Sports Picks & Predictions

This is a play on the CHARLOTTE HORNETS for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. Memphis is coming off an upset win at San Antonio on Monday as it won by four points as an 11-point underdog. It was the first road win for the Grizzlies and just the third win overall as they are now 3-7 on the season. Going back, the Grizzlies are 4-13 ATS in their last 17road games after playing a road game. Charlotte has dropped three straight games to fall to 4-6 on the season and this skid came on the heels of a three-game winning streak. The Hornets have played the eighth toughest schedule in the NBA and while going 0-4 against the top ten, thy are 4-2 against everyone else including 3-1 against teams outside the top 16. Charlotte is 17-4 ATS in its last 21 games after two or more consecutive losses. Here, we play against road teams where the line is +3 to -3 coming off a road win, playing six or more games in 10 days. This situation is 61-29 ATS (67.8 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (580) Charlotte Hornets

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES LAKERS for our NBA Tuesday Enforcer. Two teams off to their best starts in nearly a decade square off tonight and we are going to be on the public side here in a value play. The Lakers have won seven of their first nine, their best start since 2010-11, although their seven-game winning streak was broken in a 113-104 loss to Toronto on Sunday. Meanwhile, at 6-3, the Suns are off to their best start since the 2009-10 team won eight of its first nine. The reason this line is so low is because of the Anthony Davis shoulder situation. He is listed as probable but it would not be surprising to see him get scratched here considering the Lakers have a game tomorrow as well. Nonetheless, the Lakers are still the better team here with or without Davis and there will be a sense of urgency coming off that loss to the Raptors and there will be no looking past Phoenix based on its early body of work. Here, we play against teams where the line is +3 to -3 that are outscoring their opponents by six or more ppg, after allowing 100 points or more in five straight games. This situation is 24-4 ATS (85.7 percent) since 1996. 10* (569) Los Angeles Lakers

This is a play on the XAVIER MUSKETEERS for our CBB Tuesday Enforcer. Xavier remains home and will be out for some revenge tonight. The 2-0 Musketeers have limited their opponents to 39.3 percent shooting from the field and while the challenge goes up tonight, they have what it takes on both ends. In scouting Xavier, multiple Missouri players pointed to their big guards, Quentin Goodin and Dahmir Bishop, and experience, as the Musketeers bring back four starters. Forwards Tyrique Jones and Naji Marshall both average 18.5 ppg. Xavier is 13-3 ATS in its last 16 home games following two consecutive double-digit home wins. Missouri is also 2-0 and its defensive numbers are even more impressive. The unbeaten Tigers have held their first two opponents to 32.2 percent shooting from the floor but the competition goes up in a massive way. This is a rare non-conference road game for the Tigers and going back, they Tigers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games against teams with a winning home record. Xavier lost at Missouri last season where nothing went right. The Musketeers made 19 shots in that game, turned the ball over 17 times and at one point, trailed by 29 points. They were out-rebounded, out-shot and out-hustled. 10* (756) Xavier Musketeers

This is a play on the HAWAII WARRIORS for our CBB Monday Enforcer. This is the second of a back-to-back for both Hawaii and Pacific with this being the third and final game of the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic. Both teams were able to defeat Florida A&M but both lost to South Dakota. Hawaii should be able to make a run at the Big West Conference title this season after finishing fourth last year. The Warriors finished with 18 wins, the most since 2016-17, and they bring back three starters and nine players. They lost to South Dakota, which is expected to contend in the Summit League, as it was a two-point game with just 28 seconds left until the Coyotes pulled away. At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Pacific brings in nine new players including just one starter. In their game against South Dakota, the Tigers lost by 10 points. This is going to be a long season for them with the new faces and coming off a season where it went 14-18, expectations are low. The Warriors are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up loss while the Tigers are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games following a non-conference game. 10* (746) Hawaii Warriors

This is a play on the DETROIT PISTONS for our NBA Monday Supreme Annihilator. Minnesota is in a tough spot here coming off a pair of overtime games, including one yesterday, and now it has to travel on a back-to-back. The Timberwolves have lost three of their last four games including the game on Sunday. This is the first back-to-back this season for Minnesota but it has had little rest over the last 10 days as they have had to travel all but one day with only one back-to-back home game and just one day of rest between its last five games. The Timberwolves are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games when their starting five combine for more than 160 minutes the previous day. Detroit is also coming off a loss as it fell to New Orleans on Friday so it has ample rest to bounce back. The Pistons are just 1-4 on the road but they are 3-2 at home and have covered five of their last seven games at home against winning teams. This line came out late because of injury concerns and Detroit gets a big piece back tonight with Blake Griffin making his season debut. The Pistons are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games playing with two days of rest. 10* (550) Detroit Pistons

This is a play on the PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS for our NBA Sunday Supreme Annihilator. Portland has lost four straight games including a four-point loss to the Nets on Friday despite a career high 60 points from Damian Lillard. The Blazers have yet to win at home, losing their first three games at the Moda Center which is their worst start at home since 1971. They are an above average defensive team holding opponents to 55.4 true FG percent which is 12th in the NBA. The Blazers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a losing straight up record. Atlanta opened the season 2-0 but has lost five of its last six games. The Hawks have lost two in a row since John Collins, their second-leading scorer and leading rebounder, was suspended 25 games for PED use. With Collins out, Trae Young and Jabari Parker are the only Hawks players averaging double figures. Here, we play against road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points after two straight games allowing a shooting pct. of 50 percent or higher going up against an opponent after two straight games making nine or more three-point shots. This situation is 67-31 ATS (68.4 percent) since 1996. 10* (546) Portland Trailblazers

This is a play on the DALLAS MAVERICKS for our NBA Saturday Supreme Annihilator. Dallas is coming off a pretty embarrassing loss last night as it fell at home to the Knicks which came into the game with just one victory. The Mavericks are in a familiar spot as their previous two losses both came at home and were followed up by road games in which they won both. Going back to last season, the Mavericks are 10-1-1 ATS in their last 12 road games. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, hung with host Orlando for three quarters before the Magic went on a 34-8 run over the final 12 minutes to hand Memphis a 118-86 loss on a rare off night for Ja Morant. He is the lone bright spot of this roster as he is the only player averaging more than 14 ppg on a team that fell to 2-6. The Grizzlies are 1-4 ATS in their last five games against teams with a winning straight up record. This is the first back-to-back for both teams. Here, we play on road favorites that are +3 to +7 ppg in scoring differential going up against teams that are -7 ppg or worse in scoring differential, after a combined score of 205 points or more four straight games. This situation is 32-9 ATS (78 percent) since 1996. 10* (529) Dallas Mavericks

This is a play on the LONG BEACH ST. 49ERS for our CBB Saturday Enforcer. Both San Diego and Long Beach St. are coming off losses in their openers but they were different results. The Toreros lost at home as an underdog to Cal Irvine but they did get the cover in the three-point loss. This is a big rebuilding year for San Diego following back-to-back 20-win seasons as it has to replace four starters including a pair of All-WCC players and three double-digit scorers. This team is very undersized and it showed in the first game as they were outrebounded 35-24. Long Beach St. had a much better loss at in lost by just four points at UCLA as a 17-point underdog. The 49ers fell victim to the home calls as they were outscored at the free throw line 22-8 so their 46.2 percent shooting including 47.4 percent from long range was for naught. It was a great effort and one that will give them confidence moving forward. As is the case every year with Long Beach St., it does not shy away from playing a tough schedule as it has upcoming games against Stanford, Sy. Marys and Arizona so this is a game for the taking. Here, we play on home teams that won between 40 and 49 percent of their games from last season off a cover where the team lost straight up as an underdog, playing a team that had a winning record. This situation is 41-13 ATS (75.9 percent) since 1997. 10* (666) Long Beach St. 49ers

This is a play on the UTAH JAZZ as part of our NBA Friday Trifecta. While Milwaukee sits atop our power rankings, this is not a good spot for the them tonight. They are coming off a big win over the Clippers on Wednesday in a controversial game where Kawhi Leonard sat and now they remain on the road against a team many are calling the best in the Western Conference. The Bucks are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games against teams with a winning percentage above .600. Utah snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over the Sixers on Wednesday to improve to 5-3 on the season including 4-0 at home. The Jazz are 70-42 ATS in their last 112 home games after failing to cover four of their last five games against the spread. Here, we play against teams where the line is +3 to -3 that are outscoring their opponents by 6.0 or more ppg, after allowing 105 points or more in three straight games. This situation is 25-5 ATS (83.3 percent) since 1996. 10* (516) Utah Jazz

This is a play on the NEW ORLEANS PELICANS as part of our NBA Friday Trifecta. This is a fishy line as public money is pouring in on the Raptors yet the line has not moved. Based on our power rankings, the Raptors should be favored by four points and that goes against this play here based on value, it is about the situation. Toronto has lost just twice and one of the wins came against New Orleans so revenge is in play. The Raptors are 7-15-1 ATS in their last 23 games against teams with a winning percentage below .400. New Orleans has lost two straight games following an impressive win over Denver and this team is better than the record indicates. The Pelicans are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600. Here, we play against road teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better after having won 5 or 6 of their last 7 games, playing a team with a losing record. This situation is 139-85 ATS (62.1 percent) over the last five seasons. 9* (512) New Orleans Pelicans

This is a play on the SEATTLE REDHAWKS for our CBB Thursday Enforcer. Seattle heads to Pullman to take on Washington St. to face the Cougars, the first of four upcoming road games against major Division I schools. The Redhawks are coming off an 18-15 season where they made it to the CIT Tournament for the second year in a row and expectations are greater this season. They were gutted by injuries last season but were able to close the season strong to make another postseason run. Seattle has four starters back this season, two which are on the preseason WAC All-Conference First Team in Terrell Brown and Myles Carter. The Redhawks have a big edge here as they already have a game under their belt, a 98-64 win over Pacific Lutheran. The Cougars are under a different regime as Kyle Smith is in his first year as head coach. Washington St. went 11-21 last year and was 2nd to last in the Pas 12 with a 4-14 conference record. The Cougars are looking to improve this season and make moves to be competitive in the Pac 12 but they do not have a lot coming back and playing in a new system will have the Cougars come out of the gates slow. 10* (733) Seattle Redhawks

This is a play on the SAN ANTONIO SPURS for our NBA Thursday Supreme Annihilator. This is the time for San Antonio to get back on track. The Spurs have dropped three of their past four, including Tuesday's 108-100 setback in Atlanta. That followed a 103-96 defeat at home to the Lakers in which Los Angeles shot 48.3 percent from the floor. They have covered the number just once in their seven games and as noted many times, this is where the value comes into play. San Antonio is 19-8 ATS in its last 27 home games against teams that are outscoring their opponents by three or more ppg. Oklahoma City has won two straight games to move to 3-4 on the season which is pretty poor considering five of those seven games have been at home including five of the last six. The Thunder lost at Utah and Houston in their two road games and while they covered both games, they were +9 and +10 respectively and now that number is cut in half against a team very comparable to those other two. Here, we play on home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points after failing to cover 3 of their last 4 against the spread against opponent after having covered 4 of their last 5 against the spread. This situation is 48-19 ATS (71.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (574) San Antonio Spurs

This is a play on the CHARLOTTE 49ERS for our CFB Wednesday Enforcer. It is safe to say that a lot of the making of this line is based on the results from last season, namely the 8-21 record posted by Charlotte. The 49ers are expected to be a much improved team as they were crushed with injuries last season and it already showed in an exhibition against Georgia where the Bulldogs had to use a 10-1 run to pull it out. Charlotte welcomes graduate transfers Amidou Bamba and Drew Edwards to the roster, as well as a talented group of freshmen featuring three-star recruit Jahmir Young. James Madison went 14-19 last season and there is not much to be too excited about as the Dukes are projected to finish seventh in the 10-team CAA. This game features two coaches that rely on aggressive defense which means this could be turned into a low scoring game. More importantly, James Madison coach Louis Rowe saw his defense regress from 2018-19 as it plummeted all the way down to 302nd in adjusted defensive efficiency. Meanwhile Charlotte coach Ron Sanchez, a disciple of Tony Bennett at Virginia, saw his team improve from 312th to 224th in his first year and the 49ers should be even better this season. 10* (707) Charlotte 49ers

