This is an 8* play on California.

The Huskies finished dead last in the PAC12 last year, and they are the favorite to finish last this year. The come into Berkeley with an 0-4 record in the conference, and a 1-8 overall record. The Bears aren't a whole lot better, also winless in the conference, but 5-7 overall. While California has lost three straight, for the most part they were competitive in those games. The same can not be said for the Huskies, who have lost by 16, 27 and 23 in their last three overall. The Huskies are 5-17 ATS in their last 22 road games, and they are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 games overall. The Golden Bears are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on West Virginia.

Texas will come into West Virginia as a favorite, with a record of 9-1. The Mountaineers are 9-3, but two those three losses came to teams ranked in the Top 5 (Gonzaga and Kansas). They are 5-1 at home, after going 14-2 at home last season. The home team has won seven of the last eight meetings, and the Longhorns lost by 38 points in their last game at Morgantown. The Mountaineers are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 home games, and the home team is 10-4-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Rutgers.

I have been backing Rutgers in their recent home games, and here is what I said prior to their win over Purdue: "The Scarlet Knights won both meetings versus Purdue last season, and they should be even better equipped to take on the Boilermakers this season. Home court advantage should be a huge factor for a Rutgers team that has won 23 of their last 24 home games. The Boilermakers are 4-11-2 ATS in their last 17 road games, and they are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. The Scarlet Knights are 13-5-2 ATS in their last 20 home games, but they aren't asked to cover much of a spread here." The Buckeyes have failed to cover in five straight road games, while the home team has covered in each of the last five meetings between these two teams.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Celtics.

Boston has won five of their last six games, and they host the Washington Wizards on Friday. Washington is just 2-6 to start the season, and they haven't had much success in recent trips to Boston. They are 2-11-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings in Boston. The Wizards are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss. Bradley Beal scored a whopping 60 points in his last start, but the Wizards lost nevertheless. After coming back from 21-points down at Philly, they went on to lose 141-136. This could set them up for a let down on the road here in Boston.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Michigan State.

I had the Spartans in their win at Nebraska, and here is what I said before tipoff: "Coming off three straight losses, the Spartans are asked to cover heavy chalk as a road favorite. I love it! Nebraska has lost five straight by double digits, and they have lost five of their last six versus the Spartans by 10 points or more. The Spartans are 6-0 ATS in their last six games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points." The Boilermakers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six road games, and the home team is 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Arizona.

The Wildcats host USC Thursday, and home court has been a huge factor in recent meetings between these PAC12 rivals. The home team is 9-1 straight up in the last 10 head to head meetings, with the lone exception being a road win for the Wildcats. The home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings. The Trojans suffered a double digit home loss to Colorado, before beating Utah by a score of 62-46 in their last game. This will be their first true road game. Should be an easy W for the Cats.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Memphis.

The Grizzlies are 0-4 at home and they are really missing Ja Morant. They do draw a favorable matchup here on Thursday though, hosting Cleveland on the back end of a back to back. The home team has won seven of the last eight meetings straight up, and I expect Memphis to be far more motivated here still in search of the first W at home. They are coming off back to back losses to the Lakers, but the last game was close, decided by just two points. Darius Garland is the Cavs second leading scorer, assist leader and starting PG. He's out for at least a week with a shoulder injury. The Cavs might just mail this in.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Boston College.

The Blue Devils haven't played a game since mid December, and after losing to Illinois Coach K suggested that playing during a pandemic didn't seem like the right thing to do. He's since been forced to quarantine, and he won't be at tonight's game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. I can't see laying double digits with a team that isn't mentally ready, and hasn't played in almost a month. The Blue Devils are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall, and they have failed to cover in four straight home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Pacers.

The Rockets are still shopping James Harden, and until they sort that out it's hard to imagine they will be competitive. They are coming off a 113-100 home loss to the Mavericks, and Harden scored just 21 points of 5-of-17 shooting. The Pacers are currently in first place in the Central Division, and they should be all fired up for a home game tonight. The Rockets are 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games, and they are 4-9 ATS in the last 13 meetings in Indiana. The Pacers are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games as a favorite.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Utah Jazz.

The Brooklyn Nets made a lot of noise by winning their first two games, and the media and fans were already planning their parade. They have since lost four of five, losing Spencer Dinwiddie for the season with an injury. There are still trade rumors surrounding the team, and Kyrie seems to always be battling injury. KD is now under quarantine, leaving the Nets undermanned for a home game against the Jazz who are 3-0 on the road. The Nets are 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall, and they are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as a home underdog. The Jazz are 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings, and they have covered in five of their last six at Brooklyn.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Sacramento.

The Golden State Warriors are coming off a blowout win over Portland, with Steph Curry going off for a career high 62 points. This puts them at .500 on the season, and still a long way from looking like a playoff team. Draymond Green didn't do much last night, scoring one point and pulling just three rebounds in 28 minutes. The Dubs look like they face a massive let down spot here in the second game of a back to back. The Kings are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall, and the Warriors are are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games playing on 0 days rest.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on West Virginia.

The Mountaineers have lost back to back road games, but they have traditionally played pretty well in previous trips to Stillwater. They won here last year by a score of 55-41, and the home team is just 2-7 ATS in the last nine head to head meetings. The Cowboys are 1-5 ATS in their last six home games. West Virginia has played a tough schedule, with losses to Kansas and Gonzaga. They should handle a lesser opponent here on the road tonight.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Dallas.

The Rockets are still dealing with disgruntled superstar James Harden, who sat out the last game with an ankle injury. Harden is still demanding to be traded, so we aren't expecting him to play hurt or give 100 percent for the Rockets on his way out the door. The Mavericks are 21-9-1 ATS in their last 31 road games versus teams with a winning home record. Dallas has covered in four of their last five visits to Houston.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Michigan State.

Coming off three straight losses, the Spartans are asked to cover heavy chalk as a road favorite. I love it! Nebraska has lost five straight by double digits, and they have lost five of their last six versus the Spartans by 10 points or more. The Spartans are 6-0 ATS in their last six games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points. The Cornhuskers are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games overall, they are also 2-11 ATS in their last 13 home games. This should be a get right game for Michigan State.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is a 5* play on Under.

