I'm playing on CLEVELAND (10* PERS FAV). I believe that the Magic are in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The Cavs have dropped four straight games and have failed to cover in six straight. They've got some more difficult games on deck, too. That means that they need to take care of business tonight. I expect them to do exactly that. While the Magic may have won last time out, they're only 1-6 ATS their last seven, when off an upset victory. While the Cavs do allow a fairly high 108.7 ppg this season, the Magic are a dismal 20-39-1 ATS their last 60, when facing a team which allows 106 or more points per game. Added motivation for the Cavs stems from the fact that the Magic upset them the last time that the teams met here. This time, expect a motivated Cleveland team to deliver a blowout. 

I'm playing on MEMPHIS. The Knicks won by 11 when these teams met at NY last month. Playing at home, I expect the Grizzlies, who have quietly covered six of their past eight, to return the favor. Even off a rare road win (at Brooklyn) the Knicks are still only 5-15 when playing away from home. The Grizzlies have dominated the Knicks here. In fact, they've beaten them six straight times here, every one of those victories coming by a minimum of five points. Off an impressive victory over the Lakers, their second straight home win, look for the revenge-minded Grizzlies to come out on top. 

I'm playing on DENVER (10* VIOLATOR). The Mavs got the better of the Nuggets when these teams met earlier. However, that 12/4 meeting came at Dallas and the Nuggets were still without Jokic. Tonight's rematch is at Denver and the Nuggets' star center is back and looked in top form (23 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) last time out. While the Nuggets are just 7-16 on the road, they're an impressive 15-5 here at Denver. Last game here saw them win by double-digits. The Mavs are 9-15 at home, 6-14 on the road. Note that the Mavs will be without Barea, which hurts their depth at guard. Look for the revenge-minded Nuggets to continue their strong play at home, picking up the cover along the way. 

I'm playing on CLEVELAND (10* GAME OF WEEK). Both teams just faced the Raptors. On 1/11, the Cavs were blown out, at Toronto. Two days later, also at Toronto, the Warriors blew a big lead but still ended up winning. The Cavs would go on the lose by two points, at Indiana, the next night. Off those losses and having lost at Oakland on Christmas, I believe that this game is going to mean more to Cleveland than it is to Golden State. Note that the Cavs are 9-2 SU the last 11 times that they were off three or more consecutive losses. They're also 6-3 ATS the last nine times that they were getting points. Expect Lebron and co. to be at their best, rising to the occasion with AT LEAST a cover on MLK Day. 

I'm playing on OAKLAND (10* PERS FAV). The Golden Grizzlies are off back-to-back double-digit victories. I expect them to follow those with another win here. Neither of those victories was quite enough to cover the large pointspread. Today's number is much smaller though. While the Flames have a solid team this season, in my opinion, the Grizzlies are the class of the league. Note that the Flames are 1-5 ATS (0-6 SU!) their last six against teams with a winning record. Expect the Grizzlies to finish on top, this time picking up the cover along the way.

I'm playing on VIRGINIA (10* VIOLATOR). At first glance, this number may appear a little higher. However, if we take a closer look, I think you'll see it could easily be even higher. True, the Wolfpack have already beaten both Duke and Arizona, showing they are capable of beating anyone. However, the Duke win came at home and the Arizona win came at the Bahamas. Note that they've lost (at home) vs UNC Greensboro and also lost (neutral) vs. Northern Iowa. So, they can also lose to anyone. In fact, they've lost ALL their "true" road games. On the other hand, the Cavs are undefeated at home. The Wolfpack are soft on defense - ranking 131st in the country - and allowing 82 ppg in conference play. The Cavs are dominant on defense, allowing a mere 55 ppg in conference play, a paltry 51.3 at home. Note that NC State is just 2-9 ATS the past 2+ seasons against teams that allow 64 or fewer points per game, 1-3 SU/ATS so far this season. The Cavs won by 15 at NC State last season and by 20 the last time that the teams met on this floor. I'm expecting another blowout here. 

I'm playing on XAVIER (10* MAIN EVENT). While the Bluejays have been playing well, I believe that they're in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I successfully played against the Musketeers last Saturday, as they got upset by at Providence. That was followed by a loss at Villanova. Off b2b losses, this well-coached team is going to be in an angry mood. Keep in mind that both losses came on the road. At home, the Musketeers remain perfect. They're 11-0 SU and 8-3 ATS here, having beaten the likes of Baylor, Butler and Cincy here. Keep in mind that Creighton is 0-3 SU/ATS its last three, when listed as an underdog. Look for Bluiett, Macura and co. to elevate their game, snapping the skid while covering the small number along the way.

I'm playing on CAL IRVINE (10* ANNIHILATOR). I like the Anteatater, as a small favorite, on Thursday. Cal Irvine hammered the Titans the last time that these teams met here, a 20-point win almost exactly a year ago. The previous season's meeting here also resulted in a double-digit win for the Anteaters. While UCI is outscoring teams by an average of 82.8 to 66.2 at home, Cal State Fullerton is giving up 81 ppg when playing on the road. With a total currently listed in the low 140s, note that the Anteaters are 3-0 SU/ATS their last three, when playing a home game with an O/U line in the 140 to 144.5 range. Going back further finds them at 13-7 ATS (14-6 SU) their last 20 in that situation. Expect them to improve on those stats here. 

I'm playing on PHILADELPHIA (10* MAIN EVENT). This game will be played at London. These teams have met twice already this season. The Celtics won and covered both times. However, the 76ers are playing much better now than they were earlier. Indeed, they're a perfect 4-0 SU/ATS their last four, going 5-1 SU/ATS their past six. The lone loss came by just four points, at Portland. Three of the five victories came on the road; the two home wins came against the Spurs and the Pistons. Last time out, they won by 36. 

With several days off before this game - and with a few more days off afterwards - the 76ers will have Joel Embiid ready to go. His presence makes them a much stronger team, as he's tough to stop in the paint. 

Speaking of Embiid, he's visited here (London) before and he's absolutely excited to take on the Celtics. The star center had this to say of the Celtics: "I'm excited to play them in London... I can't wait to kick their ass and talk shit ..."

Look for the Embiid and the revenge-minded 76ers to keep on rolling.

I'm playing on ARKANSAS (10* PERS FAV). The Tigers have been playing well this year and aren't slouches. However, this is a tough venue. The Razorbacks have beaten the Tigers three straight times. All three of those victories came by a minimum of eight points and the two games here both came by double-digits. Off b2b road losses, the Razorbacks are going to be happy to return home. While they're 0-3 SU in true road games, the Razorbacks are a perfect 8-0 SU on their home floor.

With an O/U line in the 160s, its worth mentioning that Arkansas is 9-2 ATS (11-0 SU) its last 11, when playing a home game with a total in the 160s. Also, note that the Razorbacks are 4-1 ATS their last five, as as home favorite in the -6.5 to -9 range. Meanwhile, LSU is just 3-11 ATS its last 14, when coming off an SEC win. 

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson noted: "One message I've got to get to our guys is to get more defensive-minded and create havoc on defense. We talk about winning a conference championship, you've got to win at home ... " Look for the Razorbacks to bounce back, picking up the cover along the way.

I'm playing on INDIANA (10* GAME OF WEEK). I successfully backed the Pacers in their last game. Off that wire-to-wire blowout of the Bucks, their second big win in a row, this is another excellent spot for them. While the Pacers had yesterday off, the Heat are off a game at Toronto. In addition to playing the second of b2b games, the Heat will also be playing their third game in the past four days. That difficult scheduling spot is made even tougher by the fact that they'll be without both Winslow and Waiters. With a difficult stretch of games on deck (Cleveland on Friday, followed by a West Coast road trip) Indiana knows it needs to take advantage of this favorable situation. The Pacers already split a pair of games at Miami, covering the spread in each of those games. They're much better at home and I fully expect another win and cover on Wednesday. 

