9* DETROIT (BEATDOWN)

The Horizon League Conference tournament gets underway on Tuesday night and I expect the 13-14 Mercy to have no mercy on the 5-24 Phoenix. Detroit actually plays with revenge hera fter Wisconsin Green Bay inexplicably took the lone regular season contest at home (70-63.) Detroit was a big favorite in that one, but note that it's 7-2 ATS in its last 9 in trying to revenge a conference loss against an opponent in which it was the fav. Detroit finished the season by going 6-4, and they were 8-1 at home. That one loss occured in their last game, so a big rebound is expected here in this revenge scenario. Lay the points, and expect a complete ATS beatdown from start to finish!

AAA Sports

10* ROCKETS (ASSASSIN)

The Clippers are 31-31 and somehow managing to stay afloat despite not having Kawhi Leonard or Paul George in the line-up. The Rockets sneak in under the radar here though at 15-44. Houston is off a 119-111 loss to Orlando. The Clippers are off a 105-102 win over the Lakers and I believe will suffer a predictable letdown here. This is the opener of a two-game set between the teams here, with the second coming on March 1st. Expect the home side, which plays with revenge after falling 142-111 to LA in mid February, to keep this one tight down the stretch; grab the points!

AAA Sports

10* MARYLAND (BOB)

Ohio State is 18-7, but if its had one clear glaring weakness it's been its play on the road, where it's just 5-5. Maryland is 13-15 overall and 8-8 at home. OSU enters off a tight 86-83 win over Illinois, while Maryland fell 74-64 to at Indiana. The Terps though play with revenge here after losing 82-67 to OSU back on February 6th. Note that Maryland is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS conference road loss against an opponent. This one has all the making of a complete nail-biter. The Terps play better at home. In a game that is going to come down to the final moments, my official call will be to grab as many points as you can!

AAA Sports

10* KINGS (ASSASSIN)

After beating the Kings by a score of 128-110 in Sacramento two nights ago, I think the Nuggets will get caught complacent here. They're in Portland tomorrow night, so the temptation to take the foot off the proverbial gas pedal will definitely be there for the home side. Sacramento has now lost 3 straight, both SU and ATS, which is significant to note here as it's 7-2 ATS in its last 9 after 3 or more SU/ATS losses in a row. It's also 8-4 ATS in its last 12 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS home loss against an opponent. No outright here, but closer than expected; grab the points!

AAA Sports

8* NEVADA (DESTRUCTION)

The 12-14 Nevada Wolfpack won't be going down without a fight here vs. 22-5 Wyoming. Nevada could still move up a spot or two before the end of the season, while Wyoming still has an opporutnity to earn the No. 1 spot in the conference. Wyoming picked up a 10-point road win in January, but note that Nevada is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS home loss against an opponent. Nevada is off a tough 62-54 home loss to UNLV on Tuesday, which is important to note for us here, as the Wolfpack are 8-4 ATS in their last 12 off a SU home loss in which they were held to 55 or less points in. Wyoming is off a 61-55 road loss to Colorado State. I say the Cowboys get caught flat here and while I'm not predicting an outright upset, I'm definitely expecting a "nail-biter!" So grab the points!

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9* BAYLOR (U OF THE U)

Kansas is 23-4 overall and 12-2 in Big 12 action, but after 4 straight wins, I expect it to stumble here in this difficult road venue vs. the revenge-minded Bears. Kansas is off a 102-83 win over K-State, while Baylor held on for a 66-64 win over OK State. The Bears play with revenge here though, and ULTIMATELY that's the reasoning behind this play. Baylor plays REALLY well in the revenge role. Kansas won 83-59 as a 2.5-point fav on its own floor at the start of the month, but the Bears are 7-2 ATS in their last nine in trying to revenge a SU/ATS conference loss against an opponent. Lay the points, expect a blowout!

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10* MARQUETTE (BIG EAST GOM)

13-16 Butler is just 3-7 on the road, while 17-10 Marquette is 11-3 at home. The Golden Eagles will be out to smash the Bulldogs today. They're just 1-3 in their last 4 SU, and 0-4 ATS. One of those losses includes an inexplicable 85-79 loss at Butler as a 4-point fav in the middle of the month. Note though that Marquette is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 in trying to revenge a conference road loss against an opponent. Butler's lost 3 games SU, but gone 2-1 ATS. I say that the Bulldogs stumble here in this difficult road venue. I love the way this one sets up for the home side from a situational stand point; lay the points with confidence!

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10* HARVARD (IVY LEAGUE GOM)

I think the 13-10 Harvard Crimson will take the 19-5 Princeton Tigers down to the wire this evening. Harvard comes in playing arguably its best basketball of the season after its 2nd straight win, a 77-72 OT victory over Cornell. The Crimson average 72.3 PPG, while conceding 68.4. Princeton enters having won 4 straight, most recently holding on for an 81-75 win over Yale. The Tigers average 72.3 PPG, while allowing 69.3. This is the opener of a home and home set and because of that, I'm expecting a very intenese 2-game stretch here. Harvard is 7-2 ATS the last 9 in this series and while I'll stop short in calling for an outright upset, everything points to a real nail-biter; the play is Harvard!

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9* WOLVES (DESTRUCTION)

I think this is a great spot to pull the trigger on the hungry home side today. Karl Anthony Towns is an underrated player. He's one of only two players in history to win both the three-point contest and the skills contest. The Wolves play with revenge here after a 116-108 loss to the Grizz in mid January. Memphis won 6 straight before the All Star break, but it lost its final game in a 123-119 home setback to the lowly Blazers. With a much more high-profile game at Chicago on Saturday, will the visiting side get caught "looking ahead" here?! It very well could. Look for the well-rested and revenge-mided Wolves to find a way to deliver on Thursday night!

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8* UALR

This is the final Sun Belt homestand for UALR and I expect it to make the most of familiar surroundings this evening. Little Rock has finished a stretch of 6 of 8 games on the road. The Mountaineers have won 2 straight and 6 of the last 8 in this series, but Little Rock is 5-2 against App State on its own floor. This is UALR's final season in the Sun Belt. App State broke a 2 game slide witha 69-51 win over USA, but note that it's just 2-7 ATS in its last 9 off a SU/ATS home win in which it held its opponent to 55 or less points in. Home floor DOES matter here; grab the points, the play is Arkansas Little Rock!

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10* EASTERN KENTUCKY (ASUN GOY)

I like 12-16 EKU to sneak in "under the radar" tonight vs. the 18-9 Jacksonville State Gamecocks. EKU is coming off a tight 83-76 loss to Central Arkansas on Saturday. The Gamecocks come in off an 82-67 win over Bellarmine on Sunday. This is a revenge game as well for the Colonels after the Gamecocks earned a 76-65 road win earlier in the season (note that EKU is in fact 7-3 ATS in last 10 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS home loss vs. an opponent.) No outright, but I believe the stage is set for a competitive battle; grab the points, the play is Eastern Kentucky!

AAA Sports

8* ALABAMA (DESTRUCTION)

The Crimson Tide enter at 17-10 overall (just 7-7 in league action), while Vandy is 14-12 this season (and only 6-8 in conference play.) Bama is off a 90-81 road loss at Kentucky, but note that it's 7-3 ATS in its last 10 off a SU/ATS setback in which it allowed 90 or more points in. Vandy is coming off a 72-67 home win over Texas A&M, but note that it's just 2-7 ATS in its last 9 after 5 or more straight ATS covers in a row (the Commodores have in fact covered in 6 straight.) Vandy averages just 69.3 PPG, while Bama averages 80.4. Lay the points, expect a blowout!

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10* EASTERN MICHIGAN (MAC "GOM")

These teams are poor. NIU is just 8-17 this year, including only 6-9 on the road. EMU is only 9-18 this season, but it's a respectable 7-6 at home. I can't understate how important I believe that the "home floor" advantage will be tonight. NIU has covered in 3 straight, but it's off a 78-75 loss to Miami Ohio at home as a 3.5-point underdog (NIU is in fact just 2-7 ATS in its last 9 after 3 or more straight ATS victories in a row.) EMU plays with revenge here after a 77-70 road loss at NIU as a 1.5-point favorite in mid January. Note though that the Eagles are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 in trying to revenge a conference road loss against an opponent. Look for the "revenge angle" to be a major difference-maker as well for the home side. With two extremely strong external factors working in their favor, the play is the EMU Eagles!

