20* NBA Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Atlanta Hawks -1

The Atlanta Hawks (12-11) are one of only three teams in the Eastern Conference with a winning record this season. They have been underrated all year, and I'll back them as a slim 1-point favorite against the overrated New York Knicks (6-16) tonight.

I didn't expect the Knicks to be very good coming into the season anyway, but the injuries have really put them in a tough spot. Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Amare Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin are all expected to miss this game Saturday.

That leaves the interior of the Knicks extremely vulnerable, and with guys like Al Horford and Paul Millsap, I look for the Hawks to exploit it tonight. They won 110-90 in New York on November 16 in their last meeting and I expect a similar beat down in this one.

Making matters worse for the short-handed Knicks is that they will be playing the second of a back-to-back and their 4th game in 5 days. Sure, Atlanta is coming off an overtime game last night, but it had two days off before that game, so it will not be tired. This will only be the Hawks' 3rd game in 8 days.

Plays against home teams (NEW YORK) - revenging a loss where opponent scored 110 or more points, extremely tired team - playing their 4th game in 5 days are 28-5 (84.8%) ATS over the last five seasons. Atlanta is 22-6 ATS in road games after having won three of its last four games over the past three seasons. Take the Hawks Saturday.

15* New Mexico/Kansas ESPN 2 No-Brainer on Kansas -5.5

This is essentially a home game for Kansas as it will be played at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. I look for the Jayhawks to be highly motivated for a win Saturday after losing two straight and three of their last four games coming in.

A closer look shows that those three losses came against some of the best teams in the country. They fell to Villanova (59-63), Colorado (72-75) and Florida (61-67) all on the road by a combined 13 points. They beat Duke (94-83) on a neutral court earlier this season, so they are certainly battle-tested.

New Mexico has beaten up on a pretty soft schedule. It did get a good win at home over Cincinnati last time out, but again, that was at home and this team just does not lose at home. In their toughest game of the season, the Lobos were handled by UMass 81-65 on a neutral court.

The Lobos are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. New Mexico is 1-4 ATS in its last five games following a win. Take Kansas Saturday.

20* CBB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Boise State -3

The Boise State Broncos are one of the most underrated teams in all of college basketball. They returned all five starters from last season, and they have opened 8-1 this year with their only loss coming at Kentucky by a final of 55-70.

While St. Mary's has also started strong, opening 8-0, it has yet to play a road game. Plus, it has played a very soft schedule. Boise State is 6-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents 89.5 to 64.5, or by an average of 25.0 points per game.

Plays on a favorite (BOISE ST) - off an embarrassing road loss scoring less than 60 points, with all five starters returning from last season are 81-40 (66.9%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Broncos are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss. Bet Boise State Saturday.

15* NBA Friday Undervalued Underdog on Minnesota Timberwolves +9.5

The Minnesota Timberwolves are showing solid value as nearly a double-digit underdog to the San Antonio Spurs tonight. Asking the Spurs to win by 10 or more points to beat us is simply asking too much.

San Antonio is getting way too much respect due to back-to-back blowout road victories over Toronto (116-103) and Milwaukee (109-77), which are two of the worst teams in the league. The Spurs had not played well in three home games prior to that, losing to both Houston (106-112) and Indiana (100-111), while also barely beating Atlanta (102-100).

Minnesota went through a rough stretch there for a while with five losses in a six-game stretch. However, it is back on track after a road win at Detroit (121-94) and a home win over Philadelphia (106-99). I still believe this is one of the most improved teams in the league and one that is fully capable of giving the Spurs a run for their money last night.

We only have to look back to the final two meetings between these teams last season to see that the Timberwolves can hang with the Spurs. The won 108-95 in San Antonio on April 17 as a 9.5-point underdog. They also won 107-83 at home on March 12 as an 8.5-point dog. What's most amazing about those two wins was that they were without their best player in Kevin Love, who deserves MVP consideration this season.

The Timberwolves are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 games following a ATS loss. Minnesota is 16-7 ATS in its last 23 games when playing on one days' rest. San Antonio is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 Friday games. The Spurs are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 vs. NBA Northwest Division opponents. Roll with the Timberwolves Friday.

15* NBA Friday Night Line Mistake on Charlotte Bobcats +12.5

The Indiana Pacers are in a massive letdown spot here. They are coming off their biggest win of the season, a 90-84 victory over the defending champion Miami Heat. I have no doubt they won't even show up tonight off such a big win. It will have the Bobcats hanging around, possibly pulling off the upset.

Charlotte is noticeably improved this season. It has opened a respectable 10-12 straight up and 13-8-1 against the spread in all games this season. That includes a 4-5 mark on the road where it has gone 7-1-1 against the number.

You only have to look back to the Bobcats' last two road games to find out what they are capable of. They only lost 98-99 at Miami on December 1 as an 11.5-point underdog. They also fell 82-89 on December 3 at Dallas as an 8-point dog in a game that they led most the way.

While Indiana is unlikely to show up off such a big win, Charlotte comes into this game highly motivated. It wants revenge from one of its worst losses of the season, a 74-99 setback at home to these Pacers.

Plays on road underdogs of 10 or more points (CHARLOTTE) - after 1 or more consecutive losses, on Friday nights are 73-33 (68.9%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Bobcats are a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last seven road games. Take Charlotte Friday.

20* NBA Friday No-Doubt Rout on Orlando Magic -2

The Orlando Magic should be a much heavier favorite tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers. I'll gladly take advantage and back the home team in what I believe will be a blowout in the Magic's favor by game's end.

Cleveland comes in overvalued due to having won four of its last five games overall. However, all four of those wins were at home. Cleveland is one of the worst road teams in the league, going 1-10 straight up and 2-9 ATS while getting outscored by a whopping 13.4 points per game.

Orlando comes in undervalued due to losing six of its last seven. However, it was playing without its best player in Nikola Vucevic in four of those six losses. He came back against Charlotte on Wednesday and provided 12 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Magic to a 92-83 road victory.

Vucevic is averaging 14.6 points and 11.1 boards per game this season, and he's simply irreplaceable on this team. They are a much strong squad with him on the floor. Plus, Tobias Harris could make his season debut tonight, which would only be an added bonus.

Orlando is 25-9 straight up in its last 34 home meetings with Cleveland. The Cavaliers are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. Cleveland is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 road games overall. The Magic are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home meetings with the Cavaliers. Bet the Magic Friday.

15* Clippers/Nets TNT Thursday No-Brainer on Brooklyn +2.5

The Brooklyn Nets have started to play up to their potential as they've gotten healthy over the last week. They have won back-to-back games for the first time all season with a 90-82 win at Milwaukee, followed by a 104-96 home win over Boston.

The Nets lost the first meeting of this season series with the Clippers in Los Angeles by a final of 103-110. It's amazing they kept it that close considering that Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Deron Williams and Brook Lopez all sat out that game. All four of these guys are back and healthy.

I have been riding the Clippers a lot of late, but now it's time to fade them. This is a brutal spot for them as they will be playing the second of a back-to-back and their 6th road game in 9 days.

Los Angeles is short-handed, playing without two key players in J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes, which makes the spot even tougher. Meanwhile, the Nets are fresh and ready to go as this will be just their 2nd game in 5 days.

The home team has won 11 of the last 12 meetings in this series. The Nets have won each of their last five home meetings with the Clippers. Los Angeles is 1-12 ATS in its last 13 meetings in Brooklyn. The home team is 20-7 ATS in the last 27 meetings. Take the Nets Thursday.

15* Maryland/Boston College ACC No-Doubt Rout on Boston College +2

The Boston College Eagles are way undervalued due to their 3-6 start to the season. I have no doubt that this team is better than it has shown as it returned 96 percent of its scoring from last year. This team finished strong last season, and I look for them to pick up their play tonight.

Maryland is getting too much respect as a road favorite in this one when it has no business being one. The Terrapins don't have too many impressive wins this year, and they are coming off back-to-back losses to Ohio State (60-76) and George Washington (75-77). They also lost to Oregon State (83-90) at home and are just 5-4 on the season.

Home-court advantage has been huge in this series over the past couple of years. The home team is a perfect 4-0 in the last four meetings. Boston College won by a final of 69-58 at home against Maryland last year, and with 96 percent of its scoring back from that team, I expect a similar result. The Terrapins lost center Alex Len to the NBA and have taken a step back this year.

Boston College is 71-40 ATS after having lost two of its last three games since 1997. The underdog is 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings in this series. Maryland is 12-25 ATS in its last 37 December road games. The Terrapins are 3-11 ATS after having won four or five of their last six games over the last three seasons. Roll with Boston College Thursday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total DOMINATOR on Spurs/Bucks UNDER 193.5

The books have set the bar too high tonight in this contest between the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks. They've been forced to because the Spurs have gone OVER the total in five straight games coming into this one, which has created some nice line value to pounce on the UNDER.

That OVER run for the Spurs was aided by solid offensive play from the opposition against much better offenses than the one they will be up against tonight. Milwaukee is one of the worst offensive teams in the league.

The Bucks are tied for 25th in the league in pace at 94.4 possessions per game. Worse yet, they rank dead last in offensive efficiency at 93.3 points per 100 possessions. They'll have a hard time scoring against a San Antonio team that ranks 2nd in the league in defensive efficiency, giving up just 95.5 points per 100 possessions.

I look for the Bucks to control the pace in this one since they are playing at home, and to slow it down to a snail's pace. Milwaukee is only putting up 87.9 points per game at home this season while going 2-8 straight up and 7-3 to the UNDER. The Spurs are only giving up 92.4 points per game on the road.

Plays on the UNDER on all teams where the total is between 190 and 199.5 points (MILWAUKEE) - after allowing 80 points or less against opponent after scoring 100 points or more 4 straight games are 44-17 (72.1%) since 1996. The UNDER is 21-9 in Spurs last 30 road games. The UNDER is 7-1 in Bucks last eight games when playing on 0 days rest. The UNDER is 12-3-2 in Bucks last 17 games vs. a team with a winning percentage of better than 60%. Take the UNDER in this game Wednesday.

15* CBB Wednesday PLAY OF THE DAY on Wisconsin-Milwaukee +18

The books are giving the Wisconsin Badgers way too much respect tonight, and we'll take advantage by backing the underdog Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers in this one. The Badgers are 10-0 this season which is why they are getting so much respect, but now they have created expectations for themselves that they cannot live up to.

It's not like Wisconsin has been blowing teams out during this unbeaten start on a regular basis. Indeed, eight of those 10 wins have come by 11 points or less. So, in all reality, the Badgers have simply been lucky to win every close game.

Their only two blowout wins came against lowly North Dakota (103-85) and Bowling Green (88-64). So, they have only won one game this season by more than 18 points. Coming off a huge win over in-state rival Marquette on Saturday, the Badgers are in a letdown spot here.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee is one of the most improved teams in the country in 2013. It has opened 9-2 this season with its only losses coming to DePaul (71-80) and Loyola-Illinois (72-76) by a combined 13 points. It has impressive wins over Davidson and Northern Illinois on the road, as well as home wins over Northern Iowa and Bradley.

Plays against favorites of 10 to 19.5 points (WISCONSIN) - after eight or more consecutive wins, undefeated on the season are 62-29 (68.1%) ATS over the last five seasons. This trend just goes to show that fading a team on a long winning streak that is undefeated is a very profitable move simply because that team is overvalued, which is clearly the case tonight.

The Panthers are 5-0 ATS in their last five road games. Wisconsin-Milwaukee is 5-1 ATS in its last six non-conference games. The Badgers are 0-4 ATS in their last four vs. Horizon League opponents. Roll with Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wednesday.

20* NBA Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Los Angeles Clippers -5.5

The Los Angeles Clippers were called out by head coach Doc Rivers for pouting after an 82-88 loss at Cleveland a few nights back. They responded well with an 11-point victory at Philadelphia in Monday. Now, I look for them to win by double-digits against the Boston Celtics tonight as well.

Rivers is one of the few head coaches that can get his team to respond by calling them out because they respect him so much. I don't expect it to just be a one game thing. In fact, I look for the Clippers to play some of their best basketball of the season for the remainder of this road trip. Rivers will be returning to the place he coached the past nine years, and it's clear that his players want to make this a special night for him.

"It's one of those things as players we want to rally around him and win this game for him," Blake Griffin said. "It's important when guys come back to their home city or come back to a place where they used to play or coached or whatever it is, it's a good feeling to come back and have a successful trip."

Boston will be playing the second of a back-to-back and its 3rd game in 4 days after falling 96-104 in Brooklyn last night. I look for the Clippers, who are coming off a day off, to run the Celtics out of the building tonight due to being the fresher team.

The Clippers are 27-12 ATS in their last 39 games as a road favorite of 3.5 to 6 points. Boston is 69-102 ATS in its last 171 home games after playing two consecutive road games. The Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last five games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes of the previous day. Los Angeles is 7-2 ATS in its last nine meetings with Boston. Bet the Clippers Wednesday.

15* Boise State/Kentucky ESPN No-Brainer on Boise State +11

Boise State is one of the most underrated teams in college basketball. It returned all five starters from last season and has opened a perfect 8-0 this season as a result. This is one team not only to watch out for now, but in the NCAA Tournament as well.

The Broncos are excellent perimeter shooters, which is why they rank as the nation's No. 2 scoring offense at nearly 92 points per game. They shoot 51.9% overall, 40.2% from 3-points range and 75.3% from the free throw line. They have five players scoring in double figures, so they certainly share the ball well, too.

Kentucky is one of the most overrated teams in the country in the early going due to all the hype that its recruiting class received in the offseason. It has already lost two games to Michigan State and Baylor in its toughest two games of the season on neutral courts. The rest of the Wildcats' schedule has been a cake walk, though they struggled to beat Cleveland State (68-61) at home as a 24.5-point favorite.

Plays on road underdogs of 10 or more points (BOISE ST) - excellent free throw shooting team (>=73%) against an average free throw shooting team (65-69%), good ball handling team (<=14.5 TO's) against a poor pressure defensive team (<=14.5 TO's) are 24-4 (85.7%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Broncos are 6-0 ATS after allowing 55 points or less over the last three seasons. Roll with Boise State Tuesday.

15* NBA Tuesday Total DOMINATOR on Bucks/Bulls UNDER 182.5

Both the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat have been decimated by injuries this season. I believe those injuries have certainly hurt both teams a lot more on the offensive end than on defense. As a result, I look for a low-scoring affair between these teams in Chicago tonight.

Chicago is without Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. It is also likely to be without Luol Deng, who is listed as doubtful after missing Saturday's game against Detroit. The Bulls lost that game 75-92 for 167 combined points as they shot just 33.3% from the field. Rose, Deng and Butler are arguably their three best scorers, so you could see how they would struggle offensively without them.

Milwaukee is without several key players as well. Carlos Delfino, Larry Sanders, Caron Butler, Zaza Pachulia and Gary Neal are all expected to miss this game. The losses of Butler and Neal are big because both are scorers. The Bucks shot just 41.1% from the field in an 82-90 home loss to Brooklyn on Saturday.

Both teams love to play at a slow pace. Chicago ranks 26th in the league in pace at 94.6 possessions per game, while Milwaukee is tied with the Bulls at 26th at 94.6 possessions per game as well. Worse yet, the Bucks rank last in the league in offensive efficiency at 93.6 points per 100 possessions. The Bulls haven't been much better, ranking 26th in the league in offensive efficiency at 97.0 points per 100 possessions.

Chicago is 17-4 to the UNDER when playing against a terrible team (winning percentage of 25% or less) over the last three seasons. The Bulls are 10-1 to the UNDER in home games versus horrible foul drawing teams who attempt 21 or less free throws per game over the last two years. Chicago is 15-5 to the UNDER versus poor offensive teams who score 91 or less points per game over the last three years.

The UNDER is 35-17-2 in Bucks last 53 games when playing on two days' rest. The UNDER is 10-2 in Bulls last 12 games following a double-digit home loss. I look for both teams to continue to struggle offensively in this one given the injuries. Take the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

15* CBB Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Minnesota -15.5

The Minnesota Golden Gophers should be a much bigger favorite tonight over the South Dakota State Jack Rabbits. I look for them to blow the opposition out of the building by 20-plus points tonight.

