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Yves Edwards +165 over J. StephensFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Known for putting on exciting fights in the octagon, the “Thugjitsu” practitioner Yves Edwards (41-18-1) will face off against the equally entertaining Jeremy Stephens (20-8-0) in a potential Fight of the Night candidate. Both fighters are coming off of losses, with Stephens being the loser of two straight. Although Stephens is coming into this fight on short notice, both fighters should be familiar with one another as they were previously scheduled to meet at UFC on FX 5 but the bout was cancelled due to Stephens’ legal issues.
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In terms of skillset, Edwards outclasses Stephens in every category. However, Stephens possesses powerful hands and Edwards has shown a susceptibility to getting caught and knocked out. Despite that, we trust that the wily veteran Edwards will push the pace and use his superior striking ability to pepper Stephens with combinations and use his speed to avoid Stephens’ strikes. Should the fight go to the ground, Edwards has a huge advantage and can pull out a possible submission victory.
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Washington Wizards +4.5FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Off a big upset win in Brooklyn last night, expect the Warriors to suffer a letdown here.
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It bodes well for us that Golden State has covered the spread in its last two games since it is on a 15-28 ATS slide after successfully covering the spread in two or more consecutive games. It has lost by an average score of 104.7 to 97.7 in this situation.
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It is also significant that the Warriors enter off back-to-back road wins considering they are on a 3-14 ATS skid in road games off two or more consecutive road wins. They have lost by an average score of 107.2 to 94.8 in this situation.
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In addition, the Warriors are a soft 2-5 ATS in their last seven games versus a team with a winning percentage below .400.
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Washington is playing much better basketball lately. It has won two of its last four games with one of those victories coming against the defending NBA champion Miami Heat.
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Lastly, the underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Take the points.
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Minnesota at USCFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Prediction: USCFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The simulator shows a high probability that USC will lose this game by 6 or fewer points. Given these projections, I like playing a combination bet using an 8* amount with the points and a 2* amount using the money line. Minnesota is coming off a 88-64 win and cover over South Dakota State and shot 57% from the field. For any CBB team, it is difficult to put together back-to-back elite shooting games. Minnesota has eclipsed the 50% shooting mark twice before and failed to cover in the next game. Minnesota is very gifted, especially on the offensive glass and rank first in the nation in that category. However, USC, despite being largely inconsistent so far this season, has the physicality to negate this Minneota talent and minimize second chance scoring opportunities. USC is not an elite offensive team, so you be assured the game plan is to rebound well on the defensive end and then look to fast break scoring opportunities in transition. I like USC in this matchup.
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St. Bonaventure -1FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Fifth year Ark St HC John Brady has carried with him a pair of very strong personality coaching profiles from his days at LSU. He is clearly a momentum coach. One of these finds his team to be 39-82 / SUATSL. There is plenty of negative momentum in the Red Wolf camp this year. They have failed to post their first win in the ATS column. That includes a pair of road losses to begin league play. Look for that negative momentum to carry over as they host a motivated St. Bonnie team. The Bonnie's well remember the 58-52 home upset loss as double digit favorite last season when they blew a double digit lead. Though St. Bonnie lost Best Boy Nicholson, 6th year HC Schmidt has plenty of depth and returning talent. At 5-2 SU, 4-2 ATS look for them to parlay their emotion from last year with the strong coaching of Schmidt to pull this mini-upset.
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Northern Iowa +3½ over GEORGE MASONFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The 6-3 Panthers have 12 of 13 players returning from last year's 20-win team. That continuity has helped get Northern Iowa off to a good start. A challenging early-season schedule has UNI well-prepped for its first true road game of the year.
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The Patriots went 24-9 a year ago, including 14-4 in-conference but the Colonial Conference is rather weak and not in the same class as the Missouri Valley, where the Panthers reside. The Patriots have played a cupcake schedule so far and have not looked sharp with a frontcourt that needs help and freshmen that are getting too many minutes. Better team getting points works for us.
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WAKE FOREST +142 over Seton HallFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Wake Forest is dangerous and heading in the right direction. It starts with the return of the conference's best scoring duo in senior guard C.J. Harris and junior forward Travis McKie. The addition of freshman Codi Miller-McIntyre is the crown jewel of a solid recruiting class, along with 6-6 freshman forward Arnaud William Adala Moto. Wake Forest could double its conference wins and vie for a winning record overall.
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Seton Hall couldn't finish what it started when it won 15 of its first 17 games last year, as its bubble burst in the back half of the year, with the Pirates not making the field of 68 for the NCAA Tournament. The team will be even less with the departure of Jordan Theodore and Herb Pope. The Pirates have played just one road game this year and lost by five at LSU and we don’t see much changing here. The Deacons are every bit as good as the Hall and certainly can win this one straight up.
