DOUBLE DRAGON BOWLS THRU DEC. 31st (Now 4-0 in bowls/ HYDRAS 1-0)
BOSTON COLLEGE +7 (dec. 26th)
KENTUCKY +7 (dec. 27th)
TEXAS A&M +7 (dec. 28th)
HYDRA
MIAMI, FL -3 (-120) (dec. 29th)
TEMPLE +4 (dec. 29th)
HYDRA
NEBRASKA +1 (dec. 30th)
IDAHO +3 (-120) (dec. 30th)
HYDRA
OKLAHOMA -8 (dec. 31st)
TENNESSEE +4.5 (dec. 31st)
BOSTON COLLEGE +7 (dec. 26th)
KENTUCKY +7 (dec. 27th)
TEXAS A&M +7 (dec. 28th)
HYDRA
MIAMI, FL -3 (-120) (dec. 29th)
TEMPLE +4 (dec. 29th)
HYDRA
NEBRASKA +1 (dec. 30th)
IDAHO +3 (-120) (dec. 30th)
HYDRA
OKLAHOMA -8 (dec. 31st)
TENNESSEE +4.5 (dec. 31st)
DUNKEL
USC vs. UNLV
The Runnin' Rebels look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 games as a favorite. UNLV is the pick (-3) according to Dunkel, which has the Runnin' Rebels favored by 6 1/2. Dunkel Pick: UNLV (-3). Here are all of today's games.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25
Time Posted: 6:00 a.m. EST
Game 511-512: SMU vs. Northeastern
Dunkel Ratings: SMU 52.188; Northeastern 53.970
Dunkel Line: Northeastern by 2
Vegas Line: Northeastern by 7
Dunkel Pick: SMU (+7)
Game 513-514: College of Charleston vs. Western Michigan
Dunkel Ratings: College of Charleston 50.440; Western Michigan 54.573
Dunkel Line: Western Michigan by 4
Vegas Line: Western Michigan by 3 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Western Michigan (-3 1/2)
Game 515-516: St. Mary's (CA) at Hawaii
Dunkel Ratings: St. Mary's (CA) 68.599; Hawaii 55.628
Dunkel Line: St. Mary's (CA) by 13
Vegas Line: St. Mary's by 7
Dunkel Pick: St. Mary's (-7)
Game 517-518: USC vs. UNLV
Dunkel Ratings: USC 59.129; UNLV 64.800
Dunkel Line: UNLV by 6 1/2
Vegas Line: UNLV by 3
Dunkel Pick: UNLV (-3)
USC vs. UNLV
The Runnin' Rebels look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 games as a favorite. UNLV is the pick (-3) according to Dunkel, which has the Runnin' Rebels favored by 6 1/2. Dunkel Pick: UNLV (-3). Here are all of today's games.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25
Time Posted: 6:00 a.m. EST
Game 511-512: SMU vs. Northeastern
Dunkel Ratings: SMU 52.188; Northeastern 53.970
Dunkel Line: Northeastern by 2
Vegas Line: Northeastern by 7
Dunkel Pick: SMU (+7)
Game 513-514: College of Charleston vs. Western Michigan
Dunkel Ratings: College of Charleston 50.440; Western Michigan 54.573
Dunkel Line: Western Michigan by 4
Vegas Line: Western Michigan by 3 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Western Michigan (-3 1/2)
Game 515-516: St. Mary's (CA) at Hawaii
Dunkel Ratings: St. Mary's (CA) 68.599; Hawaii 55.628
Dunkel Line: St. Mary's (CA) by 13
Vegas Line: St. Mary's by 7
Dunkel Pick: St. Mary's (-7)
Game 517-518: USC vs. UNLV
Dunkel Ratings: USC 59.129; UNLV 64.800
Dunkel Line: UNLV by 6 1/2
Vegas Line: UNLV by 3
Dunkel Pick: UNLV (-3)
DUNKEL
Cleveland at LA Lakers
The Cavaliers look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 road games. Cleveland is the pick (+5 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Lakers favored by only 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+5 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25
Time Posted: 6:00 a.m. EST
Game 501-502: Miami at New York
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 117.621; New York 120.950
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 3 1/2; 196
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 2; 198
Dunkel Pick: New York (-2); Under
Game 503-504: Boston at Orlando
Dunkel Ratings: Boston 123.939; Orlando 123.759
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 204
Vegas Line & Total: Orlando by 5 1/2; 189 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+5 1/2); Over
Game 505-506: Cleveland at LA Lakers
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 123.569; LA Lakers 128.135
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 4 1/2; 208
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 5 1/2; 194
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+5 1/2); Over
Game 507-508: LA Clippers at Phoenix
