Wayne Root
Chairman- Wizards
Millionaire- Texas A&M
Mike Neri
Late Service
3* Orlando -13
3* Cleveland -11
3* Boston -8
Executive
300 Milwaukee
Indiancowboy
Take Over 213.5 Los Angeles Lakers @ Washington Wizards (POD)
I think this game's total might have been the biggest move off-shore as it relates to the total. It took a striking jump up as Washington might be expected to be competitive as they come off a big win against the Nets on the road. They return home to face a Laker team that just put up 114 at Philly. I have a rule never to bet against the Lakers but I think the total is worth a look here. The bottom line here is that the Wizards have new coaching and they are beginning to respond. This team just went on the road to beat a New Jersey team that had come off defeating the Suns on the road, the Jazz on the road and the Kings in overtime. Folks, that shows a lot of prowess - a lot. Thus, they play a Lakers team at home and I believe they get up for this game as Caron Butler faces his old squad and win or lose, cover or no cover ATS wise, there are plenty of incentives to score a lot of points and to score if oten. Besides, I think Washington likely covers this game and is an active dog, but more importantly, I think this game goes over. The Lakers have goen over the last 5 games and the over is 10-4 between these two teams out of the last 14 games, not to mention the over is 21-5 fro the Wiz when facign the NBA Pacific.
Take L.A. Clippers -1 over Memphis Grizzlies
Let me tell you something, the Clippers are good. I made a mistake by going against them when they faced Dallas and you saw what Dallas did to Phoenix the other night. The Clippers with the addition of Zach Randolph are a very dynamic team. This would explain why they lost by just 1 point to the Nuggets at home, or why they beat the Heat at home, or why they should have beat the Mavs outright on the road or even why they were so competitive against the Rockets. This team is solid with Thornton, Davis and Randolph and when Kaman comes back this team will be even more dynamic. If the Grizzlies can't even beat the OKC Thunder at home, than how are they going to beat a Clippers team that is playing solid basketbal and is rejuvinated with the re-emergence of Zach Randolph. I will gladly take the Clippers in this game as they have far more veteran play with Davis and Randolph to get it done as comared with the young guns of the Grizzlies who still have yet to develop fully.
Take Indiana Pacers +11 over the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is romping teams and NY felt the grunt of that most recently. Interestingly enough this total has actually dropped a point since its opening, and Cleveland beat this team by 4 earlier this year on the road. Indiana of course does have revenge coming into this game and note that Cleveland comes off a huge high thumping NY so the public could be googling over this team but Indiana was actually competitive against Boston before falling apart - but they did beat the Lakers at home which shows that they are a very capable team and is typically a good bounce-back team. I think the Pacers are in a good bounce-back spot here today and hang tough. The bottom line is I like the Pacers on a bounce-back, with revenge as this year's Pacers are 4-0 ATS coming off a loss of 10 points or more.
Take Fairfield -14 over St. Peter's
It is always key to take a look at which team is opening at home and Fairifeld plays their home opener today. This team has high expectations coming off a big win over Holy Cross on the road, they beat American and Chattanooga comfortably on neutral footing. Yes, this team was blown out by Virginia Tech and Missouri, but that was expected. Keep in mind that St. Peter is 1- 4ATS overall while Fairfield blows out the teams thaey are supposed to as they are 5-0 ATS when playing teams with a losing record. This tream kicks off things in a big way at home as they had nearly five players in double-digits in their last game at home against Holy Cross and had a total of 13 plays who saw action. This is a deep time that I think will have a great showing at home against St. Peter who will undoubtedly get a bit tired from seeing fresh legs through the course of the entire game.
BEN BURNS
I'm laying the points with TEXAS A&M. The betting public will see a big name team like Arizona getting points and will be quick to back the underdog here. However, the Aggies are favored for good reason. Texas A&M is no longer a doormat in the Big 12. The Aggies' success has resulted in three consecutive NCAA Tournament bids. Last year, Mark Turgeon took over from Billy Gillespie and still got his team to second round of the NCAA Tournament where they lost by just two points vs. UCLA. This year's teams brings back leading scorer Josh Carter as well as forward Bryan Davis They've got some solid returning veterans like Chinemelu Elonu, Derrick Roland and Donald Sloan. Sloan, Davis and Carter are all currently averaging 12 or more points per game. Additionally, they've got a pair of exciting newcomers in forward David Loubeau and speedy point guard Dashan Harris. Like their guests, the Aggies are 5-1 on the season. They've been dominant at home, outscoring the opposition by a 77.7 to 59.5 margin. While Turgeon is in his second year, the Wildcats are still adjusting to Russ Pennell, who took over as their interim head coach when Lute Olson announced his retirement on Oct. 23. The Wildcats do have a couple of stars but aren't as talented as some of Olsen's teams of the past. They also lack overall depth and I expect that to be an issue this evening. The Aggies have payback on their minds as they were defeated by Arizona last season, in Turgeon's first year, despite having a double-digit first half lead. That game was at Tuscon though and Arizona star Jerryd Bayless was the difference with 26 points. Bayless isn't around anymore (drafted by Pacers) and tonight's game is in Texas. Look for the revenge-minded Aggies, who are 14-5-1 ATS the last 20 times they were favored by four points or less, to rise to the occasion with a huge effort. *Main Event
I'm taking the points with WASHINGTON. I feel that this line is too high. We know that the Lakers have been playing very well. However, the Wizards have also been playing much better of late, since Ed Tapscott took over as head coach. They've won just one of their past three games. However, the two losses came by just six and four points. Including their pointspread victories in each of their last two games, the Wizards are now a profitable 21-8-2 ATS (21-10) their last 31 games played in December. They've played nine home games this season and only one of those games resulted in a loss of greater than 12 points, a 15-point setback vs. Orlando. The Wizards have also played the Lakers tough in recent years. In fact, Washington has won four of the last nine series meetings and only one of its five losses during that stretch came by more than a dozen points. It's also worth mentioning that the Wizards are a perfect 4-0 ATS the last four times that they were listed as home underdogs in the +9.5 to +12 range. The Lakers are already 0-2 ATS (1-1 SU) on the season when playing a road game with an over/under line of 210 or greater and I look for the Wizards to give them a much tougher game than expected here. *Annihilator
Steam On-Line Guaranteed Selections
HUGE NBA LATE STEAM PLAY OF THE DAY
Washington +12
Jeff Benton
20 Dime Ball St
10 Dime Houston Rockets
JB Sports
3* Raptors
2* Nets
2* Knicks
JEFFERSONSPORTS
NCAA HOOPS
ARIZONA+3.5
NBA
GOLDEN ST+8.5
TORONTO UNDER 206
LAKERS OVER 213
Tom Freese
10* Fairfield
SPORTS UNLIMITED
3* NJ NETS
Dr Guru
NCAAB
8* Manhattan -5
8* Arizona +3.5
NCAAF
6* Ball St -14.5
NBA
4* Utah -5
4* Charlotte +4.5
2* Thunder +13
Billy Coleman
4* Oklahoma City OVER
4* Detroit UNDER
3* Oklahoma City
3* Indiana
3* Boston
2* Edmonton (NHL)
Special K
15* Oklahoma City + 13
Chris James Sports
Oklahoma City at Orlando Magic
3* Orlando Magic -13
Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies
2* Memphis Grizzlies +1.5
Charlotte Bobcats at Milwuakee Bucks
2* Charlotte Bobcats +4
Buffalo at Ball State
2* Ball State -15.5