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Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-14-17 | Raptors v. Bulls +7 | Top | 94-105 | Win | 100 | 18 h 14 m | Show |
The set-up: The 32-23 Toronto Raptors head to Chicago having lost 10 of their last 14 games. Meanwhile, the Bulls return home off a 2-4 road trip in which they lost the final three games by an average of 25.7 PPG. The final loss of that trip, 117-89 at Minnesota on Sunday, leaves them at 26-29 and with the East No. 7 seed. However, the Bulls are just 1 1/2 games inside the playoff 'cut line!' |
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02-13-17 | West Virginia v. Kansas -5 | Top | 80-84 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 2 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-5 (8-4 in Big 12) West Virginia Mountaineers will venture into Lawrence, Kansas Monday night and waiting for them will be the 3rd-ranked Jayhawks (23-3 / 10-2 Big 12), who will well-remember the 85-69 whopping that West Virginia handed them back on Jan. 24th in Morgantown. Kansas: The Jayhawks survived a trip to Lubbock on Saturday, escaping with an 80-79 win. Frank Mason III (20.1-4.3-4.9) played through an illness but made just 4 of 13 shots, while scoring only 12 points, He logged a season-low 26 minutes before fouling out with 3:05 remaining but the fact that Kansas survived in "crunch time" without him, can only be good news for the Jayhawks down the road. Mason is a national player-of-the-year candidate but 6-8 freshman Josh Jackson (16.6 & 7.0) is rapidly becoming a star. He scored a career-high 31 points on Saturday, including the game-winning free throw! Kansas averages 83.5 PPG (18th), with increased production at home, where the Jayhawks average 88.2 PPG. |
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02-13-17 | 76ers v. Hornets -8 | Top | 105-99 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 3 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-34 Philadelphia 76ers' have a logjam at the center position, although the best of the bunch, Joel Embiid, has a more serious injury than originally thought. Then there is Jahil Okafor, who was held out of Philly's last game, as the team was contemplating a trade. The 76ers head to Charlotte to take on the 24-30 Hornets, who just made a move of their own at the center spot, trading away Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes to Milwaukee in exchange for Miles Plumlee (you tell me why?).
Philadelphia: The biggest recent news out of Philly is not that team team has reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2012-13 season but that GM Bryan Colangelo revealed on Saturday that Embiid (20.2 & 7.8) is dealing with a small meniscus tear in addition to the bone bruise that has kept him out of the lineup since Jan. 27. "The MRI revealed obviously, what we thought it to be: a bone bruise," Colangelo told reporters. "There was also the recognition that there was a very minor meniscal tear. But it was not thought to be acute, and it was not thought to be the source of the pain, inflammation or symptoms. That is the case." Embiid is unlikely to see action until after the All-Star break, at the earliest.Okafor was held out Saturday (trade?), leaving Nerlens Noel and Richaun Holmes to hold down the center spot. However, the 76ers ended Miami's 13-game winning streak with a 117-109 victory, on the heels of pulling out a 112-111 win at Orlando on Thursday. Charlotte: The Hornets have lost nine of their last 10 and the team's promising 8-3 start to the 2016-17 season is a distant memory. All that said, despite going 4-14 since a Jan. 4 win over Oklahoma City, the Hornets trail eighth-place Detroit by only a single game in the Eastern Conference standings. Kemba Walker (22.3-4.1-5.4) is headed to his first All Star game but is in the midst of a shooting slump, connecting on only 28.4 percent from the floor in Charlotte's five February games. Backcourt partner Nicolas Batum (15.1-7.2-6.1) has tried to pick up the slack with 25 points and eight assists on Saturday. However, he had nothing good to say about the team's performance after the contest. "We’ve just got to go out there and compete and win games, that’s it," Batum told reporters. "Every meeting we talk about it, we know how to do it, it’s our job. Our job is to go out there and win games, compete and make our fans proud and make the city proud. That’s what we’ve got to do. ... We can’t keep losing games and say OK we’re going to be fine." Batum is right. The Hornets are not greater than the sum of their parts. The pick: The 76ers roll into Charlotte off back-to-back wins but without their best player and with trade rumors swirling. As for the Hornets, despite the team's poor play in 2017, a playoff spot is still there for the taking. The 76ers won 102-93 over the Hornets back on Jan. 13 in Philly but that victory snapped a six-game losing streak for t Shes in this series. Hornets repay the favor here at home. Charlotte is a 10* play. |
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02-13-17 | Baylor v. Texas Tech +2.5 | Top | 78-84 | Win | 100 | 10 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: No. 6 Baylor is 22-3 overall, including 9-3 in the Big 12 after two wins last week (Baylor was 0-2 the previous week). The Bears travel to Lubbock, Tx. Monday night to take on 16-9 Texas Tech, which is just 4-8 in Big 2 play.Baylor: Expectations were low for Baylor thsisseason, after losing players like SF Prince (15.9 & 6.1), PF Gathers (11.2 & 9.0) and PG Medford (8.9 & 6.5 APG), but the team's 22-3 record is the a school-best through 25 games. This year's frontcourt is led by the 6-10 Motley (16.9 & 9.7), the 7-0 Lual-Acuil (9.3 & 7.0) and the 6-8 Maston (7.0 & 4.0). Miami transfer Lecomte (12.6 & 4.2 APG) has replaced Medford at the point, joined in the backcourt by Freeman (9.1) and Wainwright (5.5 & 4.9), who comes of the bench. Freeman has missed the last two games due to a violation of team policy but sophomore King McClure connected on 5-of-6 shots and scored 13 points as his replacement in the starting lineup against the Horned Frogs on Saturday, as Baylor cruised to a 70-52 win. The Bears are an outstanding defensive team, holding opponents to 61.4 PPG (8th) on 38.7% shooting (12th)threTexas Tech: Jamie Dixon (of Pitt fame) returned to his alma mater and the Red Raiders opened the season 11-1. However, they have dropped five of their last six conference games (after a 3-3 start) with the only win coming 77-69 over last place Oklahoma, 77-69. Guard Evans leads the team in scoring (14.9) and three-point shooting (46.1 percent), joined by a pair of 6-8 forwards in double digits, Smith (13.3 & 7.9) and Livingston (11.0 & 3.8). Note that four Tech starters are shooting 40 percent or better beyond the arc. Defense is hardly an afterthought, as Texas Tech holds opponents to 65.8 PPG, ranking 46th in the nation.
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02-12-17 | Pistons v. Raptors -6.5 | Top | 102-101 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The 25-29 Detroit Pistons are in Canada tonight to take on the 32-22 Toronto Raptors. The Pistons are off a 103-92 Friday home loss to the Spurs, after having started to trend in the right direction with four wins in the team's previous five games. In contrast, not much has gone right for the Raptors, who enter this contest off a 112-109 Wednesday loss at Minnesota, the team's ninth in its last 13 games. |
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02-12-17 | Temple +6 v. Memphis | Top | 74-62 | Win | 100 | 13 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: It's AAC action on Sunday from Memphis, as the 13-12 Temple Owls take on the 18-7 Memphis Tigers. Temple is struggling at 4-8 in league play while Memphis, in Tubby Smith's first season behind the bench at yet another school, is 8-4 and sitting right behind 9-4 Houston (Cincy leads at 11-0 and SMU is 11-1).Temple: It hasn't been a good season for the Owls, who average a modest 70.9 PPG (245th) on 42.3% shooting (284th). Guards Alston (14.0 & 4.0 APG) and Dingle (12.5), plus the 6-10 Enechionyia (13.4 & 6.2) are double digit scorers but not one of that trio shoots better better than 41.4% from the floor. Holding opponents to 71.4 PPG does not get it done when one averages less than 71 points!Memphis: The Tigers were coming off years of just 18 and 19 wins (last year's team was only 8-10 in AAC play), so Tubby, like he has so often, has yet another program headed in the right direction. He's closing in on a 20-win campaign with six regular season games, the AAC tourney and a postseason tourney bid (somewhere?), still remaining. The Tigers are led by the brotherly tandem of Dedric (6-9) and K.J. (6-7) Lawson. Dedric averages 19.5 & 10.1 and K.J. 12.6 & 8.5. Guard Crawford (14.0) rounds out he team's double digit scorers.
The pick: Memphis has 18 overall wins (and a few quality ones) but most still have them on the outside looking in on the NCAA at-large 'map.' A win won't help but a loss would certainly hurt. Memphis should well-remember losing 77-66 at Temple back on Jan 25th but the problem is that despite a 13-2 SU home record, Memphis is just 4-6 ATS in lined home games. Memphis comes in just 1-5 ATS its last six when favored and despite Temple covering at home against Memphis back on Jan 25th, the road team has covered in seven of the last 10 meetings between these two schools. Temple is a 10* play. |
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02-11-17 | Heat v. 76ers +3.5 | Top | 109-117 | Win | 100 | 13 h 40 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-30 Miami Heat will go for the team's 14th consecutive win tonight in Philadelphia, up against the 19-34 76ers. A win would match the second-longest winning streak in Miami franchise history. The 76ers had lost seven of eight before a 112-111 victory over Orlando on Thursday but will once again play without star Joel Embiid (20.2 & 7.8), who has missed eight straight games with a knee injury.Miami: What an improbable run it has been for the Heat. Miami lost at Milwaukee back on Jan. 13th, the team's 10th loss in its previous 11 games and stood at 11-30. Thirteen straight victories have followed and the team which was once a "lottery lock," is now within a game of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Miami won seven straight games decided by single digits and is 5-0 on the road during the winning streak. PG Dragic (20.0 & 6.5 APG) and center Whiteside (16.9 & 13.9) are the two stars but six others average in double digits. However, Winslow (10.9 & 5.2) is out for the season, Richardson's (11.2) sprained left foot continues to keep him sidelined and Waiters (15.5) has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle (unclear if he will play here).
Philadelphia: T.J. McConnell (5.9 & 6.0 APG) was the hero Thursday (winning bucket in the final seconds) but rookie forward Dario Saric (10.3 & 5.7) is also becoming more and more involved, as the team awaits Embiid's return. He's scored at least 20 points in consecutive games for the first time in his young career in Philly's last two games and has averaged 15.5 PPG his last 11 contests. PF Ilyasova (15.3 & 5.9) has been terrific all season and McConnell has become a team leader, averaging 8.9 PPG and 7.9 APG the last 12 games. The pick: The Heat just keep winning but as noted above, they also are dealing with a number of key injuries. The 76ers were off last night while the Heat travel from Brooklyn, setting up a very live home dog. Make Philly a 10* play. |
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02-11-17 | Florida State +1.5 v. Notre Dame | Top | 72-84 | Loss | -103 | 11 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: The 21-4 Florida State Seminoles are ranked 14th in the latest AP poll, while the 18-7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish just fell out of the top-25 (had been No. 20). The schools meet for the second time this season Saturday at South Bend, with FSU winning the first time around 83-80 in Tallahassee. |
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02-11-17 | Ohio State +7.5 v. Maryland | Top | 77-86 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 2 m | Show |
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02-11-17 | Marquette +2.5 v. Georgetown | Top | 62-80 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 2 m | Show |
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02-10-17 | Monmouth v. Manhattan +9.5 | Top | 62-58 | Win | 100 | 14 h 42 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-5 Monmouth Hawks have followed last year's strong season (Hawks finished with 28 wins) with another one here in 2016-17. They lead the MAAC at 12-2 and travel to NYC Frday night to take on the 9-16 Manhattan Jaspers, who at 4-10, sit 10th in the 11-team MAAC. |
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02-10-17 | Spurs -4.5 v. Pistons | Top | 103-92 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The 40-12 San Antonio Spurs are in the midst of their annual annual "Rodeo Road Trip," which this year takes them on an eight-game trek. They lost at Memphis on Monday on the first leg of the journey, then bounced back with a 111-103 victory at Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 25-28 Detroit Pistons come in off lopsided home wins over the 76ers and the Lakers but will not be able to get away with making just 9 of 38 or 23.7% of their triples (as they did in those two wins) against the Spurs and expect to win. San Antonio: SF Kawhi Leonard (25.5 & 5.9) sat out the Spurs' loss at Memphis due to a quadriceps injury but returned at Philadelphia to score 32 points. He has now scored in double digits in 81 consecutive games, the longest streak by a San Antonio player since Tim Duncan had a 91-game stretch over 2002-03." Leonard stands out as the team's best player these days, although PF Aldridge (17.4 & 7.9) is a solid No. 2. Then there is that San Antonio depth, with seven players chipping in between 6.5 and 11.7 PPG. It must be noted that Gasol (11.7 & 7.9) is the biggest contributor of that group and is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery to fix the fourth metacarpal in his left hand. He hasn't played since Jan. 17 (is expected to be back in late-Feb.) but the team is 8-3 in the 11 games he's missed. As expected, the 7-0 Dedmon is getting more time and in three of his last four games (averaging 25 minutes per in those contests), he's topped double digits in rebounds. Detroit: The Pistons are back to playing well at home, with seven wins in their last eight contests at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Center Andre Drummond (14.8 & 13.8) posted his 34th double-double of season in Wednesday's win over the Lakers with 24 points, 17 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals. Harris (16.4 & 5.1) and Morris (14.2 & 4.5) start in the frontcourt with Drummond, while PG Jackson (15.6 & 5.6 APG) and Pope (14.2) are the starting guards. The 6-10 Leuer (11.1 & 5.7( is a part-time starter and makes it six double digit scorers for Detroit, plus backup PG Ish Smith (8.2 & 5.0 APG) is a quality contributor. The pick: Despite some recent problems, the Pistons still rank 5th in points allowed (101.9 per) but they are not quite in San Antonio's class, as the Spurs allow 98.8 PPG (2nd) on 44.2% shooting (4th). Note that Detroit ranks 20th in opponents' FG percentage. The Spurs are 21-6 SU on the road this year and have won four straight in the series, including 109-99 and 104-87 wins in their last two visits to Detroit. Make San Antonio a 10* play. |
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02-10-17 | Akron v. Eastern Michigan | Top | 87-76 | Win | 100 | 12 h 42 m | Show |
The set-up: The Akron Zips are 20-4 overall and are easily the MAC's top team, leading the East with a 10-1 record (note: no other MAC team is better than 6-5 in league play, in either the East or West divisions). The Zips travel to Ypsilanti, Mi. Friday night to face the Eastern Michigan Eagles, who check in at 13-11 overall, including 5-6 in the West. Akron: The Zips had a 12-game winning streak snapped 85-70 at Ohio U on Saturday (Feb. 4th) and then just barely edged Ball State 65-63 at home this past Tuesday (as a nine-point choice). However, as noted above, Akron is the class of the MAC, led by a pair of 6-10 players in Johnson (16.6 & 7.4) and Cheatham (11.7 & 7.8), who are joined by a quartet of guards all averaging between 7.8 and 9.4 PPG. The Zips shoot well (47.7% which ranks 41st) but hardly dominate foes, averaging 78.6 PPG while allowing 70.5. Eastern Michigan: The Eagles have one 6-10 player in Thompson (14.2 & 10.8) but not two, like Akron. They do however, more than match Akron on the perimeter with four guards scoring in double digits. Mangum (15.6) leads the group, followed by Lee (13.1), Toney (10.4) and Bond (10.0). EMU scores about the same as Akron at 78.5 PPG and allows a similar amount of points as well (71.6). The pick: While the team's look similar "on paper," take a second look at their respective records. At this price, make Akron an 8* play. |
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02-09-17 | Oregon +5 v. UCLA | Top | 79-82 | Win | 100 | 13 h 14 m | Show |
The set-up: The first time this season UCLA and Oregon met was back on Dec. 28th in Eugene, the Pac 12 opener for both schools. The Bruins were 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in the AP poll and the Ducks were 11-2 and ranked 21st. Oregon won that game 89-87 and as the teams get set for the rematch at Pauley Pavilion, both are 21- 3 with Oregon ranked 5th and UCLA 10th. However, the Ducks are 10-1 (Arizona is 11-1) while the Bruins are 8-3, a half-game back of 9-3 Cal for fourth in the league. UCLA: The Bruins ranks second in the nation in scoring at 92.9 PPG and are No. 1 in FG percentage at 53.5%. They have six players scoring in double figures, led by freshman forward TJ Leaf at 17.1 PPG along with a team-high 8.9 RPG. Senior guard Bryce Alford is averaging 16.4 PPG but most feel that 6-6 freshman PG Ball (15.1-5.8-7.8) is the team's MVP. Guards Hamilton (14.7) and Holiday (13.4) plus the 7-0 Welsh (10.4 & 8.3) round out the double digit scorers. The pick: Brooks made a three-pointer in the final seconds to win the first meeting, finishing with 23 points and a season-high nine rebounds. UCLA is playing with revenge but Oregon may be just "too good." T.J. Leaf is considered a first-round NBA draft pick but he needs to step up in situations like this. So far, that hasn't been the case as against Jordan Bell of Oregon, Lauri Markkanen of Arizona and Chimezie Metu of USC (UCLA's three losses), he's been neutralized, averaging just 11.1 PPG and a pathetic 3.3 RPG. UCLA allows 76.5 PPG, almost two 'TDs' more than Oregon, which allows 63.5. Make Oregon a 10* play. |
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02-09-17 | Jazz v. Mavs +3.5 | Top | 105-112 | Win | 100 | 12 h 50 m | Show |
complete analysis soon |
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02-09-17 | The Citadel +20.5 v. East Tennessee State | Top | 69-90 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 15 m | Show |
complete analysis soon |
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02-08-17 | Iowa +7.5 v. Minnesota | Top | 89-101 | Loss | -110 | 21 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-10 Iowa Hawkeyes have won three straight Big Ten games to reach 6-5 in conference play and now head to 16-7 Minnesota. The Gophers haven't been very 'golden' as of late, as Saturday's win over Illinois snapped a five-game losing streak and leaves them at just 4-6 in Big Ten action.
Iowa: The first two of Iowa's wins in its three-game streak came with its best player sidelined. 6-6 guard Jok (20.6 & 5.8) sat out wins over Ohio State and Rutgers with a back injury but played 30 minutes in an 81-70 win over Nebraska, scoring 12 points while adding five rebounds and five assists. Stepping up big time in his absence has been freshman PG Bohannon (9.4 & 4.5 APG), who has averaged 14.7 PPG in Iowa's three-game streak. The 6-9 Cook (11.9 & 4.8) is the only other Iowa player averaging double digits, but Bohannon leads a group of seven players contributing from 4.7-to-9.4 PPG. Notables in that group are 6-8 freshman Pernsl (9.1 & 4.9) and 6-7 sophomore Baer (6.7 & 6.2). Minnesota. The Gophers won the NIT in Richard Pitino's first season at Minnesota (25-13) in 2013-14 but followed with just an 18-15 record the following year (6-12 in Bg Ten play) and then last season's 'nightmare,' with the Gophers going 8-23, including 2-16 in the Big Ten. Those struggles seemed behind them when Minnesota opened 15-2 this season (3-1 in Big Ten) but then five straight Big Ten losses (before Saturday's win), has tGophers in trouble. Pitino does have a very balanced team, with four guards averaging in double digits (Mason at 14.0 PPG and 5.3 APG leads the group) plus a solid trio up front in the 6-6 Murphy (9.4 & 7.3), the 6-10 Lynch (8.8 & 6.1) and the 6-9 Curry (5.6 & 4.7). However, the team is just not 'clicking!' The pick: Pitino hardly owns an edge over Iowa's Fran McCaffrey, who led Siena to three straight NCAA appearances before taking over in Iowa for the 2010-11 season. He got off to a rough start but has led the Hawkeyes to four straight 20-win seasons and into the "Big Dance" in each of the last three seasons. Iowa is starting to 'smell' an at-large berth again this year and slumping Minnesota won't derail them down in this one. I like teh Hawkeyes SU in this one so with all therse points, make Iowa a 10* play. |
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02-08-17 | Clippers -1 v. Knicks | Top | 119-115 | Win | 100 | 20 h 47 m | Show |
The set-up: The 31-21 LA Clippers have seen Blake Griffin (21.6 & 8.8) return but they are just 1-5 since he got back on the court, despite Griffin averaging 23.5 & 8.3. Of course, PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7) remains out after he had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. He is expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks, returning sometime around mid-March (hopefully). The Clippers will be in MSG to take on the 22-31 Knicks, who seem listless (that's being kind), while rumors regarding a Carmelo to Cleveland trade (or to any team for that matter), continue to swirl. LA Clippers: In fact, the Clippers are one of a few teams that have been mentioned in the trade rumors surrounding Anthony and sure look like they could use another player. The Clippers are now 2-7 since Paul was sidelined, dropping them to 4-12 without Paul in the lineup on the season. Head coach Doc Rivers is not one to panic and even after a 118-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday, he points out that Griffin posted his fifth career triple-double, and first of the season, with 26 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high-tying 11 assists in that loss. NY Knicks: There's not much to say about the Knicks these days. Then again, head coach Jeff Hornacek seemingly has seen enough, after the Knicks lost at home to the pathetic Lakers, 121-107 on Monday. "You have to play for some pride," Hornacek said. "If you come out there and just play basketball, you're on the wrong level. These teams come in -- it's New York. You don't match their effort and energy, you're not going to win. Right from the start, the Lakers out-hustled us. They got offensive rebounds, got long balls that bounded around the free-throw line. They got them all."
