20* CBB Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Wisconsin -4.5

The Wisconsin Badgers are clearly one of the most underrated teams in the country.  They are off to a 7-1 start this season with their only loss coming to Providence.  They have five quality wins already over Texas A&M, Houston, St. Mary's, Georgia Tech and Marquette.  They have played the 56th-toughest schedule in the country.

Indiana is also 7-1, but it has come against the 273rd-ranked schedule in the country.  They were double-digit favorites in six of their seven wins.  In their lone road game, they lost outright to a bad Syracuse team.  And now this will be their toughest test of the season by far at Wisconsin.

Wisconsin simply owns Indiana at home, going 18-1 SU in the last 19 meetings in Madison.  Indiana is 0-6-1 ATS in its last seven road games.  The Hoosiers are 0-6 ATS in their last six games as underdogs.  The Badgers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall.  Bet Wisconsin Wednesday.

20* Celtics/Lakers TNT Late-Night BAILOUT on OVER 219

These teams played in a shootout in their first meeting on November 19th in a 130-108 victory by the Celtics in Boston for 238 combined points.  The OVER is now 7-1 in the last eight meetings with combined scores of 226 or more points in six of the last seven.  It should be more of the same tonight, especially with the way these two teams are trending.

The OVER is 4-1 in Lakers last five games overall and they just got LeBron James back healthy.  They lost to the Clippers 115-119 for 234 combined points last time out.  The OVER is 2-0 in Celtics last two games overall as they combined with the Jazz for 267 points and the Blazers for 262 points without overtime in either!

The Lakers play at the 2nd-fastest pace in the NBA this season.  Russell Westbrook has been an OVER machine everywhere he has gone because he pushes the pace at the PG position.  Dennis Schroder loves to do the same for the Celtics and has been a great addition to their team this season averaging 17.9 points per game.  Bet the OVER in this game Tuesday.

20* CBB DOG OF THE WEEK on North Dakota State +5.5

North Dakota State is one of the better mid-major teams in the country.  They returned all five starters this year and are off to a 5-3 start with their only losses coming on the road to UNLV (by 2), Arizona and Creighton.  They have taken care of business against everyone else.

Montana State lost to a team the caliber of North Dakota State in South Dakota State by a final of 74-91.  The Bobcats are 5-4 this season with their only wins coming against Rocky Mountain, Portland, Incarnate Word, SE Missouri State and Sacramento State with two of those wins coming by 3 points or less.

The Bobcats should not be this big of favorites against the Bison, let alone favorites at all.  It's also a tougher rest spot for the Bobcats as they will be playing their 3rd game in 6 days, while the Bison come in on four days' rest after blasting Northland 114-51 last time out on December 2nd.

North Dakota State is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 road games following an ATS loss.  Montana State is 1-8 ATS in its last nine games vs. good teams that outscore their opponents by 4-plus points per game.  The Bobcats are 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games.  Montana State is 3-12-1 ATS in its last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take North Dakota State Tuesday.

15* CBB Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on Kansas -18.5

The Kansas Jayhawks have faced a brutal schedule thus far and are 6-1 with their only loss coming to Dayton by a single point after blowing a double-digit lead.  They beat St. John's by 20 and Michigan State by 13 with five of their seven games on a neutral thus far.  Now they are back home where they have beaten Tarleton State by 26 and Stony Brook by 29.

Kansas has played the 72nd-toughest schedule in the country.  Now they take a on a 4-3 UTEP team that has played the 192nd schedule.  Their toughest games were two losses to New Mexico State.  The their five games have come against Western New Mexico, Northern New Mexico, Pacific, UC-Riverside (lost by 12) and Florida A&M.  It's safe to say this is a massive step up in class for the Miners.

UTEP is 2-6 ATS in its last eight games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Miners are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games following three or more consecutive home games.  This is an elite Kansas offense averaging 85.4 points per game against teams that only allow 66 points per game, scoring nearly 20 points per game more than their opponents typically allow.  They will run it up here.  Roll with Kansas Tuesday.

20* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on San Antonio Spurs +7.5

The Phoenix Suns finally had their 18-game winning streak snapped by the Golden State Warriors last time out.  I always like fading teams the game after having a long winning streak snapped because it tends to be a hangover spot.  The wind is lifted out of their sails.

A big reason the Suns lost to the Warriors is because they were without their best player in Devin Booker.  He remains out tonight with a hamstring injury, and the Suns have no business laying this big of a number against the San Antonio Spurs without him.

This is a fresh Spurs team playing their best basketball of the season right now.  They are 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall with four straight upset victories over the Celtics by 8, Wizards by 17, Blazers by 31 and Warriors by 5 as 9-point road dogs.  They will be playing just their 4th game in 10 days tonight.

Plays on road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (San Antonio) - after going under the total by 48 points or more in their last 10 games, a bad team winning 25% to 40% of their games on the season are 40-14 (74.1%) ATS over the last five seasons.  The Suns are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a loss.  San Antonio is 4-1-1 ATS in its last six trips to Phoenix.  Take the Spurs Monday.

20* Illinois/Iowa Big Ten No-Brainer on Illinois +4

The Illinois Fighting Illini were expected to be one of the best teams in the country this season.  But they were without their best player in Kofi Cockburn for the first three games, and it has taken time for them to form some chemistry.

Illinois opened 2-2 with upset losses to Cincinnati and Marquette.  That loss to Cincinnati was Cockburn's first game back.  They have since reeled off four straight victories over Kansas State, UTRGV, Notre Dame and Rutgers.  That 86-51 win over Rutgers as 9-point favorites showed their potential, and I think we get their 'A' game against Iowa tonight.

The Hawkeyes are overvalued after opening the season 7-1 SU & 6-2 ATS.  But their first six games were all at home against suspect competition as they were basically 20-point favorites or more in every game.  They escaped with a 75-74 win at Virginia, a team that is down this season.  And they lost by 7 at Purdue last time out, which was a respectable showing but I think has them overvalued tonight as 4-point favorites against the Fighting Illini.  

I have no doubt Illinois is the better of these two teams and it will show on the court.  The Fighting Illini are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games vs. good 3-point shooting teams that make 37% or better.  The Fighting Illini are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as road underdogs.  Roll with Illinois Monday.

20* NBA Eastern Conference TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Hornets/Hawks UNDER 221

Charlotte is going to be without its top two guards in LaMelo Ball (20.0 PPG, 8.3 APG) and Terry Rozier (17.7 PPG, 3.6 APG) tonight.  They will be hampered big-time offensively without these two, and they will be playing at a much slower pace than normal.

The Atlanta Hawks also have some injuries that will hamper them offensively and make them play at a slower pace.  They will be without Bogdan Bogdanovic, plus Trae Young, Cam Reddish and Kevin Huerter all questionable.  This will be a defensive battle.

The UNDER is 4-0 in the last four meetings with combined scores of 220 or fewer points in all four.  The UNDER is 13-3 in Hornets last 16 games vs. a team with a winning record.   The UNDER is 11-2 in Hawks last 13 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Bet the UNDER in this game Sunday.

20* CBB Sunday No-Doubt Rout on Northern Iowa -1.5

Northern Iowa is one of the most underrated teams in the country right now due to their 2-4 record.  They were banged up early in the season and suffered a couple upset losses.  But they have since gotten healthy and have played better.  They returned all five starters and basically everyone from last year.

They are just 2-2 since getting healthy, but close to being 4-0.  They held a 1-point lead in the final three minutes as 12.5-point dogs at Arkansas and lost.  They upset St. Bonaventure 90-80 as 10-point road dogs.  And they lost just before the buzzer to Bradley, 69-71 on the road last time out.

Now the Panthers are back home and taking on a Richmond team that is overrated.  The Spiders are just 4-4 this season.  They lost to Utah State, Drake, Maryland and Mississippi State.  Their four wins came against NC Central, Georgia State, Hofstra and Wofford with three of those wins coming at home.

Northern Iowa is 31-13 ATS in its last 44 games as a home favorite of 3 points or less.  Roll with Northern Iowa Sunday.

15* NBA Saturday Undervalued Underdog on San Antonio Spurs +9.5

The Golden State Warriors will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a win over the Devin Booker-less Phoenix Suns last night.  They are being asked to win by double-digits to beat us tonight, and I think that's asking too much.

The Spurs are playing their best basketball of the season right now.  They are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in their last three games overall with an 8-point home win over Boston, a 17-point home win over Washington and a 31-point road win at Portland all outright as underdogs.  They are rested and ready to go playing just their 3rd game in 8 days.

The Spurs are 13-3 ATS when playing just their 2nd game in 5 days over the last two seasons.  San Antonio is 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine games vs. a team with a winning record.  It's time to 'sell high' on the tired Warriors tonight.  Roll with the Spurs Saturday.

20* NBA GAME OF THE WEEK on Chicago Bulls +3.5

The Chicago Bulls have gotten healthy with Nikola Vucevic back and are starting to play up to their potential again.  They have gone 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS in their last four games overall with their lone loss coming to the Heat by 3.  They beat the Magic by 35 on the road, the Hornets by 14 at home and the Knicks by 4 on the road.

While the Bulls are rested and ready to go after having yesterday off, the Nets are tired playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a 110-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves last night, who were without Karl-Anthony Towns.  They are already without Joe Harris and Kyrie Irving, so they are short-handed.  Kevin Durant played 37 minutes, James Harden 35 and Lamarcus Aldridge 34 last night.

Chicago already crushed Brooklyn 118-95 at home in their first and only meeting this season.  The Nets are 0-7 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Brooklyn is 0-5 ATS in its last five games as a favorite.  The Nets are 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.  Bet the Bulls Saturday.

15* Alabama/Gonzaga ESPN 2 ANNIHILATOR on Alabama +9.5

Alabama is really getting disrespected here.  The Crimson Tide are one of the best teams in the country, and oddsmakers are asking Gonzaga to win by double-digits Saturday to beat us.  That's asking too much.

Gonzaga has shown vulnerabilities in its last two games.  They lost outright to Duke as 9-point favorites, then came back with just a 9-point win over Tarleton State as 31-point favorites.  Now they are up against an Alabama team that definitely has some of the best guards in the country that will be hard to deal with.

Alabama is 6-1 this season with a 4-point loss to Iona in upset fashion.  But the other six games have been very impressive in going 5-1 ATS in those six games.  That includes a 32-point win over Miami, a 9-point win over a good Drake team, a 16-point win over a good South Dakota State team, a 27-point win over a good Oakland team and a 29-point win over a quality Louisiana Tech team.  Those aren't big names, but they are some of the better teams in their mid-major conferences.

Alabama is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games vs. good rebounding teams that average 40 or more boards per game.  Nate Oats is 11-2 ATS when the total is 160 or higher as the coach of Alabama.  Mark Few is 1-8 ATS after two straight games forcing 8 or fewer turnovers as the coach of Gonzaga.  Take Alabama Saturday.

20* CBB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Saint Louis -2

Saint Louis is one of the most underrated teams in the country.  They are off to a 7-1 SU & 5-2 ATS start this season with their only loss coming on the road to Memphis.  They brought back almost everyone from last year and a ton of talent for Travis Ford.  And they have impressive road wins over Stephen F. Austin and Boise State in their last two games coming in.

UAB is getting way too much respect after opening 6-2 SU & 5-1-1 ATS against a soft schedule.  They lost to the two best teams they faced in South Carolina and San Francisco, neither of which are as good as Saint Louis.  And the six wins have come against suspect competition as they have been a double-digit favorite in all six.

Saint Louis has a huge home-court advantage and is 4-0 at home this season while winning by 41.8 points per game.  The Billikens are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 non-conference home games.  Saint Louis is 19-7-1 ATS in its last 27 home games overall.  Take Saint Louis Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday Line Mistake on Colorado State -4

Colorado State is one of the best mid-major teams in the country.  They returned all five starters this season from a team that barely missed out on the NCAA Tournament last year.  They are on a mission to get to the big dance this year, and a win over St. Mary's would go a long way.

The Rams have handled their business thus far in their 8-0 start that has seen them outscore opponents by 18.1 points per game.  They beat Creighton by 14 and Oral Roberts by 29, two NCAA Tournament teams from last year.  They are coming off a 31-point win over Arkansas-Little Rock and have had the last two days off.  

