CTO
*BRADLEY over Southern Illinois....CTO scouts report Bradley can’t wait (and neither can we) for this revenge game with rival SIU following the Braves’ sloppy (18 TOs) 77-64 setback at Carbondale Jan. 8, when prolific PG Ruffin was sidelined with a sports hernia.Bradley, which has already avenged two losses when Ruffin (nation’s active career leader in assists!) was sidelined for a 7-game stretch in late Dec.-early Jan., adds to the list vs. the weak-travelin’ Salukis (2-10 SU, 3-9 vs. spread on road TY), who lack creative scorers,especially in hostile surroundings, such as deafening Carver Arena.
*BRADLEY 74 - Southern Illinois 63 RATING - 11
Carlo Campanella
Cleveland Cavaliers at Milwaukee Bucks
Cleveland just over a basket road Favorite as they head to Miluakee on Tuesday evening. Lay the small number with a Cavs squad that's won 3 STRAIGHT games knowing that Cleveland is a very profitable 34-18 ATS off back-to-back home battles under HC Brown.
Play on: Cleveland
Marc Lawrence
Game: Seattle SuperSonics at Golden State Warriors
Prediction: Golden State Warriors
Warriors are back home off Saturday's embarrassing 117-110 home loss as 8.5 point favorites against Atlanta. Enter the Sonics, a team Golden State has handled with ease of late (10-1 ATS last eleven games). Look for Seattle to be the perfect fodder here tonight. Lay the points with the Warriors.
Jimmy The Moose
Game: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders
Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins
Reason: Both team's come into this one having won 6 of their last 10 games. The Penguins are 15-5 when playing with 1 day of rest between games. Pittsburgh has won 5 of their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing record. New York is 2-6 in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning record. The Islanders have lost 3 of the last 4 meetings vs. the Penguins. Play on the Pittsburgh Penguins -.
Nelly
Vanderbilt + over Tennessee
This is as difficult of a scheduling situation as could possibly occur for Tennessee. In one of the most anticipated late-season non-conference games in many years, the Volunteers delivered a big win to knock off then-undefeated and #1 ranked Memphis. Now Tennessee is the #1 team in the nation and the pressure will be tremendous with such a quick turnaround. This in-state rivalry is a much bigger deal for Vanderbilt and the Commodores own an amazing 17-0 record at home this season. Tennessee won easily in the first meeting of the season in Knoxville but Vanderbilt shot just 14 percent from three-point land, normally a key strength in the offense. Look for Vanderbilt to take advantage of a very tough situation for Tennessee and deliver the big win.
Great Lakes
San Diego State at UNLV
Play on: UNLV Rebels
The Rebels are a very respectable 10-5 ATS in the role of a favorite this year, and 25-18 ATS at home the last three years. The UNLV Rebels is also a very nice 10-3 ATS when playing on Tuesday's the last three years, and 39-21 ATS when playing a team with a winning record the last three years. We look for the UNLV Rebels to crush the San Diego State Aztecs for the home ATS Win & cover for Tuesday.
Dave Cokin
Boston College @ Virginia Tech
Play: Virginia Tech -5.5
Virginia Tech overcame several scheduling dynamics disadvantages in scoring an earlier OT win at Boston College. The rematch shouldn't be as competitive. The Hokies certainly won't be overlooking the Eagles, as this is a very big game as far as their NCAA Tourney hopes are concerned. BC is on a big slide having lost eight of their last nine, and could be weary on the back end of a road trip saw them lose Saturday at Florida State. This is the tougher half of the journey, and I don't see the Eagles being up to the task. Virginia Tech minus the points.
James Patrick Sports
Cavaliers vs. Bucks
Look for the Cavs to flex their new muscle as they are now one of the elite rosters in the NBA after their wheeling and dealing this past week. Bucks can’t match up with the new front line of Cleveland and will go down to defeat at the Bradley Center in Tuesday Night action. Our Tuesday NBA selection is Cleveland Cavaliers.
Vegas Sports Pics
Southern Illinois Salukis + 1 over (at) Bradley Braves
Bradley (17-12, 9-7) vs. Southern Illinois (16-12, 10-6) is 13-3 last 16 meetings off posting a 77-64 home win over Bradley on 01/08, Brave's third leading scorer Warren, who is now out with a broken hand, scoring a team high 18 points in the losing effort.
