Rating: 2 Units

The Celtics are on a roll. They have been the most consistent team in the NBA and have been a force at home. The Warriors have been up and down and struggled at home all season. Boston has the revenge factor on its side after losing in last season's finals and from being smack in the Bay last month. Considering how this season has gone, this should be a double-digit Celtics win. Although the Dubs should be motivated for this one, they have not fared against good Eastern Conference teams this season when on the road, including a 17-point loss to the Bucks and a 12-point loss to the 76ers. I also don't see the Warriors fixing their recent defensive issues overnight. I have to back Boston here.

Rating: 2 Units

I don't get this line. I get the revenge factor but the Wolverines beat the Terps 81-46 on Jan. 1 and 83-64 on Jan. 18, 2022, at home because the Terps don't match up with Dickinson. He's just too big. Last year, he had 21 points and went 10-of-14, but also had six assists due to the double teams. Maryland will play better than the first game, because they are at home. But when you are smaller and you can't really force many turnovers or make 3-pointers to neutralize their size advantage, you are in trouble.

Rating: 2 Units

The Purdue Boilermakers are entering this matchup hot after winning four consecutive games while also knowing that they beat the Golden Gophers once before this season. For this reason, the Boilermakers have an edge entering this contest that Minnesota will be without. In addition, Purdue has a pretty explosive offense that Minnesota will not be able to handle, so expect the Boilermakers' offense to run the score up and beat the Golden Gophers by a decent amount. With Edey having a dominant season, expect him to have another strong performance. In his last game against the Golden Gophers, Edey scored 31 points while bringing down 22 rebounds, so watch for him to be unstoppable once again and lift his team above Minnesota. Take the Boilermakers.

Rating: 2 Units

Keep tracking the injury report, and if Rudy Gobert doesn’t suit up, take the Nuggets to cover. Although Denver plays on the second night of a back-to-back, the Nuggets will dominate the Timberwolves in the paint if Gobert hits the sidelines. Also, the Timberwolves are struggling to defend the 3-point line which is a huge issue when you take on the Nuggets. Denver is 0-4 SU and ATS in its last four meetings with Minnesota, and the Nuggets will be fired up to snap their skid. Two weeks ago, the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets 124-111 as 4-point home underdogs, and Gobert played solid defense on Nikola Jokic, who went 10-for-20 from the field. Jokic is scoring 22.8 points per game on 62.5% shooting from the field over his last nine appearances. 

Rating: 2 Units

It will be much easier for Xavier to cover 8.5 points in this matchup than in a normal game, as Wednesday’s contest will be played at a blazing tempo. The Musketeers and Blue Demons both love to get out in transition, so there are going to be possessions galore when these teams match up. This makes it easier to create a wide scoring margin, especially since Xavier ranks fifth nationally in offense. The Musketeers are riding an 11-game winning streak and have covered the spread in five straight games. Their offensive-based game plan makes them extremely dangerous when they are confident, which is certainly the case right now. DePaul is 2-7 in its last nine conference games and lacks the firepower to challenge Xavier 

Rating: 2 Units

Beal's status is still questionable. Even if he plays, he should be limited with minutes. The bigger issue for Washington is its lack of rebounding. That showed against the Warriors because while Porzingis is 7-3, he doesn't move that well and he shoots a lot of three-pointers. That takes him away from the basket, so offensive rebounding isn't his thing. Robinson can also defend the paint and keep Porizingis from going off in the paint or on perimeter. Kyle Kuzma had 40 points on Friday and the Knicks will make sure that doesn't happen again.

Rating: 2 Units

After upsetting Arkansas at home and then losing a three-point battle at Kentucky, things have gotten progressively worse for LSU culminating in that 40-point loss to Alabama. The LSU offense has gone south in that stretch, scoring under 60 points in two of the three games. In comes an Auburn team that specializes on the defensive end. Auburn is dominant on the glass and comes off its best 3pt shooting performance in the last game. Auburn is the stronger and more physical team in the paint and does an outstanding job on the perimeter, ranked third in the nation in 3pt defense. Auburn has only allowed over 70 points once in their last three games. Look for Auburn to roll in this battle of the Tigers.

Rating: 2 Units

Four of Texas Tech’s five losses in the conference play have come by six or fewer points. The Red Raiders must be fired up to finally get one in the win column, and I think they can take advantage of Baylor’s shaky defense. They love to get to the foul line, and the Raiders certainly have enough weapons to deal with the Bears’ mighty backcourt. The Bears struggle to keep their opponents off the foul line, and their interior defense is far away from an elite level. Baylor is 3-6 ATS in its last nine outings on the road, and the Bears have covered the spread in three of their previous nine road tilts against the Red Raiders. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Lobos own one of the most dangerous scoring trios in the nation. Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn, and Morris Udeze combine for 51.2 points per game, but the rest of the pack is far away from their level. The Spartans are not a great defensive unit, but they defend the paint well and avoid sending their rivals to the foul line a lot (77th in defensive free-throw rate). Also, SJSU ranks tenth in the country in defensive rebound percentage. Hereof, I’m backing the Spartans to hang around and cover a ten-point spread. SJSU is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games overall and 6-1 ATS in its previous seven outings on the road. 

Rating: 2 Units

I am going to ride with the Bucks ML, as they are the better defensive team in this matchup, as the Raptors won't be able to score enough points to cover this spread on the road. The Bucks are currently (16-5) at home this season and they have the third-lowest adjusted defensive rating, according to dunksandthrees.com. Neither of these teams has impressed me on the offensive end of the court this season, but the Bucks have consistently shown up defensively. Yes, Milwaukee could be without Antetokounmpo, but I still see them winning this game. They are surrendering the sixth least amount of points per game and they are holding their opponents to the third-lowest shooting percentage from the field. They will contest shots near the rim and on the perimeter, as the Raptors won't score enough to stay competitive in this game. Toronto is only scoring the 24th most points per game and they have the second-lowest shooting percentage from the field. The Milwaukee pressure will make it tough for the Raptors to score, as I see them slowly falling behind in this game.

Rating: 2 Units

The Houston Cougars have a crazy talented team on both sides of the ball. They are equipped with players who are dominant when it comes to scoring and aggressive when it comes to defense. On offense, they are averaging 75.9 points per game while defensively they are only allowing 52.9 points per game. I expect the Cougars to win this matchup because of their ability to stop their opponents from scoring. Each of these offenses can score but only one defense is elite and that's Houston's defense. With this being said, I expect the Cougars' offense to have a larger time of possession and more points because the defense will force Tulane's offense to turn over the ball or miss shots. Along with that, Sasser is coming off a 31-point performance, so expect him to come in with some energy and perform well again. Take Houston's consistent offense and high-caliber defense coming out on top.

Rating: 2 Units

This spread gives too much credit to a Tar Heels team undeserving of a large spread. The Eagles have been through a tough stretch of games against ranked Duke and Miami teams, plus a 13-5 Wake Forest team. Prior to that, they beat Notre Dame and played hard against a solid Syracuse team until the closing minutes and beat a ranked Virginia Tech team in the prior game. The Tar Heels have a winning record, but they're 6-11-1 ATS. The Eagles won't win this game on offense, but they can slow the pace and get necessary defensive stops to keep it close.

