7* Friday NCAAB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Northern Iowa +4.5

The Key: The Northern Iowa Panthers are a live underdog who I believe will pull the 11/6 upset Friday.  They have made noise in the big dance before in knocking off Kansas a few years ago.  Few teams have better wins than they do.  The Panthers have beaten North Carolina, Iowa State and Wichita State (twice).  They can clearly hang with a Texas team that comes in having lost two out of its last three by a combined 46 points.  Northern Iowa has gone 12-1 SU & 11-1-1 ATS in its last 13 games overall.  It is 8-0 ATS versus teams who force 14 or fewer turnovers per game after 15 games this season.  The Panthers are 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  The Longhorns are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.  Take this combined 33-1 angle in favor of the Panthers straight to the bank Friday.  Take Northern Iowa.

6* Friday East Region *CA$H COW* on Pittsburgh +2

The Key: Give Wisconsin credit for bouncing back after Bo Ryan retired early in the season after a terrible start that includes home losses to Western Illinois, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette.  But this isn't even close to the Badgers' team that made the championship game last year.  They have no business being favored over Pitt with the way they closed the season.  They lost by 11 at Purdue and by 12 to Nebraska in the conference tournament.  Common opponents are in Pitt's favor.  The Panthers are 3-1 against common opponents with Wisconsin, which is 1-2 in those games.  Pitt is scoring 76.0 points per game on 46% shooting against teams that allow 71.6 on 43.4% shooting, so it is an elite offensive team.  It is also allowing 67.9 against teams that average 73.8, so it is better than it gets credit for defensively, too.  The Panthers are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a ATS loss.  The Badgers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.  The Badgers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.  Take Pitt.

6* Friday West Region *CA$H COW* on Oklahoma -14

The Key: Oklahoma went 12-0 in non-conference games this season while outscoring opponents by nearly 20 points per game.  They even beat Villanova by 23 on a neutral court.  They did not win the Big 12 like they wanted to, but they came very close to doing so as five of their conference losses came by 5 points or fewer.  CS-Bakersfield is no match for the Sooners, who will be essentially playing at home in Oklahoma City.  Bakersfield lost by 35 to Saint Mary's and by 16 to Arizona State, and it doesn't have any significant wins this season against quality competition.  The Sooners are by far the best team they will have played, and the end result won't be a pretty one for Bakersfield. Take Oklahoma.

7* NCAAB 1st Round GAME OF THE YEAR on Providence -2

The Key: Providence comes in having won 4 of its last 5 games overall while going 5-0 ATS in the process.  The Friars are getting back to playing like they were when they started 14-1.  Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil may be the best 1-2 punch in the tournament.  USC comes in having lost 7 of its last 10 games with all seven losses by at least 7 points each.  The Trojans are just 5-10 in all road games this season.  Their only significant win away from home came against a Wichita State team that was without Fred VanVleet.  The Friars already beat Arizona from the Pac-12 on a neutral court, while the Trojans lost to Xavier from the Big East by 10 on a neutral floor.  Providence is 13-3 ATS in its last 16 neutral site games.  Take Providence.

6* Thursday Midwest Region *CA$H COW* on Iowa State -7.5

The Key: Iowa State will be out to make a statement after losing to UAB in the opening round last year.  Without question, Iona has the Cyclones' full attention this time around.  I love this Iowa State team that is one of only two teams with 6 players scoring at least 10 points per game.  The Cyclones rank 3rd in the nation in offensive efficiency. They lost 11 games this season but were in every one of them as they all came by 10 points or fewer, including seven by 5 points or less.  Iona lost by 25 to Valpo and by 20 to Oregon State out of conference this year.  Betting against dogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points who have won at least 4 straight, who are seeded 13 through 16 in the NCAA Tournament has produced a 49-19 ATS record since 1997.  The Cyclones should be favored by more.  Take Iowa State.

6* Thursday South Region *CA$H COW* on Connecticut -3

The Key: UConn was very impressive in the AAC Tournament.  After beating Cincinnati in four overtimes, the Huskies rolled to a 15-point win over Temple and a 14-point win over Memphis to capture the title.  The Huskies get after it defensively as well as anyone in the country.  They allow 63.1 points per game and 38.2% shooting, including just 41% in the pain.  That's key because they will need to stop Colorado's Josh Scott, a forward/center who is their best player.  The Buffaloes were only 6-10 away from home this season.  They were actually outscored on a per possession basis in Pac-12 play this season as well.  The Huskies are 15-3 ATS in their last 18 NCAA Tournament games, while the Buffaloes are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 postseason tournament games.  Take UConn.

