Tuesday 2/16/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Washington won five of last six games. Kings are 8-1 in game after their last nine losses.
-- Winnipeg won three of its last four games. Carolina won three of last four at home.
-- Columbus won four of its last five games. Bruins won four of their last six games.
-- New Jersey won its last three games, allowing two goals.
-- Buffalo won its last two games, 5-4/4-1.
-- San Jose won 12 of its last 17 games.
-- Dallas Stars won six of their last seven games. St Louis won four of its last six.
-- Anaheim won nine of its last eleven games.

Cold teams
-- Flyers lost five of their last six games.
-- Ottawa lost six of its last eight games.
-- Lightning lost three of its last four games.
-- Edmonton lost four of its last five games.

Series records
-- Kings won eight of last nine games with Washington.
-- Jets won seven of last ten games with Carolina.
-- Bruins won eight of last ten games with Columbus.
-- Flyers lost six of last eight games with New Jersey.
-- Senators won six of last eight games with Buffalo.
-- Road team won last four San Jose-Tampa Bay games.
-- Dallas Stars lost four of last five games with St Louis.
-- Ducks won five of last six games with Edmonton.

Totals
-- Six of last seven Los Angeles games went over the total.
-- Five of last seven Winnipeg games went over the total.
-- Over is 6-1-1 in last eight Boston games.
-- Last four New Jersey games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 11-3-1 in last fifteen Ottawa games.
-- Four of last five Tampa Bay games went over total.
-- Six of last seven Dallas games went over the total.
-- Over is 7-0-3 in last ten Anaheim games.

Back-to-backs
-- Dallas Stars are 2-4 on road if they played the night before.
-- Anaheim is 3-6 if it played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

2nd Half Trends to Watch
By Marc Lawrence

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Now that 2016 NBA All Star game is in the history books, and with an assist from my powerful NBA database, let’s take a quick look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly trends compiled by each team in the league in games played season to date thru February 11th.

All results are ATS (Against The Spread) unless noted otherwise.

Enjoy.

Atlanta
Good: 3-0 SUATS off 3 losses exact
Bad: 1-3 off 3 wins exact
Ugly: 1-5 away with no rest

Boston
Good: 7-1 vs. opp off BB SUATS losses
Bad: 1-3 ATS as DD favorite
Ugly: 0-3 off win more than 20 points

Brooklyn
Good: 3-0 with no rest vs. non-con opp
Bad: 3-9 dog off BB losses
Ugly: 1-7 home off BB SUATS losses

Charlotte
Good: 7-1 off win 17 or more points
Bad: 1-5 home vs. opp off SU dog win
Ugly: 0-5 with no rest vs. opp off win

Chicago
Good: 5-1 home vs. opp off DD win
Bad: 2-9 non-con games off a win
Ugly: 0-7 vs. opp off ATS loss less than 5 points

Cleveland
Good: 5-1 ATS as a dog
Bad: 2-8 away vs. opp off BB losses
Ugly: 1-7 off loss 6 or more points

Dallas
Good: 5-0 away off loss 14 or more points
Bad: 1-4 off ATS win more than 17 points
Ugly: 0-4 as a dog of more than 10 points

Denver
Good: 7-0 away vs. non-con opp
Bad: 1-4 off BB wins vs. non-div opp
Ugly: 0-5-1 off a win vs. opp off DD loss

Detroit
Good: 9-1 off SU favorite loss
Bad: 1-4 off a win vs. div opp off a loss
Ugly: 1-9 away vs. opp off BB losses

Golden State
Good: 10-1-1 off win 14 or less points
Bad: 3-6 with rest off division win
Ugly: 0-5 ATS non-con DD fav off DD win

Houston
Good: 5-1 ATS vs. opp off win 17 or more points
Bad: 1-6 vs. opp off SU favorite loss
Ugly: 0-6 off BB SU favorite losses

Indiana
Good: 8-1 vs. division opp off a win
Bad: 2-8 ATS off loss 9 or more points
Ugly: 0-6 off DD loss vs. non-con opp

Los Angeles Clippers
Good: 6-1 ATS favorite off DD loss
Bad: 3-9 home off SUATS win
Ugly: 1-7-1 vs. con opp off BB losses

Los Angeles Lakers
Good: 8-2 off SUATS loss vs. non-con opp
Bad: 1-5-1 vs. opp off DD ATS loss
Ugly: 0-5 off div game vs. opp off SUATS loss

Memphis
Good: 6-0 with no rest off loss
Bad: 1-7-1 off BB SUATS wins
Ugly: 0-10 SUATS vs. opp off DD win

Miami
Good: 4-0 away vs. sub .390 opp
Bad: 1-6 ATS favorite 7 or more points
Ugly: 0-4 dog off ATS win 6 or more points

Milwaukee
Good: 9-0 vs. unrested opponent
Bad: 1-5 off BB SUATS wins
Ugly: 0-4 off SU favorite loss

Minnesota
Good: 7-1 away vs. .666 or greater opp
Bad: 2-10 vs. opp off BB losses
Ugly: 0-4 favorite vs. opp off SUATS win

New Orleans
Good: 4-0 off SU favorite loss vs. con opp off loss
Bad: 1-5 favorite off SUATS loss
Ugly: 0-6 home off DD loss

New York
Good: 5-1 dog 9 or more points
Bad: 1-5 favorite off SUATS loss
Ugly: 0-4 off win 16 or more points

Oklahoma City
Good: 8-1 off ATS loss 3 or less points
Bad: 1-4 as a dog
Ugly: 0-5 vs. .625 greater opp

Orlando
Good: 7-0 off ATS win 14 or more points
Bad: 1-3 off ATS loss 16 or more points
Ugly: 0-6 favorite 5 or more points

