Memphis (509)

Down the stretch of the season the majority of playoff teams are getting discussed except one…..Memphis.

Rightfully so as they are in poor shape minus key veterans in Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.

To make matters worse Tony Allen is nursing a hamstring injury and his status is unknown for Tuesday.

Still I love the value of the Grizzlies being an after thought as the playoffs near. Lets not forget the Clippers are getting acclimated to Blake Griffin back in the lineup which is skewing the ATS number a tad Tuesday.

Since returning to the lineup he is averaging ten points, six rebounds, and four assists a game. 

Yet, team camaraderie is not one hundred percent. They caught the Wizards on the back end of a five game road trip, consecutive games against the Lakers, and survived match ups against the Mavericks and Jazz.

Look for the Grizzlies hunger to shine Tuesday, as they force the Clippers rotation into tough shots by playing their game. Grab the Grizzlies.

Indiana (502)

Tuesday, the Indiana Pacers will look to grab their third win of the season over the New York Knicks. 

The Knicks have been disastrous post All Star break with a record of 9-17, but have played the Pacers tight in both match ups this season.

In Indiana they lost by three points and recently at home on April 3rd by five points. Yet, I've been waiting for the Pacers to hit another gear and it appears they're at that mark before the playoffs begin.

Their veteran trio of George Hill, Paul George, and Monta Ellis have been steady the majority of the season, but where there overall improvement lies ATS for Tuesday's matchup is their depth.

Rodney Stuckey and CJ Miles are now healthy. Also off the bench is key production with Solomon Hill, Myles Turner, and Ty Lawson. All are finding their offensive niche as teams defensive intensity wanes down the stretch.

The Pacers get the sweep and do so in big fashion.

Kings 717

Monday, the Sacramento Kings head to Phoenix to take on the surging Suns. Phoenix has won consecutive road games as a double-digit underdog against the Houston Rockets and in blowout fashion against the Pelicans on Saturday.

In the efforts the Suns continue to see the bright future of young guard Devin Booker. Booker has averaged over twenty points per game since March 1st. 

Yet, I believe we saw the peak capabilities of the Suns depleted roster talent in both of there recent wins.

The spotlight hovering around DeMarcus Cousins resting is creating the Suns high spread tonight. In the Kings last four games where Cousins has missed due to suspension or rest their only cover was a .5 point backdoor against the Miami Heat.

Still, I believe the Kings can thrive here against a Suns team returning home after five of seven road games. Expect a bit of rust from the Suns. 

04/10 03:05 PM  NBA   (513) ORLANDO MAGIC VS (514) MIAMI HEAT (04/10 03:27 AM) edit

Take: (514) MIAMI HEAT 

Reason: Miami Heat 514 The Miami Heat will look to avenge a road Friday loss to Orlando on their home floor Sunday. The Magic likely will be without Aaron Gordon and Victor Oladipo. Gordon missed Friday's matchup and Oladipo sustained a concussion and is doubtful. In Friday's loss the Heat veterans let the Magic play at their tempo with offensive rhythm. Yet, I expect a completely different level of intensity from a Heat team that needs to get back to the defensive mind set they showcased post All-Star break. This is their final regular season home game before concluding the season on the road in Detroit and Boston. Look for a strong sense of urgency from the Heat who lost a tight one Friday with a subpar effort.

04/10 09:05 AM  NBA   (501) CHARLOTTE HORNETS VS (502) WASHINGTON WIZARDS (04/10 03:26 AM) edit

Take: (502) WASHINGTON WIZARDS 

Reason: Charlotte 502 After watching the Wizards lose in blowout fashion on National TV to the Pistons, you'd expect a poor showing Sunday with nothing to play for. John Wall is listed as doubtful and the Wizards are out of playoff contention. Charlotte on the other hand is playoff bound and playing with a deep eight man rotation led by Kemba Walker. Still, I see value here on the Wizards. They battled tough against a Detroit team that had lost three prior match ups to the Wizards. Also the Wizards had just come off a five-game West road trip. The Hornets are a team that still has issues with interior scoring. Al Jefferson is coming back into the fold, but youth lies with Frank Kaminsky and Cody Zeller. Expect Markieff Morris, Nene Hilario, and Martin Gortat to control the paint and the Wizards overall to bounce back from Friday's loss.

Memphis Grizzlies (706)

The Grizzlies will try and prevent the Golden State Warriors historic quest of reaching 73 wins.

To do so they'll need to rely on veterans Matt Barnes, Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, and Vince Carter to slow down the Warriors assault.

Last night as 6.5 point underdogs they fell short against the Mavericks ATS as Dallas took over in the fourth quarter.

Yet, this is a Grizzlies team that has fought through adversity with season ending injuries to Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr. Don't forget this decimated Grizzlies team defeated a Lebron James Cavaliers team in Cleveland on March 7th.

As potent as the Warriors are they're human. Defending their NBA title in the playoffs is their ultimate goal and I wouldn't be surprised to see a cat and mouse game through three quarters Saturday. Grab the Grizzlies. 

Phoenix (701)

As you look around the NBA perhaps no team is as decimated with injuries as the New Orleans Pelicans. In fact, nine players fill the injury report. Yet, the Pelicans are getting solid contributions from unheralded players such as Tim Frazier, Dante Cunningham, and Alexis Anjinca.

Their recent surge included last night's win over the Lakers as well as a spirited effort in a fifteen point loss to the Celtics.

