Robert Ross
Game: Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers
Reason: Triple-revenge for the Sixers, losers of the first three meetings this year with the Celtics. They are playing much better now (winning 9-of-11) than earlier in the year and catch the Celts returning from a West Coast trip. Take Philadelphia!
Scott Spreitzer
Game: Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies
Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies
Reason: I'm taking the points with the Grizzlies on Monday. The Nuggets had to fight tooth-and-nail right to the end last night to escape Toronto with a win. The nine-point margin of victory is quite misleading. In fact, it was a one-point game with roughly two minutes to go. Add Denver's woes in this situation to the fact that they were in a 48-minute battle and they're in a tough road spot. The Nuggets are 4-12 (6-10 ATS) playing with no days off between games, allowing 113 PPG in the process. That includes a 1-6 SU, 2-5 ATS mark when the back-to-back games were both played away from the Mile High city. And, they'll face a Grizzlies' squad that's putting up a fight late in the season. Memphis has covered five in a row, and they've won three of their last four, outright. I believe they'll continue to play well against a squad that has proven all season that it needs time off between games. A play on Memphis, plus points, is my Top Hammer Situational Shocker. Thanks! GL! Scott.
Nick Parsons
Game: Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
Prediction: Boston Celtics
Reason: Member Pick: Play ON Boston vs Philadelphia @ 7:35 ET – With this line opening up around the double digit mark it certainly may seem enticing to Philadelphia backers. After all, the Sixers have been one of the hottest teams in the league. However, the issue here is that Boston presents the 76’ers with a lot of match-up issues plus the Celtics are not going to be in a good mood here either. Boston is coming off of a rare, ugly loss as they allowed 113 points to the Hornets on Saturday night in a loss at New Orleans. After that defeat, it’s bounce back time for the Celtics and they will make the most of this opportunity to take out their frustrations on a hated rival. Note that Boston is 20-5 at home this season while Philadelphia is just 15-20on the road. Also, eight of the Celtics last ten wins have come by double digits and this includes a win over the Sixers by 14 points in their most recent meeting. As good as Philly has been playing, they are still in the wrong place at the wrong time and the Celtics are the superior team capable of imposing their will on their home floor. Look for Boston to win this one in a romp
Teddy Covers
Game: Detroit v. Phoenix
Selection: Phoenix +3
Here’s the quote from Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups, telling us all we need to know about Detroit’s motivation and intensity down the stretch of the regular season. “With the (playoff) position that we’re in, we have the luxury of trying to work on some things. We’re not moving up or down or trying to go nowhere. We just have to stay healthy and try to work on some things that could benefit us in some series.” The Pistons are essentially locked into the #2 spot in the East, and they played like it yesterday at Washington, a lethargic, sluggish showing. There’s little reason to expect the Pistons to bring their ‘A’ game tonight either, against a team they beat by 30 less than a month ago.
Meanwhile, the Suns are really starting to click after struggling mightily through the first couple of weeks of the Shaquille O’Neal experiment. After a 7-9 SU, 5-10-1 ATS stretch from late January through early March as the Suns were adjusting to their new big man, Phoenix has come on strong over the last two weeks, reeling off seven consecutive wins (6-0-1 ATS), including relatively comfortable victories over playoff bound foes like Golden State, San Antonio and Houston. Look for the Suns to exert their will on the Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills tonight, handing Detroit their second three game losing streak in 2008. Take the Suns +3
Moneylockoftheday
Digger's pick
Portland/Seattle over 204
Hawker's pick
Bradley/Ohio over 141.5
LOCKLINE SPORTS
ILL ST
Sportsguru
Va Tech
NATIONAL SPORTS SERVICE
Phoenix/Detroit UNDER 206
Alex Smart
UAB +8.0
The UAB Blazers enter into this contest off a 80-77 win on the road against a very good Virginia Commonwealth team in the first round of the NIT . The Blazers have been tough opponent for all their opponents this season, and have covered 5 of their L/7 non conference tilts . I once again, expect the Blazers (10-5 ATS L/15) to come up big again in this spot against a Virginia Tech team that has been inconsistent this season and just 1-4 ATS in their L/5 vs C-USA team. Final notes & Key Trends:UAB is 12-3 ATS when the total is 130 to 139.5 this season. Play on the Blazers
Tom Freese
Nebraska at Mississippi
Mississippi is 10-1 ATS at home when playing a team with with a win percentage of 60% to 80% and they are 18-6 ATS after scoring 80 or more points in their last game. They are also 31-14 ATS as home favorites of 6 or less points. Nebraska is 1-6 ATS as road dogs off 6 or less points and they are 14-28 ATS off a double digit home win and they are 2-13 ATS off a playing as a double Digit home favorite in their last game. PLAY ON MISSISSIPPI -
Nelly
Illinois State – over Dayton
The Atlantic-10 has not impressed in the post-season thus far and this should be good situation for Illinois State to deliver a solid home victory. Outside of games against Drake, Illinois State was a fairly dominant team in the Missouri Valley and the Redbird went 16-1 at home this year. Dayton is 2-6 ATS in the last eight road games and the Flyers will not shoot 55 percent like they did in the opening NIT win over Cleveland State. Illinois State allows just 57 points per game at home and the Redbirds can continue playing in the NIT despite being one of the last teams left out of the NCAA tournament.
