Rocketman Sports Articles
The Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder have been considered two of the up-and-coming teams in the Western Conference, and to this point neither has really disappointed. Two teams with young rosters but exciting and dynamic duos will do battle once again when the Grizzlies visit the West-leading Thunder Friday night. This will be the third meeting between these teams this season, with the Thunder taking both previous contests in Memphis (98-95 Dec. 28 and 100-95 Jan. 10). Here’s a look at my NBA picks on the game. Memphis Grizzlies (12-10) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (17-4), 8 p.m. ET The Grizzlies didn’t look like an up-and-coming team early on, stumbling to a 3-6 start. Memphis, though, burst out on a seven-game win streak, but has come back to earth of late.. The team has been hurt by injuries to Zach Randolph, who has played in just four games this year after tearing an MCL in his knee on New Year’s Day at Chicago. He’s healing, but will be out for a few...
Rocketman Sports FREE CBB play Wednesday 2-1-12 George Mason @ Delaware 7:00 PM EST Play On: George Mason -5 1/2 George Mason comes in with an 18-5 SU record on the season while Delaware is 9-12 overall on the year. George Mason is 5-1 SU and ATS last 3 years as a road favorite of 3 1/2 to 6 points. Delaware is 1-22 SU and 6-16 ATS last 3 years when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games. George Mason is allowing only 63.3 points per game overall this year and 62.4 points per game on the road this season. George Mason is 5-0 SU overall vs Delaware the past 3 years. Patriots are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a road favorite of 0.5-6.5. Patriots are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Wednesday games. Patriots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. Patriots are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a road favorite. Blue Hens are 8-17-1 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Blue Hens are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games. Blue...
Friday night in the Rose City, two longtime Western Conference rivals will battle. One is looking to continue its upward trajectory into the elite of the Western Conference, while the other is trying to quell the tide of a bear market on its prospects. Burgeoning star LaMarcus Aldridge and the Portland Trail Blazers will line up against Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. This is the second meeting of the season between these teams, with the Suns posting a 102-77 home win on January 6th. Here’s a look at my NBA picks on the game. Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET The Suns started 4-4, but have dropped seven of nine since, including a 99-96 home loss to Toronto – the team’s third straight defeat at home. The Suns were 2-3 on their most recent five-game roadie, winning at New York and Boston, but they are still struggling offensively, ranking just 19 th in scoring (92.7 ppg). However, Steve Nash is having a near MVP-like year (14.5 ppg, 10.4 apg, 53 percent FGs)...
Rocketman Sports FREE CBB play Tuesday 1-24-12 Baylor @ Oklahoma 8:00 PM EST Play On: Oklahoma +5 1/2 Oklahoma is 9-1 SU at home this year where they are beating opponents by an average of 15.1 points per game this year. Oklahoma is 21-7 ATS overall vs Baylor since 1997. Oklahoma is 26-3 SU overall vs Baylor since 1997 including 13-1 SU at home since 1997. Bears are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning SU record. Bears are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall. Bears are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. Big 12. Bears are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss. Bears are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite. Bears are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Bears are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss. Bears are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road favorite. Sooners are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home underdog of 0.5-6.5. Sooners are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home...
The Los Angeles Clippers have siphoned some celebrity attention off their crosstown rivals for the first time in years, partnering Chris Paul with Blake Griffin. The Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to rise from the depths with a young point guard in Ricky Rubio playing alongside Kevin Love. Are these teams mirror images? The jury is still out, but certainly two of the best young point guard-power forward combos in the league will face off for the first time Friday night when the T-wolves visit the Clippers in the Staples Center. The latest NBA odds show the Clippers favored by 5 points, while the total has been set for 190.5 points. Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET The Wolves started 0-3 this season, but have won two straight and three of the last four games after a 93-85 win over Detroit Wednesday night at home, paced by Love’s 20 points and 17 rebounds along with Rubio’s eight assists. Under the up-tempo offensive tutelage of head coach...
