My 9* Revenge Rout is on Notre Dame at 6:00 ET.

Two struggling ACC teams square off Sunday when 11-12 Georgia Tech (3-7 ACC) travels to South Bend to take on 12-11 Notre Dam (2-8 ACC).Wins have been difficult to come by for both schools, as the Yellow Jackets have lost FOUR straight games since knocking off Notre Dame 63-61 in Atlanta back on Jan 22, while the Fighting Irish have dropped SIX of their past seven games while

The win over ND was the last time the Yellow Jackets were truly at full strength, as sophomore guard Jose Alvarado continues to battle nagging injuries while going 1-for-20 from the floor in the past two games, losses to Florida State and Clemson. “PG Alvarado (12.0-3.9-3.4) is Georgia Tech’s leading scorer and only the 6-9 Banks joins him in double digits at 10.5 PPG (plus a team-high 7.3 RPG). Ga Tech is one of the nation's lowest-scoring teams, averaging 65.8 PPG, ranking 326th!

Things aren’t much better for the Fighting Irish on the offensive end. They shot a season-worst 32 percent from the floor while going 4-for-28 from three-point range in a 62-47 loss Wednesday at Miami. Notre Dame's offensive woes have been a season-long challenge, as the Irish rank 14th in the ACC and 327th nationally in field-goal percentage (40.5 percent). Standing out from the rest, 6-9 junior forward John Mooney leads the conference in rebounds and is the only ACC player to average a double-double (14.3 & 10.7), quite a jump from his 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game averages from a season ago. The Irish do feature two solid PGs, in junior Temple Gibbs (13.1 & 3.6 APG) and freshman Prentiss Hubb (7.5 & 3.6 APG).

This game figures to be the best chance for either school to get a win in the near future. The Yellow Jackets play three of their next six games after Sunday against ranked teams: at No. 11 Virginia Tech on Tuesday, vs No. 22 Florida State on Feb 16 and at No. 3 Virginia on Feb 27. Notre Dame’s schedule is even tougher, with four of its next five opponents ranked in the top-25: at Virginia on Feb 16, vs Virginia Tech on Feb. 23, at Florida State on Feb 25 and at No. 16 Louisville on Mar 3. Ga Tech has averaged a woeful 59.7 PPG in its seven true road games this season, while Notre Dame is averaging 73.1 PPG in its 15 home contests. Throw in the "revenge angle" (ND lost by two at Ga Tech) and the Irish get the win with "room to spare."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Memphis at 2:00 ET.

UConn began the season 6-1, including a win against Syracuse. It seemed as if players and fans alike were attracted to first year head coach Dan Hurley's intense attitude and aggressive play on the court. However, to put it mildly, Connecticut has had its share of ups-and-downs and comes into Sunday's game at Memphis 13-10 overall, including 4-6 in AAC play. What's more, senior guard Jalen Adams (17.0-3.8-3.) is out for the next four to six weeks, which basically means the season. Memphis also features a first-year head coach but Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway is facing NONE of the issues Hurley is dealing with. The well-liked mentor has his Tigers at 13-10 as well, including 5-5 in league play.

Adams was coming off an altercation with Hurley in UConn's previous game and then played just six minutes in the team's 81-63 loss at Temple on Wednesday, before suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee. 6-9 sophomore forward Josh Carlton (8.6 & 5.9) didn't post a double-double in his first 54 games at UConn but he had 18 points and 13 rebounds against Temple for his second straight, following a 20 & 16 performance against East Carolina. Junior guard Christian Vital (14.0 & 6.0) had 18 points and 13 rebounds against the Owls, while Eric Cobb (4.0 & 4.2) added 13 points and five rebounds. He's getting extra time because Alterique Gilbert (13.0 & 3.8 APG) has missed three straight games with a shoulder injury.

Memphis knows all about star guards, as the Tigers feature PG Jeremiah Martin. He made a career-high eight, three-pointers while scored a game-high 26 points against No. 25 Cincinnati on Thursday. However, it wasn't enough, as the Bearcats rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half for a 69-64 victory. "We didn't rebound the ball (well) in the second half and they got a couple of easy baskets," said Martin, who was coming off a career-high 41-point effort at South Florida. Martin is averaging 16.7-4.0-4.3 on the season.The 6-8 Davenport chips in 14.3 & 7.4 plus freshman guard Harris adds 12.1 PPG. Hardaway likes to use his bench and Memphis has six more player averaging between 5.5 and 8.8 PPG.

UConn is an un-perfect 0-5 SU in true road games and that streak doesn't figure to end here (especially without Adams) against a Memphis team which is 11-2 SU at home, averaging a whopping 87.7 PPG. Memphis is 8-3 as a home favorite, including a PERFECT 6-0 when laying less than double digits!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Arizona St at 10;00 ET.

Washington returned all five starters from LY's 21-win team (NIT, not NCAA bid) but did anyone expect 12 straight wins and a 10-0 conference start, the school's best since 1952-53? Washington won at Arizona for the first time in seven years 67-60 on Thursday, despite senior forward Noah Dickerson (12.6 & 6.7) struggling with an ankle issue plus senior guard Matisse Thybulle (10.0) and senior forward Dominic Green (6.8) struggling with the flu (entire coaching staff was ill). The 19-4 Huskies (10-0 Pac 12) head to Tempe tonight to face the 15-7 Arizona State Sun Devils (6-4 in Pac-12). Arizona State is coming off its worst loss of the season, a stunning 91-70 home loss against Washington State on Thursday (ASU was favored by 15 points!)

Sophomore guard Jaylen Nowell averages team highs of 16.4 points and 3.4 assists, while adding 5.4 RPG. Dickerson battled through an ankle injury to score 10 points in 26 minutes against Arizona, while Thybulle had five steals on Thursday. Washington is off to its best conference start since going 14-0 in 1952-53, boasts the stingiest defense in the Pac-12 at 64 points per game (60.4 during its winning streak) and hasn't allowed more than 70 in a conference game

Head coach Bobby Hurley told the media after the Wash St loss, "There really wasn't anything overly positive that you can say. It was a pretty damaging loss for us." Senior forward Zylan Cheatham (11.6-1.1-3.5) entered the week one of 18 players nationally averaging a double-double, but only one other is also averaging at least three assists (Wisconsin's Ethan Happ). Freshman guard Luguentz Dort is the leading scorer at 16.2 PPG, with three more ASU players scoring in double digits. PG Martin checks in at 13.1 (5.1 APG), 12.4), guard Edwards at 10.3 and the 6-7 Lawrence at 10.2 & 4.0).

Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils generated national headlines by handing then-top-ranked Kansas its first loss, 80-76, back on Dec. 22. However, ASU is just 6-5 its last 10. That said, off the team's embarrassing home loss to Wash St, Washington and its unbeaten Pac-12 record should bring out the VERY best in the Sun Devils. They are 10-3 SU at home, while averaging 82.5 PPG.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on USC at 10:00 ET.

The Colorado Buffs opened the season 9-3 in non-conference games but when Pac-12 play began, Colorado started 2-6. However, the Buffs have rebounded from their poor Pac-12 start to post impressive double-digit wins over Oregon and UCLA in their last two outings. In the 22-point win over the Ducks on Feb 2, Colorado dominated defensively, holding Oregon to a season-low 51 points and a nine-year low 31 percent shooting from the floor. At UCLA this past Wednesday, Colorado shot 53.8 percent from the floor, including 13-of-24 from three-point range plus recorded a season-high 22 assists on 28 made baskets in an 84-73 win. The 13-9 Buffaloes (4-6 Pac-12) will try to maintain that momentum Saturday night when they visit USC. The Trojans are 13-10 overall (6-4 in Pac-12 play), after a 77-70 home loss to Utah on Wednesday night. In contrast to Colorado, USC has dropped two of its last three games following a 5-2 Pac-12 start.

The Buffs received a huge boost Wednesday from junior-college transfer Shane Gatling who connected on 8-of-10 shots, including 7-of-9 three-pointers, in scoring a season-high 28 points. Sophomore swingman Tyler Bey also stayed hot with 16 points and 10 rebounds, giving him his third double-double in the last five games. Gatling (10.5) and Bey (12.4 & 9.0) are two of the four Buffaloes averaging double figures, with sophomore PG McKinley Wright leading the way (12.7 PPG) plus a team-high 5.0 APG. 6-10 forward Lucas Siewert (11.3 & 5.1 points) rounds out the main contributors.

The Trojans fell behind Utah by 23 points midway through the second half and finished with a 38.0 field-goal percentage, including 9-of-26 from three-point range. “That was our worst effort in a long time,” USC head coach Andy Enfield said afterward. “I’m disappointed in our team, (but) I’ll take the blame for that.” USC has a set of "twin towers" in the 6-10 Boatwright (17.3 & 6.7) and the 6-11 Nick Rakocevic (16.0 & 9.9). Guard Jonah Mathews scored 18 points to pace the Trojans vs Utah and he tops a four-man guard rotation by averaging 12.9 PPG on the season. Porter (9.2) is back in the lineup after missing more than a month and joins Aaron (8.8 & 4.6) and PG Thornton (8.4 & 5.0 APG).

I still don't trust Colorado away from Boulder and its win over erratic UCLA is not a mind-changer, as it was just the Buffs' second in their last nine Pac-12 road games. Sure, USC is a bit of an underachiever but note that the Trojans had won SEVEN straight at Galen Center before stumbling vs the Utes. USC is the play.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Hou Rockets at 8:35 ET.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (35-19) visit the Houston Rockets (32-22) on Saturday night, with the ABC cameras on hand. James Harden extended his streak of 30-point games to 28 with 36 points in a 127-101 victory at Sacramento on Wednesday, pulling within three games of tying Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in NBA history at 31 (note: Wilt's record 65-game streak is likely NOT in danger!). Coming to town with OKC is Russell Westbrook and he brings along a streak of eight consecutive triple-doubles, after going for 15-13-15 in Thursday's 117-95 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. That moved him past Michael Jordan and within one of tying the mark of nine straight set by Chamberlain in 1968 (that Wilt guy keeps popping up). The Thunder currently occupy the No. 3 seed in the West, three games ahead of the 5th-seed Rockets (Portland sandwiched in between, one up on Houston and two back of OKC).

Westbrook (21.2-11.1-11.2) is averaging a triple-double for the third straight season and leads the NBA in assists, nearly two more than the next-closest player (Toronto's Kyle Lowry is at 9.3). However, Paul George is OKC's top scorer, averaging 28.0 PPG. Backup PG Schroder averages 15.7 & 4.2 APG, starting center Adams 15.2 & 9.7) and PF Grant 13.2 & 5.0. No other OKC player averages as much as 7.0 PPG.

The Rockets were active at the trade deadline, acquiring guard Iman Shumpert from the Sacramento Kings while jettisoning James Ennis III (to the Philadelphia 76ers), Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight (both to the Cleveland Cavaliers) to free roster spots in order to aggressively pursue additions via what should be a robust buyout market. Those moves completed the exodus of the five players the Rockets adding during the past offseason, with Carmelo Anthony and Michael Carter-Williams traded earlier this season. The constant has been Harden, averaging 36.5-6.8-7.9. PG Chris Paul (15.5 & 7.9 APG) is back but center Clint Capela (17.6 & 12.6) is still out. However, he is expected to return after the All-Star break.

Can't imagine Harden NOT be primed for this showdown with Westbrook and he's carried Houston since Paul first went out (now back) plus kept it going through Capela's absence, as well. A HUGE bonus has been getting Kenneth Faried (from Boston), as the 6-8 vet has averaged 16.1 & 10.2 in nine games. Houston is 15-3 SU at home since Dec 1 and that has me "all over" the Rockets in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Virginia at 6:00 ET.

Saturday's marquee matchup is No. 2 Duke at No. 3 Virginia. Thees teams met in Durham back on Jan 189, as the Blue Devils (-3.5) edged the Cavs, 72-70. The rematch is set for Charlottesville, with Duke coming 20-2 (8-1 ACC) and Virginia at 20-1 (8-1 ACC). Duke's win over UVa jump started a six-game winning streak for the Blue Devils, with their most recent win coming in an 80-55 blowout of Boston College on Tuesday. The Cavaliers have returned to their winning ways since the loss at Duke, picking up a fourth straight victory following their 56-46 home triumph over Miami last Saturday.

 Duke was without PG Tre Jones in the first meeting. However, the team's best defender, has since returned to the court. Duke prevailed in that first game despite his absence, as the freshman combination of RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson proved to be too much for Virginia to overcome. Barrett scored 30 points and Williamson added 27. Barrett leads with 23.0 PPG (7.2 RPG) and Williamson checks in at 22.0 PPG plus a team-high 9.4 RPG. Cam Reddish (13.5) is the team's third double digit scorer and he scored 24 points, his most since the second game of the season, on 8-of-16 shooting to lead the Blue Devils over Boston College. Jones averages 8.4 PPG and a team-high 5.5 APG.

The Cavaliers played without PG and third-leading scorer Ty Jerome (13.0-4.4-4.9) against the Hurricanes and didn't look very sharp (14 TOs and 42.3% from teh floor. Leading scorer De’Andre Hunter (14.7 & 5.1) led the way offensively against Miami with 14 on 6-of-13 shooting, while the 6-9 Mamadi Diakite (7.0 & 3.9 added 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Guard Kyle Guy (14.5 & 4.5) is UVa's second-best scorer. As usual, Virginia’s defense made up for its offensive miscues as the Cavaliers held the Hurricanes to 34 percent from the floor. UVa allows 52.9 PPG (1st) on 37.0% shooting (3rd), including 24.7% on threes (1st).

Jerome's back is improving but his status against Duke is unknown. The Cavs were out-sized and out-quicked by the Blue Devils in the first meeting, yet lost by just two at Cameron. UVa was able to out-think Duke to stay in that game, as Duke was often flustered by the Virginia's defensive intensity. stop-end presence. Bennett's D completely shut off the perimeter in first meeting, holding Duke to only 2 of 14 from beyond arc. Here at home, where UVa is 11-0 and allowing just 49.0 PPG, the Blue Devils will be in big trouble. Cavs get their revenge.

Good luck...Larry

My 3rd 8* play is on Florida St at 4:00 ET.

No. 16 Louisville (17-6 / 8-2 in ACC) will be in Tallahassee on Saturday afternoon to take on No. 22 Florida State (17-5 / 5-4 in ACC). The Cardinals are sitting comfortably at No. 4 in the ACC standings, a half-game back of Virginia, Duke and North Carolina. They come into Saturday's meeting with Florida State winners of seven of their last eight games, the only blemish being 79-69 home loss to then-No. 9 North Carolina Saturday. However, Louisville bounced right back with a 72-64 victory Monday at then-No. 11 Virginia Tech.

Then-No. 1 Duke rolled into town to take on then-No. 13 Florida State back on Jan 12 and eked out a 8-78 victory. Florida State spiraled a bit after that Duke loss, dropping its next two games at unranked Pitt and Boston College. However, the Seminoles have since righted the ship and enter this game having won four straight contests.

Reserve guard Ryan McMahon (just 8.0 PPG on the season) scored 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting (all from three-point range) in 16 minutes off the bench against the Hokies, tying for the team high in scoring with junior forward Dwayne Sutton (10.9 & 7.0). Leading scorer and rebounder, the 6-7 Jordan Nwora (17.8 & 7.7). PG Cunningham (10.2 & 4.6 APG) is the only other Cardinal to average in double digits but Louisville come in averaging a healthy 78.8 PPG (57th).

"Our inconsistency has kind of been our biggest obstacle," Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton said. "But I do feel that we made a step in the right direction (against Syracuse), on the road against a good basketball team in a place that is very challenging to win. I thought our guys grew up a little bit." Senior guard Terance Mann () paced the Seminoles against the Orange with 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting while also contributing nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Leading scorer Mfiondu Kabengele, who averages 13.2 points in just 19.7 minutes, added 18 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting off the bench. The Seminoles shot 54.5 percent from the floor while dominating inside, outscoring the Orange 38-18 in the paint. EIGHT Florida State players are averaging between 6.2 PPG and Kabengele,'s team-high total of 13.2 (note: Kabengele doesn't even start for the Seminoles).

FSU was ranked 17th in the AP's preseason poll (ranked 15th by the Blue Ribbon Yearbook) and climbed as high as No. 9 in the AP poll in early January. The last time FSU hosted a top-25 opponent in its house, it ended in heartbreak (see above vs duke). This time around, it will be a much better (happier) ending.

Good luck...Larry

My 2nd 8* play is on Marquette at 2:30 ET.

Questions surrounded Villanova after the Wildcats lost back-to-back games to Penn and Kansas, as the defending champs (actually, two titles in a three-year span) sat just 8-4 in mid-December. However, 11 consecutive wins later (including a 10-0 start in the Big East), have erased all doubts that the 19-4 Wildcats are again VERY relevant (''Nova is currently ranked 14th). Marquette is also 19-4 (8-2 in the Big East) but come sin off its first home loss of the season, falling 70-69  to St. John's on Tuesday

The Wildcats were led against Creighton by 6-8 freshman Saddiq Bey in their win over Creighton, as he scored a career-high 17 points for his fourth double-digit scoring effort in the last five outings. That said, bey averages just 8.2 PPG on the season (5.0 RPG). 'Nova is led by senior guard Phil Booth (18.3.7-4.) and 6-8 senior forward  Eric Paschall (17.3 & 6.2). Sophomore guard Collin Gillespie (12.1) is the team's third double digit scorer.

The Golden Eagles are led PG Markus Howard (24.6-4.1-4.2), who is a potential All-American. The 6-8 Sam Hauser (15.7 & 7.0 is joined by his 6-9 younger brother Joey (10.4 & 5.7). Marquette connects on 46.9 % if its FGs, including 39.5 percent from three-point range (16th). Each of its top-three scorers (see above) drain at least 40 percent of their 3-pointers.

Villanova can't possibly "win-out" (right?) and this is one tough venue. Maybe Marquette got caught "looking ahead" to 'Nova against St John's but I believe that will make them even more focused here. The Golden Eagles are 14-1 SU at home, outscoring opponents 79.2-to-62.5 PPG. Home team wins.

Good luck...Larry

My 1st 8* play is on LSU at 2:00 ET.

No. 21 LSU (18-4 / 8-1 in SEC) remained in a tie for second in the conference with No. 5 Kentucky (one game behind the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers), after Wednesday's 92-88 OT victory at Mississippi State. Freshman forward Naz Reid scored 25 of his career high-tying 29 in the second half and OT, while sophomore guard Tremont Waters added 25 points. It's Tigers vs Tigers on Saturday, as 16-6 Auburn (5-4 in SEC) visits Baton Rogue this afternoon. Auburn defeated Florida 76-62 on Tuesday for its third straight victory, as these Tigers have clamped down defensively, allowing just 61.0 PPG in that span (Auburn is one of four teams tied for fifth at 5-4 in the SEC).

Auburn's 6-11 junior center Austin Wiley (10.3 & 5.9) returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing five games with a leg injury. However, he played only five minutes as head coach Bruce Pearl told reporters he wants to keep "progressing him." Senior guard Bryce Brown (17.0) is the team's leading scorer and is averaging 19.3 points in conference games. Junior PG Jared Harper (15.4) leads the SEC in assists (6.5), while 6-8 sophomore forward Chuma Okeke has stepped up in Austin Wiley's absence, to average 10.5 & 6.4 on the season.

PG Waters leads LSU in scoring (15.6) and assist (5.9 assists), while Reid adds 13.9 PPG plus a team-best 6.0 RPG. Junior guard Skylar Mays (13.1) and freshman guard Ja'vonte Smart (10.5) are the other double-figure scorers plus 6-6 freshman forward Emmitt Williams (8.0 & 5.9) provides support at both ends of the floor.

Auburn has won three consecutive SEC games, 92-58 over Missouri, 84-63 over Alabama and 76-62 over Florida on Tuesday but all have come at home.The team now heads out on the road where the Tigers are 1-4 SU, while allowing 79.6 PPG. Beating the Tigers of LSU on their homecourt will be no easy task. LSU opened the season with 11 straight home wins, before losing to Arkansas last Saturday, 90-89 as a 10-point favorite. LSU enters 11-1 SU at home, outscoring opponents 86.1-to-70.7. Home team rules in this one.

Good luck...Larry

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

From 1999 through 2017, there was not single NCAA tournament that didn't include Wisconsin. However, in the 2017-18 season, the Badgers finished 15-18 when they lost in the Big Ten quarterfinals, missing the "Big Dance" for the first time in 20 years.Things were slightly better to open this season but the Badgers sat a modest 11-6 when unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Michigan cane to town on Jan 19. Wisconsin's defense and 6-10 fifth-year senior Ethan Happ were the difference that day. The Badgers forced 16 turnovers and held the Wolverines to 40.7% shooting, while Happ racked up 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Today, it's a rematch in Ann Arbor.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard has reintroduced the old-style, slow-paced Bo Ryan “swing” offense that is effectively dictating tempo in the school's current six-game winning streak (5-0-1 ATS)(5-0-1 vs. line) win streak. The 'sticky' Wisconsin D hasn’t allowed more than 61 points in that span (53.8 PPG allowed during the six games), after a 56-51 road victory against Minnesota on Wednesday. Happ continued his outstanding season, scoring a team-high 15 points plus grabbed 13 rebounds for his 15th double-double (the most in the Big Ten). D'Mitrik Trice (13.4), who leads the Big Ten in three-point percentage (45.2), drilled three triples, including a clutch three-pointer with under two minutes remaining to clinch the win. Backcourt mate Brad Davison (11.2) added 10 points, despite going 2-of-12 from the floor. The 6-11 Nate Reuvers (8.3 & 3.2) flirted with a triple-double, as he added nine points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots against the Golden Gophers.Wisconsin is allowing 61.0 PPG, to rank 18th in the nation.

Michigan has won of four of five games since the loss at Madison, including a 77-65 victory against Rutgers on Tuesday. The victory gives the Wolverines sole possession of first-place in the Big Ten at 10-2 (Purdue is 9-2, while Wisconsin & Mich St are 9-3). The 6-7 Ignas Brazdeikis was one of three freshmen named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top-20 Watch List. He knocked down a career-high five, three-pointers en route to 23 points in the win against Rutgers. He leads Michigan with 15.5 PPG (adds 5.5 RPG). The 7-1 Teske (8.8 & 6.3) starts up front with him, while a trio of guards man the perimeter. That group includes Poole (12.9), Matthews (12.5 & 5.3) and PG Simpson (9.2-5.3-6.0). Jordan Poole added 15 points while Zavier Simpson produced 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on Tuesday. Teske leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.2) and Michigan allows 57.3 PPG, the second-best mark in college hoops.

The Wolverines have won 20 straight at Crisler Arena, going 14-0 this season while outscoring opponents 72.3-to-56.1 PPG. Michigan will be primed for payback here and I have to go with that. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Sac Kings at 10:05 ET.

The Sacramento Kings won just 27 games ALL of last season and last produced a winning record back in the 2005-06 season. However, the 28-26 Kings proved that they have EVERY intention of ending their 12-year playoff drought with the acquisition of Harrison Barnes. The Kings acquired the 6-8 forward from the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in exchange for forwards Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph (no big loss, there). Sacramento welcomes the Miami Heat to town tonight, having gone 3-1 on what will be a six-game homestand (note: Kings were routed 127-101 by the Houston Rockets on Wednesday). The 25-27 Heat also made some moves. acquiring forward Ryan Anderson from the Phoenix Suns for guards Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington. The Heat opened their six-game road trip with an impressive 118-108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

Center Hassan Whiteside led Miami with 28 points and 11 rebounds, as he's headed to yet another double-double season (13.0 & 12.4). By moving Johnson (10.8) and Ellington (8.4) the Heat have unclogged their guard rotation, which still includes starters Josh Richardson (17.3) and Justise Winslow (backups 12.3 & 5.7) plus reserves Dwyane Wade (14.0), Rodney McGruder (8.7) and even Dion Waiters (7.9 PPG but just 14 games played). Goran Dragic (15.3 & 4.9 APG), an All-Star point guard in 2017, is on injured reserve (return up in the air).

Buddy Hield, the key player in the Boogie Cousins trade, leads Sacramento in averaging 20.4 PPG, while shooting a white-hot 45.5% on threes. Second-year PG Fox (17.3 & 7.2 APG) is looking like a future All-Star as well. Also, Bogdanovich (14.8) and center Cauley-Stein (12.9 & 8.6) have become regular contributors.Not to be forgotten is rookie forward Marvin Bagley III (13.1 & 7.0), who has recorded four straight double-doubles, as the No. 2 overall selection from Duke, is averaging 16.3 points and 11.8 rebounds over the past four games, while scoring in double digits in seven straight outings (also 12 of his last 13 since returning from an injury). The addition of Barnes (17.7 & 4.2 TY with Dallas) will be huge, as he had also averaged 18.9 & 6.1 and 19.2 & 5.0 his first two full seasons with the Mavs.

I am aware that the Heat are dangerous as road underdogs (52-25-2 ATS in that role the L3 seasons) but the Kings are 19-9 ATS at home this season. What's more, the Kings are on an 8-1 ATS run at home (7-1 SU in the last eight) and have covered 10 of their last 12 when installed as a favorite at Golden 1 Center going back to last season. The Kings have won the last three meetings with the Heat, including a 123-113 win in Miami back on Oct 29.make that FOUR in a row and a covers as well.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Dal Mavericks at 8:35 ET.

The Dallas Mavericks traded four starters in the past eight days! The latest move saw the Mavericks trade second-leading scorer Harrison Barnes (17.7 & 4.2) to the Sacramento Kings for fellow forwards Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph. Earler, the Mavs traded PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.9 & 4.3 APG), SG Wesley Matthews (13.1) and center DeAndre Jordan (11.0 & 13.7) to the New York Knicks. That leaves star rookie Luka Doncic as the lone remaining starter. "With this trade now, a lot of things are in play," Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. "Everything is going to bump a little here and a little there. I have to let the dust settle and figure out who the hell is going to start." The 40-13 Bucks own the NBA's best record and come to Dallas having won five straight games to become the first NBA team to reach 40 wins this season. Milwaukee picked up some bench help at the deadline by acquiring forward Nikola Mirotic from the New Orleans Pelicans for forwards Stanley Johnson and Jason Smith and four second-round draft picks.

Milwaukee is coming off a 148-129 home win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, a contest in which it scored 50 first-quarter points and led 85-65 at halftime en route to its highest-scoring effort of the season. Milwaukee acquired Johnson earlier in the week from the Detroit Pistons and flipped him to New Orleans to land Mirotic, who is averaging 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 32 games this season. Mirotic missed his final seven games with the Pelicans due to a calf injury and a return date isn't yet set. However, the Bucks are interested in making a long playoff run and Mirotic will help Milwaukee's starting-five is terrific, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo (27.0-12.4-5.9). He's joined by SF Middleton (17.3-5.7-4.2), guards Bledsoe (15.9-4.5-5.6) and Brogdon (15.7-4.7-3.3) plus center Lopez (12.2 & 4.1). However, no other palyer averages as much a 7.0 PPG.

Injured forward Kristaps Porzingis was the prize of the Mavs' trade with teh Knicks but he isn't slated to play this season as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear. The three guards Dallas got were Tim Hardaway Jr, (19.1 PPG this year is a career-best), Trey Burke (11.8) and Courtney Lee (played just 12 games with NY but has averaged 9.9 in his career). Expect Hardaway to get plenty of time alongside Doncic, who leads the team in scoring (20.6), rebounding (7.1) and assists (5.5). Getting more time with Barnes and Jordan gone will be the 6-11 Powell (8.5 & 4.2) and the 6-8 Finney-Smith (7.8 & 4.7).

Through all the trade rumors and actual trades, Rick Carlisle continues to do a great job keeping his team competitive. The Mavs won only 24 games last season but enters this game 25-28. The Mavs enter on a EIGHT-game winning ATS stretch. How does won ignore the fact that Dallas is an amazing 9-1 as a home dog this, while the Bucks are around 50-50 as a road favorite. Take the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Phi 76ers at 7:05 ET.

The Denver Nuggets surprisingly own the West's second-best record of 37-17, despite dropped their last two games. The Nuggets have fought through numerous key injuries and as they head to Philly tonight, shooting guard Gary Harris (14.8) could miss his fifth straight contest with a groin injury, while power forward Paul Millsap (12.0 & 6.5) is in jeopardy of sitting out his third in a row with an ankle issue. The 76ers welcome the Nuggets to Philly on the heels of making a trade which the team believes has greatly 

bolstered its title aspirations. The 76ers acquired forward Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers, a player averaging impressive totals of 20.9 PPG and 7.9 RPG.

