Indiana +2

            Indiana and Miami have been the best series to watch this season from an ATS and overall fan of the game. Each time it seems the other team is able to stage a comeback from a deficit. In the last game Miami erased an 18 point late third quarter deficit to force overtime and win. Tonight though I see a game that may actually play to the onset of first quarter action. Miami likely will be without D Wade for a third straight game and that's too much to overcome against a tall defensive Pacers team. Miami can get away with playing great defense in certain instances but Indiana has too much familiarity with their lineup. Grab Indiana.

Siena -1

            We'll grab a rare MAAC action play as Siena hosts Iona today. Siena is the MAAC team that draws the least fanfare. Iona has the minds from past years as an NIT and March Madness team for the past four seasons. Monmouth has the eyes of this year with their sideline theatrics, while Siena has been over looked. They're the better ball club and on their home floor I'm willing to ride the success they used to stage a 30-15 run to defeat Iona nine days ago. Grab Siena.

Wake Forest -8

            Even though Boston College has shown the ability to cover games there is no doubting how poor of a club they are. Their recent near win over North Carolina may cause an adverse reaction here in seeing value on them. Instead I'll side with Wake Forest who is a team that had the talent but underachieved as the mix of upperclassmen and youth did not blend together. Against Boston College I would not be surprised for us to see an out of nowhere exhibit from the Demon Deacons. We'll grab Wake Forest as they should cruise at home.

Boston Celtics -2

            About a month ago we had the Celtics at home against the Nuggets in what was a poor back door loss. Boston blew a 20 point fourth quarter lead to allow two chippies in the final minute for an eight point win on a 9.5 point spread. We'll go with them here on the road as I believe we'll see a better defensive effort than what we saw from the Celtics in that home game. Too much value here against a Denver club that overachieved leading up to the All Star break.

Play Central Florida +9

            Central Florida has been an agonizing team for myself and others to watch but there comes a point and time where a team has to buckle down. Central Florida displayed better defense against Memphis on the road but did not have the offense to match. On their home floor we have a prime opportunity on a continual number to get an ATS cover today against a Tulsa team that is prone to offensive droughts. Grab the plus nine here.

Utah State +4.5

            Out in the Mountain West we'll look for value on the Utah State Aggies on the road against Fresno State. Utah State has miffed oddsmakers with recent strong home wins out of nowhere against New Mexico 8 and Colorado State by 13. Instead of seeing a letdown on the road against Fresno State, I see this as an opportunity to continue to pounce on a Utah State team that has recreated ATS value towards the end of conference play. Grab the Aggies.

Kansas -4.5

            I have Kansas as my pre-season odds on favorite to win the title at 16-1 dating back to last May. Things have not changed in late February. While the Big 12 has been a strong conference I'm a firm believer in grabbing future value on teams late in the season in tough spots. This Kansas team has to show they can play in a March Madness type of environment on the road against their in-state rival K State. Assuredly they may face a deficit but I expect a comeback similar to their win against Kentucky and enough to get the cover.

East Tennessee State +3.5

            In the earlier meeting between East Tenn State and Mercer, East Tennessee State had a tremendous late rally to defeat Mercer. It was a true sloppy performance from East Tennessee State that is sure to draw attention on value for Mercer today. But I believe the tail end offense East Tenn State found with dribble penetration will carry over to today's game. Mercer is not the same juggernaut as last year and East Tenn State is a poised group of veterans. Grab East Tenn State as small dogs.

Richmond +9

            The Spiders are in a dire need to duplicate last year's six-game win streak to conclude the regular season. To do so they'll need to defeat the hottest team in the Atlantic 10 in the VCU Rams who are 11-2 in conference. Yet, these two teams have played close games with two of four matchups in the last two years going to overtime. I like the Spiders to play a solid game tonight on the road against the Rams. Grab the Spiders

Play Central Florida +12

            Wednesday, we'll head to the American conference were lowly Central Florida is catching a near nine-point swing spread advantage since they were 3.5 point dogs at home against Memphis a few weeks back. Surely, Central Florida has been one of the toughest teams to ever consider backing but I believe this is a spot suited for such cause. Memphis is not a defensive juggernaut team and were as proficient offensively as they've been all season in their rout win over Central Florida a few weeks back. Grab Central Florida as Wednesday's value play.

