Jorge Gonzalez
Kentucky vs. Notre Dame
Play: Kentucky +2½
Kentucky (22-13) has shown that they are still motivated despite not making the tournament and the heat that Billy Gillespie is under in just his second year as the head coach. The Wildcats escaped the second round with a thrilling 65-63 victory over Creighton in front of a raucous crowd in Omaha, Neb., on Monday. Despite speculation and rumors about Gillespie's future at Kentucky, the Wildcats put together one of their grittiest performances of the year. Kentucky trailed most of the game, but Jodie Meeks converted a three-point play in the lane with 10.6 second left to lift UK. The Fighting Irish were ranked in the top-10 to start the season and faltered in league play losing seven straight games. The Wildcats will be the more motivated team as they will play hard for their coach.
Jeff Scott Sports
5 UNIT PLAY (CBI GOY)
Stanford -3 over OREGON STATE
The Cardinal are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games as a favorite, while the Beavers are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 home games and 2-12 ATS in their last 14 Wednesday games. Oregon State took both meetings in the regular season, but the Cardinal got a measure of revenge in the PAC-10 Tourney. Stanford has gone 13-5 ATS in the last 18 meetings and 10-1 ATS in their last 11 trips to Corvallis. Stanford has taken their 1st 2 gamnes of the CBI tourney rather easily, as they crushed Boise State by 20 points and then they won at Wichita State by 14. Oregon State has had the easier schedule in the CBI Tourney, yet they could only beat Houston by 4 (at home) and then they won in OT vs a Vermont team that had to fly all the way cross-country to play the game. OSU has had a hard time at the offensive end of the court this year, as they have averaged just 59.5 ppg (320th) and they have averaged 56.7 ppg vs the Pac-10 this year. Stanford has had no such problems at that end of the floor. The Cardinal comes in averaging 72.9 ppg (84th) on 45.6% shooting (79th) and they also shoot 38.1% (30th) from beyond the Arc. The Beavers do have the advantage at the defensive end as they allow just 63 ppg compared to the Cardinal that allows 68.9 ppg. The Cardinal does have a slight edge on the boards (288th to 338th), plus they have a big edge at the FT line as they are 101st (72.9%) at the charity stripe, while the Beaver as are 293rd (64.6%). The Cardinal comes in averaging 77.6 pg in their last 5 games, while the Beavers have averaged just 56 ppg in their last 5. Despite the defensive edge the Beavers own and the fact they they are playing at home, I just don't see OSU being able to score enough to stay with the hot Cardinal in this one. Stanford big in this one
4 UNIT PLAY (CIT GOY)
Bradley/ Pacific Over 129
(I know this is a Totals play, but we'll still use it as a GOY). The Over is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 non-conference games, while the Over is 5-1 in Braves last 6 home games and 4-1 in their last 5 non-conference games. Pacific games have averaged 129.4 ppg on the year, while their road games have put up 131.1 ppg, plus their last 5 overall have averaged 135 ppg. The Tigers aren't an offensive machine at 66.8 ppg (202nd), but they do shoot well as they have hit 46.2% of their shots (57th), including hitting 39.7% fro beyond the arc, which is 14th in the nation. The Braves come in 134th in scoring defense (66.3 ppg), 158th in FG% (43.9%) and they don't defense the arc all that well as they are 241st in 3pt defense (35.5%). The Braves have also allowed 75 ppg in their last 3 games on 46.3% shooting. Bradley hasn't been that great on offense overall this year (67.5 ppg on 43.7% shooting), but it has picked up in heir last 9 games, as they have averaged 72.8 ppg on a solid 46.3% shooting. The Braves have averaged 72 ppg on a healthy 47% shooting at home this year, including averaging 76.3 ppg on 49.7% shooting in their last 6 at home. Bradley's games have averaged 134.5 ppg overall, while their home games have averaged 138.5 ppg. We also note that 8 of their last 10 overall have gone Over the total, with an average of 142.8 ppg being scored,. while their last 6 at home have averaged 146 ppg. Pacific does play defense well, but I do see Bradley being able to crack it, while the solid shooting Tigers should be able to get their points vs a Bradley team that iis struggling to stop thier opponents of late. 130+ is more than in reach in this one and I will call for a game in the 140's.
