EARLY CBB ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Temple Owls (16-13) have lost three of their last four to ruin their chances of a NCAA Tournament berth. The surging Tulsa Golden Hurricane on the other hand have won seven of eight to improve to 18-11 on the season and defeated East Carolina 72-58 on Thursday. Their lone loss in the last eight was an 82-74 setback as Cincinnati as a 17-point dog, so absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. 

Tulsa has already clinched the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming conference tournament, but I still expect the home team to show up here, particularly as it'll seek revenge for a 59-58 loss at Temple back in January; the Golden Hurricane are 5-1 ATS when seeking revenge for a road loss this season.

My selection is an 8* play on Tulsa.

SUPER EARLY CINCINNATI @ WICHITA STATE 10* BOOKIE BREAKER

The Wichita State Shockers won the first meeting of the season 76-72 last month, and they would earn a share of the AAC title if they can defeat the conference-leading Cincinnati Bearcats once again here on Sunday. 

The Bearcats are second in the nation in points allowed at 57.2 ppg, but here they'll face a Shockers team which has scored at least 75 points in 10 straight games and has averaged 83.9 ppg on the season. 

Bearcats are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Shockers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. Shockers are 20-5-1 ATS in their last 26 Sunday games. Bearcats are 19-41 ATS in their last 60 Sunday games.

My selection is a 10* play on Wichita State Shockers. 

NBA 3-PACK

Two of the hottest (and best) teams in the NBA will clash at Toyota Center on Saturday as the Houston Rockets host the Boston Celtics. Houston has won 14 straight while the Celtics have come out of the All Star break with four dominant wins. Boston put a 134-106 beating on Charlotte its last time out and is 16-5-1 ATS in its last 22 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and 10-2 ATS as an underdog this season. The underdog is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings in this series and I'm well happy to take the points on the visitors in this matchup.

My selection is an 8* play on Boston Celtics.

NBA 3-PACK

The Detroit Pistons took a 115-106 OT loss at Orlando last night. Here they'll visit a Miami Heat side which took a 131-113 pounding by the Lakers its last time out. I think we'll see the Heat bounce back and win a high-scoring game. The Heat had won two in a row prior to the loss to the Lakers, and they're 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. Eight of their last 10 have gone over the total, and the home team should be able to take advantage of the visitors tired legs. Pistons are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games playing on no rest and 0-5 ATS in their last five road games.

My selection is a 10* play on DET @ MIA to go OVER the total. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Detroit Pistons took a 115-106 OT loss at Orlando last night. Here they'll visit a Miami Heat side which took a 131-113 pounding by the Lakers its last time out. I think we'll see the Heat bounce back and win a high-scoring game. The Heat had won two in a row prior to the loss to the Lakers, and they're 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. Eight of their last 10 have gone over the total, and the home team should be able to take advantage of the visitors tired legs. Pistons are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games playing on no rest and 0-5 ATS in their last five road games.

My selection is an 8* play on Miami. 

TOP RATED 10 CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Texas Longhorns are fighting to get into the NCAA Tournament, and a win over West Virginia Mountaineers would give them a big boost in that regard. For the Mountaineers, the game is also important for the seeding in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament and in the NCAA Tournament that begins March 14. 

The Mountaineers are just 2-9-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings, but they delivered a 86-51 shellacking on the Longhorns in the first meeting of the year on Jan. 20 in Morgantown. 

We can also note that Texas will be without suspended guard Eric Davis Jr. and freshman Mohamed Bamba (toe) missed Monday's 80-70 loss at Kansas. He's expected to play here, but in what condition?

My selection is a 10* play on West Virginia Mountaineers.

CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Xavier Musketeers will have plenty of motivation here as a win would give them their first outright Big East title in school history. They beat Providence 84-74 their last time out and are 8-0 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a losing home record. DePaul Blue Demons have lost four of their last five games and are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

My selection is an 8* play on Xavier. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

We lost with Leicester City as our soccer Game of the Week last Saturday as they managed just a 1-1 draw with Stoke despite a huge dominance in possession and goals-scoring opportunities. I expect the Foxes to deliver the goods this week instead when they host Bournemouth.

Leicester have won just two of their last 11 league games, but I like what I've seen on the pitch lately and forward Shinji Okazaki could be available here after a three-match lay-off with a knee injury. Bournemouth have only kept one clean sheet in their last 15 Premier League games and Leicester should score plenty of goals after last week's disappointing result. 

My SOCCER Game of the Week is a 10* play on Leicester. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Detroit Pistons have won just two of their last eight games, but they defeated Milwaukee 110-87 their last time out and should be able to ride the momentum to a win here at Orlando Friday night. 

The Magic have lost seven straight to find themselves in the basement of the East while Detroit is looking to get back into the playoff picture. 

The Pistons enter this game three games behind the Heat for the final playoff spot in the conference, and the motivation should be stronger for the visitors in this matchup. 

My selection is a 10* play on Detroit Pistons. 

LATE WOLVES @ BLAZERS NIGHTCAP

The Portland Trail Blazers are on a roll, coming off four straight victories including underdog wins against Golden State and at Utah. The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off dominant wins against bottom feeders Chicago and Sacramento but had failed to cover the spread in six straight games prior to that. 

Timberwolves are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games and 2-9-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Portland. Trail Blazers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games and earned a 123-114 home win in the most recent meeting in this series on Jan. 24.

My selection is an 8* play on Portland. 

TOP RATED 10* CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Cincinnati Bearcats have a matchup with powerhouse Wichita State on deck, but I don't think they'll look past Tulane here as they still have a chance to earn a share of the American Athletic Conference regular-season title. 

Tulane is in a letdown spot after ending a six-game losing skid with a 79-68 win at South Florida its last time out. Green Wave are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following a straight up win and 5-22 ATS in their last 27 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. 

Cincinnati is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games following a ATS loss, which it is here after beating Tusla by only eight points as a 17-point favorite its last time out. 

The Bearcats connected on 15-of-22 attempts from downtown in the victory, and I expect a better defensive performance here with Cincinnati allowing an average of just 57.5 points per game (2nd in the country) and its plus-18.6 average scoring margin leads the country.

My selection is a 10* play on Cincinnati Bearcats. 

#NBA 3-PACK

The LA Lakers have averaged 120 ppg through three straight victories, admittedly against teams near or at the bottom of the standings in the NBA, but I think they'll be able to pile up the points here at Miami Thursday night as well. 

The Lakers defeated the Hawks 123-104 at Atlanta their last time out. It's worth noting that they're 7-1 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up win of more than 10 points while over is 5-0-1 in their last six overall.

The Heat are coming off back-to-back triumphs against Memphis and Philadelphia. They've performed very well against the spread lately, entering this game on a 5-0-1 ATS run but we can note that they're just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.  

The previous two meetings this season have seen an average of 224.5 points and over is 7-2 in Miami's last nine overall.

My selection is an 8* play on LA Lakers. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The LA Lakers have averaged 120 ppg through three straight victories, admittedly against teams near or at the bottom of the standings in the NBA, but I think they'll be able to pile up the points here at Miami Thursday night as well. 

