POINTWISE
OLD DOMINION RATING: 1
WISC-MILWAUKEE RATING: 3
FLORIDA RATING: 5
NBA
CLEVELAND RATING: 4
ATLANTA RATING: 4
WISCONSIN over *Illinois...In a near pick ‘em game, must buck hugely disappointing Illinois still seeking its 1st hump victory of year vs. a quality Big Ten squad. Won’t happen vs. a tough-minded, smartly-coached, defensively-fierce Wisconsin squad (allowing Big 10-low 54 ppg) looking to bolster its NCAA seeding following upset home loss vs. Purdue Feb. 9. Illini has been shaky at PG all season, and that problem clearly remains vs. superb Wiscy Gs Hughes (14 ppg) & Flowers (9 ppg, 4 rpg), a defensive specialist who’ll pester any Illinois shooter who might get a “hot hand.” By the way, Weber’s squad still can’t make FTs (60%, only 8 of 17 on Feb. 7).
WISCONSIN 73 - *Illinois 61 RATING -11
ATS Consultants
Newsletter Plays
(Best Bets 3 units, Preferred Plays 2 units)
Hoops
Phoenix over the LA Lakers 115-102 Best Bet
This has to be one of NBA’s games of the year. Shaq is back in the West and now faces his old teammate and now adversary in Kobe Bryant. The Lakers, even with Pau Gasol, don’t have the size to stay with Shaq and the Suns will be motivated to put a stamp on this very important Western Conference game.
Northeastern covers over VCU 68-70 Best Bet
VCU is the best team in the CAA, but Northeastern is one of the best home teams in the league. It’s never easy to travel from Richmond to Boston to play in cold Matthews Arena. Matt Janning and Manny Adako lead the talented Huskies, who for whatever reason, play like a champ at home.
Indiana Pacers over Cleveland 99-91-Pref.
Richmond over Charlotte 71-64-Pref.
Hofstra over Towson 74-60-Pref.
Hockey
Over in the San Jose/New Jersey Game - Pref.
Washington over NY Islanders - Pref.
JEFFERSONSPORTS
LAKERS +5
College Cappers
CBB
55 Dime - Wisconsin -2
45 Dime - West Virginia -1.5
40 Dime - Butler -4
35 Dime - Marquette -7
Free Pick - North Texas -1.5
Mighty Quinn
George Mason -15.5
Karl Garrett
VCU -4' at NORTHEASTERN
Winner on the Kings last night for free, as the G-Man makes it a 25-17 comp play run.
The G-Man goes to the Colonial Conference tonight, as I like the Rams of Virginia Commonwelth to record their 20th win of the season.
VCU is on a 17-8-1 spread run their last 26 games, and they did hammer Northeastern 66-44 back on January 8th as the 17-point chalk.
This number seems rather small to me considering the Huskies are just 12-13 for the year, and they have covered just 3 of 8 games on line at home this year.
The Rams need to get this win, as their weekend upset loss at home to Old Dominion doesn't sit too well from the resume building stand point as we head down to the wire towards March Madness.
VCU has gone 7-5 against the spread on the road this year, and the G-Man is all over them tonight to cover this impost and notch win #20 on the year.
3* VCU
Chris Jordan
North Carolina -8' at N.C. STATE
The Tar Heels showed they’re healing slowly and making strides in this final stretch of ACC play.
Since the home loss to Duke, North Carolina has won three straight, covering two of them, and is still 12-0 on the road this season. It’s also covered eight of those games, and is 5-1 SU the last six meetings in this intra-state rivalry.
That includes a 31-point win earlier this season, at Chapel Hill, and now we’re laying single digits in Raleigh. NC State has lost three straight on the wood and versus bookmakers, and now catches a resurgent Tar Heel team at the wrong time.
NC State is mired in an 8-26 skid in its last 34 home games, and is in a 5-17 slump in its last 22 overall. Lay the road chalk in this one.
1* NORTH CAROLINA
Sports Gambling Hotline
Wisconsin -1' at ILLINOIS
On a 106-84-4 comp play run as we head to the hardwood on Wednesday.