I like what I've seen from the Golden Gophers thus far under first-year head coach Richard Pitino. He has led them to an 8-2 start with their only losses coming on a neutral court to solid Syracuse and Arkansas teams. They have an impressive road win at Richmond (74-59) as a 1.5-point dog, and a great home win over Florida State (71-61) as a 3.5-point favorite, so they are certainly battle-tested.

South Dakota State is just 4-6 this season with its four wins coming against the likes of SW Minnesota State, Dakota State, Lehigh and Howard. As you can see, none were impressive. This team is simply overmatched tonight, and it will show in the final score.

The Golden Gophers are 6-0 SU & 3-0 ATS at home this season where they are outscoring opponents by an average of 17.0 points per game. The Jack Rabbits are 0-5 SU & 0-5 ATS on the road this season, getting outscored by an average of 15.6 points per game. That includes road losses to the likes of Texas Tech (54-68), UC-Santa Barbara (64-83) and Stanford (60-92). None of those three teams are as strong as Minnesota.

SDSU is 0-7 ATS in its last seven games overall. The Jack Rabbits are 0-6 ATS in their last seven road games. SDSU is 0-7 ATS in its last seven road games against a team with a home winning percentage of greater than 60%. The Gophers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven home games. These four trends combine for a 25-1 system backing Minnesota. Plus, the Gophers beat SDSU by a final of 88-64 at home last season. Bet Minnesota Tuesday.

20* Heat/Pacers Side & Total PARLAY on Indiana ML -144/UNDER 191.5

I am going to back the best team in the league tonight in the Indiana Pacers to take down the defending champion Miami Heat. Instead of laying the three points, I'll just take the Pacers at a generous money line price of -144.

Indiana wants serious revenge after losing in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Heat last year. It will be the much more motivated team because of it, while the Heat will have a hard time getting up for this contest.

The home team has won four straight and eight of the last 10 meetings in this series. Indiana is 28-12 in its last 40 home meetings with Miami. The Pacers are a perfect 9-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents by a whopping 14.9 points per game.

I am backing the UNDER because both teams are solid defensively, and the Eastern Conference Finals was very low scoring. Indiana is the best defensive team in the league, giving up 89.5 points per game overall and 81.8 at home. Miami is allowing 95.9 points per game overall and 93.4 on the road.

Each of the final four games in the playoffs between these teams last year saw 191 or less combined points. They combined for 175, 168, 169 and 191 points in their final four games, respectively. Familiarity breeds low-scoring games, and I fully expect that to be the case here. Plus, both teams will up their intensity level on defense for one of the biggest games of the season.

Indiana is 8-0 to the UNDER in home games versus good pressure defensive teams who force 16 or more turnovers per game over the past two seasons. The Pacers are 16-3 against the money line in all games this season. Indiana is 21-6 against the money line off a road loss over the past two seasons. Bet the Pacers on the Money Line and the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

20* Heat/Pacers Side & Total PARLAY on Indiana ML -144/UNDER 191.5

I am going to back the best team in the league tonight in the Indiana Pacers to take down the defending champion Miami Heat. Instead of laying the three points, I'll just take the Pacers at a generous money line price of -144.

Indiana wants serious revenge after losing in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Heat last year. It will be the much more motivated team because of it, while the Heat will have a hard time getting up for this contest.

The home team has won four straight and eight of the last 10 meetings in this series. Indiana is 28-12 in its last 40 home meetings with Miami. The Pacers are a perfect 9-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents by a whopping 14.9 points per game.

I am backing the UNDER because both teams are solid defensively, and the Eastern Conference Finals was very low scoring. Indiana is the best defensive team in the league, giving up 89.5 points per game overall and 81.8 at home. Miami is allowing 95.9 points per game overall and 93.4 on the road.

Each of the final four games in the playoffs between these teams last year saw 191 or less combined points. They combined for 175, 168, 169 and 191 points in their final four games, respectively. Familiarity breeds low-scoring games, and I fully expect that to be the case here. Plus, both teams will up their intensity level on defense for one of the biggest games of the season.

Indiana is 8-0 to the UNDER in home games versus good pressure defensive teams who force 16 or more turnovers per game over the past two seasons. The Pacers are 16-3 against the money line in all games this season. Indiana is 21-6 against the money line off a road loss over the past two seasons. Bet the Pacers on the Money Line and the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

15* NBA Monday PLAY OF THE DAY on Utah Jazz +7.5

Due to their 17-4 start, the Portland Trail Blazers are now overvalued because the betting public is all over them. Conversely, the Utah Jazz are undervalued due to their 4-18 start, which has the betting public wanting nothing to do with them.

Utah should not be catching 7.5 points at home to Portland tonight. These teams just played on Friday with Portland rolling to a 130-98 home victory over Utah. Everything went right for the Blazers that night as they shot 17-of-23 (73.9%) from 3-point range. Obviously, that's not going to happen again, and Utah will be out for revenge tonight.

That was certainly a rare win for the Blazers in this series considering the Jazz have still won seven of the last nine meetings. Utah is 28-10 straight up in its last 38 home meetings with Portland. I look for the Blazers to suffer a hangover from their 2-point loss to Dallas last time out, and to not show up after having just crushed the Jazz by 32 points three days ago.

The Jazz are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games following a double-digit home loss. Utah is 15-7 ATS in its last 22 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Jazz are 5-1 ATS in their last six after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. It's revenge time for Utah tonight folks. Take the Jazz Monday.

15* Pacers/Thunder NBA Sunday No-Brainer on Oklahoma City -5

This is a horrible spot for the Indiana Pacers, and I'm going to fade them because of it. Sure, I'm very impressed with their NBA-best 18-2 record this year, but this is simply the time to go the other way.

Indiana will be playing the second of a back-to-back and its 5th game in 8 days. It is coming off a huge 111-100 win at San Antonio last night. That sets the Pacers up for a big letdown spot here.

Making matters worse for the Pacers is that they have a game against the defending champion Miami Heat on deck. That makes this a sandwich game for them off a big win and with an even bigger opponent up next. There's no question Indiana will be looking ahead to that huge showdown as they want revenge on the Heat, who knocked them out in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

Conversely, Indiana will have Oklahoma City's full attention. It is coming on on a days' rest off a 109-95 win at New Orleans on Friday. The Thunder are quietly playing some of the best basketball in the NBA, winning nine of their last 10 games overall with their only loss coming at Portland.

The Thunder are a perfect 9-0 at home this season where they are outscoring opponents by 8.6 points per game. The Thunder won both meetings with the Pacers last season, winning 104-93 at home and 97-75 on the road. It's a tough matchup for the Pacers because Paul George is overmatched by Kevin Durant. George is rarely ever overmatched.

The Thunder are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. Oklahoma City is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 Sunday games. Indiana is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 Sunday games. Bet the Thunder Sunday.

15* CBB Sunday PLAY OF THE DAY on Washington +14.5

This is a classic case of one team being overvalued due solid streak, while another team is undervalued because of a poor streak coming in. Washington has failed to cover each of its last four games, while San Diego State has covered three of its last four coming in. This has created some excellent line value on the underdog Huskies.

Sure, Washington is off to a slow start this season at just 4-3, but two of its losses have come against quality opponents in Indiana and Boston College on a neutral court. This team is not as bad as its record would indicate, and a slow start has it way undervalued.

I really like what I've seen from the Huskies on the offensive end. They are putting up 84.1 points per game against opponents that are only allowing an average of 73 points per game on the season. They have five players averaging at least 10.3 points per game, led by returning starter Chris Wilcox (22.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 42.3% 3-pointers).

San Diego State is a good team but one that is getting way too much respect as a double-digit favorite here. It is getting that respect due to a 6-1 start with its only loss coming to Arizona. However, each of its last three wins have come by 8 points or less, including a 65-64 win at San Diego last time out as a 6.5-point favorite.

The Huskies will be the more rested and prepared team coming into this one. They have not played since November 30 in a home win over Long Beach State. The Aztecs last played on December 5 in their 1-point win at San Diego. So, that will be a huge advantage for Washington as it will be more prepared for this game coming in.

Plays on underdogs of 10 or more points (WASHINGTON) - after failing to cover 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread against opponent after having covered 3 of their last 4 against the spread are 130-68 (65.7%) ATS over the last five seasons. This trend just goes to show how profitable it can be to back a team that has been struggling ATS of late against a team that has been dominating ATS of late. Books over-adjust, creating line value on the struggling team. Roll with Washington Sunday.

20* Mavs/Blazers NBA Saturday Night BAILOUT on Dallas +5

The Portland Trail Blazers are way overvalued right now due to their 17-3 start. They had everything go right for them last night against the lowly Utah Jazz, but now they face a much more formidable opponent in the Dallas Mavericks tonight.

Portland is in a very tough spot here. It will be playing the second of a back-to-back and its 5th game in 7 days. Meanwhile, Dallas comes in on two days' rest having last played on Wednesday in a 100-97 win at New Orleans. This spot certainly favors the Mavericks rest-wise.

Dallas has owned Portland of late, winning seven of the last nine meetings in this series. In fact, Dallas has not lost to Portland by more than five points in any of their last 13 meetings.

They have nine wins and four losses against the Blazers over that span with their losses coming by 2, 2, 2 and 5 points. That makes for a perfect 12-0-1 system backing Dallas pertaining to tonight's spread of 5. This is just an excellent spot for Dallas, and a terrible one for overvalued Portland. Bet the Mavericks Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday Letdown Spot on UNC-Greensboro +27.5

The North Carolina Tar Heels won't even show up Saturday. They are in a huge letdown spot after beating No. 1 Michigan State on Wednesday by a final of 79-65 on the road. Now, they have Kentucky on deck, so they will be looking ahead to that game as well. I fully expect the Tar Heels to just go through the motions Saturday, which will allow Greensboro to stay within this massive spread.

Remember, North Carolina lost to both Belmont (80-83) and UAB (59-63) already this season, so this team is extremely vulnerable. All five of its wins have come by 23 points or less, which includes a 62-54 home win over Holy Cross as a 21-point favorite.

North Carolina is 1-7 ATS in its last eight games following a S.U. win. The Tar Heels are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following an ATS win. UNC will not show up at all in this one. Take UNC-Greensboro Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday Line Mistake on Northeastern -1

Few teams in the country have played a schedule as tough as the one that Northeastern has gone up against. It has opened 2-6, which includes an upset win over Georgetown (63-56) as a 13.5-point underdog.

The six losses have all come by 13 points or less, including five by 9 points or fewer. Five of the six have come on the road, including setbacks against very good Charlotte (77-86), Florida State (60-62) and VCU (66-79) teams. The home loss came against Harvard (64-72), which is expected to make the NCAA Tournament.

The Huskies have not been a favorite in any game this season. This is the first time they will be favored, which comes as no surprise considering this is just their second home game of the season. I really like what I've seen from the three star players on this team in Scott Eatherton (16.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg), David Walker (12.2 ppg, 3.0 apg) and Reggie Spencer (11.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg).

UAB is in a massive letdown spot here. It is coming off a huge 63-59 home win over North Carolina as a 7.5-point underdog. That was arguably the biggest win in school history, and one that it's going to be hard for the players to get over. I look for the Blazers to come out flat because of it, and for the Huskies to come out hungry following four consecutive losses against very good competition.

The Blazers are 2-9 ATS in road games versus very good shooting teams who make 45% of their shots or better over the past two seasons. They are losing 67.6 to 76.5 in this spot, or by an average of 8.9 points per game. UAB is 6-15 ATS in its last 21 road games. The Huskies are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games following an ATS loss. Roll with Northeastern Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday Bounce-Back BLOWOUT on Northwestern -5.5

The Northwestern Wildcats should be a much bigger favorite here against Western Michigan. I'll take advantage and back them as a short home favorite in a game I believe they'll win by double-digits.

Northwestern is undervalued right now due to a 4-5 start against an absolutely brutal schedule. All five losses have come against quality teams in Stanford, Illinois State, Missouri, UCLA and NC State. Four of those losses came on the road in games they were an underdog in, so they were supposed to lose.

Western Michigan is overvalued due to its 5-2 start which has come against soft competition. Its five wins have come against Cornell, Oakland, Alabama A&M, Tennessee State and New Mexico. Only one of those wins came in the role of the underdog. WMU also lost to Hawaii (68-78) on the road and North Dakota State (74-83) at home.

Off three straight losses, Northwestern will be happy to return home where it is 3-1 on the season and outscoring opponents by 7.5 points per game. Western Michigan is 1-9 ATS in road games after having won 5 or 6 of its last 7 games over the past three seasons. It is losing in this spot by 11.2 points per game. Roll with Northwestern Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Southern Illinois -3.5

The Southern Illinois Salukis deserve to be getting more respect than they are Saturday. I'll take advantage and back them as a slim 3.5-point home favorite against Western Kentucky in what I fully expect to be a double-digit blowout by game's end.

Southern Illinois is undervalued right now due to its 2-6 start. A closer look shows that it has been up against a brutal schedule, and it has been unfortunate in close games. Three of its six losses came by 4 points or less, and all six have been by 13 or fewer.

Also, five of the six losses have come in the role of the underdog, so the Salukis were supposed to lose. Two of those were against Missouri (59-72) as a 16.5-point underdog, and Saint Louis (67-76) as a 12.5-point dog. They hung with both of those teams to really show their potential.

Now, the Salukis are in the role of the favorite for the first time all season. They deserve to be against a Western Kentucky team that is overrated at 4-3 this season. Its four wins have all come at home against E. Tennessee State (57-50), UNC-Wilmington (73-58), Samford (67-64) and E. Illinois (68-53).

The Hilltoppers are 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS on the road this season with double-digit losses to Wichita State (49-66) as a 15.5-point dog, Marshall (64-74) as a 3.5-point dog, and Bowling Green (62-74) as a 2-point favorite. This team is clearly overrated and should be a bigger dog today.

Adding fuel to the fire for the Salukis is the fact that they have lost three straight to the Hilltoppers by 7 points or less, including last year's 57-58 road loss. They'll want revenge, and I fully expect them to get it today.

This will only be the 3rd home game of the year for the Salukis. Southern Illinois is 6-1 ATS in its last seven home games. Western Kentucky is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 road games vs. a team with a .500 or better home record. Southern Illinois is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games vs. a team with a winning record. WKU is 0-6 ATS in road games after playing a road game over the past two seasons. Take Southern Illinois Saturday.

20* CBB GAME OF THE WEEK on Fordham +11.5

The St. John's Red Storm are coming off a big 69-58 win over Georgia Tech on a neutral court. With a date with one of the top teams in the country in Syracuse on deck, I have no doubt that the Red Storm will be overlooking Fordham in this one.

This is a very good Fordham team that is one of the most underrated in the country. It has opened 4-2 with one of its two losses coming at Syracuse by a final of 74-89 as a 19.5-point underdog. If the Rams can stay within 15 of Syracuse on the road, they can certainly stay within 11 of the Red Storm.

St. John's really doesn't have a good win yet. It has some ugly wins, however. It only beat Bucknell 67-63 as a 7-point home favorite, and Monmouth 64-54 as a 20-point favorite. It also has losses to Wisconsin (75-86) on a neutral court as a 5-point dog, and to Penn State (82-89) on a neutral court as a 3-point favorite.

Fordham returned five of its top six scorers from last season. Leading the way this season has been the three-headed monster of Jon Severe (23.2 ppg, 42.1% 3-pointers), Branden Frazier (18.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.2 apg) and Mandell Thomas (15.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.7 apg). With these three, the Rams are capable of competing with just about anyone in the country.

Fordham is 4-0 ATS in its last four meetings with St. John's. Fordham covered as a 13.5-point road underdog in a 58-47 loss at St. John's last year, covered as an 11.5-point road dog in a 56-50 loss at St. John's in 2011, and won outright as a 14-point home underdog by a final of 84-81 in 2010. Clearly, the Rams are not afraid of the Red Storm.

St. John's is 4-15 ATS as a home favorite of 9.5 to 12 points since 1997. St. John's is 1-12 ATS after allowing 60 points or less in its previous game over the past three seasons. Fordham is 21-8 ATS in its last 29 games overall. The Rams are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 non-conference games. The Red Storm are 0-8 ATS in their last eight games following a S.U. win. Bet Fordham Saturday.

