My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Utah (8:00 EST).

Stanford comes in having won two straight, however a NCAA tournament bid is almost assuredly out of the question unless the Cardinal can take the conference tournament. Stanford is poised for a letdown here in my estimation though after smashing Oregon 96-61 in its most recent action, led by 25 points from Dorian Pickens. 

Utah comes in hungry here as it’s lost two straight to drop back to under .500 at 5-6 in conference play, most recently a 67-55 setback to Colorado. The Utes couldn’t get anything going against the Buffaloes on Friday, shooting 41 percent. Utah though is 4-1 ATS in its last five after scoring 55 points or less.

Stanford has looked better of late, but it’s hard not to imagine the Cardinal coming in a tiny bit complacent here. Also note that Stanford is just 2-3 on the road. 

Utah is 9-2 at home and is the much “hungrier” team. I think the Utes risk life and limb to get back into the winners circle after their recent stretch of shoddy play. This line could easily be higher.

Play on Utah.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE MONTH is on the Miami Heat (7:35 EST).

The Rockets come in off a very satisfying 123-113 win at Brooklyn just last night and I think they’ll be “gassed” here.

Conversely, it’s going to be all hands on deck for Miami as it comes into this one having lost four straight, most recently a 111-109 home loss to Orlando on Monday. 

Note that this is a revenge game for the Heat as well after they fell 99-90 in Houston back on January 22nd.

This the final game of a four-game trip for the Rockets, who come in averaging 114 PPG and conceding 105.7. James Harden leads the nightly charge with 31.2 points, five boards and 9.1 assists per night. 

Miami comes in averaging 100.4 PPG and conceding 101.3. Hassan Whiteside averages 14.2 points and 11.8 boards per game, while Goran Dragic contributes 17.1 points, 4.1 boards and 4.6 assists per night.

I’ll point out though that Houston is just 11-14 ATS this year against teams with winning records, while Miami is 6-1 ATS this season off an upset loss as a favorite (also 12-10 ATS in trying to revenge a loss against an opponent.)

I think the “hungrier” team finds a way to get the job done at the end of the night and while I clearly wouldn’t be shocked by the straight up outright upset, I’m going to recommend grabbing as many points as you can, as I believe this one will be decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last. 

Play on the Heat.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Oddsmakers Error is on George Washington (7:00 EST).

The 10-13 La Salle Explorers are at George Washington to take on the 9-14 Colonials on Wednesday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Explorers come in off an 81-78 home win over St. Joseph’s on Saturday and suffice it to say, I believe they’re poised for a predictable letdown here.

The Colonials will be focused though after their humbling 87-58 loss to Davidson in their latest action.

La Salle comes into this one averaging 73.5 PPG and conceding 74.5. BJ Johnson had 25 points in his team’s latest upset win over the Hawks.

George Washington enters averaging 63.9 PPG and conceding 70.7. Yuta Watanabe had 20 points in a losing cause to the Wildcats. 

I’ll point out though that from a trend based stand point, there’s no question that this one favors the Colonials, as note that the Explorers are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games against a team with a wining percentage below .400, while George Washington is still 6-0 ATS in its last six at home in this series.

If ever the Colonials were going to get back on track, here’s the perfect opponent to do it against. La Salle has dropped all five of its conference road games, allowing an average of 85 points in those setbacks. 

Grab the points, play on George Washington.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Florida State (7:00 EST).

The 22-1 Virginia Cavaliers are in Florida State to take on the 17-6 Seminoles and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Cavs enter off a 59-44 win at Syracuse on Saturday, while the ‘Noles posted an 80-76 victory over Louisville in their latest action. If recent history is any precedence, then FSU has to be liking its chances tonight, because when these teams met last year, it was the Seminoles that escaped with the 60-58 victory.

Virginia averages only 68.7 PPG, but it concedes just 52.3. The Cavs come in riding a 14 game winning streak and they’re led by Kyle Guy, who averages 15.5 PPG.

FSU averages 84.7 PPG and it concedes 73.3. Phil Coger had 16 points in his team’s latest victory.

Clearly Virginia has been on a roll and it is arguably the hottest team in the nation. However, I simply feel that this sets up finally as a bit of a letdown spot.

FSU won’t be rolling over here and it has the offense to take the Cavs out of their comfort zone. Last year these teams engaged in a highly competitive battle and all signs once again point to a spirited affair this evening.

Grab as many points as you can, play on Florida State.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* O/U Oddsmakers Error is the over Thunder/Warriors (10:35 EST).

The 30-24 Oklahoma City Thunder are in Golden State to take on the 41-12 Warriors and for a number of different reasons, I think this one has “shootout” written all over it.

The Thunder need to muster up some energy tonight as they get ready to play their seventh game in 11 days. OKC won’t be lacking for motivation though obviously in facing the defending champs, but also because it comes in having lost four straight, most recently a listless 108-104 setback to the Lakers. Russell Westbrook had 36 points and nine assists, while Paul George added 26. 

OKC has for the most part this season been one of the best defensive clubs in the league, but the Thunder come in allowing a whopping 112.8 points during their losing skid. 

Oklahoma City comes in off a 115-108 loss at Denver on Saturday. Kevin Durant had 31 points and Stephen Curry added 24. GS was outscored 38-25 in the fourth quarter as it ran out of gas down the stretch after playing the second game of a back-to-back. 

Note that OKC has seen the total go over the number in ten of its last 16 after playing to three or more consecutive SU losses, while GS has seen the total eclipse the posted number in eight of 11 already this season off an upset loss as a favorite.

The Warriors play with revenge here after falling 118-101 to the Thunder back in mid November. Oklahoma City won’t be rolling over tonight though, as it desperately tries to break its string of shoddy play.

When you add it all up, I do indeed feel that this number is a little low. Play the over.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Michigan State (9:00 EST).

MSU comes in having won six straight, but it won’t be taking anything for granted here as Iowa has beaten the Spartans in two of the last three meetings.

Michigan State has held its opposition to 68 points or less in four straight games, most recently it enters off a 63-60 win at Indiana. 

The Spartans shot 48.9 percent from the floor and went .500 from range. Four players went on to score nine points or more, led by Matt McQuad off the bench with 12.

Iowa comes in with zero momentum after getting smashed 82-58 at Penn State in its most recent action. The Hawkeyes shot only 38.1 percent from the floor, including going just 1 of 10 from 3-point land. Tyler Cook was a bright spot with 19 points and six boards. 

I’ll point out though that MSU is a sharp 34-16-1 ATS in its last 51 against teams with a losing SU record, while Iowa is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven against teams with a winning percentage above 60 percent. 

While the Spartans have been winning of late, none of those victories have been of the “blowout” variety. However, the conditions and the numbers both now finally point to a big time rout for MSU here in my opinion.

Lay the points, play on Michigan State.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Boston College (8:00 EST).

While I obviously wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset, I’m going to recommend grabbing as many points as you can as I think this one will come down to the wire.

The Boston College Eagles are 4-6 in ACC play, while the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 3-7 in conference action.

BC comes in with momentum after downing Georgia Tech 80-72 at home on Sunday. Notre Dame though comes in discombobulated after seven straight losses.

Note as well that this is a “double revenge” game for BC after ND took both games last year. 

So far the Eagles average 75.7 PPG and concede 71.9. Ky Bowman had 17 points, eight boards, four assists and two steals in the victory over the Yellow Jackets last weekend.

The Fighting Irish average 75.7 PPG and concede 71.9. Notre Dame comes in off a poor 76-58 loss to NC State. Matt Farrell returned from injury to score 16 points, but the Irish were unable to overcome another poor shooting night, connecting on just 38.9 percent of their shots, while also turning the ball over 15 times.

I’ll point out as well that Boston College has been excelling in this spot for bettors for a while now, going 11-5 ATS in its last 16 following an ATS victory, while Notre Dame has struggled by going just 2-6 ATS in its last eight at home and 0-4 ATS in its last four following an ATS setback.

The Irish have won nine straight in this series, but that streak is clearly in jeopardy tonight. BC will look to take advantage of a less than 100% Farrell and try to score the outright upset. However as mentioned off the top, I will in the end be grabbing the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* REVENGE GAME OF THE MONTH is on the Toronto Raptors (7:35 EST).

Boston comes in a tiny bit complacent here in my opinion after winning four in a row, most recently a narrow 97-96 win at home over Portland on Sunday. 

Toronto comes in having won two straight and four of its last five after smashing Memphis 101-86 on Sunday. 

Note that this is indeed a “revenge” game for the Raptors after they fell 95-94 in the first meeting in Boston back on November 12th. 

Boston comes in averaging 103.2 PPG and it concedes 98.4. The Celtics needed to overcome a 16 point halftime deficit to beat the Blazers, led by Al Horford with 22 points, ten boards and five assists. 

Toronto averages 111.4 PPG and it concedes 103.8. DeMar DeRozan leads the nightly charge with 24.4 points and 5.1 assists per game. The Raptors held the Grizzlies to just 35.8 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers in their latest victory. Deion Wright led the way off the bench with 15 points (six players scored in double figures for TO in that one.) 

I’ll point out that this is one area in which the Celtics have consistently struggled in for bettors for quite some time though, going just 9-15 ATS in their last 24 after playing three consecutive home games (including only 3-4 ATS this season), while Toronto has excelled in this spot by going 28-13 ATS in its last 41 against the division.

Boston is dealing with some injury issues, which is the main reason why there was a delay in the sports books posting this line. Regardless though, I think there are enough situational factors working in favor of Toronto tonight to pull the trigger on the home side.

In my opinion, everything points to a lop-sided blowout. Play on the Raptors.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Michigan (7:00 EST).

The 19-6 Michigan Wolverines are at Northwestern to take on the 14-10 Wildcats on Tuesday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

Michigan comes in off a 76-73 OT win over Minnesota on Saturday, while Northwestern enters off a 60-52 win over Wisconsin in its latest action.

The Wolverines are now 8-4 in league play. Michigan averages 74.5 PPG and it concedes just 63.5. Charles Matthews had 13 points and 11 boards in the victory over the Gophers.

The Wildcats average 71.3 PPG and they concede 66.1. Derek Pardon had 17 points in the victory over the Badgers last weekend. 

I’ll point out though that Michigan has done extremely well in this spot of late for bettors, going 5-1 ATS in its last six on the road and 5-1 ATS following an ATS loss, while Northwestern has done very poorly by going just 1-5 ATS in its last six following a straight up victory and only 1-4 ATS in its last five following an ATS win.

The Wolverines held the Wildcats to 38.3 percent shooting in their 58-47 win at home earlier in the year and they continue to dominate lower-scoring teams with their aggressive defensive play. Everything points to a “repeat performance” here. 

Play on Michigan.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Indiana Pacers (7:05 EST).

I think the Wizards four-game win streak comes to an end here against this determined home side. Indiana is going to be the “hungrier” team in my opinion, sitting just one game behind Washington for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. 

The Wizards average 107.4 PPG and they concede 105.5. Thomas Satoransky had 19 points and six assists in his teams 115-98 win over the Magic on Saturday. Washington is finding ways to win without star guard John Wall in the line-up, but I have a hard time seeing the team continuing to carry that momentum.

Indiana comes in off a 100-92 win over the 76ers on Saturday, as Victor Oladipo poured in 19 points. The Pacers looked particularly sharp on the defensive end of the floor, holding Philadelphia to just 37.9 percent shooting. 

I’ll point out as well that Washington has done poorly in this spot of late for bettors, going just 5-11 ATS in its last 16 following a straight-up victory, while Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last five against good offensive teams which average 106 plus points per night.

After their extended stretch of excellent play, all signs do indeed finally point to the Wizards having a letdown here.

This is the first time these teams have played this season, but last year Washington took two of three. It’s payback time. Play on the Pacers.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on Rutgers (7:00 EST).

The 12-12 Indiana Hoosiers are visiting the Louis Brown Athletic Center to take on the 12-13 Scarlet Knights on Monday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Both teams had big expectations coming into the season and neither has lived up.

Indiana has lost four in a row. So far the Hoosiers average 71.6 PPG and concede 71.1. Juwan Morgan was a bright spot in the Hoosiers tough 63-60 loss to Michigan State with 23 points, while Freddie McSwain added eight points and grabbed 16 boards.

Rutgers averages 66.8 PPG and it concedes just 63.8. Corey Sanders had 31 points, seven boards and three assists in the Knights 78-76 setback to Purdue in their most recent action. 

From a trend based stand point though, there’s no question that this one favors Rutgers, as note that Indiana is just 3-8 ATS in its last 11 on the road against an opponent with a winning home record, while the Scarlet Knights are 6-1 ATS in their last seven at home against an opponent with a losing road record.

Indiana has played better at home than on the road this year. Rutgers is the “hungrier” team, which will look to defeat the Hoosiers for the first time. 

Play on the Scarlet Knights.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* SUPER TOTAL is on the under Grizzlies/Raptors (12:05 EST).

The Grizzlies come to town hungry after losing their second straight, most recently a 104-102 setback at Detroit on Thursday. 

Toronto enters off a blowout win over the Blazers, 130-105 on Friday. 

Memphis comes in averaging only 99.8 PPG, while conceding 102.5. Big man Marc Gasol leads the nightly charge with 18 points, 8.6 boards and 3.9 assists per game, while Tyreke Evans contributes a team high 19.5 points, five boards and five assists per game (note though that Evans is out for this one.)

Toronto averages 111.6 PPG and it concedes 104.2 DeMar DeRozan leads the nightly charge with 24.6 points and 5.2 assists per game, while Kyle Lowry adds 16.6 points, 5.9 boards and 6.6 assists per game.

Memphis has lost four of its last five and it clearly doesn’t have the luxury to “look past” the Raptors today. Toronto though could easily be caught looking ahead to its game at home against the East leading Celtics on Tuesday.

I believe the situation points to a lower-scoring defensive battle between these non-conference opponents. Play the under.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Oakland (12:00 EST).

The IUPUI Jaguars enter the final game of a five game road trip, losing the first four by an average of 12.3 points, most recently falling 74-60 to Detroit. Jaylen Minnett was a bright spot off the bench with 12 points. 

IUPUI averages 94 points per 100 possessions, which ranks tenth in the Horizon League.

Oakland averages 108.6 points per 100 possessions, which ranks second in the conference. The Golden Grizzlies will be eager to return to form after a lacklustre 79-73 loss at home to Illinois Chicago. Kendrick Nunn had an off night, finishing with 20 points. 

