Rocketmansports.net - Free Picks from Expert Hanidcappers

Become a Facebook Fan!

Follow Me on Twitter!

Basketball Archive
Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
02-28-18	Nevada -3 v. UNLV	Top	101-75	Win	100	21 h 1 m	Show
Nevada is much the better team, has a far superior coach and this is the Wolf Pack's Revenge Game of the Year. UNLV handed Nevada its lone home loss of the season, winning 86-78 three weeks ago. That loss came in front of Nevada's eighth-largest crowd in Lawlor Events Center history. The Wolf Pack were missing their top scorer, Caleb Martin. He was out with a foot sprain. Nevada didn't play well, though. and the Rebels shot a blistering 50.8 percent from the floor. Credit to UNLV because it did play extremely well in that game. This is a bitter, bitter rivalry. UNLV, a classless program, did a lot of trash talking during and following that win. The Wolf Pack haven't forgotten. They've been pointing to this matchup ever since. Martin is back and will play. Reno hasn't been swept in a season series by the Rebels since 2012-13, which was its first year in the Mountain West Conference. UNLV has a size advantage on the Wolf Pack. But Nevada can take advantage of UNLV's weak transition defense. Nevada has won the Mountain West Conference title already, but the Wolf Pack will be focused and highly motivated for this game. Nevada coach Eric Musselman said he won't be resting anybody that his team will be going all out. Musselman is a far better coach than UNLV's Marvin Menzies. UNLV has lost and failed to cover its last three games, including losing to Fresno State, 77-64, as a two-point favorite during its last home game. The Rebels don't have the home attendance they used to have because of the decline in their program. They have covered only two of their last 10 home contests.
02-28-18	Pelicans v. Spurs -4.5		121-116	Loss	-105	18 h 21 m	Show
Back from their annual rodeo trip, the Spurs are playing at home for the first time in 25 days. I'm expecting a strong effort. San Antonio last played on Sunday. The Spurs won't play again until Saturday. Focus won't be an issue. San Antonio has covered 63 percent of its home games this season. The Spurs have been far better at home than on the road. New Orleans is playing its best ball of the season. The Pelicans are only 1 1/2 games behind the Spurs for fourth place in the Western Conference. San Antonio definitely is going to perceive a challenge here. I have a lot of faith in Gregg Popovich, who I regard as the best coach in basketball. The Spurs went 2-4 on their road swing. However, their last game was a confidence-inspiring 110-94 victory against the rejuvenated Cavaliers. Kawhi Leonard remains out for San Antonio. But unsung point guard Dejounte Murray is developing into a star. The Spurs have the coaching, depth, right situation and spot to cover this number.
02-28-18	Thunder -4.5 v. Mavs		111-110	Loss	-113	18 h 18 m	Show
The Mavericks upset the Pacers, 109-103, at home this past Monday. That ended a four-game losing streak and makes the Mavericks a bit fat and happy for this matchup. Dallas hasn't not won back-to-back games during their last 18 games. Oklahoma City's superstars have been complaining about not getting enough calls. That could change here. The Thunder hold the star power and rebounding edge to cover this number. They also have revenge motivation. The Mavericks upset the Thunder, 116-113, on New Year's Eve in Oklahoma City. Dallas also whipped the Thunder at home early in the season. The Thunder haven't been good as chalk this season - big chalk that is. As favorites of five points or fewer, the Thunder have covered 10 of the last 13 times.
02-28-18	Ole Miss v. Kentucky -8.5		78-96	Win	100	6 h 4 m	Show
Kentucky has picked a good time to get back untrack. The Wildcats are 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three games. During this span, they have posted double-digit victories against Alabama, Arkansas and Missouri. Mississippi, by constrast, is 1-8 SU and ATS in its last nine games. The Rebels are a horrible 1-9 in their lined road games, including 3-7 ATS. Kentucky also has covered five of the last six in this series.
02-28-18	Illinois v. Iowa		87-96	Loss	-106	8 h 17 m	Show
Iowa is a great fade now that it is tournament time. The Hawkeyes are 2-7 in the Big Ten Tournament under Fran McCaffrey. They have lost in the first round the past four seasons. The Hawkeyes enter tournament play losing six of their last seven games. They've allowed 80 or more points in seven of their last nine games and are giving up the most points per game since 1993-94. Illinois is coming off a 13-point road win against Rutgers and with strong revenge motivation after suffering a 104-97 home overtime loss to the Hawkeyes in their its last meeting. The Hawkeyes overcame a 20-point deficit to pull out that victory.
02-27-18	Kings +12 v. Blazers		99-116	Loss	-108	8 h 28 m	Show
I don't see Portland taking Sacramento that serious following the Kings' 118-100 home loss to the Timberwolves last night. The Kings, though, have covered in their last four away matchups. They catch the Trail Blazers in a flat spot. Portland is playing at home for the first time in two weeks. Portland has bigger games on deck, too, hosting the Timberwolves on Thursday and Thunder on Saturday. Sacramento can't match Portland's backcourt star power, but the Kings have some promising youth - DeAaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovich and Willie Cauley Stein - to go with veterans Vince Carter and Zach Randolph and decent bench players in Buddy Hield and Skai Labissiere. They've helped the Kings go 8-4 ATS the past 12 times Sacramento has been a 'dog of five or more points.
02-27-18	Oklahoma v. Baylor -3		64-87	Win	100	10 h 60 m	Show
Baylor is playing better since losing 98-96 to Oklahoma during the first meeting between the two teamsd. The Bears are 5-2 SU and ATS since that loss. Trae Young had a monster game for Oklahoma in the victory against Baylor scoring 44 points. Young, though, has tailed off perhaps worn down by the long season. I like Baylor in a revenge spot here. I don't see Young hurting the Bears like he did in the first meeting. The Sooners have failed to cover during their last eight road games.
02-26-18	Texas Tech v. West Virginia UNDER 141.5		74-84	Loss	-105	11 h 6 m	Show
The Under has won in 10 of Texas Techs last 13 road games. I see that trend continuing in this matchup, which shapes up to be a tight, intense defensive struggle. Only two teams have a better defensive efficiency rating than the Red Raiders. These are the top two teams in the Big 12 in defensive efficiency ratings, too. Neither team plays at a fast tempo either. So Under is the way to go.
02-26-18	Pacers -135 v. Mavs	Top	103-109	Loss	-135	19 h 54 m	Show
Not only are the red-hot Pacers playing their best ball, but they catch the Mavericks reeling from a double body blow of their owner Mark Cuban admitting his team is tanking and sexual misconduct allegation in the Dallas front office. The Mavericks are toxic right now. They aren't a very good home team either with an 11-19 record, 13-17 ATS. The Pacers have their season-best winning percentage. Indiana is 15-6 in its last 21 games. The Pacers have won four in a row and have a strong record of beating poor teams going 21-8 versus sub .500 opponents. They are 6-1 ATS the past seven times laying points on the road. The Mavericks are 2-11 in their last 13 games and 3-14 in their last 17 games. Dallas is last in reboundings. Indiana has improved its rebounding with Myles Turner back to 100 percent. The Pacers rank in the top-five in field goal percentage and 3-point shooting. Dallas is giving up an average of 113.8 points during its last six games.
02-26-18	Suns +7.5 v. Pelicans		116-125	Loss	-105	11 h 40 m	Show
I understand it's difficult to pull the trigger on the Suns especially when they are on the road. But this is a golden spot for Phoenix. The Pelicans are playing for the third time in four days. They defeated the Heat in overtime at home on Friday. New Orleans followed that up by coming back from an 18-point second-half deficit to beat the Bucks in overtime on the road Sunday. Anthony Davis played 43:21 minutes and Jrue Holiday logged 41:31 minutes against the Bucks. It's likley Davis and Holiday, the Pelicans' two best players with DeMarcus Cousins out, are going to see a reduction in minutes. If the Suns aren't competive early, the backdoor should swing wide open during garbage time as the Pelicans are in a huge letdown spot not only because of the situation but also playing the bottom-feeding Suns. The Pelicans are 1-8 ATS the past nine times hosting a foe with a losing road mark. New Orleans takes off for a four-game road trip following this matchup beginning with a tough game against the Spurs on Wednesday. So focus also is an issue for New Orleans and Alvin Gentry isn't one of the better coaches in the league. The Suns nearly upset the Trail Blazers in their last game losing 106-104 this past Saturday. Recently acquired Elfrid Payton continues to play well for Phoenix.
02-25-18	Rockets v. Nuggets OVER 225		119-114	Win	100	6 h 50 m	Show
The Houston Rockets are the second-highest team in the NBA. The Rockets just put up 130 points on the Nuggets when the teams last played on Feb. 9. Denver is on a scoring tear putting up 117 or more points during its last four games. The Nuggets, though, have allowed an average of 118.8 points per game during their last five games. The Over has cashed in Denver's last six games.
02-25-18	76ers v. Wizards -125	Top	94-109	Win	100	16 h 57 m	Show
Washington has defeated Philadelphia seven times in a row at home. I expect that streak to continue. The number is short because the 76ers have won a season-high eight games in a row and the Wizards are minus John Wall. Philadelphia, though, won six of those games at home. The 76ers have a losing road record. The 76ers have played weak competition lately. Their last four games have been against the Magic, Bulls, Heat and Knicks. This represents a big step up. Philadelphia also is playing without rest. Joel Embiid has played only twice in his pro career on back-to-back games. Washington is 8-3 without Wall. So the Wizards haven't missed their star point guard as much as perceived. The Wizards won't lack for motivation. Not only are they off an embarrassing 122-105 home loss to the sub .500 Hornets two days ago, but have double revenge against the 76ers. The Wizards had just upset the Cavaliers on the road on Thursday. So the spot was terrible for them against the Hornets. Both of Washington's losses to the 76ers were on the road, including a 115-102 loss on Feb. 6. The 76ers shot a blistering 55.6 percent from the floor in that game. The Wizards are above average in defensive field goal percentage and rank third in 3-point defense.
