Scott Delaney
Home opener for the Nuggets (-10') tonight who look to break into the winning column after an 0-3 start by hosting another 0-3 team, the Pistons, who just got clobbered over the weekend by the Lakers, losing 108-79 in LA.
The Pistons have allowed 101.7 points on average in the season's first three games. When you're facing the team that led the league in scoring last year in its home debut, that's not a good thing.
A big number for sure, but when you consider Detroit is around a 20 percent play as a double-digit dog on the road the past couple of seasons, it's not that big of a number after all. And the Nuggets are going for their fourth straight home win in the series and No. 5 in a row overall.
1♦ DENVER
Jeff Benton
Monday freebie was the New York Knicks, now 28-18 with my free plays.
Tuesday's freebie is the underdog Toronto Raptors as they play at Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are just 1-2 to start the new season, and something tells me that the chemistry they enjoyed last year knowing James Harden was coming off the bench is going to take a while to readjust to now that Harden is wearing a Houston uniform.
Toronto is fresh off their first win of the season, as they held Minnesota to just 86-points in a win at home over the weekend. Look for the Raptors to be close tonight, as they have made good with the points in two of the last three series meetings, and three of the last five overall against the spread.
OKC does have a look ahead game at Chicago on TNT this Thursday night to distract them, so with just enough wiggle-room for Toronto to play with, take the points at the Thunder continue to break slow from the gate as they get used to life without Harden in the first month of the long campaign.
Raptors plus the points the call.
2♦ TORONTO
Matt Rivers
Let's get down to it and start the new week with this easy winner from Toledo.
44-34 comp play run coming into Tuesday.
Tonight's comp play winner is the Over in Ball State-Toledo,
If it is offense you are looking for, you will not be disappointed in tonight's MAC meeting at the Glass Bowl.
Ball State has allowed more than 30 points in five of their nine games this season, while scoring at least 30 points or better in seven of nine games this year. If they come close to those averages tonight, you can expect a game in the 70's combined.
As for Toledo, the Rockets have been held in the 20's scoring-wise in their last pair of games, but with 34 points or more scored in five of their previous six, I would say there is a strong chance Toledo rings up a score in the high 30's once again tonight.
Each of the last three series meetings have played Over the total, with the schools combining for 73 points in last year's showdown.
Offense is the special of the night tonight.
Points to add up, and the Over to come through.
3♦ BALL STATE-TOLEDO OVER