CHARLIE
500* Knicks / Bulls Over 214
500* Toronto / Cleveland Under 194
30* Cleveland -12
20* Houston -6
20* Washington +5
10* Phoenix -7
Portland -5 free play
DOC
4-Unit Play (Totals Game of the Week) Take Atlanta/Houston UNDER
The under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings between these clubs. Houston has been scoring a lot of points (and allowing some too) and that is why we are getting a good number here. However, this Atlanta team isn’t really explosive offensively and they have been playing decent defense in recent games. The Rockets allow only 90 PPG at home this season. They are the No. 5 defense in the league and concentrate on that aspect of the game every day in practice. Despite their recent offensive efforts against some poor defensive clubs, they are still in the bottom half of the league both for both PPG (No. 21) and offensive FG% (No. 26). The under is 12-4 in the Rockets last 16 home games and we think they put together another great defensive effort tonight.
4 Unit Play.Take Iowa State over Drake
Drake is not the same team as last year and they have a new coach and lost much of their talent. Only one of the Bulldogs six victories have come against a team anyone has ever heard of and they will enter a hostile environment on Tuesday. The Cyclones have dominated the series winning 104 of the 167 games and are playing outstanding defense this year holding opponents to just over 58 points per game. Iowa State is 5-0 this year at Hilton Coliseum and will take care of business as we collect in the process.
BEN BURNS
Personal Favorite
I'm laying the points with CHICAGO. This line has come down from its opener due to the fact that Derrick Rose is currently questionable, having to get stitches in his arm after cutting himself. Rose is having an excellent season and the Bulls certainly would like to him have in the lineup. Rose is hopeful that he will be able to play and was quoted as saying: "...I'm good. I could have practiced, but they told me to wait until Tuesday. I can still dribble, shoot, do all that stuff. I'm hoping they'll let me play." I'm hoping (and expecting) that Rose will play, too. However, even if he doesn't, I feel that the Bulls are more than capable of blowing out the Knicks, who remain a very poor road team and are dealing with some injuries of their own. Note that Coach Vinny Del Negro said Rose would play: "He'll be fine. He could have practiced. It was more precautionary to let him relax after that incident and get some rest." The Knicks come in off a big win vs. Detroit. That was at home though and the early starting time (12:00 ET) may have allowed them to catch the Pistons a bit "sleepy." They've gone 0-4 their last four road games though and are 2-7 in nine road games overall. The two wins came vs. Memphis and Washington, a pair of teams with little or no hope of making the playoffs. Additionally, note that the Knicks are just 16-25-2 ATS (13-30 SU!) the last 2+ seasons when coming off an upset win as an underdog. Tonight, they'll take on a Chicago team which is off a 7-point home win and which is now 6-3 here for the season. The Knicks have been a high-scoring team this season and they've been terribly defensively. That suits the Bulls just fine, as they've fared very well against these type of up-tempo teams. In fact, they're 4-0 ATS the last four times that they faced a team which averages greater than 99 points per game and they're a profitable 7-3 ATS the last 10 times that they played a game when the over/under line was listed at 210 or greater. While the Bulls don't play for a few days after this, the Knicks play again tomorrow night. Note that the Knicks are already 0-4 SU (1-3 ATS) when playing the front-end of back to back games this season. Those four losses came by a combined 54 points, each coming by a minimum of seven. The Bulls are 16-6 their last 22 meetings with the Knicks and four of their last five victories in the series have come by double-digits. I expect another convincing victory this evening. *Personal Favorite
Eastern Conf. GOW
I'm taking the points with TORONTO. The Cavaliers have certainly been playing well. However, Toronto typically plays them tough and I expect that to be case again this evening. The Raptors should be extremely motivated. In addition to being on a losing streak, they're still trying to win their fist game under their new coach. The Raptors are a lot more talented than their recent losing streak indicates and they covered the spread last time out, losing by a single point vs. Portland. Note that the Raptors are now a profitable 12-4-1 ATS the last 17 times that they were coming off three or more consecutive losses. Looking at the past 10 series meetings and we find that nine of them were decided by double- digits. The Cavs did win