vegas-runner | CFB MoneyLine Double-Dime Bet
113 Fresno St. (-130) Sportsbetting.com vs 114 San Jose St.
Analysis:
** NCAAFB 2* TEASER PLAY of the DAY **
BOWLING GREEN +3 & FRESNO ST +4 (2*)...Teaser...(Possible Upgrade to 3*)
*** NCAAFB 3* MAC GAME of the WEEK ***
1.) BOWLING GREEN -4 (-105)... (3* GOW)...6pm est Kick-Off...
Sat, 11/22/08 - 3:30 PMvegas-runner | CFB Side Triple-Dime Bet
119 Illinois -2.5 (-110) Sportsbetting.com vs 120 Northwestern
Analysis: *** NCAAFB 3* "EARLY STEAM" GAME of the WEEK ***
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113 Fresno St. (-130) Sportsbetting.com vs 114 San Jose St.
Analysis:
** NCAAFB 2* TEASER PLAY of the DAY **
BOWLING GREEN +3 & FRESNO ST +4 (2*)...Teaser...(Possible Upgrade to 3*)
*** NCAAFB 3* MAC GAME of the WEEK ***
1.) BOWLING GREEN -4 (-105)... (3* GOW)...6pm est Kick-Off...
Sat, 11/22/08 - 3:30 PMvegas-runner | CFB Side Triple-Dime Bet
119 Illinois -2.5 (-110) Sportsbetting.com vs 120 Northwestern
Analysis: *** NCAAFB 3* "EARLY STEAM" GAME of the WEEK ***
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Bob Balfe
College Football
Fresno State -3.5 over San Jose State
The Spartans got a lot of hype earlier this season when they played Boise at home and they never had a shot in that game. Fresno was projected to be a top team in the WAC, but injuries have slowed them down. Both teams have a ton of injuries, but the coaching and experience is on the side of Fresno. San Jose simply cannot score. Fresno's defense stinks, but in the end the Bulldogs will be too much offensively. Take Fresno.
NBA Basketball
TWolves +6 over Celtics
NCAA Basketball
Morgan State +6.5 over Marshall
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College Football
Fresno State -3.5 over San Jose State
The Spartans got a lot of hype earlier this season when they played Boise at home and they never had a shot in that game. Fresno was projected to be a top team in the WAC, but injuries have slowed them down. Both teams have a ton of injuries, but the coaching and experience is on the side of Fresno. San Jose simply cannot score. Fresno's defense stinks, but in the end the Bulldogs will be too much offensively. Take Fresno.
NBA Basketball
TWolves +6 over Celtics
NCAA Basketball
Morgan State +6.5 over Marshall
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SPORTS ADVISORS
Miami (Ohio) (2-8, 4-5 ATS) at Toledo (2-8, 5-5 ATS)
Two teams basically playing out the string meet in a Mid-American Conference game in Toledo when the Redhawks and Rockets go in search of just their third win of the year.
Miami (Ohio) has lost three straight (1-2 ATS) and six of the last seven (3-4 ATS) and sit at the bottom of the MAC’s East Division with a 1-5 league mark (3-3 ATS). The Redhawks fell 31-16 to unbeaten Ball State on Nov. 11, but they cashed as 17½-point home ‘dogs. QB Daniel Raudabaugh had one of his better games, throwing for 254 yards and a TD.
Toledo has dropped four straight (2-2 ATS) and seven of its last eight (4-4 ATS), and it is tied for last in the MAC’s West Division with an identical 1-5 SU and 3-3 ATS league record. The Rockets have dropped four straight at home (2-2 ATS) and they haven’t won a game since upsetting Michigan 13-10 on Oct. 11. Last week, Toledo fell 27-17 at Western Michigan, but cashed as 14-point pups. The defense, which has given up at least 24 points in seven of its last eight games (all losses), is the worst in the MAC, allowing 32.5 points per game.
The home is on a 4-1 SU and ATS streak in this rivalry, but the last time these two met was in 2004 when they played twice within a month, once in the regular season and once in the MAC title game. Miami won the regular-season battle at home 23-16 as six-point favorites but lost 35-27 as a 1½-point pup in the conference championship game.
The Redhawks are on ATS slides of 3-8 in MAC contests, 2-6 against teams with a losing record and 1-5 in November contests, but they are a solid 9-5 ATS in their last 14 on the road. Toledo is 5-2 ATS in its last seven home games and 4-1 ATS in its last five against losing teams.
It’s been all “unders” for Miami (Ohio) lately, including 4-1 overall, 7-2 on the road, 5-1 in conference games and 10-4 against teams with a losing record. For the Rockets, the over is 11-4 in their last 15 at home and 8-2 in their last 10 against teams with a losing record, but otherwise Toledo is on under runs of 5-1-1 overall, 6-1-1 in MAC games and 7-1 coming off a straight-up loss. Also, the under is 3-0 in the last three meetings between these schools.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Buffalo (6-4, 7-3 ATS) at Bowling Green (5-5, 7-3 ATS)
The Bulls go in search of their fifth straight victory and a MAC East Division title when they take the field in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Buffalo leads the East Division by a game over Bowling Green and Akron and can secure its place in the MAC title game with a win, leading. Last week, the Bulls earned a 43-40 overtime win at Akron, cashing in as a 2½-point pup, making them bowl-eligible for the first time and putting them in control of their own destiny for the division crown. Coach Turner Gil’s squad is in the top-10 in the country with a plus-13 turnover margin, and they’ve got a steady QB in Drew Willy, who has thrown 126 consecutive passes without an INT. Going back to the mid point of last season, Willy has a 29-4 TD-to-INT ratio.
Bowling Green has won two straight, but has been idle since crushing Ohio 28-3 as a 2½-point road favorite back on Nov. 8. That win has put the Falcons in control of their own destiny, as the can claim the MAC East title with a win tonight and a win at Toledo next week. Junior QB Tyler Sheehan leads the Falcons offense with 2,129 passing yards and 16 TD passes (7 INTs), and he also has a team-high five rushing touchdowns and a receiving score.
Bowling Green has won four straight in this series (2-2 ATS), including last year’s 31-17 road victory as a one-point ‘dog. The last time these two squared off in Ohio, the Falcons scored a thrilling 48-40 overtime win, but came nowhere close to covering as 22-point favorites.
Buffalo is on a plethora of ATS streaks, including 7-3 overall, 7-0 on the road (5-0 this year), 8-3 in MAC games, 6-2 in November contests and 5-0 after a straight-up win. Meanwhile, Bowling Green is on ATS slides of 3-13 at home (0-3 this year) and 1-4 after a straight-up win, but the Falcons are on positive ATS streaks of 10-4 overall, 7-2 in MAC contests and 5-0 in November.
For the Bulls, the over is on runs of 4-0 overall, 19-7 in conference games and 4-1 in November. Conversely, Bowling Green sports “under” streaks of 4-1 overall, 6-1 in MAC contests, 5-2 coming off a spread-cover and 7-2 on grass.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Fresno State (6-4, 1-9 ATS) at San Jose State (6-5, 5-5 ATS)
Fresno State will try to continue its mastery over the Spartans when these two Western Athletic Conference rivals clash in San Jose.
The Bulldogs have won nine of the last 10 meetings (6-4 ATS) with San Jose State and blanked the Spartans last year 30-0, easily cashing as a 13-point home favorite. Fresno is 3-1 (2-2 ATS) in its last four visits to San Jose, but the one loss came in its most recent trip in 2006, when the Spartans prevailed 24-14 as a three-point home chalk. The straight-up winner is 7-3 ATS in this rivalry dating back to 1998.
The Bulldogs had high hopes coming into this season, but poor defense has killed the team, yielding 28 points in seven straight games prior to last week’s 24-17 home win over New Mexico State. However, Fresno State failed to cover as 17-point home favorites, the team’s ninth straight ATS setback. Going back to the end of the 2005 season, Pat Hill’s troops are just 9-28 against the number.
San Jose State has dropped two straight and three of four, and last week the Spartans got steamrolled at Nevada, losing 41-17 as a 15½-point road ‘dog for their fourth straight non-cover, all in WAC play. San Jose State’s defense has allowed 770 rushing yards the last three weeks, including 333 to the Wolf Pack on Saturday. Offensively, the Spartans have produced a total of 16 points in their last two at home, losses to Boise State (33-16) and Louisiana Tech (21-0).
In addition to its current 9-28 ATS slide, Fresno State is mired in pointspread funks of 7-19 in WAC games, 3-12 against teams with a winning record, 1-5 in true road games, 0-4 in November, 0-6 on Fridays and 16-35-1 after a non-cover. The Spartans are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 at home, but the two non-covers have come in their last two at Spartan Stadium.
The Bulldogs are on over streaks of 5-2-1 overall, 4-1-1 on the road, 6-2-1 after a non-cover and 4-1-1 following a straight-up win. On the flip side, San Jose State carries “under” trends of 22-8-1 overall, 20-6-1 in conference action, 10-4 in November, 22-6-1 on grass and 11-4-1 after a non-cover. The under is also 7-1 in the last eight meetings between these regional rivals.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN JOSE STATE and UNDER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Seton Hall (3-0, 2-0 ATS) vs. (13) Memphis (3-0, 2-1 ATS), at Puerto Rico
Seton Hall, which opened last season on a 6-0 run, tries to stay perfect through four games this season when it takes on 13th-ranked Memphis in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Season Tip-Off in San Juan.
The Pirates rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to beat No. 19 Southern California 63-61 on Thursday, pulling off the upset as eight-point ‘dogs. Seton Hall stepped up the defense in the second half, limiting the Trojans to just 24.1 percent shooting after allowing them to ht 62.5 percent of their shots in the opening 20 minutes. It was the Pirates’ first win over a Top-25 team since coach Bobby Gonzalez took over two seasons ago (1-10 SU).
Memphis moved into the semifinals with an 83-71 win over Chattanooga on Thursday, but the Tigers came nowhere near covering as 22½-point favorites. Shawn Taggart led the way with a 16-point, 11-rebound performance as the Tigers continue to spread to the wealth with five players already averaging double-digits in points.
The Tigers went 3-0 (2-1 ATS) against Big East teams last season, but they haven’t faced Seton Hall since 1974.
The Pirates are in ATS slumps of 5-8 overall, 5-17 in neutral-site contests, 2-4-1 in non-conference action and 1-6 on Fridays, but they have cashed in five of their last six after a SU win. Memphis is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games overall dating back to last year’s NCAA Tournament run and 5-2 ATS in its last seven non-conference games.
For the Tigers, the over is on runs of 6-3 overall (all in non-conference action), 6-0 against the Big East and 5-2 at neutral sites. Seton Hall has stayed below the total in six straight lined contests overall and four straight in neutral venues, but the Pirates have topped the number in four of six non-conference contests.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MEMPHIS
Michigan (3-0, 2-0 ATS) vs. (10) Duke (4-0, 2-2 ATS), at New York
The Wolverines already pulled off one upset of a Top 10 team in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York, and now they shoot for two in a row when they take on Duke in the championship game.
Michigan stunned No. 4 UCLA 55-52 on Thursday, winning as a nine-point underdog, and snapping the Wolverines’ 12-game losing streak against ranked opponents and a four-game skid to UCLA. Michigan’s 1-3-1 zone defense shut down the Bruins, limiting them to 42 percent shooting and forcing them into 17 turnovers.
Duke played a poor first half against Southern Illinois on Thursday at the Garden, but pulled away for an easy 83-58 win and cover as a 15-point favorite. The Blue Devils went almost seven minutes without a basket in the first half, but used a 13-3 run at the end of the half to take a six-point lead in the locker room, then outscored the Salukis 54-35 the rest of the way. Duke held Southern Illinois to 35.1 percent shooting and had a commanding 40-22 rebounding edge.
The Wolverines have lost six straight to the Blue Devils, including last year’s 95-67 loss as a 24-point road underdog in the first meeting between these schools since 2002. Not only do these squads face off tonight, but they’re also scheduled to play each other on Dec. 6 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan has cashed in four of its last five games dating to the end of last season, but otherwise the Wolverines are on ATS slides of 2-5 in neutral-site contests, 4-13 in non-conference games, 0-4 against the ACC and 2-5 on Fridays. The Blue Devils are on ATS slides of 6-11-1 overall (all as a favorite), 8-20 at neutral sites, 3-7 in non-conference play, 2-15 on Fridays and 0-5 after a spread-cover.
The Blue Devils are on “under” runs of 8-2 overall, 7-1 at neutral sites, 27-11 in non-league action and 5-2 on Fridays. For the Wolverines, the under is 7-1 in their last eight overall, but the over is 9-4 in their last 13 non-league games and 5-0 in their last five against the ACC.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DUKE
NBA
Utah (8-4, 6-6 ATS) at San Antonio (5-6, 4-7 ATS)
The Spurs will try to make it four wins in their last five games when they host the Jazz tonight in San Antonio.
Utah comes into this one riding a two-game SU and ATS winning streak after losing four of five on an East Coast road trip (1-4 ATS). On Wednesday, the Jazz scored a 105-94 home win over the Bucks, narrowly covering as 10½-point favorites. With point guard Deron Williams out all season with ankle issues, the Jazz have gotten outstanding play from reserve guard Ronnie Price, who had 16 points and six assists against Milwaukee.
The Spurs had a three-game SU and ATS losing streak stopped in Wednesday’s 91-81 loss to the Nuggets as a one-point home favorite. With guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker sidelined with injuries, San Antonio has had trouble scoring, failing to reach the 100-point mark in seven straight games and staying below 90 points in five of its last seven.
The home team has won nine of the last 10 meetings (SU and ATS) between these two, including the last five in a row, and the SU winner is 10-0 ATS in those 10 clashes. In the final meeting last year, San Antonio prevailed 109-80 as a 4½-point chalk. The favorite is 16-5 ATS in the last 21 matchups, and Utah has failed to win or cover in its last eight consecutive visits to San Antonio.
Utah is just 1-4 ATS in its last five road games, but the Jazz are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 against the Southwest Division and 4-1 ATS in their last five against Western Conference squads. The Spurs are in several ATS ruts, including 4-9 overall, 3-7 against the Western Conference, 2-5 at home, 3-10 against the Northwest Division and 2-5 when playing on a day’s rest.
The under is 13-5-1 in Utah’s last 19 against Southwest Division teams, but otherwise the team is on over streaks of 4-0 overall, 5-2 after a spread-cover and 4-1 on Friday. For San Antonio, the under is on runs of 19-7-1 overall, 7-0 over the last two weeks, 5-0 at home, 16-5-1 against Western Conference teams, 36-16 when playing with a day of rest and 8-2 on Fridays.
Finally, the over is 8-3 in the last 11 series meetings, including 6-0 in the last six in San Antonio.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Denver (8-4, 8-3-1 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (9-1, 7-3 ATS)
The Nuggets make a stop at the Staples Center in Los Angeles looking to extend their four-game winning streak and trying to halt an eight-game losing skid against the Lakers.
Denver has won seven of its last eight games, including Wednesday’s 91-81 victory in San Antonio as a one-point ‘dog. Since the addition of point guard Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets are playing better defense, holding the opposition to 92.5 points a game in its last seven after allowing 104 ppg in four contests without Billups.
The Lakers were in Phoenix on Thursday and dominated the Suns 105-92 as a 4½-point road chalk. Los Angeles has topped the 100-point mark seven times in its last nine games (6-3 ATS), they are outscoring the opposition by 14 ppg (105-91) and the defense is limiting opponents to 41.8 percent shooting from the field.
Denver hasn’t beaten Los Angeles since April 9, 2007, losing eight straight, including a four-game playoff sweep last spring as well as a 104-97 loss in Colorado on Nov. 1. However, the Nuggets cashed as 8½-point home underdogs in that contest, ending an 0-7 ATS slide against L.A.
Denver is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 Friday tip-offs, and the Nuggets are on further ATS streaks of 5-2 on the road and 6-2 against the Western Conference. Los Angeles is on a slew of ATS runs, including 12-5-1 after a spread-cover, 20-6-1 against Western Conference teams, 5-1 after a straight-up win, 9-2 after a double-digit victory and 4-1 on the second night of a back-to-back.
The over is 35-17 in Denver’s last 52 games on Friday, but the under is on runs of 15-6 overall, 13-4 against the Western Conference and 8-3 after a straight-up win. For the Lakers, the over is on stretches of 5-2 overall, 4-0 at home and 12-5 on Fridays, but they’ve stayed below the total in 10 of their last 13 against the Western Conference.
The under is 4-0 in the last four head-to-head meetings and 8-3 the last 11 matchups in Hollywood.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. LAKERS
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Miami (Ohio) (2-8, 4-5 ATS) at Toledo (2-8, 5-5 ATS)
Two teams basically playing out the string meet in a Mid-American Conference game in Toledo when the Redhawks and Rockets go in search of just their third win of the year.
Miami (Ohio) has lost three straight (1-2 ATS) and six of the last seven (3-4 ATS) and sit at the bottom of the MAC’s East Division with a 1-5 league mark (3-3 ATS). The Redhawks fell 31-16 to unbeaten Ball State on Nov. 11, but they cashed as 17½-point home ‘dogs. QB Daniel Raudabaugh had one of his better games, throwing for 254 yards and a TD.
Toledo has dropped four straight (2-2 ATS) and seven of its last eight (4-4 ATS), and it is tied for last in the MAC’s West Division with an identical 1-5 SU and 3-3 ATS league record. The Rockets have dropped four straight at home (2-2 ATS) and they haven’t won a game since upsetting Michigan 13-10 on Oct. 11. Last week, Toledo fell 27-17 at Western Michigan, but cashed as 14-point pups. The defense, which has given up at least 24 points in seven of its last eight games (all losses), is the worst in the MAC, allowing 32.5 points per game.
The home is on a 4-1 SU and ATS streak in this rivalry, but the last time these two met was in 2004 when they played twice within a month, once in the regular season and once in the MAC title game. Miami won the regular-season battle at home 23-16 as six-point favorites but lost 35-27 as a 1½-point pup in the conference championship game.
The Redhawks are on ATS slides of 3-8 in MAC contests, 2-6 against teams with a losing record and 1-5 in November contests, but they are a solid 9-5 ATS in their last 14 on the road. Toledo is 5-2 ATS in its last seven home games and 4-1 ATS in its last five against losing teams.
It’s been all “unders” for Miami (Ohio) lately, including 4-1 overall, 7-2 on the road, 5-1 in conference games and 10-4 against teams with a losing record. For the Rockets, the over is 11-4 in their last 15 at home and 8-2 in their last 10 against teams with a losing record, but otherwise Toledo is on under runs of 5-1-1 overall, 6-1-1 in MAC games and 7-1 coming off a straight-up loss. Also, the under is 3-0 in the last three meetings between these schools.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Buffalo (6-4, 7-3 ATS) at Bowling Green (5-5, 7-3 ATS)
The Bulls go in search of their fifth straight victory and a MAC East Division title when they take the field in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Buffalo leads the East Division by a game over Bowling Green and Akron and can secure its place in the MAC title game with a win, leading. Last week, the Bulls earned a 43-40 overtime win at Akron, cashing in as a 2½-point pup, making them bowl-eligible for the first time and putting them in control of their own destiny for the division crown. Coach Turner Gil’s squad is in the top-10 in the country with a plus-13 turnover margin, and they’ve got a steady QB in Drew Willy, who has thrown 126 consecutive passes without an INT. Going back to the mid point of last season, Willy has a 29-4 TD-to-INT ratio.
Bowling Green has won two straight, but has been idle since crushing Ohio 28-3 as a 2½-point road favorite back on Nov. 8. That win has put the Falcons in control of their own destiny, as the can claim the MAC East title with a win tonight and a win at Toledo next week. Junior QB Tyler Sheehan leads the Falcons offense with 2,129 passing yards and 16 TD passes (7 INTs), and he also has a team-high five rushing touchdowns and a receiving score.
Bowling Green has won four straight in this series (2-2 ATS), including last year’s 31-17 road victory as a one-point ‘dog. The last time these two squared off in Ohio, the Falcons scored a thrilling 48-40 overtime win, but came nowhere close to covering as 22-point favorites.
Buffalo is on a plethora of ATS streaks, including 7-3 overall, 7-0 on the road (5-0 this year), 8-3 in MAC games, 6-2 in November contests and 5-0 after a straight-up win. Meanwhile, Bowling Green is on ATS slides of 3-13 at home (0-3 this year) and 1-4 after a straight-up win, but the Falcons are on positive ATS streaks of 10-4 overall, 7-2 in MAC contests and 5-0 in November.
For the Bulls, the over is on runs of 4-0 overall, 19-7 in conference games and 4-1 in November. Conversely, Bowling Green sports “under” streaks of 4-1 overall, 6-1 in MAC contests, 5-2 coming off a spread-cover and 7-2 on grass.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Fresno State (6-4, 1-9 ATS) at San Jose State (6-5, 5-5 ATS)
Fresno State will try to continue its mastery over the Spartans when these two Western Athletic Conference rivals clash in San Jose.
The Bulldogs have won nine of the last 10 meetings (6-4 ATS) with San Jose State and blanked the Spartans last year 30-0, easily cashing as a 13-point home favorite. Fresno is 3-1 (2-2 ATS) in its last four visits to San Jose, but the one loss came in its most recent trip in 2006, when the Spartans prevailed 24-14 as a three-point home chalk. The straight-up winner is 7-3 ATS in this rivalry dating back to 1998.
The Bulldogs had high hopes coming into this season, but poor defense has killed the team, yielding 28 points in seven straight games prior to last week’s 24-17 home win over New Mexico State. However, Fresno State failed to cover as 17-point home favorites, the team’s ninth straight ATS setback. Going back to the end of the 2005 season, Pat Hill’s troops are just 9-28 against the number.
San Jose State has dropped two straight and three of four, and last week the Spartans got steamrolled at Nevada, losing 41-17 as a 15½-point road ‘dog for their fourth straight non-cover, all in WAC play. San Jose State’s defense has allowed 770 rushing yards the last three weeks, including 333 to the Wolf Pack on Saturday. Offensively, the Spartans have produced a total of 16 points in their last two at home, losses to Boise State (33-16) and Louisiana Tech (21-0).
In addition to its current 9-28 ATS slide, Fresno State is mired in pointspread funks of 7-19 in WAC games, 3-12 against teams with a winning record, 1-5 in true road games, 0-4 in November, 0-6 on Fridays and 16-35-1 after a non-cover. The Spartans are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 at home, but the two non-covers have come in their last two at Spartan Stadium.
The Bulldogs are on over streaks of 5-2-1 overall, 4-1-1 on the road, 6-2-1 after a non-cover and 4-1-1 following a straight-up win. On the flip side, San Jose State carries “under” trends of 22-8-1 overall, 20-6-1 in conference action, 10-4 in November, 22-6-1 on grass and 11-4-1 after a non-cover. The under is also 7-1 in the last eight meetings between these regional rivals.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN JOSE STATE and UNDER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Seton Hall (3-0, 2-0 ATS) vs. (13) Memphis (3-0, 2-1 ATS), at Puerto Rico
Seton Hall, which opened last season on a 6-0 run, tries to stay perfect through four games this season when it takes on 13th-ranked Memphis in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Season Tip-Off in San Juan.
The Pirates rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to beat No. 19 Southern California 63-61 on Thursday, pulling off the upset as eight-point ‘dogs. Seton Hall stepped up the defense in the second half, limiting the Trojans to just 24.1 percent shooting after allowing them to ht 62.5 percent of their shots in the opening 20 minutes. It was the Pirates’ first win over a Top-25 team since coach Bobby Gonzalez took over two seasons ago (1-10 SU).
Memphis moved into the semifinals with an 83-71 win over Chattanooga on Thursday, but the Tigers came nowhere near covering as 22½-point favorites. Shawn Taggart led the way with a 16-point, 11-rebound performance as the Tigers continue to spread to the wealth with five players already averaging double-digits in points.
The Tigers went 3-0 (2-1 ATS) against Big East teams last season, but they haven’t faced Seton Hall since 1974.
The Pirates are in ATS slumps of 5-8 overall, 5-17 in neutral-site contests, 2-4-1 in non-conference action and 1-6 on Fridays, but they have cashed in five of their last six after a SU win. Memphis is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games overall dating back to last year’s NCAA Tournament run and 5-2 ATS in its last seven non-conference games.
For the Tigers, the over is on runs of 6-3 overall (all in non-conference action), 6-0 against the Big East and 5-2 at neutral sites. Seton Hall has stayed below the total in six straight lined contests overall and four straight in neutral venues, but the Pirates have topped the number in four of six non-conference contests.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MEMPHIS
Michigan (3-0, 2-0 ATS) vs. (10) Duke (4-0, 2-2 ATS), at New York
The Wolverines already pulled off one upset of a Top 10 team in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York, and now they shoot for two in a row when they take on Duke in the championship game.
Michigan stunned No. 4 UCLA 55-52 on Thursday, winning as a nine-point underdog, and snapping the Wolverines’ 12-game losing streak against ranked opponents and a four-game skid to UCLA. Michigan’s 1-3-1 zone defense shut down the Bruins, limiting them to 42 percent shooting and forcing them into 17 turnovers.
Duke played a poor first half against Southern Illinois on Thursday at the Garden, but pulled away for an easy 83-58 win and cover as a 15-point favorite. The Blue Devils went almost seven minutes without a basket in the first half, but used a 13-3 run at the end of the half to take a six-point lead in the locker room, then outscored the Salukis 54-35 the rest of the way. Duke held Southern Illinois to 35.1 percent shooting and had a commanding 40-22 rebounding edge.
The Wolverines have lost six straight to the Blue Devils, including last year’s 95-67 loss as a 24-point road underdog in the first meeting between these schools since 2002. Not only do these squads face off tonight, but they’re also scheduled to play each other on Dec. 6 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan has cashed in four of its last five games dating to the end of last season, but otherwise the Wolverines are on ATS slides of 2-5 in neutral-site contests, 4-13 in non-conference games, 0-4 against the ACC and 2-5 on Fridays. The Blue Devils are on ATS slides of 6-11-1 overall (all as a favorite), 8-20 at neutral sites, 3-7 in non-conference play, 2-15 on Fridays and 0-5 after a spread-cover.
The Blue Devils are on “under” runs of 8-2 overall, 7-1 at neutral sites, 27-11 in non-league action and 5-2 on Fridays. For the Wolverines, the under is 7-1 in their last eight overall, but the over is 9-4 in their last 13 non-league games and 5-0 in their last five against the ACC.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DUKE
NBA
Utah (8-4, 6-6 ATS) at San Antonio (5-6, 4-7 ATS)
The Spurs will try to make it four wins in their last five games when they host the Jazz tonight in San Antonio.
Utah comes into this one riding a two-game SU and ATS winning streak after losing four of five on an East Coast road trip (1-4 ATS). On Wednesday, the Jazz scored a 105-94 home win over the Bucks, narrowly covering as 10½-point favorites. With point guard Deron Williams out all season with ankle issues, the Jazz have gotten outstanding play from reserve guard Ronnie Price, who had 16 points and six assists against Milwaukee.
The Spurs had a three-game SU and ATS losing streak stopped in Wednesday’s 91-81 loss to the Nuggets as a one-point home favorite. With guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker sidelined with injuries, San Antonio has had trouble scoring, failing to reach the 100-point mark in seven straight games and staying below 90 points in five of its last seven.
The home team has won nine of the last 10 meetings (SU and ATS) between these two, including the last five in a row, and the SU winner is 10-0 ATS in those 10 clashes. In the final meeting last year, San Antonio prevailed 109-80 as a 4½-point chalk. The favorite is 16-5 ATS in the last 21 matchups, and Utah has failed to win or cover in its last eight consecutive visits to San Antonio.
Utah is just 1-4 ATS in its last five road games, but the Jazz are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 against the Southwest Division and 4-1 ATS in their last five against Western Conference squads. The Spurs are in several ATS ruts, including 4-9 overall, 3-7 against the Western Conference, 2-5 at home, 3-10 against the Northwest Division and 2-5 when playing on a day’s rest.
The under is 13-5-1 in Utah’s last 19 against Southwest Division teams, but otherwise the team is on over streaks of 4-0 overall, 5-2 after a spread-cover and 4-1 on Friday. For San Antonio, the under is on runs of 19-7-1 overall, 7-0 over the last two weeks, 5-0 at home, 16-5-1 against Western Conference teams, 36-16 when playing with a day of rest and 8-2 on Fridays.
Finally, the over is 8-3 in the last 11 series meetings, including 6-0 in the last six in San Antonio.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Denver (8-4, 8-3-1 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (9-1, 7-3 ATS)
The Nuggets make a stop at the Staples Center in Los Angeles looking to extend their four-game winning streak and trying to halt an eight-game losing skid against the Lakers.
Denver has won seven of its last eight games, including Wednesday’s 91-81 victory in San Antonio as a one-point ‘dog. Since the addition of point guard Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets are playing better defense, holding the opposition to 92.5 points a game in its last seven after allowing 104 ppg in four contests without Billups.
The Lakers were in Phoenix on Thursday and dominated the Suns 105-92 as a 4½-point road chalk. Los Angeles has topped the 100-point mark seven times in its last nine games (6-3 ATS), they are outscoring the opposition by 14 ppg (105-91) and the defense is limiting opponents to 41.8 percent shooting from the field.
Denver hasn’t beaten Los Angeles since April 9, 2007, losing eight straight, including a four-game playoff sweep last spring as well as a 104-97 loss in Colorado on Nov. 1. However, the Nuggets cashed as 8½-point home underdogs in that contest, ending an 0-7 ATS slide against L.A.
Denver is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 Friday tip-offs, and the Nuggets are on further ATS streaks of 5-2 on the road and 6-2 against the Western Conference. Los Angeles is on a slew of ATS runs, including 12-5-1 after a spread-cover, 20-6-1 against Western Conference teams, 5-1 after a straight-up win, 9-2 after a double-digit victory and 4-1 on the second night of a back-to-back.
The over is 35-17 in Denver’s last 52 games on Friday, but the under is on runs of 15-6 overall, 13-4 against the Western Conference and 8-3 after a straight-up win. For the Lakers, the over is on stretches of 5-2 overall, 4-0 at home and 12-5 on Fridays, but they’ve stayed below the total in 10 of their last 13 against the Western Conference.
The under is 4-0 in the last four head-to-head meetings and 8-3 the last 11 matchups in Hollywood.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. LAKERS
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Wild Bill
Buffalo +3 1/2 (5 units)
Clips-76ers Over 192 1/2 (5 units)
76ers -9 1/2 (5 units)
Nets +9 1/2 (5 units)
Pacers-Magic Under 205 (5 units)
Atlanta -7 1/2 (5 units)
Lakers -8 (5 units)
Missouri -10 (5 units)
Delaware +3 1/2 (5 units)
Pitt -20 1/2 (5 units)
Tennessee -10 1/2 (5 units)
Pepperdine +14 1/2 (5 units)
No. Illinois +6 (5 units)
Sac St +29 (5 units)
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Buffalo +3 1/2 (5 units)
Clips-76ers Over 192 1/2 (5 units)
76ers -9 1/2 (5 units)
Nets +9 1/2 (5 units)
Pacers-Magic Under 205 (5 units)
Atlanta -7 1/2 (5 units)
Lakers -8 (5 units)
Missouri -10 (5 units)
Delaware +3 1/2 (5 units)
Pitt -20 1/2 (5 units)
Tennessee -10 1/2 (5 units)
Pepperdine +14 1/2 (5 units)
No. Illinois +6 (5 units)
Sac St +29 (5 units)
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Handicapper: Nite Owl Sports
Sport: NBA Basketball
Game: New Orleans Hornets @ Oklahoma City Thunder - Friday November 21, 2008 9:30 pm
Pick: 3 units ATS: New Orleans Hornets -9.5 (-110)
The Ok City Thunder is just what the doctor ordered for a talented NO Hornets team that simply has not been playing very well lately, having droppped 5 of their L7 games. However, there are many reasons to feel good about Hornets' chances for a cover in this game, both in the form of positives for NO and negatives for Ok City.
Starting with the positives for NO, we see that Hornets were 14-6 ATS LY vs C teams, with an average MOV of 9 points in those 20 road set ups. Given that Ok City is a "D" team at best, we can expect a double digit win for this Hornets team that likes to pound crappy teams. And that's just what they did to the thunder LY when they were the Seattle Sonics, beating them all three times they platyed, and covering in the last two (wins of 14 and 31 points).
Apparently, neither the move from Seattle nor the nickname change from Sonics to Thunder has helped Ok City much, as they are an awful 1-11 overall, incl 1-6 SU and 1-5-1 ATS at home in the new "digs" in Ok City. And in those 7 home games at their new home, the average MOL for thunder is 10.5 points, with their latest home trainwreck a 20 point humiliation laid on them by the Clippers, of all teams.
Still another edge results from the fact that the Hornets played several games (as the home team) in Ok City during the 2005 -06 and 2006-07 seasons, first in 2005-06 while the NO Superdome was being repaired after the damage inflicted by hurrricane katrina in Seot 2005, and then some more games in the 2006-07 season, at which time NO ownership was considering a move out of the Bayou State, with Ok City as a possible new home.While that did not come to pass, many Ok City fans took a liking to the NO players, and vice versa, so it will be interesting to see who these Okie fans will actually root for in this game, especially in NO breaks out on top early, as we expect they will.
While we don't often suggest laying this many points on the road in NBA, we see this game as a potential blowout, so lay up to 10 points on NO, and also consider reducing the points down to 5< by doing a cross-sport teaser to our big five unit play in CFB tonite. For those newsletter readers, you'll have to buy that pick or one of our CFB packages to find out who it is. And speaking of that CFB pick tonite, what a pick it is --- it's our 8 unit (5 units ATS, 3 units ML) MAC Game of the Year #2 (we won our MAC GOY #1 last month with Ball State in its covering win over western kentucky). And we are 13-5 in our last 18 five unit picks TY in CFB, NFL and NBA.
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Sport: NBA Basketball
Game: New Orleans Hornets @ Oklahoma City Thunder - Friday November 21, 2008 9:30 pm
Pick: 3 units ATS: New Orleans Hornets -9.5 (-110)
The Ok City Thunder is just what the doctor ordered for a talented NO Hornets team that simply has not been playing very well lately, having droppped 5 of their L7 games. However, there are many reasons to feel good about Hornets' chances for a cover in this game, both in the form of positives for NO and negatives for Ok City.
Starting with the positives for NO, we see that Hornets were 14-6 ATS LY vs C teams, with an average MOV of 9 points in those 20 road set ups. Given that Ok City is a "D" team at best, we can expect a double digit win for this Hornets team that likes to pound crappy teams. And that's just what they did to the thunder LY when they were the Seattle Sonics, beating them all three times they platyed, and covering in the last two (wins of 14 and 31 points).
Apparently, neither the move from Seattle nor the nickname change from Sonics to Thunder has helped Ok City much, as they are an awful 1-11 overall, incl 1-6 SU and 1-5-1 ATS at home in the new "digs" in Ok City. And in those 7 home games at their new home, the average MOL for thunder is 10.5 points, with their latest home trainwreck a 20 point humiliation laid on them by the Clippers, of all teams.
Still another edge results from the fact that the Hornets played several games (as the home team) in Ok City during the 2005 -06 and 2006-07 seasons, first in 2005-06 while the NO Superdome was being repaired after the damage inflicted by hurrricane katrina in Seot 2005, and then some more games in the 2006-07 season, at which time NO ownership was considering a move out of the Bayou State, with Ok City as a possible new home.While that did not come to pass, many Ok City fans took a liking to the NO players, and vice versa, so it will be interesting to see who these Okie fans will actually root for in this game, especially in NO breaks out on top early, as we expect they will.
While we don't often suggest laying this many points on the road in NBA, we see this game as a potential blowout, so lay up to 10 points on NO, and also consider reducing the points down to 5< by doing a cross-sport teaser to our big five unit play in CFB tonite. For those newsletter readers, you'll have to buy that pick or one of our CFB packages to find out who it is. And speaking of that CFB pick tonite, what a pick it is --- it's our 8 unit (5 units ATS, 3 units ML) MAC Game of the Year #2 (we won our MAC GOY #1 last month with Ball State in its covering win over western kentucky). And we are 13-5 in our last 18 five unit picks TY in CFB, NFL and NBA.
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