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams play on Sunday so that would definitely seem to favor Los Angeles. However, the Lakers did not need much to be favored in this game. Houston is a terrible team, not only losing nine straight games entering Sunday’s contest but has lost 14 of their last 15 games. They will be the underdog against just about anybody this season. 

Rating: 2 Units

It’s tough to back the Matadors despite a huge 16.5-point spread. They are one of the worst offensive teams in the country and will have a mountain to climb against the Warriors’ defense. Also, CSUN struggles on the defensive glass (275th in the country in defensive rebound percentage), and Hawaii ranks 83rd in offensive rebound percentage, so I’m going with the Rainbow Warriors to win and cover. It’s a tough wager, and I’m looking for Hawaii’s defense to make a difference. The Warriors are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games overall, though they’ve gone just 1-5 ATS in their last six showings as double-digit favorites. On the other side, the Matadors are 0-7 ATS in their previous seven games in the conference play. 

Rating: 2 Units

Syracuse has been underrated since its rough start to the season, winning nine of its last 11 games. The Orange have one of the youngest rosters in college basketball, so it took them time to get into a rhythm. They have won four of their last five games coming into this matchup, and they are catching nearly double digits on Monday. Miami has lost two of its last three games and has only covered the spread twice in its last nine home games against Syracuse. The Orange are going to have a big advantage in the paint on Monday, creating even more value on this spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Considering that Phoenix won the last time these teams met, one would be inclined to lean toward the Suns. But it is time to be real. There is a reason why Memphis is on this long winning streak. The team is getting spectacular play across the board, especially from Morant, who is shooting 46.6% percent, averaging 27.4 points per game. Phoenix is just not the same without Paul. He is the guy that gets this team going, and his absence against a hot Memphis team is not a recipe for success. Look for the Grizzlies to wear down the Suns on their way to victory.

Rating: 2 Units

The Jazz will likely play without Olynyk, who re-injured his ankle against Memphis on Jan. 8. Sexton should play after sitting out the last game for injury management. Markkanen didn't play versus Philly, and it's unclear if he's healthy enough to suit up on Monday. Gobert missed the second half of Minnesota's last game, which seems serious enough to expect he won't play on Monday. Even if he does, it's likely his minutes would be restricted. With that said, I'm riding with the home team to cover the spread. Minnesota has been playing much better as of late, beating Cleveland, Phoenix, and Denver. Edwards has been a force to be reckoned with, carrying the T-Wolves with Towns sidelined. Minnesota's bench also proved it could be a factor last game, picking up the slack with Gobert and McDaniels out.

Rating: 2 Units

The 76ers started a five-game road trip on Saturday and will have to deal with fatigue on the second night of a back-to-back. Hereof, I’m going with the Lakers whose last three home defeats have come by exactly four points. The Lakers have played well over the last couple of weeks, and I think they will keep it close against the Sixers. Philadelphia has dropped five of its previous eight road contests excluding that Saturday night game against the Utah Jazz. The Sixers are only 1-5 ATS in their last six showings on the road when favored by four or more points. 

Rating: 2 Units

Brooklyn is currently holding their opponents to the fifth least amount of points scored per game and the fourth-lowest shooting percentage from the field. They will contest shots near the rim and on the perimeter and slowly pull away throughout this game. OKC will struggle to find consistent open shots throughout this game and they won't cash in enough to keep this game within five points. The Thunder also struggle on the defensive end of the court, as they are surrendering the 22nd most points per game. The Nets have a ton of talent littered throughout their roster, as they will be able to make just enough plays to cover this spread. The Nets have the highest team shooting percentage and they have multiple players that can light up the scoreboard from deep. They will find open shots consistently throughout this game and I expect them to take advantage.

Rating: 2 Units

The UConn Huskies have won two of their last five matchups and are looking to get a winning streak going. They currently hold a winning record in the Big East and are sitting in fourth place. The Huskies have an overall better team with the offense averaging 80 points per game while the defense is conceding just 62.6 points per contest. With this being said, the Huskies' offense is explosive and talented enough to put a lot of points on the boards, so expect them to do that against a defense that is surrendering over 70 points per game. The Huskies' defense has been unbreakable this season, giving up just 62.6 points per game, so watch out for them to make huge plays and cause chaos for the St. John's offense. With the elite defense and successful offense, take the Huskies.

Rating: 2 Units

The Hawks have continued to struggle over the last week, as they are currently (3-7) in their last 10 games played. They aren't playing good basketball right now and I don't see them showing up on the road. I also see the Raptors having the advantage on the offensive end of the court. According to dunksandthrees.com, they have the 13th-highest adjusted offensive rating. Siakam has been playing like a man on a mission, as I see Toronto scoring just enough points to cover this spread. The Hawks have been unimpressive on the defensive end of the court, as they are surrendering the 22nd most points per game and they have struggled to defend the paint. The Raptors will continue to attack the basket and score enough points to cover this spread at home.

Rating: 2 Units

One player that wasn't mentioned in the write-up for Clemson was P.J. Hall. At 6-10, 245, he gives the team the size to help keep Duke off the boards. Ben Middlebrooks (6-10, 232) can also add size off the bench so Clemson won't get crushed on the boards in this one. Duke has struggled on the road and without Roach, this is going to be a very tough place to play. Littlejohn Coliseum will be up for this game as much as any in years. Clemson's tough defense and that atmosphere will cause another 15+ turnover game for the Blue Devils and a win for the Tigers to keep them undefeated in the conference. Duke is also a bit overvalued as they have covered just once in their last six games.

Rating: 2 Units

Kansas has won 15 straight games at home and hasn't lost to a Big 12 opponent at home since the 2019-20 season. The Jayhawks can defend the ball very well and are a far superior offensive team than Iowa State. Iowa State will get its share of stops in this game but it will come down to each team's ability to create second shots. In that regard, the 54th-ranked rebounding unit of Kansas far trumps the 254th-ranked rebounding team of Iowa State. Kansas will get second chances and more possessions than Iowa State. Kansas also protects the ball better than Iowa State, as evidenced by the Jayhawks' six turnovers against Oklahoma in their last outing. It will be a dogfight but Kansas will pull away late with its ability to create offense.

Rating: 2 Units

North Carolina is 0-4 on the season on the road and 3-2 in neutral-site games. The Tar Heels have yet to beat anyone by more than eight points away from Chapel Hill this season. In addition, the Heels' major advantage in this game, rebounding, will likely be hampered with the questionable availability of both Bacot and Nance. The Heels will win this game, but they will not likely win this game going away without two key interior weapons on offense and likely more reliance on a perimeter offense that has been marginal at best.

Rating: 2 Units

The Utah offense is one of the most explosive and dominant offenses in the NBA this season, averaging 117.5 points per game (3rd). With Markkanen being consistent scoring-wise and on the boards, the Jazz has someone they can rely on. In addition, Clarkson has been hot and is coming off a 32-point game. With these two scorers, the Magic will really need to do something special to slow them down but that will be difficult with the amount of talent Utah has when moving the ball around and shooting. Orlando relies on Banchero (21.2) and Wagner (20.2) to put points on the board but other than them the Magic don't have much scoring talent. Expect the Utah defense to contain Banchero and prevent Orlando from scoring a lot.

