Rickenbach NFLX *8* Pittsburgh Steelers +3.5 vs Minnesota in Canton, OH @ 8 PM ET Sunday, August 9th - Taking advantage of the line move here. With news of a number of Steelers players out for this game, the line has moved Minnesota's way. This is offering great value to Pittsburgh. The fact is Minnesota is going to sit a lot of players in this game too. That's how the preseason is and this is particularly true in the Hall of Fame game. With teams annually complaining about having 4 preseason games, having 5 is certainly not enticing and the early games and later games in preseason see the starters play very little. It is truly just the middle games of preseason that see the starters get some significant game time action. The point is that news of starters being out for this game should do very little to adjust the line and yet it does and that offers opportunities to take advantage by fading the line moves. Even with motivation for preseason games being called into question at times, this is still a nationally televised game and NFL teams have some pride to be a part of this annual season opener. With Steeler Jerome "The Bus" Bettis being inducted in this year's Hall of Fame class, one could argue that Pittsburgh has a little extra motivation for this one. However, the real motivation key is that of Landry Jones of the Steelers. The QB has disappointed so far in his time with the Steelers and he knows it. The former Oklahoma QB has come into camp with a different attitude and work ethic this summer and it's paying off. He's expected to get the majority of playing time at QB for the Steelers in this one and with the way he's looked so far in training camp, he can be expected to have a solid performance with no shortage of motivation as he looks to atone for some past poor performances in preseason action. Landry is out to earn his positioning on the Steelers depth chart at QB and I look for him to do just that. With the line move on this game from a 2.5 up to a 3.5 there has been even more value added for the underdog Steelers. Play Pittsburgh +3.5 as an *8* selection Sunday.

Rickenbach NBA *6* Cleveland Cavaliers +4 vs Golden State @ 9:00 ET - It's quite amazing that the Warriors are 3-2 both straight-up and ATS in this series. They had no business covering the spread in game one (it went to overtime) in a match-up where Cleveland plus the big points looked like the right side all the way. And now again in Game 5, the Warriors covered a game in which it looked like they were a dead ticket all the way. Golden State was an 8.5 to 9.5 point favorite on Sunday and the game was back and forth most of the way with teams trading buckets until in the final minutes everything went the Warriors way. Give credit to Golden State for getting these wins and being able to come up big in critical moments of these games. But this is also giving solid line value to a home dog Cleveland team that has LeBron James fired up to make sure his team does not lose this series on their home floor. LeBron has been an absolute beast in this series and the Cavaliers are a perfect 3-0 in this post-season when they are trailing in a series. Cleveland was on a fantastic 9-1 run before dropping the past two games to the Warriors. The Cavs know they let the game slip away from them in the final minutes in Game 5 and they won't let the same thing happen on their home floor. Lets not forget the Warriors had lost 3 of their last 6 road games before coming up with the big road win at Cleveland in Game 4 of this series. As for the Cavaliers, don't overlook the fact that, before the Game 4 loss on their home floor, they had won 9 of their last 10 home games including a stellar 7-1 mark at home in this post-season. The Warriors are simply over-valued here and the home dog is the way to go. Play Cleveland +4 as a *6* selection Tuesday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Cleveland Cavaliers +8.5 @ Golden State @ 8 ET - It is common knowledge that Cleveland is the short handed team in this series. That said, the extra rest is a huge benefit to the Cavaliers. LeBron James is trying to put the Cavs on his shoulders and carry this team to an NBA Championship and the extra day of rest is a big deal for LeBron and Co. This season the Cavaliers are a PERFECT 15-0 when playing with 2 days of rest. The beauty of that angle in this spot is that the Cavs don't have to win this game for a successful result in this Game 5 match-up. The Cavs are a full +8.5 points in this Sunday match-up and those are big points considering how tight this series has been much of the way thusfar. In the past two months Cleveland has not lost back to back games and that includes this entire post-season. As for Golden State, the Warriors have failed to cover 10 of the last 14 times they have been a home favorite of 6.5 points or more. Golden State is facing a Cavs team with a huge "underdog mentality" that has them fighting hard in this series. That's why for the third time in four games the Cavaliers attempted more shots from the field than did the Warriors. In fact, the Cavs have averaged 8 more shot attempts than Golden State in those 3 games. The one game where Golden State did get more shot attempts from the field was Game 3 and Cleveland won that game any way. The point is that Cleveland's effort throughout this entire series has been very impressive. They should have covered the first game of the series too (remember that was a crazy ATS loss in overtime). With that said, there is huge value with a Cavs team that simply came out flat in Game 4 after the huge Game 3 home win. Now, on the road and off of their worst effort of the series, you can expect an A+ effort from a Cavaliers team that easily could have been 3-0 ATS in this series heading into Game 4. The points are a huge value here with a Cavs team that is 15-0 straight-up in this situation (2 days rest) this season AND that has huge motivation after getting embarrassed on their home floor. The Cavs once again overcome the absence of Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving with a huge effort. Play Cleveland plus the big points as a *10* Top Play Sunday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Golden State Warriors -2.5 @ Cleveland @ 9:00 ET - Golden State ended up with another loss in the ledger in Tuesday night's Game 3 but if a moral victory counts for anything, the Warriors certainly garnered some confidence from the 4th quarter of that game. Golden State came all the way back from what looked like a sure blowout defeat the way the 3rd quarter went. That said, look for the Warriors to carry that momentum, confidence and much better shooting right into this critical Game 4 match-up Thursday. Golden State has gone 6-1 straight-up and ATS the last 3 seasons combined when they are trailing in a playoff series. Also, the Warriors are 22-3 straight-up and 15-8-2 ATS this season when playing with revenge. With the low number posted on this game look for the Warriors to continue that straight-up dominance in this situation while also adding another ATS victory to that ledger. The Cavaliers are 8-14 straight-up and ATS as an underdog this season. Perhaps the most impressive stat of all though is this: the Warriors have not lost three straight games this entire season! That includes regular season and post-season action. Fired up coach Steve Kerr has his troops ready to go in this one. Play Golden State minus the short number as an *8* selection Thursday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Golden State Warriors -1 @ Cleveland @ 9:00 ET - As I correctly predicted right here in my Game 2 write-up, the Cavaliers would be hungry after letting Game 1 get away from them. They also were fired up after losing Kyrie Irving to injury and, as typically happens, all of the supporting cast brings their "A game" in terms of hustle and hard work. That is why the Cavaliers were able to win Sunday despite shooting just 32% from the field! The Cavs dominated the glass with a 75 to 54 edge in rebounds. That won't happen again tonight. Now you will see that the aggressive and hungrier team will be the Warriors. After losing in OT on their home floor the Warriors will be fired up to go on the road and regain the home court edge. Conversely, Cleveland can't help but have a bit of a letdown here. The Cavs are happy they earned that all-important split on the road in the first two games and they now return home so there is a little bit of a relaxed feeling that takes over the team. That is not good when facing a team as talented as these Warriors. Golden State is 22-2 this season when playing with revenge including 6-1 when playing with home loss revenge. These are straight-up records I am stating here since this line is basically a pick'em. Over the last 3 seasons, Golden State has gone 34-10 when off of an upset loss as a favorite. The Cavaliers are an ugly 7-14 ATS as an underdog this season. The Warriors have lost two straight games just once this entire post-season. They know it's time for them to "get back to work" tonight and be the aggressors and that will be evident in tonight's Game 3. Play Golden State -1 as a *10* Top Play Tuesday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Cleveland Cavaliers +8 @ Golden State @ 8 ET - Already without Kevin Love, the Cavaliers now lost Kyrie Irving. Cleveland must be finished now, right? Hardly! That is why the value is with the Cavaliers here. They had a chance to rest up with the extra rest before this series plus the fact that where two off days between the Game 1 Thurday and this Game 2 on Sunday. Of course the Warriors got rest too. But the point being that it is easier to recover and compensate for injuries when you afforded the time to do so. LeBron James and Company will be ready tonight. You can bet on that. Also, after getting burned in Game 1 with Cleveland because of overtime - the Cavs covered the entire game in regulation - I won't hesitate to back them here. The Warriors have proven they are quite beatable (ATS) at home in these playoffs. In fact, prior to Golden State's ridiculously fortunate cover in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Warriors had covered just 3 of their prior 8 home playoff games. Bettors are likely to pile up on Golden State in Game 2 due to the injury to Irving but that is typically the wrong thing to do and simply gives Cavs backers even more value here. Teams rally in the first game after a star goes down. Couple that with the determination of LeBron James and the anger they bring to this game after letting Game 1 getting away in overtime, and you have the perfect set up for a dangerous dog to hang tough in this one Sunday night. The Cavs are a perfect 14-0 straight-up and 10-4 ATS this season when playing with two days rest! Even if the Cavaliers don't take that record to 15-0 by getting the road upset here, they will absolutely hang tough in this critical Game 2 match-up. Play Cleveland plus the big points as a *10* Top Play Sunday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Cleveland Cavaliers +6 @ Golden State @ 9 ET - I see a huge edge with grabbing the available points in this one. First off, neither team is likely to come out super sharp and firing on all cylinders because the long layoff definitely will take a toll in that regard. You can practice all you want but game time action is the only way that players and teams truly stay in top form. That said, there could be some sloppiness in this game and that is particularly true early. That means the Cavs are absolutely going to hang around in this one and getting a half dozen points with LeBron and Company is a huge value. James is one of the key benefactors of the extra time off. His aching body needed the extra rest and the long layoff has benefitted the Cavs much more than the Warriors because Kyrie Irving and LeBron James both were in need of healing. The Warriors will struggle to pull away in this game and an outright win for the road dog would not surprise at all. The Warriors are currently on a 5-9 ATS run in games where they are favored by 5 points or more. In other words, Golden State has shown many times over that they struggle to put teams away. As for the Cavaliers, they have gone 3-1 ATS and SU as a dog in these playoffs and the lone loss they had was on a banked in 3 pointer at the buzzer in a game where they were a 2.5 point underdog! The Cavs could easily have a perfect 4-0 record as a dog in this post-season. The Cavaliers are 14-2 SU in their last 16 games and only one of those losses came by more than 3 points. They're in this one all the way and an upset certainly would not be a shock. Too much value is being given to the East/West dichotomy. The Warriors are facing the best of the East now and this one is a battle! Play Cleveland +6 as an *8* selection Thursday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Houston Rockets +10.5 @ Golden State @ 9 ET - The Warriors had won and covered each of their two prior potential close out games in these playoffs. However, they had the Rockets down 3 games to 0 in Houston and couldn't get the job done on Sunday. In fact, the Rockets dominated Golden State for much of that game. The reason I am again backing Houston tonight is because the points are generous and this team just will not quit. They were stung badly in Game 3 of this series but this is the same team that battled hard with the Warriors in Golden State in the first two games in this series and fell just short in each game. Also, the Rockets came all the way back from their 3-1 series deficit against the Clippers in the last round. That included two road wins in their 3 game rally. Even though the Warriors did win each of their close out opportunties in the first two rounds of the playoffs (against New Orleans and Memphis) they shot 50.6% in each of those two wins. Against the Rockets they have been held below 46.8% in 3 of the 4 games. Even in the game in which the Warriors shot 53% from the field, they still only won the game by 1 point. The Rockets proved in Game 4 they didn't want to be embarrassed and blown right out of the post-season after their dreadful Game 3 performance. With the heart and fight and fire they showed early in this series and in Game 4 as well as in the series comeback with the Clippers, I don't expect to see any quit in the Rockets tonight either. Houston is 25-10 ATS this season when off of a win by 10 points or more in their prior game. Also, the Rockets are on a long-term 25-12 ATS run as a road dog of 9.5 to 12 points. Look for the Warriors to drop to 3-6 ATS in this post-season when leading in a playoff series. Play Houston +10.5 as a *10* Top Play Wednesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Atlanta Hawks +8 @ Cleveland @ 8:30 ET - The Hawks showed a lot of fight in battling the Cavaliers all the way to the finish in Game 3 in Cleveland. Though they fell short in overtime, no one should expect Atlanta to stop fighting tonight. Especially with the "dirty play" they feel they have seen from the Cavs Matthew Dellavedova. Whether the Hawks feelings are justified or not, the fact is they have plenty of motivation to give a huge effort in Game 4 and try to send this series back to Atlanta. Though the Hawks lost Kyle Korver to an ankle injury for the rest of the season, he was not shooting well in this series. Atlanta showed a lot of heart and