50* (CBB) - Max Unit Big Ten PLAY OF THE MONTH (Nebraska +7.5) 

I will gladly take the 7.5-points at home with Nebraska, as they get ready to host No. 11 Wisconsin. No doubt this line is inflated on the Badgers with the Cornhuskers coming in having lost 6 straight, 11 of their last 13 and owning a 0-8 record in Big Ten play. 

While Nebraska is clearly a bottom feeder in the Big Ten, they are a much more competitive team at home. Despite their ugly record, they are 7-6 ATS at home this year and 4-4 ATS in Big Ten play. Three of those covers coming at home. They lost by 7 at home to Indiana, by 10 to Illinois and by 8 in OT to Ohio State. 

Nebraska is also well rested, as they last played on Jan. 17. This should be a very hungry and motivated team, as they fight for that first conference win. 

Wisconsin is 15-3, but did just lost 74-86 at home to Michigan State and have not been nearly as sharp on the road. They only won by 6 at Northwestern, by 1 at Maryland, lost by 18 at Ohio State and in non-conference only won by 4 at Georgia Tech. Give me the Cornhuskers +7.5! 

40* (NBA) - Late Night BAILOUT BLOWOUT (Blazers +4.5) 

The Blazers are the gift that keeps giving. We have made a killing over the last month backing Portland. The biggest reason for this, the books have over adjusted their lines because Lillard is out. As I keep saying, Anfernee Simons is playing out of his mind. He's averaging 24.3 ppg and 7.2 apg in the month of January. Portland has also got a lot of the other guys who were out back. This team is simply way better than what people think. 

While both teams are going to be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, Dallas is in the much tougher spot having played at Golden State last night and the Blazers playing at home. Mavs also are dealing with a big blow to their rotation with Tim Hardaway Jr. suffering an injury that figures to have him out for a while last night against the Warriors. Give me the Blazers +4.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Penn State +8.5) 

I'll take my chances with the Nittany Lions as a 8.5-point road dog against the Hoosiers. I know it's been a struggle for Penn State here of late, but I don't think Indiana should be laying this kind of number. Hoosiers are a solid team, but I definitely think they are a step below the top teams in the Big Ten. 

I also don't love the spot for the Hoosiers, who just two days ago got steamrolled at home 80-62 by Michigan. That's after they played Thursday at home against Purdue, so this is now their 3rd game in 7 days. In comparison, Penn State has had 3 days off and are playing just their 2nd game in the last 10 days. Give me the Nittany Lions +8.5! 

50* (NBA) Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Nuggets -2) 

This is basically the same line we cashed with the Lakers on the road at Brooklyn last night. I just don't understand why the Nets are getting so much respect when they don't have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving can't play at home. 

Nets have really been one of the best teams to fade for a while now. Brooklyn is just 4-11 ATS over their last 15 games. They just don't have enough offensive fire-power. Harden had a triple-double last night with 33 points, 12 rebound and 11 assists and they still lost by double-digits. Give me the Nuggets -2! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (W Virginia -2)

I got no problem laying a mere 2-points at home with the Mountaineers, as they get ready to take on Oklahoma. Both teams come in on losing streaks, which is why I feel we are getting some value with the home team. 

West Virginia has lost 3 straight, but two of those were on the road against Kansas and Texas Tech. The other was at home against arguably the best team in the league in Baylor. Prior to this stretch, the Mountaineers had started out the season 13-2. Factor in their massive home court edge and this is just too good a price to pass up. Give me West Virginia -2! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS SLAUGHTER (Iowa St +3.5) 

I'll take my chances with the Cyclones as a 3.5-point road dog against the Cowboys. I really like this spot for Iowa State. Cyclones look like they are in trouble, as they have lost 4 of 5 and just got completely embarrassed at home by TCU in their last game 44-59. This is a team that has got to where they are based on their effort and I feel pretty good about the energy level in this one coming off that ugly showing. 

I also think Oklahoma STate is a great matchup for them. Cowboys are one of the worst offensive teams in the Big 12 and figure to be without one of their best players in Bryce Williams, who leads the team in scoring at just 10.6 ppg. Spreading the wealth is great, but when your top scorer is at 10.6 ppg, you got problems and this ISU defense is the real deal. Give me the Cyclones +3.5! 

50* (NBA) - Western Conf PLAY OF THE MONTH (Blazers +3) 

I love the Blazers as a 3-point home dog against the Timberwolves. Portland should not be a dog in this matchup. The books just keep undervaluing the Blazers with Lillard out of the lineup. As great as Lillard is, his absence has really been negated by the outstanding play of Anfernee Simmons and this offense has gotten even better here recently with the return of CJ McCollum. 

Portland has gone 6-2 ATS over their last 8 games and 5 of those covers have come in games where they won outright as a dog. 

As for the Timberwolves, I love going against them on the road after a massive home win over the Nets. Minnesota has to be sick of traveling. This will be there 10th road game in their last 13 games. It's also a huge lookahead/sandwich spot, as they got a road game at Golden State on Thursday. Give me the Blazers +3! 

40* (CBB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (K-State +14) 

I will gladly take my chances with K-State as a 14-point dog against Baylor. The big question here is how will the Wildcats come out after a crushing 75-78 home loss to Kansas, where they had a massive 2nd half collapse. I think the opponent being the Bears and this being their first crack at the defending champs, will keep them from coming out flat off that loss. 

They could also use that loss as motivation, as that's just another sign that this team is for real. K-State might be just 10-8, but they have played like an NCAA Tournament team. Prior to letting one slip against the Jayhawks, they had knocked off Texas Tech at home and Texas on the road. They also have losses by 3 or fewer points (all 7 of 8 losses by 8 or fewer). Give me the Wildcats +14! 

40* (CBB) - Smart Money ATS MASSACRE (Rutgers -3.5) 

I got no problem laying the 3.5 points at home with Rutgers against the Terrapins. I just feel like there's a lot of value with the Scarlet Knights right now. KenPom has them ranked as the 94th best team in the country. The numbers may support that, but if you have watched this team play the last couple of months, you know they are MUCH better than that ranking. 

Maryland is ranked No. 83 and I don't think they are a better team than the Scarlet Knights. The Terps did just pull off a huge 81-65 home win over Illinois in their last game, but they are just 2-6 in Big Ten play and their only true road win was a double-overtime victory against a Northwestern team that has way underperformed in Big Ten play. 

Just not enough respect here for Rutgers, especially at home. Give me the Scarlet Knights -3.5! 

40* (NBA) - TNT Tuesday VEGAS INSIDER (Lakers -2.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Lakers laying a short number on the road against the Nets. I'm shocked LA is this low of a favorite in this spot and even more shocked the betting public isn't on them more than they are. 

I get the Lakers haven't been as good as what we thought, but that should change here over the next month. LA is expected to have Anthony Davis back in the lineup tonight and are as healthy as they have been all season. 

Brooklyn is also down to just one of their Big 3 for this game. Durant is still out with an injury and Irving can't play at home. Nets also still missing a key piece to the rotation in Joe Harris. I just don't think the Nets have enough offensive fire-power to pull out a victory. Give me the Lakers -2.5! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Wizards -4) 

It might seem a little foolish to lay 4-points with a Wizards team that has lost 3 straight and are just 1-9 ATS over their last 10 games, but I actually think there's value here with Washington at this price. 

This is an awful spot for the Clippers. LA is playing their 4th straight on the road and are primed for a letdown after 3 really tough games. Clippers lost 128-130 at Denver, won 102-101 at Philly and then lost 102-110 at New York. I just don't think there's enough gas in the tank for LA, who hasn't exactly been a great road team (8-13). 

As for the Wizards, they have been playing better than the numbers would suggest and are as healthy as they have been since they had that great start to the season. 

This also has to feel like a must win for Washington, who has to go on the road to face the Grizzlies, Bucks and 76ers before returning home to face the Suns, Heat and Nets after this game. GIve me the Wizards -4! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Texas Tech +7)

I will gladly take my chances with the Red Raiders catching 7 on the road against the Jayhawks. These two teams played earlier this month in Lubbock and Texas Tech won that contest 75-67 and were up by as many as 14 in the 2nd half. Red Raiders won that game without two starters in Terrence Shannon and Kevin McCullar. Shannon is arguably Tech's best player. 

It will definitely will be a lot harder on the road against the Jayhawks, but the Red Raiders are built to win on the road with their defense. Not saying they will win the game, but 7 feels like way too many. Give me Texas Tech +7! 

50* (NBA) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Pelicans -2.5) 

Love the Pelicans as a mere 2.5-point home favorite against the Pacers. New Orleans won't have Brandon Ingram and Devonte Graham is questionable, but that's nothing in comparison to the injury report for Indiana. 

The Pacers will for sure be without Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. Caris LeVert is also questionable to play. While Indiana's backups have performed well in the last few games, they did so against some of the best teams. Their last 3 games were at Lakers, at Warriors and at Suns. 

This is going to be Indiana's 5th and final game of a 5-game road trip and it's their 4th road game in the last 6 days. I just don't think the Pacers are going to have enough gas to make a game of this. 

