Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-05-20 | Pacers v. Raptors OVER 216 | 118-119 | Win | 100 | 12 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Indiana and Toronto at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. The Pacers continue to struggle defensively, as they sit 20th in the league in defensive rating over their last five games. They let the Mavs get whatever they wanted offensively on Monday night (despite missing Luka Doncic), falling for a second straight game at home. That makes this a nightmarish matchup against a surging Raptors squad that ranks sixth in the league in offensive rating over their last five games while also sitting in the top half of the league in pace rating over that same stretch. With that being said, the Pacers are still a quality basketball team and it's only a matter of time before Victor Oladipo settles in and starts knocking down his shots after returning a couple of games back. Here, I do think they'll get baited into an up-tempo affair. It's worth noting that these two teams combined to score 235 points in their most recent meeting back on December 23rd. Take the over (10*). |
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02-05-20 | Suns -3 v. Pistons | 108-116 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 9 m | Show | |
My selection is on Phoenix minus the points over Detroit at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday. Both of these teams are injury-ravaged and likely looking at some changes before Thursday's trade deadline. With that being said, I think the Suns have a lot more upside and should have little trouble disposing of the reeling Pistons at Little Caesar's Arena on Wednesday night. Yes, Phoenix has lost three games in a row but did anyone really expect any wins out of a stretch that saw it face Oklahoma City at home (it lost by only four points) and Milwaukee and Brooklyn (noting the Nets have been playing much better lately) on the road? Here, the Suns have a solid opportunity to at least salvage something on their current road trip as they face the undermanned Pistons. Detroit has just one win in its last seven games and it came by way of overtime in an early start against a weary Nuggets squad on Super Bowl Sunday. Phoenix checks in ranking sixth in the NBA in pace rating over its last five games while the Pistons sit 27th over that same stretch. I look for the Suns to run Detroit out of the gym here. Take Phoenix (10*). |
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02-04-20 | Spurs v. Lakers -12 | 102-129 | Win | 100 | 13 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over San Antonio at 10:05 pm et on Tuesday. The Spurs gave the Clippers all they could handle last night here at Staples Center but really what else could we have expected given how inconsistent the Clips have been lately? Here, I look for a highly-motivated performance from the Lakers, who struggled in their first game following the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant last week but then responded with a blowout win in Sacramento the very next night. While the Spurs have been close in each of their last two road tilts, they remain just 8-15 away from home this season. LaMarcus Aldridge and Demar Derozan accounted for over half of their 105 points last night. Look for the Lakers to use their depth to ultimately pull away from San Antonio on Tuesday. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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02-04-20 | Blazers v. Nuggets -4.5 | Top | 99-127 | Win | 100 | 14 h 4 m | Show |
NBA Northwest Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Denver minus the points over Portland at 9:05 pm et on Tuesday. I absolutely love the way this one sets up for the Nuggets as they host the surging Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Portland checks in having won four straight games after dropping 11 of its previous 16 contests. Of course, the Blazers have been riding the extremely hot hand of Damian Lillard during their current streak. Portland actually ranks number one in the league in offensive rating over its last five contests. I'm just not sure it's sustainable, in fact, I know it's note. As good as they've been offensively, the Blazers check in 24th in the Association in defensive rating over that same five-game stretch. Denver suffered an overtime loss in a matinee affair in Detroit on Sunday, snapping a mini two-game winning streak. The Nuggets are still a solid 11-6 since the start of January. They've gone 17-4 in their last 21 games here in the high altitude of Denver. The last time these two teams squared off in December the Nuggets rolled to a 114-99 victory. Lillard will get his, but I look for Denver to prevail. Take Denver (10*). |
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02-04-20 | Predators v. Jets OVER 6.5 | 2-1 | Loss | -101 | 7 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Nashville and Winnipeg at 8:08 pm et on Tuesday. Both of these teams are somewhat surprisingly sitting on the outside looking in as far as the Western Conference playoff picture goes. With that being said, neither is out of the running. The Preds sit four points back of the second Wild Card spot while the Jets are just three points back. With that in mind, I'm expecting both teams to come out flying on Tuesday night and I expect a much different story to unfold after Nashville skated to a 1-0 victory in their most recent meeting. The Jets should be high on confidence after scoring five goals against the defending champion Blues on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Preds will be eager to bounce back after getting shut out by the Knights last time out. Prior to that, Nashville had scored 10 goals in regulation time in its last two games. Take the over (10*). |
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02-04-20 | Tennessee v. Alabama -5.5 | 69-68 | Loss | -108 | 12 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Alabama minus the points over Tennessee at 7 pm et on Tuesday. This is a solid spot to back the Crimson Tide as they host the Vols on Tuesday night. The Tide are coming off back-to-back losses but there was no shame in either of those defeats as they came against two teams that own a combined 33-9 record in LSU and Arkansas. Here, the Tide face a much more manageable opponent in Tennessee - a team that has dropped three games in a row. The Vols have managed to win two road games in SEC play but both of those came against losing teams in Missouri and Vanderbilt. Alabama got off to a slow start this season but has been a different team since the end of November, winning 10 of its last 15 games despite a tough schedule. Take Alabama (10*). |
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02-03-20 | Baylor v. Kansas State +7 | Top | 73-67 | Win | 100 | 13 h 30 m | Show |
CBB Big 12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Kansas State plus the points over Baylor at 9 pm et on Monday. There are few more battle-tested teams in the country than Kansas State right now. The Wildcats have faced an extremely tough schedule since the start of January - at Oklahoma, vs. TCU, at Texas, vs. Texas Tech, vs. West Virginia, at Kansas, at Alabama, vs. Oklahoma and at West Virginia (all winning opponents). While the Wildcats have only managed to win two of those games outright, they've been competitive in the majority of them (four of seven losses came by single-digits) and I expect them to take this one down to the wire as well. Baylor of course hasn't lost a game since way back on November 8th against Washington - its only loss of the season to date. Coming off three straight double-digit wins I do see this as a bit of a letdown spot for the Bears. That marks their longest streak of double-digit wins in-conference this season. There shouldn't be much of an intimidation factor at play here given the setting, and the fact that Kansas State took the most recent meeting 66-60 last March. Take Kansas State (10*). |
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02-03-20 | Mavs v. Pacers -4.5 | 112-103 | Loss | -115 | 9 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on Indiana minus the points over Dallas at 7:05 pm et on Monday. It's been a bit of a struggle for the Mavs lately as they've gone just 3-4 over their last seven games since reeling off four straight wins from January 11th to 17th. They're coming off a blowout win on Saturday night but that came at home against the lowly Hawks. The Pacers were stunned by the Knicks at home on Saturday night so will certainly be highly-motivated to bounce back here. Perhaps they were caught flat-footed following a 115-106 overtime win over the Bulls in Victor Oladipo's long-awaited return to the lineup in their previous game. Whatever the case, I expect to see a much sharper performance from them here. Take Indiana (10*). |
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02-02-20 | 49ers v. Chiefs -1 | Top | 20-31 | Win | 100 | 226 h 30 m | Show |
NFL Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over San Francisco at 6:30 pm et on Sunday February 2nd. I'm holding futures tickets on the Chiefs so this is really a no-brainer for me. There's nothing I've seen in the playoffs that has swayed me from the fact that Kansas City is destined to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 2nd. Yes, San Francisco has impressed and is without a doubt the 'it team' entering this contest - a true upstart that has reached this point far quicker than most expected under the guidance of head coach Kyle Shanahan. I'll give the Niners all the credit in the world for getting here, but let's not get too excited by playoff home wins over extremely flawed Vikings and Packers squads that simply didn't show up in Santa Clara. There's no question, the Niners will get the Chiefs best effort here. Kansas City has been steadily building to this point, with its defense showing up when it matters most and QB Patrick Mahomes taking his game to a completely other level in the postseason. Everything has broke right for the Chiefs in the playoffs with the Ravens getting upset by the Titans, even though I do believe Kansas City would have went into Baltimore and won regardless. Give me the Chiefs at a very discounted number here. Take Kansas City (10*). |
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02-02-20 | 49ers v. Chiefs OVER 54 | 20-31 | Loss | -110 | 117 h 15 m | Show | |
My selection is on the ‘over’ between San Francisco and Kansas City at 6:25 pm et on Sunday February 2nd. Last year’s expected Super Bowl shootout between the Patriots and Rams fizzled but I expect a different story to unfold this year as the upstart 49ers take on the Chiefs in Miami. The hype surrounding the 49ers defense continues to build as this game approaches. Yes, the Niners have an elite defense across the board but I believe their aggressive nature (not necessarily in terms of their blitz packages, or lack thereof) may end up costing them in this particular matchup. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has re-emerged as a true running threat now that he has healed from multiple in-season injuries he suffered. That’s to say nothing of his ability to get the ball to his electric pass-catching corps. As good as the Niners are on defense, they’re unquestionably going to have their hands full on Sunday evening. On the flip side, the Chiefs defense really came into its own down the stretch and came up big when the chips were down in two playoff games – out of necessity mind you, after digging themselves early deficits in both of those contests. I’m just not sure the Niners are getting nearly enough credit for the creativity and explosiveness of their offense, which does match up well with the Chiefs defense here. QB Jimmy Garoppolo hasn’t filled up the stat sheet in these playoffs, but he hasn’t had to. Playing with big leads for much of those two wins over the Vikings and Packers, Garoppolo was limited to ‘game manager’ duty. Here, we should see him pressed into action and I’m confident he can orchestrate some big plays downfield with his highly-underrated group of pass-catchers. Last year’s dud notwithstanding, the Super Bowl has delivered many exciting, high-scoring affairs in recent years and I’m anticipating another instant classic on Sunday. Take the over (10*). |
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02-02-20 | Marist v. Canisius -7 | 65-66 | Loss | -105 | 5 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on Canisius minus the points over Marist at 2 pm et on Sunday. I'll lay the points with the Golden Griffins on Sunday afternoon. Canisius is a better team than its 8-13 record would indicate as far as I'm concerned. It will be highly-motivated to get back on track here after suffering three straight losses. Note that two of those losses came on the road and its most recent setback came at home against a good Quinnipiac team. Marist checks in just 5-14 on the campaign but has won three of its last four games overall. Keep in mind, two of those wins came at home and the other came on the road against 6-14 Niagara. Take Canisius (10*). |
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02-01-20 | Jazz -5 v. Blazers | 107-124 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 30 m | Show | |
My selection is on Utah minus the points over Portland at 10:35 pm et on Saturday. This has not been a good week for the Jazz as they have dropped three games in a row, starting with a loss as a double-digit favorite at home against a Rockets team that was without Harden and Westbrook. Since then, we've seen Utah drop back-to-back games on the road but I look for it to bounce back here on Saturday as it faces what has to be an emotionally-drained Blazers squad coming off last night's victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles - the Lakers first game following the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant. Portland ranks a miserable 28th in defensive rating playing at home this season. Meanwhile, the Jazz have been generally solid on the road, where they rank top-11 in both offensive and defensive rating. Take Utah (10*). |
