I am playing on PHOENIX. The NBA is abuzz with Suns talk that Phoenix would rather not hear about after Sunday's game -- the Suns have lost on an astounding four buzzer beaters this season, the most in the league since the Jazz in 2006-07.

I think that will serve as extra motivation for the Suns Tuesday night considering Houston was one of the four teams that beat them on a last-second shot when they met in January. That was the fourth straight win and cover for the Rockets over the Suns and I think we'll see a fired up Suns squad Tuesday at home.

Phoenix should be helped by the return of team leading scorer Eric Bledsoe, who missed Sunday's buzzer-beating loss against Sacramento so he could be with his wife for the birth of their first child. I don't have any hard stats on this one, but it's not uncommon for a new dad to play like a man on fire in his next game after the birth of his kid and I think Bledsoe will be jacked up for Tuesday's tilt.

The Suns haven't been scoring like their usual selves lately but they still rank fifth in the NBA with 105.7 points per game and six players are averaging in double figures. I think they'll do what it takes to slow Houston's James Harden just enough and their edge in depth and energy level will help them pull out the win from there. 10* Main Event

I am playing on SETON HALL. I really like Seton Hall here for a number of reasons Tuesday night, not least of which is the Pirates have home court edge at the Prudential Center for this nationally televised battle on FOX Sports 1.

The Hall is 8-3 against the spread on home court this season while a recently stumbling Hoyas squad is 4-5-1 away from home court this season.

Georgetown is coming off two losses and dropped spreads and an absolutely horrendous 18-of-60 shooting performance in a loss to Nova where the Hoyas couldn't cover even with 9.5 points to work with.

Even though the Pirates have lost two in a row themselves, this is not the team GU wants to see right now. Seton Hall took both meetings last year and I think the Pirates will make the necessary adjustments to pull themselves out of their recent funk.

The Hall got caught up in playing a half court offensive game in its last two matchups and I believe we'll see the Pirates push the pace more against a Georgetown team that would love nothing more than to slow the game down.

Three-pointers will also be key in this matchup where the spread is almost inconsequential and the Pirates clearly have they edge there. They rank first in the nation at defending the 3-pointer (25.5 percent) and it gets even better at home where they hold foes to just 20 percent 3-point shooting.

The Hoyas went a disgraceful 1-of-17 from beyond the arc against Villanova and Seton Hall owned them from downtown in last year's meetings by draining a combined 19-of-37 long balls.

I think the adjustment to pace and the 3-point advantage are the keys for Seton Hall here and I feel bettors can take advantage of this miniscule spread as a result. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on INDIANA. The Spurs don't have the best timing when it comes to playing the Pacers here. Even if they'd met them a week ago, they'd be facing a much less confident team than they will face Monday night.

Indiana enters this contest on its first three-game winning streak of the season after squeaking out a 103-102 victory Sunday at Charlotte. The Pacers were set as 2-point favorites in that matchup, meaning they were just two points away from also covering for their third straight game.

The Spurs typically don't mind playing in back-to-back games despite their, ahem, 'experience' but I think they will come into this one a little tired after facing the Raptors Sunday night. Toronto changed the pace of that contest throughout and impressively out-defended San Antonio when it needed to. The Spurs shot just 33.3 percent on field goals and just 25 percent on three-pointers.

I think the Spurs will come into this one slightly off-balance and still searching for their road legs in what will be the second of a nine-game road trip that will end on the last day of the month.

The Pacers don't mind playing defensive ball with anyone and I think home court and an off-balance Spurs team that is slightly worse at rebounding will all be factors in this one. I'll take the points and the Pacers. 10* Best Bet

I am playing on FLORIDA STATE. You could say the Seminoles are the conference Achilles Heel of Duke, with the Noles winning and covering three of the last six matchups. They have also beaten a nationally ranked Duke team six times under head coach Leonard Hamilton.

So no matter where these teams sit in the conference standings, I would definitely lean toward an FSU squad at home with an opening line of double digits to work with.

As luck would have it, Florida State also happens to be playing its best basketball of the season right now. The Seminoles have won three of their last four games and they've covered the spread in five of their last six games.

The Seminoles are shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 37 percent from long range over their past four games and are playing some stout defense to go with it. The Seminoles averaged 6.3 blocks and 4.3 steals per game in those four outings and they are the only team in the ACC averaging more than five blocks per game in conference play. They are also coming off tying their season high of nine blocks against Virginia Tech in their last game, a 73-65 win and cover as 1-point faves.

I think Florida State will be able to slow the pace and grind Duke into a defensive battle on home court, which makes this spread look like way too many points for me. The Blue Devils also don't really like the quick turnaround after the weekend and are 3-12-1 against the spread in their last 16 Monday games. 10* Main Event

I am playing on MEMPHIS. If anyone is going to slow the Atlanta Hawks, it's going to be the best defensive team in the league which is why I like the Grizzlies here on Sunday.

Memphis isn't just the best defensive team in the league with only 95.9 points against per game, the Grizz have been off the charts at protecting the hoop lately. They're stifling teams to just 84.8 points per game over their last five outings and holding teams to just 25.5 percent on three-pointers in that span.

It's that latter stat that I really like for this game because even though Atlanta plays a fantastic all-around game, the Hawks need their 3-ball to be working to beat the best in the NBA.

The Hawks are the best 3-point shooting team in the league and about one third of their points come from treys. That's a huge discrepancy compared to most teams, especially the Grizzlies, who rely on threes for only about 19 percent of their points this season.

I foresee this contest being a battle of which team can impose its will and force the other to play to its style. And with the Grizzlies being at home and playing the most suffocating defense we've seen from any team so far this season, I like Memphis to win that battle.

And if you're worried about Memphis losing to Minnesota last game, the West's worst team, you can throw that one into the waste basket as far as I’m concerned. I think the Grizzlies simply got caught looking ahead to Sunday's matchup with the NBA's best. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on SAN FRANCISCO. In a disappointing season for the Dons, this will absolutely be the biggest game of the year for San Francisco and I'm taking them with double digits in points to work with.

This game will be a 'Gold Out' at War Memorial Gymnasium and will be featured on ESPN2, which will also be one of the last games on the board for sports bettors (11:30 p.m. ET).

I feel the Dons are being given too many points to work with simply because they've lost four in a row. But those losses have all be closely contested matchups, decided by an average of 6.25 points per game.

When you line up the statistics, we also don't see the kind of huge discrepancy between these teams that their records suggest. Gonzaga is only scoring about four more points on the road than San Francisco is at home and the Dons are actually allowing two fewer points at home than the Zags allow on the road.

Gonzaga also had its second-worst shooting performance of the season in the first meeting against San Francisco (38.8 percent) and when you put it all together, I just think oddsmakers are being too generous here.

The public is going to look to continue to pile on the Zags but I think there's a great opportunity here to take the underdog. If it were in any other gym, maybe not, but lucky for us this game isn't in any other gym. 10* Best Bet

I am playing on TULSA. Everywhere you look, Tulsa is on a streak of some kind right now so don't be fooled by the fact SMU is ranked in the top 25 and Tulsa isn't.

The Golden Hurricane have won 12 straight games and 21 straight conference games going back to last season and they helped bettors to the window to the tune of a 7-4-1 against the spread record during the most recent streak (one game didn't have a line).

With a spread that's basically a coin flip on Saturday, my money is on the Golden Hurricane once again here.

The current hot streak has Tulsa sitting atop the AAC at 10-0 and they're using defense mostly to do it. The Hurricane rank third in the conference in scoring D (56.9 points against per game) and they're holding opponents to just 38.8 percent on field goals.

They are also coming off a 13-point win over Houston in which Tulsa came out in the second half and absolutely suffocated UH, allowing only 10 points in the second half in one of the finest defensive halves of the college hoops season by any team.

During the streak, Tulsa is outscoring opponents by an average of 11 points, so in my mind this spread is way too low. I also like the fact the Hurricane's top two scorers, James Woodard and Shaquille Harrison, should be closer to 100 percent.

The two players each average over 15 points per game and Woodard was suffering from the flu last game while Harrison had a slightly banged up ankle. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on CHICAGO. The Bulls are mired in a three-game losing streak but I believe one of their biggest problems is one of the easiest to fix: intensity level.

When one of your biggest problems at the pro level is you're not trying hard enough consistently enough, it's not that hard to turn it around.

"Where do you get your intensity from?" head coach Tom Thibodeau said this week."You get it from your concentration and maximum effort. And how do you build that habit? You build it through repetition like you do through everything else. Practice is important. Practicing together is important. All those things are. Your meetings are important. Shootarounds are important. It's all important."

The Bulls come into Saturday's game with two full days off between games, which means they've had plenty of time to work on everything they need to in practice to get some good habits going. It also means Mike Dunleavy has had some added time to get healthy and there's a chance he may play Saturday.

With or without Dunleavy, I still like the Bulls here, but with him the Bulls get a much needed bolstering in their perimeter game too and Thibodeau gets some added minutes into his lineup.

I think we'll see a different Chicago squad Saturday night that is hungry to finish its current 6-game road streak on a high note after starting it 1-3. 10* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Indiana Pacers as my 10* Best Bet Friday.

The Pacers play hosts to the surging Cleveland Cavaliers, who will take the court for the second game of back-to-back outings, coming off a high-profile matchup versus the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday. Indiana will try to take advantage of this tough situational/schedule spot. Cleveland has struggled in Indianapolis, covering just once in its last five trips to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and the home team is a solid 5-0 ATS in the last five meeting between these clubs.

The Pacers are aiming for some consistency after alternating wins and losses in their last five games. Indiana is coming off a 114-109 victory at home to the Detroit Pistons Wednesday – a season high in scoring for Indiana. The Pacers have put in some solid offensive efforts in recent outings and will need to pick up the scoring pace to keep up with the Cavs. They’re averaging 103.7 points on 51.3 percent shooting in their last three contests – an NBA best in that span.

Cleveland’s winning ways have puffed up its spreads due to the market reacting. However, the Cavs are a costly 9-14 ATS away from home and have played just two of their last 10 on the road. Cleveland is shooting only 43.7 percent as visitors and allowing opponents to put up 101 points per road game. Indiana has a hard-nosed defense, especially at home where teams have gone just 43.6 percent from the field for an average of 96.3 points per game.

The Cavaliers playing the second of back-to-backs on the road and the Pacers’ offensive uptick are why I’m playing on Indiana as my 10* Best Bet Friday.

I’m playing on the Orlando Magic as my 10* Personal Favorite Friday.

The Magic are rare favorites at home hosting the lowly Los Angeles Lakers Friday. We’re getting great value with Orlando here, as Los Angeles is on a cross-country road trip and dropped the first two stops of this four-game trek.

The Lakers’ annual “Grammy Trip” – with the music award show taking over the Staples Center this week – wraps in Cleveland Sunday, opening up Los Angeles for a major lookahead spot to that weekend showdown with LeBron James & Co. The Lakers are just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven road games heading into Friday’s contests in Orlando.

The Magic are taking the court for the first times since head coach Jacque Vaughn was fired, looking to snap a 10-game losing skid. Orlando has seen improvement in those final two games, covering at San Antonio and Oklahoma City this week. It lost 110-103 to the Spurs to Wednesday, shooting 50 percent from the floor including a 10-for-21 night from beyond the arc.

The Magic get a break on defense against a Lakers team lacking a proven scoring punch. Los Angeles has mustered an average of only 88 points per game in regulation in its last seven games and shoots just 42.8 percent from the field on the road. The Lakers also give up 107.4 points per road game – second most in the NBA.

The Magic's shakeup on the sidelines and the Lakers' tough road spot are why I’m playing on Orlando as my 10* Personal Favorite Friday.

I’m playing on the California Golden Bears as my 10* Personal Favorite Thursday.

The Golden Bears host the Southern California Trojans in a battle of two Pac-12 rivals headed in different directions. Cal is making a February push with back-to-back wins while USC enters this contest on a six-game slide.

The Golden Bears have bounced back from a six-game skid of their own with victories over Washington and Washington State on the road. Cal is back in Haas Pavilion Thursday, looking to build on those impressive showings. The Golden Bears scored 76 and 90 points in those victories – a massive jump in production from their 55-point average over those six straight losses.

Cal also has some payback in mind for the Trojans, who beat the Golden Bears last month. Southern Cal upended the Golden Bears 71-57 in Los Angeles, with Cal shooting just over 35 percent from the field and going 4 for 20 from beyond the arc. The Bears’ talented backcourt will put that poor performance behind them in front of the Cal faithful Thursday.

The Golden Bears don’t give away much, turning the ball over just 11.4 times per game and limiting foes to just 7.0 offensive rebounds per game. Southern Cal, which averages only 62.4 points per road game, will have to work for each one of its points and won’t get anything free against this revengeful Cal defense.

The Golden Bears’ momentum and the Trojans' conference free-fall are why I’m playing on California as my 10* Personal Favorite Thursday.

I’m playing on the Portland Trail Blazers as my 10* Personal Favorite Thursday.

The Blazers are happy to be home after a 0-3 road trip last week. Portland suffered a bit of a hangover from that rough road patch, just squeaking by Utah at home Tuesday. The Trail Blazers are looking to put together a strong run before the All-Star Break and can take the first step toward that with a win over the Phoenix Suns Thursday.

The Blazers got a big boost down low with the return of center Robin Lopez this week. Lopez was out with a hand injury and gives Portland some needed frontcourt depth, taking some of the defensive attention off LaMarcus Aldridge. Lopez is a tough defender and a presence on the boards. He scored 11 points and pulled down six boards with two blocks in his first game back.

Lopez looks to be a thorn in the side of his former team Thursday. The Suns aren’t a beefy team up front and have been abused by bigger opponents on the boards this season. Phoenix has a -2.3 rebounding margin and has allowed opponents to grab 12 offensive rebounds per game – third most in the NBA.

The Blazers eager to get back on track at home and their ability to dominate the Suns on the glass are why I’m playing on Portland as my 10* Personal Favorite Thursday.

I’m playing on the Sacramento Kings as my 10* Best Bet Thursday.

The Kings are in the midst of a tough patch of games, having just one win in their last 10 contests – a skid that started with a 108-105 overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the same team Sacramento hosts Wednesday night.

