This is a 7* play on the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Cincinnati is likely better than their record indicates, and they look to prove just that with a home win over rivals Houston on Saturday. Cincinnati has a home record of 9-1 this season, and they are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games. The improved play of Jarron Cumberland has played a role in the Bearcats recent success. "I didn't coach him last year. I just know what I see now," coach Brannen said of Cumberland. "He's definitely healthy. A big part of him being on the ball more is he's in great shape. He's able to do what he's capable of doing. Great players make the game easier for others. That's where Jarron is right now." This Cincinnati team appears primed to make a move in the American Conference.

Take CIN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

?

This is an 8* play on Michigan State.

The Wolverines come into Madison looking to take advantage of an undermanned Wisconsin team. The Badgers are in a bad place right now, with leading scorer Kobe King leaving the team, and starting guard Brad Davison serving a suspension. Wisconsin is coming off back to back road losses at Iowa and Purdue, and they have lost three of their last four overall. They scored just 55 points in a double digit loss at East Lansing in January, and it's going to be tough to do any better here on Saturday. The Spartans are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite.

Take MSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MEM@NO to go Under the total.

The first thing that comes to mind when you see the Grizzlies playing the Pelicans might be that a high score is expected. That's fair enough, as both teams rank in the Top 10 in scoring, and the bottom 10 in defense. This hasn't been lost on the bookmakers, who have set the total for this game higher than 240. Neither of these two teams have reached that number since the last time they played each other. The Grizzlies have been a completely different team over their last 13 games, going 11-2 during that span. They are now in a position to make the playoffs, and an increased emphasis on defense should be expected. These two teams have failed to reach the total in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings. The Grizzlies have gone under in seven of their last nine, and they have gone under in five straight versus New Orleans.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on CWM.

The Tribe are coming off a rare home loss to Towson, and here is what I had to say prior to that game: "The Tribe have been the class of the CAA so far, winning six of seven games in conference play. They are an absolute juggernaut at home, and their last three home games were double digit wins over UNC Wilmington, Charleston and James Madison. They have now covered the spread in six straight home games." They are back on their home court Wednesday night against Northeastern. The Huskies last road game was a loss to last place UNC Wilmington, and they are coming into tonight's game off a home loss to Delaware. The Tribe won a close game at Northeastern earlier this season.

Take CWM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a Free NBA play on Memphis.

The Grizzlies are making a furious push for the post-season, and they come into New York as winners of 10 of their last 12. They have been playing well on the road, going 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 road games. It will be the second game of a back to back for both teams, but this is a spot where the Knicks have struggled. New York has failed to cover in seven of their last nine when playing the second game of a back to back. The Grizzlies are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games overall.

Take MEM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies have won eight of their last 10 overall, and four of their last five home games. They are just a small favorite here on Sunday versus Phoenix, and history doesn't favor the Suns here. The Suns are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall, and they are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a straight up win. Coming off a close win over an uninsprired Spurs team, they should be primed for a let down here against the grittier Grizzlies. The Grizzlies come in with the NBA's seventh-best 2-point field-goal average at 53.3 percent.

Take Memphis.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a Free play on the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Celtics come into New Orleans with Jason Tatum, Marcus Smart, Jalen Brown and Enes Kanter all on their most recent injury report. Kanter will not play on Sunday, and the status of the others remains in question. The Pelicans have lost back to back close games to San Antonio and Denver, but they have to be pleased with the effort from Zion Williamson. In just his third NBA game, he's still looking for his first win. New Orleans is finally healthy, and this team appears to primed for a big run. This looks like a let down spot for a banged up Boston team. The Pelicans are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog.

Take NO.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on William and Mary.

The Tribe have been the class of the CAA so far, winning six of seven games in conference play. They are an absolute juggernaut at home, and their last three home games were double digit wins over UNC Wilmington, Charleston and James Madison. They have now covered the spread in six straight home games. The Tribe won a close game at Towson last year, and in 2018 they won both meetings by double digits. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings, and I think the Tribe deserve to be closer to a double digit favorite here.

Take CWM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs three game winning streak includes a road win over the Suns, and they have won six of their last seven home games against Phoenix. The Spurs hold the final playoff spot in the West, and they are showing signs of turning their season around. They have roughly the same squad they had a year ago, and that team had the best home record in the NBA. The Suns are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games overall, and they are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following an ATS loss. San Antonio has won four straight home meetings against the Suns, and three of those four games were decided by double digits.

Take SA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the College of William and Mary.

The Tribe have been the class of the CAA so far, winning six of seven games in conference play. They are an absolute juggernaut at home, and their last two home games were double digit wins over UNC Wilmington and Charleston. The James Madison Dukes have lost six of seven games in conference play, and they are 1-6 straight up in their last seven versus the Tribe. The Dukes are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 road games, and they are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss. The Tribe are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games.

Take CWM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Toronto Raptors.

The Sixers come into Toronto as winners of four straight, and people are talking about how they haven't missed Joel Embiid. Let's put things in perspective though, they have won four games against teams with a losing record. The Raptors don't just have a winning record, they are defending NBA Champions. Despite being hit hard by injuries, they sit just a game back of second place Miami. Marc Gasol, Fred Van Fleet and Pascal Siakam have all returned to the lineup, and Toronto has scored an average of 128.5 points during a four game winning streak. The 76ers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight road games, and they are 2-7 ATS in the last nine meetings in Toronto.

