Jeff Benton
Sunday’s freebie comes from the NBA, as we’ll play Portland as a big home favorite against the Clippers.
The Clippers are freakin’ train wreck, folks, and even though they’ve had three full days off, they still stand no chance of competing against the Blazers at the Rose Garden tonight.
After going into the All-Star break on a nice 3-1 uptick (2-2 ATS), Los Angeles started this week with two completely embarrassing losses to the Phoenix Suns, 140-100 on the road and 142-119 at home The Clippers have now failed to cover in four straight games and 11 of the last 13, and the SU winner is 12-1 ATS during this stretch. In fact, the winner is 18-3 ATS in L.A.’s last 21 games, during which time Mike Dunleavy’s team has cashed a grand total of six times despite being an underdog in all but one of those contests.
What’s more, the Clippers have lost 13 of their last 15 road games, and in those 13 losses, they’ve been defeated by the following point margins: 40, 19, 29, 24, 8, 17, 15, 17, 22, 5, 8, 2 and 34. That’s nine double-digit road defeats!
Now they face a Blazers squad that’s won seven straight home games and 10 of 11. Including Friday’s 108-98 rout of Atlanta, Portland is on a 14-6 SU run, with such lopsided triumphs as 14 points over the Thunder, 14 points over the Jazz, 14 points over the Bobcats, 13 points over Washington, 17 points over Milwaukee, 14 points over Chicago, 13 points over Golden State and – their biggest win of the bunch! – a 113-88 rout of the Clippers in Los Angeles, cashing easily as a 10½-point road favorite.
Finally, even though the Blazers embark on a three-game road trip this week, the first of those games isn’t until Tuesday in Houston. So with an off day Monday, we should see Portland’s starters go the distance in this one. If they do, lord help the Clippers, who are giving up an average of 116.4 ppg in their last 10 outings, eight of which have been played on the road. Lay the chalk.
7♦ TRAIL BLAZERS
Matt Rivers
For Sunday take the Orangemen at home.
Syracuse is a team that has certainly not overachieved of late by any means and Jim Boeheim's squad has screwed me a bunch this season but I will still take my chances with them here.
Just a few short weeks ago Villanova absolutely embarassed Syracuse 102-85 in a game that really wasn't even that close. Now it's time for Eric Devendorf, Andy Rautins, Arinze Onuaku, Paul Harris, Jonny Flynn and the talented Orange to get their revenge.
Syracuse has been pathetic on the road this season, there is no debating that at all. Even at home Boeheim's boys have not been flawless but they have been a lot better and should take care of business today.
Jay Wright definitely has a very capable club led by a blossoming Dante Cunningham and a stud point guard in Scottie Reynolds. Also throw in the Coreys' in Fisher and Stokes and I do expect the Wildcats to stay in this thing but the road is extremely tough as we saw last time Villanova took the court on the highway and I expect another loss for them here. In that last roadie West Virginia pounded Villanova 93-72 snapping the 'Cats six game winning streak and in the last game these guys failed to cover at home against a bad Rutgers team as the 18 point chalk and the Scarlet Knights actually led in the second half.
This is far from the lock of my life or anything like that as Syracuse can never be fully trusted but with revenge and the home court advantage along with a talented group I do feel that the Orange will eventually squeeze the life out of these Cats and even the season series!
Tony Weston
For Sunday, it's back to the NBA where we’re taking the Los Angeles Lakers on the road against Minnesota.
The Lakers are on a 10-4 ATS run overall and on the road they've been a money-making machine, covering seven of their last eight outside of LA, including five in a row as a road favorite. They're also on an 11-4 ATS run on the road versus teams with a losing home record, such as the T'Wolves.
LA is also 7-1 ATS its last eight games when installed as a favorite of between 5 and 10 1/2 points, and is on runs of 4-1 ATS in this series and at Minnesota.
Also, the favorite is on a 5-1-1 ATS run in this series while the road team has covered each of the last four meetings.
Minnesota is 1-6 ATS its last seven games overall and is 8-21 ATS its last 29 home games against teams with a winning road record such as LA.
The Timberwolves will continue their losing ways and drop another one to the Lakers. Take Los Angeles on the road in this one.
