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Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-15-17 | Hawks v. Clippers OVER 212.5 | Top | 84-99 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The 32-23 Atlanta Hawks scored the final 12 points in overtime to earn a 109-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, giving them four wins in their last six games. They are in LA tonight at Staples Center to face the 34-21 Clippers, who have won three in a row. With the All Star break looming this weekend, the Hawks and Clippers each occupy fourth place in their respective conferences. |
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02-15-17 | Blues v. Red Wings UNDER 5.5 | Top | 2-0 | Win | 100 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 29-22-5 St. Louis Blues have won five of six after replacing former head coach Ken Hitchcock with Mike Yeo and tonight are in Detroit, where the 22-24-10 Red Wings are returning home after an 0-3 road trip and are just 2-5-4 in their last 11 games. St. Louis: The Blues' lone loss under Yeo was 4-1 against the defending champs (Penguins), as outstanding play by goaltender Jake Allen has sparked the team's turnaround. St. Louis has allowed a total of just four goals in its last five wins, as Allen, who was benched for poor play last month, was 3-0 just this past week with a 1.00 GAA and a .967 save percentage. Detroit: The Spurs just won their 42nd game of the current NBA season (Monday), clinching a record 20th winning season but here in the NHL, another sort of streak may end here in 2016-17. The Red Wings' streak of 25 consecutive postseason appearances is in real jeopardy. They are seven points out of the playoffs with 26 games to play, owning an Eastern Conference-low of 54 points. The odds that Detroit will make the playoffs for a 26th straight season are rapidly fading. The pick: As noted already, Allen has been playing "lights out' in goal for the Blues and Detroit has netted a modest 10 total goals in its last five games (Red Wings are only 11-12-5 at home, averaging 2.50 goals). The Under is a 10* play. |
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02-15-17 | Spurs v. Magic UNDER 205.5 | Top | 107-79 | Win | 100 | 10 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: The 42-13 San Antonio Spurs clinched an NBA-record 20th consecutive winning season with their 42nd victory on Monday and now continue their annual "Rodeo Road Trip" in Orlando against the 21-36 Magic. You can be sure the Spurs remember that back on Nov. 29th, the Magic snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series with a 95-83 win at San Antonio' AT&T Center. San Antonio: The Spurs are 3-2 on their current eight-game trip, coming off a 110-106 win at Indiana on Monday, which was preceded by a shocking 94-90 loss Sunday at MSG to the Knicks. All Star Kawhi Leonard (25.9 & 5.9) sat out the opener of the road trip at Memphis on Feb. 6 and had to watch his team manage only 74 points in the loss. He's averaged 33.0 PPG these last four games, including scoring 36 in that loss to the Knicks. Leonard's become one of the NBA's best (and most valuable) players plus the Spurs own as much quality depth as any team. They rank fifth in the NBA in offensive rating and post the best defensive rating in the league. They rank fifth in the NBA in offensive rating and own the best defensive rating in the league Orlando: The Magic are going nowhere this year and on Tuesday dealt PF Serge Ibaka (15.1 & 6.8) to the Toronto Raptors for SF Terrence Ross (10.4) and a 2017 first-round pick. I'm not quite sure how this move improves the team? The Magic did snap a four-game slide on Monday and looked like a completely different team while ending Miami's 13-game winning streak with a 116-107 victory.. Tonight's contest begins a five-game homestand. The pick: While the Spurs are gearing up for deep playoff run, the Magic are looking towards the future and I expect the Spurs to start a new winning streak against the Magic right here, with its No. 1 defense leading the way. The Under is a 10* play. |
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02-14-17 | Kings v. Lakers UNDER 217.5 | Top | 97-96 | Win | 100 | 21 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: The 23-32 Sacramento Kings are in LA at Staples Center to take on the 19-37 Lakers. The Kings have won three in a row and will try to match a season-high four-game winning streak tonight. Meanwhile, the Lakers are just 4-11 their last 15 games but are coming off one of their best performances of the season, a 122-114 road win this past Friday in Milwaukee. LA scored a season-best 47 points in the first quarter and 76 in the first half! The pick: The Kings have dominated this series lately (have won eight of the last nine meetings), so they may just get a fourth straight win. However, this over/number is rather high for teams which don't score much. The Kings rank 22nd in scoring and the Lakers, 18th. The Under is a 10* play. |
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02-14-17 | Rutgers v. Purdue UNDER 134.5 | Top | 55-74 | Win | 100 | 17 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The Scarlet Knights of Rutgers (13-13 / 2-11 in Big Ten) travel to West Lafayette to take on the 20-5 (9-3 in Big Ten) Purdue Boilermakers, who are ranked 16th in Monday's latest AP poll. Purdue has won eight of its last 10 and is tied for second place in the conference with Maryland, one game behind Wisconsin. As for Rutgers, after going 11-2 in non-conference play, the Scarlet Knights have lost 11 of the first 13 Big Ten games. |
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02-13-17 | Spurs v. Pacers UNDER 207 | Top | 110-106 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 3 m | Show |
The set-up: The 41-13 San Antonio Spurs fell to 2-2 on their annual "Rodeo Road Trip" in losing 94-90 Sunday in MSG to the seemingly listless Knicks. However, there is no rest for the weary, as the Spurs travel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse Monday night for a game with the 29-25 Indiana Pacers. The Spurs shot a season-low 36.3 percent on Sunday but face a Pacers team which has allowed an even 120.0 PPG during its current losing streak. |
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02-12-17 | Canucks v. Sabres UNDER 5 | Top | 4-2 | Loss | -100 | 19 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-25-6 Vancouver Canucks are coming off a 4-3 loss yesterday afternoon at Boston (Bruins got go-ahead goal win just under four minutes left), the team's fifth loss in its last six games. The Canucks stay on the road tonight in Buffalo, taking on the 23-22-10 Sabres, who won 3-1 Saturday at Toronto. |
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02-11-17 | Magic v. Mavs OVER 204 | Top | 80-112 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-35 Orlando Magic will take on the 21-32 Dallas Mavericks tonight at American Airlines Center. It's a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions, as the Magic are losing ground quickly in the Eastern Conference (are currently 5 1/2 games out on the last playoff spot) while after a slow start, the Mavs are inching tehir way up with an outside shot at the 8th and final Western Conference playoff berth (currently three games back). |
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02-11-17 | Avalanche v. Rangers OVER 5.5 | Top | 2-4 | Win | 104 | 12 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: The NHL's worst team, the 15-34-2 Colorado Avalanche come to Madison Square Garden to take on the 35-8-1 Rangers on Saturday night. The game holds little intrigue but New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist has a chance to reach a major milestone, as with a win, he would become just the 12th goaltender in league history to register 400 career victories. Colorado: Saturday's contest is the start of a five-game road trip for the Avalanche. In what's become a 'nightmare' of a season, the Avs actually own more road victories (eight) than home wins (seven) this season. Colorado's 32 points are nine fewer than the league's second-worst team (Arizona Coyotes have 41 points) and the team's goal differential is minus-68, with Arizona again second-worst at minus-46. To add insult to injury, the team's No. 1 goalie, Semyon Varlamov, was recently shut down for the remainder of the season following hip surgery. NY Rangers: The Rangers are having a solid season, as the league's second-highest scoring team (3.40 GPG) but their 71 points still leave them in just 4th place in the top-heavy Metropolitan Division. The Rangers come into this contest on a four-game winning streak (have won even of their last nine) and just have to avoid taking the Avalanche lightly. With Lundqvist on the verge of making history, that shouldn't be a problem. The pick: The price is expectedyt sky-high but with New York averaging 3.41 GPG at home (Colorado allows an average of 3.29 GPG on the road), the over makes sense. Also note that the Rangers have allowed opponents to average 2.90 GPG at MSG, hardly an impressive number. That makes the Over a 10* play in this one. |
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02-10-17 | Pacers v. Wizards OVER 214.5 | Top | 107-112 | Win | 100 | 13 h 48 m | Show |
The set-up: The 29-23 Indiana Pacers saw their seven-game winning snapped Tuesday at home to teheCavs and now must travel to Washington to take on the 31-21 Wizards. The Wizards also know a little something about losing at home to the Cavs as well, as Washington saw its 17-game home winning come to an end on Monday, when the Cavs beat them 140-135 in OT. |
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02-10-17 | Lightning v. Wild UNDER 5.5 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 13 h 48 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-24-6 Tampa Lightning head to Minnesota looking for the team's first three-game winning streak since mid November, after back-to-back wins over the Ducks (a 3-2 shootout win) and a 5-0 shutout of the Kings. However, a third straight win won't come easily against the 35-12-6 Wild, whose 76 points lead all Western Conference teams, plus they own a 17-6-1 home ice record.Tampa Bay: The Lightning are 7th (of eight teams) in the top-heavy Metropolitan Division and while the odds are long that they can earn a wild card berth, they remain in striking distance for those who see recent signs of hope. One of those 'hopers' is Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. I'm looking back from the start of the western swing, and the guys have been engaged," he said. "We've had some hiccups along the way and a little adversity has hit in a couple games. ... But they're battling, and you can see that and they've been rewarded the last two games, which makes you feel good, and feel good for them."
Minnesota: A year ago at this time, the Wild were locked in a month-long slump that ultimately cost former head coach Mike Yeo his job. What a difference a year makes, as the Wild have a firm grip on the top of the standings in both the Central Division and the Western Conference, overall. As noted above, Minnesota is 17-6-1 at home, outscoring opponents 3.34-to-2.08 GPG. |
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02-09-17 | Rockets v. Hornets OVER 223.5 | Top | 107-95 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 20 m | Show |
The set-up: The 38-17 Houston Rockets are hoping a 2-1 start in February has put a poor January behind them as they visit Charlotte to take on the 24-28 Hornets, who just snapped a seven-game slide with Tuesday's 111-107 win over the hapless Nets.
Houston: The Rockets won 20 of 22 games from Dec. 1 through Jan. 10 but then went just 5-7 the last three weeks of last month. Residing in the West with the Warriors and Spurs doesn't leave much room for error and despite owning the NBA's third-best record, the Rockets own just the third-best record in the West as well, 71/2 games back of Golden State and four games back of San Antonio. Houston's resume includes victories over Golden State and San Antonio but the Rockets' 128-104 win over the Magic, represented the first of a six-game stretch in which all opponents are sub-.500. Harden's outstanding season (28.9an-8.2-11.4) somewhat overshadows what has developed into a solid group of players surrounding him. He had his 43rd double-double of the year against Orlando (25 points / 13 assists) but he's also getting plenty of help. Beverley (9.3-5.8-4.5) starts with Harden in the backcourt (most believe Beverley is the team's second-most importt player), while forwards Anderson (13.7 & 5.1) and Ariza (11.9 & 5.5) surround center Capela (12.1 & 7.7) up front. Gordon (17.3) is now the sixth-man and he's a consistent scorer in the backcourt! Only Golden State averages more than Houston's 114.3 PPG but the Rockets have to find a way to improve their defense, which allows 108.2 PPG (24th). Charlotte: The Hornets shot just 39.2 percent from the floor in Tuesday's win over the Nets but after breaking a seven-game slide, they are still right in the race for the East's final playoff spot, just a half-game back of the Pistons. All Star Kemba Walker (22.7 & 5.5 APG) was just 4 of 20 from the floor against the Nets but the good news was that seven Charlotte players scored in double figures. This team is way more talented than its record indicates (remember, the Hornets opened 8-3) plus center Cody Zeller (quad) has sat out the last seven games but will be evaluated on Wednesday and could return on Thursday. Zeller's availability is no small deal, as despite his somewhat modest contributions (10.9 & 6.6), the Hornets are 2-12 in the 14 games he's missed this season. That means they are 22-16 when he plays! The pick: Wouldn't want to buck the Rockets in this one but I'd rather just play the over and as noted above, Houston scores better than any team not named Golden State and has trouble defending. The Rockets won 121-114 at home when these teams met back on Jan. 10. and it's deja vu all over again, here. The Over is a 10* play. |
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02-09-17 | Canucks v. Blue Jackets UNDER 5.5 | Top | 3-0 | Win | 100 | 10 h 19 m | Show |
The set-up: The 23-24-6 Vancouver Canucks continue a six-game road trip when they play at the 34-13-5 Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. Tuesday's 4-2 loss Tuesday's at Nashville was the first game on the road trek and leaves Vancouver seven points out of the wild card race while Columbus has followed its historic franchise record 16-game win streak earlier this year by going 7-8-1 since (Blue Jackets have 73 points, second-most in the East to the Caps' 80). Vancouver: The Canucks limp in on an overall four-game slide, getting outscored 17-6. Vancouver is just 6-16-3 away from Rogers Arena this season. The Canucks will likely be without forward Sven Baertschi, who sustained a concussion in Tuesday's game. He (13-14-27) is the fourth leading scorer for Vancouver Ryan Miller has yielded 15 goals during his four-game losing skid and is expected to be in goal tonight. He is 2-8-2 with a 3.18 goals-against average on the road this season. Columbus: Winning just seven of its last 16 contests since that 16-game winning streak has head coach John Tortorella concerned, as Columbus plays in the top-heavy Metropolitan Division (along with Washington, Pittsburgh has 72 points and the NY Rangers 69). "We need to reinvent ourselves and get the chip back on our shoulder," Tortorella said. "We need to embrace this challenge. It's how you grow as a player. It's our home building. I think we have to get some consistency, how we start the game first of all, and make sure (Nationwide Arena) is a tough place to play." The pick: Here's a good chance to do just that, as Columbus opens a season-high seven-game homestand with this contest. The Blue Jackets have been strong at home all year, going 18-6-1 while allowing just 2.20 GPG. The Under is a 10* play. |
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02-07-17 | Blue Jackets v. Red Wings OVER 5.5 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 35 m | Show |
The set-up: Tradition be damned, these teams are at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference. Columbus has been one of the top teams in the entire league this year and only two teams (Washington, Minnesota) can claim to have more points than their 71. Detroit is just fighting to make it into the top eight. Right now, they are sixth in the Atlantic Division with just 53 points. That's five back of third place. Columbus: The Blue Jackets won their first game post-All Star Break (6-4 over the Rangers), but have dropped two in a row since. They've actually lost four of five going back before the Break. Whether it's them, their opponent or both, we've seen a recent rash of scoring in their games. The last six have all gone Over the total. They've scored 22 during those six games (3.5 per game) while allowing 27 (4.5 per game!). Detroit: Recent results have been much different for the Red Wings. They were not playing well heading into the Break (lost 5 in a row) and then dropped their first game of the second half, 4-3 to the Devils. But they've rallied to take two straight. While the last game was a 1-0 win, it took a remarkable performance in goal from Petr Mrazek, who made 42 saves. The previous win, over the Islanders, came by a score of 6-5. The pick: Recent results for Columbus are too difficult to overlook here. Each of those last six games have seen a MINIMUM of six total goals scored. Meanwhile, I would not expect Mrazek to repeat his performance from Saturday against Nashville here. The Over is 3-0 this season when Detroit is off a shutout win. I'm making the Over a 10* play |
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02-07-17 | Nets v. Hornets UNDER 217 | Top | 107-111 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: One team will break a losing streak tonight when the 9-42 Brooklyn Nets and the 23-28 Charlotte Hornets square off against each other the Nets own the NBA's worst overall record and enter on a nine-game slide, the longest active losing streak. The Hornets have lost seven in a row, having last won back on Jan. 21st against, you guessed it, the Nets!
Brooklyn: The season has been a total disaster for Brooklyn and there is no end in sight. The team's last win was back on Jan 20th, when the Nets improbably scored 143 points at New Orleans to beat the Pelicans. The team's p last win prior to that was back on Dec, 26th at home vs. the Hornets but a check of the team's record book reveals that those two "Ws" are the Nets' only two victories in the team's last 27 games, a span stretching all the back to Dec. 16th. Center Brook Lopez (20.3 & 5.8) has been about the team's only consistent performer and it sure hasn't helped that PG Lin (13.9 & 5.8 APG) has played just 12 games all season, last getting on the court back on Dec 26th, when the Nets beat the Hornets at Barclays Center. brooklyn allows more points than any team in the league (114.2 per game) and allows opponents to shoot 46.4 percent (ranks 24th). Charlotte: The Hornets need a win badly and have to be happy to welcome the Nets to town. Kemba Walker's play (22.8-4.0-5.5) has earned him an All Star berth and a check of the team's roster shows a bunch of names who can actually play this game. Batum (14.8-6.5-7.2) is sure one of them and head coach Steve Clifford has to be frustrated by the team's descent. After all, Charlotte opened the season 8-3. Center Cody Zeller averages a modest 10.9 PPG and 6.6 RPG but the team sure misses him. He's been sidelined with a quadriceps contusion the last six games (all loses) and on the season, Charlotte is 1-12 in games he hasn't played! The pick: As noted above, the Nets are the NBA's worst defensive team on the season but recently, they've played better on that end of the floor. Brooklyn allowed 129 points at Minnesota back on Jan 28th but in the team's last four games, the Nets have allowed just 102.0 PPG with all four staying under the total. With another high over/under line, the Under is a 10* play. |
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02-06-17 | Blues v. Flyers UNDER 5.5 | Top | 2-0 | Win | 100 | 10 h 0 m | Show |
The set-up: The 25-22-2 St; Louis Blues and the 26-20-7 Philadelphia Flyers meet tonight at Wells Fargo Center. The Blues lost 4-1 at home to the Penguins, leaving them two points behind the Flames for the second wild card in the West. The Flyers have earned at least one point in five of their last six games (4-1-1) and have two more points than the Maple Leafs, as they cling to the East's second wild-card spot.
St; Louis: The Blues will begin a five-game road trip here in Philly but are just 8-13-1 on the road this season. However, after losing five of their last six on home ice, maybe getting away from home is not all that bad. The Blues are 1-1 since firing head coach of Ken Hitchcock on Feb. 1 and enter this contest having lost six of their last eight games overall, while scoring only 15 goals (that's 1.88 per game!). Philadelphia: The Flyers are 16-7-4 on home ice this season and come in 11-2-2 in their last 15 home contests overall. Philadelphia has allowed just one goal in each of its last three contests, including including Saturday's 1-0 overtime loss to Los Angeles that leaves the club 1-0-1 on its current five-game homestand. With Blues coming to Philly, it's worth noting that the Flyers are 7-0-2 in their last nine games against visitors from the West. The pick: Michal Neuvirth has been in goal for the last three games (2-0-1) and has allowed one goal in each of those three starts. He could be on the verge of replacing Steve Mason as the Flyers' No. 1 netminder and is expected to play here. With the Blues really struggling to score (1.88 GPG their last eight games), the Under is a 10* play. |
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02-05-17 | Patriots v. Falcons OVER 58.5 | Top | 34-28 | Win | 100 | 294 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The Falcons are in the Super Bowl for just the second time in franchise history (joined the NFL for the 1966 season), while the Pats will be making a record 9th appearance, one more than the Cowboys and Steelers. Dan Quinn is in just his second season as a head coach and owns a 19-13 career record, not including his 2-0 playoff record this season (obviously, his first Super Bowl appearnce. Bill Belichick coached the Browns for five years (just 36-44 and 1-1 in the postseason) but is in his 17th season with the Pats, going 201-71 (.739) in the regular season plus 24-9 in the postseason. This is his 7th Super Bowl appearance (4-2 in first six), an all-time record. Atlanta's Matt Ryan entered the season 1-4 in his postseason career but with wins over the Seahawks and Packers, he has a chance to even that record at 4-4 by winning his first-ever appearance in a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Tom Brady joins his head coach by making a record 7th Super Bowl appearance (naturally, 4-2 like Belichick) and owns a record 24 playoff wins by a starting QB, against nine losses. Atlanta: Matt Ryan opened 2016 in the fourth season of a five-year, $103.75 million contract that he received after taking the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game in 2012 but Atlanta was just 18-30 in the first three years of that contract. Well, all Ryan did was pass for 4,944 yards with 38-7 ratio & 117.1 QB rating) the regular season. He then completed 70.7% for 730 yards with a 7-0 ratio & 132.6 QB rating in two playoff wins. Matt Ryan's career year, a terrific RB duo of Freeman & Coleman (both can run, catch and run after the catch), an excellent receiving corps led by Julio Jones, a superb solid offensive line that has had the same linemen start every game and all master-minded by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. It's created a juggernaut that led the NFL in scoring at 33.8 PPG and finished second with 415.8 YPG. Then came playoff wins which ended the seasons of former Super Bowl-winning QBs Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, as Ryan led Atlanta to 36 and 44 points! However, we all know the defense has had its problems, ranking 27th in points allowed (25.4 PPG), 25th in yards allowed (371.2 YPG), were 26th in third-down defense and last in red-zone defense during the regular seaon. New England: Tom Brady sat out the season's first four games (you may have heard why) but returned to throw for 3,554 yards in just 12 games, completing 67.4 percent with 28 TDs and two INTs (112.2 QB rating). Most of that came without Gronk but with Brady, it just never seems to matter who his receivers are. Houston held the Pats to 98 yards rushing (yards on 3.6 YPC) in New England's first playoff game plus was able to force Brady into just 18 completions in 38 attempts while intercepting him twice (Brady had been picked off just twice in 432 regular season attempts). Houston also recovered a New England fumble but the Pats still managed to score 34 points and cover an outrageously high pointspread. Brady made sure the Pats' AFC title game against the Steelers was not going to be a nail-biter. He completed 32 of 42 for 384 yards (a franchise record for the postseason) with three TDs and no INTs (127.5 QB rating). The unheralded Hogan caught nine for 180 yards (two TDs) and Edelman had eight catches for 118 yards (one TD).
The pick: For all the talk about New England's offense, the Patriots permitted a league-low 15.6 PPG in the regular season, as the Pats held six of their last seven opponents to 17 points or less. Then came the playoffs, holding Houston to 16 points and Pittsburgh to 17. However, Holding teh Falcons in check is quite another story, as this is teh best offense the NFL has seen since teh 2007 Pats. As for the Pats, Brady wants badly to be there when Goodell hands over the Lombardi Trophy and just how will Atlanta's suspect defense slow down the Pats? The Over is a 10* play. |
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02-04-17 | Magic v. Hawks OVER 207.5 | Top | 86-113 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 15 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-32 Orlando Magic beat the Raptors 102-94 last night at home but it was just the team's fifth in its previous 19 games Conversely, the 29-21 Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 20-point fourth quarter deficit on Thursday at Houston, to win 113-108. It was Atlanta's 14th win in its last 19 games.
Orlando: The Magic can say that they are just four games out of the East's 8th playoff spot (that's true) but there are four teams between them and that final playoff spot. Serge Ibaka, who was acquired from OKC in a trade for Victor Oladipo, recorded his eighth double-double of the season. He's averaging 15.1 & 7.0 but has himself been the subject of recent trade rumors. Swingman Even Fournier is the team's leading scorer (16.7 PPG) and had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Toronto, after scoring a modest 21 points with just two rebounds in two previous games since returning from a right foot injury. Center Vucevic (14.1 & 9.7) has developed into a solid player but the Magic are just 28th (out of 30 teams) in scoring (99.9 PPG), while ranking a middle-of-the-pack 16th in points allowed (105.3). Atlanta: Tim Hardaway Jr. (12.4 PPG) has flourished for the Hawks averaging 14.6 PPG in 14 games since Kyle Korver was dealt to Cleveland. He scored a career-high 33 points in Thursday's win at Houston, with center Dwight Howard rising to the occasion against his former team with 24 points and 23 rebounds. Howard ranks in the top five in the NBA in rebounds per game (13.0) and FG percentage (64.1 percent). Paul Millsap leads five Atlanta players averaging double figures at 17.8, along with 8.1 RPG. Schroeder has stepped right in at PG (Teague was traded to Indiana), averaging 17.2 PPG and 6.3 APG. The pick: The Hawks are the better team and are in a nice groove, while the Magic seem to be going nowhere, fast. However, the Hawks have hardly been dominant at home (just 14-10 at Philips Arena), where they allow (105.8 PPG) almost as many points as they score (106.2). Orlando has allowed 108.0 PPG on the road and that makes the Over a 10* play. |
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02-03-17 | Suns v. Kings OVER 217.5 | Top | 105-103 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 2 m | Show |
The set-up: The 15-34 Phoenix Suns have a terrific guard tandem in Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker but the team's defense is a mess (allows 112.3 PPG to rank 29th). The Suns visit Sacramento Friday night to take on the 19-30 Kings, who are back home after an eight-game road trip (3-5 SU and 4-3-1 ATS).
