JB
5% Best Bet GOLDEN ST. -2.5 vs denver (10:35 ET)
Mike Rose
NBA 1/6
3* DENVER/GOLDEN STATE OVER 198' BEST 10:35 EST
The Warriors return home after a brief 2-game road trip which saw them lose to a pair of Western Conference foes. they've had 2 full days to rest up for this evening's match-up with the Nuggets, and they've gotten a bit healthier during their time off. Nick Van Exel has had a few days to recover after coming of the IL last week, and Mike Dunleavy will be inserted back into the line up tonight. Jason Richardson was the only one getting the job done in their last game vs. Dallas, as the rest of the team was running on fumes. The Warriors have played to the "Over" in 13 of their 22 home game this season. They've been owned by the Nuggets this year dropping all 3 of their prior contests. Both battles in Denver went "Under" the total, but the lone contest in the Bay soared over the closing total of 188. All of those games were played way back in December, and the Warriors will be looking to avoid the sweep tonight. Denver finds themselves on a nice 3-game winning streak, and they've been off for 4 full days. They'll enter tonight's game very refreshed and focused. The Nuggets are 6-3 to the "Over" whenever they've had 2 or more days off. GS is 3-2 tot he "Over" their first game back home off a 2 or more game road trip. This should be a track meet, and a fun game to watch. Denver's defense has been laboring of late giving up 100 PPG their L/5 which is 5 points more than their overall season average. The Warriors pick up their offensive intensity at home, and being well rested should have them on the attack all night long.
2* UTAH JAZZ (-2) VS. PORTLAND ACTION 9:05 EST
I'm not to sure what the stories been for the Jazz in their L/2 home games, but that garbage stops tonight. Maybe their playing tight in lieu of HC Sloan's 900th career win, or maybe they've run out of gas. I'm leaning towards the prior. Utah has been getting the job done this season by playing sound fundamental basketball. They will get back to that style of ball tonight against one of the sloppiest teams in the league. Portland has rattled off wins in 6 of their L/8 games, but they're coming off a win in Phoenix that they almost let get away. They've won 4 of their L/5 on the road, but that still doesn't hide the fact that they're a poor 9-15 ATS on the road. In fact, they're 21-33 ATS combined on the road vs. +.500 non-divisional opponents, and a poor 12-17 ATS on one days rest. Utah on the other hand is 17-10 ATS at home this year, and a solid 19-9 ATS on a days rest. The Jazz are a combined 22-12 ATS combined at home vs. sub .500 out of division opponents. The Jazz get back to their winning ways tonight, and bring some joy to HC Sloan whose had a very rough time of it this past year personally.
1* SACRAMENTO (-4') VS. SA SPURS ACTION 10:35 EST
CBB 1/6
2* BROWN (-1') VS. CORNELL ACTION 7:00 EST
1* BROWN/CORNELL OVER 144' ACTION 7:00 EST
Brown is just starting to hit stride with senior guard Martin returning to the line-up after back injury which seems to jell the mix with All Ivy pg Forte and Kilburn, one of the top post players in the league. Brown was confused by the Princeton "O" on Friday night but came back Saturday night to beat Penn in OT. Cornell is 4-0 in the Ivy but they haven't played any of the good teams yet, winning two vs. Columbia and at Harvard and Dartmouth last weekend. Brown has dominated the series of late, winning their L6 vs. Cornell. Both teams like to score and focus more on Offense than "D". Cornell gave up 79 last weekend to Harvard (while scoring 92) and Brown scored 85 and 77 in their two games vs. Yale, who plays much better "D" than Cornell. Expect a healthier Brown squad to dish out the Big Red's first Ivy loss of the season.
2* DARTMOUTH (+21) VS. PRINCETON ACTION 7:30 EST
Princeton has defeated Dartmouth at Jadwin Gym in their L/16 meetings by an average margin of 18 PPG, but have failed to cover large chalks in each of the L/2 seasons. This should be a low scoring game as indicated by a total set at 111.5 and because both teams play the Princeton-style game. That also means that Dartmouth won't be fooled by the back-doors because it's the exact game they play. Dartmouth is near the bottom of the RPI list because they've been hurt by injuries. They're still not 100% but their players are all back in the line-up. Last Friday night they got stomped by Columbia at home with point guard Steve Callahan and frosh stud Leon Pattman out of the line-up. But with Callahan and Pattman back on Saturday night, the Big Green held their own vs. Cornell, fading at the end to lose 68-62. Pattman, who has won rookie of the week honors five consecutive weeks in the Ivy, scored a double-double with 12 boards and 21 points on 8-15 shooting. G. Lang is also recently back after missing 4-5 games. Callahan, Lang, and McLaren were members of the team which played Princeton last year so they know what's in store. With the addition of Pattman, I think Dartmouth can score enough points in what should be a low-scoring game to stay within the number. The Wysocki departure for Princeton is bound to be a bit of a distraction but won't affect them talent-wise. Princeton has three games in the next five days including the war with Penn on Tuesday night, so they're not going to get too crazy running up the score vs. a bottom-tier team they've beaten 16 straight times.
AFL 2/6
3* LAS VEGAS/COLORADO OVER 107 BEST 9:00 EST
2* COLORADO (+8) VS. LAS VEGAS ACTION 9:00 EST
Season No. 2 begins tonight for a Colorado Crush franchise still looking for its first win at home. The Crush went 2-14 SU overall in 2003, including 0-8 SU at the Pepsi Center in its inaugural Arena Football League season. The Crush upper management, John Elway, completely revamped this team, and they've brought in a bunch of veteran AFL talent that's one in other cities before. Some of the holdovers include QB
Dutton who threw for 3,994 yards and 77 TD's a year ago. His main OS is Damian Harrell who caught 97 of his passes a year ago for 1, 426 yards and 38 TD's. Offense wasn't their problem a year ago. Their stop unit ranked just about dead last in every category, but it will be much better with an infusion of OL/DL talent. New HC Mike Dailey, formerly HC of Indiana, preaches upon solid defense so you can be sure the Crush will turn it around on that side of the ball this year. It won't happen tonight though as the Gladiators signed one of the best QB's in the AFL during the off-season in Clint Dolezel. The guy's a flat out sick AFL QB. He threw for over 4,400 yards a year ago, and had 89 TD passes. His teammate from GR comes over with him in Terrill Shaw. He caught 41 of Dolezel's 89 TD passes on the year. The Gladiators got just the jumpstart they needed on offense with this duo, but their strong defense from a year ago has lost a bunch of its key players. Each side will be working out the kinks in tonight's match-up, but one thing's almost for certain. Both teams will score, and they'll score in bunches. The number LV is being asked to cover is way too much on the road against a team looking for its first ever home win to open the 2004 season. I expect a very close game with each team scoring in the 60-70 point range.
