Sports Picks & Predictions

6* Tuesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Boston College -3.5 

The Key: Boston College is a veteran team with 4 returning starters.  That has helped the Eagles to a 6-1 start hit season that includes a 68-56 home win over a Minnesota team that returned all 5 starters.  Providence only has 2 starters back this year and is 6-2.  The six wins have come against weak competition, and they lost to Wichita State on a neutral and Michigan on a neutral by 19.  This will be the first true road game of the season for Providence.  The Friars are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 Tuesday games. The Friars are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 non-conference games.  The home team is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  The Friars are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road meetings with the Eagles.  Take Boston College. 

6* Monday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Clippers/Pelicans UNDER 236.5 

The Key: Both the Pelicans and Clippers will be gassed tonight.  Both are playing for a second consecutive night after playing on the road last night.  They will have tired legs, and that will affect their shooting more than anything.  These teams played earlier this season on October 23rd and combined for 225 points.  I think this 236.5-point total is too high given that result and the situation.  The UNDER is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings, and 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in New Orleans.  Take the UNDER. 

6* NBA Game of the Day on Boston Celtics +2.5 

The Key: Boston handled its business in a 128-95 home win over Cleveland last night.  The Celtics were able to rest their starters late because of the blowout, negating the impact of this back-to-back.  They also had 3 days’ rest coming into that game, so this will still be just their 2nd game in 5 days.  They will have plenty left in the tank for the Timberwolves, who are starting to get too much love after a 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS stretch coming into this game.  But those 4 wins all came against bad teams in the Nets, Bulls, Cavs and Spurs, four teams who are below .500.  Boston is 10-1 ATS following a blowout home win by 20 points or more over the last 2 seasons.  Take Boston. 

6* NCAAB Game of the Day on Tulsa +7.5 

The Key: Utah is a rebuilding team with just one returning starter and they should not be favored by 7.5 over Tulsa today.  Utah’s 3 wins have come against Maine, Grand Canyon and Miss Valley State.  They lost by 9 at Minnesota, by 11 to Hawaii on a neutral and by 22 to Northwestern on a neutral.  They clearly aren’t very good.  Tulsa is 5-2 with its only losses coming as underdogs to Nevada and Southern Illinois.  And they only lost by 7 to Nevada as 14-point dogs, and Nevada is unbeaten and one of the best teams in the country.  Take Tulsa. 

6* Nuggets/Blazers ESPN *BAILOUT* on Portland -2 

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Blazers as short home favorites over the Nuggets tonight.  And we’re getting this price because the Blazers have lost 3 of their last 4 coming in an are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games.  The Nuggets are 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games.  Those recent performances are giving us line value on the Blazers.  The home team is 6-1 SU in the last 7 meetings.  Portland is 32-12 SU in its last 44 home meetings with Denver.  The Blazers are 24-9 ATS in their last 33 home games.  Take Portland. 

6* Wisconsin/Iowa Big Ten *CA$H COW* on Iowa +2 

The Key: The Iowa Hawkeyes are off to a 6-0 start this season.  They are one of the most improved teams in the Big Ten due to their 5 returning starters.  They have already beaten Oregon and UConn in New York and they should be able to beat Wisconsin at home tonight.  Iowa beat Wisconsin 85-67 as 2.5-point home favorites in their lone meeting last season.  The Hawkeyes are 28-10 ATS in their last 38 home games against teams who force 12 or fewer turnovers per game.  The underdog is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.  Take Iowa.

6* Clippers/Kings NBA *BAILOUT* on Sacramento +2.5 

The Key: The Kings should be able to beat the Clippers at home tonight given their massive advantage in this situation.  They come in on 3 days’ rest and are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games when playing on 3 or more days’ rest.  The Clippers will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after their win over the Suns last night.  The Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games against a team with a winning home record.  The Kings have covered the spread in 6 straight Thursday games.  Take Sacramento. 

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Washington Wizards +6.5 

The Key: The Wizards are playing their best basketball of the season right now.  They are 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.  The Pelicans are slumping, going 0-4 SU & 1-3 ATS in their last 4 games overall.  They lost to the Wizards by 10 just the other night and are now favored by 6.5 points in the rematch.  I like the Wizards to hang tough again and possibly win this game outright.  New Orleans is 0-7 ATS off two or more consecutive losses this season.  The Pelicans are 1-8 ATS after scoring 105 points or more in 4 straight games this season.  The Wizards are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.  The Pelicans are 0-9 ATS in their last 9 games following a loss.  The Wizard are 20-6 ATS in the last 26 meetings, and 13-3 ATS in their last 16 meetings in New Orleans.  Take Washington. 

7* NBA Eastern Conference Game of the Month on Chicago Bulls +14.5 

The Key: The Bulls want to avenge their 19-point loss to the Bucks earlier this month.  And I can’t see the Bucks being too hungry to beat the Bulls by another big margin in this rematch.  And the Bucks haven’t been covering of late so they shouldn’t be this big of favorites.  They are 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games overall and have lost outright as favorites in two of those.  They are just 19-47 ATS in their last 66 tries when favored by at least 10 points.  The road team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  The Bulls are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 meetings with the Bucks.  Take Chicago. 

6* ACC/Big Ten Challenge *CA$H COW* on Rutgers +11.5 

The Key: Rutgers is 4-1 this season with all 4 wins coming by double-digits.  They should be able to hang with Miami, which has had some ugly showings.  Miami only beat Bethune-Cookman 78-70 as 27-point home favorites.  They only beat Fresno State 78-76 as 8-point neutral court favorites.  And they lost to a bad Seton Hall team 81-83 as 4.5-point neutral court favorites.  They should not be this heavily favored against Rutgers tonight.  Miami is 5-17 ATS as a home favorite or PK over the last 3 seasons.  The Scarlet Knights are 11-3 ATS in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.  The Hurricanes are 10-25 ATS in their last 35 home games.  Miami is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 vs. Big Ten teams.  Take Rutgers. 

7* VA Tech/Penn State ESPN 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Virginia Tech -4 

The Key: Virginia Tech has been mighty impressive during its 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS start this season.  The Hokies have beaten Purdue along the way and should be able to handle another Big Ten opponent tonight in Penn State.  The Nittany Lions have already lost two games.  They were upset by DePaul on the road and also upset by Bradley on a neutral court.  Their 3 wins have come against North Florida, Jacksonville State and Wright State.  So Virginia Tech is by far the best opponent that the Nittany Lions will have faced.  The Hokies are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 November games.  The Hokies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten teams.  Take Virginia Tech. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on San Antonio Spurs -6 

The Key: The Spurs will be hungry for a victory after losing 3 of their last 4 coming in.  And they should be able to get back on track against a Chicago Bulls team that has been playing awful for weeks.  The Bulls are 1-6 SU & 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall with all 6 losses coming by 5 points or more, including 4 by 15 points or more.  The Bulls are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 Monday games.  The Spurs have won their last 3 meetings with the Bulls by 39, 10 and 19 points.  Expect another double-digit blowout win in their favor tonight.  Take San Antonio. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New York Knicks +7 

The Key: I like the situation for the Knicks tonight.  They’ll be looking to avenge a 124-129 road loss at New Orleans as 11-point underdogs on November 16th.  And they don’t have to wait long to do it as this game will be played exactly one week to the day later.  Bets on underdogs who are revenging a same season loss who are also off an upset win as a road dog of 10 points or more are 22-4 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take New York. 

