Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Tuesday December 19th, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
Stephen Nover
Dec 19 '17, 8:00 PM
NCAA-B | Illinois-Chicago vs Illinois State
Play on: Illinois-Chicago +10½ -110
This isn't so much a play on Illinois-Chicago as it is a fade on Illinois State laying double-digits in a huge letdown spot.
The Redbirds upset Mississippi, 101-97, in overtime on the road this past Saturday. It was a dramatic and great victory for the Redbirds. So Illinois State can't be blamed for taking lightly regarded Illinois-Chicago lightly. The Redbirds also have a far more important game on deck when they open Missouri Valley Conference play against Evansville on Saturday. Illinois State isn't good enough to cover a margin this big against a Horizon League team without being focused and playing well. As a rule, I don't like to lay big numbers with a Missouri Valley Conference team since it's a conference known for defense and slow tempo. Plus the Redbirds just aren't that good. They surrender nearly 77 points a game and are one of the weakest rebounding teams in Division I ranking 339th out of 351 teams. They upset MIssissippi by playing five guards in overtime. That was a good shock tactic, but it won't hold up for an entire game. Illinois State upset another SEC team, South Carolina, last month. The Redbirds then lost 82-64 to Boise State in their next game. Again, my handicap is nearly entirely based on a projected letdown factor from Illinois State. But Illinois-Chicago is 2-1 in its last three games and off a win against Dartmouth. The Flames have a top shot-blocker in Tai Odiase. He is the Flames' career-leader in blocked shots with 281, which is the second-highest active career total among Division I players.
Red Dog Sports
Dec 19 '17, 7:00 PM
NCAA-F | Akron vs Florida Atlantic
Play on: Akron +23 -115
Akron +23
FAU has been great this year under Lance Kiffin. They won just 3 games last year and they get to play their bowl game in the state of Florida and should have plenty of fans in attendance. However, it has been several weeks since they played and Akron should be motivated being the largest of all the underdogs in bowl action. Take the points since you are getting +23.
Larry Ness
Dec 19 '17, 7:05 PM
NBA | Kings vs 76ers
Play on: 76ers -8½ -105
My 1* free play is on the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Kings have dropped two straight, most recently a 108-93 setback at Toronto on Sunday.
Philadelphia will look to bounce back at home here after falling 117-115 in Chicago last night.
Note that the 76ers play with revenge today as well as they’ve lost two straight in this series, including a 109-108 setback in the first matchup this year back on November 9th.
The Kings average just 96.1 PPG, while conceding 105.6. Sacramento sports a ton of young talent, including rookie PG De’Aaron Fox, who averages 9.7 points, 2.9 boards and 3.8 assists per game.
The 76ers average 108.9 PPG and concede 109.3. Rookie Ben Simmons averages 17.3 points, 8.9 boards, 7.8 assists and 2.11 steals per game.
I’ll point out though that Sacramento has struggled in this spot for bettors, going an awful 3-10-2 ATS in its last 15 against the Eastern Conference, while Philadelphia is 2-1 ATS in its last three trying to revenge a loss against an opponent.
Big man Joel Embiid is expected back in the line-up for the 76ers, but even if he doesn’t play I think the 76ers avenge the earlier loss and bounce back after last night’s setback. Consider the home side in this one.
Good luck…Larry
Mark Franco
Dec 19 '17, 7:00 PM
NCAA-F | Akron vs Florida Atlantic
Play on: Florida Atlantic -22½ -110
Florida ATL
Florida Atlantic won't have to travel far for its bowl game; in fact, the team won't have to travel at all. The Owls will be home for their postseason appearance on Dec. 19, when they face Akron in the Boca Raton Bowl.
The Owls played a competitive non-conference schedule and absorbed three losses before going 8-0 in Conference USA action. They defeated North Texas 41-17 on Nov. 30 to win the league title and possess one of the nation's top running backs in league MVP Devin Singletary, not to mention an efficient passing game led by Jason Driskel. Florida Atlantic, which is playing in its first bowl game since 2008, finished 3-9 in each of the previous three seasons before turning things around under Kiffin, the former coach at Tennessee and USC, as well as of the NFL's Oakland Raiders.
