Sports Picks & Predictions

At 3:35 pm, our selection is on the Toronto Raptors minus the points over Boston.  The Celts have won 11 straight, but they'll be missing their top three players today (Al Horford, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward).  Thus, they're not even favored at home vs. Toronto.  The Celtics fall into a negative 44-67 ATS system of mine which goes against certain "hot" teams that have won more than 10 games in a row.  And Boston's also a poor 5-18 ATS off back to back home wins.  Take Toronto.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 9:05 pm, our selection is on the Utah Jazz minus the points over Brooklyn.  The Nets pulled a big upset last night in Portland, and that was their third straight ATS win.  Unfortunately for the Nets, they're 8-22 ATS on the road after three straight covers.  And they'll also be facing a rested Jazz team tonight which is looking to rebound off 4 straight losses!  Utah's 120-81 ATS at home after failing to cover its two previous games.  And the Jazz also fall into a super 84-47 ATS system of mine which plays on certain rested home teams vs. unrested foes.  Take Utah. NBA High Roller. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:05 pm, our selection is on the Houston Rockets over the Memphis Grizzlies.  Houston's lost just three times this season.  And it's been Memphis which has been Houston's thorn in its side, as the Grizzlies handed the Rockets two of those three defeats.  But I love Houston to deliver a measure of PAYBACK on Saturday night, as the Grizzlies are 17-40 ATS vs. teams playing with double-revenge, provided that opponent isn't off back to back losses.  Lay the points with the Rockets.  And Houston also falls into a 129-62 ATS revenge system of mine.  Lay the points. NBA Division Game of the Month! Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:35 pm, our selection is on the Charlotte Hornets + the points over the Boston Celtics.  No team is hotter than Brad Stevens' Celtics, who have won their last 10 games.  Tonight, they're matched up against the Charlotte Hornets, who are on a 3-game losing streak.  Unfortunately for Boston, no less than three starters (Gordon Hayward, Al Horford and Jayson Tatusm) will be out of action for tonight's game.  And a fourth -- Marcus Morris -- is questionable.  We'll grab the points with the Hornets, as they fall into a 55% ATS system of mine which plays on certain road teams off a SU/ATS loss vs. foes off a win, as well as a 65.7% ATS angle which plays on certain road underdogs off a SU/ATS loss.  Take Charlotte.  NBA ROAD WARRIOR!  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Atlanta Hawks + the points over the Detroit Pistons.  The Hawks have gotten off to a 2-9 start this season, so it's likely that their 10-year run (2nd in the NBA to the Spurs' 20-year run) of making the Playoffs will end this season.  But if Mike Budenholzer's men can upset the 8-3 Pistons tonight, in Motown, he should send a 'thank you note' to the league office.  After all, Atlanta has a big scheduling advantage tonight, in that it has had the last three days off, while Detroit will play with just having had Thursday off.  And NBA road teams, off a loss, that had at least the three previous days off, have gone 60.8% ATS the last 24 seasons vs. foes that had just the previous day off.  Additionally, Detroit's a poor 4-16 ATS off back to back wins (and 0-5 ATS its last five off three or more wins).  Take Atlanta.  NBA High Roller.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 10:05 pm, our selection is on the Sacramento Kings + the points over the Philadelphia 76ers.  Philly comes into this game off ATS wins in its last seven contests, and a 6-1 SU record in those seven games.  But they're now in unfamiliar territory, as they haven't been this big of a road favorite since April 23, 2012 -- a span of 436 games!   The Kings come into this game off a huge upset win over Oklahoma City, as a 10.5-point home underdog.  And the Kings are also 8-2 ATS their last 10 as home dogs of more than 6 points vs. .600 (or better) foes.  I look for Sacramento to get the cash again tonight vs. this overpriced Sixers team.  Take the points.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie. 

