Sports Picks & Predictions

Game 3 of a seven-game playoff series in the NBA is the most important one, and the Raptors performance in that game was pretty telling of where this team is at right now. We said from the start that we think the Raptors will lose this series and that became even more evident with that pitiful Game 3 performance. The Bucks are playing some incredible defense right now and this team seems built for postseason success. The Raptors just don’t seem to have an answer and yet here we are with a very public line for Game 4. With the way this series has gone we expected this number to be at least 5, and we think there is once again value on the underrated Bucks.

Both Games 1 and 2 have gone under easily and yet the bookies have not adjusted the number that much here for Game 3. But this is the most important game of this series unless it goes to 7 games and we expect both teams to keep doing what they have been doing on D. Utah is arguably the best defensive team in the league but they lost Rudy Gobert, who has already been ruled out for tonight. But this team plays a defensive system and the home crowd should fuel them tonight. The Clippers are known as an offensive team but down the stretch of the season this team has been playing excellent defense and they have been really good in the playoffs so far. The Jazz will have trouble getting anything going inside and they will try to slow the game down as they have in Games 1 and 2 in LA. But now they are home and we doubt the Clips will be able to push the pace too much. We think the Clippers will have enough on offense to win this game but we don’t see them getting too much over the century mark if they even get there. We think this will be a low-scoring game just like Games 1 and 2 and we think the better team will win here, and that’s the Clips.

We liked the Celtics and the under before it was announced this morning that Rajon Rondo was out indefinitely with a hand injury. Now we like these plays even more. This series has been one-sided so far but even lopsided NBA Playoff matches rarely wind up a sweep and we think the Celtics will win this game. They are the much better team. They have been dealing with a lot of issues the first two games and some off the court stuff that was a big distraction but they should be very focused here because if they lose this one the series is nearly over but if they win they are right back in it. They have one of the best coaches in the league and he should have a gameplan. Shooting hasn’t been good for this team in this series but we think they will concentrate on defense, and the loss of Rondo, who was having a very good series, will help them achieve their defensive goals. It’s telling that both Games 1 and 2 went over the total yet we are getting the lowest total thus far in the series. Both teams are rested and we think strong defense will be one of the main themes of the night.

The Grizzlies don’t seem to have any answer for the Spurs, who have won by double digits in both games at home. They held Memphis to 82 points in both games and even with the change of venue we just don’t see how the Grizzlies are going to improve too much on those offensive numbers. More than any series besides Portland/Golden State this one looks like the best chance for a sweep, and we think that the Spurs have learned a lot from their playoff failures the last couple years. The main lesson is to not take any game or opponent for granted, and we think there’s a chance they could play their best game of the series here in Game 3.  

The Bucks have been the better team in this series even though the Raptors won Game 2. But they needed some last-minute heroics to do so, and the change of venue should greatly favor the Bucks. Milwaukee has now covered three straight in this series and they are getting a very value-packed line again tonight. We think Milwaukee wins this one on the strength of their defense, which has been one of the better units in the NBA down the stretch run of the season. Their offense doesn’t score a lot so they really need to lock down on the defensive end in order to give themselves the best chance for the win. The Raps shot great from both the floor and 3-point land in Game 2 and we think the Bucks will make the necessary corrections here and have a much better defensive effort in Game 3. The bookies adjusted this total upwards after Game 2 but we think that number was adjusted the wrong way and this should go our way Thursday.

The Cavs have been one of the worst bets in the NBA all season long and they are overvalued once again here on Thursday. We had the Pacers as a slight favorite in this game and expect them to win Game 3 here at home. Indiana has been really competitive in this series and the Cavs are just not as good of a team as last season. This team normally doesn’t turn it on until the playoffs but something is just off with this club this season. Cleveland also hasn’t played great in this series and they have covered in only 2 of the last 13 meetings between these clubs and they are 1-6-1 ATS in the last eight meetings in Indiana. The Pacers will lose this series. But we think they provide a last gasp tonight as a desperate team in a must-win game, and the odds here are heavily skewed to the public Cavs.

We were on the Wizards Game 1 for our free pick and we like them here for Game 2 as well. We think this could be a really similar game as Game 1 but that maybe the Wizards cover by a couple more points as they have an even better offensive night. They missed a bunch of threes in that game and shot a real low percentage but that should probably turn around tonight and there is a great chance that they can put up even more than the 114 they scored on Sunday. They got off to a real slow start in the first half before playing really well in the second. We just think that Atlanta is outmatched here. They should get enough points to get this one over the total by virtue of the pace here, but we don’t see them being able to keep pace with Washington on the scoreboard.

The Jazz stole Game 1 but lost Rudy Gobert in the process. While that is a considerable loss, we think the oddsmakers have posted too big a number here. The Clippers just have a way of blowing it in the playoffs and after losing Game 1 at home now the pressure is really on this team – and this is a team that probably is more under the pressure cooker than any team in the playoffs because they have fallen well below expectations way too often in the postseason. And this team has shown that they don’t handle adversity well. We think they will likely get the win here but as both teams have been playing very good defense, we expect another low-scoring affair and that makes the points for the underdog even more valuable. We thought this line would be 7 at most after the Game 1 result so we think there is really some nice value tonight.

Really liked the way the Bucks took control of Game 1 and we think they are getting too many points in what should be a close, low-scoring game. We think the Bucks are underrated and we said with our Game 1 pick on them that we think they have a very good chance to win this series and now they have the home-court advantage after stealing Game 1. Milwaukee played very strong defense down the stretch of the season and they held Toronto to just 83 points in Game 1. The Raptors will get more points tonight. But we think the Bucks D will do enough to keep this one low scoring and give them a chance to win it at the end. We had this line handicapped at 4.5 so we like that we get the number on the other side of 7, a key betting number in the NBA.

To us this looks like the ugliest series in the first round of the playoffs. The bottom of the west was down this year and Portland barely made it in over the last few games because of a late-season surge. The Warriors had some issues throughout the season but now they are back in championship form and this team did everything right in the regular season this year as opposed to last season when they spent so much energy on setting regular-season records only to struggle more than expected in the playoffs. We feel the different approach will pay off here and the Warriors look primed for a blowout. Yes, this line is large but when Golden State is feeling it they can cover any line, and the Blazers don’t play well enough on defense to slow them down and their offense won’t be able to do enough to match that of the Warriors.