St. Mary's will be playing its 2nd road game in 3 days after a narrow win at Utah State, 60-58 on Thursday.  Playing in altitude here will be tough for the Gaels.  It will also be their 6th game in 13 days.  Bet Colorado State Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday Undervalued Underdog on SIU-Edwardsville +10

SIU-Edwardsville is just 2-5 SU this season but all five losses were decided by 13 points or less and they have faced some stiff competition.  They only lost by 11 at Marquette as 21-point dogs, upset Youngstown State on the road as 5-point dogs and only lost at Creighton by 5 as 21-point dogs.

Now SIU-Edwardsville is catching 10 points against a down Bradley team that is just 3-5 this season with two wins over Missouri S&T and Maine.  They lost by 16 to South Dakota State, by 12 to Howard as 12.5-point favorites, by 3 to Brown as 3.5-point favorites and by 8 to Duquesne as 2-point dogs.  They did pull the upset over Northern Iowa in their MVC opener last time out by 2, but that makes this a letdown spot for them today.

SIU-Edwardsville is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  The Cougars are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as road underdogs.  The Braves are 5-15-2 ATS in their last 22 games overall.  Bradley is 2-7-1 ATS in its last 10 games as a favorite.  Roll with SIU-Edwardsville Saturday.

20* Suns/Warriors ESPN Late-Night BAILOUT on UNDER 215.5

The Suns and Warriors just played on Tuesday with the Suns winning 104-96 for 200 combined points.  Now they play again just three days later here Friday, and familiarity favors defense and low scoring games.

The Suns are going to be severely hampered on offense now with the loss of leading scorer, Devin Booker.  He got hurt against the Warriors in the first half of that game and missed last game against Detroit.  He will be out again tonight, and with points going to be hard to come by for the Suns, they are going to have to rely on their defense.

Speaking of defense, these are the top two defensive teams in the NBA, which explains why they have the two best records in the NBA.  The Warriors rank 1st in defensive efficiency, giving up just 97.8 points per 100 possessions.  The Suns rank 2nd, allowing 101.4 points per 100 possessions.

The Warriors are 11-2 UNDER in their last 13 games after a combined score of 205 points or less.  Golden State is 32-13 UNDER In its last 45 games after playing its last game on the road.  The Warriors are 8-0 UNDER vs. a team with a winning record this season.  Golden State is 8-0 UNDER vs. good passing teams averaging at least 23 assists per game this season.  The UNDER is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings.  Take the UNDER in this game Friday.

15* 76ers/Hawks ESPN ANNIHILATOR on Philadelphia +1.5

It's a good time to 'buy low' on the Philadelphia 76ers after going just 3-9 SU & 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games overall.  They played the majority of those games without Joel Embiid.  But they are playing better with him back of late, and I look for them to upset the Atlanta Hawks tonight.

It's a good time to 'sell high' on the Hawks, who are 8-1 SU & 7-2 ATS in their last nine games overall.  But injuries have hit the Hawks of late as they are without De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic and could be without Cam Reddish, who is questionable.

Every time the 76ers see the Hawks this season they are going to want revenge after getting knocked out of the playoffs by Atlanta last year.  That showed in their 122-94 home win as 3.5-point favorites in their first meeting this season.  And now they will go on the road and exact some more revenge on the Hawks with an outright victory.  Take the 76ers Friday.

20* NBA Friday No-Doubt Rout on Indiana Pacers -5

This is a great time to 'buy low' on the Indiana Pacers tonight.  They have lost three straight with a blowout loss to the Bucks and two tough losses to the Hawks and Timberwolves by a combined 5 points.  They will be highly motivated for a victory tonight, and they won't be taking the short-handed Miami Heat lightly because of it.

Miami is without its two best players in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.  That explains their ugly losses in their last two games with a 111-120 home loss as 3-point favorites against the Nuggets followed by an 85-111 home loss to the Cavaliers as 2.5-point favorites.  They just aren't a very good team without these two.

The Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.  The Pacers are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 home games.  Indiana is 12-4 ATS in its last 16 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Bet the Pacers Friday.

20* CBB Friday No-Doubt Rout on Illinois -8

The Illinois Fighting Illini were expected to be one of the best teams in the country this season.  But they were without their best player in Kofi Cockburn for the first three games, and it has taken time for them to form some chemistry.

Illinois opened 2-2 with upset losses to Cincinnati and Marquette.  That loss to Cincinnati was Cockburn's first game back.  They have since reeled off three straight victories over Kansas State, UTRGV and Notre Dame.  But at just 2-5 ATS this season, this is a good time to 'buy low' on them tonight in their Big Ten opener against Rutgers.

Rutgers is just 4-3 SU & 1-5-1 ATS this season.  It's clearly a rebuilding year for the Scarlet Knights, who lost a lot in the offseason.  They have so many concerning results.  They lost outright as favorites to DePaul (-2.5), Lafayette (-19) and UMass (-1.5).  They struggled to beat Lehigh by 3, Merrimack by 13 and New Jersey Tech by 14.  This clearly isn't a very good team, and this will be by far their toughest test of the season after playing an easy early schedule.

Illinois is 32-12 ATS in its last 44 games as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points.  This one has double-digit blowout written all over it folks.  Roll with Illinois Friday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Detroit Pistons +13

You're paying a tax tonight to back the Phoenix Suns due to their 17-game winning streak.  If there was ever going to be a letdown spot, this is the one because they are coming off a huge National TV win over Golden State on Tuesday, and now they have the Warriors on deck tomorrow night.

The Suns will be trying to conserve their energy in this game against the Pistons, especially since they just lost their best player in Devin Booker to injury against the Warriors last time out.  They are now short-handed and there's no way they should be 13-point favorites without Booker.

While it's a great time to 'sell high' on the Suns, it's also a great time to 'buy low' on the Pistons.  They have lost seven straight coming in, but five of them came by 11 points or fewer against some very good competition.  The Pistons are 8-5 ATS in their last 13 games overall and have been consistently catching too many points, including tonight.

Detroit is 20-7 ATS in its last 27 games following three or more consecutive losses.  The Pistons are 15-5 ATS in their last 20 games following a blowout loss by 15 points or more.  Detroit is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games following a loss.  The Pistons are 26-9 ATS in the last 35 meetings, including 7-2 ATS in the last 13 meetings in Phoenix.  Bet the Pistons Thursday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Thunder/Grizzlies UNDER 215

The Memphis Grizzlies are going to be without JA Morant for the foreseeable future.  They are definitely an UNDER team without him.  That showed last time out in their 98-91 win over the Raptors for 189 combined points.  And this total has been set way too high tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder are a tired team that will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a loss to Houston last night.  I think that fatigue hurts them more on offense than defense.  The Thunder are tied for last in the NBA in offensive efficiency this season.  They are in the middle of the pack (15th) in defensive efficiency and have been underrated on that end.

The UNDER is 37-18 in Thunder last 55 road games.  The UNDER is 66-29-1 in Thunder last 96 games as road underdogs.  The UNDER is 22-9 in Grizzlies last 31 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Take the UNDER in this game Thursday.

15* CBB Thursday Undervalued Underdog on Youngstown State +5.5

Wisconsin-Milwaukee has no business being a 5.5-point favorite over Youngstown State tonight, let alone a favorite at all.  The Panthers are 1-5 SU & 1-5 ATS this season despite playing a very easy schedule.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee opened with a win over North Dakota.  They have since lost five straight despite being favorite in three of them.  They lost by 6 to Eastern Kentucky as 5-point home favorites, by 36 to Florida as 16.5-point road dogs, by 14 to Bowling Green as 2.5-point neutral court favorites, by 13 to Yale as 7-point neutral court underdogs and by 4 to Alcorn State as 10-point home favorites.

Youngstown State is 2-3 SU & 2-3 ATS.  They were competitive in all three losses.  They covered in a 16-point loss at Penn State as 17-point dogs.  They only lost toby 3 to SIU-Edwardsville and by 5 to Niagara, two teams that are underrated in my book.

The Penguins are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 road games following three or more consecutive home games.  Youngstown State is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games.  Milwaukee is 8-21 ATS in its last 29 games as a favorite.  The Panthers are 18-37-1 ATS in their last 56 games as home favorites.  Milwaukee is 6-18 ATS in its last 24 home games.  The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.  Roll with Youngstown State Thursday.

15* CBB Wednesday UPSET SHOCKER on Providence +3

Texas Tech is 6-0 this season and has yet to play a true road games.  The Red Raiders have played the 357th-ranked schedule in the country with their six wins coming against North Florida, Grambling, Prairie View A&M, Incarnate Word, Nebraska-Omaha and Lamar.

It's time to 'sell high' on the Red Raiders after this start against this soft schedule.  Now they will be playing their first true road games against a Providence team that is battle-tested and has gotten through the 154th-ranked schedule at 6-1.  That includes upset road wins over Wisconsin on the road and Northwestern on a neutral with their lone loss coming to Virginia on a neutral.

Texas Tech is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games following two or more consecutive ATS wins.  The Red Raiders are 0-7 ATS in their last seven road games after allowing 60 points or less.  Texas Tech is 1-12 ATS in its last 13 vs. Big East opponents.  The Red Raiders are 0-7 ATS in their last seven road games.  Providence is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games vs. excellent teams that shoot 45% or better and allow 42% or less.  The Friars are 8-0 ATS in their last eight home games vs. a team with a winning record.  Roll with Providence Wednesday.

15* CBB Wednesday Undervalued Underdog on Wichita State +7.5

Wichita State is 6-1 this season with its only loss to Arizona by 4 points as 9.5-point dogs.  That's a very good Arizona team.  They are battle-tested also having road wins over Missouri and UNLV.  And now they are catching too many points tonight against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The Cowboys are also 6-1 but getting too much respect from oddsmakers.  They have narrow wins over NC State by 6 and Oral Roberts by 1.  They also have an upset loss to Oakland as a 17-point favorite.  They have played a much softer schedule, too.  The Cowboys have no business laying this big of a number to the Shockers tonight.

Wichita State is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games vs. a team that wins more than 80% of their games on the season.  The Shockers are 6-0 ATS in their last six games vs. good teams that outscore their opponents by 8-plus points per game.  Wichita State is 17-5-1 ATS in its last 23 games as an underdog.  The road team is 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings.  Take Wichita State Wednesday.

20* CBB Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Northern Iowa -4

Northern Iowa is one of the best teams in the Missouri Valley this season.  But they had some bad losses early when they were injured.  Now they are fully healthy, and they played up to their potential when they had a 1-point lead with under three minutes left at Arkansas as 12.5-point dogs.  The Panthers went on to lose that game by 13 in one of the worst beats of the college basketball season.

But Northern Iowa played up to its potential last time out, upsetting previously unbeaten and ranked St. Bonaventure 90-80 on the road as 10-point dogs.  They will be playing just their 2nd game since November 17th tonight, so they are rested, fully healthy and ready for this Missouri Valley opener against Bradley.

The Braves are way down this season.  They are just 2-5 SU & 2-4 ATS with their two wins coming against Missouri S&T and Maine.  They have losses to Howard by 12 as 12.5-point favorites, South Dakota State by 16 as 9-point dogs, Brown by 3 as 3.5-point favorites and Duquesne by 8 as 2-point dogs.  They won't be able to hang with a team the caliber of the Panthers tonight.

Bradley is 0-11 ATS in its last 11 games after going under the total in its previous game.  The Braves are 4-15-2 ATS in their last 21 games overall.  Take Northern Iowa Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total DOMINATOR on Timberwolves/Wizards OVER 215.5

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been a great offensive team since De'Angelo Russell returned to the lineup.  They have scored 100 points or more in 12 of their last 13 games.  They have averaged 116.0 points per game in their last seven games with Russell.

Washington has scored at least 99 points or more in six straight.  But the Wizards have struggled on the other end, allowing 99 points or more in seven straight.  Look for a shootout between these two teams tonight, especially when you consider their recent head-to-head history.

The OVER is 7-0 in the last seven meetings with combined scores of 227 or more points at the end of regulation in all seven.  The Timberwolves and Wizards have averaged 242.3 combined points at the end of regulation in those seven meetings, which is nearly 27 points more than tonight's posted total of 215.5.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

20* NBA Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on Indiana Pacers PK

The Indiana Pacers are highly motivated for a victory after losing three of their last four to the Lakers, Bucks and Timberwolves.  Look for them to get back in the win column here as this is a great time to 'buy low' on the Pacers as a PK at home against the Atlanta Hawks.