This is a play on the INDIANA PACERS for our NBA Wednesday Supreme Annihilator. This line came out late due to the questionable status of Domantas Sabonis who sat out last night in the Pacers loss in Charlotte. Indiana will play its third game in four nights on Wednesday, one day removed from seeing its three-game winning streak halted with the overtime defeat. The Pacers blew a 19-point lead and they have a right to complain as the Hornets went to the line 42 times compared to them going to the stripe just seven times. The Pacers are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of less than .400. Washington snapped a three-game losing skid with a 115-99 victory over Detroit on Monday. The Wizards are 1-2 on the road this season with the lone victory coming against Oklahoma City which sits in last place in the Northwest Division. The Wizards are 8-21 ATS in their last 29 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (556) Indiana Pacers

This is a play on the CHICAGO BULLS for our NBA Tuesday Star Attraction. After dropping their season opener against the Clippers, the Lakers have won five straight games including a pair of road wins in their last two games over the Mavericks and Spurs. Los Angeles has also covered all five of the games during this stretch and already a public team, the Lakers will be even more popular based on the streak thus overinflating their lines going forward. After six sub-.500 seasons in a row, the Lakers sit atop the Western Conference standings. Chicago has struggled to a 2-5 start but the schedule has not been in its favor as five of the seven games have come on the road. The competition has not been great but winning on the road against any team is tough for young teams. Lauri Markkanen will be tasked with slowing Anthony Davis down tonight. He has been solid thus far this season, averaging 16 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 2.1 apg. Along with Zach LaVine and Otto Porter Jr., they give the Bulls a solid trio. Here, we play against road teams allowing 41 percent shooting or less on the season, after four straight games allowing a 42 percent shooting or less. This situation is 50-20 ATS (71.4 percent) since 1996. 10* (550) Chicago Bulls

This is a play on the BRADLEY BRAVES as part of our CBB Tuesday Trifecta. Bradley made an improbable postseason run last season as it won the MVC Championship to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2005-06. The Braves have two players on the preseason MVC All First Team in Elijah Childs and Darrell Brown and overall, they bring back their top three scorers. While Bradley was just 5-8 on the road, high expectations are making it the favorite here as is the fact that it looks like another rebuilding year for the Hawks. They finished 14-19 last season which led to the firing of longtime head coach Phil Martelli. St. Joseph's lost four starters and lost four players in total to transfer and chemistry will be an issue early on as only four players are back and one of those did not even play last season. Anthony Longpre is the one returning starter and he averaged a mere 3.2 ppg . The Hawks are in for a long season and now is the time to go against them before the market catches up. 10* (617) Bradley Braves

This is a play on the HOUSTON ROCKETS for our NBA Monday Enforcer. The Rockets are coming off a rough Sunday, trailing by as many as 41 points enroute to a 129-100 loss to the Heat. They allowed 46 first-quarter points and Miami shot 52.8 percent overall from the floor including going 18 of 41 from long range. We will be backing Houston again here as it is in a great matchup in a perfect bounce back spot. The defense has been a disaster all season but the Rockets face a Memphis team averaging just 106.6 ppg and that is skewed somewhat as one of the games played went in overtime so the regulation average is 103.8 ppg. The Grizzlies leading scorer is rookie Ja Morant at just 18.8 ppg. Memphis is off to a 1-4 start with the victory being that overtime game and this includes a 1-2 record at home with the losses coming against Phoenix and Chicago. The Rockets are 0-6 ATS, the only NBA team without a cover, and that is giving us value as this number has dropped from its opening. Here, we play against home underdogs after allowing 110 points or more in four straight games going up against an opponent after allowing 60 points or more in the first half last game. This situation is 31-9 ATS (77.5 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (535) Houston Rockets

This is a play on the HOUSTON ROCKETS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. The Rockets are coming off a loss against the Nets on Friday as James Harden once again remains in a shooting slump. He shot just 2-of-16 on three-point attempts and is shooting just 20.0 percent from deep this season. He shot 36.8 percent on three-pointers last season, which is in line with his 36.3 career percentage. Houston has yet to cover a game, going 0-5 ATS and that is where the value comes in. Miami is off to a 4-1 start thanks to big contributions from rookies Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro. The Heat are 4-0-1 against the number which is also adding value here. A win over Milwaukee in overtime was very impressive but the other three wins came against teams not expected to make a playoff push which includes a home-and-home sweep over Atlanta on Tuesday and Thursday. Here, we play on road favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points after going over the total by 18 or more points total in their last three games, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team. This situation is 39-15 ATS (72.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (519) Houston Rockets

This is a play on the DETROIT PISTONS for our NBA Saturday Enforcer. Brooklyn is coming off a win last night as it defeated Houston at home by seven points and is now playing its first back-to-back of the season. This is just the second road game of the season for the Nets with the first resulting in a loss to lowly 1-3 Memphis. The Nets are 0-5 ATS in their last five games against teams with a winning percentage below .400. The Pistons also have a quick turnaround after losing at Chicago 112-106 on Friday. They were hampered by poor perimeter shooting as they missed their first 14 three-point attempts and finished 6-for-29 from long range. Detroit has suffered two straight losses with both coming on the road and it hopes to turn things around at home where it won its last game against Indiana. The Pistons are 7-2 ATS in their last nine home games against teams with a road winning percentage of less than .400. Here, we play against road teams where the line is +3 to -3 after one or more consecutive wins, when playing their 3rd game in four days. This situation is 113-66 ATS (63.1 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (504) Detroit Pistons

This is a play on the MILWAUKEE BUCKS for our NBA Friday Enforcer. We played on Orlando Wednesday as it was able to pull away from the Knicks to improve to 2-2 on the season. The wins have come against teams not expected to contend for a playoff spot however and tonight brings their biggest test of the young season. The Magic failed to win or cover following their first win of the season and we expect the same here in their second game as underdogs, the first resulting in a nine-point loss to Toronto. Milwaukee is also 2-2 after a 116-105 road loss against the Celtics on Wednesday as Boston used a massive 37-11 run that began in the third quarter and carried into the fourth to pull away. The Bucks rolled after their first loss this season and going back to last year, they are 23-4 following a loss, covering 20 of those games. Additionally, the Bucks are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Here, we play on favorites off an upset loss as a road favorite, first six games of the season, playoff team from last season who lost four or more of their last five games. This situation is 36-14 ATS (72 percent) since 1996. 10* (569) Milwaukee Bucks

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS for our NBA Thursday Enforcer. With the Sixers win last night, San Antonio still remains as one of two undefeated teams in the NBA. The Spurs are 3-0 but all of those wins have been at home and they are the last team in the NBA to have yet to play a road game. They had a nice win over Portland in their last game but the first two wins came against Washington and New York which are going nowhere and are a combined 2-7. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White are beasts defensively, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan can still get buckets, and the rest of their roster fits the Spurs mold of competent role players but here comes the biggest test of the season. The Clippers rested Kawhi Leonard on Wednesday night against the Jazz in Salt Lake City and faded in the second half of the 110-96 loss. A mere four games into the season, Leonard is averaging 27 ppg, 7.5 apg, and 6.5 rpg and with the loss last night, this has turned into an even bigger game. They are 2-0 at home with convincing wins over the Lakers and Hornets and add to that tonight with another. 10* (566) Los Angeles Clippers

This is a play on the BOSTON CELTICS as part of our NBA Wednesday Trifecta. Boston struggled in a 107-93 loss at Philadelphia to begin the season on Oct. 23 before rebounding with a victory over defending champion Toronto on Friday and then at New York on Saturday. The Celtics will be playing for some payback from last season as after opening the second round of the playoffs with a win at Milwaukee by 22 points, they were swept over the next four games to bow out of the postseason. The Celtics are 18-8-1 ATS in their last 27 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. The Bucks are also off to a 2-1 start following a blowout win over lowly Cleveland. Both wins came against teams where they were favored by at least 11 points. Here, we play against teams where the line is +3 to -3 that are shooting between 45.5 and 47.5 percent going up against teams shooting between 41.5 and 43.5 percent, after a game making 12 or more three-point shots. This situation is 23-5 ATS (82.1 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (550) Boston Celtics

This is a play on the MIAMI HEAT for our NBA Tuesday Supreme Annihilator. It has been a solid start to the season for both Atlanta and Miami which come into Tuesday with a 2-1 record. The Hawks are coming off their first loss of the season last night against the Sixers in a close two-point defeat. Atlanta had a chance to win the game but Vince Carter's three-point attempt hit the back rim and bounced high and away as the buzzer sounded. Atlanta has covered all three games this season and that is putting the public squarely on the side of the Hawks. Miami is also coming off its first defeat of the season as it lost at Minnesota on Sunday as it carried a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter only to get outscored 39-25. The Heat rolled over a bad Memphis team in its lone home game and followed that up with an impressive road win at Milwaukee. The Heat are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points after allowing 105 points or more in two straight games going up against an opponent after a close loss by three points or less. This situation is 95-51 ATS (65.1 percent) since 1996. 10* (534) Miami Heat

This is a play on the UTAH JAZZ for our NBA Monday Enforcer. Utah is off to a 2-1 start with the lone loss coming on the road against the Lakers. Following that defeat, the Jazz made a season-high 18 three-pointers and tied a franchise record with 13 threes in the first half while routing Sacramento 113-81 on Saturday. Utah has held all three opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field and its 90.3 ppg allowed is the lowest in the NBA. The Jazz won all four games against Phoenix last season by an average of 24.8 ppg, and they have won 14 of the last 15 meetings. Phoenix is also off to a 2-1 start following an upset win over the Clippers on Saturday as a 10-point home underdog. The Suns have split their last two games with Aron Baynes and Frank Kaminsky holding down the center spot in the absence of Deandre Ayton, who was suspended for 25 games for violating the league's anti-drug policy Thursday. With the Jazz being a leading contender in the Western Conference, they are laying only around half of what the Clippers were laying and that is not accurate so we are getting a bunch of value tonight. Here, we play against home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points off a home win scoring 110 or more points, when playing their 3rd game in four days. This situation is 34-10 ATS (77.3 percent) since 1996. 10* (527) Utah Jazz

This is a play on the TORONTO RAPTORS for our NBA Saturday Enforcer. Chicago is off to a 1-1 start to the season, both games coming on the road and it was favored in both games showing just how bad the first two opponents were. The Bulls are projected to win around 33 games this season so expectations are certainly low and while this is their home opener, this is not an ideal spot. Going back to last season, the Bulls are 6-22 ATS in their last 28 home games and their roster is not much different. Toronto is also off to a 1-1 start as it defeated New Orleans in overtime to open the season and lost in Boston last night. Despite the loss of Kawhi Leonard, this is still a solid roster with Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam leading the way, the latter averaging 33.5 ppg. This does not even take into account Marc Gasol who has gotten off to a bad start after going 0-8 from the floor last night. The Raptors won all four games last season against Chicago and has won nine straight in this series. Going back to last season, the Raptors are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games playing with no rest. 10* (561) Toronto Raptors

This is a play on the MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES for our NBA Friday Enforcer. Charlotte barely scraped by with a win in their first game, but they are not going be that hot from downtown every night. The Hornets defeated Chicago 126-125 thanks to going 23-44 (52.3 percent) from long range led by P.J. Washington Jr., Devonte Graham and Marvin Williams. Those are exactly star studded names so we can expect a quick regression tonight. After losing Kemba Walker to the Celtics, Charlotte lost Nicolas Batum to an injury and he will be out 2-4 weeks. Center Cody Zeller has also been declared out for personal reasons. Minnesota is also coming off a one-point victory in its first game as it defeated Brooklyn 127-126, overcoming 50 points from Kyrie Irving. The Timberwolves were led by Karl-Anthony Towns who had a monster game, finishing with 36 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and three blocks. Minnesota missed the playoffs last season but with a mixture of veteran talent and interesting prospects, there might be a culture shift in Minnesota. Here, we play against home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points that are coming off a home win by three points or less, first half of the season. This situation is 48-18 ATS (72.7 percent) since 1996. 10* (535) Minnesota Timberwolves

