SPORTS ADVISORS
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
(at New York City)
Notre Dame (18-13, 9-16 ATS) vs. West Virginia (21-10, 13-15 ATS)
Notre Dame eliminated Rutgers 71-60 as a 10½-point favorite in opening-round action Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, advancing to the second round of the Big East tournament for just the third time since 2003. The Irish shot just 35.7 percent overall, but went 8-for-18 from three-point land and held Rutgers to 31.3 percent shooting (3-for-18 from long range). Notre Dame has followed up a seven-game losing skid by winning six of its last nine.
West Virginia battled No. 6 Louisville to the wire in Saturday regular-season finale, but came up just short in a 62-59 loss as a 2½-point home chalk. The Mountaineers have still won five of their last seven, but they’ve failed to cover in three of their last four outings (all as a favorite) after going 6-2 ATS in their previous eight (5-1 ATS as a chalk).
These teams last met in the tourney in 2004, with Notre Dame prevailing 65-64 in the opening round, failing to cover as a six-point favorite. The Fighting Irish are have won nine of the last 11 meetings in this rivalry, but they’re just 5-6 ATS during this stretch. Also, in this year’s lone clash on Feb. 12, West Virginia rolled to a 79-68 victory, barely covering as a 9½-point home favorite. The favorite has covered the last two after the underdog had been on a 4-0 ATS run in this rivalry.
Along with its spread-cover in Friday’s 74-55 rout of St. John’s in the regular-season finale, Notre Dame has now cashed in consecutive games for the first time all season. Still, the Irish are in ATS slumps of 5-12 overall, 5-11 in Big East play, 3-7 in the Big East tournament, 4-7 as an underdog this season and 3-5 at neutral sites. West Virginia went 0-2 SU and ATS in neutral-site games this year, including a 68-65 loss to Davidson as a 2 ½-point favorite at Madison Square Garden.
These teams have stayed under the total in eight consecutive meetings. Also, the under for Notre Dame is on runs of 5-0 overall (all in conference), 5-0 after a SU win and 5-1 for Notre Dame after a spread-cover, while West Virginia has stayed low in eight of its last 10 overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Seton Hall (17-14, 17-9 ATS) vs. (18) Syracuse (23-8, 14-13 ATS)
Syracuse carries a four-game SU and ATS winning streak into the Garden, most recently pulling off an 86-79 overtime upset at Marquette as a six-point underdog Saturday. Since a 63-49 loss at UConn on Feb. 11, the Orange have been unstoppable offensively, tallying 86 points or more in five of six games and averaging 85.7 ppg during this stretch. Furthermore, Jim Boeheim’s squad has topped the 80-point mark in 19 of its 31 games this season, including 11 of 18 Big East contests.
Seton Hall overcame a two-point halftime deficit against South Florida on Tuesday and ran away from the Bulls 68-54 as a 4½-point favorite. The Pirates, who had lost five straight Big East Tournament games (SU and ATS) prior to last night, have followed a 1-5 SU slump with back-to-back wins. Also, Seton Hall is on a 13-4 ATS run, all in Big East action, including 9-2 ATS in the last 11.
These teams opened the Big East season against one another on Dec. 30, and Syracuse rolled to a 100-76 victory, cashing easily as a 12-point favorite. The Orange are 7-2 SU and ATS in the last nine meetings, including five double-digit victories, and the winner has covered in all nine contests.
The Orange lost the first game of last year’s Big East tournament, falling 82-63 to Villanova as a 2½-point favorite. However, going back to the 2003 event, Syracuse is on an 8-2 SU and 7-2-1 ATS run in the Big East tourney. Also, it is 7-1 ATS in its last eight as a favorite this season.