Denver lost 135-130 to the host Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, despite center Nikola Jokic recording 25 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his 10th triple-double of the season. Jokic leads the team in scoring (20.2), rebounding (10.5) and assists (7.7).  The good news was that PG Jamal Murray (ankle) returned from a six-game absence to produce 19 points and 11 assists in 32 minutes during the loss to the Nets (he's averaging 18.5-4.3-5.0 on the season). Barton (12.0 & 6.5) is back playing regularly and not counting Harris and Millsap (see above), Denver has FIVE more players chipping in between 7.5 and 11.6 PPG.

Rookie guard Landry Shamet (8.3) was the best player Philadelphia gave up in the six-player trade, that also saw the 76ers send two first-round picks and two second-round selections to the Clippers. "We are in the unique position to contend now and we think this trade positions us well for the postseason," 76ers GM Elton Brand said in a statement. "Tobias is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA and possesses an innate ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor."Harris joins Embiid (27.4 & 13.5), Butler (18.9-4.8-3.8), Redick (18.3) and Simmons (17.4-9.4-8.0). There is NO reason for Philly NOT to be excited about the team's chances in the East!

The Nuggets are just 10-17 ATS on the road this season, while Philly is 21-6 SU at home, where the team averages 118.7 PPG. Expect Philly to avenge a 126-110 loss at Denver on Jan 26, one in which Embiid sat out. Embiid will be ready this time around and it’s likely Harris makes his debut, as well. Lay it.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Long Beach St at 10:00 ET.

Hawaii is 13-8 overall (4-3 in Big West) and will travel for just the school's fourth true road game when visiting Long Beach St on Thursday night. The 49ers are just 8-15 on the season, including 2-5 in Big West play. Hawaii easily handled LBSU 74-57 at home on Jan 31 but then lost this past Saturday at home to UC-Santa Barbara, 75-54. Long Beach St enters on a five-game slide but played very well on Saturday, falling just 82-80 at home to UC-Irvine (Anteaters are 20-5, including a Big West-best 8-1).

Hawaii has solid a starting-five led by guards Stansberry (12.4), Stepteau (9.1) and Buggs (8.8-4.2-5.3) plus up front, it's the 6-8 Raimo (11.5 & 6.6) and the 6-9 Purchase (11.4 & 6.1). PG Booker leads Hawaii in scoring (17.9) and assist (4.7) and fellow guard Alberts (10.5) give them a solid backcourt. The 6-7 Yussef (12.0 & 6.8) is now back in the lineup and joins the 6-7 Byers (8.5 & 6.2) in the frontcourt.

Long Beach has not had a good season but I liked the etam's last home effort. No reason the 49ers can't take down the so-so Rainbow Warriors in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on Arizona at 9:00 ET.

Washington was not expected to be quite this good but in a 'down' year for the Pac-12,  Mike Hopkins' Huskies sit 18-4 after an 11-game winning streak, which includes a PERFECT 11-0 start in league play. Meanwhile, Sean Miller's Wildcats are very disappointing 14-8 overall, including just 5-4 in conference play. Washington comes off Saturday's 69-55 victory over UCLA, leaving t Huskies 9-0 in conference play for the first time since winning their first nine Pacific Coast Conference games back in 1952-53. As for Arizona, the Wildcats fell at Arizona State 95-88 in overtime on Jan 31 for their third straight loss.

Sophomore guard Jaylen Nowell averages a team-high 16.6 PPG (adds 5.4 RPG) and team-best 3.4 APG. Senior guard Matisse Thybulle (9.7 points & a conference-best 3.2 steals) is one of 15 finalists for the Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year award plus Crisp (12.0) makes for an excellent perimeter trio for Washington. Senior forward Noah Dickerson chips in 12.7 PPG and a team-high 6.8 rebounds. However, he hurt his ankle in the UCLA game (had three points, six rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes Saturday before sustaining his injury. ankle) and is expected to miss this one.

Arizona knows all about missing a key player, as freshman PG Brandon Williams (12.0 PPG & team-high 3.6 APG) is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Good news came in the fact that 6-10 junior center Chase Jeter returned to the lineup Jan. 31 after missing two games with a back injury. The Duke transfer recorded seven points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes and is averaging 12.7 PPG and a club-high 7.3 rebounds. Sophomore guard Brandon Randolph averages a team-best 15.0 PPG, 11.3 more than he did as a freshman. Also regularly in the starting lineup are guard Coleman (9.1) and the 6-9 Luther (7.1 & 4.7).

Here's the bottom line. Yes, Washington returned all five starters from LY's 21-win team (NIT, not NCAA bid) but 11 straight wins? How about that 9-0 conference start, the school's best since 1952-53? Washington earned a 78-75 victory Feb. 3, 2018 over Arizona last season but that win snapped an EIGHT-game losing streak in the series, falling by an average of 13.9 PPG. Yes, Arizona has been a disappointment but the Wildcats are 10-2 at home and checks in a national-best 92-5 at the McKale Center since 2013! I checked and during that run, Arizona has NEVER been a home dog (I took plus-1.5). Arizona HAS to be teh play!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Rivalry Rout is on Memphis at 7:00 ET.

Cincinnati has won SEVEN in a row and at 19-3 (8-1 in AAC, tied for 1st with Houston), finds itself in the AP top-25 for the first time this season (Bearcats were ranked 25th in Monday's new poll). Cincy embarks on a two-game road trip that starts tonight in Memphis against the 13-9 Tigers (5-4 in AAC play) and ends at 21-1 Houston on Sunday (Cougars are currently 12th in the latest AP poll). Cincinnati held off a second-half rally from SMU for a 73-68 triumph on Saturday, extending its winning streak to seven games. Meanwhile, Memphis comes in off two straight road losses.

The Bearcats lost THREE key players from last year's team. Shooting guard Evans (13.0) and the 6-8 Clark (12.9 & 8.7) were NBA draft picks plus the 6-9 Washington (11.3 & 5.3) is also gone. Cincy depends WAY too much on Jarron Cumberlandand (18.7-4.0-3.5).  He's second in the AAC in scoring and has scored 23 points or more in three straight games. A trio of guards join him on the perimeter in Williams (11.0), Jenifer (8.8) and Broome (8.2). The 6-8 Scott (9.3 & 6.3) and the 6-11 Brooks (8.5 & 5.7) are Cincy's top-two frontcourt contributors. Mick Cronin-coached teams always play defense and the Bearcats come in allowing 61.5 PPG (11th).

Memphis wasted a record 41-point second-half performance from senior guard Jeremiah Martin in Saturday's 84-78 loss at South Florida on Saturday. The Tigers scored just 13 in the first 20 minutes and just couldn't recover. However, head coach Penny Hardaway told reporters after the game, “I’m proud of my guys for fighting back in the second half. The first half was a nightmare. The second half was our type of basketball.” Martin leads the team in scoring (16.4) and assists (4.3), while 6-8 senior forward Kyvon Davenport adds 14.4 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Tyler Harris (12.6) is the top three-point threat (56 makes) plus senior guard Kareem Brewton Jr. adds 8.9 PPG.

Memphis is nowhere near the defensive team Cincy is (Tigers allow 77.3 PPG, which ranks 301st) but here at FedEx Forum, Memphis is 11-1 SU, averaging 89.7 PPG (average margin of victory is 16-plus PPG!). This isn't exactly Cincy/Xavier in terms of a heated (hated?) rivalry but Memphis is looking to become relative again (the Pastner experience was a washout) and the Tigers would 'LOVE' to take down the Bearcats ahead of Saturday's showdown with Houston. Home dog barks LOUDLY in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on UCF at 7:00 ET.

Central Florida looked terrible in a 20-point loss at Memphis on Jan 27 but bounced back with a 73-67 home win last Thursday against UConn. The 16-4 Knights (6-2 in AAC play) haven't played since last Thursday and have to be excited about welcoming No. 12 Houston (21-1 / 8-1 in AAC play) to Orlando this Thursday. The Cougars also have had a week off since a 73-66 win over Temple, avenging their only loss of the season.

Junior guard Armoni Brooks entered the last outing as the Cougars' leading scorer but he had an off night against Temple due to foul trouble and was held to a season-low three points. He's now second on the team in scoring (14.3)m but leads in rebounding (at 6.1) to senior guard Corey Davis Jr. (15.0), who had 24 points in the win over the Owls. Senior PG Galen Robinson Jr. sits second in the conference with 5.3 assists per game, while adding 8.1 PPG. Two more guards, Jarreau (8.0 & 3.7) and Hinton (7.7 & 4.5), round out Houston's top scorers. However, Kelvin Sampson has a trio of forwards who combine for about 20 PPG and 13 RPG.

Senior guard B.J. Taylor, the conference preseason player of the year, is bidding to lead the club in scoring for the third straight season with an average of 16.9 points and the coaches' son, Aubrey Dawkins averages 15.1 PPG and  5.4 RPG. PG Allen (7.2 & 4.2 APG) makes for a nice guard trio plus 7-6 senior center Tacko Fall (9.8 points, team-high 7.1 rebounds) leads the conference with 2.8 blocks per game. He paces the AAC in field-goal shooting at 75.7 percent to help the Knights shoot a conference-best 46.8 percent. The 6-11 Smith (8.2 & 5.2) is a quality side-kick.

Houston is a terrific defensive team, allowing 60.5 PPG (6th) on 36.3% shooting (2nd). UCF ranks second in the conference to Houston in field goal percentage defense (39.3) and third behind Houston and Cincinnati in scoring defense (63.9) but it's a much-improved and efficient offense that is the difference in the team this season (see above). Central Florida was the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference and has a GREAT chance here to make this a nip-and-tuck race to the finish by winning here. Houston and Cincy are both 8-1 but a UCF win over Houston and with some help, a Memphis home win tonight over Cincy, the Knights would be 7-2  to Houston and Cincy's 8-2 mark. UCF can't control the Cincy/Memphis outcome but the Knights can and WILL win here.

Good luck...Larry

James Harden takes the court tonight in Sacramento, looking to record his 28th straight game of 30 or more points. The 31-22 Houston Rockets visit the 28-25 Sacramento Kings on Wednesday and have won 15 of their last 17 meetings against the Kings. However, this is not "your father's" Kings. The upstart Kings extended their home-court winning streak to SEVEN in a row on Monday, with a 127-112 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. A  28-25 mark may see ho-hum to some but Sacramento won just 27 games ALL of last season and last produced a winning record back in the 2005-06 season. on Monday (current 12-year playoff drought), a triumph that left Sacramento on 

Harden poured in 44 points in Monday's 118-110 road win over the Phoenix Kings, registering his 20th, 40-point outing of the season. Harden has now scored 40 or more points in 15 of the last 21 games. "They held him to 44. That's pretty good," Housto head n coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters afterward. "He's seen everything, he's going to score." Power forward Kenneth Faried filled in at center with Capela out and had 17 points and matched his season best of 14 rebounds to post his fifth double-double in the past six games. However, he's played in just 20 games this season, averaging 9.7 & 6.3. The injury-ravaged Rockets have just four games remaining until the All-Star break offers some much-needed rest (more later). 

Sacramento is now 3-0 on a six-game homestand, after Monday's 127-112 victory over the Spurs. Rookie forward Marvin Bagley III (13.2 & 6.9) has recorded three straight double-doubles and had a season-high 24 points, to go along with 12 rebounds during the victory over the Kings. The No. 2 overall selection from Duke, is averaging 18.3 points and 12.3 rebounds over the past three games and scored in double digits in six straight outings. Buddy Hield, the key player in the Boogie Cousins trade, leads Sacramento in averaging 20.4 PPG, while shooting a white-hot 45.9% on threes. Second-year PG Fox (17.5 & 7.2 APG) is looking like a future All-Star as well. Also, Bogdanovich (14.9) and center Cauley-Stein (13.1 & 8.6) have become regular contributors.

Here's the rub. The Rockets won in Phoenix on Monday without center Clint Capela (right thumb) and guard Eric Gordon (right leg), utilizing their 16th different starting lineup in the process. They have thrived on occasion despite the injuries, but far more often they have persevered, with forward P.J. Tucker the only member of the roster to have participated in all 53 contests. PG Chris Paul has missed 23 games this season, while Gordon has missed 12 and Capela 11. James Ennis III made his 25th start in the Rockets' 118-110 victory, but he's been absent 14 games. Have to LOVE the way Sacramento is playing and the team's stretch of home wins is the longest since the Kings won 14 straight during the 2005-06 campaign (last playoff appearance!). Sacramento is 17-10 SU and 19-8 ATS at the Golden 1 Center and comes in having won and covered SEVEN straight at home. No reason NOT to take them here as a home dog, considering the fact that Houston is 5-11 ATS as a road favorite this season.

Good luck...Larry

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

UCLA dismissed head coach Steve Alford on December 31, 2018, two days after the Bruins' ugly 73-58 loss to Liberty. It marked the first time the program ever had made a coaching change in the middle of the season. Murry Bartow (son of former UCLA coach Gene Bartow) was named interim coach for the Bruins and in his first game (at home vs Stanford), UCLA ended a four-game slide with a 92-70 win over te Cardinal. Two more wins followed but the 'honeymoon' period is over for UCLA's interim coach, as following that 3-0 start in the conference, UCLA has dropped four of its last six Pac-12 games and finds itself in the middle of the pack at the midpoint of the conference season (12-10 / 5-4). The 12-9 Colorado Buffs visit Pauley Pavilion tonight, Meanwhile, Colorado comes in having dropped four of its last six and at 3-6 in the conference, is sitting above only Washington State (1-8) and California (0-9) in the standings.

Surprisingly, the Buffaloes are coming off a win a lopsided 73-51 victory over visiting Oregon last Saturday. The Buffs dominated Oregon on the glass (45-32) and at the free-throw line, draining 24-of-28 attempts while the Ducks were 11-of-18. Sophomore swingman Tyler Bey led the way with a career-high 27 points on 9-of-9 shooting while pulling down 10 rebounds. Bey averages 12.2 PPG (2nd-best on te team) plus 8.9 RPG (team-leader). PG Wright leads the team in scoring (12.8) and assists (4.8) plus also averages a healthy 4.8 RPG. Fellow guards Gatling and Schwartz combine to chip in 17.6 PPG plus the 6-10 Siewert (11.6 & 5.1) is Colorado's best big man.

Three of UCLA’s four Pac-12 losses have come on the road with the latest being a 69-55 decision Saturday at first-place Washington. The Bruins’ 55 points were a season low while connecting on only 4-of-15 3-point attempts and also committing 23 turnovers. Guard Kris Wilkes scored 20 of the Bruins’ 55 points and leads the team at 17.7 PPG. PG  Jaylen Hands (11.7 & 6.5 APG), fellow gurad Prince Ali (10.7)  and freshman center Moses Brown (11.2 & 8.8) round out UCLA's double digit scorers. Wilkes has scored in double figures in 24 straight contests (dating back to last season) and is averaging 23.3 points over his last three contests while shooting 56.3 percent during that span. 

Even after the 55-point effort versus Washington, the Bruins are averaging a conference-best 79.4 points in Pac-12 play, while the Buffaloes are 10th at just 69.4.

The Bruins should still be highly motivated, as a possible top-4 seeding in the Pac-12 tournament would give them a bye into the quarterfinal round. UCLA should surely remember losing 68-59 at home to Colorado (as an 11 1/2-point favorite) and 80-76 in Boulder, last season. Note that prior to that, UCLA had won SEVEN of the eight matchups since Colorado joined the Pac-12 in 2011. Revenge works here, as UCLA has won 40 of 46 games in Pauley Pavilion since the start of the 2016-17 season and Colorado is 1-6  ATS away from Boulder since Dec 1, with the only "W" coming in 68-59 win at Pac-12 doormat Cal (0-9 in league play). Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on Alabama at 9:00 ET.

13-8 Alabama has struggled to find consistency in SEC play, alternating wins and losses in its past seven conference games. The Crimson Tide sit 4-4 in league play, after getting routed last Saturday night at in-state rival Auburn, 84-63. Runs of 21-2 and 17-0 in the first half put Alabama in a 20-point hole at halftime in an eventual 21-point loss.

Alabama returns home tonight to welcome 10-1 Georgia to Tuscaloosa. Unlike Alabama, Georgia has been consistent in SEC play. However, not in a good way. The Bulldogs have lost SEVEN of their first eight conference games under first-year coach Tom Crean, after Saturday’s 86-80 home loss to South Carolina.

While Georgia's offense showed signs of promise in Saturday's loss with 80 points, the Bulldogs were torched defensively by 57 percent shooting from the floor and 69 percent shooting from three-point range by the Gamecocks. “Today, we did not guard the basketball, and we did not guard the shooter,” Crean told the media afterward. “After a while, the basket looked like Lake Michigan because it was so open. 6-9 senior forward Derek Ogbeide is averaging 14.6 points in his past three SEC games and has raised his average for the season to 10.0 PPG (also 6.0 rebounds), giving Georgia three frontcourt players averaging in double figures. 6-10 sophomore forward Rayshaun Hammonds (12.9 & 6.7) and fellow sophomore, the 6-11 Nicolas Claxton (12.7 & 9.3) are the other two. Guard Crump (10.5) joins those three frontcourt players in double digits.

"They had more energy, they out-hustled us,” Alabama head coach Avery Johnson told reporters after the loss at Auburn. “We didn’t have our best game. We got off to a decent start, but they got us with their transition offense (and) obviously their 3-point shooting.” Sophomore guard John Perry scored a team-best 18 points Saturday, and in his past four SEC games is averaging 19 points per game (up to12.0  PPG on the season). Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads the Crimson Tide in scoring at 13.6 PPG. Up front, 6-9 senior forward Donta Hall is third in the SEC in rebounding at 8.9 per contest and eighth in blocked shots at two per game while averaging 11.5 PPG.

Heavily-recruited freshman PG  Kira Lewis (13.6 ppg) continues to display remarkable poise and self-confidence and gets better with each game. Also, senior forward Donta Hall is flirting with a double-double every game. I already noted Georgia's SEC woes (1-7 conference start) and includes going 0-4 SU & 1-3 ATS on the road, allowing 92 points or more in THREE of the four! Alabama may also just remember LY's 65-46 blowout in Athens, its worst offensive showing of the 2017-18 campaign. Alabama takes this one with "room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Temple at 6:30 ET.

UConn travels to Philly with a 13-9 overall record, including 4-5 in AAC play. Connecticut has taken advantage of a soft schedule in recent weeks, having defeated Tulane (0-9), Wichita State (3-6) and East Carolina (2-7), three of the bottom four teams in the AAC (Huskies lost at 16-4 / 6-2 UCF last Thursday). However, the Huskies will face a stiffer test Wednesday at Temple. The Owls are 16-6 overall (6-3 in AAC play) and 8-2 SU on their home floor.

UConn is led by the backcourt duo of senior Jalen Adams (17.7 & 4.0) and junior Christian Vital (13.8 & 5.3). The Huskies rolled over East Carolina 76-52 on Sunday but Adams was benched for most of the second half after he walked away from head coach Dan Hurley, and then the two engaged in a more animated exchange. "His game was over at that point, regardless of where the score went," Hurley told reporters. "We could have lost by 18, he was done." Adams was held scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting but the 6-11 Josh Carlton (just 8.1 & 5.5 on the season) picked up the slack with 20 points and 16 rebounds (both career highs).

Temple owns a three-headed scoring attack on the perimeter in PG Shizz Alston Jr. (18.4 & 4.9 APG) plus fellow guards Quinton Rose (17.1) and Nate Pierre-Louis (13.8 & 6.0). The Owls have a chance here to make a statement as to whether they will be a player in the AAC down the stretch, or just one of the also-rans.

I'm sure UConn is aching for a rematch after suffering its worst AAC loss of 2017-18 in last season's 85-57 thumping in Philly. However, UConn is 0-4 SU in true road games this season. The Owls are 8-2 SU at home this season, so this pointspread seems more that manageable, especially not knowing UConn's Adams state of mind (see above).

Good luck...Larry

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

The Florida State Seminoles opened the season with a 12-1 record and were ranked 9th in the AP poll when they lost 65-52 at UVa  on Jan 5. That began a 1-4 stretch but the Seminoles have rebounded from a three-game losing streak to win three in a row and at 16-5 (4-4 ACC) are No. 22 in the current AP poll. Syracuse lost at home to 'neighbor' Buffalo 71-59 back on Dec 18 but the Orange have since gone 9-2 SU & ATS to check in at 16-6, including 7-2 in ACC play.

The Seminoles didn't do much offensively against Georgia Tech in a 69-59 win at Ga Tech in their last game. "We've got to find a way to smooth it out where we're consistent with how we go out and perform every night out," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton told reporters. "That's kind of been a moving target for us. I'm just glad that we're back to 4-4 (in the ACC). We have to keep hopefully moving in the right direction." Only two Florida State players scored in double figures, the 6-10 Mfiondu Kabengele (13.0 & 5.0) and guard Terance Mann (11.4 & 6.6), who scored 12 points apiece. FSU finished at 34.8 percent from the floor (including 4-of-16 on threes) but held the Yellow Jackets to 28.3 percent shooting, including 3-of-21 from beyond the arc.

Syracuse's leading scorer, Tyus Battle (17.5), scored 31 points against Boston College last week but in his other three games since Jan 24, he has averaged just 8.7 points on 8-of-31 shooting. On the other hand, PG Frank Howard (8.4 & 3.3 APG) is coming on of late and scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half of Saturday's win against Pittsburgh. Up front, head coach Jim Boeheim's team features forwards Elijah Hughes (14.1 & 4.4) and the Oshae Brissett (13.5 & 7.6). as always, Boeheim's zone D is giving opponents fits this season, as Syracuse allows just 63.6 PPG (20th in the nation).

FSU's Kabengele averages only 19.3 minutes (fifth-most on the team) but leads the Seminoles in scoring (13.0).I'm not sure he and the 7-4 Koumadji (6.4 & 5.4) will match up all that well against Syracuse's frontcourt duo of Hughes and Brisset. The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings between these two schools and note that Syracuse is allowing just 58.3 PPG in its 14 home games this season. The Orange were able to win at Duke earlier and should have little trouble shutting down FSU's mediocre offense here in the Carrier Dome.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NBA Game of the Week is on the Cha Hornets at 7:05 ET.

The LA Clippers are 29-25, a record which gives them the West's No. 8 seed. LA is just 2 1/2 games out of the No. 5 seed but also just three games ahead of the No. 11 seed. The Clippers continue their six-game road trip with a visit to Charlotte on Tuesday. The Hornets are 26-26, leaving them with the East's No. 7 seed, three games up on the 9th-seeded Pistons. Charlotte has knocked off Memphis and Chicago in the first two of a three-game homestand.

The Clippers got off to a fine start on their six-game road trip with a win at Detroit on Saturday but could not handle Toronto on Sunday on the second of a back-to-back, dropping a 121-103 decision. Visits to Indiana, Boston and Minnesota  will round out the trip, as LA clings to the No. 8 spot in the West. PF Harris continues to lead the team in scoring (20.7) and rebounding (7.9), while Lou Williams (19.2 & 5.7 APG) continues to play as well as any sixth-man in the league. SF Gallinari (19.0 & 6.0) and backup PF Harrell (15.6 & 6.7) are both major contributors, as well.

All-Star PG Kemba Walker (24.6-4.2-5.6) continues to carry the team and scored 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter on Saturday against Chicago, while adding 10 assists. NINE more players get regularly minutes for Charlotte, averaging between 6.6 and 14.8 PPG. 6-5 SG Lamb is the team's second-best scorer and also leads the team in rebounding (5.6). Finding secondary scoring is the always a big challenge for Charlotte but second-year guard Malik Monk (10.4) is stepping up as of late. He scored 18 points against the Bulls, his fourth straight game scoring in double figures.

The Hornets are catching the Clippers at the right time, as LA limps into Charlotte 5-9 SU & ATS over the team's last 14 games. Meanwhile, Charlotte is 19-8 SU at home (compared to 7-18 on the road), having won FIVE straight at Spectrum Center (4-1 ATS), as well as NINE of 10 since mid-December. No real pointspread to cover here, so go with the Hornets.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Northwestern at 7:00 ET.

Penn State picked up some nice victories early in the season (the best being a 63-62 win over now 18-3 Virginia Tech) but the Nittany Lions are 0-10 in Big 12 play, after opening 2019 with EIGHT consecutive losses (2-6 ATS). Penn State (7-14, 0-10 Big Ten) visits Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston to take on Northwestern (12-9, 3-7 Big Ten) on Monday. The Wildcats look to halt a two-game losing skid when they host Penn State. Northwestern dropped a 62-46 decision at Wisconsin on Jan 26, before suffering a 70-52 setback at then-No. 21 Maryland on Jan 29 (Northwestern is 0-4 against ranked teams this season).

Penn State is still winless in Big Ten play after coming up short in its upset bid of No. 17 Purdue on Thursday. The Nittany Lions rallied from a 17-point deficit to force overtime against the red-hot Boilermakers, but ended up on the wrong side of a 99-90 final. Penn St looks for its first win of 2019, as the Nittany Lions last win came back on Dec 29 against UMBC. "I know our record isn't what we expect or where we want it to be but the kids are competing and playing hard," Penn State head coach Patrick Chambers told reporters. "The ultimate goal down the stretch here in February is that they continue to progress."The 6-8 Lamar Stevens leads in scoring (18.9) and rebounding (7.7) and had a team-high 24 points and pulled down six rebounds in the loss to Purdue. Guard Rasir Bolton (10.1 & 4.7) had 18 points and is joined in the backcourt by PG Josh Reaves (10.1 & 3.6 APG) and Myles Dread (9.0). The 6-9 Watkins (8.5 & 8.6) joins Stevens up front.

The 6-7 Vic Law leads Northwestern in scoring (15.3) and adds 6.6 RPG. He was limited to five points in the loss to Maryland. Anthony Gaines (6.5 & 4.4) scored 11 of his career-high 18 points in the second half and pulled down seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats shot 31 percent from the floor in the loss to Maryland. 6-8 center Dererk Pardon (13.9 & 7.8) added 14 points and seven rebounds against the Terrapins to finish in double figures for the 19th time in 21 games. Ryan Taylor (11.7) joins Gaines in the backcourt, while the 6-7 Turner (8.1) joins the frontcourt plus leads the team in assists (3.3).

I guess Penn St will eventually win a game but I don't expect it to be here against a Northwestern team that still has postseason hopes (albeit one of the three-lettered ones!). Penn State has lost EIGHT consecutive true road games, including all SIX this season while averaging only 62.7 PPG. Meanwhile, Northwestern is 9-3 SU at home, while holding opponents to 60.8 PPG at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The price is 'cheap' in this one.

Good luck...Larry

The 17-35 Atlanta Hawks sit 7 1/2 games out of the East's final playoff spot as they head into the finale of a seven-game road trip Monday night at the 22-30 Washington Wizards. The Hawks are 3-3 on the trip so far, after Saturday’s 118-112 victory at Phoenix. The Wizards continue to adjust to life without PG John Wall (20.7 & 8.7 APG), as they come off losing 131-115 at home to Milwaukee on Saturday, their fourth defeat in the past six games. However, Washington sits a more modest 2 1/2 games out of the East's No. 8 seed.

Atlanta’s draft-night trade sent Luka Doncic to Dallas for Trae Young. Doncic is likely headed for ROY honors but Young's 'star' is 'shining brightly' these days as well. He has scored 20 or more points with eight-plus assists in each of his last four games, scoring 27 points with eight assists and seven rebounds in Saturday's win over the Suns. He's second on the team in scoring (16.9) and leads Atlanta by handing out 7.4 APG. Atlanta's top scorer and rebounder is second-year player John Collins. The 6-10 big man out of Wake Forest averages 19.7 & 9.9. Collins matched his career high with 35 points Saturday and added 16 rebounds (one off his career best). The Hawks have plenty of depth, as seven players average in double digits but the team struggles because it allows 118.0 PPG (30th of 30 teams). 

Guard Bradley Beal (24.7-5.0-5.1) scored 24 points in the loss to Milwaukee but he continues to raise his game in Wall’s absence, averaging 27.3 points and shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range in the 17 games since Wall was shut down with a season-ending ankle injury. PG Tomas Satoransky made 41 starts when Wall was injured last season and is averaging 10.4 points and 5.8 assists in 30 starts this season. Trevor Ariza was acquired from Phoenix and the SF has played very well in 22 games, averaging 14.8-5.8-4.1. Otto Porter Jr. (12.6 & 5.6) returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench for most of January, and despite a sprained toe finished with 18 points and seven rebounds Saturday. 

