Nelly
Indiana Pacers - over Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota had everything go right last night, catching the Spurs coming off a huge win over the Thunder the previous night. Minnesota shot nearly 54 percent while knocking down 12 3-point shots while the Spurs were held to just 35 percent shooting. Indiana enters this game coming off a humbling loss to the Heat but with two days off in between games this should be a fresh team ready to add to a dominant 25-7 S/U record at home. The Wolves are just 7-23 S/U on the road this season and this also a revenge game after Minnesota snuck by the Pacers very early this season with a 96-94 win at home. This is a huge spread but Minnesota is 0-5 ATS this season when dogged by 10 or more points and the Wolves are just 12-17-1 ATS on the road this season despite often facing a big underdog spread. The home team has won and covered in six of the last seven meetings between these squads and the situation should outweigh the lofty spread.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAYS
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.
Tulane/ Marshall Over 140: I hope im not falling into a trap with this one. This line seems a bit low considering how these teams have played recently, plus in an earlier game this year the two combined for 166 points. Tulane comes in averaging 80.2 ppg in their last 9 games and none of those games went to OT. Tulane has been really pushing tempo of late and it hasn't just helped them score a tone of points, but they also have given up a ton of late. In their last 9 games the Green Wave has allowed 77.8 ppg, including allowing 84.5 ppg in their last 4 games. For Tulane their last 9 games have produced and average of 157.9 ppg. Marshall come in with 4 of their last 5 games putting up 152 or more points, with those 4 games averaging 167 ppg. In their last 3 games they have been great offensively (81 ppg) and horrible defensively (91 ppg), giving us an average of 172 ppg scored in those 3 games. Marshall is an uptempo team as they are 71's in the Nation in pace and they have certainly played that way of late. Overall season stats don't exactly says this one should be in the mid 130, but the way both teams have been playing of late you have to think that this line is too low. Both teams are scoring and giving up a bunch of points right now and in a high tempo game I don't see how they don't put up at least 145 points in this one. Seeing the overwhelming recent stats does make me wonder what I am missing, cause the sharps have bet this down two points. It is that line movement that keeps this play from being rated higher. I hope it's not a trap. LOL.
Texas A&M -5.5 over Auburn: The Auburn Tigers are not very good this year and they come in on an 0-8 SU and ATS streak. They recently lost as a 2 points road favorite at a bad Mississippi State squad and their other 7 losses during their streak have all been by 7 points or more. Auburn also has a loss on their ledge at home by 9 points to the Aggies. Auburn is 13th in the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency, so they are equally bad at both ends of the floor. Texas A&M comes in 7th in both categories in the SEC, and while they have struggled down the stretch this year they have also played better than the Tigers as a whole and they are more than capable of beating this team by at least 6 points in this one.
Jeff Alexander
NY Knicks +9
Look for Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks to bounce-back strong following Monday's ugly loss at Golden State. Melo had just 14 points in his first game back from a knee injury, but I expect a much better showing against his former team. NY is an impressive 52-33 ATS as an underdog over the last 3 seasons. Plus, the Knicks have won or lost by less than 9 points in each of their last 8 versus Denver. New York keeps this one within the number.
Dave Price
Memphis Grizzlies +6.5
Memphis just played last night in Portland while the Clippers have had the last two days, but I don't expect fatigue to be an issue for the Grizzlies. They had two days off prior to last night's contest. Plus, the fact they'll be out for revenge for losses in each of the season's first two meetings will help them get past any fatigue. No team in the NBA has been as solid as Memphis when playing without rest. The Grizzlies are an awesome 38-15 ATS the last three seasons in the second game of a back-to-back. They are 13-2 ATS during this span when playing a second road game in as many days. They have won by an average score of 98.9 to 95.4 in this spot. Memphis was embarrassed at home by the Clippers in the last meeting. L.A. handed the Grizzlies a 26-point loss that day, and you can bet they haven't forgot. The Grizz are a reliable 14-4 ATS under coach Hollins when out for revenge for a blowout loss of 20 points or more. They have won by an average score of 96.2 to 92.7 in this situation. Take the points.
Players Edge
Oregon State at Colorado
Pick: Under
Colorado has been under the total in their last 10 games while Oregon State has been 6-3-1 with the under in that same span. These two teams have been under the total in 4 of their last 5 games. Take under