Tom Freese
Oregon at Stanford
Play: Stanford
Stanford is 14-4-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record and they are 4-0 ATS their last four Conference games. The Cardinal are 37-18 ATS off an ATS win and they are 8-2 ATS off a straight up win. Oregon is 0-7 ATS away vs. teams with a winning record at home and they are 0-4 ATS off a straight up loss. The Ducks are 0-4 ATS their last 4 conference games and they are 0-4-1 ATS their last 5 Thursday games. PLAY ON STANFORD -
Wunderdog
Oregon State at California
Pick: Oregon State +19
The Cal Bears are the surprise team in the Pac-10 this season as they sit at 15-3, and unblemished at home at 11-0. The monster margins they carried early in the season have certainly deflated with the onset of Pac-10 play. Oregon State plays a very methodical style that reduces the amount of possessions in a game. The result has been 13 of 15 opponents held in the 60s or less. That opens the door for a huge dog to hang close in what should be a low-scoring affair. The Golden Bears haven't been so golden coming off a three-game road trip, as the return to home has found their backers getting hammered to the tune of 1-8 ATS. The road team has cashed this game in six of the last seven, and this is just too many points in a low-scoring game. The Beavers hang around in this one.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Seton Hall +2
I like the Pirates in the home dog role tonight. Providence has really struggled on the road this season with just a 2-4 record. Seton Hall has lost 5 straight, but those losses have come to the elite of the Big East ( Syracuse , WVU, Nova, Notre Dame, UConn). The Pirates have played each of their last 3 opponents tougher than odds makers have expected, covering the spread in each. Now, they get a team at home that they can match up with and one that they have beaten two straight times. Providence is 1-8 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 over the last 2 seasons. The Friars are 3-8 ATS in the last 11 meetings and the Underdog is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings. Take the points.
Doc's Sports
Idaho State vs. Northern Arizona
Play: Under 131
The Lumberjacks enter this game having lost three of their last four and are ready for some home cooking at the Sky Dome after three straight road games. They will have their hands full this evening tonight when they face Bengals, currently in third place in the Big Sky. Both teams need this win and we expect a grind it out style of game setting up a perfect situation with the under. Much of the Lumberjacks stats are misleading since they played a 4-OT game vs. Portland State and thus they do not have the same offensive punch as in year’s past. NAU wins but we will not worry if they can cover the number and just collect with the total. Doc’s Sports College Basketball Game of the Year goes Saturday and will be posted Saturday morning. click here.
Matty O'Shea
Georgetown -5 vs W.Virginia
Georgetown matches up very well with West Virginia and has dominated the Mountaineers in two of the last three meetings, including a 72-55 rout in the semifinals of last year's Big East tournament. The Hoyas return home from a disappointing 76-67 loss at Duke and should take out their frustrations on a West Virginia team that has failed to cover four straight and got pounded 75-53 at Marquette in its lone road game during that stretch. The home team is also 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings, so bet Georgetown as my Big East TV Play O' the Day.
JRTIPS
PURDUE vs. MINNESOTA
Following its worst conference start in three seasons, Purdue has worked its way back toward the top of the Big Ten standings.The 18th-ranked Boilermakers go for their fourth straight win on Thursday night as they face the No. 21 Minnesota team that returns home after having its own four-game winning streak snapped.Purdue (14-4, 3-2) lost to Illinois and Penn State to open Big Ten play, but has bounced back to win three straight, including a 75-53 home victory over Iowa on Sunday. Offenses facing Purdue are not having success. The Boilermakers have held 14 of their 18 opponents below 40 percent shooting, and their 36.0 field-goal percentage allowed leads the nation. Purdue looks to snap a three-game slide at Minnesota and the Golden Gophers (16-2, 4-2) will try to get back on track after their four-game winning streak was snapped Sunday in a 74-65 loss at Northwestern in which they missed 12 of their first 13 shots in the second half. Minnesota will also have to do a better job controlling the basketball after committing a season-high 19 turnovers Sunday as Purdue is forcing a conference-best 16.7 turnovers per game. Junior guard Lawrence Westbrook led the Golden Gophers with 18 points and a season-high eight boards on Sunday, but Minnesota went scoreless for a 7:32 stretch and couldn't recover. Minnesota will be without Kevin Payton after the redshirt junior point guard was suspended indefinitely for academic reasons. Senior center Jon Williams injured his calf in practice this week and also could miss the game tonight. Purdue has won two straight against the Golden Gophers overall but has lost five of its last six visits to Minnesota. MInnesota will shoot much better at home tonight where they always play weel and had plenty of success on their home court against Purdue. They will be fired up for this Big 10 conference matchup tonight.