Philadelphia
Good: 3-0 as a favorite
Bad: 3-10 away off DD ATS loss
Ugly: 0-5 div dog opp off a win

Phoenix
Good: 5-0 off ATS loss 18 or more points
Bad: 1-6 off win vs. opp off loss
Ugly: 0-8 away vs. opp off SUATS win

Portland
Good: 5-0 vs. opp off BB SUATS losses
Bad: 1-4 vs. opp off win 18 or more points
Ugly: 0-4 off SU dog win vs. non-con opp

Sacramento
Good: 3-0 off win 18 or more points
Bad: 1-5 home off win vs. opp off SU dog win
Ugly: 0-4 favorite 8 or more points

San Antonio
Good: 11-1 home off DD ATS loss
Bad: 1-5 vs. .640 or greater opp
Ugly: 0-3 home favorite 16 or more points

Toronto
Good: 9-1 vs. .625 greater opp
Bad: 1-4 home off a loss
Ugly: 0-4 vs. opp off BB losses with no rest

Utah
Good: 7-0 off SU favorite loss
Bad: 1-5 off win vs. opp off SU dog win
Ugly: 0-4 away vs. opp off ATS win 15 or more points

Washington
Good: 5-0 off SU favorite loss vs. opp off loss
Bad: 2-8 off SU dog win
Ugly: 0-5 home favorite off DD win

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

College basketball notebook: Villanova remains No. 1; Kansas second
By The Sports Xchange

Villanova remained No. 1 in the Associated Press men's basketball poll released Monday while Kansas jumped four places to second after a week of upsets.
Two weeks after Duke was bounced from the AP poll for the first time in more than eight years, the Blue Devils returned at No. 20. Duke is on a four-game winning streak, including beating No. 7 Virginia 63-62 as time expired on Saturday.
Villanova (22-3), top ranked in last week's poll for the first time in program history, received 44 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel. Kansas (21-4) got the other 21 votes.
Oklahoma (20-4) and Iowa (20-5) stayed third and fourth, respectively. North Carolina (21-4) jumped four places to No. 5 and was followed by Maryland (22-4), Virginia (20-5). Michigan State (21-5) and Xavier (22-3) tied for eighth and West Virginia (20-5) remained 10th.
Texas A&M (18-7), which was No. 15 last week, dropped out of the poll after going on a four-game losing streak.

---Maryland freshman center Diamond Stone has been suspended for one game due to his behavior during Saturday's 70-57 loss to Wisconsin.
Terrapins coach Mark Turgeon made the decision on Monday and also apologized to Badgers coach Greg Gard and Wisconsin forward Vitto Brown. The Big Ten office also reprimanded Stone for "violating the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy."
Stone and Brown were battling during Saturday's contest and fell to the floor underneath the basket. As they got untangled, Stone pushed Brown's face into the court and was called for a flagrant foul.
Stone, who averages 12.8 points and 5.4 rebounds, will sit out Thursday's game against Minnesota.

---Rutgers freshman standout Corey Sanders has been suspended for two weeks due to a violation of team rules, coach Eddie Jordan announced.
Sanders will sit out the next four games. The 6-foot-2 guard leads all Big Ten freshman with a 16.2 scoring average.
Rutgers (6-19, 0-12) has lost 27 consecutive conference games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wildcats (17-9) at Boilermakers (20-6)

Date: February 16, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

A second-half collapse may have ended Purdue's slim chance at a Big Ten title, but a return to Mackey Arena should be just what they need to bounce back.

The No. 17 Boilermakers look to extend their home dominance Tuesday night and send Northwestern to a fifth straight road loss.

Purdue (20-6, 8-5) was impressive while beating No. 8 Michigan State 82-81 in overtime last Tuesday, but followed that win by surrendering the final 11 points in a 61-56 loss at Michigan on Saturday. The Boilermakers missed all six of their shots in the final 2:13 to fall three games back of first-place Iowa with five to play.

"We missed some shots, they missed some shots, but then they just finally hit them when it counted," said forward Caleb Swanigan, who had 14 points. "We felt like we could have put it away a little bit earlier, but we weren't playing as hard as we should have been."

Purdue hasn't had that problem at home, winning 20 of 21 and five straight while averaging 81.4 points on 48.3 percent shooting, including 42.9 from beyond the arc.

The Boilermakers, however, fell 74-65 to Northwestern in the most recent matchup in West Lafayette on March 9, 2014.

The Wildcats (17-9, 5-8), though, have lost 13 straight against ranked opponents, including eight on the road.

"It's going to be a tough environment. They have a great home court. Very physical team," coach Chris Collins said. "We have to come out and play to our strengths and hopefully not allow their crowd to get going so it leads to big spurts, and the game gets away from you.

"It's going to be important for our guys to be ready to go from the start."

Northwestern has followed a five-game slide by winning two of three after a 58-56 home victory over Illinois on Saturday - its lowest scoring output in a win this season.

"You just try to stay engaged, stick to the game plan and make plays defensively (when you're not scoring)," guard Tre Demps said. "You know the scouting report, follow the scouting report and try not to worry about it."

Purdue's scouting report starts with 7-foot center A.J. Hammons, who leads the team with an average of 14.5 points and ranks second in the Big Ten with 2.7 blocks and third with 8.0 rebounds.

Hammons has put up 19.4 points, 8.8 boards and 4.0 blocks per game over his past five at home - a big reason why Purdue has averaged 31.6 points in the paint in that stretch. He scored 16 and pulled down nine rebounds in a 68-60 win at Northwestern on Jan. 31, 2015.