The Hawks have been on an extended road trip because of the Super Bowl being played in Atlanta and will return home after Monday's game. I have to like the Wizards in this one, as the Hawks are just 9-22 SU on the road, allowing a whopping 118.2 PPG. Meanwhile, the Wizards are 7-3 SU and 8-2 ATS at home their last 10. Lay it.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the New England Patriots (6:30 EST).

With a spread like this, clearly the oddsmakers all agree that these teams are very evenly matched. Honestly it wouldn’t be hard to write a convincing argument for either to this one.

New England of course is the most storied franchise in the recent history of the NFL. This is Pats’ QB Tom Brady’s ninth Super Bowl. Brady is looking for a record breaking sixth championship win and I believe his veteran poise in this big game will “win the day.”

As I stated off the top, clearly it wouldn’t be difficult to write a great argument on why the Rams should win this game. The combination of Jared Goff and Todd Gurley is a formidable one.

Goff and the Rams dispatched the Saints 26-23 in OT in New Orleans two weeks ago, avenging an earlier loss in which they were torched for 45 points. Plenty of controversy surrounded the Rams victory of course and while that’s now in the past, I think LA will have its hands full again with the veteran Brady.

Brady and company looked sharp in their 37-31 win in Kansas City. Pats’ RB Sony Michel had 113 yards on 29 carries, while WR Julian Edelman led the way with seven catches for 96 yards. 

The Pats’ looked extremely sharp defensively last week I thought though, although the score may not have completely reflected that, as note the unit held Chiefs’ dynamic QB Patrick Mahomes to just 16 of 31 passes, while also sacking him four times (Mahomes finished the regular season with 50 passing TDs).

I like Brady. I like New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Bill Bellichick over their younger and less experienced counterparts.

He’s not my favorite player, but wagering on the Super Bowl has nothing to do with who you personally “like.” Brady is a man on a mission and I look for him to put on a vintage performance here.

Play on New England.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on Creighton at 1:00 ET.

Xavier hasn't spent much time worrying about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, having gone 'dancing' in 16 of the last 18 seasons but this season is shaping up much differently. The Musketeers have missed the NCAA Tournament just ONCE in the last 13 seasons and haven't finished with a losing conference record since 1982. However, both of those scenarios are in danger of becoming reality in the 2018-19 season. Xavier was the Big East's regular-season champion last season (15-3) but enter Sunday in a tie for last-place in the conference at 3-6 with Providence. The Musketeers lost for a fourth straight time Thursday at Georgetown (80-73), falling to 11-11. As for Creighton (12-9 / 3-5 Big East), the Bluejays rank second in the Big East in scoring with 82.7 PPG and are one of seven teams in the nation shooting at least 50 percent from the floor (50.1% ranks 5th) but the offense "crapped out" in an 83-67 loss at home to St. John's on Wednesday (Creighton finished with a season-worst 41.7 percent mark from the floor).

"I was really disappointed," head coach Travis Steele told reporters after Xavier allowed 52 second-half points in the loss at Georgetown. "I told our guys going into the game we couldn't have the mentality to try to outscore the Hoyas. We had to have that defensive nastiness and toughness, which I didn't think we had at all in the second half." Xavier has great balance on offense, with five players scoring in double figures. Guard Scruggs (13.4 & 4.9) leads the way, followed by the 6-7 Marshall (13.3 & 7.0), PG Goodin (12.1 & 4.8 APG), the 6-9 Jones (11.0 & 7.4) and the 6-11 Hankins (10.2 & 4.9). So why is Xavier 11-11?

The Bluejays had won two straight before their uncharacteristic offensive struggles vs St John's, which included a 9-of-34 showing from beyond the arc. Alexander leads the team in scoring (17.4) while four other players average between 10.0 and 11.4 PPG. The Bluejays own a deep perimeter, as Ballock (10.9 & 3.6 APG), Zegarowski (10.8) and Mintz (10.0) join Alexander at the guard position. The 6-9 Krampelj (11.4 & 6.3) and SF Jefferson (9.4 & 5,4) have been the best frontcourt contributors but Jefferson remains out with an ankle injury.

No reason to think that Creighton won't bounce back from its horrible shooting effort on Wednesday, as the Bluejays not only rank 5th nationally by making 50.1% of all FGs, they also rank 4th in the nation from three-point range at 41.6%. Xavier is 1-5 SU in true road games this year, where the team is averaging just 62.8 PPG. I expect a big bounce-back effort from Creighton and Xavier will NOT be able to keep up.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Sac Kings at 10:05 ET.

The Philadelphia 76ers are 34-18 (currently own the East's third-best record, four game back of the Bucks) and will try to avoid a letdown after what has to be the team's best win of the season. The 76ers put up a 42-point third quarter en route to a 113-104 win at Golden State on Thursday, snapping the defending champs' 11-game winning streak. Philly now wraps up a four-game road trip at the Sacramento Kings, who are 26-25. That may not seem like much but Sacramento won just 27 games ALL of last season and last produced a winning record back in the 2005-06 season.

"It's a fantastic win. This group -- myself included -- we have not beaten Golden State," head coach Brett Brown told reporters. "To do it on the road, to do it in front of their fans against a team that is this good and had won that many in a row, it is a good night." Joel Embiid had 26 points and 20 rebounds in the victory as Philadelphia improved to 14-5 against the Western Conference, the top mark in the East. Embiid (27.2 & 13.4) gets better each game and is supported by Butler (18.6-3.2-5.0 in his 30 games with Philly), Redick (18.3) and Simmons (16.8-9.5-8.1). Philly averages 115.6 PPG (4th-best) but allows 111.9 PPG (21st), including 114.8 PPG on the road where the 76ers are a modest 13-13.

The Kings returned from a 2-4 road trip and routed the Atlanta Hawks 135-113 on Wednesday night. Harry Giles (just 6.0 PPG on the season) recorded a season-high 20 points for Sacramento in what was the opener of a six-game homestand. Rookie Marvin Bagley III backed Giles' big effort with 17 points and 12 rebounds of his own against Atlanta as the young Duke products provided a potential glimpse of the future for Sacramento. He's back healthy and is averaging 12.9 & 6.6 RPG. Buddy Hield, the key player in the Boogie Cousins trade, leads Sacramento in averaging 20.2 PPG, while shooting a white-hot 45.8% on threes. Second-year PG Fox (17.4 & 7.2 APG) is looking like a futre All-Star as well. Also, Bogdanovich (15.3) and center Cauley-Stein (13.1 & 8.7) have become regular contributors.

Head coach Dave Joerger has an "under the radar" good team in Sacramento. Aren't the Sixers in an obvious "let-down" situation here? It shouldn't go unnoticed that Philly is just 12-20 ATS coming off a SU win this season and beating Golden St in Oakland is no ordinary win! Meanwhile, Sacramento is 15-10 SU and 17-8 ATS at the Golden 1 Center and comes in having won and covered five straight at home. The Kings have also won FOUR of their last five over Philly, including a 2-0 SU & ATS sweep last season. Home dog barks LOUDLY in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Bailout Blowout is on UC-Irvine at 10:00 ET.

The UC Irvine Anteaters and Long Beach State 49ers meet Saturday in college basketball action at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach. UC-Irvine is the class of the Big West, checking in at 18-5, including 6-1 in league play. Meanwhile, Long Beach St is just 8-14, including 2-4 in conference games. The Anteaters have won seven of their last eight games but the loss came at home to LBSU, 80-70 on Jan 16.  Meanwhile, the 49ers could really use a victory here, as they enter on a four-game losing streak

UC-Irvine owns a solid backcourt duo in Hazzard (11.5) and Leonard (10.4) but this team is mostly about defense, as the Anteaters allow just 65.0 PPG (74th), while holding opponents to only 38.5% from the floor (8th-best in the nation). UC-Irvine is an excellent 9-2 SU in true road games and will seek revenge here (more on that later).

Long Beach St has a long trip back from a Thursday night game in Hawaii, with the trip being made even longer due toan 74-57 loss. PG Booker (17.4 & 4.7 PG) and fellow guard Alberts (10.3) give LBSU a solid backcourt but the 6-7 Yussef (12.2 & 6.9) had not played since Dec 29. He returned at Hawaii  but scored just THREE points. The 6-7 Byers (8.2 & 6.2) is the only other notable frontcourt contributor. While UC-Irvine clamps down on the defensive end, LBSU allows 77.4 PPG (30th)!

Yes, UC-Irvine is the road team but while UCI makes the short trip up I-405 to "the Beach" and the Pyramid, LBSU had to fly back from Hawaii on Friday. "Payback" plays a big part here, as UC-Irvine's excelellent D (see above), allowed LBSU to score 80 points in that home loss at the Bren Center back on Jan 16. The Anteaters are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 road games and the road team is 9-4-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings between the two Big West rivals. Long Beach comes in on an 0-4 SU & ATS run. UC-Irvine knows how to win on the road and does just that here, with "room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Rivalry Rout is on Auburn at 8:00 ET.

Alabama/Auburn in college hoops is not quite like the "Iron Bowl" on the football field but is still carries plenty of 'weight!' 13-7 Alabama (4-3 SEC) knocked off three ranked teams last in January and now  looks to start February in style with a road victory against in-state rival Auburn on Saturday night. The Crimson Tide beat now-No. 7 Kentucky on Jan 5 and then-No. 20 Ole Miss on Jan 22, before taking a double-digit lead and holding on for an 83-79 victory over 22-ranked Mississippi State on Tuesday. As for 14-6 Auburn (3-4 SEC), the Tigers won NINE of their first 10 games but have gone 5-5, since. Auburn was ranked 14th at 13-3, when it lost to Kentucky, the first of a three-game skid. The Tigers snapped that three-game losing streak by pulling away in the second half for a 92-58 victory over visiting Missouri on Wednesday,

Alabama head coach Avery Johnson told reporters his team still has “malfunctions,” but continues to battle and possesses strong balance: “We had quite a few guys offensively contribute (Tuesday). When you have eight guys in the rotation with six, seven or more points, it’s kind of hard to scout where our offense is coming from.” PG Lewis leads in scoring at 13.9 PPG but his team-high 2.8 APG is VERY low for a PG. Fellow guard Petty averages 11.8 & 4.2, while four more guards chip in between 6.6 & 8.6 PPG. The 6-9 Hall (11.7 & 8.9) is 'Bama's lone big man of note.

“Three (losses) in a row, that wasn’t us,” Tigers junior forward Danjel Purifoy told reporters after scoring a season-high eight points against Missouri. “We just came out tonight just trying to be ourselves and play like we normally play.” Senior guard Bryce Brown (16.8) is the team's leading scorer and tops the team in three-point makes (71). Junior PG Jared Harper (15.4) leads the SEC in assists (6.5), while 6-8 sophomore forward Chuma Okeke has stepped up in Austin Wiley's absence, to average 10.6 & 6.3 on the season. He's averaging 12.8 points over the last five contests, with the 6-11 Wiley (10.8 & 6.1) missing the last four with a leg injury.

This is an important crossroads SEC contest, as Alabama has not won back-to-back games in almost a month and need to add a win here to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume. Same for Auburn, which sits under .500 in the SEC. It's been reported that the 6-11 Wiley is slated to return from injury for this rivalry game and that would be GREAT news. Even if he's not back, I'm "all over' the revenge-minded Tigers, who were knocked out of the 1st round of the SEC tourney last year in a 81-63 loss to Alabama. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Revenge Rout is on St Mary's at 4:00 ET.

It's hardly news that 20-2 Gonzaga (No. 4 in the latest AP poll) is dominating the WCC once again with a 7-0 record. However, what is a surprise, is that the St Mary's Gaels are just 13-8 overall, including only 4-3 in league play (that leaves then tied for 4th in the WCC). The Gaels will welcome San Francisco to Moraga, Ca this afternoon  The surprising Dons have won 20 and 22 games the last two seasons (lost in the CIT championship game last year) but not many predicted them to be 17-4 (5-2 in WCC play) at this point in this year's season.

The Dons look to get back in the win column after a 67-64 loss at San Diego on Tuesday, which ended a three game winning streak. San Francisco appeared to be in control with an 11-point lead at the break but San Diego went on a 46-31 second half run behind a 47.8%-34.5% shooting edge and seven more makes at the FT line.San Francisco starts guards Mineland (14.9 & 5.1), Ferrari (13.7-5.5 APG) and Ratinho (9.7), with the 7-0 Lull (8.0 & 5.5) and the 6-8 Renfro (7.2 & 5.30, up front. However, the 6-9 McCarthy comes off the bench to average 10.5 PPG and a team-high 6.8 RPG.

The Saint Mary’s Gaels limp in having dropped back to back contests, after an 84-77 OT loss at Pepperdine as an eight point favorite (lost at BYU 71-66 before that). The 6-8 Malik Fitts (15.7 & 7.8) kept the Gaels in the game pouring in 27 points and hauling in nine rebounds, while leading scorer Jordan Ford (21.7) had 17 points. Joining Ford in the backcourt are PG Kuhse (4.6 & 3.2 APG) and Krebs (9.0 & 4.2). 6-10 center Howard averages 9.4 & 6.0.

Randy Bennett's first six seasons at St Mary's resulted in just one postseason appearance (a first round NCAA loss in 2005). However, he's led the Gaels to 11 straight postseason berths entering this season. That streak could end in 2019, as St Mary's checks in just 13-8. However, don't be too quick to eliminate the Gaels. San Francisco might be the second best team in the WCC but it will be tough to sweep the Gaels (won 76-72 at home back on Jan 3). There is plenty of pride on this St Mary's program and note that the Gaels are not just 10-2 SU at home this season but also a MONEY-MAKING 10-2 ATS (have outscored opponents 87.1-to-65.9 PPG). Revenge works, here!

Good luck...Larry

My ACC Ranked vs Ranked Showdown is an 8* on North Carolina at 2;00 ET.

Louisville is on its best stretch ever in the ACC (six straight wins), although it is admittedly a sample size that includes only five seasons.However, the 15th-ranked Cardinals (16-5) are 7-1 in ACC play, tied atop the league with UVa and Duke. Coming to town on Saturday for this critical ACC showdown is No. 9 North Carolina (14-6 / 6-1 in the ACC), which was stunned by Louisville 83-62 back on Jan 12 in Chapel Hill (Tar Heels were favored by points). That romp was the first of what has become three ACC road victories by margins of more than 20 points for the Cardinals, while the Tar Heels have won four games in a row since the loss to Louisville. Fair to say this game sets up, well!

Carolina comes in off crushing Georgia Tech 77-54 on Tuesday. Senior guard Cameron Johnson (leading scorer at 15.8 PPG) scored a game-high 22 on 8-of-10 shooting Tuesday, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Freshman guard Coby White (15.2 & a team-high 4.2 APG) added 19 while hitting five from downtown, as the Tar Heels have shot 48.1 percent overall and 47.1 percent beyond the arc in their last two. Up front, 6-8 senior Maye averages 13.9 & 9.7 plus 6-6 freshman Little averages 10.5 & 4.5. North Carolina 'lights up' scoreboards, averaging 87.3 PPG (3rd-best).

Louisville dominated all aspects of its win three weeks ago in handing Tar Heels their worst home loss under coach Roy Williams. Cardinals center Steven Enoch had a season-high 17 off the bench in that win, while forwards Dwayne Sutton and Jordan Nwora also chipped in with 17. That victory ignited a six-game winning streak for Louisville, with its most recent victory coming in an 82-54 blowout at Wake Forest on Wednesday. The 6-7 Nwora leads the team in scoring (18.7) and rebounding (7.8), while SF Sutton (10.2 & 6.9) and PG Cunningham (10.1 & 4.4 APG) are the only other players in double digits. However, Louisville does average 79.6 PPG, ranking 48th in the nation

I have to go with the revenge motive here, as the Tar Heels are not only third in the nation in scoring (87.6 points) but second in the country in assists per game (19.8). The Tar Heels are 4-0 in ACC road games for the first time in 11 seasons and they are 6-1 overall in true road this season (winning by 15 points per), falling only at then-No. 7 Michigan. In the past five games, Louisville has encountered only one ranked team (won at home against NC State) but this contest with the Tar Heels marks the first of four straight games for Louisville against ranked teams (watch out!). First things first. NC gets its revenge right here.

Good luck...Larry

The first 9* Eye-Opener for Saturday is on Oklahoma at 12 noon ET.

Oklahoma is 15-6 overall but just 3-5 in Big-12 play, after an embarrassing 77-47 home loss on Big Monday by Baylor, when the Sooners shot a season-worst 27% from the floor. OU travels to Morgantown on Saturday for a 12 noon contest against West Va, which is just 9-12, including a woeful 1-7 in Big-12 play.

“Not much from our direction, not much positive,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger told reporters after his team’s third loss in five games. “(The Bears) had their way on both ends of the floor. We didn’t do what we have to do to fight that off. We were way too tentative to match their physicality.” Not one Sooners player managed to hit half their field goal attempts in Monday’s setback and outside of Kristian Doolittle’s team-high 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting, the rest of the team's starters combined to go 5-for-29 from the floor and 2-for-15 from three-point range.6-4 senior gaurd Christian James leads in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (7.3), while the 6-9 Manek (11.1 & 6.7) is the only other Sooner in double digits. However, six Oklahoma players chip in between 4.1 and 8.9 PPG.

“This team gets loose balls less than any team I’ve ever had,” head coach Huggins told reporters after the frustrating loss that saw a pair of technical fouls lead to the coach’s ejection late in the second half. “They offensive-rebound it less than any team I’ve ever had. When you couple that with not being very good shooters, that’s a formula for being (9-12).” It’s hard to argue with Huggins' assessment, as the Mountaineers are last in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage (42.1), field-goal percentage defense (44) and steals (5.8). What's more, the Mountaineers could be without two key performers, 6-8 forward Sagaba Konote and junior guard James Bolden. Konote leads the team in scoring (13.6) and rebounding (8.0) but is out indefinitely with a knee injury, while Bolden (12.2) missed the Iowa State loss due to an ankle injury.

Expect Lon Kruger’s Oklahoma team to quickly regain its mojo against West Va's sieve-like defense, which has yielded a whopping 83 points or more in FIVE of its last 6six game. As  Bob Huggins has bemoaned,  “We generally take pride in being able to guard, but this group’s made me a liar.”  Also not that the Mountaineers enter February ranked 328th out of 351 Division I teams with 15.8 turnovers per game.

Good luck...Larry

The third 9* Eye-Opener for Saturday is on USF at 12 noon ET.

South Florida looks to continue its climb into the top half of the American Athletic Conference with a third straight victory when Memphis pays a visit on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls are 14-6 (4-4 in AAC play) and have already won their most contests (14) since 2011-12. USF is off seasons of 10, 7, 8, 9 and 12 wins. The Bulls have answered a three-game losing streak by beating Wichita State on Jan 22, before rolling to a 77-57 win at East Carolina last Saturday. Memphis (13-8 / 5-3 in AAC) had a big win over UCF at home last Sunday (77-57) but turned the ball over 17 times and allowed 54.5 percent shooting from the floor in a 97-79 loss at Tulsa on Wednesday (Memphis had won four of its previous five games).

“First half we were going through the motions,” Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway told the Commercial Appeal after the Tulsa loss. “Second half we were like, ‘We’re about to lose, let’s play hard.’ Which is weird, but that’s how it’s happened with us on the road all year.” Senior guard Jeremiah Martin leads the team in scoring (15.1) and assists (4.3), but is just 2-of-20 from three-point range over the last four contests. 6-8 senior forward Kyvon Davenport adds 14.5 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game while senior guard Kareem Brewton Jr. (9.1) is averaging 12 points in league contests. Freshman guard Tyler Harris (13.0) is the top three-point threat (55 makes).

"I’m really proud of our guys,” USF coach Brian Gregory told reporters after the team's 20-point road win at ECU. “We said this was a response week. We win the game against Wichita State (54-41) and now you go on the road. Our guys wanted nothing to do with anything other than getting it done.” Junior transfer Laquincy Rideau continues to shine at the point, averaging 13.9 points along with league highs of 5.8 assists and 3.3 steals per game after recording a double-double () in the win at East Carolina. Sophomore guard David Collins leads in scoring (14.3), while 6-8 sophomore forward Alexis Yetna had 28 points and 13 rebounds at East Carolina for his 10th double-double of the season. He's averaging 13.2 PPG and leads the AAC in rebounds (10.1).

These schools split a pair of games last season but the Bulls have won 11 of their 13 contests in Tampa this season, while the Tigers have struggled to a 2-7 record away from home, including going 1-4 in true road games while allowing 86.8 PPG. I'm on USF.

Good luck...Larry

The second 9* Eye-Opener for Saturday is on NC State at 12 noon ET.

No. 23 North Carolina State (16-5 / 4-4 in ACC) just missed out on an upset of No. 3 Virginia on Tuesday night, wiping out a 14-point second-half deficit and then missing on a chance to force a second overtime. Markell Johnson drew a three-shot foul in the final second, but missed the first foul shot and made the final two. The Cavaliers won 66-65. The Wolfpack now welcome the ACC's other team from the Commonwealth on Saturday to PNC Arena in Raleigh, the 12th-ranked Va Tech Hokies (17-3 / 6-2 in ACC). While NC State was in a life-and-death struggle with UVa in its last contest, Va tech had no such concerns in its last outing, Wednesday night in Miami. Tech closed within a game of the conference lead (Va, Duke and Louisville are all 7-1) by taking down Miami 82-70 in Coral Gables.

Sophomore Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17.9- 4.2-3.8) tied a season high with 25 points in Wednesday's win. He is one of a trio of Va Tech guards averaging in double digits. He's joined by PG Robinson (14.4 & 5.4 APG) and Hill (13.6). The 6-10 Blackshear (12.7 & 6.4) rounds out the team's double digit scorers. Robinson is the reigning ACC Player of the Week but he left Wednesday’s win at Miami with a left ankle injury and his availability for Saturday is in doubt. With 6-5 small forward P.J. Horne also out indefinitely with an injury, the Hokies could have only seven scholarship players available - and one of them has seen only two minutes of action in ACC play.

Kevin Keatts' Wolfpack like to put as many as four guards on the floor at a time and push the tempo. Swingman Torin Dorn is the team’s top scorer (14.2) and rebounder (6.7) despite being just 6-6, while C.J. Bryce (12.2 points) and PG Markell Johnson (11.9 & 3.9 APG) both shoot better than 43 percent from three-point range. Devon Daniels (10.2 & 4.9) and Braxton Beverly (9.6) also contribute to a talent-rich backcourt. 6-10 sophomore Funderbunk (8.4 & 4.10 is NC State's best inside player.

At this point of the season, the Hokies are playing for a double-bye in the ACC tournament and a potential top-four seed in the Big Dance. However, I don't believe this visit to  Raleigh will go well, especially if Robinson is out or limited. Either way, I'm taking the Wolfpack at home, where they are 12-2 SU and outscoring opponents on average, 87.1-to-65.9 PPG. Let me note that NC State’s bench averages 32.7 points and has outscored opponents’ reserves by 322 points through 21 games. One last thing... The Wolfpack have won three straight home meetings with the Hokies.

Good luck...Larry

My NBA 10* Game of the Week is on the Den Nuggets at 10:05 ET.

Houston's James Harden continued his scoring spree with 37 points on Tuesday, his 24th straight game of 30 or more points. "It's a terrible loss for us. Terrible," Harden told reporters afterward. "A letdown. We had no energy from the beginning of the game." The 29-21 Rockets (currently the West's No. 6 seed) will head to Denver for tonight's game with the Nuggets. Denver beat the 105-99 Pelicans in New Orleans, a day after the Pelicans won in Houston. It was Denver's FOURTH straight victory and 14th in the past 18 contests, giving the Nuggets a 35-15 record (a half-game behind the Warriors' for the West's best record).

The good news for Houston is that not only have the Rockets already posted two double-digit victories over Denver earlier this season but Houston opens a four-game road trip looking to defeat Denver for the 10th consecutive time.Harden (36.3-6.7-8.10 is having another MVP-like season and PG Chris Paul (15.3 & 8.0 APG) has returned from a 17-game absence. However, center Clint Capela, averaging career highs in scoring (17.6) and rebounding (12.6), remains sidelined until late-Feb with a thumb injury.

Denver center Nikola Jokic had 20 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his eighth triple-double of the season in the Nuggets' win at New Orleans. He leads the team in scoring (20.1), rebounding (10.4) and in assists (7.7), on the season. PG Jamal Murray (18.5) will likely miss his fourth straight game (ankle) and that will give backup Monte Morris (10.2 & 3.7 APG) a chance to follow up on Wednesday's strong effort of 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Most importantly, Morris didn't commit a single turnover in 40 minutes in his second career start and has just four miscues in 118 minutes over the past four games. Denver has fought through key injuries all season but SG Harris (14.8 & 5.6), swingman Barton (12.9 & 4.5) and PF Paul Millsap (12.3 & 6.7) are all back playing regularly.

Yes, Houston has won NINE straight over Denver and who can deny what Harden as done lately. Harden just concluded one of the top months in NBA history by averaging 43.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 2.1 steals in 14 games. He has scored at least 35 points in each of his past 11 games, including efforts of 61, 58 and 57 and has made at least five 3-pointers on 11 occasions. Harden scored 610 points in the month to become the first player since Michael Jordan - 729 in March of 1987 - to reach 600 in a month. However, Houston will be without Clint Capela this time around (27.5 PPG vs the Nuggets this season) and PG Chris Paul's return has resulted in an 0-2 ATS start. Houston is just 8-15 ATS on the road this season, while the Nuggets are 22-4 SU & 18-8 ATS at Pepsi Center this season, outscoring opponents 115.3-to-103.8 PPG. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Ivy League Game of the Year is on Dartmouth at 7:00 ET.

Brown was the Ivy League's highest scoring team last season (77.0 PPG) but the Bears finished 11-16 (4-10 in the Ivy). All five starters returned this season and Brown checks in at 12-6 overall but 0-2 in Ivy play. The Bears head to Hanover, NH Friday night for a game with Dartmouth's Big Green. Dartmouth was just 7-20 last season, including finishing last in Ivy League play at 3-11. The Big Green check in at 10-8 so far this season, after opening with a split against Harvard in the school's first two Ivy League games (Dartmouth won and covered at home and covered in the loss at Harvard).

Sophomore guard Cambridge leads the team in scoring (17.9) and 6-5 SF Choh leads in rebounding (8.8) and assists (3.3), while joining Cambridge in double digits (12.7). Guards Okolue (9.6 & 3.7) and Anderson (9.2) fill out the starting backcourt, while the 6-6 Howard (8.5 & 4.5) starts up front with Choh. As for Dartmouth, the 6-7 Knight leads in scoring (15.4) and rebounding (7.6), while a trio of guards join him in double digit scoring. That group includes PG Barry (13.7-3.6-3.7) plus fellow guards Sistare (10.8 & 4.5) and Foye (10.5). The 6-8 Jackson adds 8.9 & 5.3.

Brown may be a slightly better team but how does one ignore the fact that going back to the end of last season, Brown will take an 0-7 SU & ATS Ivy League run into this contest at Leede Arena, where the Big Green have fashioned a 7-1 SU home mark this season. Also note that Dartmouth is 18-6-3 ATS in its last 27 games following a loss (Big Green lost but covered at Harvard on Jan 26).

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Conference Crusher (Big West) is on Hawaii at 11:55 ET.

The Long Beach State 49ers will travel to the Stan Sheriff Center to take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors this Thursday night in Big West play. The 49ers are coming off an 82-71 home loss this past Saturday to UC-Santa Barbara. It marked the school's third consecutive loss and dropped them to 8-13 (2-3 in the Big West). Meanwhile, The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 12-7 (3-2 Big West) on the season, after defeating UC-Davis 80-60, this past Saturday at home..

PG Booker (17.6 & 4.8 PG) and fellow guard Alberts (10.5) give LBSU a solid backcourt but with the 6-7 Yussef (12.9 & 7.2) not playing since Dec 29, the 49ers have only the 6-7 Byers (8. 1 & 5.9) as a notable frontcourt contributor. In contrast, Hawaii has solid a starting-five led by guards Stansberry (12.6), Stepteau (9.0) and Buggs (8.9-4.5-5.3) plus up front, the 6-9 Purchase (12.0 & 6.3) and the 6-8 Raimo (11.6 & 6.6).

