Bob Balfe
College Football
Purdue -8 over Central Michigan
This is the Super Bowl for MAC Conference teams as usually they never get to a bowl higher than this, but CMU played Purdue earlier this season and I just cannot get over the 31-0 halftime lead Purdue had. You have to ask yourself has much changed since then? Purdue did go 0-3 down the stretch so its not like they should feel bad about playing is less of a bowl game for a Big 10. Purdue is lucky to even be in a bowl game so this team should be grateful and I think they are coming into this game focused. This game is about class and Purdue is just a step above the CMU in terms of football players. Both teams run similar offenses which will make it easier for the Purdue defense to read and harder for CMU's defense because they just don't have the talent to cover four or five wide receivers. Again, Purdue crushed CMU earlier this year and not much has changed. Take Purdue.
(All hoops wagers should be 1/3 of your average football wager)
NBA Basketball
Heat +2.5 over Sixers
Dr Bob
Wednesday NBA Opinion
Detroit (-5 ½) over NEW JERSEY
New Jersey is coming off consecutive upset wins over Miami and Golden State, but Detroit comes into this game having covered in 12 of their last 14 games. Detroit is also 36-19 ATS in regular season road games since the beginning of last season while New Jersey is only 4-12 ATS as home this season and 4-10 ATS as a home dog since last season. My ratings favor Detroit by 8 points in this game and I’ll lean with the Pistons based on the line value.
INDIAN COWBOY
Sacramento +7.5
Hornets/Grizz o 201.5 POD
Charllote -4 over the Wizz
Seabass
10* Purdue
Hockey
10* Toronto/Islanders Under
Baskets Pro
7* Chicago Bulls + 9 1/2
10* Boston -7, Golden State - 12 1/2, Detroit - 5 1/2
Net Prophet
NBA:
Chicago +9' over San Antonio
Dallas +3 over Utah
NHL:
Atlanta +115 over Columbus
Carolina/NY Rangers UNDER 5' -130
Marco D'Angelo | NBA Sides Single-Dime Bet
NJN 6.0 vs DET
Analysis: New Jersey has posted back to back WINS and look like a live dog here against the Red Hot Pistons. Feeling here is line has been over adjusted due to recent streak of Detroit. Take the Home side as they keep it close and don't be surprised if they pull out the outright win. TAKE NEW JERSEY and make them a SINGLE DIME PLAY.
UTA / DAL Under 203.0 Bodog
Analysis: OK this one is real simple as Vegas has told me all I need to know here. Dallas & Utah has already played this year with Dallas Winning 125-117. The total in that game was 209' easily going over the total. So I ask you why did Vegas set the Total at 203' today. Simple because the right side is the Under and that's what I'm playing. TAKE DALLAS/UTAH UNDER as MARCO'S NBA PLAY OF THE DAY and make them a DOUBLE DIME PLAY.
David Malinsky
REASON FOR PICK: 4* MINNESOTA/GOLDEN STATE Over
Every once in a while so far this season we have been able to see Don Nelson’s Warriors playing the kind of explosive open-court basketball that they showed in last spring’s outstanding playoff run. And in truth, to even see it on occasion has been a major positive, considering what they have had to deal with. Not only have injuries taken a toll, but the schedule maker has also been most unkind – only once in the last 23 games have they had more than a single day to prepare for their opponent. That is not the case tonight. Now all hands are on deck, and they have been off since Sunday, which means a chance to see a real burst of energy. It also means an easy Over in this matchup.
Randy Wittman will not give Nelson much sympathy; injuries have wrecked any chance to develop a chemistry with his already limited roster. But that also changes in a major way tonight. While the individual pieces are still nothing special, Wittman gets a lot more to work with, as Marko Jaric, Rashad McCants and Greg Buckner have all returned to practice. Of that group only McCants played in last week’s 109-98 Golden State win in Minneapolis, and Antoine Walker also sat that one out. As a result what had been a loose and free flowing game completely bogged down in the latter stages, with a 39-point fourth quarter not reflecting at all that pace at which most of the evening was played. That works fully to our advantage from a value standpoint here – now two fresh teams begin the game at an even faster tempo, and with the underdog having the depth to do some chasing it never does slow down.
