THE SPORTS ADVISORS
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
(at New York City)
Notre Dame (18-13, 9-16 ATS) vs. West Virginia (21-10, 13-15 ATS)
Notre Dame eliminated Rutgers 71-60 as a 10½-point favorite in opening-round action Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, advancing to the second round of the Big East tournament for just the third time since 2003. The Irish shot just 35.7 percent overall, but went 8-for-18 from three-point land and held Rutgers to 31.3 percent shooting (3-for-18 from long range). Notre Dame has followed up a seven-game losing skid by winning six of its last nine.
West Virginia battled No. 6 Louisville to the wire in Saturday regular-season finale, but came up just short in a 62-59 loss as a 2½-point home chalk. The Mountaineers have still won five of their last seven, but they’ve failed to cover in three of their last four outings (all as a favorite) after going 6-2 ATS in their previous eight (5-1 ATS as a chalk).
These teams last met in the tourney in 2004, with Notre Dame prevailing 65-64 in the opening round, failing to cover as a six-point favorite. The Fighting Irish are have won nine of the last 11 meetings in this rivalry, but they’re just 5-6 ATS during this stretch. Also, in this year’s lone clash on Feb. 12, West Virginia rolled to a 79-68 victory, barely covering as a 9½-point home favorite. The favorite has covered the last two after the underdog had been on a 4-0 ATS run in this rivalry.
Along with its spread-cover in Friday’s 74-55 rout of St. John’s in the regular-season finale, Notre Dame has now cashed in consecutive games for the first time all season. Still, the Irish are in ATS slumps of 5-12 overall, 5-11 in Big East play, 3-7 in the Big East tournament, 4-7 as an underdog this season and 3-5 at neutral sites. West Virginia went 0-2 SU and ATS in neutral-site games this year, including a 68-65 loss to Davidson as a 2 ½-point favorite at Madison Square Garden.
These teams have stayed under the total in eight consecutive meetings. Also, the under for Notre Dame is on runs of 5-0 overall (all in conference), 5-0 after a SU win and 5-1 for Notre Dame after a spread-cover, while West Virginia has stayed low in eight of its last 10 overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Seton Hall (17-14, 17-9 ATS) vs. (18) Syracuse (23-8, 14-13 ATS)
Syracuse carries a four-game SU and ATS winning streak into the Garden, most recently pulling off an 86-79 overtime upset at Marquette as a six-point underdog Saturday. Since a 63-49 loss at UConn on Feb. 11, the Orange have been unstoppable offensively, tallying 86 points or more in five of six games and averaging 85.7 ppg during this stretch. Furthermore, Jim Boeheim’s squad has topped the 80-point mark in 19 of its 31 games this season, including 11 of 18 Big East contests.
Seton Hall overcame a two-point halftime deficit against South Florida on Tuesday and ran away from the Bulls 68-54 as a 4½-point favorite. The Pirates, who had lost five straight Big East Tournament games (SU and ATS) prior to last night, have followed a 1-5 SU slump with back-to-back wins. Also, Seton Hall is on a 13-4 ATS run, all in Big East action, including 9-2 ATS in the last 11.
These teams opened the Big East season against one another on Dec. 30, and Syracuse rolled to a 100-76 victory, cashing easily as a 12-point favorite. The Orange are 7-2 SU and ATS in the last nine meetings, including five double-digit victories, and the winner has covered in all nine contests.
The Orange lost the first game of last year’s Big East tournament, falling 82-63 to Villanova as a 2½-point favorite. However, going back to the 2003 event, Syracuse is on an 8-2 SU and 7-2-1 ATS run in the Big East tourney. Also, it is 7-1 ATS in its last eight as a favorite this season.
