Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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01-29-19 | Mississippi State v. Alabama -2 | Top | 79-83 | Win | 100 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Alabama at 8:30 ET. The Mississippi State Bulldogs (15-4 / 3-3 SEC) travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-7 / 3-3 SEC) tonight, as two of the three SEC teams at 3-3 meet. Miss St is ranked 22nd in the current AP poll and is coming off a 92-84 Home win over then-No. 15 Auburn. As for Alabama, the Tide stepped out of league play this past Saturday, losing 73-68 at Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Mississippi State entered last Saturday's home contest against Auburn off its worst offensive performance of the season in a 76-55 loss at Kentucky on Jan 22.. The Bulldogs had season-lows of 19 FGs made and a 31.1 shooting percentage (they made just 3-of-20 three-pointers). However, they bounced back from that result in fine fashion with a victory over Auburn on Saturday, by shooting 50.9 percent in their best offensive effort in SEC action. "We were playing as a team," senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon told reporters after tying his season high with 27 points. "I'm excited about that and I'm excited about the win." .Weatherspoon (17.3 & 5.6) leads the team in scoring and is joined in the backcourt by PG Peters (13.0 & 5.9 APG) and by his younger brother Nick (10.3). Starting up front are the 6-10 Holman I(11.4 & 7.6) and the 6-11 Ado (5.3 & 4.9). Coming off the bench are guard Carter (9.7) and the 6-10 Perry (7.3 & 5.9). Perry is a freshman and he posted his second career double-double in Saturday's win with 10 points and 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Senior guard Riley Norris hit all six of his shot attempts - four from beyond the arc - en route to a season-high 16 points and the Crimson Tide also shot 50.9 percent from the floor, but they had one basket in a span of over five minutes during a difficult stretch run (Alabama finished the game 5 of 17 on threes!). The Crimson Tide entered last weekend ranked second in the SEC in rebounding margin (plus-6.7), but the Bears beat them on the boards 35-31, including a 16-9 advantage on the offensive glass. Alabama has a seven-man rotation (all with 17-plus minutes per game), with six guards averaging between 6.4 and 13.9 PPG. Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads the team in scoring (13.9) and assists (2.8). the team's lone big man of note is 6-9 senior forward Donta Hall (11.3 PPG), who ranks third in the SEC in both rebounding (8.9) and field-goal percentage (61.2). Miss State head coach Ben Howland called Saturday's victory "a really big-time win for us when you look at our drive to try to get to the NCAA Tournament this year." He's hoping the Bulldogs can continue to share the ball like they did against Auburn. Meanwhile, in talking about the loss at Baylor, Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said, "We didn't have our best game. We didn't play enough of a 40-minute game to win on the road. I thought it was the opposite of how we played our last game at home." The last home game he's referring to was last Tuesday, when Alabama routed then-No. 20 Ole Miss, 74-53. Yes, Mississippi State triumphed 67-63 in the second matchup last season with Alabama but prior to that, Alabama had won 10 of 11 previous meetings between the two schools. The Tide are 7-2 SU at home this season and the Bulldogs are averaging just 68.2 PPG in true road games this season. That WON'T get it done, here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-28-19 | TCU v. Texas Tech -4.5 | Top | 65-84 | Win | 100 | 14 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* signature LEGEND Play is on Texas Tech at 9:00 ET. Chris Beard's Texas Tech Red Raiders won 27 games last season and made the first Elight 8 appearnance in school history (lost to eventual national champ, Villanova). Tech lost four significant contributors from that 27-win team, including leading scorer Evans (17.6) and the 6-4 Zhaire Smith (11.3 & 5.0), a 1st round pick of the 76ers. The Red Raiders opened the season unranked but opened 10-0 before losing 69-58 at Duke. At 15-1, Tech was ranked 8th when it lost at home to Kan St 58-57 on Jan 16. Two more losses followed, before the Red Raiders edged Arkansas 67-64 at home this past Saturday (Tech is currently 16-4, including 4-3 in the Big 12 and is ranked 14th, pending Monday's new poll). TCU opened the season 20th in the AP's preseason poll, coming off a 21-win season. The Horned Frogs opened 12-1 but the their 55-50 win Saturday over Florida makes them 3-3 in their last six. TCU was ranked 25th when it lost 77-68 at Kansas on Jan 9 but at 15-4 (3-3 in the Big-12), is currently unranked. Both schools return to league play tonight (after winning games in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday), as the Horned Frogs visit Lubbock. The Horned Frogs were exceptional on defense during Saturday's 55-50 win over Florida, as TCU allowed its fewest points and recorded its lowest defensive field-goal percentage (30.6) in Jamie Dixon's 2 1/2 seasons as coach. However, despite holding the Gators to three points in the first 11:35 of the game to build an 18-3 lead, TCU allowed Florida to fight back from a 16-point deficit late in the 1st half to tie the game at 36-all with 12:23 left in regulation. 6-7 sophomore forward Kouat Noi scored 22 points and junior guard Desmond Bane added 17 against Florida. Bane leads the team in scoring (15.0 & 5.7) and Noi is second (14.7 & 4.4). PG Robinson (12.9-3.8-7.7) runs the show but TCU misses guard Fisher (12.9), who is out for the season and will transfer. The 6-8 Miller (10.5 & 6.5) is the team's rebounding leader. After losing its third straight game and scoring the fewest points since the 2014-15 season in a 58-45 loss at Kansas St on Jan 22, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard was hoping he could find more options to help the "do-everything" Jarrett Culver (18.5-6.9-3.9). Sophomore Davide Moretti answered the call Saturday, when he scored a career-high 21 points in a win over Arkansas. Moretti averaged 12.3 minutes in 37 games last season (3.5 PPG) but is averaging 10.4 points this season in 29.8 minutes (he comes in averaging 13.3 points in his last eight games). Fellow guard Matt Mooney added 12 points in the victory and is third in scoring at 10. PPG. The 6-10 Owens adds 8.0 & 5.1, while 6-8 center Odiase averages 3.8 & 4.7. Both teams play excellent defense, with TCU allowing just 66.0 PPG (42nd), However, Tech is "something special" on the defensive end, allowing 56.4 PPG (2nd) on 35.7% shooting (1st), including 26.1% on threes (3rd)! Bottom line here is that Texas Tech has been exceptional at home, posting an 11-1 record and limiting its opponents to 52.0 PPG points per game and 32.8 percent shooting (Tech is a scoring 73.3 PPG at home). Meanwhile, TCU has played only four true road games this season (1-3), averaging only 66.0 PPG. Those numbers just don't add up for the Horned Frogs. Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-19 | Jazz v. Wolves +4 | Top | 125-111 | Loss | -106 | 10 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Min T-wolves at 7:05 ET. The Utah Jazz finished a successful homestand with a 106-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Utah heads out on the road after having played EIGHT of its last nine in Salt Lake City, with the Jazz going 7-1 in those eight home contests. Utah opens a game quick two-stop road trip on Sunday, by completing a home-and-home set with the Timberwolves in Minneapolis. The T-wolves played without injured PGs Jeff Teague (11.5 & 8.1 APG) and Derrick Rose (18.6 & 4.7 APG) Friday in Utah but Minnesota rallied from a 21-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and drew within a point in the final minute. The Timberwolves actually had a chance to take the lead but Jerryd Bayless and Luol Deng each missed a go-ahead three-pointer in the waning seconds. Utah's Donovan Mitchell (22.2-3.8-3.9) had 24 points in Friday's win plus added a career-high 11 assists. The second-year player has scored at least 24 points in 11 consecutive contests. All five Utah starters average in double figures, as joining Mitchell are PG Rubio (12.7 & 6.01 AGP), swingman Ingles (11.5-3.9-4.9), PF Favors (11.0 & 71.) and center Gobert (15.0 & 13.1) Coming off the bench are SF Crowder (12.0 & 4.7) and SG Korver (10.0 PPG on 40.6% from three in his 28 games with the Jazz). Utah is one of the NBA's best defensive teams, allowing 105.0 PPG (3rd-best). Minnesota saw three guards - Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague and Tyus Jones - each miss Friday's loss due to foot or ankle injuries. Injuries to those players have revealed that this is a team that won't go down without a fight. Minnesota leaned heavily on center Karl-Anthony Towns (as usual), who scored 33 points on 12-of-19 shooting. He averages 22.8 & 12.3 on the season. The T-wolves outscored the Jazz 33-16 in the fourth quarter on Friday, giving the team some momentum heading into the rematch. Towns comes in with a string of four straight double-doubles, in which he's averaged 28.8 points and 13 rebounds. Utah center Rudy Gobert was questionable on Friday with a sore hamstring but gutted it out to finish with 18 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. He may need to be 100 percent here in Minnesota. Utah went just 5 of 27 from the floor in the fourth quarter on Friday and I'm "all over" Minnesota here in this quick turn-around. The Jazz have been home for EIGHT of their last nine games, a period from Jan 9-25. Utah will get no 'love' here at Target Center, where the T-wolves are 16-8 SU this year (the pointspread is MORE than manageable). Good luck.,..Larry |
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01-27-19 | UCF v. Memphis -1 | Top | 57-77 | Win | 100 | 9 h 26 m | Show |
My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Memphis at 4:00 ET. Memphis' three-game winning streak came to a halt on Thursday, as the Tigers came up short at Temple 85-76. Penny Hardaway's team must now bounce back on Sunday, when the 12-7 Tigers (4-2 in AAC play) take on American Athletic Conference preseason favorite, UCF. The Knights are 15-3 overall, including 5-1 in league play. It's crowded at the top in the AAC, with four, one-loss teams. Temple is 5-1 like UCF, while Houston and Cincy are 6-1 (all four one-loss teams are in action on Sunday, with Cincy playing at Temple and Houston visiting Tulsa). UCF has become known for its defensive prowess under head coach Johnny Dawkins and the Knights showed why in shutting down Tulane 75-50 on Wednesday. The Knights sit second in the conference in scoring at 63.0 PPG (20th nationally) and opponents' FG percentage at 38.7 (10th nationally). The offense is averaging a modest 74.5 PPG (152nd) but guards BJ Taylor (17.1) and Aubrey Dawkins (16.2), the coaches' son, are quite a duo. UCF leads the AAC in field goal percentage (47.2), while ranking third from long distance (35.2). Naturally, we can't forget the 7-6 Tacko Fall (9.9 & 7.2), who has 52 blocked shots, as well. Let's not count the Tigers out of the AAC 'hunt' just yet. However, the Tigers can't survive if they shoot as poorly as they did in the loss to Temple, when they wound up hitting just 1-of-23 three-pointers, barely extending their three-point streak to 605 straight games. "We won every category except for three-point shooting," Hardaway told reporters. "And it's hard to win like that." However, it's worth noting that Memphis still fought back from a 20-point first-half deficit to make it a two-point game late. Jeremiah Martin continued to play well since returning to point guard, as he led the way with 28 points to regain the team scoring lead (15.4 & 4.1 APG) from 6-8 forward Kyvon Davenport (14.8 & a team-high 7.5 RPG). ). Guard Harris averages 12.7 PPG, while six others play regularly, averaging between 5.7 and 9.7 PPG. Memphis boasts the conference's top scoring offense at 83.6 PPG (that's 20th nationally) and enters this almost "must-win" game with a 10-1 record at FedEx Forum, where the Tigers are averaging a whopping 90.8 PPG. UCF will be trying to win consecutive road games for the FIRST time this season and while the Knights did win at Memphis last year, it's important to note that the Knights had lost 14 in a row before last year's victory. It's "Back to the Future," as Memphis wins at home over UCF. Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | Warriors v. Celtics +3.5 | Top | 115-111 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
The Golden State Warriors have won THREE of the last four NBA titles and now are the hottest team in the NBA at the moment. The Warriors have won NINE in a row and at 34-14, own the West's best record and trail only the 35-12 Milwaukee Bucks for the league's best record, overall. Golden State won 126-118 at Washington on Thursday, despite Curry and Thompson combining to go 3-of-12 from beyond the arc. The Warriors continue a five-game road trip in Boston on Saturday night (ABC cameras will be there). The 30-18 Celtics are hardly 'chopped liver, ' as Boston has won five straight, after pushing its home winning streak to 10 in a row with a 123-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Golden State hardly needs an introduction, as with Boogie Cousins now in the starting lineup at center (he started the last three games and averaged 13.0 & 7.0 in about 20 minutes), the Warriors start FIVE All-Stars! I'll by-pass the individual numbers and point out that Golden St leads the NBA in scoring (118.9 PPG), FG percentage (49.1) and FT percentage (82.0), while 'wallowing' with the league's second-best three-point percentage (38.9). Boston All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving (23.5-4.8-6.9) sat out Wednesday with an illness (flu) and Terry Rozier got the nod to start in his spot. Rozier responded by going 8-of-8 from the floor in the first half and scoring 22 of his 26 points before the break to set the tone as the Celtics coasted to a 20-point win. Can't imagine Irving will miss this one. Tatum (16.3 & 6.2), Morris (14.8 & 6.0), Brown (12.3 & 4.3) and Hayward (11.0-4.6-3.5) give Boston a plethora of quality frontcourt players plus there is always the versatile Horford (12.2-6.4-3.6). When these teams met last season in Boston (November), the Celics won 92-88, holding the Warriors to their fifth-lowest point total of the season. Boston enters this contest, second in the league in both opponents' FG (44.1) and three-point (33.4) percentage. Beware, the Warriors are just 9-11 as a road favorite this season. The TD Garden rocks tonight. Take Boston. Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | UNLV v. San Diego State -5.5 | Top | 77-94 | Win | 100 | 13 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Month is on San Diego St at 8:00 ET. 11-7 UNLV is 5-1 in MWC play, as it heads to the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl on Saturday night to take on San Diego State. the Aztecs are 10-8 (2-3 in MWC play) but own a great recent history against the Rebel. UNLV's early conference schedule has been kind (a steady diet of second-division foes), allowing the Rebels to stay close to current No. 7 Nevada. However, things start to get a bit tougher from here forward. The Aztecs are likely going nowhere this season but I will elaborate later on the school's history vs UNLV. Marvin Menzies' team could sure use the 6-7 Shakur Juiston (10.8 & 8.8) but he's lost for the season with a knee injury. Guards Clyburn (13.4 & 4.9),s Hardy (12.1) and Robotham (8.3) join the 6-9 Ntambwe (12.5 & 6.2) as team stalwarts. However, I will note that 6-5 SF Blair did come out of nowhere to score 26 point in the team's recent 75-58 win over New Mexico. Without Juiston, SDSU's 6-10 Williams (16.1 & 8.1) will be tough to contain. He's joined up front by the 6-6 Mitchell (11.4 & 3.&) plus the Aztecs own a solid three-man guard rotation. PG Watson (15.4 & 5.0 APG) leads the way, joined by Hemsley (9.1) and Schakel (8.3). SDSU is 8-2 SU at home this season, averaging 80.4 PPG. Head coach Brian Dutcher led the Aztecs to an NCAA bid and 22-11 record in his first season but that won't be repeated this season. However, series history all favors SDSU in this matchup. UNLV is just 9-27-5 ATS its last 41 road games (overall) and 14-39-4 ATS in its last 57 MWC games. More notably, the Rebels are 6-18-2 in their last 26 meetings with the Aztecs, who enter on a 15-6 ATS at their home court. SDS beat UNLV 95-56 at this venue last season, giving them three straight home wins over UNLV by a combined 87 points. Enough said! Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | VCU v. Duquesne +4 | Top | 80-74 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Duquesne at 2:00 ET. Virginia Commonwealth owns a rich BKB tradition but is coming off an 18-15 season (no postseason tourneys). The Rams head to Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon 13-6 overall, including 4-2 in A-10 play. Meanwhile, the Duquesne Dukes are 14-5 overall, including 5-1 in league play. Both VCU's Mike Rhoades and Duquesne's Keith Dambrot are head coaches in their second years at their respective schools. PG Evans (13.3) leads VCU in scoring and is joined in the backcourt by SG Jenkins (11.9). Up front, the 6-6 Vann (10.9 & 4.) and the 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.8) are the main contributors. Let me note that Evans averages just 2.8 APG (terribly low for a starting PG) and VCU shoots an awful 29.9% on threes as a team (334th). The surging Dukes are on a five-game winning streak after beating previously unbeaten (in A-10 play) St Louis, 77-73 at home on Wednesday. Williams is a 6-6 guard and leads the team in scoring (13.2) and rebounding (7.8). His backcourt partner is Curry (12.1 & 3.9) and up front, 6-8 center Hayes (12.1 & 6.4) and 6-5 SF Weathers (9.8 & 6.1) do the most damage. You may just remember Dambrot (he was LBJ's high school coach) and in 13 seasons at Akron, won 20-plus games in each of his final 12 years. The Dukes finished tied for 10th in the A-10 (16-16 overall) last year but look at the strides being made this season. The Dukes are 11-1 at home (shot just 35.8%, including 6 of 28 on threes in that one) and I see NO reason why the Dukes should be home dogs here vs a very average VCU team (reputation?). VCU is just 2-4 SU in true road games this season, averaging a woeful 58.8 PPG. The home dog 'barks' LOUDLY in this one, Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-19 | Pistons v. Mavs -5 | Top | 101-106 | Push | 0 | 11 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Dal Mavericks at 8:35 ET. The Dallas Mavericks welcome the Detroit Pistons to the American Airlines Center on Friday night. Both teams come in 21-26 but while the Pistons seem to be going nowhere, the Mavs have made excellent strides coming off last season's 24-58 year. Luka Doncic (19.9-6.8-5.3) may have already locked up the ROY award and is the current leader of the new-look Mavs (future HOF Dirk Nowitzki is now just a cheerleader, averaging 3.8 & 1.8 in 16 games). The Mavs just ended a four-game skid with a 106-98 win over the Clippers. Detroit is coming off a win as well, after Wednesday's 98-94 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans (note: the Pistons won for just the EIGHTH time in their last 27 games). Power forward Blake Griffin scored 37 points in Detroit's win but center Andre Drummond (concussion) missed a third straight game. Griffin (26.3-8.1-5.3) went on a fourth-quarter roll by scoring 20 of his 37 in the stanza and he also finished with nine rebounds, seven assists and four 3-pointers. "He's carrying us, handling the basketball, making good decisions, just doing everything we could ask a franchise player to do," Detroit coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "He's been great. He sets the tone for us offensively. He'd probably have more assists if we knocked down more shots." As for Drummond (16.3 & 14.9), he's supposedly been cleared of the league's concussion protocol but that doesn't mean he'll play. Second-year PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.7) returned to the Mavericks after an unhappy sabbatical and will again be in the lineup for Friday's game against the visiting Detroit Pistons. Smith missed six straight games due to friction over his role but shared the ball-handling duties with star rookie Luka Doncic in Tuesday's 106-98 victory (he had 17 points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes). Doncic is just 14-of-46 from the floor over the past three games and his take on Smith's hiatus was brief: "It shouldn't happen. It's bad for a team." Good for this team is SF Barnes, who is averaging 17.9 PPG after averaging 19.2 and 18.9 in his first two year's with the team. With Drummond questionable at best, the Pistons will be relying WAY too much on Griffin. Note that Detroit's only two other double digit scorers, guards Jackson (14.1 & 4.1 APG) and Bullock (12.1), are shooting a combined 37% overall and 31.8% on threes over the last 10 games. Amazingly, Griffin is the only player averaging 10 PPG or more over the team's last three. The Pistons are just 8-15 SU on the road, while Dallas comes in 17-6 SU & 16-7 ATS at home. What's more, Dallas is 16-5 ATS at the American Airlines Center when not laying more than nine points (that's the case, here). Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-19 | Butler v. Creighton -2 | Top | 61-75 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Creighton at 8:30 ET. Butler has gone 'dancing' in 10 of the previous 12 seasons but will need to finish strong to keep to do so again this campaign. The Bulldogs are just 12-8 (3-4 in Big East play), after losing 80-72 at home this past Tuesday to surging Villanova (Wildcats have won SEVEN in a row). Creighton is 11-8 overall, including 2-4 in Big East play. Creighton lost 84-69 at Butler back on Jan 5, beginning a streak of FOUR straight losses, marking the Bluejays' longest skid since the 1999-2000 season. However, Creighton ended its slide with a 91-87 road win at Georgetown on Monday. Butler PG Aaron Thompson (6.7 & 4.2 APG) bounced back from a scoreless, foul-plagued 16-minute effort Saturday against St. John's with club-best marks of 15 points (6-of-9 shooting) and four assists in 31 minutes versus the Wildcats but Butler still lost by eight. However, leading scorer Kamar Baldwin (17.4 & 5.6) finished with only 11 points on 5-for-14 shooting following a three-game stretch in which he averaged 21.7 points on 24-of-41 from the floor. The 6-11 Joey Brunk averaged 14.7 points and seven boards over his first three career starts but he hasn't topped eight points or six rebounds in any of his four outings since (he's averaging 8.6 & 4.4 on the season) . Creighton head coach Greg McDermott said during a postgame radio show after the Georgetown win, “They’ve come hungry, ready to practice. They’re not pointing fingers at me, I’m not pointing fingers at them, they’re not pointing fingers at each other. They’re committed to just trying to get better every day. I think when you commit to that, you have nights like (Monday) where good things happen." Sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander (17.5) knocked down six, three-pointers for the second time in three contests Monday, extending his consecutive games streak with at least one triple to a Big East-best 23. The Bluejays own a deep perimeter, as Ballock (10.9 & 3.6 APG), Zegarowski (10.8) and Mintz (10.3) join Alexander at the guard position. The 6-9 Krampelj (11.1 & 6.3) and SF Jefferson (9.4 & 5,4) are the best frontcourt contributors. Butler's ONLY true road win this season came at DePaul (not saying much) and that win snapped an 0-7 SU & ATS run in true road games by the Bulldogs, going back into last season. Butler is a money-burning 8-17 ATS in its last 25 road games plus is 0-5 ATS in its last five visits to Creighton. The Bluejays shoot 50.5% (4th) overall, including 43.0% on threes (2nd). Butler did get 87 points in winning at DePaul but in its first four true road games this season (all losses), averaged a woeful 59.8 PPG. Don't see any way Butler can match Creighton score-for-score (also note that the home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings between the two schools). Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-19 | Arizona State v. UCLA -1 | Top | 84-73 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 6 m | Show |
My 10* Pac-12 Game of the Week is on UCLA at 11:00 ET. UCLA dismissed coach Steve Alford on December 31, 2018, two days after the Bruins' ugly 73-58 loss to Liberty. It marked the first time the program ever had made a coaching change in the middle of the season. Murry Bartow (son of former UCLA coach Gene Bartow) was named interim coach for the Bruins and in his first game (at home vs Stanford), UCLA ended a four-game slide with a 92-70 win over te Cardinal. Two more wins followed but the 'honeymoon' period is over for UCLA interim coach Murry Bartow, as the Bruins have lost lost two in row following three straight victories. 10-8 UCLA (3-2 in the Pac -12) welcomes 13-5 Arizona St (4-2 in Pac-12) to Pauley Pavilion tonight. ASU dominated the second half in last Saturday's impressive 78-64 home victory over Oregon,as five players scored in double figures. Five ASU players are averaging in double figures on the season, with the 6-8 White just missing at 9.0 & 5.9 The double digit scorers are guard Dort (16.4 & 446), fellow guard Martin (12.3 & 4.2 APG), the 6-8 Cheatham (12.1 & 9.6), guard Edwards (10.3) and the 6-7 Lawrence (10.3 & 3.9). Freshman forward Taeshon Cherry (7.2) had 15 points on five three-pointers against Oregon and head coach Bobby Hurley said, “He has one of the best strokes I’ve seen. He's got so much upside as far as where he can take his game if he keeps developing and getting better.”ASU averages 79.1 PPG (55th in teh nation but No. 1 in the Pac-12), although the Sun Devils allow 72.4 PPG (209th). The Bruins need to bounce back from a dismal outing, after shooting 5-of-22 from three-point range and committing 20 turnovers in last Saturday's 80-67 loss to crosstown rival USC. The Bruins averaged 92 points in wins over Stanford, California and Oregon but slowed down dramatically in losses to Oregon State and USC, averaging just 66.5 points. Bartow needs more consistency from 7-1 freshman Moses Brown, who averages 11.3 points and 8.9 rebounds but was a non-factor against USC, finishing with two points in 20 minutes. UCLA's best player is sophomore guard Kris Wilkes, who is averaging 17.1 & 4.9 (he's scored in double digits in EVERY game this season!). PG Hands checks in at 11.8 PPG and 6.4 APG plus a third guard, Prince Ali, averages 10.6 PPG ( he's shooting 51 percent from the floor and 48 percent from three-point range in five Pac-12 contests). Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils generated national headlines by handing then-top-ranked Kansas its first loss, 80-76, back on Dec. 22 but ASU is just 6-5 its last 11, after opening the season 7-.0. This UCLA team has the talent and note that the Bruins were picked to finish second in the Pac-12 preseason poll. UCLA has won seven of its last nine games against Arizona State and the home team has won EIGHT of the last 10 meetings between the two schools (UCLA and has covered 15 of the last 21 meetings overall). More tech trends show that the Sun Devils are 7-17-2 ATS in their last 26 vs Pac-12 foes and are 3-10-2 ATS in their last 15 road games. UCLA has won 39 of 44 games in Pauley Pavilion since the start of the 2016-17 season and with this pointspread, a win is a cover! Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-19 | Nuggets v. Jazz -3 | Top | 108-114 | Win | 100 | 16 h 44 m | Show |