Yankee Capper
NCAA Football
3 Units - CMU/Purdue Under 71 ½
2 Units - Purdue -8
NBA
5 Units - Washington Wizards +4 ½
3 Units - Golden State Warriors -12 ½
2 Units - Philadelphia 76ers -2 ½
NHL
5 Units - San Jose Sharks
1 Units - Carolina Hurricanes
NCAA Basketball
2 Units - Louisville -23
Black Magic Sports
5 Unit Black Magic NBA Total of the Day on Nuggets OVER 208
This game will go way over the total tonight. The Nuggets score points at will but play little defense. Milwaukee is 18-8 OVER off a home win over the last 2 seasons. Denver is 25-12 OVER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 2 seasons. Denver is 18-5 OVER after a road game where both teams score 100 or more points over the last 2 seasons. Cash in with the OVER 208 points.
3 Unit Sharp Play on Dallas Mavericks +3
The Dallas Mavericks are a great pick tonight at Utah . Utah has lost 9 out of their last 11 games overall. The Mavs beat the Jazz by 8 points earlier in December. Dallas is 53-29 ATS in road games when playing 4 or less games in 10 days since 1996. Dallas 51-30 ATS in road games after a game where they made 50% of their 3 point shots or better since 1996. Cash in with the Mavericks as the favorite.
Wayne Root
Chairman: C. Michigan
Millionaire: Atlanta Hawks
ATS LOCK
4 Purdue -7 1/2
Hoops
4 Dallas +3
4 Over 188 Boston
ATS FINANCIAL
3 Under 72 Purd
Hoops
4 Denver -8
3 New Orleans -2 1/2
L. Ness Oddsmaker's Error-NBA total (1st TY!)
My Oddsmaker's Error is on Dal/Ut Over at 9:05 ET.
Dallas (19-9) is nearly two-thirds of the way to its total number of losses from all of last season when it finished an NBA-best 67-15. However, the Mavs will go for a season-high sixth straight win tonight when they visit the Jazz in a rematch of a high-scoring game from earlier this month. Utah (15-14) got off to a strong start before losing nine of its last 11 games to fall into third place in the Northwest Division, which it won last season. The Jazz completed a 1-3 road trip with a 104-102 loss at Miami on Saturday. This is the first meeting between the teams since Utah's Deron Williams and Dallas' Josh Howard engaged in a scoring duel in the Mavs' 125-117 victory on Dec 8. Both players had career highs as Williams scored 41 points but was bested by Howard's 47. Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points on Friday in a 102-89 win over the Clippers, after he turned in back-to-back 31-point efforts. The reigning league MVP started a bit slowly this year, scoring at 30 points or more just four times in his first 25 games. However, he's "in the zone" these days, with those three straight 30-point games and FIVE in his last nine! Utah's Carlos Boozer (24.7-8.7) also creates a matchup problem for Dallas and I have no explanation for why this total opened about six points lower than the closing total of the previous game. Oddsmaker's Error on Dal/Utah Over.
L. Ness Weekly Wipeout Winner-NBA
My Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Den Nuggets at 9:05 ET.