three of last season's four meetings. However, those victories came by just three, three and seven points. That being said, I feel that tonight's line is too high. Consider that the Raptors have only been underdogs of greater than eight points vs. one other Eastern Conference team this season and that came against the defending champion, Celtics. The Raptors were 8.5 point road underdogs for that game and lost by seven. Tonight's over/under line has currently climbed to 193 at most shops. That's worth noting as we find the Raptors at a highly profitable 46-27 ATS the past 73 times that they played a road game with an over/under line ranging from 190 to 194.5. Look for them to improve on those numbers as these teams play another one that comes down to the wire. *Eastern Conf. GOW
RAS
Towson +5... 1 Unit
San Francisco +6'... 1 Unit
DAVE COKIN
3* Iowa
Window V Tech
Under the Hat Magic
System Magic
JIM FEIST
5* USF
Inner Circle: Towson St
PL: Georgia
5* Suns
Inner Cirlce: Cavs
Personal Best: Rockets
SCOTT SPREITZER
5* IOWA
TKO: IOWA ST
KO: TEXAS
5* PISTONS
KO: CAVS
Seabass
Steam play 100* Dallas/Spurs Over 189
Mike Lineback
4.5* Rockets team under 98.5
4* Wiz over
4* Atlanta
4* West Virginia
Eddie Mush
Client Picks
3* Raptors +12.5
4* Rockets -4
4* Pistons -4.5
5* Iowa St -3
6* Towson +4.5
6* Montana St. -1
James Manos
Texas at Villanova
Play: Villanova +3
Faded Texas last time out in their battle with UCLA and got a solid win, we'll go back to the well once again. Texas is a solid team but this Villanova squad is a bit better and here we get the better team as a nuetral court underdog. Texas has played a much tougher schedule but their final vs Notre Dame was a bit misleading as the Irish had that game well in hand late and relaxed and the win over UCLA was unimpressive in that it was at home vs a young team travelling. Villanova has been playing oustanding defense, and as I mentioned in my UCLA write-up, I think their defense can give Texas' secondary scorers (James and Mason) trouble. Villanova returns all 5 starters to a team that played well to end '08. Not enamored with either of these coaches but the Wildcats Jay Wright has more to work with. Considering the nuetral floor, it's most likely that the wrong team is favored here
Erin Rynning
Georgia
Milwaukee
Sacramento
Nick Parsons
Wizards
Seabass
20* Iowa
20* San Fran
20* Villanova
50* Towson St
50* Vancouver
Indiancowboy
We have a 5* Selection Today (17-6 Lifetime): Game of the Week:
5* Game of the Week: San Antonio Spurs
Look, we are 12-6-1 over the last 3 days and we simply cannot be afraid to take shots. I was the same guy that took Memphis ML +1200 at the Lakers last year and the same guy that took the Kings +1140 ML against the Nuggets last year. We cashed on both accounts. Bear in mind I lost two 5* selections last week, but also, bear in mind I am 17-6 Lifetime with these selections and we are up solid profit over the last 3 days as they have all been winning days. Tack on the fact, we have two additional NBA Plays and 1 College Basketball plays, we are in great shape regardless of what happens here. But, I feel strong about it, so we are going to take a shot at a 5* selection more than our usual 3* selection. We are in it for the long run and if you can't handle taking 5* shots throughout the course of the year, I suggest you get some panties. These are two 11-8 teams going at it and it is one of those things that you would have never imagined these teams for a combined record of 22-16 at this point. Dallas beat this team by 17 points on the road but that game was without Manu or Tony Parker so these guys have been itching to play and finally are. Heck, look at what these guys have done since coming back into action against GS and Denver winning 123-88 and 108-91 at Denver. I could easily see the Spurs getting plenty of revenge here from an earlier loss at home as it is all about Manu and Tony Parker avenging losses to those teams who they had to sit down and watch on the bench while their team was getting spanked. Well, now, they don't. They are the ones that are beating down other teams and the Mavs are next on the hit list. Note, that Howard is questionable, but this is irrelevant to me considering that the Spurs will base their entire effort on defense and notice they gave up just 91 points to Denver on the road and 88 points to Golden State at home. Bottom line is you have the Spurs with revenge and they just spanked the Warriors and Denver and they will likely spank the Mavericks here. This is the same Mavs team that beat the Clippers by a bucket at home and the Hawks by a bucket at home. They will not be so fortunate against these Spurs. The Spurs are 5-1 ATS against the Western Conference of late and the Mavs are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games.
