COVERS - PICK 'N' ROLL
(Tracking Started On 2/22/2011)
9-10-0 (NBA)
7-8-0 (NCAA HOOPS)
FRIDAY 3/11/2011
NBA
Orlando Magic at Golden State Warriors (4.5)
The Orlando Magic snapped a two-game losing streak by slipping by Sacramento on Wednesday with Dwight Howard back in the lineup after he served a one-game suspension.
But they weren’t happy about it.
Orlando had to hold on when Howard fouled out late in the game and the 106-102 victory as a 10-point favorite was far from impressive.
"We didn't play well," point guard Jameer Nelson told reporters. "If we think it's OK, it's not. We have to change what we do. It's not on anybody but us. It's not on offense; it's on defense. We can't flip the switch for the playoffs. We're not good enough."
Nelson has a point, but we like Orlando at this number on Friday. The Magic head into this matchup having won five straight games against the Warriors, who have only two wins in their last nine games.
Pick: Orlando
NCAABB
Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Wolverines (3)
The Illini and Wolverines are both on the NCAA bubble and looking for a big victory Friday so they can breathe a little easier.
The young Wolverines have been one of the nation’s best betting teams at 18-8 against the number this year and battled it out in a 54-52 loss against Illinois as a 9.5-underdog on Feb. 16.
"They got work to do," Illinois center Mike Tisdale told reporters of the Wolverines. "It's not going to be easy for any of us. They're not going to come in and lay down. I would like to say we are [in the tournament,] but we do have work to do. We're not going to lie down. We're going to play, and we're going to play to win."
It’s hard to ignore that the Wolverines have dropped just one game against the spread over their last 11 and you have to like the way Tim Hardaway Jr. is playing lately. He’s putting up 22 points over the last four games and we think he could lead the club to a mild upset here.
Pick: Michigan
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