7* Oklahoma State/Kansas Big 12 *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma State +15

The Key: The Kansas Jayhawks are in a prime letdown spot tonight.  They are coming off their biggest win of the season, a 76-72 triumph at Oklahoma on Saturday to move into a first-place tie with West Virginia in the Big 12.  It's only human nature for them to suffer a letdown after such a big win, which is going to make it hard for them to cover this 15-point spread against Oklahoma State.  After all, Oklahoma State already beat Kansas 86-67 at home in their first meeting this season on January 19.  The Cowboys have played the Jayhawks very tough in recent meetings. They haven't lost by more than 12 points to Kansas in any of the last 9 meetings, and they haven't lost by more than 15 in any of the last 12 meetings.  Take Oklahoma State.

7* Minnesota/Iowa Big Ten *HEAVY HITTER* on Minnesota +20

The Key: The Minnesota Golden Gophers have not won a single game in Big Ten play this season, but it certainly hasn't been for a lack of trying here of late.  In fact, the Gophers have lost 6 of their last 7 games all by 8 points or less.  That includes road losses at Indiana by only 6 and at Michigan by only 5.  They are certainly capable of staying within this massive 20-point spread tonight.  Iowa is in a hangover spot here off its tough loss at Indiana on Thursday.  The Hawkeyes are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 games following a loss.  Iowa is also 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games after allowing at least 80 points.  The Gophers are 10-4-1 ATS in in their last 15 road meetings at Iowa.  Take Minnesota.

6* Gonzaga/SMU ESPN2 National TV *Annihilator* on Gonzaga +6

The Key: The Gonzaga Bulldogs are squarely on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament right now.  A signature road win over SMU would go a long way to helping their cause.  SMU won't be playing in the postseason either way, and that realization seems to have really hampered this team of late mentally.  The Mustangs are just 2-3 in their last 5 games overall with road losses to Temple and Houston, as well as a home loss to Tulsa.  Gonzaga is better than all 3 of those teams and can pull off the upset tonight, so getting the 6 points is just an added bonus.  The Bulldogs are 57-37 ATS in their last 94 games as an underdog.  SMU is 13-30 ATS in its last 43 home games vs. good offensive teams that score 77 or more points per game.  The Mustangs are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Take Gonzaga.

6* MAC Game of the Week on Northern Illinois +2

The Key: The Northern Illinois Huskies have been a tough out at home all season.  They are 13-1 at home while winning by an average of nearly 17 points per game.  Now they get to face the top team in the MAC in Akron, and I believe they'll be up to the task tonight and pull off the upset here.  Helping matters is the fact that Akron is expected to be without its best player in Isaiah Johnson.  How important is Johnson to this team?  Well, he leads them in points, rebounds and blocks, so he's clearly the best player the Zips have, and going without him today will be tough for them.  NIU is 22-11 ATS when revenging a loss over the last 3 seasons.  The Huskies are 7-0 ATS vs. good offensive teams who score 77 or more points per game over the last 3 years.  Take Northern Illinois.

7* ACC GAME OF THE MONTH on Clemson -5.5

The Key: The Clemson Tigers are 11-3 at home this season.  They have gone 5-1 at home in ACC play alone with huge wins over Louisville, Duke, Miami, Pitt and Florida State.  Those are five of the better teams in the ACC.  Now the Tigers get to face once of the worst teams in the conference in Georgia Tech tonight.  The Yellow Jackets are 2-5 in road games this season and 3-8 in ACC games.  Clemson is 11-1 in its last 12 meetings with Georgia Tech, so it has clearly had the Yellow Jackets' number.  This series mismatch will continue this afternoon.  Take Clemson.

7* USC/Arizona State Pac-12 *HEAVY HITTER* on USC -1

The Key: I expect the USC Trojans to put a similar beat down on the Arizona State Sun Devils to the one they did in their first meeting this season in early January.  The Trojans won that game 75-65 at home on January 7th in a game that was a much bigger blowout than the final score would indicate.  USC is 18-5 on the season and 7-3 in Pac-12 play, while ASU is just 13-11 SU & 3-8 in conference action.  Two of the Sun Devils' conference victories have come against Washington State, too.  Arizona State is coming off a win over WSU, but it is just 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games after a conference win.  Meanwhile, USC is 12-1 ATS after playing a home game this year.  Take USC.

6* Wizards/Bucks Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee -1

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks have been a sneaky good home team this season.  They've gone 14-8 SU & 13-9 ATS at home, but unfortunately they've played a road-heavy schedule up to this point.  They are going to be a great team to back going forward.  The Bucks come in well-rested and ready to go as this will be just their 2nd game in 6 days, and knowing that the All-Star Break starts tomorrow, I look for them to put their best foot forward tonight.  That's especially the case considering they want revenge on the Wizards after losing each of their first 3 meetings this season, including two by exactly 5 points.  They don't want to get swept.  Washington is 0-7 ATS off a road win where it scored at least 110 points this season.  Milwaukee is 9-1 ATS in home games after having lost 4 or 5 of its last 6 games this season.  Take Milwaukee.

7* FSU/Syracuse ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Syracuse -2.5

The Key: Syracuse comes in red hot and looking for more tonight when it hosts the Florida State Seminoles.  The Orange have gone 6-1 in their last 7 games overall, and they've won 4 straight home games by 22, 15, 3 and 8 points.  Look for them to continue to roll tonight against the Seminoles, who they have owned the past two seasons.  Syracuse won 70-57 over FSU at home last year and 74-58 on the road in 2014.  The The Orange are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Syracuse.

6* Big 12 Game of the Week on Kansas State -1

The Key: The Kansas State Wildcats have one of the most underrated home-court advantages in college basketball.  They have gone 11-2 SU & 7-3 ATS at home this season with their only two losses coming to West Virginia and Iowa State.  They just beat Oklahoma 80-69 at home on Saturday to prove what they are capable of at home.  Now they take on a Baylor team that has been way overvalued here of late, going 0-5-1 ATS in its last 6 games overall.  The Wildcats want payback from a 72-79 (OT) loss at Baylor in their first meeting on January 20.  If they can take the Bears to overtime on the road, they can certainly beat them at home.  Kansas State is 9-1 ATS in home games after failing to cover the spread in 2 of their last 3 coming in.  The Wildcats are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Kansas State.

7* NBA Situational GAME OF THE MONTH on New Orleans Pelicans -2.5

The Key: This is an excellent opportunity to fade the Utah Jazz.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after their 121-119 (OT) win at Dallas last night.  Since the Jazz were forced to go an extra five minutes with OT, they will be even more tired than they normally would in a back-to-back situation.  Look for the New Orleans Pelicans to run them out of the gym tonight.  The Pelicans are 13-12 at home this season, while the Jazz are 9-15 on the road.  The home team is 8-3 SU in the last 11 meetings.  The Jazz are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Pelicans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest opponents.  Take New Orleans.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Indiana Pacers -3

The Key: The Indiana Pacers have been a tremendous home team this season.  They are 17-8 at home and have won 5 of their last 7 games overall coming in.  The Charlotte Hornets are just 7-17 on the road, yet they are only 3.5-point underdogs in this game.  Furthermore, the Pacers are 12-0 in their last 12 home meetings with the Hornets, including a 93-74 win in their last home meeting.  They are holding the Hornets to an average of 87.4 points per game during this 12-0 run.  Take Indiana.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Dallas Mavericks -1.5

The Key: The Utah Jazz are simply getting too much respect from oddsmakers right now due to their 6-game winning streak.  However, you have to consider that five of those wins have come at home against suspect opponents, and the only road win came at Phoenix, which is playing worse than anyone in the NBA right now.  Now the Jazz must go up against a Mavericks team that has had their number to say the least.  The Mavs have won 9 of their last 10 meetings with the Jazz.  They are 10-0 in their last 10 home meetings, and 22-2 in their last 24 home meetings dating back further.  Take Dallas.

6* Big Ten Game of the Week on Ohio State -5

The Key: To say this has been a one-sided series would be a gross understatement.  Ohio State is 11-0 in its last 11 meetings with Northwestern.  Its latest victory came 65-56 at Northwestern in early January this season.  The Buckeyes are 14-0 in their last 14 home meetings with Northwestern as well.  Given this history, it's easy to see why there is some value in backing the Buckeyes as only 5-point favorites tonight.  Take Ohio State.

