Here was the prediction:
MTi SPORTS
Washington at Phoenix
Play: Over 230
The Suns just might get to 150 here. They are facing a Wizards’ squad that is playing the fourth game of a four-games-in-five-days road trip and they allowed 50%+ shooting in each of the first three. The Wizards will be in no condition to play defense here, when they ranthe floor with the Nuggets last night in Denver.The Wizards are 6-0 OU (+11.0 ppg) when they allowed at least ten points more than their season-to-date average for two straight games, 4-0 OU (+21.8 ppg) with no rest after a game in which they allowed at least 50% from the field and 4-0 OU (+14.0 ppg) after a road loss in which they had more turnovers than assists. All three of the preceding trends in performance are from THIS season. Also, Washington is 5-0 OU (+14.4 ppg) on the road after a loss in which Antawn Jamison had more turnovers than assists and 5-0 OU (+17.7 ppg) on the road after two away games in which Andray Blatche took fewer than 10 shots in each.Phoenix is off a 126-116 win over the 76ers in which Shaq led all scorers with 26 points, Matt Barnes was a poor 2-of-9 from the field and the Suns committed only eight turnovers. Well, Phoenix is 8-0 OU (+13.2 ppg) with two or more days of rest after a double digit home win in which their field goal attempt per turnover ratio was at least eight and 7-0 OU (+7.7 ppg) as a favorite with two or more days of rest after a double digit home win in which they committed fewer than ten turnovers.Since January, the Suns are 6-0 OU (+17.5 ppg) as a favorite after a double digit win in which they shot at least 50% from the field including 4-0 OU (+21.6 ppg) as a favorite after a game in which they shot at least 55% from the field. Also, Phoenix is 7-0 OU (+18.1 ppg) since January after a win at home in which Steve Nash was NOT the Suns' high scorer and 5-0 OU (+14.3 ppg) after a win at home in which Matt Barnes scored fewer than 10 points.In their first meeting this season, the Suns won 103-87. Shaq was 10-of 14 from the floor and 9-of-10(!) from the free throw line, but had only two assists. Steve Nash had 15 assists and 14 points. Phoenix is 11-0 OU (+22.3 ppg) after winning the previous matchup in which Shaquille O'Neal had more turnovers than assists and 5-0 OU (+19.1 ppg) after winning the previous matchup in which Steve Nash had more assists than points. Check out those average margins. Yow.As mentioned previously, this is a scheduling spot in which the Wizards simply don’t play defense. Washington is 7-0 OU when they are playing in at least their third straight road game and they have no rest, going over by an average of 18.6 ppg. In their most recent game, the 7th of this month, the Wizards lost 119-103 in Dallas with the total at 198. With no one on the Wizards to slow Shaq down, the Suns should shoot 60%+ from the field and not have to play defense at all. Take the OVER as the Wizards can score some points in garbage time.
MTi’s FORECAST: PHOENIX 152 Washington 128
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Budin's pick is Syracuse by the way fellas. That crew is definatley one of his best - if not THE best; they freakin killed it in football and probably are the one of the most consistent out there. He usually only releases 25 dimers, so when he releases a 50 dimer, he is very confident. Considering he had 25 dimes on Nova yesterday and that was one of the easiest games I have ever taken, and there are TWICE as many dimes on the line for this game, I will be LOADING UP on 'Cuse. I liked them before I knew it was Budin's pick, but that just assured me that I am laying it big. Goodluck all, bet it now before the line skyrockets! I already have it in at -2, if you wait you may get it as high as -4 possibly higher?
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Another big play from Lee Kostroski on Sunday........
9* NCAA MONSTER MONEY PLAY - 100% run!
Oh well? Same old, same old. My 9* play on Saturday came through again with EASE as Memphis destroyed Maryland. That moves my BIG PLAY record on 9* & 10* plays to a PERFECT 7-0 on the season! Now I'm locked into another Top Game situation on SUNDAY and it's time for me to make some MONSTER MONEY! Are you in?
9* NCAA MONSTER MONEY PLAY - 100% run!
Oh well? Same old, same old. My 9* play on Saturday came through again with EASE as Memphis destroyed Maryland. That moves my BIG PLAY record on 9* & 10* plays to a PERFECT 7-0 on the season! Now I'm locked into another Top Game situation on SUNDAY and it's time for me to make some MONSTER MONEY! Are you in?