At 8:05 pm, our selection is on the Cleveland Cavaliers + the points over the Houston Rockets.  The Rockets come into this game off three straight double-digit wins and three straight covers, including a 137-110 blowout of the Utah Jazz their last time out.  Unfortunately for Houston coach Mike D'Antoni, his teams have gone 26-46 ATS off back to back double digit wins.  And the Rockets are also a poor 2-12 ATS off three straight covers.  Take Cleveland.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Orlando Magic minus the points over New York.  The Knicks won their 3rd straight game (and sixth of their last seven) with a 118-113 triumph at home last night vs. Charlotte.  But this will be a tough task for them tonight to take down Orlando, as the Magic are well-rested, having not played for the past two nights following their loss to Boston on Sunday.  Even worse for New York, NBA teams off three straight wins (both SU and ATS) that scored 117+ points in their previous game are 11-31 ATS in the regular season vs. foes off a loss.  Take Orlando.  NBA Game of the Week!  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 9:05 pm, on NBA TV, our selection is on the Brooklyn Nets over the Phoenix Suns.  The Nets are 3-6 SU and 4-5 ATS on the season, while Phoenix is 4-6 SU and 5-5 ATS.  The Nets have a scheduling advantage tonight, as Brooklyn was off on Saturday and Sunday, while Phoenix had to play the Spurs in the Alamo City last night.  Even worse for the Suns:  this will be their fifth game in seven days.  Phoenix has been installed, on the opening number, as a small favorite.  But the Suns are a dreadful 9-23 ATS their last 32 as a favorite (or PK), including 0-12 ATS if they owned a .500 (or better) record against the spread on the season.  Take Brooklyn.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 6:05 pm, our selection is on the Orlando Magic over the Boston Celtics.  Boston's won and covered its last seven games, while Orlando's in off a 22-points upset home loss to Chicago.  But I look for the Magic to snap Boston's win streak on Sunday.  Indeed, the Magic are a perfect 3-0 this season vs. the three best teams that they've played (Spurs, Cavaliers, Grizzlies) and defeated San Antonio and Cleveland by 27 and 21 points, respectively.  Moreover, winning home teams off a SU/ATS loss are 110-81 ATS vs. non-division foes off 3 ATS wins, provided our home team isn't favored by more than 5 points.  Take Orlando.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie. 

At 4:05 pm, our selection is on the Washington Wizards + the points over Toronto, as Washington falls into a 285-203 ATS system of mine, based on its season statistics to date.  It's true that the Wizards' John Wall won't suit up tonight after hurting his shoulder in Washington's last game, but I'm still comfortable backing the Wizards this evening with the added points to compensate for his absence.  And, in that last game, the Wizards were upset, at home, 130-122, by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  But NBA teams generally bounce back from upset losses at home, if they scored a lot of points in that upset loss.  Indeed, teams off a home upset loss have cashed 67% since 1990 if they scored 120+ points, and are now matched up against an opponent off a SU/ATS win.  Take the Wizards.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 3:35 pm, our selection is on the Miami Heat + the points over the Clippers.  We played on Miami on Friday, and got the cash when they lost, but covered against Denver.  And that pointspread win extended Miami's record to 27-13 its last 40 as road underdogs!  The Clippers were upset here at home yesterday by Memphis.  And, unfortunately for Los Angeles, unrested home teams, with a winning record, off an upset home loss, have cashed just 29.4% since 1990 vs. losing teams.  And the Heat are a fantastic 25-13 ATS on the road when rested, and playing against an unrested foe.  Take Miami + the points.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Sacramento Kings + the points over Detroit.  The Kings have a big scheduling advantage tonight, as they've been off the past two nights, while Detroit is playing without rest after its 9-point win vs. Milwaukee yesterday.  We'll grab the points with Sacramento, as underdogs of +7 or more points, off 3 SU/ATS losses, that had (at least) the two previous nights off, are 94-55 ATS since 1980 vs. foes that didn't have the previous two nights off.  Take the Kings.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 9:05 pm our selection is on the Miami Heat + the points over the Denver Nuggets.  Miami won, but failed to cover the pointspread, in its previous game -- a 6-point victory over Chicago.  And it was upset by the New York Knicks in its game before that.  But the Heat are a super 106-79 ATS on the road under coach Erik Spoelstra if they lost against the spread in their previous game.  And they're also 10-0 ATS on the road in their last 10 off back to back ATS defeats, and 26-13 their last 39 as road underdogs!  Finally, the Heat fall into a 284-203 ATS system of mine.  Take the points with Miami.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:05 pm, our selection is on the San Antonio Spurs + the points over the Golden State Warriors.  The Spurs have played this season without Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker.  After winning their first four games, they've dropped their last three (all on the road).  They now return home to the Alamo City, where they have gone 70-13 straight-up and 46-35-2 ATS at home in the regular season off a loss.  Last year, these two teams met in the Playoffs, and the Spurs were swept 4 games to none by the Warriors.  But one of the things I love to do is play on certain teams with revenge from a Playoff series defeat the previous year.  And the Spurs fall into my very best Playoff revenge angle, which is 30-1 ATS since 1991.  Moreover, San Antonio lost its last game by 14 points to Boston.  But it's 37-18 ATS in the regular season at home off a loss by 14+ points, including 17-3 ATS when not favored by more than 5 points.  Take San Antone.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:35 pm, our selection is on the Sacramento Kings + the points over Boston.  After covering their first two games to kick off the season, the Kings have lost their last five games -- both SU and ATS.  But the Kings now fall into a 284-200 ATS system of mine.  Meanwhile, the Celts are on a 5-game win streak, but are a poor 3-18 ATS when they've won their previous four games.  Take Sacramento.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Cleveland Cavaliers minus the points over Indiana.  The Cavaliers have dropped three straight games, and now own a losing record, at 3-4 on the season.  I love them to bounce back tonight, as LeBron James' teams have cashed 72% in his career as home favorites off back to back losses when matched up against foes off back to back wins.  Take Cleveland.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Atlanta Hawks + the points over Philadelphia.  The 76ers have not been favored by this many points since March 30, 2013 (a span of 344 games), so it's virgin territory for the Sixers under coach Brett Brown.  Philly is a poor 178-228 ATS when favored at home vs. foes not off SU/ATS wins.  Take Atlanta.

