SPORTS ADVISORS
Phoenix (9-2, 6-5 ATS) at Houston (6-4, 7-3 ATS)
The Suns play their seventh road game in their last nine contests when they head to the Toyota Center for a battle with the Rockets.
Phoenix rebounded from its second loss of the season – Thursday’s 121-102 blowout defeat at the Lakers – by barely getting past Toronto 101-100 on Sunday. However, the Suns failed to cash as a 7½-point home favorite, their second straight non-cover after a 4-0 ATS run. Phoenix has now hit triple digits in every game this year, and dating to last season, it has reached the century mark in 14 straight games and 46 of 52 contests, tallying 109 or more 33 times.
Houston stunned the Lakers 101-91 as a nine-point road underdog on Sunday and has now alternated SU wins and losses in its last seven. Since a season-opening 96-87 loss at Portland as an 8½-point road underdog, the Rockets have cashed in seven of nine games while scoring 100 or more points in every contest.
The Suns snapped a three-game losing skid to Houston with a 114-109 win as a 1½-point home favorite on April 1 last year, improving to 16-5 ATS in the last 21 matchups with the Rockets. The home team has won four of the last five in this rivalry (3-2 ATS), but the visitor is 22-10 ATS in the last 31 meetings, with Phoenix cashing in 13 of its last 16 visits to the Toyota Center. Also, the underdog is 3-1 ATS in the last four.
Phoenix is on ATS runs of 9-1 after a non-cover, 4-0 when playing on one day of rest and 13-6-1 on Tuesday, and the Suns are off to a 5-2 start on the road (4-3 ATS). Houston has failed to cover in four straight games on Tuesday, but in addition to their 7-2 ATS run overall (all against the Western Conference), the Rockets have covered in six straight home games dating to last year’s Western Conference playoff series against the Lakers.
For the Suns, the “over” is on runs of 5-2 overall, 4-1 on the highway and 8-3 against the Southwest Division, but the under is 8-3 in their last 11 on Tuesday. Houston’s “over” streaks include 7-2 overall, 4-1 when playing on one day of rest, 5-0 after a SU win and 6-0 after an ATS triumph.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PHOENIX and OVER
Detroit (5-5, 6-4 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (7-3, 3-7 ATS)
The Pistons begin a four-game, six-day Western Conference road trip with their only visit of the season to Staples Center to play the Lakers, who are looking to snap a rare two-game slide.
Detroit’s three-game SU winning streak and four-game ATS run came to a halt with Sunday’s 95-90 loss the Mavericks, coming up just short as a 4½-point home underdog. The Pistons have lost three of their last four road games (2-2 ATS), giving up an average of 104.8 ppg.
Los Angeles followed up Friday’s ugly 105-79 loss at Denver with Sunday’s 101-91 loss to the Rockets as a nine-point home favorite. The Lakers’ offense has disappeared in the second half of the last two games, managing just 23 post-halftime points against the Nuggets and 37 against Houston. The two-game slump comes on the heels of a six-game winning streak, and the Lakers have scored 80, 79 and 91 points in their three defeats while tallying 99 points or more in their seven victories (average of 108.6 ppg). Phil Jackson’s squad began the season with five straight non-covers, then cashed in the next three (all at home) before coming up short against the Nuggets and Rockets.
These teams have split their season series the last two years, with the Lakers going 3-1 ATS. After the home team won both meetings in 2008, the visitor took last year’s two contests, including Detroit’s 106-95 rout as 9½-point road underdog exactly one year ago. Prior to L.A.’s current 3-1 ATS run in this rivalry, the Pistons went 11-2-1 ATS in the previous 14 meetings, and with last year’s upset, they’re now 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight on the road against the Lakers.
Despite cashing in four of its last five overall, Detroit is on ATS declines of 4-12 after a SU defeat, 2-8 after a non-cover, 3-9 when playing on one day of rest, 2-5 against the Pacific Division and 3-8 against winning teams. The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five against the Central Division and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after a SU defeat, but they’ve failed to cover in four straight games after a double-digit home loss.
The over is 5-1 in the Pistons’ last six overall, but the Lakers carry “under” trends of 17-8 overall, 21-8 at home, 9-2 against the Eastern Conference and 43-21-1 versus the Central Division. Finally, five of the last six meetings in this rivalry have stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DETROIT and UNDER
Gonzaga (1-0, 0-0 ATS) at (2) Michigan State (1-0, 0-0 ATS)
Perennial college basketball powers Gonzaga and Michigan State hook up for the first time since 2005, with the second-ranked Spartans serving as host at the Breslin Events Center.