TAKE MINNESOTA+1 1/2
Nelly
Wright State - over Loyola-Chicago
Wright State is playing great ball right now, winning eight of the past nine games with the lone loss at Butler. Wright has played only seven home games all season and has been a winner in each of the last five. Wright is 9-1 ATS in the last ten games and the lines have not yet caught up to the Raiders as the overall record includes the ugly losing streak that started the season. Loyola-Chicago enters this game off a big win over Valparaiso and is unproven on the road having lost five of the past eight road games. Wins over Northern Illinois and Youngstown State offer little credibility and the Ramblers lost by double-digits in all five road losses including two in Horizon play. The Wright State defense is allowing only 53 points per game at home this season so the Raiders should employ a significant advantage in this match-up. Back at home after a long stretch of road games should provide Wright State the perfect set-up for a big win as the Raiders are the vastly superior team despite the slightly better record for Loyola-Chicago.
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Purdue -1
Minnesota has a better record this season, at this points, but it is not the better team in this matchup. Purdue returns all 5 starters from a team which swept the season series in this matchup a year ago, winning both games by double digits. While Purdue's last two road performances in the Big Ten don't inspire much confidence, this is where I have the Boilermakers turning the corner and making a run for the conference title. Purdue is 18-6 ATS versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 4+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons, winning these games by an average of 4.0 points. Purdue is 16-7 ATS against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons and 16-4 ATS after 2 consecutive conference games over the last 2 seasons. Minnesota is 1-10 ATS as a home underdog or pick over the last 3 seasons and 0-6 ATS as a home underdog of 3 points or less or pick over the last 3 seasons. Take the Boilermakers.
Chip Chirimbes
Purdue vs. Minnesota U
Play: Purdue -1
Following its worst conference start in three seasons, Purdue has worked its way back toward the top of the Big Ten standings.The 18th-ranked Boilermakers go for their fourth straight win on Thursday night as they face a No. 21 Minnesota team that returns home after seeing its own four-game winning streak snapped.Purdue (14-4, 3-2) lost to Illinois and Penn State to open Big Ten play, but has bounced back to win three straight, including a 75-53 home victory over Iowa on Sunday. Junior guard Keaton Grant scored in double figures for the first time in seven games, totaling 12 points on 4-of-5 3-point shooting.
Vegas Experts
Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic
Everyone likes to talk about the Celtics brand of defense, but the Magic are making visitors' offense disappear this season, holding foes to just 89.9 PPG at home this season. Of course, we must give the defending World Champs their just due as they have held their four previous opponents to 86 points or less. Boston is 15-6 Under in road games this season and three of the last four head to head meetings between the teams here in Orlando have gone Under.
Play on: Under
LT Profits
Utah State -4.5
The Utah State Aggies have now won 12 straight games to improve to 17-1 straight up for the season with the only loss being by five points vs. BYU, and we look for them to stay hot when they visit the San Jose State Spartans tonight.
The only reason that Utah State is not ranked right now is because they play in the WAC, a conference that is currently ranked number 12 in the Pomeroy Ratings. However, the pollsters may have no choice but to take notice if Utah State goes undefeated again this week.
After all, the Aggies are averaging 1.177 points per possession, which ranks them first in the entire country in raw offensive efficiency. They are also 6-0 in their true road games as the loss to BYU was on neutral ground, and most impressively, Utah State is winning those road contests by an average of +10.2 points.
While the Aggies have been efficient, San Jose State has virtually no perimeter game, as evidenced by their low 28.2 percent success rate on three-point shots, and they also turn the ball over too much for our liking. In fact, they have turned the ball over on 22.7 percent of their offensive possessions, ranking them a poor 263 in turnover percentage.
Thus, this is not a team built to come from behind, and that should be their death blow tonight vs. a Utah State team playing with a chip on its collective shoulder after getting shunned again by the pollsters this week.
Pick: Utah State -4.5
Jake Timlin
Thursday selection is the Boise State Broncos.
