Rating: 3 Units

SC has been quite the surprise this season, going from 11-21 / 4-14 last year to 24-6 / 12-5 this campaign. Meanwhile, Mississippi State sits in mid-pack with an 8-9 conference ledger and a loss here tags head coach Chris Jans with his second straight 8-10 effort in two seasons in Starkville. Even so, we’ve got some good stuff in our corner with the Bulldogs today. For openers, MSU is 27-12- ATS at home coming off a previous home loss, including 22-6-1 against foes that are not coming off a loss of more than 7 points. Next, it’s Senior Day at The Hump, and with five starters who returned from last year’s squad being honored, the cowbells should be at full volume. And finally, there’s a matter of revenge, as the Bulldogs look to even the score for a 68-62 defeat in Columbia back on January 6. All of this leads to max value on this payback rematch, in addition the Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS with revenge in this series.

Rating: 2 Units

New York finds themselves just two games ahead of the No. 8 seed Orlando in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They’ll take the floor tonight with a case of same-season triple revenge on their minds against the suddenly capable Magic, sporting a 3-0 SUATS record in this series when playing with the aforementioned same season ‘hat-trick’ revenge. With Orlando just 12-18 ATS against same-season triple avengers, we're taking the Knicks.

Rating: 2 Units

The New Orleans Pelicans stand atop the division. They continue to shine, winning three of their last four games. The Philadelphia 76ers have not been reliable at home, going just 2-3 in their last five home games after a home loss to the Grizzlies. The Pelicans are the stronger defensive squad here, allowing 111.9 points per 100 possessions compared to 114.5 points per 100 by the 76ers. This matters because Philadelphia is playing without Joel Embiid and has not been scoring nearly as many points. Also, Tyrese Maxey has missed the last two games and is questionable. The Pelicans have conceded an average of only 105.8 points in their last five games.

Rating: 2 Units

Missouri State is playing for the second straight day here as they take the floor looking to advance to the semifinals. The problem for the Bears, other than potential fatigue, is that they have to deal with an Indiana State team that can pile up points in a hurry. We’ve seen Indiana State do a ton of damage on the offensive end as they are deadly inside the arc, from the perimeter and at the charity stripe. While the Bears put up a stellar defensive showing in their win over Murray State, expecting them to slow down the Sycamores the way they handcuffed the Racers is foolhardy. Look for Indiana State to take care of business and punch their ticket to the semifinals with a win here.

Rating: 2 Units

Sitting way back on the ‘Bubble’, the 14-win Bruins (at press time) need every win they can muster, and one or two against ranked foes like the Wildcats. At least UCLA is 9-3 ATS as a dog this season, including 7-1 ATS in Pac12 contests, plus Mick Cronin’s crew is 6-1 ATS in their last seven games as a home dog. There’s also a revenge factor at work here in favor of the Bruins: Arizona edged UCLA at home earlier this season, and the desert Cats are a flimsy 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS the last six games in the series when UCLA has same-season revenge. Yep, we’ll be on the take tonight.

NBA Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

The Raptors enter off a same-season revenge rumble at New Orleans while standing 6-12 SUATS in post-Pelican performances, including 0-5 ATS when Toronto owns a sub .540 win percentage. Making matters worse for the dinosaurs, they have another same-season get-even affair on deck against Portland, knowing they are 1-6 SUATS in games before the Blazers’ battles. We sign off, though, with Finally, Phoenix is 7-1 ATS with same-season revenge in this series, including 5-0 ATS in games in which Toronto owns a sub .700 win percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

This game comes down to Giannis Antetokounmpo's health primarily. He's battling an Achilles injury, so Antetokounmpo may be out again. If that's the case, Golden State should be favored and will beat the spread. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the first game against Golden State. Nobody on the Bucks can replace that production. Milwaukee's defense doesn't force enough turnovers to stress Golden State's offense, which will allow them to get the shots that they want. Injuries and the venue change will help the Warriors end the Bucks' winning streak comfortably.

Rating: 2 Units

Iowa State is ranked No. 2 in the nation in Turnover Margin (+6.8), No. 8 in Defensive Points Per game (62.9), and No. 9 in overall Scoring Margin (+15). BYU arrives in Ames off a Saturday homer versus TCU, and the Cougars could still have their heads in the clouds following their monumental road upset of Kansas last Tuesday. The boys from Provo are 1-3 SUATS in this series, and after beating Iowa State in an earlier meeting at home, 87-82, they will likely pay the price tonight. 

Rating: 2 Units

I'm going with the better record against the spread and the home record in this one. Let's face it, Indiana is not making the NCAA Tournament unless they win the Big 10 Tourney, so this game doesn't mean a whole lot. Minnesota needs to keep winning to have a shot at an at-large bid. This is also a revenge game where Minnesota shot just 3-of-20 from 3-point range and 13-of-24 (54%) from the free-throw line in that first meeting that ended up in a 12-point loss. At home, Minnesota shoots 35.6% from the three-point line and 70% from the free throw line. Indiana struggles to defend the three-point shot (34.8%) on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

This young Rockets team is on the tail end of a back-to-back, and they gave everything they had last night to beat the Spurs. Sengun, Van Vleet, Green and Brooks all played 36 or more minutes in the game, the stars for the Rockets did not rest. Sengun is coming off a career game, but he played 37 minutes, took 32 shots, and was all over the floor, he will not be at full strength tonight for the Clippers. Los Angeles is rested, and coming off a loss in a game where they played the Bucks without Giannis. The Clippers will be hungry to get back on track in the tightly contested playoff race at the top of the Western Conference. The Clippers covered the spread in their last two wins, and have Leonard, George and Harden all healthy for this game. The loss of Russell Westbrook will not be as impactful here, as the Rockets do not have a strong bench and rely on their starters for the majority of their production. The last time the Rockets played a back to back, they lost the second game to the Hawks and did not cover the spread. The same will happen here.

Rating: 2 Units

The Nuggets have been playing tough defense lately, so I have to lay 7.5 points with the reigning champs. The Suns will miss Devin Booker a lot in this matchup. They lack a proper point guard, and the Suns will be in trouble should the Nuggets continue to impress on the defensive side of the ball. Denver has gone 8-2 ATS in its last ten encounters with Phoenix. The Nuggets are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in their previous five home tilts versus the Suns, and I expect Denver to extend its home dominance over Phoenix. Denver is 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall. 

CBB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

Kansas stands 31-1 SU and 17-11 ATS at home off a previous home loss by an average win margin of 20.1 PPG, including 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS with same-season revenge. The No. 7 Jayhawks have the weapons to do the job again tonight, ranking No. 4 in the land in Offensive Field Goal Percentage, just a bit under 50%. That fits just right with Kansas State’s 2-5 ATS record versus revenge-seeking foes this season (Kansas lost to K-State by 5 points in early February). Consider that Kansas State is 1-14 SUATS in its series against Kansas when the Jayhawks sport a sub .770 win percentage. Finally, Kansas is 5-0 SUATS in this series when seeking revenge from a same-season loss, by an average win margin of more than 15 PPG

NBA Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

The young Cavs were on a major roll at the All-Star break, claiming 18 wins in over 20 games. The Break did them no good, though, as the momentum was chilled, and they dropped 3 of 5 games heading into Friday night’s visit to Motown. However, their best achievement this season has been a super sturdy 10-7 SUATS mark in games against quality opposition (.589 or greater foes), including 7-3 at home. To top it off, they will carry a same-season double revenge chip on their shoulder into tonight’s contest. Meanwhile, the Celts arrive off a same-season revenge tussle with the Warriors, bringing a 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS log in this role into this affair. And be sure to check this line, as Boston has proved to be a bust when laying points after Golden State gatherings, just 10-25-1 ATS overall since 1990. To top it off, the Beantown bunch is staring dead ahead to another same-season revenger with Denver on tap. Finally, Cleveland is 4-0 ATS in this series when playing with same-season double revenge.

