4* Major Big Chalk BLOWOUT on Purdue -9.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. After falling flat at Michigan, expect a huge offensive explosion at home against the Buckeyes in this revenge spot. In addition, the Buckeyes will be out to avenge an 8-point loss suffered at Ohio State earlier this season. Purdue is 14-2 at home this season, winning by an average score of 72.2 to 54.6 in those games. Purdue is 7-0 ATS in home games versus good shooting teams - making >=45% of their shots after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons and 6-0 ATS in home games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%) after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons. Bet the Boilermakers.

3* Afternoon Delight (CBS) on Notre Dame +11.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Notre Dame has turned it on of late, winning 4 of 5, and it knows that a big win over a team like UConn could be what gets it off the bubble and into the Big Dance come selection Sunday. UConn is not the same team without Dyson and should not be laying this many points. The Huskies are just 2-7 ATS in their last 9 home games.

3* SMASH on So. Miss +23
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Memphis has no incentive to really crush So. Miss here as it already has this season. After an emotionally and physically draining game at UAB, expect to see Memphis coast while So. Miss plays its butt off to ensure that it isn't embarrassed as badly this time. Plays on underdogs of 20 or more points (SOUTHERN MISS) - revenging a blowout loss vs opponent of 20 points or more, off 2 consecutive losses of 10 or more to conference rivals are 29-8 ATS since 1997.

4* Major NBA Side of the Night on Lakers -2.5
Look, I know LA just played last night in Phoenix, but LA is a deep team, even without Bynum, and Kobe loves challenges like this, so I don't see fatigue being an issue. Plus, Bryant departed with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter and the rest of the starters followed suit to start the fourth as Los Angeles' reserves took over the rest of the way. LA has dominated Denver to the tune of 10-3 SU and ATS the last 3 seasons. The Nuggets have hit a rough patch, going 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS in their last 4. They were blown out 76-114 4 nights ago by Boston and the Lakers aren't going to let the Celtics one up them in any way as they look to clinch the best record in the NBA to seal home court throughout the playoffs. Denver is 2-11 ATS versus explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons while LA is 14-3 ATS versus explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons. Take LA!

3* SMASH on Blazers -5.5
The Blazers need this one badly as they have struggled on the road. They get a T-Wolves team tonight that is struggling without their star and one that the Blazers have owned. Minnesota is just 3-13 ATS in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season, losing by an average score of 95.3 to 104.9 in these spots. Minnesota is also 4-14 ATS as a home underdog this season. Portland is 8-2 SU and ATS in its last 10 versus Minnesota. Bet the Blazers.

5* Friday Night NBA "TOTAL" BLOWOUT on Bucks/Hornets UNDER 200.5
New Orleans is allowing just 90.8 ppg at home this season. That one number tells me how badly the books have missed this one. Milwaukee's poor defensive play of late has elevated this line, but after getting stomped by Dallas, expect the Bucks to play much tougher tonight. This line is also elevated by the fact that 7 straight have gone over in this series. Squares are going to see that and jump. But the Under is 9-2 in the Hornets last 11 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5, 11-4 in Hornets last 15 Friday games, and 13-6-1 in Hornets last 20 vs. Eastern Conference. The Under is also 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games as a road underdog. Plays under on road teams where the total is 200 to 209.5 (MILWAUKEE) - after going over the total by 30 or more points total in their last three games, on Friday nights are 73-37 under since 1996. This system shows you how odds makers elevate lines as team continue to go over or under them. The value is high in this one. Bet the Under!

3* NCAAB "TOTAL" BEST BET on Brown/Princeton UNDER 114
With a number like this, the books are just begging for the public to take the over. We won't make that mistake of biting. The Ivy League is a very low scoring league. Princeton has gone Under in 6 of its last 7 as has Brown. These two teams combined for just 104 points when they met at Brown on Feb. 14 and I expect a similar result here. Princeton is allowing just 55.7 ppg at home this season and that number is very significant as Princeton is 29-5 UNDER when it allows 60 or less points in a game over the last 3 seasons. The average score in these games has been Princeton 51.9 and opponent 50.5. Bet the Under.

4* Major Conference USA Game of the Week (ESPN 2)on UAB +4.5
UAB lost by just 1 point at home to a loaded Memphis team last season. I like Blazers to end Memphis' Conference USA winning streak tonight. While Memphis is 10-2 away from home, it is just 5-7 ATS in those games and is clearly being overvalued here. UAB is a perfect 12-0 at home this season and will be more jacked up for this game than any other all year. The Home team is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings. The Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600, 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a home underdog of 6.5 or less, and 10-2 ATS in their last 12 Thursday games. Take the points.

3* NBA on TNT "TOTAL" Annihilator on Cavs/Rockets UNDER 184.5
Expect a defensive battle in Houston tonight as Houston has held 4 of its last 5 opponents under 88 points and the Cavs have held 3 of their last 4 under 79 points. Here is the game-breaker: Houston is 10-1 UNDER in a home game where where the total is between 180 and 184.5 points over the last 2 seasons. The average score in these games was 175.6 points. The Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Houston and 8-2 in the last 10 meetings. Bet the Under!

4* Major NBA on TNT Game of the Week on Houston Rockets +3
The public is all over the Cavs tonight and that is going to get them burnt. Houston is 10-2 SU and 8-2-2 ATS in its last 12 home games against the Cavs. Houston is on fire, having won 5 in a row, and is 23-6 at home this season. This is a statement game for the Rockets to show the rest of the league that they will not be a pushover come playoff time. The Home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings. The Cavaliers are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Houston and 2-7 ATS in the last 9 meetings overall. Houston is also 15-5 ATS after 5 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons. A tough Rockets home team will take it to a Cavs team that hasn't looked unstoppable on the road lately. Take the points.

5* NCAAB Blowout of the Week on Illinois -7.5
Minnesota murdered Illinois to the tune of 59-36 at home a month ago. Watch the tables turn tonight. Illinois is 9-0 SU and 8-1 ATS in its last 9 home games in this series and will be out for blood here. Illinois is 10-1 ATS off a close road win by 3 points or less since 1997, winning by an average score of 72.1 to 61.9 in these spots. Minnesota is just 2-8 ATS in its last 10 and 0-6 ATS in its last 6 Big Ten road games. The Golden Gophers are 3-11 ATS in the last 14 meetings. I like Illinois big tonight.

5* NCAAB Bailout Game of the Year on Utah -4.5
Utah is the better team and I like the Utes to get the job done in this revenge game. The Utes have lost 7 straight since going down at UNLV and will be out for blood tonight! Utah is 25-6 ATS after 4 straight wins by 10 points or more since 1997, winning in these spots by an average score of 72.0 to 55.8. The Favorite is 5-0-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings and the Home team is 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. The Utes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite of 6.5 or less. Lay the number!

