Sports Picks & Predictions

4* MAJOR NBA *BEST BET* on Jazz +11

Bottom Line: Off a big win over the Clippers, it's going to be tough for Washington give the Jazz its full attention. I expect enough of a letdown from the Wizards for Utah to be able to keep this one within a generous number. Double digit dogs off 2 or more consecutive OVERS are 43-15 ATS the last 5 seasons, provided they average 92-98 ppg and are playing a team that allows 92-98 ppg. Additionally, Utah is 11-0 ATS the last 3 seasons in road games after 2 or more consecutive OVERS. Bet the Jazz.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on Fordham +16

Bottom Line: Fordham will be the more motivated team Sunday afternoon as it looks to save face following last year's 104-58 loss to St. John's. Prior to that defeat, Fordham had covered 4 straight against the Red Storm while playing them to within 11 points in the previous 3. The Rams are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 non-conference games while the Red Storm are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 versus Atlantic 10 foes. Steve Lavin's teams are a miserable 63-94 ATS as a favorite since 1997.

5* WISEGUY CBB GAME OF THE WEEK on VCU -7

Bottom Line: This is a bad scheduling spot for Northern Iowa, playing 2 road games in 4 days. VCU has had a week to prepare, and it has lacked no focus as it looks to pay the Panthers back for last season's upset loss in Cedar Falls. Playing against road underdogs or pickems in the 1st 10 games of the season that return all 5 starters and held their last opponent to 55 points or less has resulted in a 29-12 ATS record the last 5 seasons. Teams fitting this scenario have lost by an average of 11.9 points. Pound VCU.

5* WISEGUY NBA *FRIDAY NIGHT FEAST* on Wizards +2.5

Bottom Line: The Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games versus teams with a winning percentage above .600 while the Wizards are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games versus teams with a road winning percentage greater than .600. Playing against road favorites that have covered the spread in 4 of their last 5 games, provided they have a win percentage of 75% or better and are playing a winning team, has resulted in a 63-27 (70%) ATS record since 1996. Pound Washington.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on Texas Southern +26

Bottom Line: Texas Southern has had over a week to get ready for the Gators and will also benefit from having already stepped on the floor with Indiana, Tennessee, SMU and Baylor. Texas Southern had performed well against quality competition before getting kicked at Baylor last time out, but that loss works in our favor. Road teams off a road loss where they were held to 60 points or less, provided they have a win percentage of 20% or worse on the season, has resulted in a 93-49 (65.5%) ATS record the last 5 seasons. The Gators are off a 38-point win over Yale but are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a win, 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a win of more than 20 points and 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.

4* MAJOR NBA on TNT "Total" DOMINATOR on Cavs/Thunder UNDER 204.5

Bottom Line: The Under is 6-0-1 in Cavaliers' last 7 games when playing on 1 days' rest, 3-0-1 in their last 4 games versus a team with a winning percentage below .400, 5-0-1 in their last 6 versus NBA Northwest opponents and 6-0 in their last 6 games following an ATS loss. The Under is 6-1 in Thunder's last 7 home games and 22-8 in their last 30 overall. The Under is 10-4-1 in the last 15 meetings, including 4-1-1 in the last 6 in OKC.

4* MAJOR CBB DOUBLE DIGIT *BLOOD BATH* on George Washington -10

Bottom Line: This may seem like books are asking too much of GW against a 6-1 DePaul team, but I don't think so. This is the first road trip outside Chicago this season, and that makes this a tough spot for the Blue Demons. DePaul has won 4 in a row, all by 11 points or more, but that actually plays in our favor. Playing against road dogs or pickems that have won 3 in a row by 10 points or more has resulted in a 90-47 ATS record the last 17 years, provided they average 76 or more ppg and are playing a team that allows 63 or less ppg. DePaul is yet to see a team that can get after it defensively the way GW does. Pound the Colonials.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on Fairleigh Dickinson +18.5

Bottom Line: Riding high off a big win at Syracuse to jump into the Top 25, St. John's won't give Fairleigh Dickinson its entire focus. Road underdogs in the 1st 10 games of the season that return 2 starters and were held to 25 points or less in the 1st half last game are 53-25 ATS the last 5 seasons. The Johnnies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games and 20-31 ATS when laying points with Lavin as head man.

5* WISEGUY EASTERN CONFERENCE GAME OF THE WEEK on Hornets -2.5

Bottom Line: The Hornets have the edge at home against a Boston team that has lost 5 of its 1st 7 road games. Charlotte has been resting comfortably at home all month and has had 4 full days to prepare for the Celtics. Boston is playing for the 3rd time in 4 days with its most recent one going to double OT so it will be showing some fatigue. The Celtics have been awful on defense this season, especially on the road where they are giving up 110.3 ppg. They are 15-26 ATS after allowing 105 points or more over the last 2 seasons. The Hornets are 20-8-2 ATS in their last 30 Wednesday games and 18-8 ATS in their last 26 versus NBA Atlantic division foes. Pound Charlotte.

4* MAJOR NBA *CRUNCH TIME BAILOUT* on Lakers -2.5

Bottom Line: Sacramento's ball movement has suffered without Cousins in the post, and that has corresponded to losses. The Kings have dropped 4 of 6 since Cousins went down with an illness, and I don't like their chances here. The Lakers are on a 19-4 ATS run versus teams that average 20 or fewer assists per game. The Lakers have won 5 straight at home in the series.

5* WISEGUY NBA *BEST BET* on Heat +4.5

Bottom Line: Fatigue will be an issue for Phoenix, which is playing a 4th game in 5 days and went to OT last night in LA. Playing against home teams that have lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games and are playing a 4th game in 5 days has resulted in a 139-86 ATS record since 1996. This system has gone 15-6 ATS the last 3 seasons. Pound the Heat.

