My 10* Game of the Month is on Wichita St at 6:00 ET.

Lon Kruger led Kansas St to four NCAA tourneys in his four seasons in Manhattan and then led Florida to a Final 4 berth (1994) in his six years in Gainesville. Next was three NCAA berths at Illinois in a four-year stint and then four NCAA trips by UNLV in his seven years at Las Vegas. He's been at Oklahoma since the 2011-12 season and has led the Sooners to seven NCAA berths, including a Final 4 trip in 2016. This year's team is off to a 7-1 start, 73-54 to Stanford. in a tourney at Kansas City (Cardinal are ). Gregg Marshall led Winthrop to seven NCAA appearances in nine seasons and since taking over in Wichita, entered this season with a string of 10 consecutive seasons of 22 or more wins, including FOUR, 30-win seasons. In that 10-year span, the Shockers have been to seven NCAA tourneys (including a Final 4 appearance in 2013) and in three NITs (won title in 2011). The Shockers are 8-1 to open the current season, losing only to West Va, which has also opened 8-1. Wichita State hosts Oklahoma on Saturday, looking to complete the "Okie Double," having won 80-61 at Oklahoma State this past Sunday.

Oklahoma returned an excellent trio from last year's NCAA team but little else. Guard Reaves (17.6 & 5.5) is the team's leading score this season (he began his career at Wichita St), joined by returning frontcourt players, the 6-7 Doolittle (16.0 & 8.4) and the 6-9 Manek (14.0 & 5.8). Returning sophomore guard Bieniemy (5.3) is joined on the perimeter by freshman Harmon (8.4-3.3-2.4) and JC transfer Williams (7.5). With Reaves and Doolittle, the Sooners are one of just THREE teams from a major conference (along with Creighton and Vanderbilt) to have two players averaging 16 points or more.

The Shockers have no real star but own great balance, as SIX players are averaging at least eight points. PG Stevenson leads the way with 13.4 PPG. Four more guards chip in between 6.9 and 11.4 PPG plus up front, 6-8 junior forward Trey Wade, a transfer from UTEP, averages 9.6 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds. Freshman guard Tyson Etienne (11.4) leads the way in that group, while fellow guard Burton (9.9-3.8-3.9) just misses averaging in double figures. Excellent news has come Wichita's way as the 6-11 F Jaime Echenique (9.2 & 6.0 last season) has returned from a hand injury to play the last five games, averaging 9.6 & 4.6 in just 16 MPG. The 6-8 Udeze (5.8 & 3.2) filled in for him but will likely see fewer minutes the rest of the way.
 

This Wichita St may be 'under the radar" now but watch out. Freshman Etienne is already reminding some of past Wichita State greats Ron Baker and Landry Shamet in how he moves without the ball and sets up open lanes for passes. He is shooting 46.2 percent from three-point range (good for 22nd nationally) and leads the American Athletic Conference with 24 three-pointers. His KenPom Efficiency Rating of 128.3 was second among Division I freshmen to Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis (131.8) and 19th overall. Erik Stevenson and Jamarius Burton have been the players most responsible for feeding Etienne and the rest of the Shockers as the duo has combined for 6.9 assists per game. Stevenson, a sophomore who leads the team in scoring and is second in rebounding, is one of the top players in Division I in assist to turnover ratio, ranking ninth at 3.86. Burton, also a sophomore, had a career-high 11 assists against Oklahoma State to climb to a tie for 26th in Division I with a 2.82 assist-turnover ratio.

Tough venue (Charles Koch Arena) here for the Sooners and note that Oklahoma's only previous true road game this season was an 82-80 'escape' at North Texas (as a 6 1/2-point favorite), a C-USA team that has opened the current season 4-6. Shockers complete that "Okie Double," winning with "room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

No. 10 Oregon (7-2) will visit No. 5 Michigan (8-2) Saturday at 12:00 ET, playing at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor for the first time in school history. Oregon won its first six games before, losing a pair of close games to ranked teams in the Battle 4 Atlantis, a one-point overtime heartbreaker to then-No. 8 Gonzaga and a four-point loss to then-No. 6 North Carolina. The Ducks have eased into their December schedule, as they have only played one game this month, an 89-64 victory over Hawaii on Saturday. Michigan was unranked heading into the season but vaulted to No. 4 after beating then No. 6 North Carolina and eighth-ranked Gonzaga to win the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament during Thanksgiving weekend. (note: Oregon lost to those same teams in that tourney). However, after losing to No. 1 Louisville in their first game with a ranking, the Wolverines bounced back with a home victory over Iowa on Dec 6 but then lost their big Ten road opener 71-62 at Illinois on Dec 13.

Dana Altman has led Kansas St, Creighton and Oregon to multiple NCAA tourneys and he likes this year's team (I agree). The Ducks are led by senior guard Payton Pritchard, who is averaging 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. He is one of two players nationally averaging at least 18 points, six assists and four rebounds (Western Carolina's Mason Faulkner). Senior guard Anthony Mathis (10.8) and junior guard Chris Duarte (10.3 & 5.4) are the Ducks' other double-figure scorers, although Oregon goes 'nine-deep." Sophomore guard Will Richardson comes off the bench and is up to 9.4 PPG after averaging 16.5 points over his last two games. Starting alongside of Pritchard, Mathis and Duarte are 6-8 freshman Walker (5.9 & 3.2) and 6-9 sophomore Okoro (5.1 & 6.0).

John Beilein left Michigan to take the head coaching job with the Cleveland Cavaliers (why?), after leading the Wolverines to NINE NCAA tourneys in his 12 years (twice lost in the national championship game). Taking over is former Fab Fiver Juwan Howard, who had to replace forward Ignas Brazdeikis (14.8 & 5.4) plus guards Jordan Poole (12.8) and Charles Matthews (12.2 & 5.0). However, the cupboard was far from bare. 6-7 junior forward Isaiah Livers averages a team-best 14.8 points and is shooting 52 percent from the floor. 7-1 senior center Jon Teske averages 14.3 PPG plus a team-high 9.0 RPG and is set to play his 89th straight game in this contest. Senior PG Xavier Simpson checks in with a line of 12.0-4.4-8.6 and junior guard Eli Brooks adds 11.7 PPG. Other key contributors are the 6-8 Wagner (7.7 & 3.3) and guard DeJulius (7.4 & 3.1).

I'm a HUGE fan of Altman but I noted above that Oregon will be playing in Ann Arbor for the first-time ever but more notable, this is the Ducks' first true road game this season. In fact, it is Oregon's LONE true road game in 2019 (of 13), as the Ducks next head out on the road for their Pac-12 opener Jan 2 at Colorado. I mentioned above that Oregon's two losses came to Gonzaga and North Carolina in the Bahamas and while "comparison scores" can often be deceiving, it's hard NOT to note that Michigan beat Gonzaga 82-64 and beat North Carolina, 73-64. Oregon's first visit to Crisler Arena "dos NOT end well!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Mia Heat at 7:05 ET.

The Lakers' season-opener (Oct 22) at Staples Center was a contest with Clippers, as they were the designated road team. The Lakers lost that one but have since won EACH one of their last 12 road games. 22-3 Los Angeles visits 18-6 Miami tonight and the Heat are a perfect 11-0 at AmericanAirlines Arena. LA opened a five-game road trip with a 96-87 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. "I'm happy about the win ... but I'm not satisfied with the way we played," forward LeBron James said afterward, alluding to the Lakers blowing a 24-point first-half lead before recovering to win for the 15th time in the past 16 games. "We have to be a lot better." Miami is coming off a wild 135-121 overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday that saw forward Duncan Robinson match the franchise record of 10 3-pointers and rookie guard Kendrick Nunn score a season-high 36 points, while center Bam Adebayo and swingman Jimmy Butler recorded triple-doubles.

LBJ recorded his sixth triple-double of the season in the win over Orlando (25-11-10) but Anthony Davis tallied just 16 points on 6-of-20 shooting, after scoring a season-high 50 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the previous game. A.D. (27.2 & 9.2) and LBJ (25.8-7.0-10.8) stand far and above the rest of Lakers, as only Kuzma (11.1) is within two 'TDs' of LA's "dynamic duo."  Kuzma could sit out for the second straight game with an ankle injury,  while PG Rajon Rondo (8.5 & 5.9 APG) hopes to return after a two-game absence due to a hamstring issue. Flying under the radar has been LA's two-headed center play, as starter McGee and backup Howard are combining to average 14.0 & 13.0.

Butler's arrival in Miami in the off-season was the team's biggest news and yes, Butler (20.6-6.9-7.0) has delivered. However, Miami's success this season has also been fueled by undrafted rookie Nun, who ahs come out of nowhere to average 16.2 PPG and second-year player Robinson (a 6-7 SF who averaged just 3.3 PPG in only 15 games last season), who is averaging 11,8 PPG.  Then there is center Bam Adebayo, who after averaging 8.0 & 6.5 in his first two NBA seasons, is having a "career year" by averaging 15.3 & 10.5 (Hassan Whiteside, we hardly knew you!). The Heat also have excellent depth, even though PG Dragic (15.9 & 5.0 APG) and SF Winslow (12.4-7.1-4.3) will likely sit in tonight's contest.

Something has to give! LA's 12-game road winning streak or Miami's 11-0 start at home. The Lakers easily handled the Heat 95-80 back in LA on Nov 8, when the Heat shot just 35.0%, including a horrid 6 of 35 on threes. Here at home, expect the Heat to shoot MUCH better, as Miami is tied for fourth on the season, connecting on 47.1 percent from the floor. The Heat were an eight-point dog in LA, so getting points here at home (I took five), makes them a STRONG play. Upset alert? I would NOT call a Miami win an upset.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Bos Celtics at 8:05 ET.

18-7 Philadelphia has won 11 of its last 13 games overall during a home-heavy stretch (nine at Wells Fargo Arena) and travel to Boston Thursday night to face the 17-6 Boston Celtics in the first half of TNT's doubleheader. The 76ers remained perfect at home this season (13-0) by eking out a 97-92 win over the Nuggets on Tuesday. "I think throughout this whole year we've been able to find ourselves in a lot of positions late in the fourth quarter, where we have to really be in crunch time and be ready to pull out a win," forward Tobias Harris told reporters after Tuesday's win. "And this was another one of them, where I thought we did a really good job of just getting stops and being solid." As for Boston,  the Celtics had a four-game winning streak snapped with Wednesday's 122-117 road loss to the Indiana Pacers, despite Kemba Walker pouring in a season-best 44 points. The Celtics were 'done in' when they allowed the Pacers to outscore them 38-23 in the fourth quarter! However, Boston (like Philly) is unbeaten at home, going 10-0 (7-2-1 ATS).

Center Joel Embiid recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds against Denver for his 12th contest of at least 20 points and 10 boards this season. He has six double-doubles in the past seven games and leads Philly in scoring (22.0) and rebounding (12.4).  Harris (19.0 & 7.0) and Horford (13.8 & 6.8) join Embiid in the frontcourt and Philly got good news Tuesday when Josh Richardson (15.4) returned to the court after missing SIX games with a hamstring injury.  He started and played in 19 minutes, but scored just three points. Simmons (14.0-7.0-8.4) rounds out Philly's starting-five. Major contributors off the bench are Korkmaz (8.4) and rookie Thybulle (5.1) in the backcourt plus Ennis (7.4 & 3.4) and Scott (6.2 & 3.3), up front.

Boston blew a 10-point lead over Indiana in the fourth quarter, during which Gordon Hayward exited following a palm to the nose by the Pacers' Doug McDermott. Hayward said he went through concussion testing and would be re-evaluated Thursday morning before his availability for the Philadelphia game is determined. He had just returned Monday from a month-long absence following surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand, scoring 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the Celtics' 110-88 win over Cleveland on Monday night  He's averaging 17.4-6.3-4.0 and is part of an excellent Boston frontcourt trio which also includes Tatum (20.9 & 71.) and Brown (19.9 & 7.0). Theis (7.0 & 6.4) usually joins that group in starting, while the 7-1 Kanter (7.1 & 5.8) typically comes off the bench. Boston has played its past two games without guard and team leader Marcus Smart (11.8-3.4-4.6), who is dealing with an eye infection and is day-to-day. Boston would love to see him return here but, who knows. Walkers was terrific last night and leads the Celtics with 22.8 PPG, as well as adding 4.4 RPG and 5.2 APG (no one misses Kyrie!).

Boston has had Philly’s number the past couple of years and won another three of four last season (7-2 SU & 8-1 ATS the last nine meetings), entering this season. However,  the 76ers routed Boston back on Oct 23 in Phiily,107-93. That said, I'm not sure that win means much here, other than as a motivating factor for Boston. The Celtics CAN'T be happy about their 4th-quarter collapse last night, so I expect Boston to bring its "A-game" in this one (with or without, Hayward and/or Smart). As noted above Boston is 10-0 SU (7-2-1 ATS) at home this season and let me add here that since opening the season 3-0 on the road, the 76ers are just 2-6 SU away from the friendly confines of Wells Fargo Arena, beating only the 5-19 Cavs and the 5-20 Knicks. They've lost to mediocre teams like Phoenix, Orlando and OKC, while also failing to beat playoff-bound teams like Utah, Denver and Toronto. The Celtics "fit the bill" of a playoff-bound team and get the "W" in this one!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on Iowa St at 8:00 ET.

It's 73rd edition of the Cy-Hawk series on Thursday, as 7-3 Iowa visits Ames to take on 6-3 Iowa State. Iowa bounced back from a loss to then-No. 4 Michigan on Friday with a 72-52 victory over Minnesota on Monday to pick up its first Big Ten win. The Hawkeyes had surrendered more than 100 points against the Wolverines (103-91) in their conference opener, but held the Golden Gophers to their lowest scoring output since 2007 in the rivalry. As for the Cyclones, they avenged an 84-76 loss to then-No. 13 Seton Hall in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov 29 with a 77-66 victory over the the now-No. 22 Pirates on Sunday to record their first win over a top-25 team this season.

Iowa's Fran McCaffrey came to Iowa back in the 2010-11 season (off three straight NCAA trips with Siena). His 2013 team was the NIT runner-up and he then led the Hawkeyes to three straight NCAAs. Iowa missed the "Big Dance" the next two years but last year's 23-win team was back in. The 6-11 Garza (22.5 & 9.8) is the team's best player and his only help up front comes from the 6-10 Kriener (6.1 & 4.2). Iowa's perimeter group is 'deep,' led by Wieskamp (11.9 & 5.4), Fredrick (10.4) , Bohannon (8.4) and McCaffrey's son, Connor (7.7-3.5-4.1).

Iowa St finished last year's regular season on a 2-6 run but then won three games in three days to win the Big 12 tourney for the FOURTH time in the last six years. However, Steve Prohm lost his top-three scorers from last year's team. However, Iowa St has an excellent guard trio in PG Haliburton (16.2-6.0-8.2), Penn St graduate transfer Bolton (15.3) and Nixon (10.2). The 6-10 Conditt (10.6 & 5.3), the 6-8 Young (9.7 & 4.0) and the 6-9 6-9 Jacobson (9.1 & 7.6) make up a solid frontcourt. Conditt had 17 points to go along with six rebounds and five blocks to help the Cyclones improve to 5-0 at home this season in the win over Seton Hall, while Haliburton added 17-6-5 to finish in double figures for the EIGHTH time in nine games. Bolton also scored 17 in that contest.

ISU improved to 5-0 at home on the young season and has won 12 straight at home over non-conference opponents. How does one ignore that  the home team has won 14 of the last 16 meetings in the series? What's more, Iowa is looking for its first win at Hilton Coliseum (in Ames) in 16 years! Lay the modest points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on Cal 10:00 ET.

Mark Fox spent five years at Nevada where he led the Wolf Pack to 20-win seasons each year and three NCAA tourneys. He left for Georgia but in NINE years, won 20 games just four times (a high of 21) and led the Bulldogs to just two NCAA bids. He was NOT offered a 10th year last March but by the end of the month, Cal hired him. The Bears opened the season on a high note with four straight wins but have dropped four of their last five contests, after last Saturday’s 71-52 loss at Santa Clara.

Cal welcomes Fresno State to Berkeley on Wednesday. Justin Hutson was an assistant at  San Diego State through April of 2018 but was named the 21st head coach in Fresno State history, replacing Rodney Terry, who departed for the head coaching position at UTEP. The Bulldogs went 23-9 last season but did NOT play in the postseason. FSU has struggled in the early going of this season, opening 2-6, including going 0-4 on the road. 

That said, the Bulldogs turned in an encouraging outing in last Saturday’s 77-70 overtime loss at Utah State, as 6-8 senior Nate Grimes recorded his third straight double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds (he leads the team in scoring at 13.0 PPG and in rebounding at 9.9 per game). Senior guard New Williams (8.2 & 3.8) broke out of a shooting slump by scoring a career-high 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Jarred Hyder ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.7 PPG and 6-10 freshman Robinson checks in at 9.9 & 5.8.

Cal's backcourt is led by returning guards Bradley (17.0 & 4.1) and Austin (6.7) plus transfer South, who joins Bradley as the only other double digit scorer at 10.9 PPG. Starting up front are a pair of 6-8 returning players in Anticevich (8.4 & 6.7) and Kelly (7.0 & 4.9). Cal is coming off eight-win seasons in back-to-back years and was picked to finish last in the Pac-12 preseason poll. Cal opened 4-0 but was not up to the task of taking on Duke and Texas at MSG on Nov 21 and 22. However, the Bears ARE improved and Fresno looks like the type of opponent they should be able to handle. Cal is 5-0 at home and is playing with revenge from last season's 95-73 loss in Fresno. Just why is Fresno, an 0-4 team on the road to open the current season, a favorite??

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conference Crusher (East) is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

Boston swingman Gordon Hayward returned from a fractured hand to score 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the Celtics' 110-88 win over Cleveland on Monday night as Boston improved to 10-0 at home with a dominating performance. The 17-5 Celtics are now healthy and look to extend their latest winning streak to FIVE in a row when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. The 15-9 Pacers have split their last six games, after opening a brief two-game homestand with a 110-99 loss to the LA Clippers on Monday. Indiana trailed by 24 points late in the third quarter in Monday's game and was held below 100 points for the first time since Nov 16 (11 games ago).

Hayward (18.3-6.9-4.1) looked great after missing a month of action, with Tatum telling reporters "It was good to have him back. I was excited, everybody was excited, and he was excited." Kemba Walker (21.8-4.4-5.1) scored 22 points and dished out seven assists to lead the Celtics, who shot a season-high 57.7 percent while making 15-of-27 three-pointers. Tatum (21.1 & 7.2) is right behind Walkers in points scored and Jaylen Brown (20. & 6.9) saw his role become more important with Hayward sidelined. Marcus Smart (11.8 & 4.6 APG-3.4-4.7) missed Monday's game with an eye infection and is day-to-day.

The loss of All-Star Paul George in the 2017 off-season elicited preseason projections of an Indiana team near the basement of the Central division but the emergence of swingman Victor Oladipo as an All-Star powered the Pacers to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference in 2017-18, a feat they duplicated last year. Oladipo averaged 23.1-5.2-4.3 two seasons ago and then 18.8-5.6-5.2 last season, before going down with a season-ending knee injury. Oladipo has yet to return but Indiana has won EIGHT of its last 11 an despite Monday's loss to the Clippers, is 9-3 at home. In contrast to Boston's perimeter-oriented look, the Pacers are led by a dynamic, young frontcourt of Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. Sabonis is having a career year through the first two months of 2019-20, averaging 18.4 PPG and 13.5 RPG (he collected a career-best 22 boards on Monday). Center Myles Turner's (10.9 & 5.6) production has dipped from a season ago due in part to recovering from an ankle injury sustained in November. Still, at 2.4 blocked shots per game, her has been one of the NBA's better rim protectors.

Malcom Brogdon (former Milwaukee Buck) has become the team-leader this season, averaging 19.1-4.7-7.5 and small forward TJ Warren was a scorer for the Suns and he's done the same for the Pacers, averaging 18.4 PPG. SG Lamb (15.7 & 5.3) has been a great addition plus McDermott (9.5) and a pair of Holidays, Aaron (8.7 & 2.8 APG) and Justin (7.6 & 3.8), add depth. Including a four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs last season, Boston has won seven consecutive meetings. However. Boston hosts Philly Thursday night on TNT and I expect a HUGE effort from the Pacers off their embarrassing home showing against the Clippers, who played without Kawhi.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* play is on Baylor at 9:00 ET.

Butler has had a 'rich' recent history on the basketball court. The Bulldogs made six NCAA trips from 1997-2007, before Brad Stevens took them to FIVE tourneys in six years, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2011. Chris Holtmann led Butler to three straight NCAA appearances from 2015-17 and LaVell Jordan followed with an NCAA berth in 2018 but the Bulldogs finished just 16-17 last season. However, Butler opened 7-0 and on Dec 2 entered the AP poll at No. 24, ending a span of 43 consecutive polls on "the outside, looking in!'Butler added two more wins last week (now 9-0 and now ranked 18th, including an impressive 76-62 home win over Florida last  Saturday. Butler's won five games this season against major conference teams and will look to add a sixth 'scalp' to its resume tonight, as the Bulldogs play No.11 Baylor in Waco. Baylor played a home game against then-No. 12 Arizona (9-0) on Saturday, but it felt more like a road game due to the Arizona fans making the trip from Tempe and most of the Bears fans focused on the Big 12 football championship game starting at the same time. However, the Bears won 63-58, thanks to an early 15-0 run and some tough defense. It was Baylor's second win over a ranked team this season, as the Bears beat then-No. 17 Villanova 87-78 in Myrtle Beach back on Nov 24. Baylor jumped SEVEN spots in the Monday's latest AP poll and enter this contest ranked 11th.

The Bulldogs beat Florida by holding the Gators to 6-of-26 beyond the arc and limiting them to just FOUR offensive rebounds. PG Aaron Thompson (7.2-3.1- 6.1) led the way against the Gators with a career-high 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting and added seven assists and four rebounds, while 6-6 forward Sean McDermott (11.0 & 5.1) matched Thompson with 16 points, while grabbing seven rebounds. Those two are joined in the starting lineup by leading scorer Baldwin (16.9 & 4.2), who starts in the backourt with Thompson. Starting up front with McDermott are the 6-7 Nze (11.4 & 7.2) and the 6-9 Golden (8.8 & 4.0). Coming off the bench is 6-7 Duke transfer Tucker, who became eligible last season but is finally fulfilling expectations by adding 9.4 PPG.

Baylor has been greatly helped by two transfers this season, guard MaCio Teague (15.4 & 5.0), who led the Bears with 19 points in the 63-58 victory Saturday over Arizona. Mitchell (8.6) is an Auburn transfer and joins a deep backcourt which also features leading scorer Butler (18.6), Bandoo (8.8 & 4.4) and Vital (6.4 & 5.6). The 6-8 Gillespie (9.4 & 9.1) has been the team's best frontcourt player but the good news is that the 6-10 Clark (14.6 & 6.3 last season before being lost for the year to an injury) is back, averaging 5.0 & 3.5 in five games (he's working his way back).

Baylor head coach Scott Drew took the head coaching position at Baylor after the resignation of Dave Bliss due to scandal. Four years of sanctions later, Drew got things turned around and Baylor has had 12 straight winning seasons, making eight NCAA tourneys plus finishing as runner-up in the 2009 NIT and winning it in 2013. Both Baylor and Butler have surprised so far, but I like the Bears here, who 'take down' a second straight ranked and unbeaten opponent. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Phi 76ers at 8:05 ET.

The Nuggets were a 'sexy' pick to go deep in the playoffs in the 2019-20 season. Denver was rolling along having won SIX straight and 10 of 11, before blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead at Sacramento (lost 100-97 in OT) back on Nov 30. The Nuggets then welcomed the Lakers to Pepsi Center on  Dec 3 and fell, 105-96. Denver left on a four-game road trip after the loss to LA and after winning 129-92 at MSG over the sad-sack NY Knicks last Thursday, the Nuggets lost Friday at Boston and then Sunday at Brooklyn. That's FOUR losses in five games, as 14-7 Denver wraps up its four-game road trip tonight in Philly. The 17-7 Sixers have won 10 of their last 12 overall, including a 110-104 home victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, as Philadelphia kept its home record perfect at 12-0.

Center Nikola Jokic led Denver in scoring (20.1), rebounding (10.8) and assists (7.3) last season and then upped those numbers in 14 postseason games (25.1-13.0-8.4). However, he has not quite been that good so far this season, although his line does read 16.1-10.1-6.1. Starting up front with Jokic are PF Millsap (13.0 & 5.9) and swingman Barton (14.2 & 6.5), while PG Murray (18.2-4.3-4.8) and Harris (10.6) start in the backcourt. Denver's bench is not quite as deep as last season but it's still a formidable unit, led by frontcourt players Grant (9.5 & 3.5) and Plumlee (6.9 & 5.8) plus backup PG Morris (7.2 & 3.4 APG).  Denver was crushed in the interior in the loss to Brooklyn, as it was outscored 66-22 in the paint. Doing better against Philly's formidable frontcourt will be a must.

Tobias Harris scored 26 points against Toronto to stretch his double-digit scoring streak to 13 consecutive games (he's averaging 19.2 & 7.0 on the season). Simmons (14.3-6.9-8.5) almost posted a triple-double (16-11-9), while connecting on 8 of 11  FGs. Rookie guard Matisse Thybulle (4.7 PPG) established season bests of 20 points and five 3-pointers against Toronto and the first-round pick continues to impress his teammates. "He's been great the whole season and he's bringing it every night, especially defensively," center Joel Embiid told reporters. "Even though we have so many guys that can score the ball, him adding what he's been adding, especially his shooting, has been tremendous." Speaking of Embiid (21.9 & 12.5), most (I sure did) expected him to have "big game" vs Toronto (was scoreless while going 0 of 11 in a 101-96 loss at Toronto on Nov 25) but he had the modest line of 10-8-6.

Sure, Philly will lose eventually at home but there is NO reason to expect it will be here! Denver's offense has struggled this season (106.5 PPG ranks 22nd) plus as noted, "The Joker” is not having the big season so many expected of him. The 76ers will surely remember losing 100-97 at Pepsi Center back on Nov 8, when Jokic (26), Murray (22) and Barton (20 mad a combined 28 of 52 shots (53.8%). It's Denver's FOURTH game in six days and Philly makes it 13 straight home wins "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the Tor Raptors at 8:05 ET.

The Toronto Raptors saw Kawhi "take his talents to LA" after leading the Raptors to the NBA title last season (starting guard Danny Green also left for the Lakers) but Toronto has done just fine without him. The Raptors also kept 'chugging along' even when PG Lowry and PF Ibaka  were sidelined, going 8-2 without both in the lineup. However, the Raptors are now struggling through their first three-game losing streak in more than a year, despite getting floor general Kyle Lowry back from a thumb injury three games ago (Ibaka has been back for four games). The now 15-7 Raptors visit Chicago tonight to take on a Bulls team that pushed the Heat to overtime at Miami on Sunday, before dropping a 110-105 decision. It was Chicago's FIFTH loss in its last seven and the Bulls opening a four-game homestand tonight against the Raptors, just 8-16 on the season.

Toronto could not dig out of a 15-point halftime deficit in falling to the 76ers 110-104 on Sunday night. Lowry (21.0-4.6-6.9) scored 26 points but Pascal Siakam continued his recent shooting woes. The 6-9 Siakam (24.6 & 8.5) has played at an All Star level but was held to 16 points and seven rebounds on Sunday. He's shooting just 38.9 percent from the floor, while making only 2-of-14 from three-point range during the losing streak. Guard Fred VanVleet (18.0-3.8-7.0) has proven his Finals performance against the Warriors was no fluke but he left Sunday's contest with a right knee contusion and is considered day-to-day. The 6-10 Ibaka (13.0 & 6.4) has proven his days as a valuable contributor are far from over.The Raptors are also getting key contributions from guard Powell (13.1 & 3.9) and SF Anunoby (11/2 & 5.6), who is proving he's an NBA regular (had 19 points and 10 rebounds last night at Philly).

Guard Zach LaVine (22.3-4.2-3.9) had led Chicago in scoring in each of the last EIGHT games but he was held to 18 points on 5-of-19 shooting at Miami. Lauri Markkanen (14.3 & 6.8) scored 22 to lead the Bulls, while Kris Dunn (just 6.9 PPG) chipped in a season-high 16 points. Chicago's No. 1 pick of the 2019 Draft, guard Coby White (12.4), has played well, as has the team's No. 1 pick of the 2018 Draft, the 6-9 Carter (12.1 & 10.0).

The Raptors could sure use a win to snap their three-game slide and a meeting with the Bulls seems like "just what the doctor ordered." The Raptors have won 10 straight over the Bulls, including a 108-84 rout earlier this season here in Chicago. In fact, Toronto is a perfect 5-0 ATS during its current 10-game winning streak against the Bulls at the United Center, and has covered 10 of 14 chances as a favorite this season. Both teams played last night but note that Toronto is 10-4 ATS since the start of last season when unrested. Road team wins and covers "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

LA recovered from a 28-point loss at Milwaukee on Friday to open their six-game road trip, by shooting 52.1 percent from the floor en route to a 135-119 win at Washington on Sunday  Kawhi Leonard registered his first double-double in nine games with 34 points and 11 rebounds, while former Pacer Paul George scored 27. Leonard (25.1-7.9-5.2) connected on 12-of-18 from the floor Sunday, after going 8-of-29 in the previous two games. George (23.0-6.2-3.5) made 11-of-21 against the Wizards and is shooting 51.5 in four outings this month. No team can match LA's "one-two punch" off the bench, as guard Lou Williams (20.6 & 6.2 APG) and PF Montrezl Harrell (18.8 & 7.8) are "special." Harrell is averaging 20 points in December and has made at least half his shots from the floor in SEVEN of the last nine games, combining to shoot 61.3 percent during that stretch. Lou Williams poured in 18 points off the bench Sunday, but note that he's just 16 of 44  (36.4%) from the floor the past three games.

Oladipo is still not ready to return for Indiana but center Myles Turner (11.0 & 5.4) and SG Jeremy Lamb (16.0 & 5.4) are both back on the court after dealing with ankle sprains and that's great news. Malcom Brogdon (former Milwaukee Buck) has become the team-leader this season, averaging 19.0-4.9-7.7 but also be aware that the 6-11 Sabonis is quietly becoming a star. He had a breakout season last year (14.6 & 9.3) but is even better this season. The Gonzaga product is averaging 18.4 & 13.1 on the season, posting double-doubles in each of the last eight games and 16 of his last 17. Small forward TJ Warren was a scorer for the Suns and he's done the same for the Pacers, averaging 18.7 PPG. Warren has been the go-to player over the last few weeks, averaging 22.9 points in the last eight games, while shooting 40.5 percent from three-point range overall. 

Brogdon missed the Pacers' Saturday game at the Knicks with a hand injury and his status for Monday’s contest is uncertain (listed as questionable). That's hardly good news but the Pacers are getting scoring from reserves McDermott (9.4) plus a pair of Holidays, as Aaron is averaging 8.9 PPG and Justin, 7.8. "Load management" is now part of the NBA lexicon and LA's Doc Rivers told The Athletic that Leonard or George could be rested against Indiana, with another three-game stretch in four nights beginning on Wednesday. My guess would be that Kawhi sits, as Paul George will surely want to play against his "old team." Bottom line is that the Clippers have been a poor road team this season (4-6 SU and 3-7 ATS), while the Pacers are 9-2 SU at home (Indiana is a small home dog, so ATS record means little here). The Pacers have won FIVE of their last six overall meetings with the Clippers, who have lost their last THREE here at Indiana. LA's going through a challenging stretch, as this is the team's  FIFTH contest in NINE days to open December .

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Iowa St at 9:00 ET.

Iowa State and Seton Hall have each played basketball for over 100 years but their paths had never crossed until the day after Thanksgiving in the Bahamas last month, when the schools met in the fifth-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Seton Hall won that contest 84-76 and the 6-2 Pirates (ranked 16th in the latest AP poll) visit Ames, Iowa for a rematch with the 5-3 Cyclones, tonight. The Hall has not played since that Nov 29th game, while Iowa St was able to get back on track with Wednesday's 79-61 home victory over Missouri-Kansas City.

Seton Hall's Myles Powell, who was voted the preseason Big East Player of the Year and he's currently a potential All-American and Naismith Award candidate. The senior gyard is averaging 23.4 & 4.1 to lead the Pirtaes and just one other player, the 6-11 Sandro Mamukelashvili (12.3 & 5.3), is averaging in double digits. Powell scored 24 points the last time against Iowa St, while Mamukelashvili had season-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting in that contest. Guard McKnight (9.5 & 4.4 APG) and Cale (6.8 & 4.6) start in the backcourt with Powell, while the 7-2 Gill (4.9 & 5.8) joins Mamukelashvili up front.