Phoenix: Bledsoe (21.6-5.0-6.2) scored a career high with 41 points in a 123-112 loss to Denver on Saturday and then matched that number on Wednesday in a 124-114 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. His backcourt partner Booker (20.8) reached the 20-point plateau for the 14th straight game in the loss to the Clippers, with exactly 20 points (he's averaging 25.8 PPG in his streak). However, that loss to Clippers means the Suns have allowed 120.2 PPG over the last five games, all of which have been losses. "We have to continue to change our identity defensively," Suns coach Earl Watson told reporters. "And if we need to be creative on defense, we have to be creative." The Suns have lost five straight, their longest skid since a seven-game losing streak last March, and haven't led in either of their previous two losses. Sacramento: The Kings are back home and won't leave the state of California again until a trip to Denver on March 5, with the only two road games among the next 13 contests at Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the Kings went just 1-6 SU the last time they were at home, from Jan. 4 through Jan. 18. Sacramento has lost second-leading scorer Rudy Gay (18.7) for the season and added another injury to the list when guard Garrett Temple (7.7) went down in the team's final game of its road trip at Houston. An MRI exam on Wednesday revealed a partial tear of the left hamstring, and Temple will miss at least the next two weeks, joining fellow wings Rudy Gay (Achilles) and Omri Casspi (calf). "I think we progressed as a team," Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (28.2 & 10.5) told reporters of the road trip. "A lot of things didn't go our way, but through it, I think we got better as a team." I'm not quite sure what Cousins is talking about. The pick: The Suns don't have too many issues offensively, averaging 106.5 PPG (11th) and have topped 100 in 13 of their past 14 contests. They should present a problem with their backcourt tandem because Sacramento struggles to guard the perimeter. However, only the Nets give up more points than Suns and they've allowed 120 in three of their past four losses, while surrendering at least 100 in 12 straight contests. The Kings rank 21st in scoring defense (106.1 PPG) and have allowed over 100 points in each of their last 11 games. The Over is a 10* play. |
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02-03-17 | Ducks v. Panthers OVER 5 | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -114 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-15-9 Anaheim Ducks are three points behind the San Jose Sharks (68-to-65) in the Pacific Division as they open a rugged six-game road trip tonight at the 22-19-10 Florida Panthers. The Panthers (54 points) are sitting outside of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, as the Flyers own the final spot (58 points), with the Maple Leafs (55 points) between Florida and Philly.
Anaheim: The Ducks just completed a 10-3-1 in January but half (five) of those wins came against cellar-dwellers Colorado and Arizona. This six-game road trip will be a very difficult trek. It begins tonight in Miami at the BB&T Center, with Anaheim then playing, in order, at the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild. Head coach Randy Carlyle is in the first year as part of his second stint with the Ducks. He relies heavily on Anaheim's top three scorers, Ryan Kesler (40 points), Getzlaf (38 points) and Corey Perry (36), who are all over 30 years old. However, the Ducks are also now getting some decent secondary scoring from Jakob Silfverberg (32 points), Rickard Rakell (team-high 21 goals to go with 30 points) and Andrew Cogliano (22 points). Florida: In contrast to Anaheim's vets, the Panthers have a younger nucleus of standouts that includes Aaron Ekblad, 20; Jared McCann, 20; Denis Malgin, 20; Aleksander Barkov, 21; Michael Matheson, 22; Jonathan Huberdeau, 23; Vincent Trocheck, 23; Alex Petrovic, 24; Nick Bjugstad, 24; Reilly Smith, 25; and Jonathan Marchessault, 26. Ekblad, Matheson and Petrovic figure to be cornerstones on defense. The rest of the aforementioned young guys are building-block forwards. Of course there is Jaromir Jagr, the team's 44-year-old right winger, who has nine goals and is third on the team with 29 points The pick: The Panthers are coming off a 6-5 Win (Tuesday) against Ottawa and the Ducks are allowing 2.92 GPG on the road. I expect a high-scoring game and will make the Over a 10* play. |
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02-02-17 | 76ers v. Spurs UNDER 211 | Top | 86-102 | Win | 100 | 12 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: The 37-11 San Antonio Spurs own the best record in the league, as long as one doesn't count the Warriors. However, one of the anomalies of the first half of the NBA season is that six of the Spurs' 11 losses have come teams with sub-.500 records. The Spurs are hoping another sub-.500 team doesn't trip them up tonight, as the 18-30 Philadelphia 76ers visit San Antonio. Philadelphia: The 76ers come to San Antonio off a 113-95 loss Wednesday to Dallas. Philadelphia was up by as many as nine points in the first half but fell behind in the third quarter and entered the 4th quarter down by 12. The Mavs' lead surpassed 20 in the fourth and the final margin was 113-95. Jahlil Okafor (11.5 & 4.7) led Philadelphia with 16 points and Ersan Ilyasova (15.3 & 6.1) added 13 points and 10 rebounds. However, rookie of the year favorite Joel Embiid (20.2 & 7.8) didn't make the trip to Texas. He suffered a bruised left knee Jan. 20 and hasn't played in six of the past seven games. He was on the floor in Friday's nationally televised 123-118 loss to Houston but head coach Brett Brown dispelled any notion that Embiid was rushed back for that game. The good news is, there has been huge improvement from the 76ers this season, after they won just 10 games last year. They finished January with a 10-5 record, their best month since going 13-4 in January 2012. San Antonio: The Spurs come into the game off a 108-94 home win over OKC on Tuesday, snapping a two-game slide. Kawhi Leonard (25.6 & 5.8) scored 36 points and grabbed eight rebounds but the Spurs' bench proved to be the difference, helping to turn the tide at the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth after San Antonio squandered an 18-point lead over a horrid seven-minute stretch. The Spurs' reserves responded by outscoring Oklahoma City 15-2 and once the starters returned, the Thunder had no answer. Aldridge (17.7 & 7.2) is San Antonio's clear 'second banana' but this team has terrific depth and balance, as seven players contribute between 6.3 and 11.7 PPG. Gasol (11.7 & 7.9) has been the leader of that group but will be out until March with a finger injury but look for the 7-0 Dedmon to get more time, after averaging 4.8 & 5.8 on about 16 MPG, so far.The pick: Tough spot for the 76ers playing a back-to-back without Embiid. The Spurs have won 10 straight against Philadelphia (dating back to a 77-71 road loss on Feb. 11, 2011) and have captured 11 consecutive home games against the 76ers. Then again, the Spurs have had a tendency to slip up this year, in unexpected situations. However, that SA defense always seems to bring its "A-game," ranking second in both points allowed (99.2) and opponents' FG percentage (44.5%). The 76ers average a modest 100.8 PPG (25th) on shooting 44.1% shooting (26th) and won't have their best player. The under is a 10* play. |
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02-02-17 | Jets v. Stars UNDER 6 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-25-2 Winnipeg Jets will be in Dallas tonight to face the 21-20-10 Stars. Dallas will be looking to exact revenge for their worst loss of the season, when the Jets beat the Stars 8-2 in Winnipeg back on Nov.8. The two teams each currently have 52 points, four points behind third-place Nashville in the Central Division and among six teams bunched together fighting for the two wild card positions. Winnipeg: The Jets returned from the All Star break to win 5-3 at St. Louis on Tuesday. Dallas will be Winnipeg's third stop on a four-game road trip, a trek the Jets are 2-0-0 on thus far. The Jets have won back-to-back games for the 10th time this season but have yet to put together a three-game winning streak. Patrik Laine, the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft who shares the NHL lead in goals among rookies with No. 1 selection Auston Matthews of Toronto at 23, has two goals and two assists in three games since missing eight with a concussion. However, the goaltending situation remains unsettled as Ondrej Pavelec is 3-2-0 since his recall from Manitoba of the American Hockey League but must improve on his 3.25 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. Pavelec stopped 24 of 27 shots against the Blues on Tuesday and is expected to start in goal against Dallas. Dallas: The Stars came out of the All-Star break with a 6-3 triumph over Toronto on Tuesday for their second straight victory and first back-to-back wins since December. Dallas is 14-7-6 at home and the Stars will be playing game five of a six-game homestand. The Stars defeated the Jets 3-2 at home on Oct. 25, but has lost twice to the Jets at MTS Centre, 4-1 on Oct. 27 and 8-2 on Nov. 8. The teams meet once more during the regular season on Feb. 14 in Winnipeg.
The pick: Playing against Central Division opponents has not worked out well so far this season for Dallas, as the Stars' division record currently sits at just 8-9-4. Meanwhile, the Jets own a 12-4-1 division record. This is an important game for both teams and the Under is a 10* play with this very high over/under number. |
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02-01-17 | Hornets v. Warriors OVER 223 | Top | 111-126 | Win | 100 | 11 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: The 41-7 Golden State Warriors responded to a Jan. 6 home loss to the Grizzlies with five consecutive wins at Oracle Arena. The most recent three have been routs of the Cavaliers (35 points), the Thunder (21) and the Clippers (46). The 23-26 Charlotte Hornets come to Oakland tonight but come into the contest on a five-game losing streak while also losing 10 of their last 13.
Charlotte: The Hornets began a tough five-day, three-game Western swing with 115-98 loss at Portland last night. Charlotte has now lost eight straight on the road, last winning away from home back on Dec. 28th, winning at Orlando.The Warriors won the past five meetings between the two teams, including a 113-103 victory last week (Jan. 28) in Charlotte. Kemba Walker (23.3-4.1-5.5) is an All Star and seven other Charlotte players contribute between 9.0 and 14.9 PPG. That group is led by Batum, who averages 7.4 RPG and 6.0 APG along with his 14.9 points. Golden State: Curry pleased fans in his hometown of Charlotte with a 28-point, six-assist performance when the Warriors beat the Hornets 113-103 in Charlotte back on Jan. 28. The homecoming included being honored by both his high school (Charlotte Christian) and college (Davidson). Curry (2.0-4.3-6.1) has scored 20 or more points in 13 consecutive games before sitting out Golden State's win at Portland on Sunday due to an illness. The 13-game stretch included 40- and 43-point games. KD (26.3-8.4-4.7) and Thompson (21.1) give Golden St. three 21-point scorers and then there is the do-everything Green (10.4-8.4-7.4). The pick: The Warriors rank first in the league in points scored (118.0) and FG percentage (50.1) and in going 21.3 SU here at Oracle Arena, are averaging 122.1 PPG. The Hornets gave up 113 to the Warriors back in Charlotte and won't get away that easily, here. Meanwhile, the Hornets have so much depth, as besides the eight players averaging nine-plus PPG, Hawes chips in 7.4, Sessions 6.3 and Hibbert 5.2. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-31-17 | Pelicans v. Raptors OVER 214 | Top | 106-108 | Push | 0 | 9 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: The 19-29 Pelicans are coming off a 3-3 homestand in which they allowed 143 points in a loss to the Nets (??), while beating the Cavs and Spurs. As the saying goes, "Go figure?" They now begin a stretch of nine of 12 on the road with tonight's game in Toronto against teh 29-19 Raptors, who are just 7-9 in January.
New Orleans: The Pelicans are just 6-15 SU on the road this season, so they'll need to improve on that record in order to survive this stretch of games, if they have any hopes of earning that "up-for-grabs" 8th playoff spot in the West. Currently, six teams are within four games of each other. All Star forward Anthony Davis (28.0 & 12.2) said it best. "We proved that we can play with anybody if we play the right way," he said. "We've got to come out and play desperate, each and every game. Even though we proved something on this homestand, we don't have that much room for error, especially battling for the eighth spot (in the Western Conference playoffs). There are a lot of other teams battling as well. We've got to do a little bit more." Toronto: The Raptors have now lost six of their past seven games after dropping a 114-113 decision to the visiting Orlando Magic on Sunday. Orlando fell apart during the second quarter on Sunday when Orlando went on a 19-0 run to take the lead. "It's everybody, and that is what I told the team," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said when questioned about the lack of defense. "Everybody is involved, the whole group in this room, we're all accountable for this." However, there was good news on Sunday, as DeMar DeRozan (27.8-5.4-3.9) returned after missing the previous three games with a sprained ankle to score 22 points Sunday. DeRozan added after the game, "We can't rely on the offense, because we always have a great quarter or two quarters offensively. But, we can't rely on that to win us the game. We have to rely on four quarters defensively to get us through the game and let the offense take care of itself." The pick: The Raptors have won 10 of the last 13 meetings with the Pelicans, including going 2-0 against New Orleans last season. Slowing down Toronto's offense here at Air Canada Centre will be a tough assignment, as the Raptors are averaging 112.7 PPG at home. The home loss to the Magic was a bit of an aberration, as Toronto had won its previous seven home games against the Magic and 14 of the previous 15 meetings overall. However, Toronto has allowed 108 or more points in four of its previous seven games, so trusting them as a favorite would be dangerous. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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01-31-17 | Flyers v. Hurricanes OVER 5.5 | Top | 1-5 | Win | 110 | 9 h 9 m | Show |
The set-up: The 25-19-6 Philadelphia Flyers and the 21-20-7 Carolina Hurricanes get back on the ice tonight after the four-day All Star break. The Flyers open play on a three-game winning streak, while the Hurricanes return to play on a five-game skid. Philadelphia: The Flyers have to be excited to resume play, not only on a winning streak but buoyed by the fact that Wayne Simmonds is coming off a Most Valuable Player performance in Sunday's NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles, as Simmonds scored three goals to join Reggie Leach (1980) as the lone members of the Flyers to win the award at the NHL's showcase mid-season event. Simmonds (team-leading 21 goals) has scored in each contest of Philadelphia's winning streak heading into the break and recorded two-point performances in each of the Flyers' victories over the Hurricanes in October. Philadelphia's recent hot streak has it clinging to the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Toronto and seven in front of Carolina.
Carolina: "Oh, it's a bad taste, losing five straight," Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters told the Raleigh News & Observer. "... The taste is in the mouth for the All-Star break." Defenseman Justin Faulk had his own strong performance on Sunday, as he scored a goal and set up four others. Faulk has also scored in both contests versus Philadelphia this season. After a surge in early January, the Hurricanes stumbled into the break, so it's time to get back on track. "It's a huge game for us," forward Jeff Skinner said. "We're going to try to close some ground on teams ahead of us. It's nice to kind of hit the reset button and let the body recover." The pick: I expect a spirited effort from Carolina, which was outscored 23-5 during its losing streak. After all, Carolina is 15-6-1 at home this year averaging 3.00 GPG, while the Flyers are allowing 3.24 GPG on the road. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-29-17 | St. Peter's v. Iona OVER 137 | Top | 66-69 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 34 m | Show |
The set-up: The 12-9 (8-3) Saint Peter’s Peacocks will travel to the Haynes Athletics Center to take on the 14-8 (7-4) Iona Gaels this Sunday afternoon in MAAC play. St. Peter's: The Peacocks made it back-to-back wins after defeating Marist 81-65 this past Thursday. Saint Peter’s shot 61.7% from the floor, including 13 of 20 on threes. That kind of output has not been typical of St. Peter's this season as the Peacocks average just 65.2 PPG (326th) on 40.6% shooting (321st). 6-8 center Welton (12.2 & 7.4) leads the team in scoring and rebounding while a quartet of guards contribute between 5.6 and 11.0 PPG. Iona: The Gaels come into this game off four straight wins, after defeating tSiena 77-66 this past Friday. Iona's 6-8 Washington (17.5 & 7.3) leads in scoring and rebounding plus is surrounded by six guards chipping in between 6.5 and 11.4 PPG. The best of that group are Severe (11.4), Cassell (11.1) and PG McGill (10.3 & 5.2 APG).
The pick: Iona is a much better offensive team than St. Peter's, averaging 79.4 PPG but the Gaels also allow 75.7 PPG., St' Peter's is off an excellent offensive effort and the Over is an 8* play in this one. |
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01-28-17 | Celtics v. Bucks OVER 217 | Top | 112-108 | Win | 100 | 8 h 15 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-18 Boston Celtics will be in Milwaukee tonight to take on the 21-25 Bucks. The Celtics are just a half-game back of the Raptors for the Atlantic Division lead and solidly in the playoff picture, owning the No. 3 seed. As for the Bucks, they are tied with the Pistons, one game back of the Bulls, who currently hold down the eighth and final; playoff spot in the East. Boston:The Celtics won last night in Boston, 128-98 over the Magic and have now scored 120 or more points in three of the past four games. Boston averages 108.0 PPG on thee season (6th) and has scored 100 or more in 20 consecutive games. Boston center Al Horford (15.5 & 6.6) sat out the easy win with a groin injury but is listed as probable for the Milwaukee game. His return helps, as SG Avery Bradley (Achilles' tendon) will miss his sixth straight game and 10th of the last 11. PG Thomas hasn't missed on much these days, as he scored 21 points in just 25 minutes against Orlando to reach 20 or more points for the 30th consecutive game. The streak is the second-longest in Boston history behind Hall of Famer John Havlicek, who scored 20-plus points in 40 straight games during the 1971-72 campaign. Thomas is averaging 28.9 PPG and 6.3 APG and will play in next month's All Star game.Milwaukee: Speaking of All Stars, Antetokounmpo (23.4-8.8-5.5) leads Milwaukee in almost every category but the Bucks are sinking fast in the East, having lost seven of their last eight games. No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker (20.5 & 6.0) does his part but Milwaukee just hasn't been able to find help outside of its "Big 2." The offense is struggling as Friday's contest marked the fifth time in eight games that Milwaukee failed to reach 100 points. The pick: Yes, Milwaukee has failed to reach 100 points in five of eight but in those other theree, the Bucsk have scored 109, 127 and 104. The bigger issue has been a defense, which after leading the league inheefensive shooting percentage, has fallen to 11th (45.1 percent) and is now 12th in points allowed, giving up 104.5 per game. Slowing down Boston seems unlikely. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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01-27-17 | Hornets v. Knicks OVER 212 | Top | 107-110 | Win | 100 | 11 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: The 23-23 Charlotte Hornets are in Madison Square Garden Friday night to take on the 20-27 NY Knicks. The Hornets are riding a bit of a roller coaster of late, following five straight losses with three consecutive wins before dropping their last two. Meanwhile, the Knicks will try to play through Carmelo trade rumors, as they hope to earn just a fifth win in their last 19 games. The pick: The off-court drama surrounding Carmelo continues for the Knicks and likely, so does the losing. New York has allowed at least 100 points in 16 of its last 18 games (just four wins!) and in Wednesday's loss at Dallas, the Knicks scored just seven points in the last 6:57 of the game, while committing eight fourth-quarter turnovers. PG Kemba Walker was just named to his first All Star game and leads six Hornets in double figures at 23.0 PPG, along with 4.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Lamb and Kidd-Gilchrist check in at 9.2 PPG apiece and Charlotte head coach McMillan is right, the Hornets are a good team and should be better than 23-23. Meanwhile, except for Chicago's 89-point effort at MSG on Jan. 12, the Knicjks have allowed 111.0 PPG at home since Christmas. Make the Over a 10* play. |
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01-26-17 | Pacers v. Wolves OVER 211 | Top | 109-103 | Win | 100 | 8 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The Timberwolves have 'woken up' and their young core of talent, in particular Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, have led the team team to three straight wins and six of their last eight. The 17-28 Timberwolves will host the 22-22 Indiana Pacers tonight at Target Center. Indiana: The Pacers put together seven wins in eight games from to climb three games over .500 but are back at the break-even mark after three straight losses. Head coach Nate McMillan is experimenting with different lineups in an effort to jump-start an offense which ranks a middle-of-the-pack 15th in scoring on the season (105.4 PPG), including just 99.7 PPG during the team's current slide. Paul George (22.2-6.0-3.2) was moved to the shooting guard spot for a stretch in Monday's 109-103 loss to the New York Knicks, with swingman C.J. Miles (10.6 slotting into the small forward spot on the opposite wing. The Pacers' latest loss, at the hands of the New York Knicks, drew boos from the Pacers fans in Indianapolis. "They pay their money, their hard-earned money to watch us play. They got the right to do whatever they want," Pacers star Paul George told The Indianapolis Star on Tuesday. "It doesn't hurt me. It doesn't hurt my feelings. Just know we work harder off of cheers than boos." Minnesota: The Timberwolves are finally beginning to hear some cheers. The season got off to a disappointing start under new head coach Tom Thibodeau but Minnesota is beginning to figure things out on both sides of the ball. It's great news that after going 0-10 in games decided by four or fewer points, the T-wolves have won each game in their three-game streak by three points or less! Tuesday's 112-111 win over Phoenix that was capped by an Andrew Wiggins buzzer-beater. That shot put the finishing touches on his 31-point night, which elevated Minnesota to just 2 1/2 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. "In the fourth quarter, you have to have the courage to take and make, and he does," Thibodeau told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about Wiggins (22.0 & 4.3), now in his third season with the Timberwolves. "So the more he does it, the more comfortable he's going to get. We all have a lot of confidence in him." Wiggins is averaging 27.3 points on 50 percent shooting in the three games while Towns (22.4 & 11.9), who battled foul trouble in Tuesday's triumph but still managed a double-double, is averaging 29 points on 67.3 percent shooting in that span.
The pick: The Timberwolves were also benefited from the return on Tuesday of PG Ricky Rubio (7.9 & 8.0 APG), who missed Sunday's game following a death in the family and shook off trade rumors to produce 14 points and 10 assists in Phoenix. It seems obvious that Thibodeau has finally made some inroads on improving Minnesota's defense but expect the Pacers to score some here plus the suddenly-jelling T-wolves should have little trouble scoring on an Indiana team playing at its seventh different venue in a row since Jan. 12th. The Pacers are allowing just barely under 110 PPG on the road. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-25-17 | Flyers v. Rangers OVER 5.5 | Top | 2-0 | Loss | -104 | 11 h 49 m | Show |
The set-up: The 23-19-6 Philadelphia Flyers are in Madison Square Garden tonight to take on the 31-16-1 NY Rangers. New York's 63 points are the fifth-most in the Eastern Conference but unfortunately for the Rangers, that point total is only good enough for fourth-place in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division (the Flyers' 52 points leave them well behind the Rangers).
