TONY WESTON
From a straight numbers perspective, it seems as if UMass has the advantage against Syracuse tonight. The Minutemen are 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS their last 10 games, while the Orange are only 5-5 SU and 4-6 ATS their last 10.
However, the numbers are a bit deceiving, considering the quality of their opponents. The Minutemen finished third in an Atlantic 10 conference that had only one team qualify for THE Tournament: Xavier.
Other than that, the competition was pretty weak and UMass feasted on that. Over UMass?s last six games of the regular season the Minutemen finished 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS playing St. Louis, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, Richmond, La Salle and George Washington. Those teams finished a combined 85-97 overall SU and 38-58 SU in Atlantic-10 play.
Syracuse, on the other hand finished ninth in a Big East conference that had eight teams qualify for THE Tournament. The Orange finished 9-9 SU and ATS in conference play.
Playing against that tougher competition and now playing an untested UMass team will lead to a blowout victory.
Take Syracuse in an easy win.
4* SYRACUSE (1* to 5* Scale)
Ben Burns
Charlotte vs. Utah
Today's Pick: Bobcats/Jazz OVER
The Bobcats enter tonight's game having allowed an average of 103.1 points on the road this season. Considering that the Jazz score more points than any team in the entire Eastern Conference (fifth most in the West) the Bobcats are likely to give up more than that average this evening.
Yes, Charlotte does come off a solid defensive effort which led to a 94-82 win vs. the worst team in the league. However, that was at home, where they always play much better. Additonally, that came against a Knicks team that is 7-29 on the road rather than against a Jazz team that is 30-4 at home. Note that seven of 10 games have finished above the total this season when Charlotte was coming off a double-digit victory. It's also worth noting that the Bobcats rarely string together back to back strong defensives performances. In fact, they've seen the "over" go 5-1 this season, when coming off a game in which they held their opponent to 85 points or less. Looking back further and we find the "over" at 16-7 all-time when the Bobcats have held their previous opponent to 85 points or less.
The Jazz, who come off a 115-101 win vs. Seattle, have seen the "over" go 20-9 on the season when coming off a double-digit win. They scored 120 points against Charlotte on this floor last March and I expect them to put up big numbers once again. Consider a play on the OVER.
Larry Ness
San Antonio vs. Orlando
Today's Pick: ORLANDO MAGIC
Prior to beating Dallas, San Antonio had been on a 0-4 SU and ATS slide vs winning teams on the road. The Magic surely qualify as a winning team, leading the Southeast Division by a comfortable 8 1/2-game margin at 46-26, while also maintaining a solid 5 1/2-game lead over the Cavs for the No. 3 seed in the East. Howard (21.1-14.4) has become the game's best young center while Turkoglu (19.9-5.9-4.9) and Lewis (18.3-5.4) have formed a lethal forward combo. Nelson (11.0-5.7 APG) and Evans (8.4) start in a backcourt which has plenty of depth with Bogans (9.2), Dooling (8.1) and Arroyo (6.8-3.3 APG). Everyone is familiar with the Spurs so I won't waste space and as usual, the Spurs are doing it with defense, holding opponents to 91.0 PPG (2nd-best in the league next to Boston) and shutting down teams from the three-point line as well (team's 33.7 percent is also 2nd-best in the NBA). However, the Magic "love to shoot the three," as Lewis has taken 485 (40.7 percent), Turkoglu 378 (40.7) and even backup guard Bogans has gotten in the act with 369 attempts (37.1). More importantly, I like the way the Magic have played at home since mid-Jan, posting a 16-5 SU mark, to go along with a 14-5-2 ATS one. Take the Magic in this one.
Rocky Atkinson
Atlanta vs. Chicago
Today's Pick: CHICAGO BULLS
Chicago still has a small chance at making the playoffs as they sit only 3 games behind these Atlanta Hawks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. A win tonight brings them that much closer to getting in. Chicago is 50-29 ATS since 1996 against Southeast Division opponents. Hawks are 3-10 ATS in the last 13 meetings between these two teams. We'll back the Bulls here against a weak Atlanta road team only 9-26 SU this season. We'll recommend a small play on Chicago tonight!
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Indiana Pacers +7
The Pacers have been playing great basketball, having won 4 in a row SU and ATS. We'll gladly take Indy here catching 7 big points on its home floor. New Orleans has lost 2 straight on the road and 4 of its last 5. The Pacers have won 4 of the last 5 meetings in this series the last 3 seasons. The Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games, and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog of 5.0-10.5. Indiana is also a very impressive 54-26-3 ATS in their last 83 games playing on 2 days rest. The Underdog is a perfect 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings. Take the points.