02-25-18	Penn State v. Nebraska -117		64-76	Win	100	4 h 9 m	Show
Nebraska has been a monster money-maker this season. This has been especially so at home where the Cornhuskers have covered 10 of the past 11 times. All together, the Cornhuskers have covered an amazing 14 of their last 16 Big Ten games. Penn State has had a strong season, too, but I see signs of the Nittany Lions fading. They have lost in their last two games. Penn State also will be without forward Mike Watkins, who is out with a knee injury. Watkins leads the Nittany Lions in rebounding and is their third leading scorer.
02-24-18	Arizona v. Oregon -2		93-98	Win	100	19 h 48 m	Show
The Ducks received a huge boost in confidence beating 25th-ranked Arizona State on Thurday. But the major part of this handicap is a fade on Arizona, which is likely to be minus second-leading scorer Allonzo Trier, who was declared ineligible by the NCAA this week for testing positive for a banned substance. The Wildcats have a much bigger problem than this, though. There's the real possibility that their best player, Deandre Ayton, could be suspended along with head coach Sean Miller. The latest news is all about an FBI investigation into the Arizona program with Miller and Ayton at the center of the storm. This obviously is a huge distraction.
02-24-18	Bulls v. Wolves -6	Top	104-122	Win	100	11 h 54 m	Show
I don't expect Jimmy Butler to play after he injured his knee in the Timberwolves' 120-102 road loss to the Rockets last night. Butler's injury has had a drastic affect on this line. Too much in my view. The Timberwolves still have the three best players on the court in Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Jeff Teague. Minnesota has been dominant at home going 13-1 SU, 10-4 ATS with the lone loss occurring to the Rockets during this span. The Bulls are a far cry from the Rockets, who I consider the second-best team in the NBA and very close to the Warriors. Chicago has lost 10 of its last 12 games and has failed to cover in nine of its last 11. One of those victories, though, was against the Timberwolves at home, 114-113, on Feb. 9. The Timberwolves want revenge in what has become a grudge matchup because of Butler and Tom Thibodeau's former ties to Chicago. The Bulls are committed to rebuilding, even tanking, benching Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday in favor of Cristiano Felicio and David Nwaba. Cameron Payne also is seeing more time at backup point guard.
02-24-18	Massachusetts v. George Mason OVER 147		76-78	Win	100	7 h 30 m	Show
The Over has cashed in 68 percent of George Mason's last 63 home games. I'm going to ride that string. This should be a loosely played game featuring lots of scoring. UMass's defense has gone downhill. That's reflected in the Over cashing during UMass's last eight games. The Minutemen have surrendered 82 or more points in each of their last eight games.
02-24-18	Magic +9.5 v. 76ers		105-116	Loss	-108	7 h 43 m	Show
The Magic's two best players, Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, are healthy now. Both should be better in sync after getting in a game following the All-Star break. The 76ers are a viable playoff team. But I don't like them in this high of a point spread range. Philadelphia has failed to cover eight of the last 11 times versus opponents with a winning percentage below .400. Philadelphia has three big road games on tap starting with Sunday's matchup against the Wizards. That's followed by a Tuesday game against the Heat and then Thursday versus the Cavaliers. So this isn't an all-out spot for the 76ers. Orlando is well below the radar spread-wise covering its last eight road games while going 13-4 ATS in its last 17 overall games.
02-23-18	Spurs +4 v. Nuggets		119-122	Win	100	11 h 18 m	Show
I'll take Gregg Popovich against any coach given extra prep time, which is the case here. The Spurs have had nine days to think about a 117-109 road loss to the Nuggets in their final game before the All-Star break. San Antonio had defeated Denver five straight times before that loss. The Nuggets caught the Spurs playing without rest after having been at Utah the night before. So that marked two consecutive games in high altitude. The Spurs also were minus LaMarcus Aldridge, their best player with Kawhi Leonard out, and Rudy Gay in that game. Aldridge should play for sure here. The Spurs have traditionally fared well in Denver covering in 21 of their last 29 visits.
02-23-18	Clippers -4.5 v. Suns	Top	128-117	Win	100	16 h 15 m	Show
The Clippers have already played a game following the long All-Star break losing 134-127 to Golden State on the road last night. The Clippers are more experienced, professional and deeper than the Suns, an opponent they have dominated winning 15 of the past 17 times. This includes a 2-0 mark this season with the average victory being by 27 1/2 points. The Suns are in the argument for worst team in the NBA. They are tied for the fewest victories with 18 and have lost 12 of their last 13 games and 15 of 17. Of the Suns' past 13 losses, 10 have come by double-digits. The Clippers have regained legitimate playoff contender status going 13-6 in their last 19 games. They are 5-2 since dealing Blake Griffin to the Pistons for Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley. LA steps way down in class here after just playing the Warriors. There should be no fatigue factor for the Clippers having been idle for so long before playing last night. There will be a rust factor, though, for the Suns. There's also a maturity issue for the youthful Suns to see how they react from being off since Feb. 14.
02-23-18	Cavs -5 v. Grizzlies		112-89	Win	100	15 h 6 m	Show
The Cavaliers are much improved since acquiring George Hill, Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. at the trade deadline. They are better defensively, younger and more athletic. They also have better chemistry. I was surprised when Cleveland lost last night at home to Washington. Memphis, though, isn't nearly as good as the Wizards. The Grizzlies, in fact, are tied for the fewest wins in the league with an 18-38 record. The Grizzlies have dropped seven in a row. They are facing the cold reality of missing the postseason for the first time in eight years. The Cavaliers are not only the better team but have stronger motivation and the edge of already having played a game following the nine-day All-Star break.
02-23-18	Celtics -115 v. Pistons		110-98	Win	100	14 h 7 m	Show
Detroit is 5-3 since acquiring Blake Griffin. The Pistons are tough up front now with Griffin and Andre Drummond. But their backcourt is weaker minus traded Avery Bradley and with Reggie Jackson sidelined. The Celtics can exploit this. Boston gets back defensive ace Marcus Smart from injury and astute Brad Stevens has had more than a week to game plan. I consider Stevens the top coach in the Eastern Conference. Even if the Pistons are improved following the Griffin trade - and that can't be fully determined yet - they still are a borderline playoff team at best and they hold a losing record. Boston is two levels higher than Detroit and is in the discussion for being the best team in the East. The Celtics limped into the All-Star break having lost three straight home games. I expect Stevens to right the ship following the long break. The Pistons are playing in their new Little Caesars Arena, but their homecourt advantage is overrated. They have failed to cover in 11 of their last 13 home contests. Boston has covered in its last four visits to Detroit.
02-23-18	Harvard +1.5 v. Princeton		72-66	Win	100	3 h 2 m	Show
Harvard is on an 8-3-1 against the spread run. The Crimson just rolled past Princeton by 15 points two weeks ago. Now look at the line. So I definitely believe there is value on the Crimson. Princeton has lost and failed to cover in its last six games. The Tigers have a losing ATS home record.
02-23-18	St. Peter's v. Quinnipiac -118		52-43	Loss	-118	9 h 24 m	Show
The Bobcats of Quinnipiac have covered in seven of their last nine games. I like them to beat St. Peter's at home. The Bobcats have strong revenge motivation for an 84-58 road loss to St. Peter's back early last month when they weren't playing as well. St. Peter's is a very weak road team going 2-10 SU, 3-9 ATS. The Peacocks have failed to cover in five of their last six road games.
02-22-18	Wizards v. Cavs -5	Top	110-103	Loss	-110	14 h 32 m	Show
Cleveland is 2-0 against Washington this season - and this is when the Cavaliers' roster and chemistry was much worse than it is now. Spread-wise, the Cavaliers were the most disappointing team in the league pre All-Star break. But now the rebuild Cavaliers are much different and much better. They have won four straight games since retooling their roster getting young, more athletic and better defensively. Cleveland's offense hasn't suffered either. The Cavaliers are averaging 126 points during their four-game win streak. This is Cleveland's first home game, too, with its new fully integrated roster. The Wizards couldn't beat the Cavaliers when they had John Wall and I don't see them hanging close without him especially given the circumstances that line up here.
02-22-18	Nets +7.5 v. Hornets		96-111	Loss	-100	12 h 15 m	Show
The Hornets are just 15-15 at home. They are a lottery team just like the Nets and have no business laying this many points. The Nets limped into break losing seven in a row. They should come back rest, refreshed and rejuvenated. Brooklyn also should be at full strength with Rondae-Hollis Jefferson and Caris LeVert expected to play after being out. Jefferson is an especially underrated player for Brooklyn. Brooklyn showed no quit last season winning 11 games after the All-Star break. The Nets have the fifth-best spread mark in the NBA and have covered seven of their last 10 road contests. There's a randomness factor, too, with both teams coming off a long break. Randomness is good when backing an underdog. Charlotte had a distracting bye week with the decision to look for a new general manager. The Hornets also have failed to cover the past six times after being idle for three days or more.
