Tony George
Creighton
Ron Raymond
Tampa Bay Lightning
Nick Parsons
Dallas Mavericks
Mean Green Profit Machine
LA Lakers -7.5
LARRY NESS
Weekly Wipeout Winner
T-Mac may be done for the season but the Rockets aren't. McGrady was averaging just 15.6 PPG (his lowest since his third year in the league) when it was announced he was "through for the season." The Rockets haven't missed a beat, going 4-0 SU and ATS, while outscoring their opponents on average, 100.0 PPG to 83.5. Ming (19.8-9.6) is having another All Star season and Artest (16.2-5.3-3.1) has become a full-time starter without T-Mac, averaging 20..0 PPG over the last four games. The 6-9 Scola (12.4-8.3) has resoundingly proven that his rookie numbers (10.3-6.4) were no fluke and one of the league's best defenders, Shane Battier (6.9-4.8), has been healthy for the last 18 games with the Rockets going 12-6. Houston also made some news by sending PG Rafer Alston to Orlando but GM Daryl Morey is a big fan of his newest acquisition Kyle Lowry (acquired from Memphis). "We feel like we got better today, upgrading that position was a goal going into the deadline" said Morey. Whether he's right about Lowry or not I'm not sure, but in second-year PG Aaron Brooks (10.4-2.7 APG), the Rockets already have a replacement for Alston. Brooks has stepped into the starting lineup and averaged 13.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 5.5 APG in the last two games as the starter. Both games were Houston wins and Brooks is now 8-1 in his career as a starter. The Blazers have won eight straight home games (23-5 SU and 18-10 ATS on the year) but have lost their last three road games. They are 12-15 SU and 10-17 ATS on the road this year and will play again without Greg Oden (knee injury). Przybilla (5.2-8.0) has filled in nicely for Oden in the three games he's missed, averaging 11.3 RPG but all three of those games have come at home. In fact, over the last two-plus weeks, Portland has been on the road just once, losing 105-98 at Golden state on Feb 12. Roy (22.8-4.8-5.2) is averaging a career-best in points this season and along with power forward Aldridge (17.9-6.9), is hoping to end Portland's five-year playoff drought. PG Steve Blake (11.1-5.0 APG) is back after missing 13 of 14 games with a shoulder injury and in Portland's last game, tied an NBA record with 14 assists in the first quarter (had 17 for the game) of a 116-87 win over the Clippers on Sunday night. Rodriguez and Bayless both played pretty well in Blake's absence but the Blazers are happy to have their starter back. This will be Houston's fifth game of a six-game homestand (already 4-0 SU and ATS) plus going back to Jan 31, the Rockets have won seven straight home games, while going 6-0-1 ATS. The Blazers haven't been away from home much as of late and Oden's absence will be more apparent away from home than in the friendly confines of the Rose Garden. The Rockets have won eight of their last nine at home games against the Blazers and make it NINE of 10 tonight, with "room to spare!" Weekly Wipeout Winner on the Hou Rockets (7.5).
Las Vegas Insider
It's nothing new to point out that Nebraska is much smaller than A&M, as that can be said about virtually every one of the Cornhuskers opponents. However, head coach Doc Sadler gets consistently relentless efforts from his players, on both ends of the court. Dagunduro (12.1-4.2) is the team's leading scorer and rebounder for a team which goes nine-deep with just one player of any size in the 6-8 Balham (2.2-2.6), who barely contributes much. Five other players join Dagundro to average at least 24 MPG. They are Harley (10.7-3.4), Henry (8.5-3.3), Velander (7.9), 5-7 PG Miller (7.1-3.8 APG) and Anderson (6.4-4.0). A&M is bigger and stronger led by 6-7 swingman Carter (13.5-4.1), the 6-9 Davis (10.6-6.3), the 6-10 Elonu (10.4-7.6) plus guards Sloan (11.4-3.6-3.0), Holmes (8.5) and Roland 95.9). However, an even better A&M team lost at home to Nebraska last year, 65-59 as a 10.5-point favorite. A&M comes into this game off a big win over Texas (81-66) last Monday and a rare road win this past Saturday, beating Texas Tech 79-73 at Lubbock. I say a "rare road win" because A&M had lost all of its previous five Big 12 road games this year, prior to Saturday's win over the troubled Red Raiders. Meanwhile, Nebraska is 13-3 SU in Lincoln, suffering only a shocking two-point loss to Maryland-Balt Co, a two-point OT loss to Okla State plus a six-point loss to Kansas, in which the 'Huskers led by 13. Anything less than a top-notch effort here by A&M won't be enough. Off two satisfying wins, I believe they are "ripe for the plucking!" Las Vegas Insider on Nebraska (8*).