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8* SOUTHERN UTAH (DESTRUCTION)

I think the 16-9 Southern Utah Thunderbirds will figure out a way to not only win this game against the 9-17 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, but to win it in blowout fashion. Southern Utah has split its last 6 games, while Northern Arizona has lost 6 of its last 8. The Thunderbirds average 79.7 PPG, while allowing 73.9, while the Lumberjacks average 68.9 PPG, while conceding 73.1. The road team is also a great 13-3 ATS the last 16 in this series. Interestingly, the Lumberjacks have lost by an average of 9.8 points this season when playing the role of underdog this season. Southern Utah is poor, but NAU is terrible; lay the points!

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10* Cincinnati (ASSASSIN)

Temple is 14-9, while Cincinnati is 17-9. The Owls come in off a 64-57 win over SMU as 3-point dogs, which is noteworthy in this case, as Temple is just 2-6 ATS in its last 8 off a SU/ATS upset in which it was an underdog. The Bearcats handled their business though last time out, pulling away for a comfortable 85-76 win over Wichita State as 3-point favs. If history is any precedence, then the Bearcats have to be loving their chances today, as they're 9-1 in the last 10 in this series. The room for error is very small for Temple, which averages 67 PPG, and concedes 65.6. Cincinnati averages 70.6, while conceding 65.6. After breaking their 2 game slide last time out, look for the Bearcats to keep the foot on the proverbial gas pdeal from start to finish on home floor; lay the points!

AAA Sports

10* ODU (CONF USA GOY)

The 10-16 Old Dominion Monarchs are on the road looking to rebound after losing 4 of their last 5. Most recently it was a 67-63 setback to Marshall. CJ Keyser had 14.5 points in the loss, while Kalu Ezikpe added 11.1. ODU averages 66.3 PPG, while allowing 67.4. WKU comes in complacent here in my estimation after 6 straight victories. Most recently the Hilltoppers beat Charlotte by a score of 77-67. Dayvion McKnights leads WKU in scoring with 15.7 PPG, but note that the Hilltoppers are a poor 1-7 ATS in their last 8 after 5 or more SU victories in a row. WKU averages 76.6 PPG, while allowing 69.7, but I believe the home side takes the foot off the gas in the second half. While the outright is possible, let's grab the points; the play is Old Dominion!

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8* CHARLESTON (DELIGHT)

In a contest that I see coming right down to the wire, I'm going to grab up the points. I really do like COC in this spot though, so if you're feeling wealthy, I'd even consider sprinkling a little on the money line here. Towson is 20-7, while COC is 14-11. Towson just smashed UNCW, the first-placed team in the conference, by 24 points on Thursday. Can anyone say "letdown spot?!" True, Towson only sits a .5 game back of the Seahawks now for first place, but after that emotional win, I expect a predictable letdown here on the road vs. the under the radar Cougars. COC comes in off a 71-63 home loss to JMU as a 5.5-point fav. That's not good, but note that COC is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 after a SU/ATS off a SU home loss as a favorite. It also plays with revenge here after a 74-67 loss at the SECU Arena on January 20th. While I do indeed feel an outright upset is a possibility, the call here will be on COC and the points!

AAA Sports

9* ALABAMA (ASSASSIN)

Alabama won't be rolling over here. The Crimson Tide have won 3 straight, most recently beating Mississippi State by a score of 80-75 on Wednesday. Jahvon Quinerly had 21 points. Kentucky enters on the other end of the spectrum, as the Wildcats just had their 6 game win streak snapped last time out in a 76-63 upset loss to Tennessee. Oscar Tshiebwe was a lone standout with 13 points and 15 boards. These teams average 80 PPG each, but Kentucky has done better on the defensive end. Situationally though, this one sets up great for 'Bama, which is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS home loss in which it was held to 59 or less points in (lost 66-55 to UK on February 5th.) The conditions are right for an outright upset, but let's grab the points; the play is Alabama!

AAA Sports

9* TCU (BLOOD-BATH)

TCU won't be rolling over here. It's 16-7, including 4-2 on the road. Baylor is 21-5 and 12-2 at home, but it's struggled somewhat of late, entering off an 83-73 road loss at Texas Tech as a 1.5-point underdog. TCU though plays with revenge here after a 76-64 home loss to the Bears as 10-point underdogs on January 8th. And that's important to note in this case, as TCU is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS home loss against a conference opponent. The Bears have shown cracks in the armor of late. No outright, but much, much closer than expected; grab the points!

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8* MISSOURI (DESTRUCTION)

This is the first game of a home and home set and I like the underdog visiting side to, at the very least, keep this one close enough to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch. The Bulldogs are 14-10 overall, and 5-6 in league play, while the Tigers are 10-15 overall, and 4-8 in conference action. This is a revenge game of sorts for the Tigers, as they've lost 4 straight in this series. Missouri has been competitive, despite its win/loss record. It has a victory over Alabama and it lost by 1 point to Auburn. Off a 76-57 loss to No. 23 Arkansas, note that the Tigers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 off a SU/ATS conference loss in which they were held to 59 or less points in. The Tigers average 66 PPG, while allowing 70.6. The Bulldogs come in with the better record, but zero momentum, having log four straight, most recently an 80-75 setback to Alabama. The Bulldogs average 73 PPG, while allowing 67. Mississippi State has struggled with consistency of late and I like the under the radar Tigers to hang around late; grab the points!

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9* OREGON (DESTRUCTION)

I like the way this one sets up for the Ducks. They're 17-8 overall this season, which includes going a near-perfect 5-1 on the road. Arizona State on the other hand is just 8-15 this season, which includes a sub-par 5-6 record at home. The Ducks held on for a 62-59 win at home over Washington State last time out, but they were unable to cover the 5-point spread. Oregon has now lost 4 straight against the spread, which is noteworthy in this instance, as the Ducks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 after 3 or more ATS losses in a row. They also play with the added incentive of "revenge" here after somehow losing to the Sun Devils 69-67 in OT at home as 9-point favs in early December. ASU only averages 63.9 PPG. Off a rare win last time out, a 58-55 victory over WSU as a 10.5-point underdog, everything points to a predictable letdown here for sure in my opinion. Look for the hungry Ducks to keep the foot on proverbial gas pedal from start to finish; lay the points!

AAA Sports

10* PELICANS (EXPRESS)

I think this is a great spot for the Pels. They're coming off a 121-109 loss here at home to the Grizz, but they managed a 107-91 victory over the Mavericks on December 3rd. Dallas is off an upset 107-99 victory at Miami as a 5.5-point underdog, but with the All Star break starting tomorrow, I believe the visitors are going to go through the motions today as Luca Doncic gets ready for the upcoming All Star game. These teams average almost the identical amount of points, with New Orleans averaging 106.1 and Dallas averaging 106.3. The difference comes on the defensive end, but the overall situation working in favor of the Pels here supercedes that factor. Clearly, the outright win is in the cards here, but the official call will be to grab as many points as you can; the play is New Orleans!

AAA Sports

9* MICHIGAN (BLOWOUT)

Michigan is just 3-6 on the road, but I think it'll take Iowa down to the wire today. The Hawkeyes are 13-2 at home. The Wolverines are off a 68-57 home loss to Ohio State as 3-point favs. That's noteworthy in this case, as Michigan is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 after a SU/ATS home loss as a favorite and in which it was held to 60 points or less in. Iowa is off 3 straight victories. Most recently it was a 98-75 win over Nebraska. With a game at Ohio State this weekend, I think the home side will clasically get caught "looking ahead." Iowa is also just 2-6 ATS in its last 8 off a SU/ATS win in which it scored 95 or more points in. In a contest that I see being decided late, the official call here will be to grab as many points as you can!

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10* PEPPERDINE (WC GOM)

Am I suggesting that the Waves will post one of the biggest regular seson upsets in College basketball history tonight, or do I believe that Gonzaga will win this game, but that this spread is much too large? Clearly, it's the latter of those 2 scenarios. I love how this one sets up for Pepperdine to keep it much closer than what Las Vegas is trying to lead us to believe. Gonzaga is No. 1 in the nation, but it's just 13-8-2 ATS overall. With a game at home against 17-9 Santa Clara, I think the visitors take the foot off the gas in the second half. Pepperdine lost 117-83 at Gonzaga as a 30-point underdog on January 8th (but note that it's 7-1 ATS in its last 8 in trying to revenge a conference road loss of 25 or more points!) In every conceivable way the Bulldogs are the better team here, but this spread is simply too large when we take into account the overall situation; grab the points, the play is Pepperdine! 