While most team’s wouldn’t want to face the Mavs in the middle of such a slide, the Kings have always played Dallas tough and have covered the spread in five of their last six meetings, including that Jan. 13 home loss.

There's a revenge angle for Sacramento, which snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win over Indiana then followed that with a loss to Golden State Tuesday. The Kings dominated the inside against the Mavericks last time out, winning the rebounding war 59-44 – 12 offensive rebounds – and scoring 54 points in the paint. Sacramento is one of the better teams at getting the ball deep into the paint, averaging 43.9 points in the paint per game this year.

Dallas will be playing the second of back-to-back games Wednesday, traveling overnight from the Bay Area immediately following a road game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday. The Mavericks will be in no shape to body up with the Kings physical frontcourt after chasing the active Warriors up and down the court. Dallas is the fifth-oldest team in the NBA with an average age of 28.5 years old. It shows with a 3-7 ATS mark in their last 10 games with no rest.

The Kings' consistent ATS success against the Mavericks and their ability to push around a fatigued Dallas squad are why I’m playing on Sacramento as my 10* Best Bet.

I’m playing on the Minnesota Timberwolves as my 10* Best Bet Wednesday.

The Timberwolves are on the rise, covering the spread in four of their last six games and now have star point guard Ricky Rubio back in the mix. Minnesota fans have to be excited about the combo of Rubio to stud rookie Andrew Wiggins, who has emerged as the next big NBA star. Wiggins has been slowing down a bit, having to shoulder the scoring load for the T-Wolves, but should see a boost with Rubio running the point.

Minnesota welcomes a Miami Heat team coming off a physical loss to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night. The Heat were rolled 108-91 for their third loss in four games, covering the spread only once in that span. Miami has lacked a scoring punch since star guard Dwyane Wade went down with a hamstring injury, averaging only 82 points in those three games, and will be even slower with the ball having to play the second of back-to-back games on the road.

The Timberwolves are getting much tougher inside with Nikola Pekovic playing his way back into shape and reserve forward Gorgui Dieng making leaps in bounds in his recent efforts. Minnesota is also counting down the days until Shabazz Muhammad returns, but for now it will continue to improve inside and out in the second half of the season.

The T-Wolves' gradual improvement and the Heat running on empty for the second stop of back-to-backs are why I’m playing on Minnesota as my 10* Best Bet Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Indiana Pacers as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

The Pacers host the Detroit Piston inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse Wednesday, catching the Pistons playing the second of back-to-back games after a hard-fought matchup in Miami Tuesday. Detroit has snapped a four-game slide with two big wins against the Heat and Houston Rockets and are ripe for a letdown in this tough schedule spot.

The Pistons don’t have a very deep bench, usually going only three or four into their reserves. Detroit leans on its starters for big minutes and with guard Brandon Jennings out for the remainder of the season, the team is missing its motor on both ends of the floor. The Pistons only get 18.7 points per game from their bench – among the lowest averages in the NBA – and will have no choice but to look to these backups for production Wednesday night.

The Pacers, on the other hand, have enjoyed an extended break. Indiana hasn’t been in action since January 31, giving them time to rest up and prepare for this pivotal matchup with Detroit. Indiana has only two wins in its last 10 games but it comes into Wednesday having gone 18-7-2 ATS in its last 27 games off three or more days rest.

The Pistons' short bench on short rest and the Pacers' extended break and prep time are why I’m playing on Indiana as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Connecticut Huskies as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

The defending national champs need an easy layup to snap their two-game skid before heading back out on the road again, and the Huskies find that should-be gimmie in the East Carolina Pirates. Connecticut dropped road games at Houston and Cincinnati, and have been dismal away from Storrs during AAC play.

At home is a different story for the Huskies. UConn allows just 56.9 points per game as a host, compared to 64.6 points per game on the road. It also forces 12.6 turnovers and allows only 6.8 offensive rebounds in those home stands – little things that make the difference when it comes to the scoreboard. The Huskies are desperate for a victory so you can expect that defense to be drum tight Wednesday night.

The Pirates sit near the bottom of the AAC but did snap a three-game skid with a home win over Cincinnati. The Pirates were 10.5-point underdogs in that victory against the Bearcats so there could be a letdown situation for ECU in this road game.

East Carolina is managing only 57.1 points per road trip on 35.9 percent shooting and are just 1-8 ATS in its last nine away tilts. The Pirates are very dependent on the 3-pointer, getting 33.6 percent of their offense from beyond the arc, but fire at just 32.2 percent from distance on the road.

The Huskies hungry for a much-needed victory and the Pirates’ woes on the road are why I’m playing on UConn as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Sacramento Kings as my 10* Best Bet Tuesday.

The Kings have some revenge in store for the Golden State Warriors Tuesday. The last time these California rivals clashed, Sacramento was embarrassed by a 37-point third quarter eruption from Warriors guard Klay Thompson that eventually gave Golden State a 126-101 home win.

With that still fresh in the minds of oddsmakers, books are handing up a pile of points for the home team and there is great value on the Kings Tuesday night. Sacramento gets a boost from the home crowd after a drawn-out road trip that took them out East and included a postponed game due to snow in New York.

Golden State could get caught looking past the Kings and at their next two games with Dallas and at Atlanta, especially after what happened between these teams last time. The Warriors haven’t been sharp on the road in recent games, covering just twice in their last eight away from home, most recently a loss at Utah last week.

The Kings are going to look to push around the Warriors under the basket, sitting second in the NBA in rebounds with 54.9 total boards per night. That includes 11.1 rebounds on the offensive end and plenty of second looks at the hoop. Golden State has struggled to keep opponents off the glass, and allow an NBA-worst 12.7 offensive rebounds a night. The Warriors were especially weak on the boards in their last three, allowing an average of 15 offensive rebounds in that 1-2 span.

The Kings’ out for revenge and the Warriors' weakness on the glass is why I’m playing on Sacramento as my 10* Best Bet Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Tennessee Volunteers as my 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

The Volunteers are at home, tackling the Mississippi State Bulldogs Tuesday night. Tennessee is slowly climbing the SEC standings with wins in four of its last six outings, posting a 4-2 ATS mark in that span. The Vols have owned the Bulldogs in Knoxville, winning four straight and going 44-10 at home all-time to Mississippi State. They’ve covered in four of their last five meetings with MSU heading into Tuesday.

Tennessee rolled the Bulldogs in their first meeting of the season, winning 61-47 as a 2-point road favorite. The Volunteers locked down Miss State to just 30.6 percent shooting in that game, including a 1-for-9 mark from the 3-point line. The Bulldogs were also dominated on the boards, getting out-rebounded 36-24 with 13 of those Tennessee boards coming on the offensive end.

But despite that one-sided win, The Vols aren’t taking MSU lightly in the rematch. Head coach Donnie Tyndall told reporters he’s seen growth in the Bulldogs offense over the past two weeks, with MSU averaging 69.5 points per game since that loss to UT. The Vols know they have to step it up on defense, even though they're playing solid basketball on that end of the floor.

Tennessee is holding opponents to just 40.8 percent shooting inside Thompson-Boling Arena, and have forced more than 15 turnovers per game as a host. The Bulldogs aren’t the best rebounding team either, giving up 15 offensive boards in their last outing with LSU. The Vols crash the glass hard, averaging more than 10 offensive rebounds a night – 14 in the win over Auburn.

The Volunteers' success at home against the Bulldogs and their stingy defense is why I’m playing on Tennessee as a 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Phoenix Suns as my 10* Best Bet Monday.

The Suns get a crack at one of the Western Conference’s top dogs at home when they welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to US Airways Center Monday. Phoenix recorded two solid home wins in its previous appearances in front of the purple and orange faithful, knocking off Eastern Conference contenders Chicago and Washington.

Phoenix is a change in gears for the Grizzlies, who are more comfortable playing a plodding, methodical pace. The Suns average 99.3 points per 100 possessions – second fastest in the NBA – and produce 107.4 points on their home court – third highest in the league. Phoenix will look to suck the Grizzlies into a track meet, and get them out of their comfort zone on both ends of the floor.

The Suns have picked up their toughness around the hoop in recent games, averaging 56.0 total rebounds an outing over their last three contests. This is a sharp uptick in rebounding for Phoenix, which pulls down an average of just 50 rebounds a night on the season. This also includes a major improvement crashing the offensive glass, after the Suns corralled 15 offensive boards in the loss to Golden State.

Memphis is a team that thrives on pushing around opponents for those loose ball. The Grizzlies snatch up 51.5 rebounds an outing, while limiting foes to only 49.9 rebounds overall. The Grizzlies are on a six-game tear and could be ripe for a bit of a letdown after putting Oklahoma City in its place Saturday, with a big statement victory.

The Suns’ ability to dictate the pace and their improved work on the boards are why I’m playing on Phoenix as a 10* Best Bet Monday.

I’m playing on the Kansas Jayhawks as my 10* Main Event Monday.

The Jayhawks have a massive Big 12 battle with the Iowa State Cyclones Monday. Kansas nearly got caught looking ahead to ISU in its weekend tilt with Kansas State, jumping out to a big lead early then letting up in the second half.

The Jayhawks can stake their claim as the team to beat in the conference with a win over the Cyclones at home, where they’ve gone 5-0-1 ATS in their last six games in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas is tightening up on defense, limiting its last three opponents to an average of 60 points on 34.4 percent shooting.

You can be sure the Jayhawks aren’t taking Iowa State lightly after suffering back-to-back losses to the Cyclones, including an 86-80 loss in Ames in January. This is a big revenge spot for KU, which looks to take advantage of one of the top home-court edges in the country.

Iowa State is a power house at home but its numbers dip when on the road. The Cyclones are just 1-2 away from home in conference play and suffered an embarrassing loss at Texas Tech in its last road outing. Kansas has a toughness inside that should pester ISU big man Georges Niang. The Jayhawks have blocked a total of 19 shots in the last two games and have swatted an average of 7.7 in their last three outings.

The Jayhawks out for revenge on their home court and the Cyclones' issues on the road are why I’m playing on Kansas as my 10* Main Event Monday.

I’m playing on the New York Knicks as my 10* Personal Favorite Sunday.

The Knicks welcome a Los Angeles Lakers team making the cross-country hike to the Big Apple for a very early start time Sunday afternoon. Due to the Super Bowl, the NBA schedules its Sunday contests for matinee matchups, meaning this 2 p.m. ET tipoff comes at 11 a.m. back in Los Angeles. 

The Lakers aren’t used to taking the court so early. And on top of that travel, time shirt and early start, L.A. is vulnerable to a massive letdown spot after stunning the Chicago Bulls in overtime in their most recent outing. It was a big game for the Lakers, with former star forward Pau Gasol returning to the Staples Center for the first time since leaving the team. And the bigger the game, the bigger the fall. We’re taking advantage of this very unique situational spot on Super Bowl Sunday.

That win snapped a nine-game losing skid for the Lakers, who have been toothless on offense during this stretch. Los Angeles has managed to score over 100 points in regulation just three times in its last 10 games and shoots just 43.1 percent on the road, mustering only 98.3 points per road game. Those scoring numbers are already declining with Kobe Bryant out for the year with a shoulder injury.

New York is licking its chops come the weekend. Rarely are the Knicks the favorites and even fewer are the amount of teams below them on the NBA pecking order. New York is playing some of its best basketball of the season, with four wins in its last six outings, including a solid home victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks have covered in five of their last six overall and the home team has covered the spread in each of the past six meetings between these big-market franchises.

The Lakers’ rough situational spot and the Knicks’ improved play is why I’m playing on New York as my 10* Personal Favorite Sunday.

I’m playing on the UCLA Bruins as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

The Bruins are coming off a massive home win Thursday, exacting some revenge on the Utah Utes for a bad loss in Salt Lake City earlier this season. UCLA now has some payback in store for the Colorado Buffaloes, who trumped the Bruins 62-56 in Boulder on Jan. 2.

The Bruins were a dismal 31 percent from the field in that loss and hit just 6 of 26 3-point attempts while coughing up the basketball 13 times. UCLA is one of the most two-faced programs in the country when it comes to home/away play, and is a completely different beast in Pauley Pavilion as it proved in the win against the Utes.

UCLA, which scores a measly 60 points on the road, is putting up an average of 82.5 points at home, knocking down 47.2 percent of its looks – compared to an icy 36.5 percent on the road. The Bruins matched that output with a 46.2 percent shooting night against Utah and only turned the ball over six times.

The Bruins have five players scoring in double digits and present a tough challenge for the Buffaloes, who allow 10 more points per road game as they do at home. Colorado has struggled as the visitor and is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight road contests.

Add to that the absence of 6-foot-10 junior Josh Scott, who scores almost 14 points and grabs seven rebounds a game. Scott, who is out with back spasms, leaves a big hole under the rim against a tall and athletic UCLA team that attacks the offensive glass for 11.6 offensive boards per game.

The Bruins' play in Pauley and the Buffaloes' troubles away from Boulder is why I’m playing on UCLA as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Los Angeles Clippers as my 10* Best Bet Saturday.

The Clippers take court in San Antonio on short rest, coming off a game against the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night. Los Angeles brings a six-game winning streak into the weekend, still fresh into an eight-game road trip that will take them into mid-February.

The Clippers can stake their place in the Western Conference pecking order against the Spurs, having revenge as their fuel in this matchup. Los Angeles lost 125-118 in their last trip to Texas back in December.

San Antonio has puffed up its record with a schedule rich with cupcake opponents. The Spurs have a three-game winning streak going into this matchup, having beaten Charlotte, Milwaukee and the L.A. Lakers in that span. San Antonio’s recent slate has featured other terrible teams like Denver, Utah and Minnesota. Oddsmakers are putting too much weight into those wins and giving great value to the Clippers Saturday.

Los Angeles has the energy in the frontcourt to match San Antonio, namely Kawahi Leonard. Leonard has been the spark plug for this aging San Antonio roster but he runs into a Clippers roster with DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and always-pesky Matt Barnes. With L.A. able to neutralize Leonard’s energy, the Clippers will look to attack San Antonio and get easy buckets inside off dribble penetration from Chris Paul, who had 25 points and nine assists in the last game against the Spurs.

The Clippers out for revenge in this important Western matchup and the Spurs’ soft sked is why I’m playing on Los Angeles as my 10* Best Bet Saturday.