MWC 8*
BYU, New Mexico and San Diego St (all 8-4) are chasing MWC leader Utah (10-2) and all four teams know that they'll have to finish the year in Las Vegas, as UNLV hosts the MWC tourney once again. BYU knows that best of all, as the Cougars have won the last two MWC regular season titles only to fall to UNLV at the Thomas and Mack Center in the conference tourney. BYU was ranked earlier this season but the Cougars have shown their vulnerable side, going 10-6 after a 10-0 start. The 6-6 Tavernari (17.2-7.2), the 6-7 Cummard (17.2-6.3) and guard Fredette (15.3-4.5 APG) are quality players but BYU is not a deep team. Emery (7.8-3.9-3.2) has done a solid job in the backcourt with Fredette (after returning to play after a two-year mission) but the 6-11 Miles (7.5-3.8) hasn't come anywhere near replacing the departed Plaisted (15.6-7.7) inside. Steve Fisher is doing another nice job in San Diego. The Aztecs are holding opponents to a MWC-low 59.3 PPG and while the 6-7 White (9.0-3.9) is expected to miss this game (he left Saturday's loss at New Mexico with knee injury), the Aztecs are deep in the frontcourt. The 6-5 Spain (14.5-5.2) has put last year's problems behind him and is joined by the 6-6 Wade (13.8), the 6-6 Shelton (8.1-4.6), the 6-8 Amoroso (6.7-4.5) and the 6-9 Cheriet (5.2). Gay (7.3) and Williams (7.1-4.2-3.8) are the starting guards. This is a crucial MWC meeting, as the winner takes over second place in the MWC and "keeps hope alive" for a MWC regular season title (MWC typically gets at least two NCAA bids). BYU has won on the MWC road at Air Force (0-13 in MWC play) and slumping TCU but has lost in the tough venues at New Mexico, Utah and UNLV (lost by just one but trailed by 12 points with about three minutes left!). Meanwhile, the Aztecs have won eight straight at home, since losing 67-64 at home to St Mary's back on Dec 13. SDSU lost up in Provo by just six points, despite BYU shooting 56.0 percent from the floor (SDSU shot only 44.1 percent), including 11-of-21 on threes. Here at Cox Arena, things will be MUCH different. MWC 8* San Diego State
Dr Cogyle
10 * Anaheim/Buffalo Over 5.5
Dr Bond
12* Memphis/Clevland Over 193
Dr Big Daddy
12* Boston college-2
NSA
20* Pittsburgh -8
10* Florida OVER 150.5
10* Boston College -2
10* LA Lakers OVER 220
10* Dallas +4.5
10* Charlotte +7
Eddie Mush
3* Pitt -7.5
4* Cavs -15.5
6* FSU +2.5
8* Cuse -4
8* TCU +14.5
Bob Akmens
Calgary Falmes -180
Brandon Lovell
BLANK CHECK GAME OF HIS CAREER
MAGIC -2
THE GOLD SHEET'S HOOP LATE PHONE SERVICE
NBA:
CHARLOTTE +7 over Phoenix
College:
INDIANA STATE +9½ over Wichita State
SAN DIEGO STATE -1 over Brigham Young
INDIANCOWBOY
4 Unit Play. Take Iowa State Cyclones +2.5 over the Baylor Bears.(POD)
We've had two straight Outright dog winners including Umass on Sunday over St. Josephs as a 6.5 dog and yesterday with Kansas +4 over Oklahoma to kick off the week. Let's keep in that spirit and take a home dog today in Iowa State facing Baylor. Now you might think that the Cyclones are just not capable against the Bears, but think again. Baylor has been a disappointment in many ways this year. This team was at one point ranked in the top 25 in the country only to post a 4-8 conference mark up to this point. Heck, Iowa State has 2 conference wins themselves and by the end of the game today, I expect it to be 3 conference wins and just 1 shy of Baylor's four. Now, you might think but, Baylor is so good! Really? Well, apparently 70% of the public does as well and I find it a bit amusing. Baylor only receives 20% of their contribution from the bench while Iowa State receives a full third of their total minutes from their respective bench. This will make a big difference in a road game for the Bears. The Bears have just 1 conference road wins this year and that was against Kansas State when KState did not have its bearings. If they played KState again this year I believe KState will roll over them. This team has not faced Iowa State but Iowa State is a capable team at home. They hammered Colorado