Wunderdog
Detroit at Memphis
Pick:Memphis -7.5
Memphis fell short by 7 points in San Antonio, where not too many teams come out with a win. They really can look at an ugly second quarter where they shot just 11% and tallied all of 7 points. Zach Randolph had perhaps his worst game in years, scoring just 2 points in the opener, and now I expect him to come back strong at home tonight. The Pistons have struggled when facing teams from the NBA Western Conference, where they are a woeful 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21. The Grizzlies are at their best on a day of rest where they have captured the cash to a 12-3-1 ATS ark in their last 16. The Pistons have not solved the Grizzlies of late, where they are 0-7 ATS in the last seven meetings. Play on Memphis.
NHL Predictions
Canadiens / Wild Under 5
Two of the better teams you'll find in the NHL defensively. Both the Canadiens and Wild love to get in those kind of ugly 2-1 type games. Canadiens' goaltender Carey Price has answered the call this season and is proving his critics wrong certainly. Price has posted a GAA of only 2.02, but only a 6-5 record. Not a terrible record, but when you're only allowing two goals per game then you would think it would translate into more wins. That'll happen when you're scoring less than three goals a game. In total though, Montreal is allowing only 1.77 goals per game. The Wild may struggle to score goals in this spot, as they are only putting the puck in the net an average of 2.3 times a game. Both of these teams have been cashing unders frequently in 2013, with the Canadiens 10-3 to the under and the Wild are 4-7. Look for another under to cash in Friday night.
Rocketman
Cleveland @ Charlotte
Play: Cleveland -3
The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Charlotte to take on the Bobcats on Friday night. Cleveland comes in with a 1-0 record after beating Brooklyn 98-94 in their first game of the season while the Bobcats lost to Houston 96-83 in their opening game of the season. Charlotte has been terrible the past couple years and are only 52-94 ATS last 3 years overall. Charlotte is 1-7 SU and 1-6 ATS last 3 years as a home underdog of 3 points or less. Charlotte is 26-47 ATS last 73 games after a SU loss of 10 or more points. Charlotte is 13-29 ATS last 42 games after scoring 85 points or less. Charlotte is 8-66 SU and 24-50 ATS last 3 years when playing against a team with a winning record. Cleveland is 5-1 SU and ATS overall vs Charlotte the past 3 years. We'll recommend a small play on Cleveland tonight!
LT Profits
USC vs Oregon State
Pick : Oregon State -3.5
The Oregon State Beavers should be in a foul mood after having their six-game winning streak snapped here at home by Stanford Saturday, and quarterback Sean Mannion will be looking to impress the Heisman Trophy voters on national TV vs. the USC Trojans, who have not won in Corvallis since 2004. Mannion has a fantastic ratio of a nation-leading 30 touchdown passes vs. three interceptions while completing 69.1 percent of his passes and averaging more than 400 passing yards per game! The Trojans have improved slightly since the firing of Lane Kiffin, but they have yet to play well on both sides of the ball since the switch, as the defense had issues in a 38-31 win over Arizona and then the offense has struggled the last two weeks while losing 14-10 to Notre Dame and beating Utah 19-3. The home teams are 7-1 ATS in the last eight head-to-head meetings.
Portland vs Denver
Pick : Under 198
The Denver Nuggets fired Coach George Karl after nine successful regular seasons but eight first round exits in the playoffs, and new coach Brian Shaw is implementing more of a half-court offense. After ranking second in the NBA in pace rating last season, the Nuggets played Shaw’s style in the season opener at Sacramento, and although they lost 90-88, it was still a promising effort. Expect Denver to continue to embrace that style vs. the Portland Trail Blazers here. The Blazers look like a two-man team right now as LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard combined for 60 points on opening night but the rest of the team combined for 31 points on 28.2 percent shooting! Portland ranked dead last in the NBA in bench scoring in 2012-13, and the bench scored just 12 points Wednesday. The ‘under’ is 12-5 in the Nuggets’ last 17 home games.
Jeff Benton
Friday freebie is the Grizzlies.
Memphis started the season with a road loss at San Antonio on Wednesday, but tonight they host their home opener against a Detroit team that opened their new season with a comfortable home win over the Washington Wizards on the same night.
The Pistons are a work in progress, while the Grizzlies appeared in the conference finals last May. I expect Memphis to make a "statement" tonight on their home hardwood against a team they have had little trouble with in recent meetings.
