Rob Veno
Golden State -9
UAB +5.5
Blue Chip: Florida Over 137
UTEP Over 142
Washington Over 145.5
Fairway Jay
20* Big Drive: Xavier -8.5 (712)
Big Drive: Bradley -6 (668)
ANALYSIS: CBI Tournament underdogs were the way to go on Tuesday, but this is a ‘Fairway Favorite’ that can extend and get us the ‘green’. Cincinnati (13-18) is the only tournament team to be included in the field with a losing record. The Bearcats overachieved at times this season, but ran out of gas down the stretch while losing six-straight contests. Sophomore guard Deonta Vaughn has been the go-to guy, but now faces a Bradley team that is fully healthy with quick, explosive guard play led by senior star and consummate point guard Daniel Ruffin (15 ppg/6 apg). Shooting guard Andrew Warren (13 ppg) returns to the lineup after missing the last five games with a broken hand. Along with guards Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch (15 ppg), the Braves pose a potent perimeter scoring attack. The Braves will pressure the ball and force turnovers as MVC leaders in steals, assists, scoring and 3-pointers made. Bradley has been a very solid performer on their home court, going 32-10 SU and 27-14 ATS the past three years led by Ruffin. Adding to the support of the Braves is a better than 67% situation favoring rested and focused home teams in this price range that lost the first game of their conference tournament. Cincinnati’s shot just 41% in conference play, and expect the Bearcats slide to continue and their season finally end. Take Bradley.
New Orleans -5
ANALYSIS: Rockets incredible winning streak came to an end with a Boston 'bombing' last night, and now Houston is going into a 'Hornets nest' in a terrible letdown spot back-to-back. Take the most improved team in the West to continue their strong surge and ‘together’ play, as a win gives New Orleans the best record in the Western Conference.
Seattle +10.5
ANALYSIS: Long term solid situational support on the struggling Sonics, who have played no defense during their current 8-game slide. Enter the high-scoring Suns, who have won five-straight games and look to be coming together and more comfortable with ‘Shaq’ in the lineup. Phoenix has shot ‘lights out’ their last two games at 55% and 60%. Looks easy going against this Seattle defense and the sliding Sonic ‘slumpers’, doesn’t it? Phoenix is playing back-to-back games following win at Portland Tuesday night. Do you have the 'balls' to back Seattle following recent embarrassment at Denver? Contrary call on big home 'Dog
Tulsa Under 121
ANALYSIS: Leading scorer Michael Bramos out for Miami, Ohio, and coach Coles and interim Henderson like to see the Redhawks run through their offense and Miami values possessions with their weaving, methodical half-court sets. Look at recent results vs. Kent and last season's NCAA tourney loss to high-scoring Oregon (58-56) and you'll see Miami is able to slow and control pace while demanding defensive effort. Tulsa coach Wojcek also preaches defense to the Hurricanes, who allowed just 41% shooting in Conference USA play and were the no. 2 scoring defense. They have a dominant shot-blocker in Jerome Jordan and will minimize second-chance opportunities. This looks like a contest where the first team to 55 points wins. Play 'under' the total
ER Sports
Playmaker: Charlotte +5.5
New Orleans -5
FERRINGO
2.5-Unit Play. Take Texas El-Paso (-1.5) over Utah
2-Unit Play. Take Tulsa (-4) over Miami, OH
2-Unit Play. Take Utah State (+8) over Illinois State
2-Unit Play. Take Morgan State (+17) over Virginia Tech
2-Unit Play. Take Charlotte (+9.5) over Nebraska
STRIKE POINT SPORTS
3-Unit Play. Take Charlotte +9.5 over Nebraska
Since when do the Cornhuskers deserve to be favorites by this much? Certainly not here. Charlotte finished the regular season and A-10 tournament winning five of its last six games, going 5-1 ATS in that push as well. The 49ers have been a moneymaker this year, going 18-11-1 ATS all season, while Nebraska was just 11-12. Charlotte is the better offensive team, and they'll cover this big number in Lincoln.
