Sports Picks & Predictions

7* NBA Non-Conference Game of the Month on Detroit Pistons -6 

The Key: The Detroit Pistons will be hungry for a victory tonight.  They have lost 6 in a row coming in, but 4 of those losses were on the road, and the other 2 were against two of the best teams in the NBA in Golden State and Boston at home.  Now they face a team they can handle tonight in the Denver Nuggets, who have lost 3 of their last 4 and are playing without their two best players in Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap.  The Pistons already won 106-95 in Denver as 5-point dogs on November 12th.  They also won their last home meetings with the Nuggets 103-86 as 4.5-point favorites.  The Nuggets are 3-11 ATS in all road games this season.  The Pistons are 8-1 ATS in non-conference games this season.  Detroit is 43-23 ATS as a home favorite over the last 3 years.  Take Detroit. 

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Columbia +12 

The Key: The Boston College Eagles cannot be trusted to bring their A game tonight.  They just pulled off one of the biggest upsets in program history as 15-point home dogs against Duke on Saturday.  They could care less about beating Columbia off that performance.  This is a Columbia team that has only lost by more than 10 points twice all season.  That was a 15-point loss at Villanova and a 14-point loss at Penn State, two teams that are better than Boston College.  The Lions will be able to hang around in this game due to a letdown from the Eagles.  The Lions have gone 32-10 ATS in their last 42 games as a road underdog of 6.5 to 12 points.  Take Columbia. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Chicago Bulls +7.5 

The Key: The Boston Celtics are playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days tonight.  They won’t have much left in the tank for the Chicago Bulls, who are playing very well right now.  The Bulls are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games.  They have pulled off outright upsets over the Hornets and Knicks in their last 2, and they have losses by 1, 1 and 2 points to the Nuggets, Kings and Pacers, respectively, during this stretch.  They can hang with the Celtics tonight given the difficult situation for Boston.  The Celtics are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 playing on 0 days rest and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 following an ATS win.  The Bulls are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 vs. Eastern Conference.  Take Chicago. 

7* Rockets/Blazers Western Conference *BAILOUT* on OVER 216 

The Key: Expect offensive fireworks tonight between Houston and Portland, especially with Jusuf Nurkic out for Portland.  He is their best defender and has made them a respectable defensive team.  But without him, the Blazers will go smaller and with more outside shooting and worse defense as you’ll see more of Myers Leonard.  The Rockets and their opponents have combined for 213 or more points in six straight games.  They have scored at least 112 points in all six and are averaging 114.0 points per game on the season.  The OVER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in this series.  The Rockets and Blazers have combined for at least 219 points in 5 straight meetings.  That will get the job done tonight with this low 216-point total.  Take the OVER. 

6* Saturday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Creighton -10.5 

The Key: The Creighton Bluejays own the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  They have gone 8-2 SU and a perfect 10-0 ATS in the last 10 meetings.  They have won the last 6 meetings all by double-digits.  Enough said.  Take Creighton. 

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee Bucks -7 

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks want revenge from their worst loss of the season, a 79-111 loss in Dallas back on November 18th.  Now they get their shot at revenge just 3 weeks later.  The Bucks have gone 4-1 in their last 5 games overall with their only loss coming in Boston, which has the best record in the NBA.  Dallas could be without several key players tonight.  They are already without Nerlens Noel and Seth Curry, but both Dennis Smith Jr. and Devin Harris are questionable.  The Mavs are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.  Dallas is 7-15-1 ATS in its last 23 games following a loss.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* Friday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Arizona State -5 

The Key: The Arizona State Sun Devils have been one of the most underrated teams in college basketball this season.  The Sun Devils are 7-0 SU & 6-0-1 ATS.  They have beaten San Diego State by 22, Kansas State by 2 and Xavier by 16.  That win over Xavier as 6.5-point dogs was mighty impressive and shows they are the real deal.  St. John’s has played a much softer schedule and is getting too much credit for its 8-1 record.  The Red Storm lost their toughest game against Missouri 82-90 on a neutral.  And now I think ASU will be the best team they have played yet.  And they’ll have to play this game without their best player in Marcus Lovett, who is out with an ankle injury.  St. John’s is 0-6 ATS off 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 3 seasons.  The Red Storm are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Arizona State. 

6* Thursday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Northern Iowa -4.5 

The Key: The Northern Iowa Panthers are going to be contenders in the MVC this season, that much is clear.  They are 6-2 this season with their only losses coming to Villanova and UNC on the road.  They have already beaten SMU and NC State both outright as underdogs, and they also topped a previously unbeaten UNLV team 77-68 as 1-point favorites.  Texas-Arlington has played a much softer schedule.  Arlington is 0-8 ATS in its last 8 road games after playing 3 consecutive games as a home favorite.  Take Northern Iowa. 

6* Wednesday NCAAB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Portland State +2.5 

The Key: The Portland State Vikings cannot be underdogs to Loyola-Marymount tonight.  The Vikings are 6-2 this season and even gave both Duke and Butler a run for their money in their 2 losses.  They lost 81-99 to Duke as 24.5-point dogs and 69-71 to Butler as 12-point dogs.  They also have an 87-78 win over Stanford as 6.5-point dogs on their resume.  The Vikings are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games.    Lackluster wins over McNeese State (92-86) and Incarnate Word (91-87) show that Loyola-Marymount is not very good.  Take Portland State. 

6* Warriors/Hornets ESPN *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 216 

The Key: Without Steph Curry, the Warriors are going to struggle offensively.  They also could be without Draymond Green, who helps make this offense run on all cylinders.  Look for a lower scoring game than the oddsmakers anticipate as Shawn Livingston at the point is a huge downgrade from Curry.  Bets on the UNDER on all teams where the total is 210 or higher off a win by 10 points or more against an opponent off 3 straight wins by 10-plus points are 36-8 since 1996.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Situational Game of the Month on Sacramento Kings +13 

The Key: The Sacramento Kings last played on Saturday, giving them 3 days to get ready for the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  They will have a big effort here and stay within this massive 13-point spread.  After all, the Kings are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 when playing on 3 or more days of rest.  Take Sacramento. 

7* NCAAB Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Utah +7.5 

The Key: The Butler Bulldogs are getting too much credit from the books tonight as 7.5-point home favorites over the Utah Utes.  The Bulldogs have two double-digit losses already to Maryland 65-79 and Texas 48-61.  The price is right to back Utah, which is 6-1 highlighted by 77-59 and 83-74 wins over Missouri and Ole Miss, respectively.  Utah is 44-25 ATS in its last 69 games off a home blowout win by 20 points or more.  The Utes are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games vs. at team with a winning record.  The Bulldogs are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 following an ATS win.  Take Utah. 