Tennessee Volunteers - 2 over (at) Vanderbilt Commodores
No.18 Vanderbilt (23-4, 8-4) vs. No.1 Tennessee (25-2, 11-1) on a nine game winning streak enters ranked number one in the nation for the first time in school history. The Volunteers are 4-1 last five meetings off posting an 80-60 home win over Vanderbilt on 01/17.
EZ Winners
1 STAR: (502) MIAMI (+2) over Sacramento
(Risking $110 to win $100)
1 STAR: (511) WASHINGTON (+12) over Houston
(Risking $110 to win $100)
Vegas Experts
Sacramento Kings at Miami Heat
If Miami is to get its second win in its last 25+ games this should be the time versus a Kings team that is 9-19 on the road. Miami has beaten Sacramento five straight at home and seven in a row overall. It is 12-3 ATS against Pacific division opponents over the last 2 seasons while Sacrmanto is 10-21 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 over the last 2 seasons.
Play on: Miami
Alex Smart
Washington Wizards +12.0
Reason: The Washington Wizards enter into this tilt against the red hot Houston Rockets off back to back wins vs the Charlotte Bobcats and the New Orleans Hornets. They won those tilts against the Hornets despite of playing without Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas. The Wizards have proved on numerous occasions that they own a cohesive bench that is able to play with heart and determination, making them a good bet as double digit underdogs in this spot, against a Houston team that is perceived to be superior. Final notes & Key Trends: The Wizards have covered 5 straight as road dogs and are 21-7 ATS L28 away as a dog of 6.5 to 12 points. Play on the Wizards cover
Vernon Croy
Sacramento Kings vs. Miami Heat
Play: Sacramento Kings
1 Unit, Take Sacramento -2, The Kings are 16-8 ATS in non-conference games this season and 15-8 ATS after playing a non-conference game. Miami is just 7-20 ATS at home this season and they are just 4-18 ATS in their last 22 games when playing a team with a losing record. The Heats opponents are averaging 106 ppg against them over their last 5 games and their opponents are shooting 37% from 3 point range against them at home this season. The Kings are shooting 38% from 3 point range on the road this season and they will be able to out-rebound the Heat badly tonight on the road. Take Sacramento as my NBA free play for Tuesday night as they should cover by 6-10 points against the Heat who are just 4-24 SU after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
Matt Fargo
B.Y.U. vs. New Mexico
Play: New Mexico
I’ve mentioned numerous times that revenge cane be a tricky thing and should only be used as a motivator and not solely as a reason for a play. Revenge is definitely a motivator tonight for the Lobos but there are many other factors going into this one as well. BYU took care of New Mexico by 17 points in the first meeting, the second biggest defeat of the season. The Cougars shot the lights out, hitting a remarkable 13-16 from three-point land (81.3 percent), and held J.R. Giddens to a season-low four points.
BYU is coming off a loss at San Diego St. on Saturday which snapped a nine-game winning streak and suddenly brought UNLV and New Mexico back into the MWC race. The schedule heavily favors the Cougars however as the final three games are against nobody’s no wrapping up a conference title should not be a problem. However, coming out of the Pit with a win isn’t going to be easy as the Lobos remember what BYU did last season, coming in and winning by 21 points.
Really good teams have the ability to win games on the road and that is something that BYU no doubt can do as it is 6-4 on the road. However, it is New Mexico that is the team getting it done. After going 3-19 in true road games the past two seasons and 8-43 in the five seasons from 2003-07, the Lobos are 7-5 this year. Obviously this is not a road game but it is for making a point that the Lobos can be now classified as one of the top teams around. It doesn’t hurt being 15-1 at home either.
The Lobos lead the MWC in scoring offense at 75.0 ppg, scoring margin at +12.5 and three-point shooting at 43.7 percent. New Mexico has won six straight games including a huge win Saturday. The Lobos defeated Utah at the Huntsman Center for the first time since 1989, snapping an 18-game losing streak there. Now they look to break another streak and that is a five-game losing streak to the Cougars. The last time they lost 6 straight games was during a 0-22 start to the series between 1950 and 1962.
New Mexico has covered six straight and that sets up a solid situation. Play on home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points after covering the spread in five or more consecutive games, playing their 3rd game in a in seven days. This situation is 43-17 ATS (71.7 percent) since 1997 with the average point differential being +10.5 ppg. New Mexico is 13-2 ATS as a home favorite this season, with a scoring margin of +22.8 ppg. The Lobos are also 14-2 ATS after two or more consecutive wins this season. They get their payback Tuesday.