The Lakers defeated the Hawks 123-104 at Atlanta their last time out. It's worth noting that they're 7-1 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up win of more than 10 points while over is 5-0-1 in their last six overall.

The Heat are coming off back-to-back triumphs against Memphis and Philadelphia. They've performed very well against the spread lately, entering this game on a 5-0-1 ATS run but we can note that they're just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.  

The previous two meetings this season have seen an average of 224.5 points and over is 7-2 in Miami's last nine overall.

My selection is a 10* play on LAL @ MIA to go OVER the total. 

PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER

Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final at neutral ground (Wembley) on Sunday. Here they'll visit the Gunners at Emirates Stadium, but I think they'll get the job done on the road as well.

Man City are sitting top of the table, 13 points clear of Man United while Arsenal are just 6th, eight points behind Chelsea in 5th. The Gunners have won only one of their eight league games this season against the other teams in the top six and failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last nine Premier League games. Man City have plenty of offensive firepower and should have no trouble to take advantage of this leaky Arsenal defense. 

My selection is an 8* play on Man City. 

LATE NIGHT ROCKETS @ CLIPPERS TOTAL

The Houston Rockets head to LA riding an amazing 14-game winning streak, fueled by an offense that averages 114.0 ppg on the season. James Harden leads the NBA with a 31.4 ppg and put up 51 points and eight assists in a 128-118 loss to the Clippers back in December.

Over is 4-1 in Rockets last five road games, and here they'll face a Clippers side which has played four straight overs following a 122-120 win at Denver last night. Over is 13-3 in Clippers' games after allowing 115 points or more their last time out.

I expect to see tired Clippers legs on defense and the visitors to drive up the tempo to take full advantage. 

My selection is an 8* play on HOU @ LAC to go OVER the total. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA)

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to San Antonio on a six-game winning streak, and they've covered the spread in each of the last three meetings with the Spurs, the most recent a 107-90 triumph at New Orleans back in November. The Spurs are only 6-10 ATS in revenge spots this season and had lost four straight prior to a 110-94 win at Cleveland on Sunday. Let down spot for the home team here after that win, and I'm happy to take the points on the visitors. 

My NBA Game of the Month is a 10* play on New Orleans Pelicans. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL POWER PLAY

The St. Louis Blues took an 8-3 beating at Minnesota last night and have now lost seven straight games (0-6-1). Here they'll face a Detroit team which opened a five-game road trip with a 3-2 overtime victory over the fading New York Rangers on Sunday. I absolutely love the price we get on the rested away team in this contest. Note that the Red Wings are 6-2 in their last eight road games vs. a team with a winning home record and the road team is 11-1 in the last 12 meetings.

My selection is a 10* play on Detroit Red Wings. 

#NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

Both the Boston Celtics and the Charlotte Hornets are undefeated since the All Star break, with Charlotte covering the spread in each of their four games while Boston came up one point short in its 109-98 win over Memphis on Monday. 

The Hornets are however just 1-5 ATS in their last six road games, and here they'll play on no rest after beating the Bulls 118-103 at home last night. Note that the Hornets are just 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine in the second game of a back-to-back set and 1-9-1 ATS in the last 11 encounters with the Celtics. 

It's quite a few points to cover, but I think the rest advantage and recent dominance in the series will allow the Celtics to pull away in the second half. 

My selection is an 8* play on Boston Celtics. 

NHL NO-BRAINER

The St. Louis Blues have lost six straight and they've been shut out while giving up for in each of their last two games. Here they'll face a red hot Minnesota side which is coming off four straight wins and scoring 16 goals in the process. Wild are 14-3 in their last 17 when their opponent scores two goals or fewer in their previous game and 16-6 in their last 22 home games. I can't find any reason not to back Minnesota in this matchup. 

My selection is an 8* play on Minnesota Wild. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a 110-94 loss to San Antonio on Sunday.

Coach Tyronn Lue used Monday's practice session to come up with new offensive schemes, but will it help? "I was able to add some more stuff offensively because right now, with only two or three practices (since adding four players), we're predictable offensively and teams are kind of sitting on that and taking advantage of that," Lue told reporters. Tough job to change it up on short notice though, and I would not be surprised to see the Cavs struggle on offense once again tonight. Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last five home games.

Brooklyn ended an eight-game losing streak with a 104-87 win over Chicago Monday night. It will definitely be in the visitors' interested to slow down the tempo here, playing on no rest. Under is 4-1 in Nets last five road games.

Under is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings and 3-1-1 in the last five meetings in Cleveland.

My selection is a 10* play on BRK @ CLE to go UNDER the total. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (CBB)

The Tennessee Volunteers are coming off back-to-back triumphs to move within one game of first-place Auburn in the SEC. I think they're in for a tough game here though, facing a surging Mississippi State Bulldogs team that has reeled off three straight victories and seven in the past nine (8-1 ATS during that stretch) to vault into third place in the SEC standings. 

Mississippi State has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2009 and a big win over the ranked Volunteers tonight would be a big boost to the Bulldogs' resume, and it won last season's meeting 64-59.

We can also note that the Bulldogs are 18-1 SU home at Humphrey Coliseum on the season and 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

My College Basketball Game of the Month is a 10* play on Mississippi State. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Minnesota Timberwolves are likely to be without All-Star guard Jimmy Butler for 4-to-6 weeks due to surgery on his right knee. They still recorded a 122-104 win over Chicago their last time out, and over is now 7-1 in Timberwolves last eight overall. 

Here the Wolves will face a Sacramento team that has struggled on defense all season long. Over is 4-1-1 in Kings last six overall and 6-1-1 in their last eight home games vs. a team with a losing road record which Minnesota has at 12-19 on the road. A big reason for the poor road record is the 109.6 ppg it allows away from home. 

Over is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on MIN @ SAC to go OVER the total. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Boston Celtics have reeled off two straight victories since the All Star break, the most recent a 121-112 triumph at Madison Square Garden. I think they'll be involved in another high-scoring contest when hosting the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night.

The Grizzlies have lost nine in a row and struggled big time on the defensive end of the court. Over is 9-3 in Grizzlies last 12 road games and 20-6 in the last 26 meetings with the Celtics. We can also note that over is 10-4 in Celtics last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. This total looks way too low to not take a stab at.

My selection is an 8* play on MEM @ BOS to go OVER the total. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Toronto Raptors took a 122-119 overtime loss to Milwaukee on Friday, a setback that put an end to a seven-game winning streak. Odds are they'll bounce back and punish the Pistons in a high-scoring contest here Monday night. The Pistons have dropped five of their last six and fell 114-98 at Charlotte on Sunday, but on a positive note; Blake Griffin scored 20 points while Andre Drummond recorded his 14th straight double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Over is 19-7 in the last 26 meetings in Toronto and 9-4 in the last 13 meetings overall.

My selection is an 8* play on DET @ TOR to go OVER the total. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL)

The Philadelphia Flyers travel to Montreal backed by a solid 9-0-2 run and five straight victories. I think we're getting an excellent price on the visitors in this contest. 

The Habs have won just once in their last eight overall (1-4-3) and their starting goaltender Carey Price is out indefinitely with a concussion after taking a shot off his mask last Tuesday. 

Flyers are 6-0 in their last six road games while Canadiens are 3-10 in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. 