Rating: 2 Units

The Fighting Illini stormed back against Purdue in the first game, only losing by five. This Purdue team has been flirting with danger on the road against multiple conference rivals this season. Tuesday will end with one of college basketball's best teams on the losing end. The Boilermakers dip to 45.5% shooting and "only" 77.1 points per game. While that will be enough to win against a lot of teams, Illinois is one of the few teams in the country averaging more points than Purdue. The Fighting Illini allow 80+ points but still pull out a win, keeping them alive for the Big Ten regular season title.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bears are 15-5 SUATS in this series, including 14-2 ATS when Texas sports a greater than .555 win percentage, plus they’re 11-3 SUATS in games versus sub .720 foes this season, including 4-0 SUATS in Big 12 games. Yes, the Longhorns are an 18-win squad, but they’ve been major money burners this year, going 9-18-1 ATS at press time. NOTE: Texas owned a 3-14 ATS record this season in games following a win before hosting Oklahoma State on Saturday, and if Bevo banished the Cowboys, tonight’s game becomes an even stronger play on UT. The bottom line is Baylor has the look and feel of a team ready to make a lot of noise during March Madness. It starts tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bucks are playing their best basketball of the season and will have the advantage of rest as they take on the Clippers, who will be playing their second game of a back-to-back on Monday night. The Bucks are second in the NBA in scoring this season but, more importantly, have held six of their last nine opponents under 100 points. The recent defensive prowess of the Bucks has improved their scoring defense to 19th in the NBA. The Clippers will have difficulty with the length of the Bucks, especially at the rim. The Clippers are just 19th in the NBA in total rebounding and that will be amplified against the Bucks. Additionally, without Westbrook there to help defensively, Dame Lillard should have his way with the Clippers guards on the offensive end. Look for the Bucks to keep rolling on Monday against the Clippers.

Rating: 2 Units

This seems like a big spread, but Colorado dominated Stanford the last time these teams met in Colorado (February 5, 2023) when they earned a 22-point victory. In addition, not only have they defeated Stanford in eight of the last 10 meetings, but they are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings. The Cardinals have lost five straight games, and they have lost each of those contests against the spread as well. The Buffaloes have not been great against the spread recently as well (2-6-0), but they have proven they can handle Stanford.

Rating: 2 Units

I will take the Cavaliers even if Donovan Mitchell remains on the sidelines. Cleveland will torture New York in the paint on the back of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who combine for 20.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game this season. The Knicks just got outscored in the paint by the Warriors. I don’t see them containing the Cavaliers’ big men. Cleveland should torture New York at the low post, and the Cavs have enough weapons to slow Jalen Brunson down. The Cavaliers boast the second-best defensive rating in the NBA (111.2 points allowed per 100 possessions). 

Rating: 2 Units

At first glance, this seems like a big number, but Nebraska has been taking care of business at home recently and winning by double digits. Their last three home games included an 18-point win against Minnesota, a 19-point win over Penn State and a 20-point win over Michigan. Rutgers is another unranked team playing on the road, and their 275th-ranked offense will not be able to produce much against Nebraska's 30th ranked defense. Rutgers' offense is by far the worst-ranked unit in the game, Jeremiah Williams doesn't shoot from the outside, and Omoruyi can only score around the bucket. Nebraska has four players averaging 11.9 PPG or more, they can score inside and out, especially with Tominaga on the perimeter and Mast inside. Rutgers looked good against Michigan, but so has every team in the league, in their previous game they lost by 17 to Maryland and only managed 46 points on offense. Nebraska has more to play for as they will find their way into the tournament and will win comfortably here.

Rating: 2 Units

Ohio State is heating up, motivated for revenge against their rivals, and desperate to win this game for any chance of dancing. Michigan is 2-8 on the road and amid a six-game losing streak. Each defeat during this slide came by double figures. The Wolverines allow 81.7 points per game on the road, so the Buckeyes will feast offensively. Michigan has only reached 70 points once during this losing streak. Ohio State's season average for points allowed is 69.9, so that stretch should continue. Expect the Buckeyes to beat Michigan by at least 15.

Rating: 3 Units

The Clippers have been a good road this season, particularly since December, but I like the Wolves to pick up the win here. The Clippers will need to make some adjustments in their rotation with Westbrook's absence and that will take a bit of time. The team will certainly not look to extend either Leonard or George's minutes given both of their injury histories. The Wolves will also likely welcome back Edwards after missing him for the second half of the Kings game. Edwards' presence will force the Clippers to account for him all over the floor and should open things up for the likes of Mike Conley Jr. and Towns. The Wolves should now have a significant advantage with the league's best defense going up against a depleted Clippers' offense.

Rating: 2 Units

This should be fun, but the Crimson Tide get their revenge at home where they are 13-1. Alabama shot just 4-of-21 (19%) from beyond the arc in that first meeting. Their backcourt of Sears and Estrada shot just 11 of 21 and turned the ball over nine times combined. Expect Alabama to shoot much better considering they are at home, where they shoot 41.1% from beyond the arc. Tennessee struggles to defend the three-point shot on the road (37.2%) and will lose their first game in March.

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

As we’ve alluded to previously, MSU was ranked No. 4 in the AP Preseason Top 25 poll, its highest ranking since 2020. And at 17-11 and residing in sixth place in the Big Ten entering this contest, they’ve certainly underperformed this campaign. That makes them a dangerous ‘Bubble Team’ here, playing with a double revenge chip on their shoulder from a pair of losses laid on them by the Boilermakers last season. No doubt that Purdue is one of the nation’s most talented teams and that head coach Matt Painter’s troops want to make amends for last year’s embarrassing first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament, but the Boilers are just 0-3 SUATS in this series when MSU is seeking double revenge from the previous season. Purdue has not performed well this year against avenging Big Ten foes coming off a loss, going just 3-6 ATS, and the Boilermakers might be looking ahead to Tuesday night’s huge road trip to Illinois. Finally, playing on the Michigan State Spartans from Game 20 out if they're coming off an ATS loss of 9 or more points and are seeking revenge in a conference game is 13-1 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

The Heat should have the majority of the players back that missed out on the final game of their six-game trip. Herro and Richardson certainly look more than likely to be back for this game and that should give a boost to the Heat in this matchup. The Jazz seem unlikely to get Kessler back on Saturday and that will make their matchup against the Heat all the more difficult. Kessler's presence helps the Jazz on the glass and at the rim. Without him, I expect a big night from Adebayo and for Butler and the Heat wings to be able to slash to the basket without fear of being slowed down. The Jazz are in the final game of a highly unsuccessful trip and look like a team that is fading from the Western Conference playoff picture. Miami, on the other hand, is in a dog fight with Orlando and Indiana trying to get out of the play-in round. The Heat will be more motivated on Saturday and have the advantage in the paint.

Rating: 2 Units

The No. 11 Tigers (21-7, 10-5) led No. 4 Tennessee by eight points midway through the second half before losing 92-84 in a road game that featured 12 lead changes on Wednesday night. The Tigers are tied for fourth in the SEC with Kentucky and Florida, two games ahead of Mississippi State. Auburn has alternated wins and losses in its last six games. The last time it had consecutive wins or losses was a three-game winning streak that began after a 64-58 loss at Mississippi State on Jan. 27.

Rating: 2 Units

The Stony Brook Seawolves, with a 16-14 overall record and positioning seventh in the Coastal Athletic Association, have displayed a resilient and competitive spirit throughout the season. Their recent clash against Drexel, although ending in a 90-86 road loss, was a hard-fought battle that highlighted the Seawolves' tenacity and skill. Despite the defeat, Stony Brook's performance in this game underscored their offensive capabilities and their never-say-die attitude, as they pushed a higher-ranked team to the brink. This game served as a microcosm of their season, reflecting their ability to compete at a high level, even in the face of adversity.

