River City Sharps
Clemson +3
Clemson and Ohio State look to light up the scoreboard Friday night when they meet in the Orange Bowl. Clemson boasts one of the nation's top offenses, led by senior QB Tajh Boyd. The Tigers averaged 45.1 points and 534.6 yards in their wins, and are led by Boyd and WR Sammy Watkins. Boyd passed for 3,473 yards and 29 TD's, and he scored another nine TDs on the ground. Ohio State also boasts an explosive offense, led by Braxton Miller at QB. The problem for Ohio State could be defensively. The Buckeyes allowed their final four opponents to complete 63.7 percent of its passes for an average of 340.8 yards and 11 total TDs. Adding to that problem is that OSU will be without sophomore DE Noah Spence, who has been suspended for three games for violating a Big 10 rule. This game basically comes down to which defense plays better and we think that recent history indicates that the dog is the way to play this game. Clemson's defense, especially against the pass, has been pretty good this season, and we think they have a much better chance of stopping the Buckeye attack than the other way around. Make sure you get them at a FG or better, but the Sharps like the Tigers here tonight.
Joe Gavazzi
Houston Rockets -11.5
The Knicks pulled a shocking upset at San Antonio last night. But that just lifts the New Yorkers record to 10-21 ATS. They will still be without World Peace and Felton as they look to pull consecutive upsets. But it is highly doubtful for a team that is 3-7 ATS as road dog. The Rockets look for a turnaround as well following their 110-106 loss at -10 on this floor Tuesday night to Sacramento. Well rested Houston has been resilient at 8-4 ATS following a defeat. In addition, the straight up winner of all Houston games has gone 30-3 ATS including 15-2 ATS on this court. We will take our chances in extending our record backing the home-standing Rockets for the Friday night turnaround.
John Wilson
Clemson vs. Ohio St
Play: Over 70½
Ohio State just took their first loss in two years. That's twice as hard to take as the first loss of the season. 24-0 and then, bam! 24-1. It's a new reality for them, and it destroyed everything they were working toward. Even though they're in a BCS bowl, it's hard to imagine the motivation is there, and even Urban Meyer has said it's been tough getting over the loss to Michigan State.
I don't think they'll be over it early in 2014, either. In a close game, emotion is a big factor, and can easily switch a game the other way. Clemson bounced back before and they'll do it again. Ohio State is more than good enough to win this game, but they might not have the will.
Prediction: Clemson 42, Ohio State 35
Oklahoma St vs. Missouri
Play: Missouri +2½
I went in thinking that Oklahoma State had defeated more good teams than Missouri, whose win slate looked kind of blank. But reviewing the schedules they beat the same amount of winning teams, and Missouri beat two top 25 BCS teams (#22 Georgia and #21 Texas A&M) while Oklahoma State beat just one (#6 Baylor). But boy, that Baylor win was something. However, so was Oklahoma State's loss to West Virginia; that's much worse than a double overtime loss to South Carolina.
And then we get to the last games for both teams, games that were just about equally bad. A 9-point loss at home to Oklahoma, or a 17-point loss to Auburn on a neutral field? Hard to say. Missouri probably looked worse as their defense was shredded uncharacteristically, and that weakness raises a question as to whether it will be vulnerable to the Cowboys. But the 'Pokes are more of a passing team, and Missouri is vulnerable there, except they shut down Johnny Manziel? It's hard to figure out the Mizzou defense, except that in terms of scoring defense it was great until the Auburn game.
Looking at the game ratings, Missouri's Auburn loss was one point better than Oklahoma State's loss to the Sooners. We haven't picked many (any?) games right on the line, nor do we have any overtime games so far! So it's time: Missouri by a TD.
Prediction: Missouri 42, Oklahoma St 35
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Oklahoma State vs MissouriFOR FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
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This could be a bowl game decided by which team is less disappointed by being here, as the Oklahoma State Cowboys blew their chance to clinch the Big 12 title and go to a BCS bowl by getting upset at home by Oklahoma in their season finale, while the Missouri Tigers lost to Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. However, the opportunity to knock off an SEC team should be enough motivation for the Cowboys, and the fact that the team that beat them, Oklahoma, shocked the annual SEC kingpins from Alabama last night should be a positive sign. Oklahoma State was well balanced this season, with the offense averaging 440.9 yards on 268.5 passing yards and 172.4 rushing yards, and the defense allowing 378.5 yards per game. Missouri on the other hand can have an Alabama-like letdown. Oklahoma State is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 games following an ATS loss.
