Sports Picks & Predictions

*3 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Memphis Tigers and the Ohio State Buckeyes are both big name programs that are down quite a bit this year. Ohio State has lost to UT Arlington and Louisiana Tech in their last two games. Memphis lost to UT Arlington lost game as well. 

One reason I like this total is Ohio State has played at a tempo of 69 possessions in every single game they have played so far this year. Their consistency at slowing the game down has been great. The only thing that has changed has been their opponents shooting percentages. Memphis shoots 21.5% from three point range, and the Tigers are much better on defense than offense. This game is played at a neutral site in Florida, and neutral sites generally mean worse shooting numbers.

I see this line as being a few points too high. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The San Francisco Dons have decided to slow things down in their last few games, and it has brought them more success. UCSB will be glad to play a slower pace tonight, and UCSB has been struggling badly from outside. UCSB is shooting 23% from the three point range on the season. San Francisco previously played a fast tempo and that's why we are getting value on the under in this one. Take the under. *Note- Shorter writeups than normal today due to traveling for the holidays- Happy Thanksgiving!*

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Murray State Racers lost their star from last year (Cameron Payne) and without him the offense isn't even close to as good. Murray State is working hard on defense though. Opponents have been held below 40% three times this year. The Racers are no longer running as they have in the past. Weber State is a slow it down team because of their strength in the post. I had this one at 132. Take the under. *Note- Shorter writeups than normal today due to traveling for the holidays- Happy Thanksgiving!*

*3 Star Under* The North Dakota State Bison and Montana Grizzlies have both been good under teams for me in the past. With the same coaches back this year, I'm going to go with the under here. Both teams prefer to play a slow it down tempo and both teams aren't nearly as efficient on the offensive end this year after losing their best scorers from a year ago. Take the under. *Note- Shorter writeups than normal today due to traveling for the holidays- Happy Thanksgiving!*

*4 Star NCAA BB Total* The Pepperdine Waves play tremendous defense. They have a long athletic team who makes it very difficult to score. Pepperdine often gets bogged down on offense themselves, but they have been winning a lot of games due to their hard work on defense. Drake plays at an extremely slow tempo, and the Bulldogs will be playing against the best defense they have played this year. Take the under. *Note- Shorter writeups than normal today due to traveling for the holidays- Happy Thanksgiving!*

*4 Star NCAA BB Total Value* The Denver Pioneers have been one of the ten slowest teams in terms of tempo every single year for a long time. They aren't going to speed up for anyone. Idaho State has played faster teams so far this year so they have high scoring games, but that should change in this one. I had this total at 129 points so I see plenty of value for a play. Take the under. *Note- Shorter writeups than normal today due to traveling for the holidays- Happy Thanksgiving!*

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Weber State Wildcats have a good team this year, and it starts with a very strong frontcourt. Weber State has slowed their tempo down in the past couple years. When Damian Lillard was at Weber State, they were a team who played quickly, but now that their strength is in the post instead of at the guard they are playing a halfcourt style. 

Drake has had two games go into overtime already, which has skewed their numbers to make them look like a high scoring team. Drake actually ranks in the bottom 25 teams in the nation (there are 351 overall) in terms of pace. The Bulldogs will be looking to slow this game down, and Weber State is likely to be happy with that as well.

The under is 19-7 in Drake's last 26 games at a neutral site. Shooting percentages are generally a little lower at neutral sites. Take the under in this one. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* Ohio State has seemingly decided to slow the tempo of the game down this year. With an athletic roster, I'm not really sure why they are doing it, but that's been the game plan so far. Ohio State lost at home to UT Arlington last game, and now they come back to play Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs like to speed the game up, but so do Mt. St. Mary's and UT Arlington. Ohio State didn't let either of those teams play fast as they prefer to. Look for the Buckeyes defense to improve following that ugly loss to UT Arlington. Take the under here. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The Cal Golden Bears have a very athletic team this year and they will look to get up and down much more than they have in past years. With Brown and Rabb added to an already talented roster, Cal has the second most talent in the Pac 12 behind Arizona. The Golden Bears are likely to have a bunch of success on offense here. Cal was flat in their last game, a win over East Carolina. Coach Martin's team should be ready for this one. Sam Houston State has been torched on defense by both SMU and Southern Illinois. It should happen again here. This total is a few points too low. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The San Diego State Aztecs are a grind it out team. Steve Fisher gets his team to work hard on the defensive end like no other coach in the country can. No matter who comes to play for Fisher, they will work hard on defense, or they won't see the floor. San Diego State still slows the game down, and they still have trouble scoring. The Aztecs lost at home to Little Rock last game. The Aztecs should show up ready to play here, and I think that will mean some great defense. East Carolina has been a good under team in recent years so I like this matchup to be very low scoring. The under is 36-16 in San Diego State's last 52 home games. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* I successfully played the 'over' with the Knicks in their first two games of the season. Derek Fisher talked a lot in the offseason about the Knicks picking up the pace this year. They did just that in the first week of the season. Gradually though, as the season has gone on the Knicks have slowed their tempo back down. New York was at nearly a 100 possessions per game tempo in the first week. In their past 3 games, they are at a tempo of less than 95 possessions per game. That's a very big difference. Miami is ranked second in the NBA in defensive efficiency and they play at the fourth slowest pace in the league. Look for a slow tempo and a game that stays low scoring.

The under is 5-0 in Miami's last 5 vs. the Eastern Conference. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning record. The under is 10-1 in their last 11 games overall. A 20-1 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Late NIGHT BAILOUT* The Stanford Cardinal lost their best two players from last year's team. Stanford is likely to have trouble scoring this season. This is their first road game of the season, and with a young team that should prove difficult. St. Mary's also lost a bunch of talent, and the Gaels are going to be way down this year. Randy Bennett is a good coach and he is going to slow this game down and play a halfcourt style that the Gaels prefer. I made this number 140 points, and I think there is quite a bit of value here. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* SMU and Yale are both defensive teams who like to slow the game down. This total is a few points too high. I made this one 135 points. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The 76ers are dead last in the NBA in offensive efficiency, and it isn't even close! Philadelphia is shooting 30% form three and 41.7% overall from the floor. Miami ranks second in the NBA in defensive efficiency. The Heat have the ability to hold Philadelphia to a very low number here. Miami is also playing at a slow tempo and Philadelphia is pushing the pace less this year than they have in the past. 

