JIM FEIST
MIAMI HEAT / NEW YORK KNICKS
TAKE: OVER
Miami has been an uptempo, offensive machine the last month, on runs over the total of 7-2 and 13-4. The defense hasn't been there, though, giving up 118 to Memphis, 95 to Toronto in a win, and 102 in a home loss to Portland. And will they be ready to play some defense in this early game the day after Xmas? The Knicks have plenty of offensive talent, led by Al Harrington, and the last time they met Miami won 115-93 in a game that sailed over the total. Play the Heat/NY Knicks Over the total.
DENVER NUGGETS / PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
TAKE: PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
Denver has been overvalued by oddsmakers, on a 2-6 ATS run, the last three without Chauncey Billups. They are off a win over Atlanta, but it was the Nuggets' victory was their first in three tries without Billups, the thumping-heart point guard who has a strained left groin. Denver is sensational at home, but has a losing road mark. Portland is home after a road trip and ended it in spectacular fashion, a 3-0 SU/ATS run through Miami, Dallas and San Antonio -- as dogs of +5, +5 and +12! Jerryd Bayless scored a career-high 31 points as the Trail Blazers beat the San Antonio Spurs 98-94 on Wednesday. Have to back the hot home team against the team that struggles on the road. Play the Blazers.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Phoenix Suns -9.5
Really think the Suns are primed and ready for a blowout here after enduring back-to-back home defeats - their first two home losses of the season. Last season, the Suns defeated the Clippers 140-100 at home as a 9-point favorite, and while I don't see this one getting anywhere near that ugly, I do see a double digit margin of victory for Phoenix here. The Suns will be highly motivated after back-to-back defeats and they won't take the Clippers lightly because they only won by 2 points in LA in the season's first meeting. The biggest edge Phoenix has here is its 3-point shooting. In fact, the Clippers are just 1-10 ATS versus teams who attempt 18 or more 3 point shots/game on the season this season, losing these games by an average score of 88.5 to 100.4. Take the Suns.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Phoenix Suns -9.5
Since starting the season 10-0 at home, the Suns have dropped back-to-back games on their home floor. Expect them to get back in the win column in a big way here against a team they defeated by 40 points at home last season. The Suns should also get a nice boost from Leadro Barbosa, who is expected to return to the lineup. Since coach Gentry took over as Suns head man, the team is an impressive 19-5 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record, winning these games by an average score of 120.6 to 106.4. We'll take the Suns.
Chris Jordan
Cleveland at L.A. LAKERS -5
How many storylines can you come up with for this game?
Kobe vs. LeBron.
Shaquille O'Neal back in LA with his third team since leaving the Lakers.
Ron Artest vs. LeBron.
The MVPuppets.
Okay, the last one is a stretch, but I do love those commercials. Almost as much as I love the Lakers in this Christmas Day clash.
To be honest with you, I'm most intrigued about seeing Artest and James lock up, as this will be a prime example of why the Lakers inked Artest during the offseason - for defensive matchups against small forwards with skills. And for this reason alone, I think the Cavaliers are at an immediate disadvantage. Think about it, whether it's Kobe or Artest on James, Cleveland's star will have his hands full.
If you throw someone on Kobe, there's Artest or Pau Gasol. You throw someone down low to help out on Gasol, who's going to be one-on-one with Kobe?
There are just too many mismatches for this one-game showdown. If this were a seven-game series, obviously I wouldn't believe Los Angeles could sweep. Adjustments would be made and the Cavs could get used to the tendencies L.A. has.
But preparations for one game on Christmas Day ... I like my chances with the Lakers, who won and covered last year's two meetings - games in which both teams laid five points on their home courts.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers won by 17; at Cleveland the Lakeshow was a 10-point winner.
Play the Purple and Gold on Christmas Day and to all of you, have a blessed holiday season as we look forward to a prosperous New Year!!!
