Sports Picks & Predictions

7* Bulls/Celtics TNT *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 206.5

The Key: The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics have been playing in some defensive battles of late.  They have combined for 208 or less points in each of their last 5 meetings.  Game 1 saw 208 combined points, but they went off in the final two minutes with fouls as the Celtics were mounting their comeback.  That isn't likely to happen again.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 games overall.  The UNDER is 22-7 in Bulls last 29 games when playing on 1 days rest.  The UNDER is 8-0 in Celtics last 8 home games against a team with a winning record.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.  Take the UNDER.

7* Grizzlies/Spurs NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +11

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies are a prideful team that won't go down without a fight.  They were swept by the Spurs in the playoffs last season and want revenge.  They played horrible in the 2nd half of Game 1 after it was close in the first half.  They'll come back swinging for the fences in Game 2 tonight.  The Grizzlies and Spurs split the season series 2-2 with the largest margin of victory by the Spurs of 7 points.  The Grizzlies actually outscored the Spurs by 10 points in their 4 meetings during the regular season.  Now they're catching a whopping 11 points in Game 2 tonight.  San Antonio is 0-7 ATS in home games off a win over a division opponent this season.  Take Memphis.

7* Blazers/Warriors NBA *Total* Annihilator on OVER 219.5

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are forced to go small ball with the injury to Jusuf Nurkic.  The Golden State Warriors prefer to play small ball and do for the majority of their games.  This Game 1 has the makings of an absolute shootout.  And the Blazers and Warriors are certainly used to shootouts.  In fact, each of the last 7 meetings in this series have seen at least 225 combined points.  That makes for a 7-0 angle backing the OVER when comparing it to the 219.5-point total in Game 1.  The OVER is 18-6 in the last 24 meetings.  Take the OVER.

7* Grizzlies/Spurs Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +9.5

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies want revenge on the Spurs from getting swept by them in the playoffs last year.  But the Grizzlies were banged up and playing without several key players, including Mike Conley.  Now they're almost fully healthy entering the playoffs with the exception of Tony Allen, but he is at the end of his career and won't be missed much.  The Grizzlies limped in to the postseason because they were locked in to the No. 7 seed down the stretch, so they were more worried about getting healthy.  Now I think you see them play their best basketball in the postseason, starting with Game 1 tonight.  The Grizzlies went 2-2 against the Spurs this season with the home team winning all 4 meetings.  But the Grizzlies only lost by 6 and 7 points in their 2 meetings in San Antonio.  Memphis is 14-6 ATS as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  The Spurs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.  The Grizzlies are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  Take Memphis.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston Celtics -14

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks are locked in to the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference.  As a result, they have decided to rest all of their starters tonight in Giannis Anetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Tony Snell and Matthew Delavedova.  They clearly don't care about this game.  Boston can clinch the 1st seed in the East with a win, so this is a huge game for the Celtics.  Bets against road dogs of 10 or more points after allowing 90 points or less in 2 straight games against opponent after allowing 105 points or more are 26-5 ATS since 1996.  This is a big number for a reason, but it's not big enough tonight.  Take Boston.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles Lakers -2.5

The Key: The Los Angeles Lakers are finishing strong despite cries from their fans to tank it.  The have covered the spread in 5 straight while winning 4 straight outright.  Now they'll only 2.5-point home favorites against a New Orleans Pelicans team that is tanking, going 0-4 SU & 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.  That is clear by the fact that they are sitting both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.  The Pelicans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.  The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.  Take Los Angeles.

7* NBA Eastern Conference Game of the Month on Indiana Pacers -8.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are on the brink of clinching a playoff spot.  They've done so by winning three straight games games by at least 15 points each over the Raptors, Bucks and Magic.  They are also 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.  This is a team that nobody wants to face right now.  The 76ers are a team that everyone wants to face.  They are 0-6 SU & 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games coming in and have rarely been competitive.  Their laundry list of injuries has something to do with it, but they also don't want to hurt their chances of a better draft pick.  The Pacers have owned the 76ers by going 7-1 SU & 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  In fact, 6 of those wins have come by at least 11 points.  Take Indiana.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Phoenix Suns -2.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks have clearly given up at the end of the season.  They are without Harrison Barnes, Jose Barea and Seth Curry today.  They are just 1-7 in their last 8 games overall coming in.  The Suns have gone a profitable 5-3 ATS in their last 8 games as they have remained competitive.  They just blasted Russell Westbrook and the Thunder 120-99 at home.  This young team is looking to finish strong.  The Mavericks are just 11-28 on the road this season and getting too much respect from oddsmakers here given their situation.  Take Phoenix.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Indiana Pacers -4.5

The Key: The signing of Lance Stephenson has really given the Pacers a spark.  They have played two of their best games of the season coming in, beating the Raptors 108-90 and the Bucks 104-89.  Of course, they are clinging on to the 8th seed in the East, just one game ahead of the Miami Heat.  That has them playing hungry basketball right now.  The same cannot be said for the Orlando Magic, who are 1-5 in their last 6 games with their only win coming at home against the league-worst Brooklyn Nets.  The Pacers are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in their last 3 meetings with Orlando, winning by 10, 13 and 19 points, all of which have come this season.  Look for that domination to continue tonight as the Pacers get the win and cover.  The Magic are 11-25-1 ATS in their last 37 home games.  The Pacers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 trips to Orlando.  Take Indiana.

7* NBA Situational Game of the Month on Utah Jazz -9.5

The Key: The Utah Jazz have gone 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as they try and secure the 4th seed in the West and home court in the first round.  They're up against a Timberwolves team that are just 3-9 SU & 3-9 ATS in their last 12 contests.  I like this spot for the Jazz, who have had 2 days off coming in.  The Timberwolves won't have anything left in the tank as this will be their 4th game in 5 days.  Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns rank in the Top 10 in minutes played this season and have to be wearing down right now.  The Timberwolves are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 road games, while the Jazz are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Take Utah.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Chicago Bulls -5.5

The Key: The Chicago Bulls are hungry to make the playoffs.  They are in a 3-way tie at 38-40 on the season with the Pacers and Heat, and only two of them can make the postseason.  The Bulls have gone 4-1 in their last 5 games coming in and are playing well.  The 76ers are in full-blown tank mode right now to try and get a better pick in the draft.  They have lost 4 straight, including a 23-point home loss to the Nets last time out in which they gave up a ridiculous 141 points.  They are essentially playing with 7 players right now due to all of their injuries to the likes of Robert Covington, Jahlil Okafor and Sergio Rodriquez.  Bets against home teams who are coming off a blowout home loss by 20 points or more in April games are 39-11 ATS since 1996.  The Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss. Take Chicago.

7* Cavs/Celtics ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -4

The Key: This game tonight is essentially for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.  It will be a rowdy atmosphere in Boston as they know that a win tonight will give them the best chance to make the NBA Finals.  The Celtics are 6-1 in their last 7 games overall, while the Cavs have struggled down the stretch.  And the spot couldn't be better for the Celtics.  They come in on 2 days' rest having last played on Sunday, while the Cavs will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days.  Cleveland is 1-9 ATS in road games when playing the 2nd of a back-to-back this season.  The Cavs are 0-7 ATS in road games off two or more consecutive home wins this season.  Take Boston.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Brooklyn Nets -1

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are back in tank mode with three straight losses coming in by 7 points or more.  They have a laundry list of injuries right now with Robert Covington, Jahlil Okafor, Sergio Rodriquez, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Jerryd Bayless all out.  The 76ers would do themselves a favor by continuing to lose to increase their chance of a better draft pick.  It doesn't matter for the Nets because they already have to swap first-round picks with the Celtics, so they are continuing to try to win games.  And they're playing their best basketball of the season as a result, going 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games overall.  They have won 5 of their last 8 games outright.  Bets on favorites revenging 2 consecutive straight up losses to opponent as a favorite, off 2 or more consecutive home wins are 52-19 ATS since 1996.  Take Brooklyn.

