Mighty Quinn
Houston Rockets +1.5
Joe Wiz
Fresno St. +5
Cappers Access
Ind univ
Depaul
Alabama
FIEST comp
Bulls
A new coach has been refreshing for the Bulls, as Jim Boylan, a solid, knowledgeable basketball guy, has done well in going 4-2 SU/3-3 ATS. One of those wins was at NY, a 17-point rout. Now they get the dysfunctional Knicks at home, a team that is an embarrassing 1-13 SU, 6-8 ATS on the road. What Boylan seems to have done is make a commitment to the regulars, even more so than Scott Skiles did. Ben Wallace is averaging 39.2 minutes per game under Boylan, about seven minutes more than under Skiles and 10 more minutes than in the last six under Skiles. NY doesn't play any defense, allowing over 100 points in 5 of the last 7 games (they've lost 7 in a row). Play the Bulls!
Vegas Experts Tip Of The Day
Cavs have cranked up the "D" of late, holding their last six opponents to 94 points or less. They are 6-1-1 Under their last eight contests and should be able to clamp down on a Seattle club short on offensive weapons. Sonics have gone under in five-of-six and lost Sunday in Washington 108-86 so will be looking for a better defensive effort of their own in this one. They are 12-3 UNDER after allowing 105 points or more this season while CLEVELAND is 55-36 UNDER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 3 seasons.
Play on: Under
CTO 10*
*UTAH over Indiana (NBA)...This is a major payback game for Utah, which was thumped by 20 points in mid-November at Indianapolis. Jazz were playing the second of back-to-back nights in first meeting, but they’ll have two days off to prep for this one. Utah has won 10 of last 12 home games SU (through Dec. 30), while defense-shy Pacers have absorbed double-digit losses at Detroit, Atlanta and Minnesota in their last 3 road games through same date.
*UTAH 111 - Indiana 93 RATING - 10
*MICHIGAN STATE over Purdue...Big Ten sources report MSU is chomping the bit for rematch following nightmarish 62-38 bashing at West Lafayette LY. No doubt deep, athletic, fastbreaking Spartans (76 ppg, 50% FGs) will keep pedal to metal vs. young Purdue (4 frosh in rotation) playing first road game in a month. MSU arguably owns Big Ten’s premier inside-outside tandem in 6-8 soph F Morgan (17 ppg, 7 rpg) & heady PG Neitzel (15 ppg, 5 apg, 46% treys), while HC Izzo calls gifted 6-0 frosh G Lucas (8 ppg, 4 apg) the quickest player he has ever coached. Boilers get fried in boisterous Breslin Center.
*MICHIGAN STATE 82 - Purdue 61 RATING - 10
Dunkel Index - CBB
Fairfield at Siena
Siena bounced back nicely from a 44-point loss at Memphis with a 79-56 victory over St. Peter's on Sunday that pushed the Saints' record in the MAAC to 3-0. They'll look to keep that mark perfect tonight against a Fairfield team that lost to Siena at home by 13 (74-61) back on December 7. The Saints are the pick (-9) in this one according to Dunkel, which has Siena favored by 16.
Dunkel Pick: Siena -9
Dunkel Index - NBA
LA Lakers at Memphis
Memphis has won two of its last three, but runs into a hot Laker team tonight that that has won 12 of its last 15, including five of seven on the road. The Lakers are the pick (-5) according to Dunkel, which has L.A. favored by 11 1/2.
Dunkel Pick: LA Lakers -5
Steven Nover Comp
GAME: Georgetown @ DePaul Jan 8, 2008 9:00PM
SPORT: College Basketball Picks
PICK: under
REASON FOR PICK: DePaul is playing its best ball of the season. But the Blue Demons are going to have problems scoring against Georgetown. The Hoyas are extremely tough again on defense ranking fifth, yielding 54.5 points per game. The Hoyas also rank No. 1 in defensive field goal percentage, holding teams to 34.8 percent shooting from the floor.