The pick: The Clippers are struggling but it's hard to make the case the Knicks even care.The Clippers have won their last eight meetings with the Knicks, including four straight here in MSG. What changes tonight? Nothing. Make LA a 10* play. |
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02-07-17 | Michigan State +3.5 v. Michigan | Top | 57-86 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 59 m | Show |
The set-up: After losing three in a row, Michigan State has posted back to back wins. One of them was at Michigan's expense. The in-state rivals now have their rematch tonight in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines have dropped two in a row. Saturday saw them lose as home favorites to their other rival, Ohio State. Michigan State: The Spartans were off this weekend, which I feel gives them a slight edge heading into this rematch. After beating Michigan two Sundays ago, Tom Izzo's troops stormed into Nebraska and won 72-61. Izzo is now 11-3 ATS his last 14 games in February. Michigan: The Wolverines have not shot well the last two games, making only 33% and 37% of their shots against Michigan State and Ohio State, respectively. Though they sport the same 14-9 SU record as MSU, Michigan's NCAA Tournament resume is not as strong. Also not strong is the team's rebounding. They rank a woeful 346th nationally in that category. The pick: I'm surprised Michigan State isn't getting more respect here, given they are the more rested side, not to mention were victorious in the first meeting as well. Look for Michigan's rebounding to be a big problem here and Sparty comes in and "steals" one in Ann Arbor. Make Michigan State an 8* play |
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02-07-17 | Blazers v. Mavs | Top | 114-113 | Win | 100 | 13 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: The 22-30 Portland Trail Blazers will be in Dallas tonight to take on the 20-31 Dallas Mavericks. Both teams are chasing Denver, which at 23-28, currently owns the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Portland: The Blazers come into this game having lost two straight, 108-104 at home to the Mavs this past Friday and then 105-99 at OKC on Super Bowl Sunday. The loss to the Thunder was typical, as the Blazers have all too often failed to win tightly contested games (Portland is just 9-14 this season in games that are within three points in the final three minutes!). The Blazers do own one the NBA's best backcourts in PG Lillard (26.0-4.8-5.8) and SG McCollum (23.4) but consistent production from the rest of the lineup has been an issue.Dallas: The Mavs lost 110-87 last night in Denver but had won four straight and six of seven, prior to that. Recently, the insertion of PG Yogi Ferrell, an undrafted FA signed to a 10-day contract, into the starting lineup has sparked Dallas. Monday's game was Ferrell's fifth consecutive start (team is 4-1), as starting PG Deron Williams is out with a toe sprain. He had 15 points and five assists against the Nuggets and is averaging 17.2 PPG and 5.0 APG since joining Dallas. Ferrell had 32 points and nine three-pointers in Dallas' 108-104 victory in Portland on Friday. The owrd is that the Mavericks plan to sign him to a two-year contract. The pick: The Mavs are playing better ball than the Blazers recently (have won nine of 13) but are playing on back-to-back nights while the Blazers are looking for a some "instant revenge" from their Friday home loss to this team. I'm taking the points and making Portland a 10* play. |
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02-07-17 | Florida -5.5 v. Georgia | Top | 72-60 | Win | 100 | 11 h 59 m | Show |
Rogers' complete analysis by 12 pm et |
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02-07-17 | Maryland -2.5 v. Penn State | Top | 64-70 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 60 m | Show |
The set-up: Maryland comes in ranked at #21/#22 (AP/USA Today) in the latest polls. They are off just their third loss of the season, which came Saturday by a single point, at home to Purdue. They'll look to bounce back tonight in Happy Valley. Penn State has dropped five of its last six and is not considered a factor in the Big 10 race. Maryland: Those into "advanced stats" aren't big fans of the Terrapins, but this team doesn't seen too bothered by that. They'd not only won seven straight times before the loss to Purdue, they were a perfect 7-0 ATS in those games as well! Two of their three losses have come by a total of three points. The Terps are 2-0 ATS off a loss this year. Can they make it 3 for 3 here? Penn State: The Nittany Lions are also off a close loss on Saturday, although theirs came at home to Rutgers, which is hardly an inspirational sign. It was not a good week in State College as last Wednesday saw PSU lose a triple overtime game at Indiana. While there have been signs of competitiveness, we should also probably take note of recent losses to Purdue (by 25) and Wisconsin (by 27). The pick: Maryland has gone a perfect 6-0 ATS on the road this year and I see no reason to buck that trend against an inferior opponent. They are also 9-0-1 ATS as an underdog. While not getting points in this situation, the line is low enough where it shouldn't be a factor. Make Maryland an 8* play. |
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02-06-17 | Thunder v. Pacers -4.5 | Top | 90-93 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 1 m | Show |
The set-up: The 30-22 OKC Thunder are coming off a 105-99 home win over the Blazers on Super Bowl Sunday and tonight travel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to face the 28-22 Indiana Pacers, who enter the game on a six-game winning streak after their 105-84 home win over the Pistons on Saturday.
Oklahoma City: Westbrook had 42 points in Suteday's win but no triple-double (just four rebounds and eight assists). OKC did get an excellent effort from Oladipo, who had 23 points and added 13 rebounds. However, the eam's other three starters combined for just 23 points, including 7 & 13 from Adams (12.1 & 7.9), who won't have Kanter (14.4 & 7.6) around for about two months. This is OKC's real issue, it's hard to compete with the NBA's elite with essentially a "one man team!" Outside of Westbrook (31.0-10.4-10.3), Oladipo (16.1) and the team's two-headed center duo (when Kanter is healthy), no other Thunder player averages as much as 7.0 PPG. Indiana: The Pacers will be seeking their seventh straight win, something they have not done in nearly two years! Indiana has a "main guy" like OKC in Paul George (22.6-6.1-3.3) but during the team's recent 13-4 overall run, the Pacers have been getting contributions from a multitude of players. PG Teague (15.7 & 8.2 APG) and center Turner (15.6 & 7.3) are an excellent outside-inside tandem plus five others contribute between 7.8 and 11.5 PPG. The pick: The bad news for Indiana is that the Pacers are just 3-7 in the second night of back-to-back games but the good news is that they have won their last two such games and OKC comes in 3-7 in the second half of back-to-back sets. I had taking OKC over Portland on Sunday and note that the are now 14-2 SU at home vs. Western Conference foes but they are just 11-9 in all venues against East teams so far this season. As for the Pacers, they are 19-6 SU at home and the price is right here to make Indiana a 10* play. |
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02-06-17 | Holy Cross +10.5 v. Bucknell | Top | 68-82 | Loss | -108 | 10 h 59 m | Show |
The set-up: It's Patriot League action Monday night from Lewisburg, Pa. as 18-6 Bucknell hosts 12-12 Holy Cross. The Crusaders are just 6-5 in conference play while the Bison sit in first place with a 10-1 mark. Holy Cross: The Crusaders did end a two-game losing streak the last time out, beating Colgtae 56-50. The 6-7 Malachi Alexander leads the Crusaders with 14.3 PPG (adds 5.2 rebounds), while guard Champion (12.0) and 6-6 SF Charles (10.0-3.5-3.4) round out the team's double digit scorers. Holy Cross averages just 60.6 PPG, ranking way down the list of Division I teams at 348th. Bucknell: The Bison enter on a six-game winning streak. Guards Thomas (15.3 & 6.7), Mackenzie (11.1) and Brown (10.5 & 4.9 APG) are joined in double figures by 6-9 center, Nana Foulland (14.9 & 7.8). Bucknell is not a high scoring team but averages a respectable 74.7 PPG and shoots it well, connecting on 48.0 percent, which ranks 37th.
The pick: Bucknell is the far superior team but here's the catch. Bucknell is 1-4 ATS its last five home games and 2-6 ATS at home against a team with a losing road record. Meanwhile, Holy Cross has covered its last six Patriot League games. Make Holy Cross a 10* play. |
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02-06-17 | Louisville +5.5 v. Virginia | Top | 55-71 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 55 m | Show |
The set-up: There will be a new AP poll later on Monday afternoon but using the current rankings, No. 6 Louisville (19-4 / 7-3 ACC) will visit Charlottesville, Va. to take on No.9 Virginia (17-5 / 7-3 ACC). The Cardinals have beaten the Cavaliers just once in five meetings since joining the conference, as the two top-10 schools square off in this Big Monday matchup on ESPN.
Louisville: The schools opened conference play against each other back on Dec 28, with the Cavs winning 61-53 at Louisville, a game in which Virginia once led by as many as 15 points."You have to make shots against Virginia. They take away all of the sets that you run," Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said. "Virginia is one of the best defensive teams in the nation, but what makes them special is how they execute on offense." Louisville guards Mitchell (15.0 & 4.9) and Snider (12.1 & 4.0 APG) are the top-two scorers but Louisville has a solid frontcourt, as well. The 6-7 Adel (11.1 & 4.3) is the best scorer but Pitino's got some good size up front with the 6-9 Johnson (8.2 & 6.5) and the 6-10 Mathiang (7.1 & 6.2). However, Louisville is currently without PG Quentin Snider and his backup Tony Hicks (4.6 PPG). Pitino always preaches defense and this year's team allows a modest 62.3 PPG (12th) on 37.8% shooting (4th). Virginia: However, when it comes to defense, Virginia allows the fewest points of any team in the nation, at 54.0 PPG. PG Perrantes (11.9-3.0-4.) is the team's only double digit scorer but nine players get 11-plus minutes per game, averaging between 3.5 and 9.8 PPG. Guard Shayok (9.8) is the best scorer of that group and the 6-7 Wilkins, the best rebounder at 7.5 per game (adds 5.9 PPG). The Cavs lost 66-62 to Syracuse on Saturday but note that the Virginia bench outscored the team's starters, as the reserves totaled 33 of the team's 62 points. The pick: I realize that Louisville is just 1-4 against Virginia since joining the ACC and that the Cards have yet to break the 60-point mark in any game against the Cavaliers. However, while Virginia enters this game off a loss at the buzzer against Villanova and then blew a 12-point halftime lead in a four-point Saturday loss at Syracuse (sandwiched in between was a win over Va. Tech), Louisville has won its last three by margins of 55 (at Pittsburgh), 25 (vs. North Carolina State) and 23 (at Boston College), while averaging a whopping 93.7 PPG! Make Louisville an 8* play as the Cards 'stop the bleeding' with a win at UVA. |
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02-05-17 | Colorado v. California -6 | Top | 66-77 | Win | 100 | 17 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: Colorado (13-10 . 3-7 Pac 12) opened Pac 12 play 0-7 but has won three in a row, as it visits Berkeley on Sunday afternoon to take on the 16-6 Cal Bears (7-3 in Pac 12 play). Colorado: Tad Boyle entered this season at Colorado (his sixth), having won 20-plus games in four of his first five years with the Buffs. He had led Colorado to an NCAA berth in each of his 20-win seasons, including last year's team which finished with 22 victories. However, the Buffs lost four starters from that club and Colorado was pretty much an afterthought after it opened 0-7 in conference play, to fall to 10-10. However, the Buffs beat Oregon State and then-No. 10 Oregon at home last weekend, followed by Thursday's win at Stanford and all of a sudden, there are whispers that the Buffs are a team "no one wants to face!" eteam is led by three "big guards," the 6-5 White (16.4 & 4.3), the 6-7 Johnson (15.2 & 6.1) and the 6-6 King (11.4 & 7.0).California: Cuonzo Martin has a talented but somewhat inconsistent team in Cal, led by the 6-11 Rabb, who averages 15.5 & 10.9. Swingman Bird has battled injuries for much of his career and before this season, has not come anywhere near reaching the potential he arrived with as a freshman. Bird (now a senior) has averaged 19.0 PPG over his last four (the last three have been Cal wins) and on the season, he's scoring at a clip of 14.8 PPG, while adding 4.7 RPG. Freshman PG Charlie Moore (14.0 & 3.6 APG) gives the team three double digit scorers but Martin would love more regular contributions from guard Mullins (9.2) and the 7-0 Okoroh (5.6 & 6.4). The pick: Maybe we should have seen Colorado's turnaround coming, as the Buffs lost four of their first seven Pac-12 games by just three points or fewer. Still, winning here at Cal is a tough assignment, as the Bears rank 19th in both points allowed (63.0 PPG) and opponents' FG percentage (39.5%). The Bears are 13-2 SU at home where they allowing just 59.9 PPG and a check of the Cal record book reveals that the Bears are 11-0 against the Buffaloes in Berkeley. Cal is a 10* play. |
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02-05-17 | Blazers v. Thunder -4 | Top | 99-105 | Win | 100 | 15 h 13 m | Show |
The set-up: The 22-29 Portland Trail Blazers travel to Oklahoma City on the afternoon of the Super Bowl to take on the 29-22 Thunder. Portland is in the midst of a six-team 'battle' for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, with those teams all within 3 1/2 games of each other. The Thunder trail the Jazz by three games in the Northwest Division and although they own the 7th seed overall, are safely a full six games up on the Nuggets, who currently own the No. 8 seed.
Portland: The Blazers are currently just a half-game behind the Nuggets and 1 1/2 games up on the 10th-seeded Mavs. Portland ranks eighth in scoring at 107.7 PPG, led by the dynamic backcourt duo of Lillard (25.9-4.8-5.8) and McCollum (23.5-3.6-3.7). However, the drop-off behind those two is significant, with a group of four players adding between 9.7 and 11.0 PPG. Center Mason Plumlee tops that group and is also the team's leading rebounder at 8.0 per game. Defense has been the team's Achilles' heel, ranking 26th by allowing 109.9 PPG. Oklahoma City: Everyone around the NBA knew that with K.D. off to Oakland, it would be the "Russell Westbrook Show" in OKC this season. He delivered his 25th triple-double in Friday's 114-102 win over the Grizzlies (38-13-12), as he continues his quest to average a triple-double on the season, ala the Big O. Westbrook is currently averaging 30.8-10.5-10.3, which all are team-highs (also leads OKC in steals at 1.6 per game). However, he just doesn't get enough help regularly, with Oladipo (15.9) the only other consistent scorer outside of the team's two-headed center duo of Adams (12.2 & 7.8) and Kanter (14.4 & 6.7). However, with his self-inflicted fractured right forearm back on Jan. 26th, Kanter took that equation off the table (he's expected be sidelined for up to two months). The pick: Defense has not been an OKC strength this season but they held to Grizzlies to just one basket in the final 3 1/2 minutes of Friday's game, turning a three-point deficit into a 12-point win by closing on a 15-0 run! Friday's win ended a three-game slide for OKC and the Thunder get a Portland team here playing its first road contest since Jan. 21. Portland is just 7-15 against winning opponents and will likely want to get this game out of the way quickly, to watch the Super Bowl. Make OKC a 10* play. |
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02-04-17 | Hornets +9 v. Jazz | Top | 98-105 | Win | 100 | 12 h 14 m | Show |
The set-up: The 23-27 Charlotte Hornets wrap up a three-game road trip tonight in Salt Lake City, taking on the 31-19 Utah Jazz. The Hornets have dropped the first two games of their trip (at Portland and Golden State) and hope to snap a six-game overall slide. For the Jazz, they are looking to wrap up a four-game homestand at 3-1, after beating the Bucks 104-88 on Wednesday. Charlotte: The Hornets got off to a solid start early in the season (opened 8-3) but that seems like a long time ago now, as Charlotte has dropped 13 of its last 17 games, overall. The Hornets just acquired center Miles Plumlee from the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, in exchange for centers Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert. I'm not sure how that makes much of a difference and why would they want the four-year, $50 million contract he signed last summer? Plumlee has played in just 32 games, averaging 2.6 & 1.7 in just under 10 minutes of playing time.Utah: Center Rudy Gobert (13.1 & 12.6) had a 26-point, 15-rebound effort in Utah's Wednesday win over the Bucks, for his 33rd double-double of the season. He felt as if he had done enough to make the All Star team but the Jazz will send only SF Hayward (21.8-5.7-3.5) to New Orleans on Feb. 19th. The Jazz own the NBA's stingiest defense, allowing a league-low 95.3 PPG, while holding opponents to just 43.5% from the floor (also ranks 1st). The pick: The Jazz have made a real name for themselves this season but along with that comes 'heavier' prices. The Hornets own an outstanding backcourt duo in Walker (22.9 & 5.5 APG) and Batum (14.9-7.3-6.0 plus own a host of credible role players. The Hornets are still "right in" the battle for that final playoff spot in the East. Take the points and make Charlotte a 10* play. |
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02-04-17 | Montana State v. Montana -6 | Top | 84-90 | Push | 0 | 12 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: Montana Stae is just 11-12 on the season but visits in-state rival Montana tonight, on a five-game winning streak. The Grizzlies are 10-13 on the season, including 5-5 in Big Sky action.
Montana State: The Bobcats' winning streak (over Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Portland State, Idaho and Eastern Washington) has them at 6-4 in league play. A quartet of guards have led the way, topped by the 6-4 Hall (23.3 & 5.5). He's joined by freshman Frey (12.9) plus Green 10.1 & 4.1) and Everett (9.6 & 4.0). Montana State averages 80.3 PPG but allows almost as many, giving up 79.3 PPG. Montana: In stark contrast to the Bobcats, the Grizzlies are mired in a four-game losing streak, falling to Portland State, Sacramento State, Eastern Washington and Idaho. The Grizzlies have a trio of guards leading the way in Rorie (17.3), Oguine (11.4 & 6.3) and Wright (11.1) but three more players contribute between 7.3 and 8.1 PPG, including the team's best rebounder, the 6-8 Krslovic (6.8 RPG). The pick: Montana has not only lost its last four but it's failed to cover its last five. However, Montana State is just 2-7 SU on the road and there is a reason the home-standing Grizzlies are the small favorite. Lay the points and make Montana a 10* play. |
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02-04-17 | Kentucky +2 v. Florida | Top | 66-88 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 27 m | Show |
The set-up: No. 8 Kentucky heads to Gainesville 18-4, including 8-1 in SEC play to take on the the 17-5 Florida Gators (ranked 24th), who can tie the Wildcats for first-place in the SEC with a win (Gators are 7-2). Kentucky: The Wildcats were beaten 79-73 last Saturday at home by Kansas, after having lost earlier in the week at Tennessee. Kentucky then needed OT to get past a mediocre Georgia team 90-81 on Tuesday. The victory allowed the Wildcats to avoid the first three-game losing streak of the coach John Calipari era. However, Coach Cal has to be at least a little worried about his team's recent play. Freshman point guard De'Aaron Fox (15.9-4.4-5.7) sat out the Georgia game with the flu but is expected back here. He joins fellow freshman Monk (22.4) in the backcourt and that dynamic duo is joined on the perimeter by sophomore guard Briscoe (14.4 & 5.2), who is considered a veteran in the Calipari era. The team's best frontcourt player is another freshman (surprise!), the 6-10 Adebayo (13.2 & 6.8). Kentucky averages 91.3 PPG (3rd) on 49.1% shooting (15th). Florida: The Gators just routed Missouri 93-54 on Thursday, giving them three straight wins in which they've averaged 94.3 PPG and won by a combined 106 points! That comes after Florida had lost back-to-back games, 57-53 at South Carolina and 68-66 at home to Vandy (?). Junior guard Chris Chiozza (5.3-2.8-3.8 assists) came out of nowhere to recording the fourth triple-double in school history with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the Missouri game. On the season, it's been PG Hill (9.4 & 4.9 APG) surrounded by sophomore Allen (13.6) and senior transfer Barry (12.8) on the perimeter plus the 6-8 Robinson (11.8 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Egbunu (7.6 & 6.6) up front. Even with its recent scoring surge (see above), the Gators can't match Kentucky's firepower, as the Gators average 79.3 PPG on the season, a dozen points less than the Wildcats. However, the Gators are a very good defensive team, holding opponents to 65.6 PPG. The pick: Here's the rub. No opponent has reached its scoring average in regulation against the Gators this season, with only Georgia doing so in Florida's 80-76 overtime victory back on Jan. 14. However, Kentucky has won the last five meetings (by an average of 13.4 points PPG) and off three so-so efforts in a row, won't miss this opportunity to open a two-game lead over teh Gatiors in the SEC race. At this price, make Kentucky a 10* play. |
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02-04-17 | Miami (Fla) -2.5 v. NC State | Top | 84-79 | Win | 100 | 6 h 7 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-7 Miami Hurricanes are on Tobacco Road this afternoon for a game in Raleigh against the 14-9 NC State Wolfpack. The 'Canes are 4-5 in ACC play and the Wolfpack a very disappointing 3-7. Miami-Fla: The Hurricanes won 27 games last year and reached the Sweet 16. However, the core of that team is gone in SG McClellan (16.3), PG Rodrigues (12.6 & 4.5 APG) and center Jekiri (7.6 & 8.6). This year's team has a so-so frontcourt but a solid trio of guards in Reed (15.3), Newton (15.3) and Brown (12.3), who is also an excellent rebounder (6.7). The 6-8 Murphy leads the team in rebounding (8.0) but outside of the above-mentioned guards, no player averages as much as 7.0 PPG. Miami had beaten then-No. 9 North Carolina in its previous game (Saturday) but fell to No. 15 Florida State 75-57 on Wednesday. Miami prides itself on its defense but after taking a 34-31 halftime lead against the Seminoles, allowed FSU to shoot 60 percent over the final 20 minutes to pull away for the 18-point win. The pick: NC State averages 81.3 PPG (31st) and hereat PNC Arena, ups that to 86.7 PPG but the Wolfpack are a poor defensive team. Miami holds oppponents to just 63.3 PPG (22nd) on 40.2% shootig (31st) and that defense will be the key to victory here. Make Miami an 8* play. |
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02-04-17 | Seton Hall +3 v. Georgetown | Top | 68-66 | Win | 100 | 3 h 8 m | Show |
The set-up: The 13-8 Seton Hall Pirates are in Washington D.C. to take on the 13-10 Georgetown Hoyas. Seton Hall is only 3-6 in Big East play and has yet to win a conference road game (0-5). The Hoyas are a modest 4-6 in the Big East but come in playing their best basketball of the year with recent wins over then No. 16 Creighton and then-No. 11 Butler. Seton Hall: The Pirates won 25 games and went to the NCAA tourney last year and only lost one starter, although NBA draft choice Whitehead (18.2 & 5.1 APG) was th team's best player. Guard Khadeen Carrington (16.6 PPG) is this year's leading scorer but little has gone right for him lately. His numbers speak volumes, as he's 0-for-15 from three-point range the last two games and just 4 of 31 (12.9%) the last five games (Seton Hall is 1-4). Three others join him in double figures, the 6-6 Rodriguez (16.0 & 5.1), the 6-10 Delgado (14.5 & 12.9) and freshman guard Powell (11.0). Georgetown: The Hoyas followed upsets of Creighton and Xavier by edging DePaul 76-73 this past Tuesday, giving the team a three-game winning streak heading into this contest. Georgetown survived against the Blue Demons with 7-0 senior center Bradley Hayes (4.7 & 4.9) sitting out after he injured his right foot in pregame warmups. 6-10 sophomore Jessie Govan (9.9 & 5.1) may see more time again today, if Hayes is not able to play. The Hoyas' bread-and-butter players are a pair of veteran 6-5 guards, senior Pryor (18.4 & 4.8) and junior Peak (16.2 & 4.0).
The pick: Seton Hall comes in struggling but has most of its key players back from last year's NCAA team. The Pirates went right down to the wire in its 72-70 loss at Xavier (despite leading scorer Carrington shooting 3 of 13, including 0-8 from three) and comes in 13-6 ATS in their last 19 road games. Meanwhile, the Hoyas are just 5-12 ATS in their last 17 home games and only 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. Big East opponents.Take the points and make Seton Hall an 8* play. |
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02-03-17 | Wolves +4.5 v. Pistons | Top | 108-116 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 53 m | Show |
The set-up: The 19-30 Minnesota Timberwolves have played much better as of late, although one couldn't prove it by their 125-97 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday. They now look to earn win No. 20 on the season with a visit to Detroit, where they will take on the 22-27 Pistons. Minnesota: The Timberwolves were a trendy pick as a playoff team in the Western Conference at the start of this season, with Tom Thibodeau hired over the summer to guide the young roster. Minnesota started very poorly but was recently beginning to turn things around before getting smoked by the Cavaliers this past Wednesday. "I thought the first half we played well enough where we’d have a chance to win," Thibodeau told reporters after his team went into the break down just 63-60. "But I also knew in the third quarter they’d come out and bring it. And then we didn’t respond." Minnesota can't let that 28-point loss kill their mojo, as they had gone 8-3 prior to Wednesday's loss. PG Ricky Rubio is supposedly on the trade block but the veteran has recently been making himself indispensable, as he delivered a double-double with 14 points and 13 assists in 38 minutes on Wednesday, his sixth double-double in the last 11 games. Rubio's increased scoring is taking some of the focus away from fellow guard Zach LaVine (18.9), who went 4-of-18 from the floor on Wednesday and has scored in single digits in three of the last seven games. Detroit: The Pistons were expected to take a step forward this season as well but Detroit is struggling to find any consistency. The Pistons snapped a three-game slide with one of their more impressive victories on Wednesday (a 118-98 rout of New Orleans), which began a stretch of five of six at home (Pistons are 13-10 SU & 12-11 ATS this season). The Pistons have six double digit scorers, including the starting backcourt of Jackson (16.6 & 5.4 APG) and Pope (14.9). The team's leading scorer is forward Harris (16.7 & 5.1), joined by center Drummond (14.6 & 13.7) plus forwards Morris (13.6 & 4.4) and Leuer (10.6 & 5.8).