Rating: 2 Units

George Mason head coach Tony Skinn is aware that the Patriots are 17-6 SU and 12-7 ATS at home when coming off a pair of losses, including 10-2 ATS in games in which Georgie sports the better record. Duquesne won 20 games last year and went to the CBI Tournament, and the Dukes just avenged a conference tourney loss when they beat La Salle 75-63 on Wednesday. unfortunately, they are just 2-9 ATS when coming off a win of 6-plus points this season. The Pats are a solid 13-2 at EagleBank Arena with an average winning margin of 12.2 PPG

Rating: 3 Units

St. Joe’s did not qualify for postseason play last year following an exit in the conference tourney quarterfinals and the Hawks finished the campaign at 16-17, no thanks to a pair of losses laid on them by Fordham. The Rams won 24 games last season under promoted first-year head coach Keith Urgo but have felt the cold sting of reality this year, going 12-16 and just 3-8 SUATS when coming off a win. The Rams’ highly distasteful 1-14 ATS ledger the past two seasons in outright conference losses as an underdog is also a major concern. We’ve always been fans of 5-returning starter teams looking for revenge. Finally, St. Joseph’s is 18-3 SU and 14-7 ATS in this series, including 10-0 SU and 9-1 ATS when Joe’s owns a .500 or better win percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

Providence is 10-2 with an average winning margin of 10.4 PPG. The Friars will also be looking for some payback from Villanova after the Wildcats rolled in their first meeting earlier this season, 68-50, and they take the court today boasting a 12-1 ATS record with same-season revenge from a loss of 9-plus points in this series, including 9-0 ATS at home. Nova is only 3-7 SU and 3-6-1 ATS away this campaign.

Rating: 2 Units

Fresno State has lost four straight games, while Nevada has won four straight games. There is a time to fade the trends, but there is also a time to realize why the trends are happening in the first place. Fresno State is down this year, the Mountain West is a tough conference, and they are struggling to keep up. Fresno only won four league games so far this season, and San Diego State just beat them by 32 points in a game played on Fresno's home court. The Bulldogs are started to sense the end of the season, as one loss in the conference tourney will wrap up their year. Nevada has everything to play for, they are on the right side of the bubble, and need every convincing win they can get at this point to strengthen their case for the Big Dance. It looks like Fresno will be without their big man Boakye, which will leave a huge hole in the middle defensively. Nevada has the best player in this game in Lucas, and has the most motivation as their season is far from over.

Rating: 2 Units

This is a small line for the much better team to cover. Dayton is ranked 25th overall in KenPom, 21st in the AP Top 25, and are the only team in the A-10 who looks like a lock for the NCAA Tournament. Dayton also has something else Loyola Chicago doesn't; a 6'10 future NBA player in their frontcourt. Holmes is a problem for all Atlantic 10 teams, he leads the conference in scoring and is third in rebounding, and will look to put on a show on national television. Dayton took two unexpected losses recently, but that will only refocus this team that still ranks 16th in the nation in offensive efficiency. Loyola Chicago will have a difficult time keeping up, as their offense is the worst unit in the game ranking in at 183rd in the country. Loyola Chicago had a winning streak against some of the weaker teams in the conference, but they are now running into a powerhouse. Dayton is motivated to improve their league record, because they want to ensure that if they do not win the A-10 Tournament, they still get a spot in the Big Dance.

Rating: 2 Units

Defense can still win games in the NBA, and the defenses will set the tone in this one. Minnesota has the best defense in the league in terms of efficiency, and no one on Sacramento's defense can stop Anthony Edwards. De'Aaron Fox is excellent, but Sabonis is equally important to this Sacramento offense. Minnesota's frontcourt defense is the best in the league, Sabonis will have to go up against the likely Defensive Player of the Year in Gobert, while also contending with Towns and Naz Reid on the inside. The claim about not being able to stop Edwards is proven in the numbers. Ant-Man scored 35 in their first matchup against the Kings, and 34 in the second game. They have shooters on the wing, not defenders. Edwards will have his way while, Gobert and Towns control the paint on both ends. Timberwolves have won seven of their last eight, and match up well with this Sacramento team.

Rating: 2 Units

The Mavs headed into the All-Star break brimming with confidence while riding a 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS win skein, only one game back of 5th-seeded Denver and New Orleans. With it, they’ll carry a 16-9 ATS road record this season into Beantown, where they’ve managed to cash just nine of the last thirteen games inside this series. At the same time, Boston has been busy burning backers’ money this season, going just 3-6 ATS when hosting Western Conference foes. More importantly, the shamrocks arrive off a bigger battle with Philadelphia, standing only 4-4 SU and 3-5 ATS in post-Philly follow ups. Grab the points with the money earner against the money burners. 

Rating: 3 Units

After a slow start to the 2023-24 season, Miami entered the All-Star break on a 7-1 ATS run, and now, with most of the starters back intact, they appear poised to make another second-half run this season. On the opposite side of the court, Denver closed just 4-10-1 ATS before the All-Star break. Worse, they enter tonight’s game off a same-season triple revenger last night on this court against the Kings. At just 5-10 SU and 4-11 ATS after Sacramento, we’re more than happy to take the dog.  Finally, since 1994, Denver is just 55-108-1 ATS at home without rest, including 0-7 ATS when coming off a game in which they were playing with revenge.

Rating: 2 Units

The Suns already have a 16-point win over the Rockets and that came in Houston. Now, Phoenix, with a long winning streak at home, gets to host Houston. This year's Rockets are 5-23 (10-18-0 ATS) on the road, so they don't travel well at all. Which is why Phoenix will beat the spread in this game. Houston's weak offense is much worse on the road, barely scratching 110 points. Their defense allows 117.1 points on the road, nearly eight points more than their home average. The Suns have held this team under 115 points twice already. They've also outrebounded the Rockets in both matchups. Expect the Suns to keep the Rockets' offense in check, leading to a double-digit victory when their offense shines as always.

Rating: 2 Units

The Utes will certainly be glad be back in Salt Lake City after a trio of road games, and also to make amends for a pair of previous losses at the Huntsman Center where they are 9-4 SU and 8-4-1 ATS in this role since 2016. And when we see that Utah dropped a 79-73 contest to Stanford as small road chalk earlier this season – and were also sent packing from the Pac-12 tourney two seasons ago – we think head coach Craig Smith has had just about enough. It helps Utah’s cause that the Cardinal are 2-7 SU and 2-6-1 ATS in this series, including 0-3-1 ATS when the Utes are playing with the revenge chip. It also helps that Stanford has a revenger with Oregon State on deck and the Cardinal are just 1-7 ATS away before the battling the Beavers. Two teams that were neck and neck in the conference race should shake out with the Running Utes gaining the upper hand.

Rating: 2 Units

Talk about instant karma: this is just who the No. 4 Wildcats need to be crossing paths with at this time of the season as they bring an 0-10 ATS series log into contests in games after they beat the Sun Devils by 17 or more points. Bad ‘before and afters’ sound the alarm on the visitors, too, as they arrive off a Saturday game against Washington (2-6 ATS in U-Dub follow-ups) with dangerous Oregon on deck after tonight’s clash (1-5 ATS in games before going Duck hunting). The desert Devils ain’t much, standing 13-13 and tied with three others sporting 7-8 records in conference play, but they are rested with this being the third of a three-game homestand (25-15 ATS as a dog in this role). Realistically, ASU will need a deep run into the Pac-12 tourney to even sniff an invite to the Big Dance, so this becomes their championship game of the year. The Sun Devils are 2-0 ATS as home dogs this season and 10-5 ATS as a home dog of 6-plus points. 