Evan Altemus
Stanford Cardinal @ Oregon State Beavers
Pick: Stanford -3
This game will be the fourth match-up between these two teams this season. Stanford was able to get the win against Oregon State in the Pac-10 Tournament to avenge their two losses to the Beavers earlier in the season. In that game, the Cardinal was able to hold the Beavers to 39% shooting overall and only 26 points in the 2nd half. Stanford has shown up to play in the CBI, evident by their two dominant blowout wins against Boise State and Wichita State. I look for them to play with great intensity in this game, as they do not want to fall for a 3rd time against lowly Oregon State. Look for Stanford to get the road win and cover.
SPORTS ADVISORS
NIT
Kentucky (22-13, 15-14-1 ATS) at Notre Dame (20-14, 10-18 ATS)
Kentucky got a three-point play from star forward Jodie Meeks with 10.6 seconds remaining to rally past Creighton 65-63 as a 2½-point underdog Monday, advancing to this NIT quarterfinals at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind. Meeks (16 points) was one of three players to score in double figures for the Wildcats, who shot 47 percent from the field and held Creighton to 37.3 percent.
The Wildcats have won consecutive contests for just the second time since Jan. 27, a stretch of 15 games during which Billy Gillespie’s squad is 6-9 SU. Also, Kentucky has followed up a 2-9 ATS slump by cashing in three of its last four games, including a 70-60 rout of UNLV as a 7½-point home favorite in an opening-round NIT game.
Notre Dame has been idle since Thursday, when it held off New Mexico 70-68, but failed to cover as a five-point home favorite. The Irish, who were outshot 41.4 percent to 38.6 percent against the Lobos, essentially won the contest at the free-throw line, going 21-for-25 while New Mexico made just 15 of 25 foul shots.
Since a seven-game losing skid that derailed its season, Notre Dame has won eight of its last 12, including four of the last five. However, the Irish, who knocked off UAB 70-64 as a 5½-point favorite in their opening-round NIT contest, are still just 6-14 ATS in their last 20 games, including 3-7 ATS at home.
These schools met four times from 2001-2004, with Kentucky going 4-0 SU and ATS (all as a favorite) with an average margin of victory of 10.3 points per game.
Kentucky has now cashed in seven of its last eight non-conference outings, including four in a row, and it is 11-2-1 ATS in its last 14 against the Big East. Otherwise, though, the Wildcats are in ATS funks of 5-10 overall, 1-4 on the road, 5-9 against teams with a winning record, 1-5 following a spread-cover and 1-4 on Wednesday.
Notre Dame is 4-0 ATS in its last four after a non-cover, but otherwise the Irish are in pointspread slumps of 6-14 overall, 3-9 against the SEC, 2-8 after a SU victory and 0-4 on Wednesday.
Kentucky has stayed under the total in five straight games overall and four consecutive road outings. Also, Notre Dame is on “under” stretches of 10-1 overall (8-0 in the last eight), 13-3 at home (6-0 in the last six) and 7-0 after a SU victory.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
St. Mary’s (28-6, 16-12-1 ATS) at San Diego State (25-9, 17-12-1 ATS)
St. Mary’s moved into the NIT quarterfinals courtesy of a pair of double-digit home victories over Washington State (68-57 as a 4½-point favorite) and Davidson (80-68 as a five-point chalk). In Monday’s win over Davidson, the Gaels made 46.3 percent of their field-goal tries and got 23 points and 10 assists from star point guard Patty Mills, while holding the Wildcats to 36.8 percent.
San Diego State hammered Weber State (65-49) and Kansas State (70-52) in its two NIT contests, cashing easily in both games. The Aztecs shot a combined 46.8 percent from the field in the two wins and limited their opponents to 39-for-111 shooting (35.5 percent). San Diego State has held six of seven opponents to less than 60 points while giving up an average of just 53.9 ppg.