6* NBA *Total* Annihilator on Thunder/Suns UNDER 215.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns are a mess right now, having lost 13 of their last 14 games overall.  Their biggest problem is that they are getting no offensive production due to injuries to three of their best scorers.  Eric Bledson, Brandon Knight and TJ Warren are all out.  The Suns have scored 98 or fewer points in 11 of their last 14 games.  Knowing that fact alone, it's easy to see why there is value with the UNDER 215.5 points in this game against the Thunder Monday night.  The Suns are 9-1 UNDER off 2 or more consecutive home losses over the last 2 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

7* Texas/Oklahoma ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Texas +8

The Key: Shaka Smart has shown that he's among the best head coaches in the country with what he's been able to do with Texas this year.  After a slow start, the Longhorns have really turned it on in Big 12 play and currently sit at 16-7 on the season.  The Longhorns have gone 7-1 SU & 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall with their only loss coming by 9 points at Kansas as 12-point dogs in a game they actually led most of the way.  They have road wins over Baylor (67-59) and West Virginia (56-49) during this stretch.  I look for them to go on the road and keep this game close against Oklahoma for 40 minutes, possibly pulling out the upset in the end.  The Longhorns are 10-0 ATS in road games off 2 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.  The Sooners are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games following an upset loss by 10 points or more as a favorite.  Oklahoma has a big game on deck against Kansas that it could be looking ahead to as well.  Take Texas.

6* Baylor/WVU Big 12 *CA$H COW* on Baylor +7

The Key: The Baylor Bears present a matchup nightmare for the West Virginia Mountaineers.  Their zone defense plays right into West Virginia's biggest weakness, which is its lack of consistent 3-point shooting.  The Mountaineers only shoot 31% from 3-point range this season.  As a result, the Bears have owned the Mountaineers, going 7-1 straight up in the last 8 meetings.  They have beaten WVU by 10, 12, 18 and 13 points in their last 4 meetings over the past two seasons.  They are obviously 4-0 ATS in those 4 meetings as well.  Getting 7 points here with the Bears is simply too much.  Take Baylor.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Houston Rockets -5

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are overvalued right now because they have won five of their last six games overall.  But they are coming off a 7-game homestand, which was the biggest reason for their success.  Now the Blazers have to hit the road, where there are just 9-16 away from home this season.  They should be much heavier than only 5-point road dogs to the Houston Rockets here.  Houston is 14-4 ATS in its last 18 home games off a road win.  The 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Rockets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.  Take Houston.

7* Pac-12 GAME OF THE YEAR on California -7.5

The Key: Off back-to-back road losses to Utah and Colorado, it's safe to say that the Cal Bears won't be lacking any motivation today at home against Stanford.  Adding to their motivation is the fact that they already lost 71-77 at Stanford in their first meeting, so they'll be out for revenge here.  I expect them to win going away because they are back home, where they are a perfect 13-0 on the season and winning by 15.8 points per game.  Stanford is just 1-4 in true road games this season.  The Cardinal are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 road games and 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 conference games.  The Golden Bears are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.  The home team is 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings.  Stanford is 0-7 ATS off one or more consecutive overs this season.  Take California.

6* NBA *Total* Annihilator on Bucks/Jazz UNDER 189.5

The Key: The Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks really prefer to play at a slow tempo.  The Jazz rank dead last in the NBA in pace at 93.0 possessions per game.  The Bucks rank 25th in pace at 96.1 possessions per game.  We saw this on display when these teams last got together.  The Jazz beat the Bucks 82-75 at home for 157 combined points.  While I don't expect this game to be that low scoring, I do see it easily going under this 189.5-point total.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Bucks last 9 road games overall.  The UNDER is 25-11-1 in Jazz last 37 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  The UNDER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Utah.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Cavaliers -7

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers had won 5 straight games with 4 of those wins coming by at least 8 points prior to their loss at Charlotte on Wednesday.  That was only a small blip on the radar, and I look for them to get back on track with a win going away tonight at home against the Boston Celtics.  The Cavaliers are 19-3 at home this season and have one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA.  They also create matchup problems for the Celtics, which has been evident in recent meetings.  The Cavs are 5-0 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings with the Celtics. In fact, all 5 victories have come by at least 8 points.  Cleveland is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 vs. a team with a winning record.  Boston is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  Take Cleveland.

7* Big Ten GAME OF THE MONTH on Minnesota +8.5

The Key: The Minnesota Golden Gophers are still winless in Big Ten play.  But it's not for a lack of trying.  Their last 5 losses have come by 7, 5, 5, 4, and 6 points.  That includes narrow road losses to both Indiana and Michigan.  They are fighting for that first conference win and will continue to tonight.  They should have a good chance of getting it against a Northwestern team that is not very good.  The Wildcats are 0-5 in their last 5 games overall with three straight losses by at least 14 points coming in.  Home-court advantage has meant nothing in this series as the road team is 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  The Golden Gophers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  The Wildcats are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games.  Northwestern is 0-6 ATS after playing a game as an underdog this season.  Take Minnesota.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New York Knicks +4.5

The Key: This is a bad spot for the Detroit Pistons.  They are coming off a hard-fought 95-102 road loss at the Boston Celtics last night.  So not only will they be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, they'll also be playing their 5th game in 7 days.  They are simply running on fumes right now and won't have much left to give against the Knicks, who had yesterday off and will be playing just their 2nd game in 4 days.  New York is 9-1 ATS vs. teams who outrebound their opponents by 3-plus boards per game this season.  The Knicks are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 1 days rest.  The Knicks are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 meetings with the Pistons.  Take New York.

7* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on New Orleans Pelicans +13.5

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans haven't been 13.5-point underdogs or more the entire season.  That fact alone shows that there's value with the Pelicans tonight, especially with the way they have been playing.  They are 7-3 in their last 10 games overall and have been competitive in 12 of their last 13 games, only once losing by more than 5 points during that stretch.  Adding to my love for the Pelicans tonight is the fact that they are 4-1 SU & 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings with the San Antonio Spurs.  They may not pull off the upset tonight, but they certainly aren't going to lose by more than 13.5 points.  Take New Orleans.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Dallas Mavericks -3.5

The Key: The Miami Heat are in a tough spot tonight.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after losing 102-115 at Houston last night.  They will also be playing their 13th road game in their past 15 games, so they have been on the road a ton here of late.  The Dallas Mavericks check in on one days' rest and will be motivated for a victory following their 97-112 loss at Atlanta on Monday.  The Mavs are 15-8 SU & 16-7 ATS at home this season, while the Heat are just 11-13 on the road.  Miami is 3-15 ATS after covering 3 of its last 4 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.  Dallas is 7-0 ATS in home games when playing 8 or more games in 14 days this season.  The Heat are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Mavericks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.  Dallas is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 home games.  Take Dallas.

6* ACC Game of the Week on Boston College +23

The Key: The Boston College Eagles are 0-8 SU & 1-6-1 ATS in ACC play, so the betting public clearly doesn't want anything to do with them right now.  That's why they are catching a ridiculous 23 points to the Virginia Cavaliers tonight.  But they have faced a tougher ACC schedule than anyone, so they are battle-tested and ready to go tonight.  The Cavaliers are in a huge letdown spot off their improbable 63-47 win at Louisville on Saturday where everything went right for them.  They have another big game at Pittsburgh on deck Saturday, so this is a sandwich game for them, and I don't expect their best effort here.  Because the Cavaliers play at such a slow pace, it makes it tough for them to cover these massive spreads.  Virginia hasn't won any of its last 15 games by more than 16 points, making for a 15-0 angle backing the Eagles.  Take Boston College.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Phoenix Suns +9.5

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are in a tough spot here tonight.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after losing 93-112 at Denver last night.  That loss snapped an 11-game winning streak which has had them overvalued for a few games now.  The Raptors are 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games overall and they are once again laying too many points to the Phoenix Suns here.  Yes, the Suns are struggling and injured, but they have played tough at home.  They only lost by 3 to Indiana as 5.5-point dogs and upset Atlanta by 3 as 10-point dogs in two of their last three home games.  They have only lost one of their last 11 home games by double-digits, which was against the Spurs.  That's a 10-1 angle supporting the Suns.  Take Phoenix.

