*3 Star MLB 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees are both playing good baseball coming into this series. Nate Karns and Adam Warren are two young starters who haven't quite settled into their roles just yet. The first meeting between these two this year finished 5-4 in Tampa Bay. This is certainly a more hitter friendly park. Warren has 8 walks on the year and only 6 strikeouts. Too many runners are getting on base against him, and he is pitching to contact. Karns is really inconsistent at this point, and the Yankees lineup is sneaky good. The Rays bullpen has been a big problem this year, and Karns doesn't pitch very deep into the game.

The over is 5-0 in Karns' last 5 starts. The over is 5-0 in his last 5 starts with a total set between 7 and 8.5 runs. The over is 4-0-1 in the Yankees last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The over is 4-0 in Warren's last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 2-0-2 in the last 4 meetings between these two teams at Yankee Stadium. A 20-0 angle. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play Totals MONEY* The Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates haven't done much scoring in the first two games of this series, but I like their chances of putting up a lot more runs on Sunday. Chase Field is a hitters paradise with the roof open, and that is magnified when it is daytime. The roof will be open during the day here on Sunday afternoon. Jeremy Hellickson is a bad fit for these conditions. He has struggled with giving up the long ball too much in his career. I think the Pirates will tag him for several runs here. Francisco Liriano is a quality lefty, but the Diamondbacks are better against lefties than righties. Take advantage of this low number. Take the over big! 

*4 Star MLB 100% Angle Total* The Milwaukee Brewers have a very banged up lineup right now. Carlos Gomez and Jonathan Lucroy are two of the team's three best hitters, and they are on the disabled list right now. Yadier Molina is questionable for this one with an injury for St. Louis. Lance Lynn has been spectacular against Milwaukee in the past. In 40 innings in his career at Miller Park, Lynn has an ERA of only 1.80. Mike Fiers is an underrated starter, and he has an ERA below 2 in his career against the Cardinals. With both offenses banged up, a total set at 8 looks too high with these two on the mound.

The under is 7-0 in Lynn's last 7 road starts vs. a team with a losing record. The under is 5-0 in his last 5 road starts. The under is 4-0 in his last 4 road starts with the total set at 7 to 8.5 runs. The under is 4-0 in Fiers' last 4 starts as an underdog. The under is 7-0 in his last 7 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150. A 27-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* Chase Field is one of the best hitters parks in the big leagues when the roof is open. The roof will be open with the game time temperature in the low 80's here. The wind is expected to be blowing out at about 15 miles per hour. You couldn't get better conditions for an over here. Rubby De La Rosa was blasted by a bad Giants lineup earlier this year at Chase Field, and the Pirates offense is improving of late. Pittsburgh has some pretty good hitters, and I expect them to do well here. A.J. Burnett is good at PNC Park, but pitching at Chase Field is a whole different animal. The ball will be flying well here. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Boston Red Sox have one of the best offenses in the majors. They should finish in the top three or four in runs scored this year. Baltimore's offense isn't bad either with Manny Machado heating up and Adam Jones hitting it well. Justin Masterson is always on the edge of giving up a big inning the way he allows base runners to get on. Wei Yin Chen is a decent pitcher, but he doesn't have good out pitches to put away quality hitters like the Red Sox have.  Boston crushes left-handed pitching. I didn't expect to be able to get this total at just 8.5. I think this game gets to at least 10 runs. 

The over is 4-0 in Boston's last 4 vs. lefties. The over is 7-0-1 in Baltimore's last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 6-0 in their last 6 as a home favorite of -150 or less. A 17-0 angle. Take the over big! 

*5 Star Late Night TOP Play CRUSHER* The Los Angeles Angels offense is a very good one. The Angels can put up runs in bunches when the opposing pitcher is off his game at all. Wandy Rodriguez was terrible last year, and while he had pretty good numbers this spring, those numbers often don't translate into the games that mean something. The Angels are good against lefties and I see them feasting on Rodriguez here. Garrett Richards is a good pitcher, but he's still working his way back from an injury. He struggled with his command in his minor league rehab start and he did the exact same thing vs. Houston in his start five days ago. The Rangers offense isn't elite, but they still have enough to piece together some scoring chances. This total at just 7.5 is very surprising. I think 8.5 or 9 is where this should be. 

The over is 3-0-1 in Richards' last 4 home starts vs. Texas. The over is 5-1 in the Angels last 6 home games. The over is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings between these teams. Take the over big! 

*4 Star Clippers/Spurs Totals CASH* The San Antonio Spurs got an amazing effort from Tim Duncan last game. Duncan carried the team to victory. The first game in this series stayed under the total and last game would have as well if it weren't for overtime. The Spurs are slowing the tempo down in this series. In the playoffs, the defensive intensity turns up a lot, and we've definitely seen that in this series. I like to watch what the line movement does compared to public betting numbers. In those one, it tells an interesting story. The public loves the over here, but the number has moved down. There is some very sharp money betting the under. I agree with that, and I think this one stays below 200. Take the under. 

*4 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The New York Mets keep finding ways to win games. They won it late last night over Atlanta. The Mets are certainly improved, but I don't think they are as good as their record would indicate. Atlanta isn't a good team either though, and the Braves offense is starting to come back down to earth. The Braves lineup isn't good, and Bartolo Colon has great numbers against nearly everyone in this Atlanta lineup. Teheran is a quality pitcher for Atlanta, and he has pitched well against the Mets in the past. It's a get away day which means we could easily see a couple key bats out of the lineup here. The under is 6-2 in Teheran's last 8 starts vs. the Mets. Take the under. 

*3 Star MLB Late Night BAILOUT* The Seattle Mariners offense is a lot better with Nelson Cruz in the middle of the lineup. Cruz can make a pitcher pay for a mistake in a hurry. Seth Smith was an underrated pickup for this team as well. Smith really hits it well off right-handed pitching. Houston's lineup is gradually improving, and they are much better against left-handed pitching. Springer is a star in the making, and the Astros have several quality right-handed bats. J.A. Happ and Roberto Hernandez aren't good pitchers at all. A total set this low with these guys, and I'm taking the over. Both bullpens have struggled of late as well. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Total of the MONTH* The Kansas City Royals send their worst starting pitcher out to take on the Minnesota Twins worst starting pitcher here. Jeremy Guthrie has had an ERA well above 4 at Kaufman Stadium the last two seasons despite the fact that he plays in front of one of the best defenses in baseball. Guthrie is past his prime now, and the Twins lineup is better than they were last year. Mike Pelfrey has been even worse than Guthrie. Pelfrey isn't a good starter at all, and his worst month of the year in his big league career has been April (5.28). Pelfrey has a 9.49 ERA in three career starts against the Royals. I don't see how the oddsmakers came up with a total of 8 runs for a game like this. This is a neutral park and we have a neutral home plate umpire. I think a total of 9 or even 9.5 would have made more sense. Take the over big! 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Angle Total* The Pittsburgh Pirates blew the game late last night vs. the Chicago Cubs. This Cubs offense is clearly much better than they were a year ago. It helps having a lot more depth in the lineup. Pittsburgh's offense hasn't been very good this year, but I still believe the Pirates offense is at least as good as the league average. Jason Hammel is a mediocre pitcher who will likely have an ERA near 4.00 at the end of the season. Vance Worley should be at a similar mark, and Worley has a history of pitching poorly in the first half of the season. This total is set as if we have two great pitchers, and that isn't the case.

