SPORTS ADVISORS
(11) Marquette (17-2, 7-6-1 ATS) at (19) Notre Dame (12-6, 4-8 ATS)
The Golden Eagles take their nine-game winning streak into South Bend, Ind., for a showdown with struggling Notre Dame, which just saw its NCAA-best 45-game home winning streak halted and is facing its fourth consecutive ranked Big East opponent.
Marquette has rattled off nine in a row (5-2-1 ATS) and is perfect in Big East action at 6-0 (4-2 ATS). The Eagles are coming off Saturday’s 79-70 win over Depaul, but came up well short as 16-point home favorites. The last time they took to the road in conference play was Jan. 17 when they got a 91-82 win at Providence as a one-point chalk.
The Fighting Irish have dropped three straight games for the first time in three years and are in the midst of an 0-4 ATS run. After back-to-back double-digit road losses to No. 23 Louisville and No. 8 Syracuse, Notre Dame on Saturday fell to UConn 69-61 as two-point home ‘dogs, the team’s first loss in South Bend since February 2005. Mike Bray’s squad shot a season-low 33 percent from the field against UConn and essentially lost the game when the Huskies went on a 13-1 run late in the second half. The Irish (3-4, 2-5 ATS in conference) are giving up a whopping 81.1 ppg in Big East play, but just 62.5 ppg on their home court.
Marquette won two of the three matchups last season (3-0 ATS) and knocked the Irish out of the Big East postseason tournament with an 89-79 quarterfinals win as a 1½-point favorite at Madison Square Garden. Last season in South Bend, the Irish prevailed 86-83, but failed to cash as 4½-point favorites. The Eagles have covered in five of the last seven in this rivalry.
Marquette enters this one on ATS streaks of 10-4 on the road, 12-5 in conference play, 5-2 on Mondays, 5-1 against teams with a winning record and 9-4 on the road against teams with a winning home mark. Notre Dame is just 1-5-1 ATS in its last seven on Monday.
For the Golden Eagles, the over is on runs of 43-21-2 on the road, 29-14 in Big East play and 42-17-2 against teams with a winning home record. The Irish have gone over the total in 22 of their last 30 conference games, eight of their last 11 Monday contests and five straight against teams with a winning record. Finally, in this rivalry, the over is on a 5-0 streak overall and 5-0 run in South Bend.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
(6) Oklahoma (19-1, 9-6 ATS) at Oklahoma State (13-5, 5-6-1 ATS)
The Sooners put their perfect Big 12 record on the line as they travel Stillwater, Okla., to face rival Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma improved to 5-0 in conference play (4-1 ATS) with Saturday’s 95-76 home rout of Baylor, easily cashing as a seven-point chalk. It’s been all about defense for the Sooners, as they limit the opposition to 64.8 points per game and 37.7 percent shooting while scoring 80 points per contest (48 percent). Prior to Saturday, they had allowed 64 points or less in six straight games, and they’re yielding just 63.2 ppg (36.4 percent) in conference play.
Oklahoma State has been involved in three straight thrillers, losing at Baylor 98-92 in overtime on Jan. 17 as a 5½-point underdog, then losing at home to Missouri 97-95 as a one-point favorite before finally coming out on top at Nebraska on Saturday, winning 76-74 in overtime as a 2½-point pup. The Cowboys (2-2 SU and ATS in conference) are 9-1 SU in front of the home crowd, where they average 91 ppg on 48 percent shooting, but just 3-2 ATS in lined action.
The Sooners have won three straight (2-1 ATS) in this rivalry and five of the last six (3-2-1 ATS). They went to Stillwater last season and earned a 68-56 victory as five-point ‘dogs. In fact, the road team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six series clashes.
Oklahoma is 4-1 ATS in its last five overall, but otherwise is on negative ATS trends of 17-35-2 on the road, 18-40-2 on the highway against teams with a winning home record and 3-7-1 on Mondays. Oklahoma State is on positive ATS runs of 9-3-1 in Big 12 play, 4-1 on Mondays and 4-0 at home against teams with a winning road record.