5♦ LAKERS
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Heat/Knicks OVER 199
It took 5 straight Unders, but NBA odds makers have finally come down on their Knicks' total to put the value on the Over. Now I know they have had a lower posted total than this one during their 5-game Unders streak, but I'm talking in terms of their opponent. The Miami Heat have been an Overs machine, playing to the Over in 6 of their last 8 games as well as 6 of their last 7 road games. The Over is also a perfect 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams. It is also worth noting that Miami is 30-0 Over when it and its opponent score 98 or more points in a game over the last 2 seasons and that shouldn't be too much to ask for when you consider that the Heat are averaging 101.8 ppg on the road and the Knicks are scoring 102.5 ppg at home. Bet the Over.
Jeff Benton
Cleveland at LA LAKERS -5
I've hit back-to-back freebies on the Thunder plus the points over the Lakers on Tuesdya and N.C. State plus the points over Arizona in Wednesday's college basketball action. For your free play on Christmas Day, go ahead and back Kobe and the Lakers as a home favorite against LeBron and the Cavaliers.
Los Angeles has the NBA’s best record at 23-4, including winning five in a row and 16 of 17 overall, as well as 16 of 18 at home. But its 12-15 ATS mark ranks in the lower half of the league. There’s a reason for that, though: This team has been asked to lay inflated pointspreads game after game – including Tuesday night, when they failed to cover as a 10-point home chalk against the Thunder (I had a 10 Dime winner on Oklahoma City in that one). Proving my point: The Lakers have been a favorite in 25 of their 27 games this year, but only three times have they been favored by less than seven points.
Cleveland comes into this contest on a roll, too, having won five of its last seven, including the last two in a row on the road at Phoenix and Sacramento. But the Cavs needed overtime to beat the Kings on Wednesday, and don’t forget on Sunday they played in Dallas and lost 102-95 to the Mavericks … which wouldn’t be a big deal except for the fact Dirk Nowitzki didn’t play for the Mavs! If Cleveland can’t beat Nowitzki-less Dallas and needs overtime to take down the Kings, how is it going to hang with a Lakers team that’s winning at home by an average of 10.3 ppg?
LeBron owned his rivalry with Kobe from 2006-08, winning five in a row (4-1 ATS), but last year, Bryant and the Lakers turned the tables and swept the season series, cruising 101-91 at Cleveland (the only team to win in Cleveland last year) and 105-88 at home, cashing easily in both games. Also, the home team has won eight of 10 in this rivalry, and the Lakers come into this one on ATS runs of 10-4 as a favorite of five to 10½-points and 5-1 as a chalk in that range at home.
4♦ LA LAKERS
SPORTS ADVISORS
NFL
San Diego (11-3, 7-7 ATS) at Tennessee (7-7, 6-8 ATS)
Two of the NFL’s hottest teams – despite their disparate SU records – get together when the red-hot Chargers take on the surging Titans in a Christmas night clash at LP Field.
San Diego squeaked past Cincinnati 27-24 Sunday on a 52-yard Nate Kaeding field goal in the waning seconds, notching its ninth consecutive SU win (6-3 ATS), but falling short of covering as a 6½-point home chalk. QB Philip Rivers (3,891 passing yards, 25 TDs, 9 INTs) continues to lead the league’s fifth-best passing attack (268.9 ypg), and the Chargers are fourth in scoring (27.8 ppg), having put up at least 27 points six times during their current win streak.
Tennessee, which started the year 0-6 (1-5 ATS), has since bounced back with a 7-1 run (5-3 ATS) to actually put itself on the edge of the muddled AFC playoff picture. Last week, the Titans topped Miami 27-24 in overtime, getting another solid day from RB Chris Johnson (104 rushing yards, 55 receiving yards). Johnson has a league-leading 1,730 rushing yards (5.7 ypc, 11 TDs), and he’s logged 2,176 all-purpose yards with 13 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. Behind Johnson, the Titans’ running game is second in the NFL at 162.6 ypg.
In addition to Johnson’s heroics, once-fragile QB Vince Young has settled down nicely. Since replacing Kerry Collins as starter following the six-game season-opening slide, Young has 10 TD passes and just four INTs. The Titans have scored 27 points or more five times since he entered the lineup, after scoring 17 or less in five of the first six games.
