LARRY NESS
My 1* Free Play is on the Charlotte Hornets (3:05 EST).
Both teams will be looking to rebuild and or get better via the draft in the offseason. Charlotte though comes to town fresh off a huge 133-126 victory at home over Indiana on Friday, led by 41 points from Kemba Walker.
The Hornets are now four games back of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, meaning that if they can’t continue to string some wins together, Walker could be moved before the trade deadline. So far Walker averages 22.8 points and 5.9 assists per game.
Phoenix has been all over the map as far as its game to game consistency is concerned, most recently falling 129-97 to the Jazz on Friday. Josh Jackson was a bright spot with 20 points, while Devin Booker added 18 in the losing cause.
I’ll point out though that Charlotte is 7-3 ATS already this year after scoring 115 points or more in its previous outing, while Phoenix is a poor 10-11 ATS against good offensive teams which average 106-plus points per contest.
Walker is playing his best ball of the season right now and his team is responding. I think that trend continues against this struggling Suns side. Consider laying the points in this one.
Good luck…Larry
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PURE LOCK
Pure Lock's FREE CBB play Sunday 2-4-18
Ohio State -12
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R&R TOTALS
R&R Totals FREE NHL Over-Under Sunday 2-4-18
UNDER 5 1/2 Ottawa/Montreal
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SCOTT SPREITZER
Boston College-3½ -115
I'm recommending a play on Boston College minus the points on Sunday. The tank may be a little low for Ga Tech as they venture out on the road in Sunday's early ACC clash. The Jackets have just played a stretch against Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, and Virginia, all losses, before finally picking up a 55-51 home win over Syracuse last time out. They'll be hard pressed on the offensive end against a Boston College team that has held guests to .395 percent shooting on the season. Despite losing Deontae Hawkins for the season in December, BC still puts four players in double figures in scoring per game and have a pair of strong rebounders in Ky Bowman, Steffon Mitchell, and Nik Popovic. And while BC has won 11 of 13 at home this season, Ga Tech has dropped five of six true road games. Finally, the Eagles are on a 10-1 ATS run at home after failing to cover at least two straight games. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
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MIKE LUNDIN
NBA | Feb 04, 2018
Hornets vs. Suns
OVER 219
I think the Phoenix Suns and the Charlotte Hornets are primed to play a high-scoring contest Sunday afternoon.
The Suns were trounced 129-97 by the Utah Jazz on Friday and we can note that over is 9-4 in their last 13 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game. They'll host a Charlotte side that has been lighting up the scoreboard lately, first winning 123-110 win at Atlanta on Wednesday followed by a 133-126 triumph over Indiana Friday night.
"Offensively, we are playing great," Charlotte guard Kemba Walker told reporters. "We were moving the basketball and making the extra pass and knocking it down when we needed to." Walker himself set a good example with a combined 79 points in the last two games.
Over is 7-3 in Hornets last 10 overall and 5-0 in the last five encounters with the Suns.
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TOMMY BRUNSON
The Illini have strung together back-to-back wins for this first time in 2018, as Illinois has taken care of Indiana and Rutgers their last 2 Big Ten games. Problem is, both of those wins came in Champaign, and today they must head to Columbus to deal with an Ohio State team that is 13-2 straight up on their home floor this campaign.
Chris Holtmann's team is on a 6-2 against the spread run their last 8 when installed as the favorite, and I am sure they are feeling a little "payback mode" this afternoon against the Fightin' Illini.
Illinois is 0-7 in their true road games this season, and just 1-8 overall away from home. With the points it ain't much better, as the Illini stand at 3-5-1.
Illinois did claim the last series meeting in January of 2017 at home. That win snapped a 6-game series losing streak for the Illini. Look for them to head right back to the loss column after they finish this 40 minutes in Columbus on Sunday afternoon.
I say lay it with the Bucks!
4* OHIO STATE
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Team Underground
NBA ATLANTA HAWKS +5
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Sportsbook Advisor
NFL NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS/PHILADELPHIA EAGLES under 48.5
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Randy Chambers
SB PHILLY
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Andrew Jett
OHIO ST
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Peter Tran
CELTICS
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Randy Chambers
WASHINGTON NHL
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Eric Schroeder
How much worse can things get for the Arizona State Sun Devils? Seriously. This is a team that opened the season 12-0, climbed into the Top 5, and was being heralded as a top seed in the dance. Now, at the rate they're going, they'll be lucky to secure an invite.
Arizona State (16-6, 4-6 Pac-12) scored a season-low 64 points in a four-point loss to Washington on Thursday. Now, it has to respond.
Good thing the Devils are in Pullman to play the even sadder Washington State Cougars.
This is a situational play for Arizona State, as it will finally get a big win, over a Cougars team that has lost four in a row and eight of nine.
Washington State (9-12, 1-8) lives and dies by the 3-point shot, ranking fourth in Division I with 11.5 3-pointers per game. The Cougars shoot 38.6 percent from long-range. But, this team can't do anything else right from my estimation, like, win.
This is a much-needed win for ASU, and my money is on Bobby Hurley's boys getting a lead and holding on to it for a 10-point win.
4* ARIZONA STATE
Jack Brayman
My free play run is now at 24-17-1.
My free winner for Sunday is in the NBA, as I like the Toronto Raptors over the Memphis Grizzlies.
While the Grizzlies should already be planning for June's NBA Draft, the Raptors should be looking forward to a deep playoff run.
By the looks of things, right now, the Eastern Conference is a two-horse race, and LeBron James isn't anywhere near the paddock.
The Raptors and Boston Celtics are the class of the East right now, and I like the way Toronto has been playing of late.
Toronto has the best home record in the league at 20-4 after crushing the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 130-105 Friday night. And that was after Thursday's loss in Washington to the Wizards.
The Raptors, who have won six of nine, catch a Memphis team that is is 5-18 on the highway and that has lost two straight and four of its last five.
Toronto will come in well-rested - its starters sat in the fourth quarter of Friday's blowout of Portland - and also had yesterday off.
Lay the home chalk.
4* RAPTORS
Chris Jordan
My free pick for Sunday is on the Montreal Canadiens on the Puck Line, over the Ottawa Senators.
Montreal is experiencing a rather down year, but Ottawa is bad. And on a short card, while much of North America's attention is on Minneapolis, there may not be a better arena than Bell Centre in Montreal. And that place will be, as they say, lit.
The Canadiens are 13-10-5 at home, while Ottawa is just 7-13-4 on the highway. And for as bad as the Senators are on special teams, I don't see them being able to capitalize much in this game.
Ottawa's power play ranks 28th in the league overall, and 28th on the road. Montreal, on the other hand, has the league's fourth-best penalty kill at home. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Canadiens nab a short-handed goal or two, to bolster the offensive attack.
Montreal will be motivated after last night's 5-2 home win over Western Conference-contender Anaheim. Ottawa is also in off a win, as it played in Philadelphia last night, defeating the Flyers 4 -3 in a shootout.
The Sens will be flat, and the Canadiens will roll.
Take Montreal on the puck line.
5* CANADIENS