Wild Bill
5 Units Carolina
Norm Hitzges
Double Play Carolina
Chris Rizzo
Carolina
SPORTS INSIGHTS
Tampa Bay Bucs vs. Carolina Panthers
Our offshore contacts circled this game because "sharp money" on Carolina is causing the line to increase slightly. The line opened at Carolina -3 -104 at Pinnacle. Even though the majority of bets is taking TB Bucs, the line has actually moved in the other direction. It's actually now MORE expensive (-3 -115) to bet on Carolina even with the majority of the Public betting on TB.
We'll join the "smart money" as usual -- and grab the -3 now -- in case the "big money" drives the line up to -3.5. This should be a great game -- and we'll take Carolina at home in what should be -- a great game.
Carolina -3
SPORTS ADVISORS
Tampa Bay (9-3, 7-5 ATS) at Carolina (9-3, 6-4-2 ATS)
Sole possession of first place in the NFC South is on the line tonight when the Buccaneers visit Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte to face the Panthers.
Tampa Bay is a four-game winning streak (2-2 ATS), including last weekend’s 23-20 home win over the Saints, just missing as a 3½-point favorite. QB Jeff Garcia has been the catalyst for the Bucs’ offense, completing 67.2 percent of his throws with eight TDs and three INTs. Garcia has never lost to the Panthers, going 5-0 with 1,178 yards, nine TDs and three INTs.
Carolina has won five of its last six (3-3 ATS) and return home after two straight road games – a 45-28 loss in Atlanta back on Nov. 23 as a one-point ‘dog, and last week’s 35-31 come-from-behind victory at Green Bay as a three-point underdog at Lambeau Field. RB DeAngelo Williams rushed for four scores against the Packers and he leads the Panthers with 955 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
These division rivals have alternated wins and losses in the last four meetings with each squad getting a home and road win. Back on Oct. 12, Tampa scored a 27-3 victory at home as a one-point chalk with the Bucs’ defense dominating with three interceptions and outrushing Carolina 142-40, limiting Williams to 27 yards on 11 carries.
Carolina has won seven of the last 10 meetings in this rivalry (6-4 ATS), and the Panthers are 5-2 ATS in the last seven clashes at home. Finally, the underdog is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 series meeting and the straight-up winner is 9-1 ATS since 2003.
Tampa Bay is 8-8 SU and 9-7 ATS on Monday nights (2-5 SU and ATS on the road), while Carolina is 14-9 SU (14-8-1 ATS) under the Monday night spotlight (10-5 SU, 10-4-1 ATS at home).
The Bucs are just 1-4 ATS in their last five on the road against teams with a winning home record, but otherwise they are on pointspread streaks of 5-2 against teams with a winning record and 7-3 against NFC South rivals. The Panthers are on ATS slides of 1-4 after a straight-up win and 1-4 in Week 14 games, but they are on positive spread streaks of 6-2-1 at home, 9-3-1 on grass and 6-1 in December.
Tampa Bay has topped the total in eight of its last 10 road games, but otherwise the Bucs are on “under” streaks of 6-2 overall, 6-2 on Monday nights, 5-1 against NFC foes and 5-0 against teams with a winning record. Carolina has gone over the posted number four of its last five overall, in four straight against the NFC and eight of 11 December games, but the Panthers are on “under” runs of 10-3 at home, 7-2 against NFC South rivals and 9-4 after a straight-up win.
Finally, the over is 11-3 in Monday night contests this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CAROLINA
NBA
Orlando (15-5, 10-9-1 ATS) at L.A. Clippers (4-16, 8-12 ATS)
The Magic begin a five-game road trip with a stop in Los Angeles for a matchup with the lowly Clippers inside the Staples Center.
Orlando has won six of its last seven overall (4-3 ATS), including Friday’s 98-89 home win over Oklahoma City, but failed to cover as 13-point favorites. Dwight Howard (21 points, 23 rebounds) got his 16th career 20-point, 20-rebound game. The Magic, who are 15-3 SU since starting the season with consecutive losses, have been tough on the highway, going 6-2 (4-3-1 ATS).
Los Angeles returns home after a four-game road trip that saw them go 1-3 SU, but 3-1 ATS. The lone win came Saturday in Minnesota, when the Clippers rolled 107-84 as one-point ‘dogs. Marcus Camby had his third straight double-double with 12 points and 19 rebounds to go with seven blocks against the T’Wolves.
Orlando has won three straight in this series (2-0-1 ATS), sweeping the two matchups last season. The Magic prevailed 113-106 in Los Angeles as four-point favorites, then scored a 110-88 home win as a 15-point chalk. The favorite is 7-0-1 ATS in the last eight clashes, while the Clippers are 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings in Los Angeles.
Orlando is on positive ATS streaks of 7-3 against Pacific Division teams, 37-15-1 following an ATS loss, 4-1-1 when playing on two days of rest and 4-0 on the road against teams with a losing home record. Los Angeles is 5-1 ATS in its last six overall, but otherwise the Clippers are mired in pointspread funks of 6-20 at home, 8-24 following an spread-cover, 3-8 against the Eastern Conference, 7-19 on Mondays and 7-21 following a straight-up win.
