15* Heat/Spurs TNT Thursday No-Brainer on UNDER 209.5

The Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs will take part in a defensive battle tonight. This is a rematch from their epic 7-game NBA Finals series in which San Antonio had the title stolen away from them by Ray Allen and company.

Familiarity leads to low-scoring games. I believe the defensive intensity tonight will be very high in this rematch, especially as both teams are rounding into form as we enter the final 1/4 of the season.

One way to know that there is value with the UNDER tonight is the fact that the total has been set 4.5 points higher than in their first meeting (205) of the season. Also, eight of the past 10 meetings have seen 205 or fewer combined points.

Miami is a perfect 8-0 to the UNDER in road games after a combined score of 205 points or more in two straight games over the past two seasons. The average score in these teams has been 101.0 to 91.4, or a combined average of 192.4 points per game. Take the UNDER in this game Thursday.

15* Big 12 PLAY OF THE DAY on Oklahoma -8

The Oklahoma Sooners (21-8) have gone under the radar all season. Lon Krueger has done an excellent job with this team as the Sooners are clearly one of the best teams in the Big 12, which is arguably the best conference in the country. They are tied for second in the conference with 10-6 record.

While the Sooners do have some impressive road wins this season, they have done most of their damage within the conference at home. Indeed, they are 6-2 at home this season in the Big 12 with blowout wins over the likes of Oklahoma State (88-76), Baylor (88-72), Kansas State (84-73) and Texas (77-65). To beat all four of those teams by double-digits is saying something considering all four are likely going to the big dance.

West Virginia (16-13), meanwhile, will not be going to the big dance. It has lost three of four, including blowout losses against Texas (71-88), Baylor (75-88) and Iowa State (66-83). Its lone win came against Big 12 bottom feeder TCU, which has yet to win a conference game. The Mountaineers did beat the Sooners at home 91-86 in their first meeting, but that will just have Oklahoma out for revenge and playing even more motivated on Senior Night.

Oklahoma is 7-0 ATS off two straight games with nine or less offensive rebounds this season. The Sooners are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall. Oklahoma is 4-0 ATS in its last four games vs. a team with a winning record. These three trends combine for a 15-0 system backing the Sooners. Roll with Oklahoma Wednesday.

20* Atlantic 10 GAME OF THE MONTH on Saint Louis -7

The Saint Louis Billikens are coming off their first two-game losing streak of the season. They need a win tonight to clinch at least a share of the Atlantic 10 title, so they certainly will not be lacking any motivation. In fact, I look for them to play with more passion tonight than in any other game all season.

This is Senior Night for the Billikens, who rely on their seniors more than any other team in the country. Indeed, five of their top six scorers are seniors in Jordain Jett (13.9 ppg), Dwayne Evans (13.8 ppg, Rob Loe (10.1 ppg, Mike McCall Jr. (9.5 ppg) and Jake Barnett (4.9 ppg). I look for all five of these guys to rally around one another and to put on one final dominant performance in front of their home fans.

Dayton comes in playing well, having gone 7-1 SU & 5-3 ATS in its last eight games overall. But it has done most of its damage at home and against a soft schedule. Its lone loss during this stretch came at St. Joseph's (53-79) in blowout fashion. While the Flyers are overvalued due to their recent stretch of success, the Billikens are undervalued due to having failed to cover in six straight games.

Saint Louis won 67-59 in the first meeting with Dayton on the road back on January 11. That's important because Dayton is 0-7 ATS in road games revenging a loss over the past two seasons. It is losing by an average of 12.5 points per game in this spot. Bet Saint Louis Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Night Line Mistake on Orlando Magic +7

The Orlando Magic are showing tremendous value as a 7-point home underdog to the Houston Rockets tonight. While they likely won't need the points, I'm going to take them for some added insurance in a game that should go right down to the wire.

Sure, Houston is the more talented team, but this is a very tough spot for the Rockets. Indeed, they will be playing the second of a back-to-back off arguably their biggest win of the season last night against the defending champion Miami Heat. It's only human nature for them to suffer a letdown off that victory.

Orlando, meanwhile, comes in on two days' rest and ready to go. The Magic have been extremely tough at home over the past month. They have gone 7-1 SU & 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games overall with their only loss coming to Memphis by a final of 81-86. They have beaten the top two teams in each conference in Oklahoma City and Indiana during this stretch, too.

Another bonus is that leading scorer Arron Afflalo is expected to return after a five-game absence. The Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest. Orlando is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 home games. Houston is 0-8 ATS in its last eight meetings with Orlando. Take the Magic Wednesday.

20* NBA Eastern Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Indiana Pacers -4.5

Off a 96-98 home loss to the Golden State Warriors last night, the league-best Indiana Pacers will come back highly motivated for a victory tonight. They have only lost two games in a row one time this season, and it's not about to happen against a team they have dominated.

Indeed, the Pacers are 14-1 in their last 15 meetings with the Bobcats. They have won the last five by an average of 17.8 points per game. Indiana cruised to a 99-74 victory at Charlotte on November 27. Its last two trips to Charlotte have resulted in wins by a combined 52 points.

The Bobcats are in a bit of a letdown spot here as they return home from a grueling 3-game trip against San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Miami. They went 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS in those three contests, losing each by double-digits. That just proved that this team still has a long ways to go before it can compete with the league's elite, such as Indiana.

"Mentally, we've got to be way tougher than we are because it's time, you know, it's just time," David West said. "It's just not something that you can just say a week before the playoffs, say, 'OK.' You've got to work your way into it. But as a group, it's time. We've got a tough three-game trip coming up and it's just time."

"We've been getting away with playing sub-.500 teams and winning ballgames like these," Paul George said. "We just can't play with fire on nights like these."

I believe in the leadership of this team with West and George at the forefront. When they say they are going to do something, they usually go out and do it. That's why I look for this team to rally around these two and to come up with one of their most dominant performances of the season tonight in Charlotte.

The Pacers are 36-16-1 ATS in their last 53 games following a S.U. loss. The Bobcats are 13-27-2 ATS in their last 42 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Bet the Pacers Wednesday.

15* Louisville/SMU Top 25 No-Brainer on SMU +3.5

The SMU Mustangs (23-6) have been one of the most underrated teams in the country all season. They are once again getting no love from the books as a home underdog to the Louisville Cardinals (24-5) tonight. I look for the Mustangs to make another statement to let the country know that they are one of the best teams in the country, which they are.

SMU has had one of the best home-court advantages in the land. It is a perfect 15-0 in all home games this season, and 10-1 ATS in home lined games. It is outscoring opponents by a whopping 19.6 points per game at home. It has beaten the likes of UConn, Memphis and Cincinnati at home this year.

The Mustangs hung tough with the Cardinals in their first meeting of the season, falling by a final of 63-71 on the road as a 13.5-point underdog. They outrebounded the Cardinals 48-35 in that game, including 18-6 on the offensive glass. I look for rebounding to be a big factor as to why they get revenge on Louisville at home this time around.

SMU is 7-0 ATS versus good teams that outscored their opponents by 8-plus points per game after 15-plus games over the last two seasons. Mustangs are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Louisville is 0-6 ATS off an upset loss to a conference opponent as a favorite over the last two seasons. The Cardinals are 0-6 ATS after a loss by 6 points or less over the last two years. These four trends combine for a perfect 27-0 system backing the Mustangs. Take SMU Wednesday.

15* ACC PLAY OF THE DAY on Florida State -2

The Florida State Seminoles (17-11) have some work to do if they want to make the NCAA Tournament. They certainly cannot afford to lose this game at Boston College tonight, and I expect them to respond in a big way because of it.

The Seminoles have been handling the pressure of these must-win games quite well of late. They have won three of their last four, including a 71-66 victory at Pittsburgh and a 67-60 triumph at Wake Forest in their two road games during this stretch. They also beat Georgia Tech 81-71 at home with their only loss coming to red-hot UNC.

Boston College (8-21) has nothing to play for but pride at this point in the season. While this team clearly has not quit, I just don't believe that it is tough enough to take down the gritty Seminoles in this spot. FSU will want it more, and it will get it behind one of the best defenses in the country. The Seminoles only allow 38.9% shooting, while the Eagles give up 46.4% shooting.

The Eagles are 0-8 ATS in home games vs. a team with a winning record this season. Boston College is 1-10 ATS after playing its last game on the road this season. The Eagles are 1-9 ATS in all home games this year. Clearly, they have had zero home-court advantage. Take Florida State Tuesday.

20* CBB Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Providence -2.5

The Providence Friars (19-10) are one of the most underrated teams in the country. They are squarely on the bubble in terms of making the NCAA Tournament, so they won't be lacking any motivation tonight.

They have been handling this pressure very well of late as I have successfully won with them in each of their last three games. They lost at home to Villanova 79-82 (OT) as a 5-point underdog before going on the road and winning at Butler (87-81) as a 1-point dog and at Seton Hall (74-69) as a 2.5-point dog.

Adding to the motivation for the Friars is the fact that they lost to Marquette (17-12) by a final of 50-61 in their first meeting of the season. The Golden Eagles are pretty much done for in terms of making the big dance unless they win the Big East Tournament, so finding motivation could be tough for them.

The Golden Eagles are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 vs. Big East opponents, and 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games. The Friars are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games, and 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall. Marquette is 0-4 ATS in its last four games overall. Bet Providence Tuesday.

15* NBA Tuesday Total ANNIHILATOR on 76ers/Thunder UNDER 219

The books have set the bar too high with this total tonight between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers. I fully expect an Oklahoma City blowout, which will lead to the starters getting pulled early. The Thunder do not have a deep bench scoring-wise as their bench is mostly filled with players known more for their defense.

These teams met once this season with the Thunder winning 103-91 on January 25 with a total set of 208 points. Now, the books have set the number 11 points higher than the previous meeting despite their 194-point effort. As you can see, there's clearly value with the under here based on the 11-point difference alone.

Philadelphia was a high-scoring machine through the first half of the season, which created a lot of expectations. However, it has traded away two of its best players in Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner, and now points have been much harder to come by. The 76ers have been held to 100 or fewer points in six of their last nine games overall, including an 81-92 loss at Orlando last time out.

Plays on the UNDER on all teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 (PHILADELPHIA) - after going under the total by more than 18 points in their previous game, terrible team, winning 25% or less of their games on the season are 29-9 (76.3%) over the last five seasons.

Philadelphia is 9-1 to the UNDER in road games where the total is greater than or equal to 210 this season. Oklahoma City is 28-11 to the UNDER off a home win by 10 points or more over the last two seasons. The UNDER is 10-2-1 in 76ers last 13 road games, and 6-0-2 in 76ers last eight road games vs. a team with a winning record. Roll with the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

15* NBA Monday No-Doubt Rout on Minnesota Timberwolves -5.5

The Minnesota Timberwolves (29-29) are fighting for their playoff lives right now. They currently sit 5.5 games behind both the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference. As a result, you can expect them to lay it all on the line from here on out.

The Timberwolves have responded well to the pressure of these must-win games since the All-Star Break. They have gone 5-1 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall, which includes a home win over Indiana (104-91) and a road victory at Phoenix (110-101). In fact, all five of their wins came by 9 points or more. This team is much better than its record would indicate as it simply fell victim to a plethora of close losses in the first half of the season.

Denver (25-33) has clearly quit on its season. It has gone 1-10 SU & 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games overall, which included a 90-117 road loss at Minnesota on February 12. Not helping matters is the fact that the Nuggets are without their best player in Ty Lawson (18.0 ppg, 8.8 apg). They are also without Danilo Gallinari, JaVale McGee and Nate Robinson. Also, Kenneth Faried (11.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg) is questionable tonight with a knee injury.

The Timberwolves are an incredible 12-1 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Denver is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games overall, including 0-5 ATS in its last five home games. The Nuggets are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Minnesota is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 meetings in Denver. The road team is 20-5-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings. Bet the Timberwolves Monday.

20* K-State/Okie State ESPN Monday No-Brainer on Kansas State +9

The Oklahoma State Cowboys (19-10) are way overvalued here as a 9-point favorite over the Kansas State Wildcats (20-9) tonight. Asking the Cowboys to win by double-digits to beat us is simply asking too much.

I was all over the Cowboys as my 25* CBB GAME OF THE YEAR against the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday. I felt it was a bad spot for the Jayhawks considering they had just clinched a share of the Big 12 Title for the 10th consecutive season. I figured they would be in line for a letdown and a poor performance, and that was the case.

Kansas turned the ball over 22 times in that contest to essentially give the game away. Now, off such an emotional, big win, the Cowboys are the team in the letdown spot. They are getting a lot of love from oddsmakers due to that victory, and as a result, they are overvalued. I'll gladly fade them here.

Kansas State is one of the most underrated teams in the country. Sure, it has done most of its damage at home with wins over the likes of OKlahoma State, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Iowa State. However, I have also been impressed with some of its road efforts this year. It only lost at Texas (64-67), at Iowa State (75-81) and at Baylor (OT). This team has shown me enough on the road to know that it can stay within double-digits of the Cowboys.

Sure, this is Senior Night for Oklahoma State, but that means little considering it only has two seniors on its entire roster. Only one of those seniors actually plays significant minutes in Markel Brown. That's why I don't believe the motivation for Senior Night will really be there for the Cowboys, which won't allow them to overcome this natural letdown spot off the big Kansas win.

The Wildcats are a sensational 8-1 ATS versus very good teams that outscore their opponents by 8-plus points per game this season. Oklahoma State is 6-13 ATS versus good teams that outscored their opponents by 4-plus points per game this year. The Wildcats are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. The Cowboys are 10-25-1 ATS in their last 36 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Bet Kansas State Monday.

15* Stanford/Arizona ESPNU BAILOUT on Stanford +11

The Arizona Wildcats are getting too much respect from the books tonight as a double-digit favorite over Stanford. I'll gladly take the points with the Cardinal, who need to finish strong to assure they'll be playing in the NCAA Tournament.

Adding to Stanford's motivation is the fact that it will be out for revenge from a heartbreaking 57-60 home loss to Arizona back on January 29 in their first meeting of the season. I love double-digit road underdogs playing with revenge after losing the first meeting at home.

Stanford has been one of the most underrated teams in the country over the past couple months. That is indicate by the fact that it is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games overall. The Cardinal have impressive road wins over Oregon & California during this stretch.