Yet, the Suns have the better depth and are playing with poise under interim Coach Earl Watson. 

Thursday, they landed just their eighth road win of the season with superb effort as five players contributed in double-figures.

Look for another road victory to happen as the Suns boast an interior(Chandler/Len/PJ Tucker) and backcourt advantage(Booker/Goodwin) that should overwhelm the Pelicans. Grab the Suns. 

512 Boston

Injuries continue to pile up for the Milwaukee Bucks. They'll be without Jerryd Bayless and forward Khris Middleton tonight against the Celtics. That's troublesome as the Bucks have struggled with floor spacing due to the lack of point guard contributions. Remember point guard Michael Carter-Williams is already out for the season with a  hip injury.

Over the Bucks last two games they're just six for twenty three from three point range. At point guard they've had to use rookie Rashad Vaughn, who did not play that role in college at UNLV. Current backup Tyler Ennis still seems to be adjusting to the NBA level.

Boston seemed to have a hangover effect from their recent West Coast road trip when they nearly lost Wednesday as fifteen point favorites against the Pelicans. That won't be the case tonight as the Celtics should cruise here.

Detroit 508

Tonight the Detroit Pistons will look to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Washington Wizards. In fact, their last meeting on March 14th was the Pistons worst loss of the season in a 124-81 beat down. Yet, Detroit is coming off an efficient game Wednesday in which six players scored in double figures. Essentially the Pistons have clinched the eighth seed in the East with a 2.5 game lead with three games left. 

Look for the Wizards recent five game West Coast trip to also be a factor here tonight. Grab the Pistons to prevent a season sweep and avenge March's embarrassing 43 point loss. 

Atlanta Hawks 704

-6.5

An adage in sports is not to buy-in to what you last saw of a team. Last Wednesday-March 30th the Hawks were blitzed by the Toronto Raptors in an eight point 105-97 road loss. Inexplicably the Hawks got off to such a poor start that they trailed by twenty two points at the end of three quarters. 

Statistically the Hawks did not shoot poorly as they shot 44.6% from the field. They were defeated in the x-factor categories. Eighteen turnovers did them in as well as a  free throws made disadvantage as the Raptors made thirteen more.

I anticipate this faring much differently as the Toronto is 22-16 on the road versus 30-9 at home. Also, the Hawks are in need of a win as they're in a tight playoff race with the Celtics, Heat, and Hornets. All are separated by one game with the Hawks currently in the third spot.  A loss tonight could potentially drop the Hawks down to the sixth spot.

Grab the Hawks to ride their balanced rotational attack with Al Horford, Paul Millsap, and Jeff Teague and avenge last Wednesday's loss. 

Charlotte 509

Today's lone isolation ATS play comes between the Hornets and Knicks. The Hornets are coming off a tough road loss in which they shot the ball poorly against the Raptors. Yet, I think they'll respond in a big way on the road in MSG against a Knicks team that has over achieved down the stretch. Look for the Hornets to get shots to fall Wednesday and hurdle the Knicks with ease.

Play NBA Milwaukee (712)

Lets face it there are five games remaining on the season for the Cavaliers. All may seem well with the fact that the Cavs have won eleven of their last fourteen, but it's apparent Lebron James may be in for his toughest playoff run yet. In their latest victory over the Hornets the Cavs received over 25 points from James, JR Smith, and K Love on 50 percent or better shooting. Yet, as has been the case in several instances the Cavs let a near 20 point lead evaporate. Milwaukee is a battling team and should give the Cavs a worthwhile game

Play Philadelphia 76ers (702)

To conclude the season the 76ers have exhibited pride in comebacks recently against the Pacers and Hornets. Both times they fell short but I believe there is hunger from the team to reach double digit wins. This is their best shot against a Pelicans team decimated by injuries. Grab the 76ers young lineup in a peculiar spot as a favorite to win.

Tonight concludes yet another March Madness as the Villanova Wildcats take on North Carolina. The Wildcats have played like a one seed all tournament and are coming off a blowout win against Oklahoma. Postgame the Wildcats admitted there game against the Sooners earlier in the season helped with Saturday's game plan immensely. In a forty eight hour turn around how will the Wildcats respond against the cool natured Tar Heels? What changed the Tar Heels season is why I'll lean on them tonight…defense. Once the Tar Heels stopped being lazy on defense towards the mid-portion of ACC play is when they entered another gear. The Tar Heels wear teams down with their depth, top tier offense, and strong defense.  In the blink of an eye a small deficit can turn into a double digit lead. They have 3-4 spurts a game that no team in the tournament can match. Grab the Tar Heels to cut the nets.

04/03 04:05 PM  NBA   (515) CHICAGO BULLS VS (516) MILWAUKEE BUCKS (04/03 10:51 AM) edit

Take: (515) CHICAGO BULLS 

Reason: Bulls +2.5 On the season the Bulls and Bucks have played some entertaining games. Much has changed with both teams since last year's playoff series. As the season winds down the Bulls are in danger of missing out on the playoffs. While Milwaukee is setup at home to play spoiler I believe the Bulls can use their veteran lineup to hurdle the young Buck. Grab the Bulls in a plus spot Sunday.

04/03 12:35 PM  NBA   (507) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS (508) HOUSTON ROCKETS (04/03 10:51 AM) edit

Take: (507) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 

Reason: OKC -3 Sunday, Houston tries to stay in the hunt of the Western Conference playoffs. Currently, they trail the Utah Jazz by a full game for the eighth seed. Thus far on the year they've been terrific ATS against the Thunder with two covers and a push. Yet, the Thunder are playing at an elite level right now. We'll grab the value on a reduced number to throttle the Rockets playoff chances.