5* NBA Total of the Year on Bucks/Mavs OVER 208
After scoring just 76 points last night in San Antonio, expect the Mavs to have an offensive explosion tonight against a Bucks team that has allowed 110 or more points in 6 of their last 7. On the other side of the coin, the Bucks have scored 120 or more in 4 of their last 7 and have scored 103 or more in 6 of their last 7. The Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Dallas and Over is 12-3 in the last 15 meetings overall. The Over is 4-0 in Mavericks last 4 vs. NBA Central and 7-1 in Mavericks last 8 vs. a team with a losing SU record. The Over is 12-3 in Bucks last 15 vs. a team with a winning SU record and 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games as an underdog. Bet the Over!

3* NBA Game of the Night on Magic -2
After a poor performance against Chicago last night, expect the Magic to bounce back strong against the defensively challenged Knicks. Orlando has no trouble playing uptempo hoops and will outscore the Knicks tonight. Orlando is 12-2 ATS versus up-tempo teams averaging 83 or more shots/game this season, winning these games by an average score of 108.4 to 97.6. Orlando is also 15-3 ATS in road games versus explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ points/game over the last 3 seasons. Lay the number.

4* Major ESPN Game of the Month on Marquette -1
The UConn Huskies have not been the same team without Dyson and that's why Marquette gets them at home tonight. Why has Marquette been so effective in the Big East this season? They give teams quick 3 and 4 guard lineups that the bigger teams of the Big East don't matchup well against. Same story tonight. The Golden Eagles know they need this one at home if they are going to have a shot at winning the league as they go to Louisville and Pitt next. The Eagles are a perfect 16-0 at home this season and they will really go after this one to prove that they are legit. With Dyson's injury, odds makers have not made any adjustments because the public perception of the huskies is so strong. The result has been 3 straight ATS losses for UConn. The Golden Eagles are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and 15-4-1 ATS in their last 20 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Take Marquette!

4* Major 25-0 ATS Colonial Athletic Association Game of the Month on James Madison +2.5
I love JM in the home dog role tonight. The Dukes played VCU to a 5 point game on the road 2 weeks ago and will be ready to return the favor tonight. The Dukes are a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last 7 while VCU is just 2-7 ATS in its last 9. JM is 11-4 ATS as an underdog this season and 12-4 ATS against conference opponents this season. The Dukes are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog of 6.5 or less, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Colonial Athletic Association, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win, and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU win. The Rams are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. We'll take this 25-0 ATS Angle to the bank.

3* NBA Road Warrior on Bobcats +7
The Bobcats were embarrassed at Houston 2 nights ago. I expect much better from them in Phoenix tonight as Boris Diaw and Raja Bell return to the desert to show the Suns what they are missing out on. While the Bobcats are just 6-19 on the road, they are 15-10 ATS in those games. The Suns are just 10-17 ATS at home this season. Charlotte crushed the Suns 98-76 at home earlier this season and that is significant because the Suns are just 1-9 ATS revenging a straight up loss vs. an opponent as a favorite this season, losing by an average score of 98.7 to 107.0 in these spots. Phoenix is also just 4-17 ATS after having won 3 of their last 4 games this season. Life without Amare Stoudemire did not treat the Suns well Sunday and it will hurt not having him on the floor again here. Take the Bobcats!

5* SEC Game of the Year (ESPN) on Florida +4
The LSU Tigers have won 8 in a row and that has lifted this number. I strongly feel that Florida is the better team and I will gladly take it catching points tonight. The Underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings and LSU has been the type of favorite to break your heart over and over again as it is just 17-37-1 ATS in its last 55 games as a favorite. The Fighting Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite. The Gators are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU win. I'll take Nick Calathas and company to pull off the upset tonight. My SEC GOTY. Good Luck.

4* Major NBA Deadly Dog of the Week on Bulls +3
The Bulls are playing their best ball of the season right now, having won 7 of their last 11 SU and are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12. The Bulls are 15-11 at home so they have more than been holding their own in the United Center all season. In addition, the Magic embarrassed the Bulls last time they visited and that puts Chicago in a big revenge spot tonight. The Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss, 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog, and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning SU record. I'll take the points!

4* Major Public Massacre of the Week on Providence +8
With Pitt wearing the No. 1 target tag again, look for the Friars to give the Panthers all they want and more. This is the last home game of the season for Providence and that means that the fans and players alike will be jacked up for this one on a higher level than any other game, especially after their poor showing against Notre Dame last time out. Providence is 8-7 in the conference and this is the type of win that can get it off the bubble and into the dance. Providence is 12-4 at home this season and I look for a little magic tonight. Take the points!

5* NBA Western Conference GOTY on Kings +7.5
The Hornets have lost 5 of their last 6 on the road. Those losses include one to Minnesota and one to Memphis. Their lone road win during this stretch was a 2-point narrow escape against the Thunder. The Kings have covered the spread in 3 of their last 4. Returning home off a blowout road loss puts them in great position to bounce back tonight. At just 13-13 on the road this season and 10-5-1 ATS, the Hornets have not earned this kind of road respect, but the books have given it to them because, just as they figured, the public has jumped all over the Hornets. The Kings have dominated the Hornets at home, going 13-2 SU and 11-3-1 ATS since 1996. Even over the last few seasons when the Hornets have been the better team, the Kings are 3-1 SU and ATS at home. New Orleans is 0-7 ATS versus poor defensive teams - allowing 103+ points/game this season, actually losing by an average score of 97.9 to 98.3 in this spot. The Hornets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss. The Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings which means that the Hornets are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings. The Kings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss and the home team is 12-3 ATS in the last 15 meetings. Take the points but we may not even need them as the Kings have an excellent chance to win this one outright.

3* ESPN Big Monday SMASH on Oklahoma -3
Returning home off its first Big 12 loss of the season, I expect the Sooners to put a beating on KU tonight. The Jayhawks have exceeded expectations thus far this season, but a big reason for that is because the Big 12 is down and because the Jayhawks have taken care of business at home. The Jayhawks have struggled on the road against quality opponents all season, losing at Syracuse, Arizona, Michigan State, and Missouri. OU is a perfect 15-0 at home this season. The Sooners are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record and the home team is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings. Lay the number.

4* Major Monday Night NCAAB BEST BET on Charleston +2.5
Charleston is 10-3 on the road this season and I like it to Chattanooga tonight. The key in this game is Charleston

3* ESPN Prime Time Total on Pistons/Cavs UNDER 179.5
The under has to be the play here as these teams have taken things Under in 6 straight over the last 2 seasons and 12 of 16 over the last 3 seasons. While Detroit's offense is lacking, its defense has still been rock solid, and that has this one poised for the under again. Cleveland won 90-80 on Feb. 1 and that is key for a couple different reasons. First, because only 170 points were scored. Second, because Detroit is 7-0 UNDER revenging a home loss vs. an opponent this season. Bet the Under.