NBA Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

The defending champs hold the triple revenge card this evening. They are 7-2 ATS in their last nine same-season triple revenge contests, as well as 10-3 ATS as a home favorite with a similar revenge motive. Sacramento supports that position going 10-18 SUATS away in the series in games in which Denver is looking to get even from an earlier loss. Finally, the Nuggets are 15-2 SU and 12-5 ATS as a host in this series when seeking same-season revenge, including 6-0 SUATS when the Kings own a .570 or greater win percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

After upsetting Tennessee 85-69 on February 10, the Aggies took a three game losing skein into Knoxville on Saturday as they continue to unravel after a smart 5-0 start to the season. South Carolina is 6-1 SUATS the last seven games in this series – the loss coming in their final meeting last season – and this 21-win squad has come a long way since winning only 11 games behind first-year head coach Lamont Paris last year. The former UT-Chattanooga mentor brings a super-sharp 18-8 ATS log this season into this payback while A&M can muster only a 2-7 ATS record against avenging conference opponents during the same time span. A win tonight by the Cocks keeps them hot on the heels of current SEC leaders Alabama, Tennessee and Auburn.

Rating: 2 Units

The Iowa State Cyclones have steadily become one of the best teams in college basketball, they have won five of their last six games, with their only loss coming to #2 Houston on the road. The Cyclones are alone in second place in the conference, ahead of typical powerhouses in Kansas and Baylor. In their last game, they were heavy favorites over West Virginia, it was closer than expected as West Virginia led with nine minutes left before Iowa State pulled ahead. The Cyclones were led by guard Tamin Lipsey with 14 points and six assists in the win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Mavericks have been marginally successful on the second night of back-to-backs this season with a record of 5-4 in the second game. They have won three out of the last five backends as well. With Kyrie Irving healthy, the Mavericks backcourt is as good as any in the NBA. It also allows the Mavs to rest Doncic more and keep him fresher game in and game out. Dallas will be able to exploit Toronto's difficulty guarding the perimeter. Dallas is second in the NBA in 3-point field goals made per game and Toronto is just 22nd in the NBA defending the 3-point shot. Both teams like to run but the Mavs should be the team doing the most running on Wednesday night with an edge in efficiency. I like the Mavericks to dictate pace of play, ranked 14th in the NBA, and do more damage both on the perimeter and in fastbreak points.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pistons are on their second night of a back to back, have a brand new rotation to figure out, and have only won eight games all season, they are not the play here. These tail end of back-to-backs are famous spots to fade teams, and fading the Pistons is the right play here. They have to play a tough New York team on Monday, then immediately fly to Chicago for their next matchup on the road. This would be difficult for an experienced team, let a lone a team where there best players are 22 and 20 years old. Cunningham and Duren are the top guys for Detroit, but Chicago has the answer for each. Cunningham will be going up against either Caruso or Dosunmu, they are both defensive minded guards who can take turns slowing down Cade. This also frees up energy for DeRozan to score on offense, which he has been doing very well lately, taking over the top dog role for Chicago. Duren is a nice young center, but Vucevic has been one of the most underrated centers in the league for years, he will have no problem battling a tired Duren. Chicago is not losing to Detroit twice in one season, and they will do enough here to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

The Jayhawks sent a message over the weekend, dominating a tough Texas team at home. Now, they get to host a BYU team that doesn't travel well. The Cougars are 2-6 (1-7-0 ATS) on the road, and that won't improve today. Their offense only shoots 42.3% in away games (29.6% from three-point range), which will leave them frustrated against a Kansas defense that's one of the nation's best at forcing misses. The Cougars allow almost 80 points per game on the road, a number that the Jayhawks should breeze by. Expect Kansas to win convincingly again.

Rating: 2 Units

The Magic should bounce back here from a loss at Atlanta on Sunday night in what appeared to be a letdown game at the end of a road trip. The Magic now face a Brooklyn team in a similar spot, at the end of a five-game road trip just looking to get home. The Nets lost each of the first three games of the trip, failing to score 100 points in each game. They now face an Orlando team that is 7th in the NBA in scoring defense. I like the Magic to keep the Nets' offensive woes going and to put up enough points to comfortably take this game. The Magic have lost both games against Brooklyn this season but that was a different Nets team, scoring over 120 points in each contest. Now, the Nets are working through a change in coaching philosophy and roster.

Rating: 2 Units

The Hoosiers return to Assembly Hall after embarrassingly have dropped each of their previous three home games and the last time that same scenario played out three years ago, Indiana upended Iowa as a 3-point home dog. In fact, Indiana is 4-0 SUATS in this role as a pick or dog of three or fewer points, and 12-5-1 ATS as a home dog when seeking revenge (lost to Wisconsin by 12 points in most recent meeting). Pay attention to the line as Indiana should come off your playlist if favored as the Hoosiers have lost their last three games outright when laying points. The Badgers head into this contest off a revenge scrum against Maryland with another revenge contest against Illinois on deck, so it will be all coach Greg Gard can do to keep his team from falling to 6-14-1 ATS against foes seeking same-season revenge from a loss of 7-plus points.

Rating: 2 Units

Fortunately, one of our favorite handicapping principles is in play here as the Wildcats take the floor knowing they are 22-1 SU in the last twenty-three regular season meetings in this series. And if they are taking points they are 3-0 ATS as a dog in the series – which would make them a DIA DIA dog (Dogs In Action – Doing It Again). It also doesn’t hurt knowing that Coach Cal (John Calipari) is a long-term 91-61-4 ATS in games in which his teams are not laying points, including 34-18-1 ATS when his troops sport the better record. Hail State got bounced in the First Four of last year’s NCAA tourney and thanks to the return of 5 starters, the Bulldogs are still within striking distance at the regular season plays out. However, they’re just 3-6 SUATS the last nine game versus foes with a better record.

Rating: 2 Units

Baylor was also an AP preseason Top 20 ranked team this season, and we look for a season-ending super surge to start here for the No. 11 Bears. They enter off a showdown against conference bear Houston knowing they are 3-0 outright in games following the Cougars. And despite dropping a recent 105-103 triple overtime decision in Waco to the Frogs, the Bears bring a 16-6 SU and 15-7 ATS ledger in this series into this rematch. Baylor also stands 14-8 ATS away with revenge in Big 12 play and rank in the nation’s Top 15 of Offensive Field Goal Percentage. Not so for TCU, who was just 2-3 in the month of February before Saturday’s same-season revenge contest against Cincinnati. The bottom line is with Kansas, Texas, and Texas Tech on tap for Baylor’s stretch run, the Bears cannot afford a loss tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

Brooklyn's shooting woes continued Saturday at Minnesota when it fell apart in the fourth quarter and wound up shooting a season-worst 33.7 percent and going a season-worst 17.1 percent from behind the arc. It was the Nets' worst shooting percentage since shooting 33.3 percent against Memphis on March 4, 2020 and their lowest 3-point shooting percentage since making 13 percent (3 of 23) at San Antonio on Jan. 17, 2023. Compounding matters were the Nets getting outscored 31-20 in the fourth quarter and 25-6 on fast-break points. The Nets were outscored 46-7 on fast breaks in Toronto and 39-22 in the fourth quarter.

Rating: 2 Units

With whoever is active on Sunday, the Pelicans will lean on the NBA's sixth-best defensive rating. They allow the second-most three-point attempts per game but also hold teams to the second-lowest three-point percentage. They're 22nd at defending the rim, yet allow the eight-fewest attempts within five feet of the hoop. New Orleans is 13th in defensive rebounding percentage, seventh in turnovers per game, and allows the ninth-fewest free throw attempts per contest.

NBA Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

Denver has tripped up the Warriors in all three meetings. The fact that Kerr brings a healthy 5-2 SUATS career mark in this role into this contest helps to set the stage for a major payback. Meanwhile, the Nuggets enter 0-3 ATS in this series the last three times they tripped up the Warriors three straight times in the same season. The fact that Denver has a same-season triple-revenge affair of their own up next against Sacramento just about seals the deal. Was we consider that Golden State is a long-term 24-10 ATS when seeking same-season triple revenge, including 16-2 ATS with a greater than .390 win percentage when facing a .545 or greater foe.