The Sooners have topped the total in five of their last six after a spread-cover, but they are on “under” streaks of 9-2-1 on the road, 9-3 in conference play, 4-0 against teams with a winning record and 10-2-1 on the road against a team with a winning home mark. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has easily topped the total in three straight games, but the under for the Cowboys is on stretches of 16-6 on Mondays, 4-1 after a straight-up win and 4-0 against teams with a winning record. Also, the under has been the play in the last four meetings in the Bedlam Series.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
NBA
Atlanta (26-17, 23-20 ATS) at Miami (23-19, 19-21-2 ATS)
The Hawks head to American Airlines Arena in Miami looking to rebound from a difficult Sunday afternoon home loss when they face the Heat in this Eastern Conference matchup.
Atlanta fell 104-99 to the Suns as a four-point home favorite on Sunday, snapping a three-game winning streak (2-1 ATS) that included Friday’s117-87 blowout of the Bucks as a 5½-point home chalk. The Hawks are just 9-12 away from Atlanta this season, but they’ve been a good road bet, cashing in 13 of those 21 contests.
Miami has alternated SU wins and losses in its last five (3-2 ATS), but is coming off Saturday’s surprising 103-97 home win over the in-state rival Magic, prevailing as a 7½-point pup. The Heat are only 13-7 SU and 8-11-1 ATS in front of the home fans this season.
The Hawks have won four of the last five (3-2 ATS) in this series, including a 87-73 win in South Beach back on Dec. 12, cashing as two-point pups. Atlanta has prevailed in two of its last three trips to Miami (2-1 ATS) but it is just 3-11 ATS in their last 14 trips to Florida and 7-19 ATS in the last 26 series clashes overall.
Atlanta is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven against Southeast Division opponents, but otherwise is on ATS streaks of 9-4 on the road, 7-1 as an underdog, 7-1 on the second night of a back-to-back and 5-1 as a road ‘dog. The Heat are 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall and 5-2 ATS in their last seven after getting a day off, but they also carry a host of negative pointspread trends into this one, including 0-6 on Mondays, 14-37-1 as a favorite, 19-40-1 as a home favorite and 1-4-1 at home against teams with a losing road record.
The Hawks have stayed under the total in five of their last eight against the Southeast Division, but they have topped the total in 10 of 15 overall, five of seven on Monday and four of five on the second night of a back-to-back. For Miami, the over is 7-2 in its last nine overall, but the under is on runs of 7-3 at home, 5-2 against Southeast Division foes and 4-1 as a home favorite.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Philadelphia (21-21 SU and ATS) at New Orleans (26-14, 17-21-2 ATS)
The red-hot Sixers, winners of eight of their last nine, make the trek to the Big Easy for a showdown with the Hornets.
Philadelphia has found its offense lately, topping the century mark in eight of its last 10, including in Saturday’s 116-110 home victory over the Knicks, though it came up just short as 7½-point favorites. The Sixers, who climbed back to .500 with the victory over New York, have won and covered in three straight on the highway, and they are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 overall.
New Orleans had its three-game winning streak (2-1 ATS) snapped Friday night in Minnesota, losing 116-108 as a one-point road underdog. The Hornets tend to clamp down defensively at home, allowing just 90.6 points per game in New Orleans while scoring 97.1.
These two haven’t met since November 2007 when the Hornets swept a home-and-home series, winning 95-76 as nine-point home favorites, then scoring a 93-72 road win as a 2½-point chalk. New Orleans is 6-3 ATS in the last nine series meetings and 4-1 ATS in the last five played in the Big Easy.
In addition to its ongoing ATS streaks of 8-2 overall and 3-0 on the road, Philadelphia comes into this one on positive pointspread runs of 4-1 against the Western Conference, 10-2 against the Southwest Division, 6-1 after a straight-up win and 5-2 after getting one day off. The Hornets are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight against the Eastern Conference and 1-4 ATS in their last five at home against teams with a losing road mark, but they are on positive ATS streaks of 44-19-2 after a straight-up loss and 11-5-1 against the Atlantic Division.