As part of its 12-4 overall ATS run, Seton Hall is 5-1 ATS after a SU win, 6-2 ATS in its last eight after a spread-cover and 9-3 ATS as an underdog. However, the Pirates are still just 7-18 ATS in their last 25 neutral-site outings. Meanwhile, Syracuse is
The Orange have topped the total in 11 of their 18 Big East games, including six of the last 10. However, the under is 8-4 in Seton Hall’s last 12 outings. Also, the under is 3-1 in the last four meetings, the lone “over” occurring this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
BIG 12 TOURNAMENT
(at Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Iowa State (15-16, 9-14-3 ATS) vs. Oklahoma State (20-10, 12-11-1 ATS)
Surging Oklahoma State rallied to win six of its last seven games and cashed tickets in all seven to put themselves “on the bubble” for the Big Dance. The Cowboys’ only loss in the last month came on Saturday as they fell at rival Oklahoma 82-78 but easily cashed as nine-point road ‘dogs. OSU has been doing it with defense lately, limiting teams to 68.2 points a game and 41.9 percent shooting over the last five.
Iowa State comes into this first-round Big 12 matchup having dropped five of seven (1-4-2 ATS), though it ended the regular season Saturday by edging lowly Texas Tech 78-76 as a four-point home favorite. The Cyclones struggle offensively, averaging just 64 points a game, and they’ve have scored 70 or more just three times in their last 10.
These two squared off back on Feb. 14 in Stillwater, Okla., with the Cowboys blowing out Iowa State 86-67 and easily cashing as a 10-point chalk. Oklahoma State has covered in three of the last four against the Cyclones, including a 79-70 win as a one-point favorite in the opening round of the conference tournament in 2006. Including that contest, the chalk is on a 5-0 ATS run in this series.
Iowa State sports nothing but negative ATS streaks, including 2-9-3 overall (all in the Big 12), 1-7-3 as a ‘dog and 1-6-1 as a neutral-site ‘dog. Oklahoma State is on positive ATS streaks of 14-6-2 in neutral-site games, 16-5-1 as a favorite and 6-0-1 as a neutral-site chalk.
The Cyclones have topped the total in 16 of 22 as underdogs, seven of eight neutral-site contests and seven of 10 after a non-cover. On the flip side, the Cowboys have stayed under the total in four of five overall and four straight as a favorite. In this series, the over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OKLAHOMA STATE
Texas Tech (13-18, 9-14-1 ATS) vs. Texas A&M (23-8, 15-8 ATS)
Texas A&M closed the season in impressive fashion, winning six in a row SU, and it has cashed in 10 of its last 12 contests. On Saturday, the Aggies handed No. 15 Missouri a 96-86 loss, upsetting the Tigers as two-point home pups. A&M increased its offensive productivity late in the season, averaging 78.2 points a game over its last five after managing just 69.9 in the first 26 games of the season.
It was a brutal finish to the regular campaign for Texas Tech, which won just once in its last eight games (3-5 ATS). But it was a stunning victory as the Red Raiders destroyed then-ninth-ranked Kansas 84-65 as a 10-point home underdog exactly one week ago. However, they followed that victory with Saturday’s 78-76 loss at Iowa State, but cashed as a four-point ‘dog.
Texas A&M won both matchups with the Red Raiders this season, scoring a 79-70 win at home as an 8½-point favorite and then getting a 79-73 win at Lubbock on Feb. 21 as a 1½-point chalk. The straight-up winner has cashed in each of the last 10 series clashes, and the Aggies are on a 13-5-1 ATS run in the last 19 against Tech.
Texas Tech is on ATS slides of 3-8-1 on a neutral court and 2-7 after a spread-cover, while Texas A&M is on positive pointspread streaks of 20-8 overall, 19-7 on a neutral court and 5-1 as a neutral-site favorite.
For the Red Raiders, the over is on runs of 22-7-2 overall, 19-7-1 in Big 12 action, 4-1-1 on a neutral court and 18-6-2 as underdogs. The Aggies are also on over runs that include 5-1 overall, 5-2 as a favorite and 5-1 in Big 12 action. Lastly, the over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these schools.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS A&M and OVER
PAC-10 TOURNAMENT
(at Los Angeles)
Stanford (17-12, 16-10-1 ATS) vs. Oregon State (13-16, 11-13 ATS)
Stanford capped a sub-par season by losing nine of its last 13 games, including Saturday’s 101-87 setback at Arizona as a six-point road underdog. Prior to that defeat, the Cardinal had won and covered two start against USC (75-63 as a two-point home favorite) and No. 21 Arizona State (74-64 as a 10-point road underdog).
