Marc Lawrence
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
Sixers travel to Beantown looking to avenge a trio of losses suffered this year against Boston knowing the visiting team in this series is 6-1-1 ATS. With the Celtics returning home off a successful West Coast road swing, and Philadelphia on a nice 19-7 SU and ATS winning run since 1/26/08, we'll grab the points with the revenge minded visitors here tonight.
Play on: Philadelphia
James Patrick Sports
Nuggets vs. Grizzlies
The Bears end a currant home stand by hosting the Nuggets at the Fed Ex Forum on Monday Night in NBA action. Memphis leaves after this game for a road trip and although they are struggling of late, they catch the Nuggets in the second of back-to-back games and Denver is just 5-9 in their first 14 in this role. Our selection on Monday in NBA action is Memphis Grizzlies.
Jimmy The Moose
Game: Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens
Prediction: Montreal Canadiens
Reason: Both team's have won 4 of their lats 6 games. Ottawa is 3-9 in their last 12 road games. The Senators are 3-7 in their last 10 games coming off a game where they allowed 5 or more goals. Montreal is 9-4 in their last 13 games overall. The Canadiens are 7-1 in their last 8 conference games. Montreal has won 5 of their last 7 home games. The Senators have dominated the Canadiens of late but expect Montreal to take the two points at home tonight. Play on the Montreal Canadiens -.
Vegas Sports Pics
Virginia Tech Hokies - 7 over UAB Blazers
Virginia Tech is 6-2 last eight games including a 62-49 win over Miami in the ACC tournament, which went on to lose to No.6 Texas 75-72 on Sunday, and close losses at No.22 Clemson 72-71 and to No.1 UNC 68-66 in the ACCs.
California Golden Bears + 8 over (at) Ohio State Buckeyes
Cal's record includes a 69-65 win at then No.9 Washington State, its first road win over a Top 10 team since 1995. The Bears, who are 11-4 all-time in NIT games, lead the PAC ten in scoring paced by league leading scorer forward Anderson's 21.4 ppg.
Dayton Flyers + 6.5 over (at) Illinois State Redbirds
Dayton has posted wins over (at) No.13 Louisville 70-65 and No.17 Pittsburgh 80-55 this season. The Flyers are 5-1 this month including a 79-67 home win over decent St. Joseph's, the loss coming to No.12 Xavier 74-65 in the A-10 tournament.
Mississippi Rebels - 5 over Nebraska Cornhuskers
Mississippi has won its last four home games including an 81-72 victory over (23-11) Arkansas, which went on to beat (25-8) Indiana 86-72 in the NCAA first round. The Rebels, who are 7-1 in all-time in NIT home games, are 31-3 at home under coach Kennedy.
Panorama Sports
Philadelphia Sixers +10.5
The Celtics were unable to put the cherry on the cake after their waltz through Texas as the Hornets overcame a double digit deficit on Friday to spoil the party. Boston will get their chance to resume their domination of the West as the Suns come to town on Wednesday. In this spot they face a playoff bound Sixers team that they have dominated by way of 3 decisive victories this year, and who will be looking to improve their 7th seeding in the East. Philly has a legitimate shot to finish 5th as the Wizards embark on a western swing while the Raptors have been stumbling of late though Chris Bosh is back in the lineup. Boston has little to play for here as they have opened up distance on Detroit in the East and are virtually assured of best overall record. Look for a Boston victory that may be a little on the lethargic side as they take to their home court after a tough 5 game in 8 night road stint with Phoenix on Wednesday and a Hornet rematch 2 days later. 99-95 Boston.
Jim Feist.
NJ Nets and NY Knicks.
Take " NJ Nets".
Isiah Thomas, who won't be around much longer, is going with the kids and the Knicks have responded by going 0-4 SU/ATS. The Knicks lost again to another lottery-bound team, 114-93 to Minnesota. The kids don't play any defense, either, giving up 109, 110, 120 and 114 points. The Knicks have lost 11 of 12. The Nets young players are better, on a 3-3 SU, 4-2 ATS run. The Nets have motivation, just 1.5 games behind eighth-place Atlanta in the Eastern Conference. A better spot for the visitors in this area rivalry.