Long Beach St is 1-9 SU on the road, allowing 82.4 PPG. Meanwhile, Hawaii is 9-3 SU and 7-2 ATS at home. Hawaii had a good shot at knocking off Big West contender UC Irvine in a 75-74 OT home loss on Wednesday, so I'm willing to lay some points with them here. Long Beach is averaging about 16 turnovers per game and as noted, over 80 PPG on the road. Lay it.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on BYU at 11:00 ET.

Fourth-ranked Gonzaga looks to record its 11th consecutive victory when it visits BYU in West Coast Conference play on Thursday. The Bulldogs have won by an average of 36.2 points during their 10-game winning streak, so is this game already "been played?" Gonzaga visits Provo 19-2 (6-0 in WCC play) and a "W" would give them a 22nd straight 20-win season, as well as extend its NCAA record of consecutive conference road victories to 28. The Bulldogs are coming off a 98-39 steamrolling of Santa Clara and the 59-point margin of victory ranks third in school history (team set a program record by committing just two turnovers against Santa Clara while forcing 18 miscues and turning them into 26 points). As for BYU, the Cougars are a modest 13-9, including 5-2 in WCC play, but BYU is coming off 71-66 win over Saint Mary's in its last outing.

Gonzaga owns a terrific starting-five. Senior PG Josh Perkins (11.0 & 6.6) has been a solid ball-handler all season and has committed just 40 turnovers in 21 games. He's joined by sophomore guard Zach Norvell Jr. (15.7-4.8-3.4) in the backcourt, while the 6-8 Hachimura averages a team-best 19.9 PPG (6.2 RPG). 6-8 power forward Brandon Clarke (16.3) adds a team-leading 7.7 RPG, with the 6-8 Kispert (9.1) rounding out the starting rotation. Gonzaga averages 91.4 PPG (1st) and shoots 52.4% from the floor (also No. 1 in the nation).

BYU's 6-8 Yoeli Childs had 23 points and 11 rebounds for his 32nd career double-double in the win over St Mary's and leads the team in scoring (22.3) and rebounding (9.6) on the season. PG Haws (17.6 & 5.2 APG) and fellow guard Haerdnett (10.9) are the only other Cougars in double digits but BYU does average 82.0 PPG (33rd). The Cougars have won four of their past five games and also committed only two turnovers in their last outing while pressuring Saint Mary's into 15 and converting the mistakes into 17 points.

Only Kansas (29) and Duke (22) have longer streaks of 20-win seasons than Gonzaga, which has also posted 30-victory campaigns in three of the past four seasons. That said, Gonzaga can win here, yet not come close to covering. BYU has been tough at home with a 10-1 record and the fans were boisterous and loud during last Thursday's 71-66 win over Saint Mary's. We should see a repeat performance, here.I'm taking the 'two TDs!'

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on UCF at 9:00 ET.

Central Florida was the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference. However, the Knights are in bounce-back mode, after their worst loss of the season when they host UConn on Thursday. UCF had won nine of its last 10 contests before the team was routed 77-57 at Memphis on Sunday falling to 15-4 (5-2 in AAC play). As for UConn, the Huskies have won two straight after Saturday's 80-60 victory over Wichita State with the backcourt duo of junior Christian Vital (season-high 21 points) and senior Jalen Adams (19 points, 12 rebounds) leading the way. UConn visits Orlando with a 12-8 overall record, including 3-4 in AAC play.

Adams leads UConn in scoring at 18.2 PPG and has averaged 22.8 in his last five games. Vital has averaged 16 points in conference games, raising his season average to 13.6, to go along with 5.6 rebounds. Sophomore PG Alterique Gilbert (13.0 & 3.8 APG) gives UConn three guards in double digits but he re-injured his left shoulder Saturday and is listed as doubtful. The 6-10 Carlton (7.8 & 4.8) and the 6-8 Polley (7.4 & 2.3) start up front.

UCF was awful at Memphis, getting out-rebounded 46-28, while going 6-for-26 from three-point range. Senior guard B.J. Taylor, the conference preseason player of the year, is bidding to lead the club in scoring for the third straight season with an average of 16.7 points and teh coaches' son, Aubrey Dawkins averages 15.4 PPG and  5.4 RPG. However, Taylor had just 10 poinst at Memphis, while Dawkins was held to two points, after averaging 18.8 in his previous five games. Expect bounce-back efforts from both. PG Allen (7.6 & 4.3 APG) makes for a nice guard trio plus 7-6 senior center Tacko Fall (9.8 points, team-high 7.1 rebounds) leads the conference and was seventh nationally with 2.84 blocks per game. He paces the American in field-goal shooting at 74.8 percent to help the Knights shoot a conference-best 46.7 percent. The 6-11 Smith (8.0 & 5.3) is a quality side-kick.

Throw out Sunday's loss, as UCF,is off to its best 19-game start since the 2003-04 team began 16-3. The Knights have won NINE straight at home, while UConn is 0-3 SU in true road games this season. That's not exactly news, as the Huskies were 2-9 on the road last season and 6-17 over the previous two campaigns, in true road games. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

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

Xavier is just 11-10 overall, including 3-5 in the Big East. The Musketeers already have two more conference losses as they did in 2017-18, when the team went 15-3 in league play to win the Big East regular-season title. Xavier hasn't spent much time worrying about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, having gone 'dancing' in 16 of the last 18 seasons but this season is shaping up much differently. In contrast, Georgetown is 13-7 overall (3-4 in the Big East), which is a nice improvement over last year's 15-15 team, which finished 5-13 in Big East Play. However, the Hoyas are in search of their first winning streak this season in Big East play.

The Musketeers won the first meeting with the Hoyas 81-75 on Jan. 9, behind a double-double (23-10) from the 6-11 Zach Hankins (10.3 & 4.8). That win was followed up with another home win against Butler but Xavier has dropped three straight since, the latest an 87-82 defeat to No. 10 Marquette on Saturday. The Musketeers are greatly underachieving this season. Xavier has great balance on offense, with five players scoring in double figures. Joining Hankins are guard Scruggs (13.3 & 4.8), the 6-7 Marshall (13.2 & 7.1), PG Goodin (12.0 & 4.9 APG) and the 6-9 Jones (11.3 & 7.6). So why is Xavier 11-10?

The Hoyas rode freshmen Mac McClung, James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc to a critical 89-78 win at St. John's on Sunday. McClung scored 25 points (his most in a Big East contest this season), as Hoyas accounted for the games' final 10 points! Meaningful contributions have been few and far between for Jamorko Pickett, who after a solid freshman season has been relegated to a lesser role behind this season's newcomers. The 6-8 guard supplied nine points and seven rebounds to the win over St. John's but is averaging only 5.8 & 4.5 this season. McClung (13.9) and PG Akinjo (13.4 & 5.4 APG) form a dynamic freshman backcourt duo, while the 6-7 LeBlanc (9.4 & 7.6) has supported 6-10 senior center Govan (19.8 & 8.2), up front.

Xavier has dominated the series with the Hoyas with 14 wins in 18 meetings, including six straight and 10 of 12 as Big East foes.However, this is not "your father's" In fact, a loss would add more impending peril to Xavier's streak of 36 straight seasons with a .500 or better record in conference play (Xavier currently sits at 3-5 in the Big East), a mark that is five seasons longer than any other Division I program. The Musketeers are 1-4 SU in true road games, averaging only 60.8 PPG. Patrick Ewing's team puts another 'nail' in Xavier's 'coffin.'

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Det Pistons at 7:05 ET.

Rookie sensation Luka Doncic led the Mavericks past the Pistons 106-101 last Friday in Dallas. The two teams meet again tonight in frosty Detroit, as Doncic will look to repeat his 32-8-8 performance. The 19-year-old rookie is the first teenager in NBA history with multiple triple-doubles in a season after posting two in the past five games. The 23-27 Mavs lost fouhe second game of a four-game homestand, having dropped four of their last five contests to fall to 21-28.

Second-year PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.7) returned to the Mavericks after an unhappy sabbatical on Jan 22 and his return coincides with the Mavs' 3-1 run. Smith missed six straight games due to friction over his role but shared the ball-handling duties with star rookie Luka Doncic. Smith scored 13 points, recorded a career-high 15 assists and matched his career best of 10 rebounds against the Knicks for his second career triple-double. He's scored in double digits in each game, averaging 15.5-6.0-7.5. "Smith had a big impact game," Head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters, later adding this remark about Smith posting a triple-double one game after Doncic: "It means that they can play together if you ask me." Doncic is averaging 20.4-6.9-5.4 on the season.

With Detroit's season being mired in mediocrity, there is plenty of speculation that the 29-year-old Blake Griffin could be on the move prior to the Feb. 7 deadline. Griffin scored 18 points in Tuesday's 115-105 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, after scoring 30 or more points in eight of his previous 11 appearances. He checks in at 26.3-8.1-5.3 on the season and has NOT asked for a trade. Center Drummond (16.5 & 14.8) is having a solid season but Detroit's backcourt has been shaky at best. PG Jackson (14.3 & 4.2 APG) has been inconsistent and currently Bullock (12.0) and Smith (8.7) are dealing with ankle and groin issues, respectively.

There is little doubt that Dallas is a team on the rise, as the team's 23 wins (through 50 games) is just one shy of the team's entire win-total from last season (24). However, Dallas checks in just 5-20 SU on the road this season and off a game last night (a road win to boot), I will not take them in this spot against the avenging Piston with "no margin for error" (will likely need to win to cover!).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Por Blazers at 10:354 ET.

The Utah Jazz visit Moda Center in Portland on Wednesday having won NINE of 10 and 11 of their last 13. Utah is making its way up the Western Conference standings at 29-22 (currently own the No. 7 seed) but one of the teams still in front of them in the West are the Portland Trail Blazers, who are 31-20 (currently own the No. 4 seed, the last with homecourt advantage in the first round). The Trail Blazers enter on a nice roll as well, having gone 5-1 SU & ATS since back-to-back loses at Denver (Jan 13) and Sacramento (Jan 14).

PG Ricky Rubio is back in the lineup (missed six games from Jan 9-18 with a hamstring issue) and the Jazz are thriving behind the play of their starting backcourt. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 22.5-3.8-4.0 and Rubio 12.8 & 6.0 APG. The duo combined for 47 points and 13 assists in a 125-111 win at Minnesota on Sunday. "We were playing the right way," Jazz coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "Our shots were better because of our guards. When we attack the rim, everything else opens up and we get easier shots and shoot better." Mitchell has scored at least 24 points in each of the last 12 games (he is averaging 28.1 points on 45.1 percent shooting in January). All five Utah starters average in double figures, as joining Mitchell and Rubio are center Gobert (15.0 & 12.9), swingman Ingles (11.6-3.8-4.9), PF Favors (11.0 & 7.2). Coming off the bench are SF Crowder (12.1 & 4.7) and SG Korver (10.1 PPG on 41.2% from three in his 29 games with the Jazz). Utah is one of the NBA's best defensive teams, allowing 105.1 PPG (3rd-best).

Portland has its own dynamic backcourt duo with Damian Lillard (26.2-4.5-6.2) and CJ McCollum (20.8), who recorded his first career triple-double (28-10-10) in a 120-111 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday (Lillard sat that one out but will play here). Note that Seth Curry (6.3) started in place of Lillard on Saturday and scored a season-high 22 points. Center Nurkic (15.2 & 10.4) is vastly underrated, as is PF Aminu, who adds 9.6 & 8.2.

Portland's home record is now 21-7 on the season and the Blazers take the Moda Center court tonight on a seven-game home winning streak (6-1 ATS). Portland owns all the tools to cool off the red-hot Jazz, who are after all, a modest 14-12 SU on the road (Utah will need to win to cover here). Portland wins "with room to spare."

Good luck... Larry

My 10* 35-Club Play is on Creighton at 8:30 ET.

Expectations were high coming into the current CBB season for St. John's. The Red Storm opened with12 consecutive victories and by winning 14 of their first 15. However, as St John's  gets set to open a challenging three-game road trip (No. 2 Duke and No. 10 Marquette follow), the Red Storm have lost FOUR of their last five (now 15-5 / 3-5 in Big East). The school's lone win in its last five was an 81-66 victory at home over Creighton, which is the team St John's opens its three-game road trip against on Wednesday. Creighton improved to 7-4 at home after easing to a 75-61 win over Butler this past Friday. The Bluejays welcome the Red Storm to CenturyLink Center 12-8 overall, including 3-4 in the Big East.

Junior PG Shamorie Ponds has scored at least 20 points in six straight games, including a team-high 21 against Georgetown in Saturday's 89-78 loss to the Hoyas. He leads the team in scoring (20.6) and assists (5.6). Backcourt partner Mustapha Heron is averaging 18.7 points over the last three games to boost his season average to 15.4 PPG (also 5.0 RPG). Three more players average in double digits, the 6-6 Figueroa (14.6 & 6.8), the 6-7 Clark (12.4 & 5.8) and guard Simon (10.8 & 5.2).

Sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander has been instrumental in Creighton's B2B two victories last week, making six 3-pointers and scoring 26 points in the 91-87 win at Georgetown, before adding 19 points against Butler to earn Big East player of the week honors. Alexander leads the team in scoring (17.6), after averaging only 5.7 as a freshman. The Bluejays own a deep perimeter, as Ballock (11.0 & 3.6 APG), Zegarowski (10.6) and Mintz (10.4) join Alexander at the guard position. The 6-9 Krampelj (11.3 & 6.4) and SF Jefferson (9.4 & 5,4) have been the best frontcourt contributors but Jefferson will be out with an ankle injury.

St John's Jan 16 win over Creighton halted a string of six straight losses in the series but also note that the Bluejays have won all SEVEN matchups in Omaha against the Red Storm. Creighton averages 83.4 PPG (20th) on 50.5% shooting (4th), including 42.5% on threes (2nd). That's TOO much 'firepower' for the slumping Red Storm. Lay the modest impost.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on Seton Hall at 7:00 ET.

Seton Hall made more than  a little 'noise' back in December with upset wins over Kentucky (now-No. 7) and Maryland (now-No. 21). However, as the 12-8 Pirates (3-5 in the Big East) welcome Big East rival Providence to the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J, the team is looking to snap a season-high four-game losing skid. The 13-7 Friars (3-4 in the Big East) have won three of their last four, after defeating both Xavier and DePaul.

Alpha Diallo made all 14 of his free-throw attempts and finished with a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds in Sunday's 70-67 triumph over the Blue Demons. Diallo has been the "Alpha male" for the Friars, as the workhorse junior guard is averaging team highs in points (17.0), rebounds (8.4), assists (3.3), steals (1.8) and minutes (36.3). Freshman guard A.J. Reeves scored 11 points in as many minutes on Sunday in his return from a nine-game absence due to a foot injury. He's second on the team in averaging 13.9 PPG. Four more guards chip in between 4.1 and 9.3 PPG. 6-10 center Watson (11.2 & 5.4) is the only real 'size' the Friars own.

The Hall's best player, guard Myles Powell (21.2) failed to find any rhythm to his offense and finished with just three points In the team's recent loss to Villanova. Sophomore wing Myles Cale (9.6) scored a team-high 14 points in Sunday's 80-52 shellacking by the Wildcats but PG McKnight (10.0 & 3.8 APG) finished with just five points versus Villanova. Seton Hall does have some size up front with the 6-10 Mamukelashvili (9.2 & 7.4) and the 6-8 Nzei (9.2 & 5.0).

I believe Seton Hall can win the "inside game" with Mamukelashvili and Nzei plus the Hall's perimeter game is a s good as the Friars'. Seton Hall is clearly not as good as the school's upsets over Kentucky and Maryland might suggest but I expect the Pirates to be handle Providence in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Conference Crusher (SEC) is on Florida at 6:30 ET.

Both Ole Miss (14-5 / 4-2 in SEC) and Florida (11-8 / 3-3 SEC) are back in SEC action tonight, as the Gators welcome the Rebels to Gainesville. Both schools suffered disappointing losses this past Saturday in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge .Ole Miss lost badly at home to Iowa St (87-73), while the Gators lost 55-50 at TCU. Ole Miss was picked to finish last in the SEC preseason media poll but the Rebels, under first-year head coach Kermit Davis, opened the season 13-2, including 3-0 in SEC play (more importantly to sports bettors, Ole Miss started a remarkable 14-1 ATS). However, Ole Miss limps into Florida 1-3 SU & ATS in its last four. Mike White's Gators have been inconsistent all season and hope to avoid the school's first 3-4 start in SEC action since 1998 with a win in tonight's contest.

Ole Miss' backcourt duo of junior Breein Tyree (17.3) and senior PG Terence Davis (15.8 & 3.5 APG) continues to be the biggest offensive threat for the Rebels. Tyree has had nine 20-point games this season, including a 22-point effort in the loss to Iowa State, with Davis chipping in with 16 points along with a team-high six rebounds. Fellow guards Shuler (9.5) and Hinson (9.1) also start, along with the 7-0 Olejniczak (6.6 & 3.6). The 6-8 Stevens (8.3 & 4.5) and 5-7 freshman KJ Buffen (5.9 & 4.6) come off the bench.

TCU held the Gators to three points in the first 11:35 of the game to build an 18-3 lead but Florida fought back from a 16-point deficit late in the 1st half to tie the game at 36-all with 12:23 left in regulation. The Gators missed 14 of their first 15 shots but they showed fight in rallying to tie the game in the second half before falling short in the end. Senior guard KeVaughn Allen (leading scorer at 12.7 PPG) was the only Gator in double figures with 13, as freshman guard Noah Locke (11.2 PPG) was just 2-of-9 for seven points, one game after setting a career high with 27 points. PG Nembhard (7.0 & 5.9 APG) does give White a solid guard trio. The 6-9 Hayes (6.8 & 6/2)  has been surrounded by a pair of 6-5 forwards in Johnson (6.3 & 5.1) and Stone (6.1 & 3.9). However, Stone is now out for the season with a knee injury.

Here's the rub. Ole Miss has "come back to earth" and has averaged just 63.0 PPG in its last two games. The Rebels face an excellent Florida defense (Gators allow just 61.5 PPG, 10th-best in the nation) and is a team in an almost a "must-win" situation. Up next for Florida will be No. 7 Kentucky, Auburn and No. 1 Tennessee in its next three contests. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Alabama at 8:30 ET.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs (15-4 / 3-3 SEC) travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-7 / 3-3 SEC) tonight, as two of the three SEC teams at 3-3 meet. Miss St is ranked 22nd in the current AP poll and is coming off a 92-84 Home win over then-No. 15 Auburn. As for Alabama, the Tide stepped out of league play this past Saturday, losing 73-68 at Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

Mississippi State entered last Saturday's home contest against Auburn off its worst offensive performance of the season in a 76-55 loss at Kentucky on Jan 22.. The Bulldogs had season-lows of 19 FGs made and a 31.1 shooting percentage (they made just 3-of-20 three-pointers). However, they bounced back from that result in fine fashion with a victory over Auburn on Saturday, by shooting 50.9 percent in their best offensive effort in SEC action. "We were playing as a team," senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon told reporters after tying his season high with 27 points. "I'm excited about that and I'm excited about the win." .Weatherspoon (17.3 & 5.6) leads the team in scoring and is joined in the backcourt by PG Peters (13.0 & 5.9 APG) and by his younger brother Nick (10.3). Starting up front are the 6-10 Holman I(11.4 & 7.6) and the 6-11 Ado (5.3 & 4.9). Coming off the bench are guard Carter (9.7) and the 6-10 Perry (7.3 & 5.9). Perry is a freshman and he posted his second career double-double in Saturday's win with 10 points and 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes.

Senior guard Riley Norris hit all six of his shot attempts - four from beyond the arc - en route to a season-high 16 points and the Crimson Tide also shot 50.9 percent from the floor, but they had one basket in a span of over five minutes during a difficult stretch run (Alabama finished the game 5 of 17 on threes!). The Crimson Tide entered last weekend ranked second in the SEC in rebounding margin (plus-6.7), but the Bears beat them on the boards 35-31, including a 16-9 advantage on the offensive glass. Alabama has a seven-man rotation (all with 17-plus minutes per game), with six guards averaging between 6.4 and 13.9 PPG. Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads the team in scoring (13.9) and assists (2.8). the team's lone big man of note is 6-9 senior forward Donta Hall (11.3 PPG), who ranks third in the SEC in both rebounding (8.9) and field-goal percentage (61.2).

Miss State head coach Ben Howland called Saturday's victory "a really big-time win for us when you look at our drive to try to get to the NCAA Tournament this year." He's hoping the Bulldogs can continue to share the ball like they did against Auburn. Meanwhile, in talking about the loss at Baylor, Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said, "We didn't have our best game. We didn't play enough of a 40-minute game to win on the road. I thought it was the opposite of how we played our last game at home." The last home game he's referring to was last Tuesday, when Alabama routed then-No. 20 Ole Miss, 74-53.

Yes, Mississippi State triumphed 67-63 in the second matchup last season with Alabama but prior to that, Alabama had won 10 of 11 previous meetings between the two schools. The Tide are 7-2 SU at home this season and the Bulldogs are averaging just 68.2 PPG in true road games this season. That WON'T get it done, here!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Rivalry Rout is on Kansas at 7:00 ET

Kansas opened the current CBB season No. 1 in the AP's preseason poll but it's hardly been smooth sailing for head coach Bill Self's Jayhawks. 7-0 center Udoka Azubuike

(13.4 & 6.8) played in just nine games and will be out the remainder of the season with a broken hand. Kansas is currently 16-4 and at 5-2 in Big-12 play, finding themselves in a three-way tie atop the conference, along with Kansas St and Baylor. The Jayhawks travel to the Frank Erwin Special Event Center in Austin on Tuesday to take on the 11-9 Texas Longhorns (3-4 in Big-12 play). Kansas enters this contest having scored just five field goals over the final 10 minutes (while shooting a season-low 36.5 percent from the floor for the game) of a 71-63 loss at Kentucky in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. As for the Longhorns,they also played a game as part of the SEC/Big-12 Challenge this past Saturday. Texas lost 98-88 at Georgia, the team's second straight defeat and its FIFTH in its last six games.

Self wasn't happy about his Jayhawks' second-half struggles at Kentucky, but didn't seemed too concerned after the fact. "There were too many errors and too many naked possessions offensively where we didn't get anything out of it and our shot selection was poor," Self said afterward. "If we'd won this game, I'd be happy going home, but trust me, it doesn't mean that much, it's not going to affect us in any way, shape or form preparing for our next game." Kansas lost, despite yet another double-double (20 points and 15 rebounds) from the Dedric Lawson, who leads the team in scoring (19.5) and rebounding (11.1), proding 14 double-doubles this season. Surrounding Lawson are starters Vick (14.8 & 4.0), PG Dotson (10.8 & 3.4 APG), Grimes (8.4) and Garrett (7.5 & 3.5).

The Longhorns allowed Georgia to shoot 66.7 percent from the floor, including 12-of-17 beyond the arc, in Saturday's loss. Texas wasted a career-high 19 points from freshman guard Courtney Ramey (just 6.4 PPG), who converted a career-high 7-of-15 from the floor, including a career-best 5-of-8 clip from three-point range. Texas mainstays are guards Roach (14.3 & 4.7) and Coleman (10.2) in the backcourt, plus the 6-11 Hayes (10.4 & 5.0) and the 6-9 Osetkowski (10.1 & 8.2) in the frontcourt. Hayes is a freshman who leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage at 74.3 percent and blocked shots at 2.7 per contest.

Kansas hasn't been winning "by margins" this season (just 8-12 ATS) but that won't be an issue here, with this pointspread. Even with all of this year's issues, Kansas remains in prime contention for a 15th consecutive Big 12 regular-season championship! The Jayhawks lead the all-time series with the Longhorns 32-8 and note that the road team ihas covered NINE is a row in this series. Want more? How about this? Kansas is off a Saturday loss at Kentucky, so the following applies.Since 2013-14 season, the Jayhawks are 38-3 SU following a loss, with their ,889 win percentage ranking as the best in college basketball. That's good enough for me.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* signature LEGEND Play is on Texas Tech at 9:00 ET.

Chris Beard's Texas Tech Red Raiders won 27 games last season and made the first Elight 8 appearnance in school history (lost to eventual national champ, Villanova). Tech lost four significant contributors from that 27-win team, including leading scorer Evans (17.6) and the 6-4 Zhaire Smith (11.3 & 5.0), a 1st round pick of the 76ers. The Red Raiders opened the season unranked but opened 10-0 before losing 69-58 at Duke. At 15-1, Tech was ranked 8th when it lost at home to Kan St 58-57 on Jan 16. Two more losses followed, before the Red Raiders edged Arkansas 67-64 at home this past Saturday (Tech is currently 16-4, including 4-3 in the Big 12 and is ranked 14th, pending Monday's new poll).

TCU opened the season 20th in the AP's preseason poll, coming off a 21-win season. The Horned Frogs opened 12-1 but the their 55-50 win Saturday over Florida makes them 3-3 in their last six. TCU was ranked 25th when it lost 77-68 at Kansas on Jan 9 but at 15-4 (3-3 in the Big-12), is currently unranked. Both schools return to league play tonight (after winning games in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday), as the Horned Frogs visit Lubbock.

The Horned Frogs were exceptional on defense during Saturday's 55-50 win over Florida, as TCU allowed its fewest points and recorded its lowest defensive field-goal percentage (30.6) in Jamie Dixon's 2 1/2 seasons as coach. However, despite holding the Gators to three points in the first 11:35 of the game to build an 18-3 lead, TCU allowed Florida to fight back from a 16-point deficit late in the 1st half to tie the game at 36-all with 12:23 left in regulation. 6-7 sophomore forward Kouat Noi scored 22 points and junior guard Desmond Bane added 17 against Florida. Bane leads the team in scoring (15.0 & 5.7) and Noi is second (14.7 & 4.4). PG Robinson (12.9-3.8-7.7) runs the show but TCU misses guard Fisher (12.9), who is out for the season and will transfer. The 6-8 Miller (10.5 & 6.5) is the team's rebounding leader.

After losing its third straight game and scoring the fewest points since the 2014-15 season in a 58-45 loss at Kansas St on Jan 22, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard was hoping he could find more options to help the "do-everything" Jarrett Culver (18.5-6.9-3.9). Sophomore Davide Moretti answered the call Saturday, when he scored a career-high 21 points in a win over Arkansas. Moretti averaged 12.3 minutes in 37 games last season (3.5 PPG) but is averaging 10.4 points this season in 29.8 minutes (he comes in averaging 13.3 points in his last eight games). Fellow guard Matt Mooney added 12 points in the victory and is third in scoring at 10. PPG. The 6-10 Owens adds 8.0 & 5.1, while 6-8 center Odiase averages 3.8 & 4.7.

Both teams play excellent defense, with TCU allowing just 66.0 PPG (42nd), However, Tech is "something special" on the defensive end, allowing 56.4 PPG (2nd) on 35.7% shooting (1st), including 26.1% on threes (3rd)! Bottom line here is that Texas Tech has been exceptional at home, posting an 11-1 record and limiting its opponents to 52.0 PPG points per game and 32.8 percent shooting (Tech is a scoring 73.3 PPG at home). Meanwhile, TCU has played only four true road games this season (1-3), averaging only 66.0 PPG. Those numbers just don't add up for the Horned Frogs.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Min T-wolves at 7:05 ET.

The Utah Jazz finished a successful homestand with a 106-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Utah heads out on the road after having played EIGHT of its last nine in Salt Lake City, with the Jazz going 7-1 in those eight home contests. Utah opens a game quick two-stop road trip on Sunday, by completing a home-and-home set with the Timberwolves in Minneapolis. The T-wolves played without injured PGs Jeff Teague (11.5 & 8.1 APG) and Derrick Rose (18.6 & 4.7 APG) Friday in Utah but Minnesota rallied from a 21-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and drew within a point in the final minute. The Timberwolves actually had a chance to take the lead but Jerryd Bayless and Luol Deng each missed a go-ahead three-pointer in the waning seconds.

Utah's Donovan Mitchell (22.2-3.8-3.9) had 24 points in Friday's win plus added a career-high 11 assists. The second-year player has scored at least 24 points in 11 consecutive contests. All five Utah starters average in double figures, as joining Mitchell are PG Rubio (12.7 & 6.01 AGP), swingman Ingles (11.5-3.9-4.9), PF Favors (11.0 & 71.) and center Gobert (15.0 & 13.1) Coming off the bench are SF Crowder (12.0 & 4.7) and SG Korver (10.0 PPG on 40.6% from three in his 28 games with the Jazz). Utah is one of the NBA's best defensive teams, allowing 105.0 PPG (3rd-best).