Plays on underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points (STANFORD) - revenging a close loss vs opponent of 3 points or less, off a road loss by 10 points or more are 41-12 (77.4%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Cardinals are 7-1 ATS when revenging a loss vs. opponent this season. Arizona is 0-6 ATS off two consecutive conference wins by 10 points or more over the last three seasons. Take Stanford Sunday.

15* NBA Sunday Total ANNIHILATOR on Jazz/Pacers UNDER 189.5

The books have set the bar too high in this contest between the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers tonight. I'll take advantage by backing the UNDER in what I expect to be a low-scoring, defensive battle.

Indiana is the best defensive team in the league. It is giving up 91.2 points per game overall, and 86.6 points per game at home. The Pacers rank 1st in defensive efficiency, giving up just 94.3 points per 100 possessions. The Jazz rank just 23rd in offensive efficiency, scoring 100.4 points per 100 possessions. Utah also ranks 27th in pace at 93.7 possessions per game.

These teams met once already this season with the Pacers winning 95-86 in Utah for 181 combined points. The books set the total at 185.5 points for that contest, and now they have set it at 189.5 for the rematch. That alone tells you there is some value here with the UNDER.

Utah is 7-0 to the UNDER against teams with a winning record in the second half of the season this season. Indiana is 8-0 to the UNDER In a home game where the total is between 185 and 189.5 this season. The UNDER is 7-0 in Jazz last seven road games. These three trends combine for a perfect 22-0 system backing the UNDER. Roll with the UNDER in this game Sunday.

20* Marquette/Villanova CBS No-Brainer on Marquette +10.5

The Marquette Golden Eagles (17-11) are squarely on the bubble in terms of making the NCAA Tournament. They could use a signature win like this one at Villanova to boost their r

15* NBA Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Minnesota Timberwolves -3.5

The Minnesota Timberwolves (28-29) are essentially in a must-win situation for the remainder of the season. That's good news when you decide to back them considering they will be giving it their all on a nightly basis.

I really like the Timberwolves here as a short road favorite here against the Sacramento Kings. They are 5.5 games back of the Suns for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Kings (20-38) currently hold the second-worst record in the West.

Minnesota is surging, having won four of its last five games overall while going 4-1 ATS in the process. That includes a 104-91 home win over Eastern Conference-leading Indiana, as well as a 110-101 road win at Phoenix last time out. That game against the Suns was on February 25, meaning that the T'Wolves will have had three days' rest heading into this one.

Sacramento, meanwhile, is coming off a 122-126 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers last night. It will be playing the second of a back-to-back. The Kings have gone just 2-7 ATS in their last nine games overall, and they're starting to show signs of already packing it in given that they have little to play for the rest of the way.

Minnesota is 12-3 ATS revenging a home loss vs. opponent this season. The Timberwolves are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. The Kings are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Roll with the Timberwolves Saturday.

15* American Athletic PLAY OF THE DAY on Temple -3

The Houston Cougars (14-14) are in a massive letdown spot tonight. They are coming off an upset 77-68 win over Memphis on Thursday as a 7-point home underdog. I look for them to fail to show up off such a big victory, especially considering they still cannot make the NCAA Tournament without winning their conference tournament.

Temple (7-20) obviously has a poor record this season, but I've seen enough from this team to know that it is much, much better than its record would indicate. The fact of the matter is that the Owls simply have been on the wrong side of the majority of their close games this season.

The Owls have also played a brutal schedule of late as seven of their last eight games have come against teams that will likely be playing in the big dance in Villanova, SMU (twice), Louisville (twice), UConn and Memphis. The only exception was a 74-88 road loss at Houston, which places Temple in revenge mode tonight.

Houston is just 2-8 straight up in true road games this season. Temple is 16-4 ATS in its last 20 home games off a loss by 15 points or more. The Owls are 10-2 ATS revenging a road loss vs. opponent over the last three seasons. Temple is 8-1 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less over the last three years. The Cougars are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400. Take Temple Saturday.

25* College Basketball GAME OF THE YEAR on Oklahoma State +1

The Oklahoma State Cowboys represent my strongest play of the entire 2013-14 college basketball season Saturday. I fully expect them to win today with ease over the Kansas Jayhawks, and thus they have earned 25* CBB GAME OF THE YEAR status.

Oklahoma State just got back its best player in Marcus Smart (17.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.6 spg) two games ago from a 3-game suspension. To no surprise, the Cowboys have played two of their best games of the season, beating Texas Tech (84-62) at home and TCU (76-54) on the road.

The Cowboys are still in desperate need of victories to get into the NCAA Tournament as they are clearly a bubble team at this point. That will have them motivated, as will the fact that they lost 78-80 at Kansas on January 18 in their first meeting of the season despite getting out-shot 39.4% to 55.8%. It's amazing they were able to hang tough given those percentages, and I look for them to be flip-flopped in Stillwater this time around.

Kansas is in a massive letdown spot tonight. It is coming off an 83-75 home victory over Oklahoma to clinch at least a share of the Big 12 title for a 10th straight season. Having accomplished that monumental feat, I look for this young Jayhawks' team to lose focus and fail to show up today in Stillwater.

The last three meetings between these teams have all been decided by 5 points or less, so the Cowboys clearly have proven they can hang tough with the Jayhawks. Oklahoma State is 6-0 ATS in home games off one or more consecutive unders over the past two seasons, winning by 22.8 points per game in this spot. Bet the Cowboys Saturday.

15* NBA Saturday Undervalued Underdog on Orlando Magic +14

The Miami Heat are getting a lot of love from oddsmakers right now for how well they have been playing of late. They have won six straight games while going 5-0-1 ATS in the process.

Now, the Heat are clearly overvalued as a 14-point favorite over the Orlando Magic tonight. They have a tendency to play down to the level of their competition, and I believe that is precisely what is going to happen tonight.

Orlando has clearly not given up on its season. It is 5-5 in its last 10 games overall, which is impressive considering it has beaten Oklahoma City and Indiana during this stretch, which are currently the top teams in their respective conferences.

The Magic have a knack for playing the Heat tough on the road for whatever reason. They have not lost by more than 12 points in any of their last six visits to South Beach. In fact, they only lost 99-101 as a 13-point dog in their first trip to Miami this season back on November 23.

Plays against favorites of 10 or more points (MIAMI) - after 6 or more consecutive wins, with a winning record on the season playing a losing team are 48-19 (71.6%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Heat are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings. Take the Magic Saturday.

15* Big Ten PLAY OF THE DAY on Minnesota +9

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-11) are squarely on the bubble in terms of the NCAA Tournament. They are in desperate need of a big victory, and they have a chance to get that Saturday at Michigan (20-7).

Minnesota will be out for revenge from its 60-63 home loss to Michigan on January 2. It shot just 39.6% from the field and 26.3% from 3-point range to essentially give the game away. However, I like the fact that the Gophers outrebounded the Wolverines 38-24 for the game, and I look for them to dominate the glass again this time around, which will keep them in it.

I'm really, really not sold on Michigan. This team has bad losses against Iowa (67-85), Indiana (52-63) and Wisconsin (62-75) in three of its last seven games overall. It also needed overtime to beat Purdue (77-76) on Wednesday. Minnesota is coming off a solid victory against Iowa (95-89) on Tuesday in a must-win situation, giving it confidence coming into this contest.

Minnesota is a perfect 14-0 ATS in its last 14 games after a game where it made 60% of its shots or better. It is coming back to win in this spot 77.4 to 65.7, or by an average of 11.7 points per game. The Wolverines are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a S.U. win. The road team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings in this series. These three trends combine for a perfect 25-0 system backing the Golden Gophers. Roll with Minnesota Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Wake Forest -2

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons get the call Saturday as a mere 2-point home favorite over the Boston College Eagles. This is an absolute gift from the books, and thus let's take advantage.

Wake Forest has been dominant at home this season, going 13-3 while outscoring opponents by 8.5 points per game. Boston College has been atrocious on the road, going 2-10 in games away from home. Home-court advantage has been huge in this series as the home team has won three straight and seven of the past eight meetings.

Boston College (7-21) made its season by going into Syracuse and winning 62-59 on February 19, handing the Orange their first loss of the season. I expected the Eagles to pack it in after that huge win, and that has been the case. They have failed to cover the past two in a 42-69 loss at Miami, and a 59-66 home loss to Pitt.

The Demon Deacons are a perfect 6-0 ATS versus a team with a losing record over the last two seasons. The Eagles are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. The favorite is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings. Roll with Wake Forest Saturday.

15* Big 12 PLAY OF THE DAY on Oklahoma -3.5

The Oklahoma Sooners (20-8) should be a much heavier home favorite over the Texas Longhorns (21-7) this afternoon. The books have given us a gift here folks, and it's time to pounce.

Oklahoma comes in motivated off a 75-83 loss at Kansas on Monday, meaning that it has had four days off to rest and prepare to bounce back. Meanwhile, Texas is coming off a big 74-69 win over Baylor on Wednesday, meaning that it has only had two days to rest and prepare for Oklahoma. Those two days in the Sooners' favor give them a big advantage.

The Sooners already beat the Longhorns 88-85 on the road in their first meeting of the season on January 4. They won despite getting out-shot 42.9% to 50.8%, but the difference was their 39-28 rebounding advantage, including a 14-6 edge on the offensive boards. I look for them to shore up the defense, while also continuing to dominate the class in the rematch.

Oklahoma is 10-1 ATS in Saturday games this season. Texas is 0-6 ATS in road games after a game forcing opponent to commit 8 or less turnovers over the last three seasons. The Sooners are 6-0 ATS after two straight games giving up 9 or less offensive rebounds this season. These three trends combine for a 22-1 system backing the home team. Bet Oklahoma Saturday.

15* Missouri State/Wichita State ESPN No-Brainer on Missouri State +17.5

Wichita State (30-0) goes for a perfect regular season today when it hosts Missouri State (19-10) in their regular season finale. That is a ton of pressure, and I look for it to affect the quality of play for the Shockers, and for this game to go down to the wire because of it.

Missouri State is one of the most underrated teams in the country. You could certainly argue that the Bears gave the Shockers their stiffest test of the season to this point. They lost 69-72 as a 9.5-point home under on January 11 in their first meeting of the season.

Obviously, the Bears have confidence that they can beat the Shockers after that performance. They held Wichita State to just 35.3% shooting from the field and 22.7% from 3-point range. However, the Shockers were able to squeak out the win due to shooting a whopping 40 free throws, making 31 of them. They aren't going to get to the line that many times again.

Missouri State is 17-6 ATS when revenging a loss vs. opponents over the last two seasons. The Bears are 26-11 ATS in conference games over the past two seasons. The Shockers are 3-7-2 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Bet Missouri State Saturday.

20* ACC GAME OF THE WEEK on Pittsburgh -3

The Pittsburgh Panthers are showing tremendous value as a mere 3-point favorite at Notre Dame today. I'll take advantage and back them at an excellent price in a game I expect them to run away with by double-digits.

Pittsburgh (21-7) is undervalued right now due to having lost three of its last four games coming in. Those losses came against potentially three NCAA Tournament teams in Syracuse, UNC & Florida State, and all three came by 5 points or less, so they were simply unfortunate in close games.

Now, the Panthers get to face a Notre Dame (15-14) team that is clearly in rebuilding mode. The Fighting Irish have gone just 6-10 SU & 5-11 ATS in ACC play this season to really get exposed. They have nothing to play for at this point in the season, while the Panthers will be determined after losing three of their past four.

The Fighting Irish are 6-18-2 ATS in their last 26 home games. Notre Dame is 0-7 ATS after two straight games committing 8 or fewer turnovers over the last two seasons. The Fighting Irish are 1-7 ATS in home games when playing against a good team (win percentage from 60% to 80%) this season. Take Pittsburgh Saturday.

15* NBA Friday Total ANNIHILATOR on Bulls/Mavericks UNDER 192.5

The books have set the bar too high in this contest between the Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks tonight. I'll gladly take advantage and back the UNDER in what I believe will be a low-scoring, defensive battle.

Chicago is one of the worst offensive teams in the league this season, averaging just 92.9 points per game overall and 91.9 on the road. However, it makes up for it with a defense that surrenders just 92.3 points per game. The Bulls rank 2nd in the league in defensive efficiency, yielding just 97.7 points per 100 possessions. They rank 28th in pace at 93.1 possessions per game.

When the Bulls and Mavericks get together, Chicago's slow-it-down, half-court style usually reigns supreme. The UNDER is 5-1 in the last six meetings, and they have combined for 188 or fewer points in five of the six. Dallas and Chicago have averaged a combined 178.2 points per game over their last six meetings, which is roughly 14 points less than tonight's posted total.

The UNDER is 4-0 in Bulls last four games vs. a team with a winning record. The UNDER is 4-1 in Mavericks last five games vs. a team with a winning record. Chicago is 12-4 to the UNDER off a home win this season. The Bulls are 27-13 to the UNDER when playing their 3rd game in 4 days over the last two seasons. Take the UNDER in this game Friday.

20* Griizzlies/Thunder Western Conference No-Brainer on UNDER 193.5

I look for a defensive battle between these two Western Conference rivals who seem to meet in the playoffs every year. As a result, they are very familiar with one another, and familiarity leads to low-scoring games.

That has certainly been the case in the past two meetings between these teams. Indeed, they combined for 163 points in an 86-77 home victory for the Thunder on February 3, and 177 points in a 90-87 home victory for the Grizzlies on January 14. Seven of the past nine meetings have seen 192 or less combined points.

Oklahoma City has to blame its defense for a 3-game losing streak coming into this one, allowing 103-plus points in all three losses. I look for it to buckle down on that side of the ball tonight. Memphis is only scoring 92.9 points per game on the road this year, but allowing a super 91.5 points per game away from home. The Thunder rank 4th in the league defensive efficiency, while the Grizzlies rank 8th.

Memphis is 8-0 to the UNDER in road games versus teams who attempt 18 or more 3-point shots per game in the second half of the season this season. The UNDER is 7-0 in Grizzlies last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. These two trends combine for a perfect 15-0 system backing the UNDER. Bet the UNDER in this game Friday.

