Thursday 11/15/18 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for NCAAFB, NFL & NBA games.
Matt Josephs
Nov 15 '18, 11:30 AM in 48m
NCAA-B | Ball State vs Virginia Tech
Play on: OVER 152 -110
This one should be an interesting one in Charleston as Ball State takes on Virginia Tech. The Hokies have just one game under their belt and it was a 87-59 victory over a worse opponent. The team is led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Ahmed Hill and Justin Robinson. This squad isn't that deep since they suspended Chris Clarke and Landers Nolley hasn't received clearance yet. They want to run a bit and have struggled at times with defense. Ball State is coming off an 84-75 loss to Purdue this past weekend. Tayler Persons and Tahjai Teague are their leading scorers. This is another team that wants to get out and run and doesn't have a ton of size. Virginia Tech has gone over in 18 of their last 30 games as a favorite. Ball State has gone over in 15 of their last 19 non-conference lined games. I think this one starts off a fun day in Charleston.
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Cappers Club
Nov 15 '18, 6:00 PM in 7h
NCAA-F | Toledo vs Kent State
Play on: Kent State +13½ -110 at Bovada
Kent State +13.5
This play just missed out on our premium card. All Toledo needs in this game is a win to become bowl eligible and after their game last week they now can't get to the MAC Championship game.
The Golden Flashes haven't been good this year but they are 3-0 ATS at home this year and with 13.5 points, it's a perfect time to trust them.
Some trends to note. Home team is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall. Golden Flashes are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Back the Golden Flashes.
5* FREE Cappers Club Play on Kent State +13.5
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Stephen Nover
Nov 15 '18, 7:05 PM in 8h
NHL | Panthers vs Blue Jackets
Play on: Blue Jackets -119 at pinnacle
The Panthers are on a roll winning five in a row. But they find themselves underdogs to Columbus. Is that right? Yes, the Blue Jackets are the right side. They are the better team, have a superstar goalie who is hot, are far more rested and have a huge home ice advantage having defeated Florida 10 of the last 11 times in Columbus. The Panthers are in action for the fourth time in six days. They just defeated the Flyers, 2-1, in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Columbus has five more points this season than Florida. Sergei Bobrovsky is in the argument for top goalie in the league and he's hot giving up one goal in five of his last six games. The Blue Jackets also have defeated the Panthers during the past five meetings.
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Cole Faxon
Nov 15 '18, 8:00 PM in 9h
NCAA-F | Tulane vs Houston
Play on: OVER 67½ -105
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Kenny Walker
Nov 15 '18, 8:00 PM in 9h
NCAA-F | Tulane vs Houston
Play on: Tulane +10 -105
Dustin Hawkins
Nov 15 '18, 8:00 PM in 9h
NCAA-F | Tulane vs Houston
Play on: OVER 67½ -110
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Steve Janus
Nov 15 '18, 8:00 PM in 9h
NCAA-F | Tulane vs Houston
Play on: Tulane +10 -105
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Jimmy Boyd
Nov 15 '18, 8:05 PM in 9h
NBA | Warriors vs Rockets
Play on: Rockets -2½ -103 at 5Dimes
1* Free Pick on Houston Rockets -
This isn't just another game for the Rockets, it's their first crack at the Warriors since losing Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on their home court. Perfect time for Houston, who after a sluggish start to the season has rounded back into form.
It started with a 115-103 win at Indiana, where the Rockets shot 48.6% from the field and connected on 20 3-pointers. They followed that up with a 10-point win at Denver, where they shot 55%. They also continued their strong play defensively, as they are allowing a mere 96.3 ppg over their last 6.
Not only are they getting back on track, but Golden State is a bit of a mess right now. Steph Curry is sidelined with an injury and there's the feud within the team between Draymond Green and Kevin Durant. While I fully expect the Warriors to be just fine in the long run, I think the Rockets will dominate this one at home in a prime time matchup on TNT. Take Houston!
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Bobby Conn
Nov 15 '18, 8:20 PM in 9h
NFL | Packers vs Seahawks
Play on: UNDER 49½ -115
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Sal Michaels
Nov 15 '18, 9:30 PM in 10h
NCAA-F | Florida Atlantic vs North Texas
Play on: North Texas -3 -110
Jack Jones
Nov 15 '18, 9:30 PM in 10h
NCAA-B | Oregon vs Iowa
Play on: Iowa +4 -110 at Bovada
Jack’s Free Pick Thursday: Iowa +4
The Iowa Hawkeyes could be flying under the radar this season. That’s because they return all five starters from last year, including Tyler Cook (15.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG), who decided to come back for his junior season after flirting with the pros. Jordan Bohannon (13.5 PPG, 5.4 APG) and Luke Garza (12.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG) are also back. This is the best team Fran McCaffery has ever had at Iowa.