The over is 3-0-2 in the Cubs last 5. The over is 2-0-2 in their last 4 vs. a righty. The over is 3-0-1 in their last 4 road games. The over is 4-0 in Hammel's last 4 starts overall. The over is 3-0-2 in the Pirates last 5. The over is 3-0-2 in their last 5 with a total set at 7 to 8.5 runs. The over is 3-0-2 in their last 5 home games. The over is 4-0-2 in their last 6 vs. the NL Central. The over is 2-0-2 in their last 4 vs. a righty. The over is 5-0-1 in their last 6 meetings against each other. The over is 4-0-1 in their last 5 meetings in Pittsburgh. A 36-0 angle. Take the over big!

*4 Star MLB Totals TKO* I took the over when these two teams played last night, and I'm taking the over again here. Ubaldo Jimenez can either be brilliant or he can be awful. It's hard to predict how he'll be on any given night. He does face a really good lineup here though. Aaron Sanchez probably has a nice future in the big leagues, but he has a lot of work to do. Sanchez hasn't been good so far this year, and the Orioles offense is underrated as a unit. Both of these pitchers could give up some very big innings. I was surprised to see this total at 8.5. Take the over. 

*4 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* Trevor Cahill should improve on his numbers this year now that he is facing worse offenses and playing in much more pitcher-friendly ballparks. He didn't pitch well in his first start, but he'll face a Mets team without David Wright in the middle of the lineup here. Atlanta's lineup has overperformed in a big way so far this year, but it's still early. I'm convinced this Atlanta lineup is still one of the worst in baseball. They have been terrible against lefties the last couple years. Jon Niese has been lights out at Citi Field the last two seasons. The under is 3-0-1 in Niese's last 4 home starts vs. Atlanta. Take the under. 

*4 Star MLB Total PERFECTION Play* The Toronto Blue Jays have one of the best offenses in the major leagues. This is a team that can put together big innings at any time. Baltimore's offense is much better than most people realize. With Manny Machado healthy and swinging it well, this offense is much more dangerous. Mark Buehrle has a 5.19 ERA against the Orioles in the last three seasons. There won't be too many games lined at 8.5 with the Blue Jays involved this year and no elite pitcher on the mound. Bud Norris and Mark Buehrle are both nothing more than average pitchers at this stage of their careers.

The over is 5-0 in Norris' last 5 during game one of a series. The over is 6-0 in Norris' last 6 starts vs. a team with a losing record. The over is 4-0 in Buehrle's last 4 Tuesday starts. The over is 7-0 in his last 7 following a quality start. The over is 5-0 in his last 5 during game one of a series. A 27-0 angle. Take the over.  

*4 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* The Seattle Mariners offense has been a huge disappointment so far this year. Nelson Cruz is crushing the baseball, but the rest of the lineup is scuffling. Ross Detwiler isn't a good pitcher, but he's not as bad as he's pitched in his first couple outings. Seattle struggles against left-handed pitching. James Paxton has been great when pitching at Safeco in his career. Paxton has an amazing 1.85 ERA in 8 career starts at home. Texas' lineup is way down from what they were a couple years ago. Bill Miller is the home plate umpire here, and he's been a tremendous umpire for under bettors. The under is 25-5 in his last 30 Sunday games behind the dish. He has a huge strike zone which should help both pitchers.

The under is 4-0 in Texas' last 4 vs. a team with a losing home record. The under is 3-0-1 in their last 4 as an underdog of +151 to +200. The under is 4-0 in the Mariners last 4 as a -151 to -200 favorite. The under is 5-0 in Paxton's last 5 home starts with the total set at 7 to 8.5. The under is 5-0 in his last 5 as a home favorite. The under is 5-0 in his last 5 vs. the AL West. The under is 4-0-1 in his last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less. The under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two teams. A 34-0 angle. Take the under. 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Colorado Rockies have one of the best lineups in baseball. With Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki both healthy, this is an offense that can do some real damage. Now that Arrenado is becoming real force it makes this offense that much better. The Rockies are going to score a bunch of runs this year. Eddie Butler starts here for the Rockies, and I think it's only a matter of time before we finally see that he isn't very good. He is due for some major regression after some extremely lucky results in his first couple starts. Brandon McCarthy is very prone to giving up the long ball, and the Rockies have plenty of guys who can make him pay. Both teams have the ability to put up big innings. 

The over is 6-0 in the Rockies last 6 when their opponent scores 5 or more runs last game. The over is 8-0 in the Rockies last 8 games vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 5-0 in the Dodgers last 5 vs. a team with a 60% or higher win percentage. The over is 9-0 in the Dodgers last 9 home games vs. a team with a 60% or higher winning percentage on the road. A 28-0 angle. Take the over big! 

*3 Star MLB Totals TKO* The Arizona Diamondbacks have a great hitter in Paul Goldschmidt, but the rest of their lineup isn't any good. San Francisco's offense has been really bad so far this season. Buster Posey is great in the middle of the order, but this lineup misses Sandoval, and they probably miss the injured Hunter Pence even more. Tim Hudson generally throws it well early in the season, and in his career against Arizona (13 starts), he has a stellar 2.01 ERA. Jeremy Hellickson should benefit from the spacious AT&T Park versus Chase Field. Dan Iassogna as the home plate umpire is a nice bonus too. Take the under. 

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The Minnesota Twins start Phil Hughes here, and Hughes has become a brand new pitcher in his time in Minnesota. He has been pounding the strike zone, and he does a much better job keeping the ball in the ballpark than he did in the past. The Indians haven't had much success off him in the past. Cleveland starts Danny Salazar. Salazar has a really high upside, and the Tribe expect big things from him. Neither of these offenses are particularly great. The weather here calls for wind blowing in from center field at 15 miles per hour. Gibson is a good home plate umpire for the under as well.

The under is 4-0 in the Indians last 4 road games. The under is 7-0-1 in Hughes' last 8 starts after giving up 2 runs or less. The under is 4-0 in his last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record. A 15-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star TGIF Play of Day* The Washington Nationals have the best pitching staff in baseball, and I don't think it's particularly close. On the other hand, Washington's offense is bad right now. Washington is missing some key players from the lineup, and without them they are struggling to score. Philadelphia probably has the worst lineup in baseball, and the Phillies are up against one of baseball's best pitchers here. Max Scherzer should mow down this lineup in short order, especially in the pitcher-friendly park in Washington DC. Sean O'Sullivan pitched well against the Nationals last time out. I don't trust O'Sullivan very much, but there is another key reason I like the under here. That is the presence of Ron Kulpa behind home plate. Kulpa is one of the very best under umpires in the business. He loves to call strikes, and that should lead to more punch outs than normal for both pitchers.