3♦ LAKERS
Craig Davis
Lets’s see… Utah State has players in foul trouble the entire game, Oklahoma loses Blake Griffin to a concussion, we finish the day 1-2 with our Dime plays because of these “incidents”, yet we can still call it winning day #3 in a row as our top play on New Mexico cashes in easily. Our free play on Stanford, however, died on the table as the Cardinal blew a comfortable second-half lead and allows Oregon their first win in the Pac 10. Sickening.
Nonetheless, we get back on the winning “free play” track today with an easy winner on Cleveland over the Detroit Pistons.
This will be the third meeting between the two, with Detroit winning the first matchup and Cleveland winning the second one by 10. Both games, however, were played in Detroit and now Cleveland gets to host the Pistons at a place (Quicken Loans Arena) they win games by double digits, on average.
Detroit has been falling apart lately, losing five in a row and seven of their last nine, failing to cover in eight of those nine. Cleveland’s last home game was a 109-92 win over Phoenix and you can bet they are excited to get back home for the first time since February 11th.
Cavs win by double digits and run their home record to 25-1.
2♦ CLEVELAND
Michael Cannon
New York(+3 at TORONTO
Take the Knicks as the road dog this afternoon over the Raptors.
New York blew Toronto out at MSG on Friday night and although they don’t play the best defense in the league, I expect the Knicks’ offense to continue to shine and keep them close here.
It’s not as though Toronto is the best home chalk in the league either. The Raptors are a woeful 4-9 ATS as an Air Canada Centre chalk.
The Knicks came out of the break with an impressive win over the Spurs and then Friday’s win. They are a team that is improving under Mike D’Antoni and there is finally some direction in New York.
Take the points with the Knicks as they stay within the number.
2♦ NEW YORK
Drew Gordon
Boston at PHOENIX -2
So life begins today for the Celtics without Kevin Garnett, for a while at least, and I believe we see an immediate impact today in Phoenix. No doubt the Big Ticket is the anchor of this Boston defense, and if there's one team you're going to need your D, it's the new-look Suns under coach Alvin Gentry. Note, ironically the absence of Amare Stoudamire isn't as bad as it seems, mainly because he only played on one end of the court (on offense obviously), and the Suns have enough scorers to make up for his points (see Barbosa, Richardson, O'Neal).
Gone are the days of a sluggish, methodical, Terry Porter-style system, as Gentry has fully re-installed the "run-and-gun" offensive style the Suns were built to play. He also inserted Barbosa into the starting lineup to make up for the absence of Stoudemire's contributions, and needless to say, it's paid off. Three straight double-digit wins (yes, against 3 doormats), and the Suns are ready to strut their stuff against a real opponent, albeit a short-handed one.
Without their best defensive player, I question the Celtics' ability to slow this Suns offense, especially considering O'Neal and Richardson's excellent play of late. You see, Nash is a step slower, but given the right tools and a little back-court help from speedy Barbosa (41 points against Thunder in the last game), and the Suns should eventually tire a very good Celtics defense.
Bottom line: While the Suns will eventually come back down to Earth, fact of the matter is they're rolling right now, and the Celtics without Garnett will not be able to slow the tide. Coach Gentry's presence and free-wheelin' style has his team re-energized, and a win against Boston (short-handed or not) would go a long way in solidifying his position. He knows that and his team know that so look for the Suns to respond accordingly today at home.
Take Phoenix over Boston in this NBA match up.
3♦ PHOENIX
Sports Gambling Hotline
Wisconsin +8 at MICHIGAN STATE
Saturday winner on Louisville to make it a 13-4-2 comp play run the last 19 days!
For Sunday, take the points with Wisconsin, as they keep things close at Michigan State.
Wisconsin is riding a 5-game winning streak, and they have covered 4 of those 5. We have a strong feeling that if they lose this game, they will at least stay inside the number doing so.
Michigan State has struggled against Wisconsin in recent meetings, as the Spartans have lost the last 4 series meetings, and 7 of the last 10 straight up overall.
Tom Izzo's team will be happy with any win they can get based on those series numbers we just listed above.
Wisconsin is still not out of the woods after their 6-game slide that directly proceeded their current win streak, so look for the Badgers to throw the kitchen sink at the Spartans this Sunday in East Lansing.
Play on Wisconsin.
2♦ WISCONSIN
Bobby Maxwell
Wake Forest at DUKE -6'
We hit a FREE winner Saturday with Marquette over Georgetown and have now given you comp play winners in 17 of the last 28 days. Today we've got another as we lay the chalk with Duke at home over Wake Forest.