6* Tulsa/Michigan First Four *CA$H COW* on Tulsa +4

The Key: Tulsa is the one team that every expert in the country felt didn't belong in the NCAA Tournament.  Playing with that important chip on their shoulder, the Golden Hurricane will be out to prove a point tonight against Michigan. The Wolverines are fortune to be in the big dance themselves considering they needed OT to beat Northwestern and caught Indiana on an off day in the Big Ten Tournament, otherwise they wouldn't be in.  I love the veteran leadership of this Tulsa team with 7 seniors who play on a regular basis.  SMU and UConn are common opponents for these teams.  Tulsa beat both of them, while Michigan lost to both.  This is a game I expect the Golden Hurricane to win outright, but getting the points is an added bonus.  Take Tulsa.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Chicago Bulls +5.5

The Key: Getting a healthy Jimmy Butler back in the lineup last time out helped the Bulls to a big road win over the Toronto Raptors.  There is a good chance Derrick Rose returns tonight, too, and the Bulls are going to be a very dangerous team going forward with these two.  Washington has lost 5 of its last 6 with three losses by 16 points or more.  The Wizards are coming off a blowout win over the Pistons, but they are just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a win by 10 points or more. The underdog is 25-10 ATS in the last 35 meetings in this series.  The road team is also 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.  Take Chicago.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto Raptors -2

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are 23-6 in their last 29 games overall.  Off a loss to the Bulls last night, I expect Toronto to come back focused tonight to take care of business against the Milwaukee Bucks, who are just 28-39 on the season.  The Raptors have owned the Bucks, going 9-1 in their last 10 meetings with them.  The Bucks are 2-15 ATS in their last 17 home games when coming off two or more straight wins.  Take Toronto.

6* NCAAB First Four *CA$H COW* on Florida Gulf Coast -5.5

The Key: Florida Gulf Coast is a very good team on both ends of the floor.  It is averaging 77 points and shooting nearly 48% on offense, while giving up just 70 points and 42% shooting defensively.  While Fairleigh Dickinson can score, it cannot defend, which is going to be its undoing here.  The Knights are actually the worst team defensively of the 68 teams in the field.  They give up 78.2 points per game on 45% shooting this season.  Gulf Coast is 12-1 ATS in its last 13 neutral site games.  Take Florida Gulf Coast.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Timberwolves/Suns UNDER 222

The Key: It's pretty easy to see that this total has been inflated when you look at recent meetings between the Timberwolves and Suns.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings and none of those five games saw more than 220 combined points.  They have averaged a combined 209 points per game in those five contests.  As you can see, that's 13 points fewer than the 222-point total set today.  Minnesota is 21-3 UNDER in its last 24 road games off an upset win over a division opponent.  Phoenix is 9-1 UNDER in March home games over the last two seasons.  Take the UNDER.

7* AAC Championship *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +5.5

The Key: The Memphis Tigers are playing their best basketball of the season heading into the AAC Championship Game against UConn.  Memphis has won its last 3 games by 20, 22 and 30 points, respectively.  Now the Tigers have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament with a win Sunday, and they won't blow this opportunity.  The UConn Huskies are already in the big dance no matter how this game turns out.  While they didn't show effects from the 4 OT game yesterday, I believe their 3rd game in 3 days here will finally get the best of them.  Memphis should be fresh with the ease of which it has won the last 2 days.  UConn is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games off 3 or more straight wins.  Take Memphis.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Washington Wizards +1

The Key: The Washington Wizards have lost four straight and are now 30-34 on the season.  They need to get it together in a hurry if they want to make the playoffs.  A date with the lowly Denver Nuggets should help their cause tonight.  Washington is 15-7 ATS after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games this season.  Denver is 15-28 ATS in its last 43 games games against a team with a losing record.  The Wizards are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.  Take Washington.

6* SEC Tournament *CA$H COW* on Kentucky -10.5

The Key: The Kentucky Wildcats have gone 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall and are getting better as the season goes on, which is usually the case for John Calipari since he took over at Kentucky.  They are coming off a 26-point win over Alabama yesterday, while Georgia barely survived in a 65-64 win over South Carolina.  Now the Wildcats get to face a Georgia team that they've owned.  They have won 5 straight meetings by 18.0 points per game, including their 34-point romp of the Bulldogs earlier this season.  Take Kentucky.

7* UConn/Temple AAC Tournament *HEAVY HITTER* on Temple +2

The Key: UConn played 4 overtimes yesterday in a 104-97 win over Cincinnati.  It's safe to say that they won't have much left to give today against Temple.  The Owls just keep flying under the radar this season.  They won the American Athletic, earned the No. 1 seed in this tournament, dismantled South Florida by 17 yesterday, and now they're underdogs to a team that just played 4 overtimes?  Give me a break.  Take Temple.

7* Conference Tournament GAME OF THE YEAR on South Carolina -1.5

The Key: South Carolina will be playing its 1st SEC Tournament game today, while it will be up against a Georgia team that will be playing its 2nd in 2 days.  Georgia expended a lot of energy in its 91-83 win over Ole Miss yesterday.  South Carolina has every reason to be motivated to bolster its NCAA Tournament chances, and to also avenge two earlier losses to Georgia this season, including a 2-point loss last Thursday.  Take South Carolina.