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02-01-20 | Southern Illinois v. Drake -5 | Top | 79-72 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 29 m | Show |
CBB Missouri Valley Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Drake minus the points over Southern Illinois at 6 pm et on Saturday. I really like the way this one sets up for Drake on its home floor. The Bulldogs had their two-game winning streak snapped in a 58-56 loss at Indiana State last time out but should bounce back here at home where they have yet to lose a game this season and ride a 15-game winning streak. Southern Illinois has won four games in a row but only one of those victories came on the road, and that came against 7-14 Illinois State. The Salukis have traveled two other times here in January, falling by 19 points at Bradley and 16 points at Loyola-Chicago. This is a quick revenge spot for Drake after dropping a surprising 17-point decision on the road against Southern Illinois back on January 19th. Take Drake (10*). |
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02-01-20 | Wolves v. Clippers -9.5 | 106-118 | Win | 100 | 5 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Minnesota at 3:35 pm et on Saturday. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was disgusted with his team's effort in their most recent game - a blowout home loss to the Kings. I fully expect a return to form from Los Angeles as it hosts the lowly Timberwolves here. Minnesota has lost 10 games in a row and this doesn't appear to be a favorable spot to turn things around. Note that the T'Wolves check in 21st in the league in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating over their last five games. While the Clippers certainly haven't been at their best lately, they do still hold down the 10th spot in defensive rating over their last five contests. This wouldn't ordinarily be a circled game for the Clips but because of their awful performance last time out, I expect them to show up and show out at Staples Center. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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01-31-20 | Blazers v. Lakers -11.5 | 127-119 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 59 m | Show | |
My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Portland at 10:35 pm et on Friday. It will undoubtedly be an emotional night for the entire Lakers organization on Friday as they play their first game since the passing of Kobe Bryant. I'm anticipating a strong performance from Los Angeles as it hosts the surging Trail Blazers. While Portland has won three of its last four games overall, keep in mind all four of those contests were played at home. The Blazers check in ranking 25th in the league in defensive rating away from home. By contrast, the Lakers are second in that category here at home. L.A. also checks in top-10 in offensive rating at Staples Center. Take Los Angeles (10*). |
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01-31-20 | Dartmouth v. Princeton -4.5 | Top | 44-66 | Win | 100 | 22 h 45 m | Show |
CBB Ivy League Game of the Month. My selection is in Princeton minus the points over Dartmouth at 7 pm et on Friday. This is a fine spot to back the Princeton Tigers on their home floor as they aim for their fifth straight win against a very beatable Dartmouth squad. Princeton has suffered four losses on its home floor this season but all four of those setbacks came against winning opponents. Dartmouth has three wins to its credit on the road this season but only one came in an underdog role and that was way back in its season opener at Buffalo. Note that the Big Green have won only twice in their last 11 games and those two victories came against Maine and Central Connecticut State - two teams that own a combined 8-36 record this season. Princeton's lone loss over its last seven games came against 16-7 Hofstra back on December 19th. Take Princeton (10*). |
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01-30-20 | Jazz +1.5 v. Nuggets | 100-106 | Loss | -105 | 16 h 53 m | Show | |
My selection is on Utah plus the points over Denver at 10:35 pm et on Thursday. We missed the mark with our free pick on the Jazz last night in San Antonio but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with them again here. Utah still ranks fourth in the league in offensive rating and seventh in defensive rating over its last five contests. It also checks in just outside the top-10 in 11th place in pace rating over that stretch. The Nuggets have been lagging offensively, ranking 21st in offensive rating and 23rd in pace rating over their last five contests. They're always going to find themselves near the top in most defensive categories, I'm just not sure it will be enough against a highly-motivated Jazz squad here. Take Utah (10*). |
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01-30-20 | Warriors v. Celtics -13.5 | 104-119 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on Boston minus the points over Golden State at 8:05 pm et on Thursday. I'll lay the points with the Celtics in a game that has blowout potential on Thursday night. Golden State continues to struggle, ranking 28th in the league in offensive rating and 23rd in defensive rating over its last five games. While the Warriors do rank top-10 in pace rating over that stretch that could be to their detriment here. That's because the Celtics are rolling again, ranking sixth in offensive rating and third in defensive rating over their last five contests. While they're just middling in terms of pace rating over that stretch, I'm not all that concerned as they should get plenty of transition opportunities against the Warriors. Take Boston (10*). |
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01-30-20 | Raptors -10 v. Cavs | 115-109 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 18 m | Show | |
My selection is on Toronto minus the points over Cleveland at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. This game certainly has letdown potential for Toronto coming off back-to-back emotional wins over the Spurs and Hawks following the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant but I believe the Raptors will be up to the challenge in Cleveland on Thursday night. The Cavs continue to struggle. They had a glimmer of hope earlier this week as they got past the reeling Pistons in Detroit but couldn't follow it up as they were easily disposed of by the Pelicans the next night. The Raptors enter this contest in fine form, ranking ninth in offensive rating and fifth in defensive rating over their last five games. The lowly Cavs on the other hand sit 24th in both of those categories. Despite the strong showing in the Motor City earlier this week, Cleveland still sits just 22nd in the league in pace rating over its last five contests - a stark contrast to the Raptors seventh ranking in that department. Take Toronto (10*). |
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01-30-20 | Western Kentucky v. Florida Atlantic +3 | Top | 65-69 | Win | 100 | 22 h 30 m | Show |
CBB C-USA Game of the Month. My selection is on Florida Atlantic plus the points over Western Kentucky at 7 pm et on Thursday. Western Kentucky rides a five-game winning streak into this matchup on Thursday night but it's worth noting that only two of those wins came on the road, and they came at the expense of Middle Tennessee State and Marshall, two teams that have gone a combined 14-28 overall this season. The last time the Hilltoppers faced a winning team on the road, they lost by double-digits at UAB earlier this month. Florida Atlantic has lost three straight games but the last two came on the road and its lone home loss over that stretch came against aforementioned 12-9 UAB. That was the Owls lone home defeat this season. The last time these two teams met, FAU prevailed by six points last January. I believe the case can be made that the wrong team is being favored in this one. Take Florida Atlantic (10*). |
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01-29-20 | West Virginia v. Texas Tech -2.5 | Top | 81-89 | Win | 100 | 22 h 28 m | Show |
CBB Big 12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Texas Tech minus the points over West Virginia at 8 pm et on Wednesday. This is a big step-up spot for the Red Raiders at home, where they've traditionally owned a strong advantage. Texas Tech comes off back-to-back losses, most recently falling by just two points in overtime at home against Kentucky this past Saturday. The only other home loss the Red Raiders suffered this season came against 17-1 Baylor. It's interesting to note that Texas Tech closed as a 3.5-point favorite in that contest - a steeper number than we're dealing with on Wednesday. West Virginia's last victory against a winning team away from home came back on December 29th at Ohio State. Keep in mind, that game started a stretch that has seen the Buckeyes go a miserable 2-6 over their last eight contests. Outside of that win, the Mountaineers really haven't been all that impressive away from home. Revenge will certainly be on the Red Raiders minds here after falling by 12 points in Morgantown back on January 11th. As we always like to say, revenge is a dish best served at home. Take Texas Tech (10*). |
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01-29-20 | Pistons +6 v. Nets | 115-125 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Detroit plus the points over Brooklyn at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. We missed the mark with the Pistons in this same matchup last Saturday as they covered the number in regulation time but ultimately fell by double-digits in overtime. There's really not much separating these two teams at all right now and I'll gladly take all the points I can get with the Pistons in a big bounce-back spot on Wednesday night. Motivation will be especially high for Detroit coming off an embarrassing loss at home against the lowly Cavs on Monday. Meanwhile, Brooklyn went right back in the tank following Saturday's win in the Motor City, falling to the Knicks. Take Detroit (10*). |
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01-29-20 | Alabama v. LSU -4.5 | 76-90 | Win | 100 | 22 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on LSU minus the points over Alabama at 7 pm et on Wednesday. Alabama enters this SEC showdown having won four games in a row but only one of those victories came on the road, and that came at the expense of an 8-11 Vanderbilt squad. Note that the Crimson Tide's three road wins this season have come against three opponents that own a combined 22-40 overall record. Meanwhile, LSU has climbed back into the national rankings following a big road win at Texas. The Tigers haven't lost a game since falling by just two points at 16-4 USC back on December 21st. LSU has dropped two games at home this season but there was really no shame in either of those losses against 16-6 Utah State and 18-3 East Tennessee State. We got burned on a backdoor cover by Florida at LSU last week but that won't keep me from backing the Tigers again here as we're being asked to lay a very reasonable number. Take LSU (10*). |
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01-28-20 | Wizards v. Bucks -16 | 131-151 | Win | 100 | 9 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on Milwaukee minus the points over Washington at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday. NOTE: Giannis Antetokounmpo will not play in this game and as a result the line has dropped considerably. The 9* play on the Bucks stands at the current number. We're dealing with a steep pointspread with the Bucks here but just as we did a couple of weeks ago when they hosted the Knicks, we won't hesitate to go back to the well with Milwaukee in another smash spot on Wednesday night. The line would likely be even higher were it not for the fact that Milwaukee is returning home following last Friday's tilt in Paris. The Wizards are coming off an embarrassing beatdown at the hands of the lowly Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Only the Blazers have been worse in terms of defensive rating over their last five games. While Washington does rank 12th in offensive rating over that same stretch, it is going to have a tough time keeping pace with Milwaukee in this one. Note that the Bucks sit atop the Association in defensive rating over their last five contests. They also hold top spot in pace rating over that time frame. This is a 'name your score' type of game for the Bucks and I expect a lopsided result. Take Milwaukee (9*). |
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01-28-20 | Hawks v. Raptors UNDER 233 | 114-130 | Loss | -113 | 10 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Atlanta and Toronto at 7:35 pm et on Tuesday. We're dealing with an extremely high total here when you consider the Raptors are locked in defensively right now, ranking sixth in the league in defensive rating over their last five games. The Hawks are fresh off an emotional, predictably high-scoring win at home against the Wizards on Sunday but should find the going much tougher as they step up in class here on Tuesday night in Toronto. Despite that offensive explosion on Sunday, the Hawks still sit just 15th in the league in offensive rating over their last five contests. Take the under (10*). |