Rating: 2 Units

The New York Knicks are entering this matchup with a healthy squad while the Wizards are entering with some injured players. This will be a pretty big advantage for the Knicks, considering the Wizards will now likely need to put in less experienced players. Less experienced players against the Knicks will allow the Knicks' offense to be more explosive in the paint and on the boards. In addition, the Knicks have been playing strong basketball lately, winning four of their last five contests. A win against the Wizards will extend their win streak to two games. With injuries starting to infect the Wizards, I expect the Knicks to do what they do best and score. Defensively, they are conceding 111 points per game, so expect the defensive side of the ball to be pretty competitive as the Washington offense is averaging 111.8 points per game.

Rating: 2 Units

The Purdue Boilermakers have been unstoppable this season, mowing down teams left and right. They have lost just one game this season and don't seem to have another loss scheduled anytime soon. They are averaging 75.9 points per game while conceding 61.5 points per game, so expect them to crush Nebraska on both sides of the ball. The Cornhuskers are in for a treat when they face the Purdue defense, so I expect the Boilermakers to easily earn another win with Nebraska unable to be productive on offense. Loyer is coming off a 22-point performance and I expect him to have a similar performance against a defense that is allowing 66.8 points per game. Edey is a solid impact player who leads Purdue on the boards and in points per game, so I also expect him to dominate in this game. Take Purdue with their successful offense and elite defense.

Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers are defending the 3-point line very well, and I think they have enough firepower to outlast the Mavericks even if Paul George remains on the sidelines. Kawhi Leonard is slowly building up his form, scoring 20-plus points in three of his last four appearances, while Ivica Zubac should dominate the Mavs in the paint. Dallas will be in trouble if Luka Doncic misses his second straight game. The Mavs are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall and 1-5 ATS in their previous six outings on the road. The Clippers haven’t covered in five straight games, but they are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings with the Mavericks.

Rating: 2 Units

Cleveland comes into Utah having won four of its last five games, including two wins over the Phoenix Suns. Jan. 2 proved a historic night for Mitchell, who sparked the Cavaliers to an overtime win over Chicago by scoring 71 points, with 11 assists and eight rebounds. Mitchell scored 23 points and sat out the fourth quarter of a 122-99 win over Utah in his first game against former team in Cleveland on Dec. 19. Consider that the Cavaliers are 37-18-2 ATS in their last 57 games following a ATS win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the road where not only do they have trouble winning, they are rarely covering on the road. They are 0-5 in their last five road clashes and covered in just one of them. Miami is playing well, having won five out of their last eight games. While Thunder are scoring a ton of points, they still only rank 19th in adjusted offensive efficiency, averaging only 1.5 more points per 100 possession than Miami. When it comes to defense, Miami has the better numbers. The Heat have allowed an average of only 103 points in their last four games and I expect their defense to be the difference here. The Heat earned a road win against the Thunder in the lone meeting last month. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Thunder won two of their last three games and three of their last four home games. They have been on a roll offensively in recent games, scoring more than 130 points per game while making over 50 percent of their shots and 46 percent of their three-pointers. They are very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring opportunities, and they also cut back on their turnovers and won’t give the Mavericks a lot of easy scoring opportunities. The Mavericks have struggled defensively on the road and they aren’t playing well at the moment, giving up more than 118 points per game in their last three games. They are also playing on consecutive nights and will be dealing with fatigue, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Thunder in this game.

Rating: 2 Units

The Scarlet Knights are 14th in the nation according to KenPom. The defense is excellent rated third in adjusted efficiency, and top-six in three-point percentage, field goal percentage, and points allow. The offense is 113th in adjusted tempo. The Scarlet Knights have four players on the team averaging double-digits, led by 6'11 junior Clifford Omoruyi averaging 14.1 ppg, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.

Rating: 2 Units

Golden State is 17-3 inside their arena this season, as I don't believe the Magic have enough talent to cover this spread on the road. Golden State is currently scoring the fifth most points per game and they have the sixth-highest three-point shooting percentage. They will find open shots consistently throughout this game and I expect them to take advantage. Orlando is not a great team, as they are only scoring the 27th most points per game and they have the 25th lowest adjusted offensive rating, according to dunksandthrees.com. They will struggle to put the ball in the basket and the Warriors will slowly pull away. Golden State is also holding their opponents to the 10th-lowest shooting percentage from the field, as they will continue to contest shots and make it tough for the Magic to score. I am also expecting Poole and Thompson to play well, as they should be the most aggressive offensive players in this game. They will dominate on the offensive end of the floor and the Warriors will cover this spead.

Rating: 2 Units

The Creighton Bluejays have had UConn's number over the years, beating them twice last year and four times in a row. Given that fact, and the fact that the Huskies have lost two straight, I love the Huskies to get a bounce-back win. Make no mistake, this will be a great game as the Bluejays are an excellent basketball team and they match up very well with the Huskies. But I just can't see a team this good losing three straight, particularly coming home after two road losses, Gampel should be rocking and carry the Huskies to a long-overdue win over Creighton. take UConn to cover.

Rating: 2 Units

Atlanta’s interior defense is far away from an elite level, and the Lakers will attack the rim all night long. With LeBron in the lineup, the Lakers will torture the Hawks’ D. Last Friday, he dropped a season-high 47 points on Atlanta, and the Lakers erased a 15-point deficit. Both teams have been inconsistent, and their ATS record tells the story. The Hawks are 5-10 ATS in their last 15 games overall and 1-4 ATS in their last five games against the Western Conference. The Lakers, on the other side, have gone 4-1 ATS in their past five tilts overall and 4-2 ATS in their previous six meetings with the Eastern Conference. 

Rating: 2 Units

Cleveland hits the road where the team is three-games under .500 this season. Denver, meanwhile, comes in at 2-2 on the second leg of back-to-back games this season but has lost each of its last two. In the past, Denver would have had difficulty matching up with a scoring two-guard of Mitchell's caliber. However, the addition of the likes of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown gives the Nuggets much more defensive flexibility and allows Aaron Gordon to stay at his more traditional power forward position and not have to cover the opponent's best scorer. Jokic is a nightmare matchup for most bigs and he will certainly draw Cleveland center Jarrett Allen away from the basket which should help nullify Cleveland's rebounding advantage. Despite the back-to-back, Denver will show off its home court dominance while the Cavs will leave Denver still trying to find a way to gain more consistency away from home.

