DOC
3-Unit Play Take LA Clippers Over Toronto
The best think to happen for Clippers backers was their shellacking at the hands of the Bucks on Saturday. If they had been competitive or even won we think this line would be larger. We think that the main reason they struggled was that they were road weary and had played a physically and emotionally draining Double OT game against the Pacers the night before. Saturday’s game aside, this Clippers team is improving rapidly and the addition of Zach Randolph has been key to the resurgence. LA has won and covered in four of their last six overall. Toronto comes to LA having dropped five straight games and they have had lots of trouble scoring points, averaging only 89 PPG during that span
3 Unit Play. Take Chicago Bears over Green Bay Packers
The Packers are done and continue to get to much respect for this disappointing year. They have a terrible defense and an offense that does not make many big plays. The Bears still have a punchers chance of making the playoffs and cannot afford a slip-up in this contest @ Soldier Field. The Bears have had success against the Packers recently winning five of the last seven meetings. The Bears defense will shutdown Rogers and company as we collect in the process with both the side and the total. Chicago 20, Green Bay 13.
3 Unit Play. Take Under in Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
BEN BURNS
MONDAY NIGHT GAME OF YEAR
I'm taking the points with GREEN BAY. The favored Bears have a few things going for them here. For starters, they are playing at home and they're also playing with 'revenge,' as the Packers pounded them at Green Bay earlier in the season. Additionally, with Minnesota losing yesterday, the Bears are still very much alive in the hunt to win the NFC North. The Packers, who have admittedly struggled lately, technically have nothing to play. So, easy play on the Bears, right? Not in my opinion! The previously mentioned factors have kept the line above a field goal, which I feel is generous. While the Packers "technically" have nothing to play for, they're a much more talented team than their record indicates and I expect them to treat this game like their Super Bowl. For starters, the Bears are their arch-rival. Sweeping them in the season series and keeping them out of the playoffs would be something that the Packers could actually feel good about. Additionally, Green Bay has been under intense scrutiny by the media ever since the decision to replace Brett Favre with Aaron Rodgers. With Favre struggling in recent weeks, this is an opportune time (and the last time this season) for Rodgers to prove on National TV that the Packers made the right decision. I expect these factors to provide motivation for the entire team. It should also be noted that teams in the "spoiler" role often elevate their level of play at this time of year. Former Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren sure had his team ready for a "meaningless" game yesterday as the Seahawks won outright vs. the Jets. That was a home game for the Seahawks but road teams are also certainly more than capable of thriving as spoilers. Just look at Buffalo yesterday. The Bills went into Denver of a devastating loss and having lost three straight and six of seven. With technically nothing to play for, they delivered one of their best efforts in weeks and dealt Denver a massive blow. For all this season's struggles, the Packers are still a perfect 4-0 ATS against teams from within the division. They won three of those games outright and lost the other by a single point. Looking back further and we find them at a profitable 12-3 ATS their last 15 divisional games. While they were blown out here last season, the Packers are still an excellent 10-4 ATS (12-2 SU) their last 14 trips to Chicago. I expect them to build on those stats by playing their best game in recent weeks. *MNF GOY
I'm playing on ST. LOUIS. This is the semi-final game of the tournament with the winner advancing to the final. The fact that Depaul comes off a blowout win while St. Louis beat Liberty by only 3 (Depaul beat Liberty by only 1) has kept tonight's line in the pick'em range. That means a SU win also ensures a cover and I feel that provides us with excellent value with the Billikens. I also like the fact that the Billikens nearly blew their lead last game as feel that it will help keep them from being complacent here. Rick Majerus has done a major overhaul of this team and he's been getting solid production from his newcomers. Those "newcomers" have the benefit of playing with a pair of 4-year senior starters, guards Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell. Both of the longtime St. Louis stars are currently averaging better than 13 points per game. That being said, as usual, its been the Billikens' defense which is the strength of the team. While Depaul is allowing an average of 65.9 (68.7 on road) points per game, St. Louis is holding opponents to a mere 55 points per game. Note that Depaul is 0-3 SU/ATS its last three games against teams which allow 64 points or less per game, going an ugly 39-66 their last 105 against such teams. Both teams are 6-4 both neither has defeated a quality opponent yet. I feel that the Billikens veteran guards will give them the advantage though. The Blue Demons are a young team and they were held to a mere 36 points vs. Northwestern earlier. I expect them to have trouble scoring again this evening. Before closing, its also worth noting that Depaul is a money-burning 1-7 SU/ATS the last eight times that it played a neutral court game with a line ranging from pick'em to +3. *Personal Favorite
Eddie Mush
Take these teams
4* Blazers +1.5
4* Towson +9
6* Fresno St. +13
6* TCU -3
6* Packers +4
Adam Meyer
3* rockets
3*lakers over
3*cent florida
2*mapleleafs over 6
CHARLIE
500* Packers @ Bears Over 40
30* Packers +4
20* Southern Ill -8'
20* Marquette -2
10* Orlando -12
Nets +4 free play
Apeche
14* chicago
8* Under
8-3 L11 monday night sides
11-3-2 monday night totals TY
BEN BURNS
NBA
NETS
PORTLAND/DENVER UNDER
Alan Boston
USC
James Madison
Blade, I know you guys hate getting requests....but today looks like it's much slower than the weekends. Anything for Sports Unlimited, Maddux, or Wunderdog? Thanks Alot!
Seabass
50* GB
20* NJ Nets
20* Wake
20* NC St
30* Van Under 5.5
100* Steam Troy CBB
Blade, I know you guys hate getting requests....but today looks like it's much slower than the weekends. Anything for Sports Unlimited, Maddux, or Wunderdog? Thanks Alot!
