Sports Picks & Predictions

The Lakers sometimes need a wake up call, and they got it Sunday when they were pretty much blown out by the Heat in Game 3. They haven’t lost much in this postseason, but when they have they have bounced back strong in their next game. We see them playing much better on Tuesday, and the oddsmakers have adjusted this number and the Lakers are now more attractive on the spread. Miami is a plucky team and they have had a great postseason for the ages. But when it comes down to pure talent and superstar power, the Lakers have a huge edge. And if they play up to their potential, which they did not do in Game 3, there is no reason they should not win this one by double digits.

10-Unit Play. Take #910 Atlanta (-1.5 RL) over Miami (2:05 p.m. Tuesday, October 6)

The Marlins have had a great season and its been a nice story, but I think this is where their season comes to an end. The Braves have won the National League East the past three seasons building to this and I think their playoff experience will pay dividends in this game and in the series. Max Fried has been sensational this season going 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA over 11 starts. Fried allowed more than 2 earned runs in just one of his 11 starts and the Braves have won ten out of the eleven starts he has made. Sandy Alcantara will be on the bump for Miami and he has been solid this season going 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA over 7 starts during the regular season. However, he wasn't as sharp in two day starts allowing 9 runs (6 earned) on 11 hits (2 HR) over 10 innings. Atlanta won the season series 6-4 outscoring the Marlins 68-44 and I think they will do just that in this matchup as well.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10 Unit Play. Take #276 Las Vegas Raiders over Buffalo Bills (4:25p.m., Sunday, October 4 CBS) Karma will bite the Buffalo Bills in this game. They were very fortunate to win last week against the Rams with the help of a questionable pass interference call kept their game winning driver alive. The Raiders got worn down last week against the Patriots but expect them to bounce back in a big way at home today against the Bills. The Raiders played well against the Saints and expect them to find their form from that game. Buffalo is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against Oakland. Buffalo is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played during the month of October. Oakland is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.

10 Unit Play. Take #136 Kansas State Wildcats over Texas Tech Red Raiders (3:30p.m., Saturday, October 3 FS1) Just do not trust Texas Tech. Both teams experienced dramatic games last week with Kansas State beating Oklahoma and Texas Tech blowing a big lead late against Texas. The Wildcats have dominated this matchup winning 8 of their last 9 games against the Red Raiders (7-2 ATS). Texas Tech just does not historically win these types of games, especially on the road. They have allowed 30+ points in 10 of their last 11 games. Texas Tech is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games. Kansas State is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Big 12 games.

10 Unit Play. Take #484 Arizona Cardinals over Detroit Lions (4:25p.m., Sunday, September 27 FOX) Just do not understand these lines the last two weeks with the Lions. They jumped up on Green Bay 14-3 last week and still got killed. Now they are on the road for a second straight week and most believe they have a lame duck coach and the team is going nowhere fast. Arizona is getting more confident each week and Kyler Murray looks like he was worth taking as the No. 1 overall pick. The Lions have failed to cover the spread in 10 of their last 11 games. Detroit is 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games in the desert. The Cardinals are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against teams with a losing record.

The Nuggets have had a great run. They came back from big deficits against the Jazz and Clippers to win those series. But we think they don’t have another rally in them. Both of their series before this went to Game 7. This team has played a lot of basketball, and we think that this might be a real ugly game for them. The Lakers want to end this while the Celtics/Heat series is still going to give themselves some extra time to rest, and we expect them to go all out tonight while they have the Nuggets on the ropes. They don’t want Denver winning this one and getting confidence for another 3-1 comeback. We think they play lockdown defense and shut down a Denver offense that should be running on fumes here. We think this is a great chance for a double-digit Lakers win, and we are getting the best line of the series for the favorites.

10 Unit Play. Take #405 Tennessee Volunteers over South Carolina Gamecocks (7:30p.m., Saturday, September 26 SECN) Tennessee got off to a horrible start last year but beating South Carolina by 21 points was the turning point. That was the first game of a six-game winning streak to close out the 2019 season. Tennessee is more experienced and that is a good thing since practices have been hard to come by during this Covid summer. The visitor is 18-5 ATS in the last 23 games between Tennessee and USC. Carolina was terrible on offense last year and I just do not have confidence that Will Muschamp is the guy to turn this program around. South Carolina is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games. Tennessee is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 SEC games.

We have not given up on Boston yet and think they have a good chance to extend this series to Game 7, where anything can happen in that situation. The Celtics didn’t play well in Game 4, but they were still in a position to win or at least force OT at the end of the game. This team seems to have the fortitude to dig deep for a must-win tonight, and they have one of the best coaches in the league that will be giving it his all as well. We see them playing a great game on both sides of the ball tonight to extend the series to Game 6.

Just like the Clippers series, the Nuggets are playing carefree and loose, while the Lakers have all the pressure on them. This series has looked pretty even to us for the most part, at least in the last two games. And the Nuggets could easily be up 2-1 in this series. The Lakers are always shaded by the oddsmakers and this Game 4 is a perfect example as by what we have seen on the court the Nugs should be catching around three points. Some good value on this line as we expect another close game.

Boston got right back into this series in Game 3 with a big win, and it’s easy to think they can keep the momentum going tonight. They had a rare three nights off because of the strange scheduling in the bubble, and as a result they got some much needed R and R. This definitely benefits the Celtics more since the Heat had them kind of on the ropes after that 2-0 lead but now Boston recaptured the momentum and they got some time to get Hayward some more rest, and he should be a major factor tonight in this likely win. Boston is the better defensive team, and with the extra rest we should see that unit flourish tonight. And their offense really woke up in Game 3 with 117 points, and we see that continuing tonight, especially with Hayward more fully in the mix. Miami is playing some very good basketball right now, but they have had an easy path and haven’t faced a lot of adversity. Boston is more battle tested, and ready for this crucial Game 4. And not to mention that Boston has been one of the best betting teams in the NBA for the last several years, and they normally exceed the expectations of the oddsmakers. We think that will be the case again tonight.

Just like in Game 2, we are going with the Nuggets here. Sometimes NBA hoops comes down to mental attitude. Every team in the league has ballers, but some have more talent than others. But the Nuggets are playing with house money and this team looks like they are just having fun. They are super confident and know that no lead or deficit is insurmountable. Just like the Clippers series, that makes them dangerous here and we expect another close game. Denver won’t be fazed, and we think they put forth their best effort tonight in this crucial Game 3.

Going to take a shot on the underdog here. Denver has been nothing but resilient in this playoffs, and they are playing loose with nothing to lose. That is a dangerous team. And this is a talented one, too. We had the Lakers last time out, and we think the Nuggets will bounce back well tonight. We just don’t see another blowout here. Denver is settled in and will play better tonight, and we are getting a better spread than Game 1.

