Jorge Gonzalez
Maryalnd +3
The Maryland Terrapins (7-5) will be taking on the Nevada Wolfpack (7-5) up on the blue turf at Boise State. The Head coach Ralph Friedgen will have his team ready. "I'm really excited to go to the Humanitarian Bowl," said coach Friedgen. "We're going to go play a very good team, and it's going to be a real challenge for our players. I think they'll see another part of the country. All the head coaches that I've talked to when we critique the bowls at the end of the season have said that their kids really enjoyed this bowl, and I'm sure ours will, too." The Terrapins come in having lost their three of their last four game but they have they beat several bowl bound teams. The ACC as a conference has been a bettors delight so far this season covering the spread in all four of their bowl games so far this season. Both teams have the same record but have played two very different schedules coming into this game. The Terrapins have covered four of their last five games after a loss and are a perfect 4-0 after failing to rush for a 100 yards in their previous game. Take the Terrapins and the points
Rob Homyak
Nevada Wolf Pack vs. Maryland Terrapins
5 units on Maryland Terrapin
Oddsmakers currently have the Wolf Pack listed as 3-point favorites versus the Terrapins, while the game's total is sitting at 58?.
Vai Taua ran for a 22-yard touchdown with 3:15 left to cap a 35-31 win for Nevada over Louisiana Tech in Week 14.
The Wolf Pack failed to cover the 5-point spread, while the final score played OVER the day's total of 61.
Chris Turner completed 33 of 57 passes for 360 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Maryland as they lost 28-21 to Boston College in Week 14.
The Terps did not cover the 6.5-point spread, while the final score played OVER the day's posted total of 42.5.
The Terrapins are in their sixth bowl game in the last eight years, and they are 3-1 SU in their last four and 3-2 SU and ATS in bowl games under coach Ralph Friedgen. The Terrapins are on a 5-1 ATS surge following a SU loss.
Drew Gordon
Milwaukee +8' at SAN ANTONIO
Solid play here on the visiting Bucks, who come into this contest playing much improved basketball, and sporting an impressive 7-1 record ATS in their last 8 meetings with the Spurs! That's right, 7-1 ATS over their last 8 meetings, so don't tell me the Bucks can't be profitable in this spot!
Let's go back to their last meeting, an 82-78 Bucks win at home over a short-handed Spurs team. Conventional wisdom says the Spurs will be looking for revenge, and now that they've got their "big 3" they are more dangerous. But, before you go mortgaging your house on Duncan and company, rememeber, the Bucks are also playing much better ball since that Nov 12th meeting, and match up particularly well with the Spurs.
Love the addition of Mbah a Moute to the starting lineup, he gives the Bucks more athletic and defensive presence down-low, and his offensive game has been coming on of late. Also to oppose the Spurs big 3, the Bucks counter with Redd, Jefferson, and Bogut. And while those 3 players aren't on the same level as Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, they aren't THAT far behind.
Finally, the underdog in this match up is a rock-solid 6-2 ATS over their last 8 meetings, and you can make 7-2 ATS after this one! True, the Spurs are great, but there's no question oddsmakers overprice them at home (7-9-1 ATS), while the Bucks have been money on the road, going 11-6-1 ATS away this season! Play here rests squarely on the Bucks!
Take Milwaukee plus the points over San Antonio in this NBA match up.
3♦ MILWAUKEE
Michael Cannon
Minnesota at DALLAS -12'
Take the Mavericks as the big home chalk tonight over the Timberwolves.
I know Dallas has been a disappointment this year, but they shouldn’t have any problem covering this number tonight.
The Mavs won in Minnesota by 10 in their second game when they weren’t even playing well, and even though their season hasn’t panned out like they’ve hoped so far, they are playing a bit better now.
Minnesota is playing its fourth game in five nights and just won’t have anything left in the tank for a comeback or backdoor cover.
Take Dallas minus the points as they grab the home win and cover.
2♦ DALLAS
Nostradamus
Maryland +3
Oklahoma St -2
Mississippi +3.5
Miami +5
Wunderdog
Atlanta at Indiana
Pick: Atlanta +1
Atlanta goes for six in a row here and I think they get it. This team is playing excellent basketball right now. Heck they are 20-10 and facing a 10-20 team and getting points! They have won eight of their last nine games with the lone loss coming at the hands of the Celtics. Talk about lack of respect in this line! I know - their success has largely come at home, not on the road. But, that's going to motivate them to get a road win here in a spot that that allows for it. Charlotte's defense is horrid (104.4 per game) and right now Atlanta is scoring in bunches (107.4 average in their last five). The Hawks are 11-3 ATS as a dog this year and I like them a lot in that role here.
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Milwaukee Bucks +8
The Bucks are much more improved than odds makers are giving them credit for in the early going and the reason why they aren't adjusting the lines is because the public continues to fade them, despite the fact that they are 20-10 ATS this season and 11-6 ATS on the road. The Bucks are getting too many again. Milwaukee is 10-1 ATS after playing a home game this season while San Antonio is 4-16 ATS after having won 15 or more of their last 20 games over the last 2 seasons. Take the points.
Andre Gomes
SAC -2.5 vs LAC
Late game of the night between two struggling teams who were both spanked in their last game. The Kings lost by 63-108 against the reigning champions Boston Celtics, with this loss being the biggest loss of the franchise ever! It was an embarrassing loss but let's face it: they played against a top team who had lost 2 games in a row and they had time to rest and to prepare that game. "That team" was "just" the Boston Celtics, so that loss didn't surprise anyone. Of course losing by 45 points is huge, but hey! Boston are a team who may be able to reach 70 wins this season and losing two games in a row fired up them and that's why they spanked the lowly Kings.
Tonight the Kings will have the opportunity to redeem themselves, as they play again at home, so I expect a huge effort from the players to prove that they can be a competitive team. Their opponents tonight are the perfect team for that: the Clippers.
The Clippers are shorthanded for tonight, as their best player lately Zack Randolph will miss this game and without him, this team doesn't have any threat down the post. They lost by 22 points against the Mavericks who were without their leading scorer and they only scored 76 points! The Clippers are a problematic team this season, as PG Baron Davis is now in a tough situation because he said to his friend Stephen Jackson that he wants to go back to Golden State and this can cause some problems on the locker room. So, I like Sacramento to win tonight and the Clippers are 0-8 ATS after a blowout loss by 15 points or more this season and also Kevin Martin may return tonight, which would revitalize this team. Take Sacramento in here.
Frank Jordan
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat
Play: Miami Heat +5
Cleveland is hot with wins in 9 of their last 10 games including 6 in a row, but all 4 losses have come on the road. Miami is 10-5 at home and despite coming off a lost have won 6 of their last 10 games. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade are 1-2 in the league in scoring as Wade has a 1.3 points per game edge on James. Look for both to get their points and for it to come down to which teams supporting cast comes through for them and it shall be Miami. Play Miami