01-26-24 |
Clippers v. Raptors +7.5 |
|
127-107 |
Loss |
-105 |
11 h 39 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Raptors catch the Clippers in an ideal scheduling spot tonight, and they’ll be happy to oblige. For openers, the Clips arrive off a monster double revenge showdown at home against the Lakers on Tuesday, with yet another same-reason avenger on tap at Boston tomorrow from a 37-point home loss they suffered against the Celtics two days prior to Christmas. Hence, it’s no surprise to learn they are 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS in post-Laker operatives, while just 18-26 SU and 18-24 ATS away before Beantown bashes. With the Dinosaurs 16-8-1 ATS as a host in this series, including 5-1 ATS when taking points, we’re all over this.
|
01-25-24 |
San Francisco +9.5 v. Gonzaga |
|
72-77 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 43 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Coming into this game are the 15-4 San Francisco Dons, who have almost become an annual call selection when clashing with the Zags. This year Frisco checks in with a 15-8-1 ATS log in conference tourney revenge losses (fell to the Zags in the semis of last year’s West Coast conference event) and they’re currently riding a red hot 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS train. A concern is USF’s 0-2 SUATS slide in this series when they own the better record, but they are 12-1 SU and 9-4 ATS in games this season in which they boast the better record. With the Zags 8-1 SU at home this season, we can’t call for an outright win but their 1-5 ATS effort against foes coming off consecutive wins this campaign says you should grab the points with an avenging squad that just may be the better team.
|
01-25-24 |
Nuggets v. Knicks +2.5 |
|
84-122 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 37 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Knicks are now 10-2 since acquiring Anunoby from Toronto. They hope to keep the wins coming on Thursday against the Nuggets. The Knicks are 16th in the NBA in scoring offense this season. They are 20th in field goal percentage and 11th in 3-point shooting. The Knicks do rely heavily on the 3-point shot, ranked 10th in the NBA in 3-point field goals made per game. New York is third in the NBA in scoring defense this season. They are 15th in field goal defense and 15th in 3-point defense. Despite not having a dominant center, the Knicks are second in the NBA in rebounds per game. They are just 18th in the NBA in turnovers per game.
|
01-25-24 |
76ers -5.5 v. Pacers |
|
122-134 |
Loss |
-110 |
10 h 11 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Sixers will take the court with a 21-7 ATS mark as a favorite this season. With the Pacers in the middle of a brutal stretch in their schedule – off Denver and Phoenix with Phoenix and Memphis coming up, don’t be surprised to see them ‘rode hard an put away wet’ during this span.
|
01-25-24 |
Georgia Southern v. Appalachian State -16 |
|
74-84 |
Loss |
-110 |
9 h 19 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units A visit to the Sun Belt Conference finds us on the 5-returning starter Mountaineers, who arrive with a lofty 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS mark in this series when they own a winning record. They’ve also been red hot, winning 13 of their last 15 games on the scoreboard to improve to 14-4. As for Georgia Southern, first-year head coach Charlie Henry’s Eagles appear to be anything but the ”sleeper team’” they were tabbed to be. Instead, they look anything but, after nodding off to a dreadful 3-15 record this season at press time (0-15 outside the Sun Belt).
|
01-24-24 |
Hawks v. Warriors -6.5 |
|
112-134 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 44 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units I expect the struggling Warriors to play this game for their late assistant coach. They are not a great defensive team by any stretch of the imagination, but the Hawks are arguably even worse, so I like the Warriors in this spot. The Hawks struggle to defend the 3-point line, so keep your eyes on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. When it comes to covering the spread, Atlanta has been a complete disaster so far this season, and I expect to see more of the same when the Hawks take on the Warriors. The Hawks are 4-12 ATS in their past 16 games overall.
|
01-24-24 |
Thunder v. Spurs +7.5 |
|
140-114 |
Loss |
-115 |
12 h 27 m |
Show
|
Rating: 3 Units San Antonio is averaging 112.8 points per game. They scored 133 points in their last game, making 46.2 percent of their field goals and 31.7 percent of their three-pointers. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points and seven rebounds. Devin Vassell finished with 22 points, four rebounds, and nine assists, while Jeremy Sochan added 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
|
01-24-24 |
Villanova +3.5 v. St. John's |
|
50-70 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 60 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Wildcats are in a desperate situation and with the spread now at 4.5, I feel confident backing them to cover today at MSG. Nova has lost three of its last four and has only beaten two Big East teams not named DePaul, so it has some work to do if it hopes to earn a bye for the conference tournament. It has faced a tough schedule, 15th per KenPom, including an average offense ranked 20th and an average defense ranked 10th. With wins over North Carolina, Texas Tech, Maryland, Creighton, Memphis, and Xavier, there's no denying the Cats can play but will their shooters show up tomorrow? When Nova shoots over 37 percent from deep, it's 7-1, and when its opponent shoots under 29 percent, it's 5-0. St. John's ranks 212th in three-point percentage and its perimeter defense isn't elite. With one guard sidelined and another currently dealing with COVID, I'm not confident the Red Storm guards will outplay the Wildcats' guards.
|
01-24-24 |
Cavs +6.5 v. Bucks |
|
116-126 |
Loss |
-105 |
11 h 48 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Cleveland is one of the hottest teams in the league as they come in on an eight game win streak. The streak is impressive, but they were listed as the favorite in every game in the stretch, including wins over the Spurs, Nets, Hawks, Magic and two games against the Wizards. Included in the stretch was a win over Milwaukee, they were two point favorites but ended up winning the game by 40. In their most recent game, the Cavs were led by Sam Merrill who knocked down eight threes off the bench and finished with 26 points in the win over Orlando.
|
01-24-24 |
Wolves -10.5 v. Wizards |
|
118-107 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 55 m |
Show
|
Rating: 3 Units The Minnesota Timberwolves are not happy after a home loss against the Hornets and will rebound here. The Washington Wizards continue to stumble. They have just one victory this month. They have lost to the Pistons and Spurs within the last week. Minnesota is the best defensive squad in the entire NBA while the Wizards are the worst. Minnesota is only conceding 109 points per 100 possessions, ranking them 1st in defensive rating while the Wizards are squandering 120.8 points per 100, pegging them 29th. Minnesota has conceded 105 or fewer points in three of their last five games. Three of the Timberwolves' last five wins have occurred by at least 15 points.