Play the Nets!
Dave Cokin.
POR Trail Blazers and SEA Sonics.
Take "POR Trail Blazers".
Portland won't make the playoffs, but the Blazers have established themselves as a pretty fair team that should make more noise next season. They're in decent form presently, but the same can certainly not be said for Seattle. The undermanned Sonics are getting killed and can't stop anyone with their complete lack of even a semblance of defense. I'll spot the points here with Portland to score an easy road win."
Joe Wiz
The marquee game in the NBA takes place in Detroit, as the Pistons host the red hot Phoenix Suns. The game features a big contrast in style, with the up tempo Suns and the defensive minded Pistons. The Suns recent surge have brought them within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers for first place in the Pacific Division. The Suns are 47-22 and have reeled off seven straight wins, with the latest coming Saturday night at home over Houston, 122-113. The Pistons return home tonight, after losing at Washington last evening 95-83. They hold a big lead in the Central Division. The Suns are 21-12 on the road this season, while the Pistons are 27-6 at home.
The teams met at Phoenix on February, 24th and the Pistons dominated play and won easily 116-86. The Suns are 33-33-3 ATS this year, but have been sharp of late, going 6-0-1 ATS over their last seven games. The Pistons are 38-30 ATS and 21-14 ATS at home.
The Suns are hitting their stride, after a mid season let down. They are averaging 110.2 points per game this season and have topped that mark in each of the last six games and in eight of their past nine. They will need to figure out how to quicken the pace against the Pistons, which kept them from breaking out in their earlier meeting. Steve Nash will look to control the pace while his teammates head down the floor after both made and missed baskets. Nash must also find more looks from the perimeter and knock down shots. Amare Stoudemire, who is coming off a 38-point and 13-rebound performance will try and beat the Pistons down the floor. He scored a game-high 31 points in the loss to the Pistons. Shaquille O'Neal is starting to gel with his new squad. He had one of his best games since joining the team last time out, with 23 points and 13 rebounds. The Suns might be without Raja Bell again tonight. Leandro Barbosa will start in his place if he can't go, but that hurts the Suns depth.
Only the Boston Celtics can lay claim to having a better defense than the Pistons, which are yielding just 90.8 points per game. They held the Suns to just 86 points in the first meeting. They crashed the boards and won that battle with ease and the Suns were with O'Neal. Guards Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups are terrific defenders and were able to keep the Suns from getting out on the break. On offense, they are both averaging just over 17 points per game. Hamilton is one of the most efficient three point shooters in the league. Billups is handing out seven assists per game and rarely turns the ball over. Rasheed Wallace did the most damage in the first meeting against the Suns. He scored a team-high 22 points and was solid on the glass. The Pistons bring solid defenders off the bench, which could come into play with this their second game in as many nights.