5* ACC Game of the Month (FSN) on Duke -6.5
Duke needs this one badly after losses to its last 4 high quality opponents (Wake Forest, Clemson, UNC, Boston College). The loss at Wake especially hurt as a blow coverage on a last second in-bounds play allowed Wake to slip to the goal for a win. This one is all about revenge for Duke and I have not doubt in my mind that the rout will be on today. Duke is a perfect 10-0 SU and ATS at home against Wake since 1997 and the Cameron Crazies will be roaring today. The Home team is 14-3 ATS in the last 17 meetings and the Favorite is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings. Wake is not much for road games and is just 5-16 ATS in road games when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 80%) after 15 or more games since 1997, losing by an average score of 71.2 to 84.5 in these spots. Take the points.

3* SMASH on Rutgers +10
I like the Scarlet Knights in the home dog role here today. They have covered the spread in 5 of their last 6, showing that this is a much improved team. Rutgers lost at Providence and at Nova by 10 in each of its last 2 games. Now back at home, I expect the Knights to go after a win. WVU is 0-7 ATS after covering 3 of their last 4 against the spread over the last 2 seasons. The Scarlet Knights are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog. Take the points.

4* Major NBA National TV Total Annihilator on Celtics/Suns UNDER 224.5
With Garnett out for Boston and Stoudemire for the Suns, those are two big missing pieces that will help keep this one under. Boston has been an unders machine on the road at 20-8 under away from home this season. They have been even better against the league's best offenses, going 10-2 UNDER in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season. The average score in these games totaled 187.3 points. Boston is also 9-1 UNDER in road non-conference games this season. Teams from the west aren't used to seeing a defense like this one. The books have been forced to keep this number high because of what the Suns have done each of the last 3 games, but that was against the Clippers and Thunder. This one goes Under Sunday.

3* Top 25 SMASH (CBS) on Syracuse -2.5
Syracuse has had a week off to get ready for this one. Combine that with the fact that the Orange will be out for revenge after getting kicked at Villanova and you've got yourself a Cuse team capable of a blowout. The Orange are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite. Cuse is 15-2 at home this season and I like the Orange to handle another opponent on their home floor today.

4* Major NBA Blowout of the Week on Jazz -7
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Utah is rolling and it has had the Hornets number. No way New Orleans can hang against one of the best home teams in the NBA after a tough OT loss against the Lakers last night. New Orleans is 2-11 ATS as an underdog this season, losing by an average score of 89.8 to 98.7. Utah is 15-2 ATS in home games after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons, winning in this situation by an average score of 108.1 to 92. Lay the number.

5* Big 12 Game of the Year (ESPN) on Texas -1
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. It hasn't been quite the season we expected from the Longhorns, but the talent is still there and it will have the motivation today. Oklahoma has had more than a few narrow escapes on the road this season and this is one I don't see them getting out of alive. The Sooners are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Texas, 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games as an underdog of 6.5 or less, and 11-27-1 ATS in their last 39 games as a road underdog. The Home team is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings. Texas will be out to avenge an earlier season loss to Oklahoma and also to avenge a poor performance last time out against Texas A&M. Take the Longhorns.

3* Pac-10 SMASH on USC -2
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. USC is 13-1 at home this season while the Huskies are only 5-6 on the road. The Favorite is 8-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings and you have to like how good USC is against the number on Saturdays at 12-4 ATS their last 16. Lay the points.

4* Major Bracket Buster GOTY (ESPN 2) on Utah State +5
Consensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. I have to take the points here with the better team. Utah State is a superb road team at 10-1 this season. It is 11-2 ATS in their last 13 road games, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog, and 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. the West Coast Conf. The Aggies are also 10-3 ATS in their last 13 non-conference games. Take the points!

4* Major Big East Game of the Week on Georgetown -3.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Interesting line here with the unranked Hoyas favored by 3.5. Odds makers are tipping their hand. Marquette has struggled on the road this season, with all of its losses coming away from home, and will bite the dust here. Plays on a favorite (GEORGETOWN) - after beating the spread by more than 18 points in their previous game, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a winning team are 23-5 ATS the last 5 seasons. Lay the number.

3* NBA Public Massacre of the Week on Thunder +9
The Suns run up the score on the Clippers in back-to-back games and the public is in love with them again. Odds makers are looking to score big off of that here. The Thunder are not the same pushover they were early in the season and Kevin Durant is playing some very confident basketball. Prior to the All-Star break, the Thunder played the Lakers to a 7 point game and they played New Orleans to a 2 point game after it. Plays against any team (PHOENIX) - off 2 consecutive wins by 10 points or more against division rivals, on Friday nights are 24-4 ATS since 1996. The Thunder are 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Phoenix and the Underdog is 5-0-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings. The Suns are 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 Friday games and 6-20-1 ATS in their last 27 games following an ATS win. The Thunder are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games as an underdog, 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Friday games, 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5, and 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 2 days rest. Take the Thunder.

5* NBA Southwest Division GOTY (ESPN) on Rockets -3.5
Houston is 20-6 at home this season and it owes the Mavs a huge defeat tonight. Dallas has had its way with the Rockets recently but I don't see that happening here as the Rockets are primed and ready for revenge. Here's the other key: Houston is 24-5 ATS versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons, winning these games by an average score of 98.3 to 87.6. The Rockets are outstanding defensively on their home floor and I expect them to give the Mavs fits tonight.

4* Major NCAAB Bracket Buster BOMB on Illinois State +2.5
Plain and simple, Illinois State is better and it will not mess up this opportunity to prove just how much better on national TV. It is a down year for the MO Valley and there is still no comparison between it and the MAAC. Outside of Siena, the MAAC does not have much to offer and that will be on center stage here tonight. While Niagara's record looks good, the key is that it has not beaten a team with an RPI higher than 100 all season. In fact, the Purple Eagles are 0-3 in those games, losing by an average of 12 points. Illinois State is 15-6 ATS as a road underdog or pick over the last 3 seasons. It has also covered the number in 3 straight. Illinois State wins this one outright.

5* 32-0 ATS Monster Line Mistake on St. Bonaventure +3
The public has ignorantly climbed on board the home favorite here, neglecting the fact that the Bonnies have 6 more wins on the season and a better road record than GW has at home. The Bonnies are 8-0 ATS in road lined games this season, 7-0 ATS as a road underdog or pick this season, 7-0 ATS in road games after playing a home game this season, and 6-0 ATS in a road game where the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 2 seasons. The Colonials are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 6.5 or less. Bonnies win this one OUTRIGHT!

3* NBA "TOTAL" REVENGER on Spurs/Pistons UNDER 181
Expect a defensive battle in Detroit to come in under the number tonight. The Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in this matchup. In the last 7 meetings between these teams, only 2 games have reach 170 or more points and neither of those reached the 180 mark. The Under is 7-1 in Spurs last 8 vs. NBA Central and 16-5-1 in Pistons last 22 vs. NBA Southwest. The Under is also 7-1 in Pistons last 8 vs. a team with a winning SU record. In the first meeting this season, we saw 166 points scored and I expect a similar result tonight. Take the Under.