The under is 9-1 in the Heat's last 10. The under is 4-0 in their last vs. the Eastern Conference. The under is 4-0 in their last vs. a team with a win percentage below 40%. A 17-1 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Under* The Rhode Island Rams are without their star player, EC Matthews. Matthews is out for the year with an injury. He was their best offensive threat. Without him, the Rams will still be a solid team, and it will be because of the tremendous defense they play. Cleveland State hasn't been able to score against Akron or Malone College, so how are they going to score here? I think Cleveland State will struggle to pass 50 points here. An ugly game between two teams that are good on the defensive end. Take the under. 

*5 Star TOP Play Total CRUSHER* The Oregon State Beavers and UC Santa Barbara Gauchos have both played teams who are very fast in tempo so far this year. They won't be playing an opponent who wants to run in this one. Oregon State is all about defense and UC Santa Barbara has been one of the slowest paced teams in the nation on a consistent basis.

There is a lot of value on this play because of their high scoring games against teams like California (fast paced) and Iona (very fast paced). I had this number at 131 points, which makes this my biggest play of the college basketball season thus far. Take the under big! 

*3 Star NCAA BB National TV Total* The Virginia Cavaliers put up 82 points last night against Bradley, but it wasn't because they have picked up the tempo. Virginia just shot an amazing percentage from the floor. Bradley's defense offered little resistance, but Long Beach State is decent on defense. Virginia's defense is far better than anything Long Beach State generally sees. This line has been pushed up by 6.5 points from the open. That line move makes this under a good value in my eyes. 

Virginia is still the halfcourt team that plays great defense, and I think some of their early season numbers have skewed this number too high. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off a humbling loss at the hands of the Dayton Flyers. Alabama is playing with a much quicker tempo this year, and Louisiana Lafayette has been one of the fastest paced teams in the nation with Bob Marlin as their head coach. 

Alabama is looking to use full court pressure to speed up the game, and I think Lafayette will be glad to play that type of game here. Lafayette has a very good frontcourt, and I think they'll get a lot of second chance points on offensive rebounds against a relatively small Alabama frontcourt.

I had this one lined at 158 points. Take the over. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks have always liked to play at a quick tempo under coach John Cooper. Most of the teams inside the Mid American Conference slow the game down. Miami will get their chance to play a quick paced game when they take on Lipscomb on Friday night. Lipscomb has been a team that looks to play fast for several years in a row now.

With the new tighter rules we are seeing about four fouls more per game than we have seen in the past. Both of these teams have been teams that do a good job getting to the line in the past two years. They have also both been teams that commit a bunch of fouls. Look for a lot of trips to the charity stripe throughout this game.

My numbers made this game 154 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Under* The SMU Mustangs play at a methodical pace under Coach Larry Brown. He's suspended now, but SMU isn't going to change the way they play. Stanford lost their two best players from last year, and this Stanford team needed overtime to beat Wisconsin Green Bay at home earlier this year. I don't think Stanford can control the pace of this game, and I think they'll struggle to score against an SMU squad that makes you would hard for every bucket. Look for SMU to grab a lead in this game and work the clock in the second half. I had this number at 141. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Under* The Rice Owls lost their best long range shooter from last year, and that's about all Rice could do well last season. The Oregon State Beavers have a very good coach in Wayne Tinkle and he is all about slowing the game down and winning with defense. Oregon State doesn't have many good scoring options, but everyone on this team can play defense. Rice likes to slow the game down as well. This is one of those lines that has gotten out of hand because of the success of early season overs. As the line has been bet up, there's just too much value here to pass up. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Over* Wisconsin Green Bay has a new coach who has totally changed the look of the team. Their goal is to be one of the fastest paced teams in the country this year. Georgia Tech has worked all offseason on trying to be a faster paced team. Brian Gregory's team put up 116 points in their season opener. Wisconsin Green Bay just gave up 103 points last game to East Tennessee State. I think the Yellow Jackets put up a really big number here and the pace of the game means Green Bay should score plenty as well. I made this line 164. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Creighton Blue Jays have a lot of offensive weapons, and they've made it known in the offseason that they want to get out and run. Here's their chance! Indiana loves to run, and the Hoosiers could put up a really big number here. Indiana ranks as the number one team in the nation in offensive efficiency so far this year. Creighton doesn't have many defensive stoppers on their roster. The Blue Jays will get open looks here, because Indiana's defense has been a problem for the past three years. Look for both teams to knock down a lot of threes and this game to go over the posted total. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are going to be running a lot more this year. Dave Rice said in the preseason that his team has extensively practiced during the offseason to be much faster paced than a year ago. They have the athleticism to beat most teams down the floor. Southern Utah is always glad to play a fast paced game under Coach Nick Robinson. Southern Utah's defense has been among the worst in the nation in each of the last three years. They foul a bunch as well, which will be helpful to the over in this game. A quick tempo with a lot of trips to the charity stripe. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play Best Bet Total* The Northwestern Wildcats and Fairfield Stags play a similar style of basketball. Both look to slow down the game and work down the shot clock. Northwestern is without Jershon Cobb this year and he was their best playmaker a year ago. They are also without Vic Law who was slated to be their best player this season. Law was injured before the season. Fairfield played a 70-57 game against Yale earlier this year. Northwestern played a 79-57 game against UMass Lowell.

Because overs have done so well so far this year, I think we'll be able to catch games with inflated lines like this one in some spots. All totals are being bet up several points. While the new rules do make higher scoring games more frequent, teams like Fairfield and Northwestern are unlikely to fundamentally change the way they play the game. This total has gone up 9 points since the opener. That's way too much in my opinion. Take the under big! 

*4 Star College Hoops TV Total* The Providence Friars are led by one of the best players in the country in Kris Dunn. Dunn is going to have a spectacular season this year. Coach Cooley has said he's looking for Dunn and the rest of his team to push the tempo more often this year because of their skillset. Illinois is glad to run. The Fighting Illini have had 93-81 and 80-74 finals in their first two games this year. Malcolm Hill is a very good scorer for Illinois, and the Fighting Illini should attack the rim a lot in this one. I see a close game between two teams who want to run. Take the over. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have a new coach, but they are expected to play the same uptempo style they have in the past. Louisiana Tech uses a full court diamond press to get a lot of turnovers and easy buckets in transition. UT Arlington ranked 8th out of 351 teams in terms of pace last year, and I think this game turns into a real track meet. The sharp money is already on the over, and I made this game 158 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Missouri Tigers know they can't turn this into a fast paced game. Missouri doesn't have the offensive firepower that Xavier has. Missouri is likely to be ranked near the bottom this year in terms of pace. The Tigers had a lot of very low scoring games last year. Xavier is likely to get a big lead and coast in this one. The Musketeers defense should be improved this year vs. last season. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Eastern Kentucky Colonels are playing a totally different style of basketball this year. They have been a slow tempo team for a long time, but now they have a coach who has said his goal is to have this team near the top of the country in terms of pace. They showed that in their season opener. UNC Wilmington pushes the tempo under a coach who learned under Rick Pitino. There will be a lot of pressing and a lot of fouls in this one. The tempo along with the new shorter shot clock and rules to help higher scoring make this a strong play for me. My number here was 157. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Ohio Bobcats are pushing the tempo and they have a lot of offensive weapons. Tennessee State surprised a lot of people by running and scoring like crazy in their season opener. The Tigers put up 86 points on the road. They'll likely lose this game by a good margin, but Ohio should have little to no trouble scoring against this Tennessee State defense that has been really bad the last few seasons. With the shorter shot clock and more blocking fouls being called, I'm taking the over in this game. 