Iowa St finished last year's regular season on a 2-6 run but then won three games in three days to win the Big 12 tourney for the FOURTH time in the last six years. However, Steve Prohm lost his top-three scorers from last year's team. However, Iowa St has an excellent guard trio in PG Haliburton (16.1-6.0-8.6), Penn St graduate transfer Bolton (15.1) and Nixon (10.3). Haliburton is the only player in the nation with at least 120 points, 65 assists, 45 rebounds and 20 steals. The 6-9 Michael Jacobson (9.6 & 7.3) was held scoreless for the first time this season against Seton Hall but responded with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and added a career-high tying three steals in 28 minutes against UMKC. His frontcourt partner is the 6-8 Solomon Young (9.9 & 3,6).

I'm a fan of Seton Hall and its head coach (Kevin Willard) and will note that the Pirates' only two losses this season have come in games in which they gave up late leads to ranked opponents, Michigan St and Oregon. However, Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum is a tough venue for any visitor, no less one which hasn't played in NINE days and is attempting to beat the Cyclones for a SECOND straight time. Let me note that in the teams' meeting in the Bahamas, Iowa St led by nine points in the first half, before Seton Hall used a 13-1 run midway through the second half break it open. ISU's guard trio combined for 54 points in that Nov 29th meeting and should be ready for a similar effort here at home, while big men Jacobson and Young are SURE to improve on their combined 3 of 9 shooting. "Home is where the heart is," and is also where Iowa St will serve up some 'sweet payback!'

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Phi 76ers at 6:05 ET.

The Toronto Raptors saw Kawhi "take his talents to LA" after leading the Raptors to the NBA title last season (starting guard Danny Green also left for the Lakers) but Toronto has done just fine without him. The Raptors also kept 'chugging along' with PG Lowry and PF Ibaka sidelined. Both have returned, Ibaka three games ago and Lowry for the last two. However, the duos return has not gone smoothly. Toronto routed Utah in Ibaka's first game back (Dec 1) but with both Lowry and Ibaka back playing, the Raptors have lost home games to Miami and Houston. The  Raptors have not lost three games in a row in over a year but to avoid that happening here, they'll have win at Philly on Sunday night, something no team has done yet in the current season. The 76ers own the NBA's best home record at 11-0, after routing the the Cavs last night, 141-94. The Raptors KNOW Philly will be focused for this contest, as the 76ers lost 101-96 in Toronto on Nov 25 (more on that in a bit).

Lowry's a five-time All-Star and his line is 20.5-4.5-7.1 for the season. The 6-10 Ibaka (13.5 & 6.4) has proven his days as a valuable contributor are far from over. The 6-9 Siakam (25.0 & 8.6) has played at an All Star level and guard Fred VanVleet (18.7-3.9-7.3) has proven his Finals performance against the Warriors was no fluke. Back-up guard Powell (13.4 & 4.0) has taken advantage of extra "PT" with Lowry out and SF Anunoby (10.9 & 5.4) is proving he's an NBA regular. Center Marc Gasol (6.4 & 6.3) has been a disappointment but the good news is he is shooting 52.4 percent from the floor in December after posting a 30.9 percent effort in November and a 31 percent mark in October.

Josh Richardson (16.1) did not play last night (hamstring) and will miss his SIXTH straight game Sunday, while SG Matisse Thybulle is day-to-day after rolling his right ankle against Cleveland. Ben Simmons (14.7--6.7-8.4) scored a career-high 34 points on 12-of-14 shooting in just 26 minutes in last night's win over the Cavs. Joel Embiid (22.6 & 12.7) sat out Saturday's blowout win over the Cavaliers with a bruised left hip, but all reports are that he'll be "good to go" for the second half of this back-to-back set. Harris (18.9 & 7.) and Horford (14.0-6.9-3.9) join Embiid in the frontcourt, while Korkmaz (8.8) and Burke (7.1 & 3.4 APG) are getting more time in the backcourt with Richardson sidelined. SF Ennis (7.3 & 3.5) and PF Scott (6.0 & 3.4) come off the bench up front.

It's not been unusual for Embiid to sit out (see Kawhi's "load management") but as noted, he's expected to play here. One HAS to believe he'll be highly-motivated, as in that Nov 25 loss at Toronto, he was held scoreless for the first time in his career, going 0 of 11 from the floor and 0 of 3 from the FT line! Philly has struggled ATS as of late but this pointspread is MORE than manageable and I believe a real bargain. Yes, the Sixers lost Nov 25th at Toronto but they were a small road favorite in that one, which makes this price "one I WON'T pass up!"

Good luck...Larry

My 8* NFL Week 14 Las Vegas Insider is on the NE Pats at 4:25 ET.

The New England Patriots opened the season 8-0 but a Week 9 loss at Baltimore (37-20) ended the team's run at replicating the 16-0 regular season they accomplished back in . Now, as team welcomes the KC Chiefs to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, last Sunday's 28-22 loss at Houston leaves the Pats at 10-2, tied for teh NFL's best record with the 49ers, Saints, Seahawks and Ravens),. However, the pats have lost their grip on the No. 1 seed for the AFC playoffs Ravens own the tie-breaker due to that Week 9 win). The Patriots look to rebound from their second loss in four weeks and clinch their 11th consecutive postseason berth against visiting Kansas City on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs suffered a pair of narrow defeats to New England last season, 37-34 in the regular season (MNF in New England) and a 37-31 home loss in the AFC championship game , one that kept them from reaching the Super Bowl. However, the 8-4 Chiefs can clinch the AFC West title with a win (would also need an Oakland loss) and in the process, could end the Patriots' 18-game home winning streak.

QB Patrick Mahomes 'exploded' on the scene in 2018, throwing for 5,097 yards with 50 TDs and just 12 INTs (113.8 QB rating) to win the league's MVP award. He opened strong again in 2019, throwing for 1,510 yards (377.5 per) in KC's 4-0 start with 10 TDs and zero INTs. However, KC then lost back-to-back home games to the Colts (19-13) and Texans (31-24). The following week in Denver (on a Thursday night), Mahomes suffered a dislocated kneecap that kept him sidelined for the next two games. He returned in Week 10 at home against the Titans and while he threw for 446 yards, KC lost 35-32. The Chiefs have won two in a row since (sandwiched around a bye week), but Mahomes has thrown for just 182 and 175 yards in those wins. Mahomes sure doesn't get much help from his running game, with Darrel Williams going on injured reserve and Damien Williams (rib) still not practicing. The leaves veteran LeSean McCoy and rookie Darwin Thompson to carry the load, which they haven't done very well. KC is averaging 94.5 YPG (24th). The defense has started to play better but KC still can't stop the run, allowing 141.3 YPG, third-worst in the NFL.

Tom Brady know all about not getting much support from his running game. New England barely averages more rushing yards than KC (96.3 YPG) but the Pats are averaging a pathetic 3.5 YPA, to KC's 4.2. New England's offense continues to sputter and only two late TD passes from Brady last week enabled the team to surpass 20 points for the first time in the last four games. Yes, Brady has 18 TD passes against six interceptions but he has barely completed more than 50 percent of his passes over the last three games and has not registered a QB rating of at least 100.0 since Week 5 at Washington. Since opening with seven TDs and zero INTs in his first three games, Brady's ratio is just 11-6 over the Pats' last nine games, as he's thrown one or zero TD passes SIX times. However, New England's defense has been superb, allowing an NFL-low 12.1 PPG on 258.0 YPG (2nd).

Here's the bottom line. Mahomes has not looked the same in his last two games and while New England's and Brady's recent play have caused some to say, "the Pats are finally becoming human," this is NOT the spot to go against them. The Patriots have lost to the Ravens and Texans, failed to cover against the Cowboys and only scored 17 points in beating the Eagles in their last four games (have averaged just 18.0 PPG in that span). However, the two losses have come on the road, NOT here in Foxboro. New England has won 22  straight home games (including the postseason), with 19 coming by SIX points or more. Want more? New England is coming off a loss and the Pats are a remarkable 42-16 ATS (that's 72.4%) off a SU loss going back to Dec 29, 2002.

Good luck...Larry

My NFL 10* "signature" LEGEND Play is on the NO Saints at 1:00 ET.

The NFL enters Week 14 with FIVE 10-2 teams The AFC features Baltimore and New England, while the NFC features New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle. Tow of those 10-2 teams square off Sunday when the 49ers take on the Saints in the Superdome. The Saints have already clinched a postseason berth and wrapped up a division title but they have the inside track on the top seed in the NFC playoffs. The Saints have won three straight and NINE of 10, as they welcome the 49ers to New Orleans. The 49ers opened 8-0 but have lost two of four, both on last-second FGs, to fall into a tie with Seattle atop the NFC West, although the Seahawks own the tiebreaker.

San Francisco's defense is allowing a league-low of 250.9 YPG and ranks second in points allowed at 15.3 PPG. It held up well against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens last week, allowing just 20 points but still lost. I've always been somewhat skeptical of QB Jimmy Garoppolo but he's had a very good season, completing 69.0% for 2,896 yards with 21 TDs and 10 INTs (he's registered a QB rating of at least 110.2 in five of his last six games). He's done all this with a mediocre group of WRs, although TE Kittle (54 catches) is a "big time" performer. The running game averages 148.0 YPG, which ranks second-best to only Baltimore (Ravens are averaging a 'monster' 207.8 YPG). Keeping its RBs healthy as been a major issue, as Breida, Mostert and Coleman have all been in and out of the lineup with nagging injuries.

This has been some impressive season for the Saints, as when Brees missed five games due to a thumb injury, Bridgewater stepped in to go 5-0 as starter. Brees is back and while he's not quite the "Brees of old," he's completing 73.8% with 12 TDs and just four INTs (104.4 QB rating). WR Thomas has 110 catches and has been the "go-to" guy for both Brees and Bridgewater. The Saints miss Ingram (now with Baltimore) but in Kamara (587 yards on 4.7 YPA plus 64 catches) and Murray (464 yards on 4.4 YPA) make up a quality RB duo. The New Orleans D has been plenty good enough, allowing 20.7 PPG on 323.4 YPG.

Here's the rub. The 49ers opened 8-0 but in that span, they beat just ONE team with a winning record at the time of the game (Rams were 3-2). They are 2-2 their last four, losing to now 10-2 teams Seattle and Baltimore. The Saints are 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS their last 10 and have extra rest and preparation time (played on Thanksgiving), while the 49ers are off a physical road loss to Baltimore. To combat that, instead of flying home after last week's game in Baltimore, the 49ers opted to spend the week in Florida instead to avoid more cross-country flights and another time change (will it help?). It can't hurt but this is an off-surface and different environment for the 49ers playing on carpet inside a dome. In the end, Drew Brees owns a HUGE edge on Jimmy Garoppolo at QB, making the Saints a STRONG play at this price.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Rivalry Rout is on Xavier at 5:00 ET.

The 6-2 Cincinnati Bearcats and the 8-1 Xavier Musketeers are set for their annual Crosstown Shootout to be played at on Xavier's homecourt (Cintas Center). This is a bitter rivalry, as the two schools are separated by three miles in Cincinnati, making the archrivalry one of the closest major rivalries in the country. The game was first played in 1927 and has been played every year since 1946..

The Bearcats are off a 28-7 season, while making their NINTH straight NCAA appearance. However, head coach Mick Cronin has "taken his talents" to Westwood (UCLA), after a terrific 13-year run at Cincinnati. Taking over is John Brannen, who comes from No. Kentucky, where he won 20-plus games in each of the last three seasons, earning the Norse NCAA bids in 2017 and 2019. Senior guard Jarron Cumberland, was the 2019 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, averaging 18.8-4.4-3.6 assists. He was the ONLY Cincy player to average in double digits last season. Guards Jenifer and Broome (8.6 & 8.3 PPG) graduated and the 6-11 Brooks (8.1 & 6.3) transferred to Miami. Returning starters joining Cumberland are senior 6-8 forward Tre Scott and junior guard Keith Williams However, the Bearcats had an influx of roster additions including 7-1 transfer Chris Vogt, who followed Brannen from Northern Kentucky. Two highly regarded freshman guards,  Zach Harvey and Mika Adams-Woods plus Jarron Cumberland's cousin Jaevin, a graduate transfer from Oakland (17.2 PPG), make up Cincy's core  this season.

However, Bearcats head coach Brannen listed standout Jarron Cumberland as questionable with a hip injury. Cumberland (14.3) wasn't able to practice Thursday after leaving Cincinnati's victory over Vermont on Tuesday. The senior guard also missed a game with an ankle injury and another as a disciplinary measure for failing to meet practice and preparation standards (trouble in 'paradise?'). The 7-1 Vogt (12.9 & 6.9) has been an excellent new addition, while returning guard Williams (12.8 & 4.1) and 6-8 senior Scott (9.4 & 10.1) have been very solid. Jaevin Cumberland (11.0) has played well but freshman guards Zach Harvey and Mika Adams-Woods have combined to average 6.3 PPG.

Travis Steele was hired by Sean Miller at Xavier for the 2008-09 season. He was retained by Chris Mack after Miller accepted the Arizona head coaching position and has been a part of a Musketeers program that has been to eight NCAA tournaments, including an Elite Eight run in 2017. Steele was promoted to head coach when Mack took the Louisville job. Following Miller and Mack was NOT expected to be easy and it wasn't. However, Xavier rallied to win EIGHT of its final 11 regular season games and went to a postseason tourney (NIT) for the 13th time in 14 seasons. Xavier lost just ONE starter off last year's team, the 6-11 Hankins who averaged 10.6 & 5.3. The Musketeers feature a terrific forward duo in the 6-7 Marshall (15.4-5.8-3.8) and the 6-9 Jones (14.2 & 9.4). Guard Paul Scruggs (15.1 7 4.3) completes Xavier's "Big Three." Supporting that trio have senior guard Goodin (6.8), 6-9 freshman Zach Freemantle (6.8 & 4.0) and 6-8 Ohio U transfer Jason Carter (6.7 & 5.6). Good news comes in that freshman guard KyKy Tandy scored 10 points in Tuesday's win over Green Bay. It was his second game of the season, after returning from an injury.

Xavier may have been looking ahead to this revenge game in its non-covering, lackluster 84-71 Tuesday home win Green Bay but it's safe to say (bet?) that the Musketeers will be HIGHLY motivated after being held to their lowest point total since 2012 in last year's 'ugly' 62-47 loss at Cincy. Who knows the status of Cincy's Jarron Cumberland but we DO know that Xavier has won SEVEN straight at the Cintas Center in the series and has gone 92-16 (.852) at home since joining the Big East back at the start of the 2013-14 season. REVENGE works in a "big way" in this Rivalry Rout!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Conference Game of the Month (Big Ten) is on Wisconsin at 4:30 ET.

Archie Miller began his third season as Indiana's head coach and KNEW he had better improve on the 16 and 19-win seasons the Hoosiers delivered in his first two seasons at Bloomington. Indiana lost two NBA players from last year's team, guard Langford (16.5 & 5.4) and the 6-7 Morgan (15.5 & 8.2), but this year's team is off to an 8-0 start. That said, one must note that the Hoosiers have played all EIGHT games at Assembly Hall and until cruising past No. 17 Florida State 80-64 on Tuesday as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Indiana hadn't really been tested. As for Wisconsin, the Badgers opened 4-1 (lone loss in OT to St Mary's) but the lost a pair of games in the Legends Classic to Richmond (62-52) and New Mexico (59-50), before going 5-of-23 from three-point range in 69-54 Wednesday loss at NC State as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Veteran returning guards Green (15.8) and Durham (12.6) give Indiana a solid backcourt, while highly-touted 6-9 freshman Jackson-Davis (15.5 & 9.4) has been as good as advertised. He's joined up front by returning 6-7 forward Smith (14.3 & 5.1) and 6-11 Butler graduate transfer Brunk (7.9 & 4.1). PG Rob Phinisee, who is averaging nine points and 4.5 assists this season, missed his fourth straight game with an ankle injury, but may be ready to return to the lineup.

The Badgers need to "stop the bleeding" and do it FAST! Wisconsin has been to the "Big Dance" in 20 of the last 21 seasons and while the Badgers lost the 6-10 Happ ((17.3 & 10.1) and a solid guard in Iverson (6.9 & 4.5) from last season's 23-win NCAA team, the Badgers have a solid returning core. The 6-11 Reuvers (14.9 & 5.4) is not Happ but he's an excellent big man. He's joined up front by the 6-8 Ford (10.1 & 5.0) plus a quartet of guards round out Wisconsin's six-man rotation. Davison (11.0 & 4.), King (10.4 & 4.0), Trice (8.4 & 4.8) and Pitzl (7.3 & 5.3) are all seasoned players. Don't sell Wisconsin short, just yet. The whole is always greater than the sum of its parts with the Badgers!

Indiana is off to an 8-0 start and just routed No. 17 FSU, so why are the Hoosiers pick'em at 4-4 Wisconsin, which enters on a three-game losing streak? The answer lies in the fact that the Hoosiers have lost their last 16 visits to Wisconsin Kohl Center. Make that 17 losses in a row, as Indiana finds a road game "not to its liking."

Good luck...Larry

My 9* SEC Championship Game Showdown is on Georgia at 4:00 ET.

The SEC has been the dominant conference for quite some time now and the question after the winner of this year's title game is crowned will be, "Will there be ONE or TWO schools from the SEC in CFP 2019's 'Final 4?' Georgia lost just one game in 2019 (a 20-19 two-OT shocker at home to South Carolina) but its resume also includes wins over three teams in the top-12 at the time of those games. The 4th-ranked 11-1 Bulldogs bring a defense to Atlanta allowing just 10.4 PPG (2nd) on 247.0 YPG (4th) to face a 12-0 LSU team (No. 1 in the AP and No. 2 in the CFP rankings) , which owns wins over then-No. 9 Texas, then-No. 7 Florida, then No. 9 Auburn and then-No. 3 Alabama on its list of 'victims.' The LSU offense ranks both second in scoring (48.7 PPG) and in total yards (560.4 YPG). This is LSU's first appearance in the SEC title game since 2011, while Georgia is in it for the third consecutive season.

The Georgia offense is hardly pedestrian, as it averages 32.9 PPG on 420.6 YPG. QB Jake Fromm is a three-year starter who owns a 21-3 TD-to-INT ratio in 2019 and a 75-16 ratio in his career (he's 34-6 as a starter). However, WR Lawrence Cager (ankle surgery) is out plus freshman WR George Pickens is suspended for the first half Saturday (both Cager and Pickens have 33 catches, tied for a team-best). Junior RB D’Andre Swift ranks fourth in the SEC in rushing yards (1,203 yards on 6.2 YPA with 7 TDs), leads a rushing attack averaging 200.0 YPG on 5.7 YPA. He left last week’s 52-7 rout of Georgia Tech with a left shoulder injury but he's listed as probable against LSU.

LSU's Joe Burrow is the first player in SEC history to pass for 4,000 yards (setting a conference record with 4,366 yards) and at least 40 TDs (44), Burrow passed for 352 yards and three TDs in last week’s 50-7 rout of Texas A&M and is currently the overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman. and he ranks second nationally in passing yards, touchdowns, passing yards per game (363.8) and passing efficiency (203). WR Ja’Marr Chase has 70 catches and leads the country with 17 TD receptions, while ranking second with 1,457 yards (20.8 YPC) Junior WR Justin Jefferson  has 81 catches and has hauled in 13 TDs. RB Edwards-Helaire has run for 1,233 yards (6.8 YPA and 16 TDs),  to lead a running game which averages 170.4 YPG on 5.0 YPA. The defense is allowing 22.1 PPG (not bad) but has looked a little shaky at times late in the season.

Maybe I'm 'nuts' going against LSU's Burrow but this Georgia D will be the best unit LSU has faced all season. Talking about the LSU defense, it has allowed 38 points to both Vanderbilt and Texas, 28 to Florida, 41 to Alabama and 37 to Mississippi. Georgia KNOWS it has to win here or it will miss the 'Final 4.' I WANT the points!

Good luck...Larry

My NCAAF 10* Championship Saturday Game of the Month is on FAU at 1:30 ET.

Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis hired Lane Kiffin back on January 23, 2007, making him the youngest head coach in the NFL's "modern era" (since 1946) at 31. However, he was gone before the end of his second season, after posting a 5-15 record. Trouble and controversy have followed Kiffin ever since. He had a one-year stay as Tennessee's head coach and spent three-plus seasons at USC, before landing a job as Nick Saban's OC from 2014-16. That ended badly as well and Kiffin landed at FAU and in his first season (2017) went 11-3 with a bowl win (Owls had come off three straight 3-9 seasons). However, FAU was just 5-7 last season and opened 2019 with a 45-21 loss at Ohio St and a 48-14 home loss to UCF. Kiffin turned things around quickly though, winning NINE of 10 to capture the C-USA East at 7-1 (9-3, overall).

Bill Clark was UAB's head coach in 2014 (6-6) but the school shut down the football program in 2015 and 2016. Clark remained as head coach when the school resumed play in 2017, going 8-5 after a 41-6  Bahamas Bowl loss to Ohio. However, UAB won the C-USA West title last year (7-1) and then beat Middle Tenn St in the title game, 27-25. That led to a 37-13 win over Northern Illinois  in the Boca Raton Bowl to finish 11-3. The Blazers are back in the C-USA championship game again, after going 9-3 (6-2 in league play), advancing over La Tech (also 6-2) due to a 20-14 home win over the Bulldogs on Nov 23.

Things did not look good for UAB when it opened November with a 30-7 loss at Tennessee and followed with an 'ugly' 37-2 loss at Southern Miss. However, the Blazers finished with THREE straight wins. Two were over 1-11 UTEP and 4-8 North Texas but that Nov 23rd home win over La Tech, turned out to be the tie-breaker. Starting QB Tyler Johnston went down with a knee injury in early November (he did make a brief return in last Saturday’s West-clinching win at North Texas) and freshman backup Dylan Hopkins has barely been serviceable in relief. In his four starts, he's completed 37 of 68 (54.4%) for 483 yards with two TDs and three INTs. That's NOT good enough when one's team is averaging a modest 161.2 YPG rushing, with the team's leading rusher (Brown), accounting for only 462 yards on 3.9 YPA.  UAB's defense will have to "win it," as the Blazers are allowing just 18.5 PPG (15th) on 271. YPG (5th).

Keeping FAU's offense in check will be a tough job, as during the Owls' 9-1 run (7-3 ATS) run their last 10 games, they've averaged 37.4 PPG. QB Chris Robison has emerged as an effective game-manager for Kiffin, passing for 3,125 yards with 22 TDPs and just five INTs. FAU's running game is no better than UAB's (it averages 155.1 YPG) but as already alluded to, FAU has regularly put points on the board in its closing run (held under 30 points just ONCE in its last 10 games).

UAB was able to win 27-25 at Middle Tenn St in last year's title game, after losing 27-3 to the same Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro only the week before. There’s no similar quick-rematch angle in 2019 and while QB Johnston has not yet officially been ruled out for UAB, I don't think UAB can "keep up" with FAU here at home, where the Owls have averaged 37.2 PPG under Kiffin. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Bos Celtics at 8:05 ET.

The Denver Nuggets were rolling along, having won SIX straight and 10 of 11 before blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in Sacramento on Saturday, falling 100-97 in OT. The Nuggets then welcomed the Lakers to Pepsi Center on Tuesday and fell, 105-96. Denver got back on the winning track last night with a 129-92 win but it came at MSG over the sad-sack 4-18 NY Knicks. The Nuggets play again tonight and the opponent will be the 15-5 Boston Celtics, who own the second-best record in the East (Bucks' 19-3 mark is tied with the Lakers for an NBA-best). What's more, Boston is one of just three teams to still be undefeated at home, as their 8-0 record at TD Garden is tied with Miami and bested only by Philly's 10-0 home mark. Boston last played Wednesday night, when they handled the Heat impressively, in a 112-93 win.

EIGHT players scored in double digits and the Nuggets shot 56.3 percent from the floor, including 21-of-39 from three-point range, in the easy victory over the Knicks. Denver piled up a season-high 38 assists, while standout big man Nikola Jokic contributed eight of the assists in just 25 minutes. "He just makes the right play. What I love about Nikola is he's totally selfless," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters. "He exemplifies what we talk about with our culture." The Nuggets were a 'sexy' pick to go deep in the playoffs in the 2019-20 season and Jokic was big reason why. He led Denver in scoring (20.1), rebounding (10.8) and assists (7.3) last season and then upped those numbers in 14 postseason games (25.1-13.0-8.4). However, Jokic has not quite been that good so far this season, although his line does read 14.9-10.1-6.2. Starting up front with Jokic are PF Millsap (13.7 & 5.9) and swingman Barton (14.9-5.9-3.4), while PG Murray (18.5-3.7-4.5) and Harris (10.8) start in the backcourt. Denver's bench is not quite as deep as last season but it's still a formidable unit, led by frontcourt players Grant (9.5 & 3.5) and Plumlee (7.5 & 5.9) plus backup PG Morris (7.0 & 3.4 APG).

Jaylen Brown established season bests of 31 points and five 3-pointers against Miami. Brown's roll has become more important with the injury to Hayward (18.9-7.1-4.1) and he's now averaging 19.9 & 6.9 on the season. PG Kemba Walker has more than filled the 'hole' left at PG by Kyrie leaving for the Nets, averaging 21.9-4.7-5.1 and his ability to create pressure on defenders and make sound decisions leads to players like Brown and Jayson Tatum (21.0 & 7.0) getting open looks. "The beneficiaries are going to be the guys standing, spotting up," head coach Brad Stevens said after the win. "I think our guys did a really good job of driving and kicking and moving the ball, finding the next right guy." Some bad news for Boston is that  Marcus Smart (11.9-3.4-4.7) missed the Miami game (illness, oblique) and is questionable for Friday.

Tough spot here for Denver, as the Nuggets were only able to get past teh Celtics 96-92 back in Denver on Nov 22, a game in which  Kemba Walker was knocked out of after playing just 12 scoreless minutes due to a head injury. What's more, the Celtics made just 7 of 27 threes that night (25.9%). The price is "more than fair" here in this "payback spot" for Boston and that's my bet!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on Rhode Island at 7:00 ET.

All-Big East selection Alpha Diallo hasn't been able to build on his impressive junior campaign. The 6-7 guard struggled for the second straight game in Sunday's close win over Pepperdine, connecting on just 8 of 26 shots (30.8%) in that span. That said, he does lead the team in scoring (13.2) and rebounding (8.9). Returning guards Duke (12.9- 4.6-4.1), White (9.3) and Reeves (6.8) have been joined on the perimeter by have been joined by graduate transfer Pipkins (8.8 & 5.2 APG). The 6-7 Holt (8.7 & 5.2) is happy that 6-10 center Watson is finally back on the court after an injury, as he  chipped in 15 points off the bench against the Waves. He has averaged 9.0 PPG in playing the last five games.

Rhode Island's Fatts Russell (21.1-4.9-3.5) became the first Ram since Tavorris Bell (2000-01) to score at least 20 points in six straight games, after erupting for a season-high 32 against West Virginia. The 6-8 Cyril Langevine (10.5-10.5) is one of just three A-10 players averaging a double-double. Joining those two in scoring double digits are guards Dowtin (13.9) and Martin (10.6 & 5.3).

It's true that Providence has 'owned' this series recently (Friars have won EIGHT of the last nine meetings) but the under-performing Friars look VERY vulnerable in this one. The Friars 'limp' into their annual showdown with the Rams on a 1-6 ATS run, with the team's lone "cover" coming against Merrimack. Rhode Island may be just 5-3 but its losses have come against two unbeatens on the road, at West Va (see above) and at now-No. 3 Maryland (9-0) plus against the SEC's LSU (6-2) in the Jamaica Classic. The Rams are 4-0 SU at home in the early going and get a "break-through win" against the Friars here, moving to 5-0.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on the Dal Cowboys at 8:20 ET.

The Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys enter this game with identical 6-6 records but while the Bears sit two games out of the sixth and final NFC playoff , the Cowboys actually lead the NFC East by one game and for all intents and purposes, remain in control of their playoff destiny. The Cowboys have seen a 3-0 start to the 2019 season go 'south, as Dallas followed its 3-0 start with an 0-3 skid and after back-to-back wins over NFC East rivals Philadelphia and New York, has lost THREE of four (Cowboys enter on a two-game slide). The Bears opened 3-1 but then lost FOUR in a row. However, Chicago has kept its slim playoff hopes alive by winning THREE of four (more on that, in a little bit).

Dallas was held to just three FGs by the Pats in a four-point Week 12 road loss and then surrendered 23 unanswered points to the Bills in a 26-15 defeat at home on Thanksgiving. Dallas has the No. 1 offense in the NFL at 432.8 YPG, as Dak Prescott has passed for an NFL-best 3,788 yards with 23 TDs, 11 INTs and three rushing TDs. RB Ezekiel Elliott has 990 yards rushing (4.4 YPA and 7 TDs)  plus WR Cooper has 64 catches (15.2 YPC) for 7 TDs. However, Dallas couldn't get in the end zone at New England plus repeatedly came up empty after scoring on the opening drive vs Buffalo. With over 430 YPG of offense, Dallas should be scoring more than 25.8 PPG (ranks 8th). The Dallas D has done a decent job, ranking 8th in both points allowed (19.7) and yards allowed (321.6).

Chicago's defense has again been strong in 2019, as the Bears are allowing just 17.3 PPG (4th) on 319.7 YPG (7th). However, the Trubisky-led offense has averaged only 17.7 PPG (27th) on 281.8 YPG (29th). However, Trubisky got untracked against on Thanksgiving by throwing for a season-high 338 yards to go with three scores (he directed a winning 90-yard  drive at Detroit). WR Anthony Miller had a breakout game with a career-high nine catches for 140 yards while fellow WR Allen Robinson added eight receptions for 86 yards and a score. Rookie RB David Montgomery had 75 yards rushing on only 16 carries, after he was limited to 40 yards or less in FIVE of his previous seven contests (he's Chicago's leading rusher at 594 yards, averaging 3.5 YPA for a  team averaging only 79.3 YPG on the ground)

Are we really seeing a Trubisky turnaround? He is 94 of 145 for 979 yards, eight TDs, four INTs and a 91.1 rating in the past four games. However, the three wins have come against last-place teams like the Lions (twice) and the Giants (Detroit & New York are a combined  5-18-1). Crunching the numbers further, we find that Tubisky has a 124.4 QB rating in two games against the Lions this season and a passer rating of  72.1 versus the rest of  the league! I'm sure no fan of Dallas or beleaguered head coach Jason Garrett but while the Coboys haven't done too well beating good teams, they have been able to get past the beatable ones (save the Jets). "Talk is cheap right? We've talked a lot," QB Prescott said. "We've talked a bunch and got ourselves right to where we are. In a moment like this I say hell with the talking and I'm going to do more. I'm going to work harder and if you're a young guy looking for somebody to figure it out, how to do it, yeah, look at me and some of these other guys because that's exactly what we're doing -- putting our head down focusing and doubling down on ourselves." Dak CAN and WILL be able to beat the Bears and Trubisky.

Good luck...Larry

James Harden just keeps piling up HUGE numbers. He recorded his fourth career 60-point outing against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday (he had exactly 60 in Houston's 158-11 home win over the Hawks) and followed with 50 points during Tuesday's 135-133 double-overtime loss at the  San Antonio Spurs. Tuesday's effort was Harden's 21st career game with 50 or more points but as noted, it didn't result in a victory, as Houston blew a 22-point,second-half lead. Harden made all 24 of his free-throw attempts against San Antonio but struggled from the floor as he was 11-of-38 overall, including 4-of-20 from three-point range. 13-7 Houston will head north on Thursday to take on the 15-5 Toronto Raptors, who are coming off an OT loss as well. PG Kyle Lowry returned Tuesday after missing 11 games with a fractured left thumb but had just 12 points on 2-of-18 shooting while missing all 11 of his three-point attempts. Toronto suffered its first home loss of the season, after winning a franchise-record NINE straight home games to begin the season. 

Harden is averaging 42.6 points over the past five games to raise his season mark to 39.5 PPG (also 6.1 RPG and 7.8 APG). PG Russell Westbrook has adapted to a complementary role (21.9-7.8-7.1) and center Clint Capela returned from a two-game absence due to illness and made all nine field-goal attempts while recording 22 points and 21 rebounds for his third 20-20 outing of the campaign. He's having a "career season," averaging 15.1 PPG and RPG. However, the Rockets miss Eric Gordon's scoring 'punch' (he has a career 16.6 PPG average). House (12.4) is getting extra minutes but he's no Gordon. 

The Raptors saw Kawhi "take his talents to LA" after leading the Raptors to the NBA title last season but Toronto has done just fine without him. The Raptors also kept 'chugging along' with Lowry (20.7-4.4-7.0) and Ibaka (13.8 & 6.5) sidelined. Both have returned, Ibaka two games ago and Lowry in that Tuesday home loss to Miami (final was 121-100 but that came in OT). Ibaka scored 13 points in each of his two games back, while averaging 6.5 PPG (it was like he never left). That was NOT the case for Lowry (see above). However, the five-time All-Star did record 11 assists with only one turnover (note: he's well-known for his shooting slumps). The 6-9 Siakam (25.1 & 8.6) has played at an All Star level and guard Fred VanVleet (18.7-3.8-7.4) has proven his Finals performance against the Warriors was no fluke. Back-up guard Powell (13.4 & 4.1) has taken advantage of extra "PT" with Lowry out and SF Anunoby (10.9 & 5.5) is proving he's an NBA regular.