04/03 12:35 PM  NBA   (509) WASHINGTON WIZARDS VS (510) LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (04/03 10:50 AM) edit

Take: (510) LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 

Reason: Clippers -6 Washington is another team on the outside looking in on the playoffs. They're coming off a nice come from behind win against the Suns but are facing an energized Blake Griffin Clippers Sunday. Normally it's tough to back a team that has a star player returning from a long absence. Yet the Clippers roster is filled with players that know their role accordingly. That's the opposite of the Wizards. Clippers coast here.

NCAAB

Syracuse(813) +9.5 

In the second Final Four matchup we'll lean on the streaking Syracuse Orangemen against UNC. Of course UNC is the prohibitive favorite with a potent offensive team. Yet, there were times this season against team basketball that they suffered---Virginia/Northern Iowa. Currently, Syracuse is playing team basketball at all five positions on both ends of the floor. I like they're momentum enough to grab them here as a near double-digit underdog.

NCAAB

Oklahoma(812) +2

The Wildcats journey to the Final Four has put them on the precipice of a National Championship. They've got to this point with opposite style performances in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8. In the Sweet 16 they showcased potent offense to dismantle the Hurricanes, while against the Jayhawks they used suffocating half-court defense. As a result in my opinion Oklahoma is a team being overlooked here, as they had a dominating regular season win over the Wildcats. Look for Jay Wright's team to settle in offensively and defensively from their Sweet 16 performances. That won't be enough to hurdle the Sooners. 

Miami -6.5

            Friday in the NBA Association we'll look for the Heat to bounce back on the road against Sacramento. The Heat lost against an emotional Lakers team amidst a team rift and the conclusion of Kobe Bryant's career. Out in Sacramento there is also a rift occurring but it's one that does not bode well for the home team. Team chemistry has been long gone and George Karl appears to be on the hot seat yet again. Grab the Heat to take care of business Friday in Sacramento..

04/01 04:35 PM  NBA   (503) BROOKLYN NETS VS (504) NEW YORK KNICKS (04/01  PM) edit

Take: (503) BROOKLYN NETS 

Reason: Brooklyn +5.5 The Nets are coming off back to back poor double-digit losses. Yet tonight they're getting value against a Knicks team that has provided a spark ATS as of late. Getting 5.5-6 points is just too much to back the Knicks against a young Nets team that still has a veteran presence with Young and Lopez.

03/31 04:00 PM  CB   (713) GEORGE WASHINGTON VS (714) VALPARAISO (03/31 12:27 PM) edit

Take: (713) GEORGE WASHINGTON 

Reason: Play GW +2.5 We'll grab the Colonels today in the NIT championship. Valpo is a solid team but one that fell short in a weak Horizon conference in their conference tournament. If George Washington was not playing their best basketball of the season I'd side with them here. But that's not the case. Wake Forest transfer Tyler Cavanaugh has settled in with interior skill big man Kevin Larsen. On the perimeter their guards have always been under rated. I think they'll meet the challenge against the Crusaders and prevail with an NIT championship.

Nets +6.5

         Victor Oladipo's return to the lineup has inflated tonight's spread on the Magic's side. Brooklyn did play last night against Miami but I like the way the Nets are evaluating their roster. Eleven players played ten minutes or greater as interim Coach Tony Brown looks for the talent the Nets will keep next season. I can't back a team that's lost ten of thirteen ATS in this spot. Grab the Nets

03/28 08:30 PM  CB   (597) EAST TENN STATE VS (598) LOUISIANA TECH (03/28 09:36 AM) edit

Take: (598) LOUISIANA TECH 

Reason: Louisiana Tech -2.5 East Tennessee State was a team I was high on during their Southern Conference run. Today they'll take part in the Vegas 16 as a +450 team in the tournament. I don't think they'll make it out today against a Louisiana Tech team that has a similar style of play with better skillset players. Grab LTech as small favorites.

Sacramento +11

            Sacramento plays in their third straight game tonight as they travel to Portland. The Kings have won two consecutive games by double digit fashion against the Mavericks and Suns. There's obvious ATS value here as the Kings likely would be 8.5 point dogs on a normal night. Due to the Trailblazers bench shooting woes with Crabbe/Henderson I'll grab the Kings. 

Phoenix +7

            Monday, we'll grab the Phoenix Suns on the road against the Timberwolves. Minnesota's youth is truly shining as of late but I like the grit the young Suns have showcased. Their record may be poor but they're not playing with tank mode in mind like some other teams are. Grab the Suns in a value spot of seven points.

OKC -2.5

            Toronto is one of the few teams I usually veer from going against on their home floor. Yet, OKC is playing at an elite enough level that I am willing to back them as a small favorite here. They'll need to be ready for a few solid runs from the Raptors but I expect their depth to match the home team. Grab OKC.

Miami -9.5

            On the season the Nets and Heat have played three close games against each other. So you'd figure the Nets would give the Heat another close game late in the season. Not exactly. The Nets are too reliant on young players and D-League call ups compared to other season matchups. Don't fall for the line trap here. Grab the Heat.

