Lucky Day Sports
Utah at Philadelphia
Utah, dominant over the Sixers over the last handful of years, invade Philly looking to get on track in 2009. The Sixers are coming off a win against a blatantly awful Nets team. Keep in mind, the 76ers won 3 of their 4 games against either the Knicks or the Nets, who have combined for (1) win between them.Meanwhile, the UtahJazz are not as bad as they appear, having shown signs of life in their last few. The key to this will be if the Sixers can defend Deron Williams. Any insider in Philly will tell you that they cannot. Look for a blowout here for Utah.
Take Utah -1
LT Profits
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics -8.5
The Atlanta Hawks may be averaging a whopping 107.8 points per game, but as the old axiom goes, Good defense stops good offense, and we look for the stifling Boston Celtics defense to put the clamps on the high-flying Hawks here en route to a double-digit win.
The Celtics now closely resemble the team that won the NBA Championship just two short years ago, as having Kevin Garnett back and healthy again makes Boston the strongest defensive team in the NBA.
As a result, the Celtics lead the league in defense over the early going, allowing a microscopic 84.6 points per game. They rank second in steals at 9.57 per game and fifth in defensive field goal percentage at 42.6 percent. Thus, their 8-1 record should come as no surprise as only the Phoenix Suns have scored more than 90 points against them in their nine games.
Yes, the Atlanta offense is hitting on a remarkable 48.3 percent of its shots, and the Hawks have topped the 100-point mark in six of their eight games. However, five of those six games came vs. teams that play very little defense (Knicks, Kings, Wizards, Pacers, Nuggets) and the sixth came vs. a Lakers team that is improved defensively but still plays at a fast pace.
On the two occasions where Atlanta has played teams that actually defend reasonably well, they managed just 83 points vs. Charlotte and 97 points vs. Portland. The Hawks are now facing the stiffest defense they will see al year, and doing so on the road in Boston will only make their task that much tougher.
We look for the Boston defense to rise to the occasion and secure a safe win on front of their home fans and an ESPN TV audience.
Pick: Celtics -8.5
LARRY NESS
Portland Trail Blazers @ New Orleans Hornets
PICK: New Orleans Hornets +2
Coaches don't get a lot of 'rope' these days (unless you are Jerry Sloan up in Utah) and Byron Scott's firing in New Orleans is a good example. Most remember that Scott led the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals earlier this decade. He then led the Hornets to a franchise-best 56 wins in 2007-08, when they reached the Western Conference semifinals. New Orleans made the postseason again last year but the team's 49 wins were a disappointment (7th-seed), as was its five-game loss in the first round to Denver. Scott's dismissal came one day after the Hornets' worst loss of the season, a 124-104 defeat at Phoenix. GM Jeff Bower will make his head coaching debut Friday when New Orleans hosts the Portland Trail Blazers but can Tim Floyd be far behind? Floyd has been re-hired as Bower's assistant. Anyway, the Blazers come to town 6-3, having won four in a row. Roy (20.8-3.9-5.1) leads the way although I'm not sold on the team's "two-headed" PG concept. Andre Miller (9.8-5.4 APG) has shot poorly (career average is 14.5 PPG) and Blake (8.0-3.4 APG) can't be thrilled with the situation. Aldridge (14.1-7.4) has developed into a very good PF and of course the Blazers are still waiting on Oden. The former No. 1 overall pick has two double-doubles this year and is averaging 10.1 PPG and 8.7 RPG. There's no doubt he's getting better but can he stay healthy? Paul (26.1-9.3 APG) was said to have not been too happy regarding Scott's firing but I don't want to draw any conclusions. I expect the West (15.4-5.9) and Okafor (11.1-9.8) tandem to be much better by years' end than the West-Chandler one was the least two years and for the Hornets to get things straightened out. The team's slow start was due in part to a tough schedule as four of their six losses were an opening night loss at San Antonio plus losses at Boston, LA (to the Lakers) and at Phoenix. In case you haven't noticed, those last three teams are a combined 23-4 (.852). Bowers first concern will be trying to find a way to improve the team's defense. The Hornets are allowing 105.0 PPG, after finishing fifth in points allowed last season (94.3). Getting back to this game, I like New Orleans as I think the Blazers are stepping into a "Hornets' nest," tonight. Take New Orleans.
