THUNDER @ RAPTORS *TOP PLAY*

The Toronto Raptors have one of the best defensive efficiency ratings in the league, and they showed why in a 113-97 win at Boston last night. Playing on no rest, a low tempo game will be in the interest of the Raptors and I think the OKC Thunder will oblige as they average just100.9 possessions per game (25th in the league) anyhow. OKC is coming off a 104-102 win at Charlotte, a low-scoring game despite going to OT.  

Under is 36-15-1 in Thunder's last 52 games as a road underdog. Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 games as a favorite.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S GRIZZLIES @ NUGGETS BEST BET

The Memphis Grizzlies have just 12 wins on the season, but six of those have been picked up over their last 10 games.

They defeated the Thunder 110-97 as a 5.5-point road underdog on Boxing Day and I think they'll give the Nuggets a scare here at Pepsi Center on Saturday.

The Nuggets have covered the spread in just one of their last six overall and they're 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a home favorite while Memphis is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 games as a road underdog.

10* play on Memphis Grizzlies. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR DECEMBER

The Florida Gators shot just 32 percent from the field and 24 percent from 3-point range in a 65-62 setback to Utah State last time out. I expect them to have much more success here against a Long Beach State side that is allowing 78.0 ppg and gave up 79 in a loss at Seattle on Dec 23.

Over is 6-1 in Beach last 7 road games and 5-1 in Gators last 6 overall.

10* play on OVER. 

LATE NIGHT SUNS @ WARRIORS *TOP PLAY*

The Phoenix Suns have dropped seven straight games, but I think they'll come into this one rejuvenated after getting three full days off around the holiday. While Phoenix is in a "buy low" spot, we find the Golden State Warriors on the other end of the spectrum coming off three straight wins SU and ATS. 

Suns are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Warriors are 9-23-1 ATS in their last 33 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

10* play on Phoenix Suns. 

FRIDAY NIGHT CBB BOOKIE BLASTER

I like the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds to win and cover the spread when hosting the UMass Lowell River Hawks Friday night. UMass Lowell shot a season-worst 31.3 percent from the field in a 74-62 loss at home to Boston last Saturday and rusty shooting might very well be an issue in this one as well. As for Loyola, it cruised to a 72-45 victory against D-III Elizabethtown College last time out and it has averaged 84.8 ppg as a favorite. 

8* play on Loyola Maryland. 

EARLY CAVS @ CELTICS NBA NO BRAINER - 4 PM ET START

The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the worst offensive efficiency ratings in the NBA, and here they'll run into a Boston team that is boasting one of the best defenses in the league. Over their last four games, the Celtics have allowed 103, 93, 93 and 102 points and it defeated Cleveland 110-88 on Dec. 3 in the last matchup in this series. 

8* play on UNDER. 

WOLVES @ KINGS THURSDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

The Sacramento Kings are 0-4 SU and ATS over their last four games, but I like their chances of coming out of the short Christmas break with a win when hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night. 

Minnesota has dropped 11 straight games and the team is 1-6-1 ATS in its last 8 games as an underdog. Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) has missed four straight games and the star center is questionable for this contest. 

The Kings took a 113-104 home loss to Houston on Dec. 23 but they're 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 2 days rest and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up loss.

10* play on Sacramento Kings. 

KNICKS @ NETS - BATTLE OF NEW YORK

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a 122-112 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, but I think we'll see a lower scoring contest when they host their in-city rival New York Knicks on Thursday. The Knicks offense is one of the worst in the league, and Brooklyn ranks 5th in the NBA holding opponents to 43.3 percent shooting from the field. Each of the last seven meetings in this series has gone under the total.  

8* play on UNDER. 

LATE NIGHT PELICANS @ NUGGETS XMAS DAY *TOP PLAY*

Last year the 10 NBA games on Christmas Day went 6-2-2 to the under, and I think this late matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Denver Nuggets will follow that trend.. Only three teams own a better defensive efficiency rating than Denver and the same is true for its pace factor. The New Orleans Pelicans have their struggles on the defensive end but note that the under is 7-2 in their last 9 games as an underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

SUPER EARLY CELTICS @ RAPTORS XMAS DAY TOTAL

Last year the 10 NBA games on Christmas Day went 6-2-2 to the under, and I think this early matchup will follow that trend.

The Boston Celtics have held two straight opponents (Detroit and Charlotte) to 93 points and only the Milwaukee Bucks own a better defensive efficiency rating than Boston and the Toronto Raptors this season. Toronto has been involved in several high-scoring affairs lately, but that's not all that surprising considering the opponents they've faced during that stretch. Still, under is 9-4 in Raptors last 13 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 16-5 in Celtics last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. 

8* play on UNDER. 

LATE NIGHT ROCKETS @ KINGS BANKROLL BUILDER

The Sacramento Kings look like a good bet when hosting the Houston Rockets Monday night. While they've covered just one of their last six overall, note that the non-covers were as a favorite and that they're 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games as an underdog. As for the Houston Rockets, they're consistently overvalued because of their big-name players and just 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.

8* play on Sacramento Kings. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Orlando Magic have been one of the worst teams against the spread this season and they enter this contest as losers of six of their last seven straight up. They've averaged 103 ppg through their last three games and took a 118-103 loss at Portland last time out. Here they'll host a Chicago Bulls team that is coming off back-to-back road wins, most recently a 119-107 win as a 10-point dog at Detroit. 

The Bulls are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games and 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog. The Magic meanwhile are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.

Under is 16-5 in Magic last 21 vs. a team with a losing straight up record and they rank 27th in the NBA in field-goal percentage. I think their offensive struggles will continue against a Bulls team that is not all that bad defensively. 

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED BULLS @ MAGIC NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Orlando Magic have been one of the worst teams against the spread this season and they enter this contest as losers of six of their last seven straight up. They've averaged 103 ppg through their last three games and took a 118-103 loss at Portland last time out. Here they'll host a Chicago Bulls team that is coming off back-to-back road wins, most recently a 119-107 win as a 10-point dog at Detroit. 

The Bulls are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games and 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog. The Magic meanwhile are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.

Under is 16-5 in Magic last 21 vs. a team with a losing straight up record and they rank 27th in the NBA in field-goal percentage. I think their offensive struggles will continue against a Bulls team that is not all that bad defensively. 

10* play on Chicago Bulls. 

CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Davidson Wildcats put an 88-52 beating on Coppin St. last time out and they're 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers are coming off five straight victories and they're 4-1 ATS during that stretch. I do however think that Davidson will match up rather well with the home team and I'm happy to take the points on the dog in what should a very close game. 

8* play on Davidson. 

SUPER LATE COLLEGE BASKETBALL ATS MIDNIGHT MASSACRE

The No. 17 Arizona Wildcats took an 84-80 loss to Gonzaga last Saturday. While they're expected to bounce back with a win here against St. John's, I think it'll be tighter than the point spread would suggest. The Red Storm are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall with a straight up win as a 4.5-point dog against West Virginia mixed in. St. John's can score with the best in the league, averaging 80.6 ppg and it has topped 80 points six times already. 

8* play on St. John's. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): TOP RATED TOTAL FOR DECEMBER

Both sides rank near the bottom of the league for defensive efficiency with Memphis allowing 109.2 points per 100 possessions and Cleveland 111.3 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, while the Grizzlies have been known as a slow team in recent seasons, this edition is much different with only three teams playing at a faster pace. 

Over is 12-5 in Grizzlies last 17 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Over is 16-3 in Cavaliers last 19 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

10* play on OVER. 

NETS @ SPURS THURSDAY NIGHT TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The San Antonio Spurs will be looking to bounce back from a 109-107 loss at Houston on Monday. They did a good job defensively holding the Rockets to 41 percent shooting from the field and they're 8-2 to the under in their last 10 playing two days rest. Here they'll face a Brooklyn Nets side that is 5-1 to the under in its last six games and saw just 209 points in its last game, despite going to overtime. 

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED BULLS @ WIZARDS NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Washington Wizards defeated the Pistons 133-119 at Detroit on Monday to put an end to an ugly four-game losing streak. With the pressure off, I think they'll come up short against the visiting Chicago Bulls tonight. Note that the Wizards have not played at home since taking a 135-119 loss to the Clippers on Dec. 8 and that they're 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days and 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest. As for the Chicago Bulls, they've lost more games than they've won lately, but they're 5-1 ATS in their last 6 and a perfect 4-0 in their last 4 away from home. 

10* play on Chicago Bulls. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): TOP RATED SIDE *MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

The LSU Tigers have scored 90+ points in three of their last four games, all wins SU and ATS. The East Tennessee St. Buccaneers on the other hand may have won four of their last five straight up, but they're just 0-4 ATS in lined games during that stretch. 

LSU has been shooting lights out home at Maravich Assembly Center all season, coming into this contest with a perfect 6-0 SU record and four straight covers ATS. ETSU took a 78-68 loss as a 3.5-point favorite at North Dakota State it's last time out on the road, and I don't see the visitors keeping pace with the home side in what will be a hostile environment. 

10* play on LSU Tigers. 

MAGIC @ JAZZ TUESDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

The Utah Jazz are holding opponents to 103 points per 100 possessions and they are very capable slowing down the tempo to a snail's pace, something that's likely to happen here with only two teams playing at a slower pace than the Orlando Magic.  Both the Jazz and the Magic rank in the bottom 10 of the NBA for offensive efficiency, with Orlando particularly poor at scoring just 103.4 points per 100 possessions.  

Under is 16-5 in Jazz last 21 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

10* play on UNDER. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA 3-PACK

The Houston Rockets own the third-best offensive efficiency rating in the league and they also have the third-highest pace factor. Here they'll face a San Antonio Spurs team that is giving up 109.7 points per 100 possessions and has seen four straight games go to overtime. Over is 6-2 in Spurs last 8 road games and 5-2-1 in Rockets last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.

8* play on OVER. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA 3-PACK

The Milwaukee Bucks are playing at the highest pace in the league and they have the second-best offensive efficiency rating. No. 1 is the Dallas Mavericks who are 4-1 to the over in their last 5 games and 7-2 to the over in their last 9 games following a straight-up loss. Last time out, Dallas fell 122-118 in OT against Miami while Milwaukee is coming off a 125-107 win over Cleveland, the third straight game it scored 125+ points. 

8* play on OVER. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA 3-PACK

Only the Milwaukee Bucks own a better defensive efficiency rating than the Toronto Raptors who limited Brooklyn to 102 points last time out. Each of the Raptors last three games have under the total and they're 6-1 to the under in their last 7 Monday games. As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, they have just six wins in 26 games, own the second-worst offensive efficiency rating in the league and under is 21-7-1 in Raptors last 29 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. 

8* play on UNDER. 

MONDAY NIGHT CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Kent State Golden Flashes will clash with the UC Irvine Anteaters in the Sun Bowl Invitational at Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas Monday night.

The Anteaters are (6-5), coming off a dominant 120-63 win over Pacific Union, but I would not read too much into that result and the team is still just 6-5 SU on the season.

Kent State is 8-1 SU and ranks 44th in the nation with its 79.9 ppg. It put a 92-57 beating on Detroit on Dec. 3, the same Mercy team that defeated UC Irvine by 12 points back in November and while such comparisons never tell the whole story, it's still worth noting. 

8* play on Kent State. 

LATE NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The bookmakers have posted a low total for this game, but that does not discourage me from betting the under. Note that the Nuggets are 6-1-1 to the under in games with a total of 210 points or less this season while the Thunder are 3-0 to the under in such games. Denver has held its last two opponents to fewer than 100 points and OKC took a 94-93 loss to Sacramento last time out to make the under 6-1 in their last seven games overall. 

8* play on UNDER. 

DELAWARE VS. VILLANOVA BANKROLL BUILDER

The Villanova Wildcats have had a week off since defeating rival Saint Joseph's by 12 points last Saturday. I think they'll be looking to hit the ground running again here when taking on the Delaware Blue Hens in the Never Forget Tribute Classic Saturday afternoon. 

Delaware had won their first nine games before come up short in a 66-56 loss at George Washington last weekend, but this will be the first time in almost a month it'll enter a game as an underdog. The Blue Hens have played an easy schedule and might not be ready for the intensity and quality Nova will bring into this contest. 

8* play on Villanova Wildcats. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED SIDE

This looks like an emotional letdown spot for the Chicago Bulls after snapping a three-game skid with a dominant 136-102 win over Atlanta last time out. 

Tonight they'll face a Charlotte Hornets side that is consistently undervalued against teams in the lower end of the standings, going 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. 

The 9-17 Bulls fit the bill, and we can also note that Chicago is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

10* play on Charlotte Hornets. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Dallas Mavericks are one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, but I think the total is set too high for this matchup with the Detroit Pistons. 

