DAVE COKIN
COLORADO STATE AT UTAH STATE
PLAY: COLORADO STATE +3.5
I wouldn’t expect much defense tonight as Utah State plays host to Colorado State. Neither of these teams is much good at that aspect of the game. So this is very likely to be a win for whichever team hits more of the open looks they each figure to receive.
I’m looking at Colorado State here. First off, I’ve got same season revenge from a close home loss in play, and that’s an angle that has won again this year, as it usually does.
I also see the Rams as being in better form. They’ve gotten used to life without talented Gian Clavell, and prior to Saturday’s loss at UNLV, Colorado State had been playing some better basketball lately. As for the loss to the Rebels, I didn’t read anything of significance into that game. UNLV shot it pretty well, and CSU played a very sloppy game, committing 21 turnovers, most of which looked unforced to me. That might very well have been a hangover from the insane finish with Boise State just a few days earlier.
Utah State is off its best game in quite some time. The Aggies snapped a five-game skid with a solid performance against New Mexico. That was also their best win of the season. Utah State entered league play with the best non-league record of any MWC team. But that was a mirage as they beat up a collection of nobodies. Once conference play started, even in a very down year for the league as a whole, the Aggies got exposed.
Neither of these teams is anything special, and there are striking similarities as far as the vulnerabilities are concerned. For me, it’s a combo of same season revenge, a slightly better power rating, and discounting the last game for each team, better recent form for the visiting Rams. I see value in taking the points tonight with Colorado State.
Sleepyj
St. Joseph's -2.5
I'll grab St. Joe's here at home laying the -2.5...I had this game rated -5, so i find value in this number..The Hawks are sitting on the bubble and a big win here tonight would do them wonders...St. Joe's is one of those quiet teams that is very good..Same goes for Dayton, but i feel the Hawks rise to the occasion here tonight..I'll grab the value i see in this number.
I'll back St. Peters for a 2nd game in a row..we got a win with them a few days back and my number for this game is -5 as well...Manhattan isn't anything special in my eyes..I'll play the home team with value in the number.
Rob Vinciletti
Arizona State vs. Arizona
Play: Arizona -13
Arizona has won 14 of 15 at home by an average 20 points per game. They already beat Arizona St. This season and have covered 8 of 11 as a home favorite from -11.5 to -15. They seem to like Hump day going a perfect 12-0 covering in all 3 this season. Arizona St has failed to cover 11 of 14 vs teams who average 77 or more points per game and are 0-4 to the spread as a road dog of more than 12. They have home loss revenge but that wont matter as they are 0-3 ats when playing with Home loss revenge. Look for Arizona to coast in this one.
Marc Lawrence
Providence vs. Xavier
Play: Xavier -8
Edges - Musketeers: 21-9 ATS home odd a SU underdog win, including 16-3 ATS in conference games; and 10-3 ATS versus an opponent off a win this season, including 8-0 ATS when Xavier is off a DD win. With that look for Providence to fall to 0-3 ATS in this series. We recommend a 1* play on Xavier.
Ben Burns
Syracuse vs. Louisville
Play: Syracuse +8
The Louisville Cardinals responded to the news that they weren't eligible for the postseason by blowing out a bad Boston College team. Since then, the Cardinals have suffered losses at Duke and at Notre Dame. They'll get another crack at Duke on Saturday afternoon and the recent revenge factor should help provide the Cardinals with some added motivation for that game. First, however, Louisville will take on Syracuse on 2/17. Sure, the Cards will want to snap their losing streak. They're laying a fairly big number though and with the Blue Devils looming on deck, it could be easy to get caught looking ahead. With Syracuse off five straight wins, consider grabbing the points with the visitors on Wednesday.
Scott Spreitzer
Colorado State vs. Utah State
Play: Colorado State +4
Revenge spot for the Rams after losing 96-92 at home to Utah State in January. It's also a chance to atone for a poor performance last time out in an 87-80 loss to UNLV. Larry Eustachy's troops average just 11.6 turnovers per game, normally taking care of the basketball. But they were anything but normal in the loss to the Rebels, committing 20 turnovers, ultimately, the difference between a win and a loss. They'll face a USU team that forces less than a dozen turnovers per contest. I also like the way Prentiss Nixon is starting to fit into the Rams' scheme of things. Nixon could be a little more consistent, but he scored 15 points in a recent win over Boise State and scored 15 points again in a 69-67 loss at San Diego State. He presents a tough matchup for a USU squad that's dropped five of their last six games, and allowing 80 ppg in their last seven. The Rams have covered five of their last six off a SU loss and we'll recommending them here. Colorado State plus the points on Wednesday.
