SPORTS ADVISORS
Temple (3-6, 6-2-1 ATS) at Kent State (2-7, 2-5 ATS)
Two teams floundering in the Mid-American Conference hook up at Dix Stadium as Kent hosts Temple.
The Owls have alternated SU wins and losses in their last five games, including a devastating 33-27 overtime loss at Navy on Nov. 1. In that one, Temple held a 27-7 lead with less than 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter before giving up 26 unanswered points, including a touchdown in overtime, to lose. Four of Temple’s last five games have been decided by 10, 6, 4 and 4 points, and the Owls are 1-3 in those contests.
Kent went to Bowling Green on Nov. 1 and lost 45-30 as a six-point road underdog. The Flashes, who have given up an average of 34.5 points per game in their last six contests, are mired in a 1-13 slump against Division I-A teams (2-12 ATS), including 1-11 against MAC rivals (2-10 ATS).
Temple dropped the Flashes 24-14 as a one-point home underdog last year, finishing with just 295 total yards but limiting Kent to a paltry 124 yards. In the only other meeting between the schools in 2006, Kent rolled 28-17, but the Owls easily cashed as a 23½-point road underdog.
In addition to its ongoing 2-12 ATS slump overall, the Flashes are stuck in pointspread funks of 1-8 at home, 3-13 in conference play, 2-11 against losing teams and 0-5 in November. On the flip side, Temple carries ATS streaks of 8-2-1 overall, 5-2 on the highway, 13-3-1 against the MAC, 4-1-1 against losing teams and 5-1-1 following a bye week.
For Temple, the under is on runs of 13-3 overall, 10-1 versus MAC foes, 4-0 on artificial turf, 6-0 against losing teams, 5-1 in November and 4-1-1 after a bye. Meanwhile, the over is 5-1 in Kent’s last six overall, including 4-1 in MAC play. However, the under is 11-5 in the Flashes’ last 16 home contests. Finally, last year’s head-to-head meeting at Temple stayed under the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEMPLE and UNDER
Central Michigan (7-2, 5-3 ATS) at Northern Illinois (5-4, 5-3 ATS)
Northern Illinois looks to bounce back from last week’s blowout loss at Ball State when it hosts Central Michigan in another nationally televised prime-time MAC clash.
The Huskies saw their three-game winning streak come to an end in embarrassing fashion a week ago tonight, falling to undefeated Ball State 45-14 as an eight-point road underdog. Northern Illinois got outgained 529-275, produced just 12 first downs to Ball State’s 25 and committed the only two turnovers in the game.
Central Michigan stepped out of conference in its most recent contest on Nov. 1 and edged Indiana 37-34 as a two-point road underdog, the team’s fifth consecutive victory. During their winning streak, the Chippewas have averaged exactly 30 points per game, but given up 24.8 ppg, as all five victories have come by 10 points or less.
Central Michigan is 5-0 in MAC play (3-2 ATS) and sits a half-game behind Ball State in the West Division standings, while NIU is in fourth place in the West Division at 4-2 (3-3 ATS).
The Chippewas ended a nine-game losing streak to Northern Illinois in dominating fashion last year, winning 35-10 as a three-point home chalk. The Huskies actually outgained Central Michigan 521-381, but they committed six turnovers (four interceptions) and forced just one. Northern Illinois is still 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 battles in this rivalry, and the host is 5-0-1 ATS in the last six clashes. Finally, Central Michigan has failed to cover in five straight trips to Northern Illinois.
Central Michigan is on ATS tears of 29-10-3 overall, 6-2-2 on the road, 21-6-3 in MAC play, 4-1 as an underdog, 17-6-2 on artificial turf, 8-3 against winning teams and 17-6-2 following a spread-cover. Meanwhile, despite last week’s blowout loss to Ball State, the Huskies are still on ATS hot streaks of 8-3 overall, 5-1 in November and 5-2 on artificial turf.
For the Chippewas, the over is on runs of 12-5 overall, 16-5-1 on the road, 4-0 in November and 5-0 against winning teams. Conversely, Northern Illinois sports under streaks of 20-6-1 overall, 13-3-1 at home, 13-3-1 on artificial turf, 19-7-2 in conference action, 7-1 in November and 7-1 against winning teams. Also, the last two meetings between these schools have stayed low after the previous three topped the posted total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
NBA
Atlanta (6-0, 5-1 ATS) at Boston (7-1, 4-4 ATS)
The Hawks return to the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston for the first time since they got eliminated in the first round of last year’s playoffs, and they do so as one of the NBA’s two remaining unbeaten teams.
Atlanta scored 29 points in each of the last three quarters at Chicago last night and held off the Bulls 113-108 as a four-point road underdog, with all five starters scoring in double figures, led by Al Horford’s 27 points. The Hawks are off to their best start since 1997-98, when they won their first 11 in a row, and they’re 4-0 on the road (3-1 ATS).
