SPORTS ADVISORS
Jacksonville (4-7, 3-8 ATS) at Houston (4-7 SU and ATS)
The Jaguars visit Reliant Stadium in Houston to take on the Texans as both teams resume disappointing seasons.
Jacksonville has lost four of its last five games, including a 30-12 home loss to the Vikings last week as a one-point favorite. The Jags had five turnovers against the Vikings and allowed four sacks in their fourth straight home setback. On the bright side, Jack Del Rio’s team has been solid on the road lately, going 3-1 SU and ATS in its last four.
Houston snapped a three-game losing streak with a 16-6 road win in Cleveland last Sunday, cashing as a three-point road pup. Backup QB Sage Rosenfels threw for 275 yards and a TD but was picked twice in the second half to run his total to eight in his four starts for injured QB Matt Schaub.
The Texans have gone 4-1 SU and ATS the last five times the Jags have come calling in Houston, including a 42-28 win in 2007 as seven-point favorites. Earlier this season, the Jaguars got a 30-27 OT win but failed to cash as 6½-point favorites. The ‘dog is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings between these two, and Houston has gotten the cash in four of the last five overall. Finally, the SU winner is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 series battles.
Tonight marks Houston’s first-ever appearance in the Monday night spotlight, while the Jags are 7-4 SU (6-5 ATS) on Mondays in their franchise history.
Jacksonville is on ATS slides of 1-10 on grass, 1-5 against AFC competition and 1-4 against AFC South rivals, but they are on positive pointspread streaks of 4-1 in December and 11-1 in Week 13 games. Houston is 1-4 ATS at home this year, but the Texans are 5-2 ATS in their last seven December contests.
Both teams have been flying over the total lately, with the Jags on high-scoring runs of 15-5-3 overall, 9-2-2 on the road, 11-5-2 on grass, 13-3 in December and 8-2-2 after a non-cover. Meanwhile, Houston is on over stretches of 13-3 overall (9-2 this year), 5-1 at home (4-1 this year), 20-6 against AFC South rivals, 10-2 in December and 8-2 on grass.
Finally, the over is 11-2 on Monday nights this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
NBA
Orlando (13-4, 9-7-1 ATS) at Boston (16-2, 9-9 ATS)
The Celtics will try to run their winning streak to nine when they welcome the Magic to TD Banknorth Garden for a matchup between two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference.
Boston has picked right up where it left off after winning the NBA title last season and currently is riding an eight-game winning streak (5-3 ATS). The latest victory came Saturday, an 89-84 triumph at Charlotte, but the Celtics to cover as 8½-point road favorites, their second non-cover in their last three games.
Orlando arrives in Boston on a four-game overall (3-1 ATS) and a six-game road winning streak (4-1-1 ATS). The Magic beat Indiana 110-96 on Saturday as 7½-point favorites in Orlando, getting a huge game from superstar Dwight Howard (32 points, 21 rebounds). The Magic turn up the defensive heat on the road, limiting the opposition to 92.1 points a game, 41.1 percent shooting and just 26.5 percent from beyond the three-point line.
The home team has won six straight (5-1 ATS) in this rivalry and nine of the last 10 (8-2 ATS), including all three meetings last season. Boston holds an 11-2 ATS advantage against the Magic in Beantown, as the host is a whopping 20-6 ATS in the last 26 clashes.
Orlando is 0-4 ATS in its last four Monday games, but otherwise is on ATS streaks of 4-1-1 against the Eastern Conference, 5-0 against the Atlantic Division and 5-2 after getting a day off. Doc Rivers’ Celtics are on ATS slides of 2-5 at home, 2-5 against the Southeast Division and 0-4 on Mondays, but they are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after a day off.
For the Magic, the under is on runs of 21-8 against the Eastern Conference, 21-7 after a spread-cover, 17-5 on the road and 25-10 after a straight-up win. For Boston, the over is 5-2 in its last seven against Southeast Division foes, but the under is 20-7 in its last 27 Monday games. Finally, in this series, the over is 6-2 in the last eight matchups in Boston.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(19) Wisconsin (5-1, 2-3 ATS) at Virginia Tech (4-2, 2-2 ATS)
Wisconsin heads to Blacksburg, Va., to take on the Hokies in a Big Ten-ACC matchup in Monday’s marquee college hoops contest.
Wisconsin has won five of six to open the season, with the only loss coming a week ago to second-ranked Connecticut 76-57 in the Virgin Islands, failing to cover as a 5½-point ‘dog. The Badgers rebounded from that loss to beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee 67-46 on Saturday, cashing as 17½-point home favorites.
Virginia Tech dropped back-to-back games in Puerto Rico last weekend, falling to Xavier 63-62 in overtime on a desperation half-court three-pointer at the buzzer on Nov. 21, covering as a two-point ‘dog, and then losing two days later to Seton Hall, 77-73 as a five-point chalk. The Hokies returned home on Wednesday and took their frustrations out on Elon College 76-67, but came nowhere near cashing as 19½-point favorites.