The under is 2-0-2 in the Phillies last 4 with the total set at 7 to 8.5 runs. The under is 3-0-1 in the Phillies last 4 vs. a team with a win percentage below 40%. The under is 4-0 in the Nats last 4 home games with a total set between 7 and 8.5. The under is 3-0-1 in the Nats last 4 vs. a team with a win percentage below 40%. The under is 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams. A 16-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* The St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers meet in the third and final game of this series. The Milwaukee offense has been a major disappointment so far this year. Carlos Gomez left last night's game with an injury and he's questionable for this one. Gomez is the table setter for this lineup, and without him they would be much weaker. John Lackey was excellent in Busch Stadium last year (2.38 ERA). Mike Fiers has been a really good pitcher the last couple years for Milwaukee. Fiers has been almost unhittable against the Cardinals. He has a 1.30 ERA vs. the Cardinals in 27 and 2/3 innings of work. His deceptive delivery seems to really bother St. Louis. John Hirschbeck is the umpire behind home plate here and he's a great under umpire because of his large strike zone. It's get away day here, which means some key players could get a day off.

The under is 6-0 in the Brewers last 6 games as an underdog. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150. The under is 6-0 in Fiers last 6 starts as an underdog. The under is 5-0 in his last 5 road starts as an underdog. The under is 4-0 in Lackey's last 4 starts during game three of a series. A 27-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star MLB 100% Angle CRUSHER* The San Diego Padres are clearly a much better offense than they were last year. When you add guys like Justin Upton and Matt Kemp to the lineup, there will be a big increase in production. Chase Anderson could be a good pitcher in time, but he has been roughed up on the road in his young career. He has a good change up, but he needs to work on his other pitches. Brandon Morrow hasn't been a consistent starter in his career. He was brilliant in his first start of the year, but he's done this before and then been blasted in the next start many times throughout his career. Marvin Hudson is the umpire here, and he has a small strike zone which should hurt both of these guys. The biggest reason I like this play is simply the ridiculously low number. I know this is PetCo Park, but a total of 6.5 with these two pitchers on the mound just doesn't make sense. Based on pure value alone, I have to take the over here.

The over is 6-0 in Anderson's last 6 starts on 4 days rest. The over is 5-0 in his last 5 starts during game 3 of a series. The over is 4-0 in his last 4 road starts. The over is 4-0 in his last 4 as a road underdog. The over is 4-0 in the Padres last 4 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more last game. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more last game. The over is 5-0 in the Padres last 5 following a win. A 32-0 angle. Take the over. 

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The Cleveland Indians have struggled in a big way against left-handed pitching both last year and so far this year. John Danks isn't a good pitcher, but he is left-handed. Some Indians players have had good success against Danks in the past, but a couple of them that have been the best in the past (Gomes and Swisher) are on the DL right now with injuries. Trevor Bauer has the stuff to be a breakout candidate this year. Bauer looked tremendous in his first start (no hits allowed), and he has pitched well at Progressive Field in the past. Bauer has been much better during the daytime in his career (3.06 ERA) vs. the night time (5.30 ERA). Vic Carapazza is a very good under umpire and it's get away day for these two teams which is a help too.

The under is 5-0 in Bauer's last 5 starts as a home favorite. The under is 6-0-1 in his last 7 vs. a team with a losing record. The under is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings between these two teams. A 17-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* Drew Rucinski makes the first start of his career here for the Angels. Rucinski was hit around hard by the Rangers last September in a relief outing. While he has been good so far this year, I don't like him getting his first start in a hitter's park like Texas. The Rangers lineup isn't as good as they were a couple years ago, but they are still decent. With Shin Soo Choo healthy again that is a big boost for the Rangers. Rucinski isn't likely to go deep into the game, and the Angels bullpen isn't good. Nick Martinez is a subpar pitcher and the Angels lineup is deep and they are going to score a lot of runs this year. I don't think either starter lasts long here, and both bullpens are bad. Take the over. 

*4 Star MLB 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Oakland Athletics offense doesn't have any real big names in it, but this time finds ways to manufacture runs. Scott Feldman hasn't had much success against Oakland in the past. Another key to this game is the fact that Houston used up their bullpen in a big way on Sunday in their 14 inning win over Texas. Houston's bullpen looks very thin for this one. Oakland's Scott Kazmir is definitely capable of dominating, but this Houston offense is much better against left-handed pitching than they are against right-handers. Houston should score quite a few more runs this year as their young talent improves. 

The over is 5-0 in Oakland's last 5 games. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 after a loss. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 with a total set at 7 to 8.5 runs. The over is 5-0 in their last 5 vs. the AL West. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 as a favorite. The over is 3-0-1 in Kazmir's last 4 starts overall. The over is 3-0-2 in his last 5 as a road favorite. The over is 3-0-1 in his last 4 starts with a total set at 7 to 8.5 runs. A 31-0 angle. Take the over. 

*3 Star Sunday Night Baseball Total CASH* The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox meet on Sunday Night Baseball here. Boston has gotten the best of the Yankees in the first two games in this series. Rather than taking a side, I'll play the over here. Clay Buchholz was lit up by the Yankees on multiple occasions last year. He has a career ERA of 5.64 vs. the Yankees. Masahiro Tanaka didn't look right in his first start. Many observers believe he is pitching at far less than 100 percent health. The Red Sox lineup is deep. Both teams are capable of putting up a big inning at any point in this game. A total set at just 7 is too low with question marks on the pitchers and two solid offenses.

The over is 4-0 in Boston's last 4 vs. the AL East. The over is 5-0 in Buchholz's last 5 starts. The over is 4-0 in the Yankees last 4 overall. The over is 6-0 in the Yankees last 6 following a loss. The over is 4-0 in the Yankees last 4 after giving up 5 runs or more last game. The over is 5-0 in their last 5 vs. a team with a win percentage of 60% or higher. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. A 32-0 angle. Take the over. 

*3 Star MLB 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays have two of the weaker offenses in the big leagues. In Chris Archer and Jarred Cosart we have two quality youngsters starting on the mound in this one too. Cosart is a little less consistent than Archer, but Cosart has brilliant numbers against Tampa Bay. In 23 career innings against the Rays, Cosart has allowed a grand total of just three runs. Archer pitched 7 strong innings of one run baseball in his only career start against Miami last season. This one should be a close one, and I expect a low scoring affair.

The under is 8-0-1 in the Marlins last 9 Saturday games. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following a win. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in the previous game. The under is 5-0 in home plate umpire Gerry Davis' last 5 Saturday games behind the dish. A 23-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star MLB Late Night BAILOUT* The Oakland A's start Drew Pomeranz here and I think he's a breakout candidate this year. Pomeranz has improved his mechanics in the offseason, and if he stays healthy he has a very high upside. The exact same thing can be said about Taijuan Walker. Walker led the majors in ERA in Spring Training. While I don't like to read too much into that kind of thing, his velocity was excellent and he has nasty stuff. The Mariners have a lefty heavy lineup, which means they often struggle against left-handed pitching. Oakland's offense just isn't good, and Walker has shut down stuff. Both of these bullpens are tremendous. The under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these teams. Take the under. 

*3 Star MLB Totals TKO* The Texas Rangers don't have the same strong offense they had a few years ago. Colin McHugh was a huge surprise last year, and while many continue to doubt him, he looked great again in Spring Training. Derek Holland is a good lefty, and he has solid numbers in his career against Houston. With the temperature still not very high, Rangers Stadium isn't the hitter-friendly park that it will be later in the season. I look for both starters to work deep into this one. The under is 13-6 in Holland's last 19 home starts. The under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these teams. Take the under. 

