Jim Feist
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS / TORONTO RAPTORS
Take Under
Teams coming out of the break aren't always in synch offensively, as they've been sitting for a while. In this game, neither team played yesterday, so they've been idle for almost a week. Cleveland coach Mike Brown may have LeBron James and Mo Williams to work with, but don't forget this is the top defensive team in the league, allowing 91 ppg. The point guard has become the perfect running mate for James, but note the Cavs are on a 4-2 run under the total. Toronto has all kinds of offensive problems, on a 2-1 run under the total. They scored 70 in a loss to Memphis and under 93 points in 6 of the last 8 games. Don't look for much offense, play the Cavaliers/Raptors under the total.
Mr. East
Colorado vs. Nebraska
Play: Under 119½
All you have to do is look what the Nebraska team has done on the season at home on the defensive end. They have played 16 at home, and have held opponents to 55.9ppg. It is a product of tough defense, and a methodical style, that keeps scores, and opponents down. Sometimes those numbers can be misleading, but not in this case. They held Texas to 55 here, and that was the lowest Longhorn output in 102 games. They held Missouri here to 51. That was the Tigers losest output in 76 games. They held Kansas St. here to 51, their lowest output in 78 games. Those are some eye-opening numbers for sure. Colorado is not an offensive team as it is, and I don't see them making it to 55 here, which would say that the Cornhuskers are going to have to do a lot of scoring, and their offense has managed just 53.3ppg in their last 3, so they aren't a team to feel comfortable with scoring a lot of points. Colorado more than content to play slow-ball, as they are 23-11-2 in their last 36 games, playing UNDER the total, and in their last 26 as an UNDERDOG of 7-12.5, they have played UNDER in 20 out of 26. Cornhusker's "D" at home has provided 10 of the last 11 cashing in on the UNDER, and the history between these two teams has followed suit, as 4 of the last 5 have okayed to the UNDER as well. I hit with the freebie yesterday on Penn +3, and I like this one to go UNDER the posted total.
Rob Vinciletti
Utah U vs. Colorado State
Play:Utah U -8½
On Wednesday night the comp play is on Utah.Game 601 at 8pm eastern.Utah comes in here just missing the late phone cut.They have covered all 3 times as a road favorite in this range.They are 7-0 su and 5-2 ats after allowing 60 or less,and have won all 4 games theyve played in February.Colorado.St is just 5-13 vs winning teams,3-13 as a dog this year and 3-8 in conference play this year.Col.St is not very good.Look for Utah to get the win and cover.For some solid college hoops angle plays consider the 28-3,24-4, and 14-1 angle plays on my page now.We are up over 125 units in hoops this year documented,and 4-0 in college hoops the last 2 nights.Back Utah as the free play on Wednesday.
DUNKEL
Chicago at Milwaukee
The Bulls look to build on their 3-0 ATS mark in road games where the total is 210 or greater. Chicago is the pick (-1) according to Dunkel, which has the Bulls favored by 3. Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-1).
Game 501-502: Cleveland at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 120.987; Toronto 118.005
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 3; 193
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 503-504: Indiana at Charlotte
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 116.202; Charlotte 120.091
Dunkel Line & Total: Charlotte by 4; 204 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 505-506: Minnesota at Miami
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 113.992; Miami 119.454
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 5 1/2; 202
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 9 1/2; 196 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+9 1/2); Over
Game 507-508: Chicago at Milwaukee
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 120.325; Milwaukee 117.285
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 3; 215
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 210
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-1); Over
Game 509-510: Orlando at New Orleans
Dunkel Ratings: Orlando 123.160; New Orleans 123.470
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 194
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 1 1/2; 190
Dunkel Pick: Orlando (+1 1/2); Over
Game 511-512: Denver at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 122.463; Philadelphia 118.852
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 3 1/2; 194
Vegas Line & Total: Pick; 203
Dunkel Pick: Denver; Under
Game 513-514: New Jersey at Dallas
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 114.100; Dallas 126.155
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 12; 195 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 7; 196 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-7); Under
Game 515-516: Memphis at Portland
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 110.873; Portland 124.671
Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 14; 201 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A;
Game 517-518: Atlanta at Sacramento
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 114.802; Sacramento 111.310
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 3 1/2; 201
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A;
Game 519-520: LA Lakers at Golden State
Dunkel Ratings: LA Lakers 123.944; Golden State 125.420
Dunkel Line & Total: Golden State by 1 1/2; 230 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 521-522: Phoenix at LA Clippers
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 115.250; LA Clippers 115.790
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 210
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
NCAAB
Penn State at Illinois
The Illini look to use their stingy defense (53.4 ppg allowed at home) to take advantage of a Penn State team that has lost five of its last seven ATS against good defensive teams (<=64 points per game allowed). Illinois is the pick (-9) according to Dunkel, which has the Illini favored by 11 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Illinois (-9).