San Diego is on a 5-0 SU and ATS tear in this rivalry, most recently winning 17-6 as a hefty 10½-point home favorite in the wild-card playoff round two years ago. Four weeks prior to that, in regular-season play, the Chargers rallied for a 23-17 overtime road victory as a 1½-point road underdog. During its five-game SU and ATS winning streak in this series, San Diego has cashed three times at home and twice at Tennessee.
The Chargers have now won 17 consecutive games in December (11-6 ATS), having not lost in the final month of the year since the 2005 season finale. Also, despite failing to get the cash against Cincinnati on Sunday, the Bolts remain on a handful of additional ATS upswings, including 5-2 overall, 4-1 after a non-cover, 4-1 on the highway, 20-6-3 as an underdog and 9-3 in December.
The Titans are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 starts as a home chalk of up to three points, but they are otherwise in pointspread ruts of 1-8 against winning teams, 3-7 as a favorite, 2-6 after a non-cover and 3-7 within the AFC.
The under is 3-1-1 in San Diego’s last five roadies, but the Chargers are on “over” runs of 6-1-1 in December, 8-3-1 against AFC foes and 11-5 coming off a SU win. The over for Tennessee is on streaks of 19-9-1 in December and 9-4 with the Titans a home chalk, but the under is on rolls for Tennessee of 14-6-1 against winning teams and 21-10-1 following a SU win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN DIEGO
NBA
Boston (22-5, 12-15 ATS) at Orlando (22-7, 16-13 ATS)
The top two teams in the Eastern Conference square off in a nationally televised Christmas Day game inside Amway Arena in Orlando.
The Celtics, winners of 13 of their last 14 overall (7-7 ATS), come in with the conference’s top record but without the services of Paul Pierce, who is out for at least two weeks with a knee infection. Pierce had 16 fourth-quarter points in Tuesday’s 103-94 home win over Indiana, with the Celtics coming up short as 14½-point favorites. Boston has scored 103 points or more in five of its last six games, with the only exception coming in a 98-97 home loss to the Sixers on Dec. 18 as an 11½-point favorite.
The Magic have won three straight (2-1 ATS), including Wednesday’s 102-87 home victory over Houston, with Orlando cashing as an 8 ½-point chalk. The Magic are 12-2 at home (8-6 ATS) this season, averaging 105.4 ppg.
These played a thrilling seven-game playoff series in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season with Orlando winning Game 7 in Boston 101-82 as a 2½-point underdog. Back in November, the Magic went back to Boston and grabbed an 83-73 victory as six-point ‘dogs. Orlando has won and cashed in three straight against the Celtics and is 7-3 SU (6-4 ATS) in the last 10 clashes.
Boston is on pointspread surges of 5-2 on the road,47-19-1 as a road ‘dog and 6-1 on the road against a team with a winning home record, but the Celtics are on ATS slides of 2-5 overall, 1-6-1 after getting two days off, 3-7 after a non-cover and 1-4 against Eastern Conference teams. Orlando is 0-4 ATS in its last four after a spread-cover and 7-19 ATS in its last 26 as a home favorite of less than five points, but it is on positive ATS streaks of 15-3 against Atlantic Division teams, 8-3 after getting a day off and 5-2 on Fridays.
The Celtics have gone “over” the posted number in five of seven after a non-cover, eight of 11 Friday games and 16 of 22 after getting two days off, but they are on “under” streaks of 5-0 against teams with a winning record, 8-2 against Southeast Division teams and 3-1-1 against the Eastern Conference. The Magic have stayed below the total in five of seven overall and five straight against teams with a winning record, but they are on “over” runs of 10-4 at home, 8-3 after a straight-up win and 6-1 after a spread-cover.
Finally, in this rivalry, the “under” is 5-0 in the last five meetings and 5-1 in the last six matchups in Orlando.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ORLANDO
Cleveland (22-8, 15-15 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (23-4, 12-15 ATS)
The annual Christmas Day marquee matchup has LeBron James and the Cavaliers making the trek to the Hollywood to face Kobe Bryant and the Lakers for national television inside Staples Center.