I'm playing on ST. JOHN'S. After fighting hard in two tough road losses, St. John's stumbled as a favorite against Depual last time out. However, I expect the Red Storm to bounce back big this evening. With an O/U line in the low 150s, as of this writing, its worth noting that St. John's is a perfect 5-0 ATS, along with a pair of pushes, its last seven when playing a home game with an O/U line in the 150 to 154.5 range. On the other hand, the Hoyas are 0-5 ATS, during the same span, when playing a road game with an O/U line in the 150 to 154.5 range. Red Storm bounce back with a much needed win, picking up the cover along the way. 

I'm playing on INDIANA (10* MAIN EVENT). The Pacers recently went through a strecth where they failed to cover in six straight games, losing the final five of those outright. One of those was a 1/3 loss at Milwaukee. The Pacers were playing without leading scorer Victor Oladipo. They've since gotten him back and snapped their skid with a 39-point destruction of Chicago. (The Bulls were another team which had beaten the Pacers during their recent skid.) Playing with recent revenge and now facing the Bucks (8-10 on road) here at Indiana, I expect them to carry the positive momentum into this evening's game. The Pacers are 10-5 ATS (12-3 SU) when laying points. They're also 10-6 their last 16, when attempting to avenge an earlier loss. Expect them to improve on those stats this evening.

I'm playing on DALLAS (10* PERS FAV). These teams split a pair of meetings last season, the home team earning the win and cover in each. I expect homecourt to again prove significant. While the Mavs are off b2b losses, both were very close. They're still 5-1 ATS (4-2 SU) their last six games. The Knicks, on the other hand, have dropped three in a row and seven of their past eight. They're also just 2-5 ATS their last seven. Additionally, they won just three of 17 road games, getting outscored by an average of 108 to 99. Expect their road woes to continue here, the Mavs taking care of business and improving to 4-1 ATS after scoring 115 or more points in their previous game.

I'm playing on BROOKLYN (10* BEST BET). The Nets play with 'double-revenge,' as they already lost a pair of close ones against the Celtics, most recently a 3-point loss on New Year's Eve. Playing their best basketball 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS L4) of the season and with the schedule in their favor, I feel they're providing us with excellent value here. The Celtics are off a win vs. Minnesota yesterday and now will be playing their third game in four days. The Nets, meanwhile, are well-rested. Including the cover on New Year's Eve, the Nets are a lucrative 14-6 ATS against teams with a winning record. Expect them to improve on those stats here. 

I'm playing on PORTLAND (10* GAME OF WEEK). These teams just met at Atlanta, on 12/30. The Hawks won that one by 15. However, Atlanta isn't nearly as good on the road. Indeed, the Hawks are just 3-16 away from Atlanta. Having just lost at Cleveland, their third straight on the road, and with a difficult 5-game stretch (home game vs. SA, followed by road games at HOU, OKC, NO and MIN) to follow, the Blazers know that they need to take care of business here. Look for them to do just that, avenging the 12/30 loss in "blowout" fashion. 

I'm playing on OAKLAND (10* BEST BET). These teams are both hoping for and expecting big things in the Horizon League this season. Both are perfect on their floor. With this evening's game being played at Rochester (Michigan) I expect the Golden Grizzlies to have a solid advantage. NKU can score plenty of points. However, the Golden Grizzlies can also score with the best of them. While both teams are averaging better than 80 ppg, its the Grizzlies who boast the THREE top-scorers in the conference. All of them are seniors, too. Senior guard Kendrick Nunn leads the conference at better than 25 ppg. Senior forward Jaylen Hayes is at better than 20 ppg and senior guard Martez Walker averages better than 19 ppg. On the road, the Norse are 0-4 this season. They've lost road games at Memphis, Maryland-Baltimore County, East Tennessee State and Texas A&M. Picked by some as the preseason favorite to win the Horizon League, expect Oakland to rise to the occasion and take care of business on Friday night. 

I'm playing on GOLDEN STATE (10* MAIN EVENT). The Warriors will have payback on their minds, after the Rockets spoiled their home opener. I was at the game and it was absolutely Harden that brought the Rockets back. Without Harden in the lineup, the Rockets can still be pretty good. However, I don't believe that they're going to good enough without him to defeat the motivated champs. While the Rockets are 1-4 ATS their last five, when playing the second of b2b games, the Warriors are 26-15 ATS their last 41 when playing with 'revenge.' PAYBACK TIME.

I'm playing on INDIANA-PURDUE (10* ANNIHILATOR). I like the momentum that the Jaguars bring to the table. They rang in the year by defeating Wisconsin Green Bay, on the road, despite a big disadvantage at the free throw line. They outrebounded the Phoenix by a commanding 43-31 margin, while holding them to less than 40% of their field goals as well as just 1-for-17 from beyond the arc. 

Jason Gardner, IUPUI's head coach, had this to say of his team's last effort: "I liked that we showed we can win a game at the defensive end. That's what we're capable of doing. That way, when shots aren't falling, we're still able to compete and get a huge road win. I thought Ev and D.J. did a great job on the glass and we did a good job of identifying their shooters and challenging their shots."

While the Jags, who have faced the likes of Purdue and Gonzaga, come in with some positive momentum, the Flames have dropped four of five. (The lone win, during that stretch, was a no-line game vs. Trinity.) They lost by 35 last time out and remain winless on the road. 

I'm believe homecourt will prove significant. I'm riding IUPUI's positive momentum and laying the small number. 

I'm playing on ORLANDO (10* GAME OF MONTH). While they're without Vucevic, the Magic are starting to get healthy. Gordon, Fournier and Payton are all back in the starting lineup, at the same time. Biyombo can't do quite everything Vucevic does but is still a capable replacement. He had an impressive 17 boards last time out, while also adding 13 points and three blocks. Houston will be without Harden. Additionally, the Rockets could easily get caught looking ahead to Thursday's game, as they'll be hosting the Warriors on National TV. Thats a rematch of an opening night thriller, which I attended, where the Warriors got their rings. Its also a likely preview of the Western Conference Finals, at least a very possible one. While the Rockets have a big game tomorrow, the Magic get the next couple of days off. In other words, they can leave it all on the floor here. Orlando's last three games have resulted in a victory and two losses of six or fewer points. With the schedule, venue and situation in their favor, expect them to give their guests all they can handle with a great shot at the outright upset.  

I'm playing on BOSTON COLLEGE (10* GAME OF WEEK). This is a big game for the Eagles. While beating Clemson will not be easy, its entirely possible. Its also perhaps necessary, if BC wants to achieve its goals. Keep in mind that the Eagles already beat Duke and are undefeated at home. Also, note that they lost by only one, at Virginia, last time out. In other words, they're coming in full of confidence and believing that they can win this game. The Tigers are tough and deserving of their ranking. However, they've still only played one true road game this season and they also could be getting a little over-confident. With a showdown vs. Louisville on deck, it may be easy to overlook tonight's opponent. Look for the Eagles, 11-7 ATS their last 18 as home underdogs in the 3.5 to 6 range, to give their guests all they can handle, taking this game down to the wire with a great shot at the outright upset. 

I'm playing on WISCONSIN (10* PERS FAV). The Badgers are playing their best basketball right now. While the opponents were admittedly on the weak side, back-to-back-to-back double-digit victories has them full of confidence. Thats something I feel that this relatively young team needed and I expect it to help them this evening. The Hoosiers have played three true road games. They lost all three. Each loss came by a minimum of nine points. They were 0-2-1 ATS in those games. They're now 9-16 SU and 8-15 ATS their past 25 true road games. Speaking of "road woes," the Hoosiers have lost 15 straight at the Kohl Center and haven't won here since the late 90s. Expect the Badgers to continue their homecourt dominance in this series, covering the relatively small number along the way. 

I'm playing on WASHINGTON (10* PERS FAV). Admittedly, the Bulls have been on an impressive run of late. However, the majority of that success has come at home. They're still just 4-14 away from Chicago. Now, they'll take on a Wizards team which has been clicking on all cylinders, here at Washington. The Wizards last three home games have ALL resulted in double-digit wins. In fact, they won those three games by a combined 55 points. While the Bulls play again on 1/1, the Wizards don't play next until 1/3. Look for them to leave it all on the floor, closing out 2017 with a win and cover. 