Minnesota saw three guards - Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague and Tyus Jones - each miss Friday's loss due to foot or ankle injuries. Injuries to those players have revealed that this is a team that won't go down without a fight. Minnesota leaned heavily on center Karl-Anthony Towns (as usual), who scored 33 points on 12-of-19 shooting. He averages 22.8 & 12.3 on the season. The T-wolves outscored the Jazz 33-16 in the fourth quarter on Friday, giving the team some momentum heading into the rematch.

Towns comes in with a string of four straight double-doubles, in which he's averaged 28.8 points and 13 rebounds. Utah center Rudy Gobert was questionable on Friday with a sore hamstring but gutted it out to finish with 18 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. He may need to be 100 percent here in Minnesota. Utah went just 5 of 27 from the floor in the fourth quarter on Friday and I'm "all over" Minnesota here in this quick turn-around. The Jazz have been home for EIGHT of their last nine games, a period from Jan 9-25. Utah will get no 'love' here at Target Center, where the T-wolves are 16-8 SU this year (the pointspread is MORE than manageable).

Good luck.,..Larry

My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Memphis at 4:00 ET.

Memphis' three-game winning streak came to a halt on Thursday, as the Tigers came up short at Temple 85-76. Penny Hardaway's team must now bounce back on Sunday, when the 12-7 Tigers (4-2 in AAC play) take on American Athletic Conference preseason favorite, UCF. The Knights are 15-3 overall, including 5-1 in league play. It's crowded at the top in the AAC, with four, one-loss teams. Temple is 5-1 like UCF, while Houston and Cincy are 6-1 (all four one-loss teams are in action on Sunday, with Cincy playing at Temple and Houston visiting Tulsa).

UCF has become known for its defensive prowess under head coach Johnny Dawkins and the Knights showed why in shutting down Tulane 75-50 on Wednesday. The Knights sit second in the conference in scoring at 63.0 PPG (20th nationally) and opponents' FG percentage at 38.7 (10th nationally). The offense is averaging a modest 74.5 PPG (152nd) but guards  BJ Taylor (17.1) and Aubrey Dawkins (16.2), the coaches' son, are quite a duo. UCF leads the AAC in field goal percentage (47.2), while ranking third from long distance (35.2). Naturally, we can't forget the 7-6 Tacko Fall (9.9 & 7.2), who has 52 blocked shots, as well.

Let's not count the Tigers out of the AAC 'hunt' just yet. However, the Tigers can't survive if they shoot as poorly as they did in the loss to Temple, when they wound up hitting just 1-of-23 three-pointers, barely extending their three-point streak to 605 straight games. "We won every category except for three-point shooting," Hardaway told reporters. "And it's hard to win like that." However, it's worth noting that Memphis still fought back from a 20-point first-half deficit to make it a two-point game late. Jeremiah Martin continued to play well since returning to point guard, as he led the way with 28 points to regain the team scoring lead (15.4 & 4.1 APG) from 6-8 forward Kyvon Davenport (14.8 & a team-high 7.5 RPG). ). Guard Harris averages 12.7 PPG, while six others play regularly, averaging between 5.7 and 9.7 PPG.

Memphis boasts the conference's top scoring offense at 83.6 PPG (that's 20th nationally) and enters this almost "must-win" game with a 10-1 record at FedEx Forum, where the Tigers are averaging a whopping 90.8 PPG. UCF will be trying to win consecutive road games for the FIRST time this season and while the Knights did win at Memphis last year, it's important to note that the Knights had lost 14 in a row before last year's victory. It's "Back to the Future," as Memphis wins at home over UCF.

Good luck...Larry

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

Cincinnati may be 17-3 (6-1 in AAC play) but the Bearcats remain unranked this season. Cincy travels to Philadelphia on Sunday for an AAC showdown with Temple. The Owls check in at 15-4 and are 5-1 in AAC play. Cincinnati and Temple have emerged as two of the top contenders in the American Athletic Conference, along with No. 17 Houston (6-1) and UCF (5-1). All four of those one-loss schools are in action Sunday, as Houston is at Tulsa and UCF is at Memphis (Tigers are lurking at 4-2).

Cincinnati has won five games in a row, including an 88-64 rout of Tulsa, its last time out. The Bearcats rely heavily on Jarron Cumberland, who leads the team in scoring at 18.1 PPG.  A trio of guards join him on the perimeter in Williams (11.1), Jenifer (9.1) and Broome (8.2). The 6-8 Scott (9.5 & 6.5) and the 6-11 Brooks (8.8 & 5.8) are Cincy's top-two frontcourt contributors. Mick Cronin-coached teams always play defense and the Bearcats come in allowing 60.9 PPG (7th). 

Temple has won its last five league games, suffering only a surprising home loss to Ivy League foe (and Big-Five rival) Pennsylvania during that stretch. The Owls come in off an  85-76 win over Memphis, behind Quinton Rose's 26 points. Rose is averaging 17.1 PPG but before going 5-of-9 from three-point range against the Tigers, he was just 15-of-77 from beyond the arc, entering that game. PG Shizz Alston Jr. was only 2-of-13 from the floor against Memphis and is 7-of-31 over the last two games but is Temple's top scorer (18.5) and assist leader (5.2). A third guard, Nate Pierre-Louis (14.2 & 5.8), continued his solid play of late with 15 points, giving him eight straight games in which he has scored between 13 and 22 points. The frontcourt is adequate but hardly anything special, with the 6-10 Aflakpui (6.7 & 7.5), the 6-7 Perry (5.1 & 3.4) and the 6-7 Moorman (5.1 & 3.6).

The Bearcats lost THREE key players from last year's team, NBA draft picks Evans (13.0), a shooting guard, and the 6-8 Clark (12.9 & 8.7). Also gone is the 6-9 Washington (11.3 & 5.3). Cincy depends WAY too much on Cumberland (he has attempted 97 more shots than anyone else on the team) and Temple's guard trio is more than a match for the Bearcats' perimeter group. Neither team has much of a frontcourt but I'll note that Temple's 6-10 center Ernest Aflakpui is averaging 13.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in the last three games. Cincinnati won both meetings with Temple last season, including a buzzer-beating win in Philadelphia, 55-53. 66.2 PPG in five road contests this season, while the Owls come in having won EIGHT of the their last nine, while going 8-1 SU at home on the season (lone loss to Penn, see above). Temple stays a lone-loss AAC team after this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Bailout Blowout is on Santa Clara at 9:00 ET.

Loyola-Marymount is 14-6 and will be on the road tonight at Santa Clara, which is 11-10. However, the Lions are just 2-4 in WCC play, while the Broncos check in a 3-4.

Marymount's head coach Mike Dunlap entered his fifth year at the school this season with a 48-75 (.390) record but he was optimistic about the year, after his team played an exhibition schedule this summer in Australia. All five starters are back and this year's team is led by senior guard James Batemon (17.2-3.2-4.0) and 7-3 junior center Mattias Markusson (11.0 & 7.3). Most notably, the team's defense has been outstanding, allowing a modest 62.8 PPG (17th).

As for Herb Sendek's Santa Clara Broncos, guard Eaddy (15.8) leads the team in scoring, teamed with PG Trey Wertz (13.1 & 4.8 APG). The frontcourt is led by the 6-8 Vrankic (13.1 & 6.1), 6-5 SF Justice (10.4) and the 6-7 Martin (5.8 & a team-high 8.1 RPG).

Santa Clara has had problems stepping up against the upper-tier of the WCC (Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s) but the Broncos have covered spreads vs everyone else since early December and were 8-2 ATS before getting clobbered 98-39 against Gonzaga (again, a team way above Santa Clara's class!). LMUs' 12-2 non-conference record is now in teh rear-view mirror. Expect the Broncos to win handily here at home.

Good luck...Larry

The Golden State Warriors have won THREE of the last four NBA titles and now are the hottest team in the NBA at the moment. The Warriors have won NINE in a row and at 34-14, own the West's best record and trail only the 35-12 Milwaukee Bucks for the league's best record, overall. Golden State won 126-118 at Washington on Thursday, despite Curry and Thompson combining to go 3-of-12 from beyond the arc. The Warriors continue a five-game road trip in Boston on Saturday night (ABC cameras will be there). The 30-18 Celtics are hardly 'chopped liver, ' as Boston has won five straight, after pushing its home winning streak to 10 in a row with a 123-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Golden State hardly needs an introduction, as with Boogie Cousins now in the starting lineup at center (he started the last three games and averaged 13.0 & 7.0 in about 20 minutes), the Warriors start FIVE All-Stars! I'll by-pass the individual numbers and point out that Golden St leads the NBA in scoring (118.9 PPG), FG percentage (49.1) and FT percentage (82.0), while 'wallowing' with the league's second-best three-point percentage (38.9).

Boston All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving (23.5-4.8-6.9) sat out Wednesday with an illness (flu) and Terry Rozier got the nod to start in his spot. Rozier responded by going 8-of-8 from the floor in the first half and scoring 22 of his 26 points before the break to set the tone as the Celtics coasted to a 20-point win. Can't imagine Irving will miss this one. Tatum (16.3 & 6.2), Morris (14.8 & 6.0), Brown (12.3 & 4.3) and Hayward (11.0-4.6-3.5) give Boston a plethora of quality frontcourt players plus there is always the versatile Horford (12.2-6.4-3.6).

When these teams met last season in Boston (November), the Celics won 92-88, holding the Warriors to their fifth-lowest point total of the season. Boston enters this contest, second in the league in both opponents' FG (44.1) and three-point (33.4) percentage. Beware, the Warriors are just 9-11 as a road favorite this season. The TD Garden rocks tonight. Take Boston.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout is on Miss St at 8:30 ET.

SEC rivals Auburn (13-5) and Mississippi State (14-4) square off Saturday night in Starkville. Both schools cruised through the majority of their non-conference schedules playing every bit like the ranked teams they were for the first two months of the season. Auburn won 11 of 13 in non-conference action, while Mississippi State won 12 of its 13 non-conference contests. However, SEC play has humbled both teams, as both the Tigers and the Bulldogs are 2-3.

Auburn has lost its last two games, falling at home to Kentucky 82-80 last Saturday, before losing at South Carolina 80-77 on Tuesday. The Tigers fought back from a double-digit deficit in both games to take a second-half lead before falling short in the end. Auburn overcame a 17-point deficit last Saturday against Kentucky only to lose by two and the Tigers trailed South Carolina by 10 points with about six minutes remaining, then went on a 12-0 run to take the lead with four minutes left but then didn't make any FG after that. Shooting guard Brown (16.9) is the team's leading scorer, followed by PG Harper (15.3 & 6.6 APG). However, the team's inside duo of the 6-11 Wiley (10.8 & 6.1) and the 6-8 Okele (10.1 & 6.2) is now down to one, as Wiley is out indefinitely with a leg injury (went down Jan 16 vs A&M)

Mississippi State is coming off its worst offensive performance of the season in a 76-55 loss at Kentucky on Tuesday. The Bulldogs had season-lows of 19 FGs made and a 31.1 shooting percentage. They made just 3-of-20 three-pointers. Quinndary Weatherspoon (16.8 & 5.1) is the fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,685 career points and is one of five SEC players to eclipse the 20-point mark six times this season. PG Lamar Peters (12.8 & 5.7 APG) is the team's second-leading scorer. MSU has a tall and deep frontcourt, led by the 6-10 Holman (11.7 & 7.7), the 6-10 Perry (7.1 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Ado (5.1 & 5.1).

Both teams are seeking to get back to .500 in conference play but I have to believe that healthy MSU stands the MUCH better chance. Auburn has won just ONE of four true road games this season, while Miss st is 9-1 SU at home, outscoring opponents 84.8-to-69.5 PPG. Throw in the fact that MSU head coach Ben Howland will surely remind his team just how it squandered a 14-point second-half lead in losing 76-68 last season at Auburn. Revenge works, here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* CBB Game of the Month is on San Diego St at 8:00 ET.

11-7 UNLV is 5-1 in MWC play, as it heads to the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl on Saturday night to take on San Diego State. the Aztecs are 10-8 (2-3 in MWC play) but own a great recent history against the Rebel. UNLV's early conference schedule has been kind (a steady diet of second-division foes), allowing the Rebels to stay close to current No. 7 Nevada. However, things start to get a bit tougher from here forward. The Aztecs are likely going nowhere this season but I will elaborate later on the school's history vs UNLV.

Marvin Menzies' team could sure use the 6-7 Shakur Juiston (10.8 & 8.8) but he's lost for the season with a knee injury. Guards Clyburn (13.4 & 4.9),s Hardy (12.1) and Robotham (8.3) join the 6-9 Ntambwe (12.5 & 6.2) as team stalwarts. However, I will note that 6-5 SF Blair did come out of nowhere to score 26 point in the team's recent 75-58 win over New Mexico.

Without Juiston, SDSU's 6-10 Williams (16.1 & 8.1) will be tough to contain. He's joined up front by the 6-6 Mitchell (11.4 & 3.&) plus the Aztecs own a solid three-man guard rotation. PG Watson (15.4 & 5.0 APG) leads the way, joined by Hemsley (9.1) and Schakel (8.3). SDSU is 8-2 SU at home this season, averaging 80.4 PPG.

Head coach Brian Dutcher led the Aztecs to an NCAA bid and 22-11 record in his first season but that won't be repeated this season. However, series history all favors SDSU in this matchup. UNLV is just 9-27-5 ATS its last 41 road games (overall) and 14-39-4 ATS in its last 57 MWC games. More notably, the Rebels are 6-18-2 in their last 26 meetings with the Aztecs, who enter on a 15-6 ATS at their home court. SDS beat UNLV 95-56 at this venue last season, giving them three straight home wins over UNLV by a combined 87 points. Enough said!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Duquesne at 2:00 ET.

Virginia Commonwealth owns a rich BKB tradition but is coming off an 18-15 season (no postseason tourneys). The Rams head to Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon 13-6 overall, including 4-2 in A-10 play. Meanwhile, the Duquesne Dukes are 14-5 overall, including 5-1 in league play. Both VCU's Mike Rhoades and Duquesne's Keith Dambrot are head coaches in their second years at their respective schools.

PG Evans (13.3) leads VCU in scoring and is joined in the backcourt by SG Jenkins (11.9). Up front, the 6-6 Vann (10.9 & 4.) and the 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.8) are the main contributors. Let me note that Evans averages just 2.8 APG (terribly low for a starting PG) and VCU shoots an awful 29.9% on threes as a team (334th).

The surging Dukes are on a five-game winning streak after beating previously unbeaten (in A-10 play) St Louis, 77-73 at home on Wednesday. Williams is a 6-6 guard and leads the team in scoring (13.2) and rebounding (7.8). His backcourt partner is Curry (12.1 & 3.9) and up front, 6-8 center Hayes (12.1 & 6.4) and 6-5 SF Weathers (9.8 & 6.1) do the most damage.

You may just remember Dambrot (he was LBJ's high school coach) and in 13 seasons at Akron, won 20-plus games in each of his final 12 years. The Dukes finished tied for 10th in the A-10 (16-16 overall) last year but look at the strides being made this season. The Dukes are 11-1 at home (shot just 35.8%, including 6 of 28 on threes in that one) and I see NO reason why the Dukes should be home dogs here vs a very average VCU team (reputation?). VCU is just 2-4 SU in true road games this season, averaging a woeful 58.8 PPG. The home dog 'barks' LOUDLY in this one,

Good luck...Larry

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

It's more of the Big-12/SEC Challenge Saturday at 12 noon ET, as 12-6 Alabama and 12-6 Baylor square off at the Ferrell Center in Waco. Alabama comes in on a very good stretch, winning 70-60 at Missouri and coming within eyelash of now No. 1 Tennessee in Knoxville (lost 71-68), before routing then-20 Ole Miss 74-53 in in its last three games. However, Baylor is similarly-surging, winning on the Big 12 road at Okla Sy=t and West Va, while also beating then-No. Texas Tech 73-62 in its last three.

The 6-9 Hall (11.2 & 9.1) is the lone non-guard among 'Bama's top-six scorers. Freshman guard Lewis (13.8) leads the way, followed by sophomore Petty (12.2 & 4.4), who followed a 30-point effort at Tennessee with 15 against Ole Miss. Lewis is in a small slump, scoring just 28 points over his last three games. Hall recorded his fourth straight double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) against the Rebels, tying the team record.

Baylor lost the 6-9 Clark (14.6 & 6.2). to a season-ending knee injury on Jan 8 but after a five-point loss to Kansas, has ripped off three straight wins without him. Guard Makai Mason, a graduate transfer from Yale (you don't hear that often), is averaging 15.7 PPG and scored 29 points in the win over West Virginia. He's recorded double digits in 14 of his 15 games this season (scored NINE in the lone game he did not). Guard McClure (10.7 & 5.7) plus fellow guards Kegler (8.6 & 6.1 ) and Butler (8.2) are also stepping up as of late. In particular, freshman Butler is averaging 14.3 PPG in his last four.

Scott Drew's teams had won 20-plus games for nine of the previous 10 seasons but finished just 19-15 last season. Four starters are gone from that team and hence, the so-so start to this season. However, even the loss of Clark has been overcome, as of late. The Bears are an excellent defensive team, allowing just 64.3 PPG (26th) and enter this contest on a 7-1 ATS run. This game could have implications once March rolls around, so I'm taking the home team to get the "W" and cover!.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Dal Mavericks at 8:35 ET.

The Dallas Mavericks welcome the Detroit Pistons to the American Airlines Center on Friday night. Both teams come in 21-26 but while the Pistons seem to be going nowhere, the Mavs have made excellent strides coming off last season's 24-58 year. Luka Doncic (19.9-6.8-5.3) may have already locked up the ROY award and is the current leader of the new-look Mavs (future HOF Dirk Nowitzki is now just a cheerleader, averaging 3.8 & 1.8 in 16 games). The Mavs just ended a four-game skid with a 106-98 win over the Clippers. Detroit is coming off a win as well, after Wednesday's 98-94 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans (note: the Pistons won for just the EIGHTH time in their last 27 games).

Power forward Blake Griffin scored 37 points in Detroit's win but center Andre Drummond (concussion) missed a third straight game. Griffin (26.3-8.1-5.3) went on a fourth-quarter roll by scoring 20 of his 37 in the stanza and he also finished with nine rebounds, seven assists and four 3-pointers. "He's carrying us, handling the basketball, making good decisions, just doing everything we could ask a franchise player to do," Detroit coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "He's been great. He sets the tone for us offensively. He'd probably have more assists if we knocked down more shots." As for Drummond (16.3 & 14.9), he's supposedly been cleared of the league's concussion protocol but that doesn't mean he'll play.

Second-year PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.7) returned to the Mavericks after an unhappy sabbatical and will again be in the lineup for Friday's game against the visiting Detroit Pistons. Smith missed six straight games due to friction over his role but shared the ball-handling duties with star rookie Luka Doncic in Tuesday's 106-98 victory (he had 17 points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes). Doncic is just 14-of-46 from the floor over the past three games and his take on Smith's hiatus was brief: "It shouldn't happen. It's bad for a team." Good for this team is SF Barnes, who is averaging 17.9 PPG after averaging 19.2 and 18.9 in his first two year's with the team.

With Drummond questionable at best, the Pistons will be relying WAY too much on Griffin. Note that Detroit's only two other double digit scorers, guards Jackson (14.1 & 4.1 APG) and Bullock (12.1), are shooting a combined 37% overall and 31.8% on threes over the last 10 games. Amazingly, Griffin is the only player averaging 10 PPG or more over the team's last three. The Pistons are just 8-15 SU on the road, while Dallas comes in 17-6 SU & 16-7 ATS at home. What's more, Dallas is 16-5 ATS at the American Airlines Center when not laying more than nine points (that's the case, here).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Creighton at 8:30 ET.

Butler has gone 'dancing' in 10 of the previous 12 seasons but will need to finish strong to keep to do so again this campaign. The Bulldogs are just 12-8 (3-4 in Big East play), after losing 80-72 at home this past Tuesday to surging Villanova (Wildcats have won SEVEN in a row). Creighton is 11-8 overall, including 2-4 in Big East play. Creighton lost 84-69 at Butler back on Jan 5, beginning a streak of FOUR straight losses, marking the Bluejays' longest skid since the 1999-2000 season. However, Creighton ended its slide with a 91-87 road win at Georgetown on Monday.

Butler PG Aaron Thompson (6.7 & 4.2 APG) bounced back from a scoreless, foul-plagued 16-minute effort Saturday against St. John's with club-best marks of 15 points (6-of-9 shooting) and four assists in 31 minutes versus the Wildcats but Butler still lost by eight. However, leading scorer Kamar Baldwin (17.4 & 5.6) finished with only 11 points on 5-for-14 shooting following a three-game stretch in which he averaged 21.7 points on 24-of-41 from the floor. The 6-11 Joey Brunk averaged 14.7 points and seven boards over his first three career starts but he hasn't topped eight points or six rebounds in any of his four outings since (he's averaging 8.6 & 4.4 on the season) .

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott said during a postgame radio show after the Georgetown win, “They’ve come hungry, ready to practice. They’re not pointing fingers at me, I’m not pointing fingers at them, they’re not pointing fingers at each other. They’re committed to just trying to get better every day. I think when you commit to that, you have nights like (Monday) where good things happen." Sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander (17.5) knocked down six, three-pointers for the second time in three contests Monday, extending his consecutive games streak with at least one triple to a Big East-best 23. The Bluejays own a deep perimeter, as Ballock (10.9 & 3.6 APG), Zegarowski (10.8) and Mintz (10.3) join Alexander at the guard position. The 6-9 Krampelj (11.1 & 6.3) and SF Jefferson (9.4 & 5,4) are the best frontcourt contributors.

Butler's ONLY true road win this season came at DePaul (not saying much) and that win snapped an 0-7 SU & ATS run in true road games by the Bulldogs, going back into last season. Butler is a money-burning 8-17 ATS in its last 25 road games plus is 0-5 ATS in its last five visits to Creighton. The Bluejays shoot 50.5% (4th) overall, including 43.0% on threes (2nd). Butler did get 87 points in winning at DePaul but in its first four true road games this season (all losses), averaged a woeful 59.8 PPG. Don't see any way Butler can match Creighton score-for-score (also note that the home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings between the two schools).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Pac-12 Game of the Week is on UCLA at 11:00 ET.

UCLA dismissed coach Steve Alford on December 31, 2018, two days after the Bruins' ugly 73-58 loss to Liberty. It marked the first time the program ever had made a coaching change in the middle of the season. Murry Bartow (son of former UCLA coach Gene Bartow) was named interim coach for the Bruins and in his first game (at home vs Stanford), UCLA ended a four-game slide with a 92-70 win over te Cardinal. Two more wins followed but the 'honeymoon' period is over for UCLA interim coach Murry Bartow, as the Bruins have lost lost two in row following three straight victories. 10-8 UCLA (3-2 in the Pac -12) welcomes 13-5 Arizona St (4-2 in Pac-12) to Pauley Pavilion tonight. ASU dominated the second half in last Saturday's impressive 78-64 home victory over Oregon,as five players scored in double figures.

Five ASU players are averaging in double figures on the season, with the 6-8 White just missing at 9.0 & 5.9 The double digit scorers are guard Dort (16.4 & 446), fellow guard Martin (12.3 & 4.2 APG), the 6-8 Cheatham (12.1 & 9.6), guard Edwards (10.3) and the 6-7 Lawrence (10.3 & 3.9). Freshman forward Taeshon Cherry (7.2) had 15 points on five three-pointers against Oregon and head coach Bobby Hurley said, “He has one of the best strokes I’ve seen. He's got so much upside as far as where he can take his game if he keeps developing and getting better.”ASU averages 79.1 PPG (55th in teh nation but No. 1 in the Pac-12), although the Sun Devils allow 72.4 PPG (209th).

The Bruins need to bounce back from a dismal outing, after shooting 5-of-22 from three-point range and committing 20 turnovers in last Saturday's 80-67 loss to crosstown rival USC. The Bruins averaged 92 points in wins over Stanford, California and Oregon but slowed down dramatically in losses to Oregon State and USC, averaging just 66.5 points. Bartow needs more consistency from 7-1 freshman Moses Brown, who averages 11.3 points and 8.9 rebounds but was a non-factor against USC, finishing with two points in 20 minutes. UCLA's best player is sophomore guard Kris Wilkes, who is averaging 17.1 & 4.9 (he's scored in double digits in EVERY game this season!). PG Hands checks in at 11.8 PPG and 6.4 APG plus a third guard, Prince Ali, averages 10.6 PPG ( he's shooting 51 percent from the floor and 48 percent from three-point range in five Pac-12 contests).

Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils generated national headlines by handing then-top-ranked Kansas its first loss, 80-76, back on Dec. 22 but ASU is just 6-5 its last 11, after opening the season 7-.0. This UCLA team has the talent and note that the Bruins were picked to finish second in the Pac-12 preseason poll. UCLA has won seven of its last nine games against Arizona State and the home team has won EIGHT of the last 10 meetings between the two schools (UCLA and has covered 15 of the last 21 meetings overall). More tech trends show that the Sun Devils are 7-17-2 ATS in their last 26 vs Pac-12 foes and are 3-10-2 ATS in their last 15 road games. UCLA has won 39 of 44 games in Pauley Pavilion since the start of the 2016-17 season and with this pointspread, a win is a cover!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on Louisville at 8:00 ET.

A pair of ranked teams square off Thursday night at the KFC Yum! Center, as No. 21 NC State (15-3) takes on No. 23 Louisville (13-5). The Wolfpack have alternated wins and losses to begin conference play (check in at 3-2), while the Cardinals have won three straight and four of five to begin their ACC schedule (lone loss was 89-86 in OT at Pitt). NC State rebounded from a loss at Wake Forest with a 77-73 win at Notre Dame on Saturday, while Louisville cruised to its third win in a row with a 79-51 victory over shorthanded Georgia Tech on Saturday (Yellow Jackets were without three regulars, including two of their top three scorers).

Defense fueled Saturday’s win over Notre Dame, as the Wolfpack held the Irish to just 7-of-28 from the three-point line and 24-of-49 overall (40.7 percent). Offensively, NC State bounced back from its worst shooting game of the season (37 percent from the floor against Wake Forest two games ago), to shoot 43.5 percent from the floor, including 36.8 percent from long range. The Wolfpack average 86.7 PPG (6th), with six players averaging between 9.0 and 14.3 PPG. 6-5 guard Dorn leads the team in scoring (14.5) and rebounding (7.1) and the lone non-guard in the team's top-six scorers is the 6-10 Funderburk (9.3 & 4.6).

6-7 sophomore forward Jordan Nwora has improved his scoring average from 5.7 as a freshman to 18.5 this season and had a game-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting against Georgia Tech while also contributing with eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. He also leads the Cardinals with 8.1 RPG. Six more Cards average between 6.6 and 10.4 PPG, with PG Cunningham being the only other double digit scorer (10.4 & 4.2 APG). 6-10 junior center Steven Enoch (9.6 & 5.2) added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in just 20 minutes off the bench vs Ga Tech, while 6-11 sophomore center Malik Williams (7.6 & 5.3) added 13 points in only 16 minutes. SF Sutton adds 9.9 & 6.8 plus guards McMahon (7.4) and Perry (6.6) add outstanding depth and balance.

First-year Louisville coach Chris Mack (note: he led Xavier to eight NCAA berths in his nine seasons) said, "We know we're only as good as our next game. I don't think success is ever final," after the Cardinals dominated all aspects of the game against the Yellow Jackets. Louisville is ranked for the first time this season and now takes on a ranked Atlantic Coast Conference opponent at home for the first time this season (it's a big deal). NC State has been impacted by the absence of PG Markell Johnson (11.6 & 4.1 APG), who has missed the past two games since taking a hard fall on his backside in the Jan 12 home victory against Pittsburgh. "He's a guy who could play on Thursday or could play three or four weeks from now,"head coach Kevin Keatts said (that doesn't sound promising for NC St backers). This wraps up a three-game road stretch for North Carolina State and I believe the Wolfpack come up "way short" in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on Iowa at 7:00 ET.