20* Jazz/Blazers NBA Late-Night BAILOUT on Utah +11.5

The Utah Jazz are showing tremendous value as a double-digit underdog to the Portland Trail Blazers tonight. Portland is overvalued due to its 16-3 start this season and has created expectations for itself that it cannot live up to.

Utah, meanwhile, is undervalued due to its 4-16 start. This team has been playing much better of late due to the healthy return of point guard Trey Burke. In fact, the Jazz have won three of their last five games overall and led Indiana most of the way before having a poor 4th quarter and losing by 9 on Wednesday.

The reigning NCAA player of the year missed the team's first 12 games because of a fractured index finger. He's started the last six and has averaged 33.5 minutes in the past five, putting up 16.2 points and 5.0 assists per game as Utah has gone 3-2. Burke has just two turnovers over the last four games while the Jazz have averaged 13.0, compared to 17.8 through their first 16 games.

Portland is in a huge letdown spot here. It is coming off back-to-back home wins over two of the best teams in the NBA in Indiana (106-102) and Oklahoma City (111-104). It will have a hard time getting up to play one of the worst teams in the league in the Jazz tonight. I'm not saying the Blazers' start is a complete fluke, but they certainly are overvalued because of it.

The Jazz have won seven of their last eight meetings with the Blazers overall. Plays on road underdogs of 10 or more points (UTAH) - after 1 or more consecutive losses, on Friday nights are 73-32 (69.5%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Jazz are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following an ATS loss. Utah is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games. The Jazz are 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings in Portland. Bet Utah Friday.

15* CBB Friday PLAY OF THE DAY on California -1.5

The Cal Golden Bears should be a much bigger favorite tonight over Cal Santa Barbara. This is a Cal team that returned four starters from last season and is way undervalued right now due to suffering two early losses.

However, both of those losses came against two of the better teams in the country in Syracuse and Dayton. Cal has taken care of business against everyone else, and I look for it to come up with an easy victory over UCSB tonight as well.

Santa Barbara is getting too much respect due to beating UNLV on the road earlier this season. That UNLV team is way down this year, and they are getting too much credit for it. They have lost to Utah State, Colorado and UCLA since, and they'll be overmatched by the Bears in this one as well.

Cal is 4-0 in its last four meetings with UCSB, winning all four by seven or more points. UCSB is 3-15 ATS versus teams who are called for 17 or less fouls per game over the past three seasons. Cal is 18-7 ATS as a road favorite of three points or less since 1997. Cal is 44-18 ATS in road games after having lost two of its last three games since 1997. The Bears are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 vs. Big West opponents. Take Cal Friday.

15* NBA Friday No-Doubt Rout on Phoenix Suns -3.5

The Phoenix Suns continue to lack the respect they deserve from oddsmakers. They should be a bigger home favorite tonight over the Toronto Raptors, but I'll take advantage since they just continue to fly under the radar.

Phoenix has opened 10-9 this season with impressive wins along the way. More impressive, though is the fact that seven of their nine losses have come by 8 points or fewer. So, this team has essentially been in just about every game this season.

Toronto is just 6-11 this season and has really struggled of late. It has lost four straight heading into this one, giving up 102 or more points in three of the four losses. This is a team that relies too heavily on Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan to carry the scoring load, while Phoenix is a team that goes about 10 deep and gets its scoring from different places night in and night out.

The Suns have won 14 of their last 17 meetings with the Raptors. Phoenix is 12-3 ATS versus poor shooting teams that make 43% or less of their shots over the past two seasons. The Suns are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games playing on 1 days rest. Phoenix is 13-5-1 ATS in its last 19 games overall. Roll with the Suns Friday.

15* NBA Friday Undervalued Underdog on Boston Celtics +4.5

The Boston Celtics have quietly played some very good basketball in the early going under head coach Brad Stevens. They currently sit atop the Atlantic Division with an 8-12 record in the watered-down Eastern Conference.

The Celtics have won four of their last six games overall, which includes road wins over Atlanta (94-87) and Charlotte (96-86), as well as home wins over Cleveland (103-86) and Milwaukee (108-100). This team remains undervalued despite a respectable start to the season under Stevens.

Denver is way overvalued right now due to winning seven of its last eight games overall. It had a seven-game winning streak snapped as a 3.5-point favorite at Cleveland on Wednesday, losing by a final of 88-98. This road trip has started to take its toll on the Nuggets as this will be their sixth road game in their past seven contests.

The Nuggets are a notorious terrible road team over the year, and a great home team. That's why I'll look to fade them almost any time they are a road favorite. Plus, the Celtics are 32-7 all-time at home against the Nuggets, winning the last three while averaging 112.0 points per game.

Boston is 14-3 ATS in home games versus poor defensive teams who allow 99 or more points per game over the past two seasons. The Nuggets are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record. The home team is 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings in this series. Boston is 6-1 ATS in its last seven home meetings with Denver. Take the Celtics Friday.

15* CBB Thursday No-Doubt Rout on Kansas State -1.5

The Kansas State Wildcats are looking for a statement win tonight against Ole Miss to get their season back on track. They have opened 4-3 this year, but two of those losses came against very good Charlotte and Georgetown teams on a neutral court. They have been much better since, posting back-to-back blowout victories over Long Beach State (52-38) and Central Arkansas (87-54).

Ole Miss is way overrated in the early going due to its 6-0 start against soft competition. It has only played on true road game this year, and struggled to beat Coastal Carolina by a final of 72-70 on November 16. The Rebels will be playing in a much tougher atmosphere in Manhattan, KS tonight.

Kansas State went 15-1 at home last season and is now 18-2 at home over the past two seasons combined. Wildcats guard Will Spradling is hoping to get a lift from its fan base in Thursday's game. "It'll be a big game for us, a game to get the preseason turned around," the senior guard said. "We had a rocky start, but we should have a good home crowd tomorrow and a good home court advantage."

The Wildcats are 14-1 ATS in home games after two straight wins by 10 points or more since 1997. They are winning in this spot 80.7 to 60.1, or by an average of 20.6 points per game. Roll with Kansas State Thursday.

15* NBA Thursday PLAY OF THE DAY on Los Angeles Clippers ML +105

At some point, you have to stand up for yourself. The Los Angeles Clippers were knocked out of the playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies last season. They had their chance for revenge on November 18, but lost at home to the Grizzlies by a final of 102-106. I don't expect them to squander a second opportunity for revenge tonight.

Memphis is in a world of hurt right now. It is without its best player in Marc Gasol (knee), while Zach Randolph is questionable to play tonight after missing the past couple games with a toe injury. Gasol and Randolph combined for 49 points and 24 rebounds in the first meeting of the season between these teams.

The Clippers have won three of their last four regular-season trips to Memphis. They certainly do not want to lose a third straight games overall after falling to the Pacers and Hawks to begin December. I look for them to rally around Chris Paul and to take advantage of the absence of Gasol, and possibly Randolph, tonight.

The Clippers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 0 days rest. The Grizzlies are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 home games. Los Angeles is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Memphis is 1-4 ATS in its last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Bet the Clippers Thursday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Utah Jazz +9

The Utah Jazz hit rock bottom when they started 1-14. Oddsmakers had to adjust their power ratings for the Jazz to an all-time low because of that start. As a result, this team has been showing a ton of value of late and will be going forward.

The Jazz have won three of their last four games overall while going 3-1 ATS in the process. That includes home wins over both Chicago (89-83) and Houston (109-103), as well as a road win at Phoenix (112-104). A big reason for this resurgence has been the debut of rookie point guard Trey Burke, who has been a playmaker in the early going.

Indiana's stock could not be bigger due to its 16-1 start to the season. As a result, oddsmakers have had to adjust their power ratings for the Pacers to an all-time high. This will create value in fading Indiana going forward, and that was evident in its 102-106 loss at Portland last time out when it was actually a favorite in that game.

With games against San Antonio and Oklahoma City on deck, this could be a huge letdown spot for Indiana. I look for the Pacers to be overlooking the Jazz enough to let Utah cover, and possibly win this game outright.

The Jazz are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. Utah is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games overall. Utah has won six straight home meetings with Indiana dating back to 2007. It hasn't lost at home against the Pacers since 2005. Bet the Jazz Wednesday.

15* ACC/Big Ten Challenge GAME OF THE NIGHT on Boston College +4

The Boston College Eagles are way undervalued after starting the season 0-3. They have rebounded nicely to 3-4 with their only loss since coming by a final of 70-72 to unbeaten Connecticut as a 9-point underdog. In fact, three of Boston College's four losses this season have come by 4 points or less.

The Eagles returned 96 percent of their scoring from last season as they are one of the most experienced teams in the entire country. Olivier Hanlan (21.7 ppg) and Ryan Anderson (19.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg) are two of the best players in the entire country and fully capable of carrying the team.

Purdue is nowhere near as good as its 6-2 record would indicate. Its six wins have all come at home against the likes of Northern Kentucky (77-76), Central Connecticut State, Rider (81-77), Eastern Illinois and Siena (twice). Four of its six wins have come by 8 points or fewer. In its only two tough games, Purdue fell to Oklahoma State (87-97) and Washington State (54-69) on a neutral court.

Free throw shooting is very important this year. Boston College is averaging 22 makes on 26 attempts per game for an incredible 84.3% from the charity stripe. Purdue is only averaging 18 makes on 27 attempts per game for a 65.9% conversion rate.

Boston College is 39-23 ATS in its last 62 road games as an underdog of 6 points or less. The Boilermakers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record. Purdue is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 non-conference games. Roll with Boston College Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Night Line Mistake on Phoenix Suns +10.5

The Phoenix Suns are showing tremendous value as a double-digit underdog to the Houston Rockets tonight. They blew a big first-half lead against the Grizzlies to lose last night, but since they had two days' rest coming into that game and are very deep, they will be plenty fresh tonight.

The Suns are still one of the most underrated teams in the NBA this season. They are off to a 9-9 start with seven of their losses coming by 8 points or fewer. They have proven they can play with anybody as evidenced by their narrow road losses to Oklahoma City (96-103), San Antonio (96-99) and Portland (89-90).

Houston isn't the healthiest of teams right now. Starting point guard Jeremy Lin, who was off to a tremendous start this season, is sidelined by a knee injury. Starting forward Chandler Parsons is questionable to play tonight as he nurses a back injury.

Phoenix is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games following an ATS loss. The Suns are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games. Phoenix is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 vs. Western Conference opponents. The Suns are 22-7 ATS in their last 29 meetings with the Rockets, including 19-5 ATS in their last 24 meetings in Houston. Take Phoenix Wednesday.

15* CBB Rivalry GAME OF THE NIGHT on Pennsylvania +18.5

The Villanova Wildcats are in a huge letdown spot tonight after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis title. The Wildcats posted back-to-back dramatic wins over quality teams in Kansas and Iowa to claim the title. They now have a Top 25 ranking, and are getting patted on the back.

Sure, Villanova has won 10 straight over Big Five rival Pennsylvania, but this has been a closely-contested series in recent years. Each of the last three meetings between these teams have been decided by 13 points or less.

Pennsylvania is just 2-4 this season, but it has played a tough schedule in the early going, and it returns all five starters from last season. Three of its four losses have come by 12 points or fewer. The only blowout came at Iowa as a 25-point underdog in a 31-point loss.

Plays against favorites of 10 to 19.5 points (VILLANOVA) - after having covered 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread, undefeated on the season are 30-12 (71.4%) ATS over the last five seasons.

Penn is 6-0 ATS in road games versus teams who attempt 21 or more 3 points shots/game over the past three seasons. The Quakers are 10-1 ATS in road games after a game where they made 88% of their free throws or better since 1997. Penn is 26-9 ATS in its last 35 road games after having lost 4 or 5 of its last 6 games coming in. Take Pennsylvania Wednesday.

20* College Basketball GAME OF THE WEEK on Detroit +10

This is a classic early-season revenge spot for Detroit. After losing at home to Toledo by a final of 78-80 on November 23 as a 4-point underdog, I fully expect Detroit to give the Rockets a run for their money on the road tonight in the rematch.

Detroit has won three of its past five games overall with its two losses coming by a combined 4 points. That includes road wins at James Madison (71-67) as a 3.5-point underdog, and at South Florida (65-60) as a 9-point dog.

With an emphasis on more foul calls this season, Detroit makes for a solid team to back. That's because it is averaging 21 makes on 27 attempts per game, shooting a sensational 79.4% from the charity stripe this season.

The underdog is a perfect 5-0 against the spread in the last five meetings between these teams. The road team is 4-1 against the number in the last five meetings as well. The Titans are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games overall. Bet Detroit Wednesday.

15* CBB Tuesday GAME OF THE NIGHT on North Texas +19.5

The North Texas Mean Green get the call Tuesday night as a massive road underdog to the BYU Cougars. This line has been inflated, and we'll take advantage and back the Mean Green in what will be a closer game than oddsmakers are anticipating.

North Texas is off to a 5-3 start this season with all three of its losses coming by 13 points or less. That includes an 82-95 loss at Oklahoma as a 15.5-point underdog, which is an Oklahoma team that I believe is better than this BYU squad.

The Cougars have opened 6-2 this season, but they only have two wins by more than 11 points this year. Those came at home against their two easiest opponents in Mount St. Mary's (108-76) and Mesa College (84-60), which were games that didn't even have lines on them. Off a huge win over Utah State, and with UMass on deck, I believe this is a big letdown spot for BYU tonight.

North Texas is 15-6 ATS in its last 21 games versus poor pressure defensive teams who force 14 or less turnovers per game. The Mean Green are 18-7 ATS after playing their last game on the road over the past three seasons. The Cougars are 17-36-1 ATS in their last 54 games following an ATS win. BYU is 2-7-1 ATS in its last 10 home games. The Mean Green are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Bet North Texas Tuesday.

20* NBA Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Dallas Mavericks -8

The Dallas Mavericks have lost four of their last five games coming into this one. They'll clearly be motivated for a victory tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats, which is a team they have dominated throughout the years.

"We're going to learn about our team right now," coach Rick Carlisle said. "Lose four out of five, have a tough loss like last night and then another tough one like tonight - it's going to test the togetherness and the collective will."

Charlotte, meanwhile, is in a huge letdown spot off a tough 98-99 loss at the defending champion Miami Heat last time out. I look for the Bobcats to suffer a hangover from that loss because they led most of the way before having the game taken away from them down the stretch.

Dallas had gone 16-0 against Charlotte before losing in overtime on the road last November. The Mavericks are a perfect 9-0 at home against the Bobcats, limiting them to just 90.4 points on 42.1 percent shooting in the process. Dallas has won all nine games by an average of 13 points per game.

The Mavericks are 8-2 at home this season where they are scoring an average of 108.5 points per game. Charlotte is scoring just 89.2 points per game overall and 89.9 points per game on the road this year. The Bobcats are 13-37-1 ATS in their last 51 vs. Western Conference opponents. Dallas is 22-6 ATS in its last 28 games following a S.U. loss. Bet the Mavericks Tuesday.

15* NBA Western Conference Line Mistake on Phoenix Suns +3.5

The Memphis Grizzlies have no business being favored tonight against the Phoenix Suns. I fully expect the Suns to win outright, but I'll simply take the points for some insurance.

Phoenix is the most underrated team in the league in 2013. It is off to a 9-8 start that could easily have been better. Seven of its eight losses have come by 8 points or less, including four by 3 points or fewer.

Memphis is expected to be without its two best players tonight. Marc Gasol (16.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg) is out with a knee injury, while Zach Randolph (16.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg) is listed as doubtful with a toe injury.

The loss of Randolph is huge considering he is averaging 22.7 points and 12.5 rebounds while shooting 57.6 percent from the field in his last 16 games versus Phoenix. Meanwhile, the Suns just recently returned Eric Bledsoe, so they are back to close to full strength.

Phoenix is 10-1 ATS as an underdog this season. The Suns are 8-1 ATS in road games this year. The Suns are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games following a ATS loss. The Grizzlies are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games. These four trends combine for a 29-2 system backing Phoenix. Roll with the Suns Tuesday.

15* NBA Eastern Conference ANNIHILATOR on Philadelphia 76ers -3.5

The Philadelphia 76ers are showing tremendous value as only a 3.5-point home favorite over the Orlando Magic tonight. Philadelphia will be highly motivated to end a four-game losing streak overall, which included a 94-105 loss at Orlando on November 27, so the 76ers will be out for revenge as well.