Cleveland is wrapping up a four-game West Coast road trip today (2-1 SU and ATS) and is coming off Wednesdays 117-104 overtime win in Sacramento, cashing as six-point favorites. The Cavs shut out Kings 13-0 in overtime, getting three straight 3-pointers from center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in overtime to pull away for its seventh win in its last eight games (4-4 ATS). Cleveland is 11-6 SU and ATS on the highway this season.
Los Angeles won its fifth in a row (2-3 ATS) on Tuesday, topping Oklahoma City 111-108 but coming up well short as a 10-point home favorite. Bryant had 40 points and eight rebounds against the Thunder to prepare for his matchup with the Cavs. The Lakers are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall, but they are an impressive 16-2 at home this season (8-8 ATS). Also, in addition to winning five in a row, they’re on a 16-1 SU roll.
Los Angeles swept the season series from the Cavaliers last year, getting a 105-88 home win as a five-point favorite and then going to Cleveland in February and scoring a 101-91 road victory as a five-point ‘dog. Prior to last year, the Cavaliers had won five straight (4-1 ATS) over the Lakers. The underdog has gotten the cash in four of the last five series clashes.
Cleveland is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven games after getting one day off, but the Cavs are on positive ATS streaks of 4-1 on the road, 17-8 on Fridays and 8-3 on the road against teams with winning home records. The Lakers are just 1-4 ATS in their last five Friday games, but they’re on positive pointspread runs of 7-3 against Central Division teams and 5-2 at home against teams with a winning home record.
The Cavaliers are on several “under” streaks, including 44-19 after a spread-cover, 5-1-1 on Fridays and 4-0 against winning teams, but they’re also on “over” runs of 3-1-1 on the road, 6-2 as ‘dogs and 3-1-1 against Western Conference teams. Los Angeles is on a plethora of “under” runs, including 7-2 overall, 16-7-1 against Eastern Conference teams, 6-2 at home against teams with a winning road record and 23-9 after getting two days off. In this budding rivalry, the “under” is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Denver (20-9, 15-14 ATS) at Portland (19-12, 16-14-1 ATS)
The Trail Blazers return home after a four-game road trip and welcome the Nuggets to the Rose Garden in Portland.
Denver snapped a two-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 124-104 beating of the first-place Hawks, easily cashing as a 3½-point home chalk. The Nuggets had failed to cash in six of the its seven games (3-4 SU) and had only reached triple digits in three of those seven, losing each time they were held in double figures.
After losing in Orlando to open the road trip, Portland rattled off three straight wins (SU and ATS), including Wednesday’s 98-94 upset of the Spurs as a 12-point underdog. Second-year guard Jerryd Bayless led the upset with 31 points and seven assists in his first-career start, filling in for injured All-Star Brandon Roy, who is listed as questionable for tonight’s contest.
The home team won and covered in all four matchups between these two last season, but Denver went to Portland in the season-opener this year and got a 97-94 win, cashing as a 7½-point underdog. The Nuggets are 5-2 ATS in the last seven series clashes and 25-10-1 in the last 36 meetings overall, including 12-5-1 in their last 18 trips to Portland.
Denver is on ATS slides of 2-6 overall, 0-4 on the road, 1-5 on Fridays and 1-4 against Western Conference teams, but the Nuggets are 19-8 ATS in their last 27 after a spread-cover and 6-2 in their last eight against winning teams. The Blazers are just 1-4-1 ATS in their last six at home, but otherwise on positive pointspread surges of 4-1-1 overall, 8-2 against Northwest Division teams, 9-2 on Fridays and 3-0-1 against Western Conference teams.
It’s been nothing but “unders” for the Nuggets lately, including 19-9 on the road, 5-1 against the Western Conference, 6-2 after a straight-up win, 4-1 after getting a day off and 5-0 against teams with winning records. Portland has stayed “under” the posted number in 15 of 22 against the Western Conference, 15 of 21 against Northwest Division teams and five straight against teams with winning records. Finally, the last five clashes in this rivalry have stayed low, as have five of the last six meetings in Oregon.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
VEGAS EXPERTS
Miami Heat at New York Knicks
Considering that the Knicks are just 7-6 SU when favored this year, taking the points in this old pre-realignment Atlantic Division rivalry seems like a good idea. New York is just 1-7 ATS this season vs. Southeast Division teams, including a 115-93 loss to the Heat in the season opener. Also this season, the Knicks are 0-3 vs. the number when seeking revenge for a double-digit road loss.
