BEN BURNS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
WAKE FOREST
Game: Duke vs. Wake Forest Game Time: 2/17/2008 7:30:00 PM Prediction: Wake Forest Reason: I'm taking the points with WAKE FOREST. The Blue Devils are a powerful team and have a perfect record in conference play. However, they've struggled here in recent years, losing three of their last four games at Winston-Salem, despite having been ranked in the top 10 each time. They'll catch a Demon Deacons squad which is brimming with confidence after a big win at Florida State. Note that the Demon Deacons shot a season-best 56.0 percent from the field in that game and made eight of their 13 3-pointers, starting a perfect 8-of-8 from beyond the arc. In their most game here, the Demon Deacons crushed Virginia by 16 points, improving to an impressive 17-1 their last 18 home games. The lone loss during that stretch had come in the previous game and it came by only six points. For the season, the Demon Deacons are outscoring teams by more than 13 points (75.9 to 62.6) margin at home. In addition to their strong outside shooting in the win at Florida State, Deacons were a combined 22 of 47 from 3-point range against Georgia Tech and Virginia. For the season, they've gone a profitable 10-4 ATS when facing a team with a winning record. I expect the Deacons to continue their strong homecourt play and for them to give the Blue Devils their toughest game yet in 2008. *Main Event
UNDER USC/UCLA
Game: UCLA vs. USC Game Time: 2/17/2008 10:00:00 PM Prediction: under Reason: I'm playing on UCLA and USC to finish UNDER the number. Last month's meeting at UCLA managed to sneak "over" the total as USC shot a whopping 61% from the field and scored 72 points. I expect a much better defensive effort from the revenge-minded Bruins in this evening's rematch. Note that the Trojans' offense is expected to be without starting guard Daniel Hackett. That's a significant loss as Hackett is a key component of the triangle-and-2 offense that gave the Bruins trouble last time. Conversely, the Bruins are likely to have Luc Richard Mbah a Moute back in the lineup. That's noteworthy as he is a solid defender who would likely guard USC freshman Davon Jefferson, who had a career-high 25 points and nine rebounds in last month's meeting. In their most recent game, the Bruins lost at Washington, managing only 61 points. That game, which was on 2/10, stayed below the number. Note that the Bruins have seen the UNDER go 9-4 the past few seasons when playing with five or six day's rest in between games. During that span, they also saw the UNDER go 5-3 when listed as a road favorite in the -3.5 to -6 range. The Trojans also struggled offensively last time out, managing a mere 50 points at Washington State. Note that they've seen the UNDER go 4-1 the last five times they scored 60 points or less in their previous game. Look for tonight's final combined score to be lower than expected once again with the UNDER improving to 13-7 the last 20 times that the Trojans took the floor. *Blue Chip
GAMBLERS WORLD
TIP OF THE DAY Sport: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues
Prediction: St. Louis Blues Current Line: -135 Over/Under: 5 Reason: The Columbus Blue Jackets and the St. Louis Blues will meet on the ice at Scottrade Center on Sunday in a battle of division rivals. Oddsmakers currently have the Blues listed as 135-moneyline favorites versus the Blue Jackets, while the game's total is sitting at 5. Fredrik Modin scored twice on Friday night to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Blue Jackets were winners as +250 road underdogs in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (5.5). Manny Legace turned away 42 of 44 shots in St. Louis' 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. The Preds got the victory as -140 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell well UNDER the night's posted total (5.5). Team records: Columbus: 27-24-9 St. Louis: 26-22-9 Columbus most recently: When playing on Sunday are 1-9 Before playing Toronto are 1-4 After playing Detroit are 4-6 After a win are 5-5 St. Louis most recently: When playing on Sunday are 3-5-2 Before playing Tampa Bay are 3-3-1 After playing Nashville are 5-5 After a loss are 2-8 A few trends to consider: Columbus is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing St. Louis Columbus is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road Columbus is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games on the road Columbus is 6-14-1 SU in its last 21 games when playing on the road against St. Louis The total has gone OVER in 7 of St. Louis's last 9 games at home St. Louis is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games when playing at home against Columbus St. Louis is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Columbus St. Louis is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
Al McMordie
Michigan has suddenly become a covering machine after an awful start this year, going 5-1 ATS in their last six games. Take the points at home vs. slumping Ohio State.
John Beilein's Michigan Wolverines have been playing super ball as of late, and they get the call at home vs. Ohio State today.
Michigan has covered five of six (including a game at Columbus when Michigan lost 65-55 as 14 point dogs), and upset Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday night. Now, Michigan will try to avenge its 10-point road loss to the Buckeyes, and I think they'll get it.
Ohio State has reached the 70-point mark on offense just once in their last 10 games, and they have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four. The Bucks have lost four of their last six road games straight-up, and Michigan also falls into a 55 percent against the spread system of mine that plays on certain teams which have lost four or more games in a row to their opponent (UM has dropped seven straight to OSU).
Take the Maize and Blue.