In Saturday's 103-99 win over Charlotte, Yi was 14-of-17 from the field for Milwaukee, while compiling a career-high 29 points and 10 rebounds. He had averaged 10.3 points coming in but gave Milwaukee a glimpse of what they were hoping for when they drafted the 6-foot-11 Chinese forward sixth overall. Michael Redd (23.9-5.2-3.9) added 27 points while Mo Williams (15.3-3.8-6.9) had 22 and nine assists in the game. Yi, who is averaging just 9.2 PPG on the road, will try and help Milwaukee to a rare road win tonight in Denver. The Bucks have lost five straight away from home, as well as 12 of 14 this season (4-9-1 ATS). Milwaukee has also lost eight of nine to the Nuggets since the 2002-03 season! The Nuggets should be happy to get the Bucks tonight, as Denver has lost three of its last five, with the two wins coming at home over Houston in 2-OTs (112-111) and at Sacramento (106-105). A 'breather" might be nice and the Bucks should provide the perfect foil. Kenyon Martin may miss again (strained hamstring) but Marcus Camby (8.7-14.3) came back from a bruised back to score 19 points and grab 14 rebounds in the win over the Kings. The one-two punch of Iverson (26.4) and Carmelo (25.4) will be too much for the poor-traveling Bucks. Weekly Wipeout Winner on the Den Nuggets.
L. Ness Las Vegas Insider (Motor City Bowl)
My Las Vegas Insider is on Purdue at 7:30 ET.
Ford Field has been good to Central Michigan, as the Chippewas have won two straight MAC title games on this field, as well as LY's Motor City Bowl. In QB Dan LeFevour, CMU owns the only QB other than Vince Young (while at Texas) to pass for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season. CMU is also playing with revenge from a September 15 loss at West Lafayette to Purdue, 45-22. Now here's the rub. CMU has NOT been able to play outside the MAC this year and unlike in LY's Motor City Bowl, the opponent is a Big 10 team, not a SBC one (MTSU)! CMU's defense ranked 106th in total yards allowed (450.2) and 107th in PPG (35.8). Its pass D allowed 65.4% completions, an average of just about 285 YPG through the air plus allowed 31 TDPs with just 16 INTs. However, that just tells part of the story. CMU allowed an obscene 553.3 YPG and 52.8 PPG in its four non-MAC games TY (excluding Army)! As for the "talented Mr. LeFevour," he topped 204 yards passing in just ONE of those four games (twice held under 200), had a modest 6-4 ratio and averaged just 33 YPG on the ground (compared to 97 YPG in his other nine games). Purdue finished on a three-game losing streak and was just 7-5 on the year but all FIVE of the Boilermakers' losses came against teams which are in bowls (41-19 combined record). QB Curtis Painter threw for 3,985 yards LY and while he's down some TY (3,300), his TDPs are up from 22 to 26 and his INTs are down from 19 to 9! In his two games vs MAC opponents in '07 (Toledo and CMU), he's led Purdue to 52 and 45 points, averaging 302 YPG in the air and posting a 9-0 ratio. Las Vegas Insider on Purdue.
Cash & Profit Experts
Dallas +3
Boston -7.5
Kruger
Bulls un 186
B Lang
10 DIME PURDUE
5 DIME SIXERS
10 DIME PURDUE ? An pair of offensive units takes Ford Feild by storm tonight, and while the Chippewas highly explosive scoring machine impresses everyone, let's not forget the Boilermakers put on CMU earlier this season.
And while the common agreement is that Central Michigan's youthful roster has matured and become battle-tested, it's only fair to make you aware Purdue has done the exact same thing in a much tougher conference and against superior opponents.
In fact, the Boilermakers have played eight games against bowl eligible teams, and though there outscored by an average final 27.1-26.6 in losing five of those games, but they out-gained those foes 397-388. Meanwhile, the Chippewas were 1-3 SU and ATS in that same situation, while being outscored 51-25 and out-gained 537-427.
Bottom line is, the Boilers are in a better position to win this game handedly and should have no trouble duplicating the performance they displayed in a 45-22 win on Sept. 15.
5 DIME SIXERS ? After last night's loss to Cleveland, the Heat are now the lone Eastern Conference team with 20 losses. Miami's now lost three of four overall and is clearly the worst team in the conference, and now it play a team that has improved dramatically the past couple of weeks.
The Sixers have won six of their last nine, and should have confidence since they won three of four from the Heat last season ? including both in Philly. This is a much worse Miami team, than last season's version, so getting the win and cover should be much easier this season.
