Sports Picks & Predictions

The Sixers are the much better team in this matchup. Boston was lucky to get by Milwaukee in the first round and we think they are in over their head here in Round 2. Next year they will be a force with Irving and Hayward back in the fold, but this year they just have too many injuries to win against such a stacked team like Philly. The Sixers have been resting up while Boston had to play a Game 7 just on Saturday and we don’t think they will have much left here. The Sixers should be able to reach their offensive goals against a fatigued team. We just can’t see the Celtics locking in on defense and slowing this Sixers team down since they just ended their last series. Philly is 4-1 ATS in the last five games in Boston. We see that trend staying true tonight and we think there is a great chance the Sixers can put up 110+ here so the over is the play.

The Sixers are the much better team in this matchup. Boston was lucky to get by Milwaukee in the first round and we think they are in over their head here in Round 2. Next year they will be a force with Irving and Hayward back in the fold, but this year they just have too many injuries to win against such a stacked team like Philly. The Sixers have been resting up while Boston had to play a Game 7 just on Saturday and we don’t think they will have much left here. The Sixers should be able to reach their offensive goals against a fatigued team. We just can’t see the Celtics locking in on defense and slowing this Sixers team down since they just ended their last series. Philly is 4-1 ATS in the last five games in Boston. We see that trend staying true tonight and we think there is a great chance the Sixers can put up 110+ here so the over is the play.

We would bet the Jazz at this line every day of the week and once again on Tuesday. Absolutely love this one. You are telling us that the Jazz are getting just about the same line as the Timberwolves did when they played in Houston? Sign us up. We are not convinced that the Rockets are a true championship contender yet. They should have swept the Wolves and each game should have been a double-digit win. They did get some blowouts in that series but they also lost one game in blowout fashion and they almost lost Game 1 as well. And remember, although Chris Paul is probably at his best when paired with Harden this guy is a known playoff loser and has never advanced beyond this round of the postseason with any team during his illustrious career. That streak will probably end this year, but it’s no sure thing and the Jazz should be very competitive in this series. They are as hot as any team in the NBA down the stretch of the season and they play great defense and can heat up on offense to match any team.

These teams have gone over in four of the last five matchups. We see this game being played at a very fast pace and we think both teams will get their fair share of points. Actually, we think this game will be pretty competitive. The Pelicans are the hottest team in the NBA right now and they completely embarrassed the No. 3 Blazers in Round 1. This team is going to play hard tonight and all indications show they should play well. We think this line is inflated by a couple points. Curry may or may not play here, but even if he does he will be rusty. The Warriors have been the best team in basketball the last few years but they have had some adversity in the playoffs and we don’t think they will steamroll in this series and this one should last six games. The Pels should be a value play throughout the series. We also think the defenses will tighten up as the series progresses but this Game 1 should be free flowing.

These teams have gone over in four of the last five matchups. We see this game being played at a very fast pace and we think both teams will get their fair share of points. Actually, we think this game will be pretty competitive. The Pelicans are the hottest team in the NBA right now and they completely embarrassed the No. 3 Blazers in Round 1. This team is going to play hard tonight and all indications show they should play well. We think this line is inflated by a couple points. Curry may or may not play here, but even if he does he will be rusty. The Warriors have been the best team in basketball the last few years but they have had some adversity in the playoffs and we don’t think they will steamroll in this series and this one should last six games. The Pels should be a value play throughout the series. We also think the defenses will tighten up as the series progresses but this Game 1 should be free flowing.

We have the Bucks on the series line and will roll with them here for a smaller-unit play. Many of these games have been close but we think the Bucks will advance but this should be another close game so the points may come in handy here.

We have a futures play for the Jazz in this series and we think they will close it out tonight at home here in Game 6 with an exclamation point. They had better get it done tonight as they will be underdogs again if they have to go back to OKC for Game 7. We think Utah is the better team despite the records for the regular season. Both teams got off to a slow start, but Utah had to deal with a lot of injuries early in the season but they have been one of the best teams in the NBA down the stretch. They have it all as they are solid on both offense and defense, and they play better team basketball than do the Thunder. OKC for a massive performance from Russell Westbrook in Game 5 and that’s why they won that game. But I don’t think that they can count on him doing the same in consecutive games and here on the road in Utah, one of the toughest places to play in the NBA. Utah won comfortably in both games at home in this series and we see the same result here tonight. We think they lock down on defense and their offense has been explosive at home in the last couple months. OKC always gets a little more credit than they should from the oddsmakers as they have the big names on the roster but this Big 3 experiment has been a disaster and we see their season ending tonight and think there’s a good chance Utah wins this one by double digits.

The season is on the line for the Milwaukee Bucks tonight as they face elimination at home in Game 6 of this series. We expect them to rise to the occasion. They played well enough to win in two of the three games in Boston and they were very impressive in their two home wins even though they let Boston rally for the backdoor cover in Game 4. Milwaukee has a really great home court advantage and this is the most important game in years for Bucks fans, and we think the crowd will be a factor tonight. The home team has won in every game in this series. We expect that trend to continue tonight and this line is more than fair. Also, it looks like the public is big on the Celtics here so this play is a nice public fade. Milwaukee has the best player on the court tonight, and we expect the Greek Freak to rise to the occasion. The NBA is a star-driven league and the Celtics just don’t fit the bill in these playoffs with multiple injuries to big-name players this season.

The Raptors have covered both games at home in this series and we think they could be in a solid position to have a big scoring burst like they did in Game 2. Three of the four games in this series have gone over the posted total as have both games in Toronto. With the Raptors back home and the Wizards tying up the series when the teams were in Washington we think Toronto will come in here extra focused and they are the much better and deeper team. Almost every team faces some adversity in the postseason but we still think Toronto is the most likely team to emerge from the east. We could see them put up a massive point total like in Game 2 when they scored 130.

The Raptors have covered both games at home in this series and we think they could be in a solid position to have a big scoring burst like they did in Game 2. Three of the four games in this series have gone over the posted total as have both games in Toronto. With the Raptors back home and the Wizards tying up the series when the teams were in Washington we think Toronto will come in here extra focused and they are the much better and deeper team. Almost every team faces some adversity in the postseason but we still think Toronto is the most likely team to emerge from the east. We could see them put up a massive point total like in Game 2 when they scored 130.

The Cavs are a team that we have faded all season with much success. But this team is still better than the Pacers, who were expected to be one of the worst teams in the east entering the season. They have some momentum here after evening up the season with a Game 4 win in Indiana. This is the most crucial game for the Cavs and if they lose this one they are in big trouble. Superstars get the best treatment from the refs and we have a feeling that LeBron will get a lot of calls tonight. The games aren’t fixed but the NBA definitely favors the best players and you see it year after year with the lopsided officiating. And do you think the NBA wants the Pacers to advance here in this series? We think the Cavs will have a big game tonight and this line has been adjusted the wrong way.