The Bulldogs opened the season with Saturday’s 92-74 non-lined home win over Mississippi Valley State. Going back to last January, Gonzaga is on a 20-2 SU roll, with the only losses coming to ranked foes Memphis (68-50 as a four-point home favorite) and eventual national champion North Carolina (98-77 as a 7½-point underdog in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament). During their 20-2 run, the Zags have scored at least 77 points 16 times.
Michigan State also tipped off the season with a non-lined home game, crushing Florida-Gulf Coast 97-58 on Friday. The Spartans, who advanced to the NCAA Championship Game in April where they fell to North Carolina 89-72 as a 7½-point underdog, are 32-7 since the start of last season (21-13-1 ATS in lined action), including 14-3 at home (7-7 ATS).
Gonzaga knocked off the Spartans 109-106 as a 1½-point underdog in the 2005 Maui Classic. In the other two meetings, Michigan State scored wins of 70-68 as a six-point favorite in 1997 and 77-62 as a 9½-point chalk in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
Gonzaga failed to cover the spread in all three of its NCAA Tournament games last spring and enters this season in a 6-9 ATS funk (2-3 ATS in true road games). The Bulldogs are riding additional ATS funks of 1-4 on the road, 0-4 in non-conference play and 4-12 versus opponents with a winning record.
Michigan State is 1-6-2 ATS in its last nine on Tuesday, but otherwise the Spartans are on pointspread surges of 5-1 overall, 5-1 at home, 7-1 in non-conference play, 5-1 versus winning teams and 11-3-1 following a SU win of more than 20 points. Also, the SU winner has cashed in each of the Spartans’ last nine games.
The Bulldogs are riding “over” streaks of 9-2 overall, 8-1 on the road and 4-1 in non-conference play, while the over is also 5-2 in Michigan State’s last seven lined games. However, the under is 7-3 in the Spartans’ last 10 at home and 16-5 in its last 21 on Tuesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MICHIGAN STATE
Memphis (1-0, 0-0 ATS) vs. (1) Kansas (1-0 SU and ATS)
(at St. Louis, Mo.)
The Tigers continue life without former coach John Calipari when they travel to the Scotttrade Center in St. Louis for a non-conference, neutral-site clash with Kansas in a rematch of the 2008 national championship game.
Playing its first game under new coach Josh Pastner – a former assistant under Calipari – Memphis routed Jackson State 82-53 in a non-lined season-opener on Friday. The Tigers have won 28 of their last 29 contests, with 23 of the victories being double-digit routs. Their only loss since last December came in the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament, a 102-91 setback to Missouri as a 4½-point favorite.
Since the start of the 2005 season, Memphis is 138-14 SU, but 13 of those losses have come against marquee programs Duke, Texas, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Tennessee (twice), Arizona, Ohio State, Kansas, Xavier, Georgetown, Syracuse and Missouri.
The Jayhawks proved very worthy of their consensus preseason No. 1 ranking when they crushed Hofstra 101-65 on Friday, covering as a 27½-point favorite. Kansas got bounced in the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual runner-up Michigan State 67-62 as a one-point underdog. Bill Self’s squad started defense of its 2008 title by winning 24 of its first 29 games, but split its last six games both SU and ATS.
Kansas rallied from a nine-point deficit with 2:12 to play in the 2008 national championship game against Memphis to force overtime, then outscored the Tigers 12-5 in the extra session to win 75-68 as a two-point underdog. It was the Jayhawks’ first national title in 20 years and first under Self.
The SU winner is 11-0-1 ATS in the Jayhawks’ last 12 games and 16-5 ATS in Memphis’ last 21 lined outings.
Memphis comes into the season on ATS runs of 15-6 overall, 6-2 in non-conference play and 15-6 after a SU win, but it is 1-4-1 ATS in its last six on Tuesday. The Jayhawks are on ATS tears of 27-9-1 overall, 16-7 in non-league action, 7-1 against Conference USA opponents, 11-4-1 after a SU win and 10-4-1 after a spread-cover, but like the Tigers, Kansas has struggled on Tuesday (1-5 ATS last six).