6* Mountain West Game of the Week on New Mexico -2.5

The Key: The New Mexico Lobos are one of the best teams in the Mountain West this season.  They have gone 6-2 in conference play, and they are coming off an impressive 88-83 road win at Boise State as 8-point dogs.  The Lobos now return home where they have one of the best home-court advantages in the country.  They are 9-2 at home this seaosn, winning by an average of 15.8 points per game.  The UNLV Rebels are just 2-5 in true road games this year. New Mexico is 10-2 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 over the last 3 seasons.  The Lobos are 6-0 ATS in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.  The Rebels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games. Take New Mexico.

6* ACC Game of the Week on Florida State -5.5

The Key: The Florida State Seminoles are playing great basketball right now.  They are 4-2 in their last six games overall with all four victories coming by 7 points or more, and one of their losses coming by just 2 points to Pitt.  The NC State Wolfpack are 2-7 in their last 9 games and clearly one of the worst teams in the ACC this season.  Yes, they are coming off an upset home win over Miami, but the Hurricanes were in a big letdown spot off their win over Duke in their previous game.  Florida State already beat NC State 85-78 on the road in their first meeting this season.  Now they get the Wolfpack at home in the rematch and should cover this 5.5-point spread with ease.  The Seminoles are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Take Florida State.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington Wizards +9.5

The Key: The Washington Wizards are one of those rare teams that plays better on the road than at home.  They are 10-15 at home compared to 11-9 on the road this season.  They just upset the Houston Rockets on the road in their last game on Saturday night, and I look for them to give the Oklahoma City Thunder a run for their money tonight.  The Thunder have been overvalued quite a bit recently.  They are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.  They won 4 of the 5, but all 4 wins came by 8 points or less over Dallas (by 3), New York (by 6), Minnesota (by 3) and Houston (by 8).  I look for the Wizards to stay within double-digits tonight as well.  Washington is 12-4 ATS as an underdog if 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  Oklahoma City is 0-7 ATS vs. good 3-point shooting teams who make 36% or more of their shots this season.  The Thunder are 1-11 ATS vs. teams who allow 46% or better shooting to their opponents this season.  Take Washington.

7* Warriors/Knicks Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on New York +10.5

The Key: I'll gladly fade the Golden State Warriors tonight.  They are overvalued due to having the best record in the NBA.  They needed a last-second 3-pointer to beat the lowly 76ers on the road 108-105 last night.  Now, they'll be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, putting them in a tough rest situation.  The New York Knicks have been undervalued all season and continue to be as double-digit dogs here.  They are 29-20 ATS in all lined games this season and on the verge of making the playoffs in the East.  New York is 7-0 ATS when playing against a team with a winning percentage of greater than 70% this season.  Golden State is 3-13 ATS when playing against a losing team in the 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.  Take New York.

6* Big Ten Game of the Week on Illinois +2.5

The Key: The Wisconsin Badgers should not be favored on the road against the Illinois Fighting Illini today.  The Badgers have won three in a row coming in, which is why they are overvalued, but two of those victories came at home and the other was against Penn State.  The Fighting Illini has been playing better of late with recent wins over both Purdue and Minnesota, and a narrow loss to Ohio State.  The Badgers are just 2-3 in true road games this season.  The Fighting Illini are 6-0 ATS in home games after playing a game as a home favorite over the last 2 seasons.  Take Illinois.

6* Spurs/Cavs ABC National TV *Annihilator* on Cleveland +2

The Key: A lot has been made of the Cavs' poor record against the elite teams in the Western Conference this season.  They are 0-3 against the Spurs and Warriors, and they certainly want to help their reputation with a win Saturday.  They already nearly beat the Spurs in a 95-99 road loss at 6-point dogs on January 14.  Now they get their chance at revenge just two weeks later, but the difference is that they'll be at home this time around.  The Cavs are 18-3 at home this season, while all seven of the Spurs' losses this year have come on the road.  The Spurs were torched 90-120 at Golden State in their last road game.  They're still expected to be without Tim Duncan Saturday, which is a big blow.  The Cavaliers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Cleveland.

7* MAC GAME OF THE YEAR on Western Michigan -2

The Key: The Western Michigan Broncos are simply a superior team to the Eastern Michigan Eagles and should be favored by more Saturday.  They have crushed the likes of Northern Illinois (83-69) and Buffalo (91-71) at home recently, and another blowout can be expected here.  Eastern Michigan is 0-4 in its last four games overall,  The Eagles are 3-7 on the road this season with their only wins coming at Nebraska-Omaha, Coppin State and Central Michigan.  But the biggest reason I like the Broncos is the fact that they are 17-2 SU in their last 19 home meetings with the Eagles.  They simply do not lose at home to little brother, Eastern Michigan.  Take Western Michigan.

6* Big 12/SEC Challenge *CA$H COW* on Texas -1

The Key: Shaka Smart has the Texas Longhorns playing as well as anyone in the Big 12 right now.  They have won 4 of their last 5 games overall with a 94-91 home win over Iowa State, a 74-69 home win over Oklahoma State, a 56-49 upset road win at West Virginia, and a 71-54 home win over TCU.  The Longhorns' only loss during this stretch came at Kansas by a final of 67-76 in a game they led most the way until the final few minutes.  Vanderbilt is just 1-5 in true road games this season and shouldn't only be a 1-point dog here.  Texas is 10-1 at home this season.  It just has to win to cover this slim 1-point spread.  Take Texas.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Dallas Mavericks -8.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks are in need of a win after losing 3 of their last 4.  Their 3 losses during this stretch have come against the Thunder, Rockets and Warriors.  Now the schedule softens up as they host the Nets and look to improve upon their 14-7 ATS record in home games this year.  I expect the Mavs to roll by double-digits against a Nets team that is just 2-11 SU & 2-10-1 ATS in its last 13 games overall.  The Nets have lost 7 of their last 9 games by at least 12 points, so they have been blown out on the regular.  The Mavs are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games after scoring 105 points or more.  Take Dallas.

6* Atlantic 10 Game of the Week on George Washington -5

The Key: The George Washington Colonials are one of the biggest contenders to win the Atlantic 10 this season.  One reason for that is their sensational home-court advantage.  The Colonials are 11-0 at home this season with wins over the likes of Virginia and Rhode Island.  They last played on January 22, getting five days off in between games.  Now they take on a mediocre 10-8 Richmond team that last played on January 25 in a 70-78 home loss to Davidson, getting only two days off in between games.  That extra rest will be a big reason the Colonials roll to victory tonight.  Richmond is 0-7 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.  The Spiders are 1-8 ATS off a home loss over the last 3 years.  The Colonials are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 home games.  Take George Washington.

7* Knicks/Raptors TNT National TV *Annihilator* on New York +10

The Key: The Toronto Raptors have won 9 straight games coming into this showdown with the New York Knicks.  As a result, they are more overvalued than they've been at any other point this season.  They have no business laying 10 points to the New York Knicks tonight.  The Knicks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days' rest and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. teams who win at least 60% of their games.  The Raptors are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.  The Knicks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings with the Raptors.  Take New York.

6* Missouri Valley Game of the Week on Southern Illinois +2.5

The Key: The Southern Illinois Salukis are the most underrated team in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.  They are 18-3 and legitimate contenders to win the conference.  They have won 10 of their last 11 games overall with their only loss coming to Wichita State.  Evansville is an MVC contender as well, but it should not be favored on the road here.  That's especially the case considering it's coming off a 17-point loss at Indiana State.  The Purple Aces are also in a lookahead spot here as they have a huge home game coming up against Wichita State on Sunday, and they will certainly be overlooking the Salukis tonight as a result.  The Salukis are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  The Salukis are 36-16 ATS in their last 52 games following a straight up win.  The home team is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.  The Salukis are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home meetings with Evansville.  Take Southern Illinois.

7* Rockets/Spurs ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +10

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are coming off a deflating 90-120 loss at Golden State on Monday.  I fully expect them to suffer a hangover from that defeat as it was their biggest game of the season.  They are still expected to be without Tim Duncan, which is a huge blow.  Now they have to take on a Rockets team that is playing its best ball of the season coming in.  The Rockets should not be 10-point dogs in this game considering they have gone 9-3 in their last 12 games overall.  Houston always plays San Antonio tough, going 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.  The Rockets are 40-20 ATS in their last 60 games off a road win by 3 points or less.  Take Houston.