The totals for this series have gone back and forth and after an under in Game 4 in Miami we see this one going the other way for Game 5 in Philly. The Sixers offense is back at home now where they have been playing outstanding offensive basketball. Philly wants to close this out on Tuesday and they will get the job done. The Heat have to be demoralized here and we don’t see them putting up much of a fight on defense. We think Philly will set a quick tempo for this game and we think hey can easily score 115+ here and send this one way over the posted total.

We see this matchup kind of like the Game 4 matchup. We think both teams will get over the century mark here and that it will be a close game. That’s why we have to take the points here with the Bucks. We have Milwaukee to win this series and we still think that is true, so they have to win at Boston at some point either here or Game 7. They have momentum after evening the series up with two strong wins at home and we think they can get the job done here. We expect a close game here and think it’s basically a coin flip as to who wins it but the points with the underdog are pretty valuable in this case. Six straight meetings have now gone over the total and we don’t see that trend changing tonight.

We see this matchup kind of like the Game 4 matchup. We think both teams will get over the century mark here and that it will be a close game. That’s why we have to take the points here with the Bucks. We have Milwaukee to win this series and we still think that is true, so they have to win at Boston at some point either here or Game 7. They have momentum after evening the series up with two strong wins at home and we think they can get the job done here. We expect a close game here and think it’s basically a coin flip as to who wins it but the points with the underdog are pretty valuable in this case. Six straight meetings have now gone over the total and we don’t see that trend changing tonight.

We often like to back a good team after a bad loss and that is the case here as Houston was embarrassed last time out here in this same building. But despite that Game 3 result this is still a mismatch and we expect the Rockets to make quick work of this series and close it out back in Houston in Game 5. That Game 3 result was an embarrassing one for the No. 1 seed in the west and they will come out more focused here and they shouldn’t have to work too hard to earn a comfortable win here. We think this could be a possible double-digit win for the road club tonight.

We have the Jazz winning this series at an underdog price and after gaining home-court advantage with a strong win in OKC for Game 2, this is the next step in the progression for this team to advance to the next round. The Big Three experiment in OKC was a failure in our minds and this Utah team is the better ballclub at this point in the season. They started off the season real slow when dealing with injuries but this team has been one of the best clubs in the NBA down the stretch of the regular season and we expect them to take care of business here at home in what we think will be a win by seven or more points on Saturday.

We think the Wolves had their chance in Game 1 when the Rockets had an off game, but they blew it. Now this series is all Houston. We are getting a solid line here since the Rockets are on the road, but this team was 24-17 ATS on the road this season despite facing some very inflated numbers. We actually had this line handicapped at Houston -7.5 so we think this line has very nice value. We like the Wolves as a team but this squad looks like they are just happy to be here in the postseason and they need to grow and add another piece or two before we can take them seriously as a real contender.

Toronto in our eyes is the clear-cut best team in the east and the third best team in the NBA. We had them handicapped at -2.5 in this game so this is great value getting them at an underdog price. Washington is often overvalued at home this season as their 16-24-1 ATS record can attest to. The Raptors have covered in four of the last five meetings after wins and covers in Games 1 and 2. We like the Wizards as a team but this squad is pretty thin on the bench and the Raptors are a very deep team and the much better squad overall. This looks like a series that could end up in a sweep and we think the road team pulls out a close one here on Friday to put Washington on the brink of elimination.

As if things weren’t bad enough for the Spurs right now, they have to deal with off-the-court issues for Game 3 here as Gregg Popovich’s wife passed away and he will miss the game tonight. Everyone in the NBA is mourning but the Warriors are very focused and they won’t give the Spurs any sympathy on the court tonight. And Pop is arguably the best coach in the NBA so even with his top assistants running he show this still hurts the Spurs for in-game adjustments. Golden State is in fine form right now and they coasted through the regular season to excel in the playoffs and we think they will clamp down on the Spurs throat tonight in the next step to end this series in four games.

We think the Blazers are toast and this series is probably a sweep. Portland has to be completely demoralized after getting beat in both of their home games to start the series. New Orleans is playing as well as any team in the NBA right now and they have won seven straight. Everybody knows the Rockets are Warriors are the teams to beat in the west playoffs this season. In order to have a puncher’s chance the Pelicans need to finish this series off in four games. New Orleans is getting a complete team effort while the Blazers seem to be disjointed and out of sorts. New Orleans has now covered in four of the last five meetings and we think they make it five of six tonight.

The Sixers didn’t shoot well in Game 2. They shot under 42 percent from the floor and less than 20 percent from 3-point land. They had a 13-point second quarter. Yet the total still went over! That was kind of a fluke lousy offensive performance from the Sixers who have been playing as well on offense as any team in the NBA through the last part of the season. Their poor shooting wasn’t even because of crazy good defense by Miami, they just flat out couldn’t make shots. We think they reestablish the pace here and we think this will be a competitive game where both teams get plenty of points.

The Rockets had a poor shooting game in Game 1 where they hit only 27 percent of their 3-point shots and we are confident they will shoot better here tonight. Minnesota had a poor shooting night as well and there is room for improvement on their side as well. They showed in Game 1 that they are not intimidated and we think they can put together another competitive game and score their fair share of points here. The Rockets can go off for 120+ any time at home and we think they will see a big increase in scoring in Game 2 after their offense struggled to open the series.

This Utah team was one of the best in the NBA down the stretch run of the season and we think they put forth a much better effort here in Game 2 after a pretty lackluster showing in Game 1. We think with all the parity in the NBA this season that many of these series are going to go long and there will be some more road upsets. We think Utah has a great chance to win this one straight out. The Thunder have been underachieving all season, even though they played great in Game 1. But just when you think this team is for real they play an uninspired game. We expect a close game here, and we have to take the points as we think Utah will be more focused for Game 2 and they have an even better line.

Game 1 wasn’t a fluke. The Cavaliers are way down this year and they don’t look like a team that is going to do anything of significance in these playoffs. After dropping Game 1 we think they will find a way to win this one but we are scratching our head about this line as the bookies did not make any adjustment after Game 1 was all Indiana. LeBron James did his part for the Cavs, but he didn’t have any help. Indiana has a lot of confidence coming into this one. All the pressure is on Cleveland here. The Pacers were not even supposed to make the playoffs, but here they are with a chance to do some damage in the first round and they can play loose and free while the Cavs will be desperate. But they don’t have the tools this year to contend, and LeBron can’t carry this team all by himself.

We were on Milwaukee for Game 1 and it was sort of a bad beat as they were getting four points and were down by 3 as they hit a miracle shot at the buzzer to take the game to OT, where they lost by six in the extra frame. We think the Bucks will win this series and we think that they take Game 2 here. Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Bucks is a real superstar and the best player on the court tonight and we think the playoffs are the time when he will rise up and lead his team. We just can’t see this Boston team with all its injuries this season winning this series, and this Game 2 is crucial for the Bucks. Milwaukee had a back-and-forth regular season but we think that this team is built for the postseason and we expect them to at least advance to the next round. When you have a star like the Greek Freak you will tend to get the calls from the refs in the postseason as well. Milwaukee played a very uneven game in Game 1 and they still were in a position to win it late. We expect them to play a more complete game here on Tuesday in Game 2.