No. 6 Michigan State is 17-2 (8-0 in Big Ten play) and looks to extend its winning streak to 13 in a row when it travels to face No. 19 Iowa (16-3 / 5-3) in a Big Ten matchup at Iowa City. Thursday. The Spartans have won a school-record 20 straight regular-season Big Ten contests and are coming off a 69-55 victory over No. 16 Maryland on Monday, while the Hawkeyes have won five in a row, after routing Illinois 95-71 on Sunday. Michigan State won the first matchup this season 90-68 in December, as 6-9 junior forward Nick Ward led the way with a 10-for-10 shooting effort and 26 points.

Junior PG Cassius Winston is the leader for coach Tom Izzo, topping the Spartans in scoring (18.0) and assists (7.3). He's helped ease the loss of the team's third-leading scorer Joshua Langford (15.), who has missed the last six contests with an ankle injury (he is not expected to play here). Up front, MSU is 'loaded' with Ward (15.7 & 6.9), the 6-8 Tillman (8.4 & 7.4) and the 6-7 Goins (7.1 & 9.6). Goins is the team's "glue guy," exhibiting a great feel for MSU schemes on both ends of the floor. The Spartans are averaging 83.8 PPG (20th) and allowing just 66.1 PPG (49th).

The Hawkeyes' top two scorers, are 6-9 forwards Tyler Cook (16.5 & 8.2) and the 6-11 Luka Garza (13.9 & 4.9). Iowa start three guards, Wieskamp (11.9 & 5.1), PG Bohannon (11.2 & 3.3 APG) and Moss (10.0). Coming off the bench are 6-6 forward Baer (6.5 & 4.6) and the 6-9 Kriener (5.6 & 2.9). Iowa can score with MSU (82.8 PPG ranks 27th) but allows about a 'TD' more defensively, at 72.2 PPG.

Iowa is almost as hot as MSU (13 straight wins), going 10-1 its last 11. The Hawkeyes are an impressive 11-1 at home (averaging 85.7 PPG) and are surely looking to avenge that 90-698 loss at East Lansing in late December. Michigan State's defense, which held Iowa to 32.8 percent shooting in the first matchup, as the lack of outside shooting made it "tough going" inside for Cook and Garza,  who combined for just 22 points. However, freshman Wieskamp has caught fire lately, scoring in double figures in nine of the last 10 contests, making Iowa a much more dangerous team to Big Ten foes. The 6-6 guard was perfect against Illinois on Sunday in matching his career high of 24 points, hitting 8-of-8 from the field, including 6-of-6 from three-point range. That kind of accuracy has helped open things up inside for Cook and Garza, as well as making defenders think twice about leaving him to cover Iowa's other shooters. MSU has listed PG Winston as questionable with a knee issue and his loss would be HUGE. Either way, I'm taking Iowa and hoping for some good old home cookin'. Note that Iowa ranked first in the country in free throws made (395) entering Wednesday. Maybe we'll get the Rams/Saints refs in this one?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NBA Game of the Month is on the Ut Jazz at 10:35 ET.

The Utah Jazz saw their six-game winning streak end on MLK Day, losing 109-104 at home to the Portland Trail Blazers. The 26-22 Jazz welcome the 31-14 Denver Nuggets to Salt Lake City tonight, with the Nuggets coming to town having won 10 of their last 13 games, after routing the the Cavaliers 124-102 last Saturday. Denver arrives with the second-best record in the Western Conference (only the 33-14 Warriors are better), while Utah currently owns the West's No. 7. The Jazz are only one game clear of the playoff 'cut line' but are also just 2 1/2 games out of the No. 4 seed, which holds homecourt advantage in the first round.

PG Jamal Murray (18.8-4.5-4.9) scored 26 points in the win over Cleveland for his fourth straight game of shooting 50 percent or better. Standout center Nikola Jokic had 19 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds against the Cavaliers for his third triple-double in the past seven games. He continues to lead Denver in scoring (19.6), rebounding (10.0) and assists (7.7). Denver has fought through key injuries to keep winning but it looks as if Harris (15.5), Millsap (12.8 & 6.7) and Barton (10.3) are now ready to play regularly.

The Jazz lost at home to the Blazers, despite another outstanding effort by Donovan Mitchell (22.0-3.7-3.7). He scored 36 points and has scored more than 20 points in each of the past nine games, averaging 29.8 points during the stretch. Center Rudy Gobert (14.9 & 13.1) has recorded eight straight double-doubles and has 39 on the season. He matches up will against Jokic plus PG Ricky Rubio (12.8 & 6.0 APG) returned from a six-game absence due to a (hamstring) to score 12 points in just 14 minutes against Portland. Starters Ingles (11.5-3.9-4.9) and Favors (11.2 & 7.3) also average in double figures, while SF Crowder (12.0 & 4.8) and SG Korver (9.8 PPG on 40.0% three-point shooting in 26 games) have been excellent contributors off the bench.

Utah is in "revenge mode" after losing 103-88 in the Mile High City back on Nov 3. In that contest, the Nuggets outscored the Jazz 35-15 in the fourth quarter. Denver is trying to halt a SEVEN-game losing streak in Utah, one in which the Jazz have won by an average of 14 points, holding the Nuggets below 90 points in FIVE of those wins. Note: Utah allows 105.0 PPG, 3rd-best in the NBA.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Rivalry Rout is on Arkansas at 9:00 ET.

Missouri is 10-6 overall (1-3 in the SEC) and Arkansas is 10-7, including 1-4 in SEC play. Neither school in this border rivalry can really afford another loss after their respective sluggish starts to SEC play. Each team’s only SEC win came at Texas A&M. The Razorbacks opened conference play with a 73-71 road win over the Aggies back on Jan 5 but Arkansas has since lost FOUR in a row, including blowout losses at Tennessee (106-87) and Ole Miss (84-67) in its last two contests. Meanwhile, the Tigers lost their first three SEC games (all by double digits) but turned in their best defensive effort of the season in a 66-43 victory at Texas A&M on Saturday.

Missouri relies on a defense that's allowing 65.2 PPG (that's 38th in the nation but also second in the SEC in scoring defense). However, on the offensive end, Missouri averages just 68.3 PPG (296th). Guards Geist (13.7-4.1-3.2) and Smith (12.0 & 5.4) form a solid backcourt duo while up front, the 6-10 Tilmon (9.9 & 5.9) and the 6-7 Puryear (8.7 & 5.2) are the team's best inside players. Missouri relies heavily on the three-pointer, shooting an SEC-best 39.2 percent from beyond the arc (that's 4th-best in the nation).

The Razorbacks are one of the youngest teams in the nation but they do feature have the Preseason SEC Player of the Year in Daniel Gafford. The 6-11 sophomore is averaging 16.5 & 9.4. Arkansas features an very good guard trio in freshman Joe (14.5), sophomore Jones (14.4 & 4.9) and junior PG Harris (8.3 7 6.8 APG). This team is better than its record.

The Razorbacks’ current four-game losing streak is their longest since a six-game skid to end the 2009-10 season. It ends here. This border rivalry is made more intense with former Missouri head coach Mike Anderson now leading Arkansas. The Razorbacks won't compete all that well against the SEC elite but Missouri is hardly elite. Lay it.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

Toronto capped a 3-0 homestand with a 120-105 win over Sacramento last night. Star swingman Kawhi Leonard (27.6 & 7.9) missed his third game in a row for the Raptors and he is not expected back until Friday at Houston. Surprisingly, the 36-13 Raptors are 11-2 without Leonard this season. Toronto plays again tonight, when it visits Indianapolis to take on the 31-15 Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are 11-4 in the last 35 days but two of those losses have come against the Raptors. Toronto edged Indiana by three points in a Dec 19 win and then won 121-105 in the rematch on Jan 6 (both games were played in Toronto).

Toronto overcame Leonard's absence last night with a 16-for-40 showing from behind the arc. CJ Miles made four-of-five from long-range and is averaging 13.7 points in just 16.7 minutes over his last three games (he averaging only 5.5 PPG on the season). PG Kyle Lowry (14.1-4.4-9.4) finished with 19 points and nine assists while Fred VanVleet (10.4 & 4.6 APG) also scored 19. Toronto is still without center Valanciunus (12.8 & 7.2), who hasn't played since Dec 12 (he hopes to be back by mid-Feb). Stepping up big time for Toronto this season has been PF Ibaka (16.2 & 7.3) and the 6-9 Siakam (15.0 & 6.9), who is one of the NBA's most improved players.(he averaged 7.3 PPG last season and just 4.2 in his rookie year).

Both of Indiana's losses to the Raptors have been in Toronto."They beat us twice, but we feel like we're right there," Pacers PG Darren Collison said. "Eliminate some mistakes and we'll be OK. We match up pretty well against them. But if we want to be one of the best in the East, this shouldn't be a statement game. We should go out and compete and win. I feel like if you're the best, it shouldn't be a statement game. Statement games are for teams that are underdogs. I don't think we feel like underdogs." Collison (9.5 & 5.6 APG scored 19 points and handed out nine assists while Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 16 points in Sunday's 120-94 victory over the Hornets. Bogdanovic is averaging 16.0 & 4.1 on the season, second to Oladipo (19.2-5.7-5.3), the Pacers' best player. Indiana's depth is impressive, with PF Young (12.6 & 6.0) and center Turner (12.8 & 7.3) rounding out the team's starting-five. However, Sabonis (15.0 & 9.6) has been a 'monster' off the bench plus Evans (10.9) is starting to feel at home with his latest new team (note: he's averaging 15.5 points in 18.7 minutes over his last six games). .

This is almost a "must win" for the Pacers. Indiana has lost four in a row to top teams in the Eastern Conference (twice to Toronto and once each to Boston and Philly). The Pacers are now only 3-7 against teams with a .600 or better winning percentage. I realize that the Raptors are 8-1 in the second game of back-to-backs but this is a game Indiana has to win if it has any hope of playing with confidence this postseason. I've got that feeling and will bet on it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Revenge Game of the Month is on Xavier at 6:30 ET.

Xavier is just 10-7 overall, including 3-3 in the Big East. The Musketeers have already has lost as many conference games as they did in 2017-18, when the team went 15-3 in league play to win the Big East regular-season title. Xavier hasn't spent much time worrying about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, having gone 'dancing' in 16 of the last 18 seasons. However, this season is shaping up much differently. The Musketeers are hoping a return home will get them back on track, when they host struggling Providence on Wednesday night. The 11-7 Friars are just 1-4 in Big East play, after losing 79-68 at now-No. 12 Marquette, the school's fourth loss in five games

"As a leader of this group, I have to try to keep everyone’s heads up and make sure we’re looking ahead to the next game and not dwell on this loss,” Providence's leading scorer Alpha Diallo said.The 6-7 big guard averages team highs of 17.2 PPG and 8.6 RPG. It's notewiorthy that 6-10 sophomore center Nate Watson (11.1 & 5.4) is becoming a bigger force for the Friars, scoring 16 of his 21 points in the second half against Marquette to match his season-high point total set against Georgetown on Jan 12. However, AJ Reeves, a freshman guard who was averaging 14.2 PPG, has not played since going down with a foot injury on Dec 7. That leaves only Diallo and Watson in double figures.

It's my belief that this Xavier team is much better than its record. While the Musketeers have great balance on offense with five players scoring in double figures. The 6-7 Marshall (13.3 & 7.4) leads the way, closely followed by guard Scruggs (12.9 & 5.0), PG Goodin (12.5 & 5.3 APG), the 6-9 Jones (10.7 & 7.4) and the 6-11 Hankins (10.5 & 4.9). Jones registered his second double-double in three games with a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds against Villanova in Xavier's 10-point loss last Friday.

I'm not sure Xavier is going to be NCAA-bound this season but the Musketeers are 9-2 SU at home (holding opponents to 69.6 PPG) and I doubt the team will forget Providence ruining Xavier's Big East tourney experience last season, knocking off the Musketeers 75-72 in OT as 7 1/2-point underdogs. Travis Steele is in his first season as Xavier's head coach but he'll remind this team about that loss, I'm sure. Providence sits in last-place in the 10-team Big East and plays the perfect foil in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout is on USF at 8:00 ET.

South Florida saw its seven-game home win streak snapped Saturday as then-No. 21 Houston (now 17th) was too much for the Bulls to handle in a 69-60 loss. It was USF's third straight loss and fourth in five games but the Bulls are 12-6. Not impressed? Let me remind you that USF was 10-22 last year, following seasons of nine, eight and seven wins! The Bulls welcome fellow AAC rival Wichita St to the Yuengling Center tonight. The Shockers are just 8-9, including 1-4 in the AAC. That record is more than a little surprising, considering that Gregg Marshall's team entered the year having won 25 games or more the last NINE seasons (includes an NIT title in 2011 and seven straight NCAA bids, including a Final 4 appearance in 2013).

Markis McDuffie, 6-8 senior, did the heavy lifting offensively in Marshall's 66-55 home loss to Cincinnati, scoring 21 points on 7 of-14 shooting. The problem being, the rest of his team totaled just 34 points on 38 shots. McDuffie averages 19.6 & 5.2 but only guard Haynes-Jones (13.0) joins him in double digits. The 6-11 Jaime Echenique, a JUCO transfer, leads the team in rebounding at 5.4 (averages 8.5).

Brian Gregory's team won just 10 times last season but he's made great strides this season, already owning 12 wins (despite just one win in the team's last five contests). PG LaQuincy Rideauis a Gardner-Webb  transfer,  averages 14.3 PPG, 5.6 APG and 3.3 steals per game. He's joined in the backcourt by sophomore guard David Collins, who leads the team in scoring at 14.8 PPG. Finally free of eligibility issues, the the 6-7 Alexis Yetna checks in with 12.7 PPG and 11.2 RPG.

Marshall not only lost four starters from last year's team but entered the season having lost two assistants. Witchita State is hard to beat at Charles Koch Arena  but the Shockers are 0-4 SU on the road this season, going 1-3 ATS (pointspread win was plus-10 at Houston in a nine-point loss). Wichita St has been outscored on average, 78.5-to-61.5 PPG on the road. Meanwhile, USF is an impressive 10-2 SU at home (no real impost to worry about here). Let me note that the disparity in free throw attempts in Wichita State’s 66-55 home loss to Cincinnati on Saturday (35 attempts by Cincy to 7 for WSU)l ed to head coach Gregg Marshall and freshman Erik Stevenson receiving a pair of crucial technical fouls with 5:31 to play that turned a five-point deficit into an 11-point Bearcats lead. FT disparity could come to play here, as well. No American Athletic Conference team has made or attempted more free throws this season than USF (329-for-527), while no team in the AAC has made or attempted fewer than Wichita State (207-for-295).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Florida St at 7:00 ET.

Florida State lost 80-78 to then-No. 1 Duke on Jan 12 and actually jumped from 13th to 11th in the AP poll released on Jan 14. However, after road losses this past week at Pittsburgh(75-62) and Bocton College (87-82), FSU fell out of yesterday's latest AP poll (surprisingly, FSU checked in at No. 23 in the coaches' poll). The Seminoles return home tonight to host 11-6 Clemson, which at 1-3 in the ACC, is ahead of FSU in the league standings (Seminoles are one of five teams at the bottom of the league with a 1-4 mark). Clemson comes into this contest having just snapped a three-game slide of its own, with a 72-60 home win over Georgia Tech on Wednesday.

Senior guard Marcquise Reed scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting while recording four steals against Ga Tech, as Clemson notched its first conference victory.

Reed leads the team in scoring at 19.7 PPG and adds 5.4 RPG. Senior forward Elijah Thomas is second in scoring at 13.1 per game, plus leads the Tigers with 7.7 RPG. Guard Mitchell is Clemson's only other player in double digits, averaging 11.9 PPG and a team-high 3.2 APG.Clemson averages a modest 71.5 PPG on the season (240th).

FSU has yet to recover from its "close but no cigar" two-point loss at Duke. The team's malaise was evident in its last outing, when FSU led by 10 points at BC at halftime but couldn’t get second half stops, as the Eagles went on to win, 87-82. Mfiondu Kabengele, a 6-10 sophomore, leads a balanced attack with 12.6 PPG, after posting a career-high 26 at Boston College. Senior guard Terance Mann is second on the scoring list at 11.6 PPG. Then there is junior PG Trent Forest (9.9-4.9-3.6), who is averaging 14 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists over his last two contests. However, 6-8 Mike Cofer's foot injury could hurt. He had a breakout season last year (12.8 & 5.1) but has played only seven games this year.

It's time for Leonard Hamilton's team to "put up or shut up." FSU was ranked 17th in the AP's preseason poll (ranked 15th by the Blue Ribbon Yearbook) and climbed as high as No. 9 in the AP poll in early January. Finding themselves as one of five teams at the bottom of the ACC at 1-4, is unacceptable. However, Clemson should play the perfect foil here, as the Tigers are playing just their fourth true road game of the season, averaging only 66.3 PPG. Meanwhile, FSU is  8-1 SU at home (lone loss being that two-pointer against Duke), outscoring opponents 82.6-to-69.7 PPG.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Butler at 7:00 ET.

All are aware that Villanova has won TWO of the last three national championships and with less than two months remaining until Selection Sunday, the Wildcats are beginning to at least partially, resemble those  previous teams. Villanova lost four players off last season's national championship team to the NBA, guards Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo plus forwards Mikal Bridges and Omari Spellman. However, since suffering back-to-back losses to Penn and Kansas, the Wildcats have handily beaten UConn (an old Big East rival) and followed with five straight wins in Big East play (14-4 / 5-0 Big East). They vie for their seventh straight victory when they visit Butler on Tuesday The Bulldogs won at DePaul Jan 16  (much-needed 1st road win of the season) and then took down St John's 80-71 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday. Butler has gone 'dancing' in 10 of the previous 12 seasons but will need to finish strong to keep to do so again this campaign (Butler is just 12-7 / 3-3 in Big East).

Seniors Phil Booth (18.4 & 3.8 APG) and Eric Paschall  (16.6 & 6.4) combine to average 35 points per game, while Collin Gillespie (11.4 points) has come on strong with 32 points over his last two contests. However, the trio are Villanova's only double digit scorers. Guard Booth has averaged 24.0 points in the past four games, while the 6-8 Eric Paschall has averaged 20.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in the Wildcats' five conference games. 

Butler coming off a quality 80-71 victory over St. John's on Saturday, as Kamar Baldwin scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He leads the team in scoring at 17.7 PPG (adds 5.7 RPG) and is beginning to get some solid help. George Washington transfer Paul Jorgensen joins him in the backcourt to average 12.3 PPG and PG Thompson has been solid, averaging 6.2 & 4.2 APG. Another guard, McDermott, averages 10.4 PPG. McDermott had 12 rebounds against St John's but the bigger news was that the 6-7 Tucker, the highly-touted Duke transfer, came off the bench to score a career-best 24 points. He's now averaging 10.4 & 5.5 in 10 games since becoming eligible in mid-December.

Butler is looking for its THIRD straight win over Villanova in the friendly Hinkle Fieldhouse and why can't the Bulldosg get it?  Butler is 9-1 SU at home this season, which is no surprise. After all, Butler entered the season having gone 53--12 at home the previous four seasons (clearly, settling into Big East play). Upset? Not really!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout is on Western Ky at 9:00 ET.

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 12-6 overall but 5-0 in C-USA, as they travel to the E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky on Monday night to take on the 9-9 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (2-3 in C-USA). Marshall's current 5-game winning streak began with the team's opening of league play and includes a 70-69 home win over Wetern Ky on Jan 12. Western Ky ended a three-game skid with a 105-97 win over FIU the last time out, evening its record at 9-9 on the season.

PG Jon Elmore leads Marshall in scoring (20.2) and assists (5.3), while shooting guard CJ Burks checks in at 17.9 PPG (he's had back-to-back 30-point games). The 6-9 Jannson Williams (9.2 & 4.7) tops a group of five players averaging between 5.6 and 9.2 PPG. Marshall averages 81.9 PPG (34th) but allows 81.3 points (341st). Western Ky's leading scorer is Taveion Hollingsworth (16.2 & 4.7) and h led Western Kentucky with 24 points in the win over FIU. Other regular contributors are the 6-11 Bassey (14.1 & 8.9) plus guards Savage (13.4 & 4.7) and Anderson (10.3).

This contest has "revenge written all over it." The Hilltoppers were beaten 67-66 by underdog Marshall in the C-USA Tourney last season, costing Western Ky a spot in the Dance (Western Ky had won both regular season meetings). Then on Jan 12 at Huntington, West Va, the Hilltoppers blew an 11-point halftime lead, in a 70-69 loss.

Marshall freshman Kinsey scored 23 points in that 70-69 win, NINE points more than had scored in any previous game this season (he enters this game averaging 8.8 PPG)! Marshall may be atop C-USA but the the Thundering Herd checks in just 3-8-1 ATS since Dec 1. REVENGE works in this one.

Good luck...Larry

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

Iowa St beat 77-60 Kansas in Ames back on Jan 5 and will now try to sweep the regular season series with the Jayhawks Monday night in Lawrence. The Cyclones lost two straight after beating Kansas but have bounced back with wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma St. As for Kansas, the Jayhawks answered their loss to the Cyclones with three straight victories but then surrendered the final SEVEN points in Saturday's 65-64 loss at West Virginia.

ISU senior Marial Shayock (19.4 & 5.2) is the Big-12's leading scorer. He had 24 points in the Jan 5 win over Kansas plus has added back-to-back 20-point games in the Cyclones' 68-64 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday and 72-59 triumph against Oklahoma State three days later. Head coach Steve Prohm has a perimeter-oriented team, as veteran guards Wiggington (11.9 & 4.4) and Babb (9.7-4.5-4.0) join freshman Horton-Tucker (11.7 & 4.4) and Haliburton (7.8-3.7-4.2)  in support of Shayock. The 6-9 Jacobson (13.1 & 6.1) is ISU's only real inside threat.

The Lawson brothers transferred from Memphis and were expected to make a HUGE contribution this season for Kansas. Dedric (18.9 & 10.7) has delivered but KJ, who averaged 12.3 & 8.1 for Memphis last season, is averaging only 10 MPG (2.8 & 2.4). Kansas head coach Bill Self has also lost the 7-1 Azubuike (13.4 & 6.8) for the season, so the Jayhawks' 14-year stranglehold on the Big 12's regular season title could be in jeopardy. Kansas' lone senior is Lagerald Vick and he's averaging 15.1 PPG. Fellow guards Dotson (10.9-3.4-3.1), Grimes (8.7) and Garrett (7.2 & 3.4) join Vick on the perimeter. Garrett has scored 35 points in the last two games.

Four schools are atop the Big-12 at 4-2 (the other two, Kansas State and Texas Tech meet on Tuesday). While Kansas may not be as good as expected at the start of the season, the Jayhawks have still dominated the Big-12 year after year. Iowa St comes in just 6-13 ATS its last 19 on the road, while Kansas comes in 35-16-3 ATS off a loss. Don't forget, Kansas is 10-0 SU at home, averaging 82.1 PPG.

Good luck...Larry

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

Reigning MVP James Harden has been in quite a 'zone!. He's scored 30-plus points in 19 straight games, while topping 40 in 10 of his last 13. The Rockets rallied from 18 points down in the second half Saturday to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 138-134 in overtime. Harden scored 48 in the game and is averaging  54.3 points over Houston's last three contests. The 26-19 Rockets will travel to Philadelphia for a MLK Day game with the 30-17 Sixers, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Saturday with a 117-115 home loss against Oklahoma City, as they turned the ball over 17 times overall and allowed a four-point play by Paul George with 5.1 seconds left.

Houston now sits one game out of third place in the Western Conference after starting the season 11-14 through its first 25 contests.The Rockets continue to fight through injuries, although Chris Paul is expected back soon (early Feb). However, center Clint Capela (career high averages of 17.6 PPG and 12.6 RPG) is out until late-February with a thumb injury. Good news comes in the form of Gordon (16.2) returning to the court the last two games, averaging 25.0 points. Rivers (12.6 PPG in 13 contests) was a great sign after Paul got hurt and veteran swingman Green (9.2 PPG) has averaged 12.7 PPG during the 14 games that Paul has missed.

Joel Embiid led the way with 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the loss to OKC. Ben Simmons had 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists but despite those efforts, the Sixers weren't able to convert on their last possession with Simmons looking to be confused after handing the ball to Jimmy Butler beyond the three-point arc. Embiid (27.0 & 13.2) is the first Philadelphia player to score at least 30 points in 20 of his first 45 games of a season since Allen Iverson (2005-06). Butler checks in at 19.0-4.8-3.4, Redick at 18.5 PPG and Simmons at 16.6-9.5-8.2. However, I'm not convinced the 76ers are better off with Butler, after exchanging him for valuable role players like Covington and Saric.

That said, I sure like Philly to bounce back from its Saturday home loss to OKC. While Harden remains 'on fire,' Houston has cooled off a bit while alternating victories in its last nine outings (5-4 SU and 4-5 ATS). More notably, the Rockets have had trouble scoring away from home since Dec 1, with the exception of the team's 135-134 win at Golden St on Jan 3. Let me point out that excluding that contest, Houston is averaing a very modest 10.1 PPG in its other eight away games since Dec 1. Philly is 19-5 SU at home this season, while averaging 118.9 PPG. Yes, Harden "gets his" but Philly gets the win and COVER!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Oddsmaker's Error is on North Carolina at 7:00 ET.

No. 9 Virginia Tech bounced back nicely after being routed 81-59 by No. 1 Virginia in its previous game. The Hokies shot 57 percent from the floor while holding the Demon Deacons to 37.5 percent shooting in an 87-71 win. Tech is now 15-2 (4-1 in ACC play) as it heads to Chapel Hill to take on 14-4 North Carolina (also 4-1 in the ACC), which is ranked 13th (both rankings pending the AP's latest poll, which will be released Monday afternoon). The Tar Heels were shocked 83-62 at home by Louisville on Jan 12 but have won two straight, the most recent win coming in an 85-76 victory at Miami on Saturday.

Sophomore guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a team-high 24 points in the win over Wake and is the team's top scorer at 18.2 PPG (4.3 RPG). The 6-10 Blackshear (13.4 & 5.8)  checks in behind Walker, followed by guards Robinson (12.8 & 5.4 APG) and Hill (12.8). Tech plays great D (59.5 PPG ranks 5th) and it will be needed here against the high-scoring Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels connected on 55% against Miami, including making 18-of-30 (60 percent) in the second half when they pulled away from a 37-37 halftime tie. Senior guard Cameron Johnson scored a game-high 22 and leads North Carolina by averaging 15.9 PPG on the season (also gets 5.7 RPG). The 6-8 Maye averages 14.4 PPG and grabs a team-high 9.9 RPG. Guards White (14.2) and Williams (8.9 & 4.0 APG) also start, as does the 6-9 Brooks (8.7 & 5.8). 6-6 freshman Little (9.9 & 4.3) is an effective sixth-man.

Virginia Tech snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Tar Heels with a win in Blacksburg last season but North Carolina leads the all-time series 31-7. Keeping up with North Carolina seems like a "bridge too far" for Va Tech, which has scored just 52 (Ga Tech) and 59 (Va) points in its two ACC road games. North Carolina is averaging 87.3 PPG (5th) and again, the price looks 'cheap!' Lay it.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Was Wizards at 2:05 ET.

The 20-25 Detroit Pistons will be in Washington on MLK Day to take on the 19-26 Wizards.Detroit is currently in 9th-place in the playoff standings (only EIGHT get in), while Washington sits 10th. However, with basically half the season remaining, both still have reasonable playoff aspirations. Detroit had a three-game winning streak in its sights after wins over Orlando and Miami but was outscored 29-19 in the fourth quarter and surrendered 23 points off 14 turnovers to the Kings in a two-point home loss on Saturday.  The Wizards are coming back from a trip to London, where they defeated the New York Knicks 101-100 on Thursday in the first game the franchise has played overseas.

Blake Griffin (26.0-8.1-5.3) did all he could in attempting to get the "W" but his third consecutive 30-plus performance (38 points on 12-of-23 shooting) was not enough. The Pistons played that game without Ish Smith (8.7), who missed the game after experiencing problems connected to a right abductor injury. More bad news came in the fact that center Andre Drummond (16.3 & 14.9) was placed in concussion protocol for Saturday's loss, after playing just seven minutes in the team's Friday game vs Miami. He's listed as doubtful for Monday's contest.

I get the feeling that the Wizards are slowly pulling themselves out of a funk that has lasted nearly the entire first half of the season. All-Star PG John Wall (20.8 & 8.7 APG) is out with a season-ending heel injury but SG Bradley Beal (24.9-5.0-5.0) remains confident the team can continue to make strides forward.  We're a competitive team," Beal told reporters. "Win, lose, or draw, we stick together. We keep our heads high, we continue to get better. We're right here in the playoff hunt, which is where we want to be."