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San Antonio Spurs at Charlotte BobcatsFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Play: Charlotte BobcatsFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The (16-4) San Antonio Spurs of the NBA Western Conference Southwest division will take on the (7-11) Charlotte Bobcats of the Eastern Conference Southeast division in 2012 NBA action. The Spurs beat Houston at home last night while Charlotte lost at Milwaukee. San Antonio has won the last 3 staright up in the series. The Spurs have covered 5 of their last 6 Against The Spread and Charlotte has dropped 3 of their last 4 ATS. San Antonio is getting up in age and they are not that great in back to back games. Charlotte gets the home cover.
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TCU at TulsaFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: TCUFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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TCU has not lost back-to-back games this season. After every loss they have come back strong and I expect the same here following their loss to Houston on Tuesday. That was a game TCU was supposed to win and I expect them to bring renewed energy into this game. This Horned Frogs team is all about slowing the game down and playing defense. On the season, they have held opponents to just 52.8 points pre game on 36.5% shooting. Tulsa will be a challenge as they are beating opponents by an average of 9 points per game. But, TCU has the defense to keep this game close as only two of their opponents have been able to manage more than 55 points against them this season. The Golden Hurricane are just 1-5 ATS in their last six games vs. teams at .600 or better. Take TCU with the points.
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GOLDEN STATE (-4.5) over WashingtonFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Golden State is playing the second of back-to-back road games, but we don’t mind that as much now that head coach Mark Jackson has changed the culture of this team. The former Pacer great has come in and transformed the Warriors into a down-and-dirty, defensive-minded team that crashes the boards, just the kind of match-up that will work against a fragile Wizards team. Washington ranks dead-last in the league in scoring, averaging just a shade above 90 points per game and won’t get any easy hoops tonight. Golden State has been true “road warriors” dating back to last season as they have gone 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games away from home, while Washington is a dismal 2-5 ATS at home in its last seven on this floor. Lay the short number.
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Marquette +1FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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In state rivals game, always a good one, and Wisconsin without one of their best players and leaders who was injured in practice Thursday with whiplash. Game time decision but could not practice on Friday. This game played at Bradley Center, I like Marquette in this one getting a point for a small upset.
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HOUSTON -5½ over DallasFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Mavericks are coming off a three-point win in Phoenix on Thursday but were once again sloppy. As anticipated, they caught a lethargic Suns team returning home from a six-game trip. Dallas has dropped four of six overall, they’ve lost seven of 10 road games and when they lose, they often lose big.
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The Rockets were schooled last night in San Antonio. The Rockets have a chance to quickly erase that memory with a strong performance here. Houston has won five of its last seven games with only two losses coming against the top two teams in the West, Spurs last night and Ok. City on November 28. The Rockets are an impressive 7-3 at home and they’re in the top five in the NBA in points and rebounds per game. The Mavericks poor defense allows Houston to get back on track here.
Chris Jordan
My free winner for Saturday is on the Idaho Vandals, who head down to El Paso, Texas to take on the UTEP Miners.
I haven't figured out whether or not I'm siding against UTEP, or with Idaho. But I can tell you I feel good about both my reasoning.
First of all, UTEP is 2-4 on the year, but comes into this one having been off since a Nov. 28 win over New Mexico State, 55-54. Though I know the Miners have played a tough schedule that includes a setback at Arizona and neutral-site losses to Oklahoma, Clemson and Vanderbilt, I'm not sure if the layoff helped. If UTEP would have come right back after facing teams like that and took on the Vandals, I could see the Miners being motivated. But too much time has expired, and they might play down to the level of competition, which would do them no good.
Especially after witnessing Idaho's wild comeback in an 81-79 overtime victory at Eastern Washington this past Thursday. The Vandals gave up a gut-wrenching 19-0 scoring run and trailed by 17 with 15:53 to play, but out of nowhere, stormed back with a 21-3 run of their own to re-take the lead and eventually end up in overtime.
The motivation is clearly with Idaho in this game, and even if the Miners win, it won't be by much, as this could come down to has the ball last. I'll take the road pup.
4♦ IDAHO
Jeff Benton
Your Saturday freebie comes in college basketball, as I ride the hot Explorers from La Salle as they visit Northeastern this evening.
Looks like Dr. John Giannini has a team on his hands this year, as La Salle just waxed Penn State by 25-points on Wednesday night to make it a 5-1 start to the new season for the Explorers.
Northeastern comes into this home game having lost three in a row after opening the season at 4-1. Doubt seriously the Huskies will be able to match points with the Explorers, as La Salle had six players nail three-pointers in a 16-for-31 performance from behind the arc. Conversely, the Huskies hit just three in their most recent loss to Massachusetts.
Last year La Salle laid a 68-51 beatdown on Northeastern in Philadelphia, look for another beatdown to be administered by the surging Explorers.
Lay it with the visiting Explorers.
4♦ LA SALLE
Chuck O'Brien
Indiana State (+2) at MOREHEAD STATE
My early free winner for you on Saturday is going to be on the Indiana State Sycamores, as they visit Morehead State, and should come away with the outright win.