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These are not your father’s Denver Nuggets, or not even your Nuggets from last season that led the NBA in scoring in their final season under Coach George Karl. The current contingent has lost eight straight games while failing to reach 100 points in the first seven losses, and it has cracked the century mark just three times the last 14 games topping out at only 103 points. On the flip side, the Denver defense is eighth in the NBA in field goal percentage allowed under new coach Brian Shaw. Speaking of defense, the Memphis Grizzlies are starting to resemble the team that allowed the fewest points in the NBA last season, allowing 94.3 points per game on 43.7 percent shooting the last six games to move up to sixth in that category this year. The ‘under’ is 16-5 in the Nuggets’ last 21 games overall.
Chris Jordan
INSTEAD OF LEACHING OFF OTHERS WORK GO GET IT YOURSELF VIKESFAG
My free play for tonight is the last game being played in any sport, as it's Midnight on the East coast, 9 p.m. on the West coast and 7 p.m. on the court they'll be playing. Honolulu is the site, but I'm taking Hawai'i's guest, Nebraska-Omaha.
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The Mavericks arrive on the island having have won seven of their last eight games, with the only loss being in Minnesota, against a very talented Golden Gophers team. UNO, which is playing its final non-conference game before opening Summit League play - has impressed me with its non-league schedule to start the season.
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The Mavericks opened the season with a win over Northern Illinois, then played competitively in losses to Iowa, UNLV and Drake. Last month, as part of that 7-1 run, it beat an always scrappy UNR team.
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Nebraska-Omaha can push the tempo, and will likely do just that, forcing Hawaii to keep up with the Mavericks' well-oiled scoring machine. CJ Carter leads UNO in scoring with 15.1 points per game whiile John Karhoff averages 13.6 points per game, and comes into this one after dumping a career-high 28 all over Central Arkansas last Saturday.
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I know the Warriors are tough at home, and this is always a rough road trip for any opponent. But the Mavericks have been hot this season and have the wherewithal to come away with a win. As big as this number is, though, I just need them to keep it close and stay well inside this rather big spread.
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5♦ NEBRASKA-OMAHA
Jeff Benton
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Friday freebie is the Boston Celtics as the home dog against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Boston has dropped 5 of their last 6 games straight up, but I do like that slide to be halted tonight when the visiting Pelicans come calling.
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I don't trust the Pelicans on the road, especially not as a road favorite.
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New Orleans is just 5-11 straight up away from the Big Easy, and they are just 1-4 against the spread when installed as the road favorite for the season.
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Boston is at least 8-9 straight up at home, and they are 7-9-1 against the spread at home for the season.
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Let's grab the points and look for the C's to grab the outright win against a Pelicans team that has not proved they can win on the road, much less cover on the road as the favorite.
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2♦ BOSTON
Craig Davis
Today’s free play of the day is on the LA Clippers over the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas. You know I must really like this game if I’m going against the Mavs as home dogs… but that’s what I’m feeling tonight.
Could Dallas win this game? Absolutely they could… they clearly have the talent to do it and they are playing at home… but there’s something about this matchup that just scares the crap out of me.
Dallas’s biggest weakness is in the paint… where they host guys like Samuel Dalembert, and undersized DeJuan Blair, and sometimes Dirk Nowitzki. Sorry, but you’re not going to intimidate anyone with that group, so I hope you can see where I’m going with this.
3♦ L.A. CLIPPERS
Scott Delaney
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Looking to make it four straight complimentary winners, and 12 of 15, I like the Over in tonight's Cotton Bowl between Oklahoma State and Missouri.
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The Cowboys are going to treat this one like a home game, and will force Missouri into an uptempo contest, which I don't see the Tigers backing down from. After all, SEC teams have won nine of the last 10 Cotton Bowls against the Big 12, and ironically, the lone Big 12 winner during that span was Missouri in 2008.
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I honestly think we're about to see the best game of the postseason, even better than Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M, in their win over Duke. The have enough experience with 28 seniors who have experienced three straight bowl wins, to handle Missouri's defensive front.