10 Unit Play. Take Green Bay Packers over Detroit Lions (1p.m., Sunday, September 20 FOX) Green Bay just continues to be undervalued again in 2020. This team won 13 games in 2019 and started off 2020 with a dominating road win at Minnesota. Now they return home to face the Lions, a team that has had very little success in Green Bay over the years. Detroit is coming off an unthinkable loss to Chicago last week in a game they led by 17 points in the fourth quarter. Green Bay has won 7 straight games against divisional teams. The favorite is 12-4 ATS in the last 16 meetings between Detroit and Green Bay. The Lions are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games. Green Bay is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games played during the month of September.

Taking another shot at the Celtics here in Game 3. This is the most crucial game of a 7-Game series, and Boston is in a must-win situation here. They had a big blowup after blowing a big lead and losing Game 2, and we think that might be healthy for this team as they needed a wakeup call. If they lose tonight this series is essentially over for them, but if they win then they are right back in it. We think they bring their A Game tonight and think there’s a great chance they can win this one by 7+.

10 Unit Play. #108 NC State Wolfpack over Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8p.m., Saturday, September 19 ACCN) Wake Forest has the advantage of having played last week but the home team has dominated this series. The home team has won 19 of the last 23 meetings and is also 18-5 ATS. NC State is coming off a rare down year in 2019 winning just 4 games but the track record of Dave Doeren suggests they will bounce back and have a winning record this year. Wake Forest has allowed 36.3 points per game in their last 6 games. Wake Forest is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win in their previous game.

We are just not believers in the Nuggets. Kudos for beating the Clippers, but LA beat themselves more than Denver won the series. The Lakers have had extra time off here, and it will benefit them big time. The Lakers should send a card to the Clippers since they got a cakewalk to the Finals. LA will be locked in tonight and we expect a very strong defensive effort from the favorite while the Nuggets didn’t really get a chance to catch their breath and we have a great feeling that this will be a double-digit win by Los Angeles. We think this will be a low scoring game.

We are going the same way we went in Game 1 even though we missed the mark. We love Boston for this series, and we don’t see them going down 0-2. When Boston has lost recently it has been some last-minute stuff or OT, and that was the case in Game 1 once again. We expect the Celtics to really lock down on defense here in Game 2 to give themselves the best chance to wind up on top at the final buzzer. These are two of the better defensive teams in the NBA, and that should be on full force tonight. It’s telling that the bookies didn’t really adjust the numbers here for Game 2, and that tells us we are on the right track here.

The Clippers blew a big lead in Game 5 and ended up losing the game. They took their foot off the gas too early, and it was tough for this team to get back into the zone again. But you have to remember that the main core of this team hasn’t played together all that much this season and they are still learning. We think that lesson from the Game 5 loss will help them put together a more complete game here on Sunday. They have done very well during the restart after a loss and we think they will bounce back successfully as they have a bunch of times before in this spot.

10 Unit Play. Take #406 Louisville Cardinals over WKU Hilltoppers (8p.m., Saturday, September 12 ACCN) Just liked how Louisville played in year one under Scott Satterfield winning 8 games including the Music City Bowl last time they took the field. They return a ton of playmakers on both sides of the football including Micale Cunningham, who threw for 22 touchdowns last year. They teams met last year at a neutral site and they game was over early with Louisville up 24 points at halftime before a minor comeback by WKU to only lose by 17 points. Louisville is expected to have some fans in the stands and that will only make this much more of a homefield edge. The Cardinals are 19-7 ATS (1 push) in their last 26 games against Conference USA teams.

We probably make plays on the Lakers less than any team in the NBA. They are a very public team, and their odds and normally shaded by the oddsmakers. But they do have value late in this series. The Rockets are a popular team also, and we expected this line to be around 8.5 with the way this series has gone the last couple games. The Lakers were shook out of their funk with the Game 1 loss, and they have rebounded nicely. They won and covered Games 2, 3 and 4, and the oddsmakers haven’t made a huge adjustment to this number. Houston is quite the dysfunctional team this season. They have looked disjointed since Game 1 and have some off court drama that is a distraction as well. We think the Lakers are in their heads big time, and the body language tells us this team doesn’t have much of a chance. We don’t think the Lakers take their foot off the gas tonight and expect them to roll in this likely final game of the series.

This is an easy call for Game 7 tonight. Boston is the better team, with the better coach. They will find a way to get the job done tonight. When Toronto has won in this series, they have needed some heroics. But when Boston has won, it has been by domination for the most part. They have had some mental lapses and should have put this one away awhile ago, but the cream will rise to the top tonight. Boston is on a 5-2 ATS run in this series, and they have been one of the most trustworthy ATS teams in the NBA for several years now. We think that there is a great chance they win this one by double digits tonight.

We thought Houston would make some noise in this series, but after that Game 1 win, the Lakers have been dominating. We see the same tonight, and this is more than a fair spread, something you rarely get when betting on the Lakers. Houston just looks disjointed in the Bubble and they can’t often get a team effort on offense as someone gets cold at the wrong time seemingly too much. We think the Lakers will play lock down defense in this one, and we think there’s a great possibility that this is a blowout, which would bode well for the under.

The Lakers played great in Game 2, but this team just hasn’t shown the ability to consistently play like this in the Bubble. We think this will be a close game tonight, and the points look real attractive. We have stated it before, but we think the Lakers are a tad overrated this season and the bookies always shade the lines for their games. We think around 3 would be a more suitable line, so the extra couple points gives some nice value to what looks like a close game to us.

10 Unit Play. Take #243 BY Cougars over Navy Midshipman (8p.m., Monday, September 7 ESPN) The line movement tells me a lot for this game. Navy opened as a small home favorite of 2.5 but now BYU is favored at release time for this play. I always like extra time to prepare for the triple option and that is what BYU has for this game. QB Zach Wilson is back behind center for the Cougars and played better down the stretch last year winning 5 of his last 6 regular season games. Most year’s Navy has to rebuild and that is again the case this year losing their quarterback from last season. They were not as good as their record indicated last year and are just a middle of the pack team in the AAC this year. Navy is 1-3 ATS (1 push) in their last 5 games against Independent teams.

The oddsmakers finally adjusted this number, but it doesn’t seem like it was enough. The Bucks are cooked here in this series, and we think they will go out with a whimper today. Miami is playing some of their best basketball of the season right now in the Bubble. Giannis Antetokounmpo looks like he is playing through an injury, and the rest of the team has failed to step up. Milwaukee blew it in the playoff last season too, and it looks like we are going to see a repeat this year. It seems the Bucks have mentally left the building before this series.

After a grind-it out Game 7 win against Utah on Tuesday, it had to be demoralizing for the Nuggets to get spanked like they did in Game 1 Thursday against the Clippers. It showed us that Denver doesn’t have much of a chance in this series. And Denver probably knows that, too. Not sure what adjustments they can make here when the Clippers barely broke a sweat in Game 1 and the starters were able to hit the bench early. That is now three straight meetings the Clippers won by double digits. This is what LA has been working towards all season. They are completely healthy now and playing great team basketball. The bench is devastating when the starters need a break. They are much more fresh and rested than Denver. The Clippers have always had trouble in this round but this is by far the best squad in team history and we think they really want to make quick work of this series. With max effort, which we think they will provide, we think a double-digit win is a certainty.