The Grizzlies have won and covered 7 straight in this series, and they are also 8-1 both straight up and against the spread the last 9 times they have faced the Pistons.
New coach Dave Joerger does not want to start the year at 0-2, so expect a fired up effort from the host tonight.
Memphis to push the series win and cover streak to 8 straight.
2♦ MEMPHIS
Brad Wilton
Friday night I will back the Cavaliers to topple the Bobcats in Charlotte.
Cleveland showed me a little something by beating Brooklyn on opening night, as the young Cavs and the return of Mike Brown as head coach sure look like a pretty nice mesh - even if it is the first game of the new season!
As for Charlotte, they continue to try and find an identity and direction, and they were handled by 13 points in their opener at Houston Wednesday night.
Yes, the Bobcats are at home for this one, but will it really matter?
Cleveland has controlled this series with wins and covers in 6 of the last 7 meetings.
The Cavs had 6 players net double-figures in their opener, and the boost of offense Jarrett Jack brings off the bench is something that Cleveland did not have a season ago.
Let's lay the small road chalk with Cleveland tonight.
1♦ CLEVELAND
Rob Vinciletti
Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets
Play: Miami Heat -3.5
Miami has cashed 12 of 13 off a loss as seen below and have handled the Nets with ease the last few seasons. Miami comes off an upset loss as a 9.5 point favorite losing in Philadelphia 114-110 to the Sixers. Now they travel to the Barclay center to take on a Nets team with man new faces trying to gel as a team with all the new additions. The Nets lost their opener in Cleveland.The have lost all 7 times as a home dog in this range and are 0-5 with just 1 spread the last 3 seasons vs Miami. The last 3 games have been non competitive as they have lost by 14 or more in all three. Look for Miami to get the win and cover here tonight.
Jeff Alexander
Dallas Mavericks +7
Houston has major expectations after reeling in Dwight Howard, but it is getting a little too much respect from oddsmakers tonight against an experienced Dallas team that greatly improved its backcourt with the additions of Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon. The Mavericks are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 road games and 22-8 ATS in their last 30 meetings with Houston. The Mavs are 10-1 in their last 11 versus the Rockets.
Dave Price
Miami Heat -3
After taking care of business on opening night, the Heat were embarrassed a night later, losing to a Philadelphia squad that is in rebuilding mode. That loss doesn't bode well for Brooklyn. The Heat were out to make a statement against Chicago in their opener, and they'll be out to prove once again that they are the beast of the East against a Brooklyn squad that believes it can contend. Miami was going to be up for this game regardless, but the fact it enters off an ugly defeat assures us it will be playing angry. Brooklyn has a nice team, but it struggled in its opener with chemistry being an issue. By season's end, the Nets could be ready to challenge the Heat, but they aren't ready yet. All the new pieces still need time to jell. The Heat are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following an ATS loss and 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games following a SU loss. Miami has won 13 in a row against the Nets by an average of 14.0 points with each of the last 12 victories coming by 3 points or more. Lay the points.
Craig Davis
My free play of the day for Friday is the Atlanta Hawks over the Toronto Raptors.
When I gave you the Dallas Mavericks over the Hawks the other night, I was basing that more against the Hawks than I was FOR the Mavericks.
Nothing against Dallas because I do believe they have a chance to be a playoff contender in the West this year, but I was completely not impressed with the Hawks as they are in the middle of a two-year makeover in which they are moving players and coaches like crazy.
I honestly didn't think the Hawks could score 90 points against Dallas without guys like Josh Smith and Joe Johnson, but they surprised the heck out of me and actually had the halftime lead vs. Dallas after trailing for 23 minutes and change.
And when I watched the game, I figured to see Al Horford dominate against what I thought would be a soft Dallas interior. I was wrong. Samuel Dalembert was a great addition to the Dallas front line and Horford was held relatively in check.
I was, however, highly impressed with Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap along with a few others, and the Hawks might be a team that scores in the 100s every night. Their biggest problem will be stopping most teams.
But against Toronto, I don't think that will be a problem.
Take the Hawks minus the small number as your free play of the day.
4♦ ATLANTA
Scott Delaney
I'll play the Denver Nuggets tonight as my free winner, as they welcome Northwest Division rival Portland to town, and I think the Blazers will struggle tonight in the Mile High City. Though it's just the start of the campaign, and every team should be physically prepared, the fact the Blazers have to go into the high altitude right away could cause them some issues tonight.
