Charlie
500* Providence @ Villanova Over 158' & Xavier -10 (2 TEAM PARLAY)
30* Akron -8
20* Buffalo +5
20* Bowling Green +7'
10* UCLA -18' (
Portland +5 Free Play
Maddux Sports
Basketball
3 units on South Carolina -1.5
3 units on Drake -3
3 units on Missouri St & Wichita State Under 123.5
Free Pick Providence +11
JEFFERSON-SPORTS
DENVER NUGGETS -5
Raging Bull
Soccer:
Montreal Impact/Club Santos Laguna over 2.5 (Concacaf Champions League)
Scott Spreitzer
ODDSMAKER BLOWOUT G.O.Y.! *11-2, 85%!
I'm laying the points with South Carolina on Thursday. It's a battle for the SEC East and a shot at revenge for the Gamecocks. USC coach Darrin Horn called his team's first half performance earlier this season against Tennessee, his team's worst half of basketball of the season. I don't believe it was "coach-speak." USC couldn't hit water from a boat during that first half and trailed by as many as 19-points. But they regrouped at the break and fought back before finally losing by just three points, 82-79. The Gamecocks lost at Vandy last time out. We had the Commodores in that contest. It was a great spot to play against USC. But they return home where they have won eight in a row by an average margin of 10.5 ppg. They have been doing a good job of running teams out of the gym, so to speak. But they have also proved that they can win by a decent margin in slow tempo games, whipping Auburn, 68-56. It's important to note that the Vols will try to run with South Carolina. That's because the Gamecocks have covered four in a row against teams that score more than 76 ppg...which of course, the Vols do. USC is 16-1 SU at home this season where they not only score 80 ppg, but also play a tenacious style of defense. They hold their "guests" to 40.8% shooting, including just over 30% from behind the arc. They're also forcing a whopping 21 turnovers per game, while allowing just 11 assists per game. Meanwhile, the Vols give up 76.5 ppg on the road on 48% shooting, also allowing seven made treys per game at a 36% clip. Finally, South Carolina has been tremendous bouncing back from a double-digit loss. They are a perfect 7-0, 100% ATS in this situation and as mentioned, they're off a 13-point defeat at Vanderbilt. Look for South Carolina to roll to the win and cover on Thursday. The Gamecocks are my Oddsmaker Blowout GOY.
Winning Angle
NCAA
Play Tennessee (+2) over South Carolina* (Top NCAA Play)
Tennessee has won 5 of the last 6 games vs. South Carolina and they are averaging over 78 points a game this season. South Carolina has lost 23 of the last 32 games against the spread at home when the line is between +3 to -3.
Play Dayton (+10) over Xavier* (Bonus NCAA Play)
Dayton has won 12 of the last 13 games coming off an OVER the total and they have also won 14 of the last 16 games coming off a home win. Dayton is only allowing an average of 60 points a game on defense this season.
NBA Hoops
Play Portland (+4.5) over Denver* (NBA Top Play)
NHL
Play San Jose (-260) over Minnesota* (NHL Bonus Play)
Vegas Sports Experts
10* Take Bowling Green (+7) over Miami-OH (NCAA Power Play)
Bowling Green
• 5-1 ATS when playing as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points
• 4-0 ATS in road games when the total is 129.5 points or less
• 9-2 SU over the last 11 games
10* Take Portland (+4.5) over Denver (NBA Power Play)
Portland
• 25-11 ATS after scoring 105 points or more
• 18-6 ATS after playing as a home favorite
• 6-2 SU over the last 8 games
Bonus Pays
5* Take Louisiana Tech (+4) over Idaho (NCAA)
5* Take Boston (-325) over Phoenix (NHL)
BRANDON LANG
15-Dime Arizona State
5-Dime Arizona
FREE - Penn State
Dr. Canada
Leafs/Capitals over 6.5
Flames/Flyers over 5.5
Senators -110
Penguins +125
Julian Paige
Miami (OH) -7.5
Stephen Nover
NBA Game of the Week
Denver -5 vs Portland
Expect a prime effort from the Nuggets at home. Denver has been struggling on the road where it has played 10 of its past 13 games.But at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets are 6-1 in their last seven with their only defeat coming to Boston. The Nuggets beat the Spurs, Jazz and Lakers, holding them to a season-low 79 points, during this span.Carmelo Anthony should be pumped for a big performance after being suspended during the Nuggets' last game, a loss at Detroit, for insubordination.The rested Nuggets catch Portland off a tough home game on Wednesday night against up-tempo Indiana.The Trail Blazers are an outstanding home club, but just 13-17 on the road. They have lost five of their past six away contests, including losses at Golden State and Oklahoma City.Portland also is 0-2 in the second of its last two back-to-back games. The Trail Blazers lost by 15 at San Antonio on Feb. 25 and by seven at Golden State on Feb. 12.
