SPORTS ADVISORS
Oakland (3-9, 5-7 ATS) at San Diego (4-8, 4-7-1 ATS)
The Chargers, who have all but played their way out of playoff contention with three straight losses, take on the AFC West rival Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium.
San Diego lost to Atlanta 22-16 Sunday as a 6½-point home chalk for its third consecutive SU setback and second straight ATS defeat. QB Philip Rivers (17 of 30, 149 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs) was sacked three times and had the least-productive home game of his career as the Chargers generated a measly 201 total yards. The San Diego defense allowed 348 yards, and although the Chargers won the turnover battle 3-0, they finished with a 10-minute time-of-possession deficit.
One week after a stunning 31-10 victory at first-place Denver, Oakland came crashing back to earth in a 20-13 loss to one-win Kansas City as a three-point home favorite, halting a two-game ATS uptick. QB JaMarcus Russell (10 of 28, 132 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs) was ineffective, and although the Raiders finished with just 30 fewer yards than the Chiefs (301-271), they held the ball for less than 25 minutes. Oakland also lost the turnover battle 2-1, including a fumble on a fake field-goal attempt that was returned 67 yards for a second-quarter touchdown.
San Diego is riding a 10-game winning streak against the Raiders (9-1 ATS, all as the favorite), including a 28-18 victory in September as a nine-point road chalk. In that victory, the Chargers rallied from a 15-0 halftime deficit and got the spread-cover after RB LaDainian Tomlinson broke off a 41-yard TD run with a little more than a minute to play. The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five contests in this rivalry, but San Diego is on a 10-1 ATS run overall and is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings at Qualcomm.
The Chargers have scored 20 points or fewer in four straight games and six of their last eight, and over the past three contests they’re averaging just 15.3 points and 269.3 total yards per game. By comparison, Oakland is netting 19.7 points and 258.3 total yards in its last three games. On the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders are giving up 22.1 points and 351 total yards per game this season (192.2 passing ypg), while the Chargers are surrendering 22.8 points and 367.6 total yards per outing (260.2 passing ypg).
The Chargers are on a 1-5 SU and ATS freefall and are on an 0-4 ATS skid following a SU loss, but they still carry positive ATS trends of 9-4 at home, 5-0 in December, 16-5-1 against AFC foes and 20-7-4 versus the AFC West. The Raiders are actually 7-1 ATS in their last eight divisional road games, but otherwise they remain on lengthy pointspread declines of 17-39 in December, 18-39-1 after a non-cover, 19-40-1 against losing teams and 22-45-1 after a SU loss.
The under for San Diego is on stretches of 4-0 overall, 4-0 at home and 6-0 against the AFC, and the under for Oakland is on runs of 5-0 overall, 4-1 against AFC teams, 16-7 versus the AFC West and 46-22-4 after a SU loss. Finally, in this rivalry, the total has stayed low in six of the last eight meetings overall and seven of the last eight in San Diego.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN DIEGO and UNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Louisville (5-6, 4-6 ATS) at Rutgers (6-5, 7-3 ATS)
Two teams heading in opposite directions close out the regular season when Rutgers plays host to Louisville in the Big East finale for both teams.
Rutgers flattened Army 30-3 two weekends ago as an 18-point chalk for its fifth consecutive SU victory. The Scarlet Knights have cashed in their last four games, outscoring those foes by a combined total of 168-70. Against Army, Rutgers racked up a 521-219 bulge in total yards, with senior QB Mike Teel (23 of 33, 359 yards, 1 TD) leading the way. Teel has thrown 13 TDs against five INTs during the Knights’ five-game winning streak
Louisville fell to West Virginia 35-21 two Saturdays ago catching 6½ points at home and is now on an 0-4 SU and ATS slide. The Cardinals kept pace in the yardage department, gaining 474 yards while allowing 498, but they turned the ball over five times, including three INTs from QB Hunter Cantwell (27 of 47, 276 yards, 1 TD), who now has as many INTs this season (15) as TD passes. Louisville also allowed West Virginia to rush for a whopping 376 yards.
