Saturday 4/2/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp NBA Pick, Saturday, April 2, 2016 10:05 PM EST

(809) MIAMI HEAT VS (810) PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

Take: Over the total

Reason: Your Bonus Play for Saturday, April 2, 2016 is in the NBA scheduled contest between the Miami Heat and the Blazers at Portland. This is the end of a three-game road trip for Miami, playing at Sacramento last night. Miami is on an 8-3 run over the total and 4-1 over playing on no days rest. They head to a rested Portland team that will run right at the tired visitors. Al-Farouq Aminu cored a career-best 28 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers, and the Portland Trail Blazers extended their winning streak at home to a season-high six games with a 116-109 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Portland is 10-2 over the total against a team with a winning straight up record. Look for the home team to run all night, and the Over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings, including 8-3-1 over the total in the last 12 meetings in Portland. Play Miami/Portland Over the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Red Dog Sports

COLUMBUS CREW vs FC Dallas

Bonus Play Dallas -118

Take Dallas to beat Columbus on Saturday night as our FREE SOCCER PICK.

Dallas 2

Columbus 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Martin Griffiths

Chelsea vs ASTON VILLA

Bonus Play OVER 2.5

Villa are a mess at the moment, they have lost their manager this week following the departure of Reme Garde, they are almost certain to be relegated and have lost their last six games on the trot conceding 17 goals in the process, if there is a team in crisis it is Villa.

That said, Chelsea are certainly not the same team that won the title last season, over their last six games in all competitions they have won just twice and have proven to be one of the most unpredictable teams in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea should win this game, but then there have been quite a few games they should have won and have not, though if they failed to beat a Villa team in such disarray then that would be a new low for them.

But, are the Blues worth taking a chance with, I would say no, the odds are restrictive and their inconsistency is just much of a risk, it is better to look at the goal markets and see where the value lies.

Both teams have poor defences, Villa's is of course a lot worse than Chelsea but it has not exactly been difficult this season to penetrate the defence of last seasons champions and it does not take a great leap of faith to see goals in this match up.

All things considered this game looks like it will go over 2.5 goals and that is what I will be going for.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Bill Biles

Villanova vs Oklahoma

Bonus Play OVER 144.5

Both these teams can light it up from 3 point land. If they are hitting their shots this total will go way over. These 2 teams have been 2 of the highest scoring teams in the tournament so far and I expect the same in this one.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Brandon Lee

Pacers vs 76ers

10* FREE NBA PICK (Indiana Pacers -11)

If there's one team you can feel comfortable playing a double-digit road favorite against, it would the 76ers. Philadelphia season was over before it started and the 76ers are more focused about the offseason than playing their hearts out over the final few games of the season. Indiana on the other hand is in desperation mode, as they are just 1-game up on the Bulls for the 8th and final playoff spot in the east. The Pacers also come in having lost 2 straight at home, including an ugly 20-point loss to the Magic last time out. I believe that is going to result in a max effort here from the Indiana and a lopsided win and cover. Pacers are 24-12 ATS in their last 36 road games off a loss and the 76ers are 0-11 ATS in their last 11 as a home dog of 9.5 to 12 points. Give me the Pacers -11!

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jimmy Boyd

Syracuse vs North Carolina

Free Pick UNDER

This might seem like a low total given that these two teams combined for 157 and 145 points in their two games this season, but I believe the venue along with the pressure of the Final Four has created some decent value here on the under.

The game will be played at NRG Stadium, which is the home of the NFL's Houston Texans. It might not seem like a big deal, but it's enough of a difference that throws teams off. That's especially been the case in previous college basketball games here. There have been 9 previous NCAA Tournament games on this floor and the under has gone an impressive 7-1-1 in those contests.

You also have to factor in the books are going to inflate the total, expecting the public to back the over. No surprise, close to 60% of the public is on the over. That's important to note, as we have seen this total drop from the original line of 146. That means big money is on the UNDER.

Another key here is the familiarity these two teams have with one another. Each knows the strengths and weaknesses of the other and the more times two teams play each other, the more the defense tends to win out. I also give both defenses an edge here with the extra time to prepare.

North Carolina's size and athleticism is going to make it tough on the Orange to get open looks offensively. At the same time, Syracuse's zone should help negate the Tar Heels strength inside and force them into shooting outside shots. If there's a weakness of North Carolina, it's they aren't a great outside shooting team.

I believe there's more than enough here to jump on the under in this one. I also want to point out the UNDER is 13-5 in UNC's last 18 games against ACC opponents and 7-1 in Syracuse's last 8 with a total set at 140 to 149.5. Take the UNDER!