As part of its 12-4 overall ATS run, Seton Hall is 5-1 ATS after a SU win, 6-2 ATS in its last eight after a spread-cover and 9-3 ATS as an underdog. However, the Pirates are still just 7-18 ATS in their last 25 neutral-site outings. Meanwhile, Syracuse is
The Orange have topped the total in 11 of their 18 Big East games, including six of the last 10. However, the under is 8-4 in Seton Hall’s last 12 outings. Also, the under is 3-1 in the last four meetings, the lone “over” occurring this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
BIG 12 TOURNAMENT
(at Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Iowa State (15-16, 9-14-3 ATS) vs. Oklahoma State (20-10, 12-11-1 ATS)
Surging Oklahoma State rallied to win six of its last seven games and cashed tickets in all seven to put themselves “on the bubble” for the Big Dance. The Cowboys’ only loss in the last month came on Saturday as they fell at rival Oklahoma 82-78 but easily cashed as nine-point road ‘dogs. OSU has been doing it with defense lately, limiting teams to 68.2 points a game and 41.9 percent shooting over the last five.
Iowa State comes into this first-round Big 12 matchup having dropped five of seven (1-4-2 ATS), though it ended the regular season Saturday by edging lowly Texas Tech 78-76 as a four-point home favorite. The Cyclones struggle offensively, averaging just 64 points a game, and they’ve have scored 70 or more just three times in their last 10.
These two squared off back on Feb. 14 in Stillwater, Okla., with the Cowboys blowing out Iowa State 86-67 and easily cashing as a 10-point chalk. Oklahoma State has covered in three of the last four against the Cyclones, including a 79-70 win as a one-point favorite in the opening round of the conference tournament in 2006. Including that contest, the chalk is on a 5-0 ATS run in this series.
Iowa State sports nothing but negative ATS streaks, including 2-9-3 overall (all in the Big 12), 1-7-3 as a ‘dog and 1-6-1 as a neutral-site ‘dog. Oklahoma State is on positive ATS streaks of 14-6-2 in neutral-site games, 16-5-1 as a favorite and 6-0-1 as a neutral-site chalk.
The Cyclones have topped the total in 16 of 22 as underdogs, seven of eight neutral-site contests and seven of 10 after a non-cover. On the flip side, the Cowboys have stayed under the total in four of five overall and four straight as a favorite. In this series, the over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OKLAHOMA STATE
Texas Tech (13-18, 9-14-1 ATS) vs. Texas A&M (23-8, 15-8 ATS)
Texas A&M closed the season in impressive fashion, winning six in a row SU, and it has cashed in 10 of its last 12 contests. On Saturday, the Aggies handed No. 15 Missouri a 96-86 loss, upsetting the Tigers as two-point home pups. A&M increased its offensive productivity late in the season, averaging 78.2 points a game over its last five after managing just 69.9 in the first 26 games of the season.
It was a brutal finish to the regular campaign for Texas Tech, which won just once in its last eight games (3-5 ATS). But it was a stunning victory as the Red Raiders destroyed then-ninth-ranked Kansas 84-65 as a 10-point home underdog exactly one week ago. However, they followed that victory with Saturday’s 78-76 loss at Iowa State, but cashed as a four-point ‘dog.
Texas A&M won both matchups with the Red Raiders this season, scoring a 79-70 win at home as an 8½-point favorite and then getting a 79-73 win at Lubbock on Feb. 21 as a 1½-point chalk. The straight-up winner has cashed in each of the last 10 series clashes, and the Aggies are on a 13-5-1 ATS run in the last 19 against Tech.
Texas Tech is on ATS slides of 3-8-1 on a neutral court and 2-7 after a spread-cover, while Texas A&M is on positive pointspread streaks of 20-8 overall, 19-7 on a neutral court and 5-1 as a neutral-site favorite.