My 10* NBA Game of the Month is on the Ut Jazz at 10:35 ET. The Utah Jazz saw their six-game winning streak end on MLK Day, losing 109-104 at home to the Portland Trail Blazers. The 26-22 Jazz welcome the 31-14 Denver Nuggets to Salt Lake City tonight, with the Nuggets coming to town having won 10 of their last 13 games, after routing the the Cavaliers 124-102 last Saturday. Denver arrives with the second-best record in the Western Conference (only the 33-14 Warriors are better), while Utah currently owns the West's No. 7. The Jazz are only one game clear of the playoff 'cut line' but are also just 2 1/2 games out of the No. 4 seed, which holds homecourt advantage in the first round. PG Jamal Murray (18.8-4.5-4.9) scored 26 points in the win over Cleveland for his fourth straight game of shooting 50 percent or better. Standout center Nikola Jokic had 19 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds against the Cavaliers for his third triple-double in the past seven games. He continues to lead Denver in scoring (19.6), rebounding (10.0) and assists (7.7). Denver has fought through key injuries to keep winning but it looks as if Harris (15.5), Millsap (12.8 & 6.7) and Barton (10.3) are now ready to play regularly. The Jazz lost at home to the Blazers, despite another outstanding effort by Donovan Mitchell (22.0-3.7-3.7). He scored 36 points and has scored more than 20 points in each of the past nine games, averaging 29.8 points during the stretch. Center Rudy Gobert (14.9 & 13.1) has recorded eight straight double-doubles and has 39 on the season. He matches up will against Jokic plus PG Ricky Rubio (12.8 & 6.0 APG) returned from a six-game absence due to a (hamstring) to score 12 points in just 14 minutes against Portland. Starters Ingles (11.5-3.9-4.9) and Favors (11.2 & 7.3) also average in double figures, while SF Crowder (12.0 & 4.8) and SG Korver (9.8 PPG on 40.0% three-point shooting in 26 games) have been excellent contributors off the bench. Utah is in "revenge mode" after losing 103-88 in the Mile High City back on Nov 3. In that contest, the Nuggets outscored the Jazz 35-15 in the fourth quarter. Denver is trying to halt a SEVEN-game losing streak in Utah, one in which the Jazz have won by an average of 14 points, holding the Nuggets below 90 points in FIVE of those wins. Note: Utah allows 105.0 PPG, 3rd-best in the NBA. Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-19 | Raptors v. Pacers -5 | Top | 106-110 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 29 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET. Toronto capped a 3-0 homestand with a 120-105 win over Sacramento last night. Star swingman Kawhi Leonard (27.6 & 7.9) missed his third game in a row for the Raptors and he is not expected back until Friday at Houston. Surprisingly, the 36-13 Raptors are 11-2 without Leonard this season. Toronto plays again tonight, when it visits Indianapolis to take on the 31-15 Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are 11-4 in the last 35 days but two of those losses have come against the Raptors. Toronto edged Indiana by three points in a Dec 19 win and then won 121-105 in the rematch on Jan 6 (both games were played in Toronto). Toronto overcame Leonard's absence last night with a 16-for-40 showing from behind the arc. CJ Miles made four-of-five from long-range and is averaging 13.7 points in just 16.7 minutes over his last three games (he averaging only 5.5 PPG on the season). PG Kyle Lowry (14.1-4.4-9.4) finished with 19 points and nine assists while Fred VanVleet (10.4 & 4.6 APG) also scored 19. Toronto is still without center Valanciunus (12.8 & 7.2), who hasn't played since Dec 12 (he hopes to be back by mid-Feb). Stepping up big time for Toronto this season has been PF Ibaka (16.2 & 7.3) and the 6-9 Siakam (15.0 & 6.9), who is one of the NBA's most improved players.(he averaged 7.3 PPG last season and just 4.2 in his rookie year). Both of Indiana's losses to the Raptors have been in Toronto."They beat us twice, but we feel like we're right there," Pacers PG Darren Collison said. "Eliminate some mistakes and we'll be OK. We match up pretty well against them. But if we want to be one of the best in the East, this shouldn't be a statement game. We should go out and compete and win. I feel like if you're the best, it shouldn't be a statement game. Statement games are for teams that are underdogs. I don't think we feel like underdogs." Collison (9.5 & 5.6 APG scored 19 points and handed out nine assists while Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 16 points in Sunday's 120-94 victory over the Hornets. Bogdanovic is averaging 16.0 & 4.1 on the season, second to Oladipo (19.2-5.7-5.3), the Pacers' best player. Indiana's depth is impressive, with PF Young (12.6 & 6.0) and center Turner (12.8 & 7.3) rounding out the team's starting-five. However, Sabonis (15.0 & 9.6) has been a 'monster' off the bench plus Evans (10.9) is starting to feel at home with his latest new team (note: he's averaging 15.5 points in 18.7 minutes over his last six games). . This is almost a "must win" for the Pacers. Indiana has lost four in a row to top teams in the Eastern Conference (twice to Toronto and once each to Boston and Philly). The Pacers are now only 3-7 against teams with a .600 or better winning percentage. I realize that the Raptors are 8-1 in the second game of back-to-backs but this is a game Indiana has to win if it has any hope of playing with confidence this postseason. I've got that feeling and will bet on it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-19 | Providence v. Xavier -3 | Top | 64-62 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Game of the Month is on Xavier at 6:30 ET. Xavier is just 10-7 overall, including 3-3 in the Big East. The Musketeers have already has lost as many conference games as they did in 2017-18, when the team went 15-3 in league play to win the Big East regular-season title. Xavier hasn't spent much time worrying about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, having gone 'dancing' in 16 of the last 18 seasons. However, this season is shaping up much differently. The Musketeers are hoping a return home will get them back on track, when they host struggling Providence on Wednesday night. The 11-7 Friars are just 1-4 in Big East play, after losing 79-68 at now-No. 12 Marquette, the school's fourth loss in five games "As a leader of this group, I have to try to keep everyone’s heads up and make sure we’re looking ahead to the next game and not dwell on this loss,” Providence's leading scorer Alpha Diallo said.The 6-7 big guard averages team highs of 17.2 PPG and 8.6 RPG. It's notewiorthy that 6-10 sophomore center Nate Watson (11.1 & 5.4) is becoming a bigger force for the Friars, scoring 16 of his 21 points in the second half against Marquette to match his season-high point total set against Georgetown on Jan 12. However, AJ Reeves, a freshman guard who was averaging 14.2 PPG, has not played since going down with a foot injury on Dec 7. That leaves only Diallo and Watson in double figures. It's my belief that this Xavier team is much better than its record. While the Musketeers have great balance on offense with five players scoring in double figures. The 6-7 Marshall (13.3 & 7.4) leads the way, closely followed by guard Scruggs (12.9 & 5.0), PG Goodin (12.5 & 5.3 APG), the 6-9 Jones (10.7 & 7.4) and the 6-11 Hankins (10.5 & 4.9). Jones registered his second double-double in three games with a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds against Villanova in Xavier's 10-point loss last Friday. I'm not sure Xavier is going to be NCAA-bound this season but the Musketeers are 9-2 SU at home (holding opponents to 69.6 PPG) and I doubt the team will forget Providence ruining Xavier's Big East tourney experience last season, knocking off the Musketeers 75-72 in OT as 7 1/2-point underdogs. Travis Steele is in his first season as Xavier's head coach but he'll remind this team about that loss, I'm sure. Providence sits in last-place in the 10-team Big East and plays the perfect foil in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-22-19 | Clemson v. Florida State -5.5 | Top | 68-77 | Win | 100 | 11 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Florida St at 7:00 ET. Florida State lost 80-78 to then-No. 1 Duke on Jan 12 and actually jumped from 13th to 11th in the AP poll released on Jan 14. However, after road losses this past week at Pittsburgh(75-62) and Bocton College (87-82), FSU fell out of yesterday's latest AP poll (surprisingly, FSU checked in at No. 23 in the coaches' poll). The Seminoles return home tonight to host 11-6 Clemson, which at 1-3 in the ACC, is ahead of FSU in the league standings (Seminoles are one of five teams at the bottom of the league with a 1-4 mark). Clemson comes into this contest having just snapped a three-game slide of its own, with a 72-60 home win over Georgia Tech on Wednesday. Senior guard Marcquise Reed scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting while recording four steals against Ga Tech, as Clemson notched its first conference victory. Reed leads the team in scoring at 19.7 PPG and adds 5.4 RPG. Senior forward Elijah Thomas is second in scoring at 13.1 per game, plus leads the Tigers with 7.7 RPG. Guard Mitchell is Clemson's only other player in double digits, averaging 11.9 PPG and a team-high 3.2 APG.Clemson averages a modest 71.5 PPG on the season (240th). FSU has yet to recover from its "close but no cigar" two-point loss at Duke. The team's malaise was evident in its last outing, when FSU led by 10 points at BC at halftime but couldn’t get second half stops, as the Eagles went on to win, 87-82. Mfiondu Kabengele, a 6-10 sophomore, leads a balanced attack with 12.6 PPG, after posting a career-high 26 at Boston College. Senior guard Terance Mann is second on the scoring list at 11.6 PPG. Then there is junior PG Trent Forest (9.9-4.9-3.6), who is averaging 14 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists over his last two contests. However, 6-8 Mike Cofer's foot injury could hurt. He had a breakout season last year (12.8 & 5.1) but has played only seven games this year. It's time for Leonard Hamilton's team to "put up or shut up." FSU was ranked 17th in the AP's preseason poll (ranked 15th by the Blue Ribbon Yearbook) and climbed as high as No. 9 in the AP poll in early January. Finding themselves as one of five teams at the bottom of the ACC at 1-4, is unacceptable. However, Clemson should play the perfect foil here, as the Tigers are playing just their fourth true road game of the season, averaging only 66.3 PPG. Meanwhile, FSU is 8-1 SU at home (lone loss being that two-pointer against Duke), outscoring opponents 82.6-to-69.7 PPG. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-19 | Iowa State v. Kansas -5 | Top | 76-80 | Loss | -112 | 15 h 13 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Kansas at 9:00 ET. Iowa St beat 77-60 Kansas in Ames back on Jan 5 and will now try to sweep the regular season series with the Jayhawks Monday night in Lawrence. The Cyclones lost two straight after beating Kansas but have bounced back with wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma St. As for Kansas, the Jayhawks answered their loss to the Cyclones with three straight victories but then surrendered the final SEVEN points in Saturday's 65-64 loss at West Virginia. ISU senior Marial Shayock (19.4 & 5.2) is the Big-12's leading scorer. He had 24 points in the Jan 5 win over Kansas plus has added back-to-back 20-point games in the Cyclones' 68-64 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday and 72-59 triumph against Oklahoma State three days later. Head coach Steve Prohm has a perimeter-oriented team, as veteran guards Wiggington (11.9 & 4.4) and Babb (9.7-4.5-4.0) join freshman Horton-Tucker (11.7 & 4.4) and Haliburton (7.8-3.7-4.2) in support of Shayock. The 6-9 Jacobson (13.1 & 6.1) is ISU's only real inside threat. The Lawson brothers transferred from Memphis and were expected to make a HUGE contribution this season for Kansas. Dedric (18.9 & 10.7) has delivered but KJ, who averaged 12.3 & 8.1 for Memphis last season, is averaging only 10 MPG (2.8 & 2.4). Kansas head coach Bill Self has also lost the 7-1 Azubuike (13.4 & 6.8) for the season, so the Jayhawks' 14-year stranglehold on the Big 12's regular season title could be in jeopardy. Kansas' lone senior is Lagerald Vick and he's averaging 15.1 PPG. Fellow guards Dotson (10.9-3.4-3.1), Grimes (8.7) and Garrett (7.2 & 3.4) join Vick on the perimeter. Garrett has scored 35 points in the last two games. Four schools are atop the Big-12 at 4-2 (the other two, Kansas State and Texas Tech meet on Tuesday). While Kansas may not be as good as expected at the start of the season, the Jayhawks have still dominated the Big-12 year after year. Iowa St comes in just 6-13 ATS its last 19 on the road, while Kansas comes in 35-16-3 ATS off a loss. Don't forget, Kansas is 10-0 SU at home, averaging 82.1 PPG. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-19 | Rockets v. 76ers -5 | Top | 93-121 | Win | 100 | 14 h 25 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Phi 76ers at 8:05 ET. Reigning MVP James Harden has been in quite a 'zone!. He's scored 30-plus points in 19 straight games, while topping 40 in 10 of his last 13. The Rockets rallied from 18 points down in the second half Saturday to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 138-134 in overtime. Harden scored 48 in the game and is averaging 54.3 points over Houston's last three contests. The 26-19 Rockets will travel to Philadelphia for a MLK Day game with the 30-17 Sixers, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Saturday with a 117-115 home loss against Oklahoma City, as they turned the ball over 17 times overall and allowed a four-point play by Paul George with 5.1 seconds left. Houston now sits one game out of third place in the Western Conference after starting the season 11-14 through its first 25 contests.The Rockets continue to fight through injuries, although Chris Paul is expected back soon (early Feb). However, center Clint Capela (career high averages of 17.6 PPG and 12.6 RPG) is out until late-February with a thumb injury. Good news comes in the form of Gordon (16.2) returning to the court the last two games, averaging 25.0 points. Rivers (12.6 PPG in 13 contests) was a great sign after Paul got hurt and veteran swingman Green (9.2 PPG) has averaged 12.7 PPG during the 14 games that Paul has missed. Joel Embiid led the way with 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the loss to OKC. Ben Simmons had 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists but despite those efforts, the Sixers weren't able to convert on their last possession with Simmons looking to be confused after handing the ball to Jimmy Butler beyond the three-point arc. Embiid (27.0 & 13.2) is the first Philadelphia player to score at least 30 points in 20 of his first 45 games of a season since Allen Iverson (2005-06). Butler checks in at 19.0-4.8-3.4, Redick at 18.5 PPG and Simmons at 16.6-9.5-8.2. However, I'm not convinced the 76ers are better off with Butler, after exchanging him for valuable role players like Covington and Saric. That said, I sure like Philly to bounce back from its Saturday home loss to OKC. While Harden remains 'on fire,' Houston has cooled off a bit while alternating victories in its last nine outings (5-4 SU and 4-5 ATS). More notably, the Rockets have had trouble scoring away from home since Dec 1, with the exception of the team's 135-134 win at Golden St on Jan 3. Let me point out that excluding that contest, Houston is averaing a very modest 10.1 PPG in its other eight away games since Dec 1. Philly is 19-5 SU at home this season, while averaging 118.9 PPG. Yes, Harden "gets his" but Philly gets the win and COVER! Good luck...Larry |
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01-20-19 | Colorado v. Utah -3.5 | Top | 69-78 | Win | 100 | 11 h 49 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on Utah at 6:00 ET. The Colorado Buffs (10-6 / 1-3 in Pac-12) travel to Salt Lake City to play the 8-8 Utah Utes (2-2 in Pac-12) at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Colorado opened the season 8-1 but enter this contest having lost FIVE of its last seven. Utah owns a .500 overall and conference record. The Utes haven’t had a winning or losing streak longer than two games this season. The Buffaloes now face dealing with an injury to leading scorer McKinley Wright (12.9-4.9-5.3). He missed the second half of the Buffaloes’ Jan. 12 loss to Washington after suffering a shoulder injury and his immediate status is questionable at best (he only returned to practice wearing a brace late in the week) Also, senior Namon Wright is averaging 7.5 points off the bench but has missed the last three games and still wasn’t able to practice this past week. Up front, the 6-7 Bey (12.0 & 9.1) and the 6-10 Siewert (11.4 & 5.0) will be counted on to carry more of the load. Utah's 88-70 win over visiting Washington State on Jan. 12 put the brakes on a two-game slide, as the Utes recovered nicely from their season-low 53 points two nights earlier versus Washington. The freshman trio of Timmy Allen (15 & 9), Both Gach (14 & 4 assists) and Riley Battin (11-4-4) led the way in the win as the youngsters continue to show near-weekly improvement. The 6-6 Allen averages 9.9 & 4.3, the 6-7 Gach 8.1 & 2.5 and the 6-9 Battin 7.1 & 3.4. Senior PG Sedrick Barefield (15.4 & 3.8 APG) and 6-7 sophomore forward Donnie Tillman (11.3 & 5.8) are the only two players averaging double figures for Utah. Sure, Utah's season has been 'stuck in neutral' but that's a better situation than Colorado's, which has seen the team averaging 84.1 PPG in its 8-1 start, fall apart with FIVE losses in its last seven, averaging only 63.2 PPG in those five losses. Utah has outscored opponents 77.9-to-67.4 PPG at home this season and has won EIGHT of the last nine meetings with Colorado, as well as owning SIX straight wins here in Salt Lake City over the Buffs. Everything considered, the price seems 'cheap!' Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-19 | Oregon v. Arizona State -3.5 | Top | 64-78 | Win | 100 | 15 h 36 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Arizona St at 9:30 ET. Preseason Pac-12-favorite Oregon stumbled to a 0-2 conference start but has rebounded nicely with wins over USC at home last Sunday and at Arizona two nights ago. The Ducks are 11-6 overall (2-2 in Pac-12 play) as they travel to Tempe to take on the ASU Sun Devils (12-5 / 3-2). Oregon opened Pac-12 road play in style Thursday, holding Arizona to 54 points and snapping the Wildcats’ six-game win streak and handing the Wildcats their first league loss. Arizona State also responded in positive fashion Thursday night, bouncing back from an 85-71 road defeat at Stanford by handing visiting Oregon State its first Pac-12 loss in a 70-67 victory. Oregon head coach Dana Altman is learning to deal with the loss of 7-2 freshman Bol Bol (21.0 & 9.2), who is out for the season with a foot injury. Thursday's road win was the big news but Oregon also received a boost with the return of 6-9 sophomore forward Kenny Wooten (6.5 & 5.1), who had five points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes after missing the previous four contests with a broken jaw. Ducks senior forward Paul White said Thursday in the post-game news conference. “And I think our team has done a great job of responding.” White scored a game-high 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting Thursday and is one of two healthy Ducks averaging double figures at 10.8 PPG. Junior PG Payton Pritchard (11.5 PPG) is the other to go along with a team-leading 4.5 APG. He sealed Thursday’s win by draining a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining. Arizona State also responded in positive fashion Thursday night, bouncing back from an 85-71 road defeat at Stanford by handing visiting Oregon State its first Pac-12 loss in a 70-67 victory. The Sun Devils saw an 18-point early-second half lead trimmed to only one with 22 seconds remaining but Rob Edwards closed it out by draining a pair of free throws with 12.1 seconds to play. Edwards scored 13 points to pace five ASU players in double figures. Five ASU players are averaging in double figures on the season, with the 6-8 While averaging 9.2 & 6.0. The double digit scorers are guard Dort (16.6 & 4.6), fellow guard Martin (12.4), the 6-8 Cheatham (11.8 & 9.6), guard Edwards (10.5) and the 6-7 Lawrence (10.2 & 3.9). Oregon has won 11 of the last 12 in the series (including eight straight) but the Ducks are NOT the same without Bol Bol, despite the win Thursday at Arizona. Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils generated national headlines by handing then-top-ranked Kansas its first loss, 80-76, back on Dec. 22. ASU is just 5-5 its last 10 overall but is 8-2 SU at home, averaging 82.9 PPG. Meanwhile, Oregon is averaging a modest 57.2 PPG in its four true road games. ASU takes this with "room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-19 | Oregon State v. Arizona -5 | Top | 71-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Arizona at 7:00 ET. 11-5 Oregon State will visit Tucson on Saturday to take on 13-5 Arizona. Both schools suffered theri first Pac-12 loses of teh season on Thursday (each fell to 3-1), as the Beavers lost 70-67 at Arizona State and the Wildcats lost at home to Oregon, 59-54. Oregon State's loss wasn't a surprise (Beavers were point underdogs) but Arizona's loss was. The Wildcats rarely lose at the McKale Center (more on that later) but they trailed 31-23 at halftime and finished with their second-lowest scoring output (54 points) and field-goal percentage (36.5) of the season. Oregon State also endured a rough start in Tempe, falling behind 40-22 early in the second half, before rallying to trim Arizona State’s lead to one in the eventual three-point loss. OSU's 6-8 forward Tres Tinkle (20.1-8.3-4.4) and guard Ethan Thompson (13.2 & 5.6) each scored 21 to combine for 42 of the Beavers’ 67 points Thursday. Thompson’s older brother Stephen (15.2 & 4.7) had an off night with nine points on 3-of-9 shooting, finishing with four fouls and failing to reach double figures for the first time in his last five games. “You have to give their defense credit,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said in his post-game news conference after the Oregon loss. “We were out of sorts, never could get into an offensive rhythm. Several of our guys had a tough night shooting it.” Guard Brandon Randolph leads the Wildcats in scoring at 15.7 per game, failed to reach double figures for the first time all season Thursday, finishing with five points on a 2-of-9 shooting performance. However, Center Chase Jeter, a 6-10 transfer from Duke, posted his fifth double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He isn't making anyone forget DeAndre Ayton, but he is averaging 13.3 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds. Jeter scored just 103 points in 48 games (10.3 minutes per contest) with Duke from 2015-17 before sitting out the 2017-18 season but is more than just a solid contributor this year. PG Brandon Williams rounds out the team's double-digit scorers at 11.4 PPG and 3.6 APG plus has a solid backcourt partner in Justin Coleman (8.9). The Oregon loss was a jolt but Miller has quietly molded this team into a Pac-12 contender (the league is relatively weak this year). Arizona has won 13 of the last 14 meetings in the series, with Oregon State’s only win in the span coming on Jan. 11, 2015. Sure, Arizona lost at home Thursday but how does one ignore that the Wildcats enter this contest a national-best 91-5 at the McKale Center since 2013? Good luck...Larry |
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01-18-19 | Pelicans v. Blazers -2.5 | Top | 112-128 | Win | 100 | 15 h 40 m | Show |
The New Orleans Pelicans have struggled defensively all season and are coming off having allowed their highest point total of the current of the season in Wednesday's 147-140 loss at Golden State on Wednesday. The 21-24 Pelicans visit Moda Center tonight and the good news is that New Orleans swept Portland in the first round of last season's playoffs. The 27-19 Blazers defeated Cleveland 129-112 on Wednesday, Portland's seventh win in 10 games, with five coming by double digits. Nikola Mirotic missed 12 game s recently with ankle woes but scored a season-high 29 points and matched his season best of six 3-pointers against the Warriors. The 6-11 Anthony Davis misses Mirotic when he's out of the lineup. It's turning into another typical year for A.D, who ranks third in the NBA in scoring (29.4) and rebounds (13.4) plus second in blocked shots (2.6). Surprising, two more Pelicans average 20-plus points for New Orleans, PG Holiday (20.8-4.6-8.2) and backup PF Randle (20.1 & 9.2). Guards Moore (12.6) and Payton (10.7-3.9-5.9) are also regular contributors. Scoring is NOT an issue but defense is, as New Orleans allows 115.5 PPG (28th). Damian Lillard scored 33 points in Wednesday's win over the Cavs, after recording 35 two nights earlier in a loss to Sacramento. Lillard's having another excellent season, averaging 26.2-4.4-6.1 and is teamed with backcourt mate McCollum (20.6). Center Jusuf Nurkic (14.8 & 10.4) posted his first career triple-double against the Cavaliers as he registered 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while also blocking five shots. Nurkic became the 16th player in NBA history to reject five or more shots while recording a triple-double. Portland can match New Orleans' offense and comes in allowing 107.0 PPG its last 10. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are just 6-18 SU on the road, allowing 117.1 PPG. Portland is 19-7 SU at home this season, including a 132-119 home victory over the Pelicans back on Nov 1. Forget that 4-0 sweep in last yerars first round, as Portland has won 13 of the last 15 regular-season meetings! Good luck...Larry |