Both of these teams, which were among the last left out of the NCAA Tournament, are red hot. St. Mary’s has won nine of its last 10 (5-5 ATS), while the Aztecs are 7-1 SU in their last eight and they’ve followed up an 0-6 ATS slump by cashing in five of their last six. The only losses either team has suffered recently came in their respective conference championship games.
These schools have met each of the last two Decembers in the John Wooden Classic in Anaheim, Calif., with St. Mary’s squeaking out wins both times, prevailing 69-64 as a 3½-point favorite in 2007 and 67-64, pushing as a three-point chalk this season. The Gaels are 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS in five meetings since 2004, with the last three clashes decided by a total of nine points.
St. Mary’s is on positive pointspread runs of 8-2-1 in non-conference play, 10-4-1 against Mountain West Conference opponents, 5-1 on Wednesday and 6-1 against teams with a winning record. However, the Gaels have failed to cover in five straight road games and they’re 2-5 ATS in their last seven after a spread-cover.
Aside from a 1-7 ATS mark in its last eight games on Wednesday, San Diego State carries nothing but positive ATS streaks, including 5-1 overall, 10-4-1 at home, 4-0 in non-conference play, 4-1-1 against the West Coast Conference, 4-1 after a SU win and 7-2 after a spread-cover.
St. Mary’s has topped the total in six straight non-conference games and five straight Wednesday contests. Otherwise, the under for the Gaels is on streaks of 4-0 on the road, 5-1 against the Mountain West and 11-4 after a SU win, while the Aztecs are on “under” runs of 39-15 overall, 39-12 at home, 35-16 in non-conference play, 5-0 versus the West Coast Conference and 10-3 on Wednesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
CBI
Stanford (20-13, 19-11-1 ATS) at Oregon State (15-17, 12-14-1 ATS)
Stanford cruised into the semifinals of the second-ever College Basketball Invitational with blowout wins over Boise State at home (96-76 as a 14-point chalk) and Wichita State on the road (70-56 as a one-point underdog). In Monday’s rout at Wichita State, the Cardinal shot 50 percent from the field and held the Shockers to 34 percent shooting.
Oregon State has eked out a pair of wins in this tournament, turning back Houston 49-45 as a one-point underdog a week ago tonight then knocking off Vermont 71-70 in overtime Monday, pushing as a one-point chalk. On Monday, the Beavers hit the 70-point mark for the first time since a 77-62 blowout win at Stanford on Jan. 24 – a stretch of 14 games.
Stanford has followed up a four-game losing skid (0-3-1 ATS) by going 5-2 SU and ATS in its last seven, including a 62-54 win over Oregon State as a seven-point favorite in the Pac-10 tournament. The Beavers’ two-game win streak in the CBI comes on the heels of an 0-4 SU and ATS nosedive.
The winner is 13-0-1 ATS in the Cardinal’s last 14 games and 11-0 ATS in Oregon State’s last 11.
The Beavers had lost six straight to Stanford (1-5 ATS) before posting a pair of regular-season wins this year – 77-62 as a 16½-point road underdog and 66-54 as a four-point home pup. However, the Cardinal turned the tables in the 62-54 win and cover in the Pac-10 tournament. Stanford is 13-5 ATS in the last 18 clashes between these league rivals.
The Cardinal are on ATS runs of 5-2 overall, 4-1 on Wednesday and 16-7-1 versus teams with a losing record. Oregon State is in pointspread slumps of 7-20-1 at home, 0-4 in Pac-10 play, 2-12 on Wednesday and 4-11-1 after a spread-cover.
