Free Picks: Service Plays for Tuesday February 12

NCAAB

Villanova at Cincinnati
The Bearcats look to take advantage of a Villanova team that is coming off a 68-40 win over South Florida and is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games following a victory by more than 20 points. Cincinnati is the pick (-6) according to Dunkel, which has the Bearcats favored by 8 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-6)

Game 513-514: Seton Hall at Rutgers (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seton Hall 57.954; Rutgers 64.516
Dunkel Line: Rutgers by 6 1/2; 128
Vegas Line: Rutgers by 4 1/2; 133
Dunkel Pick: Rutgers (-4 1/2); Under

Game 515-516: Virginia Tech at Virginia (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Virginia Tech 55.928; Virginia 73.749
Dunkel Line: Virginia by 18; 132
Vegas Line: Virginia by 14; 126
Dunkel Pick: Virginia (-14); Over

Game 517-518: Cleveland State at Detroit (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland State 49.304; Detroit 66.794
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 17 1/2
Vegas Line: Detroit by 15
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-15)

Game 519-520: Towson at James Madison (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Towson 56.205; James Madison 54.639
Dunkel Line: Towson by 1 1/2
Vegas Line: James Madison by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Towson (+2 1/2)

Game 521-522: Valparaiso at Wright State (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Valparaiso 59.699; Wright State 61.488.481
Dunkel Line: Wright State by 2
Vegas Line: Valparaiso by 1
Dunkel Pick: Wright State (+1)

Game 523-524: Kentucky at Florida (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kentucky 70.043; Florida 85.465
Dunkel Line: Florida by 15 1/2; 138
Vegas Line: Florida by 9 1/2; 135
Dunkel Pick: Florida (-9 1/2); Over

Game 525-526: Indiana State at Missouri State (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana State 63.055; Missouri State 59.686
Dunkel Line: Indiana State by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Indiana State by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Missouri State (+4 1/2)

Game 527-528: Loyola-Chicago at WI-Milwaukee (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Loyola-Chicago 53.189; WI-Milwaukee 46.877
Dunkel Line: Loyola-Chicago by 6 1/2
Vegas Line: Loyola-Chicago by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Loyola-Chicago (-5 1/2)

Game 529-530: Villanova at Cincinnati (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Villanova 63.585; Cincinnati 71.905
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Cincinnati by 6
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-6)

Game 531-532: Michigan at Michigan State (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Michigan 74.552; Michigan State 75.724
Dunkel Line: Michigan State by 1; 129
Vegas Line: Michigan by 1 1/2; 132
Dunkel Pick: Michigan State (+1 1/2); Under

Game 533-534: Alabama at Georgia (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Alabama 63.920; Georgia 63.920
Dunkel Line: Even; 108
Vegas Line: Georgia by 1 1/2; 112
Dunkel Pick: Alabama (+1 1/2); Under

Game 535-536: Manhattan at Fairfield (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Manhattan 53.660; Fairfield 59.834
Dunkel Line: Fairfield by 6
Vegas Line: Fairfield by 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Manhattan (+8 1/2)

Dave Price

Golden State Warriors -4.5

The Warriors have lost 4 in a row (3 of those were ugly) but all 4 were on the road and were played in a 5 day span. They have had 2 days to regroup and will be lacking no motivation as an embarrassing 140-109 loss at Houston started their skid. Golden State is 22-11 ATS after 2 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 seasons. It is also on a 42-24 ATS run in home games when out for revenge for a road blowout loss of 20 points or more to an opponent. The Rockets check in off a 117-111 loss at Sacramento, which is a concern considering they are 3-13 ATS in road games off a road loss over the last 2 seasons. It is an even bigger concern that they have given up triple digits in each of their last four games as they are 0-8 ATS this season in road games after allowing 100 points or more in 2 straight games. They have lost by an average of 12.3 points in this spot. Lay the points.

Jimmy Boyd

Georgia -1

When looking at common opponents this year Georgia is 6-2 and winning by 2.1 ppg while Alabama is 4-4 and winning by only .4 ppg. The Tide are getting out rebounded in those games by 2.1 per, while the Bulldogs are out rebounding their foes by almost two. Plus, Georgia is winning the field goal battle too. They are shooting 0.4% better but holding opponents to a 6.1% lower rate from the field.

Alabama has shot 28.6% and 35.2% in their last two games against Auburn and LSU. Georgia has held four of their last five opponents to under 36% shooting, including limiting Texas A&M to 24% the last time out. The Bulldogs have won and covered five games in a row, and I don't see why they don't make it six here tonight.

Sports Chat

Dallas Stars (6-5-1) at Edmonton Oilers (5-4-3)

The Dallas Stars will hope that lightning strikes twice in Edmonton on Tuesday night as the Stars look for their second straight win on the road against the Oilers after clinching an overtime victory last week behind the stick of Jaromir Jagr. The victory propelled the Stars to three straight wins and have temporarily launched themselves into a playoff position sitting in 8th in the Western Conference and with the offense starting to gel this Stars team could only start going up from here. Dallas has a nice balance of youth and experience and against a young Oilers team who is still working out some the kinks in their lineup they could exploit that once again and leave Edmonton once again with two huge points. Edmonton has done well considering the expectations placed on them this year and while it is still a process the Oilers look like they’re ready to make the jump and should challenge for a playoff spot this season. With all the highly touted prospects joining forces on one team that includes the likes of Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Justin Schultz, and Jordan Eberle it is another youngster in Sam Gagner who stolen the show and leads the Oilers in points. The Oilers were frustrated with their loss to the Stars as they felt they deserved a better fate and now they get their shot at retribution and with teams being this close in talent it is very tough to take a team to win two straight meetings especially considering both have been in Edmonton. I like the Oilers in this spot to bounce back and I think they put it away early in a statement type game we haven’t seen from them this season. Edmonton -121

Anaheim Ducks (8-2-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (10-0-2)