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01-17-19 | Oregon v. Arizona -4.5 | Top | 59-54 | Loss | -112 | 14 h 11 m | Show |
My 10* Pac-12 Game of the Year is on Arizona at 9:00 ET. The 10-6 Oregon Ducks (1-2 in Pac-12) will be in Tuscon Thursday night to take on the 13-4 Arizona Wildcats (4-0 in Pac-12). Oregon head coach Dana Altman is wondering how to deal with the loss of 7-2 freshman Bol Bol (21.0 & 9.2), who is out for the season with a foot injury. Meanwhile, Arizona's Sean Miller has seen 6-10 Duke transfer Chris Jeter 'take off,' giving the Wildcats a legitimate shot at winning the Pac-12 in a down year for the league. Not only have the Ducks lost Bol Bol, but the 6-9 Wotten (6.6 & 4.9) has missed the last four games (jaw) but may play here. The Ducks blew a 17-point lead in the second half and an eight-point advantage in the final 45 seconds of regulation in an 87-84 overtime loss to UCLA last Thursday but snapped a two-game slide with an 81-60 victory over USC on Sunday. 6-9 freshman forward Louis King continues to thrive in Pac-12 competition. King has averaged 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per Pac-12 game, raising his season averages to 11.0 and 5.7 plus is shooting 40 percent from the floor after going 23-for-48 in his last three contests. 6-9 senior forward Paul White (10.4 & 3.8) matched a career high with 19 points versus USC and is averaging 15.8 in his last four contests while grabbing at least four rebounds in each game during that span. Junior guard Payton Pritchard is now the team leader in scoring (11.7) and assists (4.6). Miller has quietly molded this team. Arizona has won six straight (4-2 ATS) since a home loss to Baylor back on Dec 15. Jeter recorded a career-high 23 points and nine rebounds while shooting 8-for-11 from the floor in Arizona's 87-65 victory at California on Saturday. Jeter scored just 103 points in 48 games (10.3 minutes per contest) with Duke from 2015-17 before sitting out the 2017-18 season. However, is averaging 13.4 PPG and a club-high 7.4 rebounds, while shooting a team-high 64.3 percent from the floor. Sophomore guard Brandon Randolph (16.3 PPG) is one of two Pac-12 players to reach double figures in every contest (UCLA's Kris Wilkes is the other). Senior guard Justin Coleman (9.2) and freshman PG Brandon Williams (11.5 & 3.8 APG) join Randolph to give Arizona an impressive guard trio. Arizona was shook by seeing its 52-game non-conference home win streak end in a 58-49 loss to Baylor on Dec 15 but the Wildcats won six straight since (four of those wins have come at home). The Wildcats enter this contest a national-best 91-4 at the McKale Center since 2013. Oregon has averaged only 56.7 PPG in three true road games this season, while Arizona is 9-1 SU at home, averaging 75.9 PPG. The Wildcats should easily handle this modest impost. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-17-19 | 76ers v. Pacers -3 | Top | 120-96 | Loss | -106 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
My 10* TNT Knockout is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET. The 29-16 Philadelphia 76ers and the 29-14 Indiana Pacers both showed off how good they can be on Tuesday. The 76ers blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves 141-107 and the Pacers did the same to the Phoenix Suns, 131-97. The two Eastern Conference contenders square off tonight, as the Pacers host the 76ers. Indiana sits in third place in the East, one game ahead of Philadelphia, Philadelphia shot 59.8 percent from the floor against Minnesota and handed out 40 assists on 55 made FGs. The 76ers also set a franchise record with 21 made three-pointers as Wilson Chandler (4-of-6), Joel Embiid (4-of-6), Jonah Bolden (4-of-5) and Jimmy Butler (3-of-4) all 'lit it up' from beyond the arc. Joel Embiid (27.0 & 13.3) led the way by scoring 31 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against Minnesota.. Ben Simmons (16.7-9.5-8.2) had 20 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, despite sitting out most of the fourth quarter. Butler is averaging 18.7-4.9-3.2 and SB Redick averages 18.3 PPG but Philly's problem is that the above mentioned players pretty much carry the entire load. Another problem is a defense which allows 112.4 PPG (22nd). Indiana's defensive effort on Tuesday was led by center Myles Turner, who returned from a four-game absence due to a shoulder injury and delivered 18 points and six rebounds while a pair of blocks pushed his NBA-leading total to 105. SEVEN Indiana players scored in double figures on Tuesday but NOT All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, who managed eight points on 2-of-11 shooting. However, Oladipo is the team's best player, averaging 19.5-5.8-5.2. Five more Pacers score in double digits in Bogdanovic (16.3 & 4.0), Sabonis (15.2 & 9.7), Turner (13.1 & 7.1), Young (12.5 & 6.0) and Evans (10.6). PG Collison just misses at 9.2 PPG plus a team-best 5.6 APG. Unlike Philly, Indiana allows just 103.1 PPG, best in the league! Philadelphia earned a 100-94 win in its last trip to Indiana on Nov 7 and here, will be looking for consecutive wins at Indiana for the first time since it won three straight from Dec 22, 2004, to Nov 5, 2005 (that's a long time ago). The Pacers have been very streaky vs the spread but they have still been mostly winning those games they weren’t covering. Indiana has won NINE of its last 11 games coming into this contest. The Pacers are 15-5 SU at home, where they allow only 97.0 PPG. Meanwhile, the 76ers are a so-so 10-12 on the road, where they allow a whopping 116.1 PPG. With this line, the Pacers are the play. Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-19 | Jazz v. Clippers -1.5 | Top | 129-109 | Loss | -118 | 15 h 26 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the LA Clippers at 10:35 ET. Utah shooting guard Donovan Mitchell continued his strong play with 28 points in the Jazz's 100-94 Monday win over the Detroit Pistons. He leads all Utah scorers at 21.5 PPG on the season and is averaging 30 points over the past six contests. Utah's win over the Pistons completed a 4-0 homestand, as the Jazz are now 24-21 and head to LA on a season-high four-game winning streak. The 24-19 LA Clippers fell 121-117 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday and have opened a four-game homestand 0-2, while losing three straight, overall. Utah center Center Rudy Gobert (14.8 & 12.8) matched his career best of 25 rebounds against the Pistons plus also contributed 18 points and two blocked shots. All five of Utah's starting-five average in double digits but PG Ricky Rubio (12.8 & 6.2 APG) missed a fourth straight game with starter with a hamstring injury. Yes, the Jazz are 4-0 without him but his absence is NOT good news. Also, reserves Dante Exum (7.4) and Raul Neto (4.9) are sidelined. LA fell to New Orleans on Monday but SF Danilo Gallinari ((19.7 & 6.1) has scored 20 or more points in six of the past eight games after recording 25 against the Pelicans and he is averaging 20.3 points during the stretch.PF Tobias Harris leads the team in scoring (20.8) and rebounding (8.0), while sixth-man Williams (18.6 & 4.9 APG) continues to be a major force. Coming off the bench (like Williams) and also making a huge impact is power forward Montrezl Harrell (16.0 & 6.8). He scored 26 points vs the Pelicans and has exceeded 20 points in three of the past four games, averaging 21.5 points during the span. Utah comes in off four straight wins (all at home) and this trip to Staples Center represents the team's LONE road contest in a nine-game stretch (Jazz return home for another four-game homestand, beginning Friday). I realize that the Jazz have won the last three meetings with the Clippers but that comes after losing 19 of the previous 21 matchups! "We just gotta stop putting ourselves in these holes," Harrell told reporters after the loss to the Pelicans. "Yeah, we do a great job of coming back and fighting and getting back into it, but we're running out of gas. We're using so much energy and we're doing so much fighting to put ourselves just within three (or) five." No Rubio and playing its ONLY road game in a nine-game stretch is NOT a good situation for heh Jazz. The Clippers shoot the ball extremely well, making 47.4% of their FGs (6th), including 38.8% on threes (4th). LA is averaging 116.2 PPG at Staples Center this season and "gets things right" in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-19 | Kansas State v. Oklahoma -5 | Top | 74-61 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 27 m | Show |
My 10* Conference Crusher (Big-12) is on Oklahoma at 6:55 ET. Kansas St got off to 0-2 start to Big 12 play, as the 6-10 Wade (13.6 & 7.7) was sidelined since mid-December. The Wildcats lost by 20 points at home to Texas and then by six at then-No. 11 Texas Tech. However, KSU rebounded in a big way on Jan 9 night by rallying from a 21-point second-half deficit to defeat West Virginia, 71-69. Kansas St then won 58-57 this past Saturday at then-No. 20 Iowa St. The 12-4 (2-2) Wildcats will now play the No. 20th-ranked team on the road for the second consecutive game. Tonight's game is in Norman against No. 20 Oklahoma. 6-7 junior Kristian Doolittle hit the game-winning basket with less than three seconds left to help the Sooners claim a 76-74 victory over TCU Saturday, evening Oklahoma's record to 2-2 in the Big-12 and 13-3, overall. Kansas State received a boost from the return of 6-10 forward Dean Wade (12.4 & 7.9) last Saturday, as while he scored just two points on 1-of-5 shooting, his impact came by grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Senior guard Barry Brown Jr. was named Big 12 Player of the Week for the first time in his career Monday, after he scored the game-winning baskets in both of his team’s victories last week. Brown scored a season-high 29 points to lead Kansas State to a school record 21-point comeback in last Wednesday’s 71-69 win against West Virginia and followed that up by scoring 18 of the Wildcats’ last 21 points in Saturday’s victory at Iowa St. Also in double digits are guard Stokes (10.9) and 6-5 SF Sneed (10.1 & 5.5). Kristian Doolittle recorded his first double-double since his freshman season (24 & 10) in the win over TCU. He clearly seems to be finding his rhythm, having scored at least 12 points in five of his last six games. He's joined up front by the 6-9 Manek (11.6 & 7.4) and then there is Oklahoma's trio of senior guards. The 6-4 James leads the team in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (7.7) plus is joined on the perimeter by Reynolds (9.5) and Calixte (8.9). The Wildcats return most of the key pieces from a team that advanced to the Elite Eight last season but Wade is nowhere near 100 percent, after missing six games. The Wildcats are just 1-3 SU on the road, where they are averaging only 58.0 PPG. That's hardly good news when a facing a second straight ranked opponent away from home. Meanwhile, the Sooners are one of three Big 12 teams who are undefeated at home this season, going 7-0 sU (6-1 ATS). Oklahoma has won 21 of its last 23 games at Lloyd Noble Center plus the home team has won the last SEVEN games in the Sooners-Wildcats series. One last thing. Lon Kruger usually has his Oklahoma squad well-focused for games vs his alma mater K-State and the Sooners are back to the old-style Kruger teams. Oklahoma is back to placing value on floor spacing, ball movement, and several scoring sources, rather than relying too much on Trae Young, ala a year ago. Good luck...Larry |
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01-15-19 | Florida v. Mississippi State -3 | Top | 68-71 | Push | 0 | 12 h 20 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Miss St at 7:00 ET. Mississippi State dropped from No. 14 to No. 24 in the latest AP poll, after losing its first two SEC games. The 12-3 Bulldogs began SEC play with an 87-82 overtime loss at South Carolina and then lost at home to Ole Miss 81-77 on Saturday. MSU looks to avoid an 0-3 start in SEC play in tonight's home contest with Florida. The 9-6 Gators are in danger of going 1-3 in conference action for the first time since the 1996-97 season and will be playing their second consecutive game against a ranked team. Florida lost at home to No. 3 Tennessee 78-67 this past Saturday. The Gators led the Vols 56-53 with a little more than eight minutes remaining but the Volunteers took the lead for good with 5:34 left. Tennessee shot 57.7 percent from the floor in the second half. Florida has had trouble closing in each of its SEC games. South Carolina rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Gators in their conference opener and then, Arkansas cut a 16-point deficit to two before Florida made late free throws to hold on for the 57-51 victory. The Gators are an outstanding defensive team (61.2 PPG allowed ranks 12th) but the offense struggles. Florida's two leading scorers are guards Allen (11.3) and Locke (10.4) plus the team's best frontcourt player is 6-9 center Hayes, who averages modest totals of 6.8 PPG and 6.0 RPG. Ole Miss led Miss St by as many as eight points before the Bulldogs made a comeback to even the score with a little more than a minute remaining. However, Ole Miss guard Breein Tyree got free against the Bulldogs' defense for a layup and added two free throws to complete the scoring. I've always been a coach that believes defense wins first," Bulldogs coach Ben Howland told reporters after the Ole Miss setback. "We really did a poor job of defending here in the last few games and even our efficiency defensively on the year is not even close to what we're doing offensively. Defensively, we've got to get better. ... This is two games in a row now where we've had the power forward on the opposing team have career nights against our defense." Guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (17.1 & 5.7) continues to be the go-to guy and he scored a team-high 18 points against Ole Miss, his seventh straight game in double figures and his 14th this season. Two more guards average in double digits, PG Peters (13.5 & 6.1 APG ) and a second Weatherspoon, Nick (10.7). The 6-10 Holman (12.7 & 8.4) makes it four players in double digits and is the Bulldogs' leading rebounder. I realize that Florida has won the last eight meetings in this SEC rivalry but I'm not convinced that Florida can score enough to beat Miss St. This is just Florida's third true road game of the season and the Gators have averaged a pathetic 58.5 PPG in the first two. The Bulldogs average 80.1 PPG (48th) on the season and here at home (where they are 8-1 SU), are outscoring opponents 86.3-to-69.7 PPG. Expect Miss St to rebound off its back-to-back losses. Good luck...Larry |
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01-14-19 | Nebraska v. Indiana -2.5 | Top | 66-51 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 14 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on Indiana at 6:30 ET. A pair of 12-4 teams square off tonight at Indianapolis' Assembly Hall, as Nebraska (2-3 in Big Ten play) takes on Indiana (3-2 in Big Ten play). The Cornhuskers avoided a third straight defeat with Thursday's 70-64 triumph over Penn State, one that extended their home winning streak to 20 games, equaling a school record. Nebraska had dropped a heartbreaker at Maryland on Jan 2 (74-72) and fell to 0-3 on the road in Big Ten play four days later at then-No. 25 Iowa, before ending its short skid with a victory against Penn State. Indiana went 6-0 in December and opened January with a win over lowly Illinois at Assembly Hall but the Hoosiers followed their most recent victory with a 74-63 loss at second-ranked Michigan on Jan 6, then blew a 14-point first-half advantage in Friday's frustrating 78-75 loss at Maryland. Nebraska head coach Tim Miles praised 6-8 junior Isaiah Roby (11.4 & 6.6) in the win over Penn State, as he finished with a career-high 22 points and set or tied season highs in both rebounds (11) and blocked shots (four) in 38 minutes (it marked his first double-double of the season). Roby is joined up front by the 6-9 Copeland (14.3 & 5.3), while the backcourt of Palmer (19.5-4.0-3.1) and PG Watson (13.4-4.1-4.1), is impressive. Miles has his team playing excellent defense, as Nebraska allows 61.4 PPG (13th) on 38.4% shooting (14th). Indiana made all 16 of its free throws and committed only seven turnovers on Friday but the Hoosiers allowed 18 offensive rebounds and surrendered 16 consecutive points early in the second half, en route to the setback at Maryland. "We just couldn't get it done on the glass tonight. We just gave them 18 second shots and that was the difference in the game," head coach Archie Miller said. Indiana is led by guard Romeo Langford (18.8 & 5.5) and the 6-8 Juwan Morgan (16.5 & 7.8). Three more guards average between 6.9 and 8.8 PPG plus the 6-7 Smith (8.5 & 4.1) helps Morgan in the frontcourt. This game marks a tough stretch for the Cornhuskers, as they'll play three ranked teams over four games—Indiana (No. 22), Michigan State (No. 6), Rutgers and then Ohio State (No. 16). Yes, Nebraska has won the last two meetings with Indiana but the Hoosiers had won 12 of the previous 16 all-time meetings. Indiana not only plays solid D (65.6 PPG allowed ranks 45th) but it shoots 51.8% from the floor (2nd-best in the nation). Indiana is 10-0 at home this season, the program's best home start since winning all 17 games at Assembly Hall in 2015-16. The Hoosiers are shooting a nation-best 55.9 percent and averaging 82.3 points at home, while allowing 60.4 PPG (just one opponent has scored more than 67 points!). At this price, Indiana is a STRONG play. Good luck...Larry |
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01-13-19 | Butler v. Xavier +1.5 | Top | 69-70 | Win | 100 | 6 h 57 m | Show |
My 10* Eye-Opener is on Xavier at 12:00 ET. Full, detailed analysis by 7:00 ET Sunday morning. |
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01-12-19 | Washington v. Colorado -1.5 | Top | 77-70 | Loss | -106 | 14 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Colorado at 10:00 ET. The Washington Huskies will travel to the CU Events Center to take on the Colorado Buffaloes this Saturday night in Pac-12 action. Washington (11-4 / 2-0 Pac-12) is heating up at a good time as it will carry a season-best four-game win streak into tonight's road test at Colorado. Three of Washington’s last four wins have been by at least 16 points, including Thursday night’s 69-53 smothering of Utah, which snapped the Huskies’ five-game losing streak in Salt Lake City. Colorado is hoping it has its season back on track, after a 92-60 rout of visiting Washington State on Thursday night. The 10-5 Buffs (1-2 Pac-12) had lost four of their previous five contests and failed to top 68 points in any of those outings. Washington played its matchup zone defense to near-perfection, holding the Utes to season-low 53 points on 33.3-percent shooting, including 6-of-30 from three-point range. The Huskies are allowing the second-fewest points (65.6 per game / that's 48th in the nation) in the conference and are tied with Oregon for the field-goal percentage defensive lead at 39.3 (27th). Offensively, PG Jaylen Nowell (16.5 & 3.4 APG) and fellow David Crisp (10.9), plus 6-9 forward Noah Dickerson (14.4 & 6.6) are averaging double figures. Sophomore forward Nahziah Carter (8.5 & 3.5)also got into the act Thursday, scoring a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. 6-7 sophomore swingman Tyler Bey (11.7 & 9.0) had a career-high 26 points in Colorado's win over Wash St, plus the Buffs received a season-high 17points from reserve guard Shane Gatling (8.5). PG McKinley Wright leads in scoring (13.6) and assists (5.4), while 6-10 center Siewert (11.8 & 5.1) gives the Buffs three double digit scorers. Colorado shot 54.7 percent in topping 90 points for the first time since Nov 28. Washington has won seven of the 12 meetings since Colorado joined the Pac-12 in 2011, including 82-59 (home) and 72-62 (road) wins to sweep the season series a year ago. However, the Huskies are playing just their fourth true road game of the season (Utah victory was the team's first win), while the Buffaloes’ victory Thursday was their first home game since Dec 8. The win upped their record in Boulder to 7-0 on the season, where the Buffs have outscored opponents 89.0-to-69.3 PPG. A handful of tech trends note that Washington is just 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games following an ATS win, while the Buffaloes are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games and 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games vs a team with a losing road record.Colorado gets the cash. Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-19 | Spurs v. Thunder -5 | Top | 112-122 | Win | 100 | 10 h 47 m | Show |
My NBA 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the OKC Thunder at 8:05 ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder will get a chance to redeem themselves quickly, after suffering a crushing double-overtime loss in San Antonio on Thursday. Thursday's meeting was an "instant classic," as San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge scored a career-high 56 points on 20-of-33 shooting while adding nine rebounds and four blocks to lead his team to a 154-147 victory. FYI... Aldridge wasn't the only player making history on Thursday, as Russell Westbrook recorded 24 points, a career-high 24 assists and 13 rebounds to mark the second 20-10-20 game of his career. Westbrook is the only player besides Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson to post multiple 20-10-20 games (not bad company). San Antonio had shot 36.1 percent from the floor, including 11-of-27 from three-point range, in a 96-86 loss at Memphis on Wednesday but the very next night at OKC, made 16-of-19 from three-point range, setting an NBA record for the highest percentage (84.2) by a team with at least 15 attempts from beyond the arc. Spurs PG Derrick White scored a career-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting on Friday. However, White averages 8.5 PPG and 3.5 APG on the season. DeMar DeRozan (22.2-6.2-6.5) and Aldridge (20.7 & 8.6) lead the nightly charge for San Antonio but as always with a Pop-coached team, "the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts." Westbrook is again averaging a triple-double (21.3-10.8-10.7) but Paul George (26.9 & 8.) is the team's leading scorer. Center Adams (15.4 & 10.1) is having a very good year , as his backup PG Schroder (15.2 & 4.4 APG) and PF Grant (12.6 & 5.0). Let's also note that the Thunder's Terrance Ferguson was forced into the starting lineup thanks to the prolonged injury of Andre Roberson and has been a top-flight defender all year but has struggled on offense (5.2 PPG). Ferguson was shooting just 30.2 percent from behind the three-point line before going 11 of 14 in the last two games, including 7 of 10 in the loss at San Antonio (he's scored 35 points in his last two games). Yes, the Spurs have learned to be an excellent team with a new "cast of characters" but San Antonio has not been a good road team (7-13 SU on the season, including 3-6 in its last nine). I have to believe the Thunder can't wait to avenge that double-OT loss from Thursday here at Chesapeake Energy Arena. I will NOT ignore the fact that OKC is 16-4 SU and 15-5 ATS at home vs San Antonio since the Spurs beat the Thunder in their playoff tussle in the Conference Finals in 2012 Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-19 | Ole Miss v. Mississippi State -5.5 | Top | 81-77 | Loss | -115 | 7 h 23 m | Show |
My 10* Rivalry Game of the Month is on Miss St at 1:00 ET. What's going on here? Ole Miss was picked to finish last in the SEC preseason media poll but the Rebels, under first-year head coach Kermit Davis have opened the season 12-2, including 2-0 in SEC play. More importantly to sports bettors, Ole Miss is a remarkable 13-1 ATS (so much for the experts!). Ole Miss has yet to enter the AP top-25 but would if it could win here in Starkville against in-state rival Miss St. The Bulldogs are also 12-2 but 0-1 in SEC play, as they saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end in stunning fashion with an 87-82 overtime loss at South Carolina this past Tuesday. Junior guard Breein Tyree (team-high 17.4 PPG) was named SEC Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 31 points against Vanderbilt on Jan. 5 but was held to five and was 1-for-10 from the floor in Ole miss' 82-67 home win over No. 11 Auburn on Tuesday. Senior guard Terence Davis (16.0 PPG and team-highs of 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists) is averaging 19.3 points in his last three games. 6-7 freshman KJ Buffen (6.6 & 5.4) scored 16 versus Auburn and has helped the Rebels to a plus-7.1 rebounding margin that was 25th nationally through Thursday's games. A third guard, sophomore Shuler (10.6 & 4.1) make three double digit scorers for the Rebels, who average 79.7 PPG (62nd). Senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (17.1 & 5.5) is MSU's leading scorer (team averages 80.3 PPG to rank 53rd). Two more guards average in double digits, PG Peters (13.4 & 6.2 APG ) and a second Weatherspoon, Nick (10.6) The 6-10 Holman (13.0 & 8.7) makes it four players in double digits and is the Bulldogs' leading rebounder. Here's a couple of notes to consider. The Bulldogs have won 12 straight when Quinndary Weatherspoon scores 20 or more points, something he's done six times this season. Mississippi State is also 9-0 this season when junior guard Tyson Carter (9.9 PPG) scores 10 or more and his average is fourth-best among SEC bench players. The Bulldogs lead the series 143-115 but the Rebels have won EIGHT of the last 10 meetings in the SEC's most-played rivalry. However, I have to believe the Rebels are not quite as good as their record (how could they be?). Ole Miss beat one ranked team on Wednesday, can it really beat another on Saturday? Here's the rub. If the Bulldogs had hit another shot or two, they could have beaten South Carolina. Instead, they missed an opportunity to win in regulation and another to tie at the end of overtime in that 87-82 road loss on Tuesday. The Bulldogs had an chance to win at the end of regulation, but a contested driving layup by Lamar Peters rimmed out in the final seconds. They were down three in the final 10 seconds of overtime when a turnover by Quinndary Weatherspoon turned into a dunk for the Gamecocks. Notably, MSU's bench scored a season-low two points, making just 1 of 6 shots from the floor. A date with hated-Ole Miss is "just what the doctor ordered" for the Bulldogs. Miss St in a R-O-U-T! Good luck...Larry |