02-21-18	San Diego State v. Air Force +8.5	Top	67-56	Loss	-105	20 h 53 m	Show
In terms of straight-up record, Air Force is a bottom-three Mountain West Conference team. Point spread-wise, though, the Falcons are very strong. They have covered in nine of their last 12 league games and are 7-1 ATS at home this season. This coincides with San Diego State being a bad road team. The Aztecs are a middle-of-the-pack Mountain West team that is strong at home, weak on the road where they are 1-6 in conference play. This includes losses during their past five away matchups. San Diego State enters this matchup fat and happy after burying UNLV, 94-56, at home this past Saturday. That was the Aztecs' most lopsided victory against the Rebels in the 69-game history of the series. Now the Aztecs draw ninth place Air Force and last place San Jose State. So this doesn't shape up as a challenging week for them. The Falcons are going to be the more motivated team. They have revenge for an embarrassing 81-50 road loss to San Diego State from 18 days ago. Air Force only was able to shoot nine free throws in that game. Air Force upset New Mexico, 100-92, in its last home contest. Air Force has been on the road its past two games losing to UNLV and Boise State. Now the Falcons are back home. They are 16-5-1 ATS following a loss. The Falcons have covered four of the last five times against San Diego State at home, including winning straight-up last season, 60-57, as 6 1/2-point home 'dogs. They are 9-2 (82%) ATS the past 11 times versus San Diego State.
02-20-18	Rutgers v. Ohio State UNDER 129		52-79	Loss	-110	15 h 1 m	Show
Rutgers is a premier defensive team giving up the 12th fewest points in the country. But the Scarlet Knights are horrendous on offense and going against Ohio State's top-50 defense. Rutgers has scored less than 58 points in regulation during seven of its last nine games. The Scarlet Knights were held to 46 points by Ohio State in the team's first meeting. The Buckeyes are in a kill spot following two straight road losses. So there's no reason for them to play fast if owning a big lead as expected. Ohio State has gone Under in 18 of its last 23 home games. So there is a strong Under pattern.
02-20-18	Illinois +16 v. Michigan State		61-81	Loss	-106	9 h 26 m	Show
Michigan State has covered just one of its last eight games. The Spartans could be distracted by Senior Night and still on Cloud Nine after rallying from 27 points down to beat Northwestern this past Saturday in the greatest comeback in Big Ten history. Illinois lost to Michigan State by 13 points in the first meeting despite the Spartans shooting a record 68.2 percent from the floor. The Illini have played better since that loss and should have their confidence up after snapping a four-game losing skid with a win against Nebraska on Saturday. Illinois is 5-1-1 ATS during its last seven visits to Michigan State, too.
02-19-18	Youngstown State v. Northern Kentucky -16.5		51-70	Win	100	14 h 18 m	Show
Northern Kentucky is coming off a loss. I see the Norse being fired up to bury a very bad Youngstown State. The Penguins are giving up more than 87 points per game during their last seven games. Northern Kentucky has the potent offense to take advantage averaging nearly 77 points a game. The teams met earlier at Youngstown State and Northern Kentucky won by double-digits. Now the Norse are home off a loss. They are 4-1 ATS following a loss.
02-19-18	Miami-FL v. Notre Dame UNDER 140	Top	77-74	Loss	-110	14 h 28 m	Show
Minus star guard Bruce Brown Jr., Miiami has averaged only 52.5 points during its last two games. The Hurricanes are going to have to be patient and hit their shots if they want to pull an upset because Notre Dame has committed the fewest fouls in the country and fewest fouls per game. Notre Dame, though, has its own key injury as Bonzie Colson remains out. Matt Ferrell has been playing great, but can't be expected to score a career-high 37 points like he did in Notre Dame's last game, a victory against Boston College. The Irish play at a slow tempo, which is good for the Under, and Miami has the fourth-ranked defense in the ACC giving up 66 points per game. The Hurricanes also rank in the top-30 in the country in 3-point defense.
02-18-18	Team LeBron v. Team Stephen UNDER 341		148-145	Win	100	10 h 24 m	Show
In each of the last four years the total points in the NBA All-Star Game has been broken. The culmination was last year's game won by the West, 192-182. Those 374 combined points are the record. So why go Under the total this year? Because the league wants this game to become less farcical and more of a competitive matchup. That means intensity and some defense sprinkled in among the dunks and 3-point bombs. The league changed the format to where the All-Star rosters were picked by LeBron James and Stephen Curry. That could increase the pride level. The prize money for the winning team has been doubled, too, from $50,000 to $100,000. Six-figures isn't chump change even for NBA superstar millionaires. Several players have said these changes should increase the quality of play. I'm certainly not expecting playoff-caliber defense and intensity. But I am anticipating more than just what has been a glorified scrimmage. Yes, there still will be a lot of easy baskets scored. But with a total this high just a few minutes of cold shooting, or increased defensive pressure, is all that is needed to make this an Under.
02-18-18	Penn State v. Purdue -7.5		73-76	Loss	-105	12 h 5 m	Show
Purdue is in stop-the-pain mode having lost consecutive close games to Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconson. The Boilermakers are better than Penn State, highly motivated and at home where they have won 14 of 15 times. Penn State last won at Mackey Arena in 2006, a string of 10 consecutive road losses. The Boilermakers rank seventh in the nation in 3-point accuracy at 41.9 percent yet they have made only 32.1 percent of their beyond the arc shots in their last three games. A correction is due. Penn State is just average in 3-point defense. The Nittany Lions are playing well, but a letdown could be in store following their 79-56 burial of Ohio State at home on Thursday. Purdue has dominated this series winning the past five times.
02-18-18	Nebraska -125 v. Illinois		66-72	Loss	-125	7 h 21 m	Show
I have to keep riding Nebraska, which has covered a mind-boggling 16 of its last 17 games, including its last eight games. Usually when the line is at minus 2 or less, I like to protect myself with a money line play. That's the case here especially with Nebraska winning the first meeting between these two teams by just one point. Tim Miles has done a masterful job with the Cornhuskers, who have won seven in a row and eight of their last nine. Illinois, by contrast, has lost four in a row. The Illini has allowed foes to shoot 55.5 percent from the floor during the last three games. The Illini haven't been scoring either averaging only 64 points during their last four games. Nebraska is averaging 80 points in its last five games.
02-17-18	Colorado v. Washington UNDER 142		59-82	Win	100	17 h 1 m	Show
Long-time Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins has brought a tricky zone defense to Washington. So it's not a fluke the defensive-minded Huskies have gone Under the total in 10 of their last 12 games. I don't see any reason to not ride the Under in this game pitting the teams who rank first and second, respectively, in the Pac-12 in defensive efficiency. Colorado struggles on the road and with committing too many turnovers. Washington was held to 40 points three games ago by Oregon and scored only 58 points at home against Utah in its last game.
02-17-18	Loyola Marymount +10.5 v. San Francisco		63-72	Win	100	9 h 53 m	Show
This mainly is a fade on San Francisco. The Dons are coming off a huge upset home victory against St. Mary's two days ago. It's going to be hard for the Dons to get up for this matchup in such a short time span. The Dons are 2-7 ATS following a victory. San Francisco also has failed to cover the spread the past five times it has been more than a four-point favorite. The Lions have done well in this series covering four of the past five times.
02-15-18	Utah v. Washington UNDER 142		70-58	Win	100	15 h 9 m	Show
Not only is Mike Hopkins a great coach, but he's a great Under the total coach, too, as Washington has gone below the total in nine of its last 11 games. That's because the Huskies play a zone defense similar to what Syracuse runs and what Hopkins learned when he coached at Syracuse before coming to Washington. There is more, though, than just this Under trend. Both teams play at a slow pace and the Huskies are No. 1 in the Pac-12 in defending against 3-pointers, which is what Utah relies on.
02-15-18	Nuggets v. Bucks -3	Top	134-123	Loss	-105	16 h 40 m	Show
The game before All-Star break often is tougher on the road team - and Denver is not a good road club. The Nuggets are 8-19 away from Pepsi Center, including 1-7 in their last eight road contests. Their lone road win during this span was against the Suns, who I rate as the worst team in the NBA. Denver is surrendering 114.2 points a game during its past eight road matchups. This is the Nuggets' fourth game in seven days - all at different venues. It's a lot of traveling for them made worse with All-Star break starting Friday. Conversely, the Bucks are a solid home team winning 19 of 28 at Bradley Center. They are 9-2 since interim coach Joe Prunty replaced Jason Kidd. Morale and defense are much improved for the Bucks since Kidd was let go. The Bucks made a below-the-radar, but astute trade acquiring center Tyler Zeller. He can bother Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic, who is having a big February.
02-15-18	Ohio State +1 v. Penn State		56-79	Loss	-106	8 h 40 m	Show
I like Ohio State in this revenge spot against Penn State. The Nittany Lions dealt Ohio State its only Big Ten loss in the first meeting with a buzzer-beating basket. Penn State missed only three of 14 shots from beyond the arch in that victory against the Buckeyes. I don't expect the Nittany Lions to shoot like that again. I'm not deterred from the Buckeyes being on the road either. They are perfect 6-0 straight-up and ATS in their Big Ten/neutral site matchups. Going back even more, Ohio State is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games versus Big Ten foes. Ohio State enters this matchup shooting better than 50 percent from the floor during its last five games.
02-15-18	NC-Greensboro v. The Citadel +10.5	Top	82-66	Loss	-106	13 h 37 m	Show
The Citadel has covered seven of its last nine games. The Bulldogs have posted upsets of Wofford and Furman and lost to East Tennessee State, the first place team in the Southern Conference, by just two points as a 15-point 'dog during their last three home games. Now The Citadel is another big home 'dog. This time to UNC Greensboro, which is in a dangerous situational spot. The Spartans just beat East Tennessee State at home on Monday in a huge game and has a more challenging road game against Mercer on Saturday. The Spartans have failed to cover in their last four games against the Bulldogs.