4* Major NCAAB System Play BOMB on Ark LR -2
Little Rock is playing superb hoops, having won 10 of its last 11 games SU. It is also on a 9-1 ATS run. The Trojans have also had this game circled for quite some time as they will be looking for revenge after the beating they took at WKU earlier in the season. WKU's blowout win over LR was a huge fluke as the Hilltoppers are not as good a team as they were a season ago with just 2 starters returning. The Trojans are a much better team than a season ago when they won 20 games with all 5 starters back. Plays on a favorite revenging a road loss vs. an opponent of 10 points or more, with 3+ more starters returning from last year than opponent are 52-23 ATS the last 5 seasons. In addition, the Trojans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 6.5 or less, and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Plus, the Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Bet the Trojans.

5* NBA UNDERDOG OF THE YEAR on Nets +8
The Nets came out flat in their first game following the All-Star break. Now it will be Dallas' turn to come out flat tonight in its first game after the break. There will be no trouble for Devin Harris getting up for a game against his former team as he dropped 41 on them the last time they faced off. Coming off a bad game last night, I expect Harris to be phenomenal. While Dallas is 17-8 SU at home, it is just 8-17 ATS and it gets a Nets team that is 17-10 ATS on the road this season here. Here's the key: NJ is 8-0 ATS in road games after playing a game as a road underdog this season, winning by 4.8 ppg in this spot. The Mavericks are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest and the Nets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 0 days rest. Bet the Nets tonight.

4* Major NBA Total of the Week (ESPN) on Magic/Hornets UNDER 189.5
Both of these teams came away with hard fought wins last night and will not have enough left to push this one over. When these teams met on Christmas Day, we only saw 156 total points scored. With Nelson out for the Magic and now with Chandler gone for the Hornets, both of these teams are without key players and that is going to make a big difference against good teams. NO is 9-1 UNDER in home games when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 70%) over the last 2 seasons, the average points scored in these games is 185.4. NO is also 10-1 UNDER in home games versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 6+ points/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score in these games totaled just 182.7 points. Bet the Under!

4* Major NCAAB Under the Radar Total of the Year on Tennessee Martin/E. Illinois UNDER 135
E. Illinois is 6-0 UNDER in all home games this season. The average total score in these games is 130.5 points. 9 of E. Illinois' last 10 games have gone under the number. 4 of the last 5 meetings in this series have gone under, including the January matchup at Tennessee Martin which totaled just 116 points. Bet the Under.

4* Major NCAAB Blowout of the Week on Butler -5
After losing to lowly Loyola Chicago, Butler will be out for blood tonight. The Bulldogs have already trounced Wis-Mil by 30 points this season and they will take down the Panthers by double digits again here. Butler is 9-1 ATS when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%) after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons, winning by an average score of 69.2 to 56.5 in these spots. This one will be all Butler!

3* NCAAB Odds Maker Monster Miss on Fordham +25.5
This line has been elevated because Fordham lost by 35 last game to a very motivated Xavier team. Temple is not nearly as explosive as Xavier and has lost 2 of its last 3 to Fordham. It is going to be very tough for the Owls to get up for this one after a big win over Dequesne on the road. The Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings and road teams after 3 straight games or allowing 85 points or more are 27-7 ATS the last 5 years. Take the points!

4* Major NBA "TOTAL" Annihilator on Bucks/Pistons UNDER 196
Milwaukee has been offensively challenged on the road of late, due to its injury problems to key players, and it comes up against one of the better defensive teams in the NBA tonight. The Pistons are allowing just 93.9 ppg this season and I expect a very good defensive effort tonight as they'll be fresh coming off the All-Star break. In fact, the Under is 5-1 in the Pistons last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest. The Under is also 4-1 in the Bucks last 5 road games. Lastly, plays Under on Road teams where the total is between 190 and 199.5 points (MILWAUKEE) - off an home win scoring 110 or more points, second half of the season are 46-19 the last 5 seasons. Bet the Under.

3* SMASH on Kent State -6.5
Kent State is rolling, having won 6 in a row and it is a solid 9-3 at home this season while Ohio is just 3-10 on the road. Plus, Ohio has not won at Kent in 8 years. Ohio won the first meeting at home by 6 and I fully expect the Golden Flashes to return the favor tonight with a big win. Ohio is 0-8 ATS in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons, losing in these spots by an average score of 55.1 to 70.0. Kent is 12-3 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent since 1997, winning in these spots by an average score of 71.8 to 60.5. Ohio is awful on the road, I mean awful. We'll take Kent in this one.

5* ESPN Super Tuesday Game of the Year on Purdue -2.5
2 games back of the Spartans in the Big Ten standings, Purdue needs this one badly if it wants to make a run for the title. Michigan State is undefeated on the road in Big Ten play and that only means it is due as the Spartans are yet to play their toughest competition in the league until tonight. Purdue has won 4 straight Big Ten home games by double digits, including a win by 14 over a Penn State team that defeated the Spartans. Purdue is a perfect 2-0 SU and ATS at home versus Michigan State the last 2 seasons with a 24-point blowout win in 2007 as a 1.5-point favorite and a 6-point win last year as a 1.5-point favorite. In all, Purdue has covered the number in 4 straight in this series. Michigan State is 0-8 ATS as a road underdog of 6 points or less or pick over the last 3 seasons. Purdue is 7-0 ATS in home games in February games over the last 3 seasons, 6-0 ATS in home games off a road win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons, and 6-0 ATS in home games versus good shooting teams - making >=45% of their shots after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons. Take Purdue!

4* Major ESPN Big Monday Game of the Month on Texas A&M +2
The Aggies are a staggering 75-11 the last 5 seasons at home, pitching a shutout against the Horns in those games and Texas isn't exactly the same team it has been this year. The key factor in this one is revenge. Texas won at home by 9 points and I like the Aggies to return the favor here. A&M is 6-0 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons, winning in these spots by an average score of 75 to 64.8. A&M has defeated Texas by 18 and 17 points in each of its last two home games against the Horns. We'll take A&M tonight!

3* ESPN Big Monday SMASH on Pittsburgh +3.5
Losing Jerome Dyson is a major blow for the Huskies, one that gives Pitt the big edge catching points. Pitt knows it needs this one if it is going to have a shot to win the Big East. Much of UConn's success can be attributed to the play of big man Hasheem Thabeet, but he will not have his way with Pitt's interior as DeJuan Blair will be up for the challenge. Pitt has found its stride, putting together 5 straight wins by double digits and Pitt is 8-1 ATS after 4 straight wins by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons. The Huskies are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. The Panthers are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings at UConn, the Road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings, and the Underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings. I like Pitt outright!

5* MVC Game of the Year on Drake -1.5
Drake took Illinois State down to the wire on the road, losing by just 4-points as an 8-point dog to cover the spread and I like the Bulldogs to have their revenge with an outright win today. Illinois State started the season strong and has been overvalued because of it. The Red Birds have failed to cover the number in 8 of their last 11. Drake has won back-to-back at home over the Red Birds and 8 of the last 11. Guard Sead Odzic suffered a knee injury and will likely miss the rest of the season for the Red Birds and starting point guard Lloyd Phillips will be absent as well as he is dealing with a personal issue. That leaves the red birds very short handed. Drake is 17-4 ATS versus good defensive teams - shooting pct defense of <=42% over the last 2 seasons. Illinois State is just 1-8 ATS versus teams who make 8 or more 3 point shots/game on the season after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons. Drake's Josh Young and company will light up the Red Birds from beyond the arc and take this contest.