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01-11-19 | Hornets v. Blazers -6.5 | Top | 96-127 | Win | 100 | 15 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Por Blazers at 10:05 ET. The 19-21 Charlotte Hornets will visit the Moda Center Friday night to take on the 25-17 Portland Trail Blazers. Since mid-December, the Hornets are 5-8 (4-9 ATS), while the Blazers are 10-4 (8-6 ATS). Charlotte's visit to the Pacific Northwest is the fourth stop on a six-game trip for a team that has dropped six of its last nine games. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers have won five of their past six games and they shot 56.6 percent from the floor in Wednesday's 124-112 home win over the Chicago Bulls. Starting shooting guard Jeremy Lamb (hamstring) returned to the lineup for teh Hornets in Tuesday's 128-109 in LA to teh Clippers, after a two-game absence. Lamb (15.3 & 5.6) recorded 16 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes and he's an important cog. "He looked solid. He looked healthy," Charlotte head coach James Borrego told reporters afterward. "I didn't feel like he was limited at all. He had a good performance and I think we've got him back in the mix now." Backup shooting guard Malik Monk (10.8) scored 24 points against the Clippers for his fifth 20-point effort of the season.However, the problem for Charlotte all season has been the lack of consistent scoring other than PG Kemba Walker (25.1-4.3-5.8). The Blazers own a dynamic backcourt duo in Lillard (25.9-4.5-6.1) and McCollum (20.9) but it isn't going unnoticed just how well center Nurkic continues to play. He's averaging 15.3 & 10.4, while shooting 51.1% from the floor. Portland has at least 25 assists in a season-best four consecutive games, after producing 28 in its 12-point win against the Bulls The Moda Center in Portland has been a 'house of horrors' for teh Hornets for a decade. as the Blazers have won 10 in a row (9-1 ATS) when hosting the Hornets. The Trail Blazers are 22-6 at home versus the Hornet, all-time. Not much changes tonight. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-10-19 | Pepperdine v. Santa Clara -2 | Top | 64-67 | Win | 100 | 17 h 18 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Week is on Santa Clara at 11:00 ET. The 8-8 Pepperdine Waves and the 9-7 Santa Clara Broncos meet in WCC college basketball action from the Leavey Center in Santa Clara on Thursday night. Both schools are 1-1 in league play. Pepperdine comes into this game looking to get back above .500 after falling to 8-8 with a 72-69 loss to 14-2 San Francisco in its last outing. 6-6 guard Kameron Edwards has been in and out of the lineup this season but had 19 points along with team-highs of 11 rebounds and four assists. He's played in just seven games but is averaging 14.7 & 6.3. Santa Clara Broncos needs to rebound as well, getting blown out in a 91-48 loss at Gonzaga in its last outing. PG Ross leads Pepperdine in scoring (18.9) and assists (7.2), leading six double digit scorers. Kameron's younger brother Kessler (a 6-8 freshman), is among that group of six, averaging 10.7 & 4.9. The Waves average a so-so 78.9 PPG (75th) and struggle on the defensive end, allowing 74.2 PPG (247th). The Broncos were totally outclassed by the Bulldogs, with SF Keshawn Justice leading the team with 14 points, the 6-8 while Josip Vrankic added 11 points and Tahj Eaddy added 10 points, rounding out a trio of double-digit scorers for the Broncos in the loss. Guard Eaddy (16.3) leads the team in scoring, teamed with PG Trey Wertz (11.8 & 4.9 APG). Joining Justice (10.8) in the frontcourt are the 6-8 Vrankic (12.9 & 5.5) and the 6-7 Martin (6.9 & a team-high 9.6 RPG). SE Missouri transfer Eaddy (16 ppg) plus freshman wings Wertz & Justice have upped the athleticism quotient for Santa Clara, allowing head coach Herb Sendek to not miss the team's leading returning scorer KJ Feagin (17.5). Santa Clara couldn't stay with Gonzaga but the Broncos had won EIGHT of nine prior o that loss (including SIX straight). It's worth noting that Sendek had his team play a challenging early season schedule. The Broncos own wins over USC and Washington St plus have played Pac-12 schools Cal and Washington, along with the Big Ten's Minnesota. Meanwhile, Lorenzo Romar's Waves have yet to play a Power-5 opponent. What's more, Santa Clara must surely have this date circled, losing badly in last year's WCC tourney to Pepperdine (85-69), after winning both regular season meetings. Good luck...Larry |
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01-10-19 | Clippers v. Nuggets -5.5 | Top | 100-121 | Win | 100 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* NBA Game of the Week is on the Den Nuggets at 9:05 ET. The Denver Nuggets went 46-36 last season, the franchise's first winning season since 2012-13 (George Karl's final year). However, the Nuggets failed to make the postseason last year, for the fifth consecutive season. Therefore, it's impossible NOT be surprised that the Nuggets own the West's best record at the mid-point of the current season rapidly approaches, at 27-12. Denver welcomes the LA Clippers to Pepsi Center tonight, a team which sports a 24-16 record and comes in having won seven of its last 10, after a three-game winning streak. Los Angeles claimed a 128-109 home win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday and has won by double digits in each of its last three wins. Sixth-man Lou Williams (18.5 & 4.9 APG) had 27 points and 10 assists for his third double-double of the season, one of four Clippers to score 20 or more points. Leading the way offensively is PF Tobias Harris, who was acquired in the Griffin trade. He is averaging 21.1 & 8.0 on the season. The team's No. 2 scorer is former Denver standout Danilo Gallinari (19.5 & 6.2). LA ranks fourth in the NBA by averaging 116.0 PPG. Denver claimed a 103-99 road win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday, as center Nikola Jokic had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season . He leads the team in scoring (19.2), rebounding (10.1) and assists). "Hell of a win," Nuggets head coach Michael Malone told reporters afterward of a victory that came on the second end of a back-to-back that began with a 125-113 loss to the Houston Rockets. Jamal Murray (18.4) is the team's second-leading and the Nuggets are hoping gaurd Gary Harris (16.0) and PF Paul Millsap (13.2 & 6.7) stay healthy. Millsap has been back for six straight but Harris, after playing three straight, was out vs Miami with a hamstring issue and is not expected to play tonight. These teams split two meetings in Los Angeles earlier this season but in the most recent game, Denver was routed 132-11 by Clippers at Staples on Dec 22. Anyone really think that LA will hit 57% from floor (including 10 of-20 on threes) on the road, like the Clippers in that late-December romp at home? Note that Denver, never known for its defense, is showing a different side this season, allowing just 105.5 PPG (4th-best). The Nuggets are 16-3 at Pepsi Center, outscoring opponents 112.8-to-101.7. Lay it. Good luck...Larry |
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01-09-19 | Butler v. Seton Hall -3 | Top | 75-76 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Big East Game of the Year is on Seton Hall at 8:30 ET. Seton Hall finished with 22 wins last season, after losing in the NCAA's second round. However, Kevin Willard's Pirates lost four starters off that team. Seton Hall served notice as a Big East contender by bolting out of the blocks to begin conference play before getting tripped up in its last contest (a 75-74 loss at Depaul), halting the school's seven-game winning streak. The 11-4 Pirates look to get back on track on Wednesday, when they host Butler at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Butler won 21 games last season and like Seton Hall, lost in the NCAA's second round. The 10-5 Bulldogs snapped a two-game skid with an 84-69 triumph versus Creighton on Saturday, evening their Big East record at 1-1 (Seton Hall is 2-1 in league play). Junior guard Kamar Baldwin (16.5 & 5.4) erupted for a season-high 28 points for Butler on Saturday, making 11-of-18 shots. Senior guard Paul Jorgensen ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.5 PPG with two big men splitting time at center. The 6-11 Joey Brunk (8.5 & 4.5) and the 6-10 Nate Fowler (5.3 & 3.9) are a solid duo plus the 6-7 Tucker (a Duke transfer) just became eligible and and is adding 7.7 & 4.5 in six games. Junior guard Myles Powell (22.2) struggled to find his shot with a 4-for-13 performance from the floor and finished with 16 points in Seton Hall's 75-74 loss to DePaul on Sunday. Powell is surrounded by guards McKnight (8.8 & 3.1 APG) amd Cale (9.2 & a team-high 7.8 RPG). Seton Hall's size will give Butler's frontcourt fits, led by the trio of 6-10 Mamukelashvili (9.7 & 7.3), the 6-8 Nzei (9.6 & 5.3) and the 6-11 Thompson (6.2 & 2.4). Seton Hall won both regular season meetings with Butler last season, then lost 75-74 in the Big East Tourney. Powell mad just 3-of-9 shots in that Big East tournament quarterfinal loss.I had butler on Saturday (against Creighton) and noted the team's prowess at home, as Butler's win make the Bulldogs 8-1 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season, after going 53--12 at home the previous four seasons. However, Butler's played just two true road games this season, losing at St Louis and Florida, getting outscored 70.5-to-47.5 PPG! Seton Hall showed its potential with an 84-83 win over Kentucky at MSG back on Dec 8 and makes a statement here, in the Big East. Good luck...Larry |
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01-08-19 | Alabama v. LSU -6 | Top | 79-88 | Win | 100 | 13 h 23 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on LSU at 9:00 ET. Alabama's football team got 'punked' by Clemson in last night's CFP championship game and the school's basketball team will visit Baton Rogue tonight, looking to avoid a letdown off its 77-75 home win this past Saturday over then-No. 13 Kentucky. The 10-3 Crimson Tide (1-0 SEC) will take on 10-3 LSU, which will be playing its SEC opener. The Tigers problem could be 'rust,' as LSU hasn't played a game since defeating Louisiana Monroe 81-69 back on Dec 28. Alabama coughed up a 22-point lead with just over 14 1/2 minutes remaining back on Dec 4 in an 83-80 loss to Georgia State when the Panthers buried a three-pointer as time expired. I was almost, "deja vu all over again" this past Saturday, as Kentucky nearly clawed all the way back from an 11-point deficit with just over three minutes left at Alabama. However, the Crimson Tide got the stop they needed this time, when Kentucky guard Tyler Herro's three-point attempt bounced off the rim in the waning seconds. Guard Tevin Mack (9.9 PPG) almost single-handedly kept the Crimson Tide in the game early Saturday, going 6-for-6 from three-point range en route to 20 of his team's 38 first-half points (he scored just two pints in the second-half but finished with a season-high 22 points). the 6-9 Donta Hall (11.1 &8.3 rebounds) produced this third consecutive double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Herbert Jones (7.5 & 4.8) enjoyed the best all-round performance of his career against Kentucky, finishing with 10 points, eight rebounds and a career-best six assists without a turnover in 23 minutes.'Bama's leading scorer, freshman PG Lewis (14.8 & 3.1 APG), made just 4 of 14 shots (14 points). LSU averages 80.7 PPG ((50th) on some excellent shooting (49.0% ranks 25th). Head coach Will Wade uses an eight-man rotation, with players averaging from 6.0-to-13.5 PPG. Guard Mays (13.5 & 3,4) leads the way, followed by the 6-10 Reid (12.6 & 5.8), PG Waters (12.5 & 5.5 APG) and guard Smart (10.2) in double digits. After finding his groove while coming off the bench the previous two games, Waters returned to the starting lineup against ULM and scored 11 points, added 10 assists and produced a career-high tying eight steals. The Tigers' four freshmen - Naz Reid, Emmitt Williams, Ja'vonte Smart and Darius Days - combined for 50 points, 27 rebounds and five blocks! Alabama almost surely can be expected to have a letdown here and LSU is a perfect 8-0 SU at home on the season, outscoring opponents 84.4-to-66.2 PPG. The Tigers have won 15 straight in the Maravich Center and win No. 16 ina row comes "with room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-08-19 | Wolves v. Thunder -8 | Top | 119-117 | Loss | -100 | 13 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner i on the OKC Thunder at 8:05 ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves fired head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau on Sunday, after he led the team to a 108-86 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The T-wolves never "came together" under Thibodeau, as the drama surrounding Jimmy Butler before his Nov 12 trade to Philadelphia, and dropping six of seven games during one stretch in December, eventually cost him his job. "We've gone ... halfway through the season, and I don't think we're where we thought we would be, or where we think we should be," Minnesota owner Glen Taylor told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "We still have hopes to get into the playoffs, and I think with half the season left, let's see if this change will make a difference." The Thunder aren't dealing with that sort of organizational upheaval but will need to bounce back after a shocking 116-98 loss to the Washington Wizards at home on Sunday. "We did well on the road, we had some big games that we won and just one of those nights you come home and you see an opponent like the Wizards ... you just fall into that trap," Oklahoma City forward Paul George told reporters. The 19-21 T-wolves named assistant Ryan Saunders (son of former coach Flip Saunders) as the interim coach, while GM Scott Layden will take over some of Thibodeau's front office responsibilities. The Timberwolves are winners of back-to-back games and five of their last eight but this team is two games under .500, coming off a 47-35 season. Minnesota is the very definition of average, scoring 111.4 PPG (14th) and allowing 110.8 PPG (17th). OKC was a 10-point favorite over the Wizards on Sunday and while Russell Westbrook posted his third triple-double in the last four games with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists, he committed eight of the team's 15 turnovers in the surprising 18-point loss. George added 20 points in the loss, his the 14th straight game in which he scored 20 or more. George (26.8-8.0-4.0) leads the team in scoring, while Westbrook (21.1-11.0-10.1) is again averaging a triple-double. However, notable this season is the solid play of backup PG Schroder (15.2), center Adams (15.2 & 10.2) and PF Grant (12.4 & 4.8) plus the fact that OKC is now one of the league's better defensive teams (105.8 PPG ranks 5th). OKC opened the season 0-4 but now sits 25-14. The Thunder are 13-5 SU at home, while the T-wolves are just 5-15 SU on the road, Expect a VERY focused OKC team here, as not only are the Thunder coming off an embarrassing home toss to the troubled Wizards (Washington is just 16-24) but they HAVE to remember the fact that Minnesota earned a 114-112 win at Oklahoma City on Dec 23, behind 30 points from Andrew Wiggins. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-07-19 | Nuggets v. Rockets -1 | Top | 113-125 | Win | 100 | 13 h 55 m | Show |
My 10* 35-Club Play is on the Hou Rockets at 8:05 ET. The Houston Rockets had their six-game winning streak come to an end with Saturday's 110-101 loss at Portland, just the Rockets' second defeat in the team's last 13 games. Notably, James Harden's run of 40-point games came to an end at five straight, as he finished with "just" 38 points! However, he’s had at least 35 points and five assists in eight straight games, breaking an NBA record held by Oscar Robertson. The 22-16 Rockets welcome Denver to Houston Monday night, with the Nuggets arriving with a 26-11 record. That represents the West's top mark and Denver arrives on a five-game winning streak after a 123-110 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Pepsi Center on Saturday. Denver's victory over Charlotte was the team's 10th consecutive home win (note: The Nuggets' previous home loss came on Nov 13 against the Rockets). The Nuggets are finding they have their own superstar in center Nikola Jokic, who scored a season-high 39 points on Saturday. He leads the team in scoring (18), rebounding (10.0) and in assists (7.5). Guard Jamal Murray was held to eight points on 3-of-13 shooting on Saturday but is the team's second-leading scorer at 18.5 PPG. Barton remains sidelined for Denver but head coach Michael Malone has gotten guard Gary Harris and PF Paul Millsap back. Both are being worked back into the rotation after missing nearly a month and three weeks, respectively. Harris (16.1) played his third straight game since returning against the Hornets and scored 17 points while adding six rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes. Millsap (13.4 & 6.7) has been back for four games, averaging 10.0 & 4.2. Houston knows all about playing through injuries, as well. PG Paul (15.6 & 8.0 APG) has missed the last seven games and backup guard Gordon (15.6) has missed the last three. Houston won six in a row without Paul, before Saturday's loss. Harden averaged 42.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 9.5 assists while shooting 41.9 percent on three-pointers over those first six games without Paul. Since Gordon has been out, recent addition Rivers has averaged 42 minutes and 17.0 points in starting three in a row, while swingman Green has chipped in 15.7 PPG over the last three. Backing Harden game in and game out is center Capela, who is having a career season (17.2 & 12.9), He's had 21 rebounds in each of his last two plus has topped 20 rebounds in FOUR of his last seven games. No way I'll buck the Rockets here, as since losing 128-108 at home to Dallas on Nov 28, Houston is 9-0 SU and 8-0-1 ATS at home.Yes, Denver has the West's best record and comes in on a five-game winning streak, but the Nuggets last four wins have come over 9-32 Phoenix, 10-29 New York, 19-20 Sacramento and 19-20 Charlotte. Harden leads Houston to yet another home win, with ease! Good luck...Larry |
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01-06-19 | Illinois v. Northwestern -7.5 | Top | 66-68 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Daytime Dominator is on Northwestern at 1:00 ET. Both Illinois and Northwestern 'limp' into this Sunday afternoon game. Illinois has the worst record in the Big Ten at 4-10 and is one of five teams (Northwestern included) without a conference victory. However, while Northwestern is still seeking its first conference win, the Wildcats are a respectable 9-5 on the season, overall. The Illini have dropped three straight games overall, after hanging around in a 73-65 loss on Thursday night at Indiana. Illinois has four double digit scorers plus two others averaging 8.6 and 7.1 PPG. Guards Frazier (15.5) and Jordan (10.1 & 5.2) are joined by freshman SF Dusunmu (12.5 & 4.5) and the 6-9 Bezhanishvili (10.3 & 4.9). However, for all that offensive balance, the Illini average only 73.9 PPG, which ranks 181st. The Wildcats weren't able to handle Michigan State the last time out, in an 81-55 beatdown. The 6-7 Vic Law averages a team-high 17.9 PPG but was held to season-low five points vs the Spartans. The 6-8 Dererk Pardon (14.2 & 8.4) is is one of the most accurate shooters in the country (6.8%) and made 9-of-15 shots while scoring 19 points in the loss to MSU. He's joined up front by the 6-10 Taylor (12.5) and the 6-7 Turner (9.4). Northwestern is easily the much better team and coming off that humiliating 81-55 loss at powerful Michigan State (Spartans are 13-2 and ranked 8th), should bounce back here vs an Illinois team that is now 4-17 in Big Ten play since the start of last season. It didn't show in the game at Michigan St but Northwestern is a defensive-minded team, allowing just 63.0 PPG (24th), whlel holding opponents to 28.9% on threes (25th). Northwestern comes in 7-2 at home, where the Wildcats are allowing only 58.2 PPG. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-05-19 | BYU v. St. Mary's -6.5 | Top | 66-88 | Win | 100 | 17 h 56 m | Show |
My 10* WCC Game Of The Year is on St. Mary’s (11:00 EST). Randy Bennett's first six seasons at St Mary's resulted in just one postseason appearance (a first round NCAA loss in 2005). However, he's led the Gaels to 11 straight postseason berths entering this season. That streak could end in 2019, as St Mary's checks in just 9-7, after a 76-72 loss at San Francisco (note the Dons are 13-2 TY). BYU comes in 9-7 as well, after a 90-87 win at Pacific. BYU can score, averaging 84.9 PPG (19th), as the the 6-8 Childs leads the Cougars in scoring (21.7) and rebounding (10.1). Guards Haws (17.7 & 5.1 APG) and Hardnett (11.6) check in behind him. However, BYU allows 79.3 PPG (318th). Guard Jordan Ford has doubled his average from last season (up to 22.8 from 11.1 PPG) and up front, the 6-8 Fitts (14.3 & 8.2) and the 6-10 Hunter (10.1 & 5.9) are a formidable duo. St Mary's entered this season 54-5 at McKeon Pavilion the previous three seasons and even in this 'down' year, St Mary's is still winning at home, going 7-2, while outscoring its opponents by 82.2-to-64.6 PPG. BYU's win at Pacific (a non-cover) was its first road win of the season, as the Cougars limp in 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS on the road this year, allowing a whopping 95.2 PPG. What's more, the Gaels have this game circled after BYU beat them 85-72 in the WCC tourney, following a series sweep in the regular season by St Mary's. The loss was a 'killer,' as despite a 30-6 record, St Mary's didn't get an at-large NCAA bid. Throw in the fact that the favorite is 9-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings between the two rivals and I'm "all over" St Mary's. Good luck...Larry |
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01-04-19 | Thunder v. Blazers +1 | Top | 111-109 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 42 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Por Trail Blazers at 10:35 ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder opened the season 0-4 but as they visit Moda Center tonight in Portland, OKC sports a 24-13 record, the West's second-best record. The Thunder have won seven of their last 10 games and face a Portland team that has also won seven of 10, leaving them 22-16 on the season (currently own the West's No. 5 seed). The Trail Blazers won all four of last season's meetings and tonight, OKC will be looking to end an eight-game losing streak in Portland. Paul George scored 37 points in Wednesday's 107-100 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers and has now topped 20 points in each of his last 12 games, averaging 32.1 points during the stretch. George leads OKC in scoring on the season at 26.7 PPG. Former MVP Russell Westbrook has been in a shooting slump all season, making 41.6 percent from the floor, only 23.6 percent from three-point range and shooting just 62.6 percent from the free-throw line. However, in the Thunder's 107-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night at Staples Center, Westbrook totaled 14 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, despite going 3-for-20. He became the first player in the NBA in 32 years to notch a triple-double while shooting 15 percent or lower. Westbrook is again averaging a triple-double on the season (20.7-10.9-10.4). OKC ranks 4th in points allowed (105.4 per) and No. 1 in defensive efficiency but will have its hands full with Portland. The Blazers are led by the outstanding guard tandem of Lillard (26.7-4.8-5.8) and McCollum (21.1) plus center Nurkic (14.7 & 10.5) collected a career-best 23 rebounds in the team's Jan 1 victory over Sacramento. He also had 24 points, seven assists, five blocked shots and five steals. Nurkic is averaging 21.5 points, 13 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.8 steals while shooting 56.6 percent from the floor in the team's last four games (3-1). Let me add that the 6-9 PG Aminu is quietly averaging 9.4 & 8.0. Portland is 14-6 SU at home (no need to cover with this line), where it averages 114.0 PPG. How does one ignore the fact that the Blazers won all FOUR of last year's meetings (by an average of 6.5 PPG) or that the Blazers have won SIX straight overall against the Thunder OR that the Thunder haven't tasted victory in Portland since Feb 11, 2014? Good luck...Larry |
