Karl Garrett
20 DIMER - OREGON STATE BEAVERS
10 DIMER - NEW YORK KNICKS
20 DIMER - OREGON STATE BEAVERS
Oregon State has enjoyed the "home-cooking" in a big way in this CBI Tournament, as they have gotten to this best-of-three championship series by winning ALL 3 of their home games, the last pair coming in overtime against Vermont, and conference rival Stanford.
I will ride the Beavers one more time at home against a UTEP team that has played 2 of their 3 tourney games on the road, and may be just a little out of sorts having to play at Richmond last week, and now up in Corvallis for this one.
The Beavers have covered 9 of their 15 lined home games, and the G-Man will ride them again in this one, as they head to UTEP on Wednesday off the home win.
Take the Beavers.
10 DIMER - NEW YORK KNICKS
With just 1 straight up win in their last 8 games, one would think the Knicks are a go-against tonight, but the G-Man begs to differ.
New York sports some money-making numbers in this series, winning 7 of the last 9 straight up, covering in 8 of those 9, including 8 in a row!
The Knicks are also 19-7-1 against the spread their last 27 road games, while the Jazz are on a 2-6 spread run their last 8 games.
I will take the generous points, as the Knicks stay close in this one.
Victorious Play
5* Miami +3
RON RAYMOND’S 2-GAME NHL POWER PLAY PICK PACK
Pick # 1 New Jersey Devils (-110)
Pick # 2 Calgary Flames (-140)
Scott Rickenbach
2* (Top Play) New Jersey Devils Money Line (-) @ New York Rangers
This is a crucial game in terms of its playoff implications. The Devils are trying to hang on to their Atlantic Division lead while the Rangers are just trying to secure a playoff spot. One thing is for certain, the Devils haven’t forgotten what happened last spring. That’s when the Rangers eliminated the Devils from the playoffs in four games. Martin Brodeur was between the pipes for New Jersey and Sean Avery, the agitator, was doing his best to cause problems for the Devils netminder. The stick handling and placement that the Rangers Avery was using in front of Brodeur – basically to screen him - has since been outlawed. The bad blood between these teams has not been forgotten though. The Devils have won three straight meetings with the Rangers and this includes a 4 to 2 win at Madison Square Garden in their last visit there which was on December 27th. Many will point to Brodeur’s poor recent record against the Rangers as a reason to fade the Devils here. However, Brodeur’s 2.07 GAA in going 1-5-3 in his past 9 regular season starts against New York absolutely shows that he’s been on top of his game against the Rangers. The New Jersey netminder has also been on top of his game since he returned from injury. He was 2-0 with a total of just two goals allowed in his two February starts. In March, even though the Devils have recently hit a tough patch, Brodeur has gone 7-4-1 with a 2.38 GAA. In night games this season, Brodeur is 13-4-2 with a 1.92 GAA and a .934 save percentage. When he wins, he shuts people down as his 15 wins have seen him compile a .957 save percentage and a 1.09 GAA. The Devils have lost four straight games but they were at Boston, Philly, and Chicago plus then had a home game versus a red-hot Carolina club. All those teams are higher in the standings than this Rangers club and there is concern in New York! Even though the Rangers have improved since they made the coaching change, they are still an inconsistent team! The Rangers have lost three of their last four games. Also, Avery is actually hurting New York right now because it appears he is targeted by the referees. This is resulting in a lot of power play time for Rangers opponents and New York is getting weary from always being on the penalty kill. They’ll be facing a fired up Devils team that just saw their 11-game home winning streak (a club record) come to an end against the Hurricanes on Saturday. New Jersey needs little motivation as they let that game get away from by allowing a late goal and they now get a shot against Avery and the hated Rangers. We get line value here because the Devils are on the road and because of they’ve just matched their longest losing streak of the season (4 games). Again, much of that had to do with the quality of opposition faced and they now take on a Rangers club that they’ve defeated three straight times by an average score of 15 to 7. Also, while the Rangers had the services of #1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist for all three of those games, the Devils were using goalie Scott Clemmensen in those games due to the Brodeur injury. With Brodeur now back, the domination is even more likely to continue here! Play New Jersey on the money line as a Top Play selection.