Oregon State struggled down the stretch, following up a three-game SU and ATS winning streak (all outright upsets as an underdog) by going 0-3 SU and ATS in its final three regular-season outings (all double-digit road losses). Last weekend, the Beavers were in Los Angeles and got blasted by both UCLA (79-54 as a 17½-point pup) and USC (68-52 as a 12-point underdog).
Oregon State swept the season series from the Cardinal with a pair of double-digit routs, rolling 77-62 as a 16½-point road underdog and 66-54 as a four-point home pup. The Beavers, who had lost six straight to Stanford before this season, have covered in the last three meetings after going 0-6 ATS in the previous six clashes and 2-12 ATS in the previous 14.
The Beavers are in ATS slumps of 8-18 in conference, 1-4 at neutral sites and 1-11 on Wednesday. Stanford is 2-5-1 ATS in its last eight (all in the Pac-10).
For Stanford, the over is on streaks of 4-0 overall (all in Pac-10 play) and 7-1 at neutral sites, but the under is 7-3 in Oregon State’s last 10 overall (all in Pac-10 play).
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
NBA
L.A. Lakers (50-13, 32-31 ATS) at Houston (42-23, 31-33-1 ATS)
The Lakers, coming off a blowout loss in Portland, travel to the Toyota Center to take on the surging Rockets.
Los Angeles got steamrolled by the Trail Blazers on Monday night, trailing by 30 at one point in the second half and losing 111-94 as a 2½-point road chalk. The Lakers are now 1-4 ATS (2-3 SU) in their last five games, all from the favorite’s role, averaging 98.6 ppg in that stretch – nearly 10 points below their season average (108.5) – while allowing 99.6 ppg. During this five-game slump, Phil Jackson’s team has dropped three straight on the road SU and ATS.
Houston edged Denver 97-95 as a four-point road pup Monday night for its third straight win (1-2 ATS), and the Rockets are now on an 11-2 SU roll (8-5 ATS). The Rockets have been torrid at home lately, ripping off 12 straight wins by an average of 13 ppg, (103-90) and going 7-4-1 ATS in that span. However, they have failed to cash in their last two home outings.
Los Angeles has won and covered in both meetings this season with Houston, including a 105-100 road win laying four points in January, and the Lakers are 4-1 ATS in the last five clashes (3-2 SU). Los Angeles is 7-2 ATS in its last nine visits to the Toyota Center, and the favorite is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
The Lakers are on a bundle of ATS slides, including 3-6 overall, 2-5 on the highway, 1-4 against the Western Conference, 1-4 against winning teams, 4-11 after a SU loss and 7-19 playing on one day’s rest. The Rockets are on ATS skids of 1-5 against the Pacific Division, 4-11-1 after a spread-cover and 5-13 after a day off, but they sport positive ATS streaks of 6-2 against winning teams and 7-3 after a SU win.
The over for Los Angeles is on rolls of 8-2 against winning teams and 11-4-1 on the road, and the over for Houston is on stretches of 4-0 against winning teams and 4-1 after a spread cover. Plus, in this rivalry, the total has cleared the posted price in seven of the last 10 meetings, including three in a row.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Dallas (39-25, 31-33 ATS) at Portland (40-23, 32-31 ATS)
The Trail Blazers go after their 13th consecutive home win when they play host to the Mavericks at the Rose Garden.
Portland pounded the Lakers 111-94 Monday night as a 2½-point home underdog, halting a three-game ATS slide and moving to 12-0 SU and 8-4 ATS in its last 12 home starts. The Trail Blazers have won four of their last five overall (2-3 ATS), putting up 101 ppg while allowing 96.4 ppg, and at home this season, Portland is 27-6 SU and 20-12 ATS, averaging 102.7 ppg and yielding 93.3.
