Jeff Alexander
1 Unit Virginia Tech +8
North Carolina will no doubt be motivated following a blowout loss to Florida State, but it won't get anything easy at Virginia Tech tonight. These two have split the last two meetings with each game being decided by four points or less. The Tar Heels are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a loss of more than 20 points and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 versus the Hokies. The Hokies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog. We'll take the points.
Tom Freese
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat
Play: Los Angeles Lakers +5½
Apparently, the flu bug is going around Miami right now as LeBron James left practice this afternoon. I hear symptoms may include being afraid of playing Kobe Bryant on National TV. James is still listed as probable as of press time, but no way should the Heat be laying this many points to a Lakers team that's won six of its last seven. Miami had lost three in a row and found itself down by double digits at the half to San Antonio Tuesday night before a furious rally got them the win and cover. Not tonight.
Black Widow
1* New Orleans Hornets +10
There's no question that the Houston Rockets have been playing their best basketball of the season of late, but it has come against some of the weakest competition in the league. The Rockets have won four straight, but three of those games were at home, and three were against the likes of Sacramento, Washington and Detroit, teams with a combined 10-34 record. While New Orleans has been a bottom feeder in the Western Conference this season, they have at least been competitive. The Hornets are 3-11 this season, but eight of those 11 losses were by 10 points or less. They don't typically get blown out, which is what it would take for Houston to cover this spread tonight. The Rockets are just 7-7 on the season, and they should not be laying double-digits. In fact, Houston has not been favored by more than 7.5 points against any team this season, so this line is clearly inflated. The Rockets are 6-25 ATS (-21.5 Units) in home games when playing their 5th game in 7 days since 1996. The Hornets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. New Orleans is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings with the Rockets, and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 meetings in Houston. Take the Hornets and the points.