The Beavers are on “under” runs of 9-4 overall, 7-1 at home, 8-3 in Pac-10 action and 5-2 on Wednesday. Conversely, Stanford is in the midst of “over” streaks of 6-2 overall, 16-6 on the road, 5-1 in Pac-10 play and 5-2 versus losing teams. Finally, the under is 5-2 in the last seven head-to-head matchups between these schools (2-1 this season), with the last four in Corvallis staying low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: STANFORD and UNDER
NBA
San Antonio (46-24, 34-34-2 ATS) at Atlanta (42-29, 40-30-1 ATS)
Just 24 hours after winning a nail-biter, the Spurs hit the road for Atlanta to face a red-hot Hawks squad inside Philips Arena.
San Antonio edged Golden State 107-106 at home on Tuesday night, but came nowhere near covering as an eight-point favorite. The Spurs have won just three of their last seven overall (1-6 ATS), and prior to Tuesday’s win they hadn’t scored more than 95 points in any of their previous six outings.
Atlanta has rattled off eight wins in its last nine contests (8-0-1 ATS), including Monday’s 109-97 victory over Minnesota, pushing as a 12-point home chalk. The Hawks’ last eight wins have all come at home with their lone roadie coming Saturday in Cleveland when they lost 102-96 to the Cavs but covered as eight-point pups.
San Antonio has won five straight in this series (2-2-1 ATS) and eight of the last nine (5-3-1 ATS) and it has cashed in 11 of the last 17. These two met on Dec. 12 in Texas when the Spurs got a 95-89 home win but came up just short as 6½-point favorites. The home team is on a 9-3-1 ATS run in this series.
The Spurs are 0-5 ATS in their last five overall, 1-5 ATS in their last six on Wednesday and 2-6 ATS in their last eight against winning teams, but they are on a 5-2 ATS streak when playing the second night of a back-to-back. It’s all positive ATS streaks for the Hawks, including 11-1-1 at home, 12-2-1 overall, 6-0-1 against Western Conference teams, 9-0 against teams with winning records, 7-0-1 after getting one day off and 7-2 against teams from the Southwest Division.
For the Spurs, the under is on runs of 5-2 on the road, 20-7 against Southeast Division teams and 5-1 overall. Atlanta is on “under” streaks of 8-2 at home, 5-1 against the Southwest Division and 6-1 against teams with a winning record. In this series, the under is 6-1 in the last seven.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ATLANTA and UNDER
Boston (54-18, 36-36 ATS) at Orlando (52-18, 44-25-1 ATS)
The Celtics will be shooting for their fifth straight win as they visit Amway Arena in Orlando to face the Magic in a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference.
Boston has won four straight (2-2 ATS), including Monday’s 90-77 home win over the Clippers, but it fell short as a 15-point chalk. The Celtics were victorious in their last two road games, winning in San Antonio on Friday 80-77 as 3½-point underdogs and in Memphis on Saturday 105-87 and cashing as eight-point favorites.
The Magic have won three straight (1-2 ATS) and 10 of their last 12 (8-4 ATS). They’re coming off a home-and-home sweep of the Knicks on Saturday and Monday but failed to cash in both contests, their only two non-covers in their last seven games. Orlando’s offense is clicking, topping the 105-point mark in six of its last seven games.
The Celtics have won two of three matchups with the Magic this season (2-1 ATS), but overall the host has dominated this series, winning seven of the last nine (6-3 ATS) and cashing in 21 of the last 29. The underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings, and the Magic have covered in five of the last seven battles with the Celtics at home.
Boston is on ATS slides of 1-5 following an ATS loss, 2-12 after getting one day off, 0-5 against the Eastern Conference, 3-11 overall and 0-4 on Wednesdays, but the Celtics are 40-16 ATS as a road ‘dog. Orlando is on a plethora of ATS streaks, including 38-18 overall, 47-18-1 after a non-cover, 5-1 after one day off and 19-7 against teams with a winning record.
The Celtics are on “under” runs of 19-8 on the road, 12-4 as a road underdog, 4-1 after a straight-up win and 5-2 as a pup. The Magic are also on several “under” streaks that include 55-26-2 as a home favorite of up to 4 ½ points, 5-1 at home, 6-1 after getting one day off, 5-0 overall and 7-0 at home against teams with winning road marks. In this rivalry, the under is 5-1 in the last six matchups in Florida.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Denver (45-26, 37-33-1 ATS) at New Orleans (44-25, 30-37-2 ATS)
Two teams jockeying for playoff positioning in the Western Conference square off inside New Orleans Arena when the Nuggets come calling for the Hornets.