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01-04-19 | Ball State v. Toledo -6 | Top | 79-64 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Week is on Toledo at 7:00 ET. Buffalo has rightly been stealing all the MAC headlines (20th-ranked Bulls are 12-1) and Buffalo should easily take the MAC East. However, the MAC West likely features the league's second-best team. Toledo, coming off a 23-11 season, has opened 12-1 and enters its MAC opener on a 10-game winning streak. The Rockets' opponent will be Ball State, which comes in 9-4, off a 19-13 year last season. Ball State can score, averaging 84.5 PPG (211st) on outstanding 51.3% shooting (6th). Guards Persons (16.8-4.0-5.2) and Walton (15.0 & 4.8) form an excellent duo with the 6-8 Teague (14.5 & 7.2) being the team's top front-court performer. However, injuries have sidelined the 6-8 Hazen (6.4 & 4.7) and guard El-Amin (6.3), greatly affecting the team's depth. Defensively, Ball State is worse than average, allowing 72.8 PPG (210th). It's hard not to be impressed by Toledo's start, as the Rockets' most recent game (win) came 77-45 over Penn. That's the same Penn team which earlier this year beat Villanova. Toledo held Penn to 30.5% from the floor, including 5-of-22 three-pointers. Toledo's defense allows just 65.2 PPG (51st) and has been excellent defending the perimeter, as opponents are shooting only 29.2% (28th). Senior guard Jaelan Sanford leads a team with five double digits scorers (great balance) at 17.8 PPG. The 6-6 Willie Jackson averages 11.1 PPG and a team-high 10.7 PPG, while PG Marreon Jackson leads with 4.6 APG (just misses double digits in scoring at 8.8 per). Toledo's early season schedule has been fairly easy but this team has the talent to replicate the 2013-14 team, which won 27 games. Here at home (Savage Arena), the Rockets have opened 7-0, outscoring opponents 84.7-to-60.0 PPG (closest margin has been 13 points!). Ball State could be the MAC's third-best team but I believe there is quite a gap between the Cardinals and Buffalo and Toledo. Ball was highly disappointing in mid-November at the Charleston Classic, losing 73-64 to Va Tech and 79-61 to Alabama, while sqeaking by Appalachian St, a 5-9 team, in OT. The fact that Toledo lost BOTH meetings to Ball State, makes sure the Rockets will be FULLY focused on their MAC opener. Good luck...Larry |
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01-03-19 | Stanford v. UCLA -5.5 | Top | 70-92 | Win | 100 | 16 h 36 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on UCLA at 11:00 ET. UCLA dismissed coach Steve Alford ahead of Thursday’s Pac-12 opener against visiting Stanford, hoping for "new day," following four straight losses. Murry Bartow (son of former UCLA coach Gene Bartow) was named interim coach for the 7-6 Bruins. The 7-5 Stanford Cardinal visit Pauley Pavilion tonight. Stanford's only two losses in its recent stretch have come at Kansas in OT and at San Francisco, which sits a surprising 12-2 on the season to date! Senior 7-2 center Josh Sharma received Pac-12 player of the week honors after recording career highs in points (23) and rebounds (18) in last Saturday’s 93-86 victory over Long Beach State. He struggled offensively early in the season but has averaged 9.7 points over his last seven games and ranks sixth in the conference in field goal percentage at 60.6. He's joined up front by the 6-9 Okpala (16.8 & 6.1), the team's leading scorer, and the 6-9 Da Silva (9.7 & 5.9). Sophomore guard Daejon Davis added 17 points and five assists againts LB State and is the only other player in double digits, averaging 11.8 PPG Bartow takes over a team that has dropped its last four games by an average margin of 15 points and hit a new low with the loss to Liberty, which forced 24 turnovers and dominated the paint. Sophomore guard Kris Wilkes averages 17.5 points to lead the Bruins and fellow sophomore, PG Hands, chips in 11.5 PPG and a team-high 7.0 APG. That perimeter duo is joined by 7-1 freshman Moses Brown, who is averaging 11.5 points and 8.8 rebounds. This UCLA team has the talent and note that the Bruins were picked to finish second in the Pac-12 preseason poll. Doubt that Bartow will get the gig but he figures to be an excellent steadying influence. That's what UCLA needs, RIGHT NOW. Stanford lost its top-two players from last season, forward Travis Reid (19.5 & 87.), who is a graduate transfer at Kentucky, and guard Pickens (14.5). Stanford is 4-12 ATS in the last 16 meetings between these two teams and just 1-8 ATS in the last nine meetings at UCLA. Just what the doctor ordered for the Bruins. UCLA has won 37 of 42 games in Pauley Pavilion since the start of the 2016-17 season. Good luck...Larry |
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01-03-19 | Raptors v. Spurs -1.5 | Top | 107-125 | Win | 100 | 13 h 42 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on the SA Spurs at 8:05 ET. The 28-11 Toronto Raptors will take the NBA's second-best record into this TNT showdown with the 21-17 San Antonio Spurs. Toronto has owned the NBA's best record for most of the season but just recently, the 26-10 Milwaukee Bucks have caught and passed them (.722 to .718). However, Toronto's 13-7 road mark is an NBA-best but the Raptors come to San Antonio with the Spurs playing their beat basketball of the season, having won 10 of 13. Then again, all of the above will take a backseat to Kawhi Leonard making his highly-anticipated return to San Antonio. Leonard was once a beloved figure and NBA Finals MVP for the Spurs but returns as a villain after last season's falling out with the franchise, following seven seasons and the subsequent trade to Toronto. Leonard played in just nine games for San Antonio last season due to a quadriceps injury and the difference in opinions over the treatment options partially resulted in the gulf that couldn't be resolved. Leonard has sure put his injuries (?) behind him with Toronto, averaging 27.3 & 8.2. He has missed nine of 39 games this season but he's been in standout form of late, with a career-best streak of 14 straight 20-point outings, including a career-high 45-point effort Jan 1 vs Utah. Pascal Siakam (14.9 & 6.6) had a career-best 28 points with 10 rebounds in the win over the Jazz. However, All-Star PG Kyle Lowry (14.4-4.5-9.8) didn't play for the eighth time in nine games because of a sore back (not expected to play here) and center Jonas Valanciunas (12.8 & 7.2). The Spurs are on a 10-3 SU and 11-2 ATS run, as they welcome the Raptors to AT&T Center. Leonard's return overshadowed everything but don't forget, DeMar DeRozan felt misled when he was shipped from Toronto to San Antonio after nine seasons in Canada. DeRozan, along with center Jakob Poeltl, were moved to the Spurs from Toronto in the trade that sent Leonard to the Raptors. DeRozan, after some early reservations about the trade, has settled in to become San Antonio's leading scorer (22.9-5.2-5.9). Aldridge (19.8 & 9.0) has been a steady force plus as always with a Pop-coached team, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The Spurs are 15-5 SU and 14-6 ATS at home and owns a 32-12 all-time mark against Toronto including a 18-4 record at home, which includes a current run of NINE straight wins at home over Toronto. For tonight, it's DeRozan over Leonard. Good luck...Larry |
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01-02-19 | Texas v. Kansas State -3.5 | Top | 67-47 | Loss | -108 | 15 h 37 m | Show |
My Big 12 Game of the Year is on Kansas St at 9:00 ET. 8-4 Texas and 10-2 Kansas State square off in the Big 12 opener for both teams tonight in Manhattan, Ks at Bramlage Coliseum.Texas opened the season 5-0, after beating then-No. 7 North Carolina 92-89 in the Las Vegas Invitational (late Nov), before losing 78-68 to Michigan St in the championship game. Texas is just 3-4 since that 5-0 start, with two of those wins coming against Grand Canyon and Texas-Arlington. Kansas St opened December with back-to-back road losses at Marquette and Tulsa, but has won three straight to reach 10-2. “Texas looked like one of the best teams in the country around Thanksgiving, but then they have really struggled at times,” Kansas St head coach Weber told reporters. He's right. Five guards see significant minutes, led by Roach (14.0 & 4.9) and Coleman (10.3). Up front, 6-9 senior Dylan Osetkowski (10.1 & 8.5) and 6-11 freshman Jaxson Hayes (9.9 & 4.8) will give K-St all it wants, especially since 6-10 senior Dean Wade remains out. Wade (13.6 & 7.7) is out of a walking boot and inching closer to a return, but it won't be here. Senior guard Barry Brown Jr. 13.9 & 4.5) has played in 117 straight games, tying Mike Evans for the fourth-longest run in school history (record is 135) and he's joined in the backcourt by PG Stokes (11.1 & 3.2 APG). 6-5 junior forward Xavier Sneed (11.5 & 5.8) has averaged 10.6 RPG in the three contests since Wade's injury but he will need some help from the 6-9 Mawien (6.9 & 4.2) inside against the Texas big men. The bottom line here is, Kansas St is one of the nation's best defensive teams, allowing just 57.8 PPG (6th) on 38.8% shooting (30th), which includes only 27.4% on threes, 13th-best in the nation. The Wildcats have allowed only ONE team to score more than 68 points through 12 games (Marquette got 83) and check in 6-0 SU at home this season (went 14-3 at home LY), allowing only 53.8 PPG. It's Jan 2 and this marks Texas' first true road game of the season. Expect the Wildcats to earn their FIFTH straight victory over the Longhorns, "with room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-01-19 | Blazers v. Kings +1.5 | Top | 113-108 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 13 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Sac Kings at 9:05 ET. It's no surprise that the Portland Blazers sit 21-16 as the calendar turns to 2019, as the team has been to the postseason in each of the last five years and is coming off a 49-win season. However, it is a surprise to see the Sacramento Kings at 19-17, as the franchise hasn't been to the postseason (or made the playoffs) since the 2005-06 season (Kings won just 27 games last year!). The teams meet for the first time this season on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center, with both coming off home-and-home series in the past week. The Trail Blazers won 110-109 at Golden State on Thursday, before the two-time defending champs turned the tables in a 115-105 victory in the rematch at Portland on Saturday. However, Portland responded with one of its most impressive efforts of the season, a 129-95 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Sunday night. The "big news" in the win was CJ McCollum (21.2) scoring 35 points on 13-of-18 shooting. He had entered the game having shot just 38.7 percent overall and 22.5 percent on three-pointers while averaging 16.9 points in his previous eight outings. Mccollum is joined in the backcourt by Lillard, who checks in at 26.8-4.7-5.8. The duo is the third-highest scoring backcourt tandem in the NBA. Center Jusuf Nurkic (14.5 & 10.1) has put together three straight strong efforts and is averaging 20.7 points on 25-of-43 shooting and 9.7 rebounds during the stretch. While the Blazers were dealing with the Warriors, the Kings were dueling the LA Lakers. They won 117-116 at home on Thursday but then lost 121-114 in the rematch on Sunday at Staples Center. Thursday's win improved the Kings to a season-best-tying three games over .500 at 19-16. PG De'Aaron Fox scored 26 points on Sunday, marking his sixth effort of 25 or more points in the past 13 games. Fox is a big reason why the improving Kings are two games above .500, averaging 18.2 PPG and 7.7 APG. SG Buddy Hield enters the new year in a shooting slump, having totaled just 38 points in his last three games on 13-for-43 shooting overall and 4-for-19 on threes but he is having a very good season (19.7 PPG). These teams have similar records but while Portland has been the "more reliable" squad for quite some time now, current form favors Sacramento.Portland comes in just 8-16 ATS since mid-November, including 3-10 ATS on the road. Portland has been on a 'rollercoaster ride' since Christmas. The Blazers lost Dec 25 at Utah (117-96) but followed with a 110-109 OT win at Golden St. Golden St then won the rematch 115-105 in Portland, before the Blazers routed the 76ers the next night. In contrast, Sacramento has won FIVE of its last seven at home, falling to only OKC and Golden St (a game the Kings covered). Expect the Kings to 'catch' the Blazers on a down stroke here and win handily. Good luck...Larry |
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12-30-18 | Wolves v. Heat -3.5 | Top | 113-104 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 6 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Mia Heat at 6:05 ET. Will the Minnesota Timberwolves ever "get it together? The T-wolves suffered a 123-120 overtime loss at home to the lowly Atlanta Hawks on Friday and got booed as they left the court. Minnesota went 21-of-38 from the free-throw line in Friday's loss, with swingman Andrew Wiggins missing seven of his 12 attempts and drawing the most scorn from the home fans.The 16-19 T-wolves open a three-game road trip by visiting the 17-17 Miami Heat on Sunday. The Heat have climbed to .500 by winning SIX of their last seven, after rolling over the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-94 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns (24.2 & 11.8) had 31 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and three blocks on Friday but was not happy that the team fell into a big hole in the first half. "An edge, we didn't play with no edge," Towns told reporters. Heading to Miami, the Timberwolves could be without their top-two PGs. Starter Jeff Teague (11.6 & 8.3 APG) is out until mid-January with an ankle issue and backup Derrick Rose (18.9 & 4.8 APG) sprained his right ankle on the final play of regulation in the loss to Atlanta. He's questionable. Meanwhile, the Heat are without 2018 All-Star PG Goran Dragic (15.3-3.1-4.9), who hasn't played since Dec 10 and is expected to miss several more weeks after knee surgery. In his absence, the Heat have found a surprising answer in SF Justise Winslow (11.6-5.2-3.7), who had never played point guard before this month. Miami is 5-1 since it started using Winslow at the point and Winslow is coming off one of the best games of his career in Friday's 118-94 win (24-11-7). Winslow is teaming with SG Richardson, who leads Miami with 18.4 PPG. Minnesota has had its problems with the matchups in recent years against Miami (1-7 ATS the last eight games) and a big reason is the presence of center Hassan Whiteside (13.2 & 12.8), who gives Karl-Anthony Towns fits. The Timberwolves have dropped seven of their last 10 games overall and are just 4-13 SU on the road for the season (little margin here for a cover, without a win). Meanwhile, Miami has gone 6-1 ATS at American Airlines Arena its last seven, plus has gone 10-1 ATS is last 11, overall. Miami is the bet! Good luck...Larry |
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12-30-18 | Massachusetts v. Georgia -6.5 | Top | 72-91 | Win | 100 | 11 h 57 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Georgia at 6:00 ET. The 7-5 UMass Minutemen visit the Stegeman Coliseum on Sunday to face the 7-4 Georgia Bulldogs.UMass comes in 2-2 its last four, with both wins coming by one point and the losses coming by just two and four points. Georgia wraps up its non-conference schedule Sunday and enters this game 4-1 SU & 5-0 ATS (lone loss by two points to Arizona St). Junior guard Luwane Pipkins (19.8-5.4-6.2) hit the go-ahead layup to cap a rally from 14 points down in the second half against Fairleigh Dickerson in the team's last game, an 85-84 win. 6-11 Rashaan Holloway, the team's junior center, leads the A-10 in field-goal percentage (72.6 percent), while averaging 9.8 & 6.1. 6-6 SF Laurent checks in averaging 12.1 & 5.4. UMass has two guards in double digits, Cobb and Pierre (both at 10.7), but Cobb is currently suspended. Holloway will have his hands full with Georgia' 6-11 sophomore, Nicolas Claxton (12.6 & 10.1). He impact a game in so many ways. Claxton leads the SEC in rebounding and blocked shots (3.1 per) plus also leads the Bulldogs in assists (2.6) and steals (1.4), making him one of only THREE players in the country to pace their team in those four categories.As a freshman, he averaged just 3.9 & 3.9. Another sophomore, the 6-8 Rayshaun Hammonds, has also improved leaps and bounds from last year, when he averaged 6.7 & 4.9. He leads Georgia in scoring (14.7) and adds 6.8 RPG. Guard Crump comes off the bench to lead all backcourt players with 11.0 PPG. Georgia head coach Tom Crean hopes (expects?) to continue to build momentum with the team's SEC opener at Tennessee (currently No. 3 in the nation) up next on Jan 5. UMass is just 5-11 ATS in the team's last 16 games against the SEC and as noted above, Georgia is 5-0 ATS in its last five overall (4-0 ATS in its last four at home). Georgia is a strong team at home, as its five wins have all come by double digits, with the team's lone loss coming in a two-point defeat to No. 17 Arizona State (Sun Devils beat Kansas!). Bulldogs roll. Good luck...Larry |
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12-29-18 | Warriors -3.5 v. Blazers | Top | 115-105 | Win | 100 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* signature 35-Club Play is on the GS Warriors at 10:05 ET. The Warriors visit Portland's Moda center tonight, after losing 110-109 in OT just two night ago to the Blazers, in Oakland. Damian Lillard buried a three-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in overtime on Thursday, giving the Trail Blazers a one-point lead that would become the final score, when Kevin Durant missed a jumper at the other end. "That's a shot I work on every day," Durant told reporters. "I'm pissed I missed that." This contest is the back end of the home-and-home set. The 23-13 Warriors enter having lost back-to-back games for the second time this season plus lost FOUR in a row from Nov 15-21. Clearly, this year's team is not playing like the team which has won THREE titles in the last four seasons, including B2B the last two years. KD averages 28.7-7.8-6.3, Curry 28.6-5.0-5.2 and Thompson 20.9 PPG. Green's rebounding and assist numbers are similar to the last four seasons but his scoring is down about four PPG. More troubling, he's "had his moments" being a disruptor for the Warriors, not their opponents. Portland relies heavily on its guard tandem of Lillard (26.7-4.7-5.8) and McCollum (21.0), plus center Nurkic (14.3 & 10.2). Nurkic collected 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting and 12 rebounds on Thursday, as he took advantage of a Warriors team lacking a true center. Still, Portland's overall depth keeps them from being a serious contender for the NBA title. Obviously, despite their struggles this season, the Warriors still have to be the favorite to win another title. Listen to Curry after Thursday's loss. "It was just kind of stagnant in the first half," the Warriors star told reporters. "Not a lot of thrust and energy and aggressiveness. Defensively we were OK after the first three or four minutes. Other games it's been indecisiveness in certain stretches of the game. We're getting teams best shots, so we got to fight our way through it. And just claw and scratch and get to that 48-minute level that we dominate teams, and we can get there." Note that the Warriors almost won Thursday night, despite making just 13 of 44 three-pointers (29.5%) and attempting only 15 FTs, while making only SIX (40%). Golden St shoots 48.0% from the floor on the season (ranks 1st), makes 37.6% on three-pointers (4th) and 82.1% on FTs (1st). This one will NOT come down to the wire! Good luck...Larry |
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12-29-18 | Oregon v. Boise State +2 | Top | 62-50 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 16 m | Show |
My CBB 10* Game of the Week is on Boise St at 7:30 ET. The 8-4 Oregon Ducks and the 5-7 Boise State Broncos meet Saturday at the Taco Bell Arena. These schools met Dec 15 in Eugene, as the Ducks played their first game without 7-2 freshman Bol Bol. Oregon won 66-54, even without Bol. The rematch takes place, tonight. Oregon's Dana Altman "knows how to coach basketball," but it's pretty tough to lose one's top scorer (21.0), rebounder (9.6), best shooter (56.1%) and best three-point shooter (52.0), all in one! Bol has been wearing a protective boot after injuring his left foot and is out indefinitely. Without Bol, junior guard Pritchard (13.103.9-4.5) is Oregon's lone double digit scorer. The Ducks rely on a defense which is holding opponents to 63.6 PPG (35th). Boise head coach Leon Rice has led the Broncos to 21 wins or more is SIX of his seven seasons but getting to 21 wins seems like a huge stretch this season. He lost three productive seniors from last year, including the 6-7 Chandler Hutchison (20.0 & 7.7), who was the 22nd pick in last year's NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. This year's team has balance (seven players average between 6.8 and 15.2 PPG) but is that good enough? In this revenge spot against Oregon, I think it is, at least for tonight! The 6-7 Williams (15.2 & 6.9) is a "big guard" and a tough matchup for most teams. He was an awful 0-6 from the floor vs the Ducks but has since scored 38 points in the two games, since. Oregon's 0-2 in its only true road games this season (has averaged a woeful 54.0 PPG in those contests). Meanwhile, the Broncos are 18-2 SU since 2017-18 at hostile Taco Bell Arena. The small home dog 'BARKS' in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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12-28-18 | Spurs v. Nuggets -3.5 | Top | 99-102 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 22 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Den Nuggets at 9:05 ET. The 21-11 Denver Nuggets welcome the 19-16 San Antonio Spurs to Pepsi Center tonight. The Nuggets own the West's best record, just percentage points better than the two-time defending champion Warriors (.656 to .639). However, while the Spurs are currently on the outside-looking-in on the Western Conference playoff field, they come in the hotter team. The Spurs seek their ninth win in their last 11 games, with one of the team's eight wins over its last 10 coming 111-103 over the Nuggets in San Antonio, just this past Wednesday. Tonight's contest completes a home-and-home between the teams The Spurs have scored at least 110 points in all eight wins during their 10-game stretch, seemingly putting a sluggish start to the season in the rear-view mirror. SG DeRozan (23.3-5.7-6.2) and PF Aldridge (18.9 & 9.1) have been the team's two "go-to" players. However, as with all Popovich teams, the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. Center Nikola Jokic is the team leder in points (17.7), rebounds (9.8) and assist (7.3) but was a non-factor on Wednesday, scoring just FOUR four points on 1-of-5 shooting, while collecting only FOUR rebounds in 31 minutes. The loss was Denver's fourth in a row on the road, as the strain of missing three starters seems to be taking a toll. Swingman Will Barton has missed nine weeks after core muscle surgery, SG Gary Harris (16.6) has been out eight games with a hip injury and PF Paul Millsap (13.6 & 7.0) has missed seven with a broken toe. However, despite missing the above-mentioned three starters and with Jokic "way off his game" Wednesday night in San Antonio, Denver still had an 80-79 lead with 10 minutes remaining. Then, the Spurs went on a 15-0 spurt and went on a 23-4 run to put the Nuggets away. Juancho Hernangomez tied a career high with 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Denver, while Malik Beasley added 22 points and Monte Morris had 15, both off the bench. Denver takes a 7-0 SU & ATS home winning streak into this Pepsi Center contest, where the Nuggets have gone 13-3 SU & 12-4 ATS on the season. In this quick turnaround, revenge works! Good luck…Larry |
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12-26-18 | Nuggets v. Spurs -3 | Top | 103-111 | Win | 100 | 14 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the SA Spurs at 8:35 ET. The 2018-19 season opened Oct 16 and it seemed almost a given that the Golden St Warriors would win a THIRD straight NBA title, their fourth in five years. However, as the NBA moved past Christmas Day, it's the 21-10 Denver Nuggets who own the West's best record (the Warriors are second-best at 23-12). This is the same Nuggets team which last made the postseason back in the 2012-13 season, when Denver won 57 games. That season was Denver's 10th straight playoff appearance, so naturally it fired head coach George Karl, who had led them to NINE straight postseason berths. Anyway, the Nuggets will be in San Antonio Wednesday night to take on the 18-16 Spurs, who have won seven of their last nine games, although their last outing resulted in a 108-101 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday (note: Rockets have won SEVEN of eight). The Nuggets have been one of the NBA's best teams but they are coming off getting pounded 132-111 by the LA Clippers on Saturday, as the team's four-game winning streak came to an end. "From the get-go, we just weren't here," Denver head coach Michael Malone told reporters. "A lot of defensive breakdowns, not ready to play. Give them credit. We weren't ready. They were and they totally dominated us." The 21-point margin against the Clippers represented Denver's largest loss of the season. The Nuggets were dominated "up front," getting out-rebounded 56-37 and out-scored by a 80-50 margin in the paint. Denver center Nikola Jokic was ejected midway through the third quarter, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes. He leads Denver in scoring (18.2) and rebounding (10.0). Jamal Murray (17.6) finished with 18 points, while Monte Morris added 15 points. Morris, the team's backup PG, is averaging 15.4 points on 32-of-53 shooting over the past five games. Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (23.1-5.6-6.3) scored 28 points in the loss to the Rockets and it marked just his third 20-point outing in the past seven games. However, DeRozan has an outstanding 65-to-14 assists-to-turnover ratio over the last nine games, posting seven or more assists on seven occasions and one or no turnovers six times. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (18.6 & 9.3) is averaging just 14 points over the last two games, after scoring 20 or more in each of the previous four contests. Out of nowhere, the "new-look Spurs" are starting to resemble "the old Spurs." San Antonio had garnered each of its previous five victories by at least 25 points (only the second team in NBA history to claim that feat), before falling 108-101 on Saturday at Houston. The Spurs and Nuggets split their season series 2-2 in 2017-18, with the both teams winning on their home courts. This marks the first meeting of the season for the teams and note it's the first game of a home-and-home between the them (play Friday in Denver). The Spurs seek to capture their 12th consecutive home win over Denver, as the Nuggets haven't won in San Antonio since posting a 99-94 victory back on March 4, 2012. Want to buck taht trend here, knowing that Coach Pop’s team has had the NBA’s best offense and second-best defense over its current stretch? Not I. Good luck...Larry |