The Sixers have stayed under the total in 21 of 28 Monday contests and 11 of 17 games after getting a day off, but they are on “over” runs that include 7-3 against the Western Conference, 8-2 on the road, 5-0 after a non-cover and 7-3 against teams with a winning record. New Orleans is on “over” stretches of 7-3-1 overall and 4-0-1 after a non-cover, but it is also on under streaks of 11-5-1 after a straight-up loss, 7-2 at home and 4-1-1 against the Eastern Conference. Finally, the under is 5-1 in the last six clashes between these squads, but the over is 8-3 in the last 11 played in New Orleans.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PHILADELPHIA
James Patrick Sports
Hawks vs. Heat
Atlanta gets a tough assignment with back-to-back games and their past trips to South Beach have not been very profitable as the Hawks are 3 -11 ATS in Miami and 7-19 ATS their past 26 overall. Our selection in Monday's NBA action is Miami Heat.
Marc Lawrence
Play On: New Orleans
The Hornets return to the Hive off an 8-point loss to at Minnesota Friday night to host the Sixers, who enter off a win over division rival New York. That sets the table in this contest as the Knicks are just 7-19-1 ATS in game after beating New York while New Orleans is 10-4 ATS as a favorite of more than 5 points in this series. With that look for the Killer Bees to improve to 10-4 ATS (including 6-0 SU and ATS in their last six) in games off a loss this season.
Cajun-Sports
Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat -3.5
PLAY: 2* Miami Heat -3.5
American Airlines Arena will be the site of tonights meeting between the host Miami Heat and the visiting Atlanta Hawks. These two teams last met back on December 12 and the Hawks took the Heat out to the proverbial wood shed and won straight up as a 2 point road underdog, 87 to 73.
The Hawks are 26-16 SU this season and have posted a record of 23-18 against the number. Atlanta is 9-12 SU and 13-7 ATS on the road this year. When facing division opponents the Hawks have played well posting a record of 6-2 SU but they have cost their backers against the spread going 3-5 ATS in division contests this season.
Atlanta has struggled in the role of conference road underdog posting a record of 185-228-6 ATS overall and if they are coming off a home game their record is 140-178-4 ATS. Those records include games against this Heat team and we note that Atlanta is 2-10 ATS versus Miami their last 12 meetings overall. If the Hawks are playing at Miami with a line range of 1.5 to 3.5 points they are 0-7 ATS, the Hawks are 1-8 ATS as an underdog versus Miami at any location and 0-7 ATS as an underdog at Miami with the same line range.
Miami is coming off a huge home win versus Orlando on Saturday night winning 103 to 97 as a 7.5 point home underdog. The Heat are 23-19 SU and 19-23 ATS on the season but have covered six of their last eight games overall. Miami is 21-3 SU and 17-7 ATS versus Atlanta since 1996 when playing at home.
On Sunday night we expect the Heat to avenge that December loss and continue their ATS success versus this Atlanta Hawks team.
PROJECTED FINAL SCORE: (2*) Miami Heat 96 Atlanta Hawks 90
Dave Cokin
Citadel @ Samford
Play: Samford -5
Samford is definitely enjoying life in the Southern Conference. They've covered all but one league game thus far and it appears as though teams are having trouble adjusting to the patience Samford always shows on offense. The Citadel is on the road off a nice upset over Charleston on Saturday and may find the going much tougher tonight. I'll spot the reasonable tag with Samford to pick up another win and cover.
Matt Rivers
For Monday take the points with the Clippers at home.
No team has been more decimated than the Clips this season as Baron Davis, Zach Randolph, Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby have all missed a lot of time. It really is a cursed franchise as the talent is there, if healthy, but bad things just continue to happen to Los Angeles' weaker team.
Portland is obviously the much better team on the court tonight and the club that should walk off the floor as the victor. Brandon Roy is a stud and LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and the rest of the Blazers are no joke. But Portland is a far superior team at the Rose Garden than on the road and with the way stud rookie Eric Gordon has been playing along with Al Thornton and possibly Camby playing I can't help but grab the really healthy sum here at home.
The Clips just came back to down Kevin Durant and the Thunder the other night. Sure Oklahoma City is not good and LA is on the back-to back after playing in Golden State on Sunday but a win is a win and a confidence booster.
Bottom line, it's never a terrible idea to play the home dog and with the Clips only going to get better I'll take my chances here.