We can also note that Philly has lost six straight at Bell Centre, so the visitors should be fired up to make the most of their hot run and end that streak right here, right now. 

My NHL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Philadelphia Flyers. 

CBB BANKROLL BUILDER (TOTAL)

The No.5 Duke Blue Devils will visit the Virginia Tech Hokies Monday night. Both sides have played solid defense lately, and I expect this contest to go under the total.

Duke is riding a five-game winning streak, and it has allowed an average of just 52.3 ppg through its last four games. It held Syracuse to 44 points on 14/48 shooting from the field its last time out. Under is 4-0 in Blue Devils last four overall and 8-2 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Virginia Tech had allowed just 57 ppg in wins over Georgia Tech and Clemson before taking a 75-68 loss to Louisville its last time out. That game still went under the total though, and under is 6-0 in Hokies last six overall and 12-3 in their last 15 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Under is 12-3 in the last 15 meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on DUKE @ VT to go UNDER the total. 

LATE NIGHT NHL NO-BRAINER

The Arizona Coyotes have the worst record in the NHL at 18-33-10, but they've won five of their last six to climb within one point of Eastern Conference-worst Buffalo. I think they'll keep it rolling here when hosting the Vancouver Canucks Sunday night. 

The Nucks enter Sunday seven points ahead of Arizona in the Pacific Division, but they've posted only two victories this month (2-7-1) following a 6-3 loss at Vegas on Friday. Canucks are 0-8 in their last eight after allowing five goals or more in their previous game and the home team is 5-1 in the last six meetings in this series. 

The Yotes will play on no rest after a 2-0 triumph over Anaheim here at Gila River Arena on Saturday, but I don't think it'll be much of an issue as they don't have to travel anywhere. 

My selection is an 8* play on Arizona Coyotes. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The San Antonio Spurs beat Cleveland 114-102 at home on Jan. 23, but this is a different Cavs team after being heavily involved at the trade deadline. The Cavs are 3-1 since Larry Nance Jr., George Hill, Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood joined the team, and I think they'll get revenge here. The Spurs have lost four straight and they're 2-5 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Additionally, Over is 6-0 in Spurs last six overall and 12-3 in Cavaliers last 15 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

My money is on the Cavs to win and cover the spread in a high-scoring game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Cleveland Cavaliers ATS. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER TOTAL

The San Antonio Spurs beat Cleveland 114-102 at home on Jan. 23, but this is a different Cavs team after being heavily involved at the trade deadline. The Cavs are 3-1 since Larry Nance Jr., George Hill, Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood joined the team, and I think they'll get revenge here. The Spurs have lost four straight and they're 2-5 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Additionally, Over is 6-0 in Spurs last six overall and 12-3 in Cavaliers last 15 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

My money is on the Cavs to win and cover the spread in a high-scoring game. 

My selection is an 8* play on SAS @ CLE to go OVER the total. 

SUPER EARLY PISTONS @ HORNETS BASKET BRAWLER

The Detroit Pistons took a 110-98 loss to Boston in their first game back from the All Star break. They've now lost four of their last five, and this looks like another tough spot at Charlotte Sunday afternoon. 

The Hornets have won three in a row, two since the All Star break defeating Brooklyn 111-96 on Feb 23. before winning 122-105 at Washington the next night. Hornets are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and the favorite is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings in this series. The Pistons have failed to cover the spread in six straight games and eight of their last nine. 

Detroit is in the No. 9 spot in the East with 24 games remaining in the regular season while Charlotte sits in 10th, 2 1/2 games of the Pistons. The Hornets have all the momentum though and ended a three-game losing streak in the series with a 118-107 win at Detroit on Jan. 15. 

My selection is a 10* play on Charlotte Hornets ATS. 

SUPER EARLY CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Michigan State Spartans have won 11 straight, but they've covered the spread in only two of their last nine. Here the Spartans will come up against a Wisconsin team playing arguably its best basketball of the season coming into this contest on a three-game winning streak. 

The Badgers won 70-64 as a 3-point underdog at Northwestern on Thursday to improve to 5-1 ATS in their last six games. We can also note that they're 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games vs. a team with a winning road record while MSU is 2-7-1 ATS in its last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

My selection is an 8* play on Wisconsin Badgers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL)

Very clear cut reasoning behind this play; the Preds are HOT, the Blues are NOT.

The visitors are coming off five straight defeats and took a 4-0 beating by Winnipeg at home Friday. Blues have lost the first three meetings with the Preds this season and they've lost seven straight visits to Bridgestone Arena. 

Nashville is entering this game on a three-game winning streak, outscoring its opponents by a combined 15-5 in the process. 

My NHL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Nashville Predators. 

PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER (TOTAL)

Manchester United will host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday, and I think goals will come at a premium for both sides. 

United have conceded just five goals in 13 Premier League home games this season while Chelsea have won just two of their last nine away matches in all competitions (D4, L3), often struggling to score. We can also note that Chelsea have scored only one goal through their last four visits to Old Trafford. 

Each of Man U's last five games all competitions included have gone under 2.5 goals.

My selection is an 8* play on Under

LATE NIGHT NHL NO-BRAINER

The LA Kings had won three straight prior to a 2-0 setback against Dallas in their first game back from a seven-game road trip Thursday night. I like the Kings to bounce back with a win here against a slumping Edmonton side. We can note that the Kings are 5-0 in their last five after scoring two goals or fewer in their previous game.

The Oilers have lost seven of their last nine despite coming off a 3-2 OT win against Colorado. That was at home though, and they've dropped five of their last six on the road and 14 of the last 16 visits to Staples Center. 

My selection is an 8* play on Los Angeles Kings ML. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

Both the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks played Friday night. I think the scheduling is giving the home team a massive advantage here on Saturday, plus the fact that the Mavericks are facing several off-court controversies so the visitors might find it hard to focus on playing basketball at the moment.

The Jazz will remain home in Salt Lake City following a matchup with Portland here at Vivint Smart Home Arena. They came out flat in the 100-81 loss, and I expect a much better performance tonight. Playing on no rest shouldn't be an issue for the Jazz and they're obviously used to the altitude. The visiting southerners meanwhile are likely to struggle, particularly when playing on no rest after taking on the Lakers in LA last night. 

Jazz are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games playing on no rest and 9-2 ATS on Saturday's this season. 

My selection is a 10* play on Utah Jazz. 

10* AFTERNOON ASSASSIN (PUCKS EDITION)

The white hot Philadelphia Flyers have won four straight and picked up at least a point in 10 straight games (8-0-2). Here they'll visit an Ottawa side that has lost three straight, the two most recent on Feb 21 (@Chicago, 3-2 SO) and Feb 22 (Tampa Bay, 4-3). Tough spot for the Sens here playing their third game in four nights, and they're just 2-10 in their last 12 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation.

Ottawa picked up a 4-3 SO win at Philadelphia on Feb 3. This looks like a favorable situation for Philly to exact revenge.

My selection is a 10* play on Philadelphia Flyers. 

TOP RATED 10* CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off four straight triumphs, covering the spread in each game. I think they're in for a tough matchup here though, facing a Maryland team that needs this game desperately to keep any hopes of making its fourth straight NCAA Tournament alive. The Terps are 15-2 SU at home in Xfinity Center this season and 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 home games. 

