Gamblers Data
West Virginia -13
WINNERS EDGE
NBA
Chicago Bulls - 3.5 , 2 units
Toronto Raptors + 9 , 2 units
Detroit Pistons -6 , 1 unit
CBB
VCU -6.5 , 2 units
Drexel - 3 , 1 unit
Gold Medal Club
CBB
100* ST.Joes
100* ST.Johns
50* Wichita State
EZ Winners
5 STAR: (725) UMASS (+5.5) over St. Josephs
(Risking $550 to win $500)
5 STAR: (768) CINCINNATI (+3) over Connecticut
(Risking $550 to win $500)
3 STAR: (796) SOUTH CAROLINA (+2) over Florida
Risking $330 to win $300)
2 STAR: (787) BAYLOR (+9.5) over Texas A&M
(Risking $220 to win $200)
NBA
2 STAR: (715) INDIANA (+3) over Chicago
(Risking $220 to win $200)
2 STAR: (717) LA LAKERS (+6.5) over San Antonio
(Risking $220 to win $200)
MR A's
Boston Celtics -9
New Orleans Hornets -6½
Houston Rockets -6
STRIKE POINT SPORTS
7-Unit Big East Game of the Year. #767 Take Connecticut -130 over Cincinnati
A while back we cashed the Huskies as our Game of the Week over Seton Hall, and here too UConn will turn in another winner for us. Mainly because of their size advantage, Connecticut will be too much for the Bearcats. Thabeet, Adrien and Robinson, this trio will control the glass, the points in the paint and create a big plus at the free throw line. Also, UConn has a strong starting backcourt in A.J. Price and Andre Dyson, and overall the Huskies will make good on the road in this Big East clash.
2-Unit Play. #754 Take N.C. State -2.5 over Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets are not a very good road team, just 2-4 this season. The Wolfpack came through at home over Miami this past Saturday to give them a much needed win, and I think they have found its way again. A team that is much more talented than their record suggests, but N.C. State will again cash as a small home favorite.
3-Unit Play. #757 Tae Purdue -2.5 over Penn State
This young Boilermakers squad has come on strong of late, and against a Nittany Lions team without its best player Geary Claxton, Purdue is the play here. Penn State has struggled to score after losing their top player for the season, while Purdue has a very balanced offense that gets production from a variety of players. Lay the small number with Purdue in this one.
DOC'S
4 Unit Play. #731 Take Ohio -4 ½ over Buffalo
This is more a fade play against Buffalo, as the Bulls are off to a stellar 0-4 start in the MAC. The Bobcats have already won three road games this season and has dominated the lifetime meetings, winning 18 of 22 match-ups.
4 Unit Play. #742 Take Indiana State -8 over Evansville
The Purple Aces sit at the bottom of the standing in the MVC have yet to record a conference victory. The have already lost to a mediocre Sycamore team at home by 14 points and this number is way too low considering this game is played in Terre Haute. State is coming off a brutal road trip and will be ready for some home cooking tonight @ Hulman Center.
5 Unit Play. #757 Take Purdue -2 over Penn State
Penn State is without their all everything player in Geary Claxton, who went down with a leg injury last week. With him out, this team will have trouble competing in the Big 10. Purdue is coming off a big cash for us over the weekend, downing Illinois after a remarkable second half. They will use that momentum to start this game on fire and coast to a victory. Claxton was averaging 17.5 points per game and without him they have lost two straight and three straight conference games overall. Tonight they Superfecta is completed as we collect big in the process.
4 Unit Play. #767 Take Connecticut -2 over Cincinnati
The Huskies showed what type of team they can be on Sunday pounding an NCAA Tournament team in Marquette. The Bearcats will have trouble keeping up in scoring, as only one player on the roster is averaging in double figures. UCONN has won the only two meetings between the schools and had five players reach double figures in scoring on Sunday. Jeff Adrien will go for a double-double tonight allowing the visitors to pick up a road win.
4 Unit Play. #787 Take Baylor +9 over Texas A & M
A key game in the Big XII actually takes place between two perennial bottom feeder in Baylor and A & M. This year both team are ranked and Baylor has yet to lose a game in conference play. They have taken the monkey off their back by winning their first road game of the season in the Big XII and thus ended their long conference road losing streak. A & M is coming off back-2-back losses against bad teams in Texas Tech and Kansas State getting blown out by KSU in Manhattan over the weekend. Baylor does not lack talent and will keep this game close throughout as these two squads are evenly matched and home court alone does not warrant this big of a number.
5 Unit Play. #797 Take Northern Iowa +2 over Wichita State
The Shockers are still living on the past success as this squad does not warrant to be favored on Wednesday. The Shockers have lost four straight games and are just 1-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Three of those four losses have been bad beats and they have yet to record a conference home victory on Koch Arena this year. The Panthers have been very competitive in their losses and will use their easy win over Missouri State to propel them to a victory on Wednesday.
