Chuck O'Brien
My free play for Monday night is on the Memphis Grizzlies laying points on the road in Sactown against the Sacramento Kings.
It hasn't been happy times for the Grizzlies of late, but tonight that's going to change and they should be able to find the consistency they've been looking for with a healthy Zach Randolph will spurn some wins for the team.
Memphis, which briefly had the league's best record at one time, has lost four of seven following a four-game winning streak.
But from what I saw yesterday, when the Grizzlies hit a season-high 53.6 percent from the field in a 92-81 win at Phoenix, they're ready to turn things around during this three-game road trip.
Randolph averages 16.8 points and ranks among league leaders with 12.2 rebounds. Yesterday he was 9 of 11 and finished with 21 points to help Memphis in its win over the Suns.
Though the Kings are 10-7 at home, they're mired in a 0-8 ATS slide against teams from the Southwest division. On the flipside, the Grizzlies have covered four of five against the Pacific division.
I'll take the road team here.
2♦ MEMPHIS
Craig Davis
Free play of the day on the Utah Jazz over the Dallas Mavericks at home.
How Utah can only be favored by 4 1/2 is beyond me. Has Vegas watched the Mavericks recently? They have been one of the worst teams in the NBA and it has nothing to do with Dirk's knee injury.
Yeah, so he's been limited since returning from off-season knee surgery... that has nothing to do with the fact this team is falling apart at the seams.
It has more to do with the fact they don't have JJ Barea, Tyson Chandler, Jason Terry or Jason Kidd. It has more to do with the fact they've replaced those players with OJ Mayo, Darren Collison, and Chris Kaman. Seriously... Chris Kaman???
That guy is a complete stiff while Mayo is a greedy ball-hog who continues to lead the team in turnovers because he likes to dribble too much. The Mavs are a complete mess and it starts at the top.
Mark Cuban is starting to believe everything he reads about himself. I think he's been hanging out with Jerry Jones or something. This team has no chemistry and Rick Carlisle appears to have lost control.
Dallas is in for a LONG season and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon.
Free play on the Jazz over Dallas in a rout.
3♦ UTAH
Jeff Benton
4 straight freebie winners after Temple stays close at Kansas on Sunday.
Monday's freebie is the Indiana Hoosiers to name it against host Penn State.
Penn State saw their four game winning streak snapped in a road loss at Wisconsin their last time out, but the Nittany Lions did cover as the double-digit underdog.
Can they cover tonight as the double-digit home dog?
I do not believe so, as Indiana is 13-1 for the season, and they have gone 8-4 against the spread in their lined games this season.
The Hoosiers have had little trouble brushing aside the Nittany Lions in recent meetings, as Tom Crean's team has won the last three series meetings, with their last pair of wins coming by 17 and 19 points, good enough for the cover as the double-digit favorite in each of those wins.
Indiana steps up and takes care of business on the road tonight with the 20 point win and cover.
1♦ INDIANA
Chris Jordan
My free winner for Monday night is going to be out of the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers laying points at home to the Orlando Magic.
I really contemplated making Portland a paid play tonight, but the only thing that scares me in the NBA or in MLB, is when a 'coast' team returns from a lengthy road trip. I'm going to be frank with you, but trust me, guys get home and have a day off, they unwind, they see their wives and/or girlfriends, they have a night out - they simply forget about their sport for a night.
That doesn't mean the Trail Blazers can't smoke the Magic tonight, but I'd rather come with Portland as a free play. I mean, I still like them against Orlando, which is in a downward spiral, having lost eight straight. Don't be too fooled by the Magic's losses, though, as they've been close contests.
And make note, the last time these two met on the hardwood, the Magic beat the Trail Blazers 107-104 in Portland.
Now that all being said, let's focus on the Blazers, who have won four of its last five games, including a 102-97 victory at Minnesota on Saturday. Tonight’s matchup will be their third game in four days, after a four-game road trip, but if there's one thing that might inspire weary legs it's Blazers fans, who are some of the loudest in the league.
I know the Magic have won five of their last 10 games inside the Rose Garden, but that was when they had Dwight Howard. And everyone knows how tough it is to play in the Garden on the left coast.
I'm taking my chances with the Blazers in this one, lay the chalk.
2♦ PORTLAND
Matt Rivers
Monday night comp play is Oklahoma City to romp Washington.
The last time these teams met last January, the Wizards stunned the Thunder by a 105-102 count in DC. All the more reason I do not think there is a chance in hell Oklahoma City will be caught sleeping tonight at Washington.
The Wizards have just four wins total this season, and they enter tonight with their latest losing streak at five games in a row.
OKC has gone 8-4-1 against the spread on the road this season, and prior to last January's loss to the Wizards, the Thunder had won five in a row over the Wizards with a 3-1-1 spread mark in those five wins.
Oklahoma City has won their last pair of games by double-digits, covering in both. Another double-digit win and cover in the cards tonight for the Thunder.
Take the Thunder minus the points.
3♦ OKLAHOMA CITY