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12-23-18 | Hornets v. Celtics -7 | Top | 103-119 | Win | 100 | 11 h 9 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Bos Celtics at 6:05 ET. The 16-15 Charlotte Hornets visit the TD Garden on Sunday to take on the 18-13 Boston Celtics. It's likely the Celtics will be in a nasty mood, as Boston has lost three in a row following an eight-game winning streak. As for the Hornets, they are back above .500, after Marvin Williams scored a season-high 24 points in Friday's 98-86 home win over the Pistons. Charlotte has now won two straight and five of its last seven. Kemba Walker, who leads the Hornets with 25.0 PPG, added 22 points on Friday, as Charlotte finished its longest homestand of the season with a 3-2 mark. Walker is also averaging 6.3 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game on the season, all of which are career-high numbers. However, he doesn't get much help, as shooting guards Lamb (14.9) and Monk (10.6) are the only other Charlotte players averaging in double figures. Boston's three-game slide includes the first two games of what will be a four-game homestand. The Celtics first lost to lowly Phoenix and then Friday night, Milwaukee pulled away for a 120-107 triumph. That prompted a closed-door postgame meeting. "At this point it comes down to cohesion, being able to trust the pass, trust what we have going on out there," point guard Kyrie Irving told reporters after the door was finally opened to the locker room. "Obviously some selfish play out there where ... we have some really talented guys, but we're better as a team sharing the basketball." Here's the rub. Off that Friday night loss to Milwaukee, Boston couldn't ask for a better opponent on Sunday than Charlotte. The Hornets are no better than an average team plus the Celtics can't possibly forget losing at Charlotte back on Nov 17, 117-112. Walker 'killed' Boston with a 43-point outburst, ending Boston's seven-game winning streak over Charlotte. What's more, the Celtics had been 11-1 SU & 10-1-1 ATS in their previous 12 series meetings with the Hornets. Boston returns to form, right here! Good luck...Larry |
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12-22-18 | UNLV v. Hawaii +1 | Top | 73-59 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Hawaii at 5:00 ET. The first round of the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu opens Saturday with four games. It's a modest field and with Hawaii being the host team (all games will be played on its homecourt, the Stan Sheriff Center), the Rainbow Warriors have (and should have), high expectations. Hawaii is a modest 6-4 and draws 5-4 UNLV in the first round. UNLV arrives off a dramatic 92-90 overtime upset of BYU in the Neon Hoops Showcase Tourney in Las Vegas (T-Mobile Arena, not the home Thomas & Mack Center). The Rebels led 47-30 at the half but BYU battled back in the second half to send it into OT. However, UNLV's Amauri Hardy (11.6 PPG) drained the three-pointer as time expired for the win. UNLV has just three double-digit scorers but the team's best isnide player, the 6-7 Shakur Juiston (10.8 PPG and a team-leading 8.8 RPG) is sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury. The Rainbow Warriors own a nice starting-five, beginning with guards Stansberry (11.8), Stepteau (11.1) and PG Buggs (8.7 & 5.4 APG). The 6-9 Purchase (11.4 & 6.4) and the 6-8 Raimo (10.1 & 6.20 start up front. Hawaii is a disciplined team, averaging only 12 turnovers per game (in comparison, UNLV ranks 332nd in TOs per game). The team also defends the three-point line well (opponents are shooting 30.2%, ranking 54th in the nation). This will be just UNLV's second true road game, having lost previously 77-74 at Illinois, which is just 4-7. Not sure why Hawaii is NOT laying a few buckets here but I won't argue with the line. Good luck...Larry |
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12-22-18 | North Carolina -2 v. Kentucky | Top | 72-80 | Loss | -113 | 10 h 6 m | Show |
The third pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on UNC 10* (5:15 EST). Chicago's United Center is the site of the CBS Sports Classic. The second game features a "Battle of the Blue-Bloods,” No. 19 Kentucky up against No. 9 North Carolina. The schools are two of college basketball's most prestigious programs, with the two combining to play in five national championship games over the last 10 seasons, with the Tar Heels winning two titles and the Wildcats claiming one during that span. They represent two of the top three winningest men's basketball programs all-time, with Kentucky topping the list with 2,271 victories. Kentucky opened the season on a big stage, getting routed 118-84 by Duke in the Champions Classic at Indianapolis back on Nov 6. Kentucky also lost Dec 8 in MSG, 84-83 to Seton Hall. Freshman guard Keldon Johnson is averaging a team-best 16.1 points and Tyler Herro, another highly regarded freshman guard, is averaging 12.1 points. Stanford graduate transfer, the 6-8 Reid Travis 14.6 & 6.4,) has been trying to instill some needed toughness at both ends of the court. Kentucky checks in averaging 84.6 PPG (22nd in the nation). North Carolina's senior power forward Luke Maye is averaging 14.3 points and 10.1 rebounds. Senior guard Cameron Johnson is averaging a team-leading 16.6 PPG while freshman guard Coby White is contributing 15.2 per game, while PG Williams averaged 7.7 & 4.8 APG. North Carolina averages 94.3 PPG, which ranks third in the nation. Hard NOT see this as a high-scoring game and the Tar Heels know about those kind of contests, having recently knocked off Gonzaga, 103-90.Meanwhile, Kentucky has failed its two toughest test away from Rupp, in neutral-site games against Duke and Seton Hall (see above). North Carolina leads the all-time series by 24-15 but Kentucky has won five of eight meetings since Calipari became coach.That said, Coach Cal does NOT have the better team here. Good luck...Larry |
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12-21-18 | Wolves v. Spurs -4 | Top | 98-124 | Win | 100 | 14 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the SA Spurs at 8:35 ET. The 14-17 Minnesota Timberwolves visit at the AT&T Center in San Antonio on Friday to take on the 17-15 Spurs. Minnesota heads to the Alamo City after a 129-123 home OT loss to Detroit on Wednesday, one in which the Timberwolves led by 14 points heading to the fourth quarter (I remember it well, losing on the T-wolves!). Meanwhile, the Spurs return home after a 129-90 win over Orlando. The victory was the Spurs' first win away from San Antonio since Nov 26 at Chicago (Spurs are just 5-10 on the road). Minnesota 'limps' in' having lost five of its last six games and six of its last nine. Minnesota is beginning a three-game road stretch on the heels of that devastating overtime loss to the visiting Pistons on Wednesday (Andre Drummond tapped in a putback with 0.6 seconds left to send the game into OT. "The fourth quarter is different and you have to react to what's going on, so that is disappointing," Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after Wednesday's game. "I think they had 78 (points) after three, and then a 40-point fourth quarter. And then all we had to do was get a stop, and we give up a second shot. That can't happen." San Antonio will be carrying a little swagger into this game plus benefit from a mostly rested lineup after winning six of their past seven games without needing their front-line players late in those contests. San Antonio's last four wins have all been by 25 or more points, making them the fourth team all-time to attain that mark, joining the 1971-72 Bucks (five straight), the 1974-75 Warriors and 1992-93 Rockets. Don't look now but Pop has his team looking as good as any team in the West. San Antonio is 7-3 SU in December (7-2-1 ATS), outscoring opponents by 12 PPG and shooting 53% as a team. Need More? How about this? San Antonio will certainly have some revenge motivation, after being blown out by 39 points at Minneapolis in late November, losing 128-89. It represents one of the Spurs' worst losses of the Popovich era. I'm NOT done. San Antonio improved to 50-9 all-time at home against Minnesota with a 112-108 win on Oct. 17 and the Timberwolves haven't won in San Antonio since posting a 108-95 victory back on April 17, 2013 in the regular-season finale when Rick Adelman was coach! I’m laying the 'cheap number' and expecting a rout. Good luck…Larry |
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12-21-18 | Buffalo v. Marquette -2.5 | Top | 85-103 | Win | 100 | 14 h 51 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Month is on Marquette at 8:30 ET. Buffalo was one of the 'belles' of LY's NCAA Tourney, as the 13th-seeded Bulls upset 4th-seeded Arizona by 21 points in the first round. The team's 27 wins set a single-season record. Buffalo stayed unbeaten on Tuesday, winning at Syracuse, 71-59 (note: It was the Bulls' first win over the Orange since the 1962-63 season! Buffalo (11-0 SU and 7-2-1 ATS) is one of just NINE Division 1 schools still undefeated, as the Bulls travel to Milwaukee Friday night to take on the 9-2 Marquette Golden Eagles. Marquette is as hot as any team in the country over the last month, reeling of six consecutive victories since a 77-68 loss Nov 21 against now-No.1 Kansas at Barclays Center (NIT Season Tip-Off). Buffalo is led by guard Massinburg (17.1 & 7.1), 6-8 forward Perkins (13.1 & 8.2) and swingman Harris (12.6 & 4.9). Massinburg came up big against Syracuse as the Bulls earned their first win over the Orange since 1963. He had 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists, including 12 points as the Bulls turned a 45-40 deficit into a 67-57 lead in the second half. It reminded some of what Massinburg did against a then-No. 13 West Virginia squad Nov 19, when he had 43 points and 14 rebounds in a 99-94 overtime victory, Massinburg just could be the best player in the MAC. Speaking of Mid-American Conference, Buffalo is the first MAC team to begin 11-0 since Toledo started 12-0 in 2013-14. Guard Markus Howard (23,2-4.2-4.5) is Marquette's best player. supported by brothers Sam and Joet Hauser. The 6-8 Sam is a junior averages 14.7 & 6.8, while his younger brother Joey (a 6-9 freshman), averages 10.2 & 5.7. Howard has averaged 26.2 points during the school's win streak, which began following that loss to Kansas. The Golden Eagles have taken down then-No. 12 Kansas St (Dec 1) and then-No.12 Wisconsin (Dec 8) in their six-game streak. Some have 'wondered aloud' whether this contest may just be the best chance for Buffalo to suffer a loss until it reaches the Big Dance in March. However, I say that question is moot. Marquette tops in the Big East in FG defense (39.5 percent) and has held eight visitors to Fiserv Forum to 36 percent shooting from the floor, including just 26.3 percent from three-point range. Marquette rules. Good luck…Larry |
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12-20-18 | Mavs v. Clippers -3.5 | Top | 121-125 | Win | 103 | 16 h 32 m | Show |
My 10* TNT Knockout is on the LA Clippers at 10:35 ET. The 15-14 Dallas Mavericks enter off a 126-118 road loss in Denver on Tuesday, the team's THIRD straight defeat. The skid comes on the heels of Dallas exceeding expectations by winning 12 of its previous 15 games(note: The Mavs won just 24 games last season!). Meanwhile, the Clippers were one of the league's biggest surprises while jumping off to a 15-6 start, but after a 131-127 home loss to Portland on Monday, they have dropped seven of nine games (including a season-worst four straight losses!). The play of rookie Luka Doncic (18.4-6.7-4.9) has been "the talk of the town" in Dallas but after an excellent stretch (see above), the Mavericks are starting to come undone. The Mavs enter this contest on a four-game ATS slide and note that they are just 1-4 ATS after scoring 110 points or more in back-to-back games. The Clippers allowed a season worst for points in Monday's 131-127 home setback against the Portland but I fully expect them to be fully motivated for this one. Center DeAndre Jordan returns to Staples Center as a visiting player for the first time against the Clippers, of whom he spent his first 10 NBA seasons. What's more, the Clippers lost not long ago in Dallas (Dec 2 to be exact) by the score of 114-110, as Jordan scored 16 points and added 23 rebounds (a season high he has since matched). The Clippers are 9-4 SU at home (6-3 as a home favorite), where they average 114.8 PPG. In contrast, the Mavs are just 2-11 SU on the road and this pointspread won't leave them much of a "margin of error" to cover without winning SU. Revenge works here, so for all the reasons listed above, play on the Clippers. Good luck…Larry |
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12-20-18 | James Madison v. Fordham -3.5 | Top | 48-75 | Win | 100 | 12 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on Fordham at 7:00 ET. The 7-5 James Madison Dukes will be looking for their eighth win of the season when they travel to Rose Hill Gymnasium to take on the Fordham Rams. James Madison comes in off a listless 66-53 loss at George Mason, the school's third straight road defeat. Fordham is 8-3 after just 11 games, quite a turnaround from last year, when the Rams finished 9-22! The Dukes' inconsistencies continue to haunt them. They are 3-3 in their last six games, averaging 77.3 points in their last three wins but putting up only 54.7 PPG in their three losses. Stucky Mosley (17.1 PPG) lead the way for three double-digit scorers. The Rams are led by a pair of freshman guards, Nick Honor (top scorer at 17.6 PPG) and Jalen Cobb (11.1 PPG), who have joined FIVE returning starters. Fordham has taken advantage of a 'soft' early season schedule and has played EIGHT of its first 11 games at home. The Rams are 7-1 SU in those contests, holding opponents to just 63.3 PPG. As noted above, JMU has been wildly inconsistent but the Dukes have been sadly consistent in losing their last three road game, while averaging only 54.7 PPG. Lay the points with the revved-up Rams! Good luck…Larry |
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12-19-18 | Boise State v. Loyola Marymount -4.5 | Top | 69-70 | Loss | -106 | 16 h 49 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Week in on Loyola Marymount 10:00 ET. The 4-6 Boise State Broncos will visit the Albert Gersten Pavilion Wednesday night to take on the 10-1 Loyola Marymount Lions. Boise head coach Leon Rice has led the Broncos to 21 wins or more is SIX of his seven seasons but getting to 21 wins seems like a huge stretch this season. He lost three productive seniors from last year, including the 6-7 Chandler Hutchison ((20.0 & 7.7), who was the 22nd pick in last year's NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. This year's team has balance (seven players average between 6.7 and 14.3 PPG) but I'm not sure that's good enough. Loyola-Marymount's Mike Dunlap entered his fifth year at the school this season with a 48-75 (.390) record but he was optimistic about the year, after his team played an exhibition schedule this summer in Australia. All five starters are back and this year's team is led by senior guard James Batemon (19.5) and 7-3 junior center Mattias Markusson (10.7 & 8.7). Most notably, the team's defense has been outstanding, allowing a modest 58.3 PPG (9th). Opponents have shot just 38.5% overall (31st), including only 24.7% on threes (3rd0. Boise is 0-3 in true road games this season although the Broncos did win one of three neutral-site games in the Cayman Islands Classic from Nov 19-21. Pretty sure that doesn't bode well against the Lions, whose only loss this season came at UCLA. The Lions have won at UNLV and beat Georgetown in the Jamaica Classic back on Nov 16. The Lions are 5-0 at home and this will be the team's first home game in almost a month (last played at home on Nov 29). Lay the modest points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-18-18 | Buffalo v. Syracuse -3.5 | Top | 71-59 | Loss | -101 | 13 h 23 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on Syracuse at 8:00 ET. The Buffalo/Syracuse rivalry (schools are separated by a 152-mile drive across I-90) began way back to the 1917-18 season. Buffalo scored its first win over Syracuse in the final game of the 1918-19 season but Syracuse leads 27-5 all-time in a series. Syracuse and Buffalo played every year from 1965-66 until 1977-78 but the two schools have played just twice since then, on Dec. 18, 1997 and again on Dec. 30, 2001. Buffalo's last win over Syracuse came in overtime, way back during the 1962-63 season! However, as the teams get set to meet tonight at the Carrier Dome, 10-0 Buffalo, not 7-3 Syracuse, comes in ranked. No. 14 Buffalo remained one of NINE undefeated Division I teams with a 73-65 victory over Southern Illinois on Saturday. Meanwhile, then-No. 25 Syracuse fell out of the AP top-25 after a 68-62 home loss to Old Dominion, when the Orange lost a 13-point lead and were outscored by 16 in the second half. The Bulls have defeated then-No. 13 West Virginia as part of their undefeated start (last won 10 straight back in 1964-65), but the team will be tested with this game at Syracuse and Friday's game at current No. 20 Marquette. Buffalo is led by guard Massinburg (17.1 & 7.1), 6-8 forward Perkins (13.1 & 8.2) and swingman Harris (12.6 & 4.9). The famous Jim Boeheim zone is again doing its job, holding opponents to 62.8 PPG (29th). IGuard Battle (18.5), along with forwards Brissett (14.9 & 8.2) and Hughes (14.3 & 4.4), give Syracuse enough 'punch' to get the job done against Buffalo.. Buffalo was one of the 'belles' of LY's NCAA Tourney, as the 13th-seeded Bulls upset 4th-seeded Arizona by 21 points in the first round. The team's 27 wins set a single-season record. As noted Buffalo is unbeaten (10- 0 SU and 6-2-1 ATS) but is coming off its second-lowest scoring output of the season, as the Bulls scored 73 in Saturday's non-covering win over Southern Illinois. So just which team is David and which Goliath in this matchup? The Bulls have lost the last 18 games in the series, including an 81-74 defeat last season in which Syracuse closed on a 14-6 run. The Bulls have not beaten the Orange since 1963. Syracuse was 17-4 SU at home last year and is 6-1 SU at home, this year. With this modest impost, LAY IT! Good luck…Larry |
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12-18-18 | Lakers -2 v. Nets | Top | 110-115 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 3 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the LA Lakers at 7:35 ET. The 18-12 LA Lakers are coming off a 128-110 thumping on Sunday in Washington (trailed by as many as 27 points) but let's not ignore that LA is 16-7 over the team's last 23 games. Meanwhile, the 13-18 Brooklyn Nets are on a five-game winning streak, their longest since March 25-April 3, 2015. The current run follows a frustrating eight-game losing skid that saw them struggle to close out games. LBJ was held to a season-low 13 points on 5 of 16 shooting on Sunday and said, "We have to get some rest." James was held under 20 points for just the fourth time this season and added, "We have two days so no excuses obviously with the game being on Tuesday. I watched the game before we played. They put up 140 something points, so we have to be ready to defend for 48 minutes." Sunday's loss followed a 28-point win in Charlotte on Saturday night when James and Lonzo Ball both recorded triple-doubles but the Lakers could not produce an effective follow-up performance as they committed 22 turnovers. Brooklyn's five game winning run began with an overtime home win against the Toronto Raptors on Dec 7, then continued with road wins over the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers before the Nets returned home to beat the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks. During the streak, the Nets are averaging 122.8 points, while shooting 50.2 percent from the floor (including 40.4 percent from three-point range). The Nets are also averaging 27.4 assists and assisting on 63.1 percent of their baskets. Bottom line is this. Do the above just-noted numbers sound ANYTHING like the Brooklyn team we've come to know and love? Yes, the Nets have scored at least 120 points in three straight games (all wins) but that's despite allowing at least 54 percent shooting. FYI...They are the first team to do so since the Houston Rockets in 1987-88. Off an embarrassing Sunday loss at Washington, LBJ carries the Lakers to a comfortable win, here. Good luck…Larry |
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12-17-18 | Jazz v. Rockets -5 | Top | 97-102 | Push | 0 | 14 h 59 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Hou Rockets at 8:05 ET. The Jazz look poised for another letdown here in my opinion after getting upset 96-89 against Orlando in Mexico City on Saturday. The Rockets on the other hand, have started to turn things around. The team's impressive 105-97 road win at Memphis on Saturday was the Rockets' third in a row (also 3-0 ATS). Reigning MVP James Harden has averaged 37.0-7.7-8.3 during the streak. Note that this is a “double revenge” scenario as well, with Utah having already taken both earlier meetings this year, including a 118-91 home blowout victory in the most recent matchup December 6th. The Jazz average 106.8 PPG and they concede 106.6. It’s a fine line that Utah has to balance each night and right now it’s not going so well as the Jazz have lost three of their last four. Donovan Mitchell was a bright spot in the loss last time out with 24 points. Houston's season numbers are underwhelming but the feeling here is that the Rockets are beginning to show signs of looking more like last year's 65-win team. It’s a perfect storm of factors working in favor of hungry Houston. I’m laying the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-16-18 | St. Louis +8.5 v. Houston | Top | 64-68 | Win | 100 | 9 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Week is on St Louis at 3:00 ET. St Louis is 7-2 and will visit Houston (9-0 and ranked 24th in the AP poll) on Sunday. This marks the 38th meeting between the two former MVC and C-USA rivals, with St Louis holding a 24-13 lead in the series. However, in the most recent meeting last year, Houston won 77-58 at St Louis. In that game, the Billikens had two starters foul out and coughed up 16 TOs in the 19-point loss. Houston has yet to lose and considering that the Cougars enter on a 22-game home win streak (the nation's second-longest!), a 10-0 start would not come as a surprise (note: This is the third time the Cougars have started 9-0. Houston was also 9-0 in 1969-70 and won all 28 regular-season games in 1967-68 on the way to a Final Four appearance and 31-2 record). However, I think the Billikens will keep this one a lot closer than what this spread would suggest. In its first game since entering the national polls last Monday, Houston rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to beat LSU 82-76 on Wednesday. That comes on the heels of another emotionally-draining 63-53 win at Okla State on Dec 8. St Louis has lost twice this season, by two points to Pittsburgh (in Brooklyn) on Nov 21 and by five points at Southern Illinois on Dec 5. Houston has struggled lately from behind the three-point line, hitting 25.5 percent during its past four home games. That doesn't bode well against a St Louis defense holding opponents to 26.9% on threes (12th-best) and 61.7 PPG, overall (20th). I feel that the Billikens' aggressive defensive play keeps this game competitive until the final moments. It’s also worthy of note to that the road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five in this series. Grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-15-18 | Cincinnati v. Mississippi State -5 | Top | 59-70 | Win | 100 | 15 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout is on Miss St at 8:30 ET. Cincinnati looks primed for a letdown here in my opinion after nine straight wins. Mississippi State comes into this one ranked No. 18 and on a five-game win streak of its own. In closing, Cincinnati has yet to crack the top-25 this season despite a 9-1 record. Meanwhile, Mississippi St is 8-1 coming off an impressive 82-71 win last week over Clemson on a neutral court in Newark, N.J. and is ranked 18th. Note that this will be Bearcats' most challenging away game of the year (by far) and that the Bulldogs' confidence is running high after not only the Clemson win (19 made three-pointers were a school record) but also a 65-58 road win at Dayton (Nov. 30). Cincinnati won 65-50 over Miss St last year at home, a game in which MSU head coach Ben Howland claimed his team did too much standing around and not enough ball movement vs the Cincy zone. Expect that to change here and remember, the Bearcats are missing players that produced 49 of their 65 points in Jacob Evans III, Kyle Washington and Gary Clark. Two are NBA players and the other is playing professionally overseas. REVENGE works in a big way here! Good luck…Larry |
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12-15-18 | Lakers +1 v. Hornets | Top | 128-100 | Win | 100 | 13 h 43 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the LA Lakers (7:05 EST). This one has “blowout” written all over it in my opinion. And we don’t have to overthink this one at all. LA got steamrolled by James Harden's 50-point triple-double in a 126-111 loss at Houston on Thursday but enjoyed the advantage of relaxing in Charlotte on Friday night while the Hornets were working overtime with the New York Knicks. In fact, the Hornets entered the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead on Friday, before suffering an 'ugly' 126-124 overtime loss. Charlotte has won six of the last 7 in this series but the Lakers have covered SIX straight in Charlotte. Of course, those games were all played before LBJ "took his talents" to Los Angeles. "King James" has gone 17-5 in North Carolina for the Cavaliers and Heat over the past 14 seasons, scoring 30 or more points 10 times and 35 or more four times, with a high of 41 in a 118-105 win last March. With the bonus of a scheduling advantage (see above), expect LBJ to lead LA to the team's 16th win in its last 22 games. At this price, I'm "all in" on the Lakers. Good luck…Larry |