At the start of the season we said the Clippers would get out to a hot start as the pressure was on to perform better this year than they had in the past. And that is just what they did. They suffered some injuries throughout the season and the regular season didn’t turn out just as expected but they closed the season strong by winning their last seven games. But now is when the real test starts for this team. They have flamed out in the playoffs every year, and last season they looked like they would cruise against Portland and then Paul and Griffin were injured. Now this might be the last stand for this team. And just like they wanted a strong start to the regular season we think it’s of the utmost importance for this team to have a strong start to the postseason. Utah has a fine team but in the playoffs you need some star power. The Jazz rely on their stingy defense for success but the Clippers have been playing as well as anyone on the defensive end down the stretch but they have an offense that should be able to succeed here in this series and especially at home in Game 1. They have covered in five of the last six meetings between these teams and we think they will want to make a statement here in Game 1 while the public’s confidence is not too high with this team and therefore this line was released too short.

We just think that this line is too large on Saturday for the playoff opener in this series. We think this will be a close, low-scoring game. We think the Raptors had a down season from what we expected from them. Yes, they dealt with some injuries during the season but this team had a chance to be a Top 2 seed and it didn’t work out that way. The Bucks have the strongest chance of the lower seeds to pull an upset, in our opinion, and we think that they will keep this one close. Both of these clubs are going to feel each other out and concentrate on defense, which makes the points with the underdog more valuable since we are expecting a low-scoring game from two defensive-minded teams (both are in the Top 10 defensively). There may be some higher-scoring games later in the series but we think the bookies have posted too big a number here for how we expect this game to play out. The under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.

The Lakers are just 4-7 ATS this season as a favorite, and we think there is a great chance the Pelicans win this one straight up tonight. The two big stars for the Pelicans will be out tonight but this line is an overreaction because the Pelicans are probably still better than the Lakers even without Davis and Cousins. New Orleans is 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings in LA, and there aren’t many trends in the NBA stronger than that. LA plays at Golden State tomorrow night in their season finale and we think they will be more focused on that game where if they play well it will be a nice finale for the season for them. New Orleans has lost four straight but this is their last best chance for a win as they finish the season at Portland tomorrow.

The Hornets have lost four straight and this is their last game of the season, and we know this team does not want to end up with a five-game losing streak to end the season. That will be motivation tonight. Not sure if they will get the win, but they should play hard. And this seems like an inflated line. Charlotte has won and covered in all three meetings this season. This is also a letdown spot for Atlanta after one of their biggest wins in team history, coming back from 26 down against the Cavaliers last time out to win in OT. The Hawks have not been good as a big favorite this season and we see this one as a close game as the Hornets bring a lot of pride to the floor tonight in their last game.

Some players questionable on both sides but we think this is an inflated line to begin with and all the motivation lies with the road side tonight. After their loss last time out coupled with the Clippers win over the Spurs, this team is now tied with the Clips, who would get home-court advantage in their first-round playoff series unless the Jazz finish with a better record. Utah has the tougher remaining schedule, but with the Warriors locked into the No. 1 seed there is not as much motivation for the home team here. Utah has responded to bad losses well, going 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after losing by 10 or more points.

The Spurs were embarrassed by the Clippers last time out (at home no less) and after the game Coach Gregg Popovich said that there will be no rested players down the stretch. This team has flamed out in the playoffs the last couple seasons so we think they really try to build some momentum heading into the postseason. Even though the Spurs are locked into the No. 2 seed, you sense more urgency here at the end of the season than in the past for this team. With Denver’s loss on Sunday the Blazers are locked into the No. 8 seed. We think they will start focusing on the Warriors now and that makes the rest of the regular season meaningless to them.

The Bucks blew the Hornets out in Charlotte in the last meeting, late last month, and we think we could see the same result as these teams meet in Milwaukee. The Hornets have nothing to play for here and they have dropped three straight both SU and ATS as they just don’t look interested right now. The Bucks are still playing for seeding in the postseason so they should be uber motivated in this game. Kemba Walker, the best player for the Hornets, is listed as doubtful tonight. Just doubt that this team is going to rise up and play better than they have with their leader out, especially on the road. We think there is a good chance for a 10+-point blowout here.

We had the Wolves the last time these teams played in LA and that was one of the Lakers better games they have played in awhile and they won it in OT. Just don’t think that they will be able to put forth that kind of effort twice against the same team. This Lakers team doesn’t have much interest in winning out in the stretch run of the regular season. In fact, it benefits them to lose because of their tenuous hold on their upcoming draft pick, which would head to Philly if it’s outside the Top 3. Losing these last three games would give them a better chance to keep their pick, and that’s only if the Suns go on a winning streak to end the season. The Wolves are a team that wants to finish the season on a high note. Their recent games have included two against Portland and also Utah and Golden State on the road. They finish with OKC and Houston, so this is their last best chance for a big blowout road win.

Denver needs this game badly for any chance at the playoffs. It’s pretty much a must win. OKC is a pretty weak road team anyways but Denver has all the extra motivation here. Denver has been underrated a lot lately and this team has covered in four straight games, winning three of those. OKC has had their number lately but they have to play the Thunder twice in their last three games so they will be very focused on turning those trends around and they know they need to sweep them for any hope at the postseason. Not sure if that will happen but there’s a great chance they can win this one comfortably at home as the finale is at OKC.

We don’t make a habit of backing the Cavs at the betting window because this team has been overvalued by the oddsmakers for much of the season. We do think they have value with this short line on Sunday. These teams played on Friday and the Hawks won big in Cleveland. You could tell that Cleveland was really embarrassed by that defeat. When these home-and-home series happen in short succession then the team that lost the last game is normally a live play in the second game, and that is certainly the case tonight with a team as strong as the Cavs. We think we will see more of the team that blew out Boston than the one that lost to Atlanta last time out. Cleveland is 5-1 ATS in the last six in Atlanta and 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings overall.

This is just too many points. Yes, the Pelicans will be without Davis and Cousins. But Steph Curry will be resting during this game for the Warriors, and this will be Durant’s first game back for the Warriors. All Golden State wants to do is get him involved and ease him back into the rotation. Remember that this team took a long time to gel when Durant started at the beginning of the season and that is part of the reason this team was really lousy ATS for most of the start of the season. We just think the Warriors are more focused on getting Durant back integrated with the team than playing playoff-level basketball in this game and we will take this many points in almost any situation in an NBA game.

Both teams need this game. The Jazz have a one-game lead for the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference Playoffs over No. 5 LA Clippers. The Blazers are holding down the No. 8 spot, one game ahead of Denver. These teams met four nights ago and the Jazz won in a rout. But we think Portland will be primed for revenge here. First, they need this game more. Also, this team is much better at home than on the road and we think they play a much better game here. They have won and covered in six straight at home. They also had Friday off while the Jazz hosted Minnesota. Utah is 1-7-3 ATS in their last 11 in the second of a back-to-back and this team has not gotten the job done without rest lately.

