Wunderdog Sports Free Pick
Game: Northeastern at James Madison (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Northeastern +5.5 (-109) at 5Dimes
Getting wins have been hard to come by for the Northeastern Huskies. They are a paltry 4-13 on the season, and are still looking for their first road victory. They have played a very difficult schedule with games against Georgetown, Vanderbilt, VCU, and Florida State. James Madison is just 6-11, and when you compare the schedules, Northeastern has had a much tougher one. As a result, these teams are a lot closer than the line indicates. The Huskies have produced a solid 17-7 ATS mark off an ATS loss, as well as 5-1 ATS after a dreadful offensive game of scoring 50 or less. The Dukes have failed in their last four at home, and Northeastern looks to be the better team. Play on Northeastern.
Game: Northeastern at James Madison (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Northeastern +5.5 (-109) at 5Dimes
Getting wins have been hard to come by for the Northeastern Huskies. They are a paltry 4-13 on the season, and are still looking for their first road victory. They have played a very difficult schedule with games against Georgetown, Vanderbilt, VCU, and Florida State. James Madison is just 6-11, and when you compare the schedules, Northeastern has had a much tougher one. As a result, these teams are a lot closer than the line indicates. The Huskies have produced a solid 17-7 ATS mark off an ATS loss, as well as 5-1 ATS after a dreadful offensive game of scoring 50 or less. The Dukes have failed in their last four at home, and Northeastern looks to be the better team. Play on Northeastern.
SPORTS WAGERS NBA
Toronto @ BOSTON
The Raptors are just a little too high right now. Toronto has reeled off three in a row and ever since they unloaded Rudy Gay they have won 12 of 17 games. Volume shooters like Gay don’t merely interrupt a team’s offensive flow, but throw off its entire rhythm. It’s for that reason that brutal offensive and defensive stretches often coincided for Toronto; there’s something deflating about a single teammate attempting so many low-percentage shots without moving the ball around or working to create lane penetration. Not only has the Raps offense improved but their defense has stepped it up as well. Since completing the Gay trade, the Raps have locked down defensively, holding opponents to 4.4 fewer points per 100 possessions. Their new marks mimic that of a top-five defensive outfit, a stark improvement over the mediocrity in coverage that had become their standard. The Raps are the NBA’s most improved team over the past 18 games but with that recognition comes a price. That price is in the form of the point-spread, which has the Raps favored on the road, a role they are unaccustomed to being in. With their stock higher than it’s been in years, we now get a strong sell high opportunity on the Raps.
The Celtics have lost nine in a row and their stock has plummeted to create this buy-low opportunity. That nine game losing streak started against Atlanta. The C’s followed that loss with two more against Chicago and New Orleans and then the schedule got nasty. Boston’s next five losses were all on the road at Oklahoma City, Denver, L.A. against the Clip Joint, Golden State and Portland. Boston then returned home to face the Rockets, thus completing its nine-game losing streak. This is the Celtics second game back after that exhausting trip and they get Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green back in the lineup. Sullinger is a game changer but more than that, Boston owns the Raptors at this venue, having covered eight straight against them and this small number suggests that Boston will in another strong position to win. Sometimes the price dictates the play and with at least a 50% chance of winning, Boston offers up the value in this one.
Toronto @ BOSTON
The Raptors are just a little too high right now. Toronto has reeled off three in a row and ever since they unloaded Rudy Gay they have won 12 of 17 games. Volume shooters like Gay don’t merely interrupt a team’s offensive flow, but throw off its entire rhythm. It’s for that reason that brutal offensive and defensive stretches often coincided for Toronto; there’s something deflating about a single teammate attempting so many low-percentage shots without moving the ball around or working to create lane penetration. Not only has the Raps offense improved but their defense has stepped it up as well. Since completing the Gay trade, the Raps have locked down defensively, holding opponents to 4.4 fewer points per 100 possessions. Their new marks mimic that of a top-five defensive outfit, a stark improvement over the mediocrity in coverage that had become their standard. The Raps are the NBA’s most improved team over the past 18 games but with that recognition comes a price. That price is in the form of the point-spread, which has the Raps favored on the road, a role they are unaccustomed to being in. With their stock higher than it’s been in years, we now get a strong sell high opportunity on the Raps.
