Monday 12/26/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 12:30

Watford

v

C Palace

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		31/20	23/10	2	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT WATFORD	RECENT FORM
HWHLALHWALAL​ Most recent​	0 - 1 2 - 2 0 - 2 1 - 1	HLALHWADHLHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Crystal Palace have won just twice in 19 league away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Watford have seen off some strong opposition at Vicarage Road this season, beating Manchester United and Everton as well as Leicester and Hull, and while they did suffer an off-day to lose to Stoke in November, that was a rare blemish on a solid record. Crystal Palace have one win in ten and are conceding too many goals.

RECOMMENDATION: Watford
3


REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Chelsea

v

Bournemouth

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		2/5	4	8	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CHELSEA	RECENT FORM
AWHWAWHWAWAW​ Most recent​	0 - 1 1 - 0 2 - 0	AWALHWALHWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Eden Hazard has scored eight goals in 16 league games

EXPERT VERDICT: Chelsea’s title challenge continues to gather pace and they should give their fans plenty of Christmas cheer with a victory over Bournemouth. Eden Hazard, rejuvenated by the arrival of Antonio Conte, can lead the way for the Blues in the absence of the suspended Diego Costa as the leaders look for a 12th straight Premier League win.

RECOMMENDATION: E Hazard first goalscorer
1


REFEREE: Mike Jones STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Burnley

v

Middlesbro

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		19/10	11/5	7/4	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT BURNLEY	RECENT FORM
ALHLALHWALAL​ Most recent​	1 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - 2	HLADHWALHLHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Burnley have claimed 16 of their 17 points at home

EXPERT VERDICT: Burnley will be happy to be back on home soil after consecutive away defeats at West Ham and Tottenham. The Clarets are a much better outfit when playing in front of their own fans, claiming all but one of their 17-point tally and 14 of their 16 goals at Turf Moor. Middlesbrough have won just once on the road and look vulnerable favourites.

RECOMMENDATION: Burnley
2


REFEREE: Craig Pawson STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Arsenal

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West Brom

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		1/3	9/2	10	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ARSENAL	RECENT FORM
HLAWAWHWALAL​ Most recent​	2 - 0 4 - 1 1 - 0 2 - 0	HWADHWALHWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Arsenal have conceded at least one goal in each of their last five home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Arsenal’s last league defeat at the Emirates came on the opening day of the season and the Gunners are a warm order to record a Boxing Day victory. They should justify short prices but West Brom have been potent in front of goal, including on the road where only Bournemouth and rock-solid Chelsea have prevented them from finding the net.

RECOMMENDATION: Arsenal to win 2-1
1


REFEREE: Neil Swarbrick STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Leicester

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Everton

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		31/20	23/10	2	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LEICESTER	RECENT FORM
HDALALHWALAD​ Most recent​	3 - 1 2 - 2 1 - 1 0 - 0	HDALHDALHWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: both teams have scored in Leicester’s last five home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Leicester showed glimpses of their title-winning form when they hammered Man City at home but their inconsistencies resurfaced when they were beaten away at Bournemouth just three days later. The Foxes have scored in all but two of their home games this season, while Ronald Koeman’s team are also capable in attack.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
2


REFEREE: Stuart Attwell STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Swansea

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West Ham

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		13/10	12/5	12/5	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SWANSEA	RECENT FORM
ADHWALHWALAL​ Most recent​	0 - 0 1 - 1 0 - 0 3 - 0	ADALHLADHWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Swansea are unbeaten in three games against West Ham, winning 4-1 at Upton Park in May

EXPERT VERDICT: Swansea’s dreadful away form continues, but in south Wales they have lost just one of four matches under Bob Bradley. Even that was to Manchester United, with the Swans beating Sunderland and Crystal Palace, so there have been signs of life. West Ham ended a seven-match winless run with two wins in a week leading up to Christmas, but a pair of 1-0 home wins over Burnley and Hull is no proof of a return to form.

RECOMMENDATION: Swansea
1


REFEREE: Andre Marriner STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA roundup: Last-second Cavs win over Warriors
By The Sports Xchange

CLEVELAND -- The Golden State Warriors still can't close out Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Irving's turnaround jumper over Klay Thompson with 3.4 seconds left gave the Cavs a thrilling 109-108 victory Sunday in an NBA Finals rematch after Cleveland trailed by 14 earlier in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors led most of the game and extended their lead to 94-80 with LeBron James resting on the bench early in the fourth. But James' rim-rattling dunk with 1:43 left gave the Cavs a 105-103 lead -- their first since early in the first quarter -- and Irving finished off the stunning comeback with a turnaround jumper. It was reminiscent of his championship-winning 3-pointer in the final minute of Game 7 last June when Cleveland became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to stun Golden State.
They did it again Sunday.

Thunder 112, Timberwolves 100
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook had 32 points and 15 assists to lead Oklahoma City to a victory over Minnesota at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Westbrook made 11 of 25 shots from the field and grabbed seven rebounds as the Thunder improved to 19-12 this season and 5-2 on Christmas Day.
Steven Adams added 22 points and Enes Kanter came off the bench to drop 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor.

Spurs 119, Bulls 100
SAN ANTONIO -- LaMarcus Aldridge hit his first 11 shots from the floor on the way to a season-high 33 points in leading San Antonio to a wild victory over Chicago at the AT&T Center as part of the NBA's Christmas Day extravaganza.
Kawhi Leonard added 25 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Spurs (25-4), who won for the first time on Christmas since 2008 and improved to 5-6 all time on the holiday.
San Antonio, which won seven of its past eight games, built a 20-point first-quarter lead but gave it all back and more by midway through the third quarter, when it trailed 70-67. The Spurs then blew past the Bulls in the final 16 minutes, running away at the end.

Celtics 119, Knicks 114
NEW YORK -- Marcus Smart hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 47.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as Boston blew a 13-point lead before escaping Madison Square Garden with a Christmas Day victory over New York.
The Celtics seemingly had their fifth win in six games secure when they held leads of 109-96 with 4:58 remaining and 112-104 with two minutes. They wound up needing Smart's clutch shot because the Knicks ripped off eight straight points and forged a 112-112 deadlock with 66 seconds left on a baseline layup.
Carmelo Anthony's hoop forced the Celtics to call their final full timeout and coming out of the stoppage, Jae Crowder was guarded by Kristaps Porzingis on the inbounds pass. Three other players touched the ball before it wound up in Smart's hands on the left side near the Boston bench.

Lakers 111, Clippers 102
LOS ANGELES -- Timofey Mozgov and Nick Young scored 19 points as the Lakers defeated the Clippers.
The Lakers' victory broke an 11-game losing streak against the short-handed Clippers, who were missing Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and lost J.J. Redick to injury during the game. The win also snapped an overall four-game losing streak for the Lakers.
The Lakers shot 47.6 percent (40-84) from the field and used a balanced attack for the victory. Seven Lakers reached double figures in scoring, including Luol Deng, who registered 13 points and 12 rebounds.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Grizzlies (20-12) at Magic (14-18)

Date: December 26, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

When the Memphis Grizzlies officially announced Mike Conley would be out indefinitely with a fracture in a vertebra in his back in late November, the team was put into a state of turmoil. The Grizzlies were not particularly deep at point guard and their freshly re-signed star was a big part of the team's heartbeat.

Facing a long absence, the Grizzlies season seemed to hang in the balance.

Memphis is Memphis, though. The Grizzlies faced devastating injuries before. And even with a new coach in David Fizdale bringing a somewhat faster pace and new identity to the team, the Grizzlies still have a strong culture built on defense.

Memphis won seven of its next nine games, including a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even without Conley, the Grizzlies were stifling defensively, giving up only 97.9 points per 100 possessions. Memphis was playing among the best teams in the league.

With Conley out, Memphis did not lose ground. The team gained ground.

Then Conley made a surprise early return Dec. 16. He struggled to get himself going again and the Grizzlies' hot streak slowed some. But Memphis once again got itself back off the mat while facing some adversity.

Conley scored 24 points in the Grizzlies' 115-109 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday. He is still inconsistent as he gets his rhythm back, but this was a big first step.

"I knew eventually one of these games I was going to break through," Conley told FSN Southeast. "My body is starting to feel better and better each game. I'm feeling more confident and doing more things. The sky is the limit for us. So I've just got to keep going."

