John Ryan
Trail Blazers at Mavericks
Prediction: Over
The simulator shows a high probability that 200 or more points will be scored in this game and a slightly less probability that both teams will score 100 or more on their own merit. Sim also shows a high probability that Dallas will shoot between 48 and 51% from the field. In past games, they are 190-98 OVER when they record this level of offensive output since 1996. Dallas is off a 126-99 win over Charlotte. Dallas is a solid 27-12 OVER in home games after a cover as a double digit favorite since 1996. Take the OVER.
Jimmy Boyd
San Antonio Spurs -8
The Pacers are 2-1 and somewhat fortunate to be so. They have gotten all they've wanted and more in each of their games against the Raptors, Bobcats and Kings. Now, they take a big step up in competition against the 3-0 Spurs, who showed off their strong early form with a win over the reigning Western Conference champion Thunder.
The Spurs have been a tremendous investment. They are 41-17-5 ATS in their last 63 games overall, 33-15-3 ATS in their last 51 home games and 12-2-2 ATS in their last 16 versus the Eastern Conference.
The home team has been the play in this series as it is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings. The Pacers are just 2-6 ATS in their last 8 meetings in San Antonio. Lay the points.
Steve Janus
Cleveland Cavaliers +11
There is simply too much value on the Cavaliers as a double-digit dog tonight. The Clippers are a good team right now, but they are far from where they will be in another month or so. They still don't have Chauncey Billups or Grant Hill and I haven't been all that impressed with Lamar Odom. They just lost at home to the Warriors, which clearly tells me this team is not as good as the public perception. There is some concern with Cleveland losing in a blowout just based off their 86-115 loss at Chicago, so I will keep my bet small even though I really like the Cavs in this spot.
Jack Jones
Jazz/Grizzlies UNDER 196
I look for a defensive battle tonight between the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. These are two teams with very similar strengths which will make points hard to come by. This has also been a pretty low-scoring rivalry over the last several years.
Both teams rely heavily on their interior play, and each has below-average guard play. Memphis rides the duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, while Utah has a four-headed monster down low in Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. This will be a great battle tonight between these six guys as both teams look to slow it down and run their offense through their big men.
Six of the last eight meetings in this series have seen 190 or less combined points. The UNDER is 6-2 in the last eight meetings. The UNDER is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings in Memphis. The UNDER is 5-0 in Jazz last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game. The UNDER is 8-1 in Grizzlies last 9 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game. Bet the UNDER in this game Monday.
Jim Kruger
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New Orleans Saints
Play: Philadelphia Eagles
New Orleans has the worst defense in the league allowing 6.9 yards per play and is on track to set an NFL record for most total yards allowed. The Eagles are sitting at 9th on “D”. Philly has been offensively challenged this season and rank only 23rd in YPP, 5.4. New Orleans is tied for 7th at 6.0. The total combined Outplay factors I track do show a large advantage to Philadelphia by 2.2 YPP. The question is which squad has a chance for having a better than season-average game, the Saints’ defense or the Eagles’ offense? New Orleans is hurt significantly offensively with weapon Darren Sproles out with hand surgery. I prefer the Eagles, but only enough to have put a third of a unit, 33%, on Philly at +3.