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01-28-20 | Syracuse v. Clemson -1.5 | 70-71 | Loss | -109 | 7 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on Clemson minus the points over Syracuse at 7 pm et on Tuesday. Clemson is coming off a blowout loss on Saturday, but that came on the road against 17-3 Louisville. The Tigers are 4-2 since the beginning of January with both of their losses coming on the road, the other at the hands of a quality 14-7 N.C. State squad. Syracuse has won five straight games here in January, including three in a row on the road. It's certainly worth noting that all three of those road wins could have gone either way. One came by way of overtime at Virginia and the other two by identical two-point margins against Virginia Tech and Pitt. The Orange could get caught looking ahead to a big showdown with Duke at home this coming Saturday. I simply feel that the motivation level will be very high for a Tigers squad that has been playing some pretty good basketball save for that egg laid at Louisville this past weekend. Take Clemson (10*). |
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01-27-20 | Kansas v. Oklahoma State +7.5 | 65-50 | Loss | -114 | 11 h 43 m | Show | |
My selection is on Oklahoma State plus the points over Kansas at 9 pm et on Monday. Despite having gone winless through its first six Big 12 games this season, Oklahoma State has to feel alright about its chances against undermanned Kansas on Monday night. The Cowboys gained some much-needed positive momentum with a win over Texas A&M, on the road no less, on Saturday. Kansas of course continues to play in the aftermath of last week's brawl with Kansas State, missing a number of key cogs entering Monday's matchup. The Jayhawks played just seven players in Saturday's narrow win (but non-cover) against Tennessee. I simply feel Oklahoma State is catching too many points in what should be a tightly-contested affair. Take Oklahoma State (10*). |
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01-27-20 | Cavs v. Pistons -6.5 | Top | 115-100 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 37 m | Show |
NBA Game of the Month. My selection is on Detroit minus the points over Cleveland at 7:05 pm et on Monday. This is the perfect storm to back the Pistons as they host the lowly Cavs on Monday night. Detroit has won two of three meetings with Cleveland this season, splitting the most recent two affairs with both of those games going down to the wire. I expect more of a lopsided contest here as the Pistons aim to bounce back from consecutive discouraging losses against the Grizzlies and Nets - both at home - on Friday and Saturday. Note that despite their recent struggles in the w/l column, Detroit actually checks in top 10 in the league in offensive rating and top nine in defensive rating over its last five contests. By contrast, Cleveland sits 24th and 25th respectively in those two categories. Most will want no part of laying points with the Pistons here off Saturday's frustrating overtime loss and non-cover against the Nets. I see this as an ideal bounce-back spot for Detroit laying a very reasonable number against one of the league's worst teams. Take Detroit (10*). |
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01-27-20 | North Carolina +5.5 v. NC State | Top | 75-65 | Win | 100 | 9 h 45 m | Show |
CBB ACC Game of the Month. My selection is on North Carolina plus the points over N.C. State at 7 pm et on Monday. A 94-point outburst in a rout of Miami on Saturday was just what the doctor ordered for North Carolina. That brought an end to the Tar Heels five-game losing streak to open 2020 and now I look for them to build off of that performance as they make the short trip to Raleigh to face in-state rival N.C. State on Monday. The Wolfpack saw their three-game winning streak come to an end in a 64-58 loss at Georgia Tech on Saturday - their second loss in as many games against the Yellow Jackets this season. While they have posted a 4-3 record here in January, that hasn't come easy with three of those four victories coming by six points or less. This is a big game for both teams but I actually think there's a little less pressure on the Tar Heels at this point as they've largely been forgotten thanks to their disappointing start to the ACC campaign. Take North Carolina (10*). |
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01-26-20 | Celtics v. Pelicans +1.5 | 108-123 | Win | 100 | 10 h 51 m | Show | |
My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Boston at 6:05 pm et on Sunday. The Pelicans have gone 0-2 since Zion Williamson made his debut earlier this week but I believe they'll have a good shot at getting back in the win column here against the streaking Celtics. Boston has won three games in a row but prior to that it had dropped six of its last eight contests. The Pelicans will certainly have revenge on their minds after suffering a 35-point beatdown at the hands of the Celtics back on January 11th. Note that prior to losing its last two games, New Orleans had won five of its last seven games. Take New Orleans (10*). |
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01-26-20 | Missouri State v. Drake -4.5 | 69-71 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 51 m | Show | |
My selection is on Drake minus the points over Missouri State at 4 pm et on Sunday. We won a big ticket with Missouri State recently but I won't hesitate to go the other way and fade the Bears as they hit the road to face Drake on Sunday. Missouri State is coming off back-to-back wins but those came against Evansville and Valpo, neither of which own a winning record on the season. Drake checks in sporting a solid 14-6 record and has yet to lose a game at home. Off a disappointing split on a two-game road set at Southern Illinois and Evansville I do expect the Bulldogs to get up for this one. Take Drake (10*). |
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01-25-20 | Nets v. Pistons +2 | 121-111 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 44 m | Show | |
My selection is on Detroit minus the points over Brooklyn at 7:05 pm et on Saturday. I simply feel that the wrong team is favored in this matchup as the Pistons have been playing some pretty good basketball lately and should be up for the challenge against Kyrie Irving and the Nets on Saturday. Detroit ranks an impressive sixth in both offensive and defensive rating over its last five games while Brooklyn checks in 28th and 23rd in those two categories respectively over the same stretch. While the Nets have undoubtedly faced a tougher schedule than the Pistons over their last five contests and Irving has been injured, the fact is, this has been a disappointing campaign for 18-25 Brooklyn. Coming off a 125-112 loss at home against the Grizzlies, motivation should be high for the Pistons here. They beat the Nets as a four-point underdog here at home back on November 2nd. Brooklyn will be desperate to snap a five-game skid but it hasn't won on the road since way back on December 17th in New Orleans. Take Detroit (10*). |
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01-25-20 | Southern Illinois v. Illinois State -1.5 | Top | 58-55 | Loss | -117 | 6 h 14 m | Show |
CBB Game of the Week. My selection is on Illinois State minus the points over Southern Illinois at 3 pm et on Saturday. I really like the way this one sets up for the Redbirds as they aim to snap a six-game skid here in what has been a winless January so far. Keep in mind, their schedule has been tough. Four of those six games came on the road and not a single one of those setbacks came against a team that currently owns a losing record. They own three truly impressive wins here at home this season, coming against Belmont, Little Rock and Northern Iowa - three teams that own a combined 44-16 record. Southern Illinois checks in 4-2 this month but all four of those wins came at home. The Salukis have yet to win a road game this season going winless in eight tries. Off back-to-back impressive wins over Drake and Northern Iowa I expect them to suffer a letdown here. Take Illinois State (10*). |
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01-24-20 | Kings v. Bulls UNDER 219 | Top | 98-81 | Win | 100 | 11 h 6 m | Show |
NBA Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Sacramento and Chicago at 8:05 pm et on Friday. The Kings carry a reputation as being an up-tempo offensive team but that simply hasn't been the case, certainly of late. Sacramento ranks 19th in the league in pace rating over its last five games and 20th in offensive rating. Chicago has been even worse, sitting 23rd in offensive rating over that same stretch. It is worth noting that the Kings rank dead last in the league in defensive rating over their last five contests but that's certainly been baked into this total, and I'm just not sure Chicago is capable of taking advantage tonight. For their part, the Bulls sit in the top nine in defensive rating over that same time frame. Take the under (10*). |
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01-24-20 | Niagara v. Monmouth -7.5 | Top | 71-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 7 m | Show |
CBB Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Monmouth minus the points over Niagara at 7 pm et on Friday. Niagara enters this game off three straight wins but remains just 6-11 on the season. The Purple Eagles have won just two road games this season with those coming against teams that own a combined 12-20 record, not to mention the fact that the two wins came by a combined five points. Monmouth has gone a perfect 3-0 at home in MAAC play, winning each of those games by at least eight points. Despite the fact that the Hawks have gone 4-2 here in January, they should realize the importance of this contest with three of their next four games coming on the road, where they've gone 3-6 this season. Take Monmouth (10*). |
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01-23-20 | Pepperdine v. Santa Clara -4 | Top | 90-86 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 4 m | Show |
CBB WCC Game of the Month. My selection is on Santa Clara minus the points over Pepperdine at 10 pm et on Thursday. I'll lay the points with the Broncos as they look to string together consecutive wins for the first time in January on Thursday night. Santa Clara managed to bounce back with an 84-80 win over a good Pacific team last time out, playing the second of back-to-back nights after getting blown out by a whopping 50 points against Gonzaga. It's certainly encouraging that the Broncos were able to put that beatdown in the rear-view mirror so quickly. Note that Santa Clara has yet to lose a game at home this season and should be able to keep that perfect record intact here. Pepperdine fell below the .500 mark with a hard-fought 78-69 loss to St. Mary's last Saturday. The Waves have gone 2-3 since the start of January with their two wins coming against teams that own a combined 15-25 record. You have to wonder if the Waves might be a little weary with each of their last five contests being decided by single-digit margins. The Broncos are still without star big man Guglielmo Caruso but have managed to score 80+ points in both home games without him here in January. Take Santa Clara (10*). |
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01-22-20 | Grizzlies +7 v. Celtics | 95-119 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on Memphis plus the points over Boston at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. The Celtics are coming off an epic beatdown of the Lakers on Monday night but I believe that only serves to leave them overvalued as they host the Grizzlies on Wednesday. Memphis checks in ranking sixth in offensive rating, 14th in defensive rating and seventh in pace rating over its last five games. While the Celtics do rank fourth in offensive rating over that same stretch, they're a miserable 24th in defensive rating and a middling 12th in pace rating. I simply feel the Grizzlies will be able to keep up with the C's all night long on Wednesday. Take Memphis (10*). |
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01-22-20 | Massachusetts v. George Mason -6.5 | Top | 63-73 | Win | 100 | 9 h 16 m | Show |
CBB A-10 Game of the Month. My selection is on George Mason minus the points over UMass at 7 pm et on Wednesday. George Mason checks in having lost three games in a row on its home floor but keep in mind, those three losses came against VCU, St. Bonaventure and Richmond, three teams that own a combined 40-15 record this season. Here, they'll be stepping down in class against 7-11 UMass, which has lost three games in a row - all by double-digit margins. In fact, since the start of December, the Minutemen have won just three games and those wins came against teams that own a combined 24-30 record. Their only road win this season came against MAAC squad Fairfield, which owns a losing record on the season. Take George Mason (10*). |
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01-21-20 | Florida v. LSU -2.5 | 82-84 | Loss | -109 | 9 h 3 m | Show | |
My selection is on LSU minus the points over Florida at 7 pm et on Tuesday. I'm comfortable laying a short number with the Tigers here as they face a tough challenge in the Florida Gators on Tuesday night. LSU has dropped just four of 16 games this season and there was no shame in any of those defeats. Some will point to the double-digit home loss to East Tennessee State back on December 18th as a bad loss but ETSU has gone 17-3 this season and is no pushover. The Tigers have gone 5-0 since the turn of the new year with the last four victories all coming by four points or less. That only serves to give us a reasonable number to work with here, however. The Gators are coming off back-to-back blowout wins over Mississippi State and Auburn but both of those wins came at home. They've split two SEC road games, beating a middle of the road South Carolina squad and getting blown out by Missouri. Take LSU (10*). |
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01-20-20 | Oklahoma +10 v. Baylor | 57-61 | Win | 100 | 11 h 6 m | Show | |