*4 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* Jeremy Hellickson will make his first start for the Diamondbacks here. Hellickson has always been a really inconsistent pitcher, and I'm not high on him with a worse defense behind him now and in what is a hitter-friendly ballpark. Chris Heston starts here for the Giants. Not many scouts are high on Heston's long-term potential in the big leagues. The Giants have had a bunch of pitching injuries, and that has led to him starting in this one. Chase Field is a hitters paradise with the roof open, and with a total set this low with two questionable pitchers, I like the over quite a bit. Take the over. 

*4 Star MLB Totals TKO* Eddie Butler is one of the worst starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. He hasn't shown an ability to be particularly good in the minors, but the Rockies don't have any pitching depth so they have him in the majors starting in game three. Milwaukee has lost the first two games of this series, and the Brewers do have a decent lineup. I expect them to put up plenty of runs here. Colorado's offense is really good when healthy. There probably isn't a better back to back combo in the majors than Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki. The umpire here is CB Bucknor, and he is a small over umpire in my book. Take the over. 

*3 Star NBA Play of Day* The Detroit Pistons are technically still in the playoff race in the East, but they have to win this game. Boston is currently in the playoffs, but they aren't comfortably in by any means. This is a game that means something to both teams, which should cause both defenses to work hard. Detroit is playing at the second slowest tempo in the NBA in the past two weeks. The last two times these two have played the game has gone over solely because of overtime. This number is a few points too high. Take the under. 

*3 Star MLB Late Night BAILOUT* The Oakland A's and Texas Rangers meet Tuesday night in Oakland. Oakland is an interesting team to watch this year, because they really don't have much offense, but the A's have a really deep pitching staff. Jesse Hahn was a nice pickup for Oakland, and I look for him to have a really successful season for the A's. Texas was no hit through seven innings yesterday by Gray. The Rangers lineup isn't bad, but they certainly aren't as good as they were a couple years ago. Colby Lewis has been relatively good in his starts at Oakland in the past. A big key here is the man behind the plate. Umpire Doug Eddings is probably the single best under umpire in the big leagues, and he'll be behind the dish here. The pitchers will get the edges in this one. That's a big boost for this play. Take the under. 

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* The Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves played to a 2-1 final yesterday. I think games between these two teams will likely be low scoring pretty often this year. Atlanta has one of the worst lineups in the majors now that they have had a fire sale in the offseason. Mat Latos has solid numbers against the guys left for Atlanta, and Latos has been pretty consistent over the course of his career. Alex Wood is a star in the making for the Braves, and Wood looked sharp in Spring Training. These two bullpens are both good, which is important in what should be a close game. 

The under is 4-0-1 in Wood's last 5 during game 2 of a series. The under is 4-0-2 in his last 6 road starts. The under is 4-0-1 in his last 5 vs. the NL East. The under is 3-0-1 in his last 4 road starts with a total set at 7 to 8.5 runs. The under is 5-1 in the Marlins last 6 home games. A 20-1 angle. Take the under. 

*2 Star NCAA BB Championship CASH* The Wisconsin Badgers and Duke Blue Devils meet in the NCAA Championship Game on Monday night. I expect this to be a tremendous game, and with an opening line of pick'em, so do the oddsmakers. I don't want any part of taking a side in this one, but I see a small amount of value in the under. Wisconsin shoots the ball extremely well, but they do still slow the game down. Duke hasn't been pushing the tempo nearly as much in recent games as they did early in the season. In title games, we often see the tempo slow down as both teams know that every possession matters. Note that this is a smaller play than normal for me because both offenses are very good, but with a total this high and an expected slow tempo, I'm siding with the under. Take the under here. 

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* Corey Kluber won the AL CY Young Award last year. There might be some looking for a step backward from him this year, but I'm not among them. Kluber has electric stuff, and his cutter is one of the best pitches in baseball. Houston's lineup is clearly improving, but they still aren't good enough to consistently hit against one of the best pitchers in the game today. Cleveland has struggled against lefties in the last couple years, and Dallas Keuchel has become a very good pitcher for the Astros. Keuchel is much better at home, and he'll be pitching at home here. Both of these bullpens are improved from last year. I see a low scoring contest. Take the under. 

*4 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The Colorado Rockies might have the worst opening day starter in the majors. Kyle Kendrick is a below average starter, and the fact that he is their best starter speaks to the problems this Rockies rotation will have in getting outs this year. To make matters even worse for Colorado, their bullpen is absolutely awful as well. Kyle Lohse isn't a bad pitcher, but he also isn't terrific. Lohse is 36 years old, and I think he's due to take a bit of a step back this year. The Rockies can't pitch, but they have a scary good lineup when they are healthy. They are healthy to start the season, and Colorado should pound out plenty of hits here. The over is 15-4-2 in the last 21 meetings between these two teams. Take the over. 

*4 Star NBA Friday Night Totals MONEY* The Sacramento Kings will be without Rudy Gay tonight. Gay averages 20.9 points per game, and he gives the team a great second option to DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins has been playing great of late, but he isn't 100 percent. New Orleans is playing at the slowest tempo of any team in the NBA over the last five games. The Pelicans are slowing things down as they realize they must win to have any chance to get into the playoffs. This game means a lot to them. On average, the more the game means to a team, the lower scoring that game is. The Kings are playing at an NBA league average pace over the last two weeks, and I think they'll play a little slower without Rudy Gay in the lineup. This total is awfully high considering one of the top scorers is out and the pace should be slow. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Los Angeles Lakers host the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at Staples Center. New Orleans is working hard to try to get into the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoff standings. They still have a chance. New Orleans has decided to slow the tempo down and focus more on defense as these games get even more important for them. New Orleans is playing at the single slowest tempo of any team in the NBA over their last three games. Los Angeles also ranks in the bottom ten in the NBA in terms of pace in the last ten. Another key here is the three referees for this game. Between the three referees here, the under is a combined 100-64. There should be less fouls called here than in a normal NBA game. 

The under is 8-0 in the Lakers last 8 home games following a road trip of 7 days or more. The under is 5-0 in the Lakers last 5 vs. the NBA Southwest. A 13-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NIT Semifinals Total Domination* The Temple Owls have struggled on the offensive end all year. Temple is a team that struggles to knock down jump shots, and that's dangerous as they go to play the NIT Semifinals here at Madison Square Garden. Madison Square Garden is arguably the toughest shooting backdrop in the United States. College players very frequently struggle to get a rhythm here. Miami is a team that slows the game down and I expect them to slow the tempo here. The total is inflated due to so many totals going over in the NIT thus far. This one shows plenty of value for me for a couple reasons: the Madison Square Garden factor, and this game means more now because both teams will want to push harder to reach the NIT finals. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Play of Day* The Phoenix Suns offense has been terrible over the last month. It seems like the teams trades have hurt their offensive output. On the other hand, the Suns are playing much better on the defensive end. Phoenix isn't pushing the tempo as much as they were earlier this year. Portland ranks in the bottom ten in the league in terms of tempo over the past ten games. All three referees in this matchup are favorable to an under bet. The under is 21-8 in the Suns last 29 games. The under is 5-1 in their last 6 meetings in Portland. This line is a few points too high. Take the under.

