Michael Cannon (16-5 top play run)
20 Dime –
CLEVELAND STATE
Take the points with Cleveland State tonight in the Horizon League Championship over Butler.
I know Butler is nationally ranked and they’ve already got their ticket punched to the big dance. But this Cleveland State team has given the Bulldogs everything they could handle in the first two meetings, and there’s no reason to think they won’t tonight with a chance at an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.
The Vikings have won seven of their last eight games, going 8-0 ATS. They’ve split their two meetings with the Bulldogs this year, winning 56-52 at home back in January and losing 51-46 at Butler in February as a 12-point dog.
Cleveland State has been executing the little things all season long for coach Gary Waters. Vikings guard Cedric Jackson has outplayed his Bulldog counterparts, Mike Green and A. J. Graves in both meetings and Cleveland State could have pulled off the regular season sweep had they shot better than the 31 percent from the floor in the second meeting.
Take the points with Cleveland State as they stay within the number tonight and give Butler a scare for the league crown.
5 Dime –
SAN JOSE STATE
Lay the points with San Jose State over Louisiana Tech in the first round of the WAC tournament.
Granted this isn’t North Carolina versus Duke, but I’ll side with a San Jose State team that has a decided advantage on the boards over La. Tech.
Now, La. Tech has won two straight, but I don’t like their prospects of winning a third straight based on the fact that Bulldog coach Kerry Rupp has shortened his bench to a seven-man rotation. These kids are not only going to have to play disciplined, but they’re going to have to duplicate strong numbers from the field that haven’t been there all year.
Like Kyle Gibson’s 28-point performance last time out or Tech hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, as was the case in last Saturday’s win over these very same San Jose State Spartans.
What is most likely to happen is the big rebounding margin San Jose State enjoyed in that loss, when the Spartans held a 46-21 advantage, which will allow them to hold the Bulldogs to too many one-and-out possessions.
Take San Jose State minus the points as they grab the win and cover.
WINNERS EDGE
NBA
Utah Jazz - 4 , 3 units
CBB
Cleveland St. + 10 , 2 units
Louisiana Tech + 6 , 1 unit
ATS Consultants
Newsletter Plays
Tuesday, March 11
Hoops
Utah over Chicago 91-80 Preferred Play
Hockey
over in the Chicago/Detroit game Preferred Play
Anaheim over Phoenix Preferred Play
BIG AL
At 10:05 pm, our selection is on the Memphis Grizzlies plus the points over Phoenix. On Sunday, the Suns temporarily righted their sinking ship when they upset the Spurs 94-87 as a 1.5-point home dog. But that win might mask serious problems which currently confront the Suns. By trading away its best wing defender (Shawn Marion) for an aging, immobile Shaquille O'Neal, the Suns have morphed into a poor defensive ballclub, notwithstanding their performance on Sunday. But prior to that win, Phoenix had dropped six of nine games, and had surrendered an AVERAGE of 123 points in those six losses. Now, off that upset win, the Suns fall into a nasty 25% ATS system which goes against home faves off outright wins as a home underdog, if they are matched up against a foe off a straight-up loss. The Grizzlies got Mike Miller back in the line-up two games back, and that's key, as Memphis was 0-8 without the sharpshooter in its lineup. Miller leads Memphis in Field-Goal percentage (51.1 percent) and rebounds (6.5), and three-point shooting (43.5%), so it wasn't surprising that Memphis snapped its nine-game losing streak with a 100-93 win over New Jersey in his first game back. The pointspread here is an overlay, and we'll take advantage of the inflated line and grab the points with the Grizzlies.
Robert Ferringo
2-Unit Play. Take Cleveland State (+10) over Butler
1-Unit Play. First Half: Take Cleveland State (+6) over Butler
These two teams played to a four-point Cleveland State win and a five-point Butler win during the regular season, so I think a blowout here is unlikely. In fact, I think CSU has a legitimate shot to win this game. They are quicker and more athletic than the Bulldogs, and they looked very, very comfortable shooting the ball in Hinkle on Sunday against Kent State. If CSU shoots anywhere near like they did in that game () then they are in business. Butler is just 6-13-2 ATS in conference play and is always shackled with a few extra points by the oddsmakers. These Horizon League games are usually played in the 50's and 60's so 10 points should be gold.