Rating: 2 Units

Minnesota's lengthy winning streak ATS is finally destined to end. Nebraska needs this game for their NCAA Tournament hopes, wants this game for revenge, and is playing well right now with their three straight wins. The Huskers also have an impeccable 16-1 (13-4-0 ATS) record on their home floor. Nebraska has better ball security, which will help them a lot. Minnesota allows 37.4% three-point shooting on the road and 25.4 free throw attempts. The Cornhuskers convert 36.3% of their threes and 75.7% of their free throws. Expect Nebraska to beat the spread in a winning effort.

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

This is  Tom Izzo’s time of the season and with his troops sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble, it’s important to remember that last year Izzo became the first men's basketball head coach in history to lead his team to 25 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Just days before that record-setting appearance was confirmed, though, the Spartans were bounced, 68-58, in the first round of the Big Ten tourney by the Buckeyes last season, so you know exactly where their focus will be today. After edging Rutgers in the conference opener in January, the Buckeyes have been falling faster than the autumn leaves, going just 3-8 outright since – one of the reasons former head coach Chris Holtmann was issued a pink slip. Even worse for OSU today, the Buckeyes are 2-12 SU and 4-10 ATS in this series with a sub .580 win percentage, including 0-3 SUATS when Sparty is coming off a loss. After suffering a costly home loss to Iowa last Tuesday, we look for Izzo to rally his troops again. Finally, playing on Michigan State and head coach Tom Izzo at home with 3+ days of rest from Game 20 out in a conference game when seeking revenge against a sub .714 opponent. is 18-0 SU and 15-2-1 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

Winners in seven of their last nine, the Los Angeles Lakers look to keep rolling today when they visit the Phoenix Suns in a matchup with Western Conference playoff implications. Phoenix sits in eighth place in the West, 2.5 games ahead of Los Angeles, after both sides returned from the All-Star break with back-to-backs on Thursday and Friday. The Lakers look to close out the season series with a 4-1 advantage. Los Angeles took three from Phoenix early in the season on Oct. 26, Nov. 10 and an in-season tournament contest on Dec. 5, but the Suns won the most recent meeting on Jan. 11.

Rating: 2 Units

I think the Nets don’t stand a chance in this matchup even though the Timberwolves play on the second night of a back-to-back, coming off a tough battle versus the Bucks. The Nets have been bad of late. Over their last two outings, the Nets have allowed a staggering 257 points while scoring just 179 in return. Brooklyn is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 encounters with the Timberwolves. The Nets have only covered once over their previous seven games overall, and I expect them to continue to struggle when they take on one of the best teams in the league. 

Rating: 2 Units

Revenge will be a real factor on Saturday, as the Volunteers got smacked by the Aggies a few weeks ago. Tennessee is also trailing Alabama by one game in the SEC standings, so they can't afford to slip up now. Expect the Volunteers to send a message on their home floor this weekend. They will shoot much better than 37.1% (27.6% from three) now that the game is in Knoxville. The Aggies shot 46.7% (39.3% from deep) in the first meeting, far above their season averages. Tennessee's defense is elite, so that game was an outlier. Anticipate a blowout that sends the home fans streaming out with smiles tonight.

NCAAB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

Self stands 57-8 SU and 44-20-1 ATS with conference loss revenge, including 25-2 SU and 2-5 ATS versus .666 or fewer foes, and Kansas is 6-1-1 ATS in this series with a revenge chip on their shoulder, including 3-0 SUATS at home by an average win margin of 21 points per game. Enter Texas, who has seen an 11-2 season start head south after going only 6-7 since conference play began in January, including 1-5 SUATS when coming off a win. The 19-7 Longhorns did manage to bounce back from a 21-point rout by Houston to edge Kansas State on Monday, 62-56, but it was not enough to keep Bevo from falling out of this week’s AP poll. Texas is a poor 10-24 ATS in outright losses as a road dog against revenge-seeking opponents. Finally, Kansas is 6-0 SUATS playing with LTKO (League Tournament Knock Out) revenge when facing a sub .740 foe.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Suns have won five of their last six games and three of their last five road games. They have played well offensively on the road, scoring more than 117 points per game while making 50 percent of their shots. They have also done a good job at the charity stripe, making over 80 percent of their free throws. They rebound the ball well and they’re grabbing more than 10 offensive rebounds per game on the road, so expect them to get a lot of second-chance opportunities in this game. The Rockets have struggled defensively in recent games, giving up more than 115 points per game in their last three games, and will have a hard time slowing down the Suns in this game. The Rockets have lost five of their last six games. They have played well offensively at home, scoring more than 115 points per game. They struggled at the charity stripe in recent games, making less than 70 percent of their free throws in their last three games. Their rebounding has been very good and it will give them a chance in this game, but they’ve been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Suns, who averaged more than 11 steals per game in their last three games. The Suns have also struggled defensively, but they played better in their last three games and will keep Houston’s offense in check. Go with Phoenix to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Memphis went into the break with two straight wins as they took down Milwaukee at home in their previous contest. The Grizzlies entered Thursday 20-36 on the season and stood fourth in the Southwest Division, 13.5 games behind the Pelicans for the top spot. They were 13th in the Western Conference standings, 19.5 games behind the Timberwolves for the top spot, 13 games behind the Pelicans for the final guaranteed playoff spot and 8.5 games behind the Warriors for the final spot in the play-in tournament.

Rating: 2 Units

The Panthers have won four of their last six games and six of their last seven home games. They are playing well offensively, especially at home where they are scoring more than 82 points per game. They’ve also taken advantage of their chances at the charity stripe, making over 71 percent of their free throws. Their ball movement is very good and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds per game at home, so expect them to get a lot of second-chance opportunities in this game. The Penguins haven’t played well defensively in recent games, giving up more than 80 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Panthers in this game. The Penguins have lost three of their last five games and two straight road games. They have played well offensively on the road, scoring more than 75 points per game. Their ball movement isn’t very good and they don’t rebound the ball as well as the Panthers, so don’t expect them to get a lot of second-chance points against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Panthers have also struggled defensively, but they played better in recent games, holding their last three opponents to 70 points per game, so expect them to keep Youngstown State’s offense in check. Go with Milwaukee to cover the spread.

NBA Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

Toronto takes the court with a same-season double revenge chip on its shoulder, including a one-point nip-job here in a 126-125 loss when the Hawks scored on a put-back with one second remaining in the game. Furthermore, they will enter the fray sporting an 8-1 ATS mark in this series as an avenging visitor. On the other side of the court sits the Hawks, a team that has struggled mightily this season in home games, including a jaw-dropping 1-15 ATS record in division contests. Atlanta is an anemic 1-5 SUATS against sub. 600 foes in games in which the Hawks are playing with a week off in between games. Finally, playing against any NBA team during the regular season with 7 or more days of rest when facing an unrested opponent is 10-1-1 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

Crimson head coach Tommy Amaker, the former Duke legend, brings a 57-43 ATS long-term dog log into this contest with Harvard, including 22-8-1 ATS in conference play of late. In addition, John Harvard’s initial donation to the University has been paying off in spades for backers of the team lately as they bring an 8-1 ATS mark as a dog in this series, along with a 4-0 ATS ledger in same-season revenge against Princeton from a loss of 23 or more points. On the other side of the coin, the Tigers arrive off a same season revenger with Yale knowing they are just 3-11 SU and 4-10 ATS in Yale follow-ups, including 0-3 ATS against avenging foes. 