*4 Star Elite 8 Total DOMINATION* The Arizona Wildcats lost by a point in this same situation last year against Wisconsin. Arizona gets a huge advantage by playing in front of a ton of their faithful in Los Angeles here. Wisconsin is ranked number one in offensive efficiency, but Arizona is the best defensive team they have played this year. The Badgers still love to run the shot clock down and win with ball control. Arizona is unlikely to turn this game into a track meet. With two teams that play so hard on the defensive end as well as a game that means so much to both teams, I think this total is a few points too high. It's important to note that Wisconsin fouls less than any other team in the country, and that could be a big key for the under here.

The under is 6-1 in Arizona's last 7 neutral site games. The under is 5-1 in Arizona's last 6 games. The under is 37-14-1 in Arizona's last 52 Saturday games. Take the under. 

*3 Star Duke/Utah Totals CASH* The Duke Blue Devils and Utah Utes square off in what should be a pretty competitive game. I thought it was interesting to see the oddsmakers set the opening line at Duke -4.5. That tells me the oddsmakers are very high on Utah in this one. The Utes didn't finish playing their best at the end of the regular season, but they have bounced back and are playing very well in the tournament thus far. If Utah is going to be successful, they must slow the game down and win with ball control and defense. Utah knows not to get into a track meet with a Duke team that has athleticism all over the place. Several teams have been able to slow down the Blue Devils in recent games. 

The difference between this Duke team and last year's team is the fact that this team plays very hard on the defensive end. The Blue Devils aren't going to make things easy on Delon Wright and the Utes offense. Duke does a nice job defending beyond the arc, and that's an area where Utah has done most of their damage this year. 

The under is 4-0 in Duke's last 4 games. The under is 16-5 in their last 21 neutral site games. The under is 7-3 in Utah's last 10. The under is 18-6 in Utah's last 24 neutral site games. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The Houston Rockets defense got a lot better when Dwight Howard entered the fold again last game. The Rockets also slowed the pace of the game down in a big way. Houston was playing at about 100 possessions per game, but last game it was 91. Minnesota has drastically slowed down their tempo, and the Timberwolves offense isn't efficient at all. Two of the three referees in this one are very favorable for an under play. The under is 23-12 in Haywoode Workman's 35 games this year lined at 195 points or higher. A number this high isn't justified. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Totals TKO* The Boston Celtics have worked their way into playoff position in the Eastern Conference by working hard on the defensive end. Boston ranks in the top five in the NBA on the defensive end in the past 10 games. New York ranks dead last in offensive efficiency during that span. New York slows the tempo down, and Boston is pushing the pace a little less now than they did earlier this year. In the Knicks last 7 games, only one went over this posted total in regulation (195 points against Toronto). I think this one finishes around 190 as the Knicks struggle to score again. Take the under. 

*3 Star Notre Dame/Wichita St Total DOMINATION* The Notre Dame Fighting Irish offense has been tremendous all year. My problem with a team like Notre Dame this time of the year is that they are too reliant on jump shots. Notre Dame is now playing on neutral floors with shooting backdrops that they haven't seen before. That can be tough to handle for teams that rely so much on long range jumpers. Speaking to the value from this angle is the fact that the under is 13-2-1 in Notre Dame's last 16 NCAA Tournament games. Wichita State's defense is a strength too, and Gregg Marshall's team is going to contest most of those jumpers. 

Wichita State has played against two teams who love to run so far in this year's NCAA Tournament, and that has led to two high scoring games. The Shockers typically prefer to slow the game down when they can, and Notre Dame's tempo is actually slower than the average pace in the nation. With a spot in the Elite Eight on the line, it's obvious that this game means a ton to both teams. The more important the game, the slower the tempo tends to be on average. Take the under in this one. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and Vermont Catamounts meet in CBI Postseason Tournament game on Wednesday night. The shorter shot clock has brought a bunch of overs so far this postseason. The NIT, CBI, and CIT Tournaments are all using 30 second shot clocks and a bigger restricted circle (more blocking fouls instead of charges). At first, the shorter shot clock might have hurt offenses a bit as they rushed things, but efficiencies are improving across the board now.

This is also a time of the year where teams have typically not cared as much on the defensive end in these smaller postseason tournaments. Louisiana Monroe was a great under team throughout the season, but they have been playing fast and scoring far more efficiently in this tournament. Vermont has scored 85 and 78 points in their two CBI games. With a shorter shot clock, a number this low isn't something I can pass up. Take the over. 

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The New York Knicks roster is so thin right now that it's difficult for them to reach anything more than 85-90 points. They are without Carmelo Anthony and Jose Calderon, and Tim Hardaway Jr. is questionable for this one. The Clippers are in a difficult scheduling position right now, and Doc Rivers has been talking about resting his starters some more. This should be a good opportunity. I think his starters will play quite a few less minutes than normal in this one. The Clippers tempo is at a league average mark over the past ten games, and the Knicks are one of the slowest paced teams in the league. Two of the three referees here (Davis and Kirkland) are terrific under referees. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The Minnesota Timberwolves actually rank in the bottom half of the NBA in terms of tempo in the past two weeks. Utah ranks at the bottom by a very big margin. The Jazz deserve a lot of credit for the job they have done recently of winning games by playing tremendous defense and controlling the tempo. Utah is the number one ranked defense in the NBA in the past month. The Timberwolves offense has been struggling against quality defenses, and I think they'll struggle to score tonight. Utah typically doesn't run up the score as much as most teams in the league.

The under is 8-1 in Utah's last 9 vs. the NBA Northwest. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 following a loss. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a losing record. An 18-1 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Mercer Bears and the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks have been two great under teams the last couple years. Mercer is a team that slows the game down and tries to get to the line for points. Louisiana Monroe doesn't foul much at all, so Mercer should get less free throws than in a normal game. Monroe ranked dead last, 351st, in the nation in getting to the line this year. Mercer doesn't foul much either. While the shot clock here will be 30 seconds, I still expect both of these teams to use most of that time. This total has been adjusted a little bit too high based on that shorter clock. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Play of Day* The Los Angeles Lakers aren't playing at even close to the same tempo they were earlier this year. Philadelphia is still playing fast, but not as fast as they were early this year. The biggest change from both of these two teams though is how much better they are playing on the defensive end. The Lakers rank in the top ten in the NBA in defensive efficiency in the past two weeks. The 76ers rank number two in the NBA during that period. A healthy Nerlens Noel has boosted the Sixers defense in a big way. 

Also, keep in mind that these two teams are both awful on the offensive end. They both rank in the bottom five in the NBA in offensive efficiency. There aren't many shot makers healthy on these two teams. Look for a sloppy low scoring game here. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Maryland Terrapins play in the Big Ten where most teams like to slow the game down. They have shown the ability to get up and down when they are given the chance. West Virginia is going to do everything they can to force the tempo of this game. The Mountaineers press more than anyone else in the country, and Maryland has been a bit turnover prone late in the year. Importantly, West Virginia commits more fouls than any other team in the nation. Maryland is great at drawing fouls, and the Terrapins are also terrific at the line. As a team, Maryland shoots 76% from the line. They should rack up the points at the charity stripe on Sunday.