The Anaheim Ducks have been one of the league’s biggest surprises this season as they have just two losses in regulation to their credit and have earned points in 9 of 11 games to start the year as they have been lighting up the scoreboard and have received some key net minding as well. Anaheim missed the playoffs a year ago and will be looking for a return in this shortened season and with their top two offensive producers in contract years you can expect a surge in production from Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. While the stars have been producing it is once again the secondary scoring from the Ducks that have put them over the top as the likes of Nick Bonino, Daniel Winnik, and Sheldon Souray have found their scoring touch and if they can keep it up this team will be tough to beat. If the Ducks have been impressive than the Blackhawks have been out of this world as they have yet to lose in regulation and of their 11 games thus far a shocking 9 of them have come on the road which adds further to the impressive feat by Chicago. Now, the Hawks return home to the Madhouse on Madison and there are very few atmospheres in the league that rival the home crowd of the Blackhawks and while the Ducks have been undervalued all season long there is good reason why they’re a huge underdog here. While taking the Ducks is a great value play I think the Hawks will be excited to return home after such a lengthy road trip and while that is always a fear taking a team in their first game back I think this spot is different and I think Chicago is the play. The value, however isn’t there and I think the Ducks can compete so I’ll stick with the total and take the over as both teams have shown they can score the puck at will.OVER 5.5

NY Rangers (6-5-0) at Boston Bruins (8-1-1)

The Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers at the TD Garden on Tuesday night. Winners of three straight games the Boston Bruins sit alone atop the Eastern Conference with their 8-1-1 record to start the season. They haven’t been scoring many goals lately but they’ve only allowed two goals in the last three games after surrendering seven in their only regulation loss of the season to the Buffalo Sabres. On Sunday night they traveled to Buffalo and got some revenge for that game last week. Brad Marchand scored his sixth goal of the season in the second period to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead before Buffalo would tie it. In the third period Patrice Bergeron scored his second goal of the season on the power play to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead and Milan Lucic would add his third goal of the season into an empty net to secure the 3-1 win. Anton Khudobin got his second start of the season backing up Tuukka Rask and he made 25 saves to pick up his second victory. Andrew Ference, Chris Bourque, Rich Peverley, David Krejci, and Dennis Seidenberg all recorded assists in the game. The Bruins defeated the Rangers on home ice on opening night and lost the second meeting of the season at Madison Square Garden in overtime. The New York Rangers have won two straight games and are now over five hundred for the first time all season. On Sunday night they hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning and got things going early with Carl Hagelin’s deflection giving them a 1-0 lead just 31 seconds into the game. Ryan Callahan would intercept a pass in neutral ice and finish on a breakaway to give New York a 2-0 lead after one period of play. In the second period Hagelin would add his second of the game before the Lightning would get on the board. Arron Asham and Rick Nash finished the scoring as the Rangers went on a 5-1 victory. They’ve outscored their opponents 9-2 over the last two games and on Sunday showed a balance through all four lines. The depth throughout the lineup with Callahan and Chris Kreider back from injury, and the additions of J.T. Miller and Darroll Powe really have made an impact. Henrik Lundqvist looks to be getting in a groove as well and he stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced to pick up the win. Lundqvist didn’t face a ton of shots in the game but in the first period he saved the Rangers on numerous occasions with big saves on odd man rushes. New York is 4-1 their last five games in Boston and 6-2 the last eight games. The Under is 16-5-2 the last 23 meetings and 18-7-2 the last 27 meetings in Boston. NY Rangers -124

Buffalo Sabres (5-7-1) at Ottawa Senators (6-4-2)

The Ottawa Senators host the Buffalo Sabres in a battle of two struggling teams in the Northeast Division. Losers of four of their last five games the Ottawa Senators find themselves in a predicament that they never expected to be in. A goal scoring drought for a club that has offensive talent all over the ice is always hard to understand, but head coach Paul MacLean doesn’t seem too worried about it. In the four losses the Senators have scored 0, 1, 2, and 0 goals. They’re currently 19th in the NHL in goals per game but you can’t expect that to last. They’ve gotten great goaltending all year long from Craig Anderson and when the puck starts going in the net for this club they should rebound toward their early season performance. Ben Bishop got the start in goal for Ottawa on Saturday afternoon and did everything in his power to get the Sens a win despite not getting any offensive support. Bishop made 36 saves but took the loss as Ottawa failed to score in a 1-0 defeat. Ottawa went 0-for-3 on the power play in the game but they’re still operating at 22% on the year which is good for seventh in the league right now. Once they start finding the back of the net at five-on-five this club will be fine. They get to face a struggling Sabres team on Tuesday night so it’s a good time to get going again. The Buffalo Sabres can’t get out of their own way to start the year. Their victory the other night in New York against the Islanders is one of those games we see every so often where a team gets completely dominated but still finds a way to win. The Sabres were outshot 43-15 in the game but managed to win 3-2. Despite that they were feeling good having won their second straight game, but into town game the Boston Bruins. It wasn’t an impressive game for either team but the Bruins found a way to get things done in the third period with game tied 1-1 as they would hand the Sabres another defeat by the score of 3-1. Buffalo just looks all out of sorts to start the season. They’ve given Ryan Miller no help defensively this season and outside of Thomas Vanek’s incredible start to the year and Jason Pominville they haven’t gotten much offensive production from their players. Tyler Ennis scored his fifth goal of the season but it was the only Buffalo goal in this one. They’ll need more players like Ennis to step up because Vanek can’t continue like this all season long and without him this season they’ve be in even worse shape. Buffalo is 6-2 the last eight meetings in Ottawa but they’re just 1-4 the last five meetings overall. The road team is 12-5 the last 17. The Under is 5-2 the last seven. Ottawa -136

Washington Capitals (3-8-1) at Florida Panthers (4-6-1)