02-14-18	Kentucky +9.5 v. Auburn		66-76	Loss	-105	9 h 55 m	Show
The last time Kentucky was this big of an underdog the Wildcats beat West Virginia, 83-76, as a 10-1/2 point road 'dog on Jan. 27. The Wildcats have the athleticism and talent to upset Auburn straight-up here, too. Kentucky holds a big height advantage and shouldn't be lacking for motivation with this lack of respect betting line. The Wildcats have never dropped four in a row under John Calipari.
02-14-18	Lakers v. Pelicans UNDER 230.5	Top	117-139	Loss	-108	9 h 32 m	Show
The perception is that two horrendous defenses are facing each other in this matchup. If you go by season statistics that's true. The Lakers rank 25th defensively and just surrendered 130 points to the Mavericks, the most they've scored all season. The Pelicans rank second-to-last in points allowed per game. But the current reality doesn't fit the sterotype. The Lakers had held their four previous opponents to an average of 94.2 points a game before playing the Mavericks. Those teams were the Suns, Nets and Thunder twice. Not one of them scored more than 104 points and all three teams rank among the top 19 in scoring. The Pelicans are better defensively nowadays having traded for Nikola Mirotic and adding Emeka Okafor, a defensive-minded center who had been out of the NBA since 2012-13. The Pelicans are adjusting to life without DeMarcus Cousins and just held the Pistons to 103 points in their last game two days ago. The Pistons had scored 111 or more points in four of their last five games before losing to New Orleans. A key to the Pelicans' defensive success against the Pistons was Mirotic's fine work guarding Blake Griffin. The Lakers are dealing with a rust factor since they last played on Saturday. The extra time should help them defensively with added preparation, but three full days off isn't a positive for their shooting.
02-14-18	South Florida v. UCF OVER 123.5		57-72	Win	100	9 h 28 m	Show
Much has changed for Central Florida with Tacko Fall out. Since he's been injured the Over has cashed in five of the Knights' last six games. Fall may have been the premier defensive player in college basketball. So when I see a low total like this, I'm looking to go Over. South Florida had been a strong Over team on the road going above the total in 22 of its last 29 away contests. The Over also has won the past four times Central Florida has hosted South Florida.
02-13-18	LSU v. Alabama UNDER 148		65-80	Win	100	13 h 57 m	Show
Alabama is a great Under team at home going below the total in 73 percent of its last 60 home contests. The Crimson Tide are strong defensively again this season giving up 68.3 points a game, which ranks 74th in the nation. Alabama ranks No. 1 in the SEC, too, in points per possession defensively. LSU was held to 66 points at home by Alabama in the first meeting. The Tigers are averaging just 65 points during their last three road games.
02-13-18	LSU +7.5 v. Alabama		65-80	Loss	-105	13 h 47 m	Show
LSU is coming on winning two of its last three, including an impressive 82-66 victory against Mississippi this past Saturday. The Tigers have added incentive in this SEC matchup having lost by eight points at home to Alabama during the first meeting this season on Jan. 13. Alabama has been a money-burner in this type of spots going 4-12 ATS in its last 16 home games when opposing a foe with a losing road record.
02-13-18	Hawks +7.5 v. Bucks		92-97	Win	100	3 h 28 m	Show
Atlanta is in an ambush spot catching the Bucks in their first home game since returning from a four-game road trip. The Bucks are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games and minus key contributors Malcolm Brogdon and John Henson. The Hawks are below-the-radar going a much more respectable 8-9 during their last 17 games. Both teams average the same amount of points per game at 104. The Hawks have a good history, too, in Milwaukee covering in eight of their last nine visits.
02-13-18	Heat +7.5 v. Raptors	Top	112-115	Win	100	15 h 49 m	Show
Toronto has been a play-on team especially at home. Toronto has the best record in the Eastern Conference and the No. 1 home record in the NBA. The Raptors have won five in a row with their average winning margin being 21 points during this span. So why buck the Raptors? Spot, line value and Miami's track record in these instances. While the Raptors were destroying the Hornets at Charlotte on Sunday in their last game, the Heat were resting. Miami last played on Friday. You know that with the Heat you're going to get good coaching and game preparation from Erik Spoelstra, a top-seven defense, strong team effort and solid bench play enhanced with the addition of Dwayne Wade. The Raptors have lost only four home games, but one of them was to the Heat. Miami has a winning road mark, own a 15-7-1 ATS record the past 23 times playing Eastern Conference foes and have covered in five of its last six away games. The Heat also are 22-7 ATS during their past 29 road games versus foes with a winning home record. I want all this going for me. I like the spot, too, I perceive the Raptors being a little fat and happy while the fully rested Heat should be in line for a strong performance. This isn't by any means a fade on the Raptors. It's a play on the Heat with what I believe is enough line value to get involved.
02-13-18	Maryland v. Nebraska -112		66-70	Win	100	7 h 32 m	Show
Nebraska doesn't receive any respect in the marketplace or from the oddsmaker. All the Cornhuskers do is cover spreads, though. The Cornhuskers are a mind-boggling 15-1 ATS in their last 16 lined games. Maryland is a bad road team and Nebraska is the better team if this were on a neutral court with a seven-point advantage going by points per 100 possessions. The Terrapins are 0-6 in their last six Big 10 road games. The Cornhuskers are well rested, too, in action for just the third time in 15 days.
02-12-18	Knicks +12 v. 76ers	Top	92-108	Loss	-103	16 h 45 m	Show
The Knicks aren't just tough to back on the road, but anywhere these days riding a six-game losing streak with only one cover during this span. But there's enough line value to get behind New York in this division matchup. Philadelphia has opened its five-game homestand with three straight wins and covers. The 76ers finish their homestand against Miami on Wednesday. The 76ers have become a playoff team because of the tremendous talent of youngsters Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. But Philadelphia doesn't have the maturity and that much talent to cover double-digit spreads without playing very well. This is a flat spot for the 76ers. Philadelphia has already dropped games to bottom-feeders, including the Kings twice, Nets, Suns, Grizzlies and Lakers. New York lost its best player, Kristaps Porzingis, for the season to a torn ACL. So the Knicks are in rebuild mode, which means minutes for hungry youngsters looking to make their mark such as their point guards, rookie Frank Nitlikina and newly acquired Emmanuel Mudiay, who was impressive in his Knicks debut Sunday in a 121-113 loss to Indiana. Fatigue shouldn't factor for the Knicks since they were idle Friday and Saturday. Michael Beasley has fulfilled Porzingis' role by averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds in two games replacing him. Beasley actually has played well during the entire season and now his role is greatly enhanced. Enes Kanter is having a big year and Tim Hardaway Jr. is healthy and underrated. The Knicks are a level higher than the NBA's worst dregs. They also have covered 11 of their last 16 games at Philadelphia. There's always the possibility of the 76ers resting the fragile Embiid. This will be the 76ers' third game in four days. Embiid hurt his knee in the 76ers' 112-98 win against the Clippers Saturday sitting out several minutes. He did return to the game. But the 76ers may choose to be careful with their franchise center in what appears to be an easy game for them especially with a tougher matchup on deck. The 76ers have a losing record when Embiid hasn't played.
02-12-18	Notre Dame +10.5 v. North Carolina		66-83	Loss	-106	5 h 34 m	Show
This is too many points for North Carolina to be laying carrying a high fatigue rating and in a letdown spot. The Tar Heels are in letdown mode after posting victories on Thursday against Duke and North Carolina State on Saturday. The buy sign is on for Notre Dame as the Irish have won their last two games beating Boston College and Florida State. Having Matt Farrell healthy again is huge for the Irish. The Irish played North Carolina extremely tough in the first meeting this season losing by one point as five-point home 'dogs. They have covered in six of the past nine meetings versus the Tar Heels.
02-11-18	Mavs +15.5 v. Rockets		97-104	Win	100	6 h 4 m	Show
I wasn't looking to step in front of the Rockets, winners of seven in a row, including burying the Nuggets, 130-104, this past Friday. Dallas isn't going to have Dirk Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews and backup point guard J.J. Barea for this matchup. The oddsmaker is begging to get money on the Mavericks and the marketplace has made Dallas even more inviting by betting the Rockets up. So I'll oblige by firing on Dallas at what I believe is an inflated number. Only once in their last 27 games have the Mavericks lost by more than 15 points. The teams last met on Jan. 24. The Mavericks were 6 1/2-point home 'dogs and lost 104-97. The Mavericks are 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games against opponents with a winning home mark. Dallas also has covered in eight of its last 11 away matchups. The Mavericks had their best offensive showing of the season in beating the Lakers, 130-123, at home against the Lakers last night. So they should enter this division game with confidence. Not having Matthews is tough. He may be the Mavericks' best overall player, but Nowitzki isn't worth anything on the line being far over-the-hill. The Mavericks have some underrated talent with Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes, Yogi Ferrell, Dwight Powell and newly acquired Doug McDermott. Of course these players can't compare to the Rockets' loaded lineup headed by superstars James Harden and Chris Paul. But the Dallas youngsters should be counted on to play big minutes - and to play hard. Houston doesn't have any special incentive or motivation for this game. The Rockets, in fact, should use this game to cut back the overextended minutes of their star players since this is their fourth game in six days and they have a much more challenging game on deck when they play the Timberwolves on the road Tuesday. The Rockets have failed to cover in five of their last six home games versus foes with a losing road record.