|
01-23-24 |
Lakers v. Clippers -8.5 |
Top |
116-127 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 11 m |
Show
|
NBA Game of the Week Rating: 5 Units When James Harden joined the Clippers in November, Erik Spoelstra said he didn’t know exactly how Harden would fit alongside Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook, but had faith Lue would find a way. And he has. As a result, they are now the T-Lue Clippers, currently resting a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the third sport in the Western Conference playoff chase. Despite dropping the last two games in the series to King James and company, the Clips bring an 11-3 SUATS overall mark in Lakers showdowns the past four seasons. Finally, the Clippers are 9-0 ATS at home in this series when taking the court with same-season double revenge.
|
01-23-24 |
Xavier v. Creighton -8.5 |
|
78-85 |
Loss |
-110 |
12 h 31 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units This has not been a vintage season for the X-men. Despite winning 3 of their last five games, they were just 9-8 this season and must pay the piper here for knocking the Bluejays out in the semifinals of last year’s Big East Tournament. That’s because Creighton stands 5-1 SU and 5-2 ATS with LTKO revenge while Xavier is just 2-4 ATS against foes with LTKO. The Jays also own a 5-2 ATS mark in the series with the Musketeers when playing with revenge. The killer, though, is that Xavier is 4-38 ATS in games they lose on the scoreboard as underdogs against avenging conference foes.
|
01-23-24 |
Nuggets v. Pacers +5 |
|
114-109 |
Push |
0 |
10 h 57 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Pacers raced out to a strong start this season thanks to outstanding point guard play from All-Star Tyrese Halliburton. Halliburton leads the team in points per game and assists but has been sidelined in six of the past seven games with a hamstring injury. The Pacers are just 2-4 with Halliburton out but he appears to be returning tonight. For the season, the Pacers rank first in the NBA in scoring offense. They are second in field goal percentage and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage. The Pacers are also sixth in the league in 3-point field goals made per game.
|
01-23-24 |
Ohio State +3.5 v. Nebraska |
|
69-83 |
Loss |
-110 |
10 h 34 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Ohio State is averaging 76.4 points per game. They scored 79 points in their last game, making 45.8 percent of their field goals and 16.7 percent of their three-pointers. Roddy Gayle Jr. led the Buckeyes with 16 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Evan Mahaffey finished with 16 points and five rebounds, while Jamison Battle added 11 points and six rebounds. Ohio State has played well defensively, giving up 66.6 points per game. They gave up 67 points in their last game and will need a similar effort if they want to win this game.
|
01-22-24 |
Florida A&M -5.5 v. Mississippi Valley State |
|
81-70 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 11 m |
Show
|
|
01-22-24 |
Spurs v. 76ers -14.5 |
|
123-133 |
Loss |
-107 |
10 h 20 m |
Show
|
Rating: 3 Units San Antonio is a team that is going nowhere this season as they continue on their rebuilding project. The Spurs are well outside the playoff picture and are the worst team in the Western Conference. San Antonio is just 5-18 on the road and they stand 23rd in field goal percentage defense (48.7%), 28th in threes allowed per game (14.1) and 28th in three-point defense (38.8%) this season. Embiid has run his streak of 30-point games to 20 after hitting that mark against Charlotte Saturday night. The 76ers are always tough at home and they should have enough firepower to take down the Spurs in this contest.
|
01-21-24 |
Oregon +6.5 v. Utah |
|
77-80 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 2 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Utes after watching their promising 11-2 start to the season dissipate by dropping three of their last four contests entering this game. That’s not good news for a Utah team that’s forgotten how to win a game in this series as they are 1-20 SU against Oregon since 2013, including 0-5 SUATS as a favorite. Neither are the Utes’ 1-7 ATS failures after squaring off against Stanford and their 6-17 SU and 6-15-2 ATS mark against foes that own the better record. Must give a coaching edge to Oregon here as Utah’s 3rd-year HC Craig Smith has to match wits with the veteran Dana Altman, now in his 14th season with the Ducks and the 39th year of his career. Altman is 3-0 ATS off a loss this season, so you know the state and the team we’ll be lining up with today. Ducks get off the mat to hand Utah its first home loss of the campaign.
|
01-20-24 |
UCLA +18 v. Arizona |
|
71-77 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 58 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Wildcats beat the top-seeded Bruins, 61-59, in the finals of last season’s Pac-12 tourney and remember Zona is a money-burning 7-22-1 ATS against Pac 12 foes with a revenge chip on their shoulder, including a brutal 2-18-1 ATS as a favorite of 7 or more points. The Bruins may be down a tad this season, but rest assured they will be fully focused here. Finally, UCLA is 9-2 SU and ATS with revenge in this series, including 5-0 SUATS when the Wildcats own a sub .840 win percentage.
|
01-20-24 |
USC +3.5 v. Arizona State |
|
67-82 |
Loss |
-110 |
5 h 3 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units We’re going with the Trojans, who were upset by the Sun Devils in the opening round of last year’s Pac-12 Tournament, and the Trojans just so happen to own a 6-0 ATS mark in this series when seeking revenge. That should provide plenty of incentive for a team with Big Dance aspirations who is languishing around the Mendoza line as we come up on February. It helps too that Arizona State is just 2-4 SUATS versus conference foes seeking Pac-12 tourney revenge. Enfield and company simply cannot afford another loss with UCLA and Oregon on deck after this one, so take a shot with the Traveling Trojans.
