Cnotes Thursday's NCAAB - NBA - NHL Best Bets !

[CNOTES]

Arizona Wildcats Host Surprising Colorado Buffaloes

Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats got an endorsement from Kenny White as the best team in the Pac-12 not too long ago, but a couple of recent key injuries have the Don Best Sports analyst looking in another direction now.

The loss of Kevin Parrom for the season and Jordin Mayes for at least another week leave the Wildcats very thin as they prepare for a Thursday night matchup with the Colorado Buffaloes in Tucson. The game is part of a full slate of Pac-12 contests on Thursday that also includes current conference leader Washington in a tough road tilt at the Oregon Ducks and California visiting the Southern Cal Trojans. The Huskies will begin the day at 9-2 in league play, just a game ahead of Cal and Colorado, each with 8-3 marks. Oregon and Arizona follow two games behind Washington with 7-4 records.

"Arizona has the best talent in the Pac-12, I think by at least six points," White commented during a recent college basketball daily report. But he added that was "no longer" the case this week because of the injuries to Mayes and Parrom.

The folks setting the college basketball betting lines still tend to agree with White's former statement, at least for Thursday's matchup at McKale Center on ESPN beginning at 9:00 p.m. (ET). Arizona opened -7 on the earliest of overnight lines with the scoreboard hurdle set at 130.

We talked a little last week about the general decline that the Pac-12 has been in for a few seasons, and this campaign specifically. Cal continues to be the only squad getting any mention in either of the two big rankings, garnering just a few points according to the latest coaches poll. Ken Pomeroy has five schools – Cal, Arizona, UCLA, Stanford and Washington – in the top 64 while the RPI list has but two (Cal and Arizona).

Arizona is climbing in the RPI ranks, however, thanks to a couple of big road victories in the last week as an underdog at both California and Stanford. The Wildcats are also starting to gain support among bettors, covering five of their last six and seven of their last nine contests. One problem they've had is winning (and covering spreads) at home where the 'Cats are just 3-2 straight up and against the spread so far in conference play.

Defense has been a strength all season, allowing just 61.9 points per game to rank in the top 60 nationally. That number drops under 60 per game on the Pac-12 schedule, tops in the league. Arizona will be facing a Colorado squad that is averaging about 10 points more per game on the conference slate (69.6 PPG).

Finding consistent offense has been the biggest bugaboo for Miller & Company. The Wildcats have been very hot both inside and outside at times this season, but have also gone ice cold at the drop of a hat. They managed to shoot just over 38 percent in last Saturday's victory over the Cardinal, but were able to fall back on their defense as well as Stanford's own shooting woes in the contest.

Mayes is battling an injury to his right foot that he suffered in the recent win over Cal, and the sophomore guard is not expected to play Thursday against Colorado or Saturday when Utah comes to town. Parrom was hurt a couple of games before that.

Colorado has sneaked into the Pac-12 hunt thanks in large part to strong play in Boulder. The Buffaloes are a perfect 6-0 at home when facing a conference foe, but just 1-3 on the road (2-2 ATS). Like Arizona, wins at the expense of Oregon and Oregon State in the last week have Colorado's RPI stock rising, but now face three straight away from Boulder starting with this clash against the 'Cats.

The Buffs eked out a 64-63 win at home over Arizona on Jan. 21, a game that closed Colorado -2 on the NCAA odds board. Fogg could not find the net for the Wildcats in the game, missing nine of his 12 shots and going just 2-for-7 from outside the arc. Arizona was a pitiful 3-of-20 from 3-point range in the game.

Despite the loss, Arizona did manage to win the rebound battle and all but negate Colorado big man Andre Roberson's presence. Roberson was snuffed out completely on offense, missing all eight of his field goal attempts, and managed to pull down seven rebounds which is about two-thirds of his season average.

That contest marked Arizona's first game in Boulder in nearly 40 years, and the final stayed just below the 131-point closing number.

The rest of the Pac-12 schedule for Thursday has Stanford at UCLA, Washington State at Oregon State and Utah traveling to Arizona State.

 

[CNOTES]

Pair Of Bulldogs Big Part Of Thursday Slate

Thursday night's college basketball betting schedule features a slew of nationally televised games. Unlike on Wednesday when six teams ranked No. 12 or better in the AP Poll met each other, Thursday's games showcase teams that are still fighting for their lives for the NCAA Tournament.

We'll start in the Big Ten, where absolutely anything could happen down the stretch of the season. The Wisconsin Badgers come into Thursday sporting the nation's best defense at just 49.8 PPG allowed. They watched their six-game winning streak go up in flames at home against the Ohio State Buckeyes last weekend. The 58-52 setback marked the third straight game in which Wisconsin failed to beat the college basketball odds.

It should come as no surprise that Wisconsin's offense is truly the key to its covers. In 11 Big Ten games this year, the Badgers have scored more than 65 points just three times; they are 3-0 SU and ATS in those games. In the eight games in which they have scored 65 or fewer, they are only 4-4 SU and 1-7 ATS.

This could be good news for a Minnesota Golden Gophers outfit which is allowing just 63.3 PPG. The Gophers won a huge road game at the Nebraska Cornhuskers on the eve of the Super Bowl, and have to feel like they are four or five wins away from dancing.

Minnesota is 5-2 SU and ATS since January 12, a mark that it will put on the line in this clash at home at 7:00 (ET) on Tuesday night against the Badgers on ESPN.

Meanwhile on ESPN2, there are three straight games that are going to feature teams that could be in some bubble trouble.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs look good right now in the SEC, and they are probably the only team in the SEC West in good shape for a spot in March Madness. Things can change in a hurry though, and if they get beaten by the Ole Miss Rebels in a 7:00 (ET) tip on Thursday night, projected brackets will be shuffled.

The Rebels have played seven straight games decided by eight points or fewer, going 5-3 SU and 6-2 ATS in those games. They are still searching for a few signature wins to help out their resume though, and a win against an RPI Top 50 team would go a long way to determining whether this is a team destined for the Dance or the NIT.

The Miami Hurricanes have their signature win now that they have beaten the Duke Blue Devils, but they still clearly need more victories to get into the NCAA Tournament. They have won four in a row and are 3-1 ATS in those four clashes, but Thursday night's duel at home against the Virginia Tech Hokies is a game that really has to be won.

Va Tech's 13-10 record (2-6 in the ACC) doesn't have the team anywhere near March Madness at this point, but perhaps the win at home against the Clemson Tigers from the weekend can spark a nice run in what amounts to be the easiest portion of the team's conference slate.

The Hokies and Hurricanes get it on in South Beach at 9:00 (ET).

In the 11:00 (ET) tip, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, a team that can't afford many more losses, take on the St. Mary's Gaels at "The Kennel." The Zags were topped by 21 by this 22-2 St. Mary's team on the road on January 12, a loss that they would love to avenge. However, Gonzaga has gone just 0-6-1 ATS in seven games since the defeat at St. Mary's and will be hard-pressed to cover this spread.

There are other clashes on Thursday night that you should be keeping a close eye on for when you fill out your brackets.

At 7:00 (ET) on ESPNU, the North Carolina State Wolfpack will look to avoid a second defeat on the season against the lowly Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. At the same time, the Cleveland State Vikings and Valparaiso Crusaders, both of which have dreams of making the NCAA Tournament this year, will meet for first place in the Horizon League. The Davidson Wildcats, the only team out of the Southern Conference with a shot at an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament face a test at the Citadel Bulldogs at 7:00 (ET) as well.

Later on in the night, the Northwestern Wildcats host the Iowa Hawkeyes in a 9:00 (ET) tip from Ryan Arena on ESPNU.

If you're a Pac-12 fan, this is the night for you as well, as all 12 teams are in action. The showcase game pits the Colorado Buffaloes against the Arizona Wildcats in a 9:00 (ET) tip that can be seen on ESPN or ESPN3.

 

[CNOTES]

Lakers And Celtics Tip Thursday TNT Doubleheader

NBA royalty is on display Thursday night as the Boston Celtics host the Los Angeles Lakers to start a TNT doubleheader.

Before we preview that contest, and the three others on Thursday, we wanted to note an NBA betting trend to follow. As you can see from the table below, the five best against the spread teams all rank very high in fewest turnovers with the exception of Denver. So the motto of ‘being careful with the ball’ pays off in more ways than one.


TEAM ATS MARK TURNOVER RANK
Philadelphia 17-7-1
No. 1

Denver 15-10
No. 27

Chicago 16-11
No. 5

San Antonio 15-11
No. 2

LA Clippers 13-9
No. 7



Los Angeles at Boston Celtics
8:00 p.m. (ET) on TNT

These teams have combined for over half (33-of-65) of the league titles and met in the Finals in 2008 and 2010, with each winning one. Both are in a decline phase, with Boston a lot farther along, but this rivalry is still extremely heated for the players and fans.