I’ll point out though that the Jags are just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven on the road against a team with a winning home record. 

Also note that the home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven in this series.

IUPUI is tired and that was completely evident in its last game. Nunn is coming off his worst start of the year, so he’ll be “chomping at the bit” to atone. 

Everything points to a big time home side blowout, so lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the San Antonio Spurs (9:00 EST).

I don’t think there’s any need to overanalyze this one.

Utah comes in off a very satisfying 129-97 win at Phoenix just last night and suffice it to say, I think the visitors come in “gassed” here.

Conversely, it’s going to be all hands on deck for the Spurs as they come in off a 102-91 loss at home to the Rockets. Also note that this is a “double revenge” scenario for San Antonio, as Utah has taken the last two in the series, including the first meeting this year 100-89 back on December 21st in front of the home town crowd.

Utah averages 102 PPG and it concedes 102.1. Ricky Rubio averages 11.4 points, five assists and 1.57 steals per game, while Rodney Hood adds 16.7 points.

San Antonio averages 100.7 PPG and it concedes 97.6. LaMarcus Aldridge averages 22.3 points and 8.5 boards per game, while Pau Gasol contributes 10.8 points and 8.3 boards per night.

I think it’s worth noting though that the Jazz are still only 11-15 ATS on the road this season, while San Antonio is 17-9 ATS at home.

The Spurs are also 7-3 ATS this year following a loss by ten points or more.

Utah is playing the second game of a back to back and like the Spurs, it is also dealing with injuries. In my opinion, this number could easily be a lot larger. Lay the points, play on San Antonio.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Oregon State (8:00 EST).

The 11-9 Oregon State Beavers are in California to take on the 7-15 Golden Bears on Saturday and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

Cal has lost nine straight and I believe the Bears stumble here as well.

The Beavers won’t be taking anything for granted, as they come in having lost two straight and four of their last five. 

Most recently Oregon State fell 66-57 to Oregon, shooting just 43 percent from the floor, including only 17 percent from range. Stephen Thompson Jr. was a bright spot in the setback with 16 points, Tres Tinkle added 11 points, six boards and five assists, while Ethan Thompson added 13 points. 

The Beavers looked decent defensively though, holding the Ducks to 44 percent shooting.

Cal comes in off a 77-59 setback to USC, shooting 38 percent from the floor, including just 23 percent from range. Marcus Lee led the way in the losing cause with 23 points and 12 boards, while Justice Sueing added 14 points, five boards and three steals. 

I’ll point out that from a trend based stand point, this one definitely sets up nicely for the visitors, as note that Oregon State is 5-2 ATS in its last seven following a straight-up loss, while Cal is just 1-5 ATS in its last six following an ATS setback.

These are two struggling teams, but the Beavers have been competitive against stiff competition and I believe their depth and superior defensive play will prove to be too much for the Bears to overcome. 

Lay the points, play on Oregon State.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* SUPER SHOCKER is on Indiana (8:15 EST).

The 21-3 Michigan State Spartans are in Indiana to take on the 12-11 Hoosiers on Saturday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Spartans are ranked No. 5 and come in content after winning five straight, most recently coming back from a 12 point deficit to beat Penn State 76-68 on Wednesday. 

Indiana will be eager to score the upset here after its latest 71-56 setback at No. 17 Ohio State on Tuesday. 

Note that this is a revenge game for the Hoosiers, who fell 85-57 on the road at MSU on January 19th. 

The Spartans average 84 PPG and they concede 64.3. In the win over the Nittany Lions, Miles Bridges poured in 23 points and grabbed nine boards. MSU was a bit sloppy though, committing 15 turnovers.

Indiana averages 72.1 PPG and it concedes 71.5. Devonte Green was a bright spot in the Hoosiers latest setback with 20 points, while Juwan Morgan also had a decent game with 15 points and six boards.

I think the Hoosiers are the much “hungrier” team here. Also note that the home team is 20-8 ATS in the last 28 in this series. Indiana is 10-4 at home and already has some decent covers there (Purdue.) 

I think the Spartans get caught a little flat footed and while I’ll stop short in calling for the outright upset, I do expect this one to come right down to the wire. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Purdue (4:00 EST).

The 21-2 Purdue Boilermakers come in averaging 84.6 PPG, including hitting 43.6 percent from range. On the other end of the floor they come in conceding just 63.5 PPG. Keep your eyes on 7-foot-2 Isaac Haas, who averages 14.6 points, 5.3 boards and 1.3 blocks per night. 

Rutgers averages only 65.5 PPG on its best night, which clearly doesn’t bode well in facing the Boilermakers’ elite unit. 

The Scarlet Knights have so far been above average defensively, conceding just 63 PPG. Corey Sanders leads the nightly charge with 13.6 points, while Deshawn Freeman adds 11.3.

Ultimately though I don’t expect Purdue to look past its lowly opponent today. Rutgers has a strong defense, but this will clearly be its stiffest test of the year. And unfortunately for the Scarlet Knights, they absolutely do not have the offense to keep up with the high-flying Boilermakers.

I’m expecting a rout from start to finish. Play on Purdue.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on Miami Florida (2:00 EST).

Miami comes in with momentum, coming into this one having won three of its last four, most recently a 69-57 victory over Pitt on Wednesday.

Virginia Tech has won three in a row, most recently a tough 85-80 OT effort over Boston College on the road on Wednesday. 

Note that this is a revenge game for the Hurricanes, who fell 66-61 to the Hokies last February.

Miami comes in averaging 74.9 points, while conceding 65.2. Lonnie Walker IV had 16 points and five boards in the victory over the Panthers. Dewan Huell leads the nightly charge though this season with an average of 13.4 points and 6.9 boards per game. 

Virginia Tech averages 85.1 PPG and it concedes 73.2. Kerry Blackshear Jr. had 20 points and eight boards in the Hokies’ most recent victory. 

The Hurricanes have the defense to keep them in this one late. Miami also plays with revenge. With these two factors working in their favor, I like the Hurricanes to at the very least, take this one right down to the wire.

Grab as many points as you can, play on Miami Florida.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on Duke (12:00 EST).

The 19-3 Duke Blue Devils are at Madison Square Garden to take on the St. John’s Red Storm on Saturday afternoon and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

The Blue Devils rebounded from a tight loss to Virginia to take down Notre Dame 88-66 on Monday, while the Red Storm come in off a 73-68 loss to Xavier in their most recent action.

Duke would shoot 50 percent form the floor and was 12 of 20 from range, while also holding the Irish to just 36 percent shooting in its most recent victory. Gary Trent Jr. led the way with 22 points and ten boards. 

Note that the Blue Devils have now allowed 70 or fewer points in four straight games. Duke averages 90.2 PPG and it concedes 72 thus far.

St. John’s averages 72.3 PPG and it concedes 70.9. In the loss to Xavier the Red Storm would go on to shoot a poor 43.9 percent form the floor, while allowing Xavier to hit 46 percent. Shamorie Ponds was a bright spot in the losing cause, posting 31 points.

The Red Storm are a decent defensive team, but this is the toughest offense they’ll see all year. With a tough game at UNC up next, the Blue Devils won’t leave anything to chance.

Lay the points with confidence, play on Duke.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Golden State Warriors (10:35 EST).

Golden State looks to get back on track after getting crushed 129-99 in Utah on Tuesday. Klay Thompson was a bright spot with 27 points, while KD had an “off” night with 17. 

So while the Warriors will be eager to atone for their latest listless effort, Sacramento looks poised for a bit of a letdown here in my opinion after closing its six game road trip with a 114-103 win over New Orleans on Tuesday, led by 26 points and 12 boards from Zach Rudolph. 

I’ll point out though that the Kings are just 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 following a SU win of more than ten points.

The Warriors on the other hand have excelled in this position by already going 4-1 ATS this year following a loss by ten points or more. 

Golden State is also 5-3 ATS this season in trying to revenge a loss against an opponent, and it does indeed play with revenge after falling 110-106 to Sacramento on December 27th.

The Warriors have a “tougher” game in Denver tomorrow night and won’t want to leave anything to chance this evening. 

The Kings on the other hand find themselves in a classic “letdown/look-ahead” spot, having gone 3-1 in their last four on a road trip, only to now return home for their first game in two weeks in Sacramento, followed by a much more “winnable” contest against the visiting Mavericks tomorrow night.

When you add it all up, it makes this larger spread completely manageable for the rested, determined and revenge-minded defending champs to cover. Lay the points, play on Golden State.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on Oakland (9:00 EST).

The 12-11 UIC Flames are in Oakland to take on the 14-9 Golden Grizzlies on Friday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

I think UIC has a letdown here after winning four straight, while I believe Oakland comes in razor focused after a 64-51 setback to Wright State in its latest action.

The Flames most recently beat Milwaukee 74-56 on Monday, led by Tarkus Ferguson with 19 points. 

So far UIC averages 72.3 PPG and it concedes 70.3. 

The Grizzlies just couldn’t get going against the Raiders in their latest setback, eventually succumbing 64-51 in the end. Kendrick Nunn was a stand out with 18 points, while Jalen Hayes has 13 points and eight boards. 

Oakland comes into this one averaging 80.4 PPG, while allowing 78.5. Note that Nunn leads the nightly charge with an average of 26.4 points, 4.7 boards and four assists per outing.

Additionally I’ll point out that UIC is just 1-8 ATS in its last nine against teams with a winning SU record, while Oakland is 41-20-1 ATS in its last 62 in the same position. 

When these teams met on January 15th, Oakland won 78-68 and Nunn tallied 32 points and nine boards. UIC hasn’t lost since that game, but the Flames just don’t have the firepower to match pace with this determined home side. All signs point to a rout, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Oregon State (11:00 EST).

The 11-9 Oregon State Beavers are in Stanford to take on the 11-11 Cardinal and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

Oregon State comes to town hungry after a listless 66-57 loss to Oregon in its latest action, while Stanford also enters off a setback, falling 89-73 at UCLA.

Note that this sets up as a double revenge spot for the Beavers after the Cardinal took both meetings a year ago.

We don’t have to question the Beavers’ motivation levels tonight as they’ve actually dropped four of their last five. So far Oregon State averages 72.5 PPG and it concedes 68.6. Stephen Thompson Jr. led the way in a losing cause to Oregon on Sunday with 16 points.

The Cardinal average 75 PPG and they concede 75.4. Stanford won five conference games in a row, but it’s since lost three straight. Daejon Davis was a bright spot in the loss to the Bruins with 23 points and ten assists. 

I’ll point out though that Oregon State is 5-1 ATS in its last six following an ATS loss, while Stanford is just 4-6 ATS when playing the role of favorite this season.

The Cardinal have now scored 73 points or fewer in four of their last five, which doesn’t bode well against this above average Beavers’ defense. Oregon State is conceding just 68 points so far in its eight conference games and all signs point to another big performance here against this inconsistent Stanford offense. 

Grab the points, play on the Beavers.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* WEST-CONF GAME OF THE MONTH is on the Denver Nuggets (10:35 EST).

The Thunder come in off a 102-96 road loss at Washington on Tuesday, snapping an eight-game win streak. Suffice it to say, I’m expecting a predictable letdown here as well. 

Conversely, it’s going to be “all hands on deck” for the home side after it dropped its second straight, most recently a hard-fought 106-104 road setback at San Antonio on Tuesday. 

Note that these teams have already split a pair of games this year, with each side winning on its home floor. 

OKC averages 106.1 PPG and it concedes 102. Russell Westbrook averages 25.5 points, 9.4 boards and 10.1 assists per game, while Paul George adds 21.3 points, 5.5 boards and 2.17 steals per night. 

In the loss to the Wizards the Thunder averaged just 37.5 percent from the floor and went just 9 of 32 from range. George was a bright spot with 28 points in the losing cause.

Denver averages 106.2 PPG and it concedes 105.6. Nikola Jokic averages 16.2 points, 10.4 boards and 5.3 assist per game. In the setback to the Spurs the Nuggets would shoot 46.5 percent from the floor and go 10 of 23 from 3-point land.

I’ll point out as well that the Thunder have struggled mightily in this spot for bettors all year, going just 2-10 ATS against the division and only 6-13 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite, while the Nuggets have done decently in this position by going 6-4 ATS against the division and 4-1 ATS in their last five against clubs with winning records.

OKC is dealing with injuries and fatigue right now, which doesn’t bode well in Denver’s thin air. I’m banking on the home side defending its court. Play on the Nuggets.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on UC Davis (10:00 EST).

The CSU Northridge Matadors are just 5-16 SU and 7-10 ATS in lined games (including only 2-4 ATS at home). 

The Matadors come in having lost two straight, including at UC Davis 63-56 just last week. CS Northridge has brought home the cash for bettors in four straight, but I think that string ends here.

The Aggies have won seven of ten, including two straight, most recently a convincing 80-56 destruction of Cal Poly Slo as 9.5 point favorites.

These are two teams moving in opposite directions and I expect those trends to carry over here. I’ll also point out that UC Davis is already 5-1 ATS this season after allowing 60 points or less in its previous outing (also 6-1 ATS against schools with losing records), while CS Northridge is a poor 7-13 ATS in its last 20 in trying to revenge a road loss against an opponent.

For all the reasons listed above, play on UC Davis.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Wisconsin (8:30 EST).

The 13-10 Northwestern Wildcats get ready to battle the 10-13 Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Northwestern’s two-game win streak was snapped in a 58-47 loss at Michigan on Monday and I think it’s set up for another letdown here.

Conversely, the Badgers come in razor focused, taking nothing for granted after losing three straight and six of seven. 

The good news for the Wildcats in their latest loss is that they’d hold Michigan to just 58 points. The bad news of course was that Northwestern only managed 47 of its own, including getting held scoreless over the final seven minutes. Scottie Lindsey was a bright spot with 15 points, but the rest of the starters combined for just 26 on 11 of 29 shooting. 

The Wildcats average 71.8 PPG and they concede 66.7.

Wisconsin averages 67.8 PPG and it concedes 66.6. Ethan Happ had 25 points, 11 boards and six assists in the Badgers latest loss to Nebraska on Monday. 

Additionally I’ll point out that Northwestern is already just 1-5 ATS this year after allowing 60 points or less, while Wisconsin is 4-0 ATS in its last four after playing to three or more consecutive SU losses. 

The Wildcats are just 2-6 on the road. If ever the Badgers were going to make a stand this season, then this is it. I look for the home side to step up and answer the call, so lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* SITUATIONAL STUNNER is in the Chicago Bulls (10:05 EST).

