Johnny Guild
Miami Heat (11-54) at Milwaukee Bucks (23-43)
The struggling Milwaukee Bucks should have no problem snatching a win at home over the sorry Miami Heat. The cave in Heat is a ghastly 11-54 this season, 5-26 away from home They are the worst offensive team in the league averaging 93.4 points per game.
Milwaukee is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games at home and has won and covered both clashes against Miami this season. However, the Bucks are hurting, playing poorly. Laying 9.5 points may be a bit hefty even against the sorry Miami Heat . Milwaukee won both battles against Miami this season, but they were close, 98-92 and 103-98. Go with the gloomy Miami Heat to cover the spread tonight at the Bradley Center. The Bucks have dropped five in a row, 1-4 ATS.
Miami Heat + 9.5
Detroit Pistons - 6
Phoenix Suns - 3½
Mr. A's
Chicago Bulls - 5½
Dallas Mavericks - 6
Jim Avery
Washington Capitals @ Nashville Predators OV 5.5
I am playing the OVER 5.5 in the Caps/Preds game tonight and I love this play.
With a trend of 4-0 in the last 4 meetings, and Nashville has gone over 6 out of their last 7 games after a straight up win.
5.5 is an easy number to cover for two potent offenses, who are both coming into this game hot and ready to win. Expect a old fashioned free for all, as I predict the score to be 5-3 for Nashville
JB Sports
4* Detroit
3* Houston
Kelso
Chairman 15 units Houston
Best Bets 5 units Bulls
Tourney
5 units Steven F Austin
4 units NC Ashville
3 units Coppin St
Gavazzi
4*Nevada
3*Florida St
3*Southern Illinois
3*Ohio U
3*Old Dominion
NBA
3*Phoenix
Matty O'Shea CBB Sides Single-Dime Bet
Mount St. Mary's, Md -7 vs Coppin St
Analysis: The Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers have won five straight games by an average of 13.2 points, and 11 of their last 12 wins have all been decided by more than seven points. MeanWhile, Coppin State got off to a rotten 4-19 start before reeling off 12 wins in 13 games. The Eagles are simply not in the same class as Mount St. Mary's, and it ill show here. Bet the MountaIneers to win this one by double digits as my Single Dime NCAA Tournament Play O' the Day.
Matty O'Shea CBB Sides Single-Dime Bet
George Mason -7 vs NotreDame
Analysis: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are a very confident and talented bunch, but I simply think they wiLl be overconfident in this game going against a team that is used to being underestimated in George Mason. The Patriots advanced to the Final Four just two years ago and will hang tough with Notre Dame in this game until the very end. Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey was not terribly disappointed that his team lost to Marquette in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament, which is a clear sign that he thinks they will have a cakewalk in the first round. I like this Notre Dame team a lot, but they have a lot to prove to me when pLaying away from home. I also believe George Mason is a very dangerous foe here in this spot and should stay within the number, so bet the Patriots to cover as my Single Dime NCAA Tournament East Region Play O' the Day.
Matty O'Shea NBA Sides Single-Dime Bet
GSW -2 vs SAC
Analysis: The WarriorS have won five of the last six meetings with the Kings, including the last two played in Sacramento. Golden State is also 13-4-1 ATS in the last 18 meetings, and head coach Don Nelson realizes the team must win games like this in order to make the playoffs. "There are no bad teams in the NBA," Nelson said after the Warriors barely beat Memphis at home on SaturdaY. "There isnt anybody we cant beat and there isnt anybody that cant beat us on any given night. We didnt look much like an eighth-place team tonight, but we remain there. Were going to have to play a lot better than we played tonight and I know we will." Look for Golden State to taKe this game very sEriously and win itS fourth straight against the Kings. Bet the Warriors as my Single Dime NBA Play O' the Day.