I'm playing on ARIZONA (10* CBB GAME OF WEEK). The Wildcats beat their instate rivals by scores of 99-61 and 91-75 the last two meetings here. While the Sun Devils are indeed improved and playing well, I don't think that they're ready to win here quite yet. Note that ASU is 0-3 ATS the past three times it was a road underdog in the 3.5 to 6 range. While both teams are scoring big points, note that ASU is allowing 82.7 ppg (49.6% fg) on the road while Arizona is allowing 64.7 ppg (39.8% fg) here at home. Look for that superior homecourt defense to prove the difference. 

I'm playing on ORLANDO (10* BEST BET). The Heat just beat the Magic, at Miami, before Christmas. For this evening's rematch, the Magic have both the venue and schedule in their favor. While The Heat hosted Brooklyn on Friday, the Magic had the night off. The Magic got back on track last time out, a big win over Detroit. Expect them to carry the positive momentum into this evening's game, avenging last week's loss along the way. 

I'm playing on UCLA (10* MAIN EVENT). I like the direction which the Bruins are closing out 2017. They followed up a narrow win vs. South Dakota with a win and cover against Kentucky last time out. Now, they step down in class to take on a team which they have long dominated. The last three meetings, all of them UCLA wins, have seen the Bruins win by a combined 58 points, nearly 20 per game. This year's Cougars have proven vulnerable to getting 'blown out' as they have already lost by 14 vs. Cal Davis and by 27 against Idaho. Expect a lopsided result. 

I'm playing on CLEVELAND (10* VIOLATOR). The Kings have some (potentially) winnable games coming up in the near future. Tonight's game isn't one of them. Off their Christmas Day loss, the Cavs are going to be looking to take out their frustration on someone. The Cavs won here by 12 last season. They were up by 18 at the break and cruised the rest of the way. I expect an even bigger margin tonight, as the Kings don't have the personnel to match up against a motivated Lebron and co. 

I'm playing on SMU (10* AAC GAME OF MONTH). The Mustangs entered Christmas off back-to-back blowout wins. They're perfect at home, averaging better than 80 ppg here while allowing less than 60. UCF, which lost by 38 to WVU earlier, hasn't played a strong opponent in the past few weeks. Outside of 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall, who presents a unique challenge, I don't think the Knights match up well. I dont think that their recent level of opposition will have them prepared for what the Mustangs are going to bring to the table here. Expect a double-digit win for the home team. 

I'm playing on DENVER (10* PERS FAV). Homecourt has long been significant for both these teams. Thats been the case once again this season. The Jazz are a healthy 12-6 at home but a poor 3-13 on the road. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are 7-12 on the road but 11-3 here at Denver. These teams have already faced each other twice. Given the above home/road records; with both those games being played at Utah, its not surprising that the Jazz won both. In fact, the Jazz have dominanted the Nuggets, at Utah, in recent seasons. However, the Nuggets won both of last season's meetings here at Denver. Both wins came by double-digits. Speaking of "double-digits," the Nuggets are off b2b double-digit wins, most recently winning at Golden State on 12/23. Meanwhile, the Jazz have lost nine of their last 11 and three of the last four losses have been by double-digits. I'm laying the relatively small number with the revenge-minded Nuggets.

I'm playing on OKC (10* GAME OF MONTH). The Thunder have had this one circled ever since the Rockets knocked them out of the playoffs last year. While Houston has indeed been impressive this season, I expect Westbrook and co. to rise to occasion. Keep in mind that the Thunder haven't been getting points at home since a November game against the defending champs. They stepped up and beat the Warriors by 17 in that one. Including that result, they're 7-4 ATS the last 11 times that they were home underdogs. Look for them to improve on those stats on Christmas Day. 

I'm playing on MINNESOTA (10* NON-CONF GAME OF MONTH). Off back-to-back SU victories, the Gophers are back on track. Now, they catch an inferior opponent going in the opposite direction. The Owls followed up a close 1-point loss by getting destroyed by 36 points, as a 23-point underdog, last time out. Off that loss, playing their final game before Christmas, it should be easy for them to "pack it in," once they start falling behind. Expect the Gophers to give their fans a Christmas win and cover. 

I'm playing on OAKLAND (10* PERS FAV). Oakland, which lost at Eastern Michigan a few weeks back, is 7-2 ATS its last nine when attempting to avenge a road loss. While Eastern Michigan averages 74.5 ppg (44.7 fg %) on the road, Oakland averages 89.6 ppg on its home floor, connecting on better than 51% of its field goals. Payback time. 

I'm playing on CAL (10* PERS FAV). Portland State has been money at the betting window this season but I expect that to change this evening. After scoring 95 and 81 points in their past two games, the Bears come in full of confidence. Portland State has been beating up on the likes of Linfield. They just lost by 11, narrowly covering the +13, against a Pac-12 team two games ago. Expect their ATS good fortune to run out tonight, the Bears improving to 13-7 the last 20 times that they scored 80 or more points in their previous game.

I'm playing on LOUISVILLE (10* PERS FAV). Too many advantages for the Cards in this one, as they're far stronger on both sides of the ball. While Albany is 0-7 its last seven against teams from the ACC, Louisville is a perfect 20-0 SU and a profitable 14-6 ATS its last 20, when listed as a home favorite of greater than a dozen points. Albany allows a 48.9% field goal percentage on the the road, while Louisville limits opposing teams to just a 37.1% mark here at home. It all adds up to a blowout. 

I'm playing on BROOKLYN (10* PERS FAV). While the Nets had yesterday off, the Kings are off a hard fought victory over the 76ers. Even with that victory, however, they're still just 3-12 against teams from the East. Playing the final leg of a 4-game trip, it should be easy for them to go through the motions, as they look forward to returning home for a game against the Spurs on 12/23 and to spend Christmas with their families. Off three straight losses, the Nets are going to be in a foul mood. Look for them to take it out on the Kings, en route to a convincing win and cover. 

I'm playing on OKC (10* PERS FAV). I successfully played against the Thunder in their last game. However, that was a tough spot. Not only were they on the road, but they were off a 3-OT game the previous day. However, the Thunder have since had a day off and now they're back home. Thats significant as they're 9-4 at home compared to 5-11 on the road. They'll be playing with 'revenge' from an earlier loss to the Nuggets, at Denver. Like their hosts, the Nuggets aren't nearly as good away from home. At Denver, they're an impressive 11-2. However, like the Thunder, they're just 5-11 on the road. Look for homecourt to make the difference, the revenge-minded Thunder bouncing back with a convincing win and cover. 

I'm playing on SOUTH FLORIDA (10* PERS FAV). The Bulls got on track with a confidence-building 83-63 win last time out. That makes it five times in their past seven games that they've allowed 65 or fewer points. That type of defense will be the difference this evening. Northern Arizona is off b2b double-digit losses and has allowed 70 or more points in 10 of 11 games this season, an average of 81.2 ppg overall. While Northern Arizona is allowing opposing teams to hit a whopping 50.6% of their field goals on the road, USF is allowing a stingy 38.4% here at home. Expect the Bulls to pull away for a double-digit win. 

I'm playing on TENNESSEE TECH (10* PERS FAV). Chattanooga has alternated wins and losses for nearly a full month now. Off a win last time out, I expect the pattern to continue and for today's game to result in a loss. Note that the Mocs are just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU victory. Tech comes in hungry, off three straight road losses. Keep in mind that the Golden Eagles had won six straight, prior to that skid. When listed as the home team, Tech is 4-0 and has outscored opponents by a commanding 92-63 margin. Expect them to bounce back and take care of business this afternoon, covering the relatively small number along the way. 

I'm playing on BYU (10* GAME OF WEEK). The Utes have had the better of the Cougars in recent seasons. However, I expect the Cougars to take care of business this evening. Granted, the schedule hasn't been exactly tough. Still, the Cougars check in with a 5-game winning streak and full of confidence. The last four of those victories all came by greater than five points. While perfect at home, Utah has struggled on the road. The Utes' last road game resulted in a double-digit loss at Butler. Before that, they'd lost a neutral site game against UNLV by 27. Off a win over another instate rival (Utah St) look for the Utes to have a minor letdown here with the Cougs more than happy to take full advantage.

