Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Detroit Pistons vs Phoenix Suns @ 7:05 ET - The Suns finally held a team under 100 points yesterday but that's because it was the miserable Bulls. That win in Chicago marked just the 5th time this season that the Suns have managed to hold their opponent under 110 points. After the first 4 times, Phoenix allowed at least 113 points in their next game with all 4 games going over the total as the Suns allowed an average of 124 points in those 4 prior occurrences. I look for a similar result here as Detroit comes into this one off of a strong performance on offense as they scored 118 points at Boston. The Pistons shouldn't have any trouble scoring at least that tonight against the Suns and its a non-conference match-up which generally means less attention on defense. Detroit has, in fact, allowed at least 51% shooting from the field in 3 of their last 4 games so Phoenix is likely to be "trading buckets" with the Pistons for quite awhile in this one. Even with yesterday's under, the Suns are still 7-2 to the over this season in non-conference games. Also, the Pistons most recent home game was against the division rival Cavs and stayed under the total but, prior to that, they were on a 4-0 run to the over in home games! 10* OVER the total in Detroit

NBA TV Dominator - Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* OVER the total in Golden State Warriors vs Chicago Bulls @ 10:35 ET - Golden State is angry coming off of that loss at Oklahoma City Wednesday night. Now they are back home for the first time in a week and a half and will look to take out their frustration on a lesser foe. While I do expect the Warriors to put up a ton of points tonight, I do not expect their defense to be in lockdown mode. Keep in mind, they have a much tougher game on deck with New Orleans tomorrow plus they did put in a lot of effort versus the Thunder Wednesday. In other words, this Friday game is likely to be an offensive showcase for the Warriors. The Bulls are off of back to back poor shooting performances but I expect them to get plenty of open looks in this one as the game goes on. The fact is that the Warriors are likely to get up about 20 points and then invariably complacency on defense sets in. That means the Bulls may finally break out of their scoring slump. The last 3 times the Bulls were held to 90 points or less they are a perfect 3-0 to the over. The last 7 times the Warriors have been held to 117 points or less they are a solid 5-2 to the over. Also, off of an upset loss as a favorite, the Warriors are 4-0 to the over this season. Combining the two perfect trends above we have a double perfect spot of 7-0 favoring the over in this one. I'll take it. 8* OVER the total in Golden State

Total of the Week - Rickenbach NBA 10* Top Play OVER the total in Atlanta Hawks vs Los Angeles Clippers @ 7:35 ET - The Clippers are off of an ugly turnover-filled game against the Knicks. The Hawks are off of a typical grinding game against the Spurs. However, now these two struggling teams face off and they are both in a situation they view as a winnable game. Keep in mind, Los Angeles has lost 9 straight while Atlanta has the worst record in the NBA. With that said, a winnable game is a big deal and I look for these two to push the pace in this one as each goes hard for that much needed victory. The Clippers are 3-0 to the over when off of an upset loss as a favorite. The Hawks have played a road-heavy schedule and that is significant to the value here as they are 5-1 to the over in home games this season. This total has been on a downward move since it was posted and you know what that means. Even more value here. 10* OVER the total in Atlanta

NBA TV Smash - Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 8* OVER the total in Los Angeles Lakers vs Chicago Bulls @ 10:35 ET - The Lakers have gone over the total in 3 straight games. Those 3 games have averaged about 228 points per game and I expect a similar result here. The Bulls just have not been playing defense. Chicago has allowed 50% or more from the field in 5 of their last 6 games. As a result the over is 4-2 in the Bulls last 6 games and I am expecting another one here. Chicago has shot about 46.5% the last two games and confidence is up on the offensive end. Also, the Bulls though are fired up about not putting away the Suns when they had a chance in Phoenix Sunday so they'll keep their foot on the gas this time in terms of production on offense. The Lakers are averaging 116.3 points per game their last 3 games so I look for Los Angeles to score right along with them in this one. The game should be played at a good pace as it is a non-conference match-up that should feature plenty of run and gun. 3 of the last 4 meetings (including both here in LA) have gone over the total. The over is 15-9 when the Lakers are off of a game where they scored 115 points or more. Look for the over to improve to 6-3 in Chicago's road games this season as both teams employ plenty of "run and gun" in this one. 8* OVER the total in Los Angeles Lakers

Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* OVER the total in Philadelphia 76'ers vs Utah Jazz @ 7:05 ET - The Jazz scored 125 points in their blowout win at Orlando Saturday. Utah is 7-3 to the over when they are off of a game where they scored 115 points or more. The over is 8-3 in the last 11 games for the Jazz and they've really picked up the pace on this road trip. Overall, the over is 4-0 in Utah's last 4 games away from home. The 76'ers are off of a home loss to Golden State. The Philly defense was crushed for 124 points and the over is now 8-2 in Philadelphia's last 10 games. As a favorite this season the over is 4-1 in Sixers game and, when off of a non-conference game, the over is 7-1 in Philadelphia's games. The Sixers are averaging 112.5 points per game their last 11 games. The Jazz are averaging 110.8 points per game their last 4 road games. When these teams met in Utah the game barely stayed under the total even though the Jazz shot only 30% from the field. In fact, Utah attempted 99 shots in that game! They'll get some payback here, at least in terms of better offensive production. However, the upstart 76'ers will be scoring big right along with them. The result should be a shootout. 10* OVER the total in Philadelphia

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach Friday NBA 10* Top Play OVER the total in Indiana Pacers vs Detroit Pistons @ 7:05 ET - The Pacers are off of a big win at Memphis but their defense continues to be an issue. Indiana has allowed their opponents to hit at least 50% from the field in 6 of their last 8 games. Also, one of those 2 "better" games on defense the Pacers still allowed 47.8% from the field. Indiana has allowed 107 points or more in 7 of their last 8 games. The Pistons are off of a low-scoring loss at Milwaukee and will be fired up here. That defeat ended a stretch of 5 straight wins for Detroit and the Pistons allowed 110 points per game in those 5 games. Overall, Detroit has won 8 of its last 10 games and they've averaged 110.3 points per game in those 8 victories. The over is 4-1 in the Pistons last 5 games and 5-3 in the Pacers last 8 games. The over is 4-2 this season in Detroit's games against teams with a losing record. Look for the over to improve to 6-3 in Pacers games this month as the Pistons were held to 35.3% from the field versus the Bucks Wednesday and Detroit is 3-0 to the over this season when off of a game where they held under 43% from the field. 10* OVER the total in Indiana

TV Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* OVER the total in Phoenix Suns vs Houston Rockets @ 10:35 ET - Both teams play fast. Their pace is among the fastest in the league. The Rockets are off of a home loss to Toronto and that means they won't take their foot off of the gas in this game against out-classed Phoenix. Houston has gone over the total in 6 of their last meetings versus the Suns and Phoenix comes into this one well-rested. The Suns have been off since Monday and Phoenix is an incredible 18-3 to the over when they are playing with 2 days of rest between games. Also, when playing against a team that averages 106 points or more per game, the Suns are on a 32-14 run to the over. Both these teams have been weak defending the 3-ball as the Rockets are allowing 38.8% and the Suns are allowing 38.2% this season. Neither team is interested in slowing this game down and that should lead to an absolute shootout in this one with plenty of "run and gun". 10* OVER the total in Phoenix 

Total Dominator - Rickenbach Monday NBA 8* OVER the total in New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:35 ET - The Knicks have gone over the total in 5 of their last 7 games and that comes as no surprised considering they have shot an insane 51.2% from the field during this red hot shooting stretch of 7 games. The Cavaliers have also been quite hot in their last 6 games and all 6 went over the total. I look for Cavs totals to improve to 7-0 to the over their last 7 games as Cleveland is shooting 49.6% from the field during this hot shooting stretch their past 6 games. Neither team has been playing particularly well on the other end of the floor so far this season. Yes, the Knicks allowed only 92 in their most recent game but previously they had allowed 110.3 points per game in their last 6 games! The Cavaliers allowed "only" 104 points in their most recent game but, prior to that, the Cavs had allowed 112 points or more in 10 straight games - an incredible stretch! Not only is the over 6-0 this month in Cleveland's games, the Cavaliers are now 24-9 to the over in November games! Look for the Knicks to improve to 4-1 to the over this season when they are off of a non-conference game! 8* OVER the total in New York

