NSA
20* Syracuse +2
20* Pittsburgh -3
20* Kansas -4
10* Wake Forest +1.5
10* Minnesota +1
10* Boston -16
The Hammer Guaranteed Selections
PRIVATE INVESTORS CLUB NBA SLAM DUNK WINNER
Boston -17
Erin Rynning
Indiana
Philly
NY Under
Clippers Under
RAS
Old Dominion +2
Larry Ness
25* Trailblazers
Jim Fiest
Big 12 GOY- Missouri
Inner Circle- UConn
SEABASS
CBB
100* - MISSOURI STATE
50* - ILLINOIS STATE
30* - WAKE FOREST
20* - KANSAS
20* - OHIO STATE
NBA
50* - UNDER PACERS
Cajun-Sports Executive
Akron vs. Toledo
Pick: Toledo +6
The John F. Savage Hall will be the site of tonight’s Mid American Conference clash between the host Toledo Rockets and the visiting Akron Zips. The Zips come into tonight’s game off back-to-back wins over Kent State and Youngstown State. The Rockets had put together back-to-back wins of their own before going on the road Sunday and losing at Ball State 66 to 53.
Akron is 11-8 SU and 7-7 against the spread this season. The Zips are 2-3 both straight up and against the spread in conference play this year averaging 61.4 points per game and they are allowing 60.6 points per game. We see that the Zips struggle after a solid defensive performance going 5-15 ATS after game where they allowed a shooting percentage of 33% or less. They are also 1-8 ATS after 2 consecutive covers as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
Toledo has struggled this season winning only four of their nineteen games and covering only five of their sixteen lined contests. At home they have played relatively well posting a record of 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS averaging 65.6 points per game and allowing 67.6 points on their home floor. The Rockets have done very well against the spread when facing conference opponents on their home court going 13-4 ATS. Toledo has responded well off a loss to a conference rival posting a record of 8-1 ATS if they are playing at home and they are a perfect 6-0 ATS if they are at home off a loss to a conference rival by ten or more points.
Our Team Performance Ratings Index has this game with Akron only favored by 2.0 points and we also have Toledo active in one of our statistical indicators that has a record of 68-48-2 ATS.
Last season the Rockets traveled to face the Zips on their home floor and were handled by Akron losing 52 to 68 as a 15 point road underdog. In tonight’s contest we look for the Rockets to play the Zips close and possibly get the straight up win.
Projected Final Score: (4*) Toledo Rockets 63 Akron Zips 64
Pittsburgh vs. Villanova
Pick:Pittsburgh -3
The Wachovia Center will be the site of tonight’s Big East battle between the Villanova Wildcats and the Pittsburgh Panthers. Pitt was able to respond after losing to Louisville 69 to 63 on the road they defeated a solid Syracuse team 78 to 60 and they went into West Virginia and took them down 79 to 67. Villanova bounced back after suffering a tough loss to Connecticut 89 to 83 by defeating South Florida on the road 70 to 61.
Pittsburgh is 18-1 SU and 9-5 against the spread this year. The Panthers are 6-1 SU and 4-3 ATS in Big East play this season averaging 76.1 points per game versus teams that only allow 67.1 points per game and defensively the Panthers are allowing 64.4 points per game to teams that average 69.8 points per game. The Panthers are 6-2-1 ATS when playing on the road and 4-1 ATS when facing teams with a winning record. Pitt is 17-6 ATS in January games over the last 3 seasons and 12-4 ATS after having won 4 or 5 of their last 6 games over the last 2 seasons.
The Wildcats are 15-4 SU and 8-7 ATS overall this season. In Big East play the Cats are playing at .500 both SU and against the spread averaging 75.0 points per game to teams that allow 68.7 points per game and defensively the Cats are allowing 72.0 points per game to teams that would normally only score 70.8 points per game. The Cats have posted a record of 4-0 ATS when facing teams with a winning record but they are 15-29 ATS in home games in the month of January since 1997, 22-38 ATS after covering 3 of their last 4 against the spread since 1997 and 10-23 ATS after playing 2 consecutive road games since 1997.
Our Team Performance Ratings Index has Pitt with a 5.5 point advantage in tonight’s game against Villanova. The Panthers are also active in one of our statistical indicators that has a record of 68-48-2 ATS.
With a solid fundamental team in Pitt and the fact that they have the advantage in our TPR and statistical indicators we will back them here.
PROJECTED FINAL SCORE: (4*) Pittsburgh Panthers 77 Villanova Wildcats 72
UTEP vs. Houston U
Pick: Houston -5
The Hofheinz Pavilion will be the site of tonight’s Conference USA matchup between the host Houston Cougars and the visiting UTEP Miners. UTEP is coming in off back-to-back losses with the first at UAB and a final score of 88 to 67 and then losing at home as a 4.5 point home favorite to Tulsa 78 to 70. Houston has split their last two games winning the first at home over East Carolina 85 to 67 as 15 point home favorite and then losing on the road in their last game at Arizona 96 to 90 as a 5.5 point road underdog.
UTEP is 11-8 SU and 11-5 against the spread this year. In conference play they have posted a record of 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS averaging 78.2 points per game and allowing 77.0 points to teams that normally average only 72.4 points per game. UTEP after going ‘over’ in their last game now on the road are 6-16 ATS. If they played that game at home and are now on the road with a line range of 3 to 6.5 points they are 0-5 ATS, if installed as a road underdog they are 0-5 ATS and in conference play they are 2-11 ATS.
The Cougars are 12-5 SU and 9-5 against the spread this season. In home contests they have a record of 8-1 SU and 5-1 ATS averaging 83.4 points per game against teams that allow 69.7 points per game. On the defensive end of the floor the Cougars are allowing 60.3 points per game versus teams that are averaging 69.2 points per game. Houston is 4-0 SU and 2-1 ATS at home versus UTEP since 1997.
Our Team Performance Ratings Index shows the Cougars with an 8.5 point advantage over the Miners in tonight’s contest. The Cougars are also active in one of our statistical indicators that has a record of 68-48-2 ATS. We will back the better team here as the host gets the straight up and ATS win over the visiting Miners on Wednesday night in Houston.
PROJECTED FINAL SCORE: (4*) Houston Cougars 82 UTEP Miners 74
Nick Parsons
Wake Forest
Opposite Action Plays
Eavansville
JB Sports
Detroit Pistons
Bob Balfe
Villanova
Ron Raymond
Georgia St / Drexel Over
Lenny Del Genio
Miami Heat
Doc
4-Unit Play Take Washington/Miami UNDER 191
3-Unit Play Take Oklahoma City -7 Over Memphis
4-Unit Play Take Charlotte +11 ½ Over Portland
4 Unit Play. Take Syracuse +2 over Providence
4 Unit Play. Take Ohio -4 over Central Michigan
4 Unit Play. Take Bradley -5 ½ over Wichita State
4 Unit Play. Take LSU +7 ½ over Tennessee
5 Unit Play. Take Northern Iowa -2 ½ over Illinois State
4 Unit Play. Take Florida State +11 ½ over North Carolina