At 10:35 pm, our selection is on the LA Lakers + the points over the Detroit Pistons.  We're two weeks into the NBA season, and the league's two best records belong to the Memphis Grizzlies (5-2) and Detroit Pistons (5-2). Detroit also owns the best pointspread mark, as it is 6-1 ATS, including back-to-back upset wins on the weekend over the Clippers and Warriors. And Detroit was installed as an underdog of +8.5 and +14.5 in those two games!  Tonight, the Pistons will finish their West Coast road trip with a game against Lonzo Ball's Lakers at Staples Center.  And this game is a fantastic spot to fade the Pistons, especially given that the Lakers will enter the contest off blowout losses to the Raptors and Jazz.  Since 1990, NBA teams, like Detroit, off back to back upset wins as an underdog of +8 or more points, are a poor 22-41-1 ATS, including 1-11 ATS vs. foes off back-to-back SU/ATS losses.  Take the Lakers.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Sacramento Kings + the points over the Indiana Pacers.  Sacramento opened the season with two straight ATS wins, but is 0-4 SU/ATS over its last four games.  But I love them to get the $$$ vs. Indiana, as Sacramento falls into a 200-131 ATS system of mine, which plays on certain road teams off SU/ATS losses.  In their last game, the Pacers upset the San Antonio Spurs, as 6.5-point underdogs, to level their record at 3-3 on the year.  Unfortunately, this season, .500 (or better) NBA teams have gone just 3-19-1 ATS off an upset win, including 0-11-1 ATS vs. opponents with a losing record.  Take the points with the Kings.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 10:35 pm, our selection is on the Detroit Pistons + the points over the Los Angeles Clippers.  Blake Griffin nailed a 3-pointer as time expired to upset the Trail Blazers, 104-103, in Rip City on Thursday.  But off that huge win, I look for a letdown tonight, at home, vs. Stan Van Gundy's Pistons.  And even though Detroit isn't undefeated like the Clippers, it has played even better than its 3-2 record would indicate, as it's 4-1 ATS.  Meanwhile, the Clippers are an atrocious 26-48 ATS off four straight covers, and also fall into a negative 31-65 ATS system of mine which fades certain teams on a win streak.  Finally, .500 (or better) teams off an upset win are a poor 1-16 ATS this season.  Take Detroit.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:05 pm, our selection is on the OKC Thunder over the Minnesota Timberwolves.  The Thunder were upset, at home, 115-113, earlier this week by the T-Wolves.  But I look for Billy Donovan's men to turn the tables on Minnesota tonight, as OKC falls into a 64.4% ATS revenge system of mine.  Moreover, OKC is an awesome 65-34-1 ATS when playing with revenge from an upset defeat.  And the T-Wolves are a poor 24-40 ATS at home when playing a revenge-minded foe whom the T-Wolves upset in the previous meeting.  Take Oklahoma City.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:35 pm, our selection is on the Dallas Mavericks + the points over the Memphis Grizzlies.  David Fizdale's crew is 3-0 this season, including upset wins over Golden State and Houston in their last two games.  And Memphis was an underdog of 8+ points in each of those two games.  The knee-jerk reaction might be to play on the Grizzlies tonight, especially given that Dallas has lost its last two games by double-digits.  But NBA teams off back to back upset wins as 8-point (or greater) underdogs have covered just 35.4% since 1990, including 1-10 ATS since January 6, 2014.  Take Dallas.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Chicago Bulls + the points over the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The Cavs are just 1-2 ATS this season, and come into this game off an upset loss -- at home, no less -- at the hands of the Orlando Magic.  Cleveland was favored by 11.5 points in that ballgame, so its ATS loss lowered its regular season record as a favorite by more than 10 points to 15-24 ATS its last 39.  And, yes, it's true that many teams often bounce back from upset losses, or blowout losses.  But this current edition of the Cavs isn't one of those teams.  Indeed, they're 0-9 ATS their last nine off an upset home loss!  And they're also just 15-34-1 ATS off a loss by more than 7 points (including 1-10 ATS their last 11).  Finally, Chicago falls into one of my favorite NBA systems, which plays on certain teams off losses, which is 68-19 ATS since 1990.  Take the Bulls + the points.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Philadelphia 76ers + the points over Detroit.  The Pistons have the best pointspread record (along with the Utah Jazz) in the league, as they're 3-0 ATS.  Meanwhile, Philadelphia is 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS after getting blown out, 128-94, on Saturday in Toronto.  But this is a great spot to go against Detroit, as NBA teams that are undefeated ATS (with a 3-0 or better ATS record) are a soft 30-63 ATS when not getting more than three points, including 3-17 ATS against an opponent off a double-digit loss.  And Philly is 22-8 ATS off a defeat on the road.  Take the points with the 76ers.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie. 