Nevada has played strong defense so far this season, and in two games in the Mountain West they held their opponent to fewer than 70 points in each contest. The Lobos have played twice in the league and have failed to score 54 points in both of those games. The under is 6-1-1 in the Lobos last eight overall, and they are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Raptors.

The Raptors are still winless after three games, and I bet against them in their loss at San Antonio. Here is what I said: "The Toronto Raptors are homeless vagabonds here as we head into 2021. They have been banished from their Kingdom in the North, and forced to relocate in Tampa Florida. Their first game in their new home was a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, and now they are asked to win and cover as a road favorite in San Antonio." The Knicks aren't quite the same level of opposition as the Spurs, Pelicans or 76ers. The fact that they won back to back games might just make them like their own smell even a little more than they should. It's time of the Dinosaurs to fight back, or risk extinction.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights won both meetings versus Purdue last season, and they should be even better equiped to take on the Boilermakers this season. Home court advantage should be a huge factor for a Rutgers team that has won 23 of their last 24 home games. The Boilermakers are 4-11-2 ATS in their last 17 road games, and they are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. The Scarlet Knights are 13-5-2 ATS in their last 20 home games, but they aren't asked to cover much of a spread here.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Arizona.

In the past 10 head to head meetings between the Buffaloes and the Wildcats, the home team has won ALL 10 GAMES! The Wildcats have won 19 of their last 23 home games, while the Buffaloes have lost eight of their last 13 on the road. The Buffaloes are 13-39 ATS in their last 52 road games, and they are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win. Home court should be huge here, as the home team has also covered in four straight meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets won 26 games at home last year, one fewer than the LA Clippers who had the best home record in the Western Conference. This came after winning 34 home games (NBA best) the previous season. Now they have started the season with back to back home losses, and they host a shorthanded Houston team on Monday. James Harden wants a trade, but he scored 44 points in the season opener almost beating the Blazers in Portland. If he continues to put up MVP numbers, the Rockets might not be in a hurry to get a deal done. I wouldn't want to count on getting 100% from Harden moving forward, and with Ben Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall out of the lineup, it's going to be tough to ask them to hang in there in Denver. The Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last eight road games, and the Nuggets are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games as a home favorite.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

These two teams have historically played low scoring games, but because of that we see a low total for tonight's contest. The low number doesn't really reflect what we've seen from these teams so far this season. The Ant Eaters are averaging just under 90 points per game, and they rank 5th in the Big West with a field goal percentage of .484. They have also hit more than 70 percent of their free throws. The Gauchos rank second in the Big West in scoring, and they have a field goal percentage of .542. The over is 4-1 in the Anteaters last five overall.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the San Antonio Spurs.

The Toronto Raptors are homeless vagabonds here as we head into 2021. They have been banished from their Kingdom in the North, and forced to relocate in Tampa Florida. Their first game in their new home was a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, and now they are asked to win and cover as a road favorite in San Antonio. Prior to last season the Spurs had owned the best home record in basketball for almost a decade. They might be a lot better this season, and they got off to a good start with a win on the road at Memphis. The Raptors are 2-6 ATS in the last eight meetings in San Antonio, and they have failed to cover in seven of their last eight against the Spurs. They are 0-4 ATS in their last four as a favorite.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs are the undisputed #1 team in the country, and they haven't had any trouble so far when playing quality opponents. They have wins over Iowa, West Virginia and Kansas by an average margin of nine points. Virginia has yet to play a ranked team, and they have failed to impress against lesser opponents. The lost to San Francisco, and came close to losing to Kent State in a game that was decided in overtime. The Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last five neutral site games as a favorite.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Boilermakers.

Purdue is coming off a 70-55 loss at Iowa, but I like their chances of bouncing back at home against Maryland. The Boilermakers have won 16 of their last 22 home games, while the Terps are 5-7 in their last 12 road games. The Terrapins are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall, and they haven't covered in four straight road games. Maryland is 5-2 with losses to Rutgers and Clemson, and all five of their wins came against inferior opposition. This looks like a tough ask for the visitors on Christmas Day.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Pelicans.

New Orleans started the season with a win on the road versus the Raptors. Zion Williamson only scored 15 points in 30 minutes, but he was quite efficient shooting 7-of-9 from the field and pulling in 10 rebounds. Brandon Ingram lead the way, scoring 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting. This is a young team that is on the rise, coming off an undefeated pre-season. The Heat are coming off a 113-107 loss at Orlando in their opener, and they may be suffering an NBA Finals let down. I'll take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is an 8* play on the Buckeyes.

Ohio State has lost it's only BIG10 game so far, losing by a score of 67-60 at Purdue. They look to bounce back with a home game against Rutgers, and the Scarlet Knights haven't been as strong on the road as they are at home. Last year Rutgers was 18-1 at home, but they lost eight of 10 on the road. The Buckeyes won 16 of 18 home games last year. The Buckeyes are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 home games, and the home team in 4-0 in the last four meetings between these teams.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Lakers.

