JRTIPS
SAN ANTONIO vs. DENVER
The Denver Nuggets are on a roll with Chauncey Billups leading the way as they will look for their sixth victory in seven games tonight against the Spurs. Denver (13-6 overall is 12-3 with Billups and they are on a current three-game winning streak. Billups had a game-high 27 points in a 106-97 win at Minnesota on Saturday, then had 28 and 10 assists in a 104-94 victory over Houston on Sunday, a game Carmelo Anthony left due to a sprained elbow. Anthony returned Tuesday against Toronto but it was Billups led the way with 24 points and 14 assists in a 132-93 rout and is shooting 60.0 percent (12-of-20) from 3-point range in his last three games. The Spurs on the other hand are coming off their worst performance of the year in their last game as the (9-8) Spurs took a five-point lead into the break at home against Detroit on Tuesday but combined for only 32 points in the final two quarters and outscored 28-14 in an 89-77 loss. Manu Ginobili had 13 points in his first game back in the starting lineup and it was the first time all season that Ginoboli, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have been on the floor as starters. Neither Parker nor Ginobili was in the lineup during the Spurs' first game against Denver this season. Rookie George Hill had 20 points in that game for San Antonio but Duncan was held to just 12 in the Nuggets' 91-81 win on Nov. 19. Billups had 22 points and six assists in that meeting but he has historically struggled versus Parker and the Spurs. In 11 regular-season games against Parker since arriving in Detroit in 2002-03, Billups is averaging 13.5 points on just 35.6 percent shooting while Parker is averaging 16.5 points on 49.7 percent shooting in those matchups. San Antonio lost in both of its trips to Denver last season. After playing miserable in their last game, look for the Spurs that have the big 3 back to come out with intensity tonight on the road against the Nuggets on National TV. TAKE SPURS+4
Wunderdog
St. Mary's at Kent State
Pick: Kent State +1
A battle of a couple of strong Mid Majors takes place tonight at the MAC Center. This is a Bracketbuster type matchup and should be an entertaining game. The Golden Flashes have clearly played in games over their head in the last three facing Kansas, Illinois, and Texas A&M. They more than held their own forcing OT against the Illini, and losing to the Aggies by just six. Despite the top-level competition, the Flashes have shot the ball very well and considering the three above mentioned teams are known for defense it bodes well for them coming home tonight. The Golden Flashes' top six players all shoot 45% or better. The Gaels were on many preseason top 25 lists as they recorded 25 wins last season. Unfortunately, the Gaels were not able to deliver against the good teams on the road, losing all of them. This will be their first true road game of the season and may find the going tough against a very solid Kent State team. We have a very live home dog here, so the Golden Flashes get
the call.
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Denver Nuggets -4
I have Denver doubling up on this number tonight. The Nuggets are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA, winning 12 of their last 15 games. They are 12-6 ATS in all games this season and 6-2 ATS at home. The Spurs are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings in this series and the favorite is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings. The Spurs are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games and 4-10 ATS in their last 14 vs. NBA Northwest while the 10-2 ATS in their last 12 vs. NBA Southwest and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 Thursday games. Chauncey Billups has given the Nuggets that little something extra that they needed to play better team basketball on both ends of the court. Lay the points.
Game Time Sports Advisors
Denver U vs. Montana
Play: Montana -8
We are backing the Montana Grizzlies over the lowly Pioneers of Denver. Denver just 1-6 ATS last 7 vs Big Sky opponents. If you're gonna be a bear, be a Grizzly!! FREE MONEY on Montana!
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
Lenny Del Genio
Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers
Prediction: San Diego Chargers
Taking a shot with the favorite here is the only way to go as the Lightning Bolts are 10-0 SU and 9-1 ATS vs. the Silver and Black during the tenure of HC Norv Turner. Oakland is notorious for packing it in this time of year, having covered just 16 of 52 games from Week 14 on since the bye week was added in 1992! Only one time in the last seven H2H meetings have the Raiders been within single-digits. San Diego is 9-1 ATS as a home favorite in this price range (7.5 to 10 points). Take San Diego.
Tom Freese
Game: Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks
Prediction: Over
Reason: San Jose is 8-2 OVER after allowing two or less goals in their last game and they are 7-3 OVER their last 10 games overall. The Sharks are 4-1 OVER their last 5 home games and they are 4-0-1 OVER on Thursday. Columbus is 5-1 OVER when playing with two days of rest and they are 6-2-2 OVER vs. an opponent that scored 5 or more goals in their last game. The Blue Jackets are 4-1 OVER vs. a team with a wiinning percentage of over 60%. PLAY ON 'OVER'
Michael Cannon
Connecticut -15 at BUFFALO
Take Connecticut as the big road chalk tonight over Buffalo.