The Clippers have won and covered in two of the last three meetings. They match up well against the Spurs and LA will have all the motivation tonight. They are one game behind the Jazz for home-court advantage in their probable first-round matchup of the playoffs. Utah has a tough one tonight at Portland so LA with a win here could gain some serious ground. The Spurs come in on a back-to-back and this team does not care much about the rest of the regular season as they are locked into the No. 2 seed in the West. The Spurs are 1-4 ATS in the second game of a back-to-back in their last five. We think LA goes all out for the win here and they have played well against the Spurs. They are averaging 121 PPG in their last four and are playing very well right now.

Denver is in a must-win position here. But they wouldn’t be in this position if they were a great team, and New Orleans would love to play the role of spoiler here on Friday. These teams played on Tuesday and Denver won a close one. When two teams play in close succession like this the team that lost is normally a live bet next time out, and we certainly think that’s the case tonight. New Orleans has been off since that game on Tuesday so they are well rested here and this will be the Nuggets third game in four nights. Just think the Pels are getting too many points here in what we view as a close game.

The Mavs are out of the playoff hunt but they will play hard tonight against their in-state rival while the Spurs have an eye on the playoffs as they are locked into the No. 2 seed so the rest of the regular season is meaningless to this team and the backups will be on full display tonight. Dallas has covered in three straight meetings in this series. This team has had a tough, road-heavy schedule lately and this is their last big home game of the season and they aren’t going to take it easy on the Spurs just because they are resting starters. We think they will be very motivated to get a win over the Spurs in front of the home fans to close the season.

The Grizzlies have lost three straight but this team has an easy schedule down the stretch and they will want to play well to get some momentum going heading into the playoffs. This one just screams blowout. The Knicks will be without all their stars tonight. They are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings in this series, and the outlook for them tonight isn’t very good. They are coming in on the second of a back-to-back and this will be their third game in four nights. We just see this as a “get right” game for the home team and this one should not even be close.

These teams played three nights ago and the Blazers lost by one. They still covered, however, and they have now covered in six of their last seven games. We think this one will go the other way in Portland where the Blazers are a solid home team and the Wolves have proven to be very inconsistent on the road. Portland is currently holding down the No. 8 playoff spot and this team must continue to win if they are to make the postseason. They have been playing really well lately and we expect a big game tonight against a Timberwolves team that is just playing for pride. Portland has covered in six of the last eight meetings in this series!

Brooklyn is really playing their best basketball of the year down the stretch of the season and you can tell it’s important for the players on this team to finish the season on a positive note. They have covered four straight games and 13 of their last 17 games. We think they are underrated tonight. They have won three straight games, and one of those wins was by double-digits over Orlando in Brooklyn. Forget about revenge here, the Magic are more concerned about getting this season over with and we think revenge is the last thing on their minds. This team has given up an average of 121 points on defense in their last five games. That just shows that they don’t care as that is some of the most putrid defense the league has seen in awhile. Brooklyn put up 121 in the recent meeting and they scored 141 last time out against Philly and there is not much doubt that they will put up a massive number tonight.

The Bucks match up real well here as is evident by the fact that they have won and covered in all of the last three meetings. The Pacers have lost six of eight and this team is floundering down the stretch. They are now out of the current playoff picture in the East. Some might think they will give it their all tonight in order to make the playoffs, but their situation has been tenuous at best lately and they haven’t got the job done so what would make tonight different? The Bucks are the better team in this matchup and we think that this one is basically a coin flip as to who wins it so we have to take the points here as we expect a very close game.

The Grizzlies have covered in four of the last five meetings in this series here at home. They are also 4-0 ATS in their last four home games overall. The Thunder are a good team, no doubt, and Russell Westbrook would be a deserving MVP. But this team is just 16-21 on the road (SU and ATS). They are often overrated on the road and that seems like the case tonight as we thought that this line should be closer to 4.5. Memphis doesn’t play on the road again this regular season and they know that they need this game to make a push for the No. 6 seed to avoid the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

We just don’t have a lot of faith in Cleveland this season and we think they are susceptible to losing in the playoffs this year. This game might go a long way to deciding that outcome as these teams are tied atop the EC playoff heap, and the winner of this one has a good chance to claim the top seed. Boston comes into this one having had two nights off while the Cavs are on a back-to-back and will be playing their third game in four nights. Cleveland has covered in only one of the past five meetings in this series. The Cavs don’t seem to have the hunger they had last year and that fire can dim after winning a championship. The Celtics seem to have it this season, and this team is a serious threat in the East. Boston is 14-5 ATS as a favorite of less than 4.5 points, and we think they take care of business for a comfortable win tonight.

This is basically a must-win game for both teams who are just outside of the playoff picture in the East. Miami has the inside track as they are ½ game out of the No. 8 spot and the Hornets are 1.5 games behind them. Miami, however, has had two nights off heading into this one and the Hornets are on a back-to-back and will be playing their third game in four nights. That rest discrepancy is huge at this point in the season. Miami is coming off two home losses to better teams than this and they have had a couple days to think about things and get prepared for this important game and we think that they will win a close one here.

The Warriors are back to playing Golden State basketball and are the hottest team in the NBA right now. However, as this team has success the numbers rise for their games, and this is a very inflated number in our opinion. The Timberwolves have covered in eight of the last nine meetings. This team has some talent although they have been inconsistent. But they always seem to play well in this matchup and we think tonight will be the same. Minnesota actually has two wins in the last four meetings! Golden State is 19-28 ATS when laying double digit points this season and we think this is another overinflated line tonight.

Utah has a much better record than the Blazers this season but you have to remember that the Blazers got off to a horrible start this year but that they have been playing a lot better recently. These teams are not as far apart as these odds might have you believe. Portland has now covered in seven straight games and we think that they are getting too many points once again tonight. They are on a back-to-back here but we aren’t worried about that as they are 7-0 ATS in their last seven on the second night of a back-to-back. They have also covered in four of the last six meetings.

Brooklyn has been one of the best bets in the NBA lately and while bettor confidence is down on this team they have been playing very hard down the stretch. They have now covered in 12 of their last 16 games. And we think they are majorly underrated here. The Sixers have been one of the best ATS teams all season but they have slid back a bit and have covered only three of their last seven games (despite some generous lines). The Nets are 10-4 ATS this season on the road against a sub-.500 team and they are the squad that is playing with a lot of pride right now as the Sixers look more ready for the season to be over as their play has trailed off big time lately. Brooklyn has extra motivation here as well since the Sixers have won all three meetings this year and the Nets won’t want to be swept. Brooklyn also has a chance here for a rare three-game winning streak and this looks like a squad that will finish the season with some momentum. We also think this total is way too high as the Nets have been playing some pretty strong defense lately and we don’t see this as a shootout.

The Wizards were the hottest ticket in town for awhile but this team has trailed off as well and they have covered only three of their last 10 games. They are coming into this one off three straight losses and with non-covers in all three of those games. The Hornets have been a head-scratcher all season but this squad is finally playing to their potential and they have now covered in seven of their last nine. They are coming off a very impressive recent stretch that saw them with three straight, including road wins at OKC and Toronto. In fact, this team has three straight wins on the road. We think the Hornets have a great chance for the straight up win here.