7* UNC/Gonzaga *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 155

The Key: While most believe that guard play is the key to making a run in the NCAA Tournament, both UNC and Gonzaga have shown that good old-fashioned big men can get the job done, too.  And these two teams have tremendous big men who have dominated on the boards to help their teams reach this level.  I think there will be fewer second-chance opportunities than normal for both of these teams, and thus scoring will be very hard to come by.  Gonzaga ranks 1st in the country in defensive efficiency.  UNC hasn't been the same offensively since PG Joel Berry suffered an ankle injury, and he struggled in the Final Four.  UNC is 6-0 UNDER vs. teams who allow 64 or fewer points per game this season.  Gonzaga is 10-1 UNDER vs. dominant rebounding teams who outrebound opponents by 7 or more boards per game over the last 2 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

7* Wizards/Warriors NBA *BAILOUT* on UNDER 222.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors have been an UNDER machine since losing Kevin Durant.  They are 17-2 to the UNDER in their last 19 games overall.  The oddsmakers continue to set their totals too high, which is the case again here tonight against the Wizards with a 222.5-point total.  The UNDER is 10-1 in Warriors last 11 home games.  The UNDER is 71-34-1 in Warriors last 106 Sunday games, including 8-1 on Sunday's this season.  The UNDER is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Golden State.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Brooklyn Nets -2.5

The Key: The Orlando Magic are in a very difficult spot here.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days.  They went to overtime against the Thunder and lost on Wednesday, and then last night they lost 116-117 in heartbreaking fashion at Boston.  After losing to both those playoff teams, the Magic will have a hard time getting motivated to face a Brooklyn Nets squad that holds the worst record in the league.  But the Nets continue to fight as they are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games overall.  Orlando is 1-10 ATS versus teams who allow 106 or more points per game in the 2nd half of the season this season.  The Nets are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.  Take Brooklyn.

7* South Carolina/Gonzaga *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 138

The Key: Amazingly, we are getting the No. 1 (Gonzaga) and No. 2 (South Carolina) teams in defensive efficiency in the entire country matched up today in the Final Four.  Both teams really get after it on that end and don't give up easy buckets.  That's why it is easy to see why I'm on the UNDER in this matchup.  South Carolina is 19-6 UNDER in its last 25 neutral court games with a total of 130 to 139.5.  The UNDER is 25-8-1 in Gamecocks last 34 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.  The UNDER is Under is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.  The UNDER is 20-8 in Bulldogs last 28 non-conference games.  Take the UNDER.

7* Rockets/Warriors ESPN *BAILOUT* on UNDER 231

The Key: The UNDER is 16-2 in Warriors last 18 games overall.  It would be 17-1 against the opening lines as the Spurs/Warriors game was bet down to 207.5 and finished 208 from an opener of 209.5.  The Warriors just aren't the same offensive juggernaut without Kevin Durant, but they key has been an emphasis on defense as they've held 7 of their last 8 opponents to 100 points or fewer.  These Rockets and Warriors just played on Tuesday with Golden State winning 113-106 for 219 combined points.  I think we see a similar result here as this game stays well UNDER 231 combined points.  The UNDER is 7-1-1 in Rockets last 98 road games.  The UNDER is 7-0 in Warriors last 7 home games.  Take the UNDER.

7* Cavs/Bulls TNT *HEAVY HITTER* on Chicago +6

The Key: The Chicago Bulls have actually gone 18-0 in their last 18 Thursday TNT home games.  They haven't lost since 2013 in this spot.  And they are going to be hungry for a win here tonight to close in on the Pacers and Heat for one of the final two playoff spots in the East as they are 1.5 games behind both.  The Cavs aren't playing well enough to warrant being 6-point road chalk here.  They are just 7-10 SU & 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.  The Bulls have had 3 days off since winning 109-104 at Milwaukee on Sunday.  They are 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings with the Cavs, winning the last two by double-digits both on the road.  Cleveland is 1-9 ATS after scoring 85 points or less over the last 2 seasons.  The Cavaliers are 16-33-2 ATS in their last 51 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.  The Cavaliers are 7-22 ATS in the last 29 meetings.  Take Chicago.

7* Wizards/Clippers Non-Conference *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -6

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers blew an 18-point lead with 5 minutes to go in their last game against the Kings on Sunday and lost 97-98.  They are going to want to wipe that bad taste out of their mouths here against the Wizards.  And they've had two days off since that game, while the Wizards will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after using a ton of energy to come back from 13 points down in the 4th quarter to beat the Lakers last night.  The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Los Angeles.

6* TCU/UCF NIT *CA$H COW* on TCU -2.5

The Key: The TCU Horned Frogs have been impressive in reaching the NIT semifinals.  They beat Fresno by 7 and Richmond by 18 at home, and pulled off the upset at Iowa 94-92 in overtime.  UCF won by 5 over Colorado, by 1 at Illinois State and by 10 over Illinois.  They needed a miracle comeback to beat Illinois State and a fluke foul call in the closing seconds.  The Horned Frogs are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games.  That includes an upset win over Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament.  Take TCU.

7* Warriors/Rockets Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston -1

The Key: The Houston Rockets are in a very favorable scheduling spot here.  They will be playing just their 4th game in 10 days with each of their previous three games being at home.  They have won 4 straight and 7 of their last 8 coming in, and now they're ready to show the Golden State Warriors that they are for real.  The Warriors have been feasting on an easy schedule during their 7-game winning streak, which has them getting too much respect from the books.  But now they take a big step up in class here tonight.  The Warriors are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games.  The Rockets are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 vs. NBA Pacific foes.  Take Houston.

7* Pelicans/Jazz TNT *BAILOUT* on Utah -7

The Key: The Utah Jazz have lost 4 out of 5, which will have them hungry coming into this game against the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.  This will be just the 2nd game in 5 days for the Jazz, so they'll be fresh and ready to go.  The same cannot be said for the Pelicans, who will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days.  Playing in the altitude in Denver last night is sure to take even more out of the Pelicans than normal.  And they could be without DeMarcus Cousins tonight.  The Pelicans are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on no rest.  Take Utah.

6* Blazers/Lakers NBA *BAILOUT* on Portland -6.5

The Key: The Los Angeles Lakers are clearly trying to tank so they can keep their Top 3 protected pick.  They are 2-14 in their last 16 games overall with numerous blowouts along the way.  The Blazers have fought their way back into playoff contention as they trail the Nuggets by just one game for the 8th seed.  They've done so by going 10-3 SU & 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall.  The Blazers are 11-2 ATS in road games off two or more consecutive home wins over the last 3 seasons.  Portland is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 road games.  The Lakers are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall.  The Lakers are 15-36-1 ATS in their last 52 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.  Take Portland.

7* NCAA Tournament Total of the Year on Kentucky/UNC UNDER 161

The Key: This 161-point total is one of the highest of the big dance thus far.  These teams played a 203-point shootout back in December which is a big reason for it.  But the stakes are much higher now with a trip to the Final Four on the line.  I think both teams will play tight, and this will be much more of a half-court game than oddsmakers are anticipating.  The Wildcats have been awesome defensively during their 14-game winning streak.  They UNDER is 9-1 in their last 10 games overall.  The UNDER is 7-0 in Wildcats last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take the UNDER.