Dallas went to Phoenix last night and upset the Suns 122-117 as a six-point underdog, winning for the sixth time in its last eight games and ending a five-game SU and ATS losing skid on the road. Also, with consecutive spread-covers, the Mavericks ended a string of 14 straight games alternating ATS wins and losses. For the season, Dallas is still just 15-17 (17-15 ATS) on the highway, averaging slightly more than 97 ppg and allowing a little more than 99 ppg.
Dallas is on a 3-1 SU and ATS run in this rivalry, winning and cashing in both meetings this season, including a 102-94 Christmas Day victory catching 4½ points in Portland – one of just five visitors to win in the Rose Garden this season. In fact, the underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last seven series clashes.
Along with their 8-4 ATS run at home, the Blazers are on pointspread upswings of 6-1 playing on one day’s rest and 10-4 at home against teams with a losing road record. On the flip side, the Mavericks are on a plethora of pointspread purges, including 1-5 on the road, 2-5 against winning teams, 2-4 against the West, 2-6 playing on no rest and 5-14 against Northwest Division foes.
The over is on runs of 4-1-1 at home for Portland, 5-1 for the Blazers against the Southwest Division, 6-2 overall for Dallas and 8-2 for the Mavericks against winning teams. However, the under is 12-4 in the Blazers’ last 16 games against winning teams and is 6-1 in the Mavericks’ last seven on the highway. Finally, the total has stayed low in 12 of the last 17 meetings in this rivalry, though both clashes this season barely hurdled the posted price.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PORTLAND
Alex Smart
Colorado State -1.5
No.8 seed Colorado State (9-21) and No.9 seed Air Force (9-20) go head to head in the opening round of the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas this Wednesday afternoon.
Air Force enters this tilt showcasing one of the most lethargic offenses in the entire nation and league, as is evident by averaging just 58 PPG on the season, and an even worse 53 PPG average away from home. There is absolutely no cohesiveness in the attack zone, which always puts them at a disadvantage, which in turn has resulted in a 4-12 ATS conference mark this season. The Falcons have lost all 16 of their league contests by an average of 13.5 PPG, and 14 straight games overall , and another L very much looks to be on the agenda in this spot.
Colorado State despite of an equally ugly record, have dominated Air Force in both meetings this season, winning a 67-56 decision at home and a 71-66 marker on the road with the third win a row a very strong possibility vs a program that has never won a game in the MWC tournament.
Play on Colorado State
Cajun Sports
Iowa State Cyclones @ Oklahoma State Cowboys
Selection: 2* Oklahoma State Cowboys -10
The Big 12 Conference Tournament begins tonight at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City with a First Round contest between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Iowa State is playing out the season with a 15-16 SU record the only advantage for them is the Big 12 Tournament allows all its teams to participate otherwise they would be watching from home. The Cyclones are 9-16 ATS overall on the season and they have struggled against winning teams posting a record of 1-9 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season. Iowa State is 4-12 SU and 4-11 ATS when facing conference opponents this season averaging 62.3 points per game and allowing 69.9 points per game. They are coming in off a SU win over Texas Tech in their last game 78 to 76 as a 4-point home favorite and that win snapped a two-game losing skid. Their opponent tonight is fighting for a bid to the Big Dance; most believe they need a win here tonight to assure themselves of an invitation. This Cowboys team has caught fire at the right time winning six of their last seven SU (including seven straight ATS wins) their only loss coming in their last game at Norman where the Sooners defeated them 82 to 78 as a nine-point home favorite. If the Cowboys can get past this Cyclones team tonight they will have a rematch with instate rival Oklahoma in the next round so this game is of the utmost importance to their NCAA Tournament aspirations. Our numbers suggest the Cowboys advance and get the ATS win in tonights contest. We also see that Iowa State is 0-12 ATS in road games after one or more consecutive over the last 2 seasons and 0-7 ATS revenging a road loss of 10 points or more this season. Lay the chalk with the Cowboys as they roll past an Iowa State team that is over matched and not interested, just wanting to get this season over with and Oklahoma State will oblige.
Graded Selection: 2* Oklahoma State 78 Iowa State 55
James Patrick
Mavericks vs. Blazers
In NBA Wednesday action the Big Man at James Patrick Sports recommends Portland Trailblazers as our selection as the Blazers have won 11 in a row at home and the Mavs are playing back-to-back road games and they are losers in 6 straight road games.
