Steven Nover
GAME: Phoenix Suns @ Milwaukee Bucks Jan 22, 2008 8:00PM
PICK: under 215.5
REASON FOR PICK: Eastern Conference clubs rarely hold Phoenix down. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sun put up their normal 108-110 points.
The key to this handicap to the 'under' is if the Bucks can score more than 105 points. I don't see that happening.
Phoenix has held its last four foes all under 100 points. The Lakers, Clippers, Timberwolves and Nets averaged a combined 95.5 points against the Suns during this time frame. Only the Lakers can be considered a good offensive club. The Bucks, though, are far closer in scoring to the Nets, Clippers and Timberwolves than the Lakers. They are 23rd in offense, averaging less than 95 points per game.
The Bucks are struggling offensively lately trying to work Michael Redd back into the lineup. There have been some chemistry problems because of it. Milwaukee is averaging just 91.2 points during its last four games. The Bucks have reached triple-digits only twice in their last 10 games.
The teams met 10 days ago in Phoenix and the Suns won, 122-114. That's a combined 236 points. There are several things to keep in mind, though, about that game.
The Bucks shot 55.8 percent from the floor, while making eight-of-14 3-pointers. Andrew Bogut missed only two of 16 shots from the floor. Bogut is much improved this season, but he's not exactly Wilt Chamberlain.
The Suns shot even better than Milwaukee making 57 percent of their shots from the field and hitting 84 percent from the free throw line. Steve Nash, Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudamire were a combined 35-of-48 from the floor. That's not likely to happen again.
Both teams are more familiar with each other now. There should be defensive adjustments. Based on current form, this total is too high.
Mighty Quinn
Clemson -12.5
Robert Ross
Phoenix Suns at Milwaukee Bucks
Suns 15-2 vs. Eastern Conference clubs, winners of three straight and 8-3 their last 11. Bucks 5-12 vs. the West and losers of four of their last five. They are 7-21 ATS in home games after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games over the last 2 seasons.
Play on: Phoenix
EZ Winners
1 STAR: (502) MILWAUKEE (+7.5) over Phoenix
(Risking $110 to win $100)
The Bucks played two and a half good quarters yesterday afternoon in New Orleans before falling apart, but I expect a strong effort by them here. The Bucks are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games as a home underdog and the dog is 10-1-1 against the spread in the last 12 meetings. Take the points!
NCAA
1 STAR: (507) TOLEDO (+5.5) over Eastern Michigan
(Risking $110 to win $100
I know that the Rockets are 0-10 on the road, but this is way too many points for them to be laying against this opponent. Toledo has won six straight meetings between these two teams and they are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight visits to Eastern Michigan. What has changed this year? I'll take the points here!
1 STAR: (514) CREIGHTON (-6) over Drake
(Risking $110 to win $100)
Drake is off to a great start this year and it looks very tempting to take the points here. But Creighton has won nine out of the last ten meetings between these two teams and the last five meetings played at Creighton have not even been close. The lowest margin of victory by the Blue Jays in these games has been eleven points. This line appears to be a bit high at first glance, but after looking at past performances I'll lay the chalk here!
LT'S LOCK
The LOCK: Kentucky +5
Cappers Access
Michigan
Tennessee
Joe Wiz
Toledo +5'
Dunkel Index - CBB
Illinois at Ohio State
Ohio State has a three-game losing streak (all on the road), but returns home where the Buckeyes are 7-0 ATS against Illinois since 1997. The Illini have lost all three conference road games this season and got dumped by the Buckeyes at home (74-58) back on the 3rd. Ohio State is the pick (-7) according to Dunkel, which has the Buckeyes favored by 13 1/2.
Dunkel Pick: Ohio State -7
Dunkel Index - NHL
Chicago at San Jose
The Sharks are looking to pick up a win after four straight losses, the last two at home to Dallas and Detroit. But they run into a hot team in Chicago, which has won four straight, including back-to-back road wins at Phoenix and Colorado. The Blackhawks are the underdog pick (+190) according to Dunkel, which has Chicago favored straight up by 1.
Dunkel Pick: Chicago +190
Dunkel Index - NBA
New Jersey at Sacramento
The Nets have started their road trip with a pair of double-digit losses to the Clippers and Suns. The Kings are getting healthy with the return of Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin to the lineup, and have won three of their last four, including victories over the Mavericks and Pistons. Sacramento is the pick (-5 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Kings favored by 12.
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento -5 1/2
Vernon Croy's Tuesday Night NHL Free Play
1 Unit, Take Philadelphia -127, The Flyers are the superior team here at home Tuesday night and they are 11-5 after scoring 4 or more goals in their previous game this season. The Flyers are a red hot 7-2 in January and they are averaging 5 goals per game over their last 5 games. The Flyers powerplay is converting at 24.8% at home this season and 35.7% over their last 5 games while the Devils powerplay is converting at just 10% over their last 5 games while averaging just 2.4 goals per game. The Flyers are coming off a huge 6-1 home win against perhaps the best overall team in the NHL (Ottawa Senators) and they will remain hot tonight at home at very good value.