Gator's NBA/CBB 70% Report
NBA
Tuesday: Play Over NBA home teams when the total is 200 to 209.5 with a team that allows 92-98 points per game against a team that allows 98-102 points per game, after 2 straight wins by 10 points or more 28-4 Over since 1996 (87.5%) PLAY: LAL / Dallas OVER 209
CBB
Tuesday: Play Under CBB teams where the total is between 120 and 129.5 points after having won 5 or 6 of their last 7 games, in a NCAA tournament game 48-10 Under last 5 seasons (82.8%) PLAY: Coppin St. / Mt St Marys UNDER 126
David Chan
5* - Celtics +4.5
GOLD SHEET LATE TELEPHONE SERVICE
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (+9 1/2) over U Mass
OKLAHOMA STATE (+5) over Southern Illinois
RIDER (+6) over Old Dominion
NBA
GOLDEN STATE (-3) over Sacramento
PHOENIX (-4) over Portland
CAJUN
Play: 3* Portland +3.5
Comments: With a win tonight the Suns will have won five straight a feat they have not repeated since November 30 - December 7th. They will be playing six of their next seven on the highway and attempt to keep pace with the Lakers for the top spot in the Pacific Division. Portland opened a three-game home-stand on Saturday with a 107 to 96 win over Minnesota. LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 points and 5 boards, while Brandon Roy finished with 25 points and 8 assists. Aldridge is averaging 23+ points per contest which is 6.2 points better than his season average over the last six games. Roy is averaging 24+ points which is 4.5 more than his season average during the last three games. Roy had 25 points in their last meeting with the Suns and is averaging better than 24 points a game in his last three versus Phoenix. Aldridge only had 11 points in the last meeting with the Suns and has only averaged 6 points per contest during his 5 career games versus them. We look for those numbers to improve as Roy and Aldridge have begun to play well together and so has the team around them. We note that the Blazers are 23-11 ATS when facing a team with a winning record at home over the last two seasons; they seem to get up for quality opponents. They are also 15-4 ATS when coming off a SU win and playing at home. Take this one step further and their record improves to 15-2 ATS if they also won that game ATS. If they have been having success against the spread, covering at least 4 or 5 of their last 6 contests they are a solid 8-1 ATS at home. Finally when Portland is coming in off a game where they won S/U by 10 or more points and scored at least 105 points in their last game and are now playing at home they are a perfect 14-0 ATS in that situation. Take the points here as the host takes the Kids from the Valley of the Sun right down to the wire.
Michael Cannon
10 Dime
VIRGINIA
Lay the big number with Virginia tonight when they host Richmond in the inaugural CBI tournament.
This is Virginia’s chance to atone for its collapse in the first round of the ACC tournament. They hung with Georgia Tech for most of the game and were tied 59-59 with 11:43 left in regulation.
Then the Cavs were held to one field goal during the next 6-½ minutes and that was the end of their chances.
Virginia has a huge advantage with guard Sean Singletary. Richmond doesn’t have anybody who can defend the senior, and I expect Singletary to treat this game as a personal showcase.
I really don’t need to mention too much about Virginia playing in the tougher conference and having the better overall talent than Richmond does. This game is basically going to come down to how much of a difference Singletary makes for the Cavs.
Take Virginia minus the points as they grab the win and cover.
5 Dime
RIDER
Take the points with Rider when they take on Old Dominion in the CBI.
Rider coach Tommy Dempsey came out right after his team lost to Siena in the MAAC title game saying he wanted to be in somebody’s tournament. He said his kids put in the hard work and he wanted them to be rewarded for it.
Dempsey will get his wish thanks to the new CBI, going against Old Dominion tonight.
Rider has a good trio of scorers in Jason Thompson, Ryan Thompson and Harris Mansell. The three average a combined 49 ppg, with both Thompson’s taking care of the inside and Mansell, who shoots better than 44 percent from 3-point range, the outside threat.
Old Dominion goes 10-deep in its rotation, but only one player averages double-digits in scoring.
I’ll side with the more accomplished scorers with Rider.
Take the points as the Broncos stay within the number.
AKRON
Take the points with Akron tonight when they travel to take on Florida State in the first round of the NIT.
Akron is as solid of a club as you’re going to see in the NIT. They just can’t seem to get over the hump in the MAC tournament.
Otherwise, this team would be a nice addition to the NCAA field of 65.
Florida State relies on its perimeter game too much for my liking, and if the outside shots aren’t falling they are eminently beatable.
The Seminoles have also been money burners at home lately, going 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11.
Take the points with Akron as they stay within the number.
ATS Consultants
Milwaukee over Miami 103-88 Best Bet
Chicago covers over New Orleans 92-95 Preferred Play
Over in the NY/Indiana game 101-104 Preferred Play
Seabass:
100*Insider: Suns
20* Mt St mary;
20*UMass;
20*Az St
10* Robt Morris
Comp: Detroit
Fairway Jay
Denver +6
ANALYSIS: Nuggets off a huge home win while scoring the most points in a single game this season, 168. That blowout win triggers a historically strong situation supporting them in next game as underdog. Nuggets are a little banged-up as they hit the road for five games, but Iverson, Carmello, Camby and Kevin Martin continue to perform at a high level as the Nuggets push for a playoff spot. Detroit has it in cruise control, up 11 games in the Central division of the Eastern Conference and not able to catch Boston for top seed. Detroit was beaten by Philadelphia on this floor six days ago, and then were solid in securing back-to-back home wins over San Antonio and New Orleans. However, Detroit has a big game on deck Wednesday as they travel to Cleveland to take on a Cavs team that eliminated Detroit in the conference finals last year. Don't expect Detroit's dominance to continue here versus a hot and high-scoring Denver team that can cash us a nice 'Nuggett' of ‘green’ tonight.
Mount St Marys Under 127
Big Drive: Akron +7.5
20* Big Drive: Xavier -8.5