Kansas -2

         Today we'll grab the Jayhawks against the surging Wildcats. Villanova may be playing their best basketball currently but now is the stage of top teams. Miami succumbed to poor perimeter defense which I expect the Jayhawks to ensure is not the lone skillset Saturday. Offensively Kansas should be able to frustrate the Wildcats similar to Big East opponents in Providence, Xavier, and Seton Hall. Also don't forget Oklahoma blew out the Wildcats earlier in the season. Grab Kansas.

Wisconsin +1.5

         Wisconsin in my opinion is set to be this year's improbable March Madness story. Before the tournament Notre Dame was everyone's overrated team to get knocked off opening weekend. The defeated Michigan after being down twelve at halftime and needed a tip-in in the final minute to beat Stephen F Austin. Wisconsin is as disciplined as a team there is in the tournament. Poor stretches Notre Dame has shown in this tournament will not be able to be made up for this time. Grab the Badgers.

Virginia -5.5

         While bettors of the ACC will likely square in on North Carolina or Syracuse, I'll side with Virginia. The Cavaliers don't have the lure of either team but they have the 'monkey off the back' look similar to Villanova. Iowa State does have a balanced attack but this is the time period where even Fred Hoiberg's better teams would fall apart in the tournament. Virginia will make the half-court game difficult for Iowa State. Without shots falling the Cyclones could get embarrassed against an underrated Cavaliers offense.

Oregon -3

         The defending National Champions are facing an Oregon Ducks team no one truly knows the value on. They've covered twelve of their last eighteen and that should continue tonight against Duke's limited depth. It's not the offense of the Blue Devils I'm worried about thriving but their defense. Oregon is a spurt team and in the second half I don't see the Blue Devils having a response for a third or fourth run.

Kansas -5.5

         Maryland getting to the Sweet 16 would not have been a shocker in December but they're here based on great matchups against double-digit seeds in Hawaii and South Dakota State. Kansas passed what I thought would be their toughest test in the early portion of the tournament against UConn. While the Terrapins defense may give the Jayhawks trouble the offense of the Terrapins is too subpar to back as a 5.5 point dog. Grab Kansas.

Miami +4.5

         Villanova got out the round of 32 with terrific offense against an overwhelmed Iowa team. Today that should be different against a Miami Hurricanes team that matches Villanova's guard strength. Miami has four guards that defend the three-point line well and will make things difficult for a Villanova team use to thriving at the position. Grab the Hurricanes to continue to be March Madness odd success story.

Play Dallas +6.5

            Dallas defeated the Trailblazers in overtime on their home floor a few nights ago and tonight they're catching 6.5. That's a head scratcher to me as the Mavericks have faced possibly the toughest schedule of any team over the last two weeks. Games against the Cavs, Warriors, OKC, etc. I think their veteran team is blossoming at the right time and will give the Blazers another good game in Portland.

Play Lakers +5.5

            The Lakers grabbed us an ATS win last night and we'll look for them to repeat against the Suns. Phoenix has grabbed some ATS value after impressive performances as steep underdogs over the last three weeks. The return of Brandon Knight and boosted play of guard Devin Booker has helped. Yet it doesn't take away the fact that the Suns have a poor front line and are prone to poor defense. The Lakers aren't much better but this is a rare spot where I'll back a team playing on consecutive nights. I like the offensive fire power the Lakers have showcased and believe they can build a sustainable early lead against the Suns.

Play Bulls -8.5

            Chicago's Fred Hoiberg has tweaked the starting lineup numerous times due to Bulls injuries. Depth has grown for the Bulls bench as a result of the plethora of injuries on the season. Confidence with young players such as Bobby Portis, McDermott, and others is there with consistency to spell the veteran Bulls. Tonight they should pile on a Knicks team that lacks depth and is changing over for next year.

Play George Washington -1.5

            George Washington is a team that surprisingly did not make March Madness. They have balance at all five positions and adequate support with two players off the bench. You're typically going to get yourselves in trouble in the NIT snaring a power conference lackluster school such as Florida versus a smaller school veteran team. Grab George Washington to advance past the NIT quarterfinals.

Lakers +3

            Today we'll grab the Lakers as slight home underdogs against the Grizzlies. The Lakers took a beating against the Grizzlies a few weeks back on the road and at home. Yet, I believe today they'll respond with better offense against a Grizzlies team with a completely different nucleus of players. Grab the Lakers at home tonight

BYU -4

            Creighton has showcased a stout defense in the NIT but will go up against a quartet of scorers in BYU. Look for the Cougars prolific offense to get the BlueJays on their heels tonight. Grab the Cougars to defend their home floor

Houston +10

            Earlier in the season we had a heart breaking push on the Rockets against the Thunder in the +8 range. Tonight they're getting an extra two points on the road as the Thunder are in the midst of one of their better stretches of the season. Yet I can't pass up the value here on the Rockets who are in need of a competitive game. Grab Houston.

Miami -9

            Tonight the Heat are steep favorites against the Pelicans. New Orleans have done a great job without Anthony Davis and are coming off solid outings against the Kings and Clippers. Yet tonight will be a challenge against the Heat. Miami's been winning ugly before sparking in a key blowout win over the Cavaliers. I like the momentum they are showcasing which should carry over against an over valued Pelicans team.

Charlotte -6

            Charlotte won in comeback fashion last night over the Spurs from a steep deficit. In the game the starters struggled on the offensive end. Luckily Jeremy Lin picked up the slack for the Bobcats. Tonight we should see the starters back in gear against a Nets team that has lost the ebb and flow once showcased three weeks ago.