02/15 04:00 PM  CB   (717) WESTERN CAROLINA VS (718) EAST TENN STATE (02/15 02:19 AM) edit

Take: (717) WESTERN CAROLINA 

Reason: Play Western Carolina +7.5 We'll grab the Catamounts Monday as the lone ATS play. Earlier in January the Buccaneers wiped the Catamounts out early and held a 31-13 lead right off the bat. That's a steep deficit to come back from as the game never got closer than 55-45. Yet, as conference play has extended teams are starting to figure out the Buccaneers lineup led by Cincinnati transfer Ge'Lawn Guyn, Missouri transfer Deuce Bello, and guard TJ Cromer. I expect the Catamounts to play much better this time around as they're on a three game winning streak and have four seniors anxious to have a shot to position themselves for a Southern Conference tourney run. Grab the Catamounts

USC +9

            Both the Trojans and Wildcats play their second game in 48 hours after playing Friday night. The Trojans will look to avenge a poor loss in Tempe to Arizona State while the Wildcats rallied back in nice fashion against the Bruins. USC's prolific offense should do similar damage that they did in scoring 103 points against the Wildcats in January. In the end this is too many points against a Trojan team that deserves to remain ranked in the top 25.

Florida St +1

            This is the point of the season where you can find value on teams with maturing freshman. Malik Beasley and Dwayne Bacon of Florida State are both averaging over 16 points a game for the Seminoles. After losing in double digit fashion to the Hurricanes in January I believe the Seminoles can split the series on their home floor. Miami offensively has been playing a bit over their heads. Look for a down to Earth game from the Hurricanes.

North Carolina -10

            The Tar Heels look to respond at home after a dreadful three game road trip. North Carolina lost consecutive games on the trip and nearly a third against Boston College. This is an opportunity for the Tar Heels to reclassify themselves as a legit final four contender. I think they get it done against a Pittsburgh team that has lost the defensive touch of prior Jamie Dixon Big East teams. UNC's fire power will be too overwhelming for the Panthers.

Duke -2

            Saturday's board features optimal point spreads from morning, afternoon, and evening games. For all of Duke's losses this season should they be discounted this heavily on their home floor against Virginia? Sure, Virginia's made some strides but their offense is pedestrian at stretches in games. Duke's ability to score in multiple ways will offset the rebounding edge Virginia will get. Grab Duke on their home floor Saturday.

Play Syracuse -2.5

            Since Syracuse joined the ACC there has been one team in particular that their zone defense has thrived against---Florida State.  Florida State recruits the same mold of athletic smaller guards and physical big men. That's troublesome against an active zone. Perimeter guards around 6'1-6'3 struggle to find lanes and areas to shoot over the top of the zone. Inside Florida State's big men have been prone to turnovers on set zone traps. Syracuse is good for 5-7 wins a year on their zone defense alone and this is a good spot for it. Grab the Cuse.

Play Oakland -5.5

            Out in the Horizon conference we'll look to grab Oakland as they take on Milwaukee. I see this is as a value spot as Milwaukee suffered a loss Saturday at the hands of Northern Kentucky. While Milwaukee's offense has been proficient their defense is a bit behind to take on the task of handling a strong Oakland team. In what should be a good game we'll grab the value on Oakland here.

Rockets- +5.5

            You'd expect the Rockets to have the tired legs after playing last night against Golden State but I expect it to be the Trailblazers. Portland played a long overtime grind out affair against the Grizzlies. Both Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum shot below 50% and attempted over 20 shots. Their shots were crafty off the dribble and dribble drive attempts. Unlike the Rockets who shot in an open court contest all night long against the Warriors. Also the Rockets laid a dud just a few nights before against this Trailblazers team. We'll grab the value here in the Rockets.

Utah -9.5

            Wednesday we'll look for Utah to get back in the win column in a big way against the youth of the Washington Huskies. Utah defeated Washington on the road earlier this season in overtime. While many may see value here I think Utah is primed for a big win. They've suffered back to back defeats to the hands of Oregon State and Oregon. Yet they're back home here and have the upper edge in senior leadership to pick a part the Huskies a second time around. Grab the Utes.

Clippers- Pick

            Boston's coming off a loss last night against the Milwaukee Bucks in which they erased an 18 point fourth quarter deficit to tie the game at 109. Two sequences of highs and lows then occurred. A lay in by Greg Monroe with one second left made it 111-109 before Boston tied it again with two free throws. Then a mental error by Marcus Smart drew two free throws to give the Bucks the victory. That's as mentally taxing of a loss a team can sustain and this is coming before an elongated All Star break. The Clippers on the other hand got away with a win against the hapless 76ers. But in watching that game it was not the effort. Shots just were not falling as customarily for the Clippers. They have their legs back underneath them and I expect the Clippers to come out strong and hold on for a road win against the Celtics.

Pacers -3.5

            Though I was very impressed with the Bobcats performance against the Bulls, the Bulls were without their main players and the bench of Hinrich/Brooks/McDermott isn't as stellar as in years past. I do believe eventually the Bobcats will see some rust from Kidd-Gilchrist and tonight could be that night against the physical size/strength of the Pacers. George Hill and Paul George are matchup nightmares for the undersized Bobcats. Grab the Pacers at home to show their home court connection tonight.