Note that Graham was questionable with the same injury in the Pelicans last game and he ended up playing, so there's a good chance he suits up. New Orleans is also playing here on a full 3 days of rest. Give me the Pelicans -2.5! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Timberwolves -2.5) 

I just feel that you have to play the Timberwolves out of principle. I know Durant is out for Brooklyn, but the betting public doesn't see Minnesota as the better team with Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the lineup for the Nets. For the books to make Minnesota the favorite here, they got to feel pretty good about Minnesota winning this game, as the public is going to load up on Brooklyn. 

I can definitely see what the books see in Minnesota. Timberwolves are healthy and while the recent results aren't great, this team has looked much better as a whole over the last few weeks. You know they are going to be fired up fo this one and they will have some fresh legs having not played since Wednesday. 

Brooklyn on the other hand is playing their 4th straight on the road and are one just 1 day of rest. Give me the Timberwolves -2.5! 

50* (NBA) Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Blazers +8.5) 

I will gladly take the 8.5-points with the Blazers. I feel like a broken record, but until the books make the proper adjustments on Portland I'm going to keep backing them. The loss of Lillard hasn't been an issue for the Blazers, as Anfernee Simmons continues to shine in his absence. Simmons is averaging 25.7 ppg, and 7.4 apg in the month of January and is shooting lights out from 3. Not only is he hitting 43.3% from deep, he's averaging 4.7 made 3-pointers a game. 

Toronto is a good team, but are not good enough that they should be close to a double-digit favorite against a team with this much talent. Especially in this spot. Raptors could be light on fuel for this one, as they just finished up a 5-game road trip on Friday at Washington. Give me the Blazers +8.5! 

40* (CBB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Pitt +9) 

I know the Panthers come in having failed to cover 3 of their last 4, but there's just no way I'm passing up on Pitt as a 9-point dog against Clemson. The Panthers are just 7-11 overall and 2-5 in ACC play, but if you have watched this team you know their record is misleading. Pitt has had some horrible luck in close games this season. This isn't just a game they can cover, they are more than capable of winning outright. 

I'm also not so sure what Clemson has down to warrant being this big of a home favorite. The Tigers are just 10-8 overall and 2-5 in ACC play. They have lost their last 3 and it's not been pretty. They lost 56-72 at Notre Dame, 68-70 at home to a bad BC team and 78-91 in their most recent game at Syracuse. 

I just don't know that they can flip a switch here and give the kind of effort and performance to win by double-digits. It's also a bit of a lookahead spot with a game at Duke on deck Tuesday. Give me Pittsburgh +9! 

50* (CBB) Smart Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Tennessee -5.5)

I'll lay the 5.5-points with the Vols in Saturday's home game against LSU. This might seem like a few too many for Tennessee to be playing as they are the No. 24 ranked team and the Tigers are No. 13. 

It tells me the books aren't overly optimistic about LSU's injury concerns. We know Xavier Pinson won't play, but Darius Days is also questionable with an ankle injury. Days hurt the ankle in Wednesday's loss at Alabama and played just 12 minutes in that game. 

That's a lot of outside shooting that could be sidelined. Days leads LSU with 39 made 3-pointers and the next best is Pinson who has made 20 (missed 3 games). While Tari Eason was the star in LSU's 79-67 home win over the Vols earlier this year, Days and Pinson each played 32 minutes in that win, combining for 24 points, 4 made 3's (rest of team made 4), 8 rebounds and 9 assists. 

Even if Days were to play, I still think there's value at 5.5 with the Vols on their home floor playing with revenge. Tennessee is a perfect 9-0 at home this season, where they are averaging 81.2 ppg and giving up 56.0 ppg. Give me the Vols -5.5! 

40* (CBB) Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Miami -2) 

I will gladly lay the 2-points at home with Miami against Florida State. I think the Hurricanes are one of the more underrated teams not just in the ACC but the country. Miami's 14-4 with their worst loss being against UCF, who ranks No. 79 at KenPom. They are 6-1 in ACC play with wins over NC State, WF, Syracuse, Duke (on the road) and UNC. 

Interesting to note that their only loss came in a crushing 64-65 loss at Florida State a couple weeks ago. You got to believe that the Hurricanes will be up for this one and they will have fresh legs. Miami's hasn't played since Tuesday and they had a week off before that game. 

It's a much different story for the Seminoles. Florida State is in a major letdown spot. FSU won 76-71 at Syracuse last Saturday, then won a thriller at home vs Duke 79-78 in OT on Tuesday, before beating North Florida 86-73 on Thursday. A game they only led 56-53 with 14 minutes to play. Give me the Hurricanes -2! 

40* (CBB) - Over/Under Total NO-BRAINER (Over 138.5) 

This total is way too low. Neither of these defenses are all that great. Both are giving up 70+ ppg in conference play. Commodores have allowed 71.6 ppg and the Gators are allowing 73.4 ppg. 

Both defense figure to struggle given the matchups. Florida's biggest weakness is defending the 3-pt shot. They rank 12th in the SEC in 3-PT% defense. Vanderbilt's strength offensively is there 3-PT shooting. They rank 4th in the SEC in that department. 

The Gators offense is built to score inside the arc, as they are 2nd in the SEC in 2-PT% offense. That's where the Commodores defense struggles. Vandy is 2nd vs the 3-PT shot and 12th vs the 2-PT shot. 

I got both teams eclipsing 70-points and even if one team fails to get there, we still got a great shot at cashing this ticket. Play the OVER 138.5! 

40* (CBB) Early Bird Total KNOCKOUT (Over 154) 

I don't think these two teams will have any problem eclipsing 154 points. Duke is going to be without freshman Trevor Keels, who has been a reliable 3-point shooter, but I don't think it matters in this matchup. The Orange aren't just one of the worst defensive teams in the ACC, they are 226th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and 253rd in defensive effective FG%. They rank 277th in 2-PT% defense. 

Duke should be able to do whatever they want offensively in this game and I got a hard time seeing them finishing with fewer than 80 points at home. 

While the Blue Devils are good defensive team, they are far from elite and they are going to have their hands full against a very good Syracuse offense. Orange rank 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 23rd in 3-PT%. They just played a game at home against Clemson that they won 91-78. That's where I see this game. Somewhere in the 160s. Give me the OVER 154! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Wisconsin -4) 

I'll take my chances with the Badgers as a 4-point home favorite against the Spartans in Friday's Big Ten matchup. I just don't think the Spartans have what it takes to go into Madison and get a win. 

Michigan State just lost at home to Northwestern and their 5-1 record in Big Ten play is a bit misleading. The Spartans have not played any of the top teams in the conference. They have played Minnesota twice, Northwestern twice, Nebraska and Minnesota. This is by far their toughest true road game of the season, as their 3 true road games so far have come against Butler, Northwestern and Minnesota. 

Badgers are 6-1 in Big Ten Play and riding a 7-game win streak. Unlike the Spartans, they haven't had a cupcake conference schedule. Wisconsin has wins over Purdue, Iowa and Ohio State. Give me the Badgers -4! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Blazers +7.5) 

I will gladly take the 7.5-points with the Blazers as they go to Boston on Friday. I've been on Portland quite a bit here of late, as I think they have been vastly underrated since Lillard went down. Backup point guard Anfernee Simons has been playing like an All-Star in Lillard's absence and they just recently got back C.J. McCollum. 

Blazers had won and covered 4 of their previous 5 before losing 92-104 as a 9-point dog at Miami on Wednesday and they should of at the worst covered that game. Portland had a 4th quarter to forget, scoring just 12-points and giving up 26 to lose by 12. 

Boston just hasn't been able to put it together this season and they simply should not be laying this kind of number against a team like the Blazers. Give me Portland +7.5! 

50* (NBA) - Smart Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Heat +1.5) 

I don't think the Heat should be a dog in Friday's division game at Atlanta. The Hawks come in off a a couple of nice wins, beating the Bucks 121-114 at home on Monday and the Timberwolves 134-122 on Wednesday. 

The problem for Atlanta is health. They basically used an 8-man rotation (all 5 starters played 33+ mins last game) and could be losing their best bench player in Danilo Gallinari, who is questionable with an ankle injury. 

Miami won't have Kyle Lowry or Tyler Herro, but this a very deep Heat team that just recently got back their two big guns in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Miami has also been playing some great basketball for a long stretch here. They are 13-4 over their last 17 and have covered the spread in 7 of their last 8. 

Miami has also been at their best in division games. They are 8-1 vs division opponents, outscoring the opposition by 11.2 ppg. Atlanta just doesn't play good enough defense for them to be favored against a team like the Heat. Give me Miami +1.5! 

50* (NBA) - TNT Total PLAY OF THE MONTH (Over 215) 

I'll take my chances with the OVER 215 between the Pacers and Warriors in the night cap of Thursday's TNT double-header. I just the market is low right now on this Golden State offense. The Warriors haven't exactly been lighting it up, as they have eclipsed 108 points just once in their 8 games and failed to even reach 100 in 5 of those games. 

It's not so much execution as it is they just haven't shot well. Golden State has shot worse than 43% from the field in 7 of their last 8. Some of that likely has to do with them playing 6 of their last 8 on the road. 

They only finished with 102 in their last game at home against Detroit, but they had 66 in the 1st half (scored 17 in the 3rd and 19 in the 4th). A lot of that is the game was over at the at half (GS led 66-38). 