This time last year we were all wondering if it would be the Lakers or the Clippers that would win the NBA Championship. As it turned out, the Clippers suffered an epic meltdown in the bubble, and there was clearly a group of players that weren't buying into the idea of playing during a pandemic. Lou Williams legendary trip to Atlanta for the wings at Magic City was a clear example of a team in disarray. The Clippers are trying to regroup with a new coach, and more personnel moves are expected to be imminent. Montrezl Harrell has already landed on the other side of town with the Lakers. I would expect LeBron and company to be far more focused here on Opening Night.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

The Kansas Jayhawks are 7-1 and ranked #3 overall. They have been strong defensively, allowing just 59.3 points per game at home. They host West Virginia tonight, and this will be the third meeting between these teams in 2020. The previous two games each went under the total, with Kansas winning 63-50 at home, and 58-49 at West Virginia. The under is 21-10-1 in Mountaineers last 32 overall, and the under is 5-0 in Jayhawks last five overall. The total for tonight's game is far higher than it was the last time these teams played last February.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

These teams played last season and the Trojans won by a score of 67-66. The total for that game was set at 140, and the total in the previous five meetings was lower than 130. This appears to be an inflated number based on season averages on both offense and defense. The Missouri State Bears have held four of their last five opponents to fewer than 70 points, and I expect them make life difficult for the Trojans. Little Rock shot just 3-of-14 from beyond the arc in last year's game against the Bears.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights will be a home dog Sunday against Illinois, and Rutgers has won 22 of their last 23 home games. Illinois on the other had is 7-7 on the road dating back to the beginning of last year. Rutgers won the last meeting by 15 points last February, and the home team has won seven of the last nine head to head meetings. The Scarlet Knights are 12-5-2 ATS in their last 19 home games, and they are 22-8-2 ATS in their last 32 games versus a team with a winning record. I'll take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Stanford.

Stanford finished just 9-9 in conference play last season, and 20-12 overall. They were 14-4 at home, and Arizona was just 4-6 on the road. The Wildcats have a youthful team after losing the majority of their starters from last season, while Stanford is bringing almost everyone back. Senior forward Oscar Da Silva leads the team averaging over 20 points per game. Daejon Davis is the team's assist leader, and he is also in his senior season. The Wildcats are 8-24-1 ATS in their last 33 Saturday games, and the Cardinal are 34-16-1 ATS in their last 51 home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Notre Dame.

Purdue comes into Saturday's game with a 5-2 record, and both of their losses came against ACC teams. The Irish are 2-3, but all three of their losses came against Top 25 teams. Notre Dame has won three of their last four against Purdue, with the lone loss coming at Purdue by a five point margin. The Fighting Irish are 4-1 ATS in their last five neutral site games, while the Boilermakers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games overall. I'll take the points here in a game that I expect to be pretty close.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Northern Kentucky. 

The Norse finished two games out of first place in the Horizon League last year, with an overall record of 23-9 and a home record of 11-4. They won both their games against Youngstown State, and they have won seven straigt against the Penguins since 2017. The Norse are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games following a ATS loss, and the home team is 10-1 ATS in the last 11 head to head meetings. The Norse are very much the same team they were a year ago, and they should still be able to handle a home game against the Penguins.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

The Davidson Wildcats are coming off a loss to Charlotte, in a game that they scored just 52 points on 34 percent shooting. They will be at Rhode Island Friday, taking on a Rams team that is coming off back to back losses averaging 63.5 points in those games. The last meeting between these two teams went to overtime, which pushed the total over the number. They came up short of the number in five of the previous six meetings. The under is 8-1 in Wildcats last nine games following a double-digit loss at home, and the under is 10-3 in the Rams last 13 home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on St. Joes.

The Hawks are 0-2, with losses to Kansas and Auburn. They will be looking for their first win of the season here against a Drexel team that they have won six straight against dating back to 2011. Drexel is coming off a double digit home loss to La Salle. Ryan Daly was the Hawks leading scorer averaging over 20 points per game last year. Taylor Funk only played seven games, but he was third on the team in scoring. Both players are back in 2021, and the Hawks should be stronger than they were last year. Each of the last three meetings have been close games decided by three points or less, with the last two meetings decided by a single point. I'll take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The Cowboys host TCU tonight, and the home team has won the last six head to head meetings. The Horned Frogs were just 1-9 on the road last season, while Oklahoma State was 10-6 at home. One of those victories was a 72-57 win over the Horned Frogs. TCU has some injury concerns, with two key players banged up heading into this contest. The Horned Frogs are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games, and they are 5-17 ATS in their last 22 games following an ATS win. The home team is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Clemson.

I had Clemson in their season opener, and here is what I said prior to tip off: "Clemson finished just one game over .500 last season (16-15 overall) and they finished in the middle of the pack in the ACC. They might be a little better this season, returning three of their top four scorers, including leading scorer Aamir Simms." They ended up beating Mississippi State by a score of 53-42, and come into today's game against Alabama with a 4-0 record. The Crimson Tide are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games overall, while the Tigers have covered in five straight at a neutral site.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Oregon.

The Huskies finished dead last in the PAC12 last year and they come into tonight's hoime game against the Ducks with just one win in four games. The Ducks lost their opener to Missouri, but have since won three straight. Oregon has won nine of their last 10 against the Huskies straight up, and they are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 against teams with a losing record (below .400). There have been a lot of people asking questions about why they should even play college basketball at a time like this, and it's likely the Huskies will be a lot less enthusiastic about playing than a Ducks team with a lot more to play for.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

The UCLA Bruins opened the season with a 73-58 loss to San Diego State. They shot below 40% in the loss, but they have since won four in a row, averaging 86 points. They host Marquette on Friday night, and the Golden Eagles are off to a good start despite the loss of Markus Howard. The over is 8-3 in the Golden Eagles last 11 road games, and the over is 16-7 in the Bruins last 23 games following an ATS win. Marquette is averaging 77 points per game after winning four of five. We should see a close game with both teams scoring 70+ points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on North Dakota State.

The 0-4 North Dakota Bison will be a huge underdog against rivals South Dakota. The Jack Rabbits are 3-2, but they haven't had as tough a schedule as the Bison. North Dakota State lost close games against Kansas and Creighton recently. History tells us that when these two teams meet they tend to play close games. The Bison won the last meeting in overtime by a score of 71-69, and the last three meetings were all decided by five points or less. South Dakota State's last two wins each came by four points or fewer.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Clemson.

I had Clemson in their season opener, and here is what I said prior to tip off: "Clemson finished just one game over .500 last season (16-15 overall) and they finished in the middle of the pack in the ACC. They might be a little better this season, returning three of their top four scorers, including leading scorer Aamir Simms." They ended up beating Mississippi State by a score of 53-42, and come into today's game against Maryland with a 3-0 record. The Tigers are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games, and they are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up win. The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Syracuse.

