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Philadelphia vs. New JerseyFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: PhiladelphiaFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Philadelphia Flyers are stuck in a tie for 10th in Eastern Conference with the New York Islanders. This is not where Philly expected to be at this point during the season, but a combination of injuries and suspect goaltending has taken it's toll on the Flyers. They will try to get back on track tonight against an equally desperate New Jersey team at the Prudential Center in Jersey.
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Here are my keys to the game:
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1: Situational/Motivational - The Devils have earned just two wins in their last nine games, and both of those have come in shootouts against weaker opponents. Both those victories came in their last three games, so as winners of two of their last three, there may be a reduced sense of urgency for the Devils. That being said, the Devils sit just one point ahead of eighth place New York, and a couple more losses would see them drop out of a playoff position. Both teams will be playing for keeps tonight, in a game with major playoff implications.
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2: Special Teams - The Flyers have really got it going on the power-play, they currently rank 5th in the NHL, converting on over 23 percent of their chances so far. This should come as no surprise, as Philly owned the league's best power-play unit last season.
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3: X-Factor - Ilya Bryzgalov has been widely criticized since his arrival in Philadelphia, and much of that criticism is warranted. He has been excellent at times though, and he's coming off a solid outing in the win against Buffalo in the Flyers last game. He is second in the NHL in wins, despite a pretty average 2.77 goals against average. The 32 year old veteran is capable of slamming the door on opponents if his team plays strong defense in front of him, and that is what I expect to see from the Flyers tonight.
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Southern California vs. UtahFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: UtahFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Though some Pac-12 insiders had warned of an SC uprising in Vegas in recent weeks, others are now suggesting that the Trojans looked like a very distracted team in their no-show regular season-ending loss at Wazzu as the squad contemplates a pending changeover at the top of the program. Several prominent names (Jamie Dixon, Tim Floyd, Josh Pastner, Reggie Theus) are being mentioned as possible replacements for interim HC Bob Cantu, who will reportedly be able to stick around in an assistant capacity. SC’s shooting eye has been apt to disappear all season, which is why it seems unlikely Troy can replicate its 50% FG shooting that helped it win 76-59 at Salt Lake City back on Jan. 12 in what (despite the positive result) was also Kevin O’Neill’s last game as SC’s head coach. Larry Krystowiak’s revenge-minded Utes enter on the ascent after playing two of their best games of the season in last week’s home sweep of the Oregon.
Dave Cokin
Utah vs USC
Pick: Utah
USC has been a split personality all season. The Trojans were horrible at the outset of the campaign, and it was readily apparent to almost all observers that there just wasn't a connection between the coach and the players. Once the axe fell on Kevin O'Neill, things picked up for USC, and they managed to forge a very respectable 9-9 league ledger with some impressive wins. But my thinking is that the Trojans may once again be toast. They're arriving in Las Vegas off a terrible showing at Washington State and an incident-marred weekend in Spokane that has resulted in one suspension and at this point USC is once again a team ripe to be faded. Utah was just 5-13 in league play but this is a team that has clearly made significant forward progress this season. I have to think there's going to be a focused effort from the Utes, while I am just not sure Las Vegas is the place to be for a USC team that is apparently having a problem with discipline. I see Utah with a terrific chance to spring the minor upset, and getting a few points makes it even better.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
St John's/ Villanova Under 125: The Redmen just can't score right now as they have averaged just 56.3 ppg (Regulation) in their last 7 games. In their last 5 games they have shot just 37.3% from the field, including a mere 16.4% from long range. Those numbers may not get all that much better vs a tough Cats defense that has allowed just 58.5 ppg in their last 8 games (Regulation). Offensively Villanova is not all that strong and they are not an uptempo team. The Cats do average 67.9 ppg on the year, but have struggled some down the stretch as they have put up just 62.5 ppg in heir last 4 games. With their lack of scoring punch of late, the Redmen have turned to their defense a bit more and they have allowed just 62.8 ppg in their last 5 games. Both teams are poor shooting teams, neither team hits the 3 all that well and just 1 team (Villanova) can hit FT's, plus both are playing good defense right now. This should be a slow paced game with around 120 points being scored.