We were on the under here for Game 1 and even though hindsight is 20/20 we have to admit we were wrong on that one. The Sixers scored 130, and Miami could not do anything defensively to stop them. There’s no reason for the Sixers to change things up since what they did in Game 1 worked so well, and we just don’t see the Heat making the necessary adjustments on defense to slow them down. This is the second game in a row that the Sixers have scored 130, and they have scored in the 130s in three of their last five games and another one went over 120! You also have to think that the Heat should be a little more competitive on the offensive end here tonight and it’s quite possible they play better on offense than they did in Game 1.

Kudos to the Timberwolves for ending their long playoff drought and getting back to the postseason. However, they needed their last game, and overtime no less, to get in the postseason. This has been a real underachieving season for this club and they just aren’t good enough here. We think they know that and they are just happy to be invited to the party but this team is still a year or two away from serious contention and the Rockets are there now and they are one of the best teams in basketball. We think it’s important for the Rockets to close this one out quickly and we think that this series will include some Houston blowouts and we certainly expect them to win big here in Game 1.

These are two Top 10 defenses, but we think that this total is too short tonight. The Thunder will be able to put up some points at home where they average 109 PPG. We don’t see the Utah defense really clamping down and holding the Thunder to a real low score until maybe later in the series. And Utah has shown that they can put points on the scoreboard. They scored 100+ many times down the stretch run of the season and we think both teams get well over 100 here. We see this Game 1 being very competitive and OT would not be shocking. Once again we think the defenses will tighten up later in the series once these teams get real familiar with each other but for this Game 1 we expect a pretty high-scoring affair.

We see this as a pretty competitive game. We have the Bucks winning this series so we think they will take at least one game here during the first two in Boston and we think both games will be close. The Bucks are very healthy and have a clean injury sheet coming into this game while the Celtics season has been derailed by injuries, and we think that will be too much to overcome here. Milwaukee will also have the best player on the court for this series in the Greek Freak and a player like him can take over individual games and even the entire series. It seems like this is his time to shine and we think he is really going to break out in this series. We thought the total here should be about 206 so we think there is some good value here in this Game 1 that we think will be pretty free flowing before the defenses tighten up later in what should be a drawn out series.

We see this as a pretty competitive game. We have the Bucks winning this series so we think they will take at least one game here during the first two in Boston and we think both games will be close. The Bucks are very healthy and have a clean injury sheet coming into this game while the Celtics season has been derailed by injuries, and we think that will be too much to overcome here. Milwaukee will also have the best player on the court for this series in the Greek Freak and a player like him can take over individual games and even the entire series. It seems like this is his time to shine and we think he is really going to break out in this series. We thought the total here should be about 206 so we think there is some good value here in this Game 1 that we think will be pretty free flowing before the defenses tighten up later in what should be a drawn out series.

The Pelicans had a strong end to the regular season and as a result we think they are getting too much credit in this game. The Blazers are a really good squad this season and the Pelicans are a hobbled team without Cousins and they are probably not good enough even with him. We think the Blazers will take advantage of home-court advantage to take a strong lead in this series. Portland is 20-10 ATS this season as a favorite of 5.5 or fewer points, so they normally excel in this situation against a solid club at home. They are 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings between these teams here in Portland. They are also 7-1 ATS in their last eight on two day’s rest as they are here, and we think the extra rest and home crowd will help propel them to a big Game 1 win.

None of the four regular-season meetings between these teams came anywhere near this total, and you have to figure that with this being the playoffs that the intensity will increase on the defensive side of the basketball. Philly has been putting up a ton of points on offense but their defense has been very strong. Miami is Top 5 in defensive points allowed this season and No. 7 in the NBA for defensive field goal percentage. This is the team with all the playoff experience in this matchup and you have to think that they will figure out a way to slow the Philly offense down as a shootout doesn’t bode well for their chances in this one. Also, nerves may be an issue for many Sixers players in their first playoff game. We think there is a good chance that this one comes in well under the number.

The Spurs were No. 1 in the regular season for defensive points allowed. They need to up the defensive intensity here to have any chance. The last meeting reached only 164 points. We think this one will be much higher scoring, but we think that this number is too high. Of course, Stephen Curry will be out for this series. The Warriors probably don’t need him yet but there’s no doubt that the Warriors aren’t the same offensive team without him. The Warriors are a strong defensive team, but the numbers don’t often show it since they play at a fast pace and the opponent normally gets their points as a result. But we think the Spurs will manage to slow this game down a bit to have a puncher’s chance for an upset.

The Clippers have just dominated this series as they have won in six straight meetings and they have covered in five of those games as well. This is a rivalry and the Clippers take pride in beating the Lakers since they are the little brother in the city of Los Angeles. But even though neither team is going to the postseason, the Clippers are the much better team. This is a playoff-quality club and they should be in the postseason but the West is even tougher than normal this year so they just missed it. They have been playing lately like a team that had too much pressure on its shoulders but we think they will play free and have fun tonight in the final game of the season, and their final chance to play together as this team will probably go through many changes in the offseason. The Clips are coming off three bad losses to playoff-type teams and we know they don’t want to end what has been a surprisingly solid season with four straight and we think they give max effort tonight.

We think the Wizards will get back on track here tonight, as they have more motivation in this game since the Celtics are locked into the No. 2 seed in the east and can’t move up or down. Both teams have been playing badly but the Celtics have more problems with injuries and such while the Wizards are healthy for this game. These teams could meet in the playoffs and you get the feeling that Celtics coach Brad Stevens might not care much about winning this game as not to tip his hand to his postseason strategies.

We just don’t like the Bucks as a big favorite. And their opponent tonight has done very well as a big underdog. The Bucks are 1-7 ATS this season when laying eight or more points. This is a team that just does not earn expected blowouts. The Magic are 10-3 ATS when getting double-digit points this season, making them one of the best bets in the NBA as a big underdog. The Magic are being punished too much for being on a bac-to-back here, and they are 7-0 ATS in the second half of their last seven back-to-backs. They are also 5-2 ATS in the last seven games in this series. Orlando is another team that looks like they want to finish the season on a positive note, and we will back them getting double digits here tonight.

We often find “revenge” to be an overstated NBA handicapping angle. But we do think it comes into play when the teams have recently met. That would normally factor in here as these teams met on Saturday in Chicago, with the Nets scoring a nearly 30-point road win. But this one doesn’t set up as a revenge game in our eyes. The Bulls are tanking now and they want the most ping pong balls in the draft lottery. The Nets don’t own their first-round pick so they are motivated to finish the season strong. Brooklyn is the much better team and a Top 5 ATS team on the season. The Nets have also covered in four of the last five meetings.