It's also a good time to 'sell high' on the Hawks, who have gone 7-1 SU & 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall.  But most of that success has come at home.  The Hawks are just 3-8 SU & 2-9 ATS on the road this season.  And they are without De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic tonight and could be without Cam Reddish, who is questionable.

Atlanta is 1-9 ATS vs. good defensive teams that allow 108 points per game or fewer this season.  The Hawks are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 road games.  The Pacers are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Indiana is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 home games.  The Pacers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.  Bet the Pacers Wednesday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Lakers/Kings UNDER 227.5

The Lakers and Kings just played on Friday in a 141-137 (OT) victory in triple-overtime by the Kings.  That game was tied 100-100 at the end of regulation for just 200 combined points.  And now we are getting a massive 227.5-point total in the rematch.

There's clearly value with the UNDER tonight.  Plus, these teams are obviously very familiar with one another after playing just a few days ago, and familiarity favors defense and low scoring games.  Look for this game to come well short of this 227.5-point total at the end of regulation tonight.

The Lakers are 27-13 UNDER in their last 40 games as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points.  The Kings are 30-14 UNDER in their last 44 games after playing their last game on the road.  The UNDER is 13-6-1 in Lakers last 20 games vs. a team with a losing record.  The UNDER is 27-11-1 in Kings last 39 games playing on one days' rest.  The UNDER is 35-15-1 in Kings last 51 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  Bet the UNDER in this game Tuesday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Detroit Pistons +9.5

The Detroit Pistons are playing much better basketball here of late now that they are getting healthy and forming some chemistry.  They have gone 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall despite a brutal schedule.  They lost by 3 to the Warriors, by 8 to the Heat, by 21 to the Bucks, by 11 to the Clippers and by 4 to the Lakers.

Now they are catching 9.5 points against a struggling Portland Trail Blazers team and actually take a big step down in class here.  Asking the Blazers to win this game by double-digits to beat us is asking a lot.  They are 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS in their last three games, losing by 4 to the Kings, by 15 to the Warriors and by 22 to the Jazz.  Now they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after playing in Utah last night as well.

Detroit is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games following four or more consecutive losses.  The Pistons are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games following a loss.  Detroit is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.  Bet the Pistons Tuesday.

15* Warriors/Suns TNT ANNIHILATOR on Phoenix -2

The Phoenix Suns will be motivated to earn their 17th consecutive victory tonight.  I think we are getting them at a discount as only 2-point favorites at home against the Golden State Warriors, who have the best record in the NBA.  But you are paying a tax on the Warriors now moving forward due to that record.

The Suns are a lot healthier than the Warriors are right now, too.  Phoenix is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games after allowing more than 100 points in its previous game.  The Suns are 50-24-1 ATS in their last 75 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Take the Suns Tuesday.

15* CBB Tuesday Undervalued Underdog on North Dakota State +9.5

North Dakota State is one of the better mid-major teams in the country.  They returned all five starters this year and are off to a 4-2 start with their only losses coming on the road to UNLV (by 2) and Arizona.  They can hang with Creighton tonight.

This is one of the worst Creighton teams of the Greg McDermott era.  While they are 6-1 SU, they are just 2-5 ATS.  They have concerning close wins over SIU-Edwardsville by 5 as 21-point favorites, Southern Illinois by 2 as 6-point favorites, Kennesaw State by 7 as 19-point favorites and Arkansas-Pine Bluff by 13 as 34-point favorites.  North Dakota State is better than all four of those teams.

Th Bison are 10-0 ATS in their last 10 road games following an ATS loss.  North Dakota State is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games following a win where they failed to cover the spread.  Roll with North Dakota State Tuesday.

15* Florida State/Purdue ESPN ANNIHILATOR on Florida State +11.5

You're paying a tax to back the Purdue Boilermakers right now due to their No. 2 national ranking and their 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS record.  Now they are laying double-digits to a very good Florida State team that will give them a run for their money tonight.

Florida State is 5-1 this season with its only loss coming on the road to Florida.  That includes blowout wins over Missouri by 23 as 9.5-point favorites, Loyola-Marymount by 28 as 6.5-point favorites and Pennsylvania by 35 as 19.5-point favorites.

Purdue has four blowout wins and two close wins against the best two teams that they have faced.  They beat Villanova by 6 and North Carolina by 9, and I think the Seminoles are more than capable of keeping this a single-digit game tonight.

Purdue is 4-13 ATS in its last 17 home games after scoring 95 points or more.  Take Florida State Tuesday.

15* CBB Monday Undervalued Underdog on Tarleton State +31.5

Tarleton State has played the 2nd-toughest schedule in the entire country and has been competitive against some very good teams.  So they won't be phased by having to play Gonzaga tonight, and I look for them to stay within this massive number.

Tarleton lost by 12 at Stanford, by 26 at Kansas, by 14 at Wichita State, by 1 at North Dakota State and by 11 at Michigan.  So they haven't lost by this margin all season and have faced two of the best teams in the country in Kansas and Michigan.

This is a letdown spot for Gonzaga.  They just played UCLA and Duke in back-to-back games, and now they have another huge game on deck against Alabama.  That makes this s a sandwich spot for them.  I don't think they'll be giving Tarleton State the full attention they deserve tonight.

Gonzaga is 2-12 ATS in its last 14 games after covering four or five of their last six ATS.  The Texans are 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine games as road underdogs.  Tarleton State is 6-1-1 ATS in its last seven games overall.  The Bulldogs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games.  Roll with Tarleton State Monday.

15* NBA Monday Undervalued Underdog on Cleveland Cavaliers +6.5

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the most underrated teams in the NBA this season.  They have gone 10-10 SU & 13-5-2 ATS in their 20 games despite battling through injuries all season.  But now they are about as healthy as they have been since the start of the season with pretty much every important player on the court other than Collin Sexton, who is out for the season.

But Sexton's injury hasn't slowed down the Cavaliers.  They have gone 3-0 ATS in their last three games overall, losing by just 5 to Brooklyn, by 5 to Phoenix and crushing Orlando by 13.  They are rested and ready to go tonight playing just their 2nd game in 5 days.

The Dallas Mavericks are just 1-4 SU in their last five games overall and getting too much respect here again tonight.  They were 6.5-point favorites against Washington last time out and lost by 6.  And now they come back as 6.5-point favorites against this feisty Cleveland team.

Cleveland is 8-1 ATS after playing a home game this season.  The Cavaliers are 10-2 ATS following an ATS win this season.  Cleveland is 9-0 ATS in its last nine games after scoring 100 points or more in its previous game.  Dallas is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 home games.  The Mavericks are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  Take the Cavaliers Monday.

20* NBA Monday No-Doubt Rout on Chicago Bulls -5.5

The Chicago Bulls are highly motivated for a victory after losing three of their last four games coming in.  They just recently got Nikola Vucevic back and now are as healthy as they have been all season with him and Coby White in the lineup.  This is one of the best rosters in the NBA.

It's a great time to 'buy low' on the Bulls and 'sell high' on the Hornets, who have gone 8-2 SU & 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  It's a tired Hornets team playing their 7th game in 11 days and in their 7th different city as well.  Look for them to be flat tonight, and that showed last time out in their upset road loss to the Houston Rockets, 143-146.

Chicago owns Charlotte.  The Bulls are have 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in the last three meetings with wins by 21, 17 and 13 points.  Chicago is 14-4 ATS in its last 18 games following a loss by 6 points or less.  The Hornets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.  Charlotte is 8-20 ATS in its last 28 games as a road underdog.  The Bulls are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS loss.  Chicago is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 games as a favorite.

Plays against road underdogs (Charlotte) in a game involving two good 3-point shooting teams that make at least 36.5%, after two straight games where they made 16 or more 3-pointers are 30-8 (78.9%) ATS since 1996.  Bet the Bulls Monday.

15* Iowa/Virginia ESPN 2 ANNIHILATOR on Virginia -1.5

The Iowa Hawkeyes are overvalued right now after a 6-0 SU & 4-2 ATS start this season against an extremely soft schedule.  They have played the 355th-ranked schedule in the country with all six games at home.  Now they hit the road for the first time this season at Virginia and this is a massive step up in competition.

Virginia is 5-2 this season against a much tougher schedule.  Obviously the loss to Navy in the opener was a bad loss, but the other came against Houston on the road, and Houston is one of the best teams in the country.

The Cavaliers have since rebounded nicely with four straight blowout victories all by 10 points or more, including a 10-point win over Georgia and an upset win over Providence by 18.  They are the more battle-tested team and will be ready for a game against a team that caliber of Iowa.

Iowa is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 road games following four straight wins by 10 points or more.  The Hawkeyes are 0-8 ATS in their last eight road games following three or more consecutive home games.  Take Virginia Monday.

20* Pistons/Lakers NBA Late-Night BAILOUT on Detroit +11.5

I like the spot for the Detroit Pistons tonight.  They will be out for revenge from their 116-121 loss to the Lakers on November 21st exactly one week ago today.  That was a heated game that led to the suspension of LeBron James.

The Pistons have played a brutal schedule of late during their five-game losing streak, which has them undervalued.  They lost by 3 to the Warriors, by 5 to the Lakers, by 8 to the Heat, by 21 to the Bucks and by 11 to the Clippers.  So they stayed within 11 of four of those five teams, and they can stay within 11 of the Lakers tonight.

Los Angeles has been overvalued all season, especially when James has played, and he is questionable to play tonight.  They are just 2-5 SU & 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall.  Their lone wins came by 5 over the Pistons and in overtime against the Pacers.  In fact, the Lakers haven't won any of their last 15 games by more than 11 points, making for a perfect 15-0 system backing the Pistons pertaining to this 11.5-point spread.  

Detroit is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games following four or more consecutive losses.  Los Angeles is 0-9 ATS in its last nine games vs. poor shooting teams that make 43% of their shots or worse.  The Pistons are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games following a loss.  The Lakers are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 home games.  Detroit is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.  Take the Pistons Sunday.

15* NBA Sunday Total DOMINATOR on Kings/Grizzlies UNDER 223.5

The Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings have some key injuries right now that are going to keep this game UNDER the total.  The Grizzlies are without JA Morant, so they are going to have to slow it down today and won't be nearly as effective on offense without him.

The Kings will be without both Harrison Barnes and Richaun Holmes and possibly Maurice Harkless.  I think this number is inflated today due to the Kings winning a 141-137 (OT) triple-overtime thriller against the Lakers last time out.  That game was tied 100-100 at the end of regulation for 200 combined points.

The Grizzlies lost Morant early in the game against the Hawks last time out and went on to manage just 100 points on 40.7% shooting.  Their offense runs through Morant, and they are going to be lost without him.  But they will try and make up for it on the defensive end.

Plays on the UNDER on all teams where the total is 210 or higher (Memphis) a losing team (40% to 49%) playing another losing team (25% to 40%) in Sunday games are 26-6 (81.2%) since 1996.  The UNDER is 8-0 in Kings last eight Sunday games.  The UNDER is 21-9 in Grizzlies last 30 Sunday games.  The UNDER is 20-9 in the last 29 meetings, including 9-2 in the last 11 meetings in Memphis.  Bet the UNDER in this game Sunday.

15* CBB Sunday PLAY OF THE DAY on Belmont -2.5

The Belmont Bruins return all five starters from a team that went 26-4 last year.  Not only that, but the top five scorers on the bench return as well, so this is really the most experienced team in the nation.  The top five scorers all averaged double figures last year for the Bruins, so this is a very balanced team.  They averaged 81.3 points per game, which ranked 13th nationally.

The Bruins are off to a 5-2 start this season against a brutal schedule.  The losses came to Ohio and LSU, and they have solid wins over Furman, Drake and Iona.  I think their depth will play a big factor here playing in the championship game of the ESPN Events Invitational playing their 3rd game in 4 days.