Game 523-524: Fordham at Temple
Dunkel Ratings: Fordham 40.022; Temple 68.059
Dunkel Line: Temple by 28
Vegas Line: Temple by 25
Dunkel Pick: Temple (-25)
Game 525-526: Old Dominion at NC Wilmington
Dunkel Ratings: Old Dominion 56.791; NC Wilmington 47.624
Dunkel Line: Old Dominion by 9
Vegas Line: Old Dominion by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NC Wilmington (+10 1/2)
Game 527-528: Ball State at Toledo
Dunkel Ratings: Ball State 51.418; Toledo 48.6433
Dunkel Line: Ball State by 3
Vegas Line: Ball State by 1
Dunkel Pick: Ball State (-1)
Game 529-530: Rhode Island at Massachusetts
Dunkel Ratings: Rhode Island 63.574; Massachusetts 61.058
Dunkel Line: Rhode Island by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Rhode Island by 1
Dunkel Pick: Rhode Island (-1)
Game 531-532: Youngtown State at Cleveland State
Dunkel Ratings: Youngstown State 53.581; Cleveland State 66.083
Dunkel Line: Cleveland State by 12 1/2
Vegas Line: Cleveland State by 15 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Youngstown State (+15 1/2)
Game 533-534: Drexel at George Mason
Dunkel Ratings: Drexel 54.017; George Mason 65.824
Dunkel Line: George Mason by 12
Vegas Line: George Mason by 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: George Mason (-8 1/2)
Game 535-536: Bowling Green at Buffalo
Dunkel Ratings: Bowling Green 53.698; Buffalo 61.374
Dunkel Line: Buffalo by 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Buffalo by 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Bowling Green (+8 1/2)
Game 537-538: Miami (OH) at Akron
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (OH) 59.638; Akron 60.782
Dunkel Line: Akron by 1
Vegas Line: Akron by 3
Dunkel Pick: Miami (OH) (+3)
Game 539-540: James Madison at Hofstra
Dunkel Ratings: James Madison 54.005; Hofstra 58.005
Dunkel Line: Hofstra by 4
Vegas Line: Hofstra by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Hofstra (-2 1/2)
Game 541-542: William & Mary at Towson
Dunkel Ratings: William & Mary 45.431; Towson 52.274
Dunkel Line: Towson by 7
Vegas Line: Towson by 3
Dunkel Pick: Towson (-3)
Game 543-544: Delaware at VA Commonwealth
Dunkel Ratings: Delaware 49.879; VA Commonwealth 61.758
Dunkel Line: VA Commonwealth by 12
Vegas Line: VA Commonwealth by 14
Dunkel Pick: Delaware (+14)
Game 545-546: Miami (FL) at Florida State
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (FL) 69.678; Florida State 69.452
Dunkel Line: Even
Vegas Line: Florida State by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (FL) (+2 1/2)
Game 547-548: Northern Illinois at Central Michigan
Dunkel Ratings: Northern Illinois 46.077; Central Michigan 53.515
Dunkel Line: Central Michigan by 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Central Michigan by 7
Dunkel Pick: Central Michigan (-7)
Game 549-550: Houston at Marshall
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 66.542; Marshall 58.744
Dunkel Line: Houston by 8
Vegas Line: Houston by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (-5 1/2)
Game 551-552: Richmond at LaSalle
Dunkel Ratings: Richmond 54.538; LaSalle 62.951
Dunkel Line: LaSalle by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: LaSalle by 5
Dunkel Pick: LaSalle (-5)
Game 553-554: Georgetown at South Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Georgetown 64.521; South Florida 60.842
Dunkel Line: Georgetown by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Georgetown by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: South Florida (+5 1/2)
Game 555-556: Notre Dame at West Virginia
Dunkel Ratings: Notre Dame 68.836; West Virginia 74.856
Dunkel Line: West Virginia by 6
Vegas Line: West Virginia by 9
Dunkel Pick: Notre Dame (+9)
Game 557-558: Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Michigan 45.275; Western Michigan 53.395
Dunkel Line: Western Michigan by 8
Vegas Line: Western Michigan by 10
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Michigan (+10)
Game 559-560: Penn State at Illinois
Dunkel Ratings: Penn State 61.684; Illinois 73.151
Dunkel Line: Illinois by 11 1/2
