This is a 5* play on the Santa Clara Broncos.

Both the Santa Clara Broncos and the Denver Pioneers came up short in their season openers last night, but I like Santa Clara to bounce back at home against an inferior Denver team. The Pioneers finished near the bottom of the Summit Conference last year, with an overall record of 12-18. They got blown out last night in a loss to Milwaukee, despite shooting 52.4% from the field, and 7-of-17 from beyond the arc. They got killed on the glass, as Milwaukee out-rebounded them 31-19. The Broncos owned the glass in their game, pulling in 51 rebounds against Lipscomb. Denver is just 4-10 ATS in it's last 10 road games, and it has failed to cover in six of it's last eight non-conference games. The Broncos have had little trouble roughing up weaker teams, going 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.

Take Santa Clara.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on CHA@CHI to go UNDER the total. 

The Bulls were embarrassed in a 130-105 loss at Charlotte last week, and they will have a chance to execute revenge at home here tonight. Chicago followed up that loss with an impressive home win over the Thunder, before losing their next game at home to Minnesota. That was their first home loss, as they had won their previous four home games, holding each opponent under 100 points. 

It would appear likely that this rematch in Chicago will be a much lower scoring games. The Hornets have failed to reach the total in nine of their last 11 road games versus a team with a winning record, and the under in 5-1 in their last six trips to the Windy City. The total for tonight's game is far higher than it was in any of those previous six games, and Chicago has gone under in each of it's last six at home. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on CLE@NYK to go OVER the total. 

The Knicks are coming off a heart-breaking loss on the road at Charlotte, as rookie Kristaps Porzingis appeared to hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. The replay showed that the shot came just a fraction of a second after time expired, and New York lost 95-93. They are back home tonight hosting Cleveland, who have won seven straight since an Opening Night loss in Chicago. 

The Knicks played the Cavs hard last week in Cleveland, trailing by just a single point heading into the fourth quarter of a 96-86 loss. They are getting a bunch of points here as a home dog, and I think they'll give LeBron and the Cavs a run for their money. They've been a good bet in recent meetings, covering the spread in seven of the last 10. These teams have scored their share of points when playing at MSG, as the total has gone over in 11 of the last 15 meetings in New York 

Carmelo Anthony is coming off his best game of the season, scoring 29 points on 12-of-25 shooting against the Hornets. He'll have a little more help with the addition of Arron Afflalo who made his debut against the Hornets. Afllalo scored a dozen points on 6-of-13 shooting in 28 minutes. He was the leading scorer for the Magic in his two seasons in Orlando, but has since bounced around playing for Denver and Portland the last two seasons. 

The Cavs have scored 100+ points in six of their last seven, and they have surrendered 100 or more in three of their last five. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA pay on the #NYK.

The Knicks are coming off a heart-breaking loss on the road at Charlotte, as rookie Kristaps Porzingis appeared to hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. The replay showed that the shot came just a fraction of a second after time expired, and New York lost 95-93. They are back home tonight hosting Cleveland, who have won seven straight since an Opening Night loss in Chicago. 

The Knicks played the Cavs hard last week in Cleveland, trailing by just a single point heading into the fourth quarter of a 96-86 loss. They are getting a bunch of points here as a home dog, and I think they'll give LeBron and the Cavs a run for their money. They've been a good bet in recent meetings, covering the spread in seven of the last 10. These teams have scored their share of points when playing at MSG, as the total has gone over in 11 of the last 15 meetings in New York 

Carmelo Anthony is coming off his best game of the season, scoring 29 points on 12-of-25 shooting against the Hornets. He'll have a little more help with the addition of Arron Afflalo who made his debut against the Hornets. Afllalo scored a dozen points on 6-of-13 shooting in 28 minutes. He was the leading scorer for the Magic in his two seasons in Orlando, but has since bounced around playing for Denver and Portland the last two seasons. 

Take NYK. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on MIN@IND to go UNDER the total.

The Indiana Pacers appear to be getting their swagger back, coming into tonight's home game against Minnesota as winners of five of their last six. They held all five opponents under 100 points in those victories, and they rank 4th in the NBA in opponent's scoring average allowing just over 95 points per game. The Wolves come in playing their second game in a back to back, and third game in four nights. They have won all four of their road games so far, but it's going to be tough to keep that streak going in Indianapolis where they have failed to cover in five of their last six. Each of the Pacers last four home games has failed to reach the total, and I think they'll stay well below an inflated number here tonight.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on UTAH@MIA to go OVER the total. 

The Jazz got off to a good start, winning four of their first six games, and they are still 1st in the league in opponent's scoring average allowing under 90 points per game. They failed to slow down the Cavs in Cleveland on Tuesday though, losing by a score of 118-114. That came as little surprise to me, as I had said just a few days earlier: "The Utah Jazz have won two of three, and rank first overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average allowing just 79.7 points per game so far. Before you get too excited, consider that they have played three Eastern Conference teams that all finished near the bottom of the standings a year ago." 

They face another Eastern Conference team that missed the playoffs last year, but the Miami Heat are coming off back to back home wins, and they look like a contender so far this year. Chris Bosh is back and looking very healthy, he scored a season high 30 points in the win over the Lakers on Tuesday. The Jazz could be without one of their best defenders as Rudy Gobert left the last game in the fourth quarter with a sprained ankle. 

As good as both these teams are defensively, they can also both score with the best of them. They each scored over 100 points in their last game, and the total has trended over at a rate of 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings between the two teams. Tonight's total is at least five points lower than it was in any of those previous 10 meetings. 

Take Over. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on DET@SAC to go OVER the total. 

The Kings are hosting the surprising Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, and I think the total looks a little low here. Sacramento is one of the league's highest scoring teams, averaging over 106 points per game, but the Kings rank near last in opponent's scoring average allowing a ridiculous 110.6 points per game. The Pistons prefer to play a more defensive style, but they've proved that they can score with the best oft them, averaging over 105 points per game while winning three of their four road games so far. They scored 114 points in a home win over the Kings in the last meetings between these two teams. The Kings have really struggled against quality opponents, and they've seen the total go over at a rate of 8-3-2 in their last 13 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. They've also gone over in 11 of their last 13 versus Eastern Conference teams. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on the New Orleans #Pelicans.

The Pelicans have had a few days off since losing by a score of 107-98 at Dallas on Saturday. They'll host the Mavs in the second leg of this home and home series on Tuesday night, still in search of their first win. I believe that the Pelicans are a much better team than their 0-6 record, and they should have a golden opportunity to notch their first win at home tonight. 

This is a particularly tough spot for Dallas, who play at home tomorrow night against DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers. This will be the first time Jordan will travel to Dallas since backing out of his agreement to sign with the team in the off-season. 

While the Pelicans are off to a terrible start, their superstar PF Anthony Davis has been really heating up. He scored 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting in the loss to Dallas, and in the previous game he went off for 43 points on 14-of-23 shooting. He's averaged 26.7 points and 12.7 boards in his last three at home against the Mavericks.

The Pelicans rank at the bottom of the NBA in opponent's scoring average, allowing over 114 points per game. That number though is skewed by the fact that two of their first six games came against the league's best teams (Golden State). 

They will need to play a lot better on defense if they hope to beat the Mavericks tonight, and I am sure that's something they have worked on over the last few days. They did a good job through three quarters in Dallas on Saturday, holding the Mavs to 72 points, but were out-scored 35-28 in the final frame. I expect them to grind it out for a full 48 minutes tonight, en route to their first "W" of the season. 

Take New Orleans. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DAL@NO to go UNDER the total.

The Pelicans have had a few days off since losing by a score of 107-98 at Dallas on Saturday. They'll host the Mavs in the second leg of this home and home series on Tuesday night, still in search of their first win. I believe that the Pelicans are a much better team than their 0-6 record, and they should have a golden opportunity to notch their first win at home tonight. 

This is a particularly tough spot for Dallas, who play at home tomorrow night against DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers. This will be the first time Jordan will travel to Dallas since backing out of his agreement to sign with the team in the off-season. 

While the Pelicans are off to a terrible start, their superstar PF Anthony Davis has been really heating up. He scored 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting in the loss to Dallas, and in the previous game he went off for 43 points on 14-of-23 shooting. He's averaged 26.7 points and 12.7 boards in his last three at home against the Mavericks.

The Pelicans rank at the bottom of the NBA in opponent's scoring average, allowing over 114 points per game. That number though is skewed by the fact that two of their first six games came against the league's best teams (Golden State).

They will need to play a lot better on defense if they hope to beat the Mavericks tonight, and I am sure that's something they have worked on over the last few days. They did a good job through three quarters in Dallas on Saturday, holding the Mavs to 72 points, but were out-scored 35-28 in the final frame. I expect them to grind it out for a full 48 minutes tonight, en route to their first "W" of the season. These teams failed to reach an inflated total in the last meeting, and I expect an even lower scoring game here tonight.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on LAL@MIA to go UNDER the total. 

The Lakers won their first game of the season on the road in Brooklyn on Friday, but went on to lose 99--95 to the Knicks on Sunday. They are in Miami tonight, facing a Heat team that six straight and nine of 10 in the last 10 meetings in this series. Most of those games were quite low scoring, with eight of 10 failing to reach the total. These teams have gone under in eight of the last 11 meetings in Miami, and the Heat have gone under in each of their last six overall. Miami ranks first in the Eastern Conference in opponent's scoring average, allowing just over 90 points per game. They've held six of their seven opponents under 100 points, and have only scored 100+ twice themselves. The Lakers of course have trended in the opposite direction, scoring plenty of points and giving up even more. This is Miami, and I expect the Heat to dictate the tempo in their house. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* pay on POR@DEN to go UNDER the total. 

