Rating: 2 Units

In its two losses in the desert, Oregon State was out rebounded by a combined 82-63, including 33-17 on the offensive glass. It was particularly damaging Saturday night as the host Wildcats finished with a 21-9 offensive rebounding edge, leading to 28 second-chance points in an 82-71 victory.  Washington State, meanwhile, has been facing a number of the same issues and then some while dropping seven of its last eight, including a 1-4 Pac-12 start.

Rating: 3 Unit PAC-12 Play of the Day

Point guard Jaylen Hands averages a league-high 6.4 assists for the Bruins, who have lost six of their last nine games and are shooting a Pac-12-worst 61.1 percent from the foul line. Forward Chris Smith has cooled off considerably since averaging 9.7 points and six rebounds during the team’s first three conference games, and Bartow said Cody Riley and Jalen Hill could see more playing time in his place this week. One bright spot has been the play of guard Prince Ali, who is shooting 51 percent from the field and 48 percent from 3-point range in five Pac-12 contests.  The clincher:  Arizona State is 7-17-2 ATS in their last 26 vs. Pacific-12.

Rating: 2 Units

Portland dropped one game behind the Thunder in the battle for third place in the Western Conference with the loss but will play its next two games against teams at the bottom of the standings with the Atlanta Hawks coming in on Saturday after the visit to Phoenix. The Suns own the worst record in the West and are losers of five straight after dropping a 118-91 home decision to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. Star shooting guard Devin Booker was not around to help his team at the end of that loss because he was ejected for an altercation in the third quarter.

Rating: 4 Unit PAC-12 Game of the Week

All eyes will be on center Chase Jeter and whether he will play after leaving the win over the Beavers following a nasty spill on his back which caused him to miss the rest of the game as well as practice on Monday and Tuesday. The 6-10 junior transfer from Duke ranks second on the team in scoring (12.6) and leads the team in rebounding (7.2) while also shooting 62.1 percent from the floor. Sophomore guard Brandon Randolph leads the Wildcats in scoring (15.4) but averaged 7.5 points and connected on only 7-of-24 shots (29.2 percent), including 1-of-8 from 3-point range, in last week's home split with the Oregon schools. The clinchers:  Arizona is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 road games, 7-2 ATS in their last 9 vs. Pacific-12, and 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

Rating: 2 Units

Samford is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss,  0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Southern. While Wofford is 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss, and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 Thursday games.

Rating: 2 Units

Marquette is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home game,  9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record, and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall. While Depaul is 9-23-3 ATS in their last 35 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

East Carolina is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.

Rating: 2 Units

The Boston Celtics are rolling along with wins in their last four games as point guard Kyrie Irving continues to put up big numbers in several different statistical categories. Irving will try to push his hot streak one more game and lead the Celtics to a fifth consecutive victory when they host his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Boston clobbered Cleveland 128-95 at home on Nov. 30 behind 29 points from Irving.

Rating: 2 Units

The Brooklyn Nets are no longer a scrappy young team putting some wins together and are instead becoming a legitimate threat to reach the Eastern Conference playoffs and perhaps earn home court advantage. The Nets will try to push their latest winning streak to five in a row when they host the Orlando Magic.  The clincher:  Brooklyn is 24-8 ATS in their last 32 vs. NBA Southeast.

Rating: 2 Units

Tennessee plays its first game as the No. 1 team in the nation when the Volunteers go after a 13th straight victory Wednesday night at struggling rival Vanderbilt in an SEC contest. Tennessee won its first four league games by an average of 25 points before holding on to edge Alabama 71-68 at home on Saturday to vault into the No. 1 spot for the first time since 2008. The clincher:  Vanderbilt is 9-25 ATS in their last 34 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Rating: 2 Units

The Suns finished an 0-4 road trip with the loss and return to the desert hoping to extend their two-game home winning streak. Rookie center Deandre Ayton (ankle) sat out Sunday's matchup -- the first missed game of his career -- and is not expected to return Tuesday. The clinchers:  Phoenix is 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record while Minnesota is 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Phoenix.

Rating: 2 Units

Air Force is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss,  4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400,  4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Mountain West, and 13-5 ATS in their last 18 home games.  In addition, the home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Oklahoma City Thunder have snapped a slump with consecutive victories and they aim to keep the momentum going when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The Thunder dropped five of six games before sweeping a two-game road trip against the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks. The clincher:  Oklahoma City is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

Rating: 2 Units

Miami (O) is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record, and  1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Mid-American. While Ball State is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

Texas Tech is 5-16-2 ATS in their last 23 games following a ATS loss,  5-16-2 ATS in their last 23 vs. Big 12, and 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up loss. While Kansas State is 28-11-3 ATS in their last 42 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600,  17-8 ATS in their last 25 Tuesday games, and 35-17-3 ATS in their last 55 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. In addition, the Red Raiders are 3-7 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Kansas State.