Villanova -13.5

            We'll grab the Wildcats on the road Tuesday. Villanova's new ranking as a number one team is sure to turn heads. Have they looked and played like a number one team, no? But by being in the Big East they're able to avoid the torture of other power conferences. DePaul is who they are and are a weak defensive and struggling offensive team. Sure they had their moments in a win over George Washington and Providence but overall have regressed from last season. Look for the Wildcats to capitalize tonight.

Bucks +4.5

            The Bucks did come up short on their west coast trip but showed some grit in close games against the Kings, Jazz, and other opponents. This is a great opportunity for them to capitalize at home before the break against an over achieving Boston Celtics team. Boston's offense has been proficient but their defense as a whole has faltered as of late. At home with young talent we'll grab the Bucks Tuesday.

Bulls +6--Analysis to Follow

We're grabbing the Bulls at +6 Monday as the lone ATS play of the day. I see high value on a team that's lost three of their last four games, has two players out (Butler, Mirotic), and is wrapping up the last game of a seven game road trip. This is the fourth matchup between the two teams and although the Hornets are the healthier team---both know each others offensive/defensive sets well. In the other three matchups the Bulls were favored in all by 3.5, 5.5, and 6.5 points. We'll grab the line reversal here on the Bulls.

Play Clippers -9

            The notion here would be to grab the 76ers with rationale that the Clippers are due for a let down on their current road trip. Instead, I see this is as one of the best bargains of value ATS this NBA season. The 76ers have lured bettors with covers and close calls recently including a come from behind finish against the Warriors. Yet, the Clippers depth is perfect for this road spot. Jamal Crawford is excelling at the moment along with JJ Redick, CP3, and DeAndre Jordan. The bench is also contributing high value with Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, and Wesley Johnson. Grab the Clippers who will remain focused with eyes on rest during All Star break.

OKC +8

            When the Warriors and Thunder meet in the western conference finals/quarterfinals you will not catch an eight point spread in the playoffs. Yet, it's here in the regular season and we'll jump all over it. Yes, Golden State has been dominant but the Thunder can obviously do the same amount of scoring when they want. Defensively, the Thunder play under their capabilities on a nightly basis but in this level of a game I expect to see a better effort. Grab the Thunder.

North Carolina -2.5

            This is a trap ridden game based on the spread and recent result of the Tar Heels. Notre Dame has showcased this season in big matchups that they just aren't ready with the junior filled team they have. Maybe next year will be their time to shine. UNC has a senior based team and a  poor taste in their mouth from blowing a large lead in the ACC tournament last year. While the Tar Heels may have lost to the Cardinal, I was impressed with the increase on the defensive end of the floor from them.

Northern Kentucky +5.5

            Out in Horizon conference play we'll grab value on Northern Kentucky against Milwaukee. Northern Kentucky we won against Milwaukee and they also did not cover at home against Oakland. The third time will be the charm against a Milwaukee team losing its luster a bit. Grab Northern Kentucky.

Auburn +10

            Now is finally a time that the Tigers have ATS value. After being slaughtered throughout conference play, the Tigers get an opponent in the Bulldogs who have been up and down. Look for the Tigers upper classmen in Bowers, Harris, etc to keep them in this one.

Arizona -4

            Arizona survived a scare against Washington State and now get to finish the Washington road trip against the Huskies. I see growth occurring for the Wildcats and while they may not be their typical juggernaut they'll be ready in March. Grab the Wildcats to show tenacity tonight against the Huskies.

BYU -17

            We were on this game earlier this season with Pacific +9.5-10 at home. In a game that was tight throughout ballooned in quick fashion midway through the second half. Instead of seeing value on a 7 point adjustment from the first outing, I see value on the Cougars who can score and run at will against Pacific. Grab the Cougars.

Eastern Michigan +6.5

            Buffalo has showed some of the holdover talent from Bobby Hurley has paid dividends, yet they've under achieved when they face solid defenses. Eastern Michigan has that and should be able to score enough in transition to stay within this spread.

Georgia State -1

            Down in the Sun Belt conference the game of the day belongs to Georgia State versus UT Arlington. Of course UT Arlington has caught the flare of sports bettors with early season wins over Ohio State and company. Yet, Georgia State has the lulling defense/offense that I like in a home court setting in a smaller conference. Grab the Panthers as slight favorites.

Clippers -4.5

            The lone play for Friday will come with the Clippers. First the Clippers are gaining value here based on an early Eastern start time in Orlando. Secondly, they just suffered a loss to the Timberwolves who had lost eleven straight prior. But I will not over value that loss as the Timberwolves had been competitive against OKC, Cleveland, Utah, and against a few other opponents. Orlando has rose their play recently with a win against Boston and a nice effort as steep dogs against OKC. Yet, they're defensive issues will come to the forefront tonight. The Clippers should be able to churn an octane performance and score in the 115-125 range. Grab the Clippers

02/04 04:00 PM  CB   (725) WISC GREEN BAY VS (726) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (02/04 10:39 AM) edit

Take: (725) WISC GREEN BAY 

Reason: Wisconsin Green Bay -3 Northern Kentucky lost a few days ago at home to Oakland by a result of 11 points. They actually played closer than the final score indicated with a few solid runs to begin the second half. Yet this is a spot where you'll have to devalue that performance and see that Northern Kentucky is struggling to contain offenses in the Horizon league. I don't see that changing tonight against a Green Bay team that has the ability to score in bunches. Grab Wisc Green Bay.