The 18-32 Chicago Bulls are in Portland to take on the 27-22 Blazers on Wednesday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

Portland comes in off a highly satisfying 104-96 win at the Clippers just last night, while we won’t have to question the overall intensity levels of the Bulls this evening as they enter off four straight losses, most recently to the Bucks. 

Lauri Markkanen, the Bulls leading scorer, won’t be in the line-up tonight. Note that the Bulls are 3-0 without Markkanen in the lineup though this season.

Damian Lillard and the Blazers have looked a lot better of late, but with one night off before a three-game Eastern swing, I do indeed believe this one sets up not only as a “letdown” spot (after last night’s victory), but that it’s also a “look ahead” position. 

Additionally I’ll point out that Chicago is 15-9 ATS on the road this year, while Portland is just 9-12 ATS at home.

The Bulls are dealing with some injury issues, but the situation and the numbers both support the visitors tonight. While I’m stopping short in calling for the outright upset, everything does point to a very tight battle. Grab the points, play on Chicago.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on Boston College (9:00 EST).

I’d like to point out, that this particular selection just narrowly missed a top 10* rating.

VT looks poised for a letdown here in my opinion after back-to-back wins has it back to .500 in ACC play. BC on the other hand has fallen back below .500 after back-to-back losses. Also note that this is definitely a “revenge” game for the Eagles, as the Hokies have taken three straight in the series.

Virginia Tech pulled off the outright 80-75 upset at Notre Dame in its most recent action. Justin Bibbs led the way in that one and he now has 18 or more points in three of his last five games. The Hokies have scored 80 or more points in six straight games, but VT is still just 3-3 ATS in the span because of shoddy defensive play.

The Eagles will be hungry to get back to form here, as they’ve been held to 69 points or less over their last two games, most recently falling 81-63 to the Orange. Ky Bowman was a bright spot though with 20 points, finishing 5 of 11 range.

Ultimately though for me this one comes down to which team is “hungrier.” BC enters off two straight losses and clearly won’t be taking anything for granted. VT has to be feeling much better about itself and I think it suffers a predictable letdown against this determined Eagles side.

Play on Boston College.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Oddsmaker’s Error is on Wake Forest (8:00 EST).

The 16-5 Florida State Seminoles are in Wake Forest to take on the 8-13 Demon Deacons and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

I think FSU has a small mental lapse here after winning three straight, most recently over VT, GT and Miami. 

Conversely it’s going to be all hands on deck for the Demon Deacons as they come in having lost seven straight. 

There’s no doubt that this sets up as a “letdown” spot for the visitors, who enter off an emotional 103-94 OT win over rival Miami Florida in their latest action. 

In fact FSU is above .500 for the first time in conference play this year after that victory. Terrance Mann has been a standout over the last two games with 44 points. 

Wake Forest enters off the 96-77 loss to Louisville on Sunday. Guard Bryant Crawford has now hit double digits in nine straight games and had 19 in a losing cause against the Cardinals. 

For me though, this comes one down to which of these two teams is the “hungrier.” While FSU has been playing very well of late, this unfortunately sets up as a natural letdown spot for the team after its big win over its rival in its most recent action. The Demon Deacons on the other hand will be risking life and limb tonight as they try to rebound from their recent stretch of futility.

While I’d obviously not be shocked by an outright upset, I will in the end recommend grabbing as many points as you can. Play on Wake Forest.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Louisville (7:00 EST).

The 16-5 Louisville Cardinals are at No. 2 Virginia to take on the 20-1 Cavaliers and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

Louisville comes in on top form having won five of its last six. The Cardinals are 6-2 in league play, most recently putting together a 96-77 win over Wake Forest on Saturday.

Virginia has won 12 straight, but I think it’ll have its hands full with this determined visiting side.

Louisville comes in averaging 78.5 PPG, while it concedes 68.9. In the win over Wake the Cards would go on to force 20 turnovers, while also shooting 50.7 percent from the floor and finishing 10 of 25 from range. Deng Adei averages 15.6 PPG to lead the team.

Virginia averages just 69 PPG, but it concedes only 52.1. Kyle Guy had 17 points in the win over Duke in the team’s most recent action on the road. Guy leads the nightly charge with 15.2 PPG. 

The Cavs are a great team. But Louisville won’t be rolling over today. The Cardinals are playing their best basketball of the season and they’ve already had some extremely close calls on the road this year, including losing in OT at Clemson in early January. 

While I’ll stop short in calling for the outright upset, all signs point to a comfortable cover for the hungry visitors as they catch the home side complacent after its epic victory last time out. Play on Louisville.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK is on the over Magic/Rockets (8:00 EST).

The 14-34 Orlando Magic are in Houston to take on the 35-13 Rockets and for a number of different reasons, I think this one has “shootout” written all over it.

Orlando comes in off a hard-fought 114-112 setback in Indiana in its latest action, allowing the Pacers to hit 54 percent from the floor, including 27 percent from range.

Aaron Gordon led the way for the Magic in the setback with 22 points, 11 boards and four assists, while Evan Fournier added 21 points. In all five players would reach double figures for Orlando as the team collectively shot 54 percent from the floor, including 32 percent from range.

Houston has won five of its last six, most recently downing the Suns 113-102 in its latest outing. The Rockets would go on to shoot 44 percent from the floor, including 30 percent from three point land. 

James Harden led Houston with 27 points, ten boards, eight assists and two steals, while Chris Paul added 17 points and five assists, as six players in total would finish in double figures. 

I’ll point out that Orlando has already seen the total go over the number in six of nine this year when the total is greater than or equal to 220, while Houston has seen the total eclipse the posted number in 13 of its last 16 as a home fav of 12.5 points or more.

These are two teams which love to get out and push the pace and that’s exactly what I expect to see happen. This number is just a little low, play the over.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on Massachusetts (6:30 EST).

The 17-3 Rhode Island Rams are at UMass to take on the 10-12 Minutemen and while I’m not going to be so bold as to predict an outright upset, I do think that the stage is set for a much more competitive battle than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe. 

Rhode Island snuck by Duquesne 61-58 on Saturday, while UMass enters off an 82-69 loss to Fordham on Saturday (I had the Rams in that one.) Note that this is a revenge game for the Minutemen after they fell 73-51 at Rhode Island earlier this month. 

The Rams average 76.6 PPG and they concede 65.8. EC Matthews had 20 points in the win over the Dukes. 

The Minutemen average 69.7 PPG and they concede 71.6. We don’t have to question Massachusetts motivation levels today though, as it comes in having lost four straight. In its latest loss, Luwane Pipkens led the way with 18 points. 

I’ll point out though that Rhode Island is just 11-3 ATS in its last 14 after allowing 60 points or less in its previous contest, while Massachusetts is already 6-4 ATS as an underdog this season.

I think this one sets up as a classic letdown spot for Rhode Island, while I expect the home side to risk life and limb as it tries to score the upset. In a much tighter than expected battle, let’s grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the Denver Nuggets (9:00 EST).

Boston came up just short in a 109-105 setback at Golden State on Saturday, while Denver comes in on top form having won three straight, most recently a 91-89 victory at home over Dallas. 

Note that this is a revenge game for the Nuggets after they fell 124-118 in Boston back on December 13th.

Boston averages 102.9 PPG and it concedes 98.5. Kyrie Irving leads the way with 24.8 points and five assists per game, while Al Horford averages 13.4 points, 7.9 boards and 5.2 assists per outing.

Denver averages 106.1 PPG and it concedes 105.5. Nikola Jokic averages 16.1points, 10.5 boards and 5.3 assists per game, while Garry Harris leads the nightly charge with 17.3 points. Harris had 24 points, while Jokic had a triple-double with 11 points, 16 boards and 11 assists in the teams most recent win over the Mavs.

I think the Celtics come in flat here on the tail end of their five game Western swing and I look for the surging Nuggets to take full advantage and to put the foot on the gas from start to finish.

A great situational play on Denver.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the Dallas Mavericks (8:30 EST).

The Heat had dropped four of six before getting the better of the Hornets 95-91 at home on Saturday. 

The Mavs come in desperate as they’ve lost three straight and six of their last seven, most recently dropping a tight 91-89 decision in Denver on Saturday. 

Note that this is a revenge game for Dallas after it fell 113-101 in Miami back on December 22nd. 

The Heat average 100.6 PPG and they concede 101.3. Josh Richardson led Miami with 19 points and five assists in the win over Washington.

Dallas averages 102 PPG and it concedes 103.9. Harrison Barnes leads the nightly charge with 18.4 points and 6.8 boards per game, while rookie Dennis Smith Jr. adds 14.7 points and 4.7 assists per game. 

I’ll point out though that Miami is just 8-13 ATS as the favorite this season, while Dallas is 21-15 ATS as the dog. 

Miami comes in off the win, while the Mavs lay everything on the line, desperate to break their slide. I think the “hungrier” team finds a way to get the job done at the end of the night.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 EST).

The Wolves broke a two-game slide with a 111-97 home win over the Nets on Saturday, while the Hawks come into this one having lost three straight, most recently a listless 129-104 setback at home to Washington on Saturday. 

The Wolves averages 109.1 PPG and they concede 105.9. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 20.1 points and 12.2 PPG, while Andrew Wiggins adds 18.2 points and 4.2 boards per night.

Jimmy Butler and Wiggins each had 21 points in the team’s win over Brooklyn.

The Hawks average 103.5 PPG and they concede 108.2. Dennis Schroeder leads the nightly charge with 19.6 points and 6.4 assists per game, while Marco Belinelli adds 11.2 points and 2.1 assists. In the latest loss to Washington ATL allowed the Wizards to shoot 57.6 percent from the floor, including 18 of 32 from range. 

With a tough game North of the border tomorrow night, the Wolves can leave nothing to chance this evening. And that’s the difference maker for me in this one.

I look for a focused and much deeper Minnesota side to comfortably pull away down the stretch as it looks to secure the victory tonight, before the tough matchup tomorrow. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Notre Dame (7:00 EST).

The 13-8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are at Duke to take on the 18-3 Blue Devils and while I’m not calling for the outright upset, I do definitely believe this one will be a lot closer than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe once it’s all said and done.

Notre Dame looks to get back on track here after falling 80-75 to Virginia Tech on Saturday, while the Blue Devils also come in off a loss (this one of the heart-wrenching variety), falling 65-63 at home to Virginia.

Note that this is a revenge game for the Irish after the Blue Devils took both meetings last year, including a tight 75-69 battle in the conference tourney.

Notre Dame averages 76.6 PPG and it concedes 65.9. It shot just 39 percent from the floor in the loss to VT last time out though. TJ Gibbs was a bright spot in the setback with 27 points.

Duke averages 90.3 PPG and it concedes 72.3. Duke shot 48 percent from the floor, but it still wasn’t enough in the loss to the Cavs. Marvin Bagley III had 30 points in the losing cause. 

The Irish are getting a lot of points here because they’re injured, but they won’t be going down without a fight after five straight setbacks. Duke is still caught up on its last loss and comes in complacent, leaving the back door open just wide enough for the visitors to sneak in through down the stretch.

Grab the points, play on the Fighting Irish.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* BLOWOUT GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Toronto Raptors (6:05 EST).

LA comes in complacent here in my opinion after winning its fourth straight with a 108-103 road victory over the Bulls on Friday.

Conversely, it’s going to be all hands on deck for the Raptors, who have lost four of seven, including a listless 97-93 setback to Utah at home on Friday. The revenge factor does come into play for the Lakers after they fell to Toronto 101-92 at home back on October 27th, but because of the Raptors’ overall current form, it’s one of those instances in which it’s negated.

LA averages 106.6 PPG and it concedes 109.7. Brandon Ingram averages 15.7 points, while Jordan Clarkson added 14.5 points. Ingram had 25 points, nine boards and five assists in the win over Chicago.

Toronto averages 110.9 PPG and it concedes 103.7. DeMar DeRozan leads the nightly charge with 24.6 points and 6.1 assists per game, while Kyle Lowry adds 16.5 points, 5.9 boards and 6.7 assists per game. 

I’ll point out as well that the Lakers are just 2-4 ATS in their last six trying to revenge a home loss against an opponent, while Toronto is 13-9 ATS against losing clubs this year and 13-9 ATS as well against poor defensive teams which allow 106-plus points per contest.

As mentioned off the top, I think this one sets up as a classic letdown spot for the Lakers, while I expect the Raptors to risk life and limb as they try and secure a convincing victory after their sub-par play of late.

Lay the points, play on Toronto.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* REVENGE GAME OF THE YEAR is on Oakland (2:00 EST).

The 14-8 Oakland Golden Grizzlies are at Wright State to take on the 16-6 Raiders and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the surging visiting side.

Oakland has won five straight. Wright State also enters on top form, having gone 9-1 in its last ten.

The Golden Grizzlies’ Kendrick Nunn was named the Horizon League Player of the Week by averaging 35 points, 7.5 board and 2.6 assists last week. Oakland enters off the 83-70 road win over Northern Kentucky on Friday, a game which Nunn poured in 33 points. Jalen Hayes added 21 and seven boards. 

Grant Benzinger had 17 points in Wright State’s 87-55 win over Detroit in the Raiders’ most recent action. Evertt Winchester came off the bench to add 15.

I’ll point out though that Oakland is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 in trying to revenge a home loss against an opponent, while Wright State is just 18-24 ATS in its last 42 against teams with winning records and just 4-5 ATS this year in front of the home town crowd. 

I believe Nunn continues his incredible play and helps his team avenge the earlier home loss. Play on Oakland.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* BAIL-OUT BLOWOUT is on Colorado (8:00 EST).

I base my selections on many different things, but I’m keeping it rather for simple for this particular one.

Colorado comes in off back-to-back losses, most recently falling 80-71 at Arizona (easily covering with the 13 point spread.) The Buffs are 12-9 overall, but just 1-6 on the road.

But I think Colorado comes in “under the radar” here against 15-5 Arizona State (9-2 at home.)

Not surprisingly either, Colorado plays with revenge after falling to ASU 90-81 in OT at home back on January 4th. 

The Sun Devils have looked pretty bad since conference play has started, going just 4-6 in their last ten, including a crushing 80-77 OT loss at Utah in their most recent.

With that setback fresh on their minds, I think the Sun Devils leave the back door open just wide enough for the revenge minded Buffs to sneak in through down the stretch. Grab the points, play on Colorado.

Good luck…Larry 

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Washington Wizards (7:30 EST).