It should also be noted that the rims were very loose in Columbus on Friday for the Round of 64, and that helped several shots into the hoop. It should do the same on Sunday. One other key for me here-the public has been taking the under in this game, but the line continues to move up anyways. That's a nice signal. Take the over.

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Arkansas Razorbacks and North Carolina Tar Heels play the same style of basketball. They both get out in transition and try to score before the opposing defense is set. I don't see anyone wanting to slow the game down here. North Carolina is tremendous in transition, and Marcus Paige should have a big game here. Arkansas has more inside strength than they have had in the past, but North Carolina should still get a lot of offensive rebounds and second chance points here. With a very quick pace and a game that should be close throughout, this total is more than attainable. I had this one at 161. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Georgia State Panthers have been the darlings of the NCAA Tournament thus far. R.J. Hunter's very long three finished off an amazing comeback by the Panthers. One thing to note from Georgia State's recent games is that star point guard Ryan Harrow is injured. Harrow used to play for Kentucky, and he is a key player for this Panthers team. Without him, Georgia State has decided to slow the tempo down of late. They won the Sun Belt final by a ridiculous score of 38-36 in a game that had just 47 possessions by both teams (65 is average). The Baylor game had only 58 possessions. I think Georgia State slows this game down as well, and that gives us value on the under. Xavier has been a good under team for me this year, and the Musketeers have absolutely shown that they like to slow the game down in important games. This game is the most important one of the season thus far for both teams. 

The under is 4-0 in Xavier's last 4 games. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a win percentage of 60% or higher. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 on a neutral floor. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 following an ATS win. The under is 2-0 in Georgia State's last 2 games. A 21-0 angle. Take the under big! 

*3 Star CIT Totals TKO* This one is a play on a CIT under the radar game. Sam Houston State hosts Louisiana Lafayette in this second round game on Saturday afternoon. Sam Houston State has decided to pick up the pace quite a bit down the stretch. Louisiana Lafayette ranks in the top 12 in the nation in terms of pace. The 30 second shot clock experiment and the larger arc in the paint (more blocking fouls) will be important in this game. This game should stay close throughout, and that means fouling at the end of the game is a very real possibility. I think this game tops 150 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB 100% Angle Total* The Oklahoma Sooners still push the tempo a bit, but they don't play nearly as fast as they did last year. Oklahoma is now focusing a lot of their energy on the defensive end of the floor, and I think they are a better team because of that. Albany knows they can't run and keep up with Oklahoma. The Great Danes have done a tremendous job slowing the tempo down against Duke and Florida in their first games in the NCAA Tournament the last two years. They should slow this one down as well. The under is 6-0 in Oklahoma's last 6 games played at a neutral site. The under is 4-0 in Albany's last 4 following an ATS loss. The under is 2-0 in Oklahoma's last 2 games. A 12-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Special* The Northern Iowa Panthers and Wyoming Cowboys both rank in the bottom ten teams in the nation (351 teams) in terms of tempo. If you don't like to watch teams stall and use the entire shot clock up on nearly every possession, this isn't going to be the game for you. Northern Iowa normally shoots it well, but this is a neutral floor where the players haven't been before and that typically brings down shooting percentages a bit. Wyoming is very reliant on Larry Nance Jr. in the post, and Northern Iowa has a good frontcourt capable of slowing him down here. While I don't like taking unders that are this low normally, this one is low for a reason. Very low scoring game here. Take the under. 

*4 Star Ohio State/VCU Total DOMINATION* The VCU Rams always want to play fast. VCU isn't very good in the halfcourt sets on offense, but they are tremendous at creating transition scoring opportunities. Ohio State played very fast in their non-conference games this year. The Buckeyes were often slowed down by teams in the Big Ten, but they'll get their wish to play a faster paced game here. VCU's full court defense is great, but the Rams definitely give up some easy baskets in the halfcourt because they aren't nearly as good defensively without Briante Weber. Ohio State isn't nearly the defensive team they used to be when Aaron Craft was here. This one looks like a close game all the way and one that should be relatively high scoring. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Butler Bulldogs have gradually slowed the tempo down over the course of the season. Butler isn't an extremely talented team, but they play some fundamentally sound basketball. The Bulldogs aren't a particularly tall team, and that is going to hurt against Texas' length on defense. Texas is a team that plays slowly as well, and Texas' offense has been a disappointment all year. The Longhorns are number one in the nation in two point field goal defense though. Texas isn't going to give up easy looks around the hoop. This should be a competitive game between two teams that work hard on the defensive end. I had this number at 120 points. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Portland Pilots and Sacramento State Hornets met once already this year and the final was 80-75. They finished at 155 even with a 35 second shot clock. The shot clock will be set at 30 each time today, so I expect several more possessions. Portland and Sacramento State are similar in that they are both way better on the offensive end than they are on the defensive end. The Big Sky Conference (Sacramento State's league) is notorious for bad defenses, and in non-conference games I like to play overs with teams in that game. This should reach the mid 150's. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The shorter shot clock in the NIT has made this total higher than it would have been, but I think this is an overreaction by the oddsmakers. Both of these teams like to play slow, and I don't see them turning this game into an uptempo affair. St. Mary's is great at controlling the tempo, and this game is played on their home floor. I think this one stays in the upper 130's. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* It's an in-state battle here in the state of Arizona. Northern Arizona plays in a much bigger and better league, but Grand Canyon will be hungry to try knock off their bigger foe. In a game like this, I think we see a little more defense than we do in the average postseason game. This game means something to both teams, and that should keep the tempo down a bit and keep the defenses interested. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves are the second and third worst defenses in the NBA in the last month. Toronto's defense was solid earlier this year, but the team appears to not even be trying on the defensive end lately. They still want to push the tempo when they can, and Minnesota is definitely happy to run and gun. Kevin Martin has heated up for Minnesota of late, and he's capable of putting up a bunch of points in a hurry. The over is 7-2 in Toronto's last 9 games. The over is 7-3 in Minnesota's last 10 vs. the Eastern Conference. Take the over here. 

*3 Star NCAA BB First 4 Total DOMINATION* The BYU Cougars push the tempo as well as anyone in the country. While most of the nation knows only Tyler Haws from BYU, it is Kyle Collinsworth who is the key to this BYU offense. Collinsworth is a tremendous point guard with the ability to pass, score, and rebound. Collinsworth set the NCAA record mark with six triple doubles this year. He'll be a big key in this game because I don't think there is a guy on the Ole Miss roster who can slow Collinsworth down. The Rebels like to play quickly as well, and Ole Miss and BYU both can really get hot from long range. Also important in this game is that both team get to the line a lot and shoot free throws very well. BYU shoots 77% at the line and Ole Miss 78% at the line. Both of these defenses put opponents on the line a lot, and that should mean a lot of points on the charity stripe here. 