My selection is on Oklahoma plus the points over Baylor at 9 pm et on Monday. The Sooners will face a tough test on the Big 12 road on Monday night as they head to the Ferrell Center to face 15-1 Baylor. I do think Oklahoma can hang in this matchup. There's been no shame in any of Oklahoma's five losses this season with those coming against Stanford, Wichita State, Creighton, Iowa State and Kansas. On Saturday we saw the Sooners deliver a blowout win at home against a quality TCU squad that had lost just four of 16 games heading in. Baylor hasn't lost a game since falling by three points against Washington way back on November 8th. There aren't many flaws in the Bears' game. I simply believe they're laying too many points against a scrappy Sooners squad here on Monday night. Take Oklahoma (10*). |
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01-20-20 | Thunder v. Rockets -6.5 | 112-107 | Loss | -102 | 8 h 15 m | Show | |
My selection is on Houston minus the points over Oklahoma City at 5:05 pm et on Monday. We won with the Thunder on Saturday night but I won't hesitate to switch gears and fade them as they hit the road to face the Rockets on Monday afternoon in Houston. Note that the Thunder rank a miserable 26th in defensive rating over their last five games and will be hard-pressed to slow a Rockets offense that ranks third in the league in pace rating over their last five contests. Having dropped four games over that stretch, Houston will undoubtedly be highly-motivated to get back on track here and won't take the upstart Thunder lightly. I had this pointspread pegged a couple of points steeper, so I'll gladly back Houston at a discount here. Take Houston (10*). |
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01-19-20 | Packers +8 v. 49ers | 20-37 | Loss | -107 | 8 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Green Bay plus the points over San Francisco at 6:40 pm et on Sunday. Few are giving the Packers much of a chance here but I will. Green Bay got routed by San Francisco in its regular season meeting but I expect a much stronger performance from the Packers here. I find it a big surprising that the 49ers are actually laying more points in this matchup - a tougher one in my opinion - than they were against the Vikings last week. The Seahawks were a popular pick last week and the Packers managed to outlast them. Don't be surprised if we see a similar story unfold here as QB Aaron Rodgers writes another chapter in his storied career with a big performance against the Niners. Take Green Bay (10*). |
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01-19-20 | Titans v. Chiefs OVER 52.5 | Top | 24-35 | Win | 100 | 53 h 40 m | Show |
NFL Playoff Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Tennessee and Kansas City at 3:05 pm et on Sunday. Even after the Chiefs were involved in an 82-point game against Houston last week, I don't believe the oddsmakers have set the total high enough in this weekend's showdown with upstart Tennessee. RB Derrick Henry will get his for the Titans against a Chiefs defense you can certainly run on, particularly if run-stuffing DT Chris Jones can't go, as expected to be the case. But I don't believe nearly enough people are giving QB Ryan Tannehill any shot at keeping up with Pat Mahomes should this turn into a shootout. I'm actually confidence that Tannehill, who has been one of the league's most efficient passers down the stretch this season, can consistently move the football through the air, and come up with a handful of explosive plays should the Chiefs elect to sell out to slow down Henry. On the flip side, Tennessee doesn't generate nearly enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks to give it any hope that it can contain Mahomes in this one. As we saw in last week's game, albeit against an inferior defense, this Chiefs offense is capable of putting points on the board in a hurry. If the Titans come into this game thinking they can turn it into a slugfest, I think they will be sorely mistaken. I'm anticipating a shootout, just as we saw in the first matchup between these two teams this season. Take the over (10*). |
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01-18-20 | Blazers v. Thunder -4.5 | 106-119 | Win | 100 | 13 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on Oklahoma City minus the points over Portland at 9:05 pm et on Saturday. I'll lay the points with the Thunder on Saturday night as they look to bounce back following consecutive losses here at home. Portland is in a tough scheduling spot here, playing for the third time in four nights on the road, splitting the previous two including an upset win in Houston and a tough battle in Dallas last night. Despite dropping their last two games, the Thunder still rank ninth in the NBA in offensive rating over their last five games. By contrast, the Blazers sit 19th in that category over the same stretch. While Oklahoma City has struggled defensively, it still ranks two spots ahead of Portland in terms of defensive rating over its last five contests. Take Oklahoma City (10*). |
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01-18-20 | Old Dominion v. Marshall -4 | 67-68 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Marshall minus the points over Old Dominion at 7 pm et on Saturday. I'll lay the points with Marshall on Saturday night. We missed the mark with the Thundering Herd last time out as they dropped a narrow two-point decision against Charlotte. For the same reasons we backed the Herd in that one, we'll go back to the well here as they face 6-11 Old Dominion. The Monarchs haven't posted a road win since back on November 16th at Northeastern. They've posted just three wins overall since then with those victories coming against three opponents that own a combined 17-37 overall record. This is a big motivational spot for Marshall at home and I look for it to bounce back strong. Take Marshall (10*). |
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01-18-20 | The Citadel v. VMI -3 | Top | 79-88 | Win | 100 | 5 h 26 m | Show |
CBB Southern Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on VMI minus the points over Citadel at 1 pm et on Saturday. We faded VMI earlier this week as it fell by double-digits on the road against a highly-motivated Mercer squad. I won't hesitate to switch gears and back the Keydets as they return home to face Citadel on Saturday, however. VMI checks in having lost seven straight games but winnable contests have been few and far between over that stretch. The fact is the Keydets were competitive in each of their last two games away from home, including a narrow six-point loss against 16-3 East Tennessee State. Citadel has lost five games in a row with its last victory coming against 6-12 Longwood and the Bulldogs needed three overtimes to secure that win. They own just three wins against Division I opponents this season. Take VMI (10*). |
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01-17-20 | Cavs v. Grizzlies -8 | 109-113 | Loss | -107 | 13 h 13 m | Show | |
My selection is on Memphis minus the points over Cleveland at 8:05 pm et on Friday. I'll lay the points with the upstart Grizzlies on Friday night as they host the lowly Cavs. Cleveland did open its current road trip with consecutive wins in Detroit and Denver but it's been all downhill from there as it checks in off back-to-back blowout losses against the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles. Memphis ranks 4th and 9th in offensive and defensive rating respectively over its last five games, not to mention 6th in pace rating. Meanwhile, the Cavs have settled back into their woeful ways, sitting 21st in offensive rating, 29th in defensive rating and 25th in pace rating over that same time frame. Take Memphis (10*). |
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01-17-20 | Siena v. Canisius +1.5 | 63-73 | Win | 100 | 12 h 20 m | Show | |
My selection is on Canisius plus the points over Siena at 7 pm et on Friday. I'll back the Golden Griffins on Friday night as I believe they have plenty of upside despite their disappointing 6-10 overall record. We saw Canisius come up with a hard-fought 72-68 win at St. Peter's last time out. While it did drop its first two games at home this month, those games could have gone either way with the losses each coming by four-point margins. Tonight's opponent, Siena, checks in sporting a 7-7 record but has yet to win a game away from home this season. The Saints have won a couple of conference games at home here in January, but both of those games could have gone either way as well with a three-point margin of victory. Take Canisius (10*). |
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01-16-20 | Jazz v. Pelicans +5 | 132-138 | Win | 100 | 10 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Utah at 8:05 pm et on Thursday. The Jazz are red hot right now, winners of 10 games in a row. I do expect them to face a stiff challenge in New Orleans on Thursday night, however. While the Jazz are on top of the league rankings in offensive rating over their last 10 games, the Pelicans also find themselves inside the top 10 in that category. While New Orleans sits inside the top 10 in pace rating as well, Utah is in 21st over its last five contests. I simply like the way the Pelicans are playing right now and certainly feel they'll be up for this showdown at home. Take New Orleans (10*). |
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01-16-20 | Charlotte v. Marshall -5.5 | 77-75 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on Marshall minus the points over Charlotte at 7 pm et on Thursday. I'll lay the points with Marshall in this spot. Charlotte has yet to lose a game in January, going a perfect 3-0. Only one of those wins was of the impressive variety, however. That coming at home against UAB on January 2nd. Note that the 49ers have won just once in five tries on the road this season and that came against 5-14 NC-Wilmington. Marshall has split four games so far this month. Keep in mind, both of the Thundering Herd's losses came against winning opposition including an 11-point setback at aforementioned UAB last time out. Look for them to get back on track here. Take Marshall (10*). |
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01-15-20 | Magic v. Lakers UNDER 211.5 | 119-118 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Orlando and Los Angeles at 10:35 pm et on Wednesday. I'll back the 'under' at Staples Center on Wednesday night, noting that these two teams combined to score just 183 total points in their last meeting back in December. The Lakers are tops in the league in defensive rating over their last five games while the Magic aren't far behind sitting in third spot. On the flip side, the Lakers rank an impressive second in offensive rating over that same stretch but keep in mind, three of their last five contests came against three of the league's worst defensive teams in the Pistons, Wizards and Cavaliers. The Magic check in 17th in offensive rating over their last five games. Neither team has been really pushing the pace lately with the Lakers sitting 14th and the Magic 19th over their last five. Take the under (10*). |
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01-15-20 | Blazers v. Rockets -7.5 | 117-107 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Houston minus the points over Portland at 9:35 pm et on Wednesday. The Rockets are banged up and playing the second of back-to-back nights so it's understandable that they're laying a relatively short number against the Blazers on Wednesday. I believe the line will prove too short. Note that Houston ranks just outside the top 10 in offensive rating over its last five games, sitting in 11th. The Rockets somewhat surprisingly (to some) find themselves in 10th in defensive rating over that same stretch and an even more impressive third in pace rating. Meanwhile, the Blazers have struggled in all three of those departments, ranking 19th, 24th and 18th respectively over that same time frame. There's no shame in the Rockets loss against a steadily improving Grizzlies squad on the road last night. Expect a solid bounce-back performance here. Take Houston (10*). |
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01-15-20 | Bradley v. Missouri State -1.5 | Top | 91-78 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 35 m | Show |
CBB MVC Game of the Month. My selection is on Missouri State minus the points over Bradley at 8 pm et on Wednesday. This is a tremendous bounce-back spot for Missouri State on its home floor against Bradley on Wednesday night. The Bears are coming off an 80-57 beatdown at the hands of Northern Iowa on Saturday but keep in mind, the Panthers are among the class of the MVC and own a 14-2 record this season. Prior to that, the Bears had won two of three in MVC play since New Year's Even with their lone loss coming by just four points on the road against a quality 11-6 Loyola-Chicago team. Bradley is fresh off back-to-back blowout wins but could be caught looking ahead to a revenge date with Northern Iowa at home this coming Saturday. Bradley's lone road victory this season came against Evansville - a team that has gone winless in MVC play this season. Take Missouri State (10*). |
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01-15-20 | VMI v. Mercer -6 | 62-73 | Win | 100 | 11 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on Mercer minus the points over VMI at 7 pm et on Wednesday. Mercer has yet to win a game in 2020, dropping three straight games to open the calendar year. Keep in mind, the Bears last three games have come against teams that own a combined 36-14 overall record. VMI checks in having dropped six games in a row. The Keydets have yet to post a victory on the road this season. Note that three of VMI's five wins this season have come against non-Division I opponents. This is the first of two meetings between these two teams this month. Look for the Bears to take round one on Wednesday. Take Mercer (10*). |
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01-14-20 | Missouri v. Mississippi State -3.5 | Top | 45-72 | Win | 100 | 12 h 15 m | Show |