I’m playing on Oklahoma State as my 10* Rivalry Game of the Month.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys welcome rivals the Oklahoma Sooners to Stillwater for basketball’s version of Bedlam. The Pokes are playing with passion and revenge after a one-sided loss to OU in Norman, getting blown out 82-65.

Oklahoma State is a much tougher team inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, where it’s gone 61-29-4 ATS in its previous 94 games – an ATS winning clip of 67 percent. The Cowboys are short favorites and present some terrific spread value in this classic revenge/rivalry spot.

Oklahoma State shot just 37 percent from the field at Oklahoma earlier this month, including going 7 for 26 from beyond the 3-point arc and turning the ball over 16 times. Things couldn’t get much worse for OSU in that loss. The Cowboys hit at a 46 percent clip at home and average 71.5 points as hosts – compared to just 63.4 points per road tilt.

The Sooners aren’t the same team away from Norman. Oklahoma smashed hapless Texas Tech at home in its last outing but dropped back-to-back road games before that, losing at Baylor and Kansas. In fact, OU has covered only once in its last five road stops – averaging 67.8 points away from home, which is more than a 10-point decrease than its season scoring average inside the Lloyd Noble Center.

The Cowboys out for revenge and their strong home-court edge over a road weary Sooner squad is why I’m playing on Oklahoma State as my 10* Rivalry Game of the Month

I’m playing on the Buffalo Bulls as my 10* Personal Favorite Friday.

The Bulls put a perfect home record on the line against the MAC East-leading Kent State Golden Flashes Friday night. Buffalo is 7-0 inside Alumni Arena (4-3 ATS) and will be playing in front of a packed house, with the fans going with the “Black Out” theme for this nationally televised MAC matchup.

The Bulls average 80.7 points on 45.4 percent shooting per game at home and are getting tremendous line value from oddsmakers sizing up the Flashes’ current winning streak. Kent State has compiled six straight victories heading into this road game, however, all but two of those came in Ohio and this is just its third conference road game. The Bulls are one of the best home bets in the MAC and have covered the spread in 13 of their previous 18 home stands.

Buffalo will overwhelm the Golden Flashes with their high-scoring attack. Kent State is only putting up 65.7 points per game, with that number dipping to 63.4 ppg on the road. It has done well defensively against conference foes, but has cracked when on the road against superior offensive programs. The Golden Flashes were gashed for 78 points in both road losses to Kansas and UTEP, and could find themselves playing from behind in front of a rabid home crowd in Buffalo Friday.

The Bulls’ home-court advantage and the Golden Flashes’ lack of road toughness is why I’m playing on Buffalo as a 10* Personal Favorite Friday

I’m playing on the Utah Jazz as my 10* Best Bet Friday.

Utah is home to the Golden State Warriors, getting a handful of points from bookmakers Friday night. The Jazz catch the Warriors in a letdown spot following their hard-fought overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls Tuesday, a loss that snapped the franchise’s 19-game home winning streak.

Utah will try to bring this game to a screeching standstill and abuse a soft Golden State interior for second-chance points. The Jazz are a complete mismatch in pace for the Warriors, averaging a mere 92.8 points per 100 possessions – the second slowest pace in the entire NBA.

Utah will drag out possessions and limit the amount of damage Golden State’s sharp-shooting backcourt can do. The Jazz are a solid defensive club, giving up only 97.8 points per home game on the season. They’ve held their last four opponents to under 100 points, going 3-1 ATS in that span.

The Jazz will also take advantage of a Golden State frontcourt that has troubles cleaning the glass. The Warriors collect only 10.2 offensive rebounds per game while allowing opponents to hit the offensive boards for an average of 12.6 rebounds – most allowed in the league.

Utah may be coming off back-to-back losses to the Clippers and Celtics but it did win the rebounding battle in those contests and brings down 11.5 offensive boards a game – 16 in the loss to Los Angeles. The Jazz outworked the Warriors on the glass in their most recent meeting, 44-31 but fell 116-105 in Salt Lake City.

The Jazz’s methodical pace and ability to beat up the Warriors for second-chance buckets is why I’m playing on Utah as my 10* Best Bet Friday.

I’m playing on the UCLA Bruins as my 10* Best Bet Thursday.

The Bruins welcome the No. 10 Utah Utes to Pauley Pavilion Thursday in a game that could truly define UCLA’s place in the Pac-12 picture. The Bruins have lost their last two games and are back home after playing three straight on the road.

UCLA is treading water in the conference standings and desperately needs a big-name victory to fill out its resume before tournament time. This is a massive revenge spot for the Bruins, who choked on a 71-39 lopsided loss in Salt Lake City earlier this month – a defeat that set the tone for an inconsistent conference schedule.

The Bruins are a different team inside Pauley, shooting 47.2 percent as hosts compared to a chilly 36.5 percent on the road. UCLA averages 83.9 points per home stand – a 23.9-point increase over its road scoring average. And the Bruins turn the ball over just 10.9 times in Pauley Pavilion, a much steadier hand than the 13.8 turnovers per game on the road.

The Utes are a similar bread, having great success at home but having a tough time translating that to their away schedule. Utah has played only six games on the road so far, going 3-3 SU and 2-1-1 ATS. And much like the Bruins, the Utes see a drastic dropoff in offensive production when in enemy territory. They score 81.8 points per home game but only 60 on the road. The home team just so happens to be a perfect 5-0 ATS in the last five meeting between these Pac-12 members.

The Bruins playing for revenge on their home court and the Utes' dropoff on the road is why I’m playing on UCLA as my 10* Best Bet Thursday.

I’m playing on the Orlando Magic as my 10* Best Bet Thursday.

The Magic are back home in the Amway Center hosting the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday night. Orlando has faced a tough stretch of games, with three of its last four coming on the road – all of which resulted in losses. The Magic have actually dropped six straight but showed signs of life – or at least betting value – by covering the 12 points in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last time out.

Orlando is setting up nicely at home, getting points against a Bucks team that is ripe for a letdown/lookahead spot thanks to some bigger-name teams on their recent calendar. Milwaukee is coming off game versus San Antonio and Miami, and have matchups with Portland and Toronto following Thursday’s stopover in Orlando.

The Magic have been bad defensively during this losing skid but showed some toughness in the loss to Memphis Monday. Orlando, which had allowed an average of 116 points the five games prior, held the Grizzlies to only 36 points in the second half, including 14 points in the fourth quarter. The last time the Magic faced Milwaukee, they limited the Bucks to 85 points – just 36 of those coming in the second half.

Orlando has dominated this series when it comes to the covering the spread. The Magic have covered in nine of their last 12 head-to-head clashes and are 5-1 ATS in their last six games versus the Bucks inside the Amway Center.

I am playing on PHOENIX. The Wizards will be playing their third West Coast game in five nights when they visit Phoenix Wednesday and the Suns aren't the kind of team you want to be facing on weary legs.  Phoenix is the third highest scoring team in the NBA and is scoring even more lately with 110.8 points per game over the team's last five compared to a season average of 107.4.  The Wiz have been lighting it up a little lately too with at least 103 points in each of their last three games, but they are a little banged up heading into this one. Forward Paul Pierce is questionable with a toe injury and NBA assist leader John Wall is questionable with an Achilles injury. Don't count on either one missing out, but even if they do play I wonder how long they can keep pace with a Phoenix team that loves to run the floor.  Phoenix has lost two in a row, but I like the Suns to bounce back here with a more focused effort on Wednesday. They have run into technical foul trouble lately and coach Jeff Hornacek is cracking down on his team.   "Something is going to have to be done; we don’t play them, we continue to sit them like this or we get new guys in here that want to win a championship," Hornacek said after a loss to Clippers on Sunday.  I like Phoenix to come back strong here against what is quickly becoming a road weary Wizards team. 10* Personal Favorite

 I am playing on UTAH. The Jazz have made some recent moves that are giving the team a bit of a new look when it takes the court and I like that new look to cover the number at home Wednesday.  Coach Quin Snyder has begun starting Dante Exum at point guard and he now has Trey Burke coming off the bench to give him a better one-two punch. The Jazz won their first two games since Snyder made the move (though they lost to Boston last game) and the team appears to be improving all around.  Exum brings a faster pace to Utah and over the two wins he averaged 14 points with some hot shooting from 3-point range (8-of-15) to go along with 4.5 assists. Burke averaged 14.5 points in the two wins while playing 25 minutes and the shared playing time seems to be giving the Jazz a much needed lift.  I like Utah to cover here against a Clippers squad the Jazz have covered two of three games against this year despite losing all three straight up.  L.A. is playing its third game in four nights against fast paced teams, albeit the Jazz might be considered newly so. I think it's a lot to ask the Clippers to cover this number on the road on Wednesday and I'm taking the Jazz. 10* Best Bet

INDIANA at PURDUE
I am playing on PURDUE. The Hoosiers continue a tough week after facing a feisty Ohio State squad on Sunday and now they head to state rival Purdue where Mackey Arena should prove to be another hostile environment.   
The Boilermakers should have some helpful film to work with after Sunday's game because the Buckeyes figured out the key to beating Indiana and executed on it. 
On defense against the Hoosiers, it's all about stopping the dribble penetration. Indiana has a talented slate of guards who like to push the ball inside and decide from there whether to kick it out or drive to the hoop based on what the defense gives, and they are more than happy to do either. 
Ohio State forced 15 turnovers after Indiana averaged just nine in its five previous conference games prior to that. 
On offense, the Hoosiers can be beaten in the paint and I think this is where Purdue can give them a mismatch. Freshman Isaac Haas and junior A.J. Hammons each average over 10 points per game and I believe they can outperform the Hoosiers down low. 
Indiana will be without its best big man, Hanner Mosquera-Perea, who is out with a knee injury until mid February and Robert Johnson, a key all-around guard, is questionable after he hurt his knee last game. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on NOTRE DAME. I am taking the Irish in this nationally televised game on ESPN2 where I think the home crowd is going to make a huge difference in a gritty contest. 
Notre Dame is 13-1 on home court this season, not to mention the Irish are off to their best 21-game start since the early 1970s. Duke has some impressive scoring numbers that match up pretty well against Notre Dame's this season but they get worse on the road and I think the Irish will pull it out in a hard fought game. 
The Blue Devils are averaging eight fewer points on the road and they give up 5.5 more points. I think that will sting against an Irish team that is the top shooting team in the conference and second best shooting team in Division 1 hoops (52.1 percent on field goals). The Irish are also tops in the conference in 3-pointers per game (nine) and 3-point percentage (40). 
It's that perimeter shooting that I think will give Duke troubles with its recent 2-3 zone defense. I also think the Blue Devils may have a bit of an emotional letdown here after earning Coach K his 1000th win on Sunday. 10* Notre Dame

I am playing on MIAMI. The Heat are playing like a new team these days and the secret behind why might be out of the bag after this past weekend. His name is Hassan Whitehead. 
Whitehead saw more than 20 minutes in a game for the first time this season on Jan. 4 against Brooklyn and the Heat are probably wishing they could go back to November so they could insert him into the lineup more starting back then. The seven-footer had his first double double that night against the Nets and has had two more since - and a monstrous triple double on Sunday against the Bulls where he had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 12 blocks. The Heat won 96-84 as 7.5-point underdogs and suddenly they're a team nobody is too excited to play right now. 
The biggest difference Whitehead might be making is on defensive. Suddenly the Heat have depth in the paint and it's showing in the numbers. They have gone from a team that allows 92.9 points per game this season to holding teams to just 85.2 points over their last five. The under has also come through in 11 straight Miami games - another testament to their defensive play. 
The Heat's sudden new size and depth under the basket leave Milwaukee in a mismatch situation Tuesday night. Center Larry Sanders remains suspended indefinitely and center John Henson is expected to play but injured his ankle last game and may be slowed by that.  With the recent play of Whitehead and the defensive toughness the Heat are showing right now, I believe they'll handle the Bucks easily on home court here. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on PITTSBURGH. Virginia Tech comes into this game in an absolutely brutal spot and I think they're going to have a tough time with Pitt here.  The Hokies enter this game having played four consecutive top 15 teams - Virginia, Notre Dame, UNC and Louisville - and they lost all four to make it seven straight defeats. The Hokies now enter Tuesday's game on a 12-game conference losing streak and I believe they won't be able to shake off the hangover after the most recent loss, to state rival Virginia. was their most crushing. They blew a 10-point lead to lose by three points as 16.5-point dogs.  Virginia Tech will be without its top scorer, guard Justin Bibbs again Tuesday, who has missed the last three games with a concussion. The Hokies just aren't the same squad without him and they are averaging a measly 53.3 points in his absence.  The Hokies are also getting obliterated on the boards night in and night out. They have been out-rebounded by a minimum of 13 boards and as many as 25 over their past three outings and I just don't believe they can get hot enough shooting without their best player to make up for that. 10* Personal Favorite 

I’m playing on the Denver Nuggets as my 10* Best Bet Monday.

The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are both taking the court for the second half of back-to-back outings Monday, with Denver covering the spread in a slight overtime loss to Washington and L.A. coasting to a comfortable victory in Phoenix Sunday.

However, this home game for the Clippers sets up as a tough situational spot. Monday is a lone home stand before an extended eight-game road trip puts the team on the highway for the next two weeks. Teams are often unfocused in these standalone home spots before a long away trek, dealing with off-court matters before such an extended period on the road.

Denver is not the team the Clippers want to look past Monday. The Nuggets thrive on hustle and play a physical style that works hard for every loose ball. Denver brings a six-game losing skid into this matchup, hungry to get its first win since Jan. 14. The Nuggets took a 109-106 victory over Los Angeles in December, limiting the Clippers’ fastbreak points and battling them for every rebound.

The Nuggets are always a handful on the boards, ranked third in rebounds per game (54.9) including 12.6 offensive rebounds a night. Denver has been especially lively on the offensive glass in recent games, averaging 14.3 offensive rebounds in the last three – grabbing 14 in the OT loss to the Wizards. Those extra looks at the basket quickly add up and make sizable spreads like this easy to cover.

Despite their athletic frontcourt, the Clippers don’t rebound exceptionally well outside of center DeAndre Jordan. Los Angeles gives up more than 10 offensive rebounds an outing and has watched opponents pull down an average of 51 boards a night.

