Mr. Vegas
NBA Bonus Play for Sunday, Jan 25, 2015: 7:05 PM ET
(813) DETROIT PISTONS VS (814) TORONTO RAPTORS
Take: (813) DETROIT PISTONS
Up until about mid-December this Pistons team couldn't buy a win. As December came to a close this club had the third worst record in the NBA and one of the least efficient offenses in the league. That's when things changed though by waiving forward Josh Smith. Smith still had nearly three years left on a hefty contract at the time too. Right after the move the Pistons won seven straight games, more than the entire previous part of the season. And now they are 12-3 since S/U and 11-4 ATS. It's almost been the opposite for this Toronto club. they started the season great, going 13-2 S/U their first 15 games. Lately though the Raptors have fallen on hard times, winning just four of their last 12 games and going 4-11-1 ATS their last 16 games. Today we get some points here with Detroit and for two teams currently headed in opposite directions - that is too much to pass on. Take Detroit.
NBA Bonus Play for Sunday, Jan 25, 2015: 7:05 PM ET
(813) DETROIT PISTONS VS (814) TORONTO RAPTORS
Take: (813) DETROIT PISTONS
Up until about mid-December this Pistons team couldn't buy a win. As December came to a close this club had the third worst record in the NBA and one of the least efficient offenses in the league. That's when things changed though by waiving forward Josh Smith. Smith still had nearly three years left on a hefty contract at the time too. Right after the move the Pistons won seven straight games, more than the entire previous part of the season. And now they are 12-3 since S/U and 11-4 ATS. It's almost been the opposite for this Toronto club. they started the season great, going 13-2 S/U their first 15 games. Lately though the Raptors have fallen on hard times, winning just four of their last 12 games and going 4-11-1 ATS their last 16 games. Today we get some points here with Detroit and for two teams currently headed in opposite directions - that is too much to pass on. Take Detroit.
Dave Cokin
Bonus Play Sunday 2:00PM
(831) DUKE at (832) ST. JOHN’S
Take: (831) DUKE -6
My first impulse when I saw this line is too high. Upon further examination, I think it might not be high enough.
Duke is beatable, but it looks to me like the teams that are going to have the best chance to kayo the Blue Devils are teams that can wear them down physically. While Duke has great talent, they’re not the deepest team around. So getting them involved in a game that’s rough and tumble and results in lots of fouls looks like a potential recipe for success.
Unfortunately for St. John’s, they’re not that type of team. In fact, the Red Storm are a team that rather noticeably lacks quality depth. This ism for the most past, a six-man rotation and when they have to go further down the bench that that for meaningful minutes, it’s not a good sign for Steve Lavin’s team.
The venue is a plus for St. John’s geographically, but not necessarily in terms of actual support. This is almost a second home for the Blue Devils and I expect that with the possibility of history taking place today for Mike Krzyzewski, look for the Duke spotters to be out in force.
The Blue Devils appear to have emerged from their brief funk, but St. John’s has been struggling some lately. It could well be that the previously mentioned lack of depth on the Johnnies roster is taking its toll. As for the matchup, St. John’s is not much from the outside and I don’t see them having a great day against all that Duke interior size. I expect Jahlil Okafor to get loads of touches today and if he gets Chris Obepka into foul trouble, the Johnnies are going to be awfully small.
Duke will be a popular play today. But square or not, I like the way they line up against St. John’s and I don’t consider the Blue Devils to be a true road team today. I’m laying the points with Duke.
Bonus Play Sunday 2:00PM
(831) DUKE at (832) ST. JOHN’S
Take: (831) DUKE -6
My first impulse when I saw this line is too high. Upon further examination, I think it might not be high enough.
Duke is beatable, but it looks to me like the teams that are going to have the best chance to kayo the Blue Devils are teams that can wear them down physically. While Duke has great talent, they’re not the deepest team around. So getting them involved in a game that’s rough and tumble and results in lots of fouls looks like a potential recipe for success.
Unfortunately for St. John’s, they’re not that type of team. In fact, the Red Storm are a team that rather noticeably lacks quality depth. This ism for the most past, a six-man rotation and when they have to go further down the bench that that for meaningful minutes, it’s not a good sign for Steve Lavin’s team.
The venue is a plus for St. John’s geographically, but not necessarily in terms of actual support. This is almost a second home for the Blue Devils and I expect that with the possibility of history taking place today for Mike Krzyzewski, look for the Duke spotters to be out in force.