Penn State +16.5

            Iowa's surging offense has put them in prime position to make a good run in the Big 10. Yet let down's happen in-conference and I believe this spread is a tad bit inflated off of Iowa's latest string of dominant wins. Penn State has snuck in on the number against a handful of teams as big dogs already. We'll grab them here again to do so.

Notre Dame +5.5

            The Irish have offensive balance to negate the impact of the Hurricanes eight game home win streak. At 5-3 in-conference I believe the Hurricanes are set for a poor finish in the ACC. Grab the Irish to play well on the road here and have success on the offensive end of the floor.

Virginia -23

            Virginia is showing strides on both ends of the floor after a 16 point road win against Louisville. Expect carry over momentum from that game to ride at home against a Boston College team that may not get a win in the ACC. Their one strength is Rutgers transfer Eli Carter who attempted nine of his fifteen attempts from the three point line against North Carolina. Expect the Cavaliers to limit him and hold another opponent under fifty points.

Play UNLV +2.5

            This is a value play on the Rebels. The loss of Ben Carter has caused an over reaction along with a loss to a solid San Diego State team. New Mexico isn't exactly the juggernaut they use to be either. Talent advantage hails to the Rebels and I look for Pat McGaw to showcase himself as a true leader tonight. Grab the Rebels on the road.

Play Virginia Tech +9.5

            The Hokies are coming off a blowout loss at Pittsburgh. Instead of over reacting to that loss we'll look for value on a similar spread at Syracuse. Syracuse has their offense working a bit better but their defense is still questionable in their trademark zone. The Hokies small lineup should be able to attack creases and penetrate the zone. I also expect the Cuse offense that has been above average to tone down a bit today.

Add-

LSU -5

            This was a game I wanted to add earlier but it moved to six. Now that it's moved down I'll grab the value on the Tigers. LSU has shown enough strides on both ends of the floor to handle a road trip to Auburn. I do not expect a let down after strong performances against Georgia and a near upset of Oklahoma.

Milwaukee Bucks +4

            Jason Kidd and the Bucks head to Sacramento Monday night to start a new road trip. This is a matchup of young lineups that will merit my attention ATS. I've been impressed with Milwaukee's in-game coaching from Jason Kidd. Sacramento just does not put teams away especially at home. The Bucks are getting better as each game goes on and I believe Kidd will make the proper in-game adjustments to have the Bucks in this. Grab Milwaukee

Utah Jazz -4.5

            While some may want to latch onto the Bulls for value Monday I will not. Utah has caught my eye as they continue to get better overall. They're in the hunt currently for the last seed in the West. Now healthy with Derrick Favors back, they also have young pieces that have seen the green light of the NBA. Trey Burke, Rodney Hood, and Rudy Gobert have all raised their level of play in the month of January to go along with budding star Gordon Hayward. The Jazz home court altitude hindering the Bulls will be an angle by handicappers but I just see it as a good matchup for the Jazz. Grab Utah.

Indiana Pacers +4.5

            Cleveland's surge before the All-Star break has paved the way for LeBron and company to hit their stroll. Yet I can't ignore the fact that the Cavaliers where facing a deficit deep into the second quarter against the Suns and blown out by the Warriors. Indiana has value Monday at home as they've been a strong home team all season. Grab the Pacers

Louisville -1

            Louisville is coming off an embarrassing home loss in double-digit fashion to the Virginia Cavaliers. Virginia showcased heart and toughness defensively not seen from them this year. NCAA basketball you need to have short term memory and I believe the Cardinal can bounce back here against the Tar Heels who are who they are. They're an excellent offensive team but very limited defensively. This should be the spot where Trey Lewis and Damion Lee can finally get both going in the same game. Grab the Cardinal at home.

Play Virginia Tech +10

            Pittsburgh right now in my opinion has some of the highest glaring issues in the ACC. They have 2-guards and small forwards almost up and down their roster.  As conference play continues teams have been better at game planning this weakness. Teams have limited their half court offense and worn the Panthers down offensively. The Hokies are coming off a game against Louisville in which three players shot double-digit free throws. Buzz Williams has always had a knack for utilizing the free throw line to his advantage since his days at Marquette. They'll win that battle by 7-10 free throws, which will be the difference in our cover.