The play is on TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Saint Louis Bilikens.

The Davidson Wildcats are still one of the more recognizable brands in the Atlantic-10 Conference. They have been far more successful than Saint Louis over the last decade, but so far this season there is no doubt that the Bilikens have been the better team. Saint Louis is 14-4 overall, and three of their four losses came against ranked teams. The one loss against an unranked opponent came against a Duquesne team that is on the cusp of being ranked. They are 3-2 in conference play, and both losses came against the top two teams in the conference. Most recently they lost in overtime on a buzzer beater by a score of 78-76 at home versus Dayton. These two teams split the season series in 2019, and Saint Louis won by 20+ points at Davidson. They had previous lost to the Wildcats by a single point at home earlier in 2019. I think the Bilikens should be the favorite here.

Take SLU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Florida Gators.

While LSU sits at the top of the SEC with a perfect 5-0 record in conference play, they have yet to play any of the top teams. The majority of their wins came in close games against the weaker teams in the SEC. Wins over Arkansas, Mississippi State and Mississippi came by a combined seven points. History doesn't bode well for the Tigers as a home favorite versus Florida, with the home team losing outrihgt in four of the last five head to head meetings. Florida is coming off back to back wins by a combined 38 points. They held #4 ranked Auburn to just 47 points in their last game.

Take FLA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is a 5* play on the Lakers.

LeBron and company are rolling into Boston as winners of 10-of-11. Anthony Davis has been sidelined with a sore backside, but it hasn't really been much of a pain in the ass for the Lakers. The Celtics have lost six of their last eight, and show no signs of being ready to compete with the league's best teams. Both Kemba Walker and Anthony Davis are listed as questionable for Monday's game, but surely the Celtics would miss Walker more than the Lakers would miss Davis. Regardless, expect LeBron to put on a show here in such a high profile game.

Take LA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the BYU@GONZ to go Over the total.

These teams played twice last season, and Gonzaga scored over 100 points at home, and more than 90 points on the road. They won and covered in both games, and each of those games went over the total. The Cougars come into tonight's game playing great offensively, they've scored 90+ in back to back wins, and they scored 84 points in a loss to St. Mary's in their last road game. Gonzaga has gone over in six of their last seven home games, and the Cougars have gone over in five straight as a road underdog.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule.

This is a 10* play on Oregon State.

The Beavers are getting a bunch of points on the road at Washington, and history tells us that the underdog has been the play in recent meetings. These teams have gone to overtime three times in the last five head to head meetings. The underdog has covered the spread in four of those games. The Huskies are shorthanded, with their starting PG missing the last two games since being ruled academically inelligeble. Quade Green leads the team in assists, and he's the Huskies best free throw shooter and he's also their biggest threat from beyond the arc. Green isn't available until late March. The Huskies are 0-2 without him, failing to score 60 points in each of those losses. The road team is 5-0 ATS in the last five head to head meetings. I'll take the points.

Take ORST.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics.

Boston is coming off back to back double digit home wins, one of those a win over New Orleans by a whopping 35 points. The Pistons on the other hand come into the Garden as losers of 12 of their last 15 overall. Most recently they lost at home in overtime to the Pelicans, and New Orleans was without Brandon Igram, JJ Reddick, Derrick Favors and Jrue Holliday. The Pistons can't even beat one of the worst teams in the league with four starters out of the lineup on their home floor. It's hard to expect them to compete against a healthy Celtics team that is 16-3 at home. The Pistons are 5-13-1 ATS in their last 19 road games, and they have lost back to back visits to Boston by a combined 28 points.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on COFC@CWM to go Over the total.

The College of William and Mary are always a strong home team in the CAA, and they are 5-0 at home so far this season. They have averaged over 80 points per game at home. Charleston will know that they need to score to keep up with the Tribe, but the Cougars are 5-0 in the CAA and have averaged 78 points per game so far. The last meeting between these two teams went to overtime, and the Tribe won 86-84. Six of the last seven head to head meetings have gone over the total, and the total for this game is lower than it was in the previous six meetings. The over is 36-16 in Tribe last 52 home games, and they have gone over in eight of their last nine as a home dog.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule.

This is an 8* play on the Portland Blazers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the worst home record in the Western Conference. They host the Blazers tonight, and only one game separates these teams in the standings. The Blazers have started slow in each of the last few seasons, only to go on a tear in the second half and sneak into the playoffs. You have to expect that they are primed to do the same this year. The Blazers have won six of their last seven against the Wolves, and they are 21-7 ATS in the last 28 meetings in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 home games.

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics have lost back to back games, first in Washington without leading scorer Kemba Walker, and then again last night at home versus the Spurs. Walker returned to action last night but was ejected for the first time in his career after getting hit with a pair of technical fouls. After such an embarrassing home loss, you can expect to see the Celtics playing with purpose here in Philly just 24 hours later. The Sixers are reeling, coming into this game as losers of four of their last five. Making matters worse, Joel Embiid will not play after dislocating his finger against Oklahoma City. The Celtics have had plenty of success against Philly in recent seasons. They are 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings, and they are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in Philadelphia.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is an 8* play on DAV@URI to go Under the total.

