SPORTS ADVISORS
Temple (3-6, 6-2-1 ATS) at Kent State (2-7, 2-5 ATS)
Two teams floundering in the Mid-American Conference hook up at Dix Stadium as Kent hosts Temple.
The Owls have alternated SU wins and losses in their last five games, including a devastating 33-27 overtime loss at Navy on Nov. 1. In that one, Temple held a 27-7 lead with less than 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter before giving up 26 unanswered points, including a touchdown in overtime, to lose. Four of Temple’s last five games have been decided by 10, 6, 4 and 4 points, and the Owls are 1-3 in those contests.
Kent went to Bowling Green on Nov. 1 and lost 45-30 as a six-point road underdog. The Flashes, who have given up an average of 34.5 points per game in their last six contests, are mired in a 1-13 slump against Division I-A teams (2-12 ATS), including 1-11 against MAC rivals (2-10 ATS).
Temple dropped the Flashes 24-14 as a one-point home underdog last year, finishing with just 295 total yards but limiting Kent to a paltry 124 yards. In the only other meeting between the schools in 2006, Kent rolled 28-17, but the Owls easily cashed as a 23½-point road underdog.
In addition to its ongoing 2-12 ATS slump overall, the Flashes are stuck in pointspread funks of 1-8 at home, 3-13 in conference play, 2-11 against losing teams and 0-5 in November. On the flip side, Temple carries ATS streaks of 8-2-1 overall, 5-2 on the highway, 13-3-1 against the MAC, 4-1-1 against losing teams and 5-1-1 following a bye week.
For Temple, the under is on runs of 13-3 overall, 10-1 versus MAC foes, 4-0 on artificial turf, 6-0 against losing teams, 5-1 in November and 4-1-1 after a bye. Meanwhile, the over is 5-1 in Kent’s last six overall, including 4-1 in MAC play. However, the under is 11-5 in the Flashes’ last 16 home contests. Finally, last year’s head-to-head meeting at Temple stayed under the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEMPLE and UNDER
Central Michigan (7-2, 5-3 ATS) at Northern Illinois (5-4, 5-3 ATS)
Northern Illinois looks to bounce back from last week’s blowout loss at Ball State when it hosts Central Michigan in another nationally televised prime-time MAC clash.
The Huskies saw their three-game winning streak come to an end in embarrassing fashion a week ago tonight, falling to undefeated Ball State 45-14 as an eight-point road underdog. Northern Illinois got outgained 529-275, produced just 12 first downs to Ball State’s 25 and committed the only two turnovers in the game.
Central Michigan stepped out of conference in its most recent contest on Nov. 1 and edged Indiana 37-34 as a two-point road underdog, the team’s fifth consecutive victory. During their winning streak, the Chippewas have averaged exactly 30 points per game, but given up 24.8 ppg, as all five victories have come by 10 points or less.
Central Michigan is 5-0 in MAC play (3-2 ATS) and sits a half-game behind Ball State in the West Division standings, while NIU is in fourth place in the West Division at 4-2 (3-3 ATS).
The Chippewas ended a nine-game losing streak to Northern Illinois in dominating fashion last year, winning 35-10 as a three-point home chalk. The Huskies actually outgained Central Michigan 521-381, but they committed six turnovers (four interceptions) and forced just one. Northern Illinois is still 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 battles in this rivalry, and the host is 5-0-1 ATS in the last six clashes. Finally, Central Michigan has failed to cover in five straight trips to Northern Illinois.
Central Michigan is on ATS tears of 29-10-3 overall, 6-2-2 on the road, 21-6-3 in MAC play, 4-1 as an underdog, 17-6-2 on artificial turf, 8-3 against winning teams and 17-6-2 following a spread-cover. Meanwhile, despite last week’s blowout loss to Ball State, the Huskies are still on ATS hot streaks of 8-3 overall, 5-1 in November and 5-2 on artificial turf.
For the Chippewas, the over is on runs of 12-5 overall, 16-5-1 on the road, 4-0 in November and 5-0 against winning teams. Conversely, Northern Illinois sports under streaks of 20-6-1 overall, 13-3-1 at home, 13-3-1 on artificial turf, 19-7-2 in conference action, 7-1 in November and 7-1 against winning teams. Also, the last two meetings between these schools have stayed low after the previous three topped the posted total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
NBA
Atlanta (6-0, 5-1 ATS) at Boston (7-1, 4-4 ATS)
The Hawks return to the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston for the first time since they got eliminated in the first round of last year’s playoffs, and they do so as one of the NBA’s two remaining unbeaten teams.