Play Central Florida +8

            Central Florida's defense has not been pretty yet they are getting a bit too under valued here against the Huskies on their home floor. UConn is not the same without Amidah Brimah inside and frankly does not wow opponents with their offensive efficiency. Guards Rodney Purvis and Sterling Gibbs are known to take bad shots while Shonn Miller is mainly a putback type of scorer. Grab Central Florida who should be getting around 4.5 here.

Play Wake Forest +10

            Notre Dame may be a solid home court team but they're obviously struggling to get their lineup in solid order. They're coming off a blowout loss to Syracuse and may have been over valued from a Duke win. Wake Forest is coming off a game in which they led by nine points against Virginia before letting the lead whittle away. They'll be able to score effectively against the Irish. This is a team that's lost close battles to Louisville, Indiana, North Carolina, and Duke (final score not indicative of the game). They'll battle until the clock hits zeroes which I'll value here in case the Irish have a low to mid-teen lead for a possible under five minute cover.

Kentucky +5

            Kansas bit of a free fall seems like it should end today at home against Kentucky, correct? Not necessarily. Sometimes scheduling can create havoc for a team and that's the case right now for Kansas. When Kentucky was sliding they lost the label of top team and have played looser. That has allowed them to gain traction and should bode well on the road against Kansas. Kentucky's athletes should pose problems for a finesse Kansas team. Too many points here in a game that should come down to the wire.

Play UNC -26

            We're going to add a play on UNC against BC. All season North Carolina has been deemed a bit under valued in my opinion thanks to lackluster defense. Offensively they've been as efficient as a team that I can remember since the early 2000 Duke/UConn teams. BC struggles on both ends of the floor and this is a perfect tune up spot for UNC to roll. Grab UNC.

Virginia +6

            As poor as Wake Forest made Virginia look a few nights ago you have to believe a team came rally around the type of come back the Cavaliers mustered. Louisville is showing better efficiency but has yet to showcase the caliber level of play that would warrant them as consistent big favorites. We've been able to capture several ATS covers against Louisville and will aim for it here again on value on the Cavaliers.

Florida State -3.5

            Florida State defeated Clemson earlier in conference play and I believe they'll do so again today at home. Clemson is coming off an easy win against Pittsburgh in which they remained hot from the perimeter. Traveling on the road against a team that has already defeated them can create the type of doubt that causes pressing. Florida State may be adjusting to new recruits but can still light up the scoreboard. Grab FSU to sweep the Tigers.

Georgia Tech +5.5

            Syracuse hopes to continue to rise in Joey Lunardi's bracketology as they inch closer to getting back in the March picture. They've had some strong showcase performances and wins recently but are facing a Yellow Jackets team that hasn't back down to anyone this season. They're coming off one of the more impressive ACC conference wins yet in defeating NC State handily on the road. They've also defeated Virginia and fought tooth and nail against North Carolina/Louisville. Syracuse has shown much improvement but still rely too heavily on a perimeter offense and two freshman in Tyler Lydon/Malachi Richardson. We'll grab the value on the Yellow Jackets.

Timberwolves +8.5

            This game keeps rising on the number as the Jazz look to give payback to the Timberwolves from a 94-80 loss December 30th. I'll gladly take the points here as people ignore standout details. Yes, Derrick Favors returned Monday but rust is evident after nearly a month off with a back injury. The rising play of Rodney Hood and Gordon Hayward has taking the eyes off a Jazz offense that still struggles at times. Minnesota's youth is relentless and will apply pressure to this Jazz offense. Grab the Twolves plus the points.

Rockets +7.5

            The Rockets may have been defeated by the Spurs in blowout fashion but they've steadily been playing better basketball as of late. OKC on the other hand has made some lineup adjustments with Dion Waiters in the starting lineup and is coming off a road trip of wins against the Knicks/Timberwolves. Yet I am not impressed with how they've looked defensively and believe the value lies here with the Rockets.

Washington +6.5

The Huskies will look to try and grab another win over the Bruins. In their prior matchup the Huskies stormed back in the first half from a large deficit and carried the momentum into the second half. Though this game is at UCLA I believe their skillset poses a challenge for the Bruins. Grab the generous 6.5 here with the Huskies.

Furman -6.5

            We won the other night with Furman not playing their best but still covering on the road against VMI. I expect a sharper performance from Furman against Western Carolina. Western Carolina has struggled against high scoring teams this season and I expect Furman to be able to find their shots early and often back at home Thursday. Grab Furman.

Play East Tenn State +2

Our second southern conference play Thursday comes in East Tenn State versus Wofford. Wofford comes in as a two point favorite as oddsmakers give them one last chance to show value they deserved from the past two seasons. The problem is East Tenn State is a veteran team that has well advanced scouting on Wofford's downgraded lineup. The Terriers have hold over third and fourth options but no go to scorers remaining from the past two years. Look for East Tenn State to take advantage as will we in what should be the last over valued line on Wofford this season.