We were on Detroit on Sunday and that was a disaster as they were blown out in Memphis. But this team has been playing pretty well overall down the stretch and we think they will put forth a much better effort tonight after the embarrassing effort they displayed on Sunday. Toronto is pretty much on cruise control to finish the season. If this team wants to flex their muscles they can beat any team on any night. But this squad has locked up the No. 1 seed in the east and they have nothing to play for. If Detroit hadn’t lost badly on Sunday we might not like this play so much but we think that gives them incentive to play well here and they were possibly looking ahead to this game on Sunday as well.

Detroit waited until they were essentially eliminated from the playoff hunt to start playing well, but here we are and they are playing their best basketball since the beginning of the season. This team has won eight of their last 10 and they have figure out how to win on the road, too. Memphis is banged up as always and this team doesn’t have anything to play for. They have been one of the worst teams in the NBA down the stretch. This team played recent games against New Orleans and Portland and they head on the road next to face Minnesota and OKC. We doubt they get too amped to play this non-playoff team from the east and if they are going to pull a full effort out of their bag of tricks it would likely come against a more traditional rival.

This one is all about motivation. The Pelicans have all the motivation here on Saturday as they fight for a playoff spot. The Warriors are more concerned about keeping everyone healthy, and from this point, despite what Coach Kerr says, we don’t think that Golden State gives a squat about any of these regular season games and they are on cruise control until the playoffs. Golden State has been one of the worst ATS teams in the NBA this season as they haven’t taken these games seriously at all. And that is good for them as we all saw what happened as they spent too much energy during their record-setting regular-season. We think the Pels have a good chance to win this outright.

The Bulls are coming in on a back-to-back. They lost at Boston last night and that was probably a game they wanted to play better in than this one tonight. This team is tanking and there will be many nobodies on the floor tonight. Chicago is 3-10 straight up and 4-8-1 ATS on the second end of a back-to-back this season. Brooklyn is one of the teams that they are fighting with for draft position and ping pong balls. However, the Nets don’t own their pick this year so they have no reason not to play hard here. The Nets are a Top 5 ATS team this season and they have covered three of four in this series. This is a team that seems to want to end the season on a positive note, and this is a chance for a rare road blowout win.

The Clippers are alive for the playoffs – but just barely. The Nuggets are also fighting for a postseason spot. We think the defenses will tighten up here and this one will be more like a playoff game. Neither team has been playing very good on the offensive end lately and both teams have stepped up their defense in this playoff stretch run. We think this total has been set more like a random regular-season game than this actual situation with so much on the line in the way of the postseason. We see this one winding up in the mid 210s.

This total is just too high. We had this one handicapped at 216, so we think there is amazing value in the under tonight. Five of the last six games for the Cavs have gone under the posted total. This team has stepped up the defense in advance of the playoffs, and the bookies have been slow to adjust. Four of the last five games for the Sixers have gone under the posted total, and they are trending in that direction as well. While many teams in the NBA are tanking right now and there are many games in the Eastern Conference with little playoff implications, this is not one of them as the winner here is in the No. 3 spot in the East. This is a big game. We expect both teams to play hard, especially on the defensive end. Both teams are playing their third game in four nights so we might see a slower pace because of fatigue. And eight of the last 10 meetings in Philly have gone under the posted total while the under is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings.

The Clippers would probably make the playoffs if they had an easier schedule down the stretch. This is a pretty good team and they work hard every night. But they just have an uphill climb to reach the postseason. This game comes after hosting San Antonio, in a game where you almost feel like they “left it all on the court” with a furious comeback, and then they host the Nuggets and Pelicans in their next two games. And that is going to be too tough to overcome. This is their last road game of the season, and we don’t see this going well for them. Utah is very strong at home and they are just the better team. We think that the Jazz have a good chance to win this one by double digits, and we expect Utah to flex their muscles here as the Clippers look like a team that peaked too soon and the weight of this brutal season-ending schedule is starting to show in some poor recent results for this squad, like the Indiana game at home where the Clippers needed a win but choked the game away in the fourth quarter.

Both teams enter off a back-to-back. But Dallas has to travel here on the road, which makes things a lot tougher. Both teams won last night. Dallas beat Portland at home. That was a big win for them. They are probably satisfied with that win as the season winds down and after playing playoff-type teams the last three games we think they won’t care much about this road opponent tonight. The Magic earned a much less impressive win last night since they only beat the Knicks. But they did it on the road and they won by 20+, so it was impressive in its own right. The Magic have the big advantage of being home tonight and they will want to play well in front of the home fans and maybe build a little winning streak here with momentum coming off of one of their most impressive wins of the season. Their defense was awesome last night and we think they can hold the Mavs to a real low score here as well.

Both teams enter off a back-to-back. But Dallas has to travel here on the road, which makes things a lot tougher. Both teams won last night. Dallas beat Portland at home. That was a big win for them. They are probably satisfied with that win as the season winds down and after playing playoff-type teams the last three games we think they won’t care much about this road opponent tonight. The Magic earned a much less impressive win last night since they only beat the Knicks. But they did it on the road and they won by 20+, so it was impressive in its own right. The Magic have the big advantage of being home tonight and they will want to play well in front of the home fans and maybe build a little winning streak here with momentum coming off of one of their most impressive wins of the season. Their defense was awesome last night and we think they can hold the Mavs to a real low score here as well.

San Antonio has had a down season compared to what we are used to. However, they have started playing like the Spurs we are all used to lately. This team seems to have accepted the fact that they are moving forward without Leonard and that is the best thing for this team. They are in playoff form right now, and we think they win this game pretty comfortably. The Clippers pretty much blew their playoff chances in a home loss to the Pacers and if they could not beat Indiana then how will they rise up to play better against a much stronger team? The Clippers have played well above expectations this season after their stars left, but it seems they peaked too early. This one is an easy call tonight.

The Celtics are the No. 1 betting team this season and they are the No. 3 defensive team for points allowed and we think both those trends will contribute to our betting interests tonight. Boston has just been incredible on defense lately and none of their last six opponents have gone higher than the century mark. We don’t see the Bucks doing anything special on offense tonight, and they will struggle to get anywhere near 100 points. Milwaukee has played in some high scoring games lately but they have played more high-paced teams. But they will struggle to put points up tonight. Defense wins out in this one and we see the Celtics winning 105-98 or a somewhat similar score.

The Celtics are the No. 1 betting team this season and they are the No. 3 defensive team for points allowed and we think both those trends will contribute to our betting interests tonight. Boston has just been incredible on defense lately and none of their last six opponents have gone higher than the century mark. We don’t see the Bucks doing anything special on offense tonight, and they will struggle to get anywhere near 100 points. Milwaukee has played in some high scoring games lately but they have played more high-paced teams. But they will struggle to put points up tonight. Defense wins out in this one and we see the Celtics winning 105-98 or a somewhat similar score.