Boston rallied for its fifth straight victory on Monday, topping Toronto 94-87 but coming up just short as an 8½-point home chalk. The Celtics trailed 48-36 at the half before blowing out the Raptors 58-39 in the final 24 minutes, and they’re now 4-0 at home this season, but 1-3 ATS.
The Hawks took the top-seeded Celtics to the limit last May, but couldn’t secure what would’ve been the biggest upset in NBA playoff history, losing Game 7 in Boston 99-65 as a 14½-point road underdog. The home team went 7-0 SU and ATS in last year’s postseason clash, and including three regular-season meetings, the host went 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS in this rivalry a year ago.
Atlanta’s 5-1 ATS start has all come against the Eastern Conference, and the team is also 5-2 ATS in its last seven against Atlantic Division foes. Meanwhile, Boston has failed to cash in 12 of its last 17 against Eastern Conference opponents, but otherwise the C’s are on pointspread streaks of 11-4 overall, 8-3 on Wednesdays and 5-1 when playing one day of rest.
For the Hawks, the under is on streaks of 5-2 overall and 4-1 on the road, but the over is 9-4 in the team’s last 13 Wednesday games and 5-2 in its last seven against the Atlantic Division. The Celtics have stayed low in six of its eight games this year. Also, the first five meetings between these teams last year (playoffs included) stayed under the total, but the over was 4-1 in the last five postseason contests.
Finally, the under is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head battles in Beantown.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
L.A. Lakers (6-0, 5-1 ATS) at New Orleans (4-2, 2-3-1 ATS)
Two of the top teams in the Western Conference hook up for the first time this season, as Kobe Bryant and the unbeaten Lakers visit the Big Easy for a battle with Chris Paul and the Hornets.
Los Angeles went to Dallas last night and rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat the Mavericks 106-99, barely cashing as a 5½-point road favorite as they outscored Dallas 30-20 in the final quarter. The Lakers have scored at least 104 points in five straight games and four of their six wins have been double-digit blowouts.
The Hornets have been idle since Saturday when they snapped a two-game losing skid with a 100-89 rout of Dwyane Wade and the Heat, pushing as an 11-point home favorite. New Orleans is averaging 105 ppg in its four victories, but only 84 ppg in its two defeats.
These squads split their four meetings last year, with each team winning once at home and once on the road. The Hornets cashed in three of those four games and they’re 5-2 ATS in the last seven clashes with Los Angeles. Also, the road team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven, the underdog is 7-0 ATS in the last seven and the SU winner has cashed in nine of the last 10 series battles.
In addition to starting the season on a 5-1 ATS tear, the Lakers are on pointspread runs of 23-10-1 on the road, 18-5-1 against the Western Conference, 5-1 against the Southwest Division and 6-2 when playing on back-to-back nights. New Orleans is also in the midst of several positive ATS runs, including 25-9-1 at home, 21-6 against the Pacific Division and 35-16-1 on Wednesdays.
The under is 7-3 in the Lakers’ last 10 against the Western Conference, 5-2 in their last seven against the Southwest Division, 2-1 on the road this year and 4-1 in the Hornets’ last five at home. However, the over is 10-4 in New Orleans’ last 14 games on Wednesday, 12-4 in the last 16 series meetings between these squads and 6-2 in the last series meetings in the Big Easy.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Houston (4-3, 2-5 ATS) at Phoenix (6-2, 5-3 ATS)
The Suns, who are off to a strong start under first-year coach Terry Porter, gun for their third straight victory when they host the Rockets at the US Airways Center.
Phoenix returned home from a four-game, five-day road trip on Sunday and outlasted the Grizzlies 107-102, but never threatened to cover as an 11½-point home chalk. It marked the first time all season that the SU winner failed to cover a pointspread in a Suns game. Phoenix has scored at least 103 points in all six of its victories, while averaging 89 points in its two defeats.
Houston started the season with three straight double-digit victories but has lost three of its last four. That includes Sunday’s embarrassing 111-82 loss at the Lakers as a seven-point road underdog, as the Rockets fell to 2-6 ATS since the end of last season (1-4 ATS in the last five). Houston has scored in triple digits just once in its last 16 games dating to the end of last year’s regular season.
These teams have alternated wins and losses in their last six meetings, with the home team going 4-2 SU during this stretch. However, going back to the 2005-06 season, the Suns are 9-2 ATS against the Rockets (4-1 ATS at home), and the favorite has cashed in seven of the last 10 series meetings. Lastly, going back several years, the visitor is 20-9 ATS in this rivalry.
The Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last seven against the Western Conference, but they had cashed in four straight versus the Pacific Division before Sunday’s loss to the Lakers. Meanwhile, the Suns are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a non-cover.
The over is 4-1 in Houston’s last five road games, 6-2 in Phoenix’s last six overall, 4-1 in Phoenix’s last five at home and 10-3 in Phoenix’s last 13 games on Wednesday. However, five of the last six Rockets-Suns battles in the desert have stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PHOENIX
