SPORTS ADVISORS
Cleveland (18-3, 17-4 ATS) at Philadelphia (9-12, 8-13 ATS)
The streaking Cavaliers go for their 10th consecutive double-digit win when they pay a visit to the Wachovia Center for a battle with the 76ers, who are off to a disappointing start to their season.
Cleveland ran its winning streak to nine in a row with Tuesday’s 114-94 rout of the Raptors as a 12½-point favorite and is now off to the best start in franchise history. Not only have the Cavaliers won nine in a row, but they’ve cashed in all nine contests, each of which has come by a dozen points or more – an NBA record – with the last four being blowouts of 20 or more. The average margin of victory during the Cleveland’s winning streak is 19.6 points per game, and 15 of the team’s 18 wins have been by double digits.
Despite the presence of LeBron James, who is second in the league in scoring at nearly 27 ppg, Cleveland has been doing its damage on the defensive end, holding 17 of 20 opponents to less than 100 points and giving up an average of just 81.6 ppg in its last five.
While the Cavaliers have been rolling all season, Philadelphia has failed to live up to preseason expectations and comes into this game in a 2-5 SU and ATS funk, including four consecutive SU and ATS losses at home. The Sixers have been off since Saturday, when they fell 95-84 to New Jersey as a 2½-point home chalk. Philadelphia has scored 96 points or fewer in 14 of 21 games this year, including being held under 90 points nine times.
Cleveland has won six of the last eight meetings against the 76ers, including three straight wins at the Wachovia Center. However, Philadelphia has cashed in three of the last four head-to-head battles. Finally, in the last six games in this rivalry, the visitor is 5-1 ATS and the underdog 6-0 ATS, including four outright upsets.
The Cavs have won and covered in six of their last seven road games, and they’re 7-2 ATS on the highway this season. Additionally, they’re on ATS streaks of 24-5 overall, 22-6 against the Eastern Conference, 17-5 versus the Atlantic Division, 8-0 against teams with a losing record, 4-1 on Wednesdays and 5-1 when playing on back-to-back nights.
In addition to its ATS ruts of 2-5 overall and 0-4 at home, Philadelphia is 1-7 ATS in its last eight on Wednesdays and 7-16 ATS in its last 23 against the Eastern Conference.
The over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings between these teams, including 5-1 in the last six clashes at the Wachovia Center. However, Cleveland currently is on under streaks of 6-1 overall, 4-1 on the road, 11-5 against the Atlantic Division, 4-1 against the Eastern Conference, 4-0 when playing on no rest and 6-2 on Wednesdays. Also, the under for the Sixers is on stretches of 5-2-2 overall, 22-8-1 at home, 10-2-2 versus the East and 8-3-1 against the Central Division.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CLEVELAND
Atlanta (12-8, 10-9-1 ATS) at San Antonio (12-8, 11-9 ATS)
The Hawks continue their four-game road trip and conclude three three-city swing through Texas when they invade the AT&T Center looking to cool off the Spurs.
Atlanta began its trip with Saturday’s 100-98 loss to Dallas as a 6 ½-point favorite, then went to Houston on Tuesday and got outscored by 10 points in the fourth quarter in losing 92-84 as a five-point underdog. Atlanta is still 4-2 ATS in its last six games, including 3-1 ATS on the road. Prior to this recent ATS surge, Atlanta and failed to cover in its previous seven contests.
San Antonio trekked to Dallas on Tuesday and outlasted the Mavericks 133-126 in double overtime, covering as a two-point road favorite. The Spurs are playing solid basketball, winning three in a row, seven out of nine and 10 of their last 13, with the SU winner covering the spread in each of those 13 games. In fact, the SU winner is 20-1 ATS in San Antonio games this year. Gregg Popovich’s squad had held 14 of its 15 opponents under triple digits prior to last night, giving up less than 90 points nine times during this stretch.
The Spurs have swept the two-game season series from Atlanta the last two years, going 2-1-1 ATS. Last year, San Antonio won 95-83 as a six-point road favorite and 89-74 as a 12-point home chalk. The Spurs are 11-4-1 ATS in the last 15 clashes with the Hawks, all as a favorite, including 7-0-1 ATS in the last eight meetings at the AT&T Center.