Really like Houston to make some noise in this series. They had a real tough series against the Thunder, but this is a veteran team and a hungry one. Plus, the Lakers are a tad bit overrated. And they haven’t often played to their potential in the Bubble. Not to mention they are often overrated by the oddsmakers. Houston has Westbrook back now, and he is getting back into the mix and should have a good series. And Harden won’t stay cold long. Houston is s veteran team, so we don’t see them having a hard time getting up for this matchup even though they just played in a real tough Game 7.

Denver seemingly took all the momentum in this series, but you can throw all that out the window as the season comes down to one game here. Despite the season records, we think Utah is a tad bit better as a team. Remember, like always this team got off to a slow start but started playing better as the season went on. We think they will come out focused and determined tonight and will advance to play the Clippers in Round 2. We really think their defense will step up and play one of the best games of the series on the defensive end.

We were on the Rockets yesterday because we thought they benefited more from the boycott than did the Thunder. We think the same way about the Mavs today. The Clippers were at the center of a lot of the activity during the boycott. Coach Doc Rivers was center stage, and the Clippers reportedly were one of the teams, along with the Lakers, that wanted to end the season. They had the Mavs on the ropes after their big 40+-point win, and they looked primed to end this series. But now Dallas had a chance to reset. Luka Doncic had extra time to rest his ankle. Dallas will be without Porzingis likely for the rest of this series. But they have become used to playing without him, and Doncic is the type of player, like Curry for Golden State, who elevates the play of the guys around him. We think this game will be similar to the Lakers game last night where a Damian Lillard-less Portland stayed within 10 and covered the number. The Lakers were the other team that reportedly wanted to end the season, and its stars were front and center during the boycott. But in this Clippers game we have the biggest spread of the series, and we think it’s an overreaction to that Game 5 result.

The extra days off for the boycott really helped the Rockets. OKC had them on the ropes with two straight wins, but the time off gave Houston a chance to reset and stifled the momentum for the Thunder. And now the Rockets get Russell Westbrook back for this Saturday game and they have the best chance to take control of this series. Westbrook has been lighting it up in practice and he should be a game changer for the rest of this series. OKC has been a nice story this year and they have come together to have a very nice season above expectations. But the Rockets are the much better team and we expect them to play a well-rounded game tonight in what should be a comfortable win.

This series is tied now after an incredible performance from Dallas in Game 4. But if you look at the Clippers results in The Bubble, they have suffered four losses since the restart, and every time they came back and played to their capabilities, covering in all those games. All but one win came by double digits. In Game 4 Dallas saw one of the best performances in playoff history by Luka Doncic. Not only was he going off, but some of the role players had excellent games as well. But even with the Mavs playing out of their minds, they still needed OT and an amazing buzzer-beater just to win the game on a night the Clippers just didn’t play well for most of the game. As recent history has show, LA knows how to follow up a lousy performance with a great one. Paul George has been the blame for a lot of the Clippers problems with his shooting slump. He will get out of this slump before too long. And it will probably be tonight. We expect to see an incredibly focused Clippers group tonight, and we think they will play to their potential. It’s doubtful that Doncic will have anywhere near the game he had last time out, and the role players are due for regression.

Before the series we thought the Blazers might make more noise in this series. But the Game 1 loss was a wakeup call for the Lakers, and we think they have all the momentum here in this series. The Bubble is an interesting place. In a normal NBA playoff series, the change in venue means a lot and can get the underdog back into the series. But there is no homecoming for the Blazers, and they are in a real tough spot here now. They are on the ropes. They started the playoffs early with the seeding games and then the play in game, and this team just looks tired and defeated. With no home-court to go back to, we think morale is low. The Lakers losing the first game was the best thing for them. That made them focus, and now we think they want to end this series ASAP as some of the other Western Conference teams are now in a dogfight in their series. We rarely bet on the Lakers as they are normally shaded by the oddsmakers and there is rarely value. But we think this line is more than fair tonight. We think this one has a great chance to be a double-digit win for the Lakers.

We are confident this series is not over, and although we think the Rockets will advance, we think the Thunder will make some noise, and this is a must win game for them tonight. The Rockets are a pretty inconsistent team and we just don’t see them playing in top form again here tonight, and the Thunder have been one of the safest ATS bets all season. This team doesn’t give up, and they will be confident going into this game and they have the belief they can win the series. We expect to see the best game we have seen thus far from them tonight in this series and expect them to score the straight up win.

Since the restart, the Clippers have bounce back well after every loss. In fact, they came back every time with a double-digit win. They are 8-1 ATS after getting beat by double digits. That is the sign of a very good team, and we think they will bounce back well here. That Game 2 win by Dallas was their first of the year against the Clippers. Los Angeles didn’t play well, and Dallas played a great game. But we expect a more well rounded effort tonight. The Clippers are in real trouble if they lose here, as Game 3 is one of the most crucial in a seven-game series. The Clippers don’t often play two bad games in a row, and Doc Rivers will make the needed adjustments for a big win tonight.

We think this line looks pretty fishy like the bookies are begging for Rockets money here. The Thunder got thrashed in Game 1, and yet the odds stayed the same for Game 2 when you would normally expect an adjustment. We like to be on the side of the bookies, and we think the Thunder are the clear play here today. They are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 after a beatdown of double-digits, and we think they will bounce back well once again here and even this series up today. Houston is shorthanded without Westbrook and the Thunder have been a great bet all season as one of the best ATS teams in the NBA. Houston has been erratic this season; they can look great one game and lousy the next. They rely too much on certain players, and with Westbrook out, that hurts if a couple other guys go cold. The Thunder just seem like a steady team that plays strong team basketball and we think they will bounce back well once again today.

10-Unit Play. Take #966 Minnesota (-1.5 RL) over Milwaukee (8:10 p.m. Wednesday, August 19)

Minnesota has the best home record in baseball and I think they will add to that with a win tonight. Rich Hill will be returning from the injured list to make his second start of the season and he has had success against the Brewers in the past. Hill will most likely be on a pitch count, but the Twins bullpen will be better equipped than the Brewers bullpen.These teams played 12 innings last night and the Twins used 3 relievers as compared to the 7 the Brewers needed to finish the game. Brett Anderson will be on the mound for Milwaukee and he has failed to make it through 5 innings in any of his three previous starts, all losses for the Brewers. The Twins didn't hit a home run in last nights contest and I think they will take a couple deep in this one. I like Minnesota here.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