Washington is just 1-3 on its current road trip, most recently falling 121-112 at OKC on Thursday. 

The Hawks come in off a hard-fought battle in Charlotte just last night and suffice it to say, I expect a predictable letdown here in the second game of the back-to-back scenario.

So far these teams have split a pair of games.

Washington averages 106.6 PPG and it concedes 105.6. John Wall leads the nightly charge with 19.4 points and 9.3 assists per game, while Bradley Beal averages 24 points. Beal was a standout in the latest loss to the Thunder with 41 points, 12 boards and seven assists. 

Atlanta averages 103.3 PPG and it concedes 107.5. Dennis Schroeder leads with 20 points and 6.5 assists per game. 

I’ll point out though that Washington is already 6-4 ATS this year after allowing 115 points or more in its previous contest, while Atlanta is just 1-2 ATS in its last three in the second game of a back-to-back.

I think the “hungrier” and fresher team finds a way to get the job done at the end of the night. Play on the Wizards.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Oddsmakers Error is on the Orlando Magic (7:00 EST).

Orlando had won two of three, but it came up flat in a 105-99 loss at home to Sacramento on Tuesday. 

The Magic have a golden opportunity to get back on track here though against a Pacers team which laid everything it had on the line in its game in Cleveland last night. 

And to say this is a “revenge” game would be a bit of an understatement too, as Indiana has taken six straight in the series, including a 121-109 victory in the first meeting this year on November 27th.

Orlando averages 105.1 PPG and it concedes 110.3. Evan Fournier is currently leading the nightly charge with 18.1 points along with Aaron Gordon with 18.3 points and 8.3 boards per game. 

The Pacers average 106.4 PPG and concede 105.2. Victor Oladipo leads the way with 24.1 points, 5.2 boards and 1.98 steals per game. 

I’ll point out though that Orlando is 3-0 ATS in its last three against teams with winning records, while Indiana is just 1-2 ATS in its last three when playing on back-to-back nights.

The Magic have had three whole nights to prepare for this revenge game and while I’ll stop short in calling for the outright upset, all signs do indeed point to a much tighter battle than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe. Grab the points, play on Orlando.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Arizona (5:30 EST).

Utah looks poised for a letdown here after its 80-77 OT win over Arizona State on the road in its latest action (I had the Utes in that one), while Arizona will look to build off its 80-71 home win over Colorado (failing to cover the spread though in that one.) 

If recent history is any precedence then the Wildcats have to be liking their chances tonight, because when these teams met earlier in the year, it was Arizona that pulled away for the comfortable 94-82 victory. 

Utah averages 75.3 PPG and it concedes 70.8. Previous to their upset win last time out the Utes had lost four straight. Sedrick Barefield averages 10.9 PPG and he led the attack against the Sun Devils with 18 points.

Arizona averages 82.1 PPG and it concedes 71.4. Allonzo Trier had 23 points in the win over the Buffs, while DeAndre Ayton added 22. 

I’ll point out that Utah has struggled in this spot for bettors, going just 1-2 ATS in its last three after scoring 80 points or more in its previous contest, while Arizona has excelled by going 4-2 ATS in its last six after scoring 80 points or more in its previous outing.

Utah looked great on the road in its last game, but I have a hard time seeing this inconsistent team matching that performance in another tough atmosphere. Look for Arizona to step up and take advantage. Lay the points, play on the Wildcats.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on Fordham (2:00 EST).

The 10-11 Massachusetts Minutemen are at Fordham to take on the 6-14 Rams and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

We don’t need to question Fordham’s motivation levels today after losing six straight. UMass can empathize as the Minutemen come in having lost three straight, most recently an 82-72 defeat at La Salle. The Rams enter off a 78-58 loss at home to No. 24 Rhode Island. 

UMass averages 69.8 PPG and it concedes 71.1. In the loss to the Explorers the Minutemen would allow them to shoot 55 percent from the floor, while also getting out rebounded by ten and turning the bowl over 14 times. 

Fordham averages just 61.4 PPG, but it concedes 69. Will Tavares was a bright spot in the loss to Rhode Island with 17 points, while Prekop Slanina added 13 points and five rebounds. 

I’ll point out though that UMass is just just 1-4 ATS in its last five after allowing 80 points or more in its previous contest, while Fordham is 2-1 ATS in its last three after failing to score 60 points in its previous outing.

The Rams’ defense keeps them one in this and helps secure the upset in front of the home town crowd. Play on Fordham.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on Duquesne (12:00 EST).

The 14-7 Duquesne Dukes are in Rhode Island to take on the 16-3 Rams and while I’m not going to be so bold as to call for an outright upset, all signs do indeed point to a much tighter battle than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe. 

The Dukes are coming off a 77-73 OT loss to Richmond on Wednesday, while Rhode Island got the better of Fordham 78-58 in its latest action. Note that this is a revenge game for Duquesne after it fell 90-69 in the only meeting last year. 

Duquesne averages 73.9 PPG and it concedes 66.6. The Dukes struggled last time out shooting just 38 percent, but did get a strong game from Eric Williams Jr, who had 25 points in the losing cause.

Rhode Island averages 77.5 PPG and it concedes 66.3. The Rams are now 8-0 in A-10 action and I think the come in a tiny bit complacent here finally and leave the back door open just wide enough for their lowly opponent to sneak in through this afternoon.

I’ll point out as well that Duquesne is 4-2 ATS in its last six after scoring 70 or more points in its previous game in which it also lost in an OT situation, while Rhode Island is just 2-3 ATS in its last five after holding its previous opponent to 60 points or less.

This has one has “trap” written all over it for the Rams, but as mentioned off the top I won’t be calling for the outright upset. Grab as many points as you can, play on Duquesne. 

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on North Carolina (12:00 EST).

The 14-7 NC State Wolfpack are in North Carolina to take on the 16-5 Tar Heels and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

NC State got by Pittsburgh 72-68 on Wednesday, while UNC will be eager to get back on track after falling 80-69 to Virginia Tech on Monday. 

But if recent history is any precedence, then the Tar Heels have to be loving their chances today because they’d take both meetings last year in blowout fashion, winning 107-56 in the first and 97-73 in the second. 

The Wolfpack come into this one averaging 80.4 PPG, while conceding 72.5. NC State got the win over the Panthers, but it was pretty as they’d shoot just 33.8 percent from the floor. Omer Yurtseven was a standout with 16 points.

The Tar Heels average 82 PPG and they concede 71.7. UNC shot just 42 percent from the floor in the loss to the Hokies, led by Luke Maye with 23 points in the setback.

I’ll point out though that NC State is just 4-17 ATS in its last 21 road games and only 2-10 ATS in its last 12 following a SU win, while UNC is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven following a straight up loss. 

ACC opponents have already shot over 50 percent against the Wolfpack five times this year, which doesn’t bode well facing this re-focused Tar Heels side out redeem itself for their latest sub-par effort. 

NC State has scored just 72 points or less in three out of its last four, which also doesn’t bode well facing a North Carolina team holding opponents to 41.6 percent shooting on the year. 

All signs point to a rout, play on the Tar Heels.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Northern Kentucky (9:00 EST).

Both teams come in hot, but I don’t think that home floor advantage can be overlooked in this particular matchup.

Northern Kentucky is 7-1 in conference play and owns a share of the lead through eight game, while Oakland comes in having won four straight.

But if recent history is any precedence, then the Norse have to be loving their chances to keep the momentum rolling, because when these teams met at Oakland back on January 5th, it was Northern Kentucky that pulled away for the 87-83 victory.

The Grizzlies enter off a 92-86 win over Detroit, led by 38 points from Kendrick Nunn. Nunn is averaging 26.5 points, 4.8 boards and 4.2 assists this year. Oakland has been playing well in conference action, but I think the team finally has a letdown here in this tough environment.

Northern Kentucky most recently pulled away for a 77-65 win over Green Bay on Saturday, going 10 of 23 from range and forcing 19 turnovers. The Norse rank among the conference best on both ends of the court (note that opponents have an offensive rebounding percentage of just 23.1, which ranks the team firs tin the Horizon.) 

I’ll point as well that Oakland is just 1-3 ATS already this year off a win against a conference rival and only 4-7 ATS against a team with a winning record, while Northern Kentucky is 9-4 ATS as a favorite and 4-2 ATS off a win against a conference rival.

Nunn has been great, but the Norse are just too deep. The revenge factor gets thrown out the window here as I expect surging Northern Kentucky to keep the foot on the gas from start to finish. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the San Antonio Spurs (8:30 EST).

The 23-21 Philadelphia 76ers are in San Antonio to take on the 32-18 Spurs and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Both teams come in on top form, with the Spurs off wins over the Cavs and Grizzlies, while the 76ers have won four of their last five, most recently a victory over the Bulls on Wednesday. 

This is a revenge game for the Spurs though, who fell in Philadelphia 112-106 on January 3rd. 76ers big man Joel Embiid and rookie Ben Simmons combined for 47 points, 16 boards and eight assists in that victory. 

Pau Gasol had 14 points, 15 board and nine assists in his team’s 108-85 destruction of Memphis on Wednesday. In all, eight players would score in double figures against the Grizzlies, including 15 by Patty Mills off the bench.

I’ll point out that Philadelphia is just 12-15 ATS in its last 27 against good defensive teams which allow 98 points or less per contest, while San Antonio is 3-1 ATS in its last four against good offensive teams which average 106-plus points per contest.

The revenge factor can’t be overlooked here. I think Philadelphia stumbles to open its Western swing and San Antonio takes advantage. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the Memphis Grizzlies (8:00 EST).

The 23-24 LA Clippers are in Memphis to take on the 17-30 Grizzlies and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

LA comes in off a 113-102 loss to Boston on Wednesday, while Memphis enters off a 108-85 setback to San Antonio in its latest action.

The Clippers have now lost three straight. LA is on the outside of the playoff picture looking in and it’s only 9-13 on the road this season. So far the Clippers average 107.7 PPG, while conceding 107.6. Blake Griffin had 23 points and five boards in the latest defeat. 

Marc Gasol had 18 points and seven boards in the Grizzlies blowout loss to San Antonio. Memphis is 5-5 over its last ten games and it’s just 12-14 on its home floor. So far the Grizzlies average 99.3 PPG and concede 102.2. 

I’ll point out though that LA is already just 2-5 ATS this year off an upset loss as a favorite, while Memphis is 14-11 ATS this season against good offensive teams which average 106-plus points per outing. 

This is a revenge game for Memphis after it fell 113-105 to LA earlier this month. The Grizzlies are dealing with injuries, but so too are the Clippers. Home floor and the revenge factor prove to be too much for LA to overcome tonight.

Play on Memphis.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 EST).

The Cavaliers are desperate for a victory and I believe that focus and determination will ultimately prove to be the difference maker tonight. 

Cleveland started off the season horribly as well, but it made some adjustments and then went on a huge run. With Isaiah Thomas coming into the mix, the chemistry has once again been disrupted and the team is struggling while trying to adjust “on the fly.” 

The recent struggles prompted coach Tyron Lue to make another adjustment to the starting line-up, benching Jae Crowder and electing to start Tristan Thompson, while then moving Kevin Love over to the PF position. I think the “shake-up” is going to work here.

The Pacers average 106.4 PPG and they concede 105.2. Indiana is led by Victor Oladipo, who averages 24.1 points, 5.2 boards and 1.98 steals per game.

The Cavaliers average 109.5 PPG an concede 109.6. LeBron James leads the nightly charge with 26.8 points, 7.9 boards and 8.6 assists per game, while Love adds 18.4 points and 9.4 boards per outing. 

More than anything though this is a big time revenge play for Cleveland, which has dropped all three in the season series with Indiana already this year. 

For all the reasons listed above, play on the Cavaliers.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Utah (9:30 EST).

Utah comes in with considerable momentum and I expect it to get carried over here. Utah has won back-to-back games against the state of Washington.

Arizona State had been scuffling as well, but it’s recovered as well to win three of its last five. 

Utah’s offense has averaged 72 points over its last five games. Most recently the Utes hammered Washington State 82-69 on Sunday, hitting 47.6 percent from the floor overall, including going 13 of 31 from range. 

Arizona State allows 74.8 PPG, but the Sun Devils come in off a solid 81-73 win at Cal, hitting 47.5 percent from the floor and going 10 of 21 from range. Mickey Mitchell came off the bench to post 12 points and grab 11 boards. 

I’ll point out though that Utah is 19-9 ATS in its last 28 off a win against a conference rival, while Arizona State is 0-2 ATS off a win against a conference rival this season.

I think Utah’s much improved offense gives it much more than just a “punchers chance” against this inconsistent Sun Devils unit. While I’ll stop short in calling for the outright upset, all signs do indeed point to a competitive battle. Grab the points, play on the Utes.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Non-Conference GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Denver Nuggets.

New York comes in off a 123-112 loss on the road in Golden State on Tuesday, while Denver had dropped six of eight before edging Portland 104-101 at home on Monday. 

Note that this is a revenge game for the Nuggets after they fell 116-110 in The Big Apple back on October 30th

The Knicks average 104.7 PPG and concede 106.1. Kristaps Porzingis averages 23.3 points, 6.7 boards and 2.34 blocks per game, while Enes Kanter contributes 13.6 points and ten boards per night. 

Denver averages 106 PPG and it concedes 105.6. Big man Nikola Jokic averages 16.2 points, 10.4 boards and five assists per game, while Garry Harris leads the way with 17 points per night. Jamal Murray exploded for a career-high 38 points in the win over the Blazers.

I’ll point out that New York is just 10-14 ATS on the road this year and only 1-3 ATS after playing three consecutive road games, while Denver is 5-3 ATS in its last eight when playing with two days rest and 12-10 ATS in front of the home town crowd thus far. 

Porzingis could be sidelined for this one and if he does play, he’s likely not going to be at 100% capacity. Denver is 17-6 at the Pepsi Center and in my opinion, all the pieces are in place for a blowout. Play on the Nuggets.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* LAS VEGAS INSIDER is on Arizona (8:30 EST).

Colorado has been all over the map as far as its game-to-game consistency. The Buffs enter off a 72-62 loss to Washington at home on Saturday, getting 14 points from Tyler Bey, who led five players in double-figures in the setback. 

The Buffs average just 98.7 points per 100 possessions during conference play (which ranks tenth in the Pac 12), but they’ve done well on the defensive end, limiting opponents to 48.6 percent shooting through eight conference games (ranked fourth.)