This team is firmly entrenched among the Western Conference's best teams. And figure only to get better.

The Grizzlies are a more than respectable 20-12 coming out of the Christmas break. And there is enough faith in them as a team to keep things moving in the right direction.

The Orlando Magic (14-18) do not quite have that faith as they enter Monday's game against the visiting Grizzlies at Amway Center. The team treaded water through December as they hang on the outside of the early Eastern Conference playoff race.

Their team is still coming together and struggling to find consistency.

The Magic suffered a 30-point home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 18. They followed that up with a double-overtime road victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday and a disappointing effort against the New York Knicks on Thursday. They then set a franchise-record with nine blocks in the first quarter of a 106-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

The Magic are still figuring things out. But one thing is certain, they know how to bounce back from defeats and, at least, keep the boat steady.

"We haven't been perfect a lot of times this year," Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel said. "We knew it would take a little time to gel. It's still going to take some time to gel and grow our consistency that's going to take place throughout the season. ... We believe in ourselves and have a lot of pride."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bucks (14-14) at Wizards (13-16)

Date: December 26, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The home-and-home series conclusion against the Milwaukee Bucks provides the Washington Wizards a chance for some post-Christmas redemption.

If the rematch follows a similar path to the opener, it may be time to wonder if Giannis Antetokounmpo has reached superstar status.

The Bucks' all-everything forward scored a career-high 39 points in Milwaukee's 123-96 rout over Washington on Friday. Antetokounmpo sank 15 of 17 free throws to go with eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and 12 field goals, many of which were dunks and layups.

"It was alright," Bucks coach Jason Kidd joked about the dazzling performance. "We hold the bar a little bit higher. I thought the team played great. What was special about tonight for Giannis was that we didn't call his number, the ball found him and he delivered. He did the hard work, putting the ball in the basket."

The crowd chanted "M-V-P" for the lengthy Antetokounmpo in the fourth quarter with Milwaukee up 27 after he led the Bucks (14-14) to season-high 73 points in the first half for a 73-58 lead.

"My mind was going like 'wow,' but, I'm not there yet," Antetokounmpo said. "I'm going to keep working hard and keep helping my team to do great things."

The Wizards' (13-16) defense can only get better after allowing the Bucks to shoot 56.3 percent from the field.

"I think you're going to have like one out of every five games where you just get your (tail) beat," Wizards point guard John Wall said. "Tonight we just got our (tail) whooped in all phases of the game. We converted back to old defensive ways and that's not the way we can beat these guys."

The spotty effort came after a stretch of improved work. Washington went 6-2 before its worst performance of the season capped a three-game road swing.

Milwaukee scored a staggering 66 points in the paint. Power forward Jabari Parker had 21 points.

"Everything went wrong," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. "They got back doors, they got offensive rebounds, straight line drives. We weren't good tonight, there is no way around it. They out-worked us, we have to do better. Too many points in the paint, too many layups, I think they had 20 layups in that first half. We can't do that, we can't expect to win on the road and give an athletic team easy buckets around the paint, that is what they do. We didn't make them play to their weaknesses at all."

Washington's defensive form was fine late in its 110-105 home win over Milwaukee on Dec. 11. The Wizards trailed 100-95 with 4:28 left, but outscored the Bucks 15-5 from there. Wall finished with 24 points and 11 assists. Bradley Beal scored 20 against Milwaukee, but had only 10 on 3 of 10 shooting in Friday's rematch, snapping a streak of eight straight games with at least 20 points.

Antetokounmpo had 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists at Washington.

Milwaukee had lost five of seven before Friday's win.

Wall, who had two knee offseason knee surgeries, is playing at a high level in December. The three-time All-Star is averaging 24.6 points, 10.1 assists and 2.7 steals through 12 games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cavaliers (23-6) at Pistons (14-18)

Date: December 26, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The Cleveland Cavaliers had very little time to celebrate before getting back to business.

Their thrilling 109-108 victory over Golden State on Christmas Day could only be savored a few short hours before they headed to Detroit to face the Pistons on Monday night.

It wouldn't be surprising if the Cavs, who have won five straight, are emotionally and physically spent. They rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter against their fiercest rival while using only eight players.

Coach Tyronn Lue said he would talk to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving on the plane ride and then decide Monday morning whether to sit either of his biggest stars. James hinted he would play during his postgame availability.

"I haven't even started to think about tomorrow, to be honest," he said. "I'm about to head back home and continue to celebrate Christmas, but when that time comes we'll lock back in."

James played 40 minutes while racking up 31 points and 13 rebounds. Irving was on the court for 44 minutes, providing 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. His fallaway jumper with 3.4 seconds left completed the comeback.

"We got a ways before we even start considering the carryover (to the postseason) or anything like that," Irving said. "It's just a Christmas Day game. Another classic with a great team. It's exciting. It's just all respect when we go out there and play. It's just high-level players making high-level plays."

Lue likes what he's seeing from his 23-6 team.

"We're playing good basketball, we're playing team basketball, making the right plays, the right passes and our defense has really picked up," he said. "We're playing well defensively and when we do that we're able to get out in transition and get our open threes and get to the basket and things like that."

An emotional letdown by the Cavs might just be what the last-place Pistons (14-18) need to end their five-game skid. They shot 50.6 percent from the field and forced 23 turnovers but still lost to the Warriors, 119-113, on Friday.

Coach Stan Van Gundy made a lineup change, replacing Tobias Harris with Jon Leuer at power forward. That stoked Harris' emotional fire, as he scored a season-high 26 points in 32 minutes off the bench.

"Obviously, we're at a point where things weren't really jelling the right way and shakeups like that happen," Harris said. "You can't hang your head for however many games until somebody feels sorry for you. You just have to keep pushing and keep being ready. That's what it's about -- being ready for the team."

The way Van Gundy uses his forward rotation of Leuer, Harris, Marcus Morris and perhaps Stanley Johnson could turn into a game-by-game decision until the team starts winning.

"Right now, we clearly haven't got a settled rotation where we can count on solid play throughout the game, game to game," Van Gundy said. "We don't have that right now. So, going to probably be a little back and forth and trying to figure it out. The answer is still all of those guys need to play better."

They also need point guard Reggie Jackson to elevate his performance level. The team is 3-7 since Jackson returned to action from knee tendinitis.

Detroit got swept by Cleveland in the opening round of the playoffs last season and has dropped five of its last home games to the Cavaliers. Cleveland overpowered the Pistons in the first meeting this season, leading 56-39 at halftime en route to a 104-81 victory on Nov. 18 at Quicken Loans Arena. Irving led the way with 25 points and 11 assists.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hornets (17-13) at Nets (7-22)

Date: December 26, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The final week of the calendar year ends with a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Charlotte Hornets.

First, they must not look past three games against Eastern Conference teams with losing records.

Step one is Monday night when the Hornets visit the Brooklyn Nets, who are tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record in the NBA.

Charlotte built a 17-13 record by going a combined 14-5 against opposition at or under .500.

That doesn't mean those have been automatic flawless games for the Hornets, who follow up their second trip to Brooklyn with a visit to the Orlando Magic (14-18) on Wednesday and a home game against the Miami Heat (10-21) on Thursday.

If Charlotte wins its next three games, it takes a 20-13 record into its second meeting with the defending champions Saturday. That game precedes a month when the Hornets face the Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors.

Eight of Charlotte's wins occurred after it faced a double-digit deficit and the Hornets nearly added another Friday in a 103-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The Hornets trailed by eight early in the second quarter but Nicolas Batum scored seven of his 20 points in a span of 1:38 during a 16-0 run and Charlotte never trailed again.

"This was good for us," Batum said. "It was like a playoff game tonight. The crowd was really into it, and that was a good team we beat. So this is good for us in the long run."

Batum finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his seventh career triple-double and his third while with the Hornets. He was 7 of 15 from the field during a game that became highly contentious at the end and occurred two nights after Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said he was looking for a "jolt" from start to finish.

"I just think we had the right attitude tonight," Clifford said. "It's like with anything, when you have the right attitude, the right approach, you have a better chance to play well, and that's what we're doing. Just a lot of effort plays tonight. Nic was terrific, and a lot of other guys made a lot of good plays."