For the Red Raiders, the over is on runs of 22-7-2 overall, 19-7-1 in Big 12 action, 4-1-1 on a neutral court and 18-6-2 as underdogs. The Aggies are also on over runs that include 5-1 overall, 5-2 as a favorite and 5-1 in Big 12 action. Lastly, the over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these schools.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS A&M and OVER
PAC-10 TOURNAMENT
(at Los Angeles)
Stanford (17-12, 16-10-1 ATS) vs. Oregon State (13-16, 11-13 ATS)
Stanford capped a sub-par season by losing nine of its last 13 games, including Saturday’s 101-87 setback at Arizona as a six-point road underdog. Prior to that defeat, the Cardinal had won and covered two start against USC (75-63 as a two-point home favorite) and No. 21 Arizona State (74-64 as a 10-point road underdog).
Oregon State struggled down the stretch, following up a three-game SU and ATS winning streak (all outright upsets as an underdog) by going 0-3 SU and ATS in its final three regular-season outings (all double-digit road losses). Last weekend, the Beavers were in Los Angeles and got blasted by both UCLA (79-54 as a 17½-point pup) and USC (68-52 as a 12-point underdog).
Oregon State swept the season series from the Cardinal with a pair of double-digit routs, rolling 77-62 as a 16½-point road underdog and 66-54 as a four-point home pup. The Beavers, who had lost six straight to Stanford before this season, have covered in the last three meetings after going 0-6 ATS in the previous six clashes and 2-12 ATS in the previous 14.
The Beavers are in ATS slumps of 8-18 in conference, 1-4 at neutral sites and 1-11 on Wednesday. Stanford is 2-5-1 ATS in its last eight (all in the Pac-10).
For Stanford, the over is on streaks of 4-0 overall (all in Pac-10 play) and 7-1 at neutral sites, but the under is 7-3 in Oregon State’s last 10 overall (all in Pac-10 play).
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
NBA
L.A. Lakers (50-13, 32-31 ATS) at Houston (42-23, 31-33-1 ATS)
The Lakers, coming off a blowout loss in Portland, travel to the Toyota Center to take on the surging Rockets.
Los Angeles got steamrolled by the Trail Blazers on Monday night, trailing by 30 at one point in the second half and losing 111-94 as a 2½-point road chalk. The Lakers are now 1-4 ATS (2-3 SU) in their last five games, all from the favorite’s role, averaging 98.6 ppg in that stretch – nearly 10 points below their season average (108.5) – while allowing 99.6 ppg. During this five-game slump, Phil Jackson’s team has dropped three straight on the road SU and ATS.
Houston edged Denver 97-95 as a four-point road pup Monday night for its third straight win (1-2 ATS), and the Rockets are now on an 11-2 SU roll (8-5 ATS). The Rockets have been torrid at home lately, ripping off 12 straight wins by an average of 13 ppg, (103-90) and going 7-4-1 ATS in that span. However, they have failed to cash in their last two home outings.
Los Angeles has won and covered in both meetings this season with Houston, including a 105-100 road win laying four points in January, and the Lakers are 4-1 ATS in the last five clashes (3-2 SU). Los Angeles is 7-2 ATS in its last nine visits to the Toyota Center, and the favorite is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
The Lakers are on a bundle of ATS slides, including 3-6 overall, 2-5 on the highway, 1-4 against the Western Conference, 1-4 against winning teams, 4-11 after a SU loss and 7-19 playing on one day’s rest. The Rockets are on ATS skids of 1-5 against the Pacific Division, 4-11-1 after a spread-cover and 5-13 after a day off, but they sport positive ATS streaks of 6-2 against winning teams and 7-3 after a SU win.
The over for Los Angeles is on rolls of 8-2 against winning teams and 11-4-1 on the road, and the over for Houston is on stretches of 4-0 against winning teams and 4-1 after a spread cover. Plus, in this rivalry, the total has cleared the posted price in seven of the last 10 meetings, including three in a row.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Dallas (39-25, 31-33 ATS) at Portland (40-23, 32-31 ATS)
The Trail Blazers go after their 13th consecutive home win when they play host to the Mavericks at the Rose Garden.
