DAVE COKIN
FLORIDA STATE / BOSTON COLLEGE
Take FLORIDA STATE
I believe both Florida State and Boston College can punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, barring a complete meltdown over the next couple weeks. The ACC will get a minimum of six bids this season, and I'm leaning toward the league receiving seven, so the 'Noles and Eagles are in great shape right now. But you can be sure both coaches will sell their teams that this is not the case and will preach the importance of winning this game. It figures to be a terrific game. BC has beaten both North Carolina and Duke at home, but they also lost to Harvard on this court. Florida State has had the occasional off game, but the Seminoles have also had some very solid road wins, including recent victories at Virginia Tech and Clemson. I make this game a tossup, so I'm leaning toward taking the points with FSU for the Tuesday free opinion.
JIM FEIST
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS / PHOENIX SUNS
Take PHOENIX SUNS
A long road trip out West for Charlotte. They lost to a Houston team without Tracy McGrady, beating the Bobcats 99-78 on Sunday. Raymond Felton, Boris Diaw and Emeka Okafor scored 13 points apiece for the Bobcats, who shot 36 percent from the field and had more turnovers (21) than assists (15) for the second consecutive game. They have a weak offense and take on an uptempo Phoenix team that is happier under new coach Alvin Gentry, at 3-1 SU/ATS under him. They come off an embarrassing home loss on national TV at home to the Celtics Sunday. This is a perfect matchup for the new-look Suns, playing a team that has trouble on offense. Play the Suns.
Carlo Campanella
Memphis Grizzlies at Cleveland Cavs
At 25-1 SU, the Cleveland Cavs own the best home record in the NBA this year, but they're also a very profitable 20-6 ATS in those 26 games as host. Cleveland remains at home on Tuesday to host Memphis after beating Detroit, 99-78, on Sunday. We find this Cavs squad at a perfect 8-0 ATS at home after allowing 85 points or less in their previous game! With Cleveland hosting a Memphis team that's only 3-21 SU on the road & has struggled all season away from home, we're laying the points expecting Cleveland to win their 9th STRAIGHT game in this exact role.
Play on: Cleveland
Bob Harvey
Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder Over 222.5
This will be another Lakers win. The mystery lies in the final score which should be a doozy given the offensive and defensive numbers presented to us tonight.
The Lakers are 34-21-1 to the over this season. On the road they’ve got a 15-10-1 mark to the high side. In the 223-228 totals range, Kobe and company are 2-0 in the past ten games. There’s no wonder given that the Lake Show is averaging nearly 109 points per game. Their opponent tonight, the Oklahoma City Thunder, is allowing over 104 points per game.
The Lakers are 10-1-1 to the OVER in their last 12 road games and have topped the total to the tune of 7-2-1 in their last ten games in the role of the favorite.
When the Lakers take a night off defensively it usually makes the under a very solid value. LA can’t keep up the intensity every night, especially playing against a team like the Thunder. They showed signs of a letdown against Minnesota on Sunday and the same thing could happen tonight
Coming off their mediocre performance against Minnesota, I expect a better effort tonight from Phil Jackson’s club. I also think the Kobe and Kevin Durant showdown could produce more than a few points as well.
LT Profits
Oklahoma City Thunder +8.5
We have been praising the Oklahoma City Thunder as money-making machines for most of this season, especially at home, and we feel that they will pass the acid test on Tuesday by staying inside the number vs. the team with the best record in basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now the Thunder will have the obvious emotional edge here, as they would love to knock off the Lakers in front of their home fans while the Lakers will in all likelihood take Oklahoma City lightly. However, is that enough for a team with a 13-43 record to give the Lakers a hard time?
Well, the Thunder may not be having much success on the court, but their supporters have not minded one bit as Oklahoma City has the third best record in the NBA against the spread at 34-21-1, 61.8 percent.
Furthermore, that does not tell the whole story as they have been a virtual ATM machine at home lately, going an unbelievable 14-2 ATS (9-7 straight up) in their last 16 home games! Moreover, one of those two ATS losses was a straight up win over the Sacramento Kings in a rare favorite role. They are winning their home contests during this 16-game stretch by an average of +3.2 points.