Michigan is already assured of no worse than a No. 5 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Conference tournament in Madison Square Garden, and I'm backing the more motivated home team here, particularly with Maryland winning the last three home meetings with Michigan.

My selection is a 10* play on Maryland. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

I Really like Leicester to come through with a victory when they host Stoke early on Saturday. Leicester are undefeated through their last six home games in the league and FA Cup, winning four of those games. Stoke are winless through their last nine on the road all competitions included, losing six of those. They have managed just one win away from home in EPL this season, losing nine times out of 13!

King Power Stadium has not been a happy place for the Potters in their recent visits. In their last two visits they’ve failed to score and conceded a total of five goals (2-0, 3-0). Furthermore, Stoke have not won against Leicester in five attempts (D3, L2).

My Soccer Game of the Week is a 10* play on Leicester. 

SUPER LATE MAVS @ LAKERS NIGHTCRAWLER

The Los Angeles Lakers lost each of their last three games prior to the All Star break, but those were all on the road and they're a solid 14-14 SU (16-12 ATS) home at Staples Center on the season. The skid started with a 130-123 loss at Dallas, but this looks like a good spot for revenge as they'll host a Mavericks side facing several off-court controversies, so the visitors might find it hard to focus on playing basketball at the moment. 

Lakes meanwhile must be in a good mood as they hope to have rookie point guard Lonzo Ball back from a sprained ligament in his left knee. Ball returned to practice this week and told reporters after practice Thursday that he still felt "some pain" in the knee but was hopeful he'd be well enough to play Friday night. We can also note that Isaiah Thomas, whom Los Angeles acquired from Cleveland, will play his first game at Staples Center as a member of the Lakers, so he should be fired up to put on a show for the home fans.

Lakers are 8-0 ATS in their last eight home games. Mavericks are 1-10-1 ATS in their last 12 Friday games.

My selection is an 8* play on LA Lakers ATS. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA)

The Denver Nuggets and the San Antonio Spurs are both among the best home teams in the NBA and the Nuggets beat the Spurs 117-109 here at Pepsi Center on Feb 13. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in the series and I really like Denver in this matchup. 

The Nuggets sit just 2 1/2 games behind the Spurs for the third seed in the West, but they're also only one game ahead of the Clippers for ninth and two games ahead of 10th-place Utah. No time for rest, and we'll surely see a fully focused Denver team down the stretch. 

The Spurs have lost five of their last six games straight up and they're 2-5 ATS through their last seven. The Nuggets have won six of their last seven and covered the spread in seven of their last eight. 

My NBA Game of the Week is a 10* play on Denver Nuggets.

NBA NO-BRAINER

The Utah Jazz had won 11 straight prior to the All Star break, and I think they'll keep winning when they host the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night. The recent surge have pushed the Jazz within 1 1/2 games of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but there's still a lot work to be done for them to reach the postseason. 

Trail Blazers are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings in Utah.

My selection is an 8* play on Utah Jazz. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL POWER PLAY

The Pittsburgh Penguins look like great value when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes Friday night. The Canes are coming off three straight losses and they're just 3-11 in their last 14 vs. a team with a winning record. 

The Pens will be entering PNC Arena on a five-game winning streak and well rested since a 5-2 win at Columbus on Feb 18 (Pittsburgh 5-1 when playing with three or more days rest this season). 

Penguins are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings with Carolina. 

My selection is a 10* play on Pittsburgh Penguins. 

CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Weber State Wildcats are coming off nine straight wins and they're 12-1 home at Dee Events Center on the season. I think they'll be fired up here for their final home games of the regular season. Eastern Washington is just 3-4 on Big Sky road trips and 4-10 ATS in its last 14 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Weber State is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games overall and 11-3 ATS against conference foes. 

My selection is an 8* play on Weber State ATS. 

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The Georgia State Panthers took an 85-80 loss as a small favorite at Georgia Southern their last time out, but they're looking good to bounce back here at Texas State Thursday night. The Bobcats are coming off a 79-71 road loss to UL Monroe, and returning home to Strahan Coliseum might not need what they need in this spot as they're 0-8 ATS in their last eight home games. Road team is 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Georgia State ATS. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Charlotte Hornets need to step up their game if they're to make the playoffs, coming back from the All Star break 5 1/2 games out of the No. 8 spot (Miami) in the East with only 25 games left in the regular season. 

The Nets entered the break with a 19-40 record, having lost seven in a row, and their season is already all but over. That is particularly true considering Jeremy Lin's season-ending knee injury, although star point guard D'Angelo Russell is expected to make his first start for the Nets since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in November. 

Still, the Hornets should be the more motivated team here, and I think they'll want to set the tone for the second half of the season with a blowout win. 

My selection is a 10* play on Charlotte Hornets ATS. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The New York Knicks have lost eight straight and covered the spread just once during that stretch. They'll have to do without  All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis (knee injury) for the rest of the season, and I think they'll come up short here against a Magic side fighting to stay off the bottom of the Eastern Conference. They headed into the All Star break off three straight losses, but all by single digits and they've battled hard in recent weeks covering the spread in five of their last six (13-3 ATS in their last 16) games.  

The Magic are expected to get Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic back from injuries Thursday, which would no doubt be a huge boost with Gordon (18.4 points) and Vucevic (17.4) ranking first and third on the team in scoring plus the latter leading the team in rebounding with 9.3.

My selection is an 8* play on Orlando Magic.

NHL NO-BRAINER

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won 11 of their past 13 games overall and seven straight at home, but I think they're way overrated by the oddsmakers when they host the New York Islanders Thursday night. 

The Isles had shut out both the Rangers and the Hurricanes before taking a 5-3 home loss against Minnesota their last time out. Toronto was outshout 40-31 in its 1-0 win against Florida its last time out and we can note that Islanders netminder Jaroslav Halak owns an 8-3-3 career mark versus the Leafs. 

My selection is an 8* play on NY Islanders +1.5.

GAME OF THE WEEK (CBB)

The Xavier Musketeers took a 95-79 beating by Villanova their last time out. The No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament is still in play though, and I expect them to be fired up for Wednesday's matchup with the Georgetown Hoyas. Note that the Musketeers are 9-0 ATS in their last nine games after allowing more than 90 points in their previous game and still 12-4 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

Georgetown is coming off back-to-back upset triumphs over Seton Hall and Butler, but still only 2-8 ATS in its last 10 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

My CBB Game of the Week is a 10* play on Xavier Musketeers. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL PLAY OF THE DAY

The slumping Columbus Blue Jackets enter this game on a three-game slide and took their eighth defeat in the last 10 games in a 5-2 home loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday night. Captain Nick Foligno will be sidelined for one to two weeks after suffering a lower-body injury against the Pens, and here Columbus will come up against a red-hot Devils team which is coming off four straight victories to get back into playoff contention again.  

The Devils will seek revenge for a 6-1 loss at Columbus on Feb. 10.

My selection is a 10* play on New Jersey Devils. 