Portland pounded the Lakers 111-94 Monday night as a 2½-point home underdog, halting a three-game ATS slide and moving to 12-0 SU and 8-4 ATS in its last 12 home starts. The Trail Blazers have won four of their last five overall (2-3 ATS), putting up 101 ppg while allowing 96.4 ppg, and at home this season, Portland is 27-6 SU and 20-12 ATS, averaging 102.7 ppg and yielding 93.3.
Dallas went to Phoenix last night and upset the Suns 122-117 as a six-point underdog, winning for the sixth time in its last eight games and ending a five-game SU and ATS losing skid on the road. Also, with consecutive spread-covers, the Mavericks ended a string of 14 straight games alternating ATS wins and losses. For the season, Dallas is still just 15-17 (17-15 ATS) on the highway, averaging slightly more than 97 ppg and allowing a little more than 99 ppg.
Dallas is on a 3-1 SU and ATS run in this rivalry, winning and cashing in both meetings this season, including a 102-94 Christmas Day victory catching 4½ points in Portland – one of just five visitors to win in the Rose Garden this season. In fact, the underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last seven series clashes.
Along with their 8-4 ATS run at home, the Blazers are on pointspread upswings of 6-1 playing on one day’s rest and 10-4 at home against teams with a losing road record. On the flip side, the Mavericks are on a plethora of pointspread purges, including 1-5 on the road, 2-5 against winning teams, 2-4 against the West, 2-6 playing on no rest and 5-14 against Northwest Division foes.
The over is on runs of 4-1-1 at home for Portland, 5-1 for the Blazers against the Southwest Division, 6-2 overall for Dallas and 8-2 for the Mavericks against winning teams. However, the under is 12-4 in the Blazers’ last 16 games against winning teams and is 6-1 in the Mavericks’ last seven on the highway. Finally, the total has stayed low in 12 of the last 17 meetings in this rivalry, though both clashes this season barely hurdled the posted price.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PORTLAND
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
(at New York City)
Notre Dame (18-13, 9-16 ATS) vs. West Virginia (21-10, 13-15 ATS)
Notre Dame eliminated Rutgers 71-60 as a 10½-point favorite in opening-round action Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, advancing to the second round of the Big East tournament for just the third time since 2003. The Irish shot just 35.7 percent overall, but went 8-for-18 from three-point land and held Rutgers to 31.3 percent shooting (3-for-18 from long range). Notre Dame has followed up a seven-game losing skid by winning six of its last nine.
West Virginia battled No. 6 Louisville to the wire in Saturday regular-season finale, but came up just short in a 62-59 loss as a 2½-point home chalk. The Mountaineers have still won five of their last seven, but they’ve failed to cover in three of their last four outings (all as a favorite) after going 6-2 ATS in their previous eight (5-1 ATS as a chalk).
These teams last met in the tourney in 2004, with Notre Dame prevailing 65-64 in the opening round, failing to cover as a six-point favorite. The Fighting Irish are have won nine of the last 11 meetings in this rivalry, but they’re just 5-6 ATS during this stretch. Also, in this year’s lone clash on Feb. 12, West Virginia rolled to a 79-68 victory, barely covering as a 9½-point home favorite. The favorite has covered the last two after the underdog had been on a 4-0 ATS run in this rivalry.
Along with its spread-cover in Friday’s 74-55 rout of St. John’s in the regular-season finale, Notre Dame has now cashed in consecutive games for the first time all season. Still, the Irish are in ATS slumps of 5-12 overall, 5-11 in Big East play, 3-7 in the Big East tournament, 4-7 as an underdog this season and 3-5 at neutral sites. West Virginia went 0-2 SU and ATS in neutral-site games this year, including a 68-65 loss to Davidson as a 2 ½-point favorite at Madison Square Garden.