Spritzers Statement Game
I'm laying the points with the Celtics on Wednesday. Boston's off to a great start, but they've heard it for weeks, that they have built their impressive record against a soft schedule. Tonight, they begin a lengthy west coast road journey, and against a decent Kings' team. This will just give Boston's outstanding veterans even more motivation to come out strong and prove their start to the season is no fluke. The Celtics are a perfect 4-0 (3-1 ATS) against the Western Conference this season, winning by an average of 19 PPG, including a 12-point win over Sacto two weeks ago. I believe they're even better now than they were at the start of the season thanks to the development of Rajon Rondo, who finished with NO points in that meeting. He's been on fire the last five games, taking at least 10 shots per game, scoring 15 points per game and taking away the double-teams off of other players. It's a statement game for the Celtics and they get the job done on Wednesday with a big win and cover.
Boston is my GOM. Thanks! GL! Scott.
Michael Cannon
Wednesday's Plays...
20 Dime
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Take the points with Central Michigan tonight in the Motor City Bowl over Purdue.
Now, these two teams met earlier this season and Purdue rolled to a 45-22 win as a 21 ½-point chalk. The Boilermakers were up 38-0 at the half before the Chippewas made any noise.
So why would I back Central Michigan if they couldn’t cover a 21 ½-point impost earlier this year against Purdue, especially if the line is single-digits tonight?
Simple. Central Michigan is going to have the motivational edge here, first of all having revenge, but mainly because they have picked up three decisive wins on this field over the past 12 months, a pair of MAC Championship games and last year’s 31-14 bowl romp over Middle Tennessee.
Purdue closed the regular season with three consecutive losses, stayed on campus through December, and takes a bus ride to Detroit over the Christmas Holiday.
Sounds more like a punishment than a reward, doesn’t it?
The Boilermakers will also be fighting to get the rust off tonight, as they last played on November 17, while the Chippewas played on December 1.
Look, I know Central Michigan doesn’t have much of a defense and it’s going to take everything they have just to keep Purdue from marching up and down the field, but Purdue’s secondary isn’t anything special either, ranking 73rd in the nation.
Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour is an outstanding quarterback and can lead the Chippewas to several scores himself. He became just the second quarterback in college history to rush for over 1,000 yards and pass for more than 3,000 yards in one season.
The other one? Vince Young.
Pretty special company there for LeFevour.
Purdue is 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS in its last seven bowl games.
MAC bowlers are 10-3 ATS off a straight up win, and the Chippewas are 11-3 SU and 10-4 ATS in games off a SU double-digit win (they beat Miami, OH by 25 in the league championship game).
Take the points as LeFevour leads the charge and keeps the Chippewas within the number tonight.
10 Dime
HORNETS
Take the Hornets as the small road chalk tonight over the Grizzlies.
Memphis isn’t good enough to stay this close at home against New Orleans, especially since the Hornets will welcome back Peja Stojakovic to the lineup.
The Grizzlies had to make some adjustments while Pau Gasol was sidelined with a toe injury. Hakim Warrick and Casey Jacobsen were getting more minutes, while Rudy Gay shifted to power forward.
Now that Gasol is back, they can get back to normal but Gay looked liked he was struggling, scoring 19 points before fouling out for the third time this year and second time in the last four.
If the Hornets make Gay a point of defensive emphasis, look for him to struggle again tonight.
The Grizzlies aren’t good enough to overcome that, even at home.
Lay the small number with the Hornets as they grab the road win and cover.
5 Dime
PISTONS
Take the Pistons as the road chalk over the Nets.
Detroit throttled New Jersey 118-95 earlier this month at Auburn Hills.
There’s not much that’s changed between these two since that game, except that the Nets will be at home tonight. That doesn’t really translate into an advantage, since the Nets have been a terrible spread team at home, going just 3-10-1 ATS in their first 14 games at East Rutherford.
Detroit is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings and 5-2 ATS in the last seven in New Jersey.
The Pistons are just a far superior team and should walk away with an easy win and cover.
Take Detroit minus the points.