TOP RATED 10* CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Butler Bulldogs snapped a three-game slide with a 69-54 victory over Providence their last time out to improve to 13-3 SU (11-5 ATS) here at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the season. I think they'll make it two on the bounce when they host the Creighton Bluejays Tuesday night. Creighton has lost three of its last four after coughing up a 15-point second-half lead in a 90-86 setback Saturday against Marquette, game where it allowed its opponent to shoot 56.3 percent from the field (45.8 percent from behind the arc). 

Creighton has won three straight in the series, the most recent a 85-74 triumph at home on Jan. 9, but this looks like a good revenge spot for Butler.  

My selection is a 10* play on Butler Bulldogs. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Ohio State Buckeyes suffered back-to-back defeats to Penn State (79-56) and 16th-ranked Michigan (74-62) last week, and while I think they'll win this one straight up I don't see Ohio State covering the spread. Note that the Buckeyes are just 3-12 ATS in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and just 2-5 ATS as a home favorite of 12.5 or more points this season. Ohio State won 68-46 at Rutgers on Jan. 14 but the Scarlet Knights are a perfect 5-0 when revenging a blowout loss vs opponent of 20 points or more.

My selection is an 8* play on Rutgers. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Miami (OH) Red Hawks look like a solid home underdog here when they host the Buffalo Bulls Tuesday night. The Red Hawks have lost four in a row, but only one of those games were home at Millett Hall where the team is 7-4 SU on the season. We can also note that the Red Hawks are 12-6 ATS as an underdog this season while Buffalo is 7-10 ATS as a favorite. The Bulls have won four of their last five but they're 0-5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall.

My selection is an 8* play on Miami (OH). 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

Barcelona will visit Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie. Chelsea are coming off a pair of dominant wins against Hull and West Brom, but they've won just four of their past 12 games in all competitions and it's a huge step in competition here, taking on a Barca side that is seven points clear at the top of La Liga. Barcelona have the best defensive record in the Champions League this season, conceding only one goal in six games. They enter this game riding an eight-game undefeated run in all competitions, where they have conceded just two goals while scoring 15 times.

Chelsea will no doubt have trouble scoring while the Los Blaugranas rarely leave a game scoreless thanks to world class strikers like Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. 

My Soccer Game of the Week is a 10* play on Barcelona. 

NHL PUCKLINE PUNISHER

The Nashville Predators are coming off back-to-back home losses and they've dropped four of their last six overall. Tonight they'll host an Ottawa team which is coming to Bridgestone Arena on a two game winning streak following a dominant 6-3 win over Buffalo and NY Rangers. The Sens are 26-15 against the puckline as an underdog this season while the Preds are just 12-25 against the puckline as a favorite. 

My selection is an 8* play on Ottawa Senators. 

CBB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Northwestern Wildcats enter this contest as losers of three straight and they blew a 27-point lead in the 65-60 loss to No. 1 Michigan State on Saturday. That must be very tough mentally, and I don't think they'll be able to bounce back when hosting the Maryland Terrapins Monday night. Maryland held off Rutgers 61-51 on Saturday to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive, and it can not afford to lose this one. The Terrapins are just 1-8 SU on the road this season, but note that Maryland has won five straight Big Ten regular-season meetings with Northwestern and the road team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven in this series. 

My selection is an 8* play on Maryland Terrapins. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL PLAY OF THE DAY

The New York Islanders are coming off back-to-back 3-0 triumphs, and they've had two days rest since beating Carolina their last time out. The winning streak is the first for the Islanders since a three-game run from Jan. 7 to Jan. 15, and I think they'll keep it rolling here when hosting the Minnesota Wild Monday afternoon. The inconsistent Wild enter this contest on a two-game slide, preceded by a two-game winning streak, which in turn was preceded by a four-game span in which it alternated wins with losses. Wild are 6-17 in their last 23 road games vs. a team with a winning home record and the home team is 4-1 in the last five matchups in this series.

My selection is a 10* play on NY Islanders. 

SUNDAY NIGHT PSU @ PURDUE ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Penn State Nittany Lions are coming off a 79-56 rout of No. 9 Ohio State on Thursday, but I think they're in for a much tougher game here at Purdue Sunday night. 

The Boilermakers have suffered narrow losses in their last three games (Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin), but the last two were on the road and we can note that they've won five straight encounters with Penn State (10 in a row at home dating to 2006).

The Nittany Lions are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a straight up win of more than 20 points, 4-12-1 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record and I fully expect Purdue to show up in front of the home fans tonight. 

My selection is an 8* play on Purdue Boilermakers. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL

The Dallas Stars have won six of their last seven games and held all but two opponents to two goals or fewer during that stretch. They're coming off a 2-1 triumph over St. Louis and under is 3-0-1 in Stars last 4 after scoring two goals or less in their previous game and 6-2 in their last eight vs. a team with a winning record. Here they'll face a San Jose Sharks side that has allowed a total of five goals through its last three games, with none of those games going over five goals. Under is 7-2 in Sharks last nine overall.

My selection is a 10* play on DAL @ SJ to go UNDER the total. 

NHL NO-BRAINER

The Toronto Maple Leafs had won five straight prior to a 5-3 setback at Pittsburgh yesterday. I think we're getting good value on the Leafs to bounce back here at Detroit the following night. 

The Leafs had two days off prior to Saturday's contest while Detroit will play its third game in four days here following a 3-1 win at Nashville yesterday. Red Wings are 0-5 in their last five in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation and 1-5 in their last six home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Toronto had won four straight meetings in the series before a 3-1 loss here in Motor City back in December. The Leafs will get back to their winning ways in the series and exact revenge tonight.

My selection is an 8* play on Toronto Maple Leafs. 

NHL 3-PACK

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four straight following a 5-3 triumph against Toronto on Saturday. They've won seven of the last eight meetings with Columbus, and I think they'll get the job done here despite playing on no rest. The Blue Jackets are coming off back-to-back losses and they've dropped seven of their last nine. 

Penguins are 5-1 in their last six games playing on no rest.

My selection is an 8* play on Pittsburgh Penguins. 

CBB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are gunning for a seventh straight victory (and ninth of 10) when they visit Illinois Fighting Illini Sunday afternoon. Their last defeat was a 5-point loss as an 11.5-point dog at OSU on Jan 22, while Illinois took a fourth consecutive defeat when it fell 78-68 at Indiana on Wednesday. Returning home to State Farm Center might not help much as the Fighting Illini are 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games and we can note that the Cornhuskers are 8-0 ATS in their last eight road games.

Nebraska defeated Fighting Illini 64-63 in Lincoln on Jan. 15, and I expect the Cornhuskers to get the job done at Illinois as well. 

My selection is an 8* play on Nebraska. 

SUPER EARLY TOP RATED 10* CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Ohio State Buckeyes were just 2-for-14 from behind the arc when they took a 79-56 beating at Penn State on Thursday night. Here they'll face another excellent defense, and I think we'll see a low-scoring contest at Crisler Center Sunday afternoon. The Michigan Wolverines crushed Iowa 74-59 in their latest contest and have held opponents to an average of only 60.9 points in their eight conference home games. 

Under is 5-0 in Buckeyes last five vs. Big Ten teams and 21-6 in their last 27 overall. Under is 5-1 in Wolverines last six home games. Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.