This is a play on the GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS for our NBA Thursday Star Attraction. The Warriors make their season debut tonight with a much different look than what we are used to seeing. Steph Curry is still the cornerstone of this team but gone are Kevin Durant, now with Brooklyn, and Klay Thompson who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Clearly, they are getting no respect here as they are home underdogs for the first time in forever and a lot of that has to do with what the public saw on Tuesday. The Clippers took out the Lakers by 10 points but it was a tied game after three quarters as Los Angeles managed only 17 points in the fourth quarter. The line is an overreaction of that win and this is not to say the Clippers do not have one of the best rosters in the league but even with the two key losses, Golden St. still has an above average roster. After an emotional night Tuesday in their win over the Lakers, expect the Clippers to come out a little flat Thursday night and it will be the opposite on the other side as Golden St. is playing its first game at the newly opened Chase Center. 10* (532) Golden St. Warriors

This is a play on the UTAH JAZZ for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. The Jazz are a team that plays defense, now has five legitimate scorers on offense, and is a team many are picking to take the Western Conference. Donovan Mitchell is an up and coming superstar and after needing to take most of the scoring burden last season, there is plenty of help. Adding Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic helps the offense immensely to go along with Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert, who could be in line for a breakout season. As far s the Thunder go, this should be a long season. They did add Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Paul George deal and Steven Adams is a very productive center but they do not match up well here. Russell Westbrook and George dominated this series last season in which all for games were won by Oklahoma City. Do not think for a second that Utah does not remember that. With lofty expectations for the Jazz, expect this to turn into a statement game on their home floor. 10* (522) Utah Jazz

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES LAKERS for our NBA Season Opening Enforcer. The Lakers are trying to rebound for the second season with LeBron James as they got a new coach, new supporting cast and loftier expectations after nearly everything that could have gone wrong last season went wrong. Anthony Davis was the big acquisition although by doing so, they are lacking depth but that is not an issue early in the season. They also added some much-needed shooting by signing Danny Green and Jared Dudley. Los Angeles will be without Kyle Kuzma after suffering a stress reaction in his left foot during USA Basketball training camp in August. The Clippers were the winners of the offseason as they acquired two big names in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. However, they will be without George who is still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. For now, Lakers fans should look forward to watching how the current roster plays and develops in the early season. The absence of George is the reason the Lakers are road favorites are we are not afraid of laying the short price. 10* (503) Los Angeles Lakers

This is a play on the TORONTO RAPTORS for our NBA Game of the Month. It is the call everyone is pondering. Toronto head coach Nick Nurse called a timeout with the Raptors up by six points and about three minutes left to play, allowing the Warriors to reset on defense, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and allowing the NBA Finals to return to Golden St. for another game. The 106-105 final not only produced the first one-point NBA Finals margin since 2007, but it also made the Warriors just the sixth team in NBA history to win a potential elimination game on the road. While Toronto had every chance to win this series at home, it can now get it done on the road with the Warriors once again being without Kevin Durant and it is bigger than most people realize. When Durant has not been available, the Raptors have been the better team on both sides of the floor for most of this series, consistently finding seams in the Warriors inconsistent defense for its highest offensive rating out of any series in these playoffs and suffocating the Warriors shooters into their lowest offensive rating out of any series in these playoffs. That is not coincidence as the Durant absence is something Golden St. cannot handle as it is still just 9-9 in the NBA Finals without him and 8-1 with him. Here, we play against home favorites with a winning percentage between .600 and .750 off a road win by three points or less, playing a team with a winning record. This situation is 97-55 ATS (63.8 percent) since 1996. 10* (531) Toronto Raptors

This is a play on the TORONTO RAPTORS for our NBA Monday Enforcer. Golden St. received a boost for Game Four when Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney returned to the lineup and played well after missing Game Three with injuries. But Kevin Durant remains questionable tonight despite being cleared for practice on Sunday. The Warriors have been without Durant for the series and his availability for Game Five is uncertain as he has missed the last nine games with a calf injury. The Raptors are beating the Warriors by using their own strengths against them. Golden St. is frustrated because they are unable to do the things they normally do. Coaching in the Finals is all about making the right adjustments and by that measure, Nick Nurse is having one of the finest Finals coaching performances since Rick Carlisle in 2011 for the Mavericks. The Raptors length, strength and speed have, at times, overwhelmed the Warriors while they operate without a safety valve in Durant to release some pressure. There is talk about how Draymond Green made a motivational speech in the locker room after Game Four according to Kevon Looney and while saying all the right words are nice , playing with a newfound level of desperation is another especially without arguably the best player in the NBA. The Raptors are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600 while the Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Additionally, they are 8-1 in NBA Finals with Durant and 8-9 without him. 10* (530) Toronto Raptors

This is a play on the GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS for our NBA Friday Enforcer. Toronto was able to regain home court edge with its Game Three win in Golden St. against a shorthanded Warriors team and now it is up to Golden St. to avoid a devastating 3-1 deficit. The Warriors will be getting Klay Thompson back and that is huge considering they shot just 39.6 percent from the floor with Stephen Curry scoring 47 of their 109 points. There is also a chance that Kevin Durant comes back and that would be a real game-changer. 47.5 ppg were not playing on Wednesday and that is a loss that no team can withstand, even a team with other talent that Golden St. has. This is taking nothing away from Toronto considering it has won four of five games against Golden St. this season but only one of those was with a fill Warriors roster although DeMarcus Cousins did not play in that lone game. Kyle Lowry had a huge game with 23 points but he has struggled putting together solid back-to-back games. Prior to Wednesday, he scored 20 or more points 19 times and backed it up with another 20 point game only twice. In those 19 follow up games, he averaged only 13.5 ppg. Since losing the NBA Championship to Cleveland in 2015-16, Golden St. is 9-2 in the playoffs following a loss. Here, we play on favorites that are revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points against opponent off an upset win as an underdog. This situation is 209-144 ATS (59.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (528) Golden St. Warriors

Toronto had a great opportunity to take control of this series but allowed a 22-0 run by the Warriors in the end of the second and start of the third quarters and yet still had a chance late to pull it out. We waited on this release in trying to get any info on Klay Thompson who is questionable with a hamstring injury. As game time gets closer, it is likely that he is going to sit this one out based on his own comments as he expects this to be a long series and would not want to jeopardize the remaining games should he make it worse tonight. But even if he does go, he will be limited and will not be 100 percent. Kevin Durant is out for Game Three of the finals, still not ready to return for the two-time defending champions as he works back from a strained right calf suffered during the Western Conference semifinals. Additionally, Kevon Looney has been lost for the rest of the series as depth is now a big issue for the Warriors. Toronto went just 35 for 94 (37.2 in Game Two, compared to 50.6 percent while winning the series opener, including 11 of 38 from three-point range. The Raptors missed shots and defensive stops are exactly what the Warriors count on to get out into their push-the-pace transition game. Here, we play against home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points in non-conference games, off an upset win as a road underdog. This situation is 50-18 ATS (73.5 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (525) Toronto Raptors

This is a play on the TORONTO RAPTORS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. Game One was a bad one for the Warriors but was it just an aberration or do they really have a matchup disadvantage? It seems to be a little of both. They lost the three-point battle and the two-point battle, lost the transition battle, lost the turnover battle and Toronto introduced a physicality that muddied up the game, crowded the perimeter, induced 17 turnovers and frustrated the Warriors' ball handlers and jump shooters. When the defense thrives, it tends to outdo the offense and that was the case Thursday. Golden St. entered the Finals with the postseason's best pick-and-roll offense, averaging 1.13 points per play. But Toronto entered with the best pick-and-roll defense, yielding 0.74 points per play. While the Warriors would like nothing more than to get the split here and take over home court, Toronto cannot afford a split and give away the home court edge. Toronto has just lost 11 games here all season including only one in the postseason where it is 7-1 and going back, the Raptors are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (524) Toronto Raptors

This is a play on the TORONTO RAPTORS for our NBA Thursday Enforcer. Golden St. is on the path to a three-peat, attempting to bring home their fourth championship since Steve Kerr became the head coach in 2014. The Warriors are coming off a sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers but it was not easy as Golden St. trailed by 17, 18 and 17 points over the final three games. They might be 5-0 without Kevin Durant during this stretch, but the margin for error has been slim-to-none. And the matchup only gets tougher here especially with Kevin Durant sitting out at least Game One. The Toronto defense is comprised of longer, more aggressive, and smarter veterans than Portland and Houston had. The absence of Durant and his one-on-one creation and mid-range arsenal gives Toronto a positive edge since Kawhi Leonard can now move around and guard other players. In the 696 minutes with Leonard on the floor, the Raptors are 24.3 points per 100 possessions better than during his minutes on the bench which is the most by a wide margin. Many will claim how good the Warriors have been with Steph Curry in Durant out but this is a matchup not in their favor with the current available roster. The Warriors enter the 2019 NBA Finals with a +6.6 net rating in 16 playoff games (non-garbage time), while the Raptors are right on their tail at +6.3 so these teams are not far off from each other. The goal for the Warriors are to steal one game in Toronto meaning a home sweep would bring home their third straight championship. With this being the first ever Final game in Toronto, any game stealing will not take place until Game Two if at all. 10* (522) Toronto Raptors

This is a play on the MILWAUKEE BUCKS for our NBA Saturday Enforcer. This is an elimination game for the Bucks which have lost three straight games for the first time this season and after looking invincible for the opening part of the postseason, they are looking vulnerable for the first time. Giannis Antetokounmpo was an unstoppable force that drove the conference's most efficient offense for 93 games. The Toronto defense has turned the Bucks into an offensively-challenged group that cannot score in the half-court. While all of the emphasis has been placed on Antetokounmpo, there is way more to it. Khris Middleton scored six points on nine shots Thursday night. Eric Bledsoe was five-of-23 from the field in Toronto. The Bucks have no chance if those two players are going to have that kind of production and we do not see this happening for another game with everything on the line. With this all being said, the line value is simply too strong for Milwaukee as it was favored by three points the last game played here and is now seeing a 5.5-point line shift into Game Six. Milwaukee is 16-4 ATS off a loss as a favorite this season while Toronto is 6-17 ATS after covering three of its last four games against the spread this season. 10* (511) Milwaukee Bucks

This is a play on the MILWAUKEE BUCKS for our NBA Thursday Enforcer. The series heads back to Milwaukee for Game Five as the home team has held serve through the first four games. Milwaukee has been a force on home court during the postseason, winning straight up and ATS in six of seven, including five victories by 21 or more points. While momentum may have shifted, we feel the Bucks swing it back their way tonight. Two factors led to the Raptors tying this series up in Game Four and the Bucks need to reverse both. The Milwaukee bench outscored Toronto 130-78 through the first three games of the series but it was the Raptors bench, Norman Powell scoring 18 points, Serge Ibaka adding 17 points and Fred VanVleet tossing in 13 points, that decided Game Four and it will be up to the Bucks reserves to get back to the way they were in the first two games. Second, Game Four was the Bucks worst defensive game (120 points allowed on 96 possessions) of the postseason, and that was the focus of head coach Mike Budenholzer's frustration Tuesday night. The league's No. 1 defense simply cannot have the same kinds of breakdowns going forward. Milwaukee is 16-3 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite this season and here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points revenging a loss of 10 points or more, off two or more consecutive road losses. This situation is 37-13 ATS (74 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (508) Milwaukee Bucks

This is a play on the MILWAUKEE BUCKS for our NBA Tuesday Enforcer. We had Toronto in Game Three and it was a fortunate cover that took double-overtime to complete and that only proved that the Bucks are dominating the postseason for a reason. Milwaukee could be ahead 3-0 if it had shot better than 14-44 from three-point range. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 12 points, his worst scoring night in four months, on 5-16 shooting, with eight turnovers. He was still just one of only two starters that finished on the plus side as his numbers were actually better than Kris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe who both went 3-16 from the floor, including 1-6 from long range and had a combined eight assists against eight turnovers. The Bucks have to remain positive as their best player had an off night and a lot went wrong at both ends of the court and they still had a win well within their reach. They have been in this position 23 times this season and they are 22-1 following a loss while going 19-4 against the number. Shockingly, that one loss came against Phoenix of all teams but there was no Middleton at the time and 17 of those wins came by double-digits. Included in that record is a 12-2 ATS mark coming off a road loss. 10* (503) Milwaukee Bucks