Oregon only returns two starters from last year in Payton Pritchard and Paul White. This is a team that went to the NIT last year and somehow open this season ranked as the No. 13 team in the country. I think there’s too much love for the Ducks early, and the wrong team is favored in this matchup.
This game will be played on a neutral court in New York City at Madison Square Garden in the 2K Classic. That’s important because the Ducks are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six neutral site games. The Hawkeyes are 5-0 ATS in their last five neutral site games. Bet Iowa Thursday.
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Mike Williams
Nov 15 '18, 9:30 PM in 10h
NCAA-F | Florida Atlantic vs North Texas
Play on: Florida Atlantic +3½ -105
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Hunter Price
Nov 15 '18, 9:30 PM in 10h
NCAA-B | Oregon vs Iowa
Play on: Iowa +4 -110
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Info Plays
Nov 15 '18, 9:30 PM in 10h
NCAA-F | Florida Atlantic vs North Texas
Play on: North Texas -2½ -115
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Ross Benjamin
Nov 15 '18, 9:30 PM in 10h
NCAA-F | Florida Atlantic vs North Texas
Play on: Florida Atlantic +4 -102
Will Rogers
Nov 15 '18, 9:30 PM in 10h
NCAA-B | Oregon vs Iowa
Play on: Iowa +3½ -104 at 5Dimes
The set-up: This is part of the 2K Classic in New York. The No. 13 Oregon Ducks clobbered Eastern Washington 81-47 in their most recent action, while the Iowa Hawkeyes enter off a strong 93-82 home victory over Green Bay. The Ducks average 82.5 points and allow 52 in the early going, but clearly those numbers are “skewed” due to the competition. Iowa is so far averaging 85 PPG and it’s allowing 72.5.
The pick: I think Iowa’s scoring depth keeps the Hawkeyes in this one. Oregon hasn’t been tested yet and note that it’s a poor 7-10 ATS in its last 17 neutral site affairs (Iowa is a money-building 7-4 ATS in its last 11 neutral site games.) Consider the points in this one.
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Mike Wynn
Free Play: Free Wichita St -1 Over Davidson
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Jim Feist
11/15 04:00 PM PT / 7:00 PM ET
CB (507) OHIO STATE VS (508) CREIGHTON
Take: (507) OHIO STATE
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Razor Sharp
YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR THURSDAY: FLORIDA-ATLANTIC/NORTH TEXAS UNDER the total of 64
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Totals4U
Thursday's Free Selection: Detroit/California over 147 1/2
Jeff Allen
Thursday's Free Selection is on the West Virginia Mountaineers
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Atlantic Sports
Thursday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: Depaul + 1 1/2
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#1 Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Delaware Blue Hens + 2
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Platinum Plays
Free Pick the Oregon Ducks -4 over Iowa
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Easy Money Sports
Lee's Thursday Free Selection Is
Gonzaga -13½
Tommy Brunson
This looks like too low of a total tonight at Dix Stadium when Toledo takes on Kent State.
I know Toledo has played Under the total in their last pair of MAC games, but after being held to a season-low 15 points against the stingy NIU Huskies, the sledding should be more downhill and easier for the Rockets in this battle against a Kent State team that has been allowing over 35 points per game for the year, and they did allow a big 48 points to be scored on them in their last game at Buffalo - a game that landed Over the total.
In my mind, the Rockets are capable of getting close to this low 50's total all by themselves, so you can see why I do not feel this total is at all too high for the usually free-wheeling MAC. A very telling stat is the fact the Rockets have 18 takeaways on the year, while the Golden Flashes have 15 giveaways of the year. That tells me that that you can factor in a few turnovers in this game, and turnovers usually yield some quick, short-field scores.
With Toledo at 6-4 Over the total for the year, and them coming off their weakest offensive output of the entire season, look for the Rockets to take flight in this one against the yielding Golden Flashes and post in the vicinity of 45 points. They do that, and I would think Kent State can carry the rest of the water to the Over column.
Toledo-Kent State Over for Thursday night.
2* TOLEDO-KENT STATE OVER
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Ray Chadwick
With their 38-15 loss at Northern Illinois in their last game, Jason Candle's Toledo Rockets are in need of a win either tonight or next week in their season-finale at home against Central Michigan if the wish to keep their streak of 4 straight bowl games alive.
The saying is, "no time like the present", and tonight against the 2 win Golden Flashes, not only will they get their win, but I expect their offense to get rockin' against the Golden Flashes who simply cannot generate enough offense here to keep pace or stay within this pointspread.
Toledo quarterback Mitch Guadagni has missed the last pair of games for the Rockets with a shoulder injury, and while it would be better if he were under center at 100%, the Rockets Eli Peters is a capable backup, as he has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 12 TD's to his credit.
The Rockets defense has had a real knack for winning the turnover battle, as they have 18 takeaways on the year to their credit. With the Golden Flashes having coughed the football up 16 times already this season, strong chance that the Toledo defense can create some scoring chances for their offense in this game.
