NBA
Write-Up
Monday, February 28
Hot Teams
-- Suns won ten of their last thirteen games.
-- Bulls won/covered 12 of their last 15 games.
-- Denver won three of its last four games (4-0 vs spread). Hawks won their last two games, allowing 81 ppg.
-- Celtics won four of their last five games- they covered once in last six games as a road favorite.
Cold Teams
-- Wizards lost their last five games (1-4 vs spread).
-- Nets lost their last five games (1-4 vs spread).
-- Jazz lost six of their last seven games.
-- Clippers lost 10 of their last 12 games (2-5 vs spread in last seven). Kings lost five of their last six games.
Totals
-- Three of last four Phoenix games went over the total.
-- Three of last four New Jersey games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last seven Atlanta games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last eight Boston games stayed under the total.
-- Last seven Sacramento games went over the total. Four of last five Clipper road games stayed under total.
Back-to-Back
-- Suns are 4-2 vs spread if they won the day/night before.
-- Hawks are 4-2 vs spread on road if they won the night before.
Write-Up
Monday, February 28
Hot Teams
-- Suns won ten of their last thirteen games.
-- Bulls won/covered 12 of their last 15 games.
-- Denver won three of its last four games (4-0 vs spread). Hawks won their last two games, allowing 81 ppg.
-- Celtics won four of their last five games- they covered once in last six games as a road favorite.
Cold Teams
-- Wizards lost their last five games (1-4 vs spread).
-- Nets lost their last five games (1-4 vs spread).
-- Jazz lost six of their last seven games.
-- Clippers lost 10 of their last 12 games (2-5 vs spread in last seven). Kings lost five of their last six games.
Totals
-- Three of last four Phoenix games went over the total.
-- Three of last four New Jersey games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last seven Atlanta games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last eight Boston games stayed under the total.
-- Last seven Sacramento games went over the total. Four of last five Clipper road games stayed under total.
Back-to-Back
-- Suns are 4-2 vs spread if they won the day/night before.
-- Hawks are 4-2 vs spread on road if they won the night before.
NCAAB
Write-Up
Monday, February 28
Notre Dame won nine of last ten games; they're 5-2 as Big East favorite at home, winning all eight home games by 14-3-15-8-5-7-10-12 points. Villanova is 2-0 as Big East underdog, but they're 4-6 SU last ten games, 1-9 vs spread, despite being favored in all ten. Big East home favorites of 7 or less points are 25-29 vs spread. Senior Night for Notre Dame, but this is a bigger game for a reeling Villanova squad. .
Kansas State won last two visits to Austin; their last three visits there were decided by total of 8 points. Texas is 4-3 as Big 12 home favorite, winning all seven home games, by 20-21-13-16-9-18-23 points. Single digit home favorites are 23-12-1 vs spread in Big 12 play. Kansas State won five of last six games; they are 2-4 as Big 12 underdog, losing road games by 14-16-8-24-2 points, with wins at Iowa State/Nebraska.
Idaho State (+13) lost 57-37 at Northern Colorado Jan 13, shooting 25% from floor, 2-20 from arc; Bengals are 3-2 in last five games, but lost last five times they scored less than 82 points, losing by 11-13-2-19 and 24 points. State is 5-6 as Big Sky underdog, 2-2 at home. Bears won five of last six games; they're 2-4-1 vs spread in last seven games as a favorite. Big Sky home underdogs are 13-8 vs spread this season.
Write-Up
Monday, February 28
Notre Dame won nine of last ten games; they're 5-2 as Big East favorite at home, winning all eight home games by 14-3-15-8-5-7-10-12 points. Villanova is 2-0 as Big East underdog, but they're 4-6 SU last ten games, 1-9 vs spread, despite being favored in all ten. Big East home favorites of 7 or less points are 25-29 vs spread. Senior Night for Notre Dame, but this is a bigger game for a reeling Villanova squad. .
Kansas State won last two visits to Austin; their last three visits there were decided by total of 8 points. Texas is 4-3 as Big 12 home favorite, winning all seven home games, by 20-21-13-16-9-18-23 points. Single digit home favorites are 23-12-1 vs spread in Big 12 play. Kansas State won five of last six games; they are 2-4 as Big 12 underdog, losing road games by 14-16-8-24-2 points, with wins at Iowa State/Nebraska.
Idaho State (+13) lost 57-37 at Northern Colorado Jan 13, shooting 25% from floor, 2-20 from arc; Bengals are 3-2 in last five games, but lost last five times they scored less than 82 points, losing by 11-13-2-19 and 24 points. State is 5-6 as Big Sky underdog, 2-2 at home. Bears won five of last six games; they're 2-4-1 vs spread in last seven games as a favorite. Big Sky home underdogs are 13-8 vs spread this season.