I think the offense could be in store for a big game here against a injury plagued and tired Pacers team that will be playing their 3rd game in 4 days on no rest after a thrilling 111-104 comeback win against the Lakers. 

Note that Malcolm Brogdon has been on a minute restriction coming back from an achilles injury, so it's no guarantee he plays on the second of a back-to-back. Big man Domantas Sabonis injured his ankle. He finished the game, but head coach Rick Carlisle said it was "probably going to be significant." I just don't see a lot of defense being played for a Pacers team that hasn't been great on that side of the ball anyway. Give me the OVER 215

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money VEGAS INSIDER (USC -2)

I'm going to lay the 2-points on the road with USC as they will be at Colorado on Thursday. The Trojans are 14-2, but come in having lost 2 of their last 3 and most recently just lost at home to Oregon. I not only think it's a good buy-low spot on USC, but we should also be getting a big effort here from the Trojans in this one. 

As for Colorado, I just don't think the Buffalo are that good. They certainly aren't as good as expectations. The Buffaloes started the year ranked No. 35 at KenPom and are now No. 78. They have won 6 of 7, but the only win against a Top 60 team was a 83-78 win over No. 54 Washington State. The only other team they played that was any good was No. 9 Arizona and they lost that game by 21 (76-55). Whenever the Buffs have stepped up in competition they have struggled to keep it close. Their home court edge is great, but I don't think it's enough for them to flirt with a win here. Give me USC -2! 

40* (CBB) - Big Money PUBLIC FADE (Pitt +3.5) 

I'll take my chances here with Pitt as a home dog against a struggling Virginia team. This is as down as I can remember Virginia being under Tony Bennett. They are 13th out of 15 in the ACC in offensive efficiency and a shocking 10th in defensive efficiency. 

What made this team so special was they were playing elite defense. Without that, they are going to be widely inconsistent and struggle to win games. They have already lost 4 times at home this year (only lost 3 homes games the previous 3 seasons). 

The Panthers are just 7-10, but have played a tough schedule and have suffered a lot of close losses. One of those being a 56-57 loss at Virginia. A game they have to feel like they should have won. They lost 56-52 with 25 seconds to play. I love that revenge angle here, especially at this price. Give me Pittsburgh +3.5

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Rutgers +2.5) 

I love the Scarlets Knights catching points at home against the Hawkeyes in Wednesday's Big Ten action. I grew up in Iowa and the Hawkeyes were my team as a kid. I follow them pretty closely. 

This year's team is way better than expected after losing two guys to the NBA (Garza & Weiskamp). Largely due to the emergence of Keegan Murray, another future NBA guy. I still don't think there as good as what the numbers suggest. 

There's some other guys who can score, but Murray is their only reliable option. Iowa is also a very bad defensive team. They rank 12th in the Big 10 in defensive efficiency and 13th in effective FG% defense. They also get killed on the offensive glass and send teams to the line a ton. 

Rutgers is a team that started slow, but is really starting to play up to their potential. Scarlet Knights have won 5 of their last 6 and when this team has momentum behind them, Piscataway can be a nightmare for opposing teams. Give me Rutgers +2.5

40* (NBA) - Smart Money VEGAS INSIDER (Hawks -2) 

I just can't help myself here with the Hawks as a mere 2-point home favorite against the Wolves. This line seems to good to be true, but I feel the low number has a lot to do with the overall stock of the Hawks here over the last few weeks and not just their 121-114 upset win over the Bucks last time out. 

Simply put the books aren't going to overreact to one game. However, I think they are going to wish they did. That was a huge win for Atlanta, who it felt like was just digging a deeper and deeper hole. They rallied from double-digit down to upset Milwaukee and have to believe they are going to be eager to use that as a stepping stone to get their season back on track.

The other big thing here is the spot is horrible for the Timberwolves. Minnesota will be on no rest after playing at New York against the Knicks on Tuesday. Two days before that game they hosted the Warriors, so this is their 3rd game in 4 days. It's also Minnesota's 9th road game out of their last 11 games and it's a big lookahead spot with a home game against the Nets on deck. Give me Atlanta -2! 

40* (CBB) Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (St. John's +4.5) 

I will take my chances with the Red Storm catching 4.5 on the road against the Blue Jays. I think St. John's is vastly underrated. While they don't have a single win over a team ranked in the Top 100 at KenPom, their 5 losses have come against Indiana, Kansas, Pitt, Providence and UConn. They only lost by 2 at Indiana and took the Huskies to OT on the road. 

This is no where close to the level of talent that Creighton has had in previous years. The Huskies in the past have been offensive juggernauts. This year's team is 9th in the Big East in offensive efficiency. 

Their biggest weakness has also been turnovers. They rank dead last in the Big East in offensive turnovers and forcing the other team into mistakes. They are ranked outside the Top 315 in both categories nationally. St. John's is No. 1 in the Big East in forcing turnovers and No. 2 in protecting the basketball. I think the chaos and pace of the Red Storm will be too much for a young Bluejays team. Give me St. John's +4.5!

40* (CBB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Georgia Tech +2.5) 

I'll take my chances with Georgia Tech as a 2.5-point home dog against the Demon Deacons. Based on the records this is going to seem like to low a number for Wake Forest to be laying. I'm not so sure the Yellow Jackets shouldn't be favored. 

Georgia Tech's 5-1 start seems like forever ago, as they have gone just 2-8 over their last 10. Neither win being all that impressive, as they needed OT to be Georgia State at home and beat BC on the road. 

What gets overlooked is the schedule and the margin of some of those defeats. There's really not a bad loss in the 8, outside of maybe a home defeat to Louisville. How they have competed in some of the other games is what I like. They lost by just 4 at home to Wisconsin, took ND to OT at home and only lost by 12 at Duke. 

Wake Forest is 14-4, but their best wins are against the likes of Va Tech, FSU, Syracuse and Virginia. They are just 2-2 in true road games with a loss at Louisville, who is very comparable in terms of talent. Demon Deacons are also off a huge road win at Virginia, which came just a few days after hosting Duke. This has flat spot written all over it. Give me the Yellow Jackets +2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money ATS MASSACRE (Florida St +5) 

I'll gladly roll the dice with Florida State catching 5-points at home against the Blue Devils. The Seminoles came into this season with some pretty decent hype, but a lot of that was lost after a disappointing 5-4 start that saw them lose 3-straight to Purdue, Syracuse and South Carolina.

It wasn't a matter of talent and we have seen that talent start to show itself for Leonard Hamilton's team. FSU is 5-1 over their last 6 and are 4-2 in ACC play. Hamilton routinely has this team near the top of the ACC standings. 

The other big thing here is Duke is overvalued because of how big a public play they are. Seminoles are also not afraid of this team whatsoever. I think they got a really good shot here of winning this game outright. Give me FSU +5!

50* (CBB) - Vegas Insider PLAY OF THE MONTH (Miami +2.5) 

I really like the value here with Miami as a 2.5-point home dog against the Tar Heels. I don't think the Hurricanes should be a dog at all in this matchup. Miami is 9-1 in their last 10 games. The lone lost being a mere 1-point loss on the road to a fast improving Seminoles team. The game before that they went on the road and beat Duke. I just don't understand the lack of respect for this Hurricanes team. 

UNC is 12-4, but I've not been that impressed. Their two best wins are against Michigan and Virginia. The Wolverines are nowhere close to as good as what we expected and the same can be said for the Cavaliers. In their big step up games, UNC lost by 9 to Purdue, by 17 to Tennessee and by 19 to Kentucky. Give me the Hurricanes +2.5! 

40* (CBB) Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (W Virginia +6.5) 

I've made some good money here of late fading Baylor and I'm not going to stop with West Virginia catching this kind of price at home against the Bears on Tuesday, especially with their figuing to be a good chance that Baylor won't have guard James Akinjo (listed as questionable). 

Either way I like the number here with West Virginia, who is going to be a pissed off bunch after the beatdown they just took on Saturday at Kansas (lost 59-85) The Mountaineers are a different animal at home, where they have one of the biggest home court advantages in the country. WV has not lost at home this year (10-0) and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they kept that streak alive. Give me the Mountaineers +6.5! 

40* (NBA) - Situational VEGAS INSIDER (Spurs +5)

I'm going to roll the dice with the Spurs as a 5-point home dog against the Suns. San Antonio was really starting to play well before Covid depleted their roster at the end of 2021. Spurs are just 2-9 SU in their last 11. They did win their last one, beating the Clippers 101-94 at home and it was as close to full strength that SA has been in almost a month. I think we are going to get a really big effort here from the Spurs. 

I can't say the same for Phoenix. The Suns are going to be on no rest after playing at Detroit on Sunday. They were also at Indiana on Friday, so this will be their 3rd road game in 4 days and 4th straight on the road overall. There's also a decent chance the Suns won't have big man DeAndre Ayton, as he had to leave yesterday's game with an ankle injury. Feels like a big flat spot. Give me the Spurs +5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Nebraska +8.5) 

This just feels like a few too many for the Cornhuskers to be catching at home against the Hoosiers. Nebraska comes into this game at 6-12 with a 0-7 record in Big Ten play. It's just not as bad as it looks. The Cornhuskers are 1-10 in their last 11 games. Out of those 10 losses, 7 have come against teams ranked in the Top 35 and the three others are against NC State, Kansas State and Rutgers. 