COMPS
cajun
Today's NBA Complimentary Selection:
Date/Time: Sunday March 22 / 6:05PM EST (NBA)
Game: Cleveland Cavaliers @ New Jersey Nets
Graded Selection: 2* Cleveland Cavaliers -6.5
Analysis:
Eastern Conference foes square-off on Sunday evening when the Cleveland Cavaliers face the host New Jersey Nets with tipoff set for 6:05PM Eastern Time. Even though the Cavs lead their division (Central) by 21.5 games they are still playing for the all-important home-court advantage. Their opponent tonight is also involved with a 21.5 game margin but the Nets are the ones behind in their division to Boston. Cleveland is coming off a game yesterday winning at home over Atlanta 102 to 96 but failing to cover as an 8 point favorite. The Cavs have been solid when playing the backend of a back-to-back going 9-0 SU and 7-2 ATS their last nine. The Cavs are riding a seven-game winning streak but have struggled against the number of late going 5-9 ATS their last 14 overall. The Nets last played on Friday when they hosted the Miami Heat and won 96 to 88 as a 1.5 point home favorite. They are also on a winning streak albeit two games with the first a road win at the Knicks 115 to 89 as a 7.5 point road underdog. The win over the Heat will get the Cavs attention for this contest; they will not take this Nets team lightly. These two last met back on November 18th with the Cavs winning 106 to 82 over the Nets as a 5.5 point road favorite. The loss by the Nets is no real surprise as they are 5-15 ATS when playing against a top-level team with a win percentage > 70 percent and 15-30 ATS versus teams outscoring their opponents by 3+ points per game the last 2 seasons. New Jersey is 27-44 ATS after playing a home game and 12-23 ATS off a home win the last 2 seasons. The Cavs are 41-27 ATS in all games this season and 36-22 ATS as a favorite this season. Our TPR (Team Performance Ratings) Index signals a Cavs win by 9 points in today’s contest and our Math Model projects Cleveland will cover the spread by 4 points which with a current line of 6.5 means the Cavs will win by 10.5 points. Lay the chalk with the visitor as the Cavs continue their run at home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Graded Selection: 2* Cleveland Cavaliers 101 New Jersey Nets 90
EZWINNERS'S FREE SELECTION
Game: Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Missouri Tigers
(728) Missouri Tigers (-4)
Since losing Dominic James to a season ending foot injury Marquette is just 2-5 and barely pulled out a win in their opening round game against Utah State. Without James the Golden Eagles will not have an answer for Missouri's forty minutes of full court pressure with their eleven man rotation. Lay the points as the Tigers advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
2009 Free Selections Record 43-37 (53.8%)
Free Selection from Totals4U
Sunday's free selection: Cleveland/New Jersey under 189
Jake Timlin
Today's Selection
Pittsburgh Panthers
It might be due to their sluggish opening round game, but Pittsburgh is better than today’s line suggest and it is going to show big time. I mean given that Oklahoma will have no answers for Blair in the paint and with Fields able to hold his own the Panther clearly will enjoy an edge in overall talent. Pittsburgh will also enjoy their rebounding prowless edge where they outright bound team by an average 10 boards per game. Mix that in with the slower style of play that Pittsburgh likes to play compared to the up tempo Cowboys and I really start to see a lop side game here today. Bottom line, I expect for Pittsburgh to be a bit more focused here today and with that I expect for the Panthers prove them self’s with a double digit win. All Pittsburgh minus the points!
Matt Rivers
For Sunday lay the small number with Michigan State.
I am the last one to back this Spartan team because I really do no think they are a great team as some people believe but this number is still way too cheap to not make a small play on them. USC has been playing very well of late as they ran through the Pac-10 tournament upsetting UCLA and then coming back in great fashion to down Arizona State in the final. They then rallied for a second straight game in the second half to dispose of Boston College on Friday to get to this point. But let's be honest here Tim Floyd's squad probably was not even good enough to make the tournament if not for the Pac-10 tournament championship and after losing OJ Mayo after last season to the NBA the Trojans are not exactly a great team that can be considered a total juggernaut. Sure USC has talent and is playing at a high level but this is still a total value on the second seeded Spartans because today's dog is well overvalued. Tom Izzo is a great coach and always has his guys rebound and defend. The boys from East Lansing are never really an offensive powerhouse but they have very quality pieces in Raymar Morgan, Kailan Lucas and Goran Suron among others. I am fine with going against Sparty when laying numbers that are too steep but to only lay a handful when you know they will play lockdown defense and many many more times than not advance to the Sweet 16 in this spot is a deal, if not a steal. MSU is the best team from the Big Ten which is saying something and to go up against what is still a middle of the road Pac-10 group and not lay more than this is just flat out wrong. I congratulate USC for a great last few weeks but they are what they are and did not just all of a sudden find themselves. They are a good team at best that is about to get stifled by a very very good team. The second half spirited comeback will not happen today, no how no way!
