Gator Report
Wednesday: Play Against CBB favorites in a game involving two teams who are outscoring opponents by 8+ PPG in the 2nd half of the season, after scoring 80 points or more 3 straight games 31-5 ATS the last 5 seasons (86.1%) PLAY: Miami-Florida +8
Special K Comp
INDIANA STATE -7 1/2
Mighty Quinn
Duquesne -16.5
Vegas Experts
Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Hornets
Over their last 10 games Portland is 7-3 SU and ATS. The Trail Blazers are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games overall. In their last 21 games vs. Western Conference team's the Trail Blazers are 15-6 ATS. In their last 14 games as an underdog they are 10-4 ATS. New Orleans has been red hot of late but the line is too big vs. a good Portland squad. The Hornets are 11-9 ATS at home, not overly impressive. The Hornets are 2-4 SU and ATS in the last 6 meetings between the clubs.
Matt Fargo
Georgia Tech vs. NC State
NC State is coming off a huge home victory over Miami Florida over the weekend in overtime and this is where things get cloudy with the line. The Wolfpack were favored by two points in that game against the hurricanes, who are currently ranked 38th in the power rankings even after that loss. Now in comes Georgia Tech, losers of three of four games and ranked 89th, and it is getting the exact same number. The Yellow Jackets have lost some tight games this season but they have also struggled much more on the road.
The home team is 12-2 in NC State games this season so it is pretty obvious where the Wolfpack plays good and bad. As a matter of fact, this trend is conference wide as to this point in 21 ACC games this season, the road team has won just seven times. NC State is 9-1 at home with the lone loss coming in the second game of the season against an improved New Orleans team by just two points. The Wolfpack have won eight of their last 10 games and that thrilling win over Miami Saturday should carry forward.
The Yellow Jackets bring in a solid offense but this game will come down to defense and that is where NC State has the big edge. Over the last 10 games, the Wolfpack has held its opponents to 63.8 ppg on 34 percent shooting from the field. They have won the rebounding battle in seven of those games and outscored the competition 171-75 at the foul line. Georgia Tech is at the bottom of the ACC allowing nearly 74 ppg (74.2 in ACC games) along with 45.3 percent shooting from the field and 35.2 percent from long range.
With such a small spread, free throw shooting will be critical and while both teams are shooting similar from the line, that is where it ends. The foul line has not been kind to Georgia Tech as in its last 6 games, it have made only 64 percent of their free throws and the margin drops to close to five percent in this home/road matchup. Also, NC State is averaging 24.5 free throw attempts per game to its opponents 12.5 attempts and that disparity is even greater in home games as the attempt margin is at +14.8 per game.
The Yellow Jackets have not traveled well, especially against the better teams. Georgia Tech is 4-13 ATS in road games against good shooting teams that make 45 percent or more of their shots over the last two seasons and it is 4-12 ATS in road games against teams with a winning home record. Over the last two seasons, the Yellow Jackets are 0-9 ATS in road games following a conference game. The number is small enough as a straight up win likely means the cover as well.
Play NC State Wolfpack 1 Unit
CTO
WASHINGTON over *Cleveland (NBA)...In the up-and-down, yin-and-yang world of the NBA, Monday's go-against is Wednesday's go-with. Washington has been a poor home dog, but is 9-4 as a road dog through Jan. 13 (7-1 when the number is 1-6 points, and this game figures to be in that range). Cleveland, conversely, has covered just 3 of 13 as a home favorite this season. Cavs are just 5-10 overall vs. the number last 15 through Jan. 14, and LeBron isn't getting enough scoring help, as Cleveland has topped 100 points just once in last 12 of those games (and that took 2 OTs).
WASHINGTON 103 - *Cleveland 96 RATING - 10
LOUISVILLE over *South Florida....Following 64-49 victory at Rutgers on Jan. 13, L'ville's 6-1 soph G Jerry Smith beamed, "We're getting all our guys back so we're practicing hard. The practices are much more intense and it's showing on the court. We're all coming together as one." Smith's positive outlook doesn't bode well for self-doubting USF, which is a poor 1-10 SU (1-9-1 vs. spread) in last 11 Big East tilts (thru Jan. 17). Bulls slide continues here, since only post threat 6-10 C Gransberry (15 ppg) handcuffed by Cards healthier trio of prime-time "bigs." And Pitino's presses should ignite many fastbreaks vs. young, impetuous USF backcourt (frosh & soph Gs combine for 5+ TOs pg).
LOUISVILLE 86 - *South Florida 67 RATING - 11
RedZone Sports Comp
Rhode Island
Cappers Access
Kansas
NC St
Jim Feist Comp
Hornets
LT'S LOCK
Miami FL +8
POINTWISE
TEXAS TECH over Missouri RATING: 1
WILLIAM & MARY over Drexel RATING 3
Big Al McMordie Free Play
Game: Akron at Kent State
Prediction: Kent State
Reason: At 7 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Kent State Golden Flashes minus the points over Akron, as Mid-American Conference teams are 61% ATS as home favorites of less than nine points vs. conference foes, if our home team played away from home its last game. And if our home team is off a SU/ATS double-digit loss, and its foe is off a win, then our 61% stat moves to 28-11 ATS (71.7%). Also, Kent is a solid 9-5 as a home favorite vs. Akron, including 4-1 ATS off a SU loss. And Kent is 24-6 ATS at home vs. .546 (or better) Mid American Conference foes, if Kent is off an ATS loss, including a perfect 11-0 when playing with three days (or more) of rest. With the Golden Flashes off a 71-59 loss Saturday at Ohio, and Zips in off an 80-44 victory over Bowling Green, we'll take the homestanding Golden Flashes on Wednesday night.