I'm playing on MINNESOTA (10* PERSONAL FAVORITE). I attended the 11/11 game, at Phoenix, between the T-Wolves and Suns. Behind a huge game from Booker, the Suns won that one. Since then, however, Booker has gotten hurt. The Wolves already got some payback with an 11-point win here at Minnesota. I expect an even more lopsided margin this evening. The Wolves, who are off a 23-point destruction of Sacramento, know that they'll play at Phoenix again on 12/23. A look at the rest of their December schedule reveals that this is their "easiest" game remaining in 2017 - at least, they wont be favored by this much again. With the Suns at just 6-18-1 ATS (3-22 SU) the past 25 times that they played with exactly two day's rest, look for the Wolves to take hold serve at home, doing so in convincing fashion. 

I'm playing on SACRAMENTO (10* PERS FAV). The Kings need to take advantage of this winnable game. They just finished a tough 4-game trip. Then, they lost here vs. Toronto. After this, they embark on another fairly difficult 4-game trip. The Suns already beat the Kings earlier. That was at Phoenix and with Booker in the lineup. Booker had called it a "must win," as it was the first game after the coach had been fired and came on the heels of Bledsoe having been sent home. I backed the Suns in that one (Oct. GOM) and they rewarded me with their first win. With tonight's rematch at Sacramento and the Suns now without Booker, expect the revenge-minded Kings to get some payback.

I'm playing on CHICAGO (10* GAME OF WEEK). This is a great spot for the Bulls. Off back-to-back victories and three straight covers, Chicago comes in playing arguably its best basketball of the season. The Bulls, who had yesterday off, haven't forgotten that the Celtics eliminated them from the playoffs last season. The Celtics are of a win at Detroit yesterday and will now be playing their third road game in the past four days.

I'm playing on PORTLAND (10* BEST BET). Admittedly, the Rockets have played very well away from Houston. That said, I believe they're being asked to lay too many points against what figures to be an extremely hungry Portland team. The Blazers haven't been underdogs this big all season - even when playing on the road. Already 0-3 on their current homestand and with a difficult road trip starting at Golden State coming up next, the Blazers know they could desperately use a victory tonight. They beat the Rockets by double-digits the last time that the teams met. Expect them to rise to the occasion with AT LEAST a cover. 

I'm playing on ARKANSAS (10* GAME OF WEEK). The Gophers may have the higher ranking. However, the Razorbacks are favored for good reason. Minnesota came back to earth last time out, a double-digit loss at Nebraska. The Hogs, on the other hand, bring plenty of confidence to the table. They've already beaten the likes of Oklahoma and UConn and they're off a 92-66 thrashing of Colorado State. With an O/U line in the mid-160s, note that Arkansas is a perfect 10-0 SU the past 10 times that it played a home game with an O/U line in the 160s, covering the spread in eight of those. Expect those stats to improve here. 

I'm playing on CAL RIVERSIDE (10* BEST BET). Since upsetting Cal in their opener, the Highlanders have gone through a tough stretch. This figures to be a good spot to get back on track though. The Falcons, who lost vs. Abilene Christian last time out, are just 2-13 SU the past 15 times that they played a game with an O/U line in the 130s. Now, they're being asked to lay points. The Highlanders have only lost one home game by more than two this season. With the line having climbed from its opener, I'm grabbing the points.

I'm playing on SF (10* PERS FAV). The Dons have lost this matchup each of the past two years. Tonight should be an excellent spot to get some payback. SF eked out a SU victory last time out, providing some confidence. Eastern Washington, on the other hand, lost by 19 points at Seattle. In fact, all five of this season's losses have been by double-digits. More of the same here. 

I'm playing on ORLANDO (10* PERS FAV). Knowing that they'll face these same Hawks, at Altanta, in a few days, I expect the Magic to deliver a strong effort on their home floor this evening, as they attempt to "hold serve." The Magic played their last two games on the road and before that they'd faced the Warriors and Thunder. Yet, they still managed to split those games. Now, they face a team which they match up well against. With the Hawks just 3-9 on the road and off a 20-point loss against Brooklyn, expect the Magic to take advantage. 

I'm playing on DAYTON (10* ANNIHILATOR). I like how this one sets up for the home team. Tennessee Tech just saw a 6-game winning streak snapped last time out and may come in a bit deflated, as a result. The Flyers will be stepping down in class. They just gave Miss. State everything that it could handle. The last time that they faced a team (Akron) in a similar class as the one they'll face tonight, the won by 13 as an 8.5 point favorite. I expect them to pull away for another double-digit win this evening.

10* ANNIHILATOR on Toronto Raptors. No need to overthink this one in my opinion. The Suns are playing the final game of a long six-game road trip and I think they have a predictable letdown here. In fact Phoenix comes in off a hugely satisfying 115-101 win over Philadelphia just last night. The Raptors on the other hand have had three whole nights off after beating the Pacers 120-115 in their latest action. And with another two days off after tonight’s contest, the Raptors will be completley focused on the task at hand. The Suns got the better of the Raptors 115-103 back on January 22nd, 2017, but the conditions favor a blowout for Toronto this time around. Lay the points with confidence, Raptors roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Notre Dame. Ball State comes in off an 83-63 win over INDPU, while Notre Dame enters off a 71-53 home victory over St. Francis. Ball State averages 80.5 PPG and allows 81.2. Clearly that’s not a recipie for success. The Cardinals have played two tough opponents in Oklahoma and Oregon this season, losing by 39 to the Sooners and falling 95-71 to the Ducks. Notre Dame though is on an entirely different level, coming in averaging 80.1 PPG and allowing just 61.9. After falling to Michigan State, the Irish bounced back with a solid win over St. Francis and I don’t foresee them “looking past” their opponent today either. Ball State is just 1-3-1 ATS in its last five following an ATS victory and all signs point to another letdown here. Lay the points, Irish roll.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Memphis Grizzlies. I base my picks on many different things. I consider myself among the best when it comes to finding which side is more “motivated” than the other in a particular contest and in this case, I don’t think there’s any need to doubt the Grizzlies’ overall focus today, as Memphis enters on an 11-game losing streak, most recently a 116-111 loss in Cleveland on Saturday night. Minnesota is just 6-6 on the road this season and plays at home against the Clippers on Sunday. And with a game against the lowly Clippers again on Wednesday, the Wolves could no doubt be caught looking ahead to that one, on top of also being fatigued in the second game of the back-to-back. Play on Memphis.