|
01-19-24 |
Hawks v. Heat -6.5 |
|
109-108 |
Loss |
-105 |
11 h 13 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Atlanta Hawks have not been reliable on the road where they have lost four of their last five games. The Miami Heat are clicking, winning three of their last four games. The Hawks rely heavily on the scoring to win games but are up against a remarkable Heat defense. The Hawks are allowing 119.3 points per 100 possessions, pegging them 26th in the NBA in defensive rating compared to only 113 points per 100 conceded by the Heat defense. Miami has shined against Atlanta this season, going 2-0, and winning the meetings by eight and nine points respectively. Also, each of the Hawks' last five defeats have occurred by at least seven points.
|
01-19-24 |
Nuggets v. Celtics -6 |
|
102-100 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 47 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Nuggets have not played as well away from Ball Arena this season (7-14 ATS), failing to cover in three of their four games as road underdogs. One reason for their below-average play away has been their three-point shooting, which drops three percentage points on the road. Given the state of today's NBA, it's tough to cover when you're off the mark from beyond the arc. The Celtics are primed to win this game, riding their hot offensive attack to the finish line. The most efficient offense in the league uses the three-ball like a chainsaw in a horror movie, cutting down its opponents one by one. The C's rank first in three-pointers attempted and sixth in shooting percentage, per Dunks and Threes, an area of the court the Nuggets do not defend well enough (15th in opponent 3PT%). The visitors are stout at the rim (6th in rim defense), but the Celtics rank 29th in rim shot attempts. With Porzingis and White expected to suit up for the Celtics and Gordon likely to play for the Nuggets, basketball fans should expect a competitive game on Friday night in Boston. The trends and analytics point to a Celtics win and cover, which is how I'll be wagering on this potential NBA Finals matchup.
|
01-19-24 |
76ers -5 v. Magic |
|
124-109 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 19 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Embiid is on a war path, and Orlando is on a cold streak, I expect both trends to continue as Philadelphia easily takes this one. I am not an NBA coach, but I am beginning to question Coach Mosley's rotations in Orlando. Franz Wagner is injured, but he still is not playing his best players in his starting lineup, and its not just at one position. The Magic have been starting Chuma Okeke, Houstan, and Goga Bitadze, these players only combine to score exactly 16.0 points per game. That is not enough production for three starters. The Magic have talent they are giving less minutes, players who arguably deserve to start over those three include: Cole Anthony, Moritz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Markelle Fultz, and Jonathan Isaac. You could even make a case for Joe Ingles or Anthony Black. All of those players are healthy, but the Magic continue to start players who produce less. The 76ers are not going to bring Maxey and Harris off the bench, and they will always have a stronger lineup on the court. Orlando does not have a post defender that can stop Embiid here, the big man could very realistically go for 50 again. Even if he doesn't, the 76ers will still roll.
|
01-19-24 |
St. Louis v. VCU -8.5 |
|
61-85 |
Win
|
100 |
25 h 23 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Virginia Commonwealth team that went 27-8 last year is barely treading water under fi rst-year head coach Ryan Odom at press time with a 9-7 record. A lot has to do with the fact that the Rams were decimated by graduation and transfers with ZERO returning starters back from last year’s unit, so it’s time to hop on their misfortune – especially with VCU still looking to cash a winning ticket at the Siegel Center in a conference game this season. Saint Louis head coach Travis Ford brings a stellar 27-8 SU
|
01-19-24 |
Akron v. Kent State |
|
77-71 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 58 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Zips remember being trashed in all three meetings last season, including a loss in the semifinals of the MAC tourney. They also enter this fray at 11-7 ATS when seeking conference tourney revenge, including 7-1-1 ATS against foes coming off a win. As for the Flashes, they’re barely glowing this season with Kent just above the Mendoza line at press time. Worse, the Flashes are 0-3 ATS against avenging foes this campaign.
|
01-19-24 |
Marist v. Mt. St. Mary's -3.5 |
|
48-65 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 50 m |
Show
|
|
01-18-24 |
Oregon State +16 v. Utah |
|
47-74 |
Loss |
-110 |
12 h 7 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Utes might miss junior center Lawson Lovering (7.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG) and senior guard Rollie Worster (9.9 PPG, 5.5 APG) due to injuries, but I still expect Utah to dominate Oregon State in front of the home audience. However, I wasn’t expecting the bookies to set a 15-point spread, so I’ll take the underdogs in this game. If Rollie Worster remains on the shelf, the Utes will struggle to beat the number. Utah is 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall and 2-7 ATS in its previous nine outings in the conference play. On the other side, Oregon State is 5-1 ATS in its last six contests overall.
|
01-18-24 |
Tenn-Martin +10 v. Morehead State |
|
66-84 |
Loss |
-115 |
10 h 26 m |
Show
|
|
01-18-24 |
Towson +11.5 v. College of Charleston |
|
82-78 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 46 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Towson is comes in looking to avenge a loss to the Cougars in the semifinal of last years’ Colonial Conference tourney. A smart 9-6 ATS mark with revenge in this series sets the table tonight and an even smarter 63-39-3 ATS ledger in games as a revenge-seeking conference dog cleans it up. Since joining the CAA, the Cougars have faced two foes with triple revenge chips on their shoulders from the previous season and they’ve lost the money each time.
|
01-17-24 |
Nevada +7 v. San Diego State |
|
59-71 |
Loss |
-110 |
14 h 50 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Nevada is averaging 76.1 points per game. They scored 56 points in their last game, making 36 percent of their field goals and 25 percent of their three-pointers. Kenan Blackshear led the Wolf Pack with 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Jarod Lucas finished with 14 points and four assists, while Nick Davidson added 12 points and five rebounds. Nevada has played well defensively, giving up 63.6 points per game. They gave up 64 points in their last game and will need a similar effort if they want to win this game.
|
01-17-24 |
USC v. Arizona -19 |
|
67-82 |
Loss |
-103 |
13 h 55 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Will Arizona win this game? Absolutely! The question is by how much, and recent history demonstrates that they can crush the Trojans by 17 or more. Last season at home, they beat USC by 15 and the season before they had a 20-point victory over the Trojans in Los Angeles. Arizona has also produced at least 81 points in five of the last six meetings against USC. What they have also done is shut down the Trojans, who have scored under 70 points in two of the last four meetings between these teams. USC has gone under 65 in the last two games and they will do that here as well.
