Tom Freese
Air Force at UNLV
Prediction: UNLV
UNLV is 16-4 overall and 4-2 in Conference Play. The Rebels are lead in scoring by Tre'Von Willis and his 17.6 points a game. Chase Standback scores 10.4 points a game. No other players score more than 9.7 points a game. The Rebels score 76.1 points a game. UNLV is 5-1 ATS their last 6 Mountain West Conference games and they are 6-2 ATS their last 8 games as a favorite. Air Force is 8-10 overall and they are 0-5 in Conference Play. Grant Parker scores 15.5 points a night and Evan Washington scores 11.3 points a night while Tom Fow scores 10.2 points a game. No Other player scores more than 7.3 points. The Falcons score under 61 points a game and they are 19-39 ATS their last 58 Mountain West Conference games and they are 4-17 off an ATS loss. PLAY ON UNLV -
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Bucks/Mavs UNDER 197.5
System Play - Plays Under on any team (MILWAUKEE) after a huge blowout win by 30 or more against an opponent that led in its previous game by 15 or more points at the half, are 32-6 since 1996. This system is 17-3 the last 5 seasons, 15-1 the last 3 seasons, and a perfect 3-0 already this season. Bet the Under.
Jr Tips
Bobcats at Suns
The Charlotte Bobcats' are on a current season-high six-game Western Conference road trip and after dropping the opener of the trip, the Bobcats look to avoid a fourth consecutive loss tonight when they face the Phoenix Suns. The Bobcats have lost their last seven road games against teams from the West including all four this season. Now they play in Phoenix where they've allowed 119.2 points per game while going 0-5 since entering the league in 2004-05. Charlotte although they recorded a season-high point total in a 125-99 home victory over the Suns on Jan. 16 th. . Stephen Jackson scored 22 points last night and had 29 points with eight assists, five rebounds and five steals against the Suns earlier this month while Gerald Wallace had 29 points while posting 13 boards versus the Suns. The Suns return to US Airways Center after blowing a big lead to lose for the sixth time in eight games, 124-115 at Utah on Monday. The Suns have allowed more than 120 points for the fourth time in eight contests as Goran Dragic scored a career-high 32 points and Steve Nash added 15 points and 15 assists. Dragic has totaled 52 points and shot 15 of 22 in his last two games after averaging 8 points a game. Nash is averaging 18.4 points and 11.0 assists this season but he's been held to 9.8 and 6.6, respectively in his last five games against the Bobcats. Both teams are playing back to back games which won't help defenses that already give up over 1110 points a game as the Bobcats have allowed 119 points on the road against the Western Conference. This will be a competitive game although there won't be much defense played.
TAKE OVER 210
SPORTS WAGERS
Anaheim +1.01 over ATLANTA
Both these teams are pretty much in the same position in that they’re both three points out of a playoff spot right now. The difference, however, is that the Ducks are rising while the Thrashers are sinking. It even gets better than that. A close look reveals that the Thrashers have dropped three of its last four with losses to Tampa Bay, Florida and Carolina and its only win over that span coming against the Leafs in which they trailed 2-0 and needed a rally to beat them. Conversely, the Ducks have won three of its last four with wins coming against Calgary, Buffalo and St. Louis and its only loss over that stretch coming against the Sharks at the Tank. The Ducks have also won eight of its last 10 and over that stretch they have wins over Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, Boston and L.A. among others. Lastly, the Thrashers played the Ducks in Anaheim back in mid-December and thrashed them 8-4. That was then, this is now and the Ducks are finally playing to its huge potential and beating a whole slew of strong clubs while the Thrashers are struggling to beat anyone. Play: Anaheim +1.01 (Risking 2 units).
Los Angeles -½ +1.47 over TORONTO
Teams that rarely visit Toronto, Montreal, New York or Detroit are usually pretty live because these cities bring about an excitement level that can’t be matched in other places and that’s precisely the situation here. The Kings have not played in Toronto in five years meaning for just about the whole team it’s their first time playing in hockey’s hotbed and they catch the Leafs at about the best time possible. Toronto returns home from a five-game trip with just one win over that stretch and losers of the last three to Tampa Bay, Florida and Atlanta, not exactly the cream of the crop. The Maple Leafs have just two wins in its last 10 games. So, not only will the Kings be jacked up but they’re going good again with four wins in five games and played a near flawless final two periods in Detroit on Saturday. The Kings last four wins have come against the aforementioned Wings, Boston, Anaheim and Buffalo and its only loss over that span came against San Jose. L.A. will take a big step down in class here but they’ll be as intense and focused as they’ve been in any game this season because of a rare visit to Toronto. Play: Los Angeles -½ +1.47 (Risking 2 units).