The Tigers are riding “under” streaks of 11-4 overall and 8-2 against the Big 12, and the under is 14-3 in Kansas’ last 17 after a SU win and 4-0 in its last four after a spread-cover.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Dunkel
Indiana at New Jersey
The Nets look to build on their 6-0 ATS record in their last 6 games as a home underdog between 1 and 4 1/2 points. New Jersey is the pick (+4) according to Dunkel, which has the Pacers favored by only 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: New Jersey (+4)
Game 701-702: Golden State at Cleveland
Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 112.859; Cleveland 125.197
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 12 1/2; 209
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 15 1/2; 215
Dunkel Pick: Golden State (+15 1/2); Under
Game 703-704: Indiana at New Jersey
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 116.181; New Jersey 114.542
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 1 1/2; 192
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana by 4; 188 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Jersey (+4); Over
Game 705-706: Oklahoma City at Miami
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 115.090; Miami 126.613
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 11 1/2; 182
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 5 1/2; 179 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (-5 1/2); Over
Game 707-708: LA Clippers at New Orleans
Dunkel Ratings: LA Clippers 113.564; New Orleans 114.989
Dunkel Line & Total: New Orleans by 1 1/2; 199
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 3 1/2; 192
Dunkel Pick: LA Clippers (+3 1/2); Over
Game 709-710: Phoenix at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 122.588; Houston 124.576
Dunkel Line & Total: Houston by 2; 215 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 2; 220 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+2); Under
Game 711-712: Toronto at Denver
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 115.819; Denver 129.145
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 13 1/2; 220
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 8; 218
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-8); Over
Game 713-714: Chicago at Sacramento
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 117.503; Sacramento 113.098
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 4 1/2; 196
Vegas Line & Total: Sacramento by 1; 198
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+1); Under
Game 715-716: Detroit at LA Lakers
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 118.468; LA Lakers 125.807
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 7 1/2; 202 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
NCAAB
Gonzaga at Michigan State
The Spartans look to build on their 7-1 ATS record in their last 8 non-conference games. Michigan State is the pick (-10 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Spartans favored by 12. Dunkel Pick: Michigan State (-10 1/2)
Game 717-718: AR Little Rock at Tulsa
Dunkel Ratings: AR Little Rock 51.613; Tulsa 69.585
Dunkel Line: Tulsa by 18 1/2
Vegas Line: Tulsa by 16 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tulsa (-16 1/2)
Game 719-720: Temple at Georgetown
Dunkel Ratings: Temple 63.801; Georgetown 73.895
Dunkel Line: Georgetown by 10
Vegas Line: Georgetown by 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Georgetown (-8 1/2)
Game 721-722: Middle Tennessee St. at Marshall
Dunkel Ratings: Middle Tennessee St. 50.859; Marshall 58.086
Dunkel Line: Marshall by 7
Vegas Line: Marshall by 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Middle Tennessee St. (+9 1/2)
Game 723-724: Bowling Green at Xavier
Dunkel Ratings: Bowling Green 55.872; Xavier 73.561
Dunkel Line: Xavier by 17 1/2
Vegas Line: Xavier by 16
Dunkel Pick: Xavier (-16)
Game 725-726: St. John's at St. Bonaventure
Dunkel Ratings: St. John's 60.811; St. Bonaventure 57.435
Dunkel Line: St. John's by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: St. John's by 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Bonaventure (+6 1/2)
Game 727-728: Louisville at Arkansas
Dunkel Ratings: Louisville 76.919; Arkansas 68.274
Dunkel Line: Louisville by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Louisville by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arkansas (+10 1/2)
Game 729-730: Iowa State at Drake
Dunkel Ratings: Iowa State 59.689; Drake 58.625
Dunkel Line: Iowa State by 1
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 731-732: Northern Illinois at Illinois
Dunkel Ratings: Northern Illinois 46.889; Illinois 69.849
Dunkel Line: Illinois by 23
Vegas Line: Illinois by 21