The Clippers’ looking ahead to their upcoming road trip and the Nuggets' tenacity on the glass is why I’m playing on Denver as my 10* Best Bet Monday.

I’m playing on the North Carolina Tar Heels as my 10* Main Event Monday.

North Carolina takes a five-game winning streak into this clash with Syracuse at home, continuing to build momentum as ACC play stiffens up. The Tar Heels have had some close games during this span but will benefit from a home-court crowd in Chapel Hill and a complete mismatch in pace.

North Carolina is scoring more than 79 points per game and runs one of the fastest paces in the country, averaging 72.8 possessions per game. The Tar Heels will look to their speed to force Syracuse out of its slow-motion comfort zone.

The Orange, known for their zone defense, have also been playing a methodical pace on offense, as to combat their own offensive inefficiencies. Syracuse is turning out 68.4 points per game on under 44 percent shooting from the field, including a poor 31.9 percent touch from the 3-point arc. That field goal percentage dips to just above 40 percent when hitting the highway.

North Carolina will use its speed and scoring depth to put SU on its heels, beat the zone defense down the floor before it can set up and force the Orange to pick up the pace on offense. Even the slightest lead can balloon for UNC, with Syracuse lacking the horse power to claw its way back on the scoreboard.

The Tar Heels' up-tempo attack and the Orange’s lack of scoring pop on the road is why I’m playing on North Carolina as a 10* Main Event Monday.

I am playing on TORONTO. The Raptors have the luxury of facing what should be a fatigued Pistons team on Sunday, who enter this game fresh off playing at Milwaukee Saturday night. 
The Pistons already don't like playing Toronto much - the Raptors have covered in eight of the last 10 meetings - and it won't help the Pistons any to throw tired legs into the mix. 
The Raps have had some struggles lately, winning just four of their last 12 games but they've won two of their last three and I think we'll see the best Raptors team we've seen in a couple weeks show up against Detroit. They are showing signs of playing better as a team lately after six players picked up double digits in a win over the Sixers Friday night. 
Toronto did show some lulls against Philly though, and I think we'll see a much more energized team after head coach Dwane Casey addressed it with his squad.  
"We've got an air of complacency and I don't like it," Casey said after the Sixers game. "It's everybody collectively. We have to come out with a better effort. We can't come out and perform like that."
Kyle Lowry took over when the Raps needed him most and scored 17 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia. He's another reason, of course, I like Toronto with the Raps having the advantage of owning the best player on the court when they lace up on Sunday.
The Pistons are an improved team, no question, but they still struggle with shooting. They entered Saturday ranked third-worst in field-goal percentage and second worst in free-throw percentage in the NBA. 10* Personal Favorite

10* Ohio State analysis

I’m playing on the Florida Gators as my 10* Best Bet Saturday.

The Gators head to Oxford to take on the Ole Miss Rebels in an SEC showdown. Billy Donovan’s kids are coming off ugly back-to-back losses and this isn’t a coach or a program that allows those skids to turn into slumps. I fully expect a rejuvenated Florida team to hit the court against Mississippi and we’re getting tremendous line value with the Gators due to those stumbles.

Florida has let up defensively in those losses to LSU and Georgia, allowing those teams to shoot a combined 54 percent from the field and knock down 16 of 28 from beyond the arc (57 percent). Those are uncharacteristic numbers for a Donovan team, especially one that has limited foes to just 58.9 points per game on 40 percent shooting on the season.

Ole Miss isn’t much of a threat from distance, shooting just 35.6 percent from the perimeter for the year. The Rebels have been even colder in their last three games, knocking down just 30.4 percent of looks from 3-point range and finished 4 for 18 from beyond the arc in a loss to Georgia last time out.

Mississippi has also had issues keeping opponents off the boards, giving up 10 offensive rebounds a night. Ole Miss ranks 197th in opponents’ total rebounds per game and takes on a beefy Gators frontcourt featuring glass eaters Dorian Finney-Smith, Jon Horford, and Chris Walker. Expect Florida to exploit that size down low and pick up plenty of second-chance looks.

The Gators tightening up on defense against a poor perimeter-orientated Rebels squad and that ability to dominate the glass is why I’m playing on Florida as my 10* Best Bet Saturday.

I’m playing on the Minnesota Golden Gophers as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

Minnesota hosts the Illinois Fighting Illini in a battle of Big Ten teams trying to make up some lost ground in the standings. The Golden Gophers haven’t played their best basketball to kick off conference play but there is plenty of reasons to like this program and Saturday’s game is going to be Minnesota’s coming-out party.

The Gophers have suffered some close losses to open Big Ten competition and a few breaks here and there could have this team sitting in a much sweeter spot. Minnesota has lacked the little things that make the difference in those tight games, like foul shooting and rebounding. The Golden Gophers are shooting 68 percent from the stripe at home – compared to just 59 percent on the road – and matchup with an Illinois team that has been any but dominant on the boards.

The Fighting Illini are missing some key members of their backcourt and have turned in some inconsistent efforts on defense, locking down Purdue to just 57 points in their most recent outing but allowing Indiana to run up 80 points in the game before. Minnesota is a deep team with six different players putting up an average of at least 8.9 points a contest.

The Golden Gophers turning the corner at home and Illinois struggling to contain that depth is why I’m playing on Minnesota as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

I am playing on the CLIPPERS. This game is as much about playing on the Clippers as it is about playing against the Nets. 
Brooklyn has lost and failed to cover in eight of its last 10 games heading into three-game West Coast road trip that began Wednesday night in Sacramento. A big part of their most recent struggles has been the absence of point guard Deron Williams, without whom the Nets have gone 1-6 against the spread. 
Williams was out Wednesday night and could be back Thursday, but at best he may be facing some rust after sitting out eight games. They could desperately use 
The Clippers aren't the team you want to face when you're struggling. They are the eighth best field goal shooting team and the third best 3-point shooting team in the NBA and they get even hotter at home. They are 18-7 on home court compared to 10-7 on the road.
L.A. is also the fourth top scoring team in the NBA and I just don't see a low-scoring Brooklyn team being able to keep up enough to cover here. The Nets have reach 100 points just twice in their past 10 games. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on CHICAGO.The Bulls are in a bit of a slump but I believe their problems are somewhat straightforward to fix and oddsmakers are being too generous here. 
The Bulls simply aren't giving enough effort out there on a nightly basis and they've looked flat with the absence of Joakim Noah and Mike Dunleavy. I think we'll see a much better effort Thursday night with a nationally televised home game and the team's top player, Derrick Rose, sounding totally fed up. 
"Everybody has to be on the same page," Rose said this week. "Until then, we're going to continue to get our butt kicked. It's the whole team. We're not communicating when we're on the floor. Everybody's quiet. We've got to give a better effort. It seems like we're not even competing." 
Those are easy problems to fix and home court with some points in their back pocket should do the trick. 10* Best Bet

I am playing on INDIANA 10*. Atlanta has been on a quite a streak lately but I think this is a few too many points for them to cover.

The Pacers have lost five straight and are desperate for a strong effort.  Keep in mind that four of Indiana’s five losses during this streak have been by less than double digit points.

Indiana has been strong on the road the road as a betting team with 14 ATS wins compared to just nine ATS losses this season.  

Atlanta has gotten the best of Indiana the last two meetings this season so revenge will be on the mind of the Pacers.

The Hawks have a high profile home game coming up against a strong Oklahoma City Thunder side on Friday night that is sure to attract some media attention. Don’t be surprised if Atlanta gets caught looking ahead to that game a little bit here.

Atlanta has been on massive ATS streak here over the past little while and is indeed a strong team. However, as the streak continues the points spread continues to get higher for the team and this spread is one of the highest it has had to cover so far this season.

I expect the Pacers to provide a much tougher test than most will be expecting. INDIANA 10* Best Bet

I am playing on NEBRASKA. The Huskers have used their tough defense to go 2-0-1 against the spread over their last three games and they face a Minnesota team that isn't exactly loving Big Ten season right now.  The Gophers are just 1-5 since conference play began and their bettors haven't seen a dime in any of those games after an 0-6 against the spread start. I don't think Minnesota's luck is about to change going up against a Nebraska field-goal defense  that ranks third in the Big Ten and is on pace to be the best Husker D in over 50 years.  Nebraska also held its first 16 opponents this season to just 27.6 percent from beyond the 3-point line until they let Wisconsin shoot better than 50 percent last game. I think that was just an anomaly though and we'll see Nebraska return to its normal self Tuesday night.  Minnesota is notorious to Big Ten counterparts for being better at home than on the road and the Gophers' numbers are proving it so far again this year. They are 0-3 SU and ATS on the road in conference play and allowed at least 70 points in all three games. The Gophers also score about 10 fewer points on the road than their overall average this season.  I think Nebraska's Tim Petteway, the Big Ten's second leading scorer, will generate enough Huskers enough offense to cover this small number against a weak road team and the Husker D will take care of the rest.   10* Main Event

I’m playing on Cal. State Fullerton as my 10* Best Bet Saturday.

The Titans are providing terrific value at home in this battle between the bottom team in the Big West standings and the first-place UC Davis Aggies.

While it seems like there are miles between these programs when looking at their overall win/loss records, a closer look at the Titans’ non-conference slate and you quickly know why. Cal State Fullerton has gone toe-to-toe with some big-name teams, including New Mexico, Southern Cal, and UCLA. This is a tested team that hasn’t shied away from stiff competition and it should show in this matchup with the conference’s current top dog.

The Aggies have overachieved so far this season, thanks to a softer non-conference schedule and 2-0 start to Big West play. UC Davis stunned Long Beach State in overtime at home as 3-point underdogs and then took an easy victory at UC Irvine, but entered the year projected to finish seventh in the Big West.

This team relies heavily on its scoring to put distance on the scoreboard, especially from its shots from beyond the arc. The Aggies are the top 3-point shooting team in the country, knocking down 43.9 percent of their looks from long range. But that's always a dangerous reliance when hitting the highway and playing in foreign gyms. 

The Titans have a potent attack of their own. Cal State Fullerton has tinkered with its starting five over the course of non-conference play, which hindered the development of its offensive chemistry. But, the Titans have run the same starting five the last seven outings, producing 71.2 points per game in that span – matching UC Davis’ season average of 71.2, which ranks 105th in the country.

The Titans’ toughness in big games and their improved offensive chemistry is why I’m playing on Cal State Fullerton as my 10* Best Bet Saturday.

I’m playing on the Houston Rockets as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

The Rockets catch the Golden State Warriors at the perfect time, hosting a road-weary Warriors side coming to the Toyota Center Saturday. Golden State lost a grueling 127-115 decision to the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday and take the court for its third game in four days against a Houston team that’s won five of its last six SU and ATS.

For a team that depends on its pace to overwhelm opponents, Saturday’s tough scheduling spot will be a big challenge for the Warriors. Golden State not only has to battle fatigue but also a very physical Houston defense that gives up 97.6 points per game and defends against the 3-ball better than most, limiting opponent to just 31 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Houston isn’t just getting it done with defense, either. The Rockets have poured on the points in recent outings, averaging 112.7 points per game in their last three – most in the NBA in that three-game span. They’re shooting 48.6 percent from the field, including a 40 percent touch from distance in those contests.

The Warriors were rolled on the boards in the loss to Oklahoma City, getting out-rebounded 54-43 and allowed the Thunder to scoop up 16 offensive boards. The Rockets are one of the top rebounding teams in the West, averaging 53.3 boards per game, and hit the offensive glass hard, with 12.3 per game. Golden State could be too tired to fight for those loose balls, giving up easy putbacks to a hungry Houston team.

The Warriors’ tough scheduling spot and the Rockets' two-way dominance is why I’m playing on Houston as a 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Chicago Bulls as my 10* Best Bet Saturday.

The Bulls welcome the red-hot Atlanta Hawks to the United Center, hoping that chilly winter Chicago wind can cool off their opponents. The Hawks bring an 11-game SU and ATS win streak into Saturday, wrapping up a four-game road trip against the Bulls.

Chicago is a rare underdog at home for this contest and presents solid value here, with the market jumping on Atlanta’s recent success and puffing up the spread. The Bulls have dominated this series when it comes to covering the spread, going 6-1 ATS in their last seven with the Hawks and covering in each of their last four home stands against Atlanta.

The Bulls are out to make a statement in this game, and star point guard Derrick Rose appears to be finding his stroke at just the right time. After an extended cold skid from the field, Rose has gone off for 32 and 29 points in his last two games, knocking down a collective 11 of 17 from beyond the arc. Rose was 12 of 20 from the field with five 3-pointers in Chicago’s road win over the Boston Celtics Friday.

Atlanta came away with a big win in Toronto Friday and could be ripe for a letdown, having to travel overnight to Chicago for this Saturday showdown. The Hawks have dropped six straight games inside the United Center and face a Bulls side out to avenge a loss in Atlanta in December, back when Rose was struggling with his shot.

The Bulls' ATS success against the overvalued Hawks and Rose’s turnaround is why I’m playing on Chicago as my 10* Best Bet Saturday.

I’m playing on the Georgetown Hoyas as a 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

The Hoyas are back home in DC after playing their last two games on the road, opening the doors of the Verizon Center to the Butler Bulldogs.

This is a revenge spot for Georgetown after falling to Butler earlier in the season, losing 64-58 in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in November. The Hoyas found themselves down early in that contest and couldn’t battle back, but were coming off a grueling game versus Wisconsin and an overtime affair with Florida. Fast forward to Saturday, and Georgetown is getting great line value as a short favorite at home to the Bulldogs.

Georgetown isn’t going to give many second-chance looks at the basket, with 37.7 boards per contests. That includes limiting opponents to an average of only 7.3 offensive rebounds over the Hoyas’ last three games. Butler, which leads the Big East in rebounding, ripped down just six offensive rebounds in the first meeting with the Hoyas and won’t find easy second looks Saturday.

Georgetown will look to pick up the pace versus the Bulldogs and beat their zone back to the key. The Hoyas defense is forcing 13.5 turnovers per game, with 7.8 of those coming off steals. The Hoyas will parlay those takeaways into easy transition buckets before the Bulldogs can get set on defense.