7* NBA Situational Game of the Week on Milwaukee Bucks -7 

The Key: The Bucks will be playing just their 2nd game in 5 days here and will be fresh for the Blazers.  They also want revenge from a 103-118 loss at Portland in their first meeting this season on November 6th.  The Blazers are in a tough situation here.  They’ll be playing the second of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after a 118-114 win in New York last night.  The Bucks are 8-1 SU at home this year and winning by 15.3 PPG on average.  The Bucks are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.  The Bucks are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 home meetings with Portland.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* SDSU/Iowa State NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Iowa State -3 

The Key: Iowa State has 3 newcomers this season that have been their 3 best players.  Marial Shayok is averaging 19.2 PPG and 7.2 RPG, Michael Jacobson is averaging 17.4 PPG and 7.2 RPG, and Taken Horton-Tucker is averaging 17.2 PPG and 6.4 RPG.  This trio is flying under the radar.  They have allowed the Cyclones to flourish this season despite all their injuries and suspensions to 3 returning starters and 1 other key player.  They should handle this overmatched San Diego State squad today that lost by 26 to Duke and needed a late rally to beat Xavier.  Iowa State thumped Illinois 84-68 after blowing a late lead against Arizona thus far.  The Cyclones are 8-1 ATS in road games after having won 3 of their last 4 games over the last 3 seasons.  Take Iowa State. 

7* Arizona/Gonzaga ESPN *BAILOUT* on Arizona +10 

The Key: The Arizona Wildcats were impressive in their 71-66 win over Iowa State yesterday.  They are now 4-0 SU & 3-1 ATS as head coach Sean Miller has done a great job of reloading with talent via transfers this season.  They should be able to hang with Gonzaga, which barely beat Illinois 84-78 yesterday as 15.5-point favorites.  I like the fact that Arizona played before Gonzaga yesterday, so they will  be the more rested team, and they will have had the opportunity to watch the Zags.  They should be able to stay within 10 points of the Bulldogs tonight.  Arizona is 11-1 ATS in road games after covering 2 of their last 3 ATS over the last 3 seasons.  Gonzaga is 0-7 ATS off 4 straight games where it made 47% of its shots or better over the last 2 years.  The Wildcats are 10-0 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. teams who make 52% of their shots or better.  Take Arizona. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Washington Wizards +1 

The Key: The Washington Wizards had yesterday off and should be a hungry team tonight with all of the trade talks surrounding them right now.  The Clippers played last night and needed a big comeback late to beat the Hawks.  They will now be playing for a second consecutive night and won’t have much left in the tank.  This is a great situation spot to back the Wizards, who are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after losing at home by 10 or more points in their previous game.  Take Washington. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on San Antonio Spurs +7.5 

The Key: The Spurs had 2 days off prior to beating the Warriors 104-92 last night.  That should help ease the effects of this back-to-back situation.  They should still be competitive against the Pelicans tonight, especially catching 7.5 points here.  The Pelicans are getting a little too much respect from the books after going 5-1 in their last 6 games.  New Orleans is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 home games after having won 3 of its last 4 games coming in.  The Pelicans are 0-7 ATS vs. good 3-point shooting teams that make 36% of their attempts or better this season.  Take San Antonio. 

7* Pelicans/Timberwolves ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on New Orleans -1 

The Key: The Pelicans have won 3 in a row and will be playing just their 3rd game in 7 days tonight.  They should have plenty of energy to give to the Timberwolves, who just traded away Jimmy Butler.  So the Timberwolves are in transition right now with Robert Covington and Dario Saric expected to make their team debuts.  And Andrew Wiggins and Jeff Teague are questionable for the Timberwolves tonight.  The Pelicans are expected to get Nikola Mirotic back in the lineup, and Elfrid Payton could return as well as he’s listed as questionable.  Either way, I like the Pelicans in this spot because they are the better team with Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday leading the way.  The Pelicans are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 road games after scoring 120 points or more.  New Orleans is 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team that wins less than 40% of their games.  Take New Orleans. 

6* Seton Hall/Nebraska NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Nebraska -7.5 

The Key: Nebraska is a legit contender to win the Big Ten this season.  The Huskers went 22-11 last season and 13-5 in Big Ten play.  And now they have 4 starters and each of their top 4 starters back from that squad, including James Palmer Jr. and his 17.2 PPG.  Seton Hall is not going to be very good this season with the losses of 3 of their top 4 scorers in Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriquez, who combined to average 46.7 PPG.  The loss of that trio is a huge one for this Pirates program, which is now in rebuilding mode.  They return just one starters in Myles Powell.  The Huskers are 15-2 ATS in their last 17 home games and 21-5 ATS in their last 26 games overall.  Take Nebraska. 

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Charlotte Hornets -8.5 

The Key: The Cavs are decimated by injuries right now.  They are without 3 starters in Cedi Osman, George Hill and Kevin Love.  They are also without key reserves Kyle Korver and Sam Dekker, and fellow reserve JR Smith is questionable.  I just don’t see how they can even be competitive tonight against the Charlotte Hornets, who are one of the most improved teams in the league.  The Hornets already beat the Cavs 126-94 back on November 3rd in their first meeting this season, and I think we see a similar result tonight given the Cavs’ injury situation.  Cleveland is 4-21 ATS in its last 25 home games with a total set of 210 to 219.5.  The Cavs are 19-42-1 ATS in their last 62 home games overall.  The Hornets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games.  Take Charlotte. 

6* Wisconsin/Xavier NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Wisconsin +1 

The Key: The Wisconsin Badgers return 95% of their scoring from a year ago and all 5 starters.  They also have all of their key reserves back.  They basically don’t lose anyone.  Xavier loses its top 3 scorers from last season and 2 key reserves.  The Musketeers are in trouble this season.  That was evident last time out when they only beat Evansville by 6, an Evansville team that lost by 39 to Illinois the game prior.  Take Wisconsin. 

6* Spurs/Kings Western Conference *CA$H COW* on San Antonio -2.5 

The Key: The Spurs love facing the Sacramento Kings.  They are 14-0 SU in their last 14 meetings, and 7-0 SU in their last 7 meetings in Sacramento.  And with a spread of just 2.5 tonight, the price is right to lay it with the Spurs to earn their 15th straight win over the Kings.  They basically just have to win the game to get the cover.  The road team is 20-8-1 ATS in the last 29 meetings.  The Spurs are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 trips to Sacramento.  Take San Antonio. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Miami Heat -2 

The Key: The Heat have playoff revenge in mind from the 76ers knocking them out in the first round last year.  And they will be playing a depleted 76ers team that is without Jimmy Butler, Dario Saric and Robert Covington, the 3 players in the big trade with the Timberwolves.  The Heat should be able to get a win and cover here at home Monday night given the situation.  The Heat are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games vs. teams who attempt 27-plus free throws per game.  Take Miami. 