The pick: While LaVine has struggled lately for Minnesota, the other two members of the team's "Big 3" have have had no such problems. Center Towns (23.0 & 11.9) and SF Wiggins (22.1 & 4.2) are the envy of most teams. However, Towns has not beaten the Pistons in his short NBA career in large part because Pistons center Andre Drummond has won the matchup of the talented young big men. The Pistons have defeated Minnesota in their last three meetings with Drummond averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds, while Towns has posted averages of 18 points and 9.3 rebounds in those games. I expect that to change here and will make Minnesota an 8* play. |
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02-03-17 | Pennsylvania v. Harvard -6 | Top | 59-69 | Win | 100 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: It's Ivy League action tonight from Lavietes Pavilion in Boston, as the 7-9 Penn Quakers visit the 11-6 Harvard Crimson. The Quakers are off to an 0-3 start in Ivy League play while the Crimson are 3-1, after suffering their first Ivy League loss in its last game, 65-62 at Columbia this past Saturday. Penn: The Quakers ended a four-game slide the last time out, winning 77-74 at La Salle (Jan. 25) in a non-conference game. Leading the way for Penn this season is 6-8 freshman AJ Brodeur who averages 15.3 & 6.9 RPG. Guard Howard is the team's best rebounder (7.0) and also its only other double digit scorer, at 12.8 PPG. Penn won 22 games last season (12-2 Ivy record was good enough for 2nd-place) but even with all five starters returning, not much has gone right so far in the 2016-17 season.
Harvard: The Crimson fell off last year, going just 14-16 (6-8 Ivy) but have rebounded this season. Freshman guard Aiken (13.3) has joined PG Chambers (8.3 & 6.2 APG) in the backcourt, as Chambers is back after missing all of last season with an ACL injury. The 6-7 Towns (11.2 & 4.1) is Harvard's best frontcourt player. Harvard did lose its last game but has won 10 of its last 12. The pick: Prior to last season's sub-.500 year, Tommy Amaker had led the Crimson to six straight 20-win seasons, five straight straight Ivy regular season titles and four straight NCAA berths. This year's team could (should?) win the Ivy this season and will have little trouble here with underachieving Penn. Make Harvard a 10* play. |
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02-02-17 | Warriors -8 v. Clippers | Top | 133-120 | Win | 100 | 14 h 38 m | Show |
The set-up: The 42-7 Golden State Warriors own the league's best record, as well as the best road mark (20-4) of any team, as well. They will visit Staples Center tonight to take on the 31-18 LA Clippers, a team playing without PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7). However, PF Blake Griffin (21.1-8.7-4.7) has returned to play in the team's three last games, adding 29 & 8 in Wednesday's win in Phoenix (LA had lost the first two games of Blake's return).
Golden State: The Warriors rolled to a 126-111 win over the Charlotte Hornets last night, as Steph Curry (25.3-4.3-6.2) scored 39 points, hitting 11 of 15 from three-point range, and Klay Thompson (21.3) added 29. K.D. (26.1-8.4-4.8) added a modest 18 points (plus eight rebounds and eight assist), while Green (10.4-8.4-7.40 had a typical night (8-10-5). The Warriors own the league's best FG percentage (50.1%) plus defend better than anyone, holding opponents to a league-low 43.4% (quite a daily double). LA Clippers:Last night's win in Phoenix capped a 2-3 five-game road swing in which the Clippers went 2-3. LA continues to play without Paul, who has missed six games since undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb on Jan. 18 (team is 2-4). Paul is not expected to return for another four to six weeks. It was good news that Griffin tied his season-high with 29 points, especially since center DeAndre Jordan (12.3 & 13.8) was ejected in the third-quarter for a flagrant-2 foul. "This is the best Blake we've seen (since his return) by far,"head coach Doc Rivers said. "He played in gears. He knew when to go, and he knew when not to go." Said Griffin, "I was proud how we stuck with it. With DJ going out and (Phoenix guard Eric Bledsoe) having a fantastic game, I was proud of the way we stayed with it and dug it out at the end." The pick: Here's the bottom line. The Clippers haven't defeated the Warriors since recording a 100-86 decision back on Christmas Day in 2014. Since then, it's been nothing but misery for them, as the Warriors own eight straight wins over the Clippers, including the past four meetings at Staples. Golden State has an average margin of victory of more than 13 points in the past eight contests against the Clippers, averaging 117.5 PPG and shooting 49.9 percent during that stretch. Golden State rolled to a 144-98 romp at Oracle Arena in the teams' most recent meeting, this past Saturday. The Warriors shot 62 percent from the floor and made 17 three-pointers, with Curry scoring 43 points (in three quarters!). It was the most points allowed by the Clippers this season. The Warriors have won 11 of their last 12 contests overall and they are 8-1 against division opponents this season. Make Golden State an 8* play. |
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02-02-17 | Utah v. California -3 | Top | 75-77 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: The 15-6 (6-3 Pac 12) Utah Utes will visit the Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, as the 15-6 (6-3 Pac 12) Cal Golden Bears play host. The Utes opened last season’s Pac-12 schedule with road losses to Stanford and California, so are sure hoping for a more enjoyable visit to the Bay Area this weekend (will play at Stanford on Saturday). The Bears beat rival Stanford 66-55 last Sunday, for their fifth victory in their last six games.
Utah: The Utes have won three of their last four games to move into a three-way tie for third place in the Pac-12, as they prepare to visit Cal on Thursday. Utah struggled with Oregon’s size in last week’s 73-67 loss to Oregon but bounced back with a strong effort against Oregon State in an 86-78 win.Utah is an outstanding shooting team (51.8% ranks third), which scores 81.1 PPG (33rd). The 6-9 Kuzma (15.6 & 10.1) and the 6-8 Collette (14.3 & 5.10 are the team's top-two scorers but a quartet of guards are solid contibutors. The group is led by Bonam (13.2), along with Daniels (11.4 & 4.6(), Barefield (10.6) and Zamora (8.8). California: Playing for the first time in eight days, Ivan Rabb overcame a slow start to finish with 25 points and 13 rebounds (his 10th double-double this season) plus the Bears received 17 points from senior wing Jabari Bird and shot 64.7 percent in the second half of last Sunday’s win over Stanford. Freshman PG Charlie Moore (14.0 & 3.4 APG) recorded a career-high eight assists for the Bears, who are 15th in the nation in scoring defense at 62.4 PPG but have battled with inconsistent play for much of the season. The 6-11 Rabb (15.6 & 10.7) and Bird (14.1 & 4.5) combined for 42 of the team’s 66 points in the win over Stanford but the Bears need more scoring from players such as guard Grant Mullins (9.2), who was held to six points in 37 minutes against the Cardinal. The pick: Utah has won five of the last six meetings between the two schools, including an 82-78 overtime victory in last season’s Pac-12 tournament. However, the Bears are 12-2 SU at home, where opponents are averaging only 58.9 PPG. Make Cal an 8* play. |
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02-02-17 | Northeastern v. William & Mary -4 | Top | 69-94 | Win | 100 | 10 h 7 m | Show |
The set-up: It's CAA action Thursday night from Kaplan Arena in Williamsburg, as the William and Mary Tribe play host to the Northeastern Huskies. Both teams are 6-4 in league play, making this an important contest for each team. Northeastern: It may be even more important for the Huskies, as they enter having had lost four in a row at Towson, Delaware, Hofstra and home to Elon, before beating Towson 69-62 at home in their last game. Leading the way for Northeastern in scoring this year is guard TJ Williams with 21.5 PPG (he adds 4.8 RPG and 5.2 APG). The team's only other double digit scorer is 6-8 forward Murphy (14. 4 & 5.7), although forward Miller (9.5 & 5.1) and guard Begley (9.5) just miss.William and Mary: The Tribe lost three of four games in mid-January but have won three in a row versus Delaware, UNC Wilmington and Drexel. Those three straight wins (all at home) give the Tribe six wins in their last eight, Guard Daniel Dixon is averaging 17.6 PPG to lead the way and is paired with PG Cohn (6.5 & 5.0 APG) in the backcourt. William and Mary has excellent depth up front with the 6-7 Prewitt (14.8 & 5.9), the 6-9 Whitman (10.7 & 5.8), the 6-6 Malinowski (7.3 & 3.6) and the 6-9 Knight (7.0 & 4.3). The pick: Those three straight home wins makes William and Mary 10-0 SU at home this season and why go against them here? William & Mary is a 10* play. |
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02-01-17 | Baylor v. Kansas -6 | Top | 68-73 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 28 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-1 Baylor Bears are ranked No. 2 in the latest AP poll and the 19-2 Kansas Jayhawks are No. 3. The two schools are tied atop the Big 12 at 7-1 and meet tonight in Lawrence, Kansas for the first time this season (will play again in Waco, Tx. on Feb. 18th). Baylor: The Bears came into the season un-ranked, after losing leading scorer Prince (15.9 & 6.1), rebounding 'machine' Gathers (11.2 & 9.0) and PG Medford (8.9 & 6.5 APG). Baylor surprised all by opening 15-0 and earned the school's first-ever No. 1 ranking in the AP poll on Jan. 9. However, on Jan. 10, the Bears got routed at West Va, 89-68. Baylor hasn't folded though (five straights wins since the loss in Morgantown) and now gets this showdown with Kansas. Baylor has a strong frontcourt with the 6-10 Motley (16.2 & 9.6), the 7-0 Lual-Acuil (10.2 & 7.2) and the 6-8 Maston (7.2 & 4.1). Lecomte, a Miami transfer, plays the point and averages 12.3 PPG and 4.4 APG plus has a soild backcourt partner in Freeman (10.2). Defense is a Baylor staple, as the Bears are allowing just 61.1 PPG (7th) on 38.3% (9th) shooting. Kansas: The Jayhawks know what it's like to lose at West Va. as well (85-69 on Jan. 24th) but rebounded with an impressive 79-73 win at Kentucky on Saturday (as a 7-point dog!). Kansas is a perimeter-oriented team, led by guards Mason (19.9-4.3-5.1), Graham (13.6) and Mykhailiuk 10.6), as well as 6-8 freshman swingman Jackson (15.7 & 6.7). 6-9 sophomore Carlton Bragg Jr. (6.1 & 4.8 rebounds) has been suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules and being charged with drug possession, which really leaves the 6-10 Lucas (7.6 & 7.8) as the only big body who can match up with Motley, Lual-Acuil Jr. and Maston. Baylor plays greta D but Kansas averages 84.3 PPG (89.6 at home), shooting 49.8% (9th), including 41.2% on threes (8th).
The pick: Bottom line is, all the numbers favor Kansas, which has won 53 straight games at home, including 50 at Allen Fieldhouse, and is 14-0 all-time at home against Baylor. Meanwhile, the Bears are 0-17 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in either the AP or coaches poll. As for Kansas under head coach Bill Self, the Jayhawks are 7-0 when facing an AP top-five team at home. What else? Make Kansas a 10* play. |
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01-31-17 | Boise State +1.5 v. Colorado State | Top | 79-76 | Win | 100 | 11 h 3 m | Show |
The set-up: It's a Tuesday night MWC matchup as the13-7 Boise State Broncos take on the 14-8 Colorado State Rams in hoops. Both are 6-3 in league play, leaving them one game back of MWC-leader Nevada (7-2). Yes, it's an important game but the MWC is a weak league this year and it's likely only the MWC tourney winner will be 'dancing' come mid-March (only Nevada has slim at-large hopes). Boise State: The Broncos are searching for some consistency after going 3-3 over their last six games. Forward Webb (15.8 & 9.1) left school early plus starting guards Drmic (13.4) and Thompson (11.9 & 3.4 APG) graduated. The 6-7 Hutchinson (17.7 & 8.6) is listed as a guard and the team's only other double digit scorer is fellow guard Austin (11.2). Colorado State: The Rams enter this contest off three straight league wins, which has vaulted them into a tie with Boise for second-place. The Rams are coming off an 18-16 (8-10 MWC) season but lost four starters. The good news is that guard Clavell (20.8 & 6.9 in 10 games last season), is finally injury-free. He got back on the court on Dec. 10 and after scoring 37 in Saturday's 78-77 win at SD State, is averaging 18.5 & 6.5. Fellow guard Nixon averages 12.6 PPG and the 6-10 Omogbo adds 13.7 & 10.6.The pick: The Rams are flying high off that win at SD State but Boise State is 4-1-1 ATS its last six road games. I'm Make the Broncos an 8* play. |
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01-31-17 | Thunder +8.5 v. Spurs | Top | 94-108 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 40 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-20 OKC Thunder find themselves 1 1/2 games back of the Utah Jazz in the Northwest and in a battle with the 29-21 Grizzlies for the West's No. 6 seed. As for the 36-11 Spurs, they lead the Rockets by three games in the Southwest but like the rest of the NBA, trail the 41-7 Warriors for the best record in the West (or in the entire NBA, for that matter). Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook is averaging 30.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game, in his quest to become the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double over an entire season. "He's a great player, and we have try our best to limit his touches and his catches and looks," said San Antonio guard Danny Green, who likely will get the defensive assignment on Tuesday. "We need to try to make one of their other players beat us." OKC's problem all season i has been production outside of Westbrook and now Enes Kanter (14.4 & 6.7) could miss two months after breaking his right forearm by punching a chair during a timeout in a win over Dallas on Friday. San Antonio: The Spurs come into this game off losses at New Orleans and at home to Mavs (??), having lost back-to-back games for the first time since falling to the LA Clippers on Nov. 5 and to the Houston Rockets on Nov. 9. The 105-101 Sunday loss to Dallas was San Antonio's sixth loss to a team with a sub-.500 record. The Spurs have lost only five times to opponents with winning records. The loss to the Mavs didn't sit well with All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard (25.4 & 5.7). "It doesn't matter who we lose to," Leonard told reporters. "It's always tough losing. We want to win every game. We've got another one coming up and we have to be prepared. We have to go in with the same mentality -- play defense first and let the offense come."
The pick: The Spurs and Thunder will meet for the first time this season, with the last "get together" being when the teams faced off in the 2016 playoffs, where the Thunder beat the Spurs twice in San Antonio to capture that Western Conference semifinal series (of course, KD was on OKC then!). However, it's hard to ignore that after matching the league record with a 40-1 SU home mark last season, the Spurs are "just" 16-6 SU at home this season, going 12-10 ATS. Take the points and make OKC a 10* play. |
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01-31-17 | Ohio v. Western Michigan +2 | Top | 85-90 | Win | 100 | 8 h 54 m | Show |
The set-up: The 13-6 Ohio Bobcats will travel to University Arena to take on the 6-14 Western Michigan Broncos Tuesday night in MAC hoops play. The Bobcats are 5-3 (2nd in the East), while the Broncos are 2-6 in league play, leaving them in last-place in the West (this is NOT football!).
Ohio: Saul Phillips is in his third season in Athens and after winning just 10 games in his first year, was looking to build on last year's 23-win campaign with four starters back for this season. The Bobcats are 13-6 but Ohio just lost its best player, the 6-9 Campbell (16.4 & 8.9) for the season due to a foot injury (Jan. 19). The 6-8 Kaminsky (12.8) is a decent scorer but averages a woeful 2.8 RPG. That leaves the team with the 6-8 Carter (7.1 & 5.2) as its best rebounder. PG Simmons (13.3 & 7.0 APG) and Dartis (12.8) form a quality backcourt duo but without Campbell???? Western Michigan: The Broncos are not a very good team but can match Ohio in the backcourt with Wilder (17.7 & 4.0) and Haymond (14.0 & 4.4). WMU has size at the center position, as the 7-0 Dugan (6.0 & 5.4) and the 6-10 LaMont (7.8 & 4.4) share time. Throw in 6-8 PF Johnson (8.0 & 5.4) and the Broncos just may be OK. The pick: Yes, the Bobcats have won both road games since Campbell was lost for the season but I'm backing the home dog here to 'bark' loudly. Make Western Michigan a 10* play. |
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01-30-17 | Grizzlies -3.5 v. Suns | Top | 115-96 | Win | 100 | 14 h 24 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-21 Memphis Grizzlies will make the third stop on their current six-game road trip Monday night in Phoenix, to face the 15-32 Suns. Memphis will try to make it back-to-back triumphs in tonight's game, something it has done just once this month. the Grizzlies haven't won as many as three in a row since a six-game winning streak to open December. The Suns come the losers of three in a row, as defensed continue sto be an issue. The Suns rank 29th in points allowed (112.0 PPG) and have not held an opponent under 100 points in any of their last 10 contests. Memphis: The Grizzlies could not stop Damian Lillard in the fourth quarter of a 112-109 loss at Portland (Friday) to begin the trip but were able to win 102-95 in Utah on Saturday, aaginst the up-and-coming Jazz. PF Zach Randolph (14.1 & 8.4) has a season-high 28 points and added nine rebounds. "He was really disappointed with the loss the night before," Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale told reporters of Randolph. "He really wanted that game in Portland. I saw it on his face after the game and the things he said after the game. He was really upset. I expected him to come out and play really well (Saturday)." Randolph, center Marc Gasol (20.8 & 6.1) and PG Mike Conley (18.7-3.8-6.2) combined to score 69 points on 28-of-46 shooting in the win at Utah. "We really did a good job of moving the basketball tonight," Conley told reporters. "Really playing off one another, especially when one guy has it going. We didn’t go away from that. (Randolph) had so many opportunities down low early and just kept trying to exploit that as long as we could, and when they took that away we went to Marc and when they took that away we went to me. We were just trying to go down the line and find different areas to try and attack them." Phoenix: PG Bledsoe (21.4-5.0-6.3) scored a career-high 41 points on Saturday against Denver (besting his previous best of 40 set six days earlier) and is averaging 31.8 points in the last four contests. His backcourt mate, second-year Devin Booker (20.8) of Kentucky, is thriving on the offensive end as well and added points. He has now scored at least 20 points in each of his last 12 contests, averaging 26.7 PPG in that span. Let's also not forget center Tyson Chandler, who earlier this month broke the Phoenix franchise record with seven consecutive games with 15 or more rebounds. His current average (12.2) is his highest in 10 years and is well above the full-season record for a 16th-year NBA player. That mark is held by Moses Malone at 10.0 per game. The pick: One has to love the guard combo of Bledsoe and Booker plus Chandler's numbers speak for themselves but "oh those defensive woes." Phoenix surrendered an average of 125.0 PPG in back-to-back losses to the Denver Nuggets in the team's last two games, Thursday in Denver and back at home on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies rank 3rd in the NBA in points allowed ((99.6), opponents' FG percentage (43.7) and opponents' three-point shooting (34.1). Make Memphis an 8* play. |
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01-30-17 | Drexel v. William & Mary -10.5 | Top | 85-108 | Win | 100 | 11 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: It's make-up game tonight in the CAA, as the 8-14 Drexel Dragons visit the 11-9 William and Mary Tribe. Drexel is just 2-7 in CAA play, while William and Mary is 5-4.
Drexel: The Dragons limp in having lost six of their last eight games. However, coming off a 6-25 season (3-15 ibn CAA), the team's eight wins shows improvement. The 6-7 Rodney Williams (16.1 & 6.6) is the team's best player, while four guards give Drexel excellent depth on the perimeter. PG Lee (13.5 & 5.0 APG) leads the way along with fellow guards Mojica (11.2 & 6.0), Overton (10.0) and Jonsson (9.2). Up front, the 6-9 Bah (2.9 & 2.5) starts but the 6-8 Austin Williams (6.9 & 7.0) is a bigger contributor off the bench. William and Mary: In contrast to Drexel, the Tribe come in having won five of their last seven games. Guard Daniel Dixon is averaging 16.9 PPG to lead the way and is paired with PG Cohn (6.4 & 4.9 APG) in the backcourt. While Drexel owns a deeper perimeter group, William and Mary should dominate inside, with the 6-7 Prewitt (14.3 & 5.8), the 6-9 Whitman (7.4 & 3.6), the 6-6 Malinowski (7.4 & 3.6) and the 6-9 Knight (7.0 & 4.4). The pick: Drexel hardly enters this game in good form and has allowed 80.8 PPG in lined road games. That does not bode well vs. a William and Mary team playing its best ball of the season and comes in a perfect 9-0 SU at home on the season. Make William and Mary a 10* play. |
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01-30-17 | Kings v. 76ers +2 | Top | 119-122 | Win | 100 | 5 h 20 m | Show |
The set-up: The 17-29 Sacramento Kings continue the team's eight-game road trip with a stop Monday night in Philadelphia, to take on the 19-28 76ers for a game rescheduled from its original date (Nov. 30), when condensation on the floor at the Wells Fargo Center made for an unsafe environment. The teams own similar records but while the 76ers rank 14th of 15 teams in the East and are five games out of the final playoff spot, the Kings are 10th in the West, just 2 1/2 games out of that final playoff spot. Sacramento: The Kings have won three of their last four, improving to 3-3 on their road trip which ends Tuesday in Houston. "Guys have been great lately," star forward DeMarcus Cousins told reporters after posting 35 points and 18 rebounds in Saturday's 109-106 win at Charlotte. "They are believing. Their confidence is high, which we need, and we're just on the right path and we feel it." The Kings recently lost the team's second-leading scorer, Rudy Gay (18.7), to a season ending injury so it was good news that four other players scored at least 13 points in Saturday's win. Cousins (28.1 & 10.5) was sure pleased to get the support. "We are realizing what is going to win us games and it's not iso(lation) basketball," he told reporters. "When we are making the defense work and getting the best shot for the team and just finding the open man, we are realizing that is working for us." Darren Collison (13.1 & 4.2 APG) led that quartet with 17 points and he is averaging 22.0 PPG on 59.5 percent shooting in the last three games.