Arizona comes in off a 73-71 road win over Stanford, it’s fourth straight conference victory. Allonzo Trier led the way in the one with 21 points, while Dusan Rustic added 18 points and nine boards. 

The Wildcats have won 13 of their last 14 and are scoring 111.6 points per 100 possessions during conference play, which ranks third in the Pac 12. 

Additionally I’ll point out that Colorado is 8-17-1 ATS in its last 26 against teams with a winning percentage of above .600, while Arizona is 4-1-1 ATS in its last six home games against a team with a losing road record.

Note that this is a revenge game as well for Arizona, which fell on the road in Colorado on January 6th. 

All the pieces are in place for a home side blowout. Lay the points with confidence, play on the Wildcats.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on Purdue (7:00 EST).

The 17-5 Michigan Wolverines are at Purdue to take on the 19-2 Boilermakers are on Thursday night and for a number of different reasons I think this one favors the home side.

Michigan hammered Rutgers 62-47 at home on Sunday, while Purdue comes in having won 16 straight, most recently crushing Iowa 87-64 on Saturday. 

Purdue won’t be taking anything for granted here obviously, as the Boilermakers edged the Wolverines 70-69 in Michigan back on January 9th.

The Wolverines average 73.2 PPG and they concede 62.4. Mortiz Wagner led the way for Michigan in the win over Rutgers with 16 points and six boards. 

The Boilermakers average 84.8 PPG and they concede just 62.2. Carsen Edwards had 22 points and eight assists, while Vince Edwards added 19 points and two blocks in the victory over the Hawkeyes. 

Additionally I’ll point out that Michigan is just 1-4 ATS this year off a win against a conference rival and 0-2 ATS in trying to revenge a home loss against an opponent, while Purdue is 8-4 ATS this season after scoring 80 points or more and 4-1 ATS against good defensive teams which allow 64 points or less per contest. 

The Wolverines poised a threat at home to Purdue, but I think they’ll have a hard time keeping up to the Boilermakers on their own floor. And the stats support that as well. This number could quite easily be a lot larger in my opinion. Great value, play on Purdue.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PAC 12 GAME OF THE MONTH is on Stanford (9:00 EST).

USC has a 6-2 record in Pac 12 play, while the Cardinal are 5-2 in league action.

Stanford will be eager to get back on track here after a tight 73-71 home loss to Arizona on Saturday, blowing a double-digit half time lead. Reid Travis was a stand out in that one with 20 points, while Dorian Pickens added 15. The Cardinal rank among the conference’s best on both ends of the court.

The Trojans come in off back-to-back road wins in the state of Oregon and I think they’re primed for a bit of a mental letdown here in their first game back in front of the home town crowd. USC ranks among the nation’s top offensive teams, but it’s in the bottom third defensively. 

I’ll point out that Stanford is already 2-1 ATS in true road games this year and 9-5 ATS against clubs with winning records, while USC is already 0-2 ATS this season as a home fav in the 9.5 to 12 points range. 

The last time these teams played it was the Cardinal that held on for the one point outright victory. The revenge factor is working in favor of USC, but I still believe that Stanford isn’t getting nearly enough respect. The Cardinal offense gives the visitors much more than just a “punchers chance” in this matchup.

Grab the points, play on Stanford.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Indiana (9:00 EST).

The 12-8 Indiana Hoosiers are in Illinois to take on the 10-11 Fighting Illini on Wednesday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

Illinois continued its slide with a loss to Michigan State on Monday, while Indiana enters having won four of its last five, most recently over Maryland. Juwan Morgan leads the Hoosiers this year with 14.8 points and 7.2 boards per game (also has 26 blocks.) Indiana’s road play has been its “Achilles heel” this season, but here’s the perfect opponent to get untracked against.

The Fighting Illini have scored over 75 points in just two of their conference games so far this year and both were OT losses. A continued bright spot for Illinois has been the play of guard Trent Frazier, who has posted double figures in ten of his last 11 games. Sophomore forward Kipper Nichols posted a career-best 27 points off the bench in his team’s latest loss to the Spartans.

I’ll point out that Indiana is 5-1 ATS in its last six against teams with losing records, while Illinois is just 1-4 ATS in its last five in front of the home town crowd.

Despite their poor road record this year, the Hoosiers have been better than advertised this season. Justin Smith has posted 10.2 points and shot 60 percent from the floor over his last five games for Indiana and the Hoosiers lead the conference in turnover margin (plus-4.0.) 

I can’t see the Illini keeping pace down the stretch, play on Indiana.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Oddsmakers Error is on the Dallas Mavericks (8:05 EST).

I think the Rockets have a bit of a mental lapse here after winning six of their last seven.

Conversely, the Mavericks won’t be taking anything for granted this evening after they broke a three-game slide with a win over the Wizards in their last outing.

And to say this is a “revenge” game for the Mavs would be a bit of an understatement I think, as the Rockets have taken five straight in the series.

Houston most recently got the better of Miami 99-90 on Monday, going 15 of 37 from range. James Harden led the way in the victory with 28 points. Note though that Harden had five assists to six turnovers.

Dallas is not in the playoff picture currently, but it’s still fighting, most recently thrashing the Wizards 98-75. The Mavs would go on to shoot 44.2 percent collectively, while also holding a 52-45 edge on the glass. Harrison Barnes leads the team in scoring and he had 20 points and ten boards in the latest victory. 

I’ll point out as well that Houston is already just 7-10 ATS this year after three or more consecutive SU victories and only 4-7 ATS in its last 11 after allowing 90 points or less in its previous outing, while Dallas is already 20-13 ATS as an underdog this year, 8-2 ATS against the division and 19-9 ATS against clubs with winning records.

Harden is back from a recent injury, but still not firing on all cylinders. Dallas has looked a lot better on both ends of the court and I think that momentum gets carried over here. Clearly an outright upset is not out of the question, but in the end I’m going to recommend grabbing as many points as you can. Play on Dallas.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the New Orleans Pelicans (7:05 EST).

New Orleans comes to Charlotte off a 132-128 double OT win over Chicago, while the Hornets enter off a 112-107 victory at home over Sacramento on Monday. 

The Pelicans average 111.2 PPG and they concede 110.9. Anthony Davis leads the team with 26.7 points, 10.5 boards and 2.05 blocks per game, while fellow big DeMarcus Cousins averages 25.6 points, 12.9 boards and 5.2 assists per game. 

The Hornets average 105.8 PPG and concede 105.8 as well. Kemba Walker leads the team with 21.8 points and 5.9 assists per game, while Dwight Howard adds 15.5 points and 12.6 boards per outing.

I’ll point out though that New Orleans has done extremely well in this spot for bettors, going 14-10 ATS already on the road this year, 11-8 ATS in non-conference games and interestingly 2-1 ATS in its last three after scoring 130 points or more in its previous outing, while Charlotte has struggled in this position by going just 11-14 ATS at home this season and only 9-11 ATS in non-conference contests.

The Hornets are sitting in 11th in the East, so despite playing better of late, I still think New Orleans has the advantage here. The Pelicans have won five of seven and are two games ahead of the Clippers in the West standings. 

The added off-court drama of Walker likely being moved before the trade dead line won’t help the home side tonight either. 

Play on New Orleans.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on Richmond (7:00 EST).

The 6-13 Richmond Spiders are at Duquesne to take on the 14-6 Dukes and in my opinion, this one is a lot more even than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe.

The Spiders enter off an 81-74 home win over LaSalle, while the Dukes come in off a 95-89 OT victory over George Mason on Saturday. 

Richmond averages 68.1 PPG and it concedes 73.8. Despite their poor overall record, the Spiders are now 4-3 in A-10 action after hitting 50 percent against the Explorers, including 8 of 16 from range. Grant Golden led the way in that one with 18 points and eight boards. 

The Dukes come in off the win over George Mason, getting 34 points from Eric Williams Jr. Mike Lewis II added 20. Duquesne barely got by La Salle a couple of weeks ago, needing triple OT to eventually pull away for the 101-94 victory. Duquesne averages 74 PPG and it concedes 66. 

I’ll point out as well that Richmond is already 2-1 ATS this year off a win against a conference rival, while Duquesne is just 6-7 ATS in its last 13 in the same position.

Don’t let the overall numbers for these teams fool you, as Richmond had a tough non-conference schedule. The Spiders’ stats have normalized in league play and I think they matchup extremely well here. 

While I obviously wouldn’t be shocked by the outright upset, I will in the end recommend that you grab as many points as you can. Play on Richmond.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Boston Celtics (10:35 EST).

Boston comes in off a third straight loss, falling 103-95 at home to Orlando on Sunday. Clearly the C’s are going to be looking to start their Western road swing off on the “right foot.”

And with a game at Golden State on the weekend, the visitors can’t take anything for granted tonight either or risk enduring their worst slide of the season. 

But if recent history is any precedence, then Boston has to be liking its chances today, because when these teams met back on November 8th, it was the Celtics which pulled away for the comfortable 107-96 victory. 

Boston comes in averaging 102.6 PPG and it concedes 98. Kyrie Irving leads the nightly charge with 24.5 points, five assists and 1.18 steals per game. 

The Lakers average 106.6 PPG and concede 109.9. Lonzo Ball averages 10.2 points, 7.1 boards and 7.1 assists per game, while Brandon Ingram adds 15.7 points.

I’ll point out though that Boston is already 6-3 ATS this year off an upset loss as a favorite and 14-6 ATS against good offensive teams which average 106 plus points per game, while LA is just 21-23 ATS in its last 44 off an upset win as an underdog. 

Boston can’t be happy and it’s looking for a breakout performance. The Lakers have been playing better lately, but definitely look poised for a letdown here. Everything points to a rout, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmakers Error is on Wake Forest (9:00 EST).

Duke looks poised for a letdown here in my opinion after winning four straight, most recently an 81-54 beatdown at home of Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Conversely it’s going to be “all hands on deck” for Wake Forest as it comes in having lost five straight, most recently a 59-49 setback at home to No. 2 Virginia this past Saturday (failing to cover the 8.5 point spread by a single bucket.) 

The Blue Devils average 92.1 PPG and concede 72.8. Marvin Bagley III leads the nightly charge with 21.9 points and 11.5 boards per game.

The Demon Deacons average 74.5 PPG and concede 73.2. Wake actually had a two point lead on the Cavaliers in their latest loss at half time, but the Deacons would eventually succumb to Virginia’s smothering defense. Bryand Crawford was a standout in the setback with 11 points and four assists.

Wake is desperate to break the slide, while Duke comes in a tiny bit complacent. When you add it all up, this spread is just a little high in my opinion. 

Grab the points, play on Wake Forest.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on TCU (9:00 EST).

WVU comes in off an 86-51 home win over Texas to move to 5-2 in Big 12 play, while TCU will be eager to get back on track after a tight 73-68 road loss in K-State to move to 2-5 in league action.

The Mountaineers average 81.5 PPG and they concede 64.9. In the win over Texas, Jevon Carter led the way with 22 points, while James Bolen added 19.

The Horned Frogs average 87.5 PPG and they concede 77.6. In the loss to the Wildcats, Vladimir Brodziansky posted 15 points, while Alex Robinson contributed 13. 

I’ll point out though that WVU is just 1-2 ATS in its last three after allowing 60 points or less in its previous contest, while TCU is 3-1 ATS this year already off a loss against a conference rival.

I think the “hungrier” home side finds a way to get the job done at the end of the night and as mentioned off the top, all signs do indeed point to a letdown finally here from the Mountaineers.

Play on TCU.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK is on the under Heat/Rockets (8:05 EST).

Miami closes a five-game road trip tonight. There’s no way the Heat can turn this one into a “track meet” and expect to “hang” with the high-flying Rockets though.

The Heat enter off a 106-105 road win over Charlotte on Saturday, while Houston comes in off a second straight win, this time pulling away for a 116-108 home victory over Golden State on Saturday. 

Miami averages 101.2 PPG and it concedes 101.9. Hassan Whiteside averages 14.5 points, 11.8 boards per game. Already without Dion Waiters, Miami guard Goran Dragic is also a question mark for this one (and if he does play, clearly he won’t be at 100% capacity.) 

Houston averages 114.7 PPG and it concedes 106.9. James Harden leads the nightly charge with 31.5 points, 4.8 boards and nine assists per game.

I’ll point out though that the Rockets have seen the total go under the number in four of six already this year after playing to three or more consecutive “unders,” while Miami has seen the total dip below the posted number in 11 of 15 this season against good offensive teams which average 106-plus points per contest.

I think the home side has a bit of a mental letdown here after besting the defending champs last time out. And as mentioned off the top, Miami is wounded and tired and will be looking to slow the pace of this one down whenever possible. When you add it all up, this number is indeed just a little high. Play the under.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Utah (8:00 EST).

The 9-9 Washington State Cougars are in Utah to take on the 11-7 Utes and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Cougars come into this one in a “tail spin,” having lost five of their last six, most recently falling at Colorado on Thursday.

The Utes can empathize, they had lost four straight, but have to be feeling much more confident tonight after beating Washington earlier in the week.

Since opening the season 6-0, Washington State has gone 3-9 since, most recently falling 82-73 at Colorado. Carter Skaggs and Viont’e Daniels combined for 35 points in the setback.

The Utes looked good defensively in their latest victory (70-62 over the Huskies): “We have a defensive plan, and we’re able to guard people,” Utah senior forward David Collette assessed Friday. “It’s just a matter of effort…but we’ve been missing that. Everyone just has to find it in themselves to give that effort.” Justin Bibbins led the way in the latest win with 20 points. 

I’ll point out that Washington State is just 4-6 ATS as an underdog this year and only 1-5 ATS in its last six after allowing 80 points or more, while Utah is 5-2 ATS as a favorite this season and 4-2 ATS in front of the home town crowd.

Utah is 7-2 SU at home this year, while Washington State is 0-5 in true road games thus far. 

The Utes won’t be taking anything for granted here after their latest victory, as they entered on a four-game losing streak. The Cougars are hungry as well, but they face a very stiff test against this energized Utah defense. 

I expect the home side to comfortably pull away down the stretch. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmakers Error is on the LA Lakers (3:35 EST).

New York looks primed for a letdown here in my opinion after its big 117-115 road win over Utah on Friday. 

Conversely, I expect the hungry Lakers to build off their recent 99-86 home win over Indiana, a victory which snapped a two-game slide. 

To say this is a “revenge” game would be a bit of an understatement as well, as New York has taken six of the last seven in the series, including a 113-109 OT effort at home back on December 12th.