Montreal +1.09 over FLORIDA
One really must wonder where offense is going to come from for these Panthers. They’ve scored just four times over its last four games and we’ve all seen that when a team is struggling to score it can last for weeks. Now the Panthers lost its best player in Nathan Horton and there’s just no compensation anywhere for his loss. To make matters worse for the Panthers they’ll play a Habs squad that usually beats them anyway and that has allowed just one goal over its past two games while scoring nine times. The Canadiens power-play is just so deadly and with the Panthers knowing they have to play strong defensively, chances are that power-play will get a few opportunities here. Montreal has also been one of the streakiest teams in the business and after wins over New Jersey and the Rangers there’s no excuse for losing this one. Play: Montreal +1.09 (Risking 2 units).
DETROIT -½ -1.06 over Phoenix
You talk about a pivotal game and one need not look further than this one for the Red Wings. They’ll get a couple more healthy bodies back tonight and will ice its best line-up in months. That coincides with a three-game in four nights stretch starting here and the Red Wings can ill afford to miss this opportunity to pick up points. The Wings will absolutely play with a sense or urgency here after picking up just one win over its last five games. The Coyotes are always tough but a lot of their games this year were won by the outstanding goaltending of Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryzgalov isn’t going so good right now and in fact, the Coyotes have allowed four goals or more in seven of its last 10 games. The whole Red Wings team will get a big boost, both mentally and physically with the return of Kronwall and a loss here to the Coyotes in the stretch run before the Olympic break would be devastating and very unlikely. Play: Detroit -½ -1.04 (Risking 2.12 units to win 2).
Stephen Nover
L.A. Lakers at WASHINGTON +8
Scored an NBA winner right here yesterday on the Pacers, going to stick with the pros for another comp selection.
The Washington Wizards have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA this season. There is one area, however, you can count on the Wizards and that is getting up for elite competition at home.
Washington is just 8-14 at home, but among those eight victories are wins against the Cavaliers, Magic and Trail Blazers. The Wizards lost to the Celtics and Mavericks at home by a combined three points.
Now the Lakers come calling in their lone visit to the Verizon Center. The Wizards should be highly motivated having been embarrassed in a 92-78 home loss to the Clippers this past Sunday. The Wizards' wrap up a six-game homestand with this matchup.
The Lakers are not playing well, having lost six of their past eight. This is their fourth road game in six days. The Lakers hobnobbed at the White House with President Obama on Monday rather than prepare for this matchup.
Kobe Bryant is playing through a broken finger and sore lower back. It's affected his shooting. He's made just 38.1 percent of his shots from the floor in the last eight games.
This has been a dreadful season for the Wizards, especially in the wake of the Gilbert Arenas gun incident. The Wizards, though, can gain back a measure of self-respect with a victory in this matchup against the defending world champions. They may not be able to achieve that, but the effort should be there making this point spread highly attractive.
2♦ WIZARDS
Karl Garrett
Charlotte +5' at PHOENIX
11-6 comp play run for the G-Man as the Hornets win it outright last night against the Blazers.
For Tuesday, another road dog winner for you, as I like the Bobcats to cover the number at Phoenix tonight.
Charlotte is struggling right now, but they did have last night off, while Phoenix was busy losing at Utah, the Suns 6th loss in their last 8 games.
Phoenix is also just 3-7 against the spread when playing with no rest.
The Bobcats were able to crush the Suns 125-99 earlier this month at home, as they have won outright now in 2 of the last 3 series meetings.
With both teams struggling right now, have to expect a close one.
G-Man on the 'Cats plus the points as the road dog!
2♦ CHALROTTE
Chris Jordan
Rutgers at MARQUETTE -17'
I don’t know what the record is for college beat downs, but Rutgers is enduring its share of them. The Scarlet Knights have lost eight straight after getting pummeled, 88-63, Saturday at Georgetown, and now visit a Marquette team that puts up 75 points per game and ranks 30th in scoring margin by outscoring its foes by 12.6 points per game.
The Golden Eagles also happen to be the No. 1 team in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage, hitting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. That won’t bode well for the Knights, who in addition to the Georgetown shellacking, have been torched by West Virginia by 24 points, Syracuse by 26 and Villanova by 26 during this losing streak.