15* CBB Friday PLAY OF THE DAY on Providence +3.5

The Providence Friars (18-10) are squarely on the bubble in terms of the NCAA Tournament. That's why I look for them to be highly motivated tonight when they take on Seton Hall (14-14), especially considering the Pirates beat them 81-80 in their first meeting of the season.

Providence is one of the most underrated teams in all of college basketball. This team is a legitimate threat to make a run in the big dance once they get there due their veteran presence with four returning starters, led by stud point guard Bryce Cotton (21.5 ppg, 5.9 apg), who is the heart and soul of this team. The Friars have four players averaging at least 12.1 points per game.

This is a tough time of year for Seton Hall. It is coming off back-to-back losses to Creighton and DePaul to assure that it will not be going to the big dance unless it wins the Big East Tournament. That means that the Friars could find it hard to be motivated over their final three regular season games, and thus fade material.

Seton Hall is 0-6 ATS in home games versus good rebounding teams that outrebound their opponents by 4-plus boards per game over the last two seasons. The Pirates are 0-6 ATS in home games after scoring 60 points or less over the last two years. Seton Hall is 8-18-1 ATS in its last 27 home games. The road team is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings. Roll with Providence Friday.

15* Iowa/Indiana ESPN Thursday No-Brainer on Iowa -4

I had the Iowa Hawkeyes selected as a premium pick in the game that got postponed against Indiana a week ago. I am going to back the Hawkeyes again tonight as this is the make-up game with the Hoosiers, and the line is very similar.

I really like this spot for Iowa (19-8), which has lost back-to-back games for the first time all season, so it will be highly motivated for a win here tonight. It is coming off an 89-95 loss at Minnesota as the Gophers could not miss, shooting 61.2% from the field, and 57.9% from 3-point range. It was actually an impressive 6-point loss given those shooting numbers.

Indiana (15-12) is having a lost season as it rebuilds. It has gone just 5-9 in Big Ten play, including 1-4 in its last five conference games overall to play itself out of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers realize their only chance to make the big dance now is to win the conference tournament, and thus I look for them to struggle to find a reason to be motivated for the rest of the regular year, especially off a deflating 58-69 loss at Wisconsin where they blew a 10-point halftime lead.

Iowa is a perfect 9-0 ATS after failing to cover the spread in two or more consecutive games over the last three seasons. It is coming back to win 76.0 to 60.6 in this spot, or by an average of 15.4 points per game. The Hawkeyes are 38-17 ATS in their last 55 games overall, and 14-6 ATS in their last 20 vs. Big Ten foes. Take Iowa Thursday.

25* NBA Thursday Night TOTAL OF THE YEAR on Wizards/Raptors UNDER 197

The books have set the bar too high in this contest between the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors tonight. I'll gladly take advantage and side with the UNDER in what I predict will be a very low-scoring affair.

Familiarity favors defense, and these teams are clearly very familiar with one another. This will be the 4th and final meeting of the season between these division rivals. They just played on February 18 nine days ago in a 103-93 road victory for the Raptors. They combined for only 196 points despite Toronto shooting 57% from the field, and Washington shooting 47%.

It's very unlikely that both teams shoot that well again. In fact, that 196 combined points was the most between these teams in their last four meetings. They have combined for 196, 189, 184 and 166 points in their last four meetings, respectively, with the UNDER going 4-0. That's an average of 183.8 combined points per game, which is roughly 13 points less than tonight's posted total of 197.

Washington is 75-42 to the UNDER in its last 117 road games with a total set between 195 and 199.5 points. The Wizards are 11-2 to the UNDER in road games revenging a straight up loss vs. opponent as a favorite over the last three seasons. The UNDER is 6-1 in Wizards last seven Thursday games, while the UNDER is 20-6 in Raptors last 26 Thursday games. Bet the UNDER in this game Thursday.

15* CBB Thursday No-Doubt Rout on VCU -10.5

The Virginia Commonwealth Rams (20-7) will be highly motivated for a victory tonight as they take on Fordham (9-16). They have lost back-to-back games for the first time all season, falling against two of the best teams in the conference in Saint Louis (62-64) and UMass (75-80) by a combined 7 points, both on the road.

Their NCAA Tournament hopes aren't in too big of jeopardy, but another loss and they will be. I like their chances of getting back on track against Fordham in blowout fashion tonight. VCU already beat Fordham 76-60 at home on January 29 despite shooting just 33.8% from the field. I expect a much better shooting effort, and a similar blowout.

This is a Fordham team that has lost 12 of its last 14 games overall, including four straight all by 11 points or more to George Washington (67-93), St. Bonaventure (65-76), Richmond (70-82) and St. Joseph's (72-87). It appears that this team has packed it in at this point as evidenced by the four straight double-digits losses.

Fordham is 28-60-3 ATS in its last 91 games following an ATS loss. Fordham is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games vs. a team with a winning percentage greater than 60%. Fordham is 0-4 ATS in its last four games overall. Roll with VCU Thursday.

15* Stanford/ASU ESPNU Late-Night BAILOUT on Arizona State -1.5

The Arizona State Sun Devils (19-8) are getting no love tonight as only a 1.5-point home favorite over the Stanford Cardinal (18-8). I'll gladly take advantage and back this bubble team in terms of the NCAA Tournament in a game that it really needs to boost its r

15* Big 12 PLAY OF THE DAY on Texas -4

This is a very generous line to be able to back the Texas Longhorns (20-7) at home tonight as only a 4-point favorite over Baylor. That's especially the case when you consider the Longhorns already beat the Bears 74-60 on the road in their first meeting of the season despite shooting 18.2% from 3-point range and 58.8% from the free throw line.

I would usually tend to back the team playing with revenge in the second meeting, but not in this case. That's because I believe there is a ton of value here with the Longhorns because they have not played well in their last two games, getting beaten badly at Iowa State and at Kansas. Those two losses will have them coming back focused and determined for a win at home tonight.

Baylor (18-9) comes in overvalued due to having won four straight games to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. However, you have to consider that their two road wins came against Big 12 bottom feeders in TCU and West Virginia, and their two home wins came against teams in Kansas State and Oklahoma State that have not been very good on the road.

Texas is 28-9 straight up in all meetings with Baylor since 1997, including 13-3 straight up in all home meetings over this span. The Longhorns are 14-2 at home this season, which includes blowout wins over WVU (88-71), Oklahoma State (87-68), Kansas (81-69) and Iowa State (86-76) in Big 12 play. Bet Texas Wednesday.

15* California/Arizona ESPN 2 No-Brainer on California +12.5

The books are once again overvaluing the Arizona Wildcats, which has been a common theme here in the second half of the season after their torrid start. The result has been a 3-6 ATS mark in their last nine games overall, which has coincided with the loss of forward Brandon Ashley (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) for the remainder of the season.

California (18-9) is a bubble team in terms of the NCAA Tournament, and thus it needs this victory. It has played some of its best basketball on the road this season, going 5-4 in true road games with wins over the likes of Stanford (69-62), Oregon (96-83), Oregon State (88-83), Washington State (80-76) and Washington (72-59) within the Pac-12.

The Bears handed the Wildcats one of their two losses with a 60-58 home victory as a 6-point dog back on February 1st. Sure, the Wildcats will be in revenge mode, but asking them to win by 13-plus points to beat us is simply asking too much. That's especially the case when you consider that the last five meetings have all been decided by 8 points or less, including four of those by 4 points or fewer.

Also, California has not lost to Arizona by more than 10 points in any of the last 15 meetings in this series. That makes for a perfect 15-0 system backing the Bears dating back to 2006 pertaining to tonight's spread of 12.5 points. I'll take all the points I game get in this closely-contested rivalry. Take California Wednesday.

15* NBA Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Oklahoma City Thunder -12.5

The Oklahoma City Thunder (43-14) are trying to capture the No. 1 seed in the West. Two straight losses to Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers since the All-Star Break certainly have not helped their cause, and I fully expect them to come back highly motivated for a victory tonight because of it.

I faded the Thunder with success in both of those losses to the Heat and Clippers. Part of my reasoning was that Russell Westbrook had just returned from injury since the All-Star Break, and that they would be out of sync with him back in the lineup. Now, with two games and nearly a week of practice with Westbrook under their belts, they should be in sync tonight.

Helping matters will be the fact that they'll get to play one of the worst teams in the league in the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the Thunder come in on two days' rest, the Cavaliers will be playing the second of a back-to-back and their 6th game in 9 days, which is one of the toughest situations in the league today. Cleveland is also deflated right now after having lost three straight coming in, which really puts a damper on its chances of making the playoffs. The Cavs are also short-handed right now, playing without three key players in Anderson Varejao, Dion Waiters and C.J. Miles.

Mark Brooks is 51-25 ATS after failing to cover 3 of their last four against the spread as the coach of Oklahoma City. Brooks is 54-26 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite as the coach of Oklahoma City. As you can see, this team tends to respond in a big way off a poor performance, and a string of performances where they didn't meet expectations. The Cavaliers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a S.U. loss. The home team is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings. Take the Thunder Wednesday.

20* NBA Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Memphis Grizzlies -10.5

The Memphis Grizzlies (31-24) currently sit in 9th place in the Western Conference, trailing the Phoenix Suns by 1.5 games for the 8th and final playoff spot. As a result, they won't be overlooking anyone the rest of the way as they try and play catch up.

They certainly won't be overlooking the Lakers, who beat them 96-92 back on December 17 as a 2.5-point underdog. However, these are two completely different teams since that meeting. The Grizzlies are finally healthy, while the Lakers are simply playing out the string and playing different lineups to see what they have heading into next year.

Memphis had won four straight prior to an 89-92 loss at Charlotte on Sunday. They have had two days off since that game to rest, working on their mistakes, and prepare for the Lakers. Meanwhile, the Lakers will be playing a second of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after getting destroyed 98-118 at Indiana last night. I expect a similar beat down at the hands of the Grizz tonight.

The Grizzlies are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 vs. Western Conference opponents. Memphis is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games following a loss. Los Angeles is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games overall, which includes three losses by 17-plus points. Bet the Grizzlies Wednesday.

20* ACC GAME OF THE MONTH on Pittsburgh -6.5

The Pittsburgh Panthers (20-7) will be more motivated for a victory tonight than at any other point in the season. They have lost three straight games all by 5 points or less, and you can bet that head coach Jamie Dixon has been letting his players know about it. I look for them to respond in a big way tonight.

They'll have no problem taking care of hapless Boston College (7-20), which will pack it in now that it has won its signature game. It handed an uninspired Syracuse team its first loss last Wednesday, then proceeded to get annihilated 42-69 at Miami on Saturday. The Eagles have no reason to show up tonight, either.

This has been a one-sided series to say the least. Pittsburgh is 10-1 SU & 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 meetings with Boston College dating back to 1997. The Panthers have won five straight in this series all by 9 points or more.

Pittsburgh is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 road games when playing a bad team (win percentage between 20% & 40%) after 15-plus games. Boston College is 0-7 ATS in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season. The Panthers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a losing home record. The Eagles are 1-8 ATS in all home games this season. Roll with Pittsburgh Wednesday.

15* Missouri Valley PLAY OF THE DAY on Evansville -2.5

This will be the final home game for the Evansville Purple Aces. Despite being just 11-18 on the season, I look for them to show a ton of pride tonight and to send out their underrated home fans with one final victory. I look for that pride to show considering they will be trying to avenge one of their worst losses of the season in a 66-94 setback at Drake on January 1.

Evansville has improved greatly as the season has progressed. While it has lost three of its last four games, two came by exactly five points at Indiana State (54-59) and versus Southern Illinois (56-61). The other was a home loss to unbeaten Wichita State (68-84) in a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate. The Shockers simply pulled away late.

Drake is coming off a 54-83 road loss at Wichita State, which will have it suffering a hangover effect after playing the top team in the conference. The Bulldogs won't even want to show up tonight, especially having already throttled the Purple Aces once this season. They have seemed to pack it in, losing five of their last seven games overall with their lone victories coming at home during this stretch.

Evansville is a respectable 9-7 at home this season, while Drake is just 4-8 in true road games. Home-court advantage has been huge in this series of late. The home team has won four straight and six of the last seven meetings. The Bulldogs are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Purple Aces are 6-0 ATS after failing to cover four or five of their last six games ATS over the last two seasons. Drake is 1-7 ATS after a game where it made 78% of its free throws or better this season. Take Evansville Wednesday.

15* NBA Tuesday Total ANNIHILATOR on Raptors/Cavaliers UNDER 194

The oddsmakers have set the bar too high tonight in this contest between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers. I look for a low-scoring, defensive battle between these two Eastern Conference playoff contenders Tuesday.

One of my biggest reasons for backing the UNDER is familiarity. These teams literally just played a few days ago on February 21 as Toronto won 98-81 at home for 189 combined points. Just four days later, these teams square off again and are obviously very familiar with one another. Familiarity favors defense more than offense. Plus, the UNDER is 7-1 in the last eight meetings in this series.

It's also worth noting that both teams love to play at a slow pace. Toronto ranks 22nd in the league in pace, averaging just 94.6 possessions per game. Cleveland ranks 20th in pace, averaging 95.6 possessions per contest. One of the biggest reasons for Toronto's improvement this season has been its defense. It ranks 7th in the league in defensive efficiency, yielding only 100.9 points per 100 possessions.

The Raptors are 20-5-1 to the UNDER in their last 26 vs. a team with a losing record. Cleveland is 21-7 to the UNDER in a home games where the total is between 190 and 199.5 points over the last two seasons. The UNDER is 5-0 in Cavaliers last five games overall, 12-2 in their last 14 vs. Eastern Conference opponents, and 11-2 in their last 13 home games. Roll with the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

20* Big East GAME OF THE WEEK on St. John's -6

The St. John's Red Storm have been a huge money maker for me over the last several weeks. I'm going to continue to ride them as I believe they are undervalued tonight as only a 6-point home favorite over Xavier. This one has blowout written all over it.

St. John's (18-10) has gone 9-2 SU & 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games overall to put itself on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament. Its two losses during this stretch came at Creighton (60-63) as a 12.5-point dog, and at Villanova (54-57) as an 8.5-point dog. Those two teams are considered the top two in the Big East.