Matt Fargo
Indiana State vs. Illinois State
Play: Indiana State +6
One look at the recent runs from both sides will explain why Illinois St. is a significant favorite here but this is the perfect contrarian setup. The Redbirds have won four straight games and seven of their last eight to move to 10-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference which is good for solo second place. They have also won four straight home games where they are 11-3 but Illinois St. has covered just three of nine games when favored at home. Indiana St. meanwhile has been going the other way as after a 4-1 conference start, it has gone 3-6 in its last nine MVC games including losses in three straight. Records can be skewed which is the case here as those last three losses were winnable games and two of the Sycamores last four losses have come in overtime. Going even more contrarian is the fact that Indiana St. has covered just once over its last nine games so it will be faded considerably by the public here. The Sycamores are one of five teams within two games of each other for fourth place in the conference so there is a lot at stake still. Indiana St. is 11-3 ATS in its 14 games this season against teams with a winning record and going back it is 19-7-2 ATS in its last 28 games against teams with a winning straight up record.
Mike Lundin
Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech
Play: Oklahoma -5
The Oklahoma Sooners have dropped two of their last three, but they're still ranked #3 in the nation and should have no trouble to defeat the Texas Tech Red Raiders Wednesday night. The Sooners shot 52.6% from the field and 12-of-23 from 3-point land when they won the first meeting of the season 91-67 on Jan. 26 and they're 5-2 ATS in the last seven in the series. The Red Raiders are off back-to-back wins against Baylor and Iowa State but I really don't expect an upset here as they'll find it hard to keep up with the Sooners superior offense.
Jim Feist
Arizona State vs. Arizona
Play: Arizona State +11
A big Pac 12 rivalry game that both sides get sky-high for twice a year. Arizona State has already beaten a pair of ranked teams this year. ASU is averaging 75.5 ppg and Willie Atwood has 16 double-digit scoring games without scoring any (3 ppg) last year. Arizona State won at Creighton (Dec. 2) and at UNLV (Dec. 16) and lost at #5 Kentucky (Dec. 12). The Sun Devils are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a double-digit loss at home. Arizona is home and a big favorite, but look for a huge effort by their rivals in a close one.
Bob Harvey
Blackhawks vs. Rangers
Play: Rangers -111
Two NHL heavyweights will square off tonight when the Chicago Blackhawks visit the New York Rangers. Game time is set for 8 PM ET at Madison Square Garden where the Rangers are moneyline favorites (-111) with the total pegged at 5.5.
The Blackhawks (37-18-5, 27-33 PL)had scored four goals during a three-game losing skid before their offense erupted in a 7-2 rout of Toronto on Monday. Rookie Artemi Panarin scored and set up a goal versus the Maple Leafs and netted his first career NHL tally in Chicago's 3-2 season-opening loss to New York on October 7. In Monday’s 7-2 wipeout of Toronto, Patrick Kane notched a four-point performance for the third time this season. Kane scored his team-leading 34th goal to go along with three assists raising his point total to nine (four goals, five assists) this month.
The Rangers (32-18-4, 26-30 PL) are 5-0-1 in their last six contests overall and 8-0-2 in the last 10 at Madison Square Garden to move into second place in the Metropolitan Division.
A pair of future Hall of Famers will be in net for their respective teams. New York will start Henrik Lundqvist while Corey Crawford will get the call for Chicago. Lundqvist made 32 saves in the season opener while Crawford turned aside 24 shots.
The road team is 4-1 in the last five meetings while the Blackhawks are 1-4 last five vs. the Rangers.
The UNDER is 20-3-6 in Chicago’s past 29 games against the Metropolitan Division and 4-0-1 in the past five series meetings. The OVER is 5-0 in the Rangers last five vs. the Central Division and 9-0-2 in the Rangers last 11 vs. Western Conference opponents.