"They're a power team. They're an inside-out team. You don't see that as much any more," Collins said. "If those guys are allowed to catch the ball with two feet in the paint, they're going to foul a bunch of guys out and we're going to be in trouble."

Northwestern should also be wary of guard Rapheal Davis, who had 15 points and seven boards in the last matchup. However, he's coming off one of his worst efforts of the season, scoring four points on 1-for-5 shooting Saturday after matching his career high with 24 against the Spartans.

Demps is averaging 21.3 points over the last four games after scoring 18 on Saturday. He had that many in the last meeting with Purdue, and he's averaging 15.7 while sinking 8 of 20 from 3-point range over the past three.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mountainers (20-5) at Longhorns (16-9)

Date: February 16, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

As if an opportunity to stay atop the Big 12 standings wasn't incentive enough, West Virginia also gets a chance for some payback.

The 10th-ranked Mountaineers can avenge two of their three league losses in a crucial week that begins with Tuesday night's visit to No. 24 Texas.

After raising expectations by winning their first four conference games - including an impressive home victory over then-No. 1 Kansas - the Mountaineers received a reality check with a 56-49 home setback to the Longhorns on Jan. 20, four days after a narrow loss at Oklahoma.

West Virginia (20-5, 9-3 Big 12) has responded by winning five of six in Big 12 play to tie the Jayhawks for first place and move one game up on the third-ranked Sooners, who'll visit Morgantown on Saturday.

The Mountaineers bounced back from losing last week's rematch with Kansas by yielding their fewest points in a Big 12 game in Saturday's 73-42 rout of TCU, with their trademark press defense inducing 26 turnovers that led to 26 points.

West Virginia, the Division I leader in steals (10.4) and takeaways (19.1) per game, wasn't able to create such chaos in its last meeting with Texas (16-9, 7-5), averaging a conference-low 10.9 giveaways. The Longhorns had just eight in the first matchup while holding the Mountaineers to 33.3 percent shooting and a season low in points.

That game was part of a seven-game stretch from Jan. 16-Feb. 6 in which Texas limited opponents to 60.6 points per game and a 37.0 percent field goal rate. The Longhorns weren't as stifling in recent road losses to Oklahoma and No. 13 Iowa State, two of the conference's top offensive teams.

The Cyclones shot 55.4 percent and scored 49 second-half points to pull away for an 85-75 win Saturday. Texas was outscored 48-34 in the paint with center Prince Ibeh limited to 19 minutes by foul trouble.

"With the current makeup of our team, we need him to play more than 19 minutes," coach Shaka Smart said.

Ibeh has emerged as one of the Longhorns' most important players with Cameron Ridley sidelined since mid-December by a broken foot, leaving Texas short on size and often deficient on the glass. The Longhorns have been outrebounded by 2.6 per game in Big 12 play, an area West Virginia will look to exploit.

The Mountaineers also top Division I in offensive rebounding percentage (41.5) and ended the TCU game with a 50-35 advantage on the boards. Devin Williams notched his league-high 11th double-double and is averaging 14.0 points and 12.0 rebounds over his last five.

"He continues to get better and better," coach Bob Huggins said. "(Saturday), he got going too fast and missed some shots, but he is one of the premier rebounders in this league. I think if you're premier in our league, you're premier in the country."

West Virginia also received a boost from Jonathan Holton's reinstatement from a four-game suspension as he totaled 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists off the bench. The senior forward had 10 points and 14 rebounds against the Longhorns last month and has shot 71.9 percent from the field over his last four.

The Mountaineers struggled badly at the foul line in the previous matchup, making just 8 of 23 attempts. Their 66.1 free throw percentage exceeds only Texas' 65.1 among Big 12 teams.

Texas fell two games out of first place with last week's losses but has a chance to gain ground with four of its next five at home, including games with Oklahoma and Kansas. The Longhorns are 12-1 at Erwin Center and have won seven straight conference games there dating back to last season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cyclones (18-7) at Bears (18-7)

Date: February 16, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Iowa State played two players off the bench for a combined 20 minutes against Baylor five weeks ago and folded down the stretch in a high-scoring defeat at home.

Starters like Georges Niang and Monte Morris still are the catalysts for the 13th-ranked Cyclones, but the recent suspension of Jameel McKay helped some regular reserves emerge.

Iowa State looks to win back-to-back games for the first time since late last month by dealing the 25th-ranked Bears a fourth consecutive home loss in Big 12 play Tuesday night.

Coach Steve Prohm suspended McKay two games for an unspecified violation of team rules on Feb. 6, forcing Marquette transfer Deonte Burton into the starting lineup. Burton scored 11 points in a win at Oklahoma State that night before finishing with a season-high 20 in Wednesday's overtime loss at Texas Tech.

McKay returned for Saturday's 85-75 win over then-No. 24 Texas and scored eight points, but Prohm still started Burton, who finished with 10. Burton hadn't started all year prior to the last three and scored two points in seven minutes of 94-89 loss to Baylor (18-7, 7-5) on Jan. 9.

Guard Jordan Ashton also has seen his minutes increase over the last three, combining for 63 after playing 80 the entire season prior to that stretch.

"We don't really talk about our depth at all. We just try to keep them fresh, keep them focused," Prohm said. "This league is so tough to where ... guys are going to have expanded roles and that's what we have."

Niang scored 22 points, Morris had 21, six assists and four steals and Abdel Nader had 20 in the last meeting with Baylor, but the Cyclones (18-7, 7-5) blew an 11-point second-half lead as the Bears went with a nine-man rotation and shot 52.3 percent.

Baylor coach Scott Drew understands containing Niang and Morris - who leads the nation with a 5.15 assist-to-turnover ratio and is tied with Bears guard Lester Medford for the Big 12 lead in assists at 7.0 per game - is a priority, but he's noticed other Cyclones being more involved.

