Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAYS
CS FULLERTON -14.5 over Idaho State: The Titans have gotten off to a slow start this year at 3-5, but I feel they will turn it around tonight. Despite the slow start this is still is good Titans team that is picked to win the Big West, and they will be taking on a weak Idaho State team that is off to a 1-6 start and is picked for 9th in the Big Sky. Idaho State has lost just 2 of their games by 15 or more, but they were blown out at Oregon by 52 points in their last game. The Bengals are the worst scoring team in the nation at 49.7 ppg and they shoot just 37.5% from the field. That will make it very hard for them to keep up with a Titans squad that is 5th in the nation in scoring at 84.1 ppg. The Bengals defense has been solid this year (59.6 ppg allowed), but they are weak in defending the 3-ball (272nd) and thye Titans check in at 11th in the nation in shooting the 3 (41.5%). Even though the Titans defense is weak (305th in points allowed), I just don't see how the Bengals will come up with enough points to keep this one close. We Also note that the Titans are seeking revenge for a 5 point loss last year. This game has blowout written all over it.
KELSO
Middle Tennessee St at Belmont
Pick: Belmont
This game matches two outstanding basketball teams that both won 27 games last season and that took up this time around just as they had left off in 2011-12. Middle Tennessee will not be a pushover with four starters and 10 of its 12 leading scorers back from last year but Belmont has three things going for it—and they should produce the win and cover. First of all, the home court bias at the Curb Events Center is quite strong, and then there is the fact Belmont has four players averaging in double figures and they are supported by a deep bench. And then there is the fact the Bruins are traditionally one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country and come into this game ranked 3rd of 347 teams in that category in the NCAA rankings with an average of 9.8 per game. They also are ranked 5th in 3-point shooting percentage, hitting at a 43.6 average. It all appears just too much for Middle Tennessee to overcome.
Scott Delaney
I'm in the NBA for a freebie, and tonight I am going to side with the New York Knicks over the Los Angeles Lakers, as I think this slide the Lakers are on right now is going to continue to take a toll and the Eastern Conference-leading Knicks will be ready to pounce.
Tonight marks coach Mike D'Antoni's first game against the Knicks since his resignation in March, and I don't know how much is Lakers will be able to step up for him on the heels of a 100-94 loss at lowly Cleveland on Tuesday - the team's season high-tying third in a row.
The Lakers are still without Pau Gasol, who has missed the team's last five games with tendinitis in his knees and remains day-to-day, while point guard Steven Nash hasn't played since fracturing his left leg back on Oct. 31.
Now they take on a Knicks team that has won seven of eight and remain the league's only unbeaten home team, sporting an 8-0 mark at Madison Square Garden - a place Kobe Bryant has been known to light up during his career. Problem is, nothing is working for the Lakers no matter how well Bryant is playing.
My money is on the Knicks absolutely punctuating how bad things are going for the Lakers right now, as New York wins this by double digits.
5♦ N.Y. KNICKS
Jeff Benton
Your Thursday freebie is the Bobcats plus the points at Atlanta.
Both teams on court last night, and while Charlotte did lose their game, they did at least cover the contest versus the Clippers.
Atlanta picked up both the win and the cover on the road at Orlando, but at home the linemakers have made things tough on the Hawks, as Atlanta is only 2-7-1 versus the number at the Philips Arena this season.
True, the Hawks have won the last six series meetings, including the first pair this season, but Charlotte was able to cover in a 3-point loss in Atlanta at the end of November.
The Bobcats losing streak has hit nine in a row straight up, and #10 seems likely, but with the Hawks just 2-7-1 ATS at home, and a bigger Saturday home game versus the red-hot Warriors up next on Saturday, I see plenty of wiggle room for Charlotte to get inside of this number.
Roll with Charlotte.
2♦ CHARLOTTE
Chris Jordan
My free winner for tonight, on the heels of two straight comp winners the past two nights with Duquesne and Ohio State, is out of the NBA, as I lay the chalk with the surging Atlanta Hawks. They've already taken care of the Charlotte Bobcats twice this season, and should have no problem with a third-straight win against them.
Charlotte has lost nine in a row, while the Hawks have won 10 of 12 and boast one of the best records in the Eastern Conference. And now the two collide, and I think that's a problem for a Charlotte team that is allowing more than 108 points per game during its losing streak.
Even worse, the Bobcats' growing turnover problem will fall prey to the Hawks' knack for the transition game - they rank third in the NBA at points-off-turnovers at 19.5 per game - so this could get out of hand very quickly.
While the Hawks have won six straight overall against the Bobcats, and 10 of the last 11 meetings in Atlanta, they're also in on ATS runs of 4-1 against Southeast teams while the favorite in this series has covered six of the last seven meetings.
3♦ ATLANTA
Matt Rivers
3 straight comp play winners with the Hawks covering last night.
Tonight's free play is the Knicks over the struggling Lakers.
Yeah, well aware that Kobe likes to play at the Garden, but in reality it is the rest of the Lakers I am worried about. Nash and Gasol are still sidelined, and the fact of the matter is Los Angeles is just 2-7 straight up on the road and are off that ugly road loss in Cleveland on Tuesday night.
The Knicks will be eager to show the Lakers that this season's record is no fluke, and with a perfect 8-0 straight up mark at the Garden, and a money-turning 7-1 against the spread mark on their home floor, I see no reason to go against the Knickerbockers at this particular time.
Los Angeles is a flawed team, and even if Kobe nets 50 points tonight, the "team" concept New York is playing right now, coupled with the sell-out crowd at the Garden will carry the Knicks to a 9-0 mark at home, and an 8-1 against the spread mark on their hardwood.
Lay it with New York, as the Lakers absorb another setback.
3♦ NEW YORK
HARRY BONDI
CINCINNATI (-5) over Philadelphia
Much has been made of Philly rookie QB Nick Foles' breakout game last week when he threw for 338 yards in a come-from-behind win over Tampa Bay. But that was against a Bucs defense that is on pace to give up the most passing yards in NFL history. Tonight Foles goes up against a hard-charging Bengals pass rush and is still missing his best two weapons (Lesean McCoy, DeSean Jackson) and is operating behind a patchwork offensive line. Remember, the Eagles managed just 29 yards rushing last week and that simply won't get it done tonight. The Bengals have been at their best in recent history when facing losing teams and get another win and cover here against an Eagles team that is 3-9 ATS this season, including 0-5 at home. Lay the points.
SPORTS WAGERS
Wichita State -106 over TENNESSEE
The Vols come in with a 4-3 record with wins over Kennesaw, UNC Ashville, UMass and Oakland. The three games they’ve played against better quality, Tennessee is 0-3. Against Georgetown and Virginia, the Vols scored 36 and 38 points respectively. Their defense is adequate but the offense cannot keep pace with teams that can score.
The Shockers are 9-0. They already have wins over Iowa and DePaul and both were by double digits. Wichita ranks 45th in the nation with a .470 shooting percentage and their talent doesn’t end there. Wichita State also plays outstanding defense, they rebound well and any flaws they may possess have not been exposed yet. The Vols are just not ready to take on a team of this caliber.