Wunderdog
Milwaukee at Washington
Pick: Milwaukee -1
There is no team in the NBA that has played up or down to the level of competition like the Milwaukee Bucks. Over the past few years, the Bucks have struggled against the better opponents. But, if they are taking on a team with a winning percentage of under .400 and are not favored by more than 4 points, they are a resounding 29-9 ATS. Washington has improved and went on a nice run, but they have settled down again, and are just 2-5 in their last seven games. The two wins came as expected over Charlotte, and Philadelphia. The Bucks are now also 35-14-2 ATS on the road vs. a team with a losing record, and are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 vs. Washington including 7-2 ATS in their last nine here. Take the Bucks.
GoodFella
Stanford -3.5
Yes, going against the "sharp money" here. Really want -3 here, but will play this for a smaller bet. ASU HORRIFIC at the FT line and NOT a deep team at all. Stanford simply a MUCH smarter team and of course some folks will look to back the Sun Devils here due to them "having in season revenge" from a 3 pt loss earlier this season. Also some believe (Falsely) that this crappy ASU team has a shot to make the Big Dance. I like Stanford here and have played them small at -3.5.
Spartan
TCU +11
Obviously would be very surprised to see the Horned Frogs get an outright here but in my view this is simply too many points guys. While TCU may seem non threatening they are perfectly capable of being a pain in the ass. Just ask Bill Self of Kansas or Lon Kruger at Oklahoma. I expect a competitive game here guys and I'll also mention that I strongly lean to the over.
Freddy Wills
Washington State vs. Washington
Play: Washington
Washington State is red hot going into the PAC 12 tourney, but that is inflating the line and I think we find value on the Huskies who have out recruited Washington State for many years. First thing to point out is that Washington will take 78% of their shots from inside the arch and Washington State is ranked 188th in the country in 2 point defense allowing 47.8%, and 52.3% over their last three. They could not stop Washington who shot 60.7%, and 58.3% int he two wins this year. Finally Washington State just shoots too many threes and the Huskies defense is good enough to defend them.
Larry Ness
Texas Christian vs. Texas
Pick: Texas
Rick Barnes started his coaching career at George Mason (one season) and then moved to Providence for six years, making three NCAA trips. It was on to Clemson after that (four seasons with three NCAA appearances) before he landed in Texas for the 1998-99 season. His Longhorns won 19 games that season and 20 or more for each of the next 13 seasons, each time (14 in all), taking the Longhorns to the Big Dance. That all looks to be over this season as the seventh-seeded Longhorns(15-16 overall and just 7-11 in Big 12 play) meet 10th-seeded TCU as the Big 12 Tournament tips off tonight in Kansas City. The Horned Frogs are just 11-20 (2-16 in Big 12 play) but enter this game off a two good efforts. TCU gave then-No. 9 Kansas St all it wanted Mar 5 in a 79-68 loss and then this past Saturday, the Horned Frogs won just their second conference game of the season (the first was that monumental 62-55 shocker vs Kansas on Feb 6), 70-67 at home over Oklahoma. As for Texas, the Longhorns’ season seemed doomed right from the start when PG Myck Kabongo (9.6-3.0-5.2 LY) was ruled ineligible to play (he would sit out Texas’ 1st 23 games TY). However, the Longhorns have won FIVE of the eight games since Kabongo’s return on Feb 13, with him leading the team in scoring (15.8), rebounds (5.3), assists (5.3), steals (15) and minutes played (37.8 per). The Longhorns have won SIX straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings against the Horned Frogs, including wins of 60-43 in Austin without Kabongo and 68-58 at Fort Worth when Kabongo scored 12 points and added seven assists. I expect Texas to win this one handily.
Jesse Schule
Toronto vs. Boston
Pick: Toronto
The Raptors come into Boston tonight having rested since Sunday, coming off a win at home over Cleveland. Toronto only earned a single victory over a recent four game road trip, but all those games were close, and two were decided in overtime.
They take on a Celtics team tonight that just lost to the worst team in the NBA last night, and it wasn't just a loss, it was a shockingly embarrassing blowout.
Boston being one of the oldest teams in the NBA, playing on back to back nights is certainly not a favorable spot for the Celtics. While Paul Peirce rested for last night's game, both Jason Terry and Kevin Garnett played, and coach Doc Rivers later questioned his decision: "What I was thinking was that I wish I would have given Kevin (Garnett) a night off too, in the middle of the game," said Rivers. "That would have been terrific. Then we would have had two guys that had gotten some rest."