This is a play on the PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS for our NBA Monday Enforcer. Portland is facing elimination and with its back against the wall at home, we should see a big rebound tonight. The Blazers blew an 18-point lead in Game Three, eventually losing by 11 points and are down 3-0 in the series and no team in NBA history has lost the first three games of a playoff series and come back to win which is the big reason they have gone from a 2.5-point favorite to a 3.5-point underdog one game later. The one thing Portland needs to avoid one bad period. In all three games this series the Warriors have had a dominating quarter where they scored at least 15 points more than the Blazers. Most games between two quality opponents have some ebbs and flows, but a 15-point differential in a single quarter is just too much. The Blazers missed 13 free throws in Game Three on top of it, making just 20 of 33. Playing without Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins seems like the sort of factor that would have extended the series, but instead it has served as a rallying cry of sorts for the remaining Warriors. However, Golden St. will be without Andre Iguodala tonight which puts its limited depth in question yet again. Here ,we play on home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points in a game involving two teams allowing between 43.5 and 45.percent shooting, after three straight games allowing 47 percent shooting or higher. This situation is 27-7 ATS (79.4 percent) since 1996. 10* (502) Portland Trail Blazers

This is a play on the TORONTO RAPTORS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. Like Portland, Toronto is in must win mode after falling behind 2-0 in this series but after the Blazers blew an 18-point lead, we do not expect a repeat from the Raptors. Toronto is 37-11 at home and feasibly could have this series tied and home court advantage on its side. The Bucks, showing rust after a week off, needed a fourth-quarter surge to win Game One 108-100 on Wednesday. In Game Two on Friday, they dominated from the tip in a 125-103 victory to take a 2-0 series lead. The Raptors, after trailing by 28 points Friday, made a push to draw to within 13 in the third quarter and that was encouraging to see while the game was thought to be over. For the Bucks, the Friday victory continues a dominating run through the postseason, lifting them to 10-1 SU and ATS so far in the playoffs and with Milwaukee being the underdog, the public is all over the Bucks. Toronto 10-2 ATS after failing to cover the spread in three or more consecutive games this season while Milwaukee is 7-21 ATS in its last 28 games off three or more consecutive home wins. Here, we play on home favorites revenging a loss of 10 points or more, off two or more consecutive road losses. This situation is 53-22 ATS (70.7 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (550) Toronto Raptors

This is a play on the PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS for our NBA Saturday Enforcer. We have been on Portland the first two games of this series and the Blazers head home in what should be a tied series as they gave Game Two away to the Warriors. If Golden St. can secure a split here, this series is likely over and it is up to the Blazers to keep hope alive after Game Three which is typically the time that home teams do respond after losing the first two games on the road. This is a pretty big deal in Portland tonight as Game Three will be the first conference final game in Portland since 2000. The Blazers lost that series to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. Golden St. overcame a 15-point deficit at halftime, which was the second-largest comeback in postseason franchise history so there has to be some letdown coming from that as the Warriors hit the road where they are 4-2 in the postseason but could easily be 2-4. The Blazers tied for the third best home record in the NBA during the regular season while going 5-1 in the postseason and they are 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. Golden St. is 9-21 ATS in its last 30 games off two or more consecutive home wins and here, we play on home favorites revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points, off two or more consecutive road losses. This situation is 90-46 ATS (66.2 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (548) Portland Trail Blazers

This is a play on the TORONTO RAPTORS for our NBA Friday Enforcer. We won with Milwaukee in Game One as it overcame a deficit most of the game with a big fourth quarter to take the series opener. Toronto got 14 of its 17 points in the fourth quarter from Kyle Lowry as the rest of the team was 0-15 from the floor and that was the big difference as the Raptors actually held the lead with three and a half minutes left. Another significant part was the play of Brook Lopez for the Bucks as he scored a playoff-career-best 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. To put that into perspective, he had scored a total of 27 points in his previous five games combined. Do not expect a repeat performance.. Toronto has to knock down some shots from deep as after going 10-22 in the first half, it was just 5-20 in the second half but the opportunities will be there considering no team gave up more three-point attempts per game than the Bucks this season. While the offense has struggled, fortunately for the Raptors, they have also proven largely effective at containing opposing shooters when playing on the road, allowing just 101 ppg over their past seven games. Here, we play against home favorites with a winning percentage of .750 or better when leading in a playoff series, playing a team with a winning percentage between .600 and .750. This situation is 33-11 ATS (75 percent) since 1996. 10* (545) Toronto Raptors

This is a play on the PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS for our NBA Thursday Enforcer. We lost with Portland in Game One as it could not have played worse but was not out of it until late. Portland went 7-28 from long range while committing 21 turnovers yet the Blazers were still in this game leading up to the final quarter and we can expect a much better performance tonight. The backcourt of the Blazers was horrible as both Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum both struggled which has been atypical this postseason as one or the other has picked up the slack if the other has been struggling. Lillard scored 19 points on just 4 of 12 shooting while McCollum was only 7 of 19 from the floor and scored 17 points. A lot of the poor play on both ends of the floor can be blamed on the quick turnaround from the seven-game series against Denver while Golden St. enjoyed an extra two days off. Now, the time off is back even and do not foresee the Warriors hitting 51.5 percent from long range once again. But this is not the first time the Blazers, who lost Game One to the Nuggets in the conference semifinals, have been in this position as they rebounded to win Game Two. Portland is 8-0 ATS revenging a road loss of 10 points or more this season while Golden St. is 9-19 ATS after a win by 15 points or more this season. 10* (543) Portland Trail Blazers

This is a play on the MILWAUKEE BUCKS for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. Toronto hits the court after just two days off from its last second miracle win over Philadelphia that looked destined to go to overtime. The Raptors won the final four games against Orlando in the opening round but struggled to put the Sixers away in the 336 minutes played and now they face a tougher challenge. Milwaukee took three of four games against the Raptors during the regular season and are now playing at a higher level. Only one of the Bucks nine games (Game 3 in Boston) has been within five points in the last five minutes, though that was only when the Celtics got to within five with just 11 seconds left. Seven of their eight wins have been by double-digits and five of the eight have been by 21 points or more. Milwaukee's reserves remained significant as it breezed through its first two playoff rounds, but Toronto has had limited contributions from its backups. By relying so heavily on a shortened rotation in a grueling series with the Sixers, the Raptors might show some fatigue here. The Bucks, meanwhile, not only have had a week off, but have confidence in their reserves. Here, we play on home favorites that are averaging 83 or more shots per game on the season, after allowing opponent to shoot 35 percent or less. This situation is 53-22 ATS (70.7 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (532) Milwaukee Bucks

This is a play on the PHILADELPHIA 76ERS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. Philadelphia avoided elimination with an 11-point win over Toronto on Thursday to force a Game Seven and while the majority will be on the Raptors, this has the makings of a classic Game Seven which gives the value to the Sixers and the big number. Philadelphia did win here once in the series and while it was blown out in the other two games, a healthy Joel Embiid will make a difference from those two games. He is coming off his best game of the series and while his stat line looked average, in the 35 minutes he was on the floor, he had a plus-minus rating of +40, which means that the Sixers outscored the Raptors by 40 points with him patrolling the paint. His defensive presence goes a long way. Both teams might play seven-man rotations, with the schedule, two full days off between Games Six and Seven, and then two full days off before Game One of the conference finals, allowing the starters to play extended minutes and this should favor the Sixers. Toronto 4-15 ATS in its last 19 home games revenging a loss of 10 points or more while the Sixers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. 10* (521) Philadelphia 76ers

This is a play on the GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS for our NBA Friday Enforcer. This line is a big overreaction to the Kevin Durant injury as Golden St. is the biggest underdog it has been in a long time. How long? The 7.5 number is the largest Golden St. has seen with Steph Curry in the lineup and Steve Kerr as head coach ever, a span of 440 games dating back to 2014, including the postseason. This is a very interesting scenario with Durant on the sidelines as the perception is that the Warriors are not as good without him and while that may be the case on paper based on who he is and what he brings on a nightly basis, the Warriors are 26-1 in their last 27 games when Curry plays but Durant does not. That is not a knock on Durant by any means but it is just the way Golden St. adjusts when he is not on the floor. The Warriors bench is thin and that is the only difference between now and the team before Durant even arrived, the one that won 73 regular season games and were a layup away from two NBA Championships. Obviously, Houston has a shot to extend this series to it length but there is too much value in this line to not consider the Warriors covering and even winning outright. Here, we play against teams off a cover where the team lost the game straight up as an underdog, in a game involving two teams with winning percentages between .600 and .750. this situation is 99-44 ATS (69.2 percent) since 1996. 10* (519) Golden St. Warriors

This is a play on the GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. The series heads back to Golden St. tied at 2-2 with the home team winning each of the first four games. All have been close however as the biggest win came by six points which has been good for Houston bettors as the Rockets have covered three of the last four games. While many will feel that the close margins of victory will continue, we could see our first relatively easy cover for the Warriors tonight. One way to back this is simply looking at the last game where Golden St. played a horrible game based on efficiency, got nothing from Klay Thompson or Andre Iguodala and nothing from the bench yet had to shots to tie the game late. If the Warriors play the way they are capable of and get even normal production from the key pieces, they win easy and that is what is predicted tonight. Expect Golden St. to be more physical as it is no secret it has been getting pushed around and even head Steve Kerr called his team out on that. The Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last five games playing on one day of rest while the Warriors are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following an ATS loss. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points, off two or more consecutive road losses. This situation is 64-28 ATS (69.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (512) Golden St. Warriors

This is a play on the DENVER NUGGETS for our NBA Tuesday Enforcer. Denver opened this series with a win but then lost the next two games including that epic four overtime loss in Portland before winning on Sunday to tie it up and regain home court advantage. Despite a loss here in Game Two, the Nuggets are 38-9 at home as they look to carry the momentum over and Denver is 18-5 ATS in home games after a game where they covered the spread this season. The Blazers had won 12 consecutive games at home, including four in the playoffs, before the loss on Sunday. They effectively lost Game 4 in the third quarter, when they made just 5 of 18 shots, committed seven turnovers and scored 14 points. Portland is 3-14 ATS in its last 17 road games after failing to cover five or six of their last seven games against the spread over the last three seasons. Here, we paly against road underdogs against division opponents, off an upset loss to a division rival as a favorite. This situation is 25-8 ATS (75.8 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (508) Denver Nuggets

This is a play on the BOSTON CELTICS for our NBA Monday Enforcer. Boston was able to snag the first game of this series but the Bucks have won the last two games to regain home court advantage and they have a chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead with a win but the Celtics get it done at home tonight. Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly collected a triple-double with 32 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Boston needs to limit his trips to the line as he went to the stripe 22 times, becoming just the sixth player this decade to attempt at least 22 free throws in a playoff game. Another huge factor for the Celtics is that Marcus Smart could return tonight after missing the last month as he has been cleared for full contract practice and is hopeful of playing tonight. Despite the Game Three loss, the Celtics are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. Here, we play on home teams with a winning percentage between .600 and .750 where the line is +3 to -3 off an upset loss as a favorite, playing a team with a winning record. This situation is 90-53 ATS (62.9 percent) since 1996. 10* (502) Boston Celtics

This is a play on the PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS for our NBA Friday Enforcer. Which Denver team shows up tonight? The Nuggets shot 50.6 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from three-point range in Game One but they hit just 34.7 percent (34-for-98) from the field, 20.7 percent from three-point range (6-for-29) and 61.5 percent from the foul line (16-for-26) in Game Two. We are thinking somewhere in-between and maybe shying toward Game Two as the Nuggets are a much different team on the road as they come in with a 21-23 record. Portland was able to steal home court advantage with the Game Two victory despite guard Damian Lillard being held to season playoff lows in points (14) and assists (four) on Wednesday. That is a telling sign as the Blazers showed that they are capable of winning other ways as they had five other players score in double-figures while stepping up defensively. This should not come as a surprise as the Blazers were ranked ninth in the NBA in effective field goal shooting defense during the regular season. The Nuggets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games against teams with a winning home record while the Blazers are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 home games against teams with a losing road record. Here, we play against road underdogs against division opponents, off an upset loss to a division rival as a favorite. This situation is 25-6 ATS (80.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (588) Portland Trail Blazers