Denver had its five-game winning streak stopped in Monday’s 118-115 loss in Phoenix, but it got the cash as a 3½-point underdog. The Nuggets have been lighting up the scoreboard of late, scoring at least 107 points in each of their last six games (5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS).
The Hornets have won three straight (2-1 ATS), including Sunday’s 99-89 home win over Golden State, cashing in as 8½-point favorites. Contrary to Denver, New Orleans does it with defense, limiting the opposition to 90.8 points per game at home this season and not allowing any squad to reach triple digits since Feb. 23 (14 straight games).
New Orleans has won three of four in this series (SU and ATS), including two of three this season. In the most recent meeting in the Big Easy, the Hornets got a 94-81 home win back on Jan. 28, easily cashing as four-point favorites. The favorite is on a four-game ATS run in this rivalry.
Denver is on ATS slides of 2-6 on the road, 1-7 after a straight-up loss, 1-4 after getting one day off, 0-4 against the Southwest Division and 2-5 on Wednesdays. New Orleans is 4-1 ATS after getting two days off, but it is just 3-7 ATS in its last 10 against Northwest Division squads.
The Nuggets are on “over” runs of 18-6 after getting one day off, 8-3 on Wednesdays and 8-3 when they play a team with a winning record, but the under is on streaks of 11-5 after an ATS win, and 7-2 on the road against teams with winning home records. New Orleans is on a plethora of under streaks, including 6-1 when getting two days off, 6-0 overall, 4-0 at home and 4-0 against the Western Conference.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NEW ORLEANS
Jeff Benton
For Wednesday we’ll back the Hawks minus the points versus the Spurs.
This essentially comes down to one simple truth: Atlanta is covering pointspreads in a big way right now and San Antonio isn’t. With last night’s non-cover against Golden State – they won 107-106 as an eight-point home favorite – the Spurs have now failed to cover in five consecutive games. On the other hand, the Hawks are on a blistering 12-2-1 spread-covering streak, going 11-1-1 ATS in their last 13 at home.
Obviously, those trends are built into this pointspread, but I don’t mind laying this somewhat inflated number because not only are these teams heading in opposite ATS directions, they’re heading in opposite directions period. Atlanta has won eight of its last nine, and all eight of the victories have come at home (the only loss was a respectable six-point setback at Cleveland). Meanwhile, prior to last night, the Spurs had dropped two in a row and four out of six.
San Antonio is notorious for stinking it up on back-to-back nights, especially when travel is involved and especially after having to go the distance as it did last night against the Warriors. And because this is a back-to-back spot, there’s a very good chance Tim Duncan won’t play. Throw in the fact that Atlanta has owned its home court this season (28-7 SU) and the home team has dominated this rivalry lately from a pointspread perspective (9-3-1 ATS in the last 13 meetings), and my money’s on the playoff-bound and underrated Hawks.
7♦ ATLANTA HAWKS
Karl Garrett
Minnesota +10 at PHILADELPHIA
Tonight the G-Man takes the points with the Timberwolves, as Minnesota may be riding a 5-game losing streak, but they are hitting the Sixers at the right time.
Philly is fresh back from a 5-game west coast road swing that saw them go to overtime on Monday in their outright win at Portland.
This is just too many points for Phiadelphia to be laying, as the 76ers are only 15-17-2 against the spread at home this year, while the T-Wolves come into this one on a 15-6-1 road spread run their last 22 games.
Minnesota has also won the last pair of series meetings, and 4 of the last 5 outright.
The road team in the series is also on a 6-2-1 spread run the last 9 showdows, making the points the play.
Take Minnesota here.