Davidson comes into Rhode Island looking for their first conference win, and they can get back to .500 with a win over the Rams. The Wildcats have struggled offensively, averaging less than 70 points per game. They have been solid defensively however, only giving up 66 points per game. The Rams are coming off a 69-61 home loss to Richmond, and leading scorer Fatts Russell scored just three points on 1-of-12 shooting. The under is 6-1-1 in the Wildcats last eight overall, and four of their last five versus Rhode Island have gone under. All five of those games saw fewer than 142 points.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Oklahoma City.

The Thunder lost a close game at Philly last night, but they had won nine of their previous 10 games. They have the best record in the NBA since December 1st, and their 20 wins are four more than Brooklyn's 16. The Nets are coming off a double digit loss at Orlando, their sixth consecutive defeat. The Thunder are 6-0 ATS in their last six games when playing on back to back nights. The Nets haven't covered in five straight games, and they have lost five of their last six against Oklahoma City.

Take OKC.

GL,

Jesse Schule`

This is a 10* play on MIA@POR to go Under the total.

The Miami Heat own the best home record in the NBA at 16-1. They host Portland on Sunday, and the bookmakers have the total listed sky high at 223. These teams haven't seen a total as high as 220 in any of the previous 10 head to head meetings. Only one of those games saw a total higher than 215. Both these teams come in cold, with Portland coming in as losers of five of six overall. They scored an average of 107 points in those losses, well below their season average of 112+ points per game. The Heat are coming off back to back games scoring fewer than 90 points. They scored 84 in a home win over Toronto, then followed up with just 85 points in a loss at Orlando.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TOW@UNCW to go Over the total.

The Seahawks were once the powerhouse in the CAA, but they have slipped all the way to the cellar. They will be a home underdog against Towson on Saturday, and their poor play doesn't inspire me to back them in this role. That being said, they still average over 77 points per game at home, and history suggests they will score their fair share against the Tigers. These two teams have played eight times since 2015, and all of those previous eight meetings saw a total higher than 140. Towson gave up 81 points in a loss to Charleston in their last game, and the over is 5-1 in the Tigers last six games following an ATS loss.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TOR@BKN to go Under the total.

The Raptors have been hit hard by injuries, playing without Marc Gasol, Norm Powell and leading scorer Pascal Siakam. They lost 84-76 at Miami in their last game, shooting just over 30 percent from the field. Siakam hasn't played since December 19th, and the Raptors have scored an average of 106.5 points in eight games since (well below their season average). They have also stepped up on defense during that span, and they have held opponents under 100 points in four straight games. The under is 5-1-1 in the Raptors last seven road games, and they have failed to reach the total in four of their last five in Brooklyn.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Houston Rockets.

The Houston Rockets and the Philadelphia 76ers have identical overall records (23-13). Both teams though have earned the majority of their wins at home. The Sixers are just 7-11 on the road, and the Rockets are 12-4 in Houston. The Sixers have lost three straight and are coming off a blowout loss at Indiana, while the Rockets just beat Denver by 20+ points. Eric Gordon is back in the lineup for the Rockets, and Houston is 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest. The 76ers are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine road games.

Take HOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on WOF@ETSU to go Over the total.

The Eastern Tennessee State Buccaneers will host conference rivals Wofford on New Years Day, and history tells us we can expect a high score. These teams have gone over the total in six of the last seven meetings, and the under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings. They haven't just gone over the total, they have gone way over. They have scored 150 points or more in five of the last eight head to head meetings. The over is 47-19-2 in Buccaneers last 68 home games, and the Buccaneers have averaged over 85 points per game at home.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on GS@SA to go Over the total.

The Spurs have turned things around, winning five of their last seven home games. San Antonio is one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA, averaging over 113 points per game. They would have a lot better record if they weren't allowing opponents to average over 115 points per game. The Warriors had won four straight, but then lost 141-121 at home to Dallas on Sunday. The over is 12-3 in the Spurs last 15 games as a home favorite, and they have gone over in four straight at home. The Spurs hit a season high 18 three-point shots in a win over Detroit on Saturday.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Indiana.

The Pacers are one of the top home teams in the NBA, with a record of 14-3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Sixers are also great at home, but they really struggle on the road with a record of just 7-10. The Pacers are just a game back in the overall Eastern Conference standings, and they look good as a home dog here versus Philly. Ben Simmons missed practice on Monday, and his status for tonight's game is in question. The 76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games as a road favorite, and they are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight road games.

Take IND.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on HALL@DEPAUL to go Under the total.