6* FSU/Florida ESPN 2 *CA$H COW* on Florida -9 

The Key: The Florida Gators are legitimately one of the best teams in the country.  Their only lost this season came against top-ranked Duke 84-87 after they blew a 15-point lead in the second half.  They beat another great team in Gonzaga 111-105 in overtime.  They have proven themselves, and now they are ready to get revenge on a rebuilding Florida State team that lost all but one starter from last year.  The Seminoles have won 3 straight meetings by 2, 2 and 5 points.  Not only will the Gators get revenge, they’ll do so by double-digits tonight.  The Gators are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games.  The Gators are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss.  Florida is 23-10 ATS as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.  Florida State is 22-40 ATS in its last 42 road games off 3 or more consecutive wins.  Take Florida. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Milwaukee Bucks +6 

The Key: The Boston Celtics are starting to get too much love from the books due to their 20-4 record.  I expect the Milwaukee Bucks to give them a run for their money tonight.  Home-court advantage has meant nothing in this series of late as the road team is 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  The Bucks have won each of their last two trips to Boston outright as underdogs.  The underdog is 23-9-1 ATS in the last 33 meetings.  The Bucks are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 meetings in Boston.  Take Milwaukee. 

6* St. Mary’s/Cal NCAAB *BAILOUT* on St. Mary’s -7.5 

The Key: Randy Bennett has another great St. Mary’s team this season that is 5-2 with its two losses coming to Power 5 opponents Washington State and Georgia by a combined 7 points.  California is rebuilding this season with a new head coach.  The Bears are 3-4 with their 3 wins coming against Cal Poly, Wofford and CS-Northridge.  They actually lost at home to Riverside by 8 as 13.5-point favorites.  They were blown out 72-96 by Chaminade as well.  That’s how poor of shape this team is in right now, losing to Chaminade and Riverside by those margins.  The Gaels are 10-2 ATS in December games over the last 3 seasons.  Cal is 0-8 ATS in home games versus good teams outscoring opponents by 4-plus points per game over the last 2 seasons.  Take St. Mary’s. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings +12.5 

The Key: The Sacramento Kings want revenge from an 87-112 home loss to Milwaukee on November 28th less than a week ago.  They get their chance here in Milwaukee.  That loss was a bad spot for the Kings as they were playing for a second consecutive night after an upset win at Golden State the night before.  That was a clear letdown spot.  Milwaukee is 3-15 ATS in home games after having won 3 of their last 4 games over the past 2 seasons.  The Bucks are 17-39 ATS in their last 56 as as favorite of 10 or more points.  Take Sacramento. 

6* Creighton/Gonzaga ESPN 2 *BAILOUT* on Creighton +8.5 

The Key: The Creighton Bluejays have been mighty impressive this year en route to their 5-1 start.  They have beaten both UCLA and Northwestern away from home with their only loss coming by a final of 59-65 to Baylor on a neutral court.  They led that game against Baylor most the way before coming up just short in the end.  They can hang with Gonzaga, which has some interestingly close wins this year against Utah State 79-66 and Texas 76-71 in overtime.  They also lost to Florida 105-111 in overtime.  I don’t think this Bulldogs team is nearly as strong as last year’s edition that made the NCAA Championship Game.  And it’s a tougher spot for them because they just played on Wednesday, so they have only one day to get ready for Creighton.  The Bluejays have been off since Saturday and have had ample time to prepare for Gonzaga.  The Bluejays are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 non-conference games.  The Bulldogs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games off a win by more than 20 points.  Take Creighton. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -2.5 

The Key: The Pelicans will be playing just their 2nd game in 6 days tonight.  The Jazz will be playing their 3rd game in 4 days and for a second consecutive night after winning in Los Angeles against the Clippers last night.  The Jazz are just 9-20 ATS in their last 29 when playing their 3rd game in 4 days.  The Jazz are also just 1-10 ATS in their last 11 home games after covering 4 of their last 5 ATS coming in.  Take New Orleans. 

6* Thursday NBA *Total* Annihilator on 76ers/Celtics UNDER 212 

The Key: The Boston Celtics are the best team in the NBA defensively, ranking No. 1 in defensive efficiency this season.  This is a very high total for them and I think there’s value with the under.  The 76ers are a tired team as they just played a game against the Wizards last night and won’t be looking to push the pace.  They will also be without their best player in Joel Embiid due to rest.  Points won’t be as easy to come by for the 76ers without Embiid.  The UNDER is 9-2 in 76ers last 11 games when their starting 5 players combined for more than 160 minutes played the previous day.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Notre Dame/Michigan ESPN *CA$H COW* on Michigan State -6.5

The Key: The Michigan State Spartans are legitimately one of the top teams in the country this season.  They returned 4 starters and have opened 5-1 with their only loss coming to arguably the best team in the land in Duke.  All 5 of their wins have come by 18 points or more, including their 63-45 win over UNC last time out.  Notre Dame is 6-0 but has played the softer schedule and barely beat Wichita State 67-66.  This is the best team they have faced yet, and it will be a true road game here and a tough test.  The Spartans are 8-0 ATS versus good defensive teams allowing 39% or less over the last 2 seasons.  Michigan State is 9-1 ATS in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 years.  The Spartans are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games overall.  Take Michigan State. 

7* NBA Situational Game of the Month on New Orleans Pelicans -5 

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans are in a great situation here tonight, while the Minnesota Timberwolves are in a tough one.  The Timberwolves played last night and will be playing for the second straight day.  They will also be playing for the 7th time in 11 days, and it doesn’t get much tougher than that.  The Pelicans have had the last 3 days off since playing on Saturday against the Warriors.  Minnesota is 21-37 ATS when playing 6 or more games in 10 days over the last 3 seasons.  The Timberwolves are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a loss.  The home team is 13-5 ATS in the last 18 meetings.  The Timberwolves are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 trips to New Orleans.  Take New Orleans. 

6* Wednesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Louisiana Tech +11 

The Key: Louisiana Tech is one of those small schools that deserves attention year in and year out.  They can compete with the big boys.  The Bulldogs are off to a 5-0 start this season.  They even handed Evansville their first loss last time out with a 63-61 victory on a neutral.  I think they can hang around with Alabama tonight.  The Crimson Tide just finished a big tournament with a loss to Minnesota on a neutral court.  It will be hard for them to get back up to face a team like Louisiana Tech tonight after facing one of the top teams in the country in Minnesota.  Alabama is missing two key players in Braxton Key and Ar’Mond Davis due to knee injuries, and John Petty rolled his ankle against Minnesota and is questionable.  Petty is their second leading scorer, so if he’s hampered at all or doesn’t play it would be a big loss for the Crimson Tide.  Alabama is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 vs. C-USA foes.  Take Louisiana Tech. 

7* ACC/Big Ten Challenge *HEAVY HITTER* on Northwestern -2

The Key: The Northwestern Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history last year.  They brought back 4 starters from that team.  It's understandable that they would suffer a bit of a hangover after that experience as they have not gotten off to the best start this season.  But I think that had them undervalued now.  Georgia Tech is not a very good team and is missing its best player in Josh Okogie, who serves the final game of his 5-game suspension tonight.  GA Tech is 3-1, but narrow wins over Bethune-Cookman (65-62) and UTRGV (78-68) at home show that this team is very vulnerable.  The Wildcats are 11-2 ATS in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.  The Wildcats are 17-4 ATS in road games after a home game over the last 3 years.  Take Northwestern.

6* Tuesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Heat/Cavs UNDER 208

The Key: The Miami Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA with a healthy Hassan Whiteside, and he is healthy right now.  The Cavs played last night in Philly and only gave up 91 points.  They should be tired tonight and not looking to run as much.  The Heat will slow down the tempo to a snail's pace to try and give them the best chance to win tonight and limit possessions.  The Heat have allowed 98 or fewer points in 4 of their last 5 games coming in.  The Cavs have allowed 99 or fewer in 3 of their last 4 as their defense is steadily improving.  The Heat are 9-1 UNDER in road games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) over the last 2 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Philadelphia 76ers -2.5

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are 11-4 SU & 13-2 ATS in their last 15 games overall.  They have been mispriced all season and are once again tonight as only 2.5-point favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The Cavs are dealing with so many injuries right now that they are struggling to win games, let alone cover them.  Philadelphia is 14-2 ATS in November home games over the last 2 seasons.  Take Philadelphia.

6* Texas/Gonzaga NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Gonzaga -2.5

The Key: I think Texas is getting too much credit from oddsmakers for taking Duke to overtime last game.  That has kept this line lower than it should be as Gonzaga is clearly the better team and should be more than 2.5-point favorites.  Texas is 4-16 ATS in its last 20 as a neutral court underdog of 3 points or less or PK.  Gonzaga is 24-11 ATS as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.  Take Gonzaga.

6* Saturday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Magic/76ers UNDER 221

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are going to be without their point guard and floor general in Ben Simmons tonight.  I think they slow down the offense and run it through Joel Embiid.  I think this game is played at a very slow pace, which will help it stay UNDER this massive 221-point total.  The Magic are a tired team playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a loss in Boston last night, which also favors the UNDER.  Take the UNDER.

6* Saturday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Indiana State -1.5

The Key: This is an Indiana State team that went into Indiana and beat the Hoosiers 90-69 in their opener to flash their potential.  They are up against a 1-4 Ball State team that simply isn't very good.  I think the Sycamores should be much bigger favorites at home today.  Take Indiana State.

6* Wednesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Louisiana Tech -4.5

The Key: The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are one of the top teams in Conference USA year in and year out.  That's the case again in 2017.  They are off to a 4-0 start this season and just blasted George Mason 77-64 last night.  Evansville is also unbeaten at 5-0, but this team was picked to finish near the bottom of the MVC this season with all they lost in the offseason.  The Purple Aces have beaten up on a soft schedule, but LA Tech will be their stiffest opponent yet tonight.  Evansville is 12-41 ATS in its last 53 games following a game with 9 or fewer assists.  The Purple Aces are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games following a ATS win.  Take Louisiana Tech.

7* Celtics/Heat Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami +3.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics stayed last night in South Beach and certainly were probably out celebrating their 16-game winning streak.  I think they are ripe for the picking here against the Miami Heat.  The Heat are a feisty team that won't back down.  And they'll certainly want to avenge their 96-90 loss to the Celtics in their first meeting of the season.  Miami is 21-9 ATS revenging a same season loss over the last 2 seasons.  The Heat are 25-10 ATS when revenging a home loss over the last 3 years.  The Heat are 15-5 ATS off an upset loss as a home favorite over the last 3 seasons.  The underdog is 13-5 ATS in the last 18 meetings.  Take Miami.

7* NCAAB *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma State -13

The Key: It's clearly a rebuilding year for the Pitt Panthers, who had to break in 5 new starters this season.  They opened 1-3 with a 62-71 loss to Navy, a 78-83 loss to Montana, and a 54-85 loss to Penn State.  Their only win came against UC-Santa Barbara 70-62.  They won't be able to hang with Oklahoma State today.  The Cowboys are 3-1 with the 3 wins coming by 31, 18 and 43 points despite not having their best player in Jeffrey Carroll due to suspension.  Carroll is back now.  Their only loss came to Texas A&M yesterday, and that's a Texas A&M team that beat a ranked West Virginia team by 23 in their opener.  Pitt is 2-11 ATS versus good defensive teams that allow 64 or fewer points per game over the past 3 seasons.  Oklahoma State is 25-11 ATS in its last 36 when playing against a bad team with a winning percentage between 20% and 40%.  Take Oklahoma State.

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

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies are in trouble right now without their best player and one of the most underrated players in the NBA in Mike Conley.  He is out with an Achilles injury, but the list of injuries for this team doesn't stop there.  Both Brandan Wright and Wayne Selden are out, and Tyreke Evans is questionable.  The Blazers will be hungry to avenge their 97-98 home loss to the Grizzlies on November 7th in their first and only meeting this season. They should take advantage of these vulnerable Grizzlies, who have now lost 4 straight and are coming off a 22-point home loss to Houston.  Memphis is 4-16 ATS in its last 20 home games off a home loss.  The Grizzlies are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games off a loss to a division opponent.  The Blazers are 8-1-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.  The Grizzlies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Take Portland.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Brooklyn Nets +2

The Key: This is a revenge game for the Brooklyn Nets, who just lost 106-114 in Utah on Saturday.  Now they get the chance to beat the Jazz just 6 days later.  And this will be just their 2nd game in 6 days, so they are rested and ready to go.  They also catch a vulnerable, beat up Jazz team that is already playing without Rudy Gobert, Joe Johnson and Dante Exum, and they could be without Ricky Rubio who is nursing an Achilles injury.  Take Brooklyn.

6* Warriors/Celtics Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Boston +7.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics have won 13 straight games heading into this showdown with the Golden State Warriors.  They have gone 11-1-1 ATS in the process.  They continue to lack the respect they deserve from oddsmakers tonight as 7.5-point home dogs to the Warriors.  Take Boston.

6* NCAAB Blowout of the Night on Marshall -3

The Key: Dan D'Antoni, brother of the NBA's Mike D'Antoni, has completely turned around this Marshall program in his 3 seasons here.  He led the Thundering Herd to a 20-15 record last season.  He has 2 starters back this year, including leading scorer Jon Elmore, who averaged 19.7 PPG and 5.9 APG last season.  Marshall is off to a 2-0 start and now faced an 0-2 Morehead State team that lost 49-101 at Xavier and 70-77 at lowly Lipscomb.  It's easy to see why they have struggled considering they lost all 5 starters from last season.  Interim coach Preston Spradlin took over for their head coach last season after he was faced with assault charges.  Spradlin has zero senior s and six freshmen on this roster.  It's a clear rebuilding project for the new head coach, and it's off to a rough start.  Take Marshall.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -2.5

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans should be bigger favorites tonight over the Toronto Raptors given the situation.  It's a tough spot for the Raptors as they'll be playing their 3rd game in 4 days after beating the Rockets on the road last night.  And the Pelicans will be hungry to avenge a 118-122 loss at Toronto just 6 days ago.  Now they get them at home and should be able to pull it off, especially with how well they are playing right now in winning and covering 5 of their last 6.  Take New Orleans.

6* Wednesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Jacksonville State +3

The Key: The Jacksonville State Gamecocks were a great story last year as they won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the 4th seed, knocking off No. 1 seed Belmont and No. 2 seed Tennessee-Martin to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.  It was the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.  Now the Gamecocks return 3 starters from that team, and head coach Ray Harper has signed a promising class of junior college transfers and high school prospects.  They have opened 2-0 this year with a 100-42 win over Tennessee Wesleyen and an emphatic 94-61 road win as 3-point dogs at Richmond, a performance that really shows how good this team is.  Buffalo only beat Canisius 80-75 as 9.5-point home favorites in its only game thus far.  The Bulls went 17-15 last year and only return 2 starters from that team, losing 2 key players in Billy Hamilton (17.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.4 APG) and Willie Conner (13.0 PPG).  Buffalo is 1-9 ATS in home games off a home game over the last 3 seasons.  The Gamecocks are 10-2 ATS in November games over the past 3 seasons.  I think the Bulls are in over their heads here, and the wrong team is favored.  Take Jacksonville State.

6* Tuesday NCAAB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Arizona State +1

The Key: Bobby Hurley enters his 3rd season in Tempe and should see his Sun Devils improve this season.  He returns 3 starters this year in Tra Holder (16.2 PPG), Shannon Evans (15.0 PPG) and Kodi Justice (9.2 PPG, 42% 3-pointers).  He has done a tremendous job in recruiting and the future is bright in Tempe.  San Diego State is moving on to a first-year head coach in Brian Dutcher after Steve Fisher stepped down.  Fischer led the Aztecs to 6 Mountain West titles and 8 NCAA Tournament appearances in his 18 seasons.  The Aztecs are 3-9-2 ATS in their last 14 road games.  The Sun Devils are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss.  The Sun Devils are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. Mountain West opponents.  Take Arizona State.

7* Raptors/Rockets Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto +6.5

The Key: The Toronto Raptors have failed to cover the spread in 4 straight games.  The Houston Rockets have covered the spread in 5 of their last 6. Because of these recent trends, we are getting a couple too many points with the Raptors here as 6.5-point dogs to the Rockets.  Houston is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 home games.  The Rockets are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 non-conference home games.  Toronto is 14-3 ATS after failing to cover 4 of their last 5 against the spread over the last 3 seasons.  Take Toronto.

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Charlotte +14.5

The Key: The Charlotte 49ers return their top 3 scorers from last season in Jon Davis (19.6 PPG), Austin Ajukwa (11.4 PPG) and Andrien White (11.3 PPG).  They have a great backcourt and will give Oklahoma State a run for its money tonight.  This is a Cowboys team that is going through a coaching change with Mike Boynton now at the helm.  They lost 3 of their best players from last year in Jawun Evans (19.2 PPG, 6.4 APG), Phil Forte (13.3 PPG) and Leyton Hammonds (8.1 PPG).  They only bring back two starters, but one of them is suspended for this game and is their best player in Jeffrey Carroll (17.5 PPG, 6.6 RPG).  That leaves Mitchell Solomon (5.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG) as their lone returning starter tonight.  Plus, guards Zach Dawson and Davon Dillard are also suspended.  Dawson was a Top 100 recruit who was supposed to take Evans' place.  Dillard (5.7 PPG) is also a big loss.  Take Charlotte.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on New York Knicks +6

The Key: The New York Knicks have been one of the most underrated teams in the NBA.  They have gone 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall, including 6-1 SU & 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Now they're catching 6 points at home against one of the most overrated teams in the NBA in the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 6-7 SU & 4-8-1 ATS this season.  The Knicks actually won 114-95 in Cleveland as 10.5-point dogs in their first meeting on October 29th.  Cleveland is 1-8 ATS as a favorite this season.  Take New York.

6* Nets/Blazers NBA *BAILOUT* on OVER 221

The Key: The Brooklyn Nets play at a faster pace than anyone in the NBA this season.  That should lead to a shootout tonight in Portland against one of the best backcourts in the NBA in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.  In their two meetings last year, the Nets and Blazers combined for 246 and 238 points.  The books have set the number too low tonight.  Take the OVER.

6* Friday Night NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Duke -19.5

The Key: The Duke Blue Devils are the No. 1 ranked team in the country to open the season.  While usually a No. 1 team would be getting a lot of respect from the oddsmakers, the Blue Devils aren't here.  They should be more than 19.5-point favorites against Elon.  This Elon team is getting love because they return all 5 starters.  But there will be mismatches all over the floor in favor of the Blue Devils.  Take Duke.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Toronto Raptors -5.5

The Key: This is a good situation to fade the New Orleans Pelicans.  They will be playing their 4th straight road games here.  They actually won their first 3, but all 3 were against suspect competition in Dallas (by 5), Chicago (by 6) and Indiana (by 5).  Now they take a big step up in class and I expect that winning streak to come to an end against the Toronto Raptors tonight.  The Raptors are 3-1 at home and outscoring opponents by 11.3 PPG.  The Pelicans are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  The Raptors are 11-3-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings.  Take Toronto.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Detroit Pistons -7

The Key: The Detroit Pistons have been off since Saturday, giving them a full 3 days to get ready for this game against the Pacers.  It has given them a chance to hone in things from an impressive 7-3 SU & 7-2-1 ATS start to the season.  The Pacers are a tired team right now, playing the second of a back to back and their 6th game in 9 days.  Indiana is 5-17 ATS in its last 22 road games when playing on back to back days.  Detroit is 40-22 ATS in its last 62 games as a home favorite.  Take Detroit.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Indiana Pacers +1.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are better than they get credit for.  They have opened 5-5 with wins over the likes of the Spurs, Cavs and Timberwolves already to show they can play with the good teams.  The Pacers are 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS at home this year.  Off a 3-game road trip, they return home and should get in the win column against the Pelicans.  The Pelicans are 5-5 also, but 4 of their wins came against the worst teams in the NBA in the Lakers, Kings, Mavs and Bulls.  Indiana has a healthy Myles Turner back in the lineup after he missed most of the season up to this point, and he is probably the best player on the team, which just shows what their potential will be moving forward.  The Pelicans are 3-8 ATS in the last 11 meetings.  The Pacers are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games overall.  Take Indiana.

6* Celtics/Hawks Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Boston -7.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics are 8-0 SU & 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  They should make that 9 in a row tonight against the Atlanta Hawks, who have gone 1-8 in their last 9 games with 6 losses by 10 points or more.  The Hawks won't even show up tonight after pulling off a shocking upset in Cleveland on Sunday.  Take Boston.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Philadelphia 76ers -4.5

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are 4-1 SU & 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.  They still aren't getting any love, and I like this -4.5 price we are getting with them at home here against the Indiana Pacers.  The Pacers have been a great covering team too, but I think they are the frauds while the 76ers are the real deal. And if the Pacers were going to have a letdown, it would be in this game because they are coming off a 124-107 win over Lebron James and the Cavaliers in Cleveland.  The 76ers are 14-2 ATS after having won 3 of their last 4 games over the last 2 seasons.  The 76ers are 40-19 ATS in their last 59 games overall.  Take Philadelphia.