6* NBA Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Oklahoma City Thunder -12.5

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder have won 10 straight meetings with the Minnesota Timberwolves.  They have won 12 straight home meetings with the Timberwolves as well.  Most have come via blowout, too, as they last two home meetings have resulted in 20 and 14-point victories.  The Timberwolves are giving up 112.6 points per game in their last 16 games and have lost 17 of 19 games away from Minnesota.  Minnesota is 2-14 ATS off a blowout loss by 20 points or more over the last 2 seasons.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* Cavs/Lakers TNT *BAILOUT* on OVER 209

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers have really gotten going offensively here of late.  They have scored 100-plus points in five straight games, and that trend will continue against one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA in the Lakers.  Los Angeles has also shown some life offensively in averaging 109.5 points per game in its last two.  But the Lakers have allowed 101-plus points in 9 of their last 11 games  and yield 106.9 points per game on the season.  The Cavs and Lakers have combined for at least 211 points in 5 straight meetings with the OVER going 5-0.  They have combined for 231, 225, 211, 227 and 238 points in those five.  Take the OVER.

6* Pac-12 Tournament *CA$H COW* on Utah -6

The Key: The Utah Utes will be playing their first game of the Pac-12 Tournament today while the USC Trojans will be playing their 2nd game in 2 days.  The Utes are playing better than anyone in the Pac-12 right now, and that should continue.  They are 7-0 SU & 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.  They have owned USC, too, going 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  They have won the last five all by 8 points or more by 11, 28, 24, 8 and 18 points. Take Utah.

7* Big 12 Tournament *HEAVY HITTER* on West Virginia -14.5

The Key: The West Virginia Mountaineers are playing for a 2 or 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.  Look for them to make easy work of lowly TCU, which just upset Texas Tech yesterday and won't have much gas left to go up against this fierce WVU press.  WVU just beat TCU 73-42 on February 13 in their last meeting, and a similar blowout can be expected in the rematch.  The Horned Frogs are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.  The Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.  Take West Virginia.

7* Pac-12 Tournament *HEAVY HITTER* on USC -2

The Key: The USC Trojans are one of the final teams in the field as of today according to Joe Lunardi.  But a loss to UCLA could put them on the wrong side of the bubble.  The Trojans simply must take care of business tonight,a nd they'll be focused to do so.  They get to play a UCLA team that is really struggling, going 0-4 in its last four games overall.  They also get to play a team they have owned this year.  The Trojans are 2-0 against the Bruins this season with both wins coming by a combined 33 points.  Given what's at stake, that trend should continue.  The Bruins are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following 3 or more consecutive ATS losses.  UCLA is 0-9 ATS vs. teams who attempt 62 or more shots per game this season.  Take this 15-0 angle in favor of the Trojans straight to the bank.  Take USC.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Dallas Mavericks -2

The Key: The Mavs are coming off 3 straight losses, while the Pistons have won 5 of their last 7.  This recent poor play by the Mavs and recent solid play by the Pistons has made the oddsmakers set this line lower than it should be with the Mavs only 2-point home favorites.  But the Pistons are still just 13-20 on the road this season.  They shouldn't be getting this kind of respect from oddsmakers given that poor road record.  Also, the Mavs have lost lost 4 straight games all season.  They will give a big effort tonight to get back in the win column while also covering this generous 2-point spread.  The Mavericks are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.  Take Dallas.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Orlando Magic -3

The Key: The Los Angeles Lakers are in a massive letdown spot here Tuesday.  They are coming off a win over the Warriors as 18-point home dogs, and now they're not going to be motivated at all to face the Orlando Magic off such a huge victory.  The Magic had two days off before losing by 6 to the Warriors last night, so they will get back at it tonight and won't be as tired as most teams on a back-to-back.  The Magic are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games off a loss.  Orlando is 20-6 ATS in its last 26 road games vs. Western Conference foes.  Los Angeles is 11-24 ATS in its last 25 games following a ATS win.  Take Orlando.

6* CBB *CA$H COW* on Denver +10

The Key: Denver lost the first two meetings against South Dakota State this year, but those games were much closer than their final score.    Both teams play a relatively slow pace and Denver's free throw shooting down the stretch should keep it close most of the way.  High probability for a possible upset here, but I'll take the points for a little insurance. Take Denver.

7* East Tennessee State/UT-Chattanooga *HEAVY HITTER* on UT-Chattanooga -4.5

The Key: Chattanooga has dominated the series this season and while you may have heard the old adage that it's hard to beat a team three times - it simply isn't true.  In fact, most of the time, the team that has won the first two games is simply the better team.  We are getting some great line value here as well with East Tennessee State on a six game winning streak against the spread and Chattanooga on a five game ATS losing streak.  The spread won't matter, the winner covers here.  Take Chattanooga.

6* NBA *CA$H COW* on Raptors/Rockets Under 214

The Key: Expect the Raptors to control the pace and slow this game down despite Houston's tendency to run the court on offense and try to force turnovers on defense.  The Rockets are on their second road game in a row after playing in Chicago Saturday and should fall into the Raptors more methodical pace.  Take the Under.