4 Unit Play. #601 Take Gonzaga over North Carolina (9:20 pm CBS) Not much analysis is needed for this selection since you can make an argument to support either side for tonight’s Championship Game. Just believe Gonzaga has been playing better in this year’s tournament. Some believe North Carolina cannot play any worse especially shooting the ball like they did on Saturday. Oregon just could not make a three-point shot or else they would have won that game. Gonzaga will and they will grab the trophy. 

The Hawks are just 2-6 since Paul Millsap went down with injury and although he is listed as questionable today, we have a hard time believing that he will be effective even if he does make it on the court. One of those losses was to this same Nets team, in Atlanta, in a 15-point blowout. That wasn’t a fluke as this Nets team is playing very hard down the stretch. They are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games and we think they have value again here as the home underdog on Sunday. Forget about the revenge factor here as the Hawks are just trying to get healthy and get in synch for the playoffs and they are not worried about revenge against the team with the worst record in the NBA.

The Pelicans are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games and this team has been underrated at home lately. The Bulls are in a tough spot here as they come in on the second night of a back-to-back and this will also be their third game in four nights. They played a hard-fought game against the Hawks last night and played and beat Cleveland on Thursday and now they have to travel on the road to play a Pelicans team that is an out-of-conference foe and that makes this a letdown spot. This line is big for a reason and we think there’s a great chance for the home team to earn a double-digit win on Sunday.

4 Unit Play. Take South Carolina -3.5 over Mississippi State (6 pm ESPN) Just do not believe that the Bulldogs are pull off what the 1980 US Hockey team did. South Carolina has already beaten Mississippi State this season and they have been a highly-ranked team all season long. The Bulldogs slayed the giants on Friday but I do not believe they will have much left in the tank on Sunday night.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

The Hornets have been back and forth most of the season but they are playing well right now and they have been underrated by the oddsmakers and have gone 6-2 ATS in their last eight games. OKC has covered only two of their last six games. The Hornets won the last meeting in this series by double digits back in January. The Hornets are two games out of the playoff picture in the east and this is basically a must-win game for them today. There is not the same urgency coming from the home side tonight as they are pretty much locked into the No. 6 in the west. We think this will be a very close game and have to take the points here.

The Blazers are playing as well as anyone in the league lately and we think they will win this one going away against a Suns team that is waiting for the offseason to begin. They just beat Houston on this same floor last time out by double digits so there’s no reason to believe that they can’t beat the Suns by even more. Portland has covered in five straight games, and this team is really clicking on offense. We don’t see the Suns doing anything special on defense tonight, and the Blazers have a great chance to put up 110+ or maybe even a lot more. We just don’t think that the Suns can keep up. Phoenix has Houston coming up at home on Sunday and they play the Warriors after that, and we would think they have their eyes on those games probably more than this road game against a middling WC team tonight.

10 Unit Play. #813 Take Oregon over North Carolina (8:49 pm CBS) The Ducks have the most impressive win of the NCAA Tournament thus far beating Kansas in Kansas City last time out. This team has great guard play and they have weathered the loss of Chris Boucher brilliantly. North Carolina has their own injuries with Joel Berry having issues with both of his ankles and he is the one player the Tar Heels cannot do without. He will play but will play but he will not be 100%. Guard play dominates in the NCAA Tournament and if the Ducks are making shots from the arc they will win this game straight-up. We have seen that the ACC was vastly overrated this year and Oregon will come ready to play in a city they are very familiar with. North Carolina is just 1-3 ATS (1 push) in their last 5 games as a small favorite of 6.5 points or less. Oregon is 38-16 ATS in their last 54 games as an underdog. 

Four of the last six meetings between these teams have gone under the posted total. The Hawks have averaged 97 points in their last two games, and those were against the Sixers and Suns, two teams that aren’t in the conversation among the best defensive clubs in the NBA. They will face a much tougher test tonight. They have now gone under in eight straight games, and the bookies are still posting too high lines for this team. The Bulls have been playing very good defense lately and we think they will hold the Hawks to a real low score here, covering ATS and keeping this one under the posted number. The under is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings in Chicago and 16-7 in the last 23 meetings overall.

The Clippers have covered in both of the last two meetings, both blowouts. The Lakers don’t have a lot of motivation here as they need to keep losing in order to have the best chance to keep their upcoming draft pick (if it’s in the Top 3). The Clippers have all the motivation in the world as they are currently 1.5 games behind Utah for the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in their likely first-round playoff series. These teams played a couple weeks ago and the Clippers were up by as many as 37 in that game at one point. In garbage time the Lakers came back a little but still lost by 24. Not sure why this game would be any different Saturday afternoon.

Four of the last five meetings in this series have gone under the posted total. Detroit’s offense has gone into the doghouse lately. This team has gone under in eight of their last nine games and the main reason is their poor offensive play. They have surpassed the century mark only once in their last 10 games and on most nights they haven’t got anywhere near 100. They come in on a back-to-back tonight after scoring only 90 against a poor defensive team in Brooklyn. The Bucks are much better at defense, and we just don’t see how they will score more than that tonight. We have a good feeling this will be a blowout, so that would bode well for the under. Detroit averages less than 93 points on offense in the second night of a back-to-back and we think there is a good chance that they could wind up in the 80s tonight.

Dallas has covered in four of the last five meetings in this series. Even though the playoffs are now likely a pipe dream for the Mavs, we think they still have some fight in them and this line looks too big here on Friday. Even though Dallas has lost three of four they are 3-1 ATS in their last four and that shows that the lines are too big against this team. The Mavs got off to a slow start this season but they have been pretty good in the second half and these teams are not as far apart as their records may indicate. Marc Gasol is out tonight for the Grizzlies and we think this one is a close, low-scoring game.

The Pacers are one of the worst road teams ATS at 13-23, and they are in tough tonight. This line looks really short and we expect the home team to roll in this one. These teams met less than two weeks ago, on this same court, and the Raptors won by 25. They probably won’t score a win that big, but a win by 7+ is a safe bet. Indiana has been receiving some pretty generous lines yet they are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games. Toronto has won six of their last seven and they have covered in five of those games, and this team is rounding into playoff form right now. We think there is a good chance that this one could be a double-digit blowout.

The Clippers have a small margin of error for the rest of the regular season if they want to overtake Utah for the No. 4 seed and play their first-round series with home-court advantage. They are on a back-to-back but we think they will play well here. The Suns have stunk all season but they are even worse now and not only is Devin Booker questionable tonight but this team is far from the one that started the season as most of the key players are either injured or shut down for the season. LA goes for the season sweep here and all three wins were by double digits. LA’s defense should get the job done here and their offense should thrive against a team that plays poor defense.