Kemba Walker also scored 20 points for the Hornets, who won their last three games following a four-game losing streak.

One of Charlotte's comebacks from a double-digit deficit occurred Nov. 4 in Brooklyn. The Hornets faced a 13-point deficit about seven minutes into the game and again with nearly four minutes left in the second quarter but wound up with a 99-95 victory.

The first meeting was part of a somewhat respectable 4-5 start for the Nets and was the first game the Nets played without Jeremy Lin. Lin returned Dec. 12 in Houston but Brooklyn lost all six games he played since.

The Nets are 3-17 since Nov. 12. Eleven of those games are double-digit defeats and 16 times, a team has scored at least 110 points.

Brooklyn plays its final home game of the calendar year following a back-to-back at home against Golden State and at Cleveland. The Nets scored 65 points against Golden State by halftime and held a 16-point lead before a 117-101 loss Thursday, but Friday was completely different.

The Nets wound up with a 119-99 setback and the final deficit was only 20 because Cleveland pulled its starters late in the third quarter. Brooklyn never led, trailed by as many as 46 and by double digits for the final 40-plus minutes.

Brook Lopez scored 16 points while Lin added 10. They also combined for eight of Brooklyn's 19 turnovers, giving the Nets 61 in their last three games.

"They came out and jumped on us immediately," Lopez said. "We seemed a bit timid and tentative, and they're a team that definitely feeds off that."

Brooklyn still leads the league in possessions per game but does not capitalize as evidenced by an offensive rating of 103.2 that places them 25th. Part of the low rating is an average of 17.3 turnovers per game, putting them next-to-last.

"A lot of it has just been on us and how careless we've been with the ball," Lopez said after the Nets committed at least 15 turnovers for the 25th time

Charlotte takes a five-game winning streak over the Nets into Monday and is unbeaten in its last four trips to Brooklyn. It matches the longest winning streak in franchise history against the Nets as Charlotte also won five straight in the series April 15, 1998-Nov. 12, 1999 and March 2, 2000-April 12, 2001.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mavericks (9-21) at Pelicans (11-21)

Date: December 26, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

NEW ORLEANS -- Dirk Nowitzki is back -- at least for now -- and that is bad news for the New Orleans Pelicans.

In his 18 years as a pro, the Dallas forward has been the heartbeat of the Mavericks, always ready to apply his knife-shot, fallaway jumper in the fourth quarter when his team needed it the most.

Nowitzki returned to the lineup Friday night on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers after missing the previous 14 games with a sore right Achilles.

Even though Nowitzki played only 15 minutes, he made them count, going 7 of 12 from the floor for 17 points in a 90-88 victory, the Mavericks' second straight on the road and third win in four games overall.

So when Nowitzki starts Monday night against the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center, he figures to give New Orleans fits.

"I felt a lot better coming back (this time) than the first time (in November)," Nowitzki said. "This time we took it a little more slow. I was able to run up and down last week. I ran on the treadmill and got some good work in and played some one-on-one against some of our coaches. So I think I was way more prepared this time. I felt decent, but there's still a long way to go."

After the victory -- only the ninth in 30 games for Dallas -- Nowitzki did an additional cardio workout so that he can start ramping up his minutes.

Despite their poor record, the Mavericks have liked what they've seen in forward Harrison Barnes, who in Nowitzki's absence took over the go-to role the 38-year-old German superstar had perfected during his career.

On the Mavericks' final possession against the Clippers, Barnes assumed Nowitzki's role as the focal point of the offense, hitting the winning mid-range jumper with 3.8 seconds left. Barnes scored six of Dallas' final 12 points on his way to a team-high 24.

"You get the ball in the hands of your best player and you give him the opportunity to win the game," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "And that's what Harrison did. It's his first game-winning shot for us, and I'm predicting it's going to be one of many."

Barnes, a free-agency pickup from Golden State in the offseason, relishes the idea of being the Mavs' closer, just as Nowitzki has been through the years.

"It means a lot -- the confidence from the coaches, the confidence from my teammates that they trust me to take that shot," Barnes said. "I'm just going to work as hard as I can just to continue to deliver."

Barnes is 4 of 6 from the field in final-minute situations when shooting either to tie or take the lead. That expands to 17 of 27 in tie or lead-change situations during any time of the fourth quarter.

"He's been fun to watch," Nowitzki said. "We've run some of the same stuff that we've run for me for years, we run for him now -- the high-post iso. He's mastered it."

New Orleans (11-21) is coming off two consecutive victories, the latest a 91-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night, Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 28 points and 22 rebounds, and guard Jrue Holiday had 22 points and six assists.

The Pelicans held the Heat to 38 points in the second half.

"I thought we kept grinding offensively and came up with stops," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said.

The Mavericks have owned the Pelicans recently, winning seven of their last 10 games. Dallas defeated New Orleans 91-81 at American Airlines Arena on Nov. 27 as Barnes and Wesley Matthews combined for 44 points and Andrew Bogut grabbed 14 rebounds. Davis had 36 points and 13 rebounds in a losing effort for the Pelicans.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle is 30-20 all time against New Orleans.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Suns (9-21) at Rockets (22-9)

Date: December 26, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

HOUSTON -- The Rockets offered the usual bold proclamations following the loss of one of their starters, but after three games with Clint Capela sidelined, the Rockets are displaying the vulnerability they claimed immunity to when Capela was lost.

In their first game without their starting center, the Rockets (22-9) blew a 13-point, fourth-quarter lead to the San Antonio Spurs. In their third, Houston allowed 115 points to the offensively challenged Memphis Grizzlies and tasted defeat again.

Having won 10 consecutive games with Capela anchoring their defense and thriving on rim runs off the pick-and-roll, only a win over the Suns prevented the Rockets from carrying a three-game skid into their second contest against Phoenix in three games. Houston hosts the Suns (9-21) on Monday night at Toyota Center looking to shake fatigue and their compromised interior depth without Capela.

"For us this is about the second time this is the third game in four nights. You come off a back-to-back and you have a day off and then you play this game," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said after the Memphis loss. "We got it in Utah (on Nov. 29) and we got it here where legs and mind went a little bit. So this has happened before.

"This is a long schedule. We'll just have to keep at it."

Their recent win over the Suns was a quintessential Rockets performance. Phoenix didn't submit but was overwhelmed by the barrage of 3-pointers Houston rained down, shooting 18 for 38 from behind the arc in its 125-111 road triumph. The Rockets' ability to strike from deep remains their great equalizer, even in games in which they struggle defensively or via offensive efficiency while absorbing a deficit.

The Suns snapped a four-game skid with their 123-116 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, a victory that featured a fourth consecutive game in which they scored more points than they did in the previous outing.

What remains problematic for Phoenix is its defense. The Suns rank 26th in defensive rating (110.9 points per 100 possessions) and 29th in points allowed per game with 113.6. They have surrendered at least 100 points in 13 consecutive games, with opponents averaging 116.1 points during that stretch.

"That's been our biggest issue," Suns forward P.J. Tucker said. "That's been our biggest problem all year. We turn it on for a quarter or two, play or two, game or two but we can't get it to go consecutively, especially after big wins.

"What I do know is when we get down and play defense, scramble and close down the paint and guard the 3-point line, we're tough to beat. We get out on the break, we start making shots and start feeling well. When we defend we're a great team."

Defending with vigor is something the Suns have failed to do with regularity. And the Rockets, even with their shortened rotation, will challenge Phoenix to be at its very best defensively because the results otherwise have already been witnessed.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hawks (15-15) at Timberwolves (9-21)

Date: December 26, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- Fresh from two days off during the holiday weekend, the Atlanta Hawks head to Minnesota on Monday with plans to avenge a home loss to the Timberwolves last Wednesday.

Considering Atlanta's recent string, Monday's game is in the perfect spot: on the road.

The Hawks (15-15) have won four straight home games. Minnesota's 92-84 victory in Atlanta last week was one of three straight home losses for the Hawks.

"Until we can figure out to play with consistency and bring the energy and focus every night, execute every night, we're going to be a .500 team," Atlanta swingman Kyle Korver told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution after the loss to the Timberwolves. "That's just our reality."