Vegas Line: Illinois by 9
Dunkel Pick: Illinois (-9)
Game 561-562: Alabama at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Alabama 58.976; Florida 69.012
Dunkel Line: Florida by 10
Vegas Line: Florida by 14
Dunkel Pick: Alabama (+14)
Game 563-564: Georgia State at Northeastern
Dunkel Ratings: Georgia State 45.722; Northeastern 62.123
Dunkel Line: Northeastern by 16 1/2
Vegas Line: Northeastern by 13 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Northeastern (-13 1/2)
Game 565-566: Georgia Tech at Wake Forest
Dunkel Ratings: Georgia Tech 58.975; Wake Forest 73.436
Dunkel Line: Wake Forest by 14 1/2
Vegas Line: Wake Forest by 14
Dunkel Pick: Wake Forest (-14)
Game 567-568: Providence at Louisville
Dunkel Ratings: Providence 62.274; Louisville 78.681
Dunkel Line: Louisville by 16 1/2
Vegas Line: Louisville by 13
Dunkel Pick: Louisville (-13)
Game 569-570: Auburn at Georgia
Dunkel Ratings: Auburn 59.390; Georgia 59.540
Dunkel Line: Even
Vegas Line: Auburn by 3
Dunkel Pick: Georgia (+3)
Game 571-572: Butler at WI-Milwaukee
Dunkel Ratings: Butler 67.684; WI-Milwaukee 59.250
Dunkel Line: Butler by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Butler by 5
Dunkel Pick: Butler (-5)
Game 573-574: Air Force at TCU
Dunkel Ratings: Air Force 47.471; TCU 61.041
Dunkel Line: TCU by 13 1/2
Vegas Line: TCU by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: TCU (-10 1/2)
Game 575-576: NC State at North Carolina
Dunkel Ratings: NC State 61.206; North Carolina 83.772
Dunkel Line: North Carolina by 22 1/2
Vegas Line: North Carolina by 20
Dunkel Pick: North Carolina (-20)
Game 577-578: LSU at Arkansas
Dunkel Ratings: LSU 70.077; Arkansas 65.256
Dunkel Line: LSU by 5
Vegas Line: LSU by 4
Dunkel Pick: LSU (-4)
Game 579-580: UTEP at Rice
Dunkel Ratings: UTEP 62.828; Rice 57.718
Dunkel Line: UTEP by 5
Vegas Line: UTEP by 6
Dunkel Pick: Rice (+6)
Game 581-582: Wichita State at Illinois State
Dunkel Ratings: Wichita State 57.495; Illinois State 64.933
Dunkel Line: Illinois State by 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Illinois State by 10
Dunkel Pick: Wichita State (+10)
Game 583-584: Iowa State at Kansas
Dunkel Ratings: Iowa State 55.965; Kansas 76.537
Dunkel Line: Kansas by 20 1/2
Vegas Line: Kansas by 18 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas (-18 1/2)
Game 585-586: Virginia Tech at Virginia
Dunkel Ratings: Virginia Tech 64.589; Virginia 63.482
Dunkel Line: Virginia Tech by 1
Vegas Line: Virginia by 1
Dunkel Pick: Virginia Tech (+1)
Game 587-588: South Carolina at Mississippi State
Dunkel Ratings: South Carolina 65.156; Mississippi State 70.570
Dunkel Line: Mississippi State by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Mississippi State by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Mississippi State (-2 1/2)
Game 589-590: Tennessee at Mississippi
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee 69.642; Mississippi 65.490
Dunkel Line: Tennessee by 4
Vegas Line: Tennessee by 5
Dunkel Pick: Mississippi (+5)
Game 591-592: Indiana State at Southern Illinois
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana State 56.770; Southern Illinois 58.742
Dunkel Line: Southern Illinois by 2
Vegas Line: Southern Illinois by 8
Dunkel Pick: Indiana State (+8)
Game 593-594: Wright State at Illinois-Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Wright State 60.056; Illinois-Chicago 58.856
Dunkel Line: Wright State by 1
Vegas Line: Illinois-Chicago by 3
Dunkel Pick: Wright State (+3)
Game 595-596: SMU at Memphis
Dunkel Ratings: SMU 50.777; Memphis 80.823
Dunkel Line: Memphis by 30
Vegas Line: Memphis by 26
Dunkel Pick: Memphis (-26)
Game 597-598: Valparaiso at WI-Green Bay
Dunkel Ratings: Valparaiso 54.102; WI-Green Bay 64.520
Dunkel Line: WI-Green Bay by 10 1/2
Vegas Line: WI-Green Bay by 12
Dunkel Pick: Valparaiso (+12)
Game 599-600: UAB at Tulane
Dunkel Ratings: UAB 64.122; Tulane 57.686
Dunkel Line: UAB by 6 1/2
Vegas Line: UAB by 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tulane (+7 1/2)
Game 601-602: Utah at Colorado State