3* Sunday Underdog SMASH on USF +13.5
I don't care who you are, a huge win like the Irish just had over Louisville creates an inevitable letdown situation. USF just experienced that same kind of letdown by getting blown out by Providence after handing Marquette its first Big East loss. The Bulls have played ND very tough the past few seasons, winning by 6 in 2007 and losing by 7 in 2008. NB is just 2-10 ATS in home games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games since 1997, winning by just 5 ppg in these spots. USF is 9-2 ATS versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game over the last 2 seasons. Defense has been ND's Achilles Heel and that keeps this one easily within the number!

4* Major Big Ten Bookie Back Breaker on Indiana +10
Illinois really struggles on the road. It picked up its first Big Ten road win at Northwestern last game, but only by a point. Indiana is playing improved ball and will be fired up for a team which embarrassed it on the road. With these factors in mind, these 10 points are too many for the books to be giving the Hoosiers. The Fighting Illini are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten, and 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. The Hoosiers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a home underdog.

3* SMASH on Wichita State +1
Condensed writeup due to the amount of games to handicap. The Shockers are rolling, having won 6 of 8 and they'll be ready to avenge an ugly earlier season loss to UNI today. The Panthers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as a road favorite. The Shockers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The Underdog is 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings. The Shockers are always tough on their home floor (10-3 this year) and we'll take them here.

3* SMASH on UCF +2.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. I love UCF in the home dog role today as it is 7-1 ATS in all home games this season and 8-2 ATS against conference opponents this season. Off 3 straight losses, including back-to-back on the road, UCF will be happy to see its home floor and will come away with an easy win.

4* Major Big Chalk BLOWOUT on Xavier -28.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Off back-to-back road losses, look out for Xavier to wax the floor with an awful Fordham team this afternoon. Fordham has already lost at home by 26 to Xavier and now the Muske's are even more motivated. Fordham lost by 30 to a St. Louis team recently which Xavier beat 70-44 as well. The rout will be on early. Fordham is 4-15 ATS in all games this season and 3-11 ATS as a road underdog of 10 or more points over the last 3 seasons. Xavier is 7-0 ATS after playing 2 consecutive road games over the last 3 seasons. Take Xavier.

4* Major Big Ten Game of the Month on Penn State -2.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. After 3 straight losses in conference play, expect the Lions to bounce back strong today against a Minnesota team that has not been strong away from home. The Gophers won the first matchup handily on their home floor and that inspires a revenge play here. Penn State is 15-6 ATS as a favorite over the last 3 seasons, winning by an average score of 69.8 to 59.1 in these spots. Take State!

5* NCAAB Shocker of the Year on Seton Hall +10
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Seton Hall is rolling, having won 5 straight and 7 of 9 ATS. UConn will have to go without the injured Jerome Dyson and his 13 points per game average. Seton Hall played UConn to a 15-point game on the road a month ago before it was playing good basketball. Its current win streak and the injury to Dyson really boosts its confidence level. The Huskies are just 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games as a road favorite of 7.0-12.5 and 4-13 ATS in road games after allowing 60 points or less over the last 3 seasons. The Pirates are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog of 7.0-12.5. Take the points as Seton Hall easily keeps this one within the number with a chance to pull off the big upset today!

3* ESPN Prime Time Smash of the Week on WVU -3.5
While Villanova has been rolling, if we take a closer look during its 6-game winning streak, we find that it really struggled in road games at USF and at Providence. If we go back even further, at Seton Hall and at Marquette as well. WVU has been the same way, but it gets the Cats at home tonight where it is 40-6 in its last 46 home games. This is a big game for the Mountaineers in terms of impressing the NCAA Tourney committee and I like them to take care of business. The Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings. The Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games and 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games as a home favorite of 6.5 points or less. Bet the Mountaineers!

4* Major NCAAB Total of the Week on Dartmouth/Columbia UNDER 121
Dartmouth is 16-0 UNDER in games where both teams score 65 or less points over the last 3 seasons and 6-0 UNDER in games where both teams score 65 or less points this season. The average total score in the first system is 111 points and the average total score in the second is just 114.6. Take the Under!

5* Friday Night NCAAB GOTY on Brown -1
Brown just ended a treacherous 5-game Ivy League road spell. It did not come away with a win, but it held its own, playing Yale and Dartmouth to 2 point games and Harvard to a 1-point game. Brown is a solid 5-2 at home this season and hungry for its first Ivy win. Penn is just 3-7 on the road and was swept by Brown a season ago, including a 43-75 loss here. Brown has won 8 of the last 11 at home in this matchup. Penn is 13-23 ATS in all games over the last 2 seasons and 9-18 ATS as an underdog over the last 2 seasons. The Quakers are just 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings, 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games overall, and 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU loss. The Bears are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Take Brown!

3* NCAAB Late Night Bailout (ESPN 2) on Gonzaga -4
As much as the Gaels would like to get some revenge here, I just don't see it happening without Patrick Mills. Gonzaga won the first meeting by 7 points and I think this one ends up even worse than that as the Bulldogs will be pissed off after getting it handed to them by Memphis. St. Mary's is also coming off a blowout loss and is just is 6-18 ATS in home games after a loss by 15 points or more since 1997, losing in these spots by an average score of 61.9 to 70.7. The Zags will be too much for St. Mary's again.

4* Major NBA Total of the Week on Blazers/Warriors UNDER 217.5
Scoring 144 points, like the Warriors did last time out, forces odds makers to set an inflated number. We'll make them pay for doing so here as the Blazers will have no part in Golden State's up and down game. Portland averages just 95.8 ppg and allows 96.8 ppg on the road this season. 6 straight in this matchup have not topped this number and 20 of the last 21. The one that did was a 218 point total. Portland is 27-12 UNDER when the total is greater than or equal to 200 over the last 2 seasons, 16-6 UNDER in road games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons, and 23-7 UNDER versus terrible defensive teams - allowing 103+ points/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score in all 3 of these systems doesn't come even close to the number we are faced with today. Bet the Under.

3* ESPN Prime Time SMASH on UCLA -1.5
UCLA is rolling, having won 4 in a row via blowout, and now it is ready to get revenge over ASU for handing it an OT loss at home earlier in the season. I love UCLA tonight because of how dominant it has been on the glass. AUS is just 5-18 ATS in home games versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 4+ per game after 15+ games since 1997. UCLA is 13-4 ATS in road games revenging a straight up loss vs. an opponent as a home favorite since 1997 and a perfect 6-0 ATS in road games off a home blowout win by 20 points or more over the last 2 seasons. Take the Bruins tonight.