7* NBA Western Conference Game of the Month on New Orleans Pelicans -2

The Key: The Minnesota Timberwolves are close to being 0-7 this season.  They are 4-3, but all 4 wins have come by 3 points or less.  They will take their medicine today against a Pelicans team that has owned them.  The Pelicans went 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS against the Timberwolves last season, winning by 14, 16 and 21 points.  Expect more of the same tonight.  Take New Orleans.

6* Thunder/Bucks Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee +2

The Key: Wrong team favored here.  The Oklahoma City Thunder haven't found their chemistry yet with the new faces in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.  The Thunder are just 3-3 on the season with their 3 wins coming against the Knicks, Pacers and Bulls.  They have lost to their best teams they've faced, and now they take another step up in class against a Milwaukee Bucks team that will challenge for supremacy in the East.  The Thunder are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Milwaukee.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Philadelphia 76ers +7

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers just lost to the Houston Rockets on a buzzer-beater 105-104 on October 25th this past Wednesday.  Now they get their shot at revenge less than a week later.  I love backing the team with revenge in mind in these spots.  Take Philadelphia.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Denver Nuggets -7

The Key: The Denver Nuggets have been one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA thus far with their 1-3 start.  They are loaded with talent and are better than they've shown.  Now they have a chance to get right against arguably the worst team in the NBA in the Atlanta Hawks, who just lost last night 86-91 in Chicago and will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 4th game in 6 days.  The Hawks were without Dennis Schroeder and Ersan Ilyasova last night and both are questionable again tonight.  Given the line, I'm assuming Shchroeder is out, and the Hawks really have nothing without him.  He is far and away their best player.  The Nuggets are 12-2 ATS in road games after failing to cover 3 of their last 4 against the spread over the last 3 seasons.  The Nuggets are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  The Nuggets are 17-6 ATS in their last 23 games following a loss.  The Hawks are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  Take Denver.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Chicago Bulls -2

The Key: The Chicago Bulls are 0-3 this season, but they were competitive in losses to the Spurs and Cavaliers.  And their other loss came to the Raptors, so their three defeats have come against three of the best teams in the NBA.  Now they'll be hungry for their first victory, and they have an excellent chance to get it against the only team in the NBA that may be worse than them in the 1-3 Atlanta Hawks.  The Hawks are going to be without their best player in Dennis Shroder, who is listed as doubtful.  And Ersan Ilyasova is questionable and may be their second-best player.  Bets against dogs (Atlanta) average team from last season that won between 45-55% of their games, after 2 or more consecutive losses are 24-7 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take Chicago.

6* Spurs/Heat ESPN *CA$H COW* on Miami +4.5

The Key: The Miami Heat were one of the best teams in the NBA in the second half last year.  They have been grossly underrated, and they're being overlook again here as 4.5-point home dogs to the San Antonio Spurs.  This is a Spurs team that has been able to get by without Kawhi Leonard, going 3-0, but two of their games were close at home, and their only road win came against the awful Chicago Bulls.  This will be their stiffest road test yet.  The Heat are 11-2 ATS after failing to cover the spread in 2 or more consecutive games over the last 2 seasons.  The Heat are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Miami.

6* Tuesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Pacers/Timberwolves UNDER 219.5

The Key: The Minnesota Timberwolves will play defense this season with the additions of Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, who were defensive stalwarts in Tom Thibodeau's time in Chicago.  They will demand defense from the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns.  Indiana will be missing its best player in Myles Turner, who opens up their offense with his ability to stretch the floor.  They will also be without floor stretcher Glenn Robinson III tonight.  I just don't see how the Pacers contribute enough points in this game to push this game over this 219.5-point total.  Indiana is 12-3 UNDER after allowing 105 points or more in 3 straight games coming in.  Take the UNDER.

6* Monday NBA *Total* Annihilator on 76ers/Pistons UNDER 214.5

The Key: The last 6 meetings between the 76ers and Pistons in Detroit have all seen 209 or fewer combined points.  They have averaged 199 combined points in those 6 meetings.  The Pistons are 13-3 to the UNDER in their last 16 home games.  Take the UNDER.

6* Saturday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Magic/Cavs UNDER 215.5

The Key: Both the Cavs and Magic will be missing their starting point guards in this game.  Elfrid Payton is doubtful for Orlando, while Derrick Rose is doubtful for Cleveland.  Without their point guards, I expect both offenses to struggle more than normal here.  So we'll take a shot with the UNDER 215.5.  Both teams will be fatigued after playing last night as well, so the pace of this game should be slow.  Take the UNDER.

6* Cavs/Bucks ESPN *Total* Annihilator on OVER 208.5

The Key: This has clearly been an OVER series between the Cavs and Bucks.  The OVER is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings, including 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.  And the OVER is 12-2 in the last 14 meetings in Milwaukee.  This total has been set too low tonight.  Take the OVER.

6* Lakers/Clippers Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles Lakers +6

The Key: The Los Angeles Lakers will start showing some progress this season and make a run at the final playoff spot.  The Los Angeles Clippers are headed the other direction after trading away their franchise player in Chris Paul to Houston.  I think we are getting a nice price on the Lakers here as 6-point dogs.  They want to establish that they are the best team in L.A. once again, and it starts against the Clippers in their opener.  Take the Lakers.

7* Timberwolves/Spurs ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Minnesota +2

The Key: The Minnesota Timberwolves will be one of the better teams in the Western Conference this season.  They added Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague to go along with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.  This is now one of the best starting lineups in the league.  And the Spurs are going to be missing their best player and MVP in Kawhi Leonard tonight.  There is now a huge talent mismatch here in favor of the Timberwolves, and they should not be dogs.  Take Minnesota.

6* Western Conference *CA$H COW* on New Orleans Pelicans +2

The Key: The Grit 'n Grind era is starting to fall apart in Memphis.  The Grizzlies lost Zach Randolph and Tony Allen in the offseason.  They still have Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, but the talent around them is underwhelming to say the least.  The Pelicans are a team that will be improved this season.  DeMarcus Cousins was traded there midseason last year.  Having an entire offseason to implement the new systems surrounding Cousins and Anthony Davis will do wonders for this team, starting with Game 1 tonight.  Take New Orleans.

6* Celtics/Cavs Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Cleveland -3.5

The Key: I think the fact that Lebron James is showing up on the injury report is keeping this line lower than it should be.  JR Smith said Lebron will play, and I have no doubt he will as he wants to beat down the Celtics and former teammate Kyrie Irving.  I think the whole Cavs team feels that way and will rally around him here. And the Celtics won't have much chemistry in the early going with all of the new faces in the lineup as they'll have four new starters this year.  Take Cleveland.