Tonight we will go with Wisconsin minus the small number at Illinois. The Badgers have rebounded nicely after their home loss to Purdue with a pair of conference wins and covers, and Bo Ryan's gang is a positive 6-3 against the spread on the road this season.
Illinois has dropped 4 of their last 5 both straight up, and against the spread, and the Illini are a money-burning 3-8-1 against the spread at home this season.
Looking at the series numbers, it is Wisconsin that has reeled off the last three meetings, covering in two of those three.
With the road team having covered in 6 of the last 8, we have no issue laying a few points with the Badgers on the road tonight.
Play on Bucky Badger in this Big 10 showdown.
5* WISCONSIN
Bobby Maxwell
Utah +8' at BYU
Hit five of our last six FREE plays and today we're on the college hardwood with a play on Utah as the Utes take on their rivals, BYU. The Utes will keep this one close as they battle the Cougars.
These two rivals know each other all too well and most of the time when these two get together it's going to be a close game. BYU scored a 55-52 win in Salt Lake City on Jan. 19 as three-point underdogs and now have to cover a big number tonight in Provo, Utah.
Of the last 10 matchups, this is the third largest spread between these two teams and Utah comes in having won four straight (3-1 ATS) and five of their last six (4-2 ATS). The Utes have won two straight on the road, beating Colorado State and Air Force, cashing as road favorites both times.
BYU has rattled off eight straight wins and just stomped UNLV at home on Saturday 74-48 as 6 1/2-point favorites.
Rivalry games always come out a lot closer than the bookmakers expect, so let's grab all these points tonight with the Utes as both teams are playing well right now. Look for this one to be close down to the final buzzer.
3* UTAH
Nelly
Florida Atlantic - over Florida International
Florida International won the first meeting between these budding rivals but the Panthers shot nearly 56 percent in that game, including 58 percent from 3-point range. Those numbers are not likely to repeat for a Panthers squad that is 0-9 S/U on the road this season. Florida Atlantic has won nine of twelve home games and after starting the season 5-13, the Owls have won seven of the last nine games. Florida Atlantic is 5-1 in conference home games with the lone loss coming against division leader South Alabama and the Owls are averaging 77 points per game at home this season. This will also be a second-straight road game for Florida International and the game lines up well for Florida Atlantic as the Owls will be motivated coming off an ugly loss. Florida Atlantic swept all three meetings last season and can avenge the early season loss with a big win tonight.
James Patrick Sports
Auburn vs. Tennessee
The Vols have their attention on their Saturday Night encounter with Number One Memphis. Our Wednesday complimentary selection is #561 Auburn Tigers to hang inside the generous number in their SEC showdown in Knoxville against the Volunteers.
Marc Lawrence
Play On: Philadelphia 76ers
Note: Sixers return home off last night's 13-point road loss at Minnesota to take on the Knicks in an NBA East Division battle in the City of Brotherly Love. Rest assured there is no love lost between these two rivals. Philadelphia will look to avenge an 89-81 loss suffered a month ago at New York knowing they are 5-0 ATS in this series when playing off a SU favorite loss and the Knicks off a win. What makes this play click, however, is the fact that New York is off a same season revenge win last night at Washington with a same season revenger up next against Toronto. That makes this a delectable 'revenge sandwich', and we'll bite. Stay at home with the Sixers tonight.
Jim Feist
My free pick of the day is the game between (515) ATL Hawks and (516) SAC Kings. Take "(515) ATL Hawks". Interesting game with guard Mike Bibby coming back to Sacramento after getting traded last week. The 10-year player brings a career scoring average of 16.7 points per game and much-needed leadership to a team desperately in need of a solid veteran leader. The Kings are in rebuilding mode, battling injuries and unhappiness all season. Sacramento is 5-11 ATS as a favorite. The Hawks are chasing a playoff spot in the wretched East, while the Kings are going nowhere in the rugged West. Play the Hawks!!