Niang and Morris scored 24 points apiece against the Longhorns on Saturday.

"Burton has stepped up, Morris is really shooting the ball well and they have guys who have increased their production," Drew said. "It's a better team and a deeper team than it was at the beginning (of Big 12 play)."

Johnathan Motley finished with career highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds off the bench in last month's win over Iowa State in a showcase of Baylor's depth, but it has regressed lately, especially at home.

The Bears have dropped three of four overall and three straight home conference games after being routed 84-66 by Texas Tech on Saturday. Tied for the Big 12 lead coming into February, Baylor is now deadlocked with Texas and the Cyclones for fourth in the conference.

"I think you have to credit the Big 12," Drew said. "It's tough to win on the road (in league play), but that doesn't mean you're going to win at home. Each game is a dog fight."

Baylor has won the last three meetings with Iowa State and the last two matchups at home, but Niang believes the Cyclones are getting back on track now that McKay is back in the fold. They've gone 2-3 since a four-game winning streak from Jan. 16-25.

'I just feel like the last couple of games, we really didn't have the will to win,' Niang said. 'We used that motivation. When you want it that bad, you're going to pull it out.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Game of the Day: West Virginia at Texas

West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas Longhorns (-2, OFF)

West Virginia sure looked like it could be the best team in the Big 12 over the weekend, and it will get a chance to prove it belongs at the top during its next stretch of games. The Mountaineers begin a stretch of three straight against strong teams when they visit Texas on Tuesday.

West Virginia jumped back into a tie for first place in the Big 12 with Kansas on Saturday by crushing TCU 73-42. The Mountaineers, who had lost at the Jayhawks in their previous game, got a big boost as senior forward Jonathan Holton returned from a four-game suspension and solidified the frontcourt on both ends of the floor. The Longhorns are enduring their own brutal stretch of schedule and dropped two games behind the conference leaders with losses at Oklahoma and Iowa State in the last two games. Texas, which will face the top three teams in the conference at home over its last six regular-season games, already has a win at West Virginia under its belt and has yet to lose a Big 12 game in its own building.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

LINE HISTORY: Texas opened as 2-point home favorites, while the total has yet to hit the board.

INJURY REPORT:

West Virginia - G D. Miles Jr. (questionable Tuesday, hamstring).

Texas - C C. Ridley (Late February, foot).

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (20-5, 14-8 ATS, 9-12-1 O/U): The Mountaineers earned coach Bob Huggins his 27th 20-win season by forcing 26 turnovers and dominating the boards 50-35 against TCU. Holton, who sat out the last four games due to a violation of team rules, came off the bench and delivered 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in 18 minutes, while center Devin Williams put up his third double-double in the last five games. “(Williams) continues to get better,” Huggins told reporters. “(Saturday), he got going too fast and missed some shots, but he is one of the premier rebounders in this league.”

ABOUT TEXAS (16-9, 7-5, 12-12 ATS, 10-14 O/U): The Longhorns held the Mountaineers to 31.1 percent from the field in a 56-49 road win on Jan. 20 but had less success on the defensive end on Saturday, when Iowa State went off at 55.4 percent in the 85-75 loss. The setback sent Texas into the new week in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big 12. “I don’t obsess over the standings,” Texas coach Shaka Smart told reporters. “We’re just trying to take care of business when we take the floor. I know we had two great opportunities this week on the road that we weren’t able to take advantage of.”

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* West Virginia is 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Under is 7-1 in Texas' last eight overall.

CONSENSUS: Early on the public is backing West Virginia, with 59 percent of wagers on the Mountaineers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Feb. 16 Opening Lines
by Alan Matthews

I picked Duke to beat No. 7 Virginia on Saturday, so I'm glad the Blue Devils did. But have you ever seen a more blatant travel than what went uncalled on Duke star Grayson Allen as he was drilling the fluke game-winning bank shot? The referees should let the players decide the games and not over-officiate, but that was so obvious. But you aren't going to get the call as an opponent in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke returned to the AP poll on Monday at No. 20.

No. 10 West Virginia at No. 24 Texas (-3)

Big 12 matchup at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Texas (16-9, 7-5) has played its way back onto the NCAA Tournament bubble with back-to-back losses. But the Horns weren't even punished in Monday's new polls as the defeats were in the final seconds at No. 3 Oklahoma and then 85-75 at No. 14 Iowa State on Saturday. Playing in the ridiculously deep Big 12 will help UT's resume. That ISU game concluded a stretch of five consecutive true road games against AP Top 15 opponents, a first in program history. UT won two of them. And one was 56-49 at West Virginia on Jan. 20 when the Mountaineers were No. 6. Javan Felix scored the final nine points for Texas. The Horns turned it over only eight times against that pressure WVU defense and the Mountaineers turned those into a scant seven points. Bob Huggins ripped his team's effort after.

West Virginia (20-5, 9-3) is tied atop the Big 12 with Kansas, which I'm sure is going to win Monday night at home vs. unranked Oklahoma State. WVU bounced back from a loss last Tuesday at Kansas by throttling visiting TCU 73-42 on Saturday. TCU coughed it up 26 teams and was held to a season low in points. WVU junior Devin Williams scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. He became the 50th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. WVU starting forward Jonathan Holton returned from a four-game suspension and had 14 points and seven rebounds. Huggins' next win will be No. 786 all-time, which would tie him for ninth on the NCAA career list with Lefty Driesell.

Key trends: The Horns are 7-1 against the spread in their past eight games. They are 4-1 ATS in their past five at home. WVU is 1-6 ATS in the past seven meetings.