Dunkel Ratings: LA Clippers 116.219; Phoenix 121.759
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 5 1/2; 202
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 9 1/2; 211
Dunkel Pick: LA Clippers (+9 1/2); Under
Game 509-510: Denver at Portland
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 122.384; Portland 122.385
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 210
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Cleveland at LA Lakers
The Cavaliers look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 road games. Cleveland is the pick (+5 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Lakers favored by only 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+5 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25
Time Posted: 6:00 a.m. EST
Game 501-502: Miami at New York
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 117.621; New York 120.950
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 3 1/2; 196
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 2; 198
Dunkel Pick: New York (-2); Under
Game 503-504: Boston at Orlando
Dunkel Ratings: Boston 123.939; Orlando 123.759
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 204
Vegas Line & Total: Orlando by 5 1/2; 189 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+5 1/2); Over
Game 505-506: Cleveland at LA Lakers
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 123.569; LA Lakers 128.135
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 4 1/2; 208
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 5 1/2; 194
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+5 1/2); Over
Game 507-508: LA Clippers at Phoenix
Dunkel Ratings: LA Clippers 116.219; Phoenix 121.759
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 5 1/2; 202
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 9 1/2; 211
Dunkel Pick: LA Clippers (+9 1/2); Under
Game 509-510: Denver at Portland
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 122.384; Portland 122.385
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 210
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
FantasySportsGametime
NBA Basketball
100* Play Boston (+5.5) over Orlando (TOP NBA PLAY)
Boston has won 13 of the last 14 games and they have also won 17 of the last 21 games when revenging a home loss vs. an opponent. Boston has won 27 of the last 35 games when playing with two days or less of rest and they are averaging over 107 points a game on offense over the last five games.
50* Play Cleveland (+5.5) over LA Lakers (BONUS NBA PLAY)
Cleveland has won 13 of the last 14 games after having won two of the last three games and they have also won 4 consecutive games when playing their 4th road game in seven days. Los Angeles has lost 5 of the last 7 games against the spread and they have also lost 18 of the last 26 games against the spread when playing in the month of December.
NCAA Basketball
100* Play UNLV (-3) over USC (TOP NCAA PLAY)
UNLV has won 21 of the last 23 games when playing in the month of December and they have also won 10 of the last 12 games when playing with one day of rest. UNLV has won 9 of the last 10 games coming off a win by 20 points or more and they are averaging over 78 points a game on offense this season.
NFL Football
100* Play Tennessee (-3) over San Diego (TOP NFL PLAY)
Tennessee has won 7 of the last 8 games and they have also covered the spread in 17 of the last 21 games when playing as a home favorite of 3 points or less. Tennessee has won 11 of the last 12 games coming off a game with a turnover margin of +2 or better and they are averaging over 29 points a game at home this season.
NBA Basketball
100* Play Boston (+5.5) over Orlando (TOP NBA PLAY)
Boston has won 13 of the last 14 games and they have also won 17 of the last 21 games when revenging a home loss vs. an opponent. Boston has won 27 of the last 35 games when playing with two days or less of rest and they are averaging over 107 points a game on offense over the last five games.