The Knicks come into this one averaging 104.5 PPG and conceding 105.3. Kristaps Porzingis leads the nightly charge with 23.5 points, 6.8 boards and 2.38 blocks per night, while Enes Kanter adds 13.5 points and 9.9 boards per outing. 

LA averages 106.1 PPG and it concedes 110. Brook Lopez averages 11.6 points and 3.9 boards per game. Lonzo Ball adds 10.2 points, 7.1 boards and 7.1 assists per game. 

I’ll point out though that New York is just 5-7 ATS already this year off an upset win as an underdog and 0-2 ATS after playing three consecutive road games, while LA is 6-1 ATS this season after a win by ten points or more and 2-0 ATS after allowing 90 points or less.

I like this hungry home side to avenge the OT setback in The Big Apple and I expect New York to once again return to mediocrity after its latest road victory.

Play on the Lakers.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on the Milwaukee Bucks (7:35 EST).

I base my selections on many things. For this particular one, I simply feel that it sets up extremely well for the Bucks.

Milwaukee has been scuffling of late, loser of seven of its last ten, including a 106-101 setback at home to Miami as a 4.5 point favorite in its most recent action. This is an important stretch for the Bucks, who currently sit in third in the Central, one game behind Indiana for second and only four back of the Cavaliers for the lead. With upcoming home contests against Phoenix and Brooklyn, a nice little three-game win skein would go a long way in turning the tables in the division standings.

And for Philadelphia, there’s no doubt that this sets up as a natural letdown spot after back-to-back wins over Toronto and at Boston respectively. And with a game at Memphis on Sunday, it’s not too hard to imagine the home side in some small way getting caught looking ahead.

Additionally I’ll point out that Milwaukee is 2-1 ATS in its last three after allowing 105 points or more in its previous outing, while Philadelphia is just 2-4 ATS in its last six after two or more SU/ATS victories.

For all the reasons listed above, play on Milwaukee.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Cleveland Cavaliers (3:35 EST).

The Thunder look poised for a letdown in my opinion after winning three straight, most recently a 114-90 victory over the Lakers at home on Wednesday. Conversely, it’s going to be all hands on deck still for the Cavs who finally broke a four-game slide with a tight 104–103 win over Orlando at home on Thursday.

These teams split a pair of games last year, with each winning on its own floor.

OKC averages 104.3 PPG and it concedes 100.8. Russell Westbrook averages 24.8 points 9.7 boards, 9.9 assists and 2.02 steals per game, while Paul George averages 20.4 points, 5.5 boards and 2.21 steals per game. 

The Cavs average 109.4 points and concede 108.6 per outing. LeBron James leads the nightly charge with 27 points, eight boards and 8.7 assists, while Kevin Love adds 19 points and 9.6 boards per game. Cleveland is loaded with talent that’s still trying to find a way to work together.

LeBron is going to be especially motivated here facing off against George and Carmelo Anthony though. And with two nights off before a home game against the lowly Nets, it’s also not too hard to imagine the visitors in some small way also getting caught looking ahead to that much more “winnable” contest. 

I’m banking on a Cleveland coming out and playing a full four quarters tonight. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* LEGEND is on Providence (3:00 EST).

Creighton comes to town off a victory over Seton Hall, while the Friars enter having won three straight, most recently getting the better of Butler.

The Blue Jays got revenge on the Pirates 80-63, after falling to them to open up league play earlier in the year. Creighton would go on to hold Seton Hall to just 38.1 percent shooting. Ronnie Hall Jr. led the way with 18.5 points, five boards and four assists (note that he normally averages just 8.1 PPG). 

The Friars continue to get little respect in my opinion. Providence has now won three straight and it’s been an underdog in all three. In the latest win over the Bulldogs it allowed just 34.9 percent shooting. 

Note that four different players average double figures for the Friars, led by Kyron Cartwright with 11.1 points and 6.5 PPG.

I’ll point out as well that Creighton is just 1-3 ATS in its last four after scoring 80 or more points in its previous contest, while Providence is 5-2 ATS in its last three after three or more consecutive SU/ATS victories.

Creighton is just 3-4 in true road games this year and in my opinion, all signs point to to the Blue Jays looking past their opponent this afternoon. Play on Providence.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* SITUATIONAL STUNNER is on Massachusetts (2:00 EST).

The 9-10 St. Louis Billikens are at UMass to take on the Minutemen on Saturday afternoon and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Saint Louis has split its last four games, most recently coming off a win at home over Duquesne. UMass will be hungry here, it’s coming off a humbling 73-51 loss to Rhode Island, one of the top teams in the A-10. 

Previous to that though the Minutemen had won three straight.

Saint Louis averages 66.2 PPG and it concedes 66.7. Jordan Goodwin posted a triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists and 15 boards. 

UMass averages 70.8 PPG and it concedes 70.5. The Minutemen just didn’t have it in their loss to the Rams, shooting only 32.2 percent. Luwane Pipkins led the way with 13 points and four assists. Pipkins leads the team with 19.8 points and 4.1 assists per game. 

I’ll point out that Saint Louis is just 1-2 ATS in its last three following a SU win, while UMass is 5-2 ATS in its last seven following a loss in which it scored 55 points or less.

I think the Billikens continue their inconsistent play and have a letdown here after their latest victory, while I look for the Minutemen to regroup with a big effort in front of the home town crowd after their most recent listless setback.

Play on Massachusetts.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* PERFECT STORM is on Fordham (1:00 EST).

The 6-12 Fordham Rams will be eager to get back into the win column here as the come to St. Joe’s sitting at just 1-5 in A-10 action. 

Fordham enters off a 75-67 road loss at La Salle on Wednesday, led by Will Tavares with 18 points. Four other players would go on to post double figures, but it still wasn’t enough for the Rams.

So far Fordham averages 90.8 PPG per 100 possessions, while allowing 113.4 per 100 possessions. 

St. Joe’s is only 8-9 overall and just 3-3 in conference play. The Hawks look poised for a letdown here in my opinion after defeating Dayton 81-65 on Wednesday, led by 19 points from James Demery. 

I’ll point out as well that Fordham is 3-1 ATS in its last four after scoring 68 points or less in its previous contest, while St. Joseph’s is just 2-4 ATS in its last six after scoring 80 or more points in its previous outing.

We don’t have to question the Rams’ motivation levels today, while St. Joe’s gets caught looking past its lowly opponent this afternoon. Grab the points, play on Fordham.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on Georgetown (12:00 EST)

The 10-9 St. John’s Red Storm are in the nation’s capitals to take on the 12-6 Georgetown Hoyas on Saturday afternoon and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

St. John’s comes in with zero momentum with seven straight losses, including a close-but-no-cigar 88-82 setback at Xavier on Wednesday. 

The Hoyas have been playing better than the Red Storm, but they’ll be looking to bounce back after a humbling 88-56 setback to Xavier on Wednesday. 

The Red Storm average 73.5 PPG and concede 69.8. St. John’s is thin, but is led by Shamorie Ponds with 20 points and 4.8 assist per game.

The Hoyas average 77.5 PPG and concede 70.9. If recent history is any precedence, then Georgetown has to be loving it chances today, because when these teams met in New York ten days ago it was the Hoyas that escaped with the 69-66 victory. 

Jessie Govan leads the Hoyas with 17.3 points and 11.1 boards per game.

I’ll point out as well that St. John’s is just 2-4 ATS in its last six after scoring 80 points or more in its previous contest, while Georgetown is 3-1 ATS in its last four after back-to-back SU/ATS setbacks.

I like Georgetown to come out with a concerted effort after back-to-back poor performances. Lay the points, play on the Hoyas.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Oddsmakers Error is on Ohio State (12:00 EST).

Ohio State has so far exceeded expectations at 16-4 overall and having won all seven of its conference games thus far. 

The Buckeyes enter off a 71-65 win over Northwestern on the road earlier in the week and they’re now tied atop the conference with Purdue.

Minnesota is 14-6 overall and 3-4 in league play. It’s had to deal with the loss of Reggie Lynch and the status of Amir Coffey (averaging 14.1 PPG) is still up in the air. 

The Golden Gophers are coming off a 95-84 OT win over Penn State in their most recent action, led by 24 points from Dupree McBrayer. 

The undermanned Gophers are going to have their hands full today trying to slow down Ohio State’s Keita Bates-Diop, who leads the Big Ten in scoring at 19.8 per game on 51.7 percent shooting. 

I’ll point out as well that this is a spot that Ohio State has done extremely well in for bettors of late, going 3-1 ATS in its last four after holding its previous opponent to 65 points or less, while this is a position in which the Gophers have struggled in by going just 2-4 ATS in their last six after scoring 90 points or more in their previous outing.

I think Bates-Diop leads his team to solid ATS cover for us tonight. Play on Ohio State.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Washington Wizards (8:05 EST).

The 25-20 Washington Wizards are in Detroit to take on the 22-21 Pistons and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

Washington most recently fell 133-109 at Charlotte on Wednesday, while Detroit enters having lost three of its last four, most recently a 96-91 setback at Toronto on Wednesday. 

But if recent history is any precedence, then the Wizards have to be liking their chances for a bounce back performance tonight, because they’ve already dominated this series so far this season, winning 115-111 on October 20th and 109-91 on December 1st. 

Wizards’ starters Brad Beal and John Wall played limited minutes in the blowout loss to the Hornets. Washington has been struggling defensively of late, but overall it’s been adequate in that department, allowing 105.3 PPG, which ranks 13th.

The Pistons opened the 2017/18 campaign by going 14-6, but since then they’ve gone just 8-15. Reggie Jackson has missed the last ten games and Detroit has gone just 3-7 in that stretch. Backup Ish Smith was 1 of 12 from the field and had 3 points in the loss to the Raptors.

Detroit averages 102.1 PPG and it concedes 101.7. Andre Drummond was a standout in the loss to Toronto, finishing with 25 points and 17 boards. 

I’ll point out though that the Wizards are 4-0 ATS in their last four following a straight-up loss of more than ten points, while Detroit is just 1-2 ATS in its last three after scoring 92 points or less in its previous outing.

The Pistons have talent, but they’re banged up right now. Washington’s consistency levels have been all over the map of late, but this is a series that it’s dominated in and I expect that trend to continue here. Play on the Wizards.

Good luck….Larry

My 10* ODDSMAKERS ERROR is on Indiana (7:00 EST).

Indiana comes in on top form as it’s won three straight, most recently destroying Northwestern 66-46. 

Michigan State on the other hand has been scuffling of late, dropping two of three, just narrowly getting by Rutgers in OT at home, before then getting crushed 82-70 by rival Michigan in its latest action.

The Hoosiers have been playing tremendous defense of late and I think this will once again prove to be a deciding factor in tonight’s outcome as well. Note that Indiana is forcing turnovers on 22 percent of possessions. Indiana averages 74.2 PPG and it concedes 70.7. Juwan Morgan leads the nightly charge with 15.6 points and 7.4 boards per game.

Michigan State still ranks in the top 10 in the country in offensive and defensive efficiency, but there’s no question that the Spartans have struggled since the start of Big Ten play (fifth in defensive efficiency and third in offensive efficiency.) MSU averages 85 PPG and it concedes 64 and it’s led by Miles Bridges with 16.7 PPG.

I’ll point out though that Indiana is already 2-1 ATS this year after allowing 60 points or less and 2-0 ATS off a win against a conference rival, while Michigan State is just 2-4 ATS against the conference this season and 0-2 ATS after allowing 80 points or more.

While I’ll stop short in calling for the outright upset, I do believe the conditions are right for a much more competitive battle than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe.

Grab the points, play on the Hoosiers.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Maryland (8:30 EST).

The 14-6 Minnesota Golden Gophers are at Maryland to take on the 14-6 Terrapins and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Maryland comes in off a loss to Michigan, while Minnesota beat Penn State 95-84 in OT on Monday. 

The Gophers got a career-high 24 points from Dupree McBrayer in the win over the Nittany Lions. Nate Mason led Minnesota with 25 points. Minnesota needed these players to step up big, as the team has already lost Amir Coffey and Reggie Lynch, both key pieces of the offense. 

The Golden Gophers come into this one averaging 80.4 PPG, while conceding 72.4. 

Maryland also has injury issues (Ivan Bender and Justin Jackson.) In its latest loss it also had players dealing with the flu. Despite all that the Terps still almost pulled off the upset against the Wolverines, but were done in by foul shots with just a few ticks left on the clock. Anthony Cowan led the way in the setback with 24 points and four assists.

The Terrapins enter this one conceding just 66.6 PPG.

Additionally I’ll point out that Minnesota is already just 1-5 ATS this year following a conference game and just 2-4 ATS after allowing 80 points or more, while Maryland is 7-3 ATS as a favorite this season and 2-1 ATS off a loss against a conference rival.

I don’t think that the home court advantage can be overlooked as a big factor working in favor of the Terps here as well.

This line could easily be a lot larger in my opinion, play on Maryland.

Good luck…Larry 

My 8* Oddsmakers Error is on Georgia Tech (8:00 EST).

The 16-1 Virginia Cavaliers are in Georgia Tech to take on the 10-7 Yellow Jackets and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

I believe the Cavs have a bit of a mental letdown here after winning eight straight, most recently a victory over NC State on Sunday.

Not to be outdone though, the Yellow Jackets also come in on top form having won four straight, most recently taking down Miami, Yale, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh.

The Cavs get the job done with their stifling defensive play, conceding just 52.9 PPG. Devon Hall posted a career-high 25 points.

Georgia Tech though comes in firing on all cylinders, scoring 21 of the game’s first 22 points in last weekend’s convincing 69-54 win at Pittsburgh. Since Christmas the Yellow Jackets have won five of their last six games, holding the opposition to just 58.5 PPG. Josh Okogie averages 18.8 PPG for GT so far this year.

I’ll point out that Virginia is still just 2-3 ATS in its last five as a road fav in the 6.5 to 9 points range, while GT is already 4-2 ATS as an underdog this season and 4-1 ATS after allowing 60 points or less.

The home side will be out to prove itself here and while I’ll stop short in calling for the outright upset, all signs do indeed point to a much more competitive battle than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe.

Grab the points, play on Georgia Tech.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on North Carolina State (8:00 EST).

The 8-9 Wake Forest Demon Deacons are at NC State to take on the 12-6 Wolfpack and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Wake has lost five of six and three straight, most recently to Boston College, Virginia Tech and Duke. 

NC State had won two in a row, before falling to Virginia in its most recent action this past weekend.