6* SEC Game of the Week on Arkansas +3

The Key: It's like night and day for the Arkansas Razorbacks when it comes to playing home and away.  They are a dominant home team at 8-2 on the season, but awful on the road with a 1-8 record.  But they've even been more competitive on the road of late as they lost to Dayton by 4, LSU by 2 and Georgia by 3 while also beating Missouri by 33 in 4 of their last 5 road games.  But now they get Texas A&M at home, and I like their chances of pulling off the upset.  The Aggies could be looking ahead to their showdown with highly-ranked Iowa State on Saturday.  They have opened 7-0 in conference play and are clearly overvalued as a result.  The Aggies are 0-9 ATS in road games when playing just their 2nd game in 8 days over the last 3 seasons.  The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Arkansas.

6* ACC Game of the Week on Clemson -1.5

The Key: The Clemson Tigers keep winning but they keep getting no respect from oddsmakers.  I like the value we are getting with them as only 1.5-point home favorites tonight.  They have gone 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall.  They are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games with their only loss coming by 7 points at Virginia.  They have beaten Florida State, Louisville, Duke and Miami at home during this stretch, and those four results alone show that they are the real deal.  The Tigers also won at Syracuse on the road.  Pitt has lost two of its last four in blowout fashion with a 17-point home loss to NC State and an 18-point loss at Louisville.  Pitt is 0-6 ATS after covering 2 of its last 3 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.  Pitt is 1-8 ATS off a conference win over the last 2 years.  The Panthers are 6-22 ATS in their last 28 games following a win.  The Tigers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Clemson.

6* Xavier/Providence Big East *CA$H COW* on Xavier -1.5

The Key: The Providence Friars are in the ultimate letdown spot tonight.  They are coming off their biggest win of the season, an 82-76 (OT) victory at Villanova on Sunday.  Now they must play just 2 days later and will be mentally and physically fatigued.  The Xavier Musketeers last played on Saturday, so they have had 3 days to get ready for Providence, which is a big advantage given the short turnaround for both teams.  Xavier is 17-2 on the season and one of the most underrated teams in college basketball.  The Musketeers will have a couple key advantages in this one.  They shoot 36.1 percent from 3-point range, while Providence shoots just 31.1 percent.  The Musketeers have a plus-9.6 rebounding margin on the season, while the Friars are plus-2.2.  The Musketeers are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  The Friars are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  Take Xavier.

7* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Indiana Pacers +1.5

The Key: It's safe to say that the Indiana Pacers won't be lacking any motivation tonight when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.  That's because they have lost 5 of their last 6 games overall, which isn't surprising considering 5 of their last 6 games were on the road.  Now they have had 2 days off since a loss to the Kings on Saturday.  That's important because the Pacers are 14-2 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 2 days' rest.  The Pacers are 13-6 at home this season and 13-5 in their last 18 home meetings with the Los Angeles Clippers.  I really like getting them as home underdogs tonight in a game I have them winning outright with ease.  Take Indiana.

6* K-State/WVU Big 12 *CA$H COW* on Kansas State +10.5

The Key: Kansas State is a much better team than its 2-5 record in Big 12 play would suggest.  Four of its five losses have come by 10 points or fewer with a 4-point loss to WVU, a 3-point loss at Texas, a 10-point loss at Oklahoma, and a 7-point loss at Baylor.  As you can see, the Wildcats played three of the best teams in the Big 12 in Oklahoma, Baylor and Texas all tough on the road.  They also played WVU tough at home, and now will be out for revenge from that 4-point loss.  That factor will have them staying within this massive 10.5-point spread.  The Mountaineers have not played well since back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Kansas took a lot out of them.  They lost at home to Texas by 7, and then trailed by 4 with just under a minute remaining at Texas Tech, only to miraculously pull out a 4-point win.  Kansas State has not lost to West Virginia by more than 10 points in any of their last 8 meetings, making for an 8-0 angle backing the Wildcats.  Take Kansas State.

7* Spurs/Warriors Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are already the best team in the NBA at 40-4.  They are also healthy coming into this huge showdown with the San Antonio Spurs tonight.  The same cannot be said for the Spurs, who are expected to be without Tim Duncan due to a knee injury.  LaMarcus Aldridge is also battling a back injury that kept him out last game, though he's expected to play tonight.  I just don't give the Spurs much of a chance at all in this game without Duncan.  The Warriors are 20-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents by 15.8 points per game.  All six of the Spurs' losses have come on the road this year.  Golden State is 20-7 ATS when playing on two days' rest over the last three seasons.  Bets against road underdogs who score 99+ points/game on the season against opponent after leading their last 2 games by 10+ points at the half are 54-14 ATS over the last 5 years.  Take Golden State.

6* Sun Belt Game of the Week on Appalachian State -3.5

The Key: This is a battle between two of the worst teams in the Sun Belt in Georgia Southern (6-11) and Appalachian State (5-13).  But I like what I've seen from Appalachian State a lot more this season.  The Mountaineers have played a much tougher schedule with just 6 home games compared to 12 road games.  They have played much better since Sun Belt play started.  They are 3-1 in their last 4 games overall with blowout home wins over Texas State (76-56), and Georgia State (76-67), plus a big road win at Arkansas State (86-72).  This is a team that only lost by 4 to Texas-Arlington the game prior to this 3-1 straight, which may be the best team in the Sun Belt.  Georgia Southern is 1-8 in all road games this season, getting outscored by 13.4 points per game.  The home team has won 9 of the last 11 meetings.  The Mountaineers have won 9 of their last 12 home meetings with the Eagles.  Georgia Southern is 0-6 ATS after playing a road game this season.  The Eagles are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.  The Mountaineers are 36-17-1 ATS in their last 54 Monday games.  Take Appalachian State.

6* Pac-12 Game of the Week on USC -2

The Key: The USC Trojans have opened 15-4 this season and have beaten some very good teams along the way, including Arizona State, Arizona and UCLA.  They have gone 10-2 in their last 12 games, but they are coming off a tough loss at Oregon, so they'll want to get back in the win column today to avoid a second consecutive defeat.  The Oregon State Beavers are just 11-6 on the season and 0-3 in their last three games overall.  The Beavers have dropped to 5-14 ATS in their last 19 conference games.  The Trojans are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS loss, and 16-6-1 ATS in their last 23 games overall.  Take USC.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings -3

The Key: The Sacramento Kings have won a season-high four straight games while going a perfect 4-0 ATS in the process to grab ahold of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.  They have gone on the road and beaten the Jazz, Clippers and Lakers, while also topping the Hawks at home during this stretch.  Look for them to get their 5th straight win tonight as only 3-point home favorites over the Indiana Pacers.  The Pacers will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a 110-122 loss at Golden State last night.  After playing the defending champs, they won't be able to get up for the Kings one night later.  The Pacers are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 0 days rest.  Indiana is 1-8 ATS revenging a home loss against an opponent this season.  The Kings have won three straight meetings with the Pacers.  Take Sacramento.

7* WCC GAME OF THE YEAR on Gonzaga -11

The Key: The Gonzaga Bulldogs are pissed off after blowing a big lead late against St. Mary's on Thursday.  They will respond in a big way Saturday on the road at lowly Pacific, which is just 6-12 on the season.  Gonzaga has owned Pacific, going 5-0 SU & 3-2 ATS in the last 5 meetings with all 5 victories coming by 12 points or more.  The Bulldogs have won those 5 meetings by 12, 31, 17, 22 and 18 points.  Take Gonzaga.

6* Vanderbilt/Kentucky SEC *CA$H COW* on Vanderbilt +5

The Key: The Vanderbilt Commodores may very well be the best team in the SEC.  Oddsmakers setting this line at only 5 points shows that as Kentucky has owned the SEC since John Calipari took over.  But I look for the Commodores to get a signature win today on the road.  They are back on track with three straight blowout victories over Auburn (75-57), Alabama (71-63) and Tennessee (88-74).  Kentucky is 1-9 ATS vs. teams who force 12 or fewer turnovers per game over the last 2 seasons.  Take Vanderbilt.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New York Knicks +2

The Key: This is a very tough spot for the Los Angeles Clippers.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-115 on the road last night.  Now they have to travel out for New York.  After facing the top team in the Eastern Conference in the Cavs, the Clippers will have a very hard time getting motivated to face the Knicks.  But these Knicks have been playing about as well as anyone in the Eastern Conference over the last few weeks.  They are 7-3 SU & 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  All three losses came on the road to the Spurs by 1, the Nets by 6 and the Grizzlies by 8.  The Knicks are 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.  New York is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 vs. a team that wins more than 60% of his games.  Take New York.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Orlando Magic -4

The Key: The Orlando Magic are desperate for a victory tonight after losing 8 of their last 9 games overall to fall below .500 at 20-21 on the season.  It's safe to say that they'll be extremely hungry for a win tonight given the situation.  They should be able to get it against a Charlotte Hornets team that has struggled just as much, going 2-10 in their last 12 games overall.  The Hornets have a plethora of injuries as they are missing three starters in Al Jefferson, Nicolas Batum and Cody Zeller, so it's understandable that they are struggling right now.  They may also be without Jeremy Lamb, who is questionable after missing the last five games.  The Hornets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.  The Magic are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.  Take Orlando.

