<TABLE style="TABLE-LAYOUT: fixed" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="85%" height="100%">THE SPORTS ADVISORS
Cleveland (18-3, 17-4 ATS) at Philadelphia (9-12, 8-13 ATS)
The streaking Cavaliers go for their 10th consecutive double-digit win when they pay a visit to the Wachovia Center for a battle with the 76ers, who are off to a disappointing start to their season.
Cleveland ran its winning streak to nine in a row with Tuesday’s 114-94 rout of the Raptors as a 12½-point favorite and is now off to the best start in franchise history. Not only have the Cavaliers won nine in a row, but they’ve cashed in all nine contests, each of which has come by a dozen points or more – an NBA record – with the last four being blowouts of 20 or more. The average margin of victory during the Cleveland’s winning streak is 19.6 points per game, and 15 of the team’s 18 wins have been by double digits.
Despite the presence of LeBron James, who is second in the league in scoring at nearly 27 ppg, Cleveland has been doing its damage on the defensive end, holding 17 of 20 opponents to less than 100 points and giving up an average of just 81.6 ppg in its last five.
While the Cavaliers have been rolling all season, Philadelphia has failed to live up to preseason expectations and comes into this game in a 2-5 SU and ATS funk, including four consecutive SU and ATS losses at home. The Sixers have been off since Saturday, when they fell 95-84 to New Jersey as a 2½-point home chalk. Philadelphia has scored 96 points or fewer in 14 of 21 games this year, including being held under 90 points nine times.
Cleveland has won six of the last eight meetings against the 76ers, including three straight wins at the Wachovia Center. However, Philadelphia has cashed in three of the last four head-to-head battles. Finally, in the last six games in this rivalry, the visitor is 5-1 ATS and the underdog 6-0 ATS, including four outright upsets.
The Cavs have won and covered in six of their last seven road games, and they’re 7-2 ATS on the highway this season. Additionally, they’re on ATS streaks of 24-5 overall, 22-6 against the Eastern Conference, 17-5 versus the Atlantic Division, 8-0 against teams with a losing record, 4-1 on Wednesdays and 5-1 when playing on back-to-back nights.
In addition to its ATS ruts of 2-5 overall and 0-4 at home, Philadelphia is 1-7 ATS in its last eight on Wednesdays and 7-16 ATS in its last 23 against the Eastern Conference.
The over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings between these teams, including 5-1 in the last six clashes at the Wachovia Center. However, Cleveland currently is on under streaks of 6-1 overall, 4-1 on the road, 11-5 against the Atlantic Division, 4-1 against the Eastern Conference, 4-0 when playing on no rest and 6-2 on Wednesdays. Also, the under for the Sixers is on stretches of 5-2-2 overall, 22-8-1 at home, 10-2-2 versus the East and 8-3-1 against the Central Division.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CLEVELAND
Atlanta (12-8, 10-9-1 ATS) at San Antonio (12-8, 11-9 ATS)
The Hawks continue their four-game road trip and conclude three three-city swing through Texas when they invade the AT&T Center looking to cool off the Spurs.
Atlanta began its trip with Saturday’s 100-98 loss to Dallas as a 6 ½-point favorite, then went to Houston on Tuesday and got outscored by 10 points in the fourth quarter in losing 92-84 as a five-point underdog. Atlanta is still 4-2 ATS in its last six games, including 3-1 ATS on the road. Prior to this recent ATS surge, Atlanta and failed to cover in its previous seven contests.
San Antonio trekked to Dallas on Tuesday and outlasted the Mavericks 133-126 in double overtime, covering as a two-point road favorite. The Spurs are playing solid basketball, winning three in a row, seven out of nine and 10 of their last 13, with the SU winner covering the spread in each of those 13 games. In fact, the SU winner is 20-1 ATS in San Antonio games this year. Gregg Popovich’s squad had held 14 of its 15 opponents under triple digits prior to last night, giving up less than 90 points nine times during this stretch.
The Spurs have swept the two-game season series from Atlanta the last two years, going 2-1-1 ATS. Last year, San Antonio won 95-83 as a six-point road favorite and 89-74 as a 12-point home chalk. The Spurs are 11-4-1 ATS in the last 15 clashes with the Hawks, all as a favorite, including 7-0-1 ATS in the last eight meetings at the AT&T Center.