Rating: 2 Units

While Chicago rolls in off a win over Brooklyn that snapped the Nets’ 12-game win streak, that game was at the United Center. The Bulls now have to travel to Philadelphia to take on a 76ers team that has been rolling of late with 11 wins in their last 13 games. Chicago has sputtered on the road this season, posting a 7-12 mark, while Philadelphia has put together a solid 16-5 home mark to this point of the year. The 76ers have a variety of weapons to do damage on the offensive end of the floor and if Embiid returns to play in this game, that merely makes them that much more dangerous. Philadelphia is the better team here and they earn the home victory over a game Bulls squad

Rating: 2 Units

This one is going to be a highly entertaining contest between a pair of good teams. Penn has the nation’s highest scoring backcourt while the Big Red is a high-powered offense that will bury teams from beyond the three-point line. The Quakers have rebounded from three straight losses in Big Five games but stand 3-4 on the road while Cornell is a perfect 6-0 at home on the year. Both teams are below average on the defensive end of the floor so when you get down to brass tacks, you have to look at a couple key factors. The Big Red is the better offensive team and they have enough weapons to take advantage of a Penn team that is 322nd in the country by allowing 8.7 triples a night to earn the win here. Take Cornell at home as they earn a hard-fought win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Kings outlasted the Jazz last Friday thanks to Kevin Huerter’s 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds remaining. It was a proper high-scoring affair, and both teams shot above 54.0% from the field. I’m looking for another tight contest when Utah hosts Sacramento, and it could easily go either way. Both teams struggle to defend, especially in the paint, but they also lean on 3-point shooting a lot. Keep your eyes on Lauri Markkanen, who dropped 36 points on the Kings in that heartbreaking defeat. Markkanen went 16-for-24 from the field and will torture Sacramento’s leaky defense once more. Utah is 3-1 SU and ATS in its last four outings at home, whereas Sacramento is 2-3 SU and ATS in its previous five showings on the road. 

Rating: 2 Units

Virginia might be off to an excellent start this season, but it has been massively overvalued in the betting market. The Cavaliers have only covered the spread once in their last eight games, so I have no interest in backing them right now. Pittsburgh has been a completely different story, covering the spread in nine straight games. The Panthers are coming off a solid win over a ranked team, giving them some additional momentum coming into this matchup. They are going to be playing in front of a raucous crowd, so I am thrilled to back them as home underdogs. Virginia has only played three true road games this season, with one of them being a loss at Miami.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cardinals are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games following a straight-up loss of more than 20 points, and the Orange are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Louisville is also 0-4 ATS in its last four Tuesday games. The Orange are prepared for the Cardinal's best shot. They, too, know what it's like to be desperate for wins after losing four of their first seven, including three consecutive to St. John's, Bryant, and Illinois. Now that they're back on track, keeping focus is crucial, particularly with a game against #11 Virginia looming. Syracuse looked solid in its win over Boston College, holding the Eagles to 65 points on 40.4 percent shooting, including 33.3 percent from long range. I believe the Cuse defense will swarm and suffocate a Cardinals offense that's 307th nationally in offensive efficiency and turns the ball over far too often.

Rating: 2 Units

The Kent State Flashes are off to an excellent start at 10-3 straight up and an impressive 10-1 against the spread while in contrast Western Michigan is only 4-9 straight up and 5-5 against the spread. Home court is big during conference games and Kent State will use that to its advantage on Tuesday. The Golden Flashes will use their tough man to man in your face defense that is allowing an average of only 60.8 points per game to shut down a Western Michigan offense that is generating only 68.4 points per game while shooting just 44.2%.  Western Michigan has covered each of its last two games but were 20-point and 23.4-point underdogs, losing each of the two outright. However, the spread for this matchup will be much less and the Broncos failed to cover the spread in each of the six games prior to the two most recent with much smaller spreads.

Rating: 2 Units

The Warriors should get Andrew Wiggins back. Wiggins, who’s averaging 19.1 points per game on 45.0% shooting from deep, has missed 13 straight games due to a right adductor strain, and his presence would be a huge boost for the Warriors’ offense. It’s hard to trust the Hawks defense if Clint Capela remains sidelined, so I would take the Warriors to cover.  I’ve mentioned how good the Warriors have been on the home court lately. On the other side, the Hawks are 2-8 SU and 3-7 ATS in their last ten showings on the road. The Hawks have also covered the spread in three of their past ten games overall.

Rating: 2 Units

San Antonio is 6-6 in its past 12 games since an 11-game skid Nov. 14-Dec. 4. The Spurs have produced their best four shooting performances in that span, including Saturday when they shot 55.3 percent in a 126-125 loss to the visiting Dallas Mavericks. San Antonio was unable to stop Luka Doncic, who scored 51 points as the Mavs shot 58.1 percent. It was the fifth time an opponent made at least 58 percent from the floor against San Antonio and 21st instance of the Spurs allowing at least 50 percent shooting. Despite allowing a big night from Doncic, the Spurs nearly erased a 17-point deficit over the final 17-plus minutes thanks to big games from Keldon Johnson (30 points) and rookie Jeremy Sochan (20 points). Consider that the Nets are 7-21-1 ATS in their last 29 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

Rating: 2 Units

VanVleet's uncertainty does not help the Raptors cause for many reasons, not the least of which is his ability to knock down long range shots. Indiana can shoot the long ball with the best of them and they put pressure on the opposition to match shots with them instead of falling into a 3 points for two points rut. The Pacers are also catching a Toronto team that is not playing great basketball at the moment. Toronto is just 20th defending the three point shot so they will have to particularly protective of the basketball in this one to avoid wasting possessions. While the Raptors are ranked #1 in turnovers per game, the loss of VanVleet would be a blow to their ability to protect the basketball. Keep in mind, Toronto has been terrible on the road this season, 5-12 coming in.

Rating: 2 Units

The pelicans are just 7-9 on the road and have failed to cover in four of their last five road games. Philly is 14-5 at home and Joel Embiid has averaged almost 35 points per game in Philly.  The sixers have won five straight home games against New Orleans by an average of 7.5 points.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are a legit contender propelled by the stifling defense. They beat #10, Indiana by 15 points in their first Big Ten action and only lost by one point on the road against ranked Ohio State in their next one. Purdue is obviously a great squad but has only covered the spread four times all season. Rutgers has an incredible defense that will keep Purdue in check. The Scarlet Knights are only conceding 84.7 points per 100 possessions, ranking them 3rd in adjusted defensive efficiency according to Ken Pomeroy's ratings while Purdue is conceding 91.7 points. Purdue relies on center Zach Edey heavily and Rutgers has an answer for Edey in Clifford Omoruyi who is elite defensively. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Bucks are currently (15-3) at home this season and the Wizards aren't good enough offensively to cover this spread. The Wizards could also be without Bradley Beal in this game, which would be a huge loss. The Bucks have continued to dominate on defense, as they have the third lowest adjusted defensive rating in the NBA and they are holding their opponents to the sixth least amount of points scored per game. They will lock the Wizards up and efficiently score on the other end. Washington has been average on both ends of the court, but I don't see anyone on their team stopping Giannis in the paint. He will continue to score throughout and allow his team to slowly pull away. The Wizards are close, but they aren't healthy enough to challenge the Bucks on the road.

Rating: 3 Units

UCLA has played very well over the last few weeks. The Bruins possesses great depth, and the Huskies will have a mountain to climb in front of the home fans. Washington lacks a quality scorer besides Keion Brooks. The Huskies defend the 3-point line at a high level, but their interior defense cannot contain the Bruins, who have gone 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS in their last six meetings with Washington. UCLA is 4-1 ATS in its last five games played in January, whereas Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall. 