The Washington Capitals travel to Florida as they look to sweep the Panthers in a home-and-home series. It was the type of game that the Capitals needed in the worst way and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Washington got goals from all different places and stifled the Panthers defensively all night long. Braden Holtby gave them the type of goaltending performance they expected from him coming into the season and the Capitals skated out of the Verizon Center with a 5-0 win on Saturday night. Troy Brouwer’s fourth goal of the season late in the first period gave the Caps a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. In the second period it was Brouwer adding his second of the game on the power play and Joel Ward adding his fifth to make it a 3-0 lead for Washington. The Capitals didn’t let up in the third period as Alex Ovechkin tallied his fourth of the year and Mathieu Perreault netted his first to finish the scoring. Holtby finished the game with 27 saves to record the shutout. It wasn’t as great from the Panthers perspective as starting goalie Jose Theodore was pulled after allowing five goals on 21 shots in just over 49 minutes of action. The Panthers outshot the Capitals 27-25 for the game but they couldn’t solve Holtby. They’re just two points ahead of the Caps in the Southeast Division and despite the early struggles of both of them they have the ability to make a run. The Lightning, Hurricanes, and Jets aren’t dominant teams by any stretch of the imagination and if either one of these teams can figure things out they’ve got just as much of a chance this year. For Washington they’re hoping that this is the game that turns the season around but it’s not going to mean anything if they don’t follow it up with another victory and start stringing together some better games here. The Panthers were playing much better hockey until this one fell apart on them on Saturday and they’ll be looking for a little revenge on home ice in this one. Washington is 4-0 the last four meetings. The home team is 8-1 the last nine. The Capitals proven anything yet but they looked much better on Saturday night. This game is a toss-up so I’ll take the team that’s getting plus money. Washington 114

Montreal Canadiens (6-4-1) at Tampa Bay Lightning (6-5-0)

The Montreal Canadiens take to the road looking to forget about a horrible Saturday night encounter against the Maple Leafs in which they were shelled for six goals and blanked in the offensive end as Toronto mopped the floor with the Habs in every facet of the game. After hearing a collective fan base shout in displeasure the Canadiens get a chance at redemption as they head to Tampa Bay to take on a Lightning team who has take the league by storm this season. Aside from their speed bump at home against Toronto the Canadiens have had a strong season that many people hadn’t anticipated and if they can continue their strong play or at least a shadow of it at a steady pace they should be able to sneak into the playoffs but this game can act as a microcosm of their season as it is the first real test after facing adversity. The Lightning meanwhile have had a very respectable season thus far and have definitely exceeded expectations sitting atop the Southeast division and putting up some nice offensive totals led by Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, and rookie Cory Conacher. Despite racing out to a 6-1 record the Bolts have been on a slide losing their last four games and now host a Canadiens team who was embarrassed in their last outing and will be looking to rebound on the road in Tampa. This should be a tight contest between two teams desperate for a win and while the Lightning may have the superstar factor the Canadiens have more depth and the better net minder and while I wouldn’t recommend a play in this one I think the Canadiens get back on track and hand the Bolts their 5 th straight loss. Montreal 119

Carolina Hurricanes (5-4-1) at New Jersey Devils (8-1-3)

The Carolina HUrricanes found themslves down and out against the Islanders in the early going of their matchup last night but the Canes persevered and it paid off in the form of a come from behind 6-4 victory that landed the Cans two big points. They continue their road trip on Tuesday evening as they head to the Swamp to take on the Devils who have been one of the league's best teams this season and will be well rested in antcipation of this game/ The Hurricanes have the offensive depth to overpower the Devils but New Jersey plays a very tight defensive game and has been getting great offensive production themselves which is something the Canes will have to account for if they want to outmatch the Devils and come away victorious. New Jersey has been very impressive to start the season as they look to prove that last year's berth in the Cup finals was no fluke and that they can win without Zach Parise. So far the Devils have done wonders in both regards and I don't think it'll surprise many if they can return to the form they had in the playoffs last year. David Carkson is emerging as a legitmiate scoroing threat and Adam Henrique is picking up where he left off in the playoffs a year ago and it is all back stopped by the ageless Martin Brodeur who returns to the crease in this one. While the Canes showed resiliency last night it was a game they should have on and while I'm weary of the Devils in a letdown spot because of their home and home sweep of the Penguins I think they're the play here. New Jersey -157

Sports Chat

Towson Tigers (14-12) at James Madison Dukes (14-12)

The red hot Towson Tigers look to continue their winning ways as they do battle with the James Madison Dukes in this CAA showdown. The Tigers are currently 14-12 overall, 9-4 in CAA play while the Dukes are sitting at 14-12 overall, 8-5 in CAA play. Towson continues to make the coaches that picked them to finish 10th in the preseason look like fools as the Tigers are sitting at 9-4 in CAA play, 2.5 games back of Northeastern. The Tigers are currently riding a 4 game winning streak in which Towson defeated Old Dominion, North Carolina-Wilmington, Delaware, and Georgia State. In their last game Towson went into Georgia State and was able to pull out a gritty 90-82 overtime win. The one area where Towson could look to improve on is in the assist department as the Tigers rank 318th in assists per game at 10.2. Leading the charge for Towson is Jerrelle Benimon and the 6-8 junior forward is averaging 16.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg, and 2.6 apg. James Madison is out looking for blood in this contest as the Tigers handed the Dukes their worst conference loss on the season. When these two teams met back in January, Towson absolutely destroyed James Madison by 26 points. Since that game, the Dukes have won 5 of 7 and are currently 3.5 games back of Northeastern and only 1 game back of Towson. James Madison let a prime opportunity to move up the standings slip away on Sunday as the Dukes lost Drexel 60-48. Pacing the attack for James Madison is Rayshawn Goins and the 6-6 senior forward is averaging 13.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 1.0 apg. Prediction: Who would have thought in the preseason that this game would have so much riding on it but that is the case. I am sure James Madison has been eyeing this game for the revenge factor but they have not been as good as Towson has been on the season. This line appears to be pretty spot on so I am going to take the points and hope the Tigers continue their hot streak. Townson +5