Atlanta scored 29 points in each of the last three quarters at Chicago last night and held off the Bulls 113-108 as a four-point road underdog, with all five starters scoring in double figures, led by Al Horford’s 27 points. The Hawks are off to their best start since 1997-98, when they won their first 11 in a row, and they’re 4-0 on the road (3-1 ATS).
Boston rallied for its fifth straight victory on Monday, topping Toronto 94-87 but coming up just short as an 8½-point home chalk. The Celtics trailed 48-36 at the half before blowing out the Raptors 58-39 in the final 24 minutes, and they’re now 4-0 at home this season, but 1-3 ATS.
The Hawks took the top-seeded Celtics to the limit last May, but couldn’t secure what would’ve been the biggest upset in NBA playoff history, losing Game 7 in Boston 99-65 as a 14½-point road underdog. The home team went 7-0 SU and ATS in last year’s postseason clash, and including three regular-season meetings, the host went 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS in this rivalry a year ago.
Atlanta’s 5-1 ATS start has all come against the Eastern Conference, and the team is also 5-2 ATS in its last seven against Atlantic Division foes. Meanwhile, Boston has failed to cash in 12 of its last 17 against Eastern Conference opponents, but otherwise the C’s are on pointspread streaks of 11-4 overall, 8-3 on Wednesdays and 5-1 when playing one day of rest.
For the Hawks, the under is on streaks of 5-2 overall and 4-1 on the road, but the over is 9-4 in the team’s last 13 Wednesday games and 5-2 in its last seven against the Atlantic Division. The Celtics have stayed low in six of its eight games this year. Also, the first five meetings between these teams last year (playoffs included) stayed under the total, but the over was 4-1 in the last five postseason contests.
Finally, the under is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head battles in Beantown.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
L.A. Lakers (6-0, 5-1 ATS) at New Orleans (4-2, 2-3-1 ATS)
Two of the top teams in the Western Conference hook up for the first time this season, as Kobe Bryant and the unbeaten Lakers visit the Big Easy for a battle with Chris Paul and the Hornets.
Los Angeles went to Dallas last night and rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat the Mavericks 106-99, barely cashing as a 5½-point road favorite as they outscored Dallas 30-20 in the final quarter. The Lakers have scored at least 104 points in five straight games and four of their six wins have been double-digit blowouts.
The Hornets have been idle since Saturday when they snapped a two-game losing skid with a 100-89 rout of Dwyane Wade and the Heat, pushing as an 11-point home favorite. New Orleans is averaging 105 ppg in its four victories, but only 84 ppg in its two defeats.
These squads split their four meetings last year, with each team winning once at home and once on the road. The Hornets cashed in three of those four games and they’re 5-2 ATS in the last seven clashes with Los Angeles. Also, the road team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven, the underdog is 7-0 ATS in the last seven and the SU winner has cashed in nine of the last 10 series battles.
In addition to starting the season on a 5-1 ATS tear, the Lakers are on pointspread runs of 23-10-1 on the road, 18-5-1 against the Western Conference, 5-1 against the Southwest Division and 6-2 when playing on back-to-back nights. New Orleans is also in the midst of several positive ATS runs, including 25-9-1 at home, 21-6 against the Pacific Division and 35-16-1 on Wednesdays.
The under is 7-3 in the Lakers’ last 10 against the Western Conference, 5-2 in their last seven against the Southwest Division, 2-1 on the road this year and 4-1 in the Hornets’ last five at home. However, the over is 10-4 in New Orleans’ last 14 games on Wednesday, 12-4 in the last 16 series meetings between these squads and 6-2 in the last series meetings in the Big Easy.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Houston (4-3, 2-5 ATS) at Phoenix (6-2, 5-3 ATS)
The Suns, who are off to a strong start under first-year coach Terry Porter, gun for their third straight victory when they host the Rockets at the US Airways Center.
Phoenix returned home from a four-game, five-day road trip on Sunday and outlasted the Grizzlies 107-102, but never threatened to cover as an 11½-point home chalk. It marked the first time all season that the SU winner failed to cover a pointspread in a Suns game. Phoenix has scored at least 103 points in all six of its victories, while averaging 89 points in its two defeats.
Houston started the season with three straight double-digit victories but has lost three of its last four. That includes Sunday’s embarrassing 111-82 loss at the Lakers as a seven-point road underdog, as the Rockets fell to 2-6 ATS since the end of last season (1-4 ATS in the last five). Houston has scored in triple digits just once in its last 16 games dating to the end of last year’s regular season.
