SPORTS ADVISORS
Dallas (24-18, 18-24 ATS) at Detroit (24-17, 18-23 ATS)
The Pistons will try to make it three in a row when they welcome the Mavericks to the Palace at Auburn Hills for this inter-conference showdown.
Dallas is in the midst of a four-game East Coast road trip, having split the first two contests, winning in Philadelphia on Monday 95-93 and cashing as a 3½-point underdog, and then getting blown out 133-99 in Milwaukee on Wednesday as a one-point chalk. The Bucks shot 48-of-83 (57.8 percent) from the field and outrebounded the Mavs 46-33.
Detroit has won two straight (2-0 ATS) after a five-game SU and ATS losing streak. The Pistons beat Memphis 87-79 on Monday as four-point road favorites, then scored a 95-76 home victory over the Raptors on Wednesday as a 5½-point chalk. Detroit is 13-7 at home this season but just 7-13 ATS.
These teams have split the season series in each of the last five years, with the home team winning both matchups last season. Dallas prevailed 102-86 as a two-point home favorite and Detroit returned the favor a month later with a 90-67 victory as a 5½-point home chalk. The Pistons have gotten the cash in four of the last five meetings and seven of the last 10.
The Mavs are on negative ATS runs of 6-21-1 against the Central Division, 3-7 overall and 2-6 when getting one day off, but they are on positive pointspread streaks of 8-2 as road ‘dogs and 35-17 as a ‘dog of less than five points. Detroit has covered the number in six of its last seven against Southwest Division teams but otherwise it’s on ATS slides of 4-9 at home, 5-12 as a favorite and 4-10 against Western Conference teams.
For Dallas, the over is 17-8 in the last 25 games they’ve been a ‘dog, but otherwise the under is on streaks for the Mavs of 6-2 on the road, 10-3 after a non-cover, 44-21-1 after one day off and 4-0 against teams with a winning record. The Pistons are on “under” stretches of 23-8-1 overall, 5-1-1 at home, 4-1 as a home favorite, 17-5-1 against Southwest Division foes, 5-0-1 against the Western Conference and 4-0 on a day of rest. Also, the under is on a 4-0 run in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Milwaukee (21-24, 27-16-2 ATS) at Atlanta (25-16, 22-19 ATS)
The Hawks will try to make it three in a row over the Bucks when the two teams square off inside Philips Arena in Atlanta.
Milwaukee comes into this one off Wednesday’s 133-99 victory over the Mavericks, easily getting the cash as a one-point home ‘dog. The Bucks are 15-9-2 ATS on the highway despite failing to cover in each of their last two roadies, including Monday’s 102-85 loss in Portland as 6½-point ‘dogs and a 101-92 loss to the Clippers as three-point favorites last week.
Atlanta has put together back-to-back wins, beating the Raptors 87-84 Monday but failing to cover as a 7½-point home favorite, then upsetting Chicago 105-102 as a 4½-point road pup Tuesday. The Hawks are 16-4 SU at home this season, but just 9-11 ATS.
The Hawks won their November matchup with the Bucks 102-96, but came up just short as 7½-point home favorites. Atlanta has won the last four series meetings in Georgia (3-1 ATS) and held Milwaukee to 96 points or less in three of the four. In fact, the home team has won each of the last seven meetings (5-1-1 ATS).
The Bucks are on a plethora of positive ATS streaks, including 17-8 against the Eastern Conference, 6-2-1 as a ‘dog, 9-2 against the Southeast Division, 4-1 on Fridays and 5-1 on the road against teams with a winning home mark. Atlanta is 5-0 ATS in its last five against Central Division teams, but the Hawks are on negative ATS slides of 3-7 overall, 0-4 at home, 1-5 against the Eastern Conference and 1-6 as a favorite.
Milwaukee is riding “over” streaks of 9-2 overall, 5-0 after a straight-up win, 4-1 as a ‘dog, 6-2 after getting a day off and 4-0 after a spread-cover. For the Hawks, the over is on runs of 9-4 overall, 5-1 at home, 4-1 against the Eastern Conference, 7-1-1 against the Central Division and 6-1 following a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Brad Diamond Sports
Play on: Oklahoma City over LA Clippers
Last time these two set up for action the Clippers crushed the Thunder 108-88, so OK City visits the coast in triple revenge against this tormenting foe. OK is 7-0 ATS on Friday, 9-1 ATS with one day off and 6-1 ATS in this price range. The road team has covered 8 of 11 in the series with LAC a miserable 10-26 ATS L36 at home. Absolutely, love HC Larry Brown in these type settings.