Philadelphia: The 76ers won 10 of 13 games from Dec. 30 through Jan. 25 but lost 123-118 at home to teh Rockets and Sunday lost 121-108 in Chicago, the team's 12th straight defeat against the Bulls. Joel Embiid (knee) has missed four of the last five games, including not even making the trip to Chicago. However, the 76ers hope to have their star center back in the lineup when then they host the Kings. Embiid leads the team in scoring (20.2), rebounding (7.8) and blocked shots (2.45). Sixers backup center Jahlil Okafor (11.2 & 4.8) dressed but did not play Sunday against Chicago. He has been held out of 10 of the last 14 games, most recently because of a sore right knee. However, all five starters for Philadelphia scored at least 12 points in Sunday's loss, led by Ersan Ilyasova's 31. He's averaging 15.5 & 6.1 on the season. PG McConnell (5.6 & 6.0 APG) continued his impressive play with12 assists, giving him an average of 10.8 over the past five games. |
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01-29-17 | Warriors -8.5 v. Blazers | Top | 113-111 | Loss | -102 | 10 h 12 m | Show |
The set-up: The 21-27 Portland Trail Blazers are in the middle of a five-game homestand and after Friday' 112-109 win over Memphis, have strung together three straight wins for the first time since Nov. 30-Dec. 5. However, the issue the Blazers face rtonight is that the Golden Stae warriors are coming to the Moda center with the league's best overall record (40-7), the league's best road record (19-4) and with the NBA's highest scoring offense (118.1 PPG), not to mention ranking No. 1 in the NBA in defensive efficiency (rank 1st in FG percentage against at 43.2%). Golden State: The Warriors hosted the Clippers last night and won, 144-98! "It's going great," Golden State head coach Steve Kerr told the Portland Tribune. "The record is good, but more importantly, we're making really good strides, improving all the time." Kerr added, "The first month of the season, we weren't close to that. Over the last month, we've really gotten better at that end. That's a great sign considering what we lost personnel-wise over the summer. Our defense has changed quite a bit. We had a couple of dominant centers in (Andrew) Bogut and (Festus) Ezeli. We don't get the shot-blocking from the center position now, but we get solid play from Zaza (Pachulia) and David West. We play a little faster defensively with (Kevin Durant) and Draymond (Green) and Klay (Thompson) and Andre (Iguodala), wings who do a lot of switching. It's been great to see the guys coming around and clicking together." OK Steve, we get it. Life is good when a coach can trot out Durant (26.1-8.3-4.7), Curry (25.0-4.3-6.1), Thompson (21.0) and Green (10.5-8.4-7.5). Portland: Damian Lillard (26.3-4.8-5.8) is the only player among the league's top dozen scorers not to make the All Star game and scored 15 of his 33 points in the final 6:25 against the Grizzlies. Lillard featured 13 straight Blazer points in a span of 2:40, giving Portland a 106-101 lead with 3:45 to play. "Dame carried us," Portland head coach Terry Stotts said. "It was good to see him have a stretch like that. He hasn't had one of those in a while. It was good to see the ball go through and have him carry the team like that. We don't win the game if he doesn't carry us offensively." Lillard's backcourt partner is McCollum (23.4), giving Portland's the league's second-highest scoring duo. However, the Blazers can't quite match up with the rest of the Warriors' lineup (like everyone else, we should note).
The pick: Curry showed no ill effects of a quad injury by piling up 43 points in just three quarters of action in last night's rout of the Clippers.The 144-point total is the second-highest of the season for Golden State. The Warriors have won the first three meetings this season against Portland and five straight overall, by an average of 25.3 points. The Warriors were able to rest their starters down the stretch in last night's rout of Clippers, so what changes here? Nothing. The Warriors are a 10* play. |
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01-29-17 | 76ers +6.5 v. Bulls | Top | 108-121 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The "new-look" Bulls were supposed to be better than last year when the team's 42-40 record missed the playoffs. However, they check in at 23-25 as they get set to host the 76ers, who after years of frustration, are beginning to show signs that "the Process" is working. Philly comes to Chicago 17-28 but having won 10 of their last 14 games.
Philadelphia: The 76ers won just 10 games last season, 18 the year before that and just 19 three seasons ago. The main man in the team's resurgence is Joel Embiid, who after missing the previous two seasons with foot issues, has averaged 20.2 PPG (on 46.6% shooting), 7.8 RPG and 2.45 BPG. Embiid's minutes have been carefully monitored and he didn't make this trip to the United Center, as he rests a sore knee. Forward Ersan Ilyasova (15.1 & 6.) has also been a key acquisition, who just had a streak of 25 straight games scoring in double figures end Friday night in Philly's 123-118 home loss against the Rockets. While those two have been the team's best performers all season, Philly's current 10-4 run began o back on Dec. 30th, when T.J. McConnell was promoted to starting PG. McConnell nearly had his fourth straight game with double-digit assists against the Rockets, with eight. He is averaging 10.5 assists over the past four games and produced 13 points - his best total this month - in the loss to the Rockets. "T.J. has been excellent," Embiid told the team's website. "I thought the past 10 games, 13 games, I think he's been our MVP just pushing the ball up the court, just sharing the ball. That's what point guards do, and I think he's been excellent." Chicago: The Bulls currently own the eighth and final playoff spot in the East but in losing their last two, have begun to criticize each other via post-game interviews and social media accounts. After watching a 10-point lead with three minutes left in the fourth quarter slip away against the Hawks, Wade and Butler went off on their young teammates in pos-tgame interview sessions. Rajon Rondo then fired back Thursday on his Instagram account, writing pointed words likely intended to criticize Wade and Butler. Following a team meeting Friday that essentially replaced the morning shootaround, the Bulls lost 100-88 at home to the Miami Heat that night and turned in another lackluster effort. Butler (24.4-6.5-4.7) and Wade (19.7-4.3-3.7) were benched to start the game, a punishment for their comments, and neither played all that well. Wade had 15 points but Butler was held to a season-low three points on 1-of-13 shooting. The pick: Obviously, I'd prefer the 76ers to have had Embiid for this one but Philly's playing with confidence while the Bulls are riddled with in-fighting and several players criticizing one another. Take the points with Philly and make them an 8* play. |
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01-29-17 | Indiana +6.5 v. Northwestern | Top | 55-68 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 4 m | Show |
The set-up: Indiana opened its season by upsetting Kansas in OT and after a 3-0 start, found themselves ranked No. 3 in the nation. However, the Hoosiers did stay near the top of the polls for long, as they are currently 14-7 overall and just 4-4 in Big Ten play. Meanwhile, after getting off to a 1-2 start in Big Ten play, Northwestern has reeled off five straight wins to close to within one game lead of the conference lead at 6-2. The Wildcats are 17-4 overall and the lone school from a Power-5 conference to have never made an NCAA tourney appearance, just may be 'dancing' come March of 2017! Indiana: The Hoosiers brought a 10-2 mark into their Dec. 28 Big Ten opener but have since gone 4-5 and adding insult to injury, lost forward Anunoby (11.1 & 5.4) to a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 18 Guard James Blackmon Jr. leads the team at 17.6 PPG but had only four points against Michigan on Wednesday, snapping a 22-game double-digit scoring streak. Again, adding insult to injury, he sustained an injury to his lower left leg and is without a timetable for return. Guard Robert Johnson (14.0 & 4.4) and 6-10 center Thomas Bryant (11.9 & 6.7) also are averaging double figures, with Bryant leading the team in rebounding.Northwestern: The Wildcats' 73-61 win over Nebraska on Thursday gave the program five straight Big Ten victories for the first time since 1966. The Wildcats’ 6-2 conference mark is also the program’s best Big Ten start since 1943-44. Leading scorer Scottie Lindsey (15.6 points) was hampered by back spasms on Thursday and finished with only five points, his first game with single digits this season. However, center Dererk Pardon (19 points and a career-high 22 rebounds) and Law (20 points) more than picked up the slack. The 6-7 Law (14.3 & 5.7) and PG Bryant McIntosh (12.4 & 5.6 APG) also are averaging double digits on the season, while center Pardon checks in at 8.7 & 8.7. However, it’s been the Wildcats’ defensive prowess that has been more impressive as they rank second in the Big Ten in points allowed (64.1) while leading the league in field-goal percentage defense (38.6). |
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01-29-17 | Xavier -6.5 v. St. John's | Top | 82-77 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 39 m | Show |
The set-up: Xavier is 14-6 (4-3 in Big East) and St. John's just 10-12 (4-5 Big East) but while the Musketeers are ranked 24th, the Red Storm may actually be playing a little better at the moment.
Xavier: Trevon Bluiett scored a career-high 40 points on 12 of 15 from the floor, including 9 of 11 from beyond the arc, in an 86-78 loss at No. 19 Cincinnati on Thursday, as Xavier lost for the fourth time in its last five games (Musketeers will not be in Monday's new AP poll). Bluiett tied the school record for threes in a game and his 40 points were the second-most ever against Cincinnati, one shy of Dell Curry's total for Virginia Tech in 1985-86. The 6-foot-5 junior guard leads Xavier averaging 18.4 PPG (adds 5.7 RPG) and has hit a team-high 51 three-pointers. Sophomore PG Edmond Sumner (14.9-4.4-4.9) and fellow guard Macura (14.4 & 4.3) give Xavier an excellent perimeter group but the team gets little from its frontcourt. St. John's: The Red Storm are off to their best record at the midway point of conference play since the 2012-13 season. Head coach Chris Mullin's squad recorded an impressive 91-86 win at Providence on Jan. 25 in which freshman Marcus LoVett scored a game-high 26 points on 10 of 15 shooting, while fellow frosh Shamorie Ponds added 22 points, highlighted by a 4-for-5 effort from long distance. Like Xavier, St. John's is a perimeter-based team, with its top-five scorers being guards. LoVett leads with 17.2 PPG, Ponds is next at 17.0 (also 4.9 RPG) and the team's third double digit scorer is Ahmed at 12.7 PPG and 5.5 RPG. The pick: Xavier claimed a 97-82 victory when these schools met back on Jan. 7 at Cintas Center, part of a six-game winning streak. However, as noted above, Xavier has now dropped four of five. Still, Xavier is the much better team and it needs to 'stop the bleeding' That happens here at MSG. Xavier is an 8* play. |
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01-28-17 | Grizzlies +7 v. Jazz | Top | 102-95 | Win | 100 | 13 h 49 m | Show |
The set-up: The 27-21 Memphis Grizzlies will be in Salt Lake City to face the 30-18 Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies are 10 games out in the Southwest and the Jazz lead the Northwest by 1 1/2 games. The Jazz currently own the West's no. 5 seed and while the Grizzlies are 7th, they are well inside the playoff 'cut line,' six games clear of the 9th-place Blazers. Memphis: Center Marc Gasol (20.8-6.1-4.2) is headed to the All Star game and comes in averaging 31 points over hios last six games, including scoring 32 twice and 42 points in his last three. PF Zach Randolph (13.8 & 8.3) asked for increased playing time and he's had sixth double-doubles in January and has averaged 14.9 & 9.9 this month. PG Conley (18.6 & 6.3 APG) is averaging career highs in both points and assists but failed to make the All Star game. He s the team's only other double digit scorer. Defense is still a staple for Memphis, which ranks third in points allowed (99.7), defensive shooting percentage (43.7) and three-point percentage (34.0). Utah: The Jazz saw Gordon Hayward earn an All Star bid, Utah's first in six seasons, Utah has an NBA All-Star on the roster. Hayward is in the midst of the best season of his seven-year career and is averaging 21.8 points (along with 5.7 RPG and 3.4 APG) after scoring 24 in Thursday's 96-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The 26-year-old's emergence as a big-time player is another prime reason why Utah is one of just six NBA teams to reach 30 victories. Center Rudy Gobert (12.8 & 12.6) has also played a vital role in Utah's rise this season but did not earn an NBA All-Star selection. He was snubbed despite leading the league in total blocks (124), blocks per game (2.6) and points per shot (1.87). He also ranks second in field goal percentage (66.1). Utah ranks 1st in points allowed (95.4) and second in FG percentage (43.3). The pick:I like what I see with the Jazz but the Grizzlies have won two of the previous three games this season, most recently beating the Jazz 88-79 on Jan. 8 behind 19 points and nine assists from Conley. Utah has often been under-priced this season but not here, in a meeting of excellent defensive teams. Take the points and make Memphis a 10* play. |
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01-28-17 | Baylor v. Ole Miss +7 | Top | 78-75 | Win | 100 | 10 h 42 m | Show |
The set-up: Baylor came into the season un-ranked, after losing leading scorer Prince (15.9 & 6.1), rebounding 'machine' Gathers (11.2 & 9.0) and PG Medford (8.9 & 6.5 APG). However, the Bears opened 15-0 and earned the school's first-ever No. 1 ranking in the AP poll on Jan. 9. However, on Jan. 10, the Bears got routed at West Va, 89-68. Baylor hasn't folded though and sits at 19-1 (No.5) as it gets sets to take on 12-8 (3-5 in SEC play) Ole Miss in Oxford.
Baylor: Baylor has a strong frontcourt with the 6-10 Motley (16.2 & 9.6), the 7-0 Lual-Acuil (9.8 & 7.2) and the 6-8 Maston (7.6 & 4.7). Lecomte, a Miami transfer, plays the point and averages 12.1 PPG and 4.5 APG and has a soild backcourt partner in Freeman (10.7). Defense is a Baylor staple, as the Bears are allowing just 60.4 PPG (5th) on 38.2% (8th) shooting. Baylor's 7-1 Big 12 record has them tied atop the standings with perennial frontrunner Kansas. Ole Miss: The Rebels lost four of their first five games in SEC action and most recently dropped a home game 80-76 versus Texas A&M on Wednesday, snapping a two-game SEC winning streak. Junior guard Deandre Burnett leads the team in scoring (17.7) and ranks fourth in the SEC in free throw shooting (88.1 percent) while sophomore guard Terence Davis (12.8 points) had a team-high 19 points, including a career-high five three-pointers, in the loss to Texas A&M. Sebastian Saiz, a 6-9 senior forward, is second on the team in scoring (15.6) while also grabbing an SEC-leading 11.3 rebounds per game. The pick: The Bears are 3-0 in Big 12/SEC Challenge games, having posted victories over Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Georgia. "The last three years (the Big 12 has) been the best conference, RPI-wise," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "Right now, we're not at the top and hopefully this challenge can help with that." However, Baylor is No. 1 in the nation in RPI and is tied with Florida State for the most wins against top-50 RPI teams (nine). That said, this is a lot of poinst to lay on the road. Baylor's won four straight sine losing at West Va. but has averaged just 69.5 PPG in those wins. Take the points and make Ole Miss a 10* play. |
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01-28-17 | Duke -4.5 v. Wake Forest | Top | 85-83 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: Coach K has been relegated to watching Duke from afar since having back surgery early this month and can't possibly have liked what he's seen. He has reportedly has banned players from the locker room and from wearing team apparel “until they start living up to the standards of the Duke program.” No. 17 Duke (15-5, 3-4 in ACC play) will be in Winston-Salem this afternoon to take on Wake Forest, which is 12-8 overall, 3-5 in ACC play. Duke: The Blue Devils lost 84-82 at home to North Carolina State this past Tuesday, dropped them to below .500 in ACC play. Duke has lost three of its last four and is 2-3 under acting coach Jeff Capel. The Blue Devils have yet to win a true road game this season, losing at Virginia Tech, Florida State and Louisville by an average of 13 points. The team's struggles are hard to isolate, considering Duke has five double digit scorers and a wealth of talent. The backcourt consists of Kennard (19.8 & 5.5), Allen (15.1 & 4.4), Jackson (10.8) and Jones (8.6). Up front, the 6-8 Tatum (16.5 & 6.8) is a freshman and the 6-9 Jefferson (12.7 & 9.9) a senior. Then there is teh 6-10 Giles, the super-frosh who is rounding into shape after an early injury. He's played in just nine games, averaging 5.4 & 5.0 getting about 13 minutes of playing time. Wake Forest: Danny Manning's tenure at Wake has not gotten off to a robust start, as Wake won 13 times in his first season and 11 times last year (7-29 combined, in ACC play). I guess the team's 12-8 record so far this season (3-5 in ACC play) has to be considered a move in the right direction. For sure, the Demon Deacons are an excellent offensive team, averaging 81.4 PPG (32nd) and that includes them scoring 87.9 PPG on 50 percent shooting at home. A pair of 6-10 players are the keys up front, Collins (17.0 & 9.0) and Mitoglou (10.2 & 6.4) plus guards Crawford (14.6 & 5.9 APG) and Woods (12.9 & 4.4) are a quality backcourt duo.The pick: Wake's improving but catch Duke off that home loss to NC State and the Blue Devils will be none too happy. It hardly inspires confidence for Wake Forest that the Demon Deacons have lost nine straight home games against ranked opponents since posting an 82-72 victory over No. 5 Duke back on March 5, 2014. Make Duke a 10* play. |
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01-28-17 | Florida State -3 v. Syracuse | Top | 72-82 | Loss | -105 | 4 h 43 m | Show |
The set-up: The Florida State Seminoles were coming off seasons of 17 and 20 wins and were un-ranked in either preseason poll, although The Blue Ribbon Yearbook had them at No. 20. The No. 6 Seminoles have been a big surprise at 18-3 (6-2 in ACC play) but are coming off their worst performance of the season, a shocking 78-56 loss at un-ranked Georgia Tech. Speaking of things not going right, 12-9 (4-4 in ACC play) Syracuse is off to its worst start in coach Jim Boeheim's 41-year tenure!
Syracuse: The Orange may be off to the worst start to a season in Boieheim's 41-year career but one couldn't tell it by the team's play here at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse is 0-7 in games away from the Dome this season (outscored by an average of 13.3 points) but in 14 home games, the Orange are 12-2 while outscoring opponents by 18.1 PPG. The Orange improved to 4-0 at home in conference play after rallying from an eight-point deficit midway through the second half to defeat Wake Forest 81-76 on Tuesday. The 6-7 Andrew White scored a game-high 27 points against the Demon Deacons and the graduate transfer leads the team at 16.3 PPG. He's joined on the perimeter by Battle (10.2) and PG Gillon (8.3 & 4.9 APG). The 6-9 Lydon (14.2 & 7.8) is Syracuse's best frontcourt player.
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01-27-17 | Dayton +4 v. VCU | Top | 68-73 | Loss | -107 | 13 h 45 m | Show |
The set-up: Friday night features a quality A-10 matchup with the 15-4 Dayton Flyers (6-1 in A-10 play) visiting the 15-5 VCU Rams (5-2 in A-10 play). Both schools are off 25-win seasons last year, as well as appearing in the Big Dance. Dayton: The Flyers made it three straight wins with a 67-46 blowout win of Saint Louis in their last game. PG Scoochie Smith led the way with 19 points, making six of nine shots, including five threes. Smith averages 13.9 PPG and 3.6 APG and pairs with the team's leading scorer, Charles Cooke (17.8 & 5.4), to give Dayton an impressive backcourt. Cooke had 15 points to go along with game-high totals ofnine rebounds and six assists in the win over St. Louis. The 6-6 Kendall Pollard (12.0 & 8.8) chipped in nine points and three blocks. VCU: The Rams ended a two-game slide with an easy 90-52 win over La Salle in their last outing. The 6-7 Justin Tillman (11.6 & 7.6) led the team with 16 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the floor, while falling just one rebound shy of the double-double. Guard JeQuan Lewis had 15 points and leads the team with an average of 14.8 PPG on the season., A trio of guards join him on the perimeter in Williams (8.8), Doughty (8.7) and Brooks (6.0). The 6-7 Alie-Cox (9.8 & 4.1) joins Tillman up front but the Rams miss last year's leading scorer Melvin Johnson (17.7), as well as fellow guard Billbury (11.1).The pick: The Rams have built quite a program, as the school has won 24-plus games for 10 consecutive seasons, which spans three head coaches. However, this hardly looks like a vintage VCU team and the Rams have so far avoided the top-echelon of A-10 teams. That's not the case here. Make Dayton a 10* play. |
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01-27-17 | Kings v. Pacers -4 | Top | 111-115 | Push | 0 | 11 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-27 Sacramento Kings continue an eight-game road trip Friday night when they take on the 23-22 Indiana Pacers. The Kings stumbled badly by going 1-6 during their recent seven-game homestand but are 2-2 so far on their current trip, having won back-to-back games after the team's stunning 116-112 overtime win against the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Indiana's standout SF Paul George was selected to his fourth All-Star game and then celebrated with a 32-point outing last night, as the Pacers picked up a 109-103 road victory at Minnesota last night, snapping a three-game losing streak. Sacramento: DeMarcus Cousins (28.2 & 10.2) was named to his third straight All-Star contest Thursday and his career-best 28.2 PPG average ranks fifth in the NBA. Cousins has notched 10 consecutive double-doubles and has 25 on the season. However, the team's second-leading scorer, Rudy Gay (18.7), has been lost for the season, leaving the Kings with just one other double digit scorer in Collison (12.6). Sacramento has been a model of inconsistency this season, with the team's back-to-back wins following a stretch when the Kings had lost eight of nine.
Indiana: The Pacers know what inconsistency is all about as well, after snapping their three-game slide last night, which followed the team having won seven of eight. George carried the Pacers to a much-needed victory last night and head coach Nate McMillan added, "As Paul goes, it seems like the team goes. Not only did he do a solid job on the defensive end of the floor, I thought offensively he got a good rhythm and was knocking down some big shots for us." Joining George as solid contributors this season are 6-11 second-year PF Myles Turner (15.9 & 7.5) and PG Jeff Teague (15.6-4.2-8.1), who the Pacers acquired in an off-season trade from Atlanta. The pick: Indiana is 23-22 on the season but one thing which has been fairly consistent has been the team's play here at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. While the Pacers are 7-16 SU on the road, they are 16-6 SU at home. Yes, it's a back-to-back situation for Indiana but they catch the inconsistent Kings off their Wednesday upset of the Cavs. The Pacers just won in Sacramento (106-100 on Jan 18) and this time around a win should come more easily. Make Indiana at 10* play. |
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01-27-17 | Harvard -6 v. Cornell | Top | 77-71 | Push | 0 | 10 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: It's Ivy League action tonight from Ithaca, N.Y. when Harvard (10-5 / 2-0 Ivy) visits Cornell (5-12 / 1-1 Ivy). Harvard dominated the Ivy League from 2010-11 through 2014-15, winning five Ivy titles with four NCAA appearances while averaging 23.6 wins per season. It was in that 2010-11 season that Bill Courtney took over at Cornell for Steve Donahue. All Donahue had done the previous three seasons was go 72-21 (28-4 in Ivy League play), win three Ivy titles and lead the Big Red to three NCAA touneys, including a Sweet 16 appearance. Courtney's timing was not good and after six seasons (60-113 / 27-57 in Ivy), his contarc was not renewed after last season.