Bob Donahue
California at Arizona
Pick: Over 143
Look for Arizona to continue to adopt their uptempo strategy, as evidenced by their last two home games where they scored 83 against USC and 84 against UCLA. California is not afraid to run with these guys, and this game should finish in the mid 150's, easily surpassing the total.
BeatYourBookie
100* Play Buffalo (+5.5) over Kent State (NCAA)
Kent State is 1-5 ATS coming off two or more OVER the totals this season
Kent State is 9-17 ATS in all games this season
Kent State is 0-2 ATS vs. Buffalo at home
100* Play California (+4.5) over Arizona (NCAA)
California is 13-2 SU when the total posted is between 140 and 149.5 points
California is 9-1 SU coming off two or more home games
California is 31-14 ATS in road games after having lost 2 of the last 3 games
Other Hoops & Hockey Plays
30* Play Portland (+4.5) over Denver (NBA)
30* Play Washington (-290) over Toronto (NHL)
Smooth44
KNOCKOUT PUNCH OF THE DAY - VILLANOVA -11
INDIANA STATE +4 -120
TENNESSEE +2
Craig Davis
30 Dime - INDIANA STATE
10 Dime - NUGGETS
INDIANA STATE --- Remember, this game is part of a tournament and will start a little earlier than normal. The Drake Bulldogs were once considered a contender in the Missouri Valley Conference after winning last year’s conference tourney and starting the regular season 13-3, but after dropping 10 of their last 14 games, opinions have drastically changed. No longer are the Bulldogs considered a front-runner, and now they have to work their way up from 8/9 game where a suddenly hot Indiana State awaits them. Despite beating teams like Creighton and Northern Iowa on the road, they haven’t beaten teams like Indiana State, Bradley, Southern Illinois, or Evansville over the last few weeks. It’s almost impossible to figure this team out for most people… but not for me. Drake is falling apart at the seams because they can’t score anymore. I will give them credit for changing up their defense in the wake of this losing skid… and because they’ve been showing different looks on different possessions, it’s messing with their opponents offensive sets. But that doesn’t excuse them for their poor shooting and it will cost them today.
The Sycamores started the season as a complete joke, but somehow have figured out how to win six of their last seven and losing by just six to Wichita State in their only loss during this run. ISU has changed lineups several times this year, but it appears they have finally settled on one that’s been nothing short of a miracle. Jay Tunnell has committed to playing defense in the middle while G Harry Marshall is doing a little of everything (scoring, rebounding and dishing out assists), giving this team new life at just the right time. The last time these two hooked up was in Terre Haute, Indiana where the Sycamore limited Drake to just 34% shooting in a 69-57 rout. ISU has covered six of their last seven, four straight against teams with winning records and their last five as an underdog. Drake, meanwhile, has failed to cover just one of their last five as a small favorite1 of their previous five following an ATS win and 0 for 5 their last five vs. teams with a SU losing record. Guys, these are two teams headed in opposite directions, and although I don’t believe the Sycamores have enough to win the conference tourney, they do have enough to fight off Drake and grab a SUATS win.
DENVER NUGGETS --- Nugs get Carmelo Anthony back after a team-imposed one-game suspension. They’ll need him, too, to try and keep Brandon Roy from going crazy. I believe this is a great spot for Denver as they get to come back home from two straight road losses by nearly identical scores. The Nuggets are an impressive 22-7 at home while the Blazers are a disappointing 13-17 on the road and enter tonight’s game after having needed a major fourth quarter rally to hold off Indiana, 107-105 (Blazers outscored Indiana 29-19 in the fourth).
Prior to Denver’s two straight road losses, they were able to pummel the Lakers and beat Atlanta at home, only adding to their already impressive home record. With Greg Oden still out, the Blazers will need to continue to ride Pryzbrilla and Aldridge in the paint… and that’s simply not good enough to match up with Nene and Kenyon Martin. Portland won the last meeting between these two at home, 101-92, so you can bet Denver has their minds on the revenge factor tonight. Solid play on Denver giving only a small number to Portland. Lay it.