Thursday 12/20/18 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for NCAAFB, NFL & NBA games.
John Anthony Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Dallas Stars - 185
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High Stakes Syndicate
Free Selection for Thursday: Yale Bulldogs - 10 1/2 (NCAA BB)
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Vegas Steam Line
Your free winner for Thursday: Take PURDUE -16 over Ohio U
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Huddle Up Sports
Free Play: Long Beach State -4 College BB
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Hawkeye Sports
Thursday's Free Pick: Boston Bruins - 160
Arthur Ralph
FREE play 6-2 run UNDER 148 1/2 TEXAS TECH CBB
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Easy Money Sports
Lee's Thursday Free Selection Is
Purdue -16
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Sharp Bettor
SharpBettor FREE Play for Thursday, December 20, 2018
12/20 05:05 PM NBA (577) HOUSTON ROCKETS VS (578) MIAMI HEAT
Take : Rockets
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Platinum Plays
Free Pick: the Yale Bulldogs -10½ over Monmouth
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#1 Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Kentucky Wildcats - 7
Atlantic Sports
Thursday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: Notre Dame - 20
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Roz Wins
Roz's Thursday, December 20, 2018, Free Pick
12/20 07:00 PM CB (611) PEPPERDINE VS (612) LONG BEACH STATE
Take : Pepperdine
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Jeff Allen
Thursday's Free Selection is on the Columbus Blue Jackets
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Totals4U
Thursday's Free Selection: Northern Illinois/Kentucky over 149 1/2
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Razor Sharp
YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR THURSDAY: HOUSTON (CBB) -5 over Utah St
Mike Wynn
Free Play: Free Fordham -3½ Over James Madison
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Gus Augustine
For Thursday, let's take the big number the Bobcats are getting in West Lafayette against the host Boilermakers.
Finally a game the Boilers should be able to win, as Matt Painter's team has lost their last pair and 4 of their last 5 overall, but being favored by this many points tells me Purdue will at least win this game against Ohio U. The cover is a different story altogether.
Purdue enters having failed the pointspread in each of their last 4, and dating back to last season are a money-burning 7-19-1 against the spread!
Ohio does sport a 7-3 straight up mark, and they have won their last pair and 5 of 6 entering action for Thursday.
The 'Cats are led by Jason Carter and his 19+ points per game, and they do also have a secondary option in Teyvion Kirk who nets close to 16-points per game.
The Boilermakers continue to be led by Carson Edwards, and there is simply too much talent on the Purdue side for them to lose this contest, but with the way they are scuffling just to get a win, I will look for the Boilers to get their act together just in time for the Christmas break to notch the win, but NOT the cover.
I am taking the Bobcats plus the points to stay semi-close.
1* OHIO
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Tommy Brunson
For Thursday in college buckets, let's take the generous points with the winless Monmouth Hawks as they return home for a date with what was supposed to be a strong Yale Elis team.
Yale came into the year as one of the front-runners in the Ivy League, as coach James Jones' team had all 5 starters from last year's 16-15 team returning to the fold, but Yale has broken from the gate at just 5-3 straight up for the season, as they have dropped 3 of their 4 true road games.
It is unlikely they lose in Long Branch tonight, as the Hawks of Monmouth are a team that is still in search of their first straight up win on the year.
Monmouth lost 2 of their 3 top-scorers from last year's team, but they do still have some experience back on this year's edition in the way of 3 starters, including Deion Hammond who was second on the team in scoring last year, and is posting close to 11 points per game for this year's 0-11 lineup.
The Hawks are playing their first home game since November 24th, as they have played each of their last 4 on the road. It should be pointed out that their last home game was only a 3-point loss to another Ivy league team in Princeton, so perhaps that bodes well for tonight's meeting with Yale.
Last year when these teams played, Monmouth was an 85-64 runaway winner in New Haven as the +4 1/2 point road dog.
Yale in definite revenge tonight will get their revenge, but for a 5-3 team to be laying this many points away from home is something that I am not interested in.
Double-digits work tonight in a closer than expected game in New Jersey.
1* MONMOUTH
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Ray Chadwick
It's been a real struggle for Houston this season, but the month of December is finally showing us some evidence that Houston may indeed be piecing their puzzle together.
The Rockets hit South Beach riding a season-high 5 game winning streak, and they are 4-0-1 against the spread during their current run.
Tonight they face a Miami team that is back home after a long 6 game road trip that saw the Heat go 4-2, including wins in their last pair.
