Sports Picks & Predictions

4* Major NCAAB Public Massacre of the Week on Houston +7.5
The public is all over Memphis today and that is going to get them burned. UAB was catching just 4.5 points at home against Memphis and this Houston team crushed the Blazers by 19 this season. Plain and simple, the Cougars are catching too many. This is like the Super Bowl for Houston and I expect the Cougars to leave it all out on the floor. The Tigers are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite of 7.0-12.5. Another key here is that Houston's recent lack of success ATS has elevated this line. Houston is 20-6 ATS after failing to cover 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread since 1997, losing by just .5 ppg in these spots on average. Take the points in a close one!

3* NCAAB Public Opinion Game of the Week on Wake Forest -1.5
The public likes Wake here and I have to agree. Maryland has been playing strong ball down the stretch but Wake is proposes lots of mismatch problems because of its length against an undersized Maryland squad. The Deacs have struggled away from home in ACC play, but they will not take the Terps lightly tonight after seeing them knock off UNC. Another thing to Wake's benefit is that it has had an extra day to prepare for this one while the Terps just played Sunday. Maryland is 0-6 ATS when playing their 2nd game in 3 days over the last 3 seasons, losing in these spots by an average score of 61.7 to 75.0. The Road team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings and the Terrapins are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a home underdog of 6.5 or less. Take Wake!

5* NCAAB Big Chalk BLOWOUT OF THE MONTH on Clemson -14.5
I absolutely love the Tigers in this spot tonight. This is the final home game for the Tigers and you can bet they will be jacked up, especially after dropping back-to-back games. In addition, the Tigers lost to lowly Virginia on the road back in January so they will be out for revenge here. Clemson is an even better team than it was a season ago when it crushed Virginia 82-51 on the road, and the Cavs are far worse. Clemson is winning its home games by an average of 17.6 ppg this season and this one will be far worse than that. Lay the number!

4* Major NCAAB Public Massacre on Elon +14.5
This is the last regular season game for Elon and with Davidson in town, you can expect these boys to treat it like the Super Bowl. Elon lost by just 15 at Davidson in mid-January and I like it to feed off of the crowd to give the Wildcats a scare tonight. The Wildcats are just 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a road favorite of 13.0 or greater and 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings. The Phoenix are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning SU record. Plays on underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points (ELON) - off an upset loss as a favorite, playing their 2nd game in 3 days are 88-35 ATS since 1997. Take the points!

5* ESPN Big Monday Game of the Month on Notre Dame -3
Notre Dame is 7-9 in Big East play this season and has 2 remaining games in conference play to get to .500. This is the one the Irish really need though as it fits into the category of a quality win. A loss here ensures Notre Dame a losing mark in the Big East and likely kisses its Big Dance hopes goodbye outside winning the conference tourney. The Irish are 11-2 at home this season and 47-2 in their last 49 home games. Notre Dame has won 4 of its last 6 with one of those losses coming at UConn in a game where the Irish went right down to the wire with the Big East front runner. The tournament takes notice of teams playing their best ball down the stretch, so again this is a huge game for ND. Nova has not played well of late, barely escaping lowly DePaul and losing to Georgetown. The Wildcats are now just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 1-5-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings in this matchup. The Fighting Irish are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games as a favorite of 6.5 or less. Bet ND at home in this desperation spot.

3* Sunday Night Bailout on Oregon -1.5
It's been a terribly disappointing season for the Ducks, but they come into this one with momentum for the first time all season in the Pac-10 as they picked up their first Pac-10 win last time out. This is the final home game for the Ducks and the only things that would sweeten up this season is a big win over rival Oregon State. Oregon played the Beavers to a 3-point game on the road and will now look to have its revenge. Oregon has won 11 straight at home in this series dating back to 1997 and I don't see the Ducks laying down even more a minute here against a team they have dominated. Oregon State is 0-6 ATS in March games over the last 3 seasons, 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games vs. a team with a losing SU record, and 0-4 ATS in its last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. The Ducks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Sunday games. Take Oregon at home.

5* National TV BOMB (CBS) on Michigan State +1
With Illinois breathing down Michigan State's neck in the Big Ten standings, expect the Spartans to send the Illini and the Boilermakers, who are tied with the Illini in 2nd place, a message with a big win this afternoon. Michigan State is the hands down better team and coming off a very lackluster performance against Iowa so it will be charged up for the Illini today. Michigan State has been at its best on the road at 8-1 in true road games. It is 6-0 ATS in road games versus excellent teams - shooting >=45% with a defense of <=42% this season while Illinois is 0-7 ATS in home games versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 4+ per game over the last 2 seasons. The Fighting Illini are also just 1-8 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600 while the Spartans are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Izzo has his boys ready to roll today. Take MSU!