Dunkel Ratings: Utah 65.934; Colorado State 58.336
Dunkel Line: Utah by 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Utah by 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado State (+8 1/2)
Game 603-604: Drake at Northern Iowa
Dunkel Ratings: Drake 56.652; Northern Iowa 66.539
Dunkel Line: Northern Iowa by 10
Vegas Line: Northern Iowa by 8
Dunkel Pick: Northern Iowa (-8)
Game 605-606: Ohio State at Northwestern
Dunkel Ratings: Ohio State 68.962; Northwestern 66.440
Dunkel Line: Ohio State by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Pick
Dunkel Pick: Ohio State
Game 607-608: Detroit at Loyola-Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 50.284; Loyola-Chicago 54.359
Dunkel Line: Loyola-Chicago by 4
Vegas Line: Loyola-Chicago by 5
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+5)
Game 609-610: Colorado at Nebraska
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado 56.512; Nebraska 67.716
Dunkel Line: Nebraska by 11
Vegas Line: Nebraska by 12 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+12 1/2)
Game 611-612: Idaho at Boise State
Dunkel Ratings: Idaho 51.966; Boise State 60.541
Dunkel Line: Boise State by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Boise State by 6
Dunkel Pick: Boise State (-6)
Game 613-614: Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma State 62.206; Texas Tech 63.026
Dunkel Line: Texas Tech by 1
Vegas Line: Oklahoma State by 2
Dunkel Pick: Texas Tech (+2)
Game 615-616: St. Joseph's at St. Louis
Dunkel Ratings: St. Joseph's 59.400; St. Louis 61.848
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: St. Louis by 1
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-1)
Game 617-618: UNLV at Wyoming
Dunkel Ratings: UNLV 66.140; Wyoming 57.743
Dunkel Line: UNLV by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: UNLV by 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UNLV (-6 1/2)
Game 619-620: Pacific at UC-Santa Barbara
Dunkel Ratings: Pacific 52.663; UC-Santa Barbara 54.267
Dunkel Line: UC-Santa Barbara by 1 1/2
Vegas Line: Pacific by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UC-Santa Barbara (+1 1/2)
Game 621-622: UC-Davis at Cal Poly
Dunkel Ratings: UC-Davis 49.279; Cal Poly 54.173
Dunkel Line: Cal Poly by 5
Vegas Line: Cal Poly by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cal Poly (-1 1/2)
Game 623-624: Long Beach State at CS-Fullerton
Dunkel Ratings: Long Beach State 51.420; CS-Fullerton 55.890
Dunkel Line: CS-Fullerton by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: CS-Fullerton by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: CS-Fullerton (-2 1/2)
Game 625-626: CS-Northridge at UC-Irvine
Dunkel Ratings: CS-Northridge 55.285; UC-Irvine 55.281
Dunkel Line: Even
Vegas Line: CS-Northridge by 2
Dunkel Pick: UC-Irvine (+2)
Game 627-628: Niagara at Rider
Dunkel Ratings: Niagara 58.676; Rider 55.062
Dunkel Line: Niagara by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Niagara by 4
Dunkel Pick: Rider (+4)
Game 629-630: The Citadel at Davidson
Dunkel Ratings: The Citadel 52.870; Davidson 68.382
Dunkel Line: Davidson by 15 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 631-632: Morehead State at Eastern Kentucky
Dunkel Ratings: Morehead State 52.582; Eastern Kentucky 55.637
Dunkel Line: Eastern Kentucky by 3
Vegas Line: Eastern Kentucky by 4
Dunkel Pick: Morehead State (+4)
Game 633-634: TN-Martin at Eastern Illinois
Dunkel Ratings: TN-Martin 57.560; Eastern Illinois 51.117
Dunkel Line: TN-Martin by 6 1/2
Vegas Line: TN-Martin by 5
Dunkel Pick: TN-Martin (-5)
NHL
NY Islanders at NY Rangers
The Islanders have won seven of the last 10 contests at the Garden and face a Rangers team that has dropped eight of its last nine games coming into tonight. The Islanders are the pick (+200) according to Dunkel, which has the Islanders favored straight up by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: NY Islanders (+200).
Game 51-52: NY Islanders at NY Rangers
Dunkel Ratings: NY Islanders 11.871; NY Rangers 11.434