Divisional Dominator - Rickenbach Saturday NBA 8* OVER the total in Houston Rockets vs Memphis Grizzlies @ 8:05 ET - The Rockets have gone over the total in 5 straight games. Houston has been red hot with their shooting and, as usual, they are not playing very well on the defensive end. The Rockets have allowed 48.7% from the field in their last 5 games. What is surprising here and what is adding the value of this play is that the Grizzlies defense has not been nearly as strong as it usually is. Memphis has allowed 46.9% from the field in their last 4 games. The Rockets are averaging 119.8 points per game their last 5 games and the Grizzlies are averaging 104.3 points per game in winning 2 of their last 3. Memphis is off of an upset win at Portland and the over is 23-13 when they are off of an outright win as an underdog. The Rockets have lost both games against the Grizzlies this season but now they face them while they're red hot and the over is 3-1 when Houston is playing with revenge this season. Also, when on a winning streak of 3 or more games, the over is 22-13 in Rockets games. 8* OVER the total in Houston

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach Friday NBA 8* OVER the total in Detroit Pistons vs Atlanta Hawks @ 7:05 ET - These teams are 6-0 to the over in their last 7 meetings (one push). Also, the Hawks come into this match-up having gone over the total in 5 straight games. Atlanta has averaged 108.6 points per game their last 5 games but the Hawks have allowed 116 points per game their last 5 games. Both Atlanta and Detroit have shot very well from three point land so far this season. The Pistons have certainly been the better team on defense but look for the Hawks to really push the tempo in this one. Atlanta has fresh legs as they have been off since Monday. Both teams are missing some frontcourt players for this contest and that does a couple things that helps the over. It allows for more drives to the bucket and it also increases the odds that each team will rely more on outside shooting as well instead of just pounding the rock inside. The result is a good quick pace with plenty of threes being fired up. The Pistons are averaging 112.3 points per game in their last 4 home games and the Hawks just don't play much defense at all. Atlanta will again emphasize the offensive end (as they've been doing all season long) and the result is likely to be another loss by about the average margin they've been losing by. Looking at their last 5 games, as summarized above, the Hawks are scoring 108.6 but allowing 116. That would put this game right near the spread but well over the total and that's why my play here is on the over as 225 would truly not be a surprise. Look for the over to improve to 4-1 in the Pistons last 5 home games. Also, the over is 9-5 when Detroit enters a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. Look for the over to improve to 4-0 in Atlanta's games against teams with a winning record this season. 8* OVER the total in Detroit

Top Play Dominator - Rickenbach Thursday NBA 10* OVER the total in Houston Rockets vs Cleveland Cavaliers @ 8:05 ET - Will anybody be playing defense in this game? The Rockets have the better numbers on the season but, in their last 5 games, Houston has allowed 47.2% from the field. Also, in the Rockets last two home games they've allowed 112.5 points per game. Of course the Cavaliers defense has been so bad this season that it's making headlines! That's what happens when you're allowing 114 points per game, 48.5% field goal percentage, and 41.9% three pointers! The Cavs defense is in trouble here as the Rockets are well rested and those fresh legs are ready to add to a 3-game run that has seen Houston average 125 points per game. Of course the key to the over here is the fact that Cleveland's offensive production is also "through the roof" of late! The Cavaliers are averaging 119 points per game their last 4 games and all 4 went over the total. Houston is also on a 4-0 run to the over! The Rockets are also 16-8 to the over when off of a game where they scored 130 points or more. The Cavaliers are 19-9 to the over in games with a posted total of 220 points or more. Also, Cleveland is 25-11 to the over when they are off of a game where they allowed 115 points or more. 10* OVER the total in Houston

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* OVER the total in Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics @ 7:35 ET - The Hawks are off of a huge upset win at Cleveland yesterday. Even though Atlanta's defense has been a glaring weakness early this season, the Hawks hot streak on the offensive end has been quite impressive. I don't see that coming to an end now that they're back on their home floor for this one tonight. The Hawks have shot 46.4% from the field in their last 4 games and averaged 109 points per game during this stretch. The Celtics should have no problem scoring at will in this game as the Hawks have allowed an average of 117.5 points per game the last 4 games. Boston, like Atlanta, is off of a win yesterday. Certainly the Celtics defense has been impressive early this season but I don't expect them to fare well in this back to back spot of consecutive road games and facing a Hawks team that is loaded with confidence right now. Keep in mind, Boston viewed the Orlando game as a much tougher game than this one. Likewise, Atlanta viewed the match-up with LeBron James and company as a bigger game than this one. The point is, especially with both the Hawks and Celtics off of wins yesterday, it is only natural that there will be a bit of a let-up on defense in this one given the situation. The over is 4-0 in the Hawks last 4 games. The Celtics only back to back situation this season saw Boston allow their season high in points (108) and that game went over the total. Look for a similar result in this one! 8* OVER the total in Atlanta

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* OVER the total in Cleveland Cavaliers vs Atlanta Hawks @ 3:05 ET - The Hawks have gone over the total in 3 straight games. All 3 games totaled at least 223 points. Atlanta has allowed 49% shooting in those 3 games and now they face a Cavaliers team that has been red hot with their recent shooting performances. The Cavs have averaged 118.5 points per game in their last 2 games and have shot 53% from the field. The fact that Cleveland won their most recent game and the fact that they are shooting "lights out" means that their biggest weakness of late will continue to not get enough attention. The Cavs defense has simply been poor! They've allowed 117.3 points per game their last 7 games. Opponents have made 50.4% of their shots from the field in their last 3 games against Cleveland. All 4 meetings between these teams went over the total last season. The Cavs are 22-9 to the over when facing poor defensive teams (allowing 106 points or more per game) and the Cavaliers are also 7-1 to the over when they're off of a game where they scored 130 points or more. 8* OVER the total in Cleveland

Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach Saturday NBA 10* Top Play OVER the total in Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks @ 8:05 ET - The Timberwolves are off of an under but it was their first of the season through 8 games as they've been an "over machine" so far. The Mavericks are also off of an under but they had gone over the total in 3 straight games prior to last night's low-scoring battle with New Orleans. Even though that game was low-scoring it had a lot to do with poor shooting for the Mavs and Pelicans. That said, with Dallas off of back to back poor shooting games, I look for them to get back on track tonight at Minnesota as the Timberwolves are allowing 113 points per game on 51% shooting this season! The Mavericks are allowing 107.4 points per game on 48% shooting this season. These teams have trended under in recent meetings but the situation here dictates a high-scoring shootout! 10* OVER the total in Minnesota 

TNT Dominator - Rickenbach Thursday NBA 8* OVER the total in San Antonio Spurs vs Golden State Warriors @ 8:05 ET - This total has gone from nearly 220 down to a 216 as of early gameday morning and I love the value being offered here. The Spurs have been without Tony Parker and, most importantly, Kawhi Leonard. San Antonio also has been without Joffrey Lauvergne, a role player. The point is that without all these missing pieces I feel you're going to see Golden State dictate the pace and flow of this game even though it is being played in San Antonio. The Warriors are shooting a ridiculous 52.6% from the field including 40.4% from beyond the arc! That is why Golden State is averaging 121 points per game. The Spurs defense has been struggling recently as they've allowed 49.5% from the field in their last 4 games! San Antonio has allowed 104.8 points per game in those 4 games but it only gets tougher here with the high-flying Warriors in town. Yes, this is a revenge game for San Antonio but they are short-handed and will struggle to slow down a "stacked" and red-hot Warriors team. Look for the over to improve to 6-0 in the last 6 meetings between these teams. The over is 17-6 in the Spurs last 23 games as an underdog. The over is a solid 6-2 in Golden State's games this season. The over is also 26-16 when the Warriors enter a game with 2 days of rest between contests. They are rested here with fresh legs and they know the best way to defeat the Spurs is to create a fast-paced game filled with transition opportunities. The Warriors will do just that! 8* OVER the total in San Antonio

ESPN Top Play Dominator - Rickenbach Wednesday NBA 10* OVER the total in New York Knicks vs Houston Rockets @ 8:05 ET - The Knicks are hot and have won 3 straight games. This is New York's first 3 game win streak of this season but the past two seasons combined they've gone 7-1 to the over when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. Surprisingly, the Rockets have trended under the total early this season but they are 15-7 to the over the past 2+ seasons in their games against Atlantic Division opponents. Generally not a lot of defensive intensity in match-ups like this and, keep in mind, the Rockets have averaged 123.5 points per game in their last two games against the Knicks. Houston made 36 of 95 three pointers in those 2 games versus New York last season. As for the Knicks, they did hit 40% of their threes when they hosted the Rockets last season and New York comes into this game having averaged scoring 112.3 points per game in their last 3 games. Also, at home this season the Knicks have not been held below 107 points. The Rockets are allowing 104.2 points per game on the road this season. Houston has not shot the ball well their past few games but that is unlikely to continue against a Knicks team not known for defense. The Rockets are likely to be angry and lighting it up from downtown tonight after their home loss to Philly and the Knicks - riding the confidence of a 3-game winning streak - should stay hot on the offensive end. The result should be a shootout here as the Knicks improve that aforementioned "over trend" to 8-1 the last 9 times. 10* OVER the total in New York