CBB SEC Game of the Month. My selection is on Mississippi State minus the points over Missouri at 9 pm et on Tuesday. This is a great spot to fade Missouri off its big blowout win at home against Florida on Saturday. Now the Tigers hit the road where they have posted just one victory this season, that coming against an uneven Temple squad that just got blown out at home against Tulane on the weekend. There's no shame in Mississippi State's current three-game losing streak as those three losses came against SEC opponents that have combined to go 34-11 this season, Auburn, Alabama and LSU - with the most recent two setbacks coming on the road. This is a big motivational spot for the Bulldogs as they aim to make up some ground in the SEC in a tough but winnable game at home. Take Mississippi State (10*). |
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01-14-20 | Knicks v. Bucks -16.5 | 102-128 | Win | 100 | 10 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on Milwaukee minus the points over New York at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday. We're dealing with an extremely high pointspread here in favor of the Bucks but it's warranted in my opinion. New York continues to struggle and checks in last in the league in defensive rating over its last five contests, and the scary thing is, it's not really all that close. The Knicks won't have a hope of slowing down a Bucks squad that sits second in the NBA in pace rating over their last five contests. New York hasn't shied away from playing an up-tempo style lately and I think that backfires here as the Bucks should be able to name their score and will be happy to be back home following a western road trip. Take Milwaukee (10*). |
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01-13-20 | Magic v. Kings -1.5 | 114-112 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sacramento minus the points over Orlando at 10:05 pm et on Monday. This is a great bounce-back spot for the Kings coming off what looked on paper like a blowout loss to the Bucks at home. That game was closer than the final score indicated and we should see a highly-motivated Sacramento squad in rebound mode here on Monday. The Magic battled hard but ultimately fell short in Phoenix on Friday (we won with the Suns in that game). Orlando has now dropped five of its last six games on the road and could get caught looking ahead to a trip to Los Angeles for back-to-back games against the Lakers and Clippers beginning on Wednesday night. Take Sacramento (10*). |
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01-13-20 | Coppin State v. Florida A&M -3.5 | Top | 54-65 | Win | 100 | 9 h 20 m | Show |
CBB MEAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Florida A&M minus the points over Coppin State at 8 pm et on Monday. Not all 3-11 teams are created equal and in this case, I believe Florida A&M is a much better team than its record indicates. The Rattlers faced an absolutely brutal non-conference schedule to open the season, playing just one home game between the start of the season and the second week of January, and that home date came against 14-5 Pacific. We've seen the Rattlers find some success lately, most recently prevailing by a 77-68 score against a quality Morgan State squad on Saturday. Here, they catch a Coppin State team that hasn't won a game since December 3rd, that coming on the road against 8-8 East Carolina. The Eagles have played well on occasion but here I simply feel they're in the wrong place at the wrong time against a highly-motivated Florida A&M squad. Take Florida A&M (10*). |
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01-13-20 | Clemson +6.5 v. LSU | Top | 25-42 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 22 m | Show |
CFB Game of the Month. My selection is on Clemson plus the points over LSU at 8 pm et on Monday. If you've followed my plays regularly, you know that I've been high on Clemson all season, and particularly down the stretch. The Tigers have reeled off five straight ATS wins entering this game and I'm confident they can go toe-to-toe with mighty Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers on Monday night. LSU has looked simply unstoppable, destroying Georgia in the SEC Championship Game before crushing an overmatched Oklahoma squad in the CFP semi-final. This will certainly be the Tigers toughest test since facing Alabama on November 9th, however - a game they won by five points. This one has all the makings of a classic showdown. I'll grab all the points I can get with Dabo Swinney's Tigers. Take Clemson (10*). |
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01-12-20 | Seahawks +4.5 v. Packers | 23-28 | Loss | -110 | 22 h 38 m | Show | |
My selection is on Seattle plus the points over Green Bay at 6:40 pm et on Sunday. I'll grab the points with the Seahawks in this one as I'm anticipating a tightly-contested affair between these familiar NFC foes. Seattle checked all the boxes in last week's mild upset win in Philadelphia and should be well-positioned to continue its march toward the Super Bowl on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. RB Marshawn Lynch is only going to get stronger and more comfortable in the Seahawks offense with each passing week. QB Russell Wilson hit a bit of a slump late in the regular season but certainly showed signs of turning things around against the Eagles last week. The Packers earned a first round bye but I'm honestly not sure how good this team actually is. I do like their pass rush and WR DaVante Adams is obviously a beast, but outside of that the jury is out. Can QB Aaron Rodgers regain past form? That remains to be seen. I would rather have my money on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on Sunday. Take Seattle (10*). |
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01-12-20 | Hawks +7.5 v. Nets | 86-108 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on Atlanta plus the points over Brooklyn at 6:05 pm et on Sunday. The Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak with a win over the Heat on Friday night but that only serves to leave them overvalued as they host the lowly Hawks on Sunday. There really hasn't been much separating these two teams lately. The Nets actually rank a miserable 29th in the league in offensive rating over their last five games. There's reason to believe they could have a tough time keeping up with Atlanta, which ranks top 10 in pace rating over that same time frame. Brooklyn sits in the bottom half of the league in that department over its last five contests. With only eight wins on the season it's been mostly doom and gloom for the Hawks but they have to feel like this is a rare winnable game away from home. Take Atlanta (10*). |
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01-12-20 | Texans v. Chiefs -9.5 | Top | 31-51 | Win | 100 | 18 h 10 m | Show |
NFL Divisional Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Kansas City minus the points over Houston at 3:05 pm et on Sunday. Houston caught an extremely favorable draw last week as it hosted the Bills and ultimately needed everything in its bag of tricks to pull out an overtime victory. Now the Texans have to travel to face the rested Chiefs, who will have revenge on their minds after suffering a somewhat shocking loss against Houston right here at Arrowhead earlier this season. The Chiefs are a different team now than they were then. First of all, they have a defense. Second, Patrick Mahomes is healthy and has his full compliment of weapons at his disposal. The Texans defense doesn't match up well at all with the Chiefs multi-dimensional offensive attack. On the flip side, I fully expect to see Kansas City do a good job of keeping Texans QB DeShaun Watson in the pocket. Unlike the Titans, who came out and stunned the Ravens early in last night's game, the Texans offense will have a tough time getting off the ground here. This one has blowout potential. Take Kansas City (10*). |
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01-12-20 | Rider -7.5 v. Marist | 69-52 | Win | 100 | 5 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on Rider minus the points over Marist at 2 pm et on Sunday. I believe this game has blowout potential as Rider travels to face Marist on Sunday afternoon. The Broncs are coming off back-to-back losses in MAAC play but neither of those setbacks were of the demoralizing variety as they came against Quinnipiac and Iona. If anything, those losses should motivate them to put their best foot forward against a very beatable Marist squad here. The Red Foxes have won just twice in 13 games this season and those came against 5-13 VMI and 6-9 Fairfield. They were actually double-digit underdogs against Fairfield last time out so I believe we're getting a bit of a discount here with what I would consider to be a stronger Rider team. The Broncs have already defeated the Red Foxes once this season, taking an 84-74 decision back in December. Take Rider (10*). |
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01-11-20 | 76ers v. Mavs -2 | 91-109 | Win | 100 | 11 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Philadelphia at 8:35 pm et on Saturday. The Mavs are coming off another tough loss last night, this one coming at the hands of the Lakers. I do expect Dallas to bounce back on Saturday, however, as it hosts Philadelphia. Despite struggling to find the win column, the Mavs still rank sixth in the NBA in offensive rating over their last five games. While their defensive play has left a lot to be desired, ranking a miserable 27th over that stretch, Philadelphia hasn't been much better, also finding itself in the bottom-10 over that time frame. Both teams are missing key cogs right now with Joel Embiid sidelined for the 76ers and Kristaps Porzingis out for Dallas. I'll lay the short number with the home side. Take Dallas (10*). |
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01-11-20 | Titans v. Ravens -9.5 | 28-12 | Loss | -109 | 58 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over Tennessee at 8:15 pm et on Saturday. I'll gladly lay the points with the Ravens on Saturday night as they begin what they hope will be a Super Bowl run against the Titans in Baltimore. This is an ideal spot to fade the Titans as the betting public is high on them following their stunning upset over the might Patriots in Foxborough last Saturday. I don't believe Tennessee is as good as it looked in that victory over New England. Let's face it, the Pats were a mess down the stretch and nothing changed at all in the Wild Card round. Here, the Titans will face a much tougher challenge, playing on the road for a third consecutive week off back-to-back victories in 'must-win' games. The Ravens weaknesses are few and far between. I don't need to tell you that QB Lamar Jackson is in line for another huge performance on Saturday night. I do think we'll see the Ravens defense move to the forefront after this game as well as they should absolutely dominate Titans QB Ryan Tannehill. RB Derrick Henry will get his but it won't be enough to keep the Titans within arm's reach of the AFC's number one seed. Take Baltimore (10*). |
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01-11-20 | Vikings v. 49ers OVER 44 | Top | 10-27 | Loss | -106 | 54 h 59 m | Show |
NFL Divisional Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and San Francisco at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. This one sets up perfectly as we're dealing with a relatively low total based on all four games last week staying 'under' the total and the fact that the 49ers reputation as a 'defense first' team preceeds them. That's not to mention the notion that the Vikings offense can only go as far as QB Kirk Cousins takes them and the belief that he's in line for a bad game after holding his own in New Orleans last week. I believe the potential is there for a shootout in Santa Clara as the Divisional Round kicks off on Saturday afternoon. The 49ers offense doesn't get nearly enough respect. This is one of the most creative offenses in the NFL today and with extra time to prepare I fully expect Kyle Shanahan's squad to pull out all the stops against a very beatable Vikings defense on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Vikings are riding high after playing a near-perfect road game in New Orleans last Sunday. I'm not a Kirk Cousins doubter. I'm confident we'll see him turn in another strong performance here with all of his weapons likely at his disposal with WR Adam Thielen expected to be good to go. The common narrative is that the 49ers defense is healthy now and poised to dominate the Vikings, but I'm not convinced it will play out that way on the field. Take the over (10*). |
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01-11-20 | Vikings +7 v. 49ers | 10-27 | Loss | -102 | 54 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over San Francisco at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. We won with the Vikings in last week's stunning upset of the Saints in New Orleans and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here as they head to the west coast to face the 49ers. I'm not sure we saw Minnesota's best game at the Superdome last Sunday but it still managed to pull out an overtime win. The overriding narrative here is that the 49ers defense will manhandle the Vikings Kirk Cousins-led offense. I'm just not convinced that will be the case. Yes, the Vikes haven't been as good on the road, and certainly not outdoors. But I believe this is a team with a big chip on their shoulder and that underdog mentality will serve them well again here. The 49ers have enjoyed a terrific season but are largely green when it comes to the postseason. I don't consider Levi's Stadium to be an intimidating venue for the opposition by any means. Give me all the points I can get with the Vikes here. Take Minnesota (10*). |