4♦ MINNESOTA
Drew Gordon
Boston +3' at ORLANDO
The last time these two teams played, I gave you the Magic as my 100K paid play winner March 8th. In that contest, I argued that the Magic were not only healthier, but looking to make a statement against the defending champs, who had beaten twice earlier on this season. HOWEVER, things are a lot different this time around, and here's why:
First and foremost, the Celtics proved that when they have Kevin Garnett in the lineup, they match up particularly well with Orlando, as evidenced by their first two meetings this season - winning by a combined 29 points in those 2 match ups. We saw in their March 8th meeting what happens without the Big Ticket, namely, Orlando's frontline dominated Boston's... But you can rest-assured that will not be the case tonight with KG back in the lineup.
Second, now the motivation is flipped, in that, the Magic may have been the more motivated team the last time they met, but NOT this time. Celtics have an axe to grind after losing to the Magic 86-79 at home in their last one, and I fully expect they'll exact their revenge tonight. Note the underdog in this series is a solid 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings!
Bottom line, check the local Boston papers and you'll read just how important Pierce and company are taking this game. They believe their home loss in March was an embarassment, and will be looking to return the favor in kind tonight. In the end, we've seen how these teams match up when they're both healthy (as is the case tonight), and I just don't see any reason to believe the Celtics don't grab the cash in this one (with the outright win a very distinct possibility).
Take Boston plus the points over Orlando in this NBA match up.
2♦ BOSTON
Sports Gambling Hotline
Stanford -3 at OREGON STATE
No strangers here, as Stanford and Oregon State are conference rivals that have already met three times this season, twice during the regluar season, and once in Los Angeles at the Pac 10 tounrament.
Thus far, the Beavers are 2-1 both straight up, and against the spread, but the Cardinal did win the most recent showdown in the conference tournament, going on a late game run that saw them cover the 7-point impost is a 62-54 win and cover.
We like the Tall Tree again tonight, as Johnny Dawkins' tounrnament experience sitting next to Coach K. all of those years is surely paying dividends right now, as Stanford has laid waste to both Boise State, and Wichita State to get to tonight's semifinal showdown.
The fact remains Oregon State is still 15-17 straight up this year, and they are just 5-13 against the spread the last 18 series meetings with Stanford.
We will lay the small road wood, and back Stanford to make it to Monday's final.
Play on the Cardinal.
5♦ STANFORD
Michael Cannon
Stanford -3 at OREGON STATE
Take Stanford tonight as the road chalk over Oregon State.
Stanford has cruised into the semifinals of this tournament with blowout wins over Boise State at home and Wichita State on the road. The Cardinal shouldn’t have any problem continuing that trend tonight against an Oregon State team that struggled in conference play all season long.
There is also revenge motive here for Stanford as they lost a pair of regular-season games to the Beavers. They gained a measure of revenge with a win in the Pac-10 tournament, but this would be even sweeter for the Cardinal.
Oregon State is on ATS slides of 7-20-1 at home, 0-4 in conference play, 2-12 on Wednesday and 4-11-1 after a spread-cover.
Stanford is on ATS runs of 5-2 overall, 4-1 on Wednesday and 16-7-1 versus teams with a losing record.
Take Stanford minus the points as they grab the road win and cover.
