Karl Garrett
20 DIMER - VCU RAMS
10 DIMER - DETROIT PISTONS
The Patriots were extended in yesterday's semis, as Towson gave them all they could handle before bowing. No doubt George Mason would love to avenge not only their regular season loss to the Rams, but also a loss in this game to VCU back in 2007, 65-59 that keep the Patriots from the Big Dance.
It just looks to me like the Rams have the Pats number, as VCU has won 3 straight, and 4 of the last 5 straight up, covering in 3 of those 5.
The Rams have covered 9 of their last 13 neutral site games, and they are also 6-2 against the spread the last 8 in the series.
G-Man lays the points in the Colonial Final tonight.
10 DIMER - DETROIT PISTONS
Olrando in a tough spot, even with a 4-game winning streak coming into this Monday game.
The Magic controlled the Celtics yesterday, 86-79 at Boston, and now they must get back up for another road game at Detroit.
The Pistons had their 4-game win streak, and 5-game cover streak halted on Saturday at Atlanta, 87-83. Included in that winning streak was a 93-85 Pistons win at Orlando as the 9 1/2-point underdog, as the Pistons have now won the last 4, and 6 of the last 7 in this series, while going 5-2 against the spread.
I like the Pistons to get back on track with the win over an Orlando team in a let down spot.
HalfBets
8* NEW ORLEANS
BIG AL
NBA ROADKILL WINNER
At 7 pm, our selection is on the Atlanta Hawks plus the points over New Orleans. The Hornets come into tonight's game on a seven-game win streak, and have won their last two games by double digits (104-88 vs. Dallas and 108-90 vs. Oklahoma City). Unfortunately, New Orleans is 25-46 ATS on the road off a double digit win, including 11-29 ATS vs. a foe off a SU/ATS win. And the Hornets are 0-12 ATS on the road off back-to-back home games, provided they're not favored by 4.5 points. Finally, over the past 10 seasons, NBA road teams have covered just 20 of 86 games off back-to-back double-digit wins, if they're not favored by more than three points against a foe that's off exactly one win and cover, provided such opponent was favored in its last game. With Atlanta in off an 87-83 home triumph vs. Detroit, we'll play on the Hawks tonight.
DAVE MALINSKY
6* DENVER/HOUSTON UNDER
We write often about how difficult it is to play in Denver in the second night of a back-to-back situation, when the legs fall victim to the altitude of the Mile High City. Tonight it becomes magnified to an extreme, as two tired teams go head-to-head in a game in which the playoff implications are huge, but the energy levels to push the pace are extremely low. That makes this an ugly grinder of an affair that should fall far below this high Total.
For Houston the log is about as extreme as the NBA schedule markers allow it to be - the Rockets are playing their fifth game in seven nights, and their seventh in 10, with this being the third back-to-back in that span in which the second leg was on the road (the first two both played Under). That is asking a lot for a team that is not all that deep right now, particularly in terms of offensive options. But as we noted in cashing that easy 4* Under ticket with them vs. Memphis last night, the defense is #5 in the NBA on our best set of ratings, and trending even better since Tracy McGrady began wearing street clothes. Given that they prefer a half-court game at the best of times, in order to have Yao Ming involved as much as possible, in this setting Rcik Adelman is looking for the slowest pace possible. And with both Ron Artest and Shane Battier as defensive options against Carmelo Anthony, the X's are there to handle one of the key Denver O's, which is a key factor in terms of the offensive efficiency of the Nuggets as well.Not that the home team has the legs to make many shots anyway. This is a four games in five nights, and five in seven, cycle for Denver, and the seventh straight game in which the Nuggets have had a court change. That is exacerbated by having played on the west coast last night, which takes an hour of recuperation time away, and it was a draining loss at Sacramento. Instead of managing the minutes of his starters to prepare for this showdown George Karl was forced to put them into a chase mode, and in cutting a 16-point fourth quarter deficit to as low as six there was a toll extracted. Chauncey Billups played 44 minutes, with the absence of Anthony Carter not giving him much respite, and Anthony and Nene 39 each.
Denver is not just an offensive show any more. In their last two home games the Nuggets held the Lakers to a season-low of 79 points, and Portland to 90. They know that it is that end of the court where this one will have to be won, especially since their own injury issues and fatigue will make pushing the pace almost impossible against this opponent. So we have a rather ugly affair in which there is precious little flow, and an easy Under.
Dr. Canada
Maple Leafs/Senators Over 6
PRO PICKS ONLINE
Chicago/Miami Under 204.5
Vancouver Canucks -140
NYR/Carolina Over 5.5
DOC
4-Unit Play Take New Orleans/Atlanta UNDER 188½
3-Unit Play #Take Chicago/Miami UNDER 202½
3-Unit Play Take Portland +2 Over LA Lakers
Mark Fox
Magic at Pistons
Pick: Under 187
The UNDER is 7-3 in the Detroit Pistons L10 overall games
The UNDER is 7-3 in the Pistons L10 games vs. Southeast opponents
The UNDER is 4-0 in the L4 matchups between the Pistons and Orlando Magic
The UNDER is 4-0 in the L4 meetings in Detroit
Sports Bet Capping
6* Siena -3.5
THE SOCCER EXPERTS
North Texas vs Western Kentucky 1st half under 70
Jared Klein
Carolina Hurricanes
Vancouver Canucks
Brian Edwards
Houston at Denver
Play: Denver -4
Denver returns home after a couple of tough road losses. The Nuggets beat the Rockets by 10 when these teams collided in the Mile High City earlier this year. Since then, Houston knocked off Denver in a pair of meetings back in Texas. George Karl's team plays well at home, compiling a 23-7 SU record to go with a 17-12-1 ATS mark. Give me the short home 'chalk.'
Stephen Nover
LA Lakers at Portland
Play: Over 202
I see a fast-paced game here with a lot of free throws as this will be an intense matchup.
The Lakers are the top scoring team in the NBA. If you discount their 79-point effort at Denver, the Lakers are averaging 114.2 points in their last eight games.
Portland plays higher and runs more without Greg Oden.
Maddux Sports
Basketball
3 units on Atlanta +1.5
3 units on Chicago +5
3 units on Siena -3.5
Hockey
3 units on NY Rangers +125
3 units on Toronto +170
Free Pick Minnesota -3
Bob Balfe
Wizards +4
Lakers/Blazers O202
North Texas +4