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01-11-20 | Clemson v. North Carolina -4.5 | 79-76 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on North Carolina minus the points over Clemson at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. This is a perfect bounce-back spot for the Tar Heels at home - where they have shockingly dropped consecutive games against the likes of Pitt and Georgia Tech. Clemson is not a good team - we learned that the hard way in a disappointing result in a huge motivational spot at home against Miami a week-and-a-half ago. Look for North Carolina to take the opportunity to flex its muscle in the midst of a down season against a very beatable opponent on Saturday afternoon. Take North Carolina (10*). |
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01-10-20 | Magic v. Suns -3 | 94-98 | Win | 100 | 9 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on Phoenix minus the points over Orlando at 9:05 pm et on Friday. We're getting a terrific number with the Suns here considering they were a 6.5-point favorite against the Kings last time out (we won with Sacramento in that game). The Magic have won three of their last four games but all four of those were played at home. They own five road wins this season but those have come against the Cavs (twice), Pelicans and Wizards (twice). This is the start of a long six-game road trip for Orlando. Playing on two days' rest and having not traveled since New Year's Day, I like this spot for the Suns. Take Phoenix (10*). |
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01-10-20 | Wright State -10 v. IUPU-Indianapolis | Top | 84-70 | Win | 100 | 9 h 7 m | Show |
CBB Horizon League Game of the Month. My selection is on Wright State minus the points over IUPUI at 7 pm et on Friday. Bettors may be a little hesitant to back Wright State coming off a narrow one-point win over 3-14 Detroit last time out. Keep in mind, just two games back the Raiders blew the doors off a better Oakland squad by a 96-69 score. In other words, take that result against Detroit with a grain of salt. Wright State is the vastly superior team in this matchup and IUPUI comes in having not faced a winning opponent since suffering a 10-point loss to 10-7 Youngstown State on December 28th. The Jaguars are just 2-4 at home against Division I opponents this season. Take Wright State (10*). |
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01-09-20 | Blazers v. Wolves +2 | 102-116 | Win | 100 | 11 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over Portland at 8:05 pm et on Thursday. The Trail Blazers are fresh off a come-from-behind win over the defending champion Raptors two nights ago but Toronto isn't the same team right now as it deals with a number of key injuries. Keep in mind, Portland has won just twice in its last eight games with the other victory coming against the 12-25 Wizards. Minnesota has been dealing with its share of injuries as well but does check in having gone 4-3 over its last seven games, including a 2-1 mark here at home. The T'Wolves battled hard but fell by a 119-112 score in Memphis two nights ago but are well-positioned to rebound in this spot. Minnesota has a number of key advantages in this matchup as it ranks tied for third in the league in pace, sixth in three-pointers made per game and seventh in rebounds per game. Portland finds itself outside the top 10 in all of those categories. Take Minnesota (10*). |
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01-09-20 | Louisiana Tech v. Texas-San Antonio +5.5 | Top | 73-89 | Win | 100 | 10 h 40 m | Show |
CBB C-USA Game of the Year. My selection is on Texas-San Antonio plus the points over Louisiana Tech at 7 pm et on Thursday. This is a fine spot to back the Roadrunners as they return home following a winless two-game road trip that included unsurprising losses against Florida Atlantic and Florida International, two teams that own a combined 21-9 record on the season. Keep in mind, prior to those losses, UTSA had won five of its last six games with its lone setback over that stretch coming against 11-3 Oregon State. Louisiana Tech hasn't lost a game since December 8th but hasn't exactly faced an exhausting schedule. Here, the Bulldogs will play just their second game in 2020 following a 28-point beatdown of lowly Southern Miss, which has won only four times in 15 tries this season. In fact, Louisiana Tech's last two wins have come against Southern Miss. The Bulldogs really haven't been tested since that loss to Sam Houston State back in early December. Their last four wins against division I opponents have featured teams that own a combined 16-30 record. Take Texas-San Antonio (10*). |
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01-08-20 | UNLV v. Boise State -6.5 | 66-73 | Win | 100 | 13 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on Boise State minus the points over UNLV at 9 pm et on Wednesday. This is a terrific bounce-back spot for Boise State at home after suffering a blowout loss against Nevada on Saturday. UNLV is 'fat and happy' following six straight games played at home and now hits the road where it owns just one win in four tries on the campaign. Boise State generally owns a tremendous edge on its home floor and I expect its dominance to continue here on Wednesday night. Take Boise State (10*). |
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01-08-20 | Jets v. Maple Leafs UNDER 6.5 | 4-3 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 32 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Toronto at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. The Leafs are coming off a high-scoring affair on Monday night against Edmonton, falling by a 6-4 score. I expect things to settle down on Wednesday, however, as Toronto hosts Winnipeg. The Jets are fresh off a 3-2 win in Montreal on Monday night. The Leafs and Jets just faced one another on January 2nd with Toronto winning by a 6-3 score. Each of their previous three meetings had totaled six goals or less, including two games here in Toronto totaling only four and five goals. While the Leafs do have a ton of offensive firepower, I don't think they want to get involved in another wild, high-scoring game here. Take the under (10*). |
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01-08-20 | Nuggets v. Mavs -3 | 107-106 | Loss | -106 | 11 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on Dallas minus the points over Denver at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. The Mavericks are still trying to find some consistency and round back into form with Luka Doncic back in the lineup and they took a step in the right direction with a 118-110 win over Chicago last time out. While they've still lost three of their last five games, two of those losses came against the Lakers and the red hot Thunder on the road and the other by way of overtime in a true flat spot at home against the Hornets. I don't think there's any question they'll be up for this matchup with the Nuggets. Note that Denver ranks dead last in the league in defensive rating over its last five games. The Nuggets have tried to make up for it at the offensive end of the floor, where they rank second in offensive rating over that same stretch but the Mavs have been rising in that department as well, ranking ninth over their last five contests. Take Dallas (10*). |
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01-07-20 | Kings +6.5 v. Suns | 114-103 | Win | 100 | 12 h 54 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sacramento plus the points over Phoenix at 9:05 pm et on Tuesday. I'll grab all the points I can get with the underdog Kings as they travel to face the Suns on Tuesday night. We suffered what could only be considered a bad beat fading the Suns on this floor last week against the Knicks but I won't hesitate to go back to the well here, noting that Phoenix has gone just 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games as a favorite. Kings are off a 2-2 homestand and need to build here before returning home for tough matchups with Milwaukee, Orlando and Dallas. Take Sacramento (10*). |
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01-07-20 | Miami-FL +13.5 v. Louisville | Top | 58-74 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 17 m | Show |
CBB ACC Game of the Month. My selection is on Miami plus the points over Louisville at 7 pm et on Tuesday. It's going to be very easy for Miami to get up for this matchup against the Cardinals in Louisville. Keep in mind, these two teams already met in their season opener this season with Louisville rolling to a 13-point victory. The Cardinals aren't exactly in top form right now, having dropped three of their last five games, albeit against tough opposition. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are fresh off a blowout loss at home against Duke following a perfect 5-0 December. We faded the Canes in a road date with Clemson last week and paid the price as Miami showed plenty of resolve in a come-from-behind victory. Here, I believe the price is right to back Miami in what should be a competitive affair. Take Miami (10*). |
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01-06-20 | Miami-OH v. UL-Lafayette UNDER 55.5 | 17-27 | Win | 100 | 11 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Miami-Ohio and Louisiana-Lafayette at 7:30 pm et on Monday. I'll back the 'under' on Monday night as the Redhawks and Ragin' Cajuns meet at the tail-end of Bowl season. Both teams will obviously be well-rested and well-prepared for this one having been idle for over a month. Miami-Ohio does not have an explosive offense by any means and will be best suited to turn this into a slugfest. That may be easier said than done as the Ragin' Cajuns do possess a high-octane offense. With that being said, we've seen the Redhawks rise to the occasion a number of times this season and I'm confident they can do so again here. Louisiana-Lafayette thrived against a number of punchless defenses in the Sun Belt over the course of the season but should find the sledding a little tougher here. Take the under (10*). |
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01-05-20 | Seahawks v. Eagles +1 | Top | 17-9 | Loss | -110 | 19 h 21 m | Show |
NFL Wild Card Game of the Year. My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Seattle at 4:40 pm et on Sunday. The Seahawks are clearly in desperation mode having signed RBs Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin prior to last week's narrow loss to the 49ers. While QB Russell Wilson always instills some level of confidence, the rest of the team does not. Seattle is banged-up on both sides of the football and now has to travel across the country to face an Eagles squad that has been surging despite all of their own injuries. Philadelphia's 'next man up' philosophy is nothing new. You of course will remember QB Nick Foles taking over for Carson Wentz and leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory just two years ago. We've seen guys like Boston Scott, Dallas Goedert and Greg Ward step up in a big way in recent weeks, and we should see more of the same here. The Eagles depleted secondary is certainly a concern but I'm not convinced the Seahawks offense can take advantage as Philadelphia's pass rush remains a strength and should have Wilson under duress all afternoon long. They'll be hard-pressed to advance beyond next weekend but I do look for the Eagles to secure a hard-fought victory here. Take Philadelphia (10*). |
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01-05-20 | Vikings v. Saints OVER 49.5 | Top | 26-20 | Loss | -104 | 16 h 8 m | Show |
NFL Wild Card Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and New Orleans at 1:05 pm et on Sunday. This is a shootout waiting to happen as far as I'm concerned and I fully expected to see the total set well into the 50's so we're getting value playing 'over' the current number. The Vikings will likely be in comeback mode for much of the afternoon on Sunday but that should serve their offense well, with QB Kirk Cousins comfortable slinging it around in a dome setting and WRs Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen set to take advantage of a beatable Saints pass defense. While New Orleans has held up well against the run this season, it will undoubtedly have its hands full with a now-healthy Dalvin Cook, who should be a workhorse for the Vikes on Sunday. I don't think Minnesota has much hope of slowing the Saints surging offense, which didn't take its foot off the gas one bit in Week 17. That performance should serve New Orleans well as it rolls into this eruption spot against the Vikings. RB Alvin Kamara re-emerged as a threat both on the ground and in the passing game down the stretch and he should see plenty of usage in this matchup as well. The Vikes don't have anyone that can cover WR Michael Thomas, who is well-positioned to turn in the best performance of any receiver on Wild Card Weekend. Take the over (10*). |
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01-05-20 | Vikings +8 v. Saints | 26-20 | Win | 100 | 16 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over New Orleans at 1:05 pm et on Sunday. No one is giving the Vikings much of a chance in this game but I actually expect a competitive affair. I'm confident Minnesota can move the football on this inconsistent Saints defense with its full compliment of offensive pieces rested and ready to go following what amounted to a bye in Week 17 with its playoff positioning already decided. On the flip side, I don't see this as an ideal situation for Saints QB Drew Brees - an early start afternoon matchup at the Superdome. I've never been all that high on Vikes QB Kirk Cousins but the stats don't like and he has always performed better in a dome setting, as is the case here. I'm not convinced the Saints will ever pull away in this contest, so I'll grab all the points I can get with the Vikings. Take Minnesota (10*). |