The Orange are 3-0, but they will be an underdog at Rutgers tonight. The Scarlet Knights are a team on the rise, but they haven't had any success in recent meetings versus the Orange. Syracuse is 8-0 straight up in the last eight head to head meetings dating back to 2007. The Orange are 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games, and they have covered in six of their last seven as a road underdog. I think the Orange are too good of a team to be getting this many points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Notre Dame.

Notre Dame lost it's season opener by a 10-point margin on the road at #13 ranked Michigan State, but I am not sure I would ask #22 ranked Ohio State to come into South Bend and cover a big spread. The Buckeyes are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Irish were 15-4 at South Bend last year, despite playing the likes of Louisville, Florida State and North Carolina. I'll take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Iowa.

It might seem odd to see the Tar Heels as an underdog in this spot, but Iowa has a huge advantage in experience. Luka Garza is a senior averaging 34 points per game. He's not the only senior in the starting lineup, Jordan Bohannon gives them experience at the guard spot. Junior Joe Wieskamp was the team's second leading scorer last season, and he returns for what could be a huge year for the Hawkeyes. I like the home team to win and win big.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Boston College.

The Eagles have lost three of their first four games, but two of those losses came in close games against tough teams. They lost their opener by single digits versus #3 ranked Villanova, and then lost by just four points in a shootout versus St. Johns. I don't expect an unranked Minnesota team to win here by double digits. The Golden Gophers are 1-5-2 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up win.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

The Eastern Kentucky Colonels are 3-1, and their lone loss came in a 99-96 loss to Xavier. They have averaged 83 points per game so far, and they will be a double digit favorite here against Morehead State. The Eagles are coming off a 77-44 loss to Ohio State, and the over is 8-3 in the Eagles last 11 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points. These two teams played twice already in 2020, and both of those games saw more than 145 combined points. The total for this game is lower than it was in those previous meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

The Houston Cougars are ranked #10 overall, and they play a very strong defense. They have allowed just 52 points per game so far, and last year they were one of the top defensive teams in the AAC. The under is 21-7-1 in the Cougars last 29 home games, and the under is 21-8 in Cougars last 29 overall. The Gamecocks are 1-1, and neither of those two games saw more than 140 combined points. They are coming off a 69-58 win over Tulsa, and a similar score is expected here against Houston. The Cougars have also failed to reach the total in eight of their last nine Saturday games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

Minnesota looks impressive after three games, and they are a huge favorite against North Dakota. These teams met earlier last season, and the Gophers won that game of 79-56. The total for that game was listed at 138, more than 10 points lower than this year's meeting. This number looks a little inflated and I am making a value play by fading the big number.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Wisconsin.

The Badgers are off to a good start, heading into Friday's game against Marquette with a perfect 3-0 record. They have played excellent defense in all three of those games, allowing an average of 55.7 points per game. This success is not surprising given the experience in the starting lineup. Their top three scorers are all seniors, and all three are scoring in double figures. Marquette is missing Markus Howard, who averaged almost 28 points per game last season. So far nobody has stepped up to fill in anywhere near that kind of production. I expect the Eagles to struggle against this veteran team.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on USC.

The Trojans are coming off an impressive 79-53 win over BYU. They out-rebounded the Cougars 50-35, and they shot 53.3 percent from the field in the victory. Their enormous front court with the Mobley brothers (Isaiah and Evan) proved to be quite an advantage. The pair of seven-footers each recorded double-doubles against the Cougars. The Trojans are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 neutral site games, and they are  9-3 ATS in their last 12 games overall. The Huskies come in as favorites, yet they haven't proved a lot during their 2-0 start. I'll take the hot team in this spot.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

The Pacific Tigers have a win and a loss so far, and they went under in both of those games. A combination of strong defense and not so strong offense seems to be a recipe for low scoring games. Hitting less than half of their free throws certainly has been a factor. Montana State scored 91 points in a win over UNLV in their opener, but they have gone under in nine of their last 11 after scoring 90 or more points. The under is 7-1 in the Tigers last eight games following an ATS loss, and they have failed to reach the total in five of their last seven home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on MSU.

Duke is loaded with freshman talent, but lacks experience early in the season. This was quite evident in their opening game against Coppin State. They turned the ball over a whopping 22 times, failing to cover as a 30-point favorite in an 81-71 win. The Spartans lost a lot of star power from last year's squad (Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman), but Rocket Watson and Aaron Henry are back, and the addition of Joey Hauser gives them plenty of experience in their starting five. The Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as an underdog, and the underdog is 4-0 in the last four head to head meetings between these teams. I think it's to early in the year to back Duke's freshman as favorites.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

The Nevada Wolfpack have played excellent defense during a 2-0 start, holding their opponents to an average of just 57 points. A home game against Pacific should be a defensive battle, as the Tigers can also play strong defense. The under is 12-5 in the Tigers last 17 road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Wolfpack's last two games against teams from the WCC were losses to St. Mary's (68-63) and to BYU (75-42). Nevada has failed to reach the total in five straight against teams with a winning record.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Over.

The Wolverines shot over 54 percent in a 96-82 win over Bowling Green in their first game of the season, and they might shoot out the lights again tonight against Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies are 0-3, and they have given up an average of 85 points in those losses. These two teams haven't played since 2011, but Michigan won that game by a score of 90-80. The over is 5-1 in the Wolverines last six overall, and the over is 11-4 in the Golden Grizzlies last 15 Sunday games. I expect this non-conference game to be another shootout.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

The Bilikens won 15 of their 18 home games last season, and they are bringing back all their starters from last season. They host LSU Saturday, and the Tigers lost six of 10 road games last season, and they also bring back the majority of their starters. The Billikens are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five home games. The under is 19-7-1 in Billikens last 27 Saturday games, and they allowed just 52 points in their win over SIU on Thursday.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Under.