5* WISEGUY CBB *BEST BET* on UMKC +23.5

Bottom Line: Off a dominant performance against Arkansas and with a big rivalry game in Iowa City on deck, Iowa State will get caught looking past a UMKC squad it demolished by 59 points last season. The Kangaroos are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 road games. Iowa State is on a 10-22 ATS slide versus teams with a win percentage of 20-40%. Playing against double-digit road underdogs in the first 10 games of the season that were held to 25 points or less in the 1st half of their last game, provided they return just 2 starters, has resulted in a 66-36 ATS record the last 5 seasons. Take the points.

4* MAJOR NBA *BEST BET* on Pacers -110

Bottom Line: Tough spot for the Hawks playing a second game of a back-to-back versus a team that has had the last 2 days off. Playing against underdogs that allow 99 ppg or more on the season but have allowed 85 points or less their last 2 games has resulted in a 28-7 ATS record the last 18 seasons, including a perfect 8-0 ATS record the last 5 seasons. Pound the Pacers.

4* MAJOR NBA *BEST BET* on Nuggets +5.5

Bottom Line: This line is an overreaction to Denver's 30-point loss in Washington combined with Atlanta's 23-point win in Brooklyn. Prior to that, Denver had been playing outstanding basketball, and I expect it to come storming back against a team it's had a great deal of success against. Based on a number of +5.5, the Nuggets are 6-2 SU and 8-0 ATS in their last 8 meetings with Atlanta. Playing against home teams that led by 20 points or more at halftime of their previous game has resulted in a 99-56 ATS record the last 5 seasons. Playing on road teams off a blowout loss of 15 points or more, provided they average 103 ppg or more on the season, has resulted in a 124-71 ATS record the last 18 seasons.

4* MAJOR NBA *BEST BET* on Pelicans +9.5

Bottom Line: Look for the Pelicans to come storming back following Thursday's ugly 27-points loss to Golden State. The Pelicans are 33-16-3 ATS in their last 52 games following a loss of more than 10 points. The Clippers have been overvalued at home a lot lately, especially when rested. They are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 home games and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games when playing on 2 days' rest. Pound the Pelicans.

5* WISEGUY CBB *UNDERDOG SHOCKER* on Wisc.-Green Bay +10.5

Bottom Line: This is a very dangerous game for Miami. Wisc.-GB is an experienced team, and it will be livid after getting murdered by Georgia State. The Phoenix return 4 starters from a team that defeated Virginia last season. They are 29-10 ATS when playing with 1 day of rest or none under coach Wardle and 15-6 ATS under their current coach when playing a 2nd road game in 3 days. Don't be surprised if they shock the Hurricanes.

5* WISEGUY NBA *FRIDAY NIGHT FEAST* on Timberwolves +7

Bottom Line: Look for Houston to get caught looking ahead tonight. The Rockets are prime for a letdown following a win over Memphis and with a tough game against Phoenix on deck tomorrow. They have already defeated the Timberwolves by double-digits this season so they will be thinking they can just show up and win. Minnesota, however, just lost to the worst team in the league, and I'm expecting an inspired effort in the aftermath of that. The Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win, 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games when playing on 1 days' rest and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games versus a team with a losing record. Pound Minnesota.

4* MAJOR CBB *SUREFIRE* on Florida International +29.5

Bottom Line: Riding high off a big win over Ohio State, motivation will be an issue for Louisville as it takes on an FIU squad it defeated by 29 last season. The Cardinals are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 lined home games and just 27-40 ATS in home games in December under Pitino. The Golden Panthers are 4-1-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 3-1-2 ATS in their last 6 road games, 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 versus the ACC and 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a win of more than 20 points.

4* MAJOR NBA on TNT *PRIMETIME PUNISHER* on Knicks +7

Bottom Line: Even bad teams tend to get up for national TV spots, and I fully expect the Knicks to get up for LeBron and company tonight. The Knicks are an impressive 15-5 ATS in their last 20 Thursday TNT games. The Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games versus a team with a winning percentage below .400. The Cavs have only 1 win of more than 6 points on the road this season. Grab the points.

5* WISEGUY NBA *BEST BET* on Jazz +4

Bottom Line: This is a difficult spot for Toronto, which is playing its 2nd road game in as many nights and it's 3rd in 4 days. It has a big showdown with Cleveland on deck so it will be easy to peek ahead to that one since it handled Utah easily at home last month. The Jazz will be the fresher team having had yesterday off. They'll also be the more motivated squad as they look to end a 6-game slide and avenge that earlier loss in Toronto. The Raptors are 4-11 ATS in the last 15 meetings. Pound Utah.

4* MAJOR CBB *ODDSMAKER ERROR* on La Salle +11

Bottom Line: The odds makers have missed their mark here. La Salle is 27-14 ATS all-time as a double-digit underdog under coach Giannini. Additionally, playing December double-digit dogs that are off an upset loss has resulted in a 223-141 (61.3%) ATS record since 1997.

4* MAJOR CBB LETDOWN GAME OF THE WEEK on George Mason +4

Bottom Line: Expect a letdown from Old Dominion in its first true road game of the season following Saturday's big upset win over VCU. Old Dominion shot the lights out from 3-point range in their last game, but teams headed up by Jeff Jones are 0-7 ATS in road games after a game where they made 50% of their 3-point shots or better since 1997. Teams headed up by Paul Hewitt are 24-11 ATS all-time as a home underdog of 6 points or less or pickem.

5* WISEGUY CBB *UNDERDOG SHOCKER* GAME OF THE WEEK on Indiana State +7.5

Bottom Line: Indiana State is difficult to beat at home and is very difficult to defeat by a wide margin. By my count, the Sycamores have lost by fewer than this number in 41 of their last 45 home games. Home court has been huge in this matchup with the home team going 3-0 in the last 3, 5-1 in the last 6 and 10-2 in the last 12. Only 1 time during this span has the home team lost by more than 7.5 points. Pound Indiana State.