Orlando is expected to be without its best player in Nikola Vucevic, who is listed as doubtful with an ankle injury. Vucevic is averaging 14.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season and is simply irreplaceable. Not to mention both Jameer Nelson (foot) and Tobias Harris (ankle) are doubtful for the Magic as well.

Philadelphia is a respectable 5-5 at home this season, while Orlando is just 1-6 on the road. The Magic are 5-16-1 ATS in their last 22 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. The 76ers are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. Take the 76ers Tuesday.

15* NBA Monday Total DOMINATOR on Hawks/Spurs UNDER 197.5

The books have set the bar too high tonight in this contest between the Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs. I fully expect a defensive battle as each team tries to bounce back from a loss and a poor defensive performance.

You know that Greg Popovich is going to preach defense following his team's 106-112 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday. The same can be said for the Hawks, who fell 101-108 at Washington on Saturday. Neither team is satisfied with their efforts defensively coming into this one.

That's especially the case for San Antonio, which is only giving up 91.6 points per game on 42.8% shooting this season. The Spurs rank 2nd in the league in defensive efficiency, giving up just 93.2 points per 100 possessions. Atlanta is a respectable 12th in defensive efficiency (101.5).

Both Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver are questionable for Atlanta heading into this one. It would be a big blow to their offense if either player is sidelined, but I'm still going to be on the UNDER regardless. That would just be an added bonus if one or both sits.

Each of the last four meetings between San Antonio and Atlanta have seen 196 or fewer combined points (196, 191, 188, 187). The UNDER is 5-0 in Hawks last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. Atlanta is 9-1 to the UNDER versus very good shooting teams who make 48% of their shots or more over the past two seasons. Roll with the UNDER in this game Monday.

15* Florida/UConn ESPN 2 No-Brainer on Florida +5

I look for the Florida Gators to pull off the upset tonight at Connecticut, but I'll take the points for some insurance. The Huskies are way overvalued in the early going due to their perfect 7-0 start. A closer look shows that they are very fortunate to be unbeaten right now.

In fact, three of their wins have come by a combined four points! They have beaten Maryland (78-77), Boston College (72-70) and Indiana (59-58) all on neutral courts. I believe Florida is the best team that they have played yet. The Gators' only loss came at Wisconsin (53-59).

Florida has a huge edge in rebounding in this one. The Huskies have been outrebounded in three straight games, and they're allowing an average of 14.7 offensive rebounds per game on the season, which is one of the highest marks in the country. UConn gave up 20 to Loyola-Maryland in a lackluster 76-66 home victory last time out.

The Gators began a tough stretch of games with a 67-66 win over a very good Florida State team on Friday. The Gators grabbed 20 offensive rebounds in that contest. In fact, they have outrebounded each of their last five opponents while averaging 14.0 offensive boards during that stretch.

Connecticut is 0-9 against the spread after four or more consecutive wins over the past three seasons. This trend just goes to show you how overvalued the Huskies have been once they start to see some success, which is certainly the case here. Take Florida Monday.

15* NBA Sunday PLAY OF THE DAY on Minnesota Timberwolves +9

This is a huge letdown spot for Oklahoma City, which is coming off its overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Russell Westbrook nailed a 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left in the extra session to beat the Warriors. Off such a big, thrilling win, I look for the Thunder to come back unmotivated today.

Motivation will not be problem for the Timberwolves, who have lost five of their last seven coming in. This is a business trip for Minnesota, which won at Dallas last night by a final of 112-106. I wouldn't be surprised one bit to see this team pull off the upset tonight as well, but I'll take the points for some insurance.

Oklahoma City is 13-29 ATS after a close win by 3 points or less since 1996. It is coming back to lose 100.0 to 102.6 in this spot. Bet the Timberwolves Sunday.

15* CBB Sunday PLAY OF THE DAY on Wichita State +2

I would be surprised to see Wichita State as an underdog the rest of the year. This is a team that went to the Final Four last season, and somehow they're getting overlooked in 2013-14. I'll take advantage and back the Shockers as a dog here.

The Shockers have opened 7-0 this season with seven straight victories by double-digits. That includes a 77-54 road win at Tulsa, and victories over both Depaul (90-72) and BYU (74-62) on neutral courts.

Saint Louis is a quality team that returns similar talent to Wichita State from last year, but this team is obviously way overvalued in the early going. It has opened 6-1 this season with a loss to Wisconsin. I would argue that the Billikens don't have a good win yet.

The Shockers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The Shockers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games. Wichita State is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 games overall. Take Wichita State Sunday.

15* CBB Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Iowa -2

The Iowa Hawkeyes are off to a 7-0 start this season with five of those victories coming by 31 or more points. This is one of the deepest teams in the country that can handle playing three games in three days because of it.

The Hawkeyes have 10 players averaging more than 15 minutes per game. All ten of those players are averaging at least 4.6 points per contest, and all five starters are back from last year. This team is ranked in the Top 25 for a reason and will only continue to climb after beating Villanova Saturday.

The Wildcats are coming off a huge win over Kansas yesterday, and even though this is the championship game in the Battle 4 Atlantic, I look for them to suffer a letdown off such a big win.

The Hawkeyes are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games. Iowa is 27-9 ATS in its last 36 games overall. The Hawkeyes are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 games following a win. Iowa is 18-6 ATS in its last 24 games vs. a team with a winning record. Bet Iowa Saturday.

15* NBA Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Bulls/Cavaliers UNDER 182

The Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers will take part in a low-scoring, defensive battle tonight. I look for a similar combined score to the 96-81 victory Chicago handed Cleveland in their first meeting of the season, when Derrick Rose was healthy.

The Bulls have been atrocious offensively without Rose, scoring just 82, 83 and 99 points in their last three games overall. They are also without Jimmy Butler, which gets overlooked because of his ability to stretch the floor and break down a defense from time to time.

Both Cleveland and Chicago like to slow down the tempo. The Bulls rank 23rd int he league in pace at 95.6 possessions per game, while the Cavs are 14th at 97.3 possessions per game. Cleveland is 28th in offensive efficiency at 92.6 points per 100 possessions, while Chicago is 26th at 96.0 points per 100 possessions.

Chicago is 9-1 to the UNDER when playing against a team with a winning percentage of 25% or less over the last two seasons. The Bulls are 8-1 to the UNDER when the total is between 180 and 189.5 points this season. The UNDER is 7-1 in Cavaliers last eight home games. Roll with the UNDER in this game Saturday.

15* SDSU/Creighton CBB PLAY OF THE DAY on Creighton -4

The Creighton Bluejays returned four starters from last season and are one of the best players on the country. That includes Doug McDermott (23.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg), who is off to another monster start and may be the best players in all of college basketball. McDermott is averaging 27.4 points and 7.6 boards while leading the Bluejays to a perfect 5-0 start this season.

He is getting plenty of help, too. Devin Brooks (12.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Ethan Wragge (10.2 ppg) and Austin Chatman (9.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.4 apg) have fit in with McDermott nicely. The Bluejays have shot 51.5% or better in all five games this season, which is impressive considering they have faced three very good opponents. They beat both St. Joseph's (73-69) and Arizona State (88-60) on the road, as well as Tulsa (82-72) at home. They are shooting 53.5% from the field on the season.

San Diego State lost four of its top six scorers from last season, including leading scorers Jamaal Franklin (17.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and Chase Tapley (13.5 ppg). The Aztecs only bring back Xavier Thames (9.5 ppg), J.J. O'Brien (7.2 ppg) and Winston Shepard (5.7) as players of relevance. They have played an extremely soft schedule outside of Arizona, who they lost to by a final of 60-69 at home as a 3.5-point underdog.

Plays on neutral court teams (CREIGHTON) - an explosive offensive team (>=76 PPG) against a good offensive team (74-76 PPG), after scoring 80 points or more 2 straight games are 35-8 (81.4%) ATS over the last five seasons. San Diego State is only hitting 63.0% of its free throws this year, which is a big factor given the emphasis on fouls.

The Aztecs are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. win. San Diego State is 0-5 ATS in its last five vs. Big East opponents. The Bluejays are 7-1 ATS in their last eight neutral site games. Creighton is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games overall. Bet Creighton Friday.

20* NBA Friday Undervalued Underdog on Washington Wizards +10.5

The Indiana Pacers are way overvalued right now due to their 14-1 start. There's no question this is one of the best teams in the league, but they have taken advantage of a very easy schedule thus far, and should not be laying double-digits to Washington tonight.

Indiana has only faced one team this season that currently has a winning record, and that was Memphis (8-7). With with biggest game of the season against the Los Angeles Clippers on deck, this could certainly be a lookahead spot for the Pacers.

Quietly, the Washington Wizards have won three straight and five of their last six games overall heading into this one. They are undervalued right now due to a poor start to the season, with road losses to the likes of the Heat, Thunder, Mavericks and Spurs, who are four of the best teams in the NBA. There's no question that Washington is better than its 7-8 record would indicate, while Indiana is nowhere near as good as its 14-1 mark.

These teams met four times last season with Indiana winning three of them by 4, 7 and 8 points. Washington won the other by a final of 104-85 at home as a 4-point dog in their final meeting of the season, which is when John Wall was actually healthy, and he led the way with 37 points. Wall miss the other three meetings, and the Wizards still hung tough and lost all three by 8 points or fewer.

Plays against home favorites of 10 or more points (INDIANA) - after 3 or more consecutive wins, on Friday nights are 32-7 (82.1%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Wizards are 27-13-1 ATS in their last 41 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in this series. Take the Wizards Friday.

15* NBA Friday Total DOMINATOR on Hawks/Mavericks OVER 202

The books have set the bar too low in this contest between the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks tonight. I'll take advantage by backing the OVER in what I believe will be an absolute shootout with each team topping the 100-point mark.

The reason this total has been set so low is because both Dallas and Atlanta have been going UNDER the total a lot recently. In fact, The UNDER is 4-0 in Mavs last four games overall, while the UNDER is 6-1 in the Hawks last seven. However, these recent trends have provided us with a ton of value to back the OVER.

Dallas beat Atlanta by a final of 118-109 in the season opener for 227 combined points. I expect a similar result tonight. The OVER is now 5-0 in the last five meetings in this series. In the last three meetings, they have combined for 227, 240 and 206 points, respectively.

Both teams like to push the tempo, which will create the perfect storm for a high-scoring affair tonight. Dallas ranks 7th in the league in pace at 99.4 possessions per game, while Atlanta ranks 11th in pace at 98.2 possessions per contest. The Mavericks are also 5th in the league in offensive efficiency at 106.2 points per 100 possessions, while Atlanta is 15th at 101.0 points per 100 possessions.

Dallas is 27-10 to the OVER in road games after four or more consecutive unders since 1996. The OVER is 20-5-1 in Mavericks last 26 games vs. NBA Southeast Division opponents. The OVER is 21-9 in Hawks last 30 Friday games. Roll with the OVER in this game Friday.

15* NBA Friday Total ANNIHILATOR on Cavaliers/Celtics UNDER 189

The books have set the number way too high in this contest between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. I'll take advantage by backing the UNDER as do not expect either team to reach 95 points in this one, which is what it would take to go over the total.

These are two of the worst offensive teams in the league as the Cavs are scoring 92.6 points per game on 41.8% shooting, while the Celtics are scoring 92.9 points per game on 44.3% shooting. Neither team really like to push the tempo, either.

Both ranks in the middle of the pack in pace as Cleveland is 15th at 97.0 possessions per game, while Boston is 18th at 96.6 possessions per game. The key here is that neither team has been able to do much with those possessions. Cleveland ranks 27th in offensive efficiency at 93.4 points per 100 possessions, while Boston is 26th at 95.6 points per 100 possessions.

The UNDER is 3-0 in the last three meetings in this series with combined scores of 188, 185 and 185 points. In fact, the Celtics and Cavaliers have combined for 188 or less points in six of their last seven meetings overall.

Boston is 19-6 to the UNDER vs. poor passing teams who average 20 or less assists per game over the past two seasons. The UNDER is 8-1 in Cavaliers last nine Friday games. The UNDER is 12-2 in Cavaliers last 12 vs. NBA Atlantic Division foes. The UNDER is 21-8 in Cavs last 29 vs. Eastern Conference opponents. The UNDER is 8-1 in Celtics last nine vs. NBA Central Division foes. Bet the UNDER in this game Friday.

15* CBB Thursday No-Doubt Rout on Iowa -4.5

The Iowa Hawkeyes are one of the most underrated teams in the entire country. They returned all five starters from last year, and they are one of the deepest teams in the land. I look for them to blow out Xavier tonight in Round 1 of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament.

Indeed, the Hawkeyes are deep. They have 10 players who are averaging 15 or more minutes per game. A big reason for that is that they have been blowing out the opposition in the early going, but they aren't afraid to go 10 deep against good teams, too. Iowa has outscored its first five opponents 92.6 to 54.6, or by an average of 38.0 points per game en route to a 5-0 start.

Ten players are also averaging 5.0 points per game or more this season. Leading the way has been Roy-Devyn Marble (14.6 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.2 spg), Aaron White (13.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Jarrod Uthoff (11.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Peter Jok (9.4 ppg), Zach McCabe (7.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Melsahn Basabe (7.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg). This is certainly a team you will see in the NCAA Tournament down the road, and one that is a sleeper to win the Big Ten.

Xavier brings back a quality squad as well with three starters returning. I like what I've seen from the Musketeers thus far, but their 5-0 start has come against some very soft competition as well, and they haven't been nearly as dominant as Iowa. They only beat a mediocre Tennessee team by a final of 67-63 at home on November 12.

The one stat that really stood out to me when researching this game was the free throw shooting for both teams. With an emphasis on calling more fouls this season, free throw shooting is at a premium. Iowa is getting to the line 36 times per game, converting on 74.2% of its opportunities in the process. Xavier is getting to the line 28 times per game, but making a woeful 59.9% of them.

In a game that is expected to be close according to oddsmakers, free throw shooting could easily be the difference as to why the Hawkeyes cover this one, even though I fully expect them to win via blowout.

Iowa is 20-6 ATS in its last 26 games overall. The Hawkeyes are 9-0 ATS in their last nine games after scoring 75 or more points in two or more straight games coming in. Iowa is 8-0 ATS in its last eight games after playing two consecutive games as a home favorite. The Hawkeyes are 11-0 ATS in their last 11 games after playing two consecutive games as a favorite. These three trends combine for a perfect 28-0 system backing the Hawkeyes. Roll with Iowa Thursday.

15* Baylor/Syracuse ESPN Late-Night BAILOUT on Syracuse -4

The Orange have really impressed me in the early going en route to a perfect 6-0 start this season. Their wins over two very good teams in Minnesota (75-67) and California (92-81) to open the Maui Invitational really show that Jim Boeheim has another great squad at Syracuse this season.

C.J. Fair (17.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Jerami Grant (13.2 ppg, 7.2 ppg) have really stepped up their games as key returnees from last season. Freshman Tyler Ennis (11.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.7 spg) has done a tremendous job of running the offense. Trevor Cooney (14.8 ppg, 48.8% 3-pointers) has proven to be the next great sharpshooter for the Orange.

Baylor has been unimpressive to me thus far. It barely escaped with home victories over South Carolina (66-64) and Charleston Southern (69-64) before heading to the Maui Invitational. I believe the loss of leading scorer Pierre Jackson (19.8 ppg), 7.1 apg) has really taken its toll on this squad. The Bears were fortunate to escape with a 67-66 victory over Dayton last night as well.

The Orange are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game. Syracuse is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games vs. Big 12 opponents. Baylor is 1-4 ATS in its last five games vs. ACC foes. Take Syracuse Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total DOMINATOR on Nuggets/Timberwolves OVER 211.5

I look for a shootout tonight between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. That was certainly the case when these teams got together for the first time this season on November 15. Denver beat Minnesota 117-113 for a combined score of 230, which is roughly 19 points more than tonight's posted total of 211.5.

In that first meeting, both teams ignored the shot clock and simply got the ball up as quickly as they could. Minnesota hoisted up a ridiculous 97 shots, while Denver wasn't far behind with 94 shots. There wasn't much defense being played, either, as both teams got good looks. The Timberwolves shot 48.9% from the floor, while the Nuggets shot 48.5%.

