SPORTS ADVISORS
Miami (Ohio) (2-6, 3-4 ATS) at Buffalo (4-4, 5-3 ATS)
Buffalo is in the national spotlight on a Tuesday for the second consecutive week, this time serving as host when it welcomes Miami (Ohio) for a Mid-American Conference clash in the first-ever nationally televised game from UB Stadium.
The Bulls traveled to Ohio a week ago and led from start to finish in a 32-19 rout of Ohio as a 1½-point road underdog. Buffalo, which has followed a three-game losing skid with back-to-back wins, took a 24-7 halftime lead and cruised from there thanks to a rushing attack that churned out 277 yards, including 6 yards per carry. However, the Bulls got outgained for the fifth straight game, finishing with 393 yards while allowing 417.
Miami (Ohio) has been idle since Oct. 25, when it lost 54-21 to Kent State despite being a 3½-point home chalk. The Redhawks produced just 318 total yards (147 rushing) while giving up 468 (305 rushing). They’re now 1-8 SU in their last nine games against Division I-A foes and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 lined contests dating to 2007.
The Redhawks are 10-0 all-time against Buffalo, with the average margin of victory being 25 points per game (37-12). Last Year, Miami (Ohio) held on for a 31-28 home win, but the Bulls got the cash as a 6½-point underdog. In fact, Buffalo has cashed in three of the last four meetings, including the last two in a row. Finally, the host is on a 4-1 ATS roll in this series.
In addition to its ongoing 3-8 ATS slump overall, Miami is in ATS funks of 2-7 in MAC play, 0-4 in November and 1-7 when playing on grass, but the Redhawks are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 on the road and 3-1 ATS in their last four as an underdog. Meanwhile, Buffalo is on ATS streaks of 10-2 against losing teams, 5-2 in November, 7-3 in conference play and 4-0 after a SU win, but the Bulls have failed to cash in four of their last five home games.
The under is 7-2 in Miami’s last nine road trips and 4-1 in its last five MAC contests. However, the over for Buffalo is on streaks of 3-0 overall, 4-0 at home, 4-1 in MAC action and 4-1 on grass. Also, the over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BUFFALO and OVER
NBA
Boston (2-1, 1-2 ATS) at Houston (3-0, 1-2 ATS)
The unbeaten Rockets figure to face their stiffest test of the season when they welcome the Celtics to the Toyota Center.
Houston has started off the season with three straight double-digit routs, including Saturday’s 89-77 victory over Oklahoma City. However, the Rockets came up short as a 14-point home chalk, and they’re 0-2 ATS as a favorite this year (1-0 ATS as an underdog). Houston has surrendered 77 and 71 points in its two home wins.
The Celtics began the season with consecutive victories over the Cavaliers (90-85) and Chicago (96-80), then hit the road for the first time Saturday and fell flat in a 95-79 loss as a six-point road favorite. Boston shot just 34.6 percent from the field in the defeat, including missing 20 of 24 attempts from three-point range, and committed 24 turnovers.
Boston swept the two-game season series from the Rockets last year, winning 97-93 at home as a hefty 11 ½-point favorite and 94-74 in Houston as a 4½-point road underdog. The visitor has won seven of the last 10 meetings, going 8-2 ATS (4-0 ATS in the last four). Finally, the ‘dog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 head-to-head clashes, and the winner has cashed in nine of the last 10.
Gong back to last season, the Celtics are on ATS runs of 8-2 overall, 4-1 on the road, 7-1 against the Southwest Division, 19-7 versus the Western Conference and 13-6 on Tuesdays. Meanwhile, the Rockets have failed to cover in four of their last five at home, but otherwise they’re on pointspread hot streaks of 36-16-1 against the Eastern Conference, 10-4 against Atlantic Division foes and 24-9-1 following a SU victory.
Boston sports under streaks of 3-0 this season, 8-1 on the road and 4-1 on Tuesdays, while Houston’s under runs include 10-4 overall (2-1 this year), 10-1 at home, 4-0 against the Eastern Conference and 5-0 on Tuesdays. Finally, the under is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these squads at the Toyota Center.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON and UNDER
Dallas (1-2 SU and ATS) at San Antonio (0-2 SU and ATS)
The Spurs try again for their first victory of the season when they welcome the rival Mavericks to the AT&T Center in a Southwest Division battle between struggling teams.
San Antonio, which lost four of its final five games to the Lakers in last year’s Western Conference Finals, has begun 2008-09 with a pair of close losses to the Suns (103-98 at home) and Blazers (100-99), failing to cash as a short favorite in both contests. In Friday’s setback at Portland, the Spurs shot 56 percent from the field (56.2 percent from three-point land) while holding the Blazers to 46.3 percent shooting (35.3 percent from long range) but had a game-winning jump shot fail to drop in at the buzzer.