Detroit is one of the slower teams in the league and it has played solid defense lately, holding four of its last five opponents to 103 points or fewer. Dallas saw a five-game winning streak come to an end with a 110-106 loss to Sacramento on Sunday. The Mavs have also played decent defense lately and their fresh legs should make it difficult for Detroit to get good looks.

The under is 4-1 in Mavericks last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest and 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Under is 4-1 in Pistons last 5 games as an underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

IOWA @ IOWA STATE CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Iowa State Cyclones are coming off an impressive 76-66 win as a 3-point favorite against Seton Hall to improve to 5-1 ATS in their last 6 as a favorite. They get a chance to improve on those numbers here against an Iowa team that won last time out but is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games following a straight up win. Additionally, we can note that the Hawkeyes are just 5-17-1 ATS on the road since the start of the 2017 season and considering how well Iowa State has been shooting the ball this season (82.0 ppg, 26th), I don't see how the visitors will be able to keep this close. 

8* play on Iowa State. 

NBA 3-PACK

The struggling NY Knicks have lost 10 straight after taking a 115-87 beating at Portland last night. Under is 10-1 in the Knicks last 11 games playing on no rest and 7-2 in Knicks last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. That applies to the 5-20 Golden State Warriors who have averaged just 93.6 ppg over their last five games. 

The Knicks have the worst offensive efficiency rating in the NBA and the Warriors are only marginally better. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR DECEMBER

The Missouri State Bears are coming off an 86-62 win over Mississippi Valley State and three of their last four games have gone over the total. They struggled to defend the perimeter last time out though as their opponent was allowed to go 8-of-17 (47%) from behind the arc. Here they'll face an Arkansas State side that shot 43% from deep last time out and is shooting a respectable 37.1 percent from 3-point land on the season. Additionally, the Red Wolves have scored 70+ points in five of their last seven games. 

10* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

Both the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics are among the most solid teams in the NBA on the defensive end of the court and both sides have a pace factor in the bottom 10 of the league. 

The under is 9-3 in the Celtics last 12 overall and 16-5 in their last 21 games as an underdog. Under is 4-0 in the Pacers last 4 overall and 8-2 in their last 10 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points, a situation that fits here as they're coming off a 110-99 loss to the LA Clippers. 

The Celtics have limited three straight opponents to fewer than 95 points. 

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED NBA TOTAL

The Orlando Magic rank near the bottom of the league for offensive efficiency while only three teams have a better defensive efficiency rating than the LA Lakers who are 8-2 to the under in their last 10 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. The under is 8-1 in Magic last 9 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and they've averaged below 100 points through their last two games. 

10* play on UNDER. 

KNICKS @ BLAZERS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The New York Knicks have the worst offensive efficiency rating in the NBA and only two teams have a lower pace factor. They've not scored more than 104 points through a nine-game skid and the under is 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Here they'll face the 9-15 Portland Trail Blazers who are having a tough season and shot just 36 percent from the field and 9-of-33 (27%) from 3-point range in a 108-96 loss to OKC last time out.  

10* play on UNDER. 

JIMMY V CLASSIC NCAAB BANKROLL BUILDER

The top-ranked Louisville Cardinals are a perfect 9-0 SU on the season, but just 5-4 ATS despite winning eight of their games by double-digits. I think they're asked to cover too many points here against last year's finalist in the NCAA title game, the now unranked Texas Red Raiders.

The Red Raiders are coming into this first round of the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on a three-game losing streak (all as favorites), but that does not seem to worry coach Chris Beard all that much. "We've been in three close one-possession games where a basket or a stop there and our record and our mood feels a lot different ... To me, you stay the course. We could be sitting here with an 8-0 record instead of three losses but we're still the same team. The idea is to get better each game and I think we are doing that."

Louisville's stifling defense has held opponents to 57.6 ppg but might find it tough to contain a Texas Tech team that has averaged 79.0 ppg. 

8* play on Texas Tech Red Raiders.

MONDAY NIGHT RAPTORS @ BULLS TOTAL

Both the Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls will be playing on no rest. I think both teams will suffer from heavy legs and struggle to stop the other side on the break leading to a relatively high-scoring affair. 

Additionally, the Raptors are coming off three consecutive defeats and the over is 7-2-1 in Raptors last 10 games following a straight up loss while it's 14-4 in Bulls last 18 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings at United Center and I particularly like the Raptors to run up the score as they'll be desperate to put an end to their losing streak. 

8* play on OVER.

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY 

Both the Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls will be playing on no rest. I think both teams will suffer from heavy legs and struggle to stop the other side on the break leading to a relatively high-scoring affair. 

Additionally, the Raptors are coming off three consecutive defeats and the over is 7-2-1 in Raptors last 10 games following a straight up loss while it's 14-4 in Bulls last 18 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings at United Center and I particularly like the Raptors to run up the score as they'll be desperate to put an end to their losing streak. 

8* play on Toronto Raptors. 

SUNDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Chicago Bulls have one of the worst offensive efficiency ratings in the league while only a handful of teams are more efficient than the Miami Heat on defense. Additionally, neither of these two teams are playing at a particularly high tempo and the Bulls are 5-1 to the under in their last 6 while the under is 14-5 in the Heat's last 19 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Additionally, note that the under is 14-6 in the last 20 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

CINCINNATI @ XAVIER CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Cincinnati Bearcats are coming off an 82-73 win over Vermont. They had played three straight overtime games prior to that one and I expect this Crosstown Shootout rivalry game with the Xavier Musketeers to go down to the wire as well. Cincinnati played Ohio State relatively close earlier in the season and Xavier has a tendency to play down to the competition. It has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four games and it is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 home games. 

8* play on Cincinnati Bearcats. 

TOP RATED SATURDAY NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY

The Dallas Mavericks own the best offensive efficiency rating in the NBA while the New Orleans Pelicans have one of the worst defensive efficiency scores. The Mavs are 14-7 to the over overall on the season and the over/under is 7-2 in Mavericks last 9 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. The Pels enter this game on a seven-game losing streak during which they've allowed boatloads of points. Last time out, they took a 139-132 OT loss to Phoenix and the over is 15-7 in Pelicans last 22 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.

10* play on OVER. 