The Celtics have lost nine in a row and their stock has plummeted to create this buy-low opportunity. That nine game losing streak started against Atlanta. The C’s followed that loss with two more against Chicago and New Orleans and then the schedule got nasty. Boston’s next five losses were all on the road at Oklahoma City, Denver, L.A. against the Clip Joint, Golden State and Portland. Boston then returned home to face the Rockets, thus completing its nine-game losing streak. This is the Celtics second game back after that exhausting trip and they get Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green back in the lineup. Sullinger is a game changer but more than that, Boston owns the Raptors at this venue, having covered eight straight against them and this small number suggests that Boston will in another strong position to win. Sometimes the price dictates the play and with at least a 50% chance of winning, Boston offers up the value in this one.
SPORTS WAGERS CBB
Purdue +6 -110 over ILLINOIS
Well, that was short lived. The Illini snuck into the top-25 after their January 4th win over Penn State to run their record to 13-2. Two subsequent losses later, to Wisconsin by 25 and at Northwestern by six, and the Illini are no longer a top ranked team. Illinois is paying the price of scheduling out-of-conferences games against such weak competition. The Illini are a poor shooting team with weak guard play and their fall from grace isn’t quite done yet.
The Boilermakers were not supposed to be much this season and they haven’t really done anything to open any eyes but this team is getting stronger with each passing game. Over their past four games, Purdue is 2-2 after playing West Virginia, Ohio State, Minnesota and Nebraska. Purdue has played just two road games this season and they looked good in both of them, defeating West Virginia and losing to Minnesota by just three points. Purdue also played a very good game against #3 Ohio State. They were down just a point at the half and eventually lost by just nine. Purdue sophomore A.J. Hammons produced one of the most complete games of his career. He finished with a season-best 18 points, 16 rebounds and four assists and five blocks. Another sophomore, Ronnie Johnson, had 16 points and Johnson's older brother, Terone, finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Purdue out-rebounded the Buckeyes 46-37. If there is such a thing as a “good loss” that was it for the Boilermakers. They’ve had two quality starts since that loss and they figure to have another quality game here against a still overpriced Illinois squad. Upset possibility.
Buffalo +7½ over over TOLEDO
The Rockets come into this game with an impressive 13-2 overall record. Toledo also has some impressive statistical rankings that see them ranked 18th in the country in FG%, 11th in points per game average and 23rd in assists. What those rankings don’t reveal is that Toledo has played one of the weakest schedules in the nation. Toledo’s strength of schedule ranks 269th in the country. After opening the season against a Division II opponent and scoring 105 points, the Rockets went on to play Boston College, Florida A&M, Stony Brook, Detroit, Florida Atlantic, Robert Morris, Sam Houston State, Arkansas State, Cleveland and Coppin State. With a schedule like that it’s no wonder that the Rockets have 13 wins and a bunch of grossly skewed numbers. Battle tested they are not. When the Rockets played at #16 Kansas and lost by 10, it looks pretty good on paper but it should be noted that game for the Jayhawks was sandwiched between Georgetown and #21 San Diego State.
The Bulls return nearly all of its key players from a season ago. That includes the Bulls' leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker, Javon McCrea, an All-MAC first-team selection last year. Buffalo is in the much stronger division (the East) of the MAC. The Bulls are 2-0 in conference play and 8-4 overall and they have played a schedule that ranks 126 positions higher than the Rockets. Buffalo has victories over St. Bonaventure and Eastern Michigan and they’ve also reeled off four wins in a row and eight wins in their past 10 games. The Bulls have also held three of their past four opponents to 57 points or less. The Rockets are a team that plays fast. When you play that style after competing against cupcakes, a wake-up call is forthcoming. This Toledo club is one of the worst 13-2 teams in the country and with conference play now underway, it is the correct time to step in against them. Upset possibility.