It's hardly a positive sign that Detroit allowed the Kings to rally from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit on its home court on Saturday, as Buddy Hield nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer for the Sacramento win. Meanwhile, the Wizards have covered FIVE straight at the Capital One Arena, going 4-1 SU with that lone loss coming in OT by two points to Toronto. Washington has averaged a WHOPPING 123.6 PPG in those five straight ATS home wins, while Detroit limps in 7-14 SU on the road this season, after losing 11 of its last 14 away from home. Take the Wizards.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on Utah at 6:00 ET.

The Colorado Buffs (10-6 / 1-3 in Pac-12) travel to Salt Lake City to play the 8-8 Utah Utes (2-2 in Pac-12) at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Colorado opened the season 8-1 but enter this contest having lost FIVE of its last seven. Utah owns a .500 overall and conference record. The Utes haven’t had a winning or losing streak longer than two games this season.

The Buffaloes now face dealing with an injury to leading scorer McKinley Wright (12.9-4.9-5.3). He missed the second half of the Buffaloes’ Jan. 12 loss to Washington after suffering a shoulder injury and his immediate status is questionable at best (he only returned to practice wearing a brace late in the week) Also, senior Namon Wright is averaging 7.5 points off the bench but has missed the last three games and still wasn’t able to practice this past week. Up front, the 6-7 Bey (12.0 & 9.1) and the 6-10 Siewert (11.4 & 5.0) will be counted on to carry more of the load.

Utah's 88-70 win over visiting Washington State on Jan. 12 put the brakes on a two-game slide, as the Utes recovered nicely from their season-low 53 points two nights earlier versus Washington. The freshman trio of Timmy Allen (15 & 9), Both Gach (14 & 4 assists) and Riley Battin (11-4-4) led the way in the win as the youngsters continue to show near-weekly improvement. The 6-6 Allen averages 9.9 & 4.3, the 6-7 Gach 8.1 & 2.5 and the 6-9 Battin 7.1 & 3.4. Senior PG Sedrick Barefield (15.4 & 3.8 APG) and 6-7 sophomore forward Donnie Tillman (11.3 & 5.8) are the only two players averaging double figures for Utah.

Sure, Utah's season has been 'stuck in neutral' but that's a better situation than Colorado's, which has seen the team averaging 84.1 PPG in its 8-1 start, fall apart with FIVE losses in its last seven, averaging only 63.2 PPG in those five losses. Utah has outscored opponents 77.9-to-67.4 PPG at home this season and has won EIGHT of the last nine meetings with Colorado, as well as owning SIX straight wins here in Salt Lake City over the Buffs. Everything considered, the price seems 'cheap!'

Good luck...Larry

My 10* signature 35-Club Play is on the NO Saints at 3:05 ET.

The Rams opened the 2018 season 8-0, finishing at 13-3 but after a 3-0 ATS start to the season, would go just 2-8-1 ATS before season-ending wins and covers over the hapless Cardinals and 49ers. The Saints opened the season with back-to-back home games (as 10-point favorites) against the Bucs and Browns. New Orleans lost outright to Tampa Bay in Week 1 and almost started 0-2, before eking out a 21-18 victory over Cleveland. However, that Week 2 win was the start of a 10-game winning streak in which the  Saints covered NINE in a row. A 13-10 loss at Dallas ended the streak in Week 13. The Saints then won three in a row, before sitting out their regulars in a Week 17 loss, to finish 13-3 (like the Rams). However, The Saints' 45-35 win over the Rams in Week 9 not only ended LA's eight-game winning streak to open the season but it earned the Saints the all-important tiebreaker, which in the end became the determining factor for allowing the Saints to host the Rams in this NFC championship game.

The Rams advanced to this game by rushing for 273 yards against Cowboys in a 30-22 win. Todd Gurley II, apparently beyond nagging injuries that limited his contributions (and kept him sidelined) in December, had 115 rushing yards and C.J. Anderson, a 1000-yard rusher in Denver last year, had 123. The team's ball-control offense gave cover to QB Goff, who threw for just 186 yards and zero TDs. I don't see the Rams being able to like that against the Saints (New Orleans ranks second in YPG allowed rushing at 80.2 per and held the Rams to 92 yards rushing in Week 9), so Goff will need to out-play Brees (not likely). Goff may have thrown 32 TD passes this season but he has only five TDPs in the last five games (including the postseason), with FOUR of them coming against the out-manned 49ers in the regular-season finale.

The Saints were rusty (regulars didn't play in Week 17) last week vs Philly and fell behind 14-0. However, Brees led te team back and the New Orleans D completely shut down Nick Foles and the Philly offense after teh first quarter. Philly gained 151 yards on their two first-quarter TD drives but were held to 99 yards the rest of the game! Remember when the Saints couldn't play defense? No more! Brees started slowly but wound up with 3-0101 yards and two TDs (one INT). New Orleans ran for 137 yards (4.4) and WR Thomas had 12 catches for 171 yards with one TD (note: he also had 12 catches in that Week 9 win over LA, setting a franchise-record 211 yards). As for teh running game, New Orleans ran for 137 yards (4.4 YPC).

The home-field edge MATTERS this time of year, as in each of the last five seasons, the team with home field advantage in both the NFC and AFC championship games advanced to the Super Bowl. The Saints have won their last seven home playoff games, with SIX coming under the watch of Brees and Payton. Enough said.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* CBB Bailout Blowout is on San Francisco at 11:00 ET.

The BYU Cougars will travel to War Memorial Gymnasium to take on the San Francisco Dons this Saturday night in WCC action. The Cougars defeated the Pepperdine Waves 87-76 this past Thursday for their third straight win, improving to 12-8 (4-1 WCC) on the season. The Dons also won on Thursday, 53-52 at Pacific, improving to 15-3 (3-1 WCC).

BYU can score, averaging 83.5 PPG (23rd), as the the 6-8 Childs leads the Cougars in scoring (22.2) and rebounding (9.8). Guards Haws (18.0& 5.2 APG) and Hardnett (10.9) check in behind him. However, BYU allows 78.2 PPG (311th). San Francisco has nice balance, with a trio of guards in Mineland (15.2 & 5.3), PG Ferrari (13.4 & 5.4 APG) and Ratinho (10.2) all in double figures. Up front, it's the 6-9 McCarthy (9.7 & 6.8), the 7-0 Lull (8.7 & 5.9) and the 6-8 Renfro (6.8 & 5.6).

The Cougars check in 2-10 ATS in their last 12 road games, including going 2-6 SU & 1-7 ATS this season (allowing 91.9 PPG)! Meanwhile, the Dons, who rank 18th in points allowed (18th) on tehe season, are 9-1 SU at home. San Francisco had won 20 games just TWICE in 20 years before the arrival of current head coach Kyle Smith. Smith won 20 and 22 games his first two years at SF (lost in the CIT championship game LY) and with 15 wins already TY, is headed for a 'monster' season. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Arizona St at 9:30 ET.

Preseason Pac-12-favorite Oregon stumbled to a 0-2 conference start but has rebounded nicely with wins over USC at home last Sunday and at Arizona two nights ago. The Ducks are 11-6 overall (2-2 in Pac-12 play) as they travel to Tempe to take on the ASU Sun Devils (12-5 / 3-2). Oregon opened Pac-12 road play in style Thursday, holding Arizona to 54 points and snapping the Wildcats’ six-game win streak and handing the Wildcats their first league loss. Arizona State also responded in positive fashion Thursday night, bouncing back from an 85-71 road defeat at Stanford by handing visiting Oregon State its first Pac-12 loss in a 70-67 victory.

Oregon head coach Dana Altman is learning to deal with the loss of 7-2 freshman Bol Bol (21.0 & 9.2), who is out for the season with a foot injury. Thursday's road win was the big news but Oregon also received a boost with the return of 6-9 sophomore forward Kenny Wooten (6.5 & 5.1), who had five points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes after missing the previous four contests with a broken jaw. Ducks senior forward Paul White said Thursday in the post-game news conference. “And I think our team has done a great job of responding.” White scored a game-high 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting Thursday and is one of two healthy Ducks averaging double figures at 10.8 PPG. Junior PG Payton Pritchard (11.5 PPG) is the other to go along with a team-leading 4.5 APG. He sealed Thursday’s win by draining a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining.

Arizona State also responded in positive fashion Thursday night, bouncing back from an 85-71 road defeat at Stanford by handing visiting Oregon State its first Pac-12 loss in a 70-67 victory. The Sun Devils saw an 18-point early-second half lead trimmed to only one with 22 seconds remaining but Rob Edwards closed it out by draining a pair of free throws with 12.1 seconds to play. Edwards scored 13 points to pace five ASU players in double figures. Five ASU players are averaging in double figures on the season, with the 6-8 While averaging 9.2 & 6.0. The double digit scorers are guard Dort (16.6 & 4.6), fellow guard Martin (12.4), the 6-8 Cheatham (11.8 & 9.6), guard Edwards (10.5) and the 6-7 Lawrence (10.2 & 3.9).

Oregon has won 11 of the last 12 in the series (including eight straight) but the Ducks are NOT the same without Bol Bol, despite the win Thursday at Arizona. Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils generated national headlines by handing then-top-ranked Kansas its first loss, 80-76, back on Dec. 22. ASU is just 5-5 its last 10 overall but is 8-2 SU at home, averaging 82.9 PPG. Meanwhile, Oregon is averaging a modest 57.2 PPG in its four true road games. ASU takes this with "room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Arizona at 7:00 ET.

11-5 Oregon State will visit Tucson on Saturday to take on 13-5 Arizona. Both schools suffered theri first Pac-12 loses of teh season on Thursday (each fell to 3-1), as the Beavers lost 70-67 at Arizona State and the Wildcats lost at home to Oregon, 59-54. Oregon State's loss wasn't a surprise (Beavers were point underdogs) but Arizona's loss was. The Wildcats rarely lose at the McKale Center (more on that later) but they trailed 31-23 at halftime and finished with their second-lowest scoring output (54 points) and field-goal percentage (36.5) of the season. Oregon State also endured a rough start in Tempe, falling behind 40-22 early in the second half, before rallying to trim Arizona State’s lead to one in the eventual three-point loss.

OSU's 6-8 forward Tres Tinkle (20.1-8.3-4.4) and guard Ethan Thompson (13.2 & 5.6) each scored 21 to combine for 42 of the Beavers’ 67 points Thursday. Thompson’s older brother Stephen (15.2 & 4.7) had an off night with nine points on 3-of-9 shooting, finishing with four fouls and failing to reach double figures for the first time in his last five games. 

“You have to give their defense credit,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said in his post-game news conference after the Oregon loss. “We were out of sorts, never could get into an offensive rhythm. Several of our guys had a tough night shooting it.” Guard Brandon Randolph leads the Wildcats in scoring at 15.7 per game, failed to reach double figures for the first time all season Thursday, finishing with five points on a 2-of-9 shooting performance. However, Center Chase Jeter, a 6-10 transfer from Duke, posted his fifth double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He isn't making anyone forget DeAndre Ayton, but he is averaging 13.3 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds. Jeter scored just 103 points in 48 games (10.3 minutes per contest) with Duke from 2015-17 before sitting out the 2017-18 season but is more than just a solid contributor this year. PG Brandon Williams rounds out the team's double-digit scorers at 11.4 PPG and 3.6 APG plus has a solid backcourt partner in Justin Coleman (8.9).

The Oregon loss was a jolt but Miller has quietly molded this team into a Pac-12 contender (the league is relatively weak this year). Arizona has won 13 of the last 14 meetings in the series, with Oregon State’s only win in the span coming on Jan. 11, 2015. Sure, Arizona lost at home Thursday but how does one ignore that the Wildcats enter this contest a national-best 91-5 at the McKale Center since 2013?

Good luck...Larry

My 9* CBB No. 1 vs No. 1 is on Duke at 6:00 ET.

14-2 Duke holds the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll, at least until Monday's new poll comes out. 16-0 Virginia is ranked just 4th in the AP but the Cavaliers are ranked No. 1 in the coaches' poll, making this just the fourth No. 1 vs. No. 1 meeting in college basketball history. Not a bad setting. This is arguably the biggest game of the college basketball season to date. Let's say up front that Duke is 211-32 while holding the No. 1 ranking under Coach K. Virginia passed one of its stiffest tests of the season with ease on Tuesday night with an 81-59 win over No. 9 Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers scored 44 points on 68 percent shooting in the first half, while holding the Hokies to 22 points on 35 percent shooting. Meanwhile, Duke felt the impact of missing two key players Monday, as Syracuse able to pull off a stunning 95-91 overtime win at Cameron. The Blue Devils were without long-range shooter Cameron Reddish (flu-like symptoms) and PG Tre Jones injured his shoulder early in the first half.

Virginia owns a trio of excellent guards in Guy's (15.2 & 4.,3), Hunter (14.4 & 5.2) and PG Jerome (13.2 & 4.9 APG). However, the team's lone big man is the 6-9 Diatkite, who averages 6.6 PPG and just 3.5 RPG. Defense rules at UVa, as the Cavs lead the nation in point allowed (51.7 per), while holding opponents to 37.0% shooting (4th) taht includes 25.1% on threes (1st).

Syracuse used its 2-3 zone defense to force Duke into attempting outside shots and the Blue Devils obliged by launching a school-record 43 three-point attempts, making just NINE. RJ Barrett, the ACC’s leading scorer at 23.4 PPG scored 23 but was just 4-of-17 beyond the arc. The 6-7 Zion Williamson (21.2 & 9.4) scored a career-high 35 and pulled down 10 rebounds but missed a go-ahead free-throw with 16.2 seconds remaining in regulation. PG Tre Jones (8.1 & 5.7 APG left the Syracuse loss with a separated shoulder in the opening six minutes but Krzyzewski that Jones likely will be sidelined less than a month. The good news for Duke is that Reddish (13.3) has returned to practice and is expected to play.

The Cavaliers have won 12 consecutive ACC road games and last year's victory at Duke snapped a 17-game skid for Virginia in that building. However, with Duke off a home loss, I just don't see the Cavs being able to win here. Virginia has won nine consecutive games against ranked opponents but that streak ends here, against a Duke team averaging a whopping 92.8 PPG at home.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on Washington St at 3:00 ET.

The 8-9 Stanford Cardinal (1-4 in Pac-12 play) will travel to Pullman to take on the 8-9 Washington State Cougars (1-3 in Pac-12 play). Stanford lost its top-two players from last season, forward Travis Reid (19.5 & 87.), who is a graduate transfer at Kentucky, and guard Pickens (14.5). The Cardinal limp into this contest having lost FOUR of five, after an 80-64 loss at Washington on Thursday. As for teh Cougars, they  are coming off one of their better showings of the season in Thursday’s 82-59 home win over California.

The Cardinal's offense revolves around sophomore wing KZ Okpala (18.1 & 6.5), who is averaging 21.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in five conference games. Stanford needs more consistency from 6-9 sophomore forward Oscar da Silva (9.1 & 5.6) and 7-0 center Sharma (8.4 & 5.10. Guards Davis (11.9) and Ryan (10.0) join Okpala in double digits.

Few players are as critical to their team’s success as Washington State senior Robert Franks, who returned to action Thursday and helped the Cougars end a six-game losing streak. The 6-9 forward missed four games with a hip contusion before recording 24 points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench against the Bears. He checks in at on the season. Five players scored in double figures in the win over Cal, including freshman forward CJ Elleby, who finished with 11 points and ranks second on the team in scoring at 15.7 PPG (also adds 6.9 RPG) PG Viont’e Daniels (7.4) has struggled since missing four games due to a concussion at the end of December, but the senior had 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting with four rebounds on Thursday. Head coach Ernie Kent has been pleased by the recent play of junior forward Jeff Pollard (just 4.2 & 2.4 on teh season). who has scored in double figures in two of his past three games.

Stanford averages 15.6 turnovers per game, which leads the Pac-12 (a stat no team wants to be No. 1 at). The Cardinal come to Pullman 1-6 SU on the road, allowing 80.3 PPG. That bodes very poorly here at Beasley Coliseum, where the Cougars are a PERFECT 8-0 (7-1 ATS), while averaging 88.9 PPG. Why is this basically a pick'em?

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Eye-Opener is on UCF at 12 noon ET.

Tulsa won 19 games last year but head coach Frank Haith still has his eyes set on a 20-win season for the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa exploded for a season-high 89 points in six-point home win over UConn on Wednesday and will take 12-6 (2-3 in AAC play) into its game today at UCF. The Golden Knights are 13-3 overall, after their 75-67 Wednesday loss at Wichita State. It was UCF's first loss in eight games and its 1st AAC loss (3-1).

Haith believes his Golden Hurricane showed a mental toughness in the win over UConn, as Tulsa was coming off a 20-point loss at SMU. Senior swingman DaQuan Jeffries leads the way offensively for Tulsa, averaging 13.4 points (5.4 RPG), while 6-8 junior forward Martins Igbanu chips in 12.3 & 5.6 and PG Sterling Taplin (9.7 & 4.6 APG). They are typically the glue that holds the team together. However, the Golden Hurricane's hottest player of late has been sophomore forward Jeriah Horne, who is coming off a career-high 27-point performance against UConn and has averaged 12.8 points during league play, compared to 7.8 against non-conference foes.

The Golden Knights have a dangerous guard duo in B.J. Taylor (17.2 PPG) and Aubrey Dawkins (16.3 & 5.4). Defense is usually the name of the game for coach Johnny Dawkins' team (63.9 PPG allowed ranks 27rth and 38.9 FG percentage ranks 17th) but in the loss to Wichita State, the Golden Knights allowed the Shockers to shoot 51.9 percent from the floor. The biggest problem for opposing offenses is dealing with the presence of 7-6 Tacko Fall, who averages 10.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and a league-leading 3.06 blocks (note: he is also shooting a conference-best 78.7 percent from the floor).

UCF is 9-1 SU at home and is poised for a bounce-back effort from that loss at Wichita St (note that the Shockers are 78-5 the last six-plus years at Koch Arena!) and to avenge last year's 70-61 loss at Tulsa, a contest Tacko Fall missed due to injury. Tulsa has lost its two AAC road games by 20 at SMU and by 18 at Houston, averaging just 56.5 PPG. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

The New Orleans Pelicans have struggled defensively all season and are coming off having allowed their highest point total of the current of the season in Wednesday's 147-140 loss at Golden State on Wednesday. The 21-24 Pelicans visit Moda Center tonight and the good news is that New Orleans swept Portland in the first round of last season's playoffs. The 27-19 Blazers defeated Cleveland 129-112 on Wednesday, Portland's seventh win in 10 games, with five coming by double digits. 

Nikola Mirotic missed 12 game s recently with ankle woes but scored a season-high 29 points and matched his season best of six 3-pointers against the Warriors. The 6-11 Anthony Davis misses Mirotic when he's out of the lineup. It's turning into another typical year for A.D, who ranks third in the NBA in scoring (29.4) and rebounds (13.4) plus second in blocked shots (2.6). Surprising, two more Pelicans average 20-plus points for New Orleans, PG Holiday (20.8-4.6-8.2) and backup PF Randle (20.1 & 9.2). Guards Moore (12.6) and Payton (10.7-3.9-5.9) are also regular contributors. Scoring is NOT an issue but defense is, as New Orleans allows 115.5 PPG (28th).

Damian Lillard scored 33 points in Wednesday's win over the Cavs, after recording 35 two nights earlier in a loss to Sacramento. Lillard's having another excellent season, averaging 26.2-4.4-6.1 and is teamed with backcourt mate McCollum (20.6). Center Jusuf Nurkic (14.8 & 10.4) posted his first career triple-double against the Cavaliers as he registered 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while also blocking five shots. Nurkic became the 16th player in NBA history to reject five or more shots while recording a triple-double.

Portland can match New Orleans' offense and comes in allowing 107.0 PPG its last 10. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are just 6-18 SU on the road, allowing 117.1 PPG. Portland is 19-7 SU at home this season, including a 132-119 home victory over the Pelicans back on Nov 1. Forget that 4-0 sweep in last yerars first round, as Portland has won 13 of the last 15 regular-season meetings!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Ohio State at 6:30 ET.

The Big Ten has had nine of its 14 members show up in the rankings at some point of the current season. There is rarely any rest for the weary in this conference for any team. That's the case tonight, as No. 19 Maryland (15-3 / 6-1) visits Columbus to take on 12-4 Ohio State (2-3 in Big Ten). Ohio State was ranked 14th before losing three in a row, to now-No. 6 Michigan State, Rutgers and now-No. 23 Iowa.

The Terrapins began the week with a 64-60 victory at home over Wisconsin on Monday in a game in which they allowed 15 first-half points, the fewest since holding Michigan State to 14 in 201. PG Anthony Cowan (17.8-4.1-4.4) is the first Terrapins player to score 20 points or more in three consecutive Big Ten regular-season games, averaging 24.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in wins over Minnesota, Indiana and Wisconsin. Three other guards average between 8.2 and 9.4 PPG. 6-10 sophomore Bruno Fernando (14.6 & 9.9) is the team's best inside player and while he was quiet against Wisconsin (10 & 4), he averaged 17.5 points and 12.0 rebounds, while shooting 73 percent from the floor in the team's two previous wins.

The Buckeyes have lost three straight since the start of the new year, after starting 12-1. At 2-3, the Buckeyes have already matched their loss total in the conference from 2017-18 during coach Chris Holtmann's first season in Columbus. The 6-9 Kaleb Wesson (16.2 & 6.9) has struggled with foul trouble and managed just two points in Ohios State's last game, Saturday's 72-62 loss at Iowa. The Buckeyes need Wesson on the floor AND he needs more help. His 6-6 brother Andre (7.4 & 4.4) and the 6-8 Young (7.4 & 4.9) start in the frontcourt. Four guards average between 7.4 and 12.9 PPG but that group has often been inconsistent (Jackson is the leading scorer at 12.4 PPG, but comes off the bench).

Both schools have young teams but at the moment the difference is that the Terps are winning. That said, Maryland's been playing "on the edge" as of late. Maryland has one of the youngest teams in the nation, as head coach Mark Turgeon has at times played five freshmen at once. The Terps squandered a 21-point lead with 17:47 to play against Wisconsin and trailed 60-59 with less than a minute left before Anthony Cowan hit a three-pointer to put them ahead. Maryland looked out of it against Indiana on Jan 11 when the Terps were down by 14 early and 10 in the second half, yet still rallied for a 78-75 win. That just may catch up to them. How about here, as the Buckeyes look to snap a three-game slide. After all, Ohio State is 8-2 SU at home, outscoring opponnents 80.1-to-64.2 PPG and routed Maryland at Value City Arena last season, 91-69!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Pac-12 Game of the Year is on Arizona at 9:00 ET.

The 10-6 Oregon Ducks (1-2 in Pac-12) will be in Tuscon Thursday night to take on the 13-4 Arizona Wildcats (4-0 in Pac-12). Oregon head coach Dana Altman is wondering how to deal with the loss of  7-2 freshman Bol Bol (21.0 & 9.2), who is out for the season with a foot injury. Meanwhile, Arizona's Sean Miller has seen 6-10 Duke transfer Chris Jeter 'take off,' giving the Wildcats a legitimate shot at winning the Pac-12 in a down year for the league.

Not only have the Ducks lost Bol Bol, but the 6-9 Wotten (6.6 & 4.9) has missed the last four games (jaw) but may play here. The Ducks blew a 17-point lead in the second half and an eight-point advantage in the final 45 seconds of regulation in an 87-84 overtime loss to UCLA last Thursday but snapped a two-game slide with an 81-60 victory over USC on Sunday. 6-9 freshman forward Louis King continues to thrive in Pac-12 competition. King has averaged 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per Pac-12 game, raising his season averages to 11.0 and 5.7 plus is shooting 40 percent from the floor after going 23-for-48 in his last three contests. 6-9 senior forward Paul White (10.4 & 3.8) matched a career high with 19 points versus USC and is averaging 15.8 in his last four contests while grabbing at least four rebounds in each game during that span. Junior guard Payton Pritchard is now the team leader in scoring (11.7) and assists (4.6).

Miller has quietly molded this team. Arizona has won six straight (4-2 ATS) since a home loss to Baylor back on Dec 15. Jeter recorded a career-high 23 points and nine rebounds while shooting 8-for-11 from the floor in Arizona's 87-65 victory at California on Saturday. Jeter scored just 103 points in 48 games (10.3 minutes per contest) with Duke from 2015-17 before sitting out the 2017-18 season. However, is averaging 13.4 PPG and a club-high 7.4 rebounds, while shooting a team-high 64.3 percent from the floor. Sophomore guard Brandon Randolph (16.3 PPG) is one of two Pac-12 players to reach double figures in every contest (UCLA's Kris Wilkes is the other). Senior guard Justin Coleman (9.2) and freshman PG Brandon Williams (11.5 & 3.8 APG) join Randolph to give Arizona an impressive guard trio.

Arizona was shook by seeing its 52-game non-conference home win streak end in a 58-49 loss to Baylor on Dec 15 but the Wildcats won six straight since (four of those wins have come at home). The Wildcats enter this contest a national-best 91-4 at the McKale Center since 2013. Oregon has averaged only 56.7 PPG in three true road games this season, while Arizona is 9-1 SU at home, averaging 75.9 PPG. The Wildcats should easily handle this modest impost. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Streakbuster is on Nebraska at 8:00 ET

No. 6 Michigan State (15-2 / 6-0 Big Ten) looks to extend its winning streak to 11 when it visits 13-4 Nebraska (3-3) in a Big Ten Conference matchup on Thursday. The Spartans are coming off a 71-56 victory at Penn State on Sunday, the team's 18th straight Big Ten win in a row (obviously, that goes back to last season). The Cornhuskers enter on a two-game winning streak, after beating No. 25 Indiana 66-51 on the road on Monday. What's more, the Cornhuskers are going for a school-record 21st consecutive home victory (have won 20 straight at Pinnacle Bank Arena). trying to top the 20 straight from December 1965-March 1967. 

Michigan State has been without guard Joshua Langford (15.0 PPG) for the last four contests (foot) but hasn't missed a beat. PG Cassius Winston (team-high 17.6 points, Big Ten-best 7.4 assists) has been outstanding plus 6-9 junior forward Nick Ward (16.6 & 6.8)  continues his excellent play inside. Ward is joinef up front by the 6-8 Tillman (8.5 & 7.8) and the 6-7 Goins (6.6 & 9.4). The Spartans may also be missing guard Kyle Ahrens  (6.1) in this game, so senior guard Matt McQuaid (8.9) will need to step up in the backcourt. He did just that against Penn St with four 3-pointers in the second half as the Nittany Lions tried to creep back into the contest. McQuaid leads the Big Ten in three-point percentage (47.4) plus provides strong defense, either guarding a ball-handler or coming over to take charges.

Nebraska owns a balanced attack, led by senior guard James Palmer Jr. (19.0-4.3-3.3) and 6-9 senior forward Isaac Copeland Jr. (14.3 & 5.5). Teaming with Palmer is senior PG Glynn Watson Jr. (13.5-4.2-3.9), who had a team-high 15 points in the win over Indiana. The 6-8 Isaiah Roby averages 11.2 & 6.4 up front with Copeland and let's also note that 6-8 senior Tanner Borchardt may only average 12.2 minutes per contest (2.2 & 2.9) but he can make a heavy impact for the Cornhuskers, especially on the defensive end.  Borchardt finished with seven points and five rebounds against Indiana.

I'm a HUGE fan of Tom Izzo but no one wins them all. 18 straight Big Ten wins is amazing but I expect that streak to end here. Nebraska's back-to-back wins have the 'Huskers within striking distance of the Big Ten leaders (Michigan and Michigan State) but a win here would also be HUGE as it would help the team's NCAA Tournament resume. Remember, Nebraska went 13-5 in the conference last season and didn't earn a bid. The Cornhuskers are 9-0 SU (6-1-1 ATS) at home this season, outscoring opponents on average, 83.9-to-54.9 PPG. Make it 21 straight home wins for Nebbish!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* TNT Knockout is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

The 29-16 Philadelphia 76ers and the 29-14 Indiana Pacers both showed off how good they can be on Tuesday. The 76ers blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves 141-107 and the Pacers did the same to the Phoenix Suns, 131-97. The two Eastern Conference contenders square off tonight, as the Pacers host the 76ers. Indiana sits in third place in the East, one game ahead of Philadelphia,

Philadelphia shot 59.8 percent from the floor against Minnesota and handed out 40 assists on 55 made FGs. The 76ers also set a franchise record with 21 made three-pointers as Wilson Chandler (4-of-6), Joel Embiid (4-of-6), Jonah Bolden (4-of-5) and Jimmy Butler (3-of-4) all 'lit it up' from beyond the arc. Joel Embiid (27.0 & 13.3) led the way by scoring 31 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against Minnesota.. Ben Simmons (16.7-9.5-8.2) had 20 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, despite sitting out most of the fourth quarter. Butler is averaging 18.7-4.9-3.2 and SB Redick averages 18.3 PPG but Philly's problem is that the above mentioned players pretty much carry the entire load. Another problem is a defense which allows 112.4 PPG (22nd).