This is a terrible spot for Dayton.  They will have a letdown after their shocking 74-73 win as 16-point dogs against Kansas last round.  This is a Dayton team that was just 2-3 coming into that game with upset losses to UMass-Lowell 58-59 as 17.5-point favorites, Lipscomb 59-78 as 9-point favorites and Austin Peay 81-87 as 14-point favorites.  They aren't that good, and we are getting Belmont at a discount due to that Kansas upset.

The Bruins are 6-0 ATS in their last six games after committing eight or fewer turnovers in their previous game.  The Flyers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games overall.  The Bruins are 4-1-1 ATS in their last five games overall.  Roll with Belmont Sunday.

15* Heat/Bulls Eastern Conference ANNIHILATOR on Miami -1.5

This is a tough spot for the Chicago Bulls.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after having to fly back from Orlando after a win against the short-handed Magic last night.  It will also be the 9th game in 14 days for the Bulls.  This team simply doesn't have much left in the tank.

Now they have to face a rested, motivated Miami Heat team that comes in on two days' rest and off an upset loss to the Timberwolves.  I don't think the Bulls will be able to match the Heat's energy or intensity in this game tonight.

The Heat are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games vs. a team with a winning record, including 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Miami is 15-7 ATS in its last 22 games playing on two days' rest.  The Heat are 4-0 ATS in their last four trips to Chicago.  Take the Heat Saturday.

20* CBB Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Santa Clara -3.5

Herb Sendek has a very good Santa Clara team this season.  The Broncos are 5-1 SU & 4-1-1 ATS this season against a brutal schedule.  They beat Stanford by 16 as 3-point dogs, Nevada by 22 as 1.5-point dogs, TCU by 19 as 3.5-point dogs and Cal Poly by 30 as 14.5-point favorites.  Their lone loss came to Fresno State last time out, and I think they are undervalued off that defeat.

UC-Irvine is a solid team at 3-1 this season.  But they lost to the best team they faced in New Mexico State by 11 as 5.5-point dogs.  It was also their only road game this season.  And I don't see them hanging with this veteran, talented Santa Clara squad on the road tonight.

Irvine is 0-6 ATS in its last six road games after a win by 10 points or more.  Irvine is 0-7 ATS in its last seven road games after covering two of its last three ATS.  The Anteaters are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as road underdogs.  The Broncos are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 games following an ATS loss.  Roll with Santa Clara Saturday.

20* NBA Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Philadelphia 76ers -4.5

The Philadelphia 76ers get Joel Embiid back from COVID tonight.  They come in highly motivated for a victory after struggling without him, going 2-7 SU & 2-7 ATS in their last nine games overall.  This after a solid 8-2 start this season with him on board for most of those games.

The schedule has done the 76ers no favors without Embiid, either.  They have played six straight road games coming in.  But now they are back home where they have been one of the best home teams in the NBA over the past few seasons.  And they are rested and ready to go coming in on two days' rest.

While it's a great time to 'buy low' on the 76ers, it's also a great time to 'sell high' on the Minnesota Timberwolves.  They have gone 5-1 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.  But they are in a tough spot tonight playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 10th game in 16 days after a shootout loss in Charlotte last night.  They won't be able to match Philadelphia's energy and intensity tonight.

The Timberwolves are 0-4 ATS in their last four games as road underdogs.  The 76ers are 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.  The 76ers are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in Philadelphia.  Bet the 76ers Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday Undervalued Underdog on Northern Iowa +10

Northern Iowa is one of the best teams in the Missouri Valley this season.  But they had some bad losses early when they were injured.  Now they are fully healthy, and they played up to their potential when they had a 1-point lead with under three minutes left at Arkansas last time out as 12.5-point dogs.

The Panthers went on to lose that game by 13 in one of the worst beats of the college basketball season.  But now that works in our favor here because the Panthers are catching more points than they should be against St. Bonaventure.  They have also had a ton of time to get ready for this game and get even healthier with that Arkansas contest being their last game on November 17th.

While it's a great time to 'buy low' on Northern Iowa, it's also a great time to 'sell high' on St. Bonaventure after opening 5-0 SU & 3-1-1 ATS.  The Bonnies just played a big tournament and beat Boise State (by 6), Clemson (by 3) and Marquette to win the title.  This is now a letdown spot for them as they return home to face 1-3 Northern Iowa.

The Panthers are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games vs. excellent defensive teams that allow 35% shooting or lower.  Bet Northern Iowa Saturday.

15* Bucks/Nuggets NBA TV ANNIHILATOR on Milwaukee -3

The Milwaukee Bucks are 7-0 when Giannis, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have been on the floor together this season.  They have won five straight games by 7 points or more and are playing their best basketball of the season right now at their healthiest point of the season.

Now they take on an injury-ravaged Denver Nuggets team that is not playing well, going 0-5 SU & 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall with four losses by double-digits.  They are without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., and Nikola Jokic has missed the past three games with a wrist injury and is questionable to return tonight.  I don't think it matters, but would obviously be a bonus if he didn't play.  Roll with the Bucks Friday.

20* NBA Friday No-Doubt Rout on Memphis Grizzlies -1

It's a good time to 'sell high' on the Atlanta Hawks after going 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in their final six games prior to Thanksgiving.  They had gone 0-6 SU & 0-6 ATS in their previous six games.  And they won five of those six games at home.

Atlanta has been terrible on the road this season.  The Hawks are 2-8 SU & 1-9 ATS in their 10 road games.  They face a motivated Memphis Grizzlies team that is as healthy as they have been all season now.

The Hawks are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 road games, including 0-8 ATS in their last eight games as road underdogs.  The Hawks are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games as underdogs overall.  The Grizzlies are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games following a SU loss by more than 10 points.  Bet the Grizzlies Friday.

15* NBA Friday Total DOMINATOR on Timberwolves/Hornets OVER 224.5

Two teams that are playing very well and like to get up and down square off tonight when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Charlotte Hornets.  The Hornets rank 4th in the NBA in pace this season while the Timberwolves rank 11th.

Minnesota got De'Angelo Russell back healthy and he has helped spark a 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS run in their last five games overall.  The Timberwolves have scored at least 107 points in all five games and have averaged 116.6 points per game during this stretch.  He is the whole key to their offense, and they play a lot faster with him at the helm.  The Timberwolves will also be without their best defender in Patrick Beverly tonight, which will help the OVER.

Charlotte is 7-1 SU & 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight games overall.  The Hornets have scored at least 104 points in 10 of their last 11 games overall.  They rank 11th in offensive efficiency but just 24th in defensive efficiency this season.  They are an OVER team.

The OVER went 2-0 in two meetings last season with Charlotte winning 120-114 at home for 234 combined points, and 135-012 on the road for 237 combined points.  This game has all the makings of a shootout as well.  Take the OVER Friday.

15* CBB Friday PLAY OF THE DAY on LSU -8.5

LSU looks like one of the most underrated teams in the country.  They are 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS this season with all five wins coming by 16 points or more and by an average of 34.4 points per game.  That includes wins over solid mid-major programs in Liberty by 16 as 7.5-point favorites and Belmont by 30 as 6.5-point favorites.

Penn State is in rebuilding mode.  The Nittany Lions are 3-1 SU but 0-4 ATS this season.  They failed to cover at home against Youngstown State, Cornell and St. Francis-NY.  They also lost outright by 25 at UMass as 4-point favorites in their lone road game.  This is a huge step up in class for Penn State.

Plays on neutral court teams (LSU) - an excellent offensive team that averages at least 76 points per game against an average defensive team allowing 67-74 points per game, after two straight blowout wins by 20 points or more are 24-5 (82.8%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet LSU Friday.

15* CBB Thursday UPSET SHOCKER on Loyola-Chicago +3

Loyola-Chicago played the early game yesterday and got the extra time to rest and sit around and watch the Auburn/UConn game to scout both teams.  That's a huge advantage.  That rest advantage is even bigger now that Auburn and UConn went to double-overtime yesterday.

Indeed, UConn beat Auburn 115-109 in double-overtime in an absolute shootout.  Five players played at least 32 minutes for the Tigers yesterday.  They won't have much left in the tank for the Ramblers today and I'm shocked they are favored.

Auburn is 2-7 ATS in its last nine games vs. a team with a winning record.  Loyola-Chicago is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven neutral site games.  The Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their last five neutral site games.  Take Loyola-Chicago Thursday.

15* UConn/Michigan State ESPN Early ANNIHILATOR on Michigan State +2.5

Michigan State played the early game yesterday and got the extra time to rest and sit around and watch the Auburn/UConn game to scout both teams.  That's a huge advantage.  That rest advantage is even bigger now that Auburn and UConn went to double-overtime yesterday.

Indeed, UConn beat Auburn 115-109 in double-overtime in an absolute shootout.  Five players played more than 30 minutes for the Huskies, including two more than 43 minutes.  They won't have much left in the tank for the Spartans today.

UConn is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games after scoring more than 90 points in its previous game.  Michigan State is 3-0-1 ATS in its last four games overall.  The underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.  Bet Michigan State Thursday.

15* Memphis/VA Tech ESPN 2 ANNIHILATOR on Memphis -2.5

The Memphis Tigers are loaded this season and off to an impressive 4-0 start while winning by an average of 22.7 points per game.  Their 16-point home win over a very good Saint Louis team was very eye-opening.  And they followed it up with a 12-point win over a quality Western Kentucky team.  They have played the much tougher competition to this point.

Virginia Tech is overvalued after a 5-0 start against one of the easiest schedules in the country.  The Hokies have seen their five wins come again Maine, Navy, Radford, St. Francis-PA and Merrimack.  This is a huge step up in competition for them, and I expect them to fail.

The Tigers are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 games overall.  Memphis is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Virginia Tech is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games as an underdog.  Take Memphis Wednesday.

20* CBB Wednesday No-Doubt Rout on South Dakota State -4

South Dakota State is the best team in the underrated Summit League this season.  The Jackrabbits returned all five starters from a team that went 16-7 overall last year and 9-3 in Summit play.  And not just any five starters, how about five staters that all averaged in double figures last year.  They also return four bench players that played significant minutes last year, allowing the Jackrabbits to play at the break-neck pace that made them the Summit's most efficient offense last season.

They are off to a 5-2 start this season with one loss coming to Alabama on the road.  Well, Alabama is one of the best teams in the country.  They also beat Stephen F. Austin 83-71 as a 2-point favorite, Montana State 91-74 as a 10-point favorite, Bradley 81-65 as a 9-point favorite and Nevada 102-75 as 2.5-point favorites cover the spread in all four games.  

They did come up short yesterday against Washington as the Huskies couldn't miss, shooting 58.3% from the field.  But I like the Jackrabbits to bounce back today and they are built for these tournament situation playing three games in three days due to their tremendous depth.  They also play at a break-neck pace, which will really test George Mason.

George Mason has now lost three straight to James Madison, Washington and then Nevada in a 88-69 blowout yesterday.  That's the same Nevada team that South Dakota State beat by 27.  George Mason is not a deep team with six players averaging 21 minutes and the next-highest at 11 minutes.  They brought back just one starter from last year's team.

The Patriots are 14-36-1 ATS in their last 51 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  George Mason is 1-5 ATS in its last six neutral site games.  South Dakota State is 35-17-1 ATS in its last 53 games overall.  The Jackrabbits are 34-16-1 ATS in their last 51 games following an ATS loss.  South Dakota State is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games off an upset loss by 10 points or more as a favorite.  The Jackrabbits are 6-0 ATS in their last six games following a loss.  Bet South Dakota State Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday UPSET SHOCKER on San Antonio Spurs +4

This is a great time to 'buy low' on the San Antonio Spurs after losing five straight games coming in against a brutal schedule.  But they stayed within 4 points of the red hot Phoenix Suns last time out, and I expect them to upset the Atlanta Hawks at home tonight.  

The Spurs are fresh playing just their 2nd game in 6 days tonight.  They are highly motivated for a victory to end this losing streak heading into Thanksgiving.  And they face a Hawks team they have owned, going 21-2 SU in their last 23 home meetings with Atlanta.

Conversely, it's a great time to 'sell high' on Atlanta, which is 5-0 SU & 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall.  But all five wins came at home.  The Hawks are 1-8 SU & 0-9 ATS on the road this season. They are getting outscored by 10.0 points per game on the highway.  Enough said.  Take the Spurs Wednesday.