WARRIORS @ BULLS HARDWOOD HAMMER

This looks like a tough spot for the Golden State Warriors who have averaged just 92.8 points per game through four straight road losses (1-3 ATS). They'll close out the five-game road swing at Chicago, facing a Bulls team that has managed to put things together lately, covering the spread in three straight games and winning the last two outright. 

Additionally, note that this is a revenge game for Chicago after dropping a 104-90 decision in Oakland back at the end of November. 

Warriors are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.

8* play on Chicago Bulls. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED SIDE

The Phoenix Suns will be playing on no rest following a 128-114 loss at Orlando Wednesday night. The Suns are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 in the second game of a back-to-back and I expect them to have enough gas left in the tank to take care of the New Orleans Pelicans who have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six overall.

The Suns might have a losing record (9-11), but they have a positive point differential which suggests that better things are to come.  This is just a bad matchup for the Pels who have one of the worst defensive efficiency ratings in the league while only four teams score more points per 100 possessions than Phoenix. 

Additionally, note that the Pelicans are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games as a home favorite.

10* play on Phoenix Suns. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): TOP RATED 10* WEDNESDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Dallas Mavericks have won three on the bounce and eight of their last nine following a 118-97 win over New Orleans Tuesday night. They're a home favorite here against Minnesota but might find themselves in a tough spot with heavy legs. 

They'll face a Timberwolves team that has the fourth-highest pace factor in the league and will be playing on two days rest, so the visitors will surely make the Mavs run up and down the court. 

Scoring points is never an issue for the Mavericks who enter Wednesday with the highest offensive efficiency rating in the NBA, but playing on no rest might very well show on the defensive end. 

10* play on OVER. 

NOTRE DAME @ MARYLAND BANKROLL BUILDER

The Maryland Terrapins are a perfect 8-0 SU on the season after routing Marquette 84-63 in the final of the Orlando Invitational last time out.

That sets up a potential hangover spot here against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish who have won six on the bounce after opening the season with a loss at North Carolina. While the Irish came up short against the Tar Heels, they held them to 75 points and are allowing just 61.1 ppg on the season.

I think Notre Dame will come into this one well prepared as they've had plenty of time off since they last played and Maryland's motivation for this contest is questionable. 

8* play on Notre Dame. 

TOP RATED LAKERS @ NUGGETS BEST BET

The LA Lakers had won 10 on the bounce prior to a 114-100 loss to Dallas last time out. Under is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 overall and 29-14 in their last 43 games following a straight up loss. Here they'll face a Denver team that played a sub-200 point game at Sacramento on Saturday despite going to overtime.

Denver has the 2nd best defensive efficiency rating in the NBA this season with 99.9 points allowed per 100 possessions while the Lakers are 4th with 100.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. Additionally, neither team is likely to push the tempo, especially with Denver rated the 4th slowest team in the league on the season. 

Under is 22-8 in Nuggets last 30 home games and 20-8-1 in their last 29 games playing on two days rest.

10* play on UNDER. 

MAVS @ PELICANS SIDE *TOP PLAY*

The Dallas Mavericks are one of the hottest teams in the league, and they defeated the Lakers in LA last time out to improve to 7-2 SU and ATS on the road. Here they'll face a New Orleans Pelicans team that has fewer wins overall than Dallas has away from home, and it has covered the spread in only one of its last five games. I recognize that this is a potential flat spot for the Mavs after taking down the Lakers, but the Pels will have to play out of their mind to keep this close, which will be tough with no momentum and a banged up roster. 

Road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

10* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

TOP RATED MICHIGAN @ LOUISVILLE CBB PLAY OF THE DAY

The No. 5 Michigan Wolverines and the top-ranked Louisville Cardinals will put undefeated 7-0 records on the line at KFC Yum! Center Tuesday night. The Cardinals are a home favorite, but while they're 5-0 SU at home they're just 1-4 against the spread. The Michigan Wolverines are a perfect 4-0 against the spread in their last four games with impressive underdog wins against North Carolina and Gonzaga to claim the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Louisville has been favored by double-digits in all games since opening the season as a 6.5-point fav at Miami. I'm not sure it is prepared for the fight Michigan will bring into this game. 

10* play on Michigan. 

CLEMSON @ MINNESOTA CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 3-1 SU and ATS home at Williams Arena after taking a loss as a 3.5-point favorite against DePaul last time out. Here they'll host a Clemson team that will play its first true road game of the season. The Tigers have covered the spread in six straight games but might find it tough to shake off a tough 73-69 overtime loss to No. 1 Colorado on Tuesday. 

Minnesota is just 3-4 on the season, but it has played several strong teams and has come through and won most games it was supposed to win. While Clemson has better stats across the board, that is without taking the strength of schedule into account and I expect the Gophers to get it done in their own building. 

8* play on Minnesota Golden Gophers. 

WARRIORS @ HAWKS TOP RATED NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

These are two of the worst teams in the league on the defensive side of the ball with the Golden State Warriors giving up 116 ppg and the Atlanta Hawks 119 ppg. 

Additionally, both sides have a pace factor that ranks in the top half of the league with the Hawks tied for 8th averaging 15.4 possessions per game. 

Last time out the Hawks surrendered 158 points at Houston and they're 11-2 to the over in their last 13 games. The Warriors took a loss in a low-scoring game at Orlando on Sunday, but the over is 6-1 in their last seven in the second game of a back-to-back situation.

While both sides can be inconsistent when on the ball, I think their issues of getting stops are even bigger.

10* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The New Orleans Pelicans are tied for the fourth highest pace factor in the NBA this season and they're tied for 24th in defensive efficiency. They've allowed 121+ ppg through a four-game losing streak. As for the OKC Thunder, they tend to play high-scoring games against poor teams with the over 7-2 in their last 9 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Additionally, the over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings at Smoothie King Center.

8* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The LA Lakers have one of the best defensive efficiency ratings in the league, but they'll have their work cut out for them here against a Dallas Mavericks side that has the very highest offensive effiency rating with 113.7 points per 100 possessions. The Mavs have averaged 120.9 ppg through their eight road games on the season with seven of those contests going over the total. 

8* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Memphis Grizzlies rank bottom 10 in the NBA for defensive efficiency and they have the 6th highest pace factor. The Minnesota Timberwolves are tied for the fourth-highest pace factor in the league and have averaged 119 ppg over their last two games. Over is 5-0 in Grizzlies last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record and 11-4 in Timberwolves last 15 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. 

The over is 8-4 in Minnesota games with a total over 225 points this season. 

