Wunderdog
Washington at Carolina
Pick: Game Total UNDER 6 +105
Washington is making a strong playoff push behind the play of Alex Ovechkin. They trail the Bruins by two points for the final playoff spot in the East. On Friday Ovechkin became the first player in over a decade to reach 60 goals in a season (Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr last did it in 1995-6). Washington's weakness on the road this season has been defense but they are playing good defense right now having held their last five opponents to an average of 2.4 goals per game. Carolina has their own defensive problems allowing 3.0 per game at home. Washington is 19-11 this season vs. winning teams. In their last 15 games vs. poor defensive opponents (those allowing 2.9+ goals per game), the Caps are 11-4 UNDER. That includes an 8-2 UNDER mark vs. teams allowing 3+ per game. They are also 12-4 UNDER this season after winning their last game by 2+ goals. We like the UNDER here.
Frank Rosenthal
NBA Hoops
655 Clippers+12 Sb
658 Bulls-3.5 Sb
660 Jazz-12.5 Sb
662 Blazers+2.5 Sb
College Hoops
Umass+8 Sb
Arizona St-3 Sb
ATS Basketball Lock Club
3 units Arizona State
3 units Bulls
ATS Hockey
4 units Sharks
3 unts Vver Buff-Ott
3 units Calgary
ER Sports
Playmaker Orlando Under
Drew Gordon
1. 300,000* Syracuse
2. 50,000* Hawks
1. Syracuse- While the number on this contest begs you to take the Minutemen, that would be a mistake for many reasons. Granted, I know full well UMASS beat the Orange at the Carrier Dome once already this season, back on November 28th 107-100 as a 7'-point dog. However, this is a different Syracuse team, that's absolutely hell-bent on revenge, and playing some of their best ball of the season right now.
When I say this is a "different" Syracuse team, what I mean is they've found the right chemistry they just didn't have back in late November. It shouldn't come as too much of a shock, that it took players like freshman PG Johnny Flynn some time to adjust to the college game, but now that he has, the Orange are rolling. His 23-point, 7 assist effort against Maryland was the main reason the Orange blew the Terrapins away 88-72, and he'll be just as critcal tonight.
Now, let's talk revenge, as clearly its one of the most important factors in handicapping college hoops. Syracuse was still trying to find its identity back in November, and getting handed their first home loss of the season by UMASS is something they haven't forgotten. Just ask F Donte Green, who was quoted as saying: "The way they beat us, man, that was heartbreaking for us. So we gotta take care of it." And take care of it they will, with an all-out max-effort tonight at home.
Besides the fact the Carrier Dome is a tough place to win (just ask Georgetown, who lost there 77-70 back on February 16th), the Orange are playing like a team on a mission right now. They demolished a solid Maryland team in their Second Round match up, and are averaging 87.5 ppg on 50% shooting in their two NIT wins. Herein lies the problem for the Minutemen, as their offense has somewhat sputtered down the stretch, averaging 76 ppg over their last 5 (5 ppg below their season average), against some pretty questionable defenses. Syracuse will be jacked up tonight, and you know their defensive effort will be a hell of a lot better than in their first meeting.
Bottom line, don't be fooled by the what looks like a generous number on this contest, because the Orange are not to be underestimated in this spot. They have the home court edge, a serious revenge angle, and are playing much better ball than UMASS is playing right now. Minutemen guards Forbes and Harris are great players, but Flynn, Green, Harris, and Onuaku make up the better team in this match up.
Take Syracuse comfortably over Massachusetts as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Hawks- As the NBA season winds down, its important to check the standings for teams that must continue to win in order to stay in contention. Atlanta is a perfect example of one of those teams, as they're desperately clinging to the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, ahead of New Jersey by just 1 game. In other words, the Hawks cannot afford to screw around tonight in Chicago.
The Bulls, meanwhile, have been struggling, losing 4 of their last 5 SUATS, with 3 of those losses coming at the United Center. Above all else, their defense has been piss-poor, allowing almost 105 ppg on 45% shooting over their last 5 games. It won't get any easier tonight against a Hawks team that's been red-hot on the offensive end, scoring an impressive (especially for Atlanta) 109 ppg on 51% shooting over the same 5-game span... See what a little playoff motivation can do for a team!
Match ups are also an issue for Chicago, as the trade that sent away F/C Ben Wallace has clearly weakened their frontline defense. Problem is their about to face one of the more athletic frontcourts in the East, with Smith, Williams, and the rookie Horford all capable of winning their match ups. While Deng will score plenty of points, he'll also allow plenty, so don't go thinking he wins his match up!