Dallas bounced back from a 10-point season-opening home loss to the Rockets with a 10-point road win at Minnesota on Sunday (95-85). However, the Mavericks couldn’t carry that momentum over into Monday’s contest against Cleveland, falling 100-81 as a 4½-point home chalk. The Mavs have alternated spread-covers in seven straight games going back to last year’s postseason and they’re 6-12 ATS in their last 18 regular-season contests.
Dallas topped the Spurs 105-92 as a two-point home favorite in last year’s initial meeting, but San Antonio came back to take the last three contests by a total of 12 points, going 2-1 ATS. Dallas is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings dating to November 2006. Also, the visitor is 12-4 ATS in the last 16 head-to-head battles and the underdog is 20-7 ATS in the last 27, including 9-1 ATS in the last 10. Finally, the SU winner is 9-1 ATS in those 10 meetings.
The Spurs have failed to cash in four straight games going back to last year’s playoffs, but they’re still 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 at home and 5-2-2 ATS in their last nine Tuesday contests. Dallas is 39-19-1 ATS in its last 59 games against divisional rivals, but 1-5-1 ATS in its last seven when going on back-to-back nights.
The under is on runs of 5-1 for Dallas overall, 10-4-1 for Dallas on Tuesday, 8-2 for San Antonio overall and 19-8-1 for San Antonio against Southwest Division squads. Finally, the under is 5-2 in the last seven Spurs-Mavericks tussles (3-1 in the past four in San Antonio).
ATS ADVANTAGE: DALLAS and UNDER
JIM FEIST
DALLAS MAVERICKS / SAN ANTONIO SPURS
TAKE UNDER
A tough spot for Dallas, playing its third game in four nights. The offense has a tough two days, playing a physical Cleveland defense on Monday, then flying to San Antonio to face another physical team. San Antonio knows how to play great defense for coach Gregg Popovich. Badly outmanned in the frontcourt in their first two games, the Spurs hope to have both starting center Fabricio Oberto and first-year power forward Anthony Tolliver back in uniform for Tuesday's game against Dallas. Their offense is missing a huge piece: San Antonio has had to adjust to playing without Manu Ginobili, who had offseason ankle surgery and wasn't expected to return until December. Look for more defense than offense, play the Mavs/Spurs under the total.
DAVE COKIN
NASHVILLE PREDATORS / VANCOUVER CANUCKS
TAKE VANCOUVER CANUCKS
First game on a tough road swing for the Predators and it's often in that opening game of a trip we see teams struggle. Vancouver is off a tough loss to Detroit, but Roberto Luongo looks like he's starting to get sharp, and I'm starting to think the Canucks might be a little better than I thought at the start of the season. I like their chances at home tonight.
Nostradamus
Miami Ohio +8.5
New Jersey +5.5
Dallas +3.5
Toronto -125
Vancouver -155
Jimmy The Moose
Anaheim Ducks at Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Anaheim Ducks
After a slow start the Ducks have played a lot better and have now won 6 of their last 7 games. Anaheim has won 4 of their last 5 vs. Western Conference team's. The Ducks are 20-8 in their last 28 games vs. a team with a losing record. Anaheim has won their last 4 road games. The Kings have lost their last 4 games. LA is also 0-4 in their last 4 home games. In their last 87 games vs. a team with a winning record the Kings are 20-67. The Kings have lost 6 of the last 8 meetings with the Ducks. Play on the Anaheim Ducks -.
Bobby Maxwell
Miami, Ohio +8 at BUFFALO
The Redhawks haven't lost in 10 straight games against Buffalo and while they might not win this one, they will certainly keep it close enough to cover this number. Play Miami in this matchup.
Miami have averaged beating Buffalo by 25 points per game and last year the Redhawks held on for a 31-28 home win.
Miami went to Kent State and lost a ugly one 54-21 as a 3 1/2-point favorite and produced just 318 total yards. The Redhawks are on a couple of ATS streaks, including 3-1 in their last four as an underdog and 9-4 in their last 13 on the road.
The Bulls have failed to cash in four of their last five games at home and even though they won 32-19 against Oho last week, they were outgained for the fifth straight game.
Miami has had a few weeks to think about the ugly loss to Kent State and get it together for Buffalo. We'll grab the points and play Miami in this one.
2♦ MIAMI
Sports Gambling Hotline
Phoenix -4 at NEW JERSEY
Early in the season in the NBA, you are going to find some "soft" lines out there, and we feel tonight's line on Phoenix is a case in point.
If this game were played about a month from now, Phoenix would probably open as the 7-point road favorite. Tonight we will take advantage of this small road impost, and back the Suns to take care of business at New Jersey.
New Jersey just isn't a very good team, and they have not had an answer for Phoenix in quite some time, as the Suns have swept the last two season series meetings, going 2-1-1 against the spread over the last two years of play against the Nets.
