Dr. Bob
Tuesday NBA Opinion
DALLAS (-5 ½) over L.A. Lakers
The Lakers clearly aren’t as good without injured Pao Gasol and they qualify in a 38-91-3 ATS negative momentum situation tonight. Dallas has been rolling lately, but their string of 5 consecutive blowout wins have all come against bad teams. The Mavericks are a better team with Jason Kidd, but that’s mostly because Jason Terry doesn’t have to play the point anymore (with Tyrone Lue having taken over backup duties). The Mavericks are much more effective with Terry playing the off-guard spot and that is why Dallas is a better team now than they before trading Devon Harris for Kidd – not because Kidd is better than Harris. My ratings, with Gasol out and with the Mavericks’ current rotation, favor Dallas by 5 points, which is where the line opened. The number has gone up and I’m not willing to give up line value to make this a Best Bet. I’ll lean with Dallas at -6 or less.
Tuesday NIT Opinion
SOUTHERN ILLINIOS (-5) over Oklahoma State
Southern Illinois lost their final 2 games to end any chances of making the NCAA Tournament, but they should embrace their chance to host an NIT game against an Oklahoma State team that doesn’t travel well. The Cowboys have covered their last 3 road games, but they’re still just 5-13 ATS on the road in 2 seasons under coach Sean Sutton and the opponents on a losing streak tend to get well when facing Oklahoma State (the Cowboys are 0-8-1 ATS the last two seasons when facing a team that has lost 2 or more consecutive games). Southern Illinois plays better at home (9-5-2 ATS at home this season) and the Salukis apply to a very good 44-12 ATS NIT first round situation. Unfortunately, my ratings favor Southern Illinois by just 4 points even with a higher than normal home court advantage. I’ll lean with SIU at -5 or -4 ½ and I’d take Southern Illinois in a 2-Star Best Bet at -4 points or less.
The Green Kings
NBA HOOPS
NJ and Chicago under the total of 201
NIT HOOPS
Rider +6
S. Illinois and Oklahoma St. under the total of 121
Alatex
15 over Creighton
Chris James Sports
3* Ohio U
3* Rider U
2* Coppin State
3* Detroit Pistons
Power Play of the Day
Bulls -5.5