6* Sun Belt Game of the Week on South Alabama +16

The Key: The UL-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (7-8) have no business being favored by 16 points over the South Alabama Jaguars (7-10) Thursday.  South Alabama just beat the best team in the Sun Belt in Texas-Arlington 88-85 at home as 12-point underdogs to show what they are capable of.  The Jaguars have only lost two games by more than 15 points this season.  Six of Lafayette's eight losses have come by double-digits.  South Alabama owns Lafayette, going 6-1 SU & 6-1 ATS in its last seven meetings with the Ragin' Cajuns.  The underdog is 10-3-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings.  The Jaguars are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.  Take South Alabama.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -2

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans have won 3 of their last 4 games coming into this one.  Now that they're healthy, they have been playing better and will be motivated to make a push for that final playoff spot in the Western Conference.  I love getting them as only 2-point home favorites here against the Detroit Pistons.  The Pistons will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a draining 123-114 win at Houston last night.  They won't have much left in the tank here, while the Pelicans had yesterday off and will be the fresher team.  The Pelicans are 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings with the Pistons, and 6-0 SU in their last 6 home meetings with Detroit as well.  This has simply been a bad matchup for the Pistons in recent years.  Take New Orleans.

7* Warriors/Bulls ESPN *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 215

The Key: The oddsmakers have set a very big total for this game between the Warriors and Bulls tonight.  I believe the value to be on the UNDER at 215 points in this one.  For starters, this game will be played on National TV, so the defensive intensity will be higher than normal.  Both teams are coming off high-scoring games that have inflated this total with the Warriors scoring 132 against Cleveland and the Bulls scoring 111 against Detroit.  But the real key here is that the Bulls and Warriors have combined for 214 or fewer points at the end of regulation in 13 straight meetings. That's a 13-0 system backing the UNDER when factoring in this total set of 215.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Charlotte Hornets +10

The Key: This is an awful spot for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will be playing the second of a back-to-back after beating Denver 110-104 on the road last night.  They will also be playing their 6th game in 9 days tonight.  The Hornets are getting healthier and playing better of late as a result.  They've gone 3-1 ATS in their last three games overall with a 23-point win over Atlanta and a 5-point win over Utah highlighted.  Bets on road underdogs after allowing 105 points or more in 3 straight games against opponent off a win by 6 points or less are 26-5 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  The Thunder are 5-15 ATS vs. teams with losing records this season.  Take Charlotte.

6* Missouri Valley *CA$H COW* on Northern Iowa +7

The Key: The Northern Iowa Panthers are just the type of team that can upset the Wichita State Shockers.  They play lock-down defense, and their home-court advantage is absolutely enormous.  Remember, this is a Northern Iowa team that upset then-No.1 North Carolina at home.  It also knocked off then-No. 3 Iowa State on a neutral court, so it has proven it can hang with the big boys.  Wichita State is only 5-5 in all road games this season.  The home team is 6-1 SU & 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings, which includes a 70-54 win by the Panthers last season as 2-point home dogs.  Northern Iowa is 17-5 ATS versus good defensive teams that allow 64 or fewer points per game over the last 2 seasons.  The Panthers are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 home games.  Take Northern Iowa.

7* NBA Eastern Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Milwaukee Bucks +5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks have really picked up their play here of late.  They have gone 4-2 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.  They have beaten the likes of Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta during this stretch, while also winning on the road in Charlotte by 13 points.  This is a team to be reckoned with going forward.  The Miami Heat are not playing well at all as they've lost 4 of their last 5 games.  Yes, they are coming off a 6-game road trip, so that has a lot to do with it.  But that first home game back from a long road trip is always a difficult spot.  Players are more concerned about family obligations when they get back from the trip rather than playing basketball.  The Heat are 7-22 ATS in their last 29 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.  Milwaukee has Miami's number, going 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  The Bucks are 17-4 ATS after playing a game as a road underdog this season.  Take Milwaukee.

6* Kansas/Oklahoma State ESPN2 National TV *Annihilator* on Oklahoma State +9.5

The Key: The Oklahoma State Cowboys aren't as good as they have been in year's past, but they are good enough to stay within single-digits of the Kansas Jayhawks in Stillwater tonight.  After opening with a 69-48 home win over TCU in Big 12 play, the Cowboys have gone 0-4 in their last four conference games, which has them undervalued here.  But three of those were on the road against Baylor, WVU and Texas, while the other was only a 2-point home loss to top-ranked Oklahoma.  So the Cowboys are actually +19 in point differential in their two Big 12 home games.  They have given Kansas fits in Stillwater in recent years, too.  They won 67-62 as 1-point home dogs last season and 72-65 as 1.5-point home favorites two years ago.  Kansas hasn't beaten Oklahoma State by more than 10 points in any of the last 7 meetings.  The Cowboys are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.  The Jayhawks are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 Big 12 games.  The Cowboys are 6-0 ATS in home games after playing a game as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.  The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  Take Oklahoma State.

6* Oklahoma/Iowa State Big 12 *CA$H COW* on Iowa State -1.5

The Key: The Iowa State Cyclones rarely lose at home, which is why they are showing good value as only 1.5-point home favorites against the Oklahoma Sooners tonight.  The Cyclones only lost by 4 at Oklahoma in their first meeting this season, and they should have no problem returning the favor at home this time around.  After all, the home team is 8-0 straight up in the last 8 meetings.  The Cyclones are 24-4 ATS as a home favorite of 3 points or less in their last 28 tries as well.  Take Iowa State.

7* Warriors/Cavs TNT *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 209

The Key: Oddsmakers have set the bar too high tonight in this NBA Finals rematch between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.  It's clear that the intensity level will be very high in this game, and that will favor the defenses.  These teams are obviously familiar with one another after playing in the NBA Finals last season and once already this year, so that also favors the defenses.  The first meeting between these teams on Christmas Day was very low-scoring as well.  The Warriors beat the Cavs 89-83 for 172 combined points.  They have combined for 208 or fewer points in all 7 meetings since Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and 195 or fewer points in five of those.  Cleveland is 12-0 UNDER off a non-conference game this season.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Oklahoma City Thunder -9.5

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder are absolutely rolling right now and should continue their solid play Sunday with a double-digit victory over the Miami Heat.  They are 5-1 in their last six games overall with three wins by 18, 19 and 20 points.  Those three blowout wins all came at home.  Now they get to face a Heat team that is banged up right now.  The Heat are without starting PG Goran Dragic, and they could be without Dwyane Wade, who is listed as questionable.  The Thunder won their last home meeting with the Heat 93-75 as 4-point favorites.  Miami is 4-17 ATS in its last 21 games off a road win.  The Heat are 14-38-2 ATS in their last 54 games following a straight up win.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* NCAAB Saturday Night *BAILOUT* on Boise State -4

The Key: I believe the Boise State Broncos are the best team in the Mountain West.  They are off to a 13-4 start this season, which includes a perfect 9-0 home record.  They are outscoring opponents by nearly 20 points per game at home this year.  The Broncos are 10-0 in their last 10 games overall as well.  San Diego State isn't as good as it has been in year's past, sitting at just 11-6 on the season.  The Broncos won 61-46 and 56-46 in their two meetings with the Aztecs last season, and now they have most of their team back from last year.  The Broncos are 16-3 ATS versus teams who commit 14 or fewer turnovers per game after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons.  SDSU is 2-13 ATS in its last 15 games when playing just its 2nd game in 8 days.  The Broncos are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 vs. Mountain West.  Boise is 23-10 ATS in its last 33 games overall.  The Aztecs are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.  Take Boise State.