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12-14-18 | Raptors v. Blazers +3 | Top | 122-128 | Win | 100 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
My NBA 10* Game of the Month (Non-Conf) is on the Por Blazers at 10:05 ET. The Toronto Raptors opened the current season 12-1 before losing three straight from Nov 12-16. However, after dominating road wins at the LA Clippers on Tuesday (123-99) and at the Golden St Warriors on Wednesday (113-93), the entire NBA is 'looking up' at the Raptors and their NBA-best 23-7 mark. Meanwhile, the Portland Blazers opened the season an impressive 10-3 but after back-to-back road losses this week at Houston (Tue) and Memphis (Wed), the team welcomes the Raptors to Moda Center having dropped 10 of its last 15 games (3-12 ATS). Toronto dominated the two-time defending champions in that 113-93 road win on Wednesday, despite being without Kawhi Leonard (hip). PG Kyle Lowry had shot 4-of-28 from the floor over a four-game span but made 17-of-31 FG attempts against the Warriors and Clippers in Toronto's first two contests of this four-game road trip. Meanwhile, the Blazers are returning home after a two-game road trip (see above). Shooting guard CJ McCollum scored 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting in Wednesday's 92-83 loss to the Grizzlies but the rest of the team went 16-of-60 (26.7%) from the floor. That includes PG Damian Lillard (4-of-18) and center Jusuf Nurkic (1-of-15)! Toronto had lost three of four before beating the Clippers and Warriors. Leonard (26.1 & 8.3) sat out both wins with a balky hip (he's listed as questionable here). Also, center Jonas Valanciunas (12.8 & 7.2) underwent surgery Wednesday night after dislocating his left thumb against the Warriors. He will wear a cast for four weeks and then begin rehabilitation. Sure, the Blazers are reeling but just how does Toronto avoid a letdown? Any chance that Lillard (27.0-5.1-6.1) and Nurkic (14.5 & 10.5) will combine to shoot 5-of-33 again, as they did Wednesday against Memphis? Portland brings back memories of "RIP City" in earning a BIG win in this one. Good luck…Larry |
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12-13-18 | Lakers +5.5 v. Rockets | Top | 111-126 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 40 m | Show |
My 10* TNT Knockout is on the LA Lakers (8:05 EST). The Rockets have been consistently inconsistent to open the 2018/19 NBA campaign and after a 111-104 home win over Portland in their latest action, I expect this trend of futility to continue here against this hungry visiting side. The Lakers come to town off a 108-105 home win over the Heat. Note that this is a “triple revenge” game for the Lakers as well, including losing the first meeting of the year 124-115 back on October 20th. LA is quietly dominating, as it comes in having won two straight and six of its last seven. Overall the Lakers average 113.1 PPG and they concede 110.9. LeBron James averages 28.3 points, 7.7 boards and 7.1 assists per night. Houston averages only 108.4 PPG and it concedes 109.5. James Harden leads the nightly charge with 30 points and 5.3 boards per game. I’ll point out though that the Rockets are a terrible 1-5 ATS in their last six when playing on one days rest, while LA is 6-1 ATS in its last seven following an ATS loss. For all the reasons listed above, grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-12-18 | Blazers v. Grizzlies -3 | Top | 83-92 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* WEST-CONF GAME OF MONTH is on the Memphis Grizzlies (8:05 EST). The Blazers enter off a hard-fought and exhausting loss in Houston just last night and I think it’ll come in with “heavy legs” in the second game of the back-to-back scenario. The Rockets were desperate for a victory last night and so too are the Grizzlies after a two game slide in this one. I don’t think that the home court advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in this particular selection. Damian Lillard was a bright spot in last night’s loss for the Blazers, finishing with 34 points, two boards and two assists, but one has to wonder how much “gas” he has left in the tank here? The Grizzlies have looked a lot better this season, but after being held to under 100 points in back-to-back games, I think that Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and company get out and push the pace of this one from start to finish. I’ll point out as well that memphis 11-4 ATS in its last 15 at home and 7-2 ATS in its last nine home games vs. teams with losing SU road records, while Portland is now 0-5 ATS in its last five on the road. Memphis is tough at home (8-4) and in my opinion, it has a significant advantage tonight. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-10-18 | Jazz v. Thunder -6 | Top | 113-122 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Oklahoma City Thunder (8:05 EST). The Jazz enter off a loss in San Antonio just last night and I think they’ll stumble here as well in the second game of the back-to-back scenario. The Thunder have turned their season around after a horrible start, but they’ll be eager to return to form after a 114-112 road loss to Chicago. Utah is scuffling right now, having gone 5-6 in its last 11. Overall the Jazz are averaging 107.4 PPG and conceding 107.6. Rudy Gobert is averaging 15 points and 12.4 boards per game. OKC averages 111.1 PPG and it concedes 104.4. The Thunder are 9-3 SU at home and I think they’ll lay the hammer down from start to finish in this one. Note that Utah is a horrible 14-25 ATS in its last 39 as a road underdog of six points or less, while OKC is 24-15 ATS in its last 39 as a home favorite of six points or less. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-09-18 | Purdue v. Texas +1.5 | Top | 68-72 | Win | 100 | 10 h 24 m | Show |
My 10* Game Of The Week is on Texas (6:00 EST). Analysis posted at least six hours before game time. Texas comes in as the “hungrier” team here after three straight losses. After a 5-0 start, the Longhorns come in desperate and focused. Purdue comes in off an upset win over Maryland on Thursday, breaking a two-game slide. The Boilermakers are averaging only 64 PPG over their last three games. Carsen Edwards had 20 points in the most recent victory. Texas has quality wins this year (92-89 victory over UNC on Nov. 22nd), but it’s since fallen on hard times. The talent is there though to turn things around, as Jericho Sims is a force to be reckoned with on most nights, scoring 14 in the most recent setback to VCU. Purdue though has struggled in this spot for bettors, going just 1-4 ATS in its last five after scoring 65 points or less in two straight games. Conversely, the Longhorns have responded well in this spot by going 6-1 ATS in their last seven off an upset loss as a home favorite. For all the reasons listed above, play on Texas. Good luck…Larry |
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12-08-18 | Notre Dame v. UCLA -6 | Top | 62-65 | Loss | -115 | 15 h 17 m | Show |
My 9* Rivalry Rout is on UCLA (10:30 EST). The Irish’s four game win streak was snapped in an 85-80 loss to Oklahoma last time out and I think ND will suffer a predictable letdown here as well in this difficult road venue. UCLA on the other hand avoided any “traps” heading into this one with back-to-back convincing victories over Hawaii and Loyola Marymount. The Irish were completely dominated by the Sooners on both ends of the court in their latest setback. They’d go on to shoot just 28.0 percent from range. TJ Gibbs was a bright spot in defeat with 18 points, three assists and three boards. UCLA was led by 17 points from both Kris Wilkes and Jaylen Hands in the Bruins most recent win. UCLA has done well in this spot for bettors as well, going 5-1 ATS in their last six non-conference home games following a two games or more unbeaten streak, while Notre Dame has struggled, going just 2-5 ATS in its last seven non-conference contests. For all the reasons listed above, lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-08-18 | Kings v. Pacers -3 | Top | 97-107 | Win | 100 | 12 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Indiana Pacers (7:05 EST). Both teams are playing the second game of a back-to-back, which really makes home court a big advantage for the Pacers in this match-up in my professional opinion. The Kings come in off a big 129-110 road win in Cleveland, while The Pacers return home off a big 112-90 win over Orlando on Friday. Note that this is an in season revenge game for Indiana, which fell 111-110 in Sacramento only last week. It’s a natural letdown spot for Sacramento, which plays its final game of its Eastern swing. Sacramento averages 114.7 PPG and it concedes 116.6. De’Aaron Fox averages 17.3 points and 7.5 assists per night. Indiana comes in having won straight. The Pacers average 105.8 PPG and they concede just 102.1. Victor Oladipo leads the nightly charge with 21.4 points, 6.6 boards and 1.56 steal per game. Even with Oladipo out, I love the Pacers here. Note that Sacramento is a terrible 10-17 ATS in its last 27 after covering five or six of its last seven games against the spread, while Indiana is 5-2 ATS in its last seven when playing the second game of a back to back. For all the reasons listed above, lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-06-18 | Rockets v. Jazz -1.5 | Top | 91-118 | Win | 100 | 15 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* Knockout is on the Utah Jazz (10:35 EST). Houston has allowed 116.1 PPG over its last nine games. It has caused the team's defensive rating to tumble to 25th among NBA teams. The Rockets' offense has not been up to last year's standard (109.2 PPG ranks 18th) ) and it hasn't been able to keep up. The result has been five losses over their last seven contests. Meanwhile, Utah has won four of its last six games and knocked down a franchise-record 20 three-pointers in Tuesday's 139-105 rout of the San Antonio Spurs (10 different players connected on at least one from behind the arc during the impressive victory). Utah cruised to a 100-89 road win in the first matchup of this series back in late October and I believe it’ll have an even easier time of it today. Note as well that Utah is 4-1 ATS in its last five when playing on one days rest, while Houston is interestingly 0-4 ATS in its last four vs. teams with a home winning percentage of less than .400. Rockets’ star Chris Paul was just one of eight form the floor in the loss to Minnesota most recently and I think he’ll struggle again here against this surging home side. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-05-18 | Nuggets -5 v. Magic | Top | 124-118 | Win | 100 | 11 h 59 m | Show |
My 10* Wipeout Winner is on the Denver Nuggets (7:05 EST). At some point the Nuggets are going to have a letdown, but I don’t think that tonight is that night. Denver enters off a confidence building 106-103 road win over the Raptors. The Magic come in off a very satisfying win in Miami just last night and I think they’re primed for a predictable letdown vs. this deep and talented non-conference visiting side. The Nuggets come in on top form having won six straight. Denver averages 110.2 PPG and it concedes 102.7. Nikola Jokic leads the way with 16.7 points, 9.7 boards and 7.5 assists per night. The Magic average 105.8 PPG and they concede 108.1. Clearly that’s not a recipe for long-term success. Nikola Vucevic leads the nightly charge with 21 points, 11.3 boards and 3.8 assists per night. I’ll point out as well that Orlando is just 3-7 ATS in its last ten home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600, while Denver is 4-0 ATS in its last four on the road. Look for these strong trends to continue and lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-05-18 | Ohio State v. Illinois +5.5 | Top | 77-67 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 43 m | Show |
My 10* Underdog Shocker is on Illinois (7:00 EST). Ohio State enters off a satisfying 79-59 home win over Minnesota and I think it’ll get caught looking past its lowly opponent today. Illinois is hungry here, off a 75-60 loss to Nebraska in its Big Ten opener. The Illini play with revenge here as well (not surprisingly), after Ohio State posted the 75-67 home win last season. The Buckeyes are 7-1 and averaging 78.4 PPG, while conceding 60.1. Kaleb Wesson was a standout in the latest victory with 15 points. The Illini are averaging 77.4 PPG and they’re allow 77.1. Illinoishas faced a stiff opening schedule though and I think a little home cooking is just what the doctor ordered. Trent Frazier leads the nightly charge and he’ll be eager to return to form after posting a combined 15 points over the last two games. I’ll printout though that Ohio State has struggled in this spot for bettors, going just 9-10 ATS in its last 19 off a home win of ten points or more. Illinois on the other hand is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 after a loss by ten points or more. I’m grabbing the points. Good luck...Larry |
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12-04-18 | Georgia State v. Alabama -7.5 | Top | 83-80 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Alabama (8:00 EST). Analysis posted at least six hours before game time. Alabama comes in off an upset loss to UCF and I believe it’ll take its frustrations out on Georgia State. The Panthers enter off a blowout loss to Liberty. But a little “home cooking” is just what the doctor ordered for the Tide to get back on track, as their only two losses have come on the road this year. D’Marcus Simonds had 22 points, five assists and three boards in Georgia State’s loss to the Flames. Leading scorer Damon Wilson though was held to just four points. The Tide have had a week off since their upset loss to the Golden Knights. It was a bad shooting night for the Tide, going 37.9 percent from the floor and 20.8 percent from range. Kira Lewis Jr. was a stand out in the defeat with 14 points, two boards and two assists. I’ll point out though that Alabama is 4-0 ATS in its last four following a SU loss, while Georgia State is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven following a SU loss of more than 20 points and just 1-4 ATS in its last five road games vs. teams with winning home records. The Panthers lack the size and depth to compete with this rested and focused Alabama side. But outside of Simonds, the visitors lack scoring punch and I have a hard time seeing the under-manned visitors keeping pace down the stretch. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-04-18 | Magic v. Heat -2 | Top | 105-90 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 24 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Miami Heat (7:35 EST). Orlando comes in off a 99-85 road win over Phoenix on Friday and I think it’ll stumble here with the extra time off and in this difficult venue. The Heat enter off a confidence building 102-100 home win over Utah on Sunday. Note that this is a revenge game as well for Miami after the Magic won 104-101 in the first meeting at home back in mid October. Orlando is averaging 105.8 PPG and it’s conceding 108.1. Nikola Vucevic leads the way with 21 points, 11.3 boards and 3.8 assists per night. Miami averages 108.2 PPG and it concedes 109.6. Hassan Whiteside is averaging 13.6 points, 13.9 boards and 2.9 blocks per game. I’ll point out as well that the Magic are a terrible 3-6 ATS in their last nine when playing with three or more days of rest, while Miami is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 in trying to revenge a close loss of three points or less to an opponent. Miami has won back-to-back games and I look for it to keep the foot on the gas here as well and to avenge the earlier loss to their division rival. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-02-18 | Pelicans v. Hornets -3 | Top | 119-109 | Loss | -101 | 9 h 24 m | Show |
My 10* Wipeout Winner is on the Charlotte Hornets (5:05 EST). New Orleans enters off a 106-101 setback in Miami on Friday, while Charlotte comes in off a 119-111 home loss to Utah on Friday. These teams haven’t played yet this season, but Charlotte does play with revenge here as well, as New Orleans has taken four straight in the series. The Pelicans have now lost four of their last five. They come into this game averaging 117.7 PPG and conceding 116.5. Anthony Davis leads the way with 27.8 points, 12.7 boards, 4.6 assists, 2.74 blocks and 1.53 assists per game. While New Orleans is 7-5 SU on the road, note that it’s just 4-8 ATS in those contests. Charlotte is back to .500 after its two game win streak was snapped by the Jazz, but the good news is that it still has a hold on the division lead. The Hornets average 114.7 PPG and they concede 110.4. Kemba Walker leads the nightly charge with 27.1 points and 6.2 assists per night. I’ll point out as well that New Orleans is just 1-3 ATS in its last four as a road dog of six points or less, while Charlotte is 8-4 ATS at home and 4-1 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite. For all the reasons listed above, play on the Hornets. Good luck…Larry |
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12-01-18 | Warriors v. Pistons +5.5 | Top | 102-111 | Win | 100 | 12 h 12 m | Show |
My 10* Conf Crusher is on the Detroit Pistons (7:05 EST). The Warriors welcome back captain Stephen Curry to the line-up, but I think the defending champs are still going to need some time to get back on track and gain their normal chemistry. Most recently the Warriors come in off an exhausting 131-128 OT loss in Toronto, a game in which Kevin Durant went for 51 points. The surging Pistons look to take advantage after their fourth straight win, most recently over Chicago in blowout fashion. Golden State averages 116.5 PPG, while conceding 111.5. As mentioned off the top, having Curry back will clearly start to turn things around for the Warriors, but as also stated earlier, I do definitely fel that “instant chemistry” is out of the question in this one. And that’s because the Pistons are firing on all cylinders, averaging 111.8 PPG and conceding 110.7. Blake Griffin leads the nightly charge with 25.1 points, 9.6 board and 5.1 assists per game. I’ll point out as well that Golden State is just 3-7 ATS on the road this year, while Detroit is 6-2 ATS as an underdog. For all the reasons listed above, grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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12-01-18 | Nevada v. USC +5.5 | Top | 73-61 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* Unranked Shocker is on USC (4:30 EST). While an outright upset is obviously not out of the question, I will in the end recommend grabbing the points in a contest which I envision being decided by whichever of these hungry teams has its hands on the ball last. Nevada comes in unbeaten after getting the better of Loyola-Chicago 79-65, while USC enters off a 75-65 home win over LBSU on Wednesday. Nevada is averaging 90.1 PPG and it’s conceding 69. Caleb Martin leads the nightly charge with 21 points and 4.7 boards per game, while Jordan Carolina adds 17.7 points and 9.9 boards. The Trojans won’t be going down without a fight today. They come in on top form having won three straight. USC averages 83.3 PPG and it concedes 71.6. Bennie Boatwright leads the team with 16.8 points and 6.4 boards per game. I’ll point out as well that Nevada is just 4-5 ATS in its last nine after covering five of six of its last seven ATS, while USC is 3-1 ATS in its last four at home and 18-8 ATS in its last 26 after having won three of its last four games SU. For all the reasons listed above, grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-29-18 | Pacers v. Lakers -4.5 | Top | 96-104 | Win | 100 | 16 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the LA Lakers (10:35 EST). After back-to-back losses, the Lakers are the “hungrier” team tonight. Indiana on the other hand comes in contented after back-to-back road wins, including a 109-104 victory in Phoenix on Tuesday. But Pacers star Victor Oladipo is sitting this one out with injury and I believe The King and company get back on track and take advantage. Overall Indiana is averaging 106.5 PPG and it’s allowing 102.2. Oladipo leads the nightly charge with 21.4 points and 6.6 boards per game, but as mentioned off the top, he’s sitting this one out. The Lakers are averaging 112.8 PPG and they’re conceding 112.9. James leads the way with 27.6 points, 7.9 boards and 6.7 assists per night. I’ll point out though that Indiana has struggled against the better offensive teams in the league so far this season, going just 5-8 ATS vs. good offensive teams which average 106-plus points per night. And note that the Lakers are a solid 4-2 ATS vs. teams with winning records. For all the reasons listed above, lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-28-18 | Spurs +4.5 v. Wolves | Top | 89-128 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the San Antonio Spurs (8:05 EST). The Spurs enter off a 108-107 road win over Chicago on Monday, while the Wolves held on for a 102-95 road victory over the Cavs on Monday. If recent history is any precedence, then the Spurs have to be liking their chance today as they’ve taken two straight in the series, including a 112-108 home victory in the first meeting back on October 17th. San Antonio is averaging 109.6 PPG and it’s allowing 110.1. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 24.8 points and 6.3 assists per night. Minnesota is averaging 109 PPG and it’s allowing 111.2. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.8 points and 12.2 boards per game. I’ll point out thought that Wolves are just 6-8 ATS in their last 14 following a three games or more unbeaten streak, while the Spurs are already 6-3 ATS as an underdog this season. After three straight wins and six in their last eight, this sets up as natural letdown spot for the home side in my opinion. Grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-28-18 | Syracuse v. Ohio State -5.5 | Top | 72-62 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 51 m | Show |
The third pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Ohio State (10*) 7:15 EST. Syracuse enters off a 77-56 win at home over Colgate, while Ohio State demolished Cleveland State 89-62 at home in its latest action. The Orange have plenty of talent, but I have a hard time seeing the visitors matching pace down the stretch. Syracuse averages 73.6 PPG and it concedes 64.6. Tyus Battle leads the nightly charge with 17.6 PPG. Ohio Sate averages 81.3 PPG and it concedes only 58.3. That’s tied for 15th in the country. Kaleb Wesson leads the way with 14.7 points and 5.8 boards per game. I’ll point out that Syracuse has struggled mightily in this spot as well for bettors for quite some time, going 0-9 ATS in its last nine following a SU win of more than 20 points. The Buckeyes depth on both ends of the floor is the difference maker here. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-27-18 | Lakers v. Nuggets -4 | Top | 85-117 | Win | 100 | 13 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Denver Nuggets (9:05 EST). I like the Nuggets to avenge a 121-114 road loss in LA back on October 25th. LA enters off a poor 108-104 home loss to Orlando, while Denver comes in off a confidence building 105-98 road win in Oklahoma City on Saturday. LA had won seven of eight before Sunday’s loss. LeBron James was a bright spot in the setback, scoring 24 points and dishing out seven assists. Overall the Lakers are averaging 114.2 PPG and conceding 112.7. Denver averages 109.9 PPG and it concedes 103.2. Big man Nikola Jokic scores 16.6 points per game average. I’ll point out though that Denver is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 following an ATS victory, while LA is a poor 1-4 ATS in its last five when playing on one days rest. The Nuggets are especially though at home, and they play with revenge here. I like Denver to pull away down the stretch for a comfortable ATS cover. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-27-18 | Temple v. Missouri -3 | Top | 79-77 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on Missouri (9:00 EST). Temple comes in off a 76-59 win over Cal and I think it stumbles in this difficult non-conference road venue. The Tigers on the other hand come in as the “hungrier” team after they fell 82-67 to K-State. Temple averages 74.5 PPG and it concedes 65.7. Quinton Rose had 32 points in the win over the Golden Bears. Missouri is averaging 63.6 PPG, but it’s allowing just 65.6. The Tigers numbers are skewed though in my opinion to open the season, due to the level of the competition. I’ll point out as well that Temple is a poor 6-9 ATS in its last 15 after allowing 60 points or less, while Missouri is 9-5 ATS in its last 14 after allowing 80 points or more. I think the hungrier team prevails and I believe the Owls finally have a letdown here. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-26-18 | Rockets v. Wizards +4 | Top | 131-135 | Win | 100 | 12 h 41 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Washington Wizards (7:05 EST). The Rockets have been terrible of late and I think they’re going to stumble here in the Nation’s capital as well. Houston enters off a 117-108 road loss to the Cavs, it’s second straight setback. The Rockets are clearly going to be “hungry” here, but Washington enters even hungrier. The Wizards broke a three-game slide with a 124-114 home win over New Orleans and I believe they carry that positive momentum over here as well. Houston is averaging 106.9 PPG and it’s conceding 107.9. Clearly that’s not a recipe for long-term success. The Rockets are led by James Harden with 30 points, 5.1 boards and 7.9 assists per game. Washington is averaging 112.2 PPG and it’s conceding 117.2. That’s not a recipe for success either, but as stated above, I think the Wizards keep the foot on the gas after the slow start to the season and following their big win over the Pelicans. Additionally note Houston is just 1-5 ATS this year after allowing 115 points or more in its previous contest, while Washington is 6-3 ATS in its last nine after scoring 120 points or more in a victory in its previous outing. For all the reasons listed above, grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-25-18 | Knicks +8.5 v. Grizzlies | Top | 103-98 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the New York Knicks (6:05 EST). Even with Kristaps Porzingis in the line-up for the Knicks (he’s not, he’s still injured!), Memphis is still a much better team than New York across the board. I won’t try to convince you otherwise either, I simply feel that the Grizzlies are going to get caught “looking past” their lowly non-conference opponent tonight. Besides, the Knicks come in off a confidence building 114-109 home win over the Pelicans, while the Grizzlies enter off an exhausting 112-107 OT loss on the road to the Clippers on Friday. New York has in fact won two straight. Overall the Knicks are averaging 108.9 PPG and conceding 114.3. Memphis is averaging only 103.3 PPG, making up for it on the other end with the No. 1 defense, conceding only 100.8 points. I’ll point out thought that New York is 8-2 ATS in its last ten non-conference road games in which it comes in on a two games or more SU unbeaten streak, while Memphis is just 1-4 ATS in its last five home games following an OT loss in which failed to score 110 or more points in. No outright, but closer than expected. Grab all those points! Good luck…Larry |