Michigan State and Georgia have met just two times all-time, and always on a neutral field. The Outback Bowl hosts a pair of conference runner-ups as Michigan State, of the Big Ten, faces Georgia of the SEC. The Bulldogs won both previous meetings, 24-12 in 2008 and 34-27 back in 1989. Our latest Outback Bowl odds list Georgia as a 3.5-point favorite, while the total sits at 50 points. Michigan State The Spartans won the inaugural Big Ten Legends Division (7-1) and played an exciting Big Ten title game before falling to Wisconsin, 42-39, halting a four-game win streak. The Spartans were 3-2 away from home this year, wining the last two such games (at Northwestern and at Iowa). Defensively, the Spartans are one of the better teams in the county, ranking ninth nationally in points allowed (17 points per game) and surrendering 273 yards per game (169 passing, 104 rushing) while recording 41 sacks and forcing 22 turnovers four of which have converted into touchdowns (Jeremy Langford, fumble;...
2012 BCS National Championship Preview The BCS Championship game is no stranger to controversy, and this year is no different. LSU certainly deserves to be here. They went undefeated with one of the hardest schedules in the nation, plus won the SEC Championship game. The controversy comes on the other sideline, where Alabama, a team that did not win a conference championship and a team that already lost to their title game opponent, will be residing. No matter what you may think of the system, there is some or little argument that LSU and Alabama have proved themselves to be two of the best, if not the best, teams in the nation at the end of a wild 2011 season. And these two longtime rivals get a rare rematch for a national title. While the first meeting was in Tuscaloosa, this one will be in New Orleans the Tigers’ adopted home. This should make for a very interesting end to an entertaining bowl season, and a college-football campaign overall. LSU has won the last seven meetings...
2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl Preview The Sugar Bowl is likely to have a sweet matchup. Two of the more decorated programs in history, and a pair of the toughest defensive units in the country in 2011, will face off in New Orleans when Michigan of the Big Ten takes on ACC runner-up Virginia Tech. This bowl will be the first-ever meeting between the teams. Our Sugar Bowl odds show Michigan as a 2.5-point spread favorite, while the total has been set at 50.5 points. Michigan The Wolverines ended their regular season with three consecutive wins, the most recent a 40-34 rivalry win against Ohio State to win 10 games under first-year coach Brady Hoke, ending up second in the Big Ten Legends Division (6-2). The Wolverines were 2-2 as a visitor, getting beat by Michigan State and Iowa. The Wolverines rate seventh nationally in scoring defense (17 points per contest) and surrender 318 yards per contest (189 through the air, 129 via the run) while recording 28 sacks and forcing 27 turnovers three of...
2012 Fiesta Bowl Matchup With the selection of No. 3 Stanford and No. 4 Oklahoma State two of the most potent offenses in college football to play in this year’s edition of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the expectation is that this will be one of the best bowl games of the season. This game will mark the first-ever meetings between these teams. A look at the most recent Fiesta Bowl odds shows the Cowboys listed as 3.5-point favorites, while the over/under sits at 74 points. Stanford Stanford tied for the best record in the Pac-12 at 8-1, but a loss to co-champion Oregon left the Cardinal on the outside looking in for the conference’s first-ever title game. They did end their season on a high note, however, beating Notre Dame 28-14. The Cardinal also carry a 5-0 road record into the Fiesta Bowl. The Cardinal are the 5th-best scoring offense in the country (44 ppg) while recording 481 yards per game (273 passing, 208 rushing). Andrew Luck completes 70 percent of his passes for 3,170...
2012 Rose Bowl Matchup This year’s Rose Bowl will feature two very similar programs in recent history. One played in this game a season ago (Wisconsin) while the other played for a national title. Oregon made this bowl two seasons ago but has dominated its conference the past three years. The Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio will feature Big Ten champion Wisconsin taking on Pac-12 champ Oregon in Pasadena. This will be the fifth all-time game between the schools, with the Badgers owning a 3-1 series lead. However, the Ducks won the last meeting in Eugene, 31-28, back in 2001. Our latest Rose Bowl odds show Oregon -6 and the over/under at 72 points. Wisconsin Wisconsin earned their second straight Rose Bowl appearance by winning the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game with a 42-39 verdict over Michigan State. The Badgers come into this game riding a five-game win streak, which followed two straight defeats, which came after a 6-0 start. The Badgers were 4-2 away from home this year,...