Toledo has been able to cover in 7 of their last 9 Thursday night games, and they also have been able to cover in 13 of their last 20 on the MAC road. Compare that to Kent's dismal 4-7 mark their last 11 conference games, and the Golden Flashes 1-5 spread mark their last 6 games in the month of November, and you can see why Kent State is "fade" material at Dix Stadium tonight.
Kent is averaging just over 23 points per game on the season, while they are allowing over 35 points per game to be scored against them. Toledo was held to a season-low 15 in their loss at NIU, but they had posted a whopping 96 points in their previous pair of MAC games, both wins and covers.
Whether it is Gaudagni or Peters, I am expecting the points to flow for the bowl-seeking visitors.
Lay the lumber with Toledo.
3* TOLEDO
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Gus Augustine
They can score, but laying this kind of a number seems a little high to me in this Tulane-Houston meeting tonight in Texas.
Tulane enters this one riding a 3 game win streak that does include 2 road wins and covers at Tulsa and at South Florida. The Green Wave could not cover their homecoming game last Saturday at home against East Carolina, but they were a double-digit favorite in that one. As the underdog, Willie Fritz' team has made the money in 4 of their 6 tries this year, as they are now 8-4 in the underdog role since last year.
Houston was standing at 7-1 through their first 8 games, but the Cougars have suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of SMU and Temple, and their defense has been the main culprit, allowing 104 total points in those two losses!
The Green Wave does not possess an offense that is likely to score 50 points tonight, but remember that they did hold the Cougars to only 17 points last season as they ended a 2 game series slide with the 20-17 home win as the +8 point underdog. Tulane in fact has covered in 3 of the last 4 series meetings against Houston.
The Tulane defense has allowed just under 17 points per game over their current 3 game win streak, and their offense has been doing a good job with the football, as their calling card is to run, run, run the football behind their pair of backs - Bradwell and Dauphine - as they rushed it 49 times in last week's win over ECU.
Houston is just 5-5 this season against the spread when favored, and they were only 5-6 last season when listed as the chalk, as their mark in the favorite role is now a money-burning 13-18 when laying points since the 2016 season.
No doubt stud D'Eriq King will do business both rushing the football and passing it, but Houston now has a confidence issue, while Tulane also has a confidence issue, as in they believe they can hang in this game and get themselves bowl-eligible.
I am taking the points here as this one is closer than the pointspread suggests.
4* TULANE
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Nevada Sharpshooter
Your free winner for Thursday: Take ATLANTA/DENVER UNDER the total of 223
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Golden Dragon
FREE WINNER for Thursday
North Texas -3' College FB
Hawkeye Sports
Thursday's Free Pick: Troy Trojans - 1 1/2
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Huddle Up Sports
Free Play: Houston pk NBA
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Arthur Ralph
FREE play THURS Syracuse -9 CBB
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Vegas Steam Line
Your free winner for Thursday: Take SAN ANTONIO/LA CLIPPERS UNDER the total of 219
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High Stakes Syndicate
Free Selection for Thursday: TCU Horned Frogs - 11
Brandon Lee
Nov 15 '18, 8:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-F | Tulane vs Houston
Play on: Tulane +10 -110 at Bovada
10* FREE NCAAF PICK (Tulane +10)
There’s always this perception with teams who start strong and lose a couple games that they will bounce back. I think a lot of people will look at Houston and say they were unlucky in their last two games and they will get on track here against Tulane.
They very well might win this game, but I think it will be by single digits. That’s if they win. Tulane beat Houston 20-17 at home in this exact week of last season as a 9-point dog. Keep in mind that came after D’Eriq King had took over at quarterback, who has taken that offense to another level.
What the Green Wave did is they dominated the time of possession (+13 minutes) and I see no reason why they can’t do the same here. It’s not like the Cougars have been playing much defense and who know is Ed Oliver will play again for them. In their last 4 games they have allowed 59 points to Temple, 45 to SMU, 36 to USF and 36 to Navy. Tulane is 28th in rushing at 215.8 ypg and Houston has allowed at least 196 on the ground during this 4-game stretch and twice over 300 yards.
That defense has to be tired and they only get 4 days to prepare for this game. I also think this Green Wave team is a lot better than they get credit for. While they are just 5-5, only two of those losses came by more than 7-points and those were at Cincinnati and at Ohio State. There 3 closes losses are to Wake Forest, UAB and SMU.
Willie Fritz has really done a great job at Tulane and I think given the confidence his team is playing with and their style of play, they are coming into this one expecting to win and take control of that AAC West division. Give me the Green Wave +10!
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Kenny Towers
FREE PLAY FOR THURSDAY - SAN ANTONIO/LA CLIPPERS UNDER 219
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John Anthony Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Illinois-Chicago Flames - 2
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