The over is 5-0 in the Rebels last 5 non-conference games. The over is 5-0 in BYU's last 5 neutral site games. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* These two teams both love to push the tempo and play as fast as possible. Throughout the season both of these teams have had to play against a lot of teams that play stall ball against them, but when these two meet I expect a very high scoring game. Both teams are better on the offensive end than the defensive end. They both shoot free throws extremely well too. Louisiana Lafayette will have a big advantage on the inside and that should lead to a lot of points from their frontcourt. I had this game lined at 165 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Central Michigan Chippewas meet tonight. Louisiana Tech is a tricky team because they push the tempo and press, but they are also good on defense in the halfcourt. The Bulldogs aren't good offensively unless they are getting easy buckets off the press. Central Michigan has been one of the best in the nation this year at taking care of the basketball. The Chippewas will look to slow the game down here, and because they take care of the basketball, I think it will be a little more difficult for the Bulldogs to score. This total is inflated by a few points. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Memphis Grizzlies always want to slow the tempo of the game down, and with Ty Lawson sitting this game out Denver is far less likely to be able to speed the game up. Lawson is the guy that makes this Denver offense go, and I don't see them being very effective against a good Memphis defense without him. Kenneth Faried is also sitting this one out. Mike Conley is questionable for the Grizzlies. Denver's defense has been improved in the last couple weeks. Haywoode Workman is one of the officials in this game, and through the past few years, he has been among the most consistent under referees in the league. I think this line is several points too high.

The under is 3-0-1 in Denver's last 4 when playing on the second end of a back to back scheduling spot. The under is 4-0 in Memphis' last 4 when playing against a team with a losing record. The under is 8-0 in their last 8 home games when playing vs. a team with a road win percentage of 40% or lower. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following a win by 10 points or more. The under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. A 23-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* Stephen F Austin has changed their style of play in a big way from last year to this year. The Lumberjacks now push the tempo and run at every opportunity. Last year, they were a team that liked to walk it up the court and play slowly. Sam Houston State typically plays to the pace of their opponent. The most important part of this game is both teams ability to get to the charity stripe. Both of these teams rank in the top five in the nation in trips to the charity stripe, and both teams foul a lot on defense. Because of that reason I think this one gets over the total. Take the over. 

*3 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Utah Jazz have been really impressive in recent weeks. This is a team that started the season playing bad basketball, but they have reinvented themselves in recent weeks. They are playing at the slowest tempo of any team in the league in the past ten games. They are also the number one ranked defense in the NBA in the past ten games. Detroit has slowed down their tempo without Brandon Jennings. Look for a low scoring contest.

The under is 7-0 in Utah's last 7 Saturday games. The under is 7-0 in Utah's last 7 vs. the Eastern Conference. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following an ATS win. An 18-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Montana Grizzlies are the only team in the Big Sky that really focuses on defense. Montana will slow the tempo down in this game, because that is their best chance of winning. In addition, a game of this magnitude typically sees a slower tempo because both teams have no chance to get into the NCAA Tournament without a win. Both of these teams are capable of hitting a lot of long range jumpers, but the value here is enough to warrant a play. Take the under. 

*4 Star Big East Title Total Takedown* The Villanova Wildcats defense is far better than it was last year. Villanova has been superb all season long, and in my mind they have been one of the biggest surprises in the nation. I knew they would be solid, but they have been way better than I expected. Villanova slows the tempo down more than they have in the past, and they take great care of the basketball. Xavier has been a team I've had success playing the under with. The Musketeers aren't playing nearly as fast recently as they did during the early part of the season. This game is played at Madison Square Garden, where the shooting backdrops are terrible. 

The under is 5-0 in Xavier's last 5 following an ATS win. The under is 6-0 in Xavier's last 6 following a straight up win. The under is 6-1 in Xavier's last 7 vs. a team with a 60% or higher win percentage. A 17-1 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Over* This is a really interesting spot for these teams. Southern is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament, so regardless of who wins this game, it will be Texas Southern representing the SWAC in the NCAA Tournament. That makes for an interesting dynamic here, and I think it means that both teams will play faster than they normally do. Texas Southern has the best offense in the SWAC by a wide margin. Texas Southern should be able to put up a big number here, and Southern typically prefers to play fast as well. Take the over. 

*4 Star Play Over* 

*3 Star Play Under* The under is 24-6 in UCSB's last 30 games at a neutral venue. The under is 42-13 in UC Irvine's last 55 games. When these two teams meet tonight, there's a lot on the line. UC Irvine is the best defensive team in the Big West thanks to a tremendous 7'6 shot blocker in Mamdou N'Diaye. With him in the game, Irvine also slows the tempo down. UCSB prefers a slow tempo as well. The last time these two met (just a couple weeks ago) the game stayed way under this posted total. With so much on the line, I expect the defenses to hold the edge here. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Georgetown Hoyas and Xavier Musketeers have played twice this year and both games stayed way under the posted total. These two teams know each other well, and the defenses make it hard for the opposing offense to get open looks. This game is also played at Madison Square Garden, which probably has the worst shooting backdrop in the country. There are often some very low shooting percentages here when college teams that aren't used to the gym show up. I had this number at 131. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Sacramento State Hornets like to slow the game down. I don't think they are going to let Eastern Washington run and gun like they want to here. Sacramento State has played 13 straight games that have finished under this posted total. In a game of this magnitude, the tempo generally slows down because both teams know how much is at stake. Look for the game to slow down a bit like their last meeting did. I had 147.5 on this one. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Over* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and UAB Blazers both like to play fast. Both of their regular season meetings went over this posted total. Both teams have certain areas in this matchup where they should be able to take advantage of the opposing teams weakness. Louisiana Tech should get some easy buckets off their full court press because of UAB's weakness in the backcourt. UAB should get a lot of second chance opportunities thanks to LA Tech's inability to get defensive boards. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Over* 

*3 Star NBA 100% Angle Total* The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are both really banged up. Both of these teams will be without their two best offensive players in this game. The Lakers aren't speeding the tempo up anymore like they were earlier this year. The Knicks tempo has been among the slowest in the NBA all year. New York is actually playing a little bit of defense lately, which has allowed for them to have some very low scoring games. The referee crew here is very helpful to the under. Also interesting is the public is betting on the over, but this line continues to drop.

The under is 4-0 in the Lakers last 4. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following an ATS win. The under is 4-0 in the Knicks last 4. The under is 4-0 in the Knicks last 4 following a loss. A 16-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Under* The Ohio State Buckeyes haven't played as fast lately. Ohio State has improved defensively over the course of the season. The Minnesota Golden Gophers aren't nearly as fast temp wise as they were earlier this year either. These teams met early this year and the Buckeyes won in overtime 74-72. Even with overtime, the tempo was only 69 possessions. This game will be played at a neutral site that both teams are unfamiliar with. That often leads to lower scoring games. I had this one at 138 points. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The George Washington Colonials are good at getting the tempo they want, and in both games with Duquesne this year they have been able to slow the game down. The two regular season meetings finished at 133 and 140 points respectively. The shooting numbers in both games were astronomically high. It's highly unlikely that these two teams can shoot that well again. The venue should help too. This one is played at Barclay's Center in Brooklyn which is a much bigger arena than either team is used to. That kind of thing generally helps the under. Take the under here. 