Though Morehead State has more games under its belt this season, the Sycamores have the better showing thus far. Indy State is 4-2 on the year, while Morehead State is a disappointing 4-5. This, I'm assuming, is as good as any other year for Indiana State to exact triple-revenge over the Eagles, who have won each of their last three meetings against the Sycamores.
Indiana State has become a dangerous team defensively early on this season, as it leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 49th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing just 27.8 percent from long range this season. Additionally, Indiana State is averaging 11.3 turnovers per game, which is the 30th-fewest in D-I hoops, and third in the MVC. Defense and protection of the ball - two characteristics that work well in college hoops.
The Sycamores impressed me in taking nationally ranked New Mexico to overtime before losing, 77-68. The Sycamores rallied from a 14 point hole at the half and forced the issue against a very good Lobos team. The loss should motivate them for an Eagles team that struggled Wednesday at both ends of the court in a 69-57 home loss to North Dakota.
Sure, Indiana State can be wore down and won't be making any big headlines in the MVC this season, but tonight they'll be able to get to Morehead State, which has clearly took a step back last season, and it's still unclear whether it's going to rebound in time for this season. Take the road dog.
2♦ INDIANA STATE
South Alabama (+4') at UAB
My late free winner for Saturday is on South Alabama, and though I realize the Jaguars have a 0-8 record at UAB's home court and have lost 11 of the past 15 games against the Blazers, I think this is a good time to invest in change.
Let's be clear, the schools have only played five times since 1999, and yes, this will mark the fourth straight year they have met on the court. But if the Jags need any momentum, they can reach back to last season and steal some from the game they won in last year's clash, 55-47.
Personally I think they'll be motivated after suffering a difficult home loss to New Mexico State on Tuesday, as they return to the road where they have a 3-3 record this season. South Alabama has three straight home games after tonight: Dec. 16 vs. Texas-Corpus Christi, Dec. 22 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock and Dec. 29 vs. Arkansas State. So if there is one game the Jags have to be focused on before getting back to Mobile, it's this rivalry showdown.
Touching back on Tuesday, the Jags fell behind by as many as 17 points in the first half, but found a way to close the gap to two points in the second half; they just could never take the lead or get the win. They've been scrappy, I'll give them that, as they've won two of their last three on the wood and covered three for their last four at the window.
On the other hand, the Blazers are mired in a 1-4 ATS slide. I'll take a shot with the road underdog.
1♦ SOUTH ALABAMA
Scott Delaney
I'm on a 45-27-2 free-pick run, and my free winner for tonight is going to be on the Seton Hall Pirates, laying an awfully cheap number at Wake Forest. The Bucs are looking to improve to 7-2 on the year, while I see the Demon Deacons are just 4-4 on the year and not exactly thought of as a powerhouse this season.
Wake was picked to finish tied for 10th in the 12-team conference in the preseason coaches' poll, and from what I can tell, that seems to be about accurate.
I'm much more impressed by what I've seen out of the Pirates, who had four players score in double figures the team's last time out, lifting Seton Hall to a 68-59 win over the NJIT Highlanders.
While improving to 5-0 at home on the season, and 4-0 all-time against the Highlanders, the Pirates got strong performances from several key players, including Fuquan Edwin and Kyle Smyth, to keep a feisty NJIT at arms length. Edwin recorded his third career double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds to accompany a team-high 22 points in Seton Hall's win. Smyth, meanwhile, added 13 points while matching his season-high with four three-pointers.
Now they head to Tobacco country, and I don't mind the smoke, despite the Pirates not faring too well against current teams out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Especially when Wake has lost five of seven at the window against Big East teams.
Lay the road chalk here.
2♦ SETON HALL
My second free pick for you for Saturday night is going to be on the San Francisco Don catching points on the road in Stockton, California, as they visit the Pacific Tigers.
The Dons and Tigers renew their rivalry, as this will be the last time the teams will meet as non-conference foes. Pacific becomes the 10th member of the West Coast Conference next season, which will be an interesting blend in already competitively cramped league.
The Don come in after improving to 5-1 on the season after an 81-65 home victory over St. John's on Tuesday. San Fran has now won five straight after a season-opening loss to Stanford, and the streak matches the team's longest under coach Rex Walters.
Three players lead the team by averaging double-figures, including De'End Parker's 19.7 ppg average. After him are Cole Dickerson (13.3 ppg.) and Cody Doolino (12.2 ppg.).
Dickerson is a force to be reckoned with in the paing, as he's posted four double-doubles in six games this season, and comes in leading the nation in rebounding with 13.8 per game.
As a team, the Dons have outrebounded five of their first six opponents and are +9 (39.8-30.0) in rebounding margin. USF also leads the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 45.3 (42 of 95) and ranks third in the conference in three-pointers made per game at 7.2.
I like the road dog here, as I think the momentum San Fran is riding will serve it well.
1♦ SAN FRANCISCO
Fairway Jay
No. Iowa
Panthers expected to contend again in Missouri Valley and have 12 of 13 players returning from last year's 20-win team and very good continuity. Solid early season schedule and competition. At least equal of George Mason. Live ‘Dog from stronger conference.