Teddy Covers
Clippers +11.5
Pudue -2
Mid Tenn St -2.5
CHARLIE
500* Purdue -2'
30* Boston College -8
20* Clemson +2'
20* Ohio St +8
10* 76ers +3
Pistons +4 free play
LENNY STEVENS
10* Philadelphia 76ers
10* Clemson
BEN BURNS
I'm laying the points with MIAMI FLORIDA. The Buckeyes come in with a perfect 3-0 record. However, a look at their schedule shows that those three games all were at home and that they came against Delaware State, Bowling Green, and Samford. Naturally, they blew out Samford and Delaware State. (They were favored by 22 vs. Samford and the Delaware State game didn't even have a line.) However, listed as double-digit favorites, they only beat Bowling Green by four points. Considering that Bowling Green lost to Savannah State in its next game, Ohio State's performance was hardly impressive. Now the Buckeyes take a big step up in class, facing a ranked team while playing their first road game. That hasn't been a good situation for them of late. Indeed, Ohio State, which is 1-5 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten challenge, has lost seven straight road games vs. Top 25 teams. Unlike its guest, Miami has already faced a top tier team this season, having lost to Connecticut. The Hurricanes rebounded from that game by destroying a relatively solid San Diego team, 80-45. Miami has won both of its home games this season, and is 16-2 at BankUnited Center since the start of last season. The Hurricanes are also 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS the last nine times that they were favored by eight points or less. I expect this season's "big game experience" combined with their homecourt advantage to be the difference, as the Hurricanes earn a convincing double-digit victory. *Personal Favorite
I'm taking the points with INDIANA. Its hard to find many negative things to say about the Lakers, as they've been playing at a very high level. That being said, I also believe that the Pacers are capable of beating any team on this floor and that this line is extremely generous. While they've been somewhat inconsistent against losing teams, the Pacers have elevated their level of play when hosting top tier teams. The last time they faced a "good" team here, they lost by just two points vs. Orlando. Looking back to the beginning of November and we find that the Pacers crushed the Celtics here, 95-79. Note that was the Celtics first loss of the season and their only double-digit loss all year - they were only defeated by double-digits three times last season. After the game Boston star Kevin Garnett was quoted as saying: "I think that was the first time we've seen that type of offense, to be honest. I thought they did a real good job of running it. I consider us to be one of the best defensive teams in the league, and tonight, we were challenged, fully." The Pacers were six point underdogs when they hosted the Celtics, the only time they've been home underdogs of greater than 2.5 points this season. They have been getting eight or more points three times on the road though and they covered the spread in all three of those games. Looking back further and we find the Pacers are 9-3 ATS the last 12 times that they were listed as home underdogs in the +6.5 to +9 range. The Pacers are also a healthy 24-14 ATS the last 38 times that they played with two or more day's rest in between games. Look for them to give a huge effort tonight, bouncing back from Saturday's loss at Orlando and improving to 5-1 ATS the last six times they were coming off a game in which they allowed 105 or more points. *Annihilator
I'm taking the points with PHILADELPHIA. These teams just met at Philadelphia over the weekend with the Bulls earning a convincing upset victory. Note that the Bulls are a dismal 8-20 SU/ATS the last 28 times that they were coming off a SU win as an underdog. While the Bulls have shown a tendency to letdown off an upset win in recent seasons, Sunday's result should provide the 76ers with plenty of motivation for tonight's rematch. Star Elton Brand, a former Bull, certainly figures to be fired up. He was quoted as saying: "We've got to step it up. We've lost two games in a row where the other team has taken it to us." The 76ers are 25-19-1 ATS the last 45 times they were playing with "revenge" from an earlier home loss and a profitable 32-21 ATS during that stretch when coming off a double-digit loss. Additionally, we find the 76'ers at an outstanding 11-4 ATS the last 15 times that they were underdogs of four points or less, most recently winning outright at Indiana, as a slight dog, in mid-November. The 76ers upset the Bulls in both games here last season and I look for them to do it again tonight. *Eastern Conf. GOW
I'm playing on the 76ers and Bulls to finish UNDER the total. These teams faced each other on Sunday in Philadelphia. The Bulls pulled away for a convincing upset and the teams combined for 195 points. I'm expecting this evening's rematch to prove significantly lower-scoring though. The 76ers have seen the UNDER go 5-2-1 on the road this season, scoring only 89.6 points in those games. They've also seen the UNDER go 5-2-2 the last nine times that they were attempting to avenge an earlier loss, including a 2-1 mark if that loss came at Philly. Additionally, the 76ers have seen the UNDER go 4-1-1 the last six times they were off a SU loss as a favorite and 3-1-1 the last five times they were coming off a double-digit loss overall. Looking back further and we find the UNDER at 29-20-2 the last 53 times that they were coming off double-digit loss. Not surprisingly, Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks' comments indicated that he wants to turn up the defensive intensity. He was quoted as saying: "We have to get ourselves back in the mind-set of defending..." The 76ers, who are small underdogs for this game, have seen the UNDER go 11-4 the last 15 times that they were getting points. Look for those numbers to improve tonight as an improved defensive effort keeps the final combined score below the number. *Blue Chip
DOC
4-Unit Play. #703 Take Portland/New York UNDER
The bookies HAVE to put up a big number on all games involving the Knicks since their run-and-gun style is lighting up scoreboards across the NBA. We went with the OVER for a strong play the last game for the Knicks as NY and Golden State combined for 263 points. But we have a team tonight that will come to play some defense and also one that will try to slow down the pace and force the Knicks to play their game. The Blazers have been on point defensively as of late, as they have held their last four opponents to an average of 82 PPG, including 68 at home against Miami. They allow 93 PPG over the course of the season defensively, good for sixth best in the NBA and they are just in the middle of the pack for scoring on offense. Five straight games for the Blazers have gone under and three of the last four meetings in this series have gone under as well.
