Cal Sports
5* NO
3* Dallas
4* S.Diego
Billy Coleman
5* Dallas
3* Over Milw
3* Under Jazz
4* S. Diego
Strike Point Sports comp
Texas -2.5 over Oklahoma State
Gamblers Data
Lakers -4
Johnny Guild
Syracuse Orange +12
Rider Broncs - 10
PHILLY CONNECTION COMP
SANTA CLARA -8
Ethan Law
PLAY 1/2* UNIT ON MINNESOTA +13
PLAY 1* UNIT ON OKLAHOMA STATE +2.5
Spritzer
direct line play.............gtown
direct line..................knicks over
tko blowout gow..........................davidson
tko...............................rider
dog shocker gom.......................wizzards
ko....................................bobcats
tko.............................port
3 star hammer................pacers
Cokin
big shot.....................san diego
3 star............................syracuse
window...........................cavs
under the hat.....................mavs
Feist
personal best.....................gtown
island source.....................okla st
platinum..........................san diego
inner circle..............................rider
5 star.............................pepperdine
totals...................ny over 86, milw over92
platinum.........................hawks
inner circle.......................bobcats
5 star...............................cavs
LT Profits
New York Knicks +8.0
The oft-maligned New York Knicks are playing their best ball of the season right now, and we luck for them the give the conference-leading Boston Celtics all that they can handle in this holiday afternoon affair at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks are 4-1 both straight up and against the spread in their last five games, and they are back home after a 2-1 road trip. In their last two home contests, they embarrassed an excellent Detroit Pistons team 89-65, and they then beat the Washington Wizards by double-digits. Also, remember that they scored just 59 points at Boston in the first meeting between these clubs this season, so they will be looking for redemption here.
Now the Celtics are still 32-6, but they have been showing signs of coasting lately. Granted, they looked a lot better in their last two games while winning by double-digits, but both of those outings came at home. The last time they were on the road, they lost outright to the Wizards.
Now the Celtics obviously hold a huge talent disparity here, but with the Knicks in raging form right now, we look for an emotional effort in front of the home folks today, resulting in the staying inside this spread at the very least.
NBA Free Pick: Knicks +8
Niagara +3.5
This is a key MAAC battle between the Niagra Purple Eagles and the Marist Red Foxes, as these teams sit ties at 5-2 in the conference, one game behind the 6-1 Siena Saints.
Niagra put themselves in this position with a surprising loss at Canisius on Friday, but this is a very talented team and we look for them to bounce back strong here. The Purple Eagles have still been one of the better bets in the country despite that Friday upset, as they are an outstanding 11-4 against the spread. Furthermore, they are a perfect 3-0 ATS and 2-1 straight up in this underdog role.
Conversely, Marist is just 8-8 ATS, and they come in off of a double-digit loss at Loyola-Maryland. Now they are 6-0 SU at home this season, but Niagra will be the best team they will have faced at home to date. Also, the Eagles already proved they can win here by upsetting the Foxes in this building last season.
In fact, the road team won both regular season meetings between these clubs last year, and we would not be surprised if Niagra carries on that tradition tonight.
CBB Free Pick: Niagra +3.5
King Creole
double-dime bet LAC / UTA Under 195.5
Analysis: 3:35pm ET / Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Clippers
2** Play on: UNDER THE TOTAL
These teams just played each other on Friday night, and the UNDER once again cashed (0-4 O/U last 4 meetings) as Utah won 106-88 (OU Line: 199.5). We'll continue to play the OU tendencies in this series with Monday afternoon's rematch on MLK day.
After the Friday game, the Clippers played the NJ Nets at home (Saturday), and came away with an upset dog win in OVERTIME. The OT aspect has them active in a great UNDER System this afternoon: NBA Teams are 1-8 O/U since February (and 0-4 O/U THIS season) when playing off a home dog OVERTIME win.
There's another System that's gone a PERFECT 0-5 O/U so far this season... and this game has all the necessary components to qualify: 0-5 O/U in 2007/2008 - NBA Road favorites with 2 days rest off a DD SU sin (Jazz) against any opponent that's playing off a SU DOG win (Clippers).