20* Nets/Celtics ESPN No-Brainer on Boston +1.5

The Boston Celtics are surging right now in going 8-3 SU & 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall with all three losses on the road including two by a combined 5 points.  They are 5-0 SU & 4-1 ATS at home during this stretch with wins over the Raptors by 16, Bucks by 9, Lakers by 22, Rockets by 18 and Thunder by 5.

Now they host a Brooklyn Nets team that is banged up.  The Nets are just 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games overall with narrow wins over some bad teams in Cleveland (twice) and Orlando, as well as an 18-point loss to Golden State.  They are without Joe Harris and Bruce Brown, which puts way too much on Durant and Harden's shoulders.

Plays on home teams where the line is +3 to -3 (Boston) - after beating the spread by 24 or more points total in their last three games against an opponent that went over the total by 42 or more points in their last seven games are 28-8 (77.8%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet the Celtics Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Indiana Pacers -3.5

The Lakers are a tired team right now which is a big reason they are just 1-4 SU & 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.  Now they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a 6-point loss to the Knicks last night.  It will also be the 7th game in 11 days for the Lakers.  They haven't had two days off in a row since October 20-21.

The Indiana Pacers are flashing their potential now that they are as healthy as they have been all season.  The Pacers are 7-5 SU & 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games overall.  Their last two games have been very impressive with a 15-point home win over New Orleans and a 32-point road win at Chicago.

The Lakers are 2-16 ATS in their last 18 road games with a total set of 210 to 219.5.  The Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games.  The Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.  Indiana is 5-0 ATS in its last five home meetings with Los Angeles.  Roll with the Pacers Wednesday.

15* Nuggets/Blazers TNT Total DOMINATOR on OVER 213.5

The Portland Trail Blazers are an OVER team now that they are healthy.  They have gone 5-1-1 OVER in their last seven games overall with combined scores of 219 or more points in six of those seven games.  Now we have a total of just 213.5 here against the Nuggets tonight.

The Nuggets are 4-1 OVER in their last five games overall with combined scores of 212 or more points in four of those five games.  There's a decent chance they get Nikola Jokic back, who is questionable.  Even if they don't they'll have to play small ball and will be an OVER team regardless.

The OVER is 7-1 in the last eight meetings with combined scores of 219 or more points in seven of those eight meetings.  This is an OVER series, as well.  Roll with the OVER in this game Tuesday.

20* CBB Tuesday No-Doubt Rout on South Dakota State -5.5

South Dakota State is the best team in the underrated Summit League this season.  The Jackrabbits returned all five starters from a team that went 16-7 overall last year and 9-3 in Summit play.  And not just any five starters, how about five staters that all averaged in double figures last year.  They also return four bench players that played significant minutes last year, allowing the Jackrabbits to play at the break-neck pace that made them the Summit's most efficient offense last season.

They are off to a 5-1 start this season with their only loss coming to Alabama on the road.  Well, Alabama is one of the best teams in the country.  They also beat Stephen F. Austin 83-71 as a 2-point favorite, Montana State 91-74 as a 10-point favorite, Bradley 81-65 as a 9-point favorite and Nevada 102-75 as 2.5-point favorites cover the spread in all four games.  They are the real deal this season.

That blowout win over Nevada yesterday means the Jackrabbits will be fresh again today.  They will be taking on a rebuilding Washington team that is 3-2 SU & 1-4 ATS this season.  Washington barely survived in a 77-74 win over George Mason yesterday and will be tired because of it.  The Huskies were also upset by both Wyoming and Northern Illinois as a 20-point home favorite earlier this season.  They barely beat Northern Arizona 73-62 and Texas Southern 72-65 as well.

This will be essentially be home game for the Jackrabbits being played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The Jackrabbits are 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 games overall and have been one of the most underrated teams in the country over the past few seasons.  The Huskies are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a win.  Washington is 9-20 ATS in its last 29 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Bet South Dakota State Tuesday.

15* CBB Tuesday Undervalued Underdog on Nebraska-Omaha +30

Texas Tech is overvalued after a 4-0 start against a weak schedule with wins over North Florida by 15, Grambling by 26, Prairie View A&M by 35 and Incarnate Word by 22.  The Red Raiders should not be laying 30 points to Nebraska-Omaha tonight.

Omaha has shown they can be competitive on the road against some quality teams.  They only lost by 4 at Ball State as 10.5-point dogs, by 15 at Kansas State as 17.5-point dogs and by 21 at Montana as 12.5-point dogs.  They will stay within 30 of the Red Raiders tonight.

Texas Tech is 0-6 ATS in its last six games following three or more consecutive wins.  The Mavericks are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games.  The Red Raiders are 9-19 ATS in their last 28 games overall.  This is a rebuilding Texas Tech team without Chris Beard, who moved on to Texas this year.  Take Nebraska-Omaha Tuesday.

15* Oregon/St. Mary's ESPN ANNIHILATOR on Oregon -1.5

This is a great time to 'buy low' on the Oregon Ducks.  They have failed to cover the spread in their last two games, including a blowout loss to BYU in which the Cougars shot lights out at 58.6% and made about every 3-pointer they looked at.  That loss came after an 86-63 blowout win over SMU, so the quality of competition has been high for the Ducks this season already.

It's also a great time to 'sell high' on Saint Mary's.  The Gaels are 5-0 against a very soft schedule of Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern, Southern Utah, Bellarmine and Notre Dame.  They only beat Notre Dame 62-59 yesterday, and Oregon blew out Chaminade 73-49.  So the Ducks will be the fresher team in this back-to-back situation.  They are the better team as well and it will show.

The Ducks are 29-14 ATS in their last 43 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  The Gaels are 11-25 ATS in their last 36 neutral site games as an underdog.  Saint Mary's is 1-5 ATS in its last six games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  The Gaels are 0-4 ATS in their last four games as underdogs.  Roll with Oregon Tuesday.

15* CBB Cancun Challenge ANNIHILATOR on Buffalo -4.5

Buffalo is picked to win the MAC and the MAC is one of the best mid-major conferences in the country, especially at the top.  Ohio upset Belmont, Akron nearly upset Ohio State losing by 1, Kent State gave Xavier a run for its money and Buffalo covered in a competitive effort against Michigan.

The Bulls returned four starters this season including three who averages at least 13 points per game in Jeenathan Williams (17.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG), Josh Mballa (15.3 PPG, 10.8 RPG) and Ronaldo Segu (13.3 PPG, 4.3 APG).  Williams is averaging 21.7 PPG and 7.0 RPG, Mballa 12.7 PPG and 8.3 RPG and Segu 13.7 PPG and 4.3 APG to this point during their 2-1 start.

This will be the first road game of the season for Stephen F. Austin.  They are clearly rebuilding this season as evidenced from their first two games, beating LSU-Alexanderia 82-73 and Mary Hardin-Baylor 76-63.  They lost 71-83 at home to South Dakota State as 2-point dogs, and needed a huge second half to beat Middle Tennessee 87-74.  Buffalo is on the same level as South Dakota State this season.

Buffalo is 10-1 ATS when playing just its 2nd game in a week over the last two seasons.  The Bulls are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 road games off a home win.  The Lumberjacks are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a win.  Stephen F. Austin is 0-5 ATS in its last five games following an ATS win.  Take Buffalo Tuesday.

15* NBA Monday Undervalued Underdog on Oklahoma City Thunder +12

What more do the Oklahoma City Thunder have to do to get some respect from oddsmakers?  They have gone 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games overall and have been an underdog in 15 of their 16 games this season.  They continue catching too many points here as 12-point dogs to the Atlanta Hawks.

It's a great time to 'sell high' on the Hawks, who have gone 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.  They had gone 0-6 SU & 0-6 ATS in their previous six games prior to this run.  And they should not be double-digit favorites here against the Thunder.

Oklahoma City is 20-6 ATS in its last 26 road games following two or more consecutive road losses.  Well, those road losses came to the Bucks by 7 and Celtics by 6, so they were competitive against two teams that are probably better than the Hawks.  

The Thunder are 5-0 ATS in their last five road games.  Oklahoma City is 7-0 ATS in its last seven games vs. a team with a losing record.  The Thunder are 23-10 ATS in the last 33 meetings, including 15-6 ATS in the last 21 meetings in Atlanta.  Take the Thunder Monday.

20* NBA Monday No-Doubt Rout on Washington Wizards -3.5

The Washington Wizards are 11-5 SU & 10-5-1 ATS this season.  They are one of the most underrated teams in the NBA.  And now they are out for revenge from an 87-97 road loss at Charlotte on Wednesday just five days ago.  They'll be motivated and they'll get the win and cover because of it.

It's a good time to 'sell high' on the Hornets, who are 5-1 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.  They had gone 0-5 SU & 0-5 ATS in their previous five games.  It's just not a team I trust very much because they don't play defense.

Indeed, the Hornets are giving up 113.7 points per game while ranking 25th in defensive efficiency.  Washington scored 87 points and shot just 36.7% including 8-of-42 from 3-point range against the Hornets last meeting.  That's not going to happen again.  And a big reason for the Wizards improvement this season is ranking 9th in defensive efficiency.

Washington is 8-0 ATS in its last eight home games after a combined score of 205 points or fewer.  Charlotte is 7-20 ATS in its last 27 games as a road underdog.  The Hornets are 18-44 ATS in their last 62 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  Washington is 30-14-1 ATS in its last 45 games overall.  The Wizards are 24-7 ATS in their last 31 games playing on one days' rest.  Bet the Wizards Monday.

15* CBB Monday Undervalued Underdog on Hofstra +9.5

Hofstra is one of the top teams in the Colonial Athletic Conference this season.  They returned three starters, brought in five transfers and three freshmen who will battle for playing time.  I've been impressed with how well the Pride have played in the early going against a brutal schedule.

Hofstra only lost by 8 at Houston as 18.5-point dogs, upset Duquesne by 10 as 4-point road dogs, only lost by 8 at Iona as 5.5-point dogs and lost by 2 at Maryland as 12.5-point dogs.  Taking Houston and Maryland to the wire on the road is no small feat and shows this team's potential.

Now the Pride are catching 9.5-points on the road to an overrated Richmond team.  The Spiders are just 2-2 this season with their two wins coming against NC Central by 10 as 26-point favorites and Georgia State by 16.  They lost by 11 on a neutral as 6.5-point favorites to Utah State.  They also lost on the road to Drake to sit at 2-2 this season.  Now they'll be playing their 2nd game in 3 days after having to travel back home from Des Moines, Iowa off that Drake loss.

Hofstra is 7-0 ATS in its last seven road games vs. ad defensive teams that allow 45% shooting or higher.  Richmond is 0-9 ATS in its last nine home games vs. good free throw shooting teams that make 77% or better.  The Pride are 37-17-1 ATS in their last 55 road games.  The Spiders are 1-4 ATS in their last five games as home favorites.  Roll with Hofstra Monday.

20* CBB Monday No-Doubt Rout on South Dakota State -1

South Dakota State is the best team in the underrated Summit League this season.  The Jackrabbits returned all five starters from a team that went 16-7 overall last year and 9-3 in Summit play.  And not just any five starters, how about five staters that all averaged in double figures last year.  They also return four bench players that played significant minutes last year, allowing the Jackrabbits to play at the break-neck pace that made them the Summit's most efficient offense last season.

They are off to a 4-1 start this season with their only loss coming to Alabama on the road.  Well, Alabama is one of the best teams in the country.  They also beat Stephen F. Austin 83-71 as a 2-point favorite, Montana State 91-74 as a 10-point favorite and Bradley 81-65 as a 9-point favorite to cover the spread in all three games.  They are the real deal this season.

Few teams have been more disappointing than Nevada this season.  They returned almost everyone from last year, but they are just 1-3 SU & 1-3 ATS.  They lost outright to San Diego by 7 at home as a 13.5-point favorite.  They lost by 22 at Santa Clara as a 1.5-point favorite.  Those two results alone show how broken this team is.

This will essentially be a home game for the Jackrabbits being played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the Crossover Classic.  The Jackrabbits are 34-16-1 ATS in their last 51 games overall and have been one of the most underrated teams in the country for a couple seasons now.  Take South Dakota State Monday.