Hammer The Book
NBA PLAYS
ROTATION 705/706: 3-UNIT REGULAR: (9:05 PM) ATLANTA HAWKS @ DENVER NUGGETS (NUGGETS -6 @ MOST ALL BOOKS, RELEASED @ 9:27 AM (ET) 2/28/11)
ROTATION 709/710: 3.5-UNIT TWITTER: (10:05 PM) LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS @ SACRAMENTO KINGS (LC CLIPS +2 @ BET JAMAICA, BOOKMAKER, CARIB, CRIS & THE GREEK, RELEASED @ 9:29 AM (ET) 2/28/11)
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NHL PLAYS
ROTATION 001/002: 3-UNIT REGULAR: (8:05 PM) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS @ MINNESOTA WILD (BLACKHAWKS ML @ MOST ALL BOOKS, RELEASED @ 9:32 AM (ET) 2/28/11)
NBA PLAYS
ROTATION 705/706: 3-UNIT REGULAR: (9:05 PM) ATLANTA HAWKS @ DENVER NUGGETS (NUGGETS -6 @ MOST ALL BOOKS, RELEASED @ 9:27 AM (ET) 2/28/11)
ROTATION 709/710: 3.5-UNIT TWITTER: (10:05 PM) LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS @ SACRAMENTO KINGS (LC CLIPS +2 @ BET JAMAICA, BOOKMAKER, CARIB, CRIS & THE GREEK, RELEASED @ 9:29 AM (ET) 2/28/11)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYS
ROTATION 713/714: 3-UNIT REGULAR: (9:00 PM) KANSAS STATE @ TEXAS LONGHORNS (KS. ST. +9 1/2 @ SPORTSBET, PINNANCLE, JAZZ, INTERTOPS, CARIB, BETUS, BET365 & 5DIMES, RELEASED @ 9:31 AM (ET) 2/28/11)
NHL PLAYS
ROTATION 001/002: 3-UNIT REGULAR: (8:05 PM) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS @ MINNESOTA WILD (BLACKHAWKS ML @ MOST ALL BOOKS, RELEASED @ 9:32 AM (ET) 2/28/11)
OffshoreInsiders Senior Writer Vegas Matt previews the Boston Celtics at Utah Jazz.
The Boston Celtics (42-15) and Utah Jazz (32-28) both made big moves prior to the NBA trade deadline last week with an eye on the future, although how each team plays the rest of the regular season will likely dictate whether they are viewed as winners or losers. Of course only one of them can win this game on Monday night, and the oddsmakers obviously think the Celtics (-4) are in much better shape than a Utah team that remains in disarray.
Not only did the Jazz send All-Star point guard Deron Williams to New Jersey in a blockbuster trade last week for rookie Derrick Favors and point guard Devin Harris, but they are still dealing with the sudden departure of head coach Jerry Sloan. The team was once as high as third place in the Western Conference playoff race but has since fallen out of the mix to the ninth spot after dropping 15 of its last 20 games, going 6-14 against the spread during that stretch.
Meanwhile, many experts were surprised when Boston traded center Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for forward Jeff Green, who the Celtics had originally drafted in 2007 before dealing him for Ray Allen. Despite recovering from a knee injury, Perkins was seen as one of the major cogs inside that gave Boston a significant advantage over most teams in the Eastern Conference and helped the Celtics match up better than anybody against the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, they simply have another wing player in Green who can score.
Green scored seven points off the bench in a 99-92 road win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, his first action with his new team. Center Nenad Krstic was also part of the deal with the Thunder and contributed nine points and six rebounds as the team’s starting center. Boston failed to cover the 8-point spread and has not beaten the line in two straight games.
The Celtics crushed Utah 110-86 in the last meeting between the teams back on January 21 behind 21 points from Kevin Garnett and 20 from Paul Pierce. Jazz center Al Jefferson was traded for Garnett just prior to the 2007-08 season and had a terrible game against his former team, scoring just seven points on 1 of 11 shooting. Jefferson has played much better recently though, averaging 27 points in the last five games. Utah has covered four of the past six meetings with the OVER cashing in the last three games between the teams.
Top expert pick on this game: It’s a very strong card led by on ESPN tonight as Kansas State takes on Texas. That is a Wise Guy. Also get two Major plays from the NBA. Center of the Handicapping Universe is way ahead for the season in both and the gap gets a bit wider tonight. Boston vs. Utah is among the Majors.
OffshoreInsiders Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a free NBA picks Monday on the Denver Nuggets (-6) hosting Atlanta.
Reasoning: Trading away ‘Melo obviously was not a great thing for this Denver franchise because in the long run they will not have that superstar force but a lot of pieces came their way from the Knicks and believe it or not the Nuggets have been very good in the early post Anthony era. I’m not sure if they will keep it up but guys like Gallinari, Chandler and Felton are quality players to go along with JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Nene and the Bird Man. They are 2-1 straight up and a perfect 3-0 against the number so far since the trade including beating Boston and Memphis and covering in the overtime loss on the road against LaMarcus Aldridge and the pretty good Trailblazers.