These teams have stayed under the total in eight consecutive meetings. Also, the under for Notre Dame is on runs of 5-0 overall (all in conference), 5-0 after a SU win and 5-1 for Notre Dame after a spread-cover, while West Virginia has stayed low in eight of its last 10 overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Seton Hall (17-14, 17-9 ATS) vs. (18) Syracuse (23-8, 14-13 ATS)
Syracuse carries a four-game SU and ATS winning streak into the Garden, most recently pulling off an 86-79 overtime upset at Marquette as a six-point underdog Saturday. Since a 63-49 loss at UConn on Feb. 11, the Orange have been unstoppable offensively, tallying 86 points or more in five of six games and averaging 85.7 ppg during this stretch. Furthermore, Jim Boeheim’s squad has topped the 80-point mark in 19 of its 31 games this season, including 11 of 18 Big East contests.
Seton Hall overcame a two-point halftime deficit against South Florida on Tuesday and ran away from the Bulls 68-54 as a 4½-point favorite. The Pirates, who had lost five straight Big East Tournament games (SU and ATS) prior to last night, have followed a 1-5 SU slump with back-to-back wins. Also, Seton Hall is on a 13-4 ATS run, all in Big East action, including 9-2 ATS in the last 11.
These teams opened the Big East season against one another on Dec. 30, and Syracuse rolled to a 100-76 victory, cashing easily as a 12-point favorite. The Orange are 7-2 SU and ATS in the last nine meetings, including five double-digit victories, and the winner has covered in all nine contests.
The Orange lost the first game of last year’s Big East tournament, falling 82-63 to Villanova as a 2½-point favorite. However, going back to the 2003 event, Syracuse is on an 8-2 SU and 7-2-1 ATS run in the Big East tourney. Also, it is 7-1 ATS in its last eight as a favorite this season.
As part of its 12-4 overall ATS run, Seton Hall is 5-1 ATS after a SU win, 6-2 ATS in its last eight after a spread-cover and 9-3 ATS as an underdog. However, the Pirates are still just 7-18 ATS in their last 25 neutral-site outings. Meanwhile, Syracuse is
The Orange have topped the total in 11 of their 18 Big East games, including six of the last 10. However, the under is 8-4 in Seton Hall’s last 12 outings. Also, the under is 3-1 in the last four meetings, the lone “over” occurring this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
BIG 12 TOURNAMENT
(at Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Iowa State (15-16, 9-14-3 ATS) vs. Oklahoma State (20-10, 12-11-1 ATS)
Surging Oklahoma State rallied to win six of its last seven games and cashed tickets in all seven to put themselves “on the bubble” for the Big Dance. The Cowboys’ only loss in the last month came on Saturday as they fell at rival Oklahoma 82-78 but easily cashed as nine-point road ‘dogs. OSU has been doing it with defense lately, limiting teams to 68.2 points a game and 41.9 percent shooting over the last five.
Iowa State comes into this first-round Big 12 matchup having dropped five of seven (1-4-2 ATS), though it ended the regular season Saturday by edging lowly Texas Tech 78-76 as a four-point home favorite. The Cyclones struggle offensively, averaging just 64 points a game, and they’ve have scored 70 or more just three times in their last 10.
These two squared off back on Feb. 14 in Stillwater, Okla., with the Cowboys blowing out Iowa State 86-67 and easily cashing as a 10-point chalk. Oklahoma State has covered in three of the last four against the Cyclones, including a 79-70 win as a one-point favorite in the opening round of the conference tournament in 2006. Including that contest, the chalk is on a 5-0 ATS run in this series.
Iowa State sports nothing but negative ATS streaks, including 2-9-3 overall (all in the Big 12), 1-7-3 as a ‘dog and 1-6-1 as a neutral-site ‘dog. Oklahoma State is on positive ATS streaks of 14-6-2 in neutral-site games, 16-5-1 as a favorite and 6-0-1 as a neutral-site chalk.