1* (regular play) Orlando Magic (-) @ Miami
After seeing numbers of 3.5 on this game yesterday we’re now seeing as low as a -2 in some books this morning. This is offering fantastic line value to the Magic in this spot. All Orlando has done against Miami is win 11 of the last 12 meetings. Also, if you’re concerned because Dwyane Wade has been hot for the Heat don’t be! The Miami guard has lit up the Magic in the past and yet the Heat still lose! The problem for the Heat tonight is that they’re facing an Orlando team that is well rested and that has “Superman” Dwight Howard absolutely in a zone right now. Howard is coming off of a huge game and yet he had plenty of rest too because the Magic annihilated the Bucks in their most recent game, on Friday versus Milwaukee. The big win allowed Orlando to rest their starters so they will be fresh here and there also is no lookahead for the Magic. On deck for Orlando is a game at Toronto on Wednesday.
The Magic have won six straight but, because Miami is retiring Alonzo Mourning’s jersey at half-time tonight and because the Heat have been solid at home this season, every one appears to be piling on Miami here. We understand this but, then again, we don’t! Emotions will only carry you so far in a basketball game and then it comes down to match-ups. Whether or not Miami is fired up about playing hard for Mourning tonight is not as critical as whether or not they can stop Orlando from dominating them both in the paint and on the perimeter. This has been a problem for the Heat in the past and let’s not forget that Orlando has the best road record in the Eastern Conference! Miami is just 3-5 in their last 8 games and their three wins came against Milwaukee, Memphis, and Detroit. The Grizzlies are already eliminated from post-season contention, the Bucks are close to elimination, and the Pistons continue to stumble and potentially fall out of the playoff picture. The point is that the Heat have not beaten anybody of any real significance plus they’ve lost five of their last eight games. Now the Heat are suppose to rise and beat a team that has always given them major headaches? We just don’t see it and we’re backing the road team with the value in this one as this line continues to fall! The Magic have their sights set on the #2 seed in the conference so there will be no letdown here from Orlando. The Magic have also proven there is no “let up” for them as they’ve won six straight games entering this divisional match-up. Play Orlando minus the points as a regular selection.
Jason Johnson
Orlando at Miami
Play: Orlando -2.5
The Magic are rolling right now as they've won five straight and eight of the last nine games. Their 25-11 road record this season is certainly nothing to snooze at. They've also topped the Heat in nine of the last 10 meetings. Look for a big night from Dwight Howard since Miami doesn't have anyone in the paint to contain him.
Magic by seven.
The Prez
UTEP / Oregon State Over 131.5 / 5 units
Smooth44
KNOCKOUT PUNCH OF THE DAY - NY-KNICKS +11
MIAMI OVER 192 -120
C-Stars Sports
1000 Units - NHL Top Play - Phoenix over Dallas
50 Units - NHL - New Jersey/NY Rangers UNDER the total
50 Units Orlando/Miami OVER the total
50 Units New York/Utah OVER the total
Eddie Roman
2500 Dollar Bounce Back NBA Lock
Orlando Magic -2.5
Stephen Nover
New Jersey -3
The Bucks are in free fall. They are 2-10 in their last 12 games, 1-11 against the spread. Milwaukee has lost its last seven road contests.New Jersey hasn't been playing well either. Its loss at Minnesota on Sunday was especially bad.But prior to that, the Nets had played the Lakers and Cavaliers twice.I don't see the Nets losing back-to-back games against the Timberwolves and Bucks.The Nets are home and have a talent edge with the Bucks missing Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut. This will be Devin Harris' third game back since returning from an injury. He should be in better sync with his teammates.
Dr. Canada
NJ Devils -110
San Jose Sharks +130
Tim Trushel
20* Miami +3
Raging Bull
New York Knicks +12
Las Vegas Sport Picks
1* Grizzlies/Warriors over 221
3* Heat +3
Brandon Lang
10 Dime Oregon State
FREE - Miami Heat