PickLogic
Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics
Selection: OVER 203 1 unit
Frank Patron
10000 UNIT COLLEGE HOOPS LOCK
OKLAHOMA SOONERS -4
Scott Spritzer
CBB 25* Blowout
Purdue
Las Vegas Sport Picks
NHL:
2* PHX/Columbus over 5.5 +110
1* Avs -1.5 +165
1* Oilers -1.5 +165
1* Chi/Sharks over 5.5 -115
1* Pens/NYI over 5.5 -115
NBA/NCAAB:
1* UNC -10
2* Oklahoma -4
2* South Alabama -3
3* Purdue -8
3* Texas/Oregon over 144
2* Blazers -7
2* Hawks -7
3* Warriors/Celtics under 206
3* Bulls/Spurs under 191
4* Heat/Blazers under 192
Westcoastsportspicks
Alabama +2
Texas -10
Boston College +9
Butler -5.5
Fordham -4.5
Cleveland State -5
New Orleans +12
UAB +4.5
South Alabama -3.5
North Carolina -10.5
JEFFERSONSPORTS
EARLY RELEASE NCAA HOOPS
TEXAS OVER 145
PURDUE -8
The Consensus Group Guaranteed Selections
6000* COLLEGE HOOPS LATE STEAM WINNER
Purdue -8.5
Nick Parsons
BUF -115 vs BOS
The Sabres have lost five straight games and ten of their last 13 so no one will want them here. From experience, we know that this is the best time to step in on such a situation. The trouble for Buffalo early on in this poor stretch may have been the Sabres simply getting outworked. However, that is no longer the case. Buffalo has played very well in their last two games but they just have nothing to show for it. This is the perfect time to go with a team that has been losing. All the public sees is the recent losses piling up but what we see is a team that is starting to turn the corner. As a result, we're being given great line value with Buffalo at home and, of course, knocking off a division foe is the perfect way for the Sabres to get rolling again. So, the Bruins do bring a four game win streak into this match-up but Buffalo is clearly the hungrier team and that will show up on the ice here! The Bruins have beaten the Sabres twice during a current ten-game points streak but both of those wins came at home. Tonight's game is in Buffalo and tonight's game belongs to the Sabres as they bounce back at home. They've outshot their last two opponents 77 to 51 but have nothing to show for it but two multiple-goal losses! Count us in for the reward tonight as Buffalo's strong play carries over from the last two games and, this time, they get the two points to show for it!
Larry Ness
25-Club CBB Play (10*)
Oklahoma Sooners
Non-Conf Game of the Week-NBA
San Antonio Spurs
7* MASSIVE MISMATCH-CBB
Mississippi Rebels
Adam Meyer
2* Sharks
C Jordan
500 Southern Illinois
Andrew Powers Guaranteed Selections
LATE STEAM COLLEGE HOOPS POWER PLAY WINNER
Oklahoma -4
Teddy June
10* College Basketball Game of the Day is the UAB Blazers plus the points over the Oklahoma Sooners. The 4-0 SU Blazers take on the 4-0 Oklahoma Sooners tonight at Madison Square Garden in the NIT Season Tip Off semifinal. I am pretty high on the Blazers this season and they have started the year winning 4 road games as they have impressive wins over Santa Clara, Arizona as 4.5 point underdogs and ODU as 2 point underdogs. They are led by the one and only Robert Vaden who on any given night can take over a game better than any college basketball player in the country. Vaden has started the year strong averaging 18.8ppg including shooting 44.1% from 3 point range. He also gets help from senior guard Paul Delaney and senior forward Lawrence Kinnard who start a nice 3 man scoring attack. On the other side the Sooners come in with high hopes this season as All American forward Blake Griffin returned for another year. They also returned his brother Taylor Griffin in the front court and Tony Crocker along with Austin Johnson. Crocker and Johnson can be inconsistent particularly from outside; I expect them to struggle tonight as I have noticed they have been much better at home in their careers then when they have to travel. Additionally MSG has always been known as a tough place to shoot at for college kids. The new addition in the back court for them is Willie Warren who needs some time to mature but will be a star for them eventually. The big key in this game for me as how badly UAB needs this game and how well they have played on the road this year. The Sooners will no question come to win this game but have yet to play a road game and as the season progresses will have plenty of opportunities to pad their resume for the NCAA Tournament. UAB meanwhile plays in C-USA and needs every non-conference win they can get particularly after being snubbed last season. I realize the Griffin brothers will have the size advantage down low but I expect UAB to both play zone and push the pace of this game. UAB has the better guards and very talented ones at that; additionally they have the better shooters. UAB is going to force Crocker and crew to beat them from the outside something I don’t think they are capable of doing this early in the year and particularly in a large arena like MSG. The Sooners have played two tough games this year, Gardner Webb who they beat by 4 in a non-lined game and Davidson by 4 as 5 point chalk. They are not a team that can lay chalk based on their conservative style and their focus on post play. I expect Vaden has a monster game at MSG tonight as UAB gives the Sooners all they can handle. This line has come up from the open of 3/3.5 based on pure public perception and I am not surprised based on the LVSC opening this at 6.5, I currently have this line at +5 but wouldn’t be surprised if 5.5 and 6 is available for game time. My 10* College Basketball Game of the Day is the UAB Blazers plus the points. As always, Good Luck, Let’s make some money.