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Islanders by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-240); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Islanders (+200); Over
Game 53-54: St. Louis at Columbus
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis 11.874; Columbus 12.331
Dunkel Line & Total: Columbus by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Columbus (-145); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Columbus (-145); Over
Game 55-56: Nashville at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 11.567; Detroit 12.620
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit (-300); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-300); Over
Game 57-58: Montreal at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 12.079; Washington 11.878
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Washington (-200); 6
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+170); Under
Game 59-60: Los Angeles at Anaheim
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 12.413; Anaheim 11.530
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-150); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+130); Over
John Ryan
Georgetown at South Florida
Prediction: South Florida
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on South Florida as they host Georgetown slated to start at 7:00 EST. AiS shows a 69% probability that SFU will lose this game by 4 or fewer points and also has a 50% probability of winning the game. Supporting this graded play is a strong system that has posted a 52-26 making 67% since 1997. Play on a dog after going under the total by more than 6 points in three consecutive games facing an opponent after going over the total by 42 or more points total in their last seven games. AiS shows that GT has an 85% probability that GT and South Florida will both shoot between 40 and 46%. Note that GT is 4-14 ATS (-11.4 Units) when they make 40% to 46% of their shots in a game over the last 2 seasons; 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) when their opponents make 40% to 46% of their shots in a game over the last 2 seasons. SFU is a solid 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) versus slow-down teams averaging 53 or less shots/game after 15+ games since 1997. Georgetown is even more difficult roles noting they are 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) after a conference game this season; 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) off a loss against a conference rival this season; 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) after playing a road game this season; 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) after 1 or more consecutive losses this season. Take SFU
Brian Hansen
Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks
Prediction: Anaheim Ducks
Both the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks are fighting to get into playoff position in the Western Conference. But going into the southern California rivals' final meeting of the season, they're also both trying to regain their confidence defensively after losses to the same lowly opponent; that being said, I believe the home team offers us a great amount of value here. In fact it's interesting to note that Anaheim is a great 11-9 its last 20 when revenging a loss vs. an opponent; play on the DUCKS!
Dave Price
1 Unit on Wake Forest -14
Georgia Tech shocked Wake by 2 points back on January 31st and it will be payback time tonight. Wake has had some hiccups in conference play but it learns from those mistakes here and buries the Jackets early. The Yellow Jackets are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games overall while the Demon Deacs are 13-5 ATS in all home games over the last 2 seasons. The Home team is also 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings. Tech has just one conference win and that came against a Wake Forest team that has beaten UNC, Duke, Clemson, Boston College, and FSU. Huge mismatch with the revenge factor. We'll lay the points.