7* Cincy/SMU AAC *HEAVY HITTER* on Cincinnati -1.5

The Key: This line is off considering the Bearcats lost by just two at SMU in January as 6-point underdogs.  Cincy is a significantly better team at home than on the road, while 3 of SMU's 4 losses have come on the road  Take Cincinnati.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Cleveland Cavaliers -7.5

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers want revenge from a last-second loss to the Celtics in which it appeared they had the game in hand late.  They will have the game in hand this time around, and by 8 or more points to cover this 7.5-point spread.  The Cavaliers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Kansas/Iowa State Big 12 *HEAVY HITTER* on Iowa State +11

The Key: The Iowa State Cyclones are showing excellent value as double-digit road dogs to the Kansas Jayhawks.  Kansas just clinched the Big 12 title in their last game and has little reason to want to put away the Cyclones by more than 12 points today.  Take Iowa State.

6* NBA *TOTAL* Annihilator on Jazz/Grizzlies UNDER 193

The Key: It's hard not to like the UNDER in this game when you look at recent meetings. The Jazz and Grizzlies have combined for 190 or fewer points in 8 consecutive meetings.  They've averaged 179.6 points in those 8 meetings.  That's 13.4 points fewer than tonight's posted total of 193, and it's an 8-0 angle when you consider this 193-point total.  Take the UNDER.

7* MAC GAME OF THE MONTH on Northern Illinois -3.5

The Key: Northern Illinois is 16-1 at home this season.  They have dominated all comers at home, and they are going to win at home again Friday as they host Ball State.  They lost by 4 at Ball State a few weeks ago, but they had won four straight meetings with the Cardinals prior.  On Senior Night, the Huskies will cap off an awesome season at home with a 17-1 record while also covering the 3.5-point spread.  The Huskies are 20-7-3 ATS in their last 30 home games  Take Northern Illinois.

7* Missouri Valley Tournament *HEAVY HITTER* on Missouri State -2

The Key: At 12-18 on the season, the Missouri State Bears are far and away the superior team over the 7-23 Drake Bulldogs.  That has been proven in their two regular season meetings, and it will be proven again tonight.  Drake finished just 2-16 in conference play in the regular season, while Missouri State finished 8-10.  The Bears won both meetings with the Bulldogs by 9 points each, winning 79-70 on the road and 61-52 at home.  Drake is 0-10 ATS revenging a loss where it scored less than 60 points this season.  Take Missouri State.

6* NBA Thursday Night *CA$H COW* on Miami Heat -13.5

The Key: The Miami Heat have gone 6-1 ATS in seven games since the All-Star Break.  They have won their last two games by 17 points over the Knicks and by 18 over the Bulls.  Now they're up against the Phoenix Suns, who are 1-14 in their last 15 games with six straight road losses by double-digits.  That includes a 34-point loss at Charlotte and a 40-point loss at the LA Clippers in their last two road games.  Miami is 11-0 SU in its last 11 meetings with Phoenix, including a perfect 7-0 ATS in its last seven meetings.  Take Miami.

7* SEC GAME OF THE MONTH on Alabama -1.5

The Key: Alabama has given itself a chance to make the NCAA Tournament thanks to a recent 6-2 run that features wins over Texas A&M, Florida and LSU.  The Crimson Tide are 10-3 at home this season and should handle their business at home tonight against Arkansas.  After all, the Razorbacks are 2-11 in all games played away from home this season.  Arkansas has been historically one of the worst road teams in the country, too, going 68-111 ATS in its last 179 road games.  The Crimson Tide are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 games following an ATS loss.  Take Alabama.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Washington Wizards -2.5

The Key: The Washington Wizards have won three straight games all by 8-plus points to make a run at one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.  This team has a ton to play for right now, and it's nice to see them finally play up to their potential now that their backs are up against the wall.  Now they get to face another poor team in Minnesota, which is just 19-41 on the season and coming off a 27-point loss at Dallas.  The Timberwolves are 2-13 ATS off a blowout loss by 20 points or more over the last 2 seasons.  Minnesota is 1-9 ATS after covering the spread in 3 of its last 4 games this season.  The Timberwolves are 1-12 ATS in home games vs. poor defensive teams who allow 46% shooting or worse over the last 2 seasons.  Take Washington.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Atlanta Hawks +10

The Key: It's looking more and more like the Golden State Warriors are going to rest Steph Curry tonight.  That's going to make their job a lot more difficult in putting away Atlanta by double-digits if he does indeed rest.  But either way, this is a bad spot for the Warriors.  They are primed for a letdown after their huge overtime win over the Thunder on National TV Saturday night, which had the sports world buzzing with Curry's unreal performance.  But the Hawks are no pushovers, and they are going to want revenge from a 92-102 home loss to the Warriors on February 22 just over a week ago.  Atlanta has posted back-to-back blowout victories since with a 15-point win over the Bulls and an 11-point win over the Hornets.  The Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Take Atlanta.

7* Big Ten GAME OF THE MONTH on Iowa -4.5

The Key: The Iowa Hawkeyes really need a win tonight against Indiana to get back on track.  They have lost three straight by a combined 16 points and have simply choked late in games.  But I look for a big performance from them tonight on Senior Night.  The Hawkeyes are 13-1 at home this season and will have a huge advantage on their home floor tonight.  Indiana already clinched a share of the Big Ten Title and won't be as focused in this game.  Iowa will want it more as it actually has a chance to win a share itself if it wins out and has Indiana lose to Maryland next game.  Indiana is 1-9 ATS off a win by 10 points or more against a conference opponent over the last 2 seasons.  Indiana is 2-10 ATS in road games off a win by 20 points or more over the last 3 seasons.  Iowa is 8-1 ATS in home games vs teams who attempt 21 or more 3-point shots per game over the last 3 seasons.  Take Iowa.