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The Cowboys averaged 440 yards per game and are a very strong component inside the red zone, with 53 scores in 60 trips inside the opponent's 20 - including 46 touchdowns. They'll match wits with Missouri's high-octane offense, which tallied 493 yards per game thanks to a wide-receiving trifecta that ranges in height from 6-foot-4 to 6-6.
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Remember, this is an old-school Big 12 rivalry, before Missouri bolted for the SEC. I'm counting on a little familiarity here, and even think pride could step up and play a role between these two.
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The Cowboys have gone over in six of their last eight non-conference games, and they'll be the ones setting the tone. Play this one high, as the total soars.
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1♦ Oklahoma State/Missouri Over
Brad Wilton
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NBA total release for Friday is Over in Golden State-Atlanta.
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The Warriors and the Hawks have already landed Over the total in their first meeting in mid-December in Oakland, and with the Over standing at 9-4 the last 13 times these teams have played at the Philips Arena, I will not go against those trends in tonight's showdown.
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Golden State is riding a 7 game winning streak that has seen Overs in 3 of their last 5 wins, while Atlanta can counter with a 6-0 Over mark their last 6 games following a straight up win - the Hawks off a win at Boston.
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The Over has also cashed in 5 straight at "The Hi-Light Factory" - aka Philips Arena, so expect the offense to be humming tonight when the Warriors and Hawks conclude their season series for the year.
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Golden State-Atlanta Over the total.
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4♦ GOLDEN STATE-ATLANTA OVER
Harry Bondi
UTAH +3.5 over LA Lakers
Two teams headed in opposite directions right now as the turmoil surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers have helped them lose six straight games and seem disinterested while Utah has won seven of its last 12 including a win over LA on December 27th. The Lakers are in disarray as players are wondering whether Pau Gasol is going to be traded. Injuries have also depleted a very thin Lakers team. Utah has won and covered 5 of the last 6 meetings with LA and make it 6 out of 7 tonight!
The Real Animal
Clemson/Ohio State Over 71
Orange Bowl features two of the highest scoring teams in the country. Ohio State at 46.3 points per game and Clemson at 40.2 a contest. Plus in their most meaningful games of the year, both defenses EXPOSED. The Buckeyes, with suspension and injuries to future NFL players in DE Spence, and corner Roby, allowed 75-points to previously offensively-challenged Michigan and Michigan State to wrap up the season. In November they lost DT Hill and earlier in season lost two defensive backs in Bogard and Bryant. Clemson has extremely good size in their targeted receivers and QB Boyd loves spreading the wealth hitting 13 different Tiger receives for touchdowns. But the Tigers on defense allowed 444 passing yards, 51 points, and 565 total yards to Florida State at home. They also committed six turnovers against South Carolina in their regular-season rivalry finale. But this team can certainly score going for 52 or more points five times this year. Ohio State was 9-4 ‘OVER’ this season. Remember it was just two years ago here at the Orange Bowl when Clemson got whipped 70-33 by West Virginia. Go ‘OVER’ tonight in Miami.
OC Dooley
Lakers -3.5
The key to this late night pick surrounds the “schedule” of both sides which arguably makes this particular contest critical for the reeling and injury-riddled Lakers who have dropped six consecutive outings on the scoreboard. After Sunday the Lakers will be hitting the road for a marathon swing that sees them playing 13 of 16 games on enemy hardwood. The situation for Utah is completely opposite as tonight marks the only road game for the Jazz in a current six-game stretch where a very young roster is beginning to gain confidence with a multitude of games in front of their own fans. Despite having one of the worst records in the league Utah (11-24) is only a slight road underdog tonight since the Lakers have four different players (Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Jordan Farmar) who are sidelined indefinitely due to injury. To give you an idea how banged up Los Angeles is they have had to use EIGHT different starting lineups in the past EIGHT games, while the only healthy point guard is the same Kendall Marshall who recently was playing in the “Developmental League”. But it has been my experience in more than two decades of daily handicapping to side with any team who arguably has hit an absolute low which is the case the Lakers who back on Tuesday were pounded by a 94-79 final score versus an opponent (Milwaukee) who currently has the worst overall record in the entire league. My research indicates that in the past three years when shaking off a blowout loss of 15+ points in margin, the Lakers have bounced back with a 16-5 ATS record in the next contest