Sports Advisors
(1) Pittsburgh (25-2, 13-7-1 ATS) at Providence (16-11, 9-14 ATS)
Pittsburgh begins its second turn this season atop the national rankings thanks to a seven-game winning streak (5-2 ATS). Last week, the Panthers posted two impressive wins, first knocking off then-No. 1 UConn 76-68 as a 2½-point road underdog then bashing DePaul 80-61 at home, coming up short as a 25½-point chalk. The non-cover against DePaul ended Pitt’s 5-0 ATS run.
Providence’s NCAA Tournament hopes have taken a big hit this month, thanks to an ongoing 2-5 slump (1-6 ATS). After a 94-76 loss at Louisville as a 13½-point underdog Wednesday, the Friars hosted slumping Notre Dame on Saturday as two-point home favorite. Providence has lost two of its last three home games (0-3 ATS).
The Panthers are in a three-way tie for second place in the Big East at 12-2 (9-5 ATS), a half-game behind UConn. Pitt is 5-2 in conference road games (4-3 ATS). Providence is 8-7 in the Big East (7-8 ATS), including 5-3 at home (3-5 ATS).
Pitt has won eight straight meetings against the Friars, going 5-1 ATS in the last six, including 2-0 SU and ATS in its two most recent trips to Providence. The host is on a 7-2 SU run in this rivalry, but just 4-5 ATS, and the favorite has cashed in five of the last six battles.
While both teams can score – the Panthers average 78 ppg, and Providence puts up 79.2 ppg – the difference has been defense, especially lately, as the Friars have allowed 87.6 ppg in their last nine outings while Pitt has surrendered 65.2 ppg in its last five. In fact, Providence has given up 93 points or more in six of its last nine contests, while the Panthers have held 12 of 14 Big East foes under 70 points, including the last five in a row.
The Panthers are on positive ATS runs of 5-1 overall (all in the Big East), 8-3-1 on the road, 4-0 on Tuesday, 4-1 after a SU win, 7-1 after a non-cover, 4-0 against teams with a winning record and 5-1 when laying 12 points or less. Providence carries nothing but negative pointspread trends into tonight, including 1-6 overall (all in the Big East), 2-5 at home, 0-5 versus winning teams, 2-5-1 on Tuesday and 2-8 as an underdog.
The last six meetings in this rivalry have gone over the total. Also, the over is on runs of 4-1-1 for Pitt overall (all in the Big East) and 9-4 for Providence overall (all in the Big East).
ATS ADVANTAGE: PITT and OVER
(23) Florida State (21-6, 14-6-1 ATS) at Boston College (19-9, 12-11 ATS)
Florida State returned to the Top 25 after a pair of solid ACC wins last week over Miami, Fla. (80-67 as a 3½-point home favorite) and Virginia Tech (67-65 as a 2½-point road underdog). The Seminoles have won five of their last six games, and they’re on a 6-2-1 ATS run.
Boston College is coming off Saturday’s 69-58 setback at Miami, Fla., failing to cover as a 6½-point road underdog, dropping to 1-3 SU and ATS in its last four games. However, the one victory came in its most recent home contest, an 80-74 triumph over then-No. 6 Duke on Feb. 15 as a 7½-point home underdog. The Eagles are 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS against Top 25 competition.
The Seminoles find themselves in a three-way tie for second place in the ACC, 1½ games behind North Carolina. They’re 8-4 SU and 8-3-1 ATS in league play, going 4-2 (4-1-1 ATS) when visiting conference foes. The Eagles are 7-6 SU and 6-7 ATS in ACC action, including 3-3 at home (2-4 ATS).
Boston College won the first three meetings against the Seminoles upon entering the ACC in the 2005-06 season, but Florida State broke through with last year’s 66-63 triumph at home, failing to cash as a 6½-point home underdog. The pup is 3-0-1 ATS in this budding rivalry.
Florida State’s impressive ATS streaks include 12-3-2 in ACC play, 11-2-1 on the road, 4-1 after a SU win, 4-1 against winning teams, 8-3-1 as an underdog and 5-2 on Tuesday. B.C. is on an 8-3-1 ATS roll on Tuesday, but has failed to cover in five of its last seven home games and four of its last five against winning teams.
The under is 4-1 in FSU’s last five Tuesday outings, but for Boston College, the “over” is on streaks of 4-1 overall, 43-21-1 at home, 4-0 after a SU loss and 5-0 after an ATS setback.