Total of the Month - Rickenbach NBA 10* Top Play OVER the total in New York Knicks vs Denver Nuggets @ 7:35 ET - I like playing overs when two teams come in rolling with confidence and scoring a lot of points. When this happens it is only natural that a team lets up on defense because they are so focused on continuing their offensive onslaught and they have the added confidence factor of "who needs defense when nobody can stop us from scoring" as their mentality. That is the case here for the Knicks as they've won two straight games and averaged 110.5 points in their last two games. That included New York's big upset win at Cleveland last night. As for the Nuggets, they've also won back to back games and they've averaged 114.5 points per game. Keep in mind that Denver, other than the easy win over a hapless Sacramento team, has allowed an average of 107.2 points per game in their 5 contests against teams not named the Kings. As for the Knicks, they were allowing 108.7 points per game in their first 3 games this season and I am not sold on them necessarily having a defensive resurgence just because the Nets and Cavs both had poor shooting nights against them. Also, the Knicks have allowed an average of 129 points per game in their last two games versus Denver. Both match-ups went over the total last season and the Nuggets are a long-term 14-6 to the over in their games against Atlantic Division opponents. Also, the over is 29-16 in Denver's games when they are off of a game where they scored 115 points or more. Couple that with the Knicks being in a back to back and off of a huge upset win on the road and I expect a shootout tonight with an overall lack of effort on the defensive end. 10* OVER the total in New York

Total Dominator - Rickenbach Sunday NBA 8* OVER the total in Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks @ 7:05 ET - The Knicks are off of a win versus the Nets where they allowed just 86 points. However, this has certainly been the exception rather than the norm for New York as they were allowing 109 points per game in their first 3 games this season. Also, the Knicks allowed 118 points per game versus the Cavaliers in last season's 4 meetings. The Cavs come into this one fired up off of a loss as they were defeated 123-101 at New Orleans yesterday. Cleveland is 22-10 to the over when they are off of a game where they allowed 115 points or more. Also, the Cavaliers are 2-0 to the over this season when they are off of an upset loss as a favorite and they're also 2-0 to the over this season when they are facing a team with a losing record. The over is 10-6 when New York is off of a game where they allowed 90 points or less. As you can see, we have combined factors favoring the over to the tune of 36-16 in this one! 8* OVER the total in Cleveland

Rickenbach Wednesday NBA 8* OVER the total in Charlotte Hornets vs Denver Nuggets @ 7:05 ET - The Nuggets have had 3 straight unders to start the season but they've allowed 106 points or more in 2 of their 3 games and are coming off of a game where they scored 104 points. The Hornets have also begun their season with 3 straight unders but a ridiculous 4th quarter (for the offensive production of both Charlotte and the Bucks) in Milwaukee Monday is the only reason they didn't record their first over of the season. The fact is that teams are averaging 92 field goal attempts per game against the Hornets so the pace is there. Now it's time for the points to match the pace and it will in this game. The over is 44-29 in Hornets games against teams with a losing record. Also, the over is 38-21 in Nuggets non-conference games. Match-ups that are inter-conference tend to play out with less defensive intensity than intra-conference match-ups and I expect plenty of "run and gun" in this one. 8* OVER the total in Charlotte

Rickenbach Tuesday NBA 8* OVER the total in Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets @ 7:05 ET - This total looks huge of course but it is truly not big enough. It opened up at 229 and Orlando is averaging 117 points per game this season and Brooklyn is averaging 124.3 points per game on the young season. I like the fact that both teams saw their first two games go over the total but are now coming into this game off of an under. The fact is that each team saw their opponent have a rare "off" shooting night in their most recent game. The pace was still for an over but the shooting percentage of the opponent simply didn't get the job done. This leads to value in a spot like this and the over is 8-4 in Orlando's games with a posted total of 220 or more. Also, the over is 16-5 in Magic games when they are playing with 2 days of rest between games and Orlando is off of that huge upset win at Cleveland on Saturday. The over is 11-6 in Brooklyn's road games with a posted total of 220 or more. Also, the Nets are 26-14 to the over when facing a team that allows 106 points or more per game. 8* OVER the total in Orlando

Rickenbach Monday NBA 8* OVER the total in Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets @ 8:05 ET - The Bucks are 3-0 to the over this season while the Hornets are 2-0 to the under this season so something has to give here. The fact is that Milwaukee, at home, is going to dictate the tempo and they have the NBA's leading scorer leading the way. With Charlotte banged up, I just don't see anyone slowing down Giannis Antetokounmpo (38.3 ppg) and the Bucks! Milwaukee is happy to push the tempo right now and Antetokounmpo continues to fire away and attack on offense which is also opening up great open looks for his teammates as he commands so much attention. In games played in the first half of a season, the Bucks are on a 44-25 run to the over. The Hornets are riding high after their big win over the Hawks and that 18-point win is noteworthy here because Charlotte is 30-15 to the over when they are off of a win by a double digit margin. Bucks games are averaging 214.7 points per game this season and I expect more of the same here! 8* OVER the total in Milwaukee

Total Dominator - Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* OVER the total in Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ 7:05 ET - After scoring just 34 points in the first HALF at Utah last night, you're sure to see a HUGE response from the Thunder in this one! They've scored a total of 158 points - for an average of 26.3 points per quarter in their other 6 quarters of action early this season. The Timberwolves are off of a win versus that same Jazz team Friday and Minnesota did reach triple digits in the game. However, they've shot just 44% so far this season from the field and I expect a breakout game from the Wolves offense in this one as Oklahoma City's focus is on the offensive end after scoring just 87 point in last night's loss. It leads to what should be a shootout here and so I'll gladly take advantage of the downward line move on the O/U in this one. The Timberwolves first road game this season went over the total and they are on a 48-31 run to the over in road games. 8* OVER the total in Oklahoma City

TNT Smash Pass Thursday - Rickenbach NBA 8* OVER the total in Oklahoma City Thunder vs New York Knicks @ 8:05 ET - Kristaps Porzingis is probable for the Knicks and he is a key scorer for them. Joakim Noah, mostly known for defense and rebounding, is suspended for 12 games to start the season. Carmelo Anthony is now a member of the Thunder and would love nothing more than to "pour it on" against his former team here. Of course Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook would love nothing more than to feed him, pile up assists, and help in the demolition of Melo's former team. With the line around a dozen points, that's the reason I am on the over here rather than the side. I do expect OKC to win big but once you start getting into double digits with a line in the NBA it can get a little "dicey" as to how the game plays out in the final few minutes. One thing I do know though is that I don't expect the Thunder to ever take their foot off of the gas in this one and that means it will be played at a frenetic pace. OKC is out to make a statement here in their first game of the season and these two teams both were in the top 5 in the NBA for field goal attempts per game last season. The Knicks averaged 88.5 and the Thunder averaged 87.4 shots per game. In other words there will be plenty of "run and gun" in this game. Both games last year totaled at least 215 points and the last 3 match-ups between these teams have averaged 228.7 points per game. Great value here considering the factors above and with this line currently 213.5 at the time of posting this play. 8* OVER the total in Oklahoma City

Total of the Month - Rickenbach Wednesday NBA 10* Top Play UNDER the total in Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors - In the typical zig zag of the markets throughout a playoff series now this total has shot back up. That is offering us significant line value here as Golden State is 18-9 to the under in road games with a posted total of 220 or more this season. Generally speaking, the Warriors have more offensive hiccups on the road than at home. In other words, if there is going to be game where the shots aren't falling so well for Stephen Curry and Company, look for it to be this game. The Cavaliers will come out fired up at home and in an 0-2 hole. They must go into shut-down mode on defense as much as possible and look to get the Warriors out of their rhythm - at least as much as that is possible. I look for LeBron James and Company to do just that. Even with the over in Game 2, the under is 12-5 this season (and 36-17 the last 3 seasons combined) in Cavaliers games as an underdog. Also, the Cavs haven't recorded back to back overs in a series since Games 1 and 2 of the Toronto series in very early May. After allowing 132 points on the road in Game 2 to the Warriors, look for the Cavaliers to bring a defensive mindset this one and play very aggressively to limit easy scores for Golden State. The result should be a total falling well short of this number in Game 3 Wednesday night. 10* UNDER the total in Cleveland