After a team shoots 50% or better from the field and 85% or better from the free-throw line.... you always want to play their next game UNDER the Total. This System has gone 3-20 O/U since December: NBA teams playing off a SU win w/ 50% > FG shooting and 85% > free throw shooting (UTAH). This one has gone 1-10 O/U since Christmas and ROAD teams are 1-10 O/U in this System in the selected time frame.
Ted Sevransky Comp
San Diego is a battle tested team, well prepared for the rigors of winning tough WCC road games. Bill Grier’s Toreros have played true road games at Hawaii, New Mexico, Boise, Nevada, Kentucky and Gonzaga, among others this year, The win over Hawaii in Honolulu stands out, as does the outright upset at Rupp Arena as 13 point underdogs to Kentucky. But the spread covering ten point loss at Gonzaga on Saturday was particularly impressive. San Diego was terrible early, allowing the Zags to open the game on a 15-0 run. Instead of collapsing, the Toreros fought tooth and nail, cutting a 22 point lead down to seven in the closing minutes of the game.
Tonight, San Diego faces an opponent with little homecourt edge and no matchup advantages whatsoever. The Pilots have already lost to San Francisco, BYU, Portland State and Oregon on this floor, failing to cover a pointspread in the process. Their home wins: Cascade, Northern Colorado, Idaho State and Liberty – aren’t exactly a who’s who of elite teams in the college basketball world. While many expected improvement from Portland this year, the bottom line is that this team looks very much like their 9-23 counterparts from last year, the type of team that we like to bet against at home in games where a straight up win equals a pointspread cover.
Recommendation: Take San Diego +1
Tony Karpinski
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
Pick on the NY KNICKS.
I know this takes Balls, but the last time these 2 met up the Knicks lost by 45. The Knicks have been playing their guts out lately, and I think this team is much better without Marbury, no team has ever done anything with him on his previous teams. Knicks always play tough on MLK Day, so lets take the pts here this afternoon.
CASH & PROFIT EXPERTS
NBA
INDIANA +3
CLEVELAND -3.5
DALLAS/WASHINGTON OVER 192
Dr. Bob
Monday Daytime NBA Best Bet
Minnesota (+12 ½) over GOLDEN STATE
The Warriors have a tendency to relax with big leads at home and they’ve only won 4 of their 18 home games this season by 13 points or more, which is below the league average of 23.6%. So, while the Warriors are a better than average team, they are not better than average when it comes to winning by a big margin at home. Golden State has also had a recent tendency to relax after a victory while playing very well after a loss and the Warriors are just 3-13 ATS following their last 16 wins, including 1-10 ATS if not an underdog of more than 2 points. Minnesota is the worst team in the league and the Warriors have blown huge leads against the Timberwolves twice this season in non-covering wins, including a 105-101 win as 12 ½ point favorite here in Oakland in late December. Minnesota was in a good situation when they covered in Denver a couple of nights ago and the Timberwolves apply to a very good 75-19 ATS big road underdog situation tonight. My ratings favor the Warriors by 13 points and my margin analysis favors Golden State by just 12 points (because the Warriors don’t tend to win by big margins at home). I’ll take Minnesota in a 2-Star Best Bet at +12 points or more and for 3-Stars at +13 points or more.
NBA Opinion/Possible Best Bet
San Antonio (-5 ½) over CHARLOTTE
The Spurs have a long history of success as a road favorite against losing teams, as they are now 140-85-2 ATS as a road favorite of 2 points or more against losing teams. That record is better if the Spurs didn’t play the previous night (101-53 ATS), including 26-10 ATS if they’re coming off a loss and 34-12 ATS if the home team is coming off a win. Both of those apply today and the Spurs also apply to a 73-30-2 ATS road favorite bounce-back situation while the Bobcats apply to a negative 19-51-2 ATS home underdog letdown situation. Charlotte is also just 18-33-2 ATS as an underdog or pick following a victory if facing a rested team. My ratings favor San Antonio by only 5 points and I’m not willing to give up any line value, so I’ll consider the Spurs an opinion at -6 or -5 ½ points. I’ll take San Antonio in a 2-Star Best Bet at -5 points or less.
NBA Opinion
WASHINGTON (+3 ½) over Dallas
Washington is an underrated team that is 20-9 ATS since Gilbert Arenas was hurt (excluding the game in which Caron Butler didn’t play) and the Wizards beat the Mavericks 110-98 in Dallas earlier this season. Washington also beat the Mavericks here in D.C. last season and road favorites with double-revenge are bad bets in the NBA. In fact, Dallas applies to a negative 13-43-1 ATS situation that is based on that premise. My only problem with this game is that Washington has a bad history as a home underdog against rested opponents (9-29 ATS, including 0-11 ATS recently), but they beat the Mavericks in that role last season. Balancing that out a bit is the fact that the Mavericks have struggled on the road against decent teams this season and are 0-7 ATS as a road favorite against teams with a win percentage of .400 or better. My ratings favor Dallas by only 1 point in this game, so there is certainly line value favoring the underrated Wizards in this game. Ultimately, I’ll pass this game because of Washington’s poor home dog record, but I’ll lean with the Wizards plus the points.
Sports Gambling Hotline
Portland at ATLANTA -1'
The road trek continues for the young Blazers, and it looks like now is the right time to fade Portland. Today marks the Trail Blazers 6th road game in their last 8 days, and we have to expect that their gas tank is running a little low on petrol right now.
Portland is just 2-3 both straight up and against the spread through their first 5 roadies, and just 10-10 against the spread overall on the road this year - 7-13 straight up.
The Hawks have done the majority of their winning at home this year, as Atlanta is 13-8 straight up at the Philips Arena, going 12-9 against the spread. The Hawks have been able to win and cover their last pair on their home hardwood, and 3 of their last 4 at the "Highlight Factory", and we see no reason they can't take advantage of a road-weary Portland squad this afternoon.
This will be the first meeting of the season between the teams, and the Hawks have held the upperhand against the spread, covering 3 of the last 5 meetings.
Play on the Hawks.
3* ATLANTA
Michael Cannon
20 Dime –
GEORGETOWN
Lay the big number with Georgetown tonight when they host Syracuse.
I don't see how the Orange are going to hang tonight.
I really don’t.
This team isn’t experienced enough to have the patience and positioning necessary to play good defense against the Hoyas’ offense, which is one of the most efficient in the nation.
Roy Hibbert is too much for the Syracuse big men to handle, and when they try to double down on him, the big guy will just kick it out for wide-open looks for his guards.
Syracuse is really suffering from the loss of guard Eric Devendorf, who is out for the season with an injured knee. The Orange don’t have another guard who can consistently knock down the open looks and that’s going to enable Georgetown to pull away in the second half.
Syracuse is just 4-11 ATS in its last 15 Monday games, while Georgetown is 15-5-2 ATS in its last 22 versus the Big East.
Lay the points as Georgetown rolls to an easy win and cover.
10 Dime –
PISTONS
Take the Pistons as the small road chalk tonight over the Magic.
Detroit has lost two straight and three of four, but I expect them to right the ship tonight against an Orlando team they’ve beaten nine straight times.
Orlando is a strange team, good on the road but mediocre at home. The Pistons slaughtered them in the first meeting back in November, 116-92. The fact Detroit won so big was even more impressive considering they were without Rip Hamilton in that game.
Detroit is 20-7-1 ATS in its last 28 games overall and the road team is 14-3-3 ATS in the last 20 meetings.
Lay the small number as Detroit grabs the road win and cover.
Wolkosky Milan
10* PORTLAND +1
10* DETROIT -3
10* SAS/CHA UNDER 184
10* DAL/WAS OVER 192
10* BOS/NYK OVER 185
10* IND/PHI UNDER 202½
10* UTA/LAC UNDER 197
Drew Gordon
1. 200,000* Syracuse
2. 50,000* Magic
3. 50,000* Texas
1. Syracuse- First things first, this is a Big East rivalry game. If you watched their last two meetings (both of which featured Hibbert), how can you possibly think this game will be a blowout? The Orange are not intimidated by the Hoyas vaunted defense, and the fact their 7-1 SU & 6-2 ATS over their last 8 meetings should prove it.