James Patrick
Nets vs. Spurs
New Jersey travels to San Antonio to take on the Spurs and the result has been ATS losses in 16 of 18 of their past match-ups. Our Friday selection in NBA action is San Antonio Spurs.
DAVE COKIN
CANISIUS / MARIST
Take MARIST
Marist doesn't have a very attractive overall ledger, but I'm seeing some positive signs with the Red Foxes. Redshirt senior Ryan Schneider has been a force all year and point guard David Devezin has been a steady contributor. But the emergence of freshman guard RJ Hall is what's raising eyebrows right now. Hall exploded for 31 last time out and his ability to nail the trey will not allow opposing teams to focus all their attention on Schneider. Canisius is a bad team, and they are missing the inside presence of injured Chris Gadley, who has now missed five straight games. It looks to me like Marist may be a bit undervalued right now, and I like their chances of winning comfortably tonight. Give the points.
JIM FEIST
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER / LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Take Over
One thing you won't see this game is defense. Oklahoma City allows 102.8 ppg, 6th most in the NBA, while the Clippers allow 100 ppg, 19th overall. Oklahoma City has little frontcourt muscle and allows 47.2% shooting by opponents, 26th in the league. The Clippers are 9-2 over the total the last 11 games, while Oklahoma City has allowed 104 and 121 points the last two games. With both teams going nowhere, more interest will be on the offensive end then any tough defense. Look for a run-and-gun shootout, play the Thunder/Clippers over the total.
Sports Gambling Hotline
Phoenix at CHARLOTTE +3
A win tonight by the Bobcats would even their home record this year at 13-13 straight up. It could happen, as Charlotte has won 4 of their last 5 straight up at home, and have covered in ALL 5 of those games.
The Bobcats have also covered 5 in a row, and 7 of their last 8 overall, and we will side with them plus the points against a Phoenix team that has been a real money-burner to their backers this year.
The Suns are on an 0-6-1 against the spread slide, and if you back it up a little further, Terry Porter's team is just 2-10-1 against the spread their last 13 games overall.
On the road this season, Phoenix has failed 12 of 20 games, while at home Charlotte is a solid 14-11 against the spread.
Larry Brown has revamped the lineup, and the Bobcats are also playing some solid defense as well. That combination, plus the fact the 'Cats have covered 2 of the last 3 meetings against the Suns, has us grabbing the home underdog tonight.
Play on Charlotte.
4♦ CHARLOTTE
Bobby Maxwell
Dallas at DETROIT -4
Detroit seems to have settled some of the problems they had the last few weeks and they've won two in a row as they get ready to host Dallas in this one tonight. The Mavs come in to this one after getting crushed in Milwaukee. We will lay the points with the home team as the Pistons win this one by 10.
Dallas is on a four-game road trip against Eastern Conference teams and they've split the first two games, edging the Sixers 95-93 on Monday and then getting destroyed by the Bucks 133-99 on Wednesday as a one-point favorite.
The Mavs couldn't do anything right against Milwaukee, allowing the Bucks to go 48-of-83 from the field and getting outrebounded 46-33.
Detroit has won and covered in its last two games, beating the Grizzlies on Monday and then blowing out the Raptors 95-76 at home as 5 1/2-point favorites. The Pistons couldn't stop anybody the last few weeks, but it looks like their defense has come around and they are putting the clamps down on teams now.
Detroit dominated the Mavs in the Motor City last year, scoring a 90-67 win as a 5 1/2-point favorite. The Pistons have cashed in four of the last five meetings with the Mavs and seven of the last 10. The Mavericks are just 6-21-1 ATS against the Central Division while Detroit has gotten the cash in six of its last seven against the Southwest Division.
Play the Pistons to cover the number in front of the home fans tonight.
4♦ DETROIT
Karl Garrett
Houston at INDIANA
Yes, the Pacers last pair of games have both stayed UNDER, but their long term OVER run stands at 16-5 their last 21 games overall.
For the season, Indiana has sailed OVER the posted price in 14 of their 18 home games to date.