Xavier has been falling apart toward the end of the season. It has gone 3-5 SU & 2-6 ATS in its last eight games overall to nearly play itself out of the NCAA Tournament. ALL SIX of those losses have come by 8 points or more, including road losses to Providence (72-81), Villanova (58-81), Marquette (72-81) and Georgetown (52-74).

St. John's has not only been winning, but it has been destroying opponents. Six of its last nine wins have come by double-digits, including home victories over Butler (77-52), Georgetown (82-60) and Marquette (74-59). The Red Storm are now 13-3 at home this season, outscoring opponents by an average of 12.2 points per game. They'll be out for revenge from a 60-70 loss at Xavier in their conference opener back on December 31 when they weren't playing well.

The Red Storm are 8-1 ATS off two straight games with nine or less offensive rebounds this season. The Musketeers are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of better than 60%. Xavier is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games vs. a team with a winning record. St. John's is 5-0 ATS in its last five games vs. a team with a winning percentage above 60%. The Red Storm are 8-1 ATS in their last nine vs. Big East opponents. Bet St. John's Tuesday.

15* Oklahoma/Kansas ESPN Monday No-Brainer on Oklahoma +10.5

The Kansas Jayhawks (21-6) are way overvalued heading into this showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners (20-7). I look for this game to go right down to the wire as the Sooners give the Jayhawks a run for their money, which is something that should come as no surprise considering how competitive they've been all year.

Oklahoma is one of the most underrated teams in the country. All seven of its losses have come by 11 points or less, and six of those came by 8 points or fewer. Even the 11-point loss came against one of the best teams in the land in Michigan State as an 11.5-point dog. The Sooners have had a chance to win in every game they have played.

The reason Kansas is overvalued tonight is that it is coming off an emphatic 85-54 victory over Texas on Saturday. It was out for revenge after losing at Texas earlier this season, so obviously it had 100% focus coming in. Off such a big win, and having already beaten Oklahoma 90-83 on the road this year, the Jayhawks are in a letdown spot tonight.

The Jayhawks shot 54.7% from the field and 50% from 3-point range in that first meeting with the Sooners as everything went their way. Don't expect it to happen again. Plus, Kansas was highly motivated in that game as it was just coming off a home loss to San Diego State. It won't be nearly as motivated this time around.

Plays on underdogs of 10 or more points (OKLAHOMA) - revenging a loss where opponent scored 85 or more points, with 2 more starters returning from last year than opponent are 29-8 (78.4%) ATS over the last five seasons.

Oklahoma is 9-2 ATS versus very good teams that outscored their opponents by 8-plus points per game this season. This will be the 4th game in 10 days for the Jayhawks, while this will only be the 2nd game in 9 days for the Sooners, giving them a huge edge in rest. Oklahoma is 7-1 ATS in road games when playing only its 2nd game in a week this season. The Sooners are 6-0 ATS in their last six games vs. a team with a winning percentage above 60%. Roll with Oklahoma Monday.

20* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Los Angeles Clippers -3

I backed the Los Angeles Clippers +5 in an outright victory at Oklahoma City Sunday. I'll back them again tonight as a mere 3-point road favorite over the New Orleans Pelicans. While some might consider this a letdown spot, I look at it much differently.

The biggest reason I was on the Clippers yesterday is because they had lost two straight coming in and hadn't lost three in a row all season. If they were on an extended winning streak and had just beaten the Thunder, then this would have been a letdown spot. But, considering they've still lost two of their last three, the Clippers will have no problem giving the Pelicans their full attention.

I give the Pelicans a lot of credit for the way they have battled despite devastating injuries to two of their best players in Jrue Holiday (14.3 ppg, 7.9 apg) and Ryan Anderson (19.8 ppg). Both of these players remain out, and the Pelicans have faltered to just a 23-32 record to this point because of it.

The Clippers have won four straight and six of their last seven meetings with the Pelicans, including a 108-95 home victory in their lone meeting this season. Five of those six victories have come by 9 points or more, so the Pelicans have rarely been competitive with the Clippers since Chris Paul joined them. Bet Los Angeles Monday.

15* CBB Monday No-Doubt Rout on Oklahoma State -11.5

The Oklahoma State Cowboys (17-10) cannot afford any more hiccups if they want to make the NCAA Tournament. That's why they should have 100% focus going onward, and you can expect them to put their best foot forward tonight against TCU, which will be enough to win this game in blowout fashion.

Oklahoma State just got back Marcus Smart from a 3-game suspension over the weekend. The result? How about a dominant 84-62 home victory over Texas Tech, which has given several of the best teams in the Big 12 fits this season. Smart (17.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.5 spg) had a solid game, posting 16 points, 10 assists and 6 steals in the win.

TCU (9-17) remains winless in Big 12 play, going 0-14 to this point while getting outscored by an average of 16.8 points per game. It hung tough with Iowa State at home Saturday, but ultimately lost 60-71 in deflating fashion. I look for the Horned Frogs to suffer a hangover from that defeat. Five straight and 10 of their 14 Big 12 losses this season have come by double-digits, including a 50-82 loss at Oklahoma State in their first meeting this year.

It's worth noting that TCU is expected to be without its second-best player in Amric Fields (13.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), who sat out the Iowa State game Saturday with a knee injury. He is doubtful to return just two days later against the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State is 6-0 ATS when playing against a bad team with a winning percentage between 20% & 40% over the last three seasons. The Cowboys are 15-6 ATS as a favorite over 10 or more points over the last two seasons. The Horned Frogs are 7-21 ATS in their last 28 games as a home underdog of 6.5 to 12 points. Take Oklahoma State Monday.

15* Big East PLAY OF THE DAY on Providence PK

The Providence Friars (17-10) are the definition of a bubble team when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. This team is one of the most underrated squads in the country with four starters back from last season, and one that deserves to get into the big dance if the season were to end today.

However, after losing four of their last five games overall, getting into the big dance has become a question mark. Those four losses came to St. John's, Xavier, Georgetown and Villanova, who all have a good shot at getting into the big dance, so it's not like they are getting beat by inferior competition.

Now, the Friars have an excellent chance to get back on track against Butler (12-14), which is just 2-12 in Big East play and clearly a team that is rebuilding since the loss of head coach Brad Stevens. The Bulldogs have lost five straight coming into this one, including a home loss to Xavier (50-64) and a road loss to St. John's (52-77) last time out.

Providence beat Butler 65-56 in the first meeting, outrebounding the Bulldogs 37-22 in the process. The Friars are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record. The Bulldogs are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games overall. Butler is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games vs. a team with a winning percentage above 60%. Roll with Providence Sunday.

15* Clippers/Thunder ABC Early ANNIHILATOR on Los Angeles +5

The Los Angeles Clippers are going to be highly motivated for a victory this afternoon. There's no question they will be putting their best foot forward, which is why they are showing such great value as an underdog to the Oklahoma City Thunder here.

The Clippers have lost back-to-back games to the Spurs and Grizzlies out of the All-Star Break. Only four times all season have they lost two in a row, and not once have they lost three straight. So, this just goes to show how resilient this team is, and how good Doc Rivers is at getting his players to respond.

Oklahoma City is coming off a deflating 81-103 home loss to Miami last time out. It's always tough to come back and play the next game after playing the defending world champs. I look for the Thunder to suffer a hangover effect, and for them to continue to struggle with trying to get Russell Westbrook involved in the offense as he just returned from injury for the Heat game.

The Clippers are 8-1 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite this season. Los Angeles is 11-3 ATS off a road loss this year. The Clippers are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games following a loss overall. Los Angeles is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 meetings in Oklahoma City. Take the Clippers Sunday.

20* Big Ten GAME OF THE MONTH on Michigan State +2.5

The Michigan State Spartans are going to be out for revenge from their 75-80 home loss to Michigan back on January 25 in their first meeting of the season. They were without their best player in Adreian Payne (16.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg) for that contest, but he's healthy now and ready to help his team get payback.

Michigan State has played its best basketball on the road this season. It is a sensational 8-1 straight up in true road games this year, outscoring opponents by an average of 10.7 points per game. That includes wins at Texas, Indiana and Iowa.

I knew Michigan would be overvalued toward the end of the season after a hot start to Big Ten play. That has been the case as it has lost three of its last five games all by double-digits to Indiana (52-63), Iowa (67-85) and Wisconsin (62-75). This team simply isn't that good.

The Spartans are 8-0 ATS versus teams who forced 12 or fewer turnovers per game this season. Michigan State is 7-0 ATS in road games when playing a good team (win percentage between 60% & 80%) this season. The Spartans are 8-0 ATS in all road games this season. These three trends combine for a perfect 23-0 system backing the Spartans. Bet Michigan State Sunday.

15* NBA Saturday Total ANNIHILATOR on Pacers/Bucks UNDER 190

The books have set the bar too high in this contest between the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks. We have the best defensive team in the league up against one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA. The result will be a low-scoring, defensive battle.

The Pacers rank 1st in the league in defensive efficiency, giving up just 93.9 points per 100 possessions. The Bucks rank 29th in offensive efficiency, putting up a mere 96.7 points per 100 possessions. The Bucks also like to play at a slow tempo, ranking 25th in the league in pace at 94.2 possessions per game.

Taking a look at recent meetings between these teams, it's easy to see that this total has been inflated. The Pacers and Bucks have combined for 181 or fewer points in each of their last three meetings, averaging a combined 178.7 points per game in those three contests. That's roughly 11 points less than tonight's posted total.

Indiana is 18-4 to the UNDER when the total is between 180 and 189.5 points this season. Note: this total is 189.5 or less in most places. The UNDER is 7-1 in Pacers last eight games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. The UNDER is 7-0-1 in Bucks last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Roll with the UNDER in this game Saturday.

20* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Memphis Grizzlies -2

The Memphis Grizzlies represent my favorite play in an East vs. West matchup for the entire month of February. I'll gladly back them as a small road favorite over the Charlotte Bobcats Saturday night.

Memphis (31-23) trails Dallas by one game for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. That means that the Grizzlies cannot afford to overlook anyone from here on out if they want to make the postseason.

Charlotte (26-30) is getting a lot of love from the books and the betting public because of its improvement this season. However, this team is not even on the same playing field as Memphis, which is a much better basketball team, and that will show in the final score tonight.

My biggest reason for fading the Bobcats is the fact that this will be the second of a back-to-back and their 4th game in 5 days. This is one of the toughest situations in the NBA, especially for the short-handed Bobcats, who just recently traded away Ramon Sessions and Jeff Adrien.

The Grizzlies are 3-0 in their last three meetings with the Bobcats, including a 94-75 victory in their most recent meeting. Memphis is 10-0 ATS vs. teams who are called for 2+ less fouls/game than their opponents - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons. Charlotte is 2-17 ATS when playing its 4th game in 5 days over the last 3 seasons. Bet the Grizzlies Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Oklahoma -5

The Oklahoma Sooners (19-7) are showing tremendous value as only a 5-point home favorite over Kansas State Saturday. They'll be out for revenge from a 66-72 loss at Kansas State on January 14 in their first meeting of the season.

I certainly like the Sooners' chances of getting payback in blowout fashion given how well they have played at home. They are 11-3 at home this season with wins over the likes of Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Baylor.

Kansas State has been dominant at home, but just it is just 1-5 in true road games, including losses to Kansas (60-86), Iowa State (75-81), West Virginia (71-81) and Baylor (73-87) all by 6 points or more.

Oklahoma is 9-1 ATS in Saturday games this season. The Sooners are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Bet Oklahoma Saturday.

15* LSU/Kentucky ESPN No-Brainer on LSU +11.5

The LSU Tigers (16-9) already beat the Kentucky Wildcats once this season with an 87-82 home victory on January 28. Sure, the Wildcats will be out for revenge, but the Tigers need this game more as they are a bubble team in terms of the NCAA Tournament.

This is simply a good matchup for LSU. Kentucky has been winning by dominating teams on the glass, but LSU doesn't allow it. The Wildcats are averaging 13 offensive rebounds per game and outrebounding opponents by 10 boards per game. The Tigers are averaging 12 offensive boards per contest and outrebounding foes by 5 boards per game.

LSU has played Kentucky very tough in each of their last three meetings. All three meetings were decided by single-digits with the Wildcats winning at home 60-51 and 75-70, while the Tigers obviously won at home 87-82 earlier this season. The Tigers are 3-0 ATS in their last three meetings.

LSU is 51-26 ATS in its last 77 games off a home win against a conference opponent. Kentucky is 6-15 ATS in its last 21 Saturday home games. The Wildcats are 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 games following a ATS win. The Tigers are 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings in Kentucky. The road team is 12-4 ATS in the last 16 meetings. Take LSU Saturday.

15* Big 12 PLAY OF THE DAY on TCU +13

The Iowa State Cyclones just have a way of playing to the level of their competitive. I fully expect that to be the case this afternoon as they fail to cover this lofty spread against TCU Saturday.

Iowa State is just 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games overall. Nine of those 11 games were decided by 11 points or less, which just shows you how they have a knack of playing in close games no matter the competition.

One of the exceptions was an 84-69 home victory over TCU on February 8. That placed TCU in revenge mode just two weeks later at home this time around. The Horned Frogs are 5-3 ATS in their last eight games overall, and they're hungry for their first Big 12 victory.

Iowa State is in a big letdown spot off a huge win over Texas on Tuesday. The Cyclones are 1-8 ATS versus good free throw shooting teams who make 72% or better from the line this season. Iowa State is 1-10 ATS after one or more consecutive overs this season. The Cyclones are 0-6 ATS in their last six Saturday games. Roll with TCU Saturday.

25* Big East GAME OF THE YEAR on St. John's +8.5

The St. John's Red Storm represent my strongest play in the Big East for the entire 2013-14 season. I'll gladly back them as a big underdog as this team continue to go under the radar against Villanova Saturday.

St. John's (18-9) has won nine of its last 10 games overall to put itself in position to make the NCAA Tournament. It is playing as well as anyone in the country, and its only loss during this stretch came at Creighton (60-63) as a 12.5-point dog on a last-second 3-pointer.

The Red Storm will be out for revenge from their 67-74 home loss to Villanova back on January 11. This is a completely different team since that defeat, and that will show on the court today.

St. John's is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games overall. The Red Storm are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Bet St. John's Saturday.