Now the Lakers are obviously a dangerous club, but that is no secret as they are usually overvalued by the oddsmakers. As a result, Showtime is a modest 29-27 ATS this season despite owning a scintillating 46-10 SU record. The Lakers are also winning their road games by an average of +6.9 points per game, which would not be good enough to cover this spot.
Finally, remember that the Thunder only lost to the Lakers by seven points in Los Angeles two weeks ago, and we look for the red-hot Kevin Durant to keep Oklahoma City in this game right until the finish once again.
Pick: Thunder +8.5
Brian Hansen
Vancouver Canucks at Montreal Canadiens
Prediction: Vancouver Canucks
To say Vancouver is on a roll right now would be a massive understatement, and although the Canucks beat the Habs in their last matchup, I look for Vancouver to continue their big run! In fact it's interesting to note that Vancouver is a great 10-5 its last 15 after a non-conference game while Montreal is a poor 10-12 when playing against a team with a winning record; play on VANCOUVER!
Scott Spreitzer
Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets
Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers
Both teams are riding win streaks as this game tips off. But I believe the Rockets' will come to an end tonight. Houston's four-game win streak includes victories over mediocre opponents Sacramento, New Jersey, and Charlotte. The recent win over Dallas was in doubt for much of the game despite Dirk Nowitzki's horrible 4-for-18 night. Tonight, I don't believe they'll get any of that kind of help from Portland's scorers. The Blazers have won four of their last five, including three in a row and they have been red-hot on the offensive end. The Blazers are averaging over 104 ppg during their last five outings on 48.4% shooting. But they're also playing tenacious defense at the same time, allowing just over 94 ppg while holding the opposition to a stingy 41.5%. Brandon Roy has been exceptional as of late scoring 27 ppg on 61% shooting in his last four games. Houston has no one to hang with Roy on their defensive end. And, the Rockets aren't getting much help from their recent additions, other than guard Aaron Brooks. His assist numbers have been well above his seasonal average. Tonight, I believe he'll fall back to earth a bit having to matchup with Steve Blake. The Rockets haven't missed McGrady, but they'll face a team with too many "outs" tonight. Houston has been relying too much on their "regulars" with little help off the bench and getting away with it. I believe it catches up with them tonight. I'm taking the points with the Blazers on Tuesday.
Nick Parsons
Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild
Prediction: Los Angeles Kings
This one is set up perfectly to take a shot on the underdog Kings. Those of you that have been with us in the Hockey know that we cashed in the Wild as a Big Dog on Sunday! Minnesota, as forecasted here, got a huge upset win at Chicago. That win over the Blackhawks will absolutely leave the Wild a little flat here. That's very bad news for Minnesota because they're facing a solid Kings club on Tuesday night. Los Angeles is coming off of a home loss to Phoenix on Saturday so they will absolutely be fired up about getting back on track on the road. Keep in mind, the Kings have been playing some of their best hockey of the season recently. That's why there is tremendous line value available here with Los Angeles! When you consider the situational edges here, the Kings are absolutely worth a look on Tuesday night.
JAMES PATRICK SPORTS
Grizzlies vs. Cavaliers
Only a fool would invest on beating the number against this Cavalier team on this court. The Cavaliers will be in the NBA Finals this Spring and their play at home has been unbelievable with a 23-6 ATS record at Quicken Loans Arena. Memphis is 5-13 ATS on the road and 7-20-1 in Tuesday action and winless in their past four tries in Cleveland. Our selection in Tuesday NBA action is Cleveland Cavaliers as the Cavs Rock !
Big Al McMordie
Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs
Play: Under 190½
At 8:35 pm, our complimentary selection is on the 'under' in the Spurs/Mavericks game. San Antonio has been playing great defensive ball of late. Two games back, the Spurs held the Pistons to just 79 points, and that ranks as the Spurs' 3rd best effort this year. And then, in its last game, San Antonio really pulled out the defensive stops, and contained the Wizards to 67 points -- easily its best defensive game of the year. Now, on Tuesday night, the Spurs will try for their third straight impressive defensive effort against their rival, the Dallas Mavericks. This will be San Antone's first home game since January, but one player who won't be in Silver-and-Black tonight is Manu Ginobili, sidelined with a stress fracture. His absence earlier this season caused the Spurs' offense to often bog down, notwithstanding the contributions of rookie George Hill and free agent-signee Roger Mason, Jr. And I expect a little more of that tonight. Thus, between the absence of its Argentine superstar, and its surging defensive play, we'll look for a relatively low-scoring game in the Alamo City tonight. Take the 'under.'