Is the Harden/Westbrook pairing really working in Houston? In the team's 2-OT loss at San Antonio, while Harden was scoring 50 points (and going 11 of 38 from the floor), Westbrook produced his 142nd career triple-double (19-10-10) but hoisted up a season-high 30 shots, making only SEVEN! On the season, Westbrook is shooting only 41.0%, including 22.9% on threes. Houston is 13-7 but just 10-10 ATS, while Toronto is 15-5 and 13-7 ATS (8-2 ATS at home). I'm playing Toronto, the more balanced team.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* play is on North Carolina at 9:30 ET.

Ohio St's Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and three NCAA bids later, got the job in Columbus. His first season was a 25-win one but last year, while the Buckeyes did get an NCAA bid, they lost in the first round to finish just 20-15. The Buckeyes opened teh season ranked 18th in the AP's preseason poll but with an impressive 7-0 start (including wins over Cincy and Villanova), Ohio St heads to Chapel Hill tonight ranked 6th in the latest AP poll. Hosting the buckeyes in tonight's  ACC/Big Ten Challenge with be the North Carolina Tar Heels, coached by some guy named Roy Williams (you may have heard of him?). North Carolina opened 9th in the preseason and enters this game 6-1 and ranked 7th. The Tar Heels finished third at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, losing to Michigan 73-64 on Thanksgiving but they rebounded with a satisfying 78-74 win over then-No. 11 Oregon on Friday, holding the Ducks to 35.7 percent shooting from the floor.

The young Buckeyes entered the week second in the nation in FG percentage defense (32.7), sixth in scoring defense (52.7) and are making 39.7 percent from three-point range with a balanced offense that features seven players averaging between 7.3-12.7 PPG. The centerpiece of Ohio St's team is 6-9 junior center Kaleb Wesson, a preseason All-Big Ten pick who shed some weight and is more mobile. He leads the team in scoring (12.7), rebounding (9.3) and blocks (1.7). Freshman D.J. Carton adds 10.4 points and 2.9 assists, while sophomore guard Duane Washington Jr. checks in averaging 10.1 PPG (he's 14-of-27 from three-point range. 6-8 junior forward Kyle Young has also been quite efficient, averaging 8.9 points on 65.8 percent shooting from the floor, while grabbing 6.6 RPG.

The Tar Heels lost four starters from last year's team but freshman PG Anthony (20.7-7.3-4.0) and 6-10 freshman Bacot (11.7 & 9.6) are already looking like seasoned vets. Bacot scored a season-high 23 against Oregon and became the first Tar Heel to record at least 23 points along with 12 rebounds and six blocks since 1995 when Rasheed Wallace accomplished the feat. Offering not only experience but real contributions are 6-9 junior forward Garrison Brooks (12.9 & 8.3) plus senior G Brandon Robinson, who returned from a preseason ankle injury to average 11.3-4.-0-3.3  with just three turnovers in three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis tourney.

Ohio St may be 7-0 but the Buckeyes have yet to leave Columbus. They do so here and the "Dean Dome" is no place to play one's initial true road game of a season. The Tar Heels have won 12 of the 14 previous meetings with the Buckeyes, including the last seven, after an 86-72 triumph at home in 2017. That margin sound "just about right," here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Ut Jazz at 9:05 ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers earned an impressive 105-96 win last night in Denver. As the duo has done all season, Anthony Davis and LeBron James led the way.  Despite requiring intravenous fluids at halftime, A.D.  played through his illness and finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds. As for LBJ, he had 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds. However, there is no rest for the weary, as the 18-3 Lakers now travel from "Mile High" Denver to Salt Lake City to take on the 12-9 Jazz. The Jazz are back at home after a 1-4 road trip that included losses of 19 points to the Indiana Pacers and 20 to the Toronto Raptors, with Utah's ONLY win coming at 6-14 Memphis.

Davis (26.1 & 9.3) and LBJ (25.6-7.1-10.8) have just one other teammate averaging in double figures and that's Kuzma (10.9), who has started just one game. LA's myriad group of guards have hardly been consistent but the team's 'two-headed' center duo of McGee and Howard has been surprisingly effective. McGee starts but Howard is averaging a few more minutes per game. Combined, the duo is averaging 14.0 PPG and 13.3  RPG. In last night's win, the duo combined for 17 points and 12 rebounds. All in all, LA is connecting on 48.7 percent from the floor as a team, ranking second in the league.

The Jazz HAVE to be glad to return home (Utah is 8-1 at Vivint Smart Home Arena) but PG Mike Conley (13.9-3.5-4.6) injured a hamstring during Monday's 103-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and will miss Wednesday's game.Then again, Conley has NOT been a consistent force for Utah, so I doubt the team is overly concerned. What is concerning is that the Jazz trailed the 76ers by as many as 26 points before rallying to make the score respectable, one night after losing y 20 points in Toronto.  Head coach Quin Snyder termed the defeat as another lesson. "For me, it's important for our team to learn from games," Snyder told reporters. "Not to ignore bad games by any means, but what can you do with it. I think that mindset if you keep working, this team is different than the teams we have had. There is enthusiasm about that."

Good news coming out of the Philly loss was that center Rudy Gobert scored a season-best 27 points against Philadelphia and also collected 12 rebounds for his 14th straight double-digit performance on the boards. Gobert is averaging 14.0 & 13.7, on the season plus SG Mitchell (24.9-4.8-3.6) and SF Bogdanovic (20.9 & 4.4) have led the way all season for Utah on the offensive end. I noted earlier that Utah has lost just ONCE this season at home, a surprising 112-102 defeat at the hands of the T-wolves but the Jazz avenged that loss two nights late in Minnesota, winning 103-95. Among Utah's eight home 'victims' this season are the 16-6 Clippers , the 15-6 Sixers and the 18-3 Bucks. My bet says the 18-3 Lakers join that 'hit list' tonight, as the Jazz have beaten the Lakers EIGHT straight here in Salt Lake City (note: A.D. may not be 100 percent and who knows, could miss).

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Bos Celtics at 7:35 ET.

The Miami Heat are coming off a 121-110 overtime win over the Raptors at Toronto on Tuesday. Jimmy Butler scored the first eight points in the extra session, as part of his fifth career triple-double as Miami improved to 15-5 overall but the Heat are just a modest 7-5 on the road. The 14-5 Celtics are coming off a 1-1 trip to the New York City area over the weekend, losing 112-107 to the Nets at Barclays Center on Friday but bouncing back with a 113-104 win over the Knicks at MSG on Sunday. 

Butler finished with 22 points, a season-high 13 rebounds and 12 assists in the impressive win at Toronto. He leads the team averaging 19.0-6.0-6.7 but Miami's strength is its depth. EIGHT players are averaging 20-plus minutes per game, with SEVEN averaging in double digits (Olynyk just misses at 9.1). Duncan Robinson (11.7) had 22 points against the Raptors while making 6-of-9 three-pointers (he's now 14-of-22 from long distance over a three-game span). However, undrafted rookie Kendrick Nunn (15.7 PPG) is trending in the other direction, missing all nine of his three-point attempts in the win over the Raptors to fall to 2-for-20 over the same three-game stretch. More bad news comes Miami's way in that PG Dragic (15.9 & 5.0 APG) sat out Tuesday's game and already has been ruled out for the visit to Boston. 

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and Jaylen Brown added 28 in Sunday's win at Madison Square Garden, as Boston overcame Smart's scoreless 20 minutes and a 6-for-18 shooting effort by Kemba Walker. That said, Walker has more than filled the 'hole' left at PG by Kyrie leaving for the Nets, averaging 21.6-4.7-50. Tatum (21.1 & 7.1) is now in his third season and constantly getting better plus with Hayward sidelined, Brown's roll has become more important (he's averaging 19.3 & 7.1).  Some bad news is that the Celtics expect to play Wednesday without guard and team leader Marcus Smart (11.9-3.4-4.7), who exited Sunday's win over the Knicks with an oblique injury. Smart, also dealing with a cold, didn't practice Tuesday and has been labeled doubtful against Miami. "He's only going to play if he's 100 percent or close," head coach Brad Stevens said. 

Miami handed Toronto its first home loss in 10 chances this season, narrowing the list of NBA teams undefeated at home to three, Interestingly, all three of those teams play in the East. Phily is 10-0 at home and the other two are playing in this contest, Miami (8-0) and Boston (7-0). As noted above, the Heat are a modest 7-5 SU on the road and expecting them to win at Toronto and Boston on consecutive night's is "too big of an ask." Miami has lost three straight to Boston and 11 of its last 14 meetings with team. Lay the points with the Celtics. 

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on the Den Nuggets at 9:05 ET.

The top two teams in the Western Conference meet Tuesday when the 17-3 Los Angeles Lakers visit the 13-4 Denver Nuggets. Both teams enter off a loss, as the Lakers had a 10-game winning streak halted by the Dallas Mavericks 114-100 on Sunday, while the Nuggets blew a 17-point halftime before suffering a 100-97 overtime loss at the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. How much will the outcome of this game mean come April?  That's TBD but right now, the Lakers are 2 1/2 games ahead of the Nuggets in the race for the best record in the West, although they have played three more games.

A.D. (26.1 & 9.3) and LBJ (25.7-7.2-10.9) have led LA all season and Davis produced 27 points and 10 rebounds, while James recorded 25 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals against the Mavericks. However, Dallas broke the game open by outscoring LA 35-17 in the third quarter. Los Angeles head coach Frank Vogel told reporters. "We've been really sharp and really consistent, but during that stretch we weren't, and it cost us the game." The Lakers also committed 17 turnovers, with six of the miscues coming from James. Kyle Kuzma (11.3) has an ankle issue and struggled against Dallas by scoring just four points on 1-of-8 shooting over 21 minutes. LA's center duo of McGee (7.1 & 6.4) and Howard (6.8 & 6.9) have "made it work," with both averaging about 20 minutes per game.

The Nuggets were a 'sexy' pick to go deep in the playoffs in the 2019-20 season and a 10-2 November has Denver in position to challenge for the top spot in the West. Center Nikola Jokic led Denver in scoring (20.1), rebounding (10.8) and assists (7.3) last season and then upped those numbers in 14 postseason games (25.1-13.0-8.4). However, Jokic has not quite been that good so far this season, although his line does read 15.6-10.4-6.0. Jokic is in a scoring slump with three straight single-digit games and had seven points on 3-of-11 shooting against the Kings, after being limited to eight in each of the previous two games. If there is one criticism of the Serbian big man, it's he doesn't shoot enough. Starting up front with Jokic are PF Millsap (13.5 & 5.8) and swingman Barton (15.4 & 7.3), while PG Murray (18.5-4.5-4.9) and Harris (11.1) start in the backcourt. Denver's bench is not quite as deep as last season but it's still a formidable unit.

It will likely come as a surprise that the Nuggets have won this season largely on the play of their defense, which is ranked No. 1 in the NBA (101.8 PPG). The Nuggets also rank third in defensive FG percentage (42.8) and 1st in three-point percentage (30.9). Yes, Los Angeles had won 10 in a row before dropping a home game to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. but Denver was rolling, too, having won SIX straight and 10 of 11 before blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in Sacramento on Saturday. The Lakers have lost EIGHT of their last 10 visits to Pepsi Center, where Denver has already beaten Miami, Philly, Houston and Boston (those teams are a combined 56-22, .718) in going 8-2 SU (Denver owned an NBA-best 34-7 SU record at home last season). Hard (impossible?) to go against the Nuggets at this price.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (Southeast) is on the Was Wizards at 7:05 ET.

The 8-11 Orlando Magic will be in Washington tonight to take on the 6-12 Wizards. It will be a contrast in styles, as the Wizards are the East's highest-scoring team at 118.8 PPG (2nd-best in the NBA), while the Magic have limited opponents to an East-low 101.9 PPG (also, 2nd-best in the NBA). Washington was crushed 150-125 on Sunday night at the Los Angeles Clippers to finish off a four-game road trip 1-3, allowing 131.0 PPG in the process. The Magic are coming off a 100-96 Sunday home win over the Warriors, holding Golden St to just 39.6 percent from the floor.

Orlando's best player, All-Star center Nikola Vucevic (17.1 & 11.6), remains out with ankle injury and will miss his SIXTH straight game, tonight. Shooting guard Evan Fournier had a season-high 32 points in Sunday's win and leads the team with 19.2 PPG. Fournier left the game briefly in the first quarter after hyper-extending his right knee but fought through and provided the key basket down the stretch with a driving layup but is expected to play in this one. Vucevic's frontline mates have both had minor injuries but both Isaac (13.1 & 7.5) and Gordon (12.4 & 6.4) are back on the court. Ross is averaging 11.9 PPG without starting, while PGs Fultz (11.7 & 3.8 APG) and Augustin (8.7 & 4.7 APG) split time running the team, while also playing together at times.

With Wall lost for the season, Bradley Beal was expected to have a HUGE season and that's exactly the case (28.0-4.3-7.3). The 6-10 Bryant (13.9 & 8.5) has played well in the post (no one misses Gortat) plus head coach Scott Brooks is getting better-than-expected play from 6-8 rookie Rui Hachimura (13.3 & 5.6), former Spur Davis Betrans (13.2 & 4.4) plus 6-11 second-year player Moritz Wagner (12.0 & 5.6).

Washington can score but the Wizards also allow 122.7 PPG on 49.3% shooting (rank 30th in both categories). However, can Orlando take advantage? The Magic don't just rank 29th in scoring (see above) but also 29th in both FG percentage (42.3) and three-point percentage (31.2). These team met in Orlando back on Nov 17 and teh Magic did score 125 points in a four-point win but this game is on the road. The Magic are a woeful 1-7 SU away from home this season, averaging only 101.0 PPG. The Wizards won BOTH games played in Washington against the Magic last season and the Magic were a playoff team at 42-40. Orlando is not playoff 'material' as of now, especially without Vucevic. Here's something I won't say often this NBA season, "Take the Wizards!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Ole Miss at 7:00 ET.

As all know, Butler has had a 'rich' recent history on the basketball court. The Bulldogs made six NCAA trips from 1997-2007, before Brad Stevens took them to FIVE tourneys in six yeas, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2011. Chris Holtmann led Butler to three straight NCAA appearances from 2015-17 and LaVell Jordan followed with an NCAA berth in 2018 but the Bulldogs finished just 16-17 last season. However, after hanging on to defeat Stanford 68-67 in the Hall of Fame Classic championship game, Butler sits 7-0 and Monday entered the AP poll at No. 24, ending a span of 43 consecutive polls on "the outside, looking in!' Kermit Davis took Idaho and Middle Tenn St to the "Big Dance" and in his first year at Ole Miss, won 20 games before losing in the NCAA's first round. Ole Miss got off to a nice 5-1 start (lone loss was by one point to current No. 15 Memphis) but the Rebels fell WAAAAY short against Oklahoma State, scoring a season low in a 78-37 defeat in the NIT Tip-Off title game. this past Friday at Barclays Center.

Butler guard Kamar Baldwin (15.6 & 4.4) was named the MVP of the Hall of Fame Classic and has a veteran backourt partner in PG Thompson (6.4 & 6.4 APG). Joining Baldwin in double figures are 6-7 Milwaukee transfer Bryce Nze (12.7 & 7.6) and  6-6 redshirt senior forward Sean McDermott (10.6 & 5.0) . Butler lost the 6-10 Folwer (5.5 & 3.7) to graduation and the 6-11 Brunt (7.6 & 3.6) to Indiana (graduate transfer) but the 6-9 Golden (9.6 & 4.3) and the 6-7 Tucker (9.0 $ 2.5) are doing just fine.

Ole Miss was just plain awful against OSU, shooting 25.9% for the game, including a hard-to-believe 1-of-20 from three-point range. Still, guard Breein Tyree (15.1 & 4.1) and the 6-7  KJ Buffen (12.4 & & 7.4) were named to the NIT Tip-Off All-Tournament Team. 6-7 sophomore guard Blake Hinson has averaged 12.3 & 5.0 in his three games since returning to the team following a health scare plus PG Shuler (9.4-4.0-2.9) and the 6-10 Sy (6.6 & 4.6) round out a solid starting-five.

Ole Miss will be glad to be back in Oxford, where the Rebels have opened 4-0, outscoring opponents 72.2-to-52.0 PPG. Of course, Butler is BY FAR the best visitor to come to The Pavilion at Ole Miss but let me point out that this is Butler's first true road game of the current season. Kermit will also remind his team that Ole Miss lost a hard-fought 83-76 contest in Hinkle Fieldhouse last November, in just the second game of the season. Ole Miss has SEVEN games under its belt going into this one and is not only playing with "revenge" but also to "make up for" that horrible performance against Okla St. GREAT spot for the Rebs!

Good luck...Larry

The Big Ten-ACC Challenge gets underway Monday with a pair of games, including 5-2 Clemson visiting 3-4 Minnesota. Clemson opened the season with a 67-70 home loss to Va Tech but then won FIVE in row, including erasing a 15-point deficit to force overtime and eventually edge TCU 62-60 on Nov 24th in Las Vegas. However, the Tigers then lost two nights later 71-67 to Colorado, which is 6-0 and ranked 21st in the most recent AP poll. The Golden Gophers are coming off a 73-68 home loss to DePaul (Nov 29) and already had losses to Oklahoma, Butler and Utah on their resume.

The loss to Colorado was the first time this season that the Tigers had allowed an opponent to reach 70 points. "Our guys are getting better," head coach Brad Brownell told reporters. "We're fighting. We've got to get better at executing a few things, but we're getting there. Our players work hard for us, and I love coaching them." 6-8 junior forward Aamir Simms (11.9 & 8.9) is the lone returning starter for the Tigers but Clemson's best player is 6-6 senior forward Tevin Mack (15.4 & 5.6), a grad transfer from Alabama. Sophomore guard John Newman III (11.6 PPG) and freshman PG Al-Amir Dawes (10.1 & 3.4 APG) are Clemson's other double digit scorers. Clemson's strength is its defense, allowing 61.0 PPG (41st) on 37.5%  shooting (34th).

Richard Pitino will sure miss guards Coffey (16.6) and McBrayer (8.9) plus big man Murphy (14.4 & 11.0), who gave the Minnesota program a combined 11 seasons. However, Pitino likes his team and the team's 3-4 start is unacceptable. The 6-10 Oturu (17.0 & 11;9) is off to a strong start and is joined up front by the 6-9 Demir (7.7 & 3.7), a graduate transfer from Drexel. Minnesota owns an excellent backcourt trio, led by PG Carr (13.0-5.9-6.3), joined by Willis (12.9) and  Kalscheur (11.7). 

Pitino has had a  roller-coaster run at Minnesota, capturing the NIT (25 wins) in his first season but then falling to 18 wins and just EIGHT wins the next two seasons. The last three seasons have seen 24 and 22-win NCAA teams sandwiched around a 15-win season. This game IS important, as Minnesota opens Big Ten play with a game at Iowa (Dec 9) and the home to Ohio St  (7-0 and ranked 10th) on Dec 15. Clemson is beatable and is traveling back from a three-day stay in Las Vegas, If Minnesota can't win here, it will be a LONG season for "little Ricky."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NFL Week 13 Las Vegas Insider is on the Sea Seahawks at 8:15 ET.

The Saints moved to 10-2 with a Thanksgiving win in Atlanta and the NFC's current No. 1 seed (the 49ers at 10-1) have a real test at 9-2 Baltimore on Sunday (Ravens have won SEVEN in a row). Green Bay, which is tied with Minnesota  atop the NFC North at 8-3, will be at the struggling 2-9 Giants on Sunday, so it's clear that this MNF contest between the 8-3 Vikings and 9-2 Seahawks (one game back of San Francisco in the NFC West, pending Sunday's outcome) at CenturyLink Field has a 'ton' of playoff seeding implications. Minnesota enters this contest off a bye, having won SIX of seven prior to getting a week off. The Seahawks are coming off a 17-9 win at Philly last Sunday (Seattle is 6-0 on the road in 2019) and have won four in a row  since getting ambushed by Lamar Jackson and the Ravens at home in Week 7. Will this game come down to which QB plays best? Minnesota's Kirk Cousins has upped the ante with his recent play, strengthening his league-best 114.8 passer rating by throwing for 18 touchdowns against one interception in his last seven games. Seattle's Russell Wilson trails his former Big Ten adversary in passer rating (112.1) but last Sunday he became the first QB in NFL history to begin his career with EIGHT straight winning seasons following the Seahawks' 17-9 victory in Philadelphia (Seattle's NINTH win of 2019).

The oft-criticized Cousins is completing 70.6% of his passes for 2,756 yards with 21 TDs and only three INTs. He's supported by outstanding RB Dalvin Cook, who has run for 1,017 yards on 4.8 YPA with 11 TDs (Cook also has 45 catches for 455 yards). There were mid-season complaints about Minnesota NOT using its WRs enough but that seems to have settled down. Diggs has 46 catches on 19.1 YPC with five TDs and Thielen, despite missing three games, has 27 catches (14.5 YPC and six TDs). Thielen has had hamstring issues but he's listed as probable. The Minnesota defense has not gotten much 'pub' but its allowing just 18.6 PPG (6th-best).

MVP 'talk' seems to have come down to Baltimore's Jackson and Seattle's Wilson. Wilson is completing 67.3 % for 2,413 yards with 24 TDs and only three INTs. He's always a threat to make plays with his feet and has regularly made the key play when Seattle's needed it most. Seattle led the NFL in rushing last season (160.0 YPG) but while the Seahawks have not run the ball that well in 2019, they do rank 7th with 136.9 YPG. RB Chris Carson ran for 1,151 yards in 2018(14 games) but with 879 yards (on 4.2 YPA and 4 TDs) through 11 games in 2019, is on pace for almost 1,300 yards. Then again, maybe not. Last week against the Eagles, Rashaad Penny was the star, rushing for a career-high 129 yards and a clinching 58-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Carson was relegated to a lesser role, getting only eight carries to Penny's 14 (we'll see). Tyler Lockett (63 catches / 13.2 YPC / 6 TDs) is Wilson's favorite target but Ole Miss rookie Metcalf owns a team-best 16.6 YPC average on 38 catches with 5 TDs. Defensively, the "Legion of Boom" days are past , as Seattle allows 23.9 PPG (21st) on 370.2 YPG (24th). That said, Seattle IS, 9-2!

I noted that Seattle is 6-0 on the road, so doing the math reveals that the Seahawks are just 3-2 at home. However,  Wilson has eviscerated the competition at home with 14 TD passes (only one INT in 177 attempts) plus has added  two more TDs on the ground in just five games. I wondered at the top, will this game be won by the better QB? My bet says yes and that means I'm 'on' Wilson and the Seahawks. How does on ignore the following. Wilson has a history of shining in prime-time games, while Cousins is 0-7 SU on Monday night. What's more, the Vikings are 1-9-1 ATS the past 11 times they have been on the road against an opponent which owns a winning  record. This marks Seattle's first home game in four weeks (two road games sandwiched around a bye week) and it means SOOO much!  One last thing. Seattle sports a 28-5-1 record (.838) in prime-time regular-season games with Carroll at the helm, including 18-2 at home.

Monday update: The 49ers did lose at Baltimore and a Seattle win now means the Seahawks would move into a tie atop the NFC West with San Francisco. A Seattle win also means the Seahawks, 49ers and Saints would all be 10-2, with San Francisco and New Orleans meeting in Week 14, meaning ONE would have to lose for the third time this season. GREAT opportunity here for Seattle and I expect them to get that "W!" 

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Phi 76ers at 7:05 ET.

The 12-8 Utah Jazz 'limp' into Philadelphia on Monday on the heels of Sunday's 130-110 loss in Toronto. The Jazz  fell behind by 40 points at the half (largest halftime deficit in franchise history), rendering Utah's 49-point effort in the third quarter a virtual non-factor. The 14-6 Sixers lost at Toronto 101-96 last Monday, a game in which Embiid went scoreless in 32 minutes, going 0 of 11 from the floor and 0 of 3 from the FT line. However, Philly has won all THREE since that loss, although all have come by single digits (six, six and three points), going 0-3 ATS.

"We were awful. I think the important thing for us is to understand why," Jazz coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "There were a lot of issues but our urgency to make certain things important defensively, whether that be an assignment, sprinting back and not jogging back against a team that runs the way they do. There were too many breakdowns and too many possessions where we lacked the urgency we needed." Donovan Mitchell (24.8-4.9-3.7) was limited to 16 points at Toronto. PG Mike Conley (14.2-3.6-4.5) led Utah with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting in Sunday's loss, after connecting on 9-of-40 (22.5%) over his previous four games combined. Bogan Bogdanovic (21.5 & 4.5) has been Utah's second-best scorer all season and center Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 11 rebounds. The tender ankle that caused him to miss a couple of games in the latter part of November seems much better, as he owns 12 double-doubles in averaging 13.3 & 13.8 on the season.

Joel Embiid had 32 points and 11 rebounds in Philly's win over the Pacers and since his "no-show" in last Monday's loss at Toronto, is averaging 30.7 points and 14.7 rebounds. "I changed my mindset," Embiid told reporters after making 15-of-15 free throws in the win over the Pacers. "I hadn't been as aggressive, so I've been more aggressive creating contact and causing other people to foul me." Philly owns a formidable frontline with Embiid (22.8 & 12.2) joined by Harris (18.0 & 7.1) and Horford (14.4-7.0-4.1).  The Sixers miss Richardson's 16.1 PPG, as he's been bothered by a hamstring issue and likely won't be joining Simmons (12.9-6.9-8.40 in the starting backcourt tonight).

TOUGH spot for Utah, playing its FIFTH game in eight days against a team that has yet to lose at home (9-0). What's more, Philly is out for a little "payback" from a 106-104 loss in Salt Lake City back on Nov 6. In that game, Simmons did not play in the second half because of right shoulder soreness, while Embiid, Harris and Horford combined to shoot 12 of 41 (29.3%). FYI...Embiid is shooting 49.3% on the season, Harris 45.7% and Horford 48.2%. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* SNF Magic play is on the NE Pats at 8:20 ET.

The Pats were dominated at Baltimore 37-20 in a Week 9 SNF contest but that's the LONE blemish on the defending champs 2019 resume. The Pats survived a pair of "close call's' after the loss at Baltimore, winning 17-10 at Philly and last Sunday at home against the Cowboys, 13-9. That victory set an NFL mark, as the Pats have now won at least 10 games in 17consecutive seasons. New England is tied with San Francisco (both at 10-1) for the NFL's best overall record and own a slim one-game lead over the 9-2 Ravens, in a race for the AFC's No. 1 seed. Knowing that Baltimore holds the tie-breaker due to that Week 9 win, could keep New England focused all the way until Week 17.

The 7-4 Houston Texans welcome the Pats to NRG Staium with a one-game lead over the Cols and Titans (both 6-5) in the AFC South. Tennessee is at Indianapolis at 1:00 on Sunday, so by the time Houston takes the field against the Pats, the Texans will know which team is 'lurking' at 7-5 and rooting for a New England win. Texans head coach Bill O'Brien worked in New England under Bill Belichick from 2007-11, before leaving to take over at Penn State and then here in the NFL with Houston. The Texans have always had a tough time against New England and are 1-8 in the series (0-4 under O'Brien), with their only win coming back on Jan. 3, 2010.

Defense continues to carry New England, which scored just a combined 30 points in back-to-back victories over Philadelphia and Dallas. The playing conditions were miserable in New England last Sunday and Tom Brady completed a season-worst 45.9 percent of his passes. It didn't help that he had two rookies as WRs, although Julian Edelman had eight catches for 93 yards (he has 76 catches on the season). Brady's struggled all season, posting mediocre numbers for him (62.2% for 2,942 yards with just 15 TDs, five INTs and  a QB rating of 88.5). The Pats have rarely featured a strong running game but this year's group is averaging just 91.9 YPG (23rd), with leading rusher Michel gaining a modest 600 yards on a poor 3.4 YPA. However, while the Pats rank just 18th in total offense (352.8 YPG), they are scoring 27.3 PPG (5th-best). The defense held Dallas with a TD last Sunday and is allowing a league-low 10.6 PPG on 256.4 YPG (2nd).

There are times that Houston DeShaun Watson gets compared to Jackson and/or Wilson but too often, he throws in a 'clunker.' He's completing 69.0%  for 2,899 yards with 20 TDs and seven INTs ( QB rating) plus has 301 yards rushing with five TDs. RB Carlos Hyde has 'saved' the running game (Lamar Smith was lost for the year at the end of the preseason schedule), as he's run for 836 yards on 4.8 YPA. Watson got WR Will Fuller back at last week (had missed more than a month with a hamstring injury) and he had seven receptions for 140 yards (has 41 catches in eight games).  DeAndre Hopkins caught two TDs in Houston's 20-17 win over Indy and has 81 on the season with six TDs. However, while Houston ranks 7th in total offense (to New England's 18th), the Texans are scoring a more modest 24.1 PPG (a FG less than the Pats). Houston's D comes nowhere near matching New England's, allowing 22.6 PPG (12 points more than the Pats) to rank 17th, while allowing 367.3 YPG (over 100 YPG more) to rank 20th.

Here's the bottom line. The Pats find ways to win, something the Texans have yet to master (more at the end), especially when playing New England (see above). Brady's NOT having a vintage season but he will likey get WR Phillip Dorsett  back (he was cleared from the league's concussion protocol on Wednesday) and he'll be throwing against a Houston pass D allowing 66.0% completions with just five INTs (in 429 attempts against 22 TDs (opposing QB rating of 101.0). In comparison, Watson faces a New England pass D allowing 53.9% completions, while allowing just four TD passes against 20 INTs (opposing QB rating of 50.5!). The Pats have the league's best turnover ratio (plus-19), EIGHT better than any team. Getting back to Houston, the Texans are 2-9 ATS (just 18.2%ATS) when playing an opponent with a better than .500 record since the start of the 2018 season. Safe to say the Pats are a "winning team!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Non-Conference Crusher is on the Tor Raptors at 6:05 ET.

You may remember the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship last season but all also likely know that Kwahi "took his talents" to "the City of Angels." If that wasn't enough, All Star PG Lowry went down after just eight games, averaging 21.8-4.2-6.5, while PF Ibaka, adding 14.0 & 6.5 off the bench, went down at the same time. Neither has returned (they are due back soon) but the Raptors just keep rolling. Toronto is 14-4 and trails only 17-3 Milwaukee (which is on an 11-game wining streak) in the East. Toronto has won its last six games and on Sunday, will welcome the 12-7 Utah Jazz to Scotiabank Arena looking to make it SEVEN wins in a row. Utah is 8-1 at home (only loss to Minnesota?) but Friday's 103-94 win at Memphis was its first win 1-2 on its current five-game road trip (Jazz are 4-6 on the road, after opening this trip 1-2).

Bogan Bogdanovic (22.1 & 4.4) scored 16 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter at Memphis on Friday, as Utah completed a rally from a 15-point halftime deficit. Center Rudy Gobert chipped in 13 points and 13 rebounds for his 11th double-double, as he's back after missing a couple games at the end of November with a tender ankle (he's averaging 13.4 & 13.9 on the season). Utah is led by guard Donovan Mitchell (25.3-5.1-3.7), who is proving he was the steal of the 2017 draft (chosen 13th in a draft which saw Fultz and Ball go 1 & 2). PG Conley (13.9-3.6-4.6)  is playing more consistently but he's still shooting just 36.1%

Toronto picked up a 90-83 victory at Orlando on Friday, surviving its worst shooting performance of the season (36.9 percent). Norman Powell (12.7) scored a career-high 33 points, while Pascal Siakam, who leads Toronto in scoring (25.1), was held to a season-low 10 points on 4-of-22 from the floor at Orlando. He did chip in 13 rebounds and five assists and was a big part of a defensive effort that stifled the Magic.  Guard Fred VanVleet has upped the ante with Lowry sidelined, scoring 20-plus points in SIX of his last eight and is now averaging 18.5-3.9-73 on the season.

The Jazz may be tough in Salt Lake City (8-1) but they are an average (vulnerable) team on the road and this marks their FOURTH game in seven nights. Meanwhile, Toronto is 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS at home to open the current season, outscoring opponents on average, 119.4-to-104.6 PPG. The price is 'right!'. Lay the 'cheap' number.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the NO Pelicans at 5:05 ET.

The New Orleans Pelicans traveled to OKC to take on the Thunder on Friday, in what was the first game of a home-and-home set. The teams had met back on Nov 2 in OKC, with the Thunder prevailing 115-104. New Orleans won THREE in a row from Nov 17-21 but entered Friday's contest having lost THREE in a row while surrendering an average of 125.3 PPG. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City entered on a 2-6 run. New Orleans came into Friday's game dealing with a lot of emotions, as on Wednesday, the Pelicans hosted the NBA-best Lakers, with former team star Anthony Davis returning to New Orleans to score 41 points in LA's 114-110 win. However, the Pelicans showed little 'hangover' on Friday, as they led by EIGHT points early in the fourth quarter, before Oklahoma City rallied behind Dennis Schroder (he scored NINE of his 25 points in the final nine minutes) to 'steal' a 109-104 decision over the Pelicans. The 7-11 Thunder will now try to pick up a sweep of the home-and-home set when the teams meet again Sunday in the Big Easy (Pelicans come in 6-13).