Rating: 4 Unit ACC Game of the Week

Kabengele leads a balanced attack with 12.6 points per game after posting a career-high 26 at Boston College. Senior guard Terance Mann is second on the scoring list with an 11.6 average and he leads the Seminoles with 6.3 rebounds per game. Junior guard Trent Forest is averaging 14 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists over his last two contests. The clinchers:  Clemson is 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games overall while Florida State is 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 Tuesday games.  In addition, The home team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bears' biggest improvement has come from beyond the arc as the club is shooting 48 percent (13.0 made 3-pointers per game) in its last two contests after shooting 29 percent (6.6) in its first 15. West Virginia, suffering its worst defeat in Big 12 history in a 98-67 loss to TCU on Tuesday after blowing a 21-point lead to Kansas State earlier in conference play, stunned No. 8 Kansas 65-64 on Saturday for its first conference win when Jermaine Haley capped a 7-0 closing run with a driving layup with 8.5 seconds left.  The clincher:  West Virginia is 5-16-2 ATS in their last 23 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

Rating: 2 Units

Mitch Ballock couldn't get shots to fall in the Bluejays' most recent loss to St. John's, ending a four-game run in which he made 18-of-28 from 3-point territory. The sophomore from Eudora, Kan., who leads the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.1), has gone three straight games without a committing a turnover and has only one game this season in which he has more than two. Ballock is second in the Big East in 3-point shooting (46.6 percent) to Zegarowski (50.7) , a number that grows to 52.8 percent in five league games for the Bluejays, one of four teams nationally which makes better than 40 percent from 3-point land while attempting more than 40 percent of its field goals from beyond the arc.  Creighton, which leads the Big East in scoring at 83.5 points per game, is 6-0 against Georgetown when scoring 75 or more points and 0-6 when it scores fewer than 75. The Bluejays have won three straight games against the Hoyas, including their first win in Washington D.C. last season, to forge a 6-6 tie in the series.

Rating: 2 Units

The Tar Heels have underachieved a bit so far. But they have started to make their move in the New Year by winning six of the last seven games and they just went to Miami over the weekend and won comfortably. As good as Virginia Tech has played this season, they have not faced the level of competition that North Carolina has. The Hokies did have to face Virginia on the road though and were blown out in that game, 81-59. That's not a good sign for tonight and only having to lay a relatively small number, points to the Tar Heels in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The Grizzlies may offer up a soft landing spot for the Pelicans, having lost five in a row and 11 of their last 12. Included in that slide is a 19-point loss at New Orleans on Jan. 7. Memphis was also without a pair of big men in Saturday's 119-90 loss at Toronto, as Marc Gasol (back) and Joakim Noah (personal) missed the contest. It has been held under 100 points in 15 of the last 22 games and was hampered by 26 turnovers against the Raptors.

Rating: 2 Units

Dallas is 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference, and 33-15 ATS in their last 48 games following a ATS loss. In addition, the underdog is 21-9-2 ATS in the last 32 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Oklahoma City Thunder seemingly snapped out of a funk with a dramatic victory at Philadelphia on Saturday and will try to make it two straight on the road when they visit the New York Knicks on Monday for the traditional Martin Luther King Day matinee at Madison Square Garden. Paul George's four-point play with 5.1 seconds left lifted the Thunder past the 76ers 117-115, a big boost for a Western Conference contender that had dropped five of its previous six. The Knicks are near the bottom of that conference and have lost five in a row, the last coming on a last-second goal tending call in the annual London game Thursday. The 101-100 loss to Washington was New York's 18th setback in the last 20 games overall, and the club is 0-8 at Madison Square Garden in that stretch.

Rating: 2 Units

The Denver Nuggets attempt to win for the 11th time in 14 games when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. The Nuggets rolled to a 135-105 rout of lowly Chicago on Thursday and now look to take advantage of the worst team in the NBA. The shellacking of the Bulls had an extra dose of good feelings behind it after Denver was crushed 142-111 by Golden State two nights earlier. Cleveland's gear has been plummeting downward as Friday's 115-99 loss to Utah was the team's 14th in 15 contests. The Cavaliers are getting routed regularly as 19 of their last 22 setbacks have been by double digits.

Rating: 2 Units

Pacific is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games, Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400,  4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record, and 15-7-1 ATS in their last 23 vs. West Coast.

Rating: 2 Units

The Hawks are 8-7 since a 6-23 start and are coming off perhaps their most impressive win of the season, a 142-126 victory over Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Rookie Trae Young finished with 24 points and 11 assists and Atlanta put together a pair of 45-point quarters in its best offensive effort in a regulation game in nine seasons.  The Celtics have lost four straight and six of their last seven on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

The Detroit Pistons have recorded consecutive victories for the first time since just after Thanksgiving, and they'll attempt to keep their run going when they host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Behind 32 points and 11 rebounds from Blake Griffin, the Pistons clawed their way past the Miami Heat 98-93 on Friday to improve to 2-0 on their three-game home stand. The Kings recently finished up a 3-0 home stand but they've dropped five in a row on the road, including Thursday's 114-95 setback in Charlotte to begin a six-game road trip. Guard Buddy Hield scored 24 points while making 6-of-11 3-pointers in the loss, while his teammates were 5-of-22 from beyond the arc.