I'm leaning: Texas.

Creighton at Butler (-4.5)

This Big East game is at 7 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. These are two bubble teams, although Creighton isn't listed on ESPN's Bracketology, even among the first eight teams out. That surprises me. The Bluejays (17-9, 8-5) are trending up as they are on a three-game winning streak. They took care of business at Marquette 65-62 on Saturday. James Milliken hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:05 left and Maurice Watson Jr. had 18 points and 10 assists. The win was the 138th at Creighton for Greg McDermott, tying him with John J. "Red" McManus for third on the school's all-time wins list. Watson Jr. was named Big East and National Player of the Week on Monday. He averaged 25.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals last week. He leads the Big East in assists.

Butler (17-8, 6-7) is listed among the "First Four Out" for the Big Dance. The Bulldogs had a three-game winning streak end in a 74-57 home loss to No. 5 Xavier on Saturday. It was Butler's most lopsided home defeat in two seasons under Coach Chris Holtmann. The Musketeers shot 57 percent from the field and held the Bulldogs to 33.3 percent. Kelan Martin had his seventh double-double in the game, posting a team-high 15 points and 12 rebounds for Butler. Creighton beat visiting Butler 72-64 on Jan. 23. Watson scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half for the Bluejays. Butler shot only 30.4 percent but was without point guard Tyler Lewis. He's back now.

Key trends: Creighton is 6-1 ATS in its past seven road games. Butler is 2-7 ATS in its past nine vs. teams with a winning record. The Bluejays are 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

I'm leaning: Butler (despite trends).

Ole Miss at Texas A&M (-9.5)

SEC game at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Rebels (16-9, 6-6) have slim NCAA Tournament at-large hopes. They don't face a ranked team the rest of the regular season to help boost their resume. That's the weak SEC for you. Ole Miss is off a 76-60 home win over Arkansas on Saturday. Star guard Stefan Moody had 17 points, with 16 coming after halftime as the Rebels erased a two-point deficit at the break. He leads the SEC, and ranks eighth nationally, in scoring at 23.0 ppg this year.

Texas A&M (18-7, 7-5) might be playing its way onto the bubble. The Aggies were No. 15 last week but dropped out of Monday's AP poll thanks to a 76-71 loss at LSU on Saturday, A&M's fourth straight defeat overall and fifth straight in SEC play. It led by seven early in the second half. The Aggies had only seven free-throw attempts, making six, while LSU was 23-for-29 from the stripe. Texas A&M shot 55.8 percent from the field compared to 42.1 for the Tigers. Not often you will lose shooting that well and your opponent that poorly. This is the only scheduled meeting between A&M and Ole Miss. The Rebels won last year 69-59 in Oxford.

Key trends: The Rebels are 6-0-1 ATS in their past seven games. A&M is 0-6 in its past six vs. the SEC.

I'm leaning: Ole Miss.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAB

Notes for Tuesday's games..........

Home side won both Wake Forest-Pitt regular season games, with Pitt taking lone meeting in ACC tourney. Wake lost 13 of last 15 games after an 8-2 start to season- they're 3-4 as ACC road underdogs- four of their last five road losses were by 11+ points. Pitt lost six of last nine games after a 14-1 start; they're 3-2 as an ACC home favorite, but lost two of last three at home. ACC double digit home favorites are 12-9 vs spread.

Davidson won 78-70 at Richmond Jan 25; Spiders were 0-15 on arc in a game they led 54-49 with 9:00 left- they lost 81-67 LY in only A-14 visit here. Wildcats are 2-3 in last five games, 2-2 as home favorite- they are #1 in country at not turning ball over. Richmond won its last three games; they're 1-2 as road underdogs. A-14 favorites are 12-5 against the spread in games with spread of 3 or less points.

Texas won 56-49 at West Virginia Jan 20, turning ball over 8 times in a slow, 58-possession game; WVU was 8-23 on line that game, is 3-5 vs Longhorns in Big X play, losing by 17-27 points in last two visits here. Texas lost its last two games but is 5-0 at home in Big X- they're 2-2 as home faves. West Virginia won five of last six games, losing at Kansas by 10. Big X home favorites of less than 5 points are 5-2 vs spread.

Missouri snapped its 9-game skid Saturday; they lost 81-72 Jan 16 at South Carolina- Gamecocks shot 61% inside arc, outscored Mizzou on foul line, 22-9. Carolina won last three series games, by 5-9-9- they lost both visits here, by 6-8 points. Tigers are 1-3-1 as home dogs. Carolina is 3-3 on SEC road, winning by 17-3-3 points- they're 2-3 as road faves. SEC home underdogs of 4+ points are 7-5 against the spread.

Creighton beat Butler 72-64 at home Jan 23, holding Bulldogs to 29.2% inside arc; Bluejays are 3-2 vs Butler, splitting pair of visits to Hinkle, where Butler is 3-3 in Big East play this year (3-2 as HF). Creighton won its last three games, is 4-2 on Big East road, losing at Georgetown, Villanova- they're 2-1 as road dogs. Big East home favorites of 6 or less points are 7-10 against the spread. Bluejays are making 30.7% on arc in Big East play, surprisingly worst in conference.

Michigan got LeVert back (11:00) last game, beat Purdue for second win in row after losses by 13-16 points before that. Wolverines won four of last five games with Ohio State, but are 0-10 in last ten visits here, in a series where home side won 13 of last 15 regular season games. Ohio St is 5-1 at home, losing only to Maryland by 5. Big 14 home teams are 5-3 vs spread in games where spread was 2 or less points.