There is an old edict in the NBA that says to play against a team coming off a 3 games or longer road trip in their first game back on their home court, and I am going to abide by that edict tonight.
Houston has won the last pair in this series and 5 of the last 8 series meetings overall. That includes a win and cover in their last stop last season in Miami.
Yes, the Rockets did just play last night at home, but they barely broke a sweat in a 136-118 romp over the Wizards.
Also of concern is the fact that the Heat will now have to play without a main cog in their lineup, as Goran Dragic will miss the next 6 to 8 weeks with a knee injury.
Have to lay the road lumber with the surging Rockets on Thursday.
4* HOUSTON
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Sal Michaels
Dec 20 '18, 7:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-B | Texas Tech vs Duke
Play on: Texas Tech +10½ -110
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Bobby Conn
Dec 20 '18, 7:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-B | Howard vs Ball State
Play on: Ball State -17 -110
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Cole Faxon
Dec 20 '18, 7:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-B | Savannah State vs Tennessee Tech
Play on: Savannah State +8 -105
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Mike Williams
Dec 20 '18, 7:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-B | Howard vs Ball State
Play on: Ball State -17 -109
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John Martin
Dec 20 '18, 7:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-B | Ohio vs Purdue
Play on: Purdue -16½ -109 at GTBets
1 Unit FREE PLAY on Purdue -16.5
The Purdue Boilermakers should be focused tonight at home against Ohio to get a win. They won’t play again until the 29th, so they’ll be all in here. Especially since they’ve lost five of their last seven coming in against an absolutely brutal schedule. Their losses have come to VA Tech, FSU, Michigan, Texas and Notre Dame will all five losses coming on a road or on a neutral. They beat Maryland at home as well, so there hasn’t been a break in the schedule. They finally get that break here with Ohio coming to town. Ohio lost by 21 at Xavier, by 9 on a neutral to Loyola-Marymount and by 27 to South Florida on a neutral. Given those results, they don’t stand much of a chance against a Purdue team that will be the best squad they’ve faced all season. Ohio is 1-11 ATS in its last 12 road games after playing two consecutive games as a favorite. Give me Purdue.
Dustin Hawkins
Dec 20 '18, 7:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-B | South Carolina State vs Miami-OH
Play on: South Carolina State +17 -109
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Hunter Price
Dec 20 '18, 7:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-B | Yale vs Monmouth
Play on: Yale -10½ -108
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Info Plays
Dec 20 '18, 7:00 PM in 5h
NCAA-B | Northern Illinois vs Northern Kentucky
Play on: Northern Illinois +6½ -109
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Ben Burns
Dec 20 '18, 7:05 PM in 5h
NHL | Wild vs Penguins
Play on: Wild -101 at pinnacle
With the schedule in their favor, I feel that the visiting Wild are providing us with solid value this evening. The Pens are off an emotional win vs. the defending champs, their division rival, the Washington Capitals. They're just 18-19 (-4.1) the past couple of seasons, when playing the second of b2b games. This season, they're 3-7, when coming off a divisional game.
While the Pens were involved in a battle with the Caps, the Wild had yesterday off. The previous day, they'd lost 4-0 against the Sharks. That's noteworthy, as they're 8-4 this season, after alloing four or more goals. Over the past 2+ seasons, they're a lucrative 40-24 (+13.6) in that situation. I like their chances of improving on those stats. Consider Minnesota.
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Alex Smart
Dec 20 '18, 8:00 PM in 6h
NCAA-B | Utah State vs Houston
Play on: Utah State +5 -105 at Bovada
Houston and Utah State, two of the nation's best rebounding teams, go head to head tonight in what I expect will be a battle in the trenches. Houston is undefeated but Im wont be surprised if they suffer their first loss tonight, but more importantly I feel strongly thye wont cover.Utah State has posted wire-to-wire victories in four of its last five games.
• Utah State has outrebounded every opponent this season and ranks fourth in the nation in rebounding margin (+13.2). The Aggies lead the Mountain West in both rebounding offense (42.7) and rebounding defense (29.6).
• Utah State is best in the MW in ending possessions, averaging a league-best 32.0 defensive rebounds per game to rank sixth in the nation. The Aggies also lead the Mountain West in defensive rebounding percentage (.806).
• Utah State is also tops in the MW in scoring offense (84.0), field goal percentage (.494), scoring defense (66.0) and defensive field goal percentage (.365) and must not be underestimated.