I had Clemson in their season opener, and here is what I said prior to tip off: "Clemson finished just one game over .500 last season (16-15 overall) and they finished in the middle of the pack in the ACC. They might be a little better this season, returning three of their top four scorers, including leading scorer Aamir Simms." They ended up beating Mississippi State by a score of 53-42, and neither team shot the ball well. Clemson was just 5-of-25 from beyond the arc in the victory. Purdue scored 77 points in a win over Liberty, but shot just 54 percent from the charity stripe. I expect a low score here between two teams capable of playing great defense.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs come into their season opener ranked #1 in the AP Poll, and they will face #6 ranked Kansas at Fort Myers on Thanksgiving Day. The Jayhawks will have plenty of new faces in their starting lineup, losing their leading scorer Devon Dotson and leading rebounder Udoka Azubuike to the NBA Draft. Gonzaga also lost their leading scorer, but they still have plenty of depth. Corey Kispert is back, he lead the team in minutes played, three-point percentage and was second in scoring last season. Joel Ayayi was second on the ream in rebounds, and first in free throw percentage, and he's back for his Junior year. Drew Timme played over 20 minutes per game last year, and lead the team in blocks. He's back as a sophomore. The Bulldogs should be a better team with more depth and experience here at the beginning of the year.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Clemson Tigers. 

Clemson finished just one game over .500 last season (16-15 overall) and they finished in the middle of the pack in the ACC. They might be a little better this season, returning three of their top four scorers, including leading scorer Aamir Simms. The Bulldogs aren't as fortunate. They had four starters score in double figures last season, and they lost all four of them. The Tigers are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games. The Bulldogs are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine neutral site games as an underdog. This Clemson team was good enough last season to get wins against the likes of Duke, North Carolina, Louisville and Florida State. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Lakers.

Jimmy Butler played as well as he can possibly play, and everything went right for the Heat in Game 5. They still just barely won and got the benefit of some bad calls in the final minutes. It's going to be tough to duplicate that performance here in Game 6. What I said prior to Game 2 is still valid: "What did we learn in Game 1? We learned that the Heat simply can't stop LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If they play the same style, they will lose the next three games and go out in a sweep. The only way the Heat can have a chance at beating LA is to completely change their strategy. The need to accept the fact that their best effort on defense isn't going to be good enough, and put all their efforts into outscoring LA. That means more three point shooting, a faster pace, and more minutes for their young shooters who are a liability on defense.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is an 8* play on Over (Lakers Team Total).

Anthony Davis was in foul trouble early in Game 3, and he only attempted nine shots in the game. He's gotta be better tonight, and the Lakers are still the overwhelming favorite. What I said prior to Game 2 is still valid: "What did we learn in Game 1? We learned that the Heat simply can't stop LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If they play the same style, they will lose the next three games and go out in a sweep. The only way the Heat can have a chance at beating LA is to completely change their strategy. The need to accept the fact that their best effort on defense isn't going to be good enough, and put all their efforts into outscoring LA. That means more three point shooting, a faster pace, and more minutes for their young shooters who are a liability on defense. Both these teams have gone over in four of their last five overall, yet this total has been bet down a few points since it opened. I'll go with the over."

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Lakers (team total).

My analysis for Game 2 still plays: "What did we learn in Game 1? We learned that the Heat simply can't stop LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If they play the same style, they will lose the next three games and go out in a sweep. The only way the Heat can have a chance at beating LA is to completely change their strategy. The need to accept the fact that their best effort on defense isn't going to be good enough, and put all their efforts into outscoring LA. That means more three point shooting, a faster pace, and more minutes for their young shooters who are a liability on defense. Both these teams have gone over in four of their last five overall, yet this total has been bet down a few points since it opened. I'll go with the over."

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Over.

What did we learn in Game 1? We learned that the Heat simply can't stop LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If they play the same style, they will lose the next three games and go out in a sweep. The only way the Heat can have a chance at beating LA is to completely change their strategy. The need to accept the fact that their best effort on defense isn't going to be good enough, and put all their efforts into outscoring LA. That means more three point shooting, a faster pace, and more minutes for their young shooters who are a liability on defense. Both these teams have gone over in four of their last five overall, yet this total has been bet down a few points since it opened. I'll go with the over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Lakers.

So I had the Toronto Raptors winning outright as a big underdog in last year's NBA Finals. If you expected me to come back with the underdog here this season, you will be disappointed. I don't see a lot of similarities between this Heat team, and the 2019 Raptors. Toronto was already a first place team in the East when the acquired NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Coming into the Finals Kawhi had been the best player in the playoffs, and the Warriors had been banged up. The Lakers on the other hand are healthy, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis have both been dominant. The Lakers have won six of the last seven head to head meetings, and four of those six wins came by double digits. I have the Lakers winning Game 1, winning the Series in five games, and LeBron winning Finals MVP. While it's likely Anthony Davis will outscore LeBron, I don't see James being snubbed in the Finals after getting snubbed in the regular season. James is also capable of taking over games with his defense, like he did in the Western Conference Finals when he switched to guard Jamal Murray.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Miami.

I had Miami in Game 4, and I don't have much to add to what I already said prior to that game: "trailing 2-1 in the series, and the Heat are 10-2 so far in these playoffs. While it seems like the Celtics have all the momentum after a double digit win in Game 3, I think it would be foolish to count out Jimmy Butler and this Heat team that has been far more consistent. Boston has had plenty of sub par performances, including blowing a 3-1 series lead against the Raptors. The Heat are 24-8 ATS in their last 32 games following a straight up loss, and the underdog has covered in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings."

Take MIA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers are so much better than Denver on paper, and they own a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4. The Nuggets though have proven to be a tough out, coming back from 3-1 series deficits twice already in these playoffs. When asked about winning Game 3, Jamal Murray said: "We should be up 2-1 right now." The Lakers are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following an ATS loss, and they are just 10-21 ATS in the last 31 head to head meetings. Murray is absolutely right. The Lakers won Game 4 at the free throw line, and that didn't go unnoticed. We should see the Nuggets get an opportunity to extend this series in Game 5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

5*

This is a 5* play on the Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers are so much better than Denver on paper, and they own a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4. The Nuggets though have already proven to be a tough out, coming back from 3-1 series deficits twice already in these playoffs. When asked about winning Game 3, Jamal Murray said: "We should be up 2-1 right now." The Lakers are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following an ATS loss, and they are just 10-21 in the last 31 head to head meetings. Murray is absolutely right. The Lakers are lucky they aren't losing this series. I'll take the points in Game 4.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Miami Heat.

