Ron Raymond
MON / DAL Under 5.5
When ANY NHL Team played as a Road team - Vs Eastern conference opponent - Last 4 years - During the month of January - Coming off vs Atlantic division opponent - Coming off 1 over - Allowed 6 or more goals AGAINST in their last game; the UNDER is 21-10-1 for the Road Team (DAL) in this spot the last 4 seasons.
Tom Freese
Gonzaga at St. Marys
Prediction: Gonzaga
Gonzaga is 27-4 sraight up against Saint Mary's. The Zags are led by Matt Bouldin and his 15.4 points a game Elias Harris scores 14.1 points a game. Steven Gray scores 13 points a game and Robert Sacre chips in with 11.7 points a game. The Zags are a well balanced machine. Saint Marry's has one the best players in the country in Omar Samhan. All he does is put up 20.8 points a night and 11 rebounds a night. The fact that the ZAGS have dominated this series we will side with coach Mark Few and the ZAGS. PLAY ON GONZAGA +
Matt Fargo
Cleveland State @ Butler
PICK: Cleveland St +16
This is a big overreaction in my opinion. Cleveland St. lost two key players from last season’s Horizon Conference Tournament championship team and it knew coming in it was going to be a rebuilding season and struggles would take place early on. The schedule did not help matters as it was brutal but at the same time, it helped and it will help in such games such as this. The Vikings have played Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio St. and Kansas St. while losing by 24, 2, 13 and 29 points respectively. As you can see there were blowouts but losses like that can help a team grow up in a hurry and that is the case here. Since installing a lineup that is quicker that includes four guards, the Vikings are 3-0. On the season, Cleveland St. is 15th in the country in steals with 9.8 per game and that isn’t a good thing for Butler that has not exactly been taking great care of the ball like it has in the past. The Bulldogs are ranked and are a very public commodity. That leads to big lines so it comes as no surprise that they are 3-7 ATS when favored by five or more points. Butler has played a very difficult schedule as well so that had led to some closer than expected game and on the season it is getting outshot overall from the floor as well as from long range. While this rivalry is still not at full force, it is getting there and the Vikings consider this their biggest rival in the conference so you know they will be ready for this one. This is a revenge game for the Bulldogs from that conference tournament final game from last season but laying this many points is a little aggressive. The Bulldogs are 1-3 ATS at home when laying at least 14 points while Cleveland St. is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 games after giving up 65 points or fewer in three straight games. That defense will be a key factor here as a low scoring game works in our favor when taking a ride with the big underdog. Also, the Vikings are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games when getting 13 or more points so they are well suited to stay well under this number Thursday night. 3* Cleveland St. Vikings
Lee Kostroski
Gonzaga @ Saint Mary's
PICK: Saint Mary's -4
St. Mary’s is 15-2 and have received little recognition thus far. That will end tonight. They are getting four points against the overrated Bulldogs and we expect them to get the big win at home.
The Gaels have had some big wins this season. They’ve defeated Oregon, Northeastern, and Utah State. Their only two losses were to USC and Vanderbilt – both by a small margin. A win tonight would be, by far, the biggest win of the season. It would give them an early head start in conference play and put them on the map nationally. It’s also a big game for Gonzaga, but this win wouldn’t mean nearly as much for the Bulldogs as it does for the Gaels. It will be hard for Gonzaga to match St. Mary’s intensity and emotion in this game.
St. Mary’s is 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games as a small home favorite of 0-6. They are also 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games following a S.U. win and 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games overall. They have one of the most powerful offenses in the NCAA. They score more than 82 ppg and make 49.5% field goals for the season. In the last four games alone, they’ve shot better than 46% (three games above 50%) and held opponents below 45% (three opponents below 40%).
Gonzaga is coming off of two close wins against Portland and Illinois. They defeated the Illini by two in overtime and defeated Portland by three. The game against Portland was only their 2nd true road game (@Michigan State, L 71-75 in mid-November). Now, they have to travel to St. Marys’s, where the Bulldogs are just 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings. The Gaels are VERY good at home. They are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 home games and 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games as a home favorite. They are already 6-0 ATS at home this season and we expect that to continue tonight. Go with the Gaels.
Alex Smart
Seton Hall @ Georgetown
PICK: Georgetown -6
It's pretty clear that HC Bobby Gonzalez is on the verge of creating something very special at Seton Hall. The former Manhattan Jaspers boss had lost four straight games before beating Cincinnati on Saturday, but of those losses, all four came within nine points, two of the four losses came in overtime, and all four were against teams that are probably going dancing this year (Connecticut, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, and West Virginia). Still, in order to punch his team's ticket to the NCAA Tournament himself, Gonzalez is going to need to see a lot more SU victories against teams like this in conference. Watch out for G Jeremy Hazell, as he is averaging 23.3 points per game on the team with the #5 offense in the land (85.5 points per game).