The Hoyas have played nine board teams and held all but one of them - Memphis - under their scoring average. They held William & Mary 12 points under its average, Michigan 13 points under its average, Ball State seven points under its average, Old Dominion 16 points under its average, Fairfield 14 points under its average, Alabama 18 points under its average, Fordham 13 points under its average and Rutgers 17 points under its average. All together, the Hoyas held these eight board schools to 13.7 points under their respective team averages.
Georgetown has been running more than usual lately. The Hoyas, though, figure to play half-court in this road setting working patiently for good shots. That has been their style away from home. They've gone 'under' in four of their five away contests, barely going 'over' in their road loss to Memphis.
This is the Hoya's highest 'over/under' of the season. It's based on DePaul surrendering 77.3 points per game. But expect the Blue Demons to be going all out here with increased defensive intensity.
These teams met last season and the total was set around 20 points lower. The teams still went 'under' combining for 118 points in a 66-52 Hoyas' victory.
EZ Winners
1 STAR: (706) WASHINGTON (-2) over Houston
1 STAR: (709) LA LAKERS (-5) over Memphis
College Hoops
3* So ILL/Bradley under 129
3* No Iowa +9
AAA Sports
Tuesday NHL System Picks
Hurricanes +125 61%
Rangers over 5.5 -110 62%
Flyers ev 69% (Flyers should be like a -145 favorite according to these
numbers)
3-teamer : Blues -145, Flames -170, Canucks -220 = +290
Arthur Ralph
900 Gold Key Wichita State
Free Pick: Bradley
Ben Burns
Big East GOW: Depaul
Conf GOW: Memphis Grizz
Annihilator: Under Lakers/Grizz
East Conf GOW: Atlanta Thrashers
JWHIP
double-dime bet WAS / HOU Over 188.5
Analysis
Rockets/Wizards Over 188.5 (2 Unit)
The Houston Rockets are again without Tracy McGrady for this matchup, but unlike other years this hasnt slowed down this Rocket team.
Houston has won two straight and four of six. Yao Ming is averaging 23 points in McGradys absence. Rafer Alston, Bonzi Wells, and Luther Hard have all stepped up as well combining for 33 points last time out against the Knicks.
The Washington Wizards are also winners of two straight, and are fresh off back-to-back 20+ point defeats of the Bucks and Sonics. They have combined to score 109 points in those wins, and are averaging 101 points per game over their last five.
Despite these big victories, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan has challenged his team when the big boys like Houston and Boston come to town.
Over the last two seasons these two teams have averaged 219 points combined when meeting in Washington.
Take the Over as our Top NBA Play of the Day for Tuesday.
Armvin Sports
CBB
Bradley 11
Northern Iowa 9
NHL
Carolina
NY
Mike Rose
CBB
BYU -1.5
INDIANA -10
MISSOURI STATE -6
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS -11
NORTHERN IOWA 9
SETON HALL 17
GEORGETOWN -7
PURDUE at MICHIGAN STATE Under 134
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI -5
Stan Sharp
CBB Sides
double-dime bet SW Mo -5.5 vs Wichita St
Analysis: We get great line value here as Vegas has over compensated the line because Wichita St scored 80 in their last game and Missouri St. scored only 49 in their last. Expect a return to form from Missouri St as they win big tonight. TAKE MISSOURI ST. as STAN'S MISSOURI VALLEY CONF BIG BET OF THE WEEK and make them a DOUBLE DIME PLAY.
Gina -Sports Rumble
New Jersey Nets (17-16) at Charlotte Bobcats (11-21)
The struggling Bobcats have lost seven of their last eight games, including Sunday's, 93-89 to Milwaukee. Go with Nets to continue their surge, New Jersey has won five straight and have beaten the haphazard Bobcats in the last five meetings at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. New Jersey has won and covered four of their last five road games and is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games in Charlotte.
New Jersey Nets
Time Game Today's Pick
7:00 p.m. New Jersey (17-16) at Charlotte (11-21) New Jersey Nets -2
8:00 p.m. LA Lakers (21-11) at Memphis (10-23) Los Angeles Lakers -5½