2-Unit Play. Take New Mexico +4 over California
8-2 both in their last ten and ATS, the Lobos are headed in the right direction to finish the year, while Cal concluded the regular season and Pac-10 tournament just 2-8. The Lobos, just the same, have made backers some good money, posting a 22-8-1 ATS mark this year. A very balanced team, New Mexico can get up and down all game and play with a very efficient high scoring attack. The better team is getting points, and I think they take this outright.
3-Unit Play. Take Charlotte +9.5 over Nebraska
2-Unit Play. Take New Mexico +4 over California
DOC'S
4 Unit Play. Take Charlotte +9 ½ over Nebraska
The Huskers have trouble scoring points and thus will not be able to cover this inflated number. The 49ers are averaging seventy points per game and shoot it pretty well from long range led by Goldwire. Nebraska has the edge inside the paint, but the 49ers will keep in this game throughout and I feel have a realistic chance to pull the straight-up upset.
3 Unit Play.Take Valparaiso +10 over Washington
The Huskies should not even be in postseason play and the Crusaders will come in determined to pull the upset. UW is banged up with Jon Brockman and if he does play he will certainly not be 100%. The Huskies enter this contest having lost four of their last five games and cannot wait for this season to end. The Crusaders have good balance and will keep this game close and getting double-digits makes this the only side to consider.
ATS Lock Club
6 Tulsa
4 UAB
3 Hornets
4 Sharks
3 Dallas
Matty O'Shea
NBA Sides Double-Dime Bet
CLE vs DET
Analysis: The Cavs have dropped three of their last four games both SU & ATS, but all of those losses were on the road. They have won seven in a row at home - going 4-3 ATS - since dropping three in a row at the Quicken Loans Arena, all against Western Conference opponents. Cleveland is 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings with the Pistons and will be playing with revenge after losing by 35 points at Detroit back in November. Cavs star LeBron James did not play the second half of that game after spraining his left index finger, turning a five-point game at halftime into a blowout. This will also be the first meeting between Cleveland's Ben WaLlace and his former team as a member of the Cavs. Wallace enjoyed a lot of regular-season success against the Pistons as a member of the Bulls, winning six of his last seven meetings with them before getting traded to Cleveland. Detroit is just 4-10 ATS in its last 14 road games, and the Cavs have dominated Central Division opponents with a 17-6 ATS mark in their last 23. Bet Cleveland as my DoubLe Dime NBA TV Play O' the Week.
Gina
Denver Nuggets (40-27) at Philadelphia 76ers (33-34)
The Nuggets have not played well away from home, dropping four straight and seven of its last eight on the road, just 12-20 this season. Meanwhile, the hot 76ers have won 10 of its last 12 home games, going 11-1 ATS. Go with 76ers tonight at the Wachovia Center. Philadelphia has won and covered the spread in seven of their last eight games.
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers - 3
Phoenix (45-22) at Seattle (16-51) Under - 228½
Mr. A
Philadelphia 76ers - 3
Orlando Magic - 8
Seattle SuperSonics + 10½
Rocketman Sports
NCAAB
3* Cincinnati +6
1* VCU
1* Mississippi
1* Florida
1* UNCC
1* Miami Ohio
1* Utah
1* Valparaiso
NHL
3* New Jersey -140
WILL SYKES
CHARLOTTE vs INDIANA
SYKE-O-ANALYSIS: The Bobcats have already played this same Indiana team twice, winning both games and covering both lines. Now that the Cats go to Indiana and face the same team with just about the same record and getting points, gives me no reason to doubt the Bobcats. The Pacers haven't impressed me all season and they won't impress me tonight. As the last time the Bobcats played, their star J-Rich only nailed 8 points who averages 20 ppg and the Cats finally stuck Gerald Wallace back into the starting line up to get more minutes, today he should be back in the line up ready to play along side J-Rich. Look for this team to keep it close and get the cover. Don't be psyched by the odds makers today, just stick with Sykes and you won't be psyched.
