GINA
Indiana Pacers (24-38) at Cleveland Cavaliers (35-27)
The struggling Indiana Pacers have dropped eight of their last 11 games and six straight at Indiana. Go with the Cavaliers and "King James" on their home court for a season sweep of the Pacers. Cleveland is 5-0-1 ATS in its last 6 games versus Indiana and the favorite in this series is 11-1-2 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers - 7.5
Houston Rockets - 6
MR A
Cleveland Cavaliers - 7.5
Orlando Magic - 7.5
Utah Jazz - 5.5
COMPUTER SPORTS
KANSAS-5 1/2
MARQUETTE+1
JOHNNY GUILD
Denver Nuggets (36-24) at Utah Jazz (40-22)
Utah has been tough to beat at home, 27-3 this season and has won ten of the last 15 meetings versus the Nuggets, including five of the last seven clashes at home. Denver also plays well at home, but like the Jazz have not been successful road teams, just 12-17 away from home this season. Take the home team in this battle. The Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games and has lost 25 of its last 29 battles in Utah.
Utah Jazz - 5.5
NCAAB
UCLA Bruins - 16
Texas A&M Aggies + 5.5
Xavier Musketeers - 17
Paul Leiner
10* USC Pk
10* Villanova +1.5
5* Kansas State -4
ARTHUR RALPH
Iowa State
2-Minute Warning
UNLV
LOCK OF THE DAY
NCAA Lock:UAB +14.5
First Lock: Do not underestimate this UAB team. They can play. UAB is 22-8 this season and headed to the NCAA Tournament. Memphis is very good. But Memphis has big problems shooting free throws. Free throws are extremely important! UAB pushed Memphis to the brink two weeks ago! They lost that game by ONE POINT! UAB is confident they can compete with this Memphis team. Take this underdog!!
Armvin Sports
CBB
Wake Forest -6
Texas Tech -1.5
Marquette 1
Rhode Island -6.5
Loyola Maryland -3
Montana -3
NHL
Washington 101
St Louis 147
Paul Stone
Texas A&M +5.5
The Kansas Jayhawks have already lost outright this season in Austin and Stillwater and now travel to College Station where Texas A&M can be a tough out.
The Jayhawks have failed to cover their past six games on the road and also have only brought home the money twice in their past seven games overall.
Texas A&M appeared to be one of the nation's better teams early in the season, but is now hanging on for its NCAA Tournament life.
Look for the Aggies to put forth a supreme effort today and stay within the 5 1/2-point number and possibly even get the straightup victory.
Tom Freese
Game: Washington at Washington St.
Prediction: Washington St.
Reason: Washington is 38-17 ATS after scoring 55 or less points in their last game and they are 14-5 ATS off three straight games where there was a combined score of 125 or less points. The Cougars won the last two meetings on this court vs. the Huskies by 10 and 28 points. Washington is 1-8 ATS off a game where both teams scored 80 or more points and they are 2-6 ATS of an ATS loss. the Huskies are 2-6 ATS as underdogs of 7 to 12.5 points.
PLAY ON WASHINGTON ST
Locksmith Sports Picks
1 Unit on Orlando Magic -7.5
Orlando has just about everything going in its favor here. It is red hot, well rested, on its home floor, and facing a team which will not be fresh after playing last night. The Magic have won 8 of their last 10 games SU and ATS. They are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games against Golden State. Orlando is 20-10 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points this season, 18-7 ATS in Saturday games over the last 2 seasons, 11-2 ATS in home games after a division game over the last 2 seasons, and 24-7 ATS after one or more consecutive overs this season. The Warriors do not have the beef to contend with Dwight Howard down low. We'll lay the points.
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Dallas Mavs -12
The media will play up the Jason Kidd versus his former team story line, but I don't see any bad blood here that is really going to want to make on team or the other kill each other. The Mavs are simply the much better squad and have been unstoppable at home all season. Dallas is 25-4 in home games while the Nets are only 11-19 on the road. The Mavs are coming off a rare 3-game slide and were embarrassed at home by Houston. Get ready to see Dallas breakout with a huge offensive explosion here. The Nets have lost 4 in a row and are 0-3-1 ATS in those games. Dallas is 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in its last 10 home games with the Nets. New Jersey is 0-8 ATS as an underdog of 10 or more points over the last 2 seasons. Take Dallas in this bounce back spot.