The SU winner is 10-0 ATS in Louisville’s 10 lined games this season and 12-0 ATS going back to last year.
Louisville is 2-1 SU and ATS in three Big East meetings with Rutgers, including a 41-38 home win as a 2½-point favorite last season. The home team won and covered all three meetings.
The Scarlet Knights are on a bevy of pointspread streaks, including 6-1 overall, 5-1 in Big East play, 4-1 after an ATS win and 14-6 against losing teams. The Cardinals are on a 5-0 ATS run coming off a bye, but otherwise they’re on pointspread slides of 1-4 against winning teams, 2-5 after a SU loss, 5-12 on grass and 3-7 after a double-digit home defeat.
The over for Rutgers is on runs of 11-1 following a bye, 6-1 in Thursday contests and 10-4 after a SU win, and the over for Louisville is on tears of 6-0 after a week off, 5-0 on Thursday, 5-1 after a SU loss and 5-1 after a non-cover. Also, the last two meetings in this rivalry have topped the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: RUTGERS and OVER
NBA
Phoenix (11-8, 8-11 ATS) at Dallas (9-8, 8-9 ATS)
The Suns concludes a brief two-game Southwest Division road trip when they visit American Airlines Center for a matchup with the Mavericks.
Playing without point guard Steve Nash and center Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix tumbled at New Orleans on Wednesday 104-91, falling short as a nine-point underdog. The Suns have now lost three straight games (0-3 ATS), all by double digits. On the bright side, Phoenix is still 7-3 SU on the highway this season, but after starting out 4-1 ATS on the road, it has failed to cover in four of its last five as a visitor.
The surging Mavericks overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit on Tuesday and slipped past the Clippers 100-98, failing to cash as an 11-point home favorite, Dallas has won seven of its last eight (6-2 ATS), including three straight at home (1-2 ATS). However, Rick Carlisle’s team is just 3-4 on its home court so far, going 1-6 ATS.
These rivals have split their last six meetings, with Phoenix going 4-1-1 ATS during this stretch. Last year, Dallas took two of three (1-1-1 ATS), including a 108-105 victory as a three-point favorite in the only meeting at American Airlines Center. Also, the underdog and road team are both 5-2-1 ATS in the last seven series meetings, and the Suns are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven trips to Dallas.
The Suns are 12-6 ATS in their last 18 games after a non-cover, but otherwise the trends are all negative for Terry Porter’s team, including 3-9 overall, 2-7 against the Western Conference and 2-6-1 against the Southwest Division. Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last five against the Western Conference, but 7-21-1 ATS in its last 29 games in the Thursday night spotlight.
For the Suns, the under is on runs of 6-2 against the Western Conference and 9-4 in their last 13 on Thursdays, but they’ve topped the total the last five times they’ve played on back-to-back nights. Dallas is on “under” streaks of 5-2 overall, 4-1 against the West and 10-4 when playing on one day of rest. However, the over is 13-6 in the Mavericks’ last 19 against the Pacific Division.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
San Antonio (9-8, 7-9-1 ATS) at Denver (13-6, 12-6-1 ATS)
The red-hot Nuggets gun for their fourth consecutive win and cover when they host the Spurs at the Pepsi Center.
Denver crushed the Raptors 132-93 as a five-point home favorite on Tuesday, shooting an astounding 59.8 percent from the field (13-for-24 from three-point land) and holding Toronto to 36.6 percent (5-for-17 from downtown). Since starting the season 1-3, the Nuggets are on a 12-3 SU run (9-5-1 ATS), including 7-1 at home (5-2-1 ATS).
San Antonio’s shooters went ice cold in the second half of Tuesday’s home game against Detroit, getting outscored 49-32, including 28-14 in the fourth quarter of an 89-77 loss as a five-point favorite. The Spurs have lost consecutive games by double digits after going 7-1 SU and ATS in their previous eight.