Rating: 2 Units

The Indiana Pacers went from one extreme to the other in their last two games and will try to find some consistency when they host the Dallas Mavericks today. The Pacers are having little trouble breaking apart inferior opponents but tend to struggle against the better teams in the Eastern Conference. Indiana's last three losses are to the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers by an average of 22.3 points but sandwiched in between are easy wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns. However, the Mavericks aren't in the same category as the Knicks, Cavaliers and Suns but sit four games under .500 as they get set for a two-game road trip at Indiana and Milwaukee. The clincher:  Dallas is 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Rating: 2 Units

The Milwaukee Bucks look to post their 15th win in the past 18 games when they visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Milwaukee's hot stretch has seen it move a season-best 20 games over .500 as well as seize the best record in the NBA. The Bucks have won an NBA-best 23 games by double digits and led by as many as 31 during Wednesday's 111-101 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Milwaukee has won seven of its last nine road games and is a solid 12-8 away from home this season. Orlando is slipping in the other direction with 11 losses in its past 16 games and the Magic blew a 21-point lead before falling 117-115 to the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

Rating: 2 Units

The Virginia Cavaliers are 16-0 on the season and ranked fourth in the country. They are coming off an easy 81-59 win over Virginia Tech. De’Andre Hunter had 21 points and Ty Jerome had 14 and dished out 12 assists in the win. As a team, they are shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from deep. The Cavalier offense is led by Kyle Guy with 15.3 points a game. Ty Jerome adds 13.2 points and he dishes out 4.9 assists a game. Duke was No. 1 in the country but suffered a 95-91 overtime loss to Syracuse. The loss dropped the Blue Devils to 14-2 on the season. Zion Williamson had 35 points in the loss. The Duke offense is led by RJ Barrett with 23.4 points a game. Zion Williamson adds 21.2 points and he pulls down 9.4 boards. As a team, they are shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from deep. Virginia is 21-8 ATS in its last 29 on the road, while Duke is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 at home. Virginia has covered the number in 13 of its last 16 visits to Cameron Indoor Stadium and 6 of the last 8 meetings overall against the Blue Devils.

Rating: 2 Units

Dean Wade scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting in just his second game back from missing six games due to injury as the Wildcats shot 50 percent from the floor and scored their most points since 77 against Lehigh on Nov. 24. The nation's sixth-best scoring defense (59.5 points) held the Sooners to 13 points below their average and 5-of-18 from 3-point range while forcing 16 turnovers. Brown leads the Wildcats with 15.8 points per game, while Wade is averaging 13.1 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds after being selected Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year.  Kansas State leads the all-time series 13-6 and holds a 7-2 edge in Manhattan. The two teams have split the regular-season series in three of the past four seasons.

Rating: 2 Units

James Madison is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and  1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games. While Drexel is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400,  5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record,, and  5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Game of the Week

Oakland is 12-25 ATS in their last 37 games overall,  7-20 ATS in their last 27 vs. Horizon League, and 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS win. While Detroit is  7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games,  6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400,  11-2 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS win, and 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games overall.

Rating: 2 Units

Illinois-Chicago is 24-9 ATS in their last 33 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record. While Wisc-GB is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss, and  0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. In addition, Illinois-Chicago is 3-0-1 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Green Bay and 5-1-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings overall.

Rating: 2 Units

The Golden State Warriors seem to have found their high gear over the last few games and are about to hit the overdrive button with the addition of another All-Star. The Warriors will welcome center DeMarcus Cousins to the lineup when he makes his team and season debut on Friday at the host Los Angeles Clippers. Cousins, who signed a one-year deal with the defending champions in the off season after suffering a torn Achilles as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, told ESPN that he is coming back better after spending the rehab process working on all areas of his game and he is ready to help Golden State win. The Clippers are sliding in the wrong direction in a tightly packed Western Conference and are failing to take advantage of a four-game home stand that saw them fall to Detroit, New Orleans and the Utah Jazz in the first three contests.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pelicans are 1-2 on their trek, and coach Alvin Gentry was pleased with the level of play his club showed against the Warriors. Portland defeated Cleveland 129-112 on Wednesday for its seventh win in 10 games, with five coming by double digits. Damian Lillard scored 33 points after recording 35 two nights earlier in a loss to Sacramento.