Portland is coming off an epic collapse at home to Detroit last night. They led 92-79 heading into the fourth quarter, but were out-scored 41-11 in the final frame, losing 120-103 to the Pistons. They might have just run out of gas, and that doesn't bode well as they pay their second game of a back to back on the road in Denver tonight. Denver has lost four of six to start the season, and they failed to reach 100 points in all but one of those losses. The Nuggets rank 24th overall in the NBA averaging just over 97 points per game, and they have failed to reach the total in four of their six games so far. The Blazers have gone over in four straight after going under in their first three games of the season. The total in tonight's game is much higher than it was in any of Portland's previous games this season. I think the total for tonight's game looks a little inflated, especially with the Blazers coming in with no rest following an tough loss. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on the Indiana #Pacers.

Indiana had it's three game winning streak halted in Cleveland last night, losing to the Cavs by a score of 101-97. They easily covered the +7.5 points, and I like their chances of bouncing back at home tonight against the Orlando Magic. While the Pacers are playing on back to back nights, fatigue will also be a factor for the Magic who are playing their third game in four nights. 

Paul George is on fire, coming off consecutive games with over 30 points. He's starting to look like the superstar he was before suffering a broken leg while playing for Team USA. George is averaging 31.3 points and shooting 50 percent in his last three games. 

History certainly favors Indiana in this game, as it has won eight of it's last nine in this series. The Magic have averaged just 85.8 points on 39.8 percent shooting in those games. Orlando will likely be without starting center Nikola Vucevic, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury. This looks like a pretty small point spread all things considered, as the home team is asked to cover just a few points. 

Take IND. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on TOR@MIA to go OVER the total. 

The Toronto Raptors will be eager to get back on the court after suffering their first loss of the season at home to Orlando on Friday. It was also the first time this season they've failed to score 100+ points. I like their chances of getting back on track with both of those trends on the road at Miami tonight. Toronto won two of three meetings with Miami last season, and two of those three games went over the total. Tonight's game features a much lower number than we've seen in previous meetings, and I think we'll see enough scoring to push it over. Toronto's leading scorer DeMar DeRozan has scored an average of 24 points on 51.4 percent shooting in his last four trips to Miami. Toronto may have been caught by surprise against Orlando, but the Raptors have gone over the total in six of their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LAL@NYK to go UNDER the total. 

The Knicks have lost three straight, averaging just 87 points in those games. They host the struggling Lakers tonight, and LA is coming off it's first win of the season. The Lakers defeated the Brooklyn Nets by a score of 104-98, and it was the first time this season they held an opponent under 100 points. The last time these teams met, the Knicks won in LA by a score of 101-94. The total in today's game looks way to high all things considered, and I think these two teams will struggle to score enough points to reach this inflated number. The under is 13-6 in Knicks last 19 vs. Western Conference, and the Lakers have failed to reach the total in 11 of their last 15 road games versus a team with a losing record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on GS@SAC to go UNDER the total. 

The Warriors are coming off another outrageous offense display last night, beating the Denver Nuggets by a score of 119-104. They led 77-44 at halftime, and were in cruise control the rest of the way. They play their second game of a back to back on the road in Sacramento tonight, and the bookmakers have listed an enormously high number for this game. History suggests that we might not see quite as much scoring tonight, as the Warriors have seen the total go under in five of their last seven trips to Sacramento. In fact seven of the last 10 meetings has gone under the total, and the number wasn't as high as it is tonight in any of those previous games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MEM@UTAH to go OVER the total. 

The Jazz are off to a great start, and they still rank 1st overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. I bet on the "over" in their last home game versus Portland, and one of the reasons for making that play was that I felt that Utah's defense is a little overrated due to a soft schedule. Here is what I had to say prior to tipoff: "The Utah Jazz have won two of three, and rank first overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average allowing just 79.7 points per game so far. Before you get too excited, consider that they have played three Eastern Conference teams that all finished near the bottom of the standings a year ago." The Blazers ended up winning that game by a score of 108-92, and that has Utah trending over at a rate of 6-1 in their last seven home games, and they've gone over in six of their last seven versus the Western Conference. They played another low scoring game against Denver last night, but now they host a hungry Grizzlies team on the back end of a back to back tonight. The Grizzlies aren't looking like the defensive powerhouse they were in previous seasons, ranking 23rd in the league with an opponent's scoring average of 103.8. Tonight's number is ridiculously low, and I think the bookmakers have made a mistake here. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on NO@DAL to go UNDER the total.

The New Orleans Pelicans are struggling, still in search of their first win of the season. They are going to have to play much better defense though if they want to put an end to this losing skid. The Pelicans are in Dallas tonight, and the bookmakers are expecting a shootout in Texas. I think this number looks a little inflated, and I can't resist a value bet on the under. The last time these teams met, the Mavs won by a score of 102-93 in Dallas, with the total falling well short of the number. The under is just 5-5 in the last 10 meetings in this series, but tonight's number is much higher than it was in any of those previous meetings. New Orleans hasn't gone over in any of it's last five road games, and the under is is 11-5-1 in Pelicans last 17 overall.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CHA@SA to go OVER the total. 

The Charlotte Hornets are hot, coming off a pair of impressive wins over Chicago and Dallas. I bet on the over in their last game, a 108-94 road win over the Mavericks. Here is what I had to say prior to the game: "Michael Jordan's team is coming off an epic win over his former team, beating the Bulls by a score of 130-105. They shot 51.6 percent from the field, and an even better 60.9 percent from beyond the arc in that game. Charlotte has trended over at a rate of 10-4-1 in it's last 15 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. The total for tonight's game appears to be a little lower than it should be." We see another low total here in San Antonio, and I think a hot shooting Charlotte team can score enough points to push this total over. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BKN@MIL to go OVER the total. 

The Milwaukee Bucks have won three straight after opening the season 0-3. They are coming off a 99-92 win over the Knicks in New York last night, and Jabari Parker made his season debut in the victory. The Bucks host Brooklyn tonight, and the Nets are still winless after losing to the Lakers last night. History tells us that we can expect to see plenty of scoring when these two teams get together, as six of the last seven meetings have gone over the total. Both teams are playing in their second game in as many nights, and both have trended over in such situations. Milwaukee has gone over in four of it's last five when playing on no rest, while the over is 5-1 in the Nets last six games playing on 0 days rest. Both teams rank near the bottom of the league in opponent's scoring average, each allowing well over 100 points per game so far. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on ORL@PHI to go OVER the total.

The Orlando Magic are coming off an upset win at home over the Toronto Raptors last night, and they shot 9-of-25 from three-point range in the victory. They are on the road at Philly tonight, and this is a rare occasion that they are a favorite away from home. The Sixers have been a bit more competitive so far this season, and they are coming off a 108-102 loss to Cleveland last night. We should expect a high scoring game here tonight, as these are two teams that are not known for their defense. The Sixers have gone over in eight of their last 10 overall, and six of their last seven home games. 

Take OVER. GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ATL@NO to go UNDER the total. 

The New Orleans Pelicans are hosting Atlanta tonight, still in search of their first win. It's been a brutal start for Anthony Davis, who is shooting just 37.9 percent from the field during this 0-4 start. He scored 14 points on 3-of-12 shooting in a home loss to Orlando on Tuesday. On a positive note, his defense is as good as it ever was, with 17 blocks in his first four games of the season. The Bookmakers are expecting this to be a high scoring game, with a total well over 200. History tells us otherwise though, as Atlanta has gone under in four straight, and five of it's last seven trips to New Orleans. The Hawks have held opponents under 100 points in five of their six games so far, and they rank 6th in the NBA with an opponents scoring average of 95.3. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BOS@WAS to go UNDER the total. 

The Wizards have won three of four to start the season, and they visit a struggling Celtics team tonight. Boston beat the Sixers on Opening Night, but has lost three straight since. Two of those three games failed to reach the total, and the total in tonight's game is much higher than it was in any of Boston's previous 10 games. The Wizards on the other hand have gone over in two of their first four games, but they haven't seen a total as high as it is tonight in any of their previous 10 games. The under is 12-3-1 in Wizards last 16 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. They won their last visit to Boston by a score of 101-88, and I expect to see a similar scoreline here in tonight's game. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI@CLE to go OVER the total. 

The Cavs host the Sixers in Cleveland tonight, and this is the second time these teams have met in just a few days. Cleveland just barely won in Philly by a score of 107-100. I expect a similar story here in Cleveland, while even though the Cavs are home, I don't think they are going to take Philly very seriously. They are likely to turn in a half assed effort, knowing they can probably get away with it. The Phillies have covered the spread in eight of the last 10 meetings in this series, and only one of those games saw a total as low as the number for tonight's game. LeBron is just 2-of-18 from three-point range so far, and he was so frustrated in his last game that he ripped the sleeves off his jersey. The over is 5-1 in 76ers last six road games vs. a team with a winning home record. I think we'll see a run and gun free flowing game here again tonight. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CHA@DAL to go OVER the total. 

After winning two of three on the road to start the season, the Mavs lost their home opener to the Raptors. They might have better luck against another Eastern Conference team tonight, hosting the Charlotte Hornets. Michael Jordan's team is coming off an epic win over his former team, beating the Bulls by a score of 130-105. They shot 51.6 percent from the field, and an even better 60.9 percent from beyond the arc in that game. We should expect this game to be a shootout in Texas, as Dallas has gone over in five of it's last six home games, and Charlotte has trended over at a rate of 10-4-1 in it's last 15 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. The total for tonight's game appears to be a little lower than it should be. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MIA@MIN to go OVER the total. 