On the flip side, Houston has gone OVER in 15 of their 23 on the road this year, and they do come to the Conseco Field House having played HIGH in 2 in a row, and 3 of their last 4 games.
This will be the first meeting this season between the teams, and 2 of the last 3 played last season also landed UP.
Hard to ignore such glaring OVER trends, so the G-Man won't, as this Rockets-Pacers game makes its way OVER the posted price.
Gotta go HIGH tonight in Indy boys!
3♦ OVER
Jeff Benton
Cleveland at GOLDEN STATE +6'
Finally got back on track with the freebies Thursday, although we needed overtime for Providence to get the job done at Seton Hall. For Friday’s free play in the NBA, we’ll take the Warriors plus the points against Cleveland.
This is strictly a value/situational play. You’ve got Golden State coming off Wednesday’s one-point home loss to the Thunder as a 5½-point favorite (ending a two-game SU and ATS winning streak), while that same night the Cavs were in Portland gutting out a 104-98 victory over the Blazers. So those two results indicate right off the bat that this line is inflated a bit.
As for the situation, you’ve got the Cavaliers playing their third road game since Monday (they lost 105-88 at the Lakers in the opener before the hard-fought win at Portland), and after tonight, they fly to Salt Lake (think: altitude) for a game against the Jazz tomorrow night. Meanwhile Golden State is playing Game #6 of a seven-game homestand, and while Cleveland will be at Utah tomorrow, the Warriors will have Saturday off.
True, the Cavaliers blew out Golden State way back on Nov. 28, rolling to a 112-97 win as an 11½-point home chalk. However, the Warriors won the previous meeting 105-96, also in Cleveland. And check out the scores of the recent matchups on Golden State’s home court: 108-104 Cleveland last year; 106-104 Cleveland in overtime in 2007; and 99-79 Golden State as a two-point underdog in 2006.
In this one, I look for the high-scoring Warriors to dictate tempo with their usual fast-paced play – a style I don’t think the Cavs want to play tonight, not with the Utah game on deck. And even if Cleveland does get up by double digits in the fourth quarter, I fully expect LeBron and other key starters to ride the pine and rest up for Saturday’s contest against the Jazz. Throw in the fact that the Warriors are 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games, 4-1 ATS in their last five as an underdog and 5-0 ATS in their last five against the Eastern Conference, and I’ll take a shot with the home underdog getting some generous points.
4♦ GOLDEN STATE
Bob Harvey
Brown vs. Yale
Play: Yale -5
Yale looks to sweep the season series from Brown for the first time in 11 years when the two Ivy League foes square off. The Bulldogs have won four straight and a victory will give them a fifth straight win and a 2-0 start in league play.Alex Zampier, who leads Yale in scoring with 14 points per game was named the Ivy League Player of the Week. He scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the second half last Friday as the Bulldogs rallied from an early 11-point deficit to defeat Brown 70-62 in Providence. Defensively, the Bulldogs held Brown to just 38 percent shooting from the floor. The Bears made only three three-pointers, nearly four below their average, and attempted only 10, nearly nine below average.Yale is 5-1 ATS in their last six outings while the Bears are on a 0-6 ATS run. How does that commercial go, “What Can Brown Do For You”? My thought is shoot 38% again as Yale wins by eight.
Chip Chirimbes
Phoenix Suns vs. Charlotte Bobcats
Play: Charlotte Bobcats +3.5
Still the NBA's lowest scoring team at 91.5 points per game, Charlotte is averaging three points more than that over its last 17 contests.While the Bobcats' offense continues to improve, defense could be the key to beating Phoenix, which is averaging 118 points all-time versus Charlotte. Phoenix is 10-7 since the trade, and is tied with Dallas for the final playoff spot in the West, but lost 114-109 at New York on Wednesday. Suns are 7-12 agaisnt the points on the road while the Cats are 14-11. Take CHARLOTTE!
Marc Lawrence
Brown at Yale
Play: Brown
This Ivy League tussle is a right-back rematch from last Friday night when Yale beat Brown, 70-62 as 3-point road dogs. The Bruins take the floor knowing they are 7-1 ATS on this court and 6-0 ATS off a SU and ATS loss in this series. In addition, Brown is 7-1 SU and ATS with same season revenge against the Eli. With that look for the Bruins to get their revenge here tonight.