02-11-18	Raptors -3 v. Hornets	Top	123-103	Win	100	6 h 57 m	Show
Normally an early start time would be bad for the road team. But the visiting Raptors have been idle since Thursday while the Hornets just flew back into Charlotte early Saturday following a four-game West Coast swing that conluded Friday night when the obviously tired Hornets could manage only 17 points in the fourth quarter against the Jazz in a 106-94 loss. Toronto has the best record in the Easterm Conference. Charlotte is 23-32 and playing for the third time in four days. It's doubtful the Hornets make the playoffs. The Raptors have dominated weaker competition losing just three times all season to below .500 opponents. Toronto has matched up well, too, to Charlotte going 2-0 this season winning by 13 and 18 points, respectively.
02-10-18	Wizards -5 v. Bulls	Top	101-90	Win	100	16 h 12 m	Show
The Bulls are 2-7 since losing point guard Kris Dunn to a concussion. One of those victories occurred last night when the emotional Bulls hosted their former star, Jimmy Butler, and former coach, Tom Thibodeau. Chicago upset Minnesota, 114-113, as 7 1/2-point home 'dogs coming back from 17 points down. I don't see the Bulls being able to repeat that emtional type of performance a second straight day. Chicago is 1-7 when playing in the second of back-to-back games. Not only will the Bulls be missing Dunn again, but also shooting guard Zach LaVine, who is averaging 26.5 points in his last four games after missing 42 games due to an ACL injury. So the Bulls are going to be missing their two most talented players. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said he didn't want to play LaVine in this back-to-back spot so soon after his injury. The Wizards are vastly superior to Chicago missing those two players even though they remain without John Wall. The Wizards are 5-2 minus Wall during the past seven games, but those defeats have come in their last two games. They were against the 76ers on the road when they were playing without rest and to the Celtics two days ago in overtime. Washington hasn't lost three in a row all season. The Bulls have lost four in a row to Washington and are 3-10 ATS the past 13 times hosting the Wizards.
02-10-18	Wyoming +6.5 v. UNLV		70-85	Loss	-105	10 h 10 m	Show
I don't trust the Rebels, nor their coach, Marvin Menzies, to cover this number in a letdown spot. UNLV is off a huge and highly-satisfying 86-78 road victory against arch-rival Nevada-Reno this past Wednesday. UNLV is 1-8 ATS following a victory. Now the Rebels take on a hot Wyoming team that has won five of its last six. The Cowboys' latest victory was 83-65 against Utah State, a team that beat the Rebels 85-78 last month. Wyoming has covered 20 of the past 28 times when going against an opponent with a winning record. UNLV has failed to cover in six of its last seven home contests,
02-10-18	George Washington v. George Mason OVER 140		65-72	Loss	-110	6 h 55 m	Show
George Washington has played three straight Over the totals game. Look for that trend to continue as the Colonials aren't that strong defensively, but have picked up their tempo offensively. George Mason is weaker defeinsvely than George Washington. The Patriots have gone Over in seven of their last eight games. These teams hit 148 in their first meeting won by George Washington, 80-68.
02-10-18	Louisiana-Monroe v. Georgia State -12.5		90-82	Loss	-110	4 h 20 m	Show
I see this as a kill spot for Georgia State, which has won 10 in a row with its last three victories coming by a combined 55 points. There is little chance of Georgia State taking Monroe lightly after the Warhawks upset Georgia Southern, 66-64 in overtime, as 10-point road 'dogs this past Thursday. Monroe is 2-6 ATS in its last eight road games and 1-5-1 ATS following a point spread cover.
02-10-18	Oklahoma v. Iowa State +6.5		80-88	Win	100	2 h 5 m	Show
There is enough value to make a play on Iowa State. The Cyclones can take advantage of Oklahoma;s defense to make this game close if not pull the outright upset. The Sooners have allowed 79 points or more in seven of their last eight games. Oklahoma also has failed to cove in its last five road contests. Oklahoma only has one road victory in the Big 12 Conference this season. That win was just by one point. It also has been a month since the Sooners posted a victory by more than this point spread.
02-09-18	Hornets v. Jazz -5.5	Top	94-106	Win	100	17 h 46 m	Show
Jazz minus 5 1/2 hosting Hornets You may be surprised to know that Utah owns the longest active win streak in the NBA right now with seven consecutive victories. Expect the streak to reach eight after this game. The red-hot Jazz draw Charlotte in a vulnerable spot carrying a high fatigue rating. The Hornets are playing in their fourth road game in six days while coming off a tough overtime loss last night to Portland. Charlotte last won at Utah in 2006 having lost 10 road games in a row to the Jazz. Utah has added motivaiton for a 99-88 road loss to the Hornets last month. The Jazz are playing their best ball and can make a serious move in the West with eight of their next 10 games at home. Ricky Rubio has spurred the Jazz. He played well during the second half of last season and he's continued that pattern averaging 22.1 points, 7.7 assists and shooting 53.8 percent from the floor in the last seven games. The Jazz traded Rodney Hood for Jae Crowder on Thursday. Hood is the better offensive player, but this was a good trade for Utah. Crowder is the better all-around player and fills a greater need at small forward than Hood does at shooting guard where his minutes were limited with the rise of rookie Donovan Mitchell.Crowder is expected to play against the Hornets.
02-09-18	Pacers +4 v. Celtics		97-91	Win	100	15 h 18 m	Show
When the Pacers have Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner both healthy, which is the case here, they can be dangerous. Given this situation, Indiana is in a great ambush spot. The Pacers last played on Monday. Their game on Wednesday against the Pelicans was postponsed because of a wet floor. Indiana hasn't forgotten its last game against Boston. That occurred on Dec. 18 at home when the Celtics pulled off a one-point win when Terry Rozier stole the ball and scored a winning layup with 1.2 seconds left. It probably was the Pacers' toughest loss of the season. Oladipo, who leads the Pacers in scoring at 24 points per game, did not play in that game. Indiana is 6-2 in its last eight games that Oladipo has played in. While the Pacers should have plenty of energy and motivation, the Celtics drag themselves to Boston after nipping the Wizards in overtime at Washington Thursday night. This will mark the Celtics' third game in four days and fourth in six days. The Celtics might get caught looking ahead, too, to hosting the Cavaliers on national television Sunday. That's the game where the Celtics will retire Paul Pierce's No. 34 in a special ceremony.
02-09-18	Pelicans v. 76ers UNDER 220		82-100	Win	100	6 h 7 m	Show
The 76ers have been playing good defense surrendering fewer than 100 points per game during their last three games. They've been last in terms of tempo during their past 10 games. There's a chance Philadelphia could be without star center Joel Embiid, too. He's questionable with an ankle injury. He leads the 76ers in scoring at 23.7 points a game. The Pelicans are down DeMarcus Cousins and haven't played since Monday because their Wednesday game against the Pacers was postponed due to a leaky roof. So there could be a rust factor. The extra time also enabled the Pelcians and their new addition, Nikola Mirotic, to work on defense and game plan for this matchup.
02-09-18	Davidson +6.5 v. Rhode Island		59-72	Loss	-108	5 h 10 m	Show
Rhode Island is fat, happy and rusty having won 14 in a row but not having played for a week. I see the Rams having problems with Davidson, which is off three straight blowout victories. The Wildcats are road-proven having beaten Fordham, George Mason and Charlotte while losing by one point to Dayton. The Wildcats certainly won't lack for motivation after Rhoe Island ended their season in the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament last season. Davidson is 7-1-1 ATS in its last nine conference games.
02-09-18	Davidson v. Rhode Island UNDER 144.5		59-72	Win	100	5 h 8 m	Show
Davidson has switched its primary defense playing more zone. It has paid off as the Wildcats have held nine of their last 10 foes to 70 or fewer points. The Wildcats have moved up to No. 2 in defensive efficiency in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The No. 1 team in the conference in terms of defensive efficiency? It's Rhode Island. The Rams figure to be rusty, too, having not played in a week. So look for points to be harder to come by than the oddsmaker believes.
02-08-18	Washington v. Oregon UNDER 146		40-65	Win	100	12 h 56 m	Show
Not only does Washington have the No. 1 ranked defense in the Pac-12, but the Huskies also are top-ranked in the conference in 3-point defense. Oregon has slowed down its tempo, but still shoots a lot from beyond the arc. The Under has cashed an unbelievable 22 times in Washington's last 26 Pac-12 games. The Under also has cashed in 18 of the Huskies' past 22 road contests. Oregon has gone Under in seven of its last 10 games.
02-08-18	Celtics +2 v. Wizards	Top	110-104	Win	100	17 h 36 m	Show
Washington isn't a better team than Boston especially minus John Wall. The Celtics have covered 64 percent of their road games. If you think that is impressive try this: Boston is an amazing 10-1 (91 percent) as an underdog this season. The Celtics will look to redeem themselves after an embarrassing 20-point loss to Toronto this past Tuesday. The good news for the Celtics is that Kyrie Irving returned from injury and Terry Rozier continued to play at a high level. The Wizards had won five in a row before running out of gas in a 115-102 road loss to the 76ers on Tuesday. The fatigue factor is still there for the Wizards as this is their third game in four days and fourth in six days. Brad Stevens is the sharpest coach in the Eastern Conference. He'll have a good game plan to adjust to the Wizards' fill-in point guards. The Celtics rank either first or second in the major defensive categories. They surrender seven points per game than the Wizards.