Cleveland State Vikings (12-13) at Detroit Titans (16-9)

The Cleveland State Vikings look to pull off an upset as they face off with the Detroit Titans in this Horizon League showdown. The Vikings are currently 12-13 overall, 4-7 in conference play while the Titans are sitting at 16-9 overall, 8-4 in league play. It has been quite the down year for Cleveland State as the Vikings are used to being at the top of the Horizon League standings. The Vikings have fallen on hard times as Cleveland State are currently in 7th place in the conference standings. One of the big issues for the Vikings has been their lack of rebounding as Cleveland State ranks 303rd in the nation in the rebounds per game department. The good news for the Vikings is that they have already beaten Detroit in mid January by the score of 74-62. Leading the way for Cleveland State is Bryn Forbes and the 6-3 freshman guard is posting 12.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 1.2 apg. The Detroit Titans are in a prime position to make a run at Valparaiso and the top spot in the Horizon League standings. The Titans were riding a 4 game winning streak until their contest on Saturday against Green Bay. The Phoenix was able to slow the red hot Titans down in route to a 68-59 win, leaving Detroit in a vulnerable position. The issue in the game against Green Bay was that Detroit was held 18 points below their season average. Pacing the attack for Detroit is Ray McCallum and the 6-3 junior is averaging 18.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 4.5 apg. Prediction: Detroit is going to be out for revenge against Cleveland State and look to improve on their play from Saturday. The Vikings have really struggled to score the ball so this game is very challenging in trying to handicap. I am going to side with Cleveland State but this is a game I would advise to stay away as Detroit has blow out potential. Cleveland State +15.5

Virginia Tech Hokies (11-12) at Virginia Cavaliers (17-6)

The Virginia Tech Hokies make the road trip over to Charlottesville, VA to play the Virginia Cavaliers on Tuesday night. The Virginia Tech Hokies are 11-12 (2-8 ACC) on the year after losing to Georgia Tech at home 54-64 on Saturday. Erick Green scored a game-high 28 points for the Hokies, who missed 12 of their first 13 shots and 20 of their first 23. Virginia Tech’s 18 first-half marked its fewest in any half this season. The Hokies, coming off a tough, late Thursday night loss to Maryland, hit just six shots in the first half and shot 20.7% from the floor. Green scored 16 of his 28 points in the second half, hitting 9 of his 20 shots from the floor. The rest of the Hokies combined to shot 10 of 42, and Virginia Tech shot a season-low 30.6%. The Hokies have now dropped six straight games, with four of those losses coming at home. Virginia Tech will head out on the road where they are 2-5 this season. The Virginia Cavaliers are 17-6 (7-3 ACC) on the season after beating Maryland on the road 80-69 on Sunday afternoon. Joe Harris scored 22 points and Justin Anderson added a career-high 17 points in the win. The Cavaliers never trailed after halftime in their fourth straight win over the Terrapins. Despite committing 16 turnovers, the Cavaliers shot 58% from beyond the arc and finished with a 34-29 rebounding advantage. The Cavaliers limited Maryland to one basket in the opening four minutes of the second half and extended a six-point halftime lead to 44-32. Virginia has won three in a row at Maryland for the first time since 1993. Virginia now heads home where they are a perfect 14-0 this season. Virginia Tech is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games. Virginia is 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 home games. The underdog is 7-1-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings. Virginia has won the last two meetings between these two teams, including a 16 point win at Virginia Tech a few weeks ago. Virginia held the Hokies to 58 points on their home floor, and I don’t think Virginia Tech will do any better on the road. The Cavaliers will dominate the Hokies on the glass and will force them into turnovers and low percentage shots. Virginia’s offense has scored 80 and 78 points against Clemson and Maryland in their last two games, two teams that play much better defense than Virginia Tech. Virginia wins big at home on Tuesday. Virginia -15

Seton Hall Pirates (13-11) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-10)

The Seton Hall Pirates make the short trip to visit their in-state rival, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Tuesday night. Seton Hall fell to 2-9 this past weekend in big east play when the Connecticut Huskies came to town and left with the 78-67 win. The Pirates actually put together one of their better offensive performances in weeks as Fuquan Edwin and Aaron Cosby combined for 44 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists while the team shot 48% from the field. Seton Hall’s downfall came from the line where they shot a dismal 6-17 – ultimately the difference in the game. The loss marks the Pirates 5th in a row in conference play. Rutgers fell to 3-8 with a tough loss at home to Georgetown 69-63. The Scarlet Knights played the Hoyas tough all afternoon but was unable to convert some key possessions late and the Hoyas made some big free throws in crunch time to seal the game. Ten players saw action from the Scarlet Knights, but only Eli Carter made it to double figures. The sophomore guard had 23 points on 8-18 shooting and added 4 rebounds as well – 2 above his season average. Georgetown shot nearly 60% against the Rutgers defense – which has been porous in conference play for the Scarlet Knights past 6 games – all losses. Some trends to consider – Seton Hall is 7-1 against the spread in their last 8 Tuesday games and Rutgers is 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 big east games. Something has to give as these two teams have combined for 11 straight losses. Rutgers has a large advantage in the paint but the matchup between Edwin and Carter should determine the outcome. I expect a close game and like the under as the best play here. UNDER 132

Kentucky Wildcats (17-6) at Florida Gators (19-3)

The Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats face off on Tuesday in Gainesville in a SEC college basketball match up. The Florida Gators control their own destiny in the SEC and despite a hiccup a week ago at Arkansas they have dominated the conference thus far. Florida is 9-1 in the SEC, 11-0 at home, and they have a game lead in the SEC standings. As a team Florida is averaging 74.2 points, 15.9 assists, and they are shooting 49.4 percent while defensively they are allowing 52.7 points, 9.9 assists, and their opponents are shooting 37 percent. Kenny Boynton is averaging 13.1 points, Erik Murphy is averaging 12.9 points, Mike Rosario is averaging 12.5 points, and Patric Young is averaging 10.8 points and 6.6 rebounds. Florida’s wins have been decisive and most see UF as being a factor as we get closer to March Madness. The Kentucky Wildcats have been improving and they have won their last five games in a row. UK is 8-2 in the SEC, 4-3 on the road this season, but they are 0-3 against teams ranked in the top 25. As a team Kentucky is averaging 76 points, 14.7 assists, and they are shooting 48.8 percent while defensively they are allowing 62.5 points, 10.5 assists, and their opponents are shooting 37.8 percent. Archie Goodwin is averaging 14.2 points, Alex Poythress is averaging 12.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, Kyle Wiltjer is averaging 11.7 points, and Nerlens Noel is averaging 10.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game. Kentucky is making the transformation from a team of raw talent to a team talented enough to shake things up in the NCAA Tournament. Florida is 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 games overall, 8-2 against the spread following a win, and 3-10 against the spread against the SEC. Kentucky is 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games overall, 3-10 against the spread against the SEC, and 9-20-1 against the spread following a game which they didn’t cover the spread. The road team is 3-1-1 against the spread in the last five meetings of these two. The total is set at 135 but the numbers between these two generally runs higher and while both of these teams can play defense look for this one to go over the total. OVER 134

Indiana State Sycamores (16-8) at Missouri State Bears (7-18)

The Indiana State Sycamores look to avoid an upset as they face off with the Missouri State Bears in this Missouri Valley Conference showdown. The Sycamores are currently 16-8 overall, 9-4 in MVC play while the Bears are sitting at 7-18 overall, 5-8 in MVC play. We have a three way tie atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings as Indiana State finds themselves battling with Wichita State and Creighton for the regular season title. The Sycamores almost let a game they had no business losing slip away on Saturday as Southern Illinois was able to push the Sycamores to the brink. Indiana State was sluggish from the outset as the Salukis raced to a 13-1 lead but the Sycamores fought and clawed their way back in the second half thanks to Jake Odum. Odum who is a 6-4 junior guard scored a layup with 19 seconds left in the game to give the Sycamores a 66-65 victory. The road woes have continued for Missouri State as the Bears fell victim yet again on Saturday. The Bears tangled with Wichita State and were handed the worst loss in conference play as the Shockers defeated them 79-50. Missouri State has been playing pretty well at home as they only have 2 home conference defeats and they came against Creighton and Wichita State. These two teams faced off back in January and Indiana State was able to defend home court and win 68-60. Leading the attack for the Bears is Anthony Downing and the 6-1 senior guard is averaging 13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 2.7 apg. Prediction: Indiana State does not have the luxury to take any opponent lightly as the Sycamores can ill afford any blimps on the radar. Missouri State has been a different team at home and this one figures to be a close battle. I think Indiana State got their wakeup call on Saturday and will come out focused in this one and cover the small number. Indiana State -3.5

Loyola of Chicago Ramblers (13-11) at Wisc-Milwaukee Panthers (5-20)

The Milwaukee Panthers shoot for the season split with the visiting Loyola of Chicago Ramblers. It doesn't look as if Loyola of Chicago is going to win the conference crown or even finish in the top four despite a strong start to the season as they are closer to the bottom than the top of the Horizon. The Ramblers key to success is controlling the pace and reaching the 60 point plateau and hope the defense finds a way to hold on. This philosophy has not panned out over the past ten contests with the Ramblers winning three times after a 60-59 loss at Youngstown State. This was a tale of two halves with YSU leading by 14 going in to the locker room and than watching LCU cut the lead to one. This one was decided at the line with with both teams hitting around 42%-43% from the field with the Penguins leading 13-8 at the stripe. Christian Thomas led all scorers with 19 points and 8 boards, followed by Devon Turk with 17, while Matt O'Leary added 10 points and 5 yanks. Things started off slow for Milwaukee in 2012-13 and unfortunately have not gotten any better with the team struggling in last place in the Horizon at 1-10. Points have been a precious commodity and the defense has struggled which explains the Panthers record. It looks like the best this team will trying to escape the conference basement and play spoiler going forward which means we're asking both ends of the floor to produce going down the stretch. That wasn't what we saw in Saturday's 64-49 loss to visiting Wright State for loss number seven in a row. The Raiders simply sank too many shots on 47.7% with 16 makes at the stripe with the Panthers countering with 40% from the floor and only eight free throws. Paris Gulley was the only DD scorer with ten points, with Demetrius Harris and Aaron Jordan tossing in seven points apiece. Okay, tell me why you trust either team here. I know Loyola is better and Milwaukee is struggling, but this game is crying pass to me and that's what I would do... Loyola Of Chicago -5.5

Villanova Wildcats (15-9) at Cincinnati Bearcats (18-6)

The Villanova Wildcats hit the road to Cincinnati to face off against the Bearcats in a battle of 6-5 big east squads. Villanova moved above .500 in big east play after a dominant, 68-40 romp over South Florida this past weekend at home. The Wildcats jumped on the struggling bulls early and never let up. Villanova scored 39 first half points while holding the Bulls to just 16. Villanova shot just over 50% from the field and hit seven threes as well. Additionally, the Wildcats were extremely unselfish as 13 players saw action in the game but only two broke into double figures. On the glass, the Wildcats took down a +11 advantage in the win. Cincinnati lost a tough one at home versus Pitt this past weekend. The loss saw the Panthers move ahead of them in the standings and saw the Bearcats fall back out of the top 25. The Bearcats offensive struggles are starting to become the norm as they once again did not break into the sixties which marks five straight games below that mark. Sean Kilpatrick scored 16 for the Bearcats but did so on 2-9 shooting from behind the arc. Kilpatrick was once again the only player in double figures – a problem that is becoming all too familiar. Cashmere Wright’s struggles continued as the guard scored 5 points and was 1-11 from behind the arc. Some trends to consider – Villanova is 6-1-1 against the spread in their last 8 games on the road and Cincinnati is 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 games versus big east foes. Cincinnati is 2-4 in their last 6 games at home and their largest win was a 8 point victory over a bad Rutgers team. Villanova has been solid on the road this season and has had some of it’s best shooting nights on the road as showcased in their 96 point outburst at DePaul last week. I like a close game here with Villanova in it until the end with the cover. Villanova +7.5