6* NBA *Total* Annihilator on Nets/Hawks UNDER 205.5

The Key: Based on the recent history between the Nets and Hawks, it's clear that oddsmakers have inflated this total tonight.  Both teams are coming off high-scoring games last night, but the Hawks only went over the total against the Bucks due to overtime.  Those two high scoring games have forced oddsmakers to inflate this total as well.  The UNDER is 3-0 in the last 3 meetings with combined scores of 178, 188 and 198 points.  That's an average of 188.0 combined points per game, which is 17.5 points less than this 205.5-point total.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Situational GAME OF THE YEAR on Dallas Mavericks -1.5

The Key: The Chicago Bulls could not be in a worse spot tonight.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 4th game in 5 days.  They went to overtime against the 76ers last night before pulling out a 115-111 victory.  I don't see them having much left to give tonight against the Dallas Mavericks.  The Mavs will be the more energized team in this one considering they've had essentially two days' rest in between games.  Rick Carlisle rested his starters against the Thunder on Wednesday, and now those starters should respond by out-hussling the Bulls for four quarters.  The Mavs are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games after trailing their previous game by 15 points or more at the half.  The Bulls are 8-24 ATS in their last 32 games following a road win.  Take Dallas.

6* Cavs/Spurs TNT National TV *Annihilator* on San Antonio -5.5

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are the best home team in the NBA.  They are 22-0 SU & 16-6 ATS at home this season, outscoring opponents by a ridiculous 16.1 points per game.  I look for them to continue to roll tonight as reasonable 5.5-point home favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Cleveland will be playing its 5th road games on a 6-game trip, making this a very tough spot.  The Spurs are 16-3 ATS in their last 19 home games after playing a game as a road favorite.  Cleveland is 4-16 ATS in its last 16 road games vs. good rebounding teams who outrebound their opponents by 3 or more boards per game.  The Spurs are 10-1 ATS versus teams who make 36% or more of their 3-point attempts this season.  The Cavs are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 road games.  The Spurs are 44-19 ATS in their last 63 games overall, including 25-9 ATS in their last 34 home games.  Take San Antonio.

7* Pac-12 GAME OF THE MONTH on Arizona State -8.5

The Key: The Arizona State Sun Devils are going to be hungry for a victory tonight when they host the Washington State Cougars.  They have lost three straight coming into this game to open 0-3 within the conference.  But those three losses came to three of the best teams in the Pac-12 with a home loss to Arizona, and road losses to both USC and UCLA.  They were competitive in all three games as all three losses came by 12 points or less.  Now they get the opportunity to get on track against one of the worst teams in Pac-12 in Washington State.  The Cougars are 1-2 in conference play despite playing three games at home.  They will now be playing just their second true road game of the season.  Their first was ugly as they were upset at Idaho 74-78 despite being 8.5-point favorites.  Arizona State is 12-5 SU & 13-4 ATS in its last 17 home meetings with Washington State.  The Cougars are 9-21-4 ATS in their last 34 road games.  The home team is 15-3 ATS in the last 18 meetings.  The Cougars are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 visits to ASU.  Take Arizona State.

6* SEC Game of the Week on Ole Miss +10.5

The Key: The LSU Tigers have been overvalued ever since beating the Kentucky Wildcats at home a week ago.  They are went on the road and lost at Florida on Saturday, and now they're being asked to lay 10.5 points to a very good Ole Miss team, which is too much.  Ole Miss is 12-3 this season and has won nine of its last 10 games coming in.  That includes home wins over Alabama and Georgia as well as a road win at Memphis.  Ole Miss is 12-4 ATS in all road games over the last two seasons.  The Rebels are 15-4 ATS in their last 19 road games vs. teams who commit 14 or fewer turnovers per game.  Take Ole Miss.

7* NBA Western Conference TOTAL OF THE MONTH on T'Wolves/Rockets OVER 204.5

The Key: When the Timberwolves and Rockets get together, it usually results in a high-scoring affair.  In fact, the OVER is 6-0 in the last six meetings between these teams with six straight combined scores of 214 or more points.  They have combined for 230, 215, 226, 214, 222 and 235 points in their last 6 meetings, respectively.  That's an average of 223.7 combined points per game, which is 19.2 points more than this posted total of 204.5.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA Non-Conference TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Cavs/Mavs OVER 198

The Key: With Kyrie Irving back in the lineup, the Cleveland Cavaliers are hitting on all cylinders offensively.  They have scored 104, 122, 121, 125 and 95 points in their last 5 games overall.  That 95-point effort was the result of a poor shooting night in which they shot just 38.9% against the 76ers, but that's not likely to happen again.  The Mavs have scored at least 100 points in 6 of their last 10 games coming in.  Recent meetings between these teams indicate that this total has been set too low.  The Mavs and Cavs have combined for at least 199 points in 4 straight meetings.  They are averaging 212.5 combined points/game over their last 4 meetings.  That's 14.5 points more than this 198-point total.  Take the OVER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Boston Celtics -1

The Key: The Boston Celtics have lost 5 of their last 6 games.  They clearly want a win to end this skid, especially after blowing a 20-point lead in a loss at Memphis on Sunday.  They now get to take on a hot Knicks team that has gone 4-1 in its last 5 games, but one that is getting too much respect from the books now.  The Celtics are 4-0 in their last four meetings with the Knicks with an average victory of 11.3 points per game.  Boston is 13-1 ATS in its last 14 road games after two straight games where it allowed at least 100 points.  Take Boston.

6* Big East Game of the Week on DePaul +18.5

The Key: Xavier is finally starting to get the respect it deserves from oddsmakers.  It opened 9-3 ATS in its last 12 lined games and was undervalued.  But now the reverse is true as the Musketeers are overvalued after that start, and it's shown with a 1-2 ATS mark in their last three games.  They lost 64-95 at Villanova as 6.5-point dogs, and only won 74-66 at St. John's as 15-point favorites in their two non-covers.  Now they are being asked to lay 18.5 points to DePaul tonight, which is simply too much.  DePaul has opened 0-4 in Big East play, but its losses have come by 12, 4, 5 and 11 points.  It has been competitive, and it will hang with the Musketeers four 40 minutes tonight to stay within this spread.  The Musketeers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.  Take DePaul.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Washington Wizards +8

The Key: One of these teams has struggled of late while the other is rolling.  That has forced the oddsmakers to shade the line toward the team that is rolling, creating some value on the team that is struggling.  The Wizards have lost 5 of their last 7 games, while the Bulls have won 6 of their last 7.  The Bulls may win again tonight, but asking them to do so by 8-plus points is asking too much.  The Wizards have actually played their best basketball on the road this season as they are 8-8 SU & 9-7 ATS.  They just won 105-99 at Orlando, and I like them to stay with the Bulls tonight, possibly pulling off the upset.  After all, the Wizards are 6-3 SU & 6-3 ATS in their last 9 meetings with the Bulls, so they clearly match up well with them.  The Wizards are 41-23 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 3 seasons.  The Bulls are 3-11 ATS after having won 2 of their last 3 games this season.  The Wizards are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference teams and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games.  The Wizards are also 8-1 ATS in their last 9 trips to Chicago.  Take Washington.

6* Big Ten Game of the Week on Illinois +9

The Key: The betting public wants nothing to do with Illinois after it was crushed 54-79 at Michigan State last time out.  The betting public is quick to back the Purdue Boilermakers after they throttled Michigan 87-70 at home last time out.  Well, I think it's now time to get the Fighting Illini at a discount as 9-point home dogs to the Boilermakers.  For starters, Kendrick Nunn, who leads the team at 18.5 points per game this season, missed the Michigan State game.  But Nunn is expected to return today and will help the Illini stay within this number and possibly pull off the upset.  Five of last six meetings were decided by 9 points or less, and Illinois has not lost to Purdue by more than 8 points in the last six meetings.  Add it all up, and the value is clearly on the Fighting Illini at home Sunday.  Take Illinois.