Karl Garrett
Marquette +3 at NOTRE DAME
The Irish are reeling, as Notre Dame has now lost their last 3 in Big East play, including seeing their massive 45-game home court win streak come to an end this past weekend at the hands of Connecticut.
More matchup problems for the Irish tonight, as Notre Dame was unable to effectively combat the Golden Eagles 3-guard offense last year, dropping 2 of the the 3 season meetings straight up, while failing ALL 3 against the spread!
More of the same tonight, as James, Matthews, and McNeal continue to thin Mike Brey's even more.
Marquette has won their last 9 games straight up, and that includes 3 straight road wins, at Providence, Rutgers, and NC State.
Now that Notre Dame's long home court winning streak has been snapped, look for the Irish to suffer a bit of a let down in tonight's "must win" contest.
G-Man taking any points they want to give with the Golden Eagles.
3♦ MARQUETTE
Bobby Maxwell
Oklahoma -4 at OKLAHOMA STATE
This is an easy one as we are going to just plain and simply play the better basketball team in this rivalry game. Oklahoma is 19-1 this season and they are perfect in conference play at 5-0. Oklahoma State has been in three thrillers lately and now have to try and stop this Sooners' squad.
We'll lay the relatively small chalk on the road and play Oklahoma.
The Sooners know how to defend, limiting the opposition to 64.8 points per game and 37.7 percent shooting this season. And they know how to put points on the board, averaging 80 points per contest.
The Cowboys have been in three straight battles, losing in overtime to Baylor 98-92, then losing to Missouri 97-95 at home and falling at Nebraska 76-74 in overtime as a 2 1/2-point underdog. That's a lot of tense action for a team that honestly isn't that good.
Oklahoma has won three straight in this rivalry (2-1 ATS) and five of the last six. They went to Stillwater last year and got a 68-56 win as a five-point underdog. The roadie has gone 4-2 ATS in the last six between these two.
The better team will win this game and there is no doubt that is Oklahoma. Play the Sooners.
3♦ OKLAHOMA
Sports Gambling Hotline
Okalhoma -4 at OKLAHOMA STATE
We are willing to lay a few points in tonight's Oklahoma-Oklahoma State contest, as we feel Oklahoma is clearly the better team, and will come through on the road in this rivalry tonight.
The Sooners are fresh off a home court drubbing of Baylor on Saturday, while the Cowboys battled tooth-and-nail, and came away with a road outright win at Nebraska in overtime on Saturday.
That makes 2 of their last 3 Cowboy games having gone into OT, and we see the 'Pokes being a little spent come the late stages of this one.
Oklahoma has gone a solid 6-1 straight up on the road this season, and the Sooners have also covered in 5 of their 7 roadies this year.
Season series numbers show OU with 3 straight wins, and covers in 2 of the 3. Included, is a 68-56 win as the 5-point dog in Stillwater in the last meeting last March.
Now the Sooners are being asked to lay a few, and we have no issue at all with that.
Take Oklahoma minus the points in this one.
3♦ OKLAHOMA
JIM FEIST
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS / NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Take PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
This is a quick-young Philadelphia team that has been playing well, running at opponents with its fast guard play. That will help here against Chris Paul and the Hornets. The 76ers recently went on an 8-0 ATS run and they have Elton Brand back, improving the depth and frontcourt. New Orleans has 4 straight games with the West on deck, so how much focus will they have in this game against an Eastern team? The 76ers are 4-0 ATS their last four road games despite being an underdog in three of them. Play the 76ers.
Big Al McMordie
New Jersey Nets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Play: Oklahoma City Thunder -2.5
At 8:05 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Oklahoma City Thunder minus the points over New Jersey. The Thunder fired coach P.J. Carlesimo 13 games into the season, and replaced him with current coach Scott Brooks. The results have been encouraging, as Oklahoma City is an awesome 23-8 ATS under Brooks! Tonight, the Thunder take on the New Jersey Nets. In its last game, the Thunder lost on the road to the Clippers, but Kevin Durant had his best game, with 46 points and 15 rebounds. And, two games back, the Thunder had its best offensive outburst of the season, and scored 122 points in its 1-point win at Golden State. Oklahoma City was led in that game by Russell Westbrook's 30 points, and Kevin Durant and Jeff Green chipped in 27 and 26 points respectively. Look for the Thunder to move to 24-8 ATS under coach Brooks with a blowout win over the Nets.