This is a play on the PHILADELPHIA 76ERS for our NBA Thursday Enforcer. Philadelphia stole Game Two of this series to gain home court advantage and it has still not gotten a top effort from Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid which is actually a good sign at this stage with this series being tied. The fact the Sixers are a home underdog here is surprising based on the venue change and what the lines were in Toronto but it is clear that the linesmakers are expecting more Raptors action tonight but we are not buying into that. The Sixers are 33-11 at home which have included two blowout wins over the Nets in their last two games and while the Nets are not on the same level as the Raptors, Philadelphia cannot be taken lightly on its home floor. The Sixers defense was shaky in Game One but terrific in Game Two as they held the Raptors to 36.7 percent shooting, including 27 percent from long range. The return of Mike Scott is actually a big deal tonight as he is a 3-and-D combo forward capable of covering opposing players 2-4 while even being able to play some small ball center. The Game Three winner in a series that is tied 1-1 has gone on to win the series 74 percent of the time which shows how important winning one of those first two games on the road is. Here, we play against road favorites that are outscoring their opponents by three or more ppg, after scoring 90 points or less. This situation is 46-21 ATS (68.7 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (582) Philadelphia 76ers

This is a play on the DENVER NUGGETS for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. Denver took Game One of this series thanks to a huge effort from Nikola Jokic but it also got huge efforts from Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap to improve to 38-8 at home and it rolls into Game Two laying another short price. One of the most important playoff lessons the Nuggets learned was how difficult a series can be after giving up home court advantage. Denver losing Game One to San Antonio put them behind the eight ball until Game Four when they stole it back in a road victory so they know they cannot give this one up. Expect Millsap and Jokic to again have big performances against Portland due to the makeup of the Blazers frontcourt and if they choose to double-team Jokic, it would open up more looks from deep for the Denver backcourt. Damien Lillard has shown in the past he can take over a game as witnessed by his 50-point effort against the Thunder in the series clinching five-point win but he can not do it alone against a team as deep and balanced as Denver. He scored 39 points in Game One but only Enos Kanter had more than 17 points for the Blazers. Denver is 18-4 ATS in 22 home games after a game where they covered the spread this season. The Blazers meanwhile are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games against teams with a winning home record. 10* (578) Denver Nuggets

This is a play on the GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS for our NBA Tuesday Star Attraction. We lost with Golden St. on Sunday as it won Game One but failed to cover the number despite outshooting the Rockets 50.7 percent to 41.9 percent. The postgame, and going into Monday, was the lack of calls for the Rockets, namely James Harden and while some think those could be made up tonight, that will not be the case as the postseason is a big difference for those marginal calls. The main reason the Warriors were unable to pull away on Sunday was due to their 20 turnovers which is close to seven more than its season average so taking better care of the ball is imperative. The Warriors committed 10 turnovers in the first 16 minutes, giving Houston 10 points. Even with so many empty possessions, they had a three-point lead which tells a lot. Additionally, Golden St. was third best in the league during the regular season in long range shooting but went just 7-22 (31.8 percent) from behind the arc so those two small areas can turn a four-point win into a blowout victory. As can better games from two of its stars that seemed their ankle issues slowed them down. Steph Curry struggled all game (3-of-10 on three-pointers with 18 points) as did Klay Thompson (13 points on 5-of-13 shooting) and both of those lines can be considered outliers. Here, we play against underdogs off a road cover where the team lost straight up as an underdog, in a game involving two teams with winning percentages between .600 and .750. This situation 57-15 ATS (79.2 percent) since 1996. 10* (574) Golden St. Warriors

This is a play on the GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. Golden St. showed what it is capable of with its Game Six win over the Clippers and as long as this team is focused, there is no stopping it. That can be said about every NBA team but the Warriors are on a different level and after going seven games with Houston last season, they will be coming out firing today to open this series. Additionally, with Houston winning both regular season games here, there will be a greater sense of urgency. Surprisingly this postseason, the Warriors have lost more home games (they were 1-2 at home in the first round) than they lost in the last two postseasons combined (19-1) but they can blame this year on complacency rather than focus. Against Utah, the Rockets allowed the Jazz to take wide open threes and hoped that they would not be able to hit them which they did not and they cannot take that chance here. Utah took 77.5 percent of their shots from the restricted area or three-point range, the second-highest rate in the postseason and only slightly lower than that of the Rockets (77.7 percent) and against Golden St. that is not an option. Here, we play on home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (that are shooting 48 percent or better on the season, after two straight games making nine or more three-point shots. This situation is 84-58 ATS (60 percent) since 1996. 10* (556) Golden St. Warriors

This is a play on the DENVER NUGGETS for our NBA Saturday Enforcer. We won with San Antonio on Thursday as it staved off elimination with a dominant home win by 17 points by pulling away in the fourth quarter. It was during the beginning of that final period, when Nikola Jokic was on the bench, that the Spurs extended their lead with a massive 22-4 run. The Spurs shot 57.1 percent from the floor but despite that, they were outscored 72-36 in the paint and that is where the Nuggets can once again take advantage on their home floor. It is hard to go against the experience of the Spurs as they have dominated the postseason for two decades however, there are hardly any remnants from those teams on the current roster. San Antonio is only the sixth No. 7 seed in NBA history to force a Game Seven against a No. 2 seed, and only five times has a No. 7 seed beaten a No. 2 seed in a first round match-up. Denver has responded well to must-win situations at every turn in this series as it has won by nine and 14 points following the first two losses. If nothing else, their NBA best 36-8 home record should afford them some measure of comfort in what will be an unprecedented environment. Denver is 12-4 ATS in home games revenging a loss this season while the Spurs are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following a straight up win. 10* (542) Denver Nuggets

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS for our NBA Friday Enforcer. We won with the Clippers in Game Five in Golden St. as they won outright to send the series back to Los Angeles and we are backing them again behind another huge number. Based on the venue change, this number should be no more than 8.5 but because it is the Warriors, and coming off a loss, the spread is inflated once again. The Clippers have scored 135 and 129 points the last two games at Golden St. but managed only 105 points in the two games at home and that cannot happen again. Los Angeles was far more reserved after its latest win at Golden St.. The Clippers are plenty aware that they shot 56.5 percent from the floor in Game Two, only to turn around and shoot 37.2 percent in Game Three. Now, after shooting 54.1 percent in Game Five, they are fully aware they cannot have a similar regression. Golden St. is 9-22 ATS after failing to cover four or five of their last six games against the spread this season while the Clippers are 29-11 ATS after allowing 105 points or more five straight games this season. Here, we play on underdogs of 10 or more points after allowing 55 points or more in the first half in two straight games going up against an opponent after scoring 120 points or more. This situation is 39-20 ATS (66.1 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (534) Los Angeles Clippers

This is a play on the SAN ANTONIO SPURS for our NBA Thursday Enforcer. Denver has a chance to end this series tonight and while it comes in with big momentum, things will not be easy. The Spurs are a very good home team with a 33-10 overall record and have lost in San Antonio twice in a row only once this season. They are hungry and desperate after two shellackings at the hands of the Nuggets that has put Denver ahead 3-2 in the series. The Spurs are obviously in must win mode and they are 24-5 ATS revenging a road loss this season. The Nuggets would love nothing more than to end this series early so they can rest a little bit extra and while they are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, their 20-21 road record was second worst of all Western Conference playoff teams. The Nuggets are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games playing with one day of rest while going 7-15 ATS in their last 22 road games after a game where they covered the spread this season. 10* (526) San Antonio Spurs

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. The Clippers put up a good effort in Game Four but eventually lost by eight points and now their backs are really against the wall down 3-1 in this series. Los Angeles stole one here in Game Two and there is no reason to believe it cannot steal another one although our main concern is staying within this huge number. The Clippers got a poor effort from Lou Williams in Game Four as he scored just 12 points off the bench on 2-10 shooting and they need a bigger effort from him tonight. the Clippers are 28-11 ATS after allowing 105 points or more in five straight games this season. The Warriors would like to close this series out to that added rest similar to Philadelphia last night although we hardly see a dominating effort like that one. This is the most vulnerable Golden St. team we have seen since the dynasty began and while they can flip the switch at any given moment, they can also go into a funk at any given moment. The Warriors are 10-21-1 ATS in their last 32 home games. Here, we play on road underdogs of 10 or more points playing with double revenge, against opponent off a road win scoring 110 or more points. This situation is 97-56 ATS (63.4 percent) since 1996. 10* (515) Los Angeles Clippers

This is a play on the PHILADELPHIA 76ERS for our NBA Tuesday Supreme Annihilator. After losing the opener of this series, Philadelphia has won the last three games to take control and this is a big game to seize as the Sixers need the same time off as the Raptors which also play tonight and can close out Orlando. They needed a comeback against Brooklyn in Game Four as they outscored the Nets by 10 points in the fourth quarter but the two games prior to that resulted in wins by 22 and 16 points and that is what we expect tonight as long as the Sixers show up, they are capable of another blowout victory. One of the reasons Philadelphia enjoys a 3-1 lead against the Nets is the exceptional defense the team has played on D'Angelo Russell and the Sixers should be able to continue that heading home where they are 32-11 while the Nets, despite the Game One win, are three games under .500 on the road. Additionally, Philadelphia is 17-5 ATS in its last 22 home games after successfully covering the spread in three or more consecutive games while the Nets are now 2-6 ATS in their last eight games against teams with a winning percentage above .600. 10* (508) Philadelphia 76ers

This is a play on the DETROIT PISTONS for our NBA Monday Enforcer. This series is a good as over but the Pistons will be playing for pride as they have lost all seven meetings this season including the first three in this series that have come by an average of 24 ppg. While the Bucks will be looking to end their streak of eight straight first-round exits there is a little more embarrassment for the Pistons to remove as they have lost 13 consecutive playoff games, tied for the longest streak in NBA postseason history. Power forward Blake Griffin made his debut in the series after sitting out the first two games with a sore left knee. He toughed it out for 31 minutes and posted 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists. His teammates let him down, as Detroit shot below 40 percent for the third straight game. The Pistons are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games against teams with a winning road record. Here, we play on underdogs of 10 or more points revenging two straight losses of 10 points or more, off a loss by 10 points or more to a division rival. This situation is 55-24 ATS (69.6 percent) since 1996. 10* (574) Detroit Pistons

This is a play on the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. After losing the first two games in this series, Oklahoma City got one back on Friday and definitely needs to take Game Four before heading back to Portland. The Thunder won despite a horrible shooting night from Paul George who went just 3-16 from the floor including 2-7 from long range so that is actually a good edge for tonight as he likely will not be as bad. The Thunder are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games while the Blazers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Here, we play on home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points with a winning percentage between .501 and .600 off a home win by 10 points or more, playing a winning team. This situation is 41-14 ATS (74.5 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (572) Oklahoma City Thunder

This is a play on the UTAH JAZZ for our NBA Saturday Enforcer. We played on Utah in Game Two on Wednesday but a horrible start cost the Jazz as they fell behind by 20 points after the first quarter and never led the entire game. They shot just 21.1 percent from long range and that was also the problem in Game One where they shot only 25.9 percent from behind the arc. A return home should get Utah back in gear where it is 29-12 on the season. Houston has kept Donovan Mitchell from making plays as he is shooting only 32.4 percent from the floor including going just 4-15 from three-point range. Houston is 0-7 ATS in road games after leading their last two games by 10 or more points at the half this season while the Jazz are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss. Here, we play on home favorites revenging a loss of 10 points or more, off two or more consecutive road losses. This situation is 53-21 ATS (71.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (564) Utah Jazz

