Jack Jones
Minnesota Golden Gophers -1
Both Stanford and Minnesota deserve a lot of credit for the way they've battled in the NIT. Unfortunately there can be only one winner tonight, and I believe that team is going to be the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota has played the tougher schedule en route to reaching the NIT title game. They had to go on the road to beat LaSalle, Miami and Middle Tennessee State, making fairly easy work of those schools. They then beat Washington in overtime after blowing a big lead late. I don't think this team will be denied.
Unlike the Gophers, the Cardinal had the luxury of playing three home games to get here. They topped Cleveland State, Illinois State and Nevada before knocking off overrated Massachusetts 74-64 in the semifinals. Stanford finally meets its match tonight.
Common opponents is a great way to compare teams. Both squads have faced Washington and USC this season. Minnesota went 2-0 against those two teams, outscoring them 61.5 to 53.5 on average. Stanford went 2-1 against those teams, outscoring them just 57.7 to 55.3 on average. They even played USC twice to help inflate their numbers a little. Stanford lost to Washington 63-76 in their lone meeting with the Huskies.
Minnesota is a perfect 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games overall. Stanford is after covering 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread over the last 2 seasons. The Cardinal are 5-14 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 over the last 3 seasons. The Golden Gophers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. Pac-12 foes. Bet Minnesota Thursday.
Steve Janus
Washington Wizards +10.5
The Wizards are showing some incredible value as a double-digit underdog. A lot of people don't realize how much better Washington has been playing since they acquired Nene. Nene is listed as questionable tonight. He was a game-time decision on Monday, but still ended up playing 28-minutes.
Even if Nene doesn't play, I still like Washington to cover the spread. Indiana just got blown out 84-100 at New Jersey last night. Most of the time, this would be a great spot to take the Pacers in a rebound spot. That's not the case tonight. Not only are the Pacers playing the second of a back-to-back, but they are playing their sixth game in the last eight days!
In order to cover a large spread like this, you have to be able to play solid defense and make a lot of shots, two things that are extremely hard to do on tired legs.
Jimmy Boyd
Minnesota -1
Tuesday, the Golden Gophers defeated Pac-12 regular season champion Washington. Tonight, I have them taking down the team that finished 7th in the Pac-12. Keep in mind that Stanford played Washington this season and was defeated by 13 points. Also, Minnesota defeated USC (the other like opponent) by 15 points. Stanford's best win over USC this season was a 12-point victory.
Minnesota has been on some kind of a roll since losing 6 in a row in February. It has won 6 of its last 7 SU and has covered the spread in 8 consecutive games. It should be noted that the Gophers played Wisconsin twice, Ohio State, Michigan State and Indiana during the previously mentioned losing streak. This emphasizes the superiority of the Big Ten in comparison with the Pac-12. The Golden Gophers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. the Pac-12.
The Cardinal are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS win, 0-6 ATS after covering the spread in 5 or 6 of their last 7 games over the last 2 seasons and 5-14 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 over the last 3 seasons. We'll take Minnesota.
Tony George
Wizards / Pacers Under 193
These two played last week to a 168 point game. Both are playing better defense in their last 5 game recent performance index and I have a power rating of 189 in this game based on my numbers. That is a 4 point overlay against the O/U Spread number, and worth a small position.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
Stanford +1 over Minnesota: Google News Play. For Stanford they not only have motivation to win the NIT, but with all the flack the PAC-10 has received this year, a win by Stanford would bring a little respectability back to the conference. Plus I do feel that Stanford has the overall talent edge in this one led by Randle and Bright on the perimeter (151 of the team's 246 total three-pointers), while Owens has been solid on the inside (57.3% , 5.9 rpg and 11.8 ppg). Stanford is in the top 89 in both offensive and defensive scoring , while Minnesota is 100th in scoring defense and 178th in offense. The defenses are fairly even, but Stanford has a good edge at the offensive end of the floor. The Cardinal is not just playing for themselves, but for a whole confrerence and while Minnesota continues to win without being at full strength, it is the Cardinal who will get the win here. KEY TREND--- Minnesota is 0-3 ATS as a fav of 1 to 2.5 points this year.
WUNDERDOG
San Jose at Phoenix
Pick: Phoenix -115
San Jose is not a good road team and it's a tough spot, playing their third game in four nights and the second of a back-to-back spot. They stumbled in a 3-1 loss at last place Anaheim, losing their Pacific Division lead. I didn't help that Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray was injured during the first period. In fact, the roller coaster Sharks plummeted from third in the West standings all the way back to eighth. Now they have to play another road game the very next night. The Sharks are 5-13 in their last 18 against the Western Conference and 8-21 in their last 29 road games. Phoenix has home ice, is well rested and needs to win to have any shot at the playoffs. The Coyotes are 46-20 in their last 66 games as a favorite of -110 to -150. In addition, the home team is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these clubs. Play Phoenix.
NHL Predictions
Flyers / Maple Leafs Over 5.5
Philadelphia is looking to rebound from a home loss on Monday night, when then Lightning beat them 5-3. The Flyers had won their two previous games and 3 of 5 on their 5 game home stand. Although the Flyers haven’t been putting up big numbers lately they have been averaging 3.12 goals per game on the season, and 2.79 away from home. Philly had also been getting great goaltending from Ilya Bryzgalov, but a chipped bone in his foot will keep him out of tonight’s game. Sergei Bobrovsky will get the call tonight, and he has been struggling lately. In 4 straight losses Bobrovsky has given up 16 goals against (4 per game), to increase his season GAA to 3.03. This will be his first start since March 11th. The OVER is 5-1 in his last 6 starts. Toronto has officially been eliminated from the playoffs after going 1-3-1 in their last 5 games. Toronto had scored 4 goals in New Jersey and 3 goals in a shootout loss at home against the Rangers before being shutout on Tuesday against the Hurricanes at home. The Maple Leafs continue to allow a lot of goals against, with 3.10 per game in their last 10 bringing their season average up to 3.08 goals against per game. With Reimer injured Jonas Gustavsson will get another start after being pulled when he let in 3 goals against on 12 shots on Tuesday. Gustavsson has allowed 3 or more goals against in 7 of his last 10 appearances. On the season he has a 2.92 GAA and .902 SV%. The Leafs and Flyers have played the OVER in 2 of their 3 meetings this season. Take the OVER tonight.
Penguins / Islanders Over 5.5
This was our Game of the Week play on Tuesday when these two teams met in Pittsburgh, and we will play it again tonight this time for 1 unit. I won’t get too much into detail here as I did a full write up for the OVER that clients read on Tuesday. Nothing has changed here tonight. The Penguins have been scoring machines, with 42 goals in their last 9 games (4.67 per game). The Islanders have gotten their offense going as well, scoring 3 or more goals in 7 of their last 8 games. These two teams combined for 8 goals on Tuesday, with the two combining for 79 shots on goal. In their 5 meetings this season we have seen totals of 8, 9, 5, 5, and 3. The latest two have gone over the 5.5, and both games were with Crosby in the line up. Take the OVER again tonight.
Vegas Experts
New Orleans Hornets at Portland Trail Blazers
Play: Portland Trail Blazers
The wheels have certainly started to come off in Portland, but fact is that the Blazers remain a strong team at the Rose Garden. At least, with the exception of the other night against Oklahoma City. The Blazers' scoring average rises dramatically at home (101.8 PPG) where they've gone 16-9 overall this season. Portland is a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS vs. New Orleans already this season, including a 12-point win here early in the month. Even better is that the Hornets played last night, pulling an upset in Golden State. New Orleans is 2-14 against the spread on the road off a double digit win as an underdog.