I bet the under in Seton Hall's recent win over Maryland, and here is what I said prior to that game. "The Seton Hall Pirates have lost back to back games, but they have even bigger problems. Leading scorer Myles Powell suffered a concussion, and he won't play tonight at home versus Maryland. Powell is averaging 21.2 points per game this season, one of just two players averaging in double figures. The other is junior forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, who is averaging just 10.9 points per game. Neither of the two will be available for tonight's game, and perhaps for the remainder of 2019. The Pirates struggled without them, scoring just 48 points in a loss to Rutgers." The Pirates went on to beat Prairie Valley by a score of 75-55 after beating Maryland 52-48.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

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

I had the Spurs in a 102-98 loss to Dallas, and they covered the spread quite easily. All of a sudden the Spurs are one of the hottest teams in the league. They have covered the spread in five of their last six, and they have won five of their last seven at home. The Pistons have lost four straight at San Antonio, and they are just 3-7 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

Take SA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

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

The Spurs appear to have turned things around, coming into Dallas as winners of five of their last eight overall. The Mavs sit seven games clear of San Antonio in the standings, but they haven't been all that strong at home. In fact 11 of their 19 wins have come on the road. They are 2-2 since losing Luca Doncic to an ankle injury, and they have lost three of their last four home games. Doncic is questionable to return for tonight's game, but the Mavs would be wise to be extremely cautious with their young star. We saw LeBron come back to play on Christmas Day only to aggravate a nagging groin injury.

Take SA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on DEN@PHX to go Over the total.

The Nuggets come into Phoenix as winners of six straight, and they have scored an average of more than 114 points per game during that span. The Nuggets are the best defensive team in the NBA, but in this day and age it still doesn't mean they can hold opponents to an average of less than 100 points per game. They allow an average of roughly 102 points per game, and the Suns are far from an average opponent. Phoenix averages over 114 points per game, but they allow opponents to average even more than that. The over is 9-0 in the Suns last nine games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points, and they have gone over in 11 of their last 14 home games.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on DEN@LAL to go Over the total.

The Nuggets are the best defensive team in the NBA, but in this day and age it still doesn't mean they can hold opponents to an average of less than 100 points per game. They allow an average of roughly 102 points per game, and the Lakers are far from an average opponent. Denver has won five straight, and all five of those games saw 209+ total points. We can see that these two teams have failed to go over the total in five straight meetings, but in four of those five games they combined to score 209+ points. Looks like this number should be a few points higher.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets are the best defensive team in the NBA, but in this day and age it still doesn't mean they can hold opponents to an average of less than 100 points per game. They allow an average of roughly 102 points per game, and the Lakers are far from an average opponent. Denver has won five straight, and all five of those games saw 209+ total points. We can see that these two teams have failed to go over the total in five straight meetings, but in four of those five games they combined to score 209+ points. Looks like this number should be a few points higher, and Denver looks good getting points.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on PVAM@HALL to go Under the total.

Here is what I said prior the Pirates 52-48 win over Maryland: "The Seton Hall Pirates have lost back to back games, but they have even bigger problems. Leading scorer Myles Powell suffered a concussion, and he won't play tonight at home versus Maryland. Powell is averaging 21.2 points per game this season, one of just two players averaging in double figures. The other is junior forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, who is averaging just 10.9 points per game. Neither of the two will be available for tonight's game, and perhaps for the remainder of 2019. The Pirates struggled without them, scoring just 48 points in a loss to Rutgers. The under is 8-1 in the Pirates last nine games following an ATS loss, and they have failed to reach the total in five of their last six overall. You really have to wonder where the points are going to come from here against a Top 10 ranked Maryland team." It looks like they have stepped up their defense, and we should expect that trend to continue here on Sunday.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

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

It's been a rough start to the season for the Spurs, but there is no denying that they are playing better basketball of late. They come into tonight's game off a 109-107 loss to Houston, in a game that they blew a 25-point lead. You could say the glass is half full, but the Spurs have won four of their last five home games, and that includes outright wins over the Clippers and the Rockets. History favors the home team here as the Nets are just 9-25-1 ATS in the last 35 head to head meetings. They have failed to cover in six of their last seven in San Antonio. 

Take SA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on MD@HALL to go Under the total.

The Seton Hall Pirates have lost back to back games, but they have even bigger problems. Leading scorer Myles Powell suffered a concussion, and he won't play tonight at home versus Maryland. Powell is averaging 21.2 points per game this season, one of just two players averaging in double figures. The other is junior forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, who is averaging just 10.9 points per game. Neither of the two will be available for tonight's game, and perhaps for the remainder of 2019. The Pirates struggled without them, scoring just 48 points in a loss to Rutgers. The under is 8-1 in the Pirates last nine games following an ATS loss, and they have failed to reach the total in five of their last six overall. You really have to wonder where the points are going to come from here against a Top 10 ranked Maryland team.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Portland.

The Blazers are rolling, and they will be a heavy favorite at home against a Warriors team that is just 3-13 on the road, and owns the NBA's worst overall record. The Warriors are coming off a particularly disturbing loss, forcing 29 turnovers in a 21-point home loss to Sacramento. The Warriors are 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a double-digit loss at home. We have every reason to expect the Warriors struggles to continue in Portland.

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Utah Jazz.

The Orlando Magic don't win a lot of road games, and perhaps they shouldn't get too jacked up coming a double digit win in New Orleans, versus  a Pelicans team that has lost 12 in a row. They face a far tougher task tonight in Utah, where the Jazz are 10-3 on the season. Utah has won three of four, and all three of those wins have come by 7+ points. The Magic get a boost with the return of Nikola Vucevi, cbut keep in mind they lost six of 10 before his injury. Last year he averaged 17.5 points in two games versus the Jazz, well below his season average of 20.8 points per game. Only three teams in the NBA held him to a lower average than Utah. The Jazz lost by a score of 106-93 in last year's visit to Utah.

Take UTAH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on San Antonio.