It's hard to see how the Hoyas, who are holding their foes to just 58.6 points per game this year, are going to let themselves get run all over by the Pirates. No team has dropped more than 70 on this squad all season, and HC John Thompson III is determined to keep it that way. Seton Hall is probably going to find guarding C Greg Monroe virtually impossible. Monroe, who learned from his predecessor, Roy Hibbert, is averaging 14.4 points, 9.8 boards, and 1.6 blocks per game in '09-'10.
The Pirates did pull off the mild upset of Georgetown last year, but that 65-60 victory came at home. Now, they'll have to travel to the Verizon Center, a place where they haven't tasted victory since 2003. The Hoyas had won four straight NCAA basketball gambling affairs in this series before the loss last season. Look for them to get back to their winning ways against the pirates tonight!
Hollywood Sports
Auburn at Tennessee
Prediction: Auburn
Tennessee (12-2) is primed for an emotional letdown after defeating the #1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks, 76-68, after suspended four of their players on the heels of their drugs and weapons charges. The Volunteers enjoyed an inspired effort from its remaining players including getting 45 solid minutes of combined play from three walk-on players to take down the number one team in the land. But that emotional effort is just not sustainable. As a double-digit favorite against a mid-level Auburn (9-7) team, these players will likely struggle. Forward Tyler Smith was the Vols second leading scorer and he has been dismissed from the team. Three other players remain on indefinite suspension. Overall, Tennessee has to replace 32.5 points of scoring from these four players. Auburn comes off an 80-71 loss to South Carolina. But the Tigers have covered nine of their last twelve games as a road underdog. Auburn plays strong defense that holds their opponents to just 43.5% shooting from the field. This should help keep them within the big number. Furthermore, Auburn has covered 13 of their last 19 games when playing teams with a winning percentage about 60%. This is nice opportunity to fade Tennessee. Take the points with Auburn.
GoodFella
UTA pk vs CLE
LeBron and Co. come into tonights TNT matchup vs the Jazz playing their 4th and final road game of their west coast roadie--having won 2 of the 1st 3 game on the trip. Utah has won 3 of their L/4 games overall & are coming off a 29 pt blowout home win over the Heat on Monday. Both teams are playing some of their best ball right now--but we all know just how hard it is for any team to come into Utah and get a victory. Utah is 14-6 at home this season SU & 13-7 ATS---but they are on a nice (10-3 ATS run L/13) home games coming into tonight. LeBron is always up for ESPN/TNT games & this won't be an easy game for the Jazz tonight--but I do expect them to be very up for this ballgame & I expect a typical strong home effort out of Utah tonight--as I see an edge in the schedule here for the Jazz, as the Cavs have been on the road for the L/7 days--while the Jazz have been at home the L/5 days. I really expect a huge effort out of Utah in this spot and believe they will come away with a hard fought win over LeBron and Co. tonight. Take the Jazz tonight guys.
Tony George
Oregon pk vs Ariz. St
In a toss up game, I will side with the Ducks at home in Eugene tonight on a strong homecourt in a pick em ballgame. They are playing with double revenge from last year and have not covered a spread against the Sun Devils in 3 years of conference play.
Oregon is 8-3 SU at home and ASU is yet to win on the road, and have struggled on offense scoring just 61 ppg their last 5 games. The Ducks are hitting 48 % from the floor and 38% from 3-point range in their last 5 games. I like the Ducks in a sqeaker tonight at home. Yes the Devils play great defense, but on the road against a team scoring near 80 ppg, I am not sold they can get it done on the road.
WUNDERDOG
Anaheim at Los Angeles
Pick: Los Angeles -150
The Kings have had a tough first three games in this home stand losing all three, but to teams that are a combined 72-45 on the season. With last place Anaheim coming in they should be hungry for a win vs. a team they have a much more favorable matchup. The Ducks have won a season high five straight games and for a team that had not previously won more than three in a row all season, could be in prime fade position here, especially with their road dog mark at just 8-20 over their last 28, and 2-11 mark as a road dog of up to +150. The Kings have conquered the number in seven of the last nine vs. a team with a losing record, and 10 of their last 13 vs. the Pacific. I'll grab the Kings in this one.