Ricky Tran
Arizona State vs. Arizona
Play: Arizona -13
Free Pick on Arizona - The Sun Devils had a two game win streak snapped with a 78-65 loss at home to UCLA Sunday. They're 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 vs. Pacific-12 and 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. The Wildcats are 21-9 ATS in their last 30 vs. Pacific-12 and off five consecutive wins. They've won five of the last seven meetings in this series, including a 94-82 road win on Jan. 3 as Gabe York lit up the Sun Devils for 22 points. Arizona is averaging 26.2 free throws a game while its opposition is averaging only 16.8 so expect a big advantage from the foul-line for the home team.
Big Al
Blackhawks vs. Rangers
Pick: Rangers
The Blackhawks blew out the Maple Leafs by a 7-2 margin in their last game, but being a -240 favorite at home against the worst team in the league, well, that's pretty much what they were supposed to do. And they used their back-up goalie to boot. The task gets substantially tougher tonight in New York against the Rangers as the 'Hawks are just 15-14 on the road this season and Madison Square Garden is one of the most difficult venues in the NHL for visitors. The Rangers have won five of their last six, with the only loss coming two games ago against a very good Kings team in overtime - a game in which they used their back-up goalie as well and gave Henrik Lundqvist the night off. The Rangers are trying to duplicate the late-season success they had last year, which positioned them well for a run at the Stanley Cup. The Hawks will be without arguably their second-best winger as Marian Hossa has a leg injury and will miss about two weeks as a result. New York has won four of the last five meetings including the only one this season back in early October in Chicago.
Will Rogers
Blackhawks vs. Rangers
Pick: Blackhawks
The defending Stanley Cup champs snapped a three game losing skid with a home win over Toronto on Monday, and I expect to see Chicago string together a few more wins. The Hawks will play their next game on the road at New York, and the Rangers are a little banged up. My money is on the visitors at MSG Wednesday Night.
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Special Teams - The Rangers are brutal on special teams, ranking near the bottom of the league both on the power-play as well as the penalty kill. They will have their hands full trying to stop a Blackhawks power-play unit that ranks 5th in the NHL, and tallied four goals on the man-advantage in Monday's win over Toronto.
2. Patrick Kane - The 27 year old leads the NHL in scoring with 82 points, and he had a goal and four assists on Monday night. He has nine point in seven games in February, and he's particularly dangerous in shootouts, should this game go the distance.
3. X-Factor - The Blackhawks are 20-8 in their last 28 overall, and 9-3 in their last 12 road games.
Stephen Nover
Syracuse / Louisville Under 130.5
This total is low, but not low enough given the quality of these defenses, situation and matchup.
Both teams rank in the top 25 in fewest points allowed. Louisville gives up 60.8 points a game. Only six teams surrender fewer. Syracuse rates 24th holding opponents to 64.4 points a game.
Syracuse ranks 14th of the 15 teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference in field goal percentage. The Orangemen also have the third-highest turnover percentage. Louisville ranks No. 2 in the ACC in defensive two-point field goal percentage and has the conference's highest block shot percentage. Those strengths play into Syracuse's offensive shortcomings.
The Orangmen have gone under in 13 of their last 19 ACC games, while the Cardinals are 21-8-2 to the under in their last 31 home contests. The under has cashed in each of Louisville's past five games.
Neither team will be participating in a postseason tournament so the intensity level should be up as each team's season winds down. Louisville's leading scorer, Damion Lee, mas missed 21 of 28 shots from the floor in the last two games after being out with a bruised knee. Pitino said he plans on giving minutes to his younger, lesser-used players since the Cardinals won't be going to a postseason tournament.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim hired Louisville coach Rick Pitino as an assistant back in 1976. The two have remained close friends. So don't look for either coach to run up a score, or do anything to embarrass the other.
RAY MONOHAN
Wild vs. Flames
Play: Wild -110
The Wild open as slight favorites in Calgary on Wednesday night, which gives them some value as they take on a Calgary team that has been struggling. The Flames have gone just 4-7 over their last 11 games as this team has certainly showed some signs of growing pains with their youthful bunch. The Flames come in off back to back losses as they simple haven't had much defense as of late. Minnesota decided to replace their head coach after dropping 8 straight games as John Torchetti and won his debut on the road in Vancouver 5-2. This was just the spark this team needed. The Wild have plenty of talent and this wakeup call has certainly come at a very necessary time. The Wild won all three meetings last season as they've had solid success against the Flames in the past. Look for Minnesota to come out once again inspired and grab their 2nd straight win.