Philadelphia; Captain Claude Giroux halted a 12-game goalless drought by delivering the game-winner in OT against the Islanders on Sunday, ending the team's nine-game road skid (0-7-2). "I think we were searching for a big win, and hopefully that was a win to get us over the hump," Giroux said. Wayne Simmonds also scored for only the second time in 11 games, his team-leading 19th tally, lifting Philadelphia to just its fourth win in 16 games since rattling off 10 straight victories. NY Rangers: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has emerged from an ugly slump to spark a turnaround for New York, which looks to make it four wins in a row in tonight's contest. Lundqvist allowed16 goals in three appearances during a five-day span but he has bounced back by permitting four goals during a three-start winning streak, including a 1-0 overtime shutout of Detroit. "He's our most important player. We didn't give him good enough help for a stretch there," forward Mats Zuccarello said of Lindqvist. He's, in my opinion, the best goalie in the world." The pick: The Rangers have already won twice at Philadelphia this season, extending their winning streak to five games in the series. In fact, Madison Square Garden has been a house of horrors for the Flyers, who have won only once in their last 12 visits to New York. Lundqvist has dominated the Flyers with a 33-13-4 record and four shutouts in his career but the Rangers are the second-highest scoring team in the league and average almost 3 1/2 goals per game at home (3.46), while allowing almost three per game (2.88). The Over is an 8* play. |
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01-25-17 | Heat v. Nets UNDER 214 | Top | 109-106 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: The 15-30 Miami Heat head out on the road for a quick two-stop road trip, on the heels of sweeping their recent four-game homestand. Their first stop is Brooklyn, where they'll take on the NBA-worst 9-35 Nets at Barclays Center. Miami: The Heat lost 10 of 11 games to fall to 11-30 but looked like a completely different team while sweeping a four-game homestand that included wins over two of the top three teams in the Western Conference (Golden State and Houston). A key has been Dion Waiters, who just recently returned form a groin injury. The Heat dropped 15 of the 20 games he missed but are 5-4 since he returned. Waiters scored 33 points and hit the game-winning three-pointer from the top of the key with six-tenths of a second remaining against the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, which followed a 33-point effort in Saturday win over the Bucks. Waiters' now has five career 30-point games. Let's not forget Miami's two All Star hopefuls, PG Dragic (19.5 & 6.3 APG) and center Whiteside (17.1 & 14.2). Brooklyn: The nets snapped an 11-game losing streak in scoring 143 points Friday in New Orleans but the follow ups have been a seven-point loss at Charlotte Saturday and a 112-86 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. In fact, Brooklyn's last home win is way back on Dec. 26, when Randy Foye's buzzer-beater knocked off Charlotte. Since then, the Nets are 1-13 and enter this game having dropped eight in a row at home. "I’m disappointed for the fans," Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "I think our fans are unbelievable the way they support us. I’m looking up in the stands at the end of the game ... I just ask for patience, and we’ll keep working at it and try to get better." The Nets took another hit on Monday, when the team announced that PG Jeremy Lin (he's played in just 12 games this season) would miss another three to five weeks after aggravating his hamstring injury during rehab. The pick: The Nets swept the four-game regular season series back in the 2013-14 season but Miami is 7-1 in the eight regular-season meetings, since. Throw in its victory in the 2014 Eastern Conference semifinals and Miami 11-2 in the last 13 meetings. However, it's hard to ignore the fact that the Heat are just 1-12 SU over their last 13 road games and come in as the leagues' second-lowest scoring team, averaging only 98.9 PPG. Let's make the Under a 10* play. |
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01-23-17 | Sharks v. Avalanche UNDER 5 | Top | 5-2 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: The 29-16-2 San Jose Sharks are in search of a fifth consecutive victory, as they look to sweep a home-and-home series on Monday with the league-worst Colorado Avalanche. The Av's are 13-39-2 and with just 28 points, are double digits behind all NHL teams other than the Arizona Coyotes, who have only 34 points (no other team has less than 47!). |
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01-22-17 | Steelers v. Patriots OVER 50 | Top | 17-36 | Win | 100 | 151 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: Ben Roethlisberger is playing in the AFC championship game for the fifth time in his 13-year career but his first since 2010. His opposite number in his first-ever AFC championship game (in the 2004 season, his rookie year) was Tom Brady, who will line up for the Pats opposite Big Ben in Sunday's game as well. For Brady, it's his 11th conference game appearance, including an NFL record sixth in a row for Brady and the Pats. Big Ben owns two Super Bowl rings and is sixth with 13 all-time playoff wins, while Brady has four rings and the most playoff wins of any QB in NFL history with 23. Pittsburgh: The Steelers have won won nine consecutive games since a 35-30 loss to the Cowboys back on Nov. 13a nd while Big Ben has surely had a lot to do with Pittsburgh's success, the season "turned" for the Steelers when the team's coaches decided to make RB Le'Veon Bell a main focus of the offense. He led Pittsburgh to six straight wins, which clinched the AFC North from Weeks 11-16 (he sat out Pittsburgh’s Week 17 win), averaging 139.2 YPG on the ground plus added 42.6 YPG receiving (that’s 181.8 YPG from scrimmage!). Then came 167 rushing yards in the wild card win over the Dolphins, setting a new franchise single-game playoff record. If that wasn't enough, Bell broke his own record last Sunday night in Pittsburgh's 18-16 win at KC, running for 170 yards. There really aren't words to describe how well Bell is playing. That said, don't forget Big Ben, who threw for 3,819 yards (in 14 games) with 29 TDs and just 13 INTs or WR Antonio Brown, who caught 106 passes with 12 TDs! Roethlisberger's had a quiet postseason so far, while Antonio Brown has made more noise from the locker room than on the field. However, I expect to 'hear' plenty from both on Sunday. Pittsburgh's defense did not have an overall dominant season but from Weeks 11-16, when it clinched the team's division title, the Steelers led the league with 21 sacks, while allowing just 16.2 PPG. Then came the wild card win in which the Dolphins were held to 12 points and then the Chiefs to 16. New England: However, keeping the Pats in check at home, is quite another matter. Houston led the NFL in yards allowed this season and last weekend, held the Pats to 98 yards rushing (on 3.6 YPC) plus was able to force Brady into just 18 completions in 38 attempts while intercepting him twice (Brady had been picked off just twice in 432 regular season attempts). Houston also recovered a New England fumble but the Pats still managed to score 34 points and cover an outrageously high pointspread. However, anyone expect Brady to play that poorly again? He sat out the season's first four games (you may have heard why) but returned to throw for 3,554 yards in just 12 games, completing 67.4 percent with 28 TDs and two INTs (112.2 QB rating). Most of that came without Gronk but with Brady, it just never seems to matter who his receivers are. For all the talk about New England's offense, the Patriots permitted a league-low 15.6 PPG in the regular season and ranked third in rushing defense (88.6 YPG) on 3.9 YPC. The Pats held six of their last seven opponents to 17 points or less. Then came the game against Houston, which was held to 285 yards and 16 points (went 3 of 16 on third down!), while Osweiler was intercepted three times and sacked another three times.
The pick: So what we have is two playoff-tested QBs leading offenses which can score but both face defensive units at the top of their respective games. Let me note that the Steelers haven’t faced a strong offense or an elite QB since November and this elite QB (Brady), is coming off a very un-Brady-like performance. Brady was suspended for the Pats' first three home games but in the six he's played this year (including last weekend), New England has averaged 31,7 PPG. The Steelers weren't able to finish off drives against KC (settled for six FGs) but in order to stay close to New England, the Steelers will have to put the ball in the end zone. I'm not about to buck New England at home but also I'm not willing to lay this many points to a team on a nine-game winning streak. Instead, the Over is a 10* play. |
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01-22-17 | Rangers v. Red Wings OVER 5.5 | Top | 1-0 | Loss | -104 | 5 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: Th 29-16-1 NY Rangers meet the 20-19-7 Detroit Red Wings in an early afternoon game in Hockeytown. Two "Original Six" teams will be looking to build off some recent solid play, as they meet for the second time this season (Rangers lost 2-1 to the Red Wings on Oct. 19 at Madison Square Garden). NY Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist ended a dispiriting stretch last time out and the veteran goalie looks to build off that effort in this one. Lundqvist had allowed 20 goals in his previous four contests but turned aside 23-of-25 shots in a 5-2 victory at Toronto on Friday, as the Rangers snapped a three-game slide. After giving up 16 goals during a three-game skid, not only received a good effort by Lundqvist but they also received two goals from Michael Grabner, who continues to be one of the best free-agent signings after last season. He has 21 goals, the second-most in his career behind the 34 he posted with the New York Islanders in 2010-11. “He’s been one of our best players all year,” New York forward J.T. Miller told reporters. “He scores a lot of goals for us at some big times.” Detroit: The Red Wings coughed up a late lead and lost 3-2 in overtime at Buffalo on Friday but earned a point for the fourth straight game (3-0-1). points in four straight (3-0-1). Detroit also has a goalie on the rebound, as Petr Mrazek earned them three points in the last two games with performances that were better than the statistics (57 saves, 62 shots). “He looks like he’s on top of his game. He’s got a swagger,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told reporters of Mrazek. “I think he’s certainly trending in the right direction.” The Red Wings have rebounded from a three-game losing streak earlier in the month. "I think we've been playing pretty good. We got seven out of eight points. If we keep playing like that and keep getting points like that, we will be happy," said Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg.The pick: The Rangers have lost seven of their last eight in Detroit, including three overtime losses. Yes, Lundqvist is off a solid start but he had been shaky (see above) and is 0-1-2 with a 3.94 goals-against average all time in Detroit. The Rangers are the NHL's highest scoring team with 163 goals and actually average a shade more on the road, (3.52 GPG) than they do in all games (3.50 GPG). The Over is an 8* play. |
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01-22-17 | Warriors v. Magic OVER 223.5 | Top | 118-98 | Loss | -110 | 4 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: The 37-6 Golden State Warriors, to no one's surprise, own the NBA's best record as we near the All Star break and this afternoon will be in Orlando to take on the 18-27 Magic.
Golden State: The Warriors are the league's highest scoring team at 118.0 PPG, shooting an NBA-best 50.1 percent from the floor, including 38.5% on threes (2nd-best). However, a big reason the Warriors are once again at the top of the league's standings is that they are first in the league in defensive rating, giving up 101.1 points per 100 possessions. Golden State holds opponents to 43.2% on FG attempts and 31.7% on three-point shots, both figures are tops in the league! The Warriors have three players averaging 21 PPG or more. Durant (26.3-8.5-4.7) is averaging almost 30 points the last five outings and has matched Curry (24.6-4.1-6.1) with nine consecutive games of at least 20, although Thompson (21.1) has been held to 30 combined points the last two contests. Then there's forward Draymond Green, who brings it all together for Golden State, leading the team in rebounds (8.7), assists (7.7) and steals (1.98), while settling to average a modest 10.8 PPG. Here's another stat which makes Golden State's season special. The Warriors have dished out at least 30 assists in 30 games this season and are 29-1 in those contests! Orlando: The Magic's season started out with promise but has quickly fallen apart.The etam returned home Friday from a 1-5 road trip and is beginning to lose contact with the 'playoff pack.' First-year Orlando coach Frank Vogel preaches discipline on the defensive end and ball movement on the offensive end, but the players are not buying 100 percent into the system. "We don't play the right way," center Nikola Vucevic told the Orlando Sentinel after the Magic's 118-98 loss at New Orleans on Wednesday. "We can play as hard as we want -- as long as we keep playing like this, this is how it's going to be. It's hard for certain guys to keep giving effort when you don't do the right things out there. We take bad shots. We play selfish. It's embarrassing. We've been losing to everybody by 20. It's bad, man." However, the Magic showed much more energy than it did in the previous game against the Bucks on Friday, in a 112-96 win. Orlando received a big effort from Jeff Green (18 points, seven rebounds, two blocks) off the bench. Elfrid Payton has also raised his level of play for the Magic, averaging 20.2 points and 7.4 assists the last five games. Payton’s efforts have been needed badly with guards Evan Fournier (heel), C.J. Wilcox (Achilles) and Jodie Meeks (thumb) out. The pick: Beating the struggling Bucks (Milwaukee is currently on a five-game slide) is one thing but the Warriors are another story. Orlando allowed an average of 113.7 PPG on its six-game road trip, so don't make too much of them holding the slumping Bucks to just 96 points. The Warriors have won the last six in the series, including a 130-114 triumph at Orlando last season.Yes, Golden State's defensive starts are awesome but note that Warriors are also allowing 105.0 PPG, which ranks just 17th . The Over is an 8* play. |
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01-21-17 | Kings v. Bulls OVER 204.5 | Top | 99-102 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 56 m | Show |
The set-up: The 16-26 Sacramento Kings opened an eight-game road trip with a 107-91 loss at Memphis last night and play again tonight in Chicago, against the 21-23 Bulls. Sacramento: The Kings have flopped on the team's recent seven-game homestand, losing six of seven of seven, with defense being their main problem. The Kings allowed at least 106 points in each loss during the homestand and they are now on an eight-game road trip covering 12 days. The loss last night at Memphis was the team's ninth in 11 games and the Kings will play the rest of the season without Rudy Gay (18.7 & 6.3), ruptured his left Achilles tendon. on Wednesday. Gay's absence was noticeable against the Grizzlies, as only two players other than Cousins managed to score more than eight points. Guard Garrett Temple contributed 14 points, and guard Ty Lawson added 13 points off the bench. DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 27.8 PPG, which is the best production of his seven-season career. Despite his numbers (he also averages 10.0 RPG), he was left out as a starter for the Western Conference All-Star team in favor of Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis. Chicago: The Bulls lost 102-93 on Friday night in Atlanta but Jimmy Butler (24.7-6.7-4.8) will return to Chicago for the first time since he was named an Eastern Conference starter in the All-Star Game. It marks Butler's third selection to the event and his first as a starter. However, Dwayne Wade (18.4-4.1-3.8) will need to bounce back from one of his worst performances of the season, as he matched a season low with four points on 2-of-10 shooting from the floor against the Hawks. The "new-look" Bulls may not be as good as last year's team, which missed the playoffs.
The pick: That said, the Bulls have won six straight home games in the series and eight of the past nine.The Kings have shown little interest in playing much defense these days and that makes the Over an 8* play. |
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01-21-17 | Lightning v. Coyotes OVER 5 | Top | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 12 h 55 m | Show |
The set-up: The 21-21-5 Tampa Bay Lightning have played better defensively recently but the offense has suddenly gone stone cold, managing just five goals in the last four games. The Lightning are hoping the 13-26-6 Arizona Coyotes will give them an opportunity to get things turned around tonight at Gila River Arena.
Tampa Bay: The Lightning welcomed back defenseman Victor Hedman, who took part in a full practice on Friday in Arizona. Hedman, a Norris Trophy candidate with 38 points (second among NHL defensemen), has missed the last three games with an undisclosed illness but could return to the lineup against the Coyotes. Tampa Bay needs the help, as center Steven Stamkos (knee surgery) is out at least until March, center Brayden Point (upper body) is out until February, right winger Ryan Callahan (upper body) is out two more weeks and right winger J.T. Brown (upper body) is day to day. Arizona: The Coyotes sit in last place in the Pacific Division and the team's 32 points is better than only the sad-sack Avalanche (27). Arizona has dropped four straight contests after a 4-3 loss at Minnesota on Thursday but the Coyotes expect to have Martin Hanzal (nine goals) back in the lineup after the veteran center missed the last two games for a personal reason. Arizona shook things up Thursday when it sent left wing Anthony Duclair and center Laurent Dauphin to the AHL, activated center Ryan White and recalled 19-year-old forward Christian Fischer, who could make his NHL debut. The pick: Arizona has allowed 19 goals in its last five outings, including 10 in its past two. Goalie Mike Smith could get to face his former team after being rested Thursday, but he gave up six goals in his last start. Tampa Bay should break out of its scoring slump, here. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-21-17 | Alabama v. Auburn OVER 141 | Top | 64-84 | Win | 100 | 8 h 56 m | Show |
The set-up: It's Alabama at Auburn in Saturday college hoops but it's not quite the rivalry the football teams have when playing the annual Iron Bowl game. Alabama is 11-6 (4-1 in the SEC) and Auburn comes in 12-6 overall but just 2-4 in league play.
Alabama: The Crimson TIde have won six of their last seven games, following back-to-back triumphs at LSU (81-66) and home to Missouri (68-56). Alabama out-rebounded Missouri 39-31, the 10th straight time the Crimson Tide have out-rebounded their opponent. Head coach Avery Johnson was also pleased at how his team put together a solid all-around performance, telling reporters after the game: "I thought this was another game where we saw the potential for us to become a balanced basketball team. The ball was just moving. We weren't just standing around. They weren't looking at me trying to get a play call. We were ready to shoot." The Crimson Tide ranks last in the SEC in scoring at 68.6 PPG but allows just 62.2 PPG, which ranks 17th-best defense in the nation. Freshman forward Braxton Key leads the team in scoring (10.2) and rebounding (5.8). Guard Dazon Ingram (9.7-5.0-3.9 assists) is on the verge of becoming the Crimson Tide's second double-digit scorer, having reached the mark in five of his last seven games. Auburn: Unlike the Tide, the Tigers have struggled in SEC play, although the Tigers did beat LSU 78-74 on Wednesday, giving head coach Bruce Pearl his 500th career victory. "(I'm) just blessed to be at Auburn and go to work every day trying to reward (Auburn) for letting me be their coach," he told reporters following the game. Again, unlike Alabama, Auburn allows 75.9 PPG, tied for the second-highest total among SEC teams. Freshman guard Mustapha Heron leads the team in scoring (15.7) and fellow guard Harper chips in with 12.9 PPG. Auburn received some promising news Friday with word that 6-7 freshman forward Danjel Purifoy could return here (he ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.7 PPG and rebounding at 5.8 RPG). The pick: Alabama has won 10 of the past 13 meetings and the Tide don't play in (or win) many shootouts but they have averaged 74.5 PPG their last two games. Don't forget that Auburn is one of the SEC's worst defensive teams, so expect a higher scoring game than the over/under number indicates. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-20-17 | Blackhawks v. Bruins OVER 5 | Top | 1-0 | Loss | -134 | 10 h 59 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-14-5 Chicago Blackhawks avoided a third consecutive loss by scoring three unanswered goals in the third period Tuesday, rallying for a 6-4 victory over Colorado. They'll be in Boston tonight to take on the 23-19-6 Bruins, with speculation growing that head coach Claude Julien's tenure with the Bruins could be coming to an end. Chicago: "Good response,” Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said after his team avoided a third consecutive setback and also halted a three-game road losing streak in beating the Avalance. Then again, Colorado is the NHL's worst team with only 13 wins and 27 points. Quenneville shuffled his lines Tuesday, moving the slumping Marian Hossa (he's mired in a 10-game goalless drought) away from captain Jonathan Toews and on a line with rookies Vinnie Hinostroza and Tanner Kero, who scored two goals apiece. Rookies accounted for five of Chicago's six goals against Colorado. Boston: The Bruins are in a rut with just three wins in their nine games (3-4-2) in 2017 and blew a pair of three-goal leads in Wednesday's 6-5 shootout loss at Detroit. Returning home is hardly a guarantee of success for Boston, which remains under .500 (10-11-0) at TD Garden this season. The team "collapsed" in Detroit, which followed a listless 4-0 home loss to the lowly New York Islanders. "Honestly, right now, it's about making sure we go back and we have to find a way," Bruins center Patrice Bergeron said. "It's unacceptable what just happened the last two games." The talk shows are filled with the chatter. Social media is filled with tweets. Is Claude Julien about to lose his job coaching the Boston Bruins?
The pick: Corey Crawford, who has started the last five games in the Chicago net, won't start in Boston, where Scott Darling gets the call. Darling is 2-1 with a 3.40 goals against average and .905 save percent in his career against Boston. I expect a spirited effort from the Bruins and Chicago's last five games have seen an average of seven goals scored. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-19-17 | Avalanche v. Ducks OVER 5 | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -140 | 14 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 13-28-1 Colorado Avalanche own the NHL's worst record (just 27 points) and they visit the Honda Center tonight to take on the Anaheim Ducks. Colorado: The Avalanche have won only four of their last 24 games and the team's GM, Hall of Famer Joe Sakic, has made it known that virtually every player on his roster is available for trade. That includes the Avalanche's two best veterans: center Matt Duchene, the team's leading goal scorer, and left winger Gabriel Landeskog, the team captain.Adding insult to injury, goalie Semyon Varlamov will not play until after the All-Star break. He sustained a groin injury Dec. 22 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and in three since, has lost all three while conceding 11 goals.Anaheim: In stark contrast to Colorado, the Ducks have begun 2017 with seven victories in their first nine games (7-1-1) to take over first place in the Pacific Division with 59 points (Anaheim owns the Western Conference's third-best record). The future is now for the Ducks, especially with such key players as Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa ranging between 31 and 35. Goaltender John Gibson has allowed just 11 goals in his last eight games (6-1-1), including a 33-save performance in a 4-1 win at Colorado Jan. 12. The pick: There's just no reason to take the Avalanche they way they are playing right now but the price is just too high to take the Ducks. However, the Av's have lost eight games since Christmas (up against a 2-1 OT win), allowing 4.5 goals per game in those losses. The Over is a 10* play |
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01-18-17 | Pacers v. Kings OVER 214 | Top | 106-100 | Loss | -107 | 14 h 4 m | Show |
The set-up: The 16-24 Sacramento Kings close a seven-game homestand tonight when they face the 21-19 Indiana Pacers, who are opening a three-game Western road trip. Indiana: The Pacers come in having won six of their last seven but but five of thoise games were played at home (Pacers won all five, while splitting teh two road games). The Pacers are led by George (22.0-6.1-3.3), Turner (15.6 & 7.7) and Teague (15.6-4.1-8.0)but have eight others averaging between 5.9 and 11.8 PPG. However, defense has been an issue for most of the season, as the Pacers allow 106.8 PPG (23rd).
Sacramento: The Kings have flopped on the team's seven-game homestand, losing five of the first six. Defense has been a problem for Sacramento, as with Indiana, as the Kings allowed at least 106 points in each loss during the homestand and 120 or more in the last two. Throw in the fact that the Kings also committed 43 turnovers in their last two defeats, and it's easy to see why the homestand has been a disaster. The pick: However, despite the team's disappointing homestand, the Kings are still just one game out of the West's final playoff. The Kings need to win here, as after this contest, it's 12 days away from home in which they'll play eight games. The Pacers should play the perfect foil, as they are 5-14 SU & ATS on the road, allowing more than 110 PPG. However, can the Kings be trusted, the way they've played defense lately? The Over is the safer choice. Make it a 10*. |
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01-18-17 | Denver v. Nebraska-Omaha UNDER 156.5 | Top | 88-97 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 28 m | Show |
Nebraska-Omaha: The Mavericks come in on a three-game winning streak, after defeating the Western Illinois Leathernecks 86-72, this past Saturday. Omaha used a 14-0 run early in the game to take a 20-7 lead and led the entire second half. Omaha is averaging 81.8 PPG. Guard Tyus is averaging 15.5 PPG to lead the team with the 6-7 Thurman averaging 13.2 PPG and a team-best 8.3 RPG. The backcourt also features two other double digit scorers in Jackson (11.6 & 5.1) plus PG Holins (10.8), who is also handing out 6.6 APG. Throw in the 6-8 Hahn (10.9) up front and that makes five double digit scorers. |
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01-17-17 | Mavs v. Bulls OVER 196 | Top | 99-98 | Win | 100 | 12 h 46 m | Show |
The set-up: The 21-21 Chicago Bulls will try to win their third game in a row and climb back above .500 when they host the 13-27 Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. The Bulls are coming off victories over the New Pelicans (Saturday at home) and Memphis Grizzlies (Sunday at Memphis), while the Mavs may be feeling more confident after back-to-back wins over the Suns (Thursday in Mexico City) and the Timberwolves (Saturday at home).