*4 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Los Angeles Lakers were playing exceptionally fast on offense earlier this year, and lately they have slowed things down. Los Angles has played 5 straight games that have finished under the total. The Lakers offense is very disjointed right now. They don't have much ball movement at all, and they become easy to defend for long stretches.

Detroit's defense is so much better than it has been in the past. Drummond has been terrific for them and he does two things to help the under here- 1) he is a shot blocking force in the paint 2) he slows down the tempo of the game. Detroit now ranks tied for 10th in the league in defense. Both of these teams rank in the bottom third of the league in offensive efficiency as well. This number is a few points too high.

The under is 5-0 in the Lakers last 5 games. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following a loss. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. the Eastern Conference. The under is 3-0 in their 3 home games this year. The under is 2-0 in the Pistons only two games as a favorite this year. The under is 2-0 in the last 2 meetings between these teams. A 20-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Nevada Wolf Pack are playing a much faster paced game under new coach Eric Musselman this year. Nevada has been known for their halfcourt sets that waste a lot of time in the past few years under David Carter, but this is a big change. In practices, Nevada has been playing as fast as possible. Montana State's Brian Fish prefers to play fast too, so I don't see anything slowing this one down. All of the new rule changes are leading to higher scoring games early on, and this total of 147.5 isn't a very high number with the shorter shot clock. Look for a lot of transition baskets here. Take the over. 

*5 Star NCAA BB TOP Play Total* From everything I've read about the Utah Utes in the offseason, this team is changing the way they play this year. Utah is going to push the tempo. Utah was one of the slowest paced teams in the nation last year. It usually takes the oddsmakers a little bit to adjust to something like this. Utah has the perfect opponent to try out their new tempo on tonight in Southern Utah. Southern Utah has been an extremely fast paced team the last few years. Additionally, Southern Utah is awful on defense and fouls a bunch. The Utes should get a lot of easy buckets at the basket, and they should be on the free throw line a lot as well. 

Utah beat down Cal State Monterey Bay 124-70 in exhibition play last week. I'm not saying they'll pour in the points at that pace tonight, but that shows a totally different type of play. This line is far too low. I think this one gets into the 150's. Take the over big! 

*3 Star NBA Spurs/Blazers ESPN CASH* The San Antonio Spurs offense hasn't been as efficient so far this year as we are accustomed to them being. It makes sense really, since they have a completely different look with Aldridge in the lineup. The Spurs have been excellent on defense though. They are behind only Golden State in defensive efficiency so far this year. 

Portland relies way too much on Damian Lillard for my liking. Lillard is definitely a very good player, but the Spurs defense should do well against him. Portland hasn't played against many good defenses this year, so I think their offensive number are skewed a bit right now.

Both of these teams are playing at a pace slower than the NBA average, so a line set this high doesn't make much sense, especially when you have an elite defense like the Spurs involved. The public is hitting the over hard here, so I'll gladly take the under at this elevated price. 

One more note- James Williams is one of the referees here, and he is one of the best under refs in the NBA. The under is hitting at a better than 60% clip in his last 150 games as a ref. 

Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Miami Heat have been slowing the tempo down in a big way this year. Miami ranks second to last in the NBA in terms of pace (only Utah is slower). The Heat also rank fourth in the NBA in defensive efficiency. Miami is very likely to control this game against the Lakers. Miami ranks 10th in the NBA in offensive efficiency and the Lakers rank 18th. I expect Miami to grab a lead and let their defense win them this game. Two of the three referees in this game are solid under guys, which is certainly helpful. Miami hasn't had a game this year finish with a final score higher than 198. Two of the Lakers last four games have finished at 196 or lower. 

The under is 6-0 in the Heat's last 6 games. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 on a day of rest. The under is 5-0 in Miami's last 5 vs. the Western Conference. The under is 2-0 in the Lakers last 2 games. The under is 2-0 in the last 2 meetings between these teams. A 20-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The Detroit Pistons are a much improved team this year. They are working much harder on the defensive end, and they have improved team chemistry. Detroit is playing at the fourth slowest tempo of any team in the NBA. The Indiana Pacers have the third worst offensive efficiency of any team in the NBA. A total set this high doesn't make sense in this contest. The referees in this game are neutral as far as over/unders. I thought this line should be at 197, so I see plenty of value here. Look for Detroit to control the tempo and win with a strong defensive effort. Take the under here. 

*5 Star NBA TOP Play of Week* I took the over in the New York Knicks season opener and that won comfortably. I'm backing the over again in this one. New York showed they were a different team in the preseason, and they confirmed that yet again in their win over Milwaukee. New York is running a much faster paced offense. The Knicks brought in guys who fit a faster paced offense very well. Guys like Jerian Grant and Derrick Williams made big impacts in game one, and they should again here.

Importantly though, Atlanta has always been a team that likes to run when they can. The Hawks aren't going to slow this game down. Atlanta lost their season opener and they'll be ready to go here. Atlanta had one of the top five offenses in terms of efficiency last year. While New York's offense is much better this year, I still expect the Knicks to be one of the worst defenses in the NBA. Atlanta should be able to put up a big number here.

Interestingly, even when the Knicks were stalling and playing a totally halfcourt game last year, two of their three meetings with Atlanta went over the total. The oddsmakers haven't adjusted to the Knicks new style of play yet. This number is too low. Take the over big! 

*Note- This line has moved up slightly- I would take over for a 5 star play up to 200. Thank you*

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The New York Knicks are going to play a different style of basketball this year. Derek Fisher has been using the offseason to implement a new faster pace of play with this team. New York has the new guard to start the fastbreak with. Jerian Grant will be a great fit in this offense with them pushing the tempo. New York will still run the triangle offense when they can't score in transition, but last year this Knicks team was the single slowest paced in the NBA for much of the year. In the preseason, they ranked 14th in the league in points and were clearly changing things up. 