6* Thunder/Mavs Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Dallas +1.5 

The Key: The Thunder have been able to win their first two games without Russell Westbrook, winning on the road at Cleveland and at home against Houston.  But we see this time and time again.  Teams play well for one or two games without their stars, but then it catches up to them.  I think that happens tonight here against the Mavericks.  The Thunder will be without Westbrook again here tonight.  The Thunder are 1-14 ATS in their last 15 road games after covering 5 or 6 of their last 7 ATS coming in.  The Mavericks are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games off a loss by more than 10 points.  The Mavs are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings, and 4-0 ATS in the last 4 home meetings.  Take Dallas. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Brooklyn Nets +7.5 

The Key: The Brooklyn Nets have gone 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings with the Warriors, including a 6-point home loss in their first meeting this season.  The Nets are also 4-0 ATS in their last 4 trips to Golden State.  And their job gets a lot easier today against a banged-up Warriors team that is playing without Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Shaun Livingston and DeMarcus Cousins.  They are just a shell of their former selves right now and will be a money burner for backers until they get healthy.  The Nets have a legitimate shot to win this game outright, just like the Bucks did the other night in their 134-111 win at Golden State.  Take Brooklyn. 

6* Timberwolves/Kings Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Sacramento +3 

The Key: The Sacramento Kings have been flying under the radar this season.  They are 6-5 SU & 7-4 ATS and have picked up some impressive wins along the way.  But off back-to-back losses to Milwaukee and Toronto, they should be hungry for a victory at home tonight against the Timberwolves.  Minnesota has off-court distractions that just aren’t getting fixed.  They have lost 4 in a row coming in with 3 of those losses by double-digits.  And the Timberwolves are 0-7 SU & 2-5 ATS on the road this season, getting outscored by 11.0 PPG in the process.  Minnesota is 9-23 ATS in its last 32 road games dating back to last season.  The Kings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.  Take Sacramento. 

6* Washington/Auburn Top 25 *CA$H COW* on Washington +10.5 

The Key: The Washington Huskies should be one of the top teams in the Pac-12 this season.  They went 21-13 and 10-8 in conference play last year in the first season under Mike Hopkins.  And now they return all 5 starters from a team that suffers zero key losses from that team.  I backed them against Western Kentucky in a 73-55 win as 8.5-point favorites in their opener.  Now I’m taking them as double-digit underdogs here against Auburn.  This game will be closer than the books are expecting.  Take Washington. 

7* Arkansas/Texas ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Texas -6 

The Key: The Texas Longhorns return 4 starters this season and should be one of the top teams in the loaded Big 12.  The Arkansas Razorbacks lost 6 of their top 7 scorers from a year ago and are in rebuilding mode under Mike Anderson.  I think it’s worth laying the 6 points with Texas here given that these programs are going in opposite directions heading into the season.  Take Texas. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Portland Trail Blazers -5 

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are just rolling along and consistently undervalued.  They are 8-3 SU & 8-3 ATS this season.  They have won 5 of their 7 home games this season all by double-digits.  And they should make easy work of the Clippers tonight.  The Clippers will be without Avery Bradley, and his loss is huge because he would have been guarding either Lillard or McCollum.  Now they just have Patrick Beverly to guard one of those two, which means the other should be able to go off.  It will most likely be McCollum, who is coming off a 40-point game and gaining confidence in his shot.  The Clippers are 37-64 ATS in their last 101 games off 2 consecutive covers as a favorite.  The Blazers are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games.  The Blazers are 22-7 ATS in their last 29 home games.  Take Portland. 

6* 76ers/Pacers ESPN *CA$H COW* on Indiana -2.5 

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are still in search of their first road victory of the season.  They are 0-5 SU & 0-5 ATS on the road this year and getting outscored by a whopping 15.2 PPG.  That’s why I have no problem laying the short price with the Pacers at home tonight as only 2.5-point favorites.  They are one of the top teams in the East and took Lebron James and the Cavs to 7 games last year, which nobody else in the East can say.  The Pacers are 10-2 SU & 9-3 ATS in their last 12 meetings with the 76ers as well.  The 76ers are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 road games.  The Pacers are 40-18 ATS in their last 58 games following a loss.  Take Indiana. 

6* WKU/Washington ESPNU *BAILOUT* on Washington -8.5 

The Key: The Washington Huskies should be one of the top teams in thePac-12 this season.  They went 21-13 and 10-8 in conference play last year in the first season under Mike Hopkins.  And now they return all 5 starters from that squad and suffer zero key losses.  Look for them to get out of the gate quickly against Western Kentucky tonight.  WKU only returns 2 starters, and they will be without Auburn transfer DeSean Murray, who is suspended to start the season.   Lamonte Bearden (11.8 ppg LY) is one of the two returning starters, and he’s serving a 6-game suspension to start the year as well.  Take Washington.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Portland Trail Blazers +2 

The Key: The Bucks are really starting to get too much love from the books now after their 8-1 start to the season.  They are being asked to go on the road and lay points here to one of the better teams in the Western Conference in the Portland Trail Blazers, who are 7-3 SU & 7-3 ATS.  If anything, the Blazers are getting disrespected.  They should play the underdog card here and get an outright win and cover.  The Bucks are 4-14 ATS in their last 18 after having covered 5 or 6 of their last 7 ATS coming in.  Bets on home teams of +3 to -3 in a game involving 2 up-tempo teams who average 82 or more shots per game, after a game where they allowed a shooting percentage of 35% or less are 26-6 ATS since 1996.  Take Portland. 

6* Timberwolves/Clippers NBA *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -5 

The Key: The Timberwolves are in disarray.  They are just 4-6 this season and coming off road losses by 30 and 17 points.  They won’t be able to hang with an improved Clippers team tonight.  The Clippers are rested having the last 2 days off since beating the Magic by 25 on the road last time out.  The Timberwolves are 8-22 ATS in their last 30 road games.  The Clippers are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games off a win by more than 10 points.  Take Los Angeles. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Houston Rockets -8 

The Key: James Harden makes his return from a hamstring injury tonight.  That should help ease the load on the Rockets from playing the 2nd of a back-to-back here.  And they should be fresh either way because this is still just their 3rd game in 8 days.  The Bulls are also playing on a back-to-back tonight after losing yet another heartbreaker to the Pacers by 2 points last night.  They could be flat here off back-to-back tough close losses.  And the Bulls will be playing their 6th game in 9 days.  They’re already short-handed with 4 key players out with injury in Markkanen, Dunn, Portis and Valentine.  They won’t be able to keep pace with the Rockets tonight.  The Rockets are 28-13 ATS as a road favorites over the last 2 seasons.  The Rockets are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in their last 3 meetings with the Bulls winning by 32, 9 and 21 points.  Take Houston. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Memphis Grizzlies +8 