Michigan Wolverines (21-3) at Michigan State Spartans (20-4)

The Michigan State Spartans and the Michigan Wolverines face off on Tuesday in East Lansing in a Big Ten college basketball rivalry game. The Michigan State Spartans continue to just get it done and they are now in first place in the Big Ten conference standings. MSU is 9-2 in the Big 10, 14-0 at home this season, and 3-3 against teams ranked in the top 25. As a team Michigan State is averaging 69.7 points, 13.8 assists, and they are shooting 46.8 percent while defensively they are allowing 59.2 points, 11.1 assists, and their opponents are shooting 39 percent. Keith Appling is averaging 14.1 points, Gary Harris is averaging 12.7 points, Branden Dawson is averaging 10.9 points and 6.5 rebounds, and Adreian Payne is averaging 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. Michigan State uses the same system Tom Izzo seems to use every year and it is just as effective as it has ever been. The Michigan Wolverines have reached as high as the number one ranking this season but since then they have lost two of their last three games. Michigan is 8-3 in the Big Ten, 4-3 on the road this season, and 4-2 against teams ranked in the top 25. As a team Michigan is averaging 77 points, 15.3 assists, and they are shooting 49.8 percent while defensively they are allowing 60.4 points, 12.3 assists, and their opponents are shooting 41.3 percent. Trey Burke is averaging 18.2 points and 7.1 assists, Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 16 points, Nik Stauskas is averaging 12.2 points, and Glenn Robinson III is averaging 11.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. This is Michigan’s third road game in their last four games. Michigan State is 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six Big Ten games, 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five games following a win, and 4-1-1against the spread against a team with a winning record. Michigan is 19-9-1 against the spread in their last 29 road games, 29-14-1 against the spread in their last 44 Big Ten games, and 31-14-1 against the spread against a team with a winning percentage better than .600. The home team has covered in five of the last six meetings of these two.
The total is set at 132 and expect a war that stays under that number. UNDER 132

Alabama Crimson Tide (15-8) at Georgia Bulldogs (12-11)

The Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide face off on Tuesday in Athens in a SEC college basketball match up. The Georgia Bulldogs are quietly playing some of the best basketball around as the Dawgs have won their last five games in a row. Georgia is 6-4 in the SEC, 9-5 at home this season, and they are tied for fifth place in the conference standings. As a team Georgia is averaging 59.7 points, 11.5 assists, and they are shooting 42.2 percent while defensively they are allowing 60.7 points, 10.1 assists, and their opponents are shooting 39.1 percent. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds, Nemanja Djurisic is averaging 7.7 points, and Charles Mann is averaging 6.2 points. Georgia has hit a softer part of their schedule but at the same time they have played at the best level they are capable. The Alabama Crimson Tide are looking like contenders to make the NCAA Tournament but right now they may be sitting on the bubble. Alabama is 3-5 on the road this season, 7-3 in the SEC, and they are tied for third place in the conference standings. As a team Alabama is averaging 62.6 points, 11.1 assists, and they are shooting 43.2 percent while defensively they are allowing 57.8 points, 9.9 assists, and their opponents are shooting 40.5 percent. Trevor Releford is averaging 14.9 points, Trevor Lacey is averaging 11.9 points, and Rodney Cooper is averaging 10.6 points. Alabama has many winnable games left on the schedule but they can’t afford too many stumbles if they hope to get into the Big Dance. Georgia is 5-0 against the spread in their last five games overall, 5-2 against the spread in their last seven home games, and 2-6 against the spread in their last eight Tuesday games. Alabama is 2-9 against the spread against a team with a winning record and 8-3 against the spread following a win. The favorite has covered the spread in 10 of the last 14 meetings of these two. The total is set at 112 and as low as that is it looks like the books trying to shake the public off of the under which is where this this one is staying. UNDER 112

Sports Chat

Denver Nuggets (33-19) at Toronto Raptors (19-32)

Rudy Gay and the Toronto Raptors collide with the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night from Air Canada Center.

Head to head, the Nuggets are 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings while the home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings. The Raptors are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a losing road record, but just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Northwest. The Nuggets on the other hand are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games following a S.U. loss and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall, but just 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Atlantic. With the newly acquired Rudy Gay leading the way, the Toronto Raptors find themselves just six games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference. Gay is averaging 23.4 points for his new team after scoring 17.2 per game with Memphis as the Raptors have won three of five since he joined. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets had their nine game losing streak snapped in a 118-114 triple overtime thriller in Boston on Sunday. Denver came into Sunday’s game as one of the hottest teams in the league having won 15 of 17, thanks to their string of recent home games. As far as head-to-head meetings go, the Nuggets have dominated the Raptors for years now as they have taken 15 of the last 17 meetings. On the other hand, Toronto did take the lone meeting at home last season 105-96 and they did make a game of it in their first meeting this season, falling 113-110 after a late comeback fell short. With Gay playing like a borderline All-Star, the Raptors are probably a bubble playoff team in the weaker East and I don’t think you can take them lightly anymore, especially at home. While Denver has been one of the hottest teams in the New Year, most of their recent wins have come at home and truth be told they have been pretty poor on the road this season. Close game, but my gut tells me the Raptors pull out a close one…. Toronto +2

Sacramento Kings (19-33) at Memphis Grizzlies (32-18)

