John Ryan
Grizzlies vs. Suns
Play: Over 218
5* graded play OVER Memphis/Phoenix set to start at 8 PM ET. My proprietary sports handicapping model and simulator shows a high probability that more than 220 points will be scored in this game. Supporting this graded play is a system that has produced a record of 50-22 ATS for 69.4% winners since 1996. Play ‘over’ with all teams where the total is greater than or equal to 210 after having covered three of their last four against the spread facing an opponent after having covered four of their last five against the spread. Phoenix is shooting extremely well hitting no less than 51% from the field in four of the last five games. Memphis has hit better than 52% from the field in three of the past four games. Phoenix head coach Gentry is a near perfect Gentry is 15-1 OVER (+13.9 Units) in home games against southwest division opponents. Memphis is scoring 100.8 points per game ranking 12th overall in the NBA. They play an up tempo style of game as do the Suns. Memphis ranks 21st in defensing scoring allowing 103.1 points per game. The Suns rank first in scoring offense at 109.3 points per game and 8th in assists at 23.1 assists per game. They are 30th in scoring defense allowing 110.2 points per game. So, although this is an inflated line already it is nowhere close to being where this final score is projected to take place. Take the ‘OVER’
Wunderdog Sports
Loyola Maryland vs. George Mason
Play: George Mason -12.5
George Mason looks like they have it going again. They have been playing well above the line to start the season and own a 5-0 mark at home. They have faced double-digit favorite lines in each of their last three games and have been more than up to the task producing a perfect 3-0 ATS mark. Loyola has simply played no one with the size and talent of George Mason and have had issues on the offensive end vs some relatively weak opponents. The Greyhounds, in their last two vs Fairfield and St. Peters, could not get out of the mid 50s. That makes a big number well within reason here for GMU. I'll back George Mason in this on.
Rob Vinciletti
Denver U vs. Saint Marys
Play: Saint Marys -20.5
St.Mary's is the top team in the Western Conference and will be looking to bounce back from a loss at San Diego St where they were held to a season low 39% shooting from the field. They check in at 27-9 ats in non conference games and 26-10 ats after a non conference game. They are 6-0 at home and are winning by an average 37 points per game. Tonight they take on a Denver team that slipped past Cal Northridge in their last game. However Denver is mediocre once again this season and are 1-6 ats in non conference games. They have allowed their last 2 opponents to shoot 505 or better from the field as well. This one could get ugly and fast.
Ross Benjamin
Villanova vs. Pennsylvania
Play : Pennsylvania +15.5
The Quakers have all 5 starters back from a team that had a miserable season in 2009-2010. However former Penn player Jerome Allen has this team headed in the right direction. When these battles between the "Big Four" in Philadelphia take place you can throw the records out the window. These kids are very familiar with each other and with the number being so large the edge goes to the underdog.
Any underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points, that allowed 30 points or less in the first half in 2 straight games, they have 2 or more starters returning from last year than their opponent, and they are playing in Game 10 of the season or less is 32-10 ATS since 1997. Play on Penn plus the points as a free selection.
Info Plays
3* New York Knicks -6
Reasons why the Knicks will cover the spread:
1) The Knicks just played at Toronto last week, and beat the Raptors 116-99, and should have no problem beating them by at least seven points tonight. The Raptors are just 9-19 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
2) The Knicks are 20-7 ATS after scoring 110 points or more 2 straight games since 1996, while the Raptors are just 10-23 ATS after allowing 110 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
3) Play against any team (Toronto) who is a good offensive team averaging 98-102 PPG, going up against a horrible defensive team (>=102 PPG), after a combined score of 215 points or more 2 straight games, as its 59-25 since 1996.
Jack Jones
Los Angeles Clippers +8.5
The Lakers are certainly overvalued tonight against the Clippers. This will be the second of a back-to-back for the Lakers, which is always a tough spot. Los Angeles is just 2-4 SU in their last 6 games overall, and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games. This team always tends to play to the level of their competition and will have a hard time winning this game let alone winning by 9 points or more.
The Clippers are playing much better basketball of late, going 4-4 SU & 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall. They have wins over both San Antonio and New Orleans during this run, two of the best teams in the Western Conference. That's what makes me believe they can play with the Lakers tonight. The Lakers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite. The Lakers are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record. The Clippers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games as an underdog. The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. The Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings with the Lakers. Roll with the Clippers Wednesday.