Rating: 2 Units

The Utah Jazz aim to extend their season-best winning streak to six games when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. Utah has won by an average of 13 points during the stretch after rolling to a 129-109 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.  Utah began its winning streak with four straight home games before traveling to Los Angeles and now begins another four-game stretch against the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers have lost 13 of their last 14 games and are coming off a 129-112 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

Rating: 2 Units

BYU us 8-20 ATS in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. West Coast, 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall, and 1-10 ATS in their last 11 road games. While Pepperdine is 9-1 ATS in their last 10 vs. West Coast,  6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games,  11-2 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS win, and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Rating: 2 Units

Los Angeles is 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game,  1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Northwest.  In addition, the home team is 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings while Los Angeles is 5-16 ATS in the last 21 meetings in Oklahoma City.

Rating: 2 Units

The Denver Nuggets look to bounce back from a thorough whipping when they host the struggling Chicago Bulls today. The Golden State Warriors set a record with 51 first-quarter points en route to steamrolling the host Nuggets 142-111 on Tuesday. The 31-point loss to the Warriors knocked Denver out of first place in the Western Conference, ended a 12-game home winning streak and it also stunned coach Michael Malone. Chicago is 0-4 on a five-game road trip and the defeats include being lambasted 146-109 by the Warriors last Friday.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

San Francisco is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games,  4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 90 points in their previous game, and  19-7 ATS in their last 26 games following a double-digit loss at home. While Pacific is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. In addition, San Francisco is  4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Pacific.

Rating: 2 Units

The Kings already have the formula to beat the Hornets after claiming a 104-97 home victory on Saturday. Sacramento followed that up with a 115-107 home triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday but is hitting the road on Thursday for the beginning of a six-game strip while owning a 9-11 record away from home. The Hornets are 6-15 on the road but own a 14-8 record at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Golden State Warriors look to post their 22nd win in the last 24 meetings when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Stephen Curry scored 37 points as Golden State continued its dominance over the Pelicans with a 131-121 home victory on Oct. 31. The Warriors set an NBA record with a 51-point quarter during a 142-111 whipping of host Denver on Tuesday that moved them into first place in the Western Conference. The clincher:  New Orleans is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.

Rating: 2 Units

he Utah Jazz look to extend their season-best winning streak to five games when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The contest in Los Angeles is the only one on the road in a nine-game stretch for Utah, which just completed a 4-0 home stand.  Jazz star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell continued his strong play with 28 points in Monday's 100-94 win over the Detroit Pistons and he is averaging 30 points over the past six contests.  The Clippers fell 121-117 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday and are 0-2 on a four-game home stand and have lost three straight overall.

Rating: 2 Units

Georgia Tech is off to an encouraging start in ACC play, pushing No. 7 Virginia Tech in a three-point home loss and upsetting Syracuse on the road heading into Wednesday’s contest at struggling Clemson. The Yellow Jackets preach defense as the path to competitiveness and that was on display against the Orange, as Georgia Tech limited Syracuse to 31.6 percent shooting from the field – even more impressive considering Syracuse upset No. 2 Duke on Monday.

Rating: 2 Units

North Dakota is 20-9-1 ATS in their last 30 games following a ATS win and 33-16-2 ATS in their last 51 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

Monday's loss capped a 1-3 road trip but was not without positive moments as Detroit scored 59 points in the first half and had a chance down the stretch. Griffin scored a team-high 19 points in the loss after springing for 44 in a 109-104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. The clincher: Orlando is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest.

Rating: 2 Units

LSU is 9-23-4 ATS in their last 36 games following a ATS win, 2-6-3 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, 2-7-3 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and 2-8-3 ATS in their last 13 road games. While Mississippi is 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win, 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games overall, and 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games following a ATS win.

Rating: 2 Units

North Carolina State second-year coach Kevin Keatts has put together a competitive team much faster than anybody expected, piecing together a team last season that made it to the NCAA Tournament before taking a squad that returned just three players this season and getting them ranked for the first time in six years. His 16th-ranked Wolfpack hope to continue surging when they visit a struggling Wake Forest team. N.C. State rebounded from a 90-82 loss to No. 15 North Carolina by knocking off the Panthers 86-80 on Saturday. The clincher:  Wake Forest is 9-23 ATS in their last 32 games overall.

Rating: 2 Units

Jimmy Butler will play against his former team for the first time since being traded when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Minnesota Timberwolves today. Butler clashed with the Minnesota organization prior to the season and was critical of teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins before eventually being dealt to Philadelphia on Nov. 12. The 76ers have gone 20-10 since the trade, but Butler is having trouble fitting in and recently challenged coach Brett Brown about his offensive role. Butler is averaging 18.7 points in 25 games with Philadelphia after being acquired along with center Justin Patton for forwards Robert Covington and Dario Saric and guard Jerryd Bayless.   The clincher:  Philadelphia is 39-18-1 ATS in their last 58 vs. Western Conference.