Jimmy The Moose
Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors
Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 38-15 ATS in their last 53 games overall. In their last 36 games as a favorite the Cavaliers are 27-9 ATS. Cleveland is 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a Western Conference opponent. The Cavaliers are 14=4 ATS in their last 18 vs. a team with a SU losing record. The Warriors are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a SU winning record. The Warriors are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning record. In the last 5 meetings between the team's the Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS. Play on the Cleveland Cavaliers -.
Big Al Mcmordie
New Jersey Nets at San Antonio Spurs
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs
At 8:35 pm, our complimentary selection is on the San Antonio Spurs minus the points over New Jersey. Immediately after getting blown out in Philadelphia, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich called out his team, and publicly said the Spurs "suck on [defense]." Since that game, the 4-time Champs have turned up their intensity on the defensive end, and have held their opponents to an average of 84 ppg on 39% field goal shooting and, more importantly, won all three games. Now, San Antonio plays its last home game before embarking on a 3-game road trek, and an overall stretch of 11 road games out of 12. New Jersey has dropped five straight to the spread, and has lost its last four games by an average of 17 ppg. And the Nets have dropped 11 in a row to the Spurs, including six at the AT&T Center. Lay the points with San Antone.
DUNKEL
Houston at Indiana
The Pacers are coming off a blowout loss at San Antonio (99-81), but are 7-1 ATS following a loss by 10 or more points. The Pacers are the underdog pick (+1 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has Indiana favored straight up by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+1 1/2).
Game 851-852: Phoenix at Charlotte
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 118.596; Charlotte 118.416
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 197
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 3 1/2; 199
Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (+3 1/2); Under
Game 853-854: Dallas at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 114.843; Detroit 120.611
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 6; 176 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit by 4; 182
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-4); Under
Game 855-856: Houston at Indiana
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 118.044; Indiana 119.129
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 1; 215
Vegas Line & Total: Houston by 1 1/2; 211
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+1 1/2); Over
Game 857-858: Milwaukee at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee 113.332; Atlanta 120.756
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 7 1/2; 205
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 4; 202
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-4); Over
Game 859-860: Memphis at New York
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 109.281; New York 119.443
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 10; 200
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 6; 202 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New York (-6); Under
Game 861-862: New Orleans at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 119.341; Minnesota 121.455
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 2; 189
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 2; 195
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+2); Under
Game 863-864: New Jersey at San Antonio
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 112.558; San Antonio 123.473
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 11; 193 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 865-866: Toronto at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 114.766; Chicago 118.925
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 4; 191
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 867-868: Cleveland at Golden State
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 123.182; Golden State 117.327
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 6; 223
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 7 1/2; 215
Dunkel Pick: Golden State (+7 1/2); Over
Game 869-870: Oklahoma City at LA Clippers
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 117.237; LA Clippers 111.104
Dunkel Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 6; 190
Vegas Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 2; 194 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (-2); Under
NCAAB
San Francisco at Santa Clara
The Dons (8-11 SU) come in 0-4 ATS in conference play and face a Santa Clara team that is 2-0 ATS against teams with a losing record. The Broncos are the pick (-8 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has Santa Clara favored by 11. Dunkel Pick: Santa Clara (-8 1/2).
Game 871-872: Brown at Yale
Dunkel Ratings: Brown 45.878; Yale 52.424
Dunkel Line: Yale by 6 1/2
Vegas Line: Yale by 5
Dunkel Pick: Yale (-5)
Game 873-874: Cleveland State at Youngstown State
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland State 60.954; Youngstown State 55.442
Dunkel Line: Cleveland State by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Cleveland State by 10
Dunkel Pick: Youngstown State (+10)
Game 875-876: San Francisco at Santa Clara
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 46.083; Santa Clara 57.239
Dunkel Line: Santa Clara by 11
Vegas Line: Santa Clara by 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Santa Clara (-8 1/2)
Game 877-878: Canisius at Marist
Dunkel Ratings: Canisius 47.949; Marist 52.002
Dunkel Line: Marist by 4
Vegas Line: Marist by 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Canisius (+6 1/2)
Game 879-880: Rider at Fairfield
Dunkel Ratings: Rider 52.607; Fairfield 55.032
Dunkel Line: Fairfield by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Fairfield by 7
Dunkel Pick: Rider (+7)