VCU is 3-0 vs Rhode Island in A-14 action, winning by 6-16-5 points; URI lost 68-52 in only visit here, in '14. VCU lost two of its last three games aftr a 12-0 run, is 4-2 as home favorite- all five of its A-14 home wins are by 8+. URI lost three of last five games, is 1-4 on A-14 road-- all four road losses were by 5 or less points. A-14 home favorites of 8+ points are 17-13 against the spread.

TCU won 69-55/67-65 in its last two games with Kansas State LY; they had lost first five Big X games with Wildcats. TCU covered once in last seven games; they're 2-4 in Big X home games, beating Texas/OSU. Big X home underdogs of less than 5 points are 5-7 vs spread. K-State lost four of last five games; they're 0-6 on Big X road- they're 2-1 as Big X favorite, but all three of those games were in Little Apple.

Vanderbilt is 5-3 in last eight games with Mississippi State, splitting its last four visits to Starkville. Vandy won seven of last nine games, is 2-4 on SEC road, winning at Tennessee/Auburn. SEC home underdogs of 3 or less points are 6-10 vs spread. Bulldogs lost three of last four games, are 2-4 at home, beating Ole Miss-Arkansas, with three losses by 5 or less points. Vandy lost three of its last four road games.

Georgia lost 77-63 at Florida Jan 2; Gators made 9-22 on arc, only 24-41 on foul line (Dawgs were 19-27). Florida is 7-2 in last nine series games, but are 2-4 in last six visits here. Dawgs won five of last seven games, are 5-1 at home in SEC, with only loss to A&M- they're 2-0-2 as home favorites. Florida lost two of last three games, losing four of last five on road. SEC home favorites of less than 5 points are 9-4 vs spread.

Ole Miss won four of last five games; Texas A&M lost five of last six. Home side won all four series games; Rebels lost 69-67/71-60 in its two visits here. Ole Miss is 1-4 on SEC road with only win at Mizzou; they are 1-3 as road dogs. Aggies are 3-8-1 vs spread in SEC, 2-3 as favorite at home- their only loss in six SEC home games by to South Carolina by 3. SEC home favorites of 9+ points are 11-10 vs spread.

Baylor won 94-89 at Iowa State Jan 9, outscoring Cyclones 54-37 over last 16:23; Bears won four of last five games with ISU, winning by 13-1 in last two played here. Big X home teams are 10-7 vs spread in games where spread was 4 or less points. Baylor lost its last three home games; they lost three of last four overall. Cyclones are 3-3 in Big X road, with losses by 4-3-3 points- they're 7-5 despite being favored 11 times.

First UNLV road game since Zimmerman got hurt; they've got walk-on playing with seven scholarship kids. Rebels pounded Air Force 100-64 at home Jan 16, when Zimmerman/Carter both played- Rebels made 13 of 25 on arc. Flyboys are 3-4 in last seven series games, winning two of last three played here- they're 3-1 as home dogs- eight of its 10 losses in MW came by 9+ points. Mountain West home underdogs of 4+ points are 9-4 vs spread. UNLV is just 1-4 as a road favorite.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Buckets at a Premium'

When Mountaineers and Longhorns meet in Austin Tuesday night buckets will be at a premium. West Virginia and Texas both are solid at keeping the ball out of their own basket. Defense the moniker for Mountaineers with its relentless press are tops in the Big-12 giving up 64.8 per/contest on 41.9% from the field, 30.3% from long range. Longhorns have the 3rd-best scoring defense in the conference allowing 67.1 per/contest on 40.3% from the field, 33.7% from outside.

Offenses scrounging for buckets, there is a strong lean towards 'Under'. In Mountaineers last nine vs a conference opponent the 'Under' is 7-2-1. In Longhorns last seven games vs a Big-12 rival the 'Under' is a 6-1. Additionally, the 'Under' has been the right choice in the last four meetings between these schools. Finally 'Under' has paid dividends in 3-of-4 when the two tean clash at this venue.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAA Basketball Betting Preview

Iowa State Cyclones at Baylor Bears February 16, 9:00 EST

Every game takes on a higher level of importance at this stage of the season, as all of the teams in the hunt for the Tournament try to finish in the best spot possible. One of the biggest games on the calendar this coming Tuesday sees the Iowa State Cyclones make the trip to the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas to face the Baylor Bears.

Both of these teams still have an outside shot of finishing on top of the Big 12 Conference this season, but since both are 2 games back right now, they know that this game may knock the loser out of contention.


Why bet on the Iowa State Cyclones

The Iowa State Cyclones (18-7, 7-5) are currently occupying the #14 spot in the national rankings, thanks in large part to the fact that they have had some decent success against ranked opponents. They are coming into this one on the back of an 85-75 win over a ranked Texas Longhorns team, which was a win that was much-needed given that they had dropped a game to Texas Tech earlier in the week. That sort of inconsistency has plagued Iowa State over the past couple of weeks, but they do seem to be able to find a way to raise their game against better opponents. They are 3-2 in their last 5 road games this season, so they do know how to get the win in hostile territory. The Cyclones are averaging 82.3 PPG, and are giving up 73.8 PPG.


Why bet on the Baylor Bears

The Bears (18-7, 7-5) are on a bit of a slide, and have now dropped 3 of their last 4 games. That has seen them drop all the way down to #21 in the national rankings, and they could conceivably drop out of the top 25 altogether with another poor showing this week. One thing that they do have in their favor, besides a home court advantage, is that they already have shown that they can beat the Cyclones. Baylor played on the road at Iowa State back near the beginning of the year, and they managed to come away with the 94-89 win in that one. They were playing much better ball at that stage of the season, though, so I’m not so sure that we can use that win as any sort of indicator here. The Bears are averaging 78.1 PPG, and are giving up 68.9 PPG so far this season.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

You would think that Baylor would be the favorite on home court for this one, especially after already beating Iowa State this season, but I don’t see it that way. The Bears are struggling right now, and I think they could be in trouble here.

