Balfe
RAPTORS +12
Middle Tennessee State +8.5
Young Gun Sports
4.5* Memphis Grizzlies
4* Clev St
MTI Sports
5* Memphis Under
4* Jazz Under
ROOT
Chairman - Penn
Millionaire - Chicago Bulls
Doc NHL
4* Boston +170
Savannah Sports
2 Units on Louisiana Tech
GOLD SHEET'S LATE TELEPHONE SERVICE
SEATTLE over Indiana
Utah-Chicago OVER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
LOUISIANA TECH over San Jose State
The Green Kings
NCAA HOOPS
CLEVELAND ST. +10
NBA HOOPS
PORTLAND -2
TORONTO/LA OVER 212
NHL
ANAHEIM ML
Matty O'Shea
Cleveland State +10
Akmens
NHL
Tampa Bay -120
NJ/Montral Un 5
NBA
T-Wolves/Blazers Un 186.5
CBB
Clev St/Butler Ov 119
Alatex
15* Clev St
Drew Gordon
1. 300,000* Cleveland State
2. 50,000* Trail Blazers
1. Cleveland State- First things first, the Vikings covered both meetings against this Butler squad this season, including a 51-46 Butler win, but Cleveland State cover, as a 12-point road dog in their last one at Hinkle Fieldhouse February 16th! Odds makers have once again underestimated this Vikings team tonight, and I'll prove it you...
Besides the fact the Vikings already proved they can play at Hinkle Fieldhouse, there's the motivational factor. Sure, the Bulldogs want to win the Horizon Title, but Butler is already guaranteed an at-large bid, while the Vikings only means of going Dancing would be with a win here tonight. Needless to say, that's a huge disparity in motivation, one that will surely keep this game within the number.
Another reason why this series has been so competitive this season is Cleveland State's excellent perimeter defense. We all know the Bulldogs love the 3-point line, with players like Campbell, Green, and Graves launching it from beyond the arc all game long. But if we know this, the Vikings and coach Waters know it too, and they've tailored their defense to stopping Butler's perimeter based attack. Thus, the two Cleveland State covers against Butler this season, as the Bulldogs shot 26% and 28% respectively from the 3-point line in those contests!
Finally, the match ups also dictate a close game, as the Vikings top-2 Bullock and Jackson have excelled against this Bulldogs defense. The last time they played at Butler, Cedric Jackson dropped in 20 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 4 boards, throughly outplaying Butler leading scorer Mike Green. Long story short, these two teams are well-matched, and the only reason the Bulldogs have the edge here is the home court.
Bottom line, expect a hard-fought, competitive contest tonight at Hinkle Fieldhouse, as these two teams are a lot closer than Vegas is giving them credit for. Cleveland State has already proven TWICE this season they can hang with Butler, and they'll prove it again tonight, using their stifling defense to keep this game well within the number.
Take Cleveland State plus the points over Butler as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Trail Blazers- I picked against the Trail Blazers in this spot last night, delivering a 50K bonus winner on the Cavaliers 88-80. However, tonight's a different story, as despite the fact Portland will be playing in the tail end of a back-to-back, I firmly believe they'll bounce back tonight in Minnesota and here's why:
First, forget the fatigue factor, as this young Blazers squad has shown little ill-effects from getting no rest, going 9-6 ATS this season with no down-time. Roy, Aldridge, and Webster still can't rent a car, so don't tell me these youngsters can play two games in two nights! The last time they played in back-to-back, they won outright at the Clippers 82-80 as 2-point dogs!
Second, the one problem that has plagued the 'Wolves all season is defense, and it'll hurt them once again tonight, as they're allowing 104 ppg on a ridiculous 49% shooting over their last 5 games... I don't care who you are, you're aren't going to win many basketball games when your opponent is shooting nearly 50% from the floor, period. Portland's offense isn't great, but they sure as hell can beat a lazy Minnesota defense in this one.
Finally, let's examine their previous two meetings this season, as the Blazers rocked the 'Wolves both times by double-digits, including a 90-79 win at the Target Center back on January 2nd. While I agree the Blazers aren't playing as well as they were in January, there's no way you can tell me they're now nearly a pick'em against this sputtering 'Wolves squad. True, the 'Wolves have won two in a row, but please, let's not get carried away... This is still a Minnesota team that's 10-22 SU & 14-18 ATS at home this season. It will be closer than their previous meetings, but the Blazers coming off a disappointing loss to the Cavs, bounce back with a strong road win and cover tonight in Minnesota.
Take the Trail Blazers over the Timberwolves in this NBA match up.
2-Minute Warning
SAN JOSE STATE
Seabass
Baskets NCAA
Insider: 100* Cleveland State
10* Portland St
7* N.Arizona
Baskets NBA
10* Indiana Pacers
NHL
10* San Jose
David Chan
Suns
Miller Group
San Jose
Jim Kruger
Northern Arizona -3
Will Cover
3*Washington
2* Phoenix
2*Princeton
Great Lakes
3*Seattle
2* Utah
2* Portland
Scott Landau
3*Memphis
2* Minnesota
2* Princeton
WILL SYKES
WILL SYKES 1st 6* GOM
MEMPHIS vs PHOENIX
SYKE-O-ANALYSIS: Here's the biggest trend you'll see that no other handicapper will ever have; The Phoenix Suns are 0-12-2 ATS after playing San Antonio (not including the playoffs from previous years) I'm so confident about this trend that I'd follow this blind without capping it. But since I knew it was coming up I decided to do a little homework on this game. And found that the Suns are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games as a home favorite of 11.0 or greater. Also the Suns are doing poor against low teams, going 25-53-3 ATS in their last 81 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. The Suns haven't impressed me much either, even after winning against San Antonio their last game out, by sneaking through looking like they won on a powerful game by winning by 7, after they were down 5 in the last 2 minutes of the game. In my eyes they pulled out a near miracle game. We know that Memphis isn't a great team, but they just finished a game against Boston without even having a lead the whole game. With 15.5 points to work with knowing that the Grizzlies can score 113 points against the Suns will be no problem for me backing the Grizzlies, while the Suns still figure out how to win with Shaq. The Grizz shoot 45%, while the Suns defense allows 45% so no biggie in trying to score their average 99 points. The Suns shoot 49% while the Grizzlies' defense allows 48% making the Suns' average just short of 109ppgs. As you can see here he have alot to work with. Now with Mike Miller back on the line up, be sure this game will be closer than expected. As soon as he got back in the line up they win SU against the Nets, but of course lose to the Celtics, now we get a nice double digit line against the Lost SUNS, which we catch the lines makers sleeping on this line tonight. So don't be psyched by this off line the odds makers are setting, Join Sykes in the winners circle with my first ever GOM. Just stick with Sykes, and once again.....Sykes becomes Victorious.
6* GOM Memphis Grizzlies +15.5
Kelso
Chairman's Club = 10 units Penn +3 @ Princeton
Best Bets
10 units Suns -14.5 v. Memphis
March Madness
15 units W. Ky -8.5 v. Midd Tenn
4 units Cleve St +9.5 v. Butler
3 units IUPUI + 3 v. Oral Roberts
AJ Apollo
5* Weber State +3
Beat The Odds
NBA Portland -2
CBB Weber St Over 133
San Jose St Over 130
Rob Veno
Blue Chip: San Jose State Over 132
Blue Chip: LA Lakers -11.5
Indiana Over 218
ER Sports
NBA Playmaker: Portland -1.5
Dr Bob
BUTLER (-9) over Cleveland State, 3-Stars at -9 or less, 2-Stars at -9 1/2 or -10