10-Unit Play. Take #913 Cleveland (-1.5 RL) over Pittsburgh (7:05 p.m. Tuesday, August 18) Cleveland comes into tonight's game with a lot of confidence after sweeping the Tigers over the weekend and winning eight of their last eleven games. The Indians should like their chances to win facing the Pirates who have the worst record in all of baseball. Pittsburgh is off their usual schedule as they have played just two games in their last eight days because of positive Covid tests from the Cardinals and Reds. It won't help that Pittsburgh will have to face Carlos Carrasco for the Indians who has filthy stuff. J.T. Brubaker will be on the mound for the Pirates making just his second start as Pittsburgh has battled injuries. Cleveland is the better team and has been in a routine so I like their chances of picking up the win in this contest.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

The Clippers, more than almost any team in the league, didn’t care about the regular season. They had injuries, and they didn’t get too much time with a full roster to do their thing on the court. They didn’t care about wins and losses, but they wanted to be healthy and have chemistry by the time the postseason arrived. Well, now is that time. While they aren’t 100% heathy, they will start the postseason with a very strong roster, and we think they will raise their game to another level here in the postseason. For our money, this is the best team in the Western Conference. And we expect to see the best version of this team show up in the playoffs. Dallas is putting together something special, bur they are still a year or two and a couple players away from being a true championship contender. We think they are in deep in this series. They have lost four straight meetings, and they failed to cover in any of those games. The Clippers have great chemistry and talent, and we think they will want to make a statement here in Game 1.

This is a very unique situation with the play-in game. If Portland wins today, they will advance to play the Lakers in the first round. If they lose, these teams will square off again, with the winner advancing. The Blazers played better than the Grizzlies during the restart. But none of that matters now, as it just comes down to this weekend. The Blazers have been getting a lot of hype lately, but we think these teams are pretty even, so the points here are very attractive. These teams met in the first game of the restart, and Portland won in OT. Portland covered that game, but Memphis had covered five of the previous seven meetings. And remember, Portland almost didn’t even make it here as they needed a last-second missed shot by Brooklyn on Thursday or they would be on their way home now. Not only do we think these teams are evenly matched, but Memphis has the motivation in this one. One loss and they are out. They will have to bring their A Game, while the Blazers have a mulligan if they lose here. We think the Grizzlies have a great chance to win outright here, but we will take the points as we expect a close game regardless.

This is a meaningless game and a playoff tuneup for the role players on both teams. The LA Clippers stars might see a little playing time but not much. These teams kind of had a clear identity this season that we think we can apply to handicapping this meaningless game. The Clippers never really cared about the regular season. It was just to get them ready for the postseason. But OKC played hard and with determination and team basketball all the way through and wound up as one of the best ATS betting teams in the league this season. We think OKC is the team more likely to want to finish out this thing on a positive note, while the Clippers are most likely 100% focused on their matchup against Dallas on Monday.

Sometimes you have to go against the grain in NBA handicapping. And that is what we are doing here tonight. Portland is the ultimate public play here. They are locked in a big fight for the playoffs and they have been getting lots of positive press for Damian Lillard’s otherworldly performances on the court. However, the bookies know that zero public bettors will be taking a chance on Brooklyn here. They have inflated this line quite a bit as a result. First off, depending on the earlier games, the Blazers might not even need this game. They could know their fate by tip off already, and that wouldn’t give them much incentive to play key players, especially with the injury woes this team has faced this season. Brooklyn has shown they are no pushover. They have gone 5-2 in the Bubble when most thought they wouldn’t win a game. They beat the Clippers and Bucks. This team has seemed to relish in the role of spoiler, and they have no motivation to relax here in this game as they need to keep the momentum going into the postseason. We think they will keep things close if Portland plays at full strength, and they have a chance to win if Portland rests main players. There is also reverse line movement on this one as the number has dropped despite a big percentage of bettors on the favorite. That’s always a good sign for the underdog!

Both teams will be missing some key players. We really like the Clippers to bounce back here, however, after their loss last time out to Brooklyn, one of the worst rosters that was brought into the bubble during this NBA restart. This was the third loss during the restart for the Clips, and both times they rebounded for double-digit wins against their next opponent. We expect them to be motivated tonight. The Denver defense has given up 124 or more in their last four games (one OT contest). We just think a motivated Clippers club will be able to achieve their offensive goals here tonight in the bubble. The Clippers won by nearly 30 when these teams last met up. And we think they match up extremely well here tonight.

Pretty much year after year Boston is Top 10 in ATS results. That’s a sign of good coaching. And they are 40-26-4 ATS this season. They are a safe bet more times than not. And we think they are getting shorted by the oddsmakers again tonight. Memphis was a team a lot of people had high hopes for in the Bubble, but they have been a major disappointment up until now. They are 1-5 both SU and ATS. They haven’t been able to get any continuity going on offense. And Boston has scored 120+ in four of their last five games. We just don’t think the Grizzlies can keep up tonight on the scoreboard.

The Suns have been the big story of the restart, and this team is getting a lot of press lately. We think that has caused an inflated line here. The Thunder always find a way to keep the game close. They are one of the best ATS teams in the NBA this season. They are a little shorthanded and come in on a back-to-back, but we don’t think those factors warrant this big of a number. Like we stated, OKC always seems to find a way to get the job done. Not to mention that they have covered five in a row in this series.

The Grizzlies had lost the first four games of the restart, but we think they figured out some things recently, and their huge blowout win vs. OKC was big for this team last time out. Toronto is on the other side of the fence as they had won every game before getting blown out last time vs. Boston. We think this line is a product of how these teams have played so far over how they match up, and we see this one as being a very competitive game. Sharp bettors sapped some of the early value out of this one as it opened at 8, but we still think this number is a tad inflated.

Denver has won and covered in the last two meetings, and we think they make in three in a row today. Utah is 2-3 in the bubble and they have not been able to string together a full game of solid play too often. They are on a back-to-back here after losing to a Spurs team that isn’t in the same tier as these Nuggets. Denver was off, and we think that gives them a big edge here as these players still aren’t conditioned as they would normally be at this point of the season with all the time off. We thought this line was a bit short and think there is nice value here with the small favorite.

We had the Celtics as a slight favorite in this one and despite the records we think they are a bit better team than the Raptors. Boston has been one of the best betting teams in the league for the last few years. They have some of the best coaching in the league and a lot of talent. They normally get up for the big games, and we think they will be focused and take control here Friday night. Their offense exploded last time out with a huge performance, and we think that carries over in this marquee matchup.

We are getting used to these slow starts from Utah. They are winless in the restart thus far and haven’t played to near their potential. But we think they will be ultra motivated to get that win tonight. Their place in the postseason is secure, but they need some momentum heading into the postseason, and a win here would erase the two losses that proceeded it on a mental level. The Lakers are all but guaranteed the No. 1 seed and this finish to the regular season is meant only as practice time for the playoffs. We just don’t see them being that motivated for wins now, while Utah really needs this game more. And the Lakers are always a public team that gets shaded odds from the bookies, and that is even more so with the restart as bettors have been starved for action and are very active (the Lakers/Clippers game on opening night of restart was by far the biggest bet NBA game of the season). We expect a close game here and will gladly take the points on this inflated number.