2♦ STANFORD
Frank Jordan
Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks
Play: Dallas Mavericks -9.5
Golden State had a shot to beat the Spurs last night, but San Antonio was just too good at home winning 107-106. Now the Warriors take on another Texas team in Dallas as they look to halt the mini two game slide. Dallas is currently in the 8th spot in the West and have won 6 of their last 10 games. In their previous two games against one another Dallas won at home by 24 and Golden State won at home by 9 in this one look for the home court to once again come up big as Dallas wins by at leas a dozen. Play Dallas
ALEX SMART
Minnesota Wild @ New York Islanders
PICK: New York Islanders
Jacques Lemaire and the Wild lost to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden last night, which extended a current run of road futility to 5 straight efforts. Minny now on tired legs go across town to play a very talented and suddenly cohesive Scott Gordon coached Islanders team. The Isles are 9-2-2 in their L/13 at home almost exclusively in the underdog role, and are 5-1-1 in their most recent battles on Long Island. Needless to say, a win for a Wild team that has scored an average of just 2 GPG, in their last 11 away tilts , looks very uncertain. With said, I'm betting for rising young star Kyle Okposo to be the catalyst behind the value lined home dog ticket getting cashed by NY Islander betting backers......Play on NYI
LARRY NESS
Denver Nuggets @ New Orleans Hornets
PICK: New Orleans Hornets
The Nuggets enter this game 45-26 and a half-game ahead of the Jazz in the Northwest Division (the Blazers are 1 1/2 games back). The Hornets are 44-25, one game back of the Spurs and 1 1/2 games back of the first-place Rockets in the Southwest. The No. 2 through No. 7 seeds in the West, are separated by a mere 2 1/2 games. Needless to say, this game is important. New Orleans is currently in a 21-game stretch in which only six opponents have winning records. The Hornets have won 12 of 15 so far and while the Nuggets are 45-26, they have struggled mightily on the road since the All Star break. Denver returned from the break by winning at Philly but since that victory, has gone just 1-7 SU, with that lone win coming at 17-53 Memphis. Denver could be without center Nene (14.6-7.8) for this game, as Monday night in Phoenix, the undersized center (who has been excellent, by the way) was given a flagrant foul 2 and ejected with 7:25 remaining in the game for grabbing Suns center Louis Amundson and throwing him to the floor. The Hornets will again be without Peja (13.8-4.4) and Chandler (8.8-8.9) but they've gone 10-3 in the last 13 games with Peja and after going 9-3 in the 12 games in which Chandler returned after his trade to OKC fell through, the Hornets are 3-0 without Chandler these last three games. I'll take Paul (22.2-5.4-10.9) and West (20.0-8.3) over Anthony (22.2-6.9) and Billups (18.3-6.3 APG). Lay it with the Hornets.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Cleveland Cavs -12
The Cavs just won at New Jersey by 8 in their last game and they will be good enough to cover this number at home tonight. Don't expect to see the Cavs taken any nights off as they are in a battle with the Lakers for home court supremacy in the playoffs. The big key here is that Devin Harris is expected to miss for the Nets and they don't stand a chance in hell without him. New Jersey is 2-14 ATS in road games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons, losing by an average score of 88.8 to 103.8 in these games. The Nets are also just 1-9 ATS in road games versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons, losing by an average score of 88.4 to 102.3 in these spots. Lay the points.
Rob Homyak
NotreDame -2.5 vs Kentucky
Jodie Meeks scored 16 points to lift Kentucky past Creighton 65-63 in the second round of the NIT on Monday night.Kentucky cashed as 2-point road underdogs as the teams played under the 139-point total listed by oddsmakers.Notre Dame nearly blew a 10 point lead, but managed to pull out a 70-68 win over New Mexico in the second round of the NIT on Thursday. Notre Dame failed to cover the 5.5-point spread, while the combined score fell UNDER the game's posted total of 147.Luke Harangody dropped a game-high 26 points to lead the charge.Kentucky Wildcats are 5-10 ATS overall, 1-4 ATS on the road, 5-9 ATS against teams with a winning record, 1-5 TS following a spread-cover and 1-4 on Wednesday.Notre Dame has won eight of its last 12, including four of the last five and 4-0 ATS in its last four after a non-cover
Wunderdog
Boston at Orlando
Pick: Orlando -3.5
The odds-maker is saying outside the home-court advantage this game is even. That might be true of a healthy Boston team, but not this one. KG is just getting back into the swing after a knee injury kept him on the sidelines, Leon Powe is out, as well as Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine and a few others are playing hobbled. The Magic have won five straight at home and look at this as more important than Boston. They both have 18 losses and a Magic win gives them a leg up for home-court if they should meet in the playoffs. The Celtics are more interested in getting healthy and feel they can win on the road, I will go with Orlando here that views the stakes higher and are healthier.