Toronto has covered in only one of the last six meetings (one push). We think this is a good spot for the Cavs here. Cleveland is a team we have been fading almost all season, and they have been the worst betting team in the league. But with the playoffs fast approaching we think it’s time to go the other way as this team is taking games more seriously. And they will want to flex their muscles here against the Raptors in a potential playoff preview. Toronto has a much more important game on Wednesday vs. Boston and they might not go full bore here in a more meaningless matchup. If they win vs. the Celtics that will go a long way towards sealing up the No. 1 seed and home court throughout the playoffs. Toronto has failed to cover the line now in eight straight games. They are in cruise control until the postseason, and Wednesday’s game might be the last one they take seriously down the stretch of the season (assuming they win).

10 Unit Play. Take #602 Villanova over Michigan (9:20p.m., Monday April 2 TBS) Villanova has just been head and shoulders above everyone else in this tournament. They only game they did not play well offensively was their regional final against Texas Tech. They still controlled that game throughout and covered the spread with ease. Michigan has not been shooting it well of late but they have been getting by with a super easy draw. That will not be the case on Monday as they face the best team in the country. Throw in the fact that Michigan has not performed well in the national championship game and expect Villanova to win by 10-12 points. The Wildcats are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games against Big 10 teams.

Detroit has won four straight and six of seven games, and we liked the way they played last night even though we were on the other side but they took care of business vs. New York in a tough spot. Both of these teams played last night but the Nets went to OT and played a more grueling game against the physical Heat. The Nets have been a team we have backed a lot this season as an underdog but we don’t trust this team as a favorite and we think they are a solid fade in this position. Also, the Pistons have faint playoff hopes so that gives them extra motivation in this matchup.

The Clippers have a couple different levels of motivation here. First, they lost to Indiana on the road a little over a week ago. It was a pretty close game throughout. Revenge is not an angle we use for NBA handicapping too much, but when the teams played recently it takes on a bigger importance, and we have no doubt that the Clips don’t want to look back at these two games against a beatable opponent and see that’s what kept them out of the playoffs. Secondly, the Clippers need to win every game they can. They are on the outside looking in for the playoff picture and they have a very tough schedule down the stretch while the Pacers are more secure in their playoff positioning. Lastly, the Clippers are coming off one of their worst games in a couple weeks last time out in Portland and they will want to put forth a better effort here. We thought this line should be closer to 5.5 so we think there is nice value here for Sunday! We also think these teams will both step up the defense and that the posted total is too high.

The Clippers have a couple different levels of motivation here. First, they lost to Indiana on the road a little over a week ago. It was a pretty close game throughout. Revenge is not an angle we use for NBA handicapping too much, but when the teams played recently it takes on a bigger importance, and we have no doubt that the Clips don’t want to look back at these two games against a beatable opponent and see that’s what kept them out of the playoffs. Secondly, the Clippers need to win every game they can. They are on the outside looking in for the playoff picture and they have a very tough schedule down the stretch while the Pacers are more secure in their playoff positioning. Lastly, the Clippers are coming off one of their worst games in a couple weeks last time out in Portland and they will want to put forth a better effort here. We thought this line should be closer to 5.5 so we think there is nice value here for Sunday!

Golden State has been dealing with a lot of injuries. They have lost three straight, all at home no less, and that just doesn’t happen with this team. This is a team with a lot of pride. And the best talent in the league. And we think they come out with a vengeance tonight and win this one big over the tanking Kings. Thompson should be back on the court tonight and this team will have all its All-Stars besides Curry and that is a really formidable club. Also, Kevin Durant was ejected last game so we think he comes out with a monster game to make things right. This team should be very focused tonight, and they are extremely dangerous with that mindset!

The Nets are 25-9 ATS when getting six or more points this season! This is one of the better underdog bets in the NBA and this team normally plays with a chip on their shoulders when getting lots of points against a good team. They are also 24-12 ATS on the road this season, so they are often getting too many points on the road in situations like this, and we definitely think that is the case here tonight. And remember that the Nets are one of the few lottery teams that don’t have any incentive to tank since they don’t own their pick in the upcoming draft, so this is a team you can trust to play hard and prideful down the stretch.

10 Unit Play. Take #812 Over in Loyola vs Michigan (6:05p.m., Saturday March 31 TBS) Both teams have been solid on the defensive end of the floor, but they run very efficient offenses and I believe both will reach the mid to high sixties in scoring. Most of each team’s trends favor the under and thus this total has been posted about 5 points lower than where it should be. It is already up from the original line and there should be some fouling at the end of this game to propel the total score up even high. Michigan has gone over the posted total in 47 of their last 71 games (1 push).

The Pistons are one of the worst road teams in the NBA among those clubs competing for a playoff spot. Well, the Pistons are sunk now that Blake Griffin is out for likely the rest of the regular season. And the Knicks have seven more wins at home than the Pistons have on the road! The Knicks have covered in six of their last eight games and they have been playing hard despite injuries. But we feel like the value here on Saturday definitely lies with the home team as we had this game handicapped at Detroit -1 and we think this one is really a coin flip as to who wins so getting this many points is great tonight.

The Grizzlies have averaged less than 86 points in the last five meetings in this series. We don’t see them doing much better than that tonight, and there is a decent chance they could wind up in the 70s as they have three times in the last five meetings. There is a very good chance that this game will be a blowout with the massive spread the bookies posted on this game, and that bodes well for the under. If Memphis is competitive tonight it will have to come on the strength of their defense. They have won two straight and they really tightened up on defense in those matchups. But this is a very offensively challenged team and they won’t be having a breakout night here in Utah where the Jazz are rounding into playoff form and they are one of the best defensive clubs in the league. 180 was the highest total of the last two meetings and we think this one has a great chance to wind up in the 180s. 20 of the last 28 meetings have gone under the posted total, and we see that long-term trend staying true tonight.

This Cleveland team is one we have been fading for most of the year but we think now is the time to go the other way on this team, which has been the worst bet in the NBA all season. But now that we are in the playoff stretch run this team is staring to play really well and they are shaping into playoff form and seem to be taking the games more seriously. They have won five straight and have covered four in a row. The Hornets have won four straight, but those were against really bad teams, and they needed OT to get by the Knicks last time out, at home no less. Cleveland has won eight in a row in the series and they have covered all but two of the spreads during that streak (one push).

All the playoff teams in the Eastern Conference are secure but that is not the case at all in the Western Conference and every game is more crucial out west. And this is another of what is basically a must-win game for the Clippers and every game will probably be like that down the stretch as this game is a couple games out of the playoff hunt and they have a very tough schedule down the line. They play six of their final nine at home so every one of these games carries increased importance. The Clippers just won in Milwaukee last week. They will be very motivated here tonight. This game is sandwiched between games against the Spurs and Warriors for Milwaukee, and that gives this one the potential for a letdown from the road team.