This looks like a very public line to us. Philly is the more popular team here, but these teams have identical records. But bettors like Philly more, hence the big line here. Oladipo was active in the shootaround this morning and there are indications he could play tonight. He’s Indiana’s best player and would give the team a huge boost. But the main reason we like this pick is because the Sixers have been so bad away from home this season. In the friendly confines of their home arena they are 29-2. On the road they are 10-24 this season. These are some strange circumstances, but we just can’t trust the Sixers to be laying this many points against a comparable team when we haven’t seen if they can shake their funk of playing away from home. The Pacers are 13-6 ATS in the last 19 meetings, and we think they could challenge for the outright win here.

Of just about any team in the Bubble, Brooklyn seems like one that really doesn’t want to be there. They have tons of defections and injuries, and this team is a skeleton crew in Orlando. They are currently the No. 7 team, and Orlando is No. 8, so this is a great chance for the Magic to jump the Nets and avoid a first-round matchup with Milwaukee. That is plenty of motivation in this game. This isn’t a standard home game for the Magic with the Pandemic, but they should be more comfortable here in their home city. Orlando was playing well before the hiatus, and this team has a much more stable roster. We think the oddsmakers will adjust on Brooklyn and they will be almost double-digit favorites in most of the games they play. We thought this line should be double digits, and there is some nice value here.

All the motivation lies with the Pelicans here as they need to win to punch their playoff ticket. This team has a lot of talent and they are a good bet to make the postseason. But they have no time to wait to ease into this bizarre bubble situation. They have to win. Utah is in and they can spend their 8 games left in the regular season getting prepared for the postseason. Zion is a gametime call today. The odds will change whether he plays or not. But lock in at this number as this is a solid one even without the rookie.

8-Unit Play. #314 (5Dimes). Competition: German Bundesliga. Take Paderborn +0.5 (-130) over Werder Bremen (Saturday at 9:30 AM) Includes 90 Minutes + Injury Time. For this selection to win, Paderborn must win or draw.

As per your selection on Paderborn to come away with at least one point against Bremen, this is a great opportunity for them to build on their recent run of good results which include four draws out of five matches since the restart. Prior to the stoppage, Paderborn was the welcome mat for every team. Since the restart, they've held some decent teams to low scoring draws including seventh place Hoffenheim and second-place Leipzig in their most recent outing. Now they get to take on a fellow relegation team in Werder Bremen who have hit a wall and look destined to drop. Bremen simply cannot score as they've managed 0 goals one their last two games and what's worse, is that they create very few chances to do so. This game looks like a very open and free-flowing game and from what we've seen out of both sides, we believe Paderborn is best suited for that style of play and can put up at least two goals on a terrible Bremen squad. This is a max play for us, and we expect it to cash with ease!

10 Unit Play. Take #648 Texas over Oklahoma State (4p.m., Saturday, March 7 ESPN2) Texas has had a remarkable turnaround of late and now have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. They already beat Oklahoma State earlier this season in Stillwater and expect them to complete the season sweep of them Saturday afternoon in Austin. Texas has won 5 straight games and 4 of those games have come against teams better than the Pokes. Oklahoma State has won 2 straight games, but those games came out home against the bottom two teams in the Big 12. Texas wins this game and earns a top 3 seed in the Big 12 Conference Tournament.

Both teams are playing well but the Clippers are healthy and they are the superior team when both teams are at full strength. They have had some problems with the Rockets this season, so they will want to put their best foot forward tonight. The Clippers are streaking right now and the Rockets just lost to the Knicks, so even though that came after a nice winning streak we think LA is in better form right now. We don’t see how Houston will be able to defend the Clippers with this small ball lineup tonight.

We went against the Thunder last night and the Clippers dominated that game. Now after a five game winning streak the Thunder have dropped two straight in blowout fashion. Those games were to the Bucks and Clippers, however, two of the favorites to win their respective conference this season. But now they take a big step down in class in what is a game they really need. With two straight embarrassing losses they won’t take this one for granted. The Pistons have lost their two stars and this team is just playing out the string and looking towards next season. This one should be a blowout with a motivated OKC team. The Thunder are 5-0 ATS after a double-digit loss at home and 5-0 ATS against an opponent with a home winning percentage less than .400. We think those trends continue tonight.

Both teams are playing well right now but we think Boston is the better and more well rounded team right now. Boston is one of the best bets in the NBA year after year, and that’s true once again this season with one of the best ATS marks in the league. They continue to be underestimated by the oddsmakers and they play great team basketball and strong defense. They have covered in their last five games and we see another cover at home here tonight.

10 Unit Play. Take #706 Maryland over Michigan State (8p.m., Saturday, February 29 ESPN) Maryland is the best team in the Big 10 and they are riding high at the moment. They had no business beating Minnesota last time out, but they did and now see a regular season title well within sight. Michigan State has been one of the biggest disappointments this season and they continue to be ranked based on name recognition only. They lost to Maryland two weeks ago and things will be much tougher tonight in College Park. Maryland has the best starting line-up in the league and a win today will clinch at last a share of the Big 10 Championship. The Terrapins have won 10 of their last 11 games. Too much on the line for Maryland to take this game lightly and expect them to win it by 7-9 points.

The Bulls have a ton of injuries right now and this team wasn’t very good even when more healthy. This team isn’t going anywhere this season and they are playing for pride here, while the Thunder need every win. OKC has been one of the best bets in the NBA on the road, where they have covered in 22 of their last 27 road games. We feel this line is short once again as we see this is a probable double-digit win for the road team. The Bulls got a rare cover last time out but this team is 1-7 ATS after covering their last game. So when they play above expectations they normally follow that up with a stinker.

The Jazz have been very streaky and they are trending in the wrong direction right now. We think this is just too many points for them to be laying right now to a Suns team that has won two of three. We think Phoenix will come in with confidence tonight and we expect a close game.

We think the Bulls are a team to fade down the stretch. The Suns aren’t a very good team but they have nice potential for the future and we think they are the better team in this matchup. They are being punished too much by the oddsmakers for a back-to-back but these teams are rested after the break and the B2B shouldn’t be a big deal. The Bulls played some of the worst defense in the NBA leading into the All-Star Break, and we think the Suns will put up a massive point total tonight. We think this game has a great chance for a blowout, and we could see the Suns scoring 120+ tonight.

10 Unit Play. Take #730 Kentucky over Florida (6p.m., Saturday, February 22 ESPN) Florida has underachieved this season and does not have that many impressive wins in conference play. Kentucky is the best team in the SEC, and they will enter this game having won 5 straight games If Kentucky can make shots from behind the arc they could win a national championship this season. They did so in the second half against LSU and now sit atop the standing by 2 full games. The favorite is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 games between Kentucky and Florida. The Gators just do not have the right chemistry this season despite picking up Kerry Blackshear from Virginia Tech. Kentucky pulls away and wins this game by 9-10 points.