10* SUPER SPECIAL on Indiana. Indiana will be especially motivated here after it fell 69-55 to Michigan on the road on Monday. Indiana will in fact be looking to break a two-game slide. Iowa has also lost two straight, most recently a tough 77-73 setback at home to Penn State. These teams played twice last year and each won its home floor (Iowa won 96-90 in OT in Iowa City, before the Hoosiers got their revenge with a 95-73 win in the Big Ten Tournament to eliminate the Hawkeyes chance for an NCAA Tournament berth.) Iowa coach Fran McCaffery is just 5-7 all time agains the Hoosiers and I think his team will have a difficult time here in this hostile environment. Indiana has held its last five opponents to just 33.3 percent shooting from range, which I think spells doom for the streaky Hawkeyes. Lay the points, Hoosiers roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on UCLA. The Titans looks poised for a letdown here in my opinion. Detroit had dropped three in a row before a 91-83 victory over IUPU-Ft. Wayne on Tuesday. It wasn’t pretty either really, winning the shooting battle 47.6 percent to 44.3 percent. Detroit also committed 18 turnovers. The Titans got balanced scoring in that one, but now they face a red hot UCLA Bruins team which has won three straight (6-1 overall) and which just took care of business in a 75-66 victory over Cal State Bakersfield. In that game UCLA held the Roadrunners to just 29.9 percent shootng, while hitting 46 percent itself. With a much more “winnable” game upcoming against Toledo, I think the visitors simply go through the motions tonight. Lay the points as UCLA pulls away down the stretch. Bruins roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs look poised for a letdown here after a home and home sweep of the Grizzlies, most recently a 95-79 victory on Friday. OKC will look to take advantage and build off its 111-107 win at home over Minnesota, a victory which snapped a three-game slide. To say this is a revenge game as well would be a bit of an understatement, as SA has won four of the last five meetings, including a 104-101 home victory in the first matchup this year back in mid November. So far the Spurs average just 101.5 PPG, while allowing only 97.5. OKC averages 102.7 PPG and allows just 99.6. With a game at home tomorrow night against the Pistons, I believe the visitors get caught looking ahead tonight as well. And with a night off before a home game against the Nets, there’s no question that the Thunder can put their full attention onto the court tonight. I look for a comfortable home victory. Lay the points, Thunder roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on the Portland Trailblazers. Portland has won seven of its last ten, but it had its three-game win streak snapped in a 103-91 setback to Milwaukee in its its first game back after a five-game road trip. With three whole nights off after this one, I expect Portland to be much more focused this evening. The Blazers have to be loving their chances for a bounce back here as well as they’ve already beaten the Pelicans this year, most recently a convincing 103-93 victory on October 24th. New Orleans plays a tough one Utah on Friday night and will clearly be “gassed” here. I think the situation is right for a home side blowout. Lay the points, Blazers roll.

8* BEST BET on San Francisco. Arizona State hasn’t been ranked in nine years, but it is now (No. 21.) The Sun Devils have averaged 95.7 points. Arizona State is a smaller team which likes to push the pace and it gets balanced scoring as well. The Dons saw their three-game win streak come to an end in Tuesday’s 79-72 loss to UC Santa Barbara in their most recent action. San Francisco has also been getting production from its reserves, as the Dons’ bench has scored at least 26 points in five consecutive games. With a week off before a neutral site game against St. John’s, I think the Sun Devils have a small letdown here and look past their lowly opponent. While I’m not calling for the outright upset, I do think that San Francisco has the depth to at the very least, keep this one competitive down the stretch. Grab the points.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE is on Oregon. The Ducks are going to be the more “desperate” team in my opinion, as they come in having lost two of their last three, most recently setbacks against UConn and Oklahoma. Conversely, the Broncos look poised for a letdown after consecutive victories over Loyola Marymount and Loyola-Chicago. Boise State though catches a Ducks team looking to atone for a lacklustre 71-63 OT loss to DePaul, followed by a 90-80 setback to the Cowboys. In fact, it’s safe to say that Oregon will be highly motivated here, as the 90 points given up to the Sooners was the most that the Ducks have allowed since 2015. Oregon is 13-6-1 ATS in its last 20 at home and I like it to bounce back with a convincing effort here. Lay the points, Ducks roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on the Oklahoma City Thunder. This is already a double revenge game for the Thunder, as the Wolves have taken both earlier meetings. OKC has lost three straight and five of its last six. Despite the losing streak, it’s still fourth in the league in defense by giving up an average of 99.3 PPG. Minnesota ranks tenth in scoring with 107.8 PPG. It’s a classic matchup of styles, but I think the Thunder are clearly the “hungrier” team. The Big 3 can’t be happy, especially Russell Westbrook, who took responsibility for his team’s mediocre start to the season recently. OKC also plays with double revenge. I’m banking on these motivational factors to be enough to get the Thunder over the hump in this one. Lay the points, OKC rolls.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Nevada. This is a matchup in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge. Illinois State had its two game win streak snapped with a tough 64-62 OT loss to Charleston Southern on Saturday, while Nevada comes into this one unbeaten after a 67-54 road win over Hawaii on Saturday. The Redbirds average 75.3 PPG, while allowing 72.3. Nevada averages 84.3 PPG and allows just 67.3. Illinois State’s lack of depth (lost the majority of its starters from last year) is becoming very apparent. Nevada on the other hand is starting to dominate on both ends of the floor and it has to be feeling confident in friendly confines. Lay the points, Wolfpack rolls.

10* BEST BET on Iona. Iona is just 1-4, its lone win coming over Weber State. In the latest loss to Coastal Carolina, Rickey McGill put up 23 points and seven assists. Ohio has done a little better than its counterpart today, coming into this one sitting at 3-2 on the year. Most recently Ohio knocked off St. Mary’s, with Teyvion Kirk posting 20 points, five boards and six assists. The Gaels came out slow against the Chanticleers last time out, putting up 26 points in the first half. Iona though put up 58 points in the second and I think the team carries that momentum over here. Conversely, while Ohio does come in off back-to-back wins, note that its just 1-3 ATS in its last four after putting up more than 95 points in back-to-back outings previously (beat Indiana State 96-94 in four OT’s and then Saint Mary’s 96-77.) Grab the points, play on Iona.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE is on the Houston Rockets. Brooklyn comes in off a highly satisfying 98-88 road win against Memphis just last night as a 5.5 point underdog and suffice it to say, I’m expecting an immediate letdown here. The Rockets enter off their fourth straight win in a come-from-behind 117-102 victory over the Knicks at home on Saturday. Brooklyn averages 111.3 PPG, but allows 114.9. The Rockets average 113.5 PPG and allow just 103.4. Houston is 6-1 ATS this season on one or less days rest and has won ten of its last 11. The Nets had lost three straight before last night’s victory, but will clearly be “gassed,” as this is their third game in four days. All signs point to a blowout. Lay the points, Rockets roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on West Virginia. Both teams come into this one at 5-1. So far Missouri averages 83.4 PPG and gives up 66.2. Kassisus Robertson has averaged 13.7 points and 2.8 assists per game. It won’t be easy for WVU today obviously, as the Tigers have won four of their last six neutral site affairs. The Mountaineers have won five straight and average 88.7 PPG, while allowing 64.2. Jevon Carter averages 16.3 points and 5.8 assists per contest. WVU has also been sharp in neutal site games, going 7-3 in its last ten such cases. Missouri did have difficulty against Utah’s pressure defense earlier in the year, which doesn’t bode well facing the Mountaineers, a team which just held UCF to 45 points. Lay the points, WVU rolls.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nets come to town off three straight losses, including a deflating 127-125 home setback to Portland on Friday. The Grizzlies can empahthize, as they’ll come into this one desperate after losing seven straight, most recently a 104-92 setback at Denver on Friday. The Nets average 111.3 PPG and allow 114.9. The Grizzlies average 99.4 PPG and allow 101. With a tough game tomorrow night in Houston, it’s not too hard to imagine the visitors getting caught looking ahead. And with two whole games off after tonight, the Grizzlies have no more excuses. I’m expecting a rout. Lay the points, Memphis rolls.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Golden State. The Warriors annihilated the Bulls 143-94 last night and suffice it to say, I’m expecting the team to carry that momentum over here. The Pelicans come off a satisfying 115-91 win at Phoenix last night. New Orleans averages 108.6 PPG and concedes 109.2. Anthony Davis averages 25.9 points and 11.2 boards, while DeMarcus Cousins adds 26.5 points and 5.9 assists. Golden State now averages 117.4 PPG after last night’s destruction, while allowing 107.5. Kevin Durant averages 24.7 points, 6.8 boards and 6.5 assists per game. Both teams are coming off games just last night, which I feel gives the advantage to the home side here. I think the Pelicans come in content and the hungry Warriors once again lay the hammer down from start to finish. Lay the points.