These teams played about a week ago and the Lakers played a very rare hard-fought game and won it in OT at Staples Center. That sets up a nice revenge spot for the Wolves here, and despite their inconsistency they are the much better squad in this matchup. The Lakers don’t have a lot of motivation in this one. In fact, it’s quite the opposite as LA needs to keep losing to give themselves the best chance to keep their upcoming draft pick as long as it lands in the Top 3. Despite getting generous lines on a regular basis this team has been a nightmare to bet on. Minnesota hasn’t performed well against a road-heavy schedule, but they got a big win last time out at Indiana and that positive momentum should continue here on Thursday.

10 Unit Play. #712 Take TCU over Georgia Tech (8 pm ESPN) Just believe TCU is the better all-around team. Georgia Tech had some moments early in ACC play but they fell apart down the stretch losing five of their last seven games. They have had a fortunate draw not having to travel to Indiana in the opening game of the NIT and they have also played a 7 and a 8 seed to get to the finals. TCU started off slow on Tuesday but really flexed their muscles in the second half to beat UCF big. TCU is 10-2 ATS in their last 12 neutral site games. Georgia Tech is 5-13 ATS (1 push) in their last 19 games played on Thursday.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports 

Brooklyn is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in this series and you just have to think that Detroit is laying too many points in this game. Detroit hasn’t lived up to expectations this season – nowhere close, actually. They have covered in only two of their last nine games and this team just plays to the level of competition on a nightly basis. Brooklyn has been playing hard despite a lack of talent and they have covered five of their last nine, so you can tell which team in this matchup is the overvalued one. The Nets are 9-4 ATS on the road against sub-.500 teams, where they normally are getting too many points. That seems to be the case tonight as well.

The Clippers blew a late lead last time out against the Kings and had a head-scratching loss at home. That ups the urgency for this game since the Clippers are still behind the Jazz for the coveted No. 4 spot in the playoff seedings and at least one series at home. This Wizards defense has been atrocious lately and they have given up 110+ a bunch lately. The Clippers have at least been playing strong defense their last few games and after an off offensive game last time out we are confident that they will have a strong game on offense against this Wizards team that hasn’t been protecting the basket. Even though the Wizards played in this building last night, this is still a back-to-back and we think it’s a bad spot for the visiting team.

We think this is a bad spot for the Warriors, coming off a real tough road game last night in Houston and now playing in an even tougher venue on a back-to-back against a much better team. The Spurs blew out the Warriors early in the season and they won the second game too even though it was mainly the backups for both teams competing. But it seems like the Spurs are taking this regular season a lot more seriously after flaming out in the playoffs last year while the Warriors are taking the regular season less seriously after they ran out of steam in the playoffs last year. The Spurs want this one more tonight, and they are rested and ready.

Miami is in a tough spot here. This will be their third road game in four nights and they played the Celtics and Pistons before this, so you can’t help but think this is a letdown spot. The Heat are just 5-8 SU on the second night of a back-to-back and we think they are giving up too many points tonight. New York hasn’t been playing particularly well lately but they have had a tough schedule that has been road-heavy. We think they have an excellent chance to win this game, and they should come in with confidence after a win vs. the Pistons last time out. Just think that this one is a coin flip as to who the SU winner is so we have to take the generous points here.

Philly is the top ATS team in the NBA for a reason, and that reason is by performing well in games like this. The Hawks come in on a back-to-back after a four-point home win against the horrible Suns last night. The Hawks have not been good since Paul Millsap went down and they are just 1-5 since he was injured. He won’t be back for a couple games. Philly is 15-2 ATS in their last 17 home games and that is one of the strongest trends in the NBA right now. We love them tonight at home against a struggling team on a back-to-back. Philly played last night, too, but they are at home here and that gives them a big advantage and they are also 7-1 ATS in their last eight second games on a back-to-back.

Denver has covered in three of the last four meetings, and the one game in that series of games that they didn’t cover was the one they lost by two in overtime as a 1.5-point underdog. The Nuggets are playing well on an almost nightly basis lately and they have covered in seven of their last nine games. This team isn’t flashy and doesn’t reel in the general betting public so they can keep their betting value despite covering a lot of games like they have recently and we certainly think that is the case tonight as we expect them to win here. Portland has been playing well too but their recent record has mostly been pumped up by beating up on cupcakes. Denver definitely has more quality wins lately. We think this is a good spot for them for another quality win tonight.

6 Unit Play. #779 Take TCU over Central Florida (9:30 pm ESPN) The Horned Frogs come from a better conference and I feel they will win this NIT Championship in New York City. TCU has been dominating in their three games thus far with two blowouts and a win at Iowa. UCF has a strange line-up they employ with great height from Tacko Fall but TCU will not be intimidated by him and will pull away in the second half to win by double digits. TCU is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games. UCF is 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games played on Tuesday. 

The Pistons have covered in five of the last eight meetings in this series. Detroit has only one win in their last eight games but this team stinks on the road and they have played a road-heavy schedule lately and the home games they have had have been tough (they lost to Utah and Toronto in consecutive games). And tonight they play a team that is less strong than those opponents and the line is about the same for what Detroit was getting against Utah and Toronto, which means this team is getting more value in the line than usual tonight. Detroit is a very good home team and the Heat are bad on the road. Recent results aside, we think this is a good spot for the home team to get a win tonight.

Looks like the Wolves have thrown in the towel on the season as this team is barely competitive right now and they have lost six straight games both SU and ATS despite some very favorable lines. This line is more than fair for the home team. Indiana is really good at home at 26-11 and they will face an opponent tonight that has won only 10 all season on the road. Why would the Wolves play better than they have lately in this one, against an out-of-conference opponent? Doesn’t seem likely. Minnesota is 0-6 ATS in their last six road games and they have covered in only 2 of the last 7 games in Indiana. The Pacers have been inconsistent lately but this looks like a game that they can win pretty comfortably.

The Thunder are just not a good road team at 14-21 on the season and we think that the wrong team is favored tonight. Dallas hasn’t been playing all that great but they have had an incredibly hard schedule so far on this homestand with games against the Warriors, Clippers and Raptors. They got only one win there (against LA), but they have their most winnable game on this homestand tonight in our opinion. Dallas is 3.5 games out of the No. 8 playoff spot in the west (thanks mostly to a lousy start to the season), and they have to win this one big time if they have any hopes of the postseason. We think they will be hungry tonight and win against an overrated OKC squad.

