REAL ANIMAL
4* Virginia Tech -3
Red Dog Sports CBB: 3* Arizona st (pk) 9:00
CFB: Bowl Game of the Year: 5* Virginia Tech (-3) 8:00
Lenny Del Gino
VT Triple dime
Stan Sharp
VT-KU under triple dime
Sebastian
NCAAF
20* Virginia Tech Under
NCAAB
10 Loyola CHI
10 Ill
10 Cal St. Northridge
20 Uconn
NBA
10 Bulls
Dr. Bob
3 Star Selection
Oregon State (+17 ½) over ARIZONA
Arizona will have a tough time getting up for this game after their showdown with Memphis last Saturday, as big favorites coming off a game against another good team have a tendency not to cover the big number. Arizona, in fact, applies to a 0-24 ATS subset of a 26-73-1 ATS big home favorite letdown situation that is based on their loss to Memphis. Arizona was without their leading scorer and leading assist man Jerryd Bayless (18.5 ppg, 4.2 apg) in that loss and he’s listed as doubtful for tonight, as I’m sure coach Kevin O’Neill would rather have him healthy for the Oregon game on Saturday than for the lowly Beavers. Oregon State has not played very well so far this season but the Beavers are now a better team with the addition of Kansas transfer center C.J. Giles and freshman F Omari Johnson, who both recently joined the rotation. Giles and Johnson are both shooting 50% from the floor and Giles is a beast on the boards and defensively, accumulating 34 rebounds and 10 blocks in just 80 minutes, which would be 13.6 rebounds and 4.0 blocks playing 32 minutes (he just played over 30 minutes for the first time in the Beavers previous game and is now fully in the rotation). With Bayless out for Arizona and Giles and Johnson now contributing for OSU I would make the line on this game Arizona by 17 ½ points. With the strong situation and a fair line, the Beavers are a solid play and I’ll take Oregon State in a 3-Star Best Bet at +17 points or more and for 2-Stars at +16 ½ or +16 points.
3 Star Selection
UTAH STATE (-11) over Hawaii
Utah State is starting to play up to the level that was expected of them this year, winning 7 of their last 8 games while going 4-1 ATS after playing horribly early in the season. Hawaii is just plain horrible this year and hasn’t been getting any better. My ratings favor Utah State by 12 ½ points using all of their games from this season, but they appear to be a better team than their season rating suggests and the Aggies apply to a very good 104-38-2 ATS situation. Utah State also has the advantage of playing at high altitude against a team from sea level that had an 8 hour flight to get here. I’ll take Utah State in a 3-Star Best Bet at -11 points or less and for 2-Stars at -11 1/2 or -12 points.
Thursday Opinion/Possible Best Bet
Siena (+21 ½) over MEMPHIS
Memphis coach John Calipari hasn’t made a habit out of beating up on bad teams, unless his team is motivated by a loss in their last game. Memphis is 93-74-7 ATS in all games since the start of the 2002-03 season, but the Tigers are just 8-22-1 ATS as a favorite of more than 17 points if they are not coming off a loss, including 0-5 ATS this season. Siena is 38-23-1 ATS in all games under coach Fran McCaffery, including 21-8 ATS on the road, 20-8 ATS as an underdog (17-6 ATS as a road dog) and a perfect 7-0 ATS as a dog of 11 points or more. Siena has already upset Stanford this season, so they will not be intimidated by Memphis. Unfortunately, the Saints will be without 3rd leading scorer and top rebounder Alex Franklin, who I value at just over 2 points. I’d favor Memphis by 20 points using all games for Siena and using the 7 games for Memphis in which all 5 starters played (Dozier and Dorsey each missed two games). Adding the 2 points for Franklin’s absence results in a fair line of Memphis by 22 points, which is about what the line is. However, aside from the team trends, Siena also applies to a 164-82-2 ATS big road underdog situation, so the technical analysis clearly favors Siena in this game and I’d take the Saints at a fair line of +22 points. I’ll consider Siena an opinion at +21 or +21 ½ points, but I’d take Siena in a 2-Star Best Bet at +22 points or more.
Stan Sharp
CFB Total
triple-dime bet Virginia Tech / Kansas Under 52.5
Analysis: Stan's Top College Football Total Bettor has made a Big Bet on the UNDER in tonight's Orange Bowl. Stan agrees with this play as he sees this game falling between 44-47 total points. TAKE KANSAS/VIRGINIA TECH UNDER as STAN'S COLLEGE BOWL TOTAL BIG BET OF THE MONTH and make them a TRIPLE DIME PLAY.
Pointspread Pros
Sport: NBA Basketball
Game: Seattle Supersonics @ Phoenix Suns - Thursday January 3, 2008 10:30 pm
Pick: 5 units (Play of the Day) TOTAL: Under 216.5 (-109)
This pick comes from our NBA computer simulation which plays out the game thousands of times. It strongly suggests the UNDER here.
Other Recommended Plays: Portland +3
Ben Burns' ESPN GAME OF WEEK!
Ben Burns released his first College Hoops play of the year yesterday, a winner on Akron, his "Situational Game of the Week." Burns returns with another BEAUTY on Thursday. Its his #1 ESPN GAME OF THE WEEK. Watch Ben win his ORANGE BOWL BLUE CHIP TOTAL on one TV while watching this B-L-O-W-O-U-T on the other. Do the right thing!
Illinois
Ben Burns' 1st Conference Game of the Week (ROUT!)