The Blue Devils appear to have emerged from their brief funk, but St. John’s has been struggling some lately. It could well be that the previously mentioned lack of depth on the Johnnies roster is taking its toll. As for the matchup, St. John’s is not much from the outside and I don’t see them having a great day against all that Duke interior size. I expect Jahlil Okafor to get loads of touches today and if he gets Chris Obepka into foul trouble, the Johnnies are going to be awfully small.
Duke will be a popular play today. But square or not, I like the way they line up against St. John’s and I don’t consider the Blue Devils to be a true road team today. I’m laying the points with Duke.
Jim Feist
NBA Comp Pick for Sunday, January 25, 2015: 6:05 PM ET
(809) MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES VS (810) ATLANTA HAWKS
Take: (810) ATLANTA HAWKS
Reason: Your Bonus Play for Sunday, January 25th is in the NBA schedule contest between the Minnesota T'Wolves and Altanta Hawks. Can there be enough accolades sent the way of Atlanta this year? They are just amazing. A team that limped into the playoffs last year with a losing record now at 36-8, 2nd best record in the entire NBA. Actually they have the most wins in the NBA, but are a few percentage points behind Golden State. What's most amazing is how they just keep covering spreads too. This Hawks team has covered 14 straight games. Could be 15 straight depending on the number you got against Milwaukee. But even further back we see them at 25-3-1 the last 29 games. That is just unheard of in professional sports these days. Mainly because the oddsmaker is quick to adjust when you have a hot team like Atlanta. There defense has been great, holding their last eight opponents to 93 or fewer points. The offense has been excellent, mainly due to a healthy Al Horford this season, something they lacked most of last year. But it's more than just Horford. It's also the play of point guard Jeff Teague who is having a great season. The team is also getting great production out of the secondary players like Millsap and Korver. All these have come together to create the perfect storm that the Atlanta Hawsk are this season. The main problem I have these days with the Hawks is how much wood the oddsmaker is making us lay. They just keep pumping it up and up. I'd make this play much bigger if it weren't for the huge line. Still, you have to stick with a team this hot and this good, even is as a smaller play. Your Bonus Play is on the Hawks.
NBA Comp Pick for Sunday, January 25, 2015: 6:05 PM ET
(809) MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES VS (810) ATLANTA HAWKS
Take: (810) ATLANTA HAWKS
Reason: Your Bonus Play for Sunday, January 25th is in the NBA schedule contest between the Minnesota T'Wolves and Altanta Hawks. Can there be enough accolades sent the way of Atlanta this year? They are just amazing. A team that limped into the playoffs last year with a losing record now at 36-8, 2nd best record in the entire NBA. Actually they have the most wins in the NBA, but are a few percentage points behind Golden State. What's most amazing is how they just keep covering spreads too. This Hawks team has covered 14 straight games. Could be 15 straight depending on the number you got against Milwaukee. But even further back we see them at 25-3-1 the last 29 games. That is just unheard of in professional sports these days. Mainly because the oddsmaker is quick to adjust when you have a hot team like Atlanta. There defense has been great, holding their last eight opponents to 93 or fewer points. The offense has been excellent, mainly due to a healthy Al Horford this season, something they lacked most of last year. But it's more than just Horford. It's also the play of point guard Jeff Teague who is having a great season. The team is also getting great production out of the secondary players like Millsap and Korver. All these have come together to create the perfect storm that the Atlanta Hawsk are this season. The main problem I have these days with the Hawks is how much wood the oddsmaker is making us lay. They just keep pumping it up and up. I'd make this play much bigger if it weren't for the huge line. Still, you have to stick with a team this hot and this good, even is as a smaller play. Your Bonus Play is on the Hawks.
Red Dog Sports
Northwestern vs. Maryland
Free pick Northwestern +13
The Wildcats have some recent close losses by 2, 2, 5, to Michigan State in overtime, by 23 to Wisconsin and also won at Rutgers by 4. Maryland is off a bad road lossat Indiana but did beat Michigan State by double digits last Saturday. I think Northwestern stays within 12 points on Sunday night.
Northwestern vs. Maryland
Free pick Northwestern +13
The Wildcats have some recent close losses by 2, 2, 5, to Michigan State in overtime, by 23 to Wisconsin and also won at Rutgers by 4. Maryland is off a bad road lossat Indiana but did beat Michigan State by double digits last Saturday. I think Northwestern stays within 12 points on Sunday night.
Will Rogers
Arsenal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Bonus Play Arsenal
Brighton, sitting at 19th place in the English Championship, will host Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup Sunday. The Gunners, currently fifth in the English top flight, are in great form, and I think their superior quality and class will be enough for them to ease through to the next round here.