For the Magic, the over is 4-1 in their last five Monday games and 5-2 in their last seven against Western Conference teams, but they have stayed under in four of their last five road games and 26 of their last 37 contests following a straight-up win. For Los Angeles, the over is 5-2 in its last seven at home, 19-7 in its last 26 against Southeast Division teams and 4-1 in its last five against the Eastern Conference. Also, three of the last four Magic-Clippers clashes at Staples Center have topped the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ORLANDO
JIM FEIST
ORLANDO MAGIC / LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
TAKE OVER
The Clippers have plenty of offensive players, but defense remains a concern. They defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 107-84, Saturday as Baron Davis had 27 points, including four three-point baskets and nine assists. Zach Randolph had 21 points and nine rebounds. The Clippers are on a 5-2-1 run over the total. Orlando is 10th in the NBA in scoring and just got PG Jameer Nelson back. This shapes up as an offensive shootout; play the Magic/Clippers over the total.
DAVE COKIN
ORLANDO MAGIC / LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Take ORLANDO MAGIC
Since opening the season with a pair of losses, Orlando has been on a major roll. The Magic have been playing at an exceptional level in winning 15 of their last 18, and they should keep that good roll going tonight as they take on the lowly Clippers. LA is off a four game road trip that ended well on Saturday when they thumped the T-Wolves by a bunch, but I don't see this one going anywhere near that well for them. I'll stay with the hot hand and back the Magic minus a very reasonable number.
Big Al McMordie
Hawaii at Illinois
This will be the Rainbows' first true road game, after starting the 2008-09 campaign with five straight at home. Hawaii won three of those five games, but covered just one, and the Rainbows are a dismal 10-22 ATS their last 32 lined contests, and are 7-23-1 ATS their last 31 lined contests vs. non-conference foes. Hawaii coach Bob Nash has just one starter back from last year's team which went 11-19, so this could be a long year for Hawaii. Look for an Illini rout tonight. Lay the points.
Play on: Illinois
VEGAS EXPERTS
Orlando Magic at LA Clippers
The Magic have long been one of the better road teams in the NBA and have covered 14 of their previous 18 away tilts with Western Conference foes. The Clippers have long been one of the league's worst franchises and are off to a sad 4-16 start, putting them in last place in the terrible Pacific Division. Because they are coming off a rare win, we get line value going against the home team here, who is off a four-game road trip and is at Portland on 12/12 in the next.
Play on: Orlando
Tom Freese
Orlando at La Clippers
Orlando is 37-15-1 ATS off an ATS loss and they are 8-2 ATS vs. a team with a home winning percentage. The Magic are 7-3 ATS vs. the Pacific Division and they are 4-1-1 ATS with two days of rest. Los Angeles is 6-20 ATS their last 26 home games and they are 8-24 ATS off an ATS win. The Clippers are 7-17 ATS when playing with one day of rest and they are 7-19 ATS on Monday. PLAY ON ORLANDO -
Jimmy The Moose
Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues
Prediction: Nashville Predators
The Predators come into this one having won 3 straight and 4 of their last 5 while the Blues have lost 4 of their last 6 games. Nashville has won 6 of their last 7 road games. In their last 31 road games vs. a team with a losing home record the Predators are 21-10. St. Louis has lost 5 of their last 7 home games. In their last 13 games hosting the Predators the Blues are 3-9. Nashville is 20-6 in the last 26 meetings overall between the clubs. Play on the Nashville Predators -.
Brian Hansen
New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs
Prediction: Toronto Maple Leafs
With first-year coaches and the lack of any star players, New York (10-14-2) and Toronto (9-12-6) both figured to struggle to make the playoffs this season. Nearly one-third of the way into the season, the Islanders are 13th in the Eastern Conference while the Maple Leafs are 12th; I expect the home team to take care of business tonight though. Look for the Isles to fall to 1-6 after 3 or more consecutive overs; play on TORONTO!
Mike Anthony
Hawaii vs. Illinois
Play:Illinois -23.5
Illinois has too much up front in this battle. Play Illinois at home to destroy the undermanned Hawaii team by 33
Michael Cannon
Tampa Bay at CAROLINA
Take the over tonight in the Monday Night game between the Bucs and the Panthers.
The over has gone 11-3 this year in Monday night games and I don’t see any reason why these two teams can’t keep that trend going.
Tampa Bay has topped the total in eight of its last 10 road games. Carolina has gone over in four of its last five overall. The Panthers are also on additional over runs of 4-0 against the NFC and eight of 11 December games.
Take the over as this one soars past the posted total.
3♦ OVER
Bobby Maxwell
Orlando -4' at L.A. CLIPPERS
Orlando starts a five-game road trip tonight in Los Angeles, but luckily for them it's starting against the Clippers and not the Lakers. We're going to lay the chalk and play the Magic as they are just a much better team than the Clippers, who seem to be back to the constantly losing ways.
Los Angeles gets back off a four-game road trip that saw them go 1-3 with the only win coming Saturday at Minnesota. You look at the Clippers' roster and you see a lot of what are called "me" players out there. It's all about them and no about winning. Guys like Zach Randolph, Baron Davis and even Marcus Camby are about their numbers before winning.
Orlando got a 98-89 home win over Oklahoma City on Friday and have had two days off to prepare for this road trip. The Magic have also been one of the better road teams in the NBA so far this season, going 6-2. The Magic have won six of seven overall and as long as center Dwight Howard continues to put up the big numbers they will be just fine. He had 21 points and 23 rebounds against the Thunder on Friday.
Orlando has won three straight in this series, going 2-0-1 ATS, and got a 113-106 win in Los Angeles last season as a four-point favorite. The favorite is 7-0-1 ATS in the last eight series clashes. The Clippers are just 6-20 ATS at home and 7-21 ATS after a straight-up win.
Play the Magic tonight to get a blowout victory. Look for a 15-point margin when all is said and done.
3♦ ORLANDO