Easy underdog selection here and that is Boise State at home as I don’t see them losing. Not when the Broncos will enjoy a huge home court edge as they have won 9 of their 10 home games this year as the Aggie are poor on the highway this season at 2-6. Meanwhile, while New Mexico State had won six straight in this series it was Boise State who ended the Aggies run with a 5 point overtime win last WAC title game to advance to the NCAA tournament. So thanks to Boise State being at home where they are a tough out and playing a New Mexico State team that is not very good this year I look for the Broncos to hold serve at home as they win with ease. All Boise State at home no matter what the price is.
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on UCLA -5
This line strikes me as soft considering that the Cougars are offensively challenged and UCLA is every bit as respected defensively. UCLA is coming off a tough loss against ASU and I like the Bruins to have some revenge in this one. 3 straight wins by Washington State have given this team more respect than it deserves, and as a result, we get a softer line for it. The Bruins have absolutely dominated the Cougars on the road, winning 11 straight at Washington State since 1997 and going 8-3 ATS in those games. UCLA is 21-1 against the Cougars in all meetings since 1997. Washington State is 0-7 ATS when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 80%) after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons and s 0-6 ATS vs. top caliber teams - outscoring their opponents by 12+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons. Lay the number tonight.
Dwayne Bryant
Southern Cal at Washington
Play: Washington -5.5
Washington got whipped in both meetings last season, so I expect the Huskies to bring their "A-game" tonight. The Huskies are playing well, posting a 4-1 record in PAC-10 play and a 10-1 mark on their home floor. It should be noted that before USC's series sweep last season, Washington had won six of seven in this series, including some lopsided results in this venue. The Huskies have enjoyed great success in this series when they've been installed as the favorite, going 14-1 SU and 12-2-1 ATS in that role. In fact, the favorite is 14-3 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
USC is coming off a hard-fought one-point win at home over Arizona. It should be noted that USC is 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a meeting with 'Zona. Coming off that big win and having swept the Huskies last season, the Trojans could be caught looking ahead to their double-revenge contest with Washington State. Revenge-minded Washington will take full advantage. The Trojans are also 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600.
Take Washington -5.5
=======================================================
CHARLIES SPORTS FREE PICK
nba. boston @ orlando+5. the orlando magic are fresh from a west coast
road trip and tonight face the defending champs at home, magic cover+5.
=======================================================
Complimentary Selection
PURDUE vs. MINNESOTA FREE PICK
Following its worst conference start in three seasons, Purdue has worked its way back toward the top of the Big Ten standings.The 18th-ranked Boilermakers go for their fourth straight win on Thursday night as they face the No. 21 Minnesota team that returns home after having its own four-game winning streak snapped.Purdue (14-4, 3-2) lost to Illinois and Penn State to open Big Ten play, but has bounced back to win three straight, including a 75-53 home victory over Iowa on Sunday. Offenses facing Purdue are not having success. The Boilermakers have held 14 of their 18 opponents below 40 percent shooting, and their 36.0 field-goal percentage allowed leads the nation. Purdue looks to snap a three-game slide at Minnesota and the Golden Gophers (16-2, 4-2) will try to get back on track after their four-game winning streak was snapped Sunday in a 74-65 loss at Northwestern in which they missed 12 of their first 13 shots in the second half. Minnesota will also have to do a better job controlling the basketball after committing a season-high 19 turnovers Sunday as Purdue is forcing a conference-best 16.7 turnovers per game. Junior guard Lawrence Westbrook led the Golden Gophers with 18 points and a season-high eight boards on Sunday, but Minnesota went scoreless for a 7:32 stretch and couldn't recover. Minnesota will be without Kevin Payton after the redshirt junior point guard was suspended indefinitely for academic reasons. Senior center Jon Williams injured his calf in practice this week and also could miss the game tonight. Purdue has won two straight against the Golden Gophers overall but has lost five of its last six visits to Minnesota. MInnesota will shoot much better at home tonight where they always play weel and had plenty of success on their home court against Purdue. They will be fired up for this Big 10 conference matchup tonight.
TAKE MINNESOTA+1 1/2
JrTips
======================================================
sportsaction365
FREE NBA WINNER
1/22/09
Washington @ LA Lakers
Prediction: Lakers -14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
maddux sports
Today's Free Pick is Oregon +13.5
==============================================