7* Xavier/Gonzaga Elite 8 Game of the Year on Xavier +8.5

The Key: The Xavier Musketeers are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS with three outright upsets over Maryland, Florida State and Arizona.  They have had the much more difficult path to the Elite 8 than Gonzaga, which has gone 0-2-1 ATS in its three games against South Dakota State, Northwestern and West Virginia.  The Bulldogs are once again laying too big of a number here as 8.5-point favorites over the Musketeers.  The Musketeers are 24-5-1 ATS in their last 30 NCAA Tournament games.  Xavier is 7-0 ATS in its last 7 games overall.  The Musketeers are 8-1 ATS in all neutral court games this season.  Take Xavier.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Indiana Pacers -1

The Key: The Denver Nuggets are coming off a 4-game stretch in which they faced the Clippers, Rockets (twice) and Cavaliers.  Coming off their huge win over Cleveland, this is the perfect letdown spot for them.  Now they're up against an Indiana team that simply doesn't lose at home, going 25-10 at home this season.  The Pacers are a perfect 7-0 SU & 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a loss.  They have alternated wins and losses dating back to the All-Star Break, and coming off a loss, this is a good situation to back them.  The home team is 7-1 SU in the last 8 meetings.  Take Indiana.

7* Butler/UNC Sweet 16 *HEAVY HITTER* on Butler +7

The Key: The Butler Bulldogs are one of the most under-appreciated teams left in the tournament.  They have cruised to victories over Winthrop and Middle Tennessee.  And now they have the goods to give UNC a run for its money today.  The Tar Heels were fortunate to close on a 12-0 run to beat Arkansas after trailing by 5 late last round.  Butler won't go down without a fight today.  The Bulldogs are 20-4-2 ATS in their last 26 NCAA Tournament games.  Butler is 39-10-2 ATS in its last 51 neutral site games.  The Bulldogs are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 vs. ACC opponents.  The ACC teams got 9 teams into the tournament, and there is only one left in the Sweet 16.  That says a lot about how overrated the conference is as a whole, including UNC.  Take Butler.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Miami Heat -4.5

The Key: The Miami Heat continue to lack the respect they deserve from oddsmakers despite going 34-16-1 ATS in their last 51 games overall.  The Heat are also 38-18-1 ATS in their last 57 home games.  The Raptors are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a win.  Toronto will be without two starters tonight in Kyle Lowry (injury) and Serge Ibaka (suspension).  The Raptors are also coming off a taxing 122-120 overtime win over the Bulls two nights ago.  The Heat are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.  Take Miami.

7* Michigan/Oregon Sweet 16 *HEAVY HITTER* on Oregon +2

The Key: The Michigan Wolverines have squeaked by by a combined 5 points in wins over Oklahoma State and Louisville to open the NCAA Tournament.  I think their run comes to an end now.  Just think what this line would have been prior to the NCAA Tournament.  Oregon probably would have been a 5-point favorite, but since Michigan is the 'flavor of the month' right now, it is actually a 2-point favorite.  I think it's clear that the books have the wrong team favored because they are over-adjusting for the betting public being all over Michigan.  Oregon is hitting on all cylinders offensively, and it is 9-1 ATS after scoring 75 points or more in 3 straight games this season.  The Ducks are 10-1 ATS versus teams who make 48% or more of their shots over the last 2 seasons.  Take Oregon.

7* Hawks/Wizards ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington -7

The Key: The Washington Wizards come in hungry for a victory after losing two straight and four of their last five.  Now they host an Atlanta Hawks team that is struggling even worse, going 0-4 SU & 0-4 ATS in thier last four games overall, losing by 8, 12, 16 and 15 points.  And the Hawks are without two starters tonight in Paul Millsap and Kent Bazemore.  I don't give them much of a chance of hanging with the Wizards as a result.  The Hawks are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.  Take Washington.

7* NBA Situational Game of the Month on Dallas Mavericks +5.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks are 8-4 SU & 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games overall.  They are still trying to earn a playoff spot in the West and continue to fight.  Now they catch the Golden State Warriors in a good spot.  The Warriors will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after winning in Oklahoma City last night.  Look for Steve Kerr to limit his star players' minutes here.  The Warriors are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 0 days rest.  The Warriors are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.  The Mavericks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Dallas is 14-3 ATS in its last 17 home games.  The Mavericks are 21-7 ATS revenging a same season loss this season.  Take Dallas.

7* Bakersfield/Colorado State NIT *BAILOUT* on Colorado State -4.5

The Key: The Colorado State Rams are taking the NIT seriously and will certainly be motivated to get to Madison Square Garden.  They beat a solid College of Charleston team 81-74 in the opener, improving to 15-4 at home this season.  Bakersfield took advantage of a California team that did not want to be in the NIT, and head coach Cuonzo Martin was out and left for Missouri shortly after.  The Golden Bears were disinterested, and Bakersfield wanted that game more.  That won't be the case tonight.  The Rams are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall.  The Rams are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.  Take Colorado State.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Denver Nuggets +9

The Key: The Denver Nuggets will be hungry for revenge from a 105-109 home loss to Houston on Saturday night.  Now they get their shot at the Rockets just two days later and are catching a whopping 9 points in the rematch.  The Nuggets are 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games with all four of their wins coming by 13 points or more.  Denver is 6-0 ATS in its last six Monday games.  Houston is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games following an ATS win.  Take Denver.

7* USC/Baylor *HEAVY HITTER* on USC +6

The Key: The USC Trojans feel invincible right now.  They have erased back-to-back double-digit leads to beat both Providence and SMU.  Now they'll be brimming with confidence as they head into this matchup against Baylor.  And I like the matchup for USC, which has several deadly 3-point shooters that can shoot over the top of the Bears' zone defense.  Baylor is 4-15 ATS in its last 19 games off a cover a double-digit favorite.  The Trojans are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 non-conference games.  The Trojans are 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. Big 12 opponents.  Take USC.

6* Sunday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Suns/Pistons UNDER 212

The Key: The Phoenix Suns are completely depleted right now.  They are without two of their best guards in Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight.  Both Tyson Chandler and Dragan Bender are out for the season as well, while Devin Booker and Leandro Barbosa are battling injuries themselves.  It's no surprise that the UNDER is 5-0 in Suns' last five games coming in.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Pistons' last five games as well.  They have been held to just 84.7 points per game in their last three games.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Pistons last five home games.  Take the UNDER.

7* East Region Game of the Year on Florida -2

The Key: The Virginia Cavaliers were fortunate to survive a 76-71 scare from UNC-Wilmington in the first round.  They trailed by as many as 14 in that game, which just goes to show how poor they have been playing.  Offensively, they are as challenged as they've ever been.  Now they'll be up against one of the best defensive teams in the country in Florida, which allows 9 fewer points per game than its opponents average on the season.  The Gators are clearly the stronger offensive squad here averaging 78.3 points per game on the season, while the Cavaliers average just 66.9.  We are getting the much better team as only a 2-point favorite and one that will have a home-court edge as this game is being played in Orlando, Florida.  Sign me up.  The Gators are 8-2 ATS when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%) this season.  The Gators are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.  Take Florida.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Oklahoma City Thunder -12.5

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder certainly won the trade deadline when they traded for Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott.  These two are starting to gel with their new teammates as the Thunder have gone 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games, winning by 10 against San Antonio, 8 against Utah, 18 at Brooklyn and 21 at Toronto.  Now they play arguably the least-talented team in the entire NBA in the Sacramento Kings without DeMarcus Cousins.  The Kings have won back-to-back games against disinterested Orlando and Phoenix, which has them overvalued coming into this game.  The Thunder will put them away early and hold on for the cover with ease as 12.5-point favorites here.  OKC is 25-9 SU & 23-10 ATS at home this season.  The Thunder are 7-0 ATS in home games after a combined score of 215 points or more 2 straight games this season.  The Kings are 25-55-2 ATS in their last 82 games playing on 2 days rest.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* Wisconsin/Villanova *CA$H COW* on Villanova -5.5

The Key: The Wisconsin Badgers were fortunate to survive against VA Tech in the opener in what was a much closer game than the 84-74 final showed.  The Hokies are defensively-challenged and were way undersized.  But the Badgers won't have that same edge here.  They'll be up against arguably the best team in the country in defending national champion Villanova.  The Wildcats get after it defensively, holding opponents to just 62.6 points per game, which is 11 points per game than their opponents average on the season.  Bronson Koenig made 8 3-pointers against VA Tech and the Badgers were still in a dogfight.  He'll need more heroics if they are to be competitive against Villanova, and I'm just not seeing it.  The Wildcats are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 vs. Big Ten foes.  Take Villanova.