It is asking an inferior team a lot to be laying half a dozen to a solid Atlanta Hawks squad but tonight’s visitors are playing on a ridiculously rough back-to-back and it will catch up with them. Anytime anybody is playing for the second straight night in the altitude of the Pepsi Center they are a total go against, no matter what. The legs just aren’t going to be there and the boys from Hotlanta are also playing for a third time in four nights and a fifth time in eight days. Being on the west coast the entire time also is a negative and hitting the wall a bit isn’t out of the question in the slightest in said spot.
I really do like Joe Johnson and Al Horford and Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford and this Hawks team as a whole. They are even clearly better overall than the Nuggets at 35-23 and should win 50 plus for a second straight season. But the situation is not a good one for the visitors and in the end we are going to see them pretty much run out of gas and lay a big fat juicy egg thanks to every single fatigue factor on the planet going against them on this night.
The pick: Matt Rivers has Denver
The Boston Celtics (42-15) and Utah Jazz (32-28) both made big moves prior to the NBA trade deadline last week with an eye on the future, although how each team plays the rest of the regular season will likely dictate whether they are viewed as winners or losers. Of course only one of them can win this game on Monday night, and the oddsmakers obviously think the Celtics (-4) are in much better shape than a Utah team that remains in disarray.
Not only did the Jazz send All-Star point guard Deron Williams to New Jersey in a blockbuster trade last week for rookie Derrick Favors and point guard Devin Harris, but they are still dealing with the sudden departure of head coach Jerry Sloan. The team was once as high as third place in the Western Conference playoff race but has since fallen out of the mix to the ninth spot after dropping 15 of its last 20 games, going 6-14 against the spread during that stretch.
Meanwhile, many experts were surprised when Boston traded center Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for forward Jeff Green, who the Celtics had originally drafted in 2007 before dealing him for Ray Allen. Despite recovering from a knee injury, Perkins was seen as one of the major cogs inside that gave Boston a significant advantage over most teams in the Eastern Conference and helped the Celtics match up better than anybody against the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, they simply have another wing player in Green who can score.
Green scored seven points off the bench in a 99-92 road win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, his first action with his new team. Center Nenad Krstic was also part of the deal with the Thunder and contributed nine points and six rebounds as the team’s starting center. Boston failed to cover the 8-point spread and has not beaten the line in two straight games.
The Celtics crushed Utah 110-86 in the last meeting between the teams back on January 21 behind 21 points from Kevin Garnett and 20 from Paul Pierce. Jazz center Al Jefferson was traded for Garnett just prior to the 2007-08 season and had a terrible game against his former team, scoring just seven points on 1 of 11 shooting. Jefferson has played much better recently though, averaging 27 points in the last five games. Utah has covered four of the past six meetings with the OVER cashing in the last three games between the teams.
Top expert pick on this game: It’s a very strong card led by on ESPN tonight as Kansas State takes on Texas. That is a Wise Guy. Also get two Major plays from the NBA. Center of the Handicapping Universe is way ahead for the season in both and the gap gets a bit wider tonight. Boston vs. Utah is among the Majors.
OffshoreInsiders Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a free NBA picks Monday on the Denver Nuggets (-6) hosting Atlanta.
Reasoning: Trading away ‘Melo obviously was not a great thing for this Denver franchise because in the long run they will not have that superstar force but a lot of pieces came their way from the Knicks and believe it or not the Nuggets have been very good in the early post Anthony era. I’m not sure if they will keep it up but guys like Gallinari, Chandler and Felton are quality players to go along with JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Nene and the Bird Man. They are 2-1 straight up and a perfect 3-0 against the number so far since the trade including beating Boston and Memphis and covering in the overtime loss on the road against LaMarcus Aldridge and the pretty good Trailblazers.
It is asking an inferior team a lot to be laying half a dozen to a solid Atlanta Hawks squad but tonight’s visitors are playing on a ridiculously rough back-to-back and it will catch up with them. Anytime anybody is playing for the second straight night in the altitude of the Pepsi Center they are a total go against, no matter what. The legs just aren’t going to be there and the boys from Hotlanta are also playing for a third time in four nights and a fifth time in eight days. Being on the west coast the entire time also is a negative and hitting the wall a bit isn’t out of the question in the slightest in said spot.
I really do like Joe Johnson and Al Horford and Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford and this Hawks team as a whole. They are even clearly better overall than the Nuggets at 35-23 and should win 50 plus for a second straight season. But the situation is not a good one for the visitors and in the end we are going to see them pretty much run out of gas and lay a big fat juicy egg thanks to every single fatigue factor on the planet going against them on this night.
The pick: Matt Rivers has Denver