This is a play on the INDIANA PACERS for our NBA Friday Enforcer. The Pacers need a win tonight to avoid a 3-0 series disadvantage and heading home will help them. Indiana held a lead late in Game Two but went scoreless for nearly eight full minutes in the fourth quarter, a stretch during which the Celtics scored 16 straight points to flip an 82-70 deficit into a four-point lead. The Pacers are 29-12 at home and this is their first home game in close to two weeks. Going back the Pacers are 6-0 ATS in their last six home games following a road trip of seven or more days. Boston is just 21-20 on the road and this is a tough spot to be in which is similar to last postseason when it won the first two games in its opening series against Milwaukee only to hit the road and lose by 24 points in Game Three. The Pacers have another intangible edge as Victor Oladipo is expected to attend Game Three, marking his first public appearance in Bankers Life Fieldhouse since he ruptured his quad tendon. Here, we play on home teams with a winning percentage between .501 and .600 where the line is +3 to -3 off two or more consecutive road losses, playing a winning team. This situation is 86-45 ATS (65.6 percent) since 1996. 10* (554) Indiana Pacers

This is a play on the DETROIT PISTONS for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. We won with the Clippers on Monday as it was coming off a blowout loss against Golden St. in Game One and we will be backing the Pistons in a similar situation tonight. Detroit lost by 35 points on Sunday in a game it never led and trailed by an many as 43 points and the situation here is similar to that of the Clippers in that they are getting the same amount of points in Game Two. The defensive intensity was bad on Sunday as the Pistons were not getting back on defense, which made for some easy baskets so they have to shore that up tonight. They fell behind 20-4 because of that lack of intensity and after returning home and watching the film, head coach Dwane Casey said many adjustments will be made. The Pistons are 5-0 ATS in their last five games playing on two days of rest while the Bucks are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game. Here, we play against favorites of 10 or more points that are outscoring their opponents by nine or more ppg going up against an opponent after scoring 90 points or less. This situation is 106-57 ATS (65 percent) since 1996. 10* (539) Detroit Pistons

This is a play on the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER for our NBA Tuesday Enforcer. Oklahoma City finds itself in a hole after Game One as it led only once and fell behind by 14 points after one quarter and was unable to make a late rally. The Thunder shot 39.8 percent as a team and were only 5 for 33 from the three-point line which is surprising against a Portland defense that is ranked a below average No. 17 in defensive efficiency. Despite their issues, the Thunder were down just 93-92 with 2:44 remaining in regulation so any average shooting night can even this series heading back to Oklahoma City. One of the main problems was Paul George who after averaging 38 ppg and hitting 45.9 percent from long range on nearly 10 attempts against the Blazers during the regular season, he scored just 26 points, including going 4-15 from behind the arc. The Oklahoma City defense resulted in the Blazers making 12-20 shots (60 percent) overall and 7-10 three-pointers (70 percent) from the floor in the first quarter which was the ultimate difference. Here, we play on road underdogs after allowing 100 points or more in two straight games going up against an opponent after three straight wins by six points or less. This situation is 35-9 (79.5 percent) since 1996. 10* (535) Oklahoma City Thunder

This is a play on the LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS for our NBA Monday Enforcer. Golden St. is clearly the top team in the NBA and it went into playoff mode on Saturday by putting away the Clippers by 17 points in a game it trailed by just three points at one time. The Warriors are now favored by the same amount in Game Two which is a little surprising based on the bounce angle where bettors take the opposing team from the Game One cover but the dominance of Golden St. balances that out with the spread. It is tough in this league to put together back-to-back performances like that, even with the Warriors as last postseason after dominating Game One wins over New Orleans and Houston, they struggled in Game Two. Los Angeles held its own for a while as the game was tied at 51 before Golden St. pulled away so it can certainly hang and needs to as even a small loss can give the Clippers some hope and momentum heading back home. The Warriors are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points while the Clippers are 26-10 ATS in their last 36 games after allowing 105 points or more five straight games this season. Here, we play on underdogs of 10 or more points revenging a road loss of 10 points or more, playing only their 2nd game in five days. This situation is 131-77 (63 percent) since 1996. 10* (523) Los Angeles Clippers

This is a play on the UTAH JAZZ for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. Utah is expected to be another tough out in the playoffs as its defense should be able to go toe-to-toe with the Rockets. The Jazz have ranked in the top three in defensive efficiency each of the last three seasons and they were one of two teams that allowed fewer than 10 three-pointers per game this season. The Jazz and Rockets ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in point differential per 100 possessions. They were the league's two best teams in that regard after the All-Star break. Utah cannot be discounted on offense however is it scored 6.0 more points per 100 possessions after the All-Star break (114.4, fourth in the league) than they did before the break (108.4, 19th). That was the league's biggest post-break, OffRtg improvement. Utah is 21-9 ATS after one or more consecutive losses this season while the Rockets are 0-6 ATS in their last six games playing on three or more days rest. Here, we play against home teams in the second half of the season that are averaging 102 or more ppg against allowing 102 or more ppg, after scoring 110 points or more three straight games. This situation is 152-96 ATS (61.3 percent) since 1996. 10* (517) Utah Jazz

This is a play on the DENVER NUGGETS for our NBA Saturday Enforcer. This is a statement game for Denver as it is getting crushed by the media despite finishing second in the Western Conference, just three games behind Golden St. The Nuggets finished 34-7 at home which was the best home record in the NBA and they get a good matchup in the first round against the Spurs whose 16-25 road record is the second worst of the 16 playoff teams, one win better than Detroit. The home and road defensive splits for the Spurs are not pretty. They gave up 106.7 points per 100 possessions, which was the 10th ranked home mark in the entire league and would have been good for 6th across the entire season. Their performance on the road, however, was another story. For some reason, they were unable to bring the focus and desire they showed at home on the road, allowing 114.3 points per 100 possessions. That 7.6 drop-off made them the 25th ranked defense on the road. In the first two games they played, Denver was without the services of Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, and Will Barton, three players that make up their current starting lineup. Here, we play against underdogs with a winning percentage between .501 and .600 after three or more consecutive wins, playing a winning team. This situation is 81-46 ATS (63.8 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (508) Denver Nuggets

This is a play on the MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES for our NBA Tuesday Enforcer. The Raptors have been locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference so there is nowhere to move going into their regular season finale tonight. Toronto is expected to play the starters tonight to avoid any rust in the upcoming playoffs but minutes will be downsized for rest and injury avoidance and we could see a late scratch so getting the big number early could pay off. The Raptors are coming off a win over Miami on Sunday and now they play their final game of the season on the road and going back, the Raptors are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. Minnesota has had a disaster of a season but most of the damage has come on the road where it is 11-29, the third worst road record in the Western Conference with one game remaining. That makes this the final home game of the season for the Timberwolves where they are a respectable 25-15 and they are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games against teams with a winning road record. Here, we play against favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points with a winning percentage between .600 and .750 after having won four of their last five games, playing a team with a losing record. This situation is 116-69 ATS (62.7 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (512) Minnesota Timberwolves

This is a play on the TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS for our CBB National Championship Winner. Virginia escaped another near loss as it has been taken to the brink in each of its last three games with the final two going their way on controversial calls. Texas Tech pulled away and survived a late rally from Michigan St. to reach its first ever championship game and it has looked much better in the process than the Cavaliers. Virginia has the stingiest defense in the country measured in points allowed at 55.5 ppg but Texas Tech has been even more impressive at that end of the floor during the tournament. What the Red Raiders, who top the nation in defensive efficiency, did against Michigan and Michigan St. en route to the title game was extraordinary. The Red Raiders have held their last three opponents to a combined 74 points under their average. They also showed a huge team effort and is just not made up of two stars. Texas Tech won on a night in which Jarrett Culver, its leading scorer, hit his last two shots to finish 3-of-12 from the field and scored just 10 points. It won on a night when its best shot-blocker, Tariq Owens, limped from the floor early in the second half and did not return for almost eight minutes. The Cavaliers force opponents to settle for outside shots and they excel at making those looks as ineffective as possible. However, Texas Tech has the ability to get it done from outside as the Red Raiders are shooting 36.5 percent from three-point range for the season. Texas Tech is 14-3 ATS against teams shooting 45 percent or better this season. 10* (811) Texas Tech Red Raiders

This is a play on the INDIANA PACERS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. It is do or die for the Pacers which have to win out and hope the Celtics lose their final two games to secure home court advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs. A loss against Boston on Friday put Indiana in this tough spot and the good news is that it plays first on Sunday. Indiana currently owns the fifth spot and is one game behind Boston, which hosts Orlando two and a half hours after the tip-off here. If the Celtics and Pacers finish tied, Boston wins the head-to-head tiebreaker because it won three of four meetings. Brooklyn is fighting for its playoff life as it is tied with Orlando for sixth place in the Eastern Conference while sitting a half-game ahead of the Pistons, which they beat in two of three meetings to get the tiebreaker. They are coming off an upset win last night in Milwaukee but the Bucks sat Giannis Antetokounmpo and limited most starters minutes. The Pacers, who have won nine straight over the Nets, 12 of 14 and seven straight at home, are 26-7 ATS in their last 33 games following a double-digit loss at home. Meanwhile, the Nets are 1-4 ATS in their last five games playing with no rest and they are 0-5 this season in the second of back-to-back road games. 10* (570) Indiana Pacers

This is a play on the TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS for our CBB Texas Tech/Michigan St. Winner. This has the makings of a low scoring, grind-it-out type of game and that favors the underdog, a spot the Red Raiders have been in during their previous two wins over Michigan and Gonzaga. Texas Tech has won its tournament games by an average of 15 ppg thanks to a stop unit that has picked up right where it left off. Texas Tech has the nation's stingiest defense, according to KenPom, allowing just 84.0 points per 100 possessions. The Red Raiders are holding teams to 36.9 percent shooting overall and just 29.3 percent from three-point range, and the Spartans are making just 35.3 percent from beyond the arc in the NCAA tournament after finishing the regular season and Big Ten tournament at 38.1 percent. Texas Tech held Gonzaga's potent offense, the highest-scoring in the country, to just 69 point, almost 20 below their season average. The Spartans do possess Big Ten Player of the Year point guard Cassius Winston and many are saying he will be the difference maker. However, the Red Raiders could have the difference maker in Big 12 Player of the Year Jarrett Culver who is averaging 21.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 4.5 apg in the NCAA Tournament. Here, we play against neutral court teams after three or more consecutive unders and averaging 77 or more ppg on the season. This situation is 97-56 ATS (63.4 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (801) Texas Tech Red Raiders

This is a play on the AUBURN TIGERS for our CBB Auburn/Virginia Winner. Auburn escaped a late collapse against New Mexico St. and while many doubted the Tigers after that near collapse, they used that as motivation to take out three college basketball blue bloods in Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. That is a very impressive run and one that is much better than Virginia which played against much lesser competition and struggled over the last two games to get through to the Final Four. Some consider Auburn an underachiever but it came into the season ranked No. 11 so if anything, the Tigers underachieved during the middle of the season and are peaking at the right time. The NCAA Tournament run came on the heels of winning the SEC Tournament so this team is for real yet Auburn is getting no respect based on this line. This is a matchup of strength against strength on both ends as Auburn loves to put up points in a hurry, while Virginia is all about forcing difficult shots and playing stifling defense. On the other end, the Cavaliers only turn the ball over nine times per game, while the Tigers are one of the best in forcing turnovers with 17.33 per game which is seventh in the country. The Tigers are going to keep shooting threes no matter the score and whether they are falling or not, so they can mount comebacks, as we saw against Kentucky after falling behind 22-11, and build leads in a hurry. 10* (803) Auburn Tigers

This is a play on the INDIANA PACERS for our NBA Friday Star Attraction. While it is not a playoff game just yet, Boston and Indiana are likely to play in the first round of the postseason with home court yet to be determined which makes the game tonight a big one for both sides. Both teams enter with identical 47-32 records, although the Celtics own the tiebreaker by virtue of their 2-1 record against the Pacers this season so there is more desperation for Indiana as a loss here would essentially put them two games back with two games to play. Although a first-round matchup between the teams is not official, neither will finish worse than fifth in the standings, and in order for one team to move into third place, it would have to make up 2.5 games with three to play. The Celtics have won two straight games and four of their last five following a four-game losing streak but they enter tonight a game under .500 on the road. The Pacers have also won two straight games following a home-and-home sweep of the Pistons after a dreadful 1-7 run that knocked them out of third place in the Eastern Conference. Indiana is 17-5 ATS in its last 22 home games revenging a same season loss and here, we play on home favorites after a game where they covered the spread, in a game involving two teams with winning percentages between .501 and .600. This situation is 98-47 ATS (67.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (540) Indiana Pacers