|
01-17-24 |
Texas-San Antonio v. Tulsa -7 |
|
78-107 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 37 m |
Show
|
|
01-17-24 |
Youngstown State +3.5 v. Oakland |
|
67-70 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 44 m |
Show
|
|
01-17-24 |
Rhode Island +8.5 v. St Bonaventure |
|
64-99 |
Loss |
-110 |
10 h 41 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Rhode Island Rams are looking to continue winning games as they are coming off an 89-77 home victory against the UMass Minutemen and it helped scoring 41+ points in each half. Their offense was unbelievable as the Rams were able to shoot 27-of-52 (51.9 percent) from the floor, 14-of-23 (60.9 percent) from the three-point line and 28 free-throw attempts. Junior guard Jaden House stepped up in this game as he finished with 29 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block and three turnovers in 35 minutes of action. The defense has done a good job as well as the Minutemen were held a team shooting split of 40.9/20.0/71.4 throughout the game.
|
01-17-24 |
Georgia State +9.5 v. Appalachian State |
|
68-76 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 17 m |
Show
|
|
01-16-24 |
San Jose State +3 v. Fresno State |
|
82-85 |
Push |
0 |
13 h 36 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Isaiah Hill is a lone Bulldog with points per game north of 10.0. On the other side, four Spartans average points in double figures, so I have to take San Jose State even though the Spartans’ defense has been pretty bad all season. The Bulldogs’ defense has been solid over the last few weeks, but their offense has been pretty much awful. I’m looking for a tight battle for all 40 minutes, and the Spartans’ offense should make a difference down the stretch. Fresno State is 7-0 ATS in its last seven home games against San Jose State. However, the Bulldogs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall, whereas the Spartans have gone 4-1 ATS in their previous five.
|
01-16-24 |
Kings +4.5 v. Suns |
|
117-119 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 57 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Kings come into this game with one of the more dynamic offenses in the NBA. They rank ninth in the league in scoring offense. The Kings are 15th field goal shooting and 14th in 3-point shooting. The Kings rely heavily on the 3-point game, ranking third in the league in 3-point field goals per game. Defensively, the Kings are ranked 20th in scoring defense. They are 22nd in field goal defense and just 27th in 3-point defense. The Kings, led by Sabonis, are 11th in the NBA in total rebounds this season. They are 16th in turnovers per game.
|
01-16-24 |
Western Michigan v. Akron -12.5 |
|
66-77 |
Loss |
-110 |
10 h 44 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Akron will be too tough at both ends of the court for Western Michigan to keep pace. Akron scores 77.1 points per game and has the 63rd best field goal shooting percentage, allowing just 65.6 points per game which is 55th in the country. In contrast, Western Michigan scores an average of 74.9 points per game but is allowing 76.2 points per game and opponents are shooting 44.9%. Western Michigan is allowing opponents to shoot 35.6% from 3-point territory which is 314th, and plays to one of Toledo’s strengths, as the Rockets are hitting the same 35.6% from three point land. Akron has covered the spread in four of its last five. Akron's scoring duo Enrique Freeman and Ali Ali, who average a combined 33.8 points per game, will be too much inside and out for the Broncos defense. Akron's Freeman is leading the nation in rebounding at 13.1 per game and helps the Zips clear the glass at both ends giving opponents fewer second look opportunities.
|
01-15-24 |
Villanova +6.5 v. Marquette |
|
74-87 |
Loss |
-115 |
5 h 41 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Villanova Wildcats are right at the top of the Big East standings, as only three teams in the league have only one loss. The one-loss teams are Seton Hall, UConn and Villanova. Nova's lone loss was a home matchup against St. John's, they defeated DePaul twice, won a home game over Xavier, and grabbed a road win over #12 Creighton. In their last game against DePaul, Nova got out to a 10 point lead at half and never looked back. They were led in scoring by Eric Dixon with 24 points in the win.
|
01-15-24 |
Rockets v. 76ers -7.5 |
|
115-124 |
Win
|
100 |
3 h 10 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units It's usually wise to fade the Rockets on the road. They don't win, their scoring dips, and their defensive performance gets dramatically worse. None of that bodes well against a team they've already lost to that may also be getting an MVP back onto the court. Houston's defense struggles to keep opponents off the free throw line, which is where the 76ers excel. In the first meeting, Philadelphia ended the game 29-33 at the free throw line. The Rockets' defense does not match up well with the 76ers, and that's the team's strength. Expect a decisive Philadelphia victory.
|
01-14-24 |
Kings v. Bucks -4.5 |
|
142-143 |
Loss |
-115 |
10 h 50 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Milwaukee Bucks took a while to get going early in the season, then settled in and had a seven game winning streak. The Bucks are back to their losing ways, as they have now lost four of their last six, and look to rebound against this Kings team. The Bucks lost two games to the Pacers, and dropped games with the Jazz and Rockets in their recent stretch. They showed their capability in their recent matchup with the Celtics, winning by 33 as they were led by Bobby Portis with 28 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
|
01-14-24 |
St. Peter's -6 v. Manhattan |
|
81-68 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 34 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Both St Peters and Manhattan do not score that many points per game but the big difference in this matchup is on defense, as the Peacocks are allowing an average of only 63.5 points per game and 42.4% shooting, while the Jaspers are allowing an average of 76.0 points per game and 45.5% shooting. St Peter's has covered the spread in six of its last seven games and in four of the last five games head-to-head versus Manhattan. Manhattan has covered the spread in just one of its last seven games and the Jaspers have covered the spread in just one of their last six games played on their home court. Manhattan is scoring only 64.4 points per game and shoots very poorly, hitting just 39.4% of its shots overall and 30.1% of its 3-point attempts, which are 347th and 316th respectively.
|
01-13-24 |
Lakers v. Jazz +1.5 |
|
125-132 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 15 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Jazz have been terrific lately, winning nine of their last 11 games prior to Friday’s clash against the Raptors. On the other side, the Lakers have dropped ten of their previous 14 contests. They are without Rui Hachimura (calf) and Gabe Vincent (knee).