The reason I expect a similar result tonight is because both teams play at very fast paces. In fact, the Timberwolves rank 2nd in the league in pace at 101.9 possessions per game, while the Nuggets are a close 3rd in pace at 100.9 possession per contest. When you get two teams that like to play at fast paces together, it creates a perfect storm, making for a great opportunity to back the OVER.

Denver is 33-16 to the OVER as a road underdog over the past three seasons. The OVER is 16-7-1 in Nuggets last 24 road games overall. The OVER is 35-15-2 in Nuggets last 52 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The OVER is 5-1 in Timberwolves last six games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. The OVER is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these teams played in Minnesota. We have seen combined scores of 213, 195, 233 and 217 points in the last four meetings in Minnesota. Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

20* Spurs/Thunder Western Conference ANNIHILATOR on Oklahoma City -2.5

The San Antonio Spurs are getting way too much respect from oddsmakers tonight due to their 11-game winning streak coming into this one. A closer look at the streak shows that it has come against soft competition.

Only two of the 11 wins have come against teams with winning records, and those were against Denver (7-6) and Golden State (9-6). The game against the Nuggets was the first game of the steak back when Denver was really struggling early in the year. The win over the Warriors game by a final of 76-74 when Golden State was playing without its best player in Stephen Curry.

Oklahoma City has been a much tougher team since the return of Russell Westbrook. It has won eight of its past 10 games overall with its only losses coming on the road against the Clippers (103-111) and Warriors (115-116). Now, Westbrook has had five days off after sitting out the Thunder's 95-73 home win over Utah on November 24 in their last game. Coach Mark Brooks picked a perfect spot to give his knee some rest, and he'll be ready to go tonight because of it.

Oklahoma City is a perfect 6-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents by an average of 10.0 points per game. Home-court advantage has been huge in this series between the Spurs and Thunder. The home team has won 13 of the past 15 meetings in this series. The Thunder are 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS in their last five home meetings with San Antonio, winning all five games by 6 points or more. Take Oklahoma City Wednesday.

15* Heat/Cavaliers ESPN Wednesday No-Brainer on Cleveland +9

The Cleveland Cavaliers are showing tremendous value as a big home underdog to the Miami Heat Wednesday night. They have had three full days off since their ugly 96-126 loss at San Antonio, which is a defeat that is stuck in the betting public's minds, which is also why this line has been inflated.

Another reason for the inflation is the fact that Miami enters this contest on a 7-game winning streak. A closer look at the streak shows that the Heat have only beaten two teams with winning records during this run. Miami has a way of playing down to its competition, and that has certainly been the case when meeting up with the Cavaliers of late.

In fact, all four meetings between the Cavaliers and Heat last season were decided by 4 points or less. Miami won 110-108 and 109-105 at home, as well as 98-95 and 96-95 on the road. After coming so close to beating the Heat last season, you can bet the Cavaliers are hungry to get over the hump pull off the upset in their first meeting of the 2013-14 campaign.

Plays against favorites (MIAMI) - top caliber team - outscoring their opponents by 9+ points/game against opponent after allowing 105 points or more are 48-18 (72.7%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Heat are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games following an ATS win. Miami is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games following a SU win of more than 10 points. Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last five games when laying on three or more days of rest. Roll with the Cavaliers Wednesday.

20* NBA Situational GAME OF THE MONTH on Philadelphia 76ers +4.5

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a great spot tonight. They come in on three days' rest, so they'll certainly be ready to go having last played on Saturday. They'll be up against an Orlando team that will be playing the second of a back-to-back and its 4th game in 5 days.

The 76ers have been underrated all season. They have opened the season 6-9 straight up and 9-6 against the spread, sporting one of the league's top scoring offenses at 103.7 points per game. Evan Turner (21.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Michael Carter-Williams (17.3 ppg, 7.4 apg, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 spg) and Spencer Hawes (16.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg) lead six 76ers who are averaging in double figures scoring this season.

Orlando is getting way too much respect from oddsmakers after its upset victory over Atlanta last night. That certainly sets the Magic up for a letdown spot here, and playing their 4th game in 5 days, they certainly won't be able to match the intensity level of the 76ers, who love to push the tempo. In fact, Philadelphia ranks 1st in the league in pace, and it will wear down Orlando tonight.

I'm not a huge trends guy, but one of the best ones I have come across all season is that Jacque Vaughn is 1-14 against the spread as a favorite as the coach of Orlando. This team cannot be trusted in the role of the favorite, especially in such a tough situation like tonight's spot. Bet the 76ers Wednesday.

20* BYU/Wichita State ESPN 2 No-Brainer on Wichita State -3

Rarely will you get the opportunity to back Wichita State as such a small favorite the rest of the season. I'm going to take full advantage tonight and back them in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic Final in Kansas City, MO tonight against BYU.

Remember, this is a Wichita State team that made it to the FInal Four last year before bowing out to eventual champion Louisville by a final of 72-68. The Shockers returned plenty of talent from that team to make another run in 2013. Cleanthony Early (13.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Ron Baker (8.7 ppg) and Tekele Cotton (6.5 ppg) all return, as do several other key role players.

Wichita State has opened 6-0 this season and has yet to be tested. All six of its wins have come by 14 points or more, including a 77-54 road win over Tulsa as a 6-point favorite, and a 90-72 victory over DePaul last night as an 8-point favorite. Early (14.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Baker (14.0 ppg, 3.8 apg) and Cotton (11.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) have all stepped up their games this season. Also, returnee Fred VanVleet (13.2 ppg, 5.8 apg) has done a tremendous job of running the offense at point guard.

BYU is a talented team, but it is nowhere near as good as the Shockers this season. The Cougars caught Iowa State in a huge letdown spot off a big win over Michigan previously, and they couldn't get the job done at home, falling 88-90. They also struggled as a 7-point favorite against Texas last night, winning by a final of 86-82. The Longhorns are certainly down this season, so that win was far from impressive.

Wichita State is 12-1 ATS versus up-tempo teams averaging 62 or more shots per game since 1997. BYU is 1-9 ATS as a neutral court underdog of 3 points or less since 1997. The Shockers are 17-4 ATS as a neutral court favorite of 6 points or less since 1997. Bet Wichita State Tuesday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Warriors/Pelicans OVER 204

The books have set the bar too low tonight in this contest between the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans. I look for a shootout between these teams given the circumstances tonight.

Golden State will be without its two best defenders in center Andrew Bogut and small forward Andre Iguodala. I fully expect the Pelicans to take advantage and put up a big number offensively in this one.

The Pelicans have been playing in several high-scoring games since getting back stretch big man Ryan Anderson, who is second on the team in scoring (18.8 ppg). They feature six players who are averaging double-digits in points this season and will be a force to be wreckoned with offensively now that Anderson is back.

In fact, the Pelicans are averaging 108.4 points per game and giving up 103.8 points per game in their last five contests overall. They are combining with their opponents for an average of 212.2 points per game during this stretch.

Both teams like to go up-tempo. Golden State ranks 9th in the league in pace at 99.0 possessions per game, while New Orleans is 13th in the league in pace at 97.3 possessions per contest. I look for that pace to be increased even more now that the Warriors are without their top two defenders in Iguodala and Bogut.

New Orleans is 14-3 to the OVER when playing four or less games in 10 days over the past three seasons. The OVER is 5-1 in Warriors last six games when playing on two days' rest. The OVER is 6-0 in Pelicans last six games overall. The OVER is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these teams in New Orleans. Roll with the OVER in this game Tuesday.

15* NBA Tuesday Total DOMINATOR on Nets/Raptors UNDER 191

The Brooklyn Nets are in a world of hurt right now offensively. They are without two of their best players in Brook Lopez and Deron Williams, which will make points very hard to come by until they return. The Nets are already only averaging 95.4 points per game overall and 93.6 on the road. In their last three games, the Nets are only averaging 89.7 ppg.

Both Toronto and Brooklyn like to play at slow paces. Toronto ranks 25th in the league in pace at 95.2 possessions per game, while Brooklyn is 21st in pace at 96.0 possessions per contest. I look for the Raptors to control the pace in this one playing at home and keep is at a snail's pace.

That has been the case in recent meetings between the Nets and Raptors played in Toronto. They have combined for 180, 182, 165, and 182 points in their last four meetings in Toronto, all of which have gone UNDER the total. That's an average of 177.3 combined points per game, which is roughly 14 points less than tonight's posted total of 191.

The UNDER is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Toronto. The UNDER is 25-9 in Nets last 34 games vs. a team with a losing record. The UNDER is 24-11 in Raptors last 35 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Brooklyn is 15-2 to the UNDER as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points over the past three seasons. Take the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

15* CBB Tuesday Undervalued Underdog on Oakland +7.5

You would be hard-pressed to find a team that has played a more difficult schedule in the early going than Oakland. They opened the season with four straight road games against North Carolina (61-84), UCLA (60-91), California (60-64) and Gonzaga (67-82). They have also played LA-Lafayette (75-84) and St. Francis-NY (62-68) on a neutral court. They have been an underdog in all six contests, and they have opened 0-6.

Due to this 0-6 start, the Grizzlies are way undervalued right now. This is a team that returned four starters from last year and will be improved as the season progresses and the schedule gets easier. Travis Bader (22.1 ppg last year) and Duke Mondy (12.0 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.0 spg) are back to lead the way. Bader (21.5 ppg) is off to a fast start, while Corey Petros (10.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Tommie McCune (9.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Kahlil Fielder (8.7 ppg, 5.2 apg) have all stepped up their games this season.

Western Michigan is getting way too much respect from oddsmakers in this one. It has opened 3-2 this season with its only wins coming against New Mexico State (70-64), Tennessee State (63-52) and Alabama A&M (73-69). It also has losses to North Dakota State (74-83) and Hawaii (68-78). As you can see, the Broncos only have one win on the season by more than 6 points.

This is a Broncos squad that lost three of their top five scorers from a year ago in Darius Paul (10.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Nate Hutcheson (10.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Brandon Pokley (8.9 ppg), who averaged nearly 30 points combined between them. Shayne Whittington and David Brown are solid players, but they are being asked to do too much. This team doesn't have near the balance that Oakland offers.

Oakland is 17-6 ATS when playing its 2nd road game in three days since 1997. The Grizzlies are 23-10 ATS in road games when playing with one or less days rest since 1997. The Grizzlies are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. The Broncos are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record. Take Oakland Tuesday.

15* CBB Monday GAME OF THE NIGHT on Houston +11.5

The Houston Cougars returned three starters and three of their top four scorers from a team that went 20-13 last season. They are TaShawn Thomas (16.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg), Danuel House (12.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Jherrod Stiggers (8.1 ppg).

All three players have made a significant contribution en route to a perfect 5-0 start this season for the Cougars. House (17.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Thomas (16.8 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 4.6 bpg) and Stiggers (10.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg) have all upped their games in 2013. Plus, Baylor transfer L.J. Rose (12.2 ppg, 5.6 apg) has made an imprint as well.

Stanford returned a ton of experience from last season, but that's not necessarily a great thing for a team that went just 19-15 last year and missed the NCAA Tournament. In its only real test this season, Stanford failed, losing 103-112 at home to BYU. While the Cougars haven't really been tested yet, four of their five victories have come by double-digits.

The Cougars are scoring 77.6 points per game and shooting 49.3% from the field, while limiting opponents to 65.0 points and 39.7% shooting. The Cougars are a perfect 7-0 ATS after allowing 30 points or less in the first half of two straight games over the past three seasons. The Cardinal are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a S.U. win. Roll with Houston Friday.

15* NBA Western Conference ANNIHILATOR on New Orleans Pelicans +10

The San Antonio Spurs are getting too much respect from the books tonight due to their 12-1 start, which includes a 126-96 home victory over Cleveland last time out. The public perception of this team is as high as it's going to get this season, and now is the time to fade the Spurs because of it.

New Orleans still has a pretty low public perception due to its mediocre 6-6 record on the season. However, it has been playing its best basketball of late, winning three straight coming into this one. A big reason for the Pelicans' resurgence has been the return of stretch big man Ryan Anderson, who is averaging 19.3 points and shooting 61.9% from 3-points range in his past three contests. Now, they will be playing on two days' rest since their 104-100 victory over Cleveland on Friday.

This is a big lookahead spot for San Antonio, which will travel to face Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Overlooking the Pelicans has been nothing new for the Spurs as this has been a very closely-contested series. All four meetings between the Spurs and Pelicans last year were decided by 7 points or less with New Orleans going a perfect 4-0 ATS. They only lost 102-106 and 94-99 in their two trips to San Antonio last season, and they were nowhere near as talented last year as they are in 2013-14.

Plays against home teams (SAN ANTONIO) - horrible foul drawing team - attempting <=21 free throws/game, in November games are 73-27 (73%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Pelicans are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Monday games. San Antonio is 2-5 ATS in its last seven vs. Western Conference foes. Take the Pelicans Monday.

20* NBA Monday No-Doubt Rout on Dallas Mavericks -5.5

This is a home-and-home situation between the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets. After losing in Denver 100-102 on Saturday, I fully expect the Mavericks to get their revenge in blowout fashion at home tonight.

Dallas is a perfect 7-0 straight up and 5-2 against the spread at home this season. It is outscoring opponents 111.4 to 102.0 at home this season, or by an average of 9.4 points per game. Denver is 1-4 on the road this year, giving up 104.4 points per contest away from home.

The Nuggets are 24-47 ATS in road games versus explosive offensive teams that are scoring 103 or more points per game since 1996. The Mavericks are 26-10 ATS versus up-tempo teams who average 83 or more shots per game over the past two seasons.

Dallas is 10-1 ATS after allowing 60 or more points in the first half of last game over the past two seasons. The Mavericks are 40-18 ATS in their last 58 games following a loss. The Nuggets are 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Take the Mavericks Monday.

15* NBA Monday Undervalued Underdog on Phoenix Suns +12

The Phoenix Suns are the most underrated team in the entire league. This is just another prime example of that as the Suns are catching double-digits against the Miami Heat, who are notorious for playing to the level of their competition. I have no doubt Miami will take Phoenix too lightly tonight, just as about every other team in the league has this season.

Phoenix is 7-6 this season and has been competitive in almost all of its losses. In fact, all six of its losses have come by 7 points or less, including four by 3 points or fewer. That includes impressive road losses at Oklahoma City (96-103), San Antonio (96-99) and Portland (89-90), which are three of the best teams in the league.

Jeff Hornacek is doing a tremendous job of getting Phoenix to play together as a team. These guys absolutely love playing together, because they share the basketball so well. Miami is overvalued due to its six-game winning streak coming in, which includes an unimpressive 101-99 home victory over Orlando last time out.

Hornacek is a perfect 9-0 ATS as an underdog as the coach of Phoenix. Eric Spoelstra is 30-47 ATS as a favorite over 10 or more points as the coach of Miami. The Suns are 7-0 ATS in their last seven road games. The Heat are 0-5 ATS in their last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Roll with the Suns Monday.

15* NBA Monday Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Minnesota Timberwolves +7

The Indiana Pacers are getting way too much respect from oddsmakers right now due to their 12-1 start. There's no question this is one of the best teams in the league, but the Pacers have benefited from an easy schedule more than anything.

Indeed, only two of Indiana's 12 wins have come against teams with winning records. Those were against Chicago (6-5) and Memphis (6-5), who are both down from last season.

Minnesota is 8-7 this season against a brutal schedule. Only two of its seven losses have come against teams with losing records, and those were against Cleveland (92-93) and Washington (100-104) by a combined 5 points. The Timberwolves have only lost two games all season by more than 4 points.

Plays against home favorites (INDIANA) - top caliber team - outscoring their opponents by 9+ points/game against opponent after allowing 105 points or more are 30-4 (88.2%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Timberwolves are 28-11 ATS in their last 39 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. Bet Minnesota Monday.

20* UMass/Clemson ESPN 2 No-Brainer on Clemson PK

The Clemson Tigers came into the 2013-14 season way undervalued after going just 13-18 in head coach Brad Brownell's first season last year. The Tigers had to transition from Oliver Purnell's up-tempo style to Brownell's motion offense, and there was no question it was going to take some time.