Gina -Sports Rumble
Portland Trail Blazers (25-16) at New Orleans Hornets (28-12)
New Orleans has won five in a row and 13 of their last 15. Go with the hot Hornets at home against the Trail Blazers. The home team has dominated this series. Portland is just 1-6 both straight-up and against the spread in its last 7 games at New Orleans.
New Orleans Hornets
Johnny Guild
Toronto Raptors (22-19) at Boston Celtics (33-6)
Toronto has won five of their last seven games, but dropped six of its last 9 on the road and has lost nine of their last 10 at Boston. Take the Celtics to contain the Raptors from scoring with their strong defensive play at TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics are allowing an average of 87 points per game. Boston has won and covered the spread in the last four clashes versus Toronto.
Boston Celtics - 9
CBB
James Madison Dukes -4
West Virginia Mountaineers -13
Stan Sharp
triple-dime bet Brigham Young -8.5 vs San Diego St
Analysis: Today all 3 of Stan's Top College Bettors have all bet BYU today. Stan agrees with this play as he has BYU Winning by 15-18 Points. TAKE BYU as STAN'S TRIPLE DIME BIG BET OF THE MONTH and make them a TRIPLE DIME PLAY.
BURNS
Main Event---Tulsa
Shocker---Miami-Fla
Pers Fave---Spurs
Blue chip---Over Rockets/Sonics
NHL Best Bet---Maple Leafs
JWhip
double-dime bet San Diego St. 9.0 vs Brigham Young
San Diego State +9 (2 Unit)
The San Diego Aztecs have won three consecutive games, and have also opened conference play at 4-0 for the first time since 1985.
The Aztecs are off to a solid 14-4 start despite the graduation of all-time leading scorer Brandon Heath.
San Diego is outscoring their conference rivals by 12 points per game: defeating Wyoming, Utah, TCU, and the solid New Mexico Lobos on the road at 9.5 point underdogs.
BYU is once again protecting its home court, going 9-0 to start the season and currently holding the nation's second-longest homecourt winning streak with 40 consecutive at the Marriott Center
No doubt the oddmakers are well aware of Brigham Young's dominance at home, as they are the prohibitive favorite in this matchup. Problem is BYU hasn't faced much competition on home this year.
BYU has been favored by an average of 21 ppg, and have failed to cover in three out of their last four at home.
This is by far the toughest the home opponent BYU has faced, and San Diego State has more then held its own against the likes of Arizona, Cal, and New Mexico.
Take the points with the Aztecs - as they are the Mountain West play of the day.
California Sports
4* Miami OH
4* Houston Cougars
3* Rhode Island
3* U Conn
3* Cleveland (NBA)
FERRINGO
7-Unit Play. Take #734 Central Florida (-3) over UTEP
Did you know that the last time the Miners left the state of Texas to play was back on December 8th? Yeah, true story. They are coming off a tough loss in a rivalry game with in-state conference foe Houston, and now have to face one of the scrappiest defensive teams in the country, as well as the clear-cut No. 2 in CUSA this year. The Knights are a better shooting team and have played a much more competitive schedule than UTEP, which has beaten just two teams – New Mexico State and SE Louisiana – inside the RPI Top 215. Yes, the Miners have played some very good teams tough on the road, but they haven’t won any of those games and all of them were played in the state of Texas. UTEP is 4-10-1 ATS in its last 15 conference games and 2-8 ATS on the road in conference play. Further, UCF is 4-1-1 ATS at home and 11-5-1 ATS at home against a team with a losing road record. Central Florida has won and covered both of its meetings against UTEP and I think their three-guard attack on the perimeter will trump UTEP’s rather one-dimensional offense of Stefon Johnson. I think the final will be 68-57 and that we’re getting a premium price on the better team.
3-Unit Play. Take #756 UNC-Wilmington (-3) over Northeastern
The Huskies have dropped six straight road games and the home team has won all three meetings in this series. The Seahawks have shot over 50 percent in each of their last two home games, including a 63-percent clip in their last outing in Wilmington, and I think they should have some success against the No. 212 FG defense in the nation. Northeastern has a very hard time putting the ball in the hole and are one of the worst 3-point shooting clubs in the country. If UNC-W can come out of the gate hot they could bury a team with a short bench, playing off a draining overtime win.
4-Unit Play. Take #726 St. Joseph’s (-5.5) over Massachusetts
The Hawks have played seven of their last eight games on the road so I’m looking for the home court to give the Hawks a boost. St. Joseph’s has been one of the best bets in the nation, posting an 8-1 ATS mark over its last nine lined games.