The SU winner is 16-1 ATS in San Antonio’s games this year (13-0 in the last 13) and 7-1 ATS in Denver’s last eight contests.
The Spurs have held 12 of their last 13 opponents to 98 points or fewer, but the Nuggets have scored 101 or more in six straight games, averaging 110.5 ppg during this stretch.
Denver went to San Antonio on Nov. 19 and rolled to a 91-81 victory as a one-point road underdog. The Nuggets are 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in the last four head-to-head battles, including 2-0 SU and ATS at home. Finally, the favorite has covered in seven of the last nine in this rivalry.
The Spurs are on ATS streaks of 8-3 after a double-digit home loss, 6-2 against the Western Conference, 5-1 when playing on one day of rest and 5-1 after an opponent scores 100 points or more. However, they’re 6-14 ATS in their last 20 on the highway and 4-10 ATS in their last 14 against Northwest Division foes.
Denver is on ATS streaks of 6-2-1 at home, 10-2 against the Southwest Division, 8-2 after scoring 100 points or more, 10-4 on Thursdays and 7-3-1 after one day of rest.
The under is 21-6 in the last 27 Spurs-Nuggets clashes overall and 4-1 in the last five meetings at the Pepsi Center. Also, the under is on runs of 20-9 for Denver against the Southwest Division, 20-6 for the Spurs overall, 4-1 for the Spurs on the road, 15-6 for the Spurs against the Western Conference, 12-5 for the Spurs on Thursdays and 37-18 for the Spurs on one day of rest. Conversely, the Nuggets have topped the total in six straight games overall and five straight games at home.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DENVER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
USC (5-2, 3-4 ATS) at (6) Oklahoma (6-0, 3-1 ATS)
Unbeaten Oklahoma, coming off a five-day hiatus and playing its first home game in nearly two weeks, takes on Southern Cal as part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.
The Sooners outlasted then 10th-ranked Purdue 87-82 in overtime in Friday’s championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off, winning and cashing as a two-point pup at Madison Square Garden. Star forward Blake Griffin (25.7 ppg, 19.7 rpg) had 18 points and an astounding 21 rebounds, giving him a double-double in every game this season. Guard Willie Warren had 22 points to lead five Oklahoma players in double figures.
The Trojans fended off San Francisco 74-69 Monday for their second straight win, but they failed to cash as a heavy 16½-point home chalk. Leading scorer Dwight Lewis (16.6 ppg) had 26 points, and the guard is shooting 49.4 percent from the field (35.7 percent from 3-point range). Fellow guard Daniel Hackett (10.1 ppg, 6.1 apg) added 18 points and six assists against the Dons.
These two teams met last December, with USC claiming a 66-55 win as a 5½-point home favorite.
The Sooners are 1-4 ATS in their last five Thursday contests, but they are on ATS surges of 9-3 outside the Big 12, 5-2 at home and 11-5 in Norman against teams with a losing road record. The Trojans are on positive pointspread runs of 4-1 after a non-cover and 20-8 on the road, but they are on ATS slides of 0-5 against winning teams, 0-4 after a SU win and 0-4 on Thursday.
The over for Oklahoma is on streaks of 4-1-1 overall and 9-2-1 in non-conference action, but the under for USC on runs of 28-12 outside the Pac-10, 10-4 after a non-cover and 10-1 on the road following three or more home games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OKLAHOMA
(12) UCLA (4-1, 2-3 ATS) at (8) Texas (5-1, 3-2 ATS)
UCLA goes for its third straight win and cover when it travels to Austin to take on Texas in another Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series contest.
The Bruins are coming off Saturday’s 89-54 rout of Florida International as a 24-point home chalk, cashing for the second consecutive game after an 0-3 ATS skid to open the season. Leading scorer Darren Collison (15.0 ppg) had just 11 points, but the guard added 11 assists, and guard Jrue Holiday added 20 points and is now shooting a sterling 63.9 percent from the field, including 45.5 percent from 3-point range.