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11-25-18 | Oklahoma State v. LSU -4 | Top | 90-77 | Loss | -105 | 5 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* Tourney Takedown is on LSU (4:00 EST). These teams are playing for third place in the AdvoCare Invitationals. Oklahoma State enters off a humbling 77-58 loss to Villanova and I believe the Cowboys will stumble again here as well. LSU enters off a tight 79-76 loss in OT to No. 14 Florida State on Friday and I believe the Tigers come in hungry and focused off that near epic upset. The Cowboys enter averaging 71.4 points and conceding 65. Cameron McGriff leads the nightly charge with 15 points and eight boards per game. LSU is averaging 82.2 PPG and it’s allowing 71.8. Naz Reid is averaging 13.2 points and 4.2 boars per game. I’ll point out though that LSU is 5-1 ATSin its last six following a SU loss, while Oklahoma State is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight after failing to score 60 points in its previous outing. Lay the points and expect a rout. Good luck…Larry |
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11-24-18 | Celtics v. Mavs +2.5 | Top | 104-113 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Dallas Mavericks (8:35 EST). The Celtics come in off a win and cover in Atlanta last night and I think they’ll suffer a predictable letdown here in the second game of the back to back against their lowly non-conference opponent. Previous to last night’s win Boston had lost three straight and five of seven. Dallas on the other hand enters off a win as well, most recently outlasting Brooklyn 119-113. Harrison Barnes led the way in that one with 28 points. Overall though rookie Luka Doncic leads the Mavs with an average of 19.3 PPG. Note as well that Boston is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine when playing the second game of a back to back against a non-conference opponent in which it scored over 105 points in the first game and emerged victorious as well, while Dallas is 5-1 ATS in its last six overall. The oddsmakers are slow in recognizing how well Dallas is playing right now. The Mavericks benefit in facing the C’s on the second game of a back to back and while I obviously wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset, I will in the end recommend grabbing the points in a contest which I envision coming down to whichever team has its hands on the ball last. Grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-23-18 | Blazers v. Warriors -1.5 | Top | 97-125 | Win | 100 | 13 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* WEST-CONF GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Golden State Warriors (10:35 EST). The Warriors are facing their most difficult stretch in a long time. Golden State comes in having lost four in a row and captain Stephen Curry remains sidelined with injury. A date against the Blazers, who have struggled away from friendly confines, is just what the doctor ordered for Kevin Durant and the two-time defending champs to get back on track with a big win. Portland comes in off a 143-100 loss at Milwaukee, while Golden State fell 123-95 to OKC in its latest action. The Blazers are averaging 114.2 PPG and they’re conceding 110.2. Damian Lillard leads the nightly charge with 26.4 PPG. Golden State is averaging 115.4 PPG and it’s conceding 111.1. Durant is averaging 27.2 PPG. I’ll point out though that the Blazers are a money-burning 4-5 ATS on the road this year, while Golden State is still 6-2 ATS in its last eight at home. I think Durant and Klay Thompson come to play tonight and the supporting cast finally shows up as well. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-23-18 | Tennessee +3.5 v. Kansas | Top | 81-87 | Loss | -109 | 15 h 11 m | Show |
My 10* Showdown is on Tennessee (9:30 EST). No. 5 Tennessee is led by Grant Williams, who is averaging 22.5 PPG. He most recently had 24 points against Louisville in Wednesday’s semi final victory of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Five players went on to score double figures for the Vols in the 92-81 win. Overall Tennessee is averaging 82.8 PPG and conceding just 60. Kansas is allowing teams to hit 40.5 percent from behind the arc. The Jayhawks are terrible at defending the three-ball, but they make up for it on the offensive end by hitting 47.2 percent from range. The Jayhawks most recently rallied for a bit win over Marquette, getting 26 points from Dedric Lawson in the eventual 77-68 victory. I’ll point out though that Kansas is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven following a SU win, while Tennessee is a strong 11-2 ATS in its last 13 after scoring 90 points or more in its previous contest. While the outright win is clearly not out of the question, I’ll recommend to grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-22-18 | Hawaii v. Utah -9.5 | Top | 90-79 | Loss | -105 | 16 h 26 m | Show |
This is a 10* Tourney Takedown on Utah (11:30 EST). Hawaii enters off an 85-68 victory over Northern Arizona at home, while Utah comes in off a 98-63 win over Mississippi Valley State on Thursday. If recent history is any precedence though, then the Utes have to be loving their chances tonight to extend their win stark, as they’d cruise to an easy 80-60 home victory in this matchup last year in early December. Hawaii is averaging 72.7 PPG and it’s averaging 66.7. Zigmars Raimo leads the nightly charge with 16 points and 6.3 boards. The Warriors are horrible at the free-throw line, averaging only 59.5 percent. Utah is averaging 80.7 PPG and it’s allowing 67.3. Sedrick Barefield leads the way with 12 points per game. The Utes aren’t great at the line, but much better at 68 percent. Additionally note that Utah is 9-4-1 ATS in its last 14 following a SU win, while Hawaii is a poor 6-13 ATS in its last 19 vs. teams with a winning SU record. Utah has six different players that score in double figures and I think that the Warriors will struggle to keep pace down the stretch. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-21-18 | Loyola-Chicago -4.5 v. Boston College | Top | 66-78 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on Loyola Chicago (7:30 EST). The Ramblers are 4-1 and the BC Eagles are 3-1. This is the championship game for the Fort Myers Tip-Off from the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on Wednesday night. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers most recently posted an 82-66 win over Richmond to advance. Lucas Williamson led the charge in that one with 23 points, while Marques Townes added 15 points. Overall the Ramblers are averaging 74.2 PPG. BC enters the championship game off an 88-76 win over Wyoming, led by 38 points from Ky Bowman. Overall BC is averaging 76 PPG in the early going. I’ll point out though that Loyola-Chicago is 7-1 ATS in its last eight neutral site affairs, while BC is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven non-conference contests and only 1-4 ATS in its last five vs. teams with winning records. BC may have the best player on the floor in Bowman, but he can’t do it by himself. The depth the Ramblers bring to the table is the difference. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-21-18 | Blazers v. Bucks -6 | Top | 100-143 | Win | 100 | 12 h 15 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Milwaukee Bucks (8:05 EST). No need to overthink this one. The Blazers come in “gassed” after a much tougher than expected 118-114 win over the Knicks in New York last night. The Bucks have been off since Monday after rallying for a 104-98 home win over the Nuggets on Monday. Note that this is an in-season revenge game for Milwaukee after the Blazers posted a 118-103 home victory back on November 6th. The Blazers are averaging 114.9 PPG and they’re conceding 107.9. Damian Lillard leads the nightly charge with 26.6 points and 6.1 assists per night. The Bucks are averaging 120.1 PPG and they’re conceding 109. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the team with an average of 25.9 points to go with 12.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. I’ll point out that Milwaukee is 8-1-1 ATS in its last ten at home and 4-1 ATS in its last five vs. teams with winning road record, while Portland is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven road games vs. teams with a winning home record. For all the reasons listed above, lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-20-18 | Colorado v. San Diego -5 | Top | 64-70 | Win | 100 | 12 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on San Diego (10:00 EST). The Buffs enter off a tougher than expected 79-75 win over Nebraska-Omaha, while San Diego comes in off a 95-47 destruction of San Diego Christian. If recent history is any precedence though, then the Toreros have to be loving their chances today as they’d win this match-up last year on the road 69-59. So far the Buffs are averaging 89.5 PPG and they’re conceding 73. Namon Wright had 11 pints and four boards in the most recent victory. San Diego is averaging 79.2 PPG, but the Toreros are allowing only 59. Isaiah Pineiro already has 53 points combined over the first two games. I’ll point out as well that San Diego is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 non-conference games and 5-0 ATS in its last five following a SU win of more than 20 points, while Colorado is a poor 10-26-1 ATS in its last 37 following a SU win. Lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-19-18 | VCU v. Temple -2.5 | Top | 57-51 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 24 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker’s Error is on Temple (9:30 EST). This is the second game of the Legends Classic from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and in my opinion this spread could easily be a lot larger. This s Fran Dunphy’s last year as head coach of the Temple Owls and he has 561 career wins under his belt. The team is gunning for 580 to send him off and so far Temple is out to a 4-0 start, most recently downing Maryland 81-67 on Friday. Shizz Alston Jr. leads the nightly charge with 21.5 points and he’s made 14 from range over his last three games alone. Overall the Owls are averaging 80 PPG and conceding 69.5. VCU is averaging only 70 PPG, but it makes up for it on the other end by conceding only 58.3. Those numbers are skewed of ours because of some of the recent competition, most recently a 72-61 home win over Bowling Green. I’ll point out though that VCU is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven neutral site affairs, while Temple is 13-3 ATS in its last 16 in the same position. The Owls have faced the tougher schedule to this point and they have the better numbers across the board. Lay the points and expect a rout. Good luck…Larry |
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11-18-18 | Warriors v. Spurs -2.5 | Top | 92-104 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* Rivalry Rout is on the San Antonio Spurs (7:05 EST). The Warriors lost in Dallas last night and I believe the under-manned defending champions are ripe for the picking here as well. The Spurs come in hungry after a 116-111 road loss to the Clippers on Thursday. San Antonio though has had a few nights off to absorb the setback and I look for it to push the pace from start to finish here against the exhausted Warriors. Golden State is averaging 118.6 PPG and it’s conceding 110.8. Kevin Durant is averaging 27 points, 7.2 boards and 6.3 assists per game. The Warriors are without star Stephen Curry and Draymond Green is questionable with a toe injury. The Spurs are averaging 107.9 PPG and they’re conceding just 108.8. DeMar DeRozan averages 25.6 points and 6.3 assists per night. I’ll point out as well that the Warriors are now a poor 2-6 ATS on the road this year, while San Antonio is already 4-2 ATS this season when playing with two days of rest. The Spurs have lost three straight and five of six and they’ll be risking life and limb to score the victory here. Lay the points and expect a rout. Good luck…Larry |
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11-18-18 | UCF -1 v. Western Kentucky | Top | 78-62 | Win | 100 | 13 h 44 m | Show |
My 10* Takedown is on UCF (6:30 EST). I play against the UCF Knights on the College Gridiron last night and lost badly with Cincinnati. But I think the Knights are the correct call on the hardwood vs. the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky in the championship game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational. UCF beat St. Joe’s 77-57 on Friday, while the Hilltoppers bested WVU 63-57 Friday The Knights shot 55 percent from the floor in their win Friday, led by 22 points from Terrell Allen. Overall UCF is averaging 77 PPG and allowing just 64.8. WVU is riding a three-game win streak as well, but after Friday’s upset win over the Mountaineers, I’m expecting a predictable letdown here. WKU is averaging 71.8 PPG and it’s conceding 68. I’ll point out though that the Mountaineers are just 1-4 ATS in their last three after a three games or more non-conference unbeaten streak, while UCF is 6-1 ATS in its last seven non-conference games and 4-1 ATS in its last five neutral site affairs. I think UCF wears down WVU and pulls away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover. Good luck…Larry |
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11-17-18 | St. Louis +6 v. Seton Hall | Top | 66-64 | Win | 100 | 12 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* GAME OF THE WEEK is on St. Louis (8:00 EST). While I wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset here, I’ll recommend grabbing the points in a contest which I envision coming down to whichever team has its hands on the ball last. Saint Louis is 3-0, most recently taking care of North Alabama 69-58. Javon Bess had 16 points and ten boards, leading four players in double figures in scoring. Note that the Billikens have five players with at least six assists and it also has a 1.64 assist-to-turnover ratio. Seton Hall lost four starters from last year and it showed in a humbling 80-57 loss to Nebraska on Wednesday. Myles Powell was a bright spot with 24 points. I’ll point out as well that Seton Hall is just 1-4 ATS in its last five following an ATS loss, while St. Louis is 14-5 ATS in its last 19 as a road underdog and 7-3 ATS in its last ten following an ATS loss. This one has outright upset written all over it my opinion, but as stated off the top, I’m going to grab the points. Good luck…Larry |
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11-17-18 | Jazz v. Celtics -4 | Top | 98-86 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Boston Celtics (7:35 EST). Both teams played last night. Utah fell 113-107 in Philadelphia and I think it’ll stumble here as well in this difficult road venue. The Celtics slugged out with Toronto at home and eventually pulled away for the 113-107 victory. The second game of a back-to-back is always difficult, but always much more so for the road team. I think fatigue will be a factor for the Jazz, who laid everything they had on the line last night to try and pull off the upset. Clearly the Celtics had to work hard as well, but again, the “not travelling factor” is huge in this case in my opinion. Furthermore note that Utah is just 34-40 ATS in its last 74 as an underdog, while Boston is 46-25 ATS in its last 71 when trying to revenge a loss against an opponent (Jazz claimed a 123-115 home win on Nov. 9th.) All signs point to a rout, lay the points. Good luck…Larry |
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Larry Ness Basketball Top Sides Picks
Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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01-29-19 | Mississippi State v. Alabama -2 | Top | 79-83 | Win | 100 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
01-28-19 | TCU v. Texas Tech -4.5 | Top | 65-84 | Win | 100 | 14 h 16 m | Show |
01-27-19 | Jazz v. Wolves +4 | Top | 125-111 | Loss | -106 | 10 h 0 m | Show |
01-27-19 | UCF v. Memphis -1 | Top | 57-77 | Win | 100 | 9 h 26 m | Show |
01-26-19 | Warriors v. Celtics +3.5 | Top | 115-111 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
01-26-19 | UNLV v. San Diego State -5.5 | Top | 77-94 | Win | 100 | 13 h 50 m | Show |
01-26-19 | VCU v. Duquesne +4 | Top | 80-74 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 48 m | Show |
01-25-19 | Pistons v. Mavs -5 | Top | 101-106 | Push | 0 | 11 h 53 m | Show |
01-25-19 | Butler v. Creighton -2 | Top | 61-75 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
01-24-19 | Arizona State v. UCLA -1 | Top | 84-73 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 6 m | Show |
01-23-19 | Nuggets v. Jazz -3 | Top | 108-114 | Win | 100 | 16 h 44 m | Show |
01-23-19 | Raptors v. Pacers -5 | Top | 106-110 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 29 m | Show |
01-23-19 | Providence v. Xavier -3 | Top | 64-62 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
01-22-19 | Clemson v. Florida State -5.5 | Top | 68-77 | Win | 100 | 11 h 19 m | Show |
01-21-19 | Iowa State v. Kansas -5 | Top | 76-80 | Loss | -112 | 15 h 13 m | Show |
01-21-19 | Rockets v. 76ers -5 | Top | 93-121 | Win | 100 | 14 h 25 m | Show |
01-20-19 | Colorado v. Utah -3.5 | Top | 69-78 | Win | 100 | 11 h 49 m | Show |
01-19-19 | Oregon v. Arizona State -3.5 | Top | 64-78 | Win | 100 | 15 h 36 m | Show |
01-19-19 | Oregon State v. Arizona -5 | Top | 71-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
01-18-19 | Pelicans v. Blazers -2.5 | Top | 112-128 | Win | 100 | 15 h 40 m | Show |
01-17-19 | Oregon v. Arizona -4.5 | Top | 59-54 | Loss | -112 | 14 h 11 m | Show |
01-17-19 | 76ers v. Pacers -3 | Top | 120-96 | Loss | -106 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
01-16-19 | Jazz v. Clippers -1.5 | Top | 129-109 | Loss | -118 | 15 h 26 m | Show |
01-16-19 | Kansas State v. Oklahoma -5 | Top | 74-61 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 27 m | Show |
01-15-19 | Florida v. Mississippi State -3 | Top | 68-71 | Push | 0 | 12 h 20 m | Show |
01-14-19 | Nebraska v. Indiana -2.5 | Top | 66-51 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 14 m | Show |
01-13-19 | Butler v. Xavier +1.5 | Top | 69-70 | Win | 100 | 6 h 57 m | Show |
01-12-19 | Washington v. Colorado -1.5 | Top | 77-70 | Loss | -106 | 14 h 16 m | Show |
01-12-19 | Spurs v. Thunder -5 | Top | 112-122 | Win | 100 | 10 h 47 m | Show |
01-12-19 | Ole Miss v. Mississippi State -5.5 | Top | 81-77 | Loss | -115 | 7 h 23 m | Show |
01-11-19 | Hornets v. Blazers -6.5 | Top | 96-127 | Win | 100 | 15 h 7 m | Show |
01-10-19 | Pepperdine v. Santa Clara -2 | Top | 64-67 | Win | 100 | 17 h 18 m | Show |
01-10-19 | Clippers v. Nuggets -5.5 | Top | 100-121 | Win | 100 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
01-09-19 | Butler v. Seton Hall -3 | Top | 75-76 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
01-08-19 | Alabama v. LSU -6 | Top | 79-88 | Win | 100 | 13 h 23 m | Show |
01-08-19 | Wolves v. Thunder -8 | Top | 119-117 | Loss | -100 | 13 h 0 m | Show |
01-07-19 | Nuggets v. Rockets -1 | Top | 113-125 | Win | 100 | 13 h 55 m | Show |
01-06-19 | Illinois v. Northwestern -7.5 | Top | 66-68 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 10 m | Show |
01-05-19 | BYU v. St. Mary's -6.5 | Top | 66-88 | Win | 100 | 17 h 56 m | Show |
01-04-19 | Thunder v. Blazers +1 | Top | 111-109 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 42 m | Show |
01-04-19 | Ball State v. Toledo -6 | Top | 79-64 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 0 m | Show |
01-03-19 | Stanford v. UCLA -5.5 | Top | 70-92 | Win | 100 | 16 h 36 m | Show |
01-03-19 | Raptors v. Spurs -1.5 | Top | 107-125 | Win | 100 | 13 h 42 m | Show |
01-02-19 | Texas v. Kansas State -3.5 | Top | 67-47 | Loss | -108 | 15 h 37 m | Show |
01-01-19 | Blazers v. Kings +1.5 | Top | 113-108 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 13 m | Show |
12-30-18 | Wolves v. Heat -3.5 | Top | 113-104 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 6 m | Show |
12-30-18 | Massachusetts v. Georgia -6.5 | Top | 72-91 | Win | 100 | 11 h 57 m | Show |
12-29-18 | Warriors -3.5 v. Blazers | Top | 115-105 | Win | 100 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
12-29-18 | Oregon v. Boise State +2 | Top | 62-50 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 16 m | Show |
12-28-18 | Spurs v. Nuggets -3.5 | Top | 99-102 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 22 m | Show |
12-26-18 | Nuggets v. Spurs -3 | Top | 103-111 | Win | 100 | 14 h 5 m | Show |
12-23-18 | Hornets v. Celtics -7 | Top | 103-119 | Win | 100 | 11 h 9 m | Show |
12-22-18 | UNLV v. Hawaii +1 | Top | 73-59 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
12-22-18 | North Carolina -2 v. Kentucky | Top | 72-80 | Loss | -113 | 10 h 6 m | Show |
12-21-18 | Wolves v. Spurs -4 | Top | 98-124 | Win | 100 | 14 h 0 m | Show |
12-21-18 | Buffalo v. Marquette -2.5 | Top | 85-103 | Win | 100 | 14 h 51 m | Show |
12-20-18 | Mavs v. Clippers -3.5 | Top | 121-125 | Win | 103 | 16 h 32 m | Show |
12-20-18 | James Madison v. Fordham -3.5 | Top | 48-75 | Win | 100 | 12 h 54 m | Show |
12-19-18 | Boise State v. Loyola Marymount -4.5 | Top | 69-70 | Loss | -106 | 16 h 49 m | Show |
12-18-18 | Buffalo v. Syracuse -3.5 | Top | 71-59 | Loss | -101 | 13 h 23 m | Show |
12-18-18 | Lakers -2 v. Nets | Top | 110-115 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 3 m | Show |
12-17-18 | Jazz v. Rockets -5 | Top | 97-102 | Push | 0 | 14 h 59 m | Show |
12-16-18 | St. Louis +8.5 v. Houston | Top | 64-68 | Win | 100 | 9 h 37 m | Show |
12-15-18 | Cincinnati v. Mississippi State -5 | Top | 59-70 | Win | 100 | 15 h 7 m | Show |
12-15-18 | Lakers +1 v. Hornets | Top | 128-100 | Win | 100 | 13 h 43 m | Show |
12-14-18 | Raptors v. Blazers +3 | Top | 122-128 | Win | 100 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
12-13-18 | Lakers +5.5 v. Rockets | Top | 111-126 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 40 m | Show |
12-12-18 | Blazers v. Grizzlies -3 | Top | 83-92 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
12-10-18 | Jazz v. Thunder -6 | Top | 113-122 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
12-09-18 | Purdue v. Texas +1.5 | Top | 68-72 | Win | 100 | 10 h 24 m | Show |
12-08-18 | Notre Dame v. UCLA -6 | Top | 62-65 | Loss | -115 | 15 h 17 m | Show |
12-08-18 | Kings v. Pacers -3 | Top | 97-107 | Win | 100 | 12 h 54 m | Show |
12-06-18 | Rockets v. Jazz -1.5 | Top | 91-118 | Win | 100 | 15 h 21 m | Show |
12-05-18 | Nuggets -5 v. Magic | Top | 124-118 | Win | 100 | 11 h 59 m | Show |
12-05-18 | Ohio State v. Illinois +5.5 | Top | 77-67 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 43 m | Show |
12-04-18 | Georgia State v. Alabama -7.5 | Top | 83-80 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 16 m | Show |
12-04-18 | Magic v. Heat -2 | Top | 105-90 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 24 m | Show |
12-02-18 | Pelicans v. Hornets -3 | Top | 119-109 | Loss | -101 | 9 h 24 m | Show |
12-01-18 | Warriors v. Pistons +5.5 | Top | 102-111 | Win | 100 | 12 h 12 m | Show |
12-01-18 | Nevada v. USC +5.5 | Top | 73-61 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 37 m | Show |
11-29-18 | Pacers v. Lakers -4.5 | Top | 96-104 | Win | 100 | 16 h 5 m | Show |
11-28-18 | Spurs +4.5 v. Wolves | Top | 89-128 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
11-28-18 | Syracuse v. Ohio State -5.5 | Top | 72-62 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 51 m | Show |
11-27-18 | Lakers v. Nuggets -4 | Top | 85-117 | Win | 100 | 13 h 0 m | Show |
11-27-18 | Temple v. Missouri -3 | Top | 79-77 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 54 m | Show |
11-26-18 | Rockets v. Wizards +4 | Top | 131-135 | Win | 100 | 12 h 41 m | Show |
11-25-18 | Knicks +8.5 v. Grizzlies | Top | 103-98 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
11-25-18 | Oklahoma State v. LSU -4 | Top | 90-77 | Loss | -105 | 5 h 54 m | Show |
11-24-18 | Celtics v. Mavs +2.5 | Top | 104-113 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
11-23-18 | Blazers v. Warriors -1.5 | Top | 97-125 | Win | 100 | 13 h 21 m | Show |
11-23-18 | Tennessee +3.5 v. Kansas | Top | 81-87 | Loss | -109 | 15 h 11 m | Show |
11-22-18 | Hawaii v. Utah -9.5 | Top | 90-79 | Loss | -105 | 16 h 26 m | Show |
11-21-18 | Loyola-Chicago -4.5 v. Boston College | Top | 66-78 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
11-21-18 | Blazers v. Bucks -6 | Top | 100-143 | Win | 100 | 12 h 15 m | Show |
11-20-18 | Colorado v. San Diego -5 | Top | 64-70 | Win | 100 | 12 h 7 m | Show |
11-19-18 | VCU v. Temple -2.5 | Top | 57-51 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 24 m | Show |
11-18-18 | Warriors v. Spurs -2.5 | Top | 92-104 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
11-18-18 | UCF -1 v. Western Kentucky | Top | 78-62 | Win | 100 | 13 h 44 m | Show |
11-17-18 | St. Louis +6 v. Seton Hall | Top | 66-64 | Win | 100 | 12 h 7 m | Show |
11-17-18 | Jazz v. Celtics -4 | Top | 98-86 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 18 m | Show |