10* ANNIHILATOR on the Phoenix Suns. I think the Pelicans have a letdown here after winning four of their last six, including an upset over San Antonio in their most recent. Phoenix has been terrible all year, but it’s looked a little better with two wins out of its last three. Note that this is a triple revenge game for Phoenix, who has dropped three straight in the series. The Suns almost had three wins in a row, but they’d suffer the 113-107 OT setback to Milwaukee on Wednesday. New Orleans is the better overall team, but with a game tomorrow night in Golden State, it’s not too hard to imagine the visitors not only having a letdown here after the extended stretch of good play and off the upset, but also getting caught “looking ahead.” Look for the hungry Suns to take advantage and grab the points.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Indiana. One of these teams has been overacheiving, while the other has been underacheiving. EMU comes into this one at 4-0, most recently taking care of Howard. Suffice it to say, off four straight wins, I think the Eagles are primed for a letdown here. Indiana is 3-2, dropping its first two games, before then beating Howard, USF and Arkansas State. EMU hasn’t fared well in this spot for bettors over the years, going just 2-4 ATS in its last six after three or more consecutive SU wins. Indiana got out to the slow start, but the team has completely turned its performance around. I don’t foresee a letdown from the home side at Assembly Hall. Lay the points, Hoosiers roll.

10* BEST BET on George Washington. This game is part of the Las Vegas Invitational. Xavier comes in of a 96-60 win over Hampton, while George Washington enters off a 67-65 loss to Rider on Monday. Xavier is 4-0, averaging 94.5 points and allowing just 63.5 to start the young season. The Colonials had an extremely poor shooting night against the Rams, going 44 percent from the floor and only 4 of 18 from range, and they still almost pulled off the victory. So far George Washington has averaged 70 points, while conceding 71. The Colonials have had their early difficulties, but the team features depth and it’s been competitive. George Washington’s defensive play has also been decent. I’m not calling for the outright upset here, but I do think the Colonials can catch the Musketeers a little complacent after their blazing start to the 2017/18 campaign in this neutral court affair. Grab as many points as you can, play on the Colonials.

8* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Virginia. Vanderbilt lost 93-89 in OT to USC on the 19th and suffice it to say, I’m expecting a letdown here as I think the Commodores come in “hung over” from that disappointing setback. Conversely, the Cavs come in off a momentum/confidence building 73-53 win over Monmouth on Sunday and I look for them to carry it over here. Vanderbilt actually had a ten-point lead mid way through the second half before completely falling apart and then losing in the extra period (14 costly turnovers ended up being the difference for Vanderbilt in the end in that one.) The Cavs are 4-0 thanks in large part to their depth. In their latest victory, freshman De’Andre Hunter came off the bench to score 23 points. Virginia has been suffocating teams with its defensive play as well, holding opponents to just 37.5 percent from the floor. Ultimately I believe that Virginia’s depth and superior defensive performance proves to be too much for Vanderbilt. Lay the points, Cavaliers roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Indiana. This is the Hoosier Tip Off Classic, which the Hoosiers are hosting at Assembely Hall. Arkansas State comes in off a 92-78 win over Howard on Monday, while Indiana posted a 70-53 home victory over USF last time out. Over their first three games the Red Wolves are averaging 74 points and allowing 75. Indiana has averaged 73 PPG and allowed 76 over its first four. The Hoosiers looked a lot better against South Florida though, shooting 47 percent from the floor and I think the team carries that momentum over here (also held the Bulls to just 34 percent shooting.) Arkansas State is allowing opponents to shoot 47 percent from the field, which is music to the ever improving Hoosiers ears. I’m expecting a rout, lay the points.

10* ANNIHILATOR on Pacific. Pacific will be the “hungrier” team here, it’s 0-3, while the Falcons could be caught a little flat-footed as they’re 2-0 to open the 2017/18 campaign. Pacific most recently fell 89-74 at Nevada. Jahlil Tripp was a standout with 24 points and 14 boards. Air Force most recently got the better of Canisius 93-79. The Falcons were never really challenged in that one, but I believe they’ll have their hands full with the Tigers’ versatile swingman Tripp. Pacific has the talent and depth to win this one outright, but in a contest which I envision being decided in the final moments, I’m going to recommend grabbing the points.

10* GAME OF THE MONTH on Michigan. Two teams enter unbeaten, only one team will leave the same way. Michigan posted a 61-47 home win over Southern Mississippi in its latest action, while LSU enters off a 105-86 victory over lowly Samford. The Wolverines started slowly, but looked sharp in the second half against the Golden Eagles, shooting 48.9 percent from the floor, while holding Southern Miss to just 40 percent. So far Michigan has averaged 73 points and allowed 59.3 over its first three gams. LSU has averaged 102 points over its first two ames, but it’s allowed an average of 72.5. However as mentioned off the top, the competition has been weak and clearly the Tigers face a much stiffer test in the Wolverines. These teams have performed at entirely different ends of the spectrum in “neutral court” affairs, with LSU going just 1-4 ATS in its last five such cases, while Michigan has gone 7-1-1 ATS in its last nine neutral site contests. LSU’s inexperience and lack of overall defensive pressure turns out to be its downfall today. Lay the points, Wolverines roll.

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte finally got off the schneid, breaking a six-game slide with a 102-87 win over the Clippers on Saturday. Now the Hornets will look to push the pace and build off that victory and take advantage of a tired Wolves team which was in Detroit on Sunday. This is also a big time revenge contest for the Hornets, who lost to Detroit 112-94 on November 5th. No need to overthink this one. The Wolves defense is going to be tired here after a tough game in Detroit on Sunday, while the Hornets look to build off their latest win after an extended losing streak, while at the same time trying to avenge a loss to Minnesota just a couple of weeks ago. Lay the points, Charlotte rolls.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Phoenix Suns. I think the Bulls have a predictable letdown here after they broke their five game losing streak in their 123-120 victory at home over the Hornets. Conversely, I believe the Suns are going to build off their impressive 122-113 road victory at the Lakers on Friday, snapping a two-game slide. These bottom feeders split a pair of games last year, each winning on its home floor. Despite their latest win, the Bulls are still horrible offensively, ranked second to last in scoring with 94.8 PPG. The strength of the team lies on the defensive side as Chicago is allowing 104.2. The Suns can run with the best of them though, averaging 107.6 PPG, while allowing 116.6 per night. Phoenix catches a break facing a tired Bulls team. Lay the points, Suns roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Minnesota. The Western Carolina Catamounts opened the 2017/18 campaign with back-to-back losses, before finally scoring a victory over lowly Hiwassee College. Western Carolina though had 21 turnovers in that one and was also outshot 45.3 percent to 36.7 percent. Minnesota is rolling along at 3-0 to open the year, most recently hammering Niagara 107-81 on Wednesday. The Golden Gophers played swarming defense, holding the Purple Eagles to just 36.4 percent shooting, while countering with 53.8 percent themselves. I simply can’t see the Catamounts mustering any sort of offensive attack today and I don’t expect the Golden Gophers to waste this opportunity by “looking past” their opponent. This spread could in fact be a lot larger in my opinion. Lay the points, Minnesota rolls.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Charlotte Hornets. Both teams are coming off losses. Both teams played just last night. LA lost 118-113 in OT at Cleveland, while Charlotte fell 123-120 in OT at Chicago. LA has not been good whatsoever in this spot for bettors going 0-4 ATS in its last four in the second game of the back to back. Charlotte on the other hand is 2-1 ATS in the same position. Charlotte’s now lost six straight and in my opinion, it will absolutely be the “hungrier” team tonight. I’m banking on that being the difference, Hornets roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on St. Joseph’s. Princeton has not looked sharp to open the year, sitting at 0-2 SU/ATS. The Tigers went 14-0 in league play last season, but so far their offense has stalled. Princeton most recently fell 65-56 at home to BYU, shooting a poor 37.7 percent form the floor. So far Princeton has averaged 75 points over the first two games. The Hawks rebounded from an opening season loss to down UIC 86-82 in OT on Monday. St. Joe’s went on to shoot 45 percent from the floor. The Hawks have looked a big shaky defensively, but the offense is firing on all cylinders, putting up 98 and 86 points over the first two games respectively. St. Joe’s feautres three players shooting over 50 percent in the early going, which doesn’t bode well for a Tigers’ team which struggled by shooting only 37.7 percent in its home opener. I’m laying the points and expecting a rout.