Indiana only won by 13 over Nebraska earlier this season and the Cornhuskers are a much better team at home, while the Hoosiers have looked way worse on the road. Last two home games for Nebraska they lost by just 10 at home to Illinois and by 8 in OT to Ohio State. Indiana has played 4 true road games and lost all 4. They just lost at Iowa on Thursday and could have a tough time not looking ahead to Thursday's big home game against Purdue. Give me the Cornhuskers +8.5! 

40* (NBA) - Late Night ATS SLAUGHTER (Jazz -4.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with Utah as a slim 4.5-point road favorite against the Nuggets. This feels like the time to buy low on the Jazz. Utah has lost 4 straight all as a favorite, twice as a double-digit favorite. Key is that bad stretch came with big man Rudy Gobert sidelined. 

Gobert is expected to be back in action tonight and Utah should be 100% locked in as a team for this game playing on a full 3 days of rest. Nuggets on the other hand will be playing in the second of a back-to-back after hosting the Lakers on Saturday. It's also their 3rd game in 4 nights. Give me the Jazz -4.5! 

50* (CBB) Big Ten TOTAL OF THE MONTH (Over 151.5) 

I love the OVER 151.5 in Sunday's Big 10 showdown between Minnesota and Iowa. This Hawkeyes team is all offense and no defense. Iowa ranks No. 3 in the country in offensive efficiency and 160th in defensive efficiency. Their only hope of winning games against quality teams is to outscore them. 

It's why they are 2-3 in Big Ten play, despite averaging 78.8 ppg. They give up 80.0 ppg. So while the Gophers are only scoring 64.8 ppg in Big Ten play, it would take a real bad shooting day for them to not get into the 70s at home against this Iowa defense. 

The other big thing is, is this Minnesota defense doesn't figure to be able to slow down Iowa's offense. The Gophers are 12th out of 14 teams in the Big Ten in defensive efficiency. I think this total should be closer to 160 than 150. Give me the OVER 151.5! 

40* (NBA) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Knicks +2.5) 

I will take my chances with the Knicks as a slim road dog against the Hawks. Atlanta is in a bad place right now. They just traded away Reddish and sounds like more guys are on the move. They come in having lost 4 straight and will be on no rest after last night's 118-124 loss to Miami, where they got outscored 30-19 in the 4th quarter. 

Big rest advantage for the Knicks, who have been off since Wednesday. New York has also been on the upswing here of late, going 4-1 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games. Knicks have already won the two previous meetings with the Hawks and I don't see them showing any remorse for the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Give me the Knicks +2.5! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Blazers +7.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with Portland catching 7.5 on the road against a Wizards team that is without Beal. Blazers come in off an ugly 108-140 loss at the Nuggets on Thursday, but that was to be expected. Portland who is already without Lillard and McCollum, had to play without Anfernee Simons, who has been putting up All-Star caliber numbers since Lillard went down. He's back from his personal matter and I not only think the Blazers have enough here to keep it within the number, I like them to win this game outright. Wizards have won 3 straight, but it's come against the Magic, Thunder and Magic and they failed to cover all 3. Give me the Blazers +7.5!

40* (CBB) - Undervalued Underdog ATS SHOCKER (Oklahoma St +14.5) 

I got to roll the dice with Oklahoma State catching 14.5-points on the road against Baylor. The Bears are a really good team, but I think having that target on their back and getting the best shot from every team they play is really starting to wear on this team. They are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and the one game they covered they needed to outscore TCU by 18 in the 2nd half to win by 12 as a 10-point favorite. 

As bad as the Cowboys looked last time out against Texas Tech, I just think you got to take your chances playing against Baylor right now. Bears are going to cover these big numbers every once in awhile, but I think in the long run the money will clearly be on fading the defending champs. Give me Oklahoma State +14.5! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (TCU +1.5) 

I love TCU as a 1.5-point home dog against the Sooners. The Horned Frogs are off to a 11-2 start but aren't getting a ton of press because of the schedule not being all that challenging. I think it has people sleeping on Jamie Dixon's team. They have an impressive win over Texas A&M on a neutral and really played Baylor well for a half. I also think it says a lot for them to respond to that loss against Bears by going on the road and beating K-State. 

TCU is no easy place to play and this feels like a tough spot for Oklahoma, who just played 3 games against Baylor, ISU and Texas and have Kansas on deck Tuesday and a rematch with Baylor next Saturday. I just don't think the Sooners have done enough to be road dogs here. Give me TCU +1.5! 

40* (CBB) Smart Money ATS ANNIHILATOR (Florida St +2.5) 

I will take the 2.5-points with Florida State at Syracuse. The Seminoles have looked a lot more like the team we expected to see from the start of the season. They got a chance to prove it in this game, as they take on a Orange team that beat them on their home floor 63-60 back in early Dec. 

Since Hamilton took over at FSU, the Seminoles are 42-27 (61%) ATS when revenging a same season loss. Syracuse is definitely a team they should be able to beat if they are a real contender in the ACC. Syracuse has lost 5 of their last 8 with their only wins coming against Brown, Cornell and Pitt. Give me the Seminoles +2.5! 

40* (CBB) Blockbuster Bookie DESTROYER (Iowa St +2.5)

I will gladly take the Cyclones as a home dog against the Longhorns on Saturday. Really big game here for Iowa State, who after back-to-back road losses to Oklahoma and Kansas, are now 1-3 in Big 12 play. I've actually been impressed with the Cyclones. They only lost by 5 to Baylor at home and by just 1 at Kansas. The lone win coming against a Texas Tech team that has looked like the best team in the league since that loss with wins over KU, Baylor and Oklahoma St. 

Texas is 13-3 and fresh off a blowout win at home over Oklahoma. I just don't trust this team on the road. The previous game they lost 51-64 at Oklahoma State. Their only true road win all season is against K-State. I just think with how tough it is to win on the road in the Big 12 and how desperate ISU going to be, the wrong team is favored. Give me the Cyclones +2.5! 

40* (NBA) - Over/Under Total KNOCKOUT (Under 215) 

I'll take my chances with the UNDER 215 in Friday's ESPN matchup between the Grizzlies and Mavericks. The UNDER has cashed in 7 of the last 8 games for Dallas. The 7 games that went UNDER the total all saw 212 or fewer points scored. The only exception came against the Rockets. 

Not only is Dallas defending well during this stretch, they like to slow the game down. While Memphis has been clicking offensively, I don't think they will mind the slower pace tonight. Grizzlies will be playing on no rest after hosting the T-Wolves last night. It's also their 3rd game in 4 nights. 

Memphis is also a much better defensive team than people realize. Grizzlies rank 6th in the league in defensive efficiency. They have held 5 of their last 6 opponents to 43.5% or worse from the field. Give me the UNDER 215! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (76ers -3.5) 

I will gladly like the 3.5-points with the 76ers at home against the Celtics. Philly suffered a 98-109 loss at home to the Hornets last time out, but I still think this is a team you want to be on, especially laying such a short number at home. 

Embiid is playing out of his mind right now. He scored 31 in the loss to the Hornets and that game potentially goes differently if he's not in foul trouble. Embiid has scored 30+ points in 8 straight and 10 of his last 11. Philly had won each of the previous 8 games he scored 30 or more before the loss to Charlotte. 

Boston comes in having won 3 straight, but I'm still not sold on this team being as good as what people think. Celtics are a .500 team (21-21) that is a middle of the pack offensive team. They rank 16th in offensive efficiency and 24th in effective FG%. It's no surprise they are just 8-13 on the road this year. 

Not saying they can't win this game, but it's just too good a price to pass up with Philly. Give me the 76ers -3.5! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Nebraska +20.5) 

I really thinking we are getting some big time value with Nebraska catching 20.5 on the road against the Boilermakers. No denying that the Cornhuskers are one of the worst teams in the Big Ten and Purdue is one of the best, but this is way too many points given the spot. 

It's hard for teams like Boilermakers to get up for inferior opponents and it's not like they have been cashing these inflated lines the books keep setting on them. Purdue is just 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games. 

I got a hard time seeing the Boilermakers taking Nebraska seriously, especially with a massive game on deck at Illinois on Monday. Fighting Illini are sitting tied on top the Big Ten standings with Michigan State at 5-0. Give me the Cornhuskers +20.5! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Thunder +7.5) 

I will take the 7.5 with OKC, as they go on the road to take on the Nets. This is just a bad spot for the Nets, who just played last night in Chicago in a game that was televised as part of a double-header on ESPN. Keep in mind that's a Bulls team that has the best record in the Eastern Conference. That was a big time game for Brooklyn. 

I just have a hard time seeing them being all that interested for this game against the Thunder, especially at home where Kyrie isn't allowed to play. 