Wake fell 89-71 to Duke last Saturday and it’s now last in the ACC in scoring defense, conceding 74.1 PPG. Junior guard Bryant Crawford leads the team with 16.1 PPG. 

Note though that this is also a revenge game for the home side, as the Demon Deacons took both meetings against the Wolfpack last year.

NC State knocked off Clemson and Duke, but then fell 68-51 to a red hot Cavaliers team:

“We know that every game is a battle,” Wolfpack forward Torin Dorn (13.3 points per game, team-high 7.1 rebounds per game) assessed afterwards. “If we can clean up some of the things we messed up on (Sunday) and keep on moving the ball and keep playing with intensity, we’ll be fine.”

I’ll point out that Wake Forest is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight on the road and only 3-9-1 ATS in its last 13 against teams with winning records, while NC State is 5-2 TS in its last seven at home and 3-1-1 ATS in its last five against teams with losing records.

I have a hard time seeing Wake Forest just pressing a button and solving all of its issues. NC State is primed for a rebound here. I’m not going to read too much into its latest loss against smoking hot Virginia, as previous to that the Wolfpack had been rolling.

This line should be a lot larger in my opinion. Great value, play on NC State.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* LAS VEGAS INSIDER is on Towson (7:00 EST).

The 7-12 Drexel Dragons are at Towson to take on the 13-6 Tigers and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

The Dragons enter off a 91-86 loss to Hofstra on Saturday. Drexel has zero momentum, having now lost three straight and six of seven.

The Tigers suffered a crushing last-second loss to Hofstra last week, but they’d quickly recover to smash William and Mary 99-73 on Saturday. 

Drexel averages 72.2 PPG and it concedes 78.1. The Dragons allowed the Pride to shoot 61.1 percent in their latest loss and were led by Justin Wright-Foreman with 20 points. 

Towson averages 48 percent shooting from the floor overall, including hitting 38.8 percent from range, while the Tigers concede just 66.8 PPG. In their latest victory the Tigers would go on to shoot a whopping 64.4 percent from the floor, while also going 13 of 22 from range.

I’ll point out that Drexel is just 2-4 ATS this year after allowing 80 points or more in its previous contest, while Towson is 2-1 ATS at home already this season and 3-1 ATS after scoring 80 points or more in its previous outing.

In my professional opinion, all signs point to a home side blowout. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* SITUATIONAL STUNNER is on Delaware (7:00 EST).

The 11-8 Delaware Blue Hens are at Hofstra to take on the 11-7 Pride and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visiting side.

Delaware comes in on top form as it’s now won three straight, most recently getting by James Madison 61-60 on Saturday. 

Hofstra enters off a 91-86 win over Drexel on the road last weekend. These teams played three times last year and the Pride went 2-1, but the Blue Hens had the final word with an 81-76 victory in the CAA Tournament to end Hofstra’s season.

Delaware averages 73.4 PPG and it concedes 73.2. Ryan Daly had 19 points in the win over James Madison. 

Hofstra averages 78.9 PPG and it concedes 78.8. Justin Wright-Forman had 20 points and four turnovers in the win over Drexel. 

I’ll point out though that Delaware is 4-2 ATS in its last six after holding its previous opponent to 60 points or less, while Hofstra is just 3-8 ATS in its last 11 following an ATS victory.

I think these teams are much more evenly matched than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe. Grab the points, play on Delaware.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH is on the under 76ers/Celtics (7:05 EST).

Philadelphia comes in on top form as it most recently beat Toronto 117-111 at home on Monday, its fifth win in its last six games. 

Boston will look to return to form after it fell 116-113 in OT at home to New Orleans to snap its seven game win skein. 

These teams have played three times this year and Boston has so far taken all of them, including a 114-103 victory in the most recent in London last week.

Philadelphia averages 108.6 PPG and it concedes 108.2. Ben Simmons averages 16.8 points, eight boards, 7.3 assists and 1.92 steals per game. Big man Joel Embiid averages 23.8 points, 10.8 boards and 1.94 blocks per outing.

Boston averages 103.2 PPG and it concedes just 98.1. Kyrie Irving leads the nightly charge with 24.1 points, five assists and 1.21 steals per game, while Al Horford adds 13.4 points, 7.9 boards and 5.3 assists per game. 

I’ll point out though that Philadelphia has seen the total go under the number in four of seven already this year following a divisional contest, while Boston has seen the total dip below the posted number in six of nine already this year against division opponents and in five of eight off an upset loss as a favorite.

I expect these divisional foes to battle tough and for this one to finally fall below the posted number once it’s all said and done. Play the under.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Arizona State (11:00 EST).

The 14-3 Arizona Wildcats are at Stanford to take on the 10-8 Cardinal and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

We don’t have to question the Wildcats’ motivation levels right now, as they come in having lost three of their last five. Arizona State will look to build off its 77-75 home victory over Oregon State though against a Stanford team which looks poised for a letdown in my opinion after winning four straight. 

And if recent history is any precedence, then ASU has to be liking it chances for a bounce back performance here as it would take all three against Stanford last season, including a 98-88 OT win in the Pac-12 Tournament. 

The Sun Devils come in averaging 87.6 PPG, while conceding 74.2. Shannon Evans II had 22 points in the second half to lead ASU to its latest win.

The Cardinal average 75.4 PPG and concede 75. Reid Travis had 16 points in Stanford’s latest victory.

I’ll point out though that Arizona State is 7-4 ATS this year when playing the roll of favorite, while Stanford is just 3-4 ATS as the underdog. 

I like Arizona State to bounce back big here and make an example of this over-achieving Stanford side. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Fresno State (11:00 EST).

Fresno State is 13-6 overall and 3-3 in conference action. The Bulldogs come to town with a ton of momentum after beating New Mexico 89-80 in their most recent action. Deshon Taylor had 22 points in the victory and he leads the team with an average of 18.9 PPG. 

The Aztecs are 11-5 overall and 3-2 in Mountain West play. SDSU looks poised for a letdown here though in my opinion after a tough 83-80 loss to Boise State. Note that the Aztecs are 5-6 ATS in their last 11 after a loss to conference rival.

Fresno State has done exceptionally well for bettors in this position though, going 6-1 ATS in its last seven as a road dog in the 6.5 to nine points range. 

I think these teams are more evenly matched than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe. Grab the points, play on Fresno State.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on UC Davis (10:00 EST).

The 9-11 Long Beach State 49ers are at UC Davis to take on the 11-6 Aggies and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The 49ers are poised for a letdown here after winning four of their last five. LBSU most recently got the better of UC-Riverside 75-68, led by 18 points and eight boards from Gabe Levin. Levin leads the nightly charge with 16.3 points and 7.2 boards per game. 

The Aggies on the other hand are going to be eager to return to form here after after having their three-game win streak snapped in a humbling 85-70 loss to Cal State Fullerton in their most recent action. Chima Moneke led the way in that one with 28 points, 12 boards and three blocks.

From a trend based stand point, this one definitely favors the Aggies, as I’ll point out that LBSU is just 2-6 ATS this year against teams with winning records, while UC Davis is a perfect 4-0 ATS against teams with losing records (also 2-0 ATS this season after allowing 80 points or more in its previous contest.)

The conditions point to a home side blowout. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Chicago Bulls (8:05 EST).

Golden State looks poised for a bit of a mental letdown here in my opinion after winning three straight, including at Boston and most recently a 118-108 victory at Cleveland on Monday.

The Bulls will look to take advantage as they come in “flying under the radar,” having won three straight, most recently an impressive 119-111 victory over Miami on Monday. 

Not surprisingly, this is a “revenge” game for Chicago after it was trounced 143-94 in Golden State in late November.

Golden State averages 115.9 PPG and it concedes 106.8. Stephen Curry leads the team with 27.6 points, plus 5.6 assists per game, while Kevin Durant adds 26.4 points, 6.9 boards and 5.3 assists per night. 

Justin Holiday had 25 points in Chicago’s latest victory. The Bulls average 102.8 PPG and concede 108.3. Lauri Markkanen leads the nightly charge with 15.5 points and 7.6 boards per game.

I’ll point out as well that Golden State is just 8-9 ATS this year after three or more consecutive SU wins and only 9-11 ATS against clubs with losing records, while Chicago is a perfect 6-0 ATS this year after three or more consecutive SU victories and 14-7 ATS against teams with winning records.

With a game at Houston on Friday night, it’s not too hard to imagine the Warriors also in some small way getting caught looking past their lowly non-conference opponent this evening.

While I’m stopping short in calling for the outright upset, the conditions are definitely right for a competitive battle. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* ODDSMAKERS ERROR is on the Detroit Pistons (7:35 EST).

Detroit comes in hungry after losing its second straight, most recently a 118-107 setback at home to Charlotte on Monday. 

The Raptors come in off their third loss in their last four games, falling 117-111 in Philadelphia in their most recent action.

Detroit averages 102.4 PPG and it concedes 101.9. Reggie Bullock and Tobias Harris each had 20 points in the loss to Charlotte. Harris leads the team with 18.2 points plus 5.2 boards per game.

Toronto averages 112.3 PPG and it concedes 104.6. DeMar DeRozan leads the nightly charge with 25.4 points and five assists per game. DeRozan had 24 points in the setback to the Warriors.

I’ll point out though that Detroit has excelled in this spot for bettors all year by going 6-3 ATS after a loss by ten points or more, while Toronto has struggled in this position by going just 3-4 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite.

Both teams are hungry and clearly the Raptors are the deeper and more talented overall squad. The Pistons won’t be going down without a fight today though. I’m going to stop short in calling for the outright upset victory, but the conditions and the stats point to a highly competitive affair. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Orlando Magic (7:05 EST).

I think the Wolves have a letdown here. Minnesota comes in having won five straight, most recently a 120-103 victory over Portland on Sunday. Conversely, it’s going to be all hands on deck for the home side as the Magic enter having lost seven straight, most recently a 125-119 setback to Washington on Friday.

This is definitely a “revenge” game as well, as the Wolves have taken three straight in the series, including a 124-118 win at home in the first meeting this year back on November 22nd.

Minnesota comes in averaging 108.8 PPG, while conceding 104.7. Big man Karl-Anthony Towns averages 20.2 points, plus 12 boards per game, while Andrew Wiggins adds 17.7 and 4.1 respectively.

The Magic average 105.2 PPG, while conceding 111.1. Evan Fournier is on the trading block now and he comes in averaging 17.6 per night, while Aaron Gordon adds a team-leading 18.8 points and eight boards.

With a game at Houston on Wednesday night, it’s also not too hard to imagine the Wolves in some small way getting caught looking ahead to that conference matchup.

While I’m stopping short in calling for the outright upset, I do think that the conditions are right for an extremely competitive affair and as such, I’ll recommend grabbing as many points as you can in the end.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Notre Dame (7:00 EST).

The 13-4 Louisville Cardinals are in Notre Dame to take on the 13-5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Louisville looks primed for a letdown here after winning three straight in my opinion, most recently over Virginia Tech.

The Cardinals were led by 27 points, 11 points and three assists from Deng Adel in the victory. However Louisville didn’t look overly impressive on the defensive side, allowing VT to shoot 49 percent from the floor and 36 percent from range.

It’s going to be all hands on deck for the Irish though as they come into this one having lost two straight. Most recently ND suffered a close defeat to North Carolina, shooting 34 percent from the floor, including 41 percent from range. 

TJ Gibbs led the way with 19 points, five boards and six assists in the setback, while Martinas Geben added 14 points and nine boards. 

I’ll point out though that Louisville is just 1-2 ATS in its last three after a three-game or more unbeaten streak, while Notre Dame is 5-2 ATS in its last seven following a SU loss.

I think the “hungrier” team finds a way to get the job done at the end of the night. Play on the Fighting Irish.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK is the under Warriors/Cavs (8:05 EST).

The 35-9 Golden State Warriors are in Cleveland to take on the 25-16 Cavaliers and for a number of different reasons, I think this has defensive battle written all over it.

Golden State comes in off a thrilling 127-125 win at Toronto, while Cleveland enters having lost seven of ten, including three straight after coughing up a 22-point lead in a 97-95 road setback at Indiana on Friday.

If recent history is any precedence, then we should absolutely expect a very defensive battle this evening, because when these teams met on X-Mas Day, it was the Warriors that held on for the lower-scoring 99-92 victory at home.

Golden State averages 115.8 PPG and it concedes 109.2. Stephen Curry leads the team with 27.8 points and 6.5 assists per game, while Kevin Durant adds 26.2 points and 7.0 boards per contest.

Cleveland averages 110.2 PPG and it concedes 108.5. LeBron James leads the nightly charge with 27.1 points, 8.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. 

Isaiah Thomas wasn’t brought into defend anybody for Cleveland, as he’s known for his offensive prowess. However, it will still take some time for Thomas to return to his MVP like form.

Revenge is a powerful motivating factor for teams. The Cavs got knocked out of the Finals in five games by the Warriors last year and they’ve already suffered the X-Mas day setback as well to Golden State. 

The Warriors have been playing at a very high level, but their near second half collapse against the Raptors in their latest action (after having such a big lead at half time) is evidence of fatigue.

I’ll point out as well that Golden State has seen the total go under the number in ten of 18 non-conference games already this year, while Cleveland has seen the total dip below the posted number in ten of 18 this season against clubs with winning records.

All signs point to another battle from start to finish between these heated foes. Play the under.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Oakland (8:00 EST).

The Oakland Grizzlies beat Cleveland State 81-68 on Friday to move to 3-3 in conference action this year. Jalen Hayes led the charge in that one with 30 points, while Kendrick Nunn chipped in 20. 

Oakland comes in averaging 110.7 points per 100 possessions.

The Illinois Chicago Flames enter off an 88-73 win over Milwaukee, as Dikembe Dixon finished with 22 points.

The UIC Flames are allowing just 100.8 points per 100 possessions this year. However the Flames have been poor with turnovers this season with a 23.2 percent turnover rate, while also shooting just 29.4 percent from range.

Additionally I’ll point out that Oakland has done extremely well in this spot for bettors, going 16-5 ATS in its last 21 road games following three or more consecutive home contests, while Illinois Chicago is just 1-7 ATS in its last eight against a team with a winning straight-up record.

The Flames have looked pretty good defensively, but I think they’ll have issues slowing down Nunn this evening. All signs point to a rout, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on Providence (4:30 EST).

The 13-6 Butler Bulldogs are at Providence to take on the 12-6 Friars on Monday afternoon and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Butler comes in off a 94-83 home win over Marquette on Friday, while Providence beat DePaul 71-64 in its latest action. 

