Mark Franco
Chiefs +4.5
The Patriots have not been playing good Football to end the season and with Tom Brady’s offensive line not up to par in this game the Chiefs will get pressure on him most of the day. Kansas City has one of the best pass-rushes in the league with Justin Houston and Tamba Hali on the outside. Chiefs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games. Patriots are 0-4-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. I’ll back the Chiefs plus the points in a close game.
Cardinals -7
The Cardinals just crushed the Packers a few weeks ago at home and are simply the better team on both sides of the Football. Behind quarterback Carson Palmer, the Cardinals feature the league's top-ranked offense and finished second in the league in scoring with an average of 30.6 points. I look for Carson Palmer to outplay Aaron Rogers at the QB spot and for the Cards to have the better running game. Packers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games on grass. Cardinals are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a ATS loss. I’m laying the points with Arizona.
James Patrick Sports
Chiefs vs. Patriots
Play: Over
The Kansas City Chiefs vie for their (12th) straight win when they face the host Patriots on Saturday in a divisional-round clash. Kansas City turned in another dominant performance last week. The Chiefs have forced a turnover in (12) straight games and recorded two or more takeaways in nine of the last ten contests. They enter this match-up on an eleven game winning streak. But this is a match-up of two of the hottest teams in the NFL that will kick off the AFC Playoff action on Saturday. Skeptics might question whether KC QB Alex Smith is elite based on his production and reputation as a conservative game manager, but there's no disputing his ability to win games as an opportunistic playmaker for the Chiefs. The (11th)-year pro has guided the team to (30) wins in three seasons as the starter, displaying outstanding management skills as the director of HC Andy Reid's quick-rhythm offense. Smith is an ideal point man for the scheme due to his high football IQ and athleticism. Smith is a deadly accurate intermediate passer with a terrific feel for the game. Patriots QB Tom Brady threw for (4,770) yards this season. Brady will likely have Julian Edelman (broken bone in foot) back in the lineup for the first time since Nov. 15. The shifty wideout helped the offense average (418.6) yards and (33.6) points during the team's (9-0) start to the season. New England won its previous two playoff games against teams riding double-digit winning streaks, besting Pittsburgh in 2004 and San Diego two years later. The Over is (39-19) in Patriots last (58) home games, (10-4) in Patriots last (14) games in January and (5-0-1) in Patriots last (6) Saturday games.
Robert Ferringo
Wake Forest (-2.5) over Syracuse
Here is a situation where we might as well just keep pounding against Syracuse. The Orange are off the rails and it is a confluence of factors working against them. But first and foremost is the fact that they just aren't any good. This is the least talented Syracuse team of the last six or seven years, and they just don't have many options. Wake Forest has revenge for a game up in The Dome last year that they should've won, instead falling 86-83 in overtime in a game they should've won. The Orange are a horrific 5-23 ATS in their last 28 ACC games and they are just 17-35 ATS in their last 52 games overall. Wake Forest is a legit tournament-caliber team that doesn't have a bad loss on its resume. But they still need to pick up some quality wins. And with games against UNC, Miami and Virginia on deck this is a game the Demon Deacons absolutely have to have. As long as the spread is below 3.5 this is an easy take for me.
Strike Point Sports
North Carolina (-15.5) over N.C. State
The Tar Heels welcome local neighbors N.C. State, but this ACC rivalry game will be all Carolina Blue. The Wolfpack have started 0-2 in league play away from home, and the Dean Dome isn't the type of place where you reverse your poor road form. Carolina is starting to hit a groove and really become a consistent and dangerous team night in and night out. N.C. State has a seven-man rotation, and that lack of depth is going to be a problem against this deep and skilled UNC team. North Carolina rolls past its counterpart this afternoon.