Michigan +6
Powerplaywins
Notre Dame -10
Georgia Tech -4.5
Ball State -4.5
Saint Louis +8
UCLA -5.5
Keith Martin Sports
Sacramento State OV145.5
Spreitzer
3* UCLA
Alatec
15* Rutgers/ND over 142
Erin Renning
Playmaker Michigan
Gameday
3* UCLA
2* NC Charlotte
Kelso
Chairmans Club G Tech - 4 10 units
Best Bets UCLA -4.5 10 units
Gator
3* Boston College
COMPS
Sebastian-UNDER Dallas/Det
Kevin Carr-UMass
Winner Line-Fordham
Computer Boys-St. Louis
OTM-Toledo
Feiner-St. Louis
All Star Sports-West in the All Star Game
FERRINGO
1-Unit Play. Take #658 Boston College -4.5 over Virginia
Two shaky ACC clubs take the court today and we’re going to back the home team. Both of these clubs are streaky and only seem to come play when they want to. I think we’re catching B.C. on the upswing after a cover in Cameron Indoor and a blowout home win over N.C. State. The Eagles shoot over 47 percent at home and have hit nearly 50 percent of their shots in their last five games. Virginia is wretched defensively and I think they may get run out of the gym if B.C. is hot early and gets some confidence. UVA is 0-5 in conference road games, going 1-4 ATS while losing by an average of 11.4 points per game. I think Boston College stays hot and picks up a double-digit win here
Spritzer
direct line..................bc
tko............................ucla
3 star........................duke
Cokin
fat man plays.................bc-5
window........................bc
under the hat...............g tech
3 star...........................toledo
Feist
personal best.........................bc
platinum...............................gtech
inner circle.................................usc
5 star..............................seton hall
5 star.............................west
4 star............................west under
Mcgrew
25 star...............................ucla
acc gow................................bc
Brandon Lang
10 Dime - Charlotte
10 Dime - USC
5 dime - Michigan
Free Pick - Wake Forest
Sebastian
20* StL
20* UCLA
10* GTech
10* UNC Char
10* East
10* East under
10* Chi Blackhawks
DOCS
4 Unit Play. #656 Take Michigan +5 over Ohio State
4 Unit Play. #658 Take Boston College -5 over Virginia
4 Unit Play. #662 Take Massachusetts -8 over Saint Louis
Revenge is best served on the court and that is exactly what will happen on Sunday when the Billikens head into Amherst to take on the Minute Men. UMASS still has an outside chance of receiving an at-large bid but needs to improve upon their 4-6 A-10 record. Saint Louis is just 2-6 on the road this season and will be no match for Gary Forbes and company. UMASS makes a statement with a blowout win and we collect big in the process as well
STRIKE POINT SPORTS
3-Unit Play. Take Charlotte +2.5 over Fordham
In the first meeting it was the 49ers that came away with a nice 14-point victory. Here they should be favored, as Fordham is just 4-10 ATS in its last 14 home games and mediocre 9-12 this season. Charlotte has won all four meetings, going 3-0-1 ATS in those games. The Rams have dropped five of their last six and seven of their last ten. Charlotte should be favored here, but they are the better team and will come through with the outright win
Pointwise Phone Plays
3* Georgia Tech
3* Ball St
3* Boston College
2* Charlotte
2* USC
2* Saint Louis
Balfe
Virginia +5
Ben Burns NHL
Buffalo
Cash & Profit Experts
NC CHARLOTTE +3
RINKPLAY SPORTS
3* Philadelphia Flyers
2* New York Rangers
2* St. Louis Blues & Columbus Blue Jackets Over
Free Selection: Detroit Red Wings
Wunderdog
Game: San Jose at New York Rangers
Pick: New York Rangers -120
San Jose is great on the road but they are facing a great defense this afternoon. The Rangers who have really struggled offensively have found ways to win games, especially at home thanks to allowing just 2.3 goals per game. And, right now, the Sharks are struggling offensively too (2.4 per game over their last five). They have lost two straight and four of their last seven games. They are just 21-29 the past three seasons after having lost two straight. It appears odd for New York to be favored here but it's for a reason - San Jose just isn't right at the moment and we'll take New York.
Wunderdog
Game: Miami Florida at Georgia Tech
Pick: Georgia Tech -4
Georgia Tech has played the No. 16 highest-rated schedule in the country. And although the win column doesn't show it, this team is getting better and is very deep. They have played particularly well at home. They have home losses to Maryland by two points, North Carolina by one and Kansas by five points as well as a home win over Notre Dame. Miami zipped out of the gate at 14-1 due for the most part to a very weak schedule. The Hurricanes have fallen hard and fast as ACC play began and has been 2-6 since. Their road play shows four losses in five games, three of which were by double-digits. Georgia Tech is the better team, and they will redeem their earlier loss to the Hurricanes with a win today.
Sports Unlimited
5* Fordam
4* Ohio St
3* Geo Tech
Lenny Stevens
10* U Mass
10* Michigan
Wise Guys
2* Ohio State
Preferred Picks
3* U-Mass
Maduxx Sports
2* Rutgers +10.5
2* Seton Hall +13.5
2* Wake Forrest+9.5