My selection is a 10* play on OSU @ MICH to go UNDER the total. 

TOP RATED 10* COLLEGE BASKETBALL BOOKIE BREAKER

The Colorado Buffaloes are just 1-8 SU on the road this season and 4-16-1 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. They clearly struggle on the road, and here they'll face a Washington Huskies side that must be desperate for a win after losing three straight to fall out of a valuable top-four spot in the Pac-12 standings. 

The Huskies picked up a 72-62 win in Boulder on Jan. 20, and I think they'll come through again at home. 

My selection is a 10* play on Washington Huskies. 

PUCKLINE PUNISHER

The New Jersey Devils are coming off back-to-back triumphs over Philadelphia and Carolina, but I think they're in for a world of hurt when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Saturday.

The Lightning ended a two-game slide with a 4-1 victory over Detroit on Thursday. They've covered the puckline in 11 of their last 14 wins they're 9-for-29 on the power play over the last eight games. The Lightning have won four straight encounters at home and covered the puckline in two of those.

The plus-money is giving us great value on the puckline here. 

My selection is an 8* play on Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5. 

CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The San Diego State Aztecs have split their last six games, but they won all three at home during that stretch and have covered the spread in six of their last seven home games. The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are coming off three straight wins, but all were at home and they're a pathetic 4-20-4 ATS in their last 28 road games.

The Runnin' Rebels are 3-8-2 ATS in the last 13 meetings in San Diego St. and the home/away splits alone are enough for me to recommend a wager on San Diego State in this matchup. 

My selection is an 8* play on San Diego State Aztecs. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Edmonton Oilers will visit the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on Saturday, and I think there's plenty of reasons to expect the Yotes to prevail in a high-scoring contest. 

Arizona has won four of its last five, scoring 20 goals in the process and the over is 6-1 in Coyotes last seven overall. Even better, they're coming off a 5-2 win over Montreal and over is 11-1-1 in Coyotes last 13 after scoring five goals or more in their previous game. 

Here the Coyotes will face an Edmonton defense that has conceded an average of 3.34 goals per game on the season, and over is 6-2 in Oilers last eight overall.

My selection is an 8* play on Arizona Coyotes. 

SUPER EARLY NHL AFTERNOON ASSASSIN

On Tuesday, the LA Kings acquired defenseman Dion Phaneuf and center Nate Thompson from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forwards Marian Gaborik and Nick Shore. That didn't stop them from taking a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday, their third consecutive setback. Tough spot for the Kings here, playing an afternoon game far away from home and playing their fifth straight on the road. Also note that they've lost eight straight meetings with the Sabres here at Buffalo. 

The Sabres have won three of their last five and I think the value is on the home team. 

My selection is an 8* play on Buffalo Sabres. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

The last time these two teams met was back in September of last year, when Barcelona made light work of Eibar as they claimed a 6-1 win. They've won each of the last seven meetings by at least two goals and Barca will enter this contest looking to end a two-game winless streak in La Liga. They're still top of the table, but Atletico Madrid are now only seven points behind so Barcelona will want to try everything in their power to retain that gap. Eibar have only recorded one loss in their last 12 La Liga outings, but they've been leaky at home of late, not keeping a clean sheet on their own turf in six league home games.

My Soccer Game of the Week is a 10* play on Barcelona. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL POWER PLAY

The Dallas Stars had won six on the bounce before taking a 6-0 beating by Vancouver here at American Airlines Center in their most lopsided loss of the season. They've had four days to mull it over, and I expect the Stars to play with real purpose tonight. Note that the Stars are 17-5 in their last 22 games following a home loss of three or more goals and 10-2 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning road record while the Blues are just 2-5 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

My selection is a 10* play on Dallas Stars. 

3-PACK

The Rhode Island Rams will be without senior E.C. Matthews due to a knee injury, but I still think they're underrated here at St. Bonaventure Friday night. The Boonies have won seven straight conference games, but they've been favored in all those except a 79-68 win against La Salle their last time out where they closed at a pick'em. The Rams have won three straight and five of six against the Bonnies and they're 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 road games.

Rhode Island is 12-5 ATS as a favorite this season. 

My selections is an 8* play on Rhode Island. 

3-PACK

The Canisius Golden Griffins are going for a sixth straight win then they visit the Monmouth-NJ Hawks Friday night. Canisius is 3-0 ATS as a road favorite of three points or less or pick this season and 16-5 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Monmouth-NJ has lost four of its last six and took a 73-57 home loss against St. Peter's its last time out. The Hawks are 0-2 ATS as a home underdog of 3 points or less or pick this season. 

My selection is an 8* play on Canisius.

NHL 3-PACK

The Chicago Blackhawks will try to snap a seven-game losing streak when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, but I predict more misery for the Hawks. 

Anaheim is coming off back-to-back one goal losses but should really have defeated Detroit its last time out after outshooting the Wings 33-16. "We weren't sharp with the puck and we needed to go upstairs more," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle told the team's official website. "We put pucks into his feet. The puck was bouncing away from us. You can't play that way. Two turnovers in the game gave them goals. Those are very easily correctable."

The Blackhawks on the other hand were just terrible in a 5-2 loss at Vegas their last time out and they've been outscored 14-3 in the last three games alone. 

My selection is an 8* play on Anaheim Ducks. 

NHL 3-PACK

The Washington Capitals are coming off back-to-back OT losses, giving up a total of nine goals in the process and they've allowed a total of 20 goals in their last four losses. "It breaks down to everything really, but in terms of the D zone we're a little too backed off," Washington defenseman John Carlson said. "We're in follow mode instead of attack mode. It's tough. We're giving teams a lot of time in the zone and if you do that you try to at least keep teams to the outside and not give them the middle of the ice. We haven't been doing that and that's part of the problem."

The Caps have won six straight meetings in this series, but I like Minnesota to end that streak here Thursday night. The Wild are extremely hard to beat home at Xcel Energy Center and 10-0-3 in their past 13 home games. They're 7-2 in their last nine when hosting a team with a losing road record and the Caps are 12-9-4 away from home. 

My selection is an 8* play on Minnesota Wild. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Denver Nuggets have won five of their last six games with the lone loss coming at Houston, the only game during that stretch they failed to cover the spread. They took down the Spurs 117-109 their last time out and I think they'll threaten to win outright here at Milwaukee Thursday night.

The Bucks are 19-9 SU home at BMO Harris Bradley Center this season, but only 9-15-4 ATS and 2-7 ATS in their last nine home games. The Nuggets are 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings and won 110-98 here at Milwaukee on Jan. 3. 

My selection is an 8* play on Denver Nuggets. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CBB)

The Penn State Nittany Lions have won five of their last six, including an 82-79 victory at Ohio State on Jan. 25. I expect the Buckeyes to exact revenge when the teams clash again, this time at Bryce Jordan Center. 

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 74-52 win at Illinois on Sunday, but they're 0-4 ATS in their last four games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. The Buckeyes have won four straight since their loss to PSU, including an impressive 64-63 triumph as a 10.5-point dog at Purdue. 

The Buckeyes are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in Penn St. and 4-1 ATS when seeking revenge for a home loss this season. 