The Hawks have won in Milwaukee, Toronto, Oklahoma City and Denver over the past four road games. Friday's 109-108 win against the Nuggets occurred as Atlanta came back from an eight-point deficit with 1:43 remaining in the game.

"It means a lot," Hawks forward Paul Millsap told the Journal-Constitution. "But it means nothing if we don't take it to the next game. ... We've got to put two games together in a row. We haven't been able to do that in a while."

It was a lesson Atlanta hopes it learns after losing to Minnesota last week. The Hawks had beat the Thunder in Oklahoma City before returning home with a loss to the Timberwolves. Without center Dwight Howard in the lineup, Atlanta pulled to within three with just under five minutes remaining but didn't get any closer to Minnesota.

Howard could miss the rematch as well as he deals with back tightness. According to the Journal-Constitution, Howard and guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (right groin) are listed as out for Monday's game in Minnesota but the status could change before game time. Korver will be active after missing Friday's game in Denver with an illness, according to the paper.

Without Howard, the Hawks were outrebounded 52-35 by the Timberwolves and Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 18 rebounds.

While Atlanta is rested, the Timberwolves will be the weary holiday travelers. The Timberwolves followed last week's win with a Friday home loss to the Sacramento Kings before playing the first Christmas day game in the team's history.

Minnesota lost 112-100 at Oklahoma City on Christmas. Towns had 26 points and eight rebounds. Andrew Wiggins scored 23 points and Zach LaVine added 16 for the Timberwolves.

"We did everything we could to play them as well as possible," LaVine said. "We had some mental absences that lost us the game."

Mental absences have occurred too often for Minnesota this season. The Timberwolves have let plenty of second-half leads slip away in going 9-21.

"I thought we played fairly well in the first half," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Then in the third quarter, we knew Russell (Westbrook) would come out and be very aggressive. The thing is you are not going to be able to stop him. You just have to make him work. I thought we did a good job of making him play in a crowd, but in the second half, we were a step behind. That hurt us."

With no Westbrook to face, and possibly no Howard, Minnesota will try to play a full game and re-discover the attitude it had in winning three of four games after beating the Hawks the last time out.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pacers (15-16) at Bulls (14-16)

Date: December 26, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- Forgive Indiana Pacers forward Paul George if he seems a bit grumpy during the holidays.

The All-Star performer and his teammates have lost back-to-back games to fall one game below .500, and George does not want to experience his first three-game losing streak of the season Monday night when the Pacers visit the Chicago Bulls.

"Our identity is inconsistency," George told the Indianapolis Star after his team's latest loss. "We've yet to spread from the pack (in the Eastern Conference) and we've yet to string some games together. We've yet to take a step back and look at the big picture and point out some things that we're doing well over the course of this season. So, really, we have nothing to fall back on right now."

The Pacers (15-16) will try to establish a positive trajectory when they visit the Bulls (14-16). The game marks the third meeting this season between the teams with the series even at one win apiece.

Much like Indiana, Chicago has not shown consistency in the first half of the season. The Bulls have lost three straight games and six of the past seven to drop to a season-worst two games below .500.

A lack of scoring has been one of the biggest reasons for the Bulls' recent skid. The team has failed to score 100 points in five of its past seven games.

Wade said adversity could offer valuable lessons to some of his younger teammates.

"The best teacher is experience, and they're experiencing it now," Wade told the Chicago Tribune after the team's 119-100 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Christmas Day. "The only thing you can hope for is that at some point in the season, moments like this will help the team grow. You have to learn how to win together, and some of that comes through defeat."

A grueling schedule will not make the Bulls' mission any easier. The team flew home Sunday night after a late-afternoon game against the Spurs and will bypass its Monday morning shootaround in order to get more rest.

Wade, 34, is expected to play the second game of a back-to-back set. He scored 24 points in 28 minutes Sunday and has averaged 19.2 points per game this season, which ranks second on the team to Butler.

The Pacers expect to welcome back veteran guard Rodney Stuckey, who has missed the past five games because of a sore left hamstring. Stuckey participated fully in practice Friday and Saturday. He is averaging 9.5 points a game and provides coach Nate McMillan with a dependable option off the bench.

Pacers guard Monta Ellis likely will remain sidelined because of soreness in his groin. The 31-year-old sharpshooter has averaged 9.7 points in 24 games (23 starts) this season.

For the Bulls, guard Michael Carter-Williams could return to the court for his fourth game of the season. Carter-Williams has been out since injuring his left wrist and left knee Oct. 31 against Brooklyn. He told reporters he would meet with team doctors before Monday's game in hopes of being cleared to play.

Last season, Carter-Williams averaged 11.5 points and 5.2 assists per game with the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 16.7 points as a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013-14 and would boost the Bulls' backcourt depth behind Rajon Rondo and Wade.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Raptors (21-8) at Trail Blazers (13-19)

Date: December 26, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Two of the premier backcourts in the NBA take center stage Monday night when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Toronto Raptors at Moda Center.

That is, if Damian Lillard can answer the bell.

The Trail Blazers' All-Star point guard rolled his ankle late in Friday night's 110-90 loss to San Antonio and was limping in the locker room afterward.

"I went up for a rebound and landed on somebody's foot," Lillard told reporters. "I (stayed) in the game because I wanted to test it, but it hurt. I went out there for a few possessions, and it didn't make sense to be out there. It was uncomfortable."

Lillard said he is hopeful not to miss any action.

"I rolled it good. I know that for a fact," he said. "But I'll do everything I can to be ready for the next one."

If Lillard can play, Monday's game features four of the top 23 scorers in the league through Friday's games.

Toronto's DeMar DeRozan ranked fourth at 27.8 points per game. Lillard was tied for sixth at 27.0. Portland's CJ McCollum was tied for 20th at 22.0 and Toronto's Kyle Lowry 23rd at 21.8.

Lowry is coming off one of his best performances of the season -- and a gutsy one at that. In a 104-98 victory at Utah on Friday night, Lowry received two stitches on a cut lip, an injury that caused him to miss most of the third quarter. He came back to hit 9 of 10 shots and score 19 of his season-high 36 points in the fourth quarter as the Raptors (21-8) secured their third straight victory and their sixth consecutive win on the road.

"That's a performance that will be remembered," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said of Lowry's heroics.

"I do whatever it takes to help my team win," Lowry told reporters afterward. (Grabbing) loose balls, (sinking) open shots. We all do it and we do it together. That's what it's all about."

Toronto has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference thanks in no small part to its backcourt.

"DeMar is on that elite level, and he's still gaining confidence," teammate DeMarre Carroll said. "He is just getting into his prime, and Kyle is playing at a great rate."

Portland (13-19) is stuck in a rut. The Blazers dropped five straight and nine of their last 10.

"It weighs on you, when you try so hard and you want to do the right thing, you want to win," Lillard said. "You get asked so many times, 'What's the problem?' And you're trying to figure it out, also."

The Blazers are hopeful to regain the services of reserve forward Evan Turner, who missed the last three games with a sprained ankle.

Portland won 12 of its last 15 meetings with Toronto, but the Raptors swept both games from the Blazers last season, the first time that has happened since the 1996-97 season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: 76ers (7-22) at Kings (13-17)

Date: December 26, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- The Chaotic Kings suddenly have turned into the Winning Kings.

Perhaps the Philadelphia 76ers are taking notes.

The Sacramento Kings, engrossed in off-the-court controversy and losing basketball only a week ago, now find themselves in the midst of their longest stretch of success since February. They'll try to extend a three-game winning streak on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center when they host the 76ers.

Philadelphia has dealt with its own issues recently in what is rapidly becoming another awful season.

Sacramento (13-17), which has played six straight games without starter Rudy Gay (hip flexor) and four straight without reserve Omri Casspi (virus), has not won four straight since a five-game winning streak in January. The Kings have not said whether either will play against the 76ers.

"We're starting to realize what it takes to win games," forward DeMarcus Cousins told reporters after the Kings' 109-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. "We're doing a great job of playing together, moving the ball, getting everybody involved. Guys are having fun. Things are just clicking."

Interestingly enough, that started happening immediately after the Kings announced they'd fined Cousins a significant amount -- $50,000, according to the Sacramento Bee --- for a run-in with a sports columnist after a win earlier this month.

Cousins has been his usual dominant self since then, averaging 36.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in the three wins, but the Kings' success has come down to defensive execution in the fourth quarter.

Sacramento entered the fourth quarter trailing in each of its previous three victories and responded by outscoring Portland, Utah (on the road) and Minnesota by a combined 96-62 in the final 12 minutes. Those three teams all shot just 30 percent from the field in the fourth quarter.

The Kings shot 62 percent from the floor, with Cousins and guard Ty Lawson leading the way offensively by combining to average 21 points in the fourth quarters of those victories.

"We're using the time spent together in how we want to do it at end-of-game situations," Kings coach Dave Joerger said after the Minnesota win. "We're defending pretty well. We're executing offensively."

The 76ers (7-22), who have not won 20 games in a season since 2012-13, bring the NBA's worst record to Sacramento. They dropped the opener of a four-game Western Conference trip at Phoenix on Friday night and have lost eight of their 10 road games.

Philadelphia coach Brett Brown told The Philadelphia Enquirer he's committed to playing big men Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, even as forward Nerlens Noel has complained publicly about his lack of playing time.

Embiid is the NBA's leading rookie scorer (18.4 points per game), and Okafor's scoring and rebounding averages have dipped from 17.5 and 7.0 per game as a rookie to 11.1 and 5.0, respectively, this season.

Noel is still playing himself back into shape after a knee procedure earlier this season.

"I have to look at it by completely identifying what our strengths are when we grow these guys and play with these guys," Brown told the Inquirer. "We have to take advantage or our advantages as we grow our bigs."

Sixers forward Richaun Holmes remained in the NBA's concussion protocol and his status for Monday is questionable.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nuggets (12-18) at Clippers (22-10)

Date: December 26, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

Starting shooting guard J.J. Redick is the latest casualty, leaving Sunday's 111-102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with a sore left hamstring after scoring 22 points in 26 minutes. Although the Clippers haven't announced whether Redick will play in Monday night's contest against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center, it's a safe bet he will sit out.

"I would describe it as mild, day-to-day thing," Redick said after losing to the Lakers. "It could be a day, could be seven. I don't know."

The Clippers already have been without Blake Griffin (right knee surgery) and Chris Paul (strained left hamstring). Paul was scheduled to start against the Lakers, but he felt discomfort before the game and had a change of heart.

Paul, who missed the last two games after getting hurt in a win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, appeared ready to play after a good session at Saturday's practice. However, now he probably won't play against the Nuggets, either.

"Chris said that after talking to the doctors before the game, it was decided that he would miss the next two games," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "We're going thru a tough stretch right now and need to play better regardless of injuries."

Regardless, the Clippers, who have dropped three of their last five games, including their last two, are hoping to soothe their wounds against the Nuggets. The Clippers have captured six of their last seven meetings against the Nuggets, winning by an average of 10 points.

In their last contest six days ago, Los Angeles recorded a 119-102 romp. A dominant third quarter was the difference for the Clippers, whose starters were able to rest in the fourth quarter.

In the Nuggets' defense, they were playing the second end of a back-to-back after beating the Dallas Mavericks. It also was Denver's third game in four nights. Fatigue was definitely a factor, coach Michael Malone said.

This time the Nuggets come in rested. They haven't played since Friday when they suffered a 109-108 setback to the Atlanta Hawks in Denver. The Nuggets blew an eight-point lead in the final 1:43 to fall.

Defense remains one of the Nuggets' weaknesses. They ranked 26th in points allowed at 109.7 per game heading into Sunday's contests. Opponents are shooting 46.7 percent per game, which was tied for 25th with the Phoenix Suns.

However, the Nuggets are the NBA's No. 2 rebounding team at 47.9 per contest.

The Clippers were seventh in opponents' scoring at 101.9 per game and tied for fifth best in holding the opposition to 44.2 percent shooting before their defeat by the Lakers. In rebounding, the Clippers were 17th at 43.5.

Offensively, the Clippers were averaging 109.1 points (fifth) before Sunday's loss compared to 107.5 for the Nuggets.

The Clippers will be playing their fourth game in five nights. They had consecutive games against the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks on Thursday and Friday before facing the Lakers. Los Angeles also has an upcoming three-game road trip at New Orleans, Houston and Oklahoma City before the end of the month.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Monday’s games

Grizzlies won nine of last ten games with Orlando (6-2 vs spread in last eight); Memphis won three of last four visits here (over 3-1). Grizzlies won/covered eight of last ten road games; they’re 3-0 as road favorites. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games. Orlando is 4-3 in its last seven games; they covered three of last four at home, are 0-6 as home underdogs. Three of last four Magic games stayed under.
Home side won eight of last ten Milwaukee-Washington games; Bucks lost their last five games in this building (1-4 vs spread). Over is 6-3 in last nine series games. Milwaukee is 4-7 on road, 2-7 as a road underdog; over is 7-2 in Bucks’ last nine games. Wizards won/covered last five home games, are 6-3 in last nine games overall; they’re 6-5 as a home favorite. Over is 10-2-1 in their last 13 games.
Cavaliers won last five games with Detroit, covering three of last four; Cleveland won its last three visits here, by 8-10-2 points. Three of last four series games stayed under total. Cavaliers won tough game with Golden State yesterday; they’ve won five games in row, are 4-5 as road favorites, 1-3 vs spread if they played day before— six of their last eight road games went over total. Detroit lost four of last five games; they’re 2-1 as home underdogs- under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games.
Charlotte won its last five games with Brooklyn but Nets covered five of last six series games; Hornets won last four visits here, by 24-8-5-4 points. Under is 3-1 in last four series games. Charlotte won its last three games; they’re 8-6 on road, 4-5 as a road favorite. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games. Brooklyn lost last five games but covered seven of last ten; they’re 7-6 as home underdogs. Under is 4-2 in their last six games.
Dallas won seven of last ten games with New Orleans; teams split last four games played here. Five of last six series games stayed under total. Mavericks won three of last four games, are 4-1 vs spread in last five; they’re 7-9 as road underdogs. Pelicans lost five of last seven home games, are 3-7 as home favorites. Four of last five New Orleans home games stayed under the total.
Road team won last seven Phoenix-Houston games; Suns won last two visits here, by 15-9 points. Over is 8-2 in last ten series games. Phoenix lost four of last five games; they’re 9-6 as a road underdog. Over is 10-3 in Suns’ last thirteen games. Rockets won 11 of last 13 games, are 6-5 as home favorites. Over is 5-2 in their last seven games. Houston beat the Suns 125-111 in Houston five days ago.
Minnesota beat Hawks 92-84 in Atlanta five nights ago, their third win in row over Hawks, who lost three of last four visits to Twin Cities. Six of last nine series games went over total. Atlanta won/covered its last four road games; they’re 6-6 as road underdogs, but covered last four as a road dog. Over is 4-2-1 in their last seven games. Minnesota is 4-3 as a home favorite, 4-1 vs spread if they played night before.
Bulls won five of last seven games with Indiana, which lost its last four visits to Windy City (2-2 vs spread). Under is 7-2 in last nine series games. Pacers lost four of last five road games, are 3-6 as road underdogs. Under is 4-1-2 in last seven Indiana games. Chicago lost three of its last four home games, is 1-6 in last seven games as a home favorite, 2-3 if they played night before. Under is 4-1-1 in their last six home games.
Toronto won last two games with Portland after losing seven of previous eight; they lost three of last four visits to Oregon. Five of last six series games stayed under the total. Raptors won/covered their last six road games; they’re 4-2 as road underdogs. Over is 9-3 in their last 12 games. Portland lost five in row, nine of last ten games; they’re 0-5 as home underdogs. Three of Trailblazers’ last four games stayed under total.
76ers won six of last nine games with Sacramento; road team won five of last seven in series. Sixers won three of last four visits to Sacramento. Over is 3-0-1 in last four series games. Sixers lost four of last five games (0-5 vs spread); they’re 4-6 as road underdogs (3-1 in last four). Kings won four of last five games, are 4-4 as home favorites. Under is 9-4 in their last thirteen games.
Clippers won six of last seven games with Denver, covering three of last four; Nuggets lost five of last six series games played here (3-3 vs spread). Under is 7-1 in last eight series games. Denver lost four of last five road games, is 7-5 as a road underdog (1-4 in last five). Over is 12-1-2 in their last fifteen games. Clippers won three of last four home games, are 4-2 vs spread if they played night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

StatFox Super Situations

NBA*|*MILWAUKEE*at*WASHINGTON
Play Against - Home teams vs. the money line (WASHINGTON) after trailing in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half against opponent after scoring 110 points or more
64-40*over the last 5 seasons.**(*61.5%*|*34.3 units*)
4-6*this year.**(*40.0%*|*3.0 units*)

NBA*|*INDIANA*at*CHICAGO
Play On - Home teams vs. the 1rst half line (CHICAGO) revenging a road loss vs opponent, in a game involving two marginal losing teams (40 to 49%)
46-18*over the last 5 seasons.**(*71.9%*|*26.2 units*)
2-0*this year.**(*100.0%*|*2.0 units*)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Soccer: EPL Notebook - Boxing Day
By Chris David

The English Premier League takes center stage on Monday Dec. 26 with eight games scheduled on Boxing Day.

We’re one week away from the midway point of the season and Chelsea remains the odds-on favorite at 2/3 (Bet $100 to win $67) to capture this year’s championship. The Blues are six points clear of Liverpool and seven ahead of Manchester City in the latest table and both those clubs are 4/1 betting choices to win the title. Make a note that when Chelsea won the Premier League before, it was on top at Christmas. Arsenal (9/1), Manchester United (18/1) and Tottenham (25/1) round out the next tier before the odds drop to 500/1 and higher on the remaining 14 clubs.

Boxing Day Schedule

Watford vs. Crystal Palace (NBCSN, 7:30 a.m. ET)
Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion (NBCextra, 10:00 a.m. ET)
Burnley vs. Middlesbrough (NBCextra, 10:00 a.m. ET)
Chelsea vs. Bournemouth (CNBC, 10:00 a.m. ET)
Manchester United vs. Sunderland (NBCSN, 10:00 a.m. ET)
Leicester City vs. Everton (NBCextra, 10:00 a.m. ET)
Swansea City vs. West Ham United (NBCextra, 10:00 a.m. ET)
Hull City vs. Man City (NBCSN, 12:15 p.m. ET)

Expensive Gifts

‘Chalk’ bettors are staring at three heavy numbers on Monday and two of the prices are deserving based on form while another matchup could be a trap.

Manager Antonio Conte and Chelsea (-260) are expected to win their 12 straight game on Monday when Bournemouth (+800) visits as a sizeable longshot. During the Blues’ 11-game winning streak, five of the victories came at home and four of them were clean sheets. If the Cherries have a silver lining in this matchup, you could point to Chelsea missing key parts. Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante are both 'out' for Monday’s game due to suspension and not having Costa could be a factor knowing the Blues are just 1-8-2 in their last 11 matches without the volatile striker. Make a note that Bournemouth did steal a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge last season but this year’s road production (1-2-5) for the Cherries doesn’t warrant a second look.

Manchester United (-475) enters Boxing Day on an eight-game unbeaten streak (4-4-0) which includes three straight wins. Sunderland (+1400) is the largest underdog on the holiday card and while the number seems inflated, it makes sense. The Black Cats have only managed to score four away goals and that’s produced a 1-1-6 mark on the road. A breakthrough isn’t expected against the Red Devils, who have conceded six goals in league play at Old Trafford this season. Even though it appears United has turned the corner with the three consecutive wins, the club has six draws and Monday’s tie returns a generous price (+550). The home team has won three straight in this series and Sunderland’s all-time away record (3-6-21) at Old Trafford isn’t pretty. Also, the Red Devils have produced the best all-time EPL record on Boxing Day with a 18-2-2 mark in 22 games.

Bettors could be hesitant to back Arsenal (-325) on Monday after watching the club drop back-to-back 2-1 decisions to Everton and Manchester City, especially after going in front in each loss. The Gunners welcome West Bromwich Albion (+925) and while they haven’t shown much offensive punch (7 goals) on the road, the defense (8 goals) has helped the club earn nine points away. The Gunners haven’t lost three straight league games since 2012 under Arsene Wenger and they’ve gone unbeaten (5-2-0) at Emirates Stadium since losing a 4-3 decision in its opener back in August. In 20 career EPL encounters versus West Brom, Arsenal has managed to score at least one goal.

Road Favorites

Even though the line is tight, I’m a little surprised Middlesbrough (+160) is listed as a favorite at Burnley (+200) just based on home-away tendencies we’ve seen from the pair this season. The Boro has gone winless in its last seven road games (0-2-5) while 16 of Burnley’s 17 points this season have come at home (5-1-3). The total on this games (2) is the lowest on the board in Matchday 18 and it’s not surprising with both clubs only scoring 16 goals apiece in 17 games.

Manchester City (-320) has been a solid road bet (6-0-2) and it tends to beat up on weaker foes like Monday’s opponent, Hull City (+850). The Citizens haven’t drawn on the road this season, the only club not to do so. The Tigers are listed as a 1/7 favorite to be relegated this season and even though 17th place isn’t out of reach, the club doesn’t have the horses to earn points. After starting the season 2-0, Hull has gone 1-3-11 and it’s conceded a goal in every game during that span. High total (3) on this game and it’s shaded to the ‘over’ (-125). Man City’s defense has only managed three clean sheets in 17 games.

Total Talk
Based on totals of 2 ½ goals

Leicester City has seen the ‘over’ go 13-4 this season, which includes a 6-2 mark at King Power Stadium. The Foxes have been a great bet (12-5) on the “both teams to score wager” as well.

Manchester City has netted 36 goals, which has helped the ‘over’ go 12-5.

The worst scoring defense through 17 games is Swansea City, who has surrendered 37 goals. Not surprisingly, that effort has produced a 12-5 ‘over’ mark for the Swans.

Man United has watched the ‘under’ go 6-2 at home behind sensational defensive play (6 goals allowed).

Chelsea is tied for the league in most home goals (21) and that’s resulted in a 7-1 ‘over’ mark from Stamford Bridge.

Watford has been a great ‘over’ bet (6-2) at home this season with a combined 25 goals scored in eight games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Need-to-know betting notes for college football bowl teams
By JOE FORTENBAUGH

Indulge me for a moment as I impart one piece of advice upon you before we dive into this year’s 80 need-to-know betting notes for each of the 80 college football bowl teams: above all else, put an increased emphasis on the motivation factor when handicapping each of these 40 matchups.

Why? Because there’s some easy money to be made during bowl season. Every year we are blessed with at least a handful of matchups that feature one team experiencing unbridled enthusiasm to play in its respective game against an opponent that has virtually no interest whatsoever in trying to win the showdown in question.

Case in point: Alabama’s 45-31 loss to Oklahoma in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide couldn’t have cared less about that game after watching an 11-0 season go up in smoke thanks to a 34-28 upset loss at Auburn which prevented the Tide from advancing to the SEC Championship Game.

Let’s go to work. Happy holidays to all!

St. Petersburg Bowl: Monday, December 26 (11 a.m. ET)

Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS): One of the biggest mismatches on the board, Mississippi State owns 2016 victories over Texas A&M and Mississippi as well as close defeats against LSU and BYU. The big question here, however, is whether or not the Bulldogs even bother to show up for a December 26 bowl game against a MAC opponent. If the answer to that question is, “Yes,” watch out.

Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS): The Redhawks turned a 0-6 start into a 6-0 finish that featured five pointspread covers. In addition, Miami (Ohio) is an impressive 7-3 ATS over its last 10 non-conference matchups.

Quick Lane Bowl: Monday, December 26 (2:30 p.m. ET)

Maryland Terrapins (6-6 SU, 4-8 ATS): Neither one of these programs notched a victory over an FBS opponent that finished the season with a winning record. Maryland covered the number just once over its final five games and is 3-15 ATS over its last 18 games following a victory.

Boston College Eagles (6-6 SU, 5-6-1 ATS): Boston College rides a two-game winning streak into the postseason, but is a horrific 1-6 ATS over its last seven bowl games.

Camping World Independence Bowl: Monday, December 26 (5 p.m. ET)

North Carolina State Wolfpack (6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS): This is the third consecutive postseason appearance from the Wolfpack in four years under head coach Dave Doeren, who unfortunately saw his program drop five of its final seven contests this year. The upside? North Carolina State covered in three of its final four outings and is 10-2 ATS over its last 12 non-conference matchups.

Vanderbilt Commodores (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS): This is Vanderbilt’s first bowl game appearance since 2013 and first postseason bid under head coach Derek Mason. Take note that Vanderbilt notched huge upset wins over both Mississippi and Tennessee in the final two weeks of the regular season to get bowl eligible. This team has something cooking right now.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday's Bowl Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards

**Miami (OH.) vs. Mississippi State**

-- The MAC and the SEC will tangle at The Trop in St. Petersburg, Fla., for the St. Petersburg Bowl. This game is scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. Eastern kickoff on ESPN.

-- As of Christmas Day, most books had Mississippi State (5-7 straight, 5-7 against the spread) as a 14.5-point favorite with a 58.5-point total. The RedHawks were available to win outright for a monster +475 payout (risk $100 to win $475). The Bulldogs opened as 11.5-point ‘chalk’ before quickly moving to 13. Over the last five days, the number as inched up to 14 and just a bit north of there at this point.

-- Dan Mullen’s team became bowl eligible thanks to a strong APR that allowed it to go to the postseason despite being under .500 in regular-season play. MSU twice won outright in November as a 10-point underdog to secure the bowl bid. First, the Bulldogs held off Texas A&M by a 35-28 count and next, they won 55-20 at Ole Miss,.

-- MSU sophomore QB Nick Fitzgerald absolutely went off in the blowout win over the Rebels, throwing three touchdowns passes without an interception. Even more impressive, he rushed for 258 yards and two TDs on 14 carries. Aeris Williams also schooled Ole Miss for 191 rushing yards and a pair of TDs on 25 attempts. Cedric Jiles added a 74-yard pick-six in the beatdown.

-- For the season, Fitzgerald has completed only 54.5 percent of his passes for 2,281 yards with a 21/10 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has rushed 177 times for 1,243 yards and 14 TDs while averaging 7.0 yards per carry. Fitzgerald’s favorite target is Fred Ross, who has 69 receptions for 890 yards and 12 TDs. Donald Gray has 38 catches for 674 yards and five TDs.

-- Williams has rushed for 656 yards and four TDs while averaging 5.2 YPC.

-- Mississippi State has posted a 0-3 spread record with one outright defeat (21-20 to South Alabama at home in the season opener) in three games as a double-digit ‘chalk.’

-- This is MSU’s school-record seventh straight trip to a bowl game on Mullen’s watch. The Bulldogs blasted N.C. State 51-28 as 4.5-point favorites at last year’s Belk Bowl.

-- Miami (OH.) (6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS) lost its first six games, only to win six in a row afterward to become bowl eligible. This is the first time a team has pulled such a turnaround in NCAA history. During the six-game slide, the RedHawks lost three on-possession games. During the six-game surge, however, they have won four of six games by double-digit margins.

-- The key to Miami’s turnaround has been the insertion of sophomore QB Gus Ragland into the starting lineup. He has led the RedHawks to six straight wins by throwing 15 TD passes without an interception. For his career, Ragland has an 18/0 TD-INT ratio. He has nine TD passes in the last three games, including three in a 21-20 non-covering win over Ball State. It was the first non-cover since Ragland took over as the starter.

-- Ragland has completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,274 yards. He also has 151 rushing yards for a pair of scores. He distributes the ball to three main passing targets, including James Gardner, who has 40 catches for 658 yards and five TDs. Jared Murphy (42, 532, five) and Rokeem Williams (22, 463, three) also get their fair share of balls thrown to them.

-- Miami (OH.) has a pair of featured backs in Alonzo Smith and Kenny Young. Smith has 689 rushing yards and three TDs with a 4.3 YPC average, while Young has run for 490 yards and a pair of scores with a 6.2 YPC average.

-- Miami (OH.) has been an underdog eight times, compiling a 6-2 spread record with three outright wins. The RedHawks have posted a 3-1 spread record in four games as double-digit ‘dogs.

-- The ‘under’ is 8-4 overall for the RedHawks, although the ‘over’ is 3-2 in their last five games. They’ve watched their games average combined scores of 47.8 points per game. This is the second-highest total they’ve seen this year.

-- The ‘over’ is 7-5 overall for the Bulldogs, who have seen their games average combined scores of 64.6 PPG. They’ve seen the ‘over’ cash in each of their last six contests.


**Maryland vs. Boston College**

-- The Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit will feature a pair of former ACC adversaries in Maryland and Boston College. The Terrapins have moved on to the Big Ten and are bowling after a one-year hiatus from the postseason.

-- As of Christmas Day, most spots had Maryland (6-6 SU, 4-8 ATS) installed as a two-point ‘chalk’ with a total of 44.

-- Maryland won its first four games to start D.J. Durkin’s first season as head coach. Since then, however, the Terrapins have won just twice more, a 28-17 win over Michigan State as three-point home underdogs and a 31-13 victory over Rutgers as 15.5-point home ‘chalk.’ In the win over RU, RB Ty Johnson rushed 11 times for 168 yards, while Kenneth Goins ran for 81 yards and one TD on 10 totes.

-- Senior QB Perry Hills missed two games and parts of four other with a shoulder injury, but he played well when healthy. Hills connected on 66.0 percent of his throws for 1,235 yards with 10/3 TD-INT ratio. He also rushed for four TDs.

-- Johnson rushed for 845 yards and four TDs while averaging 8.9 YPC. Lorenzo Harrison ran for 633 yards and five TDs with a 7.2 YPC average.

-- Hills’s top throwing options include D.J. Moore, who has 38 receptions for 597 yards and six TDs. Teldrick Morgan has 40 catches for 407 yards and three TDs, while Levern Jacobs has 37 grabs for 368 yards and one TD. Johnson added 14 catches for 191 yards and one TD.

-- Maryland lost outright in both of its single-digit favorite spots during the regular season.

-- Boston College (6-6 SU, 5-6 ATS) has won three in a row over Maryland both SU and ATS, including a 29-26 win as a two-point road underdog in the last encounter in 2013. The Eagles have won eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings.

-- Boson College has been an underdog seven times this season, going 2-4-1 ATS with a pair of outright wins at Wake Forest (+3) and at N.C. State (+16).

-- Just like in 2015, BC fielded one of the nation’s elite defenses and worst offenses in 2016. The Eagles are ranked eighth in total defense and eighth at defending the run. However, they are No. 127 of 128 FBS teams in total offense, No. 121 in passing, No. 101 in rushing and No. 123 in scoring (19.1 PPG).

-- BC’s defense is led by junior LB Connor Strachan, who has recorded 70 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one QB hurry. Junior DE Harold Landry produced 47 tackles, 20.5 TFL’s, 15 sacks, seven forced fumbles, five QB hurries and a pair of passes broken up.

-- After four QBs combined for an 8/9 TD-INT ratio in 2015, the hope for Steve Addazio’s squad was that Kentucky grad transfer Patrick Towles would solve the team’s signal-calling woes. It just didn’t happen, though. Towles has completed merely 51.0 percent of his passes for 1,579 yards with a 10/6 TD-INT ratio. He has rushed for 280 yards and four TDs.

-- Jeff Smith led BC in receiving yards (391) with 26 catches and three TD grabs. Michael Walker has 30 receptions for 357 yards and three TDs.

-- Jon Hilliman led BC in rushing with 463 yards and five TDs, but he averaged a meager 3.0 YPC.

-- BC has lost five consecutive bowl games dating back to 2008. After a 3-9 campaign in 2015, the Eagles are in the postseason for the third time in four seasons under Addazio. They lost 31-30 to Penn State in overtime at the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl and fell 42-19 to Arizona at the 2013 AdvoCare V100 Bowl.

-- Both teams have seen the ‘under’ go 8-4 overall. BC’s games have averaged combined scores of 43.7 PPG, while the Terps have watched their games average combined scores of 54.4 PPG.

-- ESPN will have the broadcast at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.


**Vanderbilt vs. North Carolina State**

-- This SEC/ACC showdown will take place in Shreveport, LA., where the Independence Bowl will go down at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. As of Christmas Day, most books had N.C. State favored by 5.5 or six points with a total of 45.5. The Commodores were +200 on the money line (risk $100 to win $200).

-- Both of these teams closed the regular season in style with wins over their arch rivals. Vanderbilt (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS) won back-to-back games and four of its last six to get bowl eligible for the first time during Derek Mason’s three-year tenure. There were three monster victories in regular season, including at Georgia (17-16), vs. Ole Miss (38-17) and vs. Tennessee (45-34).

-- There were also heartbreakers galore that went against Vandy. A 55-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter allowed South Carolina to nip the Commodores 13-10 in the season opener. There were three additional losses in one-possession games vs. Florida (13-6), at Kentucky (20-13) and at Auburn (23-16). The Auburn defeat was especially controversial as an early third-quarter play completely shifted the momentum of the game. With Vandy holding a 10-7 advantage and Auburn driving just inside of Vandy territory, All-SEC linebacker Zach Cunningham stripped Kamryn Pettway and recovered the fumble. That was the ruling on the field and there didn’t seem to be anything whatsoever on replay to initiate a reversal of the call. Nevertheless, the call was inexplicably reversed and Auburn scored a TD two plays later.

-- The key to Vandy’s late-season surge was the improvement of the passing game. Kyle Shurmur threw for 221 yards or more in each of the last four games, including a 416-yard effort against UT. Shurmur completed 21-of-34 throws for two TD passes on the Volunteers. Trent Sherfield had nine receptions for 184 yards, while Caleb Scott had four catches for 117 yards. Ralph Webb rushed 21 times for 114 yards and two TDs.

-- Despite battling a lingering ankle injury that should be much improved after several weeks off, Webb still ran for a team-high 1,172 yards to become the school’s all-time rushing leader. The true junior from Gainesville, Fla., averaged 5.1 YPC and had 12 rushing TDs. Khari Blasingame rushed for 447 yards and nine TDs with a 4.7 YPC average.

-- Shurmur has completed 56.2 percent of his passes for 2,251 yards with a 9/7 TD-INT ratio. He had four TD passes with only one pick in the last two games of the regular season. Sherfield had 31 receptions for 448 yards and one TD, while C.J. Duncan had 38 catches for 447 yards.

-- Cunningham was a first-team All-SEC selection after tallying 119 tackles, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles, 16.5 TFL’s, three PBU and one blocked field goal.

-- Vanderbilt has thrived as an underdog, compiling a 6-3 spread record with four outright wins, including a 31-30 win at Western Kentucky in overtime.

-- N.C. State (6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS) started 4-1 with its only loss coming by a 33-30 score at East Carolina. Then on Oct. 15, Dave Doeren’s squad went to Death Valley and played then-unbeaten Clemson dead even for nearly 60 minutes. The Wolfpack had a chance to pull the stunning upset as a 20-point underdog on the final play of regulation, but Kyle Bambard’s 37-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right. Then in OT, Clemson prevailed 24-17.

-- The gut-wrenching loss at Clemson turned into a four-game losing streak. N.C. State was destroyed 54-13 at Louisville the following week and then dropped a 21-14 decision to Boston College as a 16-point home favorite. Next, the Wolfpack led FSU most of the way, only to lose 24-20 when the Seminoles rallied back late in the fourth quarter. After splitting a pair of games with a win at Syracuse (35-20) and a loss vs. Miami (27-13), N.C. State closed the season in Chapel Hill as a 10-point underdog.

-- Needing a win over the Tar Heels to get to the postseason, N.C. State sprinted out to a 21-0 lead with 10:33 left in the second quarter thanks to a pair of Matt Dayes’ TD runs. After leading 21-7 at intermission, the Wolfpack extended the advantage to 28-7 on a four-yard TD run from Jaylen Samuels, who had a 59-yard TD pass off a trick play. The Pack would hold on to collect a 28-21 victory. Dayes was the catalyst with 104 rushing yards and two TDs on 26 attempts.

-- N.C. State went 2-1 both SU and ATS in three games as a single-digit favorite this season.

-- N.C. State QB Ryan Finley completed 60.2 percent of his passes in the regular season for 2,815 yards with a 15/8 TD-INT ratio. Samuels was his favorite option in the aerial attack, as the junior first-team All-ACC selection in 2015 caught 49 balls for 461 yards and four TDs. Samuels also ran for 180 yards and six TDs on 31 carries for a 5.8 YPC average. Stephen Louis had 33 receptions for 657 yards and two TDs, while true freshman Kevin Harmon had 26 catches for 458 yards and five TDs.

-- Dayes rushed for a team-high 1,119 yards and 10 TDs while averaging 4.7 YPC. The senior RB also had 31 catches for 254 yards.

-- N.C. State is ranked sixth in the nation in run defense, 28th in total defense and 32nd in scoring (23.2 PPG).

-- Vandy is ranked 26th in the country in scoring defense, giving up just 22.6 PPG.

-- Despite back-to-back ‘over’ appearances, the ‘under’ went 6-5-1 overall for the Commodores. They saw their games average combined scores of 46.1 PPG.

-- The ‘under’ is 7-4-1 overall for N.C. State after cashing in five straight and seven of its last eight. The Wolfpack have seen its games average combined scores of 49.1 PPG.

-- These programs met in the 2012 Music City Bowl in Nashville, where Vandy won by a 38-24 count as a 7.5-point favorite.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday's Top Bowl Action

St Petersburg Bowl (ESPN, 11:00 a.m. ET)
Miami (Ohio) Redhawks vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Odds: Mississippi State (-14.5); Total set at 58.5

Although Mississippi State enters the St Petersburg Bowl with a sub-.500 record at 5-7 SU, they are two touchdown favorites over a 6-6 SU Miami team from the MAC.

Obviously life in the SEC West is much tougher than the MAC, so that's part of why this spread is as high as it is, but for as inconsistent as the Bulldogs have been this year, this may be too much chalk for them to swallow.

Right off the bat, you'll see that the prevailing concept that the SEC is still one of the best conferences in CFB has a lot to do with how much support Mississippi State has already received in this game. Vegas shows that over 85% of the bets against the spread have come the Bulldogs way already, pushing this number up from it's opening mark of -11.5 all the way through the key number of -14.

The fact that the Bulldogs offense put up plenty of points down the stretch against everyone not named Alabama also plays into that, as Mississippi State averaged 45.2 points per game over their last five contests (omitting the 51-3 loss vs Alabama.

Miami will have trouble matching that type of firepower should the game turn into a shootout, but it's not like Mississippi State's defense is stellar by any means. The Bulldogs may have scored 45/game during that stretch, but they also allowed 37.3/game in those same five contests. Throw in the 51 they allowed in the 'Bama game and that number jumps up to 39.7/game over their last six contests.

Those defensive numbers alone show you why Mississippi State enters this bowl game with a 5-7 SU record.

Sometimes the line can tell a story though and while the oddsmakers are not always right, they are near spot on a majority of the time.

With the total set at just 58.5 points for a team that's been scoring 40+ and allowing 37+ of late, oddsmakers don't believe that either team will have much success offensively as fans of their program have gotten used to. Miami (Ohio) isn't a strong offensive team by any means, but even matched up against a sub-par defense like the Bulldogs, and listed as 14-point underdogs, those same oddsmakers expect the Redhawks to rely on their strong defense to keep them in this game and I'd tend to agree.

Miami (Ohio) hasn't allowed more than 26 points against since early October, and while competition in the MAC doesn't quite line up to the caliber of opponent the Bulldogs faced, the Redhawks are going to need to sustain long drives offensively, and use their defense to frustrate Mississippi State to have a chance.

That's precisely how this game should play out as Miami (Ohio) will find some success moving the ball against a defense that has had trouble stopping everyone, and locking down defensively and holding Mississippi State to minimal TD's and plenty of FG attempts will be the game plan.

The Bulldogs would love to finish the season with a 6-6 SU, .500 mark, and they likely will, but with a 1-5 ATS mark after covering the spread last time out, and 1-4 ATS marks after gaining and/or allowing 450+ yards in their last game, -14.5 points is too much to lay here.

The fact that over 80% of bettors are backing Mississippi State at this high number mainly because it's the “SEC vs. MAC” cements the point that going against the grain in spots like these with sub-par programs from Power Conferences can pay out handsomely.

Best Bet: Take the +14.5 points with Miami (Ohio).