It’s not often you get a relatively healthy Cavs team as this big of an underdog but we like them tonight to cover this big number in San  Antonio. The Cavs have covered in three of the last four meetings, and the game they didn’t cover, the last one, they lost in overtime in a game they easily could have won. Cleveland has been up and down lately and they had a pretty rough recent road trip. Their first game back at home didn’t go much better with a loss to the Wizards. But that makes this game all the more important with the playoffs approaching and with the need for some positive momentum. The Cavs don’t normally take the regular season that seriously but we expect their best effort tonight.

The Magic have a very strong history in this series as they have covered in seven of the last nine meetings. In fact, they have won the last two meetings straight up. Orlando has had a very light schedule lately and they come into this one with two days off and they should be primed to play another very close game. The Magic have won three of their last four and they are playing well recently. We think they give their best effort tonight against a team they have played well against and we also think this is a couple too many points for the favorite.

Golden State hasn’t been a good bet this season but they are rounding into form lately and they have covered four of their last five. They failed to cover last time out against Sacramento but won by 14 as an 18-point favorite. They didn’t have a lot of motivation in that game but still played well and won in a blowout. But they have motivation tonight as the Grizzlies are a traditional rival and they have beat the Warriors twice this season. But Golden State won the last meeting by 15 – in Memphis no less – and we think they give their best shot to split the season series tonight. Memphis has won four of their last six but they also have five double-digit blowout losses in their last five games and this team has not been playing hard in losses. Marc Gasol is also questionable for this game and the Grizzlies will need all the help they can get to stay competitive in this game.

6 Unit Play. #723 Take Kentucky +2.5 over North Carolina (5:05 pm CBS) Coach Cal has had Coach Williams number of late and expect that to continue again on Sunday. Kentucky has the bodies to match-up with UNC inside the paint and they will not let them dominate second chance points. Kentucky has been much more battle tested this tournament playing two good teams to get this far. Carolina struggled against Arkansas before blasting Butler in the Sweet 16. Kentucky is 20-8 ATS (1 push) in their last 29 games played on Sunday.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

4 Unit Play. #722 Take Florida -3 over South Carolina (2:20 pm CBS) The Gators finished higher in the standing of the SEC and they are playing with house money after a dramatic shot at the buzzer to beat Wisconsin. Florida is 15-5 ATS (1 push) in their last 21 games as a favorite of 6.5 points or less. South Carolina is 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games against SEC conference foes. 

4 Unit Play. #512 Take Kansas -7 over Oregon (Saturday 8:45 pm TBS) Oregon has not performed well in Elite 8 games over the last two decades including last year. Many times they had a chance to win those games but this is not one of them. Kansas flexed their muscles on Thursday against a big Purdue team on Thursday and playing in Kansas City means there will be a huge contingency that are blue and red. Kansas is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite. The line keeps rising and it is with good reason.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

We normally don’t factor revenge too much into our NBA handicapping, because these players are professional and not as emotional as college players. Also, some guys probably don’t even know who they play in the next game (this has been proven in TV interviews). But when a team suffers a bad loss and the game was recent then that can be a factor for revenge. And this Dallas team lost by 22 in Toronto a couple weeks ago and we think they will give every effort to play better in this one. Dallas is currently a few games out of the playoff picture in the West and this is a must-win game. We think they get it tonight.

This is the first game of a five-game road trip for the Wizards and we think they do all they can to start off strong as the playoffs are nearing in a couple weeks. This team has been a completely different team after a slow start and they are playing as well as any team in the NBA lately. LeBron is questionable here with a scratched eye, and the Cavs normally err on the side of caution when it comes to him and we doubt he plays here. This line certainly indicates that the bookies are leaning that way. With or without LeBron we feel the Wizards have a very good chance to win this one. The Cavs seem to be treading water waiting for the playoffs while the Wizards look to build momentum for the postseason.

This is a game we have had circled for awhile since the Jazz beat the Clippers in Utah last time out. That was a rare win for the Jazz who got their first win and cover in five meetings in this series. The Clippers have had their fair share of problems throughout the season and they have dealt with extended injury absences for two of their big 3. But this is such a crucial game and we think the better team takes control of this and dominates in this matchup. LA has been playing pretty well lately. They lost last time out at a Mavs team that is playing much better down the stretch, but they had won the last three before that. We took Dallas on Thursday and said the Clippers were probably looking ahead to this one, and we think that was the case as they lost in the final seconds. LA is a game and a half back of the Jazz for the No. 4 seed and we think they do what it takes to win this big and get a better chance at home-court advantage in the first round when these teams likely meet in the playoffs.

The Wolves won by 26 the last time these teams met up, and we think we could see another blowout here tonight. Minnesota has lost and failed to cover in four straight, but that was against a pretty tough schedule. Tonight provides the perfect opportunity for them against a “get right” opponent. The Lakers don’t have a lot of interest in winning right now. They need to keep losing in order to give them the best chance to keep their draft pick in the upcoming loaded draft. This is also pretty much a must-win game for Minnesota and we expect to see their best against an inferior opponent.

10 Unit Play. #871 Take Wisconsin over Florida (Friday 9:55 pm TBS) SWEET 16 GAME OF THE YEAR. Florida has fool’s gold confidence at the moment. Their players and coaches believe they put forth a coaching masterpiece on Saturday against Virginia. But that was because Virginia is just inept on offense, had no inside presence, and could not make wide open jump shots. Wisconsin can do all three of those things and when you put experience with it this team will be hard to stop by anyone left in the East Region. Wisconsin just took down the No. 1 team in the country and the Wildcats plays much more in your face defense than do the Gators. Florida will not make Wisconsin uncomfortable on offense and I just do not believe Florida will be able to make enough jump shots to win this game. Wisconsin has players that are used to playing in big game and they want to finish the job this year after losing to Notre Dame in the Sweet 16 last year. The Gators also had a huge edge in playing the first two games in Orlando but that will not be the case on Friday. Wisconsin is 7-1 ATS (1 push) in their last 9 NCAA Tournament Games as an underdog. Florida is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win in their previous game. 

4 Unit Play. #876 Take Kentucky over UCLA (Friday 9:35 pm CBS) Steve Alford is getting a lot of love despite accomplishing very little in the NCAA Tournament over the years. The Indiana distraction will play a role in this game as Kentucky moves onto the Elite 8. An Alford coached team has never had success in the regular season and postseason in the same year and despite all the hype UCLA got this year they did not win the regular season or conference tournament in the PAC-12. Kentucky is the more physical battle tested team in the tournament and they will have a major edge in fans for this game. Throw in the fact that UCLA beat them in Lexington this season and Coach Cal will have his Wildcats ready. UCLA is 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games against the SEC. We are seeing that the SEC is better than people thought and Kentucky record is legit. 

After covering seven of their last eight games, the Sixers are the top ATS team in the league. This is a squad that bettors think badly of and they don’t have a lot of top-shelf talent, but they play hard every night and they play like a team. That is the recipe for a great ATS team. The Sixers are 12-7 ATS on the road against sub-.500 teams and we just don’t feel like the Bulls should be laying this many points to any team right now. The Bulls have covered in four straight games but they were facing more standard lines but tonight they have an inflated line and it would not shock us to see Philly win this one straight out.