This is a play on the PHILADELPHIA 76ERS for our NBA Thursday Star Attraction. One of the last marquee games of the season takes place Thursday night and this line came out late in most places due to the uncertain status of Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid. The latter is expected to play after missing tow games to rest a sore knee and Butler rejoined the lineup but could be rested tonight. The only meaningful game remaining on the schedule is the one and it is as close to a dress rehearsal as you can get this time of year so Philadelphia coming in with all of its horses would not be a surprise. The Sixers, with four games left in their season, are 2.5 games ahead of Boston for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Their 30-9 home record is tied for fifth best in the NBA and going back, Sixers are 35-17 ATS in their last 52 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. Milwaukee needs one win to clinch the Eastern Division and with upcoming home games against Brooklyn and Atlanta, winning the conference is pretty much assured. The Bucks won the first meeting at home very early in the season but the Sixers won the second game in Milwaukee two and a half weeks ago with their current roster. Here, we play on home underdogs coming off an upset loss as a favorite, in a game involving two teams with winning percentages between .600 and .750. This situation is 38-14 ATS (73.1 percent) since 1996. 10* (526) Philadelphia 76ers

This is a play on the LIPSCOMB BISONS for our CBB NIT Championship Enforcer. It was a disappointing end for the Bisons after losing to Liberty in the Atlantic Sun Championship but instead of calling it a season, they put their head down in search of another goal. They won their first three games on the road and then took care of Wichita St. in the Semifinals at MSG. Libscomb overcame an 11-point deficit with just over eight minutes remaining against the Shockers and ended up winning by seven points. The Bisons have the 18th-highest assist rate in the country, and that helped make the difference, generating assists on each of their final six made field goals. Lipscomb is 6-0 ATS in its last six games away from home when playing against a team with a winning record while going 12-2 ATS in non-conference games this season. Texas has used a strong defense to get this far but the offense has struggled over the last two games and the Longhorns could be in trouble against a tough perimeter defense. Lipscomb is surrendering the 47th-lowest three-point percentage at 31.9 percent with its sound on-ball defense. Texas went 7-15 from the free throw line against TCU and is hitting a dreadful 57.8 percent from the stripe over its last five games. The Longhorns are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games after a game shooting 53 percent our worse from the free throw line. 10* (727) Lipscomb Bisons

This is a play on the BROOKLYN NETS for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. Toronto is still mathematically alive for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, it is highly unlikely as it trails Milwaukee by three games with four games so it has to win out while the Bucks have to go 0-4 and the schedules do not set up well for that scenario. The Raptors have done their best with four straight wins but those were against teams on the outside looking in including a pair of wins over Chicago and one over New York, two of the three worst teams in the conference. Toronto is 3-13 ATS after four or more consecutive wins this season. While the Raptors continue tuning up for their sixth consecutive postseason appearance, the Nets are in a scramble to secure one of the final three seeds in the Eastern Conference. The Nets head into tonight a half-game behind sixth-place Detroit, a half-game up on Miami and one game ahead of Orlando. The remainder of the schedule is the toughest in the NBA so every game is huge at this point and there can be no letting up. The Nets are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following a double-digit loss at home. Here, we play on home underdogs off an upset loss as a home favorite, second half of the season. This situation is 49-21 ATS (70 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (512) Brooklyn Nets

This is a play on the SAN ANTONIO SPURS for our NBA Tuesday Supreme Annihilator. All playoff spots in the Western Conference have been filled but positioning is still up in the air and San Antonio has a lot to gain with a big finish. The Spurs are currently tied for seventh place with the Thunder meaning the first round playoff opponent would be wither Golden St. or Denver but moving up to sixth place means playing a depleted Portland team. They trail the Clippers by 2.5 games for that spot but it is doable with an easy schedule to close out the season. San Antonio lost on Sunday at home against Sacramento as a double-digit favorite and going back, it is 21-7 ATS in its last 28 games coming off an upset loss as a home favorite of 10 points or more. Atlanta pulled off the upset against Milwaukee at home on Sunday in overtime but the Bucks sat everyone with no starter playing a single minute. The Hawks are just 12-26 on the road and are likely to be without leading scorer and rebounder John Collins as he is expected to so sit. 10* (582) San Antonio Spurs

This is a play on the INDIANA PACERS for our NBA Monday Supreme Annihilator. It has been a rough stretch for the Pacers and they have fallen into a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference after possessing third place not that long ago. The Pacers finished the month of March 4-10, including a 1-7 mark over the last eight games which includes three straight losses. Indiana lost four straight games after leading scorer Victor Oladipo suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon in his right knee in late January. The Pacers got over the initial shock of losing him by posting a 9-3 record in February. Indiana is 24-11 ATS in its last 35 games off a home loss. Detroit meanwhile has won two straight games to maintain its spot in 6th place in the Eastern Conference but has no chance to move up. Detroit is 10-23 ATS in its last 33 road games off a home win. Here, we play on favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points in the second half of the season that are between +3 to +7 ppg in scoring differential going up against a team with a +/- 3 ppg in scoring differential, after allowing 110 points or more two straight games. This situation is 41-20 ATS (67.2 percent) since 1996. 10* (562) Indiana Pacers

This is a play on the WASHINGTON WIZARDS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. Denver and Golden St. are tied atop the Western Conference and both teams play Sunday prior to their showdown on Tuesday. While the Warriors host a Hornets team still in playoff contention, the Nuggets play a Wizards team that was eliminated on Thursday so while that may seem to make Denver the obvious play here, that is far from the case with this number being inflated because of it. While Washington has been losing more than it has been winning, of its last 11 losses, only two have been by more points than what they are getting today. Denver is having a fantastic season at home once again and while winning this game is at a premium, there is no reason to go full out with the game against the Warriors upcoming. The Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last six home games against teams with a losing road record. Here, we play on underdogs of 10 or more points after a loss by six points or less going up against an opponent after scoring 110 points or more. This situation is 57-33 ATS (63.3 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (555) Washington Wizards

Duke has survived two close call in its last two games and those can be considered against non-elite competition so all signs point to a Michigan St. victory based on that. UCF and Virginia Tech each had a shot with a last second tip-in, the former for the win and the latter to send their game to overtime, but neither could capitalize on the opportunity. While the offense is what everybody talks about for Duke, it is the defense that has defined its season. Duke is a perfect 29-0 when it holds opponents to 76 points or fewer this season. On the other hand, the Blue Devils are 3-5 when opponents score more than 76 and they face a Michigan St. team that is averaging just 72.3 ppg in the six neutral site games since the start of the Big Ten Tournament. While these are two legendary coaches going at it, this has been a one-sided affair as Tom Izzo has a 1-11 career record against Mike Krzyzewski and that says something. The value is here as well as Duke 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games after failing to cover the spread in three or more consecutive games. 9* (692) Duke Blue Devils

The big upset yesterday came with Texas Tech taking out Gonzaga and we expect to see another one today in Auburn taking out Kentucky. The loss of Chuma Okeke is obviously huge for the Tigers but this is what brings teams even closer together. "I feel like it's gonna motivate us knowing that one of our soldiers aren't able to be out there and battle with us," guard Bryce Brown said. Auburn, with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take out Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky, will show up. The Tigers have hit 438 (11.5 per game), which is the most in college basketball this season (and just 26 shy of the all-time mark for a season, set last season by Villanova), so they are in good company. They have double-revenge on the plate as well and in the most recent meeting, Auburn was just 8-27 from long-range and we can call that an anomaly as Kentucky is not a great defense out on the perimeter. Auburn is 13-5 ATS in its last 18 games after two straight games where they made 10 or more three-point shots. 10* (693) Auburn Tigers

Defense will be the story in this game as well as Virginia has one of the best units in the country. The Cavaliers have allowed just 52 ppg in their three NCAA Tournament games so that side will not be an issue but it is the offense that will need to put up a better performance. They shot just 35.7 percent against Oregon as the Ducks matchup zone caused problems and there is one player ready for a breakout as Kyle Guy is just 8-for-38 in the tournament, including 3-for-26 from three-point range. The Boilermakers easily defeated Old Dominion and defending national champion Villanova in the first two rounds, but they needed overtime to defeat Tennessee in the Sweet 16 on Thursday after blowing an 18-point lead. It was a controversial end in regulation on a three-point shot foul so Purdue is fortunate to ever be here. Virginia is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games away from home after allowing 50 points or less. 10* (682) Virginia Cavaliers

This is a play on the INDIANA PACERS for our NBA Saturday Enforcer. While Indiana has clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers are now sitting in the No. 5 spot following a two-point loss in Boston last night. They can move back into the No. 4 spot with a win here depending what Boston does in Brooklyn and the remainder of the schedule sets up well for them. They are back home for four of their final six games as they look to improve upon their 28-9 record at home and they have dominated the poor teams here, going 8-1 ATS in their last nine home games against teams with a road winning percentage of less than .400. We played against Orlando on Thursday as it lost in Detroit and while all games are now must wins, this is a team that does not have what it takes down the stretch. The Magic are a half-game behind Miami for the final playoff spot but they are nine games under .500 on the road and have to play four of their final six games on the highway, all against teams fighting for a playoff spot or playoff positioning. This is also a revenge spot for Indiana and it is 16-4 ATS this season in home games revenging a same season loss. 10* (538) Indiana Pacers

Defense plays a big role this far into the NCAA Tournament and Texas Tech is showing what it has and what it can do. The Red Raiders have held 13 opponents below 55 points and they are giving up 53 points on 35.6 percent shooting in three NCAA Tournament wins. The last game against Michigan was almost comical as All-Big Ten point guard Zavier Simpson did not score and had one assist in 35 minutes while the Wolverines made 1 of 19 three-point shots. They had nearly as many turnovers (14) as field goals (16). Gonzaga will be a challenge coming in as the best offense in the country but it was tested against a strong Florida St. defense, needing a late surge to pull away late. The Red Raiders have proven to be able to shut down good offenses they are 12-3 ATS against teams that are shooting 45 percent or better this season which will keep this one close and an outright win is more than possible. 10* (683) Texas Tech Red Raiders

This is a play on the HOUSTON COUGARS for our CBB Friday Enforcer. We played against Kentucky last Saturday and it was fortunate to come away with the win and cover as Fletcher Magee, the all-time leading three-point shooter, went 0-12 from long range yet the game still came down to the final seconds. Houston had no issues with Georgia St. and Ohio St. and the Cougars are catching the smallest number of the four Friday games but that is for a reason as the overall numbers actually favor them slightly. Kentucky currently ranks seventh overall in KenPom efficiency, thanks in large part to their eighth-ranked defense. The offense is not far behind at 11th overall. As for the Cougars, they rank 12th overall on the strength of their 12th-ranked defense. They are actually the top team in the nation in terms of opponent effective field-goal percentage. They rank fifth in opponent two-point percentage and first in opponent three-point percentage. Houston has had four players in double figures in both games and will need that balance throughout the lineup to beat Kentucky and that certainly is not out of the question. The Cougars are 20-9-1 ATS in their last 30 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600 while the Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following an ATS win. 10* (671) Houston Cougars

This is a play on the PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS for our NBA Friday Enforcer. Atlanta has won three straight and five of its last eight games as it playing out the season looking to build a foundation for next season. The Hawks are playing spoiler at the moment as they have defeated Utah and Philadelphia during the recent streak, hurting their playoff seeding hopes. They will be out to do it again here on Friday and despite the aforementioned victories, Atlanta is just 5-18 on the season against top ten power ranked teams. Atlanta is 12-24 ATS in its last 36 games after successfully covering the spread in two or more consecutive games. Portland has won five straight games and eight of its last nine to remain tied with Houston for third place in the Western Conference. The Blazers are beating the teams they need to as they have not lot to a non-contending playoff team since March 5 and on the season, they are 25-9 against teams outside the top 16 in the power rankings. Portland is 11-1 ATS in 12 games this season following a win by 15 points or more. Here, we play against home underdogs that are averaging 99 or more ppg going up against an opponent after a win by 20 points or more. This situation is 110-67 ATS (62.1 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (519) Portland Trail Blazers