|
01-13-24 |
Rockets v. Celtics -15.5 |
|
113-145 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 49 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Celtics have won three of their last five games and 18 straight home games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 123 points per game at home. They’ve also done well at the charity stripe, making over 84 percent of their free throws at home. They rebound the ball well and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also did a great job of protecting the ball in recent games, turning it over less than 10 times per game in their last three games, do don’t expect them to give the Rockets a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Rockets have struggled defensively on the road this season and they are also playing on consecutive nights against a team that has been dominant at home, so expect the Celtics to keep their offense in check. The Rockets have lost two straight road games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 114 points per game in their last three games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Celtics and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball on the road, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Celtics, who average more than six steals per game. The Celtics have been very good defensively at home, holding opponents under 110 points per game, and will keep Houston’s offense in check. Go with Boston to cover the spread.
|
01-13-24 |
Southern Miss v. Troy State -4.5 |
|
56-82 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 46 m |
Show
|
|
01-13-24 |
Eastern Michigan v. Miami-OH -6.5 |
|
54-71 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 50 m |
Show
|
Rating: 3 Units The Miami RedHawks are middle-of-the-pack on the offensive side of the floor as they are averaging 74.8 points per game, which is 185th in college basketball. Their defense has been doing a decent job as they are 181st in the NCAA with 71.7 points per game allowed.
|
01-13-24 |
NC State -7.5 v. Louisville |
|
89-83 |
Loss |
-110 |
3 h 55 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Louisville comes in with a victory in their previous contest, giving them a little bit of momentum heading into this game. Meanwhile, NC State struggled against Notre Dame on the road and lost to North Carolina so they are looking to get back on track here. Louisville has struggled shooting the ball all season long and they have sputtered on the defensive end of the floor. This should be an opportunity for the Wolfpack to get right offensively in this contest as they face this struggling Cardinals group. Burns Jr. should have a big game on the interior, especially with Traynor missing for Louisville. Take the Wolfpack in this contest as they earn the road victory.
|
01-12-24 |
Blazers v. Wolves -15 |
|
93-116 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 58 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units There are blowouts every night in the NBA. On Wednesday the Pelicans beat the Warrior by 36. On Tuesday, the Knicks beat these Blazers by 28. On Monday, the Clippers beat the Suns by 27. That is the last three days of NBA action, and every day had a landslide victory. This game is next in the progression. Gobert and Conley both sat out last game, neither has a serious injury and will likely play here after another day of rest. Edwards and Towns have played in almost every game this season, the Wolves will be at full strength. Portland on the other hand, will be playing on the tail end of a back-to-back after chasing around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the road on Thursday. Portland has to travel in between, and fatigue will be an issue when the Blazers get to Minnesota. Minnesota is strong inside with Towns, Reid and Gobert, which will be bad news for the Blazers as Ayton is likely out again. The T-Wolves are clinging onto first in the West, and are coming off a loss, they will not take any chances in this game and will blow the tired Blazers out of the water.
|
01-12-24 |
Pacers v. Hawks -5.5 |
|
126-108 |
Loss |
-109 |
11 h 33 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Haliburton's injury could be costly for Indiana. It managed to get past Washington in its first game without him, but that isn't saying much. The Pacers went 8-21 straight up (10-18-1 ATS) without Haliburton the last two seasons, which isn't surprising considering that he's the catalyst to their top-ranked offense. His absence is likely worth five or six points to the spread, as he's worth +8.2 points per 100 possessions to Indy's offense, schedule-adjusted, per Dunks and Threes.
|
01-11-24 |
Cal Poly +10 v. Cal-Riverside |
|
56-71 |
Loss |
-110 |
7 h 54 m |
Show
|
|
01-11-24 |
San Francisco v. San Diego +10.5 |
|
83-63 |
Loss |
-110 |
7 h 54 m |
Show
|
|
01-11-24 |
Abilene Christian +15.5 v. Grand Canyon |
|
64-74 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 59 m |
Show
|
|
01-11-24 |
Blazers v. Thunder -12.5 |
|
77-139 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 42 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The most recent time the Oklahoma City Thunder played the Portland Trail Blazers, the Thunder did something no other NBA team had done in at least 25 years with their hot shooting. In Oklahoma City's 134-91 win in Portland on Nov. 19, the Thunder shot 60.5 percent from the floor, 61.1 percent from beyond the 3-point line and 100 percent from the free-throw line to reach the rare single-game 60/60/100 mark. The Thunder's 77 percent true shooting percentage also set a franchise record. Tonight, the Thunder and Blazers will meet again, this time in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder on another shooting hot streak. The Thunder have shot 50 percent or better in each of their last nine games, their longest such streak in the 15 seasons since they moved to Oklahoma City. During the nine-game stretch, Thunder standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 60.2 percent from the floor. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points per game, which matches his career high, as do his 5.9 rebounds a game. He also has career-high averages in assists (6.4) and steals (2.4) per game.
|
01-11-24 |
Southern Indiana v. SIU-Edwardsville -7 |
|
64-67 |
Loss |
-115 |
5 h 53 m |
Show
|
|
01-09-24 |
Duke v. Pittsburgh +5.5 |
|
75-53 |
Loss |
-110 |
13 h 44 m |
Show
|
|
01-09-24 |
Vanderbilt v. LSU -7.5 |
|
69-77 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 39 m |
Show
|
|
01-09-24 |
Texas +6 v. Cincinnati |
|
74-73 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 40 m |
Show
|
|
01-09-24 |
Wake Forest v. Florida State +3.5 |
|
82-87 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 40 m |
Show
|
|
01-08-24 |
Howard v. South Carolina State +4.5 |
|
82-78 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 34 m |
Show
|
|
01-08-24 |
Norfolk State +1.5 v. North Carolina Central |
|
58-60 |
Loss |
-110 |
4 h 45 m |
Show
|
|
01-07-24 |
South Florida +4 v. UAB |
|
71-75 |
Push |
0 |
7 h 36 m |
Show
|
|
01-07-24 |
Manhattan v. Quinnipiac -9.5 |
|
59-76 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 36 m |
Show
|
|
01-07-24 |
Spurs v. Cavs -10.5 |
|
115-117 |
Loss |
-110 |
5 h 41 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units San Antonio continues to flounder with only two wins in their last 29 games after a 3-2 start to the season. The Spurs have a ton of youth and one has to wonder if Popovich is the right fit as a head coach for this team at this point. He is the league’s all-time winningest coach but this isn’t a team with the veteran leadership that they had in previous seasons during a reloading period. Cleveland is minus a pair of starters in Mobley and Garland yet they have won four of six heading into this contest. The Cavaliers have had success against the Spurs, taking six of the last eight in the series, and San Antonio is only 3-14 on the road this year. Take Cleveland to pick up the home win here to make it three straight victories.