The Hawks are on positive pointspread runs of 4-2-1 versus the Western Conference, 4-1 against the Southwest Division and 4-2 versus winning teams. Meanwhile, in addition to its current 10-3 ATS run overall, San Antonio is on pointspread streaks of 4-1 at home and 8-2 against the Southeast Division, but the Spurs have failed to cash in four of their last five on Wednesdays and five of their last six when playing on back-to-back nights.
For the Spurs, the under is on runs of 21-8 overall, 12-3 at home, 5-0 against the Eastern Conference, 11-5 on Wednesdays and 14-3 after an ATS triumph. Also, the under is 3-0 in Atlanta’s last three overall and 6-1 in its last seven against winning teams. Lastly, the under is 5-1 in the last six Spurs-Hawks battles.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO and UNDER
Phoenix (13-9, 9-13 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (17-3, 11-9 ATS)
Nearly three weeks after smoking the Suns in Phoenix, Kobe Bryant and the smoldering Lakers try to do it again when they host Shaquille O’Neal and the Suns at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles ventured up the state Tuesday night and suffered a stunning 113-101 loss to the Kings as a 12½-point road favorite, ending a three-game winning streak. The Lakers, who are just 5-8 ATS in their last 13 games and 2-5 ATS in the last seven, had scored at least 104 points in 11 straight games prior to last night. Tonight, they return home, where they’re 10-1 on the season and outscoring visitors by an average of 13 ppg.
Phoenix snapped a four-game SU losing skid with Saturday’s 106-104 home win over Utah, then walloped Milwaukee 125-110 Tuesday, cashing as a 6½-point home chalk. The Suns, who have allowed 102 points or more in seven straight games and nine of their last 11, are still mired in a 4-11 ATS rut, including 1-5 ATS on the road.
The Lakers cruised to a 105-92 win at Phoenix on Nov. 20, covering easily as a 4½-point road favorite. Los Angeles has won two in a row and four of the last five against the Suns, and they’re 5-1 ATS in the last six clashes overall. However, the road team has covered in six of the last seven meetings, and Phoenix is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 trips to the Staples Center.
In addition to their ATS woes of 4-11 overall and 1-5 on the road, the Suns have negative pointspread numbers of 2-9 against the Western Conference, 5-11-2 on Wednesdays and 0-4 against winning teams. Meanwhile, the Lakers are just 3-5 ATS in their last eight home games, but otherwise are on ATS hot streaks of 35-17 in divisional games, 20-8-1 versus the Western Conference, 4-0 on Wednesdays and 4-0 when playing on back-to-back nights.
The over is 5-2 in the last seven Suns-Lakers tussles overall and 5-2 in the last seven clashes in L.A. Also, the over is on stretches of 7-2 for the Lakers overall, 8-2 for the Lakers at home, 7-0 for Phoenix overall, 4-1 for Phoenix on the road, 4-1 for Phoenix on Wednesday and 6-0 for Phoenix when playing on consecutive nights.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. LAKERS and OVER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Boise State (6-1, 3-2 ATS) at BYU (8-0, 4-3 ATS)
BYU puts its unbeaten season and 51-game home winning streak on the line tonight when it hosts Boise State at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
The Cougars edged instate rival Utah State 68-63 on Saturday in Salt Lake City, but came up just short as a six-point favorite. It marked the first time this season that BYU had won a game by fewer than 12 points, as the Cougars are averaging 79.4 points per game (51.2 percent shooting) and allowing just 58.1 ppg (39 percent) against Division I foes.
BYU hasn’t been at home since Nov. 22, when it beat Cal Poly 76-64 as a 23-point favorite, its 51st consecutive victory at the Marriott Center, which is the longest such streak in the nation.
Boise State ran its winning streak to five in a row with Saturday’s 85-76 victory over Colorado State as a two-point home favorite. It was the fifth time in seven games that the Broncos had put up at least 85 points, but they’ve struggled on the defensive end against Division I competition, allowing 74.5 ppg on 42 percent shooting.
This is the sixth straight December that these non-conference foes have squared off against one another, with the home team winning each of the last four meetings (3-1 ATS). Last year, Boise State prevailed 73-70 as a 4½-point home underdog, its third straight spread-cover against the Cougars.