These teams have alternated wins and losses in their last six meetings, with the home team going 4-2 SU during this stretch. However, going back to the 2005-06 season, the Suns are 9-2 ATS against the Rockets (4-1 ATS at home), and the favorite has cashed in seven of the last 10 series meetings. Lastly, going back several years, the visitor is 20-9 ATS in this rivalry.
The Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last seven against the Western Conference, but they had cashed in four straight versus the Pacific Division before Sunday’s loss to the Lakers. Meanwhile, the Suns are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a non-cover.
The over is 4-1 in Houston’s last five road games, 6-2 in Phoenix’s last six overall, 4-1 in Phoenix’s last five at home and 10-3 in Phoenix’s last 13 games on Wednesday. However, five of the last six Rockets-Suns battles in the desert have stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PHOENIX
Jimmy The Moose
Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers
Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning
Two struggling Florida franchises meetup tonight. The Lightning have lost 3 of their last 4 games while the Panthers are 1-6 in their last 7 games. Tampa is 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a team with a losing record. Tampa's team has some very talented offensive players but they are struggling as a team to score goals. Florida has been a bad team for several season's and that trend is continuing so far this season. Both team's are getting good goaltending and that should continue tonight but expect Tampa's offense to wake up tonight and pop in a couple more than Florida. Play on the Lightning +.
Big Al McMordie
Spurs v Bucks
Pick: Milwaukee
At 8:05 pm, on Wednesday, our complimentary selection is on the Milwaukee Bucks over San Antonio. Last night, Milwaukee lost 99-93 at Cleveland while the Spurs (finally) covered the spread, and won 92-80 over Mike D'Antoni's New York Knicks. This has been a frustrating year, thus far, for the Silver and Black. First, star shooting guard Manu Ginobili injured his ankle in the semi-final round of the Olympics, and underwent surgery a few months ago. Then, in the midst of a blowout home loss to the Miami Heat, point guard Tony Parker sprained his ankle, and will sit next to Manu in the stands for the next month. The Spurs have always been poor without Ginobili in the lineup (5-19 ATS last 24) and also have not fared well against the Bucks, going 4-15 ATS their last 19 meetings -- easily the worst opponent for Tim Duncan since he entered the league. The pointspread also is key here, as the Spurs are a dreadful 2-14 ATS their last 16 games as road underdogs of +1.5 to +6 points (check the line on Wednesday to see if this trend applies). Milwaukee will be without its best player, Michael Redd on Wednesday, but Redd is more easily replaced than either Parker or Ginobili, as the Bucks can generate scoring from its other players, while San Antonio is now starting rookie George Hill in Parker's stead, while Roger Mason, Jr. is filling in admirably for Ginobili. Take Milwaukee.
DAVE COKIN
LOS ANGELES LAKERS / NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Take NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
The Lakers are still sporting a perfect record after grinding out a tough win at Dallas on Tuesday night. But now they have to travel to New Orleans for a Wednesday night tilt, and you know the Hornets will want this one badly. I won't try to beat the Lakers too many times this year, but tonight looks like a spot where LA finally drop one. Back the Hornets as very small home chalk.
JIM FEIST
HOUSTON ROCKETS / PHOENIX SUNS
Take PHOENIX SUNS
The Rockets have started off winning four of their first seven games. They were beaten handily in LA by the Lakers on Sunday, 111-82. Yao Ming looks fully recovered from his injury that sidelined him last year as he leads the team in points (16.6) and rebounds (9.1). Tracy McGrady is averaging 5.3 assists per game and 16.4 ppg. Much traveled Ron Artest is contributing too, averaging 15.7 ppg and 5.3 rebounds. The Rockets are now 27th in the NBA in shooting percentage (41.3) and 24th in scoring (93.5 ppg). The Phoenix Suns are playing well under first year coach Terry Porter, winning six of their first eight games. Porter has stressed defense this year and it's paying off as the Suns allow 98.6 ppg - only the Lakers are better in the Pacific division. Amare Stoudemire leads the team in scoring (24.6) and rebounds (8.4). Porter is also trying to preserve his big man, Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq has played in 60 games or more just once in the past three seasons. Porter plans on sitting the big guy out in the second half of back-to-back games this season. "People talk about the old Suns teams," Porter said. "Name one of those teams that had a 7-2, 300-pound guy that played in the middle. It's totally different. Just the whole makeup of this team is different." Rockets are watching their shooting percentage drop fast on this road trip, and it likely won't much better tonight. We'll take the Suns here and lay the points.