50* Play Cleveland (+5.5) over LA Lakers (BONUS NBA PLAY)
Cleveland has won 13 of the last 14 games after having won two of the last three games and they have also won 4 consecutive games when playing their 4th road game in seven days. Los Angeles has lost 5 of the last 7 games against the spread and they have also lost 18 of the last 26 games against the spread when playing in the month of December.
NCAA Basketball
100* Play UNLV (-3) over USC (TOP NCAA PLAY)
UNLV has won 21 of the last 23 games when playing in the month of December and they have also won 10 of the last 12 games when playing with one day of rest. UNLV has won 9 of the last 10 games coming off a win by 20 points or more and they are averaging over 78 points a game on offense this season.
NFL Football
100* Play Tennessee (-3) over San Diego (TOP NFL PLAY)
Tennessee has won 7 of the last 8 games and they have also covered the spread in 17 of the last 21 games when playing as a home favorite of 3 points or less. Tennessee has won 11 of the last 12 games coming off a game with a turnover margin of +2 or better and they are averaging over 29 points a game at home this season.
Brandon Lang's Christmas 12/25
Friday's Selections ...
NOTE:
Merry Christmas. Really take a moment and enjoy this day with family and friends. It's what it's all about.
Felt great to kick off this Christmas with the 3-0 sweep last night good for +75 Dimes and even more enjoyable watching a 12 point underdog deliver an emphatic double digit outright win.
Let's see, Wyoming +10 wins outright in OT, and then SMU steps up and destroys Nevada while in between I cash in with Rutgers, and Utah.
You add the total winner and the teaser winner on SMU and Under and it all adds up to a 6-1 bowl start and I am quite confident it's the best record on this site so far.
Today the focus shifts to the NBA and the NFL, and a chance to pick up another 70 dimes of net profit.
Now let me take a second to be perfectly clear about something real quick.
In doing radio early in the week and talking about games, I give out what I feel at the time is the right side but I most certainly always reserve the right to change my opinion.
I was forced to talk about this game in quite a few radio markets and early in the week I talked about the Titans and how they are in a must win and most certainly seemed the right side.
As the week progressed it became clearly to me that the Titans are the wrong side and San diego is the play. A big play.
That is why I always say make sure you check the website for situations like this because as I said above, you want me to talk about games that early in the week, I always reserve the right to change to what I feel is the right side.
And the Chargers are most certainly the right side of this game tonight and a very big right side for me.
50 DIME - SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - (if 3 you buy the 1/2 and get 3 1/2. if 2 1/2 you buy off the 1/2 to 3) - The dream dies today for the Titans.
Listen, it made for a great story for awhile, but the cold harsh reality about this team from the very beginning was they just weren't a playoff caliber team.
Folks, you don't lose a game in the NFL 59-0 and rally to make the playoffs. Not happening. At least not in my lifetime.
In this 7-1 run to get back to 7-7, the Titans have only played 2 teams who currently have a winning record, Indy and Arizona.
The Dolphins, Jags and Texans are all 7-7 while the Niners, Bills and Rams all have losing records.
Their only loss in this run is against the Colts, who just happen to be the # 1 seed and now they are going to fall to the # 2 seed today.
All this talk about a short week, traveling on Christmas is just that, talk.
Fact of the matter is this is the hottest December team I can remember winning 17 in a row, and 12-0 under head coach Norv Turner.
Bottom line is you can see how attractive the 3 1/2 points are to me tonight.
The only teams the Titans have faced this season that have winning marks are New England, Arizona and Indianapolis twice. The Titans got a miracle win over Arizona while going 0-3 straight-up and against the spread against the Colts and Patriots losing by a combined margin of 117-26.
They can beat the also-rans of the NFL, but not the elite as they are going once again fail miserably against the big boys.
Lastly, against the Chargers, Jeff Fisher comes up short every time as he is 0-5 SU and ATS and tonight you can make that 0-6.
Folks, I have a team that has won 9 in a row getting points and that is good enough for me. Win tonight, wrap up the # 2 seed and rest all your banged up players next week at home against the Redskins.
Sounds good to me.
10 DIME - NEW YORK KNICKS - Like the way this team is playing.
They have won 7 of their last 9 SU, and 6 of 9 against the number, and now catch the Heat on Christmas in the good old Garden.
Heat off a solid win at home over the Jazz but folks, the Jazz have a history of imploding on the road.
This is a Heat team that just finished a 6 game home stand and now takes to the road for the first time since December 6th and on Christmas no less.
Sorry folks but just like the Cavs above, I will force these Christmas road teams to show up and play with 60 minutes of intensity when they wish they were at home like everyone else.
Knicks are the play.
10 DIME - LA LAKERS - Tough spot for the Cavs.
Playing on Christmas against this Lakers bunch is tough on anybody but for a team that lost at Dallas on this road trip who were playing without big Dirk, and struggled at Sacramento, I just don't see them staying inside single digits of LA today.
I mean, you can't handle the Kings? You let them take you to OT? Can I trust you in LA on Christmas? Nope.
The Lakers when motivated, and laying a manageable number are a dangerous animal.
In fact, the Lakers have laid 7 or less only twice this year and covered both destroying the Hornets 104-88 and the Suns 121-102.
That is good enough for me.
FREE SELECTION - DENVER NUGGETS
Friday's Selections ...
NOTE:
Merry Christmas. Really take a moment and enjoy this day with family and friends. It's what it's all about.
Felt great to kick off this Christmas with the 3-0 sweep last night good for +75 Dimes and even more enjoyable watching a 12 point underdog deliver an emphatic double digit outright win.
Let's see, Wyoming +10 wins outright in OT, and then SMU steps up and destroys Nevada while in between I cash in with Rutgers, and Utah.
You add the total winner and the teaser winner on SMU and Under and it all adds up to a 6-1 bowl start and I am quite confident it's the best record on this site so far.
Today the focus shifts to the NBA and the NFL, and a chance to pick up another 70 dimes of net profit.
Now let me take a second to be perfectly clear about something real quick.
In doing radio early in the week and talking about games, I give out what I feel at the time is the right side but I most certainly always reserve the right to change my opinion.
I was forced to talk about this game in quite a few radio markets and early in the week I talked about the Titans and how they are in a must win and most certainly seemed the right side.
As the week progressed it became clearly to me that the Titans are the wrong side and San diego is the play. A big play.
That is why I always say make sure you check the website for situations like this because as I said above, you want me to talk about games that early in the week, I always reserve the right to change to what I feel is the right side.
And the Chargers are most certainly the right side of this game tonight and a very big right side for me.
50 DIME - SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - (if 3 you buy the 1/2 and get 3 1/2. if 2 1/2 you buy off the 1/2 to 3) - The dream dies today for the Titans.
Listen, it made for a great story for awhile, but the cold harsh reality about this team from the very beginning was they just weren't a playoff caliber team.
Folks, you don't lose a game in the NFL 59-0 and rally to make the playoffs. Not happening. At least not in my lifetime.
In this 7-1 run to get back to 7-7, the Titans have only played 2 teams who currently have a winning record, Indy and Arizona.
The Dolphins, Jags and Texans are all 7-7 while the Niners, Bills and Rams all have losing records.
Their only loss in this run is against the Colts, who just happen to be the # 1 seed and now they are going to fall to the # 2 seed today.
All this talk about a short week, traveling on Christmas is just that, talk.
Fact of the matter is this is the hottest December team I can remember winning 17 in a row, and 12-0 under head coach Norv Turner.
Bottom line is you can see how attractive the 3 1/2 points are to me tonight.
The only teams the Titans have faced this season that have winning marks are New England, Arizona and Indianapolis twice. The Titans got a miracle win over Arizona while going 0-3 straight-up and against the spread against the Colts and Patriots losing by a combined margin of 117-26.
They can beat the also-rans of the NFL, but not the elite as they are going once again fail miserably against the big boys.
Lastly, against the Chargers, Jeff Fisher comes up short every time as he is 0-5 SU and ATS and tonight you can make that 0-6.
Folks, I have a team that has won 9 in a row getting points and that is good enough for me. Win tonight, wrap up the # 2 seed and rest all your banged up players next week at home against the Redskins.
Sounds good to me.
10 DIME - NEW YORK KNICKS - Like the way this team is playing.
They have won 7 of their last 9 SU, and 6 of 9 against the number, and now catch the Heat on Christmas in the good old Garden.
Heat off a solid win at home over the Jazz but folks, the Jazz have a history of imploding on the road.
This is a Heat team that just finished a 6 game home stand and now takes to the road for the first time since December 6th and on Christmas no less.
Sorry folks but just like the Cavs above, I will force these Christmas road teams to show up and play with 60 minutes of intensity when they wish they were at home like everyone else.
Knicks are the play.
10 DIME - LA LAKERS - Tough spot for the Cavs.
Playing on Christmas against this Lakers bunch is tough on anybody but for a team that lost at Dallas on this road trip who were playing without big Dirk, and struggled at Sacramento, I just don't see them staying inside single digits of LA today.
I mean, you can't handle the Kings? You let them take you to OT? Can I trust you in LA on Christmas? Nope.
The Lakers when motivated, and laying a manageable number are a dangerous animal.
In fact, the Lakers have laid 7 or less only twice this year and covered both destroying the Hornets 104-88 and the Suns 121-102.
That is good enough for me.
FREE SELECTION - DENVER NUGGETS
Ace-Ace
$2000.00 Take #101 San Diego (+3) over Tennessee (7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 25)
This is part of the 99 System. The Chargers have been great underdogs over the past several years. They are 17-7 ATS in their last 24 games catching points and won outright in Dallas two weeks ago as a small dog. Tennessee has been playing well but has been beating up on weak teams. The Titans defense is really banged up right now and I think that they are going to have a hard time dealing with the experience of the Chargers.
$2000.00 Take #101 San Diego (+3) over Tennessee (7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 25)
This is part of the 99 System. The Chargers have been great underdogs over the past several years. They are 17-7 ATS in their last 24 games catching points and won outright in Dallas two weeks ago as a small dog. Tennessee has been playing well but has been beating up on weak teams. The Titans defense is really banged up right now and I think that they are going to have a hard time dealing with the experience of the Chargers.
SuperSportsGroup
NCAAB
SMU v. Northeastern 2pm
PICK: SMU +3 1H (5*)
PICK: SMU +6.5 Game (7*)
St Mary CA v. Hawaii 7:30pm
PICK: St Mary CA -7.5 Game (8*)
USC v. UNLV 9:50pm
WE see this game either going in to OT or somewhere in the 65-60 final.
PICK: OVER 122.5 Game (9*) Best Bet of the day
NBA
Merry Christmas to all and enjoy the day with family and friends cause its what its all about. Lets try to make some Christmas cash too to pay off some of those bills!!
Miami v. NY 12pm
NY has been on a real roll lately playing the best basketball they have played in a while. Miami rolls in to town on Christmas and a televised event on ESPN. No matter what you can tell me, the Knicks dont deserve to be laying 2.5 to Miami here. I will take the more talented Wade and crew with the points in this one.
PICK: Miami +2.5 Game (9*) Best Bet of the day
PICK: OVER 197.5 Game (6*)
Boston v. Orlando 2:30pm
One team who has been a real thorn in the side of Boston has been Orlando. The come to the sunshine state as a 5 point underdog. Orlando has covered most of the times in the past meetings. The one sticking factor here however is the value prop. You have one of the best teams in the NBA who are 12-1 on the road as an underdog? We will have to take our chances on this one and take the Celtics getting the points.
PICK: Boston +5 Game (7*)
PICK: Boston +2.5 1H (4*)
Cleveland v. LA 5pm
Can you say NBA playoffs? This is a just a precursor to what we will see this year in the playoffs. Get ready for one of the best gifts you can get in the NBA on Christmas. LeBron v. Kobe on National TV on Christmas, it just makes our spine tingle. Anyway we would be all over the Cavs here getting the 5.5 but the real factor is the last leg of a 4 game road trip that leads us to jump on the Lakers. WE just think the Lakers will turn up the heat in LA for the visiting Cavs.
PICK: Lakers -5.5 Game (8*)
PICK: UNDER 194 Game (4*)
LA v. Phoenix 8pm
PICK: OVER 108.5 1H (7*)
NCAAB
SMU v. Northeastern 2pm
PICK: SMU +3 1H (5*)
PICK: SMU +6.5 Game (7*)
St Mary CA v. Hawaii 7:30pm
PICK: St Mary CA -7.5 Game (8*)
USC v. UNLV 9:50pm
WE see this game either going in to OT or somewhere in the 65-60 final.
PICK: OVER 122.5 Game (9*) Best Bet of the day
NBA
Merry Christmas to all and enjoy the day with family and friends cause its what its all about. Lets try to make some Christmas cash too to pay off some of those bills!!
Miami v. NY 12pm
NY has been on a real roll lately playing the best basketball they have played in a while. Miami rolls in to town on Christmas and a televised event on ESPN. No matter what you can tell me, the Knicks dont deserve to be laying 2.5 to Miami here. I will take the more talented Wade and crew with the points in this one.
PICK: Miami +2.5 Game (9*) Best Bet of the day
PICK: OVER 197.5 Game (6*)
Boston v. Orlando 2:30pm
One team who has been a real thorn in the side of Boston has been Orlando. The come to the sunshine state as a 5 point underdog. Orlando has covered most of the times in the past meetings. The one sticking factor here however is the value prop. You have one of the best teams in the NBA who are 12-1 on the road as an underdog? We will have to take our chances on this one and take the Celtics getting the points.
PICK: Boston +5 Game (7*)
PICK: Boston +2.5 1H (4*)
Cleveland v. LA 5pm
Can you say NBA playoffs? This is a just a precursor to what we will see this year in the playoffs. Get ready for one of the best gifts you can get in the NBA on Christmas. LeBron v. Kobe on National TV on Christmas, it just makes our spine tingle. Anyway we would be all over the Cavs here getting the 5.5 but the real factor is the last leg of a 4 game road trip that leads us to jump on the Lakers. WE just think the Lakers will turn up the heat in LA for the visiting Cavs.
PICK: Lakers -5.5 Game (8*)
PICK: UNDER 194 Game (4*)
LA v. Phoenix 8pm
PICK: OVER 108.5 1H (7*)
SPORTS WAGERS
NEW YORK –2 over Miami
The Heat has picked it up recently with three wins in four games and now sit two games over .500. They’ve also been decent on the road with a 5-4 record and anything above .500 on the road in the NBA has to be considered huge. Having said that, this is about as big as it’s been for the Knicks in close to a decade. The Christmas NBA games will be aired in 215 countries in 39 languages. The five games will also be shown on American Forces Networks to all military bases and ships around the globe and this one tips it off. The Knicks get a chance to show the world that they’re not the same team that has been an embarrassment to the city and league for years and it’s true, they’re not the same. The defense is getting better each game. They have some tremendous young talent in David Lee, Chris Duhon and Danilo Gallinari among others. They also have a very decent bench. They’ve gone 8-3 in December and Mike D’Antoni will most definitely have them jacked up, focused and ready to go and the joint should be rocking with playoff-like atmosphere. It’s just a great opportunity for the Knicks to put a stamp on its “turning the corner” phase of the rebuilding process and it says here they do just that. Play: New York –2 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
L.A. LAKERS –5½ over Cleveland
The Cav’s look good indeed but this isn’t the Kings, Grizzlies, Thunder, Pistons or Nets. This is the Lakers, the best in the business in a game that means something. Well, sort of. It means nothing in terms of standings but it definitely mans something to Phil Jackson, Kobe and the rest of the Lakers. You see, the Lakers don’t have a lot to get excited about these days. Every game is just another game in a long season but every game represents a step closer to May, when the real season begins. So, it’s not often the Lakers can get excited but with Shaq and LeBron in town and the whole world watching you know that Lakers will treat this one like the seventh game of a playoff series. The Lakers have a huge edge inside and should absolutely destroy the Cav’s in the paint. Yeah, LeBron can and likely will go off for 30 or more but so what. The Lakers are the superior team by a wide margin and Kobe just has to win on National TV or he won’t eat or sleep for a month. Anyway, Gasol and Bynum in the paint will ruin this invader. Ilgauskas and Shaq are big and both can score, especially Ilgauskas but as far as defending, they’re both about as mobile as a fire hydrant and the Lakers will exploit that all game. Play: L.A. Lakers –5½ (Risking 2.18 units to win 2).
NEW YORK –2 over Miami
The Heat has picked it up recently with three wins in four games and now sit two games over .500. They’ve also been decent on the road with a 5-4 record and anything above .500 on the road in the NBA has to be considered huge. Having said that, this is about as big as it’s been for the Knicks in close to a decade. The Christmas NBA games will be aired in 215 countries in 39 languages. The five games will also be shown on American Forces Networks to all military bases and ships around the globe and this one tips it off. The Knicks get a chance to show the world that they’re not the same team that has been an embarrassment to the city and league for years and it’s true, they’re not the same. The defense is getting better each game. They have some tremendous young talent in David Lee, Chris Duhon and Danilo Gallinari among others. They also have a very decent bench. They’ve gone 8-3 in December and Mike D’Antoni will most definitely have them jacked up, focused and ready to go and the joint should be rocking with playoff-like atmosphere. It’s just a great opportunity for the Knicks to put a stamp on its “turning the corner” phase of the rebuilding process and it says here they do just that. Play: New York –2 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
L.A. LAKERS –5½ over Cleveland
The Cav’s look good indeed but this isn’t the Kings, Grizzlies, Thunder, Pistons or Nets. This is the Lakers, the best in the business in a game that means something. Well, sort of. It means nothing in terms of standings but it definitely mans something to Phil Jackson, Kobe and the rest of the Lakers. You see, the Lakers don’t have a lot to get excited about these days. Every game is just another game in a long season but every game represents a step closer to May, when the real season begins. So, it’s not often the Lakers can get excited but with Shaq and LeBron in town and the whole world watching you know that Lakers will treat this one like the seventh game of a playoff series. The Lakers have a huge edge inside and should absolutely destroy the Cav’s in the paint. Yeah, LeBron can and likely will go off for 30 or more but so what. The Lakers are the superior team by a wide margin and Kobe just has to win on National TV or he won’t eat or sleep for a month. Anyway, Gasol and Bynum in the paint will ruin this invader. Ilgauskas and Shaq are big and both can score, especially Ilgauskas but as far as defending, they’re both about as mobile as a fire hydrant and the Lakers will exploit that all game. Play: L.A. Lakers –5½ (Risking 2.18 units to win 2).
Gina's NBA Predictions
Friday, December 25th, 2009 5:00 p.m. est.
Cleveland Cavaliers (22-8) at Los Angeles Lakers (23-4)
Kobe and the Lakers at home on Christmas day should get the win, but LeBron and the Cavaliers will keep this Xmas battle close. The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and the underdog in this series is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Cleveland Cavaliers +6
Friday, December 25th, 2009 5:00 p.m. est.
Cleveland Cavaliers (22-8) at Los Angeles Lakers (23-4)
Kobe and the Lakers at home on Christmas day should get the win, but LeBron and the Cavaliers will keep this Xmas battle close. The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and the underdog in this series is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Cleveland Cavaliers +6