John Ryan
Seton Hall at Providence
Prediction: Seton Hall
SIM algorithm shows a high probability that Seton hall will lose this game by fewer than 6 points and has a great shot at winning the game. Given this favorable projection I always like making these DOGS combination wagers comprised of a majority of money placed with the line and a smaller amount placed on the money line. For this play consider making a 7.5* play using the line and a 2.5* play using the money line. Supporting this graded play is a proven system posting a 55-26 ATS mark good for 68% winners since 2010. Play against any team (PROVIDENCE) after going under the total by more than 30 points in their previous game, a top-level team winning >=80% of their games and now playing a team with a winning record. The following game situations match the SIM projections and my compiled research for the outcome of this game. The Hall is a solid 42-19 ATS (+21.1 Units) in road games when they make 64% to 71% of their free throws in a game; 57-36 ATS (+17.4 Units) in road games when they force 10 to 13 turnovers in a game. Friars are a very weak 7-30 ATS (-26.0 Units) after a combined score of 115 points or less.
Jim Feist
Packers at Cardinals
Play: Over 50
Green Bay has the best QB in the NFL in Aaron Rodgers (31 TDs, 8 INTs), off a terrific game at Washington as the offense erupted for 32 points. Now they head to Arizona, playing indoors, which will help the Green Bay air attack. But the Packer defense faces a dynamite and rested Arizona offense that is tops in the NFL in total yards (408.3 per game) and second in points (30.6 ppg). This has all the makings of an offensive show.
Dr. Bob
Opinion – KANSAS (-21½) over TCU
Kansas is coming off a loss at West Virginia but the Jayhawks are 26-11 ATS after a loss the last 8 seasons, including a 19 point win over UCLA following their only previous loss this season. TCU has been getting smashed on the road, losing by 25 at Washington, by 21 at Oklahoma State, and by 28 at Baylor, and none of those teams are as good as the Jayhawks are. Kansas is winning by an average of 25.9 points at home against teams with an average rating slightly higher than that of TCU and my ratings favor Kansas by 24 points. I’ll lean with the Jayhawks based on their team trend and some line value and I’d take Kansas in a 1-Star Best Bet at -21 points or less.
Opinion - Central Michigan (+1) over BUFFALO
Central Michigan struggled early in the season but the Chippewas are better with senior PG Chris Fowler the last 9 games (he missed the first 7 games). My ratings favor the Chippewas by 1 point and I’ll lean with CMU at +1 or more and I’d take Central Michigan in a 1-Star Best Bet at +2 points or more.
Wunderdog
Texas A&M @ Georgia
Pick: Texas A&M -145
Texas A&M is off to a 4-0 start in SEC play, has a winning road record and is on a seven-game winning streak. The Aggies are clutch at crunch time, too, having won their past three contests by a combined eight points. Alex Caruso leads the SEC in steals per game (2.4) and is fifth in assists (5.2), helping the Aggies lead the conference in assists (ninth nationally) at 18.9. Texas A&M is 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 road games. The Aggies have two of the top 12 scorers in the SEC in Jones (sixth at 17.6) and guard Danuel House (#12 at 16.1). Georgia is 2-2 in the SEC and shaky at crunch time, with three of the Bulldogs' five losses having come by two for fewer points. Play Texas A&M on the moneyline.
Harry Bondi
BOWLING GREEN +8.5 over Eastern Michigan
Way too many points to be giving a Bowling Green team that can light up the scoreboard. The Falcons shoot over 38 percent from three-point land and hit 64% from beyond the arc during a come-from-behind win over Ohio on Tuesday night as a 10-point dog. Bowling Green has covered seven of its last 10 games and is 15-5 ATS in its last 20 road games. The favorite is also just 3-10 ATS in the last 13 meetings between the two teams. Eastern Michigan is also very talented on the offensive end, but with plenty of points being scored, we'll gladly take the 8.5 head start.
Stephen Nover
Pistons +7.5
As good as Golden State is, Detroit is no slouch on its home floor going 13-6. The Pistons had won four straight in Detroit until falling 109-99 to San Antonio on Tuesday. They are 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 home contests.
The Pistons are eager to prove themselves against the other Western Conference powerhouse, Golden State. The Pistons' strength is a physical frontcourt that ranks sixth in points in the paint. The Warriors, on the other hand, rank 28th in scoring inside. The Pistons lost by 10 to the Spurs despite their starting forwards, Marcus Morris and Ersan Ilyasova, having sub-standard games.
Golden State has a marquee road matchup on deck against the Cavaliers on Monday followed by another road contest on Wednesday against the Bulls. Those are strong look-ahead matchups. The Warriors are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six games versus Eastern Conference foes.