20* ACC GAME OF THE MONTH on Wake Forest +14

The North Carolina Tar Heels are in a massive letdown spot Saturday. They are coming off a win against their biggest rivals in Duke on Thursday, and it's only human nature for them to not show up two days later against an ACC bottom feeder.

Wake Forest (14-12) has lost six in a row heading into this one, and therefore is undervalued. UNC has won eight straight heading into this one, and therefore is overvalued. Wake has had three days off to prepare for this game.

The Demon Deacons beat the Tar Heels 73-67 at home earlier this season in their first meeting on January 5. I have no doubt they can stay within 14 points in the rematch, especially given the tough situation for UNC having to play its 3rd game in 4 days.

Roy Williams is 6-16 ATS in home games revenging a straight up loss as a road favorite in all games he has coached. The underdog is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in this series. The Demon Deacons are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings in North Carolina. Take Wake Forest Saturday.

25* NBA Western Conference TOTAL OF THE YEAR on Jazz/Blazers OVER 202

The books have set the bar too low tonight in this contest between the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers. I'll take the free money and back the OVER tonight as both teams likely top the 100-point mark in this one.

Portland is one of the best offensive teams in the league this season. It is averaging 107.9 points per game while also ranking 3rd in offensive efficiency. However, the Blazers are giving up 103.9 points per game while ranking 23rd in defensive efficiency.

The Jazz haven't been the best offensive team this season, but should get going tonight against this poor Blazers' defense. The Jazz are giving up 100.3 points per game this season, including 101.0 points per game on the road on 47.5% shooting.

Each of the last five meetings in this series have seen 199 or more points. The last time these teams met in Portland on December 6, they combined for 228 points. Playing at home, the Blazers will control the tempo, and they like to get up and down.

The OVER is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings in Portland. The OVER is 30-14-1 in Blazers last 45 home games. The OVER is 17-8-1 in Blazers last 26 vs. Western Conference. Bet the OVER in this game Friday.

15* NBA Friday Night Line Mistake on Cleveland Cavaliers +9

The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Asking the Toronto Raptors to beat them by double-digits tonight to beat us is simply asking too much. I'll side with the road underdog showing tremendous value because of it.

Cleveland is a perfect 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS in its last six games overall. That includes road wins over Washington, Detroit and Philadelphia, as well as a home win against Memphis during this stretch. This team is hungry to make the playoffs as it trails the Bobcats by just 3 games for the 8th and final spot in the East.

Toronto has been an underrated team for most of the season. However, it is clearly being overvalued here as such a massive home favorite. Four of the last six meetings between these teams were decided by 8 points or less, and the Cavaliers have only been beaten by more than 8 points in one of their last six meetings with the Raptors.

The underdog is a perfect 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings in this series. The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings. The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings in Toronto. Roll with Cleveland Friday.

15* NBA Friday No-Doubt Rout on New York Knicks -3

The New York Knicks (21-33) have to make a run now if they want to make the NBA playoffs. They trail the Charlotte Bobcats by 3.5 games for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They certainly cannot afford to lose to the Magic tonight.

After a hard-fought 93-98 loss at Memphis in their first game back from the break, the Knicks went into New Orleans and came away with a gutty 98-91 victory. I look for them to go into hapless Orlando (16-40) and to win going away tonight.

This has been a one-sided series of late to say the least. Indeed, the Knicks are a perfect 8-0 SU & 8-0 ATS in their last eight meetings with the Magic. They have won all eight meetings by 5 points or more, including six of them by double-digits.

The Knicks are 27-13 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last three seasons. The Magic are 1-13 ATS in their last 14 games versus good ball handling teams who commit 14 or less turnovers. Take the Knicks Friday.

15* Gonzaga/BYU ESPN 2 Late-Night BAILOUT on BYU -2.5

It's like night and day for the BYU Cougars home and away. If you just look at its 6-9 road record, you would think that this team isn't any good. But the Cougars are 18-10 on the season and looking to make the NCAA Tournament thanks to their home dominance.

Indeed, the Cougars are 12-1 at home this season, outscoring opponents by 19.3 points per game. Their only loss came in overtime to Iowa State, which is currently ranked No. 17 in the country. BYU has had one of the best home-court advantages over the past decade and that continues to be true.

All four of Gonzaga's losses this season have come on the road. It has fallen to Memphis (54-60) and Portland (73-82) away from home since the turn of the calendar year. Given the importance of this game for the Cougars, I look for them to get it done at home. They also come in with confidence having won five of their last six, including two victories over a very good St. Mary's team both home and away.

Gonzaga is 0-6 ATS in road games after two consecutive ATS covers over the last three seasons. BYU is 50-27 ATS in its last 77 home games after having won three of its last four games. The Cougars are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 home games off a win by 6 points or less. The home team is a perfect 6-0-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in this series. Take BYU Thursday.

20* Pac-12 GAME OF THE WEEK on USC +14

The USC Trojans certainly haven't had the season they had hoped coming into the year. As a result, they are undervalued at this point of the season, and that shows with this line as they are a 14-point road dog to Stanford when they shouldn't be catching nearly this many points.

USC will be out for revenge from a 71-79 (OT) home loss to Stanford as a 6.5-point underdog. I like taking road teams in revenge mode that lost the first meeting at home if the price is right. Obviously, the Trojans took the Cardinal to OT to prove that they can hang, and I see no reason they can't take this one down to the wire as well.

With UCLA on deck Saturday, it's only human nature for Stanford to be looking ahead to that game. Also, USC is expected to get back second-leading scorer and top assist man Pe'Shon Howard (10.4 ppg, 4.3 apg) from a one-game absence due to disciplinary reasons. Having their floor general back will certainly benefit the Trojans offensively.

The last three meetings in this series were all within 2 points at the end of regulation, so this has been a closely-contested series. You have to go all the way back to 2007 to find the last time that USC lost to Stanford by more than 12 points, which was a 50-65 road loss. That is a span of 15 meetings, and makes for a perfect 15-0 system backing the Trojans pertaining to tonight's spread of 14. Bet USC Thursday.

15* Rockets/Warriors TNT Late-Night BAILOUT on OVER 212

The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors will play part in an absolute shootout tonight on TNT. Both teams love to get up and down as much as anyone in the league, and they score right up there with the best of them, too.

Golden State ranks 5th in the NBA in pace, averaging 98.8 possessions per game. Houston is right behind in 6th, averaging 98.2 possessions per game. The Rockets rank 4th in offensive efficiency at 108.0 points per 100 possessions, while the Warriors are 12th at 104.2 points per 100 possessions.

A big reason I'm backing the OVER tonight is that both teams are fresh coming off the All-Star Break and will be ready to get up and down the court. Also, Andrew Bogut is expected to miss tonight's game for Golden State, so Dwight Howard should dominate inside for Houston. Both teams are going to have to play small ball to match up.

The OVER is 12-4 in the last 16 meetings in Golden State. In their last meeting here on December 13, these teams combined for 228 points in a 116-112 road victory for the Rockets. The OVER is 5-1 in Warriors last six Thursday games. Roll with the OVER in this game Thursday.

15* American Athletic PLAY OF THE DAY on Houston +15

The Houston Cougars (12-13) are a much better team than their record would indicate this season. They have played some very good teams tough, including taking Cincinnati down to the wire in each of their two meetings this season. I was on the Cougars in both of those games as a big underdog.

I'll back the Cougars again in the role of the big dog tonight at SMU. They'll be out for revenge from a 68-75 home loss to the Mustangs back on January 26 in their first meeting of the season. At the very least, I expect them to stay within 15 points, though they'll likely have a chance to win it in the end.

After beating Cincinnati and earning a Top 25 ranking, SMU is currently overvalued. That showed last time out as it lost 64-71 at Temple as an 8-point favorite. This team is better than people gave them credit for coming into the season, but now that the betting public has been all over them of late, the Mustangs are getting too much respect from oddsmakers.

Houston is a perfect 7-0 ATS after allowing 30 points or less in the first half of two straight games over the last two seasons. SMU is 1-9 ATS off two straight games where it attempted 50 or less shots over the last two years. Take Houston Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Detroit Pistons +3

This is a classic home-and-home situation. These teams played last night in Detroit with the Bobcats coming away with a 108-96 road victory. Playing one night later, I'll back the Pistons because they lost the first meeting.

In these home-and-home spots, the team that lost the first game almost always comes back the more motivated team in the second meeting. It's pretty obvious as to why as they want revenge, while the winning team has a tendency to become complacent in the second meeting.

Home-court advantage has meant nothing when these teams have gotten together recently. The road team has won six of the past seven meetings. Detroit has been at its best on the road this year, posting a very respectable 10-14 record SU away from home.

The Pistons are a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last seven meetings in Charlotte. The road team is 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings. The Bobcats are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games following a road trip of seven or more days. Charlotte is 15-39 ATS in its last 54 games when playing on 0 days rest. Roll with the Pistons Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Undervalued Underdog on Chicago Bulls +3

I fully expect the Chicago Bulls to come out of the All-Star Break as hot as they went into it. They had won three straight and four of five while going 4-1 ATS in their last five games heading into the break.

Toronto will be playing the second of a back-to-back off a big win at Washington last night. That will give the Bulls a big edge in preparation as they have had a full two days to get ready for the Raptors, while Toronto wouldn't have prepared for Chicago at all heading into this one.

Home-court advantage has meant nothing to these teams this season. In fact, the road team is a perfect 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in three meetings between the Bulls and Raptors during the 2013-14 season. After losing the last two to the Raptors this season, the Bulls will want revenge tonight to even the season series at 2-2. The road team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

Plays on road teams where the line is +3 to -3 (CHICAGO) - revenging a straight up loss vs opponent as a home favorite, extremely well rested team - playing 3 or less games in 10 days are 34-11 (75.6%) ATS since 1996. Chicago is 41-22 ATS in its last 63 road games with a total set between 180 and 189.5 points. The Bulls are 6-0 ATS in their last six vs. Eastern Conference opponents. Take Chicago Wednesday.

15* Big Ten PLAY OF THE DAY on Northwestern +15.5

The Northwestern Wildcats have played their best basketball on the road this season. I look for them to give the Ohio State Buckeyes a run for their money tonight as they continue playing their best ball away from home.

Indeed, the Wildcats have won three of their last four Big Ten road games outright. They won at Indiana (54-47) as a 13-point dog, at Wisconsin (65-56) as a 17-point dog, at Minnesota (55-54) as a 10.5-point dog, while losing at Michigan State (70-85) as a 14-point dog in a game that was close until the end.

Northwestern has played Ohio State very tough throughout the years. Each of the last three meetings have been decided by 10 points or less, and seven of the last nine meetings were decided by 10 points or fewer. The Wildcats have gone 7-2 ATS in their last nine meetings with the Buckeyes.

This is just a great matchup for the Wildcats because both teams have below-average offenses but tremendous defense. I look for them to slug it out in a low-scoring, defensive battle. The Buckeyes are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games. Roll with Northwestern Wednesday.

15* ACC PLAY OF THE DAY on Boston College +14.5

The Boston College Eagles have clearly not had the season they envisioned this year despite returning 96 percent of their scoring from last season. However, they have a chance to make their season by beating No. 1 Syracuse tonight, and they'll be giving it their all to do so.

The Eagles have been much more competitive of late, only once losing by more than 11 points in their last 11 games overall. That included a 59-69 home loss to Syracuse in their first meeting of the season, which means they'll be out for revenge here.

I have faded Syracuse with a ton of success lately. The Orange have been overvalued due to the fact that they are 25-0 and No. 1 in the country, and they simply cannot live up to these expectations. Now, with a massive game at Duke on deck Saturday, they'll be overlooking Boston College and looking ahead to that showdown. They won't bring the kind of effort it takes to win by 15-plus points tonight.

Boston College is a sensational 101-65 ATS in its last 166 road games overall. The Eagles are 13-1 ATS in their last 14 road games off an upset loss as a home favorite. The road team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in this series. Bet Boston College Wednesday.

20* SEC GAME OF THE WEEK on Auburn +17

The Auburn Tigers have been vastly improved this season. They have gone 12-11 overall to post a winning record to this point, and they come in playing their best basketball of the season.

Auburn has won four of its last six games overall with its only losses coming at LSU (80-87) and at home against Kentucky (56-64) during this stretch. It fell at home to Florida (61-68) as an 8-point underdog back on January 18 in their first meeting, which means the Tigers will be out for revenge.

Florida comes in overvalued due to recently moving up to No. 2 in the latest Top 25 poll. This is a massive letdown spot for the Gators, who are coming off their biggest win of the season with a victory at Kentucky on Saturday. That win likely wrapped up the SEC title for them, and having already beaten Auburn once this season, they won't show up with the kind of intensity it takes to beat the Tigers by more than 17 points tonight.

Auburn is 6-0 ATS off a win against a conference opponent over the last two seasons. Florida is 1-12 ATS after covering two of its last three against the spread over the last two years. The Gators are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 home games off seven or more consecutive wins. Bet Auburn Wednesday.

15* NBA Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Washington Wizards -3

The Wizards went 1-4 in their last five games before the All-Star Break, which has them undervalued coming out of the break. A closer look shows that they played well despite a brutal schedule. All four of their losses came by 7 points or less, including a 118-125 overtime loss to San Antonio, and road losses to Memphis (89-92) and Houston (112-113) by a combined four points.

Now, at 25-27 on the season, the Wizards head into the second half playing with a sense of urgency. They also have some good vibes considering two of their players shined over All-Star weekend. John Wall won the dunk contest, while Bradley Beal made it to the final round of the three-point contest. These two players have really stepped up their games this year to get Washington back into playoff contention.

I just believe the Wizards will be the more motivated team for a number of reasons, including their tough finish prior to the break. They trail tonight's opponent, the Toronto Raptors (28-24), in the Eastern Conference standings. Plus, they have lost each of their first two meetings with the Raptors this season, so they will be out for revenge.

Washington is 13-2 ATS after having lost two of its last three games this season. The Wizards are 24-7 ATS revenging a home loss vs. opponent over the last two seasons. Washington is 14-3 ATS revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points this season. The Wizards are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Take Washington Tuesday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Hawks/Pacers UNDER 192

The Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers will take part in a defensive battle tonight in their first game back from the All-Star Break. I look for both offenses to show some rust after the layoff, and for the defenses to reign supreme in large part because of it.

