Steve Janus
UNLV/WISCONSIN UNDER 126
Instead of worrying about which team will cover the spread in this game, I will take the under 126 on the total. The over may seem like a strong play with UNLV coming in averaging 83.0 ppg, but the Badgers are as good as any team in slowing down the game and grinding out a win, especially at home. Wisconsin is allowing just 39.8 ppg at home this season, holding opposing teams to just 29.6% shooting.
Wisconsin has had just one game all season go over the posted total in this game. That was a 73-56 blowout win over BYU, which still only went over this posted total by 3-points. Wisconsin and North Carolina managed to score just 117 points in an earlier matchup.
The UNDER is 11-3 in Runnin' Rebels last 14 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game, 6-1 in Badgers last 7 non-conference games, and 4-1 in Badgers last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Jack Jones
Creighton -1.5
The Creighton Bluejays are one of the most underrated teams in the entire country. They should be a much heavier favorite Saturday against St. Joseph's. I expect them to roll on the road this afternoon.
Creighton is 7-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in lined games this season. They are outscoring their opponents by a whopping 19.1 points/game this year. The Bluejays are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS on the road, winning by an average of 11.7 points/game.
The Bluejays have three starters back from last season, led by the coach's son in Doug McDermott. The forward is lighting up the nets for 23.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while connecting on 62.6 percent of his shots, 57.7 percent from 3-point range, and 81.0 percent from the free throw line.
Creighton is 24-8 ATS in their last 32 games overall. As you can see, they have been a money-making machine over the last two seasons. The Bluejays are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games as a favorite. St. Joseph's is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games as a home underdog. Bet Creighton Saturday.
Sean Murphy
Vancouver Canucks @ Ottawa Senators
PICK: Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver has had Ottawa's number since the start of last season, going a perfect 3-0 in this series, outscoring the Sens by a 12-5 margin.
These two teams squared off on November 20th in Vancouver, and the Canucks skated away with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory. Keep in mind, the Canucks weren't playing nearly as well than as they are now, while the Senators had won three games in a row.
That win over Ottawa kick-started an 8-1 run for the Canucks, which they'll aim to improve on tonight. Meanwhile, the Sens are 3-6 over their last nine games, a stretch that began with that loss in Vancouver.
Ottawa's biggest issue has been its poor defensive play. The Senators are allowing 3.3 goals per game on over 30 shots per contest at home this season. Goaltending obviously hasn't been their strong suit, as Craig Anderson has posted a 3.39 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.
The Canucks are in a similar boat in terms of goaltending, with Roberto Luongo still mired in a slump. At least Luongo has managed to post a 10-6-1 record.
I liked the way he battled in Montreal last time out. After giving up three goals in the game's first 23 minutes, he shut out the Habs the rest of the way, including overtime and a shootout. That performance should give him a boost of confidence heading into Saturday's game.
This is a key spot for the Canucks, as following tonight's game they'll enjoy a couple of days off before ending the road trip with three games in five nights.
Vancouver is one of the best road teams in hockey, and really has been since the start of last season. The Canucks roll into Ottawa riding a 6-1 run away from home, and I'm confident they'll get it done again versus the reeling Senators.
Jeff Scott Sports
4 UNIT PLAY
POWER ANGLE PLAY
Kentucky -5.5 over INDIANA: Really wanted to get this out before the line jumps.The Cats are the best team in the Nation and have already knocked off the likes of Kansas and North Carolina and they have won their games overall by an average of 25.4 ppg. The Cats are 16th in the nation in scoring (82.4 ppg) and 24th in shooting (49%), but offense is not all this young team has as they are first in the nation in defensive FG% (32.6%), while allowing just 57 ppg (23rd). Indiana has gotten off to a fine start themselves but they have really only played 1 team and that was at NC State. They did win it , but the Wolfpack is down a bit this year, so that is not really a solid resume game for them. Indiana has put up 85 ppg this year, but they have not seen the kind of defense they will tonight. Indiana has allowed just 61.2 ppg thus far, but a gain the level of competition has dictated there strong defensive numbers. The Cats are more talented, more athletic, bigger and deeper and they should have little problems pulling away late for a nice DD win. POWER ANGLE FOR THIS PLAY--- Favorites that have failed to cover the spread in their last 3 games are 45-15 ATS the last 5 season if they are facing a team that did cover in their last 4 lined games.