4* Major Mid-Major Massacre of the Month on Buffalo -9
3-20 E. Mich is awful and it has lost by double digits in 4 straight, 6 of 7, and 14 of 20. Buffalo is the real deal and it beat an Akron team that crushed E. Mich 78-41 on February 3rd. The Eagles are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games, 1-6 ATS in their last 7 vs. the Mid-American, and 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following an ATS win. The Bulls are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games and 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Lay the number!

5* Big Chalk BLOWOUT of the Year on Davidson -12
Baby face killer Stephen Curry will put on a show tonight as the Wildcats will be out for blood after losing at home to College of Charleston. Davidson has won by 13 or more in each of the last 4 meetings, including a 35-point win at Wofford last year and a 23-point win at home this season. Davidson is 9-0 ATS off an upset loss as a home favorite since 1997, 7-0 ATS off an upset loss to a conference rival as a home favorite since 1997, 7-0 ATS off a home loss against a conference rival since 1997, and 6-0 ATS in road games in February games over the last 3 seasons. Wofford is 0-6 ATS after allowing 65 points or less 2 straight games over the last 2 seasons. In all, Davidson is 17-3 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite since 1997. Take the Cats!

4* Major Wednesday Night NBA BEST BET on Jazz +2.5
With LA playing back-to-back, a rested and prepared Jazz team, whose last taste of ball was a terrible blowout loss at Golden State, will be ready to take bounce back against the best team in the league tonight. The Jazz are 20-6 at home this season and 57-10 over the last 2. Plays on home teams (UTAH) - off an upset loss by 10 points or more as a favorite, playing with 2 days rest are 48-14 ATS the last 5 seasons. The Home team is 11-4-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings. Take the Jazz!

3* Tobacco Road Rivalry (ESPN) on Duke +2
UNC has won 3 straight at Cameron Indoor and that works more in Duke's favor here as they finally defend home court in this rivalry tonight. While Carolina is tied with Duke for the conference lead at 7-2, it is just 3-6 ATS in those games as it has been greatly overvalued. There's no way Duke should be an underdog on its home floor tonight. Duke is a perfect 14-0 at home this season where its defense has been terrific, limiting opponents to only 59 ppg. That is a big area where the Dukies have an advantage as UNC's defense has not been nearly as solid, especially on the road. UNC is 0-7 ATS in road games after playing 2 consecutive games as a home favorite over the last 2 seasons. Duke is 6-0 ATS in home games off a no-cover where they won straight up as a favorite over the last 2 seasons. The Underdog is 12-3 ATS in the last 15 meetings. Have to take the points with Duke at home!

4* Major Big East Blowout of the Month on Cincy -8.5
St. John's is 0-6 on the road this season with the closest it has come to winning being a 10-point loss as Seton Hall. Cincy has won 6 of its last 8 and yet it continues to fly under the radar. St. John's is 0-6 ATS in road lined games this season, losing by an average score of 63.5 to 81.5 in these games. Cincy is 12-3 at home and already has an 11-point road win over the Johnnies this season. Lay the number!

3* SMASH on 76ers -11
Memphis is just 3-18 on the road this season and just 6-15 ATS in those games. It is just 1-6 in its last 7 road contests, losing all 6 of those by double digits. Plus, Rudy Gay, second on the team with 18.8 points per game, will be out until after the All-Star game with a left hip flexor. The 76ers have won 3 in a row and 13 of 17. Memphis is 1-16 ATS when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%) over the last 2 seasons and Philly is 9-1 ATS when playing against a bad team (Win Pct. 25% to 40%) - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons. Lay the points.

5* NCAAB Bounce Back Game of the Year on Purdue -10.5
Off back-to-back road losses at Ohio State and Illinois, the Boilermakers will be out for blood on their home floor tonight! Outside of a fluke win at Michigan State, Penn State has struggled on the road with 20 point losses at Minnesota and at Michigan. The Lions have now lost back-to-back games by double digits. Also, not in Penn State's favor here is that it beat the Boilers early in the Big Ten season when Purdue was not at full strength. That is just going to make Purdue want this one even more. Purdue is 8-0 ATS after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons, exploding to win in these spots by an average score of 75.6 to 58.6. Purdue is 6-0 ATS in home February games over the last 3 seasons and 6-0 ATS in home games after covering 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread over the last 2 seasons. Pound Purdue!

4* Major Anti-Public Annihilator on Knicks +4.5
The Knicks have lost 4 in a row to give us additional value with this line. 4 losses initially looks like a team is slumping, but that is not the case for NY which has played the Lakers, Cavs, Celtics, and Blazers all very tough. Now they get a chance to end their skid against a team they dropped 138 points on earlier this season and I expect them to take full advantage. The Warriors will not have the same intensity tonight as they played with in a big win over Utah last game as that win puts them in a letdown spot. Golden State is just 4-13 ATS off a home win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons and 1-10 ATS off a home win this season. Plus, the Knicks play uptempo basketball even better than the Warriors and that really stands to expose Golden State's defense, just like it did in the Big Apple when NY won 138-125. While NY is just 7-17 on the road it is 14-10 ATS and comes in having covered the number in 9 of its last 11. Take the points tonight!

4* Major NBA Bounce Back Game of the Week on Nuggets pk
Denver was killed in its last game to the tune of 70-114 in New Jersey. This team is far too good to lose like that and I fully expect the Nuggets to come out with fire tonight. Denver has had Miami's number with a 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS mark the last 3 seasons, which includes an 11-point home win over the Heat early last month in which Melo did not play. The Heat are just 4-12 ATS in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning road record while the Nugs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. Take the Nuggets!

5* Big East Game of the Month on Providence pk
The Bulls just pulled off a 1-point win over Marquette as a 9-point dog to hand the Eagles its first Big East loss. If that doesn't spell letdown then I don't know what does. Providence has lost 3 in a row, to better teams, including a devastating 27-point loss at WVU. The Friars now get a team they are perfect against the last 3 seasons to take their frustration out on tonight and that they will. Plays on a road team (PROVIDENCE) after allowing 85 points or more 3 straight games are 26-6 ATS the last 5 seasons. USF is 6-17 ATS versus up-tempo teams averaging 62 or more shots/game after 15+ games since 1997, losing in these spots by an average score of 70.8 to 78.0, and 8-25 ATS as a home underdog of 6 points or less or pick since 1997. Pound the Friars!

4* Major NBA Monster Line Mistake on Bucks +7
The Rockets do not deserve to be laying 7 points on the road today. The Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games, 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Central, and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite. The Bucks are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 vs. NBA Southwest. Milwaukee has a losing record on the season but is a solid 14-9 at home. Houston is a game below .500 on the road and has lost 3 of its last 4 road games SU and ATS. Houston is just 9-18 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record this season. The Bucks have an excellent shot to win this game and we'll take them tonight.

5* NBA Game of the Month on LA Clippers +2
The Clippers are finally healthy again and it has showed with back-to-back blowout wins over Memphis and Atlanta in which they put up over 120 points in each. They have had a day to rest and will now look to end their road trip strong tonight. The Bobcats have lost 5 in a row, including yesterday's loss at Miami. These teams are going in two different directions right now and Charlotte is not going to be able to keep up with LA's pace without fresh legs. The Road team is 7-0-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings. Charlotte is only 3-8 straight up in the second of back to back games this season and 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite of 4.5 points or less. Pound the Clippers!