Dunkel Pick: Illinois (-21)
Game 733-734: UL-Monroe at Oklahoma
Dunkel Ratings: UL-Monroe 45.718; Oklahoma 66.497
Dunkel Line: Oklahoma by 20 1/2
Vegas Line: Oklahoma by 21 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UL-Monroe (+21 1/2)
Game 735-736: Columbia at DePaul
Dunkel Ratings: Columbia 45.627; DePaul 58.005
Dunkel Line: DePaul by 12 1/2
Vegas Line: DePaul by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: DePaul (-10 1/2)
Game 737-738: Gonzaga at Michigan State
Dunkel Ratings: Gonzaga 68.440; Michigan State 80.386
Dunkel Line: Michigan State by 12
Vegas Line: Michigan State by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Michigan State (-10 1/2)
Game 739-740: Duquesne at Iowa
Dunkel Ratings: Duquesne 63.421; Iowa 60.134
Dunkel Line: Duquesne by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Duquesne by 2
Dunkel Pick: Duquesne (-2)
Game 741-742: New Mexico at New Mexico State
Dunkel Ratings: New Mexico 64.230; New Mexico State 60.018
Dunkel Line: New Mexico by 4
Vegas Line: New Mexico by 3 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Mexico (-3 1/2)
Game 743-744: Memphis at Kansas
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 67.091; Kansas 80.105
Dunkel Line: Kansas by 13
Vegas Line: Kansas by 10
Dunkel Pick: Kansas (-10)
Game 745-746: Long Beach St. at Pepperdine
Dunkel Ratings: Long Beach St. 50.185; Pepperdine 49.843
Dunkel Line: Even
Vegas Line: Long Beach State by 3
Dunkel Pick: Pepperdine (+3)
Game 747-748: UC Riverside at USC
Dunkel Ratings: UC Riverside 55.808; USC 65.991
Dunkel Line: USC by 10
Vegas Line: USC by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UC Riverside (+10 1/2)
Game 749-750: Charlotte at Duke
Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 57.861; Duke 75.562
Dunkel Line: Duke by 17 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 751-752: Coastal Carolina vs. Elon
Dunkel Ratings: Coastal Carolina 46.099; Elon 47.088
Dunkel Line: Elon by 1
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 753-754: Colgate vs. Yale
Dunkel Ratings: Colgate 44.764; Yale 49.578
Dunkel Line: Yale by 5
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 755-756: Hofstra at Connecticut
Dunkel Ratings: Hofstra 51.047; Connecticut 77.807
Dunkel Line: Connecticut by 27
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 757-758: Indiana State vs. WI-Milwaukee
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana State 58.003; WI-Milwaukee 54.839
Dunkel Line: Indiana State by 3
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 759-760: Western Kentucky at LSU
Dunkel Ratings: Western Kentucky 61.788; LSU 68.916
Dunkel Line: LSU by 7
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 761-762: Texas State vs. CS-Northridge
Dunkel Ratings: Texas State 50.810; CS-Northridge 54.781
Dunkel Line: CS-Northridge by 4
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 763-764: TCU at Arizona State
Dunkel Ratings: TCU 55.707; Arizona State 76.326
Dunkel Line: Arizona State by 20 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 765-766: Northern Colorado at Hawaii
Dunkel Ratings: Northern Colorado 52.243; Hawaii 56.937
Dunkel Line: Hawaii by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: Hawaii by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Northern Colorado (+5 1/2)
Game 767-768: Drexel at Niagara
Dunkel Ratings: Drexel 55.677; Niagara 64.055
Dunkel Line: Niagara by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Niagara by 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Drexel (+9 1/2)
Game 769-770: Northeastern at Siena
Dunkel Ratings: Northeastern 56.591; Siena 66.940
Dunkel Line: Siena by 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Siena by 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Siena (-8 1/2)
Game 771-772: NC Greensboro at Virginia Tech
Dunkel Ratings: NC Greensboro 48.776; Virginia Tech 67.883
Dunkel Line: Virginia Tech by 19
Vegas Line: Virginia Tech by 20
Dunkel Pick: NC Greensboro (+20)
Game 773-774: Wofford at Georgia
Dunkel Ratings: Wofford 55.289; Georgia 58.590
Dunkel Line: Georgia by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Georgia by 3
Dunkel Pick: Georgia (-3)
Game 775-776: Tennessee Martin at Missouri
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee Martin 49.783; Missouri 79.783
Dunkel Line: Missouri by 30
Vegas Line: Missouri by 24
Dunkel Pick: Missouri (-24)
Game 777-778: Fairfield at Maryland
Dunkel Ratings: Fairfield 50.630; Maryland 71.611
Dunkel Line: Maryland by 21
Vegas Line: Maryland by 19 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Maryland (-19 1/2)
Game 779-780: Canisius at Loyola-Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Canisius 51.979; Loyola-Chicago 54.127