3 UNIT PLAYS
Ohio State -3 over KANSAS: This is a Google News play. I really feel this is a no brainer. Ohio State is the right side here. Kansas' struggles vs their two other top 6 teams they have face thus far proves just that. Kansas will have problems scoring vs the good defensive team in the nation and there doesn't seem to be a team that plays better overall team defense than the Buckeyes. Kansas did struggle vs Georgetown earlier in the year (another solid defensive team) and they just couldn't put LBSU away at home in their last game, so this team has been inconsistent most of the year so far. Allen Fieldhouse is traditionally one of the nation’s toughest places to play, and this year’s Kansas team plays hard. But they also don’t have the kind of elite talent the program is used to having, and they’ll be outmatched against an Ohio State team that’s likely to get All-America big man Jared Sullinger (back spasms) back in the lineup. Let's also note that Ohio state is 8-2 in their last 10 non-conference games, while Kansas is 1-10 ATS in their last 11 vs the Big 10. Buckeyes by at least 7 here.
Northern Illinois/ Illinois-Chicago Under 132.5: (Added) Talk about being futile on offense. That's just what NIU has been this year as they come in averaging just 53.9 ppg (338th) on a mere 35.4% shooting (340th). The biggest red flag for this team may have been when they scored just 47 points vs Utah Valley State (Vegas doesn't put lines on their games) 2 games ago. Ill-Chicago have also had their offensive problems this year as they have put up just 66 ppg (232nd) on just 40.4% shooting (280th), plus they are one of the worst teams from the FT line, hitting just 60.7%, which is 310th in the nation. Neither team has played great defense this year, but the offenses will not be able to capitalize here, plus we also note that both teams struggle from long range and the FT line, so don't expect alot of extra points from those two areas. NIU cannot match points with this team, so i really expect them to slow it down and that will help keep this game Under the total.
2 UNIT PLAY
Tennessee/ Austin Peay Over 145.5: (Added) Last time out for the Vols they took on a Pitt team that was missing Travon Woodall, so tha Panthers really slowed the game down, played great defense and held the Vols to just 56 points in a game where just 117 total points were scored. The Austin Peay Govenors will not slow this game down and they do not play good defense at all, like the Panthers do. AP comes in allowing 78.3 ppg on 49% shooting, including 40.1% from long range and now they get to face a Vols team that has been very good on offense this year as they have avaeraged 79.7 ppg on 45.4% shooting, while at home the Vols have put up 77.2 ppg on 50.6% shooting. AP has averaged just 67 ppg on the year, but in their last 5 games they have averaged 73.6 ppg and the Vols can give up points as they come in allowing 75.2 ppg overall and 77.6 ppg in their last 5 games. The do allow just 62 ppg at home, but I do expect the Govenors to be able to score on Tennessee in this one. This will be an up and down game and the pace will lead to alot of easy baskets for both teams.
1 UNIT PLAYS
Duke/ Washington Over 155.5: This is also a Google News play. In looking at this game i feel the over is the right way to go in this one. The Duke defense has not been that strong this season and Washington certainly knows how to score as they have put up 80.4 ppg. Washington's size and interior defense will be key here as they will not allow Duke to penetrate and force them into perimeter shots and that quite alright as Duke is 18th in shooting the three, while Washington it 256th in defending it. The Dukies will also try and get out and run more so that Washington defense can't get settled in and force the half court game. Duke has averaged 78.4 ppg and will be facing a Washington team that has allowed 72.1 ppg. Duke will get their points, while Washington's run and gun style will also light up the scoreboard. This one should hit 160 rather easily.
Pittsburgh -6.5 over Oklahoma State: (Added) With Travon Woodall in the lineup this would be one of my top plays, but we will take the cautious approach with this one. This Pitt team had a few hiccups earlier in the year, but they seem to have their swagger back as they have won 6 in a row, while 4 of their last 5 wins have been by DD. OSU has won 3 in a row, but one of those wins was by just 3 over Tulsa and the other was vs a Division 2 school. Just feel that even without Woodall the Panthers have a bit too much for the Cowboys here.