My CBB Game of the Week is a 10* play on Ohio State Buckeyes. 

NHL 3-PACK

The New York Islanders have won five straight meetings in this series, and I think they look good to make it six in a row here when they host the New York Rangers Thursday night. The Rangers fell for the seventh time in 10 games when they took a 3-2 loss at Minnesota Tuesday night. They've averaged just 2.23 gpg over their last 22 games and here they'll likely to come up against Jaroslav Halak who is 16-7 with a 2.55 GAA in previous meetings.

The Islanders are coming off back-to-back home losses but they're still 15-10-3 at home on the season.   

My selection is an 8* play on NY Islanders. 

NBA 3-PACK

The New York Knicks are losers of seven straight games and they've been outscored by a wide margin in most of those games. They're 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games and the Wizards are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings at Madison Square Garden. The visitors will be well rested after ending a two-game slide with a 101-90 triumph at Chicago on Saturday while the Knicks will play on just one days rest after taking a 108-92 beating at Philadelphia Monday night. 

My selection is an 8* play on Washington Wizards. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Brooklyn Nets have lost six straight and nine of their last 10 after Monday’s 114-101 setback against the LA Clippers. They're just 3-7 ATS during that stretch and here they'll face a Pacers team that improved to 6-2 in its last eight games with a 121-113 victory over New York on Sunday. Pacers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400 and 5-1 ATS in the last six encounters with Brooklyn.

My selection is an 8* play on Indiana Pacers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA)

The Miami Heat lost for the sixth time in seven games when they suffered a 115-112 loss at Toronto last night, despite almost completely erasing a 16-point deficit in the last five minutes.

I think the late surge will cost them here at Philadelphia, playing on no rest and taking on a 76ers side that has had a days rest since Monday's dominant 108-92 victory over New York. 

The 76ers have won nine straight home at Wells Fargo Arena, and tonight they'll aim to complete a perfect five-game homestand after claiming the first four contests by an average of 15.3 points. They're 10-4 after a win by 10 points or more this season and I expect them to give it their all here in their final game before the NBA All-Star break. 

The 76ers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 home games and the home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings in this series. 

My NBA Game of the Week selection is a 10* play on Philadelphia 76ers. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Detroit Pistons have lost three in a row, including a 118-115 setback at Atlanta on Sunday. I think they'll get revenge home at Little Caesars Arena Wednesday night. The Pistons took a 15-point home loss to New Orleans Monday night, but they're 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. The Hawks will play on no rest following a 97-92 loss at Milwaukee last night and I'm confident the home team will get revenge and run away with this game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Detroit Pistons. 

TOP RATED 10* CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Vanderbilt Commodores (9-16) have dropped three of their last four games and took a 72-54 loss as a 6.5-point favorite at Arkansas on Saturday. Vanderbilt is just 2-12 ATS in its last 14 games following a ATS loss and 5-15 ATS in its last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

The visiting Mississippi State Bulldogs (18-7) took Missouri to overtime before falling 89-85 as a 6-point dog their last time out. They will likely need to win five of their final six regular-season contests and perhaps an SEC tournament game in order to make it to the NCAA Tournament, and I expect full focus from the visitors in this matchup.

The Bulldogs are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400 and defeated Vanderbilt 80-62 at home on Jan 16. 

My selection is a 10* play on Mississippi State Bulldogs. 

TOP RATED 10* CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Tennessee Volunteers had won six in a row before taking a 78-50 beating at Alabama on Saturday. I expect them to bounce back with a big performance against the slumping South Carolina Gamecocks Tuesday night.

South Carolina has dropped five in a row and it has been outscored by an average of 21 points through the last three. The Gamecocks took a 65-41 pounding by Florida their last time out and are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points and 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine on the road. The Vols picked up a 70-63 victory at South Carolina on Jan. 20 and I think they'll win by an even bigger margin here at Thompson-Boling Arena.

My selection is a 10* play on Tennessee Vols ATS. 

NBA MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The white hot Houston Rockets aim for a ninth straight win when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday night. The Wolves have won 13 straight home at Target Center but did not impress when they grinded out a 111-106 triumph over the West-worst Sacramento Kings on Sunday. They had lost two in a row (at Chicago and Cleveland) prior to that win and I think they'll come up short here against the Rockets.  

My selection is an 8* play on Houston Rockets ML. 

NHL NO-BRAINER

The Detroit Red Wings will seek to build on a 5-4 overtime victory at Washington on Sunday, a result that put an end to their three-game losing streak. They've conceded 17 goals in their last four games and are just 2-6 in their last eight after scoring five goals or more in their previous game. 

I think Detroit will come up short here against a Ducks team aiming to bounce back from a 3-2 shootout loss at home to San Jose. The Ducks are 10-4 in their last 14 vs. a team with a losing record and their netminder John Gibson is a solid 9-2-2 with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .927 SP in his last 13 contests. 

Detroit is just 1-5-1 in its last seven home contests and the Ducks are 6-2 in the last eight meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Anaheim Ducks. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Miami Heat snapped a five-game slide with a 91-85 win over Milwaukee in Dwyane Wade's return on Friday. I do however think they're in for a lot of trouble when they visit the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors tonight. The Raptors are enjoying a five-game winning streak and have defeated their opponents by an average of 21 points during that stretch. They'll have plenty of motivation to put a beating on the Heat as well as they seek revenge for a 90-89 loss here at Air Canada Centre on Jan. 9. 

My selection is a 10* play on Toronto Raptors. 

TOP RATED 10* CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CRU$HER

We backed Tottenham to beat Arsenal over the weekend (which they did), but I think they're in for a tougher game when they visit Juventus in the first leg of the first round of the Champions League knockout round here on Tuesday. Note that Spurs have had just three days of rest since that draining performance against the Gunners while Juventus have had four days rest since a comfortable 2-0 triumph over Fiorentina. The Italians are in terrific form, entering this game on an 11-game winning streak and they've conceded just one goal through their last 16 games!

My selection is a 10* play on Juventus. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL)

The Chicago Blackhawks have fallen into last place in the Central Division by losing their last five games and nine of their last 11. The good news is that tonight they'll face an Arizona team they've owned in recent seasons, including a pair of comfortable wins this season. Overall, the Blackhawks are 14-3 in the last 17 meetings and they've claimed 10 of the last 11 in the desert. 

The Coyotes are dead last in the NHL with only six home-ice victories and I think this is a great price on the desperate Blackhawks who need to start winning if they're to make the playoffs. 

My NHL Game of the Month is a 10* play on Chicago Blackhawks ML. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Utah Jazz are the hottest team in the NBA and claimed their ninth straight victory with Sunday's 115-96 triumph at Portland. 

The Jazz are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games playing on no rest and I expect them to roll over the banged up San Antonio Spurs here Monday night. Spurs are coming off a  122-105 loss at Golden State on Saturday, and were without both PGs Dejounte Murray (ankle) and Tony Parker (back) while All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge (knee) is expected to sit out tonight's contest. 

Home team is 34-16-2 ATS in the last 52 meetings and Spurs are 3-7-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Utah. We can expect the home dominance in this series to continue tonight.

My selection is a 10* play on Utah Jazz ATS. 

CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The West Virginia Mountaineers will try to make up for an 88-85 loss as a 12-point home favorite against Oklahoma State on Saturday. The defeat saw them drop to third place in the Big 12 and I expect them to come out fully focused here when hosting the TCU Horned Frogs Monday night. TCU is coming off an 87-71 home triumph over Texas, but it has not been quite as good on the road. The the Horned Frogs won the last meeting 82-73 on Jan. 22 in Fort Worth; this smells like revenge for WVU.

My selection is an 8* play on WVU Mountaineers ATS. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Orlando Magic had won three straight prior to a 111-104 loss to Milwaukee Friday night, and I think they're spotted too many points to pass up on when they visit the lowly Chicago Bulls here on Monday. Chicago has dropped eight of its last nine and is only 1-7 ATS in its last eight. Magic are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games overall and have covered the spread in seven straight on the road. 

Chicago took the first two meetings by an average of 20 points, but the Magic have all the momentum right now and I would not be surprised to see the visitors win this one outright. 

My selection is an 8* play on Orlando Magic. 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL NO-BRAINER

The Duke Blue Devils head into this contest in desperate need of a victory following back-to-back losses at St. John’s and North Carolina. They're still 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and I think they'll get back on track when visiting the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Sunday afternoon.

Georgia Tech took a 77-54 loss at Louisville on Thursday as it fell for the sixth time in seven games. The Yellow Jackets come into this contest ranked near the bottom of the ACC in nearly every major offensive category while the Blue Devils boast the most effective field goal percentage in the conference at 56.2%. The Blue Devils match up well in this series and are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Duke Blue Devils. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Cleveland Cavaliers were very active on trade deadline day and played with a makeshift rotation when they rolled to a 123-107 win at Atlanta on Friday night. 

Now they need to work four new guys (George Hill, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and Rodney Hood) into the rotation when visiting the Boston Celtics Sunday afternoon, and they'll face a Celtics team aiming to bounce back from a 97-91 loss to Indiana in the opener of a three-game homestand Friday night. That was however the 2nd game of a back-to-back set, and the Celtics players were probably guilty of looking ahead to this contest already. 

Celtics great Paul Pierce will have his No. 34 retired in postgame ceremonies Sunday night at TD Garden, and I don't see a focused home team allowing the Cavs to spoil the party.

My selection is a 10* play on Boston Celtics. 

SUPER EARLY RAPTORS @ HORNETS HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Charlotte Hornets have failed to cover the spread in four straight games and they're just 6-17 ATS as an underdog this season. The Toronto Raptors are coming off a 113-88 pounding of the Knicks and they've blasted opponents by an average of 21.3 points through their last four games. All of those were at home, but they won 129-111 here at Charlotte back in December and I reckon they'll steamroll the Hornets here Sunday afternoon. 

My selection is an 8* play on Toronto Raptors. 

SUPER EARLY TOP RATED 10* CBB PLAY OF THE DAY

The Michigan Wolverines look good to bounce back from a humbling loss when they visit the Wisconsin Badgers Sunday afternoon. The Wolverines shot a poor 38.6% and scored only scored 20 points in the second half in their 61-52 road loss to Northwestern on Tuesday night, but they're a perfect 4-0 ATS off a loss against a conference rival this season. Wisconsin ended a five-game skid with a 78-69 upset win at Illinois its last time out, but the Badgers are 0-3 ATS off a win against a conference rival. 

The Badgers are 0-6 against ranked teams this season and lost the last encounter with Michigan here at Kohl Center by 15 points.

My selection is a 10* play on Michigan Wolverines. 

TOP RATED 10* PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER

Newcastle have the worst home record in the top flight and they've not won at home in the league since October. They have scored just 11 goals while conceding 15 in 13 games in front of the home fans, and I expect another low-scoring contest when they host Man United on Sunday.

The visitors are still trying to figure out how to get the best out of recently signed Alexis Sanchez, and we can note that Sanchez has played four Premier League games against Newcastle without scoring.

Manchester United have allowed a league-best 18 goals this season and kept clean sheets in five of their last six Premier League games. I expect them to sit back and try and kill the game rather than keep going forward if they were to take the lead. 

My selection is a 10* play on Man U @ Newcastle to go UNDER the total. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA)

The Chicago Bulls are just terrible and entered Friday on a seven-game losing streak before taking down the Timberwolves in a close game. I just don't think they can hang around with the Wizards here on no rest. The Wizards will no doubt be eager to record a win coming off back-to-back losses to Philly and Boston, and we can note that they're 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings at United Center.

My selection is a 10* play on Washington Wizards. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL PLAY OF THE DAY

The Nashville Predators are coming off back-to-back post-regulation losses Wednesday/Thursday. They're however 7-1 in their last eight games playing on one days rest and 4-1 in their last five in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation, and I think they'll make light work of the Habs here at Bell Centre on Saturday. 

Montreal took a 5-3 loss at Philadelphia Thursday night and is just 2-7 in its last nine vs. a team with a winning % above .600. I expect to see Pekka Rinne between the pipes for the Predators, and he owns a 7-2-2 mark with two shutouts, a 1.42 GAA and .949 SV% in 11 career encounters with the Habs.

I also think former Canadien, All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban, will have the Preds extra fired up here as he returns to the Bell Centre for the second time since being traded to Music City.

My selection is a 10* play on Nashville Predators ML. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CBB) - MIKE'S SUPER EARLY BEST BET

The Florida Gators snapped a three-game skid by defeating LSU 73-64 at home Wednesday night. I like them to make it two in a row when they visit the South Carolina Gamecocks Saturday afternoon. South Carolina has lost four straight and failed to cover the spread in each of those games. They're 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 Saturday games and the road team is 19-6-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings. 

The Gators have not had a great season, but they'll no doubt be fired up for this one trying to avenge a 77-72 home loss as a 10.5-point favorite against South Carolina on Jan. 24.

We can also note that they're 6-0 ATS as a road favorite of three points or less or pick through the last three seasons. 

My selection is a 10* play on Florida Gators. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

Arsenal defeated Everton 5-1 their last time out, but that was home at the Emirates. They've struggled on the road and we can note that they're winless in 15 Premier League away games against the current top five clubs. Tottenham are trying to chase down 2nd-placed Man Utd and they've gone 12 home games without defeat in the Premier League, winning eight of the past 10. 

Spurs have scored in 14 successive Premier League games since a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on 18 November while the Gunners have gone eight league games without a clean sheet since mid-December. Harry Kane has scored six goals in six league games against Arsenal and could very well prove to be the deciding factor here. 

My SOCCER Game of the Week is a 10* play on Tottenham. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Charlotte Hornets suffered a 109-103 overtime setback at Portland last night, and I think they're in for another tough game when taking on the surging Utah Jazz here the very next night. Note that the Hornets are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games playing on no rest and 1-4-1 ATS in their last six road games.

The Jazz own the NBA's longest active winning streak at seven games and they're 6-1 ATS during that stretch. Charlotte defeated Utah 99-88 on Jan. 12 in the first meeting this season, but this looks like a great revenge spot and we can note that the Hornets are 1-8-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Utah.

My selection is an 8* play on Utah Jazz.