10 Unit Play. Take #780 Penn State over Mississippi State (9:30p.m., Tuesday March 27 ESPN) NIT GAME OF THE YEAR Penn State and their fans really care about the NIT and I expect them to advance to the finals of this tournament on Thursday night in New York City. The Lions have won two straight road games and both were not as close as the final score would indicate. They should have a big crowd for this game and expect them to pull away against Mississippi late and win by 7-9 points. The Bulldogs played their best game of the season last time out and as we have seen in the NCAA Tournament it is very hard to repeat those performances this next day. Penn State is 15-5 ATS (1 push) in their last 21 neutral site games. Mississippi State is 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games following a victory of more than 20 points in their previous game.

This road trip started off really bad for the Nuggets with an inexplicable loss to the Grizzlies then they dropped their next one, in overtime, to the Heat. But now they are getting back on track and they come into this game with some momentum after a blowout in Chicago and a very impressive straight up win as an underdog in Washington. Motivation will be a huge factor in this matchup tonight and Denver needs this game more. They are currently in the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference playoff picture and they are 1.5 games behind Utah while the Sixers can relax more since they are in the playoffs. We think the Nuggets match up well here and expect them to compete for the win tonight.

Golden State doesn’t have much offense right now with all their injuries so they have to concentrate more on defense and we think that this game will be a defensive slugfest tonight. Golden State is one of the better defensive teams in the NBA but you don’t think of them that way because they play at a fast pace and as a result their opponents normally get their fair share of points during a game. But we expect the pace here to be slower and we think there’s a very good chance that both teams finish under 100.

Boston has been dealing with a lot of injury issues but this team has won and covered in three of four – including two straight – and they seem to be working well with what they have on the floor now. They have a chance for a big win here today against a Sacramento team that barely seems to care on most nights. The Celtics have a chance to rack up two pretty easy wins tonight and Monday as they face the Suns tomorrow, and since this team has faced some adversity lately we don’t think that they will overlook these games and we expect to see a well-oiled machine here tonight.

The Clippers haven’t been playing well. And neither have the Raptors. Toronto basically has the No. 1 seed all but locked up in the Eastern Conference and they seem to be on cruise control until the playoffs. They have dealt with some injuries lately and they seem more concerned about health than winning big down this stretch run. They haven’t covered now in five straight games. With Utah losing to the Spurs on Friday and the Timberwolves floundering a little, slim chances for the Clippers have opened up for the playoffs. They are 2.5 games out of the No. 8 spot and 3.5 out of No. 7. With the Warriors ailing there is a legit chance for any team in the West to do some damage, but this Clippers team must get there first. And this is basically a must-win game for them. We are not sure if they can win it, but we expect them to give maximum effort and we don’t see the same coming from the Toronto side. This line was already inflated a bit to start with. But we expect a close game here, and the Clippers have done very well as a big dog this season as they are 6-1 ATS when getting nine or more points.

10 Unit Play. Take #722 Kansas over Duke (5:05p.m., Sunday March 25 CBS) Kansas has not performed well in this game in recent years to go along with a terrible Elite 8 record by Bill Self. But this is a much different situation, as they are not a heavy favorite like in past years. Nobody will blame Kansas for losing this game against Duke and that lack of pressure will help them a great deal to play free and worrysome. Duke is still a young team and they have not shown the consistency of being a great team very often this year. Kansas has experience and they also have Azubuike at center to negate some of Duke’s interior presence. The Jayhawks are a great three-point shooting team and if can make shots from behind the arc they will win this game. Everyone is in love with Duke, but I feel this is a very tough spot for them having to play Kansas in Omaha, NE. Duke is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against Kansas. The Jayhawks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against ACC teams. Do not be fooled by the final score of Kansas games in the NCAA Tournament, as they have controlled all three games only to let up a little at the end in the last two. There game against Clemson was not close. This one will be close by Kansas will win it by 3-5 points.

The Suns best players are all probably out here. This team is coming in on a back-to-back after getting blown out at Cleveland last night in a game they probably wanted to perform better in than this one tonight. We know it’s hard to lay points with a team as bad as Orlando but this team has some talent and this is like a real NBA team playing a D-League squad tonight. And a tired one at that. Orlando has had lots of injuries this season but this team is relatively healthy right now. They have been playing hard and have been covering lines with somewhat regularity. That’s unlike the Suns, who haven’t covered in five straight, and that’s despite getting very generous odds from the bookies. They lost by 15 or more in all of those games. While they faced a tough schedule, we don’t think this team has enough in the tank to overachieve tonight and they don’t have the talent on the floor to keep this one competitive. Orlando will have a chance for a rare home blowout tonight and we think that will be just what happens.

10 Unit Play. Take #513 Loyola Chicago over Kansas State (6:05p.m., Saturday March 24 TBS) The Wildcats are just not being embarked like the Ramblers. Most of the K-State fan base hates their coach and they were just 10-8 in conference play. Dean Wade could do damage in this game, but he barely played on Thursday and will not be close to 100% for this game. Loyola has been embraced by the entire country and Sister Jean and her magic is for real. This team plays a lower pace and takes high percentage shots and destroyed Nevada for the first 15 minutes of the second half. Loyola is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against Big 12 teams. Kansas State is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 nonconference game.

10 Unit Play. Take #873 Texas Tech over Purdue (9:55p.m., Friday March 23 TBS) Purdue has able to survive without Isaac Haas against Butler but I do not believe they will be able to do that for a second game. Texas Tech was red hot during the nonconference portion of the season before struggling with injuries down the stretch in Big 12 play. They are healthier now and I believe they will advance to the Elite 8. Purdue has not had any success in this round lately usually getting blown out in the Sweet 16. Texas Tech is 7-2 ATS (1 push) in their last 10 games against Big 10 teams. Purdue is 3-12 ATS (1 push) in their last 16 games overall.

The Jazz haven’t allowed an opponent to sniff the century mark in nine straight games. And the Spurs have been playing even better defense lately. Both squads have been pretty offensively challenged lately and we see this one as being a defensive slugfest. Long gone are the days when the bookies posted totals in the 180s and this is about as low as a total will go in the present-day NBA. But we think this one should be in the 180s and we had this game handicapped at 187.5, which means we think there is really great value here. Utah has gone under in seven of nine while the Spurs have gone under in eight of nine, and we think those trends will continue here on Friday night in a game that should have a playoff-like atmosphere.

The Bucks will likely be missing the Greek Freak tonight but the Bulls are in full tank mode so we think this is a game Milwaukee can win pretty easily even without their best player. This team has motivation after two straight losses and they have the much better team on the court tonight as the Bulls are resting seemingly any decent veteran player on their roster. Milwaukee is coming off very tough games against the Cavs and Clippers, and this one will serve as a “get right” game for them and we see them rolling to a big win tonight.