|
01-06-24 |
LSU +11.5 v. Texas A&M |
|
68-53 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 47 m |
Show
|
|
01-06-24 |
UNLV +9 v. San Diego State |
|
61-72 |
Loss |
-110 |
5 h 24 m |
Show
|
|
01-06-24 |
Green Bay +7.5 v. Oakland |
|
73-79 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 32 m |
Show
|
|
01-06-24 |
Miami-FL +4.5 v. Wake Forest |
|
82-86 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 51 m |
Show
|
|
01-06-24 |
Central Michigan +7.5 v. Ball State |
|
71-65 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 46 m |
Show
|
|
01-06-24 |
Virginia +1.5 v. NC State |
|
60-76 |
Loss |
-110 |
4 h 40 m |
Show
|
Rating: 3 Units Against Louisville, Virginia handled its business the way a good team should against a not-so-good one. The Cavaliers had just three turnovers and shot 51.7 percent from the floor while notching 20 assists on 30 made baskets. Ryan Dunn had 15 points and 10 rebounds while Isaac McKneely scored 18 points. Reece Beekman leads the team in scoring this season with 12.9 points per game. While Virginia struggled in South Bend, NC State was able to escape the state of Indiana with a 54-52 win over Notre Dame on Wednesday. DJ Burns Jr. had 13 points and four rebounds and sank the game-winning shot with 0.6 seconds left. The buzzer-beater by Burns was the first time NC State had the lead. The Wolfpack won despite one of their worst 3-point shooting performances of the season, making just 3 of 17 shots (17.6 percent) from behind the arc.
|
01-05-24 |
Boise State -5.5 v. San Jose State |
|
78-69 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 6 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Until last season, the Broncos had dominated this matchup. In fact, they had won the previous eight games by at least 16 points in every instance but one. The only two times they did not cover the spread in that time was when they were favored by 22 points or more. They win, but simply not by 26. That makes a 5.5-point spread totally workable. There is no denying that San Jose can score, producing at least 73 points in six straight games, but Boise State can be an offensive machine, scoring 85 or more points in four of the last five games.
|
01-05-24 |
Illinois +10.5 v. Purdue |
|
78-83 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 15 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Illinois basketball program recently suspended their top scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. after he was charged with rape. Many were wondering how Illinois would respond in their first true test without him against Northwestern. Well, they beat the Wildcats by 30, the same Northwestern team that handed Purdue their only loss of the season. Illinois held the lead all game and it was never close. Marcus Domask led the way with 32 points, and Quincy Guerrier had a double-double with 14 points and ten boards in the win.
|
01-05-24 |
Rider +4.5 v. Quinnipiac |
|
84-88 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 10 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Defensively, Quinnipiac allows an average of 72.7 points per game (221st nationally). Their field goal defense stands at 42.5% (161st) and their three-point defense at 33.1% (203rd), indicating a need for more stringent defense, especially on the perimeter. In their last game against Florida, Quinnipiac faced a tough 97-72 road loss.
|
01-03-24 |
NC State v. Notre Dame +5 |
|
54-52 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 54 m |
Show
|
|
01-03-24 |
Thunder v. Hawks |
|
138-141 |
Loss |
-110 |
6 h 31 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Thunder is playing the second game of a back-to-back situation and their third game in four nights here. Those sorts of situations haven’t seemed to bother Oklahoma City though as they have dropped the hammer on opposing teams in the second game of back-to-backs this season. Atlanta has been awful against the number this season, going 7-25 ATS on the year, including failing to cover in five straight contests and seven of their last eight. The Hawks have a rest advantage and they are at home here but their porous defense is too much to overlook. Look for Oklahoma City to take care of business again here as they deliver a road victory.
|
01-03-24 |
Chattanooga v. Samford -7.5 |
|
74-89 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 28 m |
Show
|
|
01-03-24 |
Furman +2.5 v. NC-Greensboro |
|
68-79 |
Loss |
-110 |
5 h 2 m |
Show
|
|
01-02-24 |
Bulls v. 76ers -10.5 |
|
97-110 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 50 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Chicago has beaten Philadelphia in the first two meetings this season but this one could turn out differently. The 76ers have the same two days of rest between games as opposed to playing the second game of a back-to-back situation Saturday night while the Bulls had a rest edge. Embiid has been bumped up to questionable for this contest, which would be a nice boost to the 76ers given how well he’s played this season. The Bulls are still minus Vucevic and LaVine from their starting five, while Craig takes a valuable second-unit player out of the mix. Playing on the road hurts the Bulls as they are 4-10 away from the United Center. Look for the 76ers to take advantage here and put this one in the win column.
|
01-02-24 |
East Carolina +16.5 v. Florida Atlantic |
|
64-79 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 56 m |
Show
|
Rating: 3 Units The Pirates followed up their win over Delaware State with a loss to the Buccaneers in their last game. They will try to bounce back from the loss with a win over the Owls, which will give them their second win in their last three games and their first road win of the season. East Carolina is averaging 72.8 points per game. They scored 71 points in their last game, making 34.9 percent of their field goals and 16.7 percent of their three-pointers. Brandon Johnson led the Pirates with 19 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. RJ Felton finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Ezra Ausar added 12 points and eight rebounds.