Minnesota has won two of three to start the season, and this young team has plenty of energy on offense. They have scored over 100 points in two of their first three games so far, including an impressive 112-111 win over the Lakers on Opening Night. We should see plenty of scoring tonight as they host the Miami Heat, who are also looking good early on. PG Goran Dragic has given this team a new life offensively, and he's coming off a big game against the Hawks, scoring 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point range. The total for tonight's game looks a little low, considering we had seen a total of 200 or higher in six of the last eight meetings between the two teams. They last met in February, and the Wolves won that game by a score of 102-101. Minnesota has gone over in seven of it's last 10 at home, while Miami has seen the total go over in four of it's last five on the road. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on POR@UTAH to go OVER the total. 

The Utah Jazz have won two of three, and rank first overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average allowing just 79.7 points per game so far. Before you get too excited, consider that they have played three Eastern Conference teams that all finished near the bottom of the standings a year ago. They host the Blazers tonight, and I think their #1 ranked defense is going to be put to the test. These two teams have gone over the number in four of the last five meetings, and the most recent game was a real high scoring affair. The Jazz won that one by a score of 111-105. Portland has been involved in high scoring games so far this year, with three of their four reaching the number of 200. Tonight's total looks like it's artificially low, based on the Jazz defensive number which are a little dubious. The Jazz have gone over in five of their last seven home games, and six straight versus the Western Conference. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI@MIL to go OVER the total. 

The Philadelphia 76ers have been breaking the NBA's futility records in recent seasons, and they are still looking for their first win of the season. The news isn't all bad for Philly though, as they gave LeBron and the Cavs a tough battle in their last game, scoring 100 points on 44.7 percent shooting, albeit in a losing effort. The Sixers are again one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, but not quite as bad as Milwaukee. The Bucks have allowed opponents to average over 110 points while losing three of four. These teams have gone over the total in five of the last seven head to head meetings, and I think the total looks a little low in tonight's game. The Bucks tend to play a wide open game against inferior opposition, with the total going over in 10 of their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning percentage below .400.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on BKN@ATL to go OVER the total.

The Hawks won on the road at Miami last night by a score of 98-92. They've now won four straight since losing at home to the Pistons on Opening Night, and three of those four wins have come on the road. Atlanta is an eight-point favorite at home to Brooklyn in this second leg of a back to back. The Nets have lost all four game so far, and opponents have been torching their defense for 100+ points in all four of those games.

History tells us that these two teams trend toward high scoring games, with the total going over in two of the last three meetings. In fact they scored at least 198 points in seven of the last nine in this series. Tonight's total is lower than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings in this series, giving us added value playing the over. The Hawks were one of the highest scoring teams in the East last year, averaging 102.5 points per game. They are just slightly off that pace this year, but they should go over 100 points tonight against a Brooklyn team that has really been struggling on defense.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BOS@IND to go UNDER the total. 

The Pacers picked up their first win of the season in Detroit last night, but might be hard pressed to make it two in a row as they host the Celtics on back to back nights. Indiana is averaging just 93 points per game so far, breaking the century mark just once. Their superstar SF Paul George is a long way from where he was prior to suffering a gruesome injury with Team USA. George shot just 5-of-17 from the field last night, and he's averaging under 17 points per game on .333 shooting so far this season. They have seen the total go under in seven of their last 10 meetings with Boston, and tonight's total is higher than it was in any of those contests. The Celtics have failed to go over the number in all but one of their last seven trips to Indianapolis, and they've gone under in four of their last five when coming off two days rest. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on the New Orleans #Pelicans.

The Orlando Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans will face off in the Big Easy tonight, in a battle of two teams in search of their first win. The Pelicans have had a tough schedule, facing Golden State in a home and home series, and playing on the second leg of a back to back in Portland.

This looks like a good spot for New Orleans to get in the win column against a team from the Eastern Conference that has lost 30 of it's last 42 road games. The Magic scored just 87 points in a loss to Chicago on Sunday, and they shot just 38.9 percent from the field in that game. They haven't fared well in recent games against the Pelicans, losing 8 of the last 11 in the series.  I think any diagnosis of how bad New Orleans defense is might be a little premature, given two of their three games came against the league's best team. 

Take NEW ORLEANS. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ORL@NO to go UNDER the total. 

The Orlando Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans will face off in the Big Easy tonight, in a battle of two teams in search of their first win. The Pelicans have had a tough schedule, facing Golden State in a home and home series, and playing on the second leg of a back to back in Portland. This looks like a good spot for New Orleans to get in the win column against a team from the Eastern Conference that has lost 30 of it's last 42 road games. The Magic scored just 87 points in a loss to Chicago on Sunday, and they shot just 38.9 percent from the field in that game. They haven't fared well in recent games against the Pelicans, losing 8 of the last 11 in the series. They've failed to reach the total in 10 of the last 12 visits to the Big Easy, and the total in those 12 games was far lower than the number we see tonight. I think any diagnosis of how bad New Orleans defense is might be a little premature, given two of their three games came against the league's best team. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on IND@DET to go UNDER the total. 

The Pistons are off to an impressive start to the season, boasting a 3-0 record, and limiting opponents to just 91.7 points per game so far. They host the Indiana Pacers tonight, and Indiana is 0-3, and they scored just 73 points in a home loss to Utah on Saturday. Indiana shot 40 percent from the field, and just 4-of-17 from beyond the arc. Paul George has really struggled, averaging 17 points per game while shooting just 35 percent from the field, and he's 2-of-13 from three-point range. These teams have actually trended over at a rate of 8-2 in the last 10 meetings, but the total in all of those games was much lower than it is tonight. The Pacers haven't shown any indication that they can compete with top tier opposition, and they are likely going to struggle against the Piston's 4th ranked defense. The under is 23-9 in the Pacers last 32 versus a team with a winning record.

Take UNDER.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ATL@MIA to go OVER the total. 

The Heat are 2-1 coming off a 109-89 home win over the Rockets, and they host the 3-1 Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. Miami shot 48.8% from the field in the win over Houston, and they hit 9-of-22 from beyond the arc. The Heat did not play well defensively in the first half against the Rockets, surrendering 65 points. The Hawks were involved in a couple of high scoring games to start the season, but have since played a home and home series against Charlotte that failed to reach the total. I expect to see both teams execute on offense here in Miami, and the total looks a little low for a game between two teams of this caliber. Atlanta has gone over the total in five of it's last seven road game, while the Heat have gone over in eight of 11 versus Eastern Conference teams. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on MEM@GS to go OVER the total.

The Grizzlies are coming off back to back wins that featured some uncharacteristically high point totals. They shot 50% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc in a 112-103 win over the Pacers in Indiana, and then they made a whopping nine three-pointers in a 101-91 win over the Brooklyn Nets. While those are impressive numbers for the Grizzlies, it's a far cry from what Steph Curry and the Warriors have been doing offensively. 

Curry dropped 53 points on the Pelicans on Saturday, shooting 8-of-14 from three-point range in a 134-120 win at New Orleans. The Warriors made a total of 17 three point buckets in the victory, and they rank 3rd in the NBA shooting better than 40% from beyond the arc this season. 

The Grizzlies ranked 2nd overall in opponent's scoring average last season, and they'll probably be one of the best defensive teams in the league this season. So far though they've allowed opponents to average 100 points per game, and that has them ranked in the middle of the pack. It's perhaps a little early in the season to expect any team to bring the kind of intensity on defense we saw when these teams met in last year's playoffs, and I expect to see both teams play pretty loose here at Oracle Arena tonight. The total is hovering around 200, and that seems a little low considering the Warriors are averaging 119 points per game so far. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MIL@BKN to go OVER the total. 

Two winless teams will face each other in Brooklyn on Monday, when the Nets host the Milwaukee Bucks at the Barclays Center. The Bucks were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA last season, with an opponent's scoring average of 97.8 points per game.  So far this season, they have allowed an average of more than 115 points per game while losing their first three games. The Nets have also been terrible on the defensive side of the ball, giving up over 100 points in all three of their losses. These two teams have combined to score plenty of points in recent meetings, with the total going over the number in five of the last six. They've played four straight overs in Brooklyn, and the Bucks have trended over at a rate of 20-8 in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DAL@LAL to go UNDER the total. 

The Lakers have been on the wrong side of a couple of high scoring games to start the season, losing at home to Minnesota and on the road at Sacramento. They'll likely come into tonight's home game versus Dallas focused on tightening up the defense. These aren't the same Mavs as we've seen in previous seasons, as they lost several high profile players in the off-season. Dirk Nowitzki is an old man, and he is surrounded by a lot less talent. Chandler Parsons has been hampered by a knee injury, and Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews missed the last game with various ailments. Williams is not expected to be ready for tonight's game, but Matthews may be able to go. The Mavs scored just 88 points on 36 percent shooting in the loss to the Clippers, and they shot just 6-of-30 from beyond the arc. The total for tonight's game is astronomically high considering neither team has been shooting the ball very well. Seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams have failed to reach the total. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SA@BOS to go OVER the total. 

The Spurs were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA last season, and they looked the part in a 102-75 home win over the Nets on Friday. They have scored 100+ points in both their games so far, but they surrendered 112 points in a loss to the Thunder in their season opener. Playing a non-conference road game on a Sunday afternoon this early in the season, we shouldn't expect the Spurs to be at the top of their game here in Boston. 

The Celtics are 1-1, coming off a pretty ugly loss to Toronto. They'll be all geared up for this game against an elite team from the big bad Western Conference. Boston managed to score 103 points against the Raptors, even though they shot just 37.6 percent from the field. That says something about the pace of their play on offense. The over is 18-8-1 in Celtics last 27 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. The Spurs are likely going to have a fight on their hands here at the Garden, and I think both teams score 100+. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BKN@MEM to go OVER the total.

