Mike Rose
Kansas City Brigade +9.5
Both the San Jose Sabercats and Kansas City Brigade will look to pull themselves off the mat when they hook up in the ‘Sprint Center’ at 6:00 ET Saturday night. The defending champs lost their second game of the season last week in a hard fought battle with Dallas, while Kansas City surrendered a whopping 92 points to the winless Grand Rapids Rampage in their 40-point defeat. San Jose has split its first four games of the season, and comes into tonight’s contest a poor 1-3 ATS. It hasn’t been the greatest of starts for Head Coach Darren Arbet’s club, but the Sabercats normally start slow and turn it on after the first month of play. Last week’s effort certainly wasn’t what Head Coach Kevin Porter had envisioned after having 15 days to prepare for their battle with the Rampage, but it is what it is and the Brigade come into this game winless one the year.
Last week’s battle between the Desperados and Sabercats was deemed the game of the week, and it didn’t disappoint. San Jose trailed 29-28 at the half, and it was tied at 35 after three quarters of play. However, the fourth quarter saw them turn it over twice to allow the Desperados an extra possession and they took full advantage of it. The 59-56 final count was reached after QB Mark Grieb found a wide-open James Roe as time expired. Grieb completed 34-of-45 pass attempts for 356 yards and six touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to pick up the win. They lost SU for the second time this season after being pegged the favorite in the contest.
As mentioned up above, Kansas City was demolished by Grand Rapids last week. The 92-52 final score saw them fail to cover the six and a half-point spread and the combined score of 144 sailed over the posted total of 103. The Brigades defense was non-existent giving up a near record 95 points and nine TD passes to James MacPherson in his first ever AFL start. The only positive to come out of the game was in the play of QB Matt Kohn who tossed for 281 yards and four touchdowns, while completing 19-of-36 pass attempts in the loss.
The Brigade enters tonight’s match-up with the Sabercats on a five game losing streak that’s carried over from the end of last season. That said, they’re 5-1 SU and ATS against the Western Division in the franchises history. Look for ‘The Hangar II’ to be rocking in the first ever meeting between these two teams.
Columbus Destroyers +3.0
The 2-2 Orlando Predators hit the road after back-to-back home victories to face the Columbus Destroyers, fresh off of their first victory of the season. The Preds were fortunate to pick up the 'W' at home following a very questionable ruling that a Georgia WR was short of the end zone on the last play of the game. Orlando won 50-45. As for Columbus, they got off the schneid after a couple disappointing performances by winning in Utah 52-49 on the final play of the game. The Destroyers offense struggled, only posting five TDs on the night, but four of those five scores were put up in a 2nd half in which they outscored the Blaze 32-14.
WR TT Toliver has done it all for the Predators at the quarter pole of the season. He leads the AFL with 545 receiving yards, and tops the league for total yards per game at a whopping 236.5. His 14 TDs is second to only Soul WR Chris Jackson (16). QB Shane Stafford leads all QBs who have started at least three games with a 125.8 QB rating and is only two TD passes behind Joe Germaine for the league lead. The struggles for Orlando have come on defense, where the team gave up 64 PPG in their first three outings. However, the defense redeemed itself by coming up with four stops while holding the Force to just 45 total points.
The exact opposite story is going on in Columbus, where the Destroyers have to be scratching their heads about their futile offense. It’s averaged a shade over 6 TDs a game, a number which just isn't going to cut it, especially with a defense that has only forced three turnovers on the young season. QB Matt Nagy has been inconsistent in terms of completion percentage, but has only turned the ball over twice, which has kept Columbus alive in all four games this year.
Orlando has been deemed a 3-point chalk in this one, but bettors have cause for concern on both sides of this one. The Destroyers have lost three straight games at home, but the Predators are 3-7 ATS in their L/10 on the road. Before rolling off back-to-back home covers, they were just 2-7 in their L/9 games.