Well, Clemson appears to be hitting on all cylinders to open the season this year. It has started 5-0 with five straight blowout victories over Stetson (71-51), Delaware State (58-37) South Carolina (71-57) Temple (72-58) and Davidson (85-64). The Tigers returned five of their top seven scorers from last season, and all five have made significant contributions in the early going.

K.J. McDaniels, the top returning scorer, has averaged 18.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game to lead the charge. Rod Hall (10.8 ppg, 3.8 apg), Jordan Roper (10.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg), Demarcus Harrison (9.8 ppg) and Adonis Filer (4.8 ppg) have all upped their games this season from last year. Jaron Blossomgame (5.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg) has made a solid contribution thus far as well.

There's no question that UMass is improved from last season as well with four starters back. Like Clemson, it has opened 5-0 this season as well. Unlike Clemson, it has had to sweat out a few games, while the Tigers have won every game this season by 14 points or more. The Minutemen survived scares against LSU (92-90) at home, and Nebraska (96-90) on a neutral court.

With free throws being more important this season due to increased foul calls, it's certainly worth pointing out that the Tigers have been cashing in their free throws at a deadly rate this season. They are making a ridiculous 80.4% of their free throws thus far. That could come in handy if this game is close down the stretch, though I don't expect it will be.

I'm going to side with the better defensive team in this one. Clemson is giving up just 51.4 points per game on 33.9% shooting. It is playing great defense without fouling, putting opponents on the line an average of only 16 times per game. UMass is allowing 77.4 points per game on 41.4% shooting. It is putting opponents on the line an average of 22 times per contest.

This will essentially be a home game for Clemson as it will be played inside TD Bank Arena in Charleston, South Carolina. UMass is 0-8 ATS in its last eight neutral court games with a line of +3 to PK. Clemson is 7-0 ATS in road games after a non-conference game over the past two seasons. The Tigers are 6-0 ATS in road games in November games over the past two seasons. Clemson is 4-0 ATS in its last four non-conference games. These four trends combine for a perfect 25-0 system backing the Tigers. Bet Clemson Sunday.

15* NBA Sunday Total DOMINATOR on Bulls/Clippers UNDER 194.5

The Chicago Bulls are in a world of hurt right now offensively. They are without two of their top four scorers in Derrick Rose (15.9 ppg) and Jimmy Butler (11.2 ppg). Rose tore his meniscus, while Butler is out for at least another couple weeks with a toe injury. The offense is going to really struggle for a while without these two.

Los Angeles is a very tired team right now. The Clippers will be playing the dreaded 4 games in 5 days situation Sunday, and they'll really be tired considering this is an afternoon game. That fatigue will hurt them more on offense than it will on defense. Los Angeles will not be looking to push the tempo because it will be too tired to do so. This will be a half-court game and I expect both teams to struggle shooting the basketball today.

Chicago's strength is its defense, which is giving up just 90.5 points per game on 40.4% shooting this season. The Bulls rank 3rd in the league in defensive efficiency, allowing just 93.6 points per 100 possessions. The Bulls already played at a slow pace, ranking 19th in the league with 96.6 possessions per game. That pace will certainly get slower in their first game without Rose this season. He's basically the only one on their team capable of running the fast break, which was already a rare occurrence for the Bulls.

These teams played twice last season in low-scoring affairs, both of which came without Rose as well. Los Angeles beat Chicago 101-80 at home on November 17, 2012 for 181 combined points. The Clippers also won on the road on December 11, 2012 by a final of 94-89 for 183 combined points. I look for a similar low-scoring affair this time around as well as these teams don't combine to sniff 190 points, let alone 194.5.

Plays on the UNDER on all teams where the total is between 190 and 199.5 points (LA CLIPPERS) - explosive offensive team - scoring 103+ points/game on the season, on Sunday games are 44-19 (69.8%) over the last five seasons. Chicago is 9-1 to the UNDER versus teams who average 9 or more steals per game over the past two seasons. The UNDER is 7-3 in Clippers last 10 games playing on 0 days rest. Take the UNDER in this game Sunday.

15* NBA Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Orlando Magic +13.5

This is a home-and-home situation for the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. Miami won the first meeting in Orlando on November 20 by a final of 120-92. Now, they'll have a rematch Saturday night just three days later after each team has had the past two days off.

It's usually a good idea to back the team that lost the first game of a home-and-home situation. That's because the team that lost the first game is obviously motivated for revenge, while the team that one can easily become disinterested after already beating their opponent a few nights earlier.

I believe this is certainly one of those good situations to back the Game 1 loser. Miami is coming off back-to-back championships, and it already has a hard time being motivated during the regular season. There's no way the Heat even show up for this game Saturday, and that's why Orlando will easily be able to stay within this inflated number with a chance to win it in the end.

It's obvious that there is value here with the Magic. They were a 7-point home underdog in their first meeting with the Heat on November 20. Now, they are catching 13.5 points in the rematch. Home-court advantage has meant little when these teams have gotten together in the recent past. The road team is 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings.

Another reason this line has been inflated is the fact that the Magic have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games overall. Meanwhile, the Heat have covered the spread in in three straight coming in. These two trends have forced oddsmakers to set the number much higher than it should be.

Plays against home favorites (MIAMI) - top caliber team - outscoring their opponents by 9+ points/game against opponent after allowing 105 points or more are 28-4 (87.5%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Heat are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win. Miami is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games following a SU win of more than 10 points. Bet the Magic Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Nebraska-Omaha +8.5

Nebraska-Omaha is one of the most underrated teams in the country in the early going. This is a team that returned four starters from last season and is playing just its second season as a Division 1 squad. That's why the Mavericks are under the radar because the betting public hasn't caught on yet.

The Mavericks returned each of their top five scorers from last season in Justin Simmons (16.7 ppg), John Karhoff (12.0 ppg), CJ Carter (9.7 ppg), Alex Phillips (8.2 ppg) and Marcus Tyus (8.2 ppg). All five guys have made significant contributions in the early going.

Carter is leading the way with 15.8 points per game. Karhoff (11.2 ppg), Tyus (11.2 ppg), Simmons (7.2 ppg) and Phillips (6.5) have picked up right where they left off as well. Devin Patterson (11.8 ppg, 4.5 apg) and Mike Rostampour (7.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg) have emerged onto the scene as well to really show the depth of this team.

Nebraska-Omaha is off to a 3-2 start this season. Its only two losses have come on the road against Iowa (75-83) as a 29.5-point underdog, and UNLV (70-73) as a 14-point dog. It has beaten Northern Illinois (68-66) on the road as a 6.5-point dog. It also beat Missouri-KC (101-71) and South Carolina State (91-59) at home. Iowa and UNLV are both expected to make the NCAA Tournament this season, so those losses were impressive to say the least.

Drake only returned two starters this season and lost three of its top four scores, including Ben Simmons (14.1 ppg). Drake did play well in road games against Illinois Chicago (61-59) and Saint Mary's (63-67), but this team is getting way too much respect as an 8.5-point favorite here.

After going into Iowa and losing by 8, and going into UNLV and losing by 3, there's no question the Mavericks can stay within 8 of the Bulldogs. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised one bit to see Nebraska-Omaha win outright. Drake is not as good of a team as either Iowa or UNLV.

One thing I love about this Nebraska-Omaha team is its free throw shooting. It has averaged 22 makes on 28 attempts per game for a 79.0% free throw percentage. With the emphasis on calling more fouls this season, free throw shooting is at a premium.

This is a very tough spot for Drake. It is coming off a heartbreaking loss at Saint Mary's last time out. It could certainly suffer a hangover from that defeat. That's especially the case when you consider it has another big road game at Fresno State on deck.

Drake is 0-6 ATS after forcing its last opponents to commit eight or less turnovers over the last three seasons. The Mavericks are 4-0 ATS in their last four non-conference games. Nebraska-Omaha is 4-0 ATS in its last four road games. These three trends combine for a perfect 14-0 system backing the Mavericks. Take Nebraska-Omaha Saturday.

15* CBB Friday No-Doubt Rout on Clemson -4

The Clemson Tigers came into the 2013-14 season way undervalued after going just 13-18 in head coach Brad Brownell's first season last year. The Tigers had to transition from Oliver Purnell's up-tempo style to Brownell's motion offense, and there was no question it was going to take some time.

Well, Clemson appears to be hitting on all cylinders to open the season this year. It has started 4-0 with four straight blowout victories over Stetson (71-51), Delaware State (58-37) South Carolina (71-57) and Temple (72-58). The Tigers returned five of their top seven scorers from last season, and all five have made significant contributions in the early going.

K.J. McDaniels, the top returning scorer, has averaged 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game to lead the charge. Rod Hall (11.0 ppg, 4.0 apg), Jordan Roper (11.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.8 apg), Demarcus Harrison (7.2 ppg) and Adonis Filer (4.8 ppg) have all upped their games this season from last year.

Davidson returns just two starters from last season and loses three of its top four scorers. The going has certainly been tough for the Wildcats in the early going as this team has clearly taken a big step back from last year. They have opened 1-3 with losses to Duke (77-111), Wisconsin-Milwaukee (77-81) and Virginia (57-70). Their 94-82 win over a horrible Georgia team last night was far from impressive.

With free throws being more important this season, it's certainly worth pointing out that the Tigers have been cashing in their free throws at a deadly rate this season. They are making a ridiculous 81.2% of their free throws thus far. That could come in handy if this game is close down the stretch, though I don't expect it will be.

This will essentially be a home game for Clemson as it will be played inside TD Bank Arena in Charleston, South Carolina. The Wildcats are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games following a ATS win. The Tigers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games. Clemson is 4-1 ATS in its last five neutral site games. The Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning percentage below 40%. Bet Clemson Friday.

15* CBB Friday Big Chalk BLOWOUT on Kansas -17.5

The Kansas Jayhawks should be a much bigger favorite at home Friday against Towson. I look for them to be covering by halftime, and to build on their lead from there. The books have missed their mark badly tonight folks.

Somehow, I believe the Jayhawks actually came into 2013 underrated due to the lack of experience they had returning. However, they have made up for it with the talent they brought in, and the talent that was left over.

Kansas has opened 3-0 this year, which includes a 94-83 win over Duke. I believe that the Blue Devils are one of the top three teams in the country, right along with Kansas, so that win was impressive to say the least.

Perry Ellis (19.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) has been a monster thus far. Andrew Wiggins (17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in next year's NBA Draft. Wayne Selden Jr. (10.0 ppg, 4.3apg), Joel Embiid (9.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and Frank Mason (9.0 ppg) have been solid as well.

Towson State is getting too much respect from the books tonight due to its 3-1 start. All three victories came at home against the likes of Navy, Morgan State and Temple. In its lone road game, Towson lost badly by a final of 44-78 at Villanova. I look for a similar result tonight as Towson is simply outclassed in this one.

The Jayhawks are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 home games overall. Kansas has won 65 straight non-conference games at home and has taken two meetings with Towson over that stretch by a combined 72 points.

The Jayhawks are 6-0 ATS in home games after scoring 75 points or more in two straight games over the last three seasons. The Jayhawks are 6-0 ATS after scoring 80 points or more in two straight games over the last two seasons. Kansas is 7-0 ATS in its last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. These three trends combine for a perfect 19-0 system backing the Jayhawks. Bet Kansas Friday.

15* NBA Friday Total DOMINATOR on Pacers/Celtics UNDER 186

The books have set the bar too high tonight in this contest between the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics. I look for an ugly, low-scoring defensive battle tonight when these teams square off inside TD Garden Friday.

Indiana ranks 24th in the league in pace at 95.3 possessions per game. It also ranks 1st in the league in defensive efficiency, allowing just 90.5 points per 100 possessions. With its ability to defend and play a half-court style, Indiana dictates tempo in almost every game it plays.

The Pacers are scoring 96.4 points and allowing 87.2 points per game this season, combining with their opponents to average 183.6 points per game. It is only allowing foes to shoot 39.5% from the floor. Boston, which is scoring just 93.4 points per game, will have a hard time finding the basket tonight.

This has been a very low-scoring series between the Pacers and Celtics in years' past, and with defensive-minded Brad Stevens as Boston's new coach, I believe that will continue. The Pacers and Celtics have combined for 164, 169, 158, 181, 180 and 161 points in their last six meetings, respectively. They are combining to average 168.8 points per game during this span, which is roughly 17 points less than tonight's posted total of 186.

The UNDER is 11-3 in Pacers last 14 games overall. The UNDER is 5-0 in Pacers last five games when playing on 1 days rest. the UNDER is 10-2 in Pacers last 12 games following a win. The UNDER is 7-1 in Celtics last 8 vs. NBA Central Division opponents. The UNDER is 13-6 in Celtics last 19 games overall. Take the UNDER in this game Friday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Phoenix Suns +2

The Phoenix Suns are the single-most underrated team in the league in 2013. They have opened 5-6 this season and are off four straight losses, which will have them very hungry for a victory. A closer look into their defeats really shows how close this is to being an 11-0 team right now.

All six of the Suns' losses have come by 7 points or less this season, including four by 3 points or fewer. Three of those losses came on the road to three of the best teams in the league in the Thunder, Spurs and Blazers. This team isn't getting the respect it deserves, and it should not be an underdog here.

Phoenix has played its last two games without its best player in Eric Bledsoe. Well, Bledsoe is expected to return tonight from a bruised shin, and I believe it's going to make the difference. He is averaging 20.4 points, 6.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. What is most amazing about the Suns start is that Bledsoe and Goran Dragic have played complete games together in just two of the last nine contests.

15* CBB Thursday No-Doubt Rout on Clemson -3.5

The Clemson Tigers came into the 2013-14 season way undervalued after going just 13-18 in head coach Brad Brownell's first season last year. The Tigers had to transition from Oliver Purnell's up-tempo style to Brownell's motion offense, and there was no question it was going to take some time.

Well, Clemson appears to be hitting on all cylinders to open the season this year. It has started 3-0 with three straight blowout victories over Stetson (71-51), Delaware State (58-37) and South Carolina (71-57). The Tigers returned five of their top seven scorers from last season, and all five have made significant contributions in the early going.

K.J. McDaniels, the top returning scorer, has averaged 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game to lead the charge. Rod Hall (10.3 ppg, 3.7 apg), Jordan Roper (10.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg), Demarcus Harrison (8.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and Adonis Filer (6.3 ppg) have all upped their games this season from last year.

Temple simply lost a ton of talent from last year and is in rebuilding mode. It lost four of its top five scorers in Khalif Wyatt (20.5 ppg), Scootie Randall (11.3 ppg), Jake O'Brien (9.8 ppg) and Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (8.9 ppg). The leading returning scorers are Anthony Lee (9.8 ppg) and Will Cummings (5.8 ppg).

The Owls have struggled in the early going as a result, opening 1-2 with their only win coming at Pennsylvania (78-73). They lost at home to Kent State (77-81) and on the road to Towson State (69-75). This team is clearly in a world of hurt and has no depth. Only eight players have even seen the floor this year, and three of them have been Daniel Dingle (3.3 ppg), Josh Brown (2.0 ppg) and Devontae Watson (1.3 ppg).

With free throws being more important this season, it's certainly worth pointing out the advantage the Tigers will have at the charity stripe in this one. Clemson is shooting 81.4% from the line on an average of 20 free throws per game. Temple is shooting 69.7% from the line on 22 attempts per contest.

This will essentially be a home game for Clemson as it will be played inside TD Bank Arena in Charleston, South Carolina. Plays on a favorite (CLEMSON) - good defensive team from last season - allowed 64 or less points/game, after allowing 60 points or less 3 straight games are 76-39 (66.1%) ATS since 1997. The Tigers are 6-0 ATS in November road games over the last three seasons. The Tigers are 7-2 ATS in their last nine non-conference games. Roll with Clemson Thursday.

15* Clippers/Thunder TNT Thursday No-Brainer on UNDER 211

The books have set the bar too high tonight in this contest between the Clippers and Thunder. This will be their second meeting in eight days having last played on November 13 in a 111-103 home victory for the Clippers and 214 combined points.

In that game, the total was set at 209.5. As you can see, oddsmakers have adjusted this total up to 211. That has created some line value on the UNDER. Plus, when teams are familiar with one another having recently played, it usually tends to lead to a lower-scoring game the second time around. And, being a National TV game tonight, the defensive intensity will be upped a bit as well.