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Utah Jazz -5.5
After a big win over San Antonio last night, I look for a letdown from the Nuggets as they head out on the road physically and emotionally drained against one of the best home teams in the NBA. The Nuggets are just 12-17 on the road this season and 13-16 ATS in those games while the Jazz are 27-3 at home and 20-10 ATS in those games. The Jazz won at Phoenix last night which will give them a big lift because they have not been at their best on the road this season. Denver is 2-12 ATS in road games versus explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ points/game - 2nd half of the season since 1996. Utah is 8-1 ATS in home games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) this season and 10-2 ATS in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season. Take the Jazz.
ATS Consultants
Newsletter Plays
Syracuse over Marquette 85-74 Best Bet
New Orleans over Houston Rockets 98-90 Preferred Play
NC State over Wake Forest 80-74 Preferred Play
Washington over the Boston Bruins Preferred Play
Over in the Florida/Atlanta game Best Bet
Under in the St. Louis/Vancouver game Preferred Play
ROB VENO
Wake Forest -6
Memphis Over 145 -110
Arkansas -12.5
Arizona State -10.5
20* Blue Chip: Tulsa Over 140 -110
Marc Lawrence
Final HG triple dime status (15-0-2 lifetime)
UTEP
Malinsky 6* top of the ticket
CAL
Drew Gordon Tonight's Games
1. 300,000* Duke
2. 50,000* Massachusetts
3. 50,000 Magic
Early Games
1. 50,000* Wake Forest
2. 50,000* Cavaliers
1. Wake Forest- First things first, haven't we learned not to pick against the Deacons at the Lawrence Joel, where they're 14-2 SU and 7-3-1 ATS this season! Despite their 4-game losing streak, there's no question Wake plays their best ball at home, where they're superior to the Wolfpack on both ends of the court! But that's hardly the only reason the Deacons win tonight...
Don't think Wake has forgotten their last meeting, where the Wolfpack got a last second putback to beat the Deacons 67-65 in Raleigh back on February 3rd. This time around, the Wolfpack are in big trouble, because you know damn well the Deacons will shoot better than 39% at the Lawrence Joel, where they average 76 ppg on 45% shooting this season!
Also, one has to question the energy level of this N.C. State team, as it was clear to me that they layed it all on the line against Duke in their last one, losing a back-breaker 87-86 March 1st. Granted, they've had a lot of time to think about it since then, but regardless, a loss like that, late in the season, can crush a team's confidence.
Finally, the match ups also favor the Deacons, as freshman James Johnson will benefit greatly from the return home. In his last two games (both on the road) he's combined for just 7 points and 11 boards. However, in his last two at the Lawrence Joel, he's averaging 24.5 ppg and 15 boards/game! Not only that, but guards Teague and Smith dominated their match ups in Raleigh, and you have to believe it will only get better today in Winston-Salem.
Bottom line, the Deacons get their revenge in the one place you simply cannot underestimate them, at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum. Besides revenge and home court, the match ups strongly favor the Deacons, as the Wolfpack have been nothing but garbage on the road , going 3-10 ATS away this season! More of the same tonight, as Wake rolls!
Take Wake Forest comfortably over N.C. State in afternoon ACC action.
2. Cavaliers- Bad match up all around for the sputtering Pacers, who've lost 6 in a row SUATS to King James and his merry men. Don't see much room to reverse that trend tonight, as the new-look Cavs maybe missing Ilgauskus and Gibson, but have more than enough firepower to win and cover against an Indiana team without two of its best players - O'Neal and Tinsely.
Biggest issue for the Pacers is their insistence on playing the "run-and-gun" style, but without giving ANY effort on the defensive end, scoring 110 ppg, but allowing a laughable 111 ppg over their last 5 games! First of all, the Pacers aren't built to run, and there two recent road losses prove it - both against solid defenses (Spurs and Rockets). The Pacers couldn't break 100 in either of those games, and still managed to lose by double-digits. Cavs defense is rock-solid at home, and only got better with the addition of Wallace.
The fact the Pacers don't have O'Neal is key in this match up, because at least he provides some interior defense against Lebron's penetration. But without their bigman back there, James is free to penetrate and dunk or dish all night long. They can try putting the athletic Granger on Lebron, but do you really want your best player guarding the best player on the planet? Besides the danger of foul trouble, chasing Lebron around for 48 minutes will not help Granger's offense.
Bottom line, the Cavs lost a tough one in Chicago, thanks in part to the absence of Ilgauskas and Gibson, but tonight, they're back at home, and facing a team they absolutely love to beat. Injuries on the Pacers side only strengthen my point, as a fully healthy Indiana team would still have trouble in this spot, but without O'Neal and Tinsley... They don't stand a chance.
Take the Cavaliers BIG over the Pacers in afternoon NBA action