The Lakers (14-11 straight up, 11-14 ATS) started this 6-game trip with a nice win at Denver (93-89), but have since dropped games at Utah (96-87) and Philadelphia (95-90). They’re at least well rested with Philly coming on Monday.

Kobe Bryant is shooting just 35.4 percent on this trip (23-of-65) and Bryant (29.3 PPG), Andrew Bynum (17.1 PPG) and Pau Gasol (16.4 PPG) are the only Lakers scoring more than 7.3 PPG.

The Celtics (14-10 SU, 12-12 ATS) have won five straight games and nine of 10. They beat Charlotte (94-84) at home on Tuesday, but failed to cover the big 14-point spread. They’re just 2-4 ATS in their last six overall. Boston has a veteran bench with Brandon Bass, Mickael Pietrus and Chris Wilcox who are in their first year with the team and will come in handy Thursday.

The road team won both meetings last year as underdogs. Points could be at a premium in this game with both in the top-4 in points allowed and struggling to score. The ‘under’ is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between the teams and 5-0 in the last five in Boston.

Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets
9:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Networks

Golden State (8-14 SU, 9-13 ATS) has played just one road game in its last eight, a 114-106 OT loss at Sacramento last Saturday. The Warriors are 2-6 SU (4-4 ATS) on the road, despite playing just two teams that currently have winning records.

The Nuggets (15-10 SU and ATS) have cooled down lately, going 0-3 SU and ATS pending Wednesday night’s home game versus Dallas. Scoring has been way down their last three (92 PPG) compared to their league-leading 104 PPG. Three starters could be missing against Dallas with Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov out, and Nene Hilario questionable.

Denver is 4-1 ATS (5-0 SU) in the last five home games versus Golden State. The ‘over’ is 7-1 in the last eight overall.

Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns
9:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Networks

The Rockets (14-11 SU and ATS) are at Portland on Wednesday night (result pending) before heading to Phoenix. They’re 5-1 ATS in their last six when playing on consecutive days. The ‘under’ is 5-1 in those games.

Phoenix (11-14 SU and ATS) has won 3-straight games since losing badly at Houston (99-81) last Friday. That includes road wins at Atlanta (99-90) on Monday and Milwaukee (107-105) on Tuesday, both as 8-point ‘dogs. The Suns now return home where they’re just 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS in the last six.

Houston has lost four straight playing in the desert, going 1-3 ATS.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Sacramento Kings
10:30 p.m. (ET) on TNT

The Thunder (20-5 SU, 14-11 ATS) are 2-1 SU and ATS during this 5-game road trip, most recently with close wins and covers over Portland (111-107 OT) and Golden State (119-116). The ‘over’ is 4-0 in their last four and 7-1 in their last eight. Guard Thabo Sefolosha (foot) is doubtful to return after missing six games.

The Kings (9-16 SU, 12-13 ATS) lost a close 86-84 contest at Minnesota on Tuesday night, but are playing pretty well lately. They’re 3-1 SU since leading scorer Marcus Thornton (17.3 PPG) returned from his thigh injury. They’ve also covered six-straight. Power Balance Pavilion has been a much friendlier venue for them at 6-4 SU (6-4 ATS) compared to 3-12 SU (6-9 ATS) away.

This is the first meeting between the teams this year. The Thunder are 6-0 SU (4-2 ATS) in the last six.

 

[CNOTES]

St. Louis Blues Visit Red-Hot New Jersey Devils

Don’t look now, but the New Jersey Devils and future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur are the hottest team in the NHL. The Devils (31-19-3) will go for their sixth win in a row on Thursday night when they host the St. Louis Blues (31-14-7) at 7:00 p.m. (ET).

New Jersey’s Brodeur blanked the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers (33-13-5) for his first shutout of the season with a 1-0 road victory on Tuesday that had a controversial ending. New York captain Ryan Callahan appeared to tie the game in the final seconds, but teammate Marian Gaborik was called for interference and the goal was waved off.

Brodeur improved to 45-27-20 lifetime against the Rangers and earned the 117th shutout of his career. The Blues will be another tough opponent for the Devils, who have lost three of the last four meetings, although they have not played against each other since 2010.

St. Louis is coming off a 3-1 road win against the Ottawa Senators (27-22-7) behind another strong performance in net by goalie Brian Elliott, who stopped 28 shots from his former team and improved to 16-5-2. Elliott was sent to the Colorado Avalanche (27-25-3) in a trade deadline deal a year ago from Ottawa before joining the Blues.

The Nashville Predators (32-17-5) are tied with St. Louis for second place in the Central Division with 69 points after a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks (33-15-5) on Tuesday. The Predators visit the Senators at 7:30 p.m. and will try to hand them an eighth straight loss.

New York will try to bounce back from the loss to the Devils when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning (23-24-5) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The Rangers hold a three-point lead over the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins (33-16-2) for the lead in the East through 51 games and a four-point edge over the Philadelphia Flyers (30-16-7) in the Atlantic Division.

The Washington Capitals (28-21-4) moved ahead of the Florida Panthers (24-17-11) in the Southeast Division standings with a 4-0 victory in a head-to-head matchup on Tuesday. The Capitals have blanked opponents in three of their last four wins but have surrendered four goals in each of their past four losses.

Washington hosts the Winnipeg Jets (25-24-6) on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and has won the last two meetings after dropping the previous four.

The Panthers host the Los Angeles Kings (26-18-10) at 7:30 p.m. and have lost the last seven meetings in the series. The Kings are 11-7-6 on the road and trailed the San Jose Sharks (29-15-6) by just two points in the Pacific Division heading into Wednesday’s action, but they had played four more games up to that point.

 

[CNOTES]

Saint Mary's at Gonzaga

February 9, 2012

In terms of mid-major rivalries over the last decade, none have surpassed the intensity we see when WCC powerhouses Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga meet up. These schools are set to square off again tonight in a crucial showdown at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane.

BetOnline.com opened Gonzaga (18-4 SU, 9-12-1 ATS) as a three-point home favorite with a total of 140. As of early this afternoon, most books had the Bulldogs favored by 3 1/2 with the total slightly adjusted to 139 1/2. Gamblers can take Saint Mary's to win outright for a plus-150 return (risk $100 to win $150).

Mark Few’s squad will have revenge on its mind after taking an 83-62 shellacking at Saint Mary’s on Jan. 12. The Bulldogs have won five of six since then, but that setback prompted a 0-6-1 ATS slide coming into this contest.

Saint Mary’s (22-2 SU, 11-8 ATS) has won 12 consecutive games and hasn’t tasted defeat since a Dec. 22 loss to Baylor in Las Vegas. The Gaels are coming off an 84-73 non-covering victory over San Diego as 19-point home favorites.

Randy Bennett’s squad is led by junior guard Matthew Dellavedova, who is averaging a team-high 15.5 points and 6.4 assists per game. Dellavedova had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in Saturday’s win over the Toreros. He dropped 26 points and six assists on Gonzaga in the aforementioned blowout victory nearly a month ago.

Rob Jones, a transfer from USD, is a senior forward with excellent skills and plenty of muscle to mix it up in the lane. Jones is averaging 14.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. He only had two points against Gonzaga earlier this year but did have a quality floor game with 11 rebounds and a season-high eight assists.

Gonzaga is led by junior forward Elias Harris, who had 17 points and 11 boards at Saint Mary’s. Harris is averaging 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs also have one of the nation’s top post players in senior center Robert Sacre, who is averaging 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The seven-footer was plagued by foul trouble in the first meeting, scoring only two points in 18 minutes of playing time.

Saint Mary’s is in just its third underdog situation of the season, going 1-1 both SU and ATS in the two previous spots. The Gaels won outright at BYU but lost 72-59 to Baylor as three-point ‘dogs.

The ‘under’ is 14-7-1 overall for Gonzaga, 8-3-1 in its home games. However, we should note that the ‘over’ has cashed in back-to-back games for the Bulldogs.

The ‘over’ is 10-8 overall for Saint Mary’s, but the ‘under’ is on a 4-2 run in the Gaels’ last six contests. The ‘under’ is also 4-2 in the last six head-to-head meetings between these schools.

Tip-off is slated for 11:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--The hoops version of the Egg Bowl (Round 2) will take place in Starkville on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2. Mississippi St. will be looking to avenge a loss at Ole Miss last month when it hosts the Rebels at The Hump. Most spots had the Bulldogs as 7 ½-point favorites as of early Wednesday evening.

--Wisconsin saw its six-game winning streak snapped in Saturday’s 58-52 home loss to Ohio St. The Badgers will try to get back into the win column tonight at Minnesota. They were one-point road favorites as of early Wednesday night.

--Duke erased a double-digit deficit in the last 2:34 of last night's game at North Carolina, rallying with a 13-2 surge to capture a riveting 85-84 win in Chapel Hill. Austin Rivers drained a 28-footer from the right wing at the buzzer to sink the Tar Heels, who completely fell apart down the stretch due to abysmal late-game execution.