4* MAAC GOTM on Loyola MD +14.5
Loyola has been playing good ball winning 6 of their last 8, but those 2 losses have come in its last 2 games and that fuels the fire before taking on a Siena team that it always plays tough. The Underdog is 12-2 ATS in the last 14 meetings, the Road team is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 meetings, the Greyhounds are 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Siena, and 4-1 ATS in the last 5 overall. Loyola got caught looking ahead last game as it should have beaten Manhattan at home and that is significant here as plays on underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points (LOYOLA-MD) - off an upset loss as favorite, playing their 2nd game in 3 days are 87-35 ATS since 1997. Take the points!

5* NBA Vegas Line Mistake of the Month on Kings +7
The Kings beat the Thunder by 4 at home a week ago and I like them to have a great chance to win again today. OKC is in a letdown spot after a big win over Portland and will not be able to get up for the Kings the same way. Plus, the Thunder have played better ball of late but they still don't deserve to be laying these kind of points. The only other time OKC was this big of a favorite this season, Memphis tied them at the end of regulation. We lost the cover in OT but had the right side unmistakably. Plays against home teams (OKLAHOMA CITY) - off an upset win as a home underdog against opponent off a home loss are 40-16 ATS the last 5 seasons. Take the points.

4* Major NBA Double Digit BLOOD BATH on Blazers -8
Off a loss to the lowly Thunder, Portland returns home and will be out for blood today. The Knicks have given it all in three straight home losses to the Lakers, Cavs, and Celtics and will have a very tough time getting up for this one in the aftermath. Portland is 18-5 at home this season. The Trail Blazers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5, and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite period. Bet the Blazers.

3* National TV Total SMASH on Lakers/Cavs UNDER 206
3 straight and 5 of the last 6 in this series have gone under the number and this is the highest number we have seen during this stretch. While the Lakers won the first meeting this season, the Cavs have had great success against LA because they have been able to control the tempo and because they are a solid defensive team. Cleveland is only allowing 89.0 ppg at home this season. With this being the last game of a long road trip for LA, I expect the Lakers not to mind playing a little bit more half court basketball. Cleveland is 19-6 UNDER in home games in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons, average total in these games is 185.3. The Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Cleveland, 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 games as a home favorite of 4.5 points or less, and 9-4 in Lakers last 13 games as an underdog. Bet the Under!

4* Major Big Ten Game of the Month on Penn State -1.5
Wisconsin is 0-4 in its last 4 road games and is is a letdown spot after a big win over Illinois. Penn State finds itself ready to bounce back after getting clobbered at Michigan. This is also a big revenge game for the Lions as they lost to the Badgers in early January. Penn State is 15-5 ATS as a favorite over the last 3 seasons. The Favorite is 8-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings in this matchup. The Nittany Lions are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss and 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss. Take Penn State.

3* NCAAB Game of the Night on Gonzaga -4.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Gonzaga has the better team this season and will be looking to pay Memphis back for close losses in each of the last 2 seasons. Gonzaga knows how important these high profile games are for NCAA seeding since it plays in a weaker conference and it will seize the opportunity at home here. The Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Conference USA and 23-10 ATS in their last 33 Saturday games.

4* Major NBA "TOTAL" Dominator on Timberwolves/Rockets UNDER 200.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Every time Houston plays at home you have to give the under a look as the Rockets are 41-26 UNDER in home games over the last 2 seasons. This is a solid spot to take the Under here. The Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games following a SU loss, 6-2 in Rockets last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record, and 19-9 in Rockets last 28 games as a home favorite. Bet the Under!

5* NCAAB BLOWOUT OF THE YEAR on E. Illinois -14.5
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. SE Missouri State is just 3-20 on the season and it just received word that its best player will be suspended for this game. That leaves the Redhawks without 16.5 points and 8 boards they won't be able to replace. E. Illinois is playing its best ball of the season right now, having won 7 of 10. E. Illinois has won by 20 points in each of the last 2 meetings in this matchup, including on the road earlier this season. The Panthers are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite, 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 vs. Ohio Valley, and 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Pound E. Illinois!

4* Major Horizon League Hard Hitter on Butler -2
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. Wright State is playing much better ball than it was earlier this season when Butler crushed the Raiders at home by 16. But Wright State catches Butler in a terrible spot today as it is coming off a loss and a weak performance against Detroit. Wright State is way down and Butler gets the road win here. Play On - All teams where the line is +3 to -3 (BUTLER) - off a road win against a conference rival, with just one or fewer starters returning from last season are 42-15 ATS the last 5 seasons.

3* Big 12 Line Mistake on Colorado +21
Condensed writeup due to amount of games to handicap. While it isn't showing up in the win column, CU is much improved. It has won or played its opponent very tight in each of its last 5 games and consequently has covered the number in 5 straight. This team beat an Iowa State team that had OU on the ropes last weekend and took Kansas down to the wire before losing by 5 on the road. OU will get Colorado's best shot and it will be good enough to cover this inflated number.

4* Major Friday Night NBA BEST BET on OKC Thunder +4.5
Portland has struggled on the road at just 12-13 SU and 10-15 ATS on the season and most of its ATS road wins came early on as the Blazers are now just 4-10 ATS in their last 14 on the road. OKC is much improved and yet it continued to be undervalued at home because the public is still fading away on the Thunder. Not a good idea. The Thunder are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 home games, 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a home underdog, 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 vs. NBA Northwest. The Thunder are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games overall and 22-7 ATS in their last 29 games as an underdog. Plus, the Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Take the Thunder.

3* Ivy League Annihilator on Princeton +7.5
The Tigers are not getting the respect they deserve here. They bring a five game winning streak into this one and return home tonight after winning at Dartmouth and Harvard to open Ivy League play. The major key here is that the Underdog is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings in this matchup. The Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Friday games. Princeton gives the Big Red a run for the money tonight.

3* Thursday Night Bailout (ESPN 2) on Portland +10
The Pilots has a chance to tie the Zags for the WCC lead tonight and that makes for a down to the wire finish. The Zags crushed Portland at home by 17 in the first meetings and Portland will take that loss very personally here. Portland is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 revenging a loss vs. an opponent and 7-0 ATS revenging a loss vs. an opponent of 10 points or more. Portland is 10-1 at home this season and will give Gonzaga all it wants tonight.

5* Sun Belt Conference GOTY on Middle Tennessee State -2
MTSU has projected Sun Belt player of the year Desmond Yates and Denver does not and that will be enough to cover this number tonight. MTSU has better overall athleticism and is the type of bigger team that Denver has struggled against all season. MTSU returns all 5 starters from a team that just missed out on the big dance a season ago and is hungry for a Sun Belt title this time around. MTSU won at Denver as a 3.5-point dog by 7 a season ago and has now won 3 in a row SU and ATS the last 3 seasons. The Blue Raiders will have a huge edge on the glass and are 6-0 ATS in road games vs. poor rebounding teams - outrebounded by opponents by 4+ per game over the last 2 seasons, winning these games by 10.0 points on average. The Blue Raiders are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. We'll get back on track tonight by cashing in this biggie!