I know the Blazers have made some nice additions and feel they've found their man with Robin Lopez in the middle, but even if the 7-footer works out, it's going to take time to get his feet wet and blend this roster of misfits together.
The Nuggets have a lot to prove this season, after they registered a franchise-record 57 wins last season. And when it comes to division rivals, they'll be at their best - especially to start the season.
Coach Brian Shaw takes over George Karl with the Nuggets, a coaching move that many are watching. I like the Nuggets to cash in with ease here, as they'll be out to rebound from a season-opening loss.
5♦ DENVER
Playersbet
USC vs Oregon State
Play: Oregon State -3
Interesting match-up we have here Friday night. This is going to be one of the better Friday night games we have all year. Oregon State QB Sean Mannion is playing out of his mind right now! Mannion is leading the nation in passing stats with 29 TDS, 3 INTS and almost 3,000 yards. Head coach Mike Riley owns the Trojans as he has won 5 of the last 6 meetings and he owns a perfect 6-0 SUATS mark at home versus a sub .666 conference opponent off a SUATS win. Back up coach Ed Orgeron is 0-13 SU away versus .500 or greater opponents, he’s compiled an awful 0-6 SUATS road record when his team’s win percentage is greater than .333. USC is 2-1 SU and ATS since Ed Orgeron took over as interim coach, and they’they’ve played ugly, defensive battles at Notre Dame (a 14-10 loss) and against Utah (a 19-3 win) in its last two. USC is 0-8 ATS away after 1 or more consecutive straight up wins over the L2 seasons. Mike Riley is 23-7 ATS after having won 3 out of their last 4 games as coach of OREGON ST. The home team is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings, while the Trojans are 105 ATS in their last 6 meetings and 1-10 ATS their last 11 road games. We are rolling with the Beavers tonight at home in which should be a interesting game.
BillyWins
Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets
Play: Denver Nuggets -4.5
Denver is one of the best teams at home going 28-13 ATS. Its always a good thing to fade Portland on the road as they have gone just 16-22 ATS n the past year. The Trail Blazers have failed to cover 12 of their last 14 games and with this line being so low there is no way we can pass up on Denver tonight.
Alex Smith Sports
Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars
Pick: Colorado Avalanche
The Red-Hot Avalanche skate into the Lone Star state tonight with a bit of controversy surrounding the arrest of their starting goalie Semyon Varlamov. A warrant was put out for his arrest after charges of kidnapping and abuse of his girlfriend surfaced. He posted bond and can travel for the moment, but if charged, he could be deported back to mother Russia and that would be a big blow to Patrick Roy's club. Dallas on the other hand, has kept it's physical play on the ice, alternating wins and losses in their last 5 contests. Their Jekyll & Hyde act has earned them a spot in the Central Division basement. Colorado will look to bypass this serious issue for now with a win tonight and they should add another victory to the NHL's best record. Play the Avs at a pick'em or better price.
Nelly
Milwaukee Bucks + over Boston Celtics
Boston shot nearly 49 percent in the opening game at Toronto but they still lost, featuring 22 turnovers and crushed on the boards 48-33. Brad Stevens was a great college coach but it is unlikely that he will be an overnight success in the NBA with this roster. Rajon Rondo is still out for the Celtics and there just are not enough scoring options for the team right now. Jeff Green led with 25 in the opener and the Celtics did have decent scoring insider led by Brandon Bass and Vitor Faverani but Milwaukee figures to be one of the top defensive teams in the league, especially in the paint with Larry Sanders and Zaza Pachulia patrolling. Milwaukee held the Knicks to just 90 points in a competitive opening loss and there are adequate scoring options in this roster even with the absence of a proven leader. O.J. Mayo played well in his debut for the Bucks and Gary Neal provides a much more stable presence than the team has had in the past behind Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Brandon Knight being injured was not a positive start but that will allow the team to play the veterans more significantly early in the season and rookie Nate Wolters actually provided an unexpected boost off the bench. The Bucks limited the Knicks to just three 3-point makes in the opener and they would have had the upset if not for 51 percent shooting from New York and a big edge at the line for the Knicks. Trusting the superior defense going against a very limited offense makes sense for two teams in coaching transitions playing without key players early in the season.