7* NKU/Kentucky South Region *BAILOUT* on Kentucky -20

The Key: Northern Kentucky took advantage of an easy path in the Horizon League Tournament to make the Big Dance.  Valparaiso, without its best player in Alec Peters, was upset by Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Oakland was upset by Youngstown State.  That left NKU playing 11-win Milwaukee in the championship game.  NKU did not far well in non-conference play, losing by 15 at Illinois and by 31 at WVU.  I think they get their doors blown off here by Kentucky in what will be a Wildcat-heavy fan base in Indianapolis.  The Wildcats are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 neutral site games as a favorite.  Take Kentucky.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Miami Heat -4.5

The Key: The Miami Heat continue to get no respect in the market place despite the tremendous run they've been on.  They are 22-5 SU & 23-4 ATS in their last 27 games overall.  They have covered six straight coming in.  They will be playing just their 2nd game in 5 days here and will be fresh and ready to go.  The Timberwolves will be playing their 5th game in 8 days.  They are 0-3 SU & 1-2 ATS in their last 3 road games, losing by 7 at San Antonio, by 7 at Milwaukee and by 13 at Boston.  The Timberwolves are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 vs. Eastern Conference opponents.  The Heat are 11-1-1 ATS in their last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.  Take Miami.

6* USC/SMU East Region *CA$H COW* on SMU -6.5

The Key: The SMU Mustangs are 26-1 SU & 20-5-1 ATS in their last 27 games overall.  One of their early-season losses came at USC, and now they'll be out for revenge in the rematch in the NCAA Tournament.  USC played late Wednesday night and used a lot of effort in coming back from 17 points down to beat Providence.  Now the Trojans have to play this afternoon just 1.5 days later and make the trip from Dayton to Tulsa.  The Mustangs are at a huge advantage here in rest and preparation and should roll Friday.  Take SMU.

6* FGC/FSU NCAAB *BAILOUT* on Florida Gulf Coast +12

The Key: The Florida State Seminoles went 18-0 at home this season, but it has been a different story on the road. The Seminoles are just 7-8 SU & 5-10 ATS in all games played away from home this year.  Florida Gulf Coast could take advantage of that inconsistency and pull off the upset here.  The Eagles actually play defense, giving up just 68.8 points per game on 42.1% shooting against opponents that average 74.5 points per game and 44.3% shooting.  They can fill it up offensively, too, averaging 79.4 points per game on 50.3% shooting.  FGC only lost 72-81 at Baylor and 77-78 at Michigan State in non-conference play, proving it could play with a couple of great Power 5 programs. The Eagles are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog of 10 or more points.  The Eagles are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 neutral site games.  The Eagles are 30-9-1 ATS in their last 40 games overall.  The Seminoles are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.  Take Florida Gulf Coast.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Toronto Raptors -2.5

The Key: I like this short price for the Raptors at home here Thursday.  They will be playing just their 2nd game in 5 days after having the past two days off following a 100-78 beat down of the Mavericks on Monday.  The Raptors are 22-11 at home this season, while the Thunder are just 13-20 SU & 14-19 ATS on the road.  Oklahoma City is 2-10 ATS in road games versus good offensive teams who score 106-plus points per game this season.  The Raptors are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 2 days rest.  The Thunder are 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings.  Take Toronto.

7* Thursday NCAAB *HEAVY HITTER* on Winthrop +11.5

The Key: Wintrhop has a legit chance to knock off Butler today.  The Eagles are 26-6 this season with competitive road losses at Dayton and Florida State, and an upset win at Illinois in non-conference.  Winthrop is 22-3 in its last 25 games with its three losses coming by 2, 3 and 3 points.  Butler isn't exactly hitting on all cylinders heading into the NCAA Tournament with back-to-back upset road losses to Seton Hall as 8.5-point favorites and Xavier as 6.5-point favorites.  The Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.  Take Winthrop.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Dallas Mavericks +7

The Key: The Washington Wizards return home following a 5-game road trip.  I always like fading teams who are coming off a long road trip because there are so many distractions at home when they get back.  And the Wizards will also be playing their 6th game in 9 days here, so they are running on fumes.  The Mavericks have had the Wizards' number, going 12-1 SU in the last 13 meetings, and 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  Take Dallas.

7* NC Central/UC-Davis First Four *HEAVY HITTER* on UC-Davis +3.5

The Key: It's pretty clear to me that the wrong team is favored in this First Four showdown.  Cal Davis played the much tougher non-conference schedule and actually held up pretty well.  They also play in the tougher conference.  NC Central only played one NCAA Tournament team in non-conference play, which was Northern Kentucky.  Cal Davis is 10-1 ATS off 3 or more consecutive unders over the last 2 seasons.  Davis is 9-1 ATS versus teams who make 45% or more of their shots after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.  Take UC-Davis.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -4

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans will be fresh tonight.  This will be just their 2nd game in 6 days.  The Portland Trail Blazers will be playing their 3rd game in 4 days.  The Pelicans have gone 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.  Home-court advantage has been big in this series as the home team is 6-1 SU & 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.  Take New Orleans.

7* NIT *HEAVY HITTER* on Oakland +11

The Key: Oakland hung tough in non-conference play this season.  It lost to Nevada 78-82, and Nevada is an NCAA Tournament team.  It lost at Michigan State by 12, and upset Georgia 86-79 at home.  Clemson also beat Georgia 74-64 at home for a common opponent.  I think the Golden Grizzlies are good enough to stay within double-digits of the Tigers tonight.  The Golden Grizzlies are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog.  Oakland is 24-8-1 ATS in their last 33 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  Take Oakland.

7* NBA Total of the Month on Clippers/Jazz UNDER 201.5

The Key: You don't have to dig too deep to find that this total has been inflated.  Just look at the first two meetings of the season between the Jazz and Clippers.  The Clippers won both meetings, 88-75 at home for 163 combined points, and 88-72 on the road for 160 combined points.  Now the total has been set at 201.5 for the 3rd meeting here tonight.  The Jazz only allow 93.9 points per game at home this season and play at the slowest pace in the NBA.  They will control the tempo at home tonight.  The Clippers are 8-1 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) this season.  The UNDER is 16-5 in Jazz last 21 games following a loss.  Take the UNDER.