Milwaukee ranked just a little faster than average in terms of pace last year. Greg Monroe is the new big signing for the Bucks. Monroe is a defensive downgrade for the team and a major offensive upgrade. The Knicks don't have anyone who can guard him consistently here.

Last year, the Knicks were playing an extremely slow tempo and 3 of the 4 meetings between these teams were lined higher than this. I think we are catching value on the over as the oddsmakers underestimate the differences in these teams. Take the over. 

*3 Star Game One 100% Angle CASH* The Golden State Warriors are very well known for their great offense, but this team ranked first in the NBA in defensive efficiency during the regular season. Golden State should have a good game plan to make life difficult for LeBron James. The long layoff likely favors the under with both teams being a little out of sort in this position normally. Cleveland's defense has been great in the postseason, and that's why they are here. The Cavs have played at the slowest tempo of any team in the postseason this year. Golden State isn't running nearly as much as they did in the regular season. Plenty of reasons to expect a lower scoring game than this posted line would suggest.

The under is 4-0 in the Cavs last 4 road games. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs a team with a winning record. The under is 7-0-1 in the Warriors last 8 home games. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 when playing on 3 or more days of rest. The under is 4-0-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points in the previous game. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 vs. the NBA Central. A 34-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* In closeout situations, the pace of the game slows down even more and the defenses usually step things up. Golden State is well-known for their tremendous offense, but their defense ranked first in the NBA in defensive efficiency during the regular season. Memphis has a great defense as well, and Tony Allen should be back for this game. Allen is one of the best defenders in the NBA. Memphis knows how to slow the game down, and they are even better at that on their home court. The under is an amazing 24-2 in Memphis' last 26 home games overall. Look for a close game where both defenses rise to the occasion. This number is a few points too high. 

The under is 5-0 in the Warriors last 5 on one day of rest. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 games. The under is 8-0 in their last 8 following a win by 10 points or more. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 conference semifinals games. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following a win. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 vs. a team with a win percentage of 60% or higher. The under is 6-0 in the Grizzlies last 6 conference semifinals games. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 following a loss by 10 points or more. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a win percentage of 60% or higher. The under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these teams overall. The under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two in Memphis. A 62-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Los Angeles Clippers offense is shredding up this Houston defense. Because of the speed of the game, Houston is going to get plenty of points as well. Dwight Howard is putting together some big numbers in the paint in the playoffs this year. James Harden should be ready to go here, and Chris Paul is healthier than he was last game. No one is going to want to slow down the tempo, unless it is to foul on purpose, which obviously gives us more possessions and more scoring chances. All three games in this series so far have gone over this total. While this total is certainly high, I think this game goes above 220. 

The over is 5-0 in the Rockets last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The over is 5-0 in their last 5 vs. the NBA Pacific Division. The over is 4-0 in the Clippers last 4 on one day of rest. The over is 5-0 in their last 5 following a win. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with winning road record. The over is 5-0 in their last 5 following an ATS win. A 28-0 angle. Take the over. 

*4 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The Brooklyn Nets head home trying to stave off elimination here. Brooklyn has shown to be a worthy opponent in this series, and the Nets like to slow the game down. They have gotten the tempo to their liking in this series. It has been right around 95 possessions per game, which is one of the slower paced series' thus far. The shooting numbers have been very high the last two games. I think it's unlikely these two teams can keep up that kind of shooting in this one. In closeout situations we typically see a slower tempo and better defense. No one wants to go home. In this case, we get a total that has bumped up by a couple points because of the last two games. That gives us extra value. Take the under. 

*4 Star Clippers/Spurs Totals CASH* The San Antonio Spurs got an amazing effort from Tim Duncan last game. Duncan carried the team to victory. The first game in this series stayed under the total and last game would have as well if it weren't for overtime. The Spurs are slowing the tempo down in this series. In the playoffs, the defensive intensity turns up a lot, and we've definitely seen that in this series. I like to watch what the line movement does compared to public betting numbers. In those one, it tells an interesting story. The public loves the over here, but the number has moved down. There is some very sharp money betting the under. I agree with that, and I think this one stays below 200. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Play of Day* The Detroit Pistons are technically still in the playoff race in the East, but they have to win this game. Boston is currently in the playoffs, but they aren't comfortably in by any means. This is a game that means something to both teams, which should cause both defenses to work hard. Detroit is playing at the second slowest tempo in the NBA in the past two weeks. The last two times these two have played the game has gone over solely because of overtime. This number is a few points too high. Take the under. 

*2 Star NCAA BB Championship CASH* The Wisconsin Badgers and Duke Blue Devils meet in the NCAA Championship Game on Monday night. I expect this to be a tremendous game, and with an opening line of pick'em, so do the oddsmakers. I don't want any part of taking a side in this one, but I see a small amount of value in the under. Wisconsin shoots the ball extremely well, but they do still slow the game down. Duke hasn't been pushing the tempo nearly as much in recent games as they did early in the season. In title games, we often see the tempo slow down as both teams know that every possession matters. Note that this is a smaller play than normal for me because both offenses are very good, but with a total this high and an expected slow tempo, I'm siding with the under. Take the under here. 

*4 Star NBA Friday Night Totals MONEY* The Sacramento Kings will be without Rudy Gay tonight. Gay averages 20.9 points per game, and he gives the team a great second option to DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins has been playing great of late, but he isn't 100 percent. New Orleans is playing at the slowest tempo of any team in the NBA over the last five games. The Pelicans are slowing things down as they realize they must win to have any chance to get into the playoffs. This game means a lot to them. On average, the more the game means to a team, the lower scoring that game is. The Kings are playing at an NBA league average pace over the last two weeks, and I think they'll play a little slower without Rudy Gay in the lineup. This total is awfully high considering one of the top scorers is out and the pace should be slow. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Los Angeles Lakers host the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at Staples Center. New Orleans is working hard to try to get into the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoff standings. They still have a chance. New Orleans has decided to slow the tempo down and focus more on defense as these games get even more important for them. New Orleans is playing at the single slowest tempo of any team in the NBA over their last three games. Los Angeles also ranks in the bottom ten in the NBA in terms of pace in the last ten. Another key here is the three referees for this game. Between the three referees here, the under is a combined 100-64. There should be less fouls called here than in a normal NBA game. 

