YESTERDAY'S RECAP:
We went 5-1 on plays rated 2.5 Units and above, and went 8-5 overall to pick up an even 10 UNITS last night... Enjoy another day of complimentary Buzz Word Sports picks on the house! If you like what you see, email us and let us know...
2/12 SUBSCRIPTION NBA:
Chicago @ Philadelphia 7:05 PM EST
Chicago +9 over Philadelphia (4 Units)
The oddsmakers must believe that the 76ers will revert back to their form of the past few seasons after the all-star break... how else can you explain installing Philadelphia as a 9-point favorite after their horrendous tailspin of the last few months?
Philadelphia has been absolutely awful in the role of favorite, as evidenced not only by their 1-12 ATS mark as such, and their 0-14 ATS mark as a favorite between two and ten points... now they face a Chicago Bulls team that is much improved on the road as of late, owning a 7-2 ATS mark in their last nine road games after being a terrible road squad for most of the season...
It certainly doesn't hurt Chicago's cause that they have covered each of their last four games in Philly, while winning their last two matchups straight up as solid underdogs against Allen Iverson and company... those last two straight up wins have helped to continue a trend where the road team in this series has won each of the last five games between these two straight up, and have covered six straight overall...
A seventh straight covering effort by the road team looks very solid in this contest, as Philly is fighting several strong trends against them in this contest... not only are the Sixers a terrible 0-8-1 ATS after scoring less than 90 points in their previous contest, but they are a terrible 1-5 ATS when working on three or more days rest this season... Philadelphia should be just happy to come out of this contest with a straight up win, as the Sixers are just 2-9 straight up in their last eleven at home, with the two victories coming by a COMBINED six points... and after their ego-deflating loss to New Jersey on their minds, Philadelphia may have trouble getting back on track against Jalen Rose and company, as Philadelphia is just 1-6 ATS after a loss of more than ten points...
Philly's D has been a major culprit in their recent downfall, allowing at least 97 points in each of their last four games, and considering that the 76ers have not scored more than 99 points in each of their last ten games against the Bulls, their chances of covering tonight's spread with a similar offensive performance look to be minimal at best... take the points, as the Bulls should take Philly right down to the final buzzer, with a terrific chance at their third road victory of the season...
FINAL PREDICTION: CHICAGO 99, PHILADELPHIA 96
Dallas @ Milwaukee 9:05 PM EST
Milwaukee +5.5 over Dallas (3.5 Units)
Milwaukee/Dallas Under 204.5 (2 Units)
The Mavericks have certainly been involved in some exciting games as of late, as each of their last three games have been decided by two points or less, and a total of just five points overall... in fact, take out the Denver Nuggets, and each of the last four Dallas games have been decided by just one possession...
While such drama may make for great entertainment, one thing it does not do is instill confidence in Dallas as a favorite, for the Mavs have dropped each of their last four games as a single-digit favorite, and are just 13-22 ATS overall since their scorching 11-3 ATS start to the season...
Dallas' 17-7 SU mark on the road may look pretty impressive overall, but four of those losses have come in their last eight road games... over their last fifteen road games, the Mavs have been an awful play, going just 4-11 ATS in that timeframe, and a horrendous 1-5 ATS on the road as a favorite of less than six points...
The Milwaukee Bucks have already proven themselves to be a formidable opponent against the Mavericks by covering three of the last four games between these two, and winning SU in Dallas in their last visit as a whopping twelve point underdog... the Bucks have found their success against the Mavs on offense, where they have poured in at least 101 points in each of their last four games against Dallas, and a minimum of 102 points per game in their last four home contests against Dirk Nowitski and company... considering that Dallas has allowed at least 100 points to four of their last five opponents, and an average of nearly 102 ppg in those games, we have a pretty good idea that Milwaukee will end up with 100 points or more in this contest...
If Milwaukee is able to follow through on cracking the 100 point barrier, not only should they cover this contest, but they should win this game straight up as well, as Milwaukee has allowed only one opponent to score more than 100 points in their last fourteen games overall... and in allowing just 92.2 ppg in their last fourteen contests, the Bucks are playing the best defense they have played in years - the results have been a 10-4 ATS mark in their last fourteen games overall, and a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS mark in their last three games as an underdog... look for that record as a dog to move to 4-0 SU and ATS, as the Bucks not only cover this line, but win outright over the Mavs...
FINAL PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE 101, DALLAS 96
Houston @ Utah 9:05 PM EST
Utah -4.5 over Houston (3.5 Units)
Yo, Yao... you and your Houston Rockets are slumping pretty badly right now, and it certainly seems like you and your teammates have forgotten all about the concept of defense, as the Rockets have now allowed at least 101 points in five of their last six games, and come into this contest with Utah on a horrid 0-3 SU/ATS streak, and a 1-6 SU mark in their last seven road games...
Where the Rockets have truly exposed themselves as a good-but-not-good-enough squad is in their road tilts against winning Western Conference teams, as Houston's offense has been shut down to the tune of 90 points or less (and an average of just 84 ppg) in going a whopping 0-7 straight up in their last seven games... all seven contests were lost by a minimum of five points, and an average of 12.9 ppg, so backing the Jazz as a 4.5-point favorite against the Rockets is not an exceptionally difficult task...