2-Unit Play. Take #732 Buffalo (+4.5) over Ohio
We’re catching the Bobcats in a perfect letdown spot – they just wholloped one of the best teams in the conference on Saturday and are now on the road against the last-place team in the MAC East. Well, Buffalo just happens to be a completely different team at home. The home team has covered six straight in this series, and nine of 10 overall.
2-Unit Play. Take #805 Cal-Riverside (+18) over Cal State-Fullerton
This is how it goes in the Big West – hyper-inflated favorites let scrubby teams hang around and not cover fat spreads. Fullerton already beat Riverside by 30 this season, so now Riverside has all of the motivation. I think Fullerton will sleepwalk through at least one of these halves and will allow the Highlanders to hang around. Riverside is 5-1 ATS in its last six trips to Fullerton and the road team is 9-3 ATS in this series.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #794 Tulsa (+13.5) over Memphis
Over the past two years the Golden Hurricane has played the Tigers as tough as anyone, going 2-1 ATS in the L3 and losing by just 14 points per. They play a deliberate style and if they can turn this one into a grinder they may be able to hang around. In fact, they remind me a bit of Cincinnati, one of the last teams to cover against the Tigers. Memphis is 1-4 ATS in their L5 on the road and Tulsa is 5-1 ATS in its L6 home games. Memphis has taken over 90 percent of the action in this game but the line hasn’t budged. I think this one is closer than the squares think.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #730 Rutgers (+9) over Villanova
This line jumped out at me when they were released Tuesday evening. I don’t think Villanova is any good, at all, and I think they are the most overrated team in the Top 25. They followed up a big win over in-state rival LaSalle with a loss at Depaul as a favorite. They followed up a big win over Pittsburgh with a loss at Cincinnati as a favorite. And now they are coming off a big road win at Syracuse and are DD faves headed into the RAC. I’ll take the points.
2-Unit Play. Take #742 Indiana State (-7.5) over Evansville
The Sycamore’s are 8-0 at home and the Purple Aces are 1-7 on the road. Let’s not overthink this one. ISU won the first meeting by 14 points in Evansville and should lay a big number on the Aces here. ISU is coming off two blowout losses but is 4-1 ATS in its last five home games, winning by an average of 8.8 points and covering the spread by an average of six points. Missouri Valley home favorites of 7.0 or more are 10-4 ATS in league play this year.
1-Unit Play. Take #779 Southern Illinois (+3) over Missouri State
I think the Salukis are due for a road win. Missouri State is without its top big man, so Randal Falker should have a day and open things up on the outside for Matt Shaw and Bryan Mullins. The Bears are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games.
1-Unit Play. Take #789 Missouri (+1) over Texas Tech
Matty O'Shea
Cincinnati 2.5 vs UConn
Analysis: The Cincinnati Bearcats have been money at home in Big East play, going 3-0 both SU & ATS despite being an underdog all 3 times. Their latest win came against Pitt on Saturday, as they have managed to play great defense to hold the Panthers, Villanova and Syracuse in check - all going UNDER the total as well. The UConn Huskies are just 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games, losing at both Georgetown and Notre Dame in Big East play. They have been very inconsistent this season and are coming off a monster home win over Marquette on Sunday. However, that followed a 12-point home loss to Providence as a 9-point favorite. I can't help but side with Cincy in this spot as a home dog against a conference foe and am betting them as my Single Dime Big East Underdog Play O' the Day.
ATL 5.5 vs DEN
Analysis: The Nuggets were just 7-8 SU without Carmelo Anthony last season when he was suspended 15 games for a brawl at Madison Square Garden, and they are already depleted in the frontcourt with Nene and Eduardo Najera already out. That's bad news against the Hawks, who match up very well with Denver and won the last meeting 104-93 just last Tuesday. In fact, Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings and won at Denver as a 12-point underdog last season. With Anthony likely out with an ankle injury, look for Joe Johnson to go off for the Hawks, who are 11-4 SU when he scores at least 24 points. The Nuggets also barely beat Minnesota in their last home game and are coming off a 17-point road loss to the Lakers. Take Atlanta as my Double Dime NBA Underdog Play O' the Week
Dave MAlinsky comp 4* play
GAME: Atlanta Hawks @ Denver Nuggets
PICK: under
Offered at: 201.5
REASON FOR PICK: 4* ATLANTA/DENVER Under
The oddsmakers faced the equivalent of having to take a tough shot with the clock winding down in this one, and it turned out to be an air ball. As they try to interpret the Carmelo Anthony Out/Kenyon Martin In impact on the Denver floor game, they have badly missed with this Total.