4* MAJOR NBA *PRIMETIME PUNISHER* on Nuggets +3.5

Bottom Line: Denver has lost the season's first 2 meetings with Portland handily, but that was before it started its current 8-2 run. I like the Nuggets to have their revenge tonight at home. The Nuggets are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 home games, 43-21-1 ATS in their last 65 home games versus a team with a winning road record and 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 home games versus a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. The underdog is 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

4* MAJOR CBB *BLOOD BATH* on Kansas State -13

Bottom Line: K-State has lost its last 2 with the most recent being an ugly 70-47 loss to Pitt. I expect the Wildcats to come storming back at home. They are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a loss or more than 20 points. They are also 8-0 ATS in home games versus teams that average 77ppg or more under coach Weber.

4* MAJOR NBA *SUREFIRE* on Pistons -1.5

Bottom Line: Following a big upset win over Toronto, expect the Lakers to suffer a letdown as they hit the road for the first time since Nov. 21. Detroit has underachieved to this point given the level of talent it has on the roster. After playing 6 straight games against teams with winning records, and losing all 6, the Pistons will be going after a win tonight with all they've got. The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

5* WISEGUY NBA *BEST BET* on Celtics +7.5

Bottom Line: The Hawks are the more rested team having had the last 2 days off while the Celtics just had yesterday off. Fresh legs have done Atlanta no good against the number as it is 6-25 ATS in its last 31 games when playing on 2 days' rest. Boston has shown the ability to score the basketball, and that makes it an attractive dog here. Playing underdogs that average 103 or more ppg that are taking on a team that has scored 100 points or more in 3 straight games has resulted in a 96-45 ATS record the last 5 seasons. Pound Boston.

5* WISEGUY NBA *BEST BET* on Jazz +3

Bottom Line: Look for the Jazz to bounce back at home following Saturday's 112-96 loss to the Clippers. The Jazz are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a loss, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games when playing on 1 days' rest. The Nuggets are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 versus the Western Conference and 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 versus the NBA Northwest division. The underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Pound Utah.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on Oral Roberts +5.5

Bottom Line: This game is about revenge for Oral Roberts, which still has 6 players on the roster from the team that lost to Weber State in the 2013 CIT Quarterfinals. The Wildcats are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a cover. Road underdogs or pickems with a win percentage of .200 to .400 that are playing their 3rd game in a week and are playing another team with a losing record are 296-194 ATS since 1997.

4* MAJOR NBA *BEST BET* on Nets +3.5

Bottom Line: I'm not hesitating to fade the Bulls following Friday's win in Boston as they are 0-7 ATS this season off a road win, losing these contests by an average of 4.2 points. The Nets will be the fresher side as they have had the last 3 days off. Playing home teams off a road win over a division opponent that are playing only their 2nd game in 5 days has resulted in a 36-14 ATS record the last 5 seasons.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on Western Michigan +2.5

Bottom Line: Western Mich lost by 7 at San Diego Nov. 24, but I expect it to have its revenge in this neutral court rematch. The Broncos are 12-3 ATS the last 3 seasons when out for revenge for a road loss to an opponent, winning by an average of 9.3 points in these contests. They are also 11-3 ATS the last 3 seasons in games when the line is +3 to -3, winning these contests by an average of 8.2 points.

5* WISEGUY NBA *BEST BET* on Jazz +6

Bottom Line: I'm not hesitating to grab the points with the Jazz as I expect them to take the Clippers right down to the wire. LA has played 5 road games the last 7 days, and I think it runs out of gas against a Utah squad that has had the last 2 days off. The Jazz have won or lost by fewer than 6 points in 34 of their last 36 home games against the Clippers. Pound Utah.

4* MAJOR NBA SUPER SYSTEM *SUREFIRE* on 76ers +12.5

Bottom Line: The 76ers will have no trouble getting up for this game. They are still searching for their first win of the season and were humiliated by Dallas earlier this month. Philly has shown improvement with their last 3 losses coming by 10 points or less, and it should be feeling good physically after having the last 2 days off. I see Dallas having a hard time getting up for this one after yesterday's big win in Toronto. Playing against double-digit road favorites that are outscoring opponent by an average of 9.0 ppg or more on the season has resulted in a 51-22 ATS record since 1996. This system is already 1-0 this season and 6-1 the last 3 seasons.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on George Washington +3

Bottom Line: Seton Hall is 4-0 SU and ATS but has played a soft schedule to this point. It takes a big step up in competition here and will likely suffer its first loss as a result. George Washington has stepped on the floor with Virginia and will benefit from taking on such a high-caliber opponent. Seton Hall is 3-11 ATS the last 3 seasons in home games versus good teams that are outscoring opponents by 4.0 ppg or more on the season. The Pirates have lost to such teams by 5.5 points on average.

4* MAJOR NBA *BEST BET* on Hornets +9

Bottom Line: Playing against road teams with a good defense that has held opponents to an average of 41% shooting or worse on the season, provided they have held each of their last 3 opponents to 42% or worse, has resulted in a 74-34 ATS record since 1996. This system shows the way good defensive teams tend to be overvalued on the road.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on Monmouth +16

Bottom Line: Playing road underdogs of 10-19.5 points in the first 10 game of the season that return 2 more starters than their opponent has resulted in a 40-15 ATS record since 1997, provided they were outscored by 4.0 ppg or more last season. These teams have been underdogs of 15.0 point on average but have lost by only 12.2 points. This system illustrates the way teams that weren't very good last year are undervalued early in a new season.