The "new-look" Thunder have long-time All Star Chris Paul (15.7-4.2.-5.6) and second-year player Gilgeous-Alexander (18.3-4.8-3.1) both capable of running the team plus OKC also has Schroder coming off the bench to do the same, if needed. He's averaging 15.4-4.0-4-0 and as he proved Friday night, he's a quality NBA player. SF Gallinari is averaging 18.2 & 5.2 and is a proven NBA scorer plus center Adams (9.3 & 8.9) seems fully recovered after missinga few games back in early November. The 6-10 Noel (7.6 & 4.8) has shown 'flashes' that he can be a solid backup and contributor. A bonus for OKC the last two games has been SF Abdel Nader, who after scoring a career-high 23 points at Portland on Wednesday, added another 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting in Friday's win. "I'm really happy for him," head coach Billy Donovan said of Nader, whose opportunity arose when Hamidou Diallo (8.8 & 3.8) suffered an elbow injury. "Because there's nobody that works harder or is more committed or is in the gym more than he is."

New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry told reporters after Friday's loss, "We had an opportunity to win it at the end but we have to do a better job all together. Defensively, we had a few missed assignments at the end that cost us big. We've just got to be able to execute things at the end of the game defensively and offensively." New Orleans won the third quarter by a 31-17 margin, before fading late to fall to 2-8 on the road. Guard Lonzo Ball (11.1-4.1-5.7) missed his second straight game with an illness while forward Derrick Favors (8.3 & 8.9) remained out for personal reasons. Zion is still a ways from getting on the court  but SF Brandon Ingram (25.9-7.4-4.0) is liking New Orleans just fine (he came from LA in the Davis deal).  PG  Jrue Holiday (19.0-5.1-7.2) is the team-leader plus SG Redick is chipping in 15.3 PPG, while shooting 46.3% on threes.

Here's the deal. The Thunder caught the Pelicans off an emotional game against the Lakers when the teams met Friday night in OKC, yet need to rally from EIGHT points down in the fourth quarter to win, at home. This quick turnaround provides the Pelicans a great opportunity for some "payback" and why shouldn't they get it? The home team has won SIX straight in series!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Ind Colts at 1:00 ET.

The Tennessee Titans opened the season with a dominating 43-13 win at Cleveland (SI's "cover team") in Week 1 but then lost FOUR of their next five, scoring a total of just 31 points in those four losses. That slide 'gave birth' to a QB change for the Titans, as Ryan Tannehill replaced Marcus Mariota. Sometimes, "change is good." After averaging 16.3 PPG with Mariota under center, the Titans have won FOUR of five with Ryan Tannehill taking over at QB (more in a bit). Many (most?) assumed that the sudden and unexpected retirement of Andrew Luck meant that Indianapolis would have little chance of repeating the team's unexpected 10-6 record from 2018, which ended a three-year playoff drought by the Colts. However, while Jacoby Brissett is no Andrew Luck, the Colts, like the Titans, are 6-5. Both are one game behind the 7-4 Texans, who host the 10-1 Pats in a SNF contest in Week 13. Both Tennessee and Indianapolis will be rooting for New England but both also know, regardless of the result of that contest, the loser of this game will see its division hopes take a big hit, likely throwing them into crowded wild-card field.

The Titans have surged into the playoff picture by scoring 77 points in home victories over Kansas City and Jacksonville, sandwiched around their Week 11 bye The Titans' turnaround has been led by Tannehill, who has thrown 10 TDs against just three INTs in the team's 4-1 run, posting QB ratings between 109.8 and 155.8 in the four wins. He was 14 of 18 for 259 yards with two TDs and zero INTs in the team's 42-20 win over the Jags, posting a near-perfect QB rating of 155.8 ( is perfect). Aiding and abetting Tanehill in the team's last two wins has been RB Henry, who now has 991 yards on the season (4.8 YPA / 10TDs / plus two receiving TDs), after running for 347 yards (8.3 YPA and 4 TDs) in those home wins over KC and Jax. Tennessee's defense has had another solid year, allowing 19.7 PPG (10th), after allowing 18.9 PPG ( 3rd) in 2018.

One thing is for sure, Indy head coach Frank Reich, has demonstrated he can cast aside the outside 'noise.' The Colts started 1-5 last season (his rookie year) and were left for 'dead.' However, the Colts rallied to win EIGHT of nine and clinch a wild card berth. Entering 2019, Andrew Luck's retirement during the preseason left almost all discounting Indy's ability to rebound. Instead, Jacoby Brissett took over and led the Colts to a 5-2 mark. However, there IS concern, as the Colts have lost THREE of their last four. The Colts will play their second straight game without RB Marlon Mack (broken right hand), who has 862 rushing yards on the season. However, Jonathan Williams got his first 100-yard game after the injured Mack left the Jacksonville game 116 yards on just 13 carries) and followed that with a second 100-yard game last Thursday at Houston (104 yards on 26 carries), his first career start. Brissett did NOT play well in Indy's 20-17 loss at Houston in Week 12 (16 of 25 for 129 yards without a TD) but on the season, he's completing 64.6% with a 15-4 ratio and a QB rating of 95.7.

Brissett threw three TD passes in Indy's 19-17 Week 2 win at Tennessee. The Titans  now look for revenge at Lucas Oil Stadium but there's one small problem. The Colts are 10-1 SU & 9-1-1 ATS  (90%) the last 11 times hosting the Titans. What's more, the Colts are also 9-1 ATS (again, 90%) the last 10 times playing against an opponent with a winning record since the start of the 2018 season.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Pit Steelers at 1:00 ET.

The Cleveland Browns found themselves on the cover of SI and they were expected to take a major step forward behind 2nd-year QB Baker Mayfield. Being on the cover of SI has typically turned out to be "the kiss of death" and the Browns opened the season with a dreadful 30-point loss at home vs the Titans. Cleveland would go 2-6 through the season's first eight games, as QB Mayfield, who energized the Cleveland fan base during his rookie campaign (63.6% for 3,725 yards with 27 TDs and 14 INTs / QB rating of 93.7), regressed in Year 2. He completed only 58.7 percent with 7 TDs and 12 INTs for a QB rating of 71.3 in the team's first eight games. However, the Browns were able to snap a four game losing strek in Week 10 (19-16 ay home over the Bills0 and have followed with two more home wins, 21-7 over the Steelers and 41-24 over the Dolphins. The Steelers lost starting QB Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2 but after a 1-4 start, surged  into playoff contention by winning FOUR of their next five. Better-than-expected QB play from Mason Rudolph and improved defensive play led the way.  However, the Steelers lost 21-7 at Cleveland in Week 11 (you may just have heard about "the brawl") and followed with a less-than-impressive 16-10 victory at the winless Bengals in Week 12. As the team's get set for  a quick "rematch," the Browns are 5-6 and the Steelers 6-5. both teams are both fighting for a wild-card spot and the winner of Sunday's game will have the upper hand in a tight race that features five teams within ONE game of the No. 6 slot in the AFC.

In Cleveland's three-game winning streak, Mayfield has seven TDs and just one INT and is coming off his best game of the season last Sunday, completing 70.6% for 327 yards with three TDs and just one INT for a 118.1 QB rating. He has excellent skill players in RB Chubb (1,117 yards / 5.0 YPA / 7 TDs / 30 catches) plus WRs Landry (59 catches / 14.3 YPC / 5 TDs) and OBJ (54 catches / 14.4 / 2 TDs). However, the Browns' D is no better than average, allowing 22.9 PPG (18th) on 338.5 YPG (14th).

Mason Rudolph had not exactly been 'filling Big Ben's shoes" but he was playing well enough for Pittsburgh to win. However, he played poorly in that Thursday night loss in Cleveland (four INTs and a QB rating of 36.3) and was just 8-of-16 for 85 yards and a interception before being replaced against the Bengals. Rookie QB Devlin "Duck" Hodges followed Rudolph and was 5 of 11 for 118 yards with a TD and zero INTs. Rudolph will be on the sidelines for Sunday's game, as here's what Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said. "We met as a staff, we decided that we're going to start Duck this week," he told reporters. "Really, the decision is clear for us. ... I thought he provided us a spark in-game. I'm hopeful that he's capable of continuing to provide that spark as we step into this stadium." Hodges was effective but hardly overwhelming in a 24-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers back on Oct 13 while filling in for an injured Rudolph. Still, he's won over teammates with his confidence and won over his coaches by avoiding the kind of killer mistakes that have dogged Rudolph recently.

Yes, the Browns have won THREE in a row (I had  them in their Week 11 win over the Steelers) but I'm not buying into Cleveland's hope of making the playoffs. Cleveland's been a 'dog' franchise for quite some time now and now that there's a 'sliver of hope,' I expect the Browns to return to "being the Browns." It's a wide-open AFC wild-card race but through all its ups-and-downs in 2019, Pittsburgh currently holds the last spot. This is a HUGE rivalry and expect an electrified atmosphere Sunday at Heinz Field, on the heels of "the brawl." The Browns have been the 'betting choice," as Pittsburgh opened a three-point favorite but now it's Cleveland in the role of a road favorite in Pittsburgh, where the Browns haven't won since 2003 (you read that right!). As bonus, it's Mike Tomlin on the sidelines over a seemingly clueless Freddie Kitchens. It's 'Duck Season', not 'Wabbit Season' today in Pittsburgh.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* November Game of the Month is on SMU at 4:00 ET.

Willie Fritz took over at Tulane in 2016 and in his third season (2018), led the Green Wave to a 7-6 season after their 41-24 win over ULL in the Cure Bowl. It marked just the school's SECOND winning season in the previous 16 seasons! Tulane opened the 2019 season 5-1 start and a SECOND straight winning season seemed like a "sure thing." However, Tulane has lost FOUR of its last five (only win coming against 3-8 Tulsa) and now must win at SMU to avoid falling to 6-6 (after that promising 5-1 start). Sonny Dykes has done in less than two seasons, what his SEVEN predecessors could not do at SMU, and that is to bring the program back to prominence. SMU got off to an 8-0 start, its best since Eric Dickerson and Craig James led that "Pony Express" team to a 10-0 start while playing in the SWC in 1982.The Mustangs opened 8-0, rising as high as No. 14 in the AP poll (15th in the CFP rankings) but SMU welcomes Tulane to Dallas having lost TWO of their last three. It's tough to be too hard on SMU though, as the losses have come by SIX points at 10-1 Memphis and by seven at 8-2 Navy.

Dual-threat QB McMillan has 1,987 yards passing with 14 TDs and 10 INTs, plus leads the team in rushing with 654 yards (4.8 YPA / 12 TDs). Depth is the key to Tulane's running game, as SIX more RBs chip in between 161 and 517 yards, as the Green Wave ranks 13th by averaging 252.3 YPG on the ground. Tulane's D has been solid at home (has allowed 19.2 PPG but the "stop unit" is allowing 34.8 PPG on the road and is a big reason Tulane is 1-4 away from home.

9-2 SMU's chance at a spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game was lost in falling at Memphis and Navy but the team still has a shot at its first 10-win campaign since 1984. The Mustangs' offense (averaging 43.5 PPG, 7th-best among FBS teams) will try to hit double figures in the win column when they close the regular season by hosting Tulane on Saturday. The Mustangs' offense (averaging 43.5 PPG, 7th-best among FBS teams), could not overcome the team's D allowing 140 points (46.7 PPG) over its last three games (lone win came 59-51 over East Carolina).Then again, the Mustangs took a 21-10 lead into the half against Navy but were outscored 25-7 after the break and failed to put up points over the final 12 minutes. QB Shane Buechele (3,446 yards with 30 TDs and just eight INTs owns a big-time WR in Proche (95 catches with 13 TDs) plus WR Roberson an TE Granson have combine for 77 catches with 14 TDs. RB Jones has rushed for 1,124 yards on 5.3 YPA with 19 TDs (also two TD catches).

Kudos to Sonny Dykes and the job he has done at SMU and a 10-win season (how about an 11-win one with a victory here and in a bowl game) would be quite something for a program that was 1-11 and 2-10 in back-to-back seasons not too long ago (2014 & 2015). Tulane has not gotten the job done on the road (see above) and why should that change here, after its season has basically fallen apart? The Mustangs own a four-game winning streak in the series, winning with teams nowhere-near as good as this 2019 edition. SMU is 5-0 SU at home, averaging 48.6 PPG with an average margin of victory checking in at 18.0 PPG. Does laying 3-4 points seem like "too much" to you? It doesn't to me.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Wisconsin at 3:30 ET.

Wisconsin cruised past Purdue 45-24last Saturday  to set up this winner-take-all clash. QB Jack Coan completed 15-of-19 passes for 203 yards and two TDS to help the Badgers finish with 606 yards of offense, which is the most since amassing 627 against Nebraska in 2014. RB Jonathan Taylor racked up 222 yards on the ground to go along with a TD in the win over the Boilermakers to finish with 200 or more rushing yards for the 12th time in his career. Taylor is a superstar, rushing for 1,685 yards on 6.5 YPA with 18 TDs. Coan is not a star but he's completing 72.7% with 15 TDs and just four INTs in 249 attempts. The Wisconsin D allowed just 4.8 PPG through its first six games but in going 3-2 its last five, has allowed 25.8 PPG. The overall season stats look great (14.4 PPG ranks 8th and 270.3 YPG allowed ranks 7th) but Wisconsin knows its D needs a "big-time" effort in this one

Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan showed no ill effects from the concussion he suffered against Iowa, throwing for 211 yards and four TD passes in the win over Northwestern to give him 26 on the season. That breaks the program's single-season passing TD record previously held by Adam Weber (24). Morgan is completing 67.9% and has thrown just five INTs in 252 attempts. Tyler Johnson hauled in seven passes for 125 yards and a TD, while Rashod Bateman added seven catches for 78 yards and three TDs against the Wildcats to become the first WR duo in program history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in the same season with 1,025 and 1,023 respectively. Johnson has 61 catches and Bateman 51, with both hauling in 10 TDs. RB Rodney Smith is no Taylor (few, if any, are) but he's over 1,000 yards with 1,063 for 5.3 YPA and eight TDs. Minnesota 's defense can't match the numbers put up by Wisconsin's D (few, if any, can) but allowing 21.0 PPG (28th) on 300.1 YPG (10th) is pretty 'sweet.' 

So here we are. Minnesota/Wisconsin is the most-played rivalry in the FBS, with 128 meetings. The winner of the 129th game not only receives Paul Bunyan's Axe but also earns a spot in the Big Ten championship game Dec 7 against Ohio St. How great is it that the series is tied, 60-60-8 (you couldn't make that up!). Kudos to Fleck and this year's Minnesota team, which is vying to complete an undefeated season at home for the first time since 1954. Yes, this series is tied (see above) but when Gophers beat the Badgers 37-15 last season (in Madison as a 12-point underdog), it was Minnesota's first win against Wisconsin since 2003 (Badgers had won 14 in a row!). I had Minnesota in its home upset of nSt and won against them when the Gophers lost at Iowa. Wisconsin's season looked 'dead in the water' after its back-to-back losses in late October but a win here and it's off to Lucas Oil Stadium to face Ohio St next Saturday. That's the bet. 

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Eye-Opener is on Marshall at 12:00 ET.

FAU and Marshall entered the 2019 season as the two favorites to win C-USA's East. FAU has won FOUR in a row to take over first-place with a 6-1 record, while Marshall and Western Kentucky are one game back at 6-2. Marshall is coming off a 24-13 loss to Charlotte, a victory that allowed the 49ers to become bowl-eligible for the first time since joining the FBS is 2015. The good news for Marshall is, the Thundering Herd own wins over FAU and Western Ky, so if they can win here and the Owls lose at home to Southern Miss (FAU is a nine-point favorite), Marshall would represent the East in next Saturday's championship game. Marshall welcomes 6-5 FIU to Huntington, the week after that school's first-ever win over a Power-5 school. The Panthers upset Miami-Fla 30-24 last Saturday as a 21-point home dog.

FIU is scoring 26.5 PPG (83rd) and allowing 26.4 (58th). QB James Morgan tossed two TD passes and the Panthers earned the program's most significant victory against Miami. However, while Morgan has not made many mistakes (two INTs in 282 attempts), he's completing a modest 58.2% for just 2,012 yards with 12 TDs. FIU has a two solid but unspectacular RBs in Jones (750 yards / 5.0 YPA / 8 TDs) and Maxwell (589 yards / 5.4 YPA and 7 TDs) plus a receiving corps without a notable player. Marshall QB Green is no better than Morgan, completing 58.4% for 2,115 yards with 13 TDs and nine INTs. Like Morgan, his receiving corps lacks a "play-maker" but Marshall will own the best offensive player on the field in RB Knox (1,138 yards / 5.4 YPA / 10 TDs).

Marshall can't count of FAU losing but it can win here and then wait to see what happens tonight in Boca Raton. Doc Holliday's Thundering Herd have been 'bowling' in FIVE of the last six seasons and have won EACH bowl contest! He's built a winning program and while Marshall is 1-5 ATS at home, it is 5-1 SU, averaging 31.8 PPG. FIU's win over Miami was a HUGE deal (most agree it was the program's most significant victory) and win or lose here, the Panthers' bowl destination will not be affected. Coming off the Miami win, how does one NOT go against a team that is 0-4 on the road in 2019, getting outscored 43.0-to-17.2 PPG!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* West Coast Crusher is on St Mary's at 11:30 ET.

Tim Duryea was on Stew Morrill's staff at Utah St for 14 seasons, a span in which the Aggies made six NCAA Tournaments and won five conference championships (the Big West in 2003 and Western Athletic Conference four straight years from 2008 to 2011). Duryea was hired as head coach on March 30, 2015, after Morrill retired. However, he was just 47-49 over three seasons and was fired. Taking over was Craig Smith and in just his first season at the school, he led the Aggies to a share of the Mountain West regular-season title, as well as the tournament title, which earned Utah St its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2011 (28 wins were tied for the 3rd-most in school history). The Aggies have opened the current season 7-0 and will visit Moraga, Ca to take on the 6-1 St Mary's Gaels, ranked 15th in the latest AP poll. St Mary's head coach Randy Bennett has led the Gaels for 18 years, winning 20-plus games in each of the last 12. The Gaels are coming off a season in which they finally beat Gonzaga in the WCC championship game, earning their 7th NCAA bid under Bennett. The previous season, St Mary's 28 wins were not enough to earn them an at-large NCAA bid.

Utah State is off to its best start since 1961. The Aggies are holding opponents to 57.7 PPG during their 7-0 start, ranking 14th in the nation in points allowed. The Aggies start a trio of guards in Merrill (16.6-4.6-4.7), Miller (10.6) and Porter (6.0 & 3.9 APG). Without injured 7-0 sophomore center Neemias Queta (11.8 & 8.9 last season), the reigning Mountain West defensive player of the year, the 6-7 Bean (13.4 & 11.4) and 6-7 JC transfer Anderson (14.7 & 6.3) are "stepping up" in the frontcourt. Anderson has been coming off the bench, as is guard Brito, who is also averaging in double digits at 11.7 PPG. Utah St is known for its defense but the Aggies are averaging 82.6 PPG (32nd).

The Gaels opened with a neutral-site win over Wisconsin but then lost 61-59 at home to Wofford (as nearly a 3-'TD' favorite), before ripping off FIVE straight wins. St Mary's is led by senior guard Jordan Ford, who averages a team-high 20.7 PPG. PG Kusher (7.5 & 3.8 APG) is steady backcourt partner for Ford plus a trio of big men give Bennett  a solid frontline. It consists of the 6-8 Fitts (13.1 & 6.0), the 6-6 Krebs (12.1 & 4.3) and the 6-10 Tass (7.1 & 4.7). More good news comes in that the team got a welcome boost from 7-3 center Aaron Menzies, who made his first career start for the Gaels in their last game, recording nine points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes.

Utah St just claimed the Jamaica Classic title last week with victories over LSU and North Texas but this marks the team's first true road game. Moraga has not been a very hospitable place for visiting teams, as the Gaels are 172-22 in McKeon Pavilion over the last 11 seasons .Also 'looming' over this contest is Utah State's 86-63 win over St Mary's in a holiday tourney played last November in Las Vegas. St Mary's WILL remember that game well, as while the Aggies shot 49.2% from the floor, St Mary's shot just 29% (18 of 62), including 6 of 24 on threes. REVENGE works in this one!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on VCU at 9:30 ET.

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the OKC Thunder at 8:05 ET.

The 6-12 New Orleans Pelicans travel to OKC to take on the 6-11 Thunder on Friday, in what is the first game of a home-and-home set  (teams play in New Orleans on Sunday). These teams met back on Nov 2 in OKC, with the Thunder prevailing 115-104. New Orleans won THREE in a row from Nov 17-21 but enter this contest having lost THREE in a row while surrendering an average of 125.3 PPG. Oklahoma City lost for the SIXTH time in eight games with Wednesday's 136-119 loss in Portland, a contest in which the Thunder fell behind 40-17, then found themselves chasing the game the rest of the way.

New Orleans dealt with a lot of emotions in its Wednesday game against NBA-best Lakers, as former team star Anthony Davis scored 41 for LA. PG Jrue Holiday had 29 points and a season-best 12 assists against the Lakers. Forward Brandon Ingram was just 4-of-21 shooting against his former team but still had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Ingram is averaging 25.9-7.4-4.0 on the season and has topped 20 points in EIGHT straight appearances. Holiday checks in averaging 19.3-5.2- 7.3, while Redick (15.0) is 'heating up' from behind the arc, making 41-of-81 on three-pointers his last nine games. Ball (11.1-4.1-5.7) is out with the flu, while PF Favors (8.3 & 8.9) remains out due to personal reasons (he's played in just NINE of 18 games this season).

The Thunder have long-time All Star Chris Paul (6.2-4.1-5.6) and second-year player Gilgeous-Alexander (18.8-5.1-3.1) both capable of running the team plus OKC also has Schroder coming off the bench to do the same, if needed. He's averaging 14.8-4.1-3-9. SF Gallinari is just 15-of-38 shooting over his last three games but he's averaging 18.3 & 5.1 on the season. The last time these teams met (Nov 2), center Adams (9.0 & 8.7) was sidelined but he's back now plus the 6-10 Noel (7.6 & 4.7) has shown 'flashes' that he can be a solid backup and a solid contributor.

I won't play 'on' OKC very often but I did have them back on Nov 2 against the Pelicans and see no reason NOT to play them again, here. The Pelicans allow 120.1 PPG (29th) on 47.5% shooting (25th), including allowing 123.1 PPG in going 2-7 SU on the road. OKC does have a slight impost here but I don't see them missing a chance to pick up a "W," so I'll lay the modest points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Memphis at 3:30 ET.

The highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champ will earn a spot in a New Year's Six Bowl game. No. 18 Memphis is currently the highest-ranked team in the CFP rankings and it will host No. 19 Cincinnati on Friday. The winner of this game will host the AAC championship game on Dec 7. If Memphis wins on Friday, it will be rematch with Cincinnati. However, if the Bearcats win, they will host the title game but if Navy beats Houston (Midshipmen are currently favored by 8.5 points ), Navy, NOT Memphis, would be Cincy's opponent. Got all that?

Cincinnati has only one loss this season, against the nation's No. 2 team, Ohio State (No. 1 in CFP rankings) in its second game of the season. The Bearcats enter this contest on a NINE-game winning streak but THREE of their last four wins have come by three, three and two points. Sophomore QB Desmond Ridder has played the last two games with a shoulder injury, as the Bearcats have failed to pass for more than 100 yards in consecutive games for the first time since 1997 (had 78 yards against USF and 62 against Temple). However, Cincy's passing game hasn't been much all season, averaging just 179.5 YPG (110th). RB Warren (939 yards / 4.8 YPA / 11 TDs) is joined by two other RBs with 400-plus yards on the season, as Cincy's running game ranks 34th (197.3 PPG). Cincy's defense is allowing just 19.9 PPG (23rd) and that includes two games in which it allowed 42 (Ohio St) and 43 points (East Carolina?).

Memphis owns the best offense Cincy has faced since Ohio St. The Tigers are averaging 42.2 PPG (8th) behind the passing of QB Brady White (67.1% for 3,074 yards with 30 TDs and seven INTs) and the running of Kenneth Gainwell (1,294 yards on 6.8 YPA with 12 TDs). Memphis enters with a streak of FIVE consecutive contests of 40 or more points and three straight games with more than 510 yards of total offense. Memphis head coach Mike Norvell is in his fourth season and will have his Tigers in a bowl for the fourth straight year. The question is, what kind of bowl?

Anything less than a New Year's Six one, at this point, would be a disappointment. To accomplish that, Memphis will have to beat Cincy here and again, NEXT Saturday. Here's the good news. Memphis is 5-0 SU at home in 2019, outscoring opponents 41.2-to-24.4 PPG. What's more,under Norvell, Memphis is 13-1 SU and ATS (that's 93%), in the month of November (home or away), averaging 49.1 PPG. I'm NOT stepping in front of this 'train!'

Good luck...Larry

John Beilein left Michigan to take the head coaching job with the Cleveland Cavaliers (why?), after leading the Wolverines to NINE NCAA tourneys in his 12 years (twice lost in the national championship game). Taking over was former Fab Fiver Juwan Howard, who would have to replace forward Ignas Brazdeikis (14.8 & 5.4) plus guards Jordan Poole (12.8) and Charles Matthews (12.2 & 5.0). Michigan opened the season unranked but now finds itself in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis after beating Iowa St (83-76) and No. 6 North Carolina (73-64). Waiting in the title game will be 8-0 Gonzaga, which is ranked No. 8 in the latest AP poll. You may have heard of Gonzaga and its head coach, Mark Few. When Few arrived in Spokane, the "Zags" had been to two NCAA tourneys in school history. All Few has done is go 20-for-20, entering this season on a streak of FIVE consecutive Sweet 16 appearances (reaching at least the Elite 8 in THREE of those five). Gonzaga eased past Southern Miss 94-69 on Wednesday but then needed OT to get past No. 11 Oregon 73-72 on Thanksgiving (this just in...the Ducks are an excellent team!).

Michigan's style under Howard has been to push the offensive tempo. The win over North Carolina marked SIX straight in which the Wolverines scored at least 70 points, as the Wolverines are SIXTH in the nation in field-goal percentage (52.7) and 34th in scoring (82.5 PPG). PG Simpson is the team leader (12.2-4.5-9.2) but junior guard Brooks connected on 9-of-14 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc on Thursday to score 24 points. That raised his scoring average on the season to 13.7, second on the team behind 6-7 junior forward Isaiah Livers (16.3). 7-1 senior center Jon Teske has chipped in 12.3 PPG plus adds a team-best 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

Gonzaga lost a 'ton' off last year's team, including a pair of 6-8 forwards who both went in the first round of the NBA draft, Hachimura (19.7 & 6.5) and Clarke (16.9 & 8.6). Also moving on were guards Norvelll (14.9-4.3-3.1) and Perkins (11.0 & 6.3 APG) but the refrain at Gonzaga is, "no worries." Gonzaga is 'loaded' up front with the 6-11 Petrusev (Serbia), who leads with 17.0 PPG and 8.6 RPG. The 6-7 Kispert (14.1), the 6-10 Tillie (11.7 & 5.7 in just three games) plus 6-10 freshman Timme adds 11.1 & 5.6. A&M transfer Gilder (11.0), No. Texas transfer Woolridge (9.5-5.5-3.9) and returning guard Ayayi (9.3-6.5-3.6) are the main contributors on the perimeter. Gonzaga is averaging 87.1 PPG (7th) on 50.9% shooting (13th), while allowing 61.9 PPG (plenty good enough with its scoring output at the other end).

Michigan came to Paradise Island in the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis unranked, but can leave with a championship. However, after upsetting North Carolina, I don't see back-to-back wins over top-10 teams being 'in the cards.' The Bulldogs led Oregon by 17 points in the early going and by five points with a minute left in regulation, before having to rally in overtime. Mark Few has too many options and could counter  a fast Michigan team with a big lineup, a strategy the Bulldogs employed against Oregon. Few often paired the 6-foot-10 Tillie with 6-foot-11 Petrusev, utilizing the former in the high post and wing and Petrusev on the low block. Kudos to Howard's fast start but he's got a LONG way to go to match Few's coaching acumen.

Good luck..Larry

My 10* "signature" LEGEND Play is on San Diego St at 10:30 ET.

Greg McDermott is in his 10th season as head coach of Creighton. He arrived in 2010-11 and led the Blue Jays to a runner-up finish in the CBI. Three straight NCAA teams followed, as Creighton won 29, 28 and 27 games. His lone losing season on came in 2014-15 but Creighton's won 20-plus games the last four years, with two NCAA appearances and two in the NIT. 4-1 Creighton heads into the Las Vegas Invitational with three players ranked in the top- 40 nationally in 3-point shooting percentage and will face 6-0 San Diego St in Thursday night's semifinal at Orleans Arena, a team that comes in ranked 19th in three-point shooting defense (26.2%). It may come as a surprise to some that San Diego St has won at least 19 games for each of the last 14 seasons and owns the NCAA's 14th-best winning percentage (.733) in that time frame. The Aztecs entered last season having made SEVEN of the last nine NCAA tourneys and played in the postseason in 12 of the previous 13 years.

The Bluejays have a solid seven-man rotation, led by by guards Marcus Zegarowski (18.0 & 4.8), Ty-Shon Alexander (17.4 & 4.8) and Mitch Ballock (13.8 & 5.8). Alexander is shooting 53.6% on threes,  Zegarowski 50.0% and Ballock 46.9%. Joining that trio in the starting lineup are forwards Jefferson (9.0 & 5.2) and Bishop (7.8 & 4.4), while the 6-11 Jones (7.0 7 5.4) and guard Mitchell (4.2 & 2.6) are the  top-two reserves.

SDSU's 21-13 record left them "sitting out" postseason play last year but the Aztecs are off to their first 6-0 start since the Kawhi Leonard-led team finished 34-3 in the 2010-11 season. The Aztecs are well-balanced with SIX players getting 20-plus minutes, three guards and three frontcourt players. PG Flynn (13.3 & 5.7 APG) leads the team in scoring and assists and is joined in the starting lineup by fellow guards Schakel (10.2) and Feagin (9.0). Two 6-10 players round out the starting lineup, Wetzell (10.2 & 7.2) and Mensah (7.0 & 8.0). The 6-6 Mitchell (comes off the bench to add 10.0 & 4.5. SDSU has been known for its defense since Fisher arrived in San Diego and current head coach Brian Dutcher (he was on Fisher's staff in Michigan and SDSU), preaches the same 'sermon.' The Aztecs are allowing just 56.0 PPG (11th) on 35.9% shooting (17th), which includes the team's 26.2% on threes.

All four of Creighton's wins have come at home and against modest competition (Kennesaw St, La Tech, Cal Poly and North Florida), while the team's lone road game did not turn out well. Creighton ranks just 249th in defensive FG percentage and it showed in Ann Arbor, as the Wolverines made 56.6% from the floor in a 79-69 win. The Bluejays had trouble keeping Wolverines’ G Zavier Simpson from driving in the paint and that will be an issue here, against SDSU point guard Flynn in this neutral setting. Actually, San Diego St is a Las Vegas regular playing UNLV  and the MWC tourney in Sin City. More notably, San Diego St has had just one close encounter in its 6-0 start, an impressive 76-71 road win at BYU. The Aztecs' other five wins have come by an average of 21.4 PPG. Grab them at this price, playing in familiar and friendly surroundings.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* NFL Thanksgiving Roast is on the NO Saints at 8:20 ET.

The New Orleans Saints are 9-2 and own a four-game lead in the NFC South. However, the Saints still have much to paly for, as they are battling the 10-1 49ers and 9-2 Seahawks for the NFC's No. 1 seed (note: 8-3 Green Bay and Minnesota lurk). New Orleans have survived an injury to its future Hallof Fame QB, as Teddy Bridgewater stepped in and the team never 'blinked.' Now, Brees is back as the Saints enter their playoff 'push.' As for the Falcons, doesn't it seem like their Super Bowl appearance (2016 season) was more like 10 years ago? Atlanta 'limps' into this Thanksgiving night game 3-8, including 1-4 at home. Thursday night's game is a rematch of a Week 10 contest in New Orleans. The Saints were riding a six-game winning streak when they were blindsided by the visiting Falcons, 26-9. It marked the first time New Orleans failed to score a TD at home with Brees operating the offense since he came to the Saints in 2006.

The Saints are in command in the NFC South but the team's defense is trending in the wrong direction. New Orleans had  held FIVE straight opponents to fewer than 260 total yards but the Saints have allowed an average of 334.0 YPG over their last three games, with the 351 total yards they surrendered to the Panthers last week marking their highest total since Week 3. Drew Brees and the offense took a one-game 'hiatus' in the above-mentioned loss to the Falcons but put up 418 total yards last week as Brees threw three TD passes for the second straight game (Saints have scored 34 points in back-to-back games after scoring NINE in that loss to the Falcons). Brees is completing 75.7% of his passes and while Ingram is in Baltimore these days, RBs Kamara (526 rushing yards on 4.6 YPA plus 60 catches) and Murray (462 yards on 4.5 YPA) give him enough 'cover.' On the season, New Orleans' D is allowing 20.9 PPG (13th) on 321.3 YPG (10th).