6* Cavs/Rockets ESPN *CA$H COW* on Houston -6

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days here.  The had to fly to Detroit, Orlando and now Houston over this span.  The Cavaliers have not hesitated to rest starters in these situations, and we may catch a break and have them rest either Lebron or Kyrie, or both.  Either way, I still like the Rockets here because they had yesterday off.  And the Cavaliers are 0-8 ATS in road games when playing back-to-back days this season.  They are also 1-10 ATS in their last 11 meetings in Houston.  Take Houston.

7* Cincinnati/SMU AAC *HEAVY HITTER* on Cincinnati +2

The Key: The Cincinnati Bearcats are 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall with four straight double-digit victories.  They are hitting on all cylinders right now and will be hungry to avenge their 51-60 loss at SMU in their last meeting.  I haven't been all that impressed with SMU in the tournament thus far as they only beat ECU 81-77 as 19-point favorites and pulled away late for a 70-59 win over UCF.  I think the Bearcats want this one more.  The Mustangs are 16-35-1 ATS in their last 52 neutral site games, and 8-21-1 ATS in their last 30 neutral site games as a favorite.  Take Cincinnati.

7* Pac-12 Tournament Game of the Year on Oregon -2

The Key: The Oregon Ducks played before the Arizona Wildcats yesterday.  Arizona played the late game against UCLA and will be the more fatigued team here.  Oregon handed Arizona its worse loss of the season, an 85-58 beat down in Eugene in their lone meeting.  Now the Ducks are only 2-point favorites in the rematch.  And the Ducks will be motivated here because a win would possibly get them a No. 1 seed, which would keep them in the West for the NCAA Tournament.  Oregon is 8-0 ATS vs. teams who are called for 17 or fewer fouls per game this season.  Arizona is 1-12 ATS vs. good rebounding teams who outrebound their opponents by 4-plus boards per game after 15-plus games over the past two seasons.  Take Oregon.

6* Wizards/Blazers NBA *BAILOUT* on Portland -4.5

The Key: The Washington Wizards have to be out of gas.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, their 4th road game in 5 days, and their 8th game in 12 days overall.  The Portland Trail Blazers will take advantage and run them out of the gym tonight.  This will be just the 3rd game in 7 days for the Blazers.  They are coming on strong in going 4-0 SU & 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.  Washington is 31-54 ATS in its last 85 when playing its 3rd game in 4 days.  The home team is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.  The Wizards are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 trips to Portland.  Take Portland.

6* AAC Tournament *CA$H COW* on UCF +8.5

The Key: UCF has now won six straight games to improve to 21-10 on the season.  This is clearly one of the most underrated teams in the country.  I cashed in the Knights -2 yesterday in an 84-54 beat down of Memphis.  Now they have their sights set on upsetting the No. 1 seed in SMU, which only won 81-77 over ECU as 19-point favorites yesterday and doesn't seem to be taking this AAC Tournament too seriously.  The Mustangs can afford a loss and are still in the NCAA Tournament, while UCF is playing for its season.  The Knights are 6-0 ATS in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.  The Knights are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.  The Mustangs are 7-21-1 ATS in their last 29 neutral site games as a favorite.  Take UCF.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings +8

The Key: The home team has dominated this series between Washington and Sacramento.  In fact, the home team has not only gone 7-0 straight up in the last 7 meetings, but also 7-0 against the spread.  And the Wizards haven't done well in the road favorite role, either.  Washington is 0-7 against the spread in its last 7 road games when facing a team with a losing home record.  Take Sacramento.

6* SEC Tournament *CA$H COW* on Arkansas -4.5

The Key: Arkansas has the advantage of not playing yesterday and this being their first game of the SEC Tournament.  Ole Miss didn't get that same luxury as they had to play yesterday in an 86-74 win over lowly Missouri.  The Razorbacks keep coming out you with their pressing, attacking style, which is going to make their rest advantage even greater here today.  Arkansas beat Ole Miss 98-80 at home in their lone meeting this season.  Ole Miss is 1-7 ATS off two straight ATS wins this season.  The Razorbacks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall, including 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.  Take Arkansas.

7* AAC Tournament Game of the Year on UCF -2

The Key: UCF won 5 straight games to close out the regular season and improve to 20-10 on the year.  This is one of the most underrated teams in the country.  And based off their first two meetings with Memphis this season, the Knights are clearly the superior team.  They only lost 70-65 at Memphis, but got their revenge with a 72-57 blowout home victory.  The Tigers are 0-6 ATS vs. teams who outrebound their opponents by at least 7 boards per game over the past 2 seasons.  Take UCF.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Memphis Grizzlies -2.5

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies are hungry for a victory after losing 3 in a row coming into this game.  Now they've had two days off since their upset home loss to Brooklyn on Monday.  The Clippers don't have the same luxury.  They'll be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days here.  This situation couldn't favor the Grizzlies more, and I expect them to roll at home tonight.  The Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 0 days rest.  The Grizzlies are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.  The Grizzlies are 13-5 ATS in the last 18 meetings.  Take Memphis.

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

The Key: Iowa has fought its way into the NCAA Tournament discussion by going 4-0 in its final 4 games of the regular season.  The Hawkeyes have added huge upset road wins over Maryland and Wisconsin to their resume during this stretch.  Now they need a win over Indiana to get in, and that shouldn't be too hard considering the Hoosiers have won just 3 of their last 11 games overall.  The Hawkeyes are 17-7 ATS in the last 24 meetings, which includes a 96-90 win over Indiana this season.  Take Iowa.

7* Conference USA Game of the Year on UTEP +1.5

The Key: The UTEP Miners have quietly gone 12-2 SU & 12-1-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall after losing 12 in a row prior to this streak.  Tim Floyd may be doing the best coaching job in the country.  Now the Miners are underdogs to a Rice team that they beat 79-71 as 8-point road dogs during this streak.  The Miners are 12-0 ATS in their last 12 games overall and will cover their 13th straight game here this afternoon.  Take UTEP.

6* Big East Tournament *CA$H COW* on DePaul +10

The Key: This is a rematch from the final game of the regular season in which Xavier beat DePalu 79-65 on the road.  The Musketeers also won 72-61 at home over the Blue Demons in their previous home meeting.  So the Blue Demons have at least been competitive in this series this season, and I think they stay within double-digits in the 3rd meeting in the Big East Tournament.  Xavier had lost 6 straight prior to that win over DePaul.  And the Musketeers are just 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games overall.  DePaul is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 contests.  DePaul is 7-1 ATS off a loss by 10 points or more to a conference opponent this season.  Xavier is 1-10 ATS off a road game this season.  Take DePaul.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Houston Rockets -7

The Key: The Utah Jazz are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.  They lost by 27 at home to Minnesota, only won by 1 at Sacramento and narrowly beat the Pelicans by 5 at home.  They also lost by 3 at Oklahoma City and beat lowly Brooklyn by 15 at home.  This team is not playing well at all right now, and now they have to take a step up in class and face the Rockets.  The Jazz have some serious injury concerns as both Derrick Favors and Shelvin Mack are out, while George Hill and Joe Johnson are questionable.  Utah is 0-7 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  It is losing by 11.1 points per game on average in this situation.  Take Houston.

7* Pistons/Pacers ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Indiana -4

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are 21-10 at home this season and own one of the better home-court advantages in the NBA.  The Detroit Pistons are just 11-20 SU & 12-19 ATS on the road this season.  I think this is a very short price to be laying with the Pacers tonight.  The Pacers own the Pistons, going a perfect 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  They won 105-84 in their lone home meeting with the Pistons this season.  Look for them to win and cover their 6th in a row against Detroit.  Take Indiana.