6* Baylor/Oklahoma Big 12 *CA$H COW* on Oklahoma -7.5

The Key: With a No. 1 seed still at stake for the Sooners, and off a bad loss to Texas, I look for Oklahoma to really put its best foot forward tonight at home against Baylor.  It's also Senior Night for the Sooners, adding to their motivation.  This is a great matchup for the Sooners just as it was in their first meeting when they went on the road and beat the Bears 82-72.  Baylor plays zone defense, which is good against teams that don't shoot well from 3-point range, but that's not Oklahoma.  The Sooners shoot 42.8% from 3-point range on the season.  They connected on 16-of-28 attempts from 3-point range in their first meeting and should light it up again tonight.  Oklahoma is 13-1 at home this season, winning by 17.3 points per game.  Baylor is 4-12 ATS following a win this season, and 2-9 ATS following a win by 10 points or more.  The Sooners are 24-9-2 ATS in their last 35 meetings with the Bears.  Take Oklahoma.

6* NBA Monday *TOTAL* Annihilator on Thunder/Kings UNDER 227.5

The Key: The Sacramento Kings are really banged up right now with DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo all nursing injuries.  They have managed just an average of 99.5 points per game int heir last two games and will find it hard to score on Oklahoma City as well.  When looking at recent meetings, it's easy to seotal has been set way too high tonight.  In fact, the Thunder and Kings have combined for 220 or fewer points in 13 straight meetings.  That's a 13-0 angle when factoring in this 227.5-point total set.  Take the UNDER.

7* Syracuse/UNC ACC *HEAVY HITTER* on Syracuse +13.5

The Key: The Syracuse Orange are fighting to make the NCAA Tournament.  They will likely need to win one of their last two games here to get in without making a run in the ACC Tournament.  They lost two in a row before bouncing back with a 75-66 home win over NC State Saturday.  Now they'll be out for revenge on the Tar Heels, who turned a tie game at halftime into an 84-73 road win in their first meeting this season.  That was the first game back for Jim Boeheim, but the Orange have pretty much been rolling ever since.  They are a much better team now than they were in the first meeting.  This is also a sandwich game for UNC.  The Tar Heels lost a hard-fought 74-79 road game at Virginia on Saturday, and now they'll be looking ahead to their season finale against rival Duke next.  They won't give Syracuse the attention it deserves tonight as a result.  The Orange are 8-2 ATS after failing to cover the spread in 2 of their last 3 games this season.  The Tar Heels are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 conference home games.  Take Syracuse.

6* NBA Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Dallas Mavericks -6.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a character-building 122-116 overtime victory over the underrated Denver Nuggets.  They trailed by 25 points in the first half, fought back and took the lead in the 4th quarter, only to fall back behind by 14 points.  But they fought back again to tie it and force overtime, only to eventually win in the extra session.  This team will be full of confidence now coming into this game against Minnesota.  This is a tough spot for the Timberwolves, who are coming off a road win at New Orleans last night, so they'll be playing 2nd of a back-to-back.  The Mavs own the Timberwolves, going 5-0 SU & 4-1 TS in the last 5 meetings, winning by an average of 12.2 points per game in the process.  The Timberwolves are 6-15-1 ATS in their last 22 Sunday games.  The Mavericks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Sunday games.  Take Dallas.

7* NBA GAME OF THE MONTH on Atlanta Hawks -4

The Key: After losing 3 straight, the Hawks got back on track with a 103-88 home victory over the Bulls last time out. Now they get to face the red-hot Hornets, who are getting too much respect from oddsmakers here due to winning 6 of their last 7 games overall.  But the Hornets are set up for failure here as this will be their 6th consecutive road games, and they are certainly tired with all that travel.  The home team is 6-1 SU in the last 7 meetings and 6-1-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  Atlanta has won 3 straight home meetings with Charlotte by an average of 19 points per game.  Take Atlanta.

6* American Athletic Game of the Week on Houston +10

The Key: At 20-8 on the season, the Houston Cougars are certainly better than they get credit for.  They are actually putting themselves back in the discussion of making the NCAA Tournament, and a road win over UConn (also 20-8) would go a long way into helping their cause.  The Cougars have played themselves into this position by going 7-2 SU & 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.  That includes wins over 2 of the top teams in the AAC in SMU and Tulsa.  Now the Cougars have their sights set on getting revenge from a 69-57 home loss to UConn on January 17 in which they blew a 35-28 halftime lead with a horrid second half.  But they don't even have to win this game, they just have to stay within 10 points for us, which is very likely as I see it.  The Cougars are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.  The underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  Take Houston.