The Hoyas out for revenge on their own court and their ability to clean the glass is why I’m playing on Georgetown as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

am playing on UTAH. I love this spot for the Jazz Friday night at home against the Lakers. The two biggest reasons are a huge improvement on defense for the Jazz and a Lakers team playing in one of its worst situations. 

The Lakers like playing the second contest of back-to-back situations about as much as Kobe likes going 5-for-28 from field-goal and 3-point range like he did against the Heat the other night. The Lakers are 1-7 straight up on zero days of rest this season and could be facing a special kind of letdown coming off a nationally televised game against LeBron and the Cavs at home on Thursday. 
Utah is no opponent you can let your guard down against these days, either. The Jazz are coming into their own on defense, which they said began to come together during a pre-holiday-season East Coast road trip. Utah seems to be getting more comfortable all the time with coach Quin Snyder's defensive schemes since that trip and it's showing every game. 
The Jazz held two opponents to fewer than 80 points in the 10 games since that road trip ended and allowed only three opponents to top 100 points during that span. I think the Lakers are in for a tough one here. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on FLORIDA. SEC conference season has sort of become Gator season and it's hard not to love Florida now that league play has begun. 
The Gators are 2-0 straight up and against the spread since SEC play began and they bring a school record of 23 straight conference wins into tonight's home tilt with Auburn. They're also 7-1 against the spread in their last eight conference games and it seems oddsmakers just can't keep up with Billy Donovan's club in Southeastern contests.
The Gators started the season with a bit of a bump, going 3-4 to open the year. But Donovan said that was all part of the growing process and the Gators are in a much better spot now.  
“I think, in my opinion for this team was the fact that our schedule was so challenging. We were forced to deal with the truth, we were forced to grow, we were forced to confront things we need to get better at,” he said this week. 
The Gators are playing better as a team overall and had 14 assists against South Carolina to open SEC play followed by 19 assists in a romp over Miss State after that. I think we'll see that trend continue upward as the Gators roll on and cover this big spread tonight. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on VILLANOVA. The Wildcats are smoking hot with their shooting right now and I believe make a great play tonight against a team that tries to win in shootouts. 
Xavier doesn't have the team defensive capabilities - especially on the road - to slow Nova down with the Musketeers allowing a porous 76.5 points away from home this year. And although Xavier is the top scoring team in the Big East, I really don't think they want to get into a gunslinger's match with Villanova right now. 
Nova has far more depth, boasting five players who average double digits this season and two more who score at least 7.8 points per game. The Wildcats have 171 points over their last two games combined and shot at least 53 percent from field goal range and at least 43 percent from 3-point land in each game. 
I don't think anyone is slowing down Nova right now - especially on home court. 10* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Chicago Bulls as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

The Bulls have a chance to get even with their Eastern Conference rivals, the Washington Wizards Wednesday. The Wizards are coming off a hard-fought victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs at home Tuesday, and traveled overnight to the Windy City for this second half of back-to-back games.

Washington has shown that it’s susceptible to the letdown spot a few times this season. The Wizards faced a tough test in Oklahoma City two weeks ago, then fell to the Spurs the following night. Washington also followed a victory against Chicago with a flat outing against the Atlanta Hawks last week. Coming off a notable win against the reigning NBA title holders and making a quick trip to Chicago puts this team in another tough spot Wednesday.

The Bulls will be out for revenge after taking a one-sided 120-89 loss to Washington last week. Chicago is also looking to get on track after an embarrassing home loss to the Orlando Magic Monday night. Expect a much more stout effort from the Bulls defensively Wednesday, after watching Orlando score 121 points and Washington pile up 120 in their recent win over Chicago.

The Wizards ripe for the letdown in a tough back-to-back spot and the Bulls’ seeking to avenge a one-sided defeat is why I’m playing on Chicago as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Boston Celtics as my 10* Best Bet Wednesday.

The Celtics host the high-flying Atlanta Hawks, who bring a nine-game winning streak into Wednesday’s road date. The Hawks have covered the spread in each of those nine outings but the basketball markets are catching up to Atlanta and the value is being sucked out of its nightly odds. Wednesday’s game in Beantown is also a very tough spot, even for a team as hot as the Hawks.

Atlanta picked up win No. 9 over Philadelphia Tuesday. The Hawks take the court for the second night of back-to-back games against a Boston offense that likes to press the tempo, running the second fastest pace in the NBA at 99.6 points per 100 possessions. The Celtics will be able to take advantage of a fatigued Atlanta team that doesn’t look down its bench too often, averaging 16.4 minutes for reserves – among the lowest in the NBA.

On top of the tough task of playing back-to-back nights, the Hawks also run the risk of looking ahead to the final two road games of this current trip. Atlanta wraps up in Toronto and Chicago, two teams it will be jockeying with for playoff position in the Eastern Conference postseason picture. Boston is coming off a big home win against the New Orleans Pelicans and presents solid value as the home side Wednesday night.

An unfocused Hawks side with tired legs going against the Celtics up-tempo attack is why I’m playing on Boston as my 10* Best Bet Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Tennessee Volunteers as my 10* Best Bet Tuesday.

The Volunteers are chomping at the bit to get back on the court after a sluggish loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide last time out. Tennessee hosts the red-hot Arkansas Razorback back, and oddsmakers are being very generous in Knoxville.

We see great value with the Vols at home Tuesday. The home team has covered in four of the last five meeting between these SEC rivals and the underdog has been a profitable 10-4 ATS in the previous 14 clashes between Arkansas and Tennessee.

Arkansas has been able to put up some big numbers to start the season, ranking seventh in the country in scoring. However, the Hogs defense hasn’t been nearly as efficient – especially away from home. The Razorbacks are giving up 77.5 points per game to host teams heading into this contest.

Tennessee is trying to shake itself out of an offensive funk with a new look. Head coach Donnie Tyndall told the media he plans on tinkering with his starting lineup in order to put more experience on the floor during these tight SEC matchups.

Tyndall is trying to find other outlets on offense besides Josh Richardson, who has taken the brunt of opponents’ defensive attention. Junior forward Derek Reese is expected to get more minutes and will help lighten the scoring burden on Richardson.

The Razorbacks' defensive woes on the road and the Volunteers looking to jump start their scoring at home is why I’m playing on Tennessee as my 10* Best Bet Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Brooklyn Nets as a 10* Monday.

Brooklyn hosts the Houston Rockets Monday, who are stacking the frequent flyer miles recently. Houston was in New York to play the Knicks Thursday, then had to fly home for a game against the Utah Jazz Saturday, before heading back to the Big Apple to face the Nets.

Brooklyn hopes to catch a jet-lagged Rockets squad Monday night. Houston has played five of its last seven away from home and isn’t nearly as tough defensively on the road, allowing foes to average 101.5 points per road game compared to just 92.4 points against inside the Toyota Center.

The Nets have dropped five straight but remain competitive most nights thanks to their controlled pace and stingy defense. Brooklyn has limited opponents to just over 92 points per game in this five-game slide. The Nets can throw some big bodies at the Rockets, keeping center Dwight Howard busy with the combo of Mason Plumlee and Brook Lopez down low. Not only are those two big men physical on the defensive end but they’re helping pick up the slack on offense.

Brooklyn’s offense plays a much slower pace than Houston, averaging 94.3 points per 100 possessions. The Nets can lure the Rockets into a methodical half-court game if they can take care of the basketball. Houston thrives on transitioning off turnovers, and Brooklyn can’t allow those mistakes to end up as easy buckets.

The Rockets’ frantic travel schedule and Brooklyn’s underrated defense is why I’m playing on Brooklyn as a 10* Monday.

I’m playing on the Chicago Bulls as a 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

The Bulls have a bad taste in their mouths after getting rolled by the Washington Wizards Friday night. Chicago is a resilient team and will take out those frustrations on the lowly Milwaukee Bucks inside the United Center Saturday.

The Bulls couldn’t slow down the Wizards' attack, which fired 47.7 percent from the field and knocked down eight of its 15 looks from beyond the arc. Chicago also committed 16 turnovers in the loss. Nights like those often leave players eager to get back on the court and erase the poor showing. Luckily, for the Bulls and us, they don’t have to wait long to do so, and present great value as a home side Saturday.

Milwaukee brings a bit of momentum into this matchup, which trims the spread a touch, earning back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Philadelphia – the Bucks’ fellow basement dwellers. Milwaukee is very small inside right now, with center Larry Sanders in limbo, forward Ersan Ilyasova out with a concussion, and rookie Jabari Parker lost for the year.

Chicago’s backcourt combo of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler continue to struggle from the floor so expect the Bulls to get on the backs of their big men in this matchup, and exploit a thin Milwaukee forward corps.

Joakim Noah is working his way back to health and has some talented forwards around him in Pau Gasol and reserve center Taj Gibson. Chicago often dominates inside when playing at home, averaging 45.1 points in the paint in the Windy City, compared to just 38.3 on the road.

The Bulls’ anxiousness to erase Friday's poor performance and their dominance inside against a thin Bucks frontcourt is why I’m playing on Chicago as a 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

I am playing on SAN FRANCISCO. This series has a history of Gonzaga laying too many points against an inferior San Francisco team and I think we have the same situation tonight. 
The Dons have are 9-3 against the spread in the last 12 meetings with Gonzaga and they are getting twice as many points tonight as they have in any game all season. It's also the biggest number this series has seen in at least the last 10 meetings.
San Francisco can shoot (46 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point land) which is a key reason I think they can keep it within cover distance tonight. The Zags are also playing their first home game since Dec. 15, so they may not be quite as sharp as usual at home. And Gonzaga is also introducing Vanderbilt transfer Eric McClellan into the lineup tonight in his first game being eligible. 
He led Vandy in points before he transferred and will be a great addition for Gonzaga, but I think the Bulldogs may try to work him into the game too much tonight against a weaker team and their offensive rhythm may be thrown off a bit. 
I believe this is too many points to give away against a team that can get hot shooting where Gonzaga may be more concerned with working a new player into the lineup than winning in a huge blowout. 10* Best Bet   

I am playing on XAVIER. After upsetting two ranked teams last week, Seton Hall has completely lost its element of surprise and I like Xavier to be fully prepared tonight and I really like them to cover the number. 
I believe the Musketeers have seen enough now to know how Seton Hall operates, which is to play high-pressure defense off rebounds and try to slow teams down in transition. Xavier should have some plans of how to combat that now and the Musketeers are no easy team to slow down to begin with. 
Xavier leads the Big East in scoring (79.9 points per game) and field-goal percentage (49.8) and is a team that knows how to light up a scoreboard. Seton Hall has also benefited from stopping teams from beyond the arc, where it ranks fourth in the nation but I don't think the Pirates can depend on that tonight. Xavier knocks down an amazing 40.3 percent of its shots from downtown at home this season, where it is 5-2 against the spread in games featuring a posted line. 
Seton Hall is just 1-2 on the road this season, where it allows 70 points per game compared to a season average of 60.8 points against per game. 
I just don't think oddsmakers are making Xavier lay enough here. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on the CLIPPERS. While it's true the Hawks ride a six-game road winning streak into L.A. tonight, I see the Clippers in a great situation here and I like them to come away with a convincing win.  
The Clippers are playing their sixth game of a nine-game home stand tonight, so they should be more than comfortable playing on home court and are likely experiencing their most consistent daily routines they'll see all season. 
They also had their first practice in nearly a month on Friday after playing 15 games in 33 days and the session paid off. L.A. pummeled the Sixers by 36 points and should be fully prepared coming into tonight's game against the Hawks. 
The Clippers are 4-1 straight up on their current home stand and they'll be looking for a little revenge after the Hawks beat them in their last game before the home stretch began. 
Atlanta is scoring off turnovers lately and I don't feel the Hawks can count on more of the same tonight. The Clippers rank fourth in the league with just 11.9 giveaways per game and point guard Chris Paul is tied for third in the NBA with 2.03 steals per game. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on BROOKLYN. I like that Brooklyn is getting a small pile of points at home here tonight in a matchup where both teams are playing on zero rest. 
Dallas is just 2-5 against the spread in the second of back to back spots this year and Brooklyn hasn't exactly been the Mavs' favorite opponent recently. The Nets won the last three meetings in the series and covered the spread in two of those. 
I think the Nets will give the Mavs some matchup problems inside where Brook Lopez and Mason Plumlee are doing some damage lately. Plumlee is averaging 14.5 points on 22-of-27 shooting over the last four games while Lopez is putting up 18 points on 31-of-50 shooting over the same time frame.
Dallas will likely look to win with quick transitions but where the Mavs are playing on back-to-back nights and in the final game of a 3-game East Coast road trip, I think they'll have trouble keeping their legs fresh as the game goes on. 
I like Brooklyn here, if not to win outright, then at least to cover this somewhat generous number at home for a team that has won six of its last eight games. 10* Best Bet

I’m playing on the Portland Pilots as my 10* Main Event Saturday.

The Pilots are one of the hottest bets in college basketball heading into this weekend, riding a five-game ATS winning streak and have covered in nine of their 12 lined games this season. Portland is getting plenty of points at home to the Gonzaga Bulldogs Saturday.

The Pilots’ potent offense has lifted it over the oddsmakers’ expectations in those games. They’re putting up 73.3 points a night with one of the best perimeter games in the WCC. Portland is shooting 38.6 percent from beyond the arc but has been especially hot from distance the last three games, knocking down 47.4 percent of its looks from long range – averaging nine 3-pointers per contest in that span.

That ability to stretch the defense with that outside shooting touch lines up perfect against Gonzaga. The Bulldogs depend on their size inside to push around teams. However, with the Pilots bringing those big men outside the key, and returning to friendly rims after playing the last two games away from home, Gonzaga’s biggest strength could be neutralized.

This will technically be Gonzaga’s four straight road game after playing Cal Poly on a neutral court and traveling to BYU and San Diego before the New Year. The Bulldogs will find some size challenging them inside on the offensive end of the floor, and won’t dominate the boards like they have most opponents. Portland had outrebounded 12 of its 14 opponents and ranks 28th in rebounding margin at plus-7.6.

The Pilots' sharp shooting from beyond the arc and their toughness on the glass is why I’m playing Portland as my 10* Main Event Saturday.

I’m playing on the Florida Gators as a 10* Saturday.

