SPORTS ADVISORS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(22) Pittsburgh (16-5, 10-7-2 ATS) at (6) West Virginia (17-3, 7-12 ATS)
West Virginia goes after its sixth straight victory when it takes on slumping Panthers in a Big East contest at the WVU Coliseum.
After ripping off eight consecutive victories, Pittsburgh has gone 1-3 SU (2-2 ATS) in its last four starts, all in the Big East, including Sunday’s 70-61 road loss to South Florida as a 2½-point chalk. Over their last five games (including two roadies), the Panthers are getting outscored by a point per game (67.6-66.6) and shooting just 27 percent from three-point range.
West Virginia rallied past Louisville 77-74 Saturday, but fell short as a 6½-point home favorite for its fourth ATS setback in the last five games. For the year, the Mountaineers have averaged 73.7 ppg, while giving up 62.1, and at home, they’ve outscored foes by an average of 15 points (78.3-58.3). However, in their last five outings – including three at home – the margin has tightened to just over six ppg (69.8-63.4).
These teams met three times last season, with Pitt winning and cashing in both regular-season clashes, including a 79-67 road win catching one point. However, in the Big East tournament, West Virginia rolled 74-60 as a 4½-point underdog. Still, the Panthers are on ATS rolls of 13-6-1 overall in this rivalry and 8-3 at WVU Coliseum. The SU winner is 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings, and the chalk is 11-5-1 ATS in the last 16 contests.
The Mountaineers are on ATS slides of 4-9 overall, 2-5 at home, 1-4 in the Big East and 1-6 following a SU win. On the flip side, the Panthers are on pointspread tears of 8-2-1 overall, 4-1 on the highway, 6-2-1 in the Big East, 20-8-2 after a SU loss, 3-0-1 after a non-cover and 9-2-2 against winning teams.
The under for Pitt is on a 7-3 run against winning teams, and the under for West Virginia is on streaks of 5-2 overall, 5-1 in Wednesday starts, 4-1 in the Big East and 7-3 against winning teams. The total has also stayed low in seven of the last 10 overall meetings in this rivalry. However, the over is 7-3 in the last 10 contests between these two in West Virginia.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PITTSBURGH
Mississippi State (16-5, 9-7 ATS) at (18) Vanderbilt (16-4, 11-7 ATS)
The Commodores, who have played four of their last five on the highway, return home to Memorial Gym for an SEC battle with Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs went on a 12-1 SU tear (8-3 ATS in lined action) from late November through mid-January to get its season rolling. But since then, they’ve dropped two of three SU and ATS, with both losses coming on the highway in the SEC (at Alabama and Arkansas). On Saturday, Mississippi State bounced back with a 67-51 home win over LSU, covering as a hefty 12-point chalk. For the season, the team puts up 73.4 ppg while allowing 61.0, holding foes to just 36.5 percent from the floor, a figure that ranks third in the nation.
Vanderbilt had its 10-game winning streak (7-2 ATS) snapped Saturday at then-No. 1 Kentucky, falling 85-72 as an 8½-point underdog. The loss followed an 85-76 road upset of No. 14 Tennessee as a 6½-point pup. The Commodores are averaging 79.1 ppg on a stout 49.6 percent shooting from the floor (eighth in the nation), while allowing 67.8 ppg, and on their home floor this season, they’ve outscored opponents by an average of more than 20 ppg (85.2-64.8).
Mississippi State has cashed in the last three meetings in this rivalry (2-1 SU), including a 73-66 home win last year as a four-point favorite, and the Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 clashes. The host has covered in three of the last four contests.
The Commodores are on a 5-12-1 ATS nosedive following a SU loss, but they are otherwise on ATS upswings of 7-2 overall, 4-1 at home, 7-2 within the SEC, 6-0 on Wednesday and 7-2 against winning teams. The Bulldogs are on ATS runs of 9-4 on the highway 4-0 on Wednesday, 10-3 after a SU win and 11-5 against winning teams, but they also shoulder negative pointspread streaks of 2-5 overall, 1-4 in the SEC and 0-4 coming off a SU win.
Vandy is on “over” rolls of 5-1 overall, 4-0 in the SEC, 5-0 after a non-cover and 7-1 after a SU loss, while Mississippi State is on a 5-2 “over” stretch against winning teams and has seen eight of its last nine Wednesday games top the posted total. In addition, the total has gone high in five of the last seven meetings in this rivalry. However, the under is 8-2-1 in the Bulldogs’ last 11 roadies.
ATS ADVANTAGE: VANDERBILT and OVER
Texas A&M (15-6, 9-8 ATS) at Missouri (16-5, 9-6 ATS)
The streaking Tigers put their 33-game home winning streak on the line when they play host to the Aggies in a Big 12 matchup at Mizzou Arena.