determination in Game 3 and one should not expect them to go away quietly in Game 4 either. The Cavaliers LeBron James appears to be wearing down some as he's having to do so much, especially because of the Kyrie Irving knee injury situation. The Cavs are only 2-4 ATS in home games in the post-season and with their Game 3 non-covering win, Cleveland has failed to cover 4 of their last 5 playoff home games. They once again are overvalued here. The Hawks have covered 4 of their last 5 playoff road games and are an overall 14-8 ATS as an underdog this season. Play Atlanta +8 as an *8* selection Tuesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Houston Rockets +5 vs Golden State @ 9 ET - The Rockets were thoroughly embarrassed in their Game 3 loss on their home floor. After battling hard against the Warriors and coming up just short in the first two games of the series on the road, Houston had the false impression that they could just come home and the Toyota Center would insure a victory. They found out that was certainly not the case at all. Although down 3-0 in this series, even if only playing for pride, one thing is for certain, the Rockets are going to give a huge effort in this game. They do have some added confidence from the fact they won 3 straight against the Clippers after being down 3 games to 1. Kudos to Curry for being a phenomenal player and he's certainly well deserving of everything that comes his way but I don't see him shooting the ridiculous efficiency with which he shot in Game 3 on Saturday. The Rockets were on a 5-0 ATS run before losing Game 3. The Warriors were on a 6-12 ATS run before the blowout win Saturday. Maybe they do end the series today but I see this game being tight all the way and I see the Rockets being in this one all the way to the end and possibly springing the upset and sending it back to California for Game 5. The Rockets are 12-2 ATS off of an upset loss as a favorite this season. Houston is also 14-4 ATS this season off of a loss by 10 points or more. The Rockets will be physical, intense, and are ready to leave it all on the floor Monday night. Play Houston +5 as an *8* selection Monday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Atlanta Hawks -1 vs Cleveland @ 8:30 ET - The Cavaliers are such a public team because of being led by LeBron James. It helps to add more value to fading Cleveland then what should truly be there. We firmly believe that is the case today. Atlanta is a very small home favorite here even though the Hawks are 40-7 in home games this season. Note that the Cavs are an ugly 4-13 ATS as an underdog this season. As a road dog of 3 points or less, Cleveland has gone 1-4 ATS this season. The Hawks are 3-1 ATS this season, and 11-6 ATS the last 3 seasons combined, as a home favorite of 3 points or less. Although one may hesitate to back them off of an upset win on the road in their victory at Washington on Friday, note that the Hawks are 8-3 ATS this season when off of an upset win as an underdog. The Hawks came back from down 2 games to 1 to beat Washington by winning 3 straight games. Atlanta has gone 23-11-2 ATS (and 29-7 straight-up) this season when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. In other words, when Atlanta gets hot, they get really hot, and they are only laying 1 point in this game as of early Wednesday morning. So nearly any straight-up win will equate to a win at the betting counter too. With Kevin Love out for the season, and Kyrie Irving dealing with a knee injury in this one, the Hawks have huge personnel edges and will be fired up on their home floor. They've taken 3 straight games against LeBron and Company since being embarrassed in Cleveland in their first match-up early this season. The Hawks dominate for a 4th straight time against the Cavaliers tonight. Play Atlanta -1 as a *10* Top Play Wednesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Houston Rockets +10.5 @ Golden State @ 9 ET - The "knee-jerk reaction" here would be to grab the Warriors since the Rockets are off of a grueling 7 game series with the Clippers while Golden State has had a little to recover after knocking off Memphis 4 games to 2. However, the fact is that the Rockets are playing with so much confidence right now, showing the ability to also bounce back from adversity and come back from any deficit, remember Game 5 at Los Angeles? With that said, no lead is safe and certainly the double digit pointspread here is showing that this line is a little inflated to say the least. Yes, the Warriors did sweep Houston in the regular season but the Rockets did not have Dwight Howard in two of those games. I am not big on the "night of the week" trends but it is interesting that Houston is a perfect 8-0 ATS this season (and 20-5 ATS the last 3 seasons) on Tuesday nights. The Rockets are also a long-term 23-12 ATS as a road dog of 9.5 to 12 points. Also, while one might expect Houston to be flat after such a big win, note that the Rockets are 24-10 ATS this season when off of a win by a double digit margin. In fact, Houston has now won 3 straight games - all by double digits - and they simply look like a freight train that has a full head of steam at this point. I am not saying they will win this game outright but I am saying they will stay within this very large number. The Warriors are simply over-priced here. Golden State is now facing a much more potent offense than what they saw in the first two rounds with New Orleans and Memphis. Play Houston +10.5 as an *8* selection Tuesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Houston Rockets +2.5 vs LA Clippers @ 3:30 ET - The Rockets have proven they have a "never say die" attitude and, after their incredible Game 6 victory on the road in LA on Thursday, Houston has the added benefit of extra time off heading into Game 7. That helps insure they are off the unbelievable high of their huge 4th quarter performance in Game 6 and they are ready to "take care of business" in Game 7. Had this game been a quick turnaround it likely would have hurt the Rockets. But the added benefit of additional time off to get the proper mental focus back as well as to allow James Harden even more recovery time from his recent illness is a big plus for the Rockets. There seems to be a lot of support for the Clippers in this one. They are laying points even though they are on the road and the line is also climbing. A lot of this has to do with "zig zag theory" that is so popular with many bettors. That theory is popular come playoff time as a bettor backs the team who lost the prior game and needs to respond in the next game. That is often a decent theory to follow but there is a flaw in it when situational edges are as big as they are here. The Clippers were up 3-1 in this series and then failed to close out the series in Game 5 in Houston. But, in the back of their minds they knew they still had the Game 6 opportunity on their home floor. However, now that they blew that, they now head to the road again and it's tough to win on the road in a situation like this. Having blown a 3-1 series lead, having blown a huge 4th quarter lead on their home floor in Game 6, and now having to take to the road for a "win or go home for the summer" game. This is a lot of pressure for a team that was "supposed to win" and "had this series won". There is a huge mental aspect to this game and, as much as I respect the talent level of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, they let this series slip away. Look for James Harden and Dwight Howard to rule the day in Game 7 and let's not forget what the Rockets supporting cast managed in that huge Game 6 win on the road. The Rockets are loaded with confidence right now and the Clips have the added pressure of knowing that no lead is safe with this team. Look for the home team to get the outright win here but I'll gladly grab the points being offered "just in case". Play Houston +2.5 as an *8* selection Sunday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Memphis Grizzlies +5.5 (or +5) vs Golden State @ 9:35 ET - After playing very little in Game 4 and then sitting out Game 5, defensive stopper Tony Allen is expected to be back on the floor for this "win or go home" Game 6 against the Warriors. Yes, the Warriors have won huge in each of the last two games in this series, but the presence of Allen as well as a raucous crowd have this Game 6 shaping up to be a much different result. Let's not forget that the Warriors were 4-11 ATS from April 1st onward before covering these last two games in big victories over the Grizzlies. The Warriors, with Allen back on defense for the Grizzlies, won't be shooting "lights out" like they have in the past two games. Golden State is 1-3 ATS when leading in a playoff series this year. This is still a team learning how to handle success properly and they are walking into a "hornets' nest" tonight in Memphis. The Grizzlies are 21-10 straight-up and 18-11 ATS this season when revenging a loss. Also, over the last three seasons combined, Memphis is a stellar 7-2 ATS when trailing in a playoff series. Look for the Grizzlies to come up huge on their home floor tonight. This is the same floor where they were 35-10 on the season before that embarrassing Game 4 home loss. They respond in a huge way tonight and the points are a great value here. Play Memphis plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Houston Rockets +8.5 @ LA Clippers @ 10:35 ET - The Clippers lost Game 5 on the road at Houston as the Rockets avoided elimination. Now, in Game 6, everyone is backing the Clippers strong and driving this line upward. Once again, it's in a higher range than it should be in my opinion. The Clippers did win huge in their two home games against the Rockets in this series but they shot an insanely high percentage in those two games while Houston struggled from the field. Coach McHale tinkered with the starting lineup in Game 5 and it paid off and the Rockets improved their ball movement and had a strong shooting night. Look for more of the same tonight. Houston has won the battle of the boards in 3 of the last 4 games and the Clippers only beat the Spurs by a bucket in their series-clinching win in the first round. This will be another tough battle for the Clips tonight. If you're expecting the Rockets to fall flat because they are off such a big win, think again. Houston is 22-10 ATS this season when off of a win by a margin of 10 points or more. As for the Clippers, their loss in Game 5 dropped them to 2-8 ATS in playoff games the L3 years when they have the series lead. They are still up 3-2 in this series and they face another tough battle tonight. Close-out games always tend to be the toughest and this line is excessive. Look for the Rockets to be in this one all the way. Play Houston +8.5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Memphis Grizzlies +9.5 @ Golden State @ 10:35 ET - The Warriors blew out the Grizzlies at Memphis in Game 4 but that was just the 4th cover Golden State has managed in their last 14 games and you can bet that the Grizz will come to play tonight. Memphis is 6-2 SU and 7-1 ATS this season when playing with home loss revenge. It may be tough to get the outright win at Golden State (although Memphis has already done that once in this series) but the fact is the Grizzlies are going to keep this one a lot closer than many expect. The fact is that Memphis simply couldn't find the bottom of the next in Game 4. They had shot quite well overall in the first three games of the series but then shot a paltry 37.5% from the floor in Game 4. They will respond tonight. Since the end of March, Memphis has only lost two straight games once and when that did happen the second loss came by a margin of just 4 points. The Grizzlies, although not having the same talent level as the Warriors, have shown what tough defense, aggressive rebounding and hard work can do in "evening the playing field" in a series. Though the Warriors have home court advantage again by virtue of their Game 4 win, the Grizzlies aren't going to go away quietly. Look for that record noted above to improve to 8-1 ATS on the season as Memphis responds after being embarrassed on their home floor. When tied in a playoff series the last 3 seasons the Grizzlies have compiled a 5-1 SU and 5-1 ATS mark. Too many points here for over-valued Golden State. Play Memphis +9.5 as a *10* Top Play Wednesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Washington Wizards +8 @ Atlanta @ 8:05 ET - The Hawks battled back in Game 4 to regain home court advantage in this series but the Wizards continue to show tremendous effort as they very nearly came back from a huge deficit to tie the game late in Game 4. Paul Pierce missed a 3 that would have tied the game late and this was after Washington had battled back from a large deficit in the game. The point is that the Wizards simply can't ever be counted out in this series on in a game. That's why this this series is tied at 2 games apiece and that's why Washington is the play again tonight. The Wizards are 6-2 in the playoffs with only one loss by more than 5 points. The Hawks are 6-4 in the playoffs and 3 of those 6 wins have been by 7 points or less. There is great value with the big number tonight as, even with the John Wall injury, the Wizards continue to step up and battle hard each game. Remember that in the only ugly loss that Washington has in this series they were down by just 5 points heading into the fourth quarter. The fact is that this line on a critical Game 5 match-up is simply over-inflated due to the Hawks being back on their home floor. Note that Atlanta is an ugly 6-20 ATS in 2nd round playoff games. The Wizards are 13-6 ATS in all playoff games the last 3 years. Play Washington +8 as an *8* selection Wednesday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Houston Rockets +3 vs Los Angeles Clippers @ 9:35 ET - Credit is certainly due to the Clippers for their strong performance so far in this post-season. The Clips knocked off the defending champion Spurs in the first round and now, in the second round, they have the Rockets on the brink of elimination. I don't see Houston falling short on their home floor though and I am certainly going to back them at a full +3 points when you considered they were favored by 8 points in each of the first two games of this series! Are the Clippers really now showing that the odds makers were OFF by 11 points in the first two games of this series when making the lines? I don't think so! The fact is that this line has been driven by public perception and it's out of alignment! The Clips are a a solid 3-2 on the road in the playoffs which is strong but certainly not invincible. As for the Rockets, they are 4-1 at home in the playoffs and the 4 wins came by an average margin of victory of 9 points per game. Now they are a 3 point dog? I don't see the Rockets going away quietly in this series. This will be a dogfight tonight. Houston has twice been on their home floor off of a loss in these playoffs. They responded with a win each time and they won the rebounding battle by an average of 15 boards in those two games. The Rockets Dwight Howard will have a much bigger game tonight and Houston won't get themselves in foul trouble like they did on the road in Game 4. Note that the Rockets are 8-1 SU and ATS as a home dog of 3 points or less the last 3 