I realize Marquette has lost nine of 14 since opening the season a perfect 6-0, but six of those losses came away from home and if there were ever a game to revive winning ways – this is the contest. The Golden Eagles have won this battle three straight years, covering its two home games in which it laid 15 points in 2007 and 18-1/2 points in 2008.
Rutgers comes to Milwaukee having lost seven straight to the books, and is on additional ATS slides of 2-13 in league play, 1-11 as an underdog and 7-21 after an spread setback. Marquette, on the other hand, is on ATS runs of 4-1 after a straight-up loss and 4-1 in Big East play.
It seems like a lot for an 11-win team at this point in the season, but I am laying the chalk with the Golden Eagles tonight.
1♦ MARQUETTE
Bryan Leonard
Miami Ohio at Ball State
Short and sweet. Miami enters play at 0-9 straight up on the road this season yet they are installed as a road favorite. Easy right? Not so fast as we take a look at who the Redhawks faced away from home. How's this for a schedule. Kentucky, New Mexico, Cincinnati, Xavier, Colorado and Akron. Now let's take a look at who Ball State has beaten at home. Valparaiso, Southern Illinois-Evansville, North Carolina Central, Maryland Eastern Shore, Manchester, Toledo and Western Michigan. There is a reason who the Redhawks are the favorite and they prove who tonight against a bad Ball State team.
PLAY MIAMI OHIO
Brett Atkins
I'm 11-6 with my last 17 freebies and I've got a winner here for you today on the college hardwood as I go with Kentucky to get the win and cover at South Carolina tonight in a SEC matchup.
Kentucky moved to the top of the rankings on Monday and there’s no way they let South Carolina take it away from them after just 24 hours. I expect these guys to come out fired up and deliver a 15-point win.
The Wildcats have already gone into Indians, Florida and Auburn in the last six weeks and walked out with big wins. It seems the more these guys are tested, the bigger game they have. They blew out Arkansas 101-70 on Saturday as 16 ½-point favorites and their best player, John Wall shot just 5-of-12, but did manage 16 points and seven assists.
South Carolina has lost three straight, including back-to-back road losses at Ole Miss and Florida last week. They just can’t score enough points to win this one as Kentucky can light it up with the best of them, while the Gamecocks have managed just 56.5 in their last two games.
The Wildcats will have some revenge in mind after last year’s two losses to South Carolina. Kentucky is on ATS runs of 4-1 on the road and 21-8-1 as a road favorite. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are on ATS slides of 2-5 overall, 0-4 as a ‘dog, 0-5 after a spread-cover and 4-9-1 in SEC games.
Lay the chalk with the nation’s best team and play Kentucky.
3♦ KENTUCKY
Jay McNeil
A second-half surge by the Jazz landed me a winner with my free play Monday night, improving my record to 42-35-1 over the last 78 days. And I've got another winner on deck today, taking top-ranked Kentucky to cover on the road against South Carolina.
The Wildcats are solid however you analyze them. They have perhaps the nation's top player in freshman guard John Wall, and they have a solid inside presence with forwards Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins.
Kentucky can score, averaging 83.2 ppg, and it can defend, allowing just 65.6 ppg. The team is 6-0 in road and neutral-site games, going 4-2 ATS.
The Gamecocks have lost three straight games, with the last one coming in brutal fashion as Florida scored as time expired to gain a 58-56 home victory. South Carolina covered in that game, but is 1-3 ATS in its last four games and 2-5 ATS in its last seven.
The Wildcats are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 games as a road favorite, and 4-1 ATS in their last four on the road overall. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, are 0-4 ATS in their last five games as a home underdog. Take Kentucky to win by about 10 points tonight.
3♦ KENTUCKY
Joel Tyson
With the Mavericks just 5-15 against the spread at home this season, I cannot back them minus the points tonight against a Milwaukee team that has covered 4 in a row, and 6 of their last 8.
The underdog in this series is on a money-making 13-3 spread run the last 16 times these teams have faced one another.
Dallas is just back from a 5 game road trip, and it is always wise to go against an NBA team in their first home game after a 4 games or more road swing.
Tonight I do just that. Take the Bucks plus the points.
3♦ MILWAUKEE
Chuck O'Brien
Take the Bucks plus the points at Dallas in NBA action on Tuesday.
You can’t trust the Mavericks at home. While they’ve won 13 of their 20 home contests, they’re just 1-14 ATS in their last 15 in Big D -- and 0-14 ATS as a favorite (the one cover came in a seven-point win over Cleveland as a three-point underdog). Going back further, the Mavericks are 4-17 ATS in their last 21 games as a home favorite, including 0-11 ATS in their last 11 when favored by 5 to 10½ points at home.