Dunkel Line: Loyola-Chicago by 2
Vegas Line: Canisius by 3
Dunkel Pick: Loyola-Chicago (+3)
Game 781-782: Fresno State at Northern Arizona
Dunkel Ratings: Fresno State 50.562; Northern Arizona 50.044
Dunkel Line: Fresno State by 1
Vegas Line: Northern Arizona by 4
Dunkel Pick: Fresno State (+4)
Game 783-784: UAB at Jacksonville State
Dunkel Ratings: UAB 55.201; Jacksonville State 52.068
Dunkel Line: UAB by 3
Vegas Line: UAB by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville State (+5 1/2)
Game 785-786: Idaho State at BYU
Dunkel Ratings: Idaho State 48.811; BYU 71.661
Dunkel Line: BYU by 23
Vegas Line: BYU by 19
Dunkel Pick: BYU (-19)
Game 787-788: Weber State at UC-Santa Barbara
Dunkel Ratings: Weber State 54.843; UC-Santa Barbara 57.675
Dunkel Line: UC-Santa Barbara by 3
Vegas Line: UC-Santa Barbara by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Weber State (+5 1/2)
Game 789-790: Monmouth at St. Peter's
Dunkel Ratings: Monmouth 46.978; St. Peter's 54.815
Dunkel Line: St. Peter's by 8
Vegas Line: St. Peter's by 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Monmouth (+9 1/2)
Game 791-792: Clemson at Liberty
Dunkel Ratings: Clemson 66.487; Liberty 55.429
Dunkel Line: Clemson by 11
Vegas Line: Clemson by 10
Dunkel Pick: Clemson (-10)
Game 793-794: Binghamton at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Binghamton 54.358; Pittsburgh 77.307
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 23
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
NHL
Toronto at Ottawa
The Senators look to take advantage of a Toronto team that is coming off a 5-2 loss to Calgary and is 0-5 in its last 5 games following a loss by 3 or more goals. Ottawa is the pick (-160) accordng to Dunkel, which has the Senators favored by 1
Game 51-52: Washington at NY Rangers
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 12.180; NY Rangers 11.981
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 53-54: Carolina at Montreal
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 10.070; Montreal 11.115
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 1; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Montreal (-160); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-160); Under
Game 55-56: Toronto at Ottawa
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 10.338; Ottawa 11.505
Dunkel Line & Total: Ottawa by 1; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Ottawa (-160); 6
Dunkel Pick: Ottawa (-160); Under
Game 57-58: San Jose at Nashville
Dunkel Ratings: San Jose 12.043; Nashville 12.148
Dunkel Line & Total: Nashville by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: San Jose (-140); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Nashville (+130); Over
Game 59-60: Colorado at Calgary
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado 11.225; Calgary 11.757
Dunkel Line & Total: Calgary by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Calgary (-200); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Calgary (-200); Under
Frank Jordan
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Chicago Bulls vs. Sacramento Kings
Play: Chicago Bulls +1
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Sacramento had a bad start to their season they lost 4 of their first 5 and their best player in Kevin Martin, but since have won 4 in a row scoring over 100 points in each game. Chicago is also 5-4 and have been poor on the road with just one win in their first 4 games. Chicago has dropped two of their last three games since a three game winning streak. Look for the Bulls to right the ship as they score a 100 for the first time this year and continue to play lockdown defense. Play Chicago
Rob Vinciletti
New Mexico vs. New Mexico State
Play: New Mexico -3
New Mexico is a solid 18-1 vs losing teams,covering 12 of 16 in lined games. They are 5-1 vs the WAC conference and 19-6 ats after allowing 60 or less. New Mexico St. is a terrible 2-8 as a home dog in this range, 6-12 after allowing 80 or more and have not fared well vs winning teams at 11-23. Lay the number tonight with New Mexico. In late phone action we have a 15-2 NBA System and NCAA hoops. Jump on and cash out on Tuesday night.
Marc Lawrence
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Memphis at Kansas
Play: Memphis
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The Tigers take on top ranked Kansas in St. Louis this evening with revenge on their minds from a loss to the Jayhawks in the NCAA title game two seasons ago. Memphis takes the floor under the lead of new head coach Josh Pastner, former Tigers assistant. With Memphis 7-0 ATS as a dog of nine or more points when seeking revenge and all the pressure on Kansas, look for the Tigers to take home the cash.