Charlotte Bobcats +5
Wunderdog
Game: Detroit at Cleveland
Pick: Game Total UNDER 185.5 -110
The Pistons gave up more points last night to Denver than to any team they have faced all season, but they also scored more than they have against any team all season. It really fills the pot chock full of value for tonight's games in Cleveland. The scoring explosion makes the odds-makers rachet it up a notch, from where this total should really be. The general public is thinking big after last nights explosion, as evidenced by this line climbing. Think again! These teams are the epitomy of low scoring teams. The last seven times these teams have met in Cleveland, all have gone UNDER the total! They aren't sneaking under the total either. The last six have gone UNDER by at least 15 points! The games these teams have played in Detroit have been no different. The last 10 times they have met, and the game did not go into overtime, every single one went UNDER. That is 17-0 UNDER the last 17 times these teams have met in a regular season game that did not go OT! The 10 played in Detroit did not eke under the total either, as the average margin under the total has been 15.2 ppg! The 17 games played have seen the highest output between these teams to be 183! The average total points in the 17 games has been 168.8ppg. Detroit has been at their defensive best, after the rare game in which they give up triple digits. They have done so 18 times this season, and have come back to play 12 of 18 under in their next game (67%). The last 14 times they have given up 100+, they have allowed just 86.4 ppg to teams that average 97.3 ppg. That's 12.3 points less than their opponents normally average! These teams combined on the season have played UNDER in 34 of 58 games (59%) when the total is posted in the 180s. Another ugly defensive struggle is in order, and we will play UNDER in this one.
Game: New York Yankees at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh +123 (moneyline)
The Yankees travelled to Blacksburg, VA yesterday to play a charity game against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The entire team made the trip except for Matsui, Rivera (two innings yesterday against minor leaguers) Mussina and Molina. It is likely since all the starters went on the trip, that most will not take to the road again tonight against the Pirates. It will be Phil Hughes vs. Matt Morris and we will take the Pirates here against what should be a lot of secondary Yankee players.
Game: Arizona at Seattle
Pick: Arizona +116 (moneyline)
Micah Owings will face Jarrod Washburn in a game under the lights tonight. The Diamondbacks have been producing a lot of runs this spring, as have the Mariners. Neither team has pitched well, and we look for the D-Backs' bats to stay hot. This game looks to be a high-scoring affair and we will take the D-Backs to out-slug the M's for the win
Ben Burns NHL
NEW JERSEY
Game: New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils Game Time: 3/19/2008 7:05:00 PM Prediction: New Jersey Devils Reason: I'm laying the price with NEW JERSEY. The Devils come in on a major roll, having gone 5-1 their last six and 14-4-3 since the beginning of February. Having lost all five games against the Rangers this season, they've got major "payback" on their minds. They've also got the schedule in their favor. While the Rangers played yesterday, the Devils haven't played since 3/15. That's worth noting as the Devils are 7-3 on the season when playing with three or more day's rest in between games while the Rangers are 6-8 when playing the second of back to back games. Off a 4-2 win over Colorado last time out, look for the Devils to improve to 10-0 when coming off a non-conference game.
CHICAGO
Game: Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks Game Time: 3/19/2008 8:35:00 PM Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks Reason: I'm laying the price with CHICAGO. The situation favors the Hawks here as they've had the past couple of nights off while the Capitals played last night and are now playing their third game in the past four nights. Note that the Capitals are 0-3 the last three times that they played the second of back to back games, failing to score more than two goals in any of those losses. Looking back further and we find them at 20-33 (-6.4) over the past three seasons, when playing the second of back to back games and a money-burning 73-109 (-32.4) over the past decade. Conversely, the Hawks have thrived when playing with two days off in between games, going 13-6 (+7.7) on the season. I look for the Hawks, who have won two straight in this series, to be the fresher team tonight. They're still mathematically alive (although it would take a miracle) for the playoffs and I also look for them to deliver a highly motivated effort, en route to earning a badly needed two points.
WAYNE ROOT
Chairman - New Mexico
Millionaire - Nebraska
Money Maker - VCU
No Limit - Cleve Cavs