7* St. Mary's/Gonzaga ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on St. Mary's +5.5

The Key: The St. Mary's Gaels want revenge on Gonzaga after losing the first two meetings of the season to the Bulldogs.  I think they get that revenge in the WCC Championship Game tonight as 5.5-point dogs.  It's tough to beat a team three times, and the Gaels have been playing their best basketball coming in.  They are 6-0 SU & 4-0-2 ATS in their last six games overall.  They have won all six games by at least 13 points, including a 23-point win over Portland and a 31-point win over BYU in their first two games of this conference tournament.  That's the same BYU team that just recently upset Gonzaga 79-71 as 20.5-point dogs on the road.  The Bulldogs only won 77-68 over Santa Clara as 23.5-point favorites in the semifinals.  Take St. Mary's.

6* BYU/St. Mary's ESPN 2 *BAILOUT* on St. Mary's -7

The Key: St. Mary's has dominated BYU in both meetings this season, winning by 13 points at home and by 13 points on the road.  They were up by 25 at BYU in the second half on February 18th before taking their foot off the gas late.  Now they are only being asked to lay 7 points in the WCC Tournament semifinal.  The Gaels will be focused for this game as they desperately want a rematch with Gonzaga in the Championship Game.  They have gone 12-1 SU & 9-3 ATS in all road games this season.  The Cougars are 4-25 ATS in their last 29 neutral site games as an underdog.  The Gaels are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.  Take St. Mary's.

7* NBA Western Conference Total of the Year on Rockets/Spurs UNDER 222

The Key: Oddsmakers have really inflated this total tonight between the Rockets and Spurs when you consider how the first 3 meetings this season went down.  The UNDER is 3-0 in the first 3 meetings with combined scores of 200, 206 and 202 points.  The highest total set for any of those games was 213.5, and now the total has been set all the way up at 222 for the 4th and final meeting.  There is a ton of value with the UNDER to say the least in this game, especially with the way the Spurs play and will control the tempo at home.  The Spurs and their last 3 opponents have combined for 199, 199 and 187 points.  And the last 2 games both went into overtime against the Pelicans and Timberwolves, so they were even more low-scoring than those scores indicate.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Spurs last 9 games overall.  Bets on the UNDER on all teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 (HOUSTON) - in a game involving 2 very good teams - outscoring opponents by 7+ PPG in the 2nd half of the season are 32-6 over the last 5 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

7* Warriors/Knicks ABC *HEAVY HITTER* on New York +10.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are way overvalued in the betting markets right now.  They are 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall and come in on their first two-game losing streak of the season.  The culprit for this skid is the fact that Kevin Durant was lost with a knee injury, and they have dropped the two games since his absence.  Now they'll be playing their 4th straight road game and are being asked to lay 10.5 points on the road to the New York Knicks.  The Knicks haven't quit as their are 2-3 since the break with two of their losses coming by a combined 4 points, and the other being a double-digit loss on the road at Cleveland.  New York is 12-2 ATS in home games off a division game over the last 2 seasons.  The Warriors are 7-21 ATS in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.  Golden State is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 Sunday games.  The Knicks are 19-10 ATS off an ATS loss this season.  Take New York.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Milwaukee Bucks +2

The Key: Both the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back here.  The difference is pretty simple, though.  Milwaukee will be staying at home after beating the Clippers 112-101 at home last night.  Toronto is the one that has to travel all the way from Washington DC after a 114-106 road win over the Wizards last night.  And the Raptors will be playing their 5th game in 7 days here, so they won't have much left in the tank, especially with Kyle Lowry out with injury making them short-handed at the PG position.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Big East Game of the Month on Seton Hall +8.5

The Key: The Seton Hall Pirates are on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament.  Just like last year, when they heated up down the stretch and won the Big East Tournament, the Pirates are hitting on all cylinders to close the 2016-17 campaign again.  The Pirates have won 3 straight and 6 of their last 8 games overall.  Butler is in a flat spot after back-to-back huge road wins over Villanova and Xavier.  I think the Bulldogs are also being overvalued now off those two wins being asked to lay 8.5 points to the Pirates today.  Seton Hall is 14-3 ATS after allowing 60 points or less over the last 3 seasons.  The Pirates are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games as a road underdog.  Take Seton Hall.

7* Celtics/Lakers NBA *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +8

The Key: The Boston Celtics are in a massive letdown spot here Friday night.  They are coming off their biggest win of the season, a 103-99 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.  Now the Celtics will be feeling 'fat and happy' following that victory, and I don't expect them to give the Los Angeles Lakers their full focus. That's going to make it difficult to cover this 8-point spread on the road.  The Lakers have taken this rivalry very seriously, going 5-3 SU & 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  These teams just played on February 3rd with the Celtics winning 113-107 as 11-point favorites, which also places the Lakers in revenge mode.  This is just a great situation here to back the home dog.  Take Los Angeles.

7* Iowa/Wisconsin ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Iowa +12.5

The Key: This young Iowa team is really coming together down the stretch.  The Hawkeyes have won their last two with a 96-90 (OT) home victory over Indiana and a mightily impressive 83-69 road win at Maryland as 6.5-point dogs.  Now they are catching 12.5 points against an overrated Wisconsin team that has lost 4 of its last 5 games coming in.  The Badgers may win this game tonight, but asking them to do so by more than 12.5 points is asking too much.  The Hawkeyes are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games as a road underdog of 7.0-12.5.  The Badgers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.  Take Iowa.

7* Rockets/Clippers ESPN *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -1.5

The Key: Chris Paul just returned to the lineup recently and should be at full strength now.  The Clippers have had the past two days off following their win over Charlotte on Sunday.  This extra practice time will help Paul and company gel as a team and get ready for this stretch run.  I like them laying a small number here at home to the rival Rockets, who lost at home to the Pacers on Monday despite being 10-point favorites.  The Clippers are 19-9 at home this season.  The Rockets are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.  The home team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.  Take Los Angeles.

6* Arkansas/Florida ESPN 2 *CA$H COW* on Arkansas +11

The Key: The Florida Gators are in a tough spot here mentally.  They just lost 66-76 at Kentucky on Saturday in a game that likely decided the SEC as they now trail the Wildcats by one game for first place.  They will suffer a hangover from that defeat, their first following a 9-game winning streak.  I don't think they'll have the focus it takes to put away Arkansas by double-digits.  The Razorbacks are playing their best ball of the season down the stretch, going 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall, yet they aren't getting any love from the books.  The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  The Razorbacks want revenge from an 81-72 home loss to the Gators in their first meeting this season back in December.  Take Arkansas.

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

The Key: The Utah Jazz are playing well have won and covered 3 in a row coming in.  But that has them getting too much respect from the books, and now they find themselves in the role of road favorites here against the Thunder.  Oklahoma City is 22-8 at home this season.  The Thunder have really owned the Jazz, going 5-1 SU & 4-2 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Dating back further, the Thunder are 10-0 straight up & 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 home meetings with Utah.  The Jazz are 2-14 ATS in their last 16 vs. Western Conference opponents.  Take Oklahoma City.

7* Indiana/Purdue Big Ten *HEAVY HITTER* on Indiana +11

The Key: The Indiana Hoosiers have been through a brutal stretch.  They are just 1-5 in their last 6 games, but 4 of those losses came by 6 points or less.  They lost by 5 at Wisconsin, by 5 at home to Purdue, by 1 at Minnesota and by 6 at Iowa in OT.  So they have played with some of the Big Ten's best teams.  They were finally rewarded with a 63-62 win over Northwestern last time out to give them some confidence.  Now they'll be looking to avenge that earlier loss to the Boilermakers, and we are getting a tremendous discount on the Hoosiers as 11-point road dogs in the rematch here.  Indiana is 7-0 ATS after failing to cover 4 of their last 5 against the spread over the last 3 seasons.  They are winning in this spot by 16.3 points per game on average.  Take Indiana.