The Spurs have played a record four straight overtime games, and the good news is that they have won three of those four games. They are 4-2 in their last six overall, and during that span they have wins over the Rockets and Clippers. The Rockets are coming off a home loss to the Detroit Pistons, and they have not been a good bet to cover a point spread. Houston have failed to cover in five of it's last six as a favorite, and the Rockets are 1-5 ATS in their last six games versus a team with a losing straight up record. Four of the last five head to head meetings between these teams have been decided by fewer than 10 points.

Take SA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on MER@UNCW to go Over the total.

The Seahawks come into tonight's home game versus Mercer as losers of three straight, and they gave up an average of 76 points per game during that span. They might have more success against a Mercer team that has lost three of four on the road. Mercer is allowing opponents to average 77 points per game this season. The over is 7-2 in  the Bears last nine road games versus a team with a winning home record. The over is 10-3 in the Seahawks last 13 home games.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Clemson Tigers.

Neither of these two teams have had a great start to the season, but Clemson looks quite a bit stronger than South Carolina. The Tigers are 4-1 at home so far, and they have covered in six straight home games. They have won three straight head to head meetings versus South Carolina, and they beat the Gamecocks by double digits in Columbia last December. The Gamecocks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall, and the favorite is 12-2 ATS in the last 14 meetings between these teams.

Take CLEM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

8*

This is an 8* play on the Duquesne Dukes.

The Dukes are 8-0 to start the season, and they come into their first true road game as a favorite over Radford. What looks like a tough matchup for the Dukes might not be as tough as it would have been a year ago. The Highlanders finished first in the Big South last year, and were a Cinderella team in the NCAA Tournament. They have started this season off by losing five of their first eight games. Free throw shooting could be a huge advantage for the Dukes, who are hitting just shy of 80 percent from the charity stripe. Radford is shooting just over 60 percent from the free throw line. The Highlanders are 3-15 ATS in their last 18 Saturday games.

Take DUQ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Phoenix Suns.

I had the Suns in their last game, a 125-109 home win over Minnesota. Here is what I said before the game: "The Suns return home after earning a 2-2 split during a four game road trip, and they will be just a small favorite tonight versus Minnesota. The T-Wolves have lost four straight, and they were hammered by a score of 142-125 at LA last night. This is a tough spot for the visitors, playing on back to back nights in a third game in four nights. They have not fared well in recent meetings versus Phoenix." Memphis comes to town off a win at Golden State, and the Grizzlies are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following a straight up win.

Take PHX.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on BSU@TULSA to go Over the total.

The Boise State Broncos come into Tulsa as winners of four of their last five. They have scored an average of more than 77 points per game during that span. The Broncos have given up their fair share of points as well, with opponents averaging almost 70 points per game in their last five overall. Tonight's total of 131 will be the lowest that the Broncos have seen all year, and they have gone over in four straight road games. The Hurricanes are coming off a home loss to Arkansas State, and the over is 15-7-1 in their last 23 games following a ATS loss.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on LAC@TOR to go Under the total.

The Clippers won at home by a score of 98-88 in the first meeting between these teams this season. Tonight's game will be a far bigger deal, as Kawhi is returning to Toronto for the first time since winning the NBA Championship with the Raptors last year. He was held to 12 points on 2-of-11 shooting in the last meeting. The Raptors are 9-2 at home this season, and they are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA. This total appears to be a little inflated.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sixers and the Nuggets have a lot of similarities. Both these teams play strong defensively, ranking 1st and 3rd respectively in opponent's scoring average. Both teams are also far better at home than they are on the road. The Nuggets had the best home record in the league last year, and the Sixers are 12-0 at home so far this year. Denver has struggled to score lately, losing four of their last five and failing to score 100 points in three of those four losses. The Nuggets are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight road games, and they are 1-5 ATS in their last six versus the Sixers.

Take PHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 7* play on the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns return home after earning a 2-2 split during a four game road trip, and they will be just a small favorite tonight versus Minnesota. The T-Wolves have lost four straight, and they were hammered by a score of 142-125 at LA last night. This is a tough spot for the visitors, playing on back to back nights in a third game in four nights. They have not fared well in recent meetings versus Phoenix. The Timberwolves are 2-6-1 ATS in the last nine meetings. The Suns are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games versus a team with a losing straight up record.

Take PHX.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings have lost six of their last 10 games overall, but only one of those six losses came by more than 11 points. The Rockets have won just four of their last eight overall, and only one of those four wins came by more than 11 points. The Kings appear to be a strong play getting a 12 point cushion here in Houston coming off an upset win over the Mavericks in Dallas. The Kings are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games overall, and they are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games.

Take SAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is an 8* play on UNCW.

The Seahawks are a tough nut to crack when they play at home. They have won four of five at home so far this year, and the one loss came against the mighty UNC Tar Heels. They host the Charlotte 49ers this afternoon, and Charlotte is 0-3 on the road so far. A look a little further back reveals that the 49ers are 15-36 ATS in their last 51 road games. They haven't been a strong play in the role of favorite, they 2-6 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite, and they have failed to cover in four of their last five when asked to cover points on the road.

Take UNCW.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Portland.