The Broncos are on positive ATS runs of 10-4 on the road and 7-3 after a spread-cover, while BYU is in pointspread funks of 1-5 at home, 1-6 against the WAC and 4-10 in non-conference action. However, the Cougars are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games after a non-cover.
For Boise State, the over is on stretches of 28-11-1 overall in lined games, 14-5 on the road, 10-4-1 in non-conference play, 20-9-1 after a victory and 4-1 on Wednesdays. The over is also 20-9-2 in BYU’s last 31 Wednesday outings, but otherwise the Cougars are on under stretches of 4-1 overall (all non-conference games) and 4-1 against the WAC.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOISE STATE
(4) Gonzaga (6-0, 4-1 ATS) at Washington State (6-2, 2-4 ATS)
Gonzaga takes its perfect record across the state of Washington to Pullman, where the Bulldogs will battle Washington State in an annual non-conference meeting.
Gonzaga took part in the Hall of Fame Classic in Indianapolis on Sunday and had little trouble with Indiana, winning 70-54 but coming up way short as a 22-point favorite, which halted a 4-0 ATS start to the season. Prior to Saturday, the Bulldogs had scored between 80-83 points in its first five games, and they’re allowing just 60.8 ppg on the season (34.7 percent shooting).
Washington State started the season with five straight wins, but has dropped two of its last three, including Saturday’s 58-53 setback to Baylor as a 3½-point home favorite. The 58 points scored by Baylor were the most given up by the defensive-minded Cougars, who allow just 45.2 ppg (31.7 percent shooting) against Division I opponents.
Gonzaga had won seven straight meetings in this rivalry from 1998-2005, but the Cougars have taken the last two, both as an underdog. Washington State won 77-67 as a two-point pup in 2006 and prevailed 51-45 last year as a 3½-point ‘dog. The Cougars are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings, and they were underdogs in all 10. Lastly, the host has gotten the money in seven of the last eight series clashes, with Gonzaga failing to cover in each of its last four trips to Pullman.
The Bulldogs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven on the road and 5-11 ATS in their last 16 against teams with a winning record, but their 4-1 ATS mark this season has come against non-conference competition. Meanwhile, Washington State is 1-5 ATS in its last six overall (all non-conference), but 5-2 ATS in its last seven versus West Coast Conference opponents.
The under is on runs of 5-0 for Gonzaga overall in lined games, 4-0 for the Cougars overall, 6-1 for the Cougars against the West Coast Conference, 35-13-1 for the Cougars in non-conference play and 6-1 for the Cougars on Wednesdays. Also, the under is 3-1 in the last four head-to-head meetings. However, the Zags have topped the total in five of their last six against the Pac-10.
ATS ADVANTAGE: WASHINGTON STATE and UNDER
JIM FEIST
NEW YORK KNICKS / NEW JERSEY NETS
Take NEW YORK KNICKS
Ny Knicks played on Tuesday night at Chicago and lost a close battle with the Bulls, 105-100. The Knicks are 9-13 on the season and while they have just a 10-11 ATS record, they have covered the last three games. The Knicks have bombed away this year from three-point land. They average 30 per game and are hitting 37% of the long range jumpers. Now, consider this, the Nets are the worst team in the NBA at defending the 3-pointer, allowing over 40%. Al Harrington leads the Knicks in scoring (22.1 ppg) and Zach Randolph leads in rebounds (12.5 rpg). Harrington (6.9 3-pointers per game) and Jamal Crawford (7 3-pointers per game) lead the team from long range. In fact, Crawford is hitting 45.5% from three-point range this season. The Nets have not been good on the defensive end either, allowing an average of 105 points per game in their first 17 contests. The Nets have played better defense of late, with their best effort of the season coming in their win over Philadelphia. But, this is still the Nets and defense isn't exactly something that has been ingrained into this club. The Knicks long range shooting should keep them close in this contest. We'll take the nearly double digit line with New York.
DAVE COKIN
GONZAGA / WASHINGTON STATE
Take GONZAGA
Washington State is one of the best coached teams you'll ever see as Tony Bennett gets every ounce from his troops. They're also very well schooled in fundamentals and rarely give anything away. But this year's Cougars are just not all that talented and tonight is a spot where they are going to need a poor effort from the road team to come away with what would be an upset win. There's now way to expect that kind of showing for Gonzaga. They weren't especially sharp in a cakewalk Saturday against lowly Indiana, but the Bulldogs will be far more fired up for what they undoubtedly are counting as a very big game at Wazzou. This Gonzaga team is loaded, and could well be a Final Four entry this year. Man for man, Washington State simply cannot match up with them. I can't forecast a blowout, but with the number more than reasonable, I've got confidence that Gonzaga will bring home the cash with a solid win tonight.