Harvard: The Crimson fell off last year, going just 14-16 (6-8 Ivy) but have rebounded this season. Freshman guard Aiken (13.3) has joined PG Chambers (8.9 & APG) in the backcourt, as Chambers is back after missing all of last season with an ACL injury. The 6-7 Towns (11.7 & 6.) is Harvard's best frontcourt player. Harvard comes in off four straight wins and nine in its last 10. Cornell: Taking over as head coach is Brian Earl, a former player and assistant coach at Princeton. The Big Red return all five starters from last season's 10-18 (3-11 Ivy) team. Morgan (18.3 & 5.0) and Hatter (12.4) form an excellent backcourt while the 6-9 Getting (12.4 & 5.8) is the team's top frontcourt performer. The pick: It looks as if Harvard will contend for the Ivy title this year while Cornell will be an also-ran. I noted earlier that Harvard comes in having won nine of 10 but let me add that the tam is 6-0 ATS in that run. Cornell lost its lone home game in league play to Columbia and can't be expected to do any better here against a superior Harvard team. Make Harvard a 10* play. |
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01-26-17 | UTEP +9 v. Western Kentucky | Top | 62-65 | Win | 100 | 8 h 45 m | Show |
The set-up: The 9-11 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will host the 5-13 UTEP Miners on Thursday action. Despite UTEP's poor overall record, the Miners are 3-3 in league play, while the Hilltoppers check in at 3-4. UTEP: The Miners come in on a three-game winning streak (all in league games). Guard Omega Harris leads Miners averaging 17.5 PPG and is joined in teh backcourt by Dominic Artis, who is averaging 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. The 7-1 Matt Willms adds 10.0 & 5.3 and the Paul Thomas, 7.1 & 6.1. UTEP's three-game winning streak has come at home, winning back-to-back one-point OT games, before routing UTSA 59-39, as the Roadrunners shot 24.1 percent, including 2 of 22 on threes. Good defense or just poor shooting? Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers are led by Johnson & Johnson (not related). Guard Que Johnson leads the Hilltoppers averaging 14.7 PPG (adds 5.1 RPG), while the 6-7 Justin Johnson is averaging 13.4 PPG and a team-best 8.1 RPG. Guard Pancake Thomas is the team's third double digit scorer at 13.0 PPG. Western Kentucky is 6-1 at home but that 3-4 C-USA record is troubling.The pick: Yes, UTEP is 0-5 SU on the road but note that Western Ky is 0-4 ATS as a home favorite this year. UTEP's Tim Floyd is a proven coach and his Miners have won an average of 21.3 games the last three seasons. The team is starting to get its act together and against this quality of opponent, UTEP plus the points is the play (8*). |
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01-26-17 | Nebraska +8.5 v. Northwestern | Top | 61-73 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: Is this finally the year that Northwestern goes 'dancing?' It's the only school from a Power-5 conference to have never appeared in the NCAA tourney. However, the NCAA Tournament buzz is building, as the Wildcats have won four ina row to reach 16-4, including 5-2 in Big Ten play. Northwesterm will host 9-10 (3-4 in Big Ten play) Thursday night. Nebraska: The Cornhuskers knew they would lose swingman and leading scorer Shields (16.8) this year but when Andrew White (16.6) decide to play his final season at Syracuse, as a graduate transfer, Tim Miles’ team took a big hit. Miles got Nebraska to the NCAA tourney in his second season at the school but these last two years, Nebraska has won just 13 and 16 games. Four-year starter. 6-4 combo guard Tai Webster (18.1-4.9-3.9) is the team's best player. Fellow guard Glynn Watson Jr. ranks second on the team in scoring (14.6) but the only other player in double digits is the 6-7 Morrow (10.1 & 7.9) but he's missed the last three games witha foot injury. Nebraska scores 71.5 PPG and allows 70.9, making its 9-10 record seem just about right. Northwestern: The Wildcats are on their first four-game run in Big Ten play in two years and a victory here would give them their first five-game run since 1965-66. "This team, history doesn't define us," guard Scottie Lindsey (16.0 & 4.3) told reporters after scoring 21 points against the Buckeyes on Sunday, the school's first victory at Ohio State in 40 years! "The past things that have happened with this program, it doesn't really matter to this team. We push through that type of stuff." PG Bryant McIntosh (12.6 & APG) chipped in 17 points at Ohio State. Swingman Sanjay Lumpkin (6.4 & 7.0) hauled in 11 rebounds and is averaging seven a game while the team's top player on the glass - center Dererk Pardon (7.5) - grabbed eight along with handing out a career-high four assists. 6-7 Forward Vic Law (14.0 & 5.8) had 15 points in the win over Nebraska and has reached double digits in eight consecutive contests.
The pick: Northwestern can say all it wants that the past is in the past but I expect this team to have its problems down the stretch, at least when favored by as many points as the Wildcats are here. Remember, Nebraska won SU at Indiana as a two-TD underdog and its four-game losing streak has come by a combined 16 points. Take the points and make Nebraska a 10* play. |
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01-25-17 | Washington +3.5 v. Arizona State | Top | 75-86 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: Two sub-.500 teams square off tonight in Pac-12 play, as the 9-10 Washington Huskies (2-5 in the Pac-12) are in Tempe to take on the 9-11 Arizona State Sun Devils, who are also 2-5 in conference action. Washington: The Huskies lost their top-three players from last year's 19-15 team. Guard Andrews (20.9-5.7-4.9) graduated plus freshman guard Murray (16.1-6.0-4.6) and fellow freshman, the 6-10 Chriss (13.7 & 5.4), were both NBA 1st-round picks! It may say something about Romar's coaching that Washington didn't do better last season with those three players? Freshman guard Markelle Fultz figures to be a top-five pick in the next NBA Draft, as he's averaging a league-high 23.4 PPG and 6.1 APG while shooting 49.2 percent. He's averaged 33.7 points over his last three games but the dynamic point guard hasn’t been able to stop his team's descent into the bottom of the Pac-12 standings, receiving very little support from his teammates during conference play The Huskies have lost three of their last four games. Guard Crisp (13.9) and the 6-8 Dickerson (10.7 & 8.1) join Fultz in double figures but teh 6-9 Dime (5.5 & 5.9) has been a disappointment and is expected to miss four-to-five weeks of action as he suffered a broken right pinkie finger. Arizona State: The Sun Devils head into this game seeking to end a four-game losing streak, as Bobby Hurley's second season at ASU (team was 15-17 last year), isn't going any better than his first. Guard Torian Graham averages a team-high 18.8 PPG. 6-8 forward Obinna Oleka continued to be a double-double machine with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the team's recent loss to the Trojans and averages 13.6 & 10.6 on the season. Promising freshmen forwards Ramon Vila and Jethro Tshisumpa have seen a bump in playing time during league play, plus guards Holder (17.0) and Evans (15.0 & 4.5 APG) give ASU four double digit scorers.
The pick: ASU can score (81.4 PPG) but the Sun Devils allow 83.8 PPG (342nd) on 48.7% shooting (340th). I don't think much of Romar's coaching ability (not alone in that regard) but he does own a 23-6 career record against Arizona State. Make Washington a 10* play. |
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01-25-17 | Knicks v. Mavs -2.5 | Top | 95-103 | Win | 100 | 11 h 21 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-26 New York Knicks are in Dallas on Wednesday night to face the 15-29 Mavericks. The Mavericks just routed the Lakers by 49 points last Sunday, simultaneously setting a Dallas franchise record for the largest margin of victory and worst loss ever by the Lakers. The Mavs haven't played since while the Knicks come in after almost blowing another late lead Monday at Indiana. New York had lost three games by a total of six points in the previous week and squandered a 17-point lead against the Pacers, before Carmelo Anthony knocked down a go-ahead jumper and the defense held in the final seconds of a 109-103 triumph over the Pacers. NY Knicks: "It's a great feeling," Anthony told reporters after the game. "We should be proud of ourselves the way we were able to bounce back, come on the road and get a big win like this. Be up 17 and let them come back, but we sustained that lead, and to pull this one out on the road was big for us." However, New York is only 4-13 over its last 17 games and eight of those losses have come by seven or fewer points. "This a tough stretch for us with these close losses," Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters. "We were three over .500 at one point, and then we hit this stretch. Got some bad breaks, but you have to make your own breaks sometimes." Anthony (22.6 & 6.0), Porzingis (18.9 & 7.1) and Rose (18.1-4.0-4.5) can be counted on for New York but there's not much to speak of after that trio.Dallas: The Mavericks have won of four of their last six games and are coming off their best performance of the season in crushing the Lakers. "You know, that was a good feeling," Dallas shooting guard Wesley Matthews told reporters. "We came out and we played with the right mentality, the right demeanor, and shots were falling. And most importantly, we were playing good defense. Everybody contributed, and that was good to see." Dallas had seven players in double figures in the 122-73 blowout and ironically, the team's leading scorer Harrison Barnes (20.1) was the only first starter who failed to reach at least 10 points. The pick: The Mavericks are just 15-29 but they are 9-9 over their last 18. split their last 18 games overall. "Right now we are in a spot where we have to dig ourselves out a hole that we dug ourselves in earlier in the season," PG Deron Williams said. "We have to be more aggressive on both sides of the floor and get some more wins." They are hoping momentum from Sunday carries over into the finale of a three-game homestand in this one and I'm 'biting.' Make Dallas a 10* play |
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01-25-17 | SMU v. UCF +4.5 | Top | 65-60 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 44 m | Show |
The set-up: SMU is 17-4 (7-1 in AAC play) after winning 13 of its last 14 games. The Mustangs look to keep their hot streak going when they take to the road in a league game at 14-5 UCF (5-2 in AAC play). SMU: Cincinnati is unbeaten in AAC play, leaving the Mustangs a game behind. Tim Jankovich has taken over for Larry Brown in Dallas and will send out a starting a lineup of players between 6-6 and 6-8. All three guards are 6-6, led by PG Milton (13.2-4.2-4.3), joined by backcourt partners Brown (11.3 & 6.8) and Foster (9.6 & 5.1). The 6-7 Ojeleye (17.8 & 7.0) and the 6-8 Moore (11.8 & 7.8) start up front. The Mustangs have held their last 14 opponents to 66 points or less and now rank 4th in the nation, allowing an averaage of 59.4 PPG.
UCF: While the Mustangs have excellent size overall, they own no player like UCF's 7-6 sophomore center Tacko Fall, the league’s top rebounder at 10.5 per game. Fall has been outstanding this season, shooting a league-best 78.5 percent while scoring 13.3 PPG. Johnny Dawkins was shown the door after eight seasons as Stanford's head coach. The former Duke star led Stanford to two NIT titles but just two short-lived NCAA appearances. After going 15-15 (8-10 in the Pac 12) last season, the Cardinal faithful said "enough." Dawkins was quickly hired at UCF and a team which was just 12-18 last season, is 14-5. Joining Fall are a trio of guards are led Taylor (16.0), Williams (15.9 & 5.1) and Efianayi (10.8 & 5.2) Redshirt junior forward A.J. Davis (6-8), who led the Knights in scoring last season (just 12.0 PPG), has averaged 10.3 points in the last three games after struggling with his shot since returning from a preseason hand injury. He's up to 7.5 PPG and 7.7 RPG. Defense has been the team's "calling card," allowing 59.2 PPG (3rd) on 34.5% shooting (1st in the nation!). The pick: SMU ranks third in the nation in rebounding margin (plus-11.7) but UCF is second, at plus-12.3. SMU allows 59.4 PPG but UCF tops that as well, allowing 59.2 per (plus ranks 1st in defensive FG percentage!). SMU is on quite a roll but UCF is 10-1 SU at home, where its allowing only 55.8 PPG. Make the home dog an 8* play. |
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01-24-17 | Utah State v. New Mexico -8.5 | Top | 61-74 | Win | 100 | 14 h 4 m | Show |
The set-up: The 8-10 Utah State Aggies visit "The Pit" in Albuquerque for a game against the 12-8 New Mexico Lobos. Utah State is 2-5 in MWC (tied with two other schools for the league's worst record), while the Lobos check in at 5-3, just a half-game back of 5-2 Nevada and Boise State. Utah State: The Aggies come into this game having lost three in a row after a 64-56 loss to visiting Colorado on Saturday, as a 3 1/2-point favorite. 6-9 Guard Jalen Moore was top scorer for the Aggies with 14 points, which is nothing new. Nor was freshman guard McEwen's 13 points. Moore (17.1 & 4.8) and McEwen (14.5 & 4.8) are the team's lone double digit scorers. Utah State scores 72.7 PPG and allows 71.9, so its 8-10 record seems about right. New Mexico: Craig Neal is in his fourth season as New Mexico's head coach and the Lobos have a long history of good teams. He took over when Steve Alford bolted for UCLA and won 27 games his first season, as he inherited four starters. The going has been tougherr since, winning 15 and 17 games the last two seasons. The Lobos returned their top-two players from last year and guard Brown (18.2 & 4.8) and the 6-8 Williams (18.1 & 7.2) have pretty much duplicated their numbers from last season. The Lobos have won three in a row, so maybe thet are beginning to find themselves. The pick: New Mexico is 8-2 SU at home but just 1-6 ATS. That said, the Aggies are only 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games, overall. Make New Mexico a 10* play. |
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01-24-17 | Wolves +1.5 v. Suns | Top | 112-111 | Win | 100 | 12 h 10 m | Show |
The set-up: The 16-28 Minnesota Timberwolves will be in Phoenix on Tuesday at Talking Stick Resort Arena, looking to complete their first season sweep of the 15-29 Suns in 13 years. Minnesota: Almost all expected the T-wolves to show marked improvement this season but that hasn't been the case. However, the Timberwolves were just 11-22 on New Year's Day, and have looked better lately, going 5-6 since. In fact, they will take a two-game winning streak into tonight's contest, looking to duplicate a three-game run they recorded earlier this month. Minnesota got a boost from an unlikely source in Sunday's 111-108 home win over Denver, when rookie guard Kris Dunn got a rare start and scored a season-high-tying 10 points, nine assists and also grabbed a season-best eight rebounds. Dunn, the No. 5 pick of the 2016 draft, was starting in place of Ricky Rubio (7.7 & 7.9 APG), who left the club over the weekend following the death of his grandmother. The veteran point guard is expected to return for Tuesday's game. Center Karl-Anthony Towns led the way against the Nuggets with a game-high 32 points which is no surprise, as he leads the team in scoring (22.5) and rebounding (12.0). Wiggins (21.8 & 4.2) and LaVine (19.4) join Towns to give Minnesota a trio of young stars, the envy of most teams. Phoenix: Speaking of young stars, the Suns' 20-year-old Devin Booker has shown brightly recently with nine straight games of 20-plus points (27.4 PPG), including back-to-back 39 point efforts in games in Mexico City (one against the Spurs!). He's averaging 20.5 PPG on the season, paired in the starting backcourt with Bledose (20.9-5.1-6.2) to form quite the dynamic duo (Bledsoe is averaging 24.2 points and 8.3 assists over the last nine games, coinciding with Booker's heroics). Center Tyson Chandler broke a 48-year-old franchise record in Saturday's 107-105 win at New York, recording his seventh consecutive game with 15 or more rebounds. He had only nine rebounds in Sunday's 115-103 win at Toronto but scored 16 points (he averages a modest 8.5 PPG on the season).
The pick: The Suns are on a 5-4 run, a big deal for a team that's 14 games under .500 but the Timberwolves beat the Suns 98-85 in Phoenix in November and repeated the result in a 115-108 victory in Minneapolis on Dec. 19th. I'm not ready to give up on Minnesota's playoff chances just yet, as the T-wolves are just 2 1/2 games back of the eighth spot with just less than a half-season remaining. For Minnesota to catch Denver (or any of the handful of teams slightly ahead of them at the moment), winning on the road against a team like the Suns is a must. Make Minnesota a 10* play. |
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01-23-17 | Thunder +6 v. Jazz | Top | 97-95 | Win | 100 | 14 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: the 25-19 OKC Thunder find themselves trailing the Utah Jazz by 3 1/2 games in the Northwest Division and also own just the West's No. 6 seed, tied with Memphis. The Thunder have a chance to make up some ground Monday night when they travel to Salt Lake City to face the 29-16 Utah Jazz. |
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01-23-17 | Troy State +3.5 v. Arkansas-Little Rock | Top | 78-69 | Win | 100 | 12 h 4 m | Show |
The set-up: It's the Troy Trojans and Little Rock Trojans squaring off Monday night in Sun Belt action. Troy is 10-10 (2-4 in Sun Belt play) and Little Rock 12-7 (3-3). Troy: The Trojans can score, averaging 80.6 PPG (43rd). The 6-6 Varnado (15.3 & 6.7) is the team's best player, helped out up front by the 6-8 Davis (8.4 & 4.8) and the 6-6 Walker (7.8 & 6.6). The team also owns a solid perimeter group, led by Person (14.2), Hollimon (11.5) and PG Baker (9.2 & 3.2 APG). Little Rock: Chris Beard led Little Rock to a 30-win season last year, including an upset of Purdue in the NCAA's first round. However, he was a "one and done" coach, fleeing for Texas Tech. These Trojans could really use a win, after losing five of their last eight games. Guard Marcus Johnson Jr. leads the team with 14.3 PPG but the team's strength is a frontcourt led by the 6-6 Jackson (10.6 & 4.7), the 6-11 Shoshi (10.3 & 7.8) and SF Hill (9.5 & 5.2).
The pick: Little Rock may be 7-3 SU at home while Troy is just 2-8 on the road but since winning 65-63 at Hawaii back on Nov. 25, Troy has covered all seven of its true road games plus won neutral-site games in Las Vegas just before Christmas. Take the points and make Troy a 10* play. |
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01-22-17 | UCF +6 v. Memphis | Top | 65-70 | Win | 100 | 8 h 14 m | Show |
The set-up: UCF will take a 14-4 record (5-1 in AAC play) into its Sunday game at Memphis. The Tigers are 14-5, including 4-2 in conference play. UCF: Johnny Dawkins was shown the door after eight seasons as Stanford's head coach. The former Duke star led Stanford to two NIT titles but just two short-lived NCAA appearances. After going 15-15 (8-10 in the Pac 12) last season, the Cardinal faithful said "enough." Dawkins was quickly hired at UCF and a team which was just 12-18 last season, is 14-4. A trio of guards are led by Williams (16.3 & 5.1), who has just taken over the scoring lead from Taylor (16.0), after exploding for 38 points in his last game. Efianayi (10.9 & 5.3) is the 'third wheel' plus no one can ignore the 7-6 Fall, averaging 13.1 & 10.3 (43 blocks)! Also, there is redshirt junior forward A.J. Davis (6-8), who led the Knights in scoring last season (just 12.0 PPG). He has averaged 12.5 points in the last two games after struggling with his shot since returning from a preseason hand injury. He's up to 7.6 PPG and 7.8 RPG. Defense has been the team's "calling card," allowing 58.6 PPG (3rd) on 34.1% shooting (1st in the nation!). Memphis: The Tigers have a new coach as well but an 'old' name, in Tubby Smith. Smith's coaching chops cannot be challenged and he has a unique lineup, led by a set of Magic Johnson-like twins. Dedric Lawson is 6-9 (20.1-10.5-3.8) and his brother K.J. is 6-7 while averaging 12.9-8.3-3.3. Two more typical guards are Crawford (15.4 & 5.2) and Martin, who plays the point (9.6 & 4.5 APG, along with a team-high 39 steals). The Tigers rank No. 20 in Division I in assists per game (17.3) and are the highest-scoring team in the AAC at 78.4 PPG.
The pick: Memphis swept last season's series between the teams by a combined 38 points but that was then and this is now. Dealing with UCF's huge front line will be an issue for Memphis and trying to cover a number at home, against a team allowing less than 60 PPG is asking a lot (too much?). UCF is a 10* play. |
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01-22-17 | Siena v. Manhattan +1.5 | Top | 81-68 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 13 m | Show |
The set up: The 8-12 Siena Saints will travel to Draddy Gymnasium to take on the 7-13 Manhattan Jaspers this Sunday afternoon MAAC play. Siena is one of five schools with a 5-4 conference record, while the Jaspers are 2-7, last in an 11-team league. Siena: The Saints saw their four-game winning streak snapped in a 77-65 loss this past Thursday at St. Peter's. Siena played without its leading scorer Marquis Wright (14.5-4.1-4.3), who was suspended for the game due to an altercation during the team's previous game, a 78-68 home win over Rider. Siena fell behind St Peter's at the half by 11 and couldn't get back in it. However, Wright is eligible to play here and with him back, Siena features four double digit scorers. Wright is joined by fellow guard Long (12.0) plus big men Ogunyemi (13.2 & 5.9 and Bisping (12.4 & 9.2). Guard Clareth (12.4) would give them five double digit scorers but he's out for "personal reasons." Manhattan: The Jaspers took a 34-33 halftime lead in their last game with Monmouth but never recovered from 10-0 Hawks which left them down, 43-34. It was second straight loss for a team (five of its last seven) mired in last-place in the MAAC at 2-7. The duo of guard Turner (16.8 & 3.4 APG) and forward Waterman (14.1 & 6.8) are Manhattan's lone double digit scorers.The pick: Siena was expected to be one of the MAAC favorties coming into this season but the Saints have underachieved. They currently rank 241st in scoring (71.1 PPG) and 214th in points allowed (73.2). That's hardly the resume for a road favorite. Take the home dog and make Manhattan a 10* play. |
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01-21-17 | LSU v. Arkansas -13 | Top | 86-99 | Push | 0 | 12 h 22 m | Show |
The set-up: LSU is 9-8 to open the season but just 1-5 in SEC play, as it visits Arkansas to take on the 14-4 Razorbacks, who are a modest 3-3 in SEC play. LSU: The Tigers lost not just Ben Simmons (19.2-11.8-4.8) from last year's team but also quality guards Hornsby (13.1) and Quarteman (11.2). Blakeney (16.8) is the team's best plaer and fellow guard Sampson is averaging 10.6 PPG. The 6-10 Reath (13.6 & 6.1) is having a solid sophomore season but LSU allows 78.4 PPG, which ranks 300th in the nation. Arkansas: Poor defensive play is not good when facing the Razorbacks, who average 81.1 PPG (37th). The Razorbacks also rank second in the SEC and 20th in the nation in free-throw percentage (76.0). Five guards see significant time, led by Macon (14.0) and Hannahs (13.9). Three others average between 6.1 and 10.0 PPG, with the 6-10 Kingsley (11.7 & 8.1) providing an inside presence.
The pick: The Razorbacks pulled out a 62-60 road win over Texas A&M on Tuesday to improve to 4-0 this season in games decided by four points or fewer. "We were fortunate to come out with a win," Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson told reporters afterward. "We know wins on the road are few and far between." Expect more of a margin here against LSU, which limps in on a four-game slide.It's not good news for LSU that Blakeney is playing through an ankle injury in the loss to Auburn. LSU has allowed 86.5 PPG in its six SEC games and that makes the high-scoring Razorbacks a 10* play. |
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01-21-17 | Bucks v. Heat -1.5 | Top | 97-109 | Win | 100 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: The Milwaukee Bucks were routed 112-96 in Orlando last night and limp into Miami on a four-game slide and an overall record of 20-22. However, the Heat are suffering through one of the worst seasons in franchise history at 13-30.
Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo is a 22-year-old 6-11 multi-positional athlete known as "The Greek Freak." He was named an All-Star on Thursday, Milwaukees' first in 31 years and he joins only five other Bucks All-Star starters in franchise history: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bobby Dandridge, Brian Winters, Sidney Moncrief and Marques Johnson. He modest totals (for him) of 17 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, as the Bucks fell for the fourth straight time. Atetokounmpo (23.5-8.8-5.6) got a well-deserved starting spot for the All Star game but the Bucks' trouble has been that other than Jabari Parker (20.5 & 5.9), Antetokounmpo has had little help. Center Monroe (10.6 & 6.8) is doing a disappearing act so far this season and the team really misses Khris Middleton, who had surgery to repair a torn hamstring and is not expected to make his season debut until the middle of February (he led Milwaukee in scoring last year at 18.4 PPG). Miami: The Heat's poor record hurts the All Star candidacy of their two best players. PG Goran Dragic averages 19.4 PPG and 6.3 APG plus center Hassan Whiteside is having a career year, averaging 17.3 PPG and leading the league in rebounds (14.2). He is also averaging 2.1 blocks, which is tied for fifth in the league. Miami actually has six other players averaging in double figures, although Winslow was recently lost for the season with a shoulder injury. The pick: "We just have to find our way out of this slump," Parker said after Milwaukee's loss on Friday. "We'll find our way out of it. We need more enthusiasm. After the first quarter, we didn't have any momentum. We need to move on and win the next game." That sounds good but the Bucks are struggling. Meanwhile, Miami has shown some signs of life this week by beating the Houston Rockets 109-103 and the Dallas Mavericks 99-95 here at home. Let's also note that in two games against Miami this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging just 16.0 points. In 12 career games against Miami, his numbers are even more modest at 14.2 PPG. Miami is a 10* play. |
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01-21-17 | Syracuse +8.5 v. Notre Dame | Top | 66-84 | Loss | -110 | 4 h 53 m | Show |
The set-up: The 11-8 (3-3 in ACC) Syracuse Orange will be in South Bend to take on the 16-3 (5-1 ACC) Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who are ranked 15th in the nation. Notre Dame is off its first ACC loss of the season, losing 83-80 Wednesday at No. 12 Florida State, which ended a seven-game overall winning streak. Meanwhile, the Orange remained win-less in six games away from home this season, losing 85-68 on Monday at No. 9 North Carolina. Syracuse: The Orange were a surprise Final Four team last season (actually, most were surprised the Orange even made the NCAA field!) but it seems unlikely Syracuse will get an at-large bid this season. We are almost 20 games into the current season and Syracuse is still looking for its first win away from home this season. Syracuse's loss at North Carolina makes them 0-6 in road or neutral-court games this season, The 6-7 White, a Nebraska transfer, leads the team in scoring at 15.8 PPG and 6-9 sophomore Lydon is the team's top rebounder at 7.6 per game. Lydon is also the team's only other double digit scorer, averaging 13.7 PPG. However, freshman guard Tyus Battle (9.9) appears to be hitting his stride. He has scored at least 13 in each of the past for games games, including a career-high 21 against Boston College last Saturday, after reaching double digits in points in just three of the first 15 games. He has seven steals against only two turnovers the past two games. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have to be thrilled to be back home, after a three-game ACC road swing that included five charter flights and nearly 4,000 air miles over nine days. Notre Dame plays at home for the first time in two weeks.The Irish won 24 games last year, before losing in the Elite 8 and has a starting-five that includes two seniors and three juniors. PG Jackson (15.8 & 4.7 APG) and center Auguste (14.0 & 10.7) are missed from last year's team but four of five starters this year average 13.9 PPG or more. SF Colson leads in scoring (15.5) and rebounding (10.7) and is joined up front by the 6-8 Beachem (13.9 & 3.9) and the 6-10 Geben (4.2 & 4.7). SG Vasturia (15.2) and PG Farrell (14.2 & 5.5 APG) make up a terrific backcourt. The Irish are one of the nation's most efficient offensive teams, scoring 81.1 PPG on 47.0 percent shooting (including on 40.9% threes which ranks 11th) and 82.4% from the FT line to rank 1st.
The pick: Notre Dame lost at FSU, despite making 15 of 21 threes. According to College Basketball Reference, Notre Dame is the 19th team since 2010-11 to make 15 or more 3-pointers while shooting over 70 percent from the field — and the first to lose. The problem against FSU was turnovers, as Notre Dame committed a season-high 18! The Fighting Irish had entered the game averaging the second-fewest in the nation at 9.4 per game. Now here's the rub. Notre Dame seniors V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia have seen and done a lot in their collegiate careers but they've yet to beat Syracuse and are 0-3 against the Orange, who have won seven of the last eight in the series. Notre Dame is averaging 81.1 PPG but hasn't reached 80 against Syracuse since getting 87 in a seven-point loss way back in 2008. Boeheim's zone has caused nightmares for Notre Dame, as Syracuse has won the past four meetings. Upset alert? Take the points and Syracuse an 8* play. |
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01-20-17 | Bucks v. Magic +3.5 | Top | 96-112 | Win | 100 | 10 h 59 m | Show |
The set-up: The 20-21 Milwaukee Bucks are in Orlando tonight to take on the 17-27 Magic. The Bucks are celebrating the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo was just named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter, while the Magic have lost nine of their past 11 games, as a season that started out with promise has quickly fallen apart.
Milwaukee: Antetokounmpo got a well-deserved starting spot for the All Star game. He scored 32 points with 11 rebounds, making 13 of 20 field goals, in the Bucks' 111-92 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. He's averaging 23.6 PPG (on 53.8 percent shooting) with 8.7 RPG and 5.6 APG (leads Milwaukee in all four categories). The Bucks' trouble has been that other than Jabari Parker (20.4 & 5.9), Antetokounmpo has had little help. Center Monroe (10.7 & 6.8) is doing a disappearing act so far this season and the team really misses Khris Middleton, who had surgery to repair a torn hamstring and is not expected to make his season debut until the middle of February (he led Milwaukee in scoring last yera at 18.4 PPG). Orlando: The Magic now sit at 17-27 and are beginning to lose contact with the 'playoff pack.' First-year Orlando coach Frank Vogel preaches discipline on the defensive end and ball movement on the offensive end, but the players are not buying 100 percent into the system. "We don't play the right way," center Nikola Vucevic told the Orlando Sentinel after the Magic's 118-98 loss at New Orleans. "We can play as hard as we want -- as long as we keep playing like this, this is how it's going to be. It's hard for certain guys to keep giving effort when you don't do the right things out there. We take bad shots. We play selfish. It's embarrassing. We've been losing to everybody by 20. It's bad, man." Three of the last six games have fit the description from Vucevic, lifeless efforts where the Magic were blown out and beaten pretty handily. The pick: Orlando was 1-5 on its just-completed six-game road trip, while allowing an average of 113.7 PPG but hopes a return home will help. The Magic open a three-game homestand on Friday against Milwaukee, who comes in on a three-game slide of its own. The Bucks have taken the first two meetings this season, including a 104-96 victory at Orlando on Nov. 27, but I expect a strong bounce-back from the Magic in this one. Orlando is an 8* play. |
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01-20-17 | Oakland -1.5 v. Northern Kentucky | Top | 79-70 | Win | 100 | 10 h 53 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-5 (4-2 in Horizon League) Oakland Golden Grizzlies are coming off a 76-65 home loss to Cleveland State this past Monday, the team's second in a row, both at home. The 12-7 (3-3 in Horizon League) Northern Kentucky Norse also lost a second straight game in their last outing, 68-58 back on Jan. 12 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The two meet tonight at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Ky.
Oakland: Oakland won 23 games last year before losing in the championship game of the first-ever Vegas 16 postseason tourney. The Grizzlies knew replacing PG Felder (24.4-4.3-9.3) would be impossible plus the team also lost 6-9 center Gibson (11.3 & 6.2). However, Oakland was cruising at 14-3 before two straight losses. The guard tandem of Walker (17.0) and Dorsey-Walker (1.1-4.8-3.6) has been very good plus the 6-7 Hayes (15.1 & 6.9) has played well up front. Northern Kentucky: The Norse won just nine games last season (5-13 in Horizon play), so the team's 12-7 start has been nice. The 6-7 McDonald leads in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (8.2) and is joined by three other double digit scorers. Guards Holland (14.3 & 3.8 APG) and Murray (10.3) plus SF Williams (10.8 & 6.1). The pick: Oakland is coming off surprising back to back home loses to Detroit and Cleveland State. Yes, Northern Kentucky is a solid team that has played well at home this season but Oakland is better than it has shown these last two games and I expect them to bounce back here. Make Oakland a 10* play. |
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01-19-17 | Wolves v. Clippers -2 | Top | 104-101 | Loss | -110 | 15 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The underachieving 14-28 Minnesota Timberwolves will visit Staples Center Thursday night (second half of ESPN doubleheader) to take on the 29-14 LA Clippers, who currently won the NBA's longest active winning streak, at seven. However, the major story-line will be that the PG Chris Paul has now joined Blake Griffin on the sidelines due to injury (more later).
Minnesota: As for the Timberwolves, it seems as if this year's team just isn't going to jell under Tom Thibodeau, the former Chicago head coach. The Timberwolves were expected to be one of the up-and-coming clubs this season with their array of young talent and the addition of the defensive-minded Thibodeau but instead, the team has struggled playing .333 basketball! This, despite the presence of Towns (22.0 & 12.0), Wiggins (21.6 & 4.3) and LaVine (20.1). Inconsistency has plagued them, as they are tied with the Lakers (21st) in turnovers. LA Clippers: The Clippers lost Blake Griffin 41.2-8.8-4.7) after their Dec. 18 loss at Washington to right knee surgery and after winning two straight, lost six in a row. However, LA has since won seven in a row (), averaging 109.4 PPG. However, PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7-2.3 SPG) is expected to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb suffered while trying to defend Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook in a 120-98 win over the Thunder on Monday. Head coach Doc Rivers, in typical coach-speak, said other players must step up. "We still have new guys -- Alan (Anderson) is new and Raymond (Felton) is new and Mo (Speights) and Brandon (Bass) -- this is a good opportunity for them to learn how to execute together," Rivers told the Los Angeles Times. "When everyone is back, when you get Chris and Blake back, if this group can execute, and then you put those two guys back on the floor, I think it makes us better in the long run. This is not the way you want to do it, but this is the way it's been presented." The pick: It seems hard to believe that the Clippers will be able to "maintain" with both Griffin and Paul (Clippers went 2-5 without Paul during his last absence) on the sidelines but in this first game without both, I expect emotion to carry them over a Minnesota team which just can't seem to "get it right!' The T-wolves own just five road wins In 20 games), allowing 106.9 PPG and with the pointspread 'deflated,' LA is a 10* play. |
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01-19-17 | Pepperdine +19 v. BYU | Top | 70-99 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 17 m | Show |
The set-up: The 13-6 BYU Cougars will host the 5-13 Pepperdine Waves in WCC action tonight in college hoops. The Cougars are coming off an 88-75 loss at San Diego and are 4-2 in conference play, while the Waves come in on a three-game slide, falling to 1-5 in conference play. Pepperdine: The Waves can't match BYU's size up front and are led by the backcourt duo of Murray (20.1 & 5.6) and Major (11.2 & 4.1 APG), teaming with the 6-7 Reyes (15.0 & 7.7) in the frontcourt. However, with this pointspread, the Waves don't need to win to grab the cash. BYU: The Cougars have a deep backcourt with Emery (15.1), Haws (13.5) and PG Rose (5.9-5.2-5.3) plus even with the loss of the 6-8 Davis (8.8 & 4.0) for the season up front, still have the 6-10 Mika (20.5 & 9.5) and the 6-8 Childs (8.5 & 7.5).
The pick: Again, this is not about which team earns the win, it's about the margin of victory for BYU. The Cougars have no reason to feel threatened by the Waves and note that the underdog has covered in each of the last seven meetings in this series. Make it EIGHT in a row for the 'dog, as Pepperdine is a 10* play. |
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01-18-17 | Miami (Fla) v. Wake Forest -1 | Top | 79-96 | Win | 100 | 11 h 28 m | Show |
The set-up: The Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes are 12-4 (2-2 in ACC) and hope to earn a second consecutive ACC road win at Wake Forest, over the 10-7 Demon Deacons (1-4 in ACC play). The Hurricanes are coming off a dominating 72-46 triumph at Pittsburgh while the Demon Deacons lost 93-87 to No. 9 North Carolina in their most recent game but they showed some positive signs by rallying from a 19-point deficit to get within one before the Tar Heels escaped with the victory. Miami: Led by guards McClellan (16.3) and Rodriguez (12.6 & 4.2 APG), Miami won 27 games last year, reaching the Sweet 16. That duo is gone but a trio of guards are scoring in double digits this season, Newton (15.2 & 4.0 APG), Reed (14.7 & 4.2) and Brown (11.0), who also averages 7.3 RPG, The team's best frontcourt player is the 6-8 Murphy (6.9 & 7.9). The Hurricanes saw their 21-game home winning streak snapped by Notre Dame back on Jan. 12 but rebounded well at Pittsburgh. Miami's aggressive defense limited the ACC's top two scorers, Pitt's Jamel Artis and Michael Young (who were averaging a combined 44.8 points), to only 17 combined points. Miami enters this game allowing 59.3 PPG, ranking 4th-best in the nationWake Forest: This is Danny Manning's third season as Wake's head coach. He was just 13-19 and 11-19 his first two seasons, so the team's 10-7 mark is a noticeable improvement. However, Wake is just 1-4 in ACC play, after going 7-29 the last two seasons. 6-10 sophomore John Collins (15.8 & 8.9) has emerged as one of the ACC's top big men after averaging only 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds as a freshman. Joining him up front are the 6-10 Konstantinos Mitoglou (10.8 & 6.4) the 6-6 Arians (8.4) and the 7-1 Doral Moore (21 blocks), to give the Demon Deacons the size to match up with Miami's tall and athletic front line. There is no shortage of outside shooting options for Manning, with five of his players having made 20 or more three-point shots. Guards Keyshawn Woods (12.6) and Mitchell Wilbekin (7.2) plus the Austin Arians (8.4) are all shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc. Then there is PG Crawford, who is second in scoring at 14.8 PPG and averaginga a team-high 5.8 APG. The pick: Miami is the better team but Jim Larranaga has yet to win at Wake Forest, since becoming Miami's head coach back at the start of the 2011-12 season (0-2). However, more importantly, Miami is only 1-8 overall in Winston-Salem since joing the ACC. The home tis aeam is an 8* play. |
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01-18-17 | TCU +4.5 v. Texas Tech | Top | 69-75 | Loss | -103 | 11 h 58 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-3 (3-2 in Big 12) TCU Horned Frogs are looking for the school's first three-game conference winning streak in eight years when they travel to take on the 13-4 (2-3 in Big 12) Texas Tech Red Raiders in a Big 12 mathcup. TCU: Jamie Dixon left Pittsburgh after 13 years, which included 12, 20-win seasons and 11 NCAA appearances. He returned to his alma mater and TCU has matched the best start to a season in school history. The Horned Frogs are averaging 77.5 PPG, led by 6-11 sophomore Vladimir Brodziansky (12.6 & 5.8) and PG Alex Robinson (10.8 & 5.4 APG), a Texas A&M transfer. Six others contribute between 5.9 and 9.9 PPG and TCU plays solid defense, allowing 66.0 PPG. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders feature four double-figure scorers, paced by guard Keenan Evans' 14.0 PPG. The others are a trio of 6-8 players up front, Smith's (12.9 & 7.8), Livingston (12.1 & 4.2 ) and Ross (11.0 & 3.1). Tech averages 78.0 PPG and allows 64.1 PPG. Like TCU, Tech has a new coach this year in Chris Beard, who last yerar led Arkansas-Little Rock to a 30-win season, including an upset of Purdue in the NCAAs. The pick: There is not too much difference between these two teams but Tech comes in having lost three of their last five (the two wins were by one point!) and has been sloppy so far in Big 12 play, averaging almost 13 turnover per game. TCU is an 8* play. |
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01-18-17 | Raptors -5 v. 76ers | Top | 89-94 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 34 m | Show |
The set-up: The 28-13 Toronto Raptors own the East's second-best record and will play tonight in Philadelphia against the 76ers, who check in with a record almost the reverse of the Raptors, at 13-26. Toronto: The Raptors won 119-109 last night (Nets' 11th straight loss) behind 36 points from DeMar DeRozan (28.2-5.5-3.8) and a career-high 33 from Corey Joseph, who started alongside DeRozan in the backcourt while the Raptors rested Kyle Lowry, their starting point PG. Lowry (22.2-5.0-7.2), a Philadelphia native and Villanova product was held out due to an assortment of bumps and bruises, but is expected to be ready (and fresh) for his latest visit to his hometown. DeRozan also contributed 11 rebounds and six assists. Joseph (9.4 PPG) typically serves as Lowry's backup but enjoyed the best game of his career, connecting on 15-of-22 shots. Philadelphia: Thirteen wins may not seem like much but when one considers that Phily has had just 19, 18 and 10 wins over an entire season the last three years, 13 wins in the team's first 39 games is quite an improvement. No player has been more important to Philly's cause than rookie center Joel Embiid, who has almost single-handedly transformed the 76ers from a league laughingstock to a team that may have to be reckoned with in the next few years. Embiid heads into tonight's game leading all rookies inn scoring (19.7), rebounding (7.7) and blocked shots (2.4), all of which are also team highs. He has put up those numbers despite averaging only 25.3 MPG, as the 76ers are limiting Embiid, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, to no more than 28 minutes after he missed two seasons while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries.
The pick: It's hard to argue with Embiid's contributions or Philly's improvement but the fact is, the 76ers have not matched up well against Toronto's 'firepower.' Toronto ranks 3rd in scoring (111.5 PPG) on 47.2% shooting (4th), 39.0% on threes (2nd) and 81.4% from the FT line (3rd). Philly has lost and failed to cover the last six meetings between te theo teams going back to last season, including losing both games this season while allowing 122 and 123 points! Toronto's 123-114 win back on Dec. 14 was its seventh straight in Philadelphia. Make the Raptors a 10* play. |
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01-17-17 | Wichita State -11 v. Evansville | Top | 82-65 | Win | 100 | 13 h 40 m | Show |
The set-up: The 15-4 Wichita State Shockers have opened 5-1 in MVC play but that loss came in the team's last game, a 76-62 defeat at Illinois State as a three point favorite on Saturday. They travel to Evansville Tuesday night to take on the Purple Aces, who are 10-9 overall but just 1-5 in league play, after they lost their fourth in a row, a 73-61 defeat at the hands of visiting Southern Illinois as a four point favorite on Saturday. Wichita State: In what was good news for the rest of the MVC, Ron Baker and Fred Van Vleet are finally gone, after the four-year players helped lead the Shockers to 30, 35, 30 and 26 wins the past four seasons. However, Wichita State may still be the league's best team, although Illinois State has opend 14-4, including 6-0 in MVC play. The Shockers own amazing depth. They have triple digit scorers up front in the 6-8 McDuffie (12.5 & 5.1) and the 6-9 Willis (12.1 & 6.2) plus a center duo of Morris and Nurger combining for 12.3 PPG and 6.4 RPG. Shamet (10.6) is the top scorer in the backcourt but three fellow guards combine to average 18.8 PPG. Evansville: The Purple Aces were extremely dangerous the past few years but with D.J. Baltine (20.8 PPG) and the 6-11 Mockevicius (15.7 & 13.9) having graduated, this year's team is "a few bricks shy of a load." The guard duo of Jaylon Brown (20.8) and Ryan Taylor (15.7) give the Purple Aces arguably the MVC's best backcourt but it's hard to win with a two-man offense, especially with little help up front. The pick: The Shockers are 39-16 ATS in their last 55 road games and 44-22-1 ATS in their last 67 conference matchups. Take the road favorite, making Wichita State a 10* play. |
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01-17-17 | Wolves +11 v. Spurs | Top | 114-122 | Win | 100 | 12 h 16 m | Show |
The set-up: The 14-27 Minnesota Timberwolves had put together a three-game winning streak before suffering a 98-87 road loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday but head to San Antonio to take on the 31-9 Spurs, a team they haven't beaten in San Antonio since April 17, 2013. Minnesota: The T-wolves own the enviable trio of Wiggins (21.9 & 4.3), Towns (21.8 & 11.9) and LaVine (20.1). Shooting guard LaVine (hip) struggled in his return from a two-game injury absence and had just 11 points in 34 minutes in Sunday's loss to the Mavericks. LaVine admitted to feeling "a little tired, a little gassed" in the opening minutes but said the poor effort was due to his sub-par shooting and not rust. Center Karl-Anthony Towns had just 18 points and nine rebounds against Dallas, snapping a streak of 10 consecutive double-doubles. Most observers believed teh T-wolves would show marked improvement this season under new head coach Tom Thibodeau but the team's record says, that hasn't been the case. San Antonio: The Spurs are looking to bounce back from a rare loss, as Kawhi Leonard's (24.6 & 5.7) career-high 38-point performance in Mexico City was wasted Saturday against the Suns, when the Spurs let an 11-point third-quarter lead get away in a 108-105 loss. "I'm always trying to come down with a win. That's what matters to me and my squad. It was definitely disappointing to come out with a loss," Leonard said after that game. Aldridge (17.5 & 7.1) joins Leonard as San Antonio's new "Big 2" but that San Antonio depth is alive and well, as the Spurs have seven players contributing between 6.2 and 11.9 PPG.
The pick: The Spurs have only lost back-to-back contests just once this season and are 7-1 in games after a loss, winning those seven games by an average of 19.7 PPG. Yes, Minnesota is just 5-14 SU on the road this year but it is only being outscored by an average of 5.1 PPG. "We're still not there," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after Sunday's loss to Dallas. "We went into camp with that idea of locking into daily improvement. Studying the team closely in the off-season, I knew there were a lot of areas we were short in. ... I like the direction we're moving in." I agree and will take the big points and make Minnesota a 10* play. |
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01-16-17 | Kansas v. Iowa State +2.5 | Top | 76-72 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 52 m | Show |
The set-up: No. 2 Kansas has ripped off 16 straight wins (16-1 on the season, including 5-0 in the Big 12) and could be ranked No. 1 when the new AP poll comes out Monday afternoon, before the Jayhawks take the court against the 11-5 (3-2 in Big 12 play) Iowa State Cyclones. Kansas: Head coach Bill Self is a little concerned with Kansas' recent uneven efforts. The Jayhawks had to rally from a halftime deficit for the second straight game on Saturday at home versus Oklahoma State. Kansas trailed by nine at the half in last Tuesday’s 11-point road win at Oklahoma and was down 40-36 at the break to Oklahoma State before taking the lead with 14 minutes left en route to an 87-80 home triumph. "We did not play that well, but we are not going to apologize for this. It was a good win against a good team, " Self said.“I don’t know if we’ll be No. 1 or Villanova will jump us or whatever. It’s really not a big deal.” Self's got quite a perimeter group, led by PG Mason III (20.5-4.4-5.5), who joined by freshman swingman Jackson (15.6 & 6.7), Graham (13.5), junior swingman Mykhailiuk(10.8) and Vick (8.1). With the 7-0 Azubuike (5.0 & 4.40 out for the season, the 6-10 Lucas (8.1 & 7.6) starts and the 6-10 Bragg (5.9 & 5.2) comes off the bench. Kansas averages 86.4 PPG (12th) on 50.1% shooting (12th). Iowa State: The Cyclones can run and score with most teams, averaging 81.6 PPG (36th), including averaging 86.4 PPG in going 7-1 SU at home. Iowa State can match Kansas on the perimeter with guards Long (15.7 & 4.8), Morris (15.5-5.0-5.8) , Burton (12.4 & 6.9) and Thomas (11.3 & 4.8) but may have trouble up front with only the 6-8 Bowie (8.2 & 5.4) making any real contributions.The pick: Iowa State has won two straight at home in the series vs. Kansas and seven of the last 11 meetings overall. The Cyclones rarely lose at home in the Hilton Coliseum. It's an arena described as possessing “Hilton Magic” by the Des Moines Register back in 1989. The 14,384-seat arena includes seats just a few feet from the court and players from opposing teams, and also the home team, have said that the floor has shaken because of the noisy crowd. That all sounds good but Cincinnati won here back on Dec. 1 and the Jayhawks are a far superior team to the Bearcats. Make Kansas an 8* play. |
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01-16-17 | Syracuse v. North Carolina -14 | Top | 68-85 | Win | 100 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
The set-up: North Carolina ended FSU's 12-game winning streak with a 96-83 win over the Seminoles on Saturday. North Carolina is now 16-3 (4-1 in ACC play) and is expected to move into the AP's top-10 (currently at No. 11) in Monday's new poll. Syracuse comes to Chapel Hill 11-7 (3-2 in ACC play) for a rematch of last year's national semifinal game, in which the Tar Heels beat the Orange 83-66. Syracuse: The Orange were a surprise Final Four team last season (actually, most were surprised the Orange even made the NCAA field!) but it seems unlikely Syracuse will get an at-large bid this season. We are almost 20 games into the current season and Syracuse is still looking for its first win away from home this season. The 6-7 White, a Nebraska transfer, leads the team in scoring at 15.8 PPG and 6-9 sophomore Lydon is the team's top rebounder at 7.6 per game. Lydon is also the team's only other double digit scorer, averaging 13.0 PPG. However, freshman guard Tyus Battle (9.7) appears to be hitting his stride. He has scored at least 13 in each of the past three games, including a career-high 21 against Boston College on Saturday, after reaching double digits in points in just three of the first 15 games.Syracuse averages 76.3 PPG (13th) and will have a difficult time trading points with the high-scoring Tar Heels. North Carolina: The Tar Heels' offense rarely takes a backseat to any team, as North Carolina is averaging 89.6 PPG (4th) and has scored at least 90 points 11 times this season, after scoring 93 in Saturday's 12-point win over FSU. 6-10 freshman Tony Bradley (8.1 & 5.9) suffered a concussion Wednesday and did not play on Saturday. He may be out again here and is a loss but a frontcourt of Jackson (17.9 & 4.8), Hicks (12.7 & 5.3) and Meeks (12.5 & 9.5) plus a backcourt of Berry (16.2 & 4.4 APG) and Williams (7.1) should be just fine. Help was received Saturday from versatile 6-6 junior swingman Theo Pinson, who gave the Tar Heels a big boost off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Florida State in his first major contribution since returning from October foot surgery.