68-56 Michigan State!
Jeff Benton
For Sunday’s Bonus Play in Big Dance action, we’ll take Cleveland State plus the points over Arizona in the Midwest Regional.
This one comes down the simple fact that I was much more impressed with what Cleveland State did in its opening-round win over No. 4-seed Wake Forest than I was with what Arizona did in its blowout win over No. 5-seed Utah. For starters, the Demon Deacons were once ranked No. 1 in the nation this season and were a Top 25 team all year. Utah won the Mountain West (which has been a colossal Big Dance disaster in recent years) and wasn’t even ranked until the end of the season (when it barely got in at No. 25).
Also, while Arizona limped to the finish line (1-5 SU in its last six games before beating Utah) and had no business getting invited to this Tournament, Cleveland State has now won five straight games, with a Horizon League tournament championship victory over nationally ranked Butler preceding Friday’s 84-69 rout of Wake Forest.
What was particularly impressive about Cleveland State’s win on Friday was that, unlike Utah – which saw a double-digit lead dwindle to two points with less than four minutes to play – the Vikings kept Wake Forest at bay all night long and were never threatened. In fact, after outscoring the Deacons 39-30 in the first half, they outscored them 45-39 in the second half). They also did a number on Wake’s most talented play, Jeff Teague, holding him to just 10 points.
Cleveland State, which has cashed in five straight games as an underdog (including going 3-0 ATS against Butler) and six of seven in non-conference play, is the real deal. Yep, we can call off the search party for this year’s Cinderella, because we’ve found it in the Vikings, who are headed for the Sweet 16.
5? CLEVELAND STATE
Karl Garrett
Siena +11' vs. LOUISVILLE - at Dayton, OH
The Saints came up with a nice overtime upset win over Ohio State in round one, and while they are stepping up in class in this battle with number one seed Louisville, the G-Man is taking the points with Siena.Siena's pre-conference schedule included Big Dance participants Cornell, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, and Kansas, with the Saints covering as the double-digit dog against Pitt, and KU.Louisville is toting in an 11-game winning streak, but the Cards missed the cover against Morehead State in their tourny opener, and they have failed 2 of their last 3 as the double-digit chalk.
G-Man grabbing the points with the Saints on Sunday.
2? SIENA
Craig Trapp
Siena vs. Louisville
Play: Siena +11.5
This game will be won and loss by Sienna's ability to handle the pressure of the Cardinals. Most teams do a fairly good job of not turning the ball over for most of the game but get worn down late and buckle with several key turnovers. Ask Morehead State how relentless the pressure can be in the 2nd half. Louisville has 4 guards that all play about equal time and each can cause havoc on defense. Lets look at the trends and records of these two teams:
Team records:
Siena: 27-7 SU, 16-16 ATS
Louisville: 29-5 SU, 21-13 ATS
Trends:
Saints are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
Saints are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Cardinals are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games as a favorite.
Cardinals are 38-18-1 ATS in their last 57 games overall.
Cardinals are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
Looks like the trends and ATS records point to the Sienna Saints but going to take Sienna +11.5. Love the guards from Sienna and they do have experience in last years NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals will most likely pull away late and win by a few but Sienna has huge heart and will stick around late. Earl Clark and Terrance Williams will be too much late but making money in this match up you have to take the points. Don't be fooled by the television people all over Louisville's jock. Score LOU 78 - SIEN 72
James Patrick Sports
Cavaliers vs. Nets
Cleveland seems to have put it on cruise control after clinching their division and their past visits to the Meadowland have been uneventful with an ATS mark of 7-18. New Jersey is 4-0 ATS as a home underdog and 5-0-1 ATS at home of late.Our selection in Sunday NBA action is New Jersey Nets.