*5 Star TOP Play Over* My number here was 139. Hawaii pushes the tempo better than anyone else in the Big West Conference. I don't see Hawaii changing the way they play just because it is conference tournament time. The tempo has been really quick in both meetings this year. Take the over big! 

*3 Star Play Under* 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total PERFECTION* The DePaul Blue Demons and Creighton Blue Jays meet at Madison Square Garden in New York City tonight. Madison Square Garden might have the worst shooting backdrop of any gym in the country. College players have a particularly tough time here since they aren't used to shooting in this large of a gym. The first two meetings between these teams were both played at a slow tempo, and if we see a similar tempo here I like our chances with the under. 

The under is 4-0 in Creighton's last 4 vs. a team with a losing record. The under is 5-0 in DePaul's last 5. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 following an ATS loss. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 following a straight up loss. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 league games. The under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams. A 29-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The South Carolina Gamecocks have a terrible offense and a solid defensive team. Missouri is just awful on both ends of the floor. Both of these teams have slowed down their tempo late in the year. Bridgestone Arena will host this game, and it is notorious for its terrible shooting backdrop. These two teams should struggle from the floor in this game. Look for a very sloppy low scoring contest here.

The under is 5-0 in Missouri's last 5. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 league games. The under is 7-1 in South Carolina's last 8 neutral site games. A 17-1 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Over* The Minnesota Golden Gophers beat Rutgers 89-80 in the first meeting between these two teams. While I certainly don't expect a game that is that high scoring, I do think this total is set too low. Rutgers has totally quit on the defensive end at the end of the year. Opposing teams have been lighting them up on a consistent basis. Minnesota likes to push the tempo more than any other team in the league. I had this one at 140.5. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Under* North Carolina Central is the much better team here, and they should control the tempo of the game. Coppin State loves to run, but they aren't a good team. NC Central grabs an early lead and slows this game down. Also, this game is played at a neutral site that is well known for being a tough site for shooters. This one is a few points too high. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* 

*3 Star NCAA BB 100% Angle Total* The South Dakota State Jackrabbits have a really efficient offense with George Marshall leading the way. Marshall transferred to South Dakota State from Wisconsin and he's been a guy that really kickstarts this offense. His athleticism and ability to get his own shot has been key. The Jackrabbits should look to push the tempo against North Dakota State here. North Dakota State likes to slow the game down, but their defense isn't good. They give up a lot of three-pointers, and they are great at shooting threes themselves. This total is posted a few points too low. 

The over is 4-0 in North Dakota State's last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 5-0 in SD State's last 5 following an ATS win. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a 60% or higher win percentage. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. A 21-0 angle. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play Total* Big play here for me. The Eastern Michigan Eagles have bumped up the tempo in a big way late in the season. Recency means a lot to me when it comes to totals. Miami (Ohio) has been a team that has played to the tempo of their opponent all year long. When they have played against Eastern Michigan this year, both games have gone way over this posted total. In fact, the last game was played at a ridiculously fast 84 possessions pace. Despite some bad shooting numbers, that game finished at 152 points. My numbers made this game 140 points. The over is 9-2 in E. Mich's last 11 games. Take the over big! 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Iona Gaels are tremendous at forcing the tempo of the game. Iona isn't going to slow down for anyone, because that simply isn't Tim Cluess' style. Monmouth initially slowed their tempo down earlier this year, but they have started playing faster late in the season. Monmouth over the years has been a team that plays fast, and I believe they are going back to that style. Both teams shoot it well from the line, and that's a big bonus here. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* These two teams might twice during the regular season and both times the game went well over this posted total. Hofstra should be able to dictate the pace here, and they were the fastest paced team in the league. Hofstra is a slight favorite here, but this should be a close game. William & Mary have been the most efficient offense in the CAA all year. With a close game likely, fouling late as neither team wants to see their season end is a very real possibility. I had 156 here. Take the over. 

*5 Star NBA TOP Play 100% CRUSHER* The San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls meet in a game that is played at Noon local time for the Spurs and Bulls on Sunday. Also, with the clocks moving forward by one hour, this will feel like an 11 am game to these teams. I've always liked playing unders in early Sunday games because I've noticed trends in the long run that show the potential for some very low scoring fourth quarters in these situations. The Spurs didn't play any defense last game against Denver, and I expect them to be better defensively here. Chicago's defense has been much better since the All-Star Break. The Bulls offense is obviously not as potent without Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. San Antonio's defense is much better now that Kawhi Leonard is healthy again. 

With the situation lining up this well and these two teams typically playing some very low scoring games against each, I'm making this one a very rare top rated NBA play.

The under is 5-0 in the Bulls last 5 Sunday games. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. the NBA Southwest Division. The under is 8-0 in the last 8 meetings between these two in San Antonio. A 17-0 angle. Take the under big! 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Total* The BYU Cougars love to push the tempo and run, but Santa Clara is a very slow paced team. The first two games between these two stayed well under this posted total, and this game means a lot more so I think the tempo slows down a bit more. Santa Clara's only chance here is to stall, and I think they'll do that. BYU is likely to get a large lead in the second half and then coast to conserve energy for the rest of the tournament. I had this number at 140.5. I see a lot of value on the under.

In Santa Clara's 19 games vs. a WCC opponent this year, zero of those games reached this posted total. The under is 5-0 in BYU's last 5. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 following an ATS cover. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 vs. a conference foe. A 34-0 angle. Take the under big!

*5 Star TOP Play of the Week* This is a strong play for me. UC Davis has been shooting the ball extremely well, but they run into the best defense in the Big West here. UC Irvine can really defend, especially now that they have a great shot blocker inside in 7'6 Mamdou N'Diaye. The Anteaters slow the game down much more when he's in the lineup, and since he has missed most of the season, I believe the oddsmakers aren't lowering Irvine's totals enough yet now that he is back. Davis prefers to slow the game down as well, and their defense is much improved this year. Earlier this year the final total was 131 when these two played, and I expect lower than that in this one. I had this one at 128 points. The under is 41-12 in Irvine's last 53 games. Take the under big! 

*3 Star Play Under* The Valparaiso Crusaders and Cleveland State Vikings met twice this year in the regular season. The final totals were 114 points and 109 points. This game means even more because the losing team will be done. That usually means a slower tempo and better defense. Cleveland State and Valpo both like to slow the game down. My numbers had this game at 116.5. Take the under here. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Virginia Cavaliers shut down Louisville earlier this year in a 52-47 win. I think they can do it again here on the road. Virginia's defense is just tremendous and Louisville's offense is even worse now without Jones in the backcourt. Justin Anderson is still out for Virginia and that hurts them a lot on offense. Look for a very low scoring close game. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* Cal Poly has been a great under team for me in the past few years. UCSB is another team that likes to slow the game down. When these two get together, it's typically a very low scoring game. The first game finished 50-45. This one will likely be higher than that, but I like the under. I had this one at 116.5. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Over* The first time these two got together the game coasted over this total. Princeton is great at getting to the line, and Columbia has been fouling a lot lately. The Lions can shoot it really well from long range, and despite their slow tempo they have had some very high scoring games. This one is a few points too low. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Under* 

*3 Star Play Under*