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies are 4-2 SU & 4-2 ATS this season.  Their 4 wins have all come by 8 points or more, including a 92-84 road win at Utah as 11-point underdogs in their first meeting this season.  This line is only 8 because Utah has some key injuries right now.  The Jazz are expected to be without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell (23.3 PPG) tonight and key reserve Alec Burks.  I just don’t see how they’re going to cover this spread without Mitchell.  The Grizzlies come in on 2 days’ rest.  Memphis is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 vs. NBA Northwest Division teams.  The Jazz are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  The Grizzlies are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings, and 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Utah.  Take Memphis. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Oklahoma City Thunder +1.5 

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder started the season 0-4 and that has had them undervalued.  They have since reeled off two straight blowout home victories over the Suns and Clippers and I think they are back to being the team we thought they’d be coming into the season.  Russell Westbrook was banged up to start the season, so that had a lot to do with the slow start.  But now they are basically at full strength going forward.  They are certainly better than the Charlotte Hornets, who are now overvalued after a 6-2 ATS start to the season.  The Hornets should not be favored here.  Charlotte is 2-16 ATS when playing 8 or more games in 14 days over the last 2 seasons.  The Hornets are 5-21 ATS after covering 3 of their last 4 ATS over the last 3 seasons.  The Thunder are 14-5-1 ATS in the last 20 meetings.  Take Oklahoma City. 

6* Pacers/Knicks ESPN *CA$H COW* on New York +6 

The Key: The New York Knicks are 5-2 ATS this season and have consistently been overlooked by oddsmakers.  I expect them to hang with the Indiana Pacers tonight and possibly pull off the upset as 6-point home underdogs.  The home team is 22-6 ATS in the last 28 meetings.  The Knicks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home meetings with Indiana.  Take New York. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Memphis Grizzlies -1.5 

The Key: I like the situation for the Grizzlies tonight.  They are rested with 2 days off in between games and will be playing for just the 2nd time in 6 days here.  The Wizards will be playing their 5th straight road game and their 5th game in 9 days.  They are 1-3 on this trip thus far with their only win coming by one point in overtime, and they are coming off a 32-point loss to the Clippers.  I think the Wizards are running out of gas, especially with injuries to two key players in Dwight Howard and Markieff Morris.  The Grizzlies are 17-4 SU & 15-6 ATS in their last 21 home meetings with the Wizards.  Washington is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 road games.  The Grizzlies are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games.  The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Memphis. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New York Knicks -2 

The Key: The Brooklyn Nets will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days here Monday.  Not only that, they are coming off a hard-fought 114-120 loss to the Warriors last night in which they used a lot of energy for a 4th quarter comeback.  They will be tired and won’t be nearly as excited to face the Knicks as they were the Warriors.  The Knicks come in on 2 days of rest having last played on Friday.  They want revenge from a 105-107 road loss to the Nets on October 19th just 10 days ago.  The situation really favors the Knicks tonight.  Take New York. 

6* Wizards/Kings NBA TV *BAILOUT* on OVER 235 

The Key: The Wizards have been forced to go to a small lineup these last two games with Markieff Morris playing center.  That’s because both Dwight Howard and Ian Mahinmi are out with injuries.  And it’s no surprise that they have gone OVER the total in all 4 games this season, and the last 2 were the highest-scoring.  They combined for 249 points with the Blazers two games back and 266 points with the Warriors last time out.  And they should sail OVER this 235-point total with the Kings as well.  The Kings are 4-1 to the OVER this season and trying to play at a faster place to utilize De’Aron Fox’s skill set.  They have combined for 240, 278, 251 and 238 points in their 4 OVERS.  All four of those numbers were higher than this 235-point total.  Get ready for a shootout in Sacramento tonight.  Take the OVER. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Portland Trail Blazers -3 

The Key: This is a tough situation for the Magic.  They are coming off a huge upset win over the Boston Celtics on the road.  I can’t help but think they will have a letdown at home against Portland tonight.  The Magic are just 18-40 ATS in their last 58 games following a victory.  And the Magic haven’t been very good at home this year, going 1-1 with a 3-point win over a depleted Miami team, and a 32-point loss to Charlotte.  The Blazers are coming off a loss that will have them focused.  And they’ve gone 4-1 in their last 5 meetings with the Magic with an average victory of nearly 15 PPG.  Take Portland. 

7* Wizards/Warriors NBA *Total* Annihilator on OVER 234 

The Key: The Wizards have to go small ball tonight because Dwight Howard didn’t make the trip West, and Ian Mahinmi left their last game with a back injury.  The Wizards went with Markieff Morris at center in their small ball lineup against the Blazers after Mahinmi’s departure and it worked well.  They eventually won 125-124 in overtime.  The Warriors love going small themselves, so this should be a track meet tonight.  The Warriors beat the Wizards 120-117 in their last meeting at Golden State.  I think both teams top 120 points tonight.  Washington head coach Scott Brooks even said prior to this game if you don’t score 120 it’s tough to win in today’s NBA.  And all his players complimented the small ball approach.  Take the OVER. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Chicago Bulls +4.5 

The Key: The Bulls are hungry for their first win of the season tonight.  They should get it as 4.5-point home dogs to the Hornets.  Their last two losses have come by a combined 8 points to the Mavs and Pistons, so they’ve been close.  And I like the price we are getting with the Bulls tonight.  The Bulls are 5-1 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings with the Hornets.  Charlotte is 5-15-1 ATS in its last 21 games following a loss by more than 10 points.  The Hornets are 5-20 ATS after covering 3 of their last 4 ATS over the last 3 years.  The Bulls are 15-3 ATS against Southeast division opponents over the last 2 years.  The home team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  Take Chicago. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings +11.5 

The Key: The Denver Nuggets are in a tough spot tonight.  They are in letdown mode off their 100-98 upset win over the defending champion Warriors last time out.  They won’t be nearly as hungry here tonight against the Kings, and that’s a problem when you’re being asked to lay 11.5 points.  I think the Nuggets come out flat here and the Kings get the cover.  The Kings are coming off a 131-120 upset road win of their own as 10.5-point underdogs against Russell Westbrook and the OKC Thunder.  But they won’t have a letdown because beating the Thunder is not like beating the Warriors.  The Kings are shooting 52.8% as a team this season as they’ve clearly improved dramatically on the offensive end, averaging 125.7 PPG.  Take Sacramento. 

6* Suns/Warriors NBA *BAILOUT* on Phoenix +12.5 

The Key: The Phoenix Suns should be one of the most improved teams in the NBA this season.  They have a young roster and have been stockpiling talent for years.  That talent is about to come to fruition this season.  They got DeAndre Ayton with the No. 1 pick in the draft and he’s a can’t-miss player.  Devin Booker is becoming a star already.  And the addition of Trevor Ariza gives them a leader in the locker room that they’ve desperately needed.  All Ariza does is win everywhere he goes because he plays winning basketball.  The Warriors will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a 98-100 loss in Denver last night.  Playing in altitude will have certainly taken more out of them than in most normal back-to-back situations. Take Phoenix. 