ATS ADVANTAGE: FLORIDA STATE
Florida (21-6, 8-11-1 ATS) at (18) LSU (23-4, 10-9 ATS)
LSU clinched at least a share of the SEC West title and assured itself of a top-two seed in the upcoming conference tournament with Saturday’s 79-72 victory over previously surging Auburn. The Tigers have won eight consecutive games overall and 11 straight in the SEC, but they’ve failed to cover a pointspread in their last three, including coming up just short as an eight-point chalk against Auburn. Since a 65-59 SEC-opening loss at Alabama, LSU has scored at least 70 points in 12 consecutive games, averaging 80.4 ppg in 11 SEC victories.
Florida has followed up a two-game slide – both on the road – with consecutive home wins over Alabama on Wednesday (83-74) and Vanderbilt on Saturday (82-68). Although the Gators cashed as a nine-point favorite against Vandy, they’re still just 2-4 ATS (3-3 SU) in their last six, all in the SEC. During this six-game stretch, Billy Donvoan’s club is giving up 78.3 ppg, but the offense has notched 82 or more in three straight contests, four of the last five and six of the last eight.
While the Tigers are alone atop the SEC West at 11-1 (7-5 ATS), including 6-0 at home (3-3 ATS), Florida is stuck in a three-way tie for first in the SEC East. The Gators are 8-4 in conference action (6-5-1 ATS), but just 2-4 on the road (3-2-1 ATS).
LSU knocked off the Gators in last year’s lone battle, scoring a stunning 85-73 upset as a huge 13½-point road underdog. The Tigers are on a 5-2 SU and ATS roll in this rivalry, and the SU winner has covered the spread in each of the last 10 meetings. Also, the underdog has cashed in six of the last eight.
In addition to failing to cover in three straight games, the Tigers are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 after a non-cover and 1-4 ATS in their last five at home. Florida is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven after a SU victory, but this marks the Gators’ first game against a ranked opponent this season.
For LSU, the over is on stretches of 7-3 overall, 6-2 at home, 11-5 in SEC play and 4-0 on Tuesday. Also, Florida has topped the total in four of its last five overall (all in the SEC). Conversely, the under for the Gators is on runs of 6-2 on the road, 20-7-1 after a SU win and 10-4 after a spread-cover. Finally, the over is 4-2 in the last six series meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: LSU
NBA
Portland (35-20, 28-27 ATS) at Houston (35-21, 26-29-1 ATS)
The Blazers capped a perfect three-game homestand (2-1 ATS) with an emphatic 116-87 rout of the Clippers on Sunday, cashing easily as a 16-point chalk as they’ve followed up a 1-5 ATS slump with back-to-back spread-covers. Portland is on a 10-3 SU run, but all three defeats came in the team’s three most recent road games (0-3 ATS).
The Rockets carry a four-game winning streak (3-1 ATS) into this game at the Toyota Center, with all four wins coming at home. On Sunday, Houston throttled Charlotte 99-78 as a six-point favorite. Rick Adelman’s squad has won seven of its last nine contests (5-3-1 ATS), with all seven victories coming at the Toyota Center (5-1-1 ATS). In fact, the Rockets’ average margin of victory during their seven-game home winning streak has been 15.3 points per game, with five double-digit routs.
The Blazers edged the Rockets 101-99 in overtime as a five-point underdog in the first meeting back on Nov. 6, snapping a five-game SU and three-game ATS losing skid in this rivalry. The underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last seven clashes, and the SU winner is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 (4-0 ATS in the last four).
Going back to early December, the Blazers have dropped eight of their last 12 roadies both SU and ATS, with the winner covering the spread in all 12 games. Going back further, Portland has failed to cover in 12 of its last 16 as a visitor, and the team is also 1-4 ATS in its last five against the Southwest Division. On the positive end, Nate McMillan’s club is on positive pointspread runs of 4-1 after a double-digit win, 7-2 after a SU victory of any margin and 5-2 after a spread-cover.
In addition to being 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven home games, Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last five against winning teams. However, the Rockets are mired in ATS slumps of 3-9 when playing on one day of rest, 5-13-1 after a double-digit victory and 2-8-1 after a spread-cover.
The under is 7-3 in the last 10 series meetings, including 4-0 in the last four clashes in Houston. Also, the under is on runs of 17-8 for Portland against the Southwest Division, 4-0-1 for Portland in Western Conference games, 4-1 for Portland on Tuesday, 4-1 for Houston at home and 4-1 for Houston in Western Conference action. On the flip side, the over is on stretches of 5-2 for the Blazers on the road, 7-3-1 for the Blazers after a SU win, 4-1-1 when playing on one days’ rest, 8-2 for the Rockets against Northwest Division opponents and 6-0 for the Rockets on Tuesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: HOUSTON