WUNDERDOG MLB
Game: New York Yankees at Florida
Pick: Florida +117
The Marlins will send Andrew Miller to the mound against Mike Mussina. Miller has had a good spring (2-0 3.97). Mussina has had one good outing, has been suspect in the rest and continues to decline. The Marlins have made a good showing this spring at 18-10, and the overall pitching has carried them. The Yankees continue to be overpriced during the spring, so we will continue to opt for the value on the otherside.
Game: Los Angeles Angels at San Diego
Pick: Los Angeles Angels +101
The Angels travel to Petco Park to take on the Padres. Joe Saunders has earned the No. 3 starter position for the Angels will get the ball. He has had a great spring backed by a sterling 1.00 ERA. Greg Maddux, just a few weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, will get the ball for the Padres. Maddux can still pitch but his 4+ ERA average over the last five seasons shows he isn't close to what he once was, as his previous 16 seasons never saw an ERA of over 4. We'll take the Angels in this one.
DCI
NBA
TORONTO 105, New York 92
PHILADELPHIA 106, Phoenix 104
INDIANA 106, New Jersey 102
BOSTON 97, New Orleans 92
ATLANTA 100, Chicago 95
Orlando 106, MILWAUKEE 99
SAN ANTONIO 101, Minnesota 85
UTAH 111, L.A. Clippers 93
SACRAMENTO 103, Washington 102
L.A. LAKERS 118, Memphis 100
Charlotte vs. SEATTLE: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
COLLEGE HOOPS
Kansas 80, Villanova 68
Wisconsin 65, Davidson 60
Memphis 69, Michigan State 67
Stanford vs. Texas: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Wolkosky Milan
10* NEW YORK +14
10* PHOENIX -2½
10* MEMPHIS +14½
10* NYK/TOR OVER 195½
Spreitzer GOY
Texas
Winning Points Online
**PREFERRED
Washington at Sacramento UNDER 204
The teams rank in the bottom three in the NBA in assists per game, above only Memphis. Udrih out (starting point guard),Artest in (from recent injury, best defender) for the Kings.Washington, off an 80-ish game at Portland and not destined for much better than that. Spencer Hawes -- good offense, not mature enough to play effective defense -- probably out for the Kings.
WASHINGTON 95-90
Brandon Lovell
10* Tex -2
Alex Smart
4* Wisc Under
3* Wisc
3* Texas
Nick Parsons
Phoenix Suns -2.5
The Suns have lost back to back games to two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Before these losses, Phoenix was 22-4 against Eastern Conference foes this season. Tonight, the Suns will be facing one of the hottest teams in the East but the Sixers certainly aren't quite at the same level as the Pistons or Celtics teams that Phoenix just lost too. Even though Philadelphia has been hot, they've been winning games with a run and gun style and that could play right into the hands of Phoenix. The Suns know how to play that style as well as anyone in the league and the Sixers may quickly find themselves "running from behind" in this one as Phoenix jumps out to a quick lead and never looks back. The Sixers have made a huge run and deserve to be commended for that. However, they are facing a tough match-up tonight and they're also playing into the teeth of revenge in this game. The Suns suffered a home loss to Philadelphia on the 1st of this month and they now take advantage of this opportunity to get the revenging win on the Sixers home court. Note that revenge is even sweeter when it is executed on an opponent's home floor. The Suns are very hungry and they will indeed execute tonight. That means it is well worth laying the small number on the Suns in Philly tonight. Play ON Phoenix as your Member Pick Friday night
Kelso
Regardless of his newsletter-Best Bet pick 5 units N Orleans +7 @ Boston
March Madness
5 units Wisconsin -4.5 v. Davidson
3 units Stanford +2 v. Texas
3 units Villanova +12.5 v. Kansas
100 unit GOY in NCAA
Mich St +4.5 v. Memphis
ATS Basketball Lock Club
7 units Texas
4 units Wisconsin
3 units Hawks
ATS Hockey Lock Club
4 units Over Edm-Col
3 units Devils
John Ryan
Stanford vs. Texas
Play:Stanford