Always tough backing a bottom-feeder like OKC, but they have been playing better of late despite coming in on a 5-game losing streak. A lot of those games were at least competitive. More than anything, I think it means a lot to these younger teams when they get to face a team like the Nets that has two of the best players in the game in Durant and Harden. Give me the Thunder +7.5! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Wisconsin -3.5) 

I got no problem laying the 3.5-points at home with Wisconsin. The Badgers are 13-2 with wins over Texas A&M, Houston, St Mary's, Marquette, Indiana, Purdue and Iowa. The key here is that one of those 2 losses was a early Big Ten matchup at Ohio State, where the Buckeyes won easily 73-55. 

I love the revenge spot for the Badgers at home, especially with how much better this team has been playing since Big Ten play restarted. The other big thing is I don't think the Buckeyes are the same team on the road and the results speak to that. 

Ohio State lost by 16 in their last road game at Indiana and the game before needed OT to win on the road against a bad Nebraska team. I wouldn't be shocked at all if this game got a away from the Buckeyes. Give me Wisconsin -3.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Seton Hall -5.5) 

This just doesn't feel like near enough for the Pirates to be laying at DePaul. Seton Hall has really been a big surprise this year. They went just 14-13 last year. They have started out this season 11-3 with their 3 losses coming against Ohio State by 3, to Providence by 5 and to Villanova by 6. They just beat UConn at home without a key contributor in Alexis Yetna. They also have a 15-point win over Butler, win at Michigan and wins at home over Texas and Rutgers. 

On the flip side, the Blue Demons have completely fallen flat on their faces after an impressive 9-1 start. DePaul has lost 5 straight since that hot start and that includes a 17-point home loss to Providence and a 15-point loss at home to Villanova. I just don't think it's asking a lot for Seton Hall to win this game by 6 or more. Give me the Pirates -5.5!

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Knicks +2.5) 

I will take my chances with the Knicks as a 2.5-point home dog against the Mavs. I just think the perception with New York is down so much right now that there's value with them. I also think it's a good spot to sell-high on the Mavs, who are off a big home win over the Bulls. Dallas is still playing without one of their best players in Kristaps Porzingis. 

This to me just feels like a big effort game for the Knicks in a prime time game at home that is part of the double-header on ESPN tonight. I really think the wrong team is favored in this one. Give me New York +2.5! 

40* (NBA) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Pacers +2.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Pacers as a slim home dog against the Celtics. Love this revenge spot for Indiana, who just lost 98-101 in OT at Boston on Monday. Indiana could be getting back a number of key guys for this game, but more than anything, I think they will be the more motivated team. I also feel that the loss of Marcus Smart for the Celtics is a bigger deal than what people realize. Tatum and Brown may be their best scorers. Smart is the heart and soul of that team. 

Also worth noting that while the Pacers are just 1-7 SU in their last 8 games, they are 5-1 ATS over their last 6, so there's some real positive signs with this team. Give me Indiana +2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Public Money ATS MASSACRE (Wake Forest +6) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Demon Deacons as a 6-point home dog against Duke. You know going into just about every game that Duke plays they are going to be overvalued with how big a public team they are. I think it's even more so when the Blue Devils are coming off a loss like they are here. The public perception is they are going to bounce back, but they got to do a lot more than just win the game to cash a ticket here. 

Wake Forest is also one of the most improved teams in the country. The Demon Deacons were ranked 105th at KenPom coming into the season and are now 53rd after starting the year 13-3. They are a perfect 10-0 at home and have one of the better home court advantages in the country. Give me Wake Forest +6! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (UCF +2) 

I love UCF as a home dog against Memphis tonight. This is the perfect buy-low spot on the Knights, who have lost their last two. The first wasn't all that bad, as they fell at SMU. The following loss at home to Temple was a bit of shocker. I just think the poor showing against the Owls had a lot to do with this game being on deck, as Memphis is the team everyone wants to beat in the AAC. I expect a huge effort here from the Knights. 

It's also a good time to sell-high on the Tigers, who come in having won 3 straight. Memphis has all kinds of talent, but they are not the elite team we thought they were going to be when the season started. Give me UCF +2! 

40* (CBB) - Big East PLAY OF THE WEEK (Xavier -1) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Musketeers as a slim 1-point home favorite against Villanova. Xavier will be out for some serious revenge as these two teams played at Villanova earlier this season. The Wildcats won that game 71-58, but the final score doesn't tell the whole story. 

It looks like Villanova dominated that game, but Xavier led by as many as 10-points late in the 1st half of that game. This time I look for the Musketeers to get out to another early lead and not take their foot off the gas. Xavier is a perfect 9-0 at home, while Villanova is just 6-4 on the road compared to 5-0 at home. Give me the Musketeers -1!

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (West Virginia -2.5) 

I will gladly lay the 2.5-points with the Mountaineers at home against Oklahoma State. West Virginia feels like a team to me that is flying way under the radar. The Mountaineers are 12-2 with their only two losses coming on a neutral floor to a good Marquette team and at Texas. This is a team that in my opinion deserves to be a Top 25 team and yet they aren't. 

Oklahoma State is pretty average if you ask me. The Cowboys come in off a big home win over Texas, but had lost 4 of their previous 5 with 3 of the 4 defeats coming at home. The only true road game Oklahoma State has played was at Oral Roberts on Nov. 26 and they needed OT to win that game 78-77. I don't think this is going to be close. Give me the Mountaineers -2.5! 

40* (NBA) - Public Money ATS BLOODBATH (Grizzlies +2.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with Memphis as a small home dog against the Warriors. Golden State is one of the biggest publicly backed teams in the NBA right now and everyone wants to be on them now that Klay Thompson has returned. 

Golden State did win and cover in Thompson's first game back, beating the Cavs 96-82 as a 8-point favorite. It looks good, but they only shot 40.2% from the field. That's now 3 straight games where the Warriors have shot 43% or worse. They won't have arguably their most important piece to the puzzle in Draymond Green and this Memphis team is one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Grizzlies have won 9 straight and are 8-1 ATS during this stretch. Give me Memphis +2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Texas Tech +12.5) 

We took one on the chin betting against Baylor in their last game at TCU, as they were a 10-point dog and went from trailing 31-37 at the half to winning the game 76-64. It's not going to keep me from fading the Bears with these inflated numbers the books are setting on them. 

I also have come to accept that this is a really good Texas Tech team. The Red Raiders are 11-3 with a loss to Gonzaga on a neutral, 4-point loss at Providence and 4-point loss at ISU. They just beat Kansas 75-67 at home on Saturday and while I don't know that they can win this game, I do think they can keep this one within 12-points. Give me the Red Raiders +12.5! 

50* (CBB) - Smart Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Pittsburgh +10.5) 

I love Pittsburgh catching double-digits on the road against the Orange. The Panthers are one of the most undervalued Power 6 teams in the country. Pitt is 6-9 overall, but could easily have a completely different record. 

Just in their last 5 losses, all 5 of them have come by 4-points or fewer. Syracuse has no business laying this big of number, as I'm not so sure they even win outright. The Orange are just 7-8 themselves and come in having lost 3 straight and the most recent was a grueling 74-77 OT loss at Wake Forest on Saturday. Give me the Panthers +10.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational VEGAS INSIDER (Penn State -2) 

I'll take my chances with the Nittany Lions as a 2-point home favorite against the Scarlet Knights. This is a great sell-high spot on Rutgers, who has won 4 straight and covered each of their last 3. The most recent being a 93-65 blowout win over Nebraska. 

Big thing to note with the recent surge for the Scarlet Knights, is all 4 wins during the win streak came at home. Rutgers is 0-4 in true road games with a couple of ugly losses to DePaul and UMass and lopsided defeats to Illinois and Seton Hall. 

Penn State is just 7-6, but a lot of that is schedule. The Nittany Lions' last 5 losses have come against the likes of LSU, Miami, Ohio St, Michigan St and Purdue. The only one of those teams ranked outside the Top 21 at KenPom is Miami, who is 13-3 and riding a 9-game winning streak. Give me Penn State -2! 

40* (NBA) - Smart Money VEGAS INSIDER (Cavs -5.5) 

I will gladly lay the 5.5 with the Cavs on the road against the Kings. I think this is the time to strike with Cleveland. The Cavs should be extremely motivated to get back in the win column after an 82-96 loss at Golden State yesterday. Cleveland really did themselves in in that game, as they shot bad and gave up a ridiculous amount of offensive rebounds. Warriors scored 14 more points them despite shooting just 40.2% from the field (Cavs shot 42.7%). Difference was GS had 97 shots to Cleveland's 75. 

The Kings are the perfect team for the Cavs to get back on track against. Sacramento looks lost right now. They have lost 4 straight and are just 5-12 SU and 5-12 ATS over their last 17 games. Not only are they losing a bunch, they aren't even being remotely competitive in a lot of these games. Give me the Cavs -5.5! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS MASSACRE (Knicks -6) 

I will take my chances with the Knicks as a 6-point home favorite. This might seem like a big number for New York to be laying, as they just got embarrassed in their last game 99-75 at Boston and San Antonio nearly won outright as a double-digit dog at Brooklyn in their last game. 

I actually like the Knicks more in this spot coming off that ugly loss, as it should have them extremely motivated. As for the Spurs, this is an awful spot playing on no rest after a back-and-fourth game against the Nets that needed OT to decide the winner. All 5 starters for San Antonio played at least 30 mins and keep in mind they are shorthanded right now with multiple guys in quarantine. Give me the Knicks -6! 