|
01-02-24 |
Western Michigan +5 v. Miami-OH |
|
83-74 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 52 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Redhawks enter MAC play this season at 6-6 following a tough non-conference schedule. They have won two straight games but have had trouble offensively thus far. The Redhawks are ranked 235th in scoring offense this season. They are, however, 142nd in field goal percentage on the season and an impressive 10th in 3-point shooting. The Redhawks rank 36th in 3-point field goals per game. They are just 224th in scoring defense this season. They are ranked 305th in opponent's field goal percentage.
|
01-02-24 |
Creighton -11.5 v. Georgetown |
|
77-60 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 49 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Creighton was justifiably a top-ten team until the team's recent struggles. They have size, shooting, and excellent perimeter defense. That combination of attributes is critical in the modern-day college basketball landscape. The Bluejays now square off against a Hoyas team that is in the midst of an overhaul under new head coach Cooley. Cooley eventually got Providence turned around and it started with taking care of their homecourt. Thus far, the Hoyas are 6-3 at home this season but have lost to the three quality teams they've played at home: TCU, Syracuse, and Butler. The Hoyas lost those games by just under eight points per game. The Bluejays certainly qualify as a quality opponent and are a step above the three aforementioned teams. Look for the Bluejays to dominate the glass and dominate the interior forcing the Hoyas to collapse into the paint and thus opening up the Bluejays' 40th-ranked 3-point shooting.
|
12-31-23 |
Cleveland State -10.5 v. IUPU-Indianapolis |
|
86-77 |
Loss |
-115 |
4 h 5 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units IUPUI is coming off of victory over Detroit Mercy, but will lose at home to Cleveland State on Sunday. IUPUI is one of the worst shooting teams in the nation. The Jaguars are 233rd in field goal shooting percentage at 43.8 and 362nd in three-point shooting percentage at 23.4. It is just as bad or likely worse at the defensive end as the Jaguars allow opponents to shoot 49.6% overall which is 358th and 37.1% from 3 point land which is 341st. A poor shooting offense and a weak defense do not add up to many wins. Cleveland State holds its own offensively, scoring 76.1 points per game thanks to excellent shooting from the perimeter as the Vikings hit 38% of their 3-point attempts which is 32nd in the nation. Although on defense the Vikings are giving up a high shooting percent at 44% overall, Cleveland's perimeter defense is holding opponents to 29.8% shooting from 3 point land which is 71st in the country. Cleveland State has covered the spread in each of its last five games and in six of the last eight when playing IUPUI head to head. IUPUI has failed to cover the spread in nine of its last 10 games.
|
12-31-23 |
CS-Fullerton +9.5 v. Hawaii |
|
63-61 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 12 m |
Show
|
|
12-30-23 |
Montana -4.5 v. Idaho State |
|
76-68 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 16 m |
Show
|
|
12-30-23 |
Montana State v. Weber State -11.5 |
|
64-86 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 10 m |
Show
|
|
12-30-23 |
Northeastern +2.5 v. Rhode Island |
|
71-82 |
Loss |
-110 |
3 h 7 m |
Show
|
|
12-30-23 |
Virginia -9.5 v. Notre Dame |
|
54-76 |
Loss |
-110 |
2 h 22 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Notre Dame has had major issues on the offensive end of the floor this season. Scoring only 60 points against Marist isn’t something you want to hang your hat on, even if it was in a victory. Now the Fighting Irish have to face a Virginia team that is suffocating on the defensive end of the floor. We know that Tony Bennett’s team isn’t going to overpower anyone on the offensive end of the floor as they rely on that pack line defense to make life miserable for opposing teams. That’s the situation here as Notre Dame has struggled to shoot the ball with any kind of consistency this season. Virginia is sixth in field goal percentage defense (36.7%), 10th in two-point defense (42%) and 27th in three-point defense (28.1%) this season. Notre Dame will be fortunate if they get above the mid-50s on the scoreboard. Virginia rolls here to improve to 2-0 in the ACC.
|
12-29-23 |
Eastern Illinois +8.5 v. SIU-Edwardsville |
|
58-67 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 31 m |
Show
|
|
12-29-23 |
Bucks v. Cavs +6.5 |
|
119-111 |
Loss |
-115 |
9 h 15 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Cleveland delivered during a hard-fought battle Wednesday, taking down the Dallas Mavericks on the road 113-110 after needing to come-back from a 20-point deficit. Caris LeVert led the way for the Cavaliers with 29 points and seven assists off the bench. Jarrett Allen put up a 24-point, 23-rebound performance down low and Isaac Okoro added 22 points. The Cavaliers have been one of the few teams in the East to give Milwaukee problems in the regular season the past two years. They won three of the four games in the 2021-22 season and split the four-game series last season, winning the two most recent matchups.
|
12-29-23 |
Nets v. Wizards +6.5 |
|
104-110 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 48 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units As the Nets embark on a four-game trip, coach Jacque Vaughn hopes his club can rediscover the defensive magic that has been missing in recent outings. Brooklyn has lost six of eight, allowing at least 121 points in each defeat. With defensive ace Ben Simmons slow to return from lower-back pain, Vaughn has called upon Dennis Smith Jr. to be a leader on that end of the court. Smith was promoted to the starting lineup Wednesday in a 144-122 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, chipping in with 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. In his previous five outings off the bench, his contribution was better represented in five straight non-negative plus/minus figures (a total of plus-35) than his 8.4 points per game.
|
12-29-23 |
Charlotte v. Stetson +3.5 |
|
75-79 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 57 m |
Show
|
|
12-29-23 |
North Florida +21 v. Miami-FL |
|
55-95 |
Loss |
-108 |
8 h 59 m |
Show
|
|
12-28-23 |
Jazz +8.5 v. Pelicans |
|
105-112 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 50 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units New Orleans has struggled with three losses in their last four games coming into this contest with each of those coming at home. The Pelicans simply don’t have that closing instinct that they need in order to be considered a serious threat in the Western Conference. Now, Utah isn’t a great team by any stretch as they have a ton of youth to work with in their rotation after dealing away veterans last season at the trade deadline. However, the Jazz have strung together three straight wins on the road. While one can say they came over doormats in Detroit, Toronto and San Antonio, the fact remains that they were just 2-13 on the road before that. The Jazz have had the Pelicans’ number, winning five straight meetings, and they aren’t intimidated by the city the franchise once called home. Take Utah here as they steal one on the road.