Matt Ryan passed for 300-plus yards in each of Atlanta's first six game but the Falcons won just ONE of the six. He's averaged a more modest 230.8 YPG passing the last four contests, with Atlanta going 2-2. Is passing less 'the ticket.' Not really, as the Falcons have the second-worst running game in the NFL, averaging 72.9 YPG on the ground (3.5 YPA). Atlanta's 26-9 shocker of the Saints in New Orleans was followed by a 29-3 win at Carolina but anything idea that Atlanta had 'righted the ship,' came crashing down in last Sunday's 35-22 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons surrendered 446 total yards and had a hard time getting the run game going with 57 rushing yards (note: TB entered that game at 2-8 ATS, the worst pointspread record of an NFL team).

Atlanta's upset win at New Orleans in Week 10 was one of NFL 2019's most improbable wins (sacked Brees SIX times) but forewarned is forearmed. The Saints are 4-0 SU & ATS on the road this season and come into this contest an NFL-best 20-8-1 ATS (71.4%) in road games since 2016. Atlanta was once an excellent home team but no more. The Falcons beat Philly 24-20 at home in Week 2 but they have since lost FOUR in a row at home, allowing 30.8 PPG. "Matty Ice" (what a fraudulent nick-name) gets out-dueled by Brees in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Rivalry Rout (Egg Bowl) is on Ole Miss at 7:30 ET.

Sure there are state bragging rights involved in this year's "Egg Bowl" (always are) but Mississippi State has added motivation entering  its regular-season finale against its bitter rival on Thanksgiving night. The Bulldogs have made a bowl appearance in a school-record NINE consecutive seasons and can extend that streak to an an 10 when they host Ole Miss on Thursday night. As for Ole Miss, the Rebels can do no better than match last year's disappointing 5-7 season by earning a fifth win in 2019 with a victory over their bitter rival.

Matt Luke became the interim head coach at Ole Miss after Hugh Freeze was forced to resign back in June of 2017. After a late season push allowed Ole Miss to finish 6–6, the interim tag was removed on November 26, 2017 and he became the 37th head football coach in school history. However, last year's 5-7 record (1-7 in the SEC) put some pressure on Luke. Luke didn't "stand pat," as he hired two successful former head coaches as his offensive and defensive coordinators. Rich Rodriguez (OC) and Mike MacIntyre (DC) are his new coordinators. However, Ole Miss checks in at 4-7, including 2-5 in the SEC. The Rebels' hopes tonight will rest on rest freshman QB John Rhys Plumlee, who already has rushed for 989 yards and 11 TDs. In his last game (11/16 vs No. 1 LSU), he ran for a season-high 212 yards and four rushing TDs. RB Jerrion Ealy also set a season high with 141 yards rushing on only 13 carries vs the Tigers. Ealy is part of a trio of RBs who have for for between 481 and 640 yards on the season, accounting for 15 TDs. Ole Miss ranks 7th in the nation in rushing, averaging 261.5 YPG on 5.6 YPC. MacIntyre has not done much to improve the Rebels' defense, as Ole Miss enters this final game of the season allowing 27.0 PPG (62nd).

Miss St is just one win shy of bowl-eligibility but the Bulldogs 'limp' into this contest having dropped FIVE of six before routing overmatched FCS foe Abilene Christian 45-7 last weekend. Speculation regarding the status of Miss St head coach Joe Moorhead  is swirling, if the bowl streak ends Thursday. "We have to do two things: make sure we play well and keep the Egg here in Starkville," Moorhead said. "If we do that, then we will extend the season and get to play in a bowl game." RB Kylin Hill is the SEC's leader rusher (1,215  yards on 5.8 YPA and 11 TDs) and needs 176 yards to match the school's single-season record. The QB situation has been in flux all season, as Tommy Stevens has thrown for fewer yards (934) than backup Garrett Shrader (1,062). MSU must avoid another slow start, as teh Bulldogs have scored a combined 13 points in the first quarter of their six losses. The Bulldogs' D is slightly worse than the Rebels, allowing 28.8 PPG (75th).

Joe Moorhead (only previous head coaching job was at Fordham) was hired as the head coach at Mississippi State before the 2018 season, replacing Dan Mullen who had been with Mississippi State for nine seasons before being hired by the University of Florida. (Mullen led MSU to a bowl in his final EIGHT seasons at Starkville). Moorhead looks a poor fit at MSU, as this season's 2-5 SU & ATS record in SEC games attest. Meanwhile, Ole Miss has played much better in the SEC, going 6-1 ATS (lone non-cover was a seven-point loss to A&M as a six-point underdog). There has NOT been a home field edge in recent Egg Bowls, as the visiting team has won and covered each of the last four years. Look for Ole Miss to 'spoil' Miss St's bowl aspirations in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Oregon at 9:30 ET.

No. 11 Oregon is 5-0 and  No. 13 Seton Hall is 4-1, as the two schools square off in a Battle 4 Atlantis quarterfinal matchup in the Bahamas. Both schools are averaging more tahn 80 points, with Oregon checking in at 80.4 and Seton Hall at 84.40. This week’s tournament, which also includes No. 8 Gonzaga, No. 6 North Carolina, Alabama, Iowa State and Michigan, could serve as a key showcase for both Oregon and Seton Hall, with both looking to position themselves for the NCAA Tournament.

Seton Hall's lone loss was a three-point home loss to Michigan St but the Pirates have rebounded with two wins since, the most recent being last Saturday’s 87-51 victory over Florida A&M.  Star guard Myles Powell, who was voted the preseason Big East Player of the Year, scored 23 points in the win. He's averaging 22.6 & 4.6 so far, having topped 20 points in FOUR of five games this season. Senior guard Quincy McKnight had 14 points and five assists in the win over Florida A&M and is averaging 10.8 points and 4.6 assists for the Pirates. Kevin Willard's team features a HUGE frontcourt, with the 6-11 Mamukelashvili (11.2 & 5.0), who is joined by a pair of two 7-footers, Gill (5.6 & 6.4) and Obiagu (4.6 & 2.2).

Oregon's last outing was a 78-66 victory over Houston last Friday.  Senior PG Payton Pritchard (the last holdover from the 2017 Final Four team) is on pace for a "career season," averaging 19.4-5.4-5.6. He teams with fellow New Mexico graduate transfer Mathis (15.0) plus JC transfer Duarte (9.0 & 54.8) in the backcourt. Up front, 6-7 UNLV transfer Juiston (9.8-5.6) and 6-9 sophomore Okoro (8.0 & 7.3) are joined by two freshman, the 6-7 Patterson (6.8) and the 6-8 Lawson (4.8 & 4.0). Mathis made five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points in last Friday’s win, while forward Francis Okoro added 12 points and four rebounds.

The Ducks don't have the Pirates' size but they have already beaten a 13th-ranked team (Memphis) and a team that made the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 last season in Houston, while opening 5-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 season, when they reached the Elite Eight. What's more, Oregon is shooting 51.9% (9th), including ranking 7th in three-point percentage (42.7). On the other end of the court, Oregon ranks fourth nationally in three-point FG percentage defense at 20.5 percent (pretty nice combo). I like Kevin Willard and Seton Hall but NOT here vs Dana Altman and the Ducks. Altman has led Kansas St, Creighton and Oregon to multiple NCAA tourneys and I believe this year's team has an excellent chance to 'go deep' in this season's "Big Dance," A win here and the Ducks will almost surely be playing No. 8 Gonzaga (great test), next. First things first, though!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* play is on Wichita St at 8:30 ET.

Bob Huggins became famous while coaching Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to 16 straight postseason berths, including 14 straight NCAA bids. He was 'forced out' and after spending a year out of the coaching profession, accepted the head coaching job at Kansas State. It was a one-year 'pit stop' (23-12), as he returned to Morgantown (where he was born) to take the West Va job. As expected, he's led West Va to postseason berths in NINE of 12 seasons but is coming off just his second losing season with the Mountaineers, as they were just 15-21 in the 2018-19 season (4-14 in the Big 12 left them in last-place). However, this year's Mountaineers are off to a 5-0 start, as they get set to take on 6-0 Wichita St in the championship game of the Cancun Challenge.

Huggins has a great coaching history but his counterpart in tonight's title game, Gregg Marshall, is no slouch. He led Winthrop to seven NCAA appearances nine seasons and since taking over in Wichita, entered this season with a string of 10 consecutive seasons of 22 or more wins, including FOUR, 30-win seasons. In that 10-year span, the Shockers have been to seven NCAA tourneys (including a Final 4 appearance in 2013) and in three NITs (won title in 2011).

Wichita State led from start to finish in a 70-47 rout of South Carolina last night and can become the first two-time winner of this tournament (the Shockers won in 2012). Wichita St jumped out to a 27-9 lead on Tuesday, went up 19 at halftime, and cruised. Marshall's team is averaging 75.3 PPG and allowing just 56.2 (14th). The Shockers have no real star but shown great balance, as FIVE players are averaging at least nine points. PG Stevenson leads the way with 12.2 PPG plus a team-high 3.7 APG.. Four more guards chip in between 7.2 and 11.4 PPG plus up front, 6-8 junior forward Trey Wade, a transfer from UTEP averages 11.8 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds. Excellent news has come Wichita's way as the 6-11 F Jaime Echenique (9.2 & 6.0 last season) has scored 11 points combined in the last two games after missing the first three with a hand injury.

While Wichita cruised to an easy win last night, the Mountaineers had to rally from 13 points down in the final nine minutes to beat Northern Iowa 60-55. Senior guard Haley, who averaged 7.1 points along with 4.1 rebounds last season, is averaging a team-high 12.2  PPG and also chipping in 7.2 RPG. Also making 'noise' in the early going has been 6-9  freshman Oscar Tshiebwe, who is averaging 11.2 PPG and a team-best 8.2 rebounds. 6-10 sophomore forward Emmitt Matthews is averaging 9.4 & 5.6 plus while 6-10 sophomore Derek Culver was held to three points in the semifinal, he had 15 rebounds (9.2 & 7.4 on the season).

Nothing bad to say about West Va but I just believe Wichita is the better team and the Shockers have opened the season with six straight victories for the first time since starting 35-0 in 2013-14,  one year after reaching the Final Four.Could this be another 30-win campaign for Marshall? Time will tell but for tonight, I'm "all over" Wichita in this spot, at this price!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Hou Rockets at 8:05 ET.

The Houston Rockets were 'flying high' when they traveled to Denver last Wednesday for a game with the Nuggets. Houston took an eight-game winning streak into that contest but the Rockets were held under 100 points for the first time this season in a 105-95 loss. (Houston entered averaging an NBA-best 119.5 PPG). Harden finished with "just" 27 points, snapping his string of eight consecutive games with 36 or more. Houston then lost 112-109 at the Clippers last Friday, before returning home to get run off the court by Luka Doncic and Mavs, 137-123. As Vince Lomabardi once famously said, "What the hell going on out there?" The now 11-6 Rockets welcome the 12-4 Miami Heat to Houston on Wednesday, looking to snap their three-game slide and avenge an embarrassing 129-100 loss at Miami back on Nov  3.

Miami has been one of the league's surprising teams so far, coming off a 39-43 non-playoff season last year. Miami has won SIX of its last seven, after a 117-100 home win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Small forward Jimmy Butler scored 21 points against the Hornets but complained of illness after the game and his availability for Wednesday hasn't yet been determined. Kelly Olynyk (8.3 & 5.6) collected a career-best 16 rebounds against Charlotte and also scored 15 points for his first double-double of season. Butler is off to an unspectacular start (18.9-5.4-6.7) but the Heat have gotten strong play from starters and bench players all season. Undrafted rookie Nunn (16.9 PPG) has been the biggest surprise plus has seen fellow guard Dragic (15.3 & 5.3 APG with zero starts) and rookie guard guard Herro (14.3 PPG in just three starts) make major contributions. 6-9 center Adebayo has played in and a started all 16 games, averaging a double-double (14.3 & 10.3) plus it s expected that Justise Winslow (concussion) is probable after missing the previous nine games (in five games, he's averaging 13.9-8.0-4.1)

Harden (37.9-6.1-6.0) and Westbrook (22.2-7.5-6.8) lead the way for Houston, although Clint Capela (14.6 & 14.7) is sure making  a strong case as being one of the NBA's top centers (he 's had 20-plus rebounds in FIVE of his last six). .Eric Gordon (16.6 PPG career scorer) is missed but House (11.5 & 4.6) was back vs Dallas on Sunday, scoring 16 points in 35 minutes. Dallas racked up 45 points and led by 16 when the first quarter concluded and led 78-60 at halftime while cruising to a win on Sunday. Luka Doncic scored 41 points and Tim Hardaway poured in a season-best 31, as Houston's defense was routinely carved up. Asked what the Rockets did wrong on defense, Harden's answer began with this word; "Everything." We allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do from the beginning of the game and when you give a team like that comfort ... they gain confidence," Harden told reporters. "And that's what they did."

The Rockets NEED a bounce-back here and avenging that 'ugly' 29-point loss at Miami should help provide some extra motivation. In that contest, Harden, Westbrook and a then-healthy Gordon combined to shoot 11 of 35 from the floor (31.4%), including 3 of 20 on threes (15.0%). No team likes to be on the road the night before Thanksgiving and visiting Houston, where the Heat have lost FIVE of their last six meetings, is NOT where the Heat would chose to play. Houston snaps its three-game slide and "returns the favor" while avenging that Nov 3 loss in Miami. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Bailout Blowout is on Colorado at 11:30 ET.

Tad Boyle took the Colorado job in 2010-11 and won 20-plus games in FIVE of his first six seasons (three NCAA appearances). However, mediocre 19-15 and 17-15 seasons followed, before Colorado went 23-13 last year. The Buffs didn't make the Big Dance last season but all FIVE starters returned and big things were expected. The Buffs have opened 4-0 and and are currently ranked 23rd in the AP's latest poll. Colorado played an 'ugly' first half last night against Wyoming (game was tied at 15-all) but the Buffs pulled away for a 56-41 victory. Clemson opened the season with a 67-70 home loss to Va Tech but has since won FIVE in row, after erasing a 15-point deficit to force overtime and eventually edge TCU, 62-60.

I really like this Colorado team, which is holding opponents to 54.5 PPG (11th) and is led by three double-digit scorers. The 6-7 Tyler Bey (14.0 & 12.0 ) is a terrific player and is joined in double figures by PG Wright (12.8-4.0-3.8) and the 6-7 Schwartz (12.5). Some inside 'muscle' comes from the 6-8 Bailey (7.8 & 7.3) and the 6-7 Siewert (6.8 & 5.5), who comes off the bench. 

6-8 junior forward Aamir Simms (10.0 & 8.2) is the lone returning starter for the Tigers but led Sunday night's comeback by scoring all 13 of his points in the second half, to go with 12 rebounds. Clemson's best player is 6-6 senior forward Tevin Mack, a grad transfer from Alabama. He scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the win over TCU. He leads the team in scoring (16.2) while also shooting 44.7 percent (17-of-38) from three-point range. Sophomore guard John Newman III and freshman PG Al-Amir Dawes are tied for second in scoring (10.8) and have combined for 32 assists and 14 steals. 

Just how good is Clemson? The loss to Va Tech is understandable (Hokies are 6-0 and just beat Mich St) but before scoring the final 15 points of the game Sunday to send the contest to OT (and win), the Tigers' previous four wins all came at home over Coppin St, South Carolina-Upstate, Lehigh and Delaware St. I don't see Clemson "coming back" against this talented, balanced and excellent defensive team in Colorado. Lay the modest points. 

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on Dayton at 8:00 ET.

Mike Young spent 17 years at Wofford, where he led the Terriers to five NCAA appearances, including last season. Wofford defeated Seton Hall 84-68 iin LY's Big Dance, giving him the first NCAA Tournament win of his career. He took over at Va Tech, when Buzz Willaims used Tech's Sweet 16 appearance last season to take the Texas A&M job. On November 5th, 2019, Young recorded his 300th career win and first win as Virginia Tech's men's basketball coach, by defeating Clemson 67-60. The Hokies haven't looked back, as they upset No. 3 Michigan State 71-66 in the opening round of the Maui Invitational on Monday. The 6-0 Hokies will meet Dayton on Tuesday, which improved its record to 4-0 with Monday's 80-61 win over Georgia. Anthony Grant had success at both VCU and Alabama, before taking Dayton job for the 2017-18 season (he had a successful four-year playing career as a Flyer).

Dayton's 6-9 Tuppin (24.0 & 8.3) will easily be the best big man in this game, as the Hokies' tallest starter is 6-7. He's joined upfront by the 6-7 Mikesell (11.3 & 3.8) plus an excellent perimeter group. Junior guards Crutcher (13.3 & 5.8 APG) and Chatwood (12.0 & 4.5 APG) get help in the backcourt from two transfers, Landers (Chattanooga) and Watson (Michigan), who have combined to average 15.3 PPG.

Young lost Va Tech's leading scorer from last year (Alexander-Walker at 16.2) to the NBA and couldn't convince the 6-10 Blackshear (14.9 & 7.45) to stay (he's a graduate transfer at Florida). However, the 6-7 Nolley (20.5 & 4.7) is off to an excellent start and the 6-5 Horne (9.8 & 4.7) plays bigger than his size. Freshman guard Alleyene (12.2) is the only other double digit scorer outside of Nolley but FIVE more guards chip in between 5.3 and 7.7 PPG.

Tech loves to shoot the three-ball and is connecting on 42.9% (7th). However, Dayton should control the paint and is averaging 87.2 PPG (7th) on a nation-best 54.2% shooting. TOUGH spot for Tech off its upset of Michigan St. Dayton wins and advances to the championship game, where No. 4 Kansas will likely be waiting.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Late-Breaker is on Bradley at 8:30 ET.

Northwestern and Bradley square off tonight in the first round of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. After three years of gradual improvement, the 2016-17 season saw Chris Collins lead the Northwestern Wildcats to their best season since before World War II. The Wildcats finished with their first winning Big Ten Conference record in 49 years, earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, and went to win their first NCAA Tournament game (note: Northwestern had been the only member of a power conference to have never made the tournament). However, Northwestern went 15-17 (60-12 Big Ten) the following season and last year fell to 13-19, finishing last in the Big Ten at 4-16, for the first time since the 2006-07 season. .

Brian Wardle took the Bradley head coaching job in 2015-16, after having no success at Green Bay. That first season was a disaster (5-27) but in his fourth season (last year), Wardle led the Braves to the NCAA Tournament by winning The Missouri Valley’s “Arch Madness” Tournament (first MVC title for Bradley since 1988), as the Braves overcame an 18-point deficit to beat Northern Iowa 57-54. The win led to Bradley's first NCAA Tourney appearance since 2006.

Northwestern is a disappointing 2-2 to open this season, losing a pair of home games to Merrimack (71-61) and Radford (67-56), despite being double digit favorites in each one. The Wildcats returned two big men and both the 6-11 Nance (15.3 & 9.0) and the 6-7 Kupp (11.8 & 5.0) have posted good numbers. 6-9 freshman Beran was the team's most highly-touted recruit but he's averaging just 4.8 & 1.8 in 12 minutes. However, fellow freshman Young (6-10), is averaging 11.5 & 7.5. The starting guards are returning players Spencer (7.5-4.5-4.3) and Gaines (6.5).

Bradley's a veteran team, led by returning guards Brown (13.8 & 6.8 APG) at the point and Kennell (13.2). LSU transfer Kingsby (8.2) starts with that in the backcourt, with the 6-7 Childs (12.8 & 9.6) and the 6-11 Bar (10.0 & 10.) starting up front. Kennell was the MVC's 6th-man of the year last season and maybe the 6-6 Henry (10.5 & 4.5) can claim that title this season.

Bradley lost its season-opener to St Joe's but enters on a four-game winning streak and I expect that the Braves will have little trouble making it FIVE straight wins, here.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* MNF Game of the Month is on the LA Rams at 8:15 ET.

All the NFL's top teams won on Sunday, as the 49ers and Pats moved to 10-1, while the Seahawks and Saints (just barely) moved to 9-2. Monday night, the 8-2 Baltimore Ravens will bring their six-game winning streak (NFL's longest current winning streak) to LA in an effort to "Keep up with the Joneses!" Baltimore has DOMINATED in its last four victories, winning 30-16, 37-20, 49-13 and 41-7, as QB Lamar Jackson has catapulted himself into the top-tier of MVP candidates (more later). The Rams welcome the Ravens to the LA Coliseum with a 6-4 record. They are badly in need of a win, as they are 'stuck' in the same division as the 10-1 49ers and 9-2 Seahawks. The Rams won the NFC West in both 2017 and 2018 (on their way to a Super Bowl berth) but they haven't looked like the same team here in 2019.

Jackson has "the whole league talking about" his recent efforts. He ripped apart the NFL's stingiest defense with his arm and legs, accounting for three TDs and directing a dominant running game in a 37-20 victory on SNF over the Pats in Week 9. He's coming off a four-TD performance in Baltimore's 41-7 rout of Houston last Sunday, becoming the first NFL quarterback to produce at least 2,000 yards passing (2,258 with a 19-5 ratio) and 700 yards rushing (781 on 6.7 YPA with six TDs) through the first 10 games of a season. RB Mark Ingram (667 yards on 4.9 YPA and a team-high eight rushing TDs) joins Jackson to give Baltimore the NFL's best rushing attack (203.1 YPG on 5.7 YPA). The Baltimore D is not the vintage defense of the 'Ray Lewis era" but allowing 19.6 PPG works just fine when the offense is averaging an NFL-high 34.1 PPG!

The Rams were the NFC's highest scoring team in 2018, averaging 32.9 PPG (only KC scored more in the AFC). However, the Rams enter Monday night  having failed to score at least 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time under head coach Sean McVay. After following his breakout year of 2017 (28-7 ratio with a 100.5 QB rating), Jared Goff threw 32 TDs and just 12 INTs (101.0 rating) in leading the Rams into the Super Bowl in 2018. However, through 10 games this season, he's got an 11-10 ratio and a QB rating of 82.1. His production is off due to nagging injuries to WRs Woods (86 catches in 2018) and Cooks (89 catches), who have just 45 (in nine games) and 27 (in eight games), this season. It also hasn't helped that RB Gurley (525 yards with 7 TDs and 18 catches for one TD) is FAR from the player he  was in 2018 (1,251 yards on 4.9 YPA and 17 TDs / 59 catches for 4 TDs). The good news is, both Robert Woods (personal) and Brandin Cooks (concussion) are expected back for this contest. LA's defense has improved this season (allowed 24.0 PPG in 2018 but ranks 11th in allowing 19.6 PPG in 2019) and DT Aaron Donald was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after registering two sacks, four QB hits and a pass deflection in the Rams' 17-7 victory over Chicago last Sunday night.

Maybe I'm 'spitting into the wind' here by going against the red-hot Ravens but I will take the home dog Rams. This isn't your father's NFC West (remember 2010 when Seattle won the division with a 7-9 record?). The Rams' only path into the 2019 postseason is via the wild card. I'm not sure the Rams. chances are very good there either but those chances will all but disapear with a loss here. As Winston Churchill once opined, "If not now, when? If not us, who?" That's LA's mentality coming into this contest and Monday night home dogs have always held a special place with long-time handicappers/bettors.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Mil Bucks at 8:05 ET.

The 11-5 Utah Jazz open a five-game road trip with a visit to Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum on Monday night. The Jazz enter off three consecutive victories and SEVEN wins over their last nine games, following a 128-120 triumph over New Orleans on Saturday at home. The 13-3 Bucks own the East's best record (Lakers are an NBA-best 14-2) and their only loss over their last 12 games came on the road at Utah 103-100 back on Nov 8. Milwaukee has since won SEVEN in a row.

The Jazz held off the Pelicans 128-120 on Saturday without center Rudy Gobert in the lineup. Gobert (13.3 & 14.1) was sidelined with an ankle injury he suffered a day earlier against the Warriors. In his absence, Utah turned to a fast starting offense to be the difference maker. The Jazz opened the game on a 14-0 run and scored a season-best 44 points in the first quarter. Donovan Mitchell (25.9-5.7-3.9) scored a season-high 37 points on 12-for-26 shooting (including a season high six 3-pointers) to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Bojan Bogdanovic  (20.7 & 4.2) added 28 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Bogdanovic had a season-high 33 points and hit the game-winning three-pointer in Utah's Nov 8 win over Milwaukee.

Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is off to a historic start, as he was the first player in NBA history to exceed 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists (61) in the first eight games of season, He enters this contest averaging 29.9-13.9-6.4 and is the first player with 16 straight double-doubles to start a season since Moses Malone did so in 1981-82.However, the Bucks are NOT just Giannis and they are proving just that with Khris Middleton (18.5 & 5.7) missing the last six games with a thigh contusion (more details in a bit). PG Bledsoe (17.6-5.3-5.2) is having an excellent year and there is plenty of depth on the perimeter with Hill (9.2-3.2-3.1), Matthews (7.4) and DiVencenzo (8.2). Center Lopez (11.2 & 4.8) remains steady and the Bucks would 'love' to see Gobert miss this one (he's listed as questionable).

Either way, I'm taking the Bucks, who lead the NBA by averaging 119.8 PPG. Middleton a quality player and the Bucks are CLEARLY a better team with him in the lineup but DiVencenzo has started in his absence (has averaged11.0 PPG) and while the Bucks may only be 3-3 ATS (6-0 SU) in the six games Middleton has missed, it should be noted that the team's average margin of victory in those contests is 12.7 points! "Remember Nov 8" is tonight's 'battle cry' from Giannis and Co. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on Loyola-Chicago at 1:30 ET.

Loyola-Chicago, which made that great run to the Final 4 in 2018, will take on USF, last year's CBI champs, in the first round of the Cayman Islands Islands Classic on Monday afternoon. Loyola had to replace three key players from last year's team and enter the contest 3-2, while USF had all five starters back from last year's team but that's NOT the case now, as the Bulls visit the Cayman Islands at 2-2.

Following a 32-win season in which head coach Porter Moser led the Ramblers to the Final 4, last year's team won a more modest 20 games, after losing in the NIT's first round. Gone are Custer and Townes, who won back-to-back POY honors in the MVC, as well as Ingram. However, three starters are back and contributing as expected. 6-9 center Krutwig leads in scoring (16.6) and rebounding (6.8), guard Williamson checks in second on the team in scoring at 14.0 PPG plus the 6-7 Uguak adds 8.4 PPG. Also making an impact are 6-6 swingman Hall (12.4 & 5.6), a JC transfer, and freshman guard Kennedy (11.4 & 3.2).

Here's the 'dope' on USF. Before playing a game this season, the 6-8 Yetna (12.3 & 9.6 LY) was lost for the year with a knee injury and then head coach Brian Gregory announced former four-star forward Mayan Kiir, who hadn't played all year because of personal issues after appearing in every game in 2018-2019, was leaving the program. The Bulls' outstanding guard duo of Collins (14.5 & 4.2) and Rideau (12.5 & 5.2) are leading the way but the team has little size outside of the 7-0 Durr, who is averaging modest totals of 5.2 & 5.5.

Loyola lost at home 76-72 to Coppin St (as a three-'TD' favorite) but enters thsi contest off back-to-back wins over St Joe's and IUPUI. As for USF, the team's two wins have come against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Wofford. The Bulls are really struggling to score, as they enter averaging 63.0 PPG (314th of 351 schools), on 40.7 shooting (285th). When they get to the free-throw line, they are making a woeful 55.7%, which ranks 347th. At this pick'em price, the Ramblers are a strong play.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* SNF Magic Play is on the GB Packers at 8:20 ET.

The 8-2 Green Bay Packers visit the 9-1 San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, with the Packers atop the NFC North and the 49ers leading the NFC West. However, both teams face stiff challenges from division rivals. The Packers look over their shoulder and see the 8-3 Vikings lurking, while the 49ers have the 8-2 Seahawks right on their coattails. This primetime game has major homefield advantage and wild-card positioning at stake. The Packers are coming off a Week 11 bye but are sure to remember their last trip to the West Coast, a 26-11 Week 9 loss at the LA Chargers, as a four-point road favorite. As for the 49ers, they welcome the Packers to Lev's Stadium off three straight games against NFC West rivals, beating Arizona twice, 28-25 and 36-26, sandwiched around a 27-24 loss in OT to the Seahawks (MNF classic).

Aaron Rodgers is completing 64.8% for 2,718 yards (he owns two, 400-yard passing games) with a superb ratio of 17 TD passes against only two INTs. Rodgers no longer enjoys an elite receiving corps but RB Aaron Jones has had a 'breakout year." He is tied for the NFL lead with 14 TDs (11 rushing, three receiving) and has 943 scrimmage yards (589 rushing, 354 receiving). WR Davant Adams (39 catches in six games) is still dealing with a toe injury but he's had a week off and has played in Green Bay's last two games, catching SEVEN balls in each contest. The Green Bay defense ranks 28th in yards allowed (384.7 per) but 14th in points allowed, at a more modest 20.5 PPG. The key being, the  team's plus-9 turnover margin (16 takeaways against just seven giveaways).

San Francisco's lone blemish in 2019 has been that MNF loss to Seattle, a game the 49ers could have easily won. San Francisco's offense has been led by the steady, if unspectacular play of QB Jimmy Garoppolo (68.8% for 2,478 yards with 18 TDs and 10 INTs), plus the NFL's second-ranked rushing attack (149.0 YPG). The good news is that star TE George Kittle (46 receptions, 541 yards) returned to practice Thursday and the 49ers are hopeful he will available after missing the past two games with knee and ankle injuries. The San Francisco offense is not viewed as prolific but it does rank second in scoring at 29.5 PPG. San Francisco's D ranks second to only New England's in points allowed (15.5 PPG) and yards allowed (253.0 YPG). The 49ers lead the NFL with 39 sacks, as DEs Arik Armstead (eight) and Nick Bosa (seven) lead the charge.

Let me "take apart" what I just noted about the 49ers. I've always maintained that Garoppolo's gaudy W-L record as a starting QB (17-3, including 2-0 with the Pats) conceals the fact that he's not much better than an average QB. Note that EIGHT of his 18 TD passes have come in two games against the Cardinals (over a three-game span), who rank 32nd in passing yards allowed in 2019. Now, let's take a closer look at that SF running game over that recent three-game span. The Niners relied heavily on their running game in averaging 181.1 YPG through the first seven contests but with nagging injuries to both Breida and Mostert, that aspect of the offense has gone missing the past three weeks. San Francisco has been held to 74.0 YPG (third-worst in the NFL during that span), averaging 2.9 YPA. Moving on to San Francisco's D, the 49ers suffered a big loss when LB Kwon Alexander went down with a season-ending torn left pectoral muscle in Week 9. He was considered the heart and soul of the defense. San Francisco has allowed 25, 27 and 26 points its last three contests, beginning with the game in which Alexander got hurt in.

This game against the Packers begins a grueling three-game stretch for the Niners. San Francisco follows this with two more against teams currently in first place with trips to Baltimore (8-2) and New Orleans (8-2). If the Ravens and Saints don't lose before facing San Francisco, the 49ers will be the first team in the Super Bowl era to play three consecutive games this late in the season against teams with a winning percentage of at least .800, according to ESPN. The 49ers' season could turn 'sour,' VERY quickly. 'Forgiving' the Packers their Week 9 loss at the Chargers (it was a non-conference road game, which does not factor into tie-breakers in the NFC standings), the Packers have won 10-3 at Chicago, 34-24 at Dallas (led 28-0) and 31-24 at KC. Any points here are a bonus, as I expect the Packers to win, outright!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the NE Patriots at 4:25 ET.

The Patriots were held to 17 points at Philadelphia last Sunday but despite Tom Brady's admitted "frustration" with his team's offense, the Patriots won 17-10 and at 9-1, own the best record in the AFC. The win helped New England's opponent this Sunday, as the Eagles fell to 5-5, meaning that the Cowboys' 35-27 win at Detroit allowed 6-4 Dallqa to assume sole possession of first place in the NFC East.As Brady put it, "I came out of the womb as a Niner fan, so I've really not liked the Cowboys ever since." It's been more than 20 years since "the triplets" of Aikman, Irvin and Smith helped propel the Cowboys to their most recent Super Bowl win and since he entered the league in 2000, Brady has taken out his childhood frustrations on them, winning each of his four meetings against them as the Patriots' starting QB.

Dallas ranks first in the league averaging 446.0 YPG and is averaging 28.6 PPG (4th). QB Dak Prescott has been terrific, completing 67.7% for 3,221 yards (Dallas is No. 1 in passing yards) with 21 TDs and nine INTs, while adding three rushing TDs. WR Amari Cooper (56 catches / 15.8 YPC / 7 TDs) has been very good plus fellow WRs Gallup (42 / 16.1 YPC) and Cobb (35 catches / 14.1 YPC), not to mention ageless TE Whitten (41 catches), provide Prescott with plenty of options. RB Elliott has 833 yards (4.3 YPA and 7 TDs). Defensively, Dallas ranks 7th in both points allowed (19.7 per) and total D (322.1 YPG).