BIG AL
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Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans Hornets
Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers
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The Hornets have had a tumultuous first month. Not only did they fire their coach, Byron Scott, but star point guard Chris Paul suffered an injury to his left ankle, and will be sidelined for a few weeks. Thus, the Los Angeles Clippers have a real shot tonight of snapping their 10-game losing streak to the Hornets, and if my database is correct, that's exactly what they will do, as the Clips fall into an 88-49 ATS revenge system of mine. In their last game, the Clippers notched another revenge win when they defeated Oklahoma City 101-93, and that snapped L.A.'s three-game losing streak. The key players for Los Angeles tonight will be guard Baron Davis, and center Chris Kaman (who is averaging a career-best 22.3 ppg). Both are coming off huge efforts vs. Oklahoma City, as Davis scored 24, while Kaman had 25 points. The Hornets are 0-2 since GM Jeff Bower took over as coach, and I look for them to drop to 0-3 (and 3-9 overall) after playing the Clippers. Take the points.
Jim Feist
Chicago Bulls vs. Sacramento Kings
Play: Sacramento Kings
Chicago is a young team with a very good home record, but 1-3 SU/ATS on the road. And this is a long road trip. Chicago is third worst in the NBA in scoring and shooting, a weak 42% from the field. Second-year guard Derrick Rose is showing a little sophomore slump, as through nine games his three turnovers per game is .51 higher than last season's average, while his assists average (5.3) is one fewer. The Kings have home court, have won four straight and five of six and will have not played since Friday, on a 5-1 SU/ATS run. Sacramento has been a dog the last four games, yet won them all! The uptempo Kings (104 ppg) have been a big surprise, without big names, but plenty of hustle and wins. Jason Thompson had a career-high 27 points and added 11 rebounds for the Kings, who won their fourth straight game, defeating the Houston Rockets 109-100 on Friday night -- again as a dog. It was the fifth straight double-double for Thompson. Former Bull Andres Nocioni is playing well for the Kings, too. Sacramento is 4-1 SU/ATS at home and this is their fourth straight home game. Play the Kings!
EZWINNERS
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Los Angeles Clippers @ New Orleans Hornets
Play: Los Angeles Clippers +2.5
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The Clippers get a quick chance for revenge after losing to the Hornets 112-84 last week in LA. This time around the struggling Hornets will be without their star point guard, the injured Chris Paul. I look for the Clippers Baron Davis to take advantage of Paul's absence and have a big game against his former team. New Orleans is only 4-11 against the spread in their last 15 games as a favorite. Take the points.
Bobby Maxwell
Chicago -1' at SACRAMENTO
Nailed my FREE selection on Monday night and improved to 9-3 with my comp plays as the Hawks got the win and cover at home over the Blazers. I'll add another winner to that with today's freebie on the Bulls as they hit the oad for a stop in Sacramento to face the Kings.
Chicago has just a plethora of young talent that can get up and down the court and they’ve got some bigs that can rebound. But can they ever put it all together?
I don’t think it has to ALL be there tonight because they are so much more talented than Sacramento. Lay the small chalk and play the Bulls in this one. Chicago definitely plays defense, allowing just one team this season to reach triple-digits.
The Bulls allow just 92.3 points a game while Sacramento gives up 105 points per contest.
The Kings have actually won four straight games after opening the season with losses in four of their first five. But their opposition hasn’t been the class of the league and Chicago brings in a toughness that any of the four previous victims just didn’t have.
Chicago swept the season series against the Kings last season, winning 109-88 in Sacramento in late January as a one-point favorite. The Bulls are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 matchups with Pacific Division teams and 13-2-1 ATS against Western Conference teams.
The Kings are on ATS slides of 9-23 against the Eastern Conference, 7-18 at home against teams with a losing road record and 5-13 on Tuesdays.
The road team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings between these two and I expect it to go to 5-0 after this one. Play the Bulls.
4♦ CHICAGO
Dominic Fazzini
Louisville vs. Arkansas +11' at St. Louis
I hit another complimentary selection Monday with my play on the Hawks against Portland. That makes it four straight winners and seven out of the last eight! And the roll will continue today!
Arkansas, despite having just six scholarship players on the floor, looked great in its opener against Alcorn State on Friday, beating the the Braves 130-68 as sophomore guard Rotnei Clarke scored a school-record 51 points, hitting an SEC-record 13 3-pointers, in 34 minutes.