Play on: Miami
Charlie Scott
San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans
Play: San Diego Chargers +3
Play on the Chargers tonight as they are approaching tonights game as a business trip. If the Chargers win tonight they clinch the AFC's #2 seed and a first round playoff bye. The Chargers left 2 days early for tonights game, making a statement that although it's Christmas, it's time to go to work. The extra days also help the players get acclimated to the weather. On the field, I feel it's an easy handicap as the Chargers have a very good passing offense and the Titans are ranked second to last (the Lions being last) in defensive pass rating. The Titans defense won't get any better after losing defensive leader LB Bulluck and starting LB Thorton. The Dog is the better team tonight !
Bob Wingerter
San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans
Play: San Diego Chargers +3
The Titans are 7-1 since Vince Young took over.The Chargers can trump that.They’ve won nine in a row. San Diego has been at its best during December going 17-0, including a 12-0 December mark in the Norv Turner era.The Chargers have covered nine of their past 12 December matchups. San Diego also is 9-2 ATS when facing AFC South Division squads. Chris Johnson is averaging a mind-boggling 140 yards rushing per game during his last nine games. Tennessee, however, has failed to cover eight of the last nine times when meeting a team with a winning mark. The Chargers clinched their fourth straight division title with Sunday's 27-24 win against Cincinnati. The Chargers would love to get the No. 2 seed so they can take advantage of a first-round bye. The Titans said Monday they have lost two starting defenders to season-ending injuries with top tackler Keith Bulluck out with a torn left ACL, and linebacker David Thornton having surgery to repair his shoulder and pectoral muscle.
JR TIPS
SUNS vs. CLIPPERS
The Phoenix Suns try to avoid a third straight loss and their second in a row at home as they host the Los Angeles Clippers. Both teams come into this matchup on two game losing streaks as the Suns are only 3-6 in their last nine games with the most recent losses at home against Cleveland and Oklahoma City. The Clippers are currently 2-3 on their six game road trip and will play Phoenix for the second time this season as they lost to them opening night 109-107 in LA. Although the game did not go over the total on opening night, these teams have the same style of play and put up points when they play each other as the over has come in the previous four matchups going over the 240 and even 260 total points in one game. The Suns will get back on track as they are one of the highest scoring home teams in the league and have failed to reach 100 points only five times all season and in 29 games this year, the Suns and their opponents failed to reach 100 points only 11 times. On the Clippers current five game road trip, they are averaging just under 102 points per game with facing defensive minded teams like the Spurs and Rockets.Leandro Barbosa will be back in the lineup for the Suns tonight for the first time since November and look for the Suns to put on a show in front of a full house on Christmas night while the Clippers offensive weapons in Eric Gordon, Baron Davis, Al Thornton and Chris Kaman will be at their best with tonight run and shoot style of play. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings and 8-3-1 in the last 12 meetings in Phoenix. This one goes over easy tonight.
TAKE Over 211
EZWINNERS
Los Angeles Lakers -5.5
The Lakers are rested and waiting for LeBron, Shaq and Company for this Christmas Day match up. This is a bad spot for the Cavs who are playing their fourth road game in six days. LA has way too many weapons for a road weary Cleveland team. Lay the points.
Randall the Handle
Chargers @ Titans
Are we missing something here? The 11-3 Chargers are taking points to the 7-7 Titans? The team that has scored 389 while allowing 283 is receiving points from the team that has permitted 347 points against them while only scoring 320? We are being offered points with the squad that has won nine straight, are 17-0 in December games and have covered 9 of past 11 when playing AFC South teams? Some think the Chargers may rest players but not sure where that is coming from as Bolts need this one to secure #2 seed. A win provides three weeks of rest. TAKING: San Diego +3 RISKING: 2.2 units to win 2
Dan Bebe
NYK / MIA Under 198
This game was awfully close to making my paid card, that's how confident I am in this play. The Miami Heat roll into Madison Square Garden for an early Christmas Day game, and oddsmakers rolled out a ridiculous opening line up over 200. We missed that extremely generous line, and that's a reason this game is the free play - play it for half of whatever you would normally bet on the Paid Pick.