4 Unit Play. #874 Take Baylor over South Carolina (Friday 7:25 pm TBS) All four of these teams feel they have a chance to reach the Final Four but I wonder if the Gamecocks will be able to focus after such a high of beating Duke in Greenville last Sunday. Baylor has been a highly rated team all season and their zone will force USC to beat them from the three point line. Not sure if Carolina will be able to do that for a second straight game. Despite covering the spread in two straight games, USC is still 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games. Baylor seems to perform well when playing teams outside of the Big 12 going 7-2 ATS in their last 9 nonconference games. 

The Pacers haven’t covered a game in this series since 2014. Denver is also 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Indiana. Denver has covered in six of their last seven games and this team is playing very well right now. They are coming off a blowout win over Cleveland and this team should come into this one with a lot of confidence. The Pacers have been very inconsistent and they just can’t seem to get a winning streak going. The Pacers have two more wins on the season than Denver but they play in the much weaker conference and have easier matchups on a regular basis.

The Cavs are just a poor ATS team as they are often overvalued by the oddsmakers and we think that is the case again tonight. Charlotte is on an upswing as they have won and covered in three straight games. This is a team that we think is better than their record. They have gone through some real rough patches this season but there is some talent there. Teams tend to really get up to play the world champs and we think the Hornets will bring their A Game again tonight. The Cavs seem to be coasting to the playoffs but the Hornets need every win they can get and this is almost a must-win situation for them tonight. We think they challenge for the win here in what should be a close game.

4 Unit Play. #818 Take Arizona over Xavier (Thursday 10:05 pm TBS) The line on this game tells me a lot. Xavier is coming off two blowouts as a higher seed yet enter this game as the biggest underdog of the eight teams playing tonight. They played against two soft teams (Maryland & Florida State) but that will not be the case tonight. Arizona was in a battle against Saint Mary’s on Saturday and came out on top and the same thing will happen tonight. Just cannot see Arizona losing this game to a injured Musketeer team. Chris Mack has done an amazing job to get Xavier this far but this is the end of the line for them. Maybe they cover this spread and lose the game but I do not see that happening. Arizona wins by double digits. Xavier is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against PAC-12 teams. Arizona is 5-0 ATS (1 push) in their last 6 neutral site games. 

4 Unit Play. #812 Take Kansas over Purdue (Thursday 9:35 pm CBS) The Jayhawks are the best team in the country and I do not see any of these remaining teams stopping them in 2017 from reaching the Final Four. Throw in the fact that these regionals are being played in Kansas City and the faithful should be able to book their trip to Glendale. Kansas generally gets beat before the Final Four by mid-majors but they will not have to worry about that this season as all four teams come from Power 5 Conferences. Purdue did well to get this far but they just are not a complete team that can reach the Final Four this season. Kansas has the bodies to contain Purdue’s big men. Kansas is 13-5 ATS in their last 18 neutral site games when they are a favorite. Purdue is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog. 

We liked the Mavs at the opening line of 3 and like them even better here at this number. The Clippers have one of their most important games of the season coming up Saturday vs. Utah as that matchup will be crucial for the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the playoffs. Dallas has had a road-heavy schedule lately and they have a couple bad losses but a team is never as bad or good as their last outing and we think we will see a much better game tonight than they played here last time out vs. Golden State. The Clippers are just 7-14 ATS on the road against sub-.500 teams where they are normally favored but also normally fail to reach their potential. We think this will be a very close game and grabbing the points is the only way to go.

The Grizzlies match up well here and they have taken three of the last four meetings ATS. Also, five of the last seven meetings have gone under the posted total and these teams played last week and the Grizzlies won straight up and since these teams just played we expect to see more defense here because of the familiarity and we think this will be a low-scoring game, which favors the underdog. You don’t get the sense that the Spurs are a team that would be too focused on revenge because they just go about their business with workman-like precision. We think the Griz want this one more. Not sure if they get the win but we see strong defense on both sides and a close game overall.

4 Unit Play. #813 Take Michigan over Oregon (Thursday 7:05 pm CBS) Michigan has mojo now and I do not believe a depleted Oregon team can knock them off on Thursday in Kanas City. The Wolverines will get hot at some point from the three-point line and that run will propel them to a victory. Oregon has very fortunate to beat Rhode Island on Sunday and needed a 27-8 free throw edge to win by three points. They will not be that disparity tonight and expect the loss to Chris Boucher to show up in a big way. Michigan is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games. Oregon is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning record. 

The Bucks came off a tough road game last night as they beat Portland but this team hasn’t been very good in back-to-backs this season and they are just 6-10 SU and 7-9 ATS. We just think this is a bad spot for the Bucks as they come in not only on a back-to-back but this is the sixth and last game of their long road trip. They have won three of their last four and should be pretty happy with the trip and ready to head back home, where they play four of their next six. We don’t think that they will be giving their all in this game – even if they had the energy to do so. The Bucks aren’t a good road team and have one more win than the Kings have at home. We think that this will be a very close game and the Kings could pull off the upset.

The Nuggets are playing well and have covered in five of their last six games. They are a much better ATS team than the Cavs this season and this is just the type of matchup where the Cavs are overvalued – against a team that the public just doesn’t like to bet on. The Cavs have failed to cover in four of their last six on the road and we think that Denver can win this one straight up. Denver is 10-4 ATS as a small dog in this range and Cleveland is 5-13 ATS in road games against sub-.500 teams, and this is where their ATS record has been really hurt this season. Great line value here tonight and Denver has been great in bounce back situations as they are 12-2 ATS after a loss!

4 Unit Play. #782 Take Wyoming -3 over Utah Valley (9 pm) The Wolverines are better than what their record indicates but I just cannot believe they can win three road games in a row. This will be the toughest test they face and Wyoming has the best homecourt advantage as well with the elevation aspect in play as well. I truly do not believe the CBI higher-ups want Utah Valley in the finals considering the success they had last season with another MWC team selling out the building two straight nights (the finals are a best of three). Wyoming is 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games against WAC teams.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

Milwaukee is 5-1 in the last six meetings in this series and 4-1 in the last five meetings in Portland. Milwaukee is on Game 5 of a pretty tough road trip but they have performed admirably by going 2-2 with a win over the Clippers. They were drubbed by the Warriors last time out so that has added a bit of value to this line as we expected this one to be around 3. Portland has been playing well but this is their first game home after a long road trip and we look to sometimes go against teams in this situation, especially if they are playing a team like this from another conference as their minds might be elsewhere. We think this is a very winnable game for the Bucks and we think this will be a close game regardless.

