Doc
3-Unit Play Take Boston/Orlando UNDER 192½
Gotta love a total that is in the 190s for two of the top defenses in the NBA. Boston is No. 2 in the NBA for points scored against and defensive field goal percentage and Orlando is No. 7 for points against and No. 3 for defensive FG %. Both squads are among the best at guarding against the three-point ball, as well. These teams met in December and the total reached 195 despite the Celtics scoring 107 points. However, Boston shot lights out in that game and we just don’t see a repeat performance tonight. They shot better than 54% from the field in that game (their season average is 48% and Orlando allows only 43% per game). They also shot much better than their season average from the line. We feel like that was a game that the Magic let get away from themselves defensively as they got behind early but we expect this one to be a hard-fought defensive battle on both sides and expect this one to wind up in the 180s. The under is 10-3 in the Celtics last 13 games as an underdog and 22-7 in their last 29 on the road, so that shows that they bring the defensive intensity even when on the road.
Game Time Sports
5* WV
4* Stanford
4* Cal
Lenny Del Genio
St. Mary's vs San Diego
Play: St. Mary's -4.5
San Diego, by virtue of its 1st round upset of UConn in LY's NCAA Tournament, has a higher profile heading into this year and thus has less line value. The Toreros are already just 2-5 ATS at home this season and tonight will be facing the toughest visitor to date in St. Mary's. San Diego also has benefited from playing the weakest teams in the WCC thus far. Even if you struggle to score like the Toreros do, that's okay when you play the likes of San Fransisco, Pepperdine, Santa Clara and a horrible Loyola Marymount team.The Gaels, meanwhile, have been outstanding away from home this year, covering eight of nine road games. Huge edge on the boards for St. Mary's as they have TWO double-digit rebounders (Simpson and Sahman) while San Diego's top rebounder is just 6'7". Even if Gaels G Pat Mills has a normal night (averages 19.1 PPG), the home team is in trouble here as St. Mary's averages about 15 PPG more than does San Diego to begin with.Our ranked visitor is also playing with revenge for an outright loss here as 5.5 point favorites last year. St. Mary's is our WCC Game of the Year.
Middle Tennessee State vs Arkansas St.
Play: Mid. Tenn -9.5
Arkansas State just can't score. We're almost into February and the Red Wolves still haven't hit the one point per possession plateau. That's pretty scary when preparing to enter the heart of your conference schedule when your upcoming opponents will all know how to prepare for what you want to do on offense. MTSU has covered 19 of its last 29 SBC Games and entering in off BB road losses means a focused effort tonight. ASU is averaging just 61 PPG at home and makes its living off getting turnovers (8 steals per game). However, that will be negated by the fact that the Blue Raiders turn the ball over just 12 times per game. Middle Tenn State is our Sun Belt Conference Game of the Month.
Kelso
25 units Dayton -5.5
Sports Firm
Northern Colorado 6
Nevada -13
Loyola Marymount 10
Wizards / Lakers Under 208
SEABASS
20* Dayton
50* Middle Tenn St
50* St. Marys
50* UC Davis
100* Ark LR
NBA
100* LA/Wash Under
100* Vegas Steam Play - Pacific
Tim Trushel
Seton Hall
TVR
Ark-LR
ATS Lock CLub
5 units Florida International PK
5 units Wisconsin Milwaukee -3.5
4 units Wisconsin Green Bay +9.5
3 units Georgetown -5
RAS
Montana State over 141
NAU under 130.5
ATS Sports Club
NCAA Hoops Side Winner
Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers -3
RAS
Montana State over 141
NAU under 130.5
South Alabama under 139.5
Dr. Bob
**Weber State (-11 ½) over SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State is among the worst teams in the nation and the Hornets have lost 7 of their 8 home games by 12 points or more against a schedule of teams that is a couple of points worse than Weber State. Weber State is an impressive 43-25 ATS in all games under coach Randy Rahe (9-6 ATS this season) and the Wildcats apply to a very good 142-60-5 ATS big road favorite situation while Sacramento State applies to a negative 32-88-5 ATS weak home court situation. My ratings favor Weber State by 12 points in this game and I’ll take Weber State in a 2-Star Best Bet at -12 points or less and for 3-Stars at -11 or less.
Opinions
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (pk) over North Texas
Florida International is 4-2 straight up and 4-2 ATS in 6 games since leading scorer Alex Galindo began playing after missing the Panthers’ first 14 games – in which the team was 4-10 straight up and 2-8-1 ATS. FIU is underrated and should be favored by 4 points at home against North Texas. I’ll lean with Florida International at -2 or less.
SAN DIEGO (+3 ½) over St. Mary’s
San Diego struggled offensively in their first 11 games of the season, as top guard Brandon Johnson was shooting just 39% from the field and then was injured after 8 games while the other guard De’Jon Jackson was also having a tough time finding the bottom of the net. Help arrived in game 12 when Trumaine Johnson joined the starting lineup after missing the first 11 games. Johnson has averaged 13.1 points on 49% shooting (excellent for a guard) and knocking down 48% of his 3-point attempts. Johnson is also a good defensive player that has averaged 1.9 steals and San Diego’s offense is about 7 points better with Johnson than it was without him early in the season. The Toreros are an underrated team that is a perfect 9-0 ATS as an underdog or pick in conference games under coach Bill Grier. My ratings make this game a pick and I’ll lean with San Diego based on the line value at +3 points or more.
