RAS
UTEP +1 2 units
FLA Int. +5.5 1.5 units
Middle Tenn. -8.5 1 unit
What does RAS stand for? Is it Right Angle Sports?
Mark Fox
Boston at New Jersey
Play: Boston -7
In this NBA matchup between the Boston Celtics and New Jersey Nets, lay the points on the road with the CELTICS!!!
# The Celtics are 10-3 ATS in their L13 ROAD games
# The Celtics are 14-2 ATS in their L16 ROAD games where where the total is between 195 and 199.5 points
# The Celtics are 6-2 ATS this season as a ROAD favorite of 3.5 to 6 points
# The Celtics are 9-2 ATS this season when playing with 2 days rest
# The Celtics are 8-1 ATS this season after allowing 105 points or more
# The Nets are 3-5 ATS this season vs. a team with a winning record in the 2nd half of the season
# The Nets are 12-19 ATS in their L31 March games
# The Nets are 14-17 ATS this season at HOME
The Celtics have WON 7 STRAIGHT games SU & ATS vs. the Nets INCLUDING 2 BLOWOUTS this season (105-85 in NJ on 1/17/09 & 118-86 at home on 1/14/09)!!!!! The Celtics have WON 6 STRAIGHT games SU & ATS vs. the Nets in NJ!!!!
Tom Freese
20* No Brainer
Houston at Utah
Play: Houston +8.5
Utah is in a 53-22 ATS System that says to Play On home favorites if they shoot 47.5% or better from the floor if their opponent allows teams to shoot 43.5% to 45.5% from the floor if both teams have a +3 to -3 rebounding margin a game. Houston is in a 95-50 ATS Play Against System that says to Go Against teams who won three of their last four games if in this game both teams have a win percentage of 60% to 75%. 20* "NO BRAINER" PLAY ON UTAH -
BEN BURNS
Best Bet
I'm taking the points with NEW JERSEY.
The Nets have been a "streaky" team at the betting window all year long. They began 2009 by going on a 5-0 ATS run. That was followed by an 0-4 ATS run. They covered three of their next five games and then went on another 4-0 ATS run. That was followed by an 0-5 SU/ATS stretch through the middle of February. However, they've snapped out of it and are currently enjoying another hot streak, having gone 4-0 ATS (3-1 SU) their last four games, including last night's 99-95 come-from-behind win at Milwaukee. After that game, Vince Carter was quoted as saying: "At the time in the season where we need wins, we could've easily folded. I'm just glad to see guys really coming together..." We're getting a little extra line value, due to the fact that New Jersey played last night. The majority of the betting public will expect the "rested" Celtics to have more "energy." However, it should be noted that not all teams react to playing back to back games in the same manner. While many teams struggle, the Nets actually thrive in these back to back spots. Indeed, they're 11-5 ATS the last 16 times that they played their second game in two days. As you probably know, the Celtics are currently playing without Kevin Garnett. Lesser known players Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen are also out of the lineup. Not surprisingly, they haven't been playing their best. In fact, they've won just one of their last three games and that was at home, by only five points. They were 0-3 ATS in those games. In addition to the fact that they're desperately fighting for their playoff lives, the Nets are also playing with "double-revenge," having already been blown out twice by the champs in January. In other words, they should be fully focused on the task at hand. On the other hand, with very big games vs. Cleveland and Orlando on deck, it should be easy for the Celts to get caught looking past the Nets, a team which they have long had their way with. I expect the suddenly surging Nets to be the "hungrier" team and I look for them to improve to 10-5 ATS the last 15 times that they were attempting to avenge an earlier home loss. *Best Bet
Blue Chip
I'm playing on the Rockets and Jazz to finish UNDER the total.