6* Spurs/Blazers Western Conference *CA$H COW* on San Antonio +4.5 

The Key: The Spurs aren’t getting much respect early in the season.  I don’t think they’re any worse off than they were last year.  In fact, they should be better.  The replaced Kawhi Leonard with DeMar DeRozan.  Leonard played hardly at all last season, and DeRozan is healthy and still one of the best players in the NBA.  The Spurs haven’t lost any of their last 10 meetings with the Blazers by more than 4 points.  They are 7-3 SU in those 10 games with their 3 losses coming by 1, 1, and 4 points.  Take San Antonio. 

6* Celtics/Raptors ESPN *CA$H COW* on Toronto -3 

The Key: Home-court advantage has been huge in this series between the Celtics and Raptors.  The home team is 10-1 SU in the last 11 meetings.  The Raptors are 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home meetings with the Celtics.  This is a pretty cheap price to get the Raptors at tonight given the series history.  Take Toronto. 

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Cavaliers +13 

The Key: The betting public wants nothing to do with the Cavs without Lebron James.  That’s why we will see some inflated numbers early in the season with them, and this is one of them.  But the Cavs have some nice chemistry with Tryonn Lue entering his 4th year, and still plenty of talent with Kevin Love and company to remain competitive in the weak East.  The Raptors are going through a system change with first-year head coach Nick Nurse, and they have to try and figure out how to make this new offense work now that leading scorer DeMar DeRozan is gone.  I think it will take some time before the Raptors are hitting on all cylinders, so they shouldn’t be laying 13 points to the Cavs in the opener.  Take Cleveland. 

6* 76ers/Celtics *Total* Annihilator on OVER 210 

The Key: The 76ers were one of the best offensive teams in the Eastern Conference last season in averaging 110 PPG.  They are loaded again and don’t put nearly as much emphasis on the defensive end. The Celtics had to play more defense last year because they were without their best 2 scores for much of the season in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, especially in the playoffs.  But with Irving and Hayward back this should be one of the best offensive teams in the East.  And Irving doesn’t play much defense.  The OVER is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Boston.  The OVER is 6-1 in 76ers last 7 road games.  Take the OVER. 

7* Warriors/Cavs Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 216 

The Key: As a series goes on, games tend to be lower and lower scoring.  That has been the case in this series as well as each game has been lower scoring than the next.  The Cavs and Warriors combined for 212 points in Game 3 and now we’re seeing a total of 216, so I think there’s value with the UNDER.  Both teams know what each other is trying to do, which makes scoring at a premium.  The UNDER is 10-3 in Warriors last 13 games overall.  The UNDER is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The UNDER is 11-5 in Cavaliers last 16 home games.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Finals Game of the Year on Cleveland Cavaliers +4.5 

The Key: It’s do or die for the Cavaliers tonight.  I like backing teams with their backs against the wall because you know what kind of effort you are going to get from them.  While the Cavs will be at 110% tonight, the Warriors could relax after protecting home court with their 2-0 series lead.  And the Cavs will be happy to return home where they are 8-0 SU in their last 8 playoff games.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Cavs/Warriors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland +11.5 

The Key: The Warriors clearly should not be double-digit favorites against the Cavs in Game 2 tonight.  The Cavs should have beaten them in Game 1 and were the better team until overtime.  And with the injuries to the Warriors’ Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala, they aren’t the juggernaut that they are perceived to be.  The Cavs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Western Conference teams.  The Warriors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 when playing on 2 days rest.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Cavs/Warriors Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland +13 

The Key: This Game 1 line has gotten out of control.  Too much has been made of the Warriors being massive favorites in this series.  I think it will be closer than most expect, starting with Game 1 tonight as the Cavs are ridiculous 13-point underdogs.  Kevin Love may or may not play, but it doesn’t matter as the Cavs were great without him and actually better defensively in winning their final two games against Boston.  Andre Iguodala is the best defender Golden State has against Lebron James, but he’s going to be out for Game 1.  James should be able to have his way against Golden State’s defense to keep this one closer than expected.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +6.5 

The Key: The Houston Rockets have held their own at home against the Warriors.  After losing Game 1, they came back to win Game 2 and 5.  And they were favorites in all 3 previous home games in this series.  Yet now they are 6.5-point underdogs in Game 7.  I like the price we are getting with them here.  Andre Iguodala is doubtful while Kevin Looney is questionable.  Chris Paul could return today, but it’s factored into the line that he’s not playing, so if he does it would only be an added bonus.  The Rockets showed they could play with the Warriors without Paul by taking a 17-point lead in Game 6 before faltering in the second half.  They should be able to sustain that level of play for 48 minutes this time around due to the boost they’ll get from their home fans.  The Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS loss and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU loss.  Take Houston.

7* Cavs/Celtics Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -2.5 

The Key:  This one is just about as easy as it gets.  The home team is 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS in the six meetings thus far in this series.  The home team has won all 6 games by 9 points or more.  Boston has beaten Cleveland by 25, 13 and 15 points in its three home meetings.  The Cavs’ role players just don’t travel well.  And now they’ll be without Kevin Love due to a concussion, making their task even more daunting today.  The Celtics are 10-0 at home in the playoffs and will improve to 11-0 while earning a trip to the NBA Finals with a victory tonight.  Take Boston. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -11.5 

The Key: No Chris Paul, no chance for the Rockets.  They suffered a huge blow when he hurt his hamstring in the final seconds of Game 5 and has now been ruled out for Game 6.  He is the heart and soul of this team.  He is also a massive part of their game plan.  Mike D’Antoni staggers the minutes of Paul and Harden to make sure that at least one of them is on the court at all times.  Now the onus will be on Eric Gordon to take over Paul’s role, but he’s much better working off the ball.  And the Rockets will have to go deeper into their thin bench.  Houston knows it has a home game in its hip pocket coming up in Game 7, so I don’t expect the Rockets to be giving 100% trying to win Game 6.  It’s do or die for the Warriors, so they should come out like gangbusters and cover this 11.5-point spread with ease.  Take Golden State. 