Rocketman
Cincinnati @ Xavier
Play: Cincinnati +8
Cincinnati is allowing only 52.7 points per game overall this year and 51 points per game on the road this season. Bearcats are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games. Musketeers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games. Musketeers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5. Musketeers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite of 7.0-12.5. Musketeers are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 non-conference games. Musketeers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games. Musketeers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. Musketeers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Underdog is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings. We'll recommend a small play on Cincinnati today!
Ray Monohan
Ohio State vs. Kansas
Play: Ohio State -2½
Kansas is a slight dog at against the Buckeyes, who are 0-3 SU and 2-1 ATS in three meetings with the Jayhawks, although the two haven’t met since 2000. Sullinger should be fine for this game as he was held out of the Texas-PA game specifically for this game, and his matchup with Robinson in the post will be a major factor in deciding this game, although you can bet that Withey will help out. But he also has a better supporting cast; Ohio State guard Aaron Craft should be able to lock up Kansas counterpart Tyshawn Taylor, while William Buford and Thomas will also step up in a tough place to play. Take Ohio State for the NCAA basketball betting win on Saturday.
SPORTS WAGERS
Anaheim +158 over NASHVILLE
The Ducks are coming off a hard fought 4-2 loss in St. Louis in a game they hung around in the entire time. Game was 3-2 late in the third when T.J. Oshie scored an empty-netter to seal it. The good news is that the Ducks allowed just 24 shots on net and only 13 shots in the final two periods. That’s a serious upgrade from a team whose defense has been its Achilles Heel all year. The Ducks are still at the bottom of the heap but they have picked up points in three of their last five games and they’re simply playing harder and with more direction since Bruce Boudreau took over. While the Predators play hard most nights, that doesn’t equate to goals or wins as Nashville has to scratch and claw for every point, rendering them a beatable club. The Preds have scored two goals or less in seven of its last nine games and that’s not conducive to laying big juice. Play: Anaheim +158 (Risking 2 units).
San Jose +165 over ST. LOUIS (3-way betting line)
The Blues remain hot under the tutelage of Ken Hitchcock but they’re not dominant enough to sustain their current winning percentage. St. Louis is a blue-collar outfit that grinds, plays good defense and usually wins it or loses it late. They’re not a top-tier club and therefore will be back in the middle of the pack soon. The Sharks have dropped four of six but they’ve won seven of 10 road games and after playing six of seven at home, including four consecutive, this trip becomes a welcome one. The Sharks play out on the West Coast and they’re a small market squad so they don’t get a lot of coverage. This year it seems like they’re getting even less and it appears as if they’re the “forgotten team”. What we do know is that outside of goaltending, they’re superior to these Blues and they should arrive here focused and ready to go for its first road game since November 28. Play: San Jose +165 (Risking 2 units).
Hollywood Sports
Ohio University at Portland
Prediction: Over
The Pilots (3-6) lost their second game in a row as well as their sixth in their last seventh contest on Wednesday when Boise State clobbered them by a 92-70 score. Portland was a 15-point underdog in that game -- and they have played 14 of their last 17 games Over the Total after failing to cover the spread in their last game. The Pilots have also played 5 straight games Over the Total after surrendering at least 90 points in their last game. Defense has certainly been a problem for Eric Reveno's club this season. They have the nation's 274th worst Adjusted Defensive Efficiency* of 105.0 while also seeing their opponents enjoy an effective field goal percentage** of 53.2% (292nd in the nation). The Pilots have played 7 of their last 8 games Over the Total as an underdog. Ohio (6-1) enters this game with a 2-1 record on the road -- and Portland has played 6 straight home games Over the Total against teams with a winning record on the road. The Pilots are 1-1 at home this year themselves -- and the Bobcats have seen the Over go 7-2-1 in their last 10 road games against teams with at least a winning record at home. Ohio comes off a narrow 84-82 win over a good Oakland team on Wednesday. In their last 4 games as a road favorite of under 7 points, the Bobcats have seen the Over go 3-0-1. Take the Over in this one for Saturday night.