Play on Utah State to cover
Jimmy Boyd
Dec 20 '18, 8:00 PM in 6h
NCAA-F | Marshall vs South Florida
Play on: South Florida +3 -105 at Bovada
1* Free NCAAF Pick on South Florida Bulls +
I'll take the points here with South Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl. The Bulls couldn't have ended the season much worse than they did. USF lost 5 straight after starting the season 7-0. It also seems likely that the Bulls won't have starting quarterback Blake Barnett, who was downgraded to questionable.
While South Florida was never as good as their 7-0 start, they also aren't as bad as their 5-game losing streak. The thing you have to keep in mind is the schedule was absolutely brutal to close out the year. They had to play Houston, Cincinnati, Temple and UCF in the final 5 and the other was against a bowl-bound Tulane team.
Marshall was one of the better teams in C-USA, but the conference as a whole was down from last year and we saw them really struggle in their two step up games. They lost by 17 at home to NC State and got annihilated 41-20 by a pretty mediocre Virginia Tech team in the finale.
I think there's a lot of motivation here for Charlie Strong's team to win this game and get some positive vibes going into the offseason. I also think the Bulls have a massive edge here with this game being played on their home field. Take USF!
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Doug Upstone
Dec 20 '18, 8:05 PM in 6h
NBA | Rockets vs Heat
Play on: OVER 209½ -110
In the NBA on Thursday night, Play Over on road teams when the total is 209 or higher like HOUSTON, off a home win by 10 points or more, against opponent off two or more consecutive road wins. In the last 21 years, teams like the Rockets are 23-3 OVER, 88.5 percent!
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Brandon Lee
Dec 20 '18, 8:05 PM in 6h
NBA | Rockets vs Heat
Play on: Rockets -3½ -104 at pinnacle
10* FREE NBA PICK (Rockets -3.5)
I just can't pass up playing the Rockets at this price. I know Houston will be on no rest after playing last night at home against the Wizards, but this team has something special going on right now. They have won 5 straight and during the winning streak we have seen James Harden return to playing at an MVP level and last night the Rockets set a new NBA-record with 26 made 3-pointers. It's also worth pointing out that Houston was in control of that game last night against Washington, so while guys played big minutes, they weren't stressful minutes. I'm not expecting them to blowout Miami, all we need is for them to basically win the game to get the cover. Give me the Rockets -3.5!
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Kenny Walker
Dec 20 '18, 10:00 PM in 8h
NCAA-B | Pepperdine vs Long Beach State
Play on: Pepperdine +5½ -109
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Mark Wilson
Dec 20 '18, 10:00 PM in 8h
NCAA-B | Pepperdine vs Long Beach State
Play on: Long Beach State -3½ -109
Jack Jones
Dec 20 '18, 10:35 PM in 8h
NBA | Mavs vs Clippers
Play on: Clippers -3 -105 at betonline
Jack’s Free Pick Thursday: Los Angeles Clippers -3
The Los Angeles Clippers will be highly motivated for a victory tonight. They got off to a surprising start and were actually in first place in the Western Conference a few weeks ago. But a 1-6 record since has to have them refocused and ready to go tonight.
Plus, the Clippers come in on two days’ rest after losing to the Blazers 127-131 at home on December 17th. They’ve had some time to regroup, and they’ll be playing a Mavs team that will be on their 3rd game in 5 days after a tough road trip at Denver in the altitude on Tuesday night.
The Clippers have handled their business at home this year, going 9-4 SU & 8-5 ATS in their 13 home games. The Mavericks have been atrocious on the road, going just 2-11 SU & 5-8 ATS in their 13 road games.
Given that awful road record, the Mavericks are getting way too much respect from oddsmakers tonight as only 3-point underdogs. The home team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six meetings. Bet the Clippers Thursday.
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Steve Janus
Dec 20 '18, 10:35 PM in 8h
NBA | Mavs vs Clippers
Play on: Mavs +3½ -105 at Bovada
1* Free Sharp Play on Mavs +3½ -105
My money is on Dallas to cover here as a short dog at the Clippers. The books are begging you to take LA, but I'm not taking the bait. The Clippers aren't playing well at all right now. They come in having lost 4 straight and are a miserable 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games. The Mavs are one of the most improved teams in the league behind rookie Luka Doncic, who is playing at an All-Star level. Bet Dallas +3.5!
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