--Even though Purdue lost Tuesday at Ohio St., I’ve got give kudos to Matt Painter for really getting his team ready to play in Columbus. The Boilermakers, who easily took the cash as double-digit underdogs, did not back down an inch in a hostile environment and the Buckeyes were fortunate to get the outright victory.

--I believe Kentucky emerged as the unquestioned team to beat this year when it stroked Florida by a 78-58 score Tuesday night at Rupp Arena. Likewise, Anthony Davis most likely established himself as the favorite for National Player of the Year honors even though KU’s Thomas Robinson has better overall numbers.

--Clemson fell to an atrocious 1-7 ATS at home when it lost outright Tuesday to Maryland by a 64-62 count at Littlejohn Coliseum. As for the Terrapins, they have covered the spread in four straight thanks to the stellar play of point guard Terrell Stoglin, who leads the ACC in scoring.

 

[CNOTES]

Hoop Trends - Thursday

February 9, 2012

SU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Celtics are 0-13 ATS (-7.0 ppg) since November 01, 2009 with at most one day of rest after a game in which more than 75% of their baskets were assisted.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Suns are 11-0 OU (10.5 ppg) since March 26, 2010 at home after a win in which Channing Frye played fewer than 30 minutes.

PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:

The Kings are 0-11 OU (-13.2 ppg) since March 23, 2011 after a loss on the road in which Demarcus Cousins was not the Kings’ high scorer.

CHOICE TOP TREND:

The Kings are 0-10 ATS (-9.6 ppg) since December 04, 2006 with at most one day of rest off a loss of four points or fewer in which they trailed by 15+ points.

 

[CNOTES]

Thursday Tips

February 8, 2012

The Thursday NBA card gives bettors four games to wager on, including two of the league's oldest rivals getting together in Boston. The Lakers continue a six-game road swing against a Celtics' team that is suddenly getting on track. The Kings and Thunder hook up for late-night action in Sacramento, as Oklahoma City is coming off consecutive close victories on the West Coast.

Lakers at Celtics - 8:00 PM EST

Both these second-place teams each have put up 14 wins through the first six weeks of this condensed season, as the two squads meet for the first of two matchups over the next month. The Lakers slipped up late at Philadelphia on Monday, 95-90 as 3 ½-point underdogs, dropping their second straight game. The Celtics are riding a five-game winning streak, even though Boston failed to cover as 14-point 'chalk' in a 94-84 win over hapless Charlotte on Tuesday.

Boston began the season at 5-9 and was labeled as an "old, beat-up" team, but that suddenly changed with a 9-1 run the previous 10 games. The only hiccup in this hot stretch came in a home loss to Cleveland in which the Celtics blew a late 11-point lead in an 88-87 defeat as 6 ½-point favorites. Boston's defense has stepped up recently by allowing less than 100 points in nine consecutive games, while going 12-5-1 to the 'under' the last 17 contests.

The Lakers aren't helping themselves on the highway with a 2-7 SU/ATS mark as a road underdog, including consecutive losses at Utah and Philadelphia. Mike Brown's team has broken the 100-point mark only three times this season, while the Lakers are 3-6 ATS when coming off a game in which they scored 90 points or less. The road squad won each meeting last season, including a 92-86 triumph by Los Angeles at TD Garden as two-point 'dogs last February.

Warriors at Nuggets - 9:00 PM EST

Golden State makes a quick trip to the Pepsi Center on Thursday after a disappointing three-point setback to Oklahoma City. Despite Monta Ellis scoring 48 points, the Warriors couldn't hold on as they failed to cash as two-point underdogs in a 119-116 loss to the Thunder. Golden State looks to rebound at Denver, as the Nuggets try to put enough healthy bodies on the floor following Wednesday's loss to the Mavericks.

Mark Jackson's club is starting to resemble old Warriors' basketball by cashing the 'over' in five of the last six games after beginning the season 7-1 to the 'under.' Golden State is playing only its ninth road game of the season, while owning a 4-4 ATS record in the first eight games away from Oracle Arena. The Warriors haven't had the best luck against the Nuggets by dropping eight of the last nine meetings, including six consecutive losses in Denver.

The Nuggets are without leading scorer Danilo Gallanari for at least a month with an ankle injury, while getting center Nene back against Dallas after missing two games with a heel injury. Denver has been cold recently from an ATS standpoint by failing to cash in five of the last six games, including three straight at home. George Karl's team is 5-3 ATS when playing with no rest, while picking up two overtime wins in this situation against the Knicks and 76ers.

Thunder at Kings - 10:30 PM EST

Who would have thought that the only team to cover every February game is Sacramento? The Kings try to extend their cover streak to seven games when the top team in the league invades Power Balance Pavilion. The Thunder heads from Oakland to Sacramento after rallying past the Warriors on Tuesday, 119-116 as short road favorites, the second straight close-shave victory for Oklahoma City. Now, the Thunder plays their fifth game in seven nights, while trying to cover three straight games for the first time since mid-January.

Oklahoma City is in the midst of a 7-1 'over' stretch, including five of the last six on the highway. The Thunder owns a 7-3 ATS record away from home with rest, while Scott Brooks' club looks to improve its defense after allowing over 100 points in each of the first three games of this road swing. Oklahoma City swept the four-game season series in 2010-11, as the Kings covered just once in a two-point home defeat last February.

The last time the Kings failed to cover was a 29-point home loss to the Nuggets on January 25, as Sacramento has split the last six games with the three setbacks all coming by three points or less. Keith Smart's team is coming off a 1-1 road trip against New Orleans and Minnesota, as the Kings needed late comebacks each time to cash tickets. Sacramento has profited at home with a 6-4 ATS mark, including underdog wins over the Lakers, Blazers, and Pacers.

 

[CNOTES]

Lakers try to end Celtics win streak Thursday

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (14-11)

at BOSTON CELTICS (14-10)


Tip-off: Thursday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Boston -3½, Total: 177

The NBA’s greatest rivalry resumes when the Lakers visit Boston Thursday night.

Both aging teams will be well-rested for this one, with the Celtics having a day off during their homestand and L.A. taking two days off during its East coast swing. Boston has won five straight, including back-to-back double-digit wins and, unlike last year’s home loss to the Lakers, should have their full complement of frontcourt players for this game. Will that be enough to win and cover against the talented Lakers? Check out the NBA Three At Three for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each weekday.

After ringing off back-to-back wins on the road, the Lakers have reverted again. They dropped two in a row SU and ATS on the road in Utah and Philadelphia and are now 3-9 SU and ATS on the road this season. Offensively they continue to be a three-man show, starring SG Kobe Bryant (29.3 PPG), Andrew Bynum (17.1 PPG, 12.4 RPG) and PF Pau Gasol (16.4 PPG, 10.1 RPG). Back-up PG Steve Blake, a game-time call on Thursday because of a rib injury, is their fourth-leading scorer at 7.3 PPG.

The Lakers hit just 40.4% of their field goals and 28.9% of their threes in the Utah and Philadelphia losses and are averaging 91.1 PPG on the road this year. The teams split the season series a year ago, with each side winning on the other’s court (SU and ATS). But the Celtics played with a shortened frontcourt rotation in the 92-86 home loss, with Jermaine and Shaquille O’Neal out, and Kendrick Perkins battling foul trouble. This year, they’ll have a healthy C Jermaine O’Neal (5.5 RPG, 1.4 BPG), PF Brandon Bass (11.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG) and Chris Wilcox joining Garnett to counter L.A.’s size. The FoxSheets provide a three-star trend backing the Lakers:

BOSTON is 9-30 ATS (23.1%, -24.0 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons. The average score was BOSTON 90.8, OPPONENT 90.7 - (Rating = 3*).

The Celtics have had their starting five together for just 11 games this season, including the last three, and it appears they’re starting to click. They didn’t cover the 14-point spread in Tuesday’s 94-84 win over Charlotte, but they led comfortably throughout the fourth quarter before letting off the gas late (Charlotte outscored them 7-2 in the final 1:14). Boston also destroyed the Grizzlies by 18 on Sunday.

PG Rajon Rondo (13.6 PPG, 9.8 APG) handed out 14 assists in each of those games. Paul Pierce (18.4 PPG) averaged 20.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 7.0 APG during the first four games of their current homestand while compiling an average plus/minus of +21.5. And PF Kevin Garnett (14.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG) seems to have found the fountain of youth, averaging 20.3 PPG on 65% shooting and 8.0 RPG over the past three games. The FoxSheets have a trend working against L.A.:

L.A. LAKERS are 9-23 ATS (28.1%, -16.3 Units) versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was L.A. LAKERS 92.8, OPPONENT 94.3 - (Rating = 2*).

 

[CNOTES]

Red-hot Kings host Thunder on Thursday

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (20-5)

at SACRAMENTO KINGS (9-16)


Tip-off: Thursday, 10:35 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -6½, Total: 204

Sacramento is playing some of its best basketball in a long time as it gets ready to host Oklahoma City on Thursday night.