The Hawks are on positive pointspread runs of 4-2-1 versus the Western Conference, 4-1 against the Southwest Division and 4-2 versus winning teams. Meanwhile, in addition to its current 10-3 ATS run overall, San Antonio is on pointspread streaks of 4-1 at home and 8-2 against the Southeast Division, but the Spurs have failed to cash in four of their last five on Wednesdays and five of their last six when playing on back-to-back nights.
For the Spurs, the under is on runs of 21-8 overall, 12-3 at home, 5-0 against the Eastern Conference, 11-5 on Wednesdays and 14-3 after an ATS triumph. Also, the under is 3-0 in Atlanta’s last three overall and 6-1 in its last seven against winning teams. Lastly, the under is 5-1 in the last six Spurs-Hawks battles.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO and UNDER
Phoenix (13-9, 9-13 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (17-3, 11-9 ATS)
Nearly three weeks after smoking the Suns in Phoenix, Kobe Bryant and the smoldering Lakers try to do it again when they host Shaquille O’Neal and the Suns at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles ventured up the state Tuesday night and suffered a stunning 113-101 loss to the Kings as a 12½-point road favorite, ending a three-game winning streak. The Lakers, who are just 5-8 ATS in their last 13 games and 2-5 ATS in the last seven, had scored at least 104 points in 11 straight games prior to last night. Tonight, they return home, where they’re 10-1 on the season and outscoring visitors by an average of 13 ppg.
Phoenix snapped a four-game SU losing skid with Saturday’s 106-104 home win over Utah, then walloped Milwaukee 125-110 Tuesday, cashing as a 6½-point home chalk. The Suns, who have allowed 102 points or more in seven straight games and nine of their last 11, are still mired in a 4-11 ATS rut, including 1-5 ATS on the road.
The Lakers cruised to a 105-92 win at Phoenix on Nov. 20, covering easily as a 4½-point road favorite. Los Angeles has won two in a row and four of the last five against the Suns, and they’re 5-1 ATS in the last six clashes overall. However, the road team has covered in six of the last seven meetings, and Phoenix is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 trips to the Staples Center.
In addition to their ATS woes of 4-11 overall and 1-5 on the road, the Suns have negative pointspread numbers of 2-9 against the Western Conference, 5-11-2 on Wednesdays and 0-4 against winning teams. Meanwhile, the Lakers are just 3-5 ATS in their last eight home games, but otherwise are on ATS hot streaks of 35-17 in divisional games, 20-8-1 versus the Western Conference, 4-0 on Wednesdays and 4-0 when playing on back-to-back nights.
The over is 5-2 in the last seven Suns-Lakers tussles overall and 5-2 in the last seven clashes in L.A. Also, the over is on stretches of 7-2 for the Lakers overall, 8-2 for the Lakers at home, 7-0 for Phoenix overall, 4-1 for Phoenix on the road, 4-1 for Phoenix on Wednesday and 6-0 for Phoenix when playing on consecutive nights.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. LAKERS and OVER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Boise State (6-1, 3-2 ATS) at BYU (8-0, 4-3 ATS)
BYU puts its unbeaten season and 51-game home winning streak on the line tonight when it hosts Boise State at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
The Cougars edged instate rival Utah State 68-63 on Saturday in Salt Lake City, but came up just short as a six-point favorite. It marked the first time this season that BYU had won a game by fewer than 12 points, as the Cougars are averaging 79.4 points per game (51.2 percent shooting) and allowing just 58.1 ppg (39 percent) against Division I foes.
BYU hasn’t been at home since Nov. 22, when it beat Cal Poly 76-64 as a 23-point favorite, its 51st consecutive victory at the Marriott Center, which is the longest such streak in the nation.
Boise State ran its winning streak to five in a row with Saturday’s 85-76 victory over Colorado State as a two-point home favorite. It was the fifth time in seven games that the Broncos had put up at least 85 points, but they’ve struggled on the defensive end against Division I competition, allowing 74.5 ppg on 42 percent shooting.
This is the sixth straight December that these non-conference foes have squared off against one another, with the home team winning each of the last four meetings (3-1 ATS). Last year, Boise State prevailed 73-70 as a 4½-point home underdog, its third straight spread-cover against the Cougars.
The Broncos are on positive ATS runs of 10-4 on the road and 7-3 after a spread-cover, while BYU is in pointspread funks of 1-5 at home, 1-6 against the WAC and 4-10 in non-conference action. However, the Cougars are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games after a non-cover.