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

The Key: The Houston Rockets have come out of the All-Star break guns-a-blazing and trying to prove their naysayers wrong.  They have gone 2-1 SU & 3-0 ATS with their only loss coming in overtime at Utah.  They won in Phoenix by 16 and put a halt to the red-hot Blazers with 14-point road win as 4-point dogs last time out.  Now they get to play their first home game since the break.  Home-court advantage has been huge between the Rockets and Spurs as the home team is 8-1 SU in the last 9 meetings with the only loss coming by 1 point.  Take Houston.

6* SEC Game of the Week on Auburn +11.5

The Key: The Auburn Tigers are playing well coming in having pulled off upset wins over both Arkansas and Georgia in 2 of their last 3 games.  They already beat Alabama 83-77 at home earlier this season.  Alabama is not playing well with an ugly home loss to Mississippi State and a blowout road loss at Kentucky in its last 2 days.  The Crimson Tide are just 1-8 ATS in Saturday home games the last 2 years.  The Tigers are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 meetings with the Crimson Tide.  Take Auburn.

7* Louisville/Miami ACC *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami -3

The Key: Getting Miami as only a 3-point home favorite over Louisville is a gift.  The Hurricanes are 14-1 at home this season and have not lost at home in ACC play, going 8-0 with most of those wins coming via blowout.  Louisville is just 4-5 on the road this season.  The Cardinals are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 road games, while the Hurricanes are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 home games.  The Hurricanes are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games as a favorite of 6 points or less.  Take Miami.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Hornets/Pacers OVER 204

The Key: These teams recently played on February 10 with the Hornets winning 117-95 for 212 combined points.  I look for another shootout tonight between the Pacers and Hornets that easily exceeds this 204-point total.  The Pacers have topped 100 points in 8 of their last 12 games overall.  The Hornets have topped 100 points in 7 of their last 9 games overall.  Indiana is 9-1 OVER revenging a home loss vs opponent of 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.  Charlotte is 17-7 OVER as a road underdog of 6 points or less over the last 2 seasons.  The OVER is 6-1 in Pacers last 7 home games.  The OVER is 8-2 in Pacers last 10 vs Eastern Conference.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE YEAR on Orlando Magic +8.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors aren't going to have much left in the tank tonight.  They played in a hard-fought 118-112 win at Miami last night that took a lot out of them.  This will now be their 5th road games in 7 days.  The Magic are going to bring more energy to this game.  They are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall and fighting to try and get into playoff contention.  They have gone 4-2 SU in their last 6 games with their two losses coming to San Antonio and Indiana by a combined 5 points.  They only lost by 1 to Golden State as 14.5-point road dogs in their last meeting.  The Magic are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Orlando.

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Providence +5

The Key: The Providence Friars are in desperate need of a victory tonight.  They went from surefire NCAA Tournament participants to needing a few more wins to secure their place.  That's because they are just 1-4 in their last 6 games overall.  But they've had some time to fix their problems as they last played on February 17 more than a week ago.  Seton Hall last played on February 21 in a fortunate 62-61 win at lowly St. John's.  Providence also wants revenge from a 72-81 upset home loss to Seton Hall in their 1st meeting.  Providence has won 3 straight trips to Seton Hall, including a 79-66 victory last year.  The Pirates are 8-23 ATS in their last 31 home games off a close win by 6 points or less.  The Friars are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Providence.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Indiana Pacers -7.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are 17-9 at home this season.  They have played three straight road games coming out of the break, winning at Oklahoma City and Orlando, and losing in overtime at Miami.  New York is 2-12 in its last 14 games, and with an 11-point road loss to Brooklyn and a 27-point home loss to Toronto out of the break, it's clear that the Knicks aren't playing with any fire right now.  Now they have to take on an Pacers team that has won 7 of the last 8 meetings, including the last four by an average of 16.5 points per game.  They have won their last two home meetings with the Knicks by 23 and 21 points, respectively.  The Pacers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home meetings with New York.  Take Indiana.

7* Atlantic 10 GAME OF THE YEAR on St. Bonaventure -6.5

The Key: At 18-7 on the season, St. Bonaventure is on the verge of making the NCAA Tournament.  It needs a strong finish to do so and cannot afford to lose to Duquesne tonight.  St. Bonaventure has won 6 of its last 7 games overall, which includes road wins over the top two teams in the Atlantic 10 in Dayton and St. Josephs, so it is arguably playing better than anyone in the conference right now.  Duquesne has lost 5 straight coming in an has nothing to play for as the season winds down.  St. Bonaventure is 11-2 at home this season.  The Bonnies are 8-1 ATS vs. teams who force 12 or fewer turnovers per game over the last 2 seasons.  The Bonnies are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  The Bonnies are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 home games.  Take St. Bonaventure.

7* NBA Situational GAME OF THE MONTH on Denver Nuggets -1

The Key: The Denver Nuggets want revenge from a 110-116 loss at Sacramento on February 19, which was their first game back from the break.  I expect them to get it tonight at home against the Kings this time around, and as only 1-point favorites, so they essentially just have to win the game to cover.  Bets on home teams with a line of +3 to -3 who have failed to cover the spread in 2 of their last 3 and are playing 5 or less games in 14 days are 26-7 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take Denver.

