Teddy Covers
Air Force @ Wyoming
PICK: Air Force +2
My clients and I cashed an easy ‘right side’ winner when Air Force beat Wyoming 72-51 in the first meeting between these two schools this year. Here’s an excerpt from that write-up:
“The Cowboys were not a particularly deep team coming into the season, and a series of injuries has made their depth concerns significantly worse in recent weeks, even after a week long layoff. Four of their top seven players are either nursing injuries or out. Last year’s leading scorer Afam Muojeke is done for the year after another season ending knee injury. Center Adam Waddell has a sore Achilles. Second leading scorer and leading rebounder Djibril Thiam has a bad toe. Starting point guard JayDee Luster has a bad hip.
“Air Force is coming off a trio of losses against the three best teams in the conference, losing at San Diego St and BYU, and at home to UNLV. But this Falcons squad was good enough to beat Utah by eight on this floor; the same Utes team that just won by 17 at Wyoming. They beat Wyoming 59-40 on a neutral floor in the MWC tournament last March, ending the Cowboys season. Off three straight losses against elite foes, both the focus and the pointspread value are in the Falcons favor today.”
We’ve got basically the exact same scenario tonight – only the court is different. Wyoming is coming off another week long layoff. They are still riddled with injuries – JayDee Luster, Adam Waddell, Joe Hudson and Brian Gibson are all battling ailments, not even close to 100% if they play at all tonight. Meanwhile, Air Force has lost three in a row against the same three teams they lost too back in January – elite foes San Diego State, UNLV and BYU. That leaves the Falcons fully focused and hungry tonight as they seek to avoid their longest losing streak of the year.
Wyoming has lost nine out of ten in SU fashion. They’ve lost four of their last five at home in Laramie in Mountain West play, after losing home games to the likes of Wisconsin-Green Bay and North Florida in non-conference action. Air Force has consistently beaten the weaker Mountain West teams on the highway, including SU wins as road dogs at Utah and TCU in recent weeks as part of an 8-3 ATS mark in road games this season. Wrong team favored here! 2* Take Air Force
Larry Ness
L.A. Clippers @ New Orleans
PICK: New Orleans -7
The Hornets have been the league’s streakiest team this year, opening 8-0 (and 11-1) but then losing nine of their next 12. After a 50-50 run, the Hornets won 10 straight from Jan 12 through Jan 26 but return from the All Star break having lost nine of 11 with Okafor (11.1-10.1) missing the last nine games of that streak (2-7), although he’s expected shortly. However, Okafor will not play tonight vs the Clippers. The Clippers lost last night 111-88 last night at Oklahoma City and this marks the team's 10th straight road game. The Clipps are 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS so far on this ridiculously long trip. While the Hornets have been hurt by the absence of Okafor, the Clippers have been without the services of their leading scorer, third-year guard Eric Gordon (24.1-4.5 APG). Gordon has been out of action since January 22nd due to a small bone chip fracture and sprain in his right wrist and the hope is that he’ll be back in about a week. he most realistic date for his return would be Monday against the Kings. He’s missed 14 games with LA going 4-10 SU and 5-9 ATS without him. The Clippers did get center Chris Kaman (9.8-6.6) back right before the break, when he played just under 10 minutes (four points / six rebounds) in a loss at Minnesota. Kaman played just under 20 minutes last night, scoring eight points but grabbing only two rebounds. Blake Griffin (22.9-12.5) gets a tough matchup here with David West (19.0-7.60 and I can see West rising to the Challenge. After all, New Orleans will be looking for revenge after Los Angeles snapped a 14-game series winning streak by the Hornets when the Clippers won 99-95 in LA way back in November (note: the Hornets had also covered all 14 of those wins!). The Clippers are in a brutal spot playing back-to-back nights and not having been home since Feb 2. The Hornets are playing for the first time since last Wednesday and could sure use a win. Lay the points.
Jack Jones
Chicago Bulls -8.5
The Chicago Bulls return to the floor Wednesday for their first game following the All-Star break. I expect them to pick up right where they left off before the break as they went 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their final four games, including a 10-point victory over the Spurs last time out. Chicago will be facing the lowly Toronto Raptors who played last night, losing 101-114 at Charlotte. The Raptors have been doing a lot of losing all season, going 15-42 overall and 2-18 in their last 20 games. Their only wins during this 20-game stretch came against the lowly Timberwolves and Clippers.
Chicago has owned Toronto in recent meetings and I expect that to continue tonight. The Bulls are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in their last three meetings with Toronto, winning by 20 points at home and by 17 and 16 points on the road, respectively. I don't see the Raptors being able to say within double-digits of this superior Bulls team. The Raptors are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 vs. Eastern Conference foes. Toronto is 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog. Chicago is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 meetings in Toronto. The Raptors are 1-12 ATS in a home game where where the total is between 195 and 199.5 points over the last 3 seasons. Bet the Bulls Wednesday.
Black Widow
1* on Temple +13.5
Temple is one of the better teams in the country that nobody talks about. They will earn their respect tonight by giving the Duke Blue Devils a run for their money. Temple is 21-5 this season, and they've won eight straight games with seven of those wins coming by 9 points or more. Not only have they been winning, they have been blowing out the competition. The Owls are 49-22-2 ATS in their last 73 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Temple is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. ACC opponents, while Duke is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU win of more than 20 points. Duke is not 14 points better than the Owls, even at home. Take Temple and the points.
Ray Monohan
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors
Play: Chicago Bulls -8
Being a Canadian I follow the Raptors quite closely. I have one way to explain just how I feel about them this year. "They Suck". Coach Triano is getting nothing out of his best players, they've essentially quit on him, and they're headed for yet another lottery pick, plain + simple. Wednesday night they get the Bulls in town at the ACC. The Raps are 15-42 this year, 10-18 at home, and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games overall. Not good at all. The Bulls come into this one 38-16 overall, and 32-20 ATS, sporting a 13-12 record on the road. The public money is coming in on Chicago so jump on this one quick before the line moves again. Joakim Noah, who has missed the last 30 games with a thumb injury, will be back in the lineup, and there's no way the Raps avoid losing the night after their 11th straight road loss. Chicago has posted two double-digit wins already this year over the Raptors. Trends: Bulls are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games playing on 3 or more days rest. Bulls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall. Raptors are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 vs. Eastern Conference. Enjoy this easy winner folks.