PickLogic
New York Knicks at Memphis Grizzlies
Selection: UNDER 205.5 1 unit
Karl Garrett
Temple -1 at KENT STATE
Kent State has played a pair of high-scoring games their last 2 times out, but both of those games were on the road. At home, the Golden Flashes are on an 11-5 UNDER run their last 16 games at Dix Stadium.
Temple comes into this one on a bevy of UNDER runs, as the Owls have played LOW in 13 of their last 16 games overall, and they are on a 10-1 UNDER run their last 11 conference battles.
With the nights in Ohio getting a little bit nippy, the G-Man thinks the defenses will dictate in this one, and we will be seeing a LOW SCORING game.
Take the Owls and Golden Flashes to go UNDER the posted total.
3♦ UNDER
Bobby Maxwell
Atlanta at BOSTON -10'
There are two undefeated teams in the NBA right now and one of them is the Atlanta Hawks. This young squad took last year's success in the playoffs and have parlayed that into a great start. But tonight they run into the team that ended that playoff success in an entertaining seven-game series. And we're going to play the champs to continue their dominance at home over the Hawks.
Atlanta took Boston the seventh game in last year's playoffs but that's where it got ugly as the Celtics won 99-65 as a 14 1/2-point favorite. In fact, the home team went 7-0 SU and ATS in the playoff series and including the regular season the home team was 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS.
The Celtics have won five in a row and beat the Raptors on Monday 94-87. Boston trailed at the half and then came out and crushed Toronto in the second half to improve to 4-0 at home but fell to 1-3 ATS at home, failing to cover as an 8 1/2-point home favorite.
Atlanta is off to its best start since 1997-98 and was on the court Tuesday in Chicago scoring 113-108 win as a four-point road 'dog. But coming back to Boston will bring back the memories of Game 7 last year. Watch as Boston puts out a motiviated effort and dominates this one, taking advantage of a Hawks' team that is on the second night of a back-to-back.
3♦ BOSTON
Sports Gambling Hotline
Orlando -6' at OKLAHOMA CITY
Good spot for the Orlando Magic to get back in the win column, as the Magic is off a Monday 7-point home loss, as the 7-point favorite against Portland. The sledding should be a little easier tonight, as Orlando takes on a struggling Thunder team that has dropped their last 4.
Oklahoma City is just 1-3 straight up in their new digs, and 1-2-1 against the spread in those 4 games.
Orlando is playing just their second road game of the season, and they have had recent success against the Sonics/Thunder, as Orlando has swept the last pair of season series meetings, covering the last 3 meetings against the Thunder.
Oklahoma City is having all kinds of trouble scoring points, averaging just 86 points per game at home. Orlando will be able to pull away from Oklahoma City before this one is done, as the Magic start their road trip with a win, and cover.
Play on Orlando.
2♦ ORLANDO
Chris Jordan
Houston at PHOENIX -3'
Who needs Mike D’Antoni anyway? Though he might have built the offensive engine that revved up every winter in the desert, and is now in New York trying to do the same with the Knicks, the Suns are still showing signs of their scoring prowess. The 6-2 Suns are near the top of the league in scoring with 103.3 points per game and field-goal percentage at 51.5 and come into this Western Conference clash after winning their second straight game on Monday.
Phoenix got a season-high 27 points and 10-for-13 shooting from reserve Leandro Barbosa in a 107-102 victory over Memphis, and will look to keep its win streak alive against the struggling Rockets, who have failed to live up to the defensive billing they were tagged with during the preseason.
Houston ranks in the middle of the pack in field-goal percentage defense, allowing 44.8 percent shooting. And though the Rockets have held their foes to a modest 92.6 points per game – buyer beware – that defensive scoring average includes wins over a trio of hapless teams: Memphis, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Clippers - teams that are a combined 5-17.
In their other four contests, the Rockets have given up an average of 104.3 points, including a season-high 111 points in a loss to the Lakers on Sunday.
And while the Rockets are mired in ATS skids of 1-4 overall, 2-5 against the Western Conference and 3-8 when visiting a team with a winning home record, the Suns are 9-1 ATS in games that follow a spread setback and 9-2 in this particular series.
Phoenix has also covered four of its last five at home versus Houston. Lay the chalk and look for a victory of around six points.
1♦ SUNS
Jeff Benton
For Wednesday, we’ll back the Hornets in their big home game against the Lakers.