The Memphis Grizzlies bounced back from an Opening Night loss to Cleveland by beating the Pacers in Indiana by a score of 112-103. The Grizzlies shot 50% from the field in the win over the Pacers, and 43.8% from three-point range. They host the Brooklyn Nets tonight, and Brooklyn is coming off back to back losses to San Antonio and Chicago. The Nets gave up 100+ points in both of those games, and they have gone over in five straight when playing on 0 days rest. I think the number looks a little low here so early in the season, especially given that neither team has looked all that sharp defensively.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYK@WAS to go UNDER the total.

The Washington Wizards will host the New York Knicks on Saturday night, looking to go 3-0 after picking up wins on the road at Milwaukee and Orlando. The Wizards have won seven straight against the Knicks, going 5-1-1 ATS in those games. Four of the last five meetings between the two teams have gone under the total, and Washington has failed to reach the total in seven of it's last eight when playing on 0 days rest. The Wizards were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA last year, allowing opponents to average just 97.8 points per game. The Knicks have scored 100+ points in both their first two games of the season, but they are likely to struggle on offense here in the nation's capital. They've seen the total go under in seven of their last 10 versus teams with a winning record.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on MIN@DEN to go UNDER the total. 

The Nuggets used to have one of the best home records in the NBA, but that's no longer the case for a team that is undergoing a rebuild. The did shock the Rockets on Opening Night though, winning by a score of 105-85. It was an impressive effort on both sides of the ball, especially on defense, limiting Houston to just 34.5 percent shooting. They host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Pepsi Center tonight, and I think the total looks a little too high here. The Nuggets were known as a team that was involved in a lot of high scoring games, but under new head coach with a much different roster, that might change. They saw six of their seven pre-season games fail to reach a total of 210 points. The only exception was a 114-103 win over the Warriors at Oracle Arena. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on BKN@SA to go UNDER the total. 

The Spurs host Brooklyn in their home opener on Friday, and this game likely to be a blowout. The Nets lost their home opener to Chicago, and they really didn't look good at all in that game. Perimeter shooting was a complete disaster, as Brooklyn went 0-for-9 from beyond the arc in the loss to the Bulls. Joe Johnson looked particularly rusty, scoring just 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting. It's going to be tough to break out of a slump on the road in San Antonio, against a Spurs team that ranked 3rd in the NBA in opponent's scoring average last season. These two teams have trended under in recent meetings, failing to go over the total in eight of the last 10. The under is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings in San Antonio, and the under is 12-3-1 in Spurs last 16 vs. a team with a losing record.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on WAS@MIL to go OVER the total. 

The Bucks didn't look very sharp in an Opening Night loss to the Knicks. They did match New York with nine made three-pointers, but lost by a score of 122-97. They host the Washington Wizards tonight, and Washington needed a bucket at the buzzer to sneak past Orlando by a score of 88-87 in their opening game. These teams have scored plenty of points in recent meetings, with the total going over at a rate of 9-3-1 in the last 13 in the series. Washington has scored at least 100 points in eight of it's last nine versus Milwaukee, and the Wizards have won four of the last five. Washington has gone over the total in six of it's last seven when coming off a win. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on the Boston #Celtics.

The Toronto Raptors opened the season at home against Indiana, and they hung on to beat the Pacers by a score of 106-99. It was a close game, with Indiana actually leading in the final two minutes. The Celtics on the other hand cruised to a 112-95 win over the Sixers. 

Toronto won the Atlantic Division last year, finishing nine games in front of the Celtics. Boston is expected to be more competitive this season, and they have an opportunity to make a statement here against the Raptors tonight. These two teams split the season series a year ago, but it was Boston that won the last two meetings. In fact the Celtics finished the season as one of the league's hottest teams, only Golden State won more regular season games since February 2nd. 

Isaiah Thomas certainly has something to do with that success, the 26 year old PG scored 27 points with seven assists in the win over Philly. He is one of several new players that include former Raptor Amir Johnson, and former Warrior David Lee. The Celtics have plenty of depth, a luxury that the Raptors do not have. 

History certainly favors the home team, with the Celtics winning 21 of the last 25 against Toronto at the Garden. I'll take Boston as a small favorite. 

Take BOS. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MEM@IND to go UNDER the total. 

The Grizzlies sure looked rusty in their home opener, shooting just 35% from the field, and 12% from beyond the arc in a 106-76 loss to Cleveland. They play their second game in as many nights on the road at Indiana on Thursday night, and this is hardly an ideal spot to break out of a shooting slump. The Pacers didn't look much better, shooting just 37% in a loss to Toronto on Wednesday. Paul George was just 4-of-17 from the field scoring 17 points, and he's averaged just 10 points per game since returning from a broken leg. Memphis has done a good job shutting down George, who has averaged just 11.4 points per game on just 35% shooting lifetime versus the Grizzlies. History tells us that this should be a low scoring game, as five of the last six meetings between these two teams have gone under, and they have failed to reach the total in 10 of the last 14 meetings in Indiana. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on DAL@PHX to go OVER the total. 

The Mavericks will open the season on the road in Phoenix, and they are coming off a pretty dismal showing this pre-season. The Mavs lost all seven games, and four of those losses came by a double digit margin. These teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over in five of the last seven in the series. Four of the Mavericks last five visits to Phoenix have resulted in the total going over the number. Tonight's total is much lower than it was in any of those previous meetings, and I expect to see a typical fast paced game. This number looks a little too low. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NO@POR to go UNDER the total. 

The Pelicans opened the season on the road in Oakland last night, losing to the defending champion Warriors by a score of 111-95. Even after the two teams combined to score 74 points in the first quarter, they came up well short of the inflated total. They held the Warriors to just 20 points in the second quarter and 17 in the final frame. They have a history of playing low scoring games versus the Blazers, going under in each of the last four meetings. The under trends don't stop there, as the Pelicans have gone under in nine of their last 12 when playing on back to back nights, and Portland has trended under at rate of 23-10-2 in their last 35 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. This number looks just a little too high. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CLE@MEM to go OVER the total. 

The Cavs came up just short in Chicago on opening night, losing 97-95 to the Bulls. While the first half saw both teams combine to score just 86 points, we saw a flurry of scoring in the second half, pushing the total over the number. The Cavs are playing on back to back nights in Memphis tonight, and the Grizzlies have a reputation as a team that plays a lot of low scoring games. We see a really low number here in this game, and I think this early in the season we might not see vintage Memphis defense. We haven't seen these teams struggle offensively in previous meetings, with nine of the last 10 in Memphis going over the total. Going back further, 20 of the last 29 head to head matchups have gone over the listed total. This number looks just a little too low for me. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

his is a 10* play on NYK@MIL to go OVER the total. 

The Knicks won four of six during the pre-season, and they scored more than 100 points in three of those four wins. They begin the season on the road in Milwaukee, and these two teams have a history of playing high scoring games. Five of he last seven head to head meetings have gone over the listed total, and the total has gone over in five of the Knicks last seven trips to Milwaukee. The Bucks have gone over the total in seven of their last 10 when playing three days rest. The Knicks were one of the worst defensive teams in the league last year, allowing opponents to average over 101 points per game. It's unlikely that has changed over the off-season, and I don't expect them to shut down a solid Milwaukee team at home. The number here looks a little on the low side. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on DET@UTAH to go OVER the total. 

The Jazz lost four of their final pre-games of the pre-season, and they gave up over 100 points in three of those four losses. They visit the Pistons in their season opener, and Detroit is coming off an upset win over the Hawks in Atlanta last night. The Pistons made a dozen three point shots, out-scoring Atlanta 106-94. Getting right back on the court in their second game in as many nights probably isn't bad thing as they look to remain hot. The Jazz have seen the total go over the number in seven of their last nine trips to Detroit, and the Pistons have trended over at a rate of 9-1-2 in their last 12 home games. The number looks a little low here, and I just don't see either team grinding it out on defense this early in the season. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on WAS@ORL to go UNDER the total. 

The Wizards open the season on the road versus Orlando, and they've won eight straight versus the Magic. The majority of those games were low scoring, with the total going under in six of the last nine. The Wizards failed to reach the total in 11 of their last 16 visits to Orlando, and we could see both teams shaking off a little rust here tonight. Washington was one of the league's best defensive teams last season, ranking 5th in defensive efficiency. The Magic have gone under in five of their last six when playing on at least three days rest. The number here looks a little too high. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on the New Orleans #Pelicans.

The defending champions will open the season at home against New Orleans, who they defeated in the first round of last year's playoffs. The Warriors swept that series, but failed to cover in three of the four games, and both games at Oracle Arena. 

They went on to face Memphis in the second round, and they won that series in six games. The Grizzlies gave them a scare though, winning two of the first three games. Prior to Game 2, the Warriors held a ceremony to present Steph Curry with the MVP award. The distraction really appeared to hurt the Warriors, who came out flat, and were out-scored 50-39 in the first half. After the 97-90 loss, Curry told the media that the pre-game ceremony may have taken him out of his routine. 

We'll see a far more elaborate ceremony here on Opening Night, with the unveiling of the 2015 NBA Championship banner. This might serve as added motivation for the visitors, who should have a lot more to prove here. Anthony Davis is looking to dethrone Curry as the MVP of the league, and he sure looked good against the Warriors in last year's playoffs. The 22 year old averaged 31.5 points per game, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and averaging 11 rebounds. 

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see history repeat itself here tonight, with the Warriors coming out flat after all the pre-game festivities. 