|
12-28-23 |
Prairie View A&M +3.5 v. Texas-San Antonio |
|
89-103 |
Loss |
-107 |
6 h 49 m |
Show
|
|
12-28-23 |
Coppin State v. Maryland -31.5 |
|
53-75 |
Loss |
-109 |
5 h 59 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units Maryland (8-4) has a chance to extend that streak to 19 games on Thursday night with a tune-up against Coppin State (1-12) in College Park, Md. The Terrapins are coming off a 69-60 win Friday at UCLA that was propelled by a virtuoso performance from Jahmir Young, who scored a career-high 37 points on 13-of-19 shooting. Coppin State arrives on a five-game losing streak and has been idle since an 87-48 defeat at No. 20 James Madison on Dec. 19.
|
12-27-23 |
Suns v. Rockets +3 |
|
129-113 |
Loss |
-110 |
10 h 14 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Suns took a 128-114 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas, Phoenix's ninth loss in 12 games following a seven-game winning streak that left the team a season-high five games over .500. An inability to cultivate any semblance of consistency continues to stall the Suns, whose injury concerns remain at the heart of their ongoing woes. Phoenix remains without Bradley Beal (ankle), who has logged only six games this season, and was also missing Jusuf Nurkic (personal) against the Mavericks. Beyond Beal, the injury issues haven't been overly debilitating but rather a constant nuisance, with the Suns laboring to construct a set rotation that can compete with the heavyweights in the Western Conference. The early-season struggles have yielded a fair share of think pieces contemplating what ails Phoenix. For their part, the Suns have yet to display any signs of panic despite everything that's gone awry.
|
12-26-23 |
Hornets v. Clippers -11.5 |
|
104-113 |
Loss |
-115 |
14 h 42 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Clippers shouldn’t have any problems beating the Hornets even if Kawhi Leonard remains on the sidelines. Charlotte has injury worries, too. The Hornets are without LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Mark Williams (back), while Terry Rozier (knee) and Brandon Miller (ankle) are both listed as questionable. Charlotte is a bad defensive unit, and LA will be scoring at will in this matchup. Hereof, I’m backing the Clippers to cover a double-digit spread in front of the home audience and make amends for an embarrassing loss to the Celtics. The Clippers are 8-2 ATS in their last ten contests against the Hornets. LA is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games overall and 13-5 ATS in its previous 18 tilts versus the Southeast Division teams. On the other side, Charlotte is 2-4 ATS in its last six contests overall and 1-7 ATS in its last eight outings on the road.
|
12-26-23 |
Kings -8 v. Blazers |
|
113-130 |
Loss |
-105 |
13 h 16 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Kings have won four of their last six games and two of their last three road games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 111 points per game on the road. They do a good job of finding the open man and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also cut back on their turnovers in their last three games and won’t give the Blazers a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Trailblazers aren’t very good defensively and they play worse at home, giving up more than 115 points per game, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Kings in this game. The Trailblazers have lost two straight games and five of their last six home games. They have struggled offensively, scoring less than 110 points per game. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Kings and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Kings, who average more than seven steals per game. The Kings aren’t great defensively, but they play better on the road and won’t be tested by the cold-shooting Blazers, so go with Sacramento to cover the spread.
|
12-23-23 |
Wolves +2.5 v. Kings |
|
110-98 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 15 m |
Show
|
Rating; 2 Units Sacramento played on Friday against Phoenix. The Suns (14-13) are no joke and should push Sacramento. That will make for a slightly fatigued Kings team facing a Minnesota club who is one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Minnesota knocked off Los Angeles on Thursday and will be riding high, especially as winners of 10 of their last 12 games. The fact that Towns is out will hurt them, making this a close contest.
|
12-23-23 |
Blazers +9 v. Warriors |
|
106-126 |
Loss |
-110 |
12 h 43 m |
Show
|
Rating: 2 Units The Trail Blazers take on the Warriors for the third time this month, and Portland has covered the spread in its previous two dates with Golden State. The Warriors have been playing a ton of close games of late, so I’m backing the Blazers to grab their third consecutive ATS victory over Golden State. On paper, Golden State is a better team than Portland, but the Warriors will have to deal with fatigue in this game. The Warriors have gone 3-4 ATS over their previous seven games, and each of those seven contests have been decided by eight or fewer points. The Blazers will look to slow things down once more and force the Warriors into half-court basketball, so I’m expecting Portland to hang around down the stretch.
|
12-23-23 |
Grizzlies v. Hawks |
|
125-119 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 39 m |
Show
|
Rating; 2 Units The Hawks played well over the past week and they’ve won three of their last four games. They will try to keep the momentum going with a win over the Grizzlies, which will give them their fourth win in their last five games. Atlanta is averaging 123.1 points per game. They scored 134 points in their last game, making 51.6 percent of their field goals and 42.5 percent of their three-pointers. Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points, four rebounds, and 14 assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 22 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Dejounte Murray added 21 points, three rebounds, and five assists.
|
12-22-23 |
Suns +3.5 v. Kings |
|
105-120 |
Loss |
-110 |
12 h 30 m |
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Rating: 2 Units Phoenix is arguably a better defensive team than Sacramento, but I’m not sure the Suns will be able to take full advantage of the Kings’ defensive flaws. The Suns have scored more than 112 points just twice in their last seven outings overall, and it looks like Phoenix rely on Kevin Durant and Devin Booker way too much. On the other side, the Kings might be vulnerable following that thrashing at the hands of the Celtics. It’s hard to trust Sacramento’s defense, so I’m backing the Suns to keep it close and hopefully upset the Kings. Phoenix should be able to slow the pace down and force Sacramento into half-court basketball which is crucial for the Suns in this matchup.
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