AAA Sports

10* LAKERS (ASSASSIN)

Are the Lakers a good team that's been the victim of unfortunate circumstances this year? I think the answer is both yes and no. Certainly LA's record would indicate that it's a bad team (26-31.) The good news? There's still time to correct things and to earn a spot in the playoffs. The Lakers are also 17-13 at home this season. The Jazz have had to overcome a few injury issues, and covid problems, but the enter the all star break with a great 36-21 record. They haven't been at their best on the road though, where they are 15-11 this season. The Lakers are off a tight 117-115 loss at Golden State, easily covering with the 6-point spread. The Lakers can't afford to take tonight off though, and I expect anotherfull four-quarter effort tonight. The Jazz are off a 135-101 win over Houston, which is noteworthy here as they're just 2-6 ATS in their last 8 after a SU/ATS win of 30 or more points. I say this one means A LOT more to the desperate Lakers!

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8* ROCKETS (DESTRUCTION)

Clearly, the Rockets are terrible. They're just 15-41 overall. They've been better for bettors though, going 22-33-1 ATS. They're coming off 5 straight SU/ATS losses in a row (and note that they're 7-3 ATS in their last 10 after 5 or more consecutive ATS/SU setbacks.) Not suprisingly, they play with revenge here after a listless 115-89 loss to the Suns as 8.5-point dogs on November 14th. Clearly, the Suns are a great team. They're 47-10 SU, and 32-25 ATS. They've won 6 straight, but they lost ATS last time out against the Clippers, winning 103-96, and not coming close to covering the large 12-point spread. I expect a similar final score here as well, as Phoenix prepares for the All Star break. No outright win for Houston, but much closer than expected; the official call will be to grab the points!

AAA Sports

9* UConn (9* BLOOD-BATH).

The 15-8 Seton Hall Pirates are only 4-4 on the road, while the 17-7 Connecticut Huskies are 10-2 at home. After a 74-68 loss to Xavier, the Huskies bounced back with a 63-60 win over Saint John's in their most recent outing. They play with revenge here after falling 90-87 to Seton Hall in OT on January 8th (they're 7-3 ATS in their last 10 in trying to revenge a SU conference road loss against an opponent.) Seton Hall had its 3 game win streak snapped in a 73-67 loss at Villanova in its most recent action. With a home game against lowly DePaul this weekend, I say the visiting side gets caught looking ahead. The stage is set for a blowout; lay the points with confidence!

AAA Sports

8* WOLVES (DESTRUCTION)

I think this is a great spot to continue to ride the red hot Wolves. Minnesota has won 6 of its last 8. That includes a 129-120 victory over the Pacers in Indiana. The Wolves play with revenge here after falling 133-115 at Charlotte back on November 26th. Minnesota has a tough Toronto team coming to town tomorrow night before the All Star break, so expect the home side to keep the foot on the gas from start to finish. Charlotte has NOT been playing well at all of late. It's still scoring lots, but it's also one of the worst defensive clubs in the league, as it enters having lost 7 of its last 8. That includes a 125-118 loss at home to Memphis in its most recent. With a home game against Miami to close out the first half, I say the visitors get caught looking ahead as well. The conditions are certainly correct for a home side rout; the official call will be to lay the points!

AAA Sports

10* MAVERICKS (REVENGE GOM)

Dallas had won four straight before a 99-97 loss at home to the Clippers. The game previous to that they beat LA 112-105. The Mavericks have looked a lot better of late despite trading Kristaps Porzingis and they do indeed play with revenge here after a 125-110 loss at home to the Heat in early November. Miami has sure been playing well, as it's won 5 in a row, but note that it's just 3-7 ATS in its last 10 after five or more SU victories in a row. And with a game at Charlotte, followed by a trip to the Big Apple after the All Star Break, I think the Heat get classically caught "looking past" their non-conference opponent today. In a game that I see being decided in the final moments, my official call will be to grab as many points as you can!

AAA Sports

10* IONA (GOW)

Iona is 20-5. It's coming off a 70-62 win over Monmouth at home, unable to cover the 8.5-point spread. It won't be taking Saint Peter's lightly today on the road, as while it did beat the Peacocks 85-77 at home on January 30th, it failed to cover the 10-point spread. Saint Peter's is 11-9, but it's off a poor 58-49 loss at home to Rider as a 7.5-point fav (note that the Peacocks are a disturbingly poor 1-7 ATS in their last 8 off a SU/ATS home loss in which they were held to 50 or less points in.) The stage is set for a blowout of epic proportions; the official call will be to lay the points!

AAA Sports

10* ROCKETS (ASSASSIN)

Are the Rockets a good team that's just been an unfortunate victime to crazy circumstances? Are the Jazz over-rated and not as good as their record would indicate? No, on both counts. The Rockets have struggled for varying reasons, but they're not a great team this year. Utah has had to struggle through some covid issues as well this season, but the Jazz are now primed for a deep playoff run. I simply feel that this is a few too many points to be giving up here, as I expect Utah to take the foot off the gas in the second half. Houston comes in off four straight SU/ATS losses in a row. Most recently a 139-120 loss at home to the Raptors (they're 7-3 ATS in their last 10 though after a SU/ATS home loss in which they allowed 135 or more points in.) Utah comes in off 5 straight wins and covers (and it's just 3-6 ATS in its last 9 after 5 or more SU/ATS victories in a row.) With a much "bigger" game at the Lakers on Wednesday, the Jazz are in danger of looking ahead here as well. No outright, but closer than expected; grab the points!

AAA Sports

10* WISCONSIN GREEN BAY (ASSASSIN)

Wisconsin Green Bay is just 4-20 overall, which includes going 0-12 on the road. The Phoenix are off a 71-62 loss to NKU. They only average 61.7 PPG. Milwaukee is just 8-18. It's off a monumental 60-57 win at home here over Wright State as a 9-point underdog and I believe that a predictable letdown is imminent here. The Panthers only average 65.2 PPG. The Phoenix play with revenge here as well after falling 63-49 to the Panthers at home on January 5th. I expect the visiting side to, at the very least, keep this one close enough to comfortably cover as the game comes down the stretch; grab the points!

AAA Sports

10* LAKERS (ASSASSIN)

Are LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook really as bad as their win/loss record would indicate? I'd say no. Clearly, chemistry is an issue. Both Davis and James have missed significant time this year. All three will be playing today though and I believe the Lakers have a legitimate shot at winning this one outright. The Warriors are off a 116-114 home loss to the Knicks as 9-point favorites. The Lakers are off an embarrassing 107-105 loss to the Blazers, and I expect them to risk life and limb today to try and get back into the winners circle. This one is coming down to the wire, so grab as many points as you can!

AAA Sports

9* FLORIDA STATE (CRUSHER)

Florida State got caught looking ahead to this game after falling 56-51 to lowly Pittsburgh on Wednesday. I say the Seminoles bounce back here though and while they likely won't win this one outright, we can expect a good-old fashioned back-and-forth battle for sure in my opinion. UNC doesn't have any excuses either for its 79-77 win over Clemson, as it barely held on for the victory. FSU averages 71.2 PPG, while allowing 69.2, while UNC averages 78.1, while conceding 72.8. FSU is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 after a SU/ATS loss in which it was held to 55 or fewer points in. I expect this to be another tight battle for the Tar Heels; grab the points!

AAA Sports

8* TEXAS (DESTRUCTION)

In this battle, I expect it to come down to the final moments. Texas averages 68.7 PPG, while Baylor averages 77.8. Baylor got crushed by Kansas by 24 points, before then bouncing back with a 75-60 win over K-State on Saturday. Texas is off a big upset win over Kansas, holding on for the 79-76 victory. The Longhorns' defense leads the nation, conceding just 55.8 PPG. The Bears concede 62.2. Look for the Longhorns' tough defensive play to keep the competitive late; grab the points!

AAA Sports

10* MILWAUKEE (MAULING)

After 4 straight victories, I expect the Raiders to have a bit of a mental lapse here. Milwaukee has struggled this year, but after losing 6 in a row, I expect the Panthers to play with desperation here and to, at the very least, keep this one tight until the final moments. Wright State has "righted" the ship after a shaky start, but with a game against Northern Kentucky next, I expect it to look past its lowly, but dangerous opponent tonight. Milwaukee plays with revenge here as well after an 80-75 home loss to Wright State back on December 30th. The Panthers covered with the ten-point spread in that contest and all signs point to that comfortably happening again tonight; grab the points!

AAA Sports

10* PISTONS (ASSASSIN)

Outright victory? I'm not calling for that. But I do think that the visiting side will get caught looking past its lowly non-conference opponent today to its much more high-profile contest at LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. The Grizz are off a relatively simple 135-109 win at home over the Clippers, which is significant to note as they're just 2-7 ATS in their last 9 off a SU/ATS home win of 20 or more points. Memphis may very well elect to rest some of its starters here. Detroit is just 12-42. It's off a poor 116-86 road loss at Dallas, but note that it's 7-1 ATS in its last 8 after a SU/ATS road loss in which it was held to 89 or less points in. Clearly the Grizz have the uppherhand in every category, but I expect them to take the foot off the gas down the stretch. No outright, but closer than expected; grab the points!