These teams clashed in the Final Four last year, with UConn edging Florida to reach the national championship. The Gators have revenge on their minds as they host the Huskies Saturday. Florida has stumbled a bit in non-conference play, thanks to some offensive issues, but still play Donovan’s lock-down defense, giving up only 56.2 points per game – ranked 15th in the country.

Connecticut comes into this rematch with a limp. The Huskies could be without top scorer Ryan Boatright, who missed practice this week with a thigh contusion. Even if Boatright fights through a painful thigh injury, the Gators aggressive defense will go after the senior guard and put his health to the test.

The Huskies aren’t scoring a lot of points, so much of the offense depends solely on Boatright to make plays. He’s also an anchor on the perimeter on the defensive end. Connecticut will turn to versatile Daniel Hamilton to shoulder some of the ball handling duties, which takes him out of a scoring role and throws a major wrench in the Huskies' offensive sets.

This is also UConn’s first true road test of the season, after playing on neutral sites during non-conference competition. The Gainesville faithful will be frothing at the mouth after losing to the Huskies in last year’s tournament, so expect a heavy home-court edge for the Gators inside the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

The Gators' defense keying in on the Huskies' weak links and a revenge-fueled home crowd is why I’m playing on Florida as a 10* Saturday.

I’m playing on the Utah Jazz as my 10* Non-Conference Game of the Week Friday.

The Jazz play hosts to the Atlanta Hawks, one of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Hawks have won eight of their last 10 contests, including a statement win against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last outing.

The market is jumping on Atlanta’s success and this spread is puffed up a bit to reflect that shift in betting action. That opens up value on Utah, especially with this being the first stop of a three-game Western Conference road run for the Hawks, who could get caught looking ahead to matchups in Portland and in Los Angeles.

The Jazz are playing some of the best basketball of their season so far, with wins coming in five of their last seven games. In fact, Utah has been a solid wager with ATS victories in seven of its previous 10 outings, including back-to-back home wins over Philadelphia and Minnesota.

The Jazz have tightened up their defense during this stretch, allowing just under 92 points during that seven-game span – a sharp decline from their season defensive average of 100.0 points per game. Utah has trimmed that number to 88.7 points over its last three, with foes shooting just 41.8 percent.

The Jazz playing solid defense at home against a Hawks squad hitting the highway with some inflated odds if why I’m playing on Utah as my 10* Non-Conference Game of the Week Friday.

I’m playing on the Xavier Musketeers as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

The Musketeers open their second year of Big East play against the gatekeepers of the conference, the Georgetown Hoyas, at home as part of the Big East’s New Year’s Eve Marathon. The Cintas Center in Cincinnati will serve as the Hoyas' first true road test of the year.

Georgetown is coming off a close win over Indiana, knocking off the Hoosiers 91-87 in overtime in a neutral-site matchup in Madison Square Garden Saturday. The Hoyas haven’t had to face a hostile crowd and will likely get an earful of New Year’s cheer from the Xavier faithful on Dec. 31.

Georgetown struggled away from D.C. last season, going just 2-9 on the road including five straight road losses to end the schedule. Going back to last year, the Hoyas are just 2-6-1 ATS in their last eight away games versus teams with a winning record.

The Musketeers are coming off a strong 9-3 SU non-conference schedule, butting heads with the likes of Auburn, Missouri, UTEP, Alabama, Long Beach State (twice), San Diego, Murray State, and Florida Gulf Coast – a solid mix of major-conference competitors and mid-major heavyweights. Xavier has done a fine job getting ready for the grind of Big East play.

Xavier ranks 16th in the country in scoring, pouring in 81.8 points per game – shooting 50.9 percent from the field - with an up-and-down style that contrasts Georgetown’s slow-motion Princeton offense. We’ve seen the Hoyas on their heels against teams that push the tempo, and the Musketeers play one of the fastest paces in the country.

The Hoyas' troubles on the road and the Musketeers' up-tempo attack is why I’m playing on Xavier as a 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Michigan Wolverines as my 10* Main Event Tuesday.

The Wolverines are hoping some home cooking can get them back on track with Big Ten play opening against the Illinois Fighting Illini Tuesday. Michigan snapped a four-game skid with a victory over Coppin State Eagles, but failed to cover the spread for the seventh straight game. The market has soured on the Wolverines and we see that with this very slim spread at home. There’s value to be had with Michigan in what could already be a must-win game.

Michigan head coach John Beilein has been harping on defense since his program’s four-game slide, getting a much better effort in the win against the Eagles. The Wolverines sit near the bottom of the Big Ten in most defensive statistics but have done a good job creating turnovers, forcing opponents to cough up the ball 14.5 times per game.

Illinois does a very good job of taking care of the ball but if Michigan can up the intensity on defense and force the Illini to make some mistakes, the Wolverines could blow this game wide open. Illinois is not sound defensively and has already been ripped by some big-name programs, giving up 77 points to Oregon and 73 points to Villanova.

The Wolverines will definitely have a unique home-court edge for Tuesday’s conference opener. Rumor has it that the school will introduce new head football coach Jim Harbaugh – a former Michigan star – at the game. That has sparked a flood of ticket sales and will pack the Crisler Center for what would normally be a ho-hum matinee game. Michigan has covered in seven of its last eight versus Illinois and 12 of its last 14 home stands against the Illini.

The market overacting to the Wolverines' struggles and a big boost coming at home is why I’m playing on Michigan as my 10* Main Event Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Charlotte Hornets as my 9* Personal Favorite Monday. The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Hornets, picking up their busy road schedule Monday night. The Bucks seem to be hitting the wall with three losses in their last four games and key players on the sidelines.

One of those losses came at home to the Hornets, who exploded out of the half for a 34-point third quarter and forced 20 total turnovers from the Bucks in a 108-101 road victory as 5.5-point underdogs. It was the fifth time Charlotte has covered in their last seven meetings with Milwaukee.

The Bucks looked lifeless in their second half of a home-and-home set with Atlanta, managing only 85 points on just under 39 percent shooting Saturday. They were without versatile rookie forward Jabari Parker and two key components of their frontcourt in center Larry Sanders and forward Ersan Ilyasova. Both big men won't be in action again Monday.

Milwaukee had 19 turnovers in that contests and continues to cough up the ball, averaging 17 giveaways per game – third most in the NBA. The Hornets are on the opposite end of the scale. Charlotte ranks tops in the NBA in turnovers per game, handing the ball over only 11 times a contest. It’s playing more a controlled pace and seeing great results in its backcourt.

Guard Kemba Walker has benefited the most, ranked among the best point guards in assist-to-turnover ratio and erupted for 42 points in the loss to Orlando Saturday. Charlotte should also get a big game from center Al Jefferson, going against a thin Milwaukee forward corps missing two top defenders.

The Bucks stretched thin on the road and the Bobcats capitalizing on Milwaukee’s turnover troubles is why I’m playing on Charlotte as my 9* Personal Favorite Monday.

10* Tennessee. Analysis before 7am PST

I am playing on SAN ANTONIO.  The Spurs looked flat in a loss to Oklahoma City on Christmas Day and I believe they’ll bounce back today against the Pelicans. 

San Antonio seemed slow in transition and got killed on the boards 47-38, allowing OKC to grab 16 offensive rebounds yesterday. Sometimes it’s better to play on the road on Christmas Day to avoid the distractions and I think San Antonio may have been a little sluggish after a busy day at home with the families before heading to the arena. 

The Spurs are a great bounce-back team though and are 8-4 after a loss this season. I think they’ll have fresher legs today despite the back-to-back spot and they’ll be able to earn a win against the Pelicans. 

One thing I liked about the Spurs yesterday was their shooting. They were hitting a lot of their mid-range jump shots and went 42-of-81 on field goals (51.9 percent). I think we’ll see more of that hot shooting today and a more energetic squad going up against a Pelicans unit that might have a bit of the same Christmas legs syndrome the Spurs suffered from yesterday. 10* western conf. best bet

I am playing on DETROIT. Despite a four-game losing streak, the Pistons are showing some signs of coming together as a team and I like them to take a win from the sub-par Pacers today.

Detroit has seen five different players lead the team in scoring over its last five games, which says to me that everyone on this team is still fighting to win. The Pistons eliminated the distraction of trade rumors swirling around second leading scorer Josh Smith when they waived him a couple of days ago. It sounded like Smith wasn’t happy in Detroit and you have to wonder how much that was weighing things in the locker room.

Detroit still has five players who average double figures, so I don’t think it will be much of a tragic loss for the team and other players have been waiting to step up. Jodie Meeks is looking stronger every game and has scored in double digits in three of his six games since his return and provides Detroit with a much needed outside threat.

Defense has been the problem for the Pistons over their four-game losing streak but the Pacers are just the team you want to see when you are having trouble on D.  Indiana ranks 26th or worse in the NBA in 3-point shooting, field-goal shooting and points per game.   10* Best Bet

10* Clippers. Analysis before 10am PST

I am playing on NEBRASKA. The Cornhuskers are coming off their lowest scoring game of the season after a 50-42 win over Loyola-Marymount, but they finished the game on a high note and I think they’ll carry that momentum into this Christmas Day game against Ohio.

Junior Terran Pettaway has been a shining offensive bright spot for the Huskers and he hit two three pointers and went 7-for-8 at the free throw line in overtime to lead Nebraska to the win. Nebraska also came up with two big stops in OT to seal the deal.

“(The offense) is going to come. One thing we pride ourselves on is defense, and that’s what got us through the Big Ten (last year),” Pettaway said after the game.

Nebraska’s defense held LMU to just 16 points in the first half, a record for futility in a half in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii

Ohio might be just the team to be facing to get some scoring going. The Bobcats have allowed an average of 74.2 points against over their last five games and they're allowing opponents to shoot 43.6 percent from the field during that span.

Nebraska is allowing super stingy 60.4 points per game over its last five, which isn't far away from the team's season average of 61.9.

I feel the Huskers' suffocating defense, along with the generous defense of Ohio, will propel the Huskers to a win and cover on Christmas Day. 10* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Orlando Magic as my 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday. Orlando plays host to a Boston Celtics team trying to find a new identity after dealing away point guard Rajon Rondo last week. The Magic are getting solid value at home Tuesday.

Boston’s up-tempo attack was missing that extra gear in a 100-84 road loss to the Miami Heat Sunday. The Celtics, who play one of the fastest paces in the NBA, scored a season-low 84 points on 39.8 percent shooting. Marcus Smart took over the point guard duties and Jameer Nelson came off the bench, failing to fill the scoring punch Rondo provided.

This Celtics team has plenty of work to do to plug those gaps but hitting the road won’t help the cause. Orlando is a solid defensive team, giving up 99.3 points per outing, and plays one of the more methodical paces in the game – averaging 94.6 per 100 possessions. It could drag this game into a snail's pace and force Boston to play a halfcourt set.

The Magic remain one of the better outside shooting teams in the NBA, knocking down 37.4 percent of their looks from beyond the arc. That number bumps up to 38.6 percent inside the Amway Center. Orlando is getting terrific production from reserve guard Evan Fournier, who has knocked down 40.7 percent of his 3-point attempts and comes into Tuesday with the hot hand, hitting seven of his 12 shots from distance.

If Orlando continues to knock down 3-point buckets, that could put some serious space between them and Boston on the scoreboard – a gap that the Celtics offense may not be able to close with the rotation a mess and the offensive identity in flux.

A Boston offense in turmoil and the Magic’s sharp shooting from outside is why I’m playing on Orlando as my 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I am playing on UNLV. The Rebels play on the Strip for the first time in the school's history in this Coaches vs. Cancer matchup at the MGM Grand Arena and I love that they're getting a pile of points.
The Rebels are coming off a gritty 75-73 overtime win over Portland but they were six-point favorites in that game and coach Dave Rice wasn't happy with the effort. I think that actually benefits the Rebels in this spot because Rice spent time in the film room with his team this week hammering on rebounding and getting his team focused for Utah. I think we'll see a much sharper UNLV team tonight as a result. 
The Rebs got out-rebounded 35-27 against Portland and Rice said it was largely due to the guards not boxing out and being where they're supposed to be on rebounds. I think we'll see them correct that problem tonight and try to get up and down the floor quickly against a big Utah squad. 
Utah hasn't played in a week since losing to Kansas in its last game and we may see some rust early from the Utes. That works in our favor with UNLV seeing the most underdog points of the season since the team played Stanford Nov. 21. 
The Rebels have scored at least 75 points in each of their last three games and Utah hasn't scored more than 69 in its last three games.
I like UNLV to at least keep it close tonight and possibly even pull off the upset in what is the last game on the college board tonight. 10* Main Event

I am playing on the CLIPPERS. Los Angeles is laying a bunch of points but that doesn't bother me much here and I think they'll handily take care of the Bucks tonight.
I think the Clippers will come out hungry after a 109-106 loss to the Nuggets in which they missed a couple of three-pointers in the final seconds. 
Los Angeles actually doesn't mind playing on back-to-back nights this season where the team is 5-1 straight up and 3-3 against the spread. Milwaukee comes into this one in a much worse schedule spot, playing its third West Coast road game in four nights. 
I believe fatigue will show, especially on defense for the Bucks, which isn't good for them considering they're giving up a whopping average of 108.3 points over their last six games. The Clippers should take full advantage of that as the No. 4 scoring team in the NBA with 106 points per game this year.   
Another reason I like L.A. tonight is DeAndre Jordan. He's been a defensive beast for the Clippers this month with an average of 15.7 rebounds in nine games in December before last night's game and he's also averaging 2.8 blocks. 
With the Clippers' offense and Jordan's defense against a tired Bucks team, I believe we'll see the Clippers take this one and cover the big number in a dominating effort. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on DETROIT. Despite Detroit’s troubles this season, the team is showing some positive signs and I believe the Pistons are in a good spot to take the points Friday night. 
The Pistons have now lost 11 straight at home and crowds are getting more sparse every night. That just makes the Pistons more hungry to win a game for the home crowd and we’re seeing signs of fight from them. Andre Drummond scored 19 points and hauled in 24 rebounds in a monstrous effort against the Mavs two nights ago. Detroit failed to cover but was as close as being within five points with 2:35 left to play and narrowly missing covering for the third time in the team's last four games. 
I think the Pistons will rally around Drummond and continue to give teams a fight until they can get a win at the Palace. 
One thing I like about Detroit is I think we’ll start seeing better things from beyond the arc. They shot 39 percent from 3-point land Wednesday night, a huge improvement from their season average of 33 percent. 
The return of guard Jodie Meeks should help with that since his return four games ago and he’s slowly seeing more floor time each game. I think that will help Detroit spread the floor a little more and give Drummond some outside help as he continues to do some damage inside. 10* Best Bet

I am playing on DETROIT. The Pistons have shown signs of playing better recently with two wins in their last three games and I believe we’ll see a team hungry for a win tonight after failing to give the Motor City faithful a victory on home court in their last 10 games at the Palace.