02-08-18	Duke -112 v. North Carolina	Top	78-82	Loss	-112	11 h 46 m	Show
Duke may have got caught peeking ahead to this game after losing 81-77 to St. John's in its last game this past Saturday. Expect the Blue Devils to be fully focused. They also are the better team. Duke has covered the past four times following a loss. The Blue Devils have defeated the Tar Heels in six of the last eight meetings. The Blue Devils certainly are road tested going 10-3-1 ATS during their past 14 road outings. Duke is 4-1, too, versus ranked teams this season. Duke leads the nation in scoring averaging nearly 90 points a game. North Carolina is 1-3 in its last four games giving up more than 80 points in each of its losses during this span. Duke can hurt the Tar Heels from long-distance as North Carolina ranks 324th in 3-point defense.
02-08-18	Knicks v. Raptors UNDER 211.5		88-113	Win	100	8 h 7 m	Show
Early money has come on the Over in this matchup and I disagree with the line move. The Knicks are not a good road team - they've scored 90 and 73 points in their last two away matchups - and now don't have injured Kristaps Porzingis. The Knicks score 3.4 points fewer per 100 possessions without their scoring star. Toronto is a top-10 defensive club that plays its best defense at home ranking in the top-five in points per 100 possessions. The Knicks lack the scoring and penetrating point guards to dent Toronto's defense. The oddsmakers are calling for a blowout here. If that occurs, the Raptors would be able to rest DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowery, their two best offensive players.
02-07-18	UNLV +9.5 v. Nevada		86-78	Win	100	15 h 26 m	Show
UNR has the best frontcourt in the Mountain West Conference with Jordan Caroline and twins Caleb and Cody Martin. But UNLV can counter that with 7-foot-1 Brandon McCoy, who is five inches taller than Caroline. McCoy is backed by Shakur Juiston, another good frontcourt player. The Wolf Pack haven't faced a big man as talened as McCoy this season. The Rebels have double revenge, which means a lot in this bitter intrastate rivalry. The Rebels are capable of posting big wins such as defeating Utah by 27 points. They have been at their point spread best as underdogs taking Northern Iowa, Arizona and Boise State to overtime all as a 'dog. The Rebels have the offense - ranking in the top eight in scoring and shooting percentage - along with the athleticism and talent to hang in against the Wolf Pack.
02-07-18	CS-Northridge v. Cal-Irvine UNDER 131.5	Top	56-77	Loss	-110	19 h 15 m	Show
Cal State Northridge is a huge Under team. The Matadors are 16-4-1 to the Under in their last 21 games, including 7-0 to the under in their last seven Big West Conference games. Now the Matadors go against UC Irvine, which has the No. 1 defense in the conference. Neither team is very strong offensively ranking among the bottom 100 in offensive efficiency. There were 125 points scored in the first game between the two teams. Irvine won, 71-54, by shooting 48.3 percent from the floor. The Anteaters shoot 44.1 percent from the field so they don't figure to be as hot this time around.
02-07-18	Nets +9.5 v. Pistons	Top	106-115	Win	100	17 h 56 m	Show
Brooklyn has some below-the-radar talented players. But the oddsmaker never gives the Nets much respect. Brooklyn is 19-36. Spread-wise, though, the Nets have the second-best ATS mark in the NBA. Brooklyn is at its point spead best, too, on the road where it constantly gets undervalued. The Nets have covered 62 percent of their away matchups this season. The Pistons are playing their best ball winning four in a row. They will have the two best players on the court in Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. Brooklyn, however, has some emerging young talent with D'Angelo Russell back healthy, breakout-guard Spencer Dinwiddie, emerging rookie Jarrett Allen and intriguing Jalil Okafor. It's a bonus if Rondae Hollis-Jefferson can suit up having missed the past six games with a groin injury. The Pistons are at their worst when laying big points going 2-8 ATS the past 10 times as chalk of four or more points. Detroit also is 1-10-1 ATS at home versus opponents with a winning percentage of less than .400. It's going to be easy for the Pistons to overlook the Nets especially with the Clippers on tap. Detroit hosts LA on Friday. Normally that would be a ho-hum nonconference matchup, but it has turned into a grudge game following the Clippers trading Griffin to the Pistons for Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley.
02-06-18	Thunder v. Warriors -10	Top	125-105	Loss	-102	21 h 10 m	Show
Darn this spread is high. But I want the Warriors going for me here being rested in a huge revenge spot and drawing the Thunder at low ebb. Oklahoma City embarrassed Golden State, 108-91, at home on Nov. 23. The Warriors don't get embarrassed too often. That also was the only time during the past eight meetings the Thunder have covered against the Warriors. The Warriors should be fresh being idle for two days. The Thunder, by contrast, will be playing for the fourth time in six days. They are 1-4 since losing underrated Andre Roberson, their best defender, for the season because of a knee injury. This is a big number to lay. Understand. But the Warriors have the offense to overcome it ranking No. 1 in the major scoring categories, including points, shooting percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point percentage. The Thunder have allowed each of their last three opponents to make at least 13 3-pointers. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant are all in line for big games.
02-06-18	Suns +8 v. Lakers		93-112	Loss	-108	7 h 12 m	Show
The Suns aren't going to have Devin Booker, who is their best player by far. But the Lakers are in a letdown spot and still will be minus Lonzo Ball. This is the Lakers' first home game since returning from a five-game road trip that concluded Sunday. They are coming off wins against the Nets and Thunder. The underdog and road team has covered the last four in the series. The Lakers lack the maturity to cover this big of a number in the letdown spot they are in.
02-06-18	Missouri v. Ole Miss -120		75-69	Loss	-120	8 h 43 m	Show
Mississippi is in stop-the-pain mode having lost three in a row, including getting blown out by Tennessee in its last game. Missouri, on the other hand, is in a letdown spot after beating Kentucky for the first time this past Saturday. The Rebels figure to push pace, which is bad news for the depth-shy Tigers, who have only eight healthy players on scholarship. Mississippi has covered six of its last seven home games.
02-06-18	Nebraska +1.5 v. Minnesota		91-85	Win	100	13 h 6 m	Show
Nebraska has covered in its last seven road games. Minnesota is having a disastrous season. You have to believe in the Cornhuskers by now. They have been huge money-makers covering 17 of their last 23, including 10 of their past 11 Big Ten games. Nebraska defeated Minnesota by 10 points when the teams met in December. The Gophers played well in their last game, but missed the upset losing in overtime to Michigan on the road. I don't see them bouncing back to play at a high level again. Nebraska is the better defensive team giving up nearly six fewer points per game than Minnesota and the more steady, rebliable club.
02-06-18	Wizards +6 v. 76ers		102-115	Loss	-107	18 h 6 m	Show
The Wizards are 5-0 since losing John Wall to a knee injury. It's kind of ironic that Washington is playing its best ball since losing its best player. But the Wizards are doing a fantastic job of passing the ball recording 27 assists in each of their last five games, a franchise record. I prefer the 76ers taking points rather than laying. Philadelphia is 1-4 in its last five games. The 76ers have a lot of youthful talent that could be unfocused entering this matchup after all the celebrations going on in Philadelphia following the Eagles winning the Super Bowl.
02-06-18	Rockets v. Nets +10.5		123-113	Win	100	18 h 44 m	Show
There are two key handicapping factors when it comes to beating the NBA - sometimes going against logic and taking advantage of situations. Both apply here. The Rockets should bury the Nets - on paper. But this spot sets up well for Brooklyn. Houston goes from just having impressively beaten the Spurs and Cavaliers in nationally televised games to playing the 19-win Nets and their cast of no-names. The Rockets also have a much tougher game on deck when they play at the Heat on Wednesday. Before dispatching the Spurs and Cavaliers in double-digit style, the Rockets hosted the Suns and Magic. Those two teams have fewer victories than Brooklyn. The Rockets defeated the Suns by 11 and Magic by seven. Houston has covered only 32 percent of the time the past 29 times against sub .500 opponents. The Rockets also have failed to cover in five of their last six meetings versus the Nets. Brooklyn has been home for the last three games going 1-2. The Nets just lost 109-94 to the Bucks this past Sunday. Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson ripped his team after that loss. He's optimistic the Nets will play much better in this game. I am, too. The Nets have been huge money-makers as an underdog especially when catching four or more points going 21-11 (66 percent) in that role this season. The Rockets are talented enough, though, to cover a double-digit road spread here even if the Nets produce a strong effort. It's only fair to point that out. James Harden and Chris Paul can absolutely dominate. But if the Rockets do happen to build up a big lead, there would be no reason for Harden and Paul to play big minutes with a physical game in Miami looming Wednesday. So the backdoor should swing wide open if a garbage time scenario unfolds.
02-05-18	Mavs +7 v. Clippers	Top	101-104	Win	100	12 h 33 m	Show
Dennis Smith Jr. has started to live up to his strong rookie hype. The Mavericks have gone 13-4 ATS the past 17 times they've been 'dogs when Smith has been in the lineup. They have covered in seven of their past nine road contests and their confidence is up after ending a five-game losings skid with a victory against the Kings this past Saturday. I realize the Clippers are much better than the Kings. But Dallas gets up for this opponent still holding a justifiable grudge from when DeAndre Jordan said he was going to sign with the Mavericks as a free agent and then went back on his word returning to the Clippers. Dallas has won three of the last five in the series, including defeating the Clippers, 108-82, at home on Dec. 2. The Mavericks' bench is as good if not stronger than the Clippers' reserves bolstered by the return of sparkplug point guard J.J. Barera. He had missed three games until returning to dish off 11 assists in 24 minutes against Sacramento.
02-05-18	Siena +8 v. Fairfield		65-78	Loss	-105	10 h 57 m	Show
The premise here is simple: Fairfield isn't good enough to lay this many points in a conference matchup. Siena is the better defensive team. Siena has a good history at Fairfield going 8-3-1 ATS in its last 12 visits. The Saints also are 8-2 ATS the past 10 times being on the road playing a foe with a winning home record.