The pick: Syracuse has lost all five of its road or neutral-court games this season, including its only contest against a ranked team, a 77-60 defeat at No. 17 Wisconsin on Nov. 29. That margin seems about right in this one. Make North Carolina a 10* play. |
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01-15-17 | Thunder -1.5 v. Kings | Top | 122-118 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
The set-up: The 24-17 OKC Thunder will be in Sacramento tonight to take on the 16-23 Kings. Sacramento seemed to catch the Thunder off guard when they went with a small line-up back on Nov. 23., beating OKC 116-101. However, there was nothing small about DeMarcus Cousins' 36 points and 13 rebounds! Oklahoma City: The Thunder saw their three-game winning streak end in a 96-86 loss Friday at Minnesota. OKC shot 38.8 percent as a team (including a woeful 3 of 20 on threes!) and it took most (all?) of the luster off Westbrook's 19th triple-double of the season (21-11-12). Those 19 match his total from 80 games last season. No player has surpassed that mark since the NBA absorbed four teams after the ABA collapsed in 1976. Magic had 18 in 1982-83, a record that stood for 32 seasons until Westbrook broke it last year in his 80th game. Wilt had 31 for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967-68 before the NBA-ABA merger. Westbrook is averaging a triple-double for the season (30.8-10.7-10.5) Sacramento: Kings had nine TOs Friday in the first quarter and 21 overall, in losing 120-108 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Kings lost for the fifth time in their past six home games, falling to 1-4 on their current seven-game homestand and to 2-6 since a season-best four-game winning streak last month. Clearly, the Kings are not making the most of a seven-game homestand and against playoff contenders like the Clippers, Warriors and Cavs, they've lost by a combined 31 points. The pick: The Thunder are a playoff contender (although hardly a real threat to win the NBA title with Durant in Oakland) and should take care of the Kings without too much trouble. Make OKC a 10* play. |
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01-15-17 | USC +3 v. Colorado | Top | 71-68 | Win | 100 | 12 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: USC surprised all by opening 14-0 but never climbed any higher than the very bottom of the top-25. Now, after three losses in their last four games, the 15-3 Trojans (2-3 in Pac 12 play) will likely drop out of the AP's new top-25 poll come Monday, win or lose tonight at Colorado. The Buffaloes are 10-7 overall but still searching for their first conference win after getting routed on their home court by No. 4 UCLA on Thursday night. Colorado is off to its first 0-4 conference start since 2008-09, when the Buffs lost their first four Big 12 contests en route to a 1-15 finish. USC: The Trojans are playing their second straight game at high altitude, after a 22-point loss at Utah on Thursday. They did the same thing two years ago and suffered two blowout losses in those games. "You just try to get adjusted quickly," USC coach Andy Enfield told The Los Angeles Daily News. "It's a big advantage for Utah and Colorado." The Trojans averaged 83.2 PPG in compiling a 13-0 non-conference mark but have averaged a mere 68.0 PPG in Pac-12 play. USC owns great depth on the perimeter led by McLaughlin (14.2 & 4.9 APG) and Stewart (13.1 & 5.3). Melton (10.0 & 5.3), Aaron (9.3) and Mathews (7.2) are also solid contributors. Up front, the 6-11 Metu (13.6 & 7.9) could sure use the return of the 6-10 Boatright (10.8 & 4.0 in five games), who may be back by the end of the month. |
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01-14-17 | Baylor v. Kansas State -2.5 | Top | 77-68 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 36 m | Show |
The set-up: Baylor began the season unranked but a 15-0 start led to the school's first-ever No. 1 ranking, this past Monday. However, the Bears got to enjoy their first-ever No. 1 ranking for just ONE day, before getting hammered 89-68 Tuesday at No. 10 West Virginia. Now the Bears will try to avoid their first losing streak of the season when they visit Kansas State on Saturday afternoon and the 13-3 (2-2 in Big 12 play) Wildcats will not be in a good mood, as they lost 66-65 at Texas Tech on Tuesday, after sneaking into the top-25 last Monday (at No. 25), for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Baylor: The Bears were picked fifth in the league's preseason poll after losing NBA first-round pick Taurean Prince and top rebounder Rico Gathers but ascended to No. 1 in the AP Monday. However, Baylor had a season-high 29 turnovers in the loss at Morgantown but despite its No. 1 ranking it really wasn't a big upset considering the Mountaineers actually went into the contest as 5 1/2-point favorites. After allowing almost 90 points to West Va, Baylor fell to No. 9 overall in points allowed (60.2 PPG) and also rank 9th in opponents' FG percentage at 38.1 (pretty good stuff). The 6-10 Motley (15.3 & 9.1), the 7-0 Lual-Acuil (10.8 & 7.4) and the 6-8 Maston (8.3 & 4.7) make for a formidable frontcourt, teaming with guards Lecomte (11.8 & 4.7 APG), a Miami transfer, and Freeman (11.5). Kansas State: With Baylor's great start, it's been easy to overlook Kansas State's surprising start. The Wildcats were projected to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12 Conference but Kansas State is 13-3. All five starters are scoring in double digits, with the 6-7 Iwundu (12.5-5.3-3.3) leading the way, joined by guards Brown (12.1) and Stokes (11.4 & 4.6 APG) plus up front it's the 6-9 Johnson (11.5 & 6.4) and the 6-10 Wade (10.6 & 5.4). Add in 6-5 freshman Sneed (8.9 PPG) and Bruce Weber's got quite a team.The Wildcats are playing excellent defense as well, allowing 61.5 PPG to rank 11th.The pick: While Baylor got thumped on Tuesday, Kansas State's loss was more heart-breaking. The Wildcats held the lead for most of the game before giving it up in the final minute. KSU had a chance to retake the lead with eight seconds remaining but Barry Brown drove to the basket and missed a layup. Niem Stevenson rebounded and was fouled. The Wildcats fell to Texas Tech 66-65. Head coach Bruce Weber noted during this week's radio show that his team is four points away from being undefeated. "There's such a thin margin of victory in this league," he said. "You've got great balance and great depth in this league." Kansas State is 9-0 SU at home this year, holding opponetst to just 58.4 PPG. Baylor loses for a second straight time. Make KSU an 8* play. |
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01-14-17 | Florida State +7.5 v. North Carolina | Top | 83-96 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 7 m | Show |
The set-up: Florida State is 16-1 (4-0 in ACC play) and will take its No. 9 ranking in the AP poll into Chapel Hill on Saturday afternoon to take on the 15-3 (3-1 in ACC Play) North Carolina Tar Heels, who are currently ranked 11th in the AP's latest poll. It seems strange, doesn't it, that FSU is the higher ranked team? More on that later. Florida State: The Seminoles' only loss came back on Nov. 24, 89-86 to temple in the NIT Season Tip-Off at MSG. Tweleve wins in a row have followed, including three straight over ranked teams (at No.12 Va, then home against No. 21 Va. Tech & No. 7 Duke). Now ist at No. 11 North Carolina, with home games against No. 20 Notre Dame and No. 14 Louisville to follow! "We are just trying to take it one game at a time and not get ourselves caught up in anything other than what is going on in the moment,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton told reporters after Tuesday’s 88-72 win over Duke. “That is how we try to approach it and I think our guys have matured with that philosophy.” The Seminoles are scoring 86.7 PPG (13th) on 50.8% shooting (6th), led by a very deep perimeter group.Bacon (17.8 & 4.1) is the etam's leading scorer but he has plenty help on teh perimeter from guards Rathan-Mayes (11.1-3.4-4.6), Mann (9.4-4.9), Savoy (7.7), Walker (6.5) and Forrest (6.2). The team's best big man is the 6-10 Isaac (12.1 & 7.2) but note that four players have at least 16 blocks, led by 7-4 Christ Koumadje with 24. North Carolina: The Tar Heels' offense rarely takes a backseat to any team, as North Carolina’s high-powered team is averaging 89.3 PPG (6th) and has scored at least 90 points 10 times this season. All five starters scored in double figures in Wednesday's win over Wake Forest but the Tar Heels received only 10 points from their bench. 6-10 freshman Tony Bradley (8.1 & 5.9) is out for this one after suffering a concussion Wednesday and he'll be missed but a frontcourt of Jackson (17.7 & 4.9), Meeks (12.9 & 9.7) and Hicks (12.2 & 5.2) plus a backcourt of Berry (15.6 & 4.6 APG) and Williams (7.2) should be just fine.The pick: FSU carries a school-record 12-game winning streak into this contest but the Tar Heels are 8-0 at home, outscoring lined opponents 91.9-to-61.4 PPG. This is only the 10th time in 61 all-time meetings that both teams are ranked when they meet. However, this is the first time that the Seminoles take the court as the higher ranked team in the only regular-season clash between the teams. With Roy Williams as the coach, this is the 17th time when an opponent will show up at the Smith Center with a higher ranking than the Tar Heels. However, Bradley's absence leaves a void in the lane for the No. 11 Tar Heels against FSU's size inside. Then there's FSU' depth on the perimeter. Take the points and make FSU an 8* play. |
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01-14-17 | Minnesota v. Penn State -1 | Top | 50-52 | Win | 100 | 4 h 57 m | Show |
The set-up: The Minnesota Golden Gophers entered the AP's top-25 poll last Monday at No.24 (1st ranking since the 2012-13 season) but were handled very easily on the road by Michigan State on Wednesday, 65-47. The 15-3 (3-2 in Big Ten) Gophers will try to re-group this afternoon in State College, when they take on the 10-7 (2-2 in Big Ten) Penn State Nittany Lions, who beat that very same Michigan State team 72-63 last Saturday at The Palestra.
Minnesota: Richard Pitino won the NIT back in 2013-14 (his first year at Minnesota) but then came an 18-15 (6-12 in the Big Ten) season and then last year's 'nightmare' of 8-23 (2-16 in the Big Ten). Despite Wednesday's loss, it's clear last year's performance is well behind this year's team. Pitino features a four-guard rotation, with Mason (14.3-3.4-5.4) as the team's leading scorer, along with Coffey (12.2), McBrayer (12.1) and Springs (8.8). The 6-6 Murphy (10.3 & 8.3) is the team's leading rebounder joined up front by 6-10 center Lynch (8.2 & 5.8) and the 6-9 Curry (6.6 & 5.8). The Gophers are the Big Ten's best rebounding team in the defensive end (29.2), lead the conference in blocked shots (118) and don't give up easy baskets, as opponents are making just 38 percent of their field goals, ranking Minnesota 1st in that category. Penn State: Head coach Patrick Chambers is in his sixth season with the Nittany Lions and that win over the Spartans was his first over Michigan State in his tenure. Rebounding for a win against the Spartans following a disastrous loss to Michigan last week where the Nittany Lions let a 14-point lead slip away with 12:41 left, has done wonders for the team's confidence. "We're on a little bit of roller coaster but we've played three really good games so I'm hoping for that consistency as we approach this weekend," Chambers said. "I didn't give them 'I told you so' yet. But I think what I see in practice is a team that's not relaxed. A team that's not content or complacent thinking, 'oh we won a big game, we finally arrived or figured it out." Sophomore guard Josh Reaves (8.3 & 4.5) has helped inject attitude in the lineup. Along with upperclassmen, guard Shep Garner (12.8) and forward Payton Banks (12.0), Reaves was especially competitive in Monday's practice that had Chambers feeling good about his team heading into the weekend. Garner and Banks are joined in double digits by the 6-7 Stevens (12.7 & 6.0) and guard Carr (11.5 & 5.5), who are both freshman, plus the 6-10 Watkins (10.0 & 8.2). The pick: Minnesota is greatly improved from last season but I still don't much trust them on the road. I was on Michigan State Wednesday and will back Penn State in this one. The Nittany Lions are a 10* play. |
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01-13-17 | Pistons v. Jazz -10 | Top | 77-110 | Win | 100 | 11 h 11 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-23 Detroit Pistons will continue their five-game road trip by playing tonight in Salt Lake City, up against the 24-16 Utah Jazz. The Pistons lost 127-107 last night in Oakland to the Warriors and limp into this contest having lost 10 of their last 14. Meanwhile, the Jazz come off a "statement win" Tuesday night, when they outplayed and outworked the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers in a 100-92 victory. The Jazz are tied with the Thunder atop the Northwest Division and with a win tonight, can move a season-best nine games over .500.
Detroit: The Pistons won their first game of the trip 125-124 in double-OT at Portland (the team's second straight one-point victory) but squandered an 18-point lead in a 100-94 setback at Sacramento on Tuesday. Last night, they were drubbed 127-107 by th Warriors. "We made too many defensive game-plan mistakes where we weren't doing what we were supposed to be doing and we didn't get back in transition and get matched up and we turned the ball over," Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters. "When you don't do those three things against a team like that, you have no chance." A check of the league stats say Detroit ranks 5th in points allowed (100.9) but since the calendar has turned to 2017, the Pistons have allowed 117.2 PPG in starting January 3-3. Utah: When playing Utah, one better hold down the Jazz, as Utah ranks first in both points allowed (94.9 PPG) and opponents' FG percentage (36.9%). Six players scored in double figures against teh Cavs, including all five starters. PG Hill was one of them with 13 points and seven assists. The Jazz are a much better offensive team when's he's in the lineup. He's been back for three straight games now and when healthy (he's played just 12 games), contributes 18.2 PPG and 4.4 APG. SF Gordon Hayward and center Rudy Gobert are both playing like All Stars. Hayward is averaging a career-best 22.2 PPG, while Gobert is also averaging career highs in points (12.3), rebounds (12.3) and blocks (2.5). He's grabbed 10-plus rebounds in 25 straight games and has notched 27 double-doubles this season! The pick: I played against the Pistons last night with the Warriors and will go to the well against them tonight as well. Make Utah an 8* play. |
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01-13-17 | Yale +1.5 v. Pennsylvania | Top | 68-60 | Win | 100 | 13 h 9 m | Show |
The set-up: Yale has won six of its last seven and will open Ivy League play tonight at Penn. The Quakers are 6-6 on the season but have a game under their belt in Ivy League play, although the result was a 61-52 loss at Princeton last Saturday. Yale: The Bulldogs are coming off a remarkable 2015-16 season, that saw the Bulldogs end a 54-year NCAA drought (won Ivy League at 13-1) and tehe win the school's first-ever NCAA game by upsetting Baylor in the first round. The team ended the season 23 wins, the most since the 1906-07 season! Yale lost two excellent frontcourt palyers from that team, in Sears (15.7 & 7.5), a two-time Ivy player-of-the-year, and Sherrod (12.7 & 7.0). However, after making himself available for the NBA draft, guard Makai Mason (16.0 & 3.8 APG) decided to stay in school. Tragically, he suffered a foot injury which will keep him out all season. Still, the Bulldogs have five players averaging in double digits, with PG Dallier just missing (9.2 PPG and 4.2 APG). Penn: The Quakers are led by the 6-8 AJ Brodeur (14.8 & 6.6) while guard Matt Howard is averaging 12.5 points & 6.5 RPG. However, they are the team's only two double digit scorers and Penn has nowhere near Yale's depth or overall talent level. Penn has won seven of its last 11 home games.
The pick: Yale won at Washington and played Temple to within six points right here in The Palestra. The Bulldogs were 9-3-1 ATS against Ivy League foes last season (13-1 SU), have proven they can win on the road and have won the last eight matchups against Penn! Yale is a 10* play. |
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01-12-17 | Pistons v. Warriors -13 | Top | 107-127 | Win | 100 | 14 h 6 m | Show |
The set-up: The 18-22 Detroit Pistons continue their five-game road trip tonight in Oakland, taking on the league-best 33-6 Golden State Warriors. The Pistons won their first game of the trip 125-124 in double-OT at Portland (the team's second straight one-point victory) but squandered an 18-point lead in a 100-94 setback at Sacramento on Tuesday . "I could not find anything to get us out of it," Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters. The Warriors allowed Miami's Hassan Whiteside to score 28 points and grab 20 rebounds on Tuesday but playing on their home court, were able to prevail in a 107-95 win.
Detroit: Center Andre Drummond had 14 poitst and 21 rebounds when the Pistons hosted the Warriors back on Dec. 23, in a 119-113 Golden State win. It was his fifth career double-double in seven matchups with Golden State. The rematch is tonight with Detroit's third game on a five-city trip. The Pistons have six players in double digtst (Ish Smith comes in at 8.3 PPG) but the team ranks 24th with just 100.1 PPG. Finding an offensive flow continues to be an issue, as for Detroit ranks in the bottom third of the league with an average of 21.1 assists (had only 14 in Tuesday's loss). "We gave them 13 threes and then our ball movement was just ridiculous in the second half," Van Gundy told reporters. "We would not pass. In the second half, they had 13 assists on 18 buckets and we had four assists on 16 buckets. We were playing everything one-on-one. We would not pass the ball. That is why we ended up where we are and we've got to learn from it." Golden State: The Warriors beat the Heat with Klay Thompson, as head coach Steve Kerr elected to rest Thompson, who had been battling an illness. Expect him back in the lineup tonight. Unlike Detroit, Golden State doesn't have any problems with ball movement and leads the league with an average of 31 assists while ranking No. 1 in PPG at 117.3 (also ranks No. 1 with a 49.8% FG percentage). PG Stephen Curry handed out nine assists on Tuesday and continued a trend of being more aggressive in looking for his offense with 24 points on 21 shots. Curry, who got off to a relatively slow start for a reigning two-time MVP while stepping back to help integrate Durant into the system, was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday and is averaging 30.2 points and 6.2 assists in the last five contests. The "Core Four" of Durant (26.0-8.7-4.6), Curry (24.7-4.4-5.9), Thompson (21.3) and Green (10.9-8.8-7.5) is just fine, thank you. The pick: Detroit handed the Warriors one of their nine regular-season losses in 2015-16 and while Golden State took the first meeting this season 119-113 on Dec. 23, it was a battle. It took 32 points by Kevin Durant, 25 by Stephen Curry and a 12-assist, 10-rebound double-double by Draymond Green for Golden State to scratch out the win. However, Golden State turned the ball over a season-high 23 times in that contest. Don't expect that to happen again and with Detroit struggling offensively, let em add that teh Warriors rank 2nd in defensive FG percentag (43.3%), including 32.6% on threes, which ranks 1st! Make Golden State a 10* play. |
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01-12-17 | Notre Dame v. Miami (Fla) -3.5 | Top | 67-62 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 25 m | Show |
The set-up: Notre Dame attempts to start 4-0 in conference play for the first time in program history when the No. 20 Fighting Irish (14-2, 3-0 in ACC play) visit 11-3, 1-1 in ACC play) Miami on Thursday night. Notre Dame, which is coming off a home victory against Clemson, is 3-0 for the second time as a member of the ACC but never started with four straight league wins in the ACC or during their time in the Big East. Notre Dame: The Irish won 24 games last year, before losing in the Elite 8 and has a starting-five that includes two seniors and three juniors. PG Jackson (15.8 & 4.7 APG) and center Auguste (14.0 & 10.7) are missed from last year's team but four of five starters this year average 14 PPG or more. SF Colson leads in scoring (16.4) and rebounding (10.8) and is joined up front by the 6-8 Beachem (14.6 & 3.9) and the 6-10 Geben (4.3 & 5.1). SG Vasturia (15.0) and PG Farrell (14.0 & 5.4 APG) make up a terrific backcourt. The Irish are one of the nation's most efficient offensive teams, ranking No. 1 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.89) and free-throw shooting (84 percent) and No. 17 in three-point field-goal percentage (40.2) percent while averaging 82.3 PPG. Miami: The Hurricanes are back on the court for the first time in eight days and probably can't wait to get at it. The team's last contest was a struggle on both ends of the floor in a 70-55 loss at Syracuse that ended a seven-game winning streak. The Hurricanes shot 38.9 percent from the floor and made 2-of-10 foul shots while the Orange hit a sizzling 56.8 percent against a Miami team that ranks No. 14 in Division I in FG percentage defense (38.4). Led by guards McClellan (16.3) and Rodriguez (12.6 & 4.2 APG), Miami won 27 games last year, reaching the Sweet 16. That duo is gone but a trio of guards are scoring in double digits this season, Newton (15.2), Reed (14.) and Brown (10.9), who also averages 7.3 RPG, The team's best frontcourt player is the 6-8 Murphy (7.2 & 7.6). Miami ranks 6th in points allowed at 59.7 PPG.