However, my biggest reason for backing the UNDER is the familiarity between these teams. This will be their 11th meeting since February of 2013 about a year ago. That's due to the fact that they squared off in the playoffs last year. Each of the last four meetings in this series have seen 189 or fewer combined points, and an average of 175.3 combined points/game during this span, which is nearly 17 points less than tonight's posted total.

Indiana, which is 25-3 at home this season, doesn't give up anything at home. It is allowing only 85.5 points per game on 39.1% shooting at home this year. The Pacers are far and away the best team in the league defensively. They rank 1st in defensive efficiency, yielding 93.6 points per 100 possessions, which is 4.2 points less than second-place Chicago.

The UNDER is 12-2 in Pacers last 14 vs. NBA Southeast Division opponents. The UNDER is 4-1 in Hawks last five overall. The UNDER is 4-0 in Pacers last four vs. a team with a losing record. The UNDER is 9-2 in Pacers last 11 vs. Eastern Conference foes. Atlanta is 70-46 to the UNDER off two straight losses by 10 points or more since 1996. Bet the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

15* Big 12 PLAY OF THE DAY on Iowa State -4.5

Iowa State (19-5) will be out for revenge Tuesday when it hosts Texas (20-5) at one of the most underrated home courts in all of college basketball. Hilton Coliseum will be rocking as it always is, and I look for these players to feed off of their home crowd like they have been all season.

The Cyclones did lose 76-86 at Texas on January 18, but that should come as no surprise considering the home team has won each of the last six meetings in this series. Iowa State topped Texas 82-62 at home last year as a 9-point favorite, and I fully expect another beat down tonight.

Iowa State is 12-1 at home this season where it is outscoring opponents by an average of 18.3 points per game. That includes impressive wins over the likes of Michigan, Iowa, Kansas State and Oklahoma. Only Kansas was able to survive a trip to Ames this season, and the Jayhawks are clearly the best team in the Big 12.

Texas is 2-9 ATS after two consecutive ATS wins over the past two seasons. Iowa State is 18-5 ATS in its last 23 home games off a home win against a conference opponent. The Cyclones are 42-18 ATS in their last 60 games as a home favorite of 6 points or less. The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings. Bet Iowa State Tuesday.

20* Big East GAME OF THE WEEK on Providence +5

The Providence Friars (17-9) are one of the most underrated and most improved teams in the country in 2014. They are primed to make the big dance this season, and a home win over Villanova tonight would go a long way in accomplishing that goal.

Providence is going to be out for revenge from its worst loss of the season, a 61-91 road loss at Villanova on January 5. Everything went right for the Wildcats in that game as they shot 59.6% from the floor and 14-of-26 (55.3%) from the 3-point line. They clearly aren't going to shoot that well again on the road this time around.

Villanova is coming off a disheartening 80-101 loss at Creighton on Sunday, which likely cost them the Big East regular season title. That result could produce a hangover effect here, especially having already beaten Providence by 30 points, which will make it hard for them to get up for the Friars. Also, the Friars last played on Saturday, so they will have had an extra day of rest and preparation heading into this one, which is huge.

Providence is 12-2 at home this season, outscoring opponents by 12.2 points per game. It has home wins over the likes of Georgetown (70-52), Creighton (81-68), Butler (65-56), Xavier (81-72) and DePaul (84-61) in Big East play alone. Home-court advantage has been huge in this series as the home team has won six of the past seven meetings.

Villanova is 3-11 ATS when playing its 2nd road game in 3 days over the last three seasons. The Friars are 7-0 ATS in their last seven home games versus good rebounding teams who outrebound their opponents by four-plus board per game over the last two seasons. The Friars are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. Roll with Providence Tuesday.

20* UNC/Florida State ESPN Monday No-Brainer on Florida State +1.5

The Florida State Seminoles (15-10) are looking for a signature win to improve their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. That opportunity comes tonight as they welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels (17-7) to Tallahassee.

I've seen enough from this FSU team to realize that it is capable of beating anyone. It has beaten VCU (85-67) and UMass (60-55) on neutral courts, while losing tight road games to both Michigan (80-82) and Florida (66-67) by a combined three points. FSU is 8-3 at home this season, outscoring opponents by 14.0 points per game.

North Carolina comes into this game overvalued due to its six-game winning streak. Four of those six wins have come at home against a pretty soft schedule. It had lost four of five prior to this stretch. Off a big win over Pitt (75-71) Saturday, and with Duke on deck, this is a huge letdown/lookahead spot for the Tar Heels.

UNC is 13-30 ATS in its last 43 road games versus good defensive teams that allow a shooting percentage of 39% or less after 15-plus games. The Tar Heels are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 road games when playing with one or less days rest. The Seminoles are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a S.U. win. The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings. Bet Florida State Monday.

20* Missouri Valley GAME OF THE MONTH on Evansville +13

The Evansville Purple Aces will give the unbeaten Wichita State Shockers a run for their money Sunday. I'll gladly back them as a double-digit home underdog in a game that I fully expect to go right down to the wire.

Remember, Evansville beat Wichita State TWICE last season. Their first meeting of '14 was decently close as the Shockers won 81-67 at home as a 19.5-point favorite. This was a 33-39 game at the half as the Purple Aces hung tough the entire way on the road.

At home this time around, I have no doubt they'll be able to stay within 13. They stayed within 14 on the road in the first meeting despite shooting just 10-of-18 (55.6%) from the line, while the Shockers shot 24-of-33 (72.7%) from the charity stripe. Clearly, Wichita State was getting the calls as home, but that won't be the case in the rematch on the road.

At 26-0 this season, Wichita State is one of only two unbeaten teams remaining in the country. Once a team wins so many games in a row, they start to become complacent. That's when it is time to fade them as they have created expectations for themselves that they cannot live up to from the betting public and oddsmakers. The Shockers struggled in a 78-67 home win over Southern Illinois as a 15-point favorite last time out, and I expect them to struggle again tonight.

Evansville is 14-2 ATS vs. good free throw shooting teams - making >=72% of their attempts after 15+ games over the last three seasons. The Purple Aces are 7-0 ATS versus good defensive teams allowing 64 or fewer points per game after 15-plus games over the last two years. Evansville is 7-0 ATS in home games off a win against a conference opponent over the last three years. The Purple Aces are 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings in this series, and 6-0 ATS in their last six home meetings. These five trends combine for a 44-3 system backing the home dog. Bet Evansville Sunday.

15* CBB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Baylor -4.5

Kansas State is in a massive letdown spot tonight. It is coming off a huge overtime loss to Kansas, its biggest rival, and a team that it never beats. It's only human nature for them to let down off such a big win.

Baylor still believes it can make the NCAA Tournament with a big finish to the season. It will have to nearly win out in Big 12 play, but it's doable. It is coming off a 91-58 win at TCU, and it has not given up on its season.

The Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Baylor is 74-49 ATS after having lost four or five of its last six games since 1997. Take Baylor Saturday.

20* ACC GAME OF THE WEEK on NC State +14

The NC State Wolfpack will give the Syracuse Orange a run for their money today. As a result, I'll gladly take the big points in a game that I believe the Wolfpack will have a chance to win outright in the end.

Due to being one of the last unbeaten teams in the country, Syracuse (24-0) is way overvalued right now. It is also in a huge letdown spot off its last-second win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

NC State (16-8) is playing its best basketball of the season heading into this one. It has won five of its last six games overall to get back into contention for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Syracuse is 0-9 ATS in its last nine home games after a game with five or less offensive rebounds. NC State is 15-6 ATS in its last 21 road games after having won four or five of its last six games. Take NC State Saturday.

15* SEC PLAY OF THE DAY on Arkansas -5

Arkansas (15-9) will be in revenge mode today against LSU. It suffered one of its worse losses of the season in a 74-88 setback at LSU on February 1. Two weeks later, I like the Razorbacks to return the favor with a blowout home victory of their own.

Arkansas has been one of the best home teams in the country over the past couple seasons. It is 12-2 at home this season, outscoring opponents by 20.1 points per game. Its only two losses came to Missouri and Florida by a combined 6 points.

LSU is just 2-5 in true road games this season. It has lost its last four road games to Ole Miss (74-88), Alabama (80-82), Georgia (78-91) and Texas A&M (73-83), who are all inferior teams to Arkansas.

The home team is a perfect 9-0 SU in the last nine meetings in this series with eight of those victories coming by 5 points or more dating back to 2010. It's clear that home-court advantage means a lot in this series. Bet Arkansas Saturday.

15* Big East PLAY OF THE DAY on Marquette -3.5

The Marquette Golden Eagles will be looking to avenge their 79-86 road loss at Xavier on January 9. As a short home favorite in the rematch, I look for the Golden Eagles to get their payback in blowout fashion at home this time around.

Marquette comes in playing its best basketball of the season with four wins in its last six games overall. Its two losses have come to red hot Villanova and St. John's teams, and that loss to the Wildcats came in overtime. It has beaten Providence, Georgetown, Seton Hall and Butler during this stretch.

Xavier has proven to be one of the most overrated teams in the country of late. It has gone just 2-3 SU & 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall. I've seen this team play a handful of times this year, and I've seen enough to know that they aren't that good. Marquette has simply fallen victim to a brutal schedule this year, but it will make a run at the big dance down the stretch.

Marquette is a perfect 6-0 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points over the last three seasons. They are outscoring opponents by an average of 11.1 points per game in this spot. Roll with Marquette Saturday.

25* CBB Revenge GAME OF THE YEAR on Houston +16

The Houston Cougars will be out for revenge from their 60-61 home loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats as a 6.5-point underdog. I was on them in that game, and I'm all over the Cougars as a 16-point dog in the rematch on the road this time around.

Cincinnati has been overvalued for quite some time now due to its record and national ranking. That has been evident by the fact that it has gone just 2-6 ATS in its last eight games overall. It has only beaten one team by more than 11 points during this stretch.

Plays against favorites of 10 to 19.5 points (CINCINNATI) - in a game involving two average shooting teams (42.5-45%) after 15+ games, after a game where a team made 20% of their 3 point shots or worse are 26-6 (81.2%) ATS over the last five seasons.

Cincinnati is 19-38 ATS as a home favorite of 12.5 to 18 points since 1997. The Bearcats are 0-6 ATS off a road loss over the last two seasons. Cincinnati is 0-7 ATS after playing a game as a road dog over the last two years. Bet Houston Saturday.

15* Oklahoma/Okie State ESPN Rivalry Play on Oklahoma +3

The Oklahoma Sooners should not be a dog today to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Sure, the Cowboys will be out for revenge from their 76-88 loss at Oklahoma on January 27, but it won't matter.

Oklahoma State has been overrated all season. It has lost five straight games coming into this one, and now it without its best player in Marcus Smart. In their first game without Smart, the Cowboys were rolled at Texas by a final of 68-87. They just aren't the same without him.

I have no doubt the Sooners will be 100% focused in this game despite already beating the Cowboys once this season. That's because they have lost three of their last four games coming into this contest, including two painfully close road losses at Iowa State (75-81) & WVU (75-81). They bounce back in a big way today.

The Sooners are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss. Oklahoma is 15-5-1 ATS in its last 21 Saturday games. The Sooners are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Oklahoma is 5-1 ATS in its last six games following a S.U. loss. The Cowboys are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games overall. Okie State is 7-22 ATS in its last 29 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Bet Oklahoma Saturday.

15* Big 12 PLAY OF THE DAY on Texas Tech +10.5

The Texas Tech Red Raiders will be out for revenge from their 62-73 home loss to Iowa State in their Big 12 opener on January 4. I like their chances of staying within double-digits considering how well they have played since.

Texas Tech has not lost one game by more than 9 points since that defeat against ISU. It has gone on the road and beaten Oklahoma, while also topping Baylor and Oklahoma State at home during this stretch. Tubby Smith has this team playing very good basketball having won three in a row coming in.

Iowa State has been excellent fade material in Big 12 play as it has consistently been overvalued. In fact, the Cyclones are just 1-8 ATS in their last nine games overall, and they are being overvalued once again as a double-digits favorite this afternoon.

The Cyclones are 0-8 ATS in their last eight home games versus excellent ball handling teams who commit 12 or fewer turnovers per game after 15-plus games dating back to 1997. The Red Raiders are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Roll with Texas Tech Saturday.

20* American Athletic GAME OF THE WEEK on Rutgers +8

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-14) have been a very competitive team this season under first-year head coach Eddie Jordan. I like what I've seen from them against some quality teams, and I have no doubt they'll give the SMU Mustangs a run for their money tonight.

Rutgers has won two of its last three in blowout fashion with a 93-70 home win over Houston, and a 79-69 triumph at South Florida. This is a team that played Louisville tough at home, losing by a final of 76-83 as a 14.5-point underdog.

SMU just moved into the top 25 after its first win over a Top 10 opponent since 1987. Fans stormed the court after the win over Cincinnati, and I enjoyed it as well as I was on the Mustangs in that game. Now, it's time to shift gears and fade them in a horrible spot.

The Mustangs are in line for a massive letdown tonight at Rutgers off such a big win that led to a national ranking. They have also had to deal with travel after this game was postponed, and it's not a short trip from SMU to Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights will be out for revenge from their 56-70 loss at SMU on January 21 in their first meeting of the season as well.

SMU is just 4-4 in true road games this season, while Rutgers is 9-7 at home. The Scarlet Knights have been covering machines at home of late, going 5-1 ATS in their last six home contests. Bet Rutgers Friday.

15* CBB Thursday Night BAILOUT on Utah -3.5

The Utah Utes (16-7) are one of the most improved teams in the country. With a big finish to the regular season, they could be finding themselves in the NCAA Tournament. That means not losing games like this to USC (10-13).

Sure, Utah is 0-6 on the road this season compared to 15-1 at home, but a closer look shows that it has played well on the road. Amazingly, all six of its road losses this season have come by single-digits, including five by 4 points or fewer.

The Utes lost at Boise State (67-69) as a 10-point dog, at Washington (57-59), at Washington State (46-49), at Arizona State (75-79), at Arizona (56-65) as a 13-point dog and at Colorado (75-79). None of those were really bad losses with the exception of maybe Washington State.

