Donnie Black
20* Texas
Rocketman
Appalachian State
Delaware
Georgia
DePaul
UNLV
ALL 3*
BYU @ UNLV
Play: 3* UNLV -1.5
BYU is 46-73 ATS as an underdog since 1997. UNLV is 68-41 ATS on Saturdays since 1997. UNLV is 107-72 ATS since 1997 and 40-21 ATS last 3 years when playing against a team with a winning record. UNLV is 68-41 ATS since 1997 when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games. UNLV is 25-11 ATS since 1997 and 13-4 ATS last 3 years against good offensive teams scoring 77 points per game or higher. UNLV is allowing only 63 points per game at home this year with an impressive 13-2 SU record. UNLV is 3-0 SU and ATS at home vs BYU last 3 years. Cougars are 20-43-1 ATS in their last 64 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5. Cougars are 23-51-2 ATS in their last 76 games as a road underdog. Cougars are 25-58-2 ATS in their last 85 games as an underdog. Cougars are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Runnin' Rebels are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Runnin' Rebels are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. Runnin' Rebels are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite. Runnin' Rebels are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall. Runnin' Rebels are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 vs. Mountain West. Runnin' Rebels are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games as a home favorite of 0.5-6.5. Runnin' Rebels are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning SU record. Runnin' Rebels are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite. Runnin' Rebels are 40-17-2 ATS in their last 59 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Runnin' Rebels are 18-8-2 ATS in their last 28 games following a SU loss. Runnin' Rebels are 18-8 ATS in their last 26 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5. Runnin' Rebels are 37-17-2 ATS in their last 56 Saturday games. Favorite is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings. Home team is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings. Cougars are 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings. Cougars are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings in UNLV. We'll play UNLV for 3 units tonight!
Big Daddy
12* UNLV -2
Bond
10* NO/Utah Over 199
Larry Ness
20* Bracket Buster GOY (80% run with 'high-end' plays since Feb 12)
My 20* Bracket Buster GOY is on Idaho at 10:00 ET. Bob Braswell is in his 13th year at Northridge and his Matadors won 20 games last year. However, three starters are gone from that team, including the 6-6 Heard (11.4-5.5) and the 6-8 Chitwood (10.7-4.1). CS-Northridge enters this Bracket Buster game at Idaho 12-11 overall but at 8-4 in Big West play, finds itself tied with Long Beach St for the conference lead. Meanwhile at Idaho, the Vandals are 121-13 (6-6 in the WAC) and likely going nowhere under first-year head coach Don Verlin. While all that's true, I have not 'painted the entire picture' of these two schools. Senior guard Deon Tresvant (13.3) led the Matadors in scoring last year and was leading them in scoring this year as well, until running into some legal problems after 12 games (he's out for the year). Then, just recently, senior PG Josh **** (10.2-6.0 APG) was injured in an auto accident and also will be lost for the year. Playing their first game without * on Wedsday night, Northridge shot just 35.8 percent (4-of-16 on threes) in a 73-51 loss at Cal-Irvine, which is just 9-17 on the year. As for the Vandals, their 12-13 (6-6 in the WAC) record may not seem like a big deal but it is in Moscow. The Vandals won just eight games last year and over the previous four years combined, had tallied just 24 wins! This may be Don Verlin's first head coaching job but he's been at the side of Stew Morrill for the last 15 years (first at Colo St and then at Utah St). Morrill, of course, entered this season having led Utah State to NINE straight 20-win seasons, taking the Aggies to nine straight postseasons (five NCAAs). The Aggies are 25-2 and headed to their 10th consecutive postseason nthis year. I guess Verlin's learned a few things under "the master." Four starters from last year are gone (good riddance!), as Verlin has been able to weave a seven-man rotation out of TY's team. Washington St transfer Hopson (16.6-5.1-5.6) is a do-everything guard who has scored in double digit in 24 of the team's 25 games. Fellow guard Watson (10.8-3.8) is a CC transfer who joins Hopson in the backcourt along with seniors Morris (5.3) and Simmons (4.9). The 6-10 Jefferson (8.8-3.9), and the 6-6 Wiley (8.6-5.7) return from last year, joined by 6-7 JUCO de Souza (8.3-2.8). Northridge can counter with the 6-9 Townsend (11.5-8.6) and the 6-8 Galick (10.0-6.1) up front but with the loss of three frontcourt starters from last year, can hardly match up. With both Tresvant and now * out in the backcourt, Haynes (9.9), Daniels (7.3) and Mels 96.6) are in trouble on the perimeter against Hopson, Watson and Co. This Bracket Buster home game is a big deal in Moscow, as a win gets the team to .500 at 13-13 (remember this program has averaged six wins per season over the last four years). The team's 56-54 win at Boise St on Wednesday night gave the Vandals a 2-0 sweep of their in-state rivals for the first time in 10 years and the team as well as its fans are energized. Meanwhile, Northridge must travel to Moscow (what a reward!) with the loss of **** fresh in their minds and four more conference games ahead (remember, the Matadors are still tied for the Big West lead). Idaho is 9-3 SU at home this year and back in late November, beat a Cal-Irvine team that just beat CS-Northridge earlier this week 73-51, by the score of 101-47. Bracket Buster GOY 20* Idaho.