Black Widow
1* on Golden State Warriors +10.5
We are getting the Golden State Warriors at an excellent price Wednesday. Golden State has only lost once in their last 7 games by more than 10 points. This Warriors team is much-improved from a year ago, adding David Lee who is one of the most underrated players in the league. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry give Golden State one of the best guard tandems in the NBA as well. The Spurs are off to their best start ever, but as a result they are overvalued at this point in the season. The Warriors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games & 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a S.U. loss. This young team also doesn't mind playing on no rest, going 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 0 days rest. The Spurs are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Take Golden State and the points.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Bulls/Cavs OVER 196
The Cleveland defense has been atrocious, allowing an average of 114.4 points during its 5-game skid. As a result, we have seen each of Cleveland's last 5 games fly over the total. Having just played a game last night, it's going to be difficult for Cleveland to all of a sudden dig in on the defensive end with tired legs. Bet the Over.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Minnesota Timberwolves +5.5
The Thunder have failed to cover the spread in their last 4 games overall and their last 4 games on the road. They are a lousy 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a road favorite and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road favorite of 5.0-10.5 points. It is also worth noting that the home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Oklahoma City was lucky to escape with 2-point wins in each of its last 2 trips to Minneapolis. We'll take the points as the T-Wolves take OKC down to the wire again.
Larry Ness
Seton Hall @ Arkansas
PICK: Arkansas +2.5
The Seton Hall and Arkansas meet for the first time ever on the basketball court tonight in Louisville, as part of the Big East/SEC Invitational. Seton Hall hasn't played since November 29th when it beat St Peter's, 69-49. That win ended a two-game slide for the Pirates, evening the team's record at 3-3. Arkansas enters 5-1 with its lone loss coming 70-65 in OT to UAB. Jeremy Hazzell averaged 24.0 PPG for Seton Hall in its first three games but injured his wrist and is expected to be out of the lineup for at least another month. The Pirates really don't have a replacement for him in the backcourt and Arkansas should take advantage of that. Clarke (16.5) is the team's leading scorer and he has three decent players with him on the perimeter. Joining Clarke in the Razorbacks' backcourt are the trio of Peterson (8.5), Nobles (8.2) and Scott (4.3). The 6-9 Johnson (11.8-8.7) averaged just 2.6 PPG last season and starts up front along with the 6-7 Bryant (5.2-4.0). The 6-7 Powell averaged 14.9-6.7 last year but only 5.8-4.0 so far TY while 6-9 freshman Waithe (5.2-5.2) gives Arkansas even more frontcourt depth. Seton Hall counters with the 6-6 Robinson (12.8-6.3) and the 6-8 Pope (8.5-6.8). Without Hazzell, I just don't see how the Pirates can be be favored here. Take Arkansas.
Teddy Covers
Miami @ Utah
PICK: Miami -1
Generally, revenge means very little in the NBA. But this is one time where revenge is legitimately meaningful. Miami led by 19 in the third quarter against Utah when these two teams met less than a month ago. Then, the Heat collapsed, and the Jazz stormed back to win in overtime. The loss sent Miami into a tailspin – they lost at home against Boston the next time out and five of their next nine games. The Heat have only broken out of that slump within the last ten days, still offering residual value from their underachieving November.
We think of Utah as having one of the strongest homecourts in the league. The reality for the Jazz this season has been an inability to beat good teams at Energy Solutions Arena. Their wins at home have come against Toronto, the LA Clippers, New Jersey, Sacramento, New Orleans, the LA Lakers, the Bucks, Pacers and Grizzlies. Of that grouping, only the Lakers are an elite squad – most of those teams are struggling and/or bottom feeders. Utah’s losses at home this year? Dallas, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Phoenix, four strong playoff contenders – just like Miami.
We’ve established Miami’s extra motivation. We’ve established the Jazz’s over-rated home court. Last, but not least, we’ve got a serious matchup edge working in our favor. Utah has no answer for LeBron James, who notched a triple double in the first meeting. They have no answer for Dwayne Wade, who scored a season high when they met last month. And Utah has no answer to a Miami defense that has stepped up in a big way in recent weeks, holding three of their last four opponents to 78 points or less. 2* Take Miami.
Sam Martin
Vanderbilt at Missouri
Prediction: Missouri
Tigers have had time to rest up for this game, and face a surprising Vanderbilt team that comes in at 7-1 straight up so far on the season. But we'll back the home side here, as Missouri also has only one loss on the year - that coming in a hard-fought loss against Georgetown. The Tigers have shot 54% or better in each of their last three games, and this will be a huge jump in class for Vandy, who has faced Grambling, Appalachian State, Western Kentucky, and Belmont in the last two and a half weeks. Missouri wins this one big!
Nelly
Oklahoma City at Minnesota
The Wolves have been respectable at home this season. Kevin Love and Michael Beasley have formed a solid scoring and rebounding tandem but this team is still just 1-7 in its last eight games and has allowed at least 100 points in eleven of the last twelve games. Oklahoma City won by ten at home earlier this season when these teams met and the Thunder have won six in a row SU in this series - but the last two trips to Minneapolis have been just two-point games. The recent road results for the Thunder have been ugly with a 3-3 record in their last six road games. Two wins came in overtime and the other win came by just one point. This will not be a great situation as the Thunder are playing a sixth road game in their last eight games while also coming off a big matchup with Chicago on Monday. Oddly, Oklahoma City is just 4-9 ATS with one day off between games this season and overall the Wolves have been a slightly better ATS team. In the last five home games, Minnesota has two wins while also taking the Spurs to overtime so this game could lead to a surprising result. Take the T'Wolves.