Dave Price
1 Unit on Bucks/Trail Blazers UNDER 180
We only saw 166 total points scored in the season's first meeting, and I'm expecting another defensive battle this evening. Brandon Roy and Joel Przybilla are listed as doubtful. Corey Maggette is listed as doubtful as well, and Brandon Jennings has been ruled out. That's quite a bit of offense that won't be on the floor tonight. The Under is 10-4-1 in the Trail Blazers' last 15 home games. The Under is 5-0 in the Bucks' last 5 games as a road underdog of 4.5 or less points. Bet the UNDER.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Bobcats/Wizards UNDER 186
Gerald Wallace is doubtful for the offensively challenged Bobcats, and Stephen Jackson isn't at 100 perfect (questionable). John Wall is likely out with a knee injury, which really hurts the Wiz now that Gilbert Arenas has been traded. Rashard Lewis is expected to make his debut for Washington, but it's going to take him some time to feel comfortable in the offense. All these factors should add up to a low-scoring game. Washington has played to the Under in 4 straight and Charlotte in 5 of its last 6. Washington is 9-1 Under after 7 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 seasons. Bet the Under.
Jack Jones
Golden State Warriors +1.5
Golden State should not be an underdog at home to the Houston Rockets tonight. The Warriors have played their best basketball at home where they are 6-5 this season. Houston has done the same, and they've been atrocious on the road to the tune of a 4-11 record away from home. The Rockets are giving up a whopping 108.0 PPG on the road this year where opponents are making 47.7% of their shots from the floor.
Houston is playing their second of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days so they are clearly the more tired team in this one. Golden State is only playing their 2nd game in 6 days here. The Rockets are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games playing on 0 days rest. The Warriors are 50-23-2 ATS in their last 75 games as a home underdog. Golden State is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5. Roll with the Warriors Monday.
SPORTS WAGERS
Milwaukee +1.37 over PORTLAND
The Bucks are just 10-15 but they got off to a rough start and have been playing a whole lot better of late. Milwaukee just came off three games against Dallas, the Spurs and Utah in which they beat the Mav’s and lost by a bucket in San Antonio. They lost by nine against the Jazz but were in it the whole way. That’s a tough trio indeed and the Bucks didn’t look a bit out of place. Andrew Bogut is back to being 100% and he’s a huge factor. Milwaukee takes a huge step down in class here when facing the beatable Blazers. Portland has won two straight but while the Bucks were playing three juggernauts, the Blazers barely got by Minnesota and Golden State. Portland has no bench and if you play strong defense against them, they’re in big trouble. The Bucks are much better than Portland in every department and absolutely has a great shot to win this one straight up. Play: Milwaukee +1.37 (Risking 2 units).
Joe Gavazzi
Elon vs. Duke Elon
Play: Elon +35
Duke is clearly the best team in the country but they’ve been off for 9 days and may take a while to get into their normal flow. They have been dominant on this court in this price range, standing 4-0 ATS as HF-23+ with wins of 37, 34, 35, and 37. Perhaps just a bit of holiday compassion to a small neighboring school can make this final margin in the high 20s. Elon is coached by 2nd year mentor Matt Matheny, former assistant at Davidson. His Phoenix are 2-0 ATS as big road dog, losing by 15 at South Carolina and 19 at Maryland. Look for him to slow the pace enough, against a sluggish Duke team, and avoid the 30+ point embarrassment suffered by Duke’s previous victims.
Jorge Gonzalez
Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks
Play: Atlanta Hawks +2½
The Orlando Magic will be heading to Atlanta with a new roster and some revenge in tonight’s action. The Magic acquired guard Gilbert arenas, forward Hedo Turkuglo, guard Jason Richardson, forward Earl Clark and sent forward Rashard Lewis to the Washington Wizards and guard Vince Carter, forward Mickael Pietrus, center Marcin Gortat to the phoenix Suns. The Atlanta Hawks will have Joe Johnson back in action for third game since an early return from an elbow injury. The Hawks could have moved into second place but they lost to the lowly New Jersey Nets 89-82. The Hawks must have been looking ahead to this game Orlando and will look to win their second straight over the Magic. The Hawks beat the Magic 80-74 on December 6 in Orlando. The Hawks have the advantage in this spot with a team that has played with one another for some time. The magic are going to need a few gamers to get the four new players on the same page too play quality basketball. Take the Hawks here as a slight underdog!
Rob Vinciletti
Utah Jazz vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Play: Utah Jazz -7
Utah is 10-1 ats in non conference games this season and 6-0 ats off a dog win. The Cavaliers just broke their long losing streak with a an overtime win vs the Knicks on Saturday. Tonight the Cavs apply to a negative system that is 0-13 straight up and 3-10 ats since 1995. What we want to do is play against home dogs of 5 or more with rest that are off a home dog win at +5 or more and are now taking on an opponent off an ats win of 10 or more. The Jazz won their last game 95-86 as a 2 point dog. Look for the Jazz to get the win and cover tonight as they continue to cruise past Eastern Conference teams.
Lenny Del Genio
Dallas +7
The Heat have two more games and they'll carry a 14-game win streak into a Christmas day showdown with the Lakers. By far, the tougher test comes tonight as they host Dallas, who has won 14 of its last 15 games overall and is a perfect 7-0 ATS as a road underdog this season. Furthermore, they are a perfect 5-0 SU L5 meetings with Miami, including an 11-point win last month. Take the points. Take Dallas.
Hollywood Sports
Northern Colorado at Colorado State
Prediction: Northern Colorado
The Bears (4-5) lost shooting guard Will Figures from last season's 25-8 squad but they do return three starters and four key reserves from year's club (although they will be without Mike Proctor) that did defeat the Rams by a 70-63 score. Northern Colorado does two things extremely well. First, the Bears are second in the nation with their 43.7% shooting percentage from behind the three-point line. Unfortunately for Colorado State, their three-point defense has been a real weakness so far this season as they are allowing their opponents to covert 41.3% of their shots from behind the arc. Secondly, Northern Colorado leads the nation at the free throw line with their outstanding 85.1% team mark. The Rams are very prone to putting their opponents on the line as 55.4% of the points they are allowing are from the charity stripe (this ratio is 334th worst in the nation). Colorado State (4-3) returns four starters from last season's 16-16 club. They have now lost two games in a row after their 76-55 loss to Kansas. In this in-state rivalry game, expect the Bears to keep it close with their strong shooting. Take Northern Colorado plus the points.
Terron Chapman
Utah Jazz vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Play: Cleveland Cavaliers +6.5
The Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday evening with a 109-102 overtime victory over the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena. Monday night, they’ll look to make it two in a row as they play host to the Utah Jazz who are in the midst of a pre-Christmas four-game road trip which has seen them go 1-1 thus far, including a 95-86 win over the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday.
Oddsmakers opened the host Cavaliers as 7.5-point underdog for Monday’s meeting, with most outlets dealing Utah (-7) as of this writing. That is more of an indictment of the Cavs than an endorsment of the Jazz. No one could’ve predicted the Cavs being this bad, even with the loss of King James. But the Cavs have been just that en route to a 8-19 record on the season. The Cavs have struggled to gain an identity and adjust to a new head coach in Byron Scott. However, we see some reasons to be optimistic in the near future starting with Monday’s game against Utah.
The Cavaliers are finally starting to get healthy and their defense is improving. They held an explosive Knicks offense to just 41% from the field Friday while putting six players in double-figures. The Jazz are just 1-5 ATS in their last six visits to Cleveland. Look for the Cavs to play with a newfound confidence Monday as they give the visiting Jazz all they can handle and then some. Take the points.
Info Plays
3* Rockets Pick'em
Reason why Rockets will cover:
1) Houston has been playing much better basketball of late, and just recently got back Aaron Brooks, who missed 21 games with a stress fracture in his left ankle. Whether Brooks starts or comes off the bench, he makes Houston a more dangerous offensive team, and we think the Rockets will have no trouble pulling out a win on the road tonight.
2) The Rockets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall, and 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite.
3) The Rockets are 22-6 at Golden State since 1996, and 4-1 over the last three seasons.
Black Widow
1* on Dallas Mavericks +7
A 95-106 loss to the Dallas Mavericks was the last time the Miami Heat were beaten. Miami has since reeled off 12 straight victories, but we like the Mavs chances of putting an end to this run tonight. Dallas is 14-1 SU & 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games overall. They are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA right now, and should not be catching 7 points tonight in Miami. The Mavs are 8-1 SU & 8-1 ATS in road games this year. This is the best Dallas team Mark Cuban has ever had, and one that should not be a 7-point underdog to any team in the league. Dallas is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) as a road underdog this season. The Heat are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as a home favorite. Miami is once again overvalued tonight due to their long winning streak, which has come against mostly inferior teams with losing records. Take the Mavs and the points.