The Kings have won three of four SU and six in a row ATS, and they’re 6-4 SU and ATS at home on the year. But the Thunder have the NBA’s best record at 20-5, winning 15 of their past 18 contests. Can Oklahoma City win big on the road? Check out the NBA Three At Three for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each weekday.

After a disappointing start to their road trip in San Antonio, the Thunder have scored a couple of wins—in Portland and Golden State—covering the spread each time. The games were awfully close though, beating Portland in overtime on Monday then Golden State by three, a game they trailed in the final 20 seconds, on Tuesday. They’re still struggling defensively without top perimeter defender Thabo Sefolosha, who’s expected to miss a seventh straight game because of a foot injury. The Thunder have allowed 103-plus points in regulation in each of their past three games, in large part because they’ve committed 25-plus fouls in each of those games. They allowed the Warriors to score 116 and shoot 55% from the field on Tuesday.

They obviously have the firepower to outscore teams though. SF Kevin Durant (27.3 PPG) is averaging 29.3 PPG despite 4-for-17 shooting from three through the first three games of their current road trip, and PG Russell Westbrook (22.3 PPG, 5.9 APG) has added 25.7 PPG on 50% shooting and 7.0 APG. Daequan Cook (5.8 PPG) has also caught fire of late. He moved into the starting lineup five games ago, and over the past three, the long-range specialist has shot 11-for-21 from behind the arc. The FoxSheets have a three-star trend siding with the Thunder:

Play On - Road teams (OKLAHOMA CITY) - off a road win, extremely tired team - playing their 5th game in 7 days. (69-29 over the last 5 seasons.) (70.4%, +37.1 units. Rating = 3*).

Sacramento has defended far better recently, holding opponents to 42.7% shooting from the field over the past six games. Along with Sacramento’s better defensive effort, PG Tyreke Evans (17.2 PPG) is settling into a nice groove, averaging 21.3 PPG and 6.7 APG over the past six games while C DeMarcus Cousins (15.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG) has added 17.0 PPG and 13.2 RPG during that span. SG Marcus Thornton (17.3 PPG) returned from a thigh injury four games ago, and has averaged 20.5 PPG since his return. The FoxSheets have a three-star trend backing the Kings:

Play On - Underdogs (SACRAMENTO) - poor shooting team - shooting <=43% on the season against opponent after a game - allowing a shooting pct. of 55% or higher. (81-39 since 1996, 67.5%, +38.1 units. Rating = 3*).

 

[CNOTES]

Nuggets look to end losing skid hosting Warriors

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (8-14)

at DENVER NUGGETS (15-11)


Tip-off: Thursday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: Denver -6, Total: 210½

The slumping Nuggets try to avoid a fifth straight loss (SU and ATS) when they host the struggling Warriors on Thursday.

Denver is 10-2 SU (8-4 ATS) in the past 12 meetings with Golden State, including six straight home wins in this series (4-2 ATS). Since 2006-07, the Nuggets are averaging a whopping 118.9 PPG in 18 meetings. This includes a 134-111 drubbing last April, when the game was tied at 54 at halftime, before the Nuggets scored 80 in the second half to cruise to victory. But Denver is banged-up with leading scorer Danilo Gallinari and starting center Timofey Mozgov both out with ankle injuries. Will their absence allow the Warriors to keep this game under six points? Check out the NBA Three At Three for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each weekday.

Golden State is just 3-6 SU (2-7 ATS) in its past nine contests, but the team nearly upset the league’s best team, Oklahoma City, on Tuesday in a 119-116 loss. In the defeat, SG Monta Ellis (22.6 PPG, 6.3 APG) scored 48 points (18-of-29 FG) and PF David Lee (18.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG) had a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Ellis didn’t make the trip to Denver last April because of a concussion, but he has loved facing the Nuggets in the past two seasons with 27.5 PPG in the six meetings. Lee has not been so fond of the Rocky Mountains with just 12.0 PPG in six career games in Denver.

Dorell Wright, who scored 27 points in last April’s trip to Denver, has been heating up, averaging 16.8 PPG (44% 3-pt FG) in his past five games. Stephen Curry (16.3 PPG, 40% 3-pt FG) has averaged 19.8 PPG on 47% three-pointers in seven career meetings with Denver, and scored 27 points in the last meeting. He had a well-rounded 16 points (7-of-9 FG), 10 assists and seven rebounds in Tuesday’s loss to the Thunder. The FoxSheets show this trend siding with the Warriors:

GOLDEN STATE is 48-26 ATS (64.9%, +19.4 Units) after allowing 105 points or more 2 straight games over the last 3 seasons. The average score was GOLDEN STATE 106.6, OPPONENT 108.5 - (Rating = 1*).

In addition to Gallinari being out, Denver will also be missing C Timofey Mozgov (5.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG) who has an ankle injury, and SF Corey Brewer (8.0 PPG) whose father died recently. But two starters, PF Nene Hilario (13.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG) and SG Arron Afflalo (10.4 PPG), returned to action on Wednesday, and both played pretty well. Hilario had 16 points and eight rebounds while Afflalo had 12. PG Ty Lawson finished with 16 points and 10 assists, while super subs Al Harrington and Rudy Fernandez shared the team lead with 17 points. Despite Denver’s lacking offense in the past four games (92.8 PPG, 44% FG, 23% 3-pt FG), the Nuggets still lead the NBA in scoring (103.7 PPG) and assists (23.4 PPG). The FoxSheets have a three-star trend backing the Nuggets:

Play On - Favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (DENVER) - an excellent offensive team (>=102 PPG) against a poor defensive team (98-102 PPG), after allowing 60 points or more in the first half last game. (54-22 since 1996.) (71.1%, +29.8 units. Rating = 3*).

 

[CNOTES]

Colorado looks for season sweep at Arizona

COLORADO BUFFALOES (16-7)

at ARIZONA WILDCATS (16-8)


Tip-off: Thursday, 9:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Arizona -7½, Total: 129

Two teams that might only have outside shots for at-large berths to the big dance will look to build their resume when Colorado and Arizona take the floor for some Pac-12 action.

When these two teams met earlier in the season, the Buffaloes prevailed by one point, but did not cover the two-point spread for an ATS loss. Arizona has been dominant as an away team this season (7-0 ATS) but mediocre at the McKale Center (5-7 ATS) where this game is being played. The Buffaloes have been similarly strong away from their home, going 4-2 ATS in away games so far this season.

Can Arizona cover this big number? For the answer, check out the College Basketball Weekday 6-Pack for picks covering all the big games in college basketball each week. For the season, the 6-Pack carries a strong 9-6-1 ATS mark (60%).

Ultimately, this matchup may rest on the performance between each team’s top rebounder. At 6-foot-7, Andre Roberson (11.3 PPG, 11.2 RPG) averages a double-double for Colorado while the 6-foot-6 Solomon Hill (12.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG) paces the Wildcats. Hill, however, is averaging just 8.0 PPG and 5.0 RPG in the team’s past two contests.

At 70.2 PPG, Colorado’s offense is not particularly dangerous. With four players averaging more than 10 PPG, they do not have one dominant scoring threat, but four guys who produce night-in and night-out. Carlon Brown leads that crew (13.0 PPG) and has nice size for a guard at 6-foot-5. Austin Dufault (11.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG) stands at 6-foot-9, but is not the rebounder he could be. He makes up for it with his efficiency on the offensive end, where he shoots 52.2% from the field. Roberson and Spencer Dinwiddie round out that foursome, with Dinwiddie knocking down 45% of his three-pointers. This three-star FoxSheets trend also likes the Buffs to cover:

Play Against - Favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (ARIZONA) - after beating the spread by 48 or more points total in their last ten games against opponent after going over the total by 48 or more points total in their last seven games. (26-5 over the last 5 seasons.) (83.9%, +20.5 units. Rating = 3*).

Arizona’s offense is slightly worse (69.6 PPG), while its defense is slightly better, holding opponents to 61.9 PPG compared to 62.6 for Colorado. They have four significant contributors on offense, paced by Kyle Fogg (12.5 PPG) who is deadly from beyond the arc, hitting his 2.1 threes per game on a 43% clip. Fogg has been red-hot in his past four games, averaging 16.0 PPG on 54% FG. Solomon Hill and Jesse Perry (11.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG) will lead the battle in the post for this Wildcats squad, needing to keep an eye on Roberson on every possession. Six-foot-2 freshman guard Nick Johnson (9.2 PPG) also has the potential to be a dangerous scorer when given the right opportunities. This FoxSheets trend thinks the Wildcats can win and cover:

Play On - A favorite (ARIZONA) - in a game involving two good three point shooting teams (>=36.5%), after 2 straight games - attempting 10+ more free throws than opponent. (76-37 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.3%, +35.3 units. Rating = 2*).