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01-04-20 | Titans v. Patriots UNDER 44.5 | 20-13 | Win | 100 | 22 h 10 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Tennessee and New England at 8:15 pm et on Saturday. This projects to be a low-scoring affair between the Titans and Patriots in Foxborough on Saturday night. We've actually won some money playing the 'over' in games involving the Titans this season but Mike Vrabel's squad is in a tough spot here. We know that Bill Bellichick will do everything he can to take away the Titans best offensive weapon, that being RB Derrick Henry. Of course, Tennessee also has emerging superstar WR A.J. Brown, but he should be handled by Pats CB Stephon Gilmore. Of course, New England's offense has seemingly gotten worse as the season has gone on. QB Tom Brady's elbow obviously isn't right, nor is WR Julian Edelman operating at 100%. I do think we'll see the Pats ground game and short passing game find some success in this matchup, but that should only lead to long, clock-churning scoring drives, helping our cause with the 'under'. Take the under (10*). |
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01-04-20 | Bills +3 v. Texans | 19-22 | Push | 0 | 19 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Houston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. I'm not too sure the Texans even belong in the playoffs, let alone hosting a game on Wild Card Weekend. DeShaun Watson essentially willed them to just enough wins this season to secure the division title in the AFC South. But we know the Texans have struggled in the playoffs before, and I expect a similar story to unfold here. The Bills bandwagon was all loaded up until they suffered a loss in front of a national audience two weeks ago. We actually won with the Patriots in that contest. Here, Buffalo finds itself in a far more favorable matchup. I don't think the Bills will have much trouble moving the football against a very beatable Texans defense - even as Houston welcomes DE J.J. Watt back to the fold. The Texans have struggled against the pass and struggled against the run this season, and the Bills can take advantage of both weaknesses with QB Josh Allen in line for a big performance. The real kicker here is that I expect to see Sean McDermott coach circles around Bill O'Brien. I'm not sure that advantage is being properly reflected in this pointspread. Take Buffalo (10*). |
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01-04-20 | Bills v. Texans UNDER 44 | 19-22 | Win | 100 | 18 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Buffalo and Houston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. I'll take a shot with the 'under' in the first of four NFL Wild Card matchups. I don't think anything is going to come easy for Texans QB DeShaun Watson in this game. The Bills defense has been vulnerable against the run at times, but I don't believe the Texans boast a strong enough ground game to really open up the offense here. The blueprint has already been laid out for slowing Watson - even the Bucs were able to keep him in check in a key late season matchup. On the flip side, the Bills offense doesn't have a particularly high ceiling. Even in games where Josh Allen has erupted, the Bills haven't always put up a boatload of points. I actually feel that both of these teams have a fairly low ceiling as far as point production goes in this contest, which obviously sets us up well with the 'under' as this total has crept up as the week has progressed. Take the under (10*). |
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01-03-20 | Knicks +6.5 v. Suns | 112-120 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York plus the points over Phoenix at 9:05 pm et on Friday. The Knicks are doing a couple of things really well right now, they're playing tough defense (fifth in the league in defensive rating last five games) and they're pushing the pace at every opportunity (sixth in pace rating L5). That sets them up well as they head to Phoenix to take on the struggling Suns. New York has actually split its last four matchups here in the desert. It's not as if Phoenix holds any sort of home court advantage, having won just seven times in 16 tries on this floor this season. Take New York (10*). |
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01-03-20 | St. Peter's v. Iona -7.5 | 75-74 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on Iona minus the points over St. Peter's at 7 pm et on Friday. I think there is more of a gap between these two MAAC squads than is being reflected in the pointspread. St. Peter's is off to a 3-6 start with its only wins coming against the likes of St. Francis-NY, Fairleigh Dickinson and LIU-Brooklyn. None of those opponents own winning records. Of course, neither does Friday's opponent, Iona, but I do think the Gaels have plenty of upside. Iona hasn't played a home game since the third week of November, going 1-3 over its last four road tilts that included tough stops at UConn, Princeton and Colorado. The Gaels have quite simply faced a brutal schedule to this point this season and will welcome the opportunity to get right in this conference matchup with the Peacocks. Take Iona (10*). |
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01-02-20 | South Alabama v. UL - Lafayette +3 | Top | 60-57 | Push | 0 | 11 h 48 m | Show |
CBB Sun Belt Game of the Month. My selection is on Louisiana-Lafayette plus the points over South Alabama at 8 pm et on Thursday. I love the way this one sets up for the Ragin' Cajuns as a home underdog in-conference. Louisiana-Lafayette has lost five games in a row heading into this one but that shouldn't come as a big surprise as all of those losses were against superior competition and only one result was a true blowout (against Louisiana Tech in Ruston). This is an excellent opportunity for the Ragin' Cajuns to get going with this Sun Belt matchup followed by a date with Troy on Saturday (both on their home floor). South Alabama is fresh off a blowout win, but that came against unheralded Mobile. The Jaguars are a middle of the pack team that I don't believe warrant being favored on the road in this one. Take Louisiana-Lafayette (10*). |
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01-02-20 | Hornets v. Cavs -2 | 109-106 | Loss | -104 | 11 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over Charlotte at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. The Hornets are really struggling right now and after cashing a fade of them two nights ago, I won't hesitate to go back to the well against them on Thursday. Charlotte checks in a miserable 27th in the league in both offensive and defensive rating over its last five games, not to mention the fact that it sits dead last in pace rating over that same stretch. Meanwhile, the Cavs have shown some signs of life, sitting around the middle of the pack in defensive rating and an impressive top-four (tied with the Bucks) in pace rating over their last five contests. Offensively, they're not going to blow the doors off of anyone but I do see this as a favorable matchup on their home floor. Take Cleveland (10*). |
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01-02-20 | Towson +6.5 v. College of Charleston | 69-81 | Loss | -108 | 10 h 2 m | Show | |
My selection is on Towson plus the points over Charleston at 7 pm et on Thursday. I like the value being offered with Towson here as it enters this game battle-tested and eager to bounce back off a tough home loss to Hofstra last time out. Meanwhile, Charleston rolls in off a season-high three straight wins and is certainly positioned for a letdown against a losing Tigers squad. Towson has faced a tough schedule to this point and has generally played competitive basketball. There's not a lot separating these two squads at all but we're being given a generous cushion with the Tigers due to the setting. Take Towson (10*). |
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01-02-20 | St. Joe's v. Richmond -12.5 | 52-84 | Win | 100 | 10 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on Richmond minus the points over St. Joseph's at 7 pm et on Thursday. This is a blowout waiting to happen as Richmond looks to bounce back from rare consecutive losses against struggling St. Joseph's. The Spiders mini-skid started with a shocking home loss to Radford before falling on the road against Alabama on December 29th. This is a terrific 'get right' spot for Richmond as it hosts 3-9 St. Joe's, which has had a miserable time when stepping up in class early this season. Meanwhile, the Spiders have certainly proven their ability to take care of business with a number of lopsided home wins to their credit. Take Richmond (10*). |
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01-02-20 | Boston College v. Cincinnati UNDER 55.5 | 6-38 | Win | 100 | 18 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Boston College and Cincinnati at 3 pm et on Thursday. I absolutely love the way this one sets up as a lower-scoring game than expected on Thursday afternoon. Boston College will be without elite NFL-ready RB A.J. Dillon in this one, severely hampering its offensive attack. Defensively, we saw the Eagles stiffen up down the stretch. Over their final three games they didn't allow a touchdown until the final five minutes of the first half against Florida State, held Notre Dame out of the end zone until the final three minutes of the first half, and didn't allow a Pitt touchdown until the third quarter. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder has impressed over the course of his Bearcat career but didn't enjoy a banner season in 2019, particularly down the stretch. Whether due to injury or otherwise, Ridder threw multiple touchdown passes just once in his last six games. He also threw for more than 200 yards only once over that stretch. While I do respect the Cincinnati offense, I don't expect to see it go off in this matchup. Take the under (10*). |
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01-01-20 | Suns v. Lakers OVER 226.5 | 107-117 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 59 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Phoenix and Los Angeles at 10:35 pm et on Wednesday. I'll back the 'over' at Staples Center on Wednesday night as both the Suns and Lakers seek their third straight victories. Note that Phoenix checks in sixth in offensive rating over its last five games. The Lakers on the other hand, do sit in the top half of the league in that category (14th) over the same stretch. In terms of defensive rating, the Suns rank a miserable 28th over their last five contests while the Lakers haven't been much better, sitting 22nd. Both teams have been middle of the pack in terms of pushing the pace lately, but that doesn't concern me all that much as I think both can be drawn into an up-and-down affair here. Take the over (10*). |
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01-01-20 | Baylor +5 v. Georgia | 14-26 | Loss | -109 | 24 h 26 m | Show | |
My selection is on Baylor plus the points over Georgia at 8:45 pm et on Wednesday. Baylor has suffered just two losses this season, both coming at the hands of Oklahoma by a combined 10 points. While Georgia certainly has championship pedigree and gets the edge almost by default coming out of the mighty SEC, I believe the Bulldogs will be in for a fight here. Of course, Georgia comes into this game seriously undermanned with a number of key cogs dealing with injuries. Even if the Bulldogs did have all hands on deck I suspect they would have a tough time against the Baylor defense. Georgia QB Jake Fromm didn't look like himself all season, struggling in key situations time after time. Baylor on the other hand seemed to answer the bell at all the key moments and all indications are that they'll have QB Charlie Brewer back after he suffered a concussion in the Big 12 Championship Game. Take Baylor (10*). |
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01-01-20 | Connecticut +2.5 v. Cincinnati | 51-67 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on Connecticut plus the points over Cincinnati at 7 pm et on Wednesday. I'll grab the points with the Huskies as they hit the road to face Cincinnati on Wednesday. Connecticut has reeled off three straight wins since it suffered a narrow three-point loss to Indiana back on December 10th. There's no question the Huskies have had this matchup circled since suffering that most recent loss, noting their last three victories all came at the hands of very beatable opponents. Cincinnati will certainly be up for this one as well as it is fresh off a seven-point setback on the road against Iowa. The Bearcats have actually dropped three of their last four games, cooling off considerably following a hot start to the season. I feel the underdog is the way to go in this showdown. Take Connecticut (10*). |
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01-01-20 | Fresno State +13 v. San Diego State | 52-61 | Win | 100 | 7 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Fresno State plus the points over San Diego State at 3 pm et on Wednesday. This line makes sense if you're only looking at these two teams' overall records as Fresno State has won just four times in 13 games while San Diego State checks in a perfect 13-0 on the campaign. But a deeper look shows that the Bulldogs have faced a tough schedule to this point, and have generally played competitive basketball. Note that in San Diego State's most recent game it rolled by 16 points but that was against lowly Cal Poly, which has gone 2-11 this season. I see this as a bit of a flat spot for the Aztecs as they get ready to square off with a top-flight Utah State squad on Saturday. Take Fresno State (10*). |
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01-01-20 | Minnesota v. Auburn OVER 53 | Top | 31-24 | Win | 100 | 17 h 52 m | Show |