Boston has been one of the most reliable bets in the NBA the last few years. They are 32-20-2 ATS this season so they are getting it done at the window once again. This Minnesota team is a mess, and we think with the extra rest after the All-Star Break that Boston has an even bigger advantage in this one. Every team wants to get off to a strong start after the break, and we think Boston brings their A Game here against a very vulnerable opponent. We see them locking down defensively tonight in a blowout win.

The second part of the season is here for the Pacers after the All-Star Break and we think they will be a team to watch down the stretch. This team is healthy and dangerous in the east. This Indiana club plays team basketball and solid defense. That is the recipe for success. Teams always want to play well out of the break but New York had their little hot streak before the break, winning four straight, but then they lost their last two and we just see more motivation and a much better team coming from the visitors locker room tonight.

10 Unit Play. Take #784 Rutgers over Michigan (7p.m., Wednesday, February 18 BTN) Rutgers is not a lock to make the NCAA Tournament and they need more wins to ensure they get there. Rutgers is a much better team when playing at home and expect them to win this game by 6-8 points. Michigan has been playing better of late but most of their damage has come at home. Rutgers does not lose at home and they are coming off a 15-point victory against Illinois last time out. Michigan will need to shoot it well to win this game and I believe Rutgers will match them or beat them from the 3-point line.

7 Unit Play. Take #694 Baylor -5.5 over West Virginia (4p.m., Saturday, February 15 ESPN+) TOP NCAA PLAY OF THE DAY Just not a fan of West Virginia this year. They struggle to score points when playing away from home and just need to muck up the game to be successful. They will likely not be able to play as aggressive away from Morgantown. Baylor just wins game and has the best defense in the country. Their game against Texas was not as close as the final score would indicate. West Virginia is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games. Baylor is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games. This will be a grind for 40 minutes but in the end expect Baylor to pull away late and win it by double digits

10 Unit Play. Take #636 Miami (FL) over Wake Forest (2p.m., Saturday, February 15 RSN) Miami has played better than what their 4-10 record would indicate. They are coming off their best performance of the season last time out and expect them to take care of business today against a bad Wake Forest teams. The Demon Deacons have done nothing with Danny Manning as their head coach and this will be there third road game in their last 4 games. The home team is 8-1 ATS (2 pushes) in the last 11 meetings between Wake Forest and Miami. The Hurricanes are the better coached team playing at home and expect them to win this game by 7-9 points giving us the cash.

This Clippers team looks like they are ready for the All-Star Break. Maybe no team in the NBA cares less about the regular season than these Clippers. This is the fourth game on their current road trip and they are probably over it and ready for the break. They have not been playing too well lately and were blown out in Minnesota and also lost by 7 at Philly. This team is still figuring things out and Paul George hasn’t been playing up to the level we expect. And Pat Bev is out tonight also. This looks like a good spot for a comfortable Boston win.

The Hawks have covered in five of the last seven meetings here in Cleveland. We think this is a great chance for Atlanta to get a rare road win tonight. Cleveland has lost six straight games and things are not good right now with this team. We just don’t see them playing well here and this team looks like it is ready for the all-star break. Atlanta is one of those bad NBA teams that is playing for momentum for next season while the Cavs are a no hope team right now that is trying to figure out what to do. The Hawks are better poised for success here, and we expect them to win this one comfortably.

The Bulls weren’t a good team to begin with, but they are super banged up right now and have an injury report as long as your grocery list. Washington is very healthy in comparison. The Wizards have won three of their last five and this team has been playing well recently. They are on a 6-4 ATS run and the oddsmakers are a bit behind on this team right now. They are coming off a loss but are 4-1 ATS in bounce-back situations and they are also 4-1 ATS in their last five against teams with a record below .400, meaning they are getting the job done against lousy teams. Because of the Bulls injury situation we had this game handicapped at 7, so there is nice value there tonight.

Utah seems to be over their funk and they have scored two very impressive wins, vs. a very hot Portland team and also at the Rockets last night. Yes, they come in on a back-to-back tonight, but Dallas had a back-to-back Saturday so they are playing their third game in four nights as well. Utah is really healthy right now also, which is a plus for this bet. When both teams are at full strength the Jazz are the much better squad, but they have better health here with Doncic out for the Mavs. Utah is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings. Dallas has been very inconsistent lately and we think that Utah keeps their positive momentum going with a big win tonight. When this team has issues it seems to be in their heads and when they win it builds a lot of team confidence and that confidence normally keeps them playing to their ability.

10 Unit Play. Take #840 Wisconsin over Ohio State (1p.m., Sunday, February 9 CBS) Wisconsin is a different team when playing at home and have only lost one time this season at the Kohl Center. Coach Gard has a knack for getting the big win when it needs it just like he did last Saturday against Michigan State. Ohio State has won 3 in a row but those wins came against fringe tournament teams and thus will be their third road game in their last 4 overall. Wisconsin beat Ohio State in Columbus earlier this season for one of their few road wins on the year. The favorite is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings between Ohio State and Wisconsin. Ohio State is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games played on Sunday. Wisconsin is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games played on Sunday. 

The Knicks have won three straight and are flat out playing harder than the Pistons right now. They have the same wins at 8 on the road as they do at home, so this New York team doesn’t have a real home court advantage. They can get the job done here tonight. The Knicks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games, and the oddsmakers are behind on this team right now. The Pistons come in on a back-to-back and this is not a good spot for them tonight.

10 Unit Play. Take #666 Missouri over Arkansas (3:30p.m., Saturday, February 8 SECN) I thought Arkansas would play well against Auburn on Tuesday, but game 2 without Isaiah Joe will prove to be much more difficult. Missouri is nothing to brag about but they have talent and getting points at home is too good to pass up. 5 of their last 7 games have come on the road and they are ready for some home cooking this afternoon in Columbia. Arkansas is 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as a favorite. Missouri is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog. The underdog has covered the spread in 11 of the last 16 games between Arkansas and Missouri. Arkansas losing in overtime to Auburn last time out affects this today.  

Utah has reverted back to their early-season ways and they are playing very poor basketball right now. They faced the same spread pretty much last time out vs. Denver and got spanked on their home court. Portland has won and covered in five of their last six games and they are in great form right now and playing some of their best basketball of the season. We just think this spread is way overinflated. Could Utah play their game and blow the Blazers out? Of course. But we have to go with recent form here and this line just looks way off to us.

10 Unit Play. Take #829 Seton Hall over Georgetown (8:30p.m., Wednesday, February 5 FS1) TOP NCAA PLAY OF THE DAY Both teams likely have a key player out, but Seton Hall has better team from 1-15 and that will be the difference tonight. Georgetown has no business beating St Johns on Sunday and expect them to be down big in this game as well. Seton Hall is coming off a shocking home loss to Xavier by double digits last Saturday, but they are still 8-1 in Big East play. The Hoyas are 3-6 with 2 of the wins coming against St Johns. The favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings. Georgetown is 5-13 ATS in their last 19 games as a home underdog. Seton Hall is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games. Without Matt McClung, Georgetown lacks any depth and that will be the difference tonight in the district.