Iowa State Cyclones 77 Baylor Bears 73

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Dover Downs

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 6 - Post: 6:10 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 79 - Purse:$5000 - FILLIES/MARES CLAIMING $10,000 WITH ALLOWANCES


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 4 RUMOR MILL 5/2


# 5 J'S LITTLEROCKSTAR 4/1


# 6 FASHION ROCKER 6/1


RUMOR MILL has a very good shot to take this outing. Bettors should notice that this entrant runs with second time Lasix today. Many handicappers will recognize the stellar speed rating in the last contest. Stacks up against any horse in this field of horses. This entrant will have to be a play, based on the great driver/trainer win statistic. J'S LITTLEROCKSTAR - Deserves a shot given the successful win stat she sports. Drawing the 5 post at this track has lead to a well above average win stat. FASHION ROCKER - She has good class numbers, averaging 81. Worth considering for a bet here. Lewis fits this fine animal's style perfectly. They've enjoyed some tremendous results when teaming up.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Pompano Park

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 8 - Post: 9:36 - 1 mile. TROT - Class Rating: 82 - Purse:$6500 - THE `OVER THE HILL GANG` - 9-YEAR-OLDS AND UP WINNERS OVER $50,000 IN 2015-16 NOT ELIGIBLE.


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 5 CELTIC MERCHANT 12/1


# 7 ON THE TAB 9/2


# 6 ADENIUM 5/2


Look no further than CELTIC MERCHANT as the wager in this race especially at such a decent 12/1. This standardbred has been making trips to the winner's circle on a routine basis, look for him to make another showing soon. When starting from the 5 position, a much higher than average win percentage has resulted. The driver Plano has a knack with this gelding, regularly cashing in their outings. ON THE TAB - Overall ratings appear nice. Can't throw out at this point. ADENIUM - Has really strong speed figures and most likely has to be thought of for a bet for this one. That 87 TrackMaster Speed Rating clocked in the last race puts this contender in the mix here.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Louisiana Downs

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 5 - Maiden Claiming - 110y on the Dirt. Purse: $6000 Class Rating: 63

QUARTER HORSE 110Y, FOR ACCREDITED LA BRED MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD. WEIGHT, 124 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES

The Walker Group Picks

# 2 DASHING FOR BUX 7/2


# 4 FIRST DASHING MARIA 5/2


# 3 FLATTERING EFFORT 5/1


DASHING FOR BUX is the most competitive bet in this race. FIRST DASHING MARIA - Recently Alvarez has been scorching which may give the edge to this filly. Don't overlook this filly in your propositions - very dangerous with Alvarez aboard. FLATTERING EFFORT - Looks very good to be up on the lead at the first call. A solid 71 avg class figure may give this filly a distinct class edge against this group of horses in this race.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Mahoning Valley Race Course

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 1 - Maiden Claiming - 8.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $7000 Class Rating: 57

FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 118 LBS.; OLDER, 126 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES

The Walker Group Picks

# 3 TICKET TO VICTORY 5/2


# 2 FLASHY STORM 8/5


# 5 WAY OUT WILLIE 7/2


I've got to go with TICKET TO VICTORY. Will probably compete solidly in the pace contest which bodes well with this field. Put up a solid Equibase Speed Fig in the latest race. Can run another good one in this affair. Trainers don't bring mounts back this quickly without a good reason. FLASHY STORM - Bracho has been sizzling the last month, winning at a nifty 19 percent rate. Bracho will most likely be able to get this gelding to break out sharply in this competition. WAY OUT WILLIE - The average class fig alone makes this one a contender. Look for this animal to be close on the wire versus these mounts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Mahoning Valley Race Course - Race #2 - Post: 1:12pm - Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $7,500 Class Rating: 67

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#1 KALLIES KRUISIN (ML=8/1)
#6 BAKIN' WITH CINDY (ML=5/2)
#2 INCLUDE THE BROWNS (ML=8/5)


KALLIES KRUISIN - Mare had the second fastest workout of the day prepping for this. The most dangerous animal in racing is the lone speed horse. If they let her get away early they probably won't catch her. This horse earns a lot of dough per start. I believe she can increase the lifetime bankroll in this race. BAKIN' WITH CINDY - Already raced against today's M/L choice on February 2nd at Mahoning Valley Race Cour and finished ahead of that one. Have to believe she can do it again right here. Cain brings her back again. I recommend you stick with this strong mare. INCLUDE THE BROWNS - This mare is in nice condition, having run a nice race on February 2nd, finishing third. This thoroughbred has increased her speed ratings in each of the last two races. That kind of progress is just want you want for a winner today.

Vulnerable Contenders: #4 SPACE OF TIME (ML=6/1),

SPACE OF TIME - Difficult to wager on at 6/1 odds after the two most recent showings. This less than sharp equine ran a disappointing speed rating last race out. She shouldn't improve and will likely suffer defeat today running that figure.

Top HatGUEST COMMENTARY: Hal - BAKIN' WITH CINDY - Advancing each step of the way, this thoroughbred has recorded significant increases in her speed figures over her last two events.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#1 KALLIES KRUISIN is the play if we get odds of 5/2 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:
1 with [2,6]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Box [1,2,6] Total Cost: $6

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Skip

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Turf Paradise - Race #4 - Post: 2:10pm - Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $7,000 Class Rating: 68

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#8 CAT'S REALITY STAR (ML=2/1)


CAT'S REALITY STAR - This mare is in good form, having run a nice race on Jan 31st, finishing second. This mare's last speed rating is high enough to prove victorious here, I'll play her back again in today's event.