Dave Cokin
Saint Louis vs. La Salle
Play: St. Louis +4
The opening game in Wednesday's A-10 Tourney features Saint Louis and La Salle. This game looks dead even to me on paper, so there's already a little value in the number with the dog. There's also quick revenge as the Billikens just lost to the Explorers. Finally, the idea of grabbing points with Rick Majerus in a likely close tourney game is appealing, so the Wednesday free lean is to Saint Louis.
Jimmy The Moose
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators
Prediction: Over
Tampa has played over the total in 3 of their last 4 games and in 5 of their last 7 overall. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team from the Northeast Division. Ottawa has played over the total in 4 of their last 5 games. The over is also 4-1 in their last 5 home games. The Senators have played over the total in 5 of their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference opponents. Both team's have the players that can run up the scores and suspect goaltending making this a high-scoring game. Play the over.
Larry Ness
Air Force at Colorado State
Prediction: Air Force
Air Force was an NCAA team in 2004 and 2006 and in 2007, won 26 games (was an NIT Final 4 team) on its way to a 26-win season. Those winning seasons are distant memories, as Air Force heads into this game against Colorado St at 9-20 overall, including an 0-16 mark in the MWC. Colorado St knows what the Air Force program is going through, as just last year, the Rams finished 0-16 in the MWC. The Rams lost the 7-0 Creason (12.2-5.7) off that team and while they've played slightly better this year, not by much (9-21 overall, 4-12 in the MWC). Senior guards Walker (17.0) and Gardner (9.6) are a solid duo, joined by freshman Carr (8.6). The Rams haven't been able to replace Creason but 6-8 Ole Miss transfer Ogide (10.0-5.8) has been their best inside player. Joining him in the frontcourt are the 6-6 McFarland (7.9-3.9) and 6-7 JUCO Franklin (6.8-3.8). Guard Simmons (4.4) has left the team, 6-10 Purdue transfer Vandervieren (6.3-3.9) has back problems plus freshman guard Carr is struggling with a groin injury. The Falcons' best player is 6-6 guard Henke (12.8-4.1). Johnson (11.3-3.8) is a solid 6-5 small forward and the 6-6 Holland (10.8-3.7) is the team's third double digit scorer. Let's not count Air Force out in this game. DePaul, which went 0-18 in the Big East regular season this year, beat a pretty decent Cincinnati team on Tuesday in the Big East's first round, 67-57. CSU went 0-16 in last year's MWC regular season and then beat Wyoming 68-63 in this very same game (MWC's first round). Is it deja vu all over again? I say yes. I'm playing the "patriotic card" in this game and I'm taking the Flyboys.
Tony George
Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State
Play: Oklahoma State -10
This should not be a contest as Okie State proved they have an offense almost upsetting OU in the seasons finale. The Cowboys put up 78 ppg in conference play and toally blew Iowa State out of the stadium in their only game this season. They shot 50% from the floor against Ou's defense in their last game and are making a stand for NCAA tourney contention with a win here. The fact the Cowboys are playing in OK City does not hurt either. ISU is 3-7 their last 10 games SU and a rare win against Texas Tech in the seasons finale does not worry me, they are totally outmacthed here and gave up 75 ppg this season and are 2-9-3 ATS their last 14 games.
Okie State 81 ISU 68
Masterbets
Raptors/76ers Under
The opening total for this game was surprisingly high at 203 points. We've monitored the early betting activity at offshore books and the number has already been bet down to 202.5 points and then dropped again to 202 points. Our database suggests that the correct number for this clash should be no higher than 200.5 points, so we're still getting decent value in taking the Under tonight at the current levels.
Jeff Benton
For Wednesday’s freebie in conference tournament action, we’ll grab the points with St. Bonaventure against Richmond in the Atlantic 10 tourney from Atlantic City.
Richmond certainly enters this event as the hotter team, winning five of its last six games, including Saturday’s impressive 80-75 upset win over Xavier as a 5 ½-point underdog. But you may recall that I backed the Spiders a few weeks back when they were playing Charlotte, which was coming off its own upset home win over Xavier. Well, my reason for backing Richmond that day is the same reason I’m going against the Spiders tonight: the old letdown theory.