You always have to look at the Nets when they are getting a nice amount of points. This team is 24-8 against the spread when getting six or more points as an underdog this season. They always seem to get up for these kind of games and this team has been in the Top 10 of the ATS rankings all year. Toronto has failed to cover in four straight games and they have lost two of their last three straight out, so this team isn’t in top form right now.  We think the Nets have a great chance to keep this one within double digits.

The Clippers scored a win over Milwaukee last time out but we think they are in tough here at Indiana tonight. This team has lost 4 of 5 to see their playoff hopes diminish significantly and this team is not playing well in crunch time. Indiana is a very good team at home and this team is underrated by the oddsmakers here on their home court. They have also covered in four of the last five meetings between these clubs and they have won three of the last four straight out. The Pacers have been playing excellent defense lately and we expect them to control the tempo and cruise to a comfortable win tonight.

The Clippers scored a win over Milwaukee last time out but we think they are in tough here at Indiana tonight. This team has lost 4 of 5 to see their playoff hopes diminish significantly and this team is not playing well in crunch time. Indiana is a very good team at home and this team is underrated by the oddsmakers here on their home court. They have also covered in four of the last five meetings between these clubs and they have won three of the last four straight out. The Pacers have been playing excellent defense lately and we expect them to control the tempo and cruise to a comfortable win tonight.

4 Unit Play. Take #878 Kansas over Clemson (7:05p.m., Friday March 23 CBS) Nobody seems to benefit more from neutral site tournament locations than does Kansas. For some reason Omaha is hosting the Midwest Region and the Jayhawk faithful will flock to this site. Clemson is in unfamiliar territory having not advanced this far in quite some time. They played a perfect game against Auburn last time out, but I question if they can do that again on Friday. Sooner or later the loss of Donte Grantham will catch up with them. Clemson is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games against Big 12 teams. Kansas is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against ACC teams. Everyone wants Duke vs Kanas in the Elite 8 and I expect the public to get what they want, as the Jayhawks roll in this game.

Both of these teams stink, but we think the Kings are the better ballclub and we expect to get a low spread here in a game we think the Kings should roll in. Sacramento has been very competitive lately and they have actually covered in seven of their last 10 games. They are playing with some pride while many teams are straight out tanking. That latter category would be the Hawks, who have been losing many games by double digits lately. They have covered in only two of their last eight games despite getting some very favorable numbers. The Kings will be well rested heading into this game with two nights off. Also the Hawks play Golden State tomorrow and the Rockets on Sunday, so they probably want to save their energy here as a competitive game over either of those team would be more to hang their hat on than a competitive game against the Kings.

New Orleans is on the only back-to-back-to-back of the season tonight vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. They beat Indiana last night in a make up game from earlier in the season. This is unprecedented lack of rest for the NBA season, and we don’t see it going so well for the home team tonight. We are getting a more than fair line here for the underdog as the Pelicans have won three straight and covered four straight, but we had the Lakers listed as slight favorites in this one and expect them to win this game. The Lakers have had two nights off coming into this game and they had two nights off before their last game, so they are well rested here. And after three straight losses we think the Lakers will really try and take advantage of this bad situation the Pelicans are in tonight.

6 Unit Play. Take #815 Loyola Chicago over Nevada (7:05p.m., Thursday March 22 CBS) Both of these teams are in unfamiliar territory. The Ramblers will still be able to play the underdog card, as they are the lower seed and a slight underdog in this game. Nevada is now expected to win this game and that is a pressure that will be hard to overcome given that this is a Sweet 16 game. Sooner or later getting down by double digits will catch-up with Nevada, especially since they only play 6 guys. Loyola will not tense up like Cincinnati or Texas did if they get up double digits. Nevada is 5-11 ATS (2 pushes) in their last 18 games following a victory in their previous game. Loyola is 21-8 ATS (1 push) in their last 30 games.

5 Unit Play. Take #768 Under in Utah @ St Mary’s (10p.m., Wednesday March 21 ESPN 2) The Gaels are tough to score points on especially when they are playing at home. St Mary’s has gone under the posted total in 14 of their last 17 home games. Utah has gone under the posted total in 4 of their last 5 games. Both teams do not foul a lot and thus I expect this game to be played in the sixties allowing us to collect with the under.

The Spurs have suddenly gotten their act together and it looks like this team might be getting ready to peak heading into the playoff stretch run, and they have won four straight entering this game. They don’t have a lot of room for error after a real bad stretch of games this past month, so they won’t rest on their laurels and be happy with the four wins. Even with their struggles they have compiled a 27-8 record at home this season. And they have the best coach in the game that can guide them through this crucial stretch to the playoffs. Aldridge has really stepped up during this win streak and he is now leading this team. The Spurs have won three straight in this series and we expect them to continue to play well here in this crucial matchup.

While they aren’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Clippers postseason hopes are on life support after losing last night in Minnesota in what was a pretty lustful performance. We were on the Wolves last night and we will fade the Clippers again tonight. This is a real tough spot for them on a back-to-back, on the road no less, and this team is not playing with the spark they had been for the last couple months and we think that they peaked too soon. They have been playing at a fast pace but their offense has taken a nosedive and injuries have really caught up with this squad. No total in the last eight meetings have gone anywhere near this high and we think this total tonight has been inflated, and we think there is a great chance for a blowout here, which would bode well for the under.

While they aren’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Clippers postseason hopes are on life support after losing last night in Minnesota in what was a pretty lustful performance. We were on the Wolves last night and we will fade the Clippers again tonight. This is a real tough spot for them on a back-to-back, on the road no less, and this team is not playing with the spark they had been for the last couple months and we think that they peaked too soon. They have been playing at a fast pace but their offense has taken a nosedive and injuries have really caught up with this squad. No total in the last eight meetings have gone anywhere near this high and we think this total tonight has been inflated, and we think there is a great chance for a blowout here, which would bode well for the under.

Denver had the night off on Tuesday but this team is coming off their crazy double-OT loss to Miami on Monday and we expect there to be tired legs here tonight and we don’t see the Nuggets putting up a lot of points here. We would lean to the underdog in this situation as a result, but we can’t count on the Bulls scoring enough either so we think the total is the better way to attack this game. The Bulls are one of the worst offensive teams in the league and we think the Nuggets will step up their defense here tonight after they let Miami do anything they wanted on offense on Monday, and we think that this total is about four points too high from our handicapped number for the game.

The Hornets have underachieved big time this season, but they are still the better team here by a pretty large margin. We think they will win this game pretty comfortably tonight. Revenge is an overrated NBA handicapping angle but it does come into play when teams have met recently, and that is the case here as the Nets embarrassed the Hornets in Charlotte less than two weeks ago. We are sure they remember that matchup and will want to put forth a much better performance tonight. They had won three straight meetings between these teams prior to that game. Brooklyn has been a great bet this season when getting lots of points but they have struggled as a small dog and we don’t see them winning this game tonight.