The public is in love with the Lakers, and it's hard to blame them. They just keep winning (12 of their last 13) and they are coming off consecutive big wins at Denver and at Utah. Not all those games were blowouts though, recent wins over Memphis, New Orleans and Oklahoma City came by fewer than 4.5 points. They have had trouble in Portland over the years. The Lakers are 10-23 ATS in the last 33 meetings in Portland, and they are 20-45 ATS in the last 65 meetings. I'll take the home dog getting a handful of points.

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 7* play on the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs have been pretty bad this season overall, but they have been pretty good lately. Home wins over the Rockets and the Clippers might just be a sign that Pop has his house in order. The Sacramento Kings are in town tonight, and Sacramento is just 3-8 on the road. The Kings have lost four of five and they are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following an ATS loss. "A lot of what we built we built around having certain guys, and they haven't been with us," Kings coach Luke Walton said. "That's why I go back to giving our guys credit. They've adjusted, they've adapted, continued to work." The Kings are still a little banged up and I don't expect them to have much success against the Spurs in San Antonio.

Take SPURS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Toronto Raptors.

I took Toronto in their home opener versus New Orleans, and this is what I said prior to tip off: "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 in a home opener against the short-handed Pelicans." The Raptors should be a bigger favorite here against an average Houston team

Take TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 7* play on the UNC Tar Heels.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are off to a great start, bringing a 7-0 record into tonight's game at Chapel Hill. We do have to realize though that their stats are skewed by the fact that they played all seven games at home. Tonight will be their first true road game, and it's a tough task to upset the Tar Heels at Chapel Hill. North Carolina is 5-0 straight up and 5-0 ATS in the last five head to head meetings. The Buckeyes are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games as an underdog, and they have failed to cover in five of their last seven road games.

Take UNC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on LAL@UTAH to go Under the total.

The Lakers are coming off a 105-96 win over the Nuggets last night, winning for the 11th time in their last 12 games. The Lakers are ranked as one of the top teams in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing an average of 103 points per game so far this season. They might have a tough time on the road on back to back nights against the Utah Jazz, who are another one of the league's top defensive teams. The Lakers have gone under in six straight, and the under is 5-1 in their last six games in Utah. The Jazz are coming off a 103-94 loss at Philly, and the under is 9-2 in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on TTU@DePaul to go Over the total.

The Red Raiders are coming off back to back road losses, and they face a 8-0 DePaul team in Chicago tonight. DePaul won the last meeting back in 2011, and the final score was 76-70. That fell short of the listed total of 150, but tonight's total is 10 points lower. Both these teams are scoring their fair share of points, and shooting the ball relatively well. The point spread suggests this game is expected to be close, so we might expect a wild finish. DePaul has scored 70+ points in all eight of it's games so far, and that includes road wins over Minnesota and Boston College. I like both teams to get 70+ tonight.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards poor defense has prevented them from winning more than a handful of games, and they are just 3-4 at home this season. That's still three times as many wins as the Orlando Magic have on the road. The Magic have really missed big man Nikola Vucevic, and they come into tonight's game averaging just 101 points per game (29th in the NBA). The Magic are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games, and they are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win. The Magic are 4-11-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Washington.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the College of William and Mary.

The College of William and Mary are what I like to call a "Jekyll and Hyde" team. They are world beaters at home, but mere minnows on the road. My 2017 Game of the Year was a bet on them in a win over Marshall, and here is what I had to say prior to that game: "The College of William and Mary are coming off a thrilling home win over Old Dominion. This comes as no surprise, as The Tribe are a real force on their home floor. They've won 16 of their last 17 home games dating back to the beginning of last season. They are 3-0 at home this year, and they have scored an average of 81 points on 54.2 percent shooting in those games." So far this season it's the same story, they are averaging over 86 points on better than 57 percent shooting while winning both home games. My money is on history to repeat itself here versus Old Dominion.

Take CWM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix comes into this road game at Charlotte off three straight losses, but I like their chances of getting off the schneid here tonight. While they lost to the Mavs, Nuggets and Wizards, all three of those games were competitive. They face a Charlotte team that is anything but competitive. The Hornets have lost six of eight, and both wins during that span came against Detroit. The Suns are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 road games versus a team with a losing home record. The Suns struggled with Rubio out of the lineup, but he's back and should be close to 100 percent for tonight's game.

Take PHX.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TULSA@VAN to go Over the total.

The Vanderbilt Comodores come into tonight's home game against Tulsa averaging over 85 points per game on better than 51 percent shooting. They have gone over the total in all six games so far this season, and tonight's total seems a little low (on the wrong side of 140). Vandy isn't quite as impressive on defense, allowing opponents to average over 70 points per game. The Comodores have gone over in nine straight non-conference games, and the over is 5-0 in their last five home games. Tulsa has scored 72 or more in five of their six games so far.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on SF@HAW to go Over the total.

The San Francisco Dons are off to an impressive start to the season, winning seven straight games. Their 7-0 start has been helped by their potent offense, coming into Friday's game in Hawaii averaging over 86 points per game on better than 47 percent of shooting. The result has been a streak of overs in non conference games, and the Don's have now gone over in 8-STRAIGHT outside the WCC. They have also gone over the total in four straight versus Hawaii, and the over is 9-1-1 in Hawaii's last 11 versus teams from the WCC.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 7* play on Marquette.