Jrtips
GEORGIA TECH vs. WAKE FOREST
Wake Forest (19-4, 6-4) has had letdowns against inferior teams over the past month and one of those teams were the (10-14) lowly Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The eighth-ranked Demon Deacons look for revenge when they host the last-place Yellow Jackets tonight, after losing in the last second (76-74) in their first matchup. Wake Forest improved to 16-0 and earned the #1 ranking after a 78-68 win at then-No. 10 Clemson on Jan. 17th going 4-0 this season against Top 25 teams. After beating the Tigers, though, Wake Forest lost four of six before beating then-No. 25 Florida State on Saturday. That stretch included a Jan. 28 win over Duke which was then the top-ranked team in the country, but also a last-second 76-74 loss to the Yellow Jackets (10-14, 1-10) three days later. It was Georgia Tech's only ACC victory, and a prime example of the struggles Wake Forest has had against lower-tiered teams. The Demon Deacons' last three defeats have been versus teams from the bottom half of the ACC standings with losses to teams such as North Carolina State and Miami. The Demon Deacons trail first-place North Carolina by 2 1/2 games and has dropped three straight and five of seven against Georgia Tech. In the last game, Georgia Tech senior Alade Aminu had 10 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high six blocks while his younger brother Al-Farouq Aminu topped Wake Forest with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Al-Farouq Aminu led Wake Forest with 17 points against the Seminoles in their last win as the freshman forward is averaging 13.2 points and 8.3 rebounds. Demon Deacons sophomore guard Jeff Teague, averaging a team-high 20.2 points, had 15 ponits versus Florida State and has been held under 20 in five of his last six games. Teague had 16 points in January's matchup with Georgia Tech.Yellow Jackets forward Gani Lawal had a game-high 25 points in that game, but was held to seven in an 86-65 loss to North Carolina State on Saturday.Georgia Tech, which has lost four straight and nine of 10, has no momentum as it tries for another upset of Wake Forest. Wake Forest will definitely be much more intense tonight as they seek for revenge over Georgia Tech who is 1-10 in the ACC and really has nothing to play for. Wake Forest will be on their A game tonight. TAKE WAKE FOREST-14
Tom Stryker
Indiana State vs. So Illinois
Play: So Illinois -8
Off three consecutive straight up underdog wins over Illinois State, Drake and Missouri State, this contest at Southern Illinois is going to be a tall order for Indiana State. My system books agrees.
Dating back to the 1990-91 season, college basketball road teams are a miserable 19-43-1 ATS provided they enter off three or more straight up underdog wins. If our play against side enters off a straight up victory of three points or more, this situation dips to a woeful 12-39-1 ATS. The Sycamores apply to the general situation and the tightener.
Southern Illinois is a young team this year but the Salukis still own one of the toughest homecourts in all of basketball. In their last 70 games as a Missouri Valley Conference host, SIU is a jaw-dropping 64-6 SU! ISU hasn't enjoyed much success on this floor either. In fact, in their last 26 trips to SIU Arena, the Sycamores have left Carbondale with a straight up victory only once! Back in the 2005-06 season, State (+15') pulled off a stunning 63-54 upset!
Off back-to-back blowout losses to Northern Iowa (by 26) and Creighton (by 22), the Salukis will respond. Take Southern Illinois.
LT Profits
Bowling Green +8
The Buffalo Bulls have quietly gone 17-6 straight up this season, but they have not been trustworthy favorites, and we again do not trust them laying this many points vs. the Bowling Green Falcons this evening.
The Bulls had a nine-game straight up winning streak snapped in a 53-51 loss at Ball State on Sunday, but despite that success on the court, Buffalo is still just 1-4 against the spread in the last five games.
And yes, the Bulls were favored on all five occasions. They failed to cover at home vs. the likes of Central Michigan and Toledo during this stretch, and this Bowling Green team is better than both of those clubs.
The Falcons are 14-10 SU and an excellent 13-8 ATS this season, and they too had a winning streak snapped (six games) last game in an upset loss to Eastern Michigan. Still, they are a nice 7-3 ATS on the road thus far, and they are only losing those road contests by an average of -4.0 points, well inside this rather inflated spread.
Look for a tight game from start to finish here.
Pick: Bowling Green +8
Dave Malinsky
Notre Dame @ West Virginia
PICK: Notre Dame
Notre Dame has been one of the most under-achieving teams in the nation this year, but there is still some awfully good talent on hand, as well as a coach in Mike Brey that is 31-14 ATS in his last 45 outings as a Big East road underdog. And we believe the timing is right to back them here in a setting in which they have a real chance to win the whole game.