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED FRIDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Portland Trail Blazers have answered a four-game skid with back-to-back triumphs through which they've averaged 126.5 ppg. and the first of those two wins was a 117-94 win at Chicago on Nov 25. I think we'll see more points on the board for both teams here in the rematch on Black Friday. 

The Bulls may be one of the worst teams in the NBA for several offensive categories, but points should come fairly easy against a Portland side that ranks in the bottom 10 for defensive efficiency. Additionally, Portland has a top 10 pace factor and I think the home team will push the tempo and that the visitors will be more or less forced to oblige. 

Over is 9-2-1 in Trail Blazers last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 Friday games. Over is 6-2 in Bulls last 8 Friday games.

10* play on OVER. 

IOWA VS. SAN DIEGO STATE LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL BOOKIE BLASTER

The San Diego State Aztecs were dominant in their 83-52 semi-finals win over Creighton. They were 11-of-18 (61%) from 3-point range and won the battle of the boards 35-20. Here they'll face an Iowa team who might find it hard to recharge the batteries after an upset win over no. 12 TTU.  

I'm counting on San Diego State to claim the Las Vegas Invitational championship. 

8* play on San Diego State. 

TEMPLE VS. TEXAS A&M ORLANDO INVITATIONAL BANKROLL BUILDER

The Temple Owls were undefeated heading into Friday's matchup of the Orlando Invitational. Now they'll need to refocus in order to bounce back from a loss for the first time this season following a seven-point loss to no. 8 Maryland. 

The Owls still covered the spread for a second straight game, and here they'll face a Texas A&M team that is 0-5 ATS on the season. The Aggies are 3-2 SU, but they have a negative average point differential and have scored only 59.2 ppg. Temple is averaging a healthy 70.8 ppg and should have too much firepower for Texas A&M to keep up with. 

Additionally, Texas A&M is shorthanded so playing on back-to-back days will be particularly tough for the Aggies. 

8* play on Temple Owls. 

CBB LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL MIDNIGHT MASSACRE

Write up posted shortly. 

8* play on San Diego State. 

NC STATE VS. MEMPHIS BARCLAYS CENTER CLASSIC BOOKIE BLASTER

Both the NC State Wolfpack and the Memphis Tigers enter this contest 5-1 SU and 3-3 ATS. I like the Wolfpack to come through with a win here in the Barclays Center Classic Thursday afternoon. 

NC State opened the season with an OT loss to Georgia Tech but is undefeated since, including a dominant 74-58 win over Little Rock last time out. It has held three straight opponents to 64 points or fewer. Memphis gave up 86 points to Ole Miss last time out and has failed to cover the spread in back-to-back games.

Additionally, the Tigers will have to do without their leading scorer and All-American candidate James Wiseman who is suspended. 

8* play on NC State. 

LATE NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Golden State Warriors are having an absolutely abysmal year. Injuries have not helped matters and there's a clear lack of healthy shooting talent on the roster right now. 

The Warriors shot just 41.6 percent from the field in a 100-97 loss to the OKC Thunder Monday night and they're 5-2 to the under over their last seven games. As for the Chicago Bulls, they were held to 41.9 percent shooting in a 117-94 loss to Portland last time out. On the season, Chicago ranks 27th for offensive efficiency and Golden State 24th. 

Under is 13-3 in Bulls last 16 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

10* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The New York Knicks have the second worst offensive efficiency in the NBA and only Orlando has a slower pace factor. They're 12-5 to the under on the season and here they'll face one of the best defensive teams in the league. The Toronto Raptors are coming off an impressive 101-96 win over Philly, and this looks like another game where they'll slow down the tempo and grind down their opponent. 

Under is 9-2-1 in Knicks last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

8* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Detroit Pistons are 4-1 to the under over their last five games. They've been limited to 90 points or fewer in two of those contests and held Orlando to 88 points in 103-88 triumph Monday night. As for the Charlotte Hornets, they've surrendered plenty of points through a five-game skid but should not be too worried about the Pistons, one of the slowest teams in the NBA, to run up the score. 

Under is 5-0-1 in the last 6 meetings.

8* play on UNDER. 

NORTH CAROLINA VS. ALABAMA BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS BOOKIE BREAKER

The Alabama Crimson Tide look like a solid underdog as they take on the No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament on Wednesday. 

North Carolina is a perfect 4-0 on the season, but only 1-3 ATS and it had to battle back from a first-half deficit to beat Elon last time out. 

This might very well be another game where the Tar Heels just does enough to get the W and if the Tide can only take better care of the ball than they have in their first four games they'll keep this very close. 

8* play on Alabama. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Two of the hottest teams in the Association will battle it out Tuesday night as the Dallas Mavericks host the LA Clippers. 

Dallas has won five straight SU and ATS and it has scored 137+ points in each of its last three games, including an impressive 137-123 triumph at Houston last time out. The Clippers have also won their last five straight up but had failed to cover the spread in three straight prior to a 134-109 beatdown of New Orleans last time out. I think this game will mean a lot more for the Mavs who will be looking forward to this opportunity to take down an elite team in front of the home town crowd. 

The Clippers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and despite their 12-5 overall record, they're just 1-4 SU and ATS on the road this season. The Mavs are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and they've covered the spread on four straight occasions when hosting the Clippers. 

I also expect both teams to put up plenty of points to push the final score over the posted total. 

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED SIDE

Two of the hottest teams in the Association will battle it out Tuesday night as the Dallas Mavericks host the LA Clippers. 

Dallas has won five straight SU and ATS and it has scored 137+ points in each of its last three games, including an impressive 137-123 triumph at Houston last time out. The Clippers have also won their last five straight up but had failed to cover the spread in three straight prior to a 134-109 beatdown of New Orleans last time out. I think this game will mean a lot more for the Mavs who will be looking forward to this opportunity to take down an elite team in front of the home town crowd. 

The Clippers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and despite their 12-5 overall record, they're just 1-4 SU and ATS on the road this season. The Mavs are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and they've covered the spread on four straight occasions when hosting the Clippers. 

10* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED CANCUN CHALLENGE TOTAL

The South Carolina Gamecocks have scored 70+ points in three straight games that all went over the total. I think points will be harder to come by here in their semifinal matchups of the Cancun Challenge as they'll face a Wichita State team that has held back-to-back opponents to fewer than 60 points and has held all five opponents to fewer than 63 points this season.  