4* MAJOR NBA *SUREFIRE* on Magic +9

Bottom Line: I expect the Warriors to show some fatigue tonight. They are playing their 2nd road game in as many nights and their 3rd in 4 nights. The Magic had yesterday off and should be the fresher side. They are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games when playing on 1 day of rest and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games versus teams with a winning record. The Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Orlando, and the home team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

5* WISEGUY NBA GAME OF THE WEEK on Timberwolves +1.5

Bottom Line: Heavy legs will be an issue for the Bucks as they hit the road, where they are 3-5, after playing at home last night. Minnesota will be very fresh having had the last 3 days off. The Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games versus a team with a losing home record while the Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games versus a team with a losing road record. The Timberwolves are an outstanding 17-5-1 ATS in their last 23 versus NBA Central division foes, and they've had plenty of success against Milwaukee, going 23-11 SU & 22-10-2 ATS in the last 34 meetings. The Wolves have won 4 straight in the series and should be able to make it 5 in a row in this advantageous scheduling spot. Pound Minnesota.

4* MAJOR CBB *PUBLIC MASSACRE* on Cleveland State +23

Bottom Line: This is a flat spot for Louisville. The Cardinals just defeated Savannah State by 61 points. That same Savannah State team defeated Cleveland State by 4 points 2 days earlier. With that knowledge and a little time off for Thanksgiving after this game, I don't see Louisville being focused enough to cover this number. The Vikings are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 road games, 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a loss and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 road games versus a team with a winning home record.

5* WISEGUY NBA "TOTAL" DOMINATOR on Kings/Pelicans UNDER 203.5

Bottom Line: We saw 206 points scored when these teams met last week, but I expect defensive adjustments to be made and this one to come in comfortably under the number. Eric Gordon scored 17 points in that contest but won't be available here. The Kings aren't an overly aggressive defensive team. They prefer to pack it in and force opponents to wind down the shot clock. That bodes very well for us as their approach slows down the game and prevents easy transition opportunities for the opposition. The numbers support this too as the Kings are 17-5 UNDER after 4 straight games of forcing 14 turnovers or less under coach Malone. Rebounding is a big part of unders plays. The Kings are one of the best in the league on the boards and that limits second chance opportunities for their opponents. When the total is 200 or higher for a Tuesday game, playing the UNDER on a team like Sacramento that outrebounds its opponents by an average of 3.0 per game or more has resulted in a 61-29 record over the last 5 seasons. Pound the UNDER.

4* MAJOR CBB *BLOOD BATH* on Nebraska -15

Bottom Line: Nebraska Omaha just upset Marquette on the road so there's no chance that Nebraska will be overlooking the Mavericks, especially off a loss at Rhode Island. The Cornhuskers are on a 9-0 ATS run in home games against teams with a winning record. Omaha is 1-11 ATS the last 3 seasons versus teams that give up 64 ppg or less and has lost to these teams by 19.4 points on average.

4* MAJOR CBB *BLOOD BATH* on San Francisco -6.5

Bottom Line: This is a letdown spot for Hawaii as it is off a big upset win over Pitt and is playing away from home for the first time this season. The Dons are an impressive 38-15-1 ATS in their last 54 games versus a team with a winning percentage above 60%. They are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a win and 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games. The Dons are 10-2 ATS since 1997 following 2 straight wins of 15 points or more.

4* MAJOR NBA "TOTAL" DOMINATOR on Blazers/76ers OVER 199.5

Bottom Line: Portland has been playing well defensively, but it will have a difficult time digging in at the defensive end after playing yesterday. It will also be hard for Portland to get up for the lowly 76ers, and defense is typically what suffers most in unmotivated spots. Philly is is 32-16 OVER in home games following a game that went under the total over the last 3 seasons. It is 25-12 OVER in home games played in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons. The Blazers are 14-3 OVER in road games after 3 or more consecutive wins under coach Stotts.

4* MAJOR NBA *CRUNCH TIME BAILOUT* on Lakers +2

Bottom Line: The Nuggets aren't the same team outside of Denver, going 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games. They are just 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 versus the Western Conference and 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win. The Lakers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 home games versus a team with a losing road record.

4* MAJOR NBA *SUREFIRE* on Thunder +8.5

Bottom Line: It will be tough for the Warriors to get up for an OKC team that doesn't have Durant or Westbrook on the court. The Thunder have been competitive at home where they don't have a single loss by more than 7 points. OKC is 60-38 ATS as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points under coach Brooks and 23-8 ATS under Brooks after having lost 8 or more of its last 10 games.

5* WISEGUY NBA *BEST BET* on Celtics +6

Bottom Line: Now's the time to fade Portland. The Blazers are on a 12-26 ATS slide after 3 consecutive covers as a favorite. The Celtics are 9-1 in the last 10 home meetings in the series. Pound Bean Town.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on Florida Atlantic +15

Bottom Line: Georgia is 0-6 ATS in home games after playing 2 consecutive games as favorite under coach Fox. The Bulldogs have lost these games by an average of 1.1 points. The Bulldogs are also 0-5 ATS in their last 5 versus Conference USA.

4* MAJOR CBB *BEST BET* on UTEP -5.5

Bottom Line: UTEP lost both of last season's meetings with New Mexico State so it will be highly motivated here. The Miners are a phenomenal 35-16-2 ATS in their last 53 games overall, including 14-3 ATS in their last 17 non-conference games. NM State hasn't defended that well in the early going, which bodes well for us six UTEP is on a 6-0 ATS run versus teams allowing opponents to shoot 45% or better from the field. The Aggies haven't been sharing the ball well either, which is significant because UTEP is on an 8-0 ATS run versus teams averaging 12 assists per game or less.