4* Major NBA on TNT GOTM on Celtics -5.5
The Celtics have had this one circled since Christmas Day and they get the Lakers in a great spot tonight. Not only will LA miss Andrew Bynum, but they will also miss out on playing with fresh legs. The Lakers are playing back-to-back, 3 in 4, 5 games in 7 nights and all on the road. The most critical factor is that Kobe has expended a lot of energy on this road trip. Boston is playing the best basketball in the NBA right now and has won 4 straight in the Garden over LA, all by 6+ points with 3 of those wins coming by double digits. LA snapped Boston's first long winning streak of the season, and the Celtics won't let it happen again. Plus, KG is going to be very motivated here after missing 2 games with the flu. Boston's defense is superior and that also gives it a big advantage. The Lakers are 0-8 ATS versus good defensive teams - shooting pct defense of <=43% - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons, losing in these spots by an average score of 94.9 to 103.0. Boston is 9-1 ATS in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons, winning in these spots by an average score of 108.9 to 94.8. Take the Celtics!

3* SMASH on Heat/Pistons UNDER 180
Detroit is 16-5 UNDER when the total is between 180 and 189.5 points this season, with the average score totaling 177.4 ppg in these spots. Detroit has gone UNDER in 3 straight games and 5 of the last 7 matchups in this series have gone under. Detroit's defense has really started to pick it up but the offense is yet to match. With Miami in a letdown spot off a blowout win, I'll take the Under here.

5* NBA Eastern Conference GOTY on Pistons -4
This is the best spot I've seen to back the Pistons this season. After going down to the 2 best teams in the East, Boston and Cleveland, the Pistons have had 3 days rest and will be fresh and hungry for a win at home tonight. Detroit has won 5 in a row against the Heat and each of the last 2 have been by double digit margins. The Heat are a lousy 5-14 ATS in their last 19 games as a road underdog of 4.5 points or less and 3-8-2 ATS in their last 13 games following a SU win of more than 10 points. The Pistons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home and 8-1 ATS in their last 9 Wednesday games. Also, Miami is only 2-12 ATS when the total is between 180 and 189.5 points this season. Oddsmakers are expecting to see a great defensive effort from the Pistons and that means a big win and a cover in my book. Lay the number.

3* SMASH on Lakers/Raptors OVER 214.5
LA has scored 110 or more points in 4 straight, and with Bynum out, I expect the offense to continue to push the ball more to get more transition buckets and less baskets in the Triangle Offense. Also, with Bynum out, the defense will suffer, especially on the road where LA is already giving up over 100 ppg this season. Plays Over on all teams where the total is greater than or equal to 210 (LA LAKERS) - after going over the total by more than 6 points in three consecutive games, in non-conference games are 27-9 the past 5 seasons. Take the Over!

3* SMASH on Clippers/Magic UNDER 199
Without Jameer Nelson, the Magic offense is not going to be a smooth sailing ship for a while. The Clippers offense has really struggled, scoring 95 or less in 6 straight games and they face one of the NBA's elite defensive teams tonight, allowing only 91.4 ppg at home. The Under is 4-0 in the Magic last 4 games as a home favorite of 11.0 or greater and 10-2 in the Magic last 12 games as a home favorite period. Bet the Under!

5* NCAAB Underdog of the Year on Indiana State +1.5
Indiana State is playing better basketball than its record indicates and after losing 6 in a row will be very hungry for a win at home tonight. Wichita State is 0-7 in true road games this season and this is a matchup which has been dominated by the home team. The Home team is 5-0-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings. The Shockers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games as a road favorite, 5-18-1 ATS in their last 24 games as a favorite of 6.5 points or less and 3-13-1 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a losing SU record. The Sycamores are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games as a home underdog. Wichita State has lost 5 straight road games in the Valley, all by double digits. Take Indiana State!

4* Major Big Ten BEST BET on Indiana +3.5
Indiana played Iowa to a 5-point game on the road and I like the Hoosiers to beat an offensively challenged Iowa team at home tonight where they are a much better ball club. Iowa is 0-5 on the road in the Big Ten this season and is only averaging 58.1 ppg on the road this season. The Underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings. The Hawkeyes are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games as a favorite and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 6.5 points or less. The Hoosiers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a home underdog. Take Indiana at home tonight.

5* NCAAB REVENGE GOTY on Bradley -2.5
Great spot for the Braves tonight. UNI has come out of nowhere to take the MVC by storm. It has now won 10 straight which only means to me that it is ready for a letdown tonight. The Braves gave the Panthers all they wanted and more in Cedar Falls on January 21st, eventually losing by 5. The Braves will be out to avenge that loss tonight as well as the setback they just had at Illinois State. Bradley has covered the number in 4 straight. It is 9-2 ATS in the MVC this season and 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS against the Panthers at home in its last 11 matchups. Bradley is 12-1 ATS versus good defensive teams allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons. The Braves are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 vs. the Missouri Valley, 36-16-3 ATS in their last 55 home games, and 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 6.5 points or less. Pound the Braves!

4* Major NBA Vegas Line Mistake of the Month on Milwaukee Bucks +5
Both teams are banged up with injuries so I don't see any real advantage there. What I do see is that this line was inflated to begin with because of New Jersey's past dominance of the Bucks and now the public is betting it up to give us even better value. The Bucks have won back-to-back games and come in well rested tonight to face a New Jersey team that is just 9-15 SU and ATS at home this season. The Bucks are 16-11 ATS on the road. The key tonight is that an upset win on the road against Philly last game puts the Nets in a big letdown spot. Plays against home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (NEW JERSEY) off an upset win as a road underdog, tired team - playing 8 or more games in 14 days are 45-21 ATS the last 5 seasons. NJ is 1-8 ATS in home games off an upset win as an underdog this season, losing these games badly by an average score of 95.2 to 104.3. Lastly, the Nets are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU win. Take the points.

3* ESPN Big Monday SMASH on Baylor +2
I really like Baylor in the home dog role tonight. The Bears have lost 3 in a row and are coming off a bad one at Mizzou. I look for them to really come out strong tonight. Baylor is 6-0 ATS off 3 straight losses against conference rivals over the last 3 seasons, bouncing back to win by an average score of 81.5 to 78.7 in these spots. Take the points.

3* Horizon League Game of the Week on Wisconsin Green Bay +2.5
I love Wisconsin Green Bay to knock off Butler tonight. Green Bay sits right behind Butler in the conference and played the Bulldogs to a clos 9-point game on the road January 22. I like Green Bay to have its revenge tonight. WGB is 13-4 ATS in all lined games this season, 7-0 ATS in home lined games this season, 8-0 ATS after having won 3 of their last 4 games this season, and 7-0 ATS after one or more consecutive overs this season. Take the points.