Take the Pelicans. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NO@GS to go UNDER the total.

The defending champions will open the season at home against New Orleans, who they defeated in the first round of last year's playoffs. The Warriors swept that series, but failed to cover in three of the four games, and both games at Oracle Arena. 

They went on to face Memphis in the second round, and they won that series in six games. The Grizzlies gave them a scare though, winning two of the first three games. Prior to Game 2, the Warriors held a ceremony to present Steph Curry with the MVP award. The distraction really appeared to hurt the Warriors, who came out flat, and were out-scored 50-39 in the first half. After the 97-90 loss, Curry told the media that the pre-game ceremony may have taken him out of his routine. 

We'll see a far more elaborate ceremony here on Opening Night, with the unveiling of the 2015 NBA Championship banner. This might serve as added motivation for the visitors, who should have a lot more to prove here. Anthony Davis is looking to dethrone Curry as the MVP of the league, and he sure looked good against the Warriors in last year's playoffs. The 22 year old averaged 31.5 points per game, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and averaging 11 rebounds. 

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see history repeat itself here tonight, with the Warriors coming out flat after all the pre-game festivities. The under is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings, and still we see an inflated number tonight. 

Take UNDER. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors.

The Cavs played about as well as they possibly could through the first three games of this series. They played stifling defense, won all the battles and LeBron James set a record for most points scored in the first three games of the Finals. Sadly for Cleveland though, even with everything going their way, the games were still close, and you had to know that they wouldn't be able to maintain that intensity through the entire series. The Warriors have the advantage of depth off the bench, and that's starting to be a bigger factor as the series moves forward. The Warriors figured things out in Game 4 in Cleveland, and now they have a chance to close out the series tonight in Game 6. LeBron James scored 40 points with 13 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 5, and the Cavs lost by double digits. In the post-game interview the expression on his face looked like he knows that another loss in the Finals is all but inevitable.

Take GS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Golden State Warriors. 

The Cavs played about as well as they possibly could through the first three games of this series. They played stifling defense, won all the battles and LeBron James set a record for most points scored in the first three games of the Finals. Sadly for Cleveland though, even with everything going their way, the games were still close, and you had to know that they wouldn't be able to maintain that intensity through the entire series. The Warriors have the advantage of depth off the bench, and that's starting to be a bigger factor as the series moves forward. The Warriors figured things out in Game 4 in Cleveland, and if they play like that tonight this game won't be close. 

Take GS

GL. 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors.

The good news for Warriors fans is that despite how poorly the team has played in this series, every game has been close. While LeBron James has set a record for the most points scored in the first three points of the Finals, it wouldn't be enough if the Warriors could avoid all the mistakes and just have an average night shooting the ball. There is no doubt that this Golden State team has an extra gear that we haven't seen yet, but Cleveland has to be running on fumes heading into tonight's game. Matthew Deladova was hospitalized for dehydration, and you have to wonder how much longer LeBron can keep carrying the load. We should see the Warriors bring more intensity with their backs against the Wall here in Game 4, and we'll likely be heading back to Oakland with the series tied at 2-2. 

Take GS. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors.

I think it's fair to say that we've seen Cleveland's best in the first two games of this series, and it's difficult to imagine that the Warriors can play any worse than they did in Game 2. Steve Kerr's strategy of defending LeBron one-on-one still looks pretty solid, as long as the Warriors can exectute offensively. If I were the Cavs, I wouldn't count on seeing Steph Curry struggle with his shot as he did in Game 2. I also have to wonder how long they can count on LeBron to carry the load, and wouldn't be surprised to see him have an off night here in tonight's game. Matthew Deladova, Tristan Thompson and JR Smith have all had their moments, but they aren't going to make up for the loss of Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.

Take GS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Golden State.

I was a little surprised that the Cavs were able to hang with the Warriors in Game 1, and here is what I had to say before the game: "The return of LeBron James to Cleveland makes a nice storyline, and of course the networks are saying "there's no favorite in these Finals". Don't kid yourselves, this really shouldn't be close. The West is best, and there's simply no denying it. Both the two teams that the Warriors just defeated (Memphis and Houston) finished with more wins this season than the Cavs. Three teams in the East made the playoffs despite having a losing record, and the Chicago Bulls who finished right behind Cleveland only won 50 games, which would only be good enough for seventh in the West. The Cavs might have lost two of their "Big Three", with Love out and Irving injured. They were able to cruise past the overrated Hawks and a Bulls team in disarray, but this is a whole different kettle of fish here in the Finals. The Warriors are 46-3 at home this season (incl. playoffs)."

It's going to be a lot tougher for Cleveland to match that effort here in Game 2 without Kyrie Irving. The Warriors should come out like gangbusters looking to put this one to bed early, and if they jump out to an early lead, it could be a blowout.

Take GS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Golden State Warriors. 

The NBA Finals will get underway tonight at Oracle Arena, and with such a long layoff there has been plenty of time of the media to hype up this matchup. The return of LeBron James to Cleveland makes a nice storyline, and of course the networks are saying "there's no favorite in these Finals". Don't kid yourselves, this really shouldn't be close. The West is best, and there's simply no denying it. Both the two teams that the Warriors just defeated (Memphis and Houston) finished with more wins this season than the Cavs. Three teams in the East made the playoffs despite having a losing record, and the Chicago Bulls who finished right behind Cleveland only won 50 games, which would only be good enough for seventh in the West. The Cavs might have lost two of their "Big Three", with Love out and Irving injured. They were able to cruise past the overrated Hawks and a Bulls team in disarray, but this is a whole different kettle of fish here in the Finals. The Warriors are 46-3 at home this season (incl. playoffs), and while they were a double-digit favorite in all of their previous home games, they are asked to cover a number roughly half the size it was in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. 

Take GS. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors.

Last night we saw the Cleveland Cavaliers close out a four game sweep of Atlanta in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Hawks looked like a team that had given up. I expect to see the same kind of effort from the Rockets here in Oakland tonight, as they know they aren't going to come back and win this series, and they already salvaged a little bit of pride by avoiding the sweep in Game 4 back in Houston. I think the way the Rockets quit in Game 3 says a lot about the character of this team, and that's exactly what I think is going to happen here again tonight. If the Warriors get off to a good start, look out ... this could be a blowout of epic proportions.

Take GS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Cleveland Cavaliers 1st Half. 

The Cavs will try to do what Golden State failed to do last night, and complete the sweep in the Eastern Conference Final versus Atlanta. Unlike the Warriors, they have the chance to close out this series at home in Game 4. They should approach this game as a must win, as they need all the rest they can get heading into the NBA Finals against Golden State. LeBron played through cramps in Game 3, scoring 37 points and recording another playoff triple-double. He knows how important it will be to close out this series, and not allow the Hawks to force a Game 5 in Atlanta. The Hawks are unlikely to have any fight left in them after coming up short in a heart-breaking overtime loss in Game 3. If the Cavs can get off to a good start tonight, this game could turn into a blowout. 

Take CLE. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Golden State Warriors. 

Despite the fact that Houston was neck and neck with the Warriors in Oakland, they were blown off the court at home in Game 3. James Harden made just 3-of-16 field goal attempts, scoring 17 points. The only player who really battled for four quarters was Dwight Howard, who didn't like what he saw from his teammates: "I saw quit from everybody in the arena," he said. "We can't have that ... no matter how far you fall you're never out of the fight. That's the way you've got to look at it. We may be down 3-0, but we've got to continue to fight. That's the only way. If we don't believe, then who else will?" The fact that Cleveland looks like it will sweep the East Final puts even more pressure on the Warriors to end this series tonight, otherwise risk giving an advantage to their opponent in the Finals if they let this series get extended. The Rockets will be well aware of the fact that no team has ever come back after losing the first three games of an NBA Playoff series. That's got to be pretty deflating for the Houston locker room, knowing that their season is essentially already over. 

Take GS ML. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Hawks simply aren't getting enough respect here in the East Finals, coming in as an underdog to the Cavaliers who finished seven games back of Atlanta in the standings. Now the Cavs might deserve to be favorites if they were 100% healthy, but they come in without Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving isn't likely to be 100% effective playing through a knee injury. The Hawks won three of the four meetings during the regular season, and they've won four straight home games against Cleveland. I expect the Hawks to come out like gangbusters here in Game 1, and take it to the Cavs early. Atlanta is the second best home team in the league behind Golden State, with a 40-7 record at Philips Arena, and 5-1 so far in the playoffs. The one game they did lose (Game 1 versus Washington), they had a big lead in the first half, but allowed the Wizards to rally late. 

Take ATL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors host the Rockets in Game 1 of the West Finals, and Houston should be primed for a let down after an emotional Game 7 win over the Clippers this weekend. The Warriors are well rested, and that's a situation that they have thrived in this season. Golden State has covered the spread in six of their last seven after a layoff of three or more days. They've been almost unbeatable an Oracle Arena, with an overall record of 43-3 (reg season + playoffs). The Rockets have failed to cover in five of their last seven outside of Houston, and five straight against Golden State. This one should be all Warriors, from start to finish. 

Take GS. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on LAC@HOU to go UNDER the total. 

All six games in this series have gone over the total, so it's no surprise that the public is blindly throwing money at the over, despite an enormous number. The opening total for this game was astronomical, and early action pushed it up even higher. Now before this series started, these teams saw the total go under in all four meetings during the regular season. It's not like you can expect either team to ease up on defense in a "winner takes all" Game 7. Then you have a huge question mark surrounding the Rockets leading scorer James Harden, who sat out the fourth quarter of Game 6 with the flu. He's going to play, but he may not be 100% effective. Both teams are going to have to shoot out the lights in order to score more than 220 points, and that's not easy to do under the pressure of a seventh game. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the LA Clippers. 