6* SEC Game of the Week on Ole Miss -10

The Key: At 17-10 on the season, the Ole Miss Rebels have some work to do if they want to make the NCAA Tournament.  They have won four of their last six games overall to put themselves in position.  Now they really need to win out the rest of the way.  I like their chances of a double-digit victory tonight at home against the worst team in the SEC in the Missouri Tigers.  This line should be bigger than it is, but the Tigers have gone 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall to start getting some respect from oddsmakers.  But they have lost their 3 road games during this stretch by 9, 15 and 12 points, so it's not like they have been all that competitive.  The Tigers are 0-12 on the road this season, losing by 16.0 points per game.  The Rebels are 10-2 at home this year.  Take Ole Miss.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Detroit Pistons +9

The Key: I really like this situation for the Pistons.  We are buying low on the Pistons, who have lost 5 straight games while failing to cover the spread in 5 straight as well.  We are selling high on the Cavaliers, who are coming off five straight victories, including a 23-point win at Oklahoma City yesterday.  That win over the Thunder on National TV sets the Cavs up for a letdown here today.  After all, the Cavs are 6-15-2 ATS in their last 23 vs. a team with a losing record.  Detroit is 17-6 ATS in its last 23 off an upset loss as a favorite.  Take Detroit.

7* Texas/K-State Big 12 *HEAVY HITTER* on Texas +1.5

The Key: The Texas Longhorns are showing excellent value today as underdogs to the Kansas State Wildcats.  While the Longhorns are a team fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives, the Wildcats are out of that mix.  Texas will be motivated for a win after a 1-3 stretch with losses to Oklahoma, Iowa State and Baylor.  Now the Longhorns get to take a step down in competition against the Wildcats, who are just 4-10 in Big 12 play this season.  Kansas State is coming off a deflating loss to Kansas, and I don't expect it to show up tonight.  The Longhorns are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games when playing their 2nd game in 3 days.  Take Texas.

7* ACC GAME OF THE MONTH on Boston College +8

The Key: The Boston College Eagles should not be 8-point underdogs to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Sunday.  This is a matchup between two teams who have little to play for at this point in the season, and I like siding with the dog in these situations.  The Demon Deacons have lost 11 straight and should not be favored by 8.  Wake Forest is 1-8 ATS in all home games this season.  The Demon Deacons are 0-7 ATS off a loss by 6 points or less over the last 2 years.  Take Boston College.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Memphis Grizzlies +7.5

The Key: Everyone is writing the Grizzlies off now that Mark Gasol may be out for the season, but this team is having none of it.  The Grizzlies came out of the All-Star Break with a win over the Timberwolves, and now I look for them to give the Raptors a run for their money tonight as 7.5-point dogs.  The Grizzlies are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.  The Grizzlies are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.  Take this combined 15-0 angle backing the Grizzlies straight to the bank.  Take Memphis.

6* Kentucky/Texas A&M SEC *CA$H COW* on Texas A&M PK

The Key: The Texas A&M Aggies have one of the best home-court advantages in the country.  They are 14-1 at home this season with an average margin of victory of 18 points per game.  Kentucky is just 5-6 SU & 4-7 ATS in all road games this season.  The Aggies will have a big advantage in rest today as they last played on Tuesday while Kentucky last played on Thursday, getting only one day to prepare for the Aggies.  Kentucky is 0-7 ATS off three straight wins this season.  Take Texas A&M.

7* Pitt/Syracuse ACC *HEAVY HITTER* on Syracuse -3

The Key: The Syracuse Orange are 14-4 with Jim Boeheim on the sidelines, and 4-5 without him.  He has made all the difference for this team as he has turned the Orange from an NCAA Tournament afterthought into a real contender to make the big dance.  The Orange have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games overall with their only losses coming on the road to Virginia and Louisville.  Pitt has lost 3 of its last 4 games coming in and its last two wins have come against VA Tech and Wake Forest, including an overtime victory at home over the Demon Deacons.  The Panthers are 1-4 in their last 5 road games with their only win coming by 2 points at Florida State.  Pitt is 6-24 ATS following a win over the last 2 seasons.  The Panthers are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games following a conference win.  Take Syracuse.

7* Pacers/Thunder ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Indiana +8.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers won 5 of their final 8 games heading into the All-Star Break with two of their losses coming by 5 points to Cleveland and 6 points at Atlanta.  I believe they are catching too many points tonight on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been overvalued all season.  The Thunder are just 21-32 ATS in all games this season.  Oklahoma City is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games after outrebounding its last opponent by 15 or more.  Indiana is 8-1 ATS versus teams who average 56 or more rebounds per game this season.  The Pacers are 18-6 ATS vs. teams with winning records this season.  The Pacers are 19-7-2 ATS in their last 28 games playing on 3 or more days rest.  The Thunder are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a ATS win.  Take Indiana.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee Bucks +1.5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks won their final two games before the All-Star Break and need more where that came from if they want to make a run at the playoffs and get back like last year.  They have the talent to do so, and it starts with tonight's home game against the Charlotte Hornets.  The Hornets made a move to acquire Courtney Lee from the Grizzlies, but he won't be playing tonight, and they'll be short-handed after trading away starter PJ Hairston.  Milwaukee has won 15 of its last 19 home meetings with Charlotte.  The Bucks are 10-1 ATS in home games after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games this season.  Milwaukee is 13-2 ATS versus teams who average 83 or more shots per game this season.  Take Milwaukee.

