Jack Jones
Utah Jazz +1.5
It has been like night and day for the Utah Jazz home and away. When you look at these home/away numbers, it's easy to see that they should not be an underdog at home tonight to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Utah is just 3-9 on the road this season, but it is a perfect 6-0 at home. It is outscoring opponents 102.2 to 92.8 in Salt Lake City, or by an average of 9.4 points/game. The Clippers are a mediocre 3-3 on the road this season.
Utah is 29-3 in its last 32 home meetings with the Clippers. It is also a very profitable 21-10-1 ATS in those 32 contests. The home team is now 18-7 ATS in the last 25 meetings in this series.
After back-to-back losses at Oklahoma City and Houston, the Jazz will be highly motivated for a victory when they return home tonight. The Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest. Bet the Jazz Monday.
Steve Janus
Trailblazers +1
The Bobcats need just one more win to top last year's total for the entire season, but I don't see that coming tonight against the Trailblazers. There's no denying Charlotte is a better team this season, but they don't have the talent to matchup with a Portland team that has yet to play their best basketball.
The Bobcats feature a starting lineup of four players who are 23 or younger and I have a hard time believing this inexperienced bunch spent their two days off over the weekend focusing on this game. I look for Charlotte to come out sluggish and for Portland to take advantage. The Bobcats are a miserable 1-6 ATS over their last 7 Monday games!
The Trailblazers were able to pull off a 118-117 double-overtime win over the Cavaliers on Saturday, snapping a four game losing streak. With an overall record of just 7-10, Portland will be extremely motivated to get a win here with a difficult game at Indiana coming up on Wednesday.
Kelso
Los Angeles Clippers vs Utah Jazz
Pick: Utah Jazz
The Clippers have the talent, the Jazz the home court—and that spells trouble for the former who are going for their 3rd straight win. The Jazz are 6-0 at home this season and 13-0 on their home court in their last 14 games—figures that offer a bit of insight into just how tough it is to win in Salt Lake City.
SPORTS WAGERS
WASHINGTON +3 -105 over N.Y. Giants
Now that the Giants appear to be back in form after punching out the Packers, combined with their well documented 8-1 ATS on the road, everyone is will be back on them. Unfortunately, that’s when the G-Men usually run a reverse. The Redskins won’t go away and you can thank RGIII for his outstanding numbers and for energizing this team.
Washington is second in the league in rushing while the Giants have to depend on rookie David Wilson for their yards on the ground. The Giants defense has been erratic and that bodes well here for RGIII and the ‘Skins offense, which rarely turn the ball over (Griffin 16 TD’s, 4 INT’s). Redskins took the Giants to the end in earlier meeting before falling 27-23. In what has to be considered the biggest emotional home game in years, give us the points with Washington in a game they can surely win outright. No units risked.
CHARLOTTE-1 -102 over Portland
With four losses in its past five games and only win over that stretch coming against the 1-13 Wizards, the Bobcats nice start to the season has been quickly erased. As a result of their recent struggles, we get a number we can exploit. Charlotte’s last five losses were against Philly, Atlanta twice, the Thunder and Memphis. Combined that quartet is 46-19. They have recent wins over Toronto, Milwaukee and Washington, suggesting they’re beating the teams they’re superior to and the Trail Blazers fit that bill.
Portland is playing the fifth game of a seven game trip where they have one win on a miracle 3-point buzzer beater in double OT against Cleveland on Saturday. They have recent losses to Washington, Detroit and Phoenix and have not looked strong in any phase of the game. Charlotte is simply a more determined and focused group that is underpriced here.
USC -2½ -108 over NEBRASKA
Sometimes the line dictates the play and that certainly applies here. The Cornhuskers are 5-1 after a 16-point road win over Wake last Tuesday. They return home to play the 3-3 Trojans, losers of two straight and three of their last four. Despite that, the Huskers are getting points in their own barn and that will have many playing them. Not us. USC’s last four games have been against #22 Illinois, Texas, Marquette and #25 San Diego State. Marquette isn’t ranked yet but most agree they will be soon. USC beat Texas and lost to both Marquette and SDSU by single digits.