Minnesota +7

            OKC is coming off an incredible come from behind win against the Knicks. Rather than see it as an igniting point I'll take the value on the young Timberwolves who have performed better in recent games against the Mavericks and Cavaliers. OKC is still lackluster defensively which does not bode well on the road in back to back games.

Atlanta Hawks -5

            The Clippers bounced back nicely from a blowout defeat to the Raptors to win with defense against the Pacers. Yet there certainly a team wearing down a bit before All Star break. Doc Rivers did not want to have to utilize Paul Pierce as much as he had and the wear/tear is showing. The Clippers needed a come from behind effort against a tired Miami Heat team, were blown out by the Cavs, and blown out by the Raptors. The Hawks should be able to handle the Clippers tonight.

Virginia Tech +10

            Virginia Tech finds themselves yet again devalued ATS even with wins against Georgia Tech, Virginia, and a tough hard fought game against North Carolina. Buzz Williams has this team playing with confidence and familiarity of Coach Pitino's tendencies from his Big East days at Marquette. Both Damion Lee and Trey Lewis continue to struggle in-conference from the field. We'll grab the value on the Hokies.

Boston -9.5

            After slumping for a stretch it appears the Celtics have regained their stride. They're playing with balanced energy and seem to have been ignited by their win against the Bulls as they torched the Wizards on their home floor the other night. Denver has played a bit over their heads and I see the Celtics handling them with ease tonight.

Raptors -7.5

            Initially you'd expect a professional franchise team to respond after a 25 point home loss last night to the Celtics. Yet, the Wizards have lost three of four at home and now head on the road to face a surging Raptors team. Quietly the Raptors feature eight players that average 20 minutes or more---7 scored in double digits in their latest win vs the Clippers. These teams are playing at a different level than three weeks ago when the Raptors utilized a strong third quarter to win 97-88 at Washington. While there may be perceived road value here I expect a Raptors blowout.

Virginia -6.5

            The Cavaliers have not looked like a defensive team all season but tonight that should change against a Wake Forest team that is turnover prone. Turnovers feed the passion of defense for the Cavaliers and I would expect the defense to grow stronger as the game wanes. Offensively the Cavaliers have more than enough efficiency with Gill/Toby down low and Perrantes/Brogdon from mid-range and the perimeter. Grab the Cavaliers on the road.

Central Florida +4.5

            In the American Conference Memphis travels down to Florida to take on a Central Florida team they've had great success against since entering the conference. Yet this Memphis team has a style of play that bodes to the success of Central Florida. Central Florida has not only the ability to run with the Tigers but also can outshoot them from the perimeter. Grab the points with Central Florida tonight.

Wisconsin Green Bay -5.5

            Sometimes it's not the opponent but the timing of a matchup. In the horizon conference I believe that is the case with Detroit tonight. They've now faced strong offensive teams in Oakland and Wisc-Milwaukee and fought in both matchups for a four point loss and a five point loss. While the value may seem on them tonight I believe it's on Green Bay who is a relentless scoring offensive team. Pace may finally catch up to Detroit. Look for a tired Detroit team and value on GB tonight.

Duke +3.5

            Remember in the college football season when Alabama was an underdog to Georgia after a loss to Ole Miss? Duke lost three straight games and appeared to be ready for their fourth with a 7-point deficit to NC State. Yet they bounced back with a resounding 17 point differential in the second half over the Wolfpack. Miami is about as over rated a top 25 team I've seen since Texas 3-4 years back. This is a great spot to get underdog points from a Duke team that should reascend itself in a quick hurry.

Furman -6

            VMI looks to showcase ATS value after a few horrific losses over the past few weeks. One was against Furman which completely picked apart VMI on both ends of the floor. I don't see that changing today even on the road as VMI's defense is too susceptible. Furman has solid enough guard/forward play to score at will and get their second double-digit win against VMI.

Utah -4

            Utah has been a bit of a disappointment from where they were a season ago. Yet there is still time for this group to come together and make a run in the thick of Pac-12 conference play. The Huskies advantage in games they've won has been their size and athleticism. Look for Utah to be able to hinder that strength and extend their defense out to the perimeter. That should lead to a poor field goal percentage for Washington even at home. Grab Utah

Syracuse +10

            Can the Orange grab another victory over a quality team in Virginia today? I'm not sure on that but I do believe they're getting high value against the number. Don't forget last year Syracuse had a quality lead at the carrier dome before being crushed against a strong defensive Virginia team. This year's Virginia team is not the same defensively and no coach is better at making in-game adjustments against a poor offensive team than Jim Boeheim. Grab the points with the Cuse.

St John's +5.5

            The Johnnies are one of those teams you have to do a double-take on. They have suffered some puzzling losses amidst a new coach in Chris Mullin and an entire new starting five. Yet they've shown a hustle intensity that I like against a Marquette team that has been just as every bit of helter skelter. This is our Sunday CBB value play with the Johnnies.