Sports Gambling Hotline
Indiana +5 at TORONTO
The Pacers may be only 2-8 straight up on the road this year, but Indy has at least split those 10 against the spread.
Hard to recommend backing the sliding Raptors who were on court last night in a 20-point loss at Cleveland. That makes 5 straight losses for the Raptors. At home Toronto is just 4-5 straight up, and 2-7 against the spread.
Indiana was able to stop a 4 game series losing streak last February at home against Toronto, and we like them to keep this one close tonight.
Things are just too much askew right now to lay any points with the Raptors who are struggling mightily with the fact they are now 8-12 through their first 20 games.
Take the Pacers plus the points.
3♦ INDIANA
Karl Garrett
Charlotte +12' at NEW ORLEANS
Too many points tonight for the Hornets to be laying, as New Orleans is going to caught looking ahead to their huge Friday night showdown at Boston.
Charlotte comes to the Big Easy having lost their last 3, but the Bobcats do sport a 5-2 spread mark on the road, as they have been catching some pretty inflated numbers on the highway this season.
New Orleans meanwhile, has been laying some pretty inflated numbers at home this year, and while they are off to a 6-3 start straight up, they are only 3-5 against the spread at home.
The Bobcats stunned the Hornets outright in the first meeting this year, 92-89 as the 7 1/2-point underdog, as Cahrlotte has earned a 2-2 split both straight up, and against the spread the last 4 meetings.
G-Man grabbing the points in this one.
4♦ CHARLOTTE
Bobby Maxwell
Atlanta +8 at SAN ANTONIO
We're on the NBA hardwood for a FREE play tonight and we're going with the Hawks on the road as they take on the Spurs in San Antonio.
Both teams are playing the second night of a back-to-back but the old legs of the Spurs had to go into double-overtime Tuesday against the Mavericks and they just won't have the legs tonight when Atlanta comes calling. Grab all these points and play the Hawks in San Antonio.
Atlanta is playing the third game of this Texas road trip and the Hawks have dropped the first two, losing in Dallas on Saturday 100-98 but cashing as a 6 1/2-point 'dog and then losing Tuesday in Houston 92-84 and coming up just short as a five-point 'dog. San Antoino went two overtimes and beat the Mavs 133-126 as a two-point favorite.
The Hawks can certainly score points, but they've got to work on the defense. They average 98 points a game on the road but give up 99. Joe Johnson is certainly the star of this team but any of their starters are capable of going off and their up-tempo style will cause the Spurs trouble tonight.
Atlanta is on ATS streaks of 5-2 against the Western Conference, 4-2 overall and 4-1 against the Southwest Division. And look at San Antonio and they are just 1-5 ATS in their last six on the second night of a back-to-back.
Look, it boils down to this. The Hawks have the younger legs and they lost Tuesday night and didn't have to fight through double overtime. They will have the fresher legs and step up and get us a cover tonight. Grab the points and play Atlanta tonight in San Antonio.
3♦ ATLANTA
James Patrick Sports
Hawks vs. Spurs
Our Wednesday Night selection takes place on the hardwood in NBA Basketball action as we recommend # 712 San Antonio Spurs to take down the Atlanta Hawks. The Spurs are in their groove as they have survived early season injuries and are starting to hit their stride. This series has seen the home team win at a 5-1-1 ATS rate and the favorite cash in at a 11-4-1 rate. Atlanta not enamored with these Texas visits as displayed by their 4-11-1 series record and 0-7-1 ATS record in San Antonio.
Marc Lawrence
Play On: Philadelphia 76ers
LeBron James takes his traveling act to the City of Brotherly Love Wednesday night when they meet the 76ers at the Wachovia Center in the first of back-to-back meetings with Philadelphia. The Sixers enter off a disappointing double-digit upset home loss knowing they are 4-0 SU and ATS in this series when hosting the Cavs off a SU favorite loss. With Cleveland taking to the road off last night's home win over the Raptors, look for Philly to hand the King a royal setback on ESPN here this evening.