Off yesterday's "Situational Game of the Week" winner on Akron over Dayton, Ben Burns looks to remain undefeated in 2008 and extend his Thursday DOMINANCE with his first "Conference Game of the Week." Pick up this BLOODBATH right now and KICK YOUR BOOK RIGHT IN THE MOUTH. As always, pay only after you cash your ticket!
Cal
BLOWOUT ALERT Burns' Thursday Night ROAST!
Included in Ben Burns' current 26-11 RUN with his Thursday selections were a pair of winners (Sonics and Celtics "over") in the NBA last week. This week, Burns steps out with his weekly Thursday Night Roast. Ben had a winning day overall yesterday but lost both plays in the NBA. Expect him to have his REVENGE in a MAJOR way!
Denver
Ben Burns' TNT GAME OF THE MONTH 26-11 L37
While Ben Burns had a winning (3-2) day overall, he stumbled in the NBA. Losses have been few and far between this NBA season though and they've been virtually non-existent on Thursdays. Ben is already a PERFECT 3-0 with his TNT "Game of the Month" releases, CASHING in October, November AND December. He's also 26-11 his L37 on Thursday!
Bulls
Alex Smart
2*N. ARIZONA
Northern Arizona might have gone through some changes in the off season but the team is still extremely capable of a run at the Big Sky title , and that was evident by a lop sided 86-70 home win in their opener against a decent Northern Colorado program. Eastern Washington their opponents , are team hoping to retool , after losing their all time leading scorer to the NBA last year, and despite of winning a few games against sub par competition will be a work in progress this season. Tonight against a superior team they are in trouble, even on their own home floor. Play on Northern Arizona
AAA
NCAAB: Morehead State Eagles at Tennessee State Tigers - Over 142 -110 | Unit Value: 2
Note: A Great combination tonight of two very bad defenses and one team that is going to push the action on their homecourt. The Tigers love to run here and they do it very well. In fact in their only home contest, they lost to Georgia Tech 99-85. Average games for this squad are right at 157 and 82 of those are scored by the oppossition. That does mean that the Eagles will get their share tonight despite the fact that they have not been close to a scoring machine so far this year. They are going to try to slow down the pace but will probably not be successful, especially when they probably get down by a hefty margin. Tenn State is by far the superior team and they will play their style. That means a lot of pace and shots taken in the high 110's or low 120's. That is going to give us what we need here. This is a super low number for a Tiger home contest. Play up to 148.
NCAAB: Loyola Marymount Lions at Brigham Young Cougars - Over 145,5 -110 | Unit Value: 2
Note: I am going to be very brief on the CBB Totals today. We have the #54 and #43 Highest Paced teams in this contest and we have a very poor Loyola Marymount Defense, ranked at #270 in the country. That is going to give us three things. A lot of pace, a lot of Cougar points, and probably a blowout game that is going to allow BYU to letup in the second half of play that is going to allow this one to be a fun and easy OVER. BYU has put up an average of 86 per game here at home and many times verses what they will face tonight. They have a huge rebounding edge and should have their way inside, but the Lions are going to hawking the perimiter for points where they have better than average shooting. Marymount has allowed +80 last 4 games to much lessor competition and the Cougs could easily grab the century mark in this one. With an expected 120+ shots taken tonight and reasonable shooting, we should see this one fly OVER the mark. These two met 2 years ago and in that contest, we saw 154 and 125 shots taken. Pretty much the same for tonight. Play up to 150.
NCAAB: UCLA Bruins at Stanford Cardinal - Stanford +2 (Heavy Hitter) -110 | Unit Value: 3
Note: Conference Play is here all over the country and the Pac 10 gets off in a big way with this matchup. If you don't think that the highly publicised Bruins are not going to lose some games in this conference this year, then think again. They are very talented and there is no doubt about that. But they come into this game a bit banged up without swingman Michael Roll, a key reserve who ruptured a tendon in his left foot at practice Monday. They also have injuries to Mata, who will probably play but not 100% with a foot injury. Collision is not 100% either by his own accord, Collison said. "We'll see how it goes without the brace. It was limiting me defensively. I think I'll be 80 to 85 percent against Stanford." With all that said, the real story tonight is how Stanford matches up with UCLA. The Bruins are super strong inside, but they will meet a team tonight that is as well. Rebounding margins for the Cardinal this year are 36.4 to 23 per game and that rivals the Bruins mark. It is all because of the Lopez Twins, who are just plain nasty around the bucket. Brook Lopez made his season debut on Dec. 19 and has played in the last three games for Stanford, including his first start in a 55-48 win over Fresno State on Saturday. He had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and is averaging 19.3 points and 7.3 boards through three games. Brook's twin 7-foot brother Robin is its starting center. Robin Lopez is averaging 10.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and a conference-leading 2.6 blocks. For the first time this year UCLA will not have the advantage in the paint. They have played just one true road contest and that was verses a poor Michigan team. It is interesting to note that their lone loss was to Texas, another squad that can defend down low. The Cardinal have been waiting for this one for a long time, they are at home where they are a perfect 7-0, winning by an average of 26 points per contest. They shoot the ball as well as the Bruins, they will the advantage on the bench, and that could be very important as we should see some very physical play creating fouls throughout this contest. The toughest ticket in the country tonight will be right here in Stanford California and you can best believe that the home boys, and their fans, will be ready to rumble. Kevin Love has quickly established himself as one of the top freshmen big men in the country at UCLA. He will go up against the Lopez Duo tonight. I doubt his numbers go upward.