Play Virginia Tech +10.5

            North Carolina has shown they can be the best team in college basketball when they want to be offensively. They have six different players averaging double digit scoring yet have only won in-conference games by a margin of twelve points. The reason for that has been their defense which has been horrendous. Virginia Tech already has quality conference wins over Virginia, NC State, and Georgia Tech. They also narrowly lost to Notre Dame by two points. Expect the Hokies to ride the energy of Buzz Williams and play well in front of their home crowd.

Play Sacramento -3

            After a thrilling victory against the Hawks one would believe the Kings would have a let down at home against the Pacers. As you look around the NBA we're starting to see a lot of teams wearing down before the All Star Break. I believe the Pacers are one as they've had a few key injuries and remember Paul George is coming off a full year without basketball. Value here lies with the Kings.

Play Milwaukee +6

            One of the teams surging right now are the Pelicans. You have to wonder how long can they sustain this type of offense. After demolishing a strong defensive team in the Pistons you'd figure they'd do the same against a Bucks team as just a one-point differential favorite of -6 instead of -5. Yet, the Bucks are improving by the day and have a young deep rotation that should give the Pelicans a tall task today.

Play Georgia Tech +6

            The Yellow Jackets are one of the teams getting high value ATS almost every gasme they’ve been an underdog. It's hard to figure out as they’ve defeated Virginia, and hung around as steep underdogs against UNC and others. I like them again here as the Yellow Jackets have size to thwart the Cardinal and offense that the Cardinal haven't seen thus far in the ACC.

Detroit +6.5

            Down in the Horizon league we'll grab value on Detroit getting nearly seven against Milwaukee. Milwaukee has rode a veteran lineup to surprise some folks especially with the efficiency of their offense. Yet in the Horizon league there are far too many teams that are cake walks that can pad and inflate stats. I expect Detroit who has athleticism at nearly all five positions to cause a bit of come down to Earth shooting for Milwaukee. Grab the value here.

Duke -4

            An overblown stat sometimes can be offensive rebounds. Duke lost their third in a row to Syracuse thanks to a great effort by Tyler Roberson with 20 rebounds. Yet the Blue Devils lost because of other variables that included keen play by Syracuse guards with transition spot up three offense and their great zone defense. After NC State walloped Pittsburgh and has impressed in other games I believe they're over valued here even with great interior play. Grab the Blue Devils to respond well.

Wake Forest +14.5

            Miami may have won against Boston College with a solid second half but something is still off with this Hurricanes team. Against a team that exerts a lot of effort in Wake Forest I'd be leery for the Hurricanes in a double-digit favorite spot. Grab the Demon Deacons to hang around with the Hurricanes.

Oklahoma City -5.5

            The Thunder are on the ascent and as well as the Mavericks have played you have to believe a bit of a wall is coming for them. They patched through the first few weeks of the season with an unhealthy roster before getting Matthews/Parsons in the lineup. They've shown the ability to play as a veteran team but I like the team balance and chemistry of OKC to get the job done on the road tonight.

Play Charlotte Bobcats +5

            It's highly evident that the Charlotte Bobcats are exceeding their ceiling of play as Kemba Walker continues to exhibit a dominating showcase and that the Magic are under achieving. Yet one can not ignore the lack of offensive from the Magic. They're struggling in all phases. Rather than latch onto a team in the Magic that are due for a win we'll grab the value of +5 with a confident Hornets club.

Memphis -1.5

            Tonight we'll look for the Grizzlies to handle the Nuggets in the altitude. I believe the Grizzlies have a bad taste in their mouth the last time they were in altitude and lost in overtime against the Jazz. The Nuggets who are playing their sixth straight home game have gained ATS support here as a result. Yet I don't expect the easy looks at the basket they've been getting from non-defensive teams such as OKC, Golden State, and others to be the case tonight against a hungry Grizzlies team. Grab the Grizzlies.

Boston College +15.5

            The Miami Hurricanes have lost consecutive games and head on the road for their third straight tonight against Boston College. Even though BC has lost all four ACC games by an average of 20 points I expect the game plan from the Hurricanes tonight to bode to the success of the point spread. They're focus will be solely on getting a victory with their defense. Grab BC to get the steep cover at home.

Pittsburgh -8.5

            This is just a poor matchup for NC State. NC State thrives on allowing point guard Anthony Barber to penetrate and facilitate offense. He has been over worked and succumbed in the second half against UNC. Fatigue of conference play can get the best of a lot of teams. With Barber wearing down NC State becomes a non ACC caliber team. Pittsburgh is a dangerous team at home and has the arsenal of depth to coast here. Grab Pitt as NC State's first half against UNC will entice bettors on their side.