Rating: 2 Units

Cornell has gotten off to a hot start, namely with a high octane and efficient offense. They are slightly stronger on the glass than Dartmouth, so they won't be controlled in terms of pace. They are very effective with the basketball, while Dartmouth turns the ball over frequently. While Dartmouth has been fairly effective protecting against the 3pt shot, they will be facing a Big Red team that is ranked 89th in the country shooting the long ball. Cornell isn't great on the perimeter but Dartmouth doesn't have the shooters to take advantage of that. The Big Red will roll in their first Ivy matchup of the season and make it four straight wins.

Rating: 2 Units

Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey will take some time to return to form after missing more than a month of action, 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. After a nine-point outing in his return on Friday, Maxey may or may not be on the court Saturday as the 76ers visit the Oklahoma City Thunder. Philadelphia lost its second game in a row on Friday, falling 127-116 to the host New Orleans Pelicans. Maxey came off the bench to hit 4 of 10 shots while adding one rebound and one assist in 19 minutes. Consider that the Thunder are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Rating: 2 Units

The Spurs have won two of their past three games, including a 122-115 home victory over New York on Thursday. Keldon Johnson scored 30 points and Romeo Langford added a career-high 23 as San Antonio Spurs built a 17-point lead in the third quarter and had all the answers late to send the Knicks to a fifth consecutive loss. Tre Jones scored 13, Jeremy Sochan had 12 and Jakob Poeltl took 12 rebounds for the Spurs, The win was without Devin Vassell, who missed the game with a sore left knee. With Vassell, the Spurs' second-leading scorer this season (19.6 points per game), listed as doubtful for Saturday's game, San Antonio will need to rely on Langford to pick up the slack. He was more than up to the task in Thursday's win.  Consider that the Mavericks are 7-16 ATS in their last 23 road games.

Rating: 2 Units

The Hornets opened their homestand with Thursday night's 121-113 victory against Oklahoma City.  The Hornets need to start producing in home games. They had lost five in a row on their home court until the result against Oklahoma City. If there's a new surge of excitement stemming from the Hornets it might revolve around point guard LaMelo Ball, who was one assist shy of a double-double Thursday night with 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. The Hornets also are bound to be pumped up about rookie center Mark Williams, who has spent most of the season in the G League. He came off the bench to rack up 17 points (7-for-7 shooting), 13 rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals Thursday night.  Consider that the Nets are 16-35-1 ATS in their last 52 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

Rating: 2 Units

This one feels like a coin flip. The Mountaineers are arguably a better offensive team, but the Wildcats have enough weapons to contain West Virginia. Kansas State defends the 3-point line well and will have strong support from the stands, so I’m going with the Wildcats.  K-State is 1-5 SU and 3-3 ATS in its last six meetings with West Virginia, but the Wildcats beat the Mountaineers 78-73 in their last encounter at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats are undefeated in five straight showings at home. They’ve covered in eight of the last 12 games overall. 

Rating: 2 Units

Indiana looks for its third consecutive win and fifth in the last six games as it continues a home stretch. The Pacers are playing the third of four straight at home, a run that will include eight of 10 overall in Indianapolis.  They opened this stretch with a pair of high-scoring wins, beating Atlanta 129-114 on Tuesday, and then 135-126 against Cleveland on Thursday. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers in scoring with 29 against the Cavs. He dished nine assists to maintain his NBA-leading pace of 10.2 assists per game. Buddy Hield shot 5 of 6 from 3-point range en route to 25 points, Aaron Nesmith scored 22 points and Bennedict Mathurin finished with 23 points off the bench.  Finally, the Pacers are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 home games.

Rating: 2 Units

The Kansas defense has been the strength of their team, but their offense has been nothing to slouch at either. They are shooting 35.9% from 3-point range and are knocking down 54.5% of their 2-point tries. Their lone weakness on that end of the court has been their free throw shooting, as they are knocking down less than 70% of their tries. This will be a strong test for them, as Oklahoma State is fifth nationally in defensive field goal percentage. Star forward Jalen Wilson leads Kansas with 21.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Gradey Dick (15.4) and senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (11.9) are both in double figures as well. Consider that the home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

There's a lot to like about the Hokies, but how will they respond if they fall behind early? They've played just two road games, at Charleston and Boston College, and lost both times. With upcoming road matchups versus Syracuse, Virginia, and Clemson, it's time for VA Tech to figure it out on the road. They might have to go without Cattoor (9.6 PPG), who is questionable after leaving the BC game with a left forearm injury. With that said, I'll side with the home team in this ACC matchup.

Rating: 2 Units

Domantas Sabonis is playing through a fracture in his thumb, and the Kings desperately need their best frontcourt player on the floor. Over his last nine games, Sabonis has averaged 21.8 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, and I’m expecting him to dominate Utah’s fragile interior defense. On the other side, the Jazz will look to take advantage of Sacramento’s 3-point defense. We should see a tight battle between a couple of bad defensive teams, and I’m backing the Kings to win and cover. Sacramento won’t take a ton of shots from downtown. The Kings will attack the rim and try to exploit Utah’s bad defensive rebounding. The Jazz are 28th in the league in defensive rebound percentage, whereas Sacramento paces the NBA in this category.

Rating: 2 Units

New Orleans has an adjusted offensive rating of 114.7, which is the eighth-highest rating in the NBA. The 76ers have struggled against top teams and they fell to the Wizards in their last outing. They will struggle in this game, as I don't see them efficiently scoring enough points to cover this spread. Philadelphia is only scoring the 21st most points per game and the Pelicans have the size down low to make it difficult for Embiid. They will challenge him every time he gets the ball, which will hurt the 76ers' offense. New Orleans also has the second-lowest adjusted defensive rating and they are holding their opponents to the second-lowest three-point shooting percentage. They will defend on the perimeter and in the paint, as they won't allow the Sixers to score enough points to cover this spread. The Pelicans are sitting at the top of the Western Conference standings for a reason.

Rating: 2 Units

Milwaukee is just 22nd in the NBA in offensive efficiency, but that has a lot to do with them being dead last on the road. In-home games, Milwaukee has been more explosive, where they are fourth in offensive efficiency. The Bucks have also won five of their last six games at home, with each of those wins coming by at least nine points or more. Both teams want to snap their four game losing streak, but the home court advantage will make a huge difference tonight. I will take the Bucks to cover.

Rating: 2 Units

The North Carolina Tar Heels are having an inconsistent season and are only 4-4 in their last eight games. They have only won three of their seven games against a power conference opponent. Pittsburgh is one of the hottest teams in the ACC. They are 2-0 in ACC play and have won eight out of their last nine games. Furthermore, the Tar Heels' defense continues to squander too many points. They have conceded at least 76 points in five out of their last six games against a power-conference squad. They gave up 80 against Virginia Tech and 76 against Michigan in their latest action. Also, Pittsburgh has netted at least 82 points in three consecutive games.

Rating: 2 Units

Last Friday, the Mavericks barely outlasted the Rockets 112-106 and failed to cover a 7-point spread at Toyota Center in Houston. Luka Doncic dropped 50 points on the Rockets, but it wasn’t enough for an ATS victory.  Dallas will beat Houston once more. However, I’m not sure the Mavs will be able to cover a double-digit spread. They’ll be a bit tired after that wild game against the Knicks, and the Mavericks are only 1-4 ATS in their last five home contests against the Rockets. Dallas has won four games in a row, and none of those victories has come by more than nine points. 