Nope
Everything I run across I post
Thanks!
Indiancowboy
4 Unit Play.Take East Carolina Pirates +9 over Wake Forest. (Saturday @ 7pm est). This is our Underdog GOW.
Every day is an opportunity for us to cash and it's fun to make a statement on what the title and premise of each of our games is. After all, we only make one such play in both CBB and NBA so there is thought that goes into each and consequently, we call the a play with a particular theme. Such is the case here with our Underdog GOW which comes off the heels of Loyola Maryland Winning Outright at UC-Davis. Look, I love Underdogs and that is where I have made my mark and that includes the Titans over the Steelers Outright this weekend as we are on a 7-1 NFL Run. There is a lot that goes into this game from the fact that East Carolina is a very good team that is ranked in the top 100 that comes off a loss to NC State. Remember, East Carolina should have covered that game but failed to do so as they went ice cold on the road in the last several minutes. Well, they play another NC team today and that is in Wake and in particular, they play them in their house catching 9 points at that. Heck, this is a game that East Carolina can certainly win outright. Why can I make such a bold statement such as that? Well, keep in mind that East Carolina is ranked higher than Richmond. Wake beat Richmond on the road by 7 and Richmond is nowhere near talented as East Carolina is who has defeated the likes of top 70 VCU at home in overtime and lost to top 90 George Mason at home by 6 points. Remember, I faded Wake at Richmond at +8 with the Spiders as a home dog as a top 120 team. Why would I not take East Carolina at home +9 as the better team, as a home dog, coming off a loss to another ACC team just in their previous game? How about the fact that in both of East Carolina's losses they have come by margins of 6 at home to George Mason and 11 on the road to NC State. This is game once again that East Carolina can hang very tough at home as if Wake thought playing at the Richmond Spiders was tough, they will go into a house that is much tougher to play and with far more talent on the floor. Combine that with the fact that East Carolina comes off a tough loss to another ACC Rival in NC State on the road, I look for the Pirates to play very tough here today. East Carolina is 6-0 at home, Wake is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games and East Carolina is 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games against winning teams as they get up for the better teams at home and likely cover if not win straight up.
NBA (POD): 4 Unit Play. Take Over 197.5 Houston Rockets @ New Jersey Nets
We have several things working in our favor here. For starters, over 69% of the public are riding Houston here after their recent win at Minnesota as they covered the spread winning by 7 and the Nets home loss to the Heat. Keep in mind that the Nets were coming off a big win over the Mavs at home which was a big game for Devin Harris and company based on the recent trades these two teams just had. Of course, Devin Harris showed up and outshined kid by scoring 40+ points and having 13 assists in the process. As per this game, note that NJ comes off that tough loss and look to bounce-back here. The Nets have had no problem scoring points in particular when they have motivation coming off a previous loss. Also, when the Rockets get taken to the edge early and are in a competitive game, games go over. The last four of five have been such the case with the Rockets as for example the game against the Grizzlies in which they were an active dog went over, the game against the Twolves who for all intense purposes were an active dog at home went over, they were at GS where the game sailed over and of course, they were at Denver in an outright loss and that game too sailed over as the Nuggs were great competition that night. In that same spirit, the Nets will be great competitors tonight coming off such a loss. I'm not saying to bet against the Rockets here, but let's bet on the Nets to make this game competitive as the push this total over and I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see an outright win for the Nets, but more importantly, we expect to see an over. Remember, we want 25 points in each quarter per team as that is the magic number to keep pace for the 200 mark. The over is 4-0 for the Rockets when they are favored by this margin on the road and the over is 7-3 for the Nets following an ATS loss
NORTHCOAST
2* Chicago
Marquee - Over
Stephen Nover
Game of the Year
Some non-playoff teams are dead. You don't want to touch them. The Green Bay Packers aren't one of those clubs even though their record is 5-9.
No, the Packers aren't going to the playoffs. That's obviously a huge disappointment for a team that came within an overtime of reaching the Super Bowl last year.
But the Packers will play hard in this Monday night game against their long-time division rival the Chicago Bears. This is Green Bay's Super Bowl game.
The Packers aren't nearly as good as last season. Injuries, lack of veteran leadership and bad breaks have done them in. However, they aren't nearly as bad as their record may indicate.
Green Bay actually has outscored its opponents by 32 points. Opponents have gained just 14 more yards than the Packers and only two more first downs.
Green Bay has been in every game. The Packers beat Indianapolis and should have defeated Tennessee (losing in overtime) and Carolina. Green Bay's record is misleading because it has lost six games by four points or fewer.
The Packers destroyed the Bears, 37-3, when they met five weeks ago. The Bears are just mediocre.
Quarterback Kyle Orton hasn't been the same since injuring his right ankle. His quarterback rating was 90.8 before the injury. It is 63.4 in the five games since coming back. His mobility also has been hampered.
In addition, star rookie running back Matt Forte may be limited because of a toe injury.
The Bears will have trouble throwing on a tough Packers secondary featuring All-Pros Charles Woodson and Nick Collins. The flip side is the Bears won't be able to stop Green Bay's passing attack. They couldn't handle Green Bay's excellent receivers during the first meeting and nothing has changed.
The Packers certainly wouldn't be bothered by bad weather. In fact, bad weather is usually a plus for a 'dog getting more than a field goal. Green Bay loves to play at Solider Field.
The Packers are 12-2 in their last 14 visits to Chicago, including 10-4 against the spread.
This is a 10-star rating, my highest of the season. I'm playing this in mid-week while there are still a few plus 4 1/2's out. At plus 4, the Packers would hold a nine-star rating. The Packers are a great play at any price because I expect them to win straight-up.
I've made a huge play on Green Bay with the points and on the money-line.