AAA Sports

10* OHIO (MAC BOB)

I think the 19-4 Ohio Bobcats will lay the hammer down here on the 6-14 CMU Chippewas. Ohio will be especially motivated here and will keep the foot on the gas from start to finish after a poor 77-62 loss to Toldeo in its last outing. Conversely, CMU is poised for a predictable letdown off an upset overtime 89-85 win over Ball State. Situationally speaking, they don't set up much better than this. Ohio averages 74.4 PPG, while conceding 66.5, while CMU averages 65.8 PPG, while allowing 79.3. The Chips are also a terrible 2-6 ATS in their last 8 following a SU win. Look for Ohio to dig deep here and to pour on the offense from start to finish; lay the points!

AAA Sports

10* ALABAMA (SEC BOB)

Alabama is coming off B2B double-digit losses, falling to Auburn and Kentucky. Suffice it to say, I LOVE the Tide to bounce back here on the road. They're now 14-9 overall (just 4-6 in SEC action.) Ole Miss is off a 62-57 loss to Florida. The Rebels are 12-11 overall and 3-7 in conference action. The bottom line is, I have a hard time seeing the home side keeping pace with the Tide, who average over 80 PPG. They've struggled defensively in conceding just over 75 PPG, but they catch a break here facing this more methodically-paced Rebels offense. Ole Miss has done a decent job defensively as well, but its lack of offensive punch is the difference today; lay the points!

AAA Sports

8* NC STATE.

Wake Forest is 19-5 overall, but just a pedestrian 4-3 on the road this year. NC State is only 10-14 this season, including just 7-7 at home. The Wolfpack enter off 4 straight losses, most recently falling 69-57 to Notre Dame as 1-point favorites at home. Wake is off B2B wins, most recently pulling away for a 68-60 win at Florida State as a 2-point underdog. Wake Forest is led by the dynamic Alondes Williams, who averages 19.8 PPG. Somehow they managed a win last time out despite committing 26 turnovers. The Wolfpack have a dominant player as well in Dereon Seabron, who averages 18 PPG. After their last upset win on the road, I believe the Deacons finally stumble here against the determined home side; that said, grab the points!

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8* MICHIGAN (DESTRUCTION)

This is just Penn State's 2nd home game in the last 27 days. Michigan enters off a loss, but I expect it to build off its 82-76 setback to No. 4 ranked Purdue on Saturday. Keep your eyes on Hunter Dickinson, who had a career-best 28 points in the losing cause. Michigan's better at home than on the road, but I say this is a great spot for a bounce back. The Nittany Lions are 7-3 at home. They're off a 51-49 loss at Wisconsin, which is significant to note as they're just 2-7 ATS in their last nine off a SU road loss in which they were held to 50 or less points in. Look for Dickinson to be too much for Penn State to handle today; lay the short points!

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9* LIPSCOMB (ASSASSIN)

Am I calling for an outright victory here? I am not. But I do think that Lipscomb has everything in place to sneak in under the radar here and score a comfortable ATS cover with all the points it's been given in this one. The Bisons are off a 77-68 loss at home to Florida Gulf Coast. They do average a decent 74.9 PPG though. The Flames average only 73.3, but boast one of the strongest defenses in the nation. That said, with a game at 14-8 Jacksonville up next, I say the home side takes the foot off the gas in the second half. Finally, note that Lipscomb is in fact 7-2 ATS in its last nine as a conference road do in the +14.5 to +17.5 points range; no outright, but closer than expected!

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10* ST. BONAVENTURE (MAULING)

Fordham is just 10-11. It's coming off a 72-69 loss to Saint Joseph's. The Rams margin of error most nights is slim, as they average 68.8 PPG, while allowing 68.1. St. Bonaventure is 12-7, including going 7-2 in its last 9 at home. The Bonnies average 70.4 PPG, while allowing 68.6. Three players average in double figurs for the Rams, while five players do the same for the Bonnies. St. Bonaventure is winning games by an average of 9 points at home, while the Rams have seen their point production drop to 63.7 on the road; lay the points, expect a rout!

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10* NORTHERN COLORADO (GOW)

Northern Arizona is 8-14, including just 2-6 on the road. Northern Colorado is 11-11, including 5-3 at home. Northern Colorado just won 74-71 at Northern Arizona on Saturday, unable to cover the 5.5-point spread. UNCO has now lost 4 straight ATS, but note that it's 7-3 ATS in its last 10 after playing to 3 or more straight ATS losses in a row. The Bears average 77.5 PPG, while the Lumberjacks average only 69.2. Revenge, they say, is a dish best served cold. That said, the Lumberjacks simply don't have the firepower to keep up with the home side. Northern Colorado will be cautious to not take the foot off the gas pedal this time after the "close call" last time out; lay the points, expect an ATS rout!

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10* KNICKS (GOW)

Outright victory? Anything is possible. But I do expect the Knicks to play with some heart here today and to keep it competitive throughout. The Knicks are off a disappointing 122-115 OT road loss at the Lakers. With a tough game at Denver tomorrow night, followed by a contest at Golden State, tonight's outing takes on added importance for the visiting side. Utah has broken its 5 game slide with B2B victories. Donovan Mitchell is back in the line-up, but with Golden State coming to town on Wednesday, starters could be rested here. It's a perfect situational set of circumstances that are working in favor of this hungry Knicks side today; grab the points!

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10* MIAMI OHIO (MAC GOM)

I base my picks on many different factors. I've always felt that beling flexible with your approach when it comes to handicapping games is the best way to secure profits over the short, mid and long-term. Often plain old "common sense" or the "eye test" is the best way to approach a game. Other times, getting into every tiny stat and detail is important. Other times, stats, trends or lop-sided numbers is the correct angle to take. This one boils down to common sense. Miami Ohio plays with immediate revenge here after falling 66-55 at Akron two nights ago. The Zips only average 71.7 PPG, while the Redhawks average 75.5. Miami Ohio is also 7-2 ATS in its last 9 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS conference road loss against an opponent; lay the short points, expect a decisive victory!

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8* Loyola Chicago (DESTRUCTION)

The Ramblers hit the road at 17-4 overall and 8-2 in league play. Missouri State has an 8-3 record in conference action. The Bears started the season at 4-4, but they've since won 13 of their last 16 games. This is going to be a great game, but I expect the visiting side to find a way to deliver. Loyola Chicago is off a 78-64 win over over Illinois State on Wednesday. It averages 110.7 points per 100 possessions. They also allow a league-low 94.9 points per 100 possessions (also lead the conference in turnover rate at 19.7 percent.) Missouri State is off a 69-54 win over Southern Illinois. It averages 113.1 points per 100 possessions, while posting a middle of the pack 101.0 defensive rating, which ranks 4th in the MVC. I say the Ramblers suffocating defensive play is the difference here!

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10* LAKERS (ASSASSIN)

Yes, both teams are struggling big time this year. For different reasons though. The Knicks are a mess, but the Lakers are getting healthier (despite LBJ still sidelined a couple mre games.) LA is off a tight 111-110 loss at home to the Clippers, but Anthony Davis has been superb since his return from injury. The Knicks are off a 120-108 home loss to the Grizzlies and they have a tough road game here, with upcoming contests at Utah, Denver, Golden State and Portland. Look for the hungrier home side to comfortably pull away for the win and cover; lay the poitns!

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8* LOUISVILLE.

The 11-11 Louisville Cardinals are on the road to take on the 11-11 Syracuse Orange. This one has the "feel" of whichever team has its hands on the ball last is going to come out on top. Louisville is off a tight 90-83 OT loss to UNC, while Syracuse is off an 89-82 win over NC State. The Cardinals both average and concede 69 PPG this year, while Syracuse averages 77.8 and allows 75.5. Louisville rallies here with coach Chris Mack now gone and while I do think the outright is possible, let's grab the points!

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8* Georgia Tech

The Clemson Tigers are 12-9, while the Georgia Yellowjackets are 9-12. GT lost to VT by a score of 81-66 in its most recent outing, while Clemson beat Florida by a score of 75-69. The Tigers are just 2-2 in their last 4 though. They average 73 PPG, while allowing 67.1. GT averages 69.8 PPG, while allowing 69.7. The last time these teams played, Clemson won by a score of 74-72 as a 4-point fav. Expect a similar hard-fought battle here, one that's decided in the final moments; so because of that, grab as many points as you can!