Rating: 2 Units

The game against the Clippers was the first of a stretch of nine of 10 games at home for the Raptors. They have lost four straight in their own building, however. It was a good night for two members of Toronto's 2019 NBA championship team now with the Clippers: Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell. Leonard, playing his second game in Toronto as a member of the Clippers, was quietly effective with 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Powell, playing his first game in Toronto since being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in March 2021, scored 22 points. Consider that the Grizzlies are 2-9 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pacers have covered the spread in eighth of their last 11 home games against teams with a losing road record and deserve more respect here. The Cavs have been dominant at home, but now find themselves on a two game losing streak and have only covered the spread in one of their last 10 games away from home. Two weeks ago the Cavs beat the Pacers by only six points despite making nine less free-throws on 13 free attempts, and also being outshot 45.2% to 30.6% from three-point range. Indiana will fare better at home this time and cover.

Rating: 2 Units

This matchup will come down to the Hawkeyes' offense versus the Cornhuskers' defense. Nebraska is giving up just 65.9 points on 42.0 percent shooting, while Iowa scores nearly 84 points and boasts a top-ten offensive efficiency rating. That said, Nebraska ranks just 60th in defensive efficiency, adjusted for schedule. Iowa was held under 65 points earlier this year by Duke, but the Blue Devils' defense is in a different class than Nebraska's. Iowa's Kris Murray (19.4 PPG and 10.1 RPG) and Connor McCaffery (7.5 PPG and 4.0 RPG) are dealing with injuries, but both are expected to suit up on Thursday. As long as Murray can go, the experienced Hawkeyes should be game-ready for a test in Lincoln. I expect Nebraska will challenge them, but Iowa will outlast the Huskers to cover the four-point spread.

Rating: 2 Units

The Nets are (9-1) in their last 10 games. I don't see the Hawks being able to slow down their offense, as Brooklyn is scoring the 13th most points per game. But, they also have the highest three-point and overall shooting percentage. They can score from anywhere on the floor and the Hawks aren't going to be able to slow them down. According to dunksandthrees.com, Atlanta has the 16th lowest adjusted defensive rating in the league and they are allowing the 17th most points per game. Durant and Irving will continue to attack and they will score enough points to cover this spread. Brooklyn has also been elite defensively during this run, as they are surrendering the ninth least amount of points per game and they are holding their opponents to the fifth-lowest shooting percentage in the NBA. They will contest shots near the basket and force the Hawks to beat them from the outside. This won't happen, though. The Hawks are only shooting 33.2% from deep, which is the 27th-lowest three-point shooting percentage in the league.

Rating: 2 Units

UConn has been a machine all season, but Villanova is showing steady improvement under their new head coach and won't go down without a fight. The Wildcats have been extremely efficient offensively and have faced a slightly tougher schedule than UConn this season. The Wildcats are also the best free-throw shooting team in the country and have been undefeated since Cam Whitmore has been active. Villanova has also won six of the last seven games against UConn head-to-head. Take Villanova to cover.

Rating: 2 Units

LA has struggled in the second half of back-to-back situations this season, having dropped each of their last four such contests. While the team is relatively healthy, the fact remains that they are the league’s worst offensive team despite a solid collection of talent. Toronto seems to have righted the ship with wins over the Knicks and Cavaliers on the road in their last two games. Siakam exploded against New York, hanging 52 points in the game, and followed that up with 26 points against the Cavaliers. Playing at home with a rest advantage here, you have to give the upper hand to the Raptors as they make it three straight wins.

Rating: 2 Units

The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Washington to take on the Wizards on Tuesday night.  Philadelphia is 20-12 SU overall this year while Washington comes in with a 13-21 SU overall record on the season.  Washington is 1-6 SU and 1-5 ATS this year against Atlantic division opponents.  Washington is 5-13-2 ATS last 20 games overall.  Washington is 6-21-2 ATS last 29 games after a SU win.  Washington is 1-6 ATS last 7 home games.  Washington is 0-3-1 ATS last 4 games after a SU win of more than 10 points.  Philadelphia has now won 8 games in a row and covered 7 of those 8.  Philadelphia is 5-0 ATS last 5 games when playing on 1 days rest.  

Rating: 2 Units

Charlotte is 2-2 on the excursion after outlasting Los Angeles Lakers 134-130 on Friday. The Hornets have won two of their last three games after losing their previous eight contests. Gordon Hayward scored the tiebreaking points with 6.3 seconds left and P.J. Washington added two free throws to seal it. Portland is returning home from a 2-4 road trip in which it dropped its last three games. The Trail Blazers lost a pair of games to the Oklahoma City Thunder before finishing the trip with a 120-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Consider that the Hornets are 25-12-2 ATS in their last 39 road games.

Rating: 2 Units

Thursday's game was the only home contest for Utah in a stretch of six of seven games away from home. The Jazz's three-game road trip includes stops in San Francisco and Sacramento to play the Warriors and Kings on Wednesday and Friday. The Spurs (10-22) head home after a 133-113 loss at Orlando on Friday. Consider that the Jazz are only 9-24-1 ATS in the last 34 meetings in San Antonio.

Rating: 2 Units

Zion Williamson (25.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG) is the Pelicans’ leading scorer and a huge part of New Orleans’ defense, so his absence is a massive blow for Willie Green’s team. The Pels have won their last two games without Zion, but the Pacers are arguably a better team than San Antonio and Oklahoma City, so I’m going with Indiana to cover. The Pacers are healthy and Tyrese Haliburton has been outstanding as of late. Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall and 3-1-1 ATS in its previous five contests against New Orleans. On the other side, the Pelicans have covered twice in their last six outings at any location. 

Rating: 2 Units

Because of what unfolded Friday night, the Nets can match the Bucks and Celtics for the NBA's longest winning streak of the season. Brooklyn also can get its first nine-game winning streak since a franchise-record 14-game run in 2006. Brooklyn's two most recent wins also did not require heavy lifting from Kevin Durant. Durant scored 24 points Friday after finishing with 23 Wednesday but also had plenty of help. Irving scored 14 of his 18 in the fourth when the Nets kept Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo scoreless. The Nets are 12-1 in their past 13 games and Cleveland has been nearly as hot lately. Since their five-game losing streak last month, the Cavaliers are 14-6 in their past 20 but are also attempting to avoid consecutive losses for the first time since that skid. On Friday, Cleveland saw its five-game winning streak stopped with a 118-107 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Cleveland shot 51.3 percent but despite shooting over 50 percent for the 15th time, it allowed a season-high 19 3-pointers to the NBA's worst 3-point shooting team and trailed by as many as 26 early in the third when coach J.B. Bickerstaff benched his starters.  Consider that the Cavaliers are 26-58-4 ATS in their last 88 games following a ATS loss.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pistons' defense is not good around the rim or at defending the three-point shot, which will be a cause for concern against the Clippers, who are top ten in three-point shooting percentage and rebounds per game. Last game versus Atlanta, the Pistons gave up 66 points in the paint and 21 fast-break points. I'm expecting LA to have similar success. Los Angeles' defense is elite, ranking third in points allowed, fourth in field goal and three-point percentage, and fifth in opponent free-throw percentage. In other words, it's challenging for good offense squads to score against the Clippers, which the Pistons certainly are not. I'll bet on the Western Conference betting favorites, who may be rounding into shape, over a fading Pistons squad growing more irrelevant by the game.