40* (NBA) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Lakers -3) 

I was really impressed with the Lakers most recent 134-118 win over the Hawks. It really seems like LA has found something with playing LeBron at center. The offense has looked better than it has all season. While they are still missing AD, they have got a lot of role players back. This feels like it's as deep as the Lakers have been all season. While it doesn't figure to last long, LA is undervalued by the books here as a mere 3-point home favorite against a Memphis team that could be missing their best player in Morant. Give me the Lakers -3! 

40* (NBA) - Smart Money VEGAS INSIDER (Pelicans +8.5) 

This is just too good a price to pass up on the Pelicans as a 8.5-point road dog against the Raptors. Toronto has no business laying this big of a number here. Sure the Raptors come in having won 5 straight and are 10-1 ATS over their last 11, but all of their recent wins have come against teams who had key guys out of the lineup. I really think we are getting a good 3-points of value here with this inflated number. Give me the Pelicans +8.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Northwestern +8) 

I will gladly take my chances with Northwestern catching 8 points on the road against the Buckeyes. I think the Wildcats are being greatly undervalued by the books in this one. Northwestern is a legit NCAA Tournament team, but their stock is low right now after back-to-back losses at home to Michigan St and Penn St. Both of those games came down to the wire. In fact, the Wildcats haven't lost a game all season by more than 6 points. Give me Northwestern +8! 

40* (NBA) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Jazz -3) 

I think we are getting some exceptional value here with the Jazz as a slim 3-point road favorite against Utah. The Jazz lost 108-22 at Toronto last night, but they basically punted that game, resting basically all their key players who weren't already out. They were just playing the rest game in a back-to-back spot. I expect Utah to get most of those guys back who skipped yesterday's game. 

You also got to look at the state of this Pacers team. Indiana has lost 6 in a row and just can't seem to get their core group of guys on the floor at the same time. While a couple guys could return, conditioning is an issue for them and they just lost 3 more guys to Covid, including one of their better players in Caris LeVert. I see no reason why you wouldn't expect more of the same from Indiana as we have seen here of late. Give me the Jazz -3! 

40* (CBB) - Prime Time VEGAS INSIDER (LSU -1.5)

Great matchup here with No. 21 LSU hosting No. 18 Tennessee and I just can't help myself but to back the Tigers at basically a pick'em at home. You are clearly getting respect when you are ranked in the Top 25, but I think LSU is way better than the No. 21. KenPom has them as the No. 13 ranked team in the country. They are 13-1 with their only loss coming at Auburn. I also think their homecourt edge is sneaky good when the fans have reason to be excited about the team. 

Tennessee is a good team, but they are far from elite. They have had some slip ups away from home, losing by 18 to Villanova on a neutral,by 5 to Texas Tech on a neutral and by 5 at Alabama. I just don't think the Vols are a great road team with how much they rely on their defense, especially against a team that is every bit as good defensively as they are. Give me LSU -1.5! 

40* (CBB) - Public Money ATS BLOODBATH (TCU +10) 

I will take my chances with TCU as a double-digit home dog against the Bears. Baylor is a team that I'll be looking to fade as much as possible, as the books are surely going to inflate their lines given they are the defending champs and off to such a great start again this year. Bears figure to win a lot of games, but covering the big numbers won't be easy with the constant target on their back. 

As for the Horned Frogs, this is a team that I think is clearly better than what we expected. I get their 10-1 start has been aided by a soft schedule, but they have been impressive in those wins over lessor teams. You know we are going to get their best effort here and I'm not so sure Baylor will be as invested. Give me the Horned Frogs +10! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Kansas -4.5) 

I got no problem laying the 4.5 with the Jayhawks on the road against a depleted Texas Tech team. The Rad Raiders only lost by 4 in their Big 12 opener against a highly ranked ISU team, but the only reason that game was even remotely close was because of how bad the Cyclones are offensively. Not that Tech's defense didn't have something to do with it, but it was a lot of ISU just shooting the ball poorly. 

This is also a Red Raiders team that is far from full strength. They only had 5 scholarship players available for that game Wednesday at ISU and might have to work with the same group in this one, which doesn't include arguably their two best players. Kansas might not be as good as ISU defensively, but they are pretty strong on that side. The bigger thing here is they can score. Jayhawks are 4th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 8th in effective FG%. Give me Kansas -4.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Wake Forest -4.5) 

I got no problem laying the 4.5 with Wake Forest at home against the Orange. I just don't like what I've seen out of this Syracuse team to start this season. This is a team that when they have been good under Jim Boeheim, they have been good defensively. The Orange are not good defensively. They are one of the worst in the country. Not only do they not defend the basket, they don't force many turnovers and give up way to many offensive rebounds. 

Wake Forest has been one of the big surprises out of the ACC. The Demon Deacons are 12-3 and have went from being ranked No. 105 at KenPom to start the year to No. 53. Their only 3 losses coming away from home against quality teams in LSU, Louisville and Miami. Give me Wake Forest -4.5!

50* (CBB) - Big 12 GAME OF THE MONTH (Texas -2.5) 

*Analysis Coming* 

40* (CBB) - Smart Money ATS SLAUGHTER (Texas A&M +1.5)

I will gladly take my chances with the Aggies as a small home dog against the Razorbacks. Arkansas came into this season way overvalued and are still getting too much love. The Razorbacks started out as the No. 15 ranked team at KenPom and are now No. 50, which means they aren't even a lock to make the NCAA Tournament. They come in having lost 4 of their last 5. The losses aren't great. They lost by 22 to Oklahoma, by 8 to Hofstra, by 13 at Miss State and by 1 at home to Vandy. 

Texas A&M's rankings haven't changed much, as they started out No. 76 and are now No. 66. With that said, I do think this Aggies team is flying under the radar. They are 12-2 with their only two losses to TCU and Wisconsin. The Horned Frogs are 10-1 right now, while the Badgers are 12-2. Texas A&m comes in having won 5 straight and have one of the better homecourt edges in the country. Give me the Aggies +1.5! 

40* (CBB) - Early Bird ATS MASSACRE (Seton Hall -4.5) 

This might seem like a little too much for the Pirates to be laying at home against a good UConn team that is expected to have everyone back from either injury or Covid. I don't think it's enough. This Seton Hall team has really exceeded expectations this year and they got the resume to back up their strong 10-3 start. 

The Pirates have wins over Michigan, Texas and Rutgers. They also showed well in all of their losses, losing by 3 to Ohio State, 5 to Providence and by 6 to Villanova. 

Not that I don't think this UConn isn't any good. When they are at full strength they are a very dangerous team. The problem here is they aren't at 100%. While everyone is expected back, a lot of those guys coming back figure to be on a minutes restriction and I don't think it's a guarantee that Sanogo plays. Huskies may also be dealing with some rust, as they haven't played since Dec. 21. Give me Seton Hall -4.5! 

40* (NBA) - No Doubt ATS MASSACRE (Hawks +3.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Hawks as a 3.5-point dog against the Lakers. It may look like LA has turned a corner going 4-1 SU in their last 5 and riding a 3-game win streak, but those 4 wins have come against the Rockets, Blazers, Twolves and Kings. They had a blowout win against a depleted Portland team, but the other 3 were all pretty close games. 

I just don't think the Lakers are that good, especially without AD on the floor. As for the Hawks, Atlanta's got a bunch of guys on the injury report, but all signs are that they will play. Good chance the Hawks will have their entire 2-deep available for this game, which is unheard of right now in the NBA with how Covid is decimating rosters. I think Atlanta is really going to be motivated to play well, which is always the case for any team when they go against LeBron. Give me the Hawks +3.5! 

50* (NBA) - Late Night PLAY OF THE MONTH (Cavs -6) 

I love the Cavs as a mere 6-point road favorite against the Blazers. This is just too good a price to pass up with Cleveland. I know laying 6 on the road is a lot, but not when the team you are playing is down their top two players. Portland won't have Lillard or McCollum. They also figure to be down another starter in Larry Nance Jr. 

This is also a great buy low spot for the Cavs, who have lost 4 of their last 5 and are 0-5 ATS during this stretch. Most of these games came with Cleveland playing shorthanded. They got some guys back in their last game, but just came up short against a red-hot Ja Morant led Grizzlies team. With a big showdown against the Warriors in Golden State on Sunday, I think the Cavs will be eager to get a win and have some momentum going into that game. I just don't see Portland having enough fire-power offensively to keep this close. Give me Cleveland -6! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Rockets +3) 

I will gladly take my chances with Houston as a 3-point home dog against a short-handed Mavs team. Luka Doncic is doubtful after injuring his right ankle in Wednesday's win over the Warriors. Dallas is also still without Kristaps Porzingis. This team has been able to compete when at least one of their two stars has been on the court. 

I'm not so sure they should even be favored on the road without them. The other big thing here is the spot. Every team is getting up to play the Warriors right now, which makes them prime for a letdown the next game out. Not only was the game against Golden State big because of who they played, it was also the night they honored the legendary Dirk Nowitzki. Give me the Rockets +3! 