Marc Lawrence
Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs play host to division rival Houston this afternoon at the Alamo Dome looking to rebound off an immediate home loss suffered against the Celtics on this floor Friday night. That sets up this play as we note San Antonio is 6-1 ATS at home in game off an immediate home loss. They are also 10-1-1 ATS in this series when the Rockets check in off a double digit victory in their last game. Look for the Spurs to get back on the win track here today.
Mike Anthony
Wisconsin vs. Xavier
Play: Xavier -4
Wisconsin was lucky to come back by double digits against FSU on Friday. Now they face a Xavier team with a lot of “length” and simple athleticism at pretty much every spot on the floor. Xavier has MANY more options on the attack end than the one dimensional Seminoles. True, the Musketeers don’t have any single offensive threat the caliber of Douglas, who torched the Badgers for 26 of FSU’s 59 points. Xavier does, however, possess a well-balanced, multi-faceted attack that figures to be much tougher for Wisconsin to defend than the one-man Douglas show it just faced.Xavier also has the ability to dominate the glass (+8.4 rpg), and their plethora of tournament experience (they advanced to the Elite Eight last year), and we’ll gladly lay a few points as they get a DD WIN.
Bobby Maxwell
Houston at SAN ANTONIO -3'
The Spurs went to Houston and beat the Rockets eight days ago and they'll do the same thing today at home. Go ahead and lay the chalk with San Antonio as they win this one by 10.
The Spurs have won three of the last four meetings with Houston, including the 88-85 road win back on March 14, cashing as a 2 1/2-point underdog. They won at home back on Nov. 14, winning 77-75 as a six-point underdog and last March they destroyed the Rockets in San Antonio, 109-88 as a 6 1/2-point favorite.
You know the Spurs are still reeling a bit after Friday's 80-77 home loss to the celtics as 3 1/2-point favorites. They just didn't shoot the ball well. The defense was there but the offense let them down. Today, they'll get the shots falling and win this one.
The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in this series and we're loooking for the Spurs to get a big game from PG Tony Parker. Play San Antonio today.
3? SAN ANTONIO
Cleveland State +3 vs. Arizona, at Miami
We told you all about Oklahoma in this spot yesterday and delivered that FREE winner in the Big Dance and today we are giving you another with Cleveland State taking on Arizona.
The Cinderella of this tournament is clearly Cleveland State and they are going to the Sweet 16. Now, of course we're going to grab the points with them in this one, but you won't be surprised when the Vikings win this one outright.
Cleveland State crushed Wake Forest on Friday night 84-69 as a 7 1/2-point underdog and made it look easy. They got big points from Norris Cole (22), J'Nathan Bullock (21) and Cedric Jackson (19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds). This team is good, has experience and is going to give Arizona all kinds of fits today.
Arizona was given an invitation to this party when it really didn't deserve one, but the Wildcats went out on Friday and handled Utah with ease in their 84-71 win as 1 1/2-point underdogs. They got 29 points from PG Nic Wise and shot 30-of-55 from the field. But this team isn't that far removed from their 1-5 stretch to end the season. And the problem for them today is going to be the lack of time to prepare for the Vikings.
Cleveland State is on ATS streaks of 21-7 after a spread-cover, 25-10 after a straight-up win, 6-1 against non-conference teams and 5-0 as an underdog. We like the way this Vikings' team handles itself. Let's go ahead and play them in this one. Grab the points to play it safe, but don't be surprised when they win.