The under is 8-0 in the Lakers last 8 home games following a road trip of 7 days or more. The under is 5-0 in the Lakers last 5 vs. the NBA Southwest. A 13-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NIT Semifinals Total Domination* The Temple Owls have struggled on the offensive end all year. Temple is a team that struggles to knock down jump shots, and that's dangerous as they go to play the NIT Semifinals here at Madison Square Garden. Madison Square Garden is arguably the toughest shooting backdrop in the United States. College players very frequently struggle to get a rhythm here. Miami is a team that slows the game down and I expect them to slow the tempo here. The total is inflated due to so many totals going over in the NIT thus far. This one shows plenty of value for me for a couple reasons: the Madison Square Garden factor, and this game means more now because both teams will want to push harder to reach the NIT finals. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Play of Day* The Phoenix Suns offense has been terrible over the last month. It seems like the teams trades have hurt their offensive output. On the other hand, the Suns are playing much better on the defensive end. Phoenix isn't pushing the tempo as much as they were earlier this year. Portland ranks in the bottom ten in the league in terms of tempo over the past ten games. All three referees in this matchup are favorable to an under bet. The under is 21-8 in the Suns last 29 games. The under is 5-1 in their last 6 meetings in Portland. This line is a few points too high. Take the under.

*4 Star Elite 8 Total DOMINATION* The Arizona Wildcats lost by a point in this same situation last year against Wisconsin. Arizona gets a huge advantage by playing in front of a ton of their faithful in Los Angeles here. Wisconsin is ranked number one in offensive efficiency, but Arizona is the best defensive team they have played this year. The Badgers still love to run the shot clock down and win with ball control. Arizona is unlikely to turn this game into a track meet. With two teams that play so hard on the defensive end as well as a game that means so much to both teams, I think this total is a few points too high. It's important to note that Wisconsin fouls less than any other team in the country, and that could be a big key for the under here.

The under is 6-1 in Arizona's last 7 neutral site games. The under is 5-1 in Arizona's last 6 games. The under is 37-14-1 in Arizona's last 52 Saturday games. Take the under. 

*3 Star Duke/Utah Totals CASH* The Duke Blue Devils and Utah Utes square off in what should be a pretty competitive game. I thought it was interesting to see the oddsmakers set the opening line at Duke -4.5. That tells me the oddsmakers are very high on Utah in this one. The Utes didn't finish playing their best at the end of the regular season, but they have bounced back and are playing very well in the tournament thus far. If Utah is going to be successful, they must slow the game down and win with ball control and defense. Utah knows not to get into a track meet with a Duke team that has athleticism all over the place. Several teams have been able to slow down the Blue Devils in recent games. 

The difference between this Duke team and last year's team is the fact that this team plays very hard on the defensive end. The Blue Devils aren't going to make things easy on Delon Wright and the Utes offense. Duke does a nice job defending beyond the arc, and that's an area where Utah has done most of their damage this year. 

The under is 4-0 in Duke's last 4 games. The under is 16-5 in their last 21 neutral site games. The under is 7-3 in Utah's last 10. The under is 18-6 in Utah's last 24 neutral site games. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The Houston Rockets defense got a lot better when Dwight Howard entered the fold again last game. The Rockets also slowed the pace of the game down in a big way. Houston was playing at about 100 possessions per game, but last game it was 91. Minnesota has drastically slowed down their tempo, and the Timberwolves offense isn't efficient at all. Two of the three referees in this one are very favorable for an under play. The under is 23-12 in Haywoode Workman's 35 games this year lined at 195 points or higher. A number this high isn't justified. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Totals TKO* The Boston Celtics have worked their way into playoff position in the Eastern Conference by working hard on the defensive end. Boston ranks in the top five in the NBA on the defensive end in the past 10 games. New York ranks dead last in offensive efficiency during that span. New York slows the tempo down, and Boston is pushing the pace a little less now than they did earlier this year. In the Knicks last 7 games, only one went over this posted total in regulation (195 points against Toronto). I think this one finishes around 190 as the Knicks struggle to score again. Take the under. 

*3 Star Notre Dame/Wichita St Total DOMINATION* The Notre Dame Fighting Irish offense has been tremendous all year. My problem with a team like Notre Dame this time of the year is that they are too reliant on jump shots. Notre Dame is now playing on neutral floors with shooting backdrops that they haven't seen before. That can be tough to handle for teams that rely so much on long range jumpers. Speaking to the value from this angle is the fact that the under is 13-2-1 in Notre Dame's last 16 NCAA Tournament games. Wichita State's defense is a strength too, and Gregg Marshall's team is going to contest most of those jumpers. 

Wichita State has played against two teams who love to run so far in this year's NCAA Tournament, and that has led to two high scoring games. The Shockers typically prefer to slow the game down when they can, and Notre Dame's tempo is actually slower than the average pace in the nation. With a spot in the Elite Eight on the line, it's obvious that this game means a ton to both teams. The more important the game, the slower the tempo tends to be on average. Take the under in this one. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and Vermont Catamounts meet in CBI Postseason Tournament game on Wednesday night. The shorter shot clock has brought a bunch of overs so far this postseason. The NIT, CBI, and CIT Tournaments are all using 30 second shot clocks and a bigger restricted circle (more blocking fouls instead of charges). At first, the shorter shot clock might have hurt offenses a bit as they rushed things, but efficiencies are improving across the board now.

This is also a time of the year where teams have typically not cared as much on the defensive end in these smaller postseason tournaments. Louisiana Monroe was a great under team throughout the season, but they have been playing fast and scoring far more efficiently in this tournament. Vermont has scored 85 and 78 points in their two CBI games. With a shorter shot clock, a number this low isn't something I can pass up. Take the over. 

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The New York Knicks roster is so thin right now that it's difficult for them to reach anything more than 85-90 points. They are without Carmelo Anthony and Jose Calderon, and Tim Hardaway Jr. is questionable for this one. The Clippers are in a difficult scheduling position right now, and Doc Rivers has been talking about resting his starters some more. This should be a good opportunity. I think his starters will play quite a few less minutes than normal in this one. The Clippers tempo is at a league average mark over the past ten games, and the Knicks are one of the slowest paced teams in the league. Two of the three referees here (Davis and Kirkland) are terrific under referees. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The Minnesota Timberwolves actually rank in the bottom half of the NBA in terms of tempo in the past two weeks. Utah ranks at the bottom by a very big margin. The Jazz deserve a lot of credit for the job they have done recently of winning games by playing tremendous defense and controlling the tempo. Utah is the number one ranked defense in the NBA in the past month. The Timberwolves offense has been struggling against quality defenses, and I think they'll struggle to score tonight. Utah typically doesn't run up the score as much as most teams in the league.

