Raging Bull
Soccer:
Aldershot Town/Chesterfield FC over 2.5 (English League 2)
The Prez
San Diego State +1 / 5 units
Notre Dame / Penn State Over 137.5 / 6 units
Karl Garrett
30 DIMER - BAYLOR BEARS
10 DIMER - PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
30 DIMER - BAYLOR BEARS
While the Aztecs were enjoying the "home cooking" for ALL 3 of their NIT wins, the last a lucky one at that against St. Mary's, the Bears had to win their last pair of games at Virginia Tech on an early Saturday morning, and at Auburn which not too many SEC teams were able to do during the regular season.
This Bears team has that look in their eyes as if they are going all the way this week at Madison Square Garden, and the G-Man no longer doubts them after they burned me against Auburn last week.
Plenty of senior leadership on this Baylor team, and I don't think they will be stopped in this semifinal matchup against San Diego State.
This one is priced near a pick, and I just don't think it is going to be that close at all.
Baylor moves on to Thursday's final.
10 DIMER - PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Possible first round playoff preview, and while the Sixers come into this one off losses in their last pair, I am going to back them against an Atlanta that is playing just their 2nd road game since March the 6th!!!!
How can that be?
The Hawks have played their last 4, and 11 of their last 12 at home. On the road, Atlanta is just 1-6 straight up their last 7, and they did get blasted by the Sixers 109-94 at Philips Arena back on January 11th in the teams last meeting.
Atlanta does have a big grudge game at Boston up next, so expect their focus to not be as it should.
Take Philly minus the points
Maddux Sports
Basketball
3 units on Atlanta +3
3 units on Utah +6.5
3 units on Bradley -2
Today's Free Pick Sacramento Kings +7
Dr. Canada
Florida Panthers -150
Blackhawks/Canadiens over 6
Brandon Lang
15 Dime San Diego State
5 Dime Old Dominion
FREE - Penn State
Las Vegas Sport Picks
NBA:
1* Cavs -9.5
3* Hornets/Kings over 201
4* Bulls/Pacers over 215
NCAA:
5* PSU/ND over 138
Raging Bull
NBA:
Philadelphia 76ers -1.5
New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets over 221
NCAA:
Baylor vs. San Diego State over 136
Fairway Jay
Utah Jazz / Portland Trail Blazers Under 192.5 / 3 units
Tim Trushel
Philadelphia -3
Brian Edwards
San Diego St vs. Baylor
Pick Baylor PK (+105)
No team (except for USC and Cleveland St.) has taken better advantage of March than Baylor, which was in the midst of an extremely disappointing year going into the Big 12 Tournament. Since then, the Bears have won six of their last seven games, including victories over Kansas and Texas. In the NIT, Baylor beat Georgetown at home before going on the road and winning at Va. Tech and at Auburn. San Diego St. had the good fortune of charting its path to NYC by plaing three in a row at home. Give me Baylor.
MTi Sports
Detroit at Cleveland
Play: Cleveland -9.5
The Pistons are 4-6 over their last ten games, but their only wins were over the Raptors, Clippers, Wizards and, in their last game a 101-97 home win over the 76ers in which they trailed at the end of each of the first three quarters. This is a VERY tough spot for Detroit. The Pistons are 0-4 ATS (-8.6 ppg) THIS season off a win in which they trailed at the end of each of the first three quarters. Also qualifying here is the fact that Detroit is 0-4 ATS (-11.6 ppg) with at most one day of rest after a game at home in which they had an assist to turnover ratio of at least two.In their previous meeting the Pistons were mauled by the Cavs 99-78 in Cleveland. We expect a similar score here. Detroit’s character is exposed by the following trend: The Pistons are 0-6 ATS (-7.2 ppg) since January when facing a team they lost to on the road in their previous same-season match-up. More specifically, they are 0-4 ATS (-8.0 ppg) in 2009 when seeking revenge for a double-digit road loss. They lost every game straight up, despite being the favorite in each of the last three.The Cavs are on a ROLL and the Pistons will not be able to slow them down. Cleveland is 13-0-1 ATS at home, laying more than seven points when they won and covered their last two at home. Also, Cleveland is 11-0 ATS (9.5 ppg) since November after a double digit win in which they scored less than 15% of their points from the free throw line, 5-0 ATS (+11.8 ppg) at home when they allowed fewer than 90 points for two straight games and 11-0-1 ATS (March 2008 at home when they held their opponent to fewer than 85 points in their last game.The argument is being made by some that the Pistons are making a “playoff run,” but this is sheer fantasy. Cleveland’s fans HATE the Pistons and they will exhort their team to solid win. Lay the points.
MTi’s FORECAST: CLEVELAND 103 Detroit 81
HalfBets
Notre Dame v. Penn St
Notre Dame has seemed to squeak their way through this NIT tournament with some not so impressive wins at home. Penn St has been on the road and made it to MSG and getting 4 in this game. However we think Notre Dame really turns up the heat here on Penn State. Look for a ton of scoring here since this is the end of the road for one of these teams.
PICK: OVER 139.5 Game (9*) GOW
Bonus PICK: Notre Dame -4 Game (3*)
Doc
5-Unit NBA Game of the Week Take LA Lakers/Charlotte UNDER 191
4-Unit Play Take Oklahoma City +13 Over San Antonio
3-Unit Pick Take Indiana -1½ Over Chicago
3-Unit Play Take New Orleans/Sacramento UNDER 201½
Oscarxena Sports
Notre Dame/Penn State Over 139.5 (3 Unit Play)
These two teams are both pretty good offensive teams compared to their defensive efforts and although I stated in my first writeup that it is usually a good idea to look Under in NIT games held at MSG I recommend playing this one Over. Notre Dame has actually been on a Under run and depending on what line you were able to get last game they either went Under or Over as it opened at 145 and closed at 143 and landed on 144. That would make 9 consecutive Unders in a row but don't be fooled by that, they are still an uptempo type of club. Notre Dame ranks at #16 in offensive efficiency this year and that is against the tough foes in the Big East so scoring should not be a problem for them here. Penn State meanwhile only ranks at #117 in defensive efficiency and that was against a pretty weak schedule as well as offensive inept teams from the Big 10 Conference. The same can be said of Penn State though in this game as they are very good offensively as they rank at #43 in offensive efficiency while Notre Dame is only at #86 in defensive efficiency. I think both teams will get good looks and score often on their possessions tonight which always gives us a good chance at cashing an Over ticket. Penn State has actually been running a little bit in this NIT tournament and they are no slouch and I think the safest bet to make in this game is Over the total.