Northern Iowa +7.5

         Two veteran teams go against each other in Northern Iowa and Texas A&M. One of the problems at the tail end of January and early February for the Aggies was playing to the level of competition. Setting the tone with pace they want to play is difficult. It actually occurred in the last game against Green Bay as the Phoenix led 24-16 midway through the first half. A depth advantage wore down the Phoenix. Here that's not the case and I look for the Panthers to dictate tempo for forty minutes. Grab Northern Iowa.

Maryland -7 (Buy the Hook)

         All season long onlookers were wondering what's wrong with Maryland. Now we're beginning to see one of the main reasons. The Big 10 style of play just did not bode well for the Terrapins, as teams slowed the ball down. Now we're seeing the majority of those teams knocked out of the tournament besides Indiana who pushes the ball. Remaining teams left fit the style that Maryland can flourish against. Don't fall for the trap of Hawaii as Maryland should cruise in a stylistic offensive performance.

Syracuse -6

         Not enough credit goes to assistants and strength and conditioning coaches. When I watch Syracuse I see a team that looks as the best physically conditioned team in the country outside of Kansas. An old adage in sports is what you saw last is not what you see tomorrow. Middle Tennessee scored at will against Michigan State and led the entire game. Syracuse is a different beast with a zone defense and an offense that goes beyond one or two scorers as in years past. Boeheim has five guys that can score in double figures on any given night including two freshman peaking in Malachi Richardson and Tyler Lydon. Balance defensively and offensively will be too much for fifteenth seed Middle Tennessee.

Oklahoma -6

         VCU's turn around to their season is something their veteran players in MO Alie Cox and JeQuan Lewis can hang their hats on. Will Wade's decision to move Lewis to shooting guard a dozen games ago was truly a brilliant move. It freed up better opportunities offensively for the Rams. Yet, Oklahoma is a poor matchup for them. The Sooners are too potent of a team at all five positions which is troublesome for a gritty Rams team. Hield who has been quiet for the last couple of weeks should have a noteworthy 'March Madness signature' performance today. Grab the Sooners

Providence +11

         Tonight we'll grab the Friars as Saturday's lone ATS play. Through the aftermath of all the chaos of upsets the top seeds were unscathed. All covered ATS in Kansas, Oregon, and Virginia. The lone team not to cover was North Carolina against FGCU. The veteran Tar Heels just are in a tough region. The 16th seed FGCU was not a true sixteen seed and the Friars are not a true 9 seed. Providence at one time was ranked in the top ten and feature two NBA players in Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn. Perhaps no other team featured extended role players in the second round the fed off of NBA caliber talent as strong as the Friars did against USC. I believe that continues Saturday night as the Friars have been a team that has exhibited effort for forty minutes all season long. Grab the Friars.

Cincinnati -3

            I liked this point spread at 1.5 and have it as the biggest misread line of the second round. I envisioned this game more in the 5.5 range on Cincinnati's side. Yet when a team wins a conference tournament with senior talent as St. Joseph's has you're going to see value drop. But the Bearcats defense is that St. Joseph's is not accustomed to in the Atlantic 10. I may have passed on this game if the Bearcats offense was of form of year's past, but I think Cronin has recruited better on that end of the floor. Grab the Bearcats.

Dallas +9.5

            No one knows what to make of the Mavericks veteran team. A lot likely will change with the team this offseason but they're still showcasing heart on any given night. I like the fact that they did not let up on the road down 18 multiple times to the Cavs.  Many people would see that as an extreme disadvantage against the hot shooting Warriors but I see it as an opportunity back on their home floor. Grab the value here with the Mavericks.

Detroit -7

            Detroit's rusty play lately presents value on their home floor against a team performing as poorly as anyone in the Sacramento Kings. Detroit's faced some tough defensive teams as of late which has attributed too poorer defense on their part. Tonight they'll get easy shots and poor shot attempts/turnovers from the Kings. Grab Detroit.

Texas A&M -13

            There is not a conference that featured more of a style of an NBA summer league format than the Horizon. Up tempo run and gun teams with little defense. Green Bay rode their offense to a Horizon league conference tournament title but today will face a veteran defensive minded team in A&M. Though Green Bay can score I'm not keen on their defensive abilities for forty minutes. Grab A&M to pull away in this one late.

Stephen F Austin +7.5

            The Big 12 was a superb conference but West Virginia may have been the most over rated of the bunch. Stephen F Austin is the consistent yearly tournament small school that gets over looked to the Wichita State's, Davidson's, and Northern Iowa's of the world. They'll be prepared and played very well against the VCU press two years ago. Grab the value on Stephen F Austin.

USC +2

            Tonight we'll grab USC of the Pac-12 against Providence. The Friars are a team that has caught bettors eyes the entire season. They soared to the top top in non-conference with a win over Arizona and a 14-1 record. After a decline in conference play they caught eyes again with a road win as 14 point underdogs to Villanova. Yet, the Friars struggle to score consistently and perhaps got away with that in a Big East conference that has several teams in that same boat. One team that did not was Xavier who cruised in two wins against the Friars. USC has a similar scoring balance as the Musketeers and boast six athletes that average double figures. Look for the Trojans offense to be too much as the Friars attempt to play catch up. Grab USC.