Alex Smart
Siena -10.0
Siena(15-5, 9-0) enters into this game against Iona(10-10, 5-4) , off smashing the second place team in the MAAC Niagara by a lopsided 82-65 before a sellout crowd of 7,980 at Times Union Center. Now they prepare themselves to prove their conference superiority again, with another big time effort against a side, that has notched 3 straight wins and will not be taken lightly, by a well coached team.
Siena is 9-0 in MAAC play and have won 13 of their L/15 overall with their only losses coming to Pittsburgh and Kansas. The Saints have won 14 straight conference games, including 13 straight at home, and have outscored their opponents here by an average of 15 PPG during their current campaign . Siena has won 5 straight in this series, including both meetings last season.
The Saints have won their last two games against the conferences two top teams, by DDs, leading those contests from start to finish, and are good bets to turn the trick again, as they begin to turn heads, and get the accolades they deserve.
Play on Siena to cover
Bob Harvey
Oklahoma -3.0
Oklahoma seeks to become the first 20 win team in the country as they take on Oklahoma State in the latest installment of the “Bedlam Series”. The Sooners are 19-1 overall,5-0 in the Big 12, 4-1 on the road and have won seven straight.while the Cowboys come in with a record of 13-5 and 2-2 in conference play.
Oklahoma is off to its best start in 23 years and look to extend their run at the expense of Oklahoma State a team they’ve beaten three straight times and five of the last six meetings. Head coach Jeff Capel is 3-1 vs. the Cowboys as Sooners coach.
All five OU starters are averaging double figures in Big 12 play led by Blake Griffin who is tickling the twine to the tune of 22.4 ppg. He’s followed by Austin Johnson (12.6), Willie Warren (11.8), Tony Crocker (10.4) and Taylor Griffin (10.4). During their current seven-game winning streak, the Sooners are out-shooting their opponents from the field, 49% to 35%. Blake Griffin, whose a strong candidate for Player of the Year award, leads the conference in scoring and rebounds, is second in field goal percentage, fourth in blocks and 11th in steals. His presence alone is worth laying the small number as a road favorite.
LT Profits
NC Greensboro +3.5
Some teams are just automatic fades whenever they are favored, and we feel that the Furman Paladins fit that profile tonight, even against the lowly NC Greensboro Spartans.
Furman is truly one of the worst teams in the entire country at 2-15 straight up, and they have not been any better to their few supporters either, going 2-10 against the spread. Furthermore, both of their straight up wins came against non-lined opponents vs. a couple of teams called Emory University and Berry College, so they have yet to win a game vs. a board team.
This does not exactly exude confidence in a favorite, especially a team that is allowing opponents to score a whopping 74.6 points per game on a generous 49.7 percent shooting this year. The Paladins are allowing the opposition to make an unbelievable 55.1 percent of their two-point attempts, and the 39.2 percent they are allowing in three-point attempts is almost as bad.
Now NC Greensboro is no great shakes either at 3-14 straight up, but at least the Spartans have two wins vs. lined opponents. Moreover, both of those wins have incredibly come on the road, where they have upset Appalachian State and Elon College. Remember too that Greensboro is playing with revenge here after getting upset by Furman as nine-point underdogs in this building last season.
Now it is Furman that looks like the overvalued favorite, so look for the Spartans to get their revenge here with an outright win.
Pick: NC Greensboro Spartans +3.5
Jimmy The Moose
New Jersey Nets at Oklahoma City Thunder
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Nets come into this one 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games. New Jersey is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog. In their last 11 games vs. NBA Northwest opponents the Nets are 3-8 at the window. Oklahoma is 9-1 ATS in their last 10 home games. In their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record the Thunder is 6-0 ATS. The Thunder is 11-2 ATS in their last 13 vs. Eastern Conference opponents. Oklahoma is 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games overall. The Thunder is 6-3 ATS in the last 9 meetings. Play on the Oklahoma City Thunder -.