That task is made much more palatable by the fact that the Jazz are one of the best favorites in the NBA, compiling a downright awe-inspiring 21-6-2 ATS mark as a favorite this season, including a 15-5-2 ATS mark as a home fav... and with the Jazz having scored 100+ points in each of their last two games, and having held their last five opponents at home to just 86.4 ppg, the odds of Utah turning this game into a double-digit blowout seem pretty high...
Utah has now defeated the Rockets in three straight contests overall, and have also knocked off Houston four consecutive times at home by a minimum of four points and an average of 8.8 ppg... we'd probably feel a touch better about this game if the line dropped to four points (or if you choose to buy the extra half point), but even at 4.5 points, we feel strongly enough about the Jazz in this contest to recommend it as a 3.5-Unit play...
FINAL PREDICTION: UTAH 100, HOUSTON 86
Atlanta @ Toronto 7:05 PM EST
Toronto -5 over Atlanta (2.5 Units)
You never really know what you've got until it's gone... the phrase has been used many times over the years, but we're certain the phrase holds some weight with the Toronto Raptors after the calamitous season they've endured up until recently...
For the first time all season, the Raptors are in a stretch of games where their entire starting lineup is actually healthy... Vince Carter is finally back... Antonio Davis is manning the middle, and players like Morris Peterson, Alvin Williams, Voshon Lenard, and Rafer Alston are more prepared and more effective as complementary players after the time they have spent the past two seasons stepping up in VC's frequent absences... and in the five games the Raptors have played since VC has returned to the lineup, they are playing like a team that is truly appreciating the gift of health, as Toronto has reeled off four wins in five games, including SU wins against the likes of Sacramento, Indiana and Milwaukee...
In three home games since Carter returned to active duty, the Raptors have scored at least 100 points on each occasion, and have increased their margin of victory on each occasion due to a defense that has improved in each contest... now the Raptors get the pleasure of taking on an Atlanta Hawks team that has proven to be consistently bad on the road all year long and are playing with no rest, a situation which has seen the Hawks go just 5-9 ATS on the year... on the flipside of the coin, Toronto is a very solid 3-1 ATS this season when rested for three or more days...
On the year, the Hawks are just 4-19 on the road... and while the Hawks have been able to take down the Cavs and Sixers in two of their last four road games, they are still just 2-15 SU/ATS in their last seventeen on the road, and are a pathetic 3-20 ATS in their last 23 games as a single-digit dog...
Toronto should be looking for some revenge in this contest after losing by a whopping 117-92 margin in Atlanta earlier this season, a loss that broke Toronto's six game winning streak against the Hawks... and with the knowledge that Toronto has defeated Atlanta at home by an average of 22.7 ppg in their last three contests, we have pretty strong faith that a healthy Raptors team will continue their recent home cooking with a double-digit win over the Hawks this evening... lay the points, and ride the Raptors, as they win this one with relative ease...
FINAL PREDICTION: TORONTO 103, ATLANTA 92
Indiana @ New Orleans 8:35 PM EST
New Orleans PK over Indiana (2.5 Units)
The Pacers started off the season quite strongly on the road, winning six of their first eight games... however, they will need a win over the rejuvenated Hornets in order to avoid dropping below .500 on the road for the season after going 6-10 on the road in their last sixteen games, and just 1-3 SU/ATS in their last four away from Conseco Fieldhouse...
The biggest culprit for the Pacers has been their lack of defense over the past several weeks, as they have allowed at least 95 points in each of their last seven games... and while the return of Ron Artest to the lineup obviously helps their cause, Indiana still allowed 96 points last night in a non-covering effort against the Cavs to drop their ATS mark to just 3-9 in their last twelve games... to avoid another loss this evening, Indiana will need to shut down a Hornets team that is finally playing well after the loss of Baron Davis until March, and frankly, we're not sure if the Pacers are ready to play a solid enough game to pull off that feat this evening...
In defeating the Heat fairly easily last night, the Hornets have strung together three consecutive impressive wins, and will be searching for their fourth straight home win, after knocking off Sacramento, Boston and Toronto fairly easily to push their home record to a very solid 18-8 on the season... the biggest key for New Orleans has been an offense that has now scored 103+ points in each of their last three contests at home, while their defense has come up aces by allowing just 83 ppg in their last three games and just 87.7 ppg in their last three at home... and with the Hornets seeking an element of revenge after losing at home to the Pacers on New Year's Eve for the first time in seven visits by Indiana... and even in that contest, the Pacers needed a game-winning three-pointer by Reggie Miller to pull off the upset... without that shot, New Orleans could be looking at a seven-game home winning streak against the Pacers, and with this game currently set as a pick 'em, we like the odds of New Orleans getting back on the winning track against Reggie Miller and company...
The Pacers are shooting for their first series victory over the Hornets in six years tonight, and have lost seven of their last eleven games against Jamal Mashburn and company... however, with the Pacers 0-4 ATS in their last four games where the line has been set at three points or less, and the Hornets playing well on both sides of the ball, we like New Orleans' chances on coming out of this contest with their 19th home win on the year... take the Hornets to beat the Pacers and salvage the season series...
FINAL PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS 97, INDIANA 92
2/12 FREE NBA (no analysis):
Washington @ LA Clippers 10:35 PM EST
Washington +5.5 over LA Clippers (2 Units)
New Jersey @ Memphis 8:05 PM EST
Memphis +6.5 over New Jersey (1 Unit)
LA Lakers @ Denver 9:05 PM EST
Denver +10 over LA Lakers (1 Unit)
Thanks for reading, and good luck!!