The Longhorns rolled past Rice 77-56 Sunday but couldn’t cover as a healthy 26-point home favorite, falling to 1-2 ATS in their last three starts. A.J. Abrams (15.8 ppg) had just 10 points but played only 24 minutes in the rout, and Justin Mason had 14 points to lead four Texas players in double figures. The Longhorns shot 49.1 percent from the field, while holding the Owls to a stifling 33.3 percent.
Texas went to Pauley Pavilion last December as part of the Hardwood Series and shocked UCLA 63-61 as a 10-point road ‘dog.
The Bruins are on ATS runs of 11-4 on Thursday and 35-16-1 on the highway, but they are on pointspread skids of 1-6 against the Big 12, 1-6 after a spread-cover, 2-5 after a SU win and 2-5 against winning teams.
The Longhorns are 1-5 ATS in their last six Thursday starts, but they are on an 8-2 ATS tear against Pac-10 foes and are on further spread-covering runs of 7-2 after a SU win of more than 20 points and 5-2-1 after a pointspread setback.
The under is on runs of 4-0 for UCLA on the road, 5-1 for the Bruins against the Big 12 and 15-7 for Texas at home, but the over is on streaks of 6-2 for UCLA overall and 6-2 for Texas after a SU win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS
Robert Ferringo.
Take College of Charleston -4 over Elon
COC won't be able to slow Davidson down this season in the Southern Conference, but I think they are the league's No. 2 team. They already have wins over a very good South Carolina team and a decent TCU club. They have one of the top offenses in the nation (No. 26 in scoring) and have five players averaging 9.8 points or more. This club is hot right now and is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings with Elon. The Phoenix are playing just their fifth game in the last month and their first game in over a week. If they get off to a slow start the Cougars could pounce and run away with this one..
Marc Lawrence
Play On: Cleveland State
The Vikings host the Bulldogs in at the Goodman Arena in Cleveland in a Horizon League opener for both teams. Cleveland State returns 4 starters from last year's 21-win squad as Gary Waters' squad was picked as the team to beat in the Horizon this season. Meanwhile, Butler lost 4 starters from last year's 30-win NCAA unit. With the Vikings looking to avenge a loss to the Bulldogs in last year's Horizon League tournament, look for CSU to have their way here tonight.
Jimmy The Moose
Pittsburgh Penguins at Carolina Hurricanes
Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes
The Penguins played and lost last night. In their last 79 games played with 0 days rest between action the Penguins are 24-53-2. Pittsburgh is without their starting goalie, Andre Fleury, and expect them to struggle tonight after playing last night. The Hurricanes fired their coach yesterday and brought back Paul Maurice to coach the team and expect a lot of jump from the Carolina Hurricanes players. The home team in this matchup has won the last 8 meetings between the clubs. Pittsburgh is 0-4 in their last 4 trips to Carolina. Play on the Carolina Hurricanes -.
Frank Jordan
Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers
Play: San Diego Chargers -9.5
Oakland is 3-9 as they are coming off a home loss to Kansas City after winning over Denver the week before. San Diego has lost 3 in a row and are now back 3 games of Denver in the AFC West as the loss at home to Atlanta hurts greatly and they need to run the table to have any shot at the playoffs. Look for San Diego to bounce back in a big way and beat up on the sub par Raiders. Play San Diego
Wild Bill
Louisville +10 1/2 (5 units)
Chargers -9 1/2 (5 units)
JIM FEIST
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS / SAN JOSE SHARKS
Take Under
The Columbus offense has slowed to a crawl, failling to top 3 goals in 7 straight games. That's why they are on a 5-2 run under the total. Their power play is a league-worst 10%. It doesn't help a struggling offense to face the top defensive team in the West. San Jose has allowed just 59 goals, best in the West and No. 2 in the NHL. During their dominant 8-game win streak the Sharks allowed more than 2 goals only once led by big Joe Thornton. Sharks RW Jonathan Cheechoo missed his second straight game due to an upper-body injury in a 5-2 win over Toronto. San Jose is the only NHL team without a home loss in regulation this season because of that fierce defense. Play the Blue Jackets/Sharks under the total.