Rating: 2 Units

The streaking Indiana Pacers look for their ninth victory in the past 11 games when they host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Indiana is a stellar 14-5 at home as it opens a five-game homestand while the Suns are a porous 4-16 on the road. Phoenix begins a stretch of four straight road games and seven of nine.  The clincher:  Indiana is 35-15-2 ATS in their last 52 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

Rating: 2 Units

The Portland Trail Blazers will have little time to recover from a difficult loss when they wrap up a quick two-game road trip at the Sacramento Kings on Monday. After winning four straight to end a five-game homestand, the Trail Blazers took the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets to the finish line Sunday night before falling 116-113 as guard Damian Lillard's long shot at the buzzer was off. Portland has won four straight meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

San Antonio is enjoying a seven-game home winning streak but is coming off a 122-112 loss at Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Spurs, who beat the Thunder in an epic 154-147 double-overtime thriller at home on Thursday, are 18-5 at home and are making a brief stop in front of the home fans before hitting the road again for four of the next five. All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge broke out for a career-high 56 points in Thursday's victory but could not muster the same effort on Saturday, when he settled for 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting in 33 minutes. The clincher:  Charlotte is 1-6 ATS in the last 7 meetings in San Antonio.

Rating: 2 Units

JaMychal Green led the way in Saturday's loss with 24 points and 11 rebounds in only 22 minutes off the bench, his third double-digit effort on the boards in a span of four games. The 28-year-old's role may increase after starting forward Kyle Anderson, who scored 20 points in a New Year's Eve loss at Houston, was lost to a sprained ankle. Green is averaging 15 points and six rebounds in 22.5 minutes in two games against the Rockets this season, making all three of his 3-point attempts and shooting 76.9 percent overall. The clincher:  Houston is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes of the previous day.

Rating: 2 Units

Denver will be kicking off a four-game home stand and come in on a sour note after suffering a 102-93 loss at lowly Phoenix on Saturday. Nikola Jokic and Malik Beasley combined for 44 points on 16-of-29 shooting, but the rest of the team went 18-for-59 from the floor.  Denver has won four straight meetings with Portland going 3-0-1 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

Harden, the reigning MVP has reached the 40-point mark seven times in his last nine games and he has three triple-doubles in that span, although he seems more interested in the team's current 13-3 run than any personal accomplishments.  Orlando snapped a four-game slide with a 105-103 win over the Boston Celtics at home Saturday night. Aaron Gordon scored 28 points for the Magic, who rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to improve to 11-11 at home. Houston has won 10 of the last 12 meetings and are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

Rating: 3 Unit Big-10 Play of the Day

Michigan State will go for its 10th straight victory when it travels to face struggling Penn State in a Big Ten Conference contest. The fifth-ranked Spartans are undefeated in conference play after a 77-59 win over Purdue on Tuesday, while the Nittany Lions are looking for their first league win and to put an end to their current three-game losing streak. Penn State has struggled offensively this season, averaging a Big Ten-worst 67.9 points and ranking 13th in the conference in both field-goal percentage (41.1) and 3-point field-goal percentage (31.2).

Rating: 2 Units

The Wizards did Toronto a favor by knocking off the Milwaukee Bucks 113-106 on Friday, giving the Raptors possession of first place in the Eastern Conference while giving themselves a fifth win in seven games. Washington can't match Toronto in quality depth with John Wall (heel) and Markieff Morris (neck) out. The clinchers:  Toronto is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings while the favorite is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

Arizona is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Pacific-12, 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games, and  5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record. While California is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 vs. Pacific-12, 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games, and  1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss. In addition, the road team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

Mitchell, who was 4-for-5 from 3-point range, recorded 33 points and a season-best nine assists as the Jazz routed the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 113-95 on Friday.  Chicago has lost six straight games and was clobbered 146-109 by Golden State on Friday in the second contest of its six-game road trip.  The clincher:  Chicago is 8-17 ATS in their last 25 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Rating: 4 Unit AAC Conference Game of the Week

Wichita State's inexperience will be challenged again Saturday when it travels to face the tough defense of 15th-ranked Houston. The Cougars own one of the nation's top defenses while the Shockers have committed 35 turnovers in two American Athletic Conference games. Senior forward Markis McDuffie is surrounded by a lot of new faces and the Shockers are going through growing pains - including losing an 11-point lead in Saturday's overtime loss to Temple. The Cougars are also coming off a loss at Temple - which snapped their perfect start - but still have their 28-game home win streak intact. Houston, ranked among national leaders in scoring defense (60.1 points) and opponent field-goal percentage (36.3 percent), won two of three meetings with the Shockers last season.