7* Cavs/Warriors Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -8.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors were just humbled in Cleveland by a final of 137-116.  They let their guard down after taking a 3-0 lead, but now they'll be focused on closing out this series in Game 5.  They remember blowing their 3-1 lead last year all too clearly, and they aren't about to let it happen again.  The Cavs made a whopping 24 3-pointers in Game 4 and that's obviously not going to happen again, either.  The home crowd will be a huge edge here as the Warriors are 44-5 at home this season and winning by 16.2 points per game.  Golden State is 7-0 ATS in home games against Central division opponents this season.  The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Golden State.

7* NBA Finals Total of the Year on Warriors/Cavs UNDER 229

The Key: This total of 229 is the highest of the four games thus far in the NBA Finals, so that fact alone shows that there's value with the UNDER.  And the 10 meetings between the Cavs and Warriors prior to Game 2 all saw 217 or fewer combined points.  Cleveland is 18-3 UNDER as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last two seasons.  The UNDER is 39-17 in Warriors last 56 games playing on 1 days rest.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Finals Game of the Year on Cleveland Cavaliers +4

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers will give everything they have in Game 3 tonight to try and get back in this series.  This is the exact same situation as last year when they lost the first two games in Golden State in blowout fashion, then won Game 3 in Cleveland 120-90.  I don't expect that big of a blowout this time around, but I do think they win this game outright, though we'll take the points for some insurance.  The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings in this series.  Take Cleveland.

7* Cavs/Warriors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -8.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are playing with a massive chip on their shoulder after blowing that 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals last season.  That's why they won't let up after winning 113-91 in Game 1.  We saw last year in the first two games of the NBA Finals that the Warriors won by 15 in Game 1 and came back and won by 33 in Game 2.  I think this will be another double-digit blowout for the Warriors, who are 28-1 in their last 29 games while winning 9 of their last 10 by double-digits.  They are the better defensive team here and held the Cavs to 34.5% shooting in Game 1. That is the difference in this series, and it will be the difference in Game 2 as well.  The Warriors are 21-6-1 ATS in their last 28 games overall.  Take Golden State.

7* Cavs/Warriors Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -7

The Key: The Golden State Warriors will jump on the Cavaliers in Game 1 to make an early statement that this series isn't going to go like it did last year.  The Warriors just have too many weapons now with the addition of Durant, and they are the second-best defensive team in the NBA and have the players who can contain Lebron James.  This is a highly anticipated series, but the casual fan will be disappointed with Game 1 as the Warriors run away with it.  They are 27-1 in their last 28 games overall, including 12-0 in these playoffs with 9 straight double-digit victories.  Take Golden State.

7* Cavs/Celtics Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 217

The Key: The Cavs shot 56.5% in Game 2 and it went UNDER.  The Cavs shot 59.5% in Game 4 and it went UNDER.  The Cavs can't shoot the ball any better, and yet the UNDER has cashed two of the last three games.  And I think Game 5 will be the lowest scoring yet after a previous low of 211 in Game 4.  The Celtics are worse offensively but better defensively without Isaiah Thomas.  Boston is 8-0 UNDER as a home dog of 6.5 to 12 points over the last three seasons.  The UNDER is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Boston.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Celtics/Cavs Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 218

The Key: The Cavs and Celtics could not have shot any better in Game 3 and they STILL only combined for 219 points.  The Celtics went a ridiculous 18-of-40 (45%) from 3-point range, while the Cavs went 16-of-39 (41%) from distance.  The chances of that happening again are highly unlikely, thus we'll take the UNDER in Game 4.  The UNDER is 14-5-2 in Celtics last 21 road games.  Take the UNDER.

7* Warriors/Spurs Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio +12

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs won't just quit even though this series is essentially over.  Greg Popovich will make sure his players give a big effort tonight in Game 4 to avoid the sweep.  And we're getting some serious line value here with the Spurs as 12-point home dogs with the books knowing that the public is just going to keep pounding the Warriors no matter how high they set the line.  We'll go against the public here tonight.  Bets against road favorites of 10 or more points (GOLDEN STATE) - top caliber team - outscoring their opponents by 9+ points/game are 70-27 ATS since 1996.  Take San Antonio.

7* NBA 3rd Round Total of the Year on Celtics/Cavs UNDER 217

The Key: The Celtics will now be without leading scorer Isaiah Thomas for the rest of the playoffs.  It will certainly hurt their offense moving forward, especially here in Game 3 as they are not used to playing without him.  He creates so much for them offensively.  Where they won't miss him is on the other end, where Thomas is one of the worst defensive point guards in the NBA.  I really love this UNDER in Game 3 as it's one of my strongest plays of the postseason.  They combined for 216 points in Game 2 and will certainly combine for less than that now that the Celtics are worse off on offense and better off on defense.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 road games.  The UNDER is 81-38-3 in Cavs last 122 Sunday games.  The UNDER is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.  Take the UNDER.

7* Warriors/Spurs Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio +9.5

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs aren't the type of team that's just going to pack it in down 2-0.  They were deflated in Game 2 after losing Kawhi Leonard to injury in Game 1, and they did not play well as they shot just 37% while the Warriors hot 56% for the game.  Look for them to show some pride tonight.  After all, they are still 8-2 without Leonard this season, so they have the pieces to make this game competitive.  I always like backing home teams in the playoffs in Game 3 after losing the first two games of the series because you know they are going to give the effort with their season basically on the line.  The Spurs are 19-9 ATS in the last 28 home meetings.  Take San Antonio.

7* Cavs/Celtics Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston +6.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics are in must-win mode here in Game 2.  They let the Cavs take it to them in Game 1 and won't make that same mistake again tonight.  The Cavs are clearly a public team right now as they have gone 4-0-1 ATS in their last five playoff games while winning all nine playoff games thus far.  The public is going to continue to back them blindly, and this line is up to 6.5 in some places today after being just 3.5 in Game 1.  That's a clear over-adjustment as the books know that the public is only going to back the Cavs.  This extra line value is a nice bonus in a game the Celtics will likely win outright.  Take Boston.

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

The Key: The Boston Celtics have only played 4 games in the past 10 days.  So I'm not buying the public perception that they are fatigued heading into this series.  The Cavaliers have had 9 days off in between games and I think that puts them at a disadvantage in Game 1.  The Celtics are favored by 4 at home in their final regular season meeting with the Cavaliers.  Now they are GETTING 5 points in Game 1.  That's way too big of an adjustment.  The Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games.  Take Boston.

7* Spurs/Warriors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio +14

The Key: There's no question that the loss of Kawhi Leonard is huge for the Spurs.  But I think the books have over-adjusted here in Game 2.  In fact, the Spurs are actually 8-1 this season without Leonard, which is remarkable.  They thumped Houston 114-75 on the road without Leonard in Game 6 last series.  Bets against home favorites (GOLDEN STATE) - when leading in a playoff series, a top-level team (75% or better) playing a good team (60% to 75%) are 32-9 ATS since 1996.  San Antonio is 8-0 ATS off a close road loss of 3 points or less over the last 3 seasons.  The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  Take San Antonio.