The Celtics came into this series as the better team on paper, and the favorite to advance to the NBA Finals. They come into Game 4 trailing 2-1 in the series, and the Heat are 10-2 so far in these playoffs. While it seems like the Celtics have all the momentum after a double digit win in Game 3, I think it would be foolish to count out Jimmy Butler and this Heat team that has been far more consistent. Boston has had plenty of sub par performances, including blowing a 3-1 series lead against the Raptors. The Heat are 24-8 ATS in their last 32 games following a straight up loss, and the underdog has covered in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings.

Take MIA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 206.

I bet the under in Game 2, and it just barely hit landing on 207. The Celtics scored 60 points in the first half, and then once again they fell apart late. This is turning out to be a ratings nightmare for the league, and everyone outside of Miami is hoping and praying Boston can come back and make this a series again. A few favorable calls and a few more trips to the free throw line wouldn't be much of a suprise in Game 3. Miami keeps getting their points, and they are now 10-1 in the playoffs. They have averaged 112 points in those games, failing to score 100 or more just once. The over is 26-12 in Miami's last 38 games following a straight up win. These teams have only gone over in one of the last six meetings, when the Heat won in overtime in Game 1. That being said, five of those six games saw more than 206 points.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Over.

The Nuggets are a ratings nightmare for the NBA, denying everyone the Clippers vs Lakers Western Conference Final that we waited for all season. Not only did they come back and win three straight after trailing the Clippers 3-1 in the series, they trailed by double digits in Game 7. The Nuggets shot over 49 percent from the field in Game 7 versus the Clippers, but it's hard to imagine they won't be set up for a let down in Game 1 versus the Lakers. After defeating the Jazz in a low scoring Game 7 in the first round, they lost Game 1 of their series versus the Clippers by a score of 120-97. Other than two low scoring Game 7s, Denver has seen 10 of their 12 playoff games go over the total of 210. The Lakers are averaging over 114 points per game in these playoffs, and the over is 20-7-2 in their last 29 meetings versus Denver.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Under.

Here is what I said prior to Game 1: "You know the story.. defense wins championships. The Celtics certainly have been playing some defense, allowing the fewest points per game (100) of any team in this year's playoffs. The Heat are right behind them, allowing 103 points per game (2nd) so far this post-season. These teams have a history of battling hard against each other, and seven of the last 10 head to head meetings have gone under the total. The Heat have failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 overall, while Boston has gone under in eight of it's last nine overall. Expect no easy buckets in Game 1." A late collapse by the Celtics allowed the Heat to force OT, and the total went well over. I expect a tighter defensive game here in Game 2.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Under.

You know the story.. defense wins championships. The Celtics certainly have been playing some defense, allowing the fewest points per game (100) of any team in this year's playoffs. The Heat are right behind them, allowing 103 points per game (2nd) so far this post-season. These teams have a history of battling hard against each other, and seven of the last 10 head to head meetings have gone under the total. The Heat have failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 overall, while Boston has gone under in eight of it's last nine overall. Expect no easy buckets in Game 1.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Lakers.

LeBron and company lost Game 1 to the Blazers in the first round, and went on to win four straight. They can do the same thing here in Game 5 against Houston, and the Rockets look like a team ready to go home. Both Westbrook and Harden have struggled, and I'd bet everything I have that Daneul House isn't the only Houston player with his mind on pleasures off the court. This time tomorrow LeBron will be prepping for the Western Conference Finals, and Russ and James will be sinking their teeth into those legendary chicken wings at Magic City.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

The Celtics have the defending champions on the ropes, and given that this is an elimination game for Toronto, we should expect a hard fought defensive battle. Every game in this series so far has gone under, and I don't see either of these teams lossening up the defense in Game 6. I said this prior to Game 3: "The Raptors had a poor showing in Game 1, hitting just 36.9 percent of their shots from the field. After closer examination it was a poor first quarter, and the remainder of the game was nearly even. They improved only slightly in Game 2, hitting 40 percent from the field. I can't see any reason to expect these teams to loosen up the defense in Game 4, we should see another low score. That has been the trend when these teams meet, with seven of the last nine meetings going under. The under is 8-1 in the Celtics last nine overall, and the under is 15-3 in Celtics last 18 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. The under is 12-4 in Raptors last 16 overall, and the under is 17-5-1 in Raptors last 23 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points."

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Toronto Raptors.

The Celtics won the first two games of this series, and they hit over 40 percent of their three-pointers in those games. The Raptors now have their confidence back after evening the series at 2-2, and the Celtics have cooled off from beyond the arc. They were just 7of-35 (20%) from three-point range in Game 4. Toronto has all the momentum, and they can take control of this series with a win in Game 5. Here is what I said before the season started: "There is no doubt that Kawhi Leonard deserved plenty of credit for bringing a title to Toronto, but I believe that there is a false narrative that he did it by himself. Many people question how competitive the Raptors can be without Kawhi. I would point out that last year they actually had a higher winning percentage in games he missed due to load management, than they did in the games he played. This is also a team that finished at or near the top of the Eastern Conference several seasons in a row prior to the arrival of Kawhi. Players like Fred Van Fleet and Pascal Siakam should be primed to thrive in a greater role. I caution against sleeping on the Raptors, and I'll take them at 12-1 to win the East."

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Under.

The Rockets shocked the Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal, but history tells us we can expect them to bounce back in Game 2. They lost Game 1 in their first round series versus Portland, and responded with a strong defensive effort in Game 2, holding the Blazers to just 88 points. The Rockets have a reputation for playing high scoring games, but they have gone under in six of their last seven as an underdog. The under is 11-2 in the Rockets last 13 games playing on 1 days rest. The Lakers have gone under in five of their last six off a double digit home loss. These teams have gone under in four of the last five head to head meetings.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Under.