The Rockets haven't been anywhere near competitive in the two previous games in LA, getting blown out by 25+ points in each game at Staples Center. With James Harden healthy, this would be a tough ask for a Rockets team that simply can't play defense, but his health is in question. "He looked OK," coach Kevin McHale told reporters on Wednesday. "He had a little bit of a cough. We just had a meeting and watched some film. We didn't do anything. He looked OK." Chris Paul meanwhile appears to be back to full strength, scoring 22 points and dishing out 10 assists in 35 minutes in a losing effort in Game 5. 

Take LAC. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The Grizz will need to regroup after getting blown out at home in Game 4, but they are still tied 2-2 in the series. While the Warriors have been so good at home all year long, the Grizzlies handed them just their third home loss of the season in Game 2 (their last home game). In fact, they've only covered the spread once in four playoff games at Oracle Arena this season. They are still a heavy favorite here tonight, as the public love hasn't dropped in the slightest. Memphis owns the best defense in the league, and they've caused problems for the Warriors in the past. They've covered the spread in seven of their last nine visits to Oracle Arena, and I think they are getting way too many points again tonight. The Warriors might be lucky to just win this game outright. 

Take MEM. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Chicago Bulls. 

The Cavs overcame poor shooting as well as poor coaching in a Game 4 victory that saw LeBron hit a miraculous game winner at the buzzer. It wasn't LeBron's best playoff performance by any stretch, as he battled through a sprained ankle to score just 25 points on 10-of-30 shooting. We've seen the last two games of this series decided in the final seconds of closely contested battles, and another close game seems likely in Cleveland tonight. The Bulls won Game 1 by a score of 99-92, and they've been a strong road team all year long. The Cavs are the public favorites, and we see them asked to cover a bit of an inflated line here given how close this series has been. Chicago has history on it's side, covering the spread in eight of it's last 11 visits to Cleveland. Both teams are banged up, but the Cavs may be hurting the most, with both LeBron and Kyrie Irving battling injuries. Cleveland is 2-8 ATS in it's last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.

Take CHI.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Hawks are in a desperate situation in Game 4 of this series against Washington, needing to win on the road to avoid going back to Atlanta down 3-1. Their late rally came up short in Game 3, as Paul Pierce turned back the clock once again with a dagger at the buzzer. (The Truth Don't Lie). "We feel like it's only us in the locker room who is going to give us a chance (without Wall)," Pierce said. "We feel like we should have won Game 2, truthfully. But even with John out, we still feel like we have enough in that room to win a game, to win this series. It's not going to deter us from our goals." The Wizards have been quite competitive even with Wall sidelined by injury and Beal playing hurt, but I don't think they can count on the Hawks missing their shorts as they did in Games 1 & 3. Atlanta's starters shot just 37.5% from the floor in Game 3, and I expect to see them bounce back with a better effort, just as they did in Game 2 at Atlanta. 

Take ATL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The Grizzlies shocked the Warriors in Game 2 at Oracle Arena, winning by a score of 97-90. The old saying goes: "defense wins championships", and if that's truly the case then the Warriors are in trouble. The Grizzlies are the best defensive team in the NBA, and they are particularly stingy at home. They held the Blazers to an average of 87 points winning all three of their home games in the first round, and Damian Lillard couldn't get anything going in Memphis. Curry scored a career playoff low 19 points in the loss in Game 2, and he's going to have Mike Conley all over him here tonight. Conley scored 22 points while wearing a mask after missing Game 1. The Warriors probably should of lost Game 3 at New Orleans in the first round, but the Pelicans managed to blow a five point lead in the final 17 seconds, and lost 123-119 in overtime. The Grizzlies should give them an even tougher test here tonight, and I expect Memphis to go ahead in this series. 

Take MEM. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Hawks recovered from a meltdown in the second half of Game 1, to tie the series with a 106-90 victory in Game 2 on Tuesday. John Wall did not play after suffering a wrist injury in the series opener. He remains doubtful to play here in Game 3 in Washington, and that's likely to spell disaster for the home team. "If the pain goes away and I can dribble and do those things, then it's all up to me if I want to take that risk to hurt my hand even more down the road," Wall said. "How competitive I am, if I'm able to be myself then there's a great percentage I will play. But if I can't be myself there's no point of going out there."  Wall is averaging a league best 12.6 assists per game in these playoffs, and as well as Ramon Sessions has played, he's no John Wall. Bradley Beal is also playing hurt after spraining his ankle in Game 1. 

Take ATL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

8* analysis by 9AM (noon ET)

This is a 10* play on the Chicago Bulls. 

The Bulls shocked the Cavs in Game 1 of this series in Cleveland, winning by a score of 99-92. That wasn't enough to scare off the public here in Game 2 though, as the Cavs are an even bigger favorite than they were in the first game. The Cavs appeared to really miss Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, and that's something they'll have to sort out quickly. Love is done for the season, while Smith remains out with a suspension. History is on the side of the visitors, as Chicago has covered in eight of it's last 10 visits to Cleveland, and 13 of 17 overall in this series. They've also been one of the NBA's best road teams for quite some time, and recently they are 5-1 ATS in their last six away from the United Center. The Bulls defense has been impressive, limiting opponents to 89 points on 39.2% shooting in these playoffs. 

Take CHI.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on WAS@ATL to go OVER the total. 

The Hawks looked like they would run away with Game 1, but all of a sudden they came out in the second half and couldn't make a shot to save their lives. It sure didn't look like it was a case of Washington's defense shutting them down, as they were simply missing open looks. The Hawks led by double digits at halftime (63-53), with both teams pushing the pace of the game. The Hawks won three of four against the Wizards during the regular season, and the only loss came at Washington in a game that they rested their starters. All four games were high scoring affairs, and the total has gone over in seven straight when the Wizards visit Atlanta. I don't think the Wizards can count on another meltdown late in this game, and Atlanta should tie the series here tonight. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Chicago Bulls. 

The Bulls had their moments in the first round, looking great at times, but struggling to find consistency. In the end they crushed Milwaukee in Game 6 by a score of 120-66 (no, that's not a typo). Some might expect Chicago to suffer a let down coming off such a blowout, but I can't see them taking LeBron and the Cavs lightly. On the contrary, I think they've got their swagger back, giving them enough confidence to believe in each other, and a real hope of pulling off the upset in this series. They've certainly got a history of success against the Cavs, covering the spread in seven of their last nine visits to Cleveland, and 12 of 16 overall in the series. The Bulls are also one of the league's better road teams with a record of 25-19 away from home. The Cavs could be a little rusty coming off a long layoff and coach David Blatt hasn't tried to hide his concern: "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't because that's a long time, and our opponent obviously played games during that time. I hope we respond well. Exactly what that's going to look like initially, it's hard for me to say." 

Take CHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Atlanta Hawks. 

Paul Pierce was all talk before the Wizards first round series versus Toronto, and he backed up his words on the court, helping Washington sweep the Raptors. Pierce also had some words for the Hawks, saying “There isn’t a team I look at in the Eastern Conference that makes me say, ‘they are intimidating, we don’t have a chance.’ As good as Atlanta is, they just don’t give off that aura where we’re afraid of them." The Hawks looked like a team that was just going through the motions at the tail end of the regular season, and that continued through the first four games of their first round series against Brooklyn. They appear to have turned it back on though, dominating games 5 & 6 against the Nets. I think Washington is coming into this game over-hyped, overrated and over-confident. The Wizards might have to shake off a little rust, and they lost three of four to Atlanta during the regular season. The one game they managed to win, Atlanta rested it's starters. 

Take ATL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on SA@LAC to go UNDER the total. 

The Spurs blew their chance to close out this series at home in Game 6 in San Antonio on Thursday. They'll have one last chance tonight at the Staples Center, and they haven't had too much trouble in L.A. in this series, winning 2-of-3. While Game 5 went over the total, the other two games in L.A. failed to reach the total in regulation (Game 2 went to overtime). The Clippers have seen a trend of low scoring games at the Staples Center, with 10 of their last 14 home games failing to reach the number. We should see both teams playing all out on defense here in this do or die game, and the total is pretty high, well over 200.  These teams failed to score 200 points in Games 1, 3, 5, and I don't think either team will concede any easy points tonight. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Nets have managed to stay in this series by winning both home games so far, but I don't think the Hawks have any interest in going back to Atlanta for a Game  7. The Nets got 35 points from Deron Williams in Game 4, but they won't be able to count on that again tonight. Williams turned back the clock and for a brief moment looked like the All Star he was in years past, but then followed up with five points on 2-of-8 shooting in Game 5, and he's scored in single digits in three of his last four games. The Hawks swept the season series, and two of their four wins came in Brooklyn. The Nets actually have a losing home record of 21-22, while the Hawks are 25-18 on the road. I expect the Hawks to prove to be the better team here tonight, winning on the road and closing out this series in Game 6. 

Take ATL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Chicago Bulls. 

The Bulls looked like a serious contender after winning the first two games of this series at home in Chicago, but they now appear to be on the ropes heading into Game 6 in Milwaukee. As impressive as the Bucks have looked in the last two games, there's no doubt that Chicago is the better team. I wouldn't bet on Derrick Rose continuing to struggle, and with a renewed sense of urgency, we should see the Bulls close out this series tonight. It's not like winning on the road at Milwaukee is a tough ask for this team, as Chicago is one of the strongest road teams in the league. Chicago has covered the spread in 11 of their last 15 trips to Milwaukee, and one of those wins came in Game 3 of this series. 

Take CHI. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

This is a 10* play on POR@MEM to go UNDER the total.