5* WISEGUY NBA *BEST BET* on Bucks +3

Bottom Line: This will be a tough encore for Washington after upsetting Cleveland last night. The Wizards are on a 5-16 ATS slide in road games off an upset win of 10 points or more at home. Kidd has shown he can make proper adjustments and motivate his teams after they take it on the chin. His teams are 13-3 ATS off a road loss of 10 points or more. Pound Milwaukee.

4* MAJOR NBA *SUREFIRE* on Cavs -3

Bottom Line: LeBron James and company will be extremely motivated after losing a 3rd straight last night. The Raptors kicked Milwaukee last night, but they are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a win of more than 10 points and 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing without rest. The Cavaliers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600 and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games versus a team with a winning road record and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings with the Raptors.

4* MAJOR NBA *ODDSMAKER ERROR* on 76ers +9.5

Bottom Line: The 76ers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a double-digit loss at home. The Suns are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games versus a team with a losing record. Plays on any team off 2 straight double digits losses that is up against a team that is off a game where both it and its opponents scored 90 points or less has resulted in a 46-17 ATS record the last 5 seasons.

4* MAJOR CBB *SUREFIRE* on Boston +30.5

Bottom Line: After a completely dominant 32-point win over Kansas, there's no way the Wildcats will take Boston U seriously. The Wildcats are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a win of more than 20 points. They are 9-26 ATS under coach Cal after game where they allowed a shooting pct. of 33% or less. The Terriers are 21-10-1 ATS in their last 32 road games.

4* MAJOR NBA *BLOOD BATH* on Kings -1

Bottom Line: The Bulls are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 meetings with the Kings and have been obliterated by scores of 121-79 and 99-70 in their last 2 visits to Sacramento. The Bulls are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a cover while the Kings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS defeat. The Kings have cooled off following a hot start, but their cool off coincided with a 4-game road trip. And, it's not like they've played poorly. They played Memphis to a 1-point game on the road. This is their final home game before 4 more on the road so they'll be looking to finish their 3-game home stand with a winning record. Bet the Kings.

4* MAJOR CBB *SUREFIRE* on Drexel +10

Bottom Line: Playing against neutral court favorites or pickems that averaged 53 or less shots per game last season and are off a game where they made 50% or more of their 3-point shots has resulted in a 31-7 ATS record since 1997. Plus, this is a letdown spot for Miami following a big win at Florida.

4* MAJOR NBA DOUBLE DIGIT *BLOOD BATH* on Nets -6

Bottom Line: Tough spot for the Bucks playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back on the road against a highly motivated team. Brooklyn is 10-0 ATS the last 3 seasons after 2 straight losses of 10 points or more and has won these 10 by 12.4 points on average.

5* WISEGUY NBA UNDERDOG GAME OF THE WEEK on Pistons +3

Bottom Line: The Pistons are showing exceptional value in the home underdog role as this has been a matchup dominated by the home team. The home squad is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings with an average winning margin of 11.0 points. Pound the Pistons.

4* MAJOR NBA BOUNCE-BACK *PUNISHER* on Hornets +2.5

Bottom Line: The Pacers have been a bad play off a big win. They are only 9-24 ATS in their last 33 games following a victory. The Hornets were hammered by Dallas last game but are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a loss of more than 10 points.

4* Major NBA *BEST BET* on Pelicans +3

Bottom Line: Playing underdogs that are outscoring opponents by 3.0 ppg or more on the season and are matched up with a team that is off a close win of 3 points or less has resulted in a 45-21 ATS record the last five seasons. Bet New Orleans.

4* Major CBB *ODDSMAKER ERROR* on Montana +17

Bottom Line: Boise State is being overvalued at home as it so often is. The Broncos went 2-11 ATS as a home favorite or pickem last season and are on a 0-7 ATS skid at home following a game where they covered the spread. Grab the points.

4* Major CBB Double Digit *BLOOD BATH* on Tulsa -7

Bottom Line: Look for Tulsa to be highly motivated after getting upset at Oral Roberts in its opener. The Golden Hurricane are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a loss and 10-2 ATS in their last 12 home games. Lousiana-Lafayette made easy work of an inferior opponent in its opener but is 1-9 ATS  in road games after scoring 85 points or more over the last 3 seasons. TULSA is also on a 14-5 ATS run as a favorite. Lay the points at the Golden Hurricane take this one by double digits.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Nuggets +12.5

Bottom Line: This is a look-ahead spot for Cleveland, which already has a comfortable win over Denver and has the reigning champs up next. Not only is this a revenge spot for Denver, it's a bounce-back spot after yesterday's 16-point loss at New York. Playing double-digit road dogs off a loss of 15 points or more that are up against a team that has posted a combined score of 215 points or more in 2 straight games has resulted in a 27-6 ATS record since 1996. Pound the Nuggets.

4* Major NCAAB *BEST BET* on Hampton +22

Bottom Line: The Orange took care of business in their opener with a 47-point win over Kennesaw State but are now being overvalued as a result. The Orange are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a win, 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a win of more than 20 points and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games. The Pirates are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a loss and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. Grab the points as Hampton keeps this one closer than the odds makers think.

4* Major NBA *SUREFIRE* on Knicks -1

Bottom Line: The Knicks will leave it all on the floor to end their 7-game losing streak. This is their last home game before they hit the road for 2 straight and 5 of 6, and they don't want to bring a losing streak on the road with them. The home team has had the edge in this matchup, going 4-0 in their last 4 and 9-1 in the last 10. Expect this trend to continue.