Over/under is 2-8 in South Carolina's last 10 games on a neutral court game where the total is 130 to 134.5 and all but one of the Shockers' five games this season have gone under the total. 

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP-RATED NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY 

The red hot LA Lakers travel to San Antonio riding a seven-game winning streak. They've scored 120 points or more in five of those games and here they'll face a San Antonio Spurs team that has had huge issues on the defensive end of the hardwood all season long. 

The Spurs surrendered a ridiculous 122.4 ppg through an ugly eight-game skid before picking up a 111-104 win at the low-scoring New York Knicks on Saturday. They have one of the worst defensive efficiencies in the league, but on the flip side, they're also top five for offensive efficiency and I think they'll force the Lakers into a shootout.

Over is 9-2 in Spurs last 11 home games. Over is 12-4 in the last 16 meetings.

10* play on OVER. 

MONDAY NIGHT CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

Both the South Carolina State Bulldogs and the Austin Peay Governors are 2-3 on the season, but they're two very different teams despite the identical record. 

Austin Peay has won big in both games as a favorite and won 81-60 as an 11.5-point favorite over Southeastern Louisiana last time out. Even in their losses the Governors have put a decent amount of points on the board and they average a healthy 73.2 ppg. South Carolina State on the other hand is averaging only 54.3 ppg with 86.3 ppg allowed. 

Last time out the Bulldogs allowed Vanderbilt to shoot 60.3% from the field in a 97-60 Commodores triumph, and I expect Austin Peay to run away with this game and win comfortably. 

8* play on Austin Peay. 

EARLY TOP-RATED CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC *TOP PLAY*

The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers are coming off back-to-back wins and were 9-for-16 (56.2%) from 3-point range in an 85-62 win over Indiana-Purdue on Wednesday. They've scored 85 points in back-to-back games and I think they'll take care of business here against a South Florida team that had lost two straight including a 17-point loss as a 17-point favorite over Indiana-Purdue, prior to defeating Wofford last time out. The Bulls are averaging only 63.0 ppg and I don't see how they're going to be able to keep up with the Ramblers firepower. 

10* play on Loyola-Chicago. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED SATURDAY TOTAL

The Atlanta Hawks have one of the worst defensive efficiency ratings in the NBA, and their lack of defense was on full display in Friday night's 128-103 loss at Detroit. 

Playing on no rest won't do the Hawks any favors, and I expect the Raptors to run up the score quite freely. That being said, Atlanta has scored 100+ points in eight straight games and they put up 127 their last time out home at State Farm Arena. 

Over is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Over is 8-0 in Hawks last 8 overall.

10* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Houston Rockets have one of the best offensive efficiency ratings in the league and only Milwaukee beats them for pace. They had won eight on the bounce and averaged 123 ppg through their last three before coming out flat in a 105-95 loss at Denver last time out. The Rockets defense can easily be exploited by top teams, and the Clippers with their 10-5 record fall into that category. Additionally, note that over is 13-6 in Clippers last 19 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

8* play on OVER. 

SPURS @ SIXERS FRIDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

The San Antonio Spurs are going through a miserable stretch with losses in seven straight games, during which they've allowed an average of 123.4 ppg.

Here they'll face a Philadelphia team that hardly has been lighting up the scoreboard lately, but the over is still 7-3 in 76ers last 10 overall. 7-1 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.

The Spurs can't defend against anyone, but they can put points on the board and I expect the final score to breeze over the posted total. 

10* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Atlanta Hawks have allowed an average of 134 ppg through a four-game slide. They've topped 100 themselves in each of those games and put up a healthy 127 points against Milwaukee last time out, but still lost by eight. The Hawks rank near the bottom of the league for defensive efficiency, and Detroit is only marginally better. The Pistons have also dropped five on the bounce, and I think we'll see these two bottom-feeders try to outscore each other rather than hoping to shut down their opponent. 

8* play OVER. 

TOP RATED 10* PELS @ SUNS TOTAL *BAILOUT PLAY*

Both the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns have top 10 offensive efficiency ratings on the season. The Pels are also one of the worst defensive teams in the league though with 118.9 points allowed per game on average and I'm confident we'll see points come fast and easy for both teams in this contest.

The Suns took a 120-116 loss at Sacramento a couple of nights ago and they're on a 10-2 run to the over following a straight up loss. Additionally, the over is 5-1 in the last 6 head-to-head meetings.

10* play on OVER. 

CAVS @ HEAT WEDNESDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Cleveland Cavaliers have averaged just 98.5 ppg through a four-game skid. Here they'll face one of the best defensive teams in the NBA in the Miami Heat who are holding opponents to 98.4 points per 100 possessions. With Cleveland near the bottom of the league for pace and Miami only marginally better, I think we have a solid case for a low-scoring game.

Under is 5-1 in Cavaliers' last 6 overall. Under is 7-2 in Heat's last 9 overall.

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY

The New York Knicks are one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA, and they're most likely in for a tough one against a Philadelphia team that is holding opponents to a solid 102.7 points per 100 possessions. The Knicks are also among the slowest teams in the league with just over 100 possesions per game while the Sixers rank in the middle of the pack for pace. 

The Knicks are coming off a 123-105 win over Cleveland on Monday. The under is 11-2-1 in their last 14 games playing on 1 days rest and 23-9-1 in their last 33 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. Philly had put a 114-95 beating on that same Cleveland team the night before, and the under is 10-4 in its last 14 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

10* play on UNDER. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT COLLEGE BASKETBALL BANKROLL BUILDER

I like the St. John's Red Storm to bounce back from a 70-68 home loss as a favorite against Vermont. The Red Storm shot just 34.5% from the field in that contest, but here they'll face a Columbia side that shot an abysmal 28.6% in a loss to Virginia last time out. Now I'm certainly not saying that St. John's defense is anywhere near the Cavs, but it has held opponents to 38.1 FG% on the season and the team has averaged a healthy 84.5 ppg on the offensive end. I don't see Columbia being able to keep up with the home team's scoring. 

8* play on St. John's Red Storm. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): MIKE'S BEST NBA TOTAL FOR NOVEMBER

The LA Lakers are tied for the best record in the league while having the very best point-differential, and arguably the biggest reason for their success is their play on the defensive end of the hardwood. The Lakers have the very best defensive efficiency in the NBA (even better than Utah!) and they've allowed an average of just over 97 ppg over their last three contests. The OKC Thunder have been held to fewer than 90 points in two of their last three games, including a 90-88 loss to the Clippers here at Staples Center Monday night. 