Los Angeles has played in much lower-scoring games on the road this season than it has at home. The Clippers are scoring 101.5 points and allowing 101.5 points on the road this season, combining with their opponents for an average of 203 points per game. Oklahoma City is scoring 107.7 points and allowing 101.7 points at home, combining with their opponents for roughly 209 points per game. As you can see, both totals are lower than tonight's total of 211, creating some line value.

Plays on the UNDER on all teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 (OKLAHOMA CITY) - with a winning record on the season playing another winning team, first half of the season are 135-70 (65.9%) to the UNDER over the last five seasons. Oklahoma City is 26-12 to the UNDER in home games when playing on two days of rest since 1996. The UNDER is 24-8 in Clippers last 32 Thursday games. The UNDER is 19-6-2 in Thunder last 27 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. Take the UNDER in this game Thursday.

20* UConn/Boston College National TV KNOCKOUT on Boston College +10

I fully expected Boston College to be one of the most improved teams in the country this season. They returned 96 percent of their scoring from last season, 96 percent of their rebounding and 98 percent of their assists. A 1-3 start has not changed my opinion on this team, but it certainly has created some line value as the Eagles are a 10-point underdog to Connecticut tonight on a neutral floor when they shouldn't be.

A closer look at Boston College's 1-3 start shows that it could easily be 3-1 right now. Two of its losses came on the road to very good teams in Providence (78-82) and UMass (73-86). The other was a home loss to a Toledo (92-95) team that is much better than it gets credit for.

The Eagles returned two of the best players in the ACC in Ryan Anderson (14.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and Olivier Hanlan (14.6 ppg), who scored 41 points against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament and finished very strong last year. Both have picked up right where they left off last season. Hanlan is averaging 24.5 points per game, while Anderson has posted 16.2 points per contest. The Eagles are shooting 83.2% from the free throw line, which will come in handy considering the emphasis on more foul calls this season.

Connecticut is overvalued right now due to its perfect 4-0 start to the season. It has played a very soft schedule with three of its wins coming against Yale (80-62), Detroit (101-55) and Boston (77-60). In its only real test of the season, the Huskies failed to cover their 5-point spread in a 78-77 win over Maryland on a neutral floor. This is a quality squad, but they should not be a double-digit favorite over Boston College tonight.

Connecticut is 13-30 ATS off two consecutive homes wins by 10 points or more since 1997. UConn is 0-7 ATS after four or more consecutive wins over the last three seasons. Boston College is 6-0 ATS off a close home win by 3 points or less over the last three seasons. The underdog is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings between these teams. These last three trends combine for a perfect 19-0 system backing the Eagles. Bet Boston College Thursday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total ANNIHILATOR on Celtics/Spurs UNDER 192

I look for a low-scoring, defensive battle tonight between the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs. Neither team is lighting it up offensively this season, and both have been solid on the defensive end, especially the Spurs.

Boston is averaging just 93.4 points per game on the season, including 89.6 points on 41.8% shooting in road games. San Antonio is scoring just 92.0 points per game at home this year. The Spurs have been excellent on the other end, giving up just 89.3 points overall and 85.7 at home. They rank second in the league in defensive efficiency.

Boston is 8-4 to the UNDER in all games this season. San Antonio is 6-1 to the UNDER in its last seven games overall. The Spurs' last two contests have been extremely low scoring with a 92-79 home win over Washington, and a 91-82 triumph at Utah. As this team continues to age, I look for them to play in more lower scoring games in 2013-14.

San Antonio is 9-1 to the UNDER versus poor ball handling teams - committing >=16 turnovers/game over the last two seasons. Boston is 17-6 to the UNDER after allowing 105 points or more over the past two seasons. The UNDER is 9-1 in Celtics last 10 road games. The UNDER is 30-12-2 in Spurs last 44 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game. Bet the UNDER in this game Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total DOMINATOR on Blazers/Bucks UNDER 196

The books have set the bar too high tonight in this contest between the Portland Trail Blazers and Milwaukee Bucks. Both teams play at below-average league paces, especially Milwaukee, which should control the tempo playing at home tonight.

The Bucks rank 25th in the league in pace at 94.9 possessions per game. The Blazers are 18th in pace at 96.4 possessions per contest. Milwaukee has been one of the worst offensive teams in the league to boot, scoring just 90.2 points per game on 41.4% shooting. This is honestly one of the worst rosters in the league.

Milwaukee has been even worse offensively of late,scoring an average of 85.0 points per game over its last five contests on 38.5% shooting. Portland has played three straight high-scoring games, which is why I believe this total has been inflated as it is coming off three straight OVERS.

Portland is 31-15 to the UNDER after scoring 100 points or more in three straight games since 1996. The Blazers are 31-17 to the UNDER after a combined score of 205 or more points over the past three seasons. The UNDER is 5-0-2 in Bucks last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Roll with the UNDER in this game Wednesday.

20* Pacers/Knicks ESPN GAME OF THE WEEK on Indiana -6

The Indiana Pacers (9-1) have been the best team in the league to open 2013-14. Off their first loss of the season at Chicago, and with three days of rest in between games having last played on Saturday, I fully expect the Pacers to bounce back with a blowout victory at New York tonight.

The hapless Knicks have opened 3-7 SU & 3-7 ATS in 2013-14. I expected this team to take a big step back this year with the poor moves they made in the offseason, and that has proven to be the case. Now, injuries have really taken their toll.

The Knicks are without Tyson Chandler, and both Raymond Felton and Metta World Peace are doubtful to play tonight. That leaves an already poor roster very thin going forward. Plus, this will be the second of a back-to-back for the Knicks after falling 86-92 at Detroit last night for their third straight defeat, and seventh loss in nine games.

Indiana is 20-7 ATS in its last 27 games following a road loss. The Pacers are 6-0 ATS in their last six games following a S.U. loss. Indiana is 7-0 ATS in its last seven games following an ATS loss. The Knicks are 0-6 ATS in all home games this season. These three trends combine for a perfect 19-0 system backing Indiana. Take the Pacers Wednesday.

15* CBB Wednesday PLAY OF THE DAY on Dayton +7.5

I believe Dayton came into the 2013-14 season way undervalued after going just 17-14 last season. A closer look shows that this team was much better than its record would indicate.

Indeed, the Flyers played 13 games that were decided by six points or less last season, winning only three of them. That means that only four of their 14 losses came by more than six points. This team was very close to being a 20-plus win team, and I fully expect the Flyers to top that number this season with better fortune in close games.

Archie Miller's team brings back a ton of talent this year. Veteran guard Vee Sanford is back, as is a sophomore class of Dyshawn Pierre, Jalen Robinson, Devon Scott and Khari Price that played 34 percent of the team's minutes as freshmen. Matt Kavanaugh averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds as a junior, but was suspended all of last season. Jordan Sibert, an Ohio State transfer, is a major find. Freshmen guards Kendall Pollard and Dayshon Smith were big recruits.

All of this talent has led to a 3-0 start for Dayton this season. It is shooting 47.5% from the floor, 48.3% from 3-point range, and 76.2% from the free throw line. Pierre (15.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Price (14.7 ppg), Sibert (11.7 ppg), Devin Oliver (10.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg), Sanford (9.3 ppg) and Kavanaugh (5.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg) have all made major contributions thus far.

Georgia Tech is coming off a huge 80-71 win at in-state rival Georgia, which puts it in a big letdown spot here. I'm not expecting much at all from this team in 2013 after going just 16-15 last year. The Yellow Jackets do have a lot of experience coming back from last year, but the fact of the matter is that the talent just isn't that good.

Dayton is 6-0 ATS after playing three consecutive home games over the last three seasons. Georgia Tech is 6-21 ATS in its last 27 games following an ATS win. The Yellow Jackets are 9-24 ATS in their last 33 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Georgia Tech is 7-20 ATS in its last 27 games following a S.U. win. Take Dayton Wednesday.

15* CBB Tuesday PLAY OF THE DAY on Bucknell +8.5

The Bucknell Bison are coming off a 28-6 season in which they earned the No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While they lost three of their top players, they return all-conference pick Cameron Ayers (12.4 ppg) along with experienced backups in senior Ryan Hill, junior Steven Kaspar and sophomore Ryan Frazier.

I have been really impressed with what I've seen from the Bison en route to a 2-1 start this season. Their only loss came at Stanford by a final of 68-72. They went on the road and beat Penn State 90-80, while also topping St. Francis-PA 72-50 at home.

Bucknell is shooting 52.1% from the floor, 45.3% from 3-point range, and 80% from the free throw line. Ayers (15.3 ppg) and Kaspar (14.3 ppg, 5.7 apg, 5.0 rpg) have led the way, while Ben Brackney (11.7 ppg), Dan Hoffman (11.7 ppg) and Brian Fitzpatrick (9.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) have been pleasant surprises.

St. John's is coming off a brutal 17-16 campaign last season and I haven't been impressed with what I've seen from the Red Storm so far. They have opened 1-1 with their loss coming against Wisconsin by a final of 75-86 on a neutral floor as a 5-point underdog. Their 73-57 home win over Wagner was far from impressive, too.

The Red Storm are 1-10 ATS after allowing 60 points or less over the last three seasons. They are actually losing in this spot 65.9 to 70.1, or by an average of 4.2 points per game. St. John's is 0-5 ATS in its last five games following a S.U. win. Take Bucknell Tuesday.

15* NBA Tuesday Total DOMINATOR on Timberwolves/Wizards OVER 205

The books have set the bar too low in this game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards. I look for an absolute shootout for four quarters as the final combined score of this one sails way OVER the number.

Minnesota ranks 1st in the league in pace at 102.6 possessions per game. It is also 10th in the league in offensive efficiency at 103.5 points per 100 possessions. Washington likes to play at a fast tempo as well, making for the perfect storm. The Wizards rank 12th in the league in pace at 98.9 possessions per game.

The Timberwolves are putting up 108.5 points per game on the season. Washington has been solid offensively as well, averaging 100.0 points per game. Neither team has played well on the other end. The Timberwolves are giving up 100.2 points per game, while the Wizards are yielding 104.6 points per contest.

Washington is 9-1 to the OVER in home games versus good teams who outscore their opponents by 3+ points/game over the last two seasons. Minnesota is a perfect 10-0 to the OVER off a blowout win by 15 points or more over the last two seasons. Washington is 10-1 to the OVER in home games after having lost five or six of its last seven games over the past two seasons. Roll with the OVER in this game Tuesday.

15* Grizzlies/Clippers NBA Late-Night BAILOUT on Los Angeles -8.5

The Los Angeles Clippers want revenge in a big way tonight as they host the Memphis Grizzlies. They were knocked out of the playoffs by the Grizzlies last season, but that was largely aided by an injury to Blake Griffin. It's payback time tonight ladies and gents.

The Clippers have looked very sharp of late, winning seven of their last nine games overall while going 6-3 ATS in the process. Offensively, they cannot be stopped, averaging 110.0 points per game on 48.6% shooting. The Clippers are 5-0 at home this year, putting up a ridiculous 118.6 points per game.

Memphis is clearly down this season, opening 5-5 while continuing to struggle offensively. It is averaging just 94.3 points per game overall, including 91.6 on the road where it is 2-3 on the year. This is a very tough spot for the Grizzlies to boot. They will be playing the second of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days.

The Grizzlies are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 games overall. Memphis is 1-5 ATS in its last six games vs. a team with a winning record. The Clippers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. The home team has won five of the past six meetings with four of those victories coming by double-digits. Roll with the Clippers Monday.

15* CBB Monday No-Doubt Rout on East Carolina -1.5

East Carolina is showing tremendous value tonight as only a 1.5-point favorite over Norfolk State. This is the NIT Tip Off played at Cameron Indoor Stadium, which is the home of the Duke Blue Devils. With a chance to play Duke next, ECU will certainly want to take care of business tonight to take advantage of that opportunity.

I really like what I've seen from ECU thus far en route to a 3-0 start. It has posted blowout home victories over NC Wesleyan (97-51) and Chowan (95-45), as well as an impressive road win at UNC-Greensboro (85-84). It is scoring 92.3 points per game on 48.5% shooting. It is also hitting 71.2% of its free throws, and outrebounding opponents 47-34 on average. It is holding opponents to 60.0 points on 35.3% shooting.

Norfolk State has been far less impressive en route to a 2-1 start. Its two wins have both come at home against the likes of Newberry (115-95) and Virginia Union (92-84). It lost in its lone road game to Texas Southern (83-95). It is allowing a ridiculous 91.3 points per game on 48.2% shooting. I'll gladly take the better defensive team in this one.

Plays against all teams where the line is +3 to -3 (NORFOLK ST) - after allowing 75 points or more 3 straight games against opponent after scoring 80 points or more 3 straight games are 25-6 (80.6%) ATS since 1997. This is an ECU team that went 23-12 last season and one that is obviously a quality bunch again in 2013. Bet East Carolina Monday.

20* NBA Monday Undervalued Underdog on Utah Jazz +9

This is a home-and-home situation for the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors. These teams just played at Golden State Saturday night with the Warriors coming away with a 102-88 home victory. I look for the Jazz to return the favor two nights later and to easily stay within this 9-point spread with an excellent chance to pull off the upset.

Utah has been playing much better of late after a horrendous start. It has gone 3-0 ATS in its last three games overall, beating New Orleans 111-105 as a 2.5-point home underdog in the process. It also stayed within its 10-point spread against San Antonio in a 9-point loss.

There's no question that the Jazz are going to be the more motivated team heading into this one. I normally look to back the team that lost the first game in a home-and-home situation, especially if their loss was on the road in the first game. The oddsmakers giving us 9 points to back a team in revenge mode in this situation is simply a gift.

Utah has won four of its last six meetings with Golden State. The Warriors are just 2-3 on the road this season after going 19-22 on the road last year. Golden State is 3-13 ATS off two or more consecutive home wins over the last three seasons. Utah is 9-1 ATS in home games after having lost three of its last four games over the last two seasons. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in this series. Take the Jazz Monday.

15* CBB Monday Night Line Mistake on The Citadel +28

Tennessee is getting way too much respect from oddsmakers tonight. It has opened 1-1 with its only win coming against lowly USC Upstate at home by a final of 74-65. I fully expect this game to be much closer than this 28-point spread as well as The Citadel is one of the more underrated teams in the country in my opinion.

The Citadel returned four starters from last season, and it is off to a 2-2 start with both of its losses coming on the road by 11 and 15 points, respectively. It has three studs in Matt Van Scyoc (18.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 92.9% free throws), Brian White (15.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 81.2% free throws) and Ashton Moore (13.0 ppg, 6.0 apg, 78.6% free throws).

Marshall Harris III (9.5 ppg, 4.5 apg, 100% free throws) has been a solid contributor as well. With the importance of free throws being at a premium this season, I really like backing teams like The Citadel, which is shooting 75.9% from the charity stripe as a team. It is also only allowing 40.2% shooting to opponents and putting them on the free throw line an average of 19 times per game, so it is sound defensively.

Tennessee only brings back one starters from last season. It certainly has not been impressive in opening 1-1. It is shooting just 38.6% from the field while allowing opponents to shoot 46.8%. The Volunteers have struggled at the free throw line as well, making just 65.5% of their attempts. This team is clearly overrated in the early going, and that was evident in a 74-65 win over USC Upstate.

The Bulldogs are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a S.U. win. The Citadel is 5-1 ATS in its last six road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Volunteers are 0-4 ATS in their last four non-conference games. Take The Citadel Monday.

20* NBA Sunday Total DOMINATOR on Grizzlies/Kings UNDER 189.5

The Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings both play at extremely slow paces. As a result, I look for a low-scoring, defensive battle when these teams square off Sunday.

Memphis ranks 27th in the league in pace at 94.5 possessions per game. Sacramento is tied with Memphis for 27th, also averaging 94.5 possessions per contest.

Making matters worse for both teams is that neither has been efficient offensively this year. Sacramento is 20th in the league in offensive efficiency, averaging just 99.0 points per 100 possessions. Memphis is even worse, ranking 24th in offensive efficiency at 97.5 points per 100 possessions.