The Blazers suddenly are playing their best basketball of the season right now. They have won four straight and covered in all those games. And it wasn’t any easy schedule, either. We think they come to play again tonight and we will ride the hot hand here on Tuesday. Portland has better rest coming into this game and we think they are primed for another solid performance. We expect a close game here, and the visitor definitely has a chance to score the upset.

10 Unit Play. Take #102 Kansas City Chiefs over San Francisco 49ers (6:30p.m., Sunday, February 2 FOX) The line on this game is low and you can make a case for both sides. In the end I just feel it is the Chiefs time especially for their Coach Andy Reid, a sentimental favorite of most people to finally win a Super Bowl. Coach Reid is outstanding coming off a bye and he also has the better quarterback behind center in this game. Two straight weeks the Chiefs have gotten behind early only to have the lead by halftime and control the game in the second half. The 49ers have not faced any adversity in the playoffs this season and I am not sure how they will react if the Chiefs can force them to throw the football in obvious passing situations. Kansas City is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against San Francisco. The 49ers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a win of more than 14 points in their previous game. Kansas City is 7-0 ATS (1 push) in their last 8 games.

Utah has lost three straight, but it’s not time to panic. They had an off game against Houston at home where they didn’t play good. And then they lost at San Antonio, a very tough place for a visitor to get a win. Then on a back-to-back they had a strong game at Denver but faded in the second half on the backend of a back-to-back. They really have to choice but to play with a sense of purpose here. And now Portland is the team on a back-to-back. And they just played in an unprecedented emotional game in LA. They played with the Mamba Mentality and left everything on the floor. They won as 13-point underdogs last night. We were on Portland in this game. But we just think they will be spent and have nothing more to give tonight. Portland isn’t a deep team and they are 2-4-1 ATS on the second end of a back to back. And they spent so much effort last night. Against a very good team tonight, and a legit title contender desperate to end a losing streak. Also, Utah is 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games on Saturday. This just looks like a great spot for a dominating win tonight.

10 Unit Play. Take #711 Rutgers over Michigan (4:30p.m., Saturday, February 1 BTN) When Michigan agreed to play this game in New York City instead of Ann Arbor they could never imagine that Rutgers could be this good. The Wolverines will likely have Zavier Simpson back for this game, but it will not matter, as Rutgers is the better and more talented team. Michigan got back on track last game against Nebraska, but they still have lost 4 of their last 5 games and that included two home games to Penn State and Illinois. The magic during the nonconference season has worn off and there is a lack of talent and once can see why John Beilein left. Rutgers has won 4 of their last 5 games and playing this game in New York City should give them a big edge in the stands. Rutgers is 19-7 ATS (2 pushes) in their last 29 games. Michigan is 1-5 ATS (1 push) in their last 7 games.

Since the game against the Lakers and Clippers was cancelled, bettors have been looking to this game as the first game after the Kobe Bryant tragedy where the Lakers will win one for Kobe. But as a result we knew this line would be inflated and it has come out even a couple more points than we expected. And it's not like Kobe didn’t have friends on the Blazers that will want to play hard in his honor. The Blazers aren’t going to roll over and let the Lakers win. We think they give everything they have tonight against a Lakers team that is still grieving. The Blazers have a strong history in this series (10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings in LA and 45-22 ATS as a long-term trend). If the Lakers just play their game they will probably have success but we feel like they might try to hard or do something different than normal. We think there’s a great chance for a close game here.

Despite identical records, we think the Jazz are the much better team in this matchup. Remember, they got off to a super slow start this season and since have turned it on and are playing as well as anyone in the league right now. And this is a very important game and should have a playoff-like atmosphere, and we just think the cream will rise to the top tonight. We like to back a good team after a bad loss, and the Jazz certainly fit the bill here as they had the floor wiped with them against the Rockets last time out and Houston was without Westbrook and Harden. Utah was a double-digit favorite and lost by 9. But they have had two nights off since then (Denver has had only one), and this game is more important, so win here and that loss is officially in the rearview mirror. After playing horrible defense last time out we are sure the focus for Utah has been strong defense, and we think the Jazz will lock down on that end tonight. The Jazz are 16-7 ATS in the last 23 meetings, and we feel this is their game to take tonight.

The Thunder are 32-16 ATS on the season and this team continues to hold value while some of the other teams in the NBA are grabbing all the headlines and respect from the oddsmakers. But Oklahoma City is quietly having one of the most surprising seasons in the NBA this season. They had a five-game winning streaked snapped last time with a double-digit loss to the Mavs, and we think they will come out in this one focused and hungry against a Sacramento team that has lost six of eight, with only wins over Minnesota and Chicago to their credit.

We think this is too many points. We think the Hawks match up well with Toronto. And the Raptors lines are starting to grow too big. These teams played a little more than a week ago in Atlanta, and the Hawks hung tough with the Raps all game long. It was a one-point game entering the fourth quarter and Toronto won by 5. Atlanta has been a good bet lately, covering in five of their last seven games. They are also 6-2 ATS when catching double digit points. We expect them to keep this one within double digits tonight.

The Clippers will for sure be without Paul George and we don’t know the status of Pat Beverly as of this writing, but even if he plays he probably won’t be anywhere near 100%. The Clippers are coming off their big win over Miami and then play the Lakers next, so this is a big sandwich game for them, and they don’t have their full complement of players. This game reminds us of the recent Hawks game, where we were also on the underdog, and they won outright. Just doesn’t seem like a spot for a full effort from the road team.

Dallas has been playing very well and they are a legit team. But they are just not on the same level as the Jazz. Utah is a true championship contender, and they have been playing like it lately, while the Mavs are a year or two away from being a true contender. There is probably no team in the NBA playing as well as the Jazz right now, and they are not only winning but covering on a regular basis. This line has moved early with sharp action, but we still don’t think it moved enough as we had this game handicapped at -7.5 for the Jazz so we think there is some real good value here. Utah is 7-0 ATS in their last seven home games and we think they cover easy again tonight.

10 Unit Play. Take #638 Oklahoma over Mississippi State (2p.m., Saturday, January 25 ESPN2) The Bulldogs have won they have all come in Starkville against weaker teams in a suspect SEC Conference. They have lost their last two road games including getting blown out at Alabama. Oklahoma has lost just 1 game at home this season and that came against a Kansas before their suspensions happened last Tuesday night. They took Baylor to the wire last time out despite Kristian Doolittle not doing much in that game. Expect a much better performance from him today at home. Both teams need this victory if they have visions of making the NCAA Tournament and expect the home team to prevail by 6-8 points. Mississippi State is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games following three or more consecutive home games.