Under is 34-16-1 in Thunder last 51 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Under is 15-7 in Lakers last 22 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

CBB 3-PACK

The UT Arlington Mavericks have their work cut out for them when they visit the No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs Tuesday night. Note that the Bulldogs put a 79-49 beating on Texas A&M last time out to improve to 4-0 SU on the season. They've covered the spread in three straight games, twice as favorites of 29 points or more, and they're 17-6 ATS in their last 23 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. The Mavericks are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games and unlikely to be able to hang with the superior Bulldogs. 

8* play on Gonzaga. 

CBB 3-PACK

The No. 7 Maryland Terrapins are a perfect 3-0 SU on the season and they've covered the spread in back-to-back-to-back games following an 80-50 rout as a 19-point favorite over Oakland. The visiting Fairfield Stags on the other hand have dropped three of their first four games on the season following a demoralizing OT loss at Loyola-Maryland last time out. They are just 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and I expect Maryland to win by 30+. 

8* play on Maryland. 

CBB 3-PACK

The No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks should have no trouble to take care of business against East Tennessee St. home in Allen Fieldhouse. Note that while the visiting Buccaneers have averaged 76.5 ppg while opening the season 3-0 SU, they're just 1-2 ATS and have not played a team near the caliber of this Jayhawks side. 

Kansas put up 112 points in a rout of Monmouth-NJ last time out and are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game plus 9-3 ATS in their last 12 home games. 

8* play on Kansas. 

HORNETS @ RAPTORS MONDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Charlotte Hornets are 4-2 to the under over their last six games, and their very last matchup (at New York on Saturday) saw just a total of 205 points scored. Here they'll run into one of the strongest defenses in the league, and I think this looks primed to be a low-scoring affair. The Raptors are just coming back from a tough five-game road trip and ran out of gas in the second half of a loss at Dallas last time out so they're unlikely to drive up the tempo. Meanwhile, I don't see why Charlotte would want to turn this into anything but a slow game they might be able to steal. 

Under is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 Monday games. Under is 6-1 in Hornets last 7 Monday games.

8* play on UNDER. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The New York Knicks have the worst offensive efficiency in the NBA while the Cleveland Cavaliers are only marginally better, and they've been held to 97 points or fewer in three straight games. The Knicks are 8-2 to the under in their last 10 games while the Cavs have seen each of their last five games go under the total. 

Scared of the low number? Don't be. Note that the over/under is 3-8 in Knicks games with a total under 218 points and 0-5 in the Cavs' five games with a total lower than 215 points. 

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED HAWKS @ LAKERS NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY

The LA Lakers have the best defensive efficiency in the league, allowing just 97.2 points per 100 possessions. Atlanta has one of the worst offensive efficiency ratings in the NBA and the Hawks will be playing on no rest after taking a 119-83 beating by the Clippers last night. I think we can safely assume that the Clippers will run away with this game early and then keep the Hawks at a distance.   

Under is 15-6 in Lakers last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED LATE NIGHT COLLEGE BASKETBALL BAILOUT

Oregon is putting its undefeated 3-0 record on the line aginast Texas-Arlington Sunday night, but I don't expect this to be much of a test for the Ducks. 

They've covered the spread in back-to-back games since coming up just short of the number in their season opener, including a solid 82-74 win over No. 15 Memphis in the Phil Knight Invitational. Here they'll face a Mavericks team that took an 80-73 loss at Nevada last time out in its first road game of the season. Nevada shot just 34.4% from the field in that contest and such shooting won't keep it close here.

The Ducks have been money for quite some time dating back to last season, going Ducks are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games overall and 11-0 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

10* play on Oregon Ducks. 

EARLY 76ERS @ CAVS NBA BANKROLL BUILDER

Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers rank in the bottom half of the league for pace with Cleveland just outside of the bottom five. The Cavs have played four straight unders and they've been held to 97 points in back-to-back games. Philly gave up 127 points in an OT loss at OKC last time out, but note that the under is 7-2 in the 76ers last 9 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.

Additionally, the under is 6-2 in Cleveland games with a total lower than 218 points.

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL

San Antonio Spurs have one of the worst marks in the league for defensive efficiency, and this looks like a trouble spot defensively as they'll be playing on no rest.

The over is 15-5 in Spurs last 20 games playing on 0 days rest, and for all of Portland's struggles this season, putting the ball in the basket has rarely been an issue.

The Blazers will be playing on two days rest and I think they'll drive up the tempo to take advantage of the home team's tired legs, forcing a high-paced shootout.

10* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED CBB PLAY OF THE DAY *SUPER EARLY*

The Columbia Lions are coming off their first win of the season, but they're not expected to stand much of a chance when visiting the undefeated defending national champions Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. 

Virginia has played lockdown defense in its first two games of the season, holding Syracuse and James Madison to 34 points each. With Columbia relying heavy on senior guard Mike Smith (21.3 ppg, 5.3 apg) I don't think the Cavs will have any trouble to cage the Lions. 

Note that Virginia is 2-0 against the spread despite shooting just 39.3% from the field and a woeful 16% from beyond the arc. I expect them to find their range resulting in better shooting here in their second home game of the season, and the visitors should find it extremely tough to keep up in this one. 

10* play on Virginia Cavaliers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED SIDE

The No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs have opened the season with three home triumphs, winning each by 30+ points. They'll hit the road to take on the Texas A&M Aggies for their first away game of the season Friday night, and I think they'll run the home team out of the building. 

Texas A&M is a perfect 2-0 SU following victories over Louisiana Monroe and Northwestern St., but they've far from impressed and failed to cover the spread in both. Gonzaga on the other hand has covered point spreads of 29+ points in their last two games and I think the Bulldogs will look forward to facing a "tougher" opponent.

Bulldogs are 16-6 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Bulldogs are 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Aggies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

10* play on Gonzaga Bulldogs. 

TOP RATED 10* FRIDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The books have posted an extremely high total for this matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Washington Wizards Friday night, but do not let the high number intimidate you. 

Note that the over is 51-33-1 (60%) in games with a closing number of 235+ points since the start of last season, and while I would not recommend betting the over blindly in those spots moving forward, we have a strong case for this contest to fly over the posted total. 