CFB Bowl Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Auburn at 1 pm et on Wednesday. This game has shootout potential as the upstart Golden Gophers challenge SEC stalwarts Auburn in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Minnesota actually put up some solid defensive numbers during the regular season but was certainly buoyed by a schedule that boasted few offensive juggernauts. There is plenty of reason to be confident in the Golden Gophers offense, however. QB Tanner Morgan threw for at least one touchdown pass in all 12 games this season. While RB Rodney Smith cooled off down the stretch, there's no question the Gophers backfield is capable of busting out here. Auburn took on all comers during the regular season, culminating with a 48-45 win over Alabama on November 30th. QB Bo Nix had his ups and downs and didn't throw multiple touchdown passes in any of his last five games. I do think he can take advantage of a middle of the road Minnesota defense here, however. I've been high on Tigers RB JaTarvious Whitlow all season. He wasn't given a heavy workload but showed flashes of brilliance, most recently running for 114 yards on 16 carries against Alabama. Take the over (10*). |
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12-31-19 | Texas v. Utah OVER 54 | 38-10 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Texas and Utah at 7:30 pm et on Tuesday. I'm anticipating a back-and-forth shootout between the Longhorns and Utes in the Alamo Bowl on Tuesday night. Even though Texas stumbled down the stretch, losing two of its last three games, QB Sam Ehlinger kept rolling along, throwing for over 800 yards and five touchdowns over that stretch. His exploits should be on full display once again here, even against a stellar Utah defense. The Utes won't back down from a shootout. They got caught flat-footed in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon (we won with the Ducks in that game) but should be well prepared and well-suited to go toe-to-toe with the Longhorns. QB Tyler Huntley had just two games where he didn't throw a touchdown pass this season. RB Zack Moss had only four games where he didn't run for over 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in 10 of 12 games he appeared in. Take the over (10*). |
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12-31-19 | Nuggets v. Rockets OVER 220 | Top | 104-130 | Win | 100 | 10 h 18 m | Show |
NBA Western Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Denver and Houston at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday. This has the makings of a track meet as the Nuggets visit the Rockets on New Year's Eve. Denver ranks tops in the league in offensive rating over its last five games while Houston not surprisingly has impressed in that regard as well, sitting in seventh. Meanwhile, the Rockets are just 20th in defensive rating while the Nuggets have fallen off in that department as well, sitting 19th over the same time frame. We'll see a contrast in styles here with the Rockets always looking to push the pace, and currently ranking ninth in the league in pace rating over their last five contests while the Nuggets sit 25th. I'm anticipating a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair on Tuesday. Take the over (10*). |
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12-31-19 | Miami-FL v. Clemson -2.5 | 73-68 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 20 m | Show | |
My selection is on Clemson minus the points over Miami at 4 pm et on Tuesday. Miami comes into this matchup sporting the better overall record but I expect Clemson to rise to the occasion on its home floor on New Year's Eve. Miami hasn't lost a game in December, going a perfect 4-0. I see this as a bit of a flat spot for the Canes as they take the floor for the first time since December 21st and ahead of a big showdown at home against Duke on Saturday. Clemson has really cooled off following a strong start, dropping five of its last six games overall. It has faced a tough schedule over the last month, however, and even in its most recent loss - a 54-45 setback against Yale - there was no real cause for alarm as the Bulldogs are a solid Ivy League team that has gone 10-4 so far this season. This is a strong motivational spot for the Tigers in this ACC affair. Take Clemson (10*). |
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12-31-19 | Kansas State +3 v. Navy | 17-20 | Push | 0 | 8 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas State plus the points over Navy at 3:45 pm et on Tuesday. When we last saw Navy play it faced little resistance in a 31-7 rout of Army (we won with the under in that game). I expect a different story to unfold this time around, however. I'm confident that the Wildcats defense can keep the Midshipmen offense in check in this one, at least to some extent. On the flip side, while I'm not all that high on Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson, I do feel the Wildcats are a well-coached team and that the extra preparation time should result in a fine performance from their well-balanced offensive attack against a very beatable Navy defense. I'll grab all the points I can get with Kansas State here. Take Kansas State (10*). |
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Sean Murphy ALL Sports Picks
Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-05-20 | Pacers v. Raptors OVER 216 | 118-119 | Win | 100 | 12 h 27 m | Show | |
02-05-20 | Suns -3 v. Pistons | 108-116 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 9 m | Show | |
02-04-20 | Spurs v. Lakers -12 | 102-129 | Win | 100 | 13 h 37 m | Show | |
02-04-20 | Blazers v. Nuggets -4.5 | Top | 99-127 | Win | 100 | 14 h 4 m | Show |
02-04-20 | Predators v. Jets OVER 6.5 | 2-1 | Loss | -101 | 7 h 58 m | Show | |
02-04-20 | Tennessee v. Alabama -5.5 | 69-68 | Loss | -108 | 12 h 50 m | Show | |
02-03-20 | Baylor v. Kansas State +7 | Top | 73-67 | Win | 100 | 13 h 30 m | Show |
02-03-20 | Mavs v. Pacers -4.5 | 112-103 | Loss | -115 | 9 h 19 m | Show | |
02-02-20 | 49ers v. Chiefs -1 | Top | 20-31 | Win | 100 | 226 h 30 m | Show |
02-02-20 | 49ers v. Chiefs OVER 54 | 20-31 | Loss | -110 | 117 h 15 m | Show | |
02-02-20 | Marist v. Canisius -7 | 65-66 | Loss | -105 | 5 h 19 m | Show | |
02-01-20 | Jazz -5 v. Blazers | 107-124 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 30 m | Show | |
02-01-20 | Southern Illinois v. Drake -5 | Top | 79-72 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 29 m | Show |
02-01-20 | Wolves v. Clippers -9.5 | 106-118 | Win | 100 | 5 h 57 m | Show | |
01-31-20 | Blazers v. Lakers -11.5 | 127-119 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 59 m | Show | |
01-31-20 | Dartmouth v. Princeton -4.5 | Top | 44-66 | Win | 100 | 22 h 45 m | Show |
01-30-20 | Jazz +1.5 v. Nuggets | 100-106 | Loss | -105 | 16 h 53 m | Show | |
01-30-20 | Warriors v. Celtics -13.5 | 104-119 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show | |
01-30-20 | Raptors -10 v. Cavs | 115-109 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 18 m | Show | |
01-30-20 | Western Kentucky v. Florida Atlantic +3 | Top | 65-69 | Win | 100 | 22 h 30 m | Show |
01-29-20 | West Virginia v. Texas Tech -2.5 | Top | 81-89 | Win | 100 | 22 h 28 m | Show |
01-29-20 | Pistons +6 v. Nets | 115-125 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 29 m | Show | |
01-29-20 | Alabama v. LSU -4.5 | 76-90 | Win | 100 | 22 h 47 m | Show | |
01-28-20 | Wizards v. Bucks -16 | 131-151 | Win | 100 | 9 h 5 m | Show | |
01-28-20 | Hawks v. Raptors UNDER 233 | 114-130 | Loss | -113 | 10 h 24 m | Show | |
01-28-20 | Syracuse v. Clemson -1.5 | 70-71 | Loss | -109 | 7 h 23 m | Show | |
01-27-20 | Kansas v. Oklahoma State +7.5 | 65-50 | Loss | -114 | 11 h 43 m | Show | |
01-27-20 | Cavs v. Pistons -6.5 | Top | 115-100 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 37 m | Show |
01-27-20 | North Carolina +5.5 v. NC State | Top | 75-65 | Win | 100 | 9 h 45 m | Show |
01-26-20 | Celtics v. Pelicans +1.5 | 108-123 | Win | 100 | 10 h 51 m | Show | |
01-26-20 | Missouri State v. Drake -4.5 | 69-71 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 51 m | Show | |
01-25-20 | Nets v. Pistons +2 | 121-111 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 44 m | Show | |
01-25-20 | Southern Illinois v. Illinois State -1.5 | Top | 58-55 | Loss | -117 | 6 h 14 m | Show |
01-24-20 | Kings v. Bulls UNDER 219 | Top | 98-81 | Win | 100 | 11 h 6 m | Show |
01-24-20 | Niagara v. Monmouth -7.5 | Top | 71-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 7 m | Show |
01-23-20 | Pepperdine v. Santa Clara -4 | Top | 90-86 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 4 m | Show |
01-22-20 | Grizzlies +7 v. Celtics | 95-119 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 21 m | Show | |
01-22-20 | Massachusetts v. George Mason -6.5 | Top | 63-73 | Win | 100 | 9 h 16 m | Show |
01-21-20 | Florida v. LSU -2.5 | 82-84 | Loss | -109 | 9 h 3 m | Show | |
01-20-20 | Oklahoma +10 v. Baylor | 57-61 | Win | 100 | 11 h 6 m | Show | |
01-20-20 | Thunder v. Rockets -6.5 | 112-107 | Loss | -102 | 8 h 15 m | Show | |
01-19-20 | Packers +8 v. 49ers | 20-37 | Loss | -107 | 8 h 27 m | Show | |
01-19-20 | Titans v. Chiefs OVER 52.5 | Top | 24-35 | Win | 100 | 53 h 40 m | Show |
01-18-20 | Blazers v. Thunder -4.5 | 106-119 | Win | 100 | 13 h 8 m | Show | |
01-18-20 | Old Dominion v. Marshall -4 | 67-68 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 47 m | Show | |
01-18-20 | The Citadel v. VMI -3 | Top | 79-88 | Win | 100 | 5 h 26 m | Show |
01-17-20 | Cavs v. Grizzlies -8 | 109-113 | Loss | -107 | 13 h 13 m | Show | |
01-17-20 | Siena v. Canisius +1.5 | 63-73 | Win | 100 | 12 h 20 m | Show | |
01-16-20 | Jazz v. Pelicans +5 | 132-138 | Win | 100 | 10 h 45 m | Show | |
01-16-20 | Charlotte v. Marshall -5.5 | 77-75 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 7 m | Show | |
01-15-20 | Magic v. Lakers UNDER 211.5 | 119-118 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 34 m | Show | |
01-15-20 | Blazers v. Rockets -7.5 | 117-107 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 47 m | Show | |
01-15-20 | Bradley v. Missouri State -1.5 | Top | 91-78 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 35 m | Show |
01-15-20 | VMI v. Mercer -6 | 62-73 | Win | 100 | 11 h 42 m | Show | |
01-14-20 | Missouri v. Mississippi State -3.5 | Top | 45-72 | Win | 100 | 12 h 15 m | Show |
01-14-20 | Knicks v. Bucks -16.5 | 102-128 | Win | 100 | 10 h 58 m | Show | |
01-13-20 | Magic v. Kings -1.5 | 114-112 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 46 m | Show | |
01-13-20 | Coppin State v. Florida A&M -3.5 | Top | 54-65 | Win | 100 | 9 h 20 m | Show |
01-13-20 | Clemson +6.5 v. LSU | Top | 25-42 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 22 m | Show |
01-12-20 | Seahawks +4.5 v. Packers | 23-28 | Loss | -110 | 22 h 38 m | Show | |
01-12-20 | Hawks +7.5 v. Nets | 86-108 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 34 m | Show | |
01-12-20 | Texans v. Chiefs -9.5 | Top | 31-51 | Win | 100 | 18 h 10 m | Show |
01-12-20 | Rider -7.5 v. Marist | 69-52 | Win | 100 | 5 h 39 m | Show | |
01-11-20 | 76ers v. Mavs -2 | 91-109 | Win | 100 | 11 h 24 m | Show | |
01-11-20 | Titans v. Ravens -9.5 | 28-12 | Loss | -109 | 58 h 33 m | Show | |
01-11-20 | Vikings v. 49ers OVER 44 | Top | 10-27 | Loss | -106 | 54 h 59 m | Show |
01-11-20 | Vikings +7 v. 49ers | 10-27 | Loss | -102 | 54 h 45 m | Show | |
01-11-20 | Clemson v. North Carolina -4.5 | 79-76 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 39 m | Show | |
01-10-20 | Magic v. Suns -3 | 94-98 | Win | 100 | 9 h 42 m | Show | |
01-10-20 | Wright State -10 v. IUPU-Indianapolis | Top | 84-70 | Win | 100 | 9 h 7 m | Show |
01-09-20 | Blazers v. Wolves +2 | 102-116 | Win | 100 | 11 h 31 m | Show | |
01-09-20 | Louisiana Tech v. Texas-San Antonio +5.5 | Top | 73-89 | Win | 100 | 10 h 40 m | Show |
01-08-20 | UNLV v. Boise State -6.5 | 66-73 | Win | 100 | 13 h 17 m | Show | |
01-08-20 | Jets v. Maple Leafs UNDER 6.5 | 4-3 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 32 m | Show | |
01-08-20 | Nuggets v. Mavs -3 | 107-106 | Loss | -106 | 11 h 21 m | Show | |
01-07-20 | Kings +6.5 v. Suns | 114-103 | Win | 100 | 12 h 54 m | Show | |
01-07-20 | Miami-FL +13.5 v. Louisville | Top | 58-74 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 17 m | Show |
01-06-20 | Miami-OH v. UL-Lafayette UNDER 55.5 | 17-27 | Win | 100 | 11 h 33 m | Show | |
01-05-20 | Seahawks v. Eagles +1 | Top | 17-9 | Loss | -110 | 19 h 21 m | Show |
01-05-20 | Vikings v. Saints OVER 49.5 | Top | 26-20 | Loss | -104 | 16 h 8 m | Show |
01-05-20 | Vikings +8 v. Saints | 26-20 | Win | 100 | 16 h 34 m | Show | |
01-04-20 | Titans v. Patriots UNDER 44.5 | 20-13 | Win | 100 | 22 h 10 m | Show | |
01-04-20 | Bills +3 v. Texans | 19-22 | Push | 0 | 19 h 50 m | Show | |
01-04-20 | Bills v. Texans UNDER 44 | 19-22 | Win | 100 | 18 h 8 m | Show | |
01-03-20 | Knicks +6.5 v. Suns | 112-120 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 23 m | Show | |
01-03-20 | St. Peter's v. Iona -7.5 | 75-74 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 46 m | Show | |
01-02-20 | South Alabama v. UL - Lafayette +3 | Top | 60-57 | Push | 0 | 11 h 48 m | Show |
01-02-20 | Hornets v. Cavs -2 | 109-106 | Loss | -104 | 11 h 8 m | Show | |
01-02-20 | Towson +6.5 v. College of Charleston | 69-81 | Loss | -108 | 10 h 2 m | Show | |
01-02-20 | St. Joe's v. Richmond -12.5 | 52-84 | Win | 100 | 10 h 56 m | Show | |
01-02-20 | Boston College v. Cincinnati UNDER 55.5 | 6-38 | Win | 100 | 18 h 57 m | Show | |
01-01-20 | Suns v. Lakers OVER 226.5 | 107-117 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 59 m | Show | |
01-01-20 | Baylor +5 v. Georgia | 14-26 | Loss | -109 | 24 h 26 m | Show | |
01-01-20 | Connecticut +2.5 v. Cincinnati | 51-67 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 36 m | Show | |
01-01-20 | Fresno State +13 v. San Diego State | 52-61 | Win | 100 | 7 h 49 m | Show | |
01-01-20 | Minnesota v. Auburn OVER 53 | Top | 31-24 | Win | 100 | 17 h 52 m | Show |
12-31-19 | Texas v. Utah OVER 54 | 38-10 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 50 m | Show | |
12-31-19 | Nuggets v. Rockets OVER 220 | Top | 104-130 | Win | 100 | 10 h 18 m | Show |
12-31-19 | Miami-FL v. Clemson -2.5 | 73-68 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 20 m | Show | |
12-31-19 | Kansas State +3 v. Navy | 17-20 | Push | 0 | 8 h 31 m | Show |