Total Dominator - Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* Top Play UNDER the total in San Antonio Spurs vs Golden State Warriors @ 9 ET - The Spurs were able to run with the Warriors for awhile in Game 3 Saturday and even were within 4 points in the 3rd quarter. However, San Antonio is just not healthy and the Spurs quickly found out that, no matter who is on the floor, it is simply a mistake to try and "run and gun" with the Warriors. It's just not going to work! Golden State is the much healthier team and has far too many weapons. With that said, the Spurs still are not going to go down without a fight, at least not on their home floor. That is why I see Game 4 staying under the total. I know all 3 of the games so far have gone over the total in this series (and overs have dominated overall in recent NBA playoff action) but the fact is that the Spurs must slow things down some tonight. Couple that with the fact that the numbers on totals are continuing to become more and more inflated and you certainly have some line value here. The under is 29-17 in Golden State's road games this season and the under is 31-20 when the Warriors are off of a game in which they scored 115 points or more. The Spurs, the last 3 seasons combined, have gone 43-29 to the under in their games against teams that average 106 points or more per game. That's because SA knows how to slow things down and turn up the heat on defense and that is truly their only hope here in a "win or go fishing" Game 4 that could ultimately define their finish to the season. The Spurs go hard here but it will be defense that they'll have to lean on and that's why my only play tonight is on the total. 10* UNDER the total in San Antonio

Total Dominator - Rickenbach Sunday NBA 10* Top Play OVER the total in Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics @ 8:30 ET - This total took a big drop because of Isaiah Thomas now being out. I'll step in and take advantage as it is highly unlikely that the Celtics have another horrific shooting effort as they shot just 37.2% from the field in Game 2. Of course the Cavaliers have been putting up insane numbers and while they are highly unlikely to score 130 again (Cavs won Game 2 by a 130-86 final) I truly don't expect them to slow down much considering they're fired up to be playing on their home floor for the first time in 2 and 1/2 weeks! By the way, the over is a perfect 5-0 this season when Cleveland is off of a game where they scored 130 points or more. As for Boston, the over is a long-term 5-2 when they are off of a game where they allowed 130 points or more. As a road dog of 12.5 points or more, the Celtics have gone 15-7 to the over long-term. The Cavaliers are an incredible 49-26 to the over this season when they are a favorite. Take advantage of the lower total here as the O/U move has helped add great value here. Others will fill in as Thomas now sits out. 10* OVER the total in Cleveland

Total Crusher - Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* Top Play UNDER the total in Golden State Warriors vs San Antonio Spurs @ 9 ET - Already without Tony Parker, the Spurs are now also very likely to be without Kawhi Leonard for this one Tuesday. Though both these players are key contributors on defense, there is no denying that Parker is a key catalyst on offense and Leonard is San Antonio's #1 scorer. With that said, the Spurs know they must turn this Game 2 affair into a slow-down, grind-it-out style of game if they have any hopes of springing the huge upset. The Warriors simply have too many weapons for SA to risk getting into a shootout with Golden State. The Spurs also want to do the best they can to keep the crowd out of it. Of course when they lost Leonard to injury in Game 1 there was a little bit of "shell shock" and the Spurs had trouble recovering from that and they blew a huge lead. Now, going into Game 2, coach Popovich and company has had time to adjust and game plan properly and the Spurs know that this is the hand they are dealt with. In other words, it's an entirely different game planning for the Spurs for Tuesday night and I look for them, as usual, to execute it very well under coach Pop's tutelage. The result should be a low-scoring affair as the Warriors can certainly play some D too (allowed only 43% shooting from the field this season) and the Spurs, before Game 1's tight defeat, had held their opponent to 96 points or less in 4 of their last 7 games. That included their stifling defensive effort against the Rockets in Game 6 on the road where they held Houston to 75 points. Certainly the Warriors aren't the Rockets but you understand why the Spurs D can be expected to "rise up" for this one! The under is 9-4 in Warriors conference final games and the under is 42-27 in Spurs games when they are facing teams that average 106 points or more per game. 10* UNDER the total in Golden State

Total Crusher - Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* OVER the total in Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards @ 8 ET - After two days off, finally Game 7 is here and the early market action has been to the under. However, the Wizards generally know only one way to win and that is offense. Yes, they gutted out an insanely tight Game 6 victory that was low-scoring but that was the exception rather than the norm. Going on the road for this highly anticipated Game 7, Washington knows the best way to get the crowd out of the game is to get a solid early lead. The Wizards can do that by running and gunning early and that is a big part of the "style" that Washington plays on the road. That's why the Wizards are 31-16 to the over in road games this season. Also, Washington is 29-12 to the over when playing with two days of rest between games over the past three seasons combined. With fresh legs and relishing the underdog role (25-13 to the over as an underdog this season), look for the Wizards to come out firing on all cylinders in this one! By the way, 15 of the Wizards last 20 games against teams that average 106 points or more per game have gone over the total. The Celtics are 11-6 to the over this season when playing with 2 days of rest between games. After not playing aggressive enough offensively in Game 6, look for Boston to be very aggressive on their home floor here in Game 7. The last 6 times that the Celtics have been held to 42.9% or less from the field they've averaged 112.5 points per game in their next game. Also, the over is a perfect 6-0 the last 6 times that the Celtics were held to 43% or less in their prior game. Look for these trends to continue here and I'll take advantage of the early morning downward line movement on this total. 8* OVER the total in Boston

Total Dominator - Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* Top Play UNDER the total in Washington Wizards vs Boston Celtics @ 8 ET - The over is 4-1 so far in this series so it may seem a little "uncomfortable" to back the under but this is an elimination game. Anything can happen in an elimination game (as we saw last night with the Spurs holding the high-powered Rockets to 75 points on their home floor). The point is, I expect the Wizards to not be able to play with the same "free-flowing" mentality here as they face the pressure of elimination. As for the Celtics, they've averaged only 95.5 points per game in the two games played at Washington in this series. Game 3 in Washington stayed under the total. Game 4 in DC only went over the total because both teams shot "lights out" from three point land. The teams actually averaged only 83 shots from the field in the two games played in Washington in this series. That is a slower pace than what we've seen in the games played at Boston in this series. The fact the Wizards are facing elimination also changes the complexion of this one. Washington knows they must again slow down Thomas like they did in Games 3 and 4 on their home floor. The other complementary players for Boston are less likely to have big games here like they did with the ridiculous hot shooting when they are were on their home floor. Keep in mind, the Celtics made only 39.7% of their shots in the two games here and the Wizards were held to just 38.5% Wednesday. Before the over in Game 4 of this series, the under was a perfect 4-0 in Celtics road games in this post-season. Look for that trend to resume here on Friday night. By the way, Boston is 13-7 to the under on Fridays this season. 10* UNDER the total in Washington

Total Contrarian - Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* UNDER the total in Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs @ 8 ET - This series is certainly grinding down towards "crunch time" and it should result in another tight game in Game 6. Keep in mind, the Spurs and Rockets have combined for just 46 points in their last 17 minutes of basketball. They only had 31 points combined in the 4th quarter of Game 5 and then just 15 points in the 5 minute OT session. This is the point in a series when fatigue sets in and the Rockets used only a 7 man rotation in Game 5 with 6 of the players combining to average 40 minutes. In fact 4 of the 5 starters did log at least 40 minutes in that game. Maybe the Rockets do rise up and win this game and perhaps even cover (the answer on that is with my 10* Top Side play for tonight) but the fact is I expect this to be a tighter, lower-scoring game. The series began it's shift into tough, "grind it out" basketball when it was a 2-2 series and a one point game heading to the 4th quarter of Game 5. Everyone is feeling the pressure, amping up the defensive intensity and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is going to be very careful about the tempo of this game. He doesn't want the Rockets getting out in transition and his offensive game plan will be predicated on the fact that he doesn't want missed shots with long rebounds leading to easy, open looks for Houston in transition. Also, I don't the think weary Rockets are going to be necessarily capable of just "running and gunning" tonight. This should be "playoff basketball" at it's finest tonight and the result should be a solid under. I am calling this a contrarian play because there have been so many overs in this series (although Game 5 was damn lucky for over players - OT) and because there have been so many overs in recent playoff games across the NBA. The over is on a 5-0 run in NBA playoff action as there has not been an under since Saturday. That streak ends here as both teams dial up some defense in the first game of this series where a team is facing elimination. 8* UNDER the total in Houston