On the opposite end of the spread-covering spectrum are the Bucks, who have cashed in their last four games and six of their last eight (going 4-2 ATS on the road). Milwaukee, which hasn’t played since pummeling the TWolves 127-94 on Saturday, is also 8-1 ATS in its last nine games following a double-digit victory.
The Bucks have covered in 12 of the last 16 meetings against the Mavericks, and the underdog is 13-3 ATS in those 16 games. Finally, Dallas hasn’t won a game at home by more than seven points since Nov. 10 -- a stretch of 16 contests!
4♦ MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Jeff Benton
I'm now on an 8-3 run with complimentary selections after Monday's 5♦ winner with the Bulls. For Tuesday’s free play, I’ll head to college hoops and play the Kentucky-South Carolina game OVER the total, as these two squads can score points in bunches.
Kentucky has scored at least 72 points in 10 straight games and is coming off a 101-70 win over Arkansas on Saturday. That victory came at home, but the Wildcats have actually been more prolific in six games away from Rupp Arena (83.7 ppg, 52 percent field-goal shooting) than they have been at home. They’ve also been much worse on the defensive end, giving up 72.3 ppg on 42 percent shooting on the highway compared with 65.6 ppg (37.9 percent) overall.
As for South Carolina, it averages more than 80 ppg on its home floor, and in its last home game it tallied 79 against a solid Vanderbilt defense … but also gave up 89!
This has been an extremely high-scoring rivalry too, with 16 of the last 19 meetings going over the total, including seven of the last eight at South Carolina (the only exception was the Gamecocks‘ 77-59 home win last year, but we know this year‘s Wildcats under first-year coach John Calipari are much more explosive offensively than last year‘s squad).
Also, Kentucky has topped the total in eight of its last 10 games overall, and the Gamecocks have gone “over” in four of their last five on Tuesday and 15 of 18 against opponents with a winning record (and not team in the country has a better record than Kentucky’s 19-0 mark).
4♦ Kentucky-South Carolina OVER
Nelly
Dallas - over Milwaukee
Both Dallas and Milwaukee enter this game coming off convincing wins over the weekend but it now be time to go against the Bucks again despite a recent run of success, featuring covers in six of the last eight games. This will be the eighth road game in the past ten games for Milwaukee in an absolutely brutal travel stretch and there is value on Dallas here as the Bucks were similar underdogs at Toronto and Houston in the past week while Dallas is certainly a superior team in that group. The Mavericks have faced a very tough schedule in the last three weeks and there have been some losses including a 2-6 ATS run entering this game but Dallas is back at home tonight. The Mavericks own a horrendous 5-15 ATS mark at home this season but those struggles have created a soft line on tonight's game and Milwaukee has won just five times away from home all year. Dallas is still an elite team in the Western Conference and the Bucks have been a lousy defensive team of late, allowing 103 points per game in the last five games.
Drew Gordon
Kentucky at SOUTH CAROLINA +7
45-28-3 roll L76 Free Plays (13-5 L18)! For today's complimentary play, we're looking at the Kentucky/South Carolina match up.
Let's make a couple things clear here: I know full well Kentucky is the better team playing better basketball. I watched them win handily in Gainseville, and destroy Arkansas in their last one. But what people seem to be forgetting was their ho-hum effort at Auburn in between those games. Auburn is nothing more than an SEC bottom-feeder, and bettors got slaughtered by backing the public road favorite in that spot... It appears bettors still have not learned their lesson.
How many times do I have to tell you: If it looks to good to be true, it probably is! With the Gamecocks having lost 3 in a row, their backers have abandoned ship, and don't think Vegas doesn't know that! Guys, as of this writing 90-95% of bettors are on Kentucky, and if you think you're getting a bargain at -7, you are in for a bitter disappointment at the end of this contest.
Finally, how does South Carolina get it done? Truth be told, if they continue to play as hard as they normally do in Columbia, they should have little trouble keeping this game competitive. Yes, South Carolina lost to Vandy in their last one in Columbia, but if anything, that adds motivation for the home team! SC will be playing this game like their own personal national championship... And remember guys, the Gamecocks have covered their last 2 against Kentucky, including last season's 77-59 win on this very same floor in their last meeting. In the end, Kentucky-backers should be mighty worried about this match up, especially now that their team is riding a little high in the saddle.
Take South Carolina plus the points over Kentucky in this college hoops match up.
2♦ SOUTH CAROLINA