6* Pacers/Rockets TNT *CA$H COW* on Indiana +11

The Key: This line is an overreaction from each team's last game.  The Rockets are coming off 2 blowout victories with a 30-point win at New Orleans and a 12-point home win over Minnesota.  Indiana is coming off an 18-point loss at Miami.  Now the Pacers find themselves in the rare role of double-digit underdogs.  The Pacers are 12-1 ATS in road games off a blowout loss by 15 points or more over the last 3 seasons.  This trend just goes to show how resilient they have been when trying to bounce back from a bad loss.  Take Indiana.

7* WVU/Baylor Big 12 *HEAVY HITTER* on Baylor +1

The Key: Baylor should not be a home underdog to West Virginia today.  The Bears will be out for revenge from their first loss of the season in blowout fashion at WVU.  Baylor is 14-2 at home this season and hungry for a victory not only for revenge, but also because they have lost 3 of their last 4 coming in.  Five of their 6 losses this season have come by 6 points or less.  The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  Take Baylor.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Boston Celtics -1.5

The Key: I like this situation for the Boston Celtics, who are coming off 2 consecutive losses and will be hungry for a victory tonight in Detroit.  The Celtics are 10-2 ATS as a road favorite of 6 points or less this season.  Boston is 15-7-2 ATS in its last 24 road games overall.  The Pistons are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up win. The Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Detroit.  The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Boston.

7* American Athletic *HEAVY HITTER* on UCF +6

The Key: UCF is one of the most underrated teams in the AAC.  The Knights have own 3 in a row coming in and have a chance to make their season with an upset home victory over Cincinnati today.  They hung tough in a 50-60 loss at Cincinnati on February 8th earlier this month and will be out for revenge.  The Knights are 12-3 at home this season, beating teams by 13.5 points per game on average and holding them to just 57 PPG on 33% shooting.  Their elite defense gives them a chance to pull the upset.  Cincinnati is 0-7 ATS in road games after a game committing 8 or less turnovers over the last 2 seasons.  The Bearcats are 5-13-1 ATS in their last 19 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.  The Bearcats are 15-36 ATS in their last 51 Sunday games.  Take UCF.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Indiana Pacers +4.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are ready to make a run after the All-Star Break.  They had lost 6 in a row coming into the break due to playing 6 games in 9 days and running out of gas.  They thumped Memphis 102-92 last night and had a 21-point lead going into the 4th quarter, so they were able to give their starters plenty of rest.  I think they'll be ready to go against Miami, which is overvalued right now due to winning 15 of its last 17 games coming in.  Bets against any team (MIAMI) - off 2 or more consecutive upset wins as a road underdog, playing on back-to-back days are 85-45 ATS since 1996.  Take Indiana.

7* Big Ten Game of the Month on Indiana -3.5

The Key: The Indiana Hoosiers have been through a gauntlet during their 5 straight losses.  They only lost by 5 at Wisconsin, lost by 5 at home to Purdue, lost by 12 at home to Michigan, lost by 1 at Minnesota and lost by 6 in overtime at Iowa.  4 of those 5 teams are going to the NCAA Tournament.  The Hoosiers are still 13-4 at home this season with an average win of 17.6 points per game.  This is a short number for them to be laying.  They'll be hungry for a win on Senior Day, and I think they get it against a struggling Wildcats team that is 2-4 SU & 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.  The Hoosiers are 7-0 ATS in home games after failing to cover 3 of their last 4 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.  Take Indiana.

6* Big East *CA$H COW* on Seton Hall -7.5

The Key: Seton Hall is 17-10 on the season and right on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament.  The Pirates have wins over Creighton and Xavier in their last three games with their only loss to Villanova.  Now they can't afford a poor effort at DePaul and should be full focused for this game.  I think this is a letdown spot for the Blue Demons, who ended their 10-game losing streak with an upset 67-65 road win at Georgetown as 13.5-point dogs last time out.  The Blue Demons lost 8 of their 10 games by double-digits during their losing streak.  Seton Hall beat DePaul 87-56 at home earlier this season and is now laying only 7.5 points on the road.  DePaul is 1-7 ATS off a win this season.  The Blue Demons are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 Saturday games.  The Pirates are 23-9-1 ATS in their last 33 Saturday games.  DePaul is 4-16-1 ATS in its last 21 games following an ATS win.  Take Seton Hall.

7* Dayton/Davidson A-10 *HEAVY HITTER* on Dayton -2.5

The Key: Dayton is tied with VCU for first place in the Atlantic 10 at 13-2 in conference play this season.  That fact alone assures that the Flyers will not be taking Davidson lightly tonight.  Dayton has been one of the most underrated teams in the country over the past several seasons.  The Flyers are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games overall.  Davidson is down this season at just 14-12 on the year and not capable of pulling off this type of upset.  The Wildcats are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games as a home underdog.  Dayton is 6-0 ATS in road games off 2 or more consecutive home wins over the last 2 seasons.  The Flyers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games.  Take Dayton.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Milwaukee Bucks +3

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks are ready to make a playoff push.  They sit at 25-30 on the season and just 1.5 games out of the 8th seed.  They got it together before the break by going 3-0 in their last 3 games winning by 16 at Indiana, by 13 at home against Detroit and by 4 at Brooklyn.  Indiana is the 6th seed and Detroit is the 8th right now, so those were 2 huge wins.  Now they host the Utah Jazz, who have lost 3 of their last 4 games.  The Jazz are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.  The home team is 14-5 ATS in the last 19 meetings.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Clippers/Warriors TNT *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +12.5

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers are sick and tired of losing to the Golden State Warriors.  They have lost all 3 meetings this season and 9 straight meetings overall.  But the Clippers went 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games heading into the break to build up some momentum.  Now they are expected to have Chris Paul back tonight.  I think the Warriors will be good fade material in their first game back from the break here because they had four players participate in All-Star Weekend and they won't be fully focused, especially after already beating the Clippers 3 times this season.  The Clippers are 28-14 ATS revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points over the last 2 seasons.  The Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.  Take Los Angeles.

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Portland +11

The Key: This is a terrible spot for the BYU Cougars.  They are coming off a 13-point home loss to St. Mary's, and now they have an even bigger game on deck Saturday at Gonzaga.  They'll clearly be looking ahead to that game as this is a sandwich game for the Cougars and they won't be focused at all.  Portland only lost by 11 as 18.5-point dogs at BYU in their first meeting this season and should be able to stay within 11 at home in the rematch given the bad spot for BYU.  It's also senior night for Portland and they'll be motivated.  The Cougars are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games.  The Cougars are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  BYU is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games as a favorite.  The Pilots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Portland.

7* Big 12 *HEAVY HITTER* on Kansas State -3.5

The Key: The Kansas State Wildcats picked up a much-needed 64-61 road win at Texas to end a 3-game losing streak and get them back in the NCAA Tournament discussion.  Now they're up against another bubble team in Oklahoma State and need a win here at home, otherwise their chances are slim.  The Wildcats already beat the Cowboys 96-88 on the road earlier this season.  They are 10-4 at home this season and have suffered some excruciatingly close losses all season.  This is a team that is better than its record for sure.  The Wildcats are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 after playing 2 consecutive games as a favorite.  The Cowboys are 14-37-3 ATS in their last 54 games as a road underdog of 0.5-6.5.  The Wildcats are 34-15-3 ATS in their last 52 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  The home team is 17-5 ATS in the last 22 meetings.  The Wildcats are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home meetings.  Take Kansas State.