20* NBA GAME OF THE MONTH on Toronto Raptors +10.5

It's time to 'sell high' on the Golden State Warriors.  Bettors are paying a tax on them now after opening 14-2 SU & 12-4 ATS this season.  But now they are double-digit favorites over a quality Toronto Raptors team that is getting healthy and ready to give the Warriors a run for their money.

The Raptors are coming off one of their best performances of the season in a 108-89 win at Sacramento as 3.5-point underdogs.  Pascal Siakam is back healthy and had a monster game, scoring 32 points on 10-of-12 shooting.  This team just has too much talent overall to be catching double-digits from the Warriors.

I always like fading teams in home games following a long road trip.  The Warriors are coming off a four-game trip that ended with a 3-point win at Detroit.  Now they are back home and a tired team, playing their 9th game in 15 days.  They have six players on the injury report as they are starting to feel the fatigue.  That includes Curry, Green, Porter Jr. and Iguodala, who are all questionable.

The Raptors are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games.  Toronto is 7-2 ATS in its last nine road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  Bet the Raptors Sunday.

15* CBB Sunday No-Doubt Rout on Florida State -6.5

This is a great time to 'buy low' on the Florida State Seminoles.  After crushing Pennsylvania by 35, they were upset by Florida and had a hangover from that defeat in a 5-point win over Tulane as a 16.5-point favorite.  Look for them to play up to their potential tonight and easily cover this short 6.5-point spread against Loyola-Marymount.

It's clearly Loyola-Marymount isn't as good as they were supposed to be coming into the season.  They are 2-1 against a very soft schedule with two very concerning efforts.  They lost outright to Chattanooga 64-75 as a 7point favorite and only beat Arizona Christian 74-67 in a game with no line.  They did beat Arkansas-Little Rock 82-63, and now this is a huge step up in class for them.

Plays on neutral court teams as favorites or PK (Florida State) - off a home no-cover where they won SU as a favorite, in a game involving two good teams (60% to 80%) are 65-28 (69.9%) ATS since 1997.  Roll with Florida State Sunday.

20* CBB Sunday UPSET SHOCKER on Boston College +3.5

Boston College will be out for revenge from a 49-57 road loss to Rhode Island as 4.5-point underdogs on November 17th just a few days ago.  Now the Eagles come back as 3.5-point dogs on a neutral in the Sunshine Slam played in Daytona Beach, FL.

I just expect the Eagles to be the more motivated team in the rematch, and for that to carry them to an outright victory.  Plus, Boston College isn't going to shoot 25% again like they did in that first meeting, and they still only lost by 8 with Rhode Island shooting 44.2%.  They had 42 rebounds compared to 29 for Rhode Island and should have a big edge on the glass again.  Bet Boston College Sunday.

15* CBB Sunday Early ANNIHILATOR on Ole Miss PK

The Ole Miss Rebels are 3-1 this season with their only loss coming to Marquette by 6.  And it's clear Marquette is actually pretty good with wins over Illinois and West Virginia already this season as well.  The Rebels have won their three games all by 18 points or more and will be one of the most improved teams in the country after COVID destroyed them last year.

Boise State lost a lot of talent from last year's team and is getting too much respect after having a good season.  The Broncos are 2-2 this season with their two wins coming against Utah Valley State and Temple.  They lost to UC-Irvine 50-58 as 2-point road favorites and St. Bonaventure 61.67 as 3.5-point dogs.

Ole Miss is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games after allowing 5 or fewer offensive rebounds in its prevous game.  Take Ole Miss Sunday.

15* CBB Saturday Night Line Mistake on Nebraska-Omaha +12.5

We have an underrated Nebraska-Omaha team up against an overrated Montana team here Saturday.  Omaha should not be catching double-digits in this showdown that should come right down to the wire.

Omaha only lost by 4 at Ball State as 10.5-point dogs and by 15 at Kansas State as 17.5-point dogs in its last two games coming in.  Montana lost by 37 as 11.5-point dogs at Mississippi State and by 2 as 7-point favorites at North Dakota in its last two games.

Omaha is 13-2 ATS in its last 15 games as a road underdog of 9.5 to 12 points.  Montana is 0-11 ATS in it last 11 Saturday games.  The Mavericks are 5-0 ATS in their last five road games.  The Grizzlies are 7-20 ATS in their last 27 games overall.  Montana is 3-14 ATS in its last 17 games as a favorite.  Take Nebraska-Omaha Saturday.

15* NBA Saturday Undervalued Underdog on Oklahoma City Thunder +10

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to get the money this season because they get no respect from oddsmakers.  They are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall and catching double-digits again tonight after covering in a 7-point loss at Milwaukee as a 12.5-point dog last night.

The Celtics will also be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, but they are coming off a huge win over the rival Lakers.  This is certainly a letdown spot for them now.  It will also be the 6th game in 9 days for the Celtics, so they won't have much left in the tank to beat the Thunder, let alone do it by double-digits.

Oklahoma City is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 road games after scoring 95 points or less last game.  The Thunder are 6-0 ATS in their last six games vs. a team with a losing record.  The Celtics are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 games following a win by more than 10 points.  Boston is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 home games.  Roll with the Thunder Saturday.

15* NBA Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Indiana Pacers -7

The Indiana Pacers are highly motivated for a victory tonight.  They have lost three straight on the road all by single-digits.  In fact, they have played seven of their last eight games on the road.  But they are back home now where they are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in their last three games with wins by 13 over the Spurs, 13 over the Knicks and 5 over the 76ers.

While both teams will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, it's a better spot for the Pacers than it is the Pelicans.  Injuries have ravaged the short-handed Pelicans this season.  They are just 3-14 SU & 7-10 ATS this season because of it.  They don't boast the depth that the Pacers do, and that will be a factor here.

New Orleans is 0-9 ATS in its last nine road games vs. good defensive teams that allow 108 or fewer points per game.  The Pelicans are 0-6 ATS in their last six road games.  The Pacers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.  Indiana is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games playing on zero rest.

Plays on any team (Indiana) - off three or more consecutive road losses, when playing the 2nd of a back-to-back are 29-9 (76.3%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Take the Pacers Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday Undervalued Underdog on San Jose State +29.5

Tim Miles is a great head coach and one of the more underrated hires of the offseason.  He's already turning San Jose State into a competent program this year.  The Spartans are 1-2 SU but 3-0 ATS with three competitive games as underdogs.

After upsetting CS-Fullerton 78-76 as 5.5-point dogs, San Jose State also covered in a 14-point road loss at Stanford as 18.5-point dogs.  They then nearly upset Cal Baptist in a 1-point loss as 11-point road dogs.  And now they are catching 29.5 points against Texas, which is too much.

Texas came into the season with a ton of hype due to the hiring of Chris Beard from Texas Tech .  But the Longhorns have fallen flat, losing by 12 to Gonzaga as 7.5-point dogs and only beating Northern Colorado by 13 as 21-point favorites in their last two games coming into this one.

Texas is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 home games after a win by 10 points or more.  The Longhorns are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 home games following a win.  Texas is 0-8 ATS in its last eight home games vs. teams who attempt 21 or more 3-point shots per game.  Bet San Jose State Saturday.

15* CBB Friday No-Doubt Rout on Memphis -13.5

The Memphis Tigers are loaded this season and a legit contender.  They just beat a very good Saint Louis team handily 90-74 as 10.5-point favorites.  And now they take a big step down in competition here against Western Kentucky and should have no problem covering this 13.5-point spread at home.

Western Kentucky lost most of their studs from lsat year.  The result has been a 1-2 SU & 0-3 ATS start this season.  The Hilltoppers barely survived in a 79-74 home win over Alabama State as a 25.5-point favorite.  That Alabama State team is now 0-5.

The Hilltoppers went on to get upset 69-73 as 3-point favorites against a rebuilding Minnesota team.  Then they lost 64-75 to South Carolina as 1-point underdogs.  That's also a rebounding South Carolina team.  This is a huge step up in competition for the Hilltoppers tonight.

The Tigers are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 games overall.  Memphis is 14-3 ATS in its last 17 games as a favorite.  The Tigers are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 home games.  Take Memphis Friday.

15* NBA Friday Undervalued Underdog on Orlando Magic +12.5

The Brooklyn Nets will be playing their 3rd game in 4 days.  It will also be their 8th game in 13 days.  This team is short-handed right now without Kyrie Irving, Paul Millsap and Joe Harris.  There's just too much on Kevin Durant and James Harden's shoulders, especially given the tough rest spot.

I expect the Magic to hang around for four quarters in this one.  They want revenge from a home loss to the Nets just over a week ago on November 10th.  And they are the much fresher team playing just their 6th game in 12 days.  They have recent upset wins over the Knicks as 11.5-point dogs and the Jazz as 11-point dogs as well, so they are starting to play better.

The Nets are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  Brooklyn is 0-4 ATS in its last four games following an ATS win.  The Magic are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.  Orlando is 4-1 ATS in its last five trips to Brooklyn.  Take the Magic Friday.

15* CBB Friday Undervalued Underdog on Middle Tennessee +11

Middle Tennessee is off to an impressive 3-0 start this season.  The Blue Raiders crushed their first two opponents by 39 and 20 points.  Then they upset a very good Winthrop team 76-65 as 5.5-point underdogs.  Now they will hang with Stephen F. Austin tonight.

Stephen F. Austin is rebuilding this season.  They were not impressive at all in their first two games that didn't have lines.  They beat LSU-Alexandria by 9 and Mary Hardin-Baylor by 13.  Then they were crushed 71-83 as 2-point home underdogs to South Dakota State.  So that's three straight poor performances, and they have no business laying 11 points to the Blue Raiders tonight.

Plays on underdogs (Middle Tennessee) - off two consecutive home wins by 10 points or more, a team that had a losing record last season are 54-23 (70.1%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Roll with Middle Tennessee Friday.

20* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Detroit Pistons +8

This is a terrible spot for the Golden State Warriors.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a 13-point 4th quarter comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last night.  Now they have to travel to Detroit and will be playing their 8th game in 13 days.

The Pistons are the fresher team and had yesterday off following a 97-89 upset win over Indiana at home on Wednesday.  They also upset Houston on the road and Toronto on the road in winning three of their last five games overall.  They are playing their best basketball of the season and will be highly motivated to welcome the team with the best record in the NBA to Detroit in the Warriors.  Bet the Pistons Friday.

15* NBA Thursday UPSET SHOCKER on Memphis Grizzlies +1

It's a good time to 'buy low' on the Memphis Grizzlies, who have lost three of their last four coming in.  But they are fully healthy now for basically the first time all season, and it showed in their 136-102 win over the Rockets last time out.  Now they have had the last two days off and will be fresh and ready to go against the Clippers tonight.

It's a great time to 'sell high' on the Clippers after going 8-1 SU in their last nine games overall against a pretty soft schedule.  But the injuries are mounting up for the Clippers now.  They are without Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris and Justise Winslow, and they could be without Terrance Mann, who is questionable.  Take the Grizzlies Thursday.

20* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on San Antonio Spurs +2.5

This is a very tough spot for the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days tonight.  They won't have much left in the tank for the San Antonio Spurs.

We'll get a fresh, motivated effort from the Spurs tonight coming off three straight losses and having yesterday off.  It should be enough to win this game outright against the Timberwolves, who had gone 1-8 SU in their previous nine games prior to beating the Kings last night.  Bet the Spurs Thursday.

15* CBB Thursday Undervalued Underdog on Alabama State +28

Alabama State is 0-4 SU but 4-0 ATS against some quality competition.  They lost by 5 at Western Kentucky as 25.5-point dogs, by 19 at Vanderbilt as 25.5-point dogs, but 18 at Missouri State as 23.5-point dogs and by 8 at Iowa State as 19-point dogs.

Now Alabama State is catching a whopping 28 points to Iowa, which isn't nearly as good as they were last season.  The Hawkeyes are 3-0 against some very weak competition in Longwood, Missouri-KC and NC Central.  And they only beat NC Central by 17 as 29.5-point favorites last time out.  I can't foresee them beating Alabama State by more than 28 points tonight.  Roll with Alabama State Thursday.

15* Ohio State/Xavier FS1 ANNIHILATOR on Ohio State -2

After two sub-par performances to open the season, the Ohio State Buckeyes played up to their potential in an 89-58 win as a 16-point favorite over Bowling Green last time out.  They are the better of these two teams with Xavier, and that will show tonight as they get the win and cover.