For Boise State, the over is on stretches of 28-11-1 overall in lined games, 14-5 on the road, 10-4-1 in non-conference play, 20-9-1 after a victory and 4-1 on Wednesdays. The over is also 20-9-2 in BYU’s last 31 Wednesday outings, but otherwise the Cougars are on under stretches of 4-1 overall (all non-conference games) and 4-1 against the WAC.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOISE STATE
(4) Gonzaga (6-0, 4-1 ATS) at Washington State (6-2, 2-4 ATS)
Gonzaga takes its perfect record across the state of Washington to Pullman, where the Bulldogs will battle Washington State in an annual non-conference meeting.
Gonzaga took part in the Hall of Fame Classic in Indianapolis on Sunday and had little trouble with Indiana, winning 70-54 but coming up way short as a 22-point favorite, which halted a 4-0 ATS start to the season. Prior to Saturday, the Bulldogs had scored between 80-83 points in its first five games, and they’re allowing just 60.8 ppg on the season (34.7 percent shooting).
Washington State started the season with five straight wins, but has dropped two of its last three, including Saturday’s 58-53 setback to Baylor as a 3½-point home favorite. The 58 points scored by Baylor were the most given up by the defensive-minded Cougars, who allow just 45.2 ppg (31.7 percent shooting) against Division I opponents.
Gonzaga had won seven straight meetings in this rivalry from 1998-2005, but the Cougars have taken the last two, both as an underdog. Washington State won 77-67 as a two-point pup in 2006 and prevailed 51-45 last year as a 3½-point ‘dog. The Cougars are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings, and they were underdogs in all 10. Lastly, the host has gotten the money in seven of the last eight series clashes, with Gonzaga failing to cover in each of its last four trips to Pullman.
The Bulldogs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven on the road and 5-11 ATS in their last 16 against teams with a winning record, but their 4-1 ATS mark this season has come against non-conference competition. Meanwhile, Washington State is 1-5 ATS in its last six overall (all non-conference), but 5-2 ATS in its last seven versus West Coast Conference opponents.
The under is on runs of 5-0 for Gonzaga overall in lined games, 4-0 for the Cougars overall, 6-1 for the Cougars against the West Coast Conference, 35-13-1 for the Cougars in non-conference play and 6-1 for the Cougars on Wednesdays. Also, the under is 3-1 in the last four head-to-head meetings. However, the Zags have topped the total in five of their last six against the Pac-10.
ATS ADVANTAGE: WASHINGTON STATE and UNDER
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Cleveland (18-3, 17-4 ATS) at Philadelphia (9-12, 8-13 ATS)
The streaking Cavaliers go for their 10th consecutive double-digit win when they pay a visit to the Wachovia Center for a battle with the 76ers, who are off to a disappointing start to their season.
Cleveland ran its winning streak to nine in a row with Tuesday’s 114-94 rout of the Raptors as a 12½-point favorite and is now off to the best start in franchise history. Not only have the Cavaliers won nine in a row, but they’ve cashed in all nine contests, each of which has come by a dozen points or more – an NBA record – with the last four being blowouts of 20 or more. The average margin of victory during the Cleveland’s winning streak is 19.6 points per game, and 15 of the team’s 18 wins have been by double digits.
Despite the presence of LeBron James, who is second in the league in scoring at nearly 27 ppg, Cleveland has been doing its damage on the defensive end, holding 17 of 20 opponents to less than 100 points and giving up an average of just 81.6 ppg in its last five.
While the Cavaliers have been rolling all season, Philadelphia has failed to live up to preseason expectations and comes into this game in a 2-5 SU and ATS funk, including four consecutive SU and ATS losses at home. The Sixers have been off since Saturday, when they fell 95-84 to New Jersey as a 2½-point home chalk. Philadelphia has scored 96 points or fewer in 14 of 21 games this year, including being held under 90 points nine times.
Cleveland has won six of the last eight meetings against the 76ers, including three straight wins at the Wachovia Center. However, Philadelphia has cashed in three of the last four head-to-head battles. Finally, in the last six games in this rivalry, the visitor is 5-1 ATS and the underdog 6-0 ATS, including four outright upsets.
The Cavs have won and covered in six of their last seven road games, and they’re 7-2 ATS on the highway this season. Additionally, they’re on ATS streaks of 24-5 overall, 22-6 against the Eastern Conference, 17-5 versus the Atlantic Division, 8-0 against teams with a losing record, 4-1 on Wednesdays and 5-1 when playing on back-to-back nights.
In addition to its ATS ruts of 2-5 overall and 0-4 at home, Philadelphia is 1-7 ATS in its last eight on Wednesdays and 7-16 ATS in its last 23 against the Eastern Conference.
