Pick 'n' Roll: Today's best basketball bets
NBA
Indiana Pacers at Denver Nuggets (-8.5, 215.5)
It seems like a lifetime ago when the Pacers were the NBA’s top road team, posting a surprising win at Miami and looking poised to be a playoff dark horse. Indiana started the year 5-1 away from the Hoosier state, but since has gone 1-12 on the road. Overall, the team is 3-8-1 ATS in its past 12 road games.
“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make the playoffs,” Pacers forward Jeff Foster said. “We still have an opportunity to do that. If we start winning games and playing together, that’s a distinct possibility.”
Denver is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in its past 10 games against the Pacers, even including a 144-113 blowout loss in Indiana in November. And while Denver isn’t playing like a championship contender, the team is 4-2 SU and ATS in its past six overall.
The Nuggets also have the third-most home wins in the league, posting a 19-5 record as the team averages more than 110 points per game on its own hardwood, nearly three more per game than any other team in the league.
Pick: Denver
NCAAB
Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern Wildcats (+1, 132)
Think of this one as an appetizer for Green Bay-Chicago a little later in the afternoon. In fact, the game was actually moved up 30 minutes to help accommodate fans who also wanted to watch the NFC title game.
And just like the two nearby football teams, this Big 10 matchup has been an interesting rivalry. Wisconsin is 8-2 SU but just 4-6 ATS in its past 10 games against Northwestern. The Wildcats also are making noise to earn their first NCAA Tournament bid. The team has won four of its past five games thanks to an improved defense.
Mixing in a man-to-man set with its traditional 1-3-1, the Wildcats have held each of their past four opponents to 71 or fewer points. Nothing spectacular, but for a team that has issues stopping anyone, it’s a huge step in the right direction.
Coach Bill Carmody was especially pleased in the team’s most recent outing, a 98-55 win over SIU-Edwardsville.
"We've got some guys who are pretty good players come in there and get some time," Carmody said. "I told them when you get out there, don't look like a scrub; look like you belong there. And they did a nice job."
Meantime, Wisconsin has failed to score more than 70 points eight times in its past 10 games. And with Northwestern’s improving defense, it should happen for a ninth time in 11.
Pick: Northwestern
NBA
Indiana Pacers at Denver Nuggets (-8.5, 215.5)
It seems like a lifetime ago when the Pacers were the NBA’s top road team, posting a surprising win at Miami and looking poised to be a playoff dark horse. Indiana started the year 5-1 away from the Hoosier state, but since has gone 1-12 on the road. Overall, the team is 3-8-1 ATS in its past 12 road games.
“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make the playoffs,” Pacers forward Jeff Foster said. “We still have an opportunity to do that. If we start winning games and playing together, that’s a distinct possibility.”
Denver is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in its past 10 games against the Pacers, even including a 144-113 blowout loss in Indiana in November. And while Denver isn’t playing like a championship contender, the team is 4-2 SU and ATS in its past six overall.
The Nuggets also have the third-most home wins in the league, posting a 19-5 record as the team averages more than 110 points per game on its own hardwood, nearly three more per game than any other team in the league.
Pick: Denver
NCAAB
Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern Wildcats (+1, 132)
Think of this one as an appetizer for Green Bay-Chicago a little later in the afternoon. In fact, the game was actually moved up 30 minutes to help accommodate fans who also wanted to watch the NFC title game.
And just like the two nearby football teams, this Big 10 matchup has been an interesting rivalry. Wisconsin is 8-2 SU but just 4-6 ATS in its past 10 games against Northwestern. The Wildcats also are making noise to earn their first NCAA Tournament bid. The team has won four of its past five games thanks to an improved defense.
Mixing in a man-to-man set with its traditional 1-3-1, the Wildcats have held each of their past four opponents to 71 or fewer points. Nothing spectacular, but for a team that has issues stopping anyone, it’s a huge step in the right direction.
Coach Bill Carmody was especially pleased in the team’s most recent outing, a 98-55 win over SIU-Edwardsville.
"We've got some guys who are pretty good players come in there and get some time," Carmody said. "I told them when you get out there, don't look like a scrub; look like you belong there. And they did a nice job."
Meantime, Wisconsin has failed to score more than 70 points eight times in its past 10 games. And with Northwestern’s improving defense, it should happen for a ninth time in 11.
Pick: Northwestern
Ben burns full card 8* wisconsin under 132 8* canisius 5.5 9*buffalo sabres 10* green bay - take a look at -alanter thrashers 10*pitsburgh -3.5 10*new york jets under 38.5 10* edmonton oilers under 5.5 10* denver over 215.5 good luck to all lets make some money , please dose any one have ats lock club early to thank you dom 50
Ice picks: Today's best NHL bets
Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders (+120, 5.5)
It’s tough to find a team that needs a win as bad as the Buffalo Sabres.