Rating: 2 Units

With a 10th straight Christmas Day game on the schedule, the Warriors return home after a 1-5 trip that ended with 38- and 30-point drubbings at New York and Brooklyn, respectively. Golden State played the final four games of the trip without Curry, who remains out with a slightly dislocated left shoulder and will miss at least two more weeks. They also were missing Wiggins (strained adductor) for the entire trip and key reserve Donte DiVincenzo (illness) for the last two losses, but both practiced during the Warriors' three days off and are expected to face the Grizzlies. The Warriors have beaten their last two opponents in NBA Finals -- Boston at home and Toronto on the road -- for the only wins in their last nine games, and Draymond Green believes it's time for him and his mates to start taking a disappointing 15-18 start more seriously.

Rating: 2 Units

After an impressive eight-game winning streak, the Knicks have dropped consecutive games to the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls. RJ Barrett scored 44 points and, Julius Randle added 29 points and 12 rebounds, but the Knicks fell 118-117 to the Bulls on Friday. DeMar DeRozan's jumper with 0.4 seconds remaining was the difference, and the loss left Barrett deflated. The Knicks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall while the 76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

Rating: 2 Units

The Lakers have to win the games like this one if they want to stand any chance of reaching the postseason in the crowded Western Conference. The Hornets are arguably one of the worst teams in the league. Charlotte could be without Terry Rozier once more, so I’m going with the Lakers to win and cover. LeBron will lead the way for Purple-and-Gold, and the Lakers should improve defensively after a couple of tough matchups against Phoenix and Sacramento. Los Angeles is 6-1 SU and 7-0 ATS in its last seven meetings with Charlotte. The Lakers have covered in four of their last five showings on Friday, while the Hornes are 2-5 ATS in their last seven contests overall. 

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams struggled in two critical areas in their respective openers, 3pt shooting and rebounding. While George Washington shot the ball poorly, however, they are not particularly adept at outside shooting so their poor shooting from outside was a bit more understandable. The Colonials are also just 182nd in the country in rebounding so being held in check on the glass is not out of character for this team. Pepperdine, however, has one of the nation's top 3pt shooting percentage in the country and the team is 42nd in the country in rebounding. Look for Pepperdine to bounce back in this matchup and get back more towards their season averages and take advantage of the Colonials' struggles.

Rating: 2 Units

Indiana relies more on Haliburton than just about any team in the NBA relies on one player. He is not only the team’s leading scorer, but he also leads the league in assists. His questionable status for this game makes me want to stay completely away from the Pacers, especially since they are facing one of the top defensive teams in the league. Miami has started to round into form and should have its best player back from an illness on Friday night. The Heat have gone 11-5 in their last 16 games against Indiana and have covered the spread at a 10-5 clip in the last 15 meetings between these teams.

Rating: 2 Units

The Dallas Mavericks have not been a reliable team to back on the road as of late, losing three out of their last four road games. This marks the end of a four-game road trip. Dallas has also dropped five out of their last eight games overall. The Rockets have been competitive recently, especially at home. They recently beat the Bucks and Suns on the current homestand. Furthermore, the Mavericks have not been at their best offensively. They have only averaged 103 points in their last three games and that includes an overtime game in that span. The Rockets already beat the Mavericks in the lone meeting this season by nine points and are a strong play in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The Brooklyn Nets earned the first six wins of their winning streak by making plays down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Their seventh victory was among the NBA's most dominant offensive performances of the season, and the Nets are curious to see what the follow-up showing looks like Friday night when they host the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks. During their seven-game winning streak, the Nets are averaging 125.1 points, shooting 55.9 percent and making 42.6 percent of their 3-point tries. Brooklyn also is averaging 28.1 assists to go along with 6.9 steals and 5.9 blocks since its last loss on Dec. 4 against the Boston Celtics. Brooklyn's numbers during the streak significantly increased Wednesday thanks to a flawless showing in a 143-113 rout of the visiting Golden State Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins.

Rating: 2 Units

The Knicks have won eight of their last 10 games and four of their last five home games. They are playing well offensively, especially at home where they have scored over 115 points per game in their last three games while making over 51 percent of their shots. They are one of the best rebounding teams in the league and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, grabbing more than 13 offensive boards per game at home, which will lead to extra scoring opportunities. The Bulls aren’t very good offensively and they played worse in recent games, giving up more than 120 points per game in their last three games, and will have a hard time slowing down the Knicks. The Bulls have lost four of their last six games and five of their last seven road games. Despite their recent run, they continue to play well offensively, scoring more than 115 points per game in their last three games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Knicks and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring opportunities against them. They’ve also been very careless with the ball, which will be a problem against the Knicks, who are averaging seven steals per game. With New York holding opponents under 105 points per game in their last three games, they will keep Chicago’s offense in check, so go with New York to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Philadelphia is just as good as the Clippers on the defensive end of the court and they have been more efficient on the offensive end. The Clippers aren't going to be able to score enough points to cover this spread. They are averaging the least amount of points scored per game and the 23rd-highest shooting percentage from the field. They won't be able to handle Philadelphia's pressure and they will slowly fall behind in this game. I also see the Clippers struggling to stop Embiid, as he continues to dominate. He will control the paint and carry his team to victory. Embiid and Harden look deadly right now and I just don't see the Clippers slowing them down on the road. Philadelphia will also contest shots near the rim and on the perimeter, as they will continue to pull away throughout this game. Philadelphia still has the fourth-highest three-point shooting percentage and they are scoring the 19th most points per game. They will find different ways to score and cover the spread in this game.

Rating: 2 Units

This is a great spot for the host Rainbow Warriors to flex their defensive muscles against a Pepperdine team that wants to run and wants to launch 3pt shots. Hawaii's defense is amongst the best in the country, particularly at stopping long-range shooting teams. The 22nd-ranked Hawaii 3pt defense will pressure Pepperdine along the perimeter and challenge all their shots. In addition, Hawaii should be able to capitalize on Pepperdine's sometimes sloppy play with the ball to steal some easy baskets. Pepperdine has yet to win a game away from home this season. Finally, don't discount the advantage Hawaii has being home in this tournament and treating this as just a game and less of an event.

Rating: 2 Units

Missouri has an excellent record, but they have only faced the 346th-rated schedule according to KenPom and only one team in the Coaches Poll Top 25. Illinois is much more battle-tested having faced the 135th-rated schedule, and four top-25 teams, with wins over two top-10 teams. Illinois has the offensive firepower to match Missouri and also loves to play at a fast tempo. The Fighting Illini do have a huge advantage on the defensive end and also on the boards, where they are outrebounding foes +7.1 per game. At the same time, Missouri is dead even in rebounding margin on the season. I will lay the points and take Illinois.