Even with Clarke's incredible showing in the Razorbacks' opener, Arkansas wasn't simply a one-man show. JC transfer Jemal Farmer had 28 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes, freshman forward Marshawn Powell had 17 points and 11 rebounds, senior post player Michael Washington added 14 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes, and freshman point guard Julysses Nobles had eight points and nine assists.
Most of the focus on Louisville the past few months focused on coach Rick Pitino's indiscretions off the court, as it was revealed that he had an affair with a woman six years ago who tried to extort millions of dollars from Pitino and contended that the coach have her $3,000 for an abortion.
So you can't blame Pitino for being eager to start the season. But the Cardinals have some on-court issues to deal with as they tip things off tonight.
Louisville lost three of its top seven players from last season, and has five freshmen on the roster this year, so it could take some time for Pitino to mold his players into a cohesive unit. And the Cardinals have lost a game in November the past two seasons, so slow starts are nothing new to this team.
Arkansas is 5-0 ATS in its last five nonconference games, while Louisville is 1-5 ATS in its last six nonconference games.
Razorbacks coach John Pelphrey, who played under Pitino at Kentucky in the early 1990s, suspended five players indefinitely, leaving his team with a thin bench, but fatigue shouldn't come into play this early in the season, so I think the Razorbacks should be able to hang with Louisville tonight. Take Arkansas in this one.
2♦ ARKANSAS
JR TIPS
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RAPTORS at NUGGETS
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The Denver Nuggets beat the defending champions in their last game in a blowout and will try to win their fifth straight against the Raptors and sixth straight at home in the series. Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points on 11 of 20 shooting, despite having first-year Laker Ron Artest guarding him and he is averaging a career-best 29.7 points a game. The Nuggets shot a season-best 59.8 percent in Toronto's last visit to the Pepsi Center in a 132-98 Denver victory and the Nuggets have won five in a row at home against the Raptors. Denver's last beat down of the Raptors was their worst loss in Raptors franchise history which had their coach fired the following day and replaced by assistant Jay Triano.Triano and the Raptors lost 101-100 to Phoenix as first year Raptor Hedo Turkoglu matched a season high with 20 points but missed a step-back jumper from the top of the key as time expired.Raptors four-time All-Star Chris Bosh looks to extend his double-double streak to six after posting 25 points and 10 rebounds against Phoenix. Bosh has scored 20 or more points in 17 straight games dating to last season, had 24 in each of the two losses to Denver last season.The Raptors and Nuggets are among the league's highest-scoring teams, averaging 106.9 and 106.2, respectively. The Nuggets could be a little sluggish on defense after beating the Lakers in their last game and playing their best defensive game of the season. Both team play the same style of basketball which is why they have gone way over the total in all their matchups last season. Look for another high scoring competitive game betwen these two team tonight.
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TAKE OVER 219
Spartan
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DEN -8.5 vs TOR
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Denver is a much stronger team here than the visiting Raptors and recently flexed their muscles with a resounding blow out of the champion Lakers. I look for Denver to dictate the pace of this game and pull away in the end for an impressive double digit cover. I expect the Nuggets to get out and run the floor forcing Toronto into an unwanted up tempo game. Melo is performing as well as he ever has in his career and seems on a mission this season. Love the Nuggets to convincingly cash the ticket here guys.
MTi Sports
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Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers
Prediction: Over
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The Lakers are 7-0 OU (+16.1 ppg) at home after a loss at home in which Lamar Odom had more rebounds than points and 7-0 OU (+17.5 ppg) at home after a loss at home in which Kobe Bryant shot worse than 33% from the field. The Pistons are 4-0 OU (+16.5 ppg) on the road after a loss in which they made more baskets than their opponent and 4-0 OU (+13.2 ppg) after a game at home in which less than 45% of their baskets were assisted. Take these two OVER.