Rating: 2 Units

UC Davis is 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record. While Long Beach State is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 vs. Big West,  5-12 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points,  1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, and  1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

After it failed to take down Big East giant - and defending national champion - Villanova its last time out, No. 23 St. John's will try its hand against one the league's perennial also-rans when DePaul visits Saturday. The Red Storm were coming off a dramatic overtime win at Georgetown and led the Wildcats by five with under four minutes remaining Tuesday night before falling apart down the stretch. The clincher:  Depaul is  8-22-3 ATS in their last 33 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

Delaware is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 game following an ATS win, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall, and 4-0 in their last 4 vs. Colonial Athletic Association. While College of Charleston is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games, and 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. In addition Delaware is  7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

Rating: 4 Unit Mountain West Conference Game of the Week

New Mexico is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Mountain West, and 30-14-2 ATS in their last 46 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. While Colorado State is, 4-10-2 ATS in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning road record,  2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win, 4-16-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a straight up win, and 1-7 in their last 9 home games.

Rating: 2 Units

The Houston Rockets are cooling off a bit with losses in two of their last three games after falling 116-109 to the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. James Harden will try to drag his team back into the win column when the Rockets take a step down in Eastern Conference foes while hosting the NBA-worst Cleveland Cavaliers today.  The Cavaliers scored 38 points in the first quarter on Wednesday but still couldn't avoid an 11th consecutive setback while falling 140-124 at the New Orleans Pelicans in the opener of a six-game trip.  The clinchers:  Houston is 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home games while Cleveland is 3-10 ATS in the last 13 meetings in Houston.

Rating: 2 Units

The New York Knicks managed one win on their six-game road trip, which is one more than they posted in their last six home games. The Knicks will try to win at Madison Square Garden for the first time since Dec. 1 when the host the Indiana Pacers today.  New York snapped an eight-game slide with a 119-112 win at the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday but dropped the final two stops of the six-game West Coast trip and lost 15 of the last 17 games overall. The clincher:  Indiana is 35-17 ATS in their last 52 games following a straight up loss.

Rating: 2 Units

The streaking Denver Nuggets strive to post their seventh victory in eight games when they host the Los Angeles Clippers today. The Nuggets continue to be the surprising leader in the Western Conference while the Clippers reside in fourth after winning three straight and seven of their past 10. Star big man Nikola Jokic recorded 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season as Denver notched a 103-99 road win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday. The Clinchers:  Denver is  10-3 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS win while Los Angeles is 6-13 ATS in their last 19 vs. NBA Northwest.

Rating: 3 Unit Big-10 Play of the Day

The Cornhuskers, whose 11-4 mark is their best 15-game record since the 2010-11 team opened 13-2, won 20 straight at home during the 1965-66 and 1966-67 seasons and can match that mark today.  Penn State, which has dropped six straight in Lincoln, fell to 0-4 in conference play after Sunday's 71-52 loss to Wisconsin while playing without coach Patrick Chambers, who was suspended due to an incident with freshman guard Myles Dread in the previous game. The clincher: Nebraska is 20-5-1 ATS in their last 26 home games.

Rating: 2 Units

Cincinnati visits Tulsa on Thursday night looking to bounce back from an upset loss at East Carolina last weekend, but winning at the Reynolds Center and avoiding its first losing streak of the season certainly won't be an easy task. The Golden Hurricane have won 15 straight and 24 of their last 26 in their home arena. The Bearcats stumbled in their first American Athletic Conference road game Saturday against a team with a record barely above .500. The clincher:  Cincinnati is 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

Rating: 2 Units

IUPUI is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 home games,  6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Horizon League, and 12-5-2 ATS in their last 19 games overall. While Cleveland State is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Horizon League.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Conference Game of the Week

Hofstra is 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a straight up win, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Colonial Athletic Association, 19-7-2 ATS in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, and 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 games overall. While William & Mary is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 Thursday games, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win,  0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, and  0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.

Rating: 2 Units

Hawaii is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. Big West, and  11-5 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  While CS Fullerton is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall,  1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss, and  1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. CS Fullerton is also 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Hawaii.

Rating: 2 Units

Nevada is 9-25-1 ATS in their last 35 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points, 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Mountain West, and  1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  While San Jose State is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games. While the road team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

Utah hung with the Milwaukee Bucks through three quarters on Monday but was outscored 31-16 in the final period to suffer a 114-102 setback. The Magic are finally at the end of a six-game road trip and dropped to 1-4 on the excursion with a 111-95 loss at Sacramento on Monday, marking the third straight game in which they fell by double digits. Utah is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.

Rating: 2 Units

Miami's woes largely stem from the team's inability to close out games, with the Hurricanes squandering double-digit leads in both conference losses as they continue to wear down due to a lack of bodies. Four Hurricanes are averaging at least 30 minutes per game compared with just one for the Seminoles, and Florida State rotates as many as 12 players in and out of a balanced lineup while Miami only has seven. The clinchers:  Miami is 18-39-1 ATS in their last 58 games following a straight up loss and 7-21 ATS in their last 28 games overall.

Rating: 2 Units

The Houston Rockets just took out the top team in the Western Conference and will try to prove once again that it can knock off one of the best in the East when they host the Milwaukee Bucks today. The Rockets won for the 12th time in the last 14 games when James Harden put together another virtuoso offensive performance in a 125-113 triumph over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Houston took both meetings last season and are  10-1 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

Rating: 2 Units

Mississippi is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record, 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games overall, and 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win. While Auburn is  2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 road games, 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win, and  1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.