Brad Wilton
Some will point to the fact it is hard to beat a team twice - and badly at that! - in such a short span, and this Saturday night's Green Bay-Arizona rematch (38-8 in favor of the Cardinals on Week Sixteen) qualifies as a quick turnaround for these 2 teams.
They will point out that the Seattle-Minnesota rematch was a nailbiter last week in Minny, but let's remember that last week's rematch between the Seahawks and the Vikings was played in sub-zero temps! The cold was a total neutralizer. That is not the case tonight, and the fact the Packers tuned up Washington last week and are still a touchdown or so underdog tells me the linesmakers sure think Arizona is up for another romp.
The Cards were unfortunate last year in the playoffs, as they lost Carson Palmer and were forced to go with Ryan Lindley, and they still almost were able to topple Carolina. This year all hands are on deck for the Redbirds, and I like them to fly over the visiting Packers.
Not ready to say "buy" with Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay just yet, as Washington hailed from the worst division in the NFC, and had not beaten a winning team this year. The Packers offensive line is still riddled with injuries, and not much has changed since the Arizona defense harassed Rodgers and the Pack in that 38-8 romp back on December 27th.
It may not be 38-8 this time around, but I feel sure it is still a double-digit win and cover for the host Cardinals tonight.
2* ARIZONA
Jeff Benton
Your Saturday freebie is the Chiefs plus the points.
Going to ride the rolling KC Chiefs plus the points to stay inside of the number in their divisional playoff meeting in Foxborough against the New England Patriots.
I know KC has some injuries on the offensive end (Ware and Maclin), but I think the Chiefs defense is going to keep them in this contest and give them a real chance at springing the outright upset.
During their current 11 game winning streak, Kansas City has allowed just 11.6 points per game, and they are fresh off forcing 5 turnovers in their blanking of the Houston Texans last Saturday that puts KC at +18 in the turnover department for the year, and that is no joke.
New England is trying to get themselves back to health, but in so doing they have scored just 30 points in their last 2 games - both losses. In fact, the Patriots are on a 2-4 straight up dip, and a 2-5-1 against the spread slide their final 8 games of the season.
Can't read too much into past history between these teams, but the Kansas City defense was rather imposing in the September 2014 meeting against the Patriots in a 41-14 home win in a game they made Tom Brady look real bad in
Points work today at Gillette Stadium.
KC the call.
3* KANSAS CITY
JACK JONES
Atlanta Hawks -11
The Atlanta Hawks are in desperate need of a win tonight. They have lost two straight and four of their last six games overall, so they certainly won't be taking the lowly Brooklyn Nets lightly tonight.
Look for the Hawks to get back on track in blowout fashion tonight against a Nets team that is playing as poorly as anyone in the NBA right now. Indeed, the Nets are 1-6 SU & 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall with losses by 9, 17, 6, 14, 27 and 12 points.
The Hawks are 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS in their last four meetings with the Nets with all three victories coming by double-digits. Atlanta is 41-21 ATS when the total is 200 to 209.5 points over the last two seasons. The Hawks are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS loss. The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
DAVE PRICE
Arizona State -6.5
The Arizona State Sun Devils are undervalued after opening 1-3 in conference play. They started 0-3, but that's understandable considering they played Arizona at home, and USC and UCLA on the road. They didn't lose any of those games by more than 12 points, so they were competitive. They got back on track with an 84-73 home win over Washington State Thursday, and I look for them to pick up another win and cover Saturday at home against another poor Pac-12 team in Washington. The Huskies were just blown out by 32 points at Arizona on Thursday, which was a sign of their true colors. The Huskies are 0-7 ATS off a road loss over the last two seasons. Washington is 0-11 ATS after playing a road game over the last two years. ASU is 7-0 ATS in home games ofter a combined score of 155 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
ZACK CIMINI
St Bonaventure -1½
There probably isn't a team in the country playing above their heads more so than the Bonnies. They've landed strong victories on the road over UMass and recently defeated Davidson as home under dogs. I don't care what conference you're in continued comeback victories eventually comes to a halt. With that being said I believe the Bonnies can dig deep late in the second half against a Duquense team to ride another strong finish.