4 Unit Play. #728 Take Princeton over South Carolina
This is just too many points to be laying on the road considering USC has a new coach and has not been blowing out mediocre teams to start the season. The Gamecocks are 0-1 on the road this season and that loss came against a mid-major program in Charleston. This game will be kept in the sixties and laying double-digits makes the underdog the only side to consider.
RICK J
GEORGIA / WESTERN KENTUCKY OVER 129½
VALPARAISO / CLEVELAND STATE OVER 127
CLEMSON vrs ILLINOIS OVER 128
CENTRAL MICHIGAN / MARQUETTE UNDER 151
IndianCowboy
Los Angeles Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks
Pick: 5 units) Dallas Mavericks -11 (Game of the Month)
There are several injuries to report here. Camby is Questionable for this game, Kaman is out and Howard is questionable. Note, that Dallas has not played many home games this year, just 6 and they are going to play more home games than not in the next couple of weeks. There is no line for this game, Clippers beat this team by 11 at home earlier this year so this is a big revenge game for Dallas. I wish I knew Howard's status for this game more but he didn't play last game so I wouldn't expect much here and note the Clips are coming off a win against Miami. I think Dallas likely routs this team at home to get some revenge here as when they lost to the Clippers, it was the Clips first win of the season. This very well might be my first 5* in quite a while as this will be my NBA Game of the Month. Note, that the Mavs are 4-0 ATS in the Western Conference and the home team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 games between these two teams. Cuban was disgusted when this team gave the Clippers the first win of the season, and I think we catch the public a little excited about L.A. coming off the win against Miami and I think Dallas routs them here today.
Georgia Bulldogs @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Pick: 5 units Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -4.5 (Game of the Month)
Look, Western Kentucky just defeated Louisville at home. That itself says a lot. Yes, this team can have a let down here but I don't think so. I mean by God, this team just defeated Petino and Louisville at home and that certainly says a lot. Georgia comes off a massive win of their own against a no-name team so they will be on a high as they head into Western Kentucky. WK is not intimidated by Georgia at all as they defeated this team 2 years ago and actually leads this series over the past few years. Remember, the Hilltoppers went to the Tourney recently and UGA is the same team that lost by 19 points to Loyolay-Chicago on neutral footing outright, they are in a world of trouble facing a vet WK team that also beat Southern Illinois in the process ax well. Western Kentucky will hammer Georgia today by double-digits as I have them winning by 12 points as the Hilltoppers have covered their last 5 at home and their last 10 of 11 game overal stemming to last year!
Iceman
10* NBA Game of the Week
76ers vs. Chicago Bulls
Pick: 76ers +2.5
Tonight my NBA Game of the Week is on the Philadephia 76ERS. The Bulls return home from a long 15 day 7 game road trip, their longest of the season. Now now face a Philly team they just beat on Sunday 2 days ago. The 76ers had two players in early foul trouble in the 2nd half and fell apart. They also had 16 turnovers in that game and several questionable calls by the refs. Look for Philly to come in pumped up and ready for revenge to jump all over this tired Bulls team who are happy to be home with their family and friends after a long trip and I expect a letdown tonight. Philadelphia 76ers by 5-12 pts tonight!
5* Washington Wizards
4* Dallas Stars
International Sports Brokers
20 units Purdue -2
10 units Virginia +7
John Ryan
Villanova vs. Pennsylvania
Pick: Pennsylvania +14
Ai Simulator 10* graded play on Penn (CBB) – AiS shows an 86% probability that Penn will lose this game by 13 or fewer points. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 89-46 ATS for 66% since 2002. Play on dogs of 10 to 19.5 points after 2 or more consecutive losses facing an opponent after 6 or more consecutive wins. Villanova has done a fine job taking care of the ball, but this places them into a poor role for this game. Note that they are 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) in road games after 3 straight games committing 14 or less turnovers since 1997. Penn has been a resilient team after losses noting they are 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) after 2 or more consecutive losses since 1997. This is part of the Big-5 Philadelphia series rivalry to be held at the famous Palestra. This venue has hosted many of the most spirited rivalries in all of CBB. This game will be no different either as the AiS shows this to be a game that could coe down to the final shot. Villanova announced yesterday that junior center Casiem Drummond has decided to transfer, a loss that should not hurt the Wildcats badly tonight in their Big Five opener against Penn. Zack Rosen, The Penn guard, has played excellent to date and will be a significant factor in keeping turnovers to a minimum. He has posted has 33 assists against only six turnovers. Take Penn
EZ Winners
NBA
3 star San Antonio -5 over Detroit
1 star Dallas -11.5 over Clippers
1 star Denver -6 over Toronto
CBB
1 star CSU Fullerton +15 over LSU
1 star Nevada +4 over Colorado St.
1 star Virginia +7.5 over Minnesota
Opposite Action Plays
PURDUE
JB Sports
RAPTORS
Bob Balfe
PACERS
Alex Smart
SPURS