We haven't even gotten to the backcourts, where the Hawks really enjoy an edge. The Bulls guards, Hughes and Hinrich, are maddeningly inconsistent, while Joe Johnson is the pillar of consistency. Also, Mike Bibby is finally starting to gel with his new teammates (20 points, 8 assists, 6 boards in his last one) and it shows with their 109 ppg average over their last 5 games!
Bottom line, we'll take the points, but I could easily see the Hawks winning this game outright. They've got one of the best motivators an NBA team can have, and that's the postseason... Hawks can taste it, but they cannot allow themselves to slip up against beatable teams like the Bulls.
Take the Hawks plus the points over the Bulls in this NBA match up
2-Minute Warning
Syracuse
Cal Sports
3* Chicago
Black Magic Sports
1 Unit on Dallas Mavericks -11.5
The Mavs are without Dirk Nowitzki tonight, but it won’t matter when the most injury plagued team comes into town in the L.A. Clippers. The Clippers are playing without Elton Brand, Shaun Livingston, Brevin Knight, Tim Thomas, Chris Kaman, Aaron Williams and Paul Davis. That doesn’t even include the fact that the Clippers traded away Sam Cassell to Boston. The Clippers have lost 13 of their last 15 games, going 4-11 ATS in those 15 contests as well. Dallas finally gets a bit of a break after playing the Lakers, Celtics and Spurs in 3 consecutive games for their toughest stretch of the season. The Mavs will make easy work out of the struggling Clippers tonight. The Clippers are 5-16 ATS versus good ball handling teams - committing less than 14 turnovers/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons. Cash in with Dallas as the favorite.
Black Widow Sports
1* on Syracuse -7.5
Syracuse is coming off a 16-point win over Maryland in the NIT, a Terrapins team that would handle Umass. Massachusetts will not be able to hang with Syracuse tonight as they are giving up 79 points per game on the road. Syracuse will feast on their poor defense by blowing up for more than 80 points in this one. Umass is 0-6 ATS in road games after a win by 6 points or less over the last 2 seasons. Syracuse is scoring 84 points per game, shooting 52% from the field and shooting 38% from 3-point range in all home games this season. They have a huge advantage playing in front of a packed house with nothing but Orange in the stands. Take Syracuse and lay the points.
3G's
4* Orlando
John Ryan
7* Arizona State
7* Charlotte Bobcats
5* Ny Rangers Over
AAA Sports (Greg Shaker)
Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls - Under 205.5 (Heavy Hitter) Unit Value: 3
Note: These two teams have been playing a lot of overs lately but tonight should be different as this is a huge game for the Bulls as they must win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. That is going to give us an intense game and one that will feature lot's of measured halfcourt play. The fact is, both play better than average D and neither are apt to go on any long run streaks. They have not gone Over this posted total in the last 8 games they have played together except for an OT Affair that produced just just 186 regulation time points. This is a big line to cover even under normal circumstances but very large considering the importance of the outcome for the Bulls. Play down to 202.
San Antonio Spurs at Orlando Magic - Magic -2 Unit Value: 2
Florida Gators at Arizona State Sun Devils - Arizona State -4 Unit Value: 2
Massachusetts Minutemen at Syracuse Orangemen - UMass +7.5 Unit Value: 2
Eddie Roman
5000 Unit NIT Underdog of the Year #3
Umass Minutemen +7.5 at Syracuse
These teams played way back at the start of the season and UMass came away with a 107-100 victory at the Carrier Dome. Now, was that a long time ago, yes it was.
Are they probably two different teams now, yeah, they probably are but I feel Umass is better then they were at that time and Syracuse is worse so I feel Umass is a complete steal this evening.
That Syracuse team that scored 100 points that night had Eric Devendorf in the lineup and he dropped 23 on the Minutemen. They won't have him this evening and if UMass could beat this team with him in the lineup, they can surely beat this team without him.
Syracuse is not a very deep team as well. They often times wear down at the end of games because they basically only use a 7 man rotation. The Minuetmen are deep and skilled so I expect them to have another big second half just like they did against Akron in the game that got them here.
All in all, I just feel Umass is better and the fact that they are getting this many points tonight is a pure calamity. Umass will probably win outright and if they don't, they aren't losing by 8, which is what it would take for us to lose this wager.
Umass plus the points is my play.
Wolkosky Milan
10* SAN ANTONIO +2
10* CHICAGO -3½
10* SAS/ORL OVER 188
10* NOH/IND UNDER 212
Root
Chairman - Utah Jazz
Millionaire - Arizona St.