at home and even took care of top 60 Nebraska at home as well. Remember, Iowa State's home record is misleading. They have played the best of the best at home this year which is why they do not have as many home wins and if they played some of the weaker teams at home rather than on the road, they very well could have picked up several more wins in conference play this year. Iowa State lost by just a few points to Kansas State at home and as they come off that loss, I believe Baylor will be a bit easier task as it was a good prep for them. Remember, Baylor lost to Texas Tech on the road who is a team outside the top 100 and Iowa State is within the top 100. Iowa State has faced Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma all at home. They lost all these games against these top teams, but the other two games they had at home were against Nebraska and Colorado at home in conference play and they easily took care of them. Look for the Cyclones to be pumped for this game as undoubtedly it will be a packed crowd once again as I believe we are likely to win this game Outright. The Baylor Bears are 0-8 ATS over their last 8 contests against the Big12 and the Cyclones are 8-2 ATS against teams with a road winning % of less than 40% at home.
4 Unit Play. Take the Houston Rockets -4.5 over the Portland Trailblazers. (POD)
We cashed nicely with the Clippers Outright yesterday in a great angle as they came back home to get it done over the Warriors with great revenge. Much is the same side of the coin today as we look to take the Rockets to get it done over the Blazers with revenge. My buddy Robert Ferringo talks about often taking teams that have a key injury to their star player and then they go on a ridiculous ATS Run. He is right. Take a look at the Lakers for example since the loss of Bynum, they have made solid cash. Take a look at the Rockets for example as well, the team we are on today, and they continue to play extremely well without Tracy McGrady. If the Rockets want to go anywhere in the future, they need to get rid of TMac and just add one or two more pieces to this team. After all, McGrady is a broken down car that has more broken and banged up pieces than the Model T. Portland beat this team 101-99 in OT back in the Rose Garden on November 6th and the Rockets undoubtedly remember that contest. I love the fact Portland comes off huge wins over the Clippers and Hawks covering the -16 point chalk and -4.5 chalk. Well, now they hit the road. Considering that this team lost to OKC, Dallas and GS on the road, who is to say they cannot lose to a Rockets team who is 35-21, and 22-6 at home? The Rockets have been starting off games a bit lax in the first half and have had monster third quarters of late. Take a look at their 3rd quarter against the Bobcats of recent outscoring them 29-14 in the third or the Dallas game at home when they outscored the Mavs 30-13 in the third, or the New Jersey game when they outscored the Nets 28-25 or the Sacramento game when they outscored the Kings 35-21. It is obvious Ron Artest is picking up the slack left behind by McGrady as he dropped 26 points and 7 boards against the Bobcats. Sure, no McGrady, so what? The Rockets covered against the Nets at home as 6.5 chalk, covered against the Bobcats at home as -6 point chalk and covered against the Mavs at home as -4 point chalk. With revenge, the Blazers being a bit lax on the road and coming such huge wins, I like Houston at home to get it done here with their solid team concept as they likely have yet another big third quarter and don’t look back. The Blazers are just 1-6 ATS as road underdogs of late and the Rockets are 5-1-1 ATS over their last 7 games.
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
QUADRUPLE DIME BREAK THE BANK SHOT WINNER
New Mexico -15
Andrew Powers Guaranteed Selections
COLLEGE BASKETBALL POWER PLAY WINNER
Pittsburgh -8.5
Young Guns
5* CBB GOY PIT (12-3 run on GOY)
3* SYR
3* SUNS
Does anybody find it strange that they boast 12-3 on Game of the Year picks ???