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8* CSU (ASSASSIN)

The Colorado State Rams are 16-3 this season, including 6-3 in Mountain West action. The SDSU Aztecs on the other hand are 12-5 and 4-2. The Rams play with revenge here after falling 79-49 to SDSU back on January 8th. SDSU hasn't been perfect. It comes in complacent here in my estimation after a blowout 72-47 victory over New Mexico on Monday (note that it's just 2-6 ATS in its last 8 after a SU/ATS win in which it held its opponent to 50 or less points in.) SDSU averages 64.6 PPG, while allowing 56.8. Since that 30 point loss to the Aztecs though, the Rams won 5 straight, including against Utah State, a team SDSU just lost to previously. But they won't be lacking for motivation now after 2 more straight losses, most recently falling 84-78 to Wyoming in OT. The Rams though are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 in trying to revenge a 20 points or greater road loss to an opponent. Revenge is a dish best served cold is what they say, and it's supposed to be FREEZING in Colorado tonight; the play is CSU!

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10* HARVARD (GOM)

Harvard is 10-7 and 2-3 in Ivy League play after a tight 78-74 loss to Penn on Friday. Noah Kirkwood leads the Crimson with 18.1 points and 3.3 assists per game. Harvard has three players averaging in double digits in scoring and overall it averages 75.4 PPG. Brown is just 10-12 overall and 2-5 in league play. It's coming off a 74-72 loss to Cornell on Sunday. The Bears average 71.9 PPG. This is a revenge game for Harvard, and I say that's the difference-maker here today. Brown won the first meeting 84-73 as a 3.5-point road fav. Expect this one to be decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last; the play is Harvard!

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10* INCARNATE WORD (BOB)

Nicholls State is 13-9, while Incarnate Word is 4-18. The Colonels enter in off a 2nd straight win, getting past Houston Baptist by a score of 73-61. Nicholls averages 79.5 PPG, while allowing 71.2. Will the Colonels get caught looking past their lowly opponent today? That's what I'm reckoning! Incarnate Word has lost 5 straight. It's off a 78-68 loss to SE Louisiana. The Cardinals average 66.7 points per game, while allowing 76.7. Not a recipie for success obviously, but they've been better at home than on the road. Incarnate Word is also 7-3 ATS in its last 10 home games as an underdog in the +9.5 to +11.5 points range. Look for the visiting side to stumble here as it gets caught looking past its opponent; no outright, but closer than expected!

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8* EMU (PUNISHER)

Am I suggesting that the 8-12 EMU Eagles are going to go into Ohio and knock off the 17-3 Bobcats straight up? I'm of course not calling for that at all. I do though think the stage is set for a much closer battle than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe. EMU enters off an 86-66 blowout loss to Toledo, while Ohio comes in off an 87-63 victory over Ball State. The Eagles average only 71.6 PPG, while allowing 74.8. Ohio doesn't blow teams out of the water with an offense that averages 74.6 points per game, but the Bobcats make up for it on the other end by conceding just 66. I say the mighty home side comes out a bit complacent here and takes the foot off the gas in the 2nd half. Eastern Michigan is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 as a conference road dog in the +15.5 to +17.5 points range as well. No outright, but closer than expected!

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10* FSU (CRUSHER)

Florida State is 13-7 and Clemson is 11-9 this year. The Seminoles are off back-to-back losses, most recently it was an 85-72 loss at home to Virginia Tech as a 1.5-point favorite. Clemson crushed Pittsburgh 75-48, but then it came up short in its most recent game, a 71-69 setback to Duke. This is the first meeting between the schools this year, with the next one coming in Tallahassee on the 15th. But Florida State has actually been quite good on the road this year, it has an 83-81 win at NC State on January 1st, a 76-71 win at Syracuse in the middle of the month and a 61-60 win at Miami on January 22nd. In fact the Seminoles are only one of four teams in the ACC with a winning conference road record. Florida State is also 3-0 against Miami and Duke, the current No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the ACC Standings. And if the Seminoles win today it would mark the school's record 17th consecutive season that they've won at least seven conference games under Leonard Hamilton, Now for Clemson, I just think its primed for a letdown here after that "CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR" loss to Duke. It had a chance down 67-65, but it had a three-ball rim out. After that crushing loss, I say the Tigers stumble here again against this deep Florida State team!

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10* WVU (GOW)

WVU is coming off a 77-68 loss to Arkansas. WVU won't be lacking for motivation today after 5 straight losses. Baylor is off an 87-78 loss to Alabama and while it sits in 2nd in the Big 12 with a 6-2 record, I say it gets caught looking past its opponent today to its huge matchup at Kansas on February 5th. And really, they don't set up from a situational standpoint much better than this. WVU is under the radar, undervalued after so many losses. Baylor has been consistently over-priced this season with its spreads, and that caught up to it last time out. I say it does again here with such a big road game on deck next. Outright win?! Of course not! But expect this one to be competitive until the final moments; grab the points!

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10* ECU (ATS BLOOD-BATH)

The 14-6 Cincinnati Bearcats are going to get caught looking past the 11-8 ECU Pirates today in my opinion. David Dejulius averages 13.4 points and 2.4 assists for the Bearcats this season. They're coming off a road loss at Temple and I say they're now ripe for the picking. ECU plays with revenge here after falling 79-71 at Cincinnati at the start of January (that's important to note as ECU is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 in trying to revenge a conference road loss to an opponent.) Outright win?! Anything is possible! That said, let's grab the points for sure!

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8* PACIFIC.

The 17-5 BYU Cougars are on the road to take on the 5-13 Pacific Tigers. BYU's 3 game win streak came to an end last time out in a loss to Santa Clara. Pacific plays with revenge here though after falling 73-51 on the road as a 17-point underdog. BYU averages 74 PPG, while allowing 68.8, while Pacific averages 65.1 PPG, while allowing 68.7. I say Pacific catches BYU at the right time here (also note that the Tigers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS road loss to an opponent!)

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8* SOUTH FLORIDA.

South Florida has a 6-12 record after falling 74-54 to SMU in its most recent outing. Tulsa is just 6-12 itself after dropping a 97-63 decision to Tulane. USF scores 89.4 points per 100 possessions while allowing 97.3, while Tulsa scores 101.8 points per 100 possessions while allowing 105.6. This is a very evenly matched game, and home-court advantage isn't a factor here in my opinion. The outright is possible, but the official call will be to grab the points!

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10* PEPPERDINE.

Outright victory? I'm of course not calling for that. But I do think the lowly Waves can sneak in under the radar today. Pepperdine has lost 7 straight, most recently falling 64-56 to San Diego. The Gaels are going to get caught complacent here after their 72-70 upset win over San Francisco as a 2.5-point underdog. Pepperdine averages 67.2 PPG, while allowing 76.2, while Saint Mary's averages 72 PPG, while allowing 59.1. With a game at Portland up next, I say the home side takes the foot off the gas in the second half; no outright, but closer than expected. Grab the points!

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10* KNICKS (ASSASSIN)

The Knicks are struggling for varying reasons, but I think they can fly under the radar here and at the very least, make this one interesting for the home town crowd until the final moments. New York has lost 5 of its last 6 and it's now just 23-26 this year. The Knicks are dealing with many injuries and COVID problems (as are most teams.) On the other end of the court, the Bucks had their 3-game win streak snapped in a 115-99 defeat to Cleveland: “They played lights out tonight,” Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer assessed after. "I don’t know what the right analogy is, but they played really well. They beat us pretty good. Live ball turnovers is when transition defense is the toughest, and we made a lot of them.” The Bucks have a tougher game against Denver on Sunday, and they get caught looking ahead to that one; no outright, but closer than expected!

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10* MANHATTAN (MAULING)

The Jaspers defeated Sienna 76-58 on Friday, with Jose Perez scoring 32-points. But Manhattan then lost 78-62 to Monmouth on Sunday. The Jaspers average 73.5 points per game, while Saint Peter's averages only 65.9. Saint Peter's is 8-7 overall this year, while Manhattan is 10-6. This is the first matchup of the year, but the Jaspers lost the last matchup 68-54 as 6.5-point dogs. I say they keep it a lot closer than that this time around; the outright is possible, but let's grab the points!

