Ron Raymond
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Mike Lineback
Heat / Hawks Under
Nick Parsons
DENVER NUGGETS
Brian Edwards
Hornets at Nuggets
Pick: Hornets +6.5
New Orleans limped down the stretch but the playoffs provide a fresh start. The Hornets also got back their starting center, Tyson Chandler, in their regular-season finale, a spread cover in an OT loss at San Antonio. They won at Denver earlier this season and have compiled a 7-2 spread record in their last nine games against the Nuggets in the Mile High City. Give me Chris Paul and Co. as underdogs!
Brandon Lang
15 Dime Lakers
15 Dime Hornets
15 Dime Hawks (First Half)
5 Dime Cubs
5 Dime Pirates
FREE - Sixers
Eddie Mush
5* Magic -9.5
6* Heat +5
6* Hornets +6
10* Lakers -11.5
igz1 sports
NBA
3* Miami +5
NHL
3* Pittsburgh +110
MLB
4* Pittsburgh -105
3* Cleveland +200
3* Baltimore vs Boston Over 10
ANTON WINS
4 units Boston/Baltimore Under 10
The Baseball Prophet
POD - Orioles/Red Sox over 10
Trace Adams
1000* - Orlando Magic
500* - Denver Nuggets
500* - Colorado w/Jimenez over McDonald
Both teams closed poorly, the Sixers losing 6 of their last 7, the Magic dropping 4 of their final 6, but my belief is Orlando was just going through the motions, knowing they would be locked into the 3rd spot, while Philly nearly dipped to 8th with their end of the season swoon.
I don't like the matchups at all for the 76ers in this series, as Orlando won and covered all 3 in this year's season series, and they have won 4 straight, and 8 of the last 9 series meetings, covering the last 4, and 6 of the last 8.
Orlando finished the regular season 32-9 straight up at home, going 23-18 against the spread, while Philadelphia went just 17-24 straight up on the road, and 18-23 against the spread in those road games.
I am fully expecting an Orlando blowout win tonight.
1000♦ - Orlando Magic
Denver finished as the # 2 seed in the West, and a quiet # 2 seed at that, as I don't here much talk surrounding George Karl's team. In the past, the Nuggets defense would do them in come the post season, but the addition of stopper Chauncy Billups has given Denver a little toughness they haven't had in the past, and I expect the Nuggets to open at home with the win, and cover over the Hornets.
New Orleans has played an injury-ravaged regular season, and while CP3 is a man among men, the fact remains the Hornets closed with losses in their last pair, and 6 of their final 8, going just 3-5 against the spread in those setbacks!
Denver has had some flameouts early in the postseason in the past, but I don't think tonight is going to be one of them. The Nuggets did close the regular season with series wins, and covers in 2 of the last 3 meetings against the Hornets.
I like them to make it 3 of 4 with the win, and cover tonight.
500♦ - Denver Nuggets
In baseball, take the Rockies to avoid the sweep at Chavez Ravine.
Los Angeles has won 7 straight, and they have yet to lose at home at 5-0. One of the Dodgers 3 losses came with rookie McDonald on the hill, as the young righty allowed 5 runs in just 2 innings of work against Arizona.
While you can expect the rookie to be better today, I don't see him outdueling Ubaldo Jimenez for the "W". Jimenez is making his 3rd straight road start, and he is off to a 1-1 start, but coming off a loss at the Cubs.
Jimenez is 3-0 over his last 5 starts against the Dodgers, and I like him today to cool off the sizzling start LA has gotten off to.
Take the Rockies in the small underdog role.
500♦ - Colorado w/Jimenez over McDonald
BIG AL
At 5:30 pm, our selection is on the Orlando Magic minus the points over Philly, as Stan Van Gundy's men fall into a super NBA playoff system of mine that's 17-0 straight-up and 16-1 ATS since 1993.
At 1:05pm our American League Underdog of the Month is on the Oakland Athletics over the Toronto Blue Jays.
At 1:05pm our American League Total of the Month is on the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees 'under' the total.
Scott Spreitzer
25* Marlins
Bob Donahue
Miami at Atlanta
Play: Miami +5
The Atlanta Hawks are a team that is coming apart at the seems at the wrong time.For Atlanta, there has been alot of infighting among coaches and players, and the team lacks chemistry.For the Heat, look for Wade to take this team on his back, and steal game one of this series.
ASA
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic OVER 190.5
Orlando solidified their spot as the 3-seed in the East and was able to rest some of their key contributors. Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu got some much needed rest over the last 3 games. Don’t let their poor offensive numbers fool you over the past few games, they were a completely different team without their two best perimeter shooters (Turkoglu and Lewis). Their offense is back to full strength tonight against one of the worst 3-point defenses in the NBA. Philly is 17th in the NBA in 3-point defense, allowing 37% shooting to opponents. This isn’t good news when you are facing one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league. Orlando ranks 7th in the NBA in 3-point shooting, averaging 38% per game. The arsenal of long range sharp shooters (Turkoglu, Lewis, Lee, Redick) should have a field day for the Magic Sunday.
Orlando has not a very good defensive team lately. They had a good chance to move up to the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference, but squandered those chances with two bad defensive outings. They allowed 105 points to the Knicks and 103 points to the Nets in back-to-back losses that cemented their spot as the 3-seed in the East. They also allowed the Nets and Knicks to shoot a combined 48% in those two games.
The ‘Sixers have finished OVER the total in their last 6 games, and in 7 of their last 10 games. They have allowed over 100 points in 5 straight games and have finished over 190 in all of those 5 of those games. Orlando is 12th in the league in pace of play with 94.6 shot attempts per game. They are 8th in efficiency at 107 points per game. We are expecting Orlando to score a lot of points, and for the high-scoring 76ers to stay right with them. Go with the Over.
JMKWinners
15* San Fran Giants
10* Cincinnati Reds
15* Miami Heat
10* Denver Nuggets