I played on the Rockets to finish 'over' the total yesterday. However, that was at home vs. a defensively-challenged Toronto team which had been allowing 116 points per game through their previous five games and which has now allowed six straight opponents to reach triple-digits. Tonight's game vs. the Jazz, who are allowing just 94.6 ppg through their last five, figures to play out much differently. These teams have already played a pair of high-scoring games against each other. Both those games were at Houston though and a closer look reveals that one of them went to double-overtime and finished with only 192 "regulation" points. With tonight's game being played at Utah and the Rockets playing their second game in two nights, I expect a lower-scoring contest. The Rockets have seen the UNDER go 4-1 the last five times that they played the second of back to back games. Those five games averaged just 188.8 combined points, despite the fact that two of them came against the high-scoring and defensively-challenged Knicks. Note that the Rockets have also seen the UNDER go a profitable 13-7 their last 20 trips to Utah. Despite last night's game vs. the Raptors finishing above the total, the Rockets have seen nine of their last 16 games dip below the total. Meanwhile, we also find the UNDER at 5-1 the last six times that the Jazz took the floor. The Jazz, who last played on Sunday, have seen the UNDER go 9-4 this season, when playing with two days rest in between games. Look for this evening's game to also prove lower-scoring than most are expecting with the UNDER improving to 4-1 the last five times that Utah played a home game with an over/under line ranging from 200 to 204.5. *Blue Chip
Annihilator
I'm taking the points with GEORGIA TECH.
Even struggling teams often come up big in their home finale. We saw that with yesterday's selection as an injury depleted South Florida squad defeated Cincinnati, a team which really needed a win, by double-digits. Like the Bulls yesterday, playing their home finale, I expect the struggling Yellow Jackets to also rise to the occasion and provide the home fans with a rare victory. The Hurricanes won their last game, at Virginia, the team with the worst record in the ACC. Although Georgia Tech is slightly ahead of Virginia, and in my opinion a stronger team, the Hurricanes are laying an even bigger number for tonight's game, providing us with excellent line value. This is a tough spot though. They're playing their second straight road game and they've got their home finale, a "revenge" game vs. NC State, on deck. Note that even with their win at Virginia, the Hurricanes are still a poor 1-4 their last five road games. They went 0-1 SU/ATS the only other time that they played the second of back to back true road games this season. Its certainly been a disappointing year for the Yellow Jackets. However, they've had numerous close losses and I believe that they're better than their record indicates. Their last few games have all been against elite teams and I believe that this offers a much better shot at a victory. Note that Georgia Tech is 25-14 ATS the last several seasons after three or more consecutive losses and 22-13 ATS after failing to cover the spread in three or more straight games. The Yellow Jackets, who lost by a single point to the Hurricanes here last season, are also 9-3 ATS the last 12 times that they were listed as home underdogs in the 6.5 to 9 point range, winning seven of those games outright. While I'll gladly grab the generous points, I expect them to step up and win this one outright. *Annihilator
CUSA GOY
I'm taking the points with HOUSTON.
As you're probably aware, the Tigers haven't lost a conference game in ages. However, they've already wrapped up another regular season conference title and I believe that this will prove to a very tough spot. The Tigers beat a mediocre Southern Miss. team, now 4-9 on the road, by 16 points last time out. However, that wasn't enough to cover the inflated pointspread. After the game forward Robert Dozier acknowledged: "Guys are tired..." Playing their final road game of the season, I won't be surprised if the Tigers get caught looking ahead to their home finale and to much more meaningful tournament games, which will be coming up in the near future. That will prove costly though as they'll be playing at one of the tougher CUSA venues tonight and they'll be facing an underrated Houston team which should be fully focused on the task at hand. Shooting poorly, the Cougars were down 49-41 with 5:22 to play vs. Rice in their last game. They dug deep though and rallied for an important 56-51 victory. While he wasn't impressed with his team's shooting, coach Tom Penders was quoted in the Houston Chronicle as saying: "...But on the plus side, we only turned it over seven times, and I thought we played great defense and showed a lot of poise at the end." That's the type of victory a team can really build positive momentum from. Note that Houston hadn't won at the Owls' Tudor Fieldhouse since 1996. More importantly, note that the Cougars are a profitable 6-1 SU/ATS the last seven times that they held their previous opponent to 60 points or less. While they won on the road last time out, the Cougars have been a much stronger team at home. Indeed, they're 17-2 their last 19 at