50* (CBB) Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (California +5.5) 

Give me the Golden Bears as a 5.5-point home dog against the No. 7 ranked Trojans. I think we are getting some exceptional value with Cal in this one. USC comes into this game 12-0. When a team is undefeated in January, people start to take notice. So do the books. The lines on these teams start to get inflated. 

Not having a loss on your resume this late in the season is impressive, but you also can't ignore the soft schedule that USC has played. The Trojans have played just three teams at KenPom who rank inside the Top 100 overall. Those being No. 41 San Diego St, No. 47 Washington St and No. 90 Utah. 

Cal is just 9-5, but they are 7-1 over their last 8 and come in on a 5-game winning streak. The Golden Bears are really good defensively and offense doesn't always come easy for the Trojans. 

Another factor that could hinder USC's offense is rust. The Trojans haven't played since Dec. 18. It will be 18 days between games for USC, which I think it's been long enough to where the time off hurts you more than it helps. Give me Cal +5.5! 

40* (NBA) - Over/Under Total NO-BRAINER (OVER 220.5) 

I'll take my chances with the OVER 220.5 in tonight's matchup between the Clippers and Suns. I think with Phoenix forced to play small with Ayton and McGree, they are playing with a little more pace. They just finished up their two game road trip scoring 133 on 51% shooting at Charlotte and 123 on 54% shooting at New Orleans. 

I got to think with this being a big game on TNT (these games get a lot more hype now that there's no football on Thursday nights), the Suns are going to want to put on a show. 

The other big thing is the Clippers aren't exactly locking teams down on the defensive side of the ball. They have given up 116 points or more in each of their last 3 and teams are averaging a healthy 96.8 possessions per game in their last 4. 

Clippers are also fairing better offensively here of late than you might think with Paul George sidelined. LA has shot 49% or better in each of their last 3. Give me the OVER 220.5! 

40* (NBA) - Over/Under Total NO-BRAINER (OVER 216.5)

I will gladly take my chances with the OVER 216.5 in tonight's non-conference game between the Heat and Blazers. There's a lot of big names that won't be on the floor for both teams, which has created the value with the total. 

Portland's been without Lillard and McCollum for a few games now. While the offensive numbers aren't all that great, it's the defense that has caught my attention. The Blazers are giving up 126.6 ppg on 54.5% shooting over their last 5 games. 

Miami is a team that is known for playing good defense, but they aren't locking teams down right now with all the guys out. Heat have allowed 110 or more in each of their last 4. This is also a big flat spot for Miami who was at Golden State on Monday and next up after this game is a showdown at Phoenix with the Suns on Saturday. Give me the OVER 216.5! 

50* (CBB) Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Iowa St -3.5) 

I love Iowa State as a mere 3.5-point home favorite against the Red Raiders. The Cyclones are no longer undefeated after a 72-77 home loss to Baylor on Saturday, but there's no shame in losing that game and if ISU goes better than 1 for 14 from behind the 3-point line they probably win that game. 

I just don't think 3.5 is near enough for the Cyclones to be laying at home, as they have one of the biggest home court advantages in college basketball and will be locked in after that loss to the Bears. 

I'm also not sold on Texas Tech being as good as their 10-2 record. Sure their only to losses are to providence and Gonzaga, but they got just 1 respectable win, a 57-52 OT win over Tennessee. The guy who carried them in that win over the Vols, Terrence Shannon, won't play in this game with a back injury. 

The other big thing is turnovers. Iowa State is one of the best teams in the country in taking the ball away (No. 5 in defensive TO%) and Texas Tech is one of the worst in protecting the basketball (No. 248 in offensive TO%). Give me the Cyclones -3.5! 

40* (NBA) Situational ATS ANNIHILATOR (Raptors +7.5) 

Easy play for me on the Raptors as a 7.5-point road dog against the Bucks tonight. Toronto has been an absolute covering machine of late. With last night's 129-104 win at home against the Spurs as a 6.5-point favorite, they have now covered 4 straight and 10 of their last 12 overall. 

Big reason for the strong play of late is the Raptors are close to full strength and right now that's such a huge advantage with how many guys are out with Covid. The Bucks aren't exactly decimated but they are without starting shooting guard Grayson Allen and three key reserves in Donte DiVincenzo, Pat Connaughton and Jordan Nwora. I don't think it's a sure thing the Bucks even win this game outright. Give me the Raptors +7.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Miami -2) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Hurricanes as a short 2-point home favorite against the Orange. Miami is a team that I think is a little better than what people think. They are 11-3 with no bad losses (UCF, Dayton and Alabama). They come in with a ton of confidence having won 7 straight and are 3-0 in conference play. 

On the flip side, SYracuse is a team that has been a disappointment. They started the season ranked No. 42 at KenPom and are now No. 71. They are just 7-6 with their best wins coming against Arizona St, Indiana and Florida State. Three other teams I would say have not lived up to the hype this season. I just don't think with how bad they are defensively and how good Miami is offensively, they can go into the Watsco Center and get a win. Give me the Hurricanes -2! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Pittsburgh +12.5) 

I think we are getting a steal here with the Panthers at +12.5. It's easy to see why Pitt is undervalued right now. The Panthers look like a horrible team with a 5-8 record, but that's not the case at all. Their last 4 losses have all come by 4 points or fewer, including two gut-wrenching losses to open ACC play with a 56-57 loss at Virginia and a 67-68 loss at home to Notre Dame. 

Louisville is 9-4 and 4 of their best wins against Maryland, NC State, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech have all come by 8 or points or fewer. 

Another factor here is rest. Louisville just played on Sunday at Georgia Tech, so they will be on just 2 days of rest. Pitt hasn't played since last Tuesday. Give me the Panthers +12.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Clemson -3) 

I will gladly lay the 3-points at home with Clemson, as they host Virginia Tuesday night. The Tigers will be coming into this game with a ton of confidence, as they have won 4 straight and their most recent win came against the same team they are playing tonight, as they rolled the Cavaliers 67-50 back on Dec. 22. 

Usually I'm a little skeptical of taking a team in a rematch, but that's more so when the rematch comes quickly. It's been two weeks since these two teams played and while Clemson has been off since that game, Virginia had to play on Saturday, so they are on just 2 days of rest here. 

I just think we have two teams that have went in opposite directions since the start of the season and there's value with the line because of how slow the books can be to adjust their numbers. Give me Clemson -3! 

40* (NBA) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Pelicans +8) 

We took one on the chin last night with the Pelicans +10, as they lost 104-115 at home to the Jazz after trailing by just 3 at the half and by only 5 going into the 4th. New Orleans nearly covered despite Brandon Ingram going just 3 of 18 from the field in his return to the lineup. Ingram should be much better going forward and this Pelicans team should be a good bet for a while now that they are healthy. 

I know New Orleans is on the second leg of a back-to-back, but it's not nearly as bad playing in this spot when both games are at home. I also think it's a great time to sell high on Phoenix after they just annihilated the Hornets 133-99 in their last game. Suns are still playing short-handed, as they are without their two big guys in Ayton and McGee, as well as their glue guy at power forward in Crowder. Give me the Pelicans +8! 

40* (NBA) - No Doubt ATS MASSACRE (Cavs -3) 

This is too good a price to pass up with the Cavs as a slim 3-point home favorite against the Grizzlies. This Cleveland team has been a money maker all season and really the only time they haven't played well is when they have been decimated with injuries. With Darius Garland expected back from quarantine, they will be in great shape here. 

This is also a spot where I'll happily fade Memphis. The Grizzlies have been playing some great basketball of late, especially Ja Morant, but they are playing on no rest on the road for a second straight night, after last night's 118-104 upset win against Durant/Harden and the Nets. I think it's going to be tough for the short-handed Grizzlies to cover this short number. Give me the Cavs -3! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money PLAY OF THE MONTH (Wake Forest -1) 

I love Wake Forest as a mere 1-point home favorite against Florida State. This not only feels like a great spot to back the Demon Deacons coming off road losses at Louisville and at Miami, but this is also a Seminoles team that I think is still way overvalued. 

Florida State has not lived up to their preseason hype. They are just 7-4 with their best win on their resume based on KenPom's rankings being a victory against No. 113 ranked Loyola-Marymount. 

Wake Forest had started out 11-1 before losing their last two and even with those losses they still come in ranked No. 65 at KenPom, which is quite a jump from there they started the year at No. 105. 

Home court is also a huge factor in this play, as Wake Forest had one of the best home court advantages in the country. Give me the Demon Deacons -1! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS MASSACRE (Pelicans +10)

I will gladly take my chances with the Pelicans as a double-digit dog against the Jazz tonight. I just think the Warriors have been put on such a pedestal to start this year that teams are really gearing up to play them. I believe that sets up a real chance of a letdown the following game, especially if it's against a far inferior opponent. 

That's the scenario we have here with Utah coming off a home game against Golden State on Saturday and being a big road favorite against New Orleans. It hasn't been horrible for the Pelicans of late. They 5-2 SU over their last 7 and have covered 4 of their last 6. They could also be getting a big boost here with the potential return of Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas. Give me the Pelicans +10! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Wizards +2.5) 

I think we are getting a great price with the Wizards as a 2.5-point home dog against the Bulls. Chicago has been playing some great basketball here of late and come into this game on a 6-game winning streak. 