Hollywood Sports
Stars at Kings
Play: Under
Dallas (15-11-0-1) enters this game coming off a 5-2 loss at San Jose on Thursday which was their second defeat in a row. The Stars have played 4 straight games Under the Total after scoring two goals or less in their last contest. Dallas has also played 4 straight games after a blowout loss by at least three goals. And in their last 5 road games as an underdog, the Stars have played 4 of these games Under the Total. Los Angeles (13-11-2-2) has seen the Under go 3-0-2 in their last 5 games against a team that allowed at least five goals in their last contest. The Kings have now lost three in a row after their 4-2 loss to Minnesota on Thursday. The Under is very reliable in this spot for Los Angeles: the Under is both 33-14-7 in the Kings' last 54 games after failing to score more than two goals in their last game and the Under is 20-6-2 in the Kings' last 28 home games as a sizable favorite in the -151 to -200 price range. With complementary team trends like this, the Under is a solid play here.
Larry Ness
Ohio -5
Ohio U is 6-1 with its lone loss coming by just 59-54 at current No. 5 Louisville. John Groce was an Ohio State assistant and he added Ohio sS transfer Offutt (12.4-5.3) to this year's team and the 6-3 guard has been a HUGE addition, although PG Cooper (14.1-3.4-6.3) remains the team's MVP. Up front, the 6-8 Baltic (9.0-6.0) is giving Ohio U what it expected (he averaged 11.4-6.1 LY) but the 6-9 Keely, who averaged just 5.3-4.6 last year, is up to 10.7 and 5.7. Portland won 20 games last year but is off to a 3-6 start this season. The loss of leading scorer Stohl (14.1) and the 6-8 Sikma (12.9-10.5) inside, has been too much to overcome. Douglas (10.3-3.3 APG) and Mitrovic (10.0-4.2) are an OK guard duo but neither one is a match for Cooper. Up front, the 6-7 Nicholas (11.0-7.4) has played well plus 6-11 freshman van der Mars (8.3-4.6) has shown potential but overall, the Pilots lack the scoring punch of the Bobcats. Road team wins and covers, in a rare trip to the Northwest for the school from Athens.
OC Dooley
Kentucky -5.5
The last time we saw Kentucky was exactly one week ago when they won a one-point thriller against North Carolina in a nationally televised contest. Even though Kentucky (8-0) now has a number-one overall ranking, there are many who feel this extremely young team that starts a pair of sophomores and 3 freshman will lose late this afternoon to an Indiana contingent (8-0) this is also undefeated. There is no question that head coach Tom Crean has finally lifted a once proud Hoosiers program that is starved to defeated a marquee opponent, but the fact of the matter is that the Kentucky roster features 6 different McDonalds All-Americans who starred at the high school level. The most intriguing matchup today will be down low in the paint where Indiana big man Cody Zeller has already won three different Big 10 conference “freshman of the week” awards. But today he will have to deal with Kentucky’s Anthony Davis who already has 36 different BLOCKED shots. Davis who is a heavy favorite to be a #1 pick in the next NBA draft is the main reason why Kentucky leads the nation in blocked shots (87) and field goal percentage defense (32.6). Here is a 75-PERCENT SYSTEM (45-15 past five years which plays ON favorites like Kentucky after failing to cover the spread in 3 consecutive games, against an opponent who is riding a 4-0 ATS streak. That system favors Kentucky who in the past three years is UNDEFEATED where it counts (7-0 ATS) when off a very CLOSE victory margin of 3-or-less points
Harry Bondi
Army / Navy Under 57
This number has been posted high because both defenses have struggled mightily all season long, but those units get a break today when they go up against the option offense that they are so familiar with. The two option offenses will look to go on long sustained drives and drain the clock, which is obviously a friend to the under. In fact, in the last 15 games that have involved Army, Navy and Air Force, the under is 11-4, including five-straight unders in the last five Army-Navy match-ups. Let's ride that trend today and take advantage of an inflated number by going under the total.