Utah -9

            The Pac-12 representative Utah Utes have shown great strides as of late. They did lose in the Pac-12 championship in a blowout fashion to Oregon, but overall I like the track they've shown. Fresno State is not a juggernaut shooting team and relies heavily on seniors Marvelle Harris and Guerrero. While a terrific tandem that will attract ATS money, I like the camaraderie of the Utes to prevail ATS. They'll be able to win the interior/perimeter scoring battle along with trips to the free throw line.

Atlanta -7.5

            We'll grab the Hawks today against a Denver team that has had a few days off since losing to Miami. They did perform well in that game but played against a lackluster Heat team as Joe Johnson has hurt their defense and it was D Wade's returning game.

Sacramento -4

            The Kings have had a down period but today we'll grab them against the Pelicans at home. Expect little defense and lots of scoring as neither team is a defensive juggernaut. Yet, I expect the Kings to regain some of the form we saw from them before the All-Star break. Rudy Gay is bound to get back on track tonight.

03/16 04:05 PM  NBA   (603) DALLAS MAVERICKS VS (604) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (03/16 11:47 AM) edit

Take: (604) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 

Reason: Cleveland -9.5 Dallas did play the Cavs fairly well a month and a half ago but I don't anticipate them duplicating such efforts tonight. Cleveland has elevated their play since that game and should be able to catch the veteran Mavericks off guard early and often. Grab the Cavs to cruise tonight at home.

Detroit Pistons +1.5

            Detroit's one of those teams that when you want to discount they're going to show up in a big way. I believe they'll do that today after laying a dud a couple of times in the past week. Stanley Johnson is back and I like the backcourt advantage the Pistons have with Jackson/Pope over a tiresome Wizards John Wall led team. Grab Detroit

Miami Heat -6.5

            The Heat been an up and down team but still are playing well even in losses. They return home today against a Denver team that has reshuffled pieces since the All-Star break. Young players such as Gary Harris and rookie Mudiay should struggle against the hustle extended depth of the Heat. Grab Miami

Atlanta -4

         In the last matchup of the Hawks and Pacers we grabbed a slight backdoor cover on the Hawks in thrilling fashion. The Pacers controlled the game the majority of the way before slipping in the last three minutes. Even though the Pacers are playing better than what we saw originally post All-Star break I'm still leery of backing them here. Both teams are coming off games yesterday and I believe the Hawks are worthy backing on their home floor again. Grab the Hawks.

UConn -5.5

         The Huskies are doing what they typically do in March and that is improve by the game. They've covered in three consecutive games against Central Florida, Cincy, and Temple. Sunday, they get the matchup they want again against a Memphis team they've defeated twice on the season. With the Huskies improved offense look for Kevin Ollie's pressure defense to take its toll on the Tigers. Grab UConn

Purdue +5

         Will there be a surprise upset in the Big Ten championship? Lets face it the Spartans are involved in the last game Sunday hours before Selection Sunday. While I doubt they'll be less motivated the superior challenge is there against a Purdue team that rattled the Spartans a few weeks ago. This should be a back and forth contest in which I'll take the Boilermakers extra motivation to get a higher tournament.

Akron -4.5

            In the MAC Championship I'll grab the value on Akron against surging Buffalo. Buffalo defeated Ohio last night and has confidence from being in the Big Dance a season ago. Conference regular season champion Akron has struggled in the conference tournament down 12 to Eastern Michigan with under ten minutes to go, and yesterday surviving against 12th seeded Bowling Green. Yet, today I believe their team balance will be a problem for Buffalo. Grab Akron to win the MAC.

Toronto -5.5

            Toronto looks to creep closer to the Cavaliers as the top seed in the East with today's game against the Heat. I believe they will get closer as they've been a juggernaut offensively on their home floor. Don't forget Miami added Joe Johnson to the starting lineup recently, which has benefitted the Heat. Yet, there comes a time where the offense bogs down with new personnel and I believe we'll see that happen today. Toronto is a dangerous spurt team similar to Golden State. Look for two to three surges to be too much for the Heat.

Texas State +9

         Texas State quietly had one of the best come from behind wins last night over Georgia State. UT-Arlington is a team that has the eyes of bettors with headlining wins in-conference and in non-conference over Memphis and Ohio State. Yet, value lies with Texas State who has the skill position players to take on Arlington. Grab Texas State.

Charlotte -4

         The Hornets continue to be over looked but I'll jump in on them tonight against the Pistons. Detroit has been a bit back and forth since the All-Star break as they try to identify as a team. Charlotte's depth and home court edge should be enough to get us this posting victory ATS.

Cincinnati -2

         The Bearcats are one of the teams that has a team way of handling opponents. Their style has consistently caused problems for the Huskies and I see that happening again Friday. Grab Cincinnati to force UConn's guards into shots that they are uncomfortable with and for the Bearcats to win the battle in transition offensive points.

Georgia Tech +10

         The rally from Georgia Tech last night over Clemson was not a normal rally. You could see the veteran Yellow Jackets awaken a bit as they've been a team on the verge for quite some time. They match up well against the Cavaliers and should be able to ride last night's momentum into a solid performance tonight. Grab the Yellow Jackets.

East Carolina -3

         In today's first game of the American Conference tournament we'll grab East Carolina as slight favorites. Though South Florida has performed better I'm leery of the overall team defense and offensive abilities they have. I'll back the better back court of the Pirates and look for them to get their second victory over South Florida.

Kansas State +12.5

         Folks that have finally been waiting to grab value against Kansas have it here today. Kansas State played Kansas very tough a few weeks back on their home floor as 4.5 point underdogs. Now they're catching a full eight points more. Take the value here.