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10* WOLVES (ASSASSIN)

Outright win? That would be sweet if you're a Wolves fan. I mean, it's a very real possibility, as this spread isn't too large or anything. However, I think the safest call is to grab as many points as you can here for a couple different reasons. Both teams come in off wins. The Wolves pulled away for a 109-107 road win over Portland last time out, while Golden State handled the Mavericks 130-92 on Tuesday. Note though that GS is just 2-7 ATS in its last 9 after a SU/ATS home win in which it held its opponent to 95 points or less in. They're also just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven vs. the West, while the Wolves are 6-2 ATS in the same position. With a much more high-profile game against Brooklyn at home here on Saturday night, I say the home side gets caught looking past its lowly opponent. No outright, but closer than expected; grab the points!

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10* BLUES (EXPRESS)

Calgary is off B2B blowout wins, but I think it'll have difficulties here in St. Louis. Most recently the Flames clobbered Columbus 6-0 on the road. St Louis though plays with revenge here after a 7-1 setback at Calgary just last week. The Blues are 6-2 in their last 8 in trying to revenge a road loss of 5 or more goals to an opponent as well. Calgary is back home for a game against the Canucks next, so I think it gets caught looking ahead to that more winnable game. The Blus are 16-4-1 at home this year. Look for that streak to get added to tonight; lay the reasonable price!

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10* NORTHWESTERN (BIG 10 GOY)

Northwestern is 9-8 this season. while Michigan is 9-7. The Wildcats though are going to be eager to avoid a 3rd straight conference loss today, while I do think that Michigan could be caught a little complacent. Northwestern has indeed lost 2 in a row, but against 2 really good teams, losing 82-76 to 15-3 Wisconsin, before then dropping an 80-60 contest against 16-3 Purdue in its most recent. Boo Buie led the way in the loss with 17 points and three assists. Michigan is just 5-5 in its last 10, but it broke a 3-game slide with B2b victories, first beating Maryland 83-64, and then most recently pulling away for an 80-62 win at Indiana. The Wolverines shot a season-best 64.7 percent from the floor and Hunter Dickinson had 25 points and nine rebounds. But with a game at rival Michigan State this weekend in what will be one of the most highly anticipated Big Ten games of the season, I think that the Wolverines do finally get caught looking ahead here and take the foot off the proverbial gas pedal. I say this one MEANS more to the Wildcats; grab as many points as you can!

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10* ILLINOIS (BOB)

Michigan State is off a huge win over a red hot Wisconsin team as a 5-point dog and I think it's now primed for a predictable letdown here. Illinois on the other hand has lost 2 in a row. Despite being 4-0 on the road, I like the Illini to bounce back here at home where they are 8-2 so far this season. The Spartans average 75.3 PPG, while the Illini average 79.3. Illinois though is essentially in a must win scenario here as it tries to avoid a 3rd straight conference loss. The setback to Maryland is a concern, but note that's 8-2 ATS in its last 10 conference home games as a favorite in the -3.5 to -6.5-points range. I expect the "hungrier" home side to play with desperation, while everything points to a small letdown finally here for the surging Spartans; lay the points!

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10* SACRAMENTO STATE (GOW)

The Sacramento State Hornets are 5-9 this year. The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks are 6-11. Two evenly matched teams here. This one's going to come down to the wire! The Hornets have lost 3 straight. Most recently it was a frustrating 73-72 OT loss to Idaho. Sacramento State averages 65.4 PPG, while allowing 70. It looked a lot better on both ends of the court last time out and I expect it to build. The Lumberjacks are off a listless 58-48 loss to Montana. They average 69.3 PPG, while allowing 72.7. Sacramento State though is 7-2-1 ATS in its last 10 following a SU loss and 4-1-1 ATS in is last 6 vs. teams with a win % below .400. Conversely, Northern Arizona is 1-5 ATS in its last six overall. You know what, I think that the outright upset is a very real possibility; however the official call will be to grab as many points as you can!

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10* MICHIGAN (BIG 10* GOM)

The 8-7 Wolverines are hungry for another win here after defeating Maryland 83-64. The Hoosiers are 14-4, and off a tight 68-65 win over Purdue on Thursday. Both teams are among the best in the nation defensively. Each is pretty comparable on the offensive end. Clearly, Indiana has the home-floor advantage here, but note that it's just 2-7 ATS in its last nine conference home games as a favorite in the -3.5 to -7.5 points range. Hunter Dickinson and the Wolverines on the other hand are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 after a SU/ATS home win in which they score 80 or more points; grab the points!

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8* UC SAN DIEGO (BLOWOUT)

CSU Fullerton has won six in a row, so I expect it to come in complacent here against 8-9 UC San Diego. The Tritons have lost four in a row, but note that they're 7-3 ATS in their last 10 after three or more SU losses in a row. Fullerton averages 72.5 points and allows 67.3, while San Diego averages 69.7 points and allows 68. Look for the Tritons to sneak in through the back door with the large amount of points they've been afforded here!

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10* WEST VIRGINIA (BLOOD-BATH)

Am I calling for an outright win? I am not. However, this one is going to be a complete "nail-biter" in my opinion. Yes, WVU has lost B2B games, but it was against some really stiff competition, falling 85-59 to Kansas and 77-68 to Baylor. Texas Tech enters complacent here after going 4-1 in its last 5 (with wins over Kansas, Baylor and Iowa in that span.) WVU averages 68.9 PPG, and it allows 63.6. Texas Tech averages 73.7 PPG, and it concedes 58.7. But as I say, I think that TT is going to get caught looking past the Mountaineers today to its much more high-profile contest at Kansas on Monday night! WVU won this game 82-71 as a 6.5-point dog last year. As I stated above, no outright win this time, but expect another close one; grab the points!

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10* ROCKETS (ASSASSIN)

The lowly Rockets have been playing better of late. The mighty Warriors have been struggling somewhat. Houston plays with revenge here after a 12 point loss earlier in the season, and it comes in off a momentum-building 116-111 win at Utah. The Rockets have in fact now won 3 of their last 4. Golden State on the other hand has lost 3 of its last 5. That includes a 121-117 OT home loss here just last night to the lowly Pacers. And with Utah, Dallas, Minnesota and Brooklyn all coming to town next, can anyone say "look-ahead spot?!" Finally, note that the Rockets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 in trying to revenge a SU/ATS home loss to an opponent. No outright, but the stage is set for a tight battle; grab the points!

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10* PELICANS (ASSASSIN)

I like the Pels here to sneak in under the radar. They're coming off a 104-92 loss to Boston. New York is off a 112-110 home loss to the Timberwolves. New Orleans had an 18 point halftime lead in its last game, but it stumbled down the stretch. The Knicks are just unable to close out anyone though, as evidenced by the last-second loss to Minnesota last time out. This New York offense has been consistently inconsistent all season and I think it'll have difficulties containing this hungry visiting side. This one comes down to the wire; so grab the points!

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8* GEORGIA (ROUT)

Am I suggesting to play the Georgia Bulldogs on the money line here? Of course not. But I definitely think this is far too many points for Auburn to be giving up here. The Bulldogs will be super hungry after starting league play 0-6. Most recently it was a 73-66 loss to Vanderbilt. Auburn is 16-1 and it's coming off an 80-71 win over Ole Miss. Clearly, Auburn is the better team here, but with Kentucky coming to town this weekend, I say the home side takes the foot off the gas in the second half. It's a perfect set of off court circumstances working in favor of Georgia today. Also note that the Bulldogs are 7-2 ATS in their last nine after 2 or more SU/ATS losses in a row; grab the points!

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8* RAPTORS (ASSASSIN)

I think this is a great spot bet on the hungry and undervalued Raptors here. Two nights after beating the Bucks by a score of 103-96, the Raptors fell 104-99 at Miami as 4-point dogs on Sunday. Dallas has turned things around after a shaky start to the season, but it needed to come from behind in its last game here to beat OKC by a score of 104-102 as 11.5-point favs. And with rival Phoenix coming to town tomorrow, starters could see more rest time than normal this evening against their feisty non-conference opponent. Dallas is playing in the shadow of Phoenix these days, so that's a game that it's had circled on the calendar. Toronto is 7-2 ATS in its last nine off a SU/ATS road loss in which it was held to 99 or less points in. Expect that trend to continue here; grab the points!

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10* BUCKNELL (MAULING)

Bucknell is eager to stop an extended losing streak, and Colgate stands in its way. Colgate is the defending Patriot League champion, but it's had plenty of issues this season as well. The Bison have indeed dropped seven straight after a 63-55 setback at American most recently. On November 20th Colgate would post an amazing 100-85 win over Syracuse, but it would then go on to lose eight of its next nine games. It's since bounced back with wins over Army and Navy. Bucknell though has won its last 5 home games against Colgate, including a 71-70 nail-biter in the last matchup at Sojka Pavilion in 2020. Bucknell is 7-3 ATS in its last ten as a home dog in the +9.5 to +11.5 points range as well. No outright here, but MUCH closer than expected; grab the points!