The over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings between these teams, including 5-1 in the last six clashes at the Wachovia Center. However, Cleveland currently is on under streaks of 6-1 overall, 4-1 on the road, 11-5 against the Atlantic Division, 4-1 against the Eastern Conference, 4-0 when playing on no rest and 6-2 on Wednesdays. Also, the under for the Sixers is on stretches of 5-2-2 overall, 22-8-1 at home, 10-2-2 versus the East and 8-3-1 against the Central Division.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CLEVELAND
Atlanta (12-8, 10-9-1 ATS) at San Antonio (12-8, 11-9 ATS)
The Hawks continue their four-game road trip and conclude three three-city swing through Texas when they invade the AT&T Center looking to cool off the Spurs.
Atlanta began its trip with Saturday’s 100-98 loss to Dallas as a 6 ½-point favorite, then went to Houston on Tuesday and got outscored by 10 points in the fourth quarter in losing 92-84 as a five-point underdog. Atlanta is still 4-2 ATS in its last six games, including 3-1 ATS on the road. Prior to this recent ATS surge, Atlanta and failed to cover in its previous seven contests.
San Antonio trekked to Dallas on Tuesday and outlasted the Mavericks 133-126 in double overtime, covering as a two-point road favorite. The Spurs are playing solid basketball, winning three in a row, seven out of nine and 10 of their last 13, with the SU winner covering the spread in each of those 13 games. In fact, the SU winner is 20-1 ATS in San Antonio games this year. Gregg Popovich’s squad had held 14 of its 15 opponents under triple digits prior to last night, giving up less than 90 points nine times during this stretch.
The Spurs have swept the two-game season series from Atlanta the last two years, going 2-1-1 ATS. Last year, San Antonio won 95-83 as a six-point road favorite and 89-74 as a 12-point home chalk. The Spurs are 11-4-1 ATS in the last 15 clashes with the Hawks, all as a favorite, including 7-0-1 ATS in the last eight meetings at the AT&T Center.
The Hawks are on positive pointspread runs of 4-2-1 versus the Western Conference, 4-1 against the Southwest Division and 4-2 versus winning teams. Meanwhile, in addition to its current 10-3 ATS run overall, San Antonio is on pointspread streaks of 4-1 at home and 8-2 against the Southeast Division, but the Spurs have failed to cash in four of their last five on Wednesdays and five of their last six when playing on back-to-back nights.
For the Spurs, the under is on runs of 21-8 overall, 12-3 at home, 5-0 against the Eastern Conference, 11-5 on Wednesdays and 14-3 after an ATS triumph. Also, the under is 3-0 in Atlanta’s last three overall and 6-1 in its last seven against winning teams. Lastly, the under is 5-1 in the last six Spurs-Hawks battles.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO and UNDER
Phoenix (13-9, 9-13 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (17-3, 11-9 ATS)
Nearly three weeks after smoking the Suns in Phoenix, Kobe Bryant and the smoldering Lakers try to do it again when they host Shaquille O’Neal and the Suns at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles ventured up the state Tuesday night and suffered a stunning 113-101 loss to the Kings as a 12½-point road favorite, ending a three-game winning streak. The Lakers, who are just 5-8 ATS in their last 13 games and 2-5 ATS in the last seven, had scored at least 104 points in 11 straight games prior to last night. Tonight, they return home, where they’re 10-1 on the season and outscoring visitors by an average of 13 ppg.
Phoenix snapped a four-game SU losing skid with Saturday’s 106-104 home win over Utah, then walloped Milwaukee 125-110 Tuesday, cashing as a 6½-point home chalk. The Suns, who have allowed 102 points or more in seven straight games and nine of their last 11, are still mired in a 4-11 ATS rut, including 1-5 ATS on the road.
The Lakers cruised to a 105-92 win at Phoenix on Nov. 20, covering easily as a 4½-point road favorite. Los Angeles has won two in a row and four of the last five against the Suns, and they’re 5-1 ATS in the last six clashes overall. However, the road team has covered in six of the last seven meetings, and Phoenix is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 trips to the Staples Center.
In addition to their ATS woes of 4-11 overall and 1-5 on the road, the Suns have negative pointspread numbers of 2-9 against the Western Conference, 5-11-2 on Wednesdays and 0-4 against winning teams. Meanwhile, the Lakers are just 3-5 ATS in their last eight home games, but otherwise are on ATS hot streaks of 35-17 in divisional games, 20-8-1 versus the Western Conference, 4-0 on Wednesdays and 4-0 when playing on back-to-back nights.