Vulnerable Contenders: #3 GREAT SELECTION (ML=9/5), #2 MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE (ML=7/2), #4 SHEZAMOVER (ML=5/1),

GREAT SELECTION - If you keep playing these kind of 'bridesmaid' types, you're going to be disappointed often. MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE - This mare showed very liitle last time. Difficult to put your dough on the win end of any horse that finishes second and third as often as this thoroughbred does. Quite unimpressive speed figure in the last race at Turf Paradise at 6 1/2 furlongs. Don't believe this horse will improve too much in today's race. Turf Paradise isn't cozy quarters to this vulnerable equine. SHEZAMOVER - The speed figure last time out doesn't fit very well in this race when I look at the class figure of today's race. Mark this horse as a vulnerable competitor.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#8 CAT'S REALITY STAR to win at post-time odds of 1/1 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:
Pass

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Yonkers: Tuesday 2/16 Analysis
By Matt Rose

DRF HARNESS

MEET STATS: 35 - 117 / $218.60

BEST BETS: 5 - 10 / $18.00

Best Bet: LONG LIVE ROCK (4th)

Spot Play: KEYSTONE BODACIOUS (8th)


Race 1

(1) ART FOR ARTS SAKE was a winner in Banca debut, will repeat with lucky rail draw. (5) REPORT FOR DUTY N qualified effectively for his 14-year-old campaign and should make a decent living at this reduced level. (4) AMASA AL has raced well in all recent and is tough to ignore.

Race 2

(6) HALL OF TERROR raced well last out in Banca debut, now gets to plunge in class; there's some legit ones in here but he gets top billing. (2) R CAAN seems better than he's been showing recently. (3) SOMETHING FOR DOC made some forward progress last out; it seems like just yesterday he was a Levy finalist.

Race 3

(4) STEVE SAID ships from Canada and makes his debut for the Allard barn; class-wise it looks like he can fit here. (3) ROLL WITH FRED keeps Sears off a decent effort and should be the one to beat. (6) JK ONAROLL finished very willingly last week for new connections.

Race 4

(8) LONG LIVE ROCK gets a big driver change to Zeron and he deserves top billing despite the poor post. (4) HEADSUP YANKEE should be forwardly placed from this spot. (6) OHOKA TEXAS N has performed well with better than these in the past.

Race 5

(1) STOMPIN TOM CREEK wasn't all that bad after an uncovered trip last week and the rail draw gives Dube tactical options. (5) SEA STAR was an odds-on winner at this level three back. (2) OK GORGEOUS ships in from Freehold after dominating lesser in his last two.

Race 6

(1) TRUE BLUE HALL was a game winner versus similar in his local return and he should be tough today from this spot. (3) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING was a good second last out for Vallee, could be second best again. (2) TEAM CAPTAIN went well in his local debut for O'Sullivan and he'll never be far back from this spot.

Race 7

(9) NORTHERN OBSESSION had a solid three-year-old campaign and the mare deserves a long look here despite the missed time. (1) GET TO DOIN IT has taken his last two at nice prices and he can certainly win this but the value won't be there today. (3) CREDIT CREATION was an easy winner upon arrival.

Race 8

(4) KEYSTONE BODACIOUS flashed early speed, then was shuffled and finished with plenty last out; he's a smooth trip away from breaking through. (1) INSOMNIAC has burned money since arriving but he certainly hasn't been bad. (5) PARTY ON THE RIVER was improved last out giving a rugged uncovered try.

Race 9

(2) SHOEMAKER behaved himself last week and was second best versus better; he can be primed for big things today. (6) AGGRESSIVE jogged in his debut for Garcia-Herrera. (1) COUSIN EDDIE is up in class a notch off the Berkeley claim and he looks for four of five.

Race 10

(5) WHATNBLAZES qualified effectively for Abbatiello, who is off to a hot start in 2016; veteran is as good as any in here. (4) FICO has shown nothing in his two starts for his new barn but he was facing better when last seen here. (1) DIAMONDS R US is a proven entity at this bottom claiming level.

Race 11

(4) ALTERNAT THURSDAYS hasn't really fired recently but he has plenty of class and seems capable of awakening from this spot. (2) BLUEBIRD KIDSQUEEN has been better recenty for Abbatiello. (5) NOBLE ANTHONY kicked home nicely from a tough spot last out and should be a closing threat again.

Race 12

(4) MAURICE went evenly last out in a needed start for Lachance; there's no standouts here and with a favorable trip he can kick home nicely. (1) WINNING IS SWEET gets another crack at an inside post and seems capable of better. (8) SECRET DELIGHT is stuck outside again and I'm not convinced he's sharp enough to overcome it; use underneath.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPOT PLAYS

For Tuesday


TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE


Mahoning Valley (3rd) Run Dan Run, 6-1
(6th) Colony Classic, 4-1


Sam Houston (4th) Lady of Rohan, 6-1
(10th) Watch My Toes, 5-1


Turf Paradise (2nd) Circus Ride, 6-1
(7th) C S I Iowa, 9-2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tuesday's six-pack

Current odds to win the 2016 World Series (William Hill)

5-1-- Chicago Cubs-- Opened at 10-1 back in November.

7-1-- San Francisco Giants-- It is an even-numbered year, after all.

8-1-- Houston Astros-- Cubs/Astros in top three of favorites? Wow.

9-1-- Cardinals/Rangers-- Texas signed Ike Davis Monday-- yikes!!!!

11-1-- Boston Red Sox-- Signing David Price lowered odds from 25-1.

12-1-- Mets/Dodgers-- Curious if Washington will play better as an underdog.