COMPS
TOTALS 4 U
INDIANA/CHICAGO UNDER 207
MIKE WYNN
Drexel -2 Over William & Mary
RAZOR SHARP
SAN DIEGO ST over BYU
BIG TIME SPORTS
CAPS / LEAFS OVER 6 GOALS
NEVADA SHARPSHOOTER
KANSAS ST -4.5 OVER COLORADO
#1 SPORTS
HOUSTON ROCKETS - 6
THE VEGAS STEAMLINE
Take Houston -6 over Seattle
James Patrick Sports
Cleveland Cavaliers
COMPUTER SPORTS
FLORIDA-1 1/2
SPECIAL K
INDIANA STATE -7 1/2
TV HOTLINE
VA. COMMONWEALTH -6
TOP GUN SPORTS
Detroit Pistons -6.5
Tuffball
Purdue -2
DRGSPORTS
Detroit -6.5
Global Handicapping
Sacramento +1
RED ZONE
KANSAS STATE
HAWKEYE
ILLINOIS ST. -3 OVER BRADLEY
ARTHUR RALPH
COLORADO
Brandon Lang
15 Dime - Wizards
10 Dime - Hornets
5 Dime - Magic
5 Dime - Iowa State
5 Dime - BYU
Free Pick - Baylor
Alex Smart
St. Louis Blues @ Vancouver Canucks o5.0
The St.Louis Blues and their hosts the Vancouver Canucks have really been struggling lately. Their key weaknesses , during their slides can be attributed to what used to be each teams strength in the past, which is goal tending and defense. The Blues have lost 5 straight games, allowing 27 goals during that ugly run ,while going over the total in each game. The Canucks have lost 6 of their L/7 including 4 in a row, allowing a total of 24 goals and combining to average 5.85 GPG with their opponents during that span. Considering the current form of each team, it will be an easy decision recommend backing this contest to go over the set total! Play Over
Ben Burns
Prediction: New Orleans Hornets
Reason: The Blazers have been hot. However, the Hornets have been even hotter! Indeed, New Orleans has won five straight games, earning the cover in each of them. The four home games ALL resulted in double-digit victories. Looking back further and we find the Hornets at a highly impressive 13-2 SU/ATS their last 15 games. The Hornets are also 4-0 SU/ATS the last four times they hosted the Blazers and 6-1 SU/ATS the last seven. Catching the Blazers, who are just 8-13 away from home, playing the final game of a season high seven-game road trip, look for the Hornets to continue their winning streak for another day. Consider laying the points.
Joe Wiz Comp
CBB : New Orleans
Scott Spreitzer Comp
Tulsa
Right Angle Sports
Hofstra +6.5 1 unit
Wunderdog Comp CBB
Game: Louisville at South Florida
Pick: Louisville -7.5 (-110)
South Florida began to get some expectations after a 10-4 start, and a win in their Big East opener. Those expectations have faded fast as they have now dropped five in a row, all by double digits. Last year held the same promise with a 9-5 start, but they finished 0-6 in the league, and dropped five of those six games by double-digits. The resume now shows them at 1-11 SU in their last twelve Big East games and 1-11 ATS, with 10 of the 11 losses coming by double digits. They are truly over-matched in the Big East as they have gone just 5-33 SU in their 2+ years in the league. It won't get any easier tonight as they square off with a Louisville team that is getting healthier, confident, and playing well. Seton Hall threw a perfect game against them, as they shot 50%, hit 13 three's, and turned the ball over just seven times. The Cards will come to South Florida breathing fire. They owned the Bulls last year as they beat them by 20 at home and 26 here in the Bulls own building. The Bulls string of five double-digit losses will be extended to six here.
VEGAS SPORTS PICS
Massachusetts Minutemen + 6 over (at) St. Joseph's Hawks
Saint Joseph's (10-5, 2-1) vs. UMass (13-4, 2-1) came up big in its last road game winning at then No.18 Dayton 82-71, snapping UD's 13 game winning streak which included wins over three ranked teams. The Minutemen won at St. Joseph's 71-67 last season.
Purdue Boilermakers - 2 over (at) Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State (10-7, 2-3) has dropped its last two home games including an 80-55 loss to then No.17 Wisconsin on 01/15. Purdue (13-5, 4-1) is 6-1 last seven games, the loss coming at then No.6 Michigan State 78-75 on 01/08. Purdue won at Penn State 69-59 last season.
Cincinnati Bearcats + 3 over Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut (12-5, 3-3) is 3-10 ATS last 13 road games. Cincinnati (9-9, 4-2) has won its last four Big East home games off beating then No.17 Villanova 69-66 on 01/12 and then No.16 Pittsburgh 62-59 on 01/19. Teams are meeting in Cincinnati for the first time.
Texas Tech Red Raiders - 1.5 over Missouri Tigers
Missouri (11-7, 1-2) is 1-6 away from home this season. Texas Tech (10-7, 1-2) is 8-1 at home including a 68-53 victory over then No.9 Texas A&M on 01/16. The Red Raiders at home are 5-1 all-time over Missouri.
Kansas State Jayhawks - 4.5 over (at) Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado (9-8, 1-2) is 1-3 last four games including an 81-68 home loss to Tulsa on 01/07. Kansas State (12-4, 2-0) has tied a school record scoring at least 75 points in its last eight games. Jayhawks swept Buffaloes last season, winning at home 78-59, and at Colorado 87-71.