6* UNC/Syracuse ACC *CA$H COW* on Syracuse +6.5

The Key: Jim Boeheim returns from his nine-game suspension to coach the Syracuse Orange in a critical home games against the North Carolina Tar Heels Saturday.  Before the suspension, the Orange were 6-1 with back-to-back wins over UConn and Texas A&M.  Their only loss came to Wisconsin in overtime.  Over the past nine games, the Orange have lost to Georgetown, St. John's, Pitt, Miami and Clemson.  So they are looking for their first ACC win and will be motivated to get it with Boeheim back, and it's clear that his presence means a lot to this team when you look at the results with and without him thus far.  UNC is 1-9 ATS after having won 12 or more of its last 15 games over the last 3 seasons.  Take Syracuse.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Atlanta Hawks -2

The Key: The Atlanta Hawks are coming off a stretch in which they lost 3 of 4 games, but they rebounded with a 126-98 win at Philadelphia.  This recent stretch has them undervalued right now.  Conversely, the Bulls are 6-0 in their last 6 games overall, which has them overvalued.  I think we are getting the Hawks at a discount tonight as a result.  Chicago is 4-16 ATS in its last 20 Saturday games.   The Bulls are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS win.  The favorite is 35-16 ATS in the last 51 meetings.  Take Atlanta.

6* Missouri Valley Game of the Week on Southern Illinois +7

The Key: Wichita State is a name that everyone knows due to their Final Four run a few years back.  But the Shockers are not as good this season as they have been the last two years.  They are just 9-5 on the season, but they're still getting treated like they're that Final Four team from oddsmakers.  They are coming off a narrow 67-64 home win at 10-point dogs over Evansville last time out.  This Southern Illinois outfit is no joke as the Salukis are 14-2 on the season.  They are 7-1 at home, which includes an upset win over MVC contender Northern Iowa in their last home game.  The Salukis are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 meetings with Wichita State, including 9-3 ATS in their last 12 home meetings.  Take Southern Illinois.

6* Baylor/Iowa State Big 12 *CA$H COW* on Baylor +7.5

The Key: Baylor is one of the few teams to win at Iowa State in recent seasons.  It won 79-70 in Ames last year as 6.5-point underdogs.  That was part of a 2-0 season sweep by the Bears as they also won 74-73 at home as 2-point favorites.  Their zone defense gives the Cyclones fits and forces them to play more of a half-court game, which isn't their style.  They like to get out and run, but the Bears do a great job of getting back in transition and forcing the Cyclones to work for every point they get.  That will be the case again Saturday as the Bears easily stay within this 7.5-point spread, possibly pulling off the upset.  The Cyclones are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 home games as their home-court advantage has been overblown here of late.  Take Baylor.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Phoenix Suns +5

The Key: The betting public wants nothing to do with the Phoenix Suns right now because they have lost 9 of their last 10 games overall.  The oddsmakers have been forced to tack on a few extra points for the Suns tonight.  Asking the Heat to go on the road and beat the Suns by 6 or more points to cover this spread tonight is asking a little too much.  The Suns will be motivated to end a 10-game losing streak to the Heat, and they'll also be motivated to beat their former teammate, Goran Dragic.  The Heat are just 6-6 on the road this season, where they're scoring only 93.0 points per game.  Miami is 1-14 ATS after covering 3 of its last 4 games against the spread over the last two seasons.  Take Phoenix.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Nuggets/Grizzlies UNDER 192.5

The Key: The Grizzlies have been playing in some very low-scoring games over the past month-plus.  They have scored fewer than 100 points in 15 of their last 18, and they've allowed 100 or fewer in 12 of their last 13.  The Grizzlies are still a great defensive team, but they are now offensively-challenged because both PG Mike Conley and SG Courtney Lee are nursing injuries that will likely keep them out tonight.  The Nuggets and Grizzlies have played in very low scoring affairs in their last two meetings with combined scores of 173 and 168 points.  The UNDER is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.  The Nuggets are 10-1 to the UNDER in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.  Take the UNDER.

7* Sun Belt GAME OF THE MONTH on Arkansas State -1

The Key: Arkansas State comes in playing its best basketball of the season.  It is 3-0 in its last 3 games overall with a 10-point home win over Central Arkansas, a 3-point road win at Troy, and a 22-point road win at South Alabama.  The home/away discrepancy between LA-Monroe and Arkansas State is a huge factor here.  Arkansas State is 4-1 at home this season, while LA-Monroe is 1-7 on the road with its only win coming against Northwestern State.  The Red Wolves are a perfect 9-0 SU in their last 9 home meetings with LA-Monroe since 1997.  That record, more than anything, is the reason for this play.  Take Arkansas State.

6* Celtics/Bulls NBA on TNT *CA$H COW* on Boston +6

The Key: The Boston Celtics have clearly been road warriors this season.  They have gone 10-6 on the road this season, which includes an 11-5 ATS mark.  They have been even better on the road here of late, going 7-2 SU in their last nine road games with two 3-point losses to San Antonio and Detroit.  I look for them to stay within 6 points of the Bulls on the road tonight, possibly pulling off the upset.  The Bulls are getting a lot of respect from oddsmakers right now due to their 5-game winning streak coming in.  It's time to fade them as a result.  Boston has gone 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points.  The Celtics are 39-19 ATS in their last 58 road games overall.  Take Boston.

6* Cincinnati/SMU ESPN National TV *Annihilator* on Cincinnati +6.5

The Key: I expect Mick Cronin's Cincinnati Bearcats to hand the SMU Mustangs their first loss of the season tonight.  Getting the 6.5 points is just an added bonus.  The Bearcats returned all 5 starters this season from a team that owned SMU last year.  Cincinnati beat SMU 56-50 at home and 62-54 on the road as identical 6.5-point underdogs.  The Mustangs just don't handle the Bearcats' big men inside well at all.  Cincinnati outrebounded SMU 62-50 in the two meetings combined last year.  The Bearcats are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 road games following three or more consecutive home games.  Take Cincinnati.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -5.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks are in an awful spot tonight.  They are coming off a double-overtime game against Sacramento last night in which they won on a buzzer-beater by Deron Williams, 117-116.  Now they are in a huge letdown spot here, and they are also fatigued as this will be the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 4th game in 6 days.  New Orleans has had 3 days off in between games since a 105-98 road win over these same Mavericks on Saturday. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  New Orleans is 29-14 ATS in its last 43 games after failing to cover the spread in 2 of its last 3 games coming in.  Take New Orleans.

6* MAC Game of the Week on Northern Illinois +2

The Key: The Northern Illinois Huskies are one of the most underrated teams in college basketball this season.  Mark Montgomery has this team sitting at 11-2 entering MAC play Wednesday with a home meeting against the Ohio Bobcats.  NIU's only two losses this season both came on the road to Missouri (71-78) and Ohio State (54-67).  That game against the Buckeyes was close the entire way until the final few minutes.  But the Huskies are a perfect 9-0 at home this season, outscoring teams by 22.9 points per game.  Ohio is just 2-3 in road games this year, neutral or true.  This is a team that has recent lackluster home wins over Jackson State (72-67) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (65-58) in two of its last three games.  The Bobcats are 2-10 ATS vs. good defensive teams that allow 64 or fewer points per game over the last 2 seasons.  The Bobcats are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games following three or more consecutive home games.  The Huskies are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.  The Huskies are 21-7-4 ATS in their last 32 MAC games.  Take Northern Illinois.

7* Florida/Tennessee ESPN2 National TV *Annihilator* on Tennessee +4.5

The Key: Rick Barnes stepped into a good situation at Tennessee with 4 starters back from last year, and a solid recruiting class.  The Vols have been ultra-competitive this season even though they are just 7-6 on the year.  Their six losses have come to Georgia Tech, George Washington, Nebraska, Butler, Gonzaga and Auburn.  All six of those losses came on the road, and all six came by 11 points or less, including five by 8 points or fewer.  That's pretty impressive to play all six of those teams down to the wire.  Florida has only played three true road games this season, losing two with its only win at Navy in the season opener.  The Vols are 7-0 at home this season.  The Vols are 31-9 ATS in their last 40 games as a home underdog.  Florida is 4-14 ATS following a win over the last two seasons.  The Volunteers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings, and the Gators are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 trips to Tennessee.  Take Tennessee.

7* Warriors/Lakers Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +13

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are clearly overvalued right now due to their 32-2 start to the season.  They have failed to cover the spread in back-to-back games with a 3-point home win over the Nuggets and a 10-point home win over the Hornets.  Now they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after beating Charlotte at home last night.  The Lakers are undervalued due to their 8-27 start, but they have been playing much better of late.  They have won three straight with an 8-point win at Boston, a 9-point home win over Philadelphia, and a 20-point home win over Phoenix.  They have gone 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.  The Warriors are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.  Take Los Angeles.