02-04-18	Tulsa v. South Florida +7.5		63-54	Loss	-105	7 h 49 m	Show
Tulsa isn't very good on the road and is in a letdown spot. The Golden Hurricane have won only two true away games all season. They have dropped their last four road contests and failed to cover in 11 of their last 16 away matchups. Tulsa very well could overlook South Florida, too. The Golden Hurricane are coming off a huge 76-67 home upset victory against SMU. South Florida has begun to play better. The Bulls upset Tulane three games ago so they are capable.
02-04-18	Bucks v. Nets UNDER 209		109-94	Win	100	7 h 34 m	Show
Perception-wise this total looks about right. But reality-wise, it is not. The Bucks are playing much stronger defense since sacking Jason Kidd. Milwaukee is giving up an average of 97.5 points on 44 percent shooting from the floor in its first six games under interim coach Joe Prunty. During Kidd's last 11 games, the Bucks yielded 107.9 points a game on 49.4 percent shooting. Jabari Parker will be playing in his second game of the season after returning from ACL surgery. He is rusty. The Bucks are without underrated scorer Malcolm Brogdon. The Nets aren't the up-tempo they were earlier in the season. They have become more half-court with more looks inside to emerging center Jarrett Allen. During their last eight games, the Nets have played at the fourth-slowest tempo in the league. They have failed to reach 100 points in four of their last five games.
02-04-18	Blazers v. Celtics -120		96-97	Win	100	7 h 33 m	Show
Portland had its four-game winning streak snapped by the Raptors on Friday night in a 130-105 stinging road defeat. Now, less than 48 hours later, the Trail Blazers are back in action for this early start. This marks their fourth game in six days all at different venues. Portland has lost five of its last seven away matchups. The Trail Blazers could be without their No. 3 guard, Shabazz Napier, due to a toe injury. Boston has won 20 of its 28 home games and is 15-11 ATS at home. It's a bonus for the Celtics if Kyrie Irving and newly-signed Greg Monroe are able to play. I'm not expecting that to happen, though. Terry Rozier has been brilliant filling in for Irving scoring 48 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, dishing off 12 assists and shooting 53 percent from the floor in the two games Irving has missed. The Celtics rank No. 2 defensively giving up 98.5 points a game. The Trail Blazers have surrendered 108 or more points in nine of their last 14 games.
02-04-18	Blazers v. Celtics OVER 201.5		96-97	Loss	-106	7 h 32 m	Show
Portland has scored in triple-digits in each of its last 17 games. The Trail Blazers have one of the most explosive backcourts in the league with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, who is on fire with 71 points in his last two games. The Trail Blazers just gave up 19 3-pointers to the Raptors on Friday in a 130-105 loss. Boston ranks fourth in 3-point shots made per game. The Celtics aren't likely to have Kyrie Irving again, but Terry Rozier has been brilliant replacing him. The Trail Blazers' defense has slipped while their offense has picked up. Portland has yielded 110 or more points in 11 of its last 17 games.
02-03-18	Rockets v. Cavs +3.5		120-88	Loss	-102	8 h 59 m	Show
Call it a hunch, but I believe the Cavaliers will show up hard today and protect their home floor against the Rockets. The Cavaliers just may be a better team minus Kevin Love. The Rockets are short-handed, too, with Eric Gordon out and Trevor Ariza questionable. LeBron James wants to prove that rumors of his going to the Warriors are pure speculation. His top priority is getting the Cavaliers straighten out. Cleveland has been a pure fade this season when laying points. But being a home 'dog in a game with much pride at stake is a different story.
02-03-18	Bulls v. Clippers UNDER 222		103-113	Win	100	6 h 22 m	Show
Rust, new faces and an early start time all work in favor of Under the total in this matchup. Note this is an early West Coast starting time being a day game. There should be lots of defensive energy and potential rust on offense as the Clippers have been idle since Tuesday while the Bulls have been off the past two days. The extra time off should work in favor of the defense given additional practice and preparation. The Clippers already have been through 16 different lineups and that number is rising today as newly acquired Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley are expected to make their LA debuts here. There's going to be an adjustment period as the Clippers work these two in while no longer having the outstanding, consistent scoring of Blake Griffin. Bradley also is an ace defender. The Bulls are missing point guard Kris Dunn, who remains out with a concussion. Chicago is averaging 102 points in its last four games. The Bulls no longer have Nikola Mirotic, who was their leading scorer. He was traded to the Pelicans for a bunch of players who don't figure to make major offensive contributions.
02-03-18	Missouri State v. Loyola-Chicago UNDER 131.5		75-97	Loss	-105	4 h 9 m	Show
Missouri State has gone Under in 10 of its last 12 games. The Under is 10-3-1 in Loyola's last 13 games. I see that trend continuing here as these are two defensive-minded teams who go at a slow pace. That was clear in the first meeting, which Missouri State won, 64-59, for a combined 123 points. Missouri State ranks 19th on defense while Loyola is even better ranking ninth in the country.
02-02-18	Warriors -12.5 v. Kings	Top	119-104	Win	100	13 h 18 m	Show
I want the Warriors going for me here and I'm willing to lay the wood. Not only does Golden State have revenge for a 110-106 shocking home loss to the Kings from Nov. 27, but it is coming off an embarrassing 30-point road loss to the Jazz this past Tuesday. The Warriors have had two full days off to think about that horrific loss to Utah. Sacramento, meanwhile, is fat and happy having just concluded a six-game road trip with an upset victory against the Pelicans on Tuesday. The Kings haven't been home since Jan. 17, a span of more than two weeks. They have failed to cover in five of their past six home contests. Golden State hasn't lost two games in a row all season. The Warriors aren't going to lose here. The question is can they cover this high road number? They didn't have Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant when they lost to the Kings earlier. Now the Warriors have all their key players healthy. They should be highly motivated and playing one of the five worst teams in the league. So this sure spells blowout to me
02-02-18	Heat v. 76ers UNDER 202		97-103	Win	100	15 h 49 m	Show
Miami surrenders the third-fewest points per game in the NBA. The 76ers are an underrated defensive club raking in the top-five in defensive efficiency. The 76ers' defense will be made easier by the Heat's slow tempo. Miami rates 30th in offensive efficiency during the past 10 games. Miami has failed to break the 95-point barrier during its past five games.
02-02-18	Heat +4.5 v. 76ers		97-103	Loss	-110	11 h 4 m	Show
The Heat usually play better on weekends - 17-8 on Friday-through-Sunday games - and are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games. The 76ers are much better in an underdog role. The 76ers have talent, but are full of youth and inexperience. Already they have blown leads of 11 or more points eight times. This also is Philadelphia's first home game following a four-game road trip that ended Wednesday night. So concentration may be a problem. The Heat can neutralize Joel Embiid's impact with Hassan Whiteside, the top rim protector in the Eastern Conference. The Heat are well-coached, disciplined and have a deep bench. They make for a worthy underdog here.
02-01-18	San Francisco v. St. Mary's UNDER 140.5	Top	43-79	Win	100	18 h 16 m	Show
St. Mary's beat San Francisco in its two meetings last season winning 66-46 at home for a total of 112 points and 63-52 on the road for a combined 115 points. Things shouldn't be any different in this matchup, certainly not to the extent of where this total opened. San Francisco ranks 74th defensively holding foes to 67.9 points a game. The Dons are much worse offensively ranking 281st averaging 69.4 points per game and ranking 306th in field goal percentage at 41.8. San Francisco does not play at a fast tempo and figures to really struggle at this tough venue. The Dons are going to have problems getting any easy baskets with St. Mary's 7-foot star Jock Landale patrolling the middle. The Gaels lead the nation in defensive rebounding. St. Mary's rates 28th-best in the country in defensive scoring holding foes to 65.2 points a game. The Gaels have won 16 in a row. They are going to control tempo here - and that tempo is not going to be fast. The Geals play at an extremely slow and deliberate pace. That pace is perfect when protecting a big lead, which the Gaels should build.
02-01-18	Bucks v. Wolves -5.5		89-108	Win	100	5 h 30 m	Show
Minnesota has won its last 10 home games. The Timberwolves, however, have dropped their last two games, both on the road. So they are in stop-the-pain mode. The Bucks will be minus Eric Bledsoe. Milwaukee is 4-0 since letting Jason Kidd go. However, they've been very fortunate during this span. That 4-0 record is deceiving as they've played three lottery teams and the 76ers minus Joel Embiid.
02-01-18	Grizzlies +8 v. Pistons		102-104	Win	100	8 h 55 m	Show
There's a buzz in Detroit today with Blake Griffin set to make his Pistons debut. But this buzz can't hide the fact the Pistons are 1-8 in their last nine games, have failed to cover the past five times they've been favored and they no longer have Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley, their two leading scorers. They were traded to the Clippers as part of the deal for Griffin. The Grizzlies have signaled they are in rebuild mode after declaring their intentions to sit out Tyreke Evans until he can be traded. Mike Conley is out for the season. But Memphis still is a strong defensive team - ranking sixth in fewest points allowed per game - and have been playing well covering seven of its last nine games. Memphis opened its current road trip with a four-point road loss to Indiana Wednesday. Now they are nearly getting that many points against the Pistons, who have been much worse than the Pacers. Griffin could make a difference, but there's going to be an adjustment period. Memphis 7-1-1 ATS the past nine times following a loss. The Pistons aren't good enough to cover a spread this high. They are 2-5-1 ATS the eight times this season they've been favorites of six points or more. They are 1-5 in their last six home games and 3-13-1 ATS versus opponents with a winning percentage below .400.