Total of the Month - Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* Top Play UNDER the total in Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards @ 8 ET - Having not played since Sunday, Boston has had two days off to think about the fact that allowing an average of 118.5 points per game to the Wizards just might have had something to do with the Celtics getting blown out in both games in Washington. In other words, look for some solid defense here from the home team as they need to get back on track in this series and they need to turn to their defense to do it. Give some credit to the Wizards defense too as, surprisingly, they have figured out a way to slow down Isaiah Thomas as they've held the Celtics point guard in check the last two games and this has slowed down Boston. The Celtics have averaged just 95.5 points per game in the last two games. Things definitely got "chippy" with this series in the two games down in DC and I expect that to continue here. Keep in mind Game 3 totaled only 205 points and Game 4 only went over the total because both teams shot a ridiculously high percentage of 3 pointers in that game as they combined to go 23 of 52. Look for a return to normal here and Boston is still 13-7 to the under in all playoff games in recent seasons and also 9-4 to the under this season when off of a loss by 10 points or more. Back at home, and off of getting "blitzed" in DC in both games, the Celtics turn up the heat on defense in this one and they will dictate the tempo which will be a little less "chaotic" than what has been the case so far in this series! 10* UNDER the total in Boston

Total Crusher - Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Golden State Warriors vs Utah Jazz @ 10:30 ET - The first game in this series stayed under the total but not by much and that was with the teams combining to make only 16 of 58 three pointers! In other words, if just one of the teams would have had a "normal" night from three point range, there is no way the game would have failed to go over the total. The 106 points scored by the Warriors marked just the 2nd time in their last 11 games that Golden State has been held under 109 points. In fact, in the other 9 games the Warriors averaged 121 points per game. No matter how much the Jazz try to slow them down, particularly tough to do in Oakland, the Warriors are going to get their points. That said, with the downward adjustment on this line and the fact that one (if not both) of the teams is likely to shoot better from three point land means there is exceptional line value here. The over was 7-3 in the Warriors last 10 games prior to Game 1 of this series staying under the total. The over is 4-1 the last 5 times the Jazz have been off of a game where they were held to 95 points or less. Utah averaged 105.2 points per game in those 5 games and I look for them to push hard in this game but once again, the Warriors offensive machine isn't going to be stopped and that should lead to a very high-scoring Game Two. 10* Top Play OVER the total in Golden State

Total Annihilation - Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 8* OVER the  total in Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards @ 8 ET - The quick reaction here in the "zig zag" theory that many bettors employ in the NBA playoffs would be to back the under after all the hot shooting that we saw in Game 1 of this series sent the Sunday game flying over the total. However, the Wizards have now scored 111 points in back to back games and they've allowed 111 points or more in 3 of their last 5 games. Washington is simply not known for playing solid defense but they can put up big points in a hurry when they're hot and, right now, they've been feeling it as they continue to ride the momentum of three straight solid performances on the offensive end. The Wizards won the final two games of their series with Atlanta thanks to big offensive production and then had a huge 1st half against the Celtics before their shooting cooled off in the 3rd quarter. Boston has won 8 of their last 10 games and averaged 111.4 points per game in the 8 wins. The over is 6-0 in Celtics Tuesday games and the over is 7-2 in Wizards Tuesday games. Versus teams that average 106 points or more per game Washington is on a 12-3 run to the over. Overall, the Wizards road games are 29-16 to the over this season. There have been only 3 unders in the Celtics last 12 home games and they'll be pushing hard to get the 2-0 series lead here and they certainly showed in game one that they are not afraid to push the pace with the Wizards. Keep in mind Boston scored 123 points Sunday even though the Celtics didn't score a field goal for the first 6 minutes of the game. 8* OVER the total in Boston

Total of the Month - Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Los Angeles Clippers vs Utah Jazz @ 3:30 ET - The 3 games played in Los Angeles in this series have all stayed under the total and, overall, there have been back to back unders in this series as both Games 5 and 6 stayed under the total. That is noteworthy because, in terms of the odds of a 3rd straight under occurring in this series, the Jazz when off of back to back unders have not had a 3rd straight under the last 6 weeks! The Clippers have not recorded 3 straight unders in their games since prior to the All Star break! The games in this series have been tight ballgames with the 6 games all decided by single digits and the average margin of victory being 5 points. The key with that is that another close game is likely in Game 7 and that likely will lead to fouling and trips to the free throw line late in the game as each team knows "there is no tomorrow". Whoever is down is going to be willing to foul even if down 8 or 10 points with only a minute to go. Look for plenty of late "scramble points" in the final sequences of this one but, the fact is, those points may not even be needed here. The Jazz have averaged 100 points per game in the last 4 games in this series and the Clippers are going to grab the momentum from staving off elimination in Game 6 as they now enjoy their home floor in Game 7. That said, don't be surprised if both teams get to triple digits in this one! The Jazz allowed the Clippers to connect on 49.4% of their shots from the field in Game 6. The last 3 times the Jazz have allowed a team to hit 45.4% or better from the field the over is a perfect 3-0 in their next game. 10* OVER the total in Los Angeles Clippers

SA Insider - Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* Top Play OVER the total in San Antonio Spurs vs Memphis Grizzlies @ 9:30 ET - The Grizzlies only scored 52 points in the final 3 quarters of Saturday's loss and yet the game still went over the total. I certainly expect Memphis to shoot the ball better in Game 2 but, as mentioned in my Game 1 pick on the Spurs, the absence of Tony Allen is really hurting the Grizzlies defense. San Antonio erupted for 111 points in Saturday's easy win and I expect another explosion on offense tonight. The series takes two days off after tonight's game and the Spurs want to make another statement before the series heads to Memphis. That said, San Antonio isn't going to take their foot off of the gas in this one and, with the Grizzlies unlikely to be held to such an awful performance from the field again, this one should fly over the total. This season, when the Spurs allow 85 points or less in a game, the over is 5-1 in their next game. The Grizzlies are a perfect 5-0 to the over the last 5 times they've been held under 100 points in a game. Take advantage of the low total posted on this game as well as the downward line move as it has opened up some nice line value on the over in this one. 10* OVER the total in San Antonio

Daytime Dominator - Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Golden State Warriors vs Portland Trail Blazers @ 3:30 ET - This total was as high as a 223 and now has dropped below 220. I like the added value on the over here in a game where the Warriors are unlikely to take their foot off of the gas. This is a playoff rematch from last May and 4 of those 5 games went over the total. Also, all 4 of their regular season match-ups this season totaled at least 224 points. The Trail Blazers averaged 108 points per game in the regular season and the Warriors averaged 119 points per game in their home games. There is no reason this game can't be a 123-108 type game which would have it landing right around the current point spread of -14.5 in favor of Golden State. That would also have it going over the total by about a dozen points which is why this selection is a top play for me. Excellent line value here and the over is 15-8 this season when Portland has faced a team that averages 106 points or more per game. Also, should this total creep back up again, the Blazers are 14-8 to the over in games with a posted total of 220 points or more this season. The Warriors are averaging 126 points per game in their last 6 meetings with the Trail Blazers and they want to make a statement here at home in Game One which means plenty of run and gun with big points expected here. 10* OVER the total in Golden State

Total Crusher - Rickenbach NBA Saturday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks @ 5:30 ET - Fresh legs here for both teams of course with 2 days off before the playoffs begin. That is noteworthy in this case as the over is 10-2 this season when the Raptors enter a game with 2 days off between games. I like the fact that this total has dropped from an opener of 203.5 down to a 199 as of early gameday morning. This is offering us solid line value in this spot. Toronto is off of an under in their most recent game but previously had gone over the total in 6 of their last 8 games. The Bucks had some unders late in the season but their better defensive games had a lot to do with the opposition. In fact, in their last 3 road games against playoff teams, Milwaukee has allowed an average of 109 points per game! In the Raptors last 8 home games, they've allowed an average of 107 points per game. You can see why I am liking the value here with this over as all hands are on deck for both teams and the Raptors are a different team when at home in the post-season. They can put up huge points and get red hot from the outside and this has been particularly true when playing north of the border! The Raptors are 26-15 to the over in home games this season and also went 18-9 to the over in their games against teams with a winning record. The Bucks wrapped up the regular season with an ugly loss but are 14-7 to the over this season when off of a loss by a double digit margin. Take advantage of the line value here. Raptors are going to run and gun in this game and force Milwaukee to match their fast tempo. 10* OVER the total in Toronto