10* BEST BET on the Sacramento Kings. The Blazers have more talent than the Kings, but so far Portland has struggled for the most part this year. The Blazers are just 5-5 in their last ten overall and come in averaging 104.6 PPG, while allowing 98.9. Beyond CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard though, the Blazers are thin. The hungry Kings looks to take advantage as they come in having lost ten of their last 12. So far Sacramento averages 93.6 PPG and allows 107.1. Clearly not a recipie for success, but I still like the Kings in this one. I expect Sacramento to leave it all on the line in this one as it looks to take advantage of home floor, before the second game of the back-to-back in Portland on Saturday.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Stanford. Northeastern enters off an 83-49 win over lowly Wentworth, while the Cardinal will be out to atone for a 67-61 home loss to Eastern Washington on Tuesday. The Huskies haven’t really been tested yet as they’d barely manage to get by Boston University 65-59 in their opener, before then crushing div. II Wentworth 83-49. Overall Northeastern has some talent, like Devon Begley, who was the third overall scorer on last year’s team. Despite that though, note that the Huskies were picked to finish sixth in the ten man CAA conference (they were just 15-16 overall last year.) Stanford was favored by 16 points in its outright loss to Eastern Washington. Reid Travis had 20 points on 6 of 14 shooting. The Cardinal looked strong in their first two games, beating Cal Poly and Pacific, but just couldn’t get anything to fall against the Eagles. I think they’ll bounce back here. The Huskies lack depth and they’re facing a much better team which comes in off an embarrassing effort. I’m expecting a beatdown. Lay the points, Stanford rolls.

10* GAME OF WEEK on Pacific. The UC Davis Aggies beat Northern Colorado 74-59 on Monday, outscoring the Bears 42-24 in the second half. The Tigers will be the hungrier team here though after their hard-fought 89-80 loss to Stanford in their opener. Pacific was able to post 49 points in the second half, which is impressive against the Cardinal and I look for the home side to carry that momentum over here. UC Davis does have talent, like Chima Moneke, who had 28 points in his team’s latest victory. But the Tigers also feature numerous weapons, including Mile Reynolds, who came off the bench in the loss to Stanford to chip in 20 points. The Tigers have gone toe to toe and blow for blow with the best in the country and nearly came out on top. UC Davis faces a stiff test today and I think it’ll stumble. Lay the points, Pacific rolls.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Stanford. Eastern Washington is 1-1. It’s yet to win on the road. So far it’s averaging 69 points and allowing 79. Clearly not a recipie for success. Bogdan Bliznyuk has been a standout, so far averaging 19 points and 5.5 boards. The road has not been kind to the Eagles though, who have lost five of their last seven away from friendly confines. The Cardinal are 2-0 and are so far averaging 83.5 points, while allowing 71. Reid Travis has been a beast, averaging 24.5 points and 3.5 assits per game. Stanford seems like a team on a mission this year after last season’s disappointment. Eastern Washington simply does not have the talent or depth to run with the surging Cardinal and in my opinion, this one definitely has blowout written all over it. Lay the points, Stanford rolls.

10* BEST BET on Toronto Raptors. Could the Rockets come in complacent here? It’s obviously very possible. Houston has won six in a row and must feel pretty good about itself. The Raptors on the other hand will be looking to get back on track after their two-game win streak was snapped in a tight 95-94 road loss in Boston on Sunday. Toronto averages 108.8 PPG and gives up 104.3. Houston averages 111.1 points and allows 102.9. These teams are evenly matched, as Toronto has more than enough firepower and depth to hang with the Rockets tonight. For me it boils down to which side is “hungrier.” I like Toronto to battle tough and to at the very least, take this one right down to the wire. Grab the points.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Portland Trailblazers. The Nuggets look poised for a letdown here after winning five of their last six. So far Denver has averaged 106.2 PPG and given up 105.1, led by Nikola Jokic, with 17.2 points and 12 boards per game. Denver is 8-5, but Portland is just 6-6. The Blazers average 105.5 PPG and allow 100.7. Damian Lillard averages 25.2 PPG, while CJ McCollum adds 22.9 points and 4.3 boards. With three whole nights off after this game and after playing six straight at home, I absolutely believe that this sets up as a natural letdown spot for the visitors. The Blazers on the other hand have lost two straight and certainly won’t be lacking motivation today. I like the “hungrier” side to find a way to get the job done tonight. Blazers roll.   

10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Pittsburgh. Montanta comes in off a 72-60 win over lowly Whitworth. Ahmaad Rorie scored 21 points and dished out three assists, while Bobby Moorehead chipped in 14 points and nine boards. The Grizzlies have won four of their last five on the road, but they now face a hungry Pitt team which comes in off a tough 71-62 loss to Navy in its opener. Jared Wilson-Frame was a standout in the setback, pouring in 20 points, while Ryan Luther added 14 points and four assists. After the loss to Navy, I like the Panthers to bounce back at home here. Pitt has big expectations this year and it looked shaky overall in the loss to the Mids. But a game at home against the Grizzlies is just what the doctor ordered to get untracked in my opinion, as this is a favorable matchup for the Panthers across the board. Lay the points, Pittsburgh rolls.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Stanford. Stanford comes in off a solid 78-62 win over Cal Poly on Friday and I expect it to carry over that momentum. Reid Travis was tremendous in that one, finishing with 26 points and 12 boards. The Cardinal looked great in trransition, outscoring the Mustangs 11-2 on second-chance points, led by Travis with six offensive boards. A tough season opener for Pacific, which endured a terrible 2016/17 and which bowed out in the second round of the conference tournament. Travis presents a matchup problem for the Tigers. This one has blowout written all over it. Cardinal roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Portland. It’s a revenge game for Portland after it fell 77-76 to Portland State last December 20th. PSU has a new coach in Barret Peery, who comes in after serving as an assistant at Santa Clara. The Vikings aren’t expected to do so well this year, picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll. In all Portland State returns two starters and eight lettermen, while bringing in seven new faces. Braxton Tucker (16.8) and Deontae North (13.7) are standouts. In the Pilots final tune-up (76-70 loss to Eastern Washington), Phillipp Hartwich had 15 points and 13 boards. Portland is coached by ex Trail Blazer Terry Porter, whose nine player incoming class has been ranked among the top recruiting classes in the nation. I think Portland is the deeper, better coached team which has the clear “revenge factor” advantage working in its favor. Home floor can’t be overlooked either. Pilots roll.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Utah Jazz. Neither team is known for its offensive prowess, as Miami averages 103.5 PPG, while Utah averages only 99.1 PPG. The Heat look poised for a letdown here in my opinion though after their 126-115 victory over the Suns on Wednesday. This is also the fifth game of a tough six game road trip, one which has seen the Heat exchanges losses with victories. Despite their losing streak though, the Jazz remain one of the top defensive clubs in the league and here’s the perfect opponent to get back on track against. Miami is content, tired and struggles offensively on the best of nights. I’m banking on a determined Jazz team to do more than enough to cover this spread.

10* GAME OF THE MONTH on the Orlando Magic. The Knicks are going to be gassed in the second game of the back-to-back with Charlotte at home on Tuesday night. The Knicks are for the most part an entirely different team without Carmelo Anthony directing the show, but they’re still only 1-4 ATS in their last five in the second game of the back-to-back scenario. And with a much more winnable game at home against the lowly Kings on deck (the start of an extended home stand), it’s not too hard to imagine the visitors also getting caught looking ahead to that favorable part of their schedule. Orlando won’t be leaving anything for granted after two straight losses, most recently a humbling 104-88 defeat to the league leading Celtics. The Knicks are averaging 104.7 PPG and allowing 104.9. The Magic average 109 PPG and allow 106.3. Seven of New York’s first ten games have come at home though and the road has not been kind to the Knicks over the years. I think that’ll again be the case here against this focused and hungry Magic team. Lay the points.

10* PERSONAL FAVORITE on Charlotte Hornets. A great situational play here. Milwaukee is at home against Oklahoma City on Tuesday night and will clearly be “gassed” in the second game of the back-to-back. Charlotte has now won two straight in impressive fashion, beating Orlando 120-113 as a 4-point favorite, before then taking down Memphis 104-99 on the road Monday. Now throw in the fact that the Hornets play with the immediate “revenge” factor after losing to Milwaukee 103-94 on November 23rd and I think this line could easily be a lot larger. I’m banking on Charlotte to keep the good times roling and to avenge the earlier setback. 