Play New Mexico Lobos 1 Unit
Stephen Nover
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks
PICK: Milwaukee Bucks
REASON FOR PICK: The Cavaliers improved themselves at the trade deadline getting LeBron James needed help with the additions of Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West for flaky Drew Gooden and disgruntled Larry Hughes.
Pumped up, the new players helped the Cavaliers bury the Grizzlies in their first game wearing the Cleveland uniform. But the NBA is all about situations and this isn't a good one for the Cavaliers.
I see a letdown and look-ahead here for the Cavaliers. They play Boston on Wednesday. Keep in mind, too, these new players have barely practiced together. Cavaliers coach Mike Brown still is tinkering with how to dole out minutes and keep everyone satisfied.
The Bucks have won their last two home games, defeating Denver and Detroit. Their win against Denver, when they trailed by 23 points, was a huge morale boost. The Bucks still have realistic playoff designs being in the Eastern Conference. But they must win home matchups such as this one.
Michael Redd is the key for Milwaukee. When his shot is on, the Bucks are tough to beat at home. Redd is 28-for-51 (55 percent) from the floor in his last three games. He's averaging 27 points during this span.
A one-unit play for me on the Bucks covering as a live home underdog.
College Cappers
CBB
60 Dime - Western Michigan -8.5
25 Dime - San Diego State +8
10 Dime - San Diego State ML +300
20 Dime - Bradley -1
20 Dime - Tennessee -2
NBA
25 Dime - Sacramento -2
15 Dime - Houston -12
FREE
1 Dime - Virginia Tech -5
EdgeOnOdds
Phoenix Suns @ Memphis Grizzlies
Pick: Over 213
Reasoning: The Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies meet in a Tuesday Night in the battle of the second best and the second worst teams in the Eastern Conference. The total in this game is set at 213. The number 213 is an extremely interesting numbers for both of these teams this year. The Phoenix Suns have played a total of 56 games this year, care to take a guess of what the average over under line was for all the games they played this year? Yep, you got it 213.42, right on the money. The Memphis Grizzlies have played 56 games as well this year; care to take a stab at their average total? Close, but no cigar. The Grizzlies average total this year was 212.99 .01 points away from the set total. So these two stats have simply stated that the odds makers have set this game in the dead average of each of these teams’ seasons so far. However, at closer look the odds makers have set a total within 1 point on either side of this average total three times to Memphis and four times to Phoenix. All three times that the total was set in the average to Memphis it went over (3-0). Each time it was set with Phoenix it went over each time (4-0). So here is my take on the whole total situation we have going here, the odds makers did not see an advantage either way in this one so they set the dead total to grab 50% of public money on each side. However, over poses as the play here because of the styles these two teams play. Memphis struggles on offense slightly scoring 99.5 points per game and the reason games they play fall under the total is due to their lack of offense. This year the Grizzlies are 25-31 O/U, defensively they allow 105.0 points per game, a number the Suns can easily eclipse with their high powered offense that averages 109.2 points per game. The Suns defense should also allow Memphis to score more then normal. This season the Suns are giving up 104.2 points a game. I love these two teams to get running and scoring a ton of points. Jump on the 213 that should not move to much through the course of the day and watch these two teams shoot the lights out.
Lock of the day
Drake -1.5
Drake is a team to be reckoned with. They will handle Missouri State today. Missouri State has 15 losses this year. They will not beat a Top 20 team. Drake is very good, they just beat #8 Butler. We like Drake today.
ATS Consultants Newsletter Plays
Hoops
Orlando over New Jersey 103-90 Best Bet (3 units)
The Nets have all but given up and the Jason Kidd deal or lack thereof, has put this team in a holding pattern. Even if the deal is completed by this time, the Nets will have no leader. The Magic had a strong first half and has to finish well to get a third seed. Dwight Howard is too much for the Nets to handle inside.
Preferred Plays (2 units)
Cleveland Cavs over Milwaukee 98-81
South Florida over Seton Hall 78-66
Vanderbilt over Tennessee 88-81
Hockey
Preferred Plays (2 units)
Over in the Atlanta/Montreal game
Boston over Ottawa