 

[CNOTES]

No. 21 Wisconsin visits Minnesota Thursday

WISCONSIN BADGERS (18-6)

at MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (17-7)


Tip-off: Thursday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Wisconsin -1, Total: 112

No. 21 Wisconsin brings the stingiest defense in the nation to Minnesota for a Big Ten matchup on Thursday night.

The Badgers lead the country in scoring defense at 49.8 PPG and rank second to No. 1 Kentucky in FG Pct. defense at 36.5% FG. On the offensive end, they commit the fewest turnovers in the nation (8.8 per game), but rank just 262nd in scoring (64.1 PPG) because of their slow pace. Minnesota usually plays well at home (12-2 SU), but is a mediocre 6-5 ATS with its offense struggling at times, failing to reach 70 points in six of the past 10 games. The Gophers are just 5-6 SU in Big Ten play, and Wisconsin has played great basketball outside of Madison, going 7-2 SU (6-3 ATS), including three straight SU victories. The Badgers have allowed a mere 54.0 PPG on 36.9% FG in conference road games this season. The pick here is WISCONSIN to escape with the road win.

This strong FoxSheets trend also sides with the Badgers:

WISCONSIN is 24-9 ATS (72.7%, +14.1 Units) after allowing 60 points or less over the last 2 seasons. The average score was WISCONSIN 67.7, OPPONENT 55.0 - (Rating = 2*).

Wisconsin has lost its past two trips to Williams Arena, including a 68-52 drubbing in its last visit in February 2010. The Badgers attempted 30 three-pointers that game (11-for-30, 37%), and made just 7-of-29 shots inside the arc (24%). Jordan Taylor, who leads the team in scoring (14.4 PPG) and assists (4.4 APG), has totaled five points on 1-of-10 shooting in his two career games at “The Barn.” But in last year’s home meeting with the Gophers, Taylor had a game-high 22 points and seven assists.

Wisconsin’s offense has been in a funk over the past three games, scoring just 53.7 PPG on 38.4% FG, including 14-of-63 threes (22.2%). Wisconsin made just 5-of-27 three-point tries in Saturday’s 58-52 home loss to Ohio State. The Badgers aren’t a very deep team, as only six players see 10+ minutes per game, and all six players log at least 25 per game. Jared Berggren (10.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.6 BPG) and Ryan Evans (10.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG) are the other double-digit scorers in addition to Taylor.

Since its 0-4 start to conference play, Minnesota has been playing much better lately, going 5-2 (SU and ATS) in its past seven games. The team is coming off a 69-61 win at Nebraska, shooting 54% FG, but only 50% FT (8-of-16). Chip Armelin (6.5 PPG) came off the bench to lead the Gophers with 15 points.

With star Trevor Mbakwe (14.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG) suffering a season-ending knee injury in the seventh game of the season, four players comprise the bulk of the scoring for the Gophers, averaging between 8.4 and 10.5 PPG. Rodney Williams leads the way in points (10.5 PPG) and rebounds (5.3 RPG), making 57% FG and 39% of his threes. But he has not been much of a factor in his past three games, averaging just 7.7 PPG and 2.0 RPG. Julian Welch (10.2 PPG, team-high 2.7 APG) makes 45% of his three-point attempts, going 6-for-8 over the past two games. Austin Hollins (8.5 PPG) and Ralph Sampson III (8.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG) have both been money from the foul line, shooting 87% and 88% respectively this season.

 

[CNOTES]

No. 16 Saint Mary's visits Gonzaga in key WCC game

SAINT MARY’S GAELS (22-2)

at GONZAGA BULLDOGS (18-4)


Tip-off: Thursday, 11:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Gonzaga -2½, Total: 140

On Thursday night Gonzaga will look to gain ground against the No. 16 Saint Mary’s who sits atop the West Coast Conference with a perfect 11-0 record.

When these two teams met earlier in the season, the Gaels dominated at home for a 21-point SU and ATS victory. But the Zags have been nearly unbeatable on their home court, going 12-1 SU, with the only loss coming to No. 11 Michigan State back in early December.

Who will win this battle of the two WCC powerhouses? For the answer, check out the College Basketball Weekday 6-Pack for picks covering all the big games in college basketball each week. For the season, the 6-Pack carries a strong 9-6-1 ATS mark (60%).

The Gaels are averaging 82.0 PPG over their past four games, led by the strong play of Matthew Dellavedova (15.5 PPG) and Rob Jones (14.8 PPG), who is coming off a 28-point outburst in their win over San Diego. Dellavedova and Jones are a dangerous scoring combination, each with the ability to take it inside or score from the perimeter. At 6-foot-4, Dellavedova is the premier threat from the outside with 2.2 threes per game, and he also averages a team-high 6.4 APG. Jones also can score from beyond the arc (1.1 threes per game), but it’s his work he does on the boards (10.7 RPG) that makes him so special. He is also a cagey defender with 1.7 SPG. Stephen Holt (11.2 PPG) is also a big factor on this team, shooting 51% from the field and nabbing 2.0 SPG. This rare five-star FoxSheets trend also likes the Gaels to win on the road:

Randy Bennett is 38-9 ATS (80.9%, +28.1 Units) after a combined score of 155 points or more as the coach of SAINT MARY’S. The average score was SAINT MARY’S 76.6, OPPONENT 62.9 - (Rating = 5*).

At only 73.7 PPG, it is unclear if the Gonzaga offense can keep up with that of their conference rival. Leading scorer Elias Harris (13.3 PPG) is averaging just 8.0 PPG over the team’s past two contests, while the Bulldogs have struggled mightily for any ATS victory in WCC play (3-6-1 ATS). They registered an ATS push against Pepperdine on Saturday, but prior to that had lost six consecutive games against the lines. Six-foot-1 freshman guard Kevin Pangos (12.9 PPG) has been an effective scorer in his first year, but should aim to improve his 41.7% FG. The one thing the Bulldogs can bring to the floor is a giant presence in Robert Sacre, who stands 7-feet tall. With 11.7 PPG and 6.6 RPG, the fifth-year senior will need to prove he is more than just a big body in this contest, pushing around Jones in the paint when he looks to fight his way to another double-double. Freshman Gary Bell (9.8 PPG) can also score for this Gonzaga team. This FoxSheets trend also likes the Bulldogs to win and cover:

Play On - A favorite (GONZAGA) - in a game involving two good three point shooting teams (>=36.5%), after 2 straight games - attempting 10+ more free throws than opponent. (76-37 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.3%, +35.3 units. Rating = 2*).

 

[CNOTES]

Thursday’s betting tips: Zags still sliding ATS

Who’s hot

NBA: Phoenix is 22-7 against the spread in its last 29 meetings with Houston.

NBA: Denver is 10-3 against the spread in the second half of back-to-back situations.

NHL: The under is 7-0 in Winnipeg’s last seven overall.

NHL: Philadelphia has won six of its last seven against Toronto.

NCAAB: Niagara is 9-3 against the spread in its last 12.

NCAAB: UCLA is 11-5 against the spread in its last 16 Pac-12 games.

Who’s not

NBA: The over has cashed in each of Golden State’s last seven road games.

NBA: Los Angeles is 6-14-1 against the spread in its last 21 games against Boston.

NHL: Minnesota is 5-18 in its last 23.

NHL: Montreal is 1-5 in its last six road games.

NCAAB: Wisconsin is 3-7 against the spread in its last 10 overall.

NCAAB: Gonzaga is 0-6-1 against the spread in its last seven overall.

Key stat

5 – Each of Illinois’ last five games have been decided by five or fewer points and the Fighting Illini are 1-4 straight up and against the spread during that span. They have dropped to 9-12 against the spread on the year heading into Thursday’s meeting with Indiana.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

Jose Theodore, Florida Panthers - Theodore has missed the last four games with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against Los Angeles. Theodore is 14-9-5 this season with a 2.10 goals against average. The Panthers are set as -105 underdogs with the total at 5.

Game of the day

Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics (-3.5, 177.5)

Notable quotables

"I believe it's the art of controlling the body and club and swinging the pendulum motion...I believe that's how it should be played. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to that. My idea was to have it so that the putter would be equal to or less than the shortest club in your bag...And I think with that, we'd be able to get away from any type of belly anchoring," – Tiger Woods talking about banning long putters in the PGA. Woods is set as a +500 favorite at the AT&T Pebble Beach National.

Notes and tips

There is some talk that Vancouver forward Henrik Sedin may miss Thursday's game against Minnesota with an ankle injury. He skipped Wednesday's practice and was scheduled for a CT scan. The All-Star center has 11 goals and an NHL-best 46 assists in 53 games this season. Meanwhile, Wild captain Mikko Koivu could return to the lineup Thursday. Koviu has been on the shelf since Jan. 14 with a shoulder injury, but still sits second on the team with 33 points in 41 games this season. The Canucks are pegged as -145 favorites.