Dallas: Andrew Bogut (3.0 PPG but 9.1 RPG) has missed the consecutive wins because of a strained right hamstring and is not expected to play against Chicago, which means head coach Rick Carlisle could again turn to a smaller lineup that includes three guards and two forwards.That's what he's done in the two wins, starting guards Matthews (15.2), Williams (14.0 & 6.9 APG) and Seth Curry (10.1), along with Barnes (20.6 & 5.4) and Nowitzki (13.5 & 5.5 in just 15 games). Chicago: Bulls guard Dwyane Wade expects to return to the starting lineup after sitting out the second game of a back-to-back set Sunday against Memphis. Wade is averaging 18.9 PPG in his first season with his hometown team. However, the "new look" Bulls have looked disjointed this season and head coach Fred Hoiberg may be on the 'hot seat!' However, the healthy return of Jimmy Butler is good news for Chicago. He suffered from an illness going around the locker room and sat out two losses before returning on Saturday and guiding the Bulls to back-to-back wins. He checks in averaging 24.8-6.8-4.6 on the season but Wade looks old and Rondo (7.2-6.0-7.0) just hasn't fit in (can he fit in anywhere, these days?). The pick: Surprisingly, the Mavericks had no problem with the Bulls when they hosted them back on December 3rd, winning 107-82 despite missing Dirk Nowitzki. The Bulls should get their revenge here (Mavs are just 4-16 SU on the road, not counting that win in Mexico City) but with that small lineup for Dallas, I see a higher scoring game than the over/under number indicates. Make the Over an 8* play. |
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01-17-17 | Illinois v. Purdue OVER 144 | Top | 68-91 | Win | 100 | 11 h 40 m | Show |
The set-up: Illinois is 12-6 (2-3 in Big Ten) and travels to West Lafayette to take on the 21st-ranked Purdue Boilermakers, who are coming off a frustrating 83-78 loss this past Thursday night at Iowa, an opponent the Boilermakers crushed 89-67 in the Dec. 28 conference opener. Purdue is 14-4 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten. Illinois: the Fighting Illini face a tough week, playing at Purdue tonight and then at Michigan on Saturday. Losses in both games and Illinois will be at 2-5 in league play. Illinois owns a solid trio of guards in Malcolm Hill (18.2), Tracy Abrams (9.9) and Jalen Coleman-Lands (9.1) but that trio was a collective 8 of 29 from the floor (scored just a combined 20 points!) in the team's 62-56 home loss against Maryland on Saturday. Illinois' best frontcourt player is the 6-7 Black (10.2 & 6.9) but has some excellent size as well, with the 6-10 Morgan (10.1 & 3.9), the 6-10 Finke (7.2 & 4.7) and the 6-11 Thomas (5.9 & 4.2). Purdue: Gone from last year’s 26-win team is the 7-0 A.J. Hammons, who led Purdue in scoring at 15.0 PPG (also added 8.2 RPG). However, Purdue has a strong frontcourt in the 7-2 Haas (13.3 & 5.5) surrounded by 6-9 power forward Swanigan (18.2 & 12.6) and 6-8 SF Edwards (12.0 & 5.1). Freshman guard Carsen Edwards (10.3) leads a group of solid perimeter players, including Mathias (9.8 & 4.1 APG), Thompson (7.6) and Cline (7.2). Purdue is an excellent offensive team (82.6 PPG ranks 25th) on 48.5% shooting (27th).
The pick: Purdue head coach Matt Painter believes the Boilermakers must stay the course, after the loss to Iowa. "Any time you are in a race, you really watch it when it gets to the halfway point," Painter said of the Big Ten's 18-game, regular-season schedule. "When you are playing or coaching, you just look at the next game." Illinois has lost its only two true road games this season (both Big Ten affairs) by an average of 20.5 points and the Fighting Illini are just 11-27 in Big Ten road games under fifth-year coach John Groce. Meanwhile, Purdue is 40-6 at home, including 18-3 in Big Ten play, since the start of the 2014-15 season. The Boilermakers will score but note that their perimeter defense is suspect, as Minnesota guard Nate Mason had 31 points in a New Year's Day victory and Iowa guard Peter Jok scored 29 in Thursday's victory in Iowa City. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-16-17 | Thunder v. Clippers OVER 212 | Top | 98-120 | Win | 100 | 11 h 30 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-14 Los Angeles Clippers ended 2016 on a six-game losing streak but have opened 2017 by winning six in a row, by an average of almost 11 points per game. They can match the best start to a calendar year in franchise history with a seventh straight victory when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. Coach Jack Ramsay led the franchise to a 7-0 start in 1974 when it was in Buffalo. The 25-17 Thunder handed the Clippers the last of their six straight December losses by routing LA 114-88 in OKC back on New Year's Eve. Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook (17-12-14) had a triple-double in that Dec 31 win (real shocker there!) and comes off scoring 36 points along with 11 rebounds and 10 assists Sunday, after going 2-for-24 from behind the arc in his previous three contests. OKC won 122-118 last night in Sacramento, as second-leading scorer Victor Oladipo (16.4) came up big Sunday with 23 points, his highest total since Nov. 30. Westbrook (30.9-10.7-10.5) notched his 20th triple-double of the season Sunday and now is set for a Staples Center showdown with LA's Chris Paul. LA Clippers: LA's current win streak is the team's longest run since the Clippers won seven in a row in November and opened the season with a 14-2 mark. By the way, one of those losses was an 85-83 setback to the Thunder at Staples on Nov. 2, meaning OKC is 2-0 against LA this season. The Clippers are still without injured All-Star forward Blake Griffin (knee), who was averaging 21.2-8.8-4.7. However, PG Chris Paul (17.7-5.4-9.8) is back on the court and recorded his third double-double in four games Saturday in a 113-97 rout of the Lakers Center DeAndre Jordan, who is second in the league in rebounding (13.9), came up with a huge performance in Saturday’s victory with 24 points on 12-of-13 from the floor, 21 boards and two blocks. “He was as dominant a force as you can have in the NBA,” Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “He disrupted everything. He makes you not want to drive or be near the basket.” The pick: The Clippers have averaged 107.7 PPG during their six-game winning streak and OKC is allowing 107.7 PPG on the road this season. Expect the Thunder to trade points with the Clippers, making the Over a 10* play. |
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01-15-17 | Pistons v. Lakers OVER 211.5 | Top | 102-97 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up:The 18-24 Detroit Pistons end their five-game, nine-day road trip tonight at Staples Center with a game against the 15-29 Lakers. The Pistons opened the trip with a 125-124 double-OT win at Portland but are 0-3 SU & ATS, since. Meanwhile, the Lakers enter on an 0-3 SU & ATS run as well, following having won three of their previous four. Detroit: The Pistons were one of the league's better defensive teams for the first part of the season (still rank 5th on the season, allowing 101.1 PPG) but they've allowed 115.3 PPG on this road trip plus have allowed opponents to connect on 49.6 percent (59 of 119) of their three-point attempts during the first four games of this trip. Utah made 16 of 31 three-point attempts on Friday in a 110-77 blowout that left Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy disgusted with himself and his defense. "We can't stop anybody. We just can't," Van Gundy lamented. "I mean for the first 21 games we were the second-best defensive team in the league and now we are one of the worst. I'm frustrated. Not with our players, I'm frustrated with myself that I can't figure this out. I mean, we literally can't stop anyone, ever."La Lakers: Los Angeles hasn't played any better this week, losing its last three games by an average of 25.7 PPG The Lakers were dominated by the Clippers on Saturday afternoon, 113-97. They allowed the Clippers to shoot 52.2 percent and got overpowered by center DeAndre Jordan, who piled up 24 points and 21 rebounds (good news for Andre Drummond?). The Lakers utilized their 14th different starting lineup Saturday, inserting leading scorer Louis Williams (17.5) into the starting lineup for the first time. Williams led the starters in the scoring column but with only 13 points, as fellow guards D'Angelo Russell and Nick Young combined for 16 on 5-of-16 shooting. The pick: The Lakers are a poor defensive team, allowing 110.3 PPG (26th) on 48.0 percent shooting, which ranks dead-last in the NBA. However, they have won five straight meetings at home against the Pistons. Do I really trust LA? The answer is no but the over is an 8* play. |
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01-15-17 | Cincinnati v. East Carolina UNDER 122 | Top | 55-46 | Win | 100 | 7 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: Mick Cronin's Cincinnati Bearcats are 14-2 (4-0 in the AAC) and ranked 22nd, as they visit the 9-9 (1-4 in the AAC) East Carolina Pirates on Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats are coming off a 66-64 win Thursday night at SMU, prevailing despite 1-of-10 shooting and two points from leading scorer Jacob Evans. East Carolina may be a motivated team today, as this is the last time it'll play for head coach Jeff Lebo for a while. Lebo is undergoing hip surgery on Monday and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Cincinnati: Evans is a 6-6 guard and while he had an awful night at SMU, he ;leads the Bearcats with 14.3 PPG. he's joined in the backcourt by PG Caupain (10.4-5.7-4.7) plus big men Washington (13.6 & 7.4) and Clark (10.4 & 6.8) are also double digit scorers. The Bearcats shoot well (48.4% ranks 31st) and as always, play tough D. Cincy holds opponents to 61.6 PPG (111th) on 36.3% shooting (2nd). East Carolina: The Pirates should be motivated to pallaa ranked team and send Lebo off a winner but the Pirates don't have anyone upfront to combat Washington or Clark. However, ECU does own a nice trio of guards in Tyson (11.9), White (11.4) and Barkley (10.9). Let's also note that the Pirates are 8-3 SU at home and like Cincy, know how to play defense. On the season, ECU is allowing 62.6 PPG (17th) on 38.0% shooting (8th). The pick: "I've been dealing with this pain for a couple of years and it has become increasingly unbearable," Lebo said. "The best thing for my personal welfare as well as my family and our team is for me to have this done right away." The Pirates may be motivated but the team just can't score, averaging 62.7 PPG (338th) on 40.5% shooting (319th). ECU only stays close in a slow-paced defensive game (alright with Cincy). Make the Under a 10* play. |
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01-14-17 | Blues v. Sharks UNDER 5 | Top | 4-0 | Win | 123 | 15 h 33 m | Show |
The set-up: The 21-16-5 St. Louis Blues will be in San Jose tonight to take on the 25-15-2 Sharks. The Blues are playing the second of a three-game swing through California, while the Sharks begin a seven-day stretch in which San Jose will play four games at home and one in Los Angeles. St. Louis: The Blues are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, their second straight loss and third in four games. St. Louis needs to improve its road play, as with a 5-11-1 record, the Blues are tied with the Canucks and Coyotes for the fewest road wins in the Western Conference. "This isn't one guy or two guys. This is a collective effort that, we need to be better," captain Alex Pietrangelo said. Goalie Jake Allen is 17-11-3 but he's been pulled early in each of his last two starts, after surrendering six goals on 26 shots over just 45 minutes! San Jose: The Sharks return home after splitting two games in Alberta, a trek during which it posted a 5-3 victory at Edmonton on Tuesday but dropped a 3-2 decision in Calgary the following night. The Sharks fell two points behind Anaheim for first place in the Pacific Division with the setback and are just one ahead of the Oilers but they have two games in hand on both clubs.The Sharks announced Friday that Dylan DeMelo suffered a broken right wrist in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. DeMelo, who has a goal and three assists in 14 games, underwent surgery Thursday and will miss eight weeks. Also on Friday, Mirco Mueller was reassigned to San Jose of the American Hockey League. Mueller, the Sharks' first-round pick in the 2013 draft, had a goal and an assist in three games.
The pick: Jake Allen has won only three of his last 11 starts (3-7-0) and has been pulled in two straight and three of his last five. However, he is 1-0-1 with a 2.87 goals-against average in San Jose during his career. Meanwhile, the Sharks are just 2-4-1 in their last seven regular-season games against the Blues at SAP Center. San Jose goalie Martin Jones has yielded 10 goals en route to a 1-1-1 record this month in San Jose but his first 14 home games, gave up a total of just 22 goals while posting a 10-4-0 record. The Under is a 10* play. |
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01-14-17 | Spurs v. Suns OVER 213 | Top | 105-108 | Push | 0 | 10 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: Nearly 20,000 people packed the Mexico City Arena on Thursday night to watch the Suns fall to the Dallas Mavericks 113-108, in a game between two of the NBA's worst teams. However, Phoenix guard Devin Booker did provide a crowd-pleasing 39-point performance. Tonight, Mexican basketball fans will get treated to one of the NBA's best, as the 31-8 the San Antonio Spurs will be the Suns' opponent when Phoenix (just 12-27) "hosts" a second consecutive game in the nation's capital. Phoenix: Booker scored 28 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter and went 9-of-11 from the floor in the period against the Mavs. He was 14-of-20 for the game, including 7-of-10 from three-point range. It was his fourth straight game scoring at least 22 points and he's shooting 55 percent from the floor in those games. He's averaging 19.8 PPG and along with Bledose (20.1-4.9-5.8), gives the Suns an impressive starting backcourt (Knight averages 12.2 off the bench). However, only small forward T.J. Warren (14.1) scores in double digits among frontcourt players. The pick. Phoenix is a poor defensive team (ranks 29th in allowing 112.0 PPG) and the Spurs have scored 100 or more points in 16 straight games, their longest streak since 1995 (note: Kawhi Leonard has scored in double figures in 71 straight games). The Spurs also own nine straight wins over the Suns, with an average margin of victory of 19 points. San Antonio will want to give the international audience a 'show,' so the Over is a 10* play. |
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01-13-17 | Celtics v. Hawks OVER 212.5 | Top | 103-101 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-14 Boston Celtics will be in Atlanta tonight to take on the 22-16 Hawks, who currently own the NBA's longest active winning streak at seven in a row. The Celtics also are hot, winning 11 of their past 14 games but the biggest storyline in this game will be the return of Al Horford. He signed a big FA deal during teh off-season with Boston, after playing his first nine seasons with the Hawks. “It’s a new experience for me,” Horford told reporters after Boston’s 117-he8 victory over Washington, “but I have a job to do here with our team.” Boston: Horford is averaging 15.3 PPG and 6.9 RPG in his first season with Boston, along with career highs in assists (4.9), blocked shots (1.9) and free-throw percentage (84.5 percent). Guard Isaiah Thomas scored 38 points in his 400th career NBA game Wednesday on 14-of-29 shooting, and entered Thursday fourth in the league in scoring at 28.2 points per game. Thomas (28.2 & 6.1 APG) has scored 20 or more points in 23 consecutive games, surpassed in team history by only John Havlicek (40 games) and Kevin McHale (30 games). Atlanta: The Hawks are averaging 106.4 PPG during their winning streak while holding six of seven opponents to fewer than 100 points (an average of 96.1 PPG and two games have gone to OT!). Horford’s replacement at center is Dwight Howard, who is averaging 14.0 PPG and 13.4 RPG (ranks third in the NBA in rebounds), plus he's also fourth in FG percentage at 63.2 percent. PG Dennis Schroder averages a team-best 17.8 PPG and has bumped that to 20 points per contest during the winning streak (no one misses Jeff Teague). Atlanta's seven-game winning streak has allowed them to regain first place in the Southeast Division and the team is longer listening to trade offers for forward Paul Millsap (17.6 & 8.2). Millsap and Horford (see above) were cornerstones of a team that won 60 games two seasons ago, but it appeared both would be gone when the Hawks lost 10 of 11 games and rumors of a dismantling started to swirl.
The pick: This will be the third game in four nights over three cities for the Celtics, who were without five players but still won for the fifth time in six games on Wednesday against Washington at home. Boston will be without G Avery Bradley (18.0 & 7.0), center Tyler Zeller and G/F James Young on Friday but is hoping starting forward Amir Johnson (6.6 & 4.5) and reserve forward Jaylen Brown will be available (both missed Wednesday’s game with sprained ankles). Don't be too sure. Intensity should be high for this game but the Celtics have played TWELVE straight overs! Why buck that trend, here? The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-13-17 | Blackhawks v. Capitals OVER 5 | Top | 0-6 | Win | 100 | 12 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 27-12-5 Chicago Blackhawks have 59 point, which is the most of any Western Conference team. The 27-9-5 Washington Capitals also have 59 points, which leaves them one point behind Columbus in the East's Metropolitan Division, a top-heavy league which features four teams with 57-plus points.The two hook up tonight in Washington. Chicago: The Central Division-leading Blackhawks bring a four-game winning streak into Friday's game with the Capitals. However, all four wins have come at home, including Tuesday night's 4-3 overtime victory against the Red Wings. Chicago improved to 17-6-5 in one-goal games. The Blackhawks led 2-0 against Detroit, then trailed 3-2 before winning in OT on Duncan Keith's goal. "We've been finding ways to win," Keith told the Chicago Tribune. "We do a lot of good things. But there have been times where we still have to be better, whether it's lapses in the game or whatnot. I thought we did what we had to." Keith is one of four Blackhawks with more than 30 points, led by top-10 NHL scorers Patrick Kane (12 goals, 33 assists) and Artemi Panarin (17 goals and 25 assists). Vet Marian Hossa has notched an assist in two of his last four games since working his way back in the lineup following a five-game absence due to an upper-body injury. Goalie Corey Crawford has yielded 13 goals in his last five outings (4-1-0). Washington: The Caps have won seven straight and along the way ended runs by Columbus (16 games) and Pittsburgh (five games) here at Verizon Center. Washington snapped Chicago's seven-game winning streak in the team's first encounter (back on Nov. 11) and look to put an end to the Blackhawks' current four-game run on Friday. Veteran forward Nicklas Backstrom collected a goal and three assists on Tuesday to increase his team-leading point total to 38, with 29 coming in his last 27 games. Alex Ovechkin's goal at 35 seconds of the first period got the Capitals started against the Penguins on Wednesday night. It was Ovechkin's 1,000th career point and he added a power play goal in the second period (he has 21 goals and 35 points this season).
The pick: The Verizon Center has been a graveyard for visiting teams' winning streaks as of late and may be again for Chicago. However, I'm playing the Over, as the Caps have scored 29 goals in their seven-game winning streak (4.14 per) and Chicago goalie Corey Crawford owns a 3.26 GAA versus Washington. Holtby's hot for teh Caps but Chicago has scored 15 goals (3.75 per) in its four-game winning streak. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-11-17 | Penguins v. Capitals OVER 5.5 | Top | 2-5 | Win | 114 | 12 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The 26-8-5 Pittsburgh Penguins are 13-1-2 in their last 16 games but they are likely to remember the 7-1 shellacking they took from the Caps back on Nov. 6. The 26-9-5 Washington Capitals join the Penguins and the New York Rangers (all have 57 points) in a second-place logjam behind Columbus (28-8-4, 60 points) in the top-heavy Metropolitan Division. |
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01-11-17 | Rockets v. Wolves UNDER 219 | Top | 105-119 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 31 m | Show |
The set-up: The Houston Rockets beat the Charlotte Hornets 121-114 last night, for the team's ninth consecutive win. Houston is 20-2 its last 22 and now only the 33-6 Warriors and 30-8 Spurs own better records in the entire NBA. Minnesota gets set to host the Rockets but at just 12-26 on the season, few teams have been as a big a disappointment as the Timberwolves. Houston: Harden scored 40 points with 15 rebounds and 10 assists (his second straight triple-double and 11th of the season) to become just the third player since the 1985-86 season to record back-to-back games with a triple-double and 40 points, according to STATS, LLC. Last night's effort also made him just the fourth player in NBA history with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in back-to-back games, as he'll come into Minnesota averaging 28.5-8.4-11.9 on the season. The Rockets typically have little trouble with Minnesota but the Timberwolves gave Houston a battle back on Dec. 17 before collapsing late in regulation and succumbing 111-109 in overtime. That was Houston's eighth straight win over Minnesota and its 12th time in its last 13 meetings with the T-wolves. Minnesota: The T-wolves have a terrific young trio in Wiggins (21.9 & 4.2), Towns (21.7 & 11.6) and LaVine (20.4) but the team's record just doesn't reflect the team's talent level. Minnesota has 12 losses this season when leading by double-digits and led by 12 points with 2:19 left in the game the last time it met Houston. However, the Rockets closed regulation on a 14-2 run, then won in OT. Minnesota saw a 21-point lead vanish at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday but never lost the lead and won 101-92, to snap a four-game losing streak.
The pick: Some bad news for Minnesota is that LaVine left Monday's game with a hip contusion and is listed as questionable (LaVine scored 24 points in the previous matchup with the Rockets). Tyus Jones (3.3 PPG in about 10 1/2 minutes of PT) entered Monday when LaVine left the game and scored seven points in 11 minutes. The little-used, second-year guard could see more playing time if LaVine is out. The Timberwolves are still searching to find a way to keep from slipping in the second half of games but with that December game at home vs. the Rockets still fresh in their minds, I expect a big effort from Minnesota, while catching Houston in a back-to-back situation. The Under is a 10* play. |
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01-10-17 | Red Wings v. Blackhawks OVER 5 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 23 m | Show |
The set-up: The 26-12-5 Chicago Blackhawks will try to complete a perfect four-game homestand when they host the 17-18-5 Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night in a matchup of Original Six rivals. Chicago owns a two-point lead over Minnesota atop the Central Division, although the Wild have four games in hand, while Detroit is anchored in the basement of the Atlantic Division (tied with Buffalo) with just 39 points.
Detroit: The Red Wings are coming off a 6-3 loss at San Jose, their 21st loss in the past 32 games (11-16-5). Detroit has been unable to string together more than back-to-back wins, unable to build any kind of momentum. Could help be on the way? The Detroit Free Press reported Monday that the Red Wings could get forward Justin Abdelkader and defenseman Mike Green back against the Blackhawks. Abdelkader has four goals and four assists in 22 games this season but has been out since Dec. 1 with a sprained MCL. Green, who has been dealing with an unspecified ailment, was injured on Dec. 17 and has seven goals and 11 assists in 32 games. Both skated with the Red Wings on Monday. Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill told reporters on Monday that he will decide Tuesday if the pair will play in Chicago. Chicago: The Blackhawks were mired in a 1-4-1 tailspin that included three straight defeats at United Center before rebounding with three consecutive victories. “We talked about having a good homestand and every game’s been pretty close," Chicago star forward Patrick Kane said after Sunday's 5-2 win over Nashville. "... It’s nice to get that third one and kind of build off of that. Hopefully we’re trending in the right direction.” The Blackhawks are 16-4-4 at the United Center on the season.The pick: The Red Wings are playing their sixth of a seven-game road trip and are allowing 3.10 GPG on the road this season, while the Blackhawks have averaged 3.08 GPG at home. The Over is an 8* play. |
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01-10-17 | Hawks v. Nets UNDER 214 | Top | 117-97 | Push | 0 | 10 h 24 m | Show |
The setup: The 21-16 Atalanta Hawks will play at Barclays Center against the 8-28 Brooklyn Nets. The Hawks enter on a six-game winning streak, while the Nets have lost six in a row. Atlanta: This current win streak is the Hawks' second six-game run of the season, as Atlanta also won six in a row from Nov. 5-16, opening the season at 9-2. However, Atlanta then lost 14 of its next 20 before getting a 102-98 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Dec. 28, which began the current streak. Schroder (17.7 & 6.2 APG) has done a good job taking over at PG for the traded Teague but the jury is still out on Howard (14.0 & 13.3), who was signed after losing Horford to Boston. Millsap (17.7 & 8.2) is as steady as they come and the Hawks enter this came on a 5-0 ATS run, as they complete a four-game road trip.
Brooklyn: The Nets are still without PG Jeremy Lin (13.9 & 5.8 APG in 12 games, including nine starts) and his replacements are struggling to ignite the offense without turning the ball over. Isaiah Whitehead took his turn as the starting point guard on Sunday instead of Spencer Dinwiddie or Sean Kilpatrick and committed six of the team's 22 turnovers. "It’s just errors, just bonehead plays, just not being myself when I have the ball, not being careful," Whitehead told reporters. "... It’s tough to go from off the bench to starting and starting to off the bench because it’s two different feels of the game. Once I learn how to do both, I think I’ll do better at both of them." Brooklyn averages 17.3 and committed 22 Sunday to mark the 17th time the Nets gave it away at least 17 times.
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01-09-17 | Thunder v. Bulls OVER 207.5 | Top | 109-94 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The 22-16 Oklahoma City Thunder will be in Chicago tonight to take on the 19-18 Bulls. Russell Westbrook is coming off his 17th triple-double of the season in the Thunder's 121-106 victory against the Denver Nuggets and will go head-to-head with the Bulls' Jimmy Butler, who comes into Monday's game against the Thunder after a 42-point performance Saturday at the United Center in the Bulls' 123-118 overtime win against the Toronto Raptors. Oklahoma City: The Thunder's win against Denver ended a three-game losing skid, but things are looking up after Westbrook's latest triple-double and the return of reserve guard Cameron Payne from a broken bone in his foot. Payne made his season debut against Denver with eight points, two rebounds and an assist on 3-of-4 shooting -- including 2-of-3 from the 3-point line. His presence should be a welcome relief to Westbrook, who's been shouldering most of the scoring load. Oladipo () has been OKC's only other perimeter scoring threat besides Westbrook. Chicago: Westbrook (31.4-10.6-10.3) is already one of the favorites to win the NBA's MVP race but Butler's scorching-hot recent play could vault him into the MVP conversation. "You can see it," Bulls guard Dwyane Wade told CSNChicago.com of Butler. "He wants it. So many guys have talent. The mentality it takes, even if you're having a bad game -- like (in) Cleveland, he wasn't shooting well -- to still be able to do it in the clutch. That's special. He's putting himself in the category of special." Butler (25.6-6.9-4.5) is the odds-on favorite to win the league's Player of the Week award after averaging 38 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the Bulls' three games last week (all wins).