Xavier hasn't looked great itself.  The Musketeers only beat Niagara 63-60 as a 17-point favorite before topping Kent State 73-59 as an 8.5-point favorite.  But they were in a dog fight with Kent State until the final minutes.

That 3-point win over Niagara gives these teams a common opponent.  Ohio State beat Niagara by 10.  Every matchup is different, but I don't see how Xavier can be trusted to score much against Ohio State considering they shot just 39% overall and 25% from 3-point range against Niagara and Kent State.  Ohio State is shooting 49.4% overall and 36.1% from 3-point range.

The Buckeyes are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 road games.  The Musketeers are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following an ATS win.  Take Ohio State Thursday.

15* NBA Wednesday UPSET SHOCKER on Sacramento Kings +2.5

It's a great 'buy low' spot on the Sacramento Kings, who are clearly a better team than the Minnesota Timberwolves and should not be underdogs here.  The Kings had gone 0-4 SU & 0-4 ATS in their previous four games before throttling the Pistons 129-107 last time out.  But three losses came by 5 points or less and against some solid competition.

Now the Kings get another step down in competition here against the Timberwolves, who are 1-8 SU & 2-7 ATS in their last nine games overall.  Five of those losses came by double-digits as they have rarely even been competitive.  And while the Kings will be playing just their 2nd game in 5 days, the Timberwolves will be playing their 4th game in 6 days.

The Kings rank 8th in offensive efficiency while the Timberwolves rank 26th this season.  So while the Timberwolves are slightly ahead in defensive efficiency, the gap on offense more than makes up for it.  Minnesota just has no chemistry on the offensive end, and Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most overrated players in the league because they don't know how to use him properly.  He disappears way too often.

The Kings are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 road games.  Sacramento is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games as a road underdog.  Minnesota is 1-6 ATS in its last seven home games.  The Timberwolves are 6-21-1 ATS in their last 28 games as home favorites.  Take the Kings Wednesday.

15* CBB Wednesday Undervalued Underdog on Northern Iowa +13

Northern Iowa was picked to finish 2nd in the strong Missouri Valley entering the season.  You can see why most liked this team as they returned everyone from last year and all five starters.  But they were without a couple starters when they were upset by Nicholls State and Vermont to open the season.

Those guys returned to help the Panthers beat Dubuque 95-58 last time out.  And now the Panthers are at full strength and a sleeper going into Arkansas looking to give the Razorbacks a run for them money.  Northern Iowa will be looking to right some wrongs in the early going with this matchup with a Top 25 opponent.

Arkansas is due for some regression this year.  The Razorbacks lost three starters and three of their top four scorers in Moses Moody (16.8 PPG), Justin Smith (13.6 PPG) and Jalen Tate (11.0 PPG) from last year's 25-7 team.  It's no wonder they failed to cover against weak competition to open the season, only beating Mercer 74-61 as a 19-point favorite and Gardner Webb 86-69 as a 19.5-point favorite.  Northern Iowa is better than both those teams and it's not close.

Plays on road underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points (Northern Iowa) - a team that had a losing record last season, with all five starters returning from last year in the first five games of the season are 80-35 (69.6%) ATS since 1997.  Take Northern Iowa Wednesday.

20* Lakers/Bucks ESPN No-Brainer on OVER 218

Two of the fastest teams square off tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Milwaukee Bucks and a shootout should be the result.  The Lakers rank 3rd in the NBA in pace, while the Bucks rank 8th.

The Lakers play even faster when LeBron James is out just as he has been for a few weeks now.  Russell Westbrook likes to get up and down.  It has hurt the Lakers defensively as they give up 105.1 points per 100 possessions.

The Bucks have been even worse on the defensive end, ranking 20th in defensive efficiency at 106.8 points per 100 possessions allowed.  But their offense gets a boost tonight with the return of Khris Middleton following a two-week absence due to COVID.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

15* CBB Tuesday Late-Night BAILOUT on CS-Fullerton -3

CS-Fullerton will be highly motivated for a victory after two narrow road losses to Santa Clara (77-84) and San Jose State (76-78) to open the season.  Now they are home for the first time and those two losses were against two teams that I think are underrated this season.

Fullerton actually takes a step down in class here against George Washington in my opinion.  The Colonials are 1-2 this season and just lost by 20 at Cal San Diego as a 1-point favorite.  Their lone win came against St. Francis-PA 75-72 as a 7-point home favorite.  It's a rebuilding year for GW off a 5-12 season and losing three starters from last year's team, including leading scorer Jamison Battle (17.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG).

I expect CS-Fullerton to be one of the most improved teams in the country and compete for a Big West title.  They went just 5-9 in the Big West last year but had three losses by a combined seven points.  There led the conference in scoring last year and return four starters who combined for 42.8 points per game last season, plus 6th man Dante Maddox Jr. (11.9 PPG).

Dante Maddox Jr (13.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG), Tre Maddox Jr. (11.0 PPG), Vincent Lee (15.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (9.5 PPG) are all back and off to solid starts with those being their season averages through two games.  They added in Tennessee transfer E.J. Anosike (15.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG), who has been their best player already.  And fellow newcomer Damari Milstead (10.0 PPG) is making a big impact already.

George Washington is 0-7 ATS in its last seven games off a road loss by 10 points or more.  The Colonials are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games.  Georgia Washington is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  This is a great time to 'buy low' on the Titans while we still can.  Roll with CS-Fullerton Tuesday.

15* Saints Louis/Memphis ESPN+ ANNIHILATOR on Saint Louis +10.5

I love what Travis Ford is building at Saint Louis.  They went 14-7 and made the NIT last year despite a COVID-ravaged season and brought back three starters from that team.  They also brought in several top transfers.

The Billikens are off to a dominant 3-0 start this season, covering as a 22-point favorite in a 96-61 win over Central Arkansas, beating Harris Stowe 127-54, and throttling Eastern Illinois 86-44 as a 21-point favorite.

Gibson Jimmerson (18.7 PPG), Yuri Collins (9.7 PPG, 9.3 APG), Francis Okoro (11.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG) and Marten Linssen (11.7 PPG) are all off to strong starts this season and back from last year's team.  Memphis transfer Jordan Nesbitt (13.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG) has fit in nicely as well.

Memphis is getting a lot of hype again this season with a Top 25 ranking and plenty of big-name recruits and talent.  But Penny Hardaway has been a disappointment.  And I don't know how they can be trusted to lay double-digits here against a team the quality of Saint Louis.

Memphis is 0-7 ATS in its last seven games off two consecutive home wins by 10 points or more.  Saint Louis is 6-0 ATS in its last six games off a home win where it scored 85 points or more.  The Tigers are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games vs. excellent shooting teams that make 52% or better.  The Billikens are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as road underdogs.  Saint Louis is 41-19 ATS in its last 60 games as an underdog overall.  The underdog is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six meetings.  Take Saint Louis Tuesday.

15* Warriors/Nets TNT ANNIHILATOR on Brooklyn -3

It's time to 'sell high' on the Golden State Warriors after going 11-2 SU & 9-4 ATS to open the season.  Now they are only catching 3 points from the Brooklyn Nets tonight, a legit title contender.  And the Warriors will be without Draymond Green, so they won't be able to defend Durant and Harden very well without him.

The Nets are quietly playing great themselves.  They have gone 8-1 SU in their last nine games overall with all eight wins by 6 points or more and by an average of 15.8 points per game.  Durant and Harden are really clicking right now, and you can bet Durant wants to have a big game against his former team here.

The Nets won both meetings with the Warriors in blowout fashion last year.  They won 125-99 at home and 134-117 on the road.  I think it's more of the same here, especially since the Warriors don't have their defensive stalwart in Green.  The Nets are now 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings, including 4-0 ATS in the last four home meetings.

Brooklyn is 13-1 ATS in its last 14 games following two consecutive non-conference games.  The Nets are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. Pacific Division opponents.  The Warriors are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games as road underdogs.  Brooklyn is 15-5 ATS in its last 20 home games.  Take the Nets Tuesday.

20* CBB DOG OF THE WEEK on Georgia State +7.5

Georgia State is picked to win the Sun Belt this season for good reason.  They return all five starters from a team that went 16-6 last year.  And all five starters averaged at least 10.1 points per game, so they are the definition of team basketball.

The Panthers are off to a great start winning their opener 97-37 over Brewton-Parker and 83-64 over Northeastern as a 6.5-point favorite.  They have been much more impressive than Richmond, which only beat lowly NC Central 70-60 as a 26-point favorite and lost outright to Utah State 74-85 as a 6.5-point favorite.  Based off those results, there's no way Richmond should be a 7.5-point favorite in this matchup.

Richmond is 11-27 ATS in its last 38 games as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points.  Georgia State is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 non-conference games.  The Panthers are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games as underdogs.  Bet Georgia State Tuesday.

20* CBB Monday No-Doubt Rout on Buffalo -2

Buffalo is picked to win the MAC and the MAC is one of the best mid-major conferences in the country, especially at the top.  Ohio upset Belmont, Akron nearly upset Ohio State losing by 1, Kent State gave Xavier a run for its money and Buffalo covered in a competitive effort against Michigan.

The Bulls returned four starters this season including three who averages at least 13 points per game in Jeenathan Williams (17.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG), Josh Mballa (15.3 PPG, 10.8 RPG) and Ronaldo Segu (13.3 PPG, 4.3 APG).  Williams had 32 pionts, Segu 15 and Mballa 13 in their 76-88 loss at No. 6 ranked Michigan.

North Texas is getting too much respect from oddsmakers here tonight.  The Mean Green are picked to finish 5th in lowly Conference USA.  They lose three starters from last year and all three averaged in double figures scoring, so the losses are huge.  They don't return anyone that averages more than 10 points per game.

Buffalo is 25-8 ATS in its last 33 games as a road favorite of 3 points or less or PK.  The Bulls are 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven road games.  Buffalo is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six games following a loss.  Take Buffalo Monday.

20* NBA Monday No-Doubt Rout on New York Knicks -3

The New York Knicks are highly motivated for a victory tonight.  They have lost two straight and five of their last six games overall against a tough schedule.  They also want revenge from a 98-111 road loss to these Indiana Pacers on November 3rd earlier this month.

The Knicks come in on two days' rest and are fully healthy, so expect a big effort from them tonight.  And it's a good time to 'sell high' on the Pacers after going 5-2 SU & 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.  The Pacers will be playing in their 4th different city in 6 days as well.

New York is 36-18 ATS in its last 54 games when revenging a same-season loss.  The Knicks are 6-1-1 ATS in their last seven games playing on two days' rest.  New York is 30-9 ATS in its last 38 games with a line of +3 to -3.  The Knicks are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 home meetings with the Pacers.  Bet the Knicks Monday.

15* CBB Monday Night Line Mistake on Belmont -6

The Belmont Bruins return all five starters from a team that went 26-4 last year.  Not only that, but the top five scorers on the bench return as well, so this is really the most experienced team in the nation.  I think we are getting good value on them after getting upset in their opener by a very good Ohio team from that MAC that just had a great shooting night.

The top five scorers all averaged double figures last year for the Bruins, so this is a very balanced team.  They averaged 81.3 points per game, which ranked 13th nationally.  This is a team that will be highly motivated to get back to the NCAA Tournament after not playing in it the past two seasons. 

I backed Belmont as a 14-point favorite in its 81-43 home win over Evansville bouncing back from that loss to Ohio.  And I'm on the Bruins again tonight against Furman, which is getting too much respect from oddsmakers off it 80-72 upset win at Louisville, a Louisville team that is down this year.

The Paladins lost arguably their two best players from last year's team that went 16-9.  Clay Mounce (13.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG) is gone, as is Noah Gurley (15.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG), who transferred to Alabama.  They do have three returning starters but don't return any key players on their bench.

Belmont is 9-0 ATS in its last nine home games when playing its 2nd game in 3 days.  The Bruins are 8-0 ATS in their last eight home games after two straight games with 19 or more assists.  Furman is 0-6 ATS in its last six games after a game with 5 or fewer offensive rebounds.  The Paladins are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.  Furman is 0-8 ATS in its last eight games following an ATS win.  Roll with Belmont Monday.