Clemson +10.5

            One has to wonder how gassed the Clemson Tigers are after whirling wins over Syracuse, Louisville, Duke, and Miami. Yet, as shown yesterday with Syracuse's win over Duke this is a stacked ACC. Virginia's offensive inefficiency is troublesome to back at home in-conference against a Tigers caliber opponent. The Tigers have the interior players to limit Virginia's attacks in the lane. Florida State started pulling away from Virginia because of their ability to make down three's. Clemson has been flourishing from the perimeter and should continue to do so tonight. Too many points here.

Cavs -3

            Seeing the Cavs as a favorite against a Warriors team they struggled with in last year's post season and on Christmas Day is a bit of a head scratcher. But as I stated a week ago the Cavaliers are playing a different elevated brand of basketball that hasn't been seen since Lebron returned. Couple that with the Warriors tired legs and recent losses and I do believe we have enough advantage to make a play on the Cavs tonight.

Play Syracuse +11

            I'll be the first to admit that Syracuse is not the same team they were at the beginning of the season. Yet I believe the talent is there and they're severely under valued. Any team that loses their coach for a nine game suspension is going to decline and Syracuse did. But with a resounding win against Wake Forest I believe Syracuse can keep momentum going against a young Duke team that is reeling currently. Syracuse has the veteran advantage and will be able to score against a Duke team that has been giving up too many easy baskets. Grab Syracuse

Magic +8

            The Magic have been a thorn for backers over the last two weeks but now is a good time to get a return on investments with them. They grabbed us a cover in Europe in an overtime loss to the Raptors and I see them doing so again today. Atlanta is still probing for the right mix of minutes with Korver struggling and youth playing well with Hardaway Jr, Schroeder, and Bazemore. Orlando's interior defense should keep them in this game and I expect their offense to continue to move upward from what we saw against Toronto.

Utah +2.5

            Utah has had their issues on the road but I think today is a good spot to grab them against a Bobcats team that's started to falter. Perhaps they were playing over their heads with key production from young players and veterans. Utah has showed better balance offensively lately and should be able to disrupt the Bobcats offensively enough to win this.

Play FSU +4

Wisc Green Bay +14.5

            The Horizon league should be a cake walk for Valparaiso. They have the returning veterans and strong coaching with Drew to get the job done. As down of a year as it's been for Green Bay, they have the offensive pedigree to maintain value here as steep underdogs. We'll grab them here to give Valpo a run for their money and stay within the number of 14.5.

Milwaukee +6

            Milwaukee once again has value here as oddsmakers and bettors have no faith. They got us a few nights ago against the Bulls as they erased an eight point deficit at home. Yesterday they prevailed against the Hawks and today they get to face a Bobcats team that has been wildly inconsistent for the last two weeks. This is strictly a value play as until the Bobcats show stability I'll continue to play reasonable numbers against them. Grab the Bucks

Detroit +2

            I've been impressed with the upward play of Detroit. That's why value has shifted today at home against Oakland. Oakland has the flare and stick out value to snare with Felder to snare them as a slight favorite here. Instead grab the value in Detroit which had a strong performance last year against Oakland that they should carry over at home

Clemson +5

            What Clemson is doing right now is truly remarkable. They have the pedigree to continue it against a Hurricanes team that has been plagued the last several seasons with let downs. Last year Clemson suffered one of their worst ACC performances against the Hurricanes in a dismal road performance. The team has grown and with momentum I believe they'll continue to shine. Grab the Tigers plus 5.

Pittsburgh -16.5

            Boston College just has zero value in the strong ACC. Pittsburgh may have had a poor performance against Louisville but have had strong showcase performances against Notre Dame, Gonzaga, and others. There just isn't any offense on the Eagles to sustain a competitive matchup. Grab the Panthers.

Villanova -7

            Georgetown continues to displease Big East fans with a down season. It's hard to believe as the Hoyas have strong talent and depth. But they have athletes that need a full season under their belts before growth can occur. Playing against strong defensive teams such as Villanova just bodes trouble. The Wildcats have been winning games with their trademarked defense while their offense continues to slump. Look for them to snap out of their offensive lull and take care of the Hoyas on the road.

Play Vtech +7.5

Big Board--Analysis in Later Write Ups

Maryland -10

Big Board Analysis in Later Write Ups

Play UNC -15.5

Big Board--Analysis in Later Write Ups

Miami -2.5

            The Heat are nearing the end of their road trip against the Denver Nuggets. Denver defeated the Warriors as 9.5 point underdogs and the Heat blew a first half lead for the second consecutive game. Against Utah they lost as the Jazz clamped down defensively in the altitude. Against the Clippers the Heat lost against prolific offense in the second half. This time around against the Nuggets the Heat should be able to control the pace of play for four quarters and pull off the win.

George Washington +5.5

            Tonight in the Atlantic 10, Dayton will look to hold serve against George Washington. The Flyers rely on outside shooting and guard oriented defense. Expect the Colonels to be able to counter as they have tall and athletic athletes that will pose a challenge for the Flyers. Grab the value on the veteran Colonels