Detroit went 2-1 on its recent West Coast road trip that ended with a 22-point drubbing at the hands of the Clippers. I think we can throw that last game out for what was likely a weary Pistons squad that was playing its third game in four nights in the Pacific Time Zone.

The good news in that blowout is that Jodie Meeks had a chance to see some floor time and he scored 20 points in 29 minutes. I think that could be just what he needed in his third game since returning from injury and I believe Detroit will start to see a much-needed contribution from him from 3-point range, where Detroit has struggled all season.

Trade rumors are swirling around the Pistons these days and that’s another reason I like them right now. It’s reasonable to think some players may want out of this losing squad that seems desperate for answers and sometimes we see teams elevate their play with potential trades in the works.

I like that Detroit is getting a handful of points at home here also. The Mavs are coming off a win over the Knicks last night and they tend to scrape out wins, but not cover in the second game of back-to-backs. They are 4-1 straight up in that spot this season but just 1-4 against the spread. 10* Best Bet

I’m playing on the UCLA Bruins as my 10* Main Event Saturday. The Bruins take a four-game winning streak into the weekend but face a huge test in the Gonzaga Bulldogs inside Pauley Pavilion. Oddsmakers aren’t giving UCLA much respect and there is value in a very talented Bruins team.

UCLA took some losses on the chin against some of the better basketball programs in the country, falling to Oklahoma and North Carolina at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, but have built back up its confidence with a softer schedule in recent weeks. The Bruins have won four in a row – just what this team needed to boost its confidence.

One of the players seeing the benefit of this stretch of schedule is freshman forward Kevon Looney. He’s averaging over 13 points and almost 11 rebounds in those four wins and will be called upon to go up against one of the best frontcourts in the country Saturday. Looney is a tough matchup for the Bulldogs big men, with his ability to play down low or on the wing. Gonzaga doesn’t see players like the 6-foot-9 five-star recruit every day.

Gonzaga’s backcourt has hit a bit of a snag. Star guard Kevin Pangos was scoreless in the Bulldog’s win over Washington State and had just eight points in the loss to Arizona. Gonzaga continues to struggle with its guard rotation since freshman backup PG Josh Perkins went down with a broken jaw. Pangos is often stranded at point guard, unable to find his scoring rhythm. He also faces a much bigger UCLA backcourt Saturday, which should add to his offensive woes.

The Bruins being able to stretch the Bulldogs big men and limit Gonzaga’s backcourt scoring is why I’m playing on UCLA as my 10* Main Event Saturday.

I’m playing on the VCU Rams as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday. Virginia Commonwealth is one the mid-major gatekeepers, having shown its dominance in past NCAA tournaments. The Rams host a fellow mid-major star in No. 24 Northern Iowa Saturday.

The Panthers ride a perfect 9-0 record into the week, coming off a tough situational spot in Denver. Northern Iowa’s national ranking has put a target on its back – something the Panthers aren’t used to dealing with. The Rams have made a name for themselves sinking Top 25 teams and have been playing at one of the highest levels in the country this winter.

Virginia Commonwealth has had a week to prepare following a loss to Virginia and has already played other major-conference opponents Oregon, Villanova, and Tennessee. The Rams boast the seventh hardest schedule in the country and the combined record of their pre-Christmas opponents is 71-26. Outside of the motivation of knocking off a ranked team, VCU also has revenge in mind after losing to NIU 77-68 last December.

The Rams defense isn’t playing up to their past standings, allowing 70.2 points per game. They’re still forcing opponents to make mistakes – averaging 17.6 forced turnovers per game – but have been exposed in the half-court set. Virginia Commonwealth will try to hurry up the NIU offense with their infamous pressure defense and turn those mistakes into quick buckets.

The Rams playing at a much higher level of competition with revenge on their home court as the fuel is why I’m playing on VCU as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

I am playing on DETROIT. I believe the Pistons are going to play with a little desperation tonight as they aim to avoid tying a franchise-worst 14-game losing streak. I believe that, along with a few other elements, will help them cover against the Suns tonight and I anticipate it happening with room to spare. 
The Pistons have covered five straight meetings with the Suns and they were set as underdogs in three of those. I think Detroit might be able to hit some three-pointers against the Suns to keep things close. The Suns have been allowing opponents to shoot better than 40 percent from downtown over their past five games and three-point land is one of the few spots Detroit ranks around the middle of the league (and not the bottom) with a 33.1 percent accuracy rate. 
Another element I like working for the Pistons here is rumors are swirling that the team could be broken up after the holidays. Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings have been mentioned as players the team might want to shop due to their big contracts. 
Considering Detroit is 3-19, it has the worst attendance in the NBA and Michigan winter weather is coming, it’s logical to assume players might want out. In times like this, we often see players step up their games and play their best basketball in hopes other teams might take interest. 
I believe that’s what will happen here and I’m taking the Pistons with a pile of points before oddsmakers adjust . 10* Best Bet

I am playing on the IOWA HAWKEYES. Home court has been the ultimate factor in this bitter in-state rivalry with 10 of the last 11 victories going to the home side. It’s the biggest reason I like the Hawkeyes tomorrow, with this game being held in Iowa City. 
"I don’t think it’s different in a rivalry game than in other games," said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery this week.
Sure it’s not, coach. It certainly wasn't the case last year. The Hawkeyes let the Cyclones score the final eight points in the game and they ultimately lost 85-82 as a hostile crowd rained hatred down on an Iowa team that felt its collar squeeze a little too tightly. 
The shoe will be on the other foot this time around. Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be sold out for the first time in eight games this season and the cheapest tickets on StubHub are pushing 60 bucks. 
Expect that crowd to focus on Iowa State star Bryce Dejean-Jones, who was suspended Thursday by the Cyclones for a recent drug related arrest. He is expected to travel with the team to Iowa City, but won’t play. He’ll be an absolutely huge loss for Iowa State as the team’s leading rebounder and second leading scorer with 17.1 points per game. The loss is made even worse by the fact Iowa plays some pretty tough D and ranks ninth in the nation at defending field goals. 
This marks Iowa State’s first true road game of the season and I don’t like the way things are stacking up for the Cyclones. Gimme Iowa to cover its third straight meeting in this series. 10* Personal Favorite

I am playing on GEORGE WASHINGTON. Home court is one of the biggest reasons why I love the Colonials to win and cover the number in this home-and-home series with DePaul that will finish next year in Chicago. 
George Washington is 18-1 in its last 19 contests at Smith Center including 3-0 this season where they claimed those three contests by an average of 33.0 points. If that trend continues tonight, that's enough to cover the spread by three times over.
The Colonials are also on a 7-2 against the spread run at home dating back to last season and I expect them to overpower DePaul tonight with tough defense and great team basketball.    
GW owns the 35th best scoring defense in the country (58.0 ppg against), the 31st ranked three-point defense (27.5 percent) and the team is 38th in fewest fouls per game (15.9).
Joe McDonald is the backbone on offense and is the kind of do-everything point guard that coaches dream about. He has 8.9 points, 1.4 steals and a team-high 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. I don't believe DePaul will be able to match up with GW's backcourt with McDonald and junior guard Patricio Garino. Garino is on fire with 16.5 points on 62 percent shooting in the Colonials' past four games and he leads the team in scoring with 14.6 points per contest. 
George Washington is also the far better rebounding team in this contest with a 5.6 rebounding margin compared to DePaul's -0.9 margin. I think George Washington will control the play with its rebounding, defense and backcourt play and will be able to handily take down the Blue Demons on home court. 10* Personal Favorite

10* T-Wolves. Analysis before 10am PST.

I’m playing on the Charlotte Hornets as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday. The Hornets have enjoyed an extended break following a win over New York that snapped a 10-game losing skid. That’s given Charlotte time to focus on what’s working and bring some important bodies back before taking on a Boston Celtics squad that’s already had a busy week.

The Hornets took a 103-102 win over the Knicks, finally getting the monkey off their backs. Charlotte then had four full days of rest and practice to prepare for the Celtics’ up-tempo attack. There are some pluses to having such an extended hiatus.

The Hornets will have forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist back on the court Wednesday, providing a big lift on both ends of the floor. And Charlotte has been able to find other ways to integrate Lance Stephenson into the offense, after its big offseason addition finally started producing. Stephenson has scored 16 and 20 points in the last two games.

Boston went to war with the Washington Wizards this week. The Celtics took both games of a home-and-home set but those were grueling battles, avoiding a late collapse on Sunday and playing two overtime periods Monday.

The Celtics could come into this road game flat, especially against a Charlotte team that plays at one of the slowest paces in the NBA. The Hornets have a pace factor of 94.1 (points per 100 possessions), which ranks 26th in the league, while Boston tops the NBA with a torrid 100.7 pace. Charlotte could put the breaks on Boston’s style of play and force the Celtics into a halfcourt grinder.

A rested and prepared Hornets team and a Celtics side ripe for a flat performance is why I’m playing on Charlotte as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Detroit Pistons as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday. The Pistons take on the Philadelphia 76ers playing the second night of back-to-back games after a hard-fought contest against the Thunder Friday night.

The market has corrected to the Sixers’ improved play. Philadelphia has covered in four straight games and is 6-1 ATS in its last seven outings, including picking up their very first win of the season during this span. Like all value plays in the modern sports betting era, this will dry up pretty quickly and there is now opportunity to play against the 76ers, who were 4-8 ATS before this recent stretch. We're staying ahead of the curve with this selection.

Detroit is not the team you want to face on the second night of back-to-back games. The Pistons play a physical brand of basketball, with a beefy frontcourt pounding on opponents and a dominance on the glass, fighting for every rebound. Detroit pulls down 54.6 boards per game – fourth most in the NBA – picking up 12.6 of those rebounds on the offensive glass. Expect the Pistons to win the loose-ball battles and score easy second-chance points.

Philadelphia has been battling hard during that current ATS hot streak, playing against some of the toughest teams in the NBA – OKC, Dallas, San Antonio. There might not be much left in the tank after an up-and-down game with the Thunder Friday. The Sixers watched Oklahoma City knock down 49.3 percent of its looks Friday and is allowing opponents to shot 46.6 percent on the season. Philadelphia is just 18-38 ATS in its last 56 games when playing the night before – covering just 32 percent of the time.

The market adjustment on the Sixers’ ATS streak and their second game of back-to-backs versus the physical Pistons is why I’m playing on Detroit as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Arizona Wildcats as my 10* Game of the Week Saturday. The Wildcats put their unbeaten record up against the unblemished Gonzaga Bulldogs and can boost their national ranking with another win over one of biggest mid-major powers in the country.

Arizona’s depth was on display in its most recent win, rolling Gardner-Webb 91-65. It got double-digit scoring efforts from four players and had 11 players make the scoresheet. The Wildcats’ bench contributed 33 points in the victory and helped jump start an offense that has dragged its feet in the opening half.

Arizona coach Sean Miller is preaching quicker starts after his team averaged just 34 points in the first half of games this season. The Wildcats answered with 40 first-half points versus Gardner-Webb. Arizona is having no issues closing out opponents, thanks in part to that scoring depth, putting up an average of 41.9 points in the final 20 minutes – 17th in the country.

That ability to pour it on late will overwhelm a Gonzaga team still trying to patch up holes in its backcourt since losing guard Josh Perkins to a broken jaw. Perkins was averaging just five points per game as a freshman coming off the bench, but his most important role was spelling Kevin Pangos at points guard, allowing Pangos to more to the No. 2 guard and give the Bulldogs more scoring punch.

Gonzaga struggled in the first half versus Southeastern Louisiana, actually trailing the Lions 33-32 at the break. Pangos cooled off after scoring all 12 of his points in the first half, being left to handle point guard duties. The Bulldogs will need his extra scoring punch if they want to keep up with Arizona.

The Wildcats' depth and the Bulldogs’ rotation issues are why I’m playing on Arizona as my 10* Game of the Week.

I am playing on TULSA. I believe the Golden Hurricane are undervalued in this spot tonight and we can thank an incredibly tough schedule to date for that. 
Tulsa faced undefeated Wichita State and Oklahoma State in its last two games, both losses as underdogs, and Auburn before that.  I believe they enter this game a little more battle-tested than Creighton, who is still feeling its way through the early season. Creighton returns only one starter from its most successful senior class in school history, including the loss of three-time All-American Doug McDermott. 
Tulsa has lost the last four meetings with the Bluejays, including each of the last three years which I believe will only fuel the Hurricane’s fire tonight. They did manage to cover in each of the last two years against Creighton and I feel defense and home court will help them win and cover the small spread tonight. 
Tulsa is holding opponents to 58.7 points per game this season and allowing them to shoot at just 39.5 percent on field goals. The Golden Hurricane are also 20-7 against the spread in their last 27 games on home court and have won their two home games this season by an average of 18.5 points. 10* Tulsa - Personal Favorite  

10* Wizards. Analysis before 10am PST

I am playing on the PISTONS. This matchup against the Lakers is just what the Pistons sorely need tonight and I believe Detroit will snap its eight-game losing skid. 
There’s nothing like facing the NBA’s worst defensive team when you are the NBA’s worst shooting team and the Pistons have the added benefit of home court. The Lakers are allowing a pathetic 112 points per game, while Detroit is shooting just 41.2 percent on field goals this season. 
One of the reasons I believe the struggling offense will beat the struggling defense here is because the Lakers are coming off an emotional 129-122 overtime win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Kobe Bryant had his 20th career triple double and became the first player to ever reach 30,000 points and 6,000 assists with the effort.   
As a result, Kobe has been the talk of the NBA world for two days and Twitter has been abuzz with his incredible achievements. Any time the Lakers are small favorites or underdogs (like tonight), books know they are going to attract some automatic Laker action. In those instances, I often lean toward fading L.A. but when the Lakers are getting this much added attention I like the play even more. 
The Pistons desperately need a win, especially at home, and I think they’ll take capitalize on a Lakers squad that is horrible defensively and in an emotional letdown spot. 10* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the UTEP Miners as my 10* End of Month Blowout Sunday. The Miners battle the Washington Huskies in a showdown between undefeated programs in the final of the Wooden Legacy in Anaheim.