03/09 06:30 PM  CB   (563) ST. JOHNS VS (564) MARQUETTE (03/09 09:05 AM) edit

Take: (563) ST. JOHNS 

Reason: St John's +6.5 Today's lone play comes with St. Johns against Marquette. The quick rationale here is that Marquette should build upon two close regular season wins over St. John's to showcase their growth. But I believe St. John's is just a poor matchup for Marquette. The Johnnies fight hard and will give the Golden Eagles another battle. Grab the Johnnies plus 6.5.

Furman- +1.5

         After being way off on point spreads yesterday in the Southern Conference, oddsmakers are set to recoup Sunday. After opening as a pick the line has quickly shifted in East Tenn State's favor. Yet, I see Furman landing the victory here. Furman has solid team defense which has shown to cause trouble for East Tenn State's guard reliant lineup. Look for East Tennessee's offensive dry spells to give Furman the advantage here. Defense wins and we'll grab Furman.

Western Carolina +7

         Mid-season I tabbed Western Carolina as the best long shot conference tourney team in the country. They have veteran experience with all five starters being seniors, including the team that pushed Wofford in the Southern Final two years ago. Chattanooga has the flash mold that ex-Southern conference member Davidson exhibited. They have the record that makes you blink twice to see them as just a seven point favorite today. Yet, oddsmakers have this right. Grab Western Carolina +7 and also find a value play at near +600 to win the Soco tournament. Great hedge opportunity for tomorrow.

Memphis -10.5

         In the NBA we'll grab Memphis who takes on Phoenix as an eleven point favorite. Memphis is one of the few teams in the NBA that has shown consistency to bring an A effort against the bottom feeders of the NBA. They've dismantled teams such as Philadelphia and the Lakers. Their offense is growing which should allow them to grab an early lead and run away with Sunday's matchup.

East Carolina +5.5

         Memphis has been a fun team to watch but once again their record and results are not what you'd expect from Josh Pastner and company. There are a handful of teams you can anticipate being flat to conclude the season and I see that being the case with Memphis. Grab East Carolina to cover as a home dog Sunday.

Central Florida +17

         Earlier in the season UConn throttled Central Florida as 8.5 point favorites at Central Florida. I'm leery of seeing such a performance again as UConn has unraveled as the season has neared ending. Central Florida is by no means a balanced team but I expect them to be much more focused than what was exhibited a few weeks back. We'll take the points on a near double point spread from prior.

Dayton -2

            The Flyers have had their issues down the stretch but today I believe we're seeing value on the Flyers against a VCU team that has dominated the Atlantic 10. Over the years Coach Miller has had a knack for knowing how to play against VCU and I believe that'll carry over once again on their home floor. Grab the Flyers as slight home favorites.

Knicks +5.5

            The Knicks showed some heart for the first time in quite a bit last night in a close loss to the Celtics. At home today against a much improved Pistons team you'd figure a let down would be in-store. Instead I'll grab the Knicks as the Pistons are still in a transitional phase with newcomer Tobias Harris and the losses of veterans Ilyasova/Jennings and Stanley Johnson's injury. Play the Knicks plus five.

Duke +2.5

            The Blue Devils have lost games in fashion that we haven't seen in awhile. Last Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh assuredly shook the Blue Devils players and coaching staff. Yet, UNC does not have the physical defense and rebounding skills to put a blowout win on Duke. Duke showed earlier this season they can beat UNC and I think they do it again. Grab Duke.

East Tennessee State -3.5 buy the hook

            East Tennessee State has won both prior matchups against Mercer in improbable fashion. Both games Mercer dominated until the final waning moments. Yet I still see value on ETSU as they know how to win games and Mercer just has not shown the ability to play a full forty minutes of basketball. They were lucky to survive Citadel in the opening round which is troublesome. Do not be surprised to see ETSU jump out early this time around and stun ATS backers of Mercer expecting a game similar to the first two.

Virginia Tech +6

            This is a game I expect to be played at Miami's pace but I don't believe Miami will have the offensive success they've shown recently. Virginia Tech is a confident group that has won in comeback fashion over Florida State, beat Wake Forest on the road, and handled Pittsburgh. They'll look to go into the ACC tournament on a roll. Look for the Hokies to play a much tighter game than the fifteen point loss suffered earlier this season.

Play SMU -4.5

SMU looks to bust the bubble of UConn today and I believe they will. Earlier in conference play UConn defeated SMU on their home floor with a concerted defensive effort. That's tough to match on the road at the height of level they did at home. I'm also leery of the Huskies scoring. Sterling Gibbs and Rodney Purvis are not hitting shots on a consistent enough basis while freshman guard Adams has been erratic. SMU is devalued here as a team that will not be in the post season due to a ban. Yet their offense is too dynamic against a Huskies team that will without a doubt have their lulls. Grab SMU.

Providence -3

         Today we'll grab the Providence Friars as slight home favorites. Going 3-6 over their last nine games has caused the Friars to lose tremendous value ATS. Creighton is a tough team and won that has an early season two-point loss to the Friars on their mind. Yet, I believe at home the Friars will showcase enough offense for an ATS payoff tonight. Grab the Friars.

UCLA +3

         The Ducks look to continue their rise in the top ten as they travel to LA to take on the Bruins. This seems to be a good matchup for UCLA as the Ducks have only played nine road games all season in which they are 3-6 overall. Oregon recent rise may have them a bit over ranked. I'll grab the value on the home Bruins to take care of business.