The pick: Notre Dame comes in red-hot but Miami is 8-0 SU at home this season, allowing just 57.8 PPG in lined contests. The Hurricanes also take 21-game home winning streak into a this contest against Notre Dane, a team they beat by nine and 18 points last season. Revenge for Notre Dame.? I say no way and will make Miami a 10* play. |
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01-11-17 | Wizards v. Celtics -5.5 | Top | 108-117 | Win | 100 | 10 h 31 m | Show |
The set-up: The 19-18 Washington Wizards will head to TD Bank Center tonight for a game with the 23-15 Boston Celtics. Washington won its 10th straight home game Tuesday night (101-99 over the Bulls) and climbed above the .500 mark for the first time since it was 6-5 back on Nov. 24, 2015. Meanwhile, Boston's four-game winning streak was snapped Tuesday night in Toronto (Raptors won 114-106), as the Celtics missed a chance to inch past the Raptors into second place (via tiebreaker) in the East. Washington: Moving above the break-even point was a big deal for Washington,considering the Wizards opened the season 7-13 under new head coach Scott Brooks. Winning 12 of the team's last 17 games has Washington headed in the right direction. "It was a real big win to be over .500," forward Markieff Morris, acquired from Phoenix last February, told reporters. "We haven't been over .500 since I got here actually, so it just feels good." PG John Wall recorded the last two of his 26 points with 5.9 seconds left as the Wizards rallied from 18 points down against a short-handed Bulls team. Wall is averaging 23.2-4.4-10.3 on the season and SG Bradley Beal (22.1) scored 19 points to end a streak of four consecutive 20-point efforts and is averaging 23.8 during that span. That's quite a guard combo plus the team's entire starting frontcourt also averages in double digits. Forwards Porter (14.1 & 6.5) and Morris (13.2 & 5.9( surround center Gortat (11.5 & 11.9), who has posted eight consecutive double-digit rebounding efforts and is averaging 13.1 boards during that span. Boston: The Celtics have been led also season by their backcourt duo, as well. PG Isaiah Thomas (27.9 & 6.1 APG) scored 27 points against Toronto last night (his 22nd straight 20-point game!) but the Celtics gave up 68 points in the second half, blew a 16-point third quarter lead and lost, 114-106. SG Avery Bradley (18.0 & 7.0) could return after a two-game absence fighting an Achilles issue but center Tyler Zeller (4.1 & 2.9) is expected to sit out his sixth straight contest with a sinus infection. That will mean more time for Olynyk (7.9 & 4.0), who backs up FA center Horford (15.3-6.8-4.9).
The pick: Boston's loss to Toronto means the Celtics still haven't beaten a team with a better record yet this season but the Wizards don't own a better record than Boston in this one. The Celtics will be playing with revenge from a loss back in Washington on Nov. 9, when the Wizards spurted to a 26-point first quarter lead and Otto Porter's career night of 34 points and 14 rebounds led the Wizards to an easy 118-93 win. However, the Celtics played without the injured Al Horford and Jae Crowder that night. Of even more relevance, bothe teams playing the second of back-to-back games and while the Celtics are 5-3, winning five of their last six back ends of back-to-backs, the Wizards are just 1-6. Make Boston a 10* play. |
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01-11-17 | Tulane +5.5 v. South Florida | Top | 82-67 | Win | 100 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: Tulane is just 3-12 to open its season and while South Florida is 6-8, both teams are still looking for their first American Athletic Conference win of the season (Green Wave and the Bulls have each opened 0-3 in AAC play).
Tulane: The Green Wave took a five-point lead over Memphis late in the first half in their last game but ran out of gas in an 80-59 defeat that dropped them to 5-28 in their last 33 games against conference foes dating back to the 2014-15 season. Defense has been a major concern early in AAC play for Tulane, which has allowed all three opponents to reach the 80-point plateau (an average of 85.7 PPG) and enters this contest allowing 79.5 PPG on the season (320th) on 48.2% shooting (337th). Junior guard Cameron Reynolds leads the team in scoring (15.5 PPG), ranks second in rebounding (6.2) and is third in three-point shooting (40.4 percent) but finds himself in the midst of a cold spell (2-of-10 from long range over his last three games). Backcourt partner Kain Harris (11.1) provides nice scoring balance and is averaging 16.7 points over his previous three contests. Guard Melvin Frazier (10.6) is the other Tulane player averaging in double figures and ranks third in the AAC in steals per game (1.7). USF: Things aren't going much better for the Bulls, who dismissed head coach Orlando Antigua on Jan. 3 and promoted assistant Murry Bartow to the head role. South Florida is coming off an 84-65 loss to SMU and has just one win in its last eight games against AAC opponents. The Bulls also have three players in double digits, guards Thorpe (13.6-3.9-4.0) and Hol;sston (11.5) plus 6-7 freshman Tulio Da Silva i(10.7 & 8.2). The pick: Neither team scores all that well and while USF is the better defensive etam (69.8 PPG), the bulls are also teh favorite and sport an 18-40-1 ATS record in their last 59 home games. Tulane is the 8* play. |
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01-11-17 | Minnesota v. Michigan State -4 | Top | 47-65 | Win | 100 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: Tom Izzo's Michigan State team opened the season ranked 12th in the AP's preseason poll but is just 11-6 (3-1 in Big Ten play). MSU's best player, 6-7 freshman Miles Bridges, has returned after missing seven games with a foot injury but isn't yet in top form. Richard Pitino won the NIT back in 2013-14 (his first year at Minnesota) but then came an 18-15 (6-12 in the Big Ten) season and then last year's 'nightmare' of 8-23 (2-16 in the Big Ten). However, the Gophers are 15-2 (3-1 in Big Ten play) and Monday entered the AP's top-25 at No. 24, the school's first ranking since the 2012-13 season.
Minnesota: Pitino features a four-guard rotation, with Mason (14.4-3.3-5.7) as the team's leading scorer, along with Coffey (12.8), McBrayer (12.1) and Springs (9.1). The 6-6 Murphy (10.6 & 8.5) is the team's leading rebounder joined up front by 6-10 center Lynch (8.6 & 6.0) and the 6-9 Curry (5.9 & 5.8). The 34-year-old son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino says he's more concerned about getting an NCAA Tournament bid and winning championships tahn the team's AP ranking. "Rankings are for the fans," he said. "That's not our goal." Minnesota is tied atop the Big Ten standings with the Spartans and two other teams and carries a three-game winning streak into East Lansing, which includes a 78-68 home victory over Ohio State on Sunday. Minnesota lost at home to Michigan State (75-74 in overtime at Williams Arena on Dec. 27) but then won at Purdue and Northwester, to open Big Ten play. Michigan State: 6-8 freshman center Nick Ward (13.8 & 6.6) led the Spartans in that win over the Gophers with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Izzo is starting four freshmen, partly because of injuries to some veteran players prior to the season. The Spartans come into this game after suffering their first conference loss on Saturday, falling to unranked Penn State 72-63 at The Palestra in Philadelphia. Izzo is searching for some consistency and once Bridges returns to form, the Spartans should develop the consistency that Izzo is seeking. The prized freshman forward remains the team's leading scorer (14.3) and rebounder (8.2) even though that ankle injury cost him seven games. Bridges is averaging 5.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.0 minutes since returning to action two games ago.The pick: The Golden Gophers have won two straight conference road games for the first time since 2011-12 but winning three in a row seems like a stretch. They couldn't beat MSU at home, even when the Spartans were without Bridges. Make Michigan State an 8* play. |
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01-11-17 | Nebraska-Omaha +5 v. IUPU-Indianapolis | Top | 79-71 | Win | 100 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
The set-up: The 8-9 Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks play the 7-10 IUPUI Jaguars Wednesday in Summit League action from the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Nebraska-Omaha: The Mavericks could use a big road victory to get back to a .500 record but are just 1-3 to open Summit League action. Omaha is averaging 81.8 PPG but allowing 85,4 PPG (344th) on 45.7 percent shooting (279th). Guard Tyus is averaging 15.1 PPG to lead the team with the 6-7 Thurman averaging 13.4 PPG and a team-best 8.1 RPG. The backcourt also features two other double digit scorers in Jackson (11.6 & 5.1) plus PG Holins (10.9), who is also handing out 6.3 APG. IUPUI: The Jaguars are averaging 78.7 PPG but allowing 76.7 PPG. Darell Combs is averaging 18.1 PPG and is joined on the perimeter by Patterson and Thomas, who each average 8.5 PPG. The 6-8 O'Leary is averaging 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds.
The pick: IUPUI is 5-0 SU at home but there is very little difference between the two teams. I'll take the points and make Omaha an 8* play. |
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01-10-17 | Kansas State v. Texas Tech -5 | Top | 65-66 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 3 m | Show |
The set-up: The 12-3 Texas Tech Red Raiders will host the 13-2 Kansas State Wildcats on Tuesday night, a day after the Wildcats squeezed into the AP's latest top-25 in a tie for 25th with USC. Kansas State (2-1 in Big 12 play) achieved its top-25 ranking despite having no victories over top-25 opponents so far this season. The Wildcats played rival No. 2 Kansas to a controversial two-point loss in Lawrence, Kan., and hammered struggling Oklahoma in Manhattan, Kansas last week. Meanwhile, Texas Tech (1-2 in Big 12 play) posted its first victory over a top-25 opponent this season when the Red Raiders edged then-No. 7 West Virginia (now No. 10) by a point in overtime in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas State: With Baylor now at No. 1 after opening the season unranked, it's easy to overlook Kansas State's surprising start. The Wildcats were projected to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12 Conference but Kansas State comes to Lubbock in hopes of a ninth victory in its last 10 outings. The Wildcats rebounded nicely off the team's hard-fought last-second loss to the Jayhawks as they never trailed en route to Saturday's 75-64 victory over Oklahoma. All Five starters scored in double digits against the Sooners and all five are averaging double digits on the season. The 6-7 Iwundu (12.5-5.3-3.3) leads the way, joined by guards Brown (12.3) and Stokes (11.0 & 4.5 APG) plus up front it's the 6-9 Johnson (11.5 & 6.4) and the 6-10 Wade (10.5 & 5.7). Add in 6-5 freshman Sneed (9.2 PPG) and Bruce Weber's got quite a team.The Wildcats are playing excellent defense as well, allowing 61.2 PPG to rank 14th. Texas Tech: Truth be told, the Red Raiders' resume this year looks a lot like the Wildcats'. Texas Tech began conference play with a road trip to Iowa State (loss), then the home game against the Mountaineers (win in OT) and the trip to Kansas (loss). "(Kansas) Coach (Bill) Self asked me right after the game, 'Who do you play next?' and I said, 'I think Golden State Warriors,'" Texas Tech coach Chris Beard joked after the loss to the Jayhawks. "It's an 18-round fight and you want to give yourself a chance every night. We intend to be a part of the fight." In his first year as head coach, Beard led Little Rock to a 30-win season (including a win over Purdue in the Big Dance) and then came to Lubbock when Tubby Smith left for Memphis. The Red Raiders have four double digit scorers, led by guards Evans (13.6 & 3.5 APG), plus three 6-8 players, Livingston (12.5 & 4.3), Smith (12.4 & 7.9) and Ross (11.4 & 3.4). Four others contribute 4.9 to 9.1 PPG. Tech scores a little more than the Wildcats (79.0 to 76.3 PPG but shoots better at 50.9 % which ranks 7th) plus defends as well, allowing 62.7 PPG (21st) to KSU's 61.2.
The pick: Kansas State owns 12 double digit wins and its only two losses have come in heartbreaking fashion; the first on a go-ahead layup with less than 10 seconds remaining in a 69-68 setback against Maryland on Nov. 26 and then that controversila 90-88 loss at Kansas, on a tiebreaking layup as time expired when it appeared Kansas' Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk took as many as four steps without dribbling on the game-winner. That said, Texas Tech ranks seventh in the country in FG percentage (50.7), 10th in rebounding margin (plus-9.3), 16th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.46), 21st in scoring defense (62.7) and 24th in three-point field-goal percentage (39.8). Texas Tech is 10-0 SU at home (outscoring opponents 84.2-to-60.3 PPG in lined games) and has beaten the Wildcats at home in each of the last two years. Make Texas Tech a 10* play. |
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01-10-17 | Baylor +7 v. West Virginia | Top | 68-89 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 48 m | Show |
The set-up: Baylor opened the season unranked but on Monday, found itself atop the AP poll for the first time in school history (59th different school to be ranked No. 1, since the AP poll began back in the 1948-49 season). However, it's no rest for the weary for the 15-0 (3-0 in Big 12 play) Bears, who visit Morgantown to take on the No. 10 Mountaineers, who are 13-2 (2-1 in Big 12 play).
Baylor:The Bears were picked fifth in the league's preseason poll after losing NBA first-round pick Taurean Prince and top rebounder Rico Gathers but ascended to No. 1 in the AP Monday. "Not many people get a chance to be ranked No. 1, and that's a great honor," Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. "Baylor Nation deserves it, because they helped us get here. We're glad to make them proud and happy and give them something to be excited about. Big picture, though, we know no one is going to remember who is ranked No. 1 the first week of January." In fact, top-ranked Kansas came to Morgantown last January and lost 74-63. The Bears rank No. 4 in scoring defense (58.3 PPG), sixth in FG defense (37.3%) and 13th in blocks, most of those by the 7-0 Lual-Acuil and 6-10 Motley. Motley (15.8 & 9.4), Lual-Acuil (10.7 & 7.1) and the 6-8 Maston (8.2 & 4.9) make for a formidable frontcourt, teaming with guards Lecomte (11.8 & 4.9 APG), a Miami transfer, and Freeman (11.10. West Virginia: The Mountaineers have won nine of their last 10 games with the only loss by one point, 77-76 in OT, at Texas Tech last week. Sophomore Esa Ahmad (12.9 & 4.9) is a 6-8 forward and leads a well-balanced attack that features eight players averaging 6.9 points or more. He's joined in double digits by guards Daxter Miles Jr. (11.1), who is shooting 45.2 percent from three-point range, and Jevon Carter (10.5), who averages a team best 4.7 assists plus ranks fourth nationally with an average of 3.1 steals per game. West Virginia leads the nation in turnovers forced (24.3), steals (12.8), turnover margin (plus-13.7) and scoring margin (plus-28.7), averaging 90.1 PPG (5th) while allowing 61.4 PPG (16th). The pick: This contest comes just two days shy of the one-year anniversary of the last time a No. 1-ranked team visited Morgantown. West Virginia knocked off then top-rated Kansas, 74-63, last January and veteran head coach Bob Huggins knows a "repeat performance like last year's Kansas upset, will be tough sledding. "You can't simulate their length," Huggins said. "When you can pretty much touch hands across the floor, you're going to cover some ground. They can make mistakes and compensate for it with their length. You don't get anything easy or unchallenged around the rim." Yes, West Va. is 9-0 SU at home this season, after going 25-5 SU at home the last two years, but giving Baylor this many points makes little sense. Make the Bears an 8* play. |
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01-09-17 | Arkansas-Little Rock +2 v. Coastal Carolina | Top | 63-66 | Loss | -103 | 11 h 51 m | Show |
The set-up: The 11-5 Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans visit the HTC Center in Conway, South Carolina to take on the 7-9 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Both teams have opened 2-1 in Sun Belt play. Little Rock: The Trojans come into this game with five players averaging in double figures. The group includes guards Johnson (13.7) and Osse (10.2), as well as forwards Jackson (10.4 & 4.4), Shosi (10.3 & 7.9) and Hill (10.1 & 5.4). Both Johnson and Jackson are doing so while coming off the bench. Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers' two starting guards, SG Wilson (14.8) and PG Shaw (13.8 & 4.4 APG) are the only players in double digits so far this year. The 6-8 Beck is the team's top rebounder at 8.1 per game and leads a group of seven players averaging between 4.5 and 9.1 PPG (his average).The pick: Josh Hagins (13.2-4.2-4.7) is missed from Little Rock's 30-win team from last year (one which upset Purdue in the NCAA's first round) but as noted, the Trojans have five double digit scorers and are simply just a better team than the Chanticleers and they are getting points. Make Little Rock a 10* play. |
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01-08-17 | Niagara +7.5 v. Rider | Top | 78-89 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 26 m | Show |
The set-up: The 5-10 Niagara Purple Eagles are 2-2 in MAAC play and will visit the 10-5 Rider Broncs (3-1 in MAAC play) in a Sunday afternoon game at Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
Niagara: The Purple Eagles are hoping to get things together in league play, after knocking off Siena 71-66 as a five point home favorite on Wednesday. Niagara's got a high-scoring backcourt duo in Scott (16.6 & 6.9) and Dukes (16.1) and they scored 22 points each and combined for 12 rebounds in the win. The 6-8 Dominic Robb (9.2 & 6.7) and the Alioune Tew (1.9 & 2.2) combined for 18 points and nine boards but the 6-7 Prochet (8.1 & 5.7) has also been a regular contributor. However, Niagara must tighten its defense, allowing 77.5 PPG on the season, including 82.4 PPG on the road where the team is just 1-7. Rider: The Broncs have been impressive thus far in going 3-1 in conference play, following Friday’s 73-62 victory at Marist as a three point favorite behind a strong second half that broke open a two point contest. The 6-7 Kahill Thomas led all scorers with 19 points and 12 rebounds with PG Stevie Jordan adding 17 points and the 6-7 Xavier Lundy adding 15 points and eight boards All five starters are averaging in double figures, led by Thomas (13.5 & 9.7). He's joined up front by two other 6-7 players, Lundy (11.7 & 6.6) and Carey (10.1 & 6.9). The starting guards are Taylor (13.5 & 4.3) and Jordan (11.9-3.7-5.7). The pick: Is this the year the Rider Broncs break through in the MAAC? it could be but this number is pretty high and recent series history reveals that the underdog is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings. Niagara is an 8* play. |
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01-08-17 | Wichita State -10 v. Northern Iowa | Top | 80-66 | Win | 100 | 7 h 25 m | Show |
The set-up: Missouri Valley Conference action late Sunday afternoon features the 13-3 Wichita State Shockers visiting the 5-9 Northern Iowa Panthers at Cedar Falls, Iowa. Wichita State: In what was good news for the rest of the MVC, Ron Baker and Fred Van Vleet are finally gone, after the four-year players helped lead the Shockers to 30, 35, 30 and 26 wins the past four seasons. However, Wichita State is still the league's best team and comes to Cedar Falls looking to build on a 4-game winning streak by earning a 9th win in 10 games. The Shockers improved to 3-0 in MVC play with a 90-65 beat-down of Drake. Center Shaquille Morris (7.7 & 3.5) and guard Daishon Smith (6.9) tied to the team lead with 13 points apiece in the win. That fact shows Wichita's depth, as four players have higher seasonal averages than Morris and Smith. A trio of forwards led by Willis (12.5 & 6.3) plus McDuffie (12.0 & 5.5) and Brown (9.2 & 3.9 ), as well as guard Shamet (9.9). Northern Iowa: The Panthers are off 31- and 23-win seasons, last year upsetting Texas in a first round NCAA game. However, three key players are gone from that squad, a perimeter trio consisting of Washpun (14.2-4.1-5.3), Bohannon (11.5 & 4.1) and Jesperson (10.8 & 4.0). So far this season, senior guard Morgan (16.7 & 6.9) has carried the load, with four players averaging between 7.3 and 8.7 PPG. The Panthers just haven't scored much, averaging 63.8 PPG (335th) on 39.9 percent shooting (324th).
The pick: This is just a bad matchup for UNI. Wichita Sttae pays excellent defense, holding opponets to 63.6 PPG (28th) on 37.5% shooting (7th) plus can also score, averaging 83.4 PPG (29th). The Shockers are 38-15 ATS in their last 53 road games and 43-20-1 ATS in their last 64 conference matchups while Northern Iowa is 0-9 ATS in their last 9 games against a team with a winning record and 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games overall. Make Wichita State a 10* play. |
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01-08-17 | 76ers v. Nets -2 | Top | 105-95 | Loss | -110 | 4 h 32 m | Show |
The set-up: The 9-25 Philadelphia 76ers have inched ahead of the 8-27 Brooklyn Nets in the standings, as the Nets have dropped their last five games and 10 of their last 11. Meanwhile, the 76ers began this season with 18 losses in their first 22 games but after snapping an eight-game losing streak with an 11-point win over the Pelicans back Dec. 8., Philly has five wins during a stretch of 13 games. Philadelphia: One of those five wins was a 108-107 home win over the Nets back on Dec. 18, led by Joel Embiid's career-high 33-point performance. After sitting out two years due to foot injuries, Embiid is averaging 19.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 2.38 BPG. Through 34 games, the 76ers have six more wins than last season (team finished 10-72) and four more than 2014-15, which ended with 18 wins. Embiid is a significant reason for Philadelphia's improvement this season plus credit must also be given to Ersan Ilyasova, averaging 15.1 & 6.4, who was acquired Nov.1 by the 76ers in a trade with the Thunder. Brooklyn: The Nets are near the bottom of several offensive categories such as assists (20.8), FG percentage (44.0 percent), turnovers (17.2) and three-point percentage (33.7 percent) and combined with the league's worst scoring defense (114.3 PPG), have resulted in a 4-22 slide since Nov. 12, 10 of 11 losses since Dec. 14 and a current five-game losing streak. The Nets played their fifth game without PG Jeremy Lin (13.9 & 5.8 APG in 12 games, nine starts) in Friday's 116-108 home loss to the Cavs, who is rehabbing his second left hamstring injury. The Nets are 5-18 when Lin does not play and his absences have resulted in 14 different starting lineups with five different point guards, including Spencer Dinwiddie, who scored seven points in 17 minutes Friday.Center Brook Lopez (19.9 & 5.2) scored 17 points Friday, marking the season-high fourth straight game he was held under 20. The Nets are 1-13 when Lopez does not hit 20 and he is shooting 19 of 49 percent, including 4 of 18 from 3-point range in his last four games.
The pick: Sure, the Nets are a mess but Brooklyn found some positives off the bench on Friday, when guards Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead combined for 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. "Caris and Isaiah coming in and playing really important minutes against the world champions is really positive," Atkinson told reporters. "We don’t back down, especially at home." The 76ers are just 3-11 SU on the road this season and with this pointspread, almost have to win to cover. I won't say this very often the rest of 2017 but make the Nets an 8* play. |
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01-07-17 | Tennessee +12 v. Florida | Top | 70-83 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 50 m | Show |
The set-up: The Tennessee Volunteers (8-6, 1-1 SEC) will visit the Florida Gators (11-3, 2-0 SEC), who are ranked 24th in the latest AP poll. Tennessee: The Vols are just 8-6 but Florida head coach Mike White says the Volunteers are much better than their record indicates. "They'll be very well prepared, typical of a Rick Barnes-coached team," White told reporters this week. "I like their team speed and depth." As for Barnes, he knows his team will need a much better effort than it gave in a loss to Arkansas on Tuesday. "I thought we took a step backwards the other night (against Arkansas)," Barnes told reporters. "I didn't just feel like we completed the way we have to. What people might think on the outside, that we're playing hard, but there's a different level that we expect and that we know we have to do every night." Twelve Volunteers are averaging more than 10 minutes per game. Senior guard Robert Hubbs III leads Tennessee in scoring at 15.2 points per game and is second in rebounding at 4.9 boards per game. 6-5 freshman forward Grant Williams leads the team in rebounding at 5.9 RPG and is second in scoring at 10.8. Junior guard Detrick Mostella is the Vols' best weapon off the bench and at 10.6 & 4.1, is the only other double digit scorer for the Vols.
Florida: Sophomore guard KeVaughn Allen leads Florida's balanced attack by averaging 14.1PPG. He is one of three Gators averaging in double figures, along with 6-6 junior forward Devin Robinson is averaging (12.6 & 5.5) and senior guard Canyon Berry (11.6), a graduate transfer from Charleston. Barry is coming off his best performance of the season, scoring 20 points in Florida's 70-63 win over Ole Miss. Florida didn't play a complete game against the Rebels, as they let a 20-point lead midway through the second half slip away and were forced to hold on down the stretch. |
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