Scott Rickenbach
Top Play
Utah St
Reg
Vandy
Austin Peay
Denver CBB
Scott Spreitzer
25* Texas
Mark "Shark" Miller
Utah State at St. Mary's
Play On: Utah +4.5
I think Utah State is the better team and we can take the better team with points today. The 25 - 2 record might not bring a lot of interest to some because of the conference Utah State plays in. But this not the first year of sucsess for Utah State. They have had an impressive 10 year run. Their offensive is shooting at near 50% (49.8) and almost 40% from the 3-point line. While Utah State is rested, St. Mary's is coming off draining game on national TV. Playing a late start on Thursday night and now they play afternoon game with just one day to rest and prepare. Now we can add that Mills huge loss to the team to the equation and we should find St. Mary's is a difficult spot to even win this game let alone cover the number. Take Utah State
Charlotte at Richmond
Play On: Richmond -4
Akron at Valparaiso
Play On: Akron -4.5
Not enough credit is being given to a young team that has come together under a very good coach. The non-conference road schedule for Akron included Pittsburgh, Niagara, Rhode Island and V.C.U. Even with that schedule Akron ranks 15th in points allowed. Akron is 8 - 1 SU in their L9 games and 7 - 2 ATS in those 9 games. Valpro has lost 20 games this year and has little depth which could turn this game into a blowout over the corse of 40 minutes. Take Akron
THE GOLD SHEET'S LTS (+)
SATURDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 21
NBA
GOLDEN STATE (-7 1/2) -home over Oklahoma City 7:35 PM PST
COLLEGE HOOPS
SAINT LOUIS (pick 'em) -home over Dayton 5:00 PM PST
UNLV (- 1 1/2) -home over Byu 8:00 PM PST
TENNESSEE STATE (-4) -home over Detroit Bracket Buster 5:00 PM PST
IDAHO (-4) -home over CS Northridge Bracket Buster 7:00 PM PST
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22
COLLEGE HOOPS
SYRACUSE (est. line -2) -home over Villanova 10:00 AM PST
ST. BONAVENTURE (est. line +13) over Temple -home 11:00 AM PST
KING CREOLE
3*** UTAH JAZZ minus the points vs New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets played last night IN Los Angeles.... and took the Lakers right down to the wire, losing in OVERTIME 115-111. They didn't get the win, but the DID get the ATS cash. Now, they take to the road in one of the NBA's least profitable situations. Playing on the ROAD with NO rest against the Utah Jazz. Chris Paul played 45 minutes in last night's game... so he might be a little sore in tonight's game. Let's not forget that Utah has the ultimate motivation going for them tonight. Their owner (Larry Miller) passed away last night as he lost his battle with diabetes.
GREAT situation number ONE:
2-16-3 ATS last 3 years: All NBA Western Conference teams playing on the road with NO REST versus the UTAH JAZZ (Hornets). These teams are a PERFECT 0-10-2 ATS if the Utah Jazz are playing off a SU win. And since Utah just beat Boston at home (as a dog) a couple of days ago, ALL SYSTEMS are GO to "fade" the Hornets tonight.
GREAT situation number TWO:
12-24 ATS last 3 years: All NBA underdogs who played the previous night on the ROAD versus the LOS ANGELES LAKERS.... that lost the game STRAIGHT UP but got the ATS win in the process (New Orleans). These teams are 5-16 ATS versus any opponent off a SU win (like the JAZZ are).... and 0-6 ATS if that opponent is of a DOG win (like the JAZZ). If these doggies are playing with NO REST, we also note that they are 1-8 ATS.