Oregon State (+17 ½) over CALIFORNIA
Cal’s 9 game winning streak came to an end at rival Stanford last Saturday and that loss actually sets up the Bears in very negative 19-61-2 ATS situation tonight. Oregon State is a better team this season than they’ve been in recent years and Craig Robinson (America’s First Brother-in-Law) is a good coach, but the Beavers still struggle against teams with better talent. My ratings favor Cal by 19 ½ points in this game even after adjusting for the slow pace that Oregon State plays at, and the lack of line value will keep me from making the Beavers a Best Bet. I’ll lean with Oregon State at +17 based on the strong situation and I’d take Oregon State in a 2-Star Best Bet at +19 points or more.
Tenn-Chattanooga (-4) over NC Greensboro
Greensboro is improving with their new starting lineup, but Chattanooga is still an underrated team and my ratings favor the Mocs by 7 points in this game. I’ll lean with Chattanooga at -5 or less.
M&M Sports
3* Weber State -11
2* GTown -5
2* Stanford -11
1* Butler -8
1* Seton Hall +2
1* Portland -10
1* Cal Davis -3
1* Boise St. -1
1* Gonz (1st Half) -13
ATS Sports Club
NBA Side Winner
Orlando Magic -5
AntonWins
3 units Saint Peter's +9
Dr Guru
10* Ark Little Rock
Dr Bond
12* Lal/Was over 208
Jeffersonsports
USC +6
PPP
4* UCLA
4* St. Marys
3* Florida International
3* Illinois Chicago
3* Jacksonville St
3* Boston Celtics
The Consensus Group Guaranteed Selections
PERFECT 9000* REVENGE GAME OF THE MONTH
St Mary's -3.5
GOLD SHEET
1* Minnesota
1* Boise State
1* San Jose State
KBHoops
NBA
5* Boston UNDER 192.5 -120 **POD**
3* Boston +5
NCAAB
5* Purdue ML -113
5* West Virginia +5
5* Samford +2
5* Temple -11
Ferringo
1.5-Unit Play. Take #711 Wisconsin-Green Bay (+9.5) over Butler (7 p.m.)
Maybe I'm stubborn, but I'm still just waiting for Butler to come back down to earth. They have not been strong as a big favorite and Green Bay covered both meetings last year as a dog. The Phoenix brought back 98 percent off all the scoring they had in those two games last year, while the Bulldogs have just 50 percent. Green Bay won at Hinkle in 2005, lost there in OT in 2006, got floored their in their next two games, but then lost by just nine last year. Their experience - and Butler's overreliance on the 3-pointer - keeps this one close.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #725 Wisconsin-Milwaukee (-3.5) over Valpo (8 p.m.)
Milwaukee is in a prime letdown spot. But Valpo is a sinking ship and they will be without their leading scorer. In fact, three of their top seven players will likely be sidelined. The Panthers already beat the Crusaders by 14 this year in a game in which they did not play well at all. UW-Milwaukee is also 2-0 SU and ATS on the road in conference play, beating two better teams than Valpo. They git it done here.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #706 Florida International (Pk) over North Texas (7 p.m.)
1.5-Unit Play. Take #723 Arkansas-Little Rock (+6) over South Alabama (8 p.m.)
1.5-Unit Play. Take #735 UCLA (-5) over Washington State (9 p.m.)
1.5-Unit Play. Take #719 Dayton (-5) over George Washington (7:30 p.m.)
1.5-Unit Play. Take #713 Illinois-Chicago (-5) over Detroit (7:30 p.m.)
The Titans are 1-7-1 ATS and are now playing without two of their top interior players. Detroit just really struggles putting the ball in the basket and I LOVE the 'under' here at 122. UI-C started to get itself together over the weekend while giving Butler everything they could handle. The Flames let that game get away, but they have still been a very strong road team this year and should be able to bounce back with a strong effort tonight.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #729 Loyola-Chicago (+9) over Wright State (8 p.m.)
I just think that this is too many points. Wright State is a solid little team and they have been playing really well over the last three weeks. But Loyola is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings and 6-3 ATS in the last nine. These two met twice last year and the pair of games was decided by five total points. I think Loyola is a bit better now and that they are another team that is getting stronger as the season goes on. They can hang around here.
1-Unit Play. Take #715 Purdue (-1) over Minnesota (7 p.m.)
Just still not big into Minnesota. I think Purdue hit a rough patch a couple weeks ago with some guys banged up, but right now I think they are on the upswing and I think that they are playing their best ball. The Boilers are 24-9-1 ATS in conference play and 11-4-1 ATS on the road. I think they have a big game in them and I think that the Boilers make it two straight L's for the young Gophers.
Primetime Sports Advisors
2 units St Marys -3 (-120)
1 unit Boise State -1 (-120)
1 unit Utah State -5
Teddy June
10* Washington Huskies
Teddy Covers
Wash/LAL Over
Scott Rickenbach
St Marys
Kirkwins
NBA
5* Washington +14 @ LA Lakers
4* Orlando vs Boston OVER 191.5
NCAA
4* Weber St. -11 @ Sacramento St.
3* The Citadel +1.5 vs West Carolina
3* Valparaiso +4 vs UW-Milwaukee
3* Washington -5.5 vs USC
3* Northern Colorado +6 @ Montana St.
3* Cal Poly SLO +14.5 @ Pacific
3* Wofford +2 @ Georgia Southern
3* Arkansas St. +9.5 @ Middle Tenn. St.