4* Major NBA Super System *SUREFIRE* on T-wolves +11.5

Bottom Line: The T-wolves fit neatly into a system that has performed exceedingly well. Consider that plays on road teams that average 98-102 ppg have resulted in a 73-32 ATS record the last 5 seasons if they are playing a team that allows 98-102 ppg and if they've allowed 100 points or more in 2 straight games. Additionally, the Mavericks are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a win of more than 10 points and 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games after allowing less than 75 points in their previous game. The road team is 35-16 ATS in the last 51 meetings, and the Timberwolves are 19-7 ATS in the last 26 meetings in Dallas.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* Blowout on Wizards -8.5

Bottom Line: This is a bad spot for Orlando, which will be playing for the 4th time in 5 days and the 8th time in 12 days. Washington had 3 days of rest prior to its last game and 2 days of rest prior to this one. It gets 3 more days off after this game so it has no reason to hold anything back. The Wizards won in Orlando by 7 points earlier this season, but that win was the 2nd game of a road back-to-back. This is a much better spot. The Wizards are 5-0 in their last 5 games against the Magic with these wins coming by an average of 9.6 points. The Wizards are also 5-0 in their last 5 home games against the Magic with these victories coming by 14.4 points on average. Pound Washington.

4* Major NBA *SUREFIRE* on Celtics +6

Bottom Line: Cleveland is getting too much respect from odds makers. The Cavs really have only 1 quality win on the season, an OT win in Chicago. The Celtics also have a win in Chicago and didn't need extra time to pull it off. Rose wasn't playing when the Celtics beat the Bulls, but this line is still off the mark. Everyone seems to be giving this Cavs team their best shot, and I expect no different tonight. Playing underdogs that average 103 ppg or more that are up against a team that has scored 100 points or more in 3 straight games has resulted in a 94-51 ATS record the last 5 seasons.

5* Wiseguy NBA GAME OF THE WEEK on Nuggets +3.5

Bottom Line: Indiana beat Miami in its last game, but it is a very poor 9-23 ATS in its last 32 games following a win. The Pacers are 8-18 ATS in their last 26 home games, 8-17 ATS in their last 25 games versus teams with a losing record and 12-31 ATS in their last 43 games when playing on 1 day of rest. Denver is coming off a pair of double-digit defeats to Portland. However, road teams off 2 straight double-digit defeats are 26-6 ATS the last 5 seasons if their opponent is coming off a game where both it and its foe scored 90 points or less. This system is 15-2 ATS the last 3 seasons. Pound Denver.

4* Major CBB Opening Night *MARQUEE MATCHUP* (ESPN) on Minnesota +8

Bottom Line: Minnesota enters the season with tons of confidence and momentum after capturing the NIT championship. Both teams play a similar style, and Minnesota has the veteran guards, seniors Andre Hollins (13.6 points) and DeAndre Mathieu (12.0), to handle Louisville's pressure. The Golden Gophers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games, and the Cardinals are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 versus the Big Ten.

4* Major NBA "Total" Bailout on Nets/Warriors UNDER 208.5

Bottom Line: The Golden State defense wasn't nearly good enough last game against San Antonio, and I expect the Warriors to do something about it. They are 11-2 UNDER the last 2 seasons in home games after allowing 110 points or more last game and have held opponents to an average of just 93.5 points in this spot. Golden State is also 13-2 UNDER the last 2 seasons after a home game where both it and its opponent scored 100 points or more. We have seen only 199.1 total points scored on average in this situation. Bet the UNDER.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Pistons +7

Bottom Line: The Pistons are off to a slow start, but they are a talented team and it's only a matter of time before they start clicking. They'll be confident here as they go up against a Washington team they have had a great deal of success against, and I'm not hesitating to take them getting a big number. They are 18-5 in the last 23 meetings. The Pistons are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games versus a team with a winning home record while the Wizards are 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 home games versus a team with a losing road record. The Wizards are also 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games when playing on 3 or more days' rest. Pound the Pistons.

4* Major NBA *BEST BET* on Magic +11

Bottom Line: Orlando won't have Toronto's full attention tonight. The Raptors have won 8 straight in the series, including a 13-point win Nov. 1 and will be looking ahead to Thursday's showdown with the Bulls as a result. Double-digit dog off 2 or more consecutive overs that average 92-98 ppg and are playing a team that allows 92-98 ppg are 41-15 ATS the last 5 seasons.

4* Major NBA *BEST BET* on Knicks +1.5

Bottom Line: The Knicks lost in Atlanta by 7 points Saturday, but we are catching a good number at home in the rematch. This line is factoring in fatigue for the Knicks, who are playing their 5th game in 7 days, but I don't see it being an issue this early in the season. History supports my opinion. When the line is +3 to -3, teams playing a 5th game in 7 days in the month of November are 64-26 (71%) ATS since 1996. The home team is 3-0 in the last 3 meetings, and the Knicks have won 26 of 34 at home against the Hawks dating back to 1996.

4* Major NBA *CRUNCH TIME BAILOUT* on Lakers +3.5

Bottom Line: This is a good spot for the Lakers to pick up their first win of the season. They have had four days to rest their bodies and prepare for the Hornets. I expect LA to be very determined. The underdog is 15-3 ATS in the last 18 meetings.

4* Major Pacific Division *MARQUEE MATCHUP* on Suns +1

Bottom Line: The Warriors are 5-0 SU and ATS on the season and are being overvalued by odds makers because of it. Playing against road teams in Sunday that have beaten the spread by 42 points or more in their last 5 games has resulted in a 20-6 ATS record over the last 5 seasons. The Suns won both home meetings in last season's series, and the home side is 6-1 ATS in the last 7.

4* MAJOR NBA *MARQUEE MATCHUP* on Clippers -4

Bottom Line: The Clippers have yet to cover a spread this season, but now is the time to back them. Consider that teams with a win percentage of 51-60% that have failed to cover the spread in 5 or more consecutive games are an impressive 71-37 ATS the last 18 years. Doc Rivers wasn't at all happy with how his team performed at Golden State last time out, and he made it well known. The Clippers respect their head coach, and I expect them to answer the bell.