Boston has won nine in a row at home, but they won the last four of those games by an average margin of less than five points. Two of those last four came in overtime.
Toronto is a young team that fights hard, and they won't be easy to play against for an older Celtic's squad playing on back to back nights in a 3-in-4 situation.
Tony George
Atlanta PK
Lots of Fanfare surrounding the Lakers but off a huge emotional game for them last night as they beat up bottom feeder Orlando in Dwights return home, they now face a tough Eastern NBA team on their home floor looking for win.
The public loves LA, but the sharps will be on Atlanta here who lost by 1 point in LA back on the 3rd of this month. Now at home and with that brutal loss still fresh on their mind, I like Atlanta's defense at home here. PERFECT SETUP - Hawks have dropped 3 straight and 6 out of 7 and yet are damn near a pickem against a hot LA Team? I smell a trap line.
SPORTS WAGERS
Colorado State -10 over Fresno State
This is a mismatch. Already a lock to make the main event, the Rams of Colorado State are gearing up or fine tuning their game in preparation for bigger things that lie ahead. The Rams are one of the least-heralded teams in the country. Led by the massive Colton Iverson, they are the nation's second-leading offensive rebounding team and the country's top defensive rebounding team. That gives them a huge possession advantage and compensates for an offense that doesn't shoot many 3s. When the Rams win, they usually win big and should have no trouble disposing of this weak rival.
The Bulldogs are inefficient. They rank 325th in points per game and 265th in rebounding. Center Robert Upshaw has been suspended for the Mountain West tournament, meaning even less rebounds for FSU. The Bulldogs closed out their regular season with back-to-back wins over Air Force and UNLV. When Fresno State hosted the Rams back in late January, they lost by 11. This game will be played on a neutral floor in Las Vegas and when Fresno State travels, it often gets ugly. The Bulldogs are going to get dominated on the boards and very likely on the scoreboard too.
Pass NBA & NHL
Jack Jones
Chicago Bulls -3
The Chicago Bulls are one of the most resilient teams in the league. After losing three of their last four games to three of the best teams in the league in the Pacers, Spurs and Lakers all on the road, I look for them to bounce back in a big way against the lowly Sacramento Kings tonight.
Chicago comes in on two days' rest having last played on Sunday, so it will be fresh and ready to go. Sacramento is expected to be without its best player in DeMarcus Cousins (17.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG) as he is listed as doubtful. Cousins is expected to be suspended for elbowing Milwaukee's Mike Dunleavy in the back of the head Sunday.
The Bulls simply own the Kings. They have won five straight meetings in this series all by 6 points or more. In fact, the Bulls have won eight of their last nine meetings with the Kings dating back to 2009. Five of those eight victories have come by double-digits.
The Kings are 16-34-2 ATS in their last 52 games following a ATS loss. The Bulls are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss. The Kings are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest. Chicago is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 meetings in Sacramento. The road team is 15-5-1 ATS in the last 21 meetings. Bet the Bulls Wednesday.
Harry Bondi
NY KNICKS (+9) over Denver
We always love to swoop in and grab a quality team when coming off an embarrassing loss and that's the case tonight with the Knicks, who scored just 62 points in a loss at Golden State on Monday. That game makes New York a bit undervalued here so we'll gladly take the inflated points. The Knicks have been a profitable bet as dogs all season and although Denver has been very tough at home, NY has covered four of its last five on this floor. Take the points.
NHL Predictions
Detroit Red Wings -104
The Detroit Red Wings are 12-9-5 on the year, and 3-5-2 on the road. The Flames are 9-11-4 on the season and 6-5-2 at home. Neither team has been playing well lately, with the Red Wings losing two straight to the Blue Jackets and the Flames losers of three straight games. Detroit has gone 3-1-2 over their last 6 games, with points in 5 of 6 (two shootout losses). Calgary has been outscored 13-3 over their last 3 games, and are just 2-4-1 over their last 7 games. Take note that Miikka Kiprusoff, who is expected to start for Calgary, is just 3-5-2 on the season with a 3.43 GAA and .867 SV%. Jimmy Howard is expected for Detroit and he is 10-7-4 with a 2.46 GAA and .914 SV%. Although Calgary won their first meeting of this year the Red Wings are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings overall and 5-1 in their last 6 meetings in Calgary. Detroit has been off since Sunday and I think Mike Babcock will have them ready for this one. I like Detroit at close to even money in Calgary.