New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire will miss the next three games and won't return to the team until Monday due to personal reasons. Stoudemire's brother was killed in a car accident early Monday morning. Hazell Stoudemire was driving north on U.S. 27 in Lake Wales, Fla., when he collided with a tractor trailer at 1:45 a.m., according to Florida Highway Patrol. The 35-year-old Stoudemire was not wearing a seatbelt and was confirmed dead at the scene.

English national team coach Fabio Capello resigned Wednesday, potentially clearing the way for Harry Redknapp to take over his role. Capello quit just hours after Redknapp was cleared of tax evasions charges in a London court. The resignation of Capello came after a dispute with the English Football Association over the decision to strip John Terry of the team captaincy. “We have accepted Fabio’s resignation, agreeing this is the right decision,” FA Chairman David Bernstein said. “We would like to thank Fabio for his work with the England team and wish him every success in the future.” Redknapp was viewed as Capello's successor but his acquittal could speed up the process.

 

[CNOTES]

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

-- North Carolina led by 10 at home with 2:15 left, lost to Duke 85-84 at the buzzer; if you mised the highlights, don't sweat; ESPN will show them for the next 20-30 years. Better team lost this game.

-- Georgetown took Syracuse to OT in the Carrier Dome, but they lost to the Orange, 64-61. Could be their last visit to Syracuse, with move to the ACC looming for Syracuse and Pitt.

-- How does Florida State beat the Tar Heels by 33, win at Duke, then lose to Princeton and Boston College? Very weird team.

-- Kansas went on a ridiculous 41-12 in Waco, turning a 22-13 deficit to a 20-point, as they swept season series from Baylor, winning by 14.

-- Jeremy Lin had 23 points, 10 assists, and was +18 as the Knicks won again, beating the hideous Wizards 107-93 in Washington. Lot of GMs around the league are being asked, "Why didn't we sign this kid?"

-- Dwight Howard had 25 points, 24 rebounds as Orlando beat Miami; going to be a crushing blow to the franchise if he leaves.


***************


Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind..........

13) So far this NBA season, there have been 17 instances where a team played three nights in a row; Denver is only team that has done it twice. Every team has to eventually do it at least once, some have to do it twice.

12) Oddly enough, the Knicks are the only team to cover all three nights of their excellent adventure, night #3 being the 99-92 win over New Jersey when Jeremy Lin had his first big game for New York. Only three of the 17 teams went 0-2 vs spread the first two nights; of those three, all three covered Game #3.

11) A closer look at teams playing that third night in a row show that home underdogs are 5-0, while road dogs are more predictable 1-6.

10) Under is 10-7 when a team is playing for third night in a row. Won’t be lot of running with tired players, and less outside shots will fall with tired legs.

9) You look at teams playing those three nights, and you see favorites the first night are 7-1, 6-4 the second night, 2-2-2 the third night in a row.

8) Monta Ellis scored 48 points for the Warriors Tuesday, and David Lee became the first Warrior in 19 years to record a triple/double, but Golden State still lost an exciting game to the Thunder. No matter who coaches the Warriors, they’re always fun to watch.

7) Minnesota president David Kahn took a lot of ridicule for drafting Ricky Rubio, but none since we’ve seen the Spanish kid play. Kahn is looking good right now; hope he’s enjoying the silence from the nitwits.

6) USA Network is televising the Westminster Kennel Dog show next Monday from 8-9, but because the WWE comes on at 9, the dog show switches over to MSNBC at 9. Good to know I live in a country where pro wrestling is more profitable on TV than a dog show.

5) Red Wings-Maple Leafs are next year’s NHL Outdoor Classic, with the game being played in Ann Arbor, where the football stadium seats 108,000 or so. Two Original Six teams, so that should be fun.

4) There is a guy named Rick Santorum who is running for President; I know I’ve seen him on TV, but if he came up to me and shook my hand, I wouldn’t have the slightest freakin’ idea who he is, unless he told me. Where does an obscure guy like that get all the money to run a campaign?

3) If Conference USA and Mountain West merge, it’ll leave the new league with 16 football teams but only 15 for basketball (Hawai’i is going to Big West for hoops). My suggestion? Add Oral Roberts for basketball; they’re pretty good in hoops, they don’t have football and they give Tulsa a natural rival.

2) I follow more college basketball than anyone you know, but I never, ever look at these bracket projections; I know lot of people get paid to do them, but they don’t help me at all and only confuse me. Hypotheticals aren’t helpful; facts are. Scores and stats of games already played. I’ll find out who is in the tournament on March 11, just like everyone else.

1) Golfer Daniel Chopra was playing a practice round at Pebble Beach Tuesday; he shot holes-in-one on both the 7th and 17th holes. I did that once, but the second ace went into a clown’s mouth and all I got was a free ice cream cone. Odds to two aces in same round? 67 million-to-1

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, February 9

Underdogs are 7-1 vs spread in Mississippi State's SEC games, as State is 0-5 as a favorite, 0-3 at home, winning all four games in Starkville by 4-4-5-3 points. State (-2) lost 75-68 at Ole Miss Jan 18, shooting 37.7% on night, 10-29 from arc, as Buckner had 15 boards/three blocks, owning the paint. Ole Miss' last three road games were decided by total of six points; Rebels are 4-1 as an SEC underdog. SEC single digit home faves are 15-7 against the spread.

Home side won four of last five Wisconsin-Minnesota games; Badgers lost last two visits here by 5-16 points- they scored 53.7 ppg last three games overall. Ohio State snapped their 6-game winning streak last time out. Minnesota won five of last seven games, getting held to 52-59 last two losses. Big Dozen home teams are 7-9 vs spread when number is 3 or less points. Badgers won last three road games, allowing average of 57 ppg. Minnesota beat Northwestern/Illinois in last two at home.

Cleveland State won/covered its last four games; they're 3-1-1 as home favorite in Horizon games, winning at home by 17-21-10-26 points in conference play. Vikings (+1) lost 72-66 at Valparaiso Jan 15; Crusaders hit on 60% of shots for game, State's only loss in last nine games. Valpo won seven of its last eight games, with only loss at Green Bay. Horizon single digit home favorites 17-19-1 vs spread. Cleveland State allowed 47-47-42 points in its last three games, all on road.

Last eight Illinois games were all decided by 5 or less points, with Illini losing four of its last five; Weber's team is 1-3 on Big Dozen road, with road losses by 15-2-5 points. Illini is 3-3 as conference underdog, 1-2 on road. Indiana is 4-1 in Big Dozen home games, 2-2 as home faves, with wins by 4-2-19-14 points. Big Dozen single digit home favorites are 14-16 vs spread. Hoosiers lost five of last six series games, winning by 3 in last meeting here. Illini lost four of last seven visits here.

Arizona (+2) lost 64-63 at Colorado Jan 21, shooting 34.5% from floor, 3-20 from arc; Wildcats won three of four games since then, are 3-2 as a Pac-12 home favorite, winning in Tucson by 17-8-24 points, losing to Oregon/Washington. Pac-12 home favorites of 7+ points are 18-6-1 vs spread. Buffaloes won five of last six games, are 2-2 as Pac-12 underdog on road, losing away games by 7-20-17 points, with win at lowly USC. Four of last seven Arizona games were decided by 4 or less points.

Northwestern won four of last five games with Iowa, winning last three here by 6-17-3 points; Wildcats are 3-2 at home in conference, 2-2 as a home favorite with home wins by 12-7-10 points. Big Dozen single digit home favorites are 14-16 vs spread. Iowa is 6-3 as a Big Dozen dog, 3-2 on road, losing its last three road games by 34-7-14 points while giving up an average of 91 ppg. Hawkeyes won their last two games, allowing 59-64 points, but both of those were at home.

Virginia Tech-Miami met in last three ACC tourneys, with Tech winning twice; Hokies also won three of last four visits here- last three in series were decided by 7 or less points. Tech is 2-6 in ACC, 1-3 on road, with road losses by 3-2-4 point, but they were favored in three of those four games. Hokies are 1-2 as an ACC underdog; dogs covered all four of their ACC road games. ACC single digit home favorites are 2-14 against the spread. Road team covered seven of Miami's eight ACC games.

Pacific won four of last five games, covered last seven; they're 7-0 as a Big West underdog, 2-0 at home- they're 2-3 SU at home, losing home games by 4-7-3 points. Tigers (+18) lost 76-66 at Long Beach State Jan 14, its fourth loss in a row to 49ers, who are 3-2 in last five visits here, winning by 6-1-10 points. Big West road favorites of 5+ points are 4-7 against the spread. Long Beach is 10-0 in Big West, 3-2 as road favorite, winning away games by 14-13-9-23-7 points.

Oregon (+9.5) lost 76-60 at Washington Dec 31, shooting 32.3% from while Huskies made 12-22 from arc; Ducks are 6-0 when they allow less than 70 points in conference play, 1-5 when they allow 70+. Oregon is 3-2 at home in Pac-12, losing to Cal/Oregon State. Washington won its last five games, with three of last four by 6 or less points; they won last three road games, by 4-6-2 points. Pac-12 home teams are 15-11 against the spread if the number is less than 5 points.

UCLA (+6.5) lost 60-59 at Stanford Dec 29, making just 15-24 on foul line, in game where both teams shot under 40%. Bruins are 4-0 as Pac-12 home favorite, winning "home" games in LA Sports Arena by 7-17-27-17 points (Pauley Pavilion is being redone). Pac-12 home favorites of 7 or less points are 9-14-1 against the spread. Stanford lost four of its last five games, with all four losses by 10+ points; they lost four of five on Pac-12, with losses by 11-12-13-10 and only win in four OTs.

Gonzaga (+4) got waxed 83-62 at St Mary's Jan 12, as Gaels shot 51% from floor, turned ball over only five times, and Sacre scored 4 points in only 18 minutes. St Mary's won its last 12 games; they're 5-0 on WCC road, winning by 7 at LMU, 14 at BYU. Gonzaga won five of its last six games; they're 1-3 vs spread as an underdog, but won all five of its WCC home games. St Mary's won here LY, ending losing streak in Spokane to Zags. WCC home faves of 4 or less points are 5-2 against the spread.

Fairfield (-1) lost 53-51 at Manhattan Jan 8 in brickfest where Fairfield shot 32% for game, 3-20 from arc; Stags won three in row, five of last six games; they're 4-7 as a MAAC favorite, 2-4 at home- they won three in row at home by 28-8-8 points. Manhattan had 8-game win streak ended by Iona last game; they're 6-0 vs spread on MAAC road, with only road loss by 1 at Loyola. MAAC home favorites of 5 or less points are 7-4-1 against the spread. Manhattan is 4-1 vs spread as an underdog.

Murray State still hasn't lost, but they're 0-7 vs spread last seven games, winning home games by 24-9-11-8-15-8 points (1-5 as home fave); they haven't covered since Jan 7 at rival Austin Peay, who they play again on Saturday. Tennessee State won five in row and seven of last eight games; they're 2-2-1 as OVC road underdog, losing its away games by 5-6-7-6 points. State hasn't lost a conference games by more than 7 points. OVC double digit home favorites are 6-9 against the spread.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB

Thursday, February 9

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College funds: Thursday's best NCAAB bets
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Tennessee State Tigers at Murray State Racers (-12, 136)

No. 7 Murray State, the nation's lone unbeaten team, puts its 23-0 mark on the line against a hot Tennessee State contingent. With a win, MSU can clinch a tie for its third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship, and also extend its home win streak to 19 games.

The Racers' 18-game win streak at the CFSB Center is tied for ninth longest in the nation. Isaiah Canaan continues to push for All-American recognition.

The junior guard leads the Racers in scoring (18.9) and assists (3.8). Canaan is seventh in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (46.3) and 17th in 3-point field goals per game (3.0). He has three games of more than 30 points this season, 10 games of 20 or more, and has been in double digits in 22 of 23 games.

Tennessee State has won five straight and seven of eight to pull into a second place tie with Tennessee Tech in the OVC, but the Tigers are in over their heads here.

Pick: Racers


Wisconsin Badgers at Minnesota Golden Gophers (1, 113)

No. 22 Wisconsin leads the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 49.8 points. Where the Badgers struggle is on the other end.

Minnesota is riding the bubble right now and could use a big week to boost its NCAA Tournament resume, with No. 3 Ohio State on tap after Wisconsin. The Gophers have the misfortune of catching Wisconsin outside the Kohl Center.

Oddly, the Badgers have been a stronger team away from home, shooting 40.2 percent from beyond the arc in road games while connecting at a 23 percent clip at home.

The Badgers had recorded a total of six conference losses at home in the Bo Ryan’s first 10 seasons. They are already halfway to that mark in 2011-12.

Wisconsin suffered a big blow to its hopes of a Big Ten regular-season championship with a home loss to Ohio State last weekend. The Badgers have not eclipsed 57 points in any of their last three games and have not won at Minnesota since 2008.

Pick: Golden Gophers

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Illinois at Indiana
The Illini look to build on their 10-4 ATS record in their last 14 games as an underdog of 7 to 12 1/2 points. Illinois is the pick (+8) according to Dunkel, which has the Hoosiers favored by only 5 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Illinois (+8). Here are all of today's picks.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Game 709-710: NC State at Georgia Tech (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NC State 63.346; Georgia Tech 59.032
Dunkel Line: NC State by 4 1/2; 129
Vegas Line: NC State by 3 1/2; 134
Dunkel Pick: NC State (-3 1/2); Under

Game 711-712: Mississippi at Mississippi State (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Mississippi 59.918; Mississippi State 69.098
Dunkel Line: Mississippi State by 9; 140
Vegas Line: Mississippi State by 7 1/2; 135 1/2
Dunkel Pick Mississippi State (-7); Over

Game 713-714: Denver at Florida Atlantic (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 56.665; Florida Atlantic 57.838
Dunkel Line: Florida Atlantic by 1; 117
Vegas Line: Denver by 1; 121 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Florida Atlantic (+1); Under

Game 715-716: North Texas at Florida International (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: North Texas 56.509; Florida International 58.926
Dunkel Line: Florida International by 2 1/2; 139
Vegas Line: Florida International by 1; 133 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Florida International (-1); Over

Game 717-718: Wisconsin at Minnesota (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Wisconsin 70.279; Minnesota 71.377
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1; 108
Vegas Line: Wisconsin by 1; 114
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+1); Under

Game 719-720: Valparaiso at Cleveland State (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Valparaiso 58.399; Cleveland State 65.163
Dunkel Line: Cleveland State by 7; 135
Vegas Line: Cleveland State by 9 1/2; 131 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Valparaiso (+9 1/2); Over

Game 721-722: Butler at Youngstown State (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Butler 56.226; Youngstown State 55.603
Dunkel Line: Butler by 1; 124
Vegas Line: Youngstown State by 1; 128
Dunkel Pick: Butler (+1); Under

Game 723-724: Arkansas-Little Rock at UL-Lafayette (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arkansas-Little Rock 53.060; UL-Lafayette 57.573
Dunkel Line: UL-Lafayette by 4 1/2; 136
Vegas Line: UL-Lafayette by 6; 130
Dunkel Pick: Arkansas-Little Rock (+6); Over

Game 725-726: Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee State (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Western Kentucky 49.856; Middle Tennessee State 66.036
Dunkel Line: Middle Tennessee State by 16; 133
Vegas Line: Middle Tennessee State by 14; 129 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Middle Tennessee State (-14); Over

Game 727-728: Arkansas State at South Alabama (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arkansas State 49.440; South Alabama 53.859
Dunkel Line: South Alabama by 4 1/2; 121
Vegas Line: South Alabama by 3; 123
Dunkel Pick: South Alabama (-3); Under

Game 729-730: Illinois at Indiana (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Illinois 64.732; Indiana 70.066
Dunkel Line: Indiana by 5 1/2; 141
Vegas Line: Indiana by 8; 135 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Illinois (+8); Over

Game 731-732: Colorado at Arizona (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado 63.176; Arizona 72.795
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 9 1/2; 126
Vegas Line: Arizona by 7; 129
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-7); Under

Game 733-734: Utah at Arizona State (8:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Utah 46.919; Arizona State 55.267
Dunkel Line: Arizona State by 8 1/2; 113
Vegas Line: Arizona State by 11; 118
Dunkel Pick: Utah (+11); Under

Game 735-736: Iowa at Northwestern (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Iowa 61.150; Northwestern 70.838
Dunkel Line: Northwestern by 9 1/2; 152
Vegas Line: Northwestern by 7; 146 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Northwestern (-7); Over

Game 737-738: Virginia Tech at Miami (FL) (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Virginia Tech 63.513; Miami (FL) 67.234
Dunkel Line: Miami (FL) by 3 1/2; 137
Vegas Line: Miami (FL) by 6 1/2; 132 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Virginia Tech (+6 1/2); Over

Game 739-740: Louisiana Tech at Utah State (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Louisiana Tech 52.382; Utah State 59.888
Dunkel Line: Utah State by 7 1/2; 131
Vegas Line: Utah State by 10; 134
Dunkel Pick: Louisiana Tech (+10); Under

Game 741-742: Washington State at Oregon State (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington State 57.101; Oregon State 68.776
Dunkel Line: Oregon State by 11 1/2; 151
Vegas Line: Oregon State by 9 1/2; 149 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oregon State (-9 1/2); Over

Game 743-744: Fresno State at San Jose State (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Fresno State 56.333; San Jose State 52.890
Dunkel Line: Fresno State by 3 1/2; 128
Vegas Line: Fresno State by 2; 132 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Fresno State (-2); Under

Game 745-746: Santa Clara at San Francisco (11:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Santa Clara 46.488; San Francisco 56.850
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 10 1/2; 157
Vegas Line: San Francisco by 12 1/2; 154
Dunkel Pick: Santa Clara (+12 1/2); Over

Game 747-748: San Diego at Peppersine (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego 52.500; Pepperdine 53.555
Dunkel Line: Pepperdine by 1; 122
Vegas Line: Pepperdine by 2 1/2; 125 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+2 1/2); Under

Game 749-750: CS-Northridge at UC-Davis (11:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: CS-Northridge 45.302; UC-Davis 44.042
Dunkel Line: CS-Northridge by 1 1/2; 142
Vegas Line: CS-Northridge by 1; 138 1/2
Dunkel Pick: CS-Northridge (-1); Over

Game 751-752: UC-Riverside at Cal Poly (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: UC-Riverside 46.243; Cal Poly 57.017
Dunkel Line: Cal Poly by 11; 109
Vegas Line: Cal Poly by 9 1/2; 113 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cal Poly (-9 1/2); Under

Game 753-754: UC-Irvine at CS-Fullerton (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: UC-Irvine 49.702; CS-Fullerton 59.055
Dunkel Line: CS-Fullerton by 9 1/2; 155
Vegas Line: CS-Fullerton by 11 1/2; 149 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UC-Irvine (+11 1/2); Over

Game 755-756: Long Beach State at Pacific (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Long Beach State 65.458; Pacific 54.316
Dunkel Line: Long Beach State by 11; 129
Vegas Line: Long Beach State by 9; 134
Dunkel Pick: Long Beach State (-9); Under

Game 757-758: California at USC (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: California 64.969; USC 58.712
Dunkel Line: California by 6 1/2; 118
Vegas Line: California by 8; 114 1/2
Dunkel Pick: USC (+8); Over

Game 759-760: Loyola-Marymount at Portland (11:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Loyola-Marymount 58.759; Portland 53.176
Dunkel Line: Loyola-Marymount by 5 1/2; 135
Vegas Line: Loyola-Marymount by 4; 140
Dunkel Pick: Loyola-Marymount (-4); Under

Game 761-762: Washington at Oregon (11:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 65.936; Oregon 64.434
Dunkel Line: Washington by 1 1/2; 151
Vegas Line: Pick; 146
Dunkel Pick: Washington; Over

Game 763-764: Stanford at UCLA (11:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Stanford 60.412; UCLA 69.218
Dunkel Line: UCLA by 9; 121
Vegas Line: UCLA by 6 1/2; 127
Dunkel Pick: UCLA (-6 1/2); Under

Game 765-766: St. Mary's at Gonzaga (11:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Mary's 65.758; Gonzaga 70.108
Dunkel Line: Gonzaga by 4 1/2; 144
Vegas Line: Gonzaga by 2 1/2; 139
Dunkel Pick: Gonzaga (-2 1/2); Over

Game 767-768: New Mexico State at Idaho (11:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Mexico State 60.366; Idaho 59.033
Dunkel Line: New Mexico State by 1 1/2; 136
Vegas Line: New Mexico State by 1; 141
Dunkel Pick: New Mexico State (-1); Under

Game 769-770: Nevada at Hawaii (12:00 a.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Nevada 59.315; Hawaii 56.695
Dunkel Line: Nevada by 2 1/2; 144
Vegas Line: Nevada by 1; 139
Dunkel Pick: Nevada (-1); Over

Game 771-772: Wofford at Georgia Southern (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Wofford 52.862; Georgia Southern 52.565
Dunkel Line: Even; 122
Vegas Line: Wofford by 1 1/2; 125 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Georgia Southern (+1 1/2); Under

Game 773-774: Davidson at The Citadel (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Davidson 61.120; The Citadel 45.543
Dunkel Line: Davidson by 14 1/2; 147
Vegas Line: Davidson by 17; 143 1/2
Dunkel Pick: The Citadel (+17); Over

Game 775-776: Appalachian State at Furman (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Appalachian State 44.988; Furman 53.206
Dunkel Line: Furman by 8; 125
Vegas Line: Furman by 6; 130 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Furman (-6); Under

Game 777-778: Siena at Niagara (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Siena 48.154; Niagara 53.592
Dunkel Line: Niagara by 5 1/2; 141
Vegas Line: Niagara by 4 1/2; 136 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Niagara (-4 1/2); Over

Game 779-780: Rider at Canisius (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Rider 50.813; Canisius 47.426
Dunkel Line: Rider by 3 1/2; 155
Vegas Line: Rider by 5; 148
Dunkel Pick: Canisius (+5); Over

Game 781-782: Elon at Chattanooga (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Elon 45.049; Chattanooga 52.808
Dunkel Line: Chattanooga by 7 1/2; 137
Vegas Line: Chattanooga by 5; 141 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chattanooga (-5); Under

Game 783-784: Manhattan at Fairfield (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Manhattan 57.159; Fairfield 59.736
Dunkel Line: Fairfield by 2 1/2; 133
Vegas Line: Fairfield by 4; 128
Dunkel Pick: Manhattan (+4); Over

Game 785-786: Western Carolina at College of Charleston (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Western Carolina 45.340; College of Charleston 54.627
Dunkel Line: College of Charleston by 9 1/2; 135
Vegas Line: College of Charleston by 11 1/2; 139
Dunkel Pick: Western Carolina (+11 1/2); Under

Game 787-788: NC-Greensboro at Samford (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NC-Greensboro 48.536; Samford 50.722
Dunkel Line: Samford by 2; 145
Vegas Line: Samford by 4; 140 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NC-Greensboro (+4); Over

Game 789-790: Tennessee State at Murray State (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee State 52.125; Murray State 65.568
Dunkel Line: Murray State by 13 1/2; 132
Vegas Line: Murray State by 11; 136 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Murray State (-11); Under

Game 791-792: Eastern Illinois at Tennessee Tech (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Illinois 43.001; Tennessee Tech 53.267
Dunkel Line: Tennessee Tech by 10 1/2; 139
Vegas Line: Tennessee Tech by 12 1/2; 134 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Illinois (+12 1/2); Over

Game 793-794: Tennessee-Martin at SE Missouri State (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee-Martin 39.646; SE Missouri State 53.264
Dunkel Line: SE Missouri State by 13 1/2; 136
Vegas Line: SE Missouri State by 11; 141
Dunkel Pick: SE Missouri State (-11); Under

Game 795-796: Weber State at Northern Arizona (8:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Weber State 53.932; Northern Arizona 44.023
Dunkel Line: Weber State by 10; 145
Vegas Line: Weber State by 11 1/2; 139 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Northern Arizona (+11 1/2); Over

Game 797-798: Marist at St. Peter's (8:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Marist 41.545; St. Peter's 49.236
Dunkel Line: St. Peter's by 7 1/2; 128
Vegas Line: St. Peter's by 4 1/2; 134
Dunkel Pick: St. Peter's (-4 1/2); Under

Game 799-800: Montana at Northern Colorado (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montana 55.402; Northern Colorado 50.939
Dunkel Line: Montana by 4 1/2; 133
Vegas Line: Montana by 7; 136 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Northern Colorado (+7); Under

Game 801-802: Portland State at Idaho State (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Portland State 49.028; Idaho State 48.747
Dunkel Line: Even; 148
Vegas Line: Portland State by 1; 142 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Idaho State (+1); Over

Game 803-804: Montana State at Sacramento State (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montana State 46.789; Sacramento State 48.210
Dunkel Line: Sacramento State by 1 1/2; 131
Vegas Line: Sacramento State by 4; 135 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Montana State (+4); Under

Game 811-812: North Dakota State at UMKC (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: North Dakota State 56.630; UMKC 49.730
Dunkel Line: North Dakota State by 7; 142
Vegas Line: North Dakota State by 6; 136 1/2
Dunkel Pick: North Dakota State (-6); Over

Game 813-814: IUPUI at Oral Roberts (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: IUPUI 50.134; Oral Roberts 62.869
Dunkel Line: Oral Roberts by 12 1/2; 149
Vegas Line: Oral Roberts by 14; 145
Dunkel Pick: IUPUI (+14); Over

Game 815-816: South Dakota State at South Dakota (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: South Dakota State 65.174; South Dakota 52.731
Dunkel Line: South Dakota State by 12 1/2; 143
Vegas Line: South Dakota State by 11; 147 1/2
Dunkel Pick: South Dakota State (-11); Under

Game 817-818: Western Illinois at Southern Utah (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Western Illinois 50.502; Southern Utah 51.166
Dunkel Line: Southern Utah by 1; 121
Vegas Line: Southern Utah by 2; 115
Dunkel Pick: Western Illinois (+2); Over

 

[varkeyboy]

whatchu got???

 

[varkeyboy]

How come you don't post your RECORD anymore w/ your plays?????? Those are good things to know.......