Jimmy The Moose
Ottawa Senators at Chicago Blackhawks
Prediction: Over
The Senators come into this one having played over the total in 3 of their last 4 games. Ottawa has the talent up front to score goals but they have struggled this season but over their last few games they seem to be waking up. The Senators will start Gerber between the pipes tonight and he'll be in trouble facing this Chicago team. The Blackhawks have played the over in 4 straight games. The over is a profitable 9-4 at home. The over is 19-7-1 in Chicago's last 27 vs. a team with a losing record. The team's have played the over in 5 of the last 6 meetings. Play the over.
Big Al McMordie
Atlanta Hawks vs. San Antonio Spurs
Play:Atlanta Hawks +8
At 8:35 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Atlanta Hawks plus the points over the San Antonio Spurs. Last night, San Antonio had a tough divisional matchup against its rival, the Dallas Mavericks, and that was also a big revenge game for the Spurs. Wednesday night's game against the Hawks is a classic letdown spot. Atlanta played as well on Tuesday night (at Houston), but the Spurs are a much older ballclub -- indeed, the oldest team in the NBA -- and have more difficulty than the Hawks in rebounding off a previous night's game. The statistics bear this out. Since February 2003, San Antonio is 45-54 ATS when playing with no rest; 175-156 ATS when playing with 1 day of rest; and 81-45 ATS when playing with two or more days' of rest. Take the Hawks as a live underdog here.
The Gold Medal Club
Dayton @ Creighton
PLAY CREIGHTON
The Flyers take to the road facing a Creighton team who's strength is the Flyers weakness.Look for the Jays to shoot 3's all night, while the Flyers will struggle to keep pace, as there field goal percentage is 29%.We also take note Dayton is 3-11 in this price range since 92.
Frank Jordan
TCU vs. Indiana U
Play:Indiana -1.5
TCU is 7-3 and have played two road games splitting them. Indiana is .500 with a 4-4 record but in 4 home games they are 3-1. Look for Indiana to get over the .500 mark with a home win over TCU. Play Indiana
Bryan Leonard
Charlotte Bobcats @ New Orleans Hornets
PICK: Charlotte Bobcats
At first glance you would think the Hornets would be the right side considering they are looking to avenge an early 92-89 loss at Charlotte. But we can't see any reason for the host to run up the score here. New Orleans is off back to back double digit home victories winning by 13 over Phoenix and by 19 over Memphis. They have had the last three days off and don't play again until Friday in Boston when they start a three game roadtrip.Charlotte on the other hand is in the middle of their own three game trip after playing Miami to the wire and having Dallas on deck. That four point loss to the Heat is very telling about the kind of effort Charlotte has been putting in on the road this season. Other than their opening night 96-79 loss at Cleveland, the Bobcats have been very competitive when taking to the road. While they posted just a 1-5 straight up road mark since the opener they have yet to lose by more than seven points in any game. In fact, Charlotte has lost only twice by more than tonight's spread since November third. This is a team that doesn't quit and we take advantage of that heart against a disinterested favorite.PLAY CHARLOTTE
Johnny Guild
Charlotte Bobcats at New Orleans Hornets
The hot Hornets have won six of the last seven games and six of its last eight against the Bobcats. Go with New Orleans to handle a poor road team, just 1-6 away from home this season and the worst offensive team in the league. The Hornets are 7-2 ATS in its last 9 meetings versus the Bobcats, 4-0 ATS in the last 4 in New Orleans.
New Orleans Hornets -12.5
NCAAB
Mississippi State Bulldogs -6.5
Xavier Musketeers -14.5
Butler Bulldogs +2.5
Indiancowboy COMP
Harvard +4.
Harvard has revenge from this contest last year when they were 11 point dogs and they lost by around a field goal in that game. This is a game that Harvard can win outright. After all, they are more mature from last year and healthier and they have a great player in Jeremy L. and will lean on him heavily per this game. I had this line sectioned off as Harverd as a 1 point dog to a pick-em so although it is not good enough for a play, it is still significant. Harvard will have its crowd behind it, will have revenge of course in this game and has shown some bite beating Holy Cross and others - basically the same team that Northeastern has. I just think the home court and having a crop of players that have revenge from last year, make the difference in this likely low scoring contest.