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Situational/Motivational - With Arsenal 13 points off Chelsea for the league lead even manager Arsene Wenger must realize that a serious contention for a fourth Premier League title has to wait at least another season. As reigning Champions of the FA Cup though, the Gunners must be poised to defend their title and also have the experience to know to not take any opponent lightly.
2. Healthy Squad - Both Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil are both ready to return to first-team action to the delight of the Arsenal manager: “As you saw on Sunday, I had a very strong bench,” Wenger said. “ ... it will absolutely be the first-team squad, a top-level squad. There’s big competition at the moment for places in the team, and some players will have an opportunity to show that they are ready to play again.”
3. X-Factor - The Gunners are off a marquee 2-0 win at Premier League Champions Manchester City. Santi Cazorla was pulling the strings, and there is no reason to believe he can't follow up that outstanding performance with another one here against lesser competition.
Arsenal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Bonus Play Arsenal
Brighton, sitting at 19th place in the English Championship, will host Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup Sunday. The Gunners, currently fifth in the English top flight, are in great form, and I think their superior quality and class will be enough for them to ease through to the next round here.
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Situational/Motivational - With Arsenal 13 points off Chelsea for the league lead even manager Arsene Wenger must realize that a serious contention for a fourth Premier League title has to wait at least another season. As reigning Champions of the FA Cup though, the Gunners must be poised to defend their title and also have the experience to know to not take any opponent lightly.
2. Healthy Squad - Both Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil are both ready to return to first-team action to the delight of the Arsenal manager: “As you saw on Sunday, I had a very strong bench,” Wenger said. “ ... it will absolutely be the first-team squad, a top-level squad. There’s big competition at the moment for places in the team, and some players will have an opportunity to show that they are ready to play again.”
3. X-Factor - The Gunners are off a marquee 2-0 win at Premier League Champions Manchester City. Santi Cazorla was pulling the strings, and there is no reason to believe he can't follow up that outstanding performance with another one here against lesser competition.
Scott Spreitzer
Creighton at Villanova 7:00PM
Bonus Play Villanova
I'm recommending a play on the Villanova Wildcats on Sunday evening. When Doug McDermott entered his sophomore season on the hilltop in Omaha, Doug's dad Greg joked that if his son stuck around for his final three seasons of eligibility, he knew he was guaranteed at least three more years as Creighton's coach. Well, Doug did stay those final three years, but he's now in the NBA (nursing an injury, by the way). Not only did Doug leave, but so did 3-point specialist Ethan Wragge, along with play-makers Grant Gibbs and Jahenns Manigat. That's four starters who made Creighton tick. The Blue Jays destroyed Villanova in both meetings last season, including a 96-68 win in Philadelphia as a 6 1/2 point underdog. Gibbs was out that night, but McDermott, Wragge, and Manigat, combined for 69 points on 23-for-34, 68% shooting, including an unbelievable 18-for-27, 67% night from behind the arc. They beat Villanova 101-80 later in the season in Omaha, just to show the Wildcats it was no fluke. But the players mentioned are long gone and so are the conference wins. CU has yet to win a Big East game this season (0-7 SU). And you can bet Jay Wright will have no trouble reminding his players how badly Creighton embarrassed them twice last season. Making matters even worse for the Jays was the season-ending injury suffered by Ian Zierdan this past Wednesday night. Zierdan was one of only two Creighton players averaging more than 8 ppg. Man, how things have changed in a hurry. Not that they need any, but the Wildcats have a little more incentive after getting thumped at Georgetown last time out. Look for the Jays to be the team that gets thumped in this one. I'm recommending a play on Villanova minus the points on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
Creighton at Villanova 7:00PM
Bonus Play Villanova
I'm recommending a play on the Villanova Wildcats on Sunday evening. When Doug McDermott entered his sophomore season on the hilltop in Omaha, Doug's dad Greg joked that if his son stuck around for his final three seasons of eligibility, he knew he was guaranteed at least three more years as Creighton's coach. Well, Doug did stay those final three years, but he's now in the NBA (nursing an injury, by the way). Not only did Doug leave, but so did 3-point specialist Ethan Wragge, along with play-makers Grant Gibbs and Jahenns Manigat. That's four starters who made Creighton tick. The Blue Jays destroyed Villanova in both meetings last season, including a 96-68 win in Philadelphia as a 6 1/2 point underdog. Gibbs was out that night, but McDermott, Wragge, and Manigat, combined for 69 points on 23-for-34, 68% shooting, including an unbelievable 18-for-27, 67% night from behind the