Brady is having a sub-par season by his standards (63.7% with 14 TDs and 5 INTs for a 90.1 QB rating) and a mediocre receiving corps plus a poor running game (Pats average just 91.0 YPG to rank 24th), sure don't make his job easier. Leading rusher Michel has a modest 515 yards and is averaging only 3.3 YPA. However, somehow, the Pats rank third in the NFL by averaging 28.7 PPG. Leading the way all season has been New England's defense, which ranks 1st in points allowed (10.8 PPG) and 1st in total D (249.9 YPG). The Patriots have given up only NINE total TDs on defense in 2019, FOUR of which came in their 37-20 loss at Baltimore in Week 9. New England has yet to allow a red-zone TD at home this season and own an NFL-best 28 takeaways (its 37 sacks rank third).

Here's the key. Just how good are the Cowboys? The team's six wins have come over the Giants (two), Redskins, Dolphins, Eagles and Lions. NONE of those teams currently own a winning record. The Eagles are 5-5 but the Lions are 3-6-1, the Giants and Dolphins are both 2-8 plus the Redskins are 1-9. Are you kidding me? The four losses have come against the 8-2 Packers and Saints, the 7-3 Vikings and even the 3-7 Jets. New England has won 17 in a row at home and a victory Sunday would give them 17 straight 10-win seasons, breaking an NFL record shared with San Francisco. More notably, the Pats enter this game on a 16-4 ATS run at Gillette Stadium (that's 80%!).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (Southwest) is on the Hou Rockets at 3:35 ET.

he Houston Rockets owned an eight-game winning streak before losing at Denver to the Nuggets (Wed) and in LA against the Clippers (Fri). 11-5 Houston 'limps' home to host the 10-5 Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon, who come to Houston on a four-game winnings streak. The Mavs scored 142 points in routing the Warriors on Wednesday and then followed by scoring 143 in a romp over the Cavs on Friday. Dallas' scoring binge leaves them tied with Houston (each are averaging 117.9 PPG) as the top scoring team in the West (the Bucks lead the NBA with 119.8 PPG).

Is it possible that Dallas PG Luka Doncic could be "the best player on the floor" when the teams face off in the Toyota center? He's led his team to 40-plus routs in each of the last two games and leads Dallas in scoring (29.9 PPG), rebounding (10.4), assists (9.7) and steals (1.3). He's accounted for SEVEN triple-doubles and counting. Kristaps Porzingis' return from knee surgery has provided the Mavericks the boost they needed to compete in the Western Conference. Porzingis is averaging 18.1 & 8.9 through 14 games plus has offered the defensive impact that bolstered his two-way reputation. While the Mavs match Houston in putting points on the board, only Hardaway (11.2) is in double digits outside of Doncic and Porzingis (note: I'm not counting Barea, who is averaging 11.5 PPG but has played in just two games).

Harden leads the NBA in scoring at an average of 38.3 PPG plus adds 5.9 RPG and 7.8 APG. Westbrook is averaging 21.9-7.7-6.9 but is shooting only 41.5% from the floor, including 22.0% on threes. Center Clint Capela is headed towards a career-season, averaging 14.1 & 14.1. He had pulled down 20 or more rebounds in FIVE straight games, before falling short Friday in LA, grabbing "only" 19. The Rockets will play their next three and FIVE of their next seven at home, where they own a 6-1 record.

As for Dallas, after completing a 4-0 homestand, the Mavs face their toughest stretch of the young season, beginning with this game in Houston. Up next, they will welcome the Clippers to Dallas on Tuesday, then head out on a three-game road trip. They will visit Phoenix first (Suns are no longer a 'pushover' at 8-7) and then play at Staples against the Lakers (at 14-2, the Lakers currently own the NBA's best record). The Mavericks haven't played a stretch this difficult yet and as the saying goes, "We will see, what we will see."  I expect that Houston will not only want to get back "on track" after its 'lost' two-game foray to Denver and LA, but I expect Harden and Westbrook (Harden, in particular), to show "the new kid" (that's Doncic), just 'Who's the Boss!" Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Buf Bills at 1:00 ET.

It would hardly be a stretch to say that the 7-3 Buffalo Bills have been among the biggest surprises among AFC teams, while the 3-7 Denver Broncos have shown NO improvement from the 5-11 (2017) and 6-10 (2018) seasons that got Van Joseph fired. The Bills are in prime position to make a real run at an AFC wild card spot but they are facing a tough schedule down the stretch (more later). As for Denver, apologists say the 3-7 Broncos could be 7-3 with luck, as four of the team’s losses have been by a combined 10 points. However, as Bill Parcells once famously said, "You are who you record says you are!"

The Broncos looked to be on the verge of a second straight victory last week but then squandering a 20-point lead in a 27-23 loss at Minnesota. WR Courtland Sutton had five catches for 113 yards and added a 38-yard completion.Sutton is working with backup quarterback Brandon Allen (now Denver's starter), who is completing just 49.2 percent of his passes with three TDs and one interception in two starts.The now injured Flacco was a a bust and while RBs Lindsay (651 yards / 4.9 YPA / 6 TDs) and Freeman (405 yards / 4.0 YPA) are both quality backs, Denver ranks just 16th with 113.1 YPG on the ground. Through 10 games, Denver has averaged only 17.2 PPG (27th) on 321.6 YPG (25th). First-year head coach Vic Fangio  was known as a terrific DC and his defenses have consistently been among the most productive in the NFL in a number of categories, including scoring defense, total yards allowed and fewest penalties. The Broncos' D is allowing 19.7 PPG (8th) on 310.8 YPG (4th).

Josh Allen is the just the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 20 passing TDs (23) and 12 rushing TDs (15) in his first two seasons (still has six games remaining in 2019). Allen is completing 60.3% for 2,175 yards with 13 TDs and seven INTs, while rushing for 331 yards and seven TDs. He was named the AFC's offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 256 yards and three TDs, as well as adding 56 yards and a rushing TD in last week's 37-20 drubbing of the Miami Dolphins. Buffalo's running game is averaging 128.7 YPG (8th) but Buffalo is only scoring 21.1 PPG (20th). However, its defense ranks 3rd in both points allowed (17.0 per) and total D (304.1 YPG).

The criticism of Buffalo is that its seven wins have come against teams entering Week 12 with a combined record of 15-55. The next five opponents are 31-19, and include three division leaders; Dallas (6-4), Baltimore (8-2) and New England (9-1). Fair enough but don't the 3-7 Broncos fall right into Buffalo's 'wheelhouse' of losing teams? Inept quarterbacking gets most of the attention but there are reports of internal strife caused by gruff first-year head coach Vic Fangio. Team Chemistry can’t be too good, after the Broncos ended a consecutive game streak of 99 contests in which a team ahead by at least 20 points at the half, didn't win! VERY fair price on the Bills in this one. Denver is 1-4 SU on the road in 2019 (lone win at the Chargers, who have NO home field edge), extending the team's road woes to 5-16 SU the last two-plus seasons.

Good luck...Larry

Portland won 53 games last season and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. At 5-11 to open the current season, Portland is at least in the running for this season's "Most Disappointing Team." It sure hasn't helped that center Jusef Nurkic is not expected back until mid-Feb or that promising power forward Zach Collins' shoulder will keep him sidelined until March. The team's best player, Lillard (28.6-4.9-7.1), has missed the last two games with a back issue (is listed as probable here) plus center Hassan Whiteside (14.9 & 12.0) has fought nagging injuries all season and is listed as questionable for this one. The Blazers opened this six-game road trip with a win at San Antonio (everyone is beating the Spurs these days!) but then have lost at Houston, New Orleans and Milwaukee, while allowing an average of 128 points! The Blazers wrap up the trip with this game in Cleveland and then a Monday game at Chicago.

The 4-11 Cavs are in a three-way tie with the Knicks and Hawks for the East's worst record and only the sad-sack 3-14 Warriors own a worse record in the entire NBA. Cleveland welcomes Portland to town on a SIX-game losing streak, after getting routed 143-101 at Dallas on Friday. Porzingis sat for Dallas but the magnificent Doncic had 30 points and 14 assists (missed a triple-double with seven rebounds), as the Cavs allowed Dallas to shoot 58% from the floor, including a blistering 20 of 37 on threes. That's some defense?

It will sure help if Lillard returns to join McCollum, who is averaging 22,3-4.6-3.9. Hood has started all 14 games he has played in for the Blazers, averaging 11.4 PPG. A sign Portland may be desperate is that the team signed 'Melo, who did not play all last season. He's averaged 14.0 & 5.0 in two games but when has this guy ever been a "good influence" on a team? PF Kevin Love (17.9 & 11.8) and center Thompson (14.1 & 9.9) are solid players  for the Cavs plus second-year guard Sexton (17.7) is proving he belongs in the NBA. Clarkson chips in 13.5 PPG off the bench.

Neither team has shown much interest in playing much defense these days (see above). The Cavs are going nowhere this season, as Cleveland's supposed best player (leader?) is Love. The last time I checked, he was averaging ONE offensive rebound per game. The Cavs' six-game slide is no fluke, as there will be plenty of losing the rest of the way for this team. Meanwhile, the Blazers WILL get things straightened out. Even without a healthy roster, the Blazers will "take care of" the Cavs, who are playing on back-to-back nights for just the second time this season. The first time saw them lose 123-105 at the pathetic Knicks. The Blazers beat the Cavs 129-112 in Portland last season and 123-110 in Cleveland. That ounds about right to me, here?

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Cal at 4:00 ET.

California opened the 2019 season 4-0 and was ranked 15th in the AP poll when it lost a Friday night home game on Sep 27 to Arizoan St, 24-17. That defeat began a four-game slide and Cal will enter Saturday gamer with Stanford just 5-5 (2-5 Pac-12), one win shy of becoming bowl-eligible. Stanford comes in 4-6 (3-5 Pac-12), having lost as back-to-back games to Colorado and Washington State.The two rivals meet Saturday in Palo Alto for the 122nd edition of the "Big Game." Stanford leads the series 64-46-11 but more importantly, has won the last NINE games in this series. The "Big Game" is the oldest college football rivalry in the West.

Cal's D was superb early on in its 4-0 start, allowing just 17.3 PPG. Even after losing FIVE of six, the Bears enters this contest allowing a modest 22.7 PPG (37th) on 387.5 YPG (61st). The problem has been an offense averaging only 18.9 PPG (117th) on 304.2 YPG (122nd). QB Chase Garbers returned last week after missing the previous four games with a right shoulder injury but was 4-for-10 for 33 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury. If Garbers is unavailable Saturday, the Bears will turn to junior Devon Modster, who has thrown five touchdowns and five interceptions while appearing in six games this season. Speaking of QBs, Stanford will be without the injured K.J. Costello again this Saturday. Davis Mills started in place of Costello last week and completed 33-of-50 passes for 504 yards with three TDs and a pair of interceptions, but the Cardinal lost 49-22 at Washington St. The Cardinal defense allowed 624 total yards to the Cougars and is allowing 28.9 PPG (76th) on 429.1 YPG (94th). 

David Shaw took over as Stanford's head coach when John Harbaugh left for the NFL (49ers). Shaw's first season was in 2011 and he's led the Cardinal to EIGHT straight bowls, winning 10-plus games in FIVE of those seasons, while also ending the year ranked in the final AP poll SIX times. That's quite a record but it's all come "crashing down" in 2019. The injury-depleted Cardinal have started a total of 37 different players this season and the team's semi-depleted secondary is allowing 281.4 YPG (119th). I'm calling for Cal to end a frustrating NINE-game-losing skid in the "Big Game!” 

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on UCLA at 3:30 ET.

USC earned back-to-back road wins at Arizona State and Cal and moved into the College Football Playoff rankings for the the first time this season at No. 23. The Trojans are 7-4 overall and at 6-2 in the Pac-12 South, they are just a half-game back of Utah, which has two games left. USC only has this game with UCLA remaining, so a win would leave USC at 7-2 in conference play. That means Utah would need to win its last two games (Utes will be huge a favorite in both), because USC's 30-23 over Utah gives the Trojans the tie-breaker.All that said, Clay Helton's future as USC head coach is anything but settled (rumors of a possible Urban Meyer or James Franklin hiring are swirling).

UCLA visits the LA Coliseum 4-6 (4-3 Pac-12) and would need to win here and at home to Cal next weekend just to become bowl-eligible. UCLA was on a 4-2 SU (4-1-1 ATS) run after an 0-3 SU & ATS start to 2019 but last Saturday in Salt Lake City, got steamrolled 49-3 loss by Utah. After a 3-9 (3-6 Pac-12) record in his first season at Westwood, Chip Kelly would be hailed as a hero with closing wins over crosstown rival USC and a home win over Cal.

The Bruins have won FOUR of the last seven meetings with the Trojans, including a 34-27 victory last season at the Rose Bowl when Joshua Kelley ran for a series-record 289 yards. Kelley currently ranks second in the Pac-12 in rushing behind Utah's Zach Moss, who holds an average-per-game lead of 106.1 to 104.3. Kelley has 939 rushing yards (4.8 YPA / 9 TDs) and is trying to become the first Bruin since Paul Perkins in 2014 to lead the Pac-12 in rushing. Sophomore QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson has had an erratic season but it's hard NOT to remember him passing for five TDs and running for two in UCLA's amazing 67-63 comeback win at Wash St back on Sep 21. UCLA's defense is a mess, allowing 33.7 PPG (111th) on 442.0 YPG (105th).

Freshman Kedon Slovis began the season as USC's third-string QB but due to injuries, he's played most of the season and has put up impressive numbers. He turned in his third 400-yard passing game of the season in last week's 41-17 win at Cal, completing 29-of-35 passes for 406 yards, four TDs and no interceptions against a Bears defense that had allowed just nine passing scores all season. He's completing 70.8% with 24 TDs and just nine INTs. on the season. He has three "big-time" WRs, who have all caught 60-plus passes for a combined 20 TD receptions. The best of the group is Michael Pittman Jr, who has 82 catches and nine TDs. However, for a school once called "Running Back U," USC is averaging 126.1 YPG rushing (111th), on 4.1 YPA. The USC defense is at best average, allowing 27.1 PPG (64th) on 403.9 YPG (70th).

Embattled head coach Clay Helton has plenty of motivation here but rumors seem to point to the fact that he's "OUT" at the the end of the season, no matter what. I expect expect UCLA to "play hard" against this hateful crosstown rival and noting that Clay Helton is only 5-10 ATS his last 15 as a home favorite, has me taking about two TDs!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Texas at 3:30 ET.

Matt Rhule left Temple to take over a troubled Baylor program (scandal) in December of 2016 and the Bears finished the 2017 season with a 1–11 record, as Baylor failed to qualify for a bowl for the first time since 2009. Baylor finished the 2018 regular season 6-6 and received an invite to the 2018 Texas Bowl, where the Bears won 45-38 over Vanderbilt to finish the season with a 7-6 record. The 2019 Bears survived four "close calls' to open 9-0 and appeared well on their way to win No. 10 and sole possession of first place in the Big 12 but somehow blew a 25-point lead in a stunning 34-31 loss to Oklahoma last Saturday. Baylor must regroup and resume its pursuit for a Big 12 title and a spot in the conference title game. The Bears need one win in their final two games to play for the league championship and they can clinch that spot by beating visiting Texas on Saturday afternoon.

Texas opened 10th in the AP's preseason poll but lost its second game 45-38 to then-No. 6 LSU. The Longhorns won three straight after that but then lost their annual game with then-No. 6 Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, 34-27. A two-point win over Kansas was followed by a 37-27 loss at TCU. However, Texas eked out a 27-24 home win on Nov 9 against then-No. 16 Kansas St, getting Texas back in the polls (19th in the CFP rankings). However, Texas lost another "close one" last Saturday at Iowa St, losing 23-21 on a last-second FG. The Longhorns are now 6-4 (4-3 in the Big 12) and only hold a faint chance of reaching the league title game.

QB Sam Ehlinger rallied the Longhorns with a pair of TD passes in the fourth quarter last week and broke the school single-season record held by Colt McCoy with his sixth game with at least three TD passes. Ehlinger has 27 TDs and just eight INTs on the season, with WR Devin Duvernay hauling in eight TDs (87 catches). The problem for Texas against Iowa St was that the team ran for just 54 yards (Texas is averaging a modest 161.9 YPG which ranks 68th). Defensively, Texas has struggled all season, allowing 29.9 PPG (84th) on 449.4 YPG (110th).

Baylor QB Charlie Brewer ran for two TDs and threw for two, as the Bears opened up a 31-10 halftime lead over Oklahoma, but Baylor did not score in the second half, and ran only 15 plays on its last four possessions. Brewer has completed 66.8% for 2,532 yards with 18 TDs and just five INTs on the season. RBs Lovett and Hasty each have just over 500 yards, as Baylor averages 180.7 YPG on the ground (45th). WR Mims is Baylor's most dangerous pass-catcher with 50 catches on 15.3 YPC for 10TDs. Baylor is averaging 34.9 PPG (26th) and allowing 20.5 PPG (24th)

Baylor is the better team but I'm not buying Matt Rhule saying, "Our team learned a lot from that game," after the game. "They learned, No. 1, what we can be - for the first half we looked like not just a top-10, but a top-five team in the country. Then, secondly, the second half showed us what we still have to do." Texas has won FOUR straight against Baylor and eight of 11 at Baylor since the schools joined the Big 12. Throw in that Tom Herman is now 15-4 ATS as an underdog with Houston and Texas and I'm taking the points!

Good luck...Larry

My NCAAF 10* "signature" 36-Club play is on Navy at 3:30 ET.

My 10* Rivalry Rout is on St John's at 2:30 ET.

Bobby Hurley is a member of a famous basketball family of coaches and he enters his fifth season as Arizona State's head coach. He's led ASU to back-to-back NCAA tourneys the last two seasons and that's "big news" in Tempe, as the last time the Sun Devils made consecutive "Big Dance" appearances was in 1980 and 1981. ASU opened the current season with a game in China against Colorado and got beat, 81-71. However, the Buffs return all five starters from last year and have opened 3-0 (are currently ranked 23rd in the latest AP poll). The Sun Devils have since routed Central Connecticut State 90-49 and after falling behind early by eight points, pulled away to beat Rider 92-55 (both games were in Tempe).

St John's comes in 4-1 and its lone loss came at the buzzer against Vermont. Let's note that the 4-1 Catamounts are no slouches, as their lone loss has come to defending champion Virginia, 61-55. Scoring 55 points vs the Cavs is noteworthy, as UVa's first three 'victims' averaged just 36.7 PPG. Chris Mullin resigned after last season, ending a disappointing four-year run at his alma mater.The Red Storm posted losing records in his first three seasons but last year's team went 21-13 and did make an NCAA appearance (no small deal, as it was just this once-proud basketball program's THIRD Big Dance appearance in 17 years!). Taking over is Mikle Anderson, who came to renown at UAB and Missouri, before returning to Arkansas . His eight-year run with the  Razorbacks didn't go as planned, as the school made just three NCAA appearances. At the end of last year (18-16, including 8-10 in the SEC), he was fired, marking the end of a 25-year association with Arkansas as both an assistant and head basketball coach.

ASU's best player from last year (Dort) left after averaging 16.1 PPG and 4.3 RPG as a freshman. Another big loss was senior center Cheatham, who averaged a double-double (12.1 & 10.3). However, veteran guards Martin (19.0-4.7-4.7) and Edwards (16.0) are back and are leading the way.The 6-8 White (6.5 & 9.0) is the third returning starter and he's solid. JC transfer Verge (8.3-4.7-3.7) is starting in the backcourt with Martin and Edwards plus 6-9 freshman Graham has come off the bench to average 6.7 & 3.7.

St John's is missing do-everything PG Ponds (19.7-4.1-5.1) plus two key frontcourt performers from last year, Clark (10.5 & 5.4) and Simon (10.4 & 5.1). However, Anderson really likes the perimeter group he has this season. The 6-5 Heron (17.8) and the 6-6 Figueroa (16.6 & 6.0) are back plus they are joined by two talented newcomers. The 6-2 Dunn has averaged 13.5 PPG in two games, after being given the OK to play (was a transfer from Cleveland St), plus 6-7 freshman Champagnie (10.4 & 7.6) is already living up to high expectations. Returning forwards Earlington (9.2 & 5,.4) and Roberts (7.4 & 9.0) have both been solid.

OK, I know November tournaments have been really good to Arizona State in the past two years, Hurley's team won the 2017 Continental Tire Invitational with victories over Kansas State and Xavier (both wound up as Sweet 16 teams) and then took the MGM Resorts Main Event last year with wins over No. 15 Mississippi State and eventual Mountain West champ Utah State. However, I'm playing the 'revenge angle" just like last night, when I won with Oregon over Houston. Arizona St beat St John's 74-65 last year at Dayton in an NCAA Tournament First Four game. Expect a reversal of that result, here.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Eye Opener is on Tulane at 12:00 ET.

UCF totaled just one loss in 2017 and 2018 (none in AAC play) but the 2019 season has not unfolded the way the Knights had hoped. First came last-second l35-34 loss at Pitt on Sep 21, which ended UCF's 27-game regular season winning streak, followed by a 27-24 loss at Cincinnati on Oct 4, which ended the school's 19-game AAC winning streak. UCF fell for a THIRD time in 2019 when it went scoreless in the fourth quarter and gave up the lead in a 34-31 setback at Tulsa last week (note" Tulsa entered the game 2-7 on the season). The Knights will try to bounce back from that loss when they visit Tulane on Saturday. The Green Wave let a promising start to the 2019 season (Tulane opened 5-1) and a chance at a spot in the AAC championship slip away with losses in THREE of their last four games, after losing 29-21 at Temple last Saturday.

Freshman QB Gabriel is completing 60.6% for 2,806 yards for UCF, throwing 24 TDs against just seven INTs. WRs Davis (59 catches / 18.0 YPC / 10 TDs) and Nixon (41 catches / 17.2 YPC / 7 TDs) have each had excellent seasons. Four RBs have gained between 401 and 609 rushing yards for the Knights, as UCF averages 220.2 YPG (19th) on 5.1 YPA. UCF's defense has allowed a modest 23.6 PPG (41st) on 348.6 YPG (34th) but I'll look a little closer, in a bit.

Willie Fritz took over at Tulane in 2016 and in his third season (2018), led the Green Wave to a 7-6 season after their 41-24 win over ULL in the Cure Bowl. It marked just the school's SECOND winning season in the previous 16 seasons! As noted, after a 5-1 start, a second straight winning season looked like a sure thing. However, Tulane is 6-4 entering this contest and after hosting UCF (Tulane is a home dog), the Green Wave will have to visit SMU (Mustangs are currently 9-1 and sit 21st in the AP poll and 25th in the CFP rankings). QB Justin McMillan is a true dual-threat, passing for 1,806 yards (13 TDs) and rushing for 552 yards (12 TDs). However,he was awful in last Saturday's loss at Temple, completing just 11-of-27 passes for 103 yards. McMillan is Tulane's leading rusher but five RBs have gained between 221 and 459 yards, allowing Tulane to rush for 255.4 YPG (11th) on 5.6 YPA. Tulane is averaging 34.9 PPG (27th) and allowing 25.8 PPG (55th)

Getting back to UCF, the Knights are averaging 44.8 PPG (7th) but the defense has struggled badly in each of its losses. UCF has allowed an average of 32.0 PPG in those losses. Tulane already has six wins (bowl eligible) but still needs one more 'W" to insure a winning regular season. Tulane sure won't want to have to win at SMU on Nov 30, so that makes this game a little more important. Yes, UCF is having a 'down year' at 7-3 but a win over the Knights would mean a great deal to the Green Wave program. What's more, Tulane is a perfect 5-0 SU & ATS at home in 2019 (outscoring opponents on average, 45.0-to-16.8 PPG), and a victory on Saturday would give Tulane an undefeated season at home for the first time since 1998! I want the points with his very 'live' home 'dog!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on USC at 11:00 ET.

Andy Enfield came to USC with unlimited fanfare. He led Florida Gold Coast to 26 wins and a Sweet 16 appearance back in the 2012-13 season and used that as a springboard to come to LA. He also brought along stock in a company he helped manage to more than $100 million in net worth plus a beautiful former model of a wife (the perfect fit for California). However, he's had three winning and three losing seasons at USC. Last year's team was just 16-17 and the Pac 12 has FOUR teams currently ranked in the AP top-25 (Oregon, Arizona, Colorado and Washington). However, USC has won its first five games by at least seven or more points, for the first time since 1963, USC has won its first five games by at least seven or more points. The 5-0 Trojans will try to keep that streak alive on Friday night when they host unbeaten Temple (3-0). The Owls return three starters and 10 lettermen from a 23-10 team that lost to Belmont in the First Four in the NCAA Tournament. However, longtime head coach Fran Dunphy (who led Penn and Temple to a combined 17 NCAA appearances), finally retired. Yes, Temple has a first-year head coach in Aaron McKie, but he's hardly "new." McKie played three years at Temple (he was the 1993 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year as a junior) and then after a 15-year NBA career, returned to Temple as Dunphy's assistant from 2014-19. Temple was picked to finish seventh in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll but comes in off a 70-65 Big-5 win over La Salle on Saturday plus also has won home games over Drexel (70-62) and Morgan State (75-57). Junior guard Nate Pierre-Louis posted his third straight double-double vs LaSalle and is averaging 18.1-11.0-4.3. Senior guard Quinton Rose (16.0) and fellow guard Alanui Moore (10.3) join Pierre-Louis in double figures.The frontcourt consists of the 6-7 Perry (7.7), the 6-7 Moorman (5.0 & 6.3) and the 6-11 Damion Moore (4.0 & 5.5). USC is coming in off a 91-84 home victory over Pepperdine on Tuesday that saw 6-9 freshman forward Onyeka Okongwu score a career-high 33 points, the most by a Trojan freshman since O.J. Mayo scored 37 in a 2008 game against Arizona State. Okongwu (18.2 & 9.4) helped lead Chino Hills High School to three state titles and is already a star in LA.  However, Okongwu is just part of an impressive Trojan front line that also includes 6-11 senior Nick Rakocevic (16.4 & 9.8), who was a preseason first team All-Pac-12 pick, as well as 6-10 freshman Isaiah Mobley (9.4 & 5.0), a McDonald's All-American who had 14 points in 18 minutes off the bench against the Waves. Senior guard Mathews (11.8) is a steadying influence and along with Rakocevic, became the 41st and 42nd players in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark earlier this season. Temple flies a long way for this contest and does not own the quickness nor the SIZE to match the Trojans. Temple already has FOUR players averaging 30-plus minutes and comes in shooting a putrid 39.2% (307th) on the young season. USC is averaging 80.8 PPG and the Trojans are 33-4 SU in their last 37 home non-conference games. Make that 34-4, with tonight's win coming "with room to spare!" Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the LA Clippers at 10:35 ET.

The 11-4 Houston Rockets will visit Staples Center tonight to take on the 10-5 LA Clippers. The two teams met back in Houston on Oct 13, with the Rockets winning 102-93, as James Harden poured in 47 points. However, unlike in that meeting in Houston, when the Clippers take the court tonight against the Rockets, BOTH Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be in the starting lineup. LA's "dynamic duo" were part of a victory in their first time together on the court Wednesday night, as the Clippers survived OT to beat the Celtics 107-104. As for the Rockets, they had an eight-game winning streak snapped in Wednesday's 105-95 loss in Denver. It was Houston's lowest scoring output of the season plus James Harden scored "just" 27 points, snapping a streak of at least 36 in EIGHT straight games.

Harden only took 16 shots against Denver (in comparison, he hoisted 41 against Minnesota on Saturday), as Houston was just 12-of-38 from three-point range. That said, Harden gave Denver's defense little (no?) credit for Houston's shooting woes. "They just double-teamed every possession," Harden told reporters. "They got lucky. They got away with one. We didn't execute how we needed to." OK, if you say so James. Harden continues to post remarkable numbers (38.4-5.8-7.5) and I guess he and Westbrook (21.8-7.9-6.9) have found a way to work together, However, I'm just not sold (I had Denver on Wednesday). I noted in my Wednesday write up that center Clint Capela (13.9 & 13.7) "is one of the NBA's least appreciated big men," and he scored 12 points while pulling down 21 rebounds in the loss at Denver. Note: He's recorded 20 or more rebounds in five straight games, the best such streak since Ben Wallace of the Pistons also had five straight in March of 2003. However, I also noted on Wednesday that the Rockets are without Eric Gordon (a 16.6 PPG scorer in his career) and that the team's depth is VERY questionable.

Leonard (25.8-8.6-5.7) scored 17 points but was just 7-of-20 shooting, while George (28.3-6.3-4.8 in four games) recorded 25 points and eight assists in the successful first pairing in terms of the victory column. "The fact of the matter is we are going to have growing pains, and I think the most positive thing is we understood that," George told reporters afterward. "Nobody was pointing fingers or dropping their heads in huddles. ... At no point was this team ever dysfunctional." While Leonard and George were drawing double teams, Lou Williams (22.5 & 5.7 APG) scored 27 points and Patrick Beverley (7.7-6.9-3.0) had a superb all-around game with a career-best 16 rebounds to go along with 14 points and seven assists. Leonard and George each played 37 minutes against Boston and their fitness could be tested by the fast-paced Rockets as they learn to play with one another. "It's pretty much just finding each other's spots and knowing the plays," Leonard said of potential improvement. "It's still tough. We are both kind of on a minute restriction - hard to get into a flow. But just knowing plays and each other's spots and the language on the defensive end. Repetition is what we need right now."

I've NEVER been a fan of Harden or Westbrook and I expect the Clippers to "take care of business" tonight, avenging that Nov 13 loss (sans George). While Houston's depth can be rightly questioned (note: Danuel House, averaging 11.2 PPG, departed the Denver game and is unlikely to play Friday), the Clippers own an OUTSTANDING bench led by Williams (see above), Harrell (18.1 & 7.3) plus Green (8.1 & 7.0in 22 minutes). Green flies a little under the radar, as he's played in all 15 games, scoring in double digits seven times and grabbing 10-plus rebounds three times. It's Kawhi and Paul over James & Russell, with an assist from the LA bench.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Den Nuggets at 9:05 ET.

The Celtics were favorites to win the East a year ago but struggled to find the right chemistry in a 49-win campaign. Boston swept the Pacers in the first round but after shocking the Bucks in Game 1 of a second-round series in Milwaukee, lost FOUR straight by an average of 16.3 PPG. Kyrie Irving left for Brooklyn and Al Horford for Philly but Kemba Walker was a HUGE pick up (he sought a winning environment after eight seasons mostly under .500 with Charlotte) and joined an excellent trio of frontcourt players. The Nuggets were a 'sexy' pick to go deep in the playoffs in the 2019-20 season, after winning a seven-game series over the Spurs and then losing one vs the Blazers, led by center Nikola Jokic's incredible playoff numbers (25.1-13.0-8.4).

The 11-3 Celtics dropped a 107-104 overtime decision in LA to the Clippers on Wednesday for their second loss in three games, following a 10-game winning streak. "We believe, truly, that we can compete with anybody in this league," PG Marcus Smart said afterward. "But it's going to take every possession. We can't take it for granted. We got to take every possession like it's our last possession and we got to really protect the ball." Also on Wednesday, the 10-3 Nuggets figured out how to slow down James Harden by holding him to 27 points, after he had scored at least 36 in each of the previous eight games. Jokic delivered 27 points and 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.

Boston PG Kemba Walker (22.6-4.9-4.8) has been terrific but he had just 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting against the Clippers. In contrast, standout forward Jayson Tatum (20.9 & 7.4) scored a season-best 30 points in the game. However, the Celtics missed their first 16 three-point attempts, finishing 12-of-45 (26.7%). Brown (18.5 & 7.5) is also having an excellent season, although the loss of Hayward (18.9-7.1-4.1 on 55.5% shooting) will take its toll until he returns (late Dec?).

Denver PG Jamal Murray (18.5-4.5-5.2) established season bests of 39 points and seven 3-pointers Sunday at Memphis but then scored just 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting in Wednesday's win over Houston. He has battled consistency issues all season but remains a big part of this team. Jokic checks in averaging 17.2-9.0-5.8 plus the rest of the starting-five are also averaging in double digits. Swingman Barton (14.8 &7.4), PF Millsap (13.8 & 6.1) and SG Harris (10.6) round out the group. Denver's bench may not be quite as 'deep' as last season but PFs Grant (9.2 & 3.4) and Plumlee (6.2 & 5.0) plus PG Morris (6.8 & 3.6 APG) contribute, nightly.

This is a tough spot for Boston, playing the final contest of a five-game, eight-day road trip at altitude. Denver ranks third in the NBA in scoring defense (102.3 PPG) and fifth in defending three-pointers (32 percent). "When we're locked in defensively, we're a really good team," Nuggets guard Gary Harris said after the win over Houston and the Nuggets are 7-0 when holding teams under 100 points. The Nuggets won both of last season's meetings with Boston and the fact that Murray scored a career-best 48 points in the meeting here at Pepsi Center should help his "inconsistency." The Nuggets were an NBA-best 34-7 at home last season and I expect an 'easy' Denver victory in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Revenge Rout is on Oregon at 9:00 ET.