4* Major NBA *SUREFIRE* on Mavs -3.5

Bottom Line: Expect a letdown from Utah following Wednesday's buzzer-beating win over the Cavs. Dallas took it on the chin in Portland last night and will be chomping at the bit to get back on the floor against a Utah team it defeated 120-102 Oct. 30. Playing against November home dogs off a close home win of 3 points or less has produced a perfect 11-0 ATS record the last 5 seasons.

5* Wiseguy NBA BLOWOUT GAME OF THE WEEK on Suns -5

Bottom Line: The Kings crushed Denver Wednesday but are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games following a win of more than 10 points. The Suns lost by double digits to Memphis the same night but are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a loss of more than 10 points. The Suns are 10-1 ATS at home when the total is between 205 and 209.5 under Hornacek, and they have won these games by 11.0 points on average.

4* Major ESPN *PRIMETIME PUNISHER* on Thunder +7.5

Bottom Line: No Durant or Westbrook, but the Thunder still have enough fire power to keep this one within this generous number. The Thunder are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 home games versus a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600.

4* Major NBA on TNT *BEST BET* on Spurs +4

Bottom Line: The Spurs played last night but had 4 days off prior and are playing just their 4th game of the season so fatigue shouldn't be an issue. The Rockets are playing their 6th game overall and 3rd in 4 days so I don't see an advantage for them in terms of fresh legs. Because Houston is undefeated and because it swept the season series last season, I expect the defending champs to get up for this one. The Spurs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games when playing without rest. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

4* Major NBA *BEST BET* on Pistons -4

Bottom Line: I like the Pistons to finally break into the win column tonight. They've had 3 days to prepare for this game while the Knicks are being asked to play their 2nd game in as many nights. The Knicks are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following a double-digit loss at home. The favorite is a perfect 10-0 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

5* Wiseguy NBA "Total" Dominator on Suns/Lakers UNDER 215

Bottom Line: The Lakers have gone over the total in each of their last 3 games with at least 218 total points scored in each. And, these teams combined for 218 total points when they met last week. Yet, odds makers have set a total 3 points lower, which means they're begging for action on the over. We won't bite. When the total is 210 or higher, playing the UNDER on teams like the Lakers that are out for revenge for a loss to an opponent and are off a road loss of 20 points or more has resulted in an 83-43 (66%) record since 1996. Pound the UNDER.

4* Major NBA *PUNISHER* on Blazers +3

Bottom Line: Excluding pushes, Portland is 85-56 ATS over its last 141 games as a home underdog of 6 points or less and has only lost by an average of 0.4 points in these contests. The Blazers were 31-10 at home in the regular season last season so they aren't used to losing at home. Sunday's home loss to the Warriors should provide all the motivation they need. Grab the points.

4* Major NBA *SUREFIRE* on Nuggets -7

Bottom Line: Following consecutive big wins over the Blazers and Clippers, expect a letdown from the Kings in Denver tonight. The Kings are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a win while the Nuggets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a loss. Sacramento is also on a 65-91 ATS slide in road games after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games. The Kings are 3-8-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings. Bet Denver.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on 76ers +9.5

Bottom Line: I like the 76ers at home catching nearly double digits against a Houston team that's riding high from a 3-0 start. With the Heat, Spurs and Warriors this week, the Rockets will have a tough time focusing on the task at hand. Besides, home court has been huge in this matchup with the home side going 6-0 ATS in the last 6. Pound Philly.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Trailblazers -3.5

Bottom Line: It looks like the Warriors will again be without David Lee, and it finally hurts them here. Lee will be missed against a Portland team that will expose the Warriors down low with Aldridge, Lopez and Kaman. Bogut is a good interior defender, but he can't handle all these guys on his own, which is basically what is being asked of him tonight. The Blazers should also be the fresher team as they had yesterday off while the Warriors played last night and traveled. Pound Portland.

4* Major NBA *SUREFIRE* on Hornets +4

Bottom Line: The Knicks are getting a little too much respect following their win over Cleveland. New York is on a 3-14 ATS slide at home in the first half of the season while the Hornets are on an 11-2 ATS run in first half of the season road games. Charlotte is coming off a loss in Memphis last night but is on a 27-14 ATS run following defeat and 4-1 ATS in its last five after being held to less than 75 points. The Knicks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games when playing on 2 days' rest. The Hornets are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings and 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in New York.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Jazz +2

Bottom Line: Tough spot for Phoenix as it hits the road for the first time this season following a huge win over the Spurs. This one has letdown written all over it for the Suns, who are 0-2 in their last 2 versus the Jazz and 1-4 in their last 4 in Utah. They are 1-4-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings and have dropped 23 of 35 in Salt Lake City. Pound Utah.
 

4* Major Eastern Conference *SUREFIRE* on Magic +6.5

Bottom Line: This is a look-ahead spot for Toronto which will be much more concerned about tomorrow's content in Miami than an Orlando team it has defeated 7 straight times. The Magic have been competitive at home in the series, though, losing the last 2 in Orlando by only 2 and 5 points, respectively. The Raptors are 3-9-2 ATS in their last 14 games following a win and 1-5-2 ATS in their last 8 games versus a team with a losing record. Bet the Magic.

5* Wiseguy NBA Game of the Week on Kings +6

Bottom Line: The Kings were horrible in their opener, shooting just 30.8% from the field and committing 26 turnovers. We're getting a great number here because of it, and rest assured they'll put forth a much better effort tonight. The Kings won 123-119 as a 5-point dog the last time Portland visited. And, they lost by a single point in Portland in the most recent meeting so I'll gladly take the points here. The Kings are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a loss and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a loss of more than 10 points. The Trail Blazers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a win of more than 10 points and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games. The underdog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings. Pound Sacramento.