Hofheinz Pavilion, where they have won 10 of their last 11 conference games. For the season, the Cougars are outscoring teams by a whopping 79.8 to 62 margin here at home. With a home game vs. SMU (worst record in the conference) on deck, the Cougars know that if they can win tonight, that they'll have a great chance at finishing the regular season with 20 victories. While the Tigers, 0-2 ATS the last two times they were road favorites in the 6.5 to 9 range, have had another excellent season, let's not forget that they lost three key starters from last year's national runner-up team. With a long and exhausting regular season winding down, facing a powerful offensive club, I expect those personnel losses to finally take a toll on the Tigers here. Look for the revenge-minded Cougars to give their guests all they can handle with an excellent shot at scoring the outright victory. *CUSA GOY
Pointspread Pros
1 unit Knicks
1 unit Dallas
DAVE MALINSKY
4* Miami Heat ( upgraded to 5* at -3 )
6* Virginia Tech
6* Marq/Pitt Under
5* Missouri
4* Colorado St
I didn't see Kelso's plays posted the last couple of days, but tonight I think he has a 50 unit mid week college blowout game if anyone can find it and post it. Thanks
Wayne Root
Chairman- UTEP
Millionaire- Missouri
Insiders Circle- Pittsburgh
Billionaire- NC State
BOB BALFE
NBA Basketball
Nets +7 over Celtics
NCAA Basketball
Mississippi +4.5 over Arkansas
NSA
20* Oklahoma +4.5
10* Marquette +10.5
10* Memphis -7
10* Kansas -10.5
10* Boston -6
10* Atlanta Pk
DOC
3-Unit Play Take Miami -2½ Over Phoenix
This will be the Suns third tough game in four nights and we think this team is overrated right now to begin with. Last night in Orlando they fell apart in the fourth quarter and we see that fatigue continuing tonight against a rested Miami team that has played just one game in the last three nights and are at home. We liked Orlando last night because they can score when playing an up-tempo team like the Suns and they also play very strong defense at home, and this is the same trait that the Heat possess. They allow just 94 PPG at home while the Suns defense is putrid regardless of venue. The home team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings and Miami has won two straight in the series (both in Phoenix, no less) and covered three straight.
3-Unit Play Take Dallas -2½ Over San Antonio
We always talk about how revenge isn’t that big of a factor in the NBA but in certain situations it can be huge and we feel that is the case tonight. Last week the Mavericks got smacked around in San Antonio and managed only 76 points while shooting 34 percent from the field and only 15 percent from behind the arc. That is more than 10 percentage points under their season shooting average and more than 15 under their three-point shooting average. We just see those numbers coming way up tonight in a revenge situation against a major rival in front of the home fans, where Dallas has played very well lately. They have won 10 of their last 11 at home with the only loss coming against Boston. We expect an inspired effort tonight and an east Dallas cover.
4-Unit Play Take Houston/Utah UNDER 201½
Both teams have been playing excellent defense lately and we are hoping for a defensive battle tonight. The Rockets have allowed 93 PPG in their last five while Utah has allowed just 95 PPG during the same span. Utah has held four of their last six opponents in the 80s. Houston has allowed only one team to score more than 100 in their last nine games. Five of the last six games for Utah have gone under and they have been concentrating more on defense and we feel the oddsmakers have not caught up with the totals.
3-Unit Play Take LA Clippers -2 Over Memphis
We have been burned with the Clippers a couple times lately but we can’t resist taking them here laying the small number against a team that has only won three games on the road all season. The Clippers have not done much better at home but they have struggled with injuries more than any other team in the NBA and tonight they will have the services of Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and Al Thornton. We just think that there is a lot more seasoned talent on this side tonight and that the home court edge is not really reflected in the line. The Clippers have won two of their last five, against Boston and Golden State, while Memphis has dropped nine straight. The Clippers have covered in eight of the last 10 meetings.
Great Lakes
5* Boston
4* Jazz
3* Knicks
4* Ball St
4* Louisville
3* S Alab
Triple Crown
5* Mia-Fla
3* W Mich
3* Va Tech
3* Wym.
4* Cavs
Tom Freese
20* No Brainer
Houston at Utah
Play: Houston +8.5Utah is in a 53-22 ATS System that says to Play On home favorites if they shoot 47.5% or better from the floor if their opponent allows teams to shoot 43.5% to 45.5% from the floor if both teams have a +3 to -3 rebounding margin a game. Houston is in a 95-50 ATS Play Against System that says to Go Against teams who won three of their last four games if in this game both teams have a win percentage of 60% to 75%. 20* "NO BRAINER" PLAY ON UTAH -
If you read the write up it the play is Utah -8.5 not HOUSTON
ATS Lock Club
5 units Wyoming +8.5
5 units Pitt -10
5 units Missouri -4.5
5 units Texas A+M -7
ATS Financial Package
4 units Miami Florida -2.5
4 units Florida PK