The Badgers are on ATS streaks of 11-5 overall, 4-1 on the road, 5-1 against ACC competition, 10-4 after a straight-up win and 5-2 on Mondays. The Hokies are 0-4 ATS in their last four against Big Ten foes, but otherwise are on ATS streaks of 11-3 overall, 7-2 at home, 8-1 after a straight-up win and 4-1 on Mondays.
For Wisconsin, the under is on streaks of 10-4-1 overall, 8-3-1 in non-conference games, 19-7 after a spread-cover and 9-3-1 after a straight-up win. But the over is on a plethora of streaks for the Hokies, including 4-1 overall, 4-1 at home, 4-1 in non-conference games and 5-2 after a non-cover. Also, the over is 4-0 in the Badgers’ last four against ACC foes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Dave Cokin
Kent State @ Kansas
Play: Kent State +12
Tough week for the Golden Flashes as they lost two close games to Illinois and Texas A&M. The loss to Illinois was one they should have won as they led nearly the entire game before falling in overtime, and that probably left them drained for the game with the Aggies the next day. The number for this game has been adjusted for those two defeats and now Kent State is catching doubles from the talented but very youthful Jayhawks. I think it's closer than that, so Kent State is the choice.
Jimmy The Moose
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics
Prediction: Boston Celtics
The Magic have been very good on the road this season so far posting a 6-1 SU record but they struggle when visiting Boston. In their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 the Magic are 2-7-1 ATS. Boston is 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning record. In their last 10 games played with 1 day rest between action the Celtics are 7-3 ATS. The home team is 20-6 ATS in the last 26 meetings between the team's. The Magic are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 trips to Boston. Play on the Boston Celtics -.
John Ryan
Toronto Maple Leafs at Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Los Angeles Kings
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on LA Kings - Supporting this graded play is a strong system that has produced a record of 39-21 making 21.6 units since 2002. Play against any team against the money line off a home win by 2 goals or more, a bad team sporting a win percentage of just 30% to 40% playing a team with a losing record. Toronto is in a poor role noting they are 32-48 against the money line (-24.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons. Take the Kings.
MTi Sports
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics
Prediction: Under
The Magic are 0-5 OU (-14.2 ppg) on the road after a win in which Rashard Lewis shot better than 50% from the arc and 0-6 OU (-10.4 ppg) on the road after a win in which Dwight Howard played more than 40 minutes. The Celtics are 0-7 OU (-15.4 ppg) after a win in which Ray Allen had more turnovers than assists and 0-6 OU (-15.6 ppg) at home after two wins in which Rajon Rondo scored fewer than 10 points in each. Consider the Magic and Celtics UNDER.
Brian Hansen
Toronto Maple Leafs at Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Over
Toronto has been playing decently lately, and is in fact coming off a 4-2 victory at home over Philadelphia. And look out, the Kings are on a roll as well as they are 10-9-3 overall this season and are coming off a convincing 5-2 victory over the Blackhawks! These teams are playing at a very high offensive level right now; the sharp money is on the OVER!
Mike Anthony
Wisconsin vs. Virginia Tech
Play: Virginia Tech -2.5
VTech has the athletes to compete here and playing at home I like their chances to knock off the National ranked Wisky Badgers. Virginia Tech by 7-13 points Monday Night.
Jim Feist
Miami Heat / Golden State Warriors
Take Over
A pair of uptempo young offenses meet here. Miami is a long way from home playing their 4th straight road contest. They haven't been playing much defense of late, on a 4-1-1 run over the total, plus a 7-3-1 over run. Teams are pounding the offensive glass on a Miami team that is very short up front. They take on a Golden State team that is 4th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 103.4 ppg. The run and gun Warriors of Don Nelson are on a 10-3 run over the total. Look for plenty of easy buckets and points, play the Heat/Warriors over the total.
Norm Hitzges
Double Play
Houston -3 vs Jacksonville
Single Play
Houston/Jacksonville Over 48.5
Sports Gambling Hotline
Orlando +8' at BOSTON
Orlando has won their last 4, while Boston has won 8 straight.
The Celtics may very well take this one straight up, as they are 9-1 on their home floor this year, but Boston is just 4-6 against the spread in their 10 home games, and Orlando has been one of the better road teams in the NBA early this year sporting a 6-1 straight up mark, and a 4-2-1 spread mark on the highway.
Orlando has also been one of the teams in the league that has been able to go toe-to-toe with Boston lately, as the Magic have won 5 of the last 7 series meetings both straight up, and against the spread.
Play on Orlando plus the points.
2♦ ORLANDO
Karl Garrett
CS Northridge at DREXEL -2'
Tonight in college basketball the G-Man will lay the points with the Drexel Dragons as they take on Cal State Northridge in the City of Brotherly Love.
Drexel is playing just their third game of the year, and the last time they played was back on the 22nd of November when they were blown out at Georgetown.