The reason I like the Utes to break through and get that first road win is because I believe USC has packed it in. It has lost nine of its last 10 games overall and really has nothing to play for. It is also coming off a 73-83 home loss to arch rival UCLA, which could lead to a hangover effect here.

Utah absolutely crushed USC in their first meeting of the season by a final of 84-66, forcing 17 turnovers while only giving it away 8 times. While I usually look for teams in revenge spots, I don't believe that will be a factor here because this isn't much of a rivalry. The state of the teams with Utah playing for the big dance and USC packing it in also eliminates the revenge factor in my opinion.

Plays against home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (USC) off three straight losses to conference opponents and trying to revenge a same season loss are 106-50 (67.9%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Utes are 40-15 ATS in their last 57 games overall.

Utah is 7-0 ATS off two or more consecutive wins over the last two years. The Utes are 14-1 ATS after allowing 30 points or less in the first half of two straight games over the last two seasons. Utah is 8-0 ATS after playing two consecutive games as a home favorite over the last two years. These three trends combine for a 29-1 system backing the Utes. Take Utah Thursday.

15* Nets/Bulls TNT Thursday No-Brainer on UNDER 185

I look for a low-scoring, defensive battle between the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls tonight. This is their final game before the All-Star Break, so I full expect both teams to be laying it all on the line defensively. They are also becoming rivals, which will add to the defensive intensity.

The Bulls and Nets met in the playoffs last season as Chicago won in seven games by going on the road in Game 7 and coming away with a victory. They also won the first meeting this season by a final of 95-78 on the road. Obviously, these teams are very familiar with each other, and familiarity breeds low-scoring games.

Playing low-scoring games is nothing new to Chicago. It is combining with its opponents for an average of 185.0 points per game on the season, including 183.6 points per game at home. The Bulls rank 2nd in the league in defensive efficiency, giving up 98.0 points per 100 possessions.

The Bulls rank 28th in the NBA in pace, averaging 93.1 possessions per game. Brooklyn also likes to slow it down, ranking 26th n pace at 94.0 possessions per game. That means this contest is likely to be played at a snail's pace, which will certainly favor the UNDER.

The UNDER is 7-1-1 in Bulls last nine games overall. They have combined with their last nine opponents for 185, 178, 189, 193, 169, 167, 182, 181, and 176 points, respectively. As you can see, they have combined for 185 or less in seven of them, and the only two opponents that went over that number were the Warriors and Suns, who each like to play at a fast pace.

Chicago is 23-8 to the UNDER when playing a team with a losing record this season. The Bulls are 21-7 to the UNDER when the total is between 180 and 189.5 points this year. The UNDER is 13-4 in Bulls last 17 home games. The UNDER is 26-10-1 in Bulls last 37 home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of less than 40%. Roll with the UNDER in this game Thursday.

20* College Basketball DOG OF THE WEEK on Northwestern +15

The Michigan State Spartans have no business being this heavily favored over the Northwestern Wildcats tonight. I'll gladly take advantage and back the dog in a game that I fully expect to go right down to the wire.

The Spartans aren't at full strength right now, yet they're being treated like they're one of the best teams in the country, which simply isn't the case at this point. That's because they are without two of their best players in Keith Appling (15.0 ppg, 4.9 apg) and Branden Dawson (10.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg).

This isn't a very deep Spartans team, so these two losses are absolutely huge. That has shown in recent games as Michigan State has lost three of its last five games overall. One of its wins came by two points over Iowa, and the other was a 15-point home win over Penn State.

Northwestern is playing as well as anyone in the Big Ten right now. It has won four of its last six games overall, which includes outright road victories over Indiana (54-47) as a 13-point dog, Wisconsin (65-56) as a 17-point dog, and Minnesota (55-54) as a 10.5-point dog.

The Wildcats will be out for revenge from a 40-54 home loss to Michigan State on January 15 in their first meeting of the season. They have played tough in recent trips to Michigan State, going 1-3 in their last four visits while not losing once by more than 10 points.

Northwestern is 8-1 ATS off a loss by 6 points or less over the last three seasons. The Wildcats are a perfect 6-0 ATS in their last six meetings at Michigan State. The road team is 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings. Bet Northwestern Thursday.

15* NBA Wednesday Undervalued Underdog on Washington Wizards +9

The Washington Wizards (25-26) will be highly motivated to get back to .500 in time for the All-Star Break. The only way to do that is to go into Houston and beat the Rockets tonight. I like their chances of keeping this one close and potentially pulling off the upset in the end.

Washington simply does not get blown out. Each of its last eight losses have been by 7 points or fewer. You have to go all the way back to January 10 at Indiana to find the last time that the Wizards were blown out. One of those 7-point losses was a 107-114 setback at home to the Rockets, which places the Wizards in revenge mode heading into their second and final meeting of the season.

Houston is simply overvalued right now due to having won six straight games heading into this contest. Considering the closely-contested nature of this series, there's no question that Houston is laying too many points. Nine of the last 10 meetings between the Rockets and Wizards have been decided by 8 points or fewer. The road team is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.

Washington is 12-3 ATS in road games versus poor defensive teams that allow 99-plus points per game this season. The Wizards are 55-35 ATS as an underdog over the last two seasons. Washington is 12-2 ATS after having lost two of its last three games over the last two years. The Wizards are 23-7 ATS when revenging a home loss vs. opponent over the last two seasons. Roll with the Wizards Wednesday.

15* Big 12 PLAY OF THE DAY on Texas Tech +9.5

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have been much more competitive this season under first-year head coach Tubby Smith. The cupboard certainly wasn't bare for Smith with four returning starters from last year, but he has done a good job in leading them to a 12-11 mark to this point.

Texas Tech has literally had a chance to win every one of its Big 12 games this season. It has gone 4-6 within the conference with all six losses coming by 11 points or fewer, and five by 9 points or less. That includes road losses at Texas (64-67), WVU (81-87) and Kansas State (58-66).

Tech lost its first meeting with Oklahoma by a final of 65-74 at home on January 25. That defeat places the Red Raiders in revenge mode, and it could also have Oklahoma overlooking them. That's especially the case with a big game against in-state rival Oklahoma State on deck.

The Red Raiders are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Texas Tech is 4-0 ATS in its last four road games. The Sooners are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. These three trends combine for a 14-2 system backing the Red Raiders. Take Texas Tech Wednesday.

15* Big East PLAY OF THE DAY on DePaul +14

The DePaul Blue Demons (10-14) continue to fight despite their poor record. They have covered two of their last three against the spread with a 72-77 home loss to Providence as a 6-point dog, and a rather impressive 66-78 road loss at Creighton as a 20-point dog.

The Blue Demons are simply undervalued tonight as the betting public wants nothing to do with this team. They'll be out for revenge from a 62-88 road loss at Villanova in their first meeting of the season. This was a 24-33 game at half before the Wildcats blew it open after intermission. They shot 55.4% that day, and there's no chance they shoot that well again.

Villanova (21-2) is overvalued right now due to its record. This is a very tough spot for the Wildcats, who won't be able to get up for DePaul after already crushing the Blue Demons once this season. That's especially the case with a massive game on deck at Creighton this weekend that could determine the Big East champ. The Wildcats will be looking ahead to that contest.

Plays against of 10 to 19.5 points (VILLANOVA) - an explosive offensive team (>=76 PPG) against an average offensive team (67-74 PPG) after 15+ games, after 2 straight wins by 15 points or more are 71-33 (68.3%) ATS since 1997. Villanova is 18-34 ATS in its last 52 road games after having covered three of its last four games ATS. The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in this series. Roll with DePaul Wednesday.

20* NBA Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on New York Knicks -5.5

The New York Knicks (20-31) have a terrible record, but the fact of the matter is that they are just 2.5 games behind the Charlotte Bobcats for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They want to go into the All-Star Break the right way with an emphatic win over Sacramento tonight.

The Knicks are playing much better of late having won five of their last nine games overall. The same cannot be said for Sacramento, which has lost 10 of its last 12 overall, including three straight by 9-plus points. The Kings have lost seven in a row as the visitor, and they seemed to already be looking forward to the All-Star break after Tuesday's 109-99 defeat in Cleveland.

"The effort wasn't there," said center DeMarcus Cousins, who had 21 points and 10 rebounds. "It was just bad overall. I don't really have an answer, but whatever it is, it needs to be fixed. After the All-Star break, we'll start fresh, which is what we need right now."

The Knicks have won their last two home meetings with the Kings in blowout fashion by finals of 120-81 and 100-85. New York is 25-11 ATS when playing against a bad team with a winning percentage from 25% to 40% over the last two seasons. The Knicks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Bet the Knicks Wednesday.

15* NBA Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Memphis Grizzlies -1

The Memphis Grizzlies are showing tremendous value as only a 1-point favorite over the Orlando Magic Wednesday. This is an absolute gift from oddsmakers as we head into the All-Star Break.

Memphis (28-23) sits in 9th place in the Western Conference, two games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the 8th and final playoff spot. That means it will be lacking no motivation in this game as it wants to go into the All-Star Break on a positive note off last night's 92-89 win over Washington.

Orlando (16-37) is WAY overvalued right now due to winning three straight games coming into this one. The last two of those victories came against Oklahoma City and Indiana by a single point each. Clearly, the Thunder and Pacers were overlooking the Magic. Memphis won't be doing the same tonight given the situation. Orlando is in a letdown spot off those two huge wins as well.

Memphis has owned Orlando, winning five straight meetings in this series. That includes a 108-82 road victory in its last visit to Orlando. The Grizzlies are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games. Memphis is 24-11-1 ATS in its last 36 games when its starters combine for more than 160 minutes the previous day. The Grizzlies are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. The Magic are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 vs. Western Conference opponents. Take the Grizzlies Wednesday.

15* Syracuse/Pitt ESPN Wednesday No-Brainer on Pittsburgh -2

Tonight is the night when Syracuse suffers its first taste of defeat for the 2013-14 season. It has been a nice run, but I strongly believe it comes to an end. Oddsmakers have pegged Pittsburgh as the favorite for a reason, and this line continues to rise for a reason.

Pittsburgh has one of the best home-court advantages in all of college basketball, and you can bet it will be rocking tonight. The Panthers are 13-2 at home this season, outscoring opponents by an average of 15.5 points per game.

The Panthers will be in revenge mode following a 54-59 road loss at Syracuse on January 18 in their first meeting of the season. The Panthers shot just 38.3% from the field and 56.5% from the line in that game, while Syracuse shot 51.2% and 72.2%, respectively.

It's a miracle that the Panthers were able to hang tough despite those disparities, but they did so by outrebounding the Orange 35-24 for the game, including 12-4 on the offensive glass. There's no way the Panthers shoot that poorly again, and I still expect them to dominate the glass, which will be the difference as to why they get payback at home this time around.

Syracuse is 6-15 ATS after having won 18 or more of its last 20 games over the last three seasons. Pittsburgh is 28-13 ATS in its last 41 games off two straight games where it allowed a shooting percentage of 37% or less. The Panthers are 15-5-1 ATS in the last 21 meetings, including 5-2 ATS in their last seven home meetings. Bet Pittsburgh Wednesday.

20* Atlantic 10 GAME OF THE MONTH on George Mason +11

George Mason (8-15) is one of the most underrated teams in the country due to its record. A closer look shows that this team has simply fallen victim to bad luck in close games. In fact, 10 of its 15 losses have come by 6 points or less this season.

That includes narrow road losses to very good teams in Princeton (66-71), Oregon State (54-58) and Saint Louis (81-87), as well as close home losses to the likes of St. Josephs (80-84), UMass (87-88) and George Washington (69-75).

Having lost by a single point to the Minutemen in their first meeting this season, I look for George Mason to be out for revenge in this one. It clearly has not quit on the season having won at Duquesne 74-68 last time out. It will relish playing the role of spoiler tonight.

George Mason is 6-0 ATS in February road games over the last two seasons, winning by 9.5 points per game. UMass is 15-31 ATS in its last 46 games as a home favorite of 10 or more points. The Minutemen have bigger games coming up at George Washington and VCU in their next two, and having already beaten the Patriots, they will be overlooking them tonight. Bet George Mason Wednesday.

15* Thunder/Blazers NBA Late-Night BAILOUT on Portland -1

The Portland Trail Blazers continue to lack the respect they deserve tonight as only a 1-point home favorite over the Oklahoma City Thunder. At 36-15 on the season, they trail the Thunder by just 4 games for the top spot in the Western Conference.

That makes this a very important game for them heading into the All-Star Break. They have taken two of the first three meetings with the Thunder this season, so another win tonight would give them the tiebreaker if it came down to it. You can bet the Blazers will be up for this game because of it.

Portland has one of the best home-court advantages in the league. It is 19-5 at home this season, and these are some of the best fans the league has to offer when the Blazers are actually a good team. Oklahoma City has lost its last two road games to Washington (81-96) and Orlando (102-103) to cool off after going on a big tear, which is the reason it is overvalued here.

The Blazers are 12-4 ATS when revenging a loss in which opponent scored 100 or more points this season. Portland is 15-6 ATS after covering three of its last four against the spread this season. The favorite is 16-5-1 ATS in the last 22 meetings in this series. Roll with the Blazers Tuesday.

20* Michigan/Ohio State Big Ten GAME OF THE MONTH on Ohio State -3.5

The Ohio State Buckeyes opened 15-0 this season and were clearly overvalued at that point. They went on to lose five of their next six by 10 points or less, and at the end of that stretch they were undervalued. That was evident when they went 3-0 SU and 3-0 ATS in their last three games overall, which includes wins at Wisconsin and at Iowa.

I believe the Buckeyes remain undervalued as only a 3.5-point favorite over Michigan tonight. I have no doubt that Ohio State is the better team in this one. Considering it is 14-2 at home this season, outscoring opponents by 18.5 points per game, I'll gladly back it at this generous price.

Michigan was undervalued for most of the season. It opened a perfect 8-0 in Big Ten play, which was certainly overachieving. Six of those wins came by single-digits. I believe the true Michigan has shown over the past couple weeks as it has gone 1-2 with blowout losses at Indiana (52-63) and at Iowa (67-85). Despite its record, I have no doubt the Wolverines are no more than a middle-of-the-pack team in the Big Ten, while Ohio State is better than its conference record would indicate.