seasons. They are 7-0 ATS on Tuesdays this season. The Rockets are also 13-4 SU and ATS when off of a loss by a double digit margin. The Clips are 1-5 ATS on Tuesdays this season. They are 2-7 ATS the L3 seasons when leading in a playoff series. The Clippers are also 10-21 ATS the L3 seasons when they are a road favorite of 3 points or less. Huge response from the home team tonight. They got embarrassed in LA the past two games. They don't want to "go out" like that if the Rockets do indeed fail to get past the Clippers in this second round. That said, huge effort tonight and it's quite likely this series is headed back to LA. Play Houston +3 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Chicago Bulls +5.5 @ Cleveland @ 7 ET - The Bulls have won two games already in this series and in the other two games - their two defeats - one came on a last second jumper by LeBron James. In my opinion, the way this tightly contested series has played out thusfar, the Cavaliers have no business being favored by nearly half-dozen points. Take advantage here in Game 5 and grab the big points. The Bulls have shot better (45%) in Cleveland than the Cavs have so far in this series. Chicago is fired up after the tight home loss in Game Four and they've outrebounded the Cavaliers in 3 of the 4 games in this series. The Bulls are 15-3 this season (and 13-5 ATS) when revening a home loss. After the tight defeat in Game 4, Chicago will respond tonight in what has been a back and forth series thusfar. The Cavaliers have officially covered just one game in this series and even if they manage to get the straight-up win tonight and I would expect it to come down to another one-possession game at the very end. That said, there is huge value with the points in this one. Play Chicago +5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Golden State Warriors -5 @ Memphis @ 9:35 ET - Golden State has not lost three straight games this entire season! I don't see them starting an ugly trend like that now. The Grizzlies have now taken two straight from the Warriors but they now must contend with an angry, fired up Golden State team that will absolutely bring their "A game" tonight. The Warriors have lost two straight games four other times this season. Each time they responded with a big win to end the losing "streak" at two games. The average margin of victory in those 4 games was 13.3 points and it's a great value to have the Warriors laying just 5 points here since they are on the road in this one. If they were at home they would be a double digit favorite of course. I like the line value of a strong road team playing with motivation. Golden State is 5-1 ATS when trailing in a playoff series. The Warriors are a solid 25-14 ATS when off of a loss by a double digit margin. The Grizzlies have held Golden State to 23% shooting from 3 point range in each of the last two games but that won't continue here. You can only hold a strong shooting team down for 'so long' before a huge big game eruption comes and this will the Warriors "A game" tonight as I noted above. Golden State lost the turnover battle in each of the last two games. The Warriors also lost the rebounding battle in Game 3 after winning it in each of the first two games. You can bet all these things have been emphasized by the Warriors coaching staff heading into Game 4. Look for a stellar game from the HIGHLY motivated road team in this one. Play Golden State minus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Atlanta Hawks -4 @ Washington @ 7 ET - The Hawks lost Game One of this series on their home floor and then responded in a huge way with a Game Two win. Now, after losing Game Three as a favorite, you can expect another huge reponse from Atlanta in Game Four. The Hawks, after that big Game Two "response victory" are 10-3 ATS this season when off of an upset loss as a favorite. Atlanta is also 21-7 straight-up this season when playing with revenge. They will be ready to go tonight on the road in Washington where the Wizards John Wall continues to struggle with his injury. Washington impressed in their first round sweep of Toronto but they are no longer playing a team the caliber of the Raptors. Washington is stepping up and facing one of the toughest teams from their division. Note that the Wizards are an ugly 6-12 ATS against divisional opponents this season. The Hawks have taken more shots from the field than the Wizards in each game. Those shots will start to fall with more frequency and Atlanta will be the hungrier team tonight. They must even this series back up because they know they can't afford to go down 3 games to 1 and the Hawks know they must take advantage of the injury situation with Wall now before it's too late. Play Atlanta minus the points as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Houston Rockets +7.5 @ LA Clippers @ 8:30 ET - Just because the Clippers won Game 3 by a big margin does not mean they are going to again dominate the Rockets and shoot 55% from the floor in Game 4. The fact is this line has gotten out of hand and I'll gladly take advantage of it with a big play on Houston tonight. The Rockets are fired up and ready to tighten up defensively and dominate the boards like they did in Game 2 after losing Game 1 of this series. Remember that the Rockets outrebounded the Clippers by a 73 to 49 margin in Game 2 after dropping Game 1 in Houston. They will be ready to respond tonight as they are going to give a huge effort to avoid falling into a dreaded 3-1 hole in this 2nd round series. While it is true the Rockets got crushed in Game 3 a lot of that had to do with insanely hot shooting from the Clippers and it is certainly noteworthy that Houston is 13-3 ATS this season when they are off of a loss by a margin of 10 points or more. Trust me, the Rockets will be fired up and ready to go tonight. As for the Clippers, they are 1-7 ATS the last 3 seasons when they are leading in a playoff series. Additionally, LA is only 18-28 ATS in home games this season. They are simply over-valued in this spot and I'll grab the value and up this play to my highest rating in backing the under-valued dog. Play Houston +7.5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Cleveland Cavaliers -1.5 @ Chicago @ 3:30 ET - While the Cavaliers have already adjusted to playing without Kevin Love - and have also gotten a boost by the return of outside sharp shooter JR Smith - the Bulls are going to struggle with the Pau Gasol injury situation. The Bulls snuck out the tight win in Game 3 but now face an angry LeBron James and Co. that is 30-12 straight-up this season when playing with revenge. With a low line on this game, that impressive 30-12 straight-up mark is nearly as good as an ATS trend and I'll gladly back a situation with an ATS mark that is 71% on the season! You know the Cavs will give a huge effort this afternoon as they can't afford to go down 3 games to 1 in this series. The Bulls are 6-11 ATS as a home dog of 3 points or less the last 3 seasons combined. The Cavaliers bounced back from the Game 1 loss in this series by rolling the Bulls by double digits in Game 2. They can do the same today in Game 4 and notch a big road win. Play Cleveland -1.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Memphis Grizzlies +5 vs Golden State @ 8:05 ET - The Grizzlies won Game 2 outright on the road thanks to solid defense, hard work, determination, and effort. Now that this series shifts to Memphis, suddenly everyone is backing the Warriors just because they are off of a loss. It doesn't make sense and I'll grab the value on the other side. Memphis is going to play even harder at home than they did on the road. They are a strong defensive team and they are highly motivated about stopping league MVP Stephen Curry. They did a good job of shutting down the Warriors in Game Two and they are certainly capable of holding them in check in Game 3 now that the series moves to Memphis. Note that the Warriors are just 2-4 ATS in these playoffs and they are only 3-5 ATS when off of an upset loss as a favorite this season. The Grizzlies are 6-1 ATS in 2nd round playoff games over the last 3 seasons combined. Memphis is 34-10 straight-up on their home floor this season. Also, looking for them to fall flat? The Grizzlies are actually 21-13 ATS the last 3 seasons combined when they are off of an upset win as an underdog. Memphis 8-3 straight-up this season when off of an upset win as an underdog. The Grizzlies have won 7 of their last 8 home games and the crowd will be rocking tonight. Play Memphis plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Washington Wizards +4 vs Atlanta @ 5:05 ET - The Wizards game two loss at Atlanta was much closer than the final score would lead you to believe. Washington was without John Wall in that game and the expectation that he will miss today's game too has driven his line higher than it should be. Without Wall, the Wizards hung very tough against the Hawks in game two and that game was in Atlanta. Now the Wizards are back home and let's not forget that this is a team that had won five straight playoff games before that defeat. Washington is 12-5 ATS in their last 17 playoff games. The Hawks are on a long-term 5-19 ATS run in 2nd round playoff games. Washington saw a number of players step up in Wall's absence on Tuesday and that will be the case again on Saturday as the Wizards certainly aren't going to lay down at home. The Hawks pulling away late in game two is helping to drive this line away from where it should be. Look for the Wizards to grab the outright victory but I am certainly grabbing the generous points being offered. Dating back to the regular season, the Hawks have lost 8 of their last 11 road games. That trend continues here as Washington improves to 32-12 in home games this season. Play Washington plus the points as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Chicago Bulls -1.5 vs Cleveland @ 8:05 ET - In Game One of this series the Bulls shot lights out from three point land and won outright on the road. In Game Two of this series the Cavs got a big game from downtown and got a much needed home win to even the series up. The Cavaliers are unlikely to have such another hot shooting night in this game as they are now on the road and will be facing an amped up defense. In their three playoff games on their home floor the Bulls have allowed a combined field goal shooting percentage of just 39%. The Cavaliers have been held under 40% from the floor in 2 of their last 3 road games. The Bulls are known for their stingy defense and they've gone 11-5 this season when they are off of a loss by a double digit margin. After getting drilled by 15 points in Game 3, Chicago responds tonight. This season the Bulls have gone 30-7 straight-up when playing with revenge. As for ATS records, Chicago is a rock solid 13-7 ATS as a home favorite of 3 points or less over the last 3 seasons. Cleveland is 3-12 ATS as an underdog this season and the Kevin Love injury has impacted the Cavs. They battled hard at home to manage to split the first two games without Love, but going on the road makes things much tougher tonight. Play Chicago -1.5 as a *10* Top Play. 

Rickenbach NBA *10* Cleveland Cavaliers -5.5 vs Chicago @ 7:00 ET - The Bulls hit 10 of 18 three pointers in Game One to steal the victory on the road on Monday. While the focus was on the Kevin Love injury and the JR Smith suspension, it was Chicago's hot shooting from three point land that allowed them to get the upset in Game One. I don't expect a repeat in Game Two. Look for the Cavaliers to shoot much better from three point land while the Bulls return from the stratosphere after that unusual performance on Monday. Additionally, Chicago is 16-29 ATS the last three seasons combined when they are off of an upset win as an underdog. Cleveland is 13-7 ATS when trailing in a playoff series. Additionally, the Cavaliers are 19-11 ATS in second round playoff games. The Cavs were 33-10 at home this season before falling short in Game One. I look for a huge response in Game Two and the short number here means the Cavaliers get the straight up win and the ATS cover. Play Cleveland -5.5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *6* Atlanta Hawks -6 vs Washington @ 8 ET - What happened to the Hawks in Sunday's series opener? They simply ran out of gas. Atlanta jumped out to a huge lead after one quarter and looked like they were going to get the job done without question but then weary legs doomed them in the fourth quarter. Shots just wouldn't fall even though Atlanta was hustling and playing hard. Their strong efforts will be rewarded in Game 2. Note that the Hawks were 32-0 this season when leading going to the 4th quarter before Sunday's loss. Atlanta went 29-0 in the regular season and was 3-0 in the playoffs when they led a game going to the 4th quarter. In other words, look for a fired up Hawks team to take the floor tonight and that will help turn this one into a rout making the half-dozen points here a very manageable amount to lay on the stronger team on their home floor. Atlanta is 9-2 SU and 8-2-1 ATS when revenging a home loss this season. Off an upset loss as a favorite the Hawks are 9-3 ATS. Atlanta was 38-6 straight-up on their home floor this season before Sunday's loss. The Wizards were just 19-24 straight-up on the road this season before their upset win Sunday. In the Hawks prior two games hosting the Wizards they won those games by an average margin of 20 points per victory. They will respond in a huge way on their home floor tonight and, unlike Game 1, the shots will fall. Play Atlanta -6 as a *6* Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5 vs Chicago @ 7:05 ET - Of course this line has been impacted by the Kevin Love injury and, in my opinion, it's been dropped too low. The Cavaliers won 3 of 4 meetings with the Bulls this season and the victories each came by at least five points. What you often will see in the first game without an injured star player is that many other players step in to fill to the role. It's an "A+ effort" type game as others attempt, and most often successfully, to compensate for the absence of a star player. With LeBron James and Kyrie Irving leading the way with huge games tonight it's going to be tough for the Bulls to stay close. Yes, Chicago did win their first series 4 games to 2 but they faced an overmatched Milwaukee team. The Cavaliers buried their overmatched foe, Boston, in a four game sweep. While the Cavaliers have been off for a week and one might be worried about "rust" in such a situation, this has actually been ideal for Cleveland as it has given them time to adjust to playing without Kevin Love. The Cavs will be ready to roll tonight from the opening tip on their home floor. The Cavaliers went 5-1 straight-up and 4-2 ATS this season as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points. The Bulls went 1-3 straight-up and 1-3 ATS as a road dog of 3.5 to 6 points. Chicago won their final game of their series with the Bucks in blowout fashion and the Bulls are 12-18 ATS this season when they are off of a game wher they scored 105 points or more. Play Cleveland -4.5 as an *8* selection Monday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* LA Clippers -2 vs San Antonio @ 8:05 ET - I talked about this in my Clippers write-up in Game 6 on Thursday. They are the better team in this series. The Spurs are fortunate to even still be alive in this series. San Antonio has ONE solid win in this ENTIRE series. Count it. ONE! The Clippers have 3 wins where they were the stronger team all the way through and kept a lead for much of the game and showed they were in control and that they were the better team. Yes, the Spurs rallied back late in Game 6 but it was evident throughout the game that the Clippers were able to build sizable leads while the Spurs had to rally just to make the ending interesting. The key point is this. There were two games in this series that could have gone either way. The overtime game and the "goaltending" game. Those two games both were won by the Spurs. As I said before, the Spurs could have already lost this series 4 games to 1 were it not for those two games. So the fact this series is 3-3 is really related to some good fortune for the Spurs in this series. The Clippers 3 wins were by an average margin of 10 points per victory. Had the Clips won just one of those other close games this series would already be over. The fact this series is tied at 3 games is honestly a bit of a fluke and now we get the better team at home in a Game 7 laying just a bucket? That makes this one a top play all day, any day! Father time has caught up to the Spurs. The Clippers are younger, hungrier, and they are the play here. Play the LA Clippers -2 as a *10* Top Play!