The Fighting Irish hit absolute rock bottom in their dismal loss at U.C.L.A. 12 days ago, an ill-scheduled game that had them on the road for the third time in a week, and they put up no resistance in that 89-63 drubbing. For a bad team that could have a shattering effect, but for a team loaded with talent and experience (three senior starters and two juniors) the opposite could also happen – it could be a cathartic release. That has been the case. Concerned about how passively his team was playin, Brey put them through some hard practices and went back to almost strictly man-to-man defense, and they responded with that 90-57 drubbing of Louisville last week, one of the best games any team in the nation has played this season, and followed that up with a 10-point grinder against South Florida that was an excellent buffer off of the Louisville win. In those 80 minutes they played zone on only two trips, and the defense held each opponent to just 57 points, and a combined 38.1 percent shooting. Now they have their swagger back, and note that even in those earlier Big East road losses there were positive signs to be found – they took Louisville to overtime before succumbing, and led Pittsburgh in the second half.
Our key tonight is that the recent Notre Dame turnaround has not had any meaningful impact in the pointspread. Some of that can be attributed to a few recent solid showings from Bob Huggins Mountaineers, but note the patterns in games in which they have played well, and poorly – they defend the perimeter tenaciously with their athleticism and intensity, but they lack the bodies to stop guys like Luke Harangody around the basket. Witness their two double figure losses to Pittsburgh, a home loss here to Hasheem Thabeet and Connecticut, and road losses at Syracuse and Louisville where they were beaten badly in the paint. Huggins does not have a defender capable of checking Harangody, and his best option is a wild card in foul-prone Wellington Smith (35 fouls in 247 minutes of Big East play). That creates major headaches tonight, and any attempts to double-team Harangody open up the 3-point line for Kyle McAlarney and the Notre Dame shooters. It puts them home team in a battle to merely win this game, and without much depth (only seven players averaging more than 10 minutes per game in Big East action) they are hard-pressed to ever build any kind of margin.
Dennis Macklin
Notre Dame at West Virginia
Prediction: Notre Dame
IMO, this number is a huge overadjustment to the Mounties Friday destruction of Villanova. WVU played the perfect game and the truth is that they play great defense with just two real scoring options The Irish appear to be back on track with two nice wins that includes their beat down of Louisville. Notre Dame is know great shakes on the road but does have arguably one of the top three players in the country in Harangody and an alterantive scorer in McAlarney. Take the near double-digits in a game that likely won't get out of the 60s.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Chicago Bulls -1.5
After taking it to Detroit on the road last night, a short-handed and fatigued Bucks team will get hit in the mouth at home. The Bulls are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games and have won 8 of their last 10 against the Bucks. Milwaukee is just 12-28 ATS off an upset win over a division rival as an underdog since 1996, losing by an average score of 93.9 to 97.6 in these spots. With no Redd, Ridnour, or Bogut, the Bucks won't be able to stay with the red hot Bulls in this spot tonight.
Steve Janus
CS Northridge vs. Cal Irvine
Play: CS Northridge -1
The CSU Northridge Matadors have struggled in non-conference play, earning just a 12-10 record overall, but in the Big West Conference they are the team to beat, and they should stay that way. At 8-3 the Matadors are sitting at the top of the conference, while UC Irvine sits near the bottom of the league at just 5-7 in conference play. I know that Northridge's 3rd leading scorer, Josh Jenkins, is out following a car accident over the weekend, but this is a team that I feel is deep enough to overcome that loss. Lay the small number and follow the Matadors tonight.
Wunderdog
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan
Pick: Northern Illinois +7.5
N. Illinois has managed just one road win all season and that was at Alaska Anchorage. They are starting to play better as they are coming off a win and two straight covers for the first time since mid November. Chippewa sports an identical 7-16 mark on the season and when you consider their best effort all season was a home win vs Alcorn St. by eight, this line looks way out of whack. They have done a poor job vs the bad teams as they are just 1-4 ATS vs a team with a losing record in their last five and after an ATS win they are just 6-13 ATS. Too many points here and I'll grab N. Illinois in this one.