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10* NORTHWESTERN (BIG TEN GOM).

After 6 straight wins, I say that Wisconsin takes a step back here mentally finally against this hungry and tough Northwestern home side. The Badgers enter off a 78-68 win over Ohio State, while Northwestern is off a 64-62 win over Michigan State as 9.5-point underdogs. Wisconsin is led by Brad Davison. It averages 72. points per game, while allowing 65.1. The Wildcats will be hungry here though, as they lost 4 in a row previous to their most recent win. Northwestern averages 76.8 PPG, while allowing 68.3. The Badgers aren't a high-scoring team. I say the "wheels on the bus" finally fall off here. Look for NORTHWESTERN to build off its latest performance and to find a way to deliver here at home as well!

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10* KNICKS (NON-CONF GOM).

The 21-22 Minnesota Timberwolves are off a huge 119-99 win over league-leading Golden State. Can anyone say "letdown" spot here?!  The Knicks have won six of their last ten games, but their three-game win streak was snapped in last night's 97-87 loss to a red-hot Chalotte team. With a game at Atlanta tomorrow night, the visitors are gonig to get classically caught "looking ahead" here. The 22-22 Knicks can't afford that same luxury though after last night's loss. Minnesota is still just 9-12 on the road, while New York is still 11-10 at home. Look for the hungry home side to deliver in friendly confines!

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Spurs (10* GAME OF WEEK).

The Suns are 33-9 overall. They've won 3 straight. THey're off a 138-108 road win at Detroit. I think Phoenix gets caught looking past the Spurs though. San Antonio is without question the hungrier of these two teams. It's coming off a momentum-building 101-94 win over the Clippers. This is a double-revenge game as well already for the Spurs after dropping both earlier contests to Phoenix this season. With 2 nights off before a big game at Dallas to end this trip, the Suns also get caught looking-ahead in this one. Outright victory? I think entirely possible (so sprinkle a little on the ML as well!) That said, my official call will be to grab as many points as you can with San Antonio!

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10* FIU (BLOWOUT)

Both teams are 10-6 SU. FIU is just 5-8-1 ATS, while MTSU is 10-2-2 ATS. I think these lop-sided trends start correcting themselves here though. FIU is off eight straight ATS losses, which is definitely significant to note as the Golden Panthers are still 14-7 ATS in their last 21 after five or more straight ATS losses in a row. Most recently it was an 84-56 setback to Auburn. That's also noteworthy, as FIU is 7-2 ATS in its last nine off a SU/ATS loss of 25 or more points. FIU plays with revenge here as well after a 67-56 loss to the Blue Raiders as 4-point favorites last year. MTSU has broken a two-game slide with B2B SU/ATS wins/covers, but note that it's just 1-6 ATS in its last seven off a SU/ATS victory in which it held its opponent to 59 or fewer points in. Probably no outright, but definitely right down to the wire; so grab the points!

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10* MICHIGAN (BLOWOUT)

The Wolverines will be highly motivated here after their 75-67 loss to Rutgers. Overall they average 72.8 PPG, while allowing 66.8. The Illini average 80.8 PPG, while allowing 65.0. Hunter Dickinson averages 16.1 points per game for the Wolverines. Kofi Cockburn averages 22.0 for the Illini. With 13-2 Purdue coming to town on Monday, I expect Illinois to take the foot off the gas in the second half. Listen, I'm not calling for an outright win or anything like that at all, but expect Michigan to bounce back, fight hard and to keep this one close; grab all those points!

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10* PACERS (A$$A$$IN)

Clearly, the Suns are the much better team in this matchup. However, I think that the situation and this spread favor the home side. The Suns are off a 99-95 road win at Toronto on Tuesday, but they're just 2-7 ATS in their last nine off a SU road victory in which they held their opponent to 95 points or less in. Indiana had its three game ATS win streak snapped last time out in a 119-100 home loss, but note that it's 7-3 ATS in its last ten off a SU/ATS home loss in which it was held to 100 or less points in. With a "cream puff" at Detroit up next, the Suns are vulnerable here to a bit of a mental letdown as well. I say the Suns play down to the level of their competition here. Outright win? Probably not. But this one will definitely be decided in the final moments, so the official call will be to grab the points!

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10* Wolves (A$$A$$IN)

I like the Wolves to sneak in under the proverbial radar here and to, at the very least, give the red hot Grizz a run for their money today! Minnesota comes in off a 128-125 road loss at New Orleans on Tuesday. The Grizz are on a ten-game win streak and just knocked off league-leading Golden State by a score of 116-108 on Tuesday. Can anyone say classic "letdown" spot?! Both teams almost concede the identical number of points (Wolves allow 109.2, Grizzlies allow 107.9). Ja Morant and company are in unchartered territory right now and regression is imminent in my opinion. With Dallas coming to town tomorrow night, I also forsee the home side getting caught "looking past" its opponent. Outright win?! Maybe (consider sprinkling a little on the ML!) In the end though, my official call is to grab as many points as you can!

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10* NKU (MAULING)

I look for the hungry 5-8 NKU Norse to give the 9-7 Youngstown Penguins a run for their money today! Both teams have been terrible of late, losing four of their last five. Each plays at a similar pace and their offensive and defensive numbers are also very comparable. However one thing to take note of here, is that NKU is actually 15th in the country in offensive rebounding, while the Penguins are 84th. These second-chance opportunities are going to be the difference-maker in this one. If history is any precedence, then NKU has to LOVING its chances here, as note that it has in fact won 8 of the last 10 matchups in this series. Outright victory?! With a spread like this, clearly that's a possibility. But all that said, my official call will be to grab as many points as you can!

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10* SUNS (ASSASSIN)

The Suns are 30-9 and the Raptors are 20-17. Phoenix probably got caught looking ahead to its Eastern road swing in its 123-100 loss at home to Miami on Saturday. Toronto looks poised for a letdown here though in my opinion after its slim 105-101 home win over the lowly Pelicans. Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder and JaVale McGee are all back for the Suns now though after a stint on the COVID list. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet have been fantastic for Toronto, but the home side does lack depth compared to Phoenix. Toronto has won six straight, and that fact has actually driven down this line in favor of Toronto. I say the Suns come prepared to play in the first game of their road trip. So lay the points!

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8* PLAY on Miami Ohio

This the Redhawks first conference home game and they play with "double revenge" after dropping both contests against the Rockets last season. Toledo is 11-4, most recently beating NIU by a score of 94-63. But Miami Ohio is out to take out its frustrations as well after an OT loss against Bowling where it led by 9 at half-time. If history is any precedence though, then the RedHawks have to be loving their chances today as they're 42-20 all time at Oxford in this series. Look for Miami Ohio to keep the foot on the gas in the second half and to find a way to deliver on Tuesday!

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10* PACERS (ASSASSIN)

This play is contrarian. The Pacers are 15-25, including only 3-15 on the road. The C's are 19-21, including 12-8 at home. Boston has been trading wins/losses over its last four games. Two nights after collapsing and losing 108-105 in New York, the C's won 99-75 at home over the Knicks. This is the opener of a home and home set and I expect Indiana to take it very seriously. Note that Boston is also just 2-7 ATS in its last nine off a SU/ATS home win in which it held its opponent to 80 or fewer points in. Expect Indiana to build off its impressive 125-113 home win over Utah and to take this one right down to the wire!

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10* UNC Greensboro (GAME OF WEEK)

This is a makeup game for one that was postponed on January 1st. This is UNCG's third game in five days and I believe the schedule actually benefits the home side. UNCG is off a 72-56 road win at VMI on Saturday, led by 18 points and 6 boards from Kobe Langley. Wofford is off a 68-57 road win at ETSU, led by 22 points from BJ Mack. UNCG is 5-1 at home this year though and it's held its last three opponents to under 60 points. This is an evenly matched contest, and in scenario's like that, I LOVE grabbing as many points as I can. And that's the play here, grab the points on UNCG!

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10* CAA GOY on Northeastern

Northeastern is the hungrier "dog" in this fight. It comes in off 3 straight losses. Towson has had two cancelations of late, as well as conference loss to Drexel on Monday. Northeastern comes in rested after a week off. Most recently the Huskies fell 71-70 to William and Mary on New Year's Eve. Five players average double digits in scoring for Northeastern. Towson fell 65-61 in Drexel in its most recent outing, but it's still 9-5 overall. Towson has four double-digit scorers. Both teams are dealing with serious COVID issues, but Northeastern will be the healthier of the two now. Look for the much more determined visiting side to fight tooth and nail until the end. Grab the points!