Seattle +8 1/2 over Portland
Vegas Experts
Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis has won three-of-four and covered five-of-six. Denver has been even better, winning five-of-seven and covering seven-of-eight. It scored a 108-86 March 12 home win over the Grizzlies and is 28-19 ATS as a favorite this season. MEMPHIS is 21-32 ATS as an underdog this season and 8-17 ATS in home games revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
Play on: Denver
ARMVIN SPORTS
VIRGINIA TECH -7
CALIFORNIA 8
DAYTON 6.5
NEBRASKA at MISSISSIPPI Over 138
CALGARY at COLORADO Over 5.5
Prime Sports Picks
Memphis +8
Mighty Quinn
Virginia -8.5
Jack Clayton
76ers
LT's Lock
Illinois St. -6'
PLATINUM PLAYS
OHIO BOBCATS + 6
TOTALS 4U
TULSA - 1 1/2
HUDDLE UP SPORTS
Philadelphia +10
MIKE WYNN
Detroit/Phoenix Over 206
VEGAS STEAMLINE
Tulsa/Utah OVER the total of 129
BIG TIME SPORTS
VALPARAISO /HOUSTON OVER 148
TV HOTLINE
OHIO ST. -8
RAZOR SHARP SPORTS
PORTLAND/SEATTLE OVER 205
#1 SPTS
CALIFORNIA +7 1/2
DR, VEGAS
Tulsa -1.5
Scott Spreitzer
Old Dominion
Cappers Access
Calif
Illinois St
Glen Mcgrew
Celtics
Joe Wiz
Lakers
Seattle
Bob Donahue
Rockets
Joel Tyson
Old Dominion +8’ at VIRGINIA
Take the points and back the Monarchs of Old Dominion when they meet state rival, Virginia tonight. This has not been your typical Virginia team this year, as the Cavaliers are 16-15, and ended 5-12 in conference play. The Monarchs despite dropping two straight before their win last time out over Rider 68-65, are definitely the hotter team right now as they have won seven of their last 10 overall. The Cavaliers have alternated wins and losses over their last six, and have dropped five of their last 10. ODU with the momentum, and confidence coming in should display the firepower necessary to stay in this game. For these reasons I look for the Monarchs to easily stay within the number.
2* OLD DOMINION
Bobby Maxwell
UAB +7' at VIRGINIA TECH
Alabama-Birmingham came out last week, went on the road and beat VCU 80-77 as a 5 1/2-point road underdog. The Blazers fell to Memphis in the regular season finale and lost to Tulsa in OT in the Conference USA quarterfinal but they rebounded well against VCU.
UAB is now 10-5 ATS in their last 15 games and they've gone 4-2 as an underdog. The Blazers are 5-2 ATS in non-conference action and 5-1 ATS as an underdog of three points or more.
Now everybody thinks Virginia Tech is destined to win this tournament but let's not give them the crown yet. The Hokies felt they were snubbed in the Big Dance selections and put a beating on Morgan State Wednesday, winning 94-62 as a 16-point favorite. But let's get serious, they aren't going shoot 65.4 percent from the field again and do the same thing to UAB.
The Hokies haven't had much success against Conference USA squads, going 1-4 ATS in their last five matchups.
Be sure to grab the points in this one as we're not saying UAB is going to come out and win this one on the Hokies home court, but we do expect a tight game right down to the buzzer. The Blazers get the cash in this one.
3* UAB
John Ryan
Game: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
Reason: Ai Simulator 3* graded play on the Lakers – AiS shows a 70% probability that the Lakers will win this game by 3 or more points. Lakers off a disappointing loss and are just percentage points behind Conference leader New Orleans. Golden State in the 8th spot right now, but just 1.5 games ahead of Denver. There are a lot game dependent projections supporting the Lakers. Lakers have an 88% probability that they will score 105 or more points and also shoot a minimum of 48% from the field. Note that the Lakers are 10-2 ATS when they make 48% to 51% of their shots in a game this season. Golden State is just 11-30 ATS when they allow 105 or more points in a game this season. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 53-21 ATS since 2002 for 71%. Play on favorites that are playing with double revenge having 2 straight losses versus opponent and in a game involving two good teams sporting win percentages of 60% to 75% for the season. Take the Lakers
Tom Scott
Game: New Jersey Nets at New York Knicks
Prediction: New Jersey Nets
We're not talking playoff implications here but this is an important game to the Nets. During the period when New York started the season at a blistering .333 pace, the Nets took three losses on the chin from the "red hot" Knicks. However, since January 25th, the fortunes have changed for the Big Apple also-rans. New York has won only five of its last 27 games while Jersey has 11 wins in that same stretch. Additionally, the Nets have swung momentum over to their side with four covers in their last six games while the Knicks are languishing in the throes of a 1-10 ATS streak. So, we have two teams going in opposite directions and a nice 45-17 angle on the team going the right way. But the key to this game is motivation and I can guarantee you that no one on the New Jersey team wants to be swept by the second worst team in the conference. Nets hit nets better tonight.
PREDICTION: NEW JERSEY 104 - New York 91