4? CLEVELAND STATE
MADDUX
Today's Free Pick is Louisville -11.5
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cajun
Today's NBA Complimentary Selection:
Date/Time: Sunday March 22 / 6:05PM EST (NBA)
Game: Cleveland Cavaliers @ New Jersey Nets
Graded Selection: 2* Cleveland Cavaliers -6.5
Analysis:
Eastern Conference foes square-off on Sunday evening when the Cleveland Cavaliers face the host New Jersey Nets with tipoff set for 6:05PM Eastern Time. Even though the Cavs lead their division (Central) by 21.5 games they are still playing for the all-important home-court advantage. Their opponent tonight is also involved with a 21.5 game margin but the Nets are the ones behind in their division to Boston. Cleveland is coming off a game yesterday winning at home over Atlanta 102 to 96 but failing to cover as an 8 point favorite. The Cavs have been solid when playing the backend of a back-to-back going 9-0 SU and 7-2 ATS their last nine. The Cavs are riding a seven-game winning streak but have struggled against the number of late going 5-9 ATS their last 14 overall. The Nets last played on Friday when they hosted the Miami Heat and won 96 to 88 as a 1.5 point home favorite. They are also on a winning streak albeit two games with the first a road win at the Knicks 115 to 89 as a 7.5 point road underdog. The win over the Heat will get the Cavs attention for this contest; they will not take this Nets team lightly. These two last met back on November 18th with the Cavs winning 106 to 82 over the Nets as a 5.5 point road favorite. The loss by the Nets is no real surprise as they are 5-15 ATS when playing against a top-level team with a win percentage > 70 percent and 15-30 ATS versus teams outscoring their opponents by 3+ points per game the last 2 seasons. New Jersey is 27-44 ATS after playing a home game and 12-23 ATS off a home win the last 2 seasons. The Cavs are 41-27 ATS in all games this season and 36-22 ATS as a favorite this season. Our TPR (Team Performance Ratings) Index signals a Cavs win by 9 points in today’s contest and our Math Model projects Cleveland will cover the spread by 4 points which with a current line of 6.5 means the Cavs will win by 10.5 points. Lay the chalk with the visitor as the Cavs continue their run at home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Graded Selection: 2* Cleveland Cavaliers 101 New Jersey Nets 90
EZWINNERS'S FREE SELECTION
Game: Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Missouri Tigers
(728) Missouri Tigers (-4)
Since losing Dominic James to a season ending foot injury Marquette is just 2-5 and barely pulled out a win in their opening round game against Utah State. Without James the Golden Eagles will not have an answer for Missouri's forty minutes of full court pressure with their eleven man rotation. Lay the points as the Tigers advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
2009 Free Selections Record 43-37 (53.8%)
Free Selection from Totals4U
Sunday's free selection: Cleveland/New Jersey under 189
Jake Timlin
Today's Selection
Pittsburgh Panthers
It might be due to their sluggish opening round game, but Pittsburgh is better than today’s line suggest and it is going to show big time. I mean given that Oklahoma will have no answers for Blair in the paint and with Fields able to hold his own the Panther clearly will enjoy an edge in overall talent. Pittsburgh will also enjoy their rebounding prowless edge where they outright bound team by an average 10 boards per game. Mix that in with the slower style of play that Pittsburgh likes to play compared to the up tempo Cowboys and I really start to see a lop side game here today. Bottom line, I expect for Pittsburgh to be a bit more focused here today and with that I expect for the Panthers prove them self’s with a double digit win. All Pittsburgh minus the points!
Matt Rivers
For Sunday lay the small number with Michigan State.
I am the last one to back this Spartan team because I really do no think they are a great team as some people believe but this number is still way too cheap to not make a small play on them. USC has been playing very well of late as they ran through the Pac-10 tournament upsetting UCLA and then coming back in great fashion to down Arizona State in the final. They then rallied for a second straight game in the second half to dispose of Boston College on Friday to get to this point. But let's be honest here Tim Floyd's squad probably was not even good enough to make the tournament if not for the Pac-10 tournament championship and after losing OJ Mayo after last season to the NBA the Trojans are not exactly a great team that can be considered a total juggernaut. Sure USC has talent and is playing at a high level but this is still a total value on the second seeded Spartans because today's dog is well overvalued. Tom Izzo is a great coach and always has his guys rebound and defend. The boys from East Lansing are never really an offensive powerhouse but they have very quality pieces in Raymar Morgan, Kailan Lucas and Goran Suron among others. I am fine with going against Sparty when laying numbers that are too steep but to only lay a handful when you know they will play lockdown defense and many many more times than not advance to the Sweet 16 in this spot is a deal, if not a steal. MSU is the best team from the Big Ten which is saying something and to go up against what is still a middle of the road Pac-10 group and not lay more than this is just flat out wrong. I congratulate USC for a great last few weeks but they are what they are and did not just all of a sudden find themselves. They are a good team at best that is about to get stifled by a very very good team. The second half spirited comeback will not happen today, no how no way!
68-56 Michigan State!
Jeff Benton
For Sunday’s Bonus Play in Big Dance action, we’ll take Cleveland State plus the points over Arizona in the Midwest Regional.