Texas A&M rolled Texas Tech 85-70 giving nine points at home Saturday to stem a 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS hiccup, all within the Big 12. For the year, the Aggies have outscored opponents by an average of about eight ppg (72.6-64.8). But on the highway, where they’ve lost five in a row (including four true roadies), they’re averaging 69.0 ppg while allowing 75.4. Also, A&M is shooting just 25 percent from long distance in its last five outings, while allowing 42.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Missouri bounced back from an 84-65 beatdown at Kansas as a 12-point pup Jan. 25 to rip Oklahoma State 95-80 Saturday, easily cashing as a 7½-point home favorite. The Tigers sport one of the top offenses in the nation, averaging 81.5 ppg (13th) while giving up just 64.9 ppg, and they’ve been even more prolific on their home floor, piling up 87.9 ppg and allowing 61 en route to a 14-0 SU mark (7-2 ATS in lined action). Going back to March 2008, the Tigers have won 33 in a row at Mizzou Arena, going 12-0 SU and 9-3 ATS when hosting Big 12 rivals
Texas A&M is on a 5-0 SU and 8-0 ATS tear in this rivalry, with Missouri last covering in a 74-50 rout in 2002 as an 18½-point home chalk. Last March, A&M won 96-86 getting two points at home, and it has prevailed in two of its last three trips to Missouri (3-0 ATS), including a 77-69 win as a 1½-point road favorite two seasons ago. The chalk is also 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
The Tigers are on a bundle of positive ATS streaks, including 5-2 overall, 22-6 at home, 7-2 in the Big 12, 5-1 on Wednesday, 11-5 after a SU win and 15-3 at home versus teams with a losing road record. The Aggies, meanwhile, are on a 35-17 ATS run on the road against teams with a winning home mark, but they are also in ATS ruts of 1-7 after a SU win and 1-4 on the highway.
The under is 7-2 in Mizzou’s last nine Big 12 outings and 5-1 in A&M’s last six following a pointspread victory. Other than that, though, the Tigers are on “over” surges of 5-2 at home, 9-2 on Wednesday and 4-1 against winning teams, and the over has hit in the Aggies’ last seven Wednesday outings. Finally, the total has gone high in four of the past five meetings in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MISSOURI and OVER
NBA
Oklahoma City (27-21, 29-19 ATS) at New Orleans (26-22, 23-25 ATS)
The Thunder begin a three-game road trip when they make the short trek to New Orleans Arena looking to end a 10-game series losing streak to the Hornets.
Oklahoma City is coming off Tuesday’s 106-99 win over Atlanta as a 1½-point home favorite. The Thunder have followed up a three-game losing skid with three straight wins, and they’ve won six of their last 10 road games, with the four losses coming by a total of 10 points. In fact, the Thunder’s last five road outings were decided by a total of nine points.
New Orleans took the court Monday for the first time since it was announced that All-Star point guard Chris Paul will be sidelined for up to two months with a knee injury, and the Hornets fell 109-100 to the Suns as a one-point home favorite. Since a six-game winning streak from Dec. 30-Jan. 10, New Orleans has been very inconsistent, going 7-6 SU and 6-7 ATS, and it has dropped three of its last four home games (0-4 ATS).
The Hornets went to Oklahoma City on Jan. 6 and scored a 97-92 upset win as a 4½-point road underdog, its 10th consecutive win over the Thunder (6-4 ATS). During this 10-game series stretch, New Orleans is 6-0 SU (3-3 ATS) in the Big Easy, with the last three being double-digit routs by margins of 18, 12 and 31 points. Most recently, the Hornets have covered in five of the last seven meetings, and the favorite is 13-6 ATS in the last 19.
The underdog has cashed in 10 of the Hornets’ last 11 games (7-4 SU), and the pup 12-5 ATS in Oklahoma City’s last 17 contests.
Oklahoma City has failed to cover in four straight Wednesday outings, but it is otherwise on ATS streaks of 9-2 on the road (5-1 last six), 7-0 against winning teams and 4-0 when playing on back-to-back nights. New Orleans has failed to cover in four straight home games and six of eight when going on one day of rest, but the Hornets are on positive pointspread upticks of 5-1 against the Northwest Division, 4-1 on Wednesday and 14-4 versus opponents with a winning record.
The under is on runs of 6-3 for the Thunder overall, 11-5 for the Thunder against the Western Conference, 6-2 for the Thunder versus the Southwest Division, 37-18 for New Orleans at home, 10-2 for New Orleans against the Northwest Division and 6-1 for New Orleans versus winning teams. Conversely, Oklahoma City has topped the total in five straight games against winning teams and 18 of 26 when playing on back-to-back nights, and the Hornets have gone over the number in five of six overall.
Finally, the over is on a 5-2 roll in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NEW ORLEANS and OVER
Portland (29-21, 27-22-1 ATS) at Utah (29-18, 28-17-2 ATS)
The streaking Jazz go after their seventh straight victory when they welcome the Trail Blazers to EnergySolutions Arena for a Northwest Division clash.
Portland has rebounded from a three-game losing skid with consecutive victories over the Mavericks (114-112 in overtime as an 8½-point underdog) and Bobcats (98-79 as a two-point home chalk). The Blazers continue to play without All-Star point guard Brandon Roy (hamstring injury), who has missed the last seven games in a row and nine of the last 10, and he will be sidelined again tonight.