At 8:35 pm, our selection is on the Milwaukee Bucks minus the points over the Portland Trail Blazers.  This is tough situational spot for the Blazers, who have been saddled with three straight road games to start the season.  And they have to play tonight's game without rest, as they were in Indiana yesterday to play the Pacers.  Meanwhile, Milwaukee will be at home for the 2nd straight night, as it was upset by Cleveland, 116-97, on Friday.  We'll fade Portland, as the Blazers fall into negative 20-62 and 18-47 ATS systems of mine that go against certain unrested teams off wins.  Additionally, Milwaukee's 10-2 ATS its last 12 vs. Portland.  And the Bucks are also 64.7% ATS over the past 28 years off an upset loss, if they're matched up against unrested winning teams off back to back wins.  Take Milwaukee.  NBA HIGH ROLLER!  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 10:05 pm, our selection is on the Phoenix Suns minus the points over the Los Angeles Lakers.  The Suns stunk up the joint on opening night, as they lost by 48 points to the Portland Trail Blazers.  Not surprisingly, it was the worst loss in the Suns' 50-year franchise history, and also the worst opening night loss by any team in the 72-year history of the NBA.  Of course, one of the things I love to do is play on teams off blowout losses, and especially when our team is favored by 7 points or less (or PK).  Such teams have cashed 76.9% since 1990.  Even better:  the Suns are 21-10 ATS the last 31 meetings between these two clubs, including 13-4 ATS at home.  Take the Suns.  NBA High Roller Winner!  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 10:05 pm, our selection is on the Sacramento Kings + the points over Houston.  This situation is similar to one from last season.  The San Antonio Spurs upset Golden State on Opening Night, as an 8.5-point underdog, and then traveled to play Sacramento in Game 2.  The Spurs were favored by 9 points vs. the Kings and won the game (but failed to cover).  Sacramento (by virtue of its proximity to Golden State) often played teams immediately after they played the Warriors, and the Kings were 6-2 ATS in those games last season, including a perfect 4-0 ATS when their foe was unrested.  That, of course, is the situation tonight, as Houston upset the Warriors in Oakland, 122-121, as a 9.5-point underdog last night.  And what clinches this play tonight is the fact that single-digit favorites are 0-13 ATS off an upset win in their opener, if they scored 105+ points in that Game 1 victory.  Take Sacramento.  NBA Elite Info Winner!  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:05 pm, our selection is on the Boston Celtics over the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Last year, the Cavs ousted Boston from the Playoffs.  But we'll play on the Celts to avenge that defeat, as they fall into a 60% ATS NBA Playoff revenge angle of mine.  Even better:  our particular Playoff revenge angle zooms to 16-1-1 ATS if the game is Early in the season, and is competitively priced with a pointspread of 5 points or less!  Boston's 5-1-1 ATS the last seven meetings in Cleveland.  Take the points.  NBA High Roller.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 9 pm, our selection is on the Warriors.  Analysis to follow.

At 9 pm, our selection is on the Cleveland Cavaliers + the points over Golden State.  The Cavs put up a valiant effort in Game 3, but fell apart in the game's late stages to fall by five points, 118-113.  That puts LeBron James & Co. in a "do-or-die" situation tonight.  It's true that many teams "roll over" when they're down 3-games-to-none (which is why this pointspread is significantly higher than Game 3's line), but I believe the Cavs will fight just as hard in this game as they did on Wednesday (which is all one can ask for in an elimination game).  Also, consider that .750 (or better) teams are an awful 0-16 ATS since 1995 as favorites of -8 or less points vs. .530 (or better) teams when our favored team is up 3-0 or 3-1 in a Playoff series (including 0-5 ATS in an NBA Finals).  Take the Cavaliers.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.