The Cyclones have topped the total in 16 of 22 as underdogs, seven of eight neutral-site contests and seven of 10 after a non-cover. On the flip side, the Cowboys have stayed under the total in four of five overall and four straight as a favorite. In this series, the over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OKLAHOMA STATE
Texas Tech (13-18, 9-14-1 ATS) vs. Texas A&M (23-8, 15-8 ATS)
Texas A&M closed the season in impressive fashion, winning six in a row SU, and it has cashed in 10 of its last 12 contests. On Saturday, the Aggies handed No. 15 Missouri a 96-86 loss, upsetting the Tigers as two-point home pups. A&M increased its offensive productivity late in the season, averaging 78.2 points a game over its last five after managing just 69.9 in the first 26 games of the season.
It was a brutal finish to the regular campaign for Texas Tech, which won just once in its last eight games (3-5 ATS). But it was a stunning victory as the Red Raiders destroyed then-ninth-ranked Kansas 84-65 as a 10-point home underdog exactly one week ago. However, they followed that victory with Saturday’s 78-76 loss at Iowa State, but cashed as a four-point ‘dog.
Texas A&M won both matchups with the Red Raiders this season, scoring a 79-70 win at home as an 8½-point favorite and then getting a 79-73 win at Lubbock on Feb. 21 as a 1½-point chalk. The straight-up winner has cashed in each of the last 10 series clashes, and the Aggies are on a 13-5-1 ATS run in the last 19 against Tech.
Texas Tech is on ATS slides of 3-8-1 on a neutral court and 2-7 after a spread-cover, while Texas A&M is on positive pointspread streaks of 20-8 overall, 19-7 on a neutral court and 5-1 as a neutral-site favorite.
For the Red Raiders, the over is on runs of 22-7-2 overall, 19-7-1 in Big 12 action, 4-1-1 on a neutral court and 18-6-2 as underdogs. The Aggies are also on over runs that include 5-1 overall, 5-2 as a favorite and 5-1 in Big 12 action. Lastly, the over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these schools.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS A&M and OVER
PAC-10 TOURNAMENT
(at Los Angeles)
Stanford (17-12, 16-10-1 ATS) vs. Oregon State (13-16, 11-13 ATS)
Stanford capped a sub-par season by losing nine of its last 13 games, including Saturday’s 101-87 setback at Arizona as a six-point road underdog. Prior to that defeat, the Cardinal had won and covered two start against USC (75-63 as a two-point home favorite) and No. 21 Arizona State (74-64 as a 10-point road underdog).
Oregon State struggled down the stretch, following up a three-game SU and ATS winning streak (all outright upsets as an underdog) by going 0-3 SU and ATS in its final three regular-season outings (all double-digit road losses). Last weekend, the Beavers were in Los Angeles and got blasted by both UCLA (79-54 as a 17½-point pup) and USC (68-52 as a 12-point underdog).
Oregon State swept the season series from the Cardinal with a pair of double-digit routs, rolling 77-62 as a 16½-point road underdog and 66-54 as a four-point home pup. The Beavers, who had lost six straight to Stanford before this season, have covered in the last three meetings after going 0-6 ATS in the previous six clashes and 2-12 ATS in the previous 14.
The Beavers are in ATS slumps of 8-18 in conference, 1-4 at neutral sites and 1-11 on Wednesday. Stanford is 2-5-1 ATS in its last eight (all in the Pac-10).
For Stanford, the over is on streaks of 4-0 overall (all in Pac-10 play) and 7-1 at neutral sites, but the under is 7-3 in Oregon State’s last 10 overall (all in Pac-10 play).
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
NBA
L.A. Lakers (50-13, 32-31 ATS) at Houston (42-23, 31-33-1 ATS)
The Lakers, coming off a blowout loss in Portland, travel to the Toyota Center to take on the surging Rockets.