The Golden Eagles are off to a solid start, winning three of four games with a loss on the road at Wisconsin. They host the Davidson Wildcats in Orlando on Thanksgiving, and Davidson hasn't looked good at all so far. The Wildcats have lost three of five overall, and they have been just getting killed on the boards. They lost their last game to unranked Wake Forest, and they were out-rebounded 43-29 in the game. The Wildcats are 2-6 ATS in their last eight non-conference games, and they just don't look like they currently have what it takes to compete with the bigger teams from the bigger conferences.

Take MARQ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on SLU@BC to go UNDER the total.

Both the Saint Louis Bilikens and the Boston College Eagles are teams that focus on playing strong defense. That has been the theme in recent head to head meetings, failing to score a combined 115 points in any of the last three meetings. Saint Louis has failed to reach the total in nine of their last 13 versus ACC teams, and they have gone under in five straight road games. The under is 8-3 in the  Eagles last 11 home games. The Eagles have failed to reach the total in five of their last six versus teams from the A-10.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the LAC.

At first glance, you look at the Mavericks at 11-5 getting points at home against the 12-5 Clippers and you might be tempted to take the points. As Lee Corso would say: "not so fast". The more significant numbers are perhaps that the Clippers are 10-2 when Kawhi Leonard plays, and 5-1 when Paul George plays. When both play, they are still undefeated. The Clippers duo is still figuring things out, but they need to keep winning if they want to keep up with the Lakers. This young Dallas team has won five straight, and their last game was an upset win over the Rockets in Houston. These are the spots where we often see young teams suffer a let down.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is an 8* play on TOR@ATL to go Over the total.

The Atlanta Hawks have gone over (223.5) in eight straight games overall, and they allowed 76 points in the first half of a 128-103 loss at Detroit in their last game. The Raptors come into tonight's game as winners of six of their last eight overall, and they will be a seven point favorite here tonight. Toronto has scored an average of 120 points in thier last six wins. The over is 6-0 in the Hawks last six games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. I think Toronto will be content to play a wide open game, as long as they know they will get the better of it. We should see plenty of scoring here.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on HOU@LAC to go Under the total.

The Rockets are coming off a 105-95 loss at Denver, and they have another tough game tonight in LA. They beat the Clippers 102-93 at home just last week, and LA will be looking for revenge. The Clippers rank among the top defensive teams in the NBA, while Houston has allowed opponents to average over 113 points per game (20th in the NBA). The Rockets defense has been much better lately though, allowing just over 103 points per game in their last nine overall. The lowest score during that span was their game against the Clippers. LA has gone under in eight of their last 10 home games and nine of their last 13 overall.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on New Orleans.

The Phoenix Suns really missed PG Ricky Rubio, scoring just 85 points on 40.2 percent shooting in a home loss to the Celtics a few days ago. They followed that up with a 120-116 loss at Sacramento. Rubio was only able to play in the first half of that game. They host a New Orleans team that has had it's own injury concerns this season, but the Pelicans have seemingly turned it around winning three of their last four. New Orleans has covered the spread in six of their last eight versus the Suns, and they are 5-1 ATS in their last six at Phoenix.

Take N.O.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Toronto Raptors.

I took Toronto in their home opener versus New Orleans, and this is what I said prior to tip off: "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 in a home opener against the short-handed Pelicans." The Raptors come into tonight's game with a record of 5-0 at home, while Orlando is 0-4 on the road. The Raptors have led by more than two points at the half in four straight home games. 

Take TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Sacramento Kings.

The Phoenix Suns really missed PG Ricky Rubio, scoring just 85 points on 40.2 percent shooting in a home loss to the Celtics last night. They play their second game of a back to back on the road at Sacramento tonight, and the Kings have won five of their last seven. Sacramento has really turned up the heat on defense, holding four of their last six opponents to fewer than 100 points. The home team has won eight of the last 10 head to head meetings, and the Kings are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games overall. The home team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

Take SAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on MIN@UTAH to go Under the total.

The Jazz rank 1st overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, allowing just over 100 points per game. They have been even better at home, holding the Clippers, Bucks, Kings and Thunder to 100 points or less. Utah needs to play well defensively, because the Jazz only average 104.7 points per game (26th overall). The under is 8-1 in the Timberwolves last nine road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Jazz have failed to reach the total in 12 of their last 15 overall, and the under is 6-2 in their last eight home games.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Saint Louis Bilikens.

I bet on the Bilikens early this week, and here is what I said prior to their win over Eastern Washington: "The Bilikens have won 17 of their last 19 home games, and they are coming off double digit wins over Valparaiso and FGSU. They have gotten off to good starts in both those games, leading by 22 at halftime against FGSU and leading by 11 at halftime in their win over the Crusaders." They are getting points here at home versus Seton Hall, and I wouldn't be surprised if they win this game outright.

Take SLU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is an 8* play on the Nevada Wolfpack.

Nevada lost it's home opener to Utah, but has since won back to back games. They are hosting another PAC12 team tonight, and this time they will be an underdog versus USC. The Wolpack have four seniors in their starting lineup, and they should have an edge here at home against a USC team that is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games. The Wolf Pack are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven versus PAC12 teams, and they are 40-19-3 ATS in their last 62 games following an ATS win.

Take NEV.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Miami Heat.