Ohio State is 12-2 SU in its last 14 home meetings with Michigan. The Wolverines are 0-8 ATS in road games when playing their third game in a week over the last three seasons, losing by 10.0 points per game in this spot. The Buckeyes are 6-0 ATS after a game committing 8 or fewer turnovers this season. These last two trends combined for a 14-0 system backing the home team. Bet Ohio State Tuesday.

15* NBA Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Cleveland Cavaliers PK

Despite being just 18-33 on the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are only four games out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Because of this fact, they are pushing hard here right before the All-Star Break to try and close the gap.

The Cavaliers have won back-to-back games over playoff contenders in Washington and Memphis heading into this contest. What really lit a spark under this team was a poor performance against the Lakers when they only had four players left due to fouls and injuries, as well as the firing of general manager Chris Grant.

"I think it woke up a lot of people," said Dion Waiters, who combined for 42 points in the last two games after totaling six points in his previous two contests. "Me, I felt half of that was my fault, how we played. We just didn't come out right as a unit. I think it cost the man his job. If we had been playing the way we have the last two games he'd probably still be here. We can't dwell on the past, we've got to continue to play the way we've been playing and keep it up."

The Cavaliers will also be motivated to avenge their worst loss of the season, an 80-124 loss at Sacramento on January 12. I like their chances considering the Kings have lost nine of 11 overall and six straight on the road coming into this contest. This is a team that has nothing to play for but pride, and is just looking forward to getting to the All-Star Break.

Sacramento is 13-26 ATS off two straight games with 19 or less assists over the last three seasons. The Kings are 23-47 ATS when playing eight or more games in 14 days over the last three years. Mike Brown is 90-60 ATS after successfully covering the spread in two or more consecutive games in all games he has coached. Take the Cavaliers Tuesday.

15* NBA Monday Total DOMINATOR on Nuggets/Pacers UNDER 199.5

The Indiana Pacers are going to be highly motivated for a victory after getting outscored 29-18 in the fourth quarter to lose to the Orlando Magic by a final of 93-92 Sunday. I look for their motivation to show on the defensive end as they look to shut down Denver's high-powered offense.

Adding to the motivation for the Pacers is the fact that they lost the first meeting of the season with Denver on the road by a final of 109-96. They have only allowed 100-plus points 11 times this season, including three times at home.

The Pacers are the best defensive team in the league, ranking 1st in defensive efficiency at 94.0 points per 100 possessions. They give up a mere 85.8 points per game on 39.6% shooting at home. The Pacers' job will be much easier tonight with leading scorer Ty Lawson (18.0 ppg, 8.8 apg) listed as doubtful with a rib injury. The Nuggets are lost offensively without him.

Indiana is 11-3 to the UNDER when playing its 3rd game in 4 days this season. The Pacers are 28-14 to the UNDER as a favorite this year. The UNDER is 6-1-1 in Pacers last eight vs. a team with a losing record. The UNDER is 5-1 in Pacers last six when playing on 0 days' rest. Take the UNDER in this game Monday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Pelicans/Raptors UNDER 193

The books have set the bar too high in this contest between the New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors. I'll take advantage by backing the UNDER in what I fully expect to be a defensive battle tonight.

Both of these teams prefer to slow it down and play in the half court. In fact, Toronto and New Orleans are tied for 22nd in the league in pace at 94.7 possessions per game. Toronto ranks 7th in defensive efficiency, giving up only 101.1 points per 100 possessions.

The Pelicans have been forced to play at an even slow pace since losing two of their best players to injury. Starting point guard Jrue Holiday (14.3 ppg, 7.9 apg) and second-leading scorer Ryan Anderson (19.8 ppg) remain out. Tyreke Evans (12.4 ppg) is questionable to play tonight as well.

This has been a very low-scoring series in recent years, and I look for it to remain that way in 2013-14. Toronto and New Orleans have combined for 191 or fewer points in five of their last six meetings. The only one that went over that mark went to overtime in a game that was tied 91-91 at the end of regulation. So, not counting overtime, the last six meetings since 2009 have seen 191 or fewer points at the end of regulation.

Toronto is 23-6 to the UNDER when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last three seasons. New Orleans is 22-6 to the UNDER after trailing its previous game by 20-plus points at the half since 1996. The Pelicans are 16-7 to the UNDER when playing against a team with a winning record this season. Bet the UNDER in this game Monday.

15* CBB Monday PLAY OF THE DAY on Iowa State -1.5

The Iowa State Cyclones are one of the best teams in the country at 18-4 this season. They aren't exactly being treated like it as only a 1.5-point road favorite over West Virginia (14-10), which is a middle-of-the-pack team in the Big 12.

A big reason for that is the fact that Iowa State has really cooled off ATS after a hot streak. In fact, it has gone just 1-7 ATS in its last eight games overall. That has the betting public off of the Cyclones due to a terrible run ATS, and now is the time to pounce on them at a great price.

West Virginia has been playing much better basketball of late, but remember, it lost its first two home games to Texas and Oklahoma State. It is also coming off a deflating 69-83 loss at Kansas on Saturday in a game that was close until the end. I look for the Mountaineers to suffer a hangover effect from that defeat just two days ago.

Iowa State is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 games after failing to cover two of its last three against the spread. The Cyclones are 33-19 ATS when playing just their 2nd game in a week over the last three seasons.

This will be Iowa State's 2nd game in 7 days, while this will be WVU's 3rd game in 6 days. The rest edge favors the Cyclones big-time. West Virginia is 9-23-1 ATS in its last 33 home games, and 3-12 ATS in its last 15 games following a loss. Roll with Iowa State Monday.

15* Big East PLAY OF THE DAY on St. John's +3

The St. John's Red Storm are playing their best basketball of the season right now. They have won five of their last six games overall to get to 14-9 on the season and right back in the thick of the NCAA Tournament discussion.

Their have beaten the likes of Butler and Providence on the road. Their only loss during this stretch came at Creighton by a final of 60-63 as a 12.5-point underdog as Doug McDermott his a game-winner just before the buzzer. That places St. John's in revenge mode tonight at home this time around.

The amazing part about the fact that St. John's only lost by 3 in the first meeting is that they were killed in shooting. Creighton shot 48.9% from the field and 7-of-16 (43.7%) from 3-point range. The Red Storm shot 42.9% from the field and 1-of-10 (10%) from distance. Look for those numbers to be reversed this time around.

St. John's is 10-3 at home this season. The Bluejays are 1-8 ATS in February games over the last two years. Creighton is 1-9 ATS after having won 15 or more of its last 20 games over the last two years. The Red Storm are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Take St. John's Sunday.

20* Pac-12 GAME OF THE WEEK on Oregon State +15

Once again, the Arizona Wildcats are way overvalued tonight. They are 21-1 on the season, and as a result, the betting public has been all over them. This has forced oddsmakers to inflate their lines, and I've been taking advantage of late.

I faded Arizona successfully with Utah +14 in a 56-65 loss at Arizona on January 26. Then, I released my Pac-12 Game of the Year on Oregon +11 on February 6 in a 65-67 road loss last time out. Once again, the books continue to give the Wildcats too much respect tonight.

One reason why Arizona will not be as strong as it was in the first half of the season is the fact that it lost one of its best players just two games ago. Brandon Ashley (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) shoots 52.2 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from 3-point range. He'll be missed as he's been lost for the season due to injury.

Oregon State is a team of a similar talent level to both Utah and Oregon, and it is certainly capable of staying within double-digits tonight, let alone 15 points. This team has won four of its last six games to get to 13-9 on the season, which includes a 71-67 victory over UCLA, and an 80-72 triumph over Oregon.

Looking at Oregon State's losses, it's easy to see that this team is very competitive. In fact, all nine of the Beavers' losses have come by 12 points or less, so essentially they nave been in every game they have played. All five of their Pac-12 losses came by 11 points or fewer.

This has been a very closely-contested series throughout the years as well. Indeed, each of the last nine meetings between Oregon State and Arizona were decided by 11 points or fewer, and six of those were settled by single-digits.

Oregon State is 7-0 ATS as an underdog of 10 or more points over the last two seasons. Arizona is 0-5 ATS in its last five games overall. The Wildcats are 0-5 ATS in their last five vs. a team with a winning record. These three trends combine for a 17-0 system backing the Beavers. Bet Oregon State Sunday.

15* NBA Sunday Total DOMINATOR on Grizzlies/Cavaliers UNDER 186

I'm going to back the UNDER in this contest between the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. The books have certainly set the bar too high, and I'll take advantage.

Memphis is 11-2 to the UNDER in its last 13 games overall. It has failed to score 100 points in any of those 13 games, but it has allowed 95 points or fewer in 12 of them. This team has always lacked an offense, but it is one of the best defensive clubs in the league.

One reason Memphis' offense is lacking is that it is without leading scorer and floor genera, Mike Conley (18.0 ppg, 6.3 ap). It does not have a true point guard to run the offense without Conley, so easy buckets are tough to come by. The offense has to be exclusively ran through Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph down low.

Both teams play at slow paces. Memphis ranks last in the league in pace at 92.1 possessions per game. Cleveland ranks in a tie for 18th in pace at 95.8 possessions per game. I look for this game to be played at a snail's pace because of it.

Memphis is 13-2 to the UNDER after allowing 80 points or less over the past two seasons. The UNDER is 7-0 in Grizzlies last seven road games. The UNDER is 9-1 in Grizzlies last 10 games following a win. The UNDER is 8-1 in Cavaliers last nine home games. The UNDER is 4-0 in Cavaliers last four games following a win. These five trends combine for a 41-4 system backing the UNDER. Bet the UNDER in this game Sunday.

15* NBA Sunday Total ANNIHILATOR on Pacers/Magic UNDER 190

The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic will take part in a defensive battle Sunday. This will be their third meeting of the season, and familiarity breeds defense. The more familiar you are with your opponent, the tougher it is to score.

This has been a very low-scoring series of late. The last three meetings have seen 184 or less combined points with combined finals of 177, 184 and 168 points. That's an average combined point total of 176.3 points per game, which is nearly 14 points less than tonight's posted total.

Indiana is the best defensive team in the league, yielding just 90.7 points per game. It ranks 1st in defensive efficiency by a landslide, yielding only 94.0 points per 100 possessions. The Pacers rank just 18th in pace at 95.8 possessions per game, which is one of the keys to their success defensively as they prefer to slow it down.

The Pacers are a super 18-4 to the UNDER when the total is between 180 and 189.5 points this season. Indiana is 27-14 to the UNDER as a favorite this year. Orlando is 51-28 to the UNDER in its last 79 games after giving up five or less offensive rebounds. The UNDER is 8-1 in Pacers last 9 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record. The UNDER is 18-8-1 in Magic last 27 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Take the UNDER in this game Sunday.

15* Clemson/Syracuse ESPNU No-Brainer on Clemson +14

The Syracuse Orange have been undervalued for much of the season. They opened 12-4 ATS in their first 16 lined games. However, due to being 22-0 and the No. 1 ranked team in the country, this team is starting to prove to be overvalued at this point in the season.

The Orange have a massive target on their back, and they have failed to cover in their last two games because of it. They beat Duke 91-89 in overtime as a 4.5-point favorite, and edged Notre Dame 61-55 as an 11.5-point home favorite in a sloppy performance.

Syracuse is obviously starting to hear how it is the best team in the country, and it is going to these players' heads. With an even bigger game against Pittsburgh on deck Wednesday, the Orange could easily be overlooking Clemson in this one.

Clemson (15-6) is one of the most improved teams in the country, and it could really use a signature win here to make the big dance. The Tigers have won five of their last seven ACC games overall, which includes a home win over Duke (72-59) and a road win at Florida State (53-49) to prove what they are capable of.

The Tigers are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 road games off a home no-cover where the team won straight up as a favorite. Syracuse is 5-15 ATS in its last 20 games after having won 18 or more of its last 20 games. The Orange are 54-92 ATS in home games when playing its second game in a week since 1997. Brad Brownell is 12-3 ATS in his last 15 road games after scoring 60 points or less in two straight games in all games he has coached. Roll with Clemson Sunday.

15* NBA Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Utah Jazz +9.5

The Utah Jazz are showing tremendous value as a 9.5-point home underdog tonight to the Miami Heat. Asking the Heat to win by double-digits to beat us is simply asking too much.

Utah is undervalued right now due to its four straight losses coming in, including three in a row via blowout against playoff contenders in the Clippers, Raptors and Mavericks. These recent results have forced oddsmakers to inflate this line knowing that the betting public will be all over Miami.

The Heat have a way of playing to the level of their competition. They get up for the games against playoff contenders, but they have a hard time getting motivated to face teams out of the playoff race. It's understandable considering they have won back-to-back championships, so they pick and choose when they want to show up.

Utah has played Miami very tough at home in recent years. In fact, the Jazz have won three of their past four home meetings in this series, including back-to-back outright wins as an underdog with a 104-97 triumph in 2012-13, and a 99-98 victory in 2011-12. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.

Miami is 6-14 ATS after scoring 105 or more points this season. Utah 15-3 ATS after failing to cover four of its last five games against the spread over the last three seasons. The Heat are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win. Miami is 1-4 ATS in its last five games vs. a team with a losing record. Bet the Jazz Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on SMU -3

The SMU Mustangs are one of the sleeper teams in college basketball this season under legendary coach Larry Brown. They returned all five starters from last season and are primed to make the NCAA Tournament after an 18-5 start to the 2013-14 campaign.

I have seen enough from the Mustangs to know that this is one of the better teams in the country. Home wins over the likes of Memphis (87-82) and Connecticut (74-65) have proven that. Plus, they have played two of the best teams in the country in Cincinnati (57-65) and Louisville (63-71) tough in road losses.

Now, SMU gets a shot at revenge against the Bearcats at home this time around. It is a perfect 12-0 SU & 8-0 ATS at home this season, outscoring opponents by 21.2 points per game. The Bearcats come in overvalued due to their current 15-game winning streak. Each of their last four wins have come by 5 points or less, so they've simply been fortunate in close games. That streak comes to an end today in emphatic fashion.

Plays against any team (CINCINNATI) - off two consecutive home wins by 5 points or less against opponent off two consecutive home wins by 10 points or more are 42-12 (77.8%) ATS since 1997. The Bearcats are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 road games. Roll with SMU Saturday.