JrTips
PISTONS vs. HEAT
The Miami Heat suffered their seventh loss in 11 games despite Wade's career-high point total with 50 points on Sunday against Orlando. Wade shot 17-for-30 (56.7 percent) from the field while the rest of the Heat combined to go 20-for-59 (33.9 percent). Rookie forward Michael Beasley, scored 14 points and was 6-for-15. They will face the reeling Pistons (27-27) who could be the answer for the Heat to get back in the win column tonight. Detroit has lost 15 of 20 since Jan. 10, including six straight. Detroit trailed by as much as 36 in a 99-78 loss at Cleveland on Sunday night. Sunday's loss in Cleveland was only the beginning of a brutal five-game road trip that finishes with games against New Orleans, Orlando and Boston. The Pistons have won 17 of their last 20 regular-season meetings with the Heat, including six straight. In the teams' first meeting this season, Detroit got 18 points apiece from Rasheed Wallace and Rodney Stuckey in a 93-90 home win Feb. 4. Wade had 29 points, seven rebounds and 13 assists in that game but went just 10-for-31 from the field as Miami shot 38.6 percent as a team. The Pistons are just playing bad basketball, scoring under 80 points in their last two games. The Heat loss at the buzzer in Detroit earlier this year with Wade having an off shooting night. Wade should get help tonight with newly required Jamaine Oneal, who will play much better after apologizing to his teammates after his poor performance on Sunday, and give the Heat the edge they need to win this game going away on their home court.
TAKE MIAMI-4 1/2
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Boston College -2.5
After a disappointing double digit loss at Miami, I expect the Eagles to bounce back strong at home tonight. History says to play on home teams where the line is +3 to -3 off a road loss by 10 points or more, on Tuesday nights as they are 40-16 ATS the last 5 seasons. The key for Boston College tonight is to force turnover and I don't think they have any problem in that department against a FSU team 16 a game. BC is 10-1 ATS in home games when they force 14 to 18 turnovers in a game over the last 3 seasons, routing its opponents by an average score of 79.4 to 67.1 in these spots. Take the Eagles.
Robert Littal
Portland Trail Blazer +165 over the Houston Rockets.
Both teams are dealing with injuries, but the Trail Blazers are the younger team whereas The Rockets have a hard time putting together multiple consistent games with all their injuries. Brandon Roy is the perfect guard to take advantage of the smaller Rockets guards, so I see a straight up Blazers upset over the Rockets on the road:
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Under 222.5
That high number is thrown out there because of Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, but while The Lakers are very capable of of hitting 110 plus it has been rare that they have combined with any team to go over 222 especially a team as weak as the Thunder. So while Durant may get 50 the rest of his team will be hard press to match that amount.Take Under
Tom Freese
Play: Phoenix Suns -7
Phoenix is 5-2 ATS after scoring 100 or more points in their last game and they are 11-4 ATS on Tuesday. The Suns are 4-1-1 ATS their last 6 games vs. losing teams and they are 5-1-1 ATS their last 7 games vs. teams with a win percentage of under 40%. Charlotte is 0-5 ATS off a double digit loss and they are 2-6 ATS their last 8 games vs. winning teams. The Bobcats are 2-5 ATS their last 7 games as underdogs and they are 2-5-1 ATS their last 8 games vs. the Suns. PLAY ON PHOENIX -
Vegas Experts
Penn State at Ohio State
Off three straight losses, the Buckeyes need to win tonight or their NCAA Tournament hopes are going out the window. At 13-3 SU in Columbus this season, we feel pretty comfortable laying this relatively short number as we find Penn State has lost by at least seven points in each of their last three visits here. Looking back further, we find the Nittany Lions at 1-7 ATS coming off a SU dog win. Buckeyes are 83-59 ATS off an ATS loss.
Play on: Ohio State