There is just no one on the Nets that can damage the Suns in this game, and with Terry Porter instilling a defensive mindset to the Phoenix attack, we will look for the Suns to net around 105-points or so, and hold the Nets to under 100 in this Phoenix road win, and cover.
Play on the Suns.
2♦ PHOENIX
Karl Garrett
Boston +2 at HOUSTON
The Rockets are off to a 3-0 start to the new year, but they have failed both tries as a favorite. True, Houston was favored by double-digits in both of those non-covers, and tonight's line is priced down near a pick, but I don't think Houston has the toughness to take down the Celtics tonight, even at home.
Boston is off a road loss at Indiana, a game in which they lost by a shocking 16-points! I fully expect a bounce-back from the Celts in this spot, as Boston did sweep last year's two meetings with the Rockets, including a 20-point win at the Toyota Center.
In fact, the C's have won, and covered their last pair of visits to Houston, and with the Celtics coming off that shocking road loss to Indiana, expect them to be itching to go tonight.
G-Man siding with the Celtics to come through!
3♦ BOSTON
MTi Sports
Phoenix Suns at New Jersey Nets
The Nets are 6-0 OU at home after a loss at home in which Vince Carter was the Nets' high scorer, going over by a whopping 29.0 ppg! In addition, we have two qualifying trends involving the number of fouls committed. The Suns are 7-0 OU (+12.1 ppg) on the road after a game at home in which they had five or fewer offensive rebounds and the Nets are 8-0 OU (17.3 ppg) with at least one day of rest after a loss in which they were whistled for at least 30 personal fouls.
Play on: Over
Vegas Experts
Miami (OH) at Buffalo
Certainly, Buffalo brings in the more impressive resume of the two teams, but laying more than a touchdown appears to be dangerous territory for Turner Gill's squad. They are 0-2 ATS in said spot this season with both wins coming by a combined margin of five points. Miami, meanwhile, has performed well for its backers when getting more than a touchdown as the RedHawks are 3-1 vs. the number, including an outright win at Bowling Green.
Play on: Miami (OH)
Lock of the Day
Today's Lock: Phoenix Suns -5.5
Phoenix is 100% healthy. Let's bet on the Suns now while this old veteran team remains healthy. The Nets are coming off a terrible loss to the Warriors. New Jersey is not a strong team this year. They'll be lucky to win 25 game this season. Steve Nash and the Suns will dispose of the Nets tonight.
Matt Rivers
For Tuesday take the Suns in New Jersey.
This is pretty much a bottom of the barrel play even for a comp play with this slim slate but the Suns are clearly the far superior team and should win this game going away.
The Nets are going to be fairly awful this season. Yes New Jersey has had a few pretty good wins early on but after losing both Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson there really is not much hope overall for this team. Vince Carter can dunk with the best of them but as for being an elite player, I think not. Yi still needs a few years and trying to adapt to his new surroundings will not be easy.
I am not so sure if these Suns have another playoff run in them as the window may have closed but Phoenix can still run the court with the best of them and when they win do so going away. Nash, Stoudemire and the rest of the Suns certainly have enough ability to pound a well inferior opponent and that is the case today.
Mike D'Antonio may be in New York but this Phoenix squad is still a similar team that has a quality upside and that should be too much today for the semi poor Nets.
Tony Weston
We’re heading back out to the hardwood where we’re going down to Texas and taking the Boston Celtics over the Houston Rockets.
The Celtics come into this game 2-1 SU this season, but only 1-2 ATS, failing to cover in the opener at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 6-point favorite and losing their first road game of the year outright 95-79 as a 6-point favorite.
Now, for the first time this season the Celtics are installed as an underdog. Last year they went into Houston as a 4 1/2 point road underdog and left with a 94-74 victory. In their two meetings last season the Celts went 2-0 SU, winning at home 97-93 as an 11 1/2 point favorite.
Also consider that the visitor in this series has gone 7-3 SU and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings and has cashed in each of the last four meetings. Also, the underdog is 7-3 ATS the last 10 matchups between these two.
The Celtics will keep up with the trends in this series and cash in. Take the points and take Boston on the road.
3♦ CELTICS
Arthur Ralph Sports
Miami-Ohio/Buffalo Under
Tom Freese
Carolina at Toronto
Carolina is 20-7 vs.losing teams and they are 7-2 after scoring 5 or more goals in their last game. The Hurricanes are 4-1 their last 5 meetings with the Maple Leafs. Toronto is 2-6 their last 8 home games and they are 0-4 on Tuesday. The Leafs are 6-15 after scoring 3 or more goals in 3 or more straight games and they are 9-19 at home with revenge from a loss by 2 or more goals. PLAY ON CAROLINA +