This is a play on the PURDUE BOILERMAKERS for our CBB Thursday Enforcer. Purdue and Tennessee come into the Sweet 16 riding different paths. The Boilermakers were not challenged in their two games, winning by a combined 39 points while the Volunteers struggled to beat Colgate and needed overtime to defeat Iowa after blowing a 25-point lead. While the previous two games should not have been too difficult, the Volunteers still struggled throughout large portions of both games and if they make the same mistakes against Purdue, they will have little chance of winning. Since losing by 18 points against Michigan St. back in January, Purdue is 16-3 so it comes in peaking at the right time. The key player and difference-maker in this matchup is Purdue guard Carsen Edwards, a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He leads the Big Ten in scoring at 23.6 points per game. And he isn't shy about getting up his shots, averaging 19.3 field-goal attempts per game. He shoots a modest 38.9 percent from the field, but that includes a clip of 34.6 percent from 3-point range. The Volunteers had issues with Jordan Burns and Jordan Bohannon in the last two games and neither of those two compare to Edwards. Tennessee is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games against teams outscoring opponents by four or more ppg while the Boilermakers are 40-19 ATS in their last 59 non-conference games. 10* (651) Purdue Boilermakers

This is a play on the DETROIT PISTONS for our NBA Thursday Enforcer. Orlando has won six straight games to overtake Miami for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference and it has a chance to move up to the No. 7 position with a win tonight. The first five wins came at home and the most recent win at Miami on Tuesday snapped a four-game road losing streak where the Magic are just 14-22 on the season. Orlando is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games. Detroit is back home following a five-game roadtrip that included a brutal stretch of games against Portland, Golden St. and Denver over the last three. The Pistons have been red hot at home as they have won and covered nine straight games and the streak has not been just against garbage teams as the winning streak includes victories against Toronto twice, Indiana and Denver. This run has put Detroit 10 games over .500 at home and it has been fantastic in this spot on the year, going 25-6 in 31 games as a favorite and going back, the Pistons are 23-14 ATS in 37 games after playing a road game this season. 10* (504) Detroit Pistons

This is a play on the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER for our NBA Wednesday Enforcer. We won with the Pacers on Sunday as they snapped a four-game slide to remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with eight games left. The Pacers are back on the road which is not a good thing as Indiana has struggled on the road of late, dropping eight consecutive games away from home. This includes a four-game roadtrip sweep against Western Conference playoff teams and it faces another one tonight and a desperate one at that. The last time Indiana and Oklahoma City met, March 14 in Indianapolis, the Pacers came back after trailing by 19 points midway through the third to beat the Thunder 108-106 on Wesley Matthews' tip-in with 1.8 seconds remaining so revenge is in play tonight. That started a 1-5 slide for the Thunder which have fallen into seventh place in the conference. Indiana is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 road games against teams allowing 106 or more ppg while the Thunder are 15-5 ATS in their last 20 games against teams from the NBA Central Division. 10* (576) Oklahoma City Thunder

This is a play on the MIAMI HEAT for our NBA Tuesday Enforcer. We played against the Magic last night and Philadelphia was in fine shape until the Orlando defense stepped up in the second half, holding the 76ers scoreless for nearly 12 minutes, forcing 15 consecutive missed shots during a 30-5 run. Orlando just finished the first 5-0 home stretch in franchise history and now trails Miami by just a half-game in the race for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. They now hit the road where they have lost four straight games and are just 13-22 on the season. The Magic are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a losing straight up record. Miami is coming off a win at Washington and it has won four of its last five games to maintain its lead in the Southeast Division. The Heat are 4-0 ATS in their last four games against teams with a losing straight up record. Here, we play against road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points revenging a home loss of 10 points or more, off a home win by 10 points or more. This situation is 115-67 ATS (63.2 percent) since 1996. 10* (560) Miami Heat

This is a play on the PHILADELPHIA 76ERS for our NBA Monday Enforcer. The Sixers are in the drivers seat for third place in the Eastern Conference but it is not over yet. They are 2.5 games ahead of Indiana for fourth place with that spot to face Boston in the first round and that is what Philadelphia wants to avoid. The Sixers are coming off a loss at Atlanta on Saturday which snapped a six-game winning streak and this is a good spot for a bounceback as Philadelphia is 20-5 this season following a loss, covering 16 of those games and this includes an 11-4 ATS mark when the line is -6 or less. Orlando meanwhile has won four straight games to move one game behind Miami for eighth place in the Eastern Conference but being three games under .500 for the season is certainly nothing to be intimidated by. Orlando is just 15-20 against teams ranked within the top 16 of the league in power rankings and going back, the Magic are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games playing with two days of rest. Meanwhile, Philadelphia is 15-2 ATS in 17 games this season after failing to cover four or five of their last six against the spread. Here, we play on road favorites after a loss by three points or less going up against an opponent after scoring 105 points or more. This situation is 98-56 ATS (63.6 percent) since 1996. 10* (547) Philadelphia 76ers

This is a play on the UC IRVINE ANTEATERS for our NCAA Sunday Late Night Winner. Oregon made an unexpected run through the Pac 12 Tournament, winning four games in four days, just to get into the field. While the win over Wisconsin was very impressive, shooting an unconscious percentage from the floor is unlikely to repeat itself. The Anteaters 17-game winning streak no longer can be dismissed as a product of playing in the Big West Conference after its win over Kansas St. The Ducks typically need to use their size to their advantage around the glass but that should be neutralized here as UC Irvine comes in ranked No. 12 in Team Total Rebounding Percentage whereas Oregon is just No. 104. Additionally, UC Irvine is the best rim-protecting team in the nation, holding opponents to 44 percent shooting and 0.9 points per possession. 10* (873) UC Irvine Anteaters

This is a play on the HOUSTON COUGARS for our NCAA Sunday Enforcer. Ohio St. looked impressive in its win over Iowa St. on Friday but it is running into a buzzsaw on Sunday. The Cougars like to speed up the pace and will try to do so against Ohio St. as their quickness and efficiency on both ends of the court are hard to contain much less slow down. While the offense gets the pub, the Houston defense is among the best in the country, holding opponents to just 61.2 ppg and it is ranked No. 5 in the country in defensive efficiency. Despite allowing just five more ppg on defense, Ohio St. is ranked only No. 63 in that same category. Ohio St. is 3-10 ATS against teams outscoring their opponents by eight or more ppg this season while the Cougars are 24-11-1 ATS in their last 36 games against teams with a winning straight up record. 10* (872) Houston Cougars

This is a play on the INDIANA PACERS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. This is a contrarian play on Indiana which is riding a four-game losing streak, all coming on the road against Western Conference Playoff teams, but the Pacers remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference thanks to the rest of conference faltering as well. Indiana is back home where it is 27-9, the sixth best home record in the NBA, and it has covered eight of its last 11 games here. One of those recent road losses came at Denver by a bucket and the Pacers are 15-4 ATS in their last 19 home games revenging a same season loss. Denver meanwhile has won six straight games to take over first place in the Western Conference. The last three have come on the road where the Nuggets are just three games over .500 on the season. They are 6-16 ATS in their last 22 road games after a win by 10 points or more. Here, we play on underdogs in non-conference games, off three or more consecutive road losses. This situation is 57-29 ATS (66.3 percent) over the last 5 seasons. 10* (536) Indiana Pacers

This is a play on the AUBURN TIGERS for our NCAA Saturday Enforcer. The public is on Kansas, well, because it is Kansas being an underdog which rarely happens for the Jayhawks prior to the Sweet 16 and the near collapse for Auburn against New Mexico St. on Thursday. The Tigers are the favorites here despite two completely opposite performances in the first round but we are backing them here as Kansas will not get nearly the same lackluster effort that Northeastern put up. The Huskies came into that game as a proficient three-point shooting team but went just 6-28 from long range. Auburn presents the same style but do not expect a repeat performance of bad shooting. Defense presents another problem for the Jayhawks, in that Auburn leads the country in forcing turnovers, with opponents turning it over on 25.1 percent of their possessions. Kansas actually turned it over 12 times against Northeastern and if you extrapolate that against a much better defense, that spells trouble for the Jayhawks. 10* (849) Auburn Tigers

This is a play on the WOFFORD TERRIERS for our NCAA Saturday Early Shocker. Kentucky can typically go a long way with its athleticism but it can only go so far. The Wildcats are already short-handed, and sophomore forward P.J. Washington, their leading scorer and rebounder, will miss the game with a sprained right foot, leaving them with a slim eight-man rotation. Against a small conference, this is a game they typically would win going away but that is not the case today. Wofford is legit. The Terriers are 13th in the NET rankings, won a school-record 30 games and have won 21 consecutive games. Their No. 7 seed is the best for a Southern Conference team since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The Terriers rank 62nd in the country in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency and are also one of the few teams that can battle Kentucky on the offensive boards. They do play in the So-Con but their non-conference schedule was legit so there is no intimidation here. 10* (843) Wofford Terriers

This is a play on the VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES for our Friday NCAA Tournament Enforcer. The Hokies come into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed, the highest in program history, so there are expectations. Starting point guard Justin Robinson will rejoin the Hokies after missing 12 games due to a foot injury. Virginia Tech went 7–5 in his absence while going 17-3 prior to his injury. Robinson was averaging 13.7 ppg and 5.2 apg and was a staple to the team so his return is perfect timing for the Hokies. There will be added motivation as after first-round exits in each of the last two tournaments, the Hokies want to shed the label of a team that can't win in March. St. Louis comes in with a NET Ranking of No. 103 so there is a reason this line is what it is. The Billikens won four games in four days to capture the Atlantic Ten Tournament but this is not a good matchup. The rotation is extremely thin and foul trouble could be a problem moving forward with just two offensive big-men. Though Dion Wiley is listed as the seventh-man in the rotation, he played more than six minutes in the Atlantic Ten Tournament one time. Technically, the Billikens are a six-man rotation team. 10* (824) Virginia Tech Hokies

This is a play on the HOUSTON ROCKETS for our NBA Thursday Enforcer. San Antonio had won nine straight games before losing 110-105 to the Heat on Wednesday and is opening a three-game roadtrip with the Rockets. It was a surprising home loss for the Spurs as they are 29-8 at home and seven of those wins during the streak came there. They are just 13-22 on the road and the two victories were against Dallas and Atlanta, noncontending playoff teams. San Antonio has just three road wins the entire season on the against teams in current playoff positions. The Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games against teams with a winning home record. Houston is also coming off a loss last time out as it lost in Memphis in overtime by a point. The Rockets have won seven of their last eight home games, the lone loss coming against Golden St. by a bucket. They are still chasing first and second place in the Western Conference as they are 4.5 games back but they have just a half-game lead over Portland for fourth place. The Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against teams with a winning straight up record. Here, we play on home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points in the second half of the season with a scoring differential +3 to +7 ppg going up against a team that is +/- 3 ppg in scoring differential, after scoring 110 points or more two straight games. This situation is 53-29 ATS (64.6 percent) since 1996. 10* (510) Houston Rockets

This is a play on the UTAH ST. AGGIES for our Friday NCAA Tournament Supreme Annihilator. Utah St. is one of just a handful of teams that come into the NCAA Tournament with a winning streak and it helps the Aggies out immensely. They took home the Mountain West Conference Tournament, although they avoided having to face Nevada, to extend their winning streak to 10 games. This is their first tournament since 2011 and the program has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2001 when they beat Ohio St. in the first round so that momentum becomes even more important. The Aggies want to win with their up-tempo offense as they are tied for 39th in the country at 79.1 ppg. One of the ways they generate offense is by spreading the ball around as Utah St. is ninth in the nation at 17.1 assists per game. The Aggies went 3-2 against Quadrant 1 opponents, 2-3 versus Quadrant 2 foes and 22-1 against everybody else on their schedule. Washington made it all the way to the final game of the Pac 12 Tournament but the Huskies have had their issues recently. They are just 4-3 over their last seven games with all of those wins coming by no more than five points. The defense will have its hands full here as they struggled on that end during this recent stretch. 10* (812) Utah St. Aggies