Brad Wilton
When you are 6-39 on the season, and come into a game actually listed as the favorite, I think that is an "alert" that you should be laying the wood with the 76ers.
The linesmakers are trying to tell you something y'all, and I am listening!
It should be pointed out that Philly has already beaten Phoenix, 111-104 back in December, and now they go for the season series sweep.
The Suns have lost 11 in a row on the road coming into this game, and they have covered only once in those 11 losses.
The 76ers have split their last 4 games straight up, and they are 5-1 against the spread in their last 6 games overall.
Side with the Sixers to get it done!
1* PHILADELPHIA
SPORTS WAGERS
MIAMI (OH) +4
We have a really hard time refusing points from a road favorite whose best win on the road this year came against Bowling Green. Actually, that was CMU’s only road win but there are plenty of road losses. The Chips have already lost on the road to Grand Canyon, BYU, William & Mary, Buffalo and Northern Illinois. This is also their fourth game and third on the road in 10 days. What we absolutely love is that the Chips are coming off a 72-49 home win over Ohio and when a weak outfit blows out a team, they usually rebound with a stinker. These Chippewas know how to play one style and one style only. It’s bombs away for this intruder, as they have never seen a three they didn’t like. What’s so interesting about that is the Redhawks strength is their ability to defend the three.
We often employ a buy-low/sell-high strategy and that applies to this game. Again, the Chips are coming off a blowout win, while Miami has dropped nine in a row. However, the Redhawks have played a more difficult schedule than the Chips that include a one-point loss at Dayton and a 9-point loss at Xavier. Miami plays better defense than the Chips (it’s not even close) and they do a nice job of defending the perimeter with a 32.9% opposing make rate from downtown. That means shooters of the low-percentage shot are favored on the road coming off a lopsided home win, which is an angle will try to exploit every time. Miami outright is tempting but we’ll play it safer and take the points.
Harry Bondi
XAVIER -1 over Providence
FREE WINNERS are on a nice 8-3 run and tonight we like the spot for well rested Xavier over a Providence squad coming off an emotional draining overtime win over Villanova playing its 2nd game in 3 days. These teams, who meet in the first Top 10 matchup in the 44 year history of the Providence Civic Center, are mirror images of each other. Both have 17 wins, are 12-7 ATS, and are 5-2 in conference play. The Musketeers are a well balanced and deep squad led by Trevon Bluiett who is averaging 15.4 PPG They have 5 other players who are averaging between 8.5 and 11.3 points per game. Friars have been erratic in January beating Villanova and Butler but losing to Marquette and Seton Hall at home. Marquette has a similar defensive scheme as Xavier and they were able to have success utilizing their big men on defense. Let's take the more well more talented and well rested Musketeers squad to notch the road win in Providence tonight.
ASA
Magic at Bucks
Play: Bucks -5
We like the spot to play on the Milwaukee Bucks over the Orlando Magic. The Magic are off a game last night in Memphis while the Bucks have been at home after a 2 & 2 road trip. Milwaukee is 5-2 SU their last seven home games with the two losses coming against the red hot Raptors and Spurs. That’s not all, the Bucks have impressive home wins over the Hawks, Bulls, Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors. Orlando is a pathetic 1-10 SU their last 11 games overall and have just 1 road win over the Brooklyn Nets in that same span. In that stretch the Magic have road losses by 6, 17, 26, 25 and 12 points. Another indication of how these teams are heading in opposite direction is what they’ve done statistically their last five games. The Bucks as a team are shooting over 48% their last five games and allowing just 41% by foes. On the flip side the Magic are shooting on average just 43.9% their last five and allowing nearly 48% shooting by opponents. Milwaukee has covered 7 of their last eleven at home and will get a double digit victory here.