Purdue +6 -110 over ILLINOIS
Well, that was short lived. The Illini snuck into the top-25 after their January 4th win over Penn State to run their record to 13-2. Two subsequent losses later, to Wisconsin by 25 and at Northwestern by six, and the Illini are no longer a top ranked team. Illinois is paying the price of scheduling out-of-conferences games against such weak competition. The Illini are a poor shooting team with weak guard play and their fall from grace isn’t quite done yet.
The Boilermakers were not supposed to be much this season and they haven’t really done anything to open any eyes but this team is getting stronger with each passing game. Over their past four games, Purdue is 2-2 after playing West Virginia, Ohio State, Minnesota and Nebraska. Purdue has played just two road games this season and they looked good in both of them, defeating West Virginia and losing to Minnesota by just three points. Purdue also played a very good game against #3 Ohio State. They were down just a point at the half and eventually lost by just nine. Purdue sophomore A.J. Hammons produced one of the most complete games of his career. He finished with a season-best 18 points, 16 rebounds and four assists and five blocks. Another sophomore, Ronnie Johnson, had 16 points and Johnson's older brother, Terone, finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Purdue out-rebounded the Buckeyes 46-37. If there is such a thing as a “good loss” that was it for the Boilermakers. They’ve had two quality starts since that loss and they figure to have another quality game here against a still overpriced Illinois squad. Upset possibility.
Buffalo +7½ over over TOLEDO
The Rockets come into this game with an impressive 13-2 overall record. Toledo also has some impressive statistical rankings that see them ranked 18th in the country in FG%, 11th in points per game average and 23rd in assists. What those rankings don’t reveal is that Toledo has played one of the weakest schedules in the nation. Toledo’s strength of schedule ranks 269th in the country. After opening the season against a Division II opponent and scoring 105 points, the Rockets went on to play Boston College, Florida A&M, Stony Brook, Detroit, Florida Atlantic, Robert Morris, Sam Houston State, Arkansas State, Cleveland and Coppin State. With a schedule like that it’s no wonder that the Rockets have 13 wins and a bunch of grossly skewed numbers. Battle tested they are not. When the Rockets played at #16 Kansas and lost by 10, it looks pretty good on paper but it should be noted that game for the Jayhawks was sandwiched between Georgetown and #21 San Diego State.
The Bulls return nearly all of its key players from a season ago. That includes the Bulls' leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker, Javon McCrea, an All-MAC first-team selection last year. Buffalo is in the much stronger division (the East) of the MAC. The Bulls are 2-0 in conference play and 8-4 overall and they have played a schedule that ranks 126 positions higher than the Rockets. Buffalo has victories over St. Bonaventure and Eastern Michigan and they’ve also reeled off four wins in a row and eight wins in their past 10 games. The Bulls have also held three of their past four opponents to 57 points or less. The Rockets are a team that plays fast. When you play that style after competing against cupcakes, a wake-up call is forthcoming. This Toledo club is one of the worst 13-2 teams in the country and with conference play now underway, it is the correct time to step in against them. Upset possibility.
Bob Balfe
Florida State -1
We are talking about a Miami team that lost its best 6 players from last year and this year have gone away from their head coaches defensive strategy that worked so well over the years. It seems like their new zone defense is working, but temporary fixes without experience is not going to win you many games. Florida State is a better basketball team from top to bottom and will simply score more points tonight. Take FSU
Florida State -1
We are talking about a Miami team that lost its best 6 players from last year and this year have gone away from their head coaches defensive strategy that worked so well over the years. It seems like their new zone defense is working, but temporary fixes without experience is not going to win you many games. Florida State is a better basketball team from top to bottom and will simply score more points tonight. Take FSU