UTEP has already added two big non-conference wins to its NCAA resume, with victories over Xavier and Princeton in this tournament. The Miners also knocked off the Huskies’ rival, Washington State, in their opening game of the year. UTEP won’t be intimidated by this major conference opponent Sunday in California.

Washington’s 5-0 mark to start the schedule doesn’t boast many big-name opponents. The Huskies knocked off Long Beach State and San Jose State to grab a spot in the championship game and have yet to play a member of a major conference. Washington has puffed up its early-season stats against this weak slate of games and collides with a tested UTEP team still trying to prove its place in the rankings.

The Miners are an aggressive team that gets to the paint, draws fouls and crashes the boards. UTEP averages 16.8 free throws per game, drawing 21.2 fouls an outing. On the glass, the Miners pulled down 38.5 rebounds a night – 11 of those on the offensive end. They don’t give back much in return, allowing an average of only seven offensive boards.

The Miners’ impressive non-conference calendar and their ability to get to the line and control the boards is why I’m playing on UTEP as my 10* End of Month Blowout.

I’m playing on the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels as my 10* Game of the Week Saturday. The Rebels host the Albany Great Danes at the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday, back home after a showing in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic tournament in New York.

UNLV split games in Brooklyn, losing by 11 to Stanford then upending Temple in the consolation final. The Runnin’ Rebels are struggling to score, failing to net more than 60 points in their first four games of the season. Head coach Dave Rice is looking to his team’s lockdown defense to create easy offense, with fastbreak points off turnovers.

Albany escapes the chilly New York weather for a trip to the desert. The Great Danes have been in Las Vegas since Thursday, spending the holiday together while also experiencing the sights and sounds of Sin City. Las Vegas is a tough place to stay focused for even the savviest programs.

The Great Danes aren’t a scoring threat and should have a tough time with the Rebels defense, which is allowing opponents to shoot just 33.9 percent from the field. Albany has puffed up its offensive numbers against some weaker foes the last two games but runs into UNLV 6-foot-11 shot swatter Christian Wood, who had four blocks in the win over Temple along with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Great Danes only go as big as 6-foot-8 in their starting frontcourt.

The Runnin’ Rebels defense and an Albany team a long way from home is why I’m playing on UNLV as my 10* Game of the Week.

I’m playing on the Atlanta Hawks as my 10* Personal Favorite Friday. The Hawks host the New Orleans Pelicans, who are in a grueling stretch of games in which they play nine of 11 contests away from the Big Easy.

Atlanta is eager to get back on the court after a missed opportunity against the conference-leading Toronto Raptors Wednesday. The Hawks had strung together back-to-back wins in the two games prior, including a statement win over the Washington Wizards the night before. They’re playing solid basketball in recent weeks, winning six of their last nine outings with a 5-4 ATS mark in that span.

Atlanta has one of the most efficient offense in the NBA, netting 103.5 points on 46.6 percent shooting per game. However, if the Hawks are to keep this pace they know they must tighten up on defense as the calendar flips to December. Head coach Mike Budenholzer has been preaching improvement on that side of the ball since the offseason and isn’t content with Atlanta allowing 104.3 points per night – 25th in the NBA.

The Pelicans pose a moderate threat on the offensive side of the court. New Orleans scored only 89 points in a home loss to Sacramento before the Thanksgiving break and is putting up an average of just over 98 points in its last five games – going 2-3 SU and ATS in that stretch. Hawks forward Paul Millsap will be a handful on both ends of the floor for Pelicans star center Anthony Davis, who scored just 14 points while playing under the weather against the Kings.

Atlanta’s efficient offense and home-court edge over a road weary Pelicans team is why I’m playing on Atlanta as my 10* Personal Favorite Friday.

I am playing on PHOENIX. The Raptors are getting more attention than just about anyone would have projected at this point in the early season and as a result we're going to start seeing their lines inflate.  I feel that's the case Monday night at home when they're laying a handful against the smoking-hot Suns. The Suns have won four in a row and I expect them to pour everything they have into their final game of a six-game road trip in Toronto.  Phoenix is playing fantastic team basketball right now and using a deep bench to stay fresh during the club's travels. Head coach Jeff Hornacek said "There is something about being on the road" after Saturday's win over Indiana and talked about how his team is finding its groove.  Gerald Green scored a game-high 23 points against the Pacers while Isaiah Thomas chipped in with 16 with both players coming off the bench. No player saw more than 26 minutes on Saturday night, which is why I fully expect the Suns to maintain top speed tonight.  Phoenix is the fourth leading scoring team in the NBA with 105.3 points per game and they are the best free throw shooting team. They also hold the edge in rebounding margin over the Raptors, who are one of the worst rebounding squads in the league with a margin of -2.31.   I like the Suns to get it done against a slightly overvalued Raptors team and I'll take the points while I can get them. This is just the third time all year Phoenix has been an underdog. 10* Best Bet

I’m playing on the Denver Nuggets as my 10* Revenge Best of the Best Wednesday. The Nuggets get a chance to even the score with the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday, hosting OKC after losing to the Thunder 102-91 on the road earlier this month.

The Nuggets are back home in the Pepsi Center after a three-game Eastern Conference road trip that was highlighted by a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night. Denver took a 106-97 win, returning the favor for a 110-101 home loss to the Cavs on Nov. 7. Revenge is something this Nuggets team is used to dishing out.

The Thunder face a tough schedule spot Wednesday. They’re playing the second game of a back-to-back after tangling with the Utah Jazz Tuesday night. On top of that, this a three-in-four-night spot for Oklahoma City, having lost to the Houston Rockets Sunday, and OKC climbs the Rocky Mountains and will be feeling extra fatigued in the thin air in Denver.

That frantic schedule and tough road date in Colorado compounds the Thunder’s thinning roster right now. Injuries have not only taken away their two top scorers – Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook – but reserves like Perry Jones and Andre Roberson are out of action, leaving OKC running on fumes in this spot.

A Nuggets team out for revenge and a road-weary Thunder squad sucking wind in the Pepsi Center is why I’m playing on Denver as my 10* Revenge Best of the Best Wednesday.

I am playing on NEW YORK. The Knicks finally snapped their streak of futility after seven games with a win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. I like the Knicks to continue their winning ways Tuesday night in Milwaukee and they even have a few points to work with as the underdog.

New York is finally showing signs of life in its new and much talked about triangle offense implemented by coach Derek Fisher this season. The Knicks managed 100 points or more in each of their last two games, which were the first games they reached triple digits all season.  

“Every game I'm starting to become a little bit more comfortable with my role,” Carmelo Anthony said after the game.

Anthony poured in 28 points and had just 14 field goal attempts on Sunday and he’s made 20 of his past 27 shots over his last six quarters for 58 points. With Anthony playing more effectively, J.R. Smith had his best game of the year Sunday also with 28 points of his own.

I don’t feel oddsmakers quite believe the Knicks have sorted out their woes yet, which is why we’re getting a good number on New York here on Tuesday. I expect the cat to be out of the bag in another game or two and every NBA bettor will soon know the Knicks have found their offensive rhythm. 10* Best Bet - Knicks

I am playing on MEMPHIS. The Grizzlies have won 19 straight games at home and catch Houston in a great spot on home court on Monday.  The Rockets are playing the second game in a back-to-back situation after facing Oklahoma City last night and this is their third game in four nights. Houston did try to use its bench at OKC in a game in which they scored just 69 points, but their two stars James Harden and Dwight Howard each played over 37 minutes apiece.  I believe that’s an especially tough spot for Howard, who will face his toughest post challenge of the season with the Grizzlies’ duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. The pair have helped lead Memphis to a 9-1 start to the season and are a huge reason why they lead the NBA in points allowed at 91.3 and rank fourth in defensive efficiency.  Memphis is also getting fantastic back court play right now from point guard Mike Conley, who’s average six assists and almost 17 points per game. The return of Courtney Lee on Nov. 5 has been a huge help also. He’s averaging 15.5 points on 53.3 percent shooting in the six games since his return.  A defensive stalwart on the road is a brutal matchup for the Rockets during this grinding stretch of their schedule. I believe Memphis will continue its winning ways at home and cover the small number set by oddsmakers. 10* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Los Angeles Clippers as a 10* Situational Best of the Best Saturday. The Clippers have enjoyed an extended break, with their last game coming five days ago. That’s a much-needed hiatus after an inconsistent start to the year. Los Angeles will have fresh legs against the Phoenix Suns, who are playing the second half of back-to-back games Saturday night.

The Suns roll into L.A. fresh off a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets Friday night. Phoenix, which will be playing its third game in four nights Saturday, crumbled in the fourth quarter after having a one-point lead, giving up 29 points to the Hornets in the final frame. The Suns have allowed opponents to top the 100-point plateau in six of their last seven games and rank 24th in the league in defense.

The Clippers hope the time off worked out the kinks in their offense. Los Angeles is shooting 44.9 percent from the field and averaging just over 100 points per game, after posting 108 points per outing in 2013 – tied for tops in the NBA.The Clippers won’t need too much extra in the points department to edge a weary Suns team, about to tip off a six-game road trip which will send them East for most of the month.

This situational matchup, with the Clippers well rested and the Suns going back-to-back nights, is why I’m playing on Los Angeles as a 10* Situational Best of the Best Saturday.

I’m playing on the New York Knicks as a 10* Personal Favorite Friday. The Knicks welcome a road weary Utah Jazz team to Madison Square Garden and try to snap a six-game losing slide in what is shaping up to be a must-win game for New York.

The Knicks have stumbled out of the blocks, falling back in the Eastern Conference standings. New York’s offense has struggled to find its form in head coach Derek Fisher’s new triangle offense, coming into Friday ranked among the bottom of the league in scoring. However, star forward Carmelo Anthony is starting to heat up – scoring 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting in the loss to Orlando - and can spark this offense if he finds his stroke.

The Jazz may be the perfect opponents to help New York end this slide. Utah’s defense is giving up 102.2 points per game to start the season, and allowed Atlanta to shoot better than 51 percent from the field in their loss to the Hawks Wednesday. On the other side of the floor, the Jazz don’t pose much of an offensive threat to the Knicks, managing just 90.5 points per game over their last four contest.

New York has owned Utah in recent meetings, having covered the spread in 20 of their previous 26 head-to-head battles, including a 9-0 ATS winning streak against the Jazz inside MSG.

A desperate Knicks teams and a road-weary Jazz side is why I’m playing on New York as a 10* Personal Favorite Friday.

I am playing on the KNICKS. While New York is still struggling to find any sort of rhythm, the good news is that the Knicks are catching the right team at the right time to get back on track.  The Magic are coming off an excruciating loss to the Raptors last night during which they held a double-digit lead at one point. Orlando collapsed in the final quarter and was outscored 32-17 to lose 104-100.  “It’s very hard, but it’s basketball,” guard Evan Fournier said after the loss. “I feel like I’m saying the same stuff for five games: We play good and we have a little stretch where we just don’t pay attention to the details, and that’s basically where we lose the game.” Magic coach Jaque Vaughn had to play his starters more than he likely would’ve wanted to in a back-to-back situation with four of his starting five playing at least 39 minutes each. But the Magic were desperately trying to salvage the win and managing for tonight’s game against the Knicks went out the window.  I believe the Knicks will be able to take advantage of a fatigued and demoralized Magic squad on home court tonight. Orlando went  5-13 in the second game of back-to-backs last season and the Knicks have won and covered nine of the last 10 meetings with Orlando. 10* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Orlando Magic as my 10* Best Bet Tuesday. The Magic head north of the border to face the Toronto Raptors Tuesday night. Toronto has jumped out to a strong start to the season but has built that record against some softer opponents.

The Raptors added another tick to their win column with a blowout over Philadelphia Sunday. Toronto is surprising some with its 6-1 record to open the year but a quick glance at who those victories have come against will make you think twice about Toronto’s elite status.

The Raptors have puffed up their odds with wins over the hapless Sixers, Celtics, Hawks and Tuesday’s opponents the Magic, and taken advantage of teams missing key players – Wizards and Thunder. Those six clubs have a combined record of 14-25 and Washington is currently the only one over .500.

Unlike the overvalued Raptors, the Magic have been very undervalued in their recent outings. Orlando has covered in three of its last four games – all of those ATS wins coming as an underdog. The Magic have done a good job defending in that span, giving up just over 96 points in regulation in those four contests. That’s a major improvement on Orlando’s season average of 101 points against.

The Raptors’ soft opening schedule and the Magic’s new-found defense is why I’m playing on Orlando as my 10* Best Bet Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Phoenix Suns as my 10* Best Bet Sunday. Phoenix is at home hosting a Golden State Warriors side coming off a huge game against the Houston Rockets Saturday night.

Golden State will be ripe for a letdown after mixing it up with the Western Conference-leading Rockets. Back-to-back games will have the Warriors up-tempo offense a step slower, which will benefit a Phoenix side rested up and motivated after a crushing loss to Sacramento in two overtimes Friday night.

The Suns are planning on picking up the pace with their offense – perfect timing to put Golden State on its heels. Phoenix opened that loss to Sacramento with a 36-point first quarter before pumping the breaks the rest of the game. Head coach Jeff Hornacek liked what he saw in that opening frame and is telling his backcourt to pick up the pace instead of walking into the offense.

The Suns have the horses to match the Warriors' pace, scoring an average of 103.2 points per game to start the season. Phoenix has covered in four of its previous five meetings with Golden State and has come away as an ATS victor in six of its last eight games versus the Warriors inside US Airways Center.

A letdown spot for the Warriors and the Suns' commitment to pushing the pace is why I’m playing on Phoenix as my 10* Best Bet Sunday.