7* Celtics/Cavs Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -7 

The Key: Home-court advantage has made all the difference in this series thus far, and I don’t see that changing in Game 6 in this do-or-die game for Cleveland.  The Celtics know they still have a home game in their back pocket, which is huge considering they are 10-0 at home in these playoffs.  They can afford to not show up tonight.  The Cavs don’t have the same luxury.  The Cavs are 7-0 at home in the playoffs, while the Celtics are 1-6 on the road.  The home team is 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings in this series with an average win of 18 PPG.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 219.5 

The Key: I’m surprised the books keep setting the number too high in this series.  The UNDER is 3-1 and we’ve seen lower scoring games as the series has gone on.  Houston beat Golden State 95-92 for only 187 combined points in Game 4.  Now this total is 219.5 for Game 5, which is 32.5 points more than their Game 4 result.  They will likely score more points than in Game 4, but they won’t reach 220 or more.  These teams are very familiar with each other now and defense is winning out.  It has become an isolation series as neither team is able to move the ball on offense.  That results in longer possessions and contested shots at the end of the shot clock frequently.  Houston is 13-2 UNDER when the line is +3 to -3 this season.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 games overall.  The UNDER is 38-18 in Rockets last 56 games overall.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Rockets last 5 Thursday games.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Cavs/Celtics Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 206.5 

The Key: Boston will control the tempo playing at home tonight just as they did in Games 2 and 3.  The Celtics and Cavs combined for just 191 points in Game 1 and 201 points in Game 2.  Now we’re seeing a total of 206.5 in Game 5, which I believe to be too high here.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  The UNDER is 14-6 in Cavs last 20 games following an ATS win.  The UNDER is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Boston.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +9 

The Key: The Houston Rockets will put forth a much better effort in Game 4 than they did in Game 3.  It was mind-blowing how poorly they played, and the Warriors took advantage.  But the Warriors will likely not have Andre Iguodala tonight, a key piece in their Hampton’s 5 lineup.  Buckets will be easier to come by for Houston without having Iguodala’s presence on the defensive end tonight.  And the Rockets surely won’t shoot as poorly as they 39% they shot in Game 3 as they continued to miss layup after layup.  They made great adjustments in Game 2, and I expect the same for Game 4 tonight.  Take Houston. 

7* Celtics/Cavs Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -7 

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers are 35-13 at home this season, including 6-1 in the playoffs.  The Boston Celtics have been vulnerable on the road in the playoffs.  They are just 1-5 in their 6 road playoff games.  The Cavs won Game 3 by 30 and should have no problem covering this generous 7-point spread at home tonight to square this series.  Tyronn Lue is 16-5 ATS off a blowout home win by 20 points or more as the coach of the Cavs.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 226 

The Key: Points will be harder to come by as this series goes along and the Rockets and Warriors learn offensive tendencies.  These teams are both better defensively than they get credit for.  Houston is 9-1 UNDER off a combined score of 215 points ormolu in two straight games this season.  The Rockets are 7-0 UNDER in road games off three consecutive home games this season.  The UNDER is 11-1 in Rockets last 12 vs. NBA Pacific division.  The UNDER is 21-10 in Rockets last 31 overall.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Warriors last five games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Celtics/Cavs Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -6 

The Key: This is a great situation to back the Cavaliers.  They are down 0-2 and returning home for a must-win game.  They will be 100% locked in.  It also helped them having three days off after last playing on Tuesday, especially Lebron James who really needed the rest.  The Cavs should come out like gangbusters tonight.  The Celtics will likely relax knowing that they have a cushion now after keeping their home-court advantage.  And while the Celtics haven’t lost at home in these playoffs, they are just 1-4 on the road with their lone victory coming in overtime.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -1.5 

The Key: The Houston Rockets will be hungry to even this series and get right back in it.  They did win two out of three against the Warriors during the regular season, so they know they are capable.  And it’s unlikely Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson shoot that well again.  The Warriors are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 games off a win by 10 points or more.  Golden State is also just 4-14 ATS in its last 18 games when playing on one day of rest.  Take Houston. 

7* NBA Playoffs Game of the Year on Cleveland Cavaliers +1 

The Key: I’m shocked the Cavs aren’t big favorites over the Celtics in Game 2 tonight.  They got their asses kicked in Game 1 and are sure to come back with a big effort tonight.  They made only 4 3-pointers in the game and shot just 15% from distance.  The odds of them shooting anything close to that again from deep are slim to none.  The Cavs will come with a much better game plan after making some adjustments, and they are clearly the more talented team in this series.  That talent will shine through in Game 2 tonight.  The road team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings, and the Cavs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 trips to Boston.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -1 

The Key: The Houston Rockets are the only team in the NBA that has the goods to beat the Warriors.  They are very similar teams, but the Rockets have the deeper bench and will be able to hang with the Warriors in this series.  I think they take Game 1 tonight in Houston.  They won 2 of 3 meetings with the Warriors during the regular season.  They are hungry for a title and realize this is their best chance since Hakeem Olajuwon.  Houston is 22-8 ATS off a home ATS loss where they won straight up as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.  The Rockets are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games when playing on 3 or more days of rest.  Take Houston. 

7* Cavs/Celtics Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -1.5 

The Key: Lebron James and the Cavaliers will prove to be too much for the Celtics in this series, and it starts with Game 1 tonight.  They are extra rested after sweeping the Raptors and will look to continue their dominance of the Celtics in the playoffs.  The Cavs are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a blowout home win by 20 points or more.  That’s a 91% angle backing the Cavs here this afternoon.  Take Cleveland. 

7* 76ers/Celtics Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston +1 

The Key: The Boston Celtics simply do not lose at home.  They have not only gone 7-0 straight up, but also 7-0 against the spread in their last 7 home games.  Now they are home underdogs to the 76ers in Game 5, where they just have to win to cover.  Sign me up.  The Celtics are 10-0 ATS as home underdogs this season.  They are also 10-0 ATS when playing with revenge from a double-digit loss this season.  Couple these trends with the 7-0 home trend and we have a 27-0 angle backing the Celtics.  Take Boston. 

7* Pelicans/Warriors Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 228.5 

The Key: The Pelicans and Warriors have combined for 224, 237, 219 and 210 points in games 1-4, respectively.  They have been lower scoring games than oddsmakers have anticipated, and I think there’s a good chance Game 5 stays well UNDER 228.5 points as well.  Bets on the UNDER on road teams where the total is 200 or more, an extremely well rested team playing 5 or less games in 14 days, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a winning team are 67-34 since 1996.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Celtics/76ers Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia -6 

The Key: The 76ers have blown late leads in each of the last two games in this series.  They know they are better than Boston and still have hope that they can make this a series.  It starts with a victory in Game 4 tonight.  Philadelphia is 11-2 ATS in home games when playing 4 or less games in 10 days over the last 2 seasons.  The 76ers are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 home games.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* Warriors/Pelicans Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -6 

The Key: The Golden State Warriors had an uncharacteristic poor shooting night in Game 3 and were blown out by the Pelicans 119-100.  They shot just 38% as a team and 29% from 3-point range.  The chances of them shooting anything close to that poorly in Game 4 are slim to none.  The Pelicans are 2-14 ATS in their last 16 games off an upset win by 15 points or more as a home underdog.  Bets on road favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points when revenging a loss where the other team scored 100 points or more against an opponent that’s off a home win where they scored 110 or more points are 32-11 ATS since 1996.  Take Golden State. 