Memphis has won 10 straight in this series and seven straight in Philadelphia. Of course, this isn’t the same dominant Memphis team that we have known the last several years, and the Sixers are a better team this year, but that is long-time domination right there. The Grizzlies are 4-1 ATS when getting 11 points or more this season and they should have the services of Gasol and Evans tonight. Philly has covered only two of their last six games and this team has trouble focusing for a whole game in order to cover some of the huge spreads the bookies have been tagging them with lately.

There’s no doubt that the Blazers are playing excellent basketball right now. But they aren’t anywhere near as good as the Rockets. Houston this year is like Golden State a couple years ago when they set the NBA regular-season record for wins. They want to win every game and with a chance to end the Blazers big winning streak they have extra motivation here. While the Warriors have taken a more relaxed approach to the regular season, the Rockets seem to want to lock up that No. 1 seed and they want to flex their muscle against potential Western Conference Playoff teams. We respect what the Blazers have been doing but they won’t win every game and we think this test will be too tough for them on Tuesday night.

We were on the Clips for our big play on Sunday and they put up a real lousy effort at home in a must-win game against the Blazers. This team has an incredibly tough schedule down the line and they probably ruined their playoff hopes with that loss. Now they face another team that is fighting for a playoff spot. We feel like maybe the Clippers peaked a little early and we didn’t like their effort on Sunday and we expect to see the same type of play here on the road against a team that has beaten them three times already this season. We think that this line is a couple of points too short.

The Raptors are in a bit of a downturn right now as they lost their last game at home to OKC and they needed OT to get by Dallas at home in a game they didn’t cover. This is a tricky spot for the Raptors as they are off the OKC loss and they play the Cavs tomorrow, and that is a game they are probably more focused on. And this line is already inflated as well. Orlando is a great underdog bet when they are getting big points as this team is 10-3 ATS when getting double digit points this season. They have been off since Friday so they are well rested. They should be able to give their best effort here.

4 Unit Play. Take #666 Marquette over Penn State (7p.m., Tuesday March 20 ESPN) A trip to New York City is on the line tonight as the Lions and Eagles to battle in Milwaukee, WI. Marquette is a much better team at home and the line is trending towards them in a big way this morning. The Golden Eagles are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against teams with a winning record. Penn State is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games played on Tuesday.

4 Unit Play. Take #620 Utah over LSU (9p.m., Monday March 19 ESPN U) The Utes are always a tough out when playing at home. They are now engaged after winning their opening round NIT game and should be able to take out LSU tonight at the Huntsmen Center. LSU is 0-6 ATS (2 pushes) in their last 8 road games. Utah is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against SEC teams.

The Hornets have been a tire fire lately. You can just look at their last game to see how much effort that this team is putting in lately. They lost by 23 in New York to the Knicks on Saturday. Their only recent wins came against Atlanta, Phoenix and Chicago, and they face a big step up in competition tonight. The Sixers have won and covered in four straight meetings in this series. They have won three of four overall and they have been off since Friday so they have had the whole weekend to rest and prepare for this game. This one has double-digit blowout written all over it.

2-Unit Play. Take #617 Stanford over Oklahoma State (7 p.m. ESPN U)

Stanford plays really hard. This team really maxes out with effort and I think that they have a chance to win this game. Oklahoma State is in the same boat as Louisville, in that they were NCAA Tournament snubs. They managed to run Florida-Gulf Coast. But now they are playing a team with equal talent that I feel will be more motivated. I've seen in the past that teams that got snubbed from the tournament may have enough adrenaline to win one game. But the longer this tournament goes on the more their resentment for not making the NCAAs comes out, and it usually leads to an upset.

We wanted to release this pick early to take advantage of what looks like great line value with the Clippers. The Blazers are at halftime with the Pistons as I write this and they are up big and it looks like they will win easy and bring their 12-game winning streak into Staples Center on Sunday to take on the Clippers. It’s always tough to play in the road in the NBA on a back-to-back. The Blazers win streak is impressive, but they have had a home-heavy schedule and they have played their fair share of teams with issues. The Clips need this win badly as they lost their last two, but those were tough games at Houston and OKC, and they didn’t embarrass themselves in either. We think this is a good spot for them to get back on track against a tired team. The Clippers have really been underestimated by the oddsmakers after their stars left the team but they are playing great basketball and they will play with purpose against a team on a back-to-back that is probably a bit overrated right now.

4 Unit Play. Take #720 Xavier over Florida State (8:40p.m., Sunday March 18 TNT) The Seminoles are just to consistent enough to trust two games in a row. We used them against Missouri on Friday and cruised to a victory but now the tables have turned and they are playing a much better team in Xavier. Florida State is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall. Xavier is 24-6 ATS (2 pushes) in their last 32 NCAA games.

4 Unit Play. Take #724 Auburn over Clemson (7:10p.m., Sunday March 18 TBS) Auburn has not been playing well of late and thus this line is not reflective of the season they have had. Clemson is a good match-up for them and expect Auburn to control the second half and win this game convincingly. Clemson is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games played on Sunday. The people are betting Clemson yet the spread is moving towards Auburn, which is usually a good sign the wise guys are coming in on the Tigers from the state of Alabama.  

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

10 Unit Play. Take #717 Nevada over Cincinnati (6:10p.m., Sunday March 18 TNT) Just do not like Cincinnati as this big of a favorite against an experienced an athletic team. Nevada is riding high now after their comeback victory against Texas and sooner or later they will get hot in this game from the three-point line. Cincinnati likes to play from in front and if Nevada can withstand the early punch they should be able to take this game down to the wire. Nevada is 33-14 ATS (4 pushes) in their last 51 games against teams with a winning record. Cincinnati is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

The Blazers are looking for win No. 12 in a row tonight and we think that they get it in a big way against the struggling Pistons. The Blake Griffin trade gutted the depth of this team and they don’t have much of an identity and they are lacking leaders and team chemistry. The result has been a 1-16 record in their last 17 road games. The season is over for this team and they know it even though they are not mathematically eliminated at this point. They would have to turn the whole season around and from what we have seen since a hot start to the season, this team just doesn’t have it in them. The Blazers are laser focused right now and we think they will go for the jugular against this struggling Detroit squad.

4 Unit Play. Take #530 Michigan over Houston (9:40p.m., Saturday March 17 TBS) Houston was in a battle last time out with SDSU and I do not feel they will be able to keep up with Michigan. The Wolverines are a great tournament team since they do not foul and play outstanding defense. Michigan will play much better today since they already have a game under their belt. Many people believe Michigan can make the Final Four and they will move onto the Sweet 16 by 8-10 points.

 4 Unit Play. Take #536 Gonzaga over Ohio State (7:45p.m., Saturday March 17 CBS) We will continue to fade Ohio State as I just do not believe they are that good. Gonzaga had a big lead before letting their opponent back into the game on Thursday. They will not make that mistake again.