The over is 5-2 in the last seven Suns-Lakers tussles overall and 5-2 in the last seven clashes in L.A. Also, the over is on stretches of 7-2 for the Lakers overall, 8-2 for the Lakers at home, 7-0 for Phoenix overall, 4-1 for Phoenix on the road, 4-1 for Phoenix on Wednesday and 6-0 for Phoenix when playing on consecutive nights.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. LAKERS and OVER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Boise State (6-1, 3-2 ATS) at BYU (8-0, 4-3 ATS)
BYU puts its unbeaten season and 51-game home winning streak on the line tonight when it hosts Boise State at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
The Cougars edged instate rival Utah State 68-63 on Saturday in Salt Lake City, but came up just short as a six-point favorite. It marked the first time this season that BYU had won a game by fewer than 12 points, as the Cougars are averaging 79.4 points per game (51.2 percent shooting) and allowing just 58.1 ppg (39 percent) against Division I foes.
BYU hasn’t been at home since Nov. 22, when it beat Cal Poly 76-64 as a 23-point favorite, its 51st consecutive victory at the Marriott Center, which is the longest such streak in the nation.
Boise State ran its winning streak to five in a row with Saturday’s 85-76 victory over Colorado State as a two-point home favorite. It was the fifth time in seven games that the Broncos had put up at least 85 points, but they’ve struggled on the defensive end against Division I competition, allowing 74.5 ppg on 42 percent shooting.
This is the sixth straight December that these non-conference foes have squared off against one another, with the home team winning each of the last four meetings (3-1 ATS). Last year, Boise State prevailed 73-70 as a 4½-point home underdog, its third straight spread-cover against the Cougars.
The Broncos are on positive ATS runs of 10-4 on the road and 7-3 after a spread-cover, while BYU is in pointspread funks of 1-5 at home, 1-6 against the WAC and 4-10 in non-conference action. However, the Cougars are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games after a non-cover.
For Boise State, the over is on stretches of 28-11-1 overall in lined games, 14-5 on the road, 10-4-1 in non-conference play, 20-9-1 after a victory and 4-1 on Wednesdays. The over is also 20-9-2 in BYU’s last 31 Wednesday outings, but otherwise the Cougars are on under stretches of 4-1 overall (all non-conference games) and 4-1 against the WAC.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOISE STATE
(4) Gonzaga (6-0, 4-1 ATS) at Washington State (6-2, 2-4 ATS)
Gonzaga takes its perfect record across the state of Washington to Pullman, where the Bulldogs will battle Washington State in an annual non-conference meeting.
Gonzaga took part in the Hall of Fame Classic in Indianapolis on Sunday and had little trouble with Indiana, winning 70-54 but coming up way short as a 22-point favorite, which halted a 4-0 ATS start to the season. Prior to Saturday, the Bulldogs had scored between 80-83 points in its first five games, and they’re allowing just 60.8 ppg on the season (34.7 percent shooting).
Washington State started the season with five straight wins, but has dropped two of its last three, including Saturday’s 58-53 setback to Baylor as a 3½-point home favorite. The 58 points scored by Baylor were the most given up by the defensive-minded Cougars, who allow just 45.2 ppg (31.7 percent shooting) against Division I opponents.
Gonzaga had won seven straight meetings in this rivalry from 1998-2005, but the Cougars have taken the last two, both as an underdog. Washington State won 77-67 as a two-point pup in 2006 and prevailed 51-45 last year as a 3½-point ‘dog. The Cougars are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings, and they were underdogs in all 10. Lastly, the host has gotten the money in seven of the last eight series clashes, with Gonzaga failing to cover in each of its last four trips to Pullman.
The Bulldogs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven on the road and 5-11 ATS in their last 16 against teams with a winning record, but their 4-1 ATS mark this season has come against non-conference competition. Meanwhile, Washington State is 1-5 ATS in its last six overall (all non-conference), but 5-2 ATS in its last seven versus West Coast Conference opponents.
The under is on runs of 5-0 for Gonzaga overall in lined games, 4-0 for the Cougars overall, 6-1 for the Cougars against the West Coast Conference, 35-13-1 for the Cougars in non-conference play and 6-1 for the Cougars on Wednesdays. Also, the under is 3-1 in the last four head-to-head meetings. However, the Zags have topped the total in five of their last six against the Pac-10.
ATS ADVANTAGE: WASHINGTON STATE and UNDER
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