The resurgent squad from upstate New York was 7-2-1 in its past 10 games, clawing to within 7 points of a playoff berth. But in the team's most recent game, the Islanders gave Buffalo a loss for the third time this year, winning by a combined total of 13-7.
"I didn't like the start of the game, not at all," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of the team’s 5-2 loss to the Islanders on Friday. "I didn't like our first shift. It wasn't good enough."
But lately, the Sabres have been good enough. Buffalo has notched 10 power play goals in its past 10 games and is clicking along at 18.8 percent on the man advantage, the 12th-best mark in the league.
Buffalo also has received strong play from left wing Thomas Vanek. The Austrian has five goals and nine assists in his past nine games and has registered at least two points in the past four. Overall, he leads the team with 39 points on 18 goals and 21 assists.
"We've been doing a better job of traffic, getting pucks around the paint and getting rewarded with rebounds," said Jason Pominville. "Thomas and Drew
[Stafford] have been working good down low, creating those chances. Thomas has always been so good in front and it's nice to see him putting them away."
He should keep putting them away against the Islanders. This time, thought, it will result in a win.
Pick: Buffalo
Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils (-115, 5)
So who will get the start for New Jersey?
Johan Hedberg stopped 26 shots in a 3-1 win over Philadelphia on Saturday and has started six games this month. However, the Moose has hardly supplanted Martin Brodeur between the pipes. Brodeur has battled several injuries this year and received the day off on Saturday to rest up. And the last team to beat the future Hall of Famer?
The Panthers.
Florida posted a 3-2 overtime win on January 15, netting three goals on just 22 shots. The Panthers also are the only team to topple the Devils in their past five games. In the team’s past four meetings, Florida has come out on top, with two of the wins coming by a single goal. But close games are nothing new to the Panthers.
The team has gone past regulation in each of its past four games and five of six overall. However, the Panthers are good at taking the early lead, jumping out to a two-goal advantage in seven of their past 11 games.
“You feel it’s going to turn and you try to at least stay positive as long as possible,” Brodeur said. “Every night we go out there and battle just to try to compete and get ourselves back on track. We know we’ve dug ourselves a hole that will be almost impossible to get out of, but we have to make our game better.”
It will get better. But not against the Panthers.
Pick: Florida
Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders (+120, 5.5)
It’s tough to find a team that needs a win as bad as the Buffalo Sabres.
The resurgent squad from upstate New York was 7-2-1 in its past 10 games, clawing to within 7 points of a playoff berth. But in the team's most recent game, the Islanders gave Buffalo a loss for the third time this year, winning by a combined total of 13-7.
"I didn't like the start of the game, not at all," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of the team’s 5-2 loss to the Islanders on Friday. "I didn't like our first shift. It wasn't good enough."
But lately, the Sabres have been good enough. Buffalo has notched 10 power play goals in its past 10 games and is clicking along at 18.8 percent on the man advantage, the 12th-best mark in the league.
Buffalo also has received strong play from left wing Thomas Vanek. The Austrian has five goals and nine assists in his past nine games and has registered at least two points in the past four. Overall, he leads the team with 39 points on 18 goals and 21 assists.
"We've been doing a better job of traffic, getting pucks around the paint and getting rewarded with rebounds," said Jason Pominville. "Thomas and Drew
[Stafford] have been working good down low, creating those chances. Thomas has always been so good in front and it's nice to see him putting them away."
He should keep putting them away against the Islanders. This time, thought, it will result in a win.
Pick: Buffalo
Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils (-115, 5)
So who will get the start for New Jersey?
Johan Hedberg stopped 26 shots in a 3-1 win over Philadelphia on Saturday and has started six games this month. However, the Moose has hardly supplanted Martin Brodeur between the pipes. Brodeur has battled several injuries this year and received the day off on Saturday to rest up. And the last team to beat the future Hall of Famer?
The Panthers.
Florida posted a 3-2 overtime win on January 15, netting three goals on just 22 shots. The Panthers also are the only team to topple the Devils in their past five games. In the team’s past four meetings, Florida has come out on top, with two of the wins coming by a single goal. But close games are nothing new to the Panthers.
The team has gone past regulation in each of its past four games and five of six overall. However, the Panthers are good at taking the early lead, jumping out to a two-goal advantage in seven of their past 11 games.
“You feel it’s going to turn and you try to at least stay positive as long as possible,” Brodeur said. “Every night we go out there and battle just to try to compete and get ourselves back on track. We know we’ve dug ourselves a hole that will be almost impossible to get out of, but we have to make our game better.”
It will get better. But not against the Panthers.
Pick: Florida