Dave Cokin
My free pick of the day is the game between (613) Santa Barbara and (614) Pacific. Take "(613) Santa Barbara". Creighton came through as Dave's top Tuesday play, and he's got another powerhouse play for Wednesday that's on the house. Call now to get that FREE WINNER, along with North Carolina-NC State, plus the next five days of Dave's Under the Hat selections. It's all FREE at 1-888-389-7223!..."UC Santa Barbara ran into Pacific on an incredibly hot shooting night by the Tigers, and they ended up saddling the Gauchos with a decisive home court defeat in their earlier meeting. I like the chances of UCSB turning the tables tonight. The Gauchos have done a good job on the Big West road, and this game rates virtually dead even on my numbers. Add in the motivating factor for the road team, and it's a decent spot. UC Santa Barbara plus the points."
Vegas Experts Tip of The day
Atlanta Hawks at Sacramento Kings
Hawks drop in class following atrocious 29-point loss at the Lakers last night. Kings came up with a rare road win last night in Portland now come home to face a team they just completed a major trade with. That has to be a distraction and the Kings get distracted enough, going 19-33 ATS as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
Play on: Atlanta
Steve Merril
Auburn vs. Tennessee
Play: Auburn
Auburn is coming off an impressive outright win as a 12-point road underdog at Mississippi and the Tigers should continue their momentum as they now fit a solid 42-19 ATS big underdog situation tonight. Auburn has the characteristics of a solid road team as they shoot 47.4% from the field this season, including 49.7% FG on the road, and the Tigers commit only 14 turnovers per game. Tennessee is coming off seven straight conference wins, including a hard-fought 74-71 win at Georgia last Saturday, and the #2 ranked Volunteers have a huge look-ahead game on deck at #1 Memphis on Saturday. Tennessee will likely get the win tonight, but they will struggle to cover this large pointspread, especially against an Auburn squad that prefers a slow-down, half-court style.
Jimmy The Moose
Game: Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks
Prediction: Minnesota Wild
Reason: Both team's played and came up short last night. Minnesota has won 4 of their last 5 road games. The Wild are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Central Division opponents. In their last 52 games vs. a team with a losing record the Wild are 36-16. Chicago has lost 5 of their last 7 home games. The Blackhawks are 8-18 in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Minnesota has won their last 4 trips to Chicago. The Wild are 19-5-1 in the last 25 meetings with Chicago. Play on the Minnesota Wild
Vegas Sports Pics
Richmond Spiders + 1 over Charlotte 49ers
Charlotte (14-10, 5-5) at Richmond (13-10, 6-4) enters off a 69-66 win at (16-8) Duquesne, holding the A-10's top scoring team 13 points below its average. Spiders won at 49ers 64-58 on 02/02.
West Virginia Mountaineers - 1 over (at) Villanova Wildcats
Villanova (15-9, 5-7) vs.West Virginia (18-7, 7-5) is 3-1 last four road games, the loss coming at No.25 Pittsburgh 55-54 on 02/07. Mountaineers are 3-0 over Wildcats over last three seasons.
UAB Blazers - 3.5 over Houston Cougars
Houston (19-5, 8-2) at UAB (17-8, 7-3) is 11-1 at home off losing to No.1 (25-0) Memphis 79-78 on Saturday. The Blazers are 3-0 (2-1 ATS) over the Cougars last three home meetings.
Wisconsin Badgers - 1.5 over (at) Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois (11-15, 3-10) vs. Wisconsin (21-4, 11-2) is 6-1 last seven road games including wins at No.7 Texas 67-66 and at No.15 Indiana 68-66. Badgers have won last three meetings.
Mike Wynn
Richmond +1½
Razor Sharp
FLORIDA -9
Total 4 U
MEMPHIS/L.A. CLIPPERS UNDER 198
BIG TIME SPORTS
GRIZZLIES / CLIPPERS UNDER 197
#1 Sports
ORLANDO MAGIC + 5 1/2
Computer Sports
DETROIT TITANS +9 1/2
Nevada Sharpshooter
TULSA -18
Huddle Up Sports
North Carolina -9
TV Hotline
ILL. ST. -9
HD Action Hotline
1* Villanova +1
Vegas Steamline
Illinois St -9
Madduxsports
Bradley +7
Josh Dean
20* Philly -6
10* N Iowa +8.5
10* Marquette -7.5
10* S. Florida +8
5* Youngstown St. +2
5* Hawks +6
Free B: Duke -6