Ben Burns
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder
Prediction: Over
These teams met twice in February with both those games finishing below the total. However, a closer look shows that those games had over/under lines of 219 and 221.5. While those lines proved to be too high, I feel that tonight's number, which is significantly lower, will likely prove to be too high.
Yes, the Thunder have been playing better defense of late and that's led to several consecutive low-scoring contests. However, the Lakers have been involved in largely high-scoring ones, all year long. Their last game produced 226 combined points and their previous game saw 220 points scored. They've seen 31 of 39 games in 2009 finish with 200 or more points, the vast majority of them finishing well above that mark. Overall, their road games have averaged greater than 210 combined points for the season.
While the Lakers first game here at Oklahoma City did finish below the total, it's worth noting that they'd seen the OVER go 11-4 in their final 15 trips to Seattle. Look for them to resume that high-scoring trend this evening as the final combined score finishes above the low number. Consider the Over.
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Rockets/Jazz UNDER 195
Houston's big upset win at San Antonio 2 days ago sets up a nice system play tonight. Plays on the under on road teams where the total is between 190 and 199.5 points (HOUSTON) off an upset win over a division rival as an underdog, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team are 26-6 since 1996. We'll make a small wager on this 81.2% system.
DUNKEL
Houston at Utah
The Rockets look to build on their 5-1 ATS record as a road underdog between 3 1/2 and 6 points. Houston is the underdog pick (+5 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Jazz favored by just 3 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Houston (+5 1/2).
Game 641-642: LA Lakers at Oklahoma City
Dunkel Ratings: LA Lakers 123.338; Oklahoma City 118.883
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 5 1/2; 206 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 8; 205
Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (+8); Over
Game 643-644: Detroit at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 116.166; Chicago 123.377
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 7; 198 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 645-646: Golden State at San Antonio
Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 114.241; San Antonio 124.420
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 10; 188
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 647-648: Houston at Utah
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 121.752; Utah 125.329
Dunkel Line & Total: Utah by 3 1/2; 190
Vegas Line & Total: Utah by 5 1/2; 193 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+5 1/2); Under
NCAAB
Penn State at Florida
The high-scoring Gators (80.1 ppg at home) run into a Penn State team that is 3-1 ATS against good offensive teams (77+ ppg). The Nittany Lions are the pick (+11) according to Dunkel, which has Florida favored by just 10. Dunkel Pick: Penn State (+11).
Game 649-650: Baylor at Auburn
Dunkel Ratings: Baylor 70.001; Auburn 72.402
Dunkel Line: Auburn by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Auburn by 4
Dunkel Pick: Baylor (+4)
Game 651-652: Penn State at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Penn State 61.639; Florida 71.574
Dunkel Line: Florida by 10
Vegas Line: Florida by 11
Dunkel Pick: Penn State (+11)
NHL
Columbus at Tampa Bay
The Blue Jackets are 6-1 in their last 7 overall and face a Tampa Bay team that is 0-6 in its last 6 Tuesday games. Columbus is the pick (-175) according to Dunkel, which has the Blue Jackets favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Columbus (-175).
Game 51-52: Minnesota at NY Rangers
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 10.645; NY Rangers 12.069
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-175); 5
Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (-175); Under
Game 53-54: Washington at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 11.789; Toronto 11.814
Dunkel Line & Total: Toronto by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Washington (-190); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+170); Under
Game 55-56: Columbus at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: Columbus 11.835; Tampa Bay 10.700
Dunkel Line & Total: Columbus by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Columbus (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Columbus (-175); Over
Game 57-58: Atlanta at Montreal
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 11.519; Montreal 10.341
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Montreal (-200); 6
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+170); Over
Game 59-60: Anaheim at Nashville
Dunkel Ratings: Anaheim 11.304; Nashville 11.607
Dunkel Line & Total: Nashville by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Nashville (-150); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Nashville (-150); Under
Game 61-62: Los Angeles at St. Louis
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 10.963; St. Louis 10.788
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: St. Louis (-170); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles(+150); Over
Game 63-64: Vancouver at Dallas
Dunkel Ratings: Vancouver 11.280; Dallas 11.382
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas (-120); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-120); Under
Game 65-66: Detroit at Edmonton
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 12.270; Edmonton 11.122
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1; 7
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit (-160); 6
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-160); Over
Will Windham
Auburn (-3) v. Baylor
I feel as though Auburn and coach Jeff Lebo have had something to prove to the NCAA since getting "snubbed" from the tourney. They have marched through their first two games of the NIT. The Baylor Bears were the Cinderella Story of the Big 12 Tourney. I see their run ending down on the Plains of Auburn. I live in the south, and I watched Auburn do some magical things on their home court. Look for the Tigers to play their way into the semis of the NIT tonight.
Scott Rickenbach
Detroit Pistons @ Chicago Bulls
PICK: Detroit Pistons
Tuesday’s pick looks like a particularly strong situation! It doesn't get much better than this set-up. Yes, there are injury issues for Detroit but we see a lot of value here.
There is a saying that has been proven true time and time again through the years. That saying is that "it's the wounded dog that bites the hardest". In other words, even with injury issues making them shorthanded, the Pistons are absolutely going to give the Bulls all they can handle here! That means there is fantastic line value available here with the points. The Bulls have proven very susceptible to blown leads recently and that is something that really hurts a team's confidence. They blew a big lead and lost to the Lakers on Saturday. Then, last night, the Bulls barely hung on to defeat the Wizards as Washington came up with a huge rally against what is fast becoming a "shaky" Chicago team when it comes to protecting leads. The value is with the road team here. Consider a small play on Detroit plus the points on Tuesday night.