The Grizzlies are 10-1 to the UNDER versus poor shooting teams - making <=43% of their shots over the last 2 seasons. Memphis is 20-7 to the UNDER off a road win over the last two years. The UNDER is 17-8 in Grizzlies last 25 games following a S.U. win. The UNDER is 18-7-2 in Kings last 27 games following a ATS loss. Bet the UNDER in this game.

15* CBB Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Missouri State -4.5

After a 2-10 start last year with an inexperienced roster, Missouri State really rebounded to finish 11-22. Now, with four starters back, I fully expect this to be one of the most improved teams in the country.

Guard Marcus Marshall (11.5 ppg) and junior Christian Kirk (8.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) are the top two returnees. After missing all of last season with a knee injury, senior forward Jamar Gulley returns. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 2011-12. Northern Colorado transfer Emmanuel Addo is 6'7", 220 pounds. Freshman Tyler McCullough (6'10", 230) is ready to contribute right away.

Missouri State is off to a solid start this season, picking up a 79-67 win at Old Dominion as a 1.5-point favorite. They grabbed 52 rebounds in that game and shot 72.2% from the free throw line, which will be huge with the new rules and tons of fouls being called. Gulley and Marshall led the way with 18 points apiece, while Austin Ruder added 14 points.

Tulsa is a team in rebuilding mode under second-year head coach Danny Manning. Its roster is made up of 12 of 165 players who are either freshmen or sophomores. That inexperience showed in the opener, losing 68-74 at home to Oral Roberts. The Golden Hurricane were outrebounded 28-45 in the loss. What really cost them was going 17-of-36 from the free throw line for 47.2% shooting.

Free throws could easily be the difference in this game, and I like Missouri State's chances of making them a lot more than Tulsa's. With a line of only 4.5, those free throws will be huge. The Bears are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games overall, including 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games. Roll with Missouri State Saturday.

15* NBA Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on Cavaliers/Wizards UNDER 196

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards are two of the most inept offensive teams in the league in 2013-14. They both rank right in the middle of the pack in terms of pace with Washington 12th at 99.2 possessions per game, while Cleveland is 14th with 97.1 possessions per game.

Neither team has been very efficient offensively this season. Washington ranks 20th in offensive efficiency with 99.0 points per 100 possessions, while Cleveland is a woeful 29th in offensive efficiency at 92.0 points per 100 possessions. Only Utah has been worse.

Looking at recent meetings between Washington and Cleveland, it's easy to see that this number has been inflated. The UNDER is 7-0 in the last seven meetings between these teams. Each of the last five meetings have seen 187 or fewer combined points with an average of 182.4 combined points/game during that span. That's nearly 14 points less than tonight's posted total of 196.

The UNDER is 7-0 in Cavaliers last 7 vs. a team with a losing record. The UNDER is 7-0 in the Wizards last 7 vs. a team with a losing record. Throw in the fact that the UNDER is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings between these teams, and we have a combined 21-0 system backing the UNDER in this one. Bet the UNDER in this game Saturday.

15* CBB Friday Late-Night BAILOUT on Nebraska-Omaha +13.5

There are so many things to like about Nebraska-Omaha heading into their showdown with UNLV tonight at 10:00 EST. First and foremost, Nebraska-Omaha is in just its second season as a Division 1 team, which makes it under the radar to the general betting public. That's why there is going to be a lot of value on this team until the public starts to realize how good they really are.

Omaha managed to finish in the middle of the pack in the Summit League last year. Now, with six of their top seven scorers back from last season, this is going to be one of the most improved teams in the country. Justin Simmons (16.7 ppg), John Karhoff (12.0 ppg), CJ Carter (9.7 ppg), Alex Phillips (8.2 ppg) and Marcus Tyus (6.0 ppg) are all back.

These five players have led Omaha to a 2-1 start. They went on the road and beat Northern Illinois 68-66 as a 6.5-point underdog, and then they gave a very good Iowa team from the Big Ten all they wanted and more. Omaha would lost 75-83 as a 29.5-point dog, easily covering the spread. The Mavericks came back with a 101-71 home victory over Missouri-KC on Wednesday for their second win of the year.

Carter is off to a hot start, averaging 20.7 points per game. Karhoff (11.0 ppg) and Devin Patterson (10.0 ppg) have played well, too. What's most impressive about Omaha's start is that last year's leading scorer Justin Simmons has been held to just 9.7 ppg on 28.6% shooting. This team is really going to be dangerous once he gets going.

UNLV lost so much talent from last season that it simply cannot replace. It lost three off its top four scorers, including the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft in F Anthony Bennett (16.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg). Only Khem Birch (7.2 ppg) and Bryce Dejean-Jones (10.3 ppg) are back who played significant minutes last season. Making matters worse for the Rebels is that Dejean-Jones is nursing a hamstring injury.

Dejean-Jones returned in UNLV's last game, which was an ugly 65-86 home loss to UC-Santa Barbara as an 8.5-point favorite. He was held to 1-of-5 shooting for five points in 16 minutes of action. It was clear that he wasn't healthy, and without him at full strength, the Rebels are in a world of hurt going forward.

With all of the fouls that are being called this season due to the rule changes, free throw shooting becomes a huge factor on which team is going to cover the spread. Omaha is averaging 22-of-28 for 80.7% from the charity stripe in 2013. UNLV is averaging 12-of-24 for 50% from the free throw line this year. As you can see, the Mavericks will have a big edge in free throws in this one.

Plays on an underdog (NEBRASKA-OMAHA) - after a win by 15 points or more against opponent after a blowout loss by 20 points or more are 252-161 (61%) ATS since 1997. The Rebels are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 games overall, including 2-7 ATS in their last nine home games. The Mavericks are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games. Take Nebraska-Omaha Friday.

15* NBA Friday Total DOMINATOR on Blazers/Celtics UNDER 194

Both Portland and Boston play at slower paces than the average NBA team. Portland ranks 23rd in the league in pace at 95.8 possessions per game. Boston ranks 18th in pace at 96.5 possessions per game.

I look for this game to be played at a snail's pace, which would be nothing new to when these teams have gotten together recently. Each of the last four meetings between the Blazers and Celtics have seen 190 or fewer combined points.

In fact, each of the last nine meetings in this series have seen 194 or less combined points. That makes for a perfect 8-0-1 system backing the UNDER pertaining to tonight's total set of 194, which dates back to the 2008 season.

Boston is 13-3 to the UNDER In home games versus teams who average 7 or less steals per game over the last three seasons. The UNDER is 11-4 in Celtics last 15 games overall. The UNDER is 6-2 in Celtics last eight games following a loss. Roll with the UNDER in this game Friday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Bobcats/Cavaliers UNDER 190

The Charlotte Bobcats and Cleveland Cavaliers will take part in a defensive battle tonight. This will be their second meetings of the season, with their first resulting in a 90-84 home win by Charlotte for 174 combined points. I look for a similar low-scoring affair in the rematch.

Charlotte ranks 26th in the league in pace, averaging just 95.0 possessions per game. Cleveland is right in the middle of the pack at 15th, averaging 97.6 possessions per game.

Not only are both offenses playing at slow paces, but they are two of the least-efficient units in the NBA as well. Charlotte ranks 28th in offensive efficiency at 94.7, while Cleveland is 29th at 92.7. These numbers represent the amount of points each team scores per 100 possessions.

Mike Browns is 15-4 to the UNDER versus terrible 3 point shooting teams who make less than 30% of their attempts in all games he had coached. The UNDER is 59-26-2 in Bobcats last 87 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The UNDER is 6-0 in Cavaliers last six after allowing more than 100 points in their previous game. The UNDER is 7-0 in Cavaliers last seven Friday games. Bet the UNDER in this game Friday.

15* NDSU/Saint Mary's CBB Late-Night BAILOUT on Saint Mary's -6

Saint Mary's came into the season way undervalued due to the loss of leading scorer Mathew Dellavedova. But this is a team that went 28-7 last year and returned plenty of talent to make up for his loss.

That has been evident en route to a 2-0 start with an 83-70 victory over a very good Louisiana Tech team that went 27-7 last year, and an 85-63 triumph against an Akron team that went 26-7 a year ago. That's the same Akron team that beat North Dakota State 68-53 last season.

The Gaels are playing tremendous team basketball with four players averaging 10.0 or more points per game. Brad Waldow is averaging 22.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, and he and Stephen Holt (16.0 ppg, 6.5 apg, 5.5 rpg) are the top two returnees from last year. Both are off to tremendous starts. James Walker III (12.0 ppg) and Beau Levesque (10.0 ppg) have also made key contributions thus far.

One big x-factor in this game is how well Saint Mary's has shot free throws through the first two games. It is averaging 27 makes in 32 attempts per game for a free throw percentage of 85.4%. That is going to be huge all season for the Gaels considering how many more fouls the refs are calling this year than in the past. Meanwhile, North Dakota State went 12-of-21 (57.1%) from the charity stripe in its opening win over Viterbo.

Saint Mary's is a perfect 9-0 ATS off a home win scoring 85 or more points over the last three seasons. It is coming back to win this this spot 73.7 to 56.2, or by an average of 17.5 points per game. Somehow, the Gaels are undervalued in the early going and I'll take advantage of it. Bet Saint Mary's Thursday.

15* Thunder/Warriors TNT Late-Night BAILOUT on Oklahoma City +5

While the Oklahoma City Thunder will be playing the second of a back-to-back tonight after losing to the Clippers last night, I don't look for that to be much of a factor in this one. That's because the Thunder had two days off before last night's game, so they should still be fresh and ready to go. They'll also be motivated following just their second loss of the season.

Golden State is really starting to get a lot of respect from oddsmakers. It should not be a 5-point favorite in this match-up against what I feel is a better all-around team in Oklahoma City. The only good win the Warriors have this season came at Minnesota, but their other four wins have come against the likes of the Lakers, Kings, 76ers and Pistons.

Oklahoma City has simply owned Golden State in recent meetings. The Thunder have won seven of their last eight meetings with the Warriors with their only loss coming by exactly 5 points. There is clearly some value here with the Thunder as a 5-point underdog given the recent history. Plus, I expect this one to go right down to the wire, so I'd much rather take the points than give them up.

Scott Brooks is a sensational 107-62 ATS after one or more consecutive losses as the coach of Oklahoma City. Golden State is 2-13 ATS in home games after leading its previous game by 20 or more points at the half since 1996. The Thunder are 4-0 ATS in their last four games when playing on 0 days rest. Roll with Oklahoma City Thursday.

15* NBA Wednesday Undervalued Underdog on Phoenix Suns +6.5

The Phoenix Suns have been the most underrated teams in the league in the early going. They have opened 5-2 straight up and 6-0-1 against the spread through their first seven games of the season. They continue to get no respect from oddsmakers as a nice-sized underdog at Portland tonight.

When you look the two losses that Phoenix has suffered this season, it's easy to see that it is legit. It lost at Oklahoma City 96-103 as a 12.5-point underdog, and at San Antonio 96-99 as a 13-point dog. It has won its other five games, including a 104-91 triumph over Portland to open the season.

This is a very balanced Phoenix team that features eight players who are averaging 22 or more minutes per game. Eric Bledsoe has been one of the most valuable players in the league to this point, averaging 20.9 points, 7.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He is running the show and proving that he was worth the big offseason trade.

Plays on underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (PHOENIX) - off 2 or more consecutive home wins, first half of the season are 45-18 (71.4%) ATS over the last five seasons. The Blazers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Phoenix is 6-0-1 ATS in its last seven games overall. Take the Suns Wednesday.

15* CBB Wednesday PLAY OF THE DAY on Pepperdine -1

I fully expect Pepperdine to be improved this season with three starters back, including sophomore forward Stacy Davis. He averaged 11.2 points and 7.3 rebounds last year and was voted WCC Newcomer of the Year.

Davis poured in 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting to lead Pepperdine to an 81-68 win over San Diego Christion in their opener. But the big surprise was center Brendan Lane, who finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks. Lamond Murray Jr. added 13 points in the win.

UC-Riverside went just 6-25 last season and is clearly in a world of hurt once again in 2013. It opened the season with an ugly 41-77 loss at San Diego State while shooting 30.8% from the floor. Riverside's average home attendance last year was 758, which means that they have very little home-court advantage.

Pepperdine beat Riverside 62-40 last year as a 7.5-point home favorite. The Waves held the Highlanders to just 28.6% shooting in the win as not one player for Riverside scored in double figures.

The Waves are 5-1 ATS in their last six games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Pepperdine is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games. Riverside is 5-13 ATS in its last 18 home games. The Highlanders are 5-17-1 ATS in their last 23 non-conference games. Riverside is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Take Pepperdine Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total ANNIHILATOR on Lakers/Nuggets OVER 207

The Lakers and Nuggets both play at very fast paces, and I look for a shootout tonight between these teams because of it. The Lakers rank 2nd in the league in pace with 102.8 possessions per game. The Nuggets aren't far behind, ranking 11th at 100.0 possessions per contest.

One big factor here that is getting overlooked is that Denver is without its best defensive player in JaVale McGee. Without his presence on the inside defensively, and his lack of offense on the other end, this is going to allow for more points being scored for both teams.

When you look at the recent history between the Lakers and Nuggets, it's easy to see that this number has been set too low. Los Angeles and Denver have combined for 227, 217, 240 and 225 points in their last four meetings, respectively. That's an average of 227.3 points per game, which is roughly 20 points more than tonight's posted total of 207.

The OVER is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. The OVER is 7-1 in Lakers last 8 vs. NBA Northwest Division opponents. The OVER is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record. The OVER is 7-2 in Nuggets last 9 games when playing on 1 days rest. The OVER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in this series. Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total DOMINATOR on Bobcats/Celtics UNDER 193

The books have set the bar too high in this game between the Charlotte Bobcats and Boston Celtics Wednesday. I'll gladly take advantage and back the UNDER in what I believe will be a very low-scoring affair between two of the worst offensive teams in the league.

Both teams play at slower than normal paces. Charlotte ranks 25th in the league at 95.1 possessions per game. Boston ranks 17th at 96.8 possessions per game. Worse yet, Charlotte ranks 28th in offensive efficiency, while Boston ranks 20th in offensive efficiency.

Looking at recent meetings between these teams, it's easy to see that this total has been inflated. Boston and Charlotte have combined for 193 or less points in each of their last five meetings. Dating back further, the Celtics and Bobcats have combined for 193 or fewer points in 11 of their last 12 meetings. That makes for an 11-1 system backing the UNDER pertaining to tonight's total set of 193.

Charlotte is 15-3 to the UNDER in a road game where where the total is between 190 and 194.5 points over the last 3 seasons. The UNDER is 58-26-2 in Bobcats last 86 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The UNDER is 10-4 in Celtics last 14 games overall. Roll with the UNDER in this game Wednesday.

15* Kansas/Duke ESPN Tuesday Night BAILOUT on Duke -4.5

The Blue Devils are much better off to start the season than the Kansas Jayhawks. I fully expect them to blow the Jayhawks out of the building at the United Center in Chicago Tuesday.

Freshman phenom Jabari Parker made an immediate impact with 22 points in the Blue Devils' 111-77 rout of Davidson in Friday's season opener.

20* NBA Tuesday Night Line Mistake on Washington Wizards +6

After losing by a final of 105-106 at Oklahoma City on Sunday, the Washington Wizards really showed what they are capable of this season. They have rebounded nicely following an 0-3 start, and following that 1-point loss, I look for them to go give Dallas everything it wants and more tonight.

The Mavericks are in a huge letdown spot here. They have a game against the defending champion Miami Heat on deck, and it's only human nature for them to be looking ahead to that contest. They won't come to play with their best effort because of it.

The Wizards are getting a ton of balance this season. They have five players averaging 13.5 points per game or more. You have to remember that Marcin Gortat was traded here just before the season, so it has taken him a few games to get accustomed to the system. He has played well in spite of it, averaging 13.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

Plays on underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (WASHINGTON) - explosive offensive team - scoring 103+ points/game on the season against opponent after a combined score of 175 points or less are 25-5 (83.3%) ATS over the last five seasons. Washington is 13-3 ATS after allowing 100 points or more 2 straight games over the last 2 seasons. The Wizards are 21-6-1 ATS in their last 28 vs. Western Conference opponents. Take Washington Tuesday.