Both teams rank in the top 10 for pace (Minnesota 4th, Washington 7th) and only Golden State has a worse defensive efficiency (the number of points a team allows per 100 possessions) than the Wizards. Additionally, both teams are averaging over 115 ppg, and that's against a mixed bucket of opponents, most with better defenses than we'll see here. 

Over is 6-1 in Timberwolves last 7 overall. Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.

10* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED 10* THURSDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Atlanta Hawks won 125-121 at Denver on Tuesday and the over is 3-0 in their last three games. The Phoenix Suns took a 123-115 home loss to the Lakers last time out and the over is 4-0 in their last four games. Phoenix has among the best offensive efficiency (the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions) numbers in the league and they're also in the top third for pace. I'm confident they'll make the Hawks run in this one, forcing a fast-paced and high-scoring game. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): TOP RATED CLIPPERS @ ROCKETS *BEST BET*

The Houston Rockets are very much like the LA Clippers 7-3 SU on the season, but unlike the Clippers, they've failed to cover the point spread more often than not though entering this contest at 3-7 ATS. 

In recent contests, the Rockets have been able to take advantage of a soft schedule to make it four straight victories (3-1 ATS), but they're 0-4 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The Clippers are a solid 7-3 ATS on the season and coming off a 98-88 victory over the Raptors to make it a 5-0 ATS run. 

Houston has been constantly overrated because of its big-name duo in James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and while beating up on bottom feeders is easy, we have still to see them do well against a tougher opponent. 

10* play on LA Clippers. 

NETS @ JAZZ HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Utah Jazz will be playing on no rest following a beatdown of the Warriors last night, but I still think they'll have enough gas left in the tank to take care of business against the Brooklyn Nets. 

Brooklyn has struggled on the defensive end all season and has given up 121.7 ppg, turning this into a complete mismatch against the best defensive team in the league.  

Jazz are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 0 days rest. Nets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games and 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Utah.

8* play on Utah Jazz. 

TOP RATED MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

Golden State has been atrocious on the defensive end of the hardwood in recent games, but the Utah Jazz just might come out flat offensively in this following back-to-back home wins over two NBA heavyweights in Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

The Jazz have the best defensive efficiency in the league, and this edition of the Golden State Warriors lack the firepower to break them down. 

Under is 11-2-1 in Jazz last 14 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Under is 20-6-1 in Warriors last 27 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED RAPTORS @ CLIPPERS *BEST BET*

This is a complete mismatch scheduling-wise. The shorthanded Toronto Raptors (Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka are out) will be playing their third straight road game and on no rest following an upset win against the LA Lakers last night while the Clippers have had three days of rest since defeating Portland. Note that the Clippers are a perfect 7-0 ATS L7 when playing on three or more days rest. 

This game will be of particular importance for Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard who led the Raptors to the NBA Championship last season, and I don't think he'll show any mercy on his former teammates. 

Both teams have been money against the spread with identical 6-3 ATS records, but expect a fired up and rested home team to get the job done in this one.

10* play on LA Clippers. 

SOUTH DAKOTA @ HAWAII MIDNIGHT MASSACRE

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors always have strong home-court advantage on the island and they're 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

The South Dakota Coyotes fit that bill after opening the season with a 10-point win over Pacific on a neutral court. Hawaii dominated their season debut against Florida A&M, entering halftime with a 20-point lead and cruising through the rest of the game.

The Coyotes are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and I see no reason to not back the home team in this matchup. 

8* play on Hawaii. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED RAPTORS @ LAKERS TOTAL

The LA Lakers rank top of the league in defensive efficiency giving up just 94.5 points per 100 possessions and the Toronto Raptors are in the top 10. The under is 12-5-1 in the Raptors last 18 road games and 7-2 in the Lakers last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Additionally, the under is 7-2 in the last 9 head-to-head meetings.

The Raptors are shorthanded with All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and backup big man Serge Ibaka out. I think they'll try and slow down the pace to make it hard for the Lakers to run away with the game, and the Lakers are not playing at a particularly high pace as it is. 

10* play on UNDER. 

CELTICS @ SPURS TOTAL

The Boston Celtics held Charlotte to 87 points last time out, but here they'll face an opponent much more capable of putting the ball in the bucket. The Over is 7-1 in the San Antonio Spurs last eight home games and a perfect 2-0 in their games with a total lower than 217 points this season. 

Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in San Antonio. Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings overall. 

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED SIDE 'MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

I like the Fairfield Stags to keep it close and maybe even pull off an outright upset against the Massachusetts Minutemen on Saturday. 

Fairfield is coming off three straight defeats, but they did cover the spread in a four-point loss against Bucknell last time out. They're 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games, and here they'll face a Massachusetts side that is 5-15-1 ATS in its last 21 road games vs. a team with a losing home record and 4-14 ATS in their last 18 games of a favorite of three points or more. 

Additionally, note Massachusetts' awful 47.1 shooting percentage from the charity stripe which could become a big issue at the late stages of a close game, I think we have a good case for the home team in this matchup. 

10* play on Fairfield. 

CBB 3-PACK

The No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks should be ready to go off here after dropping their season opener to Duke in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. Here they'll take on a weak NC-Greensboro team home at Allen Fieldhouse, a venue where they're 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games. UNC opened the season with an 83-50 rout of crosstown rival North Carolina AT&T, but I don't see them hanging around with a Kansas team off a loss. 

8* play on Kansas Jayhawks. 

GRIZZLIES @ MAGIC FRIDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Orlando Magic are playing at the slowest pace in the NBA and they also have the worst offensive efficiency. The Memphis Grizzlies are playing at a much higher pace but their effective field goal percentage is among the worst in the league.

Memphis is coming off a 137-point outing against Minnesota, but the under 10-4 in Grizzlies last 14 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and 1-6-1 in Orlando's eight games on the season. 

8* play on UNDER. 

CBB 3-PACK

The No. 4 Duke Blue Devils opened the season with a win over Kansas in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. Here they'll face a Colorado State team that is coming off an 11-point win over Denver, but this is obviously a huge step up in competition. Duke seems determined to not let the departures of Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish, and RJ Barrett affect the team. "Coach told us first day, 'Big brother's not here. RJ and Zion are not here. We've gotta be an old-fashioned Duke team.' … We might be ugly, but we're gonna get the W. We're going to be very, very, very aggressive," Duke freshman Cassius Stanley said after the season premiere. I expect them to show no mercy on this Rams team that is 16-39-2 ATS in its last 57 non-conference games.

8* play on Duke Blue Devils.