6* SEC Game of the Week on Vanderbilt -1.5

The Key: The Vanderbilt Commodores are hungry for a win tonight after losing 4 of thier last 6 games overall.  Those four losses came to Baylor, Dayton, Purdue and LSU, so they have played a brutal schedule.  Now it lightens up a bit against an Arkansas team that is clearly down this season.  The Razorbacks are just 6-7 on the season due to the fact that they had to break in five new starters this year.  They have lost to the likes of Mercer and Akron this season among their 7 losses.  The Commodores are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.  Vanderbilt is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 road games.  The Razorbacks are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Vanderbilt.

6* ACC Game of the Week on Virginia Tech +13

The Key: Last year, a bad Virginia Tech team played a very good Virginia team tough in both meetings.  VA Tech only lost 47-50 at home as 16.5-point underdogs, and they also covered as 19.5-point road dogs in a 57-69 loss.  Plus, they only lost 53-57 as 11-point home dogs to the Cavaliers in 2014.  It's clear that this team can play with Virginia, and I look for the Hokies to easily stay within this 13-point spread at home tonight.  They just upset NC State 73-68 as 2-point home dogs on Saturday.  The Hokies are 44-27 ATS in their last 71 games off a home win against a conference opponent.  The Cavaliers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.  The underdog is 10-3-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings.  The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  Take Virginia Tech.

7* Monday Night NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston Celtics -7.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics want revenge from two straight losses to the Nets this season, including a 3-point loss on Saturday night.  Brooklyn PG Jarrett Jack suffered a torn ACL in that game and will miss the rest of the season, which is a big blow to this team.  Boston is 16-4 ATS in road games when playing with double revenge over the last two seasons.  The Celtics are 41-15 ATS in road games revenging a loss with Brad Stevens as their head coach.  Boston is 12-1 ATS in its last 13 road games after giving up 100-plus points in two straight games.  Take Boston.

6* Rockets/Spurs Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Houston +12

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are clearly overvalued right now.  The betting public is all over this team because they have gone 28-6 SU & 23-11 ATS on the season.  The Houston Rockets are 16-18 SU & 13-21 ATS, so the betting public wants nothing to do with them.  But the Rockets match up well with the Spurs as they've had the upper-hand in this series of late.  They have gone 7-3 SU in the last 10 meetings with their three losses coming by 1, 12 and 4 points.  The Rockets haven't lost by more than 12 to the Spurs in any of the last 12 meetings.  Take Houston.

6* Notre Dame/Virginia ACC *CA$H COW* on Notre Dame +9.5

The Key: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish get the nod here as 9.5-point underdogs to the Virginia Cavaliers.  They should have no problem staying within double-digits here.  The Fighting Irish are 13-1 ATS in their last 14 road games vs. teams who make 45% or more of their shots and give up 42% or less to opponents.  Take Notre Dame.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -3

The Key: This is strictly a fade of the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.  They are worn down as this will be their 5th game in 7 days, all of which have come on the road.  They played a high-scoring affair in a 122-117 win at Charlotte last night, so they will also be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.  The Pelicans have played better of late with 3 wins in their last 5 games and one of their losses coming in overtime on the road to the Miami Heat.  The home team has gone 6-0 straight up in the last 6 meetings between these teams.  Take New Orleans.

6* CAA Game of the Week on Drexel +11.5

The Key: UNC-Wilmington is overvalued right now due to its 8-3 start against a soft schedule.  Drexel is undervalued due to its 2-9 start against a much tougher slate.  Wilmington's 8 wins have come against Milligan, Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, E Tennessee State, Coker, Utah Valley State, Campbell and Missouri KC.  7 of Drexel's 9 losses this season have come by 9 points or less, including a 1-point loss at St. Joe's and a 6-point loss to Penn State.  Bets against home teams who outscore their opponents by 8-plus points per game against teams who get outscored by 3.5 to 8 points per game, after scoring 95 points or more in their previous game are 66-29 ATS since 1997.  Take Drexel.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Dallas Mavericks +4

The Key: This is a great spot to fade the Golden State Warriors considering how banged up their are right now.  They are likely to be without MVP Steph Curry, who had an MRI today on his leg and should be given the night off.  Harrison Barnes and Leandro Barbose remain out, Festus Ezeli is questionable, and Draymond Green is expected to play through an ankle injury.  The Warriors are ripe for the picking tonight, and I look for the Mavericks to knock them off.  The Mavs are playing their best basketball of the season right now as they are 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall with their only loss coming by 4 points at Toronto.  The Mavs are 4-0 in their last four home games, and they haven't lost any of their last 12 home games by more than 4 points, making for a perfect 12-0 angle backing them tonight.  Take Dallas.

6* Sun Belt Game of the Week on Texas-Arlington -4.5

The Key: This Texas-Arlington team might be the best-kept secret in all of college basketball.  They have gotten off to a 9-2 start this season with some very impressive wins already.  They beat Ohio State 73-68 as 18.5-point road dogs, Memphis 68-64 as 12-point road dogs, and UTEP 76-62 as 1-point road dogs.  They also took Texas to overtime on the road with their only other loss coming at LA Tech.  Georgia State doesn't really have an impressive win yet.  It lost its two toughest games on the road to Ole Miss by 9 and UAB by 7.  I believe UT-Arlington wants to make a statement and let Georgia State know that the Sun Belt belongs to them this season.  Arlington is 5-0 at home this season, winning by 31.0 points per game to boot.  Georgia State is 0-6 ATS as a road underdog over the last 2 seasons.  Arlington is 8-1 ATS in all games this season.  Take UT-Arlington.

6* Michigan State/Iowa NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Iowa -2.5

The Key: The Michigan State Spartans are the #1 team in the country, yet they are underdogs tonight to the Iowa Hawkeyes.  I think the Hawks are favored for good reason here.  All three of their losses this season have come by 6 points or less, and they should have beaten Iowa State in a 1-point road loss as they held a 20-point lead in that game.  They have blown out both Marquette and Wichita State by 20-plus points this season away from home.  Iowa is 6-0 at home this season, winning by 21.8 PPG.  Michigan State is without its top player in Denzel Valentine.  In its last game without him, it needed overtime to beat Oakland.  I don't expect the Spartans to be so fortunate now on the road against a quality opponent in the Hawkeyes.  Take Iowa.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Memphis Grizzlies -4.5

The Key: I'll gladly fade the Miami Heat tonight given this awful spot for them.  The Heat will be playing their 4th game in 5 days off their 105-111 loss to the Brooklyn Nets last night.  They'll have nothing left to give against Memphis, which will be playing just its 3rd game in 7 days.  The Grizzlies want revenge from a 97-100 loss at Miami on December 13 in which they blew a 16-point 3rd quarter lead and watched the Heat score the final 11 points of the game.  They have won four straight home meetings with the Heat.  Miami is 0-7 ATS vs. teams who force 16 or more turnovers per game this season.  Memphis is 19-9 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less over the last 2 seasons.  Take Memphis.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Brooklyn Nets +8.5

The Key: The Nets have lost 7 of their last 8 games and are catching too many points tonight as a result.  The Heat have covered the spread in each of their last 2 games and are laying too many points now.  I like the Nets here as 8.5-point dogs.  This team has been getting too many points on the road all season, as they are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.  The last 4 meetings between the Nets and Heat have all been decided by 6 points or less.  There's a good chance this one will be as well.  Take Brooklyn.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Orlando Magic -4

The Key:  The Miami Heat will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after needing overtime to beat the New Orleans Pelicans on Christmas Day.  They won't have a lot left in the tank for the Orlando Magic, who come in playing as well as anyone in the Eastern Conference.  The Magic have won five of their last six games overall with their only loss coming by 3 points to Atlanta.  Four of their five wins came by 8 points or more.  They have had two days off as they last played on Wednesday, so they will be the fresher team.  The Magic are 20-8 ATS in all games this season as they've been undervalued all year.  They're 10-5 SU & 10-5 ATS in all home games.  The Heat are just 4-5 SU & 4-5 ATS on the road.  The Heat are 13-36-2 ATS in their last 51 games following a straight up win.  The Magic are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win.  Take Orlando.