Rickenbach NBA *10* Brooklyn Nets +4.5 vs Atlanta @ 8:05 ET - The line on Brooklyn is in the +4 range as of early morning on game day and I'll gladly grab the home dog here in a series where the road team has lost every game. Adding value here is knowing I am fading an Atlanta team that is known for it's struggles in it's playoff history. It's not like the Hawks have the kiler instinct and confidence of teams that just close other teams out and put their foot on their throat when they have them down in a series. In fact, take note of these stats about the Hawks! They are 1-5 straight-up and 0-6 ATS the last three years when leading in a playoff series. Going further back, Atlanta is 5-16 straight-up and ATS when leading in a series. The Hawks don't have a reputation of being a "close-out" team and they are facing a Nets team that is proving they have plenty of fight left. Even though Brooklyn lost Game 5 by 10 points (just minssing the cover as a big dog), the Nets bench outplayed the Hawks bench by a huge margin. Couple that with the home court edge here and a fired up crowd and there is a good chance of an "upset" tonight as the home team once again is the straight-up winner for the 6th straight time  in this series. Grab the points as the Nets improve their 3-year run to 9-3 ATS when trailing in a playoff series! Play Brooklyn plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Los Angeles Clippers +5.5 @ San Antonio @ 9:35 ET - The Clippers lost a heartbreaker on Tuesday night but they are confident they can bounce back here and they know they would then have Game 7 on their home floor. That's a lot to be fired up about and to be motivated by. Yes the Clippers are down 3-2 in this series but their two wins both came by double digit margins. As for the Spurs, 2 of their 3 wins in this series were absolute nailbiters that could have gone either way. In other words, had the basketball gods been with the Clippers they could have easily already won this series 4 games to 1. The same could not be said for the Spurs who have only dominated one game in this series and who were fortunate to get the other two wins they have in this series. Certainly credit is due San Antonio for gutting out a pair of tough wins to be up 3-2 in this series instead of already eliminated. But the point is that the Spurs should not be a favorite by nearly a half-dozen points in this game. Grab the value with the road dog here who already has notched one very impressive win at San Antonio in this series. Note that the Clippers are 21-11 straight-up the last 3 seasons when they are playing with home loss revenge. Grab the points with the team that arguably is the better team in the series and has even proven that on the floor. Spurs are lucky to be up in this series and that luck runs out tonight against a fired up Clippers team motivated highly by coach Doc Rivers after Game 5 slipped away. Play the Los Angeles Clippers +5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Brooklyn Nets +9 @ Atlanta @ 7:05 ET - Brooklyn got back into this series by taking both games on their home floor. The Nets have covered all 4 games in this series and there is no reason to expect that to change now. In fact, Brooklyn is an impressive 6-1, 86% this season as a road dog of 6.5 to 9 points. The Nets are also an impressive 12-5, 71% in first round playoff games the last 3 years combined. Conversely, Atlanta is 5-12, 29% in first round playoff games the last 3 years combined. The Hawks appear destined to continue to live up to their underachieving ways while the Nets are filled with confidence after taking the last two games in Brooklyn. Going back to that 6-1 ATS stat above, also note that the Nets won 4 of those 7 games outright. Don't be surprised if they get the big road upset tonight. Brooklyn's two losses in Atlanta came by an average margin of just 6 points per game. The Nets shot the ball well from beyond the arc in Game 4 while the Hawks have not shot the ball well at home in this series. That catches up with Atlanta again tonight and while Hawks backers have pushed this line higher looking for a big response on their home floor, I'll grab the extra line value with a scrappy Nets team that is a perfect 4-0 ATS in this series. Play Brooklyn +9 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Los Angeles Clippers -2 vs San Antonio @ 10:35 ET - Father Time is catching up to the Spurs. Though Tim Duncan still plays at a high level his 39 year old body is being tested in this series. The rest of what used to be the Spurs Big Three is also "on the fade" as Manu Ginobli is but a shadown of his former self and Tony Parker continues to deal with aches and pains. It is so difficult to repeat as champions in any of the professional leagues and without a doubt the Spurs have a target on their back in this post-season. The Clippers could easily be up 3-1 in this series as they nearly took both games in LA - lost Game 2 in OT. That said, the Clips have plenty of confidence after going into San Antonio and getting not just a win, but a truly solid win where they led nearly the entire game. The Clippers got great production off of the bench in Game 4 and I expect more of the same tonight on their home floor. Though one might expect a letdown off a big win like that this has not been the case for the Clippers. Over the last 3 seasons the Clippers are 16-7 straight-up (and 14-8-1 ATS) when off of an upset win as an underdog. As for the Spurs they are 11-17 ATS in road games with a posted total between 205 and 209.5 points. With another high-scoring affair expected tonight, look for the young guns from LA to carry the load late in the game as the aging Spurs fall short once again. Play the Los Angeles Clippers -2 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* LA Clippers +6.5 @ San Antonio @ 3:30 ET - The final score in Game 3 is somewhat misleading and is helping to give great line value to the Clippers in this one. The Clips won Game 1 in this series and then lost Game 2 in overtime. Just because the final score of Game 3 ended up being lopsided, the markets have now over-adjusted on the Spurs. Note that the Clippers had 85 shots from the floor in Game 3 compared to just 76 for San Antonio. That stat is not what you would expect to see in a game where the Clips lost by 27 points. Again, the value is here for the taking because of this. It's highly unlikely the Clippers will again shoot just 34.1% from the field while the Spurs shoot 52.6%. With that said, the Clips also have done a good job on the glass in this series and they've limited turnovers. In other words, this Game 4 should be a dogfight that will be anyone's game. An outright upset would not suprise and getting a half dozen points in what should be an "even" match-up on the floor has me going to my top play rating. San Antonio is 18-25 ATS the last 3 seasons when they are off of a game where they held their opponent to 85 points or less. The Clippers respond in a huge way this afternoon after being held to 73 points Friday night. Play the LA Clippers +6.5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Toronto Raptors +5 @ Washington @ 8:05 ET - There seems to be no home court edge when these teams match up! The road team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings and 6 of those 7 wins have been outright upsets. Don't be surprised if you see another one tonight! The Raptors are fired up after losing the first two games of this series on their home floor and they are ready to respond. The Wizards are an ugly 8-20 ATS the last 3 years as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points. Also, when off of a game where they allowed 105 points or more, Washington has gone 5-15 ATS this season. There has been a lot of "talk" so far in this series and undoubtedly the Wizards now have the attention of Toronto. That said, the Raptors crash the boards hard tonight to shore up that area (rebounding) which has been a weakness for them so far in this series. The end result is likely to be a huge road win in this one tonight! Play Toronto plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA Game #725 - *10* Dallas Mavericks +6 at Houston @ 9:35 pm ET – The Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks for Game 2 of their Western Conference playoff series. The Rockets took Game 1 with a 118-108 victory with a pace that suited Houston’s high-energy offense. We expect that tempo to plummet in Game 2 with both sides grinding out a more defensive-minded contests. This matchups up with what the Mavericks can do best. Dallas plays a much more control pace with Rajon Rondo at point guard, something they haven’t had at time this season. Turnovers also led to many of those buckets in Game 1 and we expect both sides to be a lot stingier with the basketball, limiting the amount of uncontested layups in transition. Books are giving Houston a lot of credit following Game 1’s win and we see value on the other side. Play Dallas +6 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #717- *10* Milwaukee Bucks +8 at Chicago @ 8:05 pm ET – The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Chicago Bulls for Game 2 of this first round Eastern Conference playoff series. The Bucks got caught in an up-tempo game in Game 1 and just couldn’t match the Bulls firepower. Now that the feeling out process is over, we expect a much tighter, defensive battle between these teams in Game 2 – playing into the Bucks strength. Milwaukee is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and play a slowed-down pace to help protect their offensive shortcomings. This Bucks teams doesn’t have much in the way of postseason experience, so the nerves were present in Game 1. Milwaukee shot just 39 percent from the field in that opener, but should look much more settled with the postseason surrounding tonight and keep this closer than oddsmakers are expecting. Play Milwaukee +8 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #716- *10* Los Angeles Clippers -1 vs. San Antonio @ 10:35 pm ET – The Los Angeles Clippers host the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of their first round series Sunday. San Antonio was fighting hard for the No. 2 seed in the West at the end of the season, looking to avoid this particular matchup. However, the Spurs fell short and no face a Clippers team that has had their numbers as of late. Los Angeles won the final two meetings with San Antonio, covering in both of those matchups. The Clippers’ athletic forwards are a handful for the Spurs frontcourt and L.A.’s ability to go down the bench is on par with San Antonio, which often edges opponents thanks to their talent reserves. The Spurs may have peaked too soon, losing a very important season finale with New Orleans to fall from second to sixth in the conference. The energy will be high in the Staples Center and the Clippers will look to send a statement to the defending champs – and the rest of the West. Play LA Clippers -1 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #713- *8* Portland Trail Blazers +5.5 at Memphis @ 8:05 pm ET – The Memphis Grizzlies host the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday. Memphis swept the Blazers in their four meetings this season and covered in each of those games but oddsmakers are getting carried away with this spread for Game 1 Sunday. The Blazers are a very dangerous team, especially with their ability to stretch the defense with their perimeter shooting. Portland is one of the most active teams from beyond the arc and can suck the Grizzlies bigger defenders away from the hoop, opening up the offense for the guards to cut and slash to the basket. On top of that, Memphis limps into the postseason with Mike Conley and Tony Allen – perhaps the two most important players on the team – nursing injuries. We like the way Portland matches up and we’re jumping on this error in the odds Sunday. Play Portland +5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #708 - *10* Houston Rockets -5 vs. Dallas @ 9:35 pm ET – The Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs Saturday. The Rockets battled their way to the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference with a 7-3 SU run to finish the regular season, covering the spread in six of those games. That streak included a 108-101 victory over the Mavericks in Dallas, in which Houston covered as a 2.5-point road underdog. The Rockets have become a much more versatile teams since Dwight Howard returned in the middle. He should give Dallas plenty to handle inside and draw in the defense, which opens up space for Houston’s lethal outside shooting. The Rockets won three of the four meetings with Dallas this season and are 4-1 ATS in their last five head-to-head clashes. Play Houston -5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #512 - *10* New Orleans Pelicans +5 vs. San Antonio @ 8:05 pm ET – The New Orleans Pelicans host the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday. New Orleans can get into the postseason with a win over the red-hot Spurs, sneaking past the Oklahoma City Thunder and into the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. The Pelicans have alternated wins and losses in their last six games, coming off a -win against Minnesota, but are 7-3 in their last 10 games with a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS record at home in that span. New Orleans has played San Antonio tough, taking two of the past three meetings and own an 8-3 ATS mark in their last 11 head-to-head meetings. The Pelicans have also covered in seven of their last eight games against San Antonio inside the Smoothie King Center. The Spurs could be thin up front with center Tiago Splitter out with a calf injury. That is a big loss considering New Orleans big man Anthony Davis has been dominant against San Antonio this season, averaging 23 points and almost 12 rebounds in those three previous meetings with the Spurs. Play New Orleans +5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #511 - *8* Chicago Bulls -1 at Brooklyn @ 7:35 pm ET – The Brooklyn Nets host the Chicago Bulls Monday. Brooklyn is playing the second of back-to-back nights, coming off a beating in Milwaukee Sunday. The Nets may have hit their peak as they push toward the postseason and could be ready for a fall at the worst time. Chicago, on the other hand, is in the middle of a positioning battle for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are locked with the Toronto Raptors for No. 3 but are edged in the tie breaker so Chicago must win its remaining games to jump up the standings. The Bulls bounced back from two straight losses with wins against Philadelphia and Miami. They’ve gone 5-2 ATS in their last seven head-to-head meetings with Brooklyn, and have covered in eight of their past 11 road games against the Nets. Play on Chicago -1 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #701 - *6* Brooklyn Nets -1 at Milwaukee @ 3:05 pm ET – The Milwaukee Bucks host the Brooklyn Nets Sunday. Brooklyn has played itself into the Eastern Conference playoff picture with eight wins in its last 10 outing and continues to charger up the standings, with the No. 6 spot in the conference in its sights. Milwaukee is just two games ahead of the Nets in that sixth spot. The Bucks are overwhelmed on offense in this matchup, with their scoring attack stumbling down the stretch the Brooklyn catching fire at just the right time. The Nets have far too much firepower clicking at once, with Brook Lopez dominating inside, Deron William running the playbook and the bench stepping up with major contributions during this run. The road team has been the sharp side when these two teams collide, with the visitor going 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight clashes between the Nets and Bucks. Play Brooklyn -1 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #718 - *6* Houston Rockets +3 vs. San Antonio @ 8:05 pm ET – The Houston Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs Friday. Houston has plenty of motivation going into this showdown with San Antonio. The Spurs rolled the Rockets earlier this week, winning 110-98 at home, and snapped Houston’s three game winning streak. On top of that revenge angle, the Rockets battling the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 2 spot in the conference and currently sit in third heading into this contest, and San Antonio and Los Angeles are just a half game back of those two. Houston hopes some home cooking can give the some breathing room in the tightly-contested conference. The Rockets have covered in 15 of their last 22 games inside the Toyota Center, where they’ve covered four straight versus the Spurs. They are lethal from beyond the arc at home, hitting an average of 11.8 3-pointers per game which should help counter the Spurs’ red-hot shooting, knocking down 52.1 percent from the field the last three games. While dropping the last two games to San Antonio, Houston is 7-2 in their last nine head-to-head meetings. Play Houston +3 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #717 - *8* Houston Rockets +5.5 at San Antonio @ 8:35 pm ET – The San Antonio Spurs host the Houston Rockets Wednesday night. Houston can make a huge statement before the playoffs with a win in San Antonio and continue to put distance between them and the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference standings. Houston is No. 2 in the West just a game ahead of the Grizzlies and two games up on the Portland Trail Blazers, so there is plenty of motivation to keep the team’s current three-game winning streak going. The Rockets have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, with eight wins in their last 10 contests. Houston can get some revenge against the Spurs for a 110-106 road loss to San Antonio back in late December and this time around, the Rockets have star center Dwight Howard in the middle. Howard looked great in his last performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds in just over 22 minutes of action against the Thunder Sunday. Houston is wel rested and prepared coming into this game while the Spurs are playing their second night of back-to-backs, having defeated OKC Tuesday night. Houston has covered in six of its last seven road games and has dominate San Antonio when it comes to covering the spread, with a 7-1 ATS record in their last eight head-to-head meetings. Play Houston +5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #657 - *10* Golden State Warriors -3.5 at New Orleans @ 8:05 pm ET – The Warriors are coming off a loss to the San Antonio Spurs and don’t want to lose any momentum before the postseason. New Orleans is currently sitting in ninth in the Western Conference and isn’t a team Golden State would want to meet in Round 1. The Warriors may have taken care of the Pelicans in each of the three previous meetings this season – two without Anthony Davis - but New Orleans is a physical team that rebounds well, which plays into the Warriors’ weaknesses. Golden State isn’t taking any chances. The Warriors are 22-8-2 ATS in their last 32 games with the New Orleans franchise, including a 7-1-1 ATS mark in the Big Easy. Play Golden State -3.5 as an *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #602 - *10* Duke Blue Devils +1 vs. Wisconsin @ 9:20 pm ET – The Wisconsin Badgers face the Duke Blue Devils for the national title in Indianapolis Monday. Wisconsin is coming off a huge win over then-undefeated Kentucky, setting the Badgers up for a letdown spot in the championship game. Duke on the other hand, cruised past Michigan State and showed just how powerful their offense can be. The Blue Devils’ defense is the real reason they’ve come so far, limiting tournament foes to just 55 points per gamer. Duke, unlike Kentucky, is comfortable playing in a halfcourt set with Wisconsin, and much like versus MSU, simply looks to outclass the Badgers at each position. The Blue Devils took an 80-70 victory over the Badgers back in December and we see a similar result in this championship game. Play Duke +1 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #501 - *8* Houston Rockets +2 at Oklahoma City @ 1:00 pm ET – The Houston Rockets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday afternoon. Houston is making a late-season charge up the Western Conference standings, winning eight of its last 10 contests and going 6-4 ATS in that span. The Rockets sit in second place in the conference and are fighting off Memphis, Portland, Los Angeles and San Antonio, so there is little room for error in these remaining games. Houston is enjoying life with center Dwight Howard in the middle. The all-star big man returned to action last time out playing limited minutes but is expected to work in more time as the season closes. Howard faces a soft OKC frontcourt that is allowing opponents to dominate the paint, giving up an average of 59.3 points in the key over the past three games. The Rockets will look to exploit that weakness, then kick it out for big gains from beyond the arc when the Thunder collapse on defense. Houston is knocking down an NBA-high 12.3 3-pointers per game in its last three games. The Rockets have covered in five of their last six road games while OKC is just 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall. Play Houston +2 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #823 - *10* Wisconsin Badgers +5 vs. Kentucky @ 8:45 pm ET – The Wisconsin Badgers face the Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA tournament Final Four in Indianapolis Saturday. The Badgers are out for revenge after getting knocked out of the NCAA in the Final Four by the Wildcats last season. This time around, Wisconsin boast a much more confident and well-round team. The Badgers are one of the few teams in the country that can counter UK’s size on the court. The Badgers’ average height is just a touch shorter than Kentucky. 7-footer Frank Kaminsky will be a handful for the Wildcats bigs, with UK showing some weakness on the offensive glass this tournament. Wisconsin has some very dangerous role players on the floor, which have stepped up for big shots. Last year, Kentucky collapsed on Kaminsky and made the Badgers perimeter players beat them. This time around, UK can’t afford to give those other players space. Wisconsin plays a very control and careful brand of basketball, and averages the fewest turnovers per game. Notre Dame limited their mistakes against Kentucky and nearly knocked UK off. Wisconsin is just as controlled but has much more firepower. Play Wisconsin +5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #807 - *8* Brooklyn Nets +9 at Atlanta @ 7:35 pm ET – The Brooklyn Nets visit the Atlanta Hawks Saturday. Brooklyn has a ton of momentum heading into this huge matchup with the East-leading Hawks. The Nets have won six straight games – 4-1-1 ATS - to climb to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings and are just 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for sixth. Picking up a win over Atlanta would be a major boost to the team’s confidence heading toward the postseason. Brooklyn’s stars are peaking at the perfect time with names like Brook Lopez and Deron Williams stepping up their games. The Hawks have already secured the No. 1 seed in the East, so they could start resting players over the home stretch of the schedule. Atlanta has dropped two of its last three games, most recently losing to Detroit last time out. The underdog has been the wise play when these two team meeting, with the team getting the points posting a 6-2 ATS record in their last eight head-to-head clashes. Play Brooklyn +9 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #806 - *10* Toronto Raptors -3 vs. Boston @ 7:35 pm ET – The Toronto Raptors host the Boston Celtics Saturday. The Raptors are fighting for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference standings and after losing to Brooklyn Friday night, they’re running out of chances to make a move. This team has shown an ability to bounce back with a 4-1 ATS mark in their last five games coming off a loss. There is desperation with this Toronto team, which is back home and present tremendous value as the host Saturday. The Raptors play host to a Boston team that is falling off the pace in the East after challenging for a postseason spot last month. The Celtics have run out of steam, losing six of their last 10 games and playing on the second night of back-to-back games in this road spot. Boston has had much luck against the Raptors this season and we expect them to fall flat in this game. Play Toronto -3 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #823 - *8* Michigan State Spartans +6 vs. Duke @ 6:05 pm ET – The Michigan State Spartans face the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis Saturday. The Spartans have stunned their way as a No. 7 seed and now take on No. 1 Duke for a shot at the national title game. Michigan State has got there, like it has all season, on the back of its defense. The Spartans have allowed an average of just 60 points in regulation in the tournament. However, unlike the regular season, MSU has complemented that stout defense with some impressive scoring displays, especially from beyond the arc. The Spartans have hit nine 3-pointers in each of their last two NCAA games. Also on offense, MSU has limited their turnovers and not allowed opponents to score easy buckets off their mistakes. These teams meet way back in November when MSU head coach Tom Izzo was still working on his rotation. Duke ended up winning by 10 points with freshman center Jahlil Okafor doing most of the damage. This time around, Michigan State has its best lineup in stone and will have a much more educated approach as how to slow down Duke. Play Michigan State +6 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #709 - *8* Northern Arizona +8 at Evansville @ 7:00 pm ET – The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks visit the Evansville Purple Eagles in the CIT championship Thursday. The Lumberjacks have been counted out many times during this tournament, but continue to rise to the occasion. Northern Arizona’s most recent comeback was against New Jersey Tech, down big in the second half the Lumberjacks charged back and not only won but covered the spread. This Northern Arizona team first showed its teeth during non-conference play when it knocked off Michigan and won’t back down from this challenge. Oddsmakers are severely underrating the Lumberjacks, who are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 overall and 19-7-1 ATS in their previous 27 road games. Play Northern Arizona +8 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #526 - *8* Louisiana Monroe Warhawks -2 vs. Loyola-Chicago @ 8:00 pm ET – The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and Loyola-Chicago Ramblers continue a three-game series for the CBI tournament title in Fant-Ewing Coliseum Wednesday. The Warhawks lost Game 1 of the tournament championship in Chicago Monday and are back home to return serve and even up the series. UL Monroe shot just 37.9 percent from the field in Game 1 while Loyola-Chicago enjoyed its home-court edge, knocking down better than 50 percent of its shots. The Warhawks are a much bigger teams and will be able to scoop up any misses and limit the amount of second-chance buckets. UL Monroe dominated the glass in Game 1 and with the Ramblers’ shooting expected to take a step back on the road, the Warhawks will make the most of those misses. Play UL Monroe -2 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #769 - *8* Miami Hurricanes +1.5 vs. Temple @ 7:00 pm ET – The Miami Hurricanes meet the Temple Owls in the NIT semifinals inside Madison Square Garden Tuesday. While the Owls have breezed through some less-than-stout competition, Miami has scratched and clawed in some wars to advance to the tournament semis. The Hurricanes are used to playing at a very high level of competition, having battled all season in the ACC, and have done so without their starting point guard. We feel this Miami squad is severely underrated heading into this tournament game offer terrific value against the spread. The Hurricanes have been able to battle through some less-than-perfect nights, like bouncing back from an 18-point first half versus Richmond to score 45 points in the final 20 minutes – on the road no less. Miami has continued to show a championship resolve, while Temple has depended on home-court advantage in the first three rounds, and the Canes are a tremendous option Tuesday night in MSG. Play on Miami +1.