Rating: 2 Units

The Yellow Jackets opened conference play with a resounding 92-79 home victory over Wake Forest on Saturday, the most points by a Georgia Tech team in a non-overtime ACC game since the 2008 ACC tournament. But coach Josh Pastner was quick to point out to the media it was defensively where the Yellow Jackets excelled.   Georgia Tech is 23-8-1 ATS in their last 32 Wednesday games, 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games overall,  26-11 ATS in their last 37 home games, 39-18-1 ATS in their last 58 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, and 25-12 ATS in their last 37 games following a ATS win.

Rating: 2 Units

West Virginia had three losses to non-power conference teams during its pre-Big 12 slate and then opened league play with setbacks to No. 8 Texas Tech at home and then at Texas on Saturday. The clinchers:  West Virginia is 7-15-1 ATS in their last 23 games following a ATS win,  4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games overall, and  3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers won each of their last two games and six of nine after picking off the Orlando Magic 106-96 in the opener of the two-game home stand on Sunday. Los Angeles held the Magic to 37.1 percent from the floor in limiting an opponent to fewer than 100 points for the first time since a 96-86 loss at Memphis on Dec. 5. Los Angeles won seven of the last eight in the series. The clincher:  Charlotte is 5-12 ATS in the last 17 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

No. 16 North Carolina State is off to its best start in 45 years and can validate that one more time when it hosts 12th-ranked North Carolina tonight for an early-season ACC showdown. The Wolfpack boast a victory over 10th-ranked Auburn and rallied from a 10-point deficit for an 87-82 triumph at Miami (Fla.) in the ACC opener Thursday to match the start of their 1973-74 NCAA championship team (13-1). The clincher:  NC State is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.

Rating: 2 Units

Evansville is 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss,  6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record, 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games, and 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up loss.  In addition the underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Indiana Pacers missed a chance to declare themselves legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference when they dropped a 121-105 decision at Toronto on Sunday, but there is still plenty of room for growth. The Pacers will try to bounce back when they make the third stop of a five-game trip by visiting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Indiana takes a step down in competition against the Cavaliers, who own the worst record in the NBA and come into Monday's matchup riding a nine-game losing streak, capped by a 133-98 home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The clincher:  Cleveland is 9-26-1 ATS in their last 36 games following a double-digit loss at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Sacramento Kings still are confident they are on the rise despite losing a season-high four straight games and get a chance to start proving their case when they host the road-weary Orlando Magic today. Sacramento lost the four contests - all against teams in playoff position entering Sunday - by a total of 20 points after coughing up a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 127-123 setback against Golden State.  The Kings, who have not made the playoffs since 2005-06, have won four straight meetings with the Magic after registering a 107-99 road triumph on Oct. 30 behind 25 points and 11 rebounds from Buddy Hield.

Rating: 2 Units

he Milwaukee Bucks missed a chance to establish themselves as the top team in the Eastern Conference and had a five-game winning streak come to an end with a 123-116 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. The Bucks will try to finish off a six-game home stand strong when they host the Utah Jazz today. Milwaukee took the first four games of its home stand by an average of 21.3 points and held a double-digit lead in the first half against Toronto before falling. The clinchers:  Milwaukee is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game while Utah is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Rating: 2 Units

The San Antonio Spurs are quietly one of the hottest teams in the NBA with wins in four straight and 12 of their last 15 games as they begin to sneak up the Western Conference standings. The Spurs will try to stay sharp when they begin a stretch with seven of 10 on the road by visiting the Detroit Pistons. San Antonio ripped through a three-game home stand with wins over Boston, Toronto and Memphis, capped by Saturday's 108-88 drubbing of the Grizzlies. The Pistons went the opposite way and followed up a hot start to the season with a slow decline that has them 4-13 over the last 17 contests, including a 110-105 home loss to Utah on Saturday in which they held an 18-point lead after the first quarter.

Rating: 2 Units

The Charlotte Hornets entered their longest road trip of the season on a sour note and were unable to turn the tide in the opener of the six-game trek against Western Conference teams. They will try to bounce back against the worst team in the West when they visit the Phoenix Suns. Three days after an embarrassing 122-84 home loss to Dallas on Wednesday, Charlotte began the trip with a 123-110 setback at West-leading Denver to fall to 4-12 on the road. It will try to improve upon that mark against a Suns team that showed signs of progress with a recent 5-2 surge.

Rating: 2 Units

Despite battling injuries and inconsistency all season, USC remains a dangerous team in the wide-open Pac-12 race. The Trojans aim for their fourth straight win today against visiting Stanford, which began conference play with Thursday’s 92-70 loss to UCLA. Four of USC’s five starters played 35 minutes or more in Thursday’s win, and Enfield will likely deploy the same strategy against a young Stanford team that faded in the second half against UCLA. The  clinchers:  USC is 11-4 ATS in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a losing road record while the home team (USC) is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings..