7* Wizards/Celtics Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -5

The Key: The home team has won all 10 meetings between the Wizards and Celtics this season.  The home team has gone 9-1 ATS in those 10 games as well.  The Boston Celtics have won 8 straight home meetings with the Wizards while going 8-0 ATS in the process.  I think they'll fee off their home crowd and run away with this Game 7, just as they have in all previous 8 home meetings with the Wizards.  Take Boston.

7* Spurs/Warriors Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -9.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are chomping at the bit to get back on the court again.  They swept each of their first round series against the Blazers and Jazz while winning seven of those games by 11 points or more.  I think they get a double-digit win over the Spurs in Game 1.  The Spurs are banged up right now without Tony Parker and with Kawhi Leonard nowhere near 100%.  They have also only had two days off since beating the Rockets in Game 6, while the Warriors have had five days off in between.  San Antonio is 0-7 ATS off a road win over a division opponent this season.  The Warriors are 17-5-1 ATS in their last 23 games overall.  Take Golden State.

7* Celtics/Wizards Game 6 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 217

The Key: The Over has gone 4-1 in this series thus far.  But I think Game 6 is primed to be the lowest scoring game yet as these teams clearly know one another very well now.  And with the pressure of an elimination game, I don't expect the Wizards to shoot lights out, but their defensive effort will be there for four quarters.  This one will be played at a much slower pace give the high stakes.  Boston is 7-0 UNDER in Friday night road games this season.  Boston is 13-2 UNDER in road games versus teams who allow 46% shooting or worse this season.  Take the UNDER.

7* Spurs/Rockets Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -6

The Key: I like the way the Houston Rockets responded the first time they trailed in this series.  Trailing 2-1, they blew out the Spurs 125-104 at home in Game 4.  After they gave away Game 5, I think the Rockets will respond with a big performance in Game 6 at home here again Thursday.  The Spurs are already without Tony Parker, and now Kawhi Leonard is nowhere near 100% as he's nursing ankle and knee injuries.  This is just a really bad spot for the Spurs here tonight.  Take Houston.

7* NBA 2nd Round Game of the Year on Boston Celtics -4

The Key: This one is really as simply as it gets.  The home team has been dominant when the Wizards and Celtics get together.  The home team has won 8 straight while going a perfect 8-0 ATS in the process.  The Celtics have won 7 straight home meetings with the Wizards while going 7-0 ATS as well.  They have won all 7 games by at least 8 points. Take Boston.

7* Rockets/Spurs Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +5.5

The Key: Not every game in this series is going to be a blowout.  After all, the four regular season meetings were all decided by 6 points or less, including three by exactly 2 points.  But each of the first four games in this series have been decided by 11 points or more.  The Rockets won by 21 and 27 points in their two victories.  I have a sneaky suspicion this Game 5 comes down to the final shot, and thus the price is a good one in getting the Rockets at +5.5.  The road team is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.  Take Houston.

7* Warriors/Jazz Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 207

The Key: We cashed in the UNDER in Game 3 with a 102-91 final and a total of 207.5.  The oddsmakers have failed to adjust enough for Game 4 with another 207-point total.  The UNDER is 7-1-1 in the last 9 meetings between the Jazz and Warriors.  They have combined for 205 or fewer points in 7 of those 9 meetings.  The UNDER is 25-8-2 in the last 35 meetings, including 11-4-1 in the last 16 meetings in Utah dating back further.  The UNDER is 20-5-1 in Warriors last 26 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.  The UNDER is 26-10 in Warriors last 36 road games.  The UNDER is 7-1-1 in Jazz last 9 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.  The UNDER is 10-2 in Jazz last 12 games following a double-digit loss at home.  Take the UNDER.

7* Celtics/Wizards Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 216

The Key: The Celtics and Wizards are getting more familiar with one another as this series goes on.  After two shootouts in Boston, these teams combined for just 205 points in Game 3 in Washington.  I think we see a similar result here with what's at stake, and especially now that the Wizards are without one of their biggest offensive weapons in Kelly Oubre in Game 4 due to suspension.  The UNDER is 13-3-2 in Celtics last 18 road games, including 5-0-1 in Celtics last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Wizards last 5 home games.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA 2nd Round Total of the Year on Warriors/Jazz UNDER 208

The Key: The UNDER is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings in this series.  The Warriors and Jazz have combined for 209 or fewer points in seven of those eight meetings, and 205 or fewer in six of them.  The Jazz play at the slowest tempo in the NBA, and they'll control the pace playing at home in Game 3.  The UNDER is 25-10 in Warriors last 35 road games.  The UNDER is 24-8-2 in the last 34 meetings, and 10-4-1 in the last 15 meetings in Utah.  Take the UNDER.

7* Spurs/Rockets Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -4.5

The Key: James Harden had one of his worst games of the season in Game 2 as he went just 3-for-17 from the field.  Don't expect another poor performance from him here in Game 3 as this series shifts to Houston.  This is where the Rockets take control of the series as they are clearly the better team.  The Spurs are now down their starting point guard in Tony Parker for the rest of the postseason.  They will be lost without him as Kawhi Leonard will have to take over more of the PG duties, which he's unaccustomed to.  Leonard has too much on his plate for the Spurs.  The Rockets are a complete team that can beat you with a number of different players.  Take Houston.

7* Jazz/Warriors Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Utah +12.5

The Key: Gordon Hayward was basically a no-show in Game 1 and the Utah Jazz still managed to cover the 13-point spread.  Expect a much better game from him here tonight after he went just 2-for-9 for 12 points in Game 1.  Utah is 75-49 ATS when revenging a loss vs. opponent over the last three seasons.  The Jazz are 6-0 ATS in their last six road games.  Utah is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 games when playing on one days rest.  Take Utah.

7* Raptors/Cavs Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto +7.5

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are tired of getting beat down in Cleveland.  They have lost their last four playoff games in Cleveland by an average of 25 points.  I think they come out with a chip on their shoulder tonight and play the Cavs close from start to finish.  They were at least competitive in Game 1, losing by 11 points.  They will stay within 7.5 tonight, possibly pulling off the upset.  Toronto is 10-2 ATS when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) this season.  The Raptors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games.  The Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.  The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Toronto.

7* Jazz/Warriors Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -12.5

The Key: Big advantage here for the Warriors in rest and preparation in Game 1.  The Warriors beat the Blazers in 4 games and have been off since April 24.  The Jazz needed 7 games to beat the Clippers and just wrapped up their series on Sunday.  Look for the Warriors to keep the foot on the gas in Game 1 and make a statement here.  The have had the Jazz number over the past couple seasons, going 6-1 SU & 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings at Golden State.  All 6 of those wins have come by at least 13 points, and that will get us a cover here in Game 1.  Take Golden State.