The pick: OKC will be playing for the fifth time in eight days, while the Bulls have climbed over .500 with three straight wins last week. Chicago's averaged 115.7 PPG in its wining streak (110.7 in regulation) and a typical OKC road game this season has averaged 111.9 PPG, as OKC has allowed 108.7 PPG away from home. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-08-17 | Magic v. Lakers UNDER 216.5 | Top | 95-111 | Win | 100 | 13 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The 16-22 Orlando Magic will be at Staples Center tonight to take on the 14-26 LA Lakers. This marks the opening of a daunting six-game, 10-day road trip with games after this against the Clippers, Blazers, Jazz, Nuggets and Pelicans. The Lakers won for only fifth time in their last 20 games Friday night but the team and their fans were quite happy with the 127-100 rout of the Heat, as the Lakers recorded a season high in points.
Orlando: The Magic kick off this six-game road trip coming off a 100-93 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday. The Magic have lost their last two and four of their last five contests.The Magic's defense has hurt them for teh last month but they had to be encouraged by holding the high-scoring Rockets to 14 points under their average. Orlando's youngsters remain inconsistent and scoring consistently remains an issue, as the Magic rank 27th in points scored (99.0), 24th in FG percentage (43.9) and 29th in FT percentage (71.4). LA Lakers: LA's 14 wins may not be all that impressive but when one considers LA is coming off 17 and 21 wins the last two seasons (over 82-game schedules), those 14 wins in 40 games provide a 'light at the end of a tunnel.' Luke Walton has four guards who can score in starters Russell (15.6 & 4.6 APG) and Young (14.5), along with Williams (18.1) and Clarkson (13.9) off the bench. The 6-8 Randle (13.7 & 8.7) is having a solid season, although SF Deng (8.2 & 5.9) is well past his prime and center Mozgov (8.0 & 4.4), as the Lakers and their fans are finding out, never has nor never will, have a prime! The pick: The Lakers are a poor defensive team, allowing 110.1 PPG (26th) on 47.8% shooting (30th) but the Magic don't have the skill to take advantage of LA's defensive shortcomings. The Magic took advantage of the Lakers concluding a seven-game, 12-day road swing to post a 109-90 win back on Dec. 23 in Orlando, as the Lakers had nothing left in the tank. This is a perfect revenge spot for LA but also for a 10* play on the Under. |
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01-08-17 | Dolphins v. Steelers OVER 47 | Top | 12-30 | Loss | -108 | 139 h 9 m | Show |
The set-up: The 10-6 Miami Dolphins lost starting QB Ryan Tannehill to a left knee injury in a Week 14 game with the Cardinals. The Dolphins selected Tannehill in the first round of the 2012 draft and he had started the first 77 games of his career. However, veteran Matt Moore went 3-of-5 for 47 yards and directed the game-winning FG drive to beat the Cards and then led Miami to wins the next two weeks at the Jets and Bills, each time leading Miami to 34 points! The Dolphins hadn’t made the playoffs since winning the AFC East back in 2008 and this marks just the team's second postseason appearance since 2001. Pittsburgh suffered a four-game losing streak during a five-week span (Weeks 6-10) but ended the regular season on a seven-game winning streak to win the AFC North at 11-5. So what else is new, as the Steelers are in the postseason for the seventh time in Mike Tomlin’s 10 years as head coach (two Super Bowl appearances with one win). Miami: Matt Moore had attempted just 35 passes since the start of the 2012 season when he stepped in to replace Tannehill but in his relief appearance against the Cards plus in starts against the Jets, Bills and Pats, he’s completed 63.2% with eight TDs, three INTs and earned a QB rating of 105.6. Tannehill’s sprained left knee is healing faster than expected and Miami’s first-year head coach Adam Gase has declined to rule him out but Gase did indicate that Matt Moore is the likely starter. "Matt is preparing for the game, he's the starter," Gase said. "Unless something changes drastically here in the next two days or three days, he's going into this thing. He's the starter.” The Dolphins beat the Steelers 30-15 back in Week, a game in which Big Ben played poorly in (19 of 34 for 189 yards with one TD and two INTs) and left near the end with an injury. The star of that game was RB Ajayi, who ran for 204 yards, his first of three 200-yard outings by the second-year back. He’s got 1,272 yards on the season (44.9 YPC and eight TDs) but about half of his rushing yards have come in those three, 200-yard games. Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin is taking him seriously, saying “We are not going to pretend like Jay Ajayi's 200-yard day was a lightning strike. No, it was very real. I don't think it's appropriate to take that approach. He ran for 200 yards twice against the Buffalo Bills this year.” Miami’s offense was mediocre this year (22.7 PPG ranked 17th) and its defense shaky, allowing 382.6 YPG overall (29th), including 140.4 YPG on the ground, which ranks 30th. Pittsburgh: The Steelers’ season turned when the team's coaches decided to make RB Le'Veon Bell a main focus of the offense. He ran a season-low 10 times against Miami in Week 6 but in leading Pittsburgh to six straight wins, which clinched the AFC North from Weeks 11-16 (he sat out Pittsburgh’s Week 17 win), he ran for an average of 139.2 YPG on the ground plus added 42.6 YPG receiving. That’s 181.8 YPG from scrimmage! He recorded at least 20 carries in each of his last six games before sitting out Week 17 and was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December/January. Yes, Bell has been the offensive spark but there is nothing wrong with Big Ben, who threw for 3,819 yards (in 14 games) with 29 TDs and just 13 INTs or WR Antonio Brown, who caught 106 passes with 12 TDs! Pittsburgh's defense did not have an overall dominant season but from Weeks 11-16, when it clinched the team's division title, the Steelers led the league with 21 sacks, while allowing just 16.2 PPG. The pick: Expect Pittsburgh to remember its 30-15 Week 6 loss at Miami and look closer at Miami’s 10-6 record in 2016. The Dolphins have been out-scored by 17 points on the season (note: Pittsburgh has a plus 72 scoring differential). Miami needed OT to beat the 1-15 Browns at at home and needed a late goal-line stand at home to hold off the 2-14 Niners. Miami's defense is banged up and got blasted 38-6 by the Ravens, 38-6, allowed 589 yards to Buffalo two weeks ago and almost 400 yards this past Sunday to the Patriots in a 35-14 home loss. The QB matchup of Matt Moore (no postseason experience) or a less than 100% Tannehill (also with no playoff experience) up against Big Ben, who has led the Steelers to three Super Bowls (two wins) and owns 11 playoff wins is an obvious mismatch but this pointspread is really high. Moore's been able to put points on teh board with this Miami offense but the Dolphins' D doesn't figure to slow Bell and Big Ben. The Over is a 10* play.
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01-07-17 | Jazz v. Wolves OVER 194.5 | Top | 94-92 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up:The 11-25 Minnesota Timberwolves.return from an unsuccessful 0-2 road trip to host the 22-15 Utah Jazz on Saturday night. The teams meet for the second time this year, the first being a 112-103 Jazz win here at Target Center back on Nov. 28.
Minnesota: Friday's 112-105 loss at Washington was Minnesota's third straight and sixth time in its last eight. Andrew Wggins (22.3 & 4.3) posted his second 40-point game of the season by scoring 41 against the Wizards but Minnesota squandered a lead after three quarters, which is nothing new. "We're finding different ways to (lose)," Minnesota ead hcoach Tom Thibodeau told the Timberwolves Radio Network after Friday's loss. "It's disappointing." Just two nights earlier, the Timberwolves fell behind the 76ers by 26 points before clawing their way back. A three-pointer by Ricky Rubio in the final seconds seemed to guarantee overtime but Philadelphia scored with under a second remaining to deal the Timberwolves yet another disappointing finish. Joining Wiggins in averaging 20-plus points are Towns (21.5 & 11.6) ) and LaVine (20.7) but the T-wolves continue to disappoint, owning one of the league's worst records. The pick: The Jazz allow the fewest points in te league and that keeps this over/under low enough to make a play on the over. The last time these teams met here the final ended on 215. That sounds about right, again. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-07-17 | Rangers v. Blue Jackets OVER 5.5 | Top | 5-4 | Win | 108 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The 27-13-1 New York Rangers visit Nationwide Arena Saturday in Columbus to take on the 27-6-4 Columbus Blue Jackets. Both teams play in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division, as four of the division's teams rank among the top-five in the Eastern Conference. Columbus currently sits atop the division with 58 points but that's just three points more than the third-place Rangers. NY Rangers: The Rangers have won four of their last five, including a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday (have won 11 of their last 16). They own a league-leading 14 wins on the road this season (14-6-0) and the team's 141 goals (3.39 per) make them the league's highest-scoring squad. Henrik Lundqvist is 9-4-1 with a 2.49 goals-against average versus Columbus and is expected to be in goal tonight, looking to avenge a 4-2 loss he and the Rangers suffered at the hands of the Blue Jackets in Columbus back on Nov 18.
Columbus: The Blue Jackets came up one victory shy of matching the longest win streak in NHL history, as their 16-game winning streak ended with a 5-0 loss at Washington on Thursday, the team's first defeat since Nov. 26. Columbus must quickly regroup, as the Blue jackets host the Rangers, who had a seven-game winning streak in the series halted in that 4-2 loss at Columbus on Nov. 18. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky leads the league in wins (25) and owns a .930 save percentage. He was in net for 14 of the 16 games during the streak but allowed five goals on just 23 shots against the Caps. The pick: Lundqvist and Bobrovsky are top-notch goaltenders but the Rangers average 3.35 GPG on the road, while the Blue Jackets average 3.84 GPG at home. The Over is a 8* play. |
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01-06-17 | Grizzlies v. Warriors UNDER 216 | Top | 128-119 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: The Golden State Warriors own the league’s best record at 31-5 and host the 22-16 Memphis Grizzlies tonight at Oracle Arena. The Warriors will be looking to avenge one of their most lopsided losses of the season tonight, as back on Dec. 10 at Memphis, the Grizzlies took down Golden State, 110-89. The Grizz had better watch out. The Warriors have had a chance to avenge just one other defeat this season and 19 days after the Lakers crushed the Warriors 117-97 in LA, Golden State blasting the Lakers 149-106 in Oakland. This time round, the Warriors have had 27 days to stew over the loss at Memphis. Memphis: The Grizzlies rank third in points allowed (98.6 PPG) but they’ve have struggled defensively of late, allowing 112 or more points in each of their last four losses during a 2-4 run. Memphis head coach David Fizdale noted in the wake of Wednesday's 115-106 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers that he believes his team knows what it'll take to turn things around against the Warriors in the finale of a four-game trip. "If you can't be up to play Golden State, then you are in the wrong business," he said. "I look at every game as an opportunity to turn it around. We obviously aren't defending at the levels we like. We gave up 116 (Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers) and 115 (against the Clippers). That's very uncharacteristic of us." Golden State: The Warriors are 4-0 on their current homestand, although all of the wins have come by between eight and 10 points, as the Warriors are 1-3 ATS. Golden State is an NBA-best 16-2 at home but must cover outrageous pointspreads, leaving them 8-10 ATS. There’s no need to list the team’s “Core 4,” which is the envy of every GM in the league. Golden State is the league's highest-scoring (117.5 PPG) and best-shooting (49.1%) team in the NBA. However, back in Memphis on Dec. 10, the Grizzlies held Curry to 17 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the floor and his backcourt sidekick Klay Thompson was held to eight points (also on 4-of-14 shooting). Golden State shot just 44.2 percent in the game and the league leaders in assists at 31.2 per game were limited to 15, with the team's 89 points representing its lowest scoring output this season. The pick: I expect Golden State to gets its revenge but note that while Golden State is an offensive ‘machine,’ it also ranks first in defensive FG percentage (43.%), as well as three-point percentage (32.6%). Meanwhile, Memphis ranks 28th (of 30 teams) in scoring at 98.8 PPG, on 42.3 percent shooting (30th!). The Under is a 10* play.
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01-06-17 | Islanders v. Avalanche UNDER 5.5 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 13 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The 15-15-6 NY Islanders are in Denver to take on the 12-25-1 Colorado Avalanche. The Islanders have struggled to meet expectations this season.,as they last in the Metropolitan Division, which currently has the top three teams -- in terms of points -- in the NHL. However, the Avalanche have been pretty much ice-cold all season and currently have has lost five in a row and 10 of their last 11 games. (they're also on a 10-game winless streak at home). NY Islanders: The Islanders haven't played since beating the Jets 6-2 in Winnipeg on Saturday and should be fresh for Friday's game. Captain John Tavares collected a goal and an assist in that New Year's Eve win and is now just two points shy of becoming the 10th player in Islanders' history with 500 career points. The Islanders’ offense certainly has improved, as it has erupted for 55 goals in the last 16 games (3.43 average) after mustering just 48 in the initial 20 (2.40). However, New York's main problem this year has its inability to close out games. The Islanders have held third-period leads in 32 of their 36 games this season but check in as a .500 team. Colorado: the Avalanche own just one win since Dec. 11 and that was a Dec. 23rd win at Chicago, 2-1 in OT. Colorado has mustered just 17 goals en route to losing 10 of its last 11 games heading into this contest, the opener of a four-game homestand. "We made stupid mistakes again," forward Joe Colborne said after Wednesday's 4-1 setback in Calgary. "We keep talking about it and we don't execute." The pick: New York goalie Thomas Greiss has yielded just five goals en route to winning three straight starts and is 6-1-0 with a 2.29 goals-against average in his last seven. Considering the avalanche has scored only 17 goals in their last 11 games, the Under is a 10* play.
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01-05-17 | Spurs v. Nuggets UNDER 213 | Top | 127-99 | Loss | -102 | 12 h 14 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-7 San Antonio Spurs own the second-best record in the NBA (Warriors are 31-5) but do own the league’s best road record at 16-3. The 14-21 Denver Nuggets are trying to break a three-game losing streak that includes two losses at home to teams with sub-.500 records, leaving Denver just 7-10 SU & ATS at home on the season. San Antonio: The Spurs cruised to an easy 28-point home victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and this is only the second of three road games in a 12-game span for San Antonio. Leonard (24.0 & 5.9) and Aldridge (17.5 & 7.3) have established themselves are the spurs’ top-two players but that San Antonio depth is still there, as seven other Spurs play regularly and average between 6.0 and 12.2 PPG. Gasol tops that list at 12.2 & 7.9 plus Parker is up to 11.1 PPG (4.6 APG) after averaging 18.8 points on 56.9 percent shooting in the last four games. Denver: "We have the worst defense in the NBA, that’s the bottom line," Denver head coach Mike Malone told reporters after a 120-113 home loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. "It’s embarrassing how we go out there and attempt to defend every night. That’s something that we have to try to fix as soon as possible because it’s at an all-time low right now. That is a huge concern of mine." Actually, Denver ranks 27th (of 30 teams) by allowing 110.5 PPG but Malone is referring to the Nuggets allowing an average of 123.7 points during the team’s current three-game slide The pick: The Spurs have won 10 of their last 12 overall coming in and have had plenty of success lately vs. the Nuggets. They’ve won five of six the last three seasons at Pepsi Center and have won 10 of 11 overall against Denver, as the Nuggets snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series with a 102-98 home win on April 8 of last season. (note: Popovich sat Aldridge, Leonard, Parker and SG Danny Green in that game). Expect the Nuggets to respond defensively to Malone calling out their poor play recently plus note that the Spurs rank second in the NBA, allowing just 97.8 PPG. the Under is a 10* play.
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01-05-17 | Predators v. Lightning UNDER 5.5 | Top | 6-1 | Loss | -120 | 11 h 35 m | Show |
The set-up: The 16-14-7 Nashville Predators and the 19-16-4 Tampa Bay Lightning meet tonight. Both teams were expected to be among the league's elite this season but as the calendar has turned to 2017, both sit on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. If there's been a common theme that has kept both teams from enjoying a better season up to this point it’s been the lack of any consistency. Nashville: "The whole season, consistency has been a problem," Nashville defenseman Roman Josi said. "We have a good game, then the next one is not good enough to win. We have to find that consistency and play the same way." The Predators are still missing All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban (back), who expects to remain out for at least another two-to-three more weeks. The Predators have won consecutive games only once since the end of November and have been unable to find the kind of consistency that made them one of the toughest teams in the Western Conference over the past two seasons. Tampa Bay: The Lightning have won more than two consecutive games only once since winning four straight from Nov. 14 to 19. "There's been games where we give up nine or 10 scoring chances and then there are games we are giving up double that," Lightning associate coach Rick Bowness said Wednesday, a day after Tampa Bay was handled by Winnipeg. "So where is the consistency, that's the biggest issue." Tampa Bay had won four of six and picked up points in seven of its previous nine games but on Tuesday, Winnipeg jumped to a three-goal lead in the second period and held on for a 6-4 victory. The pick: Tampa Bay has been without captain Steven Stamkos (knee) for seven weeks and the team just doesn’t look right. For all of the Predators’ inconsistencies, Nashville has won three straight on the road, after a 3-9-2 start to the season away from home. Nashville’s allowed just three goals during its three-game road winning streak and the Under is an 8* play tonight.
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01-04-17 | Rangers v. Flyers UNDER 5.5 | Top | 5-2 | Loss | -120 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 26-13-1 NY Rangers are off 4-1 loss to the Sabres last night in MSG and tonight travel to Philadelphia to face the 20-14-5 Flyers. The 4-1 defeat halted New York’s three-game winning streak, as the Rangers had 19 giveaways, something that must be corrected here. Philadelphia returns home from a disappointing 0-3-1 road trip that concluded with a shootout loss in Anaheim on Sunday and included shutout defeats in New Jersey and San Jose. However, the Flyers have been playing well at home, with a 7-0-1 record at Wells Fargo Center since dropping a 3-2 decision to the Rangers back on Nov. 25. NY Rangers: Goalie Henrik Lundqvist allowed four goals on 19 shots in the loss to the Sabres and could sit the second end of the back-to-backs in favor of Antti Raanta (10-4-0, 2.28 GAA & .921 save percentage). Expect the Rangers to turn the page quickly from one of their most lopsided losses, as otherwise, it’s been an impressive season. "I wish I would had an answer," center Derek Stepan (tem-leading 30 points) said when asked about what was ailing the Rangers. "Whoever figures that one out is going to be a very rich man or woman. ... For me, our execution tonight is really what surprised me. We just weren't even close." Philadelphia: The Flyers are coming off that 0-3-1 road trip to New Jersey, St. Louis, San Jose and Anaheim and have now gone 1-4-2 since their 10-game win streak ended last month. "This wasn't our best road trip," Flyers right winger Wayne Simmonds told Phillynews.com. "The games in St. Louis and San Jose, we thought we needed to compete harder and battle more. We did that (in Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss in Anaheim). Steve Mason (14-12-5, 2.78 GAA & .904 save percentage) has started 21 of the last 23 games for the Flyers and is expected to get the call on Wednesday. The pick: Philadelphia has scored just six goals in its 0-3-1 slide but has allowed just 18 goals in its 7-0-1 run at home. The Under is a 10* play in this one.
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01-04-17 | Thunder v. Hornets OVER 208.5 | Top | 112-123 | Win | 100 | 10 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 21-14 OKC Thunder are in Charlotte tonight to face the 19-16 Hornets. The Thunder are battling the 22-14 Utah Jazz in the Northwest and the Hornets are hoping to hold off the 18-16 Atlanta Hawks in the Southeast. Oklahoma City: Many (most) feel Russell Westbrook is the MVP front-runner, as he continues to record one triple-double after another (enters this game 30.9-10.4-10.5 on the season). The Thunder began a three-game road trip on Monday but lost 98-94 in Milwaukee. Westbrook scored 30 points (the 30th time he's reached that mark this season) but struggled from the floor, making 9 of 28 FG attempts. He was 0-for-8 in the third quarter when the Bucks took their first lead. However, the good news is that Victor Oladipo has been back the last two games, after sitting out nine games with a wrist injury. He’s OKC’s second-leading scorer at 16.1 PPG and he hasn’t seemed to miss a beat, averaging 16.5 PPG in his two games back. OKC needs him, as the team's backcourt and the Thunder’s two-headed center combo of Kanter (13.4 & 6.0) and Adams (12.0 & 7.7) are the team’s core. Charlotte: Kemba Walker doesn’t get the accolades Westbrook does but he’s likely just as important to the Hornets as Westbrook is to the Thunder. Walker is quietly putting together a strong season (23.0-4.2-5.4) and is making his case to be an Eastern Conference All-Star. He led Charlotte with 34 points and 11 rebounds (his fifth double-double of the season) in the Hornets’ 118-11 Monday loss at Chicago and has a combined 71 points over the past two games, shooting a sizzling 63.4 percent. SF Batum (14.9-7.6-5.9) is one of the league’s most versatile players and the Hornets depth is impressive. Center Cody Zeller (10.7 & 6.2) is in the league's concussion protocol (listed day-to-day) and the Hornets also will be without sixth-man Marco Belinelli (11.0), who has missed several games with a sprained ankle. Still, Charlotte will have available seven others who average between 5.1 and 10.2 PPG. The pick: Oklahoma City comes to Charlotte with a 10-game winning streak in the series but the Thunder are just 8-8 on the road, allowing 107.2 PPG. The Hornets have been held under 100 points just once in the last eight games, averaging 109.5 PPG in that span, and we should expect a high-scoring contest in this one. Make the Over a 10* play.
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01-03-17 | Wolves v. 76ers OVER 204 | Top | 91-93 | Loss | -102 | 11 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: There were more than just a few “experts” who expected that the Minnesota Timberwolves would be able to challenge for a playoff berth under first-year coach Tom Thibodeau, heading into this season. However, as the Timberwolves take the court for the second time in 2017, they are just 11-23 on the season, attempting to dig out from the rubble of an unexpected poor start. There were no such expectations for the 76ers at the beginning of the season, especially when the NBA’s most-recent overall No. 1 pick (Ben Simmons), was hurt prior to start of the 2016-17 season. The 76ers host the T-wolves tonight at 8-24, a half-game better than the 8-25 Nets, who own the NBA’s worst record. Minnesota: Typical of Minnesota’s problems this season was in evidence Jan. 1 at home against Portland, when the T-wolves gave away a 12-point halftime lead on Sunday en route to a 95-89 home loss to the Trail Blazers. C.J. McCollum poured in a career-high 43 points for the Blazers and Portland outscored Minnesota 32-15 in the third quarter to take command. Minnesota is now 9-11 in games in which it has established a double-figure lead. "The thing that is concerning is the big halftime leads that we don't protect," head coach Tom Thibodeau said, "and we don't come out with the urgency and the understanding of playing a whole 48 minutes and how important that is and how hard you have to play." Few teams can match the Minnesota trio of Wiggins (22.1 & 4.2), Towns (21.5 & 11.5) and LaVine (20.9) but the bottom line is, the T-wolves own just 11 victories. A lack of defense is one of the big reasons, as the Timberwolves are 26th in the league in defensive efficiency, allowing 108 points per 100 possessions. Philadelphia: The 76ers know all about the lack of defensive intensity, as Philadelphia is 21st in the league in defensive efficiency (106.0) but then again, the 76ers are dead-last in offensive efficiency at 99.1 PPG, so pick your poison. A bright spot to the season is rookie center Joel Embiid who continues to excel, leading the team and all first-year players in scoring (18.9), rebounding (7.3) and blocked shots (2.4). He has been particularly effective starting alongside veteran forward Ersan Ilyasova (14.8 & 6.6), as the 76ers are a respectable 4-5 when the two start together. That includes last Friday's 124-122 victory in Denver, in which both scored 23 points, allowing the Sixers to salvage the finale of a four-game road trip. The pick: Minnesota crushed Philadelphia 110-86 at home back on Nov. 17, as Wiggins and Towns combined for 60 points and 20 rebounds. However, the Timberwolves have lacked the maturity to cover as road favorites in the past. That said, I do believe the Over is a strong play in this one (10*s).
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01-02-17 | Jazz v. Nets UNDER 203.5 | Top | 101-89 | Win | 100 | 18 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The Jazz allow the fewest points in the league at 94.7 per game, while the Nets allow the most, at 114.4 per. The Jazz will take their 21-13 record (tied with OKC for first-place in the Northwest Division) into Barclays Center tonight to face the 8-24 Nets, who are tied with the 76ers for the NBA's worst record. Utah: The Jazz have started well, despite the fact that this past Saturday's game (a 91-86 home win over the Suns) was just the third time this season that Utah had played with its preferred starting-five. So much for that, as PG George Hill (18.8 & 4.2 APG) was elbowed in the face by Phoenix center Alex Len in the closing seconds of the first quarter and exhibited concussion-like symptoms. "It's obviously frustrating, I think, for everybody," Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward told the Salt Lake Tribune of Hill. "For him, for sure. But I think for us too. Hopefully he has a speedy recovery." The story of George Hill's first season with Utah Jazz is told in flashes of brilliance on the court and long injury absences, Hayward (22.1-6.3-3.7) is Utah's best player, Hood (14.3) a solid SG and center Gobert (12.5 & 12.0) has become a double-double 'machine' (12 in his last 13 games, missing only when he had nine rebounds one time). Brooklyn: The Nets know what it's like to be without their starting PG, as Jeremy Lin (13.9 & 5.8 APG) has played in just 12 games this season, starting nine. He's missed the last two games with his second left hamstring strain and remains questionable. SGs Kilpatrick (15.5) and Bogdanovich (14.3) are solid scorers and center Brook Lopez (20.5 & 5.3) is the team's best player. However, Brooklyn's offense isn't its problem (se above). The Washington Wizards shot 56.6 percent from the floor in a 118-95 setback on Friday and the Nets acknowledged some bickering between players during the contest and held a players-only meeting after the loss. "We really have to have a level of trust that we haven’t had yet this season in one another," star center Brook Lopez told reporters. "We really can make each other and our team better together. The only way the system is going to work is if everyone buys in." The pick: With PG Hill out for Utah and Brooklyn PG Lin also not likely to play (Nets are 5-15 when he does not play), neither team will be at peak efficiency on the offensive end. Yes, the Nets are an awful defensive team but five of their last six have stayed under the total and the Under is an 8* play in this one, as well.
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01-02-17 | Blackhawks v. Blues OVER 5 | Top | 1-4 | Push | 0 | 11 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: The 23-11-5 St. Louis Blues finally get an opportunity to host their first outdoor game when the arch-rival Chicago Blackhawks (23-11-5) pay a visit Monday afternoon for the Winter Classic at Busch Stadium. The forecast calls for warmer temperatures and a chance of rain as the Blues become the 11th team to play in the annual contest while the Blackhawks are 0-2-0 in their Winter Classic appearances in 2009 and 2015. Chicago: The Blackhawks lead the Central Division of the Western Conference with 51 points (the Blues are in third-place with 43 points) byt have struggled lately, going 1-3-1 in their last five games.Artemi Panarin leads the team with 38 points after recording 15 in the last 10 contests and Patrick Kane boasts nine in an eight-game stretch to stand at 37 overall - giving the Blackhawks one of the best one-two punches in the league. However, veteran Marian Hossa, who shares the team lead with fellow forward Artem Anisimov at 16 goals, is not expected to play.The Blackhawks will also be without Marcus Kruger, who was placed on injured reserve on Sunday because of an upper-body injury suffered on Friday night. St. Louis: The Blues are looking forward to today's game. “You put it on your bucket list once they start doing those outdoor games,” St. Louis center Paul Stastny told reporters. “But to be able to host a Winter Classic, it’s not even a dream, you don’t even think about stuff like that.” H really use two points, as they come in after a 6-6-2 month of December. St. Louis finished an up-and-down month with a 4-0 loss to Nashville at home. “If we expect to win on a regular basis, we’re going to have to be way better five-on-five than the way we’re playing right now,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters. “We’re sitting there relying on our power play, relying on our penalty kill to win hockey games. We just have to create more. … give up less.” The pick: It's great to be part of the Winter Classic but a home game at Scottrade Center might have been a better situation, as the Blues are 14-3-4 on home ice. Rain is in the forecast and there is a possibility the game could be delayed or even postponed until Tuesday. "That's the fun part about these types of games, all the different kinds of challenges and things that you run into," Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith said. "I like that sort of thing, it's different, it changes it up." Assuming the game is played, the Over is a 10* play.
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01-02-17 | Iowa v. Florida OVER 40 | Top | 3-30 | Loss | -115 | 49 h 2 m | Show |
The set-up: Florida lost 54-16 in the SEC championship game against Alabama, after losing 31-13 to Florida State in its regular season finale. The Gators take an 8-4 record into Monday's Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla, up against the 8-4 Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa was punished 41-14 at Penn State but then earned a "signature" 14-13 win over then-No.3 Michigan on Nov 12, beat Illinois 28-0 and had a regular season-ending 40-10 rout over then-No. 16 Nebraska. Florida:The Gators were simply decimated by injuries on defense and were also without Luke Del Rio at QB for six of their 12 games in 2016. He's returned to practice but Florida head coach Jim McElwain has said Appleby, who faced Iowa last year while at Purdue, will get the nod. Appleby passed for 1,225 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions this year. However, expect Del Rio to see game action. The Florida defense allowed 14 or less points in eight of its first 10 games but then allowed a combined 85 points against rival Florida State and Alabama in its last last two. Many of those key defensive cogs are back for this one, which should infuse the team with some renewed energy The Gators, an SEC team, will own a major speed advantage over Iowa, a Big Ten opponent. Iowa: The Hawkeyes lost their top receiver (Matt VandeBerg) to a season-ending injury early on and coach Kirk Ferentz had to do a lot of mixing and matching on the offensive line. Senior quarterback C.J. Beathard (17 touchdown passes, seven interceptions) threw for only 290 yards combined the last three weeks as the running attack took over. LeShun Daniels Jr. (1,013 yards and 10 TDs) and Akrum Wadley (966 yards and 10 TDs) could become the first pair of Iowa RBs to go over 1,000 in the same season. Iowa averages 171.9 YPC on the ground (4.5 YPC) and don't forget, the Gators allowed 483 yards rushing against FSU and Alabama to close the year. The pick: Neither team has a 'pretty' offense but Florida averages 23.4 PPG and Iowa 26.8 PPG. Very few bowl totals have been this low. Yes, both teams have excellent defenses but Iowa and Florid have met twice before in the Outback Bowl with Iowa winning the 2004 contest 37-17 and Florida winning 31-24 in 2006 (similar finals would be just fine). Also note that Iowa was beaten 45-28 by another SEC team (Tennessee) in the Taxslayer Bowl in 2014. The Over is a 10* play. |
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01-01-17 | Flyers v. Ducks UNDER 5.5 | Top | 3-4 | Loss | -135 | 13 h 37 m | Show |
The set-up: It's a three-game NHL card on Jan. 1 and the last game will be 20-14-4 Philadelphia Flyers taking on the 18-12-8 Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. The Flyers will be looking to halt another post-Christmas skid, as they came out of the Christmas break losing the first five games two years ago, the first three last season and now the first two this year! The Ducks are happy to be home after surviving a brutal December schedule that saw them play 11 of their 15 games on the road, finishing 7-4-4 after Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss in Vancouver. Philadelphia: The Flyers' No. 1 goalie Steve Mason, who has started 20 of the past 22 games, left the San Jose game (Friday night) at the first intermission after he was hit on an exposed part of his hand by the stick of Joe Thornton as the Sharks center was skating through the crease. Anthony Stolarz was solid in relief, stopping 21 of 22 shots on goal. Mason took shots during practice in Anaheim on Saturday morning and told reporters he would wait until Sunday morning to see how he felt. However, Stolarz (2-0-0, 1,79 GAA & .938 save percentage) is expected to get the start in the finale of a four-game road trip. Anaheim: The frustration of the 3-on-3 overtime continued Friday for the Ducks, who fell to 0-7 in the five-minute period this season (with four of the losses coming in December) plus the Ducks are also 1-1 in shootouts this season. Anaheim has been able to earn points despite having its top offensive performers cool down, as leading scorer Ryan Kesler (31 points) has gone 11 games without a goal while captain Ryan Getzlaf has notched one point in his last five contests. The pick: Philadelphia has followed a 10-game winning streak, the team's longest in 31 years, by losing five of six, getting shut out twice in the last three games. The Flyers haven't defeated the Ducks since a 4-3 win back on Dec. 2, 2011 and have gone just 1-7-3 in their last 10 games against the Ducks. Anaheim has won seven straight in the series, including a 3-2 win on Oct. 20. The Under is a 10* play.
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01-01-17 | Saints v. Falcons OVER 56 | Top | 32-38 | Win | 100 | 72 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The 10-5 Atlanta Falcons have clinched the NFC South title but can still claim the No. 2 NFC seed and earn a week off when they host the 7-8 New Orleans Saints on Sunday in the final regular-season game at the Georgia Dome. As for the Saints, they are just looking to avoid a third straight 7-9 season. New Orleans: The Saints remain one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the league, as the age-less Drew Brees leads the NFL in passing yards (4,858) and has thrown for 35 TDs against just 14 INTs. The offense has torched the last two opponents, scoring 79 points and averages 29.1 PPG (2nd-best), while leading the NFL in total yards at 422.9 YPG. WR Brandin Cooks has 12 receptions for 284 yards and two TDs the last two games (75 catches and 8 TDs). Rookie Michael Thomas leads with 82 catches (also 8 TDs) and RB Ingram is poised to top 1,000 yards (940 so far, averaging 5.1 YPC). However, the running game is middle-of-the-road, averaging 107.3 YPG (18th). As usual, the Saints’ downfall has been a defense allowing 27.7 PPG (30th) on 369.4 YPG (25th). Atlanta: Matt Ryan was coming off a frustrating 2015 but has put up MVP-like numbers, passing for 4,613 yards with 34 TDs and just seven INTs to post a league-best QB rating of 115.5 .Star WR Julio Jones has fought injuries but still has 76 receptions for 1,313 yards with five TDs. The Falcons own a terrific RB duo in Devonta Freeman (983 rushing yards with 10 TDs and 49 catches with 2 TDs) and Tevin Coleman (476 rushing yards with 8 TDs and 28 catches with 2 TDs) .Atlanta ranks 7th with 119.1 YPG on the ground, nicely complementing Ryan, as the Falcons lead the NFL by scoring 33.5 PPG. The Falcons' D is no bargain, allowing 24.9 PPG (25th) on 364.4 yPG (23rd) but has come up with big plays when needed, including a league-high 14 1/2 sacks from LB Vic Beasley. The pick: Sometimes a game that looks/feels like a 'dead-nuts' over just is...The Over is a 10* play. |
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12-31-16 | Bucks v. Bulls OVER 202 | Top | 116-96 | Win | 100 | 10 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The 15-16 Milwaukee Bucks have already beaten the 16-17 Chicago Bulls in two earlier meetings this season, 108-97 back on Dec. 15 in Milwaukee and one night later, held the Bulls to a season-low point total in a 95-69 win at Chicago. Milwaukee: The Bucks hope wrap up the 2016 part of the current season by reaching .500 with a third straight win over the Bulls. However, the Bucks come into this contest losers of seven of their last 11 games.Milwaukee's issue is that while Giannis Antetokounmpo ("the Greek Freak") and Jabari Parkers are top-notch, the Bucks don't have another double digit scorer. Antetokounmpo (23.4-8.9-5.9) had 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting in Friday's 116-99 loss to Minnesota and has recorded 10 consecutive 20-point performances, averaging 27.2 during the stretch. Parker has enjoyed a strong month and scored 20 points against Minnesota for his fifth 20-point effort in six games. The former No. 2 overall pick is averaging 22.1 points with 11, 20-point performances this month after reaching the plateau just six times in his first 16 contests. Chicago: The "new look" Bulls may not be as good as last year's non-playoff team. Butler's (24.5-6.6-4.2) an All Star but Wade (19.2-4.1-3.6) is no longer a dominant player. As for Rondo (7.2-6.5-7.1), I'm not sure he's better than Carter-Williams. Chicago is an underachieving team and speculation has begun that coach Fred Hoiberg could be on the 'hot seat,' even though he's only in the second season of a five-year, $25 million deal. The Bulls missed the playoffs in his first season at the helm and haven't made upward strides despite the off-season signings of veteran guards Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. "I've got a job to do, which is to try and put this team in a position to go out and win basketball games," Hoiberg told reporters. "Like probably 24 other coaches, I'm trying to find a way for us to go out and play consistent basketball on a nightly basis." The pick: Teams typically aren't thrilled to be playing on New Year's Eve and I expect little defense to be played in this one. Make the Over an 8* play.
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12-31-16 | LSU v. Louisville OVER 59.5 | Top | 29-9 | Loss | -105 | 43 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: The 7-4 LSU Tigers will meet the 9-3 Louisville Tigers in the Citrus Bowl (Orlando), in a late-morning start (11:00 ET). QB Lamar Jackson toyed with defenses for most of 2016 en route to becoming Louisville's first Heisman Trophy winner but its he'll likely face his toughest test of the season on Dec. 31 against LSU, which ranks sixth in scoring defense (16.4 PPG ) and 14th in total defense (323.0 YPG) LSU: The Tigers opened the year No. 3 in the AP's preseason poll but lost its first game 16-14 in Green Bay to Wisconsin. When the Tigers lost 18-13 at Auburn on Sept. 24th to fall to 2-2, Les Miles was fired. Assistant Ed Orgeron replaced Miles and the team went 5-2, losing 10-0 to Alabama and 16-10 to Florida. However, Orgeron has been hired full-time and LSU will be a dangerous team in this one. That said, RB Leonard Fournette will not play after declaring for the NFL Draft earlier in the month. One year after rushing for 1,953 yards and 22 TDs (both school records), he was dogged by an August left ankle injury that forced him to miss four regular-season games in 2016. Despite missing nearly half the season, he'll leave as the Tigers' single-season leader in rushing yards per game (162.8), career rushing yards per game (119.7) and 200-yard games (five). Finding a QB (or passing game) will be "Job-1" for Orgeron moving forward, as LSU enters this contest ranking 101st of 128 FBS schools with 187.6 YPG passing. Louisville: The Cardinals were in contention for the College Football Playoff spot in mid-November but lost their final two games, at Houston and inexplicably at home to state rival Kentucky (as a four-TD favorite), to finish 9-3. Jackson wasn't at his best in the final two games, as Houston sacked him 11 times and he committed four turnovers against Kentucky. However, he earned an easy Heisman victory. And, why not? Jackson is the only player in FBS history to throw for 30-plus TDs (30) and rush for 20-plus TDs (21) in the regular season. He set the ACC record for TDs responsible for in a single season (51) while breaking the single-season school marks for rushing yards (1,538) and 100-yard rushing performances (eight). Louisville second in the nation in both scoring (45.3 PPG) and total yards (558.8 YPG), which overshadows a defense which ranked 32nd in points allowed (23.3 PPG) and 12th in total yards allowed (316.2 YPG).
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12-30-16 | Mavs v. Warriors OVER 212 | Top | 99-108 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 11 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-5 Golden State Warriors won the opener of a stretch in which nine of 10 games are at home and figure to claim another victory when they host the lowly 10-23 Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Golden State improved its NBA-best record to 28-5 by shooting 56.8 percent from the floor during Monday's 121-111 win over the Raptors, snapping Toronto's seven-game road winning streak. The Curry brothers, Seth and Stephen, will duel for the second time this second time this season and the fifth time in their NBA careers in tonight's game at Oracle Arena. Dallas: The Mavs outscored the Lakers 31-13 in the third quarter last night at Staples Center and gave up just 32 second-half points in a 101-89 victory. Dallas has now won four of its past seven contests, while allowing 95 points or less in each of the victories. Seth Curry hasn't started a game since Nov. 23, but he is displaying the most consistent form of his career off the bench in recent games. He had seven points and three steals Thursday in Dallas' 101-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, giving him a 10.3 scoring average in 15 games and double-figure scoring in 10 of the 15 since his return to the bench.arris Hon Barnes, Golden State's 2012 first-round pick who was instrumental in the club's run to the 2015 championship and repeat trip to the NBA Finals last June left for the Mavericks' four-year, $94 million free agent offer in the off-season shortly after the Warriors got Kevin Durant to agree to a two-year, $54.3 million deal that exhausted almost all their available funds. He would love to help his new team win here. Golden State: PG Stephen Curry (28 points), SF Kevin Durant (22) and SG Klay Thompson (21) each scored 20 or more points in the same game for the 11th time this season in Wednesday's win over the Raptors and the Warriors have won all 11 contest in which that trio has each topped 20 points in the same game (no surprise there). The Warriors continue to lead the NBA in both scoring (117.3 PPG) and shooting percentage (49.7%) but while they are allowing 104.5 PPG (which ranks 17th), they do lead the NBA in both opponents' FG percentage (42.9%) and three-point percentage (32.7%). The pick: The Mavs are the lowest scoring team in the NBA (95.0 PPG) and will be playing on back-to-back nights for the seventh time this season. The Mavericks have lost on the second night on all six previous occasions, losing by an average margin of 14.5 PPG. The Warriors recorded a 116-95 home win over the Mavericks back on Nov. 9 and have won 13 of the past 16 meetings between the two teams. Golden St. won't play again until Monday, so expect a focused effort. The pointspread is hideously high but the over/under number is right in the Warriors' wheelhouse. The Over is an 8* play.
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12-30-16 | Ducks v. Canucks OVER 5 | Top | 2-3 | Push | 0 | 14 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up:
The 18-12-7 Anaheim Ducks look to extend their point streak to four games before the end of the calendar year as they visit the 15-18-3 Vancouver Canucks on Friday night. The Ducks earned an important 3-1 victory at Calgary on Thursday to snap a three-game winless streak, as two of the losses came in overtime. The Canucks have posted at least a point in four of the last six games after a solid 2-1 victory over the LA Kings on Wednesday, as goalie Ryan Miller stopped 36 of the 37 shots he faced. Anaheim: Even with Thursday's victory over the Flames, the Ducks own just two wins in their past six games (2-2-2). "I thought we got better as the game went along," Ducks goalie John Gibson said after making 31 saves at Calgary. "They jumped on us a little bit in the first period, but once we weathered that storm, we got our power play going and settled down from there and locked it down." Anaheim stands just two points behind first-place San Jose in the Pacific Division. Vancouver: The Canucks are currently five points below the playoff cut line and are hoping that a win over one highly physical opponent will lead to another. They edged the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Wednesday, who are often described as one of the league's heaviest teams. Tonight, the Canucks will try to demonstrate their ability to handle the heavy hitting for postseason purposes as they host the Ducks at Rogers Arena. The pick: The Ducks are 2-0-0 against the Canucks this season with wins at home (4-2) and away (3-1). Anaheim has allowed 3.10 GPG on the road and Vancouver is allowing 2.84 GPG at home. The Canucks beat the Kings in their last game but LA out-shot Vancouver 31-8 over the final two periods and 37-20 on the night. The Over is a 10* play. |
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12-30-16 | North Carolina v. Stanford OVER 54 | Top | 23-25 | Loss | -103 | 22 h 45 m | Show |
The set-up: North Carolina went 8-4 and heads to El Paso for a Sun Bowl meeting with 9-3 Stanford.The biggest storyline heading into the game was Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey announcing on Twitter that he will sit out the Sun Bowl to focus on his NFL draft preparation (will this be trend). Stanford comes in with momentum (on a five-game winning streak) while North Carolina lost two of its final three, beating only the The Citadel. North Carolina: Junior QB Mitch Trubisky is an emerging NFL prospect who threw for 3,468 yards while completing 68.9% with 28 TD passes and just four INTs. The running game is below average, gaining 148.2 YPG (99th). Overall, North Carolina averages 33.1 PPG (40th) and its defense holds opponents to 24.9 PPG (45th). The season was a roller-coaster, with wins over Florida State, Miami and Pittsburgh but it ended with disappointing late-season losses to Duke and North Carolina State. “We weren’t able to overcome all the emotions we created for ourselves,” coach Larry Fedora told reporters. “There were a few games down the stretch that we didn’t play up to our capability. We didn’t make the ordinary plays that we needed to make. Stanford: Head coach David Shaw watched his offense struggle early in the season and replaced senior QB Ryan Burns with sophomore Keller Chryst, who provided an immediate spark and led the Cardinal to five straight wins while throwing nine TDs and one interception. McCaffrey leads the nation with 2,327 all-purpose yards and has posted 1,603 rushing yards but with his 'boycott,' it creates an opportunity for promising sophomore Bryce Love, who has run for 664 yards on 7.4 YPC. Love had 160 all-purpose yards and scored the winning touchdown in a 17-10 win at Notre Dame in October, when McCaffrey was out with an injury. According to Shaw, love is "a physical, explosive runner. He's not a small back by any stretch of the imagination. He runs through tackles and he's tough. For a guy who's under six foot, he can push the pile and drive his legs." Stanford's defense allows 20.2 PPG (17th) on 365.6 YPC (36th).The pick:North Carolina has really been shown up in its last two bowl appearnces, losing 40-21 to Rutgers in 2014 and 49-38 to Baylor, last year. Carolina has not ben physical enough and it showed signs of wearing down defensively in losing to both Duke (allowed 467 yards) and NC St (492 yards in two of its last three games (41-7 win over The Citadel hardly counts). Stanford loves to play smashmouth FB and Chyrst has brought another dimension to the offense with his solid play. Led by Trubisky, the North Carolina offense will give Stanford's D all it can handle. The Over is an 8* play. |
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12-29-16 | 76ers v. Jazz UNDER 196 | Top | 83-100 | Win | 100 | 13 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: The 7-23 Philadelphia 76ers own the NBA's worst record, while the 19-13 Utah Jazz have established themselves as a team good enough to challenge OKC for first place in the Northwest Division (currently just one game back). However, as is so often the case, the pointspread can be the "great equalizer" and that's the case here, as Philly is 15-15 ATS and the Jazz, 16-15-1. The two team meet tonight in Salt Lake City.
Philadelphia: The 76ers do own the league's worst record but they remain optimistic, in large part due to Joel Embiid, who went toe-to-toe with Sacramento All-Star DeMarcus Cousins on Monday. "He’s terrific," Kings head coach Dave Joerger told reporters of Embiid. "It should be illegal to be that big and that skilled at the same time. He’s got a terrific future. The sky's the limit. Goodness gracious is he good. He's really good." Embiid is averaging 18.7 & 7.4 and has 25 points or more in three of the last four contests. However, Embiid's playing time has been limited and he will not play tonight. Embiid's absence will mean more playing time for Nerlens Noel, who has fallen out of Philadelphia's rotation after missing 24 games with knee and ankle injuries. Noel is averaging career lows of 4.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in only 7.8 minutes per game. Utah: Starting point PG George Hill (20.2 & 4.2 APG) could return to the starting lineup for the Jazz when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. Hill has missed 13 games while recovering from a sprained toe. He practiced with Utah on Monday. Alec Burks practiced as well, although there's no timetable for his return. Burks has not played this season after having off-season ankle surgery (13.3 PPG in 31 games last year). The Jazz could really be good when "all hands are back on deck!" Hayward (22.4-6.2-3.8) has developed into one of the league's best small forwards and center Gobert averages 12.4 & 11.9, having recorded his 11th straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds on Tuesday. The pick: Utah leads the NBA in scoring defense, surrendering an average of 95.3 PPG (opponents are shooting just 43.0%, which ranks 2nd) but yielded at least 100 for the third time in the last four games in Tuesday's triumph. "I thought we started defending better in the second half," Jazz coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "There was a period where they hit a lot of tough shots. I thought they made big plays around the basket, but I thought in the second half we made them earn it a bit more." The 76ers are one of six teams in the NBA averaging fewer than 99 points (98.7 PPG ranks 26th) and will be without their best player. The Under is a 10* play. |
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12-29-16 | Islanders v. Wild OVER 5 | Top | 4-6 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-14-6 NY Islanders won 4-3 at home over the Caps on Tuesday, giving them a season high-tying three straight heading into the opener of a four-game road trip. The first game of that trip is tonight in Minnesota against the Wild, whose recent 11-0-1 run has catapulted them to within one point of Chicago for the top mark in the Western Conference (Wild are 28-8-4 on the season).
NY Islanders:The Wild's streak makes the mini-run the Islanders are on look trivial but after losing five straight, a three-game winning streak feels good. It's been a struggle for New York to find consistency throughout the first few months of the season. The Islanders are 12th in the NHL in goals per game (2.7) but rank near the bottom in goals against at3.0, 27th in the league.However, the Isles have been more cohesive as of late. Then again, will that matter against a Wild team that hasn't lost in nearly a month? Minnesota: Golaie Devan Dubnyk turned aside 28 shots in the Wild's 3-2 overtime victory over Nashville on Tuesday, stretching his career-high point streak to 13 games (11-0-2). He also has fashioned himself as the early leader for the Vezina Trophy by posting league-leading marks in goals-against average (1.58), save percentage (.947) and shutouts (five). "It's a lot of fun," Zach Parise said after increasing his point total to five (two goals,three assists) in his last six games in the win over Nashville. "You can tell the excitement after we win in the locker room, the smiles and the way guys are just happy for each other. It's been a fun string of games, and we feel like we can win all the games. We're playing with a lot of confidence." The pick: Even after their 11th straight victory, the Wild do not boast the longest active winning streak in the NHL, as that honor belongs to the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets, who have won 13 straight. Back on Oct. 23, The Isles beat the Wild 6-3 at Barclays Center but there is no reason to go against the Wild in this one. However, I doI look for another high scoring game and will make the Over a 10* play. |
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12-29-16 | South Florida v. South Carolina UNDER 62.5 | Top | 46-39 | Loss | -110 | 65 h 9 m | Show |
The set-up: Willie Taggart did such a good job in his stint at USF that after this year's 10-2 regular season, he departed for Oregon. However, 25th-ranked South Florida still has plenty to play for when it faces 6-6 South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Thursday afternoon at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. South Florida: The Bulls will be led by wide receivers coach T.J. Weist but new head coach Charlie Strong will be evaluating his squad. Junior QB Quinton Flowers, the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, will also be looking to get a jump-start on the 2017 Heisman Trophy race. Flowers passed for 2,551 yards with 22 TDs and just six INTs, plus led USF in rushing with 1,425 yards on 8.1 YPC with 15 TDs. He's one of just three players in the nation to both pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards this season. RB Mack added 1,137 yards on 7.1 YPC and also scored 15 TDs. The team ran for 292.2 YPG (5th) on 6.7 YPC, leading the way for an offense which averaged 43.6 PPG (7th). The Bulls haven’t been nearly as consistent on the defensive side of the ball, having allowed at least 500 total yards in four of their last five games, ending the regular season allowing 482.3 YPG (120th) and 31.0 PPG (86th). South Carolina: The Gamecocks had to win four of their last six games to become bowl eligible but enter off a 56-7 'spanking' at Clemson. Still, the Gamecocks have doubled their win total in Muschamp’s first campaign in Columbia. They start start seven true freshmen including QB Jake Bentley, who took over in late October and led the team to that 4-2 finish. He's thrown for 1,030 yards with only six TDs but also just two INTs. The running game averages only 138.0 YPG (3.8 YPC) to rank 106th for an offense averaging just 19.2 PPG (122nd). However, South Carolina can trust its defense, one allowing 24.8 PPG (44th) while ranking 10th nationally in turnovers gained (25).
The pick: USF is obviously the more explosive team and likely the way better team. However, the coaching transition for USF may not be quite as smooth as other situations, as several assistants are on their way to Oregon and those that remain are unlikely to be kept on by Charlie Strong. That means the awkwardness of some of the guys in charge of game planning having are also shopping their resumes and thinking about other matters at this rather busy hiring/firing period. South Carolina has notable wins over Tennessee (24-21), Vanderbilt (13-10) and Missouri (31-21) plus also defeated East Carolina of the AAC, 20-15. The Gamecocks are bowl-eligible for the 12th time in 13 seasons and have won their last four bowl games and only Marshall’s five-game winning streak in bowl games is longer. Look for teh South Carolina defense to keep the Gamecocks in this one making the Under a 10* play. |
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12-28-16 | Raptors v. Warriors UNDER 225.5 | Top | 111-121 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: The 22-8 Toronto Raptors won their franchise-record seventh straight road game on Monday by overcoming some poor shooting in a 95-91 triumph at Portland, improving to 2-0 on the current trip after beating Utah in the opener. Toronto visits Oakland tonight to face the 27-5 Warriors, who are back on the court for the first time since squandering a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead at Cleveland in an NBA Finals rematch on Christmas Day in a 109-108 loss, ending their latest winning streak at seven. Toronto:The Raptors have won four straight and 14 of their last 16 contests but they also already have two losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and one to the Warriors on their 2016-17 resume. Those don't help when the team is trying to prove that it belongs in the conversation as one of the best teams in the league T.he Raptors are one of the few teams with a backcourt that can match the Warriors in terms of production, as DeRozan (27.5-5.3-4.1) and PG Lowry (21.9-4.7-7.2) are quite a duo. In fact, Lowry is averaging 24.3 points on 56.4 percent shooting in December. Toronto averages 114.3 PPG (3rd) on 47.5% shooting (2nd) and comes to Oracle Arena with an 11-3 SU & ATS road record. Golden State: "It's embarrassing, honestly," star shooting guard Klay Thompson told ESPN.com after the Cleveland game. "Up 14 in the fourth quarter and we just played not very intelligent at all. We've got to help out (Kevin Durant). We put too much on his shoulders." Durant did in fact do his part Christmas Day with 36 points and 15 rebounds but two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry struggled with just 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting, the fourth time in the last six games he failed to reach 20 points. "I mean, obviously you can't have 11 shots," Curry told reporters. "I've got to get more looks at the rim, and that's nobody's fault. It's just I got to figure out a way to be more aggressive in that respect and keep the defense honest and use all the talents we have on this team, including my scoring ability." The pick: Toronto is a dangerous offensive team (see above) but the Warriors are the NBA's top-scoring team at 117.2 PPG and also its best shooting team (49.5%). That gives us a very high over/under number and let's note two things. First, Golden State ranks first in opponents' FG percentage (43.0%) and also in three-point percentage (32.5%). Then let's add that the Raptors have the ability to slow down the Warriors' up-tempo style, ranking No. 2 in fewest fast breaks allowed.The Under is a 10* play.
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12-28-16 | Hurricanes v. Penguins UNDER 5.5 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 10 h 28 m | Show |
The set-up: The Pittsburgh Penguins were pretty good in their first game back from a three-day break, getting goals from Evgeni Malkin (his 800th NHL point) and Sidney Crosby, who got his 25th goal in 30 games, plus Carl Hagelin, Justin Schultz and Bryan Rust while coming back from a 2-1 deficit early in the second period in a 5-2 win at New Jersey. They will now take their 23-8-5 record back home to face the holiday-rested Carolina Hurricanes, who are 15-11-7.
Carolina: The Hurricanes were on a mini-surge before Christmas, receiving balanced scoring while winning three in a row and four of five, with the only loss coming to Washington in a shootout Dec. 16. They beat the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins on successive nights Thursday and Friday, with five different players combining for their six goals. We have a lot of different options in our attack," Jordan Staal said. "It's not the same guy every night ... we have a lot of different options." Despite occupying sixth place in the Metropolitan, Carolina has been the league's best team on the penalty kill. The Hurricanes entered Tuesday first overall with a 90.6 percent success rate while tying for second with five short-handed goals. Cam Ward will be in goal, entering with a 12-8-6 record, 2,24 GAA and .918 save percentage. Pittsburgh: Carolina head coach Bill Peters isn't sure if being fresh is an advantage. Peters suggested that players often take some time getting their game legs back after a pause in the schedule, even one this short. That sure wasn't the case for the Penguins, as they returned to game speed in a hurry. They are now 10-1-2 during what so far is the best December in the franchise's 50-year history. Malkin and Crosby have 19 points each in the month and Schultz has 16. Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury played well last night making 21 saves as the Penguins swept the Devils in a two-game series that began Friday in Pittsburgh. However, it's likely goalie Matt Murray (13-3-1) will start Friday, as coach Mike Sullivan tries to keep both goalies sharp. The pick: Speaking of penalty-kill units, the Penguins fended off six of seven Devils power plays last night, including a four-minute advantage during the third period resulting from defenseman Ian Cole's high-sticking double minor. Murray has been outstanding in goal (2.14 GAA and .928 save percentage) and I expect this to be a tight, low-scoring contest, making the Under an 8* play. |
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12-27-16 | Baylor v. Boise State UNDER 67 | Top | 31-12 | Win | 100 | 60 h 25 m | Show |
The set-up: Miami-Ohio played in Monday's St. Petersburg Bowl, becoming the first team in NCAA history to start the season 0-6 before winning six straight to earn a bowl bid (result unknown at this time). In this year's Cactus Bowl, the Baylor Bears will take on Boise State, becoming the first team that has ever entered a bowl game on a six-game losing streak (Baylor opened 6-0 and was ranked as high as No. 8 in the AP poll). For the 10-2 Boise State Broncos, this marks the school's 17th bowl appearance and its 15th in a row (11-5 in first 16 bowls).
Baylor: No college football program in America needs a fresh start more than Baylor. Sexual assault allegations against football players led to the firing of coach Art Briles prior to the season with Jim Grobe agreeing to coach this season, while Baylor searched for a new coach. Things were going better than expected early on (see above) but then came the team's total collapse. The Bears will have a new coach next season in former Temple head man Matt Rhule but interim coach Jim Grobe will run the team one last time. Through it all, the Bears have the fifth-ranked offense nationally, averaging 523.3 YPG, including 250.3 YPG rushing (13th). However, most of that was accomplished with Seth Russell (2,126 yards, 20 TD passes and eight INTs) at QB but he hasn't played since breaking his left ankle in a 45-24 loss at Oklahoma back on Nov. 12. Freshman Zach Smith started the final three games at QB and threw eight TD passes but alos six interceptions over that span. Expect the Bears to lean heavily on a running game led by sophomore Terence Williams (945 yards, 5.9 YPC & 11 TDs) and senior Shock Linwood (751 yards, 5.4 YPC and two TDs). Baylor's defense allows 30.4 PPG to rank 81st. Boise State: The Broncos feature junior RB Jeremy McNichols, who is weighing whether or not to bypass his senior season and enter the NFL draft. McNichols was fifth nationally with 1,663 rushing yards during the regular season and ranks seventh in school history with 3,159 career yards. He scored 27 TDs (23 rushing, four receiving) this season and his 44 career rushing scores are fourth most in Boise State history. Sophomore QB Brett Rypien (3,341 yards, 23 TDs passing) has two solid WRs in Thomas Sperbeck (72 catches, 1,193 yards & nine TDs) and Cedrick Wilson (50, 1,041 yards & 10 TDs), leading an an offense that averaged 35.6 PPG (27th) on 479.8 YPG (20th). The defense has allowed a modest 22.7 PPG (28th). The pick: After losing to Air Force for the third consecutive year and failing to make it into the conference championship for the second straight season, the Broncos are looking at a potential bowl win over a Big 12 team. "We're trying to finish this season the right way and take everything we've learned and apply it," coach Bryan Harsin told reporters. "And go out there and be a much better football team than we were in the last game." However, one wonders if a win over a Baylor team in a total collapse will mean much? Also, one has to wonder if a vote were to be taken now, just how many Baylor players and coaches would say yes to continuing this VERY awkward campaign? The Under is a 10* play. |
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12-27-16 | Flames v. Avalanche UNDER 5.5 | Top | 6-3 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-16-2 Calgary Flames are coming off a 4-1 win against Vancouver on Friday, giving them a reason to enjoy the three-day break. The Avalance have endured a poor December but stunned the Blackhawks with a 2-1 overtime win Friday night, snapping a five-game losing streak, after getting shut out 6-0 at home to Toronto 24 hours earlier. Colorado returns from the Christmas break just 12-20-1, overall. Calgary: Captain Mark Giordano scored twice in Friday's 4-1 triumph versus Vancouver to increase his goal total to four in the last nine games." The Flames are also feeling good that Johnny Gaudreau, who missed three weeks with a broken finger, returnied much earlier than expected on Dec. 4. He hit the ice running, registering four straight multi-point games when he got back and points in seven straight games. Colorado: Yes, the Avalanche snapped a five-game skid with that 2-1 overtime victory at Chicago on Friday but it was just their third win in 15 outings! Colorado's last home win came back on Nov. 14 against the LA Kings and since then the Avalance have gone 0-7-1 at Pepsi Center. That loss to the Maple Leafs had head coach Nathan MacKinnon wondering if the team even belonged in the NHL. The pick: The Flames have won eight of 11 to put themselves within five points of the Pacific Division penthouse while the Colorado Avalanche have dropped eight straight (0-7-1) at Pepsi Center to make themselves comfortable in the cellar of the Central Division. Worse yet, Colorado enters tonight's game on an eight-game winless streak at home against the Flames. Colorado's 2-1 OT win in Chicago gave the Avalanche a little relief from their misery that included a scoring drought of 167 minutes, 43 seconds, a franchise record. The Under is a 10* play.
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12-27-16 | Grizzlies v. Celtics UNDER 198.5 | Top | 103-113 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 15 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-13 Celtics are coming off a 119-114 Christmas Day win over the NY Knicks and return home Tuesday to host the 20-13 Memphis Grizzlies. It was just last Tuesday that Boston PG Isaiah Thomas torched the Grizzlies for 44 points, as the Celtics came away with a 112-109 come-from-behind overtime win. Memphis: PG Conley (18.1 & 5.6 APG) is arguably the Grizzlies' most important play (although Marc Gasol may disagree) and it's odd that the team went 7-2 in the nine recent games he missed but has gone only 2-4 in his six games back. Memphis did not play well last night in Orlando, as they fell behind early and never made much of a run at the Magic in a 112-102 Monday loss. "We were dead tonight," head coach David Fizdale said. "For whatever reason, we had nothing in the tank." The coach was happy to be able to get right back at it, saying, "I'm glad we play right away after getting our butts kicked. We don't deserve a day off after that. It's time to get right back to work. Boston: the Celtics have their preferred lineup back intact now, as Horford (15.7-7.0-5.0) and Crowder (13.0 & 5.1) have overcome early-season injury issues. The starting backcourt is Thomas (27.0 & 6.2 APG) and Bradley (17.6 & 7.2) with Amir Johnson (6.7 & 4.2) joining Horford and Crowder up front. Smart (9.5-4.0-4.3) is the top reserve guard and Olynyk (8.2 & 4.0) the top frontcourt reserve. "I was really pleased," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said of the gritty Christmas Day win. "I just told them in there, they've showed a lot of toughness over the last few weeks. However, Stevens will be even more pleased if his team can figure out a way to win at home, where the Celtics are just 6-6, including 4-8 ATS.
The pick: Boston did most things right on Christmas Day in MSG, making 48.4% of its shots from the floor, while sinking 14 three-pointers. However, as noted, the Celtics haven't played well at home and will see a very focused Memphis team off a bad loss last night in Orlando plus one looking for some revenge off that OT loss in Memphis against these Celtics. Note that Memphis enters tonight's game 7-0 in the back half of back-to-backs and five of those seven have stayed under, with one of the overs being an OT contest. The other six games (including another OT contest which stayed under) have averaged just 184.5 PPG. The Under is a 10* play. |
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12-26-16 | Lions v. Cowboys UNDER 44.5 | Top | 21-42 | Loss | -110 | 60 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The 12-2 Dallas Cowboys have the NFC East division title and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs wrapped up as they get set to host the 9-5 Detroit Lions Monday night. As for the Lions, with the Packers beating the Vikings on Saturday, this game at Dallas will have no bearing on the NFC North race. Green Bay plays at Detroit on New Year's Day and the Packers would win the tiebreaker by sweeping the season series with the Lions. However, Detroit can at least enhance its chances of a wild-card berth by pulling an upset on Monday. Detroit:The Lions' 17-6 loss to the NY Giants in Week 15 ended a five-game winning streak and has their fans fearing a late-season collapse. "It's still one game," head coach Jim Caldwell said. "We've just got to come together and get better this week and go play the next one. That's the key. That's how it always is." The problem is, the Lions' offense has sputtered three of the last four weeks, producing 20 points or less. QB Matthew Stafford is playing with ligament damage to his right middle finger, forcing him to wear a modified glove. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 273 yards with an interception in New York but couldn't get his team in the end zone.Stafford's come up big all season for Detroit in "crunch time" but gets little help from his running game (81.7 YPG ranks 30th) and the offense is below average overall, ranking 21st by averaging 21.5 PPG. Dallas: Rookie QB Dak Prescott had been "living the dream" all season for Dallas but then got picked off twice while completing just 17 of 37 passes for 165 yards (QB rating of 45.4) in a 10-7 loss to the Giants in Week 14. He entered Week 15 having passed for fewer than 200 yards in three consecutive games. However, Prescott responded to adversity and criticism with a nearly flawless performance against Tampa Bay in Week 15 on SNF, completing 32 of 36 passes for 279 yards and adding a rushing TD in that 26-20 victory. That quieted talk about replacing the rookie with longtime starter Tony Romo. "I don't pay attention to the noise," Prescott said. "I couldn't tell you much of what was said. I kind of found out some of it later in the week but that really doesn't bother me. If anything, it's motivation. I just wanted to come back and perform after the game I had last week. That's the only thing in my mind. He say, she say doesn't affect me." Fellow rookie, RB Ezekiel Elliott, rushed for 159 yards and a TD and enters this game with 1,551 rushing yards on 5.0 YPC with 13 TDs.
The pick: It's already been noted that Detroit has a poor running game and how will it get going against Dallas' No. 1 rush D, allowing 80.9 YPG? Stafford is not 100% and the Lions enter having averaged just 17.5 PPG their last four and now face a Dallas D allowing only 18.4 PPG (4th) on the season. Led by Elliott, Dallas ranks 2nd in rushing at 154.5 YPG and likely will play relatively conservatively. The Under is a 10* play. |
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12-26-16 | Hornets v. Nets UNDER 216 | Top | 118-120 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up:The 7-22 Brooklyn Nets are tied with the 76ers for the NBA's worst record and will host the 17-13 Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center on Monday night. The Nets are 3-17 since Nov. 12 and 11 of those games have been double-digit defeats with teams scoring at least 110 points on 16 occasions. The Hornets last played Friday and after trailing by eight early in the second quarter, hit the Bulls with a 16-0 run and never trailed again in a 103-91 win. Charlotte: The Hornets have now won their last three games, after losing four in a row. PG Kemba Walker (22.6 & 5.4 APG) has provided consistent production but while backcourt mate Nicolas Batum (14.2-7.6-5.8) has good numbers, he is prone to peaks and valleys. He had just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting at Atlanta on Dec. 17 but came back with 23 points and 10 assists against the Los Angeles Lakers in the next game, then delivered his first triple-double of the season with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in teh win over the Bulls on Friday. The starting frontcourt consists of Cody Zeller (10.9 & 6.3), Marvin Williams (10.3 & 5.5) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (8.9 7 6.9). Brooklyn: The Nets come in off back-to-back 'ugly' losses. They scored 65 points against Golden State by halftime (held a 16-point lead) but wound up losing 117-101 on Friday. They then lost 119-99 to the Cavs on Friday and the final margin was 20 only because Cleveland pulled its starters late in the third quarter. Brooklyn trailed by as many as 46 and by double digits for the final 40-plus minutes. Jeremy Lin was part of the backcourt rotation in Charlotte last season before signing with the Nets over the summer and is struggling to drag his new team into the win column. Lin (13.6 & 6.0 APG) has scored in double figures in each of his six games since returning from a hamstring injury but Brooklyn dropped all six. Center Brook Lopez (20.4 & 5.4) is the team's most consistent player.
The pick: The Nets allow 114.7 PPG, to rank last in the league. However, for that reason, Brooklyn over/under numbers continue to be posted very high. The team has played three straight unders and in the first meeting between these two teams (back on Nov. 4 here in Brooklyn), neither team reached 100 points in a 99-95 final. The Under is a 10* play. |
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12-26-16 | Vanderbilt v. NC State OVER 44.5 | Top | 17-41 | Win | 100 | 57 h 37 m | Show |
The set-up: Vandy and NC Stae are both 6-6 and will meet in the Independence Bowl at Shreveport, La. The Commodores won home games over Ole Miss (38-17) and then Tennessee (45-34) in its last two regular season games to reach 6-6, while the Wolfpack earned their sixth win at North Carolina in their regular season finale, beating the Tar Heels 28-21 as 10-point underdogs. Vanderbilt: The Commodores made three straight bowl appearances under former coach James Franklin from 2011-13, including a 38-24 triumph over N.C. State in the 2012 Music City Bowl but is going 'bowling' for the first time since Derek Mason took over the program. Derek Mason's stint at Vanderbilt began with 3-9 and 4-8 records with Mason and Vandy in danger of missing out on a bowl for the third straight season until engineering a 4-2 finish that included wins over Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee. In fact, the Commodores put up two of their three highest point totals of the season in the final two contests and piled up 608 yards in the 45-34 win over the Volunteers in the regular-season finale. Even with the team's "big finish," Vandy has averaged just 23.5 PPG (109th) on 359.2 YPG (108th). RB Webb is Vandy's best offensive player, running for 1,172 yards (5.1 YPC) and 12 TDs.The 'Dores defense has played well all year, allowing a modest 22.6 PPG (26th). NC State: The Wolfpack, like the Commodores, have modest offensive numbers (average 25.8 PPG) but solid defensive ones, allowing 23.2 PPG (32nd) on 356.8 YPG (28th). NC State senior RB Matthew Dayes is the team's best offensive player, running for 1,119 yards while saving his best for last with six TDs in the final three games of the regular season.
The pick: It would be easy to say "under" in this one but "not so fast!" Both teams showed late-season success against notable opponents and it seems to have perked up the motivation for Vanderbilt and North Carolina State going into this game. With Vandy in particular, the Commodores averaged 13.2 points in going 1-5 in their first six SEC games but totaled 83 points in the final two games. RB Ralph Webb piled up 237 yards and five TDs on 41 carries while QB Kyle Shurmur threw for a career-high 416 yards in the win over Tennessee and threw four TD passes in the last two games.This is one of teh lowe over/under numbers of all the bowls and the Over is a 10* play. |
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12-25-16 | Clippers v. Lakers OVER 213 | Top | 102-111 | Push | 0 | 14 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: The struggling Lakers have lost 12 of their last 13 games and host the Clippers Christmas night at Staples Center (both teams call that court home) just 11-22 on the season. The Clippers are 22-9 but the team's two All Stars, Blake Griffin (21.2-8.8-4.1) and Chris Paul (17.6-5.2-9.6) are each dealing with injuries.
LA Clippers: Griffin has the more serious issue having just had successful arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Paul is dealing with a hamstring issue and is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Lakers. "Unfortunately, but luckily, I'm well-versed in dealing with a hamstring injury," Paul said after the Clippers' 106-101 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I can get back. I want to play." The Clippers' modified lineup included Paul Pierce and Raymond Felton in the starting-five on Friday, and the loss of the two players who handle the ball most was evident in the 20 turnovers the team committed. SG Redick averages 15.2 PPG, Crawford remains a solid scorer off the bench (12.2) and center Jordan is a double-double machine (11.6 & 13.0). LA Lakers: The Lakers return home after a 1-6 road trip, blowing 19-point leads in losses to the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, before losing 109-90 at the Orlando Magic on Friday night. "We should've won some of those," head coach Luke Walton said after the latest loss. "We're obviously disappointed, but we're not going to quit." The Lakers have four scorers in the backcourt with Williams (18.9) Russell (15.1 & 4.6 APG), Clarkson (14.6) and Young (14.3). However, the etam's frontcourt is an issue. Randle (12.8 & 5.6) is the best of the bunch but Deng (8.2 & 5.6) looks washed up, Mozgov (7.9 & 5.1) will never be more than a journeyman and rookie Ingram (7.5 & 4.1) is still learning the ropes. The pick: The Lakers are an awful defensive team, allowing110.8 PPG (27th) and last beat the Clippers on opening night of the 2013-14 season. The Clippers are 15-1 against the Lakers since the beginning of the 2012-13 season and have won 11 straight in the intra-city series. Expect the Clippers to make 12 straight but the Over is the stronger play (10*s). |
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12-24-16 | Cardinals v. Seahawks OVER 43 | Top | 34-31 | Win | 100 | 93 h 4 m | Show |
complete analysis by Saturday |
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12-24-16 | Titans v. Jaguars UNDER 44 | Top | 17-38 | Loss | -115 | 90 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: The Titans were 3-13 last year and the Jags slightly better at 5-11. However, as the two AFC South rivals meet in Jacksonville for this Week 16 game, the 8-6 Titans are tied for the AFC South Division lead with the Texans while the Jags are 2-12 and looking for a new head coach. While the Titans got a 53-yard, game-winning FG by Ryan Succop in the final seconds to upset Kansas City 19-17 last week, the Jags lost 21-20 loss to the Texans and Gus Bradley was fired following the game. No one was surprised, as Bradley’s gone a horrific 14-48 as the Jags head coach. Doug Marrone, who coached the Buffalo Bills for two seasons going 15-17, was named interim head coach for the final two games a day later. Tennessee: The Titans wanted to play more “smash-mouth” offensive football this year and the team's good OL and the running of DeMarco Murray have provided just that. Tennessee ranks third in the league with 144.7 YPG on the ground, as Murray has 1,224 yards on 4.6 YPC with nine TDs (he’s added three TD receptions, as well).Marcus Mariota has had an excellent sophomore season, as after throwing for 2,818 yards with 19 TDs and 10 INTs as a rookie, he’s thrown for 3,327 yards with a 25-9 ratio plus there are still two regular season games remaining. The Titans need to win here to set up a AFC South showdown game at home in Week 17 with the Texans. Jacksonville: The Jags’ ninth straight loss cost embattled Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley his job last week. It was more of the same last Sunday at Houston, as the Jags blew a double-digit lead and lost 21-20. Interim head coach Marrone felt it necessary to announce that Blake Bortles, who was 12-for-28 for 92 yards with an interception last week, will continue as the team's starting QB but, like Bradley, Marrone’s days at Jacksonville may be numbered. Bortles is second in the league with 16 interceptions and his poor play is one of the main reasons the Jaguars are down from 14th (23.5) to 27th (18.6) in points per game from last season to this year. The Jaguars also rank 24th in the NFL in rushing with 97.5 YPG, ‘led’ by T.J. Yeldon with 460 yards and one score and Chris Ivory with 394 rushing yards and two TDs. The pick: The Titans are hoping to earn their first playoff berth since 2008, as Tennessee has won three straight -- all coming by six points or less -- and lead the NFL in red-zone efficiency, scoring TDs 73 percent of the time. The Titans have climbed into the playoff picture following a 1-3 start by winning seven of their last 10! Believe it or not, if the Titans win out, they'll host a playoff game. This from a team that had won a total of just five games the past two seasons. The Titans are traveling to face a division rival that just fired its head coach, which may be a tricky spot. Jacksonville’s defense is better than most think and Tennessee has managed just 38 points during its last 10 quarters. The Under is an 8* play in this one.
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12-23-16 | Hawks v. Nuggets UNDER 221.5 | Top | 109-108 | Win | 100 | 13 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-15 Atlanta Hawks are in Denver Friday night to take on the 12-17 Nuggets. Dwight Howard, the All-Star center who signed with the Hawks in the offseason, didn't travel with the team to Denver and will miss his third straight game because of a back injury. Head coach Mike Budenholzer and Howard told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday the back is improving but the team is being cautious with him. The Hawks split a pair of games without Howard, including a 92-84 home defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Nuggets are coming off a 119-102 loss to the Clippers Tuesday at Staples Center but had won three straight prior to that, all by double digits Atlanta: The Hawks lost center Al Horford to Boston via free agency and traded starting PG Jeff Teague to the Pacers, while promoting Dennis Schroder to be the team's starting PG. Howard ranks in the top five in the NBA in rebounding (13.0 RPG) and field-goal percentage (63.2 percent), and Dennis Schroder scored a team-high 21 points against Minnesota and is averaging 20.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor in his past 14 games (he’s averaging 17.2 PPG & 6.3 APG on the season). The Hawks are among the league leaders in assists (24 per game) and steals (8.6) but after opening 9-2, have gone 5-13 since (also 5-13 ATS). Denver: The Nuggets fell apart against the Clippers on Tuesday but as noted, were coming off three straight wins (and covers), all at the Pepsi Center. That resurgence coincided with the team becoming fully healthy. The Nuggets haven't made the playoffs since 2013, when they won an NBA franchise-best 57 games, but they haven't come close to the postseason since. That said, at 12-17, they are tied with the Kings, just percentage points behind the 13-18 Blazers for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. Denver averages 107.5 PPG (7th) but is allowing 109.7 (26th), as opponents are shooting 46.8 percent from the floor (27th). The pick: Denver scores pretty well and does not defend much (over?) but the Hawks are not only going to be without Howard but also Tim Hardaway Jr. (11.3 PPG) missed most of Wednesday’s game with a right groin injury (questionable for this game). Atlanta failed to score 100 points in two of their past three games and in 15 road games this season, is averaging just 99.1 PPG. This over/under number is high enough to make the Under an 8* play in this one.
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12-23-16 | Canucks v. Flames OVER 5 | Top | 1-4 | Push | 0 | 13 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-17-3 Vancouver Canucks take on the 17-16-2 Calgary Flames Friday night. The Flames have lost three of their last four games and look to get things back on track here in their final game before a three-day Christmas break. The Canucks suffered a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at home on Thursday, ending a run in which they had gone 2-0-1 in their previous three games. Vancouver: Captain Henrik Sedin made history on Thursday by becoming the first player in franchise history to appear in 1,200 games but the Canucks need to start playing better away from home. They are just 4-11-1 on the season, averaging 2.38 GPG.The Canucks hope to end their three-game road losing streak but they’ve allowed 15 goals while scoring just eight during their skid away from Rogers Arena. Calgary: The Flames are currently hanging on to the final wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference (36 points) and a win over the Canucks will go a long way towards helping them enjoy their four-day break before back-to-back home games Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings and Dec. 30 versus the Anaheim Ducks. Playing better at home would surely help Calgary’s playoff chances, as the Flames check in just 7-9-0 at home on the season. The pick: The Canucks allow 3.19 GPG on the road, while the Flames have allowed over three goals per game at home (3.25) and scored more than three goals per game on home ice (3.06). That makes the Over a 10* play.
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12-23-16 | Ohio v. Troy OVER 49 | Top | 23-28 | Win | 100 | 73 h 37 m | Show |
The set-up: The Dollar General Bowl in Mobile, Alabama features two teams that ended the season with close losses to miss out on conference championships. Ohio U. (8-5) played Western Michigan tough in the MAC title game before losing 29-23, while Troy was upset 28-24 by Georgia Southern to miss out on a share of the Sun Belt crown Both will get a chance here, to remove that bitter taste from their mouths.
Ohio U: Frank Solich is in his 12th season with the Bobcats and this marks the eighth time he's led his team into a bowl game. That's quite an accomplishment considering that in Ohio U history (prior to Solich's arrival), the Bobcats had been to just two bowls. This is not a great team but Ohio U. was the MAC's best defensive team in 2016. Since allowing 56 points to Texas State in triple overtime in the season opener, the Bobcats have held every opponent to fewer than 30 points and will enter this game allowing just 22.2 2 PPG (26th in the nation) and that's after allowing those 56 points in the opener. Senior DL Tarell Basham was the MAC's Defensive Player of the Year, leading the conference with 11.5 sacks and is the school’s career leader with 29.5. Senior LB Blair Brown had a conference-high 116 tackles (13.5 for loss), and MAC Freshman of the Year Javon Hagan had 50 tackles and led the team with five forced fumbles and three interceptions. The offense averages a modest 26.5 PPG, 218.0 YPG passing and 174.8 YPG on the ground. Troy: The Trojans come in 9-3 but without a win here, the season will be considered a real disappointment. Troy was 8-1 (only loss came 30-24 against Clemson!) and entered the AP's top-25 for the first the loss at Ga. Southern, as a seven-point road favorite.Troy led the Sun Belt in scoring (34.2 PPG), passing (263.1 YPG) and total offense (439.1 YPG) with 49 touchdowns. Junior RB Jordan Chunn (1,232 yards rushing and a conference-best 13 TDs) is Troy's best 'weapon' with QB Silvers completing 64.4% for 2,951 yards with 22 TDs and nine INTs. Troy's defense allows just 22.0 PPG (23rd). The pick: These are two good defensive teams but the reasonably low over/number on the game makes the over very tempting. Ohio has not had much success in bowl games under Solich and in the team's last five bowl appearances, those finals have averaged 58.4 PPG. Troy QB Bandon Silvers can spread the field and find open receivers against a defense that did not see this style much. The Over is a 10* play. |
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12-22-16 | Spurs v. Clippers OVER 204 | Top | 101-106 | Win | 100 | 13 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The 21-8 LA Clippers will host the 23-5 San Antonio Spurs in the second half of Thursday night’s TNT doubleheader. The Clippers routed the Spurs 116-92 back on Nov. 5 at San Antonio, a game in which the Spurs’ starting backcourt (Parker and Green) missed. The Spurs have gone 17-3 since that home loss to the Clippers, while the Clippers have cooled off from a 14-2 start to the season, going just 7-6 since Nov. 25. San Antonio: Duncan is retired plus Parker (10.0 & 4.4 APG) and Ginobili (7.8-2.5-2.5) are more role players these days. However, the 23-5 Spurs still own the NBA’s second-best record behind the 25-4 Warriors. Leonard and Aldridge are now the team’s two “go-to” guys but Pop still has great depth plus players who “know how to play”and exactly what their roles are. The Rockets learned that all to well this past Tuesday, when a three-pointer by Patty Mills, after a superb pass from Manu Ginobili, with 12.9 seconds left capped a 19-4 spurt in the final 4:39 as the Spurs prevailed 102-100. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and recorded five steals in Tuesday's win and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is experiencing another outstanding season, averaging 23.9 PPG (on 46.8 percent shooting) along with 5.9 RPG. LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 & 10 against the Rockets and has put up 16.6 PPG & 6.9 RPG on the season. LA Clippers: LA’s depth will be tested now that All Star forward Blake Griffin (21.2-8.8-4.7) could be out for as much as six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday. The Clippers didn't really miss Blake Griffin in their first game after his knee surgery, routing the Denver Nuggets 119-102. Point guard Chris Paul (17.6-5.1-9.7) almost recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds, while Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick (15.5) finished with 27 points (nailed seven three-pointers). Center DeAndre Jordan (11.8 & 13.0) also delivered valuable contributions with 13 points and 13 rebounds. The pick: The Clippers were one of the NBA’s best defensive teams in their hot start but enter this game having allowed 100-plus points in seven of their last eight games (allowed 98 in the other one!). In fact, 11 of LA’s last 15 games have gone over and that’s the play in this one. Make the Over a 10*.
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12-22-16 | Jets v. Canucks OVER 5 | Top | 4-1 | Push | 0 | 13 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The 15-17-3 Winnipeg Jets lost 4-1 to the 14-16-3 Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday but get a chance for some “instant revenge” with a second straight game tonight at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The Canucks trailed 1-0 after a lackluster opening period before taking control of the game in the final two periods, riding two goals from Jannik Hansen. “We came out with a better effort in the second, competed harder and got rewarded by scoring, and then I think we got a little bit of life,” head coach Willie Desjardins told reporters after Vancouver improved to 2-0-1 on its homestand. Winnipeg: Blake Wheeler scored for the second consecutive game and extended his points streak to three, but Winnipeg’s offense, save a Patrik Laine shot that dinged the post in the third, was maddeningly inconsistent after the first period. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck (12-11-1, 2.68 GAA and .910 save percentage) allowed three goals for the third time in his past four starts. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien recorded an assist Tuesday and has points in eight in his past 11 games. Hellebuyck is expected to be in goal again tonight. Vancouver: Jannik Hansen is finding his stride after missing 16 games with fractured ribs, scoring for the second consecutive game after three pointless contests upon returning to the lineup. Twin brothers Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin combined for three assists. Goalie Jacob Markstrom recorded 31 saves in earning his first victory since Nov. 26 against Colorado. Tonight, Ryan Miller (7-9-1, 2.90 GAA and .907 save percentage) is expected to be between the pipes. The pick: The Jets are reasonably well rested after getting extended breaks in the past week but the Canucks will be playing their fifth game in 10 days and have only had two days off once in that span. However, after going a poor 15-21-2 on home ice last season, Vancouver is 10-5-2 at Rogers Arena this season. It’s virtually impossible to determine a team's playoff chances after only 33 game but the Canucks are showing signs of becoming a strong home team and are daring to dream a little. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The safe bet here is the Over and make it a 10* play.
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12-22-16 | Giants v. Eagles OVER 41.5 | Top | 19-24 | Win | 100 | 49 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: The 10-4 New York Giants can clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2011 with a win over the 5-9 Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday. The Giants hold the top wildcard spot, two games ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) and the Green Bay Packers (8-6). The Eagles, after a 3-0 start, were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this past Sunday with a loss at Baltimore and can now only play the role of a spoiler. NY Giants: The Giants opened 2-0 but then promptly lost three straight. However, while the Giants don’t look like a dominant team, they are definitely playing “winning football,” as they are 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS over their last nine games (lone loss came 24-14 at Pittsburgh, which is on a current 5-0 SU & ATS run). Eli has had an up-and-down season but in fairness, the lack of a running game (81.2 YPG on 3.4 YPC ranks 30th of 32 teams) has made his job more difficult. Making Eli's job easier is the controversial but immensely talented Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham reeled in a one-handed gem for a TD in Sunday's 17-6 triumph over Detroit and has 85 catches for 1,173 tayrds with 10 TDs on the season. He joins John Jefferson and Randy Moss as the lone players in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 TD catches in each of their first three seasons. New York’s defensive turnaround has been the real key to this season's 10 wins, as after allowing a league-high 420.3 YPG, as well as 27.6 PPG, the Giants rank third in points allowed in 2016, at 17.9 PPG (that’s a decrease of just about 10 PPG!). Philadelphia: The Eagles opened 3-0 behind rookie QB Carson Wentz’ better than expected play and a defense which allowed just 9.0 PPG in that perfect start. However, after owning a a 6-1 ratio through four games, Wentz has just six TD passes bad 12 INTs over his last 10. The Eagles enter this game having lost nine of 11 (3-8 ATS), including five in a row in which the defense has allowed 27.8 PPG. While Wentz is struggling, RB Ryan Mathews continued his hot streak at the expense of the Ravens' top-ranked defense, rushing for a season-best 128 yards on 6.4 yards a carry while collecting his fifth touchdown in six games. More good news is that Darren Sproles, who has limited to just 19 carries for 81 yards in his last five games, is expected back but after practicing on Tuesday. The pick: These teams have been going in opposite directions but it is a division game and the Eagles won’t lie down. After all, the Giants’ 28-23 Week 9 win over the Eagles halted a four-game Philadelphia winning streak in the series. Note that Eli threw two of his season-high four TD passes to Odell Beckham Jr. in that victory over Philadelphia on Nov. 6 and has tossed multiple scoring strikes in six of his last seven contests. Conversely, Philadelphia has allowed two passing scores in each of its last four games. Philly’s defense is not up to the challenge of stopping Eli and Co. and the Eagles have averaged 23.8 PPG at home in 2016. The Over is a 10* play.
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12-22-16 | Colorado State v. Idaho OVER 64.5 | Top | 50-61 | Win | 100 | 48 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: The 8-4 Idaho Vandals have been largely non-competitive in 21 seasons at the FBS level, so the program is dropping down to FCS status, beginning with the 2018 season. However, Idaho will conclude its next-to-last season as part of college football's top level by playing in a bowl game for only the third time in school-history, when it meets 7-5 Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, Idaho. The Rams are playing in a bowl for the fourth consecutive season, the second-longest streak in school history behind a string of five in a row under Sonny Lubick from 1999-2003. Idaho: The Vandals made the decision to drop down a level after being dismissed from the Sun Belt Conference (effective after next season), as the school figured it might enjoy more success and lose less money as an FCS school. Expectations were even lower than normal at the outset of this season and after losing back-to-back September games to Washington and Washington State by a combined 115-20, it hardly looked as if Idaho was headed for its first winning season since 2009 or second in the past 17 seasons. However, head coach Paul Petrino kept the squad from crumbling and Idaho finished the regular season by winning four straight and six of its last seven. Junior QB Matt Linehan has passed for 2,803 yards and 15 TDs with 10 INTs with senior TEs Trent Cowan (46 receptions, 532 yards, six TDs) and Deon Watson (36, 555, two TDs) being his top targets. RBs Aaron Duckworth (615 yards, four TDs) and Isaiah Saunders (584 yards, six TDs) share the rushing workload for a team averaging a modest 141.3 YPG (103rd). The defense was ravaged early on by Washington and Wash. St but held three of its last four opponents to 14 points or less. Colorado State: The rams didn’t look like they were headed for a bowl at 3-4 but they won four of their last five, averaging an astonishing 47.4 PPG on 520.6 YPG over those final five games. The four victories during that closing stretch came by an average of 26.5 points! Redshirt Junior QB Nick Stevens took over when true freshman QB Collin Hill was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Stevens passed for 14 TD passes against just ONE interception over his final six games, while standout junior WR Michael Gallup finished with 70 catches for 1,164 yards with 11 TD receptions, the second-most in school history. The Rams own an excellent running game, averaging 223.2 YPG (30th), led by a trio of RBs all of whom ran for more than 500 yards. Dawkins leads with 801 yards, while Matthews (705 yards) ran for a team-high 12 scores. The pick: It wouldn’t be a stretch to say the Vandals are probably the most unlikely participant of the 80 bowl teams this season, so saying the Vandals are reveling in the bowl berth would be quite the understatement. The Idaho defense played well down the stretch but remembering the Vandals being unable to stop Washington and Washington State should give one pause that Idaho’s defense can slow a surging Colorado St. team (remember, the Rams enter having averaged 47.4 PPG on 520.6 YPG over their last five games). Meanwhile, Idaho averaged 36.1 PPG over its final seven games and CSU’s defense is hardly anything special (allows 27.8 PPG). The Over is a 10* play.
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12-21-16 | Oilers v. Coyotes UNDER 5 | Top | 3-2 | Push | 0 | 12 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up: The 17-12-5 Edmonton Oilers are battling for first place in the Pacific and will visit the struggling Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night, who are just 11-16-5. Edmonton has registered points in eight of 10 games this month and will go for its third consecutive victory tonight against an Arizona team which is 3-6-3 in its last 12. Edmonton: The high-scoring Oilers became the first team in the Western Conference to amass 100 goals in Monday's 3-2 win at St. Louis. Captain Connor McDavid set up the winning goal against the Blues to become the first player in the NHL to hit the 40-point mark. Forward Tyler Pitlick scored for the second time in three games at St. Louis, but he was injured in the game and wearing a walking cast. Coach Todd McLellan moved Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- who scored the OT game-winner -- alongside Leon Draisaitl and Patrick Maroon and liked what he saw. "(They) held onto pucks down low and made it hard for the (other) team, those are all real good signs for us," McLellan said. "Tyler Pitlick, before he got hurt, was a catalyst in creating some physicality and energy. We'll miss him." Cam Talbot (16-10-4, 2.52 GAA and .917 save percentage) is expected to start in goal for Edmonton Arizona: The Coyotes’ 27 points leaves them last in the Pacific Division and only the Avalanche (with 23 points) have fewer points among all teams. With Max Domi (hand) set to sit out his seventh straight game, there has been a revolving door on the top line with Martin Hanzal and Radim Vrbata. Next up for an audition is 2015 first-round draft pick (No. 11 overall) Lawson Crouse, who skated with the No. 1 unit at Monday's practice. “Crouse is a hard guy to play against,” coach Dave Tippett said of the 19-year-old Crouse. “He finishes checks. He’s hard on puck battles. He’s a guy that has earned his minutes. He continues to grow as a player." The pick: Strange as it seems, Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett seems to ‘own’ the Oilers. Heading into this meeting at Gila River Arena, Tippett owns a 25-game point streak against Edmonton and is 21-0-4 in that span. The last time the Oilers beat the Coyotes in regulation was Jan. 25, 2011. "There's nothing to it," said Tippett, who is 26-2-4 against Edmonton since he became the Coyotes coach before the 2009-10 season. "It's different years, different players. Move on." A HUGE part of the Coyotes' success against the Oilers that has been a constant is goalie Mike Smith, who is 15-1-1 with .928 save percentage and a 2.24 goals against average versus Edmonton in his career. Will Arizona’s good fortune Hold? I’m not sure but I will make the Under a 10* play.
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12-21-16 | Grizzlies v. Pistons OVER 185 | Top | 98-86 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-12 Memphis Grizzlies will be in Detroit tonight to take on the 14-16 Pistons. Detroit is looking snap a three-game losing streak and is just 3-6 since PG Jackson's return. Memphis PG Mike Conley is also back from a back injury but has made only 11-of-39 shots since his return, with Memphis losing all three games. Memphis: Conley (18.4-3.4-5.8) is the Grizzlies’ best player, so it makes little sense that the team is 0-3 since his return or that in his nine-game absence, the Grizzlies went 7-2. The Grizzlies will be playing the second game of a back-to-back situation in this one. They lost at home to Boston 112-109 in overtime on Tuesday and then headed to Michigan. Center Marc Gasol (19.5 & 6.4) and guard Tony Daniels (10.2) scored 24 points apiece but Memphis couldn't contain Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas, who torched them for 44 points. Conley had 19 points and eight assists over 35 minutes in his third game since returning from a lower-back injury but it's uncertain whether Conley will play two straight nights at this juncture. The good news is, Memphis will get a boost from its major free-agent acquisition. Forward Chandler Parsons, who bolted Dallas for a four-year, $94 million contract from the Grizzlies, missed his 18th consecutive game on Tuesday with a left knee bruise. Parsons is expected back on the court, after playing in just six games this season, averaging 7.7 points. "I can't wait to get out there with my teammates," Parsons told ESPN.com. "They've done a great job without me. I look forward to helping in any way that I can." Detroit: The Pistons' defense has collapsed during their stretch of three double-digit defeats, including a 113-82 thumping in Chicago on Monday night. Head coach Van Gundy called that performance "disgusting" and vowed to shake up the lineup for his team's home game against Memphis. He confirmed that after practice on Tuesday. Van Gundy hasn't revealed how he will tinker with the Detroit Pistons' lineup on Wednesday. Power forward Joe Leuer and point guard Ish Smith are the most likely candidates to move into the lineup. Leuer is averaging career highs of 11 points and 6.3 rebounds and could replace either Tobias Harris or Marcus Morris. Smith started the first 21 games at point guard while Reggie Jackson recovered from knee tendinitis. The pick: The Pistons had given up the second-fewest points in the league before their three-game skid but the last three opponents have averaged 113.3 PPG! Detroit opened the season 8-3 ATS at home but has lost SU & ATS in its last two home games, averaging just 84.5 PPG. Expect things to be different tonight with a lineup change but with this “too low total,” the Over is an 8* play.
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