Akron fell to Toledo 45-28 in the Mid-American Conference championship game - a contest that wasn't as close as the final score indicated - but still was selected for a bowl game for the second time in three years. The Zips lost to Penn State and Iowa State by a combined 93-14 margin early this season.
The Zips do not have an impressive rushing attack, as they average 3.3 yards per carry and didn't have a single player gain 400 during the season.
Zips are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games on grass. Owls are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Mike Lundin
Dec 19 '17, 8:05 PM
NHL | Jets vs Predators
Play on: Predators -149
#NHL FREE PICK FROM MIKE LUNDIN
The Nashville Predators are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and they look like a solid favorite when they host the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night.
Nashville is coming off a perfect three-game sweep through Western Canada, winning at Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary while outscoring its opponents by a combined 13-1. Netminder Pekka Rinne is 9-1-1 with only 22 goals allowed through his past 11 starts. Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck is 5-6 with a somewhat bloated 2.83 GAA on the road this season.
The Preds are 11-2-2 home at Bridgestone Arena, while the Jets have lost six straight games on the road and five of their last seven overall. Nashville has won four of the last five as a home team in the series.
My free pick is on Nashville Predators.
Jimmy Boyd
Dec 19 '17, 9:00 PM
NCAA-B | Tulsa vs Oklahoma State
Play on: Oklahoma State -11½ -110
Free Pick on Oklahoma State -
The Cowboys come in off an impressive 71-70 win over No. 19 FSU as a 6-point dog and are now 8-2 with their only two losses coming against Texas A&M and Wichita State, who are both ranked inside the Top 15 in the AP and Coaches Poll. Tulsa comes in at 7-4 and have one quality win over Kansas State, but are just 2-3 away from home and have only played 1 true road game this season, which they lost by 7 at Illinois State.
The Golden Hurricane are a mere 2-8 ATS in their last 10 true road games and are also just 2-10 ATS in their last 10 against a team with a winning record. Cowboys are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 vs a team with a winning record and are 22-10 ATS in their last 32 home games after being listed as an underdog in each of their last two games. Take Oklahoma State!
Dustin Hawkins
Dec 19 '17, 9:00 PM
NCAA-B | Southern Utah vs Iowa
Play on: Iowa -18½ -110
Free Play on Iowa -18½ -110
RYAN WORDEN
NCAA-B | Dec 19, 2017
South Dakota vs. UCLA
South Dakota+7½
UCLA doesn't have the offensive firepower at the moment to be favored by this much over anyone and that includes South Dakota who is a quality team. The Coyotes play very good defense holding teams to under 70 ppg and their offense is very capable of putting up 75-80 points on anyone as the proved by scoring 80 against Duke on December 2nd.
UCLA will be better in February and March after their young players go through the Pac 12 schedule but right now they are having trouble scoring against good defensive teams. They have lost their last 2 games to Michigan and Cincinnati, who also play great D and couldn't break 70 in either game. South Dakota will be able to ugly this game up and keep it in the 70's which will leave the outcome in doubt until the very end and earn South Dakota the cover. Take The Points and South Dakota To Cover.
Mike Wynn
Free Play: Free Pick Wichita St -29½ Over Arkansas St
Razor Sharp
YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR TUESDAY: Take XAVIER -22 over Marshall
Totals4U
Tuesday's Free Selection: Princeton Tigers/USC Trojans under 140 1/2
#1 Sports
Tuesday's Free Selection: Dayton Flyers + 11
Platinum Plays
Free Pick: Free Pick CBB Texas Tech Red Raiders -22½ over Florida Atlantic
Nevada Sharpshooter
Your free winner for Tuesday: Take SACRAMENTO/PHILADELPHIA OVER the total of 207