Wunderdog
Houston at Utah
Pick: Houston +5.5
Houston had spent most of the season trying to get over the hump on the road, and they finally have. They have moved over .500 and now stand at 18-17 on the strength of winning five of their last six road contests. This is a red-hot team that has now gone 16-4 over their last 20 games. They have been a solid choice as an underdog as well, as they are now 8-3 ATS in their last 11 as a dog. Utah is winning at home again, having taken their last 12. They are not covering the games as the oddsmakers have given them bigger numbers because of their home-court prowess. The result has been four wins in their last four, but four pointspread losses! The Rockets' resurgence on the road has them at a perfect 6-0 ATS in their last six, while the Jazz are an imperfect 0-5 ATS in their last five against winning teams. I'm on Houston and the points here.
Craig Trapp
Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz
Play: Over 193
Utah has been playing very well at home all year and now are fully healthy. They are making a push to win their division and only 2 games behind Denver! Also recently UTAH has been scoring a ton with over 100 pts 3 out of last 4 games. Houston is averaging over 98 pts a game the last 4 games. Think tonight Houston will be pushing the ball up and down to score a ton of points to keep this one close. Utah will also do the same, at home they score a ton more. SCORE UTAH 103 - HOU 101
Lenny Del Genio
Baylor at Auburn
Play: Auburn
Going with the superior team at home tonight at a short price. Auburn has gone 11-3 ATS on this floor so far this season, including 10-2 when favored. They are 10-1 ATS off a double-digit win. They are a perfect 7-0 ATS coming off consecutive home games. They are 16-4 ATS off a game where they covered the spread. Baylor is not a good road team, remember their Big 12 Tourney run came on a neutral floor. Before a 2nd round NIT win, they had lost four straight ?true? road games. The Bears are 2-9 ATS if they were an underdog in their last game. Take Auburn.
GoodFella
OKL +8 vs LAL
Oklahoma City is coming off a 7 pt road win over Minnesota on Sunday & now return home, to where they have lost their last 2 home games (Bulls & Jazz) & I look for a HUGE effort & a crazed home crowd for this game tonight. LA beat Ok City at Ok City 107-93 back on Feb. 24th & the Thunder will be seriously up for this game tonight. The Lakers are just 1-4 ATS their L/5 games as a favorite & they have 1st place all but locked up in the Western Conference seeding race. Oklahoma City has all their players back & playing again & I really like how this team competes at home & against the top tier NBA teams as well. Oklahoma City is 9-1 ATS L/10 game as a home underdog of 5 to 10.5 pts & they are 12-4 ATS L/16 games vs a team with a win% of .600 or higher. I really expect a fierce effort out of the Thunder tonight & I think this game will be closer than most people think & I will grab the +8 pts & look for a very tight game.
Jack Jones
Chicago Bulls -5.5 over Detroit Pistons
The Bulls are coming off a close win last night in Washington but they are 4-0 ATS in their last four games playing back-to-back, plus Chicago is 7-1 ATS in their last eight games at home. The Pistons are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games against the Eastern Conference and 8-20 ATS when their opponents put up more than 100 in their last game. The Bulls have been a different team at home, going 21-12 while Detroit is 16-17 on the road. The Bulls have beaten Detroit three straight times in Chicago and they should make it four after tonight.
GINA
Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs have won 22 straight home game against the Warriors. Go with the Spurs to continue their home dominance over the sad Warriors. San Antonio is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games at home against Golden State.
San Antonio Spurs -10½
Johnny Guild
Houston Rockets at Utah Jazz
The Jazz are 8-4 ATS in their last 12 home games, but just 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home against Houston. Take the hot the Rockets tonight in a close clash versus Utah in Salt Lake City. Houston has won their last five games and the road team in this series is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
Houston Rockets +5.5
NCAAB
Auburn Tigers -3.5
Mr A
San Antonio Spurs -10½
Houston Rockets +5½
Jeff Benton
Houston +5' at UTAH
For Tuesday we’ll back the red-hot Rockets plus the points over the Jazz in NBA action.
Houston has been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, going 16-4 SU in its last 20 games, including Sunday’s impressive last-second 87-85 upset at San Antonio. That victory allowed the Rockets to overtake the Spurs for first place in the Southwest Division and claim the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference standings.
One of the reasons for the Rockets’ resurgence – which has come without the services of Tracy McGrady, who is out for the season with yet another injury – has been defense. Houston has surrendered less than 90 points 11 times during its 16-4 run, including in five of the last six games (the only team in the last six to get over 88 against the Rockets was the Pistons, but that game went to overtime).
Also, Houston has been playing very well on the road, winning five of its last six as a visitor, including victories at playoff-contenders San Antonio, New Orleans, Denver and Charlotte. True, the one loss came at Utah early this month, but the Rockets covered that night as an underdog. In fact, they’ve cashed in six straight road games and five of the last seven against Utah, going 3-1 ATS in the last four in Salt Lake. Meanwhile, the Jazz have won 12 consecutive home games, but haven’t cashed in the last four as a host and are 1-4 ATS in their last five overall. Take the points.
2♦ HOUSTON
Michael Cannon
Houston +5' at UTAH
Take the points with the Rockets tonight on the road over the Jazz.
Houston is on a roll right now, having won four straight and 16 of its last 20. The Rockets have also won four straight on the road and are 6-0 ATS in their last six away contests.
Utah is coming off a three-day layoff, and having played six of its last seven on the road may not be completely in sync for tonight’s game.
The Jazz are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games and 1-4 ATS in their last five overall.
The Rockets are on ATS runs of 4-0 as an underdog, 4-0 against the Northwest Division and 4-1 when playing on one day of rest.
Take the points with the Rockets as they stay within the number.
3♦ HOUSTON