02-01-18	Raptors v. Wizards UNDER 214		119-122	Loss	-105	6 h 53 m	Show
Take away John Wall and the Wizards become more of a grinder team. They have to with Tomas Satorasnky and Tim Frazier at the point. Those two took advantage of a weak and tired Hawks defense when Washington put up 129 points on Atlanta this past Saturday. But they've lost their surprise element. The Wizards are an above average defense team and they relied on that in beating the Thunder, 102-96, this past Tuesday. The Raptors are familar now with Satoransky and Frazier. The Wizards averaged only 95.5 points per 100 possessions against the Thunder, who were missing their star defender, Andre Roberson. Toronto has a top-10 defense. The Raptors have held four of their last seven foes to fewer than 98 points a game. The Raptors will be hurt offensively by Fred VonVleet, their No. 3 guard, being out. VonVleet had scored 19 and 25 points during two of his last four games.
01-31-18	Cal-Irvine v. Long Beach State OVER 147		75-68	Loss	-110	20 h 11 m	Show
These two teams met earlier this season and UC Irvine won, 86-73. There were 159 points scored in that game despite only 28 free throws being shot. Look for that many to be scored in the rematch as Irvine won't mind running with the 49ers based on their earlier outcome. Long Beach State has scored at least 75 points in five of its last six games. The 49ers, though, rank 324th defensively giving up nearly 80 points per game.
01-31-18	Knicks +8.5 v. Celtics	Top	73-103	Loss	-110	12 h 37 m	Show
This is Boston's fifth game in nine days and fifth different venue. The Celtics haven't played at home since Jan. 21. So the Celtics' focus could be off and their energy level down. Boston played Golden State extremely tough before losing by four points this past Saturday. The Celtics then edged Denver by one point in the rocky mountain high altitude in another tough game this past Monday. Now they are back on East Coast time drawing a division rival. The Knicks have been playing more respectable on the road covering six of their last 10 away games. Boston is 1-6-1 ATS the past eight times hosting opponents with losing road marks. New York has won two in a row beating the Suns and Nets last night by 16 points. Fatigue shouldn't be a factor for Brooklyn, though. None of the Nets logged more than 32 minutes Tuesday night and the team had been idle the previous three days. The Celtics are shorthanded in the backcourt with Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart both out.
01-30-18	Blazers v. Clippers UNDER 219.5		104-96	Win	100	10 h 9 m	Show
This is the Clippers' first game without Blake Griffin, their major inside scoring threat and top offensive focal point. The Clippers are going to go through an adjustment period minus Griffin. There is no guarantee that Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley, who the Clippers received as part of the deal for Griffin, will be able to play in this game. If that's the case, the Clippers will be very much short-handed as they also have a number of injuries. The Trail Blazers face a rust factor as they've been idle the past three days. Their defense should be better, though, than it has been with fresh legs and added practice time.
01-30-18	Blazers -135 v. Clippers		104-96	Win	100	10 h 8 m	Show
Portland is 5-1 in its last six games. The Trail Blazers are playing their best ball of the season, according to point guard Damian Lillard. This spot sets up great, too, for Portland. The Trail Blazers last played on Friday and draw the Clippers in their first game without Blake Griffin. Griffin was traded to the Pistons on Monday. As part of the deal, the Clippers received Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley. It's not a given that Harris and Bradley will be ready to play today. Griffin was the Clippers' second-leading scorer and focal point of their offense. The Clippers lack sufficient scoring inside minus Griffin. The trade has to be a shock for the Clippers. Griffin has been with the team since drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 2009. There is going to be a mental and physical adjustment for the Clippers minus Griffin especially in this first game without him. The well-rested Trail Blazers should be able to take full advantage. They have covered the last five times when enjoying three or more days rest.
01-30-18	Cavs -5.5 v. Pistons	Top	114-125	Loss	-107	8 h 36 m	Show
The Pistons have become one of the worst teams in the NBA since point guard Reggie Jackson suffered an ankle injury. They've gone 3-12 following Jackson's injury and have lost eight in a row. Detroit's latest defeat came to Cleveland, 121-104, as 7 1/2-point road underdogs two days ago. Now look at the spread. It's much lower. Detroit's home-court advantage isn't nearly worth that. The Pistons have lost and failed to cover during their past five games at Little Caesars Arena, losing to three Eastern Conference teams worse than the Cavaliers during this span. Cleveland has now beaten the Pistons in its last three meetings, winning those games by an average of 25.7 points per game. The Cavaliers are playing better with two straight victories. If newly acquired Blake Griffin doesn't play, and he's not expected to play, the Cavaliers will have the four best players on the court. The big news is the Pistons acquired Griffin on Monday. Detroit gave up its two leading scorers, Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley, as part of the cost to get Griffin. Bradley is a premier defensive guard.
01-30-18	Thunder v. Wizards OVER 219		96-102	Loss	-115	16 h 47 m	Show
The teams just met this past Thursday at Oklahoma City and the Thunder beat the Wizards, 121-112. That's a combined 233 points being scored. Andre Roberson is the Thunder's best defensive player. He logged more than 23 minutes in that game. However, Roberson suffered a season ending injury against the Pistons on Saturday. Oklahoma City gave up 112 points to the 76ers on Sunday in its first game without Roberson. The Wizards average 107 points, same as the 76ers. If you discount a flat road performance against the Mavericks, the Wizards are averaging 118 points in their last four games. The Wizards scored 129 points and had excellent ball movement in their last game against the Hawks despite missing John Wall, who is questionable for this game with a sore knee. The Thunder are averaging 122.5 points in their last six games. Russell Westbrook and Paul George have been playing at their superstar levels during this span.
01-29-18	Celtics v. Nuggets OVER 205.5		111-110	Win	100	5 h 11 m	Show
The Celtics play differently on the road against Western Conference opponents. This total doesn't fully reflect that. Boston's last three games - against the Lakers, Clippers and Warriors - have all been on the road. And all three of those games resulted in the combined score being at least 214 or more points. The Over, in fact, has cashed in seven of the Celtics' past 10 games versus Western Conference opponents.
01-29-18	Nebraska v. Wisconsin -3		74-63	Loss	-107	14 h 51 m	Show
Wisconsin is in revenge mode and draws Nebraska playing for the fourth time in eight days. The Badgers are way down after losing four senior starters from a year ago, but they still are tough at home where they are 9-3 with a winning spread mark. The Cornhuskers have been overacheiving, but face a heavy fatigue factor in this matchup. Nebraska nipped the Badgers at home, 63-59, on Jan. 9. Wisconson missed 14 of 19 3-point shots in that gamd and only got to the free throw line 10 times missing six free throws. I see a reversal happening here.
01-29-18	Heat -118 v. Mavs	Top	95-88	Win	100	19 h 17 m	Show
The Heat came on strong during the second half of last season and they're displaying signs of repeating that performance winning nine of their last 13. Miami has been strong on the road covering seven of its last nine away matchups. The Heat have covered in five of their past six trips to Dallas. When backing the Heat you can count on good coaching with Erik Spoelstra, a full team effort and strong bench play. The Heat's depth was on display when they met the Mavericks on Dec. 22. Miami won 113-101 despite not having Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic, its two best players. Key reserves James Johnson and Justise Winslow also missed that game. All four players are healthy now. Whiteside should be able to dominate the boards against the Mavericks, who rank last in rebounding margin. The Heat surrender the third-fewest points in the league at 101.3. The Mavericks are averaging 96.7 points during their last four games, failing to reach triple-digits in any of those games. Dallas is just 10-17 at home, 12-15 ATS. The Mavericks have lost six of their last seven overall games, including the past three. They could remain shorthanded in the backcourt with J.J. Barea and Devin Harris each questionable. Monday Free Play Pacers minus 2 1/2 hosting Hornets Victor Oladipo has become the face of the Pacers franchise with a breakout season and well deserved All-Star berth. But 6-foot-11 center Myles Turner is Indiana's second-best player and a huge key. Turner played for the first time in 10 games two days ago. Turner logged just 11 minutes and was noticeably rusty in the Pacers' 114-112 home win against Orlando. Turner should be less rusty here. His presence is going to be huge for the Pacers even if he doesn't score because he provides spacing and open driving lanes for Oladipo, Thaddeus Young, Darren Collison and a hot Lance Stephenson, who plays better at home and is 19-of-34 shooting from the floor in his last four games. Turner can neutralize Dwight Howard on the defensive end, too. Turner ranks second in the NBA in blocked shots per game. The Pacers have become a respectable middle-of-the-road type team at 27-23. The Hornets continue to regress and are unlikely to make the playoffs once again. They are 20-28 and talking about dealing their star guard, Kemba Walker. Charlotte is 6-14 on the road. Only Atlanta has fewer away victories in the Eastern Conference than the Hornets. Charlotte went 0-2 at Indiana last season losing by an average of 18.5 points. The Hornets carry a high fatigue rating in action for the fourth time in six days. This is the first time the teams are meeting this season. Charlotte hosts Indiana on Friday. So the Pacers should have the added urgency of protecting their home floor.
01-29-18	Lehigh v. Holy Cross OVER 139	Top	71-67	Loss	-110	19 h 17 m	Show
There were 160 points scored when the teams met earlier this season with Lehigh winning, 83-77. Lehigh averages 76.2 points per game and plays terrible defense. The Mountain Hawks surrender 79.4 points per game, which ranks 319th in the country. So it's no surprise the Over has cashed 69 percent of the time during Lehigh's past 13 Patriot League games. The Over also has won in five of Lehigh's last six road contests. Holy Cross is coming off a season-high 85-point game.