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Pacific +18

The Key: The Gonzaga Bulldogs will be overlooking the Pacific Tigers and looking ahead to their game against the St. Mary's Gaels on Saturday in just two days.  That game will be for 1st place in the WCC, and the Bulldogs desperately want revenge on the Gaels after blowing a late lead to lose at Saint Mary's in their first meeting this season.  They won't be giving Pacific the focus they need to put the Tigers away by more than 18 points tonight.  Pacific has played Gonzaga tough in recent meetings with a 10-point loss as 11.5-point dogs and a 12-point loss as 17-point dogs in their last two meetings.  The Tigers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall, which includes a 3-point loss to St. Mary's as 11.5-point favorites and a 5-point win at BYU as 17-point dogs.  Pacific has just one loss by more than 18 points in 24 games this season, which equates to a 23-1 angle backing the Tigers.  Take Pacific.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Jazz/Wizards UNDER 198

The Key: The Utah Jazz play at the league's slowest pace by a wide margin, averaging just 92.9 possessions per game.  They win their games with defense as they rank 14th in defensive efficiency and only yielding 96.4 points per game on the season.  Washington and Utah are used to low-scoring games.  IN their two meetings last season, they combined for 172 points in Utah and 177 points in Washington.  As you can see, those two outputs were 26 and 21 points less than this 198-point total.  The UNDER is 11-3 in Jazz last 14 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.  The UNDER is 11-4 in Wizards last 15 home games.  The UNDER is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Washington.  Take the UNDER.

7* Pac-12 *HEAVY HITTER* on Arizona -12

The Key: The Arizona Wildcats have simply owned the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tucscon in this rivalry in recent years.  The Wildcats are 5-0 in their last 5 home meetings with the Sun Devils with 4 of those 5 victories coming by 15 points or more and by an average of 17.2 points per game.  The last two have come by 24 and 23 points.  The Wildcats already beat the Sun Devils by 12 on the road in their first meeting this season.  Take Arizona.

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Loyola-Chicago +5

The Key: The Northern Iowa Panthers are in the ultimate letdown spot tonight.  They are coming off arguably their biggest win of the season, a 53-50 road victory over the Wichita State Shockers.  They now will have a hard time getting up for Loyola-Chicago tonight, and they'll be ripe for the upset as a result.  Loyola is playing very well of late, going 3-2 SU & 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games overall.  It has beaten Southern Illinois by 14 and Bradley by 11 on the road, as well as Indiana State by 8 at home.  Its only losses came by 8 at home to Illinois State and by 1 at home to Evansville.  Loyola already beat Northern Iowa 51-41 as 12.5-point road dogs in their 1st meeting this season.  Loyola is 9-1 ATS as a home underdog of 6 points or less over the last 3 seasons.  Take Loyola-Chicago.

7* Big Ten GAME OF THE MONTH on Rutgers +15

The Key: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights want revenge on the Illinois Fighting Illini tonight.  These two teams played in one of the most thrilling games of the season in their first meeting.  Illinois ended up walking away with a triple-overtime victory at Rutgers.  I can't see the Illini being too motivated for the rematch, especially with the awful season they are having.  They are just 11-14 on the season and 3-9 within the conference.  That's why they have no business being favored by 15 points against anyone, not even Rutgers.  Bets on road underdogs of 10 or more points when revenging a same season loss, who are off 2 consecutive losses by 10 or more points to conference opponents are 212-133 ATS since 1997.  The Fighting Illini are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 Tuesday games.  Illinois is 0-6-1 ATS in its last 7 games following an ATS win and 0-4 ATS in its last 4 home games.  Take Rutgers.

6* Florida/Georgia ESPN National TV *Annihilator* on Georgia +1.5

The Key: The Georgia Bulldogs are 12-3 at home this season and will upset the Florida Gators tonight.  The Gators are just 2-6 in true road games this season and should not be favored here.  The home team is 7-1 SU & 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings in this series, so home-court advantage has clearly been crucial.  The Bulldogs are 44-21-1 ATS in their last 66 conference games.  Take Georgia.

6* Vanderbilt/Mississippi State SEC *CA$H COW* on Vanderbilt -3

The Key: At 15-10 on the season, the Vanderbilt Commodores still have a lot of work to do if they want to make the NCAA Tournament.  They have turned their season around to at least give themselves a chance, going 7-3 in their last 10 games overall with wins over Florida and Texas A&M.  Now they get to face one of the worst teams in the SEC in Mississippi State, which is just 10-14 on the year.  The Bulldogs are 3-9 in conference play this season and are coming off a 9-point home loss to Georgia.  The Commodores are 39-15 ATS in their last 54 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.  The Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.  Take Vanderbilt.

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.