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Stanford. AiS shows an 81 % probability that Stanford will win this game. AiS also shows that Stanford has a 90% probability of not having 13 or more turnovers in this game. Note that Stanford is 10-1 ATS in road games when they commit 10 to 13 turnovers in a game over the last 2 seasons. Texas is NOT an aggressive and pressuring style of defensive team. Note that Stanford is 15-4 ATS in road games versus poor pressure defensive teams that are forcing <=14 turnovers/game over the last 3 seasons. Take Stanford
Black Magic Sports
1 Unit on Davidson/Wisconsin UNDER 127
Davidson and Wisconsin will play in part to a defensive struggle tonight. This will be an ugly game for you to watch if you favor the shootout. Davidson is allowing just 59.2 points per game in their last 5 games. Wisconsin has been even better, yielding just 51.2 points on average in their last 5 contests. As a result, the UNDER is 8-1 in Wisconsin’s last 9 games overall. They won’t let this one turn into a barn burner with the great coaching of Bo Ryan. Wisconsin is 21-8 UNDER as a favorite this season. Wisconsin is 7-0 UNDER after covering 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread this season. Cash in with the UNDER 127 points.
Black Widow Sports
1* on Milwaukee Bucks +6
Milwaukee will give the Magic all they can handle tonight at home. Orlando has lost 3 of their last 4 games overall and are as vulnerable as they have been all season. Milwaukee has owned the Magic in the past. The Bucks are 19-3 SU and 17-5 ATS in their last 22 meetings with Orlando. Something about playing the Magic gets the Bucks to play their best basketball. Milwaukee beat Orlando in their only home meeting of the season by a final of 100-86. The Bucks are finally scoring some points now that Michael Redd has returned to the lineup. Their leading scorer gives the Bucks their best chance of winning. Milwaukee is 17-5 ATS in home games versus teams who attempt 18 or more 3 point shots/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons. Shooting too many outside jumpers will be Orlando’s downfall tonight. Take Milwaukee and the points.
Wunderdog
Phoenix at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia +2.5
The public loves the high-scoring team, and the odds-makers react in kind. The Phoenix Suns are among the highest scoring teams in the NBA, and with that comes a lot of action backing them. The Sixers have been doormats in the NBA for quite a while now, and with that comes no respect. Now the facts and their associated value. The Sixers are a completely changed team over their last 24 games. They are 19-5 while the Suns are 14-10. If this was 24 games into the season, think for a second what this line would be? Philly would be the favorite at home. So what has changed for the Sixers? Why are they so good now? The first 44 games they went 19-23-2 ATS, scoring 100 points just 11 times (25%). Their last 28 games, they have reached the century mark 18 times or 64.2% of thetime. Their offense produced 92.9 ppg over the first 44 games versus 105.8 ppg in the last 28. So did they decide to play uptempo? No. Their defense and points allowed is the same! They have come togetheroffensively, and have become a good team. Those 18 games where they scored 100 points, they are 17-1 SU and the game they lost, they covered! The total is set at 218 for this game, indicating Philadelphia is likely to score 108, so 100 is certainly a high percentage opportunity. The reson they are 17-1 when they score 100 is they are now a high scoring team that also plays defense. That is not the case with Phoenix. The Suns are 9-16-1 ATS the last 26 games they have given up 100+ points. Since their surge, the Sixers have played nine games with a total of 200+, and havegone 7-2 ATS. Their first 44 games they played five with a total of 200+ and went 0-5 ATS. They have played nine games with a total in the 190s since their surge, and are 8-1 ATS, while they were 5-9 ATS before. That means they are now 15-3 ATS in games expected to be higherscoring, while before their offense got going they were 5-14 ATS in these games. Certainly the wrong team is favored here, and we will back the Sixers.