With one exception – an 87-79 home loss to the Hawks a week ago – the Hornets have played pretty good basketball, including posting impressive road wins over the Warriors and Suns and scoring double-digit home routs of the Cavaliers and Heat. But rest assured, this is the biggest game of the young season for Chris Paul and Co., as this is a litmus test to see if they’re indeed going to be among the Western Conference’s elite teams. It likely won’t be easy, as the Lakers are off to an impressive 6-0 start after last night’s 106-99 win at the Mavericks. But we all know that L.A. isn’t going 82-0, and this looks to be as good a spot as any for their first slip-up of the season.
For one thing, the Lakers are in a back-to-back situation against a top-flight team – never an easy scenario. It becomes even more dicey when you consider the kind of defense the Hornets are playing. Since allowing 103 points in a season-opening win at Golden State, New Orleans has held its last five opponents to an average of 91 points per game, and they’re giving up just 89.3 ppg at home. Also, the Hornets have been a strong bet in their own building going back to last year, posting a 25-9-1 ATS mark, and they’ve been solid against Pacific Division foes (21-6 ATS in the last 27).
New Orleans has covered the spread in five of its last seven games against the Lakers, going 2-2 SU last year. With an extra day to prepare, I’ll side with the home team in what should be an entertaining game.
3♦ NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Scott Delaney
Playing in its second game on back-to-back nights, we’re going to side with the Raptors here. I know we’re taking a team coming off three straight road games, but it last played on Monday night in Boston, and it’s the Sixers who should be worried about being upbeat for this road game. They’re losing by an average of 14 points on the highway in three road losses. Atlanta beat the Sixers by 7, the Heat got it done by 23 and one night later it was the Magic by 10.
Philly had four days off before last night’s game with Utah, which came out firing against the Sixers, and now it has to attempt to thwart a team that split its two home games and will be looking to save face with a win an impressive win for the home crowd. Though the Raptors are 0-2 ATS in their two home games, they’re 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS the last nine times these two have gotten together. Lay the chalk with the Raptors here, as they’ll get this done by at least eight points.
TORONTO RAPTORS
Jake Timlin
Your Wednesday selection is the New Orleans Hornets.
Without a doubt the Lakers as the most talented team in the NBA and the best, but not far behind in the West is the Hornets who I like tonight at home minus the small chalk. Yes call me crazy but if there is a game the Lakers are going to lose it will be to the Hornet in New Orleans. After all give thanks to New Orleans playing at home and having one of the better offenses in the league and one that can score on the Lakers I like the Hornets chances tonight. Helping us out even more is the fact that New Orleans covered 3 of the 4 games against Los Angeles last season and also the fact that the Hornets are get at home going 25-9-1 ATS in their last 35 home games. Flat out I feel that the Lakers are due for a slip up tonight in New Orleans.
All New Orleans!
John Ryan
Temple vs. Kent
Play:Kent State +1
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Kent State - AiS shows a 72% probability that KSU will lose this game by 2 points or less and has a 55% probability of winning the game. Supporting this graded play is a strong system that has produced a record of 27-26 making 42 units with the average play being a +251 dog. Play against road favorites versus the money line in conference games off a road cover where the team lost as a dog. This is analogous to playing BJ at the casino and being paid +$2.51 for every winning $1.00 hand played. That will never be reality, but this system is certainly so and is a demonstrative example of why I NEVER play casino games. here is a second system that has gone 22-6 for 79% making 16.9 units since 1992. Play against road teams with a money line of +135 to -155 and is a poor passing team gaining 130-175 PYPG facing an average passing defense allowing 175-230 PYPG after allowing 8 or more passing yards/attempt last game. A complex system, but one certainly worth tracking and playing when qualifying. This is a bit of a reverse situation for my casino analogy. The system is like a casino game that would give you a 79% probability of winning the game and still paying you even money for every win. The point si that the combination of the Ai Simulator and the supporting cast of systems, angles, and game research si what has made my clients a ton of cash for more than 15-years and counting. Join me tonight and every day and you will be glad you did. Take Kent State.
Tom Freese
Houston at Phoenix
Phoenix is 21-10 OVER vs. a team that allowed 100 or more points in their last game and they are 6-1 OVER off an ATS loss. The Suns are 4-1 OVER their last 5 home games and they are 6-2 OVER their last 8 games overall. Houston is 5-1 OVER away vs. a team with a winning home record and they are 4-1 OVER off an ATS loss. The Rockets are 4-1 OVER their last 5 road games and they are 4-1 OVER vs. an opponent that scored 100 or more points in their last game. PLAY ON 'OVER'