The under is 8-1 in Utah's last 9 vs. the NBA Northwest. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 following a loss. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a losing record. An 18-1 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Mercer Bears and the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks have been two great under teams the last couple years. Mercer is a team that slows the game down and tries to get to the line for points. Louisiana Monroe doesn't foul much at all, so Mercer should get less free throws than in a normal game. Monroe ranked dead last, 351st, in the nation in getting to the line this year. Mercer doesn't foul much either. While the shot clock here will be 30 seconds, I still expect both of these teams to use most of that time. This total has been adjusted a little bit too high based on that shorter clock. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Play of Day* The Los Angeles Lakers aren't playing at even close to the same tempo they were earlier this year. Philadelphia is still playing fast, but not as fast as they were early this year. The biggest change from both of these two teams though is how much better they are playing on the defensive end. The Lakers rank in the top ten in the NBA in defensive efficiency in the past two weeks. The 76ers rank number two in the NBA during that period. A healthy Nerlens Noel has boosted the Sixers defense in a big way. 

Also, keep in mind that these two teams are both awful on the offensive end. They both rank in the bottom five in the NBA in offensive efficiency. There aren't many shot makers healthy on these two teams. Look for a sloppy low scoring game here. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Maryland Terrapins play in the Big Ten where most teams like to slow the game down. They have shown the ability to get up and down when they are given the chance. West Virginia is going to do everything they can to force the tempo of this game. The Mountaineers press more than anyone else in the country, and Maryland has been a bit turnover prone late in the year. Importantly, West Virginia commits more fouls than any other team in the nation. Maryland is great at drawing fouls, and the Terrapins are also terrific at the line. As a team, Maryland shoots 76% from the line. They should rack up the points at the charity stripe on Sunday.

It should also be noted that the rims were very loose in Columbus on Friday for the Round of 64, and that helped several shots into the hoop. It should do the same on Sunday. One other key for me here-the public has been taking the under in this game, but the line continues to move up anyways. That's a nice signal. Take the over.

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Arkansas Razorbacks and North Carolina Tar Heels play the same style of basketball. They both get out in transition and try to score before the opposing defense is set. I don't see anyone wanting to slow the game down here. North Carolina is tremendous in transition, and Marcus Paige should have a big game here. Arkansas has more inside strength than they have had in the past, but North Carolina should still get a lot of offensive rebounds and second chance points here. With a very quick pace and a game that should be close throughout, this total is more than attainable. I had this one at 161. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Georgia State Panthers have been the darlings of the NCAA Tournament thus far. R.J. Hunter's very long three finished off an amazing comeback by the Panthers. One thing to note from Georgia State's recent games is that star point guard Ryan Harrow is injured. Harrow used to play for Kentucky, and he is a key player for this Panthers team. Without him, Georgia State has decided to slow the tempo down of late. They won the Sun Belt final by a ridiculous score of 38-36 in a game that had just 47 possessions by both teams (65 is average). The Baylor game had only 58 possessions. I think Georgia State slows this game down as well, and that gives us value on the under. Xavier has been a good under team for me this year, and the Musketeers have absolutely shown that they like to slow the game down in important games. This game is the most important one of the season thus far for both teams. 

The under is 4-0 in Xavier's last 4 games. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a win percentage of 60% or higher. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 on a neutral floor. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 following an ATS win. The under is 2-0 in Georgia State's last 2 games. A 21-0 angle. Take the under big! 

*3 Star CIT Totals TKO* This one is a play on a CIT under the radar game. Sam Houston State hosts Louisiana Lafayette in this second round game on Saturday afternoon. Sam Houston State has decided to pick up the pace quite a bit down the stretch. Louisiana Lafayette ranks in the top 12 in the nation in terms of pace. The 30 second shot clock experiment and the larger arc in the paint (more blocking fouls) will be important in this game. This game should stay close throughout, and that means fouling at the end of the game is a very real possibility. I think this game tops 150 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB 100% Angle Total* The Oklahoma Sooners still push the tempo a bit, but they don't play nearly as fast as they did last year. Oklahoma is now focusing a lot of their energy on the defensive end of the floor, and I think they are a better team because of that. Albany knows they can't run and keep up with Oklahoma. The Great Danes have done a tremendous job slowing the tempo down against Duke and Florida in their first games in the NCAA Tournament the last two years. They should slow this one down as well. The under is 6-0 in Oklahoma's last 6 games played at a neutral site. The under is 4-0 in Albany's last 4 following an ATS loss. The under is 2-0 in Oklahoma's last 2 games. A 12-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Special* The Northern Iowa Panthers and Wyoming Cowboys both rank in the bottom ten teams in the nation (351 teams) in terms of tempo. If you don't like to watch teams stall and use the entire shot clock up on nearly every possession, this isn't going to be the game for you. Northern Iowa normally shoots it well, but this is a neutral floor where the players haven't been before and that typically brings down shooting percentages a bit. Wyoming is very reliant on Larry Nance Jr. in the post, and Northern Iowa has a good frontcourt capable of slowing him down here. While I don't like taking unders that are this low normally, this one is low for a reason. Very low scoring game here. Take the under. 

*4 Star Ohio State/VCU Total DOMINATION* The VCU Rams always want to play fast. VCU isn't very good in the halfcourt sets on offense, but they are tremendous at creating transition scoring opportunities. Ohio State played very fast in their non-conference games this year. The Buckeyes were often slowed down by teams in the Big Ten, but they'll get their wish to play a faster paced game here. VCU's full court defense is great, but the Rams definitely give up some easy baskets in the halfcourt because they aren't nearly as good defensively without Briante Weber. Ohio State isn't nearly the defensive team they used to be when Aaron Craft was here. This one looks like a close game all the way and one that should be relatively high scoring. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Butler Bulldogs have gradually slowed the tempo down over the course of the season. Butler isn't an extremely talented team, but they play some fundamentally sound basketball. The Bulldogs aren't a particularly tall team, and that is going to hurt against Texas' length on defense. Texas is a team that plays slowly as well, and Texas' offense has been a disappointment all year. The Longhorns are number one in the nation in two point field goal defense though. Texas isn't going to give up easy looks around the hoop. This should be a competitive game between two teams that work hard on the defensive end. I had this number at 120 points. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Portland Pilots and Sacramento State Hornets met once already this year and the final was 80-75. They finished at 155 even with a 35 second shot clock. The shot clock will be set at 30 each time today, so I expect several more possessions. Portland and Sacramento State are similar in that they are both way better on the offensive end than they are on the defensive end. The Big Sky Conference (Sacramento State's league) is notorious for bad defenses, and in non-conference games I like to play overs with teams in that game. This should reach the mid 150's. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The shorter shot clock in the NIT has made this total higher than it would have been, but I think this is an overreaction by the oddsmakers. Both of these teams like to play slow, and I don't see them turning this game into an uptempo affair. St. Mary's is great at controlling the tempo, and this game is played on their home floor. I think this one stays in the upper 130's. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* It's an in-state battle here in the state of Arizona. Northern Arizona plays in a much bigger and better league, but Grand Canyon will be hungry to try knock off their bigger foe. In a game like this, I think we see a little more defense than we do in the average postseason game. This game means something to both teams, and that should keep the tempo down a bit and keep the defenses interested. Take the under. 