The Huskies are 7-0 on the year and have won their games by an average of 24.1 points. They are one of the nation’s top scoring teams and have an intimidating, shot-blocking defense. It also helps that they outrebound their opponents by a 41-31 margin.
Connecticut also boasts five players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Jerome Dyson at 16.7 ppg.
The Huskies steamrolled the Bulls last year, 82-57 in Storrs.
Take U-Conn minus the points as they grab the road win and cover.
2♦ CONNECTICUT
Ucla at TEXAS -6
Take Texas as the small home chalk tonight over Ucla in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.
For one of the few times in recent history, the Bruins don’t have the edge in the paint tonight. Texas has a very strong frontcourt and will be able to match the physicality of the Bruins.
Texas shocked Ucla last December in the Hardwood Series at the Pauley Pavilion, winning 63-61 as a 10-point dog.
The Longhorns are on an 8-2 ATS run in their last 10 games against the Pac-10 and are on other ATS runs of 7-2 after a SU win of more than 20 points and 5-2-1 after a pointspread loss.
Ucla is on ATS slides 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.
Take Texas as they grab the home win and cover.
1♦ TEXAS
Jeff Benton
I’m still on a 12-5 run with free plays despite coming up a bit short with the Pacers on Wednesday. For Thursday, we’ll focus on the day’s lone college football game and play Rutgers over Louisville.
This might seem like a pretty beefy pointspread to be laying with a team that’s 6-5, a record that’s just one game better than its opponent. But when you realize the opposite directions both squads are heading, this spread not only is reasonable, it’s not nearly big enough. Start with the Cardinals: They’ve dropped four straight games, including a pair of double-digit losses to quality Big East foes West Virginia (35-21 at home) and Pitt (41-7 on the road), plus an embarrassing 28-21 loss at then-one-win Syracuse. Louisville failed to cover in all four defeats, going 0-3 ATS as an underdog in the last three.
Now look at Rutgers. Since starting the season 1-5 – with the only win coming against Division I-AA Morgan State – the Scarlet Knights have ripped off five straight wins, the last four by margins of 20 points (at Pitt), 18 points (vs. Syracuse), 33 points (at South Florida) and 27 points (vs. Army).
Finally, to get a great read on how these teams are going right now, just look at the play of the two starting quarterbacks. Louisville’s Hunter Cantwell has four TD passes and six INTs during the Cardinals’ four-game losing skid, while Rutgers’ Mike Teel has tossed 13 TDs and five INTs in his last four, averaging 322.5 passing yards and completing at least 62 percent of his passes during this four-game stretch. Considering Louisville’s defense gives up 253.3 passing ypg on the road and Rutgers allows just 131.2 passing ypg at home, well, you get the point.
This one’s a no-brainer. Lay the chalk with the home team.
4♦ RUTGERS
Jake Timlin
Your Thursday selection is the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Given that Rutgers is the hotter of the two teams here I say lay the home points tonight. You see for Rutgers they have won their last five games and even bigger they have covered their last seven to turn their season around. Meanwhile, for Louisville their season has been a huge disappointment and only getting worst as the Cardinals have lost their last four games as they sit one win away from a crappy bowl. Well thanks to being at home and being the better then the Cardinals I look for Rutgers to not only win, but to win big time as they cap off the regular season a 17 plus point win. All Rutgers minus the home points!
Tony Weston
We’re switching gears and headed to San Diego where we’re taking the Under in the Raiders-Chargers game.
While many people expected the Raiders to do just as they’re doing so far this season, no one expected San Diego to fold and be non-existent, but there the Chargers are, not mattering.
Both of these teams have struggled mightily and have failed to put up the points. Coming into tonight’s game the Under is 5-0 in the Raiders last five games and it is 7-1 in their last eight games. For the Chargers, the Under is on a 4-0 run and it is also 7-1 their last eight games.
Also, in their last 10 meetings, the Under is 7-3 and is 4-1 their last five meetings in San Diego.
The teams will not come close to the 41 1/2 point set total for tonight as the Under will come in easily. Take the Under tonight.
3♦ RAIDERS-CHARGERS UNDER