Charley Sutton
I delivered once again last night as the Warriors not only covered, but had a chance to pull off the outright win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
I’m handing you another NBA winner tonight as I’m taking the Orlando Magic on the road at the Sacramento Kings.
While it’s not often these two play, when they do, at least recently, it’s been all Magic.
The Magic have covered in 6 of their last 8 games against the Kings and are 3-1 ATS their last 4 meetings in Sacramento.
Orlando also comes into this game riding a 3-game SU and ATS winning streak against the Kings, beating them by an average of 23 points per game n that stretch. Consider, too, the last time these two met in Sacramento the Magic cruised to a 32-point victory, beating the Kings 139-107 as a 7-point favorite.
The Magic will cash in again tonight.
3 ♦ MAGIC
Joel Tyson
Indiana a comp play winner last night.
Tonight, go with Charlotte to end a 7 game series losing streak to Houston.
The Rockets have had failure to launch on the road of late, losing their last 4 straight up, while going 1-8 both straight up, and against the spread their last 9 road affairs.
The Bobcats have been solid at home, winning 4 straight on their home wood, while going 10-7 against the spread in their 17 home dates.
Charlotte comes through tonight to end their 7 game series slide.
4♦ CHARLOTTE
Pete Angelo
L.A. Lakers at San Antonio
I'm not going to fall for the line here, and get sucked into the Spurs laying points to a better Lakers team.
Not when San Antonio has struggled in beating quality competition this season.
San Antonio might have won 13 of 17 overall, but four of its last five wins have come against teams that are currently 11 games below .500.
The Spurs have also lost four of five against current division leaders this season, and haven’t defeated a current winning team since Nov. 27, when it knocked off Houston, 92-84.
Los Angeles has its own personal challenge on the docket, as it is looking to avoid dropping four in a row on the road for the first time in almost two years.
This is an easy win here, as I wouldn't be surprised to see LA win outright.
2♦ LAKERS
Chuck O'Brien
Take the Spurs and lay the points against the Lakers in NBA action Tuesday.
Start with the fact San Antonio is playing better basketball, having won seven of its last nine games (6-3 ATS) while the Lakers are just 6-4 SU and 4-6 ATS since Christmas Day. That includes three consecutive SU and ATS losses on the road (Suns, Clippers, Blazers), and a miracle overtime win at Sacramento. Now Los Angeles, which is just 8-5 (4-9 ATS) on the road compared with 21-3 at home – talk about a weird schedule – has to play in San Antonio, where the Spurs are 16-6.
Yes, the Lakers have had success against the Spurs recently (4-1 SU, 5-0 ATS last five meetings). But they had Pau Gasol for those games and he contributed greatly in each win; tonight, Gasol is expected to miss his fifth straight game. Well, Los Angeles hasn’t covered a pointspread on the road without Gasol all season, going 0-5 ATS.
L.A. have been terrible in this pointspread range, too. Get this: The Lakers are 0-7 ATS when the line has them favored by 5½ points or less or when they’re an underdog.
Gasol isn’t the only Laker injured, either. Kobe Bryant is dealing with his broken finger, and Ron Artest recently returned from that concussion he suffered in that Christmas Day fall down the stairs at his house. Meanwhile, the Spurs’ big three of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili are healthy (and Ginobili didn’t play in San Antonio’s home loss to L.A. last year).
4♦ SAN ANTONIO
Cajun Sports
Missouri State vs. Drake
Play: Missouri State -5.5
Missouri State Missouri Valley foes square off on Tuesday night in Des Moines as the Drake Bulldogs host the Missouri State Bears. The Bears are riding a three-game win streak while the Bulldogs pulled off a major upset of Southern Illinois in their last game as a 12 point underdog. Missouri State has won eleven of the last twelve meetings between these two programs and five of the last six in Iowa. Drake has struggled shooting the ball as they rank 217 in offensive field goal percentage with 42.2 percent from the field. The Bulldogs are 1-5-1 ATS their last seven at home. Missouri State ranks 86 in offensive field goal percentage shooting 45.3 percent. The Bears are 4-0 ATS on the road as a favorite in this price range and 16-5 ATS their last 21 as a road favorite overall. Lay the chalk with the Bears as they grab another victory over the Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
ALEX SMART
Kentucky @ Florida
PICK: Florida +4
The resurgence of Kentucky’s program has been the talk of the SEC under the watchful eye of new HC Calipari. Their most recent win against Georgia saw them move to 16-0 for the first time since winning their first 25 games way back in the mid 60’s. Though they pulled it the win, it was far from easy. Georgia never threw in the flag and battled the entire 60 minutes. F Patrick Patterson and super frosh G John Wall led the Wildcats in scoring with 17 apiece, but the team turned it over 14 times and only hit 2 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc. HC Calipari was also disappointed with his bench production as it only managed a total of nine points. Tonight’s game marks just the second time overall and first time in six games that KY will play away from Rupp Arena.
