive activites tonight in the Sun Belt Conference will put us on a well coached ball club... 30 years young @ Troy "Don Magestri" a rock solid head coach @ 488 victories, eight 20-win seasons and seven conference championships will have them ready. Strong & Steady Senior Guard play..."Emil Jones" steadies the Troy Trojans attack.... They dedicate the basketball floor tonight.... The #'s are strong @ the 6-10 Trojans have huge edges on Defense/Boards & a Deep Bench. "Home team holds serve here @ 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

SPORTS WAGERS

Arizona State +5 over OREGON STATE

The Sun Devils are 13-2 but because of last year’s 21-loss season, most folks aren’t believers. We’re not ready to pencil them into the dance just yet either but we’ve seen enough to suggest that they really are that improved. ASU beat a lot of cupcakes to achieve its current mark but then a very good Colorado team came along and the Sun Devils responded with a solid 9-point win. Even more impressive in that win over the Buffalos was that super frosh Jahii Carson managed just five points. Carson is a game changer that had an off game and the way the rest of the team picked him up should not be ignored. Carrick Felix can be explosive and Jordan Bachynski has been a disruptive force inside. The Sun Devils chemistry and intangibles are sky high at the moment.

In the Beavers’ biggest game of the year so far against Oregon to open PAC-12 play, they were buried by 13. Their biggest win of the year came against Purdue. OSU also lost to the Towson Tigers in its own building and they’ve played one of the softest schedules in the country, ranking 294th out of 341 squads. Now we get to take back a margin with the better team that can’t wait to get back on the floor. Pencil us in for that.

UTAH +5½ over UCLA

The Bruins have won seven in a row to run their record to 12-3. They’re 2-0 in conference play and as advertised, they very well may be the second best team in the conference. UCLA is scoring at will it seems and despite losing 78-70, they still hung 70 on Georgetown early in the year. The offense is not the problem. Defensively, UCLA allows far too many easy buckets and far too many points. They have also yet to play a true road game and until we see them prove themselves on the road, we’re not enticed to lay these road points.

The Utes are more dangerous than most believe. They’re 0-2 in conference play after losing by a point in OT at ASU and followed that up with a three-point loss at Arizona. Combined, that pair is 27-2. At BYU, they also lost by three. The Utes strength of schedule ranks 31st in the country and they come into this one very battle tested and ready to go. Utah freshman Jordan Loveridge has become a big-time scorer that could really go off for a big game here. Lastly, the Utes have been pure gold with nine covers in its last 10 games against the PAC-12 and 16 covers in their past 21 overall. They remain undervalued here too and could certainly win this one straight up.

Pass NBA

Bryan Power

Miami-Florida vs. North Carolina
Pick: North Carolina

On Sunday, I successfully wagered against North Carolina as they went to Virginia and lost to the Cavaliers 61-52, which is a remarkable defensive effort by the Cavaliers considering the Tar Heels came in as the nation's highest scoring team. But that game was also on the road. Tonight, they are at home facing a Miami team without starting center Reggie Johnson......

UNC hasn't performed very well in true road games this year, but at home they've been fine. The last time they were in Chapel Hill, they beat a very good UNLV team that had Mike Moser back in the lineup. They've yet to lose in seven chances at the Dean Dome this year, scoring an impressive 86.4 points per game. They are also a perfect 7-0 ATS off a road loss the last three seasons. Miami is an opponent that has never given the Tar Heels much trouble as the program's last win over UNC was all the way back in 2006.

The Canes are a good defensive team, holding opponents to an average of less than 60 PPG. But like the Tar Heels, they have their issues away from home, particularly on the offensive end. Their averaging just 62.6 PPG outside of Coral Gables. That was enough to get it done at sub-par Georgia Tech last weekend, but the loss of Johnson will haunt them here against a foe they will be unable to keep pace with.

Larry Ness

Michigan St vs. Iowa
Pick: Iowa

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery came from Siena where he had led the Saints to three straight NCAA tourneys (2008-10) and has found the Big Ten tough ‘sledding.’ He was 11-20 in his first year and 18-17 last year. Optimism is higher this season, as his team did lose LY’s leading scorer in Gatens (15.2) but a solid nucleus returned. The two best players are 6-6 swingman Marble (15.5-4.3-2.7) and the 6-8 White (13.2-6.1). The Hawkeyes opened 5-0 but then lost two straight. McCaffrey shook things up after those back-to-back losses, giving much more time (and some starts) to three freshman. The trio of freshman are guards Gasell (9.4-3.1-3.1) and Clemmons (4.8-4.1 APG) plus the 7-1 Woodbury (6.5-5.5). In all, nine players are seeing 15-plus MPG, and the Hawkeyes enter this game 11-4 overall but 0-2 to open Big Ten play.

Tom Izzo’s Michigan St team fell 76-63 to No. 8 Minnesota in its Big Ten opener but the 22nd-ranked Spartans (12-3 / 1-1) bounced back to defeat Purdue 84-61 on Saturday. However, Izzo said his team didn't play as well as the score indicated. "Even though I'm excited about the win, I think we beat a good team, but we're still not playing like we need to play if we're going to make any type of noise in this conference," said Izzo, whose teams have claimed three of the last four regular-season league titles. Appling (14.4-3.3-4.4) is the team leader, joined by freshman guard Harris (13.1) in the backcourt. The best frontcourt players are the 6-6 Dawson (9.9-6.3), the 6-9 Nix (9.0-7.3) and the 6-10 Payne (8.0-7.5). McCaffery slowed the pace at home vs Indiana back on Dec 31 and it almost worked, as the Hawkeyes (plus-7) lost 69-65. Those tactics should work better against the Spartans and that’s my bet.

Charlie Sports

Detroit at Youngstown State
Play: Youngstown State

The (10-5) Detroit Titans of the Horizon Conference will take on the (9-6) Youngstown State Penguins also of the Horizon League in 2013 NCAA Basketball action. Detroit has won 7 of their last 8 meeting vs. Youngstown State straight up, but have dropped 2 of the last 3 Against The Spread vs. The Penguins. The Titans have laso lost their last 3 NCAA Basketball games ATS. The Youngstown State Penguins have not played the quality opponets thet Detroit has play, but this is a huge Conference matchup. Youngstown State gets the home cover.