The Grizzlies fumbled in the fourth quarter in Portland in Game 4, blowing a late lead and allowing the Blazers to stay on life support in this series. They head back home to Memphis tonight though, and they've owned the Blazers at the FedEx Forum. Portland has lost eight straight visits to Memphis, and they didn't cover in any of those games. The Grizzlies defense has smothered the Blazers, holding them to an average of just 84 points in Games 1 & 2. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in both the previous two games in Memphis, despite the fact that the Grizzlies have seen the total go under in 24 of their last 27 home games. History tells us to expect a low scoring affair in Game 5, and I think the Grizzlies will close out the Blazers with their defense. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SA@LAC to go UNDER the total. 

The Clippers shocked the Spurs by evening the series with a win in Game 4 in San Antonio. The series shifts back to the Staples Center, where the Clippers have seen five of their last six fall short of the total. The only exception was Game 2 of this series, and that game would have been an under as well if it wasn't for the overtime period. Both teams and both coach's know that the team that wins tonight is likely going to be the team that advances to the next round, and with so much at stake we can expect to see a tightly contested game with solid defending on both sides. Despite the trend of low scoring games in LA, we see a higher total in tonight's game than in the previous two here at Staples Center. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The Grizzlies dominance of Portland continued in Game 3, with a 115-109 victory that wasn't as close as the score would indicate. The Grizzlies led from start to finish, and even though they lost PG Mike Conley, they didn't miss a beat. Portland isn't 100% healthy either, and their star players have really struggled here in this series. LaMarcus Aldridge was tossing up "multiple" air balls in Game 3, and he was 1-of-10 shooting in the first half. The Grizzlies have one 11 of their last 12 versus the Blazers, and six of their last seven at Portland. No team has ever come back from an 0-3 series deficit, and that's not going to help motivate this Portland team that looks like it doesn't have a lot left to give. We saw the Cavs and the Wizards close out their first round series yesterday, and I expect the Grizzlies to put this series to bed here tonight. 

Take MEM. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Atlanta Hawks, 

The Hawks haven't looked quite like the same team that dominated during the regular season, and they will need to step up their game quick or risk going back to Atlanta with the series tied 2-2. The Nets won Game 3 by a score of 91-83, but lost PG Deron Williams to a back injury. Brooklyn actually had a losing record at home during the regular season, going 20-22. The Hawks have covered the spread in five of their last seven visits to the Barclay Center, and they've won and covered in six of the last seven overall in this series. I don't think Brooklyn has what it takes to beat Atlanta, unless the Hawks beat themselves. They got a wake up call in the last game, and I expect them to respond with a far better effort tonight, especially offensively. 

Take ATL. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on MEM@POR to go UNDER the total. 

The Grizzlies domination of Portland is nothing new, as they've won and covered in 10 of the last 11 meetings. The Blazers have been dealing with a long list of injuries to star players, and don't look like the same team they were when at full strength during the regular season. While I think Memphis may well win Game 3, I think the better bet is actually on the total. Both the first two games of this series fell comfortably below the number, yet the bookmakers haven't budged, as tonight's total his as high as it was in both previous games. Portland doesn't look like a team that can score a lot of points in a hurry, as they've really struggled shooting the ball. Damian Lillard had a terrible Game 1, and he was 0-for-6 from beyond the arc in Game 2. You gotta give credit to the Grizzlies defense, as they've been all over Portland's best players. Memphis has seen 35 of it's last 52 overall go under the total... so what do you expect... they will loosen up here in the playoff? I see no reason not to go back to the well with the under here in Game 3. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

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

The Clippers suffered a heart-breaking defeat at home in Game 2, and they head to San Antonio with the series tied at 1-1. It's mission accomplished for Popovich and the Spurs, who have wrestled away home court advantage. The Clippers now have to try to do the impossible, and win in San Antonio where the Spurs were 33-8 during the regular season. San Antonio has covered the spread in eight of it's last nine at home, and they've won three of their last four home meetings with the Clippers. Depth is an asset for the Spurs, as noted by Jamal Crawford. "They are battle-tested," Crawford said. "They lose Parker, Mills steps in. Manu is out, (Danny) Green steps in. That is what they do. You have to tip your hat to them." A lack of production from the bench is going to put more pressure on the Clippers starters, who are already playing a lot of minutes so far in this series. I don't think the Clippers can win here in San Antonio in a playoff game. 

Take SA. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Chicago Bulls. 

Chicago looks like s serious contender in the Eastern Conference, especially if Derrick Rose can play like he did in Game 1. Rose took a back seat to Jimmy Butler in Game 2, and had an off night shooting, hitting just 4-of-14 from the field. The Bucks can't count on another sub par performance from Rose, and with he and Butler clicking at the same time, I don't see Milwaukee winning a game in this series. Chicago doesn't have any trouble winning on the road, as they have one of the best road records among Eastern Conference teams. The Bulls have also had plenty of success in Milwaukee, winning 10 of their last 13 visits. They've won seven of eight overall against the Bucks, and I expect that trend to continue in Game 3. 

Take CHI. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SA@LAC to go UNDER the total. 

The Clippers owned the defending champions at the Staples Center in Game 1, but I seriously doubt they will be able to keep up that pace throughout this series. Coach Popovich will have made adjustments, and his focus will clearly be on slowing down Chris Paul. The Clippers veteran PG was unstoppable in Game 1, scoring 32 points on 13-of-20 shooting. There's no way the Spurs are going to let him do it again, they owned on of the league's best defenses during the regular season, with an opponent's scoring average of 97 points per game (3rd best in the NBA). The Clippers defense was incredible in Game 1, and that's nothing new, they've seen the total go under in six of their last seven overall. These two teams have a long history of playing low scoring games at the Staples Center, with the under cashing in at a rate of 22-8-1 in the last 32 meetings. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on POR@MEM to go UNDER the total. 

The Grizzlies shut down Portland in Game 1, winning by a score of 100-86. The Blazers are going to have a tough time getting a better result here in Game 2, as they've lost five straight, and nine of their last 10 versus Memphis. Damian Lillard shot just 5-of-21 from the field, and 0-for-6 from three point range in Game 1, and the Blazers shot just 33.7% for the game. The total for tonight's game is the same as what we saw in Game 1, despite an overwhelming trend of low scoring games in Memphis. The Grizz have seen the total go under in 23 of their last 26 at FedExForum. With so much at stake here in a playoff game, it would appear even more likely that we'll see another low scoring game. The Grizzlies own the league's best defense, with an opponent's scoring average of 95 points during the regular season. They allowed fewer points than any other playoff team in Game 1, and we'll be counting on another strong defensive effort from Memphis in Game 2. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on MIL@CHI to go UNDER the total. 

The Bulls looked unstoppable in Game 1, particularly star PG Derrick Rose. It seemed to take Milwaukee a while to figure out how to play defense, as the first half was a bit of shootout, with the Bulls taking a 60-51 lead to the locker room at halftime. Once they settled in we saw each team play more defense, as they only combined to score 83 points in the second half. I expect that to carry over here into Game 2, as Jason Kidd knows very well that his team isn't going to be able to beat Chicago in a high scoring game. The Bucks led the league in forced turnovers during the regular season, and they'll look to get back to playing defense in an attempt to get back into this series. Kidd commented after the game: "we're not an offensive team, that's not who we are". We saw five of the previous six meetings in this series go under the total, and I think the over in Game 1 will prove to be the exception rather than the rule moving forward. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on POR@MEM to go UNDER the total. 

The Grizzlies and the Blazers are two teams that come into the playoffs on a downward spiral. The Grizzlies slipped all the way to 5th in the West, while the #4 place Blazers lost several key players to various injuries. LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing hurt all year, opting not to have season ending surgery on his thumb. He's expected to play tonight despite a sore foot. The prognosis is not as good for Arron Afflalo and Chris Kaman, who aren't expected to suit up. Wesley Matthews is done for the year, but Nicolas Batum might be able to return from a knee injury. Needless to say, it's going to be challenging for the Blazers, playing a Memphis team that has beaten them in nine of the last 10 meetings. The Grizzlies are well known as a defensive team that plays at a slow pace, and that's why 23 of their last 27 home games have gone under the total. I don't see any reason to expect that to change tonight, as it's normal for teams to tighten up even more in the playoffs. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a play on the Toronto Raptors. 

The Raptors were one of the NBA's best teams in the first half of the season, and even though they lost leading scorer DeMar DeRozan for half of the season, they were still able to clinch the Atlantic Division and finish 4th in the East. The Wizards also had a strong first half, but inexplicably collapsed after Christmas, losing 11 of 15 from Jan 26 - Mar 1. They have only been slightly better than .500 since, and their recent visits to Toronto have been disastrous. The Raptors swept the season series, and they've won seven of the last eight overall versus Washington. This young team was eliminated in seven games by the Nets last year, but I think that experience will prove to be an asset this time around. The fans north of the border will surely be all riled up, and I expect Toronto to get off to a fast start on their home floor... in this game, and this series. 

Take TOR. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Indiana Pacers. 

Both the Thunder and the Pacers are desperately trying to sneak into the playoffs, but lately they've been trending in opposite directions. The Thunder are coming off a home win over Sacramento, but had lost four straight prior to that. The Pacers have won four straight, and three straight in Indiana. Oklahoma City comes in banged up with Kevin Durant done for the season. The Pacers have their superstar back from injury (sort of). Paul George has played well while logging limited minutes since his return, shooting 50% from beyond the arc, and averaging 11 points in less than 15 minutes. The Thunder have relied on Russell Westbrook playing like Superman to remain competitive, but of course he's not going to be able to keep putting up the ridiculous numbers like he did when they first lost Durant. Westbrook shot just 35.8% during an 11 game span prior to scoring 27 on the defensively inept Sacramento Kings in his last game. The Thunder have gone just 3-9 in their last 12 versus teams with a record of .500 or better, and I don't like their chances against a hot Pacers team. 