The Raptors had a poor showing in Game 1, hitting just 36.9 percent of their shots from the field. After closer examination it was a poor first quarter, and the remainder of the game was nearly even. They improved only slightly in Game 2, hitting 40 percent from the field. I can't see any reason to expect these teams to loosen up the defense in Game 4, we should see another low score. That has been the trend when these teams meet, with seven of the last nine meetings going under. The under is 8-1 in the Celtics last nine overall, and the under is 15-3 in Celtics last 18 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. The under is 12-4 in Raptors last 16 overall, and the under is 17-5-1 in Raptors last 23 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Under.

The #1 seed Milwaukee Bucks find themselves down 0-2 after losing 116-114 in Game 2. The final score soared well past the listed number, but perhaps it was closer than you think. With under two minutes to play in the game, the score was 110-102, and under bettors still had 10 points to work with. They went on to score 18 points in the final minute and 45 seconds, when they could have easily scored 8-10 or even fewer during that span. Despite some excellent defense by Miami, and the Bucks facing a must win situation, the total for Game 3 hasn't come down at all. These teams have failed to reach the total in seven of the last 10 meetings, and the Heat have gone under in four of their last five in the Conference Semifinals.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

The Raptors had a poor showing in Game 1, hitting just 36.9 percent of their shots from the field. After closer examination it was a poor first quarter, and the remainder of the game was nearly even. They improved only slightly in Game 2, hitting 40 percent from the field. I can't see any reason to expect these teams to loosen up the defense in Game 3, we should see another low score. That has been the trend when these teams meet, with five of the last seven meetings going under. The under is 7-1 in the Celtics last eight overall, and the under is 14-3 in Celtics last 17 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. The under is 11-4 in Raptors last 15 overall, and the under is 17-5-1 in Raptors last 23 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Under in Game 7.

We saw some strong defensive play in Game 6, with the Thunder recording the upset by a score of 104-100. Expect more of the same in a winner takes all Game 7. Last night's Game 7 between Utah and Denver ended with a final score of 80-78, going under by more than 60 points. The under is 48-21-1 in the Thunder's last 70 games as an underdog. The under is 9-3 in the Rockets last 12 games following a straight up loss, and they have failed to reach the total in nine of their last 13 overall. We expect every possession to be a war, with no easy buckets.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Under 218.

The Raptors will look to improve on a poor showing in Game 1, hitting just 36.9 percent of their shots from the field. After closer examination it was a poor first quarter, and the remainder of the game was nearly even. If Game 2 is set to be anything like Game 1, we should see another low score. That has been the trend when these teams meet, with four of the last six meetings going under. The under is 6-1 in the Celtics last seven overall, and the under is 13-3 in Celtics last 16 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. The under is 10-4 in Raptors last 14 overall, and the uder is 16-5-1 in Raptors last 22 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under 223.5.

The Miami Heat were the only team in the Eastern Conference to win a regular season series versus Milwaukee. These teams are both among the top defensive sides in the NBA, and seven of the last 10 meetings have fallen short of the number. Three of the four games Miami played in the first round fell well short of the number of 223.5, and the under is 13-6-2 in Bucks last 21 versus a team with a winning straight up record. The Bucks averaged 116 points per game in their series versus Orlando, a few points fewer than their regular season average. I expect points to be even harder to come by against the Heat.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Mavs.

The Clippers and the Lakers each voted to cancel the remainder of the playoffs to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha Wisconsin. We saw the Lakers return to action last night, failing to cover in a series clinching win over Portland by single digits. The Clippers were a five point favorite in Game 2, and Dallas won outright. They were a seven point favorite in Game 4, and once against Dallas won outright despite Luka Doncic playing hurt. The extra 2-3 days for Luka to rehab his ankle should help Dallas, and according to his coach he will be at full speed. The line is now at double digits, and I just cant's see betting on the Clippers as a heavy favorite when we know they voted to walk away from the season.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Houston.

The Thunder had all the momentum heading into Game 5, but you have to think that momentum was lost when the players decided to boycott Games over the last few days. One of the unintended results of the past few days is that players who were injured have been given more time to recover. That's the case for Russell Westbrook who looks to make his mark on this series for the first time in Game 5. Chris Paul has a lot on his plate right now, and as head of the Player's Association his mind is on matters other than basketball. All these events seem to favor the Rockets.

Take HOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Nuggets.

The Jazz have a 3-1 series lead, and it looks like they have been dominating this series. Perhaps they have been quite fortunate, particularly in the last two games. The fact that they shot 57.5 percent from the field and yet won Game 4 by only two points, suggests to me that indeed they were more lucky than anything. . Such shooting isn't sustainable, and eventually those makes are going to turn into misses.  The Nuggets swept the season series, and they came into Game 1 as a favorite. I like the Nuggets to get back into this series with a victory in Game 5.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Under.

All three games in this series have gone under, and that hasn't really moved the needle with bookmakers keeping the total on the same number. After a terrible shooting performance in Game 1, the Lakers have turned up the defensive intensity and focused on high percentage shots. LeBron wants to muddy it up a little, knowing it's not a good idea to get into a shootout with Dame and the Blazers. The under is 11-5 in the Lakers last 16 games as a favorite, and they have failed to reach the total in 10 of their last 14 overall. The under is 4-1 in the Blazers last five Conference Quarterfinals games, and they have failed to reach the total in four straight as an underdog.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Denver.

The Jazz have taken charge of this series by winning Games 2 & 3, and they have shot over 50 percent from the field in both those games. Denver is badly in need of a win to avoid going down 3-1 in the series, so I expect them to clamp down on defense here. Mike Conley returned to action and hit a career high 7-of-8 three pointers in Game 3. Such shooting isn't sustainable, and eventually those makes are going to turn into misses.  The Nuggets swept the season series, and they came into Game 1 as a favorite. I like the Nuggets to get back into this series with a victory in Game 4.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Thunder.