Rating: 3 Units

Minnesota has the best record against the spread in the entire nation, and even more shocking is that the team in second place isn't even close to the Gophers. You'd be rich if you bet Minnesota all season, they are 22-3 against the spread, covering at an insane 88% hit rate, the next best team in the nation is South Florida, covering 76.2% of their games. That is not reason enough to bet Minnesota here, but the Gophers are still the play. Ohio State won the last matchup at home, but they could not stop Dawson Garcia, the big mad went for 36 points and 10 rebounds against this thin frontcourt of Ohio State. Expect Garcia to have success again, as the word ranked unit in this game is Ohio State's defense, which is only 108th in efficiency. This is also a typical let down spot, as Ohio State just had a massive home win over Purdue, and will now struggle to bring the same level of intensity on the road in Minnesota. The Gophers will make life difficult for Jamison Battle, as he returns to play his first ever game in this arena as an opponent. Minnesota will get their revenge and even the season series.

Rating: 2 Units

The Eagles will be playing their fifth game in a six-game homestand, taking the court tonight after a 9-point loss to UL Monroe before a Saturday meeting with lowly Texas State. USM catches the Jaguars playing their first road game after four consecutive home contests, and South Alabama is an awful 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS in conference road trips this season. Yes, the Jags are on a three-game winning run, but they dropped five games in a row right before that streak.

Rating: 3 Units

The Mavs entered the All-Star break on a badly needed 6-game win skein and suddenly find themselves back in the thick of the Western Conference playoff chase, currently one game back of the 5th-seeded Suns. They bring a smart 7-4 SU and 8-3 ATS log in this series, looking to avenge a 132-109 beatdown they suffered here against Phoenix a month ago. Meanwhile for as hot as the Suns are perceived to be this season, they are only 6-14-1 ATS against opponents coming off a SUATS win, including 1-6-1 ATS when the Valley of the Sun is not coming off a double-digit win. Finally, Phoenix is a long-term 91-125-8 ATS in games against foes seeking revenge from a same-season loss of 20 or more points, including 0-7-1 ATS the last eight games.

Rating: 2 Units

This is too many points to spot the best team in the NBA at covering spreads. Orlando is 36-19 against the spread this season, that is a success rate of 65.5%, better than any other team as the Thunder are second at 62.3%. Orlando covered three of their last four games before the break, and often win when listed as big underdogs as they did against Minnesota as 6.5 point dogs and against the Knicks when they were getting 5.5 points. Cleveland is big, but Orlando has been toying with massive lineups, inserting Jonathan Isaac and making Franz Wagner a 6'10 2-guard. Size will not be an issue for the Magic. Orlando's 4th ranked defense will not allow Cleveland to run up the score, and all their size inside will limit the production or Mobley and Allen in the paint. Banchero is having a monster year for the Magic, he is more physical than Mobley and too fast for Allen, he will be a matchup nightmare for Cleveland. The Magic are the best team in the league at covering spreads, they are well rested, and will keep this one close.

NBA Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

76ers figure to be anxious to avenge their worst loss of the season, a 128-92 thumping on this floor in early January. With it, they bring a sterling 7-1 ATS ledger into this game when sporting same-season revenge from a loss of 13 or more points this campaign. They’ve also beat New York like a drum of late, going 20-7 SU and 16-10-1 ATS in the last seven seasons. On the flip side, the Knickerbockers are just 3-9 SU and 3-8-1 ATS against well-rested foes that are playing with 7-plus days of rest. With New York riding a rocky 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS mark heading into the All-Star break, it’s time to seal this deal with the fact that Philadelphia is 109-14-1 ATS in division games it wins outright when playing with same-season loss revenge, including 73-6 ATS when coming off a loss.

For openers, the five-returning starter Bulldogs join second-year head coach Chris Jans knowing they stand 11-4 SU and 10-5 ATS in this series with same-season revenge, including 5-0 SUATS in the last five games. Meanwhile, Ole Miss bolted to a surprising 18-3 start under first-year head coach Chris Beard before suffering a three-game losing skid they took into Saturday when they hosted Missouri. At just 7-21 outright on the road the past two seasons, including 1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS against avenging foes, look for the Rebels to come up ‘soft’ in this Egg Bowl rematch. With both teams within firing distance of one another in the SEC race, this becomes ‘Priority One’ for the homestanding ‘Dogs.

CBB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

It’s been a disappointing season for the 15-10 Hurricanes, who were ranked No. 13 in the AP preseason after losing to UConn in last season’s NCAA Final Four. Jim Larranaga’s troops started this campaign 11-2 before hitting a bumpy road that saw them sitting in 11th place in the ACC at press time, no thanks to three losses in their previous five home games. Couple that with a loss as a No. 1 seed to the Devils in the semifinals of last year’s ACC tourney, one that snapped a five-game ATS winning streak by the ‘U’ in this series, and we expect Larranaga to improve on his 10-3-1 ATS career mark in LTKO revenge affairs, including 8-2 SU and 8-1-1 ATS in games in which his troops sport a greater than .600 win percentage. With Duke just 11-24-1 ATS in games after skirmishes with the Seminoles, and Miami 15-6-1 ATS with conference loss revenge, including 10-1 ATS as a dog, we are on the Canes.

Rating: 2 Units

This number feels like a trap. Pitt has won five straight games, and their leading scorer just had a 41-point game, and they are getting 6.5 points? It seems obvious, but remember, Vegas is not your friend. This is Wake's game to win, they are better in every season-long analytical measure used by KenPom. Wake is 26th overall, while Pitt is just 52d, and Wake is better in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Do not let the recency bias sway your decision-making, Pitt won five straight, but only beat one ranked opponent and it was at home. Wake is coming off two losses, but both were on the road to ranked teams. Wake has more talent at the top, Sallis and Hildreth can be used defensively to slow down Hinson, and Sallis has big game potential as well as he is 4th in the conference in scoring. Pitt does not have a high-scoring big man inside, so points in the paint should favor Wake, especially with 6'10 Andrew Carr inside. Wake is the better team, and will bounce back strong at home where they are undefeated in conference play.

Rating: 2 Units

Consecutive losses begin to place a mental toll on players. Missouri has become accustomed to losing, and may give up if Tennessee is able to get an early lead. This is exactly what Tennessee just did to Vanderbilt in their last outing, getting up 33-8 and closing the door on the Commodores early. The Volunteers will look to do the same here, they will be able to get whatever they want offensively, as they have the 15th ranked offense in terms of efficiency, while Missouri's defense only ranks 172nd. Tennessee is laying a big number on the road here, but that wasn't a problem two games ago when they went into Arkansas and defeated the Razorbacks by 29. Tennessee has also covered 20.5 points against Vanderbilt, and 14 against LSU in recent games, they can cover big numbers. Missouri stayed close against Ole Miss last time out, as they thought they would have a chance to grab their first win, but they will not have the same optimism here. Missouri only covered one game out of their last six, and Tennessee will look to finish this one early

Rating: 2 Units

Despite the Cats’ recent troubles, they hold all the cards in this series, going 6-0 SUATS at home. They’ll also be looking for revenge from an 88-81 setback at Butler three weeks ago. Villanova is 11-1 SU and 10-2 ATS with same-season conference revenge versus .680 or fewer foes while Butler stands just 10-16-1 ATS against same-season conference avengers. The Bulldogs also have a quintuple revenger of their own on deck against Seton Hall, and they’re 1-5 ATS as a dog of 3-plus points before the Pirates. It could be do-or-die for the Wildcats tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

This is too many points to spot a desperate team. Texas is not the class of the Big 12, they are far behind Houston and Kansas in terms of being a national powerhouse, and these two teams actually have the same record in league play. The only reason this spread is so high is due to recency bias. K-State is in a tough stretch, but they did not lose any key players to injury, and it is worth noting four of their last six losses came against ranked teams. Their last three losses have been by six or less points, and they know they need to start winning games for a chance at the postseason. The Wildcats can get there with defense, they are ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency and will bring that same energy on the road to Texas. The Longhorns have not been great at home, they have league home losses to Iowa State, Houston, UCF and Texas Tech, they do not protect their home floor. Texas gets strong contributions from their backcourt of Abmas and Hunter, but K-State's Carter and Perry will be with them every step of the way. Kaluma matches up well with Disu, and this game will be much closer than expected.