Oregon opened the season No. 15 in the AP's preseason poll and the Ducks are up to No. 11 after a 4-0 start. Visiting Eugene tonight will be a 2-1 Houston team which is coming off a 33-win season that saw the Cougars advance to the Sweet 16. Although Kelvin Sampson's squad lost FOUR starters from that team, his Cougars were still picked to win the American Athletic Conference. The 11th-ranked Ducks are averaging 81.5 PPG (61st) and have already posted quality wins over Fresno State, Boise State and Memphis. Meanwhile, the Cougars opened with an 84-56 home win against over-matched Alabama St but then lost at home 72-71 at the buzzer against BYU on Nov 15. The Cougars enter this game off a come-from-behind 97-89 win over crosstown rival Rice on Tuesday.

Sophomore guard Quentin Grimes (started every game for Kansas last season) was given a waiver to be able to play this season for Houston and is averaging 18.3-5.3-3.3. He scored a career-high 32 points and added nine rebounds with five assists in the win over Rice, while sophomore guard Nate Hinton added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the second double-double of his career. The 6-5 Hinton averages 7.7 PPG and  a team-high 8.7 RPG. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has also been encouraged by the play of freshmen guards Caleb Mills (12.0 & 4.0) and Marcus Sasser (9.7), who scored a combined 27 points against the Owls. Jarreau (12.0) is a fourth guard, while the team's lone returning starter from last year is the 6-8 White (10.7 & 7.7).

Oregon's Dana Altman has some notable freshman as well but he's easing them in, as he is able to rely heavily on a handful of experienced players. Senior PG Payton Pritchard (the last holdover from the 2017 Final Four team) is on pace for a "career season," averaging 20.3-6.3-5.8. He teams with fellow New Mexico graduate transfer Mathis (14.3) plus JC transfer Duarte (9.3 & 5.3) in the backcourt. Up front, 6-7 UNLV transfer Juiston (10.8-5.5) and 6-9 sophomore Okoro (6.7 & 8.3) are joined by two freshman, the 6-7 Patterson (8.3) and the 6-8 Lawson (5.0 & 4.8).

Dana Altman has led Kansas St, Creighton and Oregon to multiple NCAA tourneys and his team will be out for a little 'revenge,' after an un-ranked Houston team (at the time) beat the then-No. 18 ranked Ducks 65-61. That contes marked Houston's first-ever game in its new home ($60 million Fertitta Center). Oregon fell behind by 20 points in the first half, before cutting the lead to two with 10 seconds left. Don't expect Oregon fall behind in this one (at home), rather look for the Cougars to serve up a little "payback" in a convincing win. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Battle 4 First (AFC South) is on the Hou Texans at 8:20 ET.

Many (most?) assumed that the sudden and unexpected retirement of Andrew Luck meant that Indianapolis would have little chance of repeating the team's unexpected 10-6 record from 2018, which ended a three-year playoff drought by the Colts. However, while Jacoby Brissett is no Andrew Luck, he's led the Colts to a 6-4 start and Indy will visit Houston for this Week 12 matchup tied with the 6-4 Texans atop the AFC South. Indianapolis rebounded from a stunning home loss to lowly Miami in Week 10 by rolling up a season-high point total in last Sunday's 33-13 win over the Jaguars. As for Houston, the Texans' D was 'carved up' by Lamar Jackson and Co. in last week's 41-7 shellacking at Baltimore, ending a two-game winning streak.

Brissett did not play in Indy's 16-12 home loss to Miami and was hardly needed in Sunday's win, as the Colts ran for a season-high 264 yards (highest total since 2004!) and the defense held the Jags to just 13 points (the third time in four weeks the Colts have limited an opponent to 16 points or less). Brissett threw for just 148 yards (one TD / one INT) against the Jags but on the season is completing 64.6% with 15 TDs and just four INTs for a 97.6 QB rating. The Colts rank 4th in rushing (141.1 YPG) but the bad news is RB Marlon Mack (862 YR / 4.5 YPA) fractured his hand during the game and is out indefinitely. Yes Jonathan Williams stepped in and gained 116 on 13 carries, but he entered the contest with just ONE rushing yard on the season. Wideout T.Y. Hilton, who has torched the Texans throughout his career, is hopeful of returning after sitting out three games due to a calf strain but he's still listed as questionable. On the season, Indy's D is allowing 20.6 PPG (15th) on 325.6 YPG (11th).

There are times Deshaun Watson looks the equal of Lamar Jackson (even Russell Wilson) and he threw for five TDs and zero INTs in back-to-back wins over Oakland and Jacksonville in Weeks 8 and 9. However, he put forth a dismal effort in Baltimore, absorbing a season high-tying six sacks, throwing for only 169 yards without a TD plus throwing one INT and losing one fumble. RB Carlos Hyde has been a solid addition to the backfield with 769 yards (4.9 YPA / 4 TDs) for a rushing game ranking just barely behind Indy at 140.7 YPG (5th). WR DeAndre Hopkins is second in the NFL with 75 receptions and enters the contest with at least seven catches in his last SIX games. Houston's defense is not the same without J.J. Watt and checks in allowing 23.2 PPG (19th) on 374.4 YPG (25th).

The Colts beat the the Texans back in Week 7 at home, 30-23. Brissett had a season-high four TD passes while throwing for 326 yards. It marked Indy's THIRD straight win over Houston, winning a Week 14 game in Houston 24-21 and then a wild card game 21-7 (also in Houston) last season. However, with Mack out and TY Hilton still FAR less than 100% (even if he plays), I'm going side with the Texans to bounce back off last Sunday's humiliating loss at Baltimore. Watson has thrown eight TD passes and zero INTs in his last two home games and has FIVE games this season with QB ratings over 100.0 (including a perfect 158.3 rating in a Week 5 win over the Falcons). The winner of the AFC South advances to the postseason but there's hardly a guarantee that the second-place finisher will earn a wild card berth in a VERY crowed field. I'll echo the sentiments of Texans linebacker Zach Cunningham who said, "It's definitely good that we've got that quick turnaround. You really have no choice but to look on to the next game." Playing the home team on Thursday nights during the second half of the season has proven to be a MONEY-MAKING proposition, as home teams have gone 20-5-3 ATS (that's 80%) since 2016 from Week 8 until the end of the season.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Tourney Takedown is on Texas at 7:00 ET.

4-0 Texas entered the latest AP poll this past Monday at No. 22 (first time ranked in nearly a year) and will take that ranking to Madison Square Garden to meet 3-1 Georgetown in the 2K Empire Classic. Thursday's game marks just the third meeting between Texas and Georgetown (first since 2012) with the series tied at a game apiece. Texas won last year's NIT, which holds its Final 4 at MSG (Longhorns beat TCU in the semis and Lipscomb in the title game). As for Georgetown, "The Garden" is a VERY familiar venue, as the Hoyas have played roughly 100 games there, most coming in the Big East Tournament.

Missing from last year's NIT champs are big men Osetkowski (11.1 & 7.2) and Hayes (10.0 & 5.0), who was a one-and-done (8th overall pick of the 2019 draft by Atlanta). Guard Roach was suspended THREE different times in his stay at Austin but he ended his Texas career by being named the NIT's most outstanding player. All will be missed but Texas has an experienced group of players back. Depth on the perimeter is a strength, led by PG Coleman (14.5-4.5-4.3) and Jones (13.3), who are supported by Ramey (9.0 & 5.3), Febres (8.0) and freshman Williams (5.3). Taking over up front for Osetkowski and Hayes are the 6-8 Liddell (9.3 & 5.0) and the 6-9 Sims (8.3 & 7.3).

This is Patrick Ewing's third season at Georgetown and after a 15-15 'rookie' year, his Hoyas won 19 games last season but lost in the first round of the NIT. The good news is, FOUR starters are back, although the loss is a big one. Govan averaged 17.5 & 7.5 in making the all-Big East first team. 7-0 senior Yurtseven (17.0 & 12.5) is Georgetown's best player this season, joined up front by a trio of fowards who have combined to average right about 30 points and 11 rebounds per game. The Hoyas start three guards, PG Akinjo (12.3 & 4.5 APG), McClung (12.3) and Mosley (7.5 & 3.30.

Georgetown's three wins have come over 'nobodies,' while its lone loss came 81-66 at home to a Penn St team that was just 14-18 last season. Shaka Smart came to Texas with great fanfare, after a terrific run at VCU (Google it). However, his Texas teams have made just two NCAAs in his first four seasons at Austin, with both teams getting bounced in the first round. Last year's NIT title was 'nice,' but Smart was not hired to win NIT championships. Smart's trademark has always been "team defense" and Texas has held all opponents to 66 points or less, allowing 55.2 PPG (18th) on 36.3% shooting (45th). Texas has won its lone 'test' of the young season, winning 70-66 at then-No. 23 Purdue. A win here and Texas will get a chance at current No. 1 Duke in Friday's tourney championship (assuming the Dookies beat Cal). I look forward to seeing how Texas fares against Duke but first, the Longhorns will have to dispatch Georgetown. My bet says that win comes convincingly!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Rivalry Rout is on SD State at 11:00 ET.

It may come as a surprise to some that San Diego St has won at least 19 games for each of the last 14 seasons and owns the NCAA's 14th-best winning percentage (.733) in that time frame. The Aztecs entered last season having made SEVEN of the last nine NCAA tourneys and played in the postseason in 12 of the previous 13 years. However, the team's 21-13 record left them "sitting out" postseason play last year. San Diego welcomes SD St to the Jenny Craig Pavilion off a a 21-15 season that earned them an NIT bid. SD St enters 3-0 to open the current season, while San Diego is off to a 2-3 start.

The Aztecs rely on a trio of guards and frontcourt players. The backcourt features Flynn (15.3 & 6.3 APG), Schakel (13.0) and Feagin (10.0), while the frontcourt consists of the 6-6 Mitchell (9.0 & 5.3), the 6-10 Mensah (8.7 & 10.3) and the 6-10 Wetzell (6.0 & 7.0). As always, the Aztecs are a strong defensive team, allowing 58.0 PPG (34th). San Diego lost its top-four scorers from last season and like SD St, relies on three key perimeter players and three more in the frontcourt. Guards Calcaterra (16.8), Hartfield (11.4 & 6.8) and Humphrey (9.0) team with the 6-10 Massalski (11.0 & 5.0), the 6-7 Jean-Marie (8.6 & 8.4) and the 6-7 Floresca (7.0 & 4.4).

San Diego may be at home but it is in a tough spot here. The Toreros are averaging just 66.2 PPG (278th) on 40.2% shooting (286th). SDSU head coach Brian Dutcher was an assistant for 18 years under Steve Fisher, first at Michigan and then here at SDSU, where he was known as a "head coach in waiting." He took aver at SDSU when Fisher retired and took the Aztecs to an NCAA appearance in 2017-18 but as noted above, fell short of ANY postseason bid last year. I expect this year's team to be back in postseason play and tonight, to avenge last year 's 73-61 loss at home to local rival San Diego. Revenge works here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on UNLV at 10:00 ET.

Danny Kaspar led the Texas State Bobcats to a 24-10 record last season (his 1st at San Marcos), the school's most wins in 25 years. Kaspar had the challenge this season of replacing three starters and the Bobcats visit the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas at 3-2 (more in a little bit). UNLV was unhappy with Marvin Menzies and he was let go after three seasons. The Rebels brought in TJ Otzelberger, who in three seasons at South Dakota St, took the school two to NCAA tourneys, including winning 28 games in the 2017-18 season. However, UNLV has opened a disappointing 2-3.

Texas St is led by guards Pearson (15.0 & 4.0) and Harrell (8.4 & 45.0) and its best frontcourt player is the 6-8 Small (12.2 & 8.6), a JC transfer. Six more players are getting 14-plus minutes per game , while chipping in 5.2-to-7.6 PPG. Hardy was UNLV's top returning scorer and the junior guard is leading the way averaging 19.0-3.4-3.0. Texas graduate transfer Mitrou-Long has been an excelelent backcourt partner, adding 12.6-4.6-3.2. Up front, the 6-7 Tillman (the Pac 12's 6th man of the year last season), has been allowed to play this season and is scoring 12.4 PPG with 4.4 RPG. The 6-11 Diong is averaging 7.2 PPG and a team-high 10.6 RPG.

Texas St has won all three at home but the opponents were 'cup cakes' Texas Lutheran, PV A&M and Jackson St. The Bobcats have lost both road games, at Air Force and Baylor. Yes, UNLV is 2-3 but the losses have in OT vs Kansas St and on the road vs Pac 12 schools Cal (also in OT) and UCLA. The Rebels haven't beaten anyone of of note yet, winning at home against Purdue-Fort Wayne and Abilene Christian. A victory over Texas St will not be considered a "quality win" but UNLV could sure use a "confidence-builder." I say the Rebels get a "W" (and cover) in this one, as Texas St is just 5-12-1 as an underdog of 6.5 points or less.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Den Nuggets at 9:05 ET.

It's the 11-3 Houston Rockets and the 9-3 Denver Nuggets meeting tonight at Pepsi Center in a matchup of two of the Western Conference's best teams.The Rockets have won EIGHT in a row led by James Harden (more in a bit), while the Nuggets open a four-game homestand looking to break through against Houston, which has won 10 of the last 11 meetings between the two teams.

Harden scored 36 in Monday's 132-108 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers (Rockets' 8th straight win), while PGF Russell Westbrook contributed 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his 141st career triple-double. Harden is averaging an NBA-best 39.2 PPG (also 5.7 RPG and 7.6 APG), while Westbrook checks in at 21.6-8.4-7.1. Center Clint Capela (14.1 & 13.1) is one of the NBA's least appreciated "big men" but the Rockets are without Erc]ic Gordon, a 16.6 PPG scorer in his career.

The Nuggets were a 'sexy' pick to go deep in the playoffs in the 2019-20 season and have opened 9-3. Center Jokic led Denver in scoring (20.1), rebounding (10.8) and assists (7.3) last season and then upped those numbers in 14 postseason games (25.1-13.0-8.4). However, Jokic has not quite been that good so far this season, although his line does read 16.4-8.8-6.0. Recent good news is that PG Jamal Murray (19.2-4.8-4.8) established season bests of 39 points and seven 3-pointers Sunday at Memphis, when the Nuggets had their highest point total of the season in a 131-114 road win. PF Paul Millsap (14.1 & 6.1) matched his season high of 23 points against Memphis and has reached double digits in six straight contests.

Some (many?) thought it would be a problem having two ball-dominant guards on the floor at the same time in Harden and Westbrook, but through 14 games the plan has worked. Then again, the Rockets are just 7-7 ATS this season. Yes, the Rockets are a slight underdog here so a win means a cover but I believe Denver's depth will be the difference. Jokic and Murray typically carry the main offensive load but Millsap (see above), Barton (14.8 & 7.4) and Harris (10.7) are also capable of big offensive nights. Denver arguably owns the NBA's deepest bench and was one of the main reasons Denver had the NBA's best home record last season at 34-7. Tough two-game road trip for the Rockets (here and at the Clippers on Friday) and I think they will be fortunate to win either one. I won't get ahead of myself, so tonight the play is on Denver.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Grand Canyon at 9:00 ET.

Danny Sprinkle attended Montana St and back in 1996, scored 30 points in the Big Sky championship game to lead the Bobcats into the "Big Dance." The Bobcats haven't been back since. However, on April 4, 2019, Sprinkle was hired as the 23rd head men's basketball coach at Montana State. He took over at a school which has won between seven and 16 games the last five seasons. Dan Majerle had a 14-year NBA career and was the associate head coach for the Phoenix Suns from 2008–2013. On March 15, 2013, it was announced that Majerle would coach for Grand Canyon University in their its season as a Division I team. In Malerle's third season, he led the Antelopes to 27 wins and into the CIT quarterfinals, then followed with 22, 22 and 20-win seasons. Each of the last two seasons, Grand Canyon has lost in the WAC championship game, to New Mexico St (one win shy of an NCAA berth).

Sprinkle has an "international cast of characters," led PG Frey (17.2-5.8-6.0) from Noway. Two London-born players are the 6-9 Belo (11.2 & 6.2) and guard Adamu (9.8 & 4.2) plus guard Paulo (9.4) hails from Toronto. The Bobcats are off to an impressive start at 4-1, which includes three wins in THREE days in Greensboro, NC playing in the Spartan Classic. Mon St beat App St 59-56, host UNC-Greensboro 67-66 and Ten Tech, 52-39.

Meanwhile, Grand Canyon stumbled out of the gate with THREE straight losses, before beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 67-54. Grand Canyon lost two key players from last year's team in the 6-10 Finke (12.1 & 5.1) and PG Milstead (10.3 & 3.6 APG) but Majerle has a solid team. Guard Johnson (13.5 & 6.8) leads the team in scoring and rebounding plus four more players average in double figures. That group includes guard Brown (12.8 & 4.2), freshman Blacksher (12.2 & 5.2) and 6-7 graduate transfer swingman Jenkins (10.2 & 3.8) plus the returning 6-10 Lever (11.5 & 2.8).

I can't explain Grand Canyon's early stumbles but Montana State just finished playing three games in three days in Greensboro (Fri-Sun) and now flies to Phoenix with only ONE day between playing a FOURTH game in five days! That's asking A LOT! Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Rivalry Rout is on the KC Chiefs at 8:15 ET.

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the NY Knicks at 7:05 ET.

Two of the East's worst teams square off tonight at MSG, as the 4-8 Cleveland Cavaliers take on the 3-10 NY Knicks. The Cavaliers come to New York having dropped three straight, after losing 114-95 to Philadelphia at home on Sunday afternoon. The Knicks were off on Sunday, after suffering a last-second 103-102 loss Saturday night to the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

The Cavs' last win came over the Knicks, 108-87 in New York back on Nov 10. The Cavs took an 18-point halftime lead in that one, as Collin Sexton finished with 31 points on 10 of 16 shooting. Sexton is in his second season and is averaging 18.2 PPG, tying him with Kevin Love (18.2 & 12.1) for the team lead. Love scored just 12 points in Sunday's loss, after averaging 20.5 in his previous two games. Center Tristan Thompson (14.9 & 10.5) was just a rebound shy of his ninth double-double of the season (12 & 9) against Philly. Cleveland has a fourth double-digit scorer in guard Clarkson (14.8).

New York owns its only two wins this month over improving Dallas but has yet to post back-to-back victories this season. The Knicks followed a Nov 8 win at Dallas with the above-mentioned home loss to the Cavs and then after beating Dallas again this past Thursday, lost 103-102 to visiting Charlotte on Friday. The Knicks could not hold an eight-point lead in the final six minutes, as the Hornets won on a three-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining. “We didn’t take the game,” Knicks forward Julius Randle told the New York Post. “We let them stay around instead of us really taking the game.” Randle (15.5-9.5-3.9) leads the team in rebounds and assists, while fellow forward Morris (18.2 & 5.9) leads in scoring, with rookie RJ Barrett justifying being picked third overall in last June’s draft by averaging 15.8-5.8-3.8.

The Knicks were riding high after beating the Mavs on Thursday night and then leading by as many as 15 points Saturday vs Charlotte, before 'spitting out the bit.' I doubt I'll be 'on' the Knicks very often this season but they are catching the Cavs on the second of a back-to-back and if head coach David Fizdale can't get his team to win in a spot like this, his 'seat' will go from 'hot' to 'boiling.' Cleveland is 'ripe for the taking' in this one and I'll back the Knicks.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* SNF Magic Play is on the LA Rams at 8:20 ET.

The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West for the second straight year in 2018 and went on to play New England in the Super Bowl. The Chicago Bears rode the NFL's best defense (in terms of points allowed) in 2018 to a 12-4 record and an NFC North title. Both teams entered 2019 with expectations that they would defend their respective division titles. However, as the Bears come to LA Memorial Coliseum to take on the Rams in Week 11, they sit at 4-5 in their division, well behind 8-2 Green Bay and 7-3 Minnesota. As for the 5-4 Rams, they are looking up at 8-1 San Francisco and 8-2 Seattle in the NFC West.

There is NOTHING wrong with Chicago's defense, as the Bears are allowing 17.4 PPG (4th), which is actually slightly better than the team's NFL-leading 17.7 average in 2018. However, Chicago's QB play has generally stunk (that's a highly technical NFL insider term!) and its running game also sucks (another highly sophisticated one). Trubisky is coming off a three-TD game in last week's 20-13 win over Detroit (one which snapped a four-game losing streak) but he has just eight TD passes in his eight games (he's missed two due to injury). A closer look reveals he has not thrown a TD pass in FIVE of his eight starts in 2019, accounting for his eight TD throws in last week's game with Detroit, a two-TD effort in a Week 7 loss at New Orleans and a three-TD game in the team's MNF Week 3 win at Washington. As for the running game, the Bears are averaging 80.6 YPG (28th) on a woeful 3.5 YPA. What's more, just as rookie David Montgomery appeared to have found his stride by rolling up 235 yards and three TDs over his last three games, after totaling 231 and two TDs in his previous six, an ankle injury in practice is raising doubts about his availability for this contest. If Monty doesn't play, here's the situation. No other Chicago player has as much as 100 rushing yards on the season.

Sean McVay has been labeled a "boy genius" for leading the Rams to back-to-back division crowns in his first two seasons at the helm, which included a Super Bowl appearance in just his second season. However, the Rams' once-high octane offense has gone missing since prior to last season's Super Bowl appearance, with QB Jared Goff taking large steps backward behind an offensive line that has been ravaged by injury. McVay himself realizes there's a strong argument to be made that the Bears ended the Rams' two seasons of offensive brilliance with their 15-6 victory at Soldier Field last season in Week 14. LA was 11-1 but Chicago reduced McVay's offense to a shadow of its usual self. RB Todd Gurley produced only 28 yards rushing, Goff went 20 of 44 for 180 yards, and the Rams managed only 214 yards, less than half of their season average. The current Rams' offense continues to be a shadow of its former self, averaging 25.1 PPG (10th) on 375.8 YPF (12th), after an inept performance at Pittsburgh last Sunday in which it scored only THREE of the team's 12 points.

OK, so why am I on the Rams? I go back to those technical terms regarding Trubisky (he stinks) and the state of Chicago's running game (it sucks). Chicago dominated the Rams in that Week 14 contest in Chicago, benefiting from the weather conditions of a chilly, biting night last December. The weather report for Sunday is sunny and in the mid-80s and don't forget that this is a 5:20 local time start (FB conditions will be perfect). This is a make-or-break game for LA, as while it plays Arizona twice in its final six games after this one, it also faces Baltimore, Seattle, Dallas and San Francisco. A loss here and LA can basically 'cancel' the rest of the 2019 season. Expect the Rams to 'show some life' against a VERY mediocre (I'm being nice here) Chicago team. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the Orl Magic at 6:05 ET.

The Orlando Magic ended a six-year playoff drought last season, finishing 42-40. They returned the core of that team intact and entered the season healthy but opened 2-6. However, the Magic have won THREE of the their last four as they get set to host the Washington Wizards on Sunday.The Wizards will play the entire season with All Star PG John Wall and are not expected to compete for a playoff spot. Washington has opened just 3-7 The Wizards wrap up a three-game road trip here in Orlando, after losing 140-133 at Boston and winning 137-116 at Minnesota.

Bradley Beal was expected to have a "career year" with Wall sidelined and coming off a 44-point effort in Friday's win at Minnesota, he's doing just that. He's averaging 29.7-4.6-4.9 with FIVE more Wizards averaging between 11.4 and 14. PPG. One of those players is the 6-11 Mortitz Wagner (2nd-year pro out of Michigan), who turned in a 30 & 15 effort against the T-wolves.The Wizards can score (117.3 PPG ranks 3rd) but they are also allowing 119.6 PPG, which ranks 28th in a 30-team league.

Speaking about scoring, after being held to just 95.1 PPG during a 2-6 start, the Magic have averaged 109.8 PPG over their last five games, including 110.8 over the first four of a five-game homestand in which they've one THREE of four. Orlando's starting frontcourt of center Nikola Vucevic (17.82& 11.7) plus forwards Aaron Gordon (14.0 & 6.3) and Jonathan Isaac (12.1 & 6.5) is a formidable one that had started together in the team's first 11 games. Isaac (ankle) sat out Friday but returned to practice on Saturday and is probable to return. SG Fournier (16.2) is a scorer on the perimeter and is coming off a season-high 26 points in Friday's 111-109 win over the Spurs PGs Fultz (9.8 & 3.2 APG) and Augustin (9.6 & 4.5 APG) have each played in all 11, with Fultz starting seven and Augustin, five. Terrence Ross (10.3) has done a great job off the bench and after missing back-to-back games in early November (knee), has averaged 15.0 PPG in his three games back.

The Magic have begun to resemble the playoff team of last year recently and that should continue here, as they can conclude their homestand with a 4-1 record by winning tonight. As good as Beal is, I'm betting "under 44 points" for him this game, as well as going "under" 30 points and 15 points for Wagner, who checks in with season averages of 12.8 & 5.9. Washington has lost SIX of eight, allowing a 131.3 PPG in its six losses. As noted, Orlando's offensive woes of its first eight games is behind them and I'm looking for a "comfortable" win here. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "signature" 36-Club Play is on the NE Patriots at 4:25 ET.

New England entered its Week 9 game at Baltimore (SNF) at 8-0, leading the league in points allowed (7.6), interceptions (19) and sacks (31),. However, its aura of defensive invincibility was punctured in a 37-20 loss, as the Pats had no answer for Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson (BTW...few teams have here in 2019). The Pats also saw Tom Brady get held to just one TD pass in 46 attempts, the FOURTH time in his last six games in which he had had one or none! New England's bye week couldn't have come at a better time but the defending champs return to play against the Philadelphia Eagles, who are tied with Dallas at 5-4 for the NFC East lead (note: as it stands, the loser of that division race will have a tough time earning a wild card berth in the NFC). The Eagles are also coming off a bye week, after getting their season back on track with wins at Buffalo and home to the Bears in Weeks 7 and 8, respectively.

My 8* NFL Week 11 Las Vegas Insider is on the Hou Texans at 1:00 ET.

Lamar Jackson has long ago quieted any naysayers, as he continues to make NFL history. His Ravens handed New England its first loss of the 2019 season in Week 9 (convincing 37-20 victory) and then in a possible "let down" situation in Week 10, led Baltimore to its SIXTH straight win. The Ravens CRUSHED the Bengals 49-13 last Sunday, with Jackson completing 15-of-17 passes for 223 yards with three TDs and zero INTs, while adding 67 yards rushing (on just seven carries) with one TD. He posted a perfect QB rating of 158.3, joining Ben Roethlisberger as the only players in NFL history to have two perfect passer ratings in the same season (Big Ben did it in 2007). The 7-2 Ravens will welcome the 6-3 Houston Texans to Baltimore on Sunday. The Texans are coming off their bye week and enter the game winners of FOUR of their last five. Houston leads the AFC South (Indy is 5-4, Tenn 5-5 and Jax 4-5), as it begins a three-game stretch against the Ravens, Colts and Patriots.

My 9* Division Game of the Month (NFC South) is on the Car Panthers at 1:00 ET.

The Carolina Panthers nearly came back against the Packers in the snow of Green Bay last Sunday but fell fell short in a 24-16 loss. The Panthers are now 5-4 and with 8-2 Seattle and 7-3 Minnesota holding down the two NFC wild card spots, Carolina's playoff hopes are in serious jeopardy. Visiting Charlotte on Sunday will be the Atlanta Falcons, who returned from a Week 9 bye to shock New Orleans by beating the Saints 29-6 on the road. The Falcons' win snapped a Atlanta's six-game losing streak but the Falcons remain an afterthought in the 2019 season at 2-7.

Ironically, Atlanta's win in New Orleans was fueled by a heretofore non-existent running game and defense.The Falcons ran for 143 yards and their defense held Brees and the Saints without a TD (just three FGs). Last week notwithstanding, Atlanta still boasts one of the most prolific passing attacks in the league, although in fairness, that has something to do with how much the Falcons have played from behind this season. Atlanta is averaging 300.9 YPG through the air (2nd-best in the NFL), as Matt Ryan is completing 69.4% with 17 TDs and nine INTs. He needs just 254 passing yards to surpass Warren Moon (49,325) and move into the top-10 in NFL history.

Kyle Allen will QB the Panthers the rest of the season, with Cam Newton officially on injured reserve. The second-year QB has been solid (6-2 as a starter, including one start in 2018) and he passed for a career-high 307 yards last week. It sure doesn't hurt that he's supported by one of the NFL’s most versatile players in RB Christian McCaffrey. He has rushed for 989 yards (5.3 YPA / 11 TDs) and caught 48 passes for 396 yards with three TDs. 2nd-year WR Moore has 54 catches (he had 55 as a rookie) plus TE Olson (35 catches) and WR Samuel (34 catches with four TDs), give Allen plenty of options. Defensively, the Panthers are allowing 25.3 PPG (22nd) and have trouble stopping the run (allow 136.7 YPG, which ranks 29th).

Here's the bottom line. I'm not buying Atlanta's ONE-game resurgence. Yes, the Falcons ran for 143 yards last Sunday but even with that effort, the Falcons enter this contest averaging a woeful 76.8 YPG (29th) on 3.8 YPA. Yes, the Falcons held the Saints to NINE points but they are allowing 28.8 PPG (28th). Am I supposed to believe that Atlanta all of a sudden has found a pass rush after they sacked Drew Brees SIX timea? Are you kidding me? The Falcons entered that game with just SEVEN sacks in their first eight games. One last thing, the Falcons come to Carolina having gone 5-16 ATS in road games since the beginning of the 2017 season. That's a 76% "go-against."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Bailout Blowout of the Month is on USC at 11:00 ET.

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Dal Mavericks at 8:35 ET.

The Toronto Raptors opened defense of the franchise's first-ever NBA title in October with Kawhi in LA playing for the Clippers plus starting guard Danny Green (outstanding defender and three-point shooter) also in LA, although he's playing for the Lakers. The good news was that head coach Nick Nurse (reigning Coach of the Year) still had a familiar cast. Pascal Siakam was the NBA's Most Improved Player and then averaged 19.0 & 7.1 in the postseason. PG Kyle Lowry's been an All-Star each of the last five seasons and many believe that Marc Gasol was a trade-deadline acquisition whom the Raptors wouldn't have won the title without (he was a former Defensive Player of the Year). Guard Fred VanVleet shot 40% on threes while averaging 14.0 PPG in the Finals and most believed Serge Ibaka has plenty left (he's not an "old 30."). Toronto has opened 8-3, despite the fact that Kyle Lowry (21.8-4.3-6.5) and Serge Ibaka (14.0 & 6.5 while averaging just 23 minutes) have each missed the last three games. Lowry ( fractured thumb) is out until at least late-November and Ibaka (sprained ankle) is listed as "out indefinitely."

Toronto is playing the finale of a five-game road trip on Saturday and has won THREE of the first four stops. The Raptors bounced back from a 98-88 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday (Raptors got outscored 25-10 in the 4th quarter, one night after beating the Lakers 113-104 on the same court) with a 114-106 triumph at Portland on Wednesday. VanVleet went off for a season-high 30 points in Wednesday's win and is averaging 22.3 PPG over the last three contests (with Lowry sidelined). Siakam is averaging 27.2 & 9.2 on the season, as he's turned into an All-Star.

The Dallas Mavericks were playoff 'regulars' from 2000-01 to 2015-16, making the postseason in 15 of those 16 years (won lone NBA title in 2011). However, the Mavs opened the current season off THREE consecutive losing years, with win totals of just 33, 24 and 33. However, after Luka Doncic won rookie-of-the-year honors last season (21.2-7.8-6.0), expectations were that Dallas would be a playoff team in 2019-20. Kristaps Porzingis was acquired from the Knicks last season in a trade and he was healthy and ready to go to open this season. He's averaging 18.5 & 8.2 and with Doncic putting up Westbrook-like numbers (28.7-10.3-9.3), the Mavs surely have shown signs of being a playoff team. Five more players have played in all 11 games this season, with two others playing in 10 of 11. That group consists of guys averaging anywhere from 6.4-to-11.6 PPG.

However, the Mavs check in at a modest 6-5 and that includes TWO losses to the pathetic NY Knicks, home and away, in a seven-day span. Dallas has yet to convince me that "it is back," but the Raptors are in a tough spot, playing their FIFTH game in nine days. With no Lowry or Ibaka for Toronto, I expect Dallas to get a much-needed, confidence-building win here at home, against the defending champs.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Baylor at 7:30 ET.