Rating: 2 Units

New Orleans has beaten the Spurs twice this season, both by double digit scores. The Spurs catch a break without Williamson playing in this matchup but they will be playing their second straight game without their own leading scorer in Johnson. New Orleans is 12-4 on the season at home and have played a number of games without key players and showed off their depth. They have shown the ability to protect the basketball and, even without Williamson, they can control the boards in this matchup.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cardinals have one of the country's most under-whelming teams this season and there's little reason to think that things will change as they hit the road in this one. They only have two wins on the season as a whole and without a win away from home, this isn't an opponent that they match up well with. The Wolfpack have one of the ACC's best scoring duos and Louisville will not only not be able to stop them, nor will they be able to come close to matching the scoring punch. Additionally, according to covers.com, Louisville is 1-5 ATS in their last six road games, while NC State is 3-0-1 ATS in their last four games following an ATS loss.

Rating: 2 Units

The Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings hope to get back on winning tracks when they square off Wednesday night in the California capital. The Lakers had won two in a row before opening a three-day, two-game trip without LeBron James and absorbing a 130-104 drubbing in Phoenix at the hands of the Suns on Monday night. At the same time, the Kings, also seeking a third consecutive win but doing so on their home court, saw the Charlotte Hornets come to town and walk away with a 125-119 victory. L.A. and Sacramento met once earlier this season, with the Kings winning 120-114 on the road in November in a game in which the Lakers were also missing James. This time, they'll be without Anthony Davis, who injured his right foot in a 126-108 home win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Consider that the Lakers are 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Rating: 2 Units

The Saint Mary's Gaels’ defense, which is allowing an average of 57.7 points per game and 39.9% shooting will be too much for the Wyoming offense. Wyoming is shooting a below average 44.4% overall and will get very few second look opportunities as St Mary's is allowing an average of only 25.8 rebounds per game including just 5.6 offensive rebounds, which is third best in the country. St. Mary's has covered the spread in six of the last seven games played on a Wednesday on the road. Wyoming has failed to cover the spread in 12 of its last 16 games overall. The Cowboys are scoring a respectable 73.6 points per game but are shooting just 44.4% and rely on a more up-tempo game and St. Mary’s will take the wind out of the sails as the Gaels will use as much of the shot clock as possible on each possession.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Trail Blazers are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings and 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Oklahoma City.  Additionally the Trail Blazers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record. While the Thunder are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record, 43-19-3 ATS in their last 65 games following a ATS win, and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Rockets are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 home games, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss, 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points, and 11-5 ATS in their last 16 Wednesday games. While the Magic are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record and 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

Rating: 2 Units

Naz Reid continued his strong play in the absence of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns by contributing 27 points and 13 rebounds. Gobert has missed three straight games with a sprained left ankle, while Towns has been sidelined since sustaining a calf injury on Nov. 28. Jaylen Nowell scored 18 points off the bench and Austin Rivers added 16 for the Timberwolves, one night after Minnesota set a franchise record for points (150) and field goals (57) in a rout of the Chicago Bulls. Consider that the Mavericks are 7-16-2 ATS in their last 25 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bulls are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games on the road. They are 2-3 in the second half of back-to-backs thus far this season. They are also just 2-7 ATS overall in their last nine games prior to Tuesday night's game. The Bulls defense is struggling to slow down their opponents and will have a difficult time against a Hawks team that has Murray and Collins back to support the offense. The Hawks should control the tempo and flow of the game with their ability to protect the basketball, they are 8th in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio. Additionally, the Bulls are just 4-11 on the road this season while the Hawks are 10-5 at home. Atlanta defeated Chicago two weeks ago in Atlanta.

Rating: 2 Units

In their six-game losing streak, the Raptors are scoring under 110 points per game and shooting under 45% from the floor. All season, the Raptors have struggled from long range as they are 29th in the NBA in 3pt field goal percentage. The Raptors are typically one of the best assist-to-turnover teams in the NBA, ranking fifth in the league. However, they have turned the ball over 27 times combined in their last two losses. Consider that the Knicks are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 games playing on 0 days rest.

Rating: 2 Units

I know bettors are going to be wary of backing North Carolina after its slow start to the season, but the Tar Heels have started to round into form and were able to gain some confidence with an overtime win against a ranked opponent. They also match up very well in this game, as they have the size to counter Dickinson along with the guard play to match Howard. Neither team has been good on the defensive end of the court, but North Carolina has more firepower offensively. Michigan needs Dickinson to play a perfect game today, while the Tar Heels have numerous high-level scoring options.

Rating: 2 Units

The Nuggets have plenty of talent, but the one name circled on every scouting report is two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. He is playing well again this year and is coming off a historic game against Charlotte on Sunday night. Jokic finished with 40 points, a career-high 27 rebounds and 10 assists to join Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to compile those numbers in one game. Jokic had a franchise-record 20 rebounds in the first half of the 119-115 win. Consider that the Grizzlies are 8-20-1 ATS in their last 29 road games and 2-5-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Denver.

Rating: 2 Units

I am going to take the Suns and I am going to lay the points (-7.5). As long as Booker and Ayton play, I believe this team can beat anybody. Make sure to check the injury report before placing your wager. On the offensive end of the court, the Suns have the third-highest adjusted offensive rating and they are scoring the 10th most points per game. They can score from anywhere on the floor and the Wizards won't be able to slow them down. Washington has now lost 10 games in a row, as they can't do anything right. They are struggling on the defensive end of the court and they can efficiently score either. They are only scoring the 23rd most points per game and they haven't been able to defend the three-point shot. The Suns will find consistent open shots throughout this game and I expect them to take advantage. Phoenix has also been elite defensively, as they are surrendering the seventh least amount of points per game and they have the 10th lowest adjusted defensive rating. They will get the job done on both ends of the floor, as I see them slowly pulling away in this game.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pistons have had a tough 10 game stretch that includes two losses to Memphis and a lost to New Orleans, but also upset wins over Miami and Dallas. The overall record isn't prett, but Detroit doesn't cheat its fans in the effort department and are 9-2-2 in thier lst 13 gainst a team with a winning record. Utah looked flat last night in Cleveland, and although the Cavs are a good team, they never really competed. The Jazz have been a poor defensive team most of the season, but now their offense is also not coming through. Utah is 0-4 in its last four games against at team with a losing record. I will back the home dog here.

Rating: 2 Units

UConn has covered a 33-point spread and a 39.5-point spread already this season. They have also beaten an excellent Alabama team by 15 points and showed no mercy beating Butler by 22 in the conference opener. With so many transfers leading the way, the Georgetown defense has struggled as they lost to Northwestern, Loyal Marymount, Texas Tech, Syracuse, and Xavier by double-digits. I am not a fan of laying this many points, but UConn has been excellent, and I don't want to go against the nation's top team against the spread at home. It's either UConn or pass.

Rating: 2 Units

Dallas has been a terrible team to back away from home this season, as it has gone 3-13 in its last 16 road games. The Mavericks could be playing without the NBA’s second-leading scorer again on Monday, so I have no interest in backing them against a Minnesota team that is coming off its best outing of the season. This is a rare situation where the back-to-back aspect is not a negative thing, as the Timberwolves will be ready to pick up where it left off. They could also be getting some reinforcements back after having four key players out on Sunday. Minnesota has won four of its last six home games and will be oozing with confidence in this spot.