Portland has alternated SU wins and losses in its last six road games, but it has cashed in its last five on the highway and 10 of the last 14 as a visitor.
Utah ran its winning streak to six in a row with Monday’s 104-92 victory over the Mavericks, cashing as a four-point favorite as it outscored Dallas 27-16 in the fourth quarter. The Jazz have also won 11 of their last 13 games, going 10-1-2 ATS. During this stretch, they’re 8-0 at home (6-1-1 ATS). Utah has been getting the job done on both ends of the floor, topping 100 points in eight straight games and 10 of the last 11 (109.6 ppg average) while holding 12 of its last 14 opponents to 98 points or less (96 ppg average).
Utah has won both meetings with the Blazers this season, winning 108-92 as a five-point home favorite back on Nov. 28 then going to Portland a week ago tonight and earning a 106-95 decision as a 2½-point underdog. Prior to last week’s result, the home team had won eight in a row SU and ATS in this rivalry, with the Jazz winning and covering the last four meetings in Salt Lake City. Also, the favorite has cashed in each of the last eight series clashes, and the SU winner has covered the spread in each of the last 13 meetings.
In addition to cashing in five straight road games, the Blazers are on ATS runs of 6-2 overall, 9-3 in divisional games, 5-2 when playing after one day of rest, 10-3 against opponents with a winning record and 4-1 after a spread-cover. Utah’s 10-1-2 overall and 6-1-1 home ATS streaks are bolstered by additional pointspread upticks of 7-1-1 against the Western Conference, 15-5-2 against winning teams, 6-1 after one day of rest and 3-1-2 after a double-digit win. However, the Jazz are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 12 games against Northwest Division rivals.
Portland carries “over” trends of 20-8 overall, 4-0 on the road, 10-1 against Western Conference teams, 5-1 against Northwest Division foes, 5-1 on Wednesday and 4-0 versus winning teams. Likewise, Utah is on “over” runs of 11-2 against division rivals, 4-0 on Wednesday, 4-0 versus winning teams and 4-1 when playing on one day of rest. Finally, the last four Jazz-Blazers battles have topped the total, as have three of the last four meetings in Salt Lake.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UTAH and OVER
Phoenix (29-21, 26-24 ATS) at Denver (33-15, 22-24-2 ATS)
The Suns continue a four-game road trip when they travel to the Mile High City, looking to defeat the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center for the first time in exactly three years.
Phoenix rallied in the fourth quarter on Friday to defeat Dallas 112-106 as a two-point home favorite, then set out on the road and scored back-to-back upset wins over Houston on Sunday (115-111 in overtime as a 3½-point ‘dog) and New Orleans on Monday (109-100 as a one-point pup). It’s the Suns’ first three-game winning streak since they took four in a row from Nov. 22-29. Also, their consecutive road victories come on the heels of a five-game road losing skid (1-4 ATS). Phoenix hasn’t won three straight on the highway since the second week of the season.
The SU winner is 23-3 ATS in the Suns’ last 26 games, including 9-1 ATS on the road.
Denver rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit Monday to knock off Sacramento 112-109 in overtime, falling short as an 11-point home favorite. Playing without injured All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony for the fifth straight game, the Nuggets outscored the Kings 62-45 in the second half and overtime after trailing 64-50 at halftime. Anthony is questionable to return tonight.
The Nuggets are riding a nine-game home winning streak, but they’re just 4-6-1 ATS in their last 11 at the Pepsi Center and 9-16-2 ATS in their last 27 overall.
The host has won 10 in a row in this series (8-2 ATS), including Denver’s 105-99 victory in the first meeting this year back on Dec. 12. However, Phoenix covered as a nine-point underdog, and the visitor has now cashed as an underdog in the last two battles after the home favorite had won and covered the previous seven meetings. Also, prior to the last two games, the SU winner had been on an 8-0 ATS run in this series and the host had cashed in 10 straight meetings.
The last time Phoenix won in Denver was Feb. 5, 2007, a 113-108 triumph as an 8½-point road favorite. It is 1-5 ATS in its last six trips to the Pepsi Center.
The Suns have covered in seven of their last 10 against winning teams, while Denver is on ATS runs of 5-1 on Wednesday, 5-0 after a non-cover and 5-2-1 against winning teams. However, the Nuggets also carry negative pointspread trends of 5-11 when playing after one day of rest, 4-11-2 against the Western Conference and 1-5-1 versus Pacific Division squads.
The high-scoring Suns are on “over” surges of 4-1 overall, 4-1 on the road, 12-3 against the Western Conference, 4-1-1 versus Northwest Division opponents, 20-7 on Wednesday and 7-3 after a SU victory. Also, Denver has topped the total in five of its last six at home and eight of its last nine on Wednesday.
Finally, the over is 7-3 in the last 10 series meetings between these teams and 4-1 in the last five battles at the Pepsi Center. In fact, the winning team has scored at least 102 points in each of the last 20 meetings, including tallying 118 or more in eight of the last 10.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DENVER and OVER