7* Celtics/76ers Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia -8.5 

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers blew a 22-point lead at Boston in Game 2.  I expect them to get up big in Game 3 as well and not relinquish the lead this time playing in front of their home fans.  They know this series is far from over if they handle their business at home these next two games.  I always like backing the team that’s down 0-2, especially when their at home because they usually give their best effort in Game 3 in this situation.  Philadelphia is 8-0 ATS in Saturday home games this season.  The 76ers are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 home games overall.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* Warriors/Pelicans Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on New Orleans +5 

The Key: If the Pelicans are going to win a game in this series, it’s likely to be Game 3 tonight at home.  They were impressive in Game 2 in giving the Warriors all they wanted in a 5-point loss as 11-point underdogs.  Now they are catching 5 points at home tonight, which is too much.  The Pelicans are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.  New Orleans is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 home games.  Golden State is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than 60%.  Take New Orleans. 

7* Cavs/Raptors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -6.5 

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are in a must-win situation already after giving away Game 1.  The Cavaliers’ role players like JR Smith and Kyle Korver got hot from 3-point range and helped stage a comeback from 14 points down.  The Cavs would win in overtime.  I look for the Cavs to relax and the Raptors to be going pedal to the metal in Game 2.  The Cavs are still just 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.  The Raptors are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Toronto is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 home games against a team with a winning road record.  Take Toronto. 

7* Jazz/Rockets Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Utah +11 

The Key: Bets against home favorites when leading in a playoff series, a team that wins 75% or more of their games against a team with a winning record are 45-21  ATS since 1996.  The Rockets are 1-10 ATS off 3 consecutive covers as a favorite over the last 2 years.  The price is right to back the Jazz as double-digit underdogs in Game 2 tonight.  Take Utah. 

7* Cavs/Raptors Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -6.5 

The Key: Toronto has a big rest advantage in Game 1 of this series.  They haven’t played since April 27th, while the Cavs played two days ago on April 29th.  The Cavs were pushed to the brink by the Pacers and needed a Game 7 at home to win that series.  Their 4 wins in that series came by a combined 14 points.  They are clearly more vulnerable than they have been in years’ past.  The Raptors have a huge home-court advantage.  They are 37-7 at home this year and winning by over 10 PPG on average.  They are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.  The Cavs are just 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  Lebron and company are in over their heads here in Game 1.  Take Toronto. 

7* 76ers/Celtics Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 205 

The Key: The 76ers have become an offensive juggernaut.  They have scored 103 or more points in 21 consecutive games now.  They will look to blitz the Celtics in Game 1 of this series to try and take the upper-hand.  They haven’t played in 6 days and will be looking to push the tempo every possession possible.  The Celtics have still managed to be efficient offensively despite their injuries.  They have scored 101 or more points in eight of their last 11 games overall.  The OVER is 11-2 in Boston’s last 13 playoff home games.  The OVER is 7-1 in Celtics last 8 home games overall.  The OVER is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 games when playing on 3 or more days rest.  Take the OVER. 

7* Jazz/Rockets Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 206 

The Key: The OVER is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings between the Jazz and Rockets.  They have averaged 216.7 combined points per game in those 7 meetings.  They have combined for at least 213 points in 6 of those 7 meetings.  I think the price is right to back the OVER in Game 1 of this series based on those recent head-to-head results.  Take the OVER. 

7* Bucks/Celtics Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -4.5 

The Key: Home-court advantage has meant everything in this series.  The home team is 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in the six games thus far.  I see no reason for that trend to change with everything on the line in this Game 7 tonight.  The Bucks are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.  The Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.  Boston is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games following an ATS loss.  The Celtics are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings, including 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home meetings.  Take Boston. 

7* Thunder/Jazz Game 6 *BAILOUT* on Oklahoma City +6.5 

The Key: The Utah Jazz must be shell-shocked after blowing a 25-point lead in Game 5 when they could have closed out the Thunder.  Now all the pressure is on them, and the Thunder are oozing with confidence after staving off elimination in dramatic fashion.  I think this number is a bit high here getting the Thunder as 6.5-point underdogs given the situation.  They still have the two best players in the series, and Russell Westbrook and Paul George refused to lose by the way they played in the 2nd half of Game 5.  I trust that duo to keep them competitive in Game 6.  The Jazz are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Take Oklahoma City. 

7* Celtics/Bucks Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -4 

The Key: The home team has won every game in this series and has covered all but one.  The lone exception was when the Bucks nearly blew a 16-point halftime lead in Game 4 and won by 2 as 6-point favorites.  Now they are only 4-point favorites in Game 6 with their season on the line, and I think this is a generous price for them tonight.  The Bucks have shot better than 52% in 3 of their last 4 games against the Celtics and have clearly figured out how to score on them, especially at home.  Make it 6 straight wins for the home team in this series tonight with a win and cover by the Bucks.  Take Milwaukee. 

7* Jazz/Thunder Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City -3.5 

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder have gone 15-1 in their last 16 home meetings with the Utah Jazz.  They have outscored the Jazz by over 13 PPG in those 16 games.  Now they’re laying only 3.5 points in Game 5 in this do-or-die situation.  I think this is a generous price for the Thunder tonight.  Take Oklahoma City. 

7* Bucks/Celtics Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -3.5 

The Key: The Boston Celtics could get a nice boost with the possible return of Marcus Smart for Game 5.  He has missed the entire series, but he has been upgraded to questionable, which means there’s a good chance he plays.  The Celtics haven’t needed him to outplay the Bucks thus far in this series, but his energy and defense could be a big boost as this series returns to Boston for the all-important Game 5.  Boston is 11-2 ATS when revenging a road loss this season.  The Celtics are 18-5 ATS revenging all losses this season.  The Bucks are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.  The Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings with the Bucks.  Take Boston. 

7* Thunder/Jazz Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City +4.5 

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder have their backs against the wall tonight down 2-1 in this series.  Look for them to respond in a big way with an upset victory in Salt Lake City.  Russell Westbrook guaranteed that Ricky Rubio would not have another great game like he did in Game 3 out of nowhere, and I look for a big game from Westbrook in this one.  The Thunder are 35-19 ATS in their last 54 road games revenging a loss of 10 points or more.  Take Oklahoma City. 

7* NBA 1st Round Total of the Year on Raptors/Wizards UNDER 218.5 

The Key: The price is right to back the UNDER in this game between the Raptors and Wizards.  The over is 3-0 through the first 3 games, which has forced oddsmakers to set a total higher than it should be for Game 4 knowing that the public will be betting the over again.  The total was only 213.5 exactly for the first two games in this series, and now it’s 218.5 for Game 4, a 5-point adjustment.  As a series goes on teams get more familiar with one another and that favors defense.  Both teams have shot lights out thus far, but the points won’t be as easy to come by in Game 4.  Washington is 10-2 UNDER after scoring 105 points or more in 3 straight games this season.  Bets on the UNDER on road teams where the total is 210 to 219.5 a good team that outscores their opponents by 3 or more points per game, after 4 straight games where both teams scored 100 points or more are 40-13 since 1996.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Blazers/Pelicans Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland +7.5 

The Key: This line suggest that the Portland Trail Blazers will just pack it in after starting down 0-3 in this series.  But I highly doubt that will be the case.  The price is right to back them as 7.5-point dogs in Game 4.  They were only 4-point dogs in Game 3, so this is a 3.5-point adjustment.  It’s enough to warrant a wager on the Blazers here Saturday.  Bets against home favorites who have beaten the spread by 54 or more points in their last 10 games against an opponent that went under the total by 48 or more points in their last 10 games are 42-13 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take Portland. 