This one comes down the simple fact that I was much more impressed with what Cleveland State did in its opening-round win over No. 4-seed Wake Forest than I was with what Arizona did in its blowout win over No. 5-seed Utah. For starters, the Demon Deacons were once ranked No. 1 in the nation this season and were a Top 25 team all year. Utah won the Mountain West (which has been a colossal Big Dance disaster in recent years) and wasn’t even ranked until the end of the season (when it barely got in at No. 25).
Also, while Arizona limped to the finish line (1-5 SU in its last six games before beating Utah) and had no business getting invited to this Tournament, Cleveland State has now won five straight games, with a Horizon League tournament championship victory over nationally ranked Butler preceding Friday’s 84-69 rout of Wake Forest.
What was particularly impressive about Cleveland State’s win on Friday was that, unlike Utah – which saw a double-digit lead dwindle to two points with less than four minutes to play – the Vikings kept Wake Forest at bay all night long and were never threatened. In fact, after outscoring the Deacons 39-30 in the first half, they outscored them 45-39 in the second half). They also did a number on Wake’s most talented play, Jeff Teague, holding him to just 10 points.
Cleveland State, which has cashed in five straight games as an underdog (including going 3-0 ATS against Butler) and six of seven in non-conference play, is the real deal. Yep, we can call off the search party for this year’s Cinderella, because we’ve found it in the Vikings, who are headed for the Sweet 16.
5? CLEVELAND STATE
Karl Garrett
Siena +11' vs. LOUISVILLE - at Dayton, OH
The Saints came up with a nice overtime upset win over Ohio State in round one, and while they are stepping up in class in this battle with number one seed Louisville, the G-Man is taking the points with Siena.Siena's pre-conference schedule included Big Dance participants Cornell, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, and Kansas, with the Saints covering as the double-digit dog against Pitt, and KU.Louisville is toting in an 11-game winning streak, but the Cards missed the cover against Morehead State in their tourny opener, and they have failed 2 of their last 3 as the double-digit chalk.
G-Man grabbing the points with the Saints on Sunday.
2? SIENA
Craig Trapp
Siena vs. Louisville
Play: Siena +11.5
This game will be won and loss by Sienna's ability to handle the pressure of the Cardinals. Most teams do a fairly good job of not turning the ball over for most of the game but get worn down late and buckle with several key turnovers. Ask Morehead State how relentless the pressure can be in the 2nd half. Louisville has 4 guards that all play about equal time and each can cause havoc on defense. Lets look at the trends and records of these two teams:
Team records:
Siena: 27-7 SU, 16-16 ATS
Louisville: 29-5 SU, 21-13 ATS
Trends:
Saints are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
Saints are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Cardinals are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games as a favorite.
Cardinals are 38-18-1 ATS in their last 57 games overall.
Cardinals are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
Looks like the trends and ATS records point to the Sienna Saints but going to take Sienna +11.5. Love the guards from Sienna and they do have experience in last years NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals will most likely pull away late and win by a few but Sienna has huge heart and will stick around late. Earl Clark and Terrance Williams will be too much late but making money in this match up you have to take the points. Don't be fooled by the television people all over Louisville's jock. Score LOU 78 - SIEN 72
James Patrick Sports
Cavaliers vs. Nets
Cleveland seems to have put it on cruise control after clinching their division and their past visits to the Meadowland have been uneventful with an ATS mark of 7-18. New Jersey is 4-0 ATS as a home underdog and 5-0-1 ATS at home of late.Our selection in Sunday NBA action is New Jersey Nets.
Marc Lawrence
Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs play host to division rival Houston this afternoon at the Alamo Dome looking to rebound off an immediate home loss suffered against the Celtics on this floor Friday night. That sets up this play as we note San Antonio is 6-1 ATS at home in game off an immediate home loss. They are also 10-1-1 ATS in this series when the Rockets check in off a double digit victory in their last game. Look for the Spurs to get back on the win track here today.
Mike Anthony
Wisconsin vs. Xavier
Play: Xavier -4
Wisconsin was lucky to come back by double digits against FSU on Friday. Now they face a Xavier team with a lot of “length” and simple athleticism at pretty much every spot on the floor. Xavier has MANY more options on the attack end than the one dimensional Seminoles. True, the Musketeers don’t have any single offensive threat the caliber of Douglas, who torched the Badgers for 26 of FSU’s 59 points. Xavier does, however, possess a well-balanced, multi-faceted attack that figures to be much tougher for Wisconsin to defend than the one-man Douglas show it just faced.Xavier also has the ability to dominate the glass (+8.4 rpg), and their plethora of tournament experience (they advanced to the Elite Eight last year), and we’ll gladly lay a few points as they get a DD WIN.