I'm playing on BROOKLYN (10* PERS FAV). I previously successfully backed the Suns a couple of times, as I felt they were offering excellent line value and also as I felt they were in strong situational spots. Here, however, they're on the road while up against a superior team. They're not getting very many points and they're unlikely to "catch their opponent napping." Indeed, off back-to-back losses, the Nets are going to come in hungry. Knowing that they start a 5-game road trip after this, one which includes a stop at Phoenix on 11/6, expect the Nets, 33-16-1 ATS their past 50 against the Pacific Division, to take care of business tonight, covering the small number along the way. 

I'm playing on GOLDEN STATE (10* PERS FAV). The Warriors are 0-3 ATS (2-1 SU) through their first three games here at Oracle. All three have been close. Tonight, however, I expect them to break through with their first home "blowout" win of the season. While the Warriors, who expect to have Livingston back, had last night off, the Pistons are off a late game at LA against the Clippers. (They'll return to LA for a Halloween game against the Lakers.) Playing the second of b2b road games is often tough. I expect it to be particularly difficult against the champs, who will be looking to run their guests right out of the building. The Warriors won last season's meeting here by 20. All signs point to another lopsided affair. 

I'm playing on MIAMI (10* BEST BET). Its true that the Celtics have dominated the Heat in recent seasons. They swept them 4-0 last season. With Boston off three straight wins, many are likely going to expect that series dominance to continue this evening. I'm not one of them, as I expect the Heat to rise to the occasion and get some payback. While it would obviously be nice to have Whiteside back, I like the matchup that (7-foot, 240-pound) Kelly Olynyk presents against his former team. While they lost to the Spurs last time out, the Heat are still 2-0 at home against Eastern Conference teams. What about the Celtics' 3-game winning streak? With Boston managing a 10-27 ATS record the past 2+ seasons, after winning three or more consecutive games, I'm not too worried about it. I'm backing what should be a highly motivated home team. 

I'm playing on NY. Its been a tough start to the season for the Knicks. It doesnt get any easier after this either. Next up comes Cleveland, Denver and Houston. That makes taking advantage of this winnable game that much more imperative. While the Nets are 3-0 at home, they're also 0-2 on the road. Those losses came at Orlando and Indiana, not exactly the most intimidating venues. The Knicks are 4-1 ATS the last five times that they were a host in the series. Expect them to rise to the occaison and improve on those stats Friday night. 

I'm playing on PHOENIX (10* BEST BET). The Suns sure aren't getting much respect. Admittedly, Bledsoe is a talented player. However, its often better to play without a player, if that player doesn't actually want to be part of the team. Without Bledsoe in the lineup, the Suns stepped up and beat Sacramento last time out. Now, having had Tuesday off, the Suns catch the Jazz off a late game at LA. With their next five games on the road, the Suns know they need to take advantage of a winnable home game. All three of last season's meetings were decided by seven or fewer points, including a 5-point game here at Phoenix. In another one that could well come down to the wire, I'm grabbing the generous points with the home dog. 

I'm playing on PHOENIX (10* GAME OF MONTH). Off to an 0-3 SU/ATS start and with five of their next six on the road, the Suns badly need a victory. I feel that the Kings will provide them with the perfect opportunity. While they gave up a whopping 130 points last time out, the Suns were playing on the road and were playing the second of b2b games. Now, they're back home and have had a day off. Note that the Suns are a lucrative 23-9-2 ATS the past 34 times that they'd allowed 130 or more points in their previous game. Its also worth noting that Phoenix is a profitable 39-24-1 ATS the past 2+ seasons, after a double-digit loss. The Kings have scored 100 or less in all three games and they managed only 79 last time out. This is a team which the Suns can handle and I expect them to do exactly that.

I'm playing on MILWAUKEE (10* PERS FAV). Both teams played last night, the Blazers won while the Bucks lost. I expect that to make the Bucks a little more "desperate" than their guests tonight. The Bucks took both meetings last season, including a 115-107 victory here at Milwaukee. They also beat the Blazers here the previous season. While the Blazers were 16-18 ATS when playing the second of b2b games the past couple of seasons, the Bucks were 21-17 ATS in that situation. Expect homecourt to make the difference, the Bucks bouncing back with a victory, covering the small number along the way. 

I'm playing on DETROIT (10* PERS FAV). I expect homecourt to make the difference in this one and I feel that the low line is offering us excellent value. The Pistons took three of four meetings last season, including both here at Detroit. Note that they were laying -5 and -5.5 for those games. The addition of Bradley should serve them well tonight. He's an excellent defender and is going to give the Charlotte rookies (Bacon and Monk) a difficult time. The Hornets were 14-27 on the road last season, while the Pistons were 24-17 at home, outscoring teams by an average of 103 to 98.9. Detroit wins, covering the small number along the way. 

I'm playing on GSW (10* MAIN EVENT). Anyone waiting for the "Warriors' era" to come to an end is probably going to have to wait a long time. The team resigned Curry, Durant, Iguodala, Livingston, McGee, Pachulia and West while also bringing in Nick Young and Omri Casspi. They have the potential to be every bit as good as last season. The Rockets added Chris Paul in the offeseason. Any team with both Harden and Paul in the backcourt is obviously going to be dangerous. However, I'm betting that it will take at least a game or two for the chemistry to really be there. Remember, this Warrior team is a tight cohesive unit, a well-oiled machine, the players knowing exactly what to expect from each other. I'll be at the game, watching the ring ceremony. It should be a good one and I ultimately expect the Warriors to win by double-digits.

*With this purchase, you will be helping the victims of the California fires. I will be donating part of the proceeds to the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund. Thank you for your support. 

I'm playing on CLEVELAND, 8* MAIN EVENT. You already know the situation and have probably watched at least some of the series. The Warriors, still undefeated in the postseason, are now up 3-0 and going for the sweep. Most seem to think they'll get it, as the line is a little higher than it was here for Game 3. I've often been known to also jump on the team which is up 3-0. However, in this case, I feel that Lebron simply has too much pride to go down without a serious fight. The Cavs could have easily covered last game. I expect AT LEAST a cover here, the Cavs with an excellent shot at the outright win. 

I'm playing on CLEVELAND, 10* MAIN EVENT. The Warriors obviously dominated the games out West and are looking very strong. That said, getting points with the Cavs at home, in a must-win game, is providing excellent value. The numbers are remarkably even, when we compare the Warriors' road stats to the Cavs' home stats. GS is 37-10 on the road. Cleveland is 36-11 at home. GS averages 113.8 ppg on the road. Cleveland averages 113 ppg at home. GS allows 105.4 ppg on the road. Cleveland allows 104.8 ppg at home. (The Cavs outscore teams by 8.2 ppg at home, while the Warriors outscore teams by 8.4 ppg on the road.) The Cavs are 5-1 SU/ATS the last six times that they allowed 130 or more points in their previous game. The last time (4/2 at Indiana) it happened, they delivered a 20-point win their next game. The last time these teams met here was Christmas Day and the Cavs won by a single point. I'm not counting out James quite yet and in a game which could easily again come down to the wire, I'm grabbing the points. 

I'm playing on CLEVELAND 10* GAME OF WEEK. The Warriors have opened as bigger favorites for Game 2 than they were for the opening game. I feel thats providing excellent value on what should be a highly determined Cleveland team. Granted, the Warriors certainly looked impressive in the opener. I'm not counting the Cavs out for Game 2 though. Not even close. While the same can be said of the Warriors, this is a Cleveland team which has taken its game to another level and dominated these entire playoffs. Prior to Thursday's setback, the Cavs had only lost one of their previous 13 games. They responded to that one with a double-digit win (vs. Boston) next time out. Trailing for the first time in these playoffs, expect the champs to bounce back with at least a cover, improving to 6-4 ATS their last 10, when trailing in a playoff series.