Burns
Non-Conf GOW - Bucks
Pers. Fave - Lightning
Blowout - Clemson
ESPN GOW - Kentucky
Jim Feist Comp
Suns-Bucks over
Big Al Comp
Ohio State -7
ARMVIN SPORTS
CBB
DRAKE +5.5
AIR FORCE -9
NHL
COLUMBUS at DALLAS Over 5
MINNESOTA +135
COMPS
ARTHUR RALPH
COLO State
TOTALS 4 U
UTAH UTES + 5
BIG TIME SPORTS
NETS / KINGS OVER 201
THE VEGAS STEAMLINE
Creighton -6 over Drake
#1 SPORTS
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS - 5
HDs ACTIONLINE
Tennessee -4 over Kentucky
HUDDLE UP
NJ/Sacramento under 201
RAZOR SHARP
PHOENIX/MILWAUKEE OVER 215.5
FAT JACK SPORTS
Eastern Michigan -5.5
Las Vegas Sports Advisors
Tampa Bay
Frank Patron
Northern Illinois -2.5
RED ZONE
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Alex Smart
Ohio State -6.5
Thad Mattas Ohio State Buckeyes enter into this tilt against Big 10 rivals Illinois off 3 consecutive losses(all on the road). Needless to say the Buckeyes will be very happy and ready to get back in the win column in the friendly confines of the Value City Arena tonight against a team they easily beat 74-58 as visitors earlier this month. Final notes & Key Trends: Ohio State is 7-0 ATS L/7 at home in this series. Illinois has lost 3 straight conference road games.
Play on Ohio State
Vegas Experts Tip Of The Day
Drake Bulldogs at Creighton Blue Jays
Bulldogs come in riding a 15-game win streak. They have beaten Conference foes Wichita State, Evansville and Bradley in that span. They also have dropped four straight to the Blue Jays S/U and ATS so come in with monster revenge and an 8-0 ATS spread record this year when playing against a team with a winning record this season. Although the Blue Jays have taken 9-of-10 in this series on this court they are just 5-5 ATS.
Play on: Drake
Brandon Lang
10 Dime - Kings
5 Dime - Wake Forest
5 Dime - Utah
Free Pick - Creighton
SportsAction365
100* Ohio St -6.5
75* Drake +5.5
75* Milwaukee +8
50* Wastern Michigan -9
50* NJ/Sac UNDER 202
50* Toledo +5.5
Marco D'Angelo
double-dime bet Illinois 6.5 vs Ohio St.
Analysis: Ohio St. returns home after a 3 game Road losing streak. Most average players will be jumping all over Ohio St. figuring they will get back on track now that they are back at home. Fact is this is a long term negative situation as Vegas knows that's how the public thinks and inflates the line on the Home Favorite. Also note that Ohio St beat Illinois at Illinois a few weeks ago and it's always a solid play to take road dog in rematch if they got beat at home. Look for ILLINOIS to take this to the Wire and pull off the UPSET. TAKE ILLINOIS and make them a DOUBLE DIME PLAY.
Michael Cannon
20 Dime
WAKE FOREST
Take the points with Wake tonight over Clemson.
Wake is going to have a difficult time matching up inside against Clemson, but they are very good at pressuring and creating turnovers, something that has plagued Clemson this year.
Wake has played Clemson tough over the years, winning seven of the last eight meetings and covering the last five.
The road team is 6-2 ATS in the last eight in this series.
The Demon Deacons are coming off an impressive home win over Florida State on Sunday, 74-57 as a one-point chalk.
Clemson is coming off a 13-point loss at Duke and you have to wonder about the collective psyche of the Tigers after coming back twice from big deficits in that game, only to lose by double-digits. When they lost at home to Unc earlier this month they turned around and were beaten by Charlotte at home by 10 as a 15 ½-point chalk.
Take the points with Wake tonight as they stay within the number.
10 Dime
CREIGHTON
Take Creighton as the home chalk tonight over Drake.
Drake has been the surprise team in the Missouri Valley Conference, cracking the AP poll for the first time in 33 years.
Trying to stay ranked won’t be easy.
That’s because Creighton has swept the season series from Drake three straight years, and have won 19 of the last 23 meetings. Drake has also lost five straight at Creighton by an average of 16.6 points.
Creighton leads the conference in scoring and shooting percentage, and it’s going to be tough for Drake to hang without conference scoring leader Josh Young, who is out with a sprained ankle.
Take Creighton as the home chalk as they grab the win and cover tonight over Drake.