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* OVER the total in Houston Rockets vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ 8:05 ET - This should play out more like an All-Star game than anything else. Minnesota lost the last game they really cared about (home finale) last night and will simply do tonight what this young team has done for much of the season (run and gun with very little defense). The Rockets are locked into their playoff seeding and will simply get their guys some minutes and certainly the focus will not be on intense defense but rather on staying sharp with the outside shooting and quick scoring ability that characterizes this Houston team. The last time these teams met they combined for 272 points and no that game did not go to overtime! The Rockets have allowed an average of 118 points per game in their last 9 games. The T-wolves have allowed an average of 114 points per game in their last 15 games. Minnesota is 22-9 to the over (including 11-4 this season) when they are off of an upset loss as a favorite. The Rockets are 11-6 to the over this season in their games against Northwest Division opponents. 9 of the last 10 meetings between these teams have gone over the total and this one has "run and gun" written all over it. 8* OVER the total in Houston

Total Dominator - Rickenbach NBA 8* OVER the total in Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder @ 8:05 ET - I lost with my over involving OKC last night but the Bucks were simply pathetic. Scoring only 79 points in that game was a complete embarrassment for then. The Thunder, even with taking their foot off the gas and Russell Westbrook getting rest due to Milwaukee's horrible effort, still scored 110 points. I look for Oklahoma City to have another big game on offense tonight but I expect the Grizzlies to score right along with them. Memphis will be looking to have a breakout game after having to face the determined defense of the Spurs. The playoff positioning of both the Thunder and Grizzlies is very nearly "set" so I don't expect a lot of defensive intensity in this one. Look for a free-flowing game and the Thunder did score 114 points the last time they faced Memphis. As for the Grizzlies, they scored 114 points the last time they hosted Oklahoma City.  Both these teams have been trending "under" of late but I prefer to be a contrarian and the Thunder are 14-8 to the over in April games and have stayed under the total just 7 times in 21 games when they enter a game having played each of their three prior games at home. Now embarking on a 4-game road trip after a 3-game homestand, look for the Thunder team to be in full "run and gun" mode here as they look to help Westbrook break Oscar Robertson's record for most triple double performances in a season! 8* OVER the total in Memphis

Total Dominator - Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 8* OVER the total in Oklahoma City Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks @ 8:05 ET - Given where Oklahoma City's position is in the standings are they really more concerned about wins and losses or giving Russell Westbrook the opportunity to break Oscar Robertson's all time triple double record? No matter where you stand on that question, the fact is that plenty of "run and gun" should be expected in this game Tuesday. The Thunder are off of back to back home losses and need to respond. The Bucks are off of a home loss to Dallas and they talked about their lack of defensive intensity in that game. However, does that mean "under" here? Not necessarily as the Bucks use their defense to fuel fast breaks going the other way and that leads to quick, easy points in transition the other way. The point is that Milwaukee can be expected to push the pace in this one and, at that same time, no team really enjoys success in slowing down Westbrook and company. This is especially true when the Thunder are off of back to back home losses. The Bucks are on a 4-1 run to the over in their last 5 games. Also, each of Milwaukee's last two visits to OKC have gone over the total. The over is 8-4 this season when the Bucks are off of an upset loss as a favorite and they'll respond off of the home loss to the Mavericks. As for the Thunder, the over is 14-7 in their last 21 April games. More of the same on this early April night as the over improves to 6-1 in Milwaukee's Tuesday games this season. 8* OVER the total in Oklahoma City 

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* OVER the total in Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets @ 3:05 ET - This total opened up at a 216.5 and has dropped to as low as a 213.5 as of early game day morning. I see value with the over in this one as I don't see the Thunder slowing down Kemba Walker but I also doubt the Hornets are going to be able to stop Russell Westbrook. Couple that with the fact that both these teams are fighting for playoff reasons - Charlotte just hoping to get in and Oklahoma City trying to remain 6th seed in west - and you have a match-up that should lead to a fast-paced affair. The Thunder will dictate the tempo at home and, after a bad finish (41 points in 2nd half) against the Spurs Friday night, there is now doubt that OKC will keep the "pedal to the metal" throughout this game in terms of the pace. Thunder games in April have gone over the total in 13 of 20 the past 2 seasons. The Hornets enter this game having gone over the total in 6 straight games! These last 6 games have been part of a 6-2 stretch for Charlotte so they are unlikely to change what's been working for them. In other words, look for the high-scoring games to continue! The over is 6-3 this season in Hornets games against Northwest Division opponents and the last time these teams met they totaled 235 points in early January. More of the same today. 8* OVER the total in Oklahoma City Sunday.

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach CBB Saturday 8* OVER the total in Gonzaga Bulldogs vs South Carolina Gamecocks @ 6:05 ET - I used the over in the Gonzaga game last weekend and was dealt a tough beat to say the least. The total on the game was in the 145 range and the Bulldogs combined with Xavier for 88 points at halftime. In other words, the game was on pace for 176 points but inexplicably ended up totaling 142 points. We'll get some payback here because even though both these teams can play some defense, the real reason the Gamecocks have made it this far in the tourney is the fact that their offense has started to function at a very high level. The over is 3-1 in South Carolina's four games in the Big Dance as they've averaged scoring 82 points per game and they've shot around 48% from the field in these 4 games! Though known for defense, the Gamecocks have allowed 70 points or more in 3 of their last 4 games and they'll have their hands full with Gonzaga here. The Zags average 83 points per game on the season and, after hanging 83 points on the Musketeers, their offense is heating up again. Shooting percentages from three point land for the Bulldogs have gone from below 27% in their first two games of the tourney to 40% and 50%, respectively, in their two most recent tourney games. The over is a long-term 10-4 in Gonzaga's games against SEC competition and the Bulldogs are also 18-6 to the over in neutral court games with a posted total in the 135 to 139.5 range. As for the Gamecocks, their last 10 games against teams that average 77 points or more per game have seen 7 of the 10 result in an over. In other words, South Carolina's defense is good but, in case of strength on strength, they've been overpowered at times. Look for both teams to score very well here. 8* OVER the total in Gonzaga

Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* OVER the total in Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76'ers @ 7:35 ET - The regular season in NBA is almost over. The Cavaliers started the season with 3 straight unders. Since those early results 5 months ago, the Cavs have had only one other stretch this entire season where they've had 3 straight unders. Cleveland enters this game off back to back unders and, as you can see from the above, the strong odds are that they snap the streak and an over results tonight. The Cavaliers will be fired up as they are off of an upset loss as a favorite and that is a situation that has seen them go 10-5 to the over this season. Also, the Cavs have lost 3 straight games and that's only happened 3 other times this season and every single time Cleveland has won their next game and every single time it went over the total. Look for that 3-0 mark to the over to improve to 4-0 tonight as the Cavaliers are fired up and will take advantage of one of the weaker defensive teams in the league. The Sixers particularly struggle with their D on the road as they've allowed an average of 110 points per game away from home this season. In this spot, given the situation, look for the Cavs to put up about 120 and if the odds makers are right about the spread, that makes this a 120-110 type game that easily flies over the number. The Cavs have averaged 119 points per game this season when they are off of 3 straight losses so getting to 120 or more (especially considering it's Philly they're facing) is certainly very attainable. The over is 21-10 the L3 seasons combined when the Cavaliers face a team that allows an average of 106 points or more per game. 8* OVER the total in Cleveland

Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* OVER the total in Philadelphia 76'ers vs Atlanta Hawks @ 7:05 ET - The Hawks have been an under team this season and that includes when they are in the 2nd game of a back to back too. However, Atlanta came into this season having gone 26-14 (65%) to the over when in the 2nd game of a back to back the past two seasons combined and I expect both teams to be relaxed on defense in this one as they are each coming off wins last night. The Sixers are 12-5 to the over when playing the 2nd game of a back to back this season. Also, the 76'ers and Hawks have combined to go over the total in 5 of their last 6 meetings. I am well aware of the fact that Atlanta has been trending under of late but, given the situation here for both clubs, this one should be a wide-open affair with plenty of run and gun. 8* OVER the total in Philadelphia

ESPN Smash Pass - Rickenbach CBB Tuesday 8* OVER the total in Central Florida Golden Knights vs TCU Horned Frogs @ 9:30 ET - Central Florida is known for their tough defense but, in this NIT Tournament they've had the benefit of facing an Illinois team going through a coaching transition and an MVC team (Illinois State) that was very inconsistent on offense late in the season. Prior to those two wins, the Golden Knights did allow 72 points per game in their games against Colorado and SMU and I would not be surprised to see a similar result tonight. TCU comes into this one rolling with confidence as they've scored 82 points or more in 4 of their last 6 games and that included tight wins over Iowa and Kansas. The issue for the Horned Frogs is their defense and I expect UCF to take advantage. Texas Christian, prior to their 82-68 win over Richmond, had allowed 82 points or more in 3 of their last 4 games. Also, TCU did allow the Spiders to connect on 49% of their shots from the field and, prior to that game, the Frogs had allowed 46.7% or better from three point land in three straight games. In the month of March the Golden Knights have shot the ball very well from beyond the arc so don't be surprised if that becomes a factor in this one as well. Look for the over to improve to 5-0 in TCU's neutral court games this season in what should be a very entertaining match-up at Madison Square Garden in NY, NY tonight. 8* OVER the total in Central Florida

Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Brooklyn Nets vs Philadelphia 76'ers @ 7:35 ET - Seriously, is anybody going to play defense in this one? Why bother? Both teams long ago eliminated from post-season contention and now meeting in a meaningless late-season game. Also, both teams have fresh legs as they were off yesterday. The Sixers are allowing 110 points per game in road games this season and the Nets are allowing 113 points per game in all games this season. Even though these teams have had some recent unders heading into this game, the 76'ers have allowed an average of 90 FG attempts per game in their last 3 games and the Nets have allowed an average of 95 field goal attempts per game in their last 4 games. As you can see, neither team has been slowing down the pace nor preventing their opponent from having plenty of scoring opportunities. I look for more of the same tonight and Brooklyn is 16-9 to the over this season in games with a posted total of 220 points or more. Also, the Nets are a long-term 23-13 to the over in games against teams that allow an average of at least 106 points per game. The Sixers just got hammered at Indiana and they are 17-8 to the over this season when off of a loss by 10 points or more. Also, Philadelphia is 13-6 to the over in their last 19 games against teams with a losing record on the season. Look for more of the same tonight. 10* OVER the total in Brooklyn

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* OVER the total in Toronto Raptors vs Orlando Magic @ 7:35 ET - The Raptors are off back to back unders where they held their opponent under 100 points in each game. That is significant because it has only happened 7 other times this season and each time it happened the next game went over the total. Not only is this a 7-0 situation to the over but the games have blasted past the O/U with an average of 224 points scored. Orlando comes into this game well-rested as they have been off since Friday and that is significant because the Magic are 7-2 to the over this season when playing with 2 days of rest between games. Even though Orlando held Detroit to 87 points Friday, a repeat of that feat is unlikely here. That's because, prior to that game, the Magic allowed 114.3 points per game in their last 7 games. As for the Orlando offensive production, they have scored 102 points or more in 6 of their last 7 games. Look for another solid shooting performance from the Magic here but they are unlikely to slow down a Raptors offense that averages 111 points per game when at home this season. 8* OVER the total in Toronto

Total of the Year - Rickenbach CBB Sunday 10* Top Play UNDER the total in North Carolina Tar Heels vs Kentucky Wildcats @ 5:05 ET - When these teams met in December it was a highly anticipated match-up of two ranked foes that each had one loss on the season. That said, the impetus was not there for playing a lot of defense. Sure, both teams wanted to win but it wasn't a situation where the loser goes home and the winner goes to the Final Four and has a shot at the national championship. That said, look for this game to play out much differently than the 103-100 wild game that was played at a neutral site earlier this season. The Wildcats have really turned up the defensive intensity to get to this point but did not fare well defensively against UCLA and yet still held the high-flying Bruins to 75 points. Prior to that game, Kentucky had allowed 67 points or less in 9 of their last 12 games. Also, the Wildcats had held 7 of their 9 prior opponents under 41.9% from the field. The under is now 8-1 in Kentucky's last 9 NCAA Tournament games and the Wildcats are on an incredible streak this season of 9 straight unders when facing a team that averages 77 points or more per game! Long-term, when UK is a neutral court dog of 3 points or less, the under has gone 10-2. This will be a fierce battle with a lot more defense than was seen when these teams met 3 months ago! North Carolina, of course, wants revenge for that defeat and the under is 3-1 this season when UNC is playing with road loss revenge. Also, when off of a game where they scored 80 points or more, the Tar Heels have gone 16-7 to the under this season. Before allowing 80 points to Butler, the Heels had held 7 of their last 9 opponents to 67 points or less. Both teams will be feeling the pressure here and shots won't be falling nearly as easily as they did in the first meeting this season. The first game was about bragging rights while this match-up is about a shot at a national championship. You'll see the difference on the floor in this one and I see this game landing in the 140s which makes this total (opened up at 156 but now in the 160 range) a great value for us. 10* UNDER the total in North Carolina

TV Game of the Month - Rickenbach NBA Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder @ 3:35 ET - The very first numbers that popped up on this total were 235. Of course the markets couldn't believe what they saw and it has already been bet down to a 231.5 but I am here to tell you...believe it! The huge total posted here is absolutely justified. Oklahoma City is red hot on offense right now and has shot 50% or better from the field in 6 of its last 8 games. The Thunder scored 122 against Philly Wednesday and, in their two prior road games, OKC exploded for at least 122 points in each game! The Rockets, of course, are one of the top scoring teams in the league and they are certainly not known for their focus on defense. With a huge game on deck with Golden State this certainly doesn't look like a spot for anything to change for Houston. They'll continue to play their all O / no D style and that means both teams are likely to get to at least 120 in this one in what should be a highly entertaining game with a ton of points. The Rockets are averaging 120 points over their last 14 games but they've also allowed 114 points per game in their last 8 games. The over is 10-4 this season (and 33-17 the L3 seasons) in Rockets games against Northwest Division opponents. Oklahoma City's last two visits to face the Rockets have both gone over the total and I expect another one here as this one is all about the "run and gun" offensive efficiency of each team. 10* OVER the total in Houston

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach CBB Saturday 8* OVER the total in Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Xavier Musketeers @ 6:05 ET - The Bulldogs scored just 61 points in their win over West Virginia Thursday. However, Gonzaga is known for following up a poor effort on offense with a very strong one. In the regular season, when the Bulldogs were off of a game where they scored 74 points or less (happened 7 times) they responded by averaging 93.3 points per game in their next game. After facing teams known for playing some solid defense (West Virginia and Northwestern) plus sleep-walking through the first half of their tourney opener (because they were not enthused about facing South Dakota State), Xavier looks like the perfect opponent for Gonzaga to put on a clinic on offense! The Musketeers are not known for their defense but, on the thing is for certain, this team has been red hot on offense for weeks! Xavier has shot over 48% from the field in 7 of their last 9 games and that includes knocking down at least 50% from the field in all 3 games so far in the Big Dance. The Musketeers are 23-14 to the over in Saturday games the last 3 seasons combined and the Bulldogs are on a long-term run of 28-16 to the over in NCAA tournament games! After facing the wrong opponents for "run and gun" on offense look for this match-up with Xavier to turn into a track meet with plenty of offense! 8* OVER the total in Gonzaga

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Saturday 8* OVER the total in Los Angeles Clippers vs Utah Jazz @ 3:35 ET - About two weeks ago the Clippers and Jazz matched up and the game went over the total. It's also been about two weeks since the Jazz have been on the road against a Western Conference foe and that is a significant fact because the over is a PERFECT 6-0 in Utah's last 6 road games against Western Conference opponents. Also, Utah has allowed 110 points per game in their last 5 road games against opponents from the West. The Clippers are off of a loss and were held under 100 points. They'll be hungry to bounce back here and the over is 6-1 the last 7 times that Los Angeles was off of a game where they were held to 99 points or less. The Clips have averaged 114.7 points per game in those 7 games! The over is 9-4 in Utah's last 13 games against teams with a winning record. Look for the over to improve to 6-3 this season in LA's games against teams that allow an average of 98 points or less per game. 8* OVER the total in Los Angeles Clippers

Insiders Edge - Rickenbach CBB Friday 8* OVER the total in Baylor Bears vs South Carolina Gamecocks @ 7:25 ET - South Carolina has a strong reputation for its defense but they over is now 11-5 in the Gamecocks last 16 games and truly they have faded as the season has gone on. South Carolina has allowed an average of 73 points per game in their last 4 games and the Gamecocks have allowed 71 points or more in 9 of their last 12 games. On the other end of the floor South Carolina has been red hot in the Big Dance with 90.5 points per game scored so far in the tourney. I don't think Baylor is going to have a lot of success in shutting them down. The Bears have seen each of their last 4 games go over the total as they've allowed an average of 71 points per game. Baylor has been shooting red hot over their last 6 games (5 went over) and they've also knocked down over 40% of their three pointers in 3 of their last 4 games. The over is 5-2 in Baylor's last 7 games against SEC competition. As for South Carolina, the over is 10-5 in their last 15 games against teams with a winning record. Look for the over to improve to 5-0 in the Bears last 5 games as the high-scoring trending continues for both of these teams. The Gamecocks are riding high after the upset of Duke and have a ton of confidence right now but Baylor won't go away quietly and has plenty of big scoring options. The result should be a back and forth high-scoring affair played at a good pace. 8* OVER the total in Baylor

Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* OVER the total in Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:05 ET - The Cavaliers are looking to bounce back off of a loss but Cleveland's recent domination of Charlotte ensures that the Hornets certainly aren't going to back down here. As a result, expect a back and forth high-scoring game here as the Cavs have allowed each of their last 3 opponents to shoot 51% or better from the field. The Hornets have averaged 111 points per game in their last 5 home games and they'll be tough to stop here but don't look for the Charlotte defense to enjoy much success against the Cavaliers either. Cleveland has averaged 112.6 points per game in their last 5 games against the Hornets. The total on this game opened up in the 215.5 range and is now down to a 212.5 as of mid-morning on gameday. This is offering even more value to the over and the over is a hot 4-1 (80%) this season when Charlotte enters a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. Also, the over is 9-4 (69%) this season when the Cavaliers are off of an upset loss as a favorite. After their disappointing defeat at Denver, the Cavs will fired up and employing plenty of "run and gun" in this one. 8* OVER the total in Charlotte

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* UNDER the total in Brooklyn Nets vs Phoenix Suns @ 7:35 ET - It is getting so late in the season now that some teams simply just don't care. Phoenix has now lost 5 straight games and 7 of their last 8. The Suns have averaged only 101 points per game in their last 7 games and this has led to 7 straight unders for Phoenix! The Suns are simply not shooting well and there is no reason to expect that to change tonight as Phoenix just doesn't have a lot of "fire" in them at this late juncture in the season. Brooklyn, like the Suns, is also generally known for very high scoring games but they've had just 3 overs in their last 8 games as the Nets have been held to 105 points or less in 6 of their last 8 games. Brooklyn has not shot well at all in their last 3 games - under 43.5% in those games. Phoenix has been held under 44% from the field in 5 straight games! The very first number that popped up on this total was 219 and the markets have now pushed it all the way up to 224.5 as of mid-morning gameday. The under is 4-1 (80%) the last 5 times that Brooklyn was off of an upset win as an underdog. The under is 8-3 in Phoenix games in March and, as noted above, it's "that time of year again" for the Suns as they wind down a disappointing campaign and the under is now 30-12 in March games for the Suns the past 3 seasons combined. More of the same Thursday evening. 8* UNDER the total in Brooklyn

Bulldogs Best - Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Dallas Mavericks vs Golden State Warriors @ 8:35 ET - These teams met on December 30th and that game stayed under the total. However, prior to that, each of the last 4 meetings between these teams went over the total. The Mavericks are still fighting to have a shot at a playoff berth and they'll go hard tonight. The issue for the Mavs is they'll struggle to stop a Golden State offense that is starting to knock down shots at a high percentage again. They've adjust to life without Kevin Durant and have averaged 117 points per game in their last 3 games. The Warriors have hit 55% of their shots from the field in those 3 games and Golden State also has hit a high percentage of their three points over their last 4 games. Look for the Warriors to stay hot tonight but not also that Dallas has scored at least 111 points per game in 2 of their last 3 games and shot over 50% from the field in those 2 games plus over 40% from three point land in those two match-ups. The Mavericks have averaged 107 points per game in their last 5 home games and that recent hot shooting was coming on the road so don't look for them to slow down here. In fact, the Mavs have won 13 of their last 17 home games so they come into this match-up with plenty of confidence and won't hesitate to push the pace here. Dallas, after the midway point of a season, when facing a team that averages 106 points or more per game, has gone 18-10 to the over. Also, they've played 6 Tuesday games this season and ZERO have stayed under the total. 10* OVER the total in Dallas Tuesday night

TNT Top Game - Rickenbach NBA 10* Top Play OVER the total in Oklahoma City Thunder vs Golden State Warriors @ 8 ET - With Kevin Durant out for Golden State, this match-up will lack some of the defensive intensity that otherwise would be present. As a result, look for Oklahoma City to push the tempo extremely fast in this game as they look to create quick scoring chances against the KD-less Warriors. As for GS, their best bet will be red hot outside shooting, as usual, and Golden State comes into this one having shot a ridiculous 59% from the field in their last two games combined. Those blowout wins averaged 119.5 points per game and the Warriors now face a Thunder team that has won 5 straight games and is averaging 115 points per game in their last 6 games. That means a 118-116 type game (right in line with the current point spread on this game) would not be a surprised in this match-up and that is a double digit margin over the current total posted on this game. The result? Value for us! There have been just 4 unders in the last 16 games for the Thunder and I certainly like having 75% odds in our favor for the over in this one! OKC has shot 50% or better from the field in 4 straight games and 5 of their last 6. The Warriors are heating up again on offense and that includes shooting the 3-ball very well in their last 3 games combined. The Warriors are known for victimizing the Thunder from 3-point land and have averaged 15 three pointers per game in the last 5 meetings. With Golden State coming into this one hot, look for more of the same tonight as both teams "go off" with huge point totals amassed! 10* OVER the total in Oklahoma City 

ESPN Smash Pass - Rickenbach CBB Monday 10* Top Play OVER the total in UT-Arlington Mavericks vs Akron Zips @ 8 ET - UT-Arlington is 13-0 in home games this season and averages a ridiculous 85 points per game! However, this will be far from a "cakewalk" for the Mavericks because the Zips are a high-scoring team that shoots surprisingly well on the road. Akron is known for their 3-point shooting prowess and, even on the road, knock down 38.3% of their three pointers. UT-Arlington won't hesitate to push the pace at the home and this one sets up well to be another shootout. The Mavericks are off of a 105-89 win at BYU and are sky-high with confidence right now. The Zips are on a 6-2 run to the over in true road games and a fantastic 24-12 to the over in all road games the past 3 seasons combined. As a road dog of 3.5 to 6 points Akron has gone 4-1 to the over. Overall, the over is 20-11 in UT-Arlington home games the past 3 seasons combined. Also, in home games where the posted total is between 150 and 154.5 points the over has gone a perfect 4-0. The Zips are 20-5 their last 25 games and, in a match-up featuring two very hot teams, both off of upset wins, the teams are brimming with confidence and the focus will be on the offensive end and less about intense defense. This is what happens when teams are rolling and confident like these two teams are. 10* OVER the total in UT-Arlington

Bulldog's Best - Rickenbach CBB Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Oregon Ducks vs Rhode Island Rams @ 7:10 ET - The Ducks were already on a strong run to the over but the value in overs involving Oregon is even stronger since the loss of key defensive post presence Chris Boucher. The Ducks game versus Iona flew over the total and, prior to that, Oregon also allowed 58% shooting from the field against Arizona. It has been 3 straight overs for the Ducks and the over is 8-1 in their last 9 games. The Rams are coming off of a result that also bodes well for another over here. Rhode Island put up 84 points on Creighton despite only connecting on 19% of their three pointers! That says a lot right there! The Bluejays put up 72 points on the Rams despite shooting a modest 40% from the field and 30% from three point land. With Boucher out for the Ducks, Rhode Island will enjoy success in the paint against Oregon but I certainly don't expect the Rams defense to be able to slow down the high-flying Ducks as they've scored at least 80 in 4 of their last 5 games. The over is 4-2 in Rams neutral site games this season and the over is 9-5 in the Ducks last 14 games against teams with a winning record. The Rams are averaging 74 points per game this season and the Ducks are averaging 80 points per game on the season but this total is being held down because each team has some decent defensive stats. But the key is the Boucher injury for Oregon and the fact that the Rams defense is not use to facing the elite level of offensive playmakers that a team like the Ducks brings to this match-up. 10* OVER the total in Oregon

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Sunday 8* OVER the total in New Orleans Pelicans vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ 6:05 ET - Each of the last 5 meetings between these teams in New Orleans has resulted in an over. Overall, 6 straight meetings in this series have resulted in an over. The Pelicans come into this game having gone over the total in 3 of their last 4 games. New Orleans has allowed at least 112 points in 3 of their last 4 games and they've averaged scoring 116 points in these 4 games. I expect more of the same Sunday as Minnesota also comes into this game red hot again on offense. The Timberwolves have seen each of their last 3 games go over the total and Minnesota is averaging 109.3 points per game in those 3 games. The T-wolves have allowed 115 points per game in these 3 games. The over is 9-2 this season when Minny enters a game on an over streak of 3 games or more. The over is 74-45 in New Orleans home games the past 3 seasons combined and also 26-16 when off of a win by a double digit margin. Off of their big win by 16 points versus the Rockets Friday, the Pelicans offense stays hot and helps to send this one flying over the total. 8* OVER the total in New Orleans