Simply put, I do not trust an otherwise mediocre team to cover this kind of pointspread in a neutral-site game some 72 hours after scoring its biggest victory of the season. And because of that upset, not to mention Richmond’s 5-1 SU and 6-2 ATS run, we’re seeing the requisite inflated line here.
Meanwhile, even though St. Bonaventure lost eight of its last 12 games, the Bonnies closed on a 7-2 ATS run, and they cashed in eight of their last 11 as an underdog. What’s more, prior to its 4-8 slump, St. Bonaventure went to Richmond on Jan. 17 and knocked off the Spiders 71-67 as a 10 ½-point road underdog. That makes the ‘dog 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings between these teams.
The Bonnies are shooting the ball better and scoring more than Richmond over the last five games, and the Spiders have failed to cover in five of their last seven as a favorite and six of their last seven when laying points at a neutral site. St. Bonaventure’s a live ‘dog here, folks.
3♦ ST. BONAVENTURE
Matt Rivers
For Wednesday take the points with the Colorado Buffaloes.
Obviously AJ Abrams and the Texas Longhorns are far better than Colorado but the Buffs have been alright at times and in this matchup about a month or so ago I watched the boys from Boulder take Rick Barnes' squad to overtime before losing in a cover.
For the last few months this Longhorn squad has just not been all that. In fact UT has been pretty bad some of the time and have failed to cover game after game after game. The Hook ems did have a game effort last time out at Kansas but still wet the bed in the second half and failed to cover the eight points in the 10 point defeat. These guys now have failed to cover in 12 of their last 17 games.
Texas does not have a true point guard and it has shown this season. Obivously Texas should win this game as Colorado is probably the worst team in the Big 12 but the Buffaloes are not pathetic, yes they are bad, but not pathetic. Certainly losing 11 games in a row does not bode well at all but Colorado has covered two in a row and are a phenomenal 10-3-1 ATS over the past 14 games.
I expect things to continue as they should, Colorado should lose the game but once again cash the ticket.
Craig Davis
NEW JERSEY NETS and IOWA STATE --- Watching the Dallas Mavericks beat the Suns outright as seven-point underdogs was a thing of beauty. Yet another free play winner on Tuesday moves my record to 10-3-1 in the last 14 and 13-6-1 in the last 20. The run continues tonight with the New Jersey Nets and Iowa State Cyclones.
The Nets begin a West Coast road trip tonight against a Golden State team that just isn't playing good basketball right now. They've lost three in a row and six of their last seven. The problem for the Warriors recently has been the fact they are toying with their lineup every night and they're not getting any consistency out of anyone. New Jersey, meanwhile, is still trying to keep their heads above water and find themselves in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Nets will start the road trip off on the right foot with a SU win on the west coast.
In the colleges, I simply don't think Iowa State is 10 points worse than Oklahoma State. I realize OSU ended the season on an amazing run, but I've seen this team in person and they thrive off the home crowd at Gallagher Iba Arena. Iowa State recently did the unthinkable, beating a Texas Tech team that had just beaten Kansas a few nights before. Something's not right, and that's the pointspread in today's game. OSU is better and will win the game, but I don't believe they have it in them to beat ISU by double digits again. Take the Cyclones to stay within the number.
3♦ NEW JERSEY on a 1♦ to 5♦ scale
2♦ IOWA STATE on a 1♦ to 5♦ scale
Bobby Maxwell
New York +8 at DETROIT
The Knicks are coming off a 120-112 victory at Milwaukee on Tuesday night, easily cashing as three-point underdogs and they are young enough and play the kind of basketball that will be able to come back strong tonight in Detroit. Grab the points and play New York.
And even though the Pistons have been playing better lately, they aren't anywhere near the dominating team they have been in previous years. Detroit is just 17-15 at home this season and 10-22 ATS in front of the home fans.