Note that these teams split a pair of games last year.

Butler snapped a three game losing streak with the win over the Golden Eagles. So far the Bulldogs average 80.8 PPG, while conceding 72.8. In the victory over Marquette, Kelan Martin had 37 points.

Providence averages 76.8 PPG and it concedes 72.2. In the victory over DePaul on Thursday, Jalen Lindsey had 18 points, while Rodney Bullock added 12 points and eight boards.

I’ll point out though that Butler is 0-4 ATS in its last four on the road, while Providence is 14-5 ATS in its last 19 against the Big East.

In six Big East games so far Butler has allowed an average of 87.7 points. That doesn’t bode well against this hungry home side in my opinion.

Play on the Friars.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmakers Error is on the Portland Trailblazers (9:05 EST).

Portland will be hungry here as it enters off its second straight loss, a 119-113 setback at suddenly surging New Orleans on Friday. 

Conversely, this sets up as a letdown spot in my opinion for the Wolves, who come in contented after four straight victories, most recently a 118-108 win over the Knicks on Friday. 

Note that this is a revenge game for the Blazers as well after they fell 108-107 in the first meeting in mid December.

Portland averages 103.7 PPG and it concedes 102.8. Damian Lillard leads the nightly charge with 24.9 points and 6.4 assists per game, while CJ McCollum adds 21.6 points.

Minnesota averages 108.5 PPG and it concedes 104.7. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 20.2 points and 12 boards per game, while Andrew Wiggins adds 17.7 points and 4.1 boards per contest.

I’ll point out though that Portland is 4-2 ATS against the division already this season, also 13-8 ATS on the road and 7-6 ATS in trying to revenge a loss against an opponent, while Minnesota is just 5-6 ATS this year after scoring 115 points or more in its previous contest.

For all the reasons listed above, grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Fordham (3:00 EST).

The 8-7 Davidson Wildcats are at Fordham to take on the 6-10 Rams and while I’m not calling for the outright upset, I do believe the stage is set for a much more competitive battle than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe.

The Rams looked poised for a letdown here after three straight wins, most recently over George Washington, while conversely, it’s going to be “all hands on deck” for the Rams today as they’ve dropped four of their last five, most recently a set back to Saint Bonaventure on Wednesday.

Th Wildcats routed George Washington 72-45, as Peyton Aldridge had 15 points, six boards and four assists. 

The Rams are led by senior guard Will Tavares, who averages 15.5 points. Note that he’s scored in double-figures in 14 of the 15 games that he’s played in this year. The Rams lead the A-10 in steals with 10.7 per game and they’re fourth in scoring defense in the conference by conceding just 67.8 PPG.

Additionally I’ll point out that Davidson is just 1-3 ATS In its last four after allowing 50 points or less in its previous outing, while Fordham is 1-2 ATS in its last three following an ATS loss. 

I think the hungrier Rams come to play this afternoon and keep this one close enough to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on Monmouth (2:00 EST).

The 5-11 Monmouth Hawks are at Canisius to take on the 10-8 Golden Griffins and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

The Hawks will be hungry here, they’re now 1-3 in MAAC action after a tight 78-77 loss to Niagara in their latest outing, clawing back from an 11-point deficit, only to then come up short in the end. Monmouth shot a sharp 46.2 percent from range though and was led by Diago Quinn with 10 points and 14 boards.

Monmouth averages 73.9 PPG and it concedes 76.8.

Canisius averages 72.1 PPG and it concedes 69.3. Jermaine Crumpton averages 15.6 points, 4.7 boards and 1.5 assists per game. 

I’ll point out though that Monmouth is 13-5 ATS in its last 18 when playing on one or less days rest, while Canisius is just 9-15 ATS in its last 24 in the same position.

We don’t have to question the motivation levels of the desperate Hawks and while I obviously wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset, in a contest which I envision being decided by whichever one of these teams has its hands on the ball last, I’ll recommend grabbing as many points as you can in the end.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Toronto Raptors (7:35 EST).

Golden State and Cleveland have both looked susceptible of late. The Warriors enter off a tough game in Milwaukee just last night, so clearly fatigue is going to be a factor for the defending champs.

But this play is based primarily on the surging Toronto Raptors, who play with revenge today after falling 117-112 in Golden State in late October. 

Toronto also played with revenge most recently when it annihilated the Cavaliers 133-99 at home on Thursday. 

The Warriors average 115.7 PPG and concede 106.6. Kevin Durant averages 26.3 points, seven boards and 5.3 assists per game. 

The Raptors average 112.1 PPG and concede 103.7. DeMar DeRozan has been unstoppable of late, he comes in averaging 25 points and 5.1 assist per game. Fred VanVleet came off the bench to lead Toronto with 22 points in the victory over Cleveland. 

Golden State is just 1-2 ATS in its last three in the second game of a back-to-back, while Toronto is an awesome 7-0 ATS in its last seven when playing on one days rest.

Toronto is playing with a chip on its shoulder and its depth and confidence will simply be too much for the undermanned and exhausted Warriors to handle down the stretch. Play on the Raptors.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* SITUATIONAL STUNNER is on Elon (7:00 EST).

The 12-5 COC Cougars are at Elon to take on the 11-7 Phoenix and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Cougars enter off an 82-66 win over Northeastern on Thursday to move to 3-2 in the CAA, while Elon will be eager to get back into the winners circle after its 80-78 OT loss to UNC Wilmington to drop it to 3-2 in league action. 

Charleston averages 72.1 PPG and it concedes 66. Joe Chealey leads the nightly charge with 17.8 points and 4.2 assist per game, while Jarrell Brantley adds 17.6 points per contest.

The Phoenix average 74.7 PPG and concede 73.2. Tyler Seibring had 21 points and 12 boards in his team’s latest loss. 

I’ll point out though that COC has struggled in this spot for bettors, going just 1-3 ATS in its last four after scoring 80 points or more in its previous outing, while Elon has done decently by going 2-1 ATS in its last three after allowing 80 points or more in its previous game.

I don’t think that the home floor advantage can be overlooked here either. I think COC is poised for a letdown tonight, and I look for the “hungrier” team to find a way to get the job done at the end of the night. Play on Elon.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* BLOWOUT OF THE MONTH is on Drexel (4:00 EST).

The 10-7 Hofstra Pride are at Drexel to take on the 7-11 Dragons on Saturday afternoon and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Hofstra looks poised for a letdown here in my opinion after its thrilling 76-73 buzzer beating road win over Towson on Thursday, to move to 3-2 in league play.

Conversely, it’s going to be “all hands on deck” for the Dragons tonight, as they’re now 1-4 in the CAA after a loss at Delaware in their latest action.

Note that these teams split a pair of games last year, each winning at home, the combined score differential between the two games was just 3 points.

The Pride average 76.4 PPG and allow 78.8. Justin Wright-Foreman had 35 points in their latest victory. 

Drexel averages 71.4 PPG and it concedes 77.4. Tramaine Isabell had 14 points and 15 boards in the 72-66 setback to the Blue Hens. Four players would go on to score in double figures in that one. 

I’ll point out that Hofstra is just 2-8 ATS in its last ten following an ATS victory, while Drexel is 2-1 ATS in its last three after scoring 68 points or less in its previous outing.

I think this one comes down to which side is “hungrier.” Look for the Dragons to at the very least, take this one right down to the wire.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* WEEKEND WIPEOUT WINNER is on Michigan State (12:00 EST).

The 14-4 Michigan Wolverines are at 16-2 Michigan State on Saturday afternoon and for a number of different reasons, I believe this one favors the home side.

MSU has struggled a bit in its last two, losing 80-64 to Ohio State, before then almost having another lapse in a much closer than expected 76-72 OT win over Rutgers at home on Wednesday. 

The Wolverines come in off a deflating 70-69 home loss to No. 5 Purdue on Tuesday and suffice it to say, I think the stage is set for another letdown here. Note that this is a revenge game for the Spartans after they fell 86-57 to the Wolverines at Ann Arbor last February. 

Michigan averages 76.4 PPG and it concedes 62.1. In the crushing loss to the Boilermakers, Zavier Stephenson had 15 points, six boards and five assists.

Michigan State could very well have been caught looking past Rutgers after its upset loss to Ohio State, to this revenge scenario against the Wolverines. Nick Ward had 17 points and 10 boards, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 16 points and five boards in the latest victory.

MSU enters averaging 85.9 PPG, while conceding just 63. 

I’ll point out that Michigan State is 2-1 ATS in its last three after allowing 70 points or more, while Michigan is a poor 1-3 ATS in its last four after scoring 70 points or less in its previous outing.

I think the revenge angle can’t be over-stated as a very real factor working heavily in favor of the Spartans this afternoon. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the New York Knicks (8:00 EST).

The Knicks are fighting right now, most recently falling 122-119 in doubly OT to the Bulls on Wednesday. It was their fourth loss in a row and clearly they’ll be eager to stop the slide. 

Conversely, this sets up as a classic letdown spot for the home side in my opinion after winning three straight, most recently a very satisfying 104-88 victory at home over OKC. 

New York averages 103.6 PPG and it concedes 104.3. Big man Kristaps Porzingis averages 23.7 points, 6.7 boards and 2.26 blocks per game, while Enes Kanter adds 13.4 points and 10.2 boards per contest. 

Minnesota averages 108.3 PPG and it concedes 104.7. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 20.2 points and 11.9 boards per game, while Andrew Wiggins chips in 17.8 points plus 4.1 boards per contest.

I’ll point out though that New York has excelled in this spot for bettors all year, going 5-1 ATS in its last six after allowing 115 points or more in its previous contest (it’s also 12-8 ATS in its last 20 off an upset loss as a favorite), while Minnesota has struggled in this position by going just 3-11 ATS in non-conference contests this season and only 9-12 ATS in front of the home town crowd.

I’m not predicting an outright upset, but the stage is set for a much more competitive battle than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe.

Grab the points, play on New York.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the Indiana Pacers (7:05 EST).

The Cavaliers are in a tail-spin right now, coming in having gone 4-7 in their last 11 after last night’s brutal setback in Toronto. Cleveland has now lost back-to-back games by more than 20 points. This is the finale of a five game trip for the Cavs and suffice it to say, I’m expecting another letdown here.

Indiana had won two straight before falling 114-106 to Miami on Wednesday. 

The Cavs enter averaging 110.2 PPG, while conceding 108.2. LeBron James averages 27.2 points, 8.2 boards and nine assists per game, while Kevin Love adds 19.4 points plus 9.6 boards per contest.

The Pacers average 107.3 PPG and concede 106.8. Victor Oladipo is back from injury and he averages 24.6 points, 5.3 boards, 1.94 steals and 2.24 blocks per game, while Myles Turner adds 13.9 points plus 6.5 boards.

I’ll point out that Cleveland is now 0-5 ATS in its last five road games against teams with winning home records, while Indiana is 2-1 ATS in its last three after allowing 112 points or more in its previous contest.

This is a big game for the Pacers, who will look to close a five game home stand with a win before hitting the road. The Cavs on the other hand can’t help themselves looking ahead to their next home stand after this dismal road trip. Play on Indiana.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on the Washington Wizards (7:05 EST).

The 12-30 Orlando Magic are in Washington to take on the 23-18 Wizards and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Orlando comes in having lost six straight, while the Wizards will be eager to get back on track after falling to an undermanned Utah team at home in their latest action.

But if recent history is any precedence, then Washington has to be liking its chances for a big time bounce back, because when these teams first met this year, it was the Wiz that pulled away for the convincing 130–103 victory.

Orlando is struggling without Nikol Vucevic in the line-up, who is out until late February with a hand injury. The Magic average 104.9 PPG, while conceding 110.8. Aaron Gordon leads the nightly charge with 18.9 points, plus 7.9 boards per game.

The Wizards average 106.4 PPG and concede 104.1. After winning four straight, Washington has now lost two straight. John Wall had 35 points and 11 assists in the loss to the Jazz.

I’ll point out though that the Magic are just 1-5 ATS in their last six road games and only 13-37-2 ATS in their last 52 following an ATS win, while the Wiz are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 12 when playing at home in this particular series.

The Wizards get untracked with a big effort against an Orlando team that seems destined to grab one of next year’s top draft picks. Lay the points, play on Washington.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Virginia Commonwealth (7:00 EST).

The 11-6 VCU Rams are at the 8-8 Dayton Flyers on Friday night and for a number of different reasons, i think this one favors the visitors.

VCU enters off a 78-67 home win over Duquesne in its latest action, while Dayton posted an 87-80 road win over Richmond on Tuesday. Note that these teams split a pair of games last year.

The Rams have won six of their last seven games and are currently averaging 78.1 PPG, while conceding 73.8. Issac Vann had 15 points in his team’s latest victory.

The Flyers scored their first road win of the year last time out and in my opinion, all signs point to a predictable letdown here. The Flyers average 71.6 PPG and concede 70.7. Josh Cunningham had 20 points, going 8 from 8 from the floor in the win over the Spiders on Tuesday.

I’ll point out though that VCU is 5-1 ATS in its last six in this series, while Dayton is a poor 1-6 ATS in its last seven following an ATS victory and 0-8 ATS in its last eight following a straight-up win.

The Rams are the deeper offensive team and I believe this fact will ultimately prove to be the difference in the end. Play on VCU.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Penn State (7:00 EST).

Nebraska lost to Purdue, but then bounced back to beat Wisconsin 63-59 on Tuesday. the Cornhuskers enter averaging 106.4 PPG per 100 possessions, despite shooting only 46.5 percent from inside the arc. James Palmer leads the team in scoring with 15.8 PPG.

The Huskers are allowing opponents to post 97.9 points per 100 possessions, which ranks the team 43rd in the country.

Penn State comes in off a 74-70 loss at Indiana. Penn State limits its opposition to just 93.3 points per 100 possessions, which ranks it 16th in the NCAA. 

The Nittany Lions are led by Tony Carr, who averages 18.9 points, 4.6 boards and 4.8 assists per game. 

I’ll point out though that Nebraska has struggled in this spot for bettors, going just 1-3 ATS in its last four after holding its previous opponent to 60 points or less, while Penn State has excelled in this position by going 4-0-1 ATS in its last five following an ATS loss.

Of Penn State’s five losses this year, two have come by a single point. The Nittany Lions possess one of the Nation’s best defenses and I expect it to be the difference maker in this one.

Lay the points, play on Penn State.

Good luck…Larry