7* SEC Game of the Week on Mississippi State -1.5

The Key: Mississippi State is a perfect 6-0 ATS in its last 6 home games overall.  The Bulldogs have nearly pulled upsets over Kentucky (lost by 7), South Carolina (lost by 4) and Florida (lost by 5), covering the spread in all of those games.  They also beat Texas A&M by 8, Missouri by 15 and Tennessee by 5 over this stretch.  Home-court advantage has meant a ton in this series as Mississippi State is 16-3 SU in its last 19 home meetings with Ole Miss.  The home team is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.  Take Mississippi State.

7* ACC Game of the Week on Boston College +18.5

The Key: The Florida State Seminoles are coming off back-to-back blowout losses to Notre Dame (by 12) and Pitt (by 14).  Now they return home and the betting public is expecting them to blow out Boston College, but I'm not buying it.  This is a tough situation for the Seminoles as they will be playing their 2nd game in 3 days.  Meanwhile, the Eagles haven't played since Tuesday and will be by far the fresher squad.  The Eagles have only lost 1 of their last 9 games by more than this 18.5-point margin as they've been very competitive in ACC play despite their 2-12 record.  That's evident by the fact that they are 9-5 ATS in ACC games this year.  Boston College is 7-1 ATS when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%) this season.  The Eagles are 8-2 ATS versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.  The Eagles are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Boston College.

7* Syracuse/Georgia Tech ACC *HEAVY HITTER* on Georgia Tech +2.5

The Key: Josh Pastner has to be among the coach of the year discussion with what he's doing at Georgia Tech this season.  The Yellow Jackets find themselves on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament and in need of a win here Sunday to get on the right side of it.  What they've done at home this season is nothing short of remarkable.  They are 13-3 on their home floor.  They have upset home wins over the likes of North Carolina, Clemson, Florida State and Notre Dame.  Now they'll be up against a Syracuse team that is 2-8 SU & 2-8 ATS in all road games this season. Georgia Tech is 8-0 ATS in its last 8 home games after a game where it attempted 7 or less free throws.  The Yellow Jackets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  The Orange are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  Take Georgia Tech.

7* Big Ten Game of the Year on Michigan State +10

The Key: The Michigan State Spartans have really come on strong down the stretch again this season.  They have won and covered 4 of their last 5 games coming in.  Now they are catching double-digits against a Purdue team that they have gone 8-2 SU & 7-3 ATS against in the last 10 meetings.  Of course, the Boilermakers won the first meeting this season in East Lansing by 11, but that works in our favor here as the Spartans will be hungry for revenge.  Michigan State is 9-1 ATS in the month of February over the last 2 seasons.  The road team is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  The Spartans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 visits to Purdue.  Take Michigan State.

6* SEC *CA$H COW* on Mississippi State +10.5

The Key: Mississippi State is one of the more underrated teams in college basketball.  It has gone 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games overall and will give Florida a run for its money today as double-digit home dogs.  The Bulldogs have been an excellent bet at home of late, going 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games.  Mississippi State is also 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games as a home dog of 7.0-12.5 points.  The home team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.  The Gators are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Starkville.  Take Mississippi State.

6* Missouri Valley *CA$H COW* on Northern Iowa +15.5

The Key: The Northern Iowa Panthers have really come on strong here down the stretch.  They are 9-1 SU & 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games with their only loss coming at Illinois State by a final of 51-57 as 7-point dogs.  Wichita State lost at Illinois State 62-76 earlier this season.  The Shockers come in getting too much respect from oddsmakers due to four straight wins by double-digits.  But now they are up against a team that is equally as hot as them in the Panthers, and they're laying a whopping 15.5 points.  The Panthers are 35-16-4 ATS in their last 55 games following a straight up win.  The Panthers are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games as an underdog of 13.0 or greater.  The road team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  The Panthers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.  Take Northern Iowa.

7* Cal/Stanford Pac-12 *BAILOUT* on Stanford +3

The Key: California and Stanford are fierce rivals.  They met on January 29th in Cal earlier this season.  That game was tied 25-25 at half, but the Bears pulled away for an 11-point victory after intermission.  Now I think the Cardinal have their revenge at home Friday.  After all, Stanford is 16-3 SU in its last 19 home meetings with Cal.  The Golden Bears are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a road favorite of 0.5-6.5.  The Cardinal are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 home meetings.  The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  Take Stanford.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Washington Wizards -2.5

The Key: The Washington Wizards are 17-3 in their last 20 games overall and look to go into the All-Star Break with momentum with another victory over Indiana Thursday.  I like their chances of picking up another win here against a Pacers team that is running on fumes right now.  The Pacers will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days.  They have lost to the Spurs and Cavs in their last two games and won't be able to put up much of a fight here against the Wizards.  They are certainly worn down right now as indicated by the fact that they are riding a 5-game losing streak.  The Wizards come in on 2 days rest and are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when playing on 2 days rest.  The Wizards are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.  The Pacers are 9-23-1 ATS in their last 33 games playing on 0 days rest.  Take Washington.

7* Wisconsin/Michigan ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Michigan -2

The Key: The Michigan Wolverines get the nod Thursday as small home favorites over the Wisconsin Badgers.  They only lost to the Badgers 64-68 on the road in their first meeting, and I think the home court will make all the difference in the rematch.  Plus Michigan is playing great right now coming off a 29-point home win over Michigan State and a 12-point road win at Indiana.  The Badgers just lost at home to Northwestern after needing overtime to beat Nebraska on the road in their last two games.  Michigan is 28-13 ATS in its last 41 home games off a conference road win.  The Badgers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  The Wolverines are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Michigan.

6* Hawks/Clippers Non-Conference *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -3

The Key: The Clippers continue to play well even without Chris Paul because they have more depth this season than they had last year, and Blake Griffin has been in prime form.  They have gone 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in their last 3 games despite playing all 3 on the road, which includes an 88-72 win at Utah as 8-point dogs last time out.  Now the Clippers return home where they are 17-8 on the season.  I think they make easy work of the Atlanta Hawks, who are one of the most overrated teams in the NBA.  They are actually getting outscored on the season despite their 32-23 record and have simply been fortunate in close games.  I don't expect this one to be close, however.  The Clippers are 10-2 ATS after covering 3 of their last 4 ATS this season.  The Clippers are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.  Take Los Angeles.

6* NCAAB Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Tulane +23

The Key: The SMU Mustangs have not only gone 8-0 SU, but also 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  It's safe to say that they are getting way too much respect from oddsmakers now after this run.  And now they are in their biggest letdown spot of the season off a huge 60-51 victory over Cincinnati to take over 1st place in the AAC.  I suspect their effort to be lackluster tonight against 4-20 Tulane as a result.  This will be their 2nd meeting of the season after Tulane lost by 16 as 16-point home dogs in the first meeting.  Tulane is 19-8 ATS in its last 27 road games off a blowout loss by 20 points or more.  Bets on road teams off 7 or more consecutive losses when playing with 5 or 6 days rest are 78-41 ATS since 1997.  Take Tulane.

7* Iowa State/K-State ESPN 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Kansas State -4.5

The Key: The Kansas State Wildcats have lost 5 of their last 6 due to a brutal schedule, including 3 straight games against the 3 best teams in the Big 12 in Baylor, Kansas and WVU.  One of those losses was against Iowa State 65-70 on January 24th.  Now the Wildcats get their shot at revenge at home this time around.  They are 10-3 at home this season.  The Cyclones are just 3-5 in true road games.  The Cyclones are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.  The Wildcats are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.  The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.  Take Kansas State.