The Knicks are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five games and they have already beating the Pistons once this season, getting a 104-92 victory at home on Dec. 7 as 6 1/2-point underdogs. New York is on a 4-1 ATS run against Detroit.
The Knicks have also been a solid bet lately, including a 7-4 ATS record on the second night of back-to-backs. They are on ATS runs of 21-10-1 as underdogs, 7-1 on Wednesdays, 14-5-1 as a road 'dog and 5-2-1 on the road overall. Meanwhile the Pistons are just 4-12 ATS at home and 8-20 ATS as a home favorite.
New York can score points and grabbing the points with a high-scoring team is always a good play. Grab the points with the Knicks.
3♦ NEW YORK
Stanford -6 vs. Oregon State, at Los Angeles
Stanford has owned this series except for this year, but we expect the Cardinal to change that today with a big victory. They'll cover this number and move on to the next round of the Pac-10 tourney.
Stanford had won six straight in this rivalry before this season and the Cardinal are 6-3 ATS in the last nine overall. They faltered against the Beavers this year, losing 77-62 at home as 16 1/2-point favorites and 66-54 at Oregon State as four-point favorites.
You know the Cardinal will be out for some revenge in this one after those two losses, including that humiliating home defeat. Stanford won two of three to close the season, including impressive home wins over Southern Cal and at Arizona State last Thursday.
Oregon State lost its last three to close out the season and lost six of its last nine (4-5 ATS). They haven't reached the 70-point mark in 11 straight games and couldn't even get to 55 in the final two.
Stanford is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 against Oregon State and they'll come out tonight determined and beat the Beavers by 10 at least. Play Stanford.
4♦ STANFORD
Michael Cannon
UC Davis vs. UC Irvine -1', at Anaheim, CA
Take UC-Irvine as the small chalk over UC-Davis in the first round of the Big West tournament.
UC-Irvine is one of the hottest pointspread teams in the country, going 7-0 ATS in its last seven.
Even so, this figures to be a tough matchup against a UC-Davis team that defeated the Anteaters in both regular season matchups this year.
But these things have a tendency to reverse themselves once conference tournament time comes.
Why else would Irvine be the small chalk here?
Anteater freshman forward Eric Wise has come into his own, averaging 19 ppg in the last five games and the Aggies don’t have anyone to match his physical presence in the paint.
Take UC-Irvine minus the small number as they grab the win and cover.
2♦ UC IRVINE
Massachusetts vs. Duquesne -2', at Atlantic City, NJ
Take Duquesne minus the small number over Massachusetts in the first round of the A-10 tournament.
UMass has been a jekyl and hyde team this year, knocking off Kansas and crushing Dayton, but have also had ugly showings like their 17-point home loss to these very same Dukes on Feb. 25 when Duquesne shot 57 percent from the field.
Duquesne was able to dictate the pace and tempo in that first meeting and I don’t see much changing here tonight. Mainly because UMass isn’t capable of keeping the Dukes from pushing the pace at every opportunity.
The Minutemen have covered their last two, including an impressive outright win at Rhode Island on Saturday. But this game is all about matchups and UMass just doesn’t seem to match up well with the Dukes.
Duquesne is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings with UMass.
Take Duquesne as they grab the win and cover.
3♦ DUQUESNE
Sports Gambling Hotline
Stanford vs. OREGON STATE +5' - at Los Angeles, CA
After sweeping the regular season series at 2-0 both straight up, and against the spread, it is hard not to go with Oregon State as they take on Stanford at the Staples Center tonight.
The Beavers do enter riding a 3-game straight up, and against the spread losing streak, but there is a silver lining, as their last pair of games both came in the City of Angels at UCLA, and USC, so the familiarities of the city should be no issue this Wednesday night.
Stanford didn't exactly close with a rush, as the Cardinal were no better than 2-5 straight up, and 2-4-1 against the spread in those 7 games, so we are a little reluctant to lay the points with Johnny Dawkins' team.
We will look for Stanford to avoid the embarrassing season "hat trick" at the hands of Oregon State, but we don't expect this 40-minute session to be a cake-walk for the Tree.
Play on the Beavers plus the points.
4♦ OREGON STATE