Matt Rhule left Temple to take over a troubled Baylor program (scandal) in December of 2016 and the Bears finished the 2017 season with a 1–11 record, as Baylor failed to qualify for a bowl for the first time since 2009. Baylor finished the 2018 regular season 6-6 and received an invite to the 2018 Texas Bowl, where the Bears won 45-38 over Vanderbilt to finish the season with a 7-6 record. Here in 2019, Baylor is 9-0 (ranked 12th in the AP and 13th in the CFP) and at 6-0 in league play is the lone undefeated team left in the Big 12 (but just barely!). The Bears survived a scare from West Virginia on Oct 31 in a 17-14 home win as an 18-point favorite and then needed three OTs to edge TCU 29-23 last Saturday in Fort Worth. The Oklahoma Sooners (No. 10 in both the AP& CFP) come to Waco on Saturday at 8-1 (5-1 in the Big 12), off their only loss of 2019 on Oct 26 (48-41 at Kansas St) and then following a bye, a 42-41 home win over Iowa St on Nov 9. Oklahoma nearly blew a 21-point 4th-quarter lead, needing to intercept a two-point conversion pass with 24 seconds remaining to hold on for the one-point win. 42-41 victory over Iowa State.

Even through back-to-back 'squeakers' (the loss to Kansas State and last week's 42-41 win over Iowa State), Jalen Hurts and the Oklahoma offense has continued to put up big numbers. Jalen Hurts is completing 73.3% for 2,742 yards with 24 TDs and just four INTs. He leads the nation in passing efficiency with a rating of 219.7, which is better than the mark of Oklahoma's Heisman-winning Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield in the past two seasons.He is also OU's leading rusher, gaining 869 yards (7.0 YPA / 15 TDs), to lead a running game averaging 249.4 YPG (12th) on 6.9 YPA. WR CeeDee Lamb was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after tying a school record with his fifth career game of at least 160 yards receiving, finishing with 167 to go along with two TDs against the Cyclones. He has 44 catches (22.3 YPC / 13 TDs), while fellow WR Rambo has 27 catches (21.3 YPC / 5 TDs).

The Bears scored all three of their TDs vs the Horned Frogs after regulation and has been led all season by the dramatically-improved play of QB Charlie Brewer (67.3% / 2,339 yards with 16 TDs and 4 INTs). WR Mims leads the receiving corps with 44 catches (15.3 YPC / 8 TDs), and made a pair of athletic grabs in last Saturday's OT win. The running game is solid (188.2 YPG (41st) on 5.0 YPA. Two players split the workload, Lovett (532 YR / 6.3 YPSA) and Hasty (461 RY / 5.8 YPA). Baylor is averaging 35.3 PPG (27th) but the Bears can't match up with Oklahoma, which ranks 2nd in the nation at 48.4 PPG. However, Baylor's D is the best in the Big 12, allowing just 19.0 PPG (17th nationally) on 337.4 YPG (31st).

Sure Baylor's had numerous "close calls" this season but the Bears remain unbeaten and are tied with Minnesota for the nation's third-longest winning streak (11 in a row). Baylor has outscored five opponents at home by an average of 38.4-to-19.2 PPG. The Bears will surely NOT be intimidated by Oklahoma, after watching the Sooners their last two games. Baylor's D will be the best one Hurts has seen this year (note: Baylor owns a Big 12-best 29 sacks this season) and the offense is 'licking its chops' about facing an Oklahoma defense allowing 44.5 points on 451.5 YPG its last two. Matt Rhule has thrived in the role of an underdog as of late, going 9-2 ATS his last 11 (82%). I'm taking the points in what just may be a 'dry run' for a rematch in the Big 12 championship game (No. 1 plays No. 2).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* LEGEND Play is on Iowa at 4:00 ET.

My 9* Eye-Opener is on Temple at 12:00 ET.

Willie Fritz took over at Tulane in 2016 and in his third season (2018), led the Green Wave to a 7-6 season after their 41-24 win over ULL in the Cure Bowl. It marked just the school's SECOND winning season in the previous 16 seasons! The Green Wave opened 2019 at 5-1 but lost their final two Octobers games. Tulane beat Tulsa 38-26 on Nov 2 and comes into this contest at Temple off a bye at 6-3. One win in its last three would give Tulane a second straight winning season but the Green Wave face a very good Temple team here, then are home to 7-3 UCF and at 9-1 SMU (not an easy stretch).

Temple entered the 2019 season off four straight bowl appearances but began the current season with its THIRD different head coach in four years. Matt Rhule left for Baylor after the 2016 season, Geoff Collins for Ga Tech after 2018 and Temple hired Rod Carey to begin the current season. Carey took North Illinois to FIVE bowls in six years as the school's head coach, although the Huskies lost all five. Temple opened the season 5-1, including wins over then-No. 21 Maryland and then-No. 23 Memphis but consecutive bad losses followed, 45-21 at then-No. 19 SMU and 63-21 at UCF. However, Temple earned its sixth victory a week ago last Thursday, in a 17-7 win at USF.

Tulane QB Justin McMillan threw a touchdown pass and ran for three scores in Tulane's recent win over Tulsa, helping the team earn bowl eligibility. He's averaging a modest 170.3 YPG through the air (13 TDs and 9 INTs) but is also Tulane's leading rusher (488 yards on 5.0 YPA with 12 TDs). FIVE more players have run for between 200 and 455 yards, as Tulane ranks 10th in the nation with 261.2 YPG on the ground. Tulane's D has played pretty well, allowing 25.4 PPG (52nd) on 364.4 YPG (45th). In fact, the Green Wave defense has held SIX of its nine opponents below its season average in total yards.

A fumble return for a touchdown against USF highlighted a strong defensive effort by Temple, after the Owls had allowed 108 points in losing their previous two games. However, also Temple set a season low with 17 points scored, as QB Anthony Russo was held under 200 yards passing for the third straight game (Russo has 16 TD passes and nine INTs). RBs Davis (655 YR / 4.9 YPA / 5 TDs) and Gardner (538 RY / 4.3 YPA / 5 TDs each contribute but Temple's averaging a modest 26.4 PPG (81st) on offense. The defense is allowing 25.4 PPG (52nd) on 364.4 YPG (45th).

Here's the key to this contest and my bet on Temple. Tulane has been a different team on the road, going 1-3 SU, with their three losses by a combined 51 points! Meanwhile, Temple is 4-1 SU and ATS at home, with its 'ugly' 63-21 loss to UCF being an outlier. The Owls' Sep 21 loss at Buffalo looks like an aberration, as and their only other defeats were to 9-1 SMU and 7-3 UCF. In Temple's four home wins, its defense has allowed a total of just 59 points (12.3 per), limiting opposing rushing attacks to an average of 110.5 YPG and three rushing TDs (tough matchup for Tulane's strength, its running game). One last thing, Temple also checks in 8-2 ATS (80% ATS) as a home dog since the beginning of 2015 (the first of the school's four straight bowl teams). Take the points, here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on Pittsburgh at 7:00 ET.

Bob Huggins became famous while coaching Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to 16 straight postseason berths, including 14 straight NCAA bids. He was 'forced out' and after spending a year out of the coaching profession, accepted the head coaching job at Kansas State. It was a one-year 'pit stop' (23-12), as he returned to Morgantown (where he was born) to take the West Va job. As expected, he's led West Va to postseason berths in NINE of 12 seasons but is coming off just his second losing season with the Mountaineers, as they were just 15-21 in the 2018-19 season (4-14 in the Big 12 left them in last-place). West Virginia held off Akron 94-84 in its season opener on Nov 8. Pittsburgh welcomes the Mountaineers to the Petersen Events Center on Friday, with the Panthers off to a 2-1 start. Jeff Capel's first season at Pitt (2018-19) was a disaster, as the Panthers went 14-19 (3-15 in the ACC). Capel, a former standout at Duke, has previously led both VCU and Oklahoma to NCAA tourney bids. Early indications are that Jeff Capel is making some progress at Pitt.

Here's how Huggins described last season. "You can't lose four starters (during the season) and be successful," he said. "We lost our PG, the best shot-blocker in the nation and two other starters who were pretty good , too, You can't do that!" The 6-10 Culver is back and he opened with 16 & 7 against Akron. The 6-7 Matthews looked good as well, chipping in 13 & 7 plus highly-touted 6-9 freshman Tshiebew added 5 & 5 in 10 minutes. The backcourt is deep with senior Harley (16-7-3) and freshman McBride (11-6-4) contributing the most in the team's season opener.

Pittsburgh actually has three games under its belt, although the Panthers would like to forget getting upset 75-70 at home by Nicholls State, which was picked to finish 11th in the Southland Conference. However, the Panthers will want to build on their71-57 win at Robert Morris on Tuesday. The victory snapped a 24-game, true-road losing streak. Pittsburgh impressively overcame an 18-0 Colonials' run in the first half to record a true-road victory for the first time since Feb.8, 2017, at Boston College. The 6-10 Terrell Brown had eight points, nine rebounds and five blocks in his first start of the season (9.7 & 5.7). "Brown was really the difference in the game," Robert Morris coach Andrew Toole said. "His ability to protect the rim, and make it hard for our guys to finish around the basket had a huge impact on us offensively." Pitt is basically a perimeter-oriented team, with junior guard Murphy (17.0 & 3.7) leading all scorers, joined by sophomore guards McGowens (15.0-6.7-4.0) and Johnson (10.0-5.7-3.7) plus 6-6 freshman guard Champagnie (7.7 & 4.7).

This is the 187th edition of the "Backyard Brawl," one which West Va won last season, 69-59. However, I noted above that Pittsburgh snapped its 24-game, true-road losing streak but that's 'chump change' compared to West Va's road woes. The Mountaineers will be seeking their first true road win in 633 days, since a win at Baylor back on Feb 20, 2018! What's more, they will have to do accomplish that against a hated-rival in Pittsburgh, which is 70-3 all-time in the month of November at the Petersen Events Center. At this price, Pitt is the ONLY way to go!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* No. 3 vs No. 12 Showdown is on Seton Hall at 8:30 ET.

The Gavitt Tipoff Games wrap up a week-long schedule when No. 3 Michigan State travels to South Orange, NJ to take on No. 12 Seton Hall. The Spartans are coming off a run to the Final Four last season and were voted the AP's preseason No. 1 time for the first time in school history but lost 69-62 to then-No. 2 Kentucky on Nov 5 in the Champions Classic played at MSG. Kentucky rebounded from that season-opening loss with an easy 104-47 home win over Binghamton this past Sunday. Seton Hall returned four starters from last year's 20-win NCAA team and opened as the No. 12 team in the AP's preseason poll. The Pirates have opened 2-0 and held their spot in the first regular season poll but the Hall's 74-57 Saturday home win over Stony Brook came at a high 'price.' Senior guard Myles Powell averaged 23.1 PPG last season and scored 27 in the team's season-opener but he suffered a severe ankle injury early in Saturday's contest (he will NOT play here).

Michigan St's loss to Kentucky was a disappointment but paled in comparison to the death of Zachary Winston, the younger brother of Spartans senior PG Cassius Winston (Preseason P-O-Y). Zachary died of an apparent suicide on Saturday night and he was friends with many players on the Spartans squad. However, Winston (19.0 & 7.5 APG) played the very next day and was outstanding against Binghamton, finishing with 17 points, 11 assists and just one turnover. 6-8 junior forward Xavier Tillman (12.0 & 8.5) rebounded from a disappointing opener with 17 points and eight rebounds against Binghamton. He's one of five MSU frontcourt players averaging between 7.5 and 12.5 PPG (the 6-6 Henry leads at 12.5). MSU's weakness is on the perimeter, as outside of Winston, Izzo's team does not have a consistent outside shooter with Langford (15.0 PPG last season) not expected to be available until January at the earliest.

Myles Powell was voted the preseason Big East Player of the Year and according to head coach Kevin Willard, his sprained his left ankle will cause him to miss multiple games, although the ankle has reportedly responded well to treatment. Powell will be missed but PG McKnight (12.0 & 5.0 APG) is hardly alone in the backcourt. Rhoden (11.5) and Reynolds (9.0) each played extra minutes after Powell went down, as Rhoden played 27 minutes (11 points) and Reynolds played 28 (9 points). Willard's team features a HUGE frontcourt, with the 6-11 Mamukelashvili (14.0 & 5.) being aided by a pair of two 7-footers, Gill (9.0 & 6.0) and Obiagu (7.5 & 2.5).

I'm a HUGE fan of Izzo but Kevin Willard can coach. He's led Seton Hall to four straight 20-win seasons, earning a bid to the "Big Dance" in each one. I had Kentucky when it beat Mich St back on Nov 5 and wrote, " I think MSU is a bit overrated. The Spartans lost the 6-9 Ward (12.9 & 6.1), the 6-7 Goins (7.9 & 8.9) and SG McQuaid (9.8) from LY, will NOT get Langford back as expected (until Jan) and additionally, 6-6 forward Kyle Ahrens (4.7 & 2.5) is nursing a high ankle sprain." Nothing much has changed. Seton Hall took down Kentucky 84-83 (OT) last Dec 8th at MSG and here on its home court, does the same to Mich St. Take the points but expect a SU win by the Pirates.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Rivalry Rout is on the Cle Browns at 8:20 ET.

The Cleveland Browns found themselves on the cover of SI and they were expected to take a major step forward behind 2nd-year QB Baker Mayfield. Being on the cover of SI has typically turned out to be "the kiss of death" and the Browns opened the season with a dreadful 30-point loss at home vs the Titans. Cleveland snapped a 4-game losing streak last Sunday, edging the Bills, 19-16 to 'improve' to 3-6. However, the Browns are still holding out hope of making a run at a postseason berth and welcome their longtime time rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to Cleveland on Thursday. Cleveland is hoping to emulate Pittsburgh's turnaround, one which has seen the Steelers win FOUR in a row after a 1-4 start.

The Steelers lost starting QB Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2 but have surged into playoff contention and currently hold down the 6th and final playoff spot in the AFC. Pittsburgh's defense does not remind anyone of "The Steel Curtain" but it has scored in THREE of the past four games. "They are playing like the ‘85 (Chicago) Bears," QB Mason Rudolph said of his defense following Sunday's 17-12 win over the LA Rams. "It seems like, every week, forcing turnovers every other series." Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has made an enormous impact on Pittsburgh's defense since he was acquired from Miami in mid-Sep, returning a fumble 43 yards for a TD on Sunday and bringing back an interception 96 yards for a score in the previous week's two-point win over Indianapolis. Rudolph has settled into his role and while he's not prolific, he has completed 64.5% for 1,933 yards with 11 TDs and just four INTs for a 93.0 QB rating. He's 4-2 as Pittsburgh's starter, losing only a 4-point decision at San Francisco and a 3-point OT game at home to Baltimore.

Mayfield energized the Cleveland fan base during his rookie campaign (63.6% for 3,725 yards with 27 TDs and 14 INTs / QB rating of 93.7), but he has regressed in Year 2, completing only 59.9 percent with 9 TDs and 12 INTs for a QB rating of 75.2. However, the Browns have quality 'skill' players in RB Nick Chubb (919 rushing yards on 5.3 YPA with 6 TDs) plus WRs OBJ and Landry have 'tons' of talent, underachieving due to Mayfield's poor play (Landry has two TD catches and OBJ just one). The Cleveland D is allowing 24.6 PPG (21st).

Here's the rub. Kudos to Pittsburgh's improved defensive play and Rudolph's better-than-expected QB play. However, I am NOT convinced that the Steelers aren't doing it "with mirrors." They have no running game at all (average 83.2 YPG to rank 27th) and while Connor may return here, he reminds no one of Bell, with 380 YR on 3.9 YPA. As for Pittsburgh's passing game, it also ranks 27th, averaging 205.6 YPG. The Browns were able to snap a 4-game losing streak vs Buffalo,as Mayfiled directed a 10-play, 82-yard TD drive in the closing minutes. He's completing 66.3% the last two games, averaging 255.5 YPG thru the air with three TD passes and zero INTs in 80 attempts. Chubb ranks 3rd in the NFL in rushing and eclipsed 100 yards for the 4th time in six games last week (he's had EIGHT straight games with at least 90 yards from scrimmage). Joining the backfield mix last Sunday after serving an 8-game suspension was former Kansas City RB Kareem Hunt, a former 1,000-yard rusher who picked up 30 yards rushing and added seven catches for 44 yards in his season debut. Also, Landry caught nine passes and a TD last week, while OBJ had five catches, his 4th straight with at least five receptions.

I'm not buying into Cleveland's hope of making the playoffs but I would not be surprised to see the Browns play MUCH better down the stretch with a .500 record within reach. FOUR of Cleveland's last six games (after this one) feature Miami, two vs 0-9 Cincy and a game with 3-6-1 Arizona. Pittsburgh's traveling on a short week and I think FIVE straight wins for this mediocre team is a 'bridge too far!'

Good luck...Larry

My 10* MAC Game of the Year is on Toledo at 8:00 ET.

The Northern Illinois Huskies have been a "bowl regular," making 12 bowl appearances over the previous 15 seasons, including 10 of the last 11. Rod Carey was the school's head coach the last six seasons but he left for Temple. Tom Hammond, the Baltimore Ravens running backs coach.from 2014-18, was given his first head coaching job at DeKalb. Northern Illinois beat Illinois St 24-10 to open the 2019 season but the Huskies then lost FOUR in a row. NIU lost three in a row on the road (35-17 at Utah, 44-8 at Nebraska and 24-18 at Vandy), before losing its MAC opener 27-20 at home to Ball St. The Huskies then won two of three MAC games but on Nov 2, got crushed 48-10 at Central Michigan, leaving them 3-6 (2-3 in the MAC West) on the season.

Toledo knows all about winning seasons, as the Rockets entered 2019 with 21 in their last 25. The Rockets have posted a winning record in each of the last NINE years (eight bowl trips) and at 6-3 (3-2 in the MAC West), are bowl-eligible and barring an 0-3 finish, will record a NINTH winning season the last 10 seasons. This matchup has decided the West winner in FOUR of the last five years but that will NOT be the case in 2019.

Marcus Childers started at QB for NIU against Akron, as Ross Bowers was recovering from a concussion. He only attempted nine passes but completed seven for 71 yards, while throwing three TD passes to THREE different receivers. NIU won that game 49-0 but the Zips are 0-9 and own CFB's longest active losing streak at 14 in a row (pending Tuesday's outcome vs EMU). Bowers was back in action at CMU on Nov 2 but threw three INTs in the 48-10 loss. He's completing only 57.9% with more INTs (8) than TD passes (6) on the season. Let's NOT put all the blame on Bowers, as Toledo managed just 22 yards rushing against CMU, averaging 0.9 YPA. NIU checks in averaging a putrid 118.8 YPG on the ground (117th) on 3.4 YPA. Defensively, NIU is allowing 27.9 PPG (70th).

Toledo has some QB issues as well, as Mitchell Guadagni has completed 64.8% with eight TDs and just two INTs but hasn't played since Oct 12. He continues to be listed as questionable and Toledo has started Eli Peters the last two games. Peters had 18 TDs and seven INTs in 2018 and while he's thrown for a modest 332 yards (3 TDs / 1 INT) in two starts, the Rockestshave won both while scoring 37 and 35 points. RB Bryant Koback (1,099 yards on 6.5 YPA with 10 TDs) ran for 259 yards and two TDs in that 37-34 OT win over Eastern Michigan and added 67 yards with two TDs against Kent on Nov 5, before leaving the game with an injury. However, fellow RB Shakif Seymour (560 yards on 4.7 YPA and 4 TDs) took over and ran for a career high 175 yards with two TDs. The Toledo D has struggled all season, allowing 467.9 YPG (118th), while allowing 28.6 YPG (75th).

The winner of this contest will NOT represent the West in the MAC championship game (Dec 7) but of the two schools, Toledo still can finish with a fairly good season. This is Toledo's final road game and the Rockets will be tested at Buffalo and CMU in their final two games. Toledo is 5-0 SU at home this season (outscoring opponents 35.2-to-22.4), improving their home record to 48-12 in their 60 games at the Glass Bowl. The Huskies play their final road game of 2019 in this one, checking in with a 1-5 record, getting outscored 35.7-to-19.3 PPG in 2019. What changes here?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Western Conference Game of the Month is on the Hou Rockets at 7:35 ET.

The LA Clippers and Houston Rockets have each opened 7-3 and will square off in the first game of Wednesday's ESPN doubleheader. Kawhi Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to an NBA championship in his lone season with the team last spring and helped the Clippers to a 98-88 victory over his former team on Monday. Leonard struggled in going just 2-of-11 from the floor on Monday but finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. The Rockets played on Monday night as well, winning 122-166 at New Orleans, as James Harden scored 39 points (more on him in a bit).

Leonard is the 'face' of the Clippers, averaging 26.9-8.5-5.9 but Paul George is expected back soon, giving LA a formidable "1-2 punch!" As good Leonard and George are, LA's outstanding bench will be a huge part of any success the Clippers will have this postseason. Three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams (22.3 & 5.6 APG) plus forwards Harrell (19.8 & 7.1) and Green (9.1 & 6.3), give the Clippers one of the NBA's deepest and best group of bench players.

Houston's Monday win was its FOURTH in a row and Harden's 39 points was the fourth straight game in which he has scored at least 35 points. Harden's average of 37.3 points through the first 10 games is the highest the league has seen through a 10-game start since the NBA-ABA merger, besting Michael Jordan's 36.9 points in 1988-89 and 1986-87.Westbrook (21.9-8.7-7.4) has meshed well with Harden and both will be counted on even more than usual with third guard Eric Gordon (16.6 PPG scorer in his career) undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday, sidelining him for about six weeks.One of the league's best-kept 'secrets' is center Clint Capela, who is averaging 13.5 & 11.7.

Kawhi has sat out two games due to "load management" and both were in games against quality opponents. He missed LA's game at Utah Oct 30 and then missed the team's home game on against Giannis and the Bucks (still don't get that one?). The Clippers will play at New Orleans tomorrow and one would expect Kawhi to play here but you just never know. The Clipper may have held Toronto to just 10 points in the 4th on Monday and to 88 points for the game but the Clippers have allowed a WHOPPING 120.7 PPG in their only three road games this season and here, face the NBA's top-scoring team (Rockets average 120.3 PPG). 'LOVE' the Rockets at the opening number but if Kawhi sits, I'll lay the higher number, as well.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on VCU at 6:00 ET.

No. 23 LSU (1-0) visits Richmond, Va to take on VCU on Wednesday, which opened No. 25 in the AP's preseason poll but dropped out in Monday's new poll, despite opening 2-0. LSU head coach Will Wade returns to the place where he won 51 games and made a pair of NCAA Tournaments in two seasons as the school's head coach. Wade was 51-20 at VCU from 2015-17 before taking the job in Baton Rouge,where he helped the 28-7 Tigers win their first SEC regular-season title since 2009 last season Lost in the Sweet 16). Mike Rhoads took over at VCU for Wade when he left for LSU and after the Rams won a disappointing 18 games in his first season, went 25-8 last season as VCU earned an NCAA bid for the NINTH time in the last 11 seasons.

Most likely remember that Wade was suspended by LSU last March due to allegations over illegal recruiting charges. He's back (for now), so let's talk basketball. Gone from last year's team are PG Waters (15.3 & 5.8 APG) plus frontcourt players the 6-9 Reid (13.6 & 7.2) and the 6-11 Bigby-Williams (7.9 & 6.7). Key players returning this this year are guards Javonte Smart (in the center of LY's recruiting scandal) and Skylar Mays. Smart had 21 points in Friday's 88-79 home win over Bowling Green, while Mays had 18 & 8. Sophomore forward Emmitt Williams had 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor, after averaging just 7.0 PPG last season. Fellow sophomore forward Davis had 13 points and seven rebounds, coming off averaging 5.3 & 4.0 last year. The team's most promising freshman is the 6-9 Trendon Watford, who debuted with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Rams return all four of their double-figure scorers from last season’s team, as the lone starter lost from the 2018-19 team was the 6-8 Mobley. He started 23 games and chipped in modest totals of 4.2 & 2.5 (no real loss). The core of this year's team will be senior guards Jenkins (14.0 & 4.5) and Evans (12.5), plus 6-7 junior Santos-Silva (12.0 & 12.5). However, don't dismiss senior guard Mike’L Simms just yet, as while he's gone just 2-of-9 from the floor in the first two games, he as just ONE turnover in 49 total minutes.

“VCU is a great place,” Will Wade told reporters. “As a coach you travel around a lot. That’s the longest I’ve been in one place. I was there four years as an assistant. I was there two years as the head coach. They’ve got tremendous fans. … It will be rowdy, but it should be fun.” My bet follows the saying, "You can't go home." VCU is well-balanced and well-coached and will be looking to get back into the top-25 by knocking off LSU in this one. This contest is VCU's lone real test before playing in Niceville, Fl (Emerald Coast Classic) Nov 29-30. Wade and his Tigers will fine "nothing fun" about this visit to the Siegal Center!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Top-15 Showdown is on Oregon at 9:00 ET.

Penny Hardaway's first season as head coach of his alma mater (Memphis) resulted in a 22-win season. The Tigers lost all FIVE starters from that team but they've been replaced by what most considered the best recruiting class of the 2019-20 season. However, the situation is not without drama, as the 'jewel' of that class, 7-1 freshman James Wiseman, is the center of an NCAA investigation which ruled him ineligible. Attorneys for Wiseman have since sued the NCAA and while the legal process continue Wiseman, has averaged 22.5 & 10.0 in the Tigers' 2-0 start. Memphis is ranked 13th in the latest AP poll and tonight visits the Moda Center (home of the Trail Blazers) to take on 2-0 Oregon, which is ranked 14th. Oregon opened with a 14-point win over Fresno St and then shot 70 percent from the floor (including 13 of 19 from three-point range), in a 106-75 rout of Boise St.

Wiseman leads the consensus top recruiting class in the country, which also includes guard Ellis (15.0), the 6-9 Achiuwa (12.0 & 7.5) and the 6-7 Jeffries (9.5 & 4.0). There's more, in freshman guards Quinones (7.0-3.5-4,.0) and Baugh (4.0 & 6.0 APG). Sophomore guards Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris, the only prominent holdovers from last season’s team, have combined to average 16.5 points in the wins over South Carolina State and the UIC.

Oregon's Bol Bol is gone plus a trioo0f 6-9 players, King, White and Wooten, who were major contributors in Oregon's Pac 12 tourney title and Sweet 16 runs, are also gone. However, PG Ptrichard (21.5-6.5-7.0) leads an excellent cast. He teams with fellow senior Mathis (19.5) plus JC transfer Duarte (11.5-6.0-3.5) in the backcourt. Up front, 6-7 freshman Patterson (8.5) joins 6-7 UNLV transfer Juiston (10.5-4.5-5.0) and 6-9 sophomore Okoro. Okoro missed Saturday’s game after posting 10 points and 10 rebounds in the opener. He was struck by a car and is listed day-to-day.

The Phil Knight Invitational (named for the Nike co-founder) is technically a neutral-court game, but it's less than two hours from Eugene, home of the Ducks. Dana Altman has led Kansas St, Creighton and Oregon to multiple NCAA tourneys and owns a HUGE coaching edge over the still untested Hardaway. In 'friendly surroundings,' I 'love' the Ducks at this price.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

The loss of All-Star Paul George in the 2017 off-season elicited preseason projections of an Indiana team near the basement of the Central division but the emergence of swingman Victor Oladipo as an All-Star powered the Pacers to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference in 2017-18, a feat they duplicated last year. Oladipo averaged 23.1-5.2-4.3 two seasons ago and then 18.8-5.6-5.2 last season, before going down with a season-ending knee injury. He is practicing with the team but there is still no timetable for his return. Indiana opened the current season 0-3 but the Pacers now look like one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference with SIX wins in their last seven games. As for OKC, it seems like a 'lifetime ago' that the Thunder were in the NBA Finals, led by Durant, Westbrook and Harden (it was 2012). Harden left that year as a FA to sign with Houston. Durant famously left to sign a FA deal with Golden St in 2016 and then this past offseason, Westbrook was traded to Houston (note: George was traded to the Clippers, as well). It's a 'Whole New World' these days for the Thunder, as the team's top-four scorers are in their first season with OKC.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (21.0-5.8-3.4) leads the way, followed by Gallinari (18.6 & 5.0, while shooting 43.7% on threes), Paul (16.1-3.6-5.2) and Schroder (14.7-5.2-34.7).The Thunder pushed the Milwaukee Bucks to the brink on Sunday, before falling 121-119. Gallinari suffered through one of his worst shooting games (was just 4-of-17 from the floor) but made a key three-pointer down the stretch to keep his team close. Backup PG Dennis Schroder helped keep the Thunder in the game with a season-high 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting. OKC features a balanced attack but it could sure use a healthy Steven Adams. The center is averaging 8.3 & 10.1 but sat out the Milwaukee game and has missed THREE of OKC's last five with a knee issue (he's listed as questionable for this one).

The Pacers welcome the Thunder to Bankers Life Fieldhouse with center Myles Turner (14.8 & 6.8) and newly-acquired SG Jeremy Lamb (17.0& 6.4) both dealing with ankle sprains and neither will play. Malcom Brogdon (former Milwaukee Buck) has become the team-leader this season, averaging 20.8-5.2-8.9. However, the 6-11 Sabonis is quietly becoming a star. He had a breakout season last year (14.6 & 9.3) but is even better this season. The Gonzaga posted his fourth straight double-double with 21 points and 16 rebounds in Sunday's 109-102 victory at Orlando plus matched a season high with seven assists (he's averaging 20.0-13.0-4,1 on the season). Small forward TJ Warren was a scorer for the Suns and he's done the same for the Pacers, averaging 18.0 PPG. With injuries to Turner and Lamb, SFs McDermott and Sampson are seeing more time, as is reserve point guard T.J. McConnell. McDermott has averaged 17.0 PPG over his last three games and McConnell has scored 29 points and handed out 17 assist over his last two.

Indiana is on a roll, going 6-1 SU & 5-1-1 ATS its last seven. The Pacers are a very tough matchup for OKC, which seemed to be developing a defensive identity,  allowing 100.7 PPG (3rd), while leading the NBA in defensive FG percentage (40.3) and three-point percentage (27.3) heading into a Thursday game at San Antonio. However, the Thunder have allowed 116.7 PPG over their last three games and now take on an Indiana team averaging 112.9 PPG over its last seven games. OKC has four wins this season, two over 2-9 Golden St and one each against 2-8 New Orleans and 3-7 Orlando. One last thing, the Thunder are 0-3 on the road, allowing 112.3 PPG. "Batten down the hatches" and lay the points with Indiana.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Game of the Month is on Xavier at 7:00 ET.

Missouri and Xavier have both opened 2-0, as the two teams meet Tuesday night in Cincinnati (Cintas Center). The Tigers are coming off a 15-17 season and in the preseason, were picked to finish 13th in the 14-school SEC. Xavier is coming off a 19-16 season, although the Musketeers were ranked 19th in the AP's preseason poll (despite a 2-0 start, Xavier was ranked 21st in the first regular season poll).

This marks Cuonzo Martin's third season at Missouri. He led theTigers to an NCAA appearance in his first but the Tigers had no such success last season. Missouri has opened 2-0 while holding opponents to 49.0 PPG but the team's opening win was over Incarnate Word. SEVEN of last year's top-nine scorers are back, led by 6-10 junior Jeremiah Tilmon. He's averaging 14.5 & 6.0 but the only other Missouri player in double digits is sophomore guard Xavier Pinson (11.5-3.0-5..5), who comes off the bench. Mark Smith, a 6-5 junior guard who missed the final seven games of last season with a foot injury, failed to score in an opening win over Incarnate Word but rebounded with 19 points in Friday's victory over Northern Kentucky (note: No. Ky won 26 games last year and made the "Big Dance"). Evansville transfer Dru Smith starts alongside of Mark Smith in the backcourt and is averaging 8.5 PPG.

Travis Steele was hired by Sean Miller at Xavier for the 2008-09 season. He was retained by Chris Mack after Miller accepted the Arizona head coaching position and has been a part of a Musketeers program that has been to eight NCAA tournaments, including an Elite Eight run in 2017. Steele was promoted to head coach when Mack took the Louisville job. Following Miller and Mack was NOT expected to be easy and it wasn't. However, Xavier rallied to win EIGHT of its final 11 regular season games and went to a postseason tourney (NIT) for the 13th time in 14 seasons. Xavier lost just ONE starter off last year's team, the 6-11 Hankins who averaged 10.6 & 5.3. The Musketeers feature a terrific forward duo, as 6-9 senior Jones is averaging 18.5 & 8.5 plus 6-7 junior Marshall is averaging 18.45-7.0-5.5. Some bad news is that returning guard Paul Scruggs (12.3 PPG last season), who had 12 points against Jacksonville before suffering a knee injury , did not play against Siena and appear s unlikely to play against Missouri (he was a preseason honorable mention all-Big East selection). However, 6-9 freshman Zach Freemantle and 6-8 Ohio U transfer Jason Carter, could play play big roles for Xavier this season. Freemantle is off to a promising start (9.0 & 5.5), while Carter (5.5 & 2.0), not so much.

This will be Xavier's first 'test' of the season, or is it? Martin did lead Missouri to the NCAAs in his first season, despite a 5-6 road record. However, the Tigers had gone an "hard-to-believe" 0-30 on the road in the previous three seasons and last year reverted to form by going 2-8 on the road. Why should Missouri win here, where Xavier has gone 88-16 (.846) since joining the Big East back at the start of the 2013-14 season. What's more, 'ringing in Xavier's ear' will be Missouri's 71-56 home win over the Musketeers last season. REVENGE works in a "big way": in this one!

Good luck...Larry