The Memphis Grizzlies look to continue their dominance over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. Head to head, the Kings are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings and 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Memphis, while the home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings and the favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. The Grizzlies are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record, 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a SU win of more than 10 points and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games. The Kings on the other hand are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and 5-13-1 ATS in their last 19 games overall. The Sacramento Kings come into tonight’s game on a rare two-game winning streak, but I wouldn’t look too much into that given those two games where at home, somewhere where they haven’t been horrible this season. Let’s take a look at their results from the six-game road trip they completely recently. The Kings did manage a win over Washington by a single bucket and they did take Utah into over, a team they always seem to play well against, but that’s where it stops as their other four losses came by an average of 23.5 points, which included a 39 point beat down in New York to conclude their trip. While the Grizzlies haven’t been playing up to their lofty standards of late, they are starting to gel with all the players they acquired in trades recently and are coming off home wins over Golden State and Minnesota by six and 16 points, respectively. Memphis also has the edge over Sacramento in recent head-to-head meetings as they have won both meetings this season by an average of 24 points per game. With their 84-69 win over the Kings in their last showdown at home, the Grizzlies have now defeated Sacramento at FedExForum on five straight occasions by an average of 19.8 points. I just don’t see how you take the Kings here, plain and simple. The Grizzlies have beaten them twice this season by 32 and 16, respectively. Sacramento is just coming off a road trip where they lost at Denver by 28, at Boston by 18 and as I already mentioned, at New York by 39… Memphis -9

Houston Rockets (28-25) at Golden State Warriors (30-21)

The Golden State Warriors look for payback as they host the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night. Head to head, the Rockets are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings, while the home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings and the favorite is 8-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings. The Warriors are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Southwest and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The Rockets on the other hand are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, but just 12-25-1 ATS in their last 38 vs. Western Conference and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games. Having lost four straight, the Golden State Warriors are in the midst of their worst losing streak of the season and it all started last time they faced the Rockets this time last week. Facing off in Houston, James Harden and company couldn’t miss from beyond the arc as they tied an NBA record and set a franchise mark with 23 3-pointers in their 140-109 demolition of the Warriors. The Rockets also tied a league-high with 140 points and have now won three straight in the series and 15 of 17. Even though the Warriors are in a slump right now, you have to remember all of those losses have come on the road and they have still won 15 of their last 19 games at home. On the other hand, Houston is coming off a 117-111 loss in Sacramento on Sunday, which was their third straight road loss and nine of 12 overall. While this might just be another regular season game, I have a feeling the Warriors are going to take this one personally given their current losing streak and their embarrassing loss in Houston last week. There also might be a bit of bad blood left over from the last game when Golden State intentionally fouled Houston in the final minutes to prevent them from setting the record for 3-pointers made. You could make a case for the Rockets here, but I think with the Warriors back at home and with revenge on their minds, they are the play here… Golden State -4.5

Jeff Benton

Tuesday's freebie is the Virginia Cavaliers over Virginia Tech.

Virginia has been upping their stock as we head down the stretch of the regular season, as Tony Bennett's club has reeled off back-to-back double-digit conference wins, the latest coming on Sunday afternoon at Maryland.

For the season the Wahoos are a prefect 14-0 straight up at home, and are 13-3-1 against the spread in Charlottesville since last season.

UVa destroyed Tech, 74-58 back on January 24th to run their series mark to 4-1 straight up the last five meetings, and the Cavs are 3-1-1 against the spread in the last five games contested as well.

The wheels have fallen off the wagon for the Hokies who enter tonight on a prolonged six game losing streak, and Tech is just 4-8-2 against the spread their last 14 games played.

The choice is obvious here, Virginia to rough-up their in-state rival.

Lay it with the Cavaliers.

3* VIRGINIA

Joe Duffy

Virginia Tech +14 Virginia.

Going with double-digit underdogs in revenge of a home loss is 779-580. While a myth in college football, the old adage of going with underdogs in big rivalries has proven to be a very good rule of thumb in college basketball.

In this series, the puppy has barked 8-of-9. With brutal road games at North Carolina and Miami on the horizon, one can easily understand how the Cavs would be ecstatic to escape with just a straight up win.

One angle that certainly applies in both football and basketball is revenge applies when the big underdog is simply trying to stay competitive after being crushed in the last meeting. That more than applies here as Tech can rally around their big in-state rival, while the schedule maker has Virginia in a tight spot. Again, see our above system for corroboration.

Virginia is very much a bubble team and fading teams under pressure becomes a stronger and stronger bet. If they performed well under pressure, they would not be a bubble team. Meanwhile, Tech has the ideal chance to play spoiler.

Virginia is playing a bit above their heads. Starting power forward Darion Atkins has played just 13 minutes over the last seven games because of shin splints and center Mike Tobey will be out indefinitely with mononucleosis.

Oh and Virginia fits perfectly into our “predictably unpredictable,” model as they have a 7-0 straight up record against the RPI top 100 and an 0-3 mark when the team faces Colonial Athletic Association competition.

We realize of course that Tech is not a CAC team, but the point is they have a letdown against inferior regional rivals, yet play the best against the best. Should I remind you one more time who Virginia plays over the next two games?

So UVA has played to the level of competition all season, are in a huge look ahead situation, have a patchwork line-up, and face a team that can rally around a spoiler role. We will happily take the points.

