Chris Jordan
Western Kentucky +5 at SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina coach Darrin Horn not only has to take on his former team - Western Kentucky - but he comes into this one down two starters.
That won't be good when facing the Hilltoppers, who return several key parts off a team that’s advanced past the first round of the NCAA tournament the last two seasons.
Think they want a piece of the former coach, who believes the grass was greener in the SEC, rather than the Sun Belt Conference? Keep in mind, this is a coach who’s philosophy is predicated on building relationships with his players.
But he bolted for Columbia.
The 'Toppers are extremely talented and have an entire roster that knows how to win. This is a tough chore for South Carolina, and I'll take the team that has nothing to lose.
4♦ WESTERN KENTUCKY
Michael Cannon
Minnesota at MIAMI-FL -2
I’m 37-25-1 with my last 63 overall free plays.
Take Miami (Fla) as the small home chalk over Minnesota.
The Hurricanes figure to make some noise in the ACC this season, but for now we’re going to grab them at this bargain price over Minnesota.
The Gophers come in off consecutive upset losses to Portland and Texas A&M. They averaged just 60.5 ppg in the two losses in Anaheim while shooting under 36 percent from the field.
Miami is coming off a 15-point win over South Carolina as a 2½-point underdog. The ‘Canes have scored at least 70 points in six of their seven games, and only the Gamecocks were able to score more than 60 points against them.
Minnesota is on a number of negative ATS slides, including 6-15 overall, 1-9 on the road, 2-7 versus the ACC and 4-10 after a SU loss. Miami is on positive pointspread runs of 4-2 at home and 18-5 in non-league action.
Take Miami minus the small number as they grab the home win and cover.
3♦ MIAMI (FLA)
Drew Gordon
Minnesota at MIAMI-FL -2
14-7 roll L21 Free Plays! For tonight's complimentary play, we're looking at the Golden Gophers/Hurricanes match up.
Liking the 'Canes here, as this game shapes up nicely against a Gophers team that's obviously still seeking its identity, and now heads into hostile territory for the first time this season. While its true the Gophers have faced much tougher comp than the 'Canes, Minnesota has not fared well in those games (except against Butler).
Many of the same reasons the Gophers struggled against Portland and Texas A&M are once again present here tonight. You see, the Gophers begin & end with senior forward Damian Johnson, and Miami has more than enough size to contend with Johnson. Not only do they have their own senior big man Dwayne Collins, who's a load down-low. But also role player types like McGowan, and backups Johnson and Gamble.
One of the biggest problems for Minnesota has been rebounding the ball, and the fact Miami has a + 12.3 rebounding margin is a mismatch in the making. Not only that, but Minnesota-backers have to be worried about their team traveling for their first true road game. Their numbers have been solid on the offensive end, shooting almost 50% on the season... You better believe that'll change in South Florida tonight!
Finally, the trends all point against Minnesota, who's a pathetic 1-9 ATS in their L10 roadies, AND just 2-7 ATS over their L9 against the ACC. In the end, the Gophers are facing some early season struggles, and a trip to the surging Canes (who match up particularly well) is the last thing they need. Until they prove otherwise, I'm not buying what Minnesota is selling. Canes grab the cash Wednesday!
Take Miami-Florida over Minnesota in this college hoops match up.
2♦ MIAMI-FLORIDA
Stephen Nover
San Diego State at SAN DIEGO -2
San Diego has played much stronger competition than San Diego State having defeated Stanford and No. 25 Oklahoma and Houston in the Great Alaska Shootout before running out of gas and falling to undefeated Washington State in the championship game.
I see San Diego coming back from that embarrassing 93-56 loss to Washington State to play well against its cross-town rival.
San Diego State just got through playing Northern Arizona. The Aztecs lost at Pacific, 71-63, in their previous game.
San Diego lost at Pacific by just one point, 56-55.
This is a cheap price to lay with the Toreros.
4♦ SAN DIEGO
Tony Weston
Bad, bad call with the Warriors last night as they got destroyed at the hands of the Nuggets.
Well, that’s not happening tonight as I’m delivering a strong winner. Tonight, I’m taking the Kings at home against the visiting Pacers.