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #737 - *6* Milwaukee Bucks +7.5 at Atlanta @ 7:35 pm ET – The Atlanta Hawks host the Milwaukee Bucks Monday. Milwaukee has been running a gauntlet of top and playoff-bound teams recently, splitting wins and losses in their last four. The Bucks are trying to hang on to sixth in the Eastern Conference while also chasing down Washington for fifth place. Milwaukee can make a statement in the conference with a victory over Atlanta Monday. The Hawks may be vulnerable as their wheels are wobbling down the home stretch, losing to Charlotte Saturday and having dropped four of their last six overall. Atlanta has allowed 116.5 points per game in those four losses, most recently 115 point in a loss to the Hornets with most starters sitting out. The Bucks have been solid on the road with a 3-1-1 ATS mark in their last five and a 24-12-1 ATS record away from home. With desperation setting in, the Bucks offer solid value in Atlanta Monday. Play Milwaukee +7.5 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #718 - *10* Phoenix Suns +1 vs. Oklahoma City @ 9:00 pm ET – The Phoenix Suns are fighting to stay in the postseason hunt in the Western Conference and are in panic mode after dropping back-to-back game before this home stand with Oklahoma City. The Suns were on a four-game winning run before that skid and are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Phoenix catches the Thunder in a tough spot coming off a loss in Utah Saturday night and having to fly from the high-altitude of Salt Lake City to Phoenix overnight for this Sunday tilt. Oklahoma City has also dropped back-to-back contests and looks like its wheels are wobbling as the home stretch of the season approaches. The Thunder aren’t getting much help behind Russell Westbrook and has scored just 89 and 91 points in their last two outings. This series has leaned toward the host team, with the home side going 4-1 ATS in the last five head-to-head meetings between OKC and Phoenix. Play Phoenix +1 as an *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #720 - *8* Louisville Cardinals +3 vs. Michigan State @ 2:20 pm ET – The Cardinals and Spartans weren’t supposed to be battling for the East Regional crown and a spot in the Final Four, but someone forgot to tell Rick Pitino and Tom Izzo. Two of the savviest NCAA tournament coaches clash in this Sunday’s showdown. Michigan State, as a No. 7 seed, has been playing beyond its means since the start of the tournament, but they take on a team that can play just as physical as them and has just as much tournament experience on the sidelines. Louisville’s pressure defense will eventually make MSU cave in. The Spartans have limited their turnovers in the tournament, not giving away extra points, but take on one of the best full-court presses in the country which thrives on steals and turnovers. In a game this close it will be those points off turnovers and transition buckets that make the difference for Cardinals bettors. Play Louisville +3 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #513 - *10* Arizona Wildcats -1.5 vs. Wisconsin @ 6:05 pm ET – The Arizona Wildcats clash with the Wisconsin Badgers in the Elite Eight Saturday. This is a massive matchup for the Wildcats who have been dreaming of revenge against the Badgers since getting edge by Wisconsin in last year’s regional final. Arizona not only has that motivational edge but is one of the few teams that outshines the Badgers near the basket. The Wildcats have a surplus of height and athleticism that can matchup with Wisconsin star center Frank Kaminsky. Arizona also have a talent edge on the perimeter as well. While the Badgers have some scrappy guards in the backcourt, the Wildcats toss some NBA-ready players out there who outmatch the Badgers guards. That surplus of talent and the added motivation to avenge last season’s loss, is enough to sway this game in favor of Arizona. Play Arizona -1.5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #878 - *10* Louisville Cardinals -2.5 vs. NC State @ 7:37 pm ET – Louisville has some payback in store for the Wolfpack, who edged the Cardinals during ACC play. Of course, this revenge spot comes on a much bigger stage. Louisville won’t be taking NC State lighting in this Round of 16 matchup, using their famed pressure defense to slow down the Wolfpack attack and capitalize on easy transition buckets. Not only is Louisville out to erase that loss to their ACC rivals but North Carolina State runs a huge risk of a letdown in this game after knocking off No. 1 Villanova in the Round of 32. The Cardinals are the much more tournament savvy team and won’t be rattled by the big stage. This slim spread represents what happen in the past between these programs not where they’re at right now and the current situation. Louisville will prove it is the superior program Friday. Play Louisville -2.5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #881 - *8* UCLA +9 vs. Gonzaga @ 7:15 pm ET – The UCLA Bruins get a rematch with Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 Friday. The Bulldogs beat the Bruins back in December but this UCLA team is on a much higher level heading into this matchup. UCLA is riding a massive wave of momentum and is playing at a much more efficient pace. The Bruins offense is doing a better job finding the open look and capitalizing on it. UCLA has been punishing teams from deep as well and will stretch a bigger Gonzaga defense with their versatile forwards. In the backcourt, the Bruins have big guards that will be a tough matchup for the Bulldogs backcourt. This matchup is much closer than the spread would indicate and we’re taking advantage of this lofty number. Play UCLA +9 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #810 - *10* Wisconsin Badgers -6 vs. North Carolina @ 7:45 pm ET – The Badgers take on the Tar Heels in the Sweet 16 Thursday. This is a contrast in styles with UNC wanting to push the tempo and score in transition, and Wisconsin looking to slow the pace and play a halfcourt set. The Badgers can really throw a wrench in the Tar Heels plans, with their methodical tempo. North Carolina is not a great shooting team in a halfcourt set and relies on quick buckets and getting to the rim, while defenders are on their heels. Wisconsin will draw out possessions and suck time off the shot clock, turning the pace of this game into a crawl. On top of that, UNC is without forward Kennedy Meeks, who is a valuable asset in defending against Badgers’ 7-foot star Frank Kaminsky. That is one less body they can throw at Kaminsky, who should give this UNC team trouble inside and stretch their interior defense with his ability to knock down the outside shot. Play Wisconsin -6 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #806 - *8* Notre Dame Fighting Irish +2 vs. Wichita State @ 7:15 pm ET – The Irish face the Shockers in the Round of 16 Thursday night, and while the market sided with WSU in a knee-jerk reaction following their upset of Kansas, we’re buying back Notre Dame and getting tremendous value on the No. 3 seed – and one of the hottest teams in the country. The Fighting Irish have won seven in a row (5-2 ATS), including their run to the ACC title. Notre Dame has a very balanced offense, with multiple contributors and for the first time in a while, actually stands as the bigger team in this matchup. Wichita State scored one of its biggest win in program history, knocking off in-state rival KU, and setting up WSU for a letdown in this game. That momentum has fizzled out with the long break between rounds and the Shockers will be in for a fight Thursday. Play Notre Dame +2 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #777 - *6* Louisiana Tech Bulldogs +4 at Temple @ 9:00 ET – The Temple Owls host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the quarterfinals of the NIT Wednesday. The Bulldogs are presenting solid value as the road team in this matchup thanks to their offensive pace and deep scoring attack. Louisiana Tech averages 73.5 points per game and average 70.4 possessions per game, and those numbers have been ramped up with the NIT running a 30-second shot clock. That change in the rules has played right into the Bulldogs plan of attack – covering easily in the first two rounds - and finds slow-paced squads like Temple out of rhythm with the basketball. Louisiana Tech has been to this spot in the tournament twice in the past two years and come up short, so there is added motivation for the Bulldogs to erase those shortcomings and finally get that ticket to New York for the NIT Final Four. Play Louisiana Tech +4 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #761 - *6* Miami Heat +5.5 at Boston @ 7:35 ET – The Miami Heat are anxious to get back on the court after letting a win against the Milwaukee Bucks slip away late in the fourth quarter Tuesday. Miami is fighting to stay in the playoffs picture and faces the Boston Celtics, who are hot on their heels for the No. 7 spot in the East. The Celtics snapped a three-game slide with a victory over Brooklyn but haven’t been playing their best basketball down the stretch. Boston has given up big scores to opponents and face a hungry Miami squad that is also out for revenge after losing a very heated battle earlier this month. This series has been dominated by the visitor with the road side covering in five of the last seven matchups between Miami and Boston. Play Miami +5.5 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #655 - *7* Miami Heat -1 at Milwaukee @ 8 pm ET – The Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat Tuesday night. Miami had a three-game winning streak snapped by Portland this weekend but the Heat continue to push forward trying to improve their postseason positioning. The Heat are in seventh – just 1.5 games back of Milwaukee for sixth, which would avoid Atlanta and Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. Milwaukee has been terrible as of late, stuck in a six-game skid. The Bucks defense is crumbling, allowing opponents to score 117 points per game over the last three outings. Milwaukee has watched foes shoot 47.2 percent from the field in that span. This is also a big revenge spot for Miami, which has lost the previous three meetings with Milwaukee this season. It’s tough to sweep a team for the schedule, especially when these clubs are headed in very different directions. Miami, which is 4-1 ATS in its last five games in Milwaukee, is playing with motivation and wins and covers easily Tuesday. Play Miami -1 as a *7* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #666 - *7* Richmond Spiders -2 vs. Miami @ 7 pm ET – The Richmond Spiders host the Miami Hurricanes in the NIT quarterfinals Tuesday. The Spiders have been on fire since February, winning eight of their past nine contests - 7-1-1 ATS in this span - with the only SU loss coming by three points to eventual A-10 tournament champs VCU. So far in the NIT, Richmond has rolled St. Francis-NY and edged Arizona State in overtime. The Spiders have a deep and balanced attack, with four players averaging double-figures, making them a tough team to slow down. Miami has been trying to simply outgun their recent opponents, scoring 75 and 73 points in their first two NIT contests but won’t want to get into a shootout with Richmond. The Hurricanes are without PG Angel Rodriguez, who is sidelined with a wrist injury, taking away Miami’s offensive catalyst when needed most. Play Richmond -2 as a *7* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #606 - *6* Brooklyn Nets -4 vs. Boston @ 7:30 pm ET – The Brooklyn Nets host the Boston Celtics at the Barclays Center Monday. The Nets and Celtics are battling for one of the final playoff sports in the Eastern Conference, however, these teams are going in different directions. Boston looked like it was pushing for the postseason but has dropped three straight games, including a 105-97 overtime game against Detroit Sunday. The Celtics now travel overnight to Brooklyn on short rest to face a Nets team that has won won back-to-back contests and four of their last five. Brooklyn has found its touch on offense, scoring 129 points on Milwaukee in overtime and 123 points on Indiana in regulation in the last two games – two of the top defensive teams in the East. Brooklyn has five players averaging double figures in points during that five-game span. Boston will have a tough time matching that fire power, especially with guard Isaiah Thomas on the sideline with a back injury. Brooklyn has been taking care of backers when facing Atlantic Division rivals this season, posting an 11-5 ATS record in its last 16 contests with divisional foes. Play Brooklyn -4 as an *6* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #613 - *6* Louisiana Tech Bulldogs +4.5 vs. Texas A&M @ 7:00 pm ET – The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs visit the Texas A&M Aggies in the second round of the NIT Monday. The Bulldogs are coming off a win against Central Michigan and are playing with a mission after getting knocked off in the C-USA tournament and missing out on a spot in the Big Dance. Louisiana Tech is one of the most explosive offensive teams in the country, pouring in an average of more than 73 points per game this season. The Bulldogs are still battling to keep their season alive, while the Aggies may be counting down until it’s over. After a disappointing year in the down SEC, Texas A&M easily handled Montana for its first win in three games. The Aggies are without star Danuel House, who averages 14.8 points per game, and will have trouble keeping up the Bulldogs’ up-tempo attack without him. The Bulldogs have stepped up to the level of their competition, covering in four of their last five games against teams with winning percentages of .600 or higher. Play Louisiana Tech +4.5 as an *6* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #736 - *8* Louisville Cardinals +2.5 vs. Northern Iowa @ 9:40 ET – The Louisville Cardinals face the Northern Iowa Panthers in the Round of 32 Sunday. The Cardinals are coming off a close call versus UC Irvine and that should serve as a wake-up call before tangling with a dangerous Northern Iowa program. Louisville struggled to get to the hoop for clean looks versus the Anteaters, thanks in large part to their 7-foot center. However, against the Panthers, UL doesn’t have that shot blocker changing their looks and undersized center Montrezl Harrell can go to work on the blocks. Northen Iowa is used to dictating the pace on defends but now faces that infamous Louisville pressure. The Cardinals force an average of 14.5 turnovers and 8.1 steals per game, and will turn the Panthers’ errors into easy buckets. The market has moved this line from UL as the favorite to a slight underdog, and we’re buying back the Cardinals in this value spot. Play Louisville +2.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #737 - *8* Iowa Hawkeyes +6.5 vs. Gonzaga @ 7:10 ET – The Iowa Hawkeyes take on No. 2 Gonzaga in the Round of 32 Sunday. Iowa didn’t run the risk of an opening game upset versus Davidson, and blew the Wildcats out of the water – a game Scott covered by 28.5 with his selection of the Hawkeyes. We’re sticking with Iowa in this matchup with the Bulldogs. The Hawkeyes have a massive frontcourt and tall, strong guards, which matches up well against Gonzaga’s size. The Bulldogs are used to bullying teams with their taller players but won’t have that luxury in the Round of 32. Aaron White will force the Zags to collapse on defense allowing the Hawkeyes’ bigger guards to go to work on the perimeter. That size will also keep Gonzaga off the boards and limit their second-chance looks. Oddsmakers aren’t giving Iowa much respect and we’ll gladly grab the points in this matchup. Iowa is a stellar 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight contests while Gonzaga has proven to be overrated by oddsmakers in the tournament, covering just once in their past five NCAA games. Play Iowa +6.