Now, the analysis: the Heat are coming off a hideously ugly game with the Utah Jazz, and Miami appears to be focused once again on the defensive side of the ball. I was concerned that Miami's defense was going to slip back into a slump after allowing the Blazers to shoot over 50%, but they bounced back by slowing down the basketball game with Utah, forcing turnovers and long jump-shots, and making a concerted effort to keep Utah from getting to the rim. At this early hour, I do not expect Miami to ramp up the tempo; rather, I think both teams will cruise a bit through the first half, content to fire up jumpers and walk the ball up the court. Miami has played some games recently to the Over, but this line is on the higher side for them, and again, I think Miami is going to really hunker down on defense in the second half especially, and keep both teams in the 90's here.
New York, meanwhile, is deceptively low-scoring of late. They have played in 5 straight Unders, and neither team has broke 100 in any of those 5 contests, yet they are still seen as a Mike D'Antoni run-n-gun squad, and have been consistently dealt totals around 200 points. If no one breaks 100, you can't get to 200, and at 198, the situation is basically the same. Expect a sleepy morning game on Christmas from these two teams, with the total closer to 192. Play the Under.
DUNKEL
San Diego at Tennessee
The Chargers look to take advantage of a Tennessee team that is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games against teams with a winning record. San Diego is the pick (+3) according to Dunkel, which has the Chargers favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+3)
Game 101-102: San Diego at Tennessee
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego 139.610; Tennessee 138.831
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1; 44
Vegas Line: Tennessee by 3; 47
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+3); Under
NBA
Cleveland at LA Lakers
The Cavaliers look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 road games. Cleveland is the pick (+5 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Lakers favored by only 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+5 1/2)
Game 501-502: Miami at New York
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 117.621; New York 120.950
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 3 1/2; 196
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 2; 198
Dunkel Pick: New York (-2); Under
Game 503-504: Boston at Orlando
Dunkel Ratings: Boston 123.939; Orlando 123.759
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 204
Vegas Line & Total: Orlando by 5 1/2; 189 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+5 1/2); Over
Game 505-506: Cleveland at LA Lakers
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 123.569; LA Lakers 128.135
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 4 1/2; 208
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 5 1/2; 194
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+5 1/2); Over
Game 507-508: LA Clippers at Phoenix
Dunkel Ratings: LA Clippers 116.219; Phoenix 121.759
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 5 1/2; 202
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 9 1/2; 211
Dunkel Pick: LA Clippers (+9 1/2); Under
Game 509-510: Denver at Portland
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 122.384; Portland 122.385
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 210
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
NCAAB
USC vs. UNLV
The Runnin' Rebels look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 games as a favorite. UNLV is the pick (-3) according to Dunkel, which has the Runnin' Rebels favored by 6 1/2. Dunkel Pick: UNLV (-3)
Game 511-512: SMU vs. Northeastern
Dunkel Ratings: SMU 52.188; Northeastern 53.970
Dunkel Line: Northeastern by 2
Vegas Line: Northeastern by 7
Dunkel Pick: SMU (+7)
Game 513-514: College of Charleston vs. Western Michigan
Dunkel Ratings: College of Charleston 50.440; Western Michigan 54.573
Dunkel Line: Western Michigan by 4
Vegas Line: Western Michigan by 3 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Western Michigan (-3 1/2)
Game 515-516: St. Mary's (CA) at Hawaii
Dunkel Ratings: St. Mary's (CA) 68.599; Hawaii 55.628
Dunkel Line: St. Mary's (CA) by 13
Vegas Line: St. Mary's by 7
Dunkel Pick: St. Mary's (-7)
Game 517-518: USC vs. UNLV
Dunkel Ratings: USC 59.129; UNLV 64.800
Dunkel Line: UNLV by 6 1/2
Vegas Line: UNLV by 3
Dunkel Pick: UNLV (-3)