DAVE COKIN
DETROIT / WISC MILWAUKEE
Take DETROIT
Ugly Horizon League contest tonight as Detroit takes on UW-Milwaukee. Neither team is any good. My numbers rate the visitors as the slightly better entry both on pre-season and current data, and they're getting a couple of baskets, so the value here is with Detroit as road dogs.
Brian Hansen
Game: San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs
Denver is coming off a big victory; San Antonio is coming off an embarassing loss; I expect San Antonio to come out swinging tonight on the road! In fact I expect the Spurs to improve to an awesome 4-1 ATS this year after a non-conference game! Look for Denver to fall to 1-3 ATS after 3 or more consecutive victories; play on the SPURS!
Matt Fargo
Game: Butler at Cleveland State
Prediction: Butler
Butler finished 30-4 last season but one of those losses came against Cleveland St. in the Wolstein Center, the sight of tonight?s game. There was a great quite in the Indy Star about this game and it put into perspective exactly what the public is thinking. ?If a veteran Butler team couldn't win there, and the Vikings are better than a year ago, why would a young Butler team win?? That is the thinking of everyone and with a short line, the home team will be backed considerably.
The Bulldogs are extremely young as they have eight freshmen and sophomores in their top 10 rotation. That would spell trouble for most teams but not this squad and they are once again buying into what the coach is coaching and the system he utilizes. That consists of smart basketball and tough defense. Butler is allowing only 53.8 ppg on 40.2 percent shooting and it has a defensive efficiency rating of 82.4 which is 1st in the Horizon League and 14th in the nation.
Even more impressively could be the offense and that is where the smart basketball is evident. The Bulldogs are first in that category in the conference as well with a 113.6 rating which is also good for 41st in the country. This is due to good shooting and taking care of the basketball. Butler turns the ball over on only 18.6 percent of its possessions which is 2nd in the conference. Cleveland St. may be scoring more but its ratings are no where near as good.
Fro the most part, the Vikings are a solid defensive team as well but there is one huge liability that may be overlooked. They are allowing offensive rebounds at an alarming 41.1 percent (a calculation of offensive rebounds/total rebounds) which is last in the conference and 328th in the nation. This is significant considering that Butler has outrebounded each of its five opponents on the offensive glass this season. Look for a Butler upset but in reality, it isn?t that big of an upset. 3* Butler Bulldogs
Sports Gambling Hotline
Oakland at SAN DIEGO
Tonight we take it to the NFL gridiron, and back the OVER in the Raiders-Chargers contest.
We know that both both teams have been playing them LOW of late, but here is a chance to throw caution to the wind, and put some points up on the board in a game that is pretty much about pride only, as both teams will be staying home come January barring some miracle.
ALL 4 of your Thursday night games in the NFL this season have gone OVER the posted total, including last week's Thanksgiving meeting between the Cardinals and Eagles.
Throw in 11 of 14 Monday night games having landed high, and you are talking about a 15-3 OVER run in your NFL weeknighters this season.
15-3 is a hard stat to overlook no matter how poor these teams offenses have been of late.
Primetime affairs seem to awaken the offense.
Play on the OVER in San Diego tonight.
4♦ OVER
Drew Gordon
UCLA +6 at TEXAS
After opening the season with 3 straight losses ATS, including an outright loss to Michigan, plenty of people were starting to wonder about this Bruins bunch. Not so fast, as we've seen them regroup since that loss to Wolverines, winning and covering their last 2 games. A strong defensive over Florida International in their last one is EXACTLY what they needed to get back on track!
Also, I'm looking for the Bruins to make a statement here, as they immediately put themselves back in the conversation with a win here. While they might not get the SU victory, you can rest-assured the more motivated team will grab the cash and that's Bruins, plain and simple.
Why more motivated? Do I need to remind you of last season's 63-61 Texas win at the Pauley Pavilion! A late putback slam was the difference in that game, and now you want to lay this many with the Longhorns?! Sorry guys, the revenge factor is strong in this contest, and I just don't see the Bruins laying down in this spot.