Matt Fargo
Murray St. Racers at Indiana St. Sycamores
Murray St. Racers +1 -110
**5** NCAA Hoops Added Game of the Night The Racers are coming off a very average season last year where they went 18-13 including 13-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference. That is good for some teams but average for Murray St. Things should be back to normal this year as the Racers return four starters from last season as well as getting a recruit in the lineup after sitting out last season. Murray St. is 2-1 to start the season with the loss skewing the record as explained later. The Racers want this one on the road.
Returning starters Danero Thomas and Tyler Holloway posted double-digit scoring averages last season for the Racers, while they also bring back starting point guard Kevin Thomas and starting forward Tony Easley. Even better, Isacc Miles is now eligible after sitting out a year after transferring from Creighton where he was named to the All-MVC Freshman Team two seasons ago. There is some great chemistry with this team on both sides of the floor as they are outshooting opponents by 9.2 percent.
Murray St. is shooting a solid 93.3 percent from the free throw line through three games. Eight players have been to the free throw line for the Racers this season and all of them are shooting at least 72.7 percent with six of those shooting at least 83.8 percent. The lone loss this season came at Arkansas St. but it was one of those home team biased games where the Racers went to the line only eight times compared to 26 times for the Red Wolves. We will not see that disparity again.
Indiana St. is coming off one of its better seasons in recent memory but it is unlikely that the Sycamores are going to duplicate that. Leading scorer Gabe Moore (12.2 ppg) and forward Todd McCoy are out of eligibility and three other players left the program. The Sycamores will count on nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster and that youth is already showing. It is also revenge time for the Racers who were blown out at home by the Sycamores last season on Bracket Buster Saturday. They get it back. 5* Murray St. Racers
Miami Heat at Portland Trailblazers
Heat/Trailblazers Under 193
7** NBA Wednesday 75% TOP PLAY Total Miami and Portland played two weeks ago and while that game went over the total, the posted number was four points less than what we are getting tonight. Recent history is also playing a role in this number as Miami has gone “Over” in three straight games and six of its last eight. The defense has allowed 102.7 ppg over the recent three-game span but for the most part, it stiffens up. The Heat allowed 100 points or more five times prior to this and followed that up by allowing only 83.6 ppg in the five games right after.
Portland is averaging 101 ppg at home but that number is skewed by one game against Chicago where it scored 116 points. The other four games have resulted in an average of 97.3 ppg. That is slightly over what Miami is averaging on defense for the season. The Blazers are far from a running and gunning team as they take only 28 percent of their shots within 10 seconds of the shot clock. They shoot 29 percent between 11 and 15 seconds and 27 percent between 16 and 20 seconds.
Miami averages 96.7 ppg on the road compared to 100.4 ppg at home and while that isn’t a huge difference, it is pretty significant here. This is because the Blazers are allowing just 91 ppg at home which is 5th best in the NBA. A lot of this is due to good transition defense as opponents are averaging only 76.4 field goal attempts per game which is 8th lowest in the league. Miami tries to get into transition as it shoots the ball 36 percent of the time inside 10 seconds but that will be limited here.
Portland is 7-4 to the “Under” with posted totals of 190 or greater while Miami is 6-2 to the “Under” with posted totals of 190 or greater. Miami is 15-4 to the “Under” in road games with posted totals between 190 and 199.5 over the last two seasons and this includes a 3-0 “Under” record this season with the average points scored being just 184 ppg. Portland is 5-1 to the “Under” after an opponent allows 100 or more points in its previous game. Expect a low scoring affair out west tonight. 7* Under Miami Heat/Portland Trailblazers
Arkansas Razorbacks at South Alabama Jaguars
South Alabama Jaguars -4 -110
**7** NCAA Hoops Top Play BLOWOUT Winner Arkansas is in for a long season. The loss of six seniors and two transfers along with the summer loss of Patrick Beverley leaves the Razorbacks with just four returning players, only two of whom earned significant minutes a year ago. This team is extremely young as no seniors are on the roster. Only eight players are averaging double digits in minutes and four of those are freshmen while the starting five consists of three freshmen. This is the second road game following a disappointing first trip away from Fayetteville.
Arkansas is shooting just 42.9 percent from the floor including 28.6 percent from long range. The Razorbacks were held to 20 points in the first half in their last game at Missouri St. and life won’t get much easier here. The defense for South Alabama has allowed 78.2 ppg but that is on only 40.4 percent shooting. The Razorbacks are not going to get any shots down low as the Jaguars boast one of the best frontcourts in the Sun Belt Conference and while that may seem unimpressive, it surely is not.
The Razorbacks are led by center Michael Washington who is averaging 16.3 ppg but he is the only big guy averaging double-digits in scoring. The Jaguars counter with four big bodies down low with Brandon Davis (17.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg), DeAndre Coleman (10.5, 5.8), LaShun Watson (7.0, 6.5) and Ronald Douglas (6.2, 5.2). They are a force and have outrebounded three of their four opponents and while the Razorbacks will have trouble scoring down low, the offense should be able get many easy buckets.
South Alabama is 2-2 so far on the season with both losses coming on the road against Louisville and Mississippi. Neither game was competitive but it provided some great experience. Playing at home has been very successful for the Jaguars as they are 41-6 over the last three years plus their one victory this season. One of those wins was a victory over Mississippi St. last season so facing the SEC at home is no issue. Especially one tonight that is picked to finish dead last in the conference. 7* South Alabama Jaguars
Bob Balfe
NBA Basketball
Warriors +12.5 over Celtics
NCAA Basketball
Oregon +11 over Texas