Here is the key – the Nuggets have been playing outstanding defense. Yes, outstanding. It does not show up in the points allowed but it absolutely does in terms of stopping people – they are 7th in the NBA in fewest points per possession allowed. That includes some easy conversions for the opposition that their uptempo style allows, and also a lot of games in which Martin was missing, so the reality is that they may be even better than that. The most under-rated aspect is how well Marcus Camby has been patrolling the paint, with his current blocked shot rate the best in the league since Dikembe Mutombo in 1995-96. Now with Anthony out, and Martin back in, the pace not only slows, but the defensive efficiency gets even better.
Atlanta is also an under-rated defensive side, as a solid young chemistry comes together. The Hawks are #8 in the NBA in fewest points per possession allowed, and as the season goes on they are getting even better, having allowed an average of just 88.7 points per game in regulation over their last seven outings. A team that essentially starts three power forwards in Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford is not allowing much breathing room around the basket.
Here is the real key from a value standpoint. With no Martin; with Anthony scoring 36 points; and with the Hawks shooting 52 percent from the field, these teams still went Under the Total by 12 points when they met at Atlanta last Tuesday. Tonight the pieces connect in a way that again leads to an easy Under.
Tom Stryker 5* Conference Game of the Year
TEXAS A&M (-9) over Baylor
Off a 15-point loss at Texas Tech and another 21-point drilling at Kansas State, you can bet your last dollar that Texas A&M will come to play tonight.
Quietly, the Aggies have been a force at home posting a sensational 64-6 SU record in their last 70 games. Provided "Tammy" owns four or more days of rest in their own backyard, this team trend explodes to a sensational 38-2 SU and 15-7 ATS. Texas A&M has been at its best coming off a straight up loss too. Off a blemish, the Aggies stand 18-8 SU and 16-9 ATS including 11-4 ATS in this set provided their foe checks in off a straight up win. In the event that "Tammy" is off back-to-back straight up losses (and they are), the Aggies are a superb 6-1 ATS in their last 7 tries.
Baylor enters this Big 12 battle off a road upset win at Nebraska. Now, for an encore, the Bears must travel to College Station and take on an Aggies bunch that is in a nasty mood. As a guest matched up against an opponent that arrives off back-to-back straight up losses, Baylor is a wallet-breaking 9-24 ATS!
"Tammy" plays with a bundle of confidence at home and it's catching Baylor at the perfect time.
Take Texas A&M.
BeatYourBookie
NCAA Basketball
100* Play Penn State (+2) over Purdue.
Purdue is 5-15 ATS when playing on Wednesday the last 3 seasons
Purdue is 12-26 ATS in road games coming off an OVER the total
Purdue is 38-58 ATS in road games vs. AFC Conference opponents
50* Play Baylor (+9) over Texas A&M
Baylor is 7-0 ATS in road games coming off 2 or more consecutive wins
Baylor is 2-0 ATS vs. Texas A&M on the road
Baylor is 15-2 SU in all games this year
Mike Rose
Toronto Raptors +9.0
The Celtics perfect 10-0 SU mark in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference will be put to the test tonight when the Toronto Raptors pay the “Garden” a visit. The Celtics have put forth an impeccable effort through the first half of the season that’s seen them win 33 of their 39 overall games. That mark is tops in the league for best record, but most impressive is the fact that they’ve only lost three games SU at home which is also tied for the best mark with a couple of other teams. Toronto comes into this match-up with a respectable 22-19 SU mark, which includes a 10-11 SU mark when playing the role of visitor.
Last we saw the Celtics, they dished out a hurting at MSG when they handed the Knicks a 109-93 defeat. The 16-point victory covered the 8-point spread with ease. It was the Celtics third SU win in a row and third ATS win in a row as well. Their previous two games saw them roll Philly at home 116-89 as 10.5-point home chalks, and knock a hot Portland team off by 10 at home barely managing to cover the 8-point spread. Throughout their L/10 games, the Celtics have gone 7-3 SU but just 5-5 ATS.
Toronto inexplicably lost at Philadelphia their last time out allowing the Sixers to pick up just their second win in the month of January. The Raptors have been an incredibly inconsistent team all season long, but they no doubt boast the talent to be a major player in the Eastern Conference come Playoff time. Before their loss on Saturday, the Raptors picked up a pair if victories at home over Atlanta and Sacramento and covered the mid range chalk with ease. They come into this spot losers both SU and ATS in their L/2 road games. However, their prior two road contests saw them win and cover at NY and shockingly hand the New Orleans Hornets one of their 7-home losses of the season when they won SU as 6-point road pups. You just never know what you’re going to get with this club on the road.
The Celtics opened up as 9-point home favorites with the ‘Total’ set at 184.5. The Celtics have won and covered all three of their previous match-ups this season, so it’s safe to say Toronto will bring its “A” game with them tonight hoping to avoid the regular season sweep at the hands of their division rivals.