HC Billy Donovan’s Gators were exposed in a neutral court battle with Syracuse in early December, and since then, they’ve managed just a 3-3 SU mark and covered just one of their four lined games. Losses to Richmond, South Alabama, and now Vanderbilt aren’t going to look good on the resume come tourney time. Though they shot a shade under 52% from the field and 48.1% from beyond the arc on Saturday, they just couldn’t contain the Commodores on defense. The loss saw the Gators drop an SEC opener for the first time since 2001. For Florida to hand the Wildcats their first loss of the season, they’ll have to remain hot from the field, but most importantly, they’ll have to limit their turnovers.
Kentucky’s lone true road game and cover came at Indiana where they throttled the Hoosiers 90-73 as 9-point favorites. Florida is 7-1 SU but just 2-2 ATS in their four lined home games this season. They scored a 60-53 home win and cover as 5.5-point chalks last season, and have secured ATS victories each of the L/4 times they welcomed Kentucky into the Stephen O’Connell Center. The Pressure will be laid upon the 2nd ranked Wildcats thick in this spot, and I’m not sure Calipari’s youngsters will be up to the task. They’ve regressed of late, and I look for the Gators to give them all they’ve got in this unfamiliar home underdog role.
Hollywood Sports
Ohio State at Purdue
Prediction: Purdue
Purdue (14-1) dropped their first game of year on Saturday as they lost at Wisconsin, 73-66. Now the Boilermakers return home where they are an undefeated 8-0 with a dominant +22.9 net point differential. They host an Ohio State (11-5) team that has struggled on the road. The Buckeyes are a winless 0-4 with a -12.4 net point differential. Ohio State has failed to score in their last four games on the road as an underdog. Scoring has been the problem for Ohio State as they score under 60 PPG away from their home court while shooting just 41.1% from the field. This bodes trouble against a Purdue defense that holds their opponents to just 38.1% shooting at home. The Buckeyes certainly benefit with the return of guard Evan Turner after he suffered a broken back in early non-conference play. But Turner is still rusty as evidenced by his four turnovers in Ohio State's 73-62 loss at Minnesota. Purdue should take care of business tonight as they have a 6-1-1 ATS mark in their last eight games against teams with a winning record. And don't worry about laying the big number against a solid Ohio State team as the Boilermakers have covered seven of their last nine home games when favored in the 7-12.5 point range. Lay the points with Purdue.
Johnny Banks
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Play: Under 192½
Both of these teams playe very strong defensive basketball with opponents averaging Under 96.6 points per game against them. The O/U is 0-4 in Lakers last 4 games as an underdog of 0.5 to +4.5 points. Look for a strong defensive game tonight with the game going Under and the Spurs coming out on top. 92-89
John Martin
1 Unit on Iowa -12
Iowa has had a rough season so far, but at home tonight they will get back on track in blowout fashion against a putrid 4-13 Tennessee State squad. Tennessee State is 2-8 on the road this season losing by an average of double-digits. Tennessee State is 1-8 ATS versus teams who attempt 21 or more 3 point shots/game on the season after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons and 3-13 ATS versus teams who make 8 or more 3 point shots/game on the season after 15+ games since 1997. Iowa has faced a daunting schedule, losing 4 straight against Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State who are all excellent defensive teams. Shots have been hard to come by, but they'll come easy tonight against Tennesse State. Look for Iowa to get plenty of open looks from distance and to knock them down to run away with this one at home. Cash in with Iowa as the favorite.
Info Plays
3* on L.A. Lakers +3.5
Reasons why the Lakers cover:
1.) System Play. We'll Play On - All teams where the line is +3 to -3 (LA LAKERS) - an explosive offensive team (>=102 PPG) against a good offensive team (98-102 PPG), after a blowout win by 15 points or more. This is a 30-8 ATS System hitting 78.9% over the last 5 seasons.
2.) After a brief hiccup with back-to-back losses to the Clippers and Blazers on the road, the Lakers got back on track with an 18-point throttling of the bucks. Look for L.A. to continue their success against the Spurs Tuesday. The Lakers are 4-1 SU & 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings with San Antonio. L.A. has their number. Bet the Lakers on the road.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Charlotte Bobcats -2
The Bobcats are 13-4 at home this season and I expect them to handle a Houston team with a losing road record on their home floor tonight. In fact, the Rockets are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games while the Bobcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 4.5 or less points. Bet the Bobcats.
Jack Jones
Maryland vs. Wake Forest
Play: Maryland +5
Maryland is the better team here tonight so I'll take the generous amount of points with the Terps. This is a team that is scoring 80 ppg on 48.3% shooting against teams who surrender just 67.6 ppg and 41.8% shooting. Defensively this Terp team is tough too, allowing under 65 ppg on 37.3% shooting against teams who score 70 ppg and hit 42.5% of their shots.
Wake is a talented team as well, with a focus on defense. However, they do a better job of shutting down the outside shot, allowing just 24.7% from behind the arc. Maryland doesn't attempt a lot of outside shots, so this doesn't match up real well to the Demon Deacons defensive strength.
I see a close game tonight, and in close conference battles you have to like the points, especially when the favorite is hitting just 65% of their free throws. If Maryland needs to foul at the end of the game, Wake isn't going to pull away with that kind of percentage.