NBA handicapping can be very streaky. The Houston Rockets had lost four straight and people were wondering what was wrong with the team. Then they flexed their collective muscle in an extremely impressive home win over the Nuggets last time out. We think they will build on that positive momentum tonight against a very lousy Minnesota team. The Wolves have lost seven straight. They have covered in only one of those games despite some very generous lines courtesy of the oddsmakers. Houston is 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings between these teams. We don’t think there is any chance of a letdown tonight since that losing streak is still fresh on the Rockets minds, and they need to take care of business, hopefully with an exclamation point, against a sub-par opponent.

10 Unit Play. Take #313 Tennessee Titans over Kansas City Chiefs (3:05p.m., Sunday, January 19 CBS) Everyone just assumes the Kansas City will cruise to the Super Bowl after having their scare early in the divisional round against Houston. But one must remember Andy Reid has really struggled in this round winning just 1 time in 6 tires. Tennessee appears destined to run the gauntlet of New England, Baltimore, and now Kansas City. The Titans are much better coached than are the Texans and if they get a lead in this game, they may not give it up. Tennessee is 7-3 straight-up in their 10 road games this season (7-3 ATS). The road team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings between Tennessee and Kansas City. The Chiefs are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 playoff games. The Titans are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games.

The Celtics come in off two straight losses, so they will be primed to get back on the winning track. And this is a great opportunity to do just that against a team they will have a talent advantage over. Over the last several years the Celtics have been one of the most trustworthy betting teams. They have covered in three of their last four despite the two straight losses, and we feel this line is short as well. Phoenix has covered in just one of their last six games. We think this is a great opportunity for a double-digit win for the Celtics.

10 Unit Play. Take #634 Florida Gators over Auburn Tigers (1:30p.m., Saturday, January 18 CBS) The Gators opened as a favorite and an unranked team favored over a ranked team is usually a sign to play them. Auburn is a fraud this season and their 15-1 record is more about a weak schedule that they have played thus far. They got pounded last time out against Alabama, a team that will struggle to make the NIT. Now they are on the road for a second straight game against a team that has not played up to their talent at times this season. Florida has just as much talent as does Auburn and they need this one more to ensure they make the NCAA Tournament this season.

We just love the way the Grizzlies are playing now. This isn’t a fluke, and they are playing playoff quality basketball right now and have a budding superstar in Ja Morant. They have won and covered in six straight games. And those games weren’t against all scrubs. They won at the Clippers and at home against Houston and San Antonio. They have scored 119 or more in all of these games, and with Cleveland allowing 128 in each of their last two games, we just don’t see them slowing Memphis down tonight. The Grizzlies aren’t really on bettors radars right now and they should be laying double digits here.

The Magic scored the win last night in LA against the Lakers. This is a back-to-back but they will be playing in the same building so no travel worries. And this is not some scrub team that will be happy with their win and not show up for this game. This team made the playoffs last season and has aspirations of getting back there this season. The Clippers are working out a lot of kinks right now and Paul George is out of the lineup again tonight. We think this will be a close game.

10 Unit Play. Take #642 Wisconsin over Maryland (9p.m., Tuesday, January 14 ESPN2) Just do not believe odds makers have caught up to how good Wisconsin is with the addition of Micah Potter. Wisconsin has won road games at Ohio State, Tennessee, and Penn State and should have beaten Illinois last week for it not for late game struggles. The Big 10 has been dominated by home teams and Maryland is not a strong enough team that can consistently win games on the road. They got run over by Iowa last time out and they have not won a true road game this season. The home team is 9-4 ATS in the last 10 meetings between Maryland and Wisconsin. Maryland is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games. Wisconsin is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.

The Sixers are without Embiid now and they haven’t been playing great basketball lately, losing five of their last seven games. They have been overvalued by the oddsmakers and covers are becoming more and more rare. We think they are overvalued again tonight and that this is a very public line. The Pacers are incredibly tough to beat at home where they are 15-5 on the season. We had this game handicapped at -4.5 for the home team so there is some decent value at this small number.

OKC has a favorable rest situation tonight as they had the night off while the Lakers had to play in Dallas. Playing two tough opponents on the road on consecutive nights is tough, especially at this point of the season where back-to-backs are serious business. The Lakers and Clippers are hogging all the NBA headlines these days, and quietly the Thunder are playing as well as anyone in the league lately. And they are criminally underrated by the oddsmakers right now. This team has now covered in 10 of 11 games.  This team is now 26-12 ATS on the season. And they can hold value as long as they keep playing well since they aren’t on the public radar right now. OKC is playing great team basketball right now, and we think they have had this game circled and will come to play against a Lakers team that may or may not have AD.  It won’t matter as the Thunder win outright.

10 Unit Play. Take #302 San Francisco 49ers over Minnesota Vikings (4:35p.m., Saturday, January 11 CBS) The Vikings are coming off an impressive victory, but this team has not handled prosperity well and now must travel to the west coast to face the best team in the conference. San Francisco is 4-1 straight-up against Minnesota in the playoffs. San Francisco has a great play caller in Kyle Shanahan, and they are better than Minnesota on both sides of the football. Minnesota is 5-14 ATS in their last 19 games against teams with a winning record. San Francisco is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against teams with a winning record. The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 games between the Vikings and 49ers. Minnesota cannot backup their performance from last week and thus San Francisco wins this game by double digits.

10 Unit Play. Take #601 Wisconsin over Penn State (2:15p.m., Saturday, January 11 BTN) Penn State being ranked and favored over Wisconsin is not a situation you find often. Wisconsin has been playing much better of late and despite losing to Illinois last time out, they should be able to take this down to the wire. The underdog is 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings between Wisconsin and Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 0-3 ATS (1 push) in their last 4 games played on Saturday. The Badgers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

The Spurs are coming off very impressive wins against the Bucks and Celtics. But this team has been one of the most inconsistent in the league and they normally fall flat on their face once you think they have turned the corner. Even if they play their best this will be a tough game tonight. The Grizzlies have won four out of five and have covered in all those wins. This team has a legitimate budding superstar in Ja Morant, who is getting plenty of playing time. The Grizzlies always rise up against the Spurs and they are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings. We also feel like this is a very public number intended to get the public to take the road team, which they are doing at a very high rate as of this writing. And we always like to be on the side of the sportsbooks, who will be rooting for the home team here tonight.

Both teams are very dysfunctional right now but we just don’t think the Pistons should be favored on the road over anyone. Blake Griffin could miss the season now and Andre Drummond is probably being shipped out of town soon. And the team is dealing with other injuries as well. The morale here on this squad is very bad right now, and we just don’t see them going on the road and winning big here. The Pistons are 2-6 ATS in their last eight meetings here in Cleveland.

10 Unit Play. Take #148 Philadelphia Eagles over Seattle Seahawks (4:40p.m., Sunday, January 5 NBC) The Seahawks are reeling at the moment having lost two straight home games and injuries have taken its toll on this team. Philadelphia is heading in the right direction and I do not believe they will lose twice to Seattle in the city of Brotherly Love. Seattle defense is not close to what it once was and all the pressure of QB Wilson having to do everything is finally catching up with this team. Seattle is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 playoff games. Philadelphia is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games played during the month of January.