Randall the Handle
Toronto +1.43 over OTTAWA
It all comes down to goaltending for the Maple Leafs because when they get some they’re very difficult to beat. It doesn’t even have to be great goaltending, just adequate because on most night you’ll find the Leafs outplaying their opponent. On Saturday against the Flames, the Leafs outshot the Flames by a whopping 40-22 but still lost and that’s pretty much been the story of their season. Anyway, it’ll be Vesa Toskala in net tonight and he’s looked a lot sharper recently and he’s playing and moving in the net with a lot more confidence. The Sens are in a bit of a funk too but it’s not from a lack of effort. They, too, are difficult to beat with its main problem being a lack of goal scorers. The Sens play a disciplined style and they can frustrate anyone. However, without Anton Volchenkov on defense the Sens have not been as good, as he’s proven to be one of their most important players. This game is really a toss-up and it all comes down to the tag. If the Leafs were a -1.50 favorite the play would be Ottawa. The Sens should not be this high a price over the Leafs. Play: Toronto +1.43 (Risking 2 units).
NASHVILLE +1.19 over San Jose
Very quietly the Preds are moving up the standings and in fact, have now won six of its last eight games. Nashville is coming off a 2-0 win over the Habs but that is this year’s most misleading close game. Had it not been for Carey Price the score would have been 7-0 or worse. The whole game was played in the Canadiens end and at one point the Preds were outshooting the Habs 42-10. The final shot count read 55-20. In four of the Preds last six games they’ve allowed one goal or less and they’ve allowed less than 30 shots on net in four straight games. These Predators are playing as good defensively as anyone and overall they’re playing as well as anyone too. They recently were at the Shark Tank and held a 3-2 lead with about eight minutes to go before a couple of late goals by San Jose ruined their night. The Sharkies are good but they’re not invincible and they’re rather fortunate to get any points in its last two games in St. Louis and Chicago. They had a combined 40 shots on net in those two games (17 against the Blues and 23 in Chicago) but picked up three out of a possible four points. The Preds are so tough and so hungry and with the crowds getting larger and louder it can only inspire them more. Play: Nashville +1.19 (Risking 2 units).
Colorado +1.82 over CALGARY
The best part about this game is that the Av’s are coming off an 8-2 smack down by the Canucks at the Pepsi Center. That thumping cannot be sitting well with them and they’re good enough to bounce back in a big way. Also, they catch the Flames returning home from that three game trip to Montreal, Buffalo and Toronto. The Flames have picked up points in six straight games by winning five and losing one in OT. Three of the six went into OT and all six (with the exception of the Leafs game in which they were badly outplayed) were right down to the wire. Five of the six games were on the road with one home game mixed in meaning that this is the seventh straight game the Flames have had to catch a plane to its next destination. The close games, the travel, the three OT games all take its toll and with a 12-4-1-1 record, Calgary is most definitely not in desperation or panic mode whatsoever. We could catch Calgary in a vulnerable spot here and after that ugly 8-2 loss Colorado will come out and play their hearts out. Great spot and a very sweet tag on a team that also has 12 wins. Play: Colorado +1.82 (Risking 2 units).
SPORTS WAGERS
NEW ORLEANS/L.A. Clippers under 194
Both these teams are missing their top playmakers, as both Eric Gordon and Chris Paul remain on the shelf. These two played recently in L.A., with the Hornets picking up the win by a score of 112-84. The Clippers are not going to play that same run and gun style here after losing by 28 to that style and it also helps that the Clip Joint will be playing its third game in four days and the tail end of back-to-backs. This visitor is not going to be in an up-tempo mood at all. We’ve seen both these teams shoot miserable for long stretches and with the Hornets record being 3-8 and the Clippers not much better at 4-7, the way to turn things around is to turn it up defensively and that’s what can be expected here. Play: New Orleans/LAC under 194 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
Toronto/DENVER over 217
The Raps have never seen a three-point shot they didn’t like and when they miss it leads to easy buckets by the opposition. Both these teams are loaded with shooters and unless both teams are very cold this one should soar over. There's something about the Mile High City that brings out the worst in the Raptors. They were hammered there 132-93 last season in what turned out to be the last game for head coach Sam Mitchell, who was fired the day after. In ’08 they lost 137-105 and its defense is not much better this year. Play: Toronto/Denver over 217 (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).
HOUSTON/Phoenix over 219½
In years gone by the Rockets have been known as a solid defensive team that would grind out wins. Not anymore. This team has re-tooled and plays a much more wide-open, quick-shot type of game. The Suns have had that style forever and with perhaps the two best set-up men in the business in Rick Nash and Aaron Brooks, this one has all the makings of a quick-paced, tons of open looks, high scoring affair. They both want it that way and they’ll both get it. Play: Houston/Phoenix over 219½ (Risking 2.02 units to win 2).