Bobby Maxwell
Houston at SAN ANTONIO -3'
The Spurs went to Houston and beat the Rockets eight days ago and they'll do the same thing today at home. Go ahead and lay the chalk with San Antonio as they win this one by 10.
The Spurs have won three of the last four meetings with Houston, including the 88-85 road win back on March 14, cashing as a 2 1/2-point underdog. They won at home back on Nov. 14, winning 77-75 as a six-point underdog and last March they destroyed the Rockets in San Antonio, 109-88 as a 6 1/2-point favorite.
You know the Spurs are still reeling a bit after Friday's 80-77 home loss to the celtics as 3 1/2-point favorites. They just didn't shoot the ball well. The defense was there but the offense let them down. Today, they'll get the shots falling and win this one.
The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in this series and we're loooking for the Spurs to get a big game from PG Tony Parker. Play San Antonio today.
3? SAN ANTONIO
Cleveland State +3 vs. Arizona, at Miami
We told you all about Oklahoma in this spot yesterday and delivered that FREE winner in the Big Dance and today we are giving you another with Cleveland State taking on Arizona.
The Cinderella of this tournament is clearly Cleveland State and they are going to the Sweet 16. Now, of course we're going to grab the points with them in this one, but you won't be surprised when the Vikings win this one outright.
Cleveland State crushed Wake Forest on Friday night 84-69 as a 7 1/2-point underdog and made it look easy. They got big points from Norris Cole (22), J'Nathan Bullock (21) and Cedric Jackson (19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds). This team is good, has experience and is going to give Arizona all kinds of fits today.
Arizona was given an invitation to this party when it really didn't deserve one, but the Wildcats went out on Friday and handled Utah with ease in their 84-71 win as 1 1/2-point underdogs. They got 29 points from PG Nic Wise and shot 30-of-55 from the field. But this team isn't that far removed from their 1-5 stretch to end the season. And the problem for them today is going to be the lack of time to prepare for the Vikings.
Cleveland State is on ATS streaks of 21-7 after a spread-cover, 25-10 after a straight-up win, 6-1 against non-conference teams and 5-0 as an underdog. We like the way this Vikings' team handles itself. Let's go ahead and play them in this one. Grab the points to play it safe, but don't be surprised when they win.
4? CLEVELAND STATE
MADDUX
Today's Free Pick is Louisville -11.5
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COMPS
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Cleveland Cavaliers -6.5
I know the Cavs just played yesterday, but I don't see fatigue as a factor against a Nets team playing without Devin Harris. In fact, New Jersey is 5-15 ATS when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 70%) over the last 2 seasons, losing by 13.6 ppg on average in these spots. The Cavaliers are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 vs. the NBA Atlantic and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest. The Nets are 12-25-1 ATS in their last 38 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600 and 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games as a home underdog of 5.0-10.5. Lay the points.
John Fisher
Marquette vs. Missouri
Play: Missouri -4
I like the dribble penetration and kick outs for threes against Marquettes quicks. Team with the fewer TO's will have the advantage. Warriors will be game but will fade down the stretch. 4 STAR MISSOURI Missouri 78 MArguette 69
Drew Gordon
Wisconsin +4 vs Xavier, at Boise, ID.
I warned you about underestimating this Badgers team when I released my strongest paid play of the college postseason, taking them against Florida State Friday. Once again, I feel compelled to warn my customers about the danger of going against a Wisconsin team that not only matches up well with Xavier, but also plays a style conducive to covering in this spot. Read on...
I told you the problem Florida State had was their inability to trap this Badgers team, which was Wisky's achilles heel in conference play. Same goes here, as the Musketeers bigmen aren't going to be able to effectively press, leaving the door wide open for a Wisky offense that prefers playing in the halfcourt. On a side note, the Badgers style of play has proven successful against the A-10, having gone 7-1 ATS in their L8 in that spot!