7* Raptors/Cavs Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto +7

The Key: The additions of Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker make the Raptors the biggest threats to beat the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.  They took the Cavs to 6 games last year and are capable of winning this series now.  The Cavs aren't as strong as they were a year ago, especially defensively as they ranked 22nd in efficiency during the regular season.  They gave up 111 points per 100 possessions against the Pacers last series.  While they swept the Pacers, that series was much closer than the sweep would suggest as all 4 games were decided by 6 points or less.  Ibaka and Tucker helped the Raptors limit the Bucks to just 93.2 points per game last series.  It's clear that they are by far the superior defensive team in this series.  Toronto is hitting its stride in winning its last three games over the Bucks by a combined 39 points despite playing two of those games on the road.  The Raptors are 10-1 ATS when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) this season.  The Cavaliers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.  Take Toronto.

7* Jazz/Clippers *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 191

The Key: The UNDER is 2-0 in the last two games of this series with combined scores of 188 and 191 points.  This comes as no surprise because as these teams get more familiar with one another, the harder it is to score points.  I think we'll see the lowest-scoring game of the series here in Game 7 Sunday with what is at stake.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Jazz last 5 road games.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 home games.  The UNDER is 17-5-1 in Clippers last 23 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  The UNDER is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Los Angeles.  Take the UNDER.

7* Celtics/Bulls Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -3

The Key: The Chicago Bulls haven't been the same since losing Rajon Rondo.  They are 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS in their last three games, getting outscored by a combined 37 points by the Celtics in the process.  They have been held to just 93.0 points per game without Rondo as well as their offense has stalled.  I think the Celtics close out the series here tonight, especially knowing that Isaiah Thomas and friends will be leaving for Washington for his sister's funeral after this game either way.  They'd rather not have the distraction of a Game 7 during the funeral, so they'll be 'all in' here to finish the deal.  Boston is 17-8 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 this season.  The Celtics are 17-8-2 ATS in their last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The favorite is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.  The road team is 4-1 ATS in this series.  Take Boston.

7* Raptors/Bucks Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -1

The Key: The Toronto Raptors play great with their backs against the wall.  They dug themselves out of a 2-1 deficit in this series to win the last two games.  But now that they know they have a home game in their back pocket for Game 7, they won't be nearly as hungry to win Game 6 tonight.  They just have a way of falling flat in games they don't need in the playoffs over the past two postseasons.  They were forced to go to Game 7 twice last year in the first two rounds.  Milwaukee is 8-0 ATS in home games off 2 straight losses by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Wizards/Hawks *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 213

The Key: The last 3 games in this series have finished right around this 213-point total.  They went for 210 points in Game 2, 214 in Game 3 and 212 in Game 4.  I expect the lowest-scoring game of the series tonight.  The more familiar teams become with one another, the harder it is to score.  The advantage goes to the defenses when they know what the opposing offenses are trying to do.  Atlanta is 9-0 UNDER in road games after 2 consecutive covers as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.  The UNDER is 8-0 in Hawks last 8 Wednesday games.  The UNDER is 11-4-1 in Hawks last 16 road games.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Washington.  Take the UNDER.

7* Thunder/Rockets Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City +7.5

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder have led 128 of 192 minutes in series but trail 3-1.  That's the most minutes any team has led in any series in postseason through four games.  They just haven't been able to finish game late.  And this has been a closely-contested series all season.  In fact, 6 of 8 meetings this season have been decided by 4 points or less.  Dating back further, 11 of the last 13 meetings have been decided by 8 points or fewer.  Expect a big effort from the Thunder with their season on the line.  It also helps that James Harden has a bum ankle and isn't 100%.  The Underdog is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.  Take Oklahoma City.

7* Bucks/Raptors Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +6

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks have been the better team in this series thus far.  They have outscored the Raptors by a combined 24 points through four games.  They played great in each of the first 3 games, but they committed an uncharacteristic 20 turnovers in Game 4 and lost by 11.  They are being undervalued now after that performance, and I look for them to possibly win this game outright, let alone stay within 6 points in Game 5.  Jason Kidd preached tempo after the Game 4 loss.  He said they were playing too slow, and that their energy level was too low.  Look for them to correct their mistakes and get back to playing the way they were when they took 2 of the first 3 games from the Raptors by a combined 35 points.  The Bucks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.  The Raptors are 8-22-1 ATS in their last 31 Conference Quarterfinals games.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Rockets/Thunder Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City -1

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder picked up a huge win in Game 3 as they breathed a huge sigh of relief after James Harden missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.  Now they have the confidence that they can beat the Rockets, and I think that carries over into Game 4 here.  The Thunder have some of the best home fans in the NBA, which has led to a 29-13 record on their home floor this season.  This is a very generous -1 price as a result.  The Thunder are 8-0 ATS in home games after a combined score of 215 points or more 2 straight games this season.  The Rockets are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games overall.  Take Oklahoma City.

7* Spurs/Grizzlies Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +5

The Key: Home-court advantage has meant everything when the Grizzlies and Spurs have gotten together this season.  In fact, the home team is a perfect 7-0 straight up in their 7 meetings this season.  I look for that to improve to 8-0 as the Grizzlies win outright tonight, so getting 5 points along with it is just an added bonus.  Take Memphis.

7* NBA 1st Round Game of the Year on Oklahoma City Thunder -2

The Key: It's now or never for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  They blew a 15-point lead in the 2nd half of Game 2 and lost to fall down 0-2 in this series.  They can't afford to go 0-3 or this series is over.  Look for them to play hungry tonight at home and to take this Game 3 from the Houston Rockets, who will relax after taking care of business at home.  The Thunder are 28-13 SU & 26-14-1 ATS at home this season.  OKC is 7-0 ATS in home games after allowing 115 points or more this season.  The Thunder are 13-2 ATS after having lost 3 of their last 4 games this season.  The Rockets are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games overall.  Take Oklahoma City.

7* NBA 1st Round Total of the Year on Cavs/Pacers OVER 210.5

The Key: The oddsmakers have failed to adjust this total high enough in Game 3 tonight despite the fact that the first two games in this series have gone well OVER the total.  In fact, the Cavs and Pacers have combined for at least 217 points in each of their last 5 meetings now dating back to the regular season.  Both teams play 'optional' defense this year and prefer to go small offensively, which is a recipe for overs.  The OVER is 20-5-1 in Cavaliers last 26 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.  The OVER is 30-12-1 in Cavaliers last 43 vs. Eastern Conference.  Cleveland is 32-12 OVER when the total is 210 to 219.5 this season.  Take the OVER.

7* Blazers/Warriors Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Portland +14

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers have gone 18-6 ATS in their last 24 games overall.  They have been undervalued down the stretch and continue to be in the postseason.  That's especially the case when you consider how tough they have played the Warriors, going 3-0 ATS in the last 3 meetings while losing by 2, 8 and 12 points.  Now Kevin Durant is dealing with a calf injury, and Shaun Livingston and Matt Barnes are also questionable with injuries.  I think the Blazers are live dogs tonight as they look to build on their 6-1 ATS run in road games.  Take Portland.