Rating: 2 Units

The Raptors had four players reach the 20-point mark in Saturday's 123-116 win at Milwaukee to move into a virtual tie atop the Eastern Conference with the Bucks - 1 1/2 games ahead of Indiana. The victory came two nights after an 18-point loss at San Antonio in which Toronto played for the sixth straight time without star guard Kyle Lowry, who remains sidelined with a back issue.  The clincher:   Toronto has won four straight overall meetings with Indiana and 10 in a row at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The hot-shooting Tigers have connected at least 50 percent from the floor in six of their past seven games and average 93.3 points in that span. First-year coach Penny Hardaway is looking for his first win against a ranked team at Memphis as the Tigers are 0-3 this season - losing at LSU, to Texas Tech on a neutral floor and at home to Tennessee. However, Memphis is 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record,  8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600,  8-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. American Athletic Conference, and 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall. In addition, Memphis is 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings in Houston.

Rating: 2 Units

George Mason is 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games,  0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall, and  0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. While George Mason is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 vs. Atlantic 10,  10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record, and  7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bulls have lost three straight, and Chicago is one of the worst teams in the NBA. Brooklyn comes into this one having won four straight head to head meetings. The Bulls are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games, and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games versus a team with a losing road record. The Nets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games versus a team with a losing straight up record.

Rating: 2 Units

The Orlando Magic are going through some ups and downs on their current road trip, though so far the downs are outweighing the ups. The Magic will try to bounce back from another discouraging loss when they make the fourth stop of a six-game trip by visiting the Los Angeles Clippers. Orlando began its trip by getting run off the floor in a 125-100 loss at Charlotte but bounced back by crushing Chicago 112-84 on Wednesday, only to squander a 19-point, first-half lead and drop a 120-103 decision at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The clincher: Los Angeles is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 vs. NBA Southeast.

Rating: 2 Units

Lehigh is 6-14 ATS in their last 20 home games,  2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400, and  4-11 ATS in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. While Loyola Maryland is 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Rating: 2 Units

Xavier is coming off an 80-70 home loss to Seton Hall on Wednesday, but the Musketeers have won seven straight conference road games dating back to last season after opening their Big East schedule with a 74-65 win over DePaul last Saturday. Graduate transfer Zach Hankins had his best game in a Xavier uniform during Wednesday’s loss as he scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half and finished the game 10-for-13 from the floor. Marquette leads the series 49-24, but Xavier has won nine of 12 games since moving to the Big East in 2013-14.

Eighth-ranked Gonzaga begins pursuit of its seventh consecutive West Coast Conference regular-season title when it hosts Santa Clara on Saturday. The Bulldogs, who look to beat the Broncos for the 18th straight time, have won their past four games by an average of 43.8 points. Gonzaga expects to have junior standout forward Killian Tillie available for the first time this season after he underwent ankle surgery in October. Having Tillie in the mix will bolster a group that reached No. 1 early in the season and has wins over Duke, Arizona and Creighton.

Rating: 2 Units

New Orleans should have a chance to get a rare road win against a Cavaliers squad that has lost eight in a row and will be playing the second half of a back-to-back. Six of the eight straight setbacks have been by double digits, including the 117-91 home loss to Utah on Friday.

Rating: 4 Unit ACC Game of the Week

The Blue Devils got a wake-up call with an 89-87 loss to Gonzaga on Nov. 21 and have steamrolled each of their six opponents since. Duke won five consecutive games by at least 21 points - including four straight by 30 or more - before posting a 69-58 victory over Texas Tech last time out. The Tigers have regained their footing and won four straight after losing three of their previous four, but this easily will be their biggest test yet. It’s only the second true road game of the season for Clemson. The clinchers: Clemson is 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall while Duke is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. Atlantic Coast.

Rating: 2 Units

The Hornets lost 122-84 beating to Dallas at home in Charlotte Wednesday night. They're just 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a double-digit loss at home. The Denver Nuggets had failed to cover the spread in five straight games before just barely covering at Sacramento two nights ago. However they are 7-2 ATS in their last nine at Pepsi Center (12-6 ATS at home on the season) and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

Forward Brady Manek scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed 11 boards in Wednesday’s loss – the sophomore’s first double-double since opening the season with four in a row. The Sooners limited the Jayhawks to a 4-for-21 performance from 3-point range but struggled themselves for the second consecutive game as they followed up a 5-for-21 showing from downtown against Northwestern with a 5-for-22 effort Wednesday. Oklahoma surrendered a season-high 22 points off turnovers against Kansas while recording its second-most turnovers (17) and second-fewest assists (nine) of the season.  However the home team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings while Oklahoma State is 4-11 ATS in the last 15 meetings vs Oklahoma.