Duke is in a must-win situation in this one. As rare as that is to say, they have been sliding lately and Coach K has got to rally his troops and turn this thing around before it spirals out of control.
We like the Blue Devils in this one as there is motivation on their side with the desparation for a win and they want some revenge after a last-second loss at Wake Forest last month.
Duke beat St. John's 76-69 but looked horrible in the final five minutes and most people believe given another two minutes and St. John's would have come back to win that one. Today they get another struggling team in Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons and split their last eight games after opening with 16 straight wins and moving all the way to the top spot in the country. In all honesty, this team is very young and talented, but the young part is hurting them right now. There's no consistency with the Deacons and they are just learning how to handle success. Next year this team is going to be dominant. This year they are just going to have to learn the ropes. Wake is 0-3 SU and ATS in ACC road games.
The home team is 8-1 SU in the last nine meetings between these two and 13-3 ATS in the last 16. Duke has won 10 straight at home, all by double digits and the favorite is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 matchups.
Play the Blue Devils on their friendly home court and watch as the Deacons throw in the towel in the final five minutes. Duke wins this one by 15.
3♦ DUKE
Chris Jordan
Duquesne +2' at Lasalle
Keystone clash in Philly today, and I like the Dukes, despite the fact they've lost three of their past four road games.
LaSalle comes in off a home loss to Richmond, 62-53, this past Wednesday. And since the Dukes are 2-0 and have averaged 106.0 points in two games at Gola Arena under coach Ron Everhart, there's no reason to think we can't get the same result with the better team today.
The Dukes come in on an ATS run of 4-0 after a straight-up win, while the Explorers are on ATS skids of 6-14 as a favorite, 8-21 as the home chalk and 1-5 on Sundays.
Take the road team from Steeltown here.
1♦ DUQUESNE
Karl Garrett
Wake Forest +6 at DUKE
Going to grab the points with Wake Forest, as I feel the Blue Devils recent tailspin is not over just because they beat up on a bad St. John's team.
It should be noted that Duke did NOT cover that game as the favorite, as the Blue Devils have now failed 5 in a row against the spread, and 7 of their last 9 ATS.
Included, is their 70-68 outright loss at Wake as the 2-point road choice back on January 28th.
Wake Forest is just 4-4 straight up their last 8, but they have won and covered their last pair in ACC play, and they obviously have the horses to hang with Duke for the full 40 minutes, as evidenced by their January win.
In fact, the Demon Deacons have won outright in the last pair of series meetings, and they have split the last 8 with Duke straight up.
G-Man likes the points to work in this one.
3♦ WAKE FOREST
Johnny Guild
Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers
Chicago has won seven of the last ten meetings, 7-3 ATS, but hasn’t been successful in Indiana, dropping 20 of the last 23 clashes. However, the Indiana Pacers are hurting without key players in the line-up. Center Jeff Foster, forward Mike Dunleavy Jr and leading-scorer Danny Granger are sidelined. Take the Bulls against the shatter Pacers! Chicago has covered six of the last nine games versus Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Chicago Bulls -2
CBB
Clemson Tigers -7
Michigan St Spartans -8
Gina
Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers
The struggling Detroit Pistons will have a big task against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers are 24-1 at home, 19-6 ATS. Go with the Cavaliers to frustrate the Pistons with their stingy defensive play in their house. Detroit is averaging 93.5 points per game, second lowest scoring team in the league and is 0-5 both straigh-up and against the spread in their last five games overall,1-4 ATS in its last 5 in Cleveland.
Cleveland Cavaliers -9
Mr A
Houston Rockets -6½
Los Angeles Lakers -10
Cleveland Cavaliers -9
YANKEE CAPPER
NBA
Toronto Raptors -3.5
Minnesota Timberwolves +9.5
NHL
Pittsburgh Penguins +190
Colorado Avalanche +125
NCAA Hoops
St. Josephs -7
Duke -7
Illinois +2
3G SPORTS
Bobcats / Rockets
The Houston Rockets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA and they are winning with their defense, they’ve won 3 straight games and 6 of their last 8 overall. On Friday they held Dirk Nowitski to a season low in points. The Bobcats are terrible on the road. Both teams emphasize defense first and you can expect a very low scoring game this afternoon in Houston. PLAY THE UNDER!
Play the UNDER