Finally, from a match up standpoint, these two teams are closer than Vegas wants you to believe. The Bruins Josh Shipp can and will guard Damion James well, coach Howland challenged him by announcing he would cover Texas' talented forward. While we know the Abrams/Collison match up will all but cancel itself out. In the end, despite some early struggles, I still believe the Bruins to be the superior defensive team, and that makes all the difference covering the bloated number in this one.
Take UCLA plus the points over Texas in this college hoops match up.
2♦ UCLA
Karl Garrett
Louisville at RUTGERS
Now, 6-0-1 the last 7 days for free, and 20-9-1 overall with my comp plays!
Tonight let's look for some offense in the Louisville-Rutgers contest.
Looking at the Cardinals games this season, we see that Louisville has allowed 20-points or more in 10 of their 11 games, and 28-points or better in each of their last 4 games, while turning it over 14 times in those 4 games!
Rutgers defense has been much more stingy then their counterparts, while Rutgers has done a nice job putting points on the board down the stretch, averaging 42 points per game over their last 4 outings.
The last pair of meetings in this rivalry have both gone OVER the posted price, while the Cardinals are on a 5-0 OVER clip their last 5 Thursday night games.
Rutgers has sailed HIGH in 6 of their last 7 Thursday nighters, and the Knights are also on a whopping 11-1 OVER run their last 12 games following a bye week.
Have to stick with the trends, and go OVER in tonight's Big East battle.
5♦ OVER
Bobby Maxwell
San Antonio at DENVER -4'
Tonight we're in the Mile High City for a play on the Nuggets as they host the Spurs in an NBA showdown.
Chauncey Billups seem to have brought his winning attitude to the Nuggets and it seems to have spread to the rest of the team. Denver is 12-3 since getting Billups from Detroit and he's been the main catalyst to their recent three-game winning streak.
He had 24 points and 14 assists in Tuesday's 132-93 blowout of Toronto, and he had 28 points and 10 assists in a 104-94 win over Houston on Sunday that star forward Carmelo Anthony left early with a sprained elbow. Billups is delivering and so are the Nuggets, we'll take our chances with them tonight at home against the Spurs.
San Antonio lost at home on Tueday 89-77 to the Pistons as the Spurs got outscored 28-14 in the fourth quarter. Detroit went into San Antonio and took the game at the passive Spurs. Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are finally playing together after missing most of the season with injuries, but they haven't looked like the great trio they are yet.
The home team won all four meetings between these two last season, but Denver came out and won a 91-81 game in San Antonio back on Nov. 19, cashing as one-point road 'dogs. The Nuggets have gotten the cash the last four meetings in this series. The favorite is 7-2 ATS in the last nine series meetings and the Nuggets are 6-2-1 ATS at home and 10-2 ATS in their last 12 against Southwest Division foes.
Play the Nuggets to keep rolling in this one.
3♦ DENVER
Matt Rivers
For Thursday take the Spurs in the Mile High City.
This is a perfect perfect spot to back Timmay and the visiting Spurs even if all has not been hunky dory of late. Conversely Denver is on-fire ever since acquiring Chancey Billups for Allen Iverson which has led us to this bargain basement of a price on the healthy Spurs.
The Nuggets are blowing up at 13-6 and are a confident confident team right now. They have won 9 of their last 11 games and just whacked a quality Toronto team 132-93 finishing with over 100 points in their sixth straight game.
San Antonio does not fill it up like that but the Spurs are the Spurs and with the big three back together in Duncan, Parker and Ginobli I can't help but take them here at this sweet price. These guys have lost two in a row against the Rockets and Pistons and are only 9-8 but Greg Popovich' squad is as professional as they come and when you can get them at such a bargain you do not worry about the last few games as they will come to play many more times than not.
Two straight bad losses, only a 9-8 record, so what!??!? These are the Spurs who are as healthy as can be and should take care of business today!