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #732 - *8* Kansas Jayahawks -1.5 vs. Wichita State @ 5:15 ET – The Kansas Jayhawks won’t be taking Wichita State lightly. Kansas knows just how dangerous their in-state little cousin is and won’t give WSU any opportunity to turn this into an upset Sunday. The Jayhawks took care of business versus New Mexico State, getting balanced scoring up and down the scoresheet. It’s that depth that will overwhelm the Shockers. As WSU looks to its reserves to help give the starters a rest, there will be a letdown in talent – something KU does worry about when turning to its subs. Kansas is able to get production from deep down its bench. Kansas is also coming off an impressive 9-for-13 shooting day from beyond the arc and needs those 3-balls to fall to open up the game inside. The Shockers have failed to cover in three straight games going back to the MVC tournament and have covered just once in their seven non-conference games. Play Kansas -1.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA #701 - *8* Miami Heat +4 at Oklahoma City @ 3:05 ET – The Miami Heat roll into Sunday having won three straight games, kicked off with a victory over LeBron James and the Cavaliers. Miami rode that momentum and can improve their place in the Eastern Conference standings with a win over the Thunder Sunday. The Heat have found their offensive swagger, scoring an average of 107.3 points per game and shooting almost 54 percent from the floor in that span – an NBA three-game best. Mid-season addition Goran Dragic has sparked this attack since returning from a back injury and the bench has helped out with solid contributions. The Thunder are ripe for a letdown after a big win over Eastern Conference leader Atlanta. Oklahoma City hasn’t been sharp defensively, giving up more than 110 points per game this month and holding only one opponent below the century mark. Miami has covered in four of its last five and are 7-2 ATS in their last nine encounters with OKC. Play Miami +4 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #513 - *10* Arkansas Razorbacks +5 vs. North Carolina @ 8:40 ET – The Razorbacks got a wake-up call against Wofford in the opening round, getting sucked in a low-scoring, halfcourt battle. Arkansas faces a foe that likes to run a similar pace in North Carolina Saturday. The Razorbacks will throw their brand of pressure defense at the Tar Heels, hoping to take advantage of UNC’s sloppy play. North Carolina has 18 turnovers in a near loss to Harvard Thursday and has struggled to look after the ball in recent games. Arkansas thrives of easy buckets off of turnovers, forcing 15.7 turnovers per game an average almost eight steals per contest – both rank among the top schools in the country. On offense, the Hogs will turn to star center Bobby Portis to handle UNC’s size inside. Portis is one of the most talented big men in the nation and will draw a lot of attention inside, opening up the game for Arkansas perimeter threats. Play Arkansas +5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #505 - *10* Portland Trail Blazers +4 at Memphis @ 8:05 ET – The Trail Blazers wrap their current road trip in Memphis Saturday, looking to rebound from a poor showing in Orlando Friday night. Portland was upended by the Magic, losing 111-104 and has suffered three straight losses coming into the weekend. The Grizzlies are also coming off a game last night, having knocked off the Mavericks in Dallas. We see great value going with Portland in this spot, knowing the Blazers are desperate for a victory. Portland has had trouble on the road this season but always plays tough in Memphis, going 11-4-1 ATS in its last 16 trips to the FedExForum. Blazers big man LaMarcus Aldridge is a tough matchup for the Grizzlies frontcourt, with his mid-range game pulling the big men away from the hoop and unclogging the paint for Portland’s guards to get to the rim. Aldridge scored 32 points in his last trip to Memphis. Play Portland +4 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #511 - *8* Georgia State +7.5 vs. Xavier @ 6:10 ET – The Georgia State Panthers burned plenty of brackets with their upset of Baylor in the Round of 64 Thursday – but not Scott’s. He had this team pegged as a Cinderella runner and helped his clients cash in on this upset. The Panthers aren't getting the respect they deserve in this Round of 32 game with Xavier. They can overwhelm the Musketeers with a deep offense that average 71.5 points per game or win defensive grinders – like they did with Baylor – with a defense that allows only 62 point against. This is a very balanced team that can adapt to whatever game plan will get them the win. Xavier got an easy Round of 64 opponent, with Ole Miss suffering a letdown following a thrilling play-in game. While GSU seems to fall into this situation Saturday, the Panthers have plenty of experience on the roster include former Louisville standout Kevin Ware and could also be returning Ryan Harrow, who played at Kentucky and NC State, to action this weekend. Play Georgia State +7.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #520 - *8* UCLA Bruins -5.5 vs. UAB @ 12:10 ET – The UAB Blazers made some noise in the tournament with an upset of Iowa State in the Round of 64. Now, UAB is ripe for a massive letdown as it moves into the weekend. The Blazers take on UCLA, which also stunned SMU in the tournament opener but is used to beating big-name teams and is still out to prove it belongs in the Big Dance after many grumbled upon the Bruins’ selection. UAB was able to push Iowa State around on the board in that opener, getting plenty of second-chance looks. UCLA won’t be bullied so easy. The Bruins ranked 23rd in total rebounding in the country, hauling in 37.9 rebounds per game, and snagged 10.3 of those boards on the offensive end. On offense, the Bruins have the hot hand. They knocked down 10 of 20 3-point attempts in the win over SMU and are shooting 52 percent from distance over their last three games. Limiting the Blazers’ looks and burying their opponents under a barrage of triples, UCLA should coast into the Sweet 16 with an easy cover. Play UCLA -5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #831 - *10* St. John’s Red Storm +4 vs. San Diego State @ 9:40 pm ET – The St. John’s Red Storm take on the San Diego State Aztecs in their Round of 64 matchup Friday. The Johnnies are getting no respect from the oddsmakers in this matchup, thanks in large part to the suspension of center Chris Obekpa. However, this is a deep Johnnies team that is loaded with upperclassmen and is used to playing without Obekpa, who has dealt with injuries and foul trouble in the past. St. John’s can score with any team in the country, averaging 71.2 points per outing, and look to overwhelm an SDSU squad that fell on its face in the Mountain West Conference tournament. The Aztecs were upset by Wyoming in the conference final, mustering just 43 points against a much weaker team than what they’ll face Friday. San Diego State just doesn’t have the offensive pop needed to keep pace with the Red Storm. Play St. John’s +4 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #856 - *10* Iowa Hawkeyes -2 vs. Davidson @ 7:20 pm ET – The Iowa Hawkeyes take on Davidson in the Round of 64 Friday. The Wildcats are everyone’s favorite bid to be this year’s Cinderella, and that’s only increased the line value for the Hawkeyes in their opener. Davidson went on a red-hot run to end the season but may have peaked too soon, losing to VCU by 20 points in the A-10 tournament championship. Davidson is a dangerous team when their 3-pointers are falling, but shoot just 7 of 26 from beyond the arc versus the Rams and face a towering Iowa defense that limited foes to 61.9 points per game on the season. The Hawkeyes have the size advantage over Davidson, and will beat up on their tournament opponent inside. The Wildcats have a 6-foot-7 freshman at center and some undersized guards. Iowa’s frontcourt stands 7-foot-1, 6-foot-9, 6-foot-9 and will have a hand up on the shooters, making a clear look at the basket hard to come by. Play Iowa -2 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #835 - *8* Valparaiso Crusaders +4.5 vs. Maryland @ 4:40 pm ET – The Valparaiso Crusaders tangle with the Maryland Terrapins in the Round of 64 Friday. The Crusaders are fresh of a Horizon League tournament title, winning 10 of their last 11 contests while going 5-2 ATS in their last seven overall. Valparaiso has one of the stingiest defenses in the country, limiting opponents to just 59.3 points per game. The Crusaders have a ton of size up front, unlike most mid-major schools and can pose a big threat to the Terrapins down low. Valparaiso has a frontcourt that runs 6-foot-8 and taller and battles hard on the boards, grabbing 36.8 rebounds a night. It also only gives up 7.6 offensive rebounds per contest, so Maryland isn’t going to get many second-chance looks at the basket. The Terps aren’t especially careful with the basketball and have average 11.3 turnovers per game in their last three, including 12 in the loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament. Play Valparaiso +4.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #850 - *8* Northern Iowa Panthers -6 vs. Wyoming @ 1:40 pm ET – Northern Iowa takes on Wyoming in the Round of 64 Friday. The Panthers are one of the top defensive programs in the country and allowed just 54.3 points per game – fourth fewest in the NCAA Div. I They’re taking a ton of momentum into this matchup, coming off an Missouri Valley Conference tournament title and taking on a Wyoming squad that is bound for a letdown. The Cowboys weren’t supposed to be among the field of 68 teams, however, they shocked the Mountain West Conference with a run to the conference title and are ripe for a letdown in this opener. Wyoming had to win some very close games in that span and could be easily watching from home. Northern Iowa has been to the Big Dance before and take care of business in the opener, going 13-3-3 ATS in its last 19 games. Play Northern Iowa -6 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #710 - *10* Arkansas Razorbacks -7.5 vs. Wofford @ 9:50 pm ET – The Arkansas Razorbacks drew a No. 5 seed in the tournament, which automatically put the Hogs on upset watch thanks to the annual No. 12 seed stunner we see almost every year. But this Arkansas team knows just how dangerous Wofford can be and will be turning up the intensity for this Round of 64 matchup. The Razorbacks and Terriers play contrasting paces, with the Hogs looking to push the tempo and take Wofford out of its comfort zone. Wofford is one of the most methodical offenses in the country and will be on its heels with Arkansas averaging 72.5 possessions per game – 11th in the country. The Hogs have elite talent in NBA-ready big man Bobby Portis, who faces a Terriers frontcourt that only runs as big as 6-foot-7. Even if the Terriers do somehow get Arkansas into a halfcourt battle, Portis will dominate inside and open up looks for the Hogs other scorers, like Michael Qualls. Play Arkansas -7.5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #711 - *10* Harvard Crimson +10.5 vs. North Carolina @ 7:20 pm ET – The Harvard Crimson knocked off rival Yale in a tiebreaker for the Ivy League crown, earning themselves a spot in the Big Dance and a Round of 64 meeting with North Carolina. Harvard was here last year, facing a major-conference opponent and stunned Cincinnati to open the tournament. The Crimson have an experienced and talented team that can keep the Tar Heels off the glass and limit their second chance looks. North Carolina thrives on those second-chance buckets and is among the top rebounding teams in the country. However, Harvard has allowed opponents to grab just 7.1 offensive boards per game and has a hard-nosed defense that has the versatility to matchup with UNC’s talent but young lineup. The Crimson give up only 57.2 points per game – 12th fewest in the country. Harvard also plays a very deliberate pace on offense and can slow down the tempo of this game and take UNC out of its run-and-gun comfort zone. Play Harvard +10.5 as an *10* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #715 - *8* Mississippi Rebels +3 vs. Xavier @ 4:10 pm ET – The Ole Miss Rebels stunned the BYU Cougars with a thrilling comeback in the First Four play-in round Tuesday and ride that momentum into this Round of 64 matchup with Xavier. The Rebels proved they can score with the best in the country in the win over BYU and average an explosive 73.3 points per game. Mississippi did a lot of the damage with defense as well, forcing 15 Cougars turnovers and turning those into easy buckets on the other end. Ole Miss took No. 1 overall seed Kentucky to overtime during SEC play this year and should expose what was a very weak Big East conference this season. Xavier was able to bully those less talented teams but couldn’t get over the hump against stronger competition. We’ve seen teams off a play-in victory advanced to the Round of 32, and Ole Miss has a very good chance of being that team after such an inspiring win. Play Mississippi +3 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #713 - *8* Georgia State Panthers +9 vs. Baylor @ 1:40 pm ET – The Georgia State Panthers meet the Baylor Bears in the Round of 64. No. 14 Georgia State is coming off a championship run in the Sun Belt and boasts one of the most balanced teams in the country, ranked among the Top 65 in scoring and defense. That makes GSU a very versatile team and one that can adapt to any style of play, as evidenced in their Sun Belt tournament run. The Panthers lit up the scoreboard with 83 points in the semifinal then won a 38-36 grinder in the final game. The Bears thrive on their strength inside and dominating the glass. Baylor shot just 32.8 percent from the field in its loss to Kansas in the Big 12 tournament, but stayed in the game thanks to its rebounding, including 13 offensive rebounds. However, the Panthers are such an efficient offensive club, Baylor won’t win those rebounding battles and be able to transition down the court. Georgia State throws a lot of star power at Baylor as well, with R.J. Hunter and Ryan Harrow topping the Sun Belt in scoring and former Louisville star Kevin Ware supporting with scoring and experience. Play Georgia State +9 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #626 - *10* Dayton Flyers -4 vs. Boise State @ 9:10 pm ET – The Dayton Flyers take on the Boise State Broncos in the NCAA First Four play-in game Wednesday. The Flyers are no strangers to the pressure of March Madness, having stunned the nation with a run to the Elite Eight last season. Dayton is also used to tough competition night in, and night out having played in the deep Atlantic 10 conference. Before getting eliminated by VCU in the A-10 tournament, the Flyers were playing some solid basketball with seven wins in the previous nine games. They are one of the best home teams in the country, having won 21 straight inside University of Dayton Arena where they were 9-5 ATS on the year. The Broncos could be ripe for a letdown Wednesday. Boise State had its bubble popped last year and just missed the NCAA cut. Now, BSU has gotten that monkey of its back but could have a false sense of accomplishment as they hit the road to face a Flyer-friendly crowd. The Broncos average 74.3 points at home but only 67.1 points in the role of visitor. Play Dayton -4 as an *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #628 - *8* Portland Trail Blazers -2.5 at Miami @ 7:30 pm ET – The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Miami Heat Wednesday, continuing their Eastern Conference road trip. Portland is ready to rebound after a bad loss in Washington having a day off to refocus on the tail end of this trek. The Blazers can catch Miami in a big letdown spot after the Heat upset former star LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last contest. It will be tough for Miami to play with that same emotion against this non-conference foe and we expect a flat performance from a team that has alternated wins and losses in its last seven outings. The Blazers were just 8 for 28 from outside in the loss to the Wizards but have had one of the hottest shooting touches in the league, lifting them to eight wins in their last 10 contests. Miami doesn’t have the scoring depth or firepower to keep pace with the Blazers if they get hot from outside, and the Heat have managed to cover just once in Portland’s last six trips to South Beach. Play Portland -2.