The New Orleans Pelicans have won just three of their first 11 games, and two of those wins came at home. They come into Miami off an upset win over the Clippers (without Kawhi) and this looks like a big time let down spot. The Pelicans are still really thin, with the likes of Zion, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, JJ Reddick, Okafor and Josh Hart all battling injuries. The Pelicans are 1-7 ATS in the last eight meetings, and they are 2-7 ATS in their last nine at South Beach.

Take MIA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on UNCW.

The Seahawks are 2-1, and they lost by 16-points to #9 ranked North Carolina. They will be a huge underdog here at Davidson, and I don't see any reason why the Wildcats should lay a bigger beating on them than the Tar Heels did. The Wildcats beat the Seahawks 91-85 last year, and they have won all five meetings since 2011. They are a bigger favorite in this game than they were in any of those previous five games. The Seahawks are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine non-conference games.

Take UNCW.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Washington Huskies.

The Huskies opened the season with an impressive win over #16 ranked Baylor in Alaska. They will be in Toronto on Saturday, taking on unranked Tennessee. Both teams are a little younger this year, but Vols coach Rick Barnes seems to think his team has a long way to go:

"We felt going into this year, knowing we had these younger guys, that we had to challenge them as much as we could with this schedule," said Barnes. "Even if you get burnt somewhere along the way, you have to know that it will help us in the long run."

The Volunteers are 1-4 ATS in their last five non-conference games, and they have failed to cover in four straight non-conference games.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on UTAH@MEM to go Over the total.

The Jazz are the top defensive team in the NBA, allowing opponents to average just 99.5 points per game this season. They have not been as sharp on the road, allowing over 100 points in each of their last three road games. The Grizzlies are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, allowing over 118 points per game. They come into tonight's game as a home underdog looking for a third straight win. The over is 7-3 in Grizzlies last 10 home games, and I expect another high scoring game here tonight.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ATL@PHX to go Over the total.

The Atlanta Hawks are feeling good about themselves coming into tonight's game at Phoenix, coming off a 125-121 win over the Nuggets in Denver. Tre Young scored 42 points on 13-of-21 shooting in the victory. It was however the third consecutive game that the Hawks allowed their opponent to score 120+ points. Tonight they face a Suns team that ranks among the top teams in the league in scoring, but the Suns are also allowing opponents to average more than 110 points per game this season. The history tells us that these two teams have gone under in five straight meetings, and nine of the last 10 meetings. That history might be keeping tonight's number artificially low, as the last two time these two teams played they score at least 230 combined points, but failed to reach a much higher total.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a Free NBA play on the LAC.

I had the Clippers in last night's game at Houston, and while they battled back to take a lead late in the fourth quarter, it all fell apart after a controversial coaches challenge by Doc Rivers. Here is what I said prior to tip off: "the number that really matters is the number of games that the Clippers have won when Kawhi Leonard has played. They are 7-0 when he plays, and 0-3 when he doesn't. You better believe he's playing tonight". So Kawhi will play again tonight, and will welcome teammate Paul George who makes his Clippers debut. They are in New Orleans, where the Pelicans are banged up. Leading scorer Brandon Ingram was scratched from the last game with a sore knee, and Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball are both out. This should be a big time win for the Clippers.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on PSU@GTWN to go Over the total.

Georgetown is 2-0, and they come into tonight's home games Penn State averaging 85 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting. The Nittany Lions have scored their fair share as well, averaging 87.5 points on 48 percent shooting. Both teams are hitting better than 37 percent from beyond the arc, and that should lead to a high scorer here tonight. The Hoyas have seen the total at 150 or higher in each of their last nine games, and the over is 20-6 in the Hoyas last 26 games following an ATS loss. Their last game was an 88-79 win over Central Arkansas as a 22-point favorite.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Saint Louis Bilikens.

The Bilikens have won 17 of their last 19 home games, and they are coming off double digit wins over Valparaiso and FGSU. They have gotten off to good starts in both those games, leading by 22 at halftime against FGSU and leading by 11 at halftime in their win over the Crusaders. They host the Eastern Washington Eagles tonight, and the Eagles are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games. The Eagles are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Billikens are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games, and they are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall. This Saint Louis team is excellent defensively, and a home game against a team from an inferior conference should be an easy double digit win.

Take SLU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the LA Clippers.

Both the Clippers and the Rockets are 7-3 overall, and the two team meet in Houston tonight. While these teams have the same record, the number that really matters is the number of games that the Clippers have won when Kawhi Leonard has played. They are 7-0 when he plays, and 0-3 when he doesn't. You better believe he's playing tonight, and that's bad news for James Harden and the Rockets. Houston is the highest scoring team in the NBA averaging over 120 points per game. What has been problematic for the Rockets is that they have allowed opponents to average over 118 points per game. The Clippers have owned the Rockets, covering the spread in six of the last eight meetings. They are 4-1 ATS in their last five in Houston.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on ORE@MEM to go Over the total.

The Ducks are coming off a 106-75 win over Boise State, and they shot 70% from the field in that victory. The Tigers are coming off a pair of wins, scoring 90+ points in both games. The Ducks have scored an average of 88.5 points per game in their last five overall, while the Tigers have scored an average of 94.5 points per game during that span. I expect both these teams to score their fair share in a neutral site game this early in the season.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule