The Duke's Sports
Chicago Over (205') for 2 Units
The Bulls dropped 118 & 115 on NY following the break in a home-n-home series; tonight, they face a similar sluggish defensive attack. The Wolves allow a generous 101 ppg at home and yielded 105 ppg over their last 5. The T-Wolves are 5-1 O/U on Fridays, 7-2 O/U as a dog, and 8-3 O/U off a SU loss. The Bulls, on the other hand,are 4-1 O/U in their last 5 road games and should be quite yielding themselves; after all,their top post defensive player - Noah - will be out to leave a void in the paint for the long Wolves' front-court to take advantage of. This series is 7-2 O/U in Minnesota and we'll stay on the 'over' despite the seemingly high number.
Chicago Over (205') for 2 Units
The Bulls dropped 118 & 115 on NY following the break in a home-n-home series; tonight, they face a similar sluggish defensive attack. The Wolves allow a generous 101 ppg at home and yielded 105 ppg over their last 5. The T-Wolves are 5-1 O/U on Fridays, 7-2 O/U as a dog, and 8-3 O/U off a SU loss. The Bulls, on the other hand,are 4-1 O/U in their last 5 road games and should be quite yielding themselves; after all,their top post defensive player - Noah - will be out to leave a void in the paint for the long Wolves' front-court to take advantage of. This series is 7-2 O/U in Minnesota and we'll stay on the 'over' despite the seemingly high number.
MEAN GREEN PROFIT MACHINE
NBA: (7PM) Bobcats - Cavaliers // SPREAD: CLEVELAND -4.5
NBA: (7PM) Bobcats - Cavaliers // 1ST HALF SPREAD: CLEVELAND -2.5
NBA: (7PM) Spurs - Sixers // SPREAD: SA -3
NBA: (7PM) Spurs - Sixers // 1ST HALF SPREAD: SAN ANT -1.5
NBA: (8PM) Grizzlies - Heat // SPREAD: MEMPH -6.5
NBA: (8PM) Grizzlies - Heat // 1ST HALF SPREAD: MEMPH -3.5
NBA: (10:30PM) Jazz - Warriors // SPREAD: UTAH -5
NBA: (10:30PM) Jazz - Warriors // 1ST HALF SPREAD: UTAH -2.5
NBA: (7PM) Bobcats - Cavaliers // SPREAD: CLEVELAND -4.5
NBA: (7PM) Bobcats - Cavaliers // 1ST HALF SPREAD: CLEVELAND -2.5
NBA: (7PM) Spurs - Sixers // SPREAD: SA -3
NBA: (7PM) Spurs - Sixers // 1ST HALF SPREAD: SAN ANT -1.5
NBA: (8PM) Grizzlies - Heat // SPREAD: MEMPH -6.5
NBA: (8PM) Grizzlies - Heat // 1ST HALF SPREAD: MEMPH -3.5
NBA: (10:30PM) Jazz - Warriors // SPREAD: UTAH -5
NBA: (10:30PM) Jazz - Warriors // 1ST HALF SPREAD: UTAH -2.5
MIKE HOOK
CBB Sides Fri, 02/19/10 - 9:00 PM ƒŠ
double-dime bet 835 William & Mary 4.0 (-110) BetUS vs 836 Iona
Analysis:
I've followed this William and Mary tream very closely this year. Save for 2 bad performances, this team has been as close to dominant as a mid major can be. This William and Mary team was simply electric to start the season. They had a brief lull in the middle of their season, and now they are finishing their season the way they started, which is nothing short of BRILLIANT. I think today is the perfect spot to make our initial BracketBuster selection. I like this play so much, that i decided to have a paid play today. My original plan was to wait until tomorrow to unleash a huge card. But i always talk about VALUE, and that's exactly what we are getting tonight with William and Mary. William and Mary will beat Iona OUTRIGHT tonight.
The biggest reason i'm comfortable with making this selection tonight is because of the committment to defense for William and Mary. They enter tonights game of of 4 brilliant games, with defense playing a prominent role. This team outdefended a world class Northeastern squad. How did they back that win up? They went on the road and beat a very tough George Mason team. This team is playing with the confidence it had at the beginning of the season. Speaking of the beginning of the season, this William and Mary team beat Richmond, Wake Forest, and Maryland OUTRIGHT this season. The SU wins over Wake Forest and Maryland came AWAY from home! Clearly, when this team is playing with confidence, they are a really tough team to beat. William and Mary has the ability to rise to the challenge, and play really well against teams that they aren't supposed to beat. Everyone points to the fact that this team lost 4 games out of 5. While true, 2 of those games were really close. The 2 blowout losses came on the road against top league opponents, both VCU and ODU. William and Mary had already beaten VCU, so VCU was in a good spot to beat up on William and Mary, and they did just that. My point is simple, the losing stretch for Willia–m and Mary was greatly overexaggerated. This team has literally played great basketball thru the entire season, and i see no reason why they don't show up tonight. They've proven their on the road mentality and prowess, so they certainly won't be intimadated to play at Iona.
Speaking of Iona, this is a team i've enjoyed watching this year as well. They are a young team that has far exceeded any and all expectations that were placed on them. Iona is playing good basketball right now, expect for the terrible home loss to Manhattan, a team William and Mary has beaten this year. While Iona is playing well, i just don't think i can completely trust them against a better team from a better conference. I have Iona ranked as a top 80 team that's played a very easy schedule this year. In fact, i have Iona as playing the 220th toughest schedule in college basketball. Also, i know the Metro Atlantic conference isn't as strong as the Colonia Athletic conference that William and Mary represents. The class of the Metro Atlantic is Sienna, but other than that, what does this conference really have? In reality, Iona was blown out in both contests against Sienna, so who really have they beaten with any real value? Their only other win against a top 100 team is Fairfield, and it's highly debatable whether Fairfield is a top 100 team to begin with. Iona is going to be really good, NEXT YEAR. I respect the coaching and the overall players at Iona, because they do play the game the right way. Iona simply isn't quite at the level of William and Mary, and the home court advantage doesn't make up enough of the difference needed to stay away from this play.
My personal power rankings have William and Mary as a top 57 team in the nation. On the road, William and Mary has more than proven their ability to play well. In fact, i have William and Mary with 5 SU wins over top 75 teams in the nation this season. Its always hard to predict how this team will shoot the ball when on the road, as they rely so much on the 3 pointer. However, they've started to develop a bit of an inside game of late, and they are playing tremendous defense. This is a smart team with a smart coaching staff. They've had plenty of time to devise a game plan that will best suit them in their efforts to win this game tonight. In BracketBuster games i think it's so important to trust your own work. I've worked hard at my power rankings, and i know that William and Mary is simply the better team here from the better conference. I know that William and Mary has PROVEN themselves more than Iona has this season. I know how good William and Mary is in close games, with their EXPERIENCE and FREE THROW SHOOTING being a major reason why. William and Mary has several advantages in their favor tonight, and they will win this game OUTRIGHT. Iona has had a great season this year, and they still have plenty to look forward to both this year and the future. However, this is about TODAY and TODAY ONLY! William and Mary +4 is my DOUBLE STAR play of the day that i'm personally playing for 2 UNITS!
CBB Sides Fri, 02/19/10 - 9:00 PM ƒŠ
double-dime bet 835 William & Mary 4.0 (-110) BetUS vs 836 Iona
Analysis:
I've followed this William and Mary tream very closely this year. Save for 2 bad performances, this team has been as close to dominant as a mid major can be. This William and Mary team was simply electric to start the season. They had a brief lull in the middle of their season, and now they are finishing their season the way they started, which is nothing short of BRILLIANT. I think today is the perfect spot to make our initial BracketBuster selection. I like this play so much, that i decided to have a paid play today. My original plan was to wait until tomorrow to unleash a huge card. But i always talk about VALUE, and that's exactly what we are getting tonight with William and Mary. William and Mary will beat Iona OUTRIGHT tonight.
The biggest reason i'm comfortable with making this selection tonight is because of the committment to defense for William and Mary. They enter tonights game of of 4 brilliant games, with defense playing a prominent role. This team outdefended a world class Northeastern squad. How did they back that win up? They went on the road and beat a very tough George Mason team. This team is playing with the confidence it had at the beginning of the season. Speaking of the beginning of the season, this William and Mary team beat Richmond, Wake Forest, and Maryland OUTRIGHT this season. The SU wins over Wake Forest and Maryland came AWAY from home! Clearly, when this team is playing with confidence, they are a really tough team to beat. William and Mary has the ability to rise to the challenge, and play really well against teams that they aren't supposed to beat. Everyone points to the fact that this team lost 4 games out of 5. While true, 2 of those games were really close. The 2 blowout losses came on the road against top league opponents, both VCU and ODU. William and Mary had already beaten VCU, so VCU was in a good spot to beat up on William and Mary, and they did just that. My point is simple, the losing stretch for Willia–m and Mary was greatly overexaggerated. This team has literally played great basketball thru the entire season, and i see no reason why they don't show up tonight. They've proven their on the road mentality and prowess, so they certainly won't be intimadated to play at Iona.
Speaking of Iona, this is a team i've enjoyed watching this year as well. They are a young team that has far exceeded any and all expectations that were placed on them. Iona is playing good basketball right now, expect for the terrible home loss to Manhattan, a team William and Mary has beaten this year. While Iona is playing well, i just don't think i can completely trust them against a better team from a better conference. I have Iona ranked as a top 80 team that's played a very easy schedule this year. In fact, i have Iona as playing the 220th toughest schedule in college basketball. Also, i know the Metro Atlantic conference isn't as strong as the Colonia Athletic conference that William and Mary represents. The class of the Metro Atlantic is Sienna, but other than that, what does this conference really have? In reality, Iona was blown out in both contests against Sienna, so who really have they beaten with any real value? Their only other win against a top 100 team is Fairfield, and it's highly debatable whether Fairfield is a top 100 team to begin with. Iona is going to be really good, NEXT YEAR. I respect the coaching and the overall players at Iona, because they do play the game the right way. Iona simply isn't quite at the level of William and Mary, and the home court advantage doesn't make up enough of the difference needed to stay away from this play.
My personal power rankings have William and Mary as a top 57 team in the nation. On the road, William and Mary has more than proven their ability to play well. In fact, i have William and Mary with 5 SU wins over top 75 teams in the nation this season. Its always hard to predict how this team will shoot the ball when on the road, as they rely so much on the 3 pointer. However, they've started to develop a bit of an inside game of late, and they are playing tremendous defense. This is a smart team with a smart coaching staff. They've had plenty of time to devise a game plan that will best suit them in their efforts to win this game tonight. In BracketBuster games i think it's so important to trust your own work. I've worked hard at my power rankings, and i know that William and Mary is simply the better team here from the better conference. I know that William and Mary has PROVEN themselves more than Iona has this season. I know how good William and Mary is in close games, with their EXPERIENCE and FREE THROW SHOOTING being a major reason why. William and Mary has several advantages in their favor tonight, and they will win this game OUTRIGHT. Iona has had a great season this year, and they still have plenty to look forward to both this year and the future. However, this is about TODAY and TODAY ONLY! William and Mary +4 is my DOUBLE STAR play of the day that i'm personally playing for 2 UNITS!
DAN BEBE
NBA Sides Fri, 02/19/10 - 10:35 PM ƒŠ
double-dime bet 824 POR -3.0 (-110) Sportbet vs 823 BOS
Analysis: All night last night I was hoping that the Celtics would not only cover against the Lakers, but win straight up because I saw this game on the horizon.
Now, Boston has set themselves up for the ultimate letdown, and Portland is going to be the team waiting to capitalize.
The Blazers are going to be riding high with the return of Brandon Roy on the horizon and newcomer Marcus Camby finally giving Portland at least a minor presence in the lane. Yes, there may be some slight offensive disruption, but if you've been watching the Blazers, this is a team that desperately needs their star back. They beat the Clippers at home in their only game since the All Star Break, but I'm not sure we can tell anything about them from that contest. This is the game where Portland is going to absolutely go all out, and they have a severe energy advantage.
The Blazers last played on the 16th, and have been game-planning for the Celtics ever since. Boston, on the other ha…nd, got a ridiculously emotional win last night over the Lakers, a 1-point UGLY victory that seemed to leave both teams completely drained. Just look at the final 6 minutes of that game. Neither team had anything left in their legs, and with the game going later than usual into the night, the Celtics not only have to try to get some strength back into those quadriceps, they have to try to do it on minimal rest, in a very hostile road environment.
I also love that Portland took Boston to overtime when they met a month ago on the East coast, losing by just 3 points as a 10.5-point underdog. You have to believe oddsmakers have a few tricks up their sleeve when the line tonight is 13.5 points different from that game! Even if we assume 2.5 points for Brandon Roy, a 6-point swing for home court AND 2 more for the back-to-back, that still only puts us at a Pick. There are almost 3 points unaccounted for here, and the reason is because books are trying to minimize the sharps' position on Portland.
They know, and we know that the Blazers are an extremely strong home team, and an extremely strong home team against the best clubs in the NBA. Portland is 8-2 ATS in Friday night games, and 15-12 ATS against teams with winning records. They are 18-14 ATS as a favorite, and generally step their game up when the crowd is screaming.
I love that the Celtics won last night, since that is going to mean a tiny bit more value on the Blazers. The Celtics' win over the Lakers is going to draw more public money on Boston, keeping this line at 3, and allowing us to get value DESPITE a line that, to the common eye, looks like a huge value on the Celtics. Let me assure you, it is not a value on Boston. The Celtics are in a brutally tough spot here, and we saw how they dealt with the look-ahead spot in Sacramento. This is the letdown on the other side of the Laker game, and we're going to drill the books with our superior knowledge.
And here's what's really amazing. Portland shot just 38% as a team in their OT loss to the Celts in Boston. They are not going to shoot that poorly again tonight. The Blazers have a knack for hitting difficult shots in big home games, and I absolutely love the fact that they were able to give the Celtics everything they could handle even while playing a pretty mediocre game.
As far as how I expect this game to go, I strongly believe the Celtics get out to the stronger start. They will be riding the small wave that comes with a win the previous night. They're going to try to get out to an early lead on adrenaline, and then try to hold onto it, but we have seen, many times now, how the Celtics can absolutely fall apart when they get tired. Portland is going to outplay Boston significantly in the 2nd half, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Portland outscore Boston by 6-8 points in the 4th quarter, and maybe something in that neighborhood in the 3rd, as well.
So, again, don't panic if Boston is up 3-4 at the half. That will be why they play 48 full minutes. Stay cool, stay calm, and stay classy, if you're so inclined.
Play Portland for 2 units tonight!
NBA Sides Fri, 02/19/10 - 10:35 PM ƒŠ
double-dime bet 824 POR -3.0 (-110) Sportbet vs 823 BOS
Analysis: All night last night I was hoping that the Celtics would not only cover against the Lakers, but win straight up because I saw this game on the horizon.
Now, Boston has set themselves up for the ultimate letdown, and Portland is going to be the team waiting to capitalize.
The Blazers are going to be riding high with the return of Brandon Roy on the horizon and newcomer Marcus Camby finally giving Portland at least a minor presence in the lane. Yes, there may be some slight offensive disruption, but if you've been watching the Blazers, this is a team that desperately needs their star back. They beat the Clippers at home in their only game since the All Star Break, but I'm not sure we can tell anything about them from that contest. This is the game where Portland is going to absolutely go all out, and they have a severe energy advantage.
The Blazers last played on the 16th, and have been game-planning for the Celtics ever since. Boston, on the other ha…nd, got a ridiculously emotional win last night over the Lakers, a 1-point UGLY victory that seemed to leave both teams completely drained. Just look at the final 6 minutes of that game. Neither team had anything left in their legs, and with the game going later than usual into the night, the Celtics not only have to try to get some strength back into those quadriceps, they have to try to do it on minimal rest, in a very hostile road environment.
I also love that Portland took Boston to overtime when they met a month ago on the East coast, losing by just 3 points as a 10.5-point underdog. You have to believe oddsmakers have a few tricks up their sleeve when the line tonight is 13.5 points different from that game! Even if we assume 2.5 points for Brandon Roy, a 6-point swing for home court AND 2 more for the back-to-back, that still only puts us at a Pick. There are almost 3 points unaccounted for here, and the reason is because books are trying to minimize the sharps' position on Portland.
They know, and we know that the Blazers are an extremely strong home team, and an extremely strong home team against the best clubs in the NBA. Portland is 8-2 ATS in Friday night games, and 15-12 ATS against teams with winning records. They are 18-14 ATS as a favorite, and generally step their game up when the crowd is screaming.
I love that the Celtics won last night, since that is going to mean a tiny bit more value on the Blazers. The Celtics' win over the Lakers is going to draw more public money on Boston, keeping this line at 3, and allowing us to get value DESPITE a line that, to the common eye, looks like a huge value on the Celtics. Let me assure you, it is not a value on Boston. The Celtics are in a brutally tough spot here, and we saw how they dealt with the look-ahead spot in Sacramento. This is the letdown on the other side of the Laker game, and we're going to drill the books with our superior knowledge.
And here's what's really amazing. Portland shot just 38% as a team in their OT loss to the Celts in Boston. They are not going to shoot that poorly again tonight. The Blazers have a knack for hitting difficult shots in big home games, and I absolutely love the fact that they were able to give the Celtics everything they could handle even while playing a pretty mediocre game.
As far as how I expect this game to go, I strongly believe the Celtics get out to the stronger start. They will be riding the small wave that comes with a win the previous night. They're going to try to get out to an early lead on adrenaline, and then try to hold onto it, but we have seen, many times now, how the Celtics can absolutely fall apart when they get tired. Portland is going to outplay Boston significantly in the 2nd half, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Portland outscore Boston by 6-8 points in the 4th quarter, and maybe something in that neighborhood in the 3rd, as well.
So, again, don't panic if Boston is up 3-4 at the half. That will be why they play 48 full minutes. Stay cool, stay calm, and stay classy, if you're so inclined.
Play Portland for 2 units tonight!
RON RAYMOND
NBA Total Fri, 02/19/10 - 7:05 PM ƒŠ
triple-dime bet 805 SAN / 806 PHI Under 192.0 Bodog
Analysis: ~
When ANY NBA Team Played as Road team as a Favorite - with 1 day off - Vs Atlantic opponent - Coming off a Win over Eastern Central opponent - Allowed 90 or less points AGAINST in their last game; the UNDER is 11-5-0 for the Road Fave (SA) in this spot
NBA Total Fri, 02/19/10 - 7:05 PM ƒŠ
triple-dime bet 805 SAN / 806 PHI Under 192.0 Bodog
Analysis: ~
When ANY NBA Team Played as Road team as a Favorite - with 1 day off - Vs Atlantic opponent - Coming off a Win over Eastern Central opponent - Allowed 90 or less points AGAINST in their last game; the UNDER is 11-5-0 for the Road Fave (SA) in this spot