Terron ChapmanFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles LakersFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Play: Phoenix SunsFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
After consecutive losses to one of the league’s best, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Phoenix Suns will look to rebound when they travel to Los Angeles Tuesday for a date with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns loss by 31 and 28 points respectively in a home and home series with the Thunder. It was their third straight loss and fifth in the last six games since upending the Lakers, 92-86, at US Airways Center. Getting back in the win column will come as a challenge for the Suns who will be facing a Lakers team playing their first game at Staples Center in two weeks.
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
After starting off their “Grammy road trip” with the aforementioned loss to the Suns in the first game of the trip, the Lakers bounced back in a nice way to finish 4-3 on the trip. However, their latest outing was a setback to the defending champion Miami Heat, 107-97, Sunday afternoon. Already lacking in depth, and long in the tooth, one has to wonder how fatigue will affect the Lakers in their first home game in two weeks.
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
The home team has dominated the series, winning the last seven, including both meetings already this season. Not a good sign for a Suns that has triumphed just five times in 27 road tilts. Even still, the last time these two played, the Lakers were unable to separate themselves and with the loss of Pau Gasol and uncertainty of Dwight Howard, the Suns should be able to stay close with a decisive advantage in the frontcourt with Gortat, Scola and Beasley. After back-to-back lackluster performances, we’ll look for a more inspired performance from the road team in this one. Look for an inspired performance from the road team; take the points at your sportsbook. Play on the Phoenix Suns (+) the points for 1 unit.

Rob VincilettiFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Alabama vs. GeorgiaFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Play: AlabamaFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
The Tide are a solid 36-5 vs teams who average less than 65 points the past few years and have won 4 of the last 5 vs winning teams. In games where the total is less than 120 they have won and covered both times. On Tuesday night they are 9-3 to the spread and will look to rebound from 3 straight games with shooting under 40% from the field. Georgia has dropped 22 of the last 33 vs teams who play good defense and allow 65 or less points. They are 3-6 vs top 100 teams this season and may not be able to duplicate their defensive effort from the last game holding Texas A@M to a season low 28% from the field, their best performance of the year. Look for Alabama to get the win here laying a point or two.

Marc LawrenceFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Cleveland St. vs. DetroitFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: DetroitFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Detroit has played well recently, winning 14 of its last 19 games to put the Titans within a game and a half of the Horizon League lead. Among those five losses were two nail-biters and a 12-point defeat against Cleveland State as 8-point favorites on the road. The Titans came away from that affair red-faced and have had this game circled on their schedule for nearly a month. Besides, Detroit has played like collection of lions, tigers, and bears at home this season, bringing down foes by an average score of 82-58 en route to their 12-2 record at Calihan Hall. On the other side, the Vikings have played like a team that misplaced their swords before hitting the road, going just 2-10 SUATS this year. This matchup is also a meaty revenge sandwich for Cleveland State, sitting between a triple revenger against Valparaiso (Vikings are 1-4-1 ATS after the Crusaders) and a double revenger against Wisconsin-Green Bay (0-8 against the number before playing the Phoenix). Hence, with the Titans off a 9-point upset loss on Saturday, there will be no ‘mercy’ shown by Detroit here tonight. We recommend a 1-unit play on Detroit.

Bruce MarshallFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Loyola-Chicago vs. Wis.-MilwaukeeFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: Loyola-ChicagoFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Playing in hard luck lately has been Porter Moser's Loyola-Chicago side that has suffered a pair of painful near-misses on the road vs. Horizon contenders Wright State and Youngstown State in its last two games. But there's a Felix Baumgartner-like drop in this year's Horizon race between all of those sides and downtrodden UW-Milwaukee, which is buried at the foot of the conference table. The main reason is that the Panthers can't shoot (only 37% from the floor and 29% beyond the arc), as HC Rob Jeter has nothing resembling a go-to threat on the floor. Don't expect the Ramblers to blow a chance tp help improve their seeding in the upcoming conference tourney, especially since they handled UWM without much trouble on Jan. 30 at the Gentile Center when srs. F "Bingo" Ben Averkamp (scored 22) and swngman Jordan Hicks (added 21) paced Loyola's 53% FG shooting in a comfy 76-65 win. Look for a similar result tonight in Milwaukee.

David ChanFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
NY Rangers vs. BostonFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: OverFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
New York is 6-5 and is coming off back to back victories, including a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay on the 10th. The Rangers have scored a combined 9 goals over the modest two-game win streak.

The Rangers though are just 1-3-0 on the road this year, so will be looking for another big effort tonight:
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
"Boston is a tough building to play in, but I think this is the next step in restoring our identity, by playing well in a big road game," New York defenseman Michael Del Zotto said last night.

Note that New York has seen the total go "over" the number in three of four this year vs. teams with winning records.
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Boston is 8-1-1, and is coming off three straight victories, including a 3-1 win at Buffalo on the 10th.

The Bruins are off to their best start in franchise history after Patrice Bergeron scored the go-ahead goal on the power-play in the third period:
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
"I think we've got to keep playing the way we've been playing," Bergeron assessed afterwards. "I think character has been key so far. We haven't had our best games every time and we've found ways to battle back and get back into the game and get the lead."

It's interesting to note that Boston has seen the total go "over" the number in its only game this year after a three game unbeaten streak.

These teams played each other two weeks ago and New York would escape with a 4-3 OT win. Whenever these Original Six teams get together, it's always a battle, and I believe all signs point to a similarly high-scoring affair!

Art AronsonFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Portland vs. MiamiFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: PortlandFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
The Heat are rolling into the break, having won five straight by an average of 11.6 points. LeBron James has been leading the way, and had 32 points in Miami's 107-97 win over the Lakers on Sunday. James though struggled vs. the Trailblazers earlier this season (more on that later), finishing with 15 total points (Miami is just 9-10 ATS this year after scoring 105 points or more). The Trailblazers will be looking to bounce back tonight after three straight brutal losses, including a 110-104 setback to Orlando on Sunday. LaMarcus Aldridge once again led the charge with 25 points (Portland is 13-9 ATS this year when playing against a team with a winning record). The Blazers actually beat the Heat 92-90 in front of the home town crowd back on January 10th as a 3.5 point dog. With an added 8 points or so to the spread this time around, I believe the underrated visitors do in fact posses the firepower to match the Heat, and keep this one much closer than what Las Vegas is leading us to believe. With a game in Oklahoma City looming on Thursday night, I expect Miami to come in a tiny bit complacent, leaving the back door open for the Blazers to stroll through!