03/01 06:00 PM  CB   (553) GEORGETOWN VS (554) MARQUETTE edit

Take: (554) MARQUETTE 

Reason: Marquette -3 At this juncture of the season we have two programs heading in the opposite direction. Marquette is building forward with a promising team for next year while Georgetown seems to be a program on the decline. While this matchup has delivered close finishes for the last five years I believe Marquette will distinguish their separation from the Hoyas tonight. Grab Marquette -3

Wake Forest -3.5

            Wake Forest and Virginia Tech are two teams that will drive you crazy watching the runs they go on and give up over the course of a game. Yet here I think Wake Forest on their home floor should prevail. In this angle I'll use the end of season theory for the Demon Deacons. The Hokies are coming off a tremendous come from behind win over Florida State and may come out flat against a team of the same caliber as them in Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have rose their level of play as of late and should prevail past this number today.

Toronto -1.5

            Detroit was sharp last night for us but today I see the value shifted against them in favor of Toronto. Toronto is playing as fluid of basketball as any team in the NBA with Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan at the top of their game. Detroit's flaws have been stopping guard penetration and scoring. Toronto has had great success against Detroit over recent years and I see that continuing today. Grab the Raptors

Saint Mary's -8

            Out in the West Coast Conference we'll grab Saint Mary's against San Francisco. San Francisco has difficulty scoring and relies too much on half court defense to keep them in games. I expect Saint Mary's to build a sustainable lead early that wears on the Dons defense. Grab Saint Mary's.

Detroit +1

            Milwaukee has been a juggernaut ATS and has the mold of one of the best young teams in the NBA. Yet Detroit's addition of Tobias Harris just is a different animal to contain as the Pistons look like a team on the cusp. The Bucks are a team reliant on attacking the basket for points and I believe the Pistons can contain half court settings and get some easy transition baskets. Grab Detroit.

Chicago +5

            Portland has caught the attention of the betting world with some eye catching blowout wins over Cleveland and Golden State and other head scratchers like a loss to the Rockets the other night. Chicago is a team that played Portland against their strengths a few months back in a win at Portland. Though Chicago has injuries they're more than capable of winning this game with offense and doing enough defensively. I'll take the five here with the Bulls.

Virginia -3.5

            Virginia is quietly starting to look like a flip-flop team. There's typically 1-2 teams that start off the season with a non-contention caliber look and are able to flip that to a caliber team by season's end. Virginia's defensive capabilities should be a problem against UNC. Though UNC's defense has improved I anticipate the Cavaliers scoring a bit more than typical. Grab the Cavaliers.

Florida State +2

            Notre Dame has had the look of a tired team as they extend their road trip. They lost to Georgia Tech by a point and survived a Wake Forest team without their senior in Devin Thomas. Florida State's youth and size should pose problems for the Irish. We'll grab the Seminoles to finally represent their home court in a big game.

Maryland +4.5

            The Terrapins slide may be a bit exaggerated, as the Big Ten is a difficult Power conference. They did pull away from Michigan last Sunday and I expect the Terrapins to showcase a Top ten performance today against a Purdue team that's shaky at best against strong guard lineups such as Maryland. 

Boston Celtics -5.5

            The Celtics face a Miami Heat team that's been a force post All-Star break. Yet all the Heat games were at home. On the road today against Boston I think we'll see a Celtics team showcase their upper echelon capabilities. Depth is a huge question mark for the Heat which leads me to believe a poor second half stretch should do the job for the Celtics.

DePaul -4.5

            DePaul's declining season presents value today against a St. John's team that was impossible to imagine getting a number less than five months ago. Yet they've showed toughness to battle in games including a near win against Seton Hall this past weekend. Yet, I'll grab DePaul here as they have enough with their starting lineup to take care of the Johnnies.

Play Arizona State +12.5

In the Pac-12 today we'll grab Arizona State plus 12.5. Arizona State is coming off blowout losses at the hands of Arizona/UCLA which has created some ATS value here. The Devils also are just 4-10 in conference play but are not your typical cellar basement team. They've battled in half of those losses and Utah is not an efficient team offensively. We'll grab the points here tonight.

Golden State -8.5

            We'll grab the Warriors as they continue on their east coast trip. They've had some close calls against the Heat and Hawks but tonight I believe they'll open things up early against the Magic. Orlando's added some new pieces and does have size but there still one of the more poorer teams defensively. A couple surges by the Warriors should be enough to get this cover.

Play Lakers +8

            The lone play in both college or NBA Wednesday will be the Lakers plus eight. While the Lakers play and record has been pathetic this season, they've quietly been an under the radar team ATS as of late. They're come from behind ATS cover the other night may leave bettors in position to pounce against them today against Memphis. Yet, I like the way their youth is playing and don't believe the veteran Grizzlies are worthy of such points at this juncture. Grab the Lakers plus eight.

Cleveland State +12.5

            In Horizon action we'll jump in on Cleveland State getting a whopping 12.5 points against Green Bay. Cleveland State did lose by 20 points earlier on their home floor to GB but had a lead in the mid 20's before the unraveling occurred. After a blowout loss to Milwaukee it would seem that Cleveland State doesn't have the fire power to matchup tonight. But I think they'll have better offensive success for a full forty minutes than last time around. Grab Cleveland State as a value play.