Wunderdog MLB
New York Mets at Boston
Pick: New York Mets +121
Tim Wakefield starts against Nelson Figueroa as these teams square off for the second straight day. Pedro Martinez should be throwing today, but he refuses to travel in spring training games. Figueroa has pitched 6.1 scoreless innings this spring. Sox bats not doing much as they have plated just one run in last two. Will ride the Mets here.
Los Angeles Angels at San Diego
Pick: Los Angeles Angels +102
Jered Weaver gets the ball for the Angels, and he has been perfect in his two starts. He squares off against Padres' ace Jake Peavy who has been touched up for eight hits and four runs in five innings so far.Angels producing 5+ runs over each of their last six games and swinging the bats well. We will ride them here to beat the Padres.
DOC'S
4 Unit Play.Take Cleveland State +10 over Butler
Much like the games last night, this games means more to the Vikings and we expect them to go all out in hopes of receiving a NCAA Tournament Bid. Butler is already in the field regardless and has been a bad squad this year as a double-digit favorite. The score will be kept in the sixties and thus we will earn the victory with whoever comes out on top. These teams split a pair this season with only nine points combined separating the two squads.
4 Unit Play.Take Western Kentucky -8 ½ over Middle Tennessee State
4 Unit Play.Take Oral Roberts -3 over IUPUI
STRIKE POINT SPORT'S
3-Unit Play.Take Northern Arizona -2.5 over Weber State
The Lumberjacks took both regular season meetings, and I expect them to make it three in a row here, advancing in the first of the Big Sky semi-finals. Northern Arizona came into the league tournament having won six straight. They boast a strong, veteran team that is not only capable of taking this game, but also knocking off the top seeded Vikings in a potential conference title match-up as well. Lay the small number, as the favorite comes in this one
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Pacers -8
The Pacers are only 2.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the East and I look for them to make a run at it. They return home after going 0-3 on the road, and I expect an offensive explosion here as they look to get back in the win column against a Sonics team which has lost 8 of its last 9. This is the 6th game of Seattle's 7-game road trip and the Sonics are wearing down. The SuperSonics are only 3-10 ATS in their last 13 vs. Eastern Conference. The Pacers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5 and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. Western Conference, not to mention 54-24-3 ATS in their last 81 games playing on 2 days rest. Take the Pacers as they bounce back at home.
Info Plays
3* on Chicago Bulls +4
The Bulls are a team that really needs this home win against the Utah Jazz to stay on track for a late playoff push. Utah has been tremendous at home, but they are a completely different team when hitting the road. The Jazz are just 14-19 away from Energy Solutions Center in Utah. Utah is 2-13 ATS in road games after a home game where both teams score 100 or more points over the last 2 seasons. Chicago is 20-10 ATS after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games this season. Interim head coach Jim Boylan has gotten his team to respond in the face of adversity. Now they will respond by taking out one of the best teams in the Western Conference at home tonight. Bet Chicago at home.
Ryan 5* Total
5* Over NJ/Montreal
PHILLY CONNECTION COMP
SanJose St/L.Tech under 132
Dominic David
3* Cleveland St
Mr. A's
Utah Jazz - 3½
Los Angeles Lakers - 11½
GINA
Memphis Grizzlies (15-47) at Phoenix Suns (41-22)
The Suns are currently struggling, dropping four of its last six games and four of its last six at home, but should have no problems versus the collapse Grizzlies. Memphis has lost 16 of its last 18 games, 16 of its last 17 on the road. The Grizzlies won’t restrain the high power Suns. Phoenix is scoring an average of 109 points per game, while Memphis is allowing an average of 106 points per game. The Grizzlies are 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games and have lost 17 of their last 20 at Phoenix. Go with the Suns. The oddsmakers have Phoenix as a huge 15 point favorite, but the Grizzlies are just 4-20 at Phoenix and a horrible 4-25 on the road this season, 0-5 ATS in its last 5 on the road.
Phoenix Suns
Time Game Today's Pick
Utah (42-22) at Chicago (25-38) Under - 213
Memphis (15-47) at Phoenix (41-22) Phoenix Suns - 15