15* NBA Eastern Conference ANNIHILATOR on Boston Celtics -2.5

The Boston Celtics will be out for revenge from a 91-89 road loss at Cleveland last time out on Saturday.  They blew a 52-38 halftime lead in that game.  Now they don't have to wait long for revenge as they get to face the Cavaliers in Cleveland again on Monday.

This Cleveland team has been a big money maker in the early going and is starting to get a lot of respect because of it.  But they can't continue playing that well without their best player in Collin Sexton, plus being without another of their best players in Lauri Markkanen.  I don't expect this young team to handle success very well tonight.

The Celtics are 6-0 ATS in their last six games overall and playing some of their best basketball of the season right now.  They have four wins all by 9 points or more over the Bucks, Raptors, Heat and Magic during this stretch.  Their two losses came by 3 and 2 points, and keep in mind they were playing the 2nd of a back-to-back against Cleveland last time out in a tough spot.  They'll have their revenge tonight.  Take the Celtics Monday.

15* NBA Sunday Undervalued Underdog on Houston Rockets +9

I love the spot for the Houston Rockets tonight.  They will be out for revenge from a 111-123 road loss to the Suns on November 4th earlier this month.  They blew a 5-point halftime lead in that contest and should have covered as 11.5-point dogs.  Now they come back as 9-point home dogs in the rematch.

The Rockets are fully healthy and ready to give Phoenix a run for its money tonight.  Meanwhile, the Suns are going to be without DeAndre Ayton.  And it's a great time to 'sell high' on the Suns after they have gone 7-0 SU & 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall with six straight covers against a very soft schedule.

All three meetings between the Suns and Rockets last season were decided by 6 points or less despite the Suns being favored by 14, 13 and 5.5 points.  And that first meeting this season was closer than the final score would indicate.  I just think it's asking too much of the Suns to go on the road and win by double-digits to beat us tonight against the revenge-minded Rockets.  Roll with the Rockets Sunday.

20* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Oklahoma City Thunder +9.5

What more do the Oklahoma City Thunder have to do to get some respect from oddsmakers?  They are nearly double-digit underdogs again today despite going 5-3 SU & 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall with only one loss by more than 8 points, which came against the Warriors on the road.  The Warriors are playing better than anyone in the NBA to this point.

The Thunder pulled two outright upsets over the Lakers as 10.5 and 6-point dogs.  They pulled outright upsets over the Spurs, Pelicans and Kings as well.  And they only lost by 5 on the road to the Clippers as 12.5-point dogs to highlight some of their performances during this stretch.

Now they will really get up for this game with the Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Durant coming to down to visit his former team.  The Nets will be without Paul Millsap and just don't have much help outside Durant and Harden, which is why they are tough to trust to go on the road and beat anyone by double-digits.

The Thunder are 19-3 ATS in their last 22 Sunday games.  Oklahoma City is 5-0 ATS in its last five games overall.  The Nets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a win.  Bet the Thunder Sunday.

15* CBB Sunday No-Doubt Rout on South Dakota State -2

It's a good time to 'buy low' on South Dakota State after their 88-104 loss at Alabama on Saturday.  Well, Alabama is one of the best teams in the country, so that's not a bad loss.  Look for them to dominate Stephen F. Austin like they dominated Bradley in an 81-65 win as a 9-point favorite in their opener.

South Dakota State is the best team in the underrated Summit League this season.  The Jackrabbits returned all five starters from a team that went 16-7 overall last year and 9-3 in Summit play.  And not just any five starters, how about five staters that all averaged in double figures last year.  They also return four bench players that played significant minutes last year, allowing the Jackrabbits to play at the break-neck pace that made them the Summit's most efficient offense last season.

Stephen F. Austin is tabbed 5th in the preseason WAC predictions.  While they return four starters, they do lose one of their best players in Cameron Johnson (15.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG).  And the first two games by SF Austin were ugly wins against teams they should have blown out, which is a bad sign of things to come.  They only beat LSU-Alexandria 82-73 and Mary Hardin-Baylor 76-63.  Neither of those games even had betting lines.

The Jackrabbits are 5-0 ATS in their last five games following a loss.  South Dakota State is 19-6-1 ATS in its last 26 games following an ATS loss.  The Jackrabbits are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 road games.  The Lumberjacks are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games as underdogs.  Stephen F. Austin is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games following a win.  The Lumberjacks are 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games as home underdogs.  Take South Dakota State Sunday.

20* FSU/Florida ESPN No-Brainer on Florida State -1

Leonard Hamilton is enjoying his best run in his 19 years at Florida State.  The Seminoles don't rebuild, they reload because he's a tremendous recruiter.  And he has taken advantage of the transfer portal again this season to reload.

The Seminoles are off to a great start this season with their 105-70 win over Pennsylvania as a 19.5-point favorite, covering by 15.5 points.  Florida only beat Elon 74-61 as a 19-point favorite, failing to cover by 6 points.  And the Gators lost two players to the NBA in the offseason and are coming off a disappointing 15-10 season as it is.

Florida State simply owns Florida.  The Seminoles have gone 8-0 ATS in their last eight meetings with the Gators.  They have also won seven in a row straight up in this series with the last four coming by 12, 12, 21 and 17 points.  Bet Florida State Sunday.

15* Timberwolves/Clippers NBA Late-Night BAILOUT on UNDER 220.5

Familiarity favors defense and low scoring games.  Well, this will be the 3rd meeting between the Timberwolves and Clippers since November 3rd, a span of just 11 days.  They know how to defend one another, and defense will win out in this 3rd meeting tonight.

After a shootout in their first meeting that saw the Clippers shoot 60.3% overall and 58.3% from 3-point range, they came back to win 104-84 in the rematch for just 188 combined points.  And I think we see a similar low scoring game here, especially after the Timberwolves just beat the Lakers 107-83 last night and will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.

The reason the Clippers are playing so well this season is because they have bought in defensively.  They rank 2nd in the NBA in defensive efficiency, giving up just 99.8 points per 100 possessions.  The Timberwolves are also improved on defense, ranking 15th at 104.7 points per 100 possessions.  Both teams are below average in offensive efficiency, especially the Timberwolves who rank 25th.

The UNDER is 12-4 in Timberwolves last 16 games overall.  The UNDER is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Los Angeles.  Plays on the UNDER on all teams where the total is 220 or higher (LA Clippers) - off a home win scoring 110 points or more against an opponent that is coming off a road blowout win by 20 points or more are 37-13 (74%) since 1996.  Roll with the UNDER in this game Saturday.

20* Texas/Gonzaga ESPN 2 Late-Night BAILOUT on Texas +7.5

Chris Beard was a great hire at Texas and one of my favorite head coaches in the country.  I'll gladly back Beard and the Longhorns here against overrated Gonzaga tonight.  The Longhorns were impressive in their 92-48 win over Houston Baptist in their opener, covering as 37.5-point favorites.

Texas welcomes back Andrew Jones (14.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG) and Courtney Ramsey (12.2 PPG) this year.  They brought in some unbelievable transfers.  Timmy Allen averaged 17.2 PPG at Utah last year, Marcus Carr had four 30-point games at Minnesota last year, Tre Mitchell averaged 18.8 PPG at UMass last year and Christian Bishop averaged 11.0 PPG at Creighton last year.  All six played significant roles in the opener with Ramey leading the way with 14 points, followed by Jones (11), Carr (10), Bishop (10), Mitchell (10) and Allen (8).

Gonzaga failed to cover as a 39.5-point favorite in a 34-point win over Dixie State in the opener.  With their No. 1 ranking comes expectations that are hard to live up to.  That's especially the case after losing three starters and studs from last year's team in Corey Kispert (18.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG), Jalen Suggs (14.4 PPG, 4.5 APG) and Joel Ayayi (12.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG).  Bet Texas Saturday.

20* NBA Saturday No-Doubt Rout on Indiana Pacers -3.5

The Indiana Pacers have finally started to play up to their potential now that they have gotten healthy.  They are 4-2 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall with both losses coming on the road to Portland by 4 and Denver by 3.

The Pacers have four impressive wins during this stretch.  They beat the Spurs by 13 as 3-point home favorites, upset the Knicks by 13 as 1-point home underdogs, upset the Kings by 3 as 2.5-point road dogs, and upset the Jazz by 11 as 10.5-point road dogs.  Now I expect them to make easy work of the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers at home tonight.

The 76ers went on a great run in going 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS over a six-game stretch when mostly healthy.  But they have been overvalued since, going 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS in their last three games overall with three straight home losses to the Knicks by 7, Bucks by 9 and Raptors by 6.  They remain without Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Mattisse Thybulle.  The key is being without Embiid, who is an MVP candidate and irreplaceable on their team.

The Pacers are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 games following a win as a road underdog of 6 points or more.  The 76ers are 7-22-1 ATS in their last 30 games as road underdogs.  Indiana is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Pacers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.  Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last five home meetings with Philadelphia.  Bet the Pacers Saturday.

15* CBB Saturday BLOWOUT on Belmont -13.5

The Belmont Bruins return all five starters from a team that went 26-4 last year.  Not only that, but the top five scorers on the bench return as well, so this is really the most experienced team in the nation.  I think we are getting good value on them after getting upset in their opener by a very good Ohio team from that MAC that just had a great shooting night.

The top five scorers all averaged double figures last year for the Bruins, so this is a very balanced team.  They averaged 81.3 points per game, which ranked 13th nationally.  This is a team that will be highly motivated to get back to the NCAA Tournament after not playing in it the past two seasons.  They'll also be extra motivated off that loss to Ohio.

Look for the Bruins to make easy work of a mediocre Evansville team that lost by 22 at Cincinnati in their opener.  Belmont is better than Cincinnati.  This is an Evansville team that went 9-16 last year.  I'm not a fan of head coach Todd Lickliter, who is now 9-29 in his two seasons at the helm of the Purple Aces.

Belmont is a perfect 8-0 ATS in its last eight home games following an ATS loss.  The Bruins are 18-7 ATS in their last 25 home games overall.  The Purple Aces are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games as underdogs.  Evansville is 0-5 ATS in its last five road games.  Take Belmont Saturday.

15* Villanova/UCLA ESPN 2 Late-Night BAILOUT on Villanova +4

It's a good time to 'sell high' on UCLA early in the season after their miraculous run to the Final Four last season.  They were lucky to even make the tournament, and needed an unlikely comeback against Michigan State in the First Four just to advantage.  They rode that momentum all the way to the Final Four.

But now the Bruins come into the season as the No. 2 ranked team in the country.  And they already covered in a 95-58 win over lowly CS-Bakersfield as a 23-point favorites.  But now they come back as 4-point favorites against Villanova despite being without one of their best post players on Cody Riley (10.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG) last year.

I think Villanova is the legitimate of the Top 5 teams here as they are ranked 4th.  The Wildcats return four starters from last season and get back Collin Gillespie (14.0 PPG, 4.6 APG) from injury.  They also bring back Justin Moore (12.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.0 APG), Caleb Daniels (9.6 PPG) and Jermaine Samuels (12.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG).

All four played big roles in their 91-51 win as a 25.5-point favorite over Mount St. Mary's in their opener.  Moore had 27 points, Samuels 17, Gillespie 13 and Daniels 6.  They also got 17 points from Brandon Slater, a key returnee off the bench who drilled five 3-pointers as the Wildcats shot 16-of-30 from beyond the arc.  They have one of the best backcourts in the country, per usual, and it will likely lead them to an outright win at UCLA tonight.  Roll with Villanova Friday.

15* NBA Friday Total DOMINATOR on Timberwolves/Lakers OVER 224

The Timberwolves and Lakers are OVER teams right now.  The Lakers rank 1st in the NBA in pace while the Timberwolves rank 9th in pace.  And Minnesota plays at an even faster pace when De'Angelo Russell is in the lineup, while the Lakers play at a faster pace without LeBron James.

Russell has played the last two games for the Timberwolves and it's no surprise both have been shootouts that went OVER the total.  They lost 118-125 at Memphis for 243 combined points and 110-123 at Golden State for 233 combined points.

The Lakers have played in two straight shootouts without LeBron.  They won 126-123 over Charlotte for 249 combined points and 120-117 over Miami for 237 combined points.  The last time these teams met the Lakers won 137-121 for 258 combined points in their final meeting last season.  Take the OVER in this game Friday.