Rating: 2 Units

Utah put the final touches on a mind boggling 90-44 annihilation of Nick Cronin’s Bruins. It was a real wake-up call for Cronin and company, who responded with an 8-1 SU and 7-1-1 ATS skein heading into Salt Lake City tonight. Both teams own funky ‘inside-out’ overall and conference records with the 14-11 Bruins sporting a 9-5 ledger in league games, while the 15-10 Utes enter just 6-8 in conference contests. Following a quintuple revenger loss against USC on Thursday, Utah has lost three straight on the scoreboard, plus the Utes are a weak 1-5 ATS after tangling with the Trojans. However, it’s the revenge factor for UCLA that fits more snugly than O.J.’s glove. The Bruins are 4-1 ATS since 1990 when seeking same-season revenge from a loss of 30 or more points, with one of the victories as a 14.5-point underdog over Arizona. Not so for the hosts, who are a money-burning 6-13 ATS as a favorite against foes with 20-points same-season revenge.

Rating: 2 Units

Memphis comes in off a road loss and they now have to travel to take on a team that has won five straight games. The Tigers are 6-4 straight up on the road but they have dropped three of their last four games as the visitors, including falling at Tulane and UAB. Memphis is just 4-6 ATS on the road this season and 8-17 ATS overall this season. SMU comes in with five straight wins in their pocket and they have posted a stellar 12-2 mark at home this year. The Mustangs are getting solid production throughout their rotation, making up for the fact that they have only two players averaging in double figures. SMU is an elite defensive team, giving them a big edge over Memphis in that department. That, coupled with home-court advantage and an offense that can hold its own, gives the Mustangs the edge.

Rating: 2 Units

The red-hot Dons enter off their 20th win of the season with a much bigger game on tap against conference bear Saint Mary’s. That’s because the Gaels are a perfect 12-0 in WCC play, a record that includes a 17-point thrashing of the Dons on January 20, so we can’t blame San Francisco for looking ahead to the rematch. The 9-2 Dons currently ride a five game win streak, but they failed to cash a ticket in any of those contests. Huge game for the Lions if they want to stop the bleeding and their recent 6-1 ATS mark as a home dog in this series tells us they may roar loudly tonight at Gersten Pavilion. 

Rating: 3 Units

The Rebels need this win and being at home should be a huge help for them. They are 13-1 at home this season with their only loss coming at the hands of Auburn. The Rebels should roll against the mediocre Tigers' defense. Ole Miss makes up for accuracy with volume when launching 3-point field goals. They are just 9th in the conference in 3-point shooting but are 3rd in 3-point field goals made per game. Missouri is winless in conference play this year and has difficulties putting up points, ranking next-to-last in the SEC in points scored per game. Look for the Rebels to get back on track at the expense of the Tigers today.

Rating: 2 Units

State head coach Kevin Keatts took his team to the Big Dance last year but after a first-round exit, he circled today’s game as one of the most important of the season for the Pack. NC State does enter on a 0-2 slide, but those losses came by margins of just 4 and 3 points. The Tigers arrive at Littlejohn Coliseum riding high on a three-game win skein – including the aforementioned upset of North Carolina – but a lousy 0-4 ATS against LTKO avengers coming off a loss. With the host in Clemmie contests this season checking in at 6-13-1 ATS, it's a NC State call today.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Yes, if the Tar Heels’ win-loss chart was converted to a weather map, it would be showing mild turbulence as UNC enters this afternoon’s contest on a L-W-L-W-L pattern. The forecast brightens, though, with its 6-2 ATS recent record in this series, albeit with a pair of losses in the last two meetings, including a Donkey Round loss in the ACC tournament last season. On Tobacco Road, that’s the call for a tar-and-feathering and the Hokies look to be the perfect patsy. One of six teams with a losing record in conference play, Virginia Tech’s home win against Florida State on Tuesday snapped a 0-3 SUATS losing slide for the Hokies. Too bad for Tech that they’re 1-13 SU and 4-10 ATS away after facing the Seminoles, including 0-3 SUATS versus avenging folk. Finally, North Carolina is 27-1 ATS in its last 28 victories when avenging a loss against a conference foe coming off a win. 

Rating: 3 Units

TCU is just 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS versus foes with a League Tourney Knockout (LTKO) chip on their shoulder, and a miserable 1-6 ATS in this series when KSU is looking to avenge a loss. Life has also been tough for TCU on the conference road, losing three of their last four away games. Considering all road trips for the Frogs this year have resulted in a puny win margin of +0.3 PPG, and finally, KSU is 5-0 ATS as a favorite with LTKO revenge.

Rating: 3 Units

Texas Tech just beat #6 Kansas, but that win is about to be over-valued. Tech was at home, and they were a 3.5-point favorite, this was not an upset. Kansas was playing without their top player, which clearly deflated the team, and once they got down relatively big, they folded instead of fighting back. That win does not erase the fact that three games ago they lost at home to Cincinnati, one of the worst teams in the Big 12. Meanwhile, Iowa State has been one of the best teams in basketball as of late. The Cyclones have the third most efficient defense in the nation, and Lipsey is a headache for opposing guards as he averages 3.0 steals per game. Iowa State has covered in their last four games and in six of their last seven. Tech's strength is their offense, but they have to go on the road in Ames to play one of the top three defenses in the country, any perceived offensive advantage will be taken away. Iowa State has a huge date coming up with Houston, this will not be a look-ahead spot, because they know they need to get to that game with a 9-3 record.

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

Texas A&M’s 5-0 start to the season has withered to a 10-9 follow-up and with it the Aggies find themselves knocking on the Bubble. Worse, they enter off an embarrassing loss at Vanderbilt as 8.5-point chalk. However, with 4 starters back from last season’s 25-win unit, the talent is there, and all head coach Buzz Williams needs to do is stick to the script as he is 35-21-1 ATS as a visitor with the Aggies, including 19-5-1 ATS when coming off a loss. Despite a comfortable 109-92 win over LSU in their last contest, Alabama stands just 23-25 SU and 15-30-2 ATS after facing the Tigers. The Aggies are currently stuck smack in the middle of the SEC standings at 6-5 but with Tammy owning the No. 8 spot nationally in Rebound Margin, we’ll call for the outright upset.  Finally, Texas A&M is 7-2 SU and 8-1 ATS with SEC tourney revenge from the previous season, versus sub .750 opponents, including 5-0 SUATS when the Aggies own a greater than .600 win percentage

Rating: 2 Units

Cornell is coming off a disappointing loss to Yale, which knocked the Big Red out of a first place tie with the Bulldogs. Cornell will take that frustration out on Harvard when the Crimson visit the Big Red on Friday. Cornell's offense, which is averaging 83.7 points per game will be too much for the Crimson defense to contain. Cornell has the fifth best field goal shooting percentage in the nation at 50.2%. Harvard is shooting 34.4% from 3-point territory but faces a Cornell defense that is 73rd in the nation in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 31.6. Cornell won the first game played between the two this season, defeating Harvard 89-76 on the road and covered the spread as 4-point road chalk. In that matchup, Cornell held Harvard to 26% shooting from three-point territory as the Crimson missed 14 of 19 3-point attempts. Harvard has failed to cover the spread in three of the last four and in five of the last seven, while Cornell has covered the spread in six of the last nine.

Rating: 2 Units

Southern Cal hoops squad that finished 22-11 the previous season somehow found its way to last place in the soon-to-be-defunct Pac-12 with a 9-14 / 3-9 disaster. Our stunning stat of the day: USC is 0-25 ATS in its last 25 conference home losses, including 0-10 ATS as a dog. While that sinks in, we’ll remind you that the Utes had the rug pulled out on them twice by the Trojans last season. However, despite those losses, Utah is still 14-7 ATS in this series, including 8-1 ATS as a favorite and 8-1 ATS when playing with 3-plus days of rest.