This series was never supposed to be a sweep, and I expect the Thunder to take Game 3 and get back in the series. They did everything right in Game 2, until they were outscored 34-20 in the final frame. James Harden was held to just 21 points, and the Rockets aren't going to win many games when Harden is not effective. The Thunder are 24-10 ATS in their last 34 games as an underdog, and they had won five straight against Houston prior to this series. This is a big revenge spot for a Thunder team that is 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.

Take OKC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Miami Heat.

The Pacers are down 2-0, and this series looks like it's over. One of the takeaways from Game 2 was that Jimmy Butler scored just 18 points, and had as many turnovers (5) as he did field goals. The Pacers can't count on another lackluster performance from Butler in Game 3, and we should see the Heat continue to dominate this matchup. The Pacers are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six Conference Quarterfinals games, and they are are 0-4-1 ATS in their last five playoff games as an underdog.

Take MIAMI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Dallas.

The Mavs have been the better team here in this series, with the exception of the 4th quarter of Game 1 after Porzingis was ejected. With Dallas evening the series at 1-1, you might expect a bounce back performance from the Clippers here in Game 3. There is concern though that Pat Beverly isn't healthy enough to play at all, and Paul George is not all that effective playing with a sore shoulder. This series seems eerily similar to the Blazers versus Thunder, when George was sent packing by Damian Lillard. The Clippers are 9-23 ATS in their last 32 playoff games as a favorite.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Orlando Magic.

The thing about recency bias is, you don't want to overreact to the results of one game. That said, you also don't want to fail to react at all. The Bucks were the biggest Game 1 favorite on the board, and they lost outright by double digits. So it won't be a surprise at all if they come right back and win big in Game 2. But should we lay 13 points with a team that failed to win Game 1? I don't think so. The Bucks have yet to prove that they are a playoff team, last year they fell apart against the Raptors. Giannis was outplayed by Orlando big man Nikola Vucevic, and that matchup has the potential to continue to be a problem. The Magic are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games as an underdog, and while the Bucks have failed to cover in five of their last seven as a favorite.

Take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LA Lakers.

So far there have been plenty of surprises in the bubble so far, and several teams have seen their stock rise and fall. The Lakers came in as consensus favorite, but failed to impress. Portland on the other hand won six of eight games, and then won their play in game against Memphis. This has people calling them a dark horse candidate to win it all. I can't say I was all that impressed with wins over Memphis, Dallas and Philly by three, and a one point win over Brooklyn. The Nets and the Grizzlies effectively shut down Damian Lillard in the fourth quarter, and now the Blazers face a well rested Lakers team. Game 1 looks like a classic let down spot for Portland.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on under 222.

The defending champions played 24 playoff games last season, and only five of those games saw more than 222 points. In their first round series versus Orlando all five games fell well short of that number. They come into the first round of this year's playoffs as the biggest favorite on the board, and they boast the NBA's #1 ranked defense. The Raptors were one of few teams (if not the only team) that played low scoring games in the bubble. The under is 7-2 in Toronto's last nine overall.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns are the biggest suprise in the bubble in Orlando, and their unbeaten run has put them in a position to force a play in game for the final playoff spot in the West. They will take on Dallas Thursday, and the Mavs are already looking ahead to their first round series. Luca Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis should ride the pine here, at least for the majority of the game. The Mavericks are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall, and they are 2-10 ATS in the last 12 meetings versus the Suns.

Take PHX.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Toronto.

I bet on Toronto to win the East (12-1) before the season started, and I am pretty pleased with that bet. Here is what I said in October: "There is no doubt that Kawhi Leonard deserved plenty of credit for bringing a title to Toronto, but I believe that there is a false narrative that he did it by himself. Many people question how competitive the Raptors can be without Kawhi. I would point out that last year they actually had a higher winning percentage in games he missed due to load management, than they did in the games he played. This is also a team that finished at or near the top of the Eastern Conference several seasons in a row prior to the arrival of Kawhi. Players like Fred Van Fleet and Pascal Siakam should be primed to thrive in a greater role." They catch the Sixers in the second game of a back to back, possibly without Embiid and Simmonds. The Raptors rested their starters in their last game, and still beat the Bucks by eight. While Giannis didn't play, the rest of the Bucks starters did play regular minutes.

Take TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Blazers.

I bet on Portland yesterday, and here is what I said before the game: "There's nobody you would rather have in the clutch than Damian Lillard. He sent Paul George packing with a buzzer beating three-pointer in last year's playoffs, and he's made a ton of big shots in his career. He needed to make just one of two free throws to tie the game game versus the Clippers in the dying seconds yesterday, but missed them both. So the question is ... how do you think he's going to respond? I think he's gonna open up a can of whoopass on a Philly team that just lost Ben Simmons for likely the remainder of the year." He went off for 50 points, keeping the Blazers playoff hopes alive. They face a tough matchup versus Dallas tonight, but with both teams playing the second game of a back to back, there is no need for the Mavs to push things, so don't expect their starts to log a lot of minutes.

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Suns.

The Suns are a real Cinderella story, and the clock hasn't struck midnight yet. The Phillies story is more of a nightmare, losing Ben Simmons to a knee injury, and Joel Embiid battling a sore ankle. You have to wonder how much the Sixers have invested in this postseason now that they know they aren't going to be at full strength. The Suns give us no such reason to doubt, and I expect antoher imprressive performance from this young Phoenix team today.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Toronto.

I bet on Toronto to win the East (25-1) before the season started, and I am pretty pleased with that bet. Here is what I said in October: "There is no doubt that Kawhi Leonard deserved plenty of credit for bringing a title to Toronto, but I believe that there is a false narrative that he did it by himself. Many people question how competitive the Raptors can be without Kawhi. I would point out that last year they actually had a higher winning percentage in games he missed due to load management, than they did in the games he played. This is also a team that finished at or near the top of the Eastern Conference several seasons in a row prior to the arrival of Kawhi. Players like Fred Van Fleet and Pascal Siakam should be primed to thrive in a greater role." They catch the Bucks without the Greek Freak.

Take TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule