Today's Free Pick is Delaware +12.5
Maddux Sports
Drew Gordon
Purdue at WISCONSIN -1
I know plenty of bettors have jumped off this Wisconsin bandwagon, but truth be told: now is the time to bet them, as we're getting a ton of value with them tonight at the Kohl Center.
Several reasons to like the Badgers here, but let's start with the most obvious, the revenge angle. Just a couple weeks ago the Boilermakers roughed up the Badgers 65-52, and now its payback time! The final score of that contest was deceiving, because the free throw disparity was bordering on ridiculous (Wisky 6 attempts ; Purdue 19 attempts - I've heard of home court advantage but are you serious?!) Make no mistake, the zebras will be a little more even tonight at the Kohl Center, and that could very well be the difference.
Secondly, its no secret the Badgers have lost 4 straight, and are absoutely desperate for a win. Remember guys, this is the same team that almost beat Texas, beat a good Penn State team, and routed a decent Northwestern team all in this building. Look for them to regroup and come out firing tonight at home!
Finally, from a trend standpoint, the home team is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 meetings! Not only that, but did you know the Boilermakers are only 2-4 ATS on the road this season? Long story short, this is Wisconsin best chance at redemption, as a win here would avenge their earlier loss and get them back on track. Badgers circle the wagons at home Tuesday night!
Take Wisconsin over Purdue in this college hoops match up.
1* WISCONSIN
Johnny Guild
Charlotte Bobcats at L.A. Lakers Lakers
The hot Los Angeles Lakers go for their fifth straight win tonight when they host the Charlotte Bobcats at Staples Center. Los Angeles has won 14 of their last 17games overall, but ironically the highest scoring team in the league has had problems in the past clashes against the struggling Charlotte Bobcats, the worst offensive team in the league. The Bobcats have won four of their last five meetings versus the Lakers, including the last two at Staples Center, going 4-1 ATS.In all probability, the Bobcats will continue to be a thorn for the Lakers. Charlotte is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 games on the road and is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games versus the Lakers. Take the points!
Charlotte Bobcats +11
Gina
Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies
The struggling Memphis Grizzlies have dropped their last nine games and its last five versus the Denver Nuggets. Go with the Nuggets to overpower and outscore the gloomy Grizzlies. Denver is averaging 105 points per game, while Memphis is averaging 93. The Grizzlies are 0-5 both straight-up and against the spread in their last five games at home and are 2-6 ATS in the last eight contests versus Denver at FedEx Forum.
Denver Nuggets -5½
Mr A
Denver Nuggets -5½
San Antonio Spurs +2
LARRY NESS
Texas @ Baylor
PICK: Baylor
Scott Drew has worked miracles at Baylor, bringing this non-basketball school out of the 'nightmare' of the Dave Bliss era. The Bears won 21 games last season, earning the school's first NCAA bid since 1988. The Bears are 15-4 and unranked at the moment but Baylor spent seven consecutive weeks ranked in the AP top-25 earlier this season, which is quite an accomplishment for a school that had previously spent five weeks in the rankings over the previous 60 years. Baylor averages 82.7 PPG (7th-best) and shoots 48.4 percent as a team, which is predominantly guard-oriented. The 6-8 Rogers (12.3-7.9) starts with four guards and the 6-7 Acy (6.7-4.7) is the only other frontcourt player of note. Baylor's strength is its perimeter game, featuring Jerrells (17.6-4.6-5.8), Dunn (16.9-4.5), Dugat (12.4-3.6) and Carter (10.6-3.30-3.0). The Bears can't be "full of confidence" entering this game against No. 11 Texas, as they've lost two of their last four games and their most recent loss, was a 95-76 blowout at the hands of Oklahoma. The Bears fell behind by 27 at the half and shot just 34.6 percent for the game in that 19-point loss. The No. 11 Longhorns come in 14-4 and have beaten the Bears 22 straight times over 11 years. DJ Augsutin (19.2-5.8 APG) left early for the NBA but Abrams (16.9) returned to the Texas backcourt, with Mason (6.9-4.0-5.8 APG) joining him as a starter. The 6-7 James (15.6-8.2) is a terrific player plus the 6-7 Johnson, who was never really 100 percent LY as a freshman, has averaged 11.3 PPG and 6.9 RPG. The 6-10 Atchley (5.9-3.8) has seen his production slip from LY (9.5-5.3) but the 6-10 Pittman (8.4-4.5) has made up for that, as he averaged just 2.8-2.4 LY. Texas could be vulnerable in this one, as over its last eight games, is a modest 5-3 SU and 3-5 ATS. Abrams averaged 20.9 PPG on 44.7 percent shooting in his first 10 games but is scoring only 11.9 PPG while shooting a dismal 29.2 percent over his last eight. The Longhorns can also struggle at the FT line, with Johnson connecting on 67.5 percent, James just 64.1 percent and Mason making only 45.7 percent (ouch!). Baylor's "11-year itch" is over, as the Bears 'scratch that itch' and beat the Longhorns (finally!) tonight in Waco.
Jrtips
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS vs. LA LAKERS
The Los Angeles Lakers(35-8) defeated the San Antonio Spurs 99-85 Sunday and tonight they play the Charlotte Bobcats who they have had a suprisinly tough time against. The Lakers have struggled recently against the Bobcats (18-26), who haven't won more than 33 games in any of their previous four seasons. Los Angeles has split eight all-time meetings with Charlotte and has dropped four of the last five, including the past two at Staples Center.The Bobcats also come in with some confidence after winning five of their last seven although they are coming off a 98-93 road loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Charlotte held their previous six opponents to an average of 85.3 points, but they gave up 54 points in the first half on Sunday. The lakers are getting healthy and playing great basketball right now but coach Larry Brown and the Charoltte always play well against them. The Charlotte Bobcats will be up for this game and play tough basketball against a Lakers team that could have a bit of a let down after winning a huge National TV revenge game Sunday against there Western Conference foes. TAKE CHARLOTTE+11
ANDRE GOMES
CHARLOTTE at LA LAKERS
I'm well aware the fact that by taking 11 points against a red hot team like the Bobcats lately may be a dangerous bet, however I think that the number is listed for some reason as the bookmakers don't want to turn the Lakers a big target tonight and until now the public is hitting the dog in a 60/40 proposition. Saying that, I think the Lakers will win this baby by at least 15 points and I'll explain why.
This isn't a typical game where the big favorite will overlook the lowly team, no! And the big reason for that is the fact that the Bobcats are 4-4 SU all time against the Lakers and 4-1 L5 games! Last season the Lakers suffered at home an embarrassment loss against them 95-108, a loss so unacceptable that Lakers Coach Phil Jackson started his postgame news conference by saying, "I can't explain it, so don't ask me any questions."
So this is a revenge game for the Lakers and we have a good reason to expect their best game tonight, this game will be their last home game before the longest road trip of the season, the good news is that the trip only starts next Friday so we will have a focused team on tonight's game.
The Lakers easily won the last 4 games (two of their opponents were power clubs: Cavs and the Spurs) and in all the 4 wins they won by double digits points. One of the reasons for such blowouts is the fact that they are healthy again, against the Spurs PG Jordan Farmar who was the last inactivated players returned to action and scored 14 points for a 5-7 FG performance. So the Lakers will have all the weapons for tonight's game.
The X factor of this game in my opinion will be the bench. I expect the Lakers to open a gap during the game and the Bobcats won't be able to stormed back, the reason is simple: they don't have a quality bench! In the last 3 games their bench averaged only 17.2 ppg and this isn't a surprise, after alll playing with Diop, Singletary, Morrison or Shannon Brown I would be surprised if they scored a bunch of points. Well, with all the players healthy again we cannot say the same thing about the Lakers, their bench is the best bench of the league and they won't let the Bobcats bite the Lakers late on the game.
The Bobcats are playing a great basketball but essentially at home, on the road the story is different as they had huge letdowns like the loss suffered in Milwaukee 75-103 or in Cleveland 81-111. In the last game against the Pacers, they trailed by 13 points in the third quarter but they rallied back later against a team who can't hold any lead, this will not happen against the Lakers. I think this will be a blowout game and that's why I'm taking the Lakers in here.
Regular Play on Lakers (-11)
Jeff Scott Sports
5 UNIT PLAY (Power Angle Play Of The Month)
Memphis/ Denver Under 202: The Under is 5-1 in Nuggets last 6 games as a favorite, while the Under is 11-2 in Grizzlies last 13 games as a home underdog of 5.0-10.5 and 8-2 in their last 10 games playing on 2 days rest. Granted the 8 of the last 10 in this series has been a score fest, but all 8 that scored over 200 where in a different year than this, while the only matchup between these teams this year put up just 190 points. In their last 12 game Memphis has scored over 100 points just once, on their way to averaging just 87.3 ppg over that stretch. Not one of those 12 games put more than 200 points on the board, while their 8 home games over that stretch have averaged just 183.8 ppg. Overall this year Grizzlie games have averaged just 192.1 ppg, while their home games have averaged just 190.5 ppg. Denver?s offense is up a bit since the loss of Carmelo, but their defense has picked up in his absence. The Under is 5-2 in the 7 games without him. Yes Denver can score, but that?s mostly at home and now that are on the road playing a team that has no shot of matching them point for point. Look for Memphis to slow the game down and keep the final score in the 180?s.
POWER ANGLE For This Play--- The Under is 0-17 when Memphis is seeking same season revenge for a loss in which they committed at least 30 fouls in the game. Average points scored is 179 ppg overall, including 175.4 ppg if at home.
3 UNIT PLAY
Indiana/ Orlando Under 215: The Under is 4-0 in Pacers last 4 overall, while the Under is 10-1 in Magic last 11 games playing on 2 days rest and 8-1 in their last 9 games as a home favorite. This year when you think of Indiana you think of high scoring affairs, but that has not been true of late. Indiana games overall this year have averaged 110.3 ppg, but in their last 5 that number dips to 199.6 ppg. The Pacers offense seems to have been found out of late as they have averaged just 96.5 ppg in their last 4 games. 3 of those games were vs. top 10 scoring defenses and tonight they take on an Orlando defense that is 7th in scoring (93.9 ppg), 3rd in FG% (42.8%) and 1st in 3pt FG % (33.4%). Indiana will have problems getting their points tonight. On the flipside the Magic are 8th in scoring at 101.7 ppg, but they actually score less at home, putting up 99.6 ppg on their home floor. Orlando home games have averaged just 189.5 ppg and that is 26 points less than tonight?s total, plus their last 5 overall have averaged 204.4 ppg, while Indiana?s last 5 have put up just 199.6 ppg. Not a whole lot here to make me think this game will even approach 210, let alone 215. Take the under here.
2 UNIT PLAY
UTAH -1.5 over San Antonio: The Spurs are 11-23 ATS in their last 34 games as a road underdog and 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Utah, while the Jazz are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 1 days rest and 20-8 ATS in their last 28 vs. NBA Southwest, plus host is 17-4 ATS the last 21 meetings. The Spurs are looking to get back on track after a bad loss to the Lakers on Sunday, but I?m not sure a trip to Salt Lake is the best way to expect to get back on track. Yes the Spurs have gone 5-4 in their last 9 road game, but only 2 of the wins were vs. winning teams and their offense has really struggled in those 9 games, putting up just 87.1 ppg in the process, while not scoring more than 92 points in any game. Now they head to Utah where the Jazz have a 17-5 mark and have put up 105 ppg, while allowing just 96.3 ppg. The Jazz have struggled a bit lately, but most of that was on the road and now they are home where they have won 8 of 9 with 4 of those wins vs. winning teams. The Spurs are not the same team as they were last year and they don?t have enough firepower or defense to stay with the Jazz in this one.
1 UNIT PLAY
Charlotte +11 over LA LAKERS