Minnesota played really lousy on their recent road trip, losing all three games SU and ATS, and they can’t be proud of that result. They better play well here tonight against the Spurs because they head back on the road after this game and this team is not very good in road games while they have a .500 record at home. The last two meetings between these teams were in San Antonio and the Wolves covered in both and we think there is a great chance they are competitive here, especially after reading media reports about how they want to make up for their bad road trip with a strong performance here at home. San Antonio is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 so they are regularly being overvalued by the oddsmakers compared to their current form.

We had Memphis as a slight favorite in this game so there is great line value tonight for our Top Play for Tuesday. The Grizzlies have covered in six of the last eight meetings between these clubs. They have won seven of those games, so they obviously match up well in this series. Memphis is playing great ball right now and they have won and covered in four straight, including a win over San Antonio last time out. This team has had two nights off after that game and will be the more well rested team here tonight. The Pelicans have been playing some good games lately, too, but overall Memphis is the much better team here and we have them winning this game straight up.

The Warriors have covered in two straight games but they are just 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games. They beat the Bucks and Magic big at home to get back on track but we just don’t think this team is in top form right now and they are in for an incredibly tough matchup tonight in OKC. Durant being out of the lineup takes away a lot of the intrigue from this matchup but the Warriors are still his team and the crowd and the home team will be more into this one than an average game. We think that OKC has a very good chance to win this one tonight. We had them as a slight favorite in this one and we think this looks like another clearly inflated line from the bookies.

4 Unit Play. #626 Take Rice over Utah Valley (8 pm) If the Owls are motivated in this game they will win it by double digits. Usually if a better team is going to trip up by playing in a lesser tournament it happens in the first game but Rice beat a beater USF team than what they will see tonight from the Wolverines. Utah Valley should not be playing in postseason with an under .500 record before their win last week and it will become evident tonight. Rice is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against WAC teams. 

Neither team has been in top form lately but we think this line is a coin flip for two teams that are pretty even. We think you just have to take the points in this matchup. The Wizards have won and covered in two out of three meetings and we think they have a great chance to capture the road win tonight. Boston is coming in on a back to back and even though both teams will be playing their third game in four nights, the Wizards have the big rest advantage as they had Sunday off. The Wizards are 28-13 SU this season with one day of rest and we think they keep this close and possibly win.

4 Unit Play. #732 Take UCLA -3 over Cincinnati (9:40 pm TBS) The Bruins are some experts pick to win it all and thus I do not see them falling to a team from the AAC. USC already beat SMU (ACC Champion) and I just do not believe Cincinnati will be able to keep pace with UCLA. The Bruins have great balance on offense and they owe us one after falling to cover by a point on Friday against Kent State. The Bearcats are 16-38 ATS in their last 54 games played on Sunday. UCLA is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 nonconference games.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

4 Unit Play. #720 Take Duke -6.5 over South Carolina (8:40 pm TNT) South Carolina is coming off an impressive victory against a team that does not play any defense. Duke does and they also can shot the ball and expect them to take care of business and advance to the Elite 8. The bracket opened up for Duke with Villanova losing yesterday and expect them to cruise to the Final 4. South Carolina is 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games. 

4 Unit Play. #729 Take Rhode Island +5.5 over Oregon (7:10 TBS) The Rams are healthy and the same thing cannot be said about the Ducks. Chris Boucher is out and that hurts Oregon on both sides of the court. The Rams are 4-0 in their last 4 neutral site games. Oregon is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against teams with a winning record. Rhode Island was ranked at the start of the year and they are playing like it to close out the year. 

Detroit has covered in eight of the last nine meetings in this series. The Suns just lost consecutive games to the Magic and Kings, so that right there tells you how things are going for this club. Detroit has lost three straight but that came against a much tougher schedule and they need this win tonight and we think they bring their A Game against a much more inferior opponent. Not only are the Suns the worse team but they are also banged up right now and we think the home team cruises to an easy double digit win here.

10 Unit Play. #723 Take Wichita State over Kentucky (2:50 pm CBS) Revenge will be served on the court today as the experienced Shockers pull off the upset against the No. 2 seeded Wildcats. Kentucky just does not have the same type of freshman that they have had in years past. Throw in the fact that their best player Malik Monk has been in a major slump of late and I do not see them advancing. All Wichita State does is win game and they have the ability to beat you in a variety of ways. Kentucky has covered the spread just 1 time in their last 5 NCAA Tournament Games. Wichita State is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog. Unlike other top mid-major programs, the Shockers do not feel pressure and that will allow them to win this game straight-up. Getting points is just icing on the cake. 

10 Unit Play. #522 Take Florida over Virginia (8:40 pm TNT) NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME OF THE YEAR. Virginia was lucky to survive their first game (I feel Charles Barkley motivated them) but they will not advance to the Sweet 16. Florida has the advantage of playing in Orlando and they just have too many offensive weapons for Virginia to keep pace with. The Cavaliers just have not been the team the second half of the season and besides beating North Carolina they have not performed well down the stretch. If they are not making shots they struggle and I believe that affects their defense as well. Virginia has been bounced early with better teams then they have this season and I do just not believe they are very good. Florida is 19-9 ATS in their last 28 NCAA Tournament games when they are a favorite. Virginia is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with above a winning percentage of .600. 

4 Unit Play. #532 Take Arizona over Saint Mary’s (7:45 pm CBS) This line is just way too low. Arizona has much better athletes on the floor and I feel they are the best team in the West Region. They got the cobwebs out in their Round of 64 game and expect them to cruise until they reach the Elite 8. Saint Mary’s had no success against Gonzaga this season and Arizona is a very similar team to the Bulldogs. The WCC just want not any good this season besides the top two and I am just not that impressed with the Gaels beating a depleted Dayton team earlier this season as they quality win. Arizona is the best defensive team in the West and will not be frustrated by playing a slowdown type of game. Saint Mary’s is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 6.5 points or less. Arizona is 4-0 ATS (1 push) in their last 5 neutral site games. 

4 Unit Play. #524 Take Florida State -7 over Xavier (6:10 pm TNT) Florida State is not soft like Maryland. The Musketeers are still short handed and I just cannot see them winning this game. If Florida State is going to win, we also feel they will cover this spread. This will be a double digit winner as the Seminoles advance on in Orlando. 

4 Unit Play. #519 Take Wisconsin +6 over Villanova (2:40 pm CBS) Wisconsin did not play all that well except for Bronson Koenig on Thursday and still won by double digits. They are a senior laden team and I just do not believe Villanova is good enough to blow them out. Expect Wisconsin to play much better today and take this game down to the wire. We are starting to see that the middle of the Big East was not all that good this year. Wisconsin is 6-1 ATS (1 push) in their last 7 NCAA Tournament Games as an underdog of 6.5 points or less.