They key here is the spot. The Bulls were at Indiana last night and beat the Pacers 108-106 on a last second 3-point heave by DeRozan. This is where I think not having guys like Ball and Caruso will finally catch up to them, as this will be Chicago's 5th game in 7 days. 

Wizards had Friday off and last time out they crushed the Cavs 110-93 at home as a 4.5-point favorite. It was the 4th cover in the last 5 games for Washington. I think they catch the Bulls sleepwalking into this one and get an outright win. Give me the Wizards +2.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS ANNIHILATOR (Iowa St +7.5) 

I will gladly roll the dice and take the Cyclones as a 7.5-point home dog against Baylor in huge Big 12 opener between two teams that come in 12-0 in Non-Conference play. While it's been an impressive start for the Bears coming off last year's National Championship, especially given what they lost, it doesn't come close to the surprise start of Iowa State. 

A lot of people had this Cyclones team picked to finish last in the Big 12. That's not going to be the case. ISU's 12-0 start is no fluke. They have wins over Oregon St, Xavier, Memphis, Creighton and Iowa. 

They remind me a lot of the great Virginia teams of recent years. The offense isn't going to wow you, but the defense is so good that it doesn't matter. The Cyclones rank 7th in the country in defensive efficiency, 6th in effective FG% defense, 7th in opponent TO% and 3rd in 3PT% defense. 

Even when ISU is bad, Hilton Coliseum is a tough place for an opposing team to get a win. It's extremely tough when there's this kind of hype around the team. I give them a good shot to win this game outright. Give me the Cyclones +7.5! 

40* (NBA) No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Bulls -4.5) 

The Bulls have really taken advantage of some teams what have been hit hard with Covid. They just took two in a row over the Hawks. Now they play a Pacers team that will be without Brogdon and Duarte.

Chicago has won 5 straight and covered 4 in a row. They are 8-3 ATS over their last 11. Pacers are 1-6 ATS this season vs division opponents. 

I just don't think Indiana will have the scoring power to keep up the Bulls in this one. Chicago is averaging 124.4 ppg on 54% shooting in their 5 game win streak. Give me the Bulls -4.5! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money Vegas Insider (UCF +3.5) 

I will take my chances with the Knights as a 3.5-point home dog against the Wolverines. I've really been impressed with what I've seen out of UCF so far this season. The Knights are 8-2 with their only two losses coming to Oklahoma and Auburn. 

On the flip side, Michigan has not lived up to the preseason hype. This was a team that many thought was Final Four worthy and they are just 7-4 with two home losses to Seton Hall and Minnesota and a two blowout losses on the road to Arizona and UNC. 

Even with what we have seen, the betting public won't be able to help themselves. They are going to lay the short number with Michigan on the road. That tells me the books are more than happy with needing UCF to cover this short number. Give me the Knights +3.5! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Bulls -8) 

Handicapping the NBA right now is quite the process with all the guys out with COVID. I think it's all about trying to find the team with the biggest edge and to me that's the Bulls. These two teams just played on Monday in Atlanta, which the Bulls won and covered 130-118.

Usually I would look to take the team that lost the first meeting in a home-and-away scenario like this, but I just can't with Atlanta. While the Hawks did get back Trae Young and Clint Capela on Monday from Covid, they lost Bogdanovic on Tuesday. Bogdanovic played 41 mins and scored 20 points in that game. Young scored 29, which looks great, but he did not shoot it well, going just 8 of 23 (1-6 on 3-pts). Atlanta also got 33 points from Cam Reddish, who was 8 of 13 on 3-pointers and still lost that game by double-digits. 

I just don't think the Hawks have enough healthy bodies to go on the road and expect to keep this close. Chicago's only significant contributors who are out with Covid right now are Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. Give me the Bulls -8! 

40* (CBB) - Over/Under Total ANNIHILATOR (Under 139.5) 

I think the books have completely missed the mark with the total for Wednesday's Big East clash between Providence and Seton Hall. Neither of these teams shoot the 3-ball all that well and both are pretty stout defensively. 

Providence is also a team that wants to play slow. They rank 219th in adjusted tempo. They should be able to dictate the tempo at home. At the same time, Seton Hall's defense is really good. Their opponents average possession length is 18.1, which is 309th longest in the country. 

The other big thing is the spot. Seton Hall hasn't played since Dec. 12 and Providence has been off since Dec. 18th. You got think both of these offenses will be a little rusty. Give me the UNDER 139.5! 

40* (NBA) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Nuggets +7) 

I will take my chances with the Nuggets catching 7-points on the road against the Warriors. While Golden State has had two days off since their big win at Phoenix on Christmas Day, I do think there could be a bit of a letdown herel. 

I also think the loss of Draymond Green is a big deal. The combination of him and Curry is what makes this team so special. Green also is the glue that keeps that defense together. Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole have both cleared protocol. Wiggins may play, but it doesn't sound like Poole will be available. 

As for the Nuggets, the only guy they got in quarantine right now is Bol Bol, who barely plays. I not only think Denver can keep this close, I give them a decent shot here to win outright. Give me the Nuggets +7! 

40* (NBA) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Spurs +6.5) 

Like the value we are getting with the Spurs as a 6.5-point dog at Utah. The Jazz have been going thru the motions here of late. While they have won 3 straight and are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games, they have failed to cover 5 straight. 

On the flip side, San Antonio has been one of the best bets in the NBA for a while now. Spurs are 11-4 ATS over their last 15 games. They have also went a very strong 10-5 SU during this stretch. With Mitchell out for Utah, I not only think the Spurs cover, but win outright. Give me San Antonio +6.5! 

40* (NBA) - Christmas Day Total DESTROYER (Under 228.5) 

I was shocked to see the total for the Suns/Warriors game on Christmas Day pushing 230. These two teams have already played twice this year and neither one was all that high scoring. The Suns won 104-96 at home in the first meeting and Golden State responded with a 118-96 win in the rematch. 

Not only will the familiarity help keep the scoring down, but we almost always get these huge defensive efforts in these Christmas games, which leads to a lot of UNDERs cashing at the ticket window. I just don't see this game getting into the 220s. Give me the UNDER 228.5! 

50* (NBA) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Rockets +9.5) 

I love the Rockets as a 9.5-point dog against the Pacers tonight. Indiana has no business laying close to double-digits. This team has no lived up to the hype and are just 13-19 to start the season. 

Indiana's Malcolm Brogdon, who I think is their best player, is listed as questionable. However, I don't think the's playing. He's got an Achilles injury that's bothering him. He played just 8 mins in their last game before it flared up. Not saying they don't need him to beat the Rockets, but it's definitely easier to rest him against a lesser team. I also think having two days off after this game makes it more likely they won't rush him back. 

I also think this line has been adjusted too much because the Rockets are on no rest. They didn't have to use a ton of energy in a 20-point loss to the Bucks. Houston also gets back No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green from injury. I like the Rockets to keep this close and maybe even win outright. Give me Houston +9.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Va Tech +9) 

I got to take the 9-points with the Hokies on the road against the Blue Devils. Duke is such a public team that you bet against them blindly and know that you are getting value and I just think after three straight cupcake wins (all covers), we are seeing max inflation on the Blue Devils. 

This Virginia Tech team is no joke. The Hokies are just 8-4 and while that might not seem all that impressive for a team that was expected to be pretty good, it's been good enough for them to go from being the No. 39 ranked team at KenPom to the No. 22. They have nothing to be ashamed about with their 4 losses, which have come against Memphis, Xavier, Wake Forest (undefeated) and Dayton (beat Kansas). 

I think the Hokies can make a game of this and while I don't know that they can pull off the upset, I see this coming down to the wire. Give me Virginia Tech +9! 

40* (NBA) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Celtics -5.5) 

I will lay the 5.5 with the Celtics as they host the Cavs tonight. I know both of these teams are missing a lot of guys because of Covid, but Boston clearly is in the better situation. The Celtics only starter that isn't playing is Al Horford. They got Tatum, Brown and Smart all available, as well as guys like Robert Williams, Dennis Schroder and Payton Pritchard. 

It's a different story for the Cavs. Cleveland will be down 3 starters, including their dynamic frontcourt duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Not only are these two guys a force defensively (combine for 3.2 blocks/game), account for 19.1 of their 45.0 rebounds/game and are their 2nd and 4th leading scorers (Collin Sexton is 3rd and is also out). Give me the Celtics -5.5! 

40* (NBA) - Public Money ATS BLOODBATH (Magic +8.5) 

I don't love betting on bad teams like the Magic, but this is a spot you have to roll the dice. As bad as Orlando is, they should not be anywhere close to a double-digit dog against a Hawks team that is going to be without their best player in Trae Young, as well as big man Clint Capela and one of their top reserves in Danilo Gallinari. 

This is also an Atlanta team is tied for the 10th and final playoff spot in the East at 14-15. Where would this team be if they didn't have Young for the season? They just shouldn't be laying this many points in this spot. You also got to factor in that Atlanta has two big games on deck. They go to Philly to play the 76ers tomorrow and are at the Knicks on Christmas Day. It would not shock me if they lost this game outright. Give me the Magic +8.5!