Armvin Sports
NHL
Phoenix
Brandon Lang
5 Dime - Orlando
5 Dime - Massachusetts
5 Dime - Florida
Free - Jazz
MR A'S
Dallas Mavericks - 11½
Washington Wizards + 1
GINA- SPORTS RUMBLE
Charlotte Bobcats (25-44) at Utah Jazz (46-25)
The Bobcats ended their five game losing streak by beating the lowly Miami Heat on Saturday, but will have a big chore against the Utah Jazz tonight in Salt Lake City, who are 30-4 at home, the NBA's best home record. Go with the Jazz to pound the Bobcats in their house. Charlotte has played horrendous away from home, an awful 6-27 record thus far this year. Utah has won 20 of its last 21 games on their home court and is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home.
Utah Jazz
Orlando Magic - 2
Utah Jazz - 12½
BeatYourBookie.
NCAA Basketball
100* Florida (+3.5) over Arizona State
Florida is 22-4 ATS in tournament games over the last 3 seasons
Florida is 25-12 ATS coming off an UNDER the total
Florida is 27-9 ATS in non-conference games
NBA Basketball
50* Play Orlando (-1) over San Antonio
San Antonio is 1-9 ATS as a road underdog of 3 points or less
San Antonio is 4-14 ATS when the line is +3 to -3
Orlando is 21-8 ATS revenging a loss vs. an opponent this season
Johnny Guild
Los Angeles Clippers (21-48) at Dallas Mavericks (44-26)
The Clippers have lost seven of their last eight road games, just 9-24 away from home this season and have dropped three straight and six of their last seven clashes at Dallas. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are 0-3 both straight-up and against the spread in its last three games and will be without their key player Forward Dirk Nowitzki. I believe the Mavericks can grab a victory versus the struggling Los Angeles Clippers, but Dallas is presently playing below par and the lost of Nowitzki will be a big benefit for the Clippers. Covering the double digit spread could be difficult assignment for the hurting Mavericks. Take the points. Dallas won the last meeting, 95-94 at Los Angeles on January 12.
Los Angeles Clippers + 11.5
DOC'S
5 Unit Play.Take Over 132 in Florida @ Arizona State
A trip to New York is on the line for these two programs in this NIT match-up at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, AZ. The Gators are averaging 78 points per game in their two postseason games and I expect both teams to reach the seventies in scoring on Tuesday. Florida does not play much defense but if they are making shots can light-up the scoreboard. The Sun Devils are a slight favorite and will likely win this game, but the best value lies with the over, as both teams will be going all out to fight for a trip to NYC.
STRIKE POINT SPORTS
3-Unit Play. Take Massachusetts/Syracuse Under 165
We're going against what most think here. You might assume this game should be in the 80s, but with both teams wanting a trip to NYC, I think we'll see more defense than you would most times. UMass has failed to hit 70 in three of its last four, and the lone game in that span when they hit 80, they held their opponent to just 60. I think we'll see a game in the high 70s at best. A halfcourt match-up, and the SU zone should hopefully slow the Minutemen and keep them from getting this one into a sprint. Play the under here.
Gamblers World
Game: Massachusetts vs. Syracuse
Prediction: Syracuse Orange
Current Line: 8.5 Over/Under: 163
Reason: UMass won her in November when it didn't really matter. We'll see if the Minutemen can do it Tuesday when it does matter, in the second round of the NIT. Syracuse Orange host the game at Carrier Dome and opened as significant home chalk. Oddsmakers currently have the Orange listed as 8½-point favorites versus the Minutemen, while the game's total is sitting at 163. Ricky Harris had 20 points to lead Massachusetts past Akron 68-63 in the second round of the NIT on Saturday. The game resulted in a push with UMass as 5-point favorites as the game played under the 146-point total set by oddsmakers. Syracuse advanced to the third round of the NIT tournament with an 88-72 victory over Maryland on Thursday. Syracuse covered the 5-point spread, and the combined score made it OVER the posted total of 154. Jonny Flynn led the way with 23 points from 8-for-11 shooting from the field, While Paul Harris netted 19 and Donte Greene added 16 for Syracuse. Team records: Massachusetts: 23-10 SU, 15-15 ATS Syracuse: 21-13 SU, 15-17 ATS Massachusetts most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 4-6 After a win are 6-4 Syracuse most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 6-2 After playing Maryland are 0-1 After a win are 5-5 A few trends to consider: Massachusetts is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Massachusetts's last 5 games Massachusetts is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road Massachusetts is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of Syracuse's last 5 games at home Syracuse is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games Syracuse is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home The total has gone OVER in 5 of Syracuse's last 7 games
Anton Wins
3 unit NBA play Under 191 DAL/LAC