Take IND. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Duke Blue Devils (1st half).

It's hard not to be impressed with the Badgers at this point, they did what 38 other teams before them failed to do, and that's beat Kentucky. As well as they played against the Wildcats, they still face a tough Duke team just a few days later, and it's going to be tough for Wisconsin to avoid a let down. Coach K's team has had quick starts in all of it's game in the tournament, and I like the Blue Devils chances of catching Wisconsin sleeping in the first half of the Final. The Badgers have not been blowing anyone out, in fact they've been relatively slow starters all season long, including an 80-70 loss to Duke back in December. If you've watched the Badgers play, you have to admit that they've been riding a good run of luck, with late game heroics becoming the norm for this team. That's not at all the case for Duke, who have completely shut down the opposition allowing just 55 points per game during the tourney. Another fast start will be crucial for Duke, and I expect them to execute out of the gates, as they have been doing all year.

Take Duke.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Kentucky Wildcats.  

When Kentucky played West Virginia, I told everyone to bet the farm on the Wildcats -13. Less than a week later, I not only told my clients to back Notre Dame +11, I actually said that I thought the Irish could win the game outright. As it turned out, Notre Dame pushed Kentucky to the brink, but in the end the Wildcats escaped with a 68-66 win. 

So after nearly losing to Notre Dame, surely you gotta think Wisconsin will give them a run for their money? Actually I think it would be a mistake to expect Wisconsin to be as successful as Notre Dame was last week. Why don't we take a look at what I had to say about Notre Dame prior to last Saturday's game: 

"The Irish play the nation's top teams week in and week out in the ACC, and they put together an impressive 14-4 record in what you would have to say is the toughest conference in the country. This is a team that beat Duke twice, North Carolina twice, and won at Louisville."

That's a pretty impressive resume, one that Wisconsin can't exactly claim to match. Granted that the Badgers may have had a tougher schedule than Kentucky, and as I said last week, the Wildcats only played one ranked team in 2015. They played Arkansas at home, and again in the SEC Final at a neutral site, and beat the Razorbacks by a combined 30 points in those game. 

Kentucky may have been a victim of their own success, coming out a little sluggish after beating the Mountaineers by 39 points. This time they are coming off a close game, that might have just served as a wake up call. 

I said last week that Kentucky is not unbeatable, and I stand by that comment. I think last week's game against Notre Dame was the one that they could lose though, and after surviving that scare, they will just be even stronger against the Badgers this week. 

Take UK.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Duke Blue Devils.

The Spartans have certainly been at their best during the month of March, despite a mediocre season they have advanced all the way to the Final Four. Of the four remaining teams, Michigan State has had the easiest path. They started slow in each of their last two games, trailing at the half versus Oklahoma and Louisville. Duke's journey through the tournament has been far more impressive, and for the most part, they've outclassed the opposition from start to finish. A 66-52 win over Gonzaga is a particularly impressive result. They've also proved that they are no "one trick pony", as even when Jahlil Okafor has an off night, Justise Winslow picks up the slack, and against Gonzaga their perimeter shooting prowess was on full display. They hit 8-of-19 from beyond the arc, which is even more impressive when you consider the venue in Houston. Teams had shot a combined 39.8 percent in nine NCAA Tournament games at NRG prior to last Friday. The Blue Devils haven't wasted any time jumping out to early leads in all four of their games in this tournament, and I like their chances of jumping all over the Spartans early. The Spartans have done just enough to get past mediocre teams so far, and I don't think they'll have what it takes to beat a Duke team that defeated them by double digits earlier this year. 

Take Duke. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Stanford Cardinal. 

Stanford and Miami are both competitive teams hailing from two of the stronger conferences in the country. If both teams were at full strength, this would be a tough game to call. The Cardinal though have been playing their best ball of the season in this tournament, and they've been far more impressive than Miami in my opinion. That combined with the fact that the Canes lost their starting center to a head injury, and guard Angel Rodriguez has missed the last three games with an injury. I think Miami is going to struggle to keep up with the Cardinal who have been shooting out the lights from three point range during the tournament. They hit a whopping 50% from beyond the arc in the win over Old Dominion. Senior guard Anthony Brown has connected on 6-of-9 from beyond the arc over the last two games, and leading scorer led all scorers with 24 points in the win over the Monarchs. 

Take STAN. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a play on the Portland Trailblazers. 

The Clippers were all fired up for a home game against the Warriors last night, and they came out like gangbusters, opening up a double-digit lead in the first quarter. The Warriors closed the gap quickly though, and it was all Golden State in the second half. That's a tough pill to swallow for LA, and it ended a seven game win streak. They have to pick right up again tonight, facing the Blazers in Portland in the second game of a back to back. I expect an emotional let down from the visitors tonight, and few teams have walked away from Portland with any points to show for it this season. The Blazers 30-7 home record is second to only Golden State, and they've looked very sharp winning four straight heading into tonight. Giving the home team even more incentive, they might even have a chance to clinch their division tonight: "I'm not even sure the last time we even won a division title," said Damian Lillard "If any year there was a great opportunity, it's this year. We just need to keep playing, focus on ourselves, and everything will work out like it's supposed to."

Take POR. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Portland Trailblazers. 

The Suns needed to win at home against Oklahoma City last night, or their playoff hopes would pretty much be finished. It looked like they had the game in complete control for most of the first half, but Russell Westbrook had other plans, and the Thunder rallied to win the game. I expect to see Phoenix suffer a serious let down here in the back end of a back to back in Portland. The Blazers own one of the best home records in the NBA, and they are coming off an outstanding offensive showing in a 120-114 win over the Nuggets. They shot better than 56% in that game, and Aldridge and Afflalo combined to score over 50 points. Phoenix has lost three straight, and PG Brandon Knight is sidelined once again after re-injuring his ankle against the Thunder in last night's loss. This should be an easy victory for a motivated Portland team over a defeated Suns club that knows it's going to miss the playoffs. 

Take POR. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on the Duke Blue Devils.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs had little trouble with UCLA in their Sweet 16 matchup, but they did not shoot very well in that game. Gonzaga leads the nation in field goal percentage, but hit an uncharacteristically low 40.3% in the win over the Bruins. They were just 3-of-19 (15.8%) from three point range in the game. There has been a lot of talk about how the venue in Houston makes it tough on shooters, as there are no walls or bleachers behind the baskets at NRG Stadium (home of the Houston Texans). Gonzaga wasn't the only team that has had trouble hitting shots in this stadium, teams shot a combined 39.8 percent in nine NCAA Tournament games at NRG prior to Friday. Duke has done better than anyone, shooting a modest 44.4% in their win over Utah. The Blue Devils are capable of relying on their inside game with Okafor and Winslow, but the Bulldogs might be in trouble if you take away their ability to hit shots from the perimeter. Okafor had a quiet game against Uah, but he scored 26 points on 12-of-16 shooting in the win over San Diego State. I expect to see him bounce back with another big game tonight, and I think Duke advances to the Final Four.

Take Duke.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on the Notre Dame Irish. 

After seeing Kentucky double up on West Virginia, some might say I am crazy to think the Irish can keep up with this team. Well they'll think I am absolutely certifiable when they hear that I'm actually going to bet them to win outright as well. That's right, I actually think Notre Dame can win this game, and in addition to taking the points, I'll be placing a small moneyline bet as well. 

With a record of 37-0, the Wildcats appear to be unbeatable, but are they really? I don't think so! Take a look at their schedule and you will see that they really haven't played a team of the caliber of Notre Dame this year. In fact they have only seen one ranked team in 2015, and that was Arkansas. They beat the Razorbacks convincingly, winning by 15 points in both meetings, once at home and once at a neutral site in the Conference Final. 

The Irish play the nation's top teams week in and week out in the ACC, and they put together an impressive 14-4 record in what you would have to say is the toughest conference in the country. This is a team that beat Dukes twice, North Carolina twice, and won at Louisville. 

Now Notre Dame will have to have a great night shooting the ball if they are going to hang with Kentucky, but this team has been sinking it's shots all year long. They rank second in the nation with a 51% field goal percentage. They come in hot, shooting 56% from the field against the Shockers, and 48% from three point range in that game. If they can shoot like that tonight, we will have a game on our hands. 

Take ND. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

This is a 10* play on the Michigan State Spartans. 

The Spartans were 12-6 in the Big-10, while Oklahoma was 12-6 in the Big-12. Michigan State has won 25 games, while the Sooners have won 24. If you take a look at these teams, and evaluate them based on their overall body of work, they look pretty close. That's not how I am looking at it though. I see a Michigan State team that has just now started to reach it's full potential, and an Oklahoma team that is in way over it's head. The Big-12 was considered by many to be the toughest conference in all of college basketball, but after seeing Iowa State and Baylor knocked out by no name teams in the first round, we might have to reconsider that thought. It's worth noting that Oklahoma lost to Iowa State twice in recent weeks, and split the season series with Baylor losing the most recent meeting by double-digits. The Spartans looked great against Virginia on Sunday, shooting 50% from beyond the arc and holding the Cavs to just 29.8% shooting in a 60-54 victory. The Sooners have had an easy road to the Sweet 16, with rather unimpressive wins over Albany and Dayton. Can they rise to the occasion against an elite team? History suggests not, they've failed to cover in six of their last seven versus teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better. 

Take MSU. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule