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Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-17-24 | Pacific v. Gonzaga UNDER 152.5 | Top | 76-102 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 55 m | Show |
WCC Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Pacific and Gonzaga at 9 pm et on Saturday. Pacific was far more competitive than expected in an 82-73 home loss against Gonzaga last month. While this game figures to be more lopsided, I also believe it will be lower-scoring. The Bulldogs used up a lot of what they had in the tank in Thursday's eventual rout of Loyola Marymount. That was a one-point game at halftime before Gonzaga poured it on in the second half. Note that the Bulldogs, while known for their offensive prowess, have also played some defense lately, holding nine straight opponents to 28 or fewer made field goals. Pacific doesn't figure to approach that number on Saturday, noting the Tigers have connected on 25 or fewer field goals in eight of their last nine games. In fact, Pacific has gotten off 53 or fewer field goal attempts in six of its last eight contests. The 'over' has cashed in two straight meetings between these teams but we haven't seen three consecutive 'over' results in series history (going back 20 all-time meetings since 2012). Note that the 'under' is 20-16 in Pacific's last 36 games as a road underdog and 13-5 in its last 18 contests when seeking revenge for a home loss against an opponent. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 11-4 in Gonzaga's last 15 games following a road win over a conference foe and 18-13 in its last 31 contests following an ATS victory as a double-digit favorite, as is the case here. Take the under (10*). |
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02-17-24 | Red Wings +110 v. Flames | Top | 5-0 | Win | 110 | 20 h 55 m | Show |
Underdog Game of the Month. My selection is on Detroit over Calgary at 4:05 pm et on Saturday. The Red Wings have dropped the first two games on their current western road trip and both of those losses came in lopsided fashion. Note that Detroit is 8-6 in its last 14 games following consecutive road losses and 12-8 in its last 20 contests following two straight road losses by three goals or more, as is the case here. The Flames had won four games in a row prior to losing their last two contests. Calgary began a potential fire sale by dealing away Elias Lindholm during the All-Star break and is essentially going nowhere this season. Note that the Flames are just 12-13 on home ice this season, averaging just 2.9 goals per game. While Detroit hasn't been any better on the road, it has at least shown more of an offensive spark, averaging 3.3 goals per contest. Calgary checks in 11-18 in its last 29 games following a loss against a division opponent and 2-9 in its last 11 contests following consecutive losses by two goals or more, which is the situation here. Take Detroit (10*). |
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02-17-24 | Kansas -125 v. Oklahoma | 67-57 | Win | 100 | 9 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas moneyline over Oklahoma at 4 pm et on Saturday. The Jayhawks have lost two of their last three games and are coming off a complete no-show on the road against Texas Tech on Monday. Oklahoma checks in off a blowout loss as well, suffering a 17-point defeat at Baylor on Tuesday. I believe Kansas is better-suited to bounce back on Saturday as it expects to have Kevin McCullar Jr. back in the lineup to give it a much-needed offensive boost. Note that the Sooners have been as bad as any team in the nation offensively over the last two games, connecting on an identical 21 field goals while getting off just 46 and 45 field goal attempts, respectively. In fact, they've been held to 24 or fewer made field goals in six of their last eight contests. The Jayhawks have struggled offensively in recent games but are just three games removed from a stretch that saw them knock down more than 30 field goals in six out of 10 games. Defensively, Kansas has held three straight opponents to 58 or fewer field goal attempts. Texas Tech simply shot the lights out against it on Monday. Oklahoma has seen two of its last three foes get off at least 62 field goal attempts. Note that Kansas is 26-3 in its last 29 games off a double-digit loss in-conference and 54-13 in its last 67 games as a favorite. Oklahoma is 15-26 in its last 41 games as an underdog and 19-32 in its last 51 games in-conference. Take Kansas (8*). |
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02-17-24 | BYU v. Oklahoma State UNDER 151.5 | 83-93 | Loss | -110 | 17 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between BYU and Oklahoma State at 2 pm et on Saturday. BYU left it all on the floor in a 90-88 home win over UCF on Tuesday while Oklahoma State has been idle since last Saturday's narrow 66-62 loss on the road against in-state rival Oklahoma. The Cougars have now been held to just 23, 27 and 21 made field goals over their last three games. I don't think we'll see the Cowboys get walked all over here, noting they do rank a respectable 86th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency this season, not to mention 194th in adjusted tempo (both according to KenPom). Meanwhile, the Cowboys aren't likely to get dragged into a track meet either. They've connected on 22 or fewer field goals in eight of their last nine contests. Last Saturday's game marked the first time in 13 contests they hoisted up 60 or more field goal attempts. Note that the 'under' is 11-7 in BYU's last 18 games following a home win in which it scored 85 or more points and 26-20 in its last 46 contests after suffering three straight ATS defeats, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 23-18 in Oklahoma State's last 41 games as an underdog and 35-28 in its last 63 games after winning three straight contests ATS. Take the under (8*). |
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02-17-24 | Florida Gulf Coast v. Stetson OVER 142.5 | 60-61 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Florida-Gulf Coast and Stetson at 2 pm et on Saturday. Both of these teams are hovering around the 300-mark in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency this season (according to KenPom) with Florida-Gulf Coast just north of that level and Stetson considerably south of it. While neither team has played at all that quick of a pace - certainly nothing compared to what we saw from them in recent years - we have seen signs of them picking it up lately. FGCU has hoisted up 57 or more field goal attempts in four straight and eight of its last nine games, reaching at least 60 four times over that stretch. Stetson doesn't figure to do much to slow the Eagles as it has allowed five of its last six opponents to get off more than 60 field goal attempts. On the flip side, Stetson has 60 or more field goal attempts in four straight games, connecting on 29 or more of those shots in four of its last five contests. FGCU has continued to slow its opponents' tempo but has still allowed 25 or more made field goals in seven of its last 10 games. Note that the 'over' is 15-10 in the Eagles last 25 games as a road underdog including a 6-4 mark this season. The 'over 'is also 17-13 in their last 30 games following a double-digit win over a conference foe. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 17-5 in the Hatters last 22 games as a home favorite of six points or less including a 1-0 record in that situation this season. The 'over' is also 10-2 in their last 12 games when seeking revenge for a double-digit loss against an opponent. Take the over (8*). |
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02-16-24 | Yale v. Pennsylvania OVER 137.5 | Top | 76-62 | Win | 100 | 22 h 27 m | Show |
Ivy League Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Yale and Pennsylvania at 7 pm et on Friday. These two teams just met on Yale's campus on February 3rd with the Bulldogs prevailing by a 74-58 score in a game that stayed 'under' the total. I'm anticipating a considerably higher-scoring affair in Friday's rematch in Pennsylvania. Note that Penn connected on just 20 field goals in that previous matchup. The Quakers have proven to be a much better offensive team at home this season where they average 29 made field goals per contest. Yale has been fairly solid defensively but does check in having allowed 23 or more made field goals in six of its last eight games to at least leave the door cracked for the Penn offense, which is objectively better than its defense this season (the Quakers rank 154th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency and 264th in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom). Note that Penn has connected on more than 20 field goals in 19 of 22 games this season so I'm willing to chalk up that ugly performance against Yale as an outlier. Defensively, the Quakers have allowed 10 of their last 12 opponents to knock down at least 26 field goals with half of those foes making good on at least 29. Yale enters this game on a serious tear offensively having connected on 33, 31, 34, 31, 27, 25, 28 and 28 field goals over its last eight contests. Note that the 'over' is 5-2 in the Bulldogs last seven games following three straight home wins and 12-7 in their last 19 contests played on five or six days' rest, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 40-29 in Penn's last 69 games when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent in which it scored less than 60 points and 22-19 in its last 41 contests off an ATS win but SU loss. Take the over (10*). |
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02-15-24 | Gonzaga v. Loyola Marymount +13 | 91-74 | Loss | -105 | 25 h 40 m | Show | |
My selection is on Loyola Marymount plus the points over Gonzaga at 9 pm et on Thursday. These two teams just met on January 30th with Gonzaga rolling to a 92-58 victory on its home floor. While I'm not convinced Loyola Marymount can gain a true ounce of revenge with an outright win on Thursday, I do look for the Lions to stay inside the lofty pointspread. The key here is Loyola Marymount's ability to effectively shorten proceedings on its home floor. The Lions have held eight of their last 12 opponents to 58 or fewer field goal attempts. They did give up 63 field goal attempts against Pepperdine last time out but haven't yielded 60 or more in consecutive games at any time over their last 12 contests. Note that eight of Loyola Marymount's last 10 opponents have made good on 28 or fewer field goals. Gonzaga is in a fairly obvious letdown spot following Saturday's upset win at Kentucky. In stark contrast to the Lions, the Bulldogs have allowed more than 60 field goal attempts in nine of their last 13 games. They have held up reasonably well defensively but will have their hands full against a Lions squad that averages 27 made field goals per game at home this season. Note that Gonzaga is a long-term 36-40 ATS in its last 76 games as a road favorite of 12.5 or more points. The Bulldogs are also just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 contests following a win by six points or less and 0-3 ATS this season when coming off consecutive ATS victories. Meanwhile, the Lions are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games as a home underdog and 39-31 in their last 70 contests following an upset loss. That's not to mention the fact that they're 23-16 ATS in their last 39 games after suffering an ATS defeat. Take Loyola Marymount (8*). |
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02-15-24 | Bucks v. Grizzlies UNDER 223.5 | 110-113 | Win | 100 | 12 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Milwaukee and Memphis at 8:30 pm et on Thursday. The Grizzlies were involved in a high-scoring victory over the Rockets last night but I expect a different story to unfold on Thursday. Memphis actually got off just 79 field goal attempts (making good on 39 of them) in that win. In fact, the Grizzlies have been held to 81 or fewer field goal attempts in three of their last five games. Incredibly, Memphis has connected on 44 or fewer field goals in 27 straight and 34 of its last 35 contests representing an iron ceiling when it comes to its scoring potential. On the flip side, the Grizzlies have limited three of their last four opponents to 43 or fewer made field goals and last night marked the first time in five games they allowed an opponent to get off more than 86 field goal attempts (that was largely game-script dependent as Houston fell behind by 15 points after the first quarter). Milwaukee continues to struggle under the guidance of head coach Doc Rivers. The Bucks have been held to 42 or fewer made field goals in six straight games and continue to play without an excellent complimentary piece in Khris Middleton. The good news is, Milwaukee continues to play tough defense having held six of its last seven opponents to fewer than 90 field goal attempts and eight of its last 11 foes to 44 or fewer made field goals. Note that the 'under' is 10-7 in the Bucks last 17 games following an upset loss by 15 points or more, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 8-4 in the Grizzlies last 12 games as a home underdog of between 6.5 and 12 points and 8-6 in their last 14 contests following an upset victory at home. Take the under (8*). |
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02-15-24 | Avalanche v. Lightning UNDER 6.5 | 3-6 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Colorado and Tampa Bay at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. The Avalanche are coming off a 6-3 victory in Washington two nights ago - the second time they scored six goals against the Caps over the last three weeks. Still, Colorado has produced just 12 goals in six games going back to the All-Star break. It will be facing a Lightning team that has been fairly stingy on home ice this season, allowing just 2.5 goals per contest. Tampa Bay persevered and notched a 3-2 shootout win in Boston on Tuesday. Like the Avs, the Bolts have struggled for the most part offensively since the All-Star break, scoring only nine goals in regulation time over their last four contests. Despite all the offensive firepower on these two teams, the 'under' has actually gone 5-1 in the last six meetings in this series. Note that the 'under' is 14-6 in the Avs last 20 games after allowing three goals or more in four consecutive games, as is the case here. The 'under' is also a long-term 161-133 with Colorado coming off a road win in which it scored four goals or more. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 15-9 in the Lightning's last 24 games following an overtime win and 12-9 in their last 21 contests after a road win over a division opponent. Take the under (8*). |
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02-14-24 | Clippers v. Warriors -2.5 | 130-125 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on Golden State minus the points over Los Angeles at 10:10 pm et on Wednesday. This sets up as a smash spot for the red hot Warriors as they host the Clippers on Wednesday night. Golden State has been on an incredible offensive tear, connecting on 44 or more field goals in an incredible 13 of its last 14 games. Over its last four contests it has knocked down 47, 52, 45 and 48 field goals. The Clippers are as vulnerable as it gets defensively right now having allowed four straight opponents to make good on 45 or more field goals. In fact, they've allowed six of their last seven foes to connect on 45 or more field goals. On the flip side, Los Angeles has sunken into a shooting slump itself, making good on 37 or fewer field goals in four of its last five contests. Note that the Clips are just 14-19 in their last 33 games as a road underdog of six points or less and 24-35 ATS in their last 59 contests following a home loss by 20 points or more, as is the case here. The Warriors are 41-27 in their last 68 games when seeking revenge for a same season loss against an opponent and 28-11 ATS in their last 39 contests when playing with double-revenge, which is the situation after the Clips took the last two meetings in December. Take Golden State (8*). |
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02-14-24 | Kings v. Nuggets UNDER 229.5 | 102-98 | Win | 100 | 13 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Sacramento and Denver at 9:10 pm et on Wednesday. The Kings are coming off a wild, high-scoring 130-125 loss in Phoenix last night extending their o/u record to 6-0-1 over their last seven games. I expect a different story to unfold on Wednesday as these two teams play their final game prior to the All-Star break. Sacramento has actually held five straight and eight of its last nine opponents to 88 or fewer field goal attempts. The Nuggets aren't exactly lighting it up offensively right now as they've connected on 44 or fewer field goals in 10 of their last 12 games including 42 or fewer in four of their last six contests. On the flip side, Denver continues to hold up well defensively, limiting 10 straight and 16 of their last 18 opponents to fewer than 90 field goal attempts. Better still, Denver has held an incredible 15 of its last 18 foes to 43 or fewer made field goals. Note that the 'under' is 19-16 in the Kings last 35 games played on the second of back-to-back nights and 19-11 in their last 30 contests following six consecutive 'over' results. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 26-20 in Denver's last 46 games as a home favorite of six points or less and 15-13 in its last 28 contests following an upset loss on the road, as is the case here. Take the under (8*). |
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02-14-24 | Panthers v. Penguins UNDER 6 | 5-2 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Florida and Pittsburgh at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. The Panthers may be known for their offensive prowess but they've flipped the script this season and check into Wednesday's matchup in Pittsburgh as one of the best 'under' bets in hockey. Florida is coming off a 4-0 victory over Colorado on Saturday and you would have to go back six games to find the last time it posted an 'over' result. In fact, the 'under' is 18-5-2 in the Panthers last 25 contests. Similarly, Pittsburgh enters riding a five-game 'under' streak and has posted a 2-10 o/u mark over its last 12 games. These two teams just met here in Pittsburgh on January 26th and the result was a 3-2 Panthers victory. Note that Florida has allowed just 2.3 goals per game on the road this season while Pittsburgh has given up an identical 2.3 goals per contest at home. The 'under' is 12-8 in the Panthers last 20 games played on three days' rest and 17-12 in their last 29 games following a win by four goals or more. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 20-16 in the Penguins last 36 games played with double-revenge, as is the case here, and 9-2 in their last 11 contests following consecutive road losses. Take the under (8*). |
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02-14-24 | Georgia Tech v. Notre Dame UNDER 133 | Top | 55-58 | Win | 100 | 11 h 23 m | Show |
ACC Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Georgia Tech and Notre Dame at 7 pm et on Wednesday. Notre Dame is coming off a stunning 74-66 upset win over Virginia Tech on Saturday marking the first time it scored more than 61 points since a 75-68 victory at Georgia Tech on January 9th. I'm not convinced the Irish will enjoy similar offensive success here, noting they still rank 336th in the country in adjusted tempo (according to KenPom) and just inside the top-300 in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency. Prior to Saturday's contest Notre Dame had been held to 24 or fewer made field goals in 10 straight games. Georgia Tech is by no means an elite defensive team but despite allowing six of its last 10 opponents to get off more than 60 field goal attempts it yielded 30 or more made field goals just once over that stretch. On the flip side, the Yellow Jackets have connected on 25 or fewer field goals in seven straight games. The Irish can play some defensive having limited eight straight and 14 of their last 15 opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals. The first meeting between these two teams this season did reach 143 total points but both teams played at a faster pace than expected and shot better than their season average from beyond the arc in that contest. Note that the 'under' is 12-5 in Georgia Tech's last 17 games when seeking revenge for a loss where its opponent scored 75 points or more and 8-1 in its last nine contests following consecutive double-digit losses. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 25-21 in Notre Dame's last 46 home games and 9-3 in its last 12 contests following an upset victory. Take the under (10*). |
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02-13-24 | Kings +5.5 v. Suns | Top | 125-130 | Win | 100 | 15 h 11 m | Show |
Pacific Division Game of the Week. My selection is on Sacramento plus the points over Phoenix at 10 pm et on Tuesday. The Kings suffered a heart-breaking loss the last time they played in Phoenix back on January 16th as they let the Suns off the hook in a 119-117 defeat (they still covered the spread). I say they let them off the hook because they led that game by 17 points at halftime and 12 points entering the fourth quarter. I like the spot for Sacramento here as it looks to get on track following a 127-113 loss in Oklahoma City on Sunday - its third defeat in its last four games. Sacramento continues to play well offensively. It has made good on at least 42 field goals in an incredible 15 of its last 17 games, connecting on 45, 51 and 44 field goals over its last three contests. The Suns have become rather forgiving defensively, allowing at least 90 field goal attempts in six straight and 12 of their last 14 games overall. Of course, Phoenix has been red hot offensively but I do think the Kings are capable of at least limiting the Suns scoring opportunities, noting that Sacramento has held three straight and six of its last eight opponents to 85 or fewer field goal attempts (it allows an average of 42-of-87 shooting on the road this season). Note that the Kings are 33-23 ATS in their last 56 games following a double-digit loss, including 8-5 ATS in that situation this season. They're also a long-term 52-43 ATS in their last 95 contests when seeking revenge for a loss in which their opponent scored 110 points or more. Meanwhile, Phoenix is just 17-22 ATS in its last 39 games played on two days' rest (note that this is the first time it has had two days between games since January 16th-19th). The Suns are also just 15-17 ATS in their last 32 home games with the total set at 230 points or higher. Take Sacramento (10*). |
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02-13-24 | Red Wings v. Oilers OVER 6.5 | 4-8 | Win | 100 | 15 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Detroit and Edmonton at 9:05 pm et on Tuesday. The 'under' is 12-1 in the Oilers last 13 games and that's affording us a total of 6.5 in a game where I believe it should be set at 7.0 on Tuesday. Note that the last two meetings between these teams in Edmonton have produced a total of 21 goals. Detroit checks in off a 4-3 overtime victory over Vancouver on Saturday. The 'over' is 52-29 in the Red Wings last 83 games against Western Conference opponents. The Wings have also seen the 'over' go 13-4 in their last 17 contests following a one-goal victory at home. The Oilers were shut out on Saturday in Los Angeles, dropping a 4-0 decision. The 'over' is 5-2 in their last seven games after getting shut out and 21-15 in their last 36 contests following a game that totalled four goals or less. Note that the 'over' is also 8-3 in Edmonton's last 11 games following a road loss against a division opponent. Take the over (8*). |
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02-13-24 | Colorado State v. San Diego State UNDER 140 | 55-71 | Win | 100 | 13 h 4 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Colorado State and San Diego State at 9 pm et on Tuesday. I think the fact that these two teams combined to score 150 points in their first meeting this season (on January 30th) is weighing heavily on this total. This is a matchup of two terrific defensive teams, not to mention two relatively slow-paced offenses. You wouldn't know it from the first matchup but I look for a more tightly-contested affair in Tuesday's rematch. Colorado State has seen the 'under' cash in three straight games and is coming off a 66-47 rout of San Jose State on Friday. The Rams are locked-in defensively right now having held each of their last three opponents to 23 or fewer made field goals and 15 of their last 16 opponents to 60 or fewer field goal attempts. While they do rank an impressive 25th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, they also sit 281st in adjusted tempo (both according to KenPom). Colorado State has hoisted up 53 or fewer field goal attempts in four straight games entering Tuesday's contest. San Diego State is coming off an overtime loss at Nevada on Friday. The Aztecs rank 19th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency this season according to KenPom. They check in having held an incredible 17 of their last 19 opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals. They've also limited 16 of their last 18 foes to fewer than 60 field goal attempts. While San Diego State does rank inside the top-50 in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, it is just 231st in adjusted tempo. The Aztecs have knocked down 27 or fewer field goals in nine of their last 10 games. Even in their previous matchup with the Rams they got off an uncharacteristic 60 field goal attempts but still topped out at 27 made field goals. Note that the 'under' is 7-2 in Colorado State's last nine games following three straight wins over conference opponents and 19-13 in its last 32 contests after a double-digit win. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 32-24 in San Diego State's last 56 games when seeking revenge for a loss in which its opponent scored 75 points or more and 21-18 in its last 39 games as a home favorite. Take the under (8*). |
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02-13-24 | Lightning v. Bruins -156 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -156 | 23 h 7 m | Show |
Atlantic Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Boston over Tampa Bay at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday. The home team has won five straight meetings in this series and I look for that trend to continue on Tuesday. Tampa Bay is coming off a much-needed 4-2 victory in Columbus on Saturday as it snapped a two-game losing streak. The Lightning are still 11-17 on the road this season where they've been outscored by an average margin of 0.7 goals. Boston checks in 17-9 on home ice but is coming off an ugly 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Capitals at TD Garden on Saturday. Note the Bruins have outscored the opposition by an average margin of 1.1 goals here at home this season. The Bolts have had plenty of success in recent years but they're just 19-20 in their last 39 games following a road victory by two goals or more, as is the case here. The Bruins on the other hand are 7-2 in their last nine games after suffering a home loss by three goals or more and a perfect 5-0 in their last five contests after getting shut out in their previous game. Take Boston (10*). |
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02-12-24 | Wolves v. Clippers UNDER 222.5 | Top | 121-100 | Win | 100 | 16 h 48 m | Show |
Western Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Minnesota and Los Angeles at 10:40 pm et on Monday. I think this game has the potential to have an 'old school' feel as the Timberwolves take the court for the first time since last Thursday while the Clippers wrap up a three-game homestand that has seen them go 0-2 ATS so far. Minnesota's most recent game found its way 'over' the total thanks to a lights out shooting performance in Milwaukee. The pace wasn't necessarily there as the T'Wolves hoisted up 87 field goal attempts in a 129-105 rout. Keep in mind, Minnesota has gotten off 90 or fewer field goal attempts in 11 of its last 12 games and averages just 86 per game on the road this season. Also note that the T'Wolves have knocked down 42 or fewer field goals in six of their last nine contests. On the flip side, Minnesota is locked-in defensively having held eight of its last nine opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals in regulation time. The Clippers have had a tough enough time just getting shots off, let alone knocking them down lately. They've gotten off 82 or fewer field goal attempts in three of their last four games. You would have to go back six contests to find the last time they hoisted up more than 89 field goal attempts. They've been held to 38 or fewer made field goals in four of their last seven games. Los Angeles is coming off an uncharacteristically bad defensive effort against Detroit on Saturday. Note that the Clippers have allowed three of their last four foes to get off more than 90 field goal attempts. I do think the fact that Minnesota hasn't played since Thursday and that it plays at a relatively slow pace works in Los Angeles' favor here. Keep in mind, the Clips have limited the opposition to just 41 made field goals per game at home this season. Note that the 'under' is 6-3 in Minnesota's last nine games played on three or more days' rest and 24-21 in its last 45 contests following an upset win. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 20-15 in Los Angeles' last 35 games following a victory by six points or less and 29-20 in its last 49 home games with the total set between 220 and 229.5 points, as is the case here at the time of writing. Take the under (10*). |
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02-12-24 | Kansas +2.5 v. Texas Tech | Top | 50-79 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 28 m | Show |
Big 12 Game of the Week. My selection is on Kansas plus the points over Texas Tech at 9 pm et on Monday. I think the knee-jerk reaction is to fade Kansas here after it was stunned in overtime on the road against in-state rival Kansas State in front of a national audience one week ago tonight. We'll go the other way and back the Jayhawks as they look to snap a three-game road losing streak in Big 12 play. Note that you would have to go back five meetings to find the last time the Red Raiders defeated the Jayhawks and that marks their only victory in the last nine meetings in this series going back to the start of 2020. While Texas Tech did snap a three-game losing streak with a 66-59 win over Central Florida last time out it still failed to cover the spread for a fourth straight game. The Red Raiders continue to play too loose defensively for my liking, allowing five of their last seven opponents to get off more than 60 field goal attempts. Give a team as talented as the Jayhawks enough scoring opportunities and they're going to break through, noting Kansas has connected on more than 30 field goals in four of its last eight contests. The Jayhawks have certainly shown signs of life defensively in recent games, holding eight of their last 10 opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals and that includes last Monday's overtime game at Kansas State. Kansas ranks 14th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom and should be able to contend with a Texas Tech squad that sits 273rd in adjusted tempo (also according to KenPom). Note that Kansas is 15-11 ATS in its last 26 games following consecutive ATS losses and 18-13 ATS in its last 31 contests following a home win by three points or less, as is the case here. Texas Tech is 11-19 ATS in its last 30 games after holding its previous opponent to 60 points or less and 15-21 ATS in its last 36 contests as a home favorite of three points or less. Take Kansas (10*). |
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02-12-24 | Seattle Kraken v. Devils OVER 6.5 | 1-3 | Loss | -101 | 11 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Seattle and New Jersey at 7:05 pm et on Monday. These two teams were both involved in relatively low-scoring affairs on Saturday as Seattle dropped a 3-2 decision in Philadelphia and New Jersey fell by a 1-0 score (in overtime) in Carolina. I look for a different story to unfold on Monday as they match up in Newark. The Kraken have scored a grand total of just two goals over their last two games and appeared rather lifeless in Saturday's loss against the Flyers, firing only 19 shots on goal. I'm willing to blame rust on that poor performance as they hadn't played a game since January 30th. Prior to its last two games, Seattle had scored 13 goals over a three-game stretch so we know what it is capable of. The Kraken draw a favorable matchup here as the Devils have had a tough time keeping the puck out of their own net at home this season, allowing 3.9 goals per game. New Jersey was shut out on Saturday but had potted eight goals in its previous two games following the All-Star break. Keep in mind, the Devils recently welcomed back superstar Jack Hughes from injury. Note that the 'over' is 28-22 with the Kraken seeking revenge for a home loss against an opponent, as is the case here. The 'over' is also 15-11 when they come off a road loss by one goal. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 21-12 in the Devils last 33 contests after holding their previous opponent to one goal or less and 12-9 in their last 21 games following a contest that totalled three goals or less. Take the over (8*). |
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02-12-24 | Wake Forest v. Duke OVER 151.5 | 69-77 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Wake Forest and Duke at 7 pm et on Monday. Last Monday we saw an absolute stinker of an ACC matchup as Virginia throttled Miami in an extremely low-scoring game. I expect a much different story to unfold this week as Wake Forest travels to Cameron Indoor Stadium to challenge Duke. The Demon Deacons have quietly reeled off three straight wins. They're on a tear offensively right now having connected on 28, 35, 29 and 29 field goals over their last four games. Duke has caught a couple of favorable matchups at home against Notre Dame and Boston College over the last week but will have to contend with an up-tempo Wake Forest squad here. Note that the Blue Devils have by no means played lockdown defense, allowing eight of their last 10 opponents to get off at least 58 field goal attempts. Wake Forest sits just outside the top-100 in the country in adjusted tempo according to KenPom. Defensively, the Demon Deacons can be exposed. They've shown no consistent ability to slow the opposition, allowing three straight opponents to hoist up at least 60 field goal attempts and six in a row to get off at least 57. I mentioned the Deacs are on an offensive tear but so are the Blue Devils. They've knocked down 30 or more field goals in three of their last four games and 26 or more in nine of their last 12 contests. Note that the 'over' is 13-8 in Wake Forest's last 21 games as a road underdog and 23-10 in its last 33 contests following three straight wins over conference opponents. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 15-7 in Duke's last 22 games following consecutive 'under' results and 21-17 in its last 38 contests following a game in which it scored 80 or more points, as is the case here. Take the over (8*). |
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02-11-24 | 49ers v. Chiefs UNDER 47.5 | Top | 22-25 | Win | 100 | 105 h 38 m | Show |
Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between San Francisco and Kansas City at 6:30 pm et on Sunday. I had this total pegged at 45, maybe 45.5 if I'm being generous to the two offenses. Yet here we are, working with a total of 47.5 at the time of writing with the potential we see it bump up a half-point at some books in advance of Sunday's kickoff. We got the result we wanted in the late game on Conference Championship Sunday as the 49ers got shredded early before rallying for a wild 34-31 victory over the Lions (in which they would have covered the spread were it not for a late Lions touchdown). Note that the 'under' is 16-11 in San Francisco's last 27 games following an 'over' result and 6-3 in its last nine contests after giving up 30 points or more in its previous game, including a perfect 2-0 this season in that latter situation. There is reason to believe the Chiefs can move the football on this 49ers defense but I don't believe game script (this projects as a tightly-contested affair) will force Kansas City to play fast or bomb away. With that said, the Chiefs have attempted 30 or more passes 11 times going back to October 29th and didn't throw for 300 or more yards in any of those contests so even if they do throw the football more than we expect, it doesn't necessarily work against us. Andy Reid's team has evolved into one that relies heavily on its ground attack and short passing game to possess the football for extended stretches and effectively shorten proceedings. That's precisely how they went into Baltimore and upset the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game. I do suspect we'll see the 49ers continue to employ a run-funnel defensive gameplan in this contest in an effort to stamp out Kansas City's big-play potential through the air. The strength of this Niners defense is in the middle - a big reason it was so successful in keeping opposing tight ends under wraps all season long, and certainly in the playoffs. Kansas City TE Travis Kelce will draw plenty of prop bet money from recreational bettors leading up to Sunday's game and I don't think the sportsbooks mind that one bit. On the flip side, the Chiefs defense is elite. It presents challenges all over the field for the 49ers offense. While I'm higher than Niners QB Brock Purdy than some, he's going to have a difficult time trying to find his favorite target WR Brandon Aiyuk against the Chiefs lock-down corners. Meanwhile San Francisco TE George Kittle continues to deal with a nagging toe injury and might be best deployed as a decoy in this particular matchup. RB Christian McCaffrey will get his but he's essentially the only Niners skill position player that draws a favorable matchup here. There could be times where he's on an island trying to carry the Niners offense down the field. Again, any success McCaffrey has figures to keep the clock moving, effectively shortening this contest. The 'under' is 12-7 in the Chiefs last 19 games following a road win and a long-term 27-20 in their last 47 contests after an upset win away from home. Finally, we'll note that the 'under' is 4-1 in Kansas City's last five games following a bye week and 23-12 in its last 35 contests in that situation. Take the under (10*). |
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02-11-24 | Bowling Green v. UL - Lafayette OVER 151 | Top | 60-86 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 10 m | Show |
Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Bowling Green and Louisiana-Lafayette at 3 pm et on Sunday. It's a rare non-conference matchup in February as Bowling Green travels to face Louisiana on Sunday afternoon. The Falcons have quietly reeled off 11 straight 'over' results. While getting out of the MAC for a game may serve as a 'catalyst for change' on most occasions, I'm not convinced that's the case here. Louisiana is coming off consecutive 'under' results but hasn't seen three straight games stay 'under' the total all season. The Ragin' Cajuns don't mind getting out and running and they'll certainly get their opportunity to do so here as the Falcons have allowed four of their last six opponents to get off more than 60 field goal attempts. Worse still, Bowling Green has allowed 11 of its last 14 foes to connect on at least 28 field goals. Louisiana has gotten bogged down at times against slow-paced Sun Belt Conference teams but still checks in having made good on 26 or more field goals in seven of its last 10 contests. Of course we'll need Bowling Green to hold up its end of the bargain offensively to help this total along as well. The Falcons have hoisted up 60 or more field goal attempts in 12 of their last 16 games. They enter on a tear having knocked down at least 29 field goals in three of their last four contests. Note that the 'over' is 24-11 in Bowling Green's last 35 games following a win. The 'over' is also 21-13 ATS in Louisiana's last 34 games following an ATS defeat, as is the case here. Take the over (10*). |
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02-11-24 | Celtics v. Heat UNDER 226.5 | 110-106 | Win | 100 | 6 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Boston and Miami at 2:10 pm et on Sunday. The Celtics are coming off a wild, high-scoring game against the Wizards on Friday. Interestingly, they haven't posted consecutive 'over' results since January 8th and 10th. While Boston continues to give up too many scoring opportunities (that's been somewhat game-script dependent lately), it has held four straight and 12 of its last 14 opponents to 45 or fewer made field goals. That's not all that stingy of a number by any means but considering the Celtics have allowed more than 90 field goal attempts in 10 straight games, it's worth noting. It's never easy to bait the Heat into a track meet. Miami has gotten off 88 or fewer field goal attempts in 12 of its last 15 games and averages only 86 per game at home this season. The Heat are once again locked-in defensively, limiting five straight opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals entering Sunday's contest. Note that the 'under' is 31-22 in Boston's last 53 games as a road favorite of six points or less and 26-13 in its last 39 contests following a victory by six points or less. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 13-9 in Miami's last 22 games as a home favorite of six points or less and 11-9 in its last 20 contests when seeking revenge for a double-digit home loss against an opponent, as is the case here. Take the under (8*). |
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02-10-24 | Suns v. Warriors +2 | Top | 112-113 | Win | 100 | 12 h 11 m | Show |
Pacific Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Golden State plus the points over Phoenix at 8:40 pm et on Saturday. The Warriors are playing their best basketball of the season right now but so are the Suns. I do think Golden State is well-positioned to keep it rolling as it returns home on Saturday. Note that the Warriors have been red hot offensively, connecting on 43 or more field goals in 12 straight games including 47 or more in eight of those contests. They'll be facing a rather forgiving Suns defense on Saturday, noting that Phoenix has allowed 90 or more field goal attempts in seven of its last eight games. Golden State on the other hand has limited four of its last six foes to fewer than 90 field goal attempts. More impressively, the Warriors have held five of their last six opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals. The Suns are on a tear offensively but their shots have also been falling at an unsustainable rate as they've gotten off fewer than 90 field goal attempts in five straight and 12 of their last 14 contests. Phoenix is a long-term 15-31 ATS in its last 46 games and 1-5 ATS this season off a home win by 10 points or more, as is the case here. The Suns are also 12-16 ATS in their last 28 contests following three straight ATS victories. Golden State is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games as a home underdog and 9-2 ATS in its last 11 contests playing with triple-revenge (off three straight losses against an opponent). Take Golden State (10*). |
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02-10-24 | Penguins v. Jets OVER 5.5 | 1-2 | Loss | -114 | 10 h 4 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Pittsburgh and Winnipeg at 7:05 pm et on Saturday. These two teams just faced each other earlier this week with the Penguins skating to a 3-0 victory on home ice. Winnipeg has been held to a grand total of four goals during its current five-game losing streak so it is obviously desperate for a breakout performance here. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has scored three goals or less in a season-high nine straight games following last night's 3-2 defeat in Minnesota. The Pens are still averaging 3.2 goals per contest on the road this season while the Jets average 3.3 goals per game on home ice. Note that the 'over' is 14-7 in Pittsburgh's last 21 road games with the total set at 5.5, as is the case here at the time of writing. The 'over' is also 16-9 in Pittsburgh's last 25 games following a one-goal loss on the road. Winnipeg in is uncharted territory in a sense as it comes off eight straight 'under' results (excluding pushes). That situation has come up only six times since the Jets returned to the league in 2011 with the 'over' going 4-2. The 'over' is also 11-8 in their last 19 games when seeking revenge for a road loss by three goals or more against an opponent. Take the over (8*). |
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02-10-24 | Oklahoma State v. Oklahoma UNDER 139.5 | Top | 62-66 | Win | 100 | 24 h 15 m | Show |
Big 12 Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma at 7 pm et on Saturday. Oklahoma State enters this game off consecutive 'over' results but I look for a different story to unfold as the Cowboys travel to Stillwater for a showdown with the rival Sooners on Saturday. The Cowboys have been positively dreadful offensively for the most part over the last month or so, connecting on 22 or fewer field goals in seven of their last eight games. They'll run into the 16th ranked defense in the country (in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency) according to KenPom on Saturday. The Sooners have limited three straight and five of their last seven foes to 23 or fewer made field goals. While Oklahoma's defense has been stout, it hasn't been quite as consistent offensively, making good on 25 or fewer field goals in seven of its last eight contests. While the Oklahoma State defense is not elite by any means, I do think it is better than it has shown lately, most recently getting lit up by Houston in a 'wrong place at the wrong time situation' after the Cougars dropped a tough one on the road against Kansas three days earlier. The Cowboys have held 15 of 23 opponents to fewer than 60 field goal attempts this season. Note that the 'under' is 6-1 in Oklahoma State's last seven games as a double-digit road underdog and 18-16 in its last 34 games following an ATS victory. Meanwhile, Oklahoma has seen the 'under' go 12-9 in its last 22 games as a double-digit home favorite and 14-12 in its last 26 contests following a double-digit home victory, as is the case here. Take the under (10*). |
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02-10-24 | Siena v. Manhattan -7 | 68-63 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on Manhattan minus the points over Siena at 7 pm et on Saturday. Manhattan has quietly been playing much better lately, going 4-1-1 ATS over its last six contests. The Jaspers have finally found their rhythm offensively, knocking down 26 or more field goals in six straight games. Siena has benefited from facing some exceptionally slow teams such as Marist and St. Peter's lately and in those contests the Saints defense held up reasonably well. They still check in ranked 304th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency this season (according to KenPom). Worse still, Siena checks in 359th (out of 362 Division I teams) in adjusted offensive efficiency. Note that the Saints have been at their absolute worst in that department lately, connecting on 18 or fewer field goals in five of their last six games, topping out at 22 over that stretch (in a game where they hoisted up 61 field goal attempts). Manhattan is not a good defensive team by any means but it has also faced a pretty brutal schedule lately with four of its last five games coming on the road including matchups with Niagara and Fairfield in enemy territory. Note that Siena is juast 6-11 ATS in its last 17 games following a loss by 15 points or more and 18-24 ATS in its last 14 contests following an ATS loss. Meanwhile, Manhattan is 6-3 ATS in its last nine games following three straight losses against conference opponents, as is the case here. The Jaspers are also 24-19 ATS in their last 43 games after consecutive road losses. Take Manhattan (8*). |
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02-10-24 | UCLA +1.5 v. California | Top | 61-60 | Win | 100 | 22 h 37 m | Show |
Pac-12 Game of the Month. My selection is on UCLA plus the points over California at 5:30 pm et on Saturday. This is undoubtedly a game the Bruins have had circled on their calendar since a stunning 66-57 home loss against the Bears back on January 6th. UCLA has certainly turned things around since that loss, going 6-2 over its last eight games. It holds the rest advantage here having not played since Wednesday’s win at Stanford. Cal was involved in an overtime barn-burner - a game that it won on Thursday against USC. The Bears continue to give up too many scoring opportunities for my liking, even if aided by overtime last time out. They’ve allowed seven of their last 11 opponents to hoist up at least 62 field goal attempts. While the Bears have knocked down at least 25 field goals themselves in eight straight contests they’ve needed more than 60 field goal attempts to get there in six of those games. UCLA figures to put the clamps on the Cal offense, noting that the Bruins have limited seven straight opponents to 54 or fewer field goal attempts. Note that UCLA is 18-12 ATS in its last 30 road games and a perfect 4-0 ATS when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent in which it scored 60 points or less. Meanwhile, Cal is 10-15 ATS in its last 25 games as a home favorite and 0-6 ATS in its last six contests after scoring 75 points or more in consecutive games, as is the case here. Take UCLA (10*). |
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02-09-24 | Penguins v. Wild OVER 6 | 2-3 | Loss | -106 | 12 h 10 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Pittsburgh and Minnesota at 8:05 pm et on Friday. Both of these teams are coming off low-scoring games last time out with the Penguins skating to a 3-0 victory over the Jets and the Wild prevailing 2-1 over the Blackhawks. I expect a different story to unfold on Friday. Pittsburgh has now been held to three goals or less in a season-high eight straight games. I think there's a good chance it snaps that streak here. Note that the Pens have been a higher-scoring team on the road than at home this season, averaging 3.2 goals per game. They'll be facing a Wild squad that allows 3.3 goals per contest on home ice. Minnesota will give the start to former Pen Marc-Andre Fleury after he didn't get the nod in the previous matchup between these two teams in Pittsburgh. Fleury owns a less than impressive .889 save percentage in 12 appearances at home this season. The Pens lit him up for four goals on 31 shots in their lone matchup with him last season. The question becomes whether Minnesota can contribute enough offensively to help this total along. I believe it can. The Wild average 3.0 goals per game on home ice this season. They've been held to two goals or less in three straight games. That's happened only once previously this season (a four-game streak). Note that the 'over' is 13-10 in Pittsburgh's last 23 games following three straight 'under' results, as is the case here. The 'over' is also 16-11 in the Pens last 27 games following a contest that totalled three goals or less. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 32-18 in Minnesota's last 50 contests when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent and 19-14 in its last 33 games following a win over a division opponent. Take the over (8*). |
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02-09-24 | Hawks v. 76ers OVER 242.5 | Top | 127-121 | Win | 100 | 13 h 3 m | Show |
Eastern Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Philadelphia at 7:10 pm et on Friday. These two teams just met back on January 10th in Atlanta and produced a total of 271 points (aided by an overtime period). I'm anticipating another high-scoring affair in Friday's rematch. The Hawks are on a scoring tear right now. They've connected on 51, 44, 53, 49, 55 (overtime game against Golden State), 51 and 43 field goals over their last seven contests. They've also hoisted up at least 93 field goal attempts in 10 straight games. The 76ers don't figure to stand in their way on Friday. Philadelphia has sagged defensively in the absence of Joel Embiid, allowing six straight and eight of their last nine opponents to knock down at least 42 field goals. On the flip side, I do think it's only a matter of time before the Sixers shots start falling. They've gotten off 93 or more field goal attempts in four straight games, making good on 47, 44, 40 and 41 over that stretch. The door is wide open for a breakout performance here, noting that Atlanta has allowed five straight and seven of its last eight opponents to connect on at least 47 field goals. Note that the 'over' is 22-18 in the Hawks last 40 games as a road favorite. The 'over' is also 16-11 in the Sixers last 27 home games with the total set at 230 points or higher. Take the over (10*). |
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02-09-24 | Hawks v. 76ers +4.5 | 127-121 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 51 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Atlanta at 7:10 pm et on Friday. The 76ers check in 0-3 on their current homestand (which wraps up tonight), having lost seven of their last eight games overall. The wheels have clearly come off since Joel Embiid went down to injury but I don't expect Philadelphia to fold the tent. This is an important game as they look to salvage the finale of this homestand and I'm confident they'll give the Hawks all they can handle. Note that Atlanta defeated Philadelphia 139-132 in overtime at home back on January 10th. Atlanta checks in off consecutive losses including a taxing 125-117 loss in Boston two nights ago in which it battled hard for four quarters but ultimately fell just short. My concern with the Hawks here is their defensive play. They've allowed seven of their last eight opponents to knock down at least 47 field goals. The 76ers are primed for a breakout offensively as they've been pushing the pace but the shots simply haven't been falling. Note that they've gotten off 93 or more field goal attempts in four straight games. Atlanta is just 9-19 ATS in its last 28 games as a road favorite of six points or less and a miserable 30-61 ATS in its last 91 contests following an ATS win. Meanwhile, Philadelphia is 29-15 ATS in its last 44 games when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent and 13-3 ATS in its last 16 contests following three straight ATS defeats. Take Philadelphia (8*). |
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02-08-24 | Wolves v. Bucks UNDER 228.5 | 129-105 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 51 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Minnesota and Milwaukee at 8:10 pm et on Thursday. Neither of these teams are playing their best basketball right now. The Timberwolves check in 5-5 SU and 4-6 ATS over their last 10 games while the Bucks have lost four of their last five contests both SU and ATS. Minnesota did give up 129 points in an overtime defeat in Chicago two nights ago but remains locked-in defensively having held five straight and nine of its last 11 opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals in regulation time. It might be catching Milwaukee at the right time as Khris Middleton is among those sidelined while Damian Lillard is questionable to play on Thursday after missing Tuesday's contest in Phoenix. Offensively, it's been a bit of a slog for the T'Wolves as they've connected on 42 or fewer field goals in three straight and six of their last eight contests. Here, they'll run into a Bucks squad that should have one of their key stoppers back on the floor in Brook Lopez after he missed a few games due to personal reasons. While Milwaukee certainly hasn't been dominant defensively during its recent slide, it has still limited eight of its last 10 opponents to 44 or fewer made field goals. Note that the 'under' is 22-15 in the T'Wolves last 37 games following an upset loss including 7-2 this season. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 10-6 in the Bucks last 16 home games with the line set between +3 and -3. Take the under (8*). |
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02-08-24 | Jets -148 v. Flyers | Top | 1-4 | Loss | -148 | 23 h 58 m | Show |
Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Winnipeg over Philadelphia at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. The Jets fell behind early and never recovered in a 3-0 loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. That marked their fourth straight loss having scored just three goals over that stretch. I do like their chances of bouncing back on Thursday, however, as they look for revenge after dropping a 2-0 decision at home against the Flyers in mid-January. Despite Tuesday's setback, Winnipeg remains 14-9 on the road this season where it has held the opposition to just 2.3 goals per contest. In stark contrast, Philadelphia is 11-14 on home ice, allowing 3.3 goals per game. Note that the Jets are 8-3 in their last 11 games when seeking revenge for a shutout loss against an opponent. They're also 21-17 in their last 38 contests following a loss by three goals or more. Meanwhile, the Flyers are just 5-11 in their last 16 games after recording a one-goal win on the road, as is the case here. Philadelphia is also a miserable 11-28 in its last 39 contests after holding its previous opponent to one goal or less. Take Winnipeg (10*). |
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02-08-24 | Iona -2 v. Niagara | Top | 74-71 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show |
MAAC Game of the Month. My selection is on Iona minus the points over Niagara at 7 pm et on Thursday. This is a rematch of a game played between these two teams back on January 7th in which Niagara staged a 75-73 upset victory as a 9.5-point underdog. Since then, Iona has gone on a tear, winning five of its last six games while playing as well offensively as any team in the MAAC. I look for the Gaels to answer back against the Purple Eagles in this spot. Note that Iona has hoisted up more than 60 field goal attempts in each of its last seven games, putting a ton of pressure on opposing defenses. The Gaels haven't just been chucking it up though, they've also made good on 29 or more field goals in six of their last seven contests. Here, they draw a mouth-watering matchup against a Niagara team that ranks 320th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (according to KenPom). The Purple Eagles did hold up reasonably well defensively in their last two games but those came against a slow-paced St. Peter's team on the road and a struggling Canisius squad at home. Note that Niagara is just two games removed from allowing a miserable Manhattan team to knock down 32-of-71 field goal attempts here at home. While the Purple Eagles did take the most recent meeting in this series, they haven't won consecutive matchups against the Gaels since 2020. Iona is a long-term 34-27 ATS in its last 61 games when seeking revenge for a loss by three points or less against an opponent. The Gaels are also 21-18 ATS in their last 39 contests following an ATS loss, as is the case here. Meanwhile, Niagara is 6-8 ATS in its last 14 games following consecutive wins in-conference and 5-7 ATS in its last 12 contests after holding its last two opponents to 65 points or less. Take Iona (10*). |
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02-08-24 | Rider +5 v. Fairfield | 67-84 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Rider plus the points over Fairfield at 7 pm et on Thursday. This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season after Fairfield staged a minor upset in an 88-81 win at Rider back on December 3rd. That was an interesting game as the Broncs only managed to connect on 1-of-12 three-point attempts and were outscored 27-18 at the free throw line in the home defeat. Needless to say, this is a game Rider has undoubtedly had circled on its calendar. The Broncs enter this game on the heels of four straight ATS victories but had their three-game winning streak halted in a wild 94-93 loss at Iona last time out. Meanwhile, Fairfield snapped its two-game losing streak with a nine-point win over lowly Manhattan on Sunday but has still dropped the cash in four straight contests. Stags opponents have been 'filling it up' recently, connecting on 26 or more field goals in nine of their last 11 games. This is a team that boosted its defensive numbers thanks to a rather soft schedule earlier in the season, ranking 331rd in the country in strength of schedule according to KenPom. Offensively, Fairfield has been on point, making good on 27 or more field goals in five of its last six games. I do think the Broncs will offer some resistance here. Note that Rider has held three of its last four opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. You would have to go back nine games to find the last time it allowed an opponent to connect on at least 30 field goals and a whopping 17 games for the last time it gave up more than 30 made field goals (it has happened only twice all season). You only need to go back two games to find the last time the Stags allowed more than 30 and it has happened six times this season. Rider checks in 18-15 ATS in its last 33 games as a road underdog and is an impressive 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games when seeking revenge for a same-season loss against an opponent. Fairfield is just 12-21 ATS in its last 33 home games and 2-8 ATS in its last 10 contests following a home win over a conference opponent. Take Rider (8*). |
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02-07-24 | Portland v. Gonzaga -26 | Top | 64-96 | Win | 100 | 25 h 27 m | Show |
West Coast Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Gonzaga minus the points over Portland at 8 pm et on Wednesday. Portland used up everything it had in the tank in Saturday's 93-89 upset win over Pepperdine - its second straight victory. This has still been a trying campaign for the Pilots as they check in 9-15 including 2-11 on the road. They're in the wrong place at the wrong time on Wednesday as Gonzaga comes off a tough 64-62 loss at home against St. Mary's. The Bulldogs were held down by a good Gaels defense in that game but that isn't like to be the case on Wednesday. Portland has allowed seven of its last eight opponents to get off at least 62 field goal attempts with five of those foes knocking down at least 34. In fact, KenPom rates Portland 335th out of 362 Division-I teams in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency. Gonzaga has made good on 32 or more field goals in six of its last nine contests and ranks 28th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have been steady if not spectacular defensively, limiting six consecutive opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals. Note that Portland is just 3-6 ATS in its last nine games as a road underdog of between 24.5 and 30 points and 26-44 ATS in its last 70 contests following a home win over a conference opponent. Gonzaga is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games following a home loss in-conference and 14-9 ATS in its last 23 contests following an upset loss at home. Take Gonzaga (10*). |
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02-07-24 | Warriors v. 76ers +2.5 | Top | 127-104 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Golden State at 7:40 pm et on Wednesday. The 76ers have lost two games in a row and six of their last seven overall as they struggled to adapt to life without Joel Embiid. I don't think Philadelphia is as bad as it has looked lately, however, and do think it will get things straightened out sooner rather than later. Note that the 76ers opponents have been shooting the lights out during their current slide. The good news is, the Sixers have continued to limit the opposition's scoring opportunities, allowing 87 or fewer field goal attempts in five of their last six games. On the flip side, it's only a matter of time before the Sixers start cashing in on their own opportunities, noting that they've hoisted up 94, 96 and 93 field goal attempts in their last three contests. The Warriors have gotten a little too loose for my liking defensively, allowing nine of their last 14 opponents to get off at least 89 field goal attempts. While it looks like Golden State has been lighting it up offensively during its current 3-1 run, it has actually been fairly muted, connecting on 44, 46, 46 and 43 field goals in regulation time over that stretch (still impressive numbers but not overwhelmingly so). For Golden State this will be its fifth game in five different cities in the last nine nights. Philadelphia on the other hand has the advantage of staying home for a third straight contest. Note that the Warriors are just 12-26 ATS in their last 38 games as a road favorite of six points or less and 10-13 ATS in their last 23 contests following a double-digit road win. Meanwhile, the 76ers are 29-14 ATS in their last 43 games when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent, as is the case here. Philadelphia is also 21-17 ATS in its last 38 contests following a double-digit loss. Finally, we'll note that the favorite has covered the spread in three straight meetings in this series. It hasn't done so in four consecutive matchups between these two teams since 2010-12. Take Philadelphia (10*). |
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02-07-24 | Hawks v. Celtics -12 | 117-125 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on Boston minus the points over Atlanta at 7:40 pm et on Wednesday. First off, it's worth noting that the straight-up winner has covered the spread in 17 straight meetings between these two teams. I look for that trend to continue on Wednesday. Atlanta had an off day on Tuesday but you have to wonder how much it has in the tank as it heads on the road for this two-game trip. Note that the Hawks have been involved in six straight wild, high-scoring affairs with five of those contests decided by nine points or less and three settled by five or less. The Celtics on the other hand are coming off what amounted to little more than a glorified scrimmage against the undermanned Grizzlies at home on Sunday. In fact, Boston will be playing just its third game in the last eight nights, all at home. The Celtics have turned things around defensively over their last two contests, holding the Lakers and Grizzlies to 38 and 35 made field goals, respectively. It's a much different story for the Hawks as they've allowed six of their last seven opponents to knock down at least 46 field goals in regulation time despite four of those six foes hoisting up fewer than 90 field goal attempts. Atlanta checks in 27-45 ATS in its last 72 games as a road underdog and 17-28 ATS in its last 45 contests following a home loss. Boston is 52-36 ATS in its last 88 contests following a home win and 12-10 ATS in its last 22 games after a home win by 20 points or more, including a 3-1 ATS mark this season. Take Boston (8*). |
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02-07-24 | Raptors v. Hornets OVER 225.5 | 123-117 | Win | 100 | 11 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Toronto and Charlotte at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday. The Raptors have seen each of their last three games go 'over' the total while the Hornets are coming off a high-scoring affair against the Lakers as well. I expect more of the same as these two struggling teams match up on Wednesday. The Raptors look like a tired team right now, certainly disinterested in playing much defense having allowed 47 or more made field goals in regulation time in six of their last nine contests and 44 or more in eight of those games. Not only that but they've had no success (or interest in) slowing their opponents' pace, allowing seven of their last eight foes to hoist up at least 93 field goal attempts. The Hornets have been pushing the pace a little more lately, getting off 90 or more field goal attempts in three of their last four contests. Similar to Toronto, Charlotte has been getting lashed defensively, allowing seven straight and 10 of its last 12 opponents to knock down 44 or more field goals. Note that the 'over' is 17-15 in the Raptors last 32 games as a road favorite and 5-1 in their last six contests after giving up 135 points or more in their previous game. Meanwhile, the 'over' is a long-term 59-50 in the Hornets last 109 games with the total set between 220 and 229.5 points. The 'under' cashed in the most recent matchup between these two teams on December 18th but we haven't seen consecutive 'under' results in this series over the last six meetings. Take the over (8*). |
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02-07-24 | Stars v. Maple Leafs -135 | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 13 h 3 m | Show | |
My selection is on Toronto over Dallas at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday. The Stars were on the ice in Buffalo last night and while a 2-1 regulation time victory doesn't appear all that taxing at first glance, it's worth noting that they were outshot 48-30 and spent a lot of the night chasing the Sabres around in their own zone. Now they make the short trip to Toronto where you have to figure the Maple Leafs will be in a foul mood after dropping a 3-2 decision against the Islanders on Monday. Toronto should be happy to see Dallas as it has won five straight meetings in this series. In fact, you would have to go all the way back to pre-Covid days in February of 2020 to find the last time the Stars won a game in this series. Dallas is currently approaching uncharted territory as it checks in off four straight wins, having yet to notch five consecutive victories this season. Note that the Stars are just 5-11 in their last 16 games when seeking revenge for a home loss by three or more goals against an opponent, as is the case here. The Leafs are 23-15 in their last 38 games following a home loss and a perfect 3-0 this season when coming off a one-goal loss on home ice. Take Toronto (8*). |
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02-06-24 | Avalanche v. Devils OVER 6.5 | Top | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 23 h 35 m | Show |
Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Colorado and New Jersey at 7:35 pm et on Tuesday. The Avalanche were involved in a low-scoring affair in Manhattan last night but I look for a different story to unfold as they make the short trip to Newark to face the Devils on Tuesday. New Jersey checks in allowing 3.9 goals per game on home ice this season. The Devils are in need of help between the pipes noting they don't have a goaltender on their roster that has recorded a save percentage higher than .895 this season. I do expect New Jersey to hang tough here, however, noting that it comes off consecutive road losses prior to the All-Star break. The Devils certainly haven't forgotten a 6-3 loss they suffered in Colorado in the lone previous meeting between these teams this season. Note that the 'over' is 29-23 in the Devils last 52 games when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent. The Avalanche are likely to give backup goaltender Justus Annunen just his second start of the season after Alexandar Georgiev faced his former team last night. Annunen allowed four goals in a 7-4 victory in Ottawa in his lone previous start this season. Take the over (10*). |
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02-06-24 | Mavs v. Nets +2.5 | 119-107 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Brooklyn plus the points over Dallas at 7:30 pm et on Tuesday. These two teams had very different results last night as Dallas defeated Philadelphia in blowout fashion while Brooklyn dropped a double-digit decision against Golden State. I look for the Nets to bounce back on Tuesday as they look to avenge an earlier five-point loss against the Mavs in Dallas. Note that Dallas has now won four straight meetings in this series. It hasn't delivered five consecutive wins over Brooklyn since 2009-2011. The Nets have given up way too many scoring opportunities over the last couple of games, yielding 96 and 93 field goal attempts against the 76ers and Warriors, respectively. They get a bit of a reprieve here as the Mavs haven't been pushing the pace, getting off 69, 76, 81 and 87 field goal attempts over their last four games. On the flip side, Dallas has allowed six of its last seven opponents to knock down at least 43 field goals. Brooklyn has held 10 of its last 12 opponents to 43 or fewer made field goals. Dallas is just 15-17 ATS in its last 32 games played on the second of back-to-back nights and 21-29 ATS in its last 50 contests following a road victory. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is 28-23 ATS in its last 51 games when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent and 8-5 ATS when coming off a home loss this season. Take Brooklyn (8*). |
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02-06-24 | DePaul v. St. John's -21.5 | Top | 57-85 | Win | 100 | 10 h 18 m | Show |
Big East Game of the Year. My selection is on St. John's minus the points over DePaul at 6:30 pm et on Tuesday. The Blue Demons are mired in a miserable season and they're in the wrong place at the wrong time on Tuesday as they take on St. John's at UBS Arena. The Red Storm are coming off consecutive losses but those came on the road against Xavier and at home against Connecticut. They draw a smash spot here as the Blue Demons are as bad as they've been in quite some time and enter on the heels of 10 straight losses. DePaul has managed to knock down just 30 field goals over its last two games combined. The Blue Demons check in 289th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency this season according to KenPom. They haven't been much better defensively, allowing seven of their last eight opponents to make good on at least 30 field goals. St. John's figures to punish the DePaul defense here, noting the Red Storm rank 44th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency and 94th in adjusted tempo. Keep in mind, St. John's has knocked down 32, 33, 37, 37 and 33 field goals in the last five meetings in this series and those came against much tougher Blue Demon squads. DePaul is just 9-14 ATS in its last 23 games as a double-digit underdog and 4-6 in its last 10 contests following a loss by 20 or more points in-conference. Meanwhile, St. John's is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 games after losing consecutive games in-conference and a long-term 24-18 ATS when those two losses came by double-digit margins, as is the case here. Take St. John's (10*). |
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02-05-24 | Kings v. Cavs UNDER 235.5 | Top | 110-136 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 53 m | Show |
Non-Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Sacramento and Cleveland at 7:10 pm et on Monday. Sacramento has posted consecutive 'over' results as it wraps up its long seven-game road trip on Monday in Cleveland. I expect a different story to unfold here. The Kings have been ultra-efficient offensively but it's not as if they've been playing at a break-neck pace. They check in having connected on 43 or fewer field goals in four of their last five games. Here they'll run into a Cavaliers squad that is locked-in defensively and has been for weeks. Cleveland has held an incredible nine of its last 11 opponents to 38 or fewer made field goals. Offensively, the Cavs have certainly been good but aren't exactly blowing the doors off the opposition, making good on 46 or fewer field goals in 11 of their last 13 contests. The Kings, while not known for their defensive prowess, have been terrific at that end of the floor as well, limiting four of their last five foes to 43 or fewer made field goals. Note that the 'under' is 38-25 in the Kings last 63 games as a road underdog and 21-12 in their last 33 contests as a road underdog of six points or less. The 'under' is also a modest 26-24 in their last 50 games after consecutive 'over' results. Meanwhile, the Cavs have seen the 'under' go 12-6 in their last 18 contests with the total set at 230 points or higher. The 'under' is also 19-12 in their last 31 games when seeking revenge for a double-digit road loss against an opponent, as is the case here. Take the under (10*). |
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02-05-24 | Islanders v. Maple Leafs OVER 6.5 | 3-2 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Monday. The All-Star break probably came at the right time for the Islanders and new head coach Patrick Roy as they had lost three straight games heading in. When we last saw them take the ice they dropped a 3-2 home decision against the Panthers. Note that the 'over' is 12-6 with New York coming off an 'under' result this season. The Isles have been a disappointment defensively, allowing 3.4 goals per game with that number rising to 3.5 on the road. The Maple Leafs are in a similar boat in that department having allowed 3.5 goals per game on home ice this season. Of course, Toronto also boasts one of the best offenses in the league, averaging 3.7 goals per contest here at home. Note that the 'over' is 12-4 in the Leafs last 16 games after allowing two goals or less in three straight games, as is the case here. The 'over' is also 24-12 in their last 36 contests following three straight victories. Finally, we'll note that the 'over' has cashed in four straight meetings in this series. Take the over (8*). |
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02-05-24 | Miami-FL v. Virginia UNDER 132 | Top | 38-60 | Win | 100 | 22 h 8 m | Show |
ACC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Miami and Virginia at 7 pm et on Monday. Both of these teams have been on a bit of a tear (relatively speaking) offensively in recent weeks but I look for Monday's matchup to take on more of a defensive flavor. Miami delivered an 82-74 home win over Virginia Tech on Saturday. While the Hurricanes have connected on 24 or more field goals in eight straight games, they haven't knocked down 30 or more field goals since back on January 6th against Wake Forest. They obviously draw a tough challenge here as Virginia ranks 12th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom. The Cavaliers have held six straight opponents to 23 or fewer made field goals. They've also limited six of their last seven foes to 56 or fewer field goal attempts. On the flip side, Virginia has made good on more than 27 field goals just once in its last eight contests. Note that the 'under' is 12-6 in Miami's last 18 games as a road underdog and 11-7 in its last 18 games following a home win in-conference. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 11-6 in Virginia's last 17 games following consecutive 'over' results, as is the case here. The 'under' is also a perfect 7-0 in the Cavaliers last seven games following a win by three points or less in-conference. Finally, we'll note that the 'under' is a long-term 11-4 in the last 15 meetings in this series. Take the under (10*). |
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02-04-24 | Stanford v. Arizona OVER 162 | 71-82 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Stanford and Arizona at 8 pm et on Sunday. The 'over' has cashed in five straight meetings between these teams and I expect that trend to continue on Sunday. Stanford took the first matchup of the season in stunning fashion, cruising to a 100-82 home win on New Year's Eve. Arizona remains one of the best offensive teams in the country, ranking sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom. They're also just one spot outside the top-10 in adjusted tempo. Stanford has shown no ability to slow the pace of the opposition, allowing 60 or more field goal attempts in seven straight and 13 of their last 14 games overall. They did hold Arizona State down in a revenge game two nights ago but now the shoe is on the other foot. Note that Arizona has knocked down 28 or more field goals in 13 of its last 15 games and 18 of 21 contests overall this season. The question is whether Stanford can contribute enough to help this total along. While Arizona is tough defensively, the simple fact that it plays at such a fast pace tends to give the opposition plenty of scoring opportunities. Note that the Wildcats have allowed the opposition to connect on 26 or more field goals in six of their last seven games. The 'over' is 8-6 in Stanford's last 14 games following consecutive 'under' results and 23-17 in its last 40 contests following a win. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 21-16 in Arizona's last 37 games when seeking revenge for a double-digit road loss against an opponent and 14-9 in its last 23 contests following a home win by 20 points or more, as is the case here. Take the over (8*). |
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02-04-24 | Grizzlies v. Celtics -16.5 | 91-131 | Win | 100 | 22 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on Boston minus the points over Memphis at 6:10 pm et on Sunday. This is a steep line even by today's NBA standards but I think it will prove too short. Memphis is missing a number of key contributors right now and checks in having lost four straight games, going 2-2 ATS over that stretch. Note that the one thing the Grizzlies have been able to hang their hat on at times this season has been their defense but even that has sagged lately. Memphis has allowed its last four opponents to knock down 44, 43, 41 and 46 field goals. That's despite three of those four opponents getting off 86 or fewer field goal attempts. Boston figures to push it much more on Sunday, noting that the Celtics have hoisted up 93 field goal attempts per game on average at home this season. Boston is inexplicably mired in a four-game ATS losing streak. The Celtics do have the rest advantage here having not played since Thursday's no-show against the Lebron and A.D.-less Lakers. On a positive note, Boston has connected on more than 40 field goals in six of its last seven games. The problem defensively has been the fact that the Celtics have been far too loose, allowing more than 90 field goal attempts in seven straight games. The Grizzlies don't figure to push the pace here, however, noting that Memphis has gotten off 90 or fewer field goal attempts in 10 of its last 11 games. The Grizzlies are just 25-37 ATS in their last 62 games as a road underdog and 17-20 ATS in their last 37 games following a home loss. Meanwhile, the Celtics are 38-23 ATS in their last 61 games after scoring 105 points or less in their previous game and 19-13 ATS in their last 32 contests following an upset loss at home. Take Boston (8*). |
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02-04-24 | Clippers v. Heat UNDER 225.5 | 103-95 | Win | 100 | 9 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and Miami at 6:10 pm et on Sunday. Kawhi Leonard called out his team for its poor defensive play in Friday's 136-125 win in Detroit. In that contest, the Clippers allowed 45 made field goals for a second straight game. While the Clips haven't exactly been locked-in defensively on their current road trip, it's not as if they've been getting lit up either. Note that Los Angeles has held 10 straight and 17 of its last 18 opponents to 45 or fewer made field goals. The Heat have rebounded following a seven-game losing streak to deliver consecutive wins over the Kings and Wizards. In those two contests they allowed the opposition to knock down just 41 and 37 field goals. Terry Rozier in particular has shown a renewed commitment to defense, even if it has come at the expense of his offensive production. Offensively, the Heat remain capped by a relatively low ceiling, noting they've connected on 42 or fewer field goals in an incredible 18 straight games. You would have to go back five games to find the last time they got off more than 88 field goal attempts. Note that the 'under' is 16-6 in the Clippers last 22 games following a win but non-cover and 7-4 in their last 11 contests after scoring 125 points or more in consecutive games, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 9-6 in the Heat's last 15 games following consecutive ATS wins as favorites and 12-9 in their last 21 contests as a home underdog of six points or less. Take the under (8*). |
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02-03-24 | Oregon v. UCLA +1.5 | 63-71 | Win | 100 | 15 h 18 m | Show | |
My selection is on UCLA plus the points over Oregon at 10 pm et on Saturday. Oregon picked up a much-needed victory on the road against USC on Thursday but remains just 2-3 over its last five games entering Saturday's showdown with UCLA. The Ducks got off a whopping 65 field goal attempts in that victory, taking advantage of a Charmin' soft USC defense. The Ducks obviously prefer to push the pace when they can but run into a tough matchup here as the Bruins rank 34th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency and 343rd in adjusted tempo (both according to KenPom) and come in playing their best basketball of the season. UCLA has held five straight opponents to 54 or fewer field goal attempts. They've limited 10 of their last 11 opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. On the flip side, we have seen some signs of life from the UCLA offense as it has knocked down 25, 22, 25, 20 and 25 field goals over its last five contests, matching its longest streak of 20+ made field goals this season. I realize those numbers aren't eye-popping but when you play at the slow pace UCLA does, they're notable. Oregon checks in having allowed seven of its last eight opponents to connect on 27 or more field goals. Note that despite Thursday's win and cover, Oregon is still just 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games as a road favorite. The Ducks are also 12-19 ATS in their last 31 contests following a victory in-conference. UCLA is 15-7 ATS in its last 22 games as a home favorite of three points or less and 13-7 ATS in its last 20 contests off a win but non-cover, as is the case here. Take UCLA (8*). |
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02-03-24 | Bucks v. Mavs OVER 246.5 | 129-117 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 59 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Milwaukee and Dallas at 8:40 pm et on Saturday. The Bucks will certainly be in a foul mood entering this game after they dropped consecutive matchups in Denver and Portland to open their current road trip. I believe this contest has track meet potential as the Mavericks also look to bounce back following a drubbing at the hands of the Timberwolves last time out. Milwaukee continues to push the pace having hoisted up 90 or more field goal attempts in 12 of its last 16 games. While it hasn't been as consistent shooting-wise as we've become accustomed to it has still managed to connect on 45 or more field goals in three of its last five games and seven of its last 11 contests. Dallas is just 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS over its last seven contests. The Mavs rested a number of players in their most recent game in Minnesota on Wednesday and struggled mightily as a result. Note that prior to that game, the Mavs had connected on 43 or more field goals in four of their last five games. They continue to have a tough time slowing the opposition, allowing four of their last five foes to knock down at least 45 field goals. You would have to go back nine games to find the last time they held an opponent to 40 or fewer made field goals. The first meeting between these two teams was a high-scoring one as they combined to score 257 points. Note that the 'over' is 26-21 in the Bucks last 47 games following an upset loss and 12-10 in their last 22 contests following consecutive defeats. Meanwhile, the Mavs have seen the 'over' go 24-17 in their lat 41 games following a double-digit loss and 23-18 in their last 41 contests after scoring 100 points or less in their previous game. Take the over (8*). |
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02-03-24 | Kings v. Bulls -1.5 | 123-115 | Loss | -108 | 13 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Sacramento at 8:10 pm et on Saturday. The Kings drilled the Pacers in Indiana last night as they were in a smash spot, rested and revenge-minded facing a Pacers team that had just suffered an emotional loss in New York the night previous. This is a much different situation as the Kings play the second of back-to-backs against a rested Bulls squad that last played on Wednesday, when they delivered a 117-110 win in Charlotte. Chicago has been playing reasonably well, going 4-3 SU and 5-2 ATS over its last seven contests. The Bulls have impressively held seven of their last nine opponents to 43 or fewer made field goals. Meanwhile, they've connected on 48, 47, 45, 47, 42, 38 and 45 field goals over their last seven contests. They figure to get their opportunities against a road-weary Kings squad here. Sacramento has allowed 42 or more made field goals in seven of its last nine games. While the Kings took full advantage of a tired Pacers team last night, connecting on 51 field goals, they've actually been limited to 43 or fewer made field goals in four of their last six contests. Note that Sacramento has won three straight meetings in this series ATS but hasn't delivered four or more consecutive ATS victories over the Bulls since 2013-14. The Kings check in 6-14 ATS in their last 20 games following a double-digit road win and 15-17 ATS in their last 32 road contests with the line set between +3 and -3. Chicago is 29-21 ATS in its last 50 games as a home favorite of six points or less and 25-21 ATS in its last 46 contests following a road win. Take Chicago (8*). |
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02-03-24 | California v. Arizona State OVER 144.5 | Top | 81-66 | Win | 100 | 17 h 33 m | Show |
Pac-12 Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between California and Arizona State at 3 pm et on Saturday. California ran into a buzz saw in Arizona on Thursday, dropping a 91-65 decision. That game still managed to stay 'under' the total - the Bears second straight 'under' result. Meanwhile, Arizona State checks in off a relatively low-scoring home defeat at the hands of Stanford on Thursday. The Sun Devils have struggled to find their shooting legs in recent games but should be afforded plenty of opportunities against a very forgiving Cal defense on Saturday. Note that the Bears have allowed eight of their last 10 opponents to knock down 25 or more field goals. They've also yielded 58 or more field goal attempts in nine of their last 10 contests. On the flip side, Cal has at least been consistent offensively, connecting on 25 or more field goals in six straight games entering Saturday's action. The Sun Devils rank an impressive 44th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom but that's largely based on early season returns. They've allowed five of their last six opponents to make good on 25 or more field goals. Note that the pace was there in the first meeting between these two teams this season (both hoisted up 60+ field goal attempts) but we saw just 48 combined made field goals in a game that cruised 'under' the total with 140 points. Note that the 'over' is 14-9 in Cal's last 23 games when seeking revenge for a home loss against an opponent. The 'over' is also 13-11 in the Bears last 24 contests following a road loss. Arizona State has seen the 'over' go 6-4 in its last 10 games following a home loss in-conference and 7-4 in its last 11 home contests with the total set between 140 and 149.5 points. Take the over (10*). |
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02-03-24 | Kansas State -1 v. Oklahoma State | Top | 72-75 | Loss | -105 | 16 h 55 m | Show |
Big 12 Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas State minus the points over Oklahoma State at 2 pm et on Saturday. Kansas State has fallen on hard times over its last three games and in particular in its last two contests, scoring only 52 and 53 points in losses against Houston and Oklahoma, respectively. I expect the Wildcats to bounce back on Saturday as they draw a manageable matchup at Oklahoma State. Kansas State still boasts a terrific defense. It has held eight of its last nine opponents to 23 or fewer made field goals. It should thrive in this matchup, noting that Oklahoma State has knocked down 22 or fewer field goals in six straight games. On the flip side, the Cowboys have sagged defensively, allowing nine of their last 11 opponents to connect on at least 25 field goals. In fact, five of their last eight foes have connected on 30 or more field goals. Note that Kansas State is 16-11 ATS in its last 27 lined road games. The Wildcats are also 5-1 ATS in their last six contests following an upset loss, as is the case here. Oklahoma State is a miserable 12-26 ATS in its last 38 games as an underdog and 10-16 ATS in its last 26 contests when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent. Take Kansas State (10*). |
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02-02-24 | San Jose State v. Nevada OVER 142 | Top | 60-90 | Win | 100 | 27 h 49 m | Show |
Mountain West Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between San Jose State and Nevada at 11 pm et on Friday. San Jose State sits tied for last place in the Mountain West Conference with just one win in eight games this season. Meanwhile, Nevada is 3-4 and staring up at seven other teams in the conference. Needless to say, I don't expect either team to play lock-down defense on Friday night in Reno. Note that San Jose State is on an incredible run of defensive futility as it has allowed five straight opponents to shoot better than 50% from the field with its last four foes knocking down 33, 34, 30 and 30 field goals. Nevada should be in a foul mood after connecting on just 19 field goals in a blowout loss at New Mexico last time out. Note that the Wolf Pack had made good on 35 and 39 field goals in their two previous contests. They've gotten bogged down by the better teams they've faced in conference play but San Jose State certainly doesn't fall into that category. The question is whether the Spartans can produce enough offense to help this total along. I'm confident they can, noting they've actually been reasonably consistent offensively, making good on 24 or more field goals in 11 of their last 12 games. In fact, they rank a respectable 128th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency this season. San Jose state played quite slow early in the season but has picked up the pace, hoisting up more than 60 field goal attempts in six of its last 12 games. Note that the 'over' is 10-6 in the Spartans last 16 games as a double-digit road underdog and 8-3 in their last 11 contests following consecutive 'under' results. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 12-10 in Nevada's last 22 games following a loss in-conference and a long-term 21-8 in its last 29 contests after scoring 55 points or less in its previous game. Take the over (10*). |
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02-02-24 | Magic v. Wolves UNDER 212 | 108-106 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Orlando and Minnesota at 8:10 pm et on Friday. This game figures to have a bit of an old-school feel as the Magic and Timberwolves have proven to be two of the more slow-paced teams in the league while also proving elite defensively. Orlando has held five of its last six opponents to 80 or fewer field goal attempts. Going back further, nine of its last 12 opponents have gotten off 83 or fewer field goal attempts. It's a similar story with the T'Wolves as they've limited four of their last five foes to fewer than 80 field goal attempts. In fact, of Minnesota's last 18 opponents, only five have managed to connect on 40 or more field goals. As I mentioned, both teams are also playing at a slow pace themselves. Orlando has gotten off 88 or fewer field goal attempts in 10 of its last 11 contests. Minnesota has hoisted up 84 or fewer field goal attempts in seven of its last eight games. The first meeting between these two teams totalled just 205 points back in early January. Note that the 'under' is 19-14 in Orlando's last 33 games following a road win. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 17-8 in Minnesota's last 25 games as a home favorite of between 6.5 and 12 points and 6-1 in its last seven contests following an ATS win as a double-digit favorite (including a perfect 3-0 this season). Take the under (8*). |
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02-02-24 | Suns v. Hawks OVER 247 | 120-129 | Win | 100 | 13 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Phoenix and Atlanta at 7:40 pm et on Friday. This projects as a track meet between the Suns and Hawks in Atlanta on Friday. Few teams are as locked-in offensively as the Suns right now as they've knocked down more than 40 field goals in 11 straight games, connecting on at least 46 field goals in eight of those contests. They draw a smash spot on Friday as the Hawks have been matador-like defensively, allowing their last six opponents to make good on 43, 43, 51, 51, 41 and 48 field goals. Note that three of the Hawks last five foes have gotten off at least 90 field goal attempts. On the flip side, Atlanta is quietly thriving offensively, knocking down 51, 44 and 53 field goals over its last three games. It was only a matter of time before the shots started falling and the Hawks preferred pace is fast, noting they've hoisted up more than 90 field goal attempts in 14 of their last 17 contests. Once stingy, the Suns have been far more forgiving defensively of late, allowing seven of their last nine foes to get off at least 92 field goal attempts. Note that the 'over' is 22-11 in the Suns last 33 road games with the total set at 230 points or higher. The 'over' is also a perfect 8-0 in their last eight contests following a win by 15 points or more, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 15-12 in the Hawks last 27 games as a home underdog and 20-11 in their last 31 contests after scoring 136 points or more in their previous game. Take the over (8*). |
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02-02-24 | Clippers v. Pistons OVER 237.5 | Top | 136-125 | Win | 100 | 11 h 49 m | Show |
Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and Detroit at 7:10 pm et on Friday. The Clippers may be known for their defensive prowess but it's been their offense that has paced them to 30+ wins this season. Los Angeles enters this game on a tear offensively having knocked down 45 or more field goals in eight of their last 11 games. The Clips are also playing at a faster pace than we've been accustomed to seeing, hoisting up 95 or more field goal attempts in three of the first four games on their current road trip. They should be afforded plenty of scoring opportunities on Friday as the Pistons have allowed 21 of their last 28 opponents to connect on at least 44 field goals. That's not to mention the fact that eight of their last 11 foes have gotten off 90+ field goal attempts. The question is whether Detroit can produce enough to help this total along. I believe it can. Note that the Pistons have made good on 43 or more field goals in eight of their last 10 games. They're catching the Clips at the right time as they've allowed six of their last seven foes to knock down at least 42 field goals and haven't exactly been smothering in nature, giving up 90+ field goal attempts in five of their last six contests. Note that the 'over' is 33-25 in the Clippers last 58 games following a double-digit win, as is the case here. The 'over' is also 27-22 in Detroit's last 49 contests after posting consecutive ATS victories. Take the over (10*). |
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02-01-24 | Oregon v. USC +2 | Top | 78-69 | Loss | -105 | 15 h 1 m | Show |
Revenge Game of the Year. My selection is on USC plus the points over Oregon at 10:30 pm et on Thursday. This will be the second meeting between these Pac-12 opponents this season after Oregon posted an 82-74 win in Eugene back on December 28th. Note that the Ducks held a major advantage at the free throw line in that contest, getting there 32 times compared to the Trojans' 15. Oregon outscored USC 26-10 from the charity stripe, making up more than the difference in the game. The Trojans enter this contest riding a five-game losing streak. They connected on just 17 field goals in a dismal showing at home against UCLA last time out. Note that the only previous time they were held to fewer than 20 made field goals this season they rebounded with a double-digit win in their next contest (albeit against Brown). I like USC's chances of rebounding offensively here as well, noting that Oregon has allowed 27 or more made field goals in six of its last seven games. The Ducks have been ultra-consistent offensively but they're in uncharted territory right now having scored 70+ points in a season-high seven straight games. Oregon has won consecutive meetings in this series but hasn't delivered three straight victories over USC since owning the series from 2010-17. Note that Oregon is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games as a road favorite including an 0-1 ATS mark this season. USC checks in 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games following an upset loss by 15 points or more as a favorite and 12-7 in its last 19 contests when the line is set between +3 and -3. Take USC (10*). |
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02-01-24 | Pacers v. Knicks -3.5 | 105-109 | Win | 100 | 12 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York minus the points over Indiana at 7:40 pm et on Thursday. This is undoubtedly a game the Knicks have had circled on their calendar since dropping an ugly 140-126 decision in Indiana back on December 30th. Since then, New York has gone 14-2 SU and 13-3 ATS over its last 16 games. You'd be hard-pressed to find a team that's more locked-in defensively than the Knicks right now. They enter Thursday's action having held 10 straight and 15 of their last 16 opponents to 42 or fewer made field goals. The Pacers obviously pose a stiff challenge as they can score with the best of them but I think the Knicks can make them uncomfortable here, noting New York has limited four straight and 15 of its last 18 foes to fewer than 90 field goal attempts. On the flip side, the Knicks have been scoring in bunches lately, knocking down 44 or more field goals in five of their last six contests. Indiana, meanwhile, has allowed 44 or more made field goals in seven of its last 10 games. Note that the Pacers are just 29-37 ATS in their last 66 games following a road loss and 5-11 ATS in their last 16 contests after an ATS win but SU loss on the road, as is the case here. The Knicks are 25-21 ATS in their last 46 contests as a home favorite of six points or less and 26-19 ATS in their last 45 games when seeking revenge for a double-digit loss against an opponent. Take New York (8*). |
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01-31-24 | Arkansas v. Missouri -4.5 | 91-84 | Loss | -115 | 25 h 38 m | Show | |
My selection is on Missouri minus the points over Arkansas at 8:30 pm et on Wednesday. Missouri got off to a 7-2 start this season and gave Kansas all it could handle in Lawrence on December 9th. Unfortunately that loss to the Jayhawks kicked off a 1-10 SU and 3-8 ATS slide. This is as good of a chance as any to end its seven-game losing streak as Mizzou hosts Arkansas on Wednesday. The Razorbacks are 1-6 SU and 1-5-1 ATS over their last seven contests. They did lose by 'only' six points at home against Kentucky on Saturday but that had more to do with the Wildcats having an off shooting day than anything else. While KenPom does have Arkansas ranking considerably higher than Missouri in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency, I would flip those rankings based on recent results. Arkansas has allowed nine of its last 10 opponents to hoist up 60 or more field goal attempts. Of the Hogs last 12 opponents, 10 have knocked down 25 or more field goals with three of their last seven foes connecting on more than 30. While Missouri hasn't been all that explosive offensively, it has been fairly consistent, knocking down at least 23 field goals in 18 of 20 games this season. Arkansas has been held to 20 or fewer made field goals in three of its last four games alone. On the flip side, Missouri has held six of its last eight opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals. Note that Arkansas is just 10-13 ATS in its last 23 lined road games and 7-12 ATS in its last 19 contests following a home loss in which it scored less than 60 points, as is the case here. Missouri is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games after scoring 65 points or less in consecutive games. Take Missouri (8*). |
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01-31-24 | Magic v. Spurs OVER 227.5 | 108-98 | Loss | -111 | 14 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Orlando and San Antonio at 8:10 pm et on Wednesday. The Magic offense is flashing right now, showing steady improvement in each of its last three games. It draws a mouth-watering matchup on Wednesday as the Spurs have been matador-like defensively allowing 47, 49, 48, 54, 38, 45 and 46 made field goals over their last seven contests. Orlando tweaked its starting five last time out and scored a whopping 77 first half points in an eventual 131-129 loss in Dallas. I do think the Magic are vulnerable defensively right now as they've allowed their last four opponents to knock down 45, 42, 41 and 43 field goals. That's not bad on the face of it but is concerning when you consider three of those opponents hoisted up 80 or fewer field goal attempts. The Spurs have been reasonably matchup-proof when it comes to pace, attempting more than 90 field goals in seven of their last 10 games. Offensively, San Antonio has quietly been on a roll, connecting on 42 or more field goals in seven straight games. Note that the 'over' is 23-17 in Orlando's last 40 games as a favorite and 35-20 in its last 55 contests following consecutive ATS victories. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 29-14 in the Spurs last 43 games as a home underdog of six points or less and 9-5 in their last 14 contests following three straight 'under' results, as is the case here. Take the over (8*). |
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01-30-24 | Blue Jackets v. Blues UNDER 6.5 | 1-0 | Win | 102 | 9 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Columbus and St. Louis at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday. The 'over' has cashed in the last five meetings in this series. That matches the longest such streak in the history of this series. It's happened twice previously and on both occasions the next meeting stayed 'under' the total. I expect a similar story to unfold here. Note that the 'under' is 13-11 in the Blue Jackets last 24 games following consecutive road losses. The 'under' is also 11-8 in the Blues last 19 contests when seeking revenge for a road loss by three goals or more against an opponent, as is the case here. Finally, the 'under' is 6-4 in the Blues last 10 games following four consecutive games that totalled seven goals or more. Take the under (8*). |
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01-30-24 | Oklahoma v. Kansas State -1.5 | 73-53 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 44 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas State minus the points over Oklahoma at 8 pm et on Tuesday. Kansas State got blasted on the road against Houston on Saturday as it was stymied by the Cougars elite defense, knocking down just 19-of-47 field goals in a 74-52 loss. I expect the Wildcats to bounce back on Tuesday as they return home to face Oklahoma. Kansas State has lost two games in a row SU and three straight ATS. Note that it is 9-1 ATS when coming off consecutive ATS losses over the last three seasons (this marks the first time it has lost three straight games ATS over that stretch). The Wildcats are also 7-1 ATS in their last eight games after scoring 60 points or less in their previous contest. Oklahoma is coming off consecutive losses and has allowed five of its last seven opponents to knock down 26 or more field goals. In stark contrast, Kansas State has held seven of its last eight foes to 22 or fewer made field goals. KenPom has the Wildcats ranked just seven spots above the Sooners in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency but I believe that's a little light. Offensively, Oklahoma is superior but certainly not by all that wide of a margin and home court is the great equalizer here. Note that the Sooners are just 9-14 ATS in their last 23 games as a road underdog. They haven't proven to be a great bounce-back team, going 4-7 ATS in their last 11 games following a home loss in-conference. Take Kansas State (8*). |
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01-30-24 | Jazz v. Knicks UNDER 231.5 | Top | 103-118 | Win | 100 | 11 h 14 m | Show |
Non-Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Utah and New York at 7:40 pm et on Tuesday. The 'under' is an incredible 13-2 in the Knicks last 15 games and I look for that trend to continue as they return home to host the Jazz on Tuesday. Utah got stomped by the Nets in Brooklyn last night. The Jazz are by no means playing good defensive basketball right now but I do think they get a bit of a reprieve in this back-to-back spot. Note that New York, while red hot off seven straight wins, has connected on 45 or fewer field goals in 16 of its last 18 games. It doesn't generally look to push the pace having hoisted up fewer than 90 field goal attempts in 15 straight games entering Tuesday's contest. On the flip side, the Knicks are as locked-in defensively as any team right now having held nine straight and 14 of their last 15 opponents to 42 or fewer made field goals. Note that the 'under' is 10-4 in the Jazz's last 14 games following a road loss by 20 points or more, as is the case here. The 'under' is also 6-1 in Utah's last seven contests after consecutive games totalling 245 points or more. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 26-19 in the Knicks last 45 games as a home favorite of six points or less and 7-4 in their last 11 contests after a road win by 20 points or more. Take the under (10*). |
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01-30-24 | Pacers +7.5 v. Celtics | Top | 124-129 | Win | 100 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
Eastern Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Indiana plus the points over Boston at 7:30 pm et on Tuesday. There's nothing to fear when it comes to facing the Celtics right now as they've clearly been off their game in recent weeks, going 8-10 ATS over their last 18 games. They're in a tough back-to-back spot on Tuesday after staging a massive fourth quarter rally against the Pelicans to avoid a second straight defeat. Note that Boston has been held to 43 or fewer made field goals in nine of its last 11 games. On the flip side, it has allowed more than 40 made field goals in six straight contests with its last four opponents connecting on 43, 42, 45 and 46 field goals. The Pacers on the other hand have reeled off three straight wins and are heating up again offensively, knocking down 43, 53, 58 and 44 field goals over their last four games. They've also held five of their last seven foes to 44 or fewer made field goals - that's progress for this team defensively. The Celtics will be looking to avenge a 133-131 loss in Indiana back on January 8th but they check in just 10-16 ATS in their last 26 games when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent as a road favorite. Meanwhile, the Pacers are 44-38 ATS in their last 82 games as a road underdog. Take Indiana (10*). |
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01-30-24 | South Carolina v. Tennessee UNDER 136.5 | Top | 63-59 | Win | 100 | 10 h 36 m | Show |
SEC Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between South Carolina and Tennessee at 6:30 pm et on Tuesday. South Carolina enters this game having scored more than 70 points in three straight games - all victories in SEC play. It will be hard-pressed to reach that number on Tuesday, however, as it travels to Rocky Top to challenge Tennessee and it's elite defense. The Volunteers check in ranked second in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom. The Gamecocks will need to effectively shorten this game by relying on their methodical pace, noting they rank 348th (out of 362 Division I teams) in adjusted tempo (also according to KenPom). South Carolina can hold its own defensively as well as it has limited four straight and eight of its last 10 opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals. Offensively, the Gamecocks had a brief two-game outburst but that was against two poor SEC defenses in Arkansas and Kentucky. Last time out they knocked down just 23 field goals in a win over Missouri and they've been held to 24 or fewer made field goals in five of their last seven contests. I mentioned Tennessee's elite defense, it has held 12 straight opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals and nine of its last 11 foes to 23 or less. Note that the 'under' is 7-5 in the Gamecocks last 12 games following three straight ATS victories, including 3-1 in that situation this season. The 'under' is 22-17 in the Vols last 39 games following an ATS loss and 6-3 in their last nine contests after posting three straight wins by double-digits, as is the case here. Take the under (10*). |
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01-29-24 | Houston v. Texas +5.5 | 76-72 | Win | 100 | 24 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Texas plus the points over Houston at 9 pm et on Monday. These two teams had much different outcomes on Saturday as Houston rolled to a 74-52 home win over Kansas State while Texas fell by a score of 84-72 at Big 12 newcomer BYU. I expect this in-state showdown to go down to the wire on Monday and will grab all the points I can get with the Longhorns. Note that Houston is just 2-4 ATS in its last six games as a road favorite of six points or less. The Cougars are also a miserable 3-9 ATS in their last 12 contests following a win by 20 points or more against a conference foe. Texas may not rank as highly as Houston in terms of offensive efficiency this season but there's no denying it has been ultra-consistent. The Longhorns have knocked down at least 24 field goals in all 20 games. They'll obviously be tested by Houston's incredible defense on Monday. By nature, Houston has a tendency to shorten proceedings as it checks in ranked 350th in the country in adjusted tempo (according to KenPom). That generally favors the underdog. Note that Texas can play some defense too, noting it has held five straight opponents to 57 or fewer field goal attempts. The Longhorns are a perfect 6-0 ATS in their last six games following a double-digit loss against a conference opponent. They're also 8-6 ATS in their last 14 contests after giving up 80 points or more in their previous game. Take Texas (8*). |
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01-29-24 | Jazz v. Nets | 114-147 | Win | 100 | 11 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Brooklyn over Utah at 7:40 pm et on Monday. The Jazz are 9-2 ATS over their last 11 games, scoring 120 or more points in all 11 of those contests. I think they'll be hard-pressed to reach that number on Monday, however, as they continue their road trip in Brooklyn. While the Utah offense is flying its defense leaves a lot to be desired. Note that the Jazz have allowed 48, 45, 60, 43 and 47 made field goals over their last five games. In stark contrast, the Nets have held eight straight and 10 of their last 12 opponents to 42 or fewer made field goals. Note only that but Brooklyn has limited 10 of its last 13 foes to fewer than 90 field goal attempts. While the Nets offense has connected on only 35 and 36 field goals over its last two games, keep in mind it got off only 77 and 74 field goal attempts. Prior to that it had hoisted up 90 or more field goal attempts in three straight games, knocking down 50, 44 and 42. It should enjoy a free-flowing environment here given Utah has allowed 90 or more field goal attempts in 10 of its last 14 contests. Note that the Jazz are just 10-11 ATS in their last 21 games following consecutive ATS victories as a favorite and 10-13 ATS in their last 23 contests after scoring 130 points or more in their previous game. The Nets are 27-22 ATS in their last 49 games when seeking revenge for a road loss against an opponent including 6-4 ATS this season. Take Brooklyn (8*). |
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01-29-24 | Clippers v. Cavs +2.5 | Top | 108-118 | Win | 100 | 12 h 17 m | Show |
Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Los Angeles at 7:10 pm et on Monday. The Clippers roll into this game on the heels of five straight wins, including a stunning rout of the Celtics in Boston on Saturday. The Cavaliers are also red hot, however, having won nine of their last 10 games and I look for them to give the Clips all they can handle on Monday. Note that Los Angeles, while known for its stout defense, has played a little looser lately, allowing 90 or more field goal attempts in four straight games. Of Los Angeles' last eight opponents, six have managed to knock down more than 40 field goals. The Cavs don't generally play at a fast pace but have appeared comfortable doing so during their current run, hoisting up more than 90 field goal attempts in four of their last six contests. They remain as locked-in defensively as any team in the league right now having held six of their last seven opponents to 38 or fewer made field goals. Note that the Clips are just 10-13 ATS in their last 23 games following an upset win and 5-10 ATS in their last 15 contests when that upset win came on the road. They're also a long-term 15-23 ATS in their last 38 games following five straight ATS wins. Cleveland is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 contests following a double-digit upset win on the road, as is the case here. The Cavs are also a long-term 41-26 ATS in their last 67 games following a double-digit victory. Take Cleveland (10*). |
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01-28-24 | Lions v. 49ers -7 | 31-34 | Loss | -110 | 21 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on San Francisco minus the points over Detroit at 6:30 pm et on Sunday. The Lions have needed everything they had in the tank to get past the Rams and Buccaneers in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Now they hit the road for the first time in the postseason and I believe it's a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time as they take on the 49ers in Santa Clara on Sunday. Detroit is dealing with a cluster of injuries on its offensive line with Jonah Jackson and Frank Ragnow both banged-up. Keep in mind, the Lions offense already takes a hit at the best of times on the road, QB Jared Goff in particular. The 49ers defense presents a nightmarish matchup for most opposing offenses and this is no different. Playing from behind isn't the Lions strength but that's a situation I expect them to be in for much of the evening on Sunday. That likely means more of standout rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs, which doesn't seem like a negative on the face of it but veteran David Montgomery is the much better pass blocker and Goff will need all the help he can get against a ferocious 49ers defensive front. San Francisco QB Brock Purdy struggled mightily in the wet weather against the Packers last Saturday but should face no such difficulty with a flawless forecast in store this week. Purdy should be able to take the lid off the Lions leaky pass defense with WR Brandon Aiyuk. Whether or not WR Deebo Samuel can play isn't all that relevant as far as I'm concerned as the Niners can beat the Lions in several other ways, including with TE George Kittle who draws a smash spot against a defense that has had no success containing opposing TE's this season. RB Christian McCaffrey runs into a very tough matchup here but that's nothing new. He tends to exceed expectations on the regular in this type of contest. The Lions are just 14-20 ATS in their last 34 games following three straight wins. Meanwhile, the Niners are a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five games following a win but non-cover and 4-0 ATS in their last four contests after a victory by three points or less. Take San Francisco (8*). |
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01-28-24 | Suns v. Magic +2 | 98-113 | Win | 100 | 10 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on Orlando plus the points over Phoenix at 6:10 pm et on Sunday. The Magic have lost consecutive games and are just 2-7 over their last nine contests as they've sunken into a bit of an offensive slump. The Suns might be just the opponent to bring them out of it on Sunday, however, noting that Phoenix has allowed 10 straight opponents to knock down 40 or more field goals (Orlando has connected on fewer than 40 field goals in nine straight contests) with each of its last seven foes getting off at least 89 field goal attempts. Defensively, the Magic continue to play well. Here at home they've limited the opposition to 39-of-84 shooting this season. They've held nine of their last 10 foes to 43 or fewer made field goals. Note that the Suns are just 10-12 ATS including 0-4 ATS this season when coming off a game in which they scored 130 or more points, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the Magic 21-17 ATS in their last 38 games following a loss by three points or less and a perfect 2-0 ATS this season following an upset defeat. Take Orlando (8*). |
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01-28-24 | Chiefs v. Ravens UNDER 44.5 | Top | 17-10 | Win | 100 | 47 h 20 m | Show |
Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Kansas City and Baltimore at 3 pm et on Sunday. While there are plenty of offensive stars on display in this matchup, headlined by the quarterback showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, I actually expect points to come at a premium on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. I don't envision either team having a ton of success throwing the football. The Chiefs have done a tremendous job of containing mobile opposing quarterbacks over the years and job number one will be taking away Lamar Jackson's legs on Sunday. Of course Jackson is playing arguably the best football of his career right now so that's no easy task. I do think we'll see the Chiefs defense, which is relatively healthy considering the time of year, at least force the Ravens to go on long, methodical drives that may or may not end in 7's on the board. Meanwhile, the Baltimore defense should feast on a Chiefs offense that has been gashed by injuries on the offensive line. Not only that but RB Isaiah Pacheco, who has been the team's unsung hero down the stretch, is playing on a bad toe and ankle. I would anticipate Kansas City using its short passing game and expect to see Patrick Mahomes flushed out of the pocket and forced to run the football on plenty of occasions on Sunday. Again, long, clock-eating drives could turn out to be the story of the game. Note that the 'under' is 8-1 in the Chiefs last nine games following a win by three points or less and 9-5 in their last 14 contests following four straight victories, as is the case here. The Ravens have seen the 'under' go 10-6 in their last 16 games following a home win and a long-term 30-21 in their last 51 contests after a victory by 21 points or more. Take the under (10*). |
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01-28-24 | Marist v. Canisius UNDER 131.5 | Top | 80-71 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 47 m | Show |
MAAC Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Marist and Canisius at 1 pm et on Sunday. While Marist rides a three-game 'under' streak into this matchup on Sunday, Canisius snapped a two-game 'under' streak with an 'over' result on Friday. I'm anticipating a relatively low-scoring affair between these two MAAC squads on Sunday afternoon. Marist has dropped the cash in six of its last seven games and that's been more to do with its punchless offense than anything else. The Red Foxes check in ranked 337th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency and 321st in adjusted tempo, both according to KenPom. They've been held to 25 or fewer made field goals in seven of their last eight contests. While Canisius is certainly no defensive juggernaut, it has held three straight and four of its last five opponents to 27 or fewer made field goals. Marist actually sits just outside the top-100 (106th) in adjusted defensive efficiency. Red Foxes' opponents have had a tough enough time getting shots off let alone knocking them down. Marist has limited five straight and nine of its last 10 foes to 54 or fewer field goal attempts. You would have to go back six games to find the last time Marist allowed more than 24 made field goals. In fact, it has held an incredible 13 of its last 14 opponents to 24 or less made field goals. The Golden Griffins offense did get loose on Friday but that was against one of the worst defensive teams not just in the MAAC but in the entire country in Manhattan. Prior to that contest, Canisius had been held to 26 or fewer made field goals in four straight games. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 29-18 in Marist's last 47 games as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points. The 'under' is also 18-15 in Canisius' last 33 contests following an 'over' result. Take the under (10*). |
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01-27-24 | Kings -1.5 v. Mavs | 120-115 | Win | 100 | 14 h 13 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sacramento minus the points over Dallas at 9:10 pm et on Saturday. You have to figure the Kings were sitting back enjoying last night's incredible performance from Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. Dallas narrowly escaped with a victory thanks to Doncic's 73-point explosion in Atlanta. Note that he played 44-of-48 minutes in that contest and now Dallas has to turn around and play its third game in four nights. The Kings went through a lull earlier this month, dropping four straight games but have since rebounded with two wins in a row. Their offense is certainly rounding back into form having knocked down 55, 46, 44, 43 and 48 field goals over their last five contests. The Mavs connected on 51 field goals (Doncic accounted for nearly half of them) in last night's victory but that marked the first time in eight games they made good on more than 44 field goals. Note that the road team has gone 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in this series including a 129-113 Kings victory here in Dallas back in November. Take Sacramento (8*). |
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01-27-24 | Golden Knights v. Red Wings -130 | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 13 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on Detroit over Vegas at 8:05 pm et on Saturday. Tough spot for the Golden Knights here as they play the second of back-to-back nights for the second time this week, on the road no less. Vegas is playing well having won four of its last five games but so is Detroit. The Red Wings check in winners of eight of their last 11 contests. I think it's good for teams to get in a bit of a rhythm at this time of year and Detroit should be locked-in right now having played every second night since the 17th with this marking its fourth straight home game. The Wings are 13-11 on home ice this season where they average 3.7 goals per game. While teams are often fade material off a shutout victory (which is the situation the Wings are in here), that hasn't necessarily been the case with Detroit. It is 6-4 in its last 10 games following a shutout victory and 20-14 in its last 34 contests after a win by three goals or more, as is the case here. Detroit enters this matchup owning a slight 5-4 edge in the all-time series between these two teams. Take Detroit (8*). |
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01-27-24 | Rangers -115 v. Senators | Top | 7-2 | Win | 100 | 12 h 35 m | Show |
Eastern Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on New York over Ottawa at 7:05 pm et on Saturday. The Rangers are slumping right now, losers of seven of their last 10 games. I fully expect them to shake off last night's lopsided home defeat against the Golden Knights as they make the trip to Ottawa to face the Senators on Saturday. This is a game the Blueshirts have likely had circled on their calendars as they've inexplicably dropped three straight matchups with the Sens. Note that they haven't lost four games in a row against Ottawa since way back in 2006-07. Despite their recent struggles, the Rangers remain a winning team on the road at 14-12 on the campaign, allowing just 2.8 goals per game along the way. That's more than we can say for the Sens at home as they've gone 10-13, yielding 3.5 goals per contest. Ottawa enters off a 3-2 overtime loss against the Bruins on Thursday. Note that the Sens are 12-19 in their last 31 games following a loss against a division opponent. In general, Ottawa hasn't been a good bounce-back team this season, going 11-14 following a loss. Take New York (10*). |
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01-27-24 | Kentucky v. Arkansas OVER 164 | Top | 63-57 | Loss | -110 | 19 h 28 m | Show |
SEC Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Kentucky and Arkansas at 6 pm et on Saturday. Arkansas has fallen into a serious shooting slump, connecting on 24 or fewer field goal attempts in six straight games entering Saturday's matchup with Kentucky. The good news is, the Wildcats are an NBA team disguised in college basketball uniforms and can drag any opponent into a track meet on any given day. Kentucky has allowed 33, 31, 31 and 29 made field goals over its last four games. The problem for the Razorbacks here isn't likely whether they can score on the Wildcats but whether they can stop them. Kentucky will undoubtedly be in a foul mood after dropping a 79-62 decision at South Carolina earlier this week. Note that the Wildcats have connected on 30 or more field goals in 14 of 18 games this season. It's worth noting that the Hogs had knocked down at least 26 field goals in 10 of their first 13 games before falling into their recent funk. The 'over' is 22-11 in Kentucky's last 33 games following an 'under' result, as is the case here. The Wildcats have also posted a perfect 9-0 'over' mark in their last nine games following a road loss. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 7-3 in the Razorbacks last 10 games following consecutive defeats in-conference. The 'over' is also 6-1 in their last seven contests following a loss by 15 points or more including 2-0 the last two times they've come off a 20+ point setback. Take the over (10*). |
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01-27-24 | Kansas State v. Houston UNDER 128.5 | Top | 52-74 | Win | 100 | 14 h 55 m | Show |
Big 12 Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Kansas State and Houston at 12 noon et on Saturday. Kansas State was involved in a higher-scoring game than expected against Iowa State on Wednesday. It had little to do with the pace of that contest, however, as the Wildcats hoisted up only 49 field goal attempts while the Cyclones countered with 51. Both teams knocked down an identical 22 field goals. That's about par for the course when it comes to Kansas State. It has limited six of its last seven opponents to 22 or fewer made field goals. While Houston boasts its share of offensive talent, the Cougars are still at team that hangs their hat on their defense. Houston checks in having held 18 of 19 opponents to 22 made field goals or fewer. In fact, the Cougars are just one game removed from limiting Central Florida to a ridiculous seven made field goals. Also note that Houston ranks 350th in the country in adjusted tempo (according to KenPom). The Cougars will take what the opposition gives them on offense but in this case that's not likely to be much against a Wildcats squad that is sure to be in a foul mood following Wednesday's loss. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 59-49 with Kansas State coming off a road loss against a conference opponent. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 23-15 in the Cougars last 38 games following an 'over' result, as is the case here. Take the under (10*). |
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01-26-24 | Magic v. Grizzlies UNDER 213 | 106-107 | Push | 0 | 13 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Orlando and Memphis at 8:10 pm et on Friday. These two teams have played some old school basketball lately with the Magic having scored fewer than 90 points in four of their last eight games (they also held three opponents to less than 100) and the Grizzlies failing to eclipse the century mark in two of their last six contests (they gave up only 96 points last time out). Orlando has had a tough enough time getting shots off let alone knocking them down, hoisting up 78 or fewer field goal attempts in each of their last three games. You would have to go back nine games to find the last time they connected on 40 or more field goals. The Grizzlies have been held to fewer than 40 made field goals in five of their last six contests. Like the Magic, they've also been playing at a slow pace, attempting 87 or fewer field goals in five of their last six games. Given just how many key contributors the Grizzlies are missing right now, slow-playing it has been their best strategy and they've limited eight of their last 12 opponents to 85 or fewer field goal attempts. Note that the 'under' is 17-8 in the Magic's last 25 games following a loss by 20 points or more, as is the case here. The Grizzlies have seen the 'under' go 4-1 in their last five contests following consecutive upset victories, which is also the situation they're in on Friday. Take the under (8*). |
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01-26-24 | Clippers v. Raptors UNDER 234.5 | 127-107 | Win | 100 | 11 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and Toronto at 7:40 pm et on Friday. The Raptors have seen each of their last five games stay 'under' the total and I'm banking on that trend continuing for at least one more contest as they host the red hot Clippers on Friday. The Clippers will take the floor for the first time since Tuesday's 127-116 win over the Lakers. Note that the 'under' is 22-7 in their last 29 games played on at least two days' rest. Los Angeles enters this game on a scoring tear having produced 125 points or more in three straight games. That's happened only once previously this season and on that occasion its next game cruised 'under' the total, reaching just 214 points in Minnesota. The 'under' is 8-5 in the Clips last 13 games after scoring 125+ points in three straight contests. For their part, the Raptors have seen the 'under' go 14-6 in their last 20 contests following three straight ATS losses. The 'under' is also 14-11 in their last 25 games after an upset loss at home, as is the case here. While the 'over' did cash in the lone previous meeting between these two teams this season (in January), we haven't seen consecutive 'over' results in this series since 2016-17. Take the under (8*). |
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01-26-24 | Golden Knights v. Rangers -150 | 5-2 | Loss | -150 | 23 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York over Vegas at 7:05 pm et on Friday. As if the Rangers weren't already in a foul enough mood following an upset loss in San Jose two nights ago to wrap up a disappointing 1-3 western road swing, they'll return home to host the Golden Knights on Friday - a team that drummed them 5-1 during that aforementioned road trip. I expect New York to exact some payback on Friday. A return home should be welcome for the Rangers as they're 15-6 at Madison Square Garden this season, allowing just 3.0 goals per contest. The Golden Knights, while coming off a win on Long Island two nights ago, are still just 10-13 on the road, where they've allowed 3.3 goals per game. Note that Vegas is just 4-7 when coming off a one-goal victory this season, as is the case here. The Rangers are 11-3 in their last 14 games when seeking revenge for a loss by four goals or more against an opponent. When that loss came on the road, they're a perfect 8-0 in their last eight tries. Finally, we'll note that New York is 31-19 in its last 50 games following a road loss. Take New York (8*). |
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01-26-24 | Ohio +3.5 v. Kent State | Top | 71-64 | Win | 100 | 23 h 0 m | Show |
MAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Ohio plus the points over Kent State at 6:30 pm et on Friday. I really like the way this one sets up for the underdog Bobcats as they look to bounce back following a home loss to Akron last time out. Kent State is fresh off a minor upset win at Bowling Green earlier this week but checks in having lost consecutive games at home. Note that the Golden Flashes have won four straight meetings in this series. That's worth mentioning as they haven't won five in a row against the Bobcats since 2009-11. The last time they managed to win four straight games in this series was back in 2014-16 and they went on to lose the next two meetings. While Ohio doesn't rate out all that highly in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency this season it has played better in that regard lately. The Bobcats have held four straight and nine of their last 11 opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals. Kent State on the other hand has given up 28 or more made field goals in five of its last six contests. Offensively, the two teams have been almost mirror images however you could argue that Ohio has been the more consistent team lately in that regard, connecting on 26 or more field goals in six of its last seven games (Kent State made good on 21, 32, 21 and 31 field goals over its last four contests). Ohio is 7-5 ATS in its last 12 games following a road loss against a conference opponent. The Bobcats are also 5-2 ATS in their last seven contests after being held to 60 points or less in their previous game. Meanwhile, Kent State is 4-6 ATS in its last 10 games following a road win in which it scored 85 points or more, as is the case here. The Golden Flashes are also just 1-5 ATS following an ATS victory this season. Take Ohio (10*). |
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01-25-24 | Kings -2 v. Warriors | Top | 134-133 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 10 m | Show |
Pacific Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Sacramento minus the points over Golden State at 10 pm et on Thursday. Tough spot for the Warriors here as they play the second of back-to-backs following an emotional return to the floor (following the death of their assistant coach last week) in a rout of the Hawks last night. Sacramento comes in rested following consecutive off days, which came on the heels of a much-needed 122-107 win over those same Hawks on Monday. That victory snapped a four-game losing skid. Note that Sacramento is still 5-2 ATS over its last seven contests as the schedule has certainly gotten tougher lately. This marks the start of a key seven-game road trip for the Kings. Note that they check in 26-17 ATS in their last 43 games as a road favorite and 18-10 ATS in their last 28 contests after losing four of their last five games. Meanwhile, the Warriors are 4-15 ATS in their last 19 games after scoring 130 points or more in their previous contest, as is the case here. They're also just 11-14 ATS in their last 25 contests following a win by 20 points or more. Take Sacramento (10*). |
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01-25-24 | Devils +143 v. Hurricanes | Top | 2-3 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 58 m | Show |
Division Game of the Week. My selection is on New Jersey over Carolina at 7:35 pm et on Thursday. This is a game the Devils have undoubtedly had circled on their calendar since bowing out in five games against the Hurricanes in last year's playoffs. New Jersey catches Carolina in a favorable spot as the Devils check in off two full days of rest while the Hurricanes just posted a big win in Boston last night (it was an emotionally-draining game as the Canes blew a 2-0 third period lead before winning 3-2). Note that New Jersey has been at its best on the road this season going 14-8 and averaging 3.6 goals per game. While the Devils are missing a number of key contributors right now, Monday's wild 6-5 overtime win over the Golden Knights surely gave them a boost of confidence heading into this brief two-game road trip. Note that New Jersey is 17-6 in its last 23 games following a one-goal victory at home. The Canes are just 5-7 when coming off a road win and 7-11 when playing their fourth game in seven days this season. Take New Jersey (10*). |
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01-25-24 | Mt. St. Mary's v. Quinnipiac UNDER 152 | 65-79 | Win | 100 | 24 h 40 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Mount St. Mary's and Quinnipiac at 7:30 pm et on Thursday. Both of these teams are coming off high-scoring results last time out but I expect a different story to unfold as they match up on Thursday. Mount St. Mary's ran into a red hot Niagara squad on Sunday, falling by a score of 82-71. Note that the Mountaineers have seen the 'under' go 10-2 in their last 12 games following an upset loss. Mount St. Mary's has allowed just one of its 18 opponents to knock down more than 30 field goals this season. While that's a reasonably high number of field goals to use as a benchmark, it works in the context of this game with the total set in the low-150's at the time of writing. Quinnipiac has reeled off five straight victories going 4-0-1 ATS over that stretch. It actually doesn't run all that efficient of an offense but thrives on pushing the pace, something I'm not sure it will be able to do as much as it would like on Thursday (Mount St. Mary's has held opponents to just 57 field goal attempts per game on the road this season). Much of the Bobcats success has come as a result of a rather soft schedule, noting they've faced only the 358th most difficult schedule (out of 362 Division-I teams) in the country according to KenPom. The 'under' is 9-4 in Quinnipiac's last 13 contests following consecutive 'over' results, as is the case here. The 'under' is also 6-2 in the Bobcats last eight contests when coming off a home win in which they scored 85 points or more. Take the under (8*). |
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01-25-24 | Celtics v. Heat OVER 224 | Top | 143-110 | Win | 100 | 11 h 18 m | Show |
Eastern Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Boston and Miami at 7:30 pm et on Thursday. Both of these teams are coming off a string of relatively low-scoring contests. Boston enters riding a five-game 'under' streak while Miami has seen each of its last seven contests stay 'under' the total. I look for a different story to unfold on Thursday, however. The Heat continue to limit opposing offenses although part of that has been as a result of the opposition playing with a considerable lead and controlling the tempo. Boston has been fairly matchup-proof in that regard. The Celtics prefer to push the pace, having hoisted up 90 or more field goal attempts in 17 of their last 21 games. On the flip side, Boston's opponents have certainly gotten their fair share of scoring opportunities as the C's have allowed more than 90 field goal attempts in 14 of their last 15 games. Only twice over the last three seasons has Boston produced five straight 'under' results and on both previous occasions, the 'over' cashed in the next game. Also note that the 'over' is 39-34 in the Celtics last 73 games following a road win, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 40-32 in the Heat's last 72 contests when seeking revenge for a same-season loss against an opponent. The 'over' is also 3-1 in Miami's last four games after four straight losses. Take the over (10*). |
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01-24-24 | Capitals v. Avalanche UNDER 6 | 2-6 | Loss | -100 | 25 h 14 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Washington and Colorado at 9:35 pm et on Wednesday. We've become accustomed to seeing high-scoring games involving the Avalanche lately. In fact, each of their last five and nine of their last 10 games overall have totalled at least seven goals which is north of the number we're working with on Wednesday. I do think there's a 'catalyst for change' at work here, however, as the Avs return home from a long road trip to host the Capitals, who played in Minnesota last night. Note that Washington is allowing a respectable 3.1 goals per game on the road this season. The problem has been its offense, or lack thereof, as it has produced just 2.3 goals per contest away from home. Colorado, while known for its offensive prowess, has been stout defensively here at home, yielding just 2.9 goals per game this season. Note that this series has produced three straight 'under' results and a 1-4 o/u mark in the last five meetings. The 'under' is 10-5 with the Caps playing on the road with the total set at 6.0 or higher this season. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 8-4 in the Avs last 12 games after allowing four goals or more in three straight contests, as is the case here. The 'under' is also a long-term 161-132 with Colorado coming off a road win in which it scored four goals or more. Take the under (8*). |
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01-24-24 | Kansas State v. Iowa State UNDER 134.5 | 67-78 | Loss | -104 | 13 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Kansas State and Iowa State at 9 pm et on Wednesday. Both of these teams are coming off 'over' results last time out but I expect a different story to unfold as they match up on Wednesday. Kansas State ranks 261st in adjusted tempo this season according to KenPom, while also checking in sporting the 21st best defense in the country (in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency). The Wildcats have held an incredible five of their last six opponents to 22 or fewer made field goals. The Cyclones are a good but certainly not great offensive team. They did knock down 29-of-62 field goal attempts in an upset win at TCU last time out but that represented a high-water mark over their last five contests. They've connected on 27 or fewer field goals in five of their last seven games overall. On the flip side, Iowa State has been even better than Kansas State defensively, ranking an impressive third in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency. It has limited eight of its last 10 opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. In fact, the opposition has had a tough enough time just getting shots off let alone knocking them down against the Cylones, hoisting up 51 or fewer field goal attempts in six of the last eight games against them. Kansas State doesn't figure to push all that hard in that department, attempting 54 or fewer field goals in four straight and six of its last seven games heading in. Note that the 'under' is 8-4 in the Wildcats last 12 games following consecutive home wins, as is the case here. The 'under' is an identical 8-4 in Iowa State's last 12 contests following consecutive 'over' results and 12-7 in its last 19 games following an upset victory. Take the under (8*). |
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01-24-24 | Mississippi State +4 v. Florida | Top | 70-79 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 30 m | Show |
SEC Game of the Week. My selection is on Mississippi State plus the points over Florida at 8:30 pm et on Wednesday. Mississippi State checks in 0-2-1 ATS over its last three games but I look for it to break out of that slump as it travels to Gainesville to face the Gators on Wednesday. The Bulldogs are an underdog we like to back as they have the ability to consistently erase opponents' possessions and effectively shorten proceedings. Note that they've limited the opposition to 22-of-56 shooting on average on the road this season. They've held seven of their last eight opponents to 27 or fewer made field goals and that's notable as Florida is just 1-5 ATS when knocking down 27 or fewer field goals this season. The Gators check in off a double-digit win at Missouri last time out, successfully rebounding from a blowout loss in Tennessee four nights earlier. Florida has been as Jekyll-and-Hyde as it gets, particularly on defense as it has given up more than 30 made field goals in three of its last five contests. It has had no desire to slow the pace, certainly not at home where it has yielded an average of 65 field goal attempts per game to the opposition. Noting the Bulldogs have knocked down 25 or more field goals in six straight and nine of their last 10 games overall, I look for them to take full advantage here. The underdog has gone 6-3 ATS in the last nine meetings in this series. The Bulldogs are 20-15 ATS in their last 35 road games as an underdog of 3.5 to 6 points. Meanwhile, the Gators are just 13-17 ATS in their last 30 contests following a double-digit victory. Take Mississippi State (10*). |
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01-24-24 | Hornets +3 v. Pistons | Top | 106-113 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 18 m | Show |
Revenge Game of the Month. My selection is on Charlotte plus the points over Detroit at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday. It may seem a little strange to be throwing around a term like 'revenge' when it comes to two teams that have combined for only four wins this season. I believe it works in this particular situation, however. Charlotte actually opened the campaign with an upset win at home against Atlanta. It couldn't build on that victory though as it fell as a 4.5-point favorite at home against the lowly Pistons two nights later. Note that the road team is 5-2 SU and ATS in the last seven meetings in this series. Charlotte dealt Terry Rozier to the Heat in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a first round draft pick yesterday. It was the right move. Rozier certainly adds a lot offensively, particularly as a facilitator but he has become a liability defensively this season. Consider it a case of addition by subtraction at that end of the floor. Note that the Hornets have actually held up reasonably well defensively in recent weeks. They've limited seven straight opponents to fewer than 90 field goal attempts. They also enter this contest having held four of their last five foes to 44 or fewer made field goals. It's been a much different story for the Pistons. They've allowed six of their last seven opponents to get off at least 90 field goal attempts. You would have to go back nine games to find the last time they limited an opponent to fewer than 41 made field goals. Note that Charlotte is 12-6 ATS in its last 18 games when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent as a favorite. This season, the Hornets are 6-4 ATS when seeking revenge for a double-digit loss against an opponent, which is also the situation here. Detroit on the other hand is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games as a home favorite including an 0-3 ATS mark this season. It is also a long-term 8-18 ATS in its last 26 contests when playing at home with the total set at 230 points or higher, as is the case here. Take Charlotte (10*). |
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01-23-24 | Lakers v. Clippers OVER 229.5 | Top | 116-127 | Win | 100 | 15 h 3 m | Show |
Pacific Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between the Lakers and Clippers at 10 pm et on Tuesday. Lebron James is expected to miss Tuesday's game for the Lakers as they try to secure a third straight win over the rival Clippers this season. While the Lakers have found recent success it hasn't been on the strength of their defensive play. They've allowed eight straight opponents to hoist up 90 or more field goal attempts with six of their last seven foes connecting on at least 42 field goals. The Clippers figure to push them here, noting Los Angeles has knocked down 47 or more field goals in four of its last six contests. On the flip side, despite generally limiting the tempo of their opposition, the Clippers have allowed four of their last five opponents to make good on more than 40 field goals. This will undoubtedly be a game the Clips have circled on their calendar not only due to the fact that they've dropped both previous meetings this season but also after they felt they let the Lakers off the hook in the most recent matchup on January 7th. In that contest, the Clips hoisted up 91 field goal attempts but connected on only 36 of them. Incredibly, that's one of only two times they've been limited to fewer than 40 made field goals in their last 25 contests. Take the over (10*). |
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01-23-24 | Blues v. Flames -160 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -160 | 26 h 49 m | Show |
Western Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Calgary over St. Louis at 9:05 pm et on Tuesday. The Flames are off to a disappointing 1-2 start to their current homestand but I look for them to bounce back as they host the Blues on Tuesday. St. Louis took advantage of a quick revenge spot against the Capitals, skating to a 3-0 victory on Saturday after dropping a 5-2 decision in Washington two nights earlier. The Blues continue to display a strong home-road dichotomy noting they're just 8-13 away form home this season where they average a miserable 2.3 goals per contest. The Flames are 11-10 on home ice, limiting opponents to just 2.9 goals per game. Note that the Blues are just 1-4 in their last five games following a shutout win at home and 8-13 in 21 contests after a victory this season. The Flames check in 13-7 in their last 20 games following a home loss by two goals or more, as is the case here. They're also 22-19 in their last 41 contests after scoring one goal or less in their previous game. Take Calgary (10*). |
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01-23-24 | Boston College +5.5 v. Virginia Tech | Top | 71-76 | Win | 100 | 25 h 55 m | Show |
ACC Game of the Year. My selection is on Boston College plus the points over Virginia Tech at 9 pm et on Tuesday. Like clockwork, Boston College has delivered five straight outright victories as an underdog in this series, going a perfect 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings. While I'm not calling for an outright win on Tuesday, I do expect the Eagles to once again hang tough against the Hokies in Blacksburg. Note that Boston College has dropped the cash in four straight games, going 1-3 ATS over that stretch. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech is fresh off an 84-78 upset win at N.C. State on Saturday. We have seen the Hokies offense sag at times since the beginning of ACC play, knocking down 26 or fewer field goals in four of six games. Also note that Virginia Tech plays at a rather methodical pace, hoisting up 58 or fewer field goal attempts in each of its last 11 and 16 of 18 games overall this season. That leaves little margin for error when you're laying a considerable number of points as the Hokies are on Tuesday. On the flip side, we've seen Virginia Tech's opposition get some good looks, connecting on 30, 28, 28, 27, 25 and 26 field goals in its last six contests. Boston College has run into a bit of a shooting slump, knocking down only 21 and 19 field goals in its last two games. Note that prior to that, the Eagles had made good on an impressive 30 or more field goals in six of their previous eight contests. Defensively, we've actually seen some improvement from Boston College lately as it has limited three of its last four opponents to 25 of fewer made field goals. Note that the Eagles are 17-12 ATS in their last 29 games following a loss against a conference opponent. They're also 13-7 ATS in their last 20 contests after losing four games in a row ATS. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech is 15-23 ATS in its last 38 games following an upset win away from home and 23-26 ATS in its last 49 contests as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points. Take Boston College (10*). |
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01-22-24 | Bulls v. Suns OVER 229 | 113-115 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 35 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Chicago and Phoenix at 9:10 pm et on Monday. The Suns have delivered three straight 'under' results following last night's 117-110 win over the Pacers. I expect a different story to unfold on Monday, however, as they host the Bulls. Chicago is playing as well offensively as it has all season, knocking down 46 or more field goals in four of its last five games. Also note that Chicago has been pushing the pace a little more than we're accustomed to seeing, hoisting up 90 or more field goal attempts in five of its last seven contests. While it has also been playing well defensively it will face a tough test on Monday as Phoenix has connected on 46 or more field goals in five of its last seven contests and has made good on 49, 47 and 46 field goals in the last three meetings in this series here in the desert. Defensively, the Suns have been good but not great lately, yielding 40+ made field goals to the opposition in seven straight and 13 of their last 15 contests. Note that the 'over' is a long-term 49-24 in the Bulls last 73 games against Western Conference opponents. The 'over' is also 20-16 in their last 36 contests after giving up 100 points or less in their previous game, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the 'over' is 11-7 with the Suns coming off an 'under' result this season and 37-26 in their last 63 contests at home with the total set between 220 and 229.5, which is the situation at the time of writing. Take the over (8*). |
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01-22-24 | Cincinnati v. Kansas -7 | Top | 69-74 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 25 m | Show |
Big 12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Kansas minus the points over Cincinnati at 9 pm et on Monday. Kansas was stunned as a double-digit road favorite against West Virginia on Saturday but I look for the Jayhawks to bounce back on as they return home to face Cincinnati on Monday. That loss to the Mountaineers doesn't change the fact that Kansas is an offensive juggernaut having knocked down 31, 32, 24, 29, 36 and 32 field goals over its last six games. The Jayhawks have held four straight opponents to 60 or fewer field goal attempts. West Virginia quite simply shot the lights out against them on Saturday. It happens. Cincinnati is finding the Big 12 about as difficult as expected having dropped three of its last four games. Since the start of conference play, the Bearcats have been held to 24 or fewer made field goals in three of five games. Note that Cincinnati is just 33-40 ATS in its last 73 games following an upset loss in-conference, as is the case here. Kansas checks in a long-term 41-29 ATS off a road loss in Big 12 play. It's easy to think the sky is falling in Lawrence following a loss like the Jayhawks suffered on Saturday. That's simply not the case, however, as Kansas is 15-3 on the campaign despite facing the 26th most difficult schedule in the country according to KenPom. Take Kansas (10*). |
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01-22-24 | Cavs -1 v. Magic | Top | 126-99 | Win | 100 | 12 h 51 m | Show |
Eastern Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over Orlando at 7:10 pm et on Monday. The Cavaliers got off to a difficult start this season but they've since turned it around, going 12-3 SU and 11-4 ATS over their last 15 games. Perhaps no team is as locked-in defensively as Cleveland right now as it has held four straight opponents to 38 or fewer made field goals and an incredible 11 straight foes to 42 or fewer made field goals. Orlando delivered a blowout win over Miami last night. The Magic aren't exactly setting the world on fire offensively right now as they've knocked down fewer than 40 field goals in seven straight games. In fact, they've been held to 44 or fewer made field goals in 14 straight contests. Meanwhile, the Cavs have connected on 43 or more field goals in six of their last nine games including 49 or more three times over that stretch. Note that Cleveland is 40-25 ATS in its last 65 games following a double-digit win, as is the case here. The Cavs are also a long-term 48-43 ATS when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent in which they allowed 100 or more points. Orlando is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 contests following a win over a division opponent and 13-17 ATS in its last 30 contests after a double-digit victory. Take Cleveland (10*). |
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01-22-24 | Golden Knights v. Devils -125 | Top | 5-6 | Win | 100 | 24 h 15 m | Show |
Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on New Jersey over Vegas at 7:05 pm et on Monday. These two teams had much different results on Saturday as Vegas skated to a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh at home while New Jersey suffered a lopsided 6-2 defeat against a hungry Dallas squad in a tough back-to-back spot off a win in Columbus the night earlier. Here, I look for the Devils to bounce back. Note that Vegas is 0-4 in its last four games following three straight home wins, as is the case here. New Jersey is 4-2 in six games following a contest in which it allowed six or more goals this season. The Devils are also a long-term 129-114 when coming off a home loss by two goals or more. The favorite has gone 5-2 in the last seven meetings in this series. Take New Jersey (10*). |
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01-21-24 | Rangers -210 v. Ducks | 5-2 | Win | 100 | 13 h 30 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York over Anaheim at 8:30 pm et on Sunday. |
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