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #628 - *8* Connecticut Huskies -3.5 vs. Arizona State @ 7 pm ET – The UConn Huskies nearly made the NCAA cut but fell short in the AAC championship game. However, Connecticut is playing its best basketball of the season and has momentum rolling into the NIT. The Huskies play host to the Arizona State Sun Devils who make a long cross-country hike from the desert to the winter cold of Storrs for this NIT opener. The Sun Devils struggled on the road this season, going just 2-9 SU and 4-7 ATS away from Tempe. They average 72.2 points at home but only 65.9 points on the road. Arizona State is coming off a bad loss to USC, which was the 12th seed in the Pac-12 tournament, giving up a 24-6 run to end that game and watching the Trojans knock down 7 of 13 from beyond the arc. The Huskies have had an eye for the 3-ball during their postseason run and can quickly put this one out of reach with a couple quick hitters from downtown. Play UConn -3.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #537 - *8* Ole Miss Rebels +4.5 vs. BYU @ 9:10 pm ET – The Mississippi Rebels and BYU Cougars battle in the NCAA tournament play-in game Tuesday night. The Rebels and Cougars are cut from similar cloths, relying on their high-powered offense to get the job done. However, Ole Miss has been flexing their scoring muscles against top-tier teams in the SEC while BYU has bullied some lesser opponents in the WCC. The Rebels, who average 72.6 points per game, has an experienced roster that went toe-to-toe with the likes of Kentucky this season, nearly knocking off the NCAA No. 1 overall seed. The Cougars may be able to fill up the basket but allow 72.6 points against per game and limp into the postseason with third-leading scorer Anson Winder and backup guard Skyler Halford dealing with injuries. Brigham Young could very well be in letdown mood after escaping the NCAA bubble on Selection Sunday, just happy to be selected into the field of 68. Ole Miss has been a solid play on neutral courts, going 9-3-1 ATS in its last 13 neutral-court battles while BYU hasn’t fared as well, covering in just 17 of its last 36 neutral-court contests – covering the spread just 47 percent of the time. Play Ole Miss +4.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach March Madness Game #539 - *8* George Washington Colonials +3 at Pittsburgh @ 7 pm ET – The Pittsburgh Panthers host the George Washington Colonials in the opening round of the NIT Tuesday. A four-game losing skid to finish the year, including an 11-point loss to North Carolina State, pretty much doomed any chance the Panthers had of making the NCAA cut. Now, Pitt drags its toes into this NIT opener, hosting a George Washington team that saved its best ball for the end of the season. The Colonials rode a three-game winning streak into the Atlantic 10 tournament but was upended by Rhode Island. George Washington has been lighting it up from outside the arc, knocking down 48.6 percent of its 3-point attempts over the past six games. On top of that, GW has good size down low and attacks the boards, averaging 37 rebounds a night (37th in the country) with 11 of those coming on the offensive end. The Panthers are an undersized roster and have struggled against bigger opponents. Pittsburgh is one of the worst bets in the country at 8-20-1 ATS on the year, and has covered in just nine of its last 29 games inside Petersen Events Center. Play George Washington +3 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #502 - *8* Indiana Pacers -5 vs. Toronto @ 7:05 ET – The Indiana Pacers play hosts to the Toronto Raptors Monday. The Pacers are on a roll, winning seven of their last nine outings, and have pulled themselves into seventh in the Eastern Conference. Indiana has dominated team with their smothering defense in this span, giving up an average of just 88 points in regulation in that nine-game span. The Pacers are especially stingy inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse where they’ve allowed opponents to shoot just 42.1 percent from the field – second lowest in the NBA – and have covered the spread in nine of their last 11 home stands. Toronto comes into a new week having lost 10 of its last 12. The Raptors couldn’t build on the momentum of a win over the Miami Heat and fell in a one-sided loss to Portland at home Sunday. Now, Toronto, which has struggled mightily to keep opponents off the scoreboard, take the court after traveling overnight for the second of back-to-back games. Indiana will be out for revenge in this third meeting with Toronto, after dropping the first two. However, these teams are going in different directions than they were back in January. Play Indiana -5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #503 - *10* Portland Trail Blazers +2 at Washington @ 7:05 ET – The Portland Trail Blazers continues their Eastern Conference road trip with a stop in the nation’s capital to play the Washington Wizards Monday. The Blazers are coming off a huge win against Toronto Sunday, covering the spread by 17.5 points. Portland is one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning three in a row and eight of their last nine – going 7-2 ATS in that stretch. The Blazers buried the Raptors under a barrage of 3-pointers Sunday, knocking down 13 shots from beyond the arc. They’ve been red hot from distance during this winning run, shooting 41 percent from outside and recording a total of 34 triples in that three-game winning streak. Washington also comes into Monday on a three-game tear but will be missing a key defensive component down low, with center Nene out of action. The Wizards get very small without Nene, leaving a lot of room for Portland star LaMarcus Aldridge to work around the key. With Aldridge one of the best scorers in the key, Washington will have to collapse on him inside and leave the Blazers shooters open on the perimeter – leading to more 3-point buckets. Play Portland +2 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #879- *10* Portland Trail Blazers +2 vs. Toronto @ 7 pm ET – The Portland Trail Blazers are north of the border trying to improve their place in the Western Conference playoff picture. Portland has dropped just one of their last seven games. Portland has been especially explosive over its last three games, averaging 112 points on 50.4 percent shooting. The Blazers have also been lights out from beyond the arc, knocking down an average of almost 12 3-pointers on 43.2 percent shooting in that three-game span. The Raptors come into this game with just two wins in their previous 11 contests. Toronto has issues closing out games since the All-Star break and gives up 25.5 points per fourth quarter on the year, including 29 points in the final frame against the Miami Heat in their last outing. Portland, on the other hand, is great at spring to the finish line. The Blazers have piled on an average of 28 points in the fourth quarter in the last three games while limiting opponents to just 23.6 average points per fourth on the season – fourth lowest in the league. Portland has covered in nine of its last 11 clashes with the Raptors and has covered in four of its last five trips to the Air Canada Centre. Play Portland +2 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NCAAB Game #895- *10* Michigan State Spartans +7.5 vs. Wisconsin @ 3:30 pm ET – After failing to meet their expectations during the regular season, Tom Izzo has his Spartans peaking at the perfect time. Michigan State snuck in as the No. 3 in the Big Ten tournament and has knocked off Ohio State and Maryland – two very good tournament-bound teams – lining up this rematch with the Badgers. The Spartans nearly upset Wisconsin in Madison, losing 68-61 as 9-point underdogs on March 1. Michigan State was slow out of the gate and nearly clawed their way back into that game. Travis Trice scored 16 points in that loss and has been a rejuvenated player since Izzo plugged him back into the starting lineup. Trice is averaging more than 21 points per game in his last four outings and has finally stepped up to lead this MSU squad. The Spartans have been able to capitalize on their defense so far in the tournament, forcing 12 turnovers in both wins. Wisconsin doesn’t make many mistakes with the basketball, averaging only 7.4 turnovers (fewest in the country), but if MSU can continue to get in the passing lanes, they have a great chance of keeping this game much closer than the pointspread. Play Michigan State +7.5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NCAAB Game #893- *8* UConn Huskies +3 vs. SMU @ 3:15 pm ET – The Connecticut Huskies are at it again, making an incredible postseason run through the conference tournament. UConn is very much on the tournament bubble and will likely need an AAC tournament title to crack the field of 68. Luckily, the Huskies are very much the host team for the conference postseason and will have a strong home-court edge at the XL Center in Hartford Sunday. Connecticut is riding a massive wave of momentum, having knocked off Cincinnati and Tulsa to earn a spot in the finals. The Huskies have locked those teams down with defense and have been able to pull away thanks to their clutch shooting from beyond the arc. The Huskies have the best players on the floor in Ryan Boatright, who’s been red-hot from beyond the arc, and dealt SMU an 81-73 loss in Storrs earlier this month – the Mustangs only loss in the past nine games. Momentum is a major factor in the postseason, and while SMU put together a solid regular season campaign, the best team in the AAC right now is UConn. Play UConn +3 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NCAAB Game #887 - *8* Arkansas Razorbacks +13.5 vs. Kentucky @ 1 pm ET – The Arkansas Razorbacks take a shot at the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC Championship Sunday. The Hogs lost their lone meeting with UK this season, falling 84-67. Arkansas fell behind quickly in that game, but fought hard for the remaining minutes, trimming what was a 31-point lead in half. The Razorbacks will look to their standouts to pick it up versus a very deep Wildcats roster. SEC Player of the Year Bobby Portis is coming off an off night, scoring a season-low four points versus Georgia in the semifinals, but is one of the rare talents in the country that can matchup with the Kentucky frontcourt. On the perimeter, 6-foot-6 guard Michael Qualls can also hold his own. He scored 17 points in that first meeting with UK and, like Portis in the post, has the size to hang with Kentucky’s NBA-ready guards. Arkansas is hoping to catch Kentucky looking ahead to the NCAA tournament draw, where it will be a No. 1 seed. The Wildcats haven’t been a great ATS team this season, seemingly bored with competition at parts of the season. That undefeated record has painted a target on their chests and they’ll continue to take opponents’ best shot. Play Arkansas +13.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #510 - *10* Utah Jazz -8 vs. Detroit @ 9:00 ET – The Utah Jazz host the Detroit Pistons Saturday night. The Jazz are quickly becoming one of the hottest bets in the NBA, winning eight of their last 10 games and going 6-3-1 ATS in that span. But, because we’re talking about Utah here, the betting market has yet to correct to their turnaround and there is still value with the Jazz in this home stand. Utah has been the top defense in the NBA since the All-Star break and is currently allowing only 95.7 points per game this month. The Jazz play a methodical pace and use their physicality to bully teams on the board, pulling down 52.7 rebounds a night including 11.9 offensive boards per outing. Detroit had offensive trouble before running into Utah. The Pistons have scored more than 100 points just twice on their current nine-game losing streak and face the Jazz on the second night of back-to-back outings, coming off a 118-98 road loss in Portland. Now, Detroit travels overnight to the altitude of Salt Lake City, which can quickly drain a visitors batteries thanks to the thin air. Play Utah -8 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NCAAB Game #531 - *10* Temple Owls +3.5 vs. SMU @ 3:00 ET – The Temple Owls clash with the SMU Mustangs in the AAC semifinals Saturday, coming off a victory over Memphis Friday. The Owls still have work to do to get off the NCAA tournament bubble and a win over ranked SMU and a big in the conference final would help. Temple rolled into the postseason on three straight wins and finished 10-2 in its final 12 games of the regular season. One of those two losses in that span came to the Mustangs, who knocked off the Owls 67-58 at home. Southern Methodist also beat Temple in Philadelphia, winning 60-55 back in mid-January. Beating a team three times in one season is a very tough task, especially with how well the Owls are playing right now. Temple held double-digit leads in both those games with SMU and let them slip away. Don’t expect Fran Dunphy to let that happen again. Temple standout Jaylen Bond injured his ankle versus Memphis and did not return, however, he was seen walking on it without it wrapped up and did not wear a protective boot after the game. Play Temple +3.5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NCAAB Game #523 - *8* VCU Rams +3 vs. Davidson @ 1:30 ET – The VCU Rams have revenge on their minds when they face the Davidson Wildcats in the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals Saturday. Davidson not only knocked off the Rams in their last meeting, 82-55 on March 3, but the Wildcats’ red-hot run at the end of the season, and VCU’s poor finish, pushed Davidson to the top seed in the A-10 while sending the Rams to No. 5. Virginia Commonwealth has plenty to prove in this matchup. Davidson escaped a narrow one-point win versus La Salle in its tournament opener, which could be a sign that the Wildcats may have peaked too soon. The Rams continue to cause chaos with head coach Shaka Smart’s havoc defense, which is forcing almost 17 turnovers per game. In their win over Davidson, in the Wildcats’ A-10 debut, the Rams held Davidson to 37 percent shooting and grabbed 15 takeaway. We expect VCU to play with that same defensive intensity in this revenge spot Saturday. Play VCU +3 as an *8* selection.