Frank Rosenthal
NETS-4 SB+
HEAT+9 SB
SUNS+3 SB
KINGS OVER 195 SB+
LAKERS-1 SB
UNDER 234 SB+
COLLEGE HOOPS
NIT MONDAY
OHIO ST-7.5 SB
NEBRASKA+6 SB
CBI
OHIO+6.5 SB
TULSA-2 SB
Al McMordie
At 9 pm, our selection is on the Mississippi Rebels minus the points over Nebraska, as we will fade the Cornhuskers off their 67-48 victory over Charlotte. Nebraska was favored by 8.5 points in that game, so they covered by 10.5 points. But Nebraska is a poor 12-39 ATS as underdogs off a win, if it covered the spread by more than three points. And if the 'Huskers are priced from +1 to +7 points, our 39-12 stat improves to 21-3 ATS (88%). Take Mississippi.
Wunderdog MLB
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay
Pick: Pittsburgh +118
The Pirates will send Matt Morris to the hill against the Ray's Edwin Jackson. Neither has had a good spring thus far, but overall the Pirates pitching has now allowed just eight runs in their last three games.While the Rays have had a good spring overall, it is getting to crunch time and will likely see that trend begin to reverse. We will back the Pirates in this one.
Game: Texas at Chicago Cubs
Pick: Texas +112
Rangers have been pounding the ball this spring producing 6.9 runs per game - second to only Arizona in the Cactus League. Kason Gabbard willpitch against Ryan Dempster in this one. We will ride the bats of the Rangers here to get the dog win.
Game: Philadelphia at New York Yankees
Pick: Philadelphia +153
Phil Hughes gets the ball for the Yankees against Jamie Moyer for the Phillies. It has not been a good spring for Hughes who is carrying a 7.71 ERA, and has allowed three HR's in just 11 innings. Jamie Moyer has had an outstanding spring to this point. He carries a 3.29 ERA into this contest. Phil's have slugged 24 HRs already this spring and the Yankees are always over-priced in the spring, so we will back the Phillies in this one.
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Denver -7.5
The Nuggets have not been a good road team this season, but they are coming off back-to-back road wins in a stretch where they are playing their best basketball of the season - and they are playing the lowly Memphis Grizzlies. The Nuggets have won 5 of their last 7 games SU and 7 of 8 ATS. Memphis is 0-9 ATS in home games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) this season and 0-7 ATS in home games versus explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ points/game this season. Denver is also 11-1 ATS after playing 2 consecutive road games this season. Lay the points on the red hot Nuggets.
PHILLY CONNECTION
Miami/Milw over 202
GAMBLERS DATA
TULSA -1.5
Winners Edge
NBA
Golden St Warriors +1 , 2 units
Boston Celtics - 10.5 , 2 units
CBB
UAB + 7.5 , 2 units
Mississippi - 5.5 , 2 units
Mr A's
Phoenix Suns +2½
Portland Trail Blazers -8½