Indiana's defensive effort on Tuesday was led by center Myles Turner, who returned from a four-game absence due to a shoulder injury and delivered 18 points and six rebounds while a pair of blocks pushed his NBA-leading total to 105. SEVEN Indiana players scored in double figures on Tuesday but NOT All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, who managed eight points on 2-of-11 shooting. However, Oladipo is the team's best player, averaging 19.5-5.8-5.2. Five more Pacers score in double digits in Bogdanovic (16.3 & 4.0), Sabonis (15.2 & 9.7), Turner (13.1 & 7.1), Young (12.5 & 6.0) and Evans (10.6). PG Collison just misses at 9.2 PPG plus a team-best 5.6 APG. Unlike Philly, Indiana allows just 103.1 PPG, best in the league!

Philadelphia earned a 100-94 win in its last trip to Indiana on Nov 7 and here, will be looking for consecutive wins at Indiana for the first time since it won three straight from Dec 22, 2004, to Nov 5, 2005 (that's a long time ago). The Pacers have been very streaky vs the spread but they have still been mostly winning those games they weren’t covering. Indiana has won NINE of its last 11 games coming into this contest. The Pacers are 15-5 SU at home, where they allow only 97.0 PPG. Meanwhile, the 76ers are a so-so 10-12 on the road, where they allow a whopping 116.1 PPG. With this line, the Pacers are the play.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the LA Clippers at 10:35 ET.

Utah shooting guard Donovan Mitchell continued his strong play with 28 points in the Jazz's 100-94 Monday win over the Detroit Pistons. He leads all Utah scorers at 21.5 PPG on the season and is averaging 30 points over the past six contests. Utah's win over the Pistons completed a 4-0 homestand, as the Jazz are now  24-21 and head to LA on a season-high four-game winning streak. The 24-19 LA Clippers fell 121-117 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday and have opened a four-game homestand 0-2, while losing three straight, overall.

Utah center Center Rudy Gobert (14.8 & 12.8) matched his career best of 25 rebounds against the Pistons plus also contributed 18 points and two blocked shots. All five of Utah's starting-five average in double digits but PG Ricky Rubio (12.8 & 6.2 APG) missed a fourth straight game with starter with a hamstring injury. Yes, the Jazz are 4-0 without him but his absence is NOT good news. Also, reserves Dante Exum (7.4) and Raul Neto (4.9) are sidelined.

LA fell to New Orleans on Monday but SF Danilo Gallinari ((19.7 & 6.1) has scored 20 or more points in six of the past eight games after recording 25 against the Pelicans and he is averaging 20.3 points during the stretch.PF Tobias Harris leads the team in scoring (20.8) and rebounding (8.0), while sixth-man Williams (18.6 & 4.9 APG) continues to be a major force. Coming off the bench (like Williams) and also making a huge impact is power forward Montrezl Harrell (16.0 & 6.8). He scored 26 points vs the Pelicans and has

exceeded 20 points in three of the past four games, averaging 21.5 points during the span.

Utah comes in off four straight wins (all at home) and this trip to Staples Center represents the team's LONE road contest in a nine-game stretch (Jazz return home for another four-game homestand, beginning Friday). I realize that the Jazz have won the last three meetings with the Clippers but that comes after losing 19 of the previous 21 matchups!  "We just gotta stop putting ourselves in these holes," Harrell told reporters after the loss to the Pelicans. "Yeah, we do a great job of coming back and fighting and getting back into it, but we're running out of gas. We're using so much energy and we're doing so much fighting to put ourselves just within three (or) five." No Rubio and playing its ONLY road game in a nine-game stretch is NOT a good situation for heh Jazz. The Clippers shoot the ball extremely well, making 47.4% of their FGs (6th), including 38.8% on threes (4th). LA is averaging 116.2 PPG at Staples Center this season and "gets things right" in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Oddsmaker's Error is on DePaul at 8:25 ET.

Butler is 10-7 (1-3 in Big East play) as it visits Chicago to play DePaul (10-5 / 2-2 in Big East). Butler has made the "Big Dance" in 10 of the previous 12 years but the team's struggles away from home are putting its path to a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in peril. Butler saw a late 10-point lead evaporate against Xavier, en route to its fourth loss in five outing (Xavier won 70-69). DePaul finished 11-20 last year, the school's 11th straight losing season. The Blue Demons haven't win more than 12 games since 2006-07, so one has to take note of their 10-5 start.

"We just have to stay after it and keep pounding the rock. Just looking for a breakthrough, and you just keep believing, keep fighting, keep playing, and do everything you can until that moment comes," head coach LaVall Jordan said after watching butler lsoe again last Sunday. Junior guard Kamar Baldwin (17.0 & 5.7) leads Butler in scoring, while senior guard Paul Jorgensen ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.1 PPG. Jordan has two big men splitting time at center, the 6-11 Joey Brunk (9.1 & 4.9) and the 6-10 Nate Fowler (4.8 & 3.8). The 6-7 Tucker (a Duke transfer) just became eligible and is adding 7.6 & 5.1 in eight. However, the highly-touted sophomore put forth his best all-around performance (12 points, eight rebounds) in a career-high 25 minutes of action against Xavier.

The Blue Demons have answered a three-game slide with back-to-back victories over Seton Hall and St. John's, with senior forward Femi Olujobi collecting a season-high 27 points and eight rebounds in a 79-71 over the Red Storm on Saturday. "We're at the most important stage of our program in that we're figuring out how to win, particularly late-game situations," head coach Dave Leitao said. DePaul's senior trio leads the way. The 6-7 Max Strus leads in scoring (18.4) and rebounding (7.6), then there is PG Eli Cain (13.7 & 4.0 APG) and 6-9 forward Olujobi (11.4 & 4.7). Strus recorded his second double-double in a seven-game stretch by collecting 14 points and 12 rebounds against St. John's and erupted for 27 points on 8-of-17 shooting -- including 5-for-10 from 3-point range -- in DePaul's 79-67 loss to Butler back on Jan. 20, 2018 (last season).

I realize that the bulldogs' winning streak in the series is up to nine games but Butler is beatable this season. However, Dave Leitao just might have finally turned the corner in his second stint at DePaul.  Blue Demons have an extra dimension this season in the 6-9, 260-lb. Femi Olujobi (previously played at Oakland and NC A&T) plus guards Strus and Cain are both 6-6, creating matchup problems for opponents both offensively and defensively. Butler's loss at Xavier makes them 0-4 SU on the road this year and the team's last win in a true road game goes all the way back to Jan 31 of 2018. Butler is averaging a measly 59.8 PPG in four road games this season, while DePaul is 9-2 SU at home, averaging 78.9 PPG. Why is Butler favored?

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on Tulsa at 7:00 ET.

UConn (10-7 / 1-3 AAC) will visit the Reynolds Center, on Wednesday in a league game vs Tulsa (11-6 / 1-3 AAC). UConn also has lost three of its four league games and has yet to post a true road victory but first-year coach Dan Hurley lauded his team's effort at Cincinnati last Saturday. “The guys showed the type of grit that you love to see, especially in Year One of what we’re trying to build here,” Hurley said after the 74-72 OT loss. Meanwhile, Tulsa is coming off its most lopsided defeat of the season, 77-57 at SMU (also last Saturday). The Golden Hurricane are off to a 1-3 start in conference play, like the Huskies.

Hurley has a perimeter-oriented team, as UConn's top-four scorers are guards. Adams (16.8-3.6-3.2) leads the way, followed by Gilbert (13.5 & 3.8 APG), Vital (22.9) and Smith (9.1). Forwards Polley (7.6 & 2.3) and Carlton (7.1 & 4.4) start but are minor contributors.

The Golden Hurricane fell behind by as many as 16 points in the first half at SMU, prompting head coach Frank Haith to say how "disappointed" he was with the team's effort. DaQuan Jeffries and Martins Igbanu, who rank 1-2 in scoring, were held to a combined 11 points. Tulsa was manhandled on the boards by a staggering 44-29 margin. However,

Tulsa won 19 games last year but still has its sights on a 20-win season, this time around. Senior wing DaQuan Jeffries (13.4 & 5.5 rebounds), 6-8 junior forward Martins Igbanu (12.2 & 5.6) and PG Sterling Taplin (9.6 & 4.7 APG) are the glue that holds the team together.

Let's note that Tulsa is 9-1 at the Reynolds Center, its lone loss coming in overtime to Cincinnati. UConn is 0-2 in true road games this season and 2-9 ATS in its last 11 road games, going back to last season. A tech trend worth noting is that the Huskies are 16-38-1 ATS in their last 55 games following a SU loss. Tulsa has won all four home matchups with UConn (since the schools became conference rivals) and a FIFTH straight win comes with "room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conference Crusher (Big-12) is on Oklahoma at 6:55 ET.

Kansas St got off to 0-2 start to Big 12 play, as the 6-10 Wade (13.6 & 7.7) was sidelined since mid-December. The Wildcats lost by 20 points at home to Texas and then by six at then-No. 11 Texas Tech. However, KSU  rebounded in a big way on Jan 9 night by rallying from a 21-point second-half deficit to defeat West Virginia, 71-69. Kansas St then won 58-57 this past Saturday at then-No. 20 Iowa St. The 12-4 (2-2) Wildcats will now play the No. 20th-ranked team on the road for the second consecutive game. Tonight's game is in Norman against No. 20 Oklahoma. 6-7 junior Kristian Doolittle hit the game-winning basket with less than three seconds left to help the Sooners claim a 76-74 victory over TCU Saturday, evening Oklahoma's record to 2-2 in the Big-12 and 13-3, overall.

Kansas State received a boost from the return of 6-10 forward Dean Wade (12.4 & 7.9) last Saturday, as while he scored just two points on 1-of-5 shooting, his impact came by grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Senior guard Barry Brown Jr. was named Big 12 Player of the Week for the first time in his career Monday, after he scored the game-winning baskets in both of his team’s victories last week. Brown scored a season-high 29 points to lead Kansas State to a school record 21-point comeback in last Wednesday’s 71-69 win against West Virginia and followed that up by scoring 18 of the Wildcats’ last 21 points in Saturday’s victory at Iowa St. Also in double digits are guard Stokes (10.9) and 6-5 SF Sneed (10.1 & 5.5).

Kristian Doolittle recorded his first double-double since his freshman season (24 & 10) in the win over TCU. He clearly seems to be finding his rhythm, having scored at least 12 points in five of his last six games. He's joined up front by the 6-9 Manek (11.6 & 7.4) and then there is Oklahoma's trio of senior guards. The 6-4 James leads the team in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (7.7) plus is joined on the perimeter by Reynolds (9.5) and Calixte (8.9).

The Wildcats return most of the key pieces from a team that advanced to the Elite Eight last season but Wade is nowhere near 100 percent, after missing six games. The Wildcats are just 1-3 SU on the road, where they are averaging only 58.0 PPG. That's hardly good news when a facing a second straight ranked opponent away from home. Meanwhile, the Sooners are one of three Big 12 teams who are undefeated at home this season, going 7-0 sU (6-1 ATS). Oklahoma has won 21 of its last 23 games at Lloyd Noble Center plus the home team has won the last SEVEN games in the Sooners-Wildcats series. One last thing. Lon Kruger usually has his Oklahoma squad well-focused for games vs his alma mater K-State and the Sooners are back to the old-style Kruger teams. Oklahoma is back to placing value on floor spacing, ball movement, and several scoring sources, rather than relying too much on Trae Young, ala a year ago.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Miss St at 7:00 ET.

Mississippi State dropped from No. 14 to No. 24 in the latest AP poll, after losing its first two SEC games. The 12-3 Bulldogs began SEC play with an 87-82 overtime loss at South Carolina and then lost at home to Ole Miss 81-77 on Saturday. MSU looks to avoid an 0-3 start in SEC play in tonight's home contest with Florida. The 9-6 Gators are in danger of going 1-3 in conference action for the first time since the 1996-97 season and will be playing their second consecutive game against a ranked team. Florida lost at home to No. 3 Tennessee 78-67 this past Saturday.

The Gators led the Vols 56-53 with a little more than eight minutes remaining but the Volunteers took the lead for good with 5:34 left. Tennessee shot 57.7 percent from the floor in the second half. Florida has had trouble closing in each of its SEC games. South Carolina rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Gators in their conference opener and then, Arkansas cut a 16-point deficit to two before Florida made late free throws to hold on for the 57-51 victory. The Gators are an outstanding defensive team (61.2 PPG allowed ranks 12th) but the offense struggles. Florida's two leading scorers are guards Allen (11.3) and Locke (10.4) plus the team's best frontcourt player is 6-9 center Hayes, who averages modest totals of 6.8 PPG and 6.0 RPG. 

Ole Miss led Miss St by as many as eight points before the Bulldogs made a comeback to even the score with a little more than a minute remaining. However, Ole Miss guard Breein Tyree got free against the Bulldogs' defense for a layup and added two free throws to complete the scoring. I've always been a coach that believes defense wins first," Bulldogs coach Ben Howland told reporters after the Ole Miss setback. "We really did a poor job of defending here in the last few games and even our efficiency defensively on the year is not even close to what we're doing offensively. Defensively, we've got to get better. ... This is two games in a row now where we've had the power forward on the opposing team have career nights against our defense." Guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (17.1 & 5.7) continues to be the go-to guy and he scored a team-high 18 points against Ole Miss, his seventh straight game in double figures and his 14th this season. Two more guards average in double digits, PG Peters (13.5 & 6.1 APG ) and a second Weatherspoon, Nick (10.7). The 6-10 Holman (12.7 & 8.4) makes it four players in double digits and is the Bulldogs' leading rebounder.

I realize that Florida has won the last eight meetings in this SEC rivalry but I'm not convinced that Florida can score enough to beat Miss St. This is just Florida's third true road game of the season  and the Gators have averaged a pathetic 58.5 PPG in the first two. The Bulldogs average 80.1 PPG (48th) on the season and here at home (where they are 8-1 SU), are outscoring opponents 86.3-to-69.7 PPG. Expect Miss St to rebound off its back-to-back losses.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on Indiana at 6:30 ET.

A pair of 12-4 teams square off tonight at Indianapolis' Assembly Hall, as Nebraska (2-3 in Big Ten play) takes on Indiana (3-2 in Big Ten play). The Cornhuskers avoided a third straight defeat with Thursday's 70-64 triumph over Penn State, one that extended their home winning streak to 20 games, equaling a school record. Nebraska had dropped a heartbreaker at Maryland on Jan 2 (74-72) and fell to 0-3 on the road in Big Ten play four days later at then-No. 25 Iowa, before ending its short skid with a victory against Penn State. Indiana went 6-0 in December and opened January with a win over lowly Illinois at Assembly Hall but the Hoosiers followed their most recent victory with a 74-63 loss at second-ranked Michigan on Jan 6, then blew a 14-point first-half advantage in Friday's frustrating 78-75 loss at Maryland.

Nebraska head coach Tim Miles praised 6-8 junior Isaiah Roby (11.4 & 6.6) in the win over Penn State, as he finished with a career-high 22 points and set or tied season highs in both rebounds (11) and blocked shots (four) in 38 minutes (it marked his first double-double of the season). Roby is joined up front by the 6-9 Copeland (14.3 & 5.3), while the backcourt of Palmer (19.5-4.0-3.1) and PG Watson (13.4-4.1-4.1), is impressive. Miles has his team playing excellent defense, as Nebraska allows 61.4 PPG (13th) on 38.4% shooting (14th).

Indiana made all 16 of its free throws and committed only seven turnovers on Friday but the Hoosiers allowed 18 offensive rebounds and surrendered 16 consecutive points early in the second half, en route to the setback at Maryland. "We just couldn't get it done on the glass tonight. We just gave them 18 second shots and that was the difference in the game," head coach Archie Miller said. Indiana is led by guard Romeo Langford (18.8 & 5.5) and the 6-8 Juwan Morgan (16.5 & 7.8). Three more guards average between 6.9 and 8.8 PPG plus the 6-7 Smith (8.5 & 4.1) helps Morgan in the frontcourt.

This game marks a tough stretch for the Cornhuskers, as they'll play three ranked teams over four games—Indiana (No. 22), Michigan State (No. 6), Rutgers and then Ohio State (No. 16). Yes, Nebraska has won the last two meetings with Indiana but the Hoosiers had won 12 of the previous 16 all-time meetings. Indiana not only plays solid D (65.6 PPG allowed ranks 45th) but it shoots 51.8% from the floor (2nd-best in the nation). Indiana is 10-0 at home this season, the program's best home start since winning all 17 games at Assembly Hall in 2015-16. The Hoosiers are shooting a nation-best 55.9 percent and averaging 82.3 points at home, while allowing 60.4 PPG (just one opponent has scored more than 67 points!). At this price, Indiana is a STRONG play.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Den Nuggets at 8:05 ET.

The Portland Trail Blazers will try to register their first five-game winning streak of the season when they begin a two-game road trip on Sunday against the West-leading Denver Nuggets. Portland dropped the opener of a five-game homestand 111-109 to OKC, but has since rolled to four consecutive victories (including a 127-96 triumph over Charlotte on Friday), to match its longest winning streak of 2018-19. Denver will be kicking off a four-game homestand with this contest and although the Nuggets are 18-4 since Nov 21, they come in on a sour note after suffering a 102-93 loss at lowly Phoenix on Saturday (Suns are 11-33, the worst record of any team in the West).

CJ McCollum scored 30 points and Damian Lillard added 20 on Friday for Portland. That duo has led teh way all season, as Lillard averages 25.8-4.5-6.1 and McCollum 21.1 PPG. Center Jusuf Nurkic put forth a dominant all-around effort in Friday's win by producing 11 points, 11 rebounds, eight rebounds and six blocked shots as he continued his recent tear. Nurkic (15.2 & 10.4) is averaging 20 points and 12.2 rebounds this month. He leads the team with 21 double-doubles.

Nurkic will get a real test up against Denver center Nikola Jokic, who leads the team in scoring (19.2), rebounding (10.2) and assists (7.5).T he Nuggets own the West's best record (28-13) because of their depth. Nuggets have won 11 of their last 15 and have gone 18-6 since Nov 19 surviving injuries to Will Barton, Paul Millsap and Gary Harris to go 

Harris (16.0) played in the club's first four games this month after missing the last 11 in December with a hip injury, but he's now sat out three in a row due to a hamstring issue. Fellow guard Jamal Murray checks in right behind Jokic, averaging 18.3 PPG. PF Millsap (12.9 & 6.9) has been back for eight games from his injury plus swingman Barton (15.7-5.0-4.1 last year) played Saturday night. It was his first game after missing 36 straight and he scored six points off the bench in his return. He didn't mind, he was happy to be playing and even happier the team was 26-12 without him.

Portland is a so-so 8-10 on the road (allowing 113.7 PPG) and has lost four straight meetings with Denver. The Nuggets are 17-3 at Pepsi Center this season (14-6 ATS while outscoring opponents 113.2-to-101.6 PPG) and currently own an 11-game home winning streak (9-2 ATS). The edge here is Denver's depth, as outside of the above-named players, the Nuggets have five more players averaging between 7.4 and 10.0 PPG. This price is 'cheap.'

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NFL Playoff Game of the Year is on the LA Chargers at 1:05 ET.

I had a play on the Chargers last week, part of my perfect 4-0 Wildcard Weekend. In my analysis, I explained how I felt that the home field advantage in the Wildcard Round was much less important than in the Divisional Round. Philip Rivers and the Bolts would then go on to unequivocally prove that that was in fact true.

No one could benefit more from a week off from action than Patriots’ QB Tom Brady, who once again led his team to a division title.

Brady and the Pats continue to defy the odds and their story is well known.

Some would argue that the greatest QB to never win a SB is Dan Marino, but I submit that Rivers is at least in the discussion.

LA has the running game to keep opposing offenses honest this year with Gordon (885 yards / 5.1 YPC) and Ekeler (554 yards 5.2 YPC). It’s allowed Rivers to operate and once again put up huge numbers (4,308 yards / 32-12 ratio). This is also a “double revenge” scenario for Rivers, as Brady has gotten the better of him twice in the playoffs, 2007 in the divisional round and the conference title game in New England the following year (note: Chargers covered both games!).

Brady and the Patriots place in history is forever cemented, but there was something about this year’s Patriots which just didn’t “feel” the same as in season’s past (New England also benefitted from a very weak division). Brady had a 29-11 ratio but teh previous four seasons it was 32.23-6.5. Deep threat Josh Gordon was a bust and "Gronk" is no longer a major 'weapon.'

The Chargers 9-0 in games played outside of Los Angeles in 2018, a run that includes wins in Kansas City,Seattle and Pittsburgh. The LA defense has surrendered just 16.0 points per game the last three weeks (with eight takeaways in that span) and an AFC-low 16.9 PPG since the start of October.  Meanwhile, the Pats look vulnerable following a 4-3 stretch (3-4 ATS) to wrap up the regular season

Rivers is 0-7 lifetime vs Brady but this is his BEST-EVER (last-ever?) chance to exorcise his demons. The storyline finally shifts in favor of the Chargers and Rivers in this one. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Eye-Opener is on Xavier at 12:00 ET.

Full, detailed analysis by 7:00 ET Sunday morning.

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Colorado at 10:00 ET.

The Washington Huskies will travel to the CU Events Center to take on the Colorado Buffaloes this Saturday night in Pac-12 action. Washington (11-4 / 2-0 Pac-12) is heating up at a good time as it will carry a season-best four-game win streak into tonight's road test at Colorado. Three of Washington’s last four wins have been by at least 16 points, including Thursday night’s 69-53 smothering of Utah, which snapped the Huskies’ five-game losing streak in Salt Lake City. Colorado is hoping it has its season back on track, after a 92-60 rout of visiting Washington State on Thursday night. The 10-5 Buffs (1-2 Pac-12) had lost four of their previous five contests and failed to top 68 points in any of those outings.

Washington played its matchup zone defense to near-perfection, holding the Utes to season-low 53 points on 33.3-percent shooting, including 6-of-30 from three-point range. The Huskies are allowing the second-fewest points (65.6 per game / that's 48th in the nation) in the conference and are tied with Oregon for the field-goal percentage defensive lead at 39.3 (27th). Offensively, PG Jaylen Nowell (16.5 & 3.4 APG) and fellow David Crisp (10.9), plus 6-9 forward Noah Dickerson (14.4 & 6.6) are averaging double figures. Sophomore forward Nahziah Carter (8.5 & 3.5)also got into the act Thursday, scoring a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

6-7 sophomore swingman Tyler Bey (11.7 & 9.0) had a career-high 26 points in Colorado's win over Wash St, plus the Buffs received a season-high 17points from reserve guard Shane Gatling (8.5). PG McKinley Wright leads in scoring (13.6) and assists (5.4), while 6-10 center Siewert (11.8 & 5.1) gives the Buffs three double digit scorers. Colorado shot 54.7 percent in topping 90 points for the first time since Nov 28. 

Washington has won seven of the 12 meetings since Colorado joined the Pac-12 in 2011, including 82-59 (home) and 72-62 (road) wins to sweep the season series a year ago.

However, the Huskies are playing just their fourth true road game of the season (Utah victory was the team's first win), while the Buffaloes’ victory Thursday was their first home game since Dec 8. The win upped their record in Boulder to 7-0 on the season, where the Buffs have outscored opponents 89.0-to-69.3 PPG. A handful of tech trends note that Washington is just 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games following an ATS win, while the Buffaloes are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games and 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games vs a team with a losing road record.Colorado gets the cash.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NFL Divisional Rd Las Vegas Insider is on the Dal Cowboys at 8:15 ET.

LA was one of the hottest teams all year, but injury and fatigue seemed to wear on the Rams down the stretch.

Dallas was in danger of missing the playoffs at one point, but QB Dak Prescott (3,885 yards / 22-8 ratio) benefited from the resurgent play of star RB Ezekiel Elliot, who finished with 1,434 yards rushing. The Cowboys enter the Divisional Round as arguably the hottest team in the entire league, at 8-1 SU (lone loss to equally hot Indy!)..

I’ve never been completely convinced of LA and its QB, Jared Goff. The offense is great, there’s no denying (32.9 PPG and 421.1 YPG both rank 2nd). However, if there is any issue at all with RB Todd Gurley’s mobility because of an end of season injury, then that’s a major “monkey wrench” in the entire chemistry in my opinion.

The Rams struggled defensively (24.0 PPG ranks 20th) and even with Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald on the DL, Los Angeles ranked last in the league in yards per rush allowed at a whopping 5.1 yards per carry. Elliott gained nearly the same per carry on first downs alone, so it figures that Dallas will want to play some smash-mouth football, which will be huge for Prescott, as the Cowboys love play-action.

Jerry Jones’ shrewd mid-season addition of big-play WR Amari Cooper now gives Prescott a viable vertical option to stretch the field as well (Coopoer has 53 catches in nine games with 6 TD catches).

Dallas is not just any defense. The Cowboys allow a modest 20.2 PPG (6th) on 329.7 YPG (7th). Dallas also allows only 94.6 YPG rushing (5th), on just 3.8 YPG. The Rams will have trouble running, putting even more pressure on Goff (he did not play well in his first postseason game last year, against the Falcons).

LA’s offense is very similar to that of New Orleans and Dallas beat the Saints 13-10 in Week 13, thanks in part to its strong run game. The Cowboys have the potential to take this one outright but a TD (or more) "in the bank" is a nice bonus.

Good luck...Larry

My NBA 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the OKC Thunder at 8:05 ET.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will get a chance to redeem themselves quickly, after suffering a crushing double-overtime loss in San Antonio on Thursday. Thursday's meeting was an "instant classic," as San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge scored a career-high 56 points on 20-of-33 shooting while adding nine rebounds and four blocks to lead his team to a 154-147 victory. FYI... Aldridge wasn't the only player making history on Thursday, as Russell Westbrook recorded 24 points, a career-high 24 assists and 13 rebounds to mark the second 20-10-20 game of his career. Westbrook is the only player besides Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson to post multiple 20-10-20 games (not bad company).

San Antonio had shot 36.1 percent from the floor, including 11-of-27 from three-point range, in a 96-86 loss at Memphis on Wednesday but the very next night at OKC, made 16-of-19 from three-point range, setting an NBA record for the highest percentage (84.2) by a team with at least 15 attempts from beyond the arc. Spurs PG Derrick White scored a career-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting on Friday. However, White averages 8.5 PPG and 3.5 APG on the season. DeMar DeRozan (22.2-6.2-6.5) and Aldridge (20.7 & 8.6) lead the nightly charge for San Antonio but as always with a Pop-coached team, "the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts."

Westbrook is again averaging a triple-double (21.3-10.8-10.7) but Paul George (26.9 & 8.) is the team's leading scorer. Center Adams (15.4 & 10.1) is having a very good year , as his backup PG Schroder (15.2 & 4.4 APG) and PF Grant (12.6 & 5.0). Let's also note that the Thunder's Terrance Ferguson was forced into the starting lineup thanks to the prolonged injury of Andre Roberson and has been a top-flight defender all year but has struggled on offense (5.2 PPG). Ferguson was shooting just 30.2 percent from behind the three-point line before going 11 of 14 in the last two games, including 7 of 10 in the loss at San Antonio (he's scored 35 points in his last two games).

Yes, the Spurs have learned to be an excellent team with a new "cast of characters" but San Antonio has not been a good road team (7-13 SU on the season, including 3-6 in its last nine). I have to believe the Thunder can't wait to avenge that double-OT loss from Thursday here at Chesapeake Energy Arena. I will NOT ignore the fact that OKC is 16-4 SU and 15-5 ATS at home vs San Antonio since the Spurs beat the Thunder in their playoff tussle in the Conference Finals in 2012

Good luck...Larry