Frank Tapani
50 Dime Texas
Karl Garrett
40 DIMER - AUBURN TIGERS
20 DIMER - RICHMOND SPIDERS
10 DIMER - OKLAHOMA SOONERS
LSU is a little "high" on themselves right now, as they have won 7 straight, but the G-Man is here to tell you the Tigers will NOT cover this impost!
Auburn got over the hump on the road with their big Wednesday night win at Georgia. Sure, the Bulldogs suck, but that is a stepping stone for the Tigers of Auburn, and the G-Man likes them to be there all the way today in Baton Rouge, as they give the Bayou Bengals all they can handle.
Auburn is brimming with confidence, as they have won and covered 4 straight, and if they could pull off the outright today, would have to be considered on the bubble in a few weeks for an at-large bid.
Series history shows the visitor having won outright in the last pair of meetings, and Auburn is on a money-turning 5-1 spread run the last 6 showdowns!
Take the points, as Auburn comes close to the upset.
20 DIMER - RICHMOND SPIDERS - 6:00 PM
Can you say L-E-T-D-O-W-N?
Charlotte is off a HUGE win at home on Thursday over Xavier, and now they will get their asses handed to them on the conference road this Saturday afternoon.
A 1-10-1 road spread mark their last 12 does not instill confidence catching under 3 baskets today in Spider-land.
Richmond has won 2 of their last 3, and they have won and covered the last pair in the series.
The 49ers will still be thinking about their upset of nationally-ranked Xavier when they hit the court today, and I don't think Charlotte will be able to keep their heads in this game at the outset.
Look for Charlotte to be down early, and not have enough to come back.
Take the Spiders.
10 DIMER - OKLHAHOMA SOONERS - 9:00 PM
I guess you have to make the Longhorns a favorite in their home court, BUT this is not your normal Texas edition.
The Longhorns were not even close at Texas A&M earlier this week, and just because they are back at home does not mean they are going to handle matters against an Oklahoma team that may very well end up in the Final Four next month.
Boomer-Sooners easily dominated the season's 1st meeting, 78-63 in Norman, and while I don't expect a double-digit road win, I surely think OU has enough in all areas to take this game outright.
The Longhorns have dropped 4 of their last 6 straight up, and they are just 3-7 against the spread at home this season.
The Sooners are 7-3-1 away from home versus the line, and now that the 6-game series monkey against Texas is off their back, I expect Oklahoma to complete the season series sweep.
Go with Oklahoma here.
DR BOB
Opinions
Saturday Night College Opinions/Possible Best Bet
DePaul (+25 ½) over PITTSBURGH
Pitt will have a tough time getting up for this game after their big upset win at U Conn and the Panthers apply to a very negative 9-49-1 ATS big home favorite letdown situation that plays against elite teams as huge favorites against bad teams on a losing streak. DePaul has lost 13 consecutive games and the Blue Demons are just 4-17 ATS this season, but their 45 point loss to an angry Louisville team (the Cardinals were off a humiliating loss at Notre Dame and took it out on DePaul) has finally led to the line catching up to DePaul’s low level of play. In fact, my ratings favor Pitt by just 25 ½ points in this game. In addition to the situation against Pitt, there is a solid 71-32-5 ATS situation that applies to DePaul that plays on bad teams on a long losing steak. I’ll lean with the Blue Demon as +25 or more and I’ll take DePaul in a 2-Star Best Bet if the line goes back up to +26 points or more.
TENN CHATTANOOGA (-7 ½) over Samford
Chattanooga was horrible early in the season without F Kevin Goffney (12.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.3 steals and 50% shooting), and the Mocs have been undervalued since he returned to the lineup after Christmas. Chattanooga opened as an 8 ½ point favorite today and the line has come down to 7 ½ points based on betting programs that a designed to come up with a true line. My ratings would also favor the Moccasins by 7 ½ points using games for the entire season, but I favor Chattanooga by 9 ½ points using games in which Goffney played (and using Samford’s games with all their starters playing). I’ll lean with Chattanooga at -8 points or less based on the line value.
8) WAIT FOR TOMORROW NBA PICK