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves are the second and third worst defenses in the NBA in the last month. Toronto's defense was solid earlier this year, but the team appears to not even be trying on the defensive end lately. They still want to push the tempo when they can, and Minnesota is definitely happy to run and gun. Kevin Martin has heated up for Minnesota of late, and he's capable of putting up a bunch of points in a hurry. The over is 7-2 in Toronto's last 9 games. The over is 7-3 in Minnesota's last 10 vs. the Eastern Conference. Take the over here. 

*3 Star NCAA BB First 4 Total DOMINATION* The BYU Cougars push the tempo as well as anyone in the country. While most of the nation knows only Tyler Haws from BYU, it is Kyle Collinsworth who is the key to this BYU offense. Collinsworth is a tremendous point guard with the ability to pass, score, and rebound. Collinsworth set the NCAA record mark with six triple doubles this year. He'll be a big key in this game because I don't think there is a guy on the Ole Miss roster who can slow Collinsworth down. The Rebels like to play quickly as well, and Ole Miss and BYU both can really get hot from long range. Also important in this game is that both team get to the line a lot and shoot free throws very well. BYU shoots 77% at the line and Ole Miss 78% at the line. Both of these defenses put opponents on the line a lot, and that should mean a lot of points on the charity stripe here. 

The over is 5-0 in the Rebels last 5 non-conference games. The over is 5-0 in BYU's last 5 neutral site games. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* These two teams both love to push the tempo and play as fast as possible. Throughout the season both of these teams have had to play against a lot of teams that play stall ball against them, but when these two meet I expect a very high scoring game. Both teams are better on the offensive end than the defensive end. They both shoot free throws extremely well too. Louisiana Lafayette will have a big advantage on the inside and that should lead to a lot of points from their frontcourt. I had this game lined at 165 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Central Michigan Chippewas meet tonight. Louisiana Tech is a tricky team because they push the tempo and press, but they are also good on defense in the halfcourt. The Bulldogs aren't good offensively unless they are getting easy buckets off the press. Central Michigan has been one of the best in the nation this year at taking care of the basketball. The Chippewas will look to slow the game down here, and because they take care of the basketball, I think it will be a little more difficult for the Bulldogs to score. This total is inflated by a few points. Take the under. 

*4 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Memphis Grizzlies always want to slow the tempo of the game down, and with Ty Lawson sitting this game out Denver is far less likely to be able to speed the game up. Lawson is the guy that makes this Denver offense go, and I don't see them being very effective against a good Memphis defense without him. Kenneth Faried is also sitting this one out. Mike Conley is questionable for the Grizzlies. Denver's defense has been improved in the last couple weeks. Haywoode Workman is one of the officials in this game, and through the past few years, he has been among the most consistent under referees in the league. I think this line is several points too high.

The under is 3-0-1 in Denver's last 4 when playing on the second end of a back to back scheduling spot. The under is 4-0 in Memphis' last 4 when playing against a team with a losing record. The under is 8-0 in their last 8 home games when playing vs. a team with a road win percentage of 40% or lower. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following a win by 10 points or more. The under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. A 23-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* Stephen F Austin has changed their style of play in a big way from last year to this year. The Lumberjacks now push the tempo and run at every opportunity. Last year, they were a team that liked to walk it up the court and play slowly. Sam Houston State typically plays to the pace of their opponent. The most important part of this game is both teams ability to get to the charity stripe. Both of these teams rank in the top five in the nation in trips to the charity stripe, and both teams foul a lot on defense. Because of that reason I think this one gets over the total. Take the over. 

*3 Star NBA 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Utah Jazz have been really impressive in recent weeks. This is a team that started the season playing bad basketball, but they have reinvented themselves in recent weeks. They are playing at the slowest tempo of any team in the league in the past ten games. They are also the number one ranked defense in the NBA in the past ten games. Detroit has slowed down their tempo without Brandon Jennings. Look for a low scoring contest.

The under is 7-0 in Utah's last 7 Saturday games. The under is 7-0 in Utah's last 7 vs. the Eastern Conference. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following an ATS win. An 18-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Montana Grizzlies are the only team in the Big Sky that really focuses on defense. Montana will slow the tempo down in this game, because that is their best chance of winning. In addition, a game of this magnitude typically sees a slower tempo because both teams have no chance to get into the NCAA Tournament without a win. Both of these teams are capable of hitting a lot of long range jumpers, but the value here is enough to warrant a play. Take the under. 

*4 Star Big East Title Total Takedown* The Villanova Wildcats defense is far better than it was last year. Villanova has been superb all season long, and in my mind they have been one of the biggest surprises in the nation. I knew they would be solid, but they have been way better than I expected. Villanova slows the tempo down more than they have in the past, and they take great care of the basketball. Xavier has been a team I've had success playing the under with. The Musketeers aren't playing nearly as fast recently as they did during the early part of the season. This game is played at Madison Square Garden, where the shooting backdrops are terrible. 

The under is 5-0 in Xavier's last 5 following an ATS win. The under is 6-0 in Xavier's last 6 following a straight up win. The under is 6-1 in Xavier's last 7 vs. a team with a 60% or higher win percentage. A 17-1 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Over* This is a really interesting spot for these teams. Southern is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament, so regardless of who wins this game, it will be Texas Southern representing the SWAC in the NCAA Tournament. That makes for an interesting dynamic here, and I think it means that both teams will play faster than they normally do. Texas Southern has the best offense in the SWAC by a wide margin. Texas Southern should be able to put up a big number here, and Southern typically prefers to play fast as well. Take the over. 

*4 Star Play Over* 

*3 Star Play Under* The under is 24-6 in UCSB's last 30 games at a neutral venue. The under is 42-13 in UC Irvine's last 55 games. When these two teams meet tonight, there's a lot on the line. UC Irvine is the best defensive team in the Big West thanks to a tremendous 7'6 shot blocker in Mamdou N'Diaye. With him in the game, Irvine also slows the tempo down. UCSB prefers a slow tempo as well. The last time these two met (just a couple weeks ago) the game stayed way under this posted total. With so much on the line, I expect the defenses to hold the edge here. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Georgetown Hoyas and Xavier Musketeers have played twice this year and both games stayed way under the posted total. These two teams know each other well, and the defenses make it hard for the opposing offense to get open looks. This game is also played at Madison Square Garden, which probably has the worst shooting backdrop in the country. There are often some very low shooting percentages here when college teams that aren't used to the gym show up. I had this number at 131. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Sacramento State Hornets like to slow the game down. I don't think they are going to let Eastern Washington run and gun like they want to here. Sacramento State has played 13 straight games that have finished under this posted total. In a game of this magnitude, the tempo generally slows down because both teams know how much is at stake. Look for the game to slow down a bit like their last meeting did. I had 147.5 on this one. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Over* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and UAB Blazers both like to play fast. Both of their regular season meetings went over this posted total. Both teams have certain areas in this matchup where they should be able to take advantage of the opposing teams weakness. Louisiana Tech should get some easy buckets off their full court press because of UAB's weakness in the backcourt. UAB should get a lot of second chance opportunities thanks to LA Tech's inability to get defensive boards. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Over* 

*3 Star NBA 100% Angle Total* The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are both really banged up. Both of these teams will be without their two best offensive players in this game. The Lakers aren't speeding the tempo up anymore like they were earlier this year. The Knicks tempo has been among the slowest in the NBA all year. New York is actually playing a little bit of defense lately, which has allowed for them to have some very low scoring games. The referee crew here is very helpful to the under. Also interesting is the public is betting on the over, but this line continues to drop.

The under is 4-0 in the Lakers last 4. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 following an ATS win. The under is 4-0 in the Knicks last 4. The under is 4-0 in the Knicks last 4 following a loss. A 16-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Under* The Ohio State Buckeyes haven't played as fast lately. Ohio State has improved defensively over the course of the season. The Minnesota Golden Gophers aren't nearly as fast temp wise as they were earlier this year either. These teams met early this year and the Buckeyes won in overtime 74-72. Even with overtime, the tempo was only 69 possessions. This game will be played at a neutral site that both teams are unfamiliar with. That often leads to lower scoring games. I had this one at 138 points. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The George Washington Colonials are good at getting the tempo they want, and in both games with Duquesne this year they have been able to slow the game down. The two regular season meetings finished at 133 and 140 points respectively. The shooting numbers in both games were astronomically high. It's highly unlikely that these two teams can shoot that well again. The venue should help too. This one is played at Barclay's Center in Brooklyn which is a much bigger arena than either team is used to. That kind of thing generally helps the under. Take the under here. 

*5 Star TOP Play Over* My number here was 139. Hawaii pushes the tempo better than anyone else in the Big West Conference. I don't see Hawaii changing the way they play just because it is conference tournament time. The tempo has been really quick in both meetings this year. Take the over big! 

*3 Star Play Under* 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total PERFECTION* The DePaul Blue Demons and Creighton Blue Jays meet at Madison Square Garden in New York City tonight. Madison Square Garden might have the worst shooting backdrop of any gym in the country. College players have a particularly tough time here since they aren't used to shooting in this large of a gym. The first two meetings between these teams were both played at a slow tempo, and if we see a similar tempo here I like our chances with the under. 

The under is 4-0 in Creighton's last 4 vs. a team with a losing record. The under is 5-0 in DePaul's last 5. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 following an ATS loss. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 following a straight up loss. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 league games. The under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams. A 29-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The South Carolina Gamecocks have a terrible offense and a solid defensive team. Missouri is just awful on both ends of the floor. Both of these teams have slowed down their tempo late in the year. Bridgestone Arena will host this game, and it is notorious for its terrible shooting backdrop. These two teams should struggle from the floor in this game. Look for a very sloppy low scoring contest here.

The under is 5-0 in Missouri's last 5. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 league games. The under is 7-1 in South Carolina's last 8 neutral site games. A 17-1 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Over* The Minnesota Golden Gophers beat Rutgers 89-80 in the first meeting between these two teams. While I certainly don't expect a game that is that high scoring, I do think this total is set too low. Rutgers has totally quit on the defensive end at the end of the year. Opposing teams have been lighting them up on a consistent basis. Minnesota likes to push the tempo more than any other team in the league. I had this one at 140.5. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Under* North Carolina Central is the much better team here, and they should control the tempo of the game. Coppin State loves to run, but they aren't a good team. NC Central grabs an early lead and slows this game down. Also, this game is played at a neutral site that is well known for being a tough site for shooters. This one is a few points too high. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* 

*3 Star NCAA BB 100% Angle Total* The South Dakota State Jackrabbits have a really efficient offense with George Marshall leading the way. Marshall transferred to South Dakota State from Wisconsin and he's been a guy that really kickstarts this offense. His athleticism and ability to get his own shot has been key. The Jackrabbits should look to push the tempo against North Dakota State here. North Dakota State likes to slow the game down, but their defense isn't good. They give up a lot of three-pointers, and they are great at shooting threes themselves. This total is posted a few points too low. 

The over is 4-0 in North Dakota State's last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 5-0 in SD State's last 5 following an ATS win. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a 60% or higher win percentage. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. A 21-0 angle. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play Total* Big play here for me. The Eastern Michigan Eagles have bumped up the tempo in a big way late in the season. Recency means a lot to me when it comes to totals. Miami (Ohio) has been a team that has played to the tempo of their opponent all year long. When they have played against Eastern Michigan this year, both games have gone way over this posted total. In fact, the last game was played at a ridiculously fast 84 possessions pace. Despite some bad shooting numbers, that game finished at 152 points. My numbers made this game 140 points. The over is 9-2 in E. Mich's last 11 games. Take the over big! 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Iona Gaels are tremendous at forcing the tempo of the game. Iona isn't going to slow down for anyone, because that simply isn't Tim Cluess' style. Monmouth initially slowed their tempo down earlier this year, but they have started playing faster late in the season. Monmouth over the years has been a team that plays fast, and I believe they are going back to that style. Both teams shoot it well from the line, and that's a big bonus here. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* These two teams might twice during the regular season and both times the game went well over this posted total. Hofstra should be able to dictate the pace here, and they were the fastest paced team in the league. Hofstra is a slight favorite here, but this should be a close game. William & Mary have been the most efficient offense in the CAA all year. With a close game likely, fouling late as neither team wants to see their season end is a very real possibility. I had 156 here. Take the over.