Expect the Dragons to be itching to go, as they are well-rested, and will take on a Matador team that is playing their fifth straight road game, and they have yet to win one away from home as they enter play tonight.
Rider just beat Cal State Northridge by double-digits, and I expect Drexel to win this one by double-digits as well.
Take Drexel minus the points.
2♦ DREXEL
Bobby Maxwell
Wisconsin at VIRGINIA TECH -2
The Hokies have looked good this season with the exception of a couple games in Puerto Rico last weekend. We think they've got enough offense to overcome the Wisconsin defense in this matchup tonight between Big Ten and ACC squads.
Virginia Tech lost to Xavier in Puerto Rico in that unbelievable overtime game when Xavier hit a three-pointer from half-court to win 63-62 at the buzzer. The Hokies got the cash as two-point underdogs in the game but the amazing shot left them devastated and they lost to Seton Hall two days later 77-73 in Puerto Rico.
They came home to beat Elon College on Wednesday and the Hokies are on ATS streaks of 11-3 overall, 7-2 at home and 8-1 after a straight-up win.
Wisconsin lost to UConn a little more than a week ago in the Virgin Islands as a 5 1/2-point 'dog, falling 76-57 and then came home to beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee 67-46 on Saturday as a 17 1/2-point favorite. The defense has been there, as always with this team, but they're coming into hostile territory for the first time this season tonight.
Lay the small chalk and play the Hokies tonight. They have enough offense to get the job done in this one.
3♦ VIRGINIA TECH
Matt Rivers
For Monday let's take the over on the gridiron.
Fairly slim pickings today leads me to this total between Jacksonville and Houston and when push comes to shove I can see some points leading me to believe that the over is the way to go.
The Jacksonville defense is not what it used to be and when you have two 4-7 teams going at it you can expect a turnover or two leading directly to some poiints, You obviously cannot bank on points that way per say but both teams have been sloppy with the ball this season, more so Sage Rosenfels and the Texans and in what should be fairly decent conditions in Houston these teams should be able to move the ball.
Steve Slaton has been a Godsend for Houston and Andre Johnson is as good as they come and Jacksonville always can run the ball pretty well with Drew and Taylor so there are weapons in the house for sure.
Jacksonville has had a rough season there is no denying that as the defense has not produced close to like it had the past few seasons and should not do a 180 today.
Sportsbettingstats
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
The Texans come into this game after beating the Browns 16-6 while the Jaguars lost to the Vikings 30-12. Sometimes the guys who make the Monday night schedule cannot look into the future and see that two teams will be major disappointments when they make the schedule to begin the season. That is exactly what happened, as a couple of 4-7 teams play in front of a national audience, oh the ratings bonanza. Even though these teams are both 3 games are under .500 there is a long shot that one team will make the playoffs, but they have to go on a 5 game win streak and get some help, yeah, could happen. The Jaguars are led by QB David Garrard (2461 yds 9 TD 8 INT) and his main targets are Matt Jones (54 rec 623 yds 2 TD) and RB Maurice Jones-Drew (40 rec 393 yds). The Jags rushing attack is led by Maurice Jones-Drew (503 yds 11 TD). The Texans are led by QB Sage Rosenfels (1231 yds 5 TD 9 INT) and his main targets are Andre Johnson (81 rec 1071 yds 3 TD) and Kevin Walter (47 rec 667 yds 2 TD). The Texans rushing attack is led by Steve Slaton (774 yds 6 TD).
Staff Pick: After both teams finished strong last season many predicted that they would be battling it out for a playoff spot, but that has not happened this season. The Jags have been plagued by turnovers this season, but even though tonight's game in is Houston that may be a good thing, as the Jags are 3-2 on the road this year but only 1-5 at home. The Jags rank 14th in the league on D while the Texans rank 20th. One of the main reasons that these teams are having trouble is inconsistency. Both teams have impressive wins, but they cannot put a few good games together in a row. Houston does not have a great secondary, so Garrard may have some success tonight passing the ball. For the Texans to be successful they have to contain Maurice Jones-Drew, who can run the ball and pick up big yards receiving out of the backfield. The Jags have to contain Andre Johnson, who is 3rd in the league in receiving yards. Now that Ahman Green is on injured reserve rookie Steve Slanton will get the bulk of the carries for Houston and he will have to pick up some yards so the Jags secondary does not only focus on stopping the pass. This game is the first Monday night game in the Texans' history and they will come out firing and score a lot of points and win this game.
Texans 38 Jags 31
Vegas Experts
Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors
The Heat are 10-0 Over when playing their 3rd road game in four days. As they rapidly approach the end of this five-game road swing, tired legs will become an issue. Bad news against a Warriors team that is rested and known for running. They are also a perfect 7-0 Over at home this season. In their last four games, they have allowed: 124, 119, 112 and 138 points. They themselves have scored 100+ in all but four games this season.
Play on: Over