Kyle Hunter
Utah Jazz vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Play: Philadelphia 76ers -1½
The Utah Jazz have been having enough problems as it is, but now Deron Williams is out for tonight's game in Philly. The 76ers haven't exactly been impressive of late, but at -1.5 versus a Jazz team without their best player on the road I have to take Philly. The Jazz won't find any consistent offense and Philly will win in an ugly game.
Randall the Handle
NY Islanders +1.07 over CAROLINA
Win, lose or draw, this “betting against the Canes” train keeps rolling and there’s no reason to get off until they show us something different. Carolina has now dropped a remarkable 13 games in a row and once again they’re sure not going to get any sympathy from this perennial bottom feeder. The Islanders are finally onto something good after years of futility. At the very worse, they’ll come out enthusiastically like they always do and play hard for 60 minutes. The Islanders have dropped three of four after a four-game winning streak, however, the losses came against the red-hot Sabres and Devils followed by an OT loss in Washington. Now the Islanders will take a huge, huge step down in class from that quartet and its chances of winning are greater than the Islanders chances. Any take-back against this frustrated and beaten down host has to be considered a good one. Play: NY Islanders +1.07 (Risking 2 units).
Toronto +1.97 over CHICAGO
The Blackhawks remain one of the most overvalued teams in the league due to its great start this season after they put the hockey world on notice last year. They were a big favorite over the Av’s last game and although they won 3-2 in OT they were not the better team. The Av’s led 2-1 late and after Chicago tied it, Colorado hit three posts in the final minutes of the game. The Blackhawks have also played one of the easiest schedules in the league thus far. Meanwhile, the Leafs have played extremely well on the road and extremely well over the past 10 games or so. They’ve picked up points in all but one of its last eight and they’re most definitely a tough team to beat. Chicago’s biggest weakness is its goaltending and when you’re a huge favorite with shaky goaltending you’re also a huge risk at such a big price. It’s for that reason, among others, (the Blackhawks have the Sharks on deck) that the Maple Leafs are a solid pooch in a game they most definitely have a chance to win.
BUFFALO -½ +1.34 over Calgary
If nothing else, one has to trust that the Flames could very easily overlook this one in anticipation of a game tomorrow night on hockey’s biggest stage. Playing in prime time on Hockey Night in Canada in Montreal or Toronto is equivalent to NFL teams playing on Monday Night Football. It’s also worth noting that the Flames and Sabres have met just four times over the past seven years, thus, the motivation level for the Flames could be low in anticipation of tomorrow night’s match-up. In addition, the Sabres are just so tough to beat, especially at home, where they have six wins in eight games. The Flames are tough; make no mistake about that, not to mention an outstanding road record as well. However, this one is a good situational play in the Sabres favor and it says here the Flames will be ripe to get beat. Play: Buffalo -½ +1.34 (Risking 2 units).
Stephen Nover
Bradley +13' at BYU
When an underrated Missouri Valley Conference club is catching double-digits, I have to give a strong look to the underdog.
In this case the shoe fits. Bradley is going to be better than the sixth-place finish projected for them. The Braves are a veteran and deep team, especially at guard. They have eight players with starting experience.
BYU figures to be very good again this season. Many believe the Cougars are the team to beat in the Mountain West Conference. I won't disagree. But I will say this is a difficult matchup for BYU.
The Cougars love to run and fire up perimeter shots. They have a couple of outstanding shooters in Jonathan Tavernari and Jimmer Fredette.