4* Major NBA *MARQUEE MATCHUP* on Cavs +4.5

Bottom Line: The Bulls rolled the same Knicks team that beat Cleveland last night. So the Bulls should roll tonight, right? If that's your strategy, it's going to be a long season. LeBron James was embarrassed last night, and I expect a massive effort as he looks to save face. The Bulls still have some jelling to do as well with Rose back and Gasol added to the mix. It may not have looked like it against the Knicks, but New York was horrible that night. Chicago has been the worst home favorite in the NBA lately, going 26-44 ATS in the role the last 2 seasons. Bet the Cavs.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Knicks +13

Bottom Line: The Knicks were smoked last night by a Chicago Bulls team that can really defend. I expect them to shoot the basketball much better tonight. The Cavs are loaded with talent, but it will take them some time to jell on both ends of the floor. The Knicks are a fantastic 14-5 ATS in their last 19 Thursday games and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after a loss greater than 10 points. Pound New York.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Kings +4

Bottom Line: This is a game the Kings have been looking forward to. They were embarrassed 102-69 at Golden State last April and will be highly motivated as a result. Sacramento is 24-11 in its last 35 home games versus the Warriors, and it has won or lost by fewer than 4 points in 7 of its last 10 home games in the series. Pound the Kings.

4* Major NBA *PUBLIC MASSACRE* on Jazz +3.5

Bottom Line: The public is piling on the Rockets following their easy win over the Lakers, but Houston is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games following a double-digit victory and 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing without a days' rest.

4* Major NBA *ODDSMAKER ERROR* on Pistons +6.5

Bottom Line: The Pistons underachieved last season and that is showing up in this line. I expect them to be greatly improved under Stan Van Gundy. The Pistons are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 versus Western Conference opponents and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.

4* Major NBA *CRUNCH TIME BAILOUT* on Lakers +6

Bottom Line: After winning last season's first meeting by a point, the Lakers were crushed by Houston in the final 3 matchups of the season. Those lopsided losses assure us LA will be lacking no motivation on opening night. I expect a strong performance from Kobe Bryant, who will be out to silence doubters. The Lakers are 50-33 versus Houston since 1996, including 29-15 at home. Bet LA.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Mavs +4.5

Bottom Line: Dallas has been an awesome road play under coach Carlisle and is 51-26 ATS all-time under his watch in road games played in the first half of the season. It is 72-40 ATS under Carlisle as a road underdog of 6 points or less, including 24-11 ATS in this role the past 2 seasons. For the Spurs, opening night will be about honoring last season's achievement. For the Mavs, it will be about revenge. They pushed the Spurs to the limit in last season's playoffs and will be out for a little payback. Pound the Mavericks.

5* Wiseguy NBA Finals GM 5 *BEST BET* on Heat +6

Bottom Line: The two-time defending champs won't go down without a fight.  I expect them to take San Antonio right down to the wire with a chance to pull out the victory in Game 5.  Miami is 29-13 ATS when out for revenge for a same season loss to an opponent over the last 2 seasons, 13-3 ATS off a home loss over the last 2 seasons and 24-9 ATS in road games off a loss of 20 points or more since 1996.  The Heat know they have to do a better job on the boards.  A big reason why they won Game 2 is because they won the rebounding battle.  They came up with just 35 boards last game but are 9-0 ATS the last 2 seasons in road games after a game of 35 rebounds or less.  They have won by an average of 12.9 points in this spot.  Lastly, the Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games when playing on 2 days' rest.  Pound the Heat.

4* Major NBA Finals GM 4 "Total" Line Mistake on Spurs/Heat UNDER 197.5

Bottom Line: Despite historic first-half shooting from the Spurs (59.4% for the game) and 51.6% shooting from Miami, we saw only 203 total points scored in GM 3. That's less than 2 3-pointers more than the number we are getting here.  I'm willing to bet my hard-earned money that neither teams shoots nearly as good in GM 4 with the law of averages kicking in and the defenses ratcheting it up a notch.  The UNDER is 12-5 in the Spurs' last 17 games following a win of more than 10 points and 7-3 in the Heat's last 10 games following a loss of more than 10 points.  Plays UNDER on road teams when the total is between 190 and 199.5 points that have a win percentage of 60-75% on the season and have beaten the spread by 30 or more points total in their last five games has resulted in a 26-8 record the last 3 seasons.  Bet the UNDER.

5* Wiseguy NBA Finals GAME OF THE YEAR on Heat -5

Bottom Line: Miami played well in Game 3, the Spurs just happened to set a Finals record for first-half shooting.  Because the Heat were playing catch-up from the start in Game 3 and because they know this is basically a must-win game, they will come out with the type of fury we are used to seeing from them following a loss.  The Heat are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a loss, and they have an average winning margin of 9.6 points in these games.  Additionally, Miami is 13-2 ATS following any home loss over the last 2 seasons and has won by an average of 13.4 points in these games.  The Heat are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a double-digit loss at home and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.  Miami lost its first home game against the Spurs in last year's Finals and then won its next three.  2 of those wins came by 7+ points.  Pound the Heat.

4* Major NBA Finals GM 3 "Total" DOMINATOR on Spurs/Heat UNDER 198

Bottom Line: Miami tightened the screws defensively in Game 2, and the score came in under the number as a result.  We saw 194 total points scored in Game 2, and it would have been even less had the teams not gone off from 3-point land again.  The Spurs are an amazing 25 for 51 (49%) from beyond the arc in the series, but I don't see the hot shooting continuing in Miami.  The Spurs have made an average of just 5.7 3-pointers in their last 3 games in Miami. The UNDER is 25-11 in the last 36 meetings overall and 13-5 in the last 18 meetings in Miami.