Coming into this game, even though Sacramento is just 8-8 SU this season, the team has been a huge money maker, going 11-5 ATS this year.
Over the Kings last 11 games the team has gone 9-2 ATS, including covers in 3 straight games. At home, Sacramento has covered in 6 of its last 7 games and is 6-1 SU in that stretch.
At home this year, the Kings have beaten their opponents by an average of about 6 points per game (109-102.7). Tonight, Sacramento is laying about 1 1/2 points against a Pacers team that’s covered in just 1 of its last 7 games and is only 6-9 ATS overall this season.
The Kings will continue to roll and cash in one more time against the visiting Pacers.
3♦ KINGS
Scott Delaney
Illinois at Clemson
Nailed Northwestern in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge last night, tonight we turn to the ACC and play Clemson to get it done over the visiting Illni.
It's a perfect spot for the Tigers, who are extremely tough to beat at home, and should have no problem mauling a Fighting Illni team that is 1-5 on the road in this annual Challenge.
Clemson has won 29 of its last 30 home games, and since Illinois followed its four straight home wins by dropping back-to-back games outside of Champaign, this one could get out of hand early.
4♦ CLEMSON
Craig Davis
Tonight's free play is on the Dallas Mavericks to absolutely pummel the New Jersey Nets. Does it get much simpler than this? The Mavs are a little ticked about letting Philadelphia get back into the game the other night at home and needed a Jason Terry 18-foot baseline jumper to secure a 2-point win. That simply won't happen tonight against a team that has yet to win a single game. The Nets are trying to avoid being the first team in history to start a season 0-18, and you can bet the Mavs don't want to be known as THAT team to give the Nets their first win of the season. Everything favors the Mavs in this game, with the exception of injuries. True, the Mavs are dinged up but I'm not sure it's going to matter. Dallas has more talent at every position on the floor and the Nets have proven to be the worst team in the NBA... it's going to take a miracle for the Nets to keep this game within 10. No contest... Mavs roll.
3♦ DALLAS
Wunderdog
Northern Iowa vs. Iowa State
Play: Iowa State -6
Northern Iowa had their moment in the dance shortened with an opening round loss to Purdue 61-56. They have the talent to make their way back, but they are no longer under the radar and were tripped up by a lesser Big East force in DePaul. Iowa State may have shown that they can go into the MVC and catch some easy pickings by grabbing a 20-point win over Drake, and are two points from a perfect 6-0 start. The Panthers aren’t having any trouble taking out MVC foes, but stepping out of the conference, they’re just 5-13 ATS in their last 18. The Cyclones are a very profitable 21-10 ATS as a favorite and living large off of non-conference foes at 7-1 ATS in their last eight. I'll take the Cyclones in this one.
Vancouver Canucks vs. New Jersey Devils
Play: Over 5
The New Jersey Devils are a hard team to keep from scoring. On the season they have not been shutout, and have been held to one goal just one time in 24 games, so you know they are almost an automatic 2+. The Canucks have been very explosive of late. In their last six games they have produced games of eight, seven, five and four goals. They have subsequently averaged 4.3 goals per game in those six. They have yet to play to a total of just five all season long as all their games have been posted at 5.5 or higher. These teams have combined to play 50 games this season and the total has reached at least five goals in 33 of the 50, or 67% of the time, so I think this one is set too low and the value lies on this one going OVER the total.
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Washington Wizards -3
The Bucks have come back down to earth after a hot start, having lost 4 of their last 5, and they have been dealt a big blow with the loss of sharp shooter Michael Redd. They have lost 3 in a row on the road and have really struggled away from home all season with just a 2-5 mark. The Wiz have ended a tough stretch by winning 3 of 4 and I just can't see them falling tonight as the Bucks must contend with Arenas, Butler, and Jamison. While Milwaukee gets Bogut back, forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will likely miss a ninth straight game with a foot sprain and guard Luke Ridnour could miss as well with a hamstring injury. Just don't think the Bucks are healthy enough to contend with a Wizards team that is playing well right now. Lay the points.