Bradley, though, is your typical Missouri Valley team. In other words, the Braves have a contrasting style that can frustrate the Cougars. The Braves are defensive-oriented and play at a much more deliberate pace.
The key for the Braves, and what makes this a good value at this early juncture, is the return of 6-foot-5 guard Andrew Warren. He missed last season with a broken foot. People outside the Missouri Valley seem to forget about him. But he's one of the better players in the conference.
3♦ BRADLEY BRAVES
Karl Garrett
Atlanta +8' at BOSTON
Comp play winner on Bowling Green yesterday!
Friday night in the NBA, take the points with the Hawks as they get after it in Boston against the 8-1 Celtics.
Atlanta was able to extend Boston to the full seven games in the postseason back in 2008, but have lost the 4 regular season meetings since that playoff setback.
Still, the Hawks have managed to split those 4 meetings against the spread, and Atlanta does enter Beantown tonight on a 7-1-1 spread run their last 9 games overall.
These 2 teams have no love lost between them, and the G-Man sees this one heading right down to the wire.
Live dog play on the Hawks to cover tonight against the Celts.
4♦ ATLANTA
Jeff Benton
Portland -3 at NEW ORLEANS
Nice easy freebie winner on the Lakers last night. For Friday’s free play, it’s back to the NBA as I’ll take the Trail Blazers in a virtual pick-em spot at New Orleans.
Two teams going in opposite directions here. The Blazers are 6-3 SU and ATS on the season, and they’ve won and covered four in a row, including consecutive blowout road wins over Memphis (93-79) and Minnesota (107-84) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Over their last six games, Portland’s been sensational defensively, allowing 74, 97, 84, 83, 79 and 84 points (or 85.2 ppg).
The Hornets, after a disappointing end to last season, lost six of their first nine games, which cost coach Byron Scott his job yesterday (the same Byron Scott who won Coach of the Year just two seasons ago). Of New Orleans’ three wins, two came against the Clippers and Kings, and the other was an overtime defeat of Dallas at home. Against the other quality teams the Hornets have faced, here are the results: 113-96 loss to San Antonio, 97-87 loss to Boston, 107-90 loss to Toronto, 104-88 loss to the Lakers, 124-104 loss to Phoenix. And while the Blazers have stepped up on defense, New Orleans has not, giving up 104 or more points in six games (on the other hand, the offense has topped 100 just three times – once in overtime, once in a loss to the lowly Knicks, once against the Clippers).
Portland cashed in three of four meetings with New Orleans last year, going 2-0 ATS in the Big Easy (including a 97-89 outright upset). Also, the Blazers are 8-1 ATS in their last nine when favored by five points or less, 7-0 ATS in their last seven Friday games and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 as a road favorite, while the Hornets have failed to cover in 11 of 14 overall since last year, four of five at home, 16 of 21 against Northwest Division teams and 23 of 31 as an underdog.
Ride the hotter team in this one, because a switch of coaches is not going to cure what ails the Hornets.
4♦ PORTLAND
Sports Gambling Hotline
Portland -3 at NEW ORLEANS
This game looks a little too easy, as New Orleans is a sinking ship these days, losers of 5 of their last 7 straight up, and 4 of 7 against the spread.
Portland comes into this one having won 4 straight, and 5 of their last 6 both straight up, and against the spread.
The Blazers appear to be heading for a late May run this season, and playing on the road against a team that just fired their head coach is the type of a game that a team like Portland had better take care of.
Portland has won 2 of the last 3 in the series, and 4 of the last 7 overall against New Orleans, and they are also 5-2 against the spread in those 7 games.
No other way to go in this one, but to back the Blazers as the small road favorite.
Play on Portland!
4♦ PORTLAND
ROCKETMAN
Calgary @ Buffalo
Play: Buffalo -130
Buffalo is 4-0 in non-conference games this year. Buffalo is 6-0-1 SU and 6-1 ATS at home vs Calgary since 1996. Flames are 17-38 in their last 55 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150. Flames are 4-9 in their last 13 games as a road underdog. Flames are 4-9 in their last 13 games as an underdog. Flames are 18-44 in their last 62 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Flames are 7-20 in their last 27 games as an underdog of +110 to +150. Flames are 1-5 in their last 6 Friday games. Sabres are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. Western Conference. Sabres are 9-2 in their last 11 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Sabres are 8-2 in their last 10 Friday games. Sabres are 4-1 in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest. Sabres are 10-3 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Sabres are 6-2 in their last 8 home games. Sabres are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a win. Sabres are 13-5 in their last 18 overall. Sabres are 5-2 in their last 7 games as a home favorite. Sabres are 5-2 in their last 7 games as a favorite. Home team is 8-1 in the last 9 meetings. Flames are 4-9-1 in the last 14 meetings. Flames are 0-6 in the last 6 meetings in Buffalo. We'll recommend a small play on Buffalo tonight!
SPORTS WAGERS
NEW ORLEANS +1.31 over Portland
The Hornets don’t have much sting this year but that can change in a hurry, as this is a good team with the league’s bet point-guard in Chris Paul. They also added Emeka Okafor in place of Tyson Chandler and that has to be considered an upgrade. The Hornets have some ugly losses this season including one to the Knicks but the bottom line is that they’re undervalued, especially at home, because of its poor start. Byron Scott was fired yesterday and many cite the reason was Scott’s reluctance to play prized rookie Darren Collison in favor of Bobby Brown or Devin Brown. GM Jeff Bower takes over and in its first game with its new coach, expect the Hornets to respond, as this is most definitely a .500 club at worst and a club that can win as many as 50 games if they get right-sided. The Trail Blazers are among the elite with a relentless defense and four wins in a row. However, two of those wins were against Minnesota, one was against Memphis and the other came over San Antonio when Tony Parker went down early in the game. Prior to that four-game streak, the Blazers were just 2-3 with wins over Houston and the Thunder. This is the Blazers fifth game in seven nights and its third road game in a row and thus, it creates a great opportunity for the Hornets to get it going. Play: New Orleans +1.31 (Risking 2 units).
Toronto/L.A. CLIPPERS over 204½
This one opened at 209 and has been steadily dropping all day. It may still drop a little lower so you might want to monitor it and wait for the best possible number. The reason for the under taking all the money is likely due to the Raps last game in which they held the Bulls to 29 second-half points and the loss of Clips PG Eric Gordon. However, the Bulls have yet to reach 100 points this year and put up 60 in the first half before going ice cold in the second. The Bulls were completely gassed but make no mistake, they scored 29 points because of horrible shooting and not because the Raps were great defensively. The Bulls had open looks, as every team does against this extremely soft defense of the Raptors. Toronto loves to move quickly up court, exchange baskets, shoot tons of threes and they have the personnel to do it. This is a great shooting squad but they simply do not play defense and give up more second chance points than anyone. The Clip Joint will crash the offensive boards and should get more than a few put-backs. This one should be a fast-paced game with plenty of points and until the Raps get Reggie Evans back they’ll continue to give up way too many. Play: Toronto/L.A. Clippers over 204½ (Risking 2.12 units to win 2).
Bob Harvey
Cincinnati -9½
It's been almost two years since Cincinnati lost a home game at Nippert Stadium, and that was to this West Virginia team. The Bearcats won't let that happen again as favorites on Friday.
Unbeaten Cincinnati (9-0) looks to keep its BCS hopes alive Friday at home against No. 23 West Virginia Friday at Nippert Stadium in the annual Ring of Red game.
The fifth-ranked Bearcats, one of six undefeated teams in the nation, have a 10-game winning streak on their home turf and a 15-game regular-season winning streak. At 5-0 in the conference, Cincinnati remains tied for first place with Pittsburgh, a team it will face in its regular season finale in early December.
Meanwhile the The Mountaineers enter tonight’s nationally televised matchup at 7-2 overall and 3-1 in Big East play.
West Virginia coach Bill Stewart calls the Bearcats offense a “juggernaut” and who are we to argue. The Bearcats are on a different level offensively than the rest of the conference and the numbers they’re putting up are impressive.
Cincinnati is averaging 40 points per game on the season and has scored 40 or more points four times this season. Last week they racked up a school- record 711 total yards in a narrow 47-45 win over UConn. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw for 480 yards, the second-best passing total in school history, and a touchdown, while rushing for 75 yards and two scores.
Collaros, who is making his third straight start in place of the injured Tony Pike, has completed 76.0 percent of his throws with 10 touchdowns and just one pick. Even with Pike healthy, head coach Brian Kelly says Collaros will start but Pike will play.
Lost in the shadows of the passing attack is the Bearcats solid run game which is averaging 158 yards per game and a 5.2 yards per carry average.
As for the Mountaineers, they won a share of the Big East title in 2007 before taking a backseat to Cincinnati last season. WVU is still very much in the running for the title in 2009 with a 3-1 record, but it will likely need to run the table to accomplish that feat.
Last weekend, the Mountaineers may have got caught looking ahead to this game, as they barely slipped past a struggling Louisville club, 17-9, in Morgantown. The Mountaineers, winners of five of their last six games, now stand at 7-2, with both of losses coming on the road.
Noel Devine is the one of the top running backs in the nation and leads WVU with 1,010 yards and ten touchdowns. He suffered a sprained ankle last week but is expected to be ready for tonight’s game.
Quarterback Jarrett Brown, who also tweaked his ankle last week, has 332 yards rushing yards and the season with four touchdowns. He’s also a threat thru the air completing 64.5 percent of his throws for 10 touchdowns.
Cincinnati comes in with a record of 6-3 ATS but just 2-2 at home. The Bearcats are 4-5 to the 'under' on the year and 2-2 at home. West Virginia is 2-6 vs. the number and 1-3 ATS on the road.
I’m expecting the Bearcats to roll up the yards and the points tonight. Lay the double-digit lumber with confidence
Wunderdog
Idaho vs. Utah U
Play: Utah -11
Jim Boylen has had a lot of success at Utah in his first two seasons and last year's 24 wins will be hard to match. This program never falls far however, and I expect them to do well with three holdovers, three JUCO transfers, and three freshman all capable of contributing. Carlan Brown is ready to emerge as one of the Mountain West's best players. Idaho is in a conference where it seems like every year it is Utah State or Nevada and everyone else. Idaho is an improved team from their 1-15 season in their WAC debut in '05-06, but this is still a weak conference aside from the two at the top. Although they finished 9-7 last year, the jury is still out. The Vandals lost most of their deep range threats from a year ago and won't sneak up on anyone this year like they did a year ago, and that includes Utah. Utah with the win and cover in this one.
Lenny Del Genio
Temple at Akron
Play: Temple
What are we missing here? A rebuilding Owls team beat the Zips 27-6 and 24-20 each of the last two years and now that they're sitting pretty in the MAC East drivers seat, find themselves as just a four-point road favorite? Temple has won seven straight games and has been a great team to wager on all season, posting eight consecutive spread wins when coming off a home game. Akron has nothing to play for (cannot become bowl eligible) and is in a letdown spot coming off a rivalry win over Kent State. Take Temple.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Dallas Mavericks -11
Bottom Line: The T-Wolves have lost 8 in a row and have been crushed badly in each of their last 4 games. It gets no easier tonight against a hungry Mavs team looking to take out its frustration following a loss to rival San Antonio. Minnesota's defense is atrocious, allowing 106.4 ppg. In fact, Minnesota is on a 0-8 ATS run in home games after 2 straight games where it allowed a shooting pct. of 50% or higher, losing in these spots by an average score of 92.5 to 109.3. Take the Mavs for 1 Unit.