Los Angeles got steamrolled by the Trail Blazers on Monday night, trailing by 30 at one point in the second half and losing 111-94 as a 2½-point road chalk. The Lakers are now 1-4 ATS (2-3 SU) in their last five games, all from the favorite’s role, averaging 98.6 ppg in that stretch – nearly 10 points below their season average (108.5) – while allowing 99.6 ppg. During this five-game slump, Phil Jackson’s team has dropped three straight on the road SU and ATS.
Houston edged Denver 97-95 as a four-point road pup Monday night for its third straight win (1-2 ATS), and the Rockets are now on an 11-2 SU roll (8-5 ATS). The Rockets have been torrid at home lately, ripping off 12 straight wins by an average of 13 ppg, (103-90) and going 7-4-1 ATS in that span. However, they have failed to cash in their last two home outings.
Los Angeles has won and covered in both meetings this season with Houston, including a 105-100 road win laying four points in January, and the Lakers are 4-1 ATS in the last five clashes (3-2 SU). Los Angeles is 7-2 ATS in its last nine visits to the Toyota Center, and the favorite is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
The Lakers are on a bundle of ATS slides, including 3-6 overall, 2-5 on the highway, 1-4 against the Western Conference, 1-4 against winning teams, 4-11 after a SU loss and 7-19 playing on one day’s rest. The Rockets are on ATS skids of 1-5 against the Pacific Division, 4-11-1 after a spread-cover and 5-13 after a day off, but they sport positive ATS streaks of 6-2 against winning teams and 7-3 after a SU win.
The over for Los Angeles is on rolls of 8-2 against winning teams and 11-4-1 on the road, and the over for Houston is on stretches of 4-0 against winning teams and 4-1 after a spread cover. Plus, in this rivalry, the total has cleared the posted price in seven of the last 10 meetings, including three in a row.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Dallas (39-25, 31-33 ATS) at Portland (40-23, 32-31 ATS)
The Trail Blazers go after their 13th consecutive home win when they play host to the Mavericks at the Rose Garden.
Portland pounded the Lakers 111-94 Monday night as a 2½-point home underdog, halting a three-game ATS slide and moving to 12-0 SU and 8-4 ATS in its last 12 home starts. The Trail Blazers have won four of their last five overall (2-3 ATS), putting up 101 ppg while allowing 96.4 ppg, and at home this season, Portland is 27-6 SU and 20-12 ATS, averaging 102.7 ppg and yielding 93.3.
Dallas went to Phoenix last night and upset the Suns 122-117 as a six-point underdog, winning for the sixth time in its last eight games and ending a five-game SU and ATS losing skid on the road. Also, with consecutive spread-covers, the Mavericks ended a string of 14 straight games alternating ATS wins and losses. For the season, Dallas is still just 15-17 (17-15 ATS) on the highway, averaging slightly more than 97 ppg and allowing a little more than 99 ppg.
Dallas is on a 3-1 SU and ATS run in this rivalry, winning and cashing in both meetings this season, including a 102-94 Christmas Day victory catching 4½ points in Portland – one of just five visitors to win in the Rose Garden this season. In fact, the underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last seven series clashes.
Along with their 8-4 ATS run at home, the Blazers are on pointspread upswings of 6-1 playing on one day’s rest and 10-4 at home against teams with a losing road record. On the flip side, the Mavericks are on a plethora of pointspread purges, including 1-5 on the road, 2-5 against winning teams, 2-4 against the West, 2-6 playing on no rest and 5-14 against Northwest Division foes.
The over is on runs of 4-1-1 at home for Portland, 5-1 for the Blazers against the Southwest Division, 6-2 overall for Dallas and 8-2 for the Mavericks against winning teams. However, the under is 12-4 in the Blazers’ last 16 games against winning teams and is 6-1 in the Mavericks’ last seven on the highway. Finally, the total has stayed low in 12 of the last 17 meetings in this rivalry, though both clashes this season barely hurdled the posted price.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PORTLAND