Also, Badgers-backers have to be happy about the re-emergence of F Keaton Nankivil, who gives the Badgers another bigman who can score. Coupled with Landry, Krabbenhoft, and Leuer (those last two must play better after being all but invisible vs the Seminoles) Wisky has more than enough depth in the front-court to deal with Xavier's Brown and Love down-low.
Finally, let's not get too carried away with the Musketeers win over Portland State! I find the Badgers win over the Seminoles A LOT more impressive, and one has to wonder how Xavier will fare against the sometimes frustrating Big Ten-style (slow-paced, defensive-minded) Badgers team in this one. Much like FSU, I believe the Musketeers get dragged into a methodical slug-fest, which is not their strength. In the end, this game will be razor close, as the Badgers got some of their swagger back, and it'll show this afternoon.
Take Wisconsin plus the points over Xavier in this college hoops match up.
3♦ WISCONSIN
Tom Freese
New Orleans at Golden St
New Orleans is 5-1 ATS when their opponent scored 100 or more points in their last game and they are 5-1 ATS when their opponent scored 100 or more points in their last game. The Hornets are 24-11 ATS their last 35 games vs. Pacific Division foes and they are 5-2 ATS off a straight up win. Golden St is 16-47-1 ATS off a straight up win and they are 7-17-2 ATS their last 26 road games. The Warriors are 2-7-1 ATS their last 10 games vs. NBA Southwest Division foes. PLAY ON NEW ORLEANS -<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Cleveland Cavaliers -6.5
I know the Cavs just played yesterday, but I don't see fatigue as a factor against a Nets team playing without Devin Harris. In fact, New Jersey is 5-15 ATS when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 70%) over the last 2 seasons, losing by 13.6 ppg on average in these spots. The Cavaliers are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 vs. the NBA Atlantic and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest. The Nets are 12-25-1 ATS in their last 38 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600 and 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games as a home underdog of 5.0-10.5. Lay the points.
John Fisher
Marquette vs. Missouri
Play: Missouri -4
I like the dribble penetration and kick outs for threes against Marquettes quicks. Team with the fewer TO's will have the advantage. Warriors will be game but will fade down the stretch. 4 STAR MISSOURI Missouri 78 MArguette 69
Drew Gordon
Wisconsin +4 vs Xavier, at Boise, ID.
I warned you about underestimating this Badgers team when I released my strongest paid play of the college postseason, taking them against Florida State Friday. Once again, I feel compelled to warn my customers about the danger of going against a Wisconsin team that not only matches up well with Xavier, but also plays a style conducive to covering in this spot. Read on...
I told you the problem Florida State had was their inability to trap this Badgers team, which was Wisky's achilles heel in conference play. Same goes here, as the Musketeers bigmen aren't going to be able to effectively press, leaving the door wide open for a Wisky offense that prefers playing in the halfcourt. On a side note, the Badgers style of play has proven successful against the A-10, having gone 7-1 ATS in their L8 in that spot!
Also, Badgers-backers have to be happy about the re-emergence of F Keaton Nankivil, who gives the Badgers another bigman who can score. Coupled with Landry, Krabbenhoft, and Leuer (those last two must play better after being all but invisible vs the Seminoles) Wisky has more than enough depth in the front-court to deal with Xavier's Brown and Love down-low.
Finally, let's not get too carried away with the Musketeers win over Portland State! I find the Badgers win over the Seminoles A LOT more impressive, and one has to wonder how Xavier will fare against the sometimes frustrating Big Ten-style (slow-paced, defensive-minded) Badgers team in this one. Much like FSU, I believe the Musketeers get dragged into a methodical slug-fest, which is not their strength. In the end, this game will be razor close, as the Badgers got some of their swagger back, and it'll show this afternoon.
Take Wisconsin plus the points over Xavier in this college hoops match up.
3♦ WISCONSIN
Tom Freese
New Orleans at Golden St
New Orleans is 5-1 ATS when their opponent scored 100 or more points in their last game and they are 5-1 ATS when their opponent scored 100 or more points in their last game. The Hornets are 24-11 ATS their last 35 games vs. Pacific Division foes and they are 5-2 ATS off a straight up win. Golden St is 16-47-1 ATS off a straight up win and they are 7-17-2 ATS their last 26 road games. The Warriors are 2-7-1 ATS their last 10 games vs. NBA Southwest Division foes. PLAY ON NEW ORLEANS -<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