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THE CITADEL (10* SOUTHERN GAME OF YEAR).

These teams split their season series last year, with each side winning on its home floor. Chattanooga will continue that trend today, as I am NOT calling for an outright upset here. That said, this is WAY too many points to be giving up in my opinion. Chattanooga is 12-3, most recently holding on for a 75-67 win over Wofford on Wednesday. Malachi Smith leads three players in double figures at 20.4 points per game. The Citadel average 82.6 points per game though, while the Mocs average 77.9. The difference is on the defensive end, but I expect the Bulldogs' up-tempo play to keep them in this one late. As I stated off the top, no outright victory for the visiting side here, but we can absolutely expect it to make it interesting!

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8* SLAM-DUNK on Butler.

Xavier is 1-1 in league play, most recently coming in off a road loss at Villanova. Butler is also 1-1 in Big East action after falling to Seton Hall at home. Xavier comes to town off a 17-day layoff. In the loss to Villanova, Xavier actually held an 8-point half-time lead. Dwon Odom had 13 points. The Musketeers are 11-2, but I say that rest leads to rust tonight. The Bulldogs have had two games postponed due to COVID this year. In their last game they looked a bit rusty themselves, falling 71-56 to No. 24 Seton Hall. Butler has a big OT win over Oklahoma this year and I say that "home court" is something that can't be overlooked as a major advantage for the Bulldogs here. Expect the home side to control the pace and to grind out a solid ATS cover here!

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10* BULLS.

The 19-19 Washington Wizards are off a terrible 114-111 home loss to Houston and I believe that they're ripe for the picking in this one. Chicago has won eight in a row, but it's failed to cover in three straight. That includes a much tighter than expected 102-98 win here over Olrando. But that three nights ago. With so much time off to rest and prepare for this one, we can absolutely expect the home side to push the pace of this one from start to finish. The Wizards have struggled offensively this year, but they've also struggled defensively. This isn't a good combination to win games most nights. When these teams played in Washington on January 1st, Chicago scored the 120-119 victory and it was unable to cover the 2-point spread. I say the Bulls come in focused and run up the score from start to finish this time around though!

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10* COLUMBIA (IVY LEAGUE GAME OF YEAR).

Columbia will be motivated to get into the winners circle today. It's just 3-9 following its 79-69 loss to Sacred Heart ont he 13th of Decemer. It's following two games were postponed, and in my opinion, "rest" is NOT going to lead to "rust" today. In fact, I beleieve the extra time off will benefit the Lions here in the second half of the season. Liam Murphy had 20 points in the loss to Sacred Heart. Columbia averages 67.8 PPG, while Princeton averages 82.1. The Tigers are coming off a 100-59 rout of Kean to move to 10-3. This is the opener of Princeton's Ivy League schedule though and I think it'll have a much tighter fight than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe. The Tigers win this game, but Columbia gets the comfortable cover!

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10* Sam Houston State (WESTERN ATHLETIC GAME OF YEAR).

The Sam Houston State Bearkats are 7-8, while the Tarleton State Texans are 6-9. While both teams started out slowly, each has looked better of late. The Bearkats have won three in a row, while the Texans have won five of their last seven. Sam Houston State averages 73.5 PPG, while allowing 67.1. Tarleton State averages only 63.2 PPG, while allowing 63.4. The Bearkats on the other hand are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games, while the Texans are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight as a home favorite in the -3.5 to -5.5-points range. Sam Houston State is heating up and in a contest that I see being decided in the waning moments, I'll gladly grab the points!

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10* Hornets (BLOOD-BATH)

Off B2B victories, I believe that Detroit will stumble here. Most recently it was a monumental 115-106 win over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. The Hornets on the other hand will be anxious to return to the winners circle after a listless 124-121 loss in the nation's capital in their last outing. The problem for the Pistons here is that they average only 101.1 PPG, while allowing 110.1. Saddiq Bey was huge for Detroit in its last win with 34 points and eight boards, but I just don't see lightning striking twice here. Charlotte has in fact lost two in a row, so it'll be hungry here. The Hornets average 114.9 PPG, while allowing 116.7. But they catch a break here facing this "on again, off again" Detroit offense. I expect a blowout of epic proportions, so lay those points with confidence!

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8* Charleston Southern (DESTRUCTION.

I think the 6-7 Gardner-Webb Bulldogs will have their hands full today with the 3-9 Charleston Southern Buccaneers. The Bulldogs average 73 PPG, while allowing 65.9. D’Maurian Williams is averaging 14.2 points and two assists. The Bucs average 72.9 PPG, while allowing 80.3. Tahlik Chavez is averaging 10.2 points and two assists, while Kalib Clinton is averaging 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. Yes, Gardner-Webb is the better team in this fight, but not by this many points on the road. I look for the hungry home dog to fight tooth and nail here in this "winnable" game. Grab the points!

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10* Marquette (BIG EAST GAME OF YEAR)

Providence is 13-1 overall. Its only loss was against Virginia at a neutral site. Marquette is 8-6 and it comes in starving for a win today after four straight losses. Five of the Golden Eagles' last six games though have come against Top 50 teams. The Friars have so far exceeded expectations and now they hit the most difficult part of their schedule. Overall the Friars average 69.8 points per game while allowing 61.1. The Golden Eagles are ranked 67th in defensive efficiency rating and they are ranked 39th overall as far as pace is concerned. I say regression is imminent for Providence. Marquette comes in focused here and as the hungrier team. Finally, note that the Golden Eagles are 7-2 ATS in their last nine as a divisional home dog in the +1.5 to +3.5-points range. The outright is possible, but grab the points!

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10* Spurs (PLATINUM CLUB)

I think the Spurs catch the Raptors at a good time here. San Antonio is off a 117-116 loss at Detroit. The Spurs though remain one of the league's highest scoring teams, averaging 111.5 PPG. With a tough upcoming schedule, including a game at Boston tomorrow night, I believe Greg Popovich has his troops prepared to play today. The Raptors are off a relatively simple 120-105 home win over New York and they've won two in a row, but Nick Nurse will likely rest many throughout this game with a contest at Milwaukee tomorrow night. The Raptors only average 106.9 PPG as well. Outright?! Anything is possible, but I do definitely expect this to be very competitive and that's the reason why I'm grabbing the points!

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10* NON-CONFERENCE GAME OF MONTH on Nets.

The bottom line here gentlemen is that these are two very good teams. Memphis has been playing well of late, but I think it's overmatched here facing this Nets team that's coming off a poor loss to the Clippers in their last outing, allowing a whopping 40 points in the fourth quarter, an effort which promted Steve Nash to asses: "We deserved to lose that game." Both James Harden and Kevin Durant had huge nights, but Brooklyn stumbled down the stretch. Memphis is off B2B home wins, but it's still just 2-7 ATS in its last nine after a SU/ATS home victory in which it held its opponent to 105 or less points in. I think Harden and Durant lay the hammer down here after that pathetic effort last time out. Lay the points, this one gets UGLY!

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10* BIG TEN GAME OF THE YEAR on Nebraska. 

The Buckeyes are 8-2 SU and 5-5 ATS. Ohio State comes to Nebraska off a 73-55 win over Wisconsin as a 5-point favorite. The issue here for Ohio State is that its last three games have been canceled due to COVID-related issues. I say that "rest" leads to "rust." Nebraska on the other hand is 6-7 SU and 5-8 ATS. Nebraska can't afford to look past anyone. It broke a five-game slide last time out in a relatively simple 88-74 victory over Kennesaw State. Ohio State is 48th in offensive efficiency and it allows just 67.3 PPG. Nebraska on the other hand is ranked 267th offensively and 267th defensively. On paper, the Huskers are overmatched, but this is a great "situational" play here. And it's strong from a trend standpoint as well, as Ohio State is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine when playing with two or more weeks of rest between contests. No outright, but VERY tight in the end!

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This is a 10* play on the Jazz.

The Warriors are 27-7, but they're off a listless 89-86 defeat to Denver. With a night off before a home game againt the Heat, Golden State will have to very careful to not get caught looking ahead today. This is the first matchup of the year between the clubs, but the Jazz enter having won six in a row. Utah is the highest scoring team in the league, averaging 116 PPG, and its guard rotation matches up well against Stephen Curry and company. The Warriors are ranked seventh in scoring, but note that they're just 2-7 ATS in their last nine off a SU/ATS loss in which it was held to 90 points or less in. Look for Utah to come out and push the pace from start to finish. The play is the JAZZ.

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