While the Trojans have been getting well-prepped against some of the top programs in the country, Nebraska has been beating up on the likes of Tulane, Valparaiso, Southern and the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks. Give a huge edge to the visitor in the all-important strength of schedule category and it pays off here.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAYS
Milwaukee/ Nawlins over 188.5: Milwaukee has played some lower scoring games of late, but that is not really their game as they like to play the uptempo game. Their games this year have averaged 194.6 ppg, while their games one thos road have put up 194.8 ppg. a big difference from the 188 ppg their last 5 have averaged. Their offense has struggled some lately, but that should change tonight vs a Hornets squad that has not been good on the defensive end, especially of late. The Hornets have allowed 99.6 ppg overall, but in their last 10 games that have allowed 100+ points 8 times and in the other two games they allowed 98 and 96 points. The have had a hard time stopping anyone of late. Milwaukee has also not been great of late on the defensive end, where they have allowed 99.8 ppg in their last 8 games. The Hornets have not been good offensively, but they did put up 113 points the last time these teams have met and they have scored 100+ points in 3 of their last 6 games. I look for this one to easily top 190 points. KEY TRENDS--- The Over is 6-1-1 in Milwaukee's last 8 road games vs. a team with a losing home record, while the Over is 5-1 in the Hornets last 6 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points
Portland/ Charlotte Under 192.5: Both of these teams come in struggling on the offensive end of the floor, which makes it hard for me to see this game hitting 190 points. The Blazers come in scoring just 92.8 ppg and shooting just 41.3% from the floor in their last 5 games. Hasn't been much better on the road them, with a scoring average of just 93.2 ppg and a shooting pct of 41%. The Bobcats have really gone in the tank offensively as they have scored just 88 ppg in their last 3 and 91.4 on their last 5, while their shooting pct over that last 5 is a horrid 38.9%. I know that both defenses are weak, but neither team is shooting very well right and that should keep the scoring low. KEY TRENDS--- The Under is 13-3 in the Bobcats last 16 vs. NBA Northwest and 19-6-1 in their last 26 games playing on 2 days rest, plus 5-1 in these teams last 6 meetings.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
Syracuse/ Eastern Michigan Over 122.5: I see this line as a few points too low. Eastern Michigan comes in having put up some good defensive number, but they have year to face an offense anything near then what they will face tonight. After putting up just 62 points in their opener vs a very good San Diego State squad the Orange have averaged 84.8 ppg in their last 4 games. Their defense has been solid, but they did allow 82 points to Arkansas in their last game and at least 51 points to each of their 3 previous opponents. EMU has put up 54 or more points in each of their 6 games this year and should be able to squeeze at least 53 points out of this one. That will be key here because now way the Orange get held under 70 points. 78-53 sound about right for this one.
2 UNIT PLAY
Nebraska/ USC Over 120.5: The Over is 5-1 in Trojans last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, while the Over is 4-0-1 in the Cornhuskers last 5 games following a ATS win.
1 UNIT PLAY
LONG BEACH STATE -4.5 over Fresno State: 49ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games following three or more consecutive road games.
HARRY BONDI
NY GIANTS (-3) over Washington
The Skins have certainly given the Giants problems in recent history, covering four straight, including two outright wins last season and a 27-23 loss earlier his year as a 6-point dog. But with the Monday Night showcase tonight and RGIII getting all kinds of publicity, we expect a fully focused effort tonight from the G-Men and when that's the case, they are as dangerous as any team in the league. Under Tom Coughlin, the Giants have covered 60% of their road games, including 3-1 this year. Meanwhile, the Skins hardly have any kind of home field edge, considering they have lost 9 of their last 11 games on this field and are 6-15 straight-up at home under the overrated Mike Shanahan. The Washington defense ranks No. 28 in the NFL in sacks, which means Eli Manning will have plenty of time in the pocket to pick apart a shaky Redskins secondary. And with a game already under their belt defending RGIII, look for the G-Men defense to keep the rookie sensation under wraps. Giants get the road win and cover, again.
Bob Balfe
New York Giants -3
There is really only one choice for this game. The Giants are the defending champs playing a Washington team who is talented, but not nearly on the same level. Its crunch time this year for all teams trying to make the playoffs and I honestly think the Giants are again going to make a super bowl run. Eli Manning steps up in big games and should have no problem winning tonight against a very bad defense. Take the GMen.
Long Beach State -5.5
Long Beach is not the same team that they were a year ago, but they already beat this Fresno team and now at home I think they will do so yet again. This team plays very well in their home building and is good enough to beat teams like Fresno, but they wont be upsetting the big schools this year. Take Long Beach.