Rating: 2 Units

When looking at KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin, Portland is 308th in the nation with a -11.93 rating while San Diego is 218th in the country with a -4.18 rating up to this point. When looking at the offenses lately, there is a bit of a difference here as the Pilots are scoring 67.4 points in their previous five games while the Toreros are averaging 79.3 points in their last four games. Go with the San Diego Toreros to cover the spread at home here.  

Rating: 2 Units

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are my definitive pick for this matchup, buoyed by a potent offense and stringent defense that has propelled them to a 16-9 overall and 8-4 conference record. Boasting an impressive average of 77.6 points per game, their ability to maintain a 46.6% field goal efficiency and a stellar 36.9% from the three-point line stands out. This offensive firepower is complemented by a defense that limits opponents to a mere 26.1% from beyond the arc, ranking second nationally, showcasing the Ragin' Cajuns' capability to dominate both ends of the court. With Kobe Julien leading the scoring charge with 18.2 points per game and Joe Charles anchoring the defense across rebounds, steals, and blocks, Louisiana possesses the depth and versatility to outmatch Old Dominion. The Cajuns' recent performances, underscored by a commanding win against BGSU, highlight a team in prime form, ready to extend their winning narrative against the Monarchs.

Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers beat the Warriors twice at home in December, 113-112 and 121-113. Back on November 30, the Warriors defeated the Clippers 120-114 as 2-point favorites at Chase Center. At the moment, both teams are playing at a high level, so I expect another tight battle between LA and Golden State. The Warriors have only dropped one of their previous eight contests. Stephen Curry has been unstoppable during that stretch, averaging 31.5 points on 50.0% shooting from beyond the arc. I like what I see from the Warriors, so give me Golden State plus points. The Warriors are 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall and 5-3 ATS in their previous eight dates with the Clippers, who are 2-4 ATS in their last six games overall. 

Rating: 2 Units

Utah State is currently one of four teams tied atop the Mountain West Conference with a 7-3 record but with the league in action over the weekend, a new leader could claim the No. 1 spot before this game takes place. While the Aggies host Boise State on Saturday (1-6 ATS after the Broncos), the Cowboys get treated to a week off, and they’re 4-0 ATS the last four conference games with a week or more of rest. They’ll also be looking to avenge an 83-59 whipping in Logan five weeks ago, and they’re a stout 7-3 ATS in this series when seeking revenge. Wyoming has held its own as a home dog of late, going 15-8 ATS, including 4-0 ATS the last four. 

Rating: 2 Units

Keep tracking the injury report because the Lakers might decide to rest some of their players. Hopefully, LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be ready to go. I want to see D’Angelo Russell in the lineup, too, as he’s averaged 24.0 points and 6.6 dimes over his last ten outings. 

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

Tennessee has had their share of troubles in this series of late, going 1-4 SU the last five and 2-6 ATS the last eight away. If that’s not troubling enough, Tennessee owns a dreadful 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS record away from Knoxville versus an SEC foe with revenge. These two met just once last season, with the Razorbacks getting roasted by 17 points, and the Hogs are a money-making 11-6-1 ATS as home dogs when playing with the ‘R’ word. Finally, Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman is 11-1 SU and 10-2 ATS at home with revenge with Arkansas, including 10-0 ATS versus sub .800 opponents.

Rating: 2 Units

Embiid (knee), Harris (hip), Batum (hamstring), Melton (back) and Covington (knee) will remain out on Wednesday, and the Sixers won't have their latest acquisition available either. Six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry, who recently received a buyout from the Charlotte Hornets, officially signed with Philadelphia on Tuesday. Lowry averaged 8.2 points and four rebounds in 37 games (35 starts) for the Heat this season before he was traded to Charlotte on Jan. 23. He never got into a game for the Hornets, which is why the 76ers ruled out his chance to oppose his former Heat teammates as he needs to work back into game shape.

NBA Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

New York is 4-1 ATS away in its last five road games with same-season double revenge. They are also an eye-popping 55-1 ATS in their last fifty-six road wins, including 41-0 ATS in the last 41 games (18-0 ATS as a favorite). Whew. Toss in Orlando’s 2-23-1 ATS ledger in its last twenty-six home defeats (2-13-1 ATS as a dog). Finally, the Knicks are 4-0 SUATS in this series with same-season double revenge by an average win margin of 16 PPG

Rating: 2 Units

The Phoenix have won five straight games and seven straight home games. They have played well offensively and score more than 73 points per game at home. They’ve also taken advantage of their chances at the charity stripe, making over 77 percent of their free throws. They rebound the ball well and they’ve been aggressive on the offensive glass, so expect them to get a lot of extra-scoring chances in this game. They also do a good job of protecting the ball and won’t give the Norse a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Norse aren’t very good defensively and they gave up more than 80 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Phoenix in this game. The Norse have won two straight games, but they’ve lost five of their last six road games. They have struggled offensively on the road, scoring less than 70 points per game. They also struggled at the charity stripe, making less than 70 percent of their free throws. Their ball movement isn’t very good and they don’t rebound the ball as well as the Phoenix, so don’t expect them to get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’re also careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Phoenix. The Phoenix are very good defensively and they’re holding opponents under 65 points per game at home, so expect them to keep Northern Kentucky’s offense in check. Go with Green Bay to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams come into the Lawler Events Center off revenge games, with Nevada looking to atone for a 71-59 loss to San Diego State while New Mexico has its sights set on a UNLV squad that stopped a 12-1 midseason run by the Lobos. Let’s hope UNM lays points to the Wolf Pack, because Nevada is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a home dog, as well as 3-0 SUATS as a home dog versus greater than .545 foes. Not to be left out, Alford chips in with an 11-6 ATS record as a conference dog with Nevada versus .770 or greater opposition, including 7-3 ATS when seeking revenge. Finally, the last 15 meetings in this series has seen New Mexico go just 2-13 SU and 5-10 ATS versus Nevada – with one of the two wins coming earlier this season when the Lobos routed the Wolf Pack by 34 points in Albuquerque.

Rating: 2 Units

The Sacramento Kings will go for a season-series win over the host Phoenix Suns when two of the top teams in the Pacific Division face off on Tuesday night for the fourth of five regular-season meetings. By virtue of a late schedule addition brought about by the NBA in-season tournament, the Suns got the advantage of hosting the Kings three times this season. But they gave away that home-court edge when they were beaten 114-106 in Phoenix on Dec. 8 in the first meeting between the teams. The clubs have since split a pair of games, each winning at home, and now each also has one home date remaining in the five-game season series. Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox have been the driving forces in the Kings' success against the Suns this season. Sabonis has recorded triple-doubles in each of the past two meetings and has averaged 21.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists over the three games, while Fox has gone for an average of 30.0 points.

Rating: 2 Units

We’re riding the Heat again as they enter the All-Star break with positive momentum in hopes of a second-half turnaround. And for the second time in two games, they’ll be looking to even things up from a pair of same-season defeats. With it, Erik Spoelstra’s troops enter with an 8-4 SU and 9-3 ATS log on this floor when seeking double revenge with a winning record. Flipping the script, the Bucks are 1-5 ATS of late against same-season double avengers, including 0-3 ATS in the last three games as a host.

Rating: 2 Units

The Thunder come into this matchup with one of the more well-rounded teams in the NBA. They are fifth in the NBA in scoring offense and are ranked third in the NBA in field goal defense. The Magic are more reliant on their defense to compete, ranking well below average in several offensive categories including points per game, three-point shooting, and three-point field goals per game. The Thunder, meanwhile, are in the top ten in field goal defense and are a respectable 13th in the NBA in 3-point defense. The Thunder also protect the ball well, ranked fourth in the league in fewest turnovers per game. I like the Thunder to roll here against a Magic team that has cooled off in recent weeks.