Although many thought this Orange team would collapse without G Eric Devendorf, in fact, they've flourished. It opened the door for the talented freshman G Johnny Flynn to take over the backcourt, and clearly defined everyone else's place in the offense. Their goto guy is 6'11 F Donte Green, who infinately more talented on the offensive end than Hibbert. While fowards Harris (13 ppg 9 rpg) and Onuaku (13 ppg 7 rpg) also match up very well.
Another problem I have with Georgetown is perception. Because the Hoyas destroyed the Irish, and the Orange lost to Villanova at home in their games Saturday, everyone seems to be forgetting the history of this series. Coach Boeheim knows how to beat the Hoyas vaunted zone defense, in fact, he's a proven winner against it. They defeated what I consider to be a more talented Hoyas team last season (albeit at home) with ease.
Bottom line, I'm not saying the Orange win this game outright, but what I am laying is they'll keep this game well within the number. Orange's offense is built around beating defenses just like the Hoyas, and they have match ups necessary to make it happen.
Take Syracuse plus the points over Georgetown as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Magic- You want to talk about motivation? Then let's talk about the fact the Magic have lost 9 straight to this Detroit team, including their 4-game sweep in the playoffs last season and this season's most lopsided loss 116-92 in their only meeting this season. So why now? Let me explain...
First of all, the Pistons are playing like garbage right now, losers of 3 of their last 4 games, all to below average opponents (Knicks, Kings, Bulls). Their once fine-tuned offense is struggling, averaging 89 ppg on 40% shooting over their last 5 games. It appears to me that the Pistons have hit a wall after bursting out of the gate ealry on, and find themseves temporarily bored and hence vulnerable.
Second, the Magic learned from their first match up this season. Dwight Howard and company desperately wanted to avenge their 4-game sweep at the hands of this Pistons team, but came out tight and got down early. This time around the Magic come in focused and ready.
Bottom line, look for a serious difference in energy levels tonight, as the Magic want this game badly, while the Pistons have looked disinterested of late. Magic beat a red-hot Portland team in their last home game, and will build off that win with another solid effort here tonight.
Take the Magic plus the points over the Pistons in this NBA match up.
3. Texas- While everyone seems to be trumpeting Oklahoma State's defense at home, talking about how they allow 57 ppg on just 39% shooting there, I'm not so sure. True, wins over Texas Tech and Washington were nice, but what exactly do wins over Rogers State, Texas-Arlington, and Northwestern State (among others) really account for?!
Match up-wise, the Cowboys are going to have a problem with the Longhorns 3-guard attack of Augustin, Abrams, and James (who's listed as a guard, but at 6'7 & 10+ boards/game, is really a forward). There coming off back-to-back losses where they got killed on the perimeter, and they'll be facing an even tougher task in stopping Texas's perimeter game tonight.
Okie State's guards are decent, but they lack a true distributor, with Byron Eaton's 3.2 assists/game leading the way. In the frontcourt, Okie State F James Anderson will have his work cut out for him down-low, as 6'9 shot-blocking F Atchley won't give him an inch. Longhorns' defensive numbers may not be as good as the Cowboys, but they've matched up against tougher competition, and tonight's where it pays off.
Bottom line, Oklahoma State gets exposed a bit here tonight. They've got a couple nice home wins, but their schedule full of cupcakes, plus back-to-back losses against similar perimeter-oriented teams, have me siding with the Longhorns in this one.
Take Texas over Oklahoma State in this Big 12 match up.
WAYNE ROOT
Chairman - Syracuse
Millionaire - Okla St
Chris Jordan
200* SAN DIEGO
100* OKLAHOMA STATE
College Cappers
NBA
30 Dime - Cleveland -3.5
CBB
30 Dime - Texas -2.5
35 Dime - San Diego -1
Malinsky
4* DETROIT/ORLANDO Under
6* - Texas Longhorns -3
BeatYourBookie
100* Play St. Peter’s (+7.5) over Fairfield
Fairfield is 1-8 ATS in home games after playing as an underdog
Fairfield is 2-12 ATS in home games coming off a road game
50* Play Texas (-2.5) over Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is 5-13 ATS as an underdog over the last 2 seasons
Oklahoma State is 3-13 ATS when playing in the month of January
Oklahoma State is 3-11 ATS coming off a road loss the last 3 seasons