arc. They beat Villanova 101-80 later in the season in Omaha, just to show the Wildcats it was no fluke. But the players mentioned are long gone and so are the conference wins. CU has yet to win a Big East game this season (0-7 SU). And you can bet Jay Wright will have no trouble reminding his players how badly Creighton embarrassed them twice last season. Making matters even worse for the Jays was the season-ending injury suffered by Ian Zierdan this past Wednesday night. Zierdan was one of only two Creighton players averaging more than 8 ppg. Man, how things have changed in a hurry. Not that they need any, but the Wildcats have a little more incentive after getting thumped at Georgetown last time out. Look for the Jays to be the team that gets thumped in this one. I'm recommending a play on Villanova minus the points on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
Art Aronson
Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic 6:05PM
1* Bonus Play UNDER Pacers/Magic
For a number of different reasons I expect this total to stay below the posted number once the final horn sounds. Orlando will certainly be motivated today to break a four-game slide and would love nothing more than to deal the Pacers a season worst-tying eighth straight loss. The Magic have looked better offensively of late, but remember as of January 9th, the team was ranked 28th in the league in scoring at just 93.6 points per contest. Orlando though has been pretty poor on the defensive side of the court all year and will definitely be ready to atone for a listless 113-106 setback at New York on Friday; note Orlando had in fact given up just 99.2 per game prior to its slump. The Magic also play with revenge here, the first time these teams met Indiana would pull away for the 98-83 victory on November 28th. The Pacers though have struggled with offensive consistency all season, they rank near the bottom of the league in points per game and shooting percentage and shot just 41 percent in Friday?s 89-87 loss at Miami.: ?We were very displeased with how we played in the first half," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said afterwards. "I challenged them early on to get a little angry and we did. We started playing better. Clearly we have to start the game better." Note that this is a position in which both teams have shown a penchant to playing to the lower number in as the Pacers have seen the total dip below the posted number in two of three as a road favorite of three points or less, while Orlando has seen it fall UNDER the number in eight of 11 this year after three or more consecutive SU losses.
AAA Sports
Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic 6:05PM
1* Bonus Play UNDER Pacers/Magic
For a number of different reasons I expect this total to stay below the posted number once the final horn sounds. Orlando will certainly be motivated today to break a four-game slide and would love nothing more than to deal the Pacers a season worst-tying eighth straight loss. The Magic have looked better offensively of late, but remember as of January 9th, the team was ranked 28th in the league in scoring at just 93.6 points per contest. Orlando though has been pretty poor on the defensive side of the court all year and will definitely be ready to atone for a listless 113-106 setback at New York on Friday; note Orlando had in fact given up just 99.2 per game prior to its slump. The Magic also play with revenge here, the first time these teams met Indiana would pull away for the 98-83 victory on November 28th. The Pacers though have struggled with offensive consistency all season, they rank near the bottom of the league in points per game and shooting percentage and shot just 41 percent in Friday?s 89-87 loss at Miami.: ?We were very displeased with how we played in the first half," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said afterwards. "I challenged them early on to get a little angry and we did. We started playing better. Clearly we have to start the game better." Note that this is a position in which both teams have shown a penchant to playing to the lower number in as the Pacers have seen the total dip below the posted number in two of three as a road favorite of three points or less, while Orlando has seen it fall UNDER the number in eight of 11 this year after three or more consecutive SU losses.
AAA Sports
Marc Lawrence
Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls 1:00PM
Miami Heat
Edges - Heat: 5-1 SUATS with revenge in this series; and 17-10 SU and 17-9-1 ATS with same season double-digit loss revenge. Bulls: 3-10 ATS versus losing foes this season. With Chicago returning home off an upset revenge win at Dallas Friday night, and having another revenge affair up next with with Golden State, look for the Heat to get a measure of revenge themselves here today. We recommend a 1-unit play on Miami. Thank you and good luck as always.
Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls 1:00PM
Miami Heat
Edges - Heat: 5-1 SUATS with revenge in this series; and 17-10 SU and 17-9-1 ATS with same season double-digit loss revenge. Bulls: 3-10 ATS versus losing foes this season. With Chicago returning home off an upset revenge win at Dallas Friday night, and having another revenge affair up next with with Golden State, look for the Heat to get a measure of revenge themselves here today. We recommend a 1-unit play on Miami. Thank you and good luck as always.
