Top Dog LB
NCAA Basketball PEPPERDINE WAVES +500
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AASI Wins
NCAA Basketball DUQUESNE DUKES ‑5
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R and R Totals
NCAA Basketball BAYLOR BEARS/KANSAS JAYHAWKS under 144.5
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Pure Lock
NBA GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ‑4
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TOMMY BRUNSON
The Boilers keep bubbling, fresh off a 78-50 win over Wisconsin earlier this week, a win that saw their 2 big guns, Isaac Haas and Dakota Mathias combine for just 4-points! This Matt Painter coached-team has now won 14 games in a row, and they have covered in 6 of their last 8 victories, and 10 of their 14 wins overall.
I say lay away again with Purdue as they take on an Iowa team that has been struggling at best of late, as the Hawkeyes have dropped to 10-10 with losses in 4 of their last 5 games. True, the Hawkeyes have been a bit of a thorn in Purdue's side of late, as Iowa has claimed the straight up win over Purdue in 5 of the last 7 meetings, including 83-78 win at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the last meeting in January of 2017, but last year seems like light years ago for this Boilermakers team.
Purdue has made a concerted effort to play at a quicker pace this season, and Painter has given the green-light to behind-the-arc shooting which has given Haas the room he needs to operate in the paint. To me there is zero chance in the world that Haas and Mathias get held to a combined 4-points again today.
A little Boilermakers revenge today is served, Boiler Up!
3* PURDUE
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JEFF BENTON
Your Saturday freebie is Texas and the points in Morgantown against West Virginia.
Texas has alternated wins and losses over their last 6 games, and they are fresh off a home upset win over Texas Tech earlier this week, so you know what that means...still, with 3 straight underdog covers, Shaka Smart's team looks like they are starting to believe in themselves, and they are getting just enough from the oddsmakers to make them a dangerous dog against the suddenly scuffling Mounties.
Bob Huggins' team was getting mentioned as one that could be cutting down the nets at the Final-Four this April, but then all of the sudden they stubbed their toe against Texas Tech on the road on the 13th, and came home and lost to Kansas on Monday night.
The Mountaineers are only 3-3 against the spread at home this season, and Press Virginia - while they pulled off the 3-0 "Hat Trick" last season - is just 0-4-1 against the spread the past 5 series meetings.
West Virginia to get off the schnied, but Texas plus the points to make it a 5-0-1 spread run the past 6 series meetings.
Hook 'Em Horns - plus the points that is!
4* TEXAS
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ERIC SCHROEDER
My free winner for Saturday is also from the Pac 12. Not as strong as my Pac 12 Game of the Month, but we're going to keep in the same league I tend to dominate, as I like the Arizona Wildcats over the Stanford Cardinal.
While we do have two of the more current offensive teams in the conference, Arizona is the much better team and has been the entire season.
The Wildcats (15-4 overall, 5-1 Pac 12) have won 12 of their last 13 games going back to November with an average margin of victory of 11 points in the 12 wins. And Arizona, which opened its Bay Area trip with a 79-58 victory at California, has won 15 straight in this particular series.
There may be no bigger fan of freshman Deandre Ayton, arguably the best freshman in the country. His double-double in the win at California was his 13th of the season, and he'll be motivated to keep things rolling on this trip to Northern Cal.
The road team is on a 9-4 ATS run in this series, including Arizona's last trip to Maples Pavilion, which saw a historical victory for the Wildcats, a 39-point victory that was the program's largest margin of victory ever at Stanford.
Take the 'Cats tonight, as they show the Cardinal who's boss.
4* ARIZONA
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CHRIS JORDAN
But to start, take the San Diego State Aztecs on the road in Albuqueque at The Pit, over the New Mexico Lobos, who are experiencing a down year and come into this one after knocking off the UNLV Runnin' Rebels - in Las Vegas.
A win like that, no matter how saw the Rebels program has gotten, is a celebration in itself. So now comes the letdown.
The Aztecs are 11-6 on the year, and 3-3 in conference play. They're trying to stay relevant in a league they once dominated, but this year appears to belong to the team in Reno, or possibly in Boise, if Nevada breaks down.
But never count out the Aztecs, who will be hungry to bounce back after back-to-back losses to Boise State and Fresno State. Oh and by the way, the Aztecs are also in double-revenge against these Lobos, who won both meetings last season.
This year, New Mexico's scoring defense is allowing 75.3 points per game, it is giving up 70.6 at home and lately it is allowing 74.6. San Diego State has played its best basketball of late - despite the B2B setbacks - and will take advantage of the Lobos' extended hangover from Vegas.
Take the road team here.
3* SAN DIEGO STATE
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JOEY JUICE
Cleveland was simply horrendous down the stretch vs Orlando, while OKC comes in semi-hot having won 3 in a row.
I favor the under here as it is 4-0 in the Thunder’s last 4 overall. Also, OKC always goes under when they play good teams, the Under is 9-1 in OKC's last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Cleveland seems to always go under when they play the West, the under is 5-2 in the Cavs last 7 vs. the Western Conference. Most importantly, when these 2 teams play in Cleveland, the game usually stays under the total, The under is 9 and 3 the last 12 times these two teams met in Cleveland.
I look for the OKC defense to play Cleveland very tough and for this game to go under the posted total.
3* OKLAHOMA CITY-CLEVELAND UNDER
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Peter Tran
HOUSTON NBA
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Randy Chambers
FLORIDA CBB
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Mark Roberts
NEW JERSEY NHL
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BRAD DIAMOND
NCAA-B | Jan 20, 2018
Wyoming vs. Utah State
Wyoming+3
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SAL MICHAELS
NCAA-B | Jan 20, 2018
George Washington vs. VCU
Free Play on VCU -8 -110
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JESSE SCHULE
NCAA-B | Jan 20, 2018
Penn State vs. Northwestern
Northwestern-2½
Penn State vs Northwestern Free Pick January 20, 2018 The Wildcats have lost back to back games as underdogs, but the last time they appeared as a home favorite they crushed Minnesota by a score of 83-60. I bet on Northwestern in that game, and I expect a similar result here today. Penn State may have a better record, but they haven't been playing their best ball lately. Their last game was a home loss to the same undermanned Minnesota team that the Wildcats handled easily. They have lost their last two road games at Indiana and at Maryland, and they are just 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight versus the BIG10. They are absolutely abysmal as a road underdog, going 1-11-1 ATS in their last 13 road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Wildcats are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 home games versus a team with a losing road record. They have also been a solid bet when coming off a loss, covering the spread in eight of their last 11 such situations. The Wildcats are hitting better than 75 percent of their free throws at home, and that could prove to be the difference here as the Nittany Lions are struggling from the free throw line lately. Take NW. GL,
Jesse Schule
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