7* Celtics/Bucks Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 205.5 

The Key: The Bucks shot 59.7% while the Celtics shot 53.3% in Game 2.  That’s not going to happen again.  It was a high scoring game and it made the oddsmakers go from setting totals of 199 in Games 1 and 2 to 205.5 in Game 3.  That’s a 6.5-point adjustment and the reason that the price is right now to back the UNDER in Game 3.  The UNDER is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in Milwaukee.  Boston is 11-2 UNDER in Friday road games over the last 2 seasons.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Warriors/Spurs Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio +4.5 

The Key: This will be a ‘win one for the gipper’ type situation tonight.  Greg Popovich just lost his wife yesterday.  His players will rally around him and put forth a big effort.  On the other side, the Warriors will feel bad for him and won’t be on their ‘A’ game.  It’s really the perfect storm here for the Spurs to get a win and cover.  Golden State is 3-11 ATS off 2 or more consecutive home wins this season.  San Antonio is 43-21 ATS in its last 64 home games off a blowout loss by 15 points or more.  The Spurs are 33-8 SU & 26-14-1 ATS at home this season.  The Warriors are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than 60%.  The Spurs are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.  Take San Antonio. 

7* Pacers/Cavs Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -7.5 

The Key: For the first time in his career, Lebron James is down 0-1 in an opening round playoff series.  In fact, it’s the first time ever that he has even trailed in an opening round series.  Look for James to rally the troops tonight and come forth with a big effort after an embarrassing Game 1 showing.  The Cavs trailed by 20 points before James even attempted a shot on Sunday.  He will be much more aggressive from the opening tip in this one, which is when the Cavs are at their best.  Bets on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points off 2 or more consecutive home losses, in April games are 37-11 ATS since 1996.  Indiana is 6-14 ATS off a win by 10 points or more this season.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Bucks/Celtics TNT *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +2.5 

The Key: Bets on road teams where the line is +3 to -3 after 2 or more consecutive road losses, well rested team playing 6 or less games in 14 days are 72-26 ATS since 1996.  The Bucks are 15-4 ATS off 2 or more straight road losses over the last 3 years.  Take Milwaukee. 

7* Heat/76ers NBA *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 216 

The Key: Both teams really shot lights out from the 3-point line in Game 1, which led to a shootout and 233 combined points.  But that is unlikely to happen again.  The 76ers made 18 3-pointers and shot 64.3% from beyond the arc, while the Heat made 12 and shot 46.2%.  It was a rare high scoring game in this series.  The previous 4 meetings between the Heat and 76ers saw 207 or fewer combined points.  Miami is 23-12 to the UNDER in road games when revenging a loss over the last 2 seasons.  Philadelphia is 32-12 UNDER in its last 44 home games off 2 consecutive covers as a favorite.  Take the UNDER.

7* Jazz/Thunder NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City -3.5 

The Key: It’s no secret that the Oklahoma City Thunder have had the Utah Jazz’ number.  The Thunder are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.  But that only tells half the story.  The Jazz simply cannot win in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are 14-0 in their last 14 home meetings with the Jazz and are winning by nearly 15 PPG on average.  Take Oklahoma City. 

7* Pelicans/Blazers NBA *BAILOUT* on Portland -5.5 

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers have been absolutely unbeatable at home down the stretch of the season.  They have gone 21-3 SU & 19-4-1 ATS in their last 24 home games.  They have also upped their game against the better teams in the league.  The Blazers are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Portland is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on 2 days’ rest as well.  The favorite is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings, and the home team is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings as well. Take Portland. 

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Washington Wizards -5.5 

The Key: The only chance the Wizards have of moving up from their current 8th position is to win tonight.  And moving up is important because they want the 7th seed and to face the Celtics in the first round.  That is possibly considering the Heat face the Raptors tonight and they need the Heat to lose.  The Magic have mentally checked out and won’t offer much resistance tonight.  Take Washington. 

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Charlotte Hornets +3 

The Key: There are so many good situations favoring the Hornets here tonight.  For starters, this is a home-and-home situation as they want revenge from a 117-123 home loss to the Pacers on Sunday.  Now they get to face them just two days later and in their season finale to boot.  The Pacers are locked in to the 5th seed in the East and will be resting starters, which is the key handicap here.  They won’t care about winning this game at all.  Take Charlotte. 

7* Pelicans/Clippers ESPN *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +8.5 

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers are stuck in the 10th spot in the West.  They will be drafting in the same spot no matter what as they cannot improve their chances of ping pong balls.  What they can do is try and run the Pelicans’ season, which is precisely what they’ll be motivated to do tonight.  This line has gotten out of hand and has been adjusted way too far in New Orleans’ favor due to the fact that they need the win more.  They are now 8.5-point road favorites tonight.  The Pelicans are 5-14 ATS after having won 3 of their last 4 games this season.  The Clippers are 24-12 ATS vs. poor defensive teams that allow 106-plus points per game this season.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Detroit Pistons -6.5 

The Key: The Detroit Pistons have really turned it on down the stretch.  They are 8-2 SU & 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  They now sit at 38-41 with a chance to get to .500 if they win out, which would be considered a success.  The Grizzlies clearly don’t care about winning games as they are just trying to improve their chances of getting the top draft pick.  They are just 21-58 on the season with the second-worst record in the league.  They have a ton of injuries right now and are basically resting all of their guys, which indicates they are trying to lose.  The Pistons are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a losing record.  The Grizzlies are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Detroit. 

7* Blazers/Spurs Western Conference *BAILOUT* on San Antonio -4.5 

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are fighting for their playoff lives right now. They are in jeopardy of missing the postseason if they were to lose these last few games.  So they’ll be locked in, just as they have been for the last several weeks, especially at home.  The same cannot be said for the Blazers, who are more worried about staying healthy heading into the playoffs since they’ll be the 3rd seed for sure.  The Spurs have handled their business at home, going 8-0 SU & 8-0 ATS in their last 8 home games.  Take San Antonio. 

7* NBA Situational Game of the Month on Los Angeles Clippers +7 

The Key: The Clippers are holding on to slim playoff hopes.  They probably need to win out to have a chance considering they are 2 games behind both the Pelicans and Timberwolves with 4 games remaining.  But they continue to fight, as evidenced by their comeback victory over the Spurs last game.  And now they are showing good value as 7-point road underdogs to the Utah Jazz tonight.  The Clippers are 11-3 ATS when playing 8 or more games in 14 days this season.  Los Angeles is 20-8-1 ATS in its last 29 road games.  Utah is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 home games.  The Jazz are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.  Take Los Angeles.