3* Milwaukee
There are no injuries to report in this game but note the Bucks are the second best team in the NBA when it comes to ATS covers as they are 15-6 ATS. They are only second to the Cavs who are 16-4 ATS in the NBA. Ironically, both teams come out of the Eastern Conference Central Division. . Over 70% favor Phoenix here, but this is a game that Milwaukee can win outright. Heck, with the likes of Jefferson, Bogut and Redd this team is competitive and playing sound defense. They also have revenge against Phoenix from an earlier season 8 point loss to them as well. Milwaukee has covered 7 of their last 9 games and Phoenix has lost their last 8 of 10 Covers. In short, Milwaukee is a team that is been on a covering spree, they have revenge here from an earlier loss, they are one of the best cover teams in the NBA, they come off a loss here and frankly, I don't think Phoenix is all that good htis year as I think Porter is a terrible coach and that is clearly evident by this team having a 2-8 ATS mark of late as well. I look for Milwaukee to bounce-back here as they have a great shot at winning this baby outright as their defense has been one of the best in the league and one of the biggest dissappointments this year has indeed been the Suns defense. I look for a tight game in which Phoenix either wins by 2-4 points or loses this baby outrigh today.
3* Atlanta/Houston Over
Note, that Horoford is questionable for this game. Currently, the betting is closed for this game but Houston does come off a loss at Memphis so they are obviously not in a good mood. On top of that, Atlanta comes off a loss at Dallas by a bucket so they will look to rebound as well. Look, this is a great opportunity for this game to go over for several reasons. For one, the Rockets were pitiful on offense at Memphis. This team couldn't shoot worth a lick in the first half but did manage to put up 97 points when all was said and done. But, the Rockets are familiar with their home court and they put up 103 against the Clippers and Spurs. Remember, Tracy McGrady is still gone until late December so this team will just have to do without him. Houston has played 5 straight overs and the Hawks are likely to be competitive and consequently this game I believe is likely to go over. Remember, the Rockets shot terribly their last game and on that front will look to bounce-back as well. The over is 5-1-2 for the Hawks following a loss and the over is 4-0 for the Rockets following an ATS loss as well.
Virginia Tech -3
I originally put up the line as -5 but it is obviously wrong as it currently sits at -3 in most books. Look, Va Tech is a much better team than people give them credit for. Note, that this is a rare public favorite I am taking but Va Tech is the same team that beat Navy on the road by 9, barely lost o top 25 Wisconsin and lost to Xavier in overtime by 1 point. UGA comes off an ugly, ugly loss to Illinois where they were defeated 42-76 and undoubtedly this team will have a better effort today. Having said that, I think UGA simply lacks the consistency. UGA has yet to lose at home this year, but the toughest competition they have faced is Santa Clara at home. Va Tech has faced some incredibly tough teams including Wisconsin, Xavier and Seton Hall. This team even comfortably beat a Fairfield team that is very good this year out of the Metro as well. It is simply too tempting with this lay to not ride the better more balanced Va Tech team here are 4-1 ATS over their last 5 road games while UGA is 1-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.