Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers edged out the Nuggets in a dramatic finish more than a month ago. LA held Denver to 40.2% shooting from the field, and Norman Powell led the way for the Clippers with 37 points. Nikola Jokic dropped 41 points on LA, and he will torture the Clippers once more. I expect the Nuggets to get revenge, especially if Powell remains on the shelf. Only the Utah Jazz turn the ball over more than LA, and the Clippers commit a turnover on 14.9% of their possessions. The Clippers are arguably a better defensive team than the Nuggets, but Denver takes good care of the ball and has the best big man in the league on its roster.

Rating: 2 Units

The Anaheim Ducks continue a homestand spanning four games. Anaheim has not been able to find a groove this season but is only four points out of a playoff spot. This is a young roster capable of breaking out. They are playing just under .500 hockey this season. The group posted a dominating 5-2 road win against the Kraken on Wednesday and dealt a 2-1 home defeat by the Kings on Friday.   

Rating: 2 Units

The bottom line is that the Celtics attempt threes more frequently than the rest of the league. A Cavaliers team that is 29th in three-point defense can only pray that Boston has an off night. Considering all of the other things that the Celtics do well offensively, hence the NBA's best offensive rating, it won't work in Cleveland's favor. When Boston is defending, they won't allow many free throw attempts or offensive rebounds. All of the pressure is on the Cavs' efficient three-point shooting to beat one of the best three-point defenses. It won't work enough, and the Celtics will consistently counter with scores of their own. Take Boston to win again and cover the tight spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Baltimore is the No. 1 team in the NFL in terms of both red zone touchdown percentage and offensive explosive play rate. We realize that the Black Birds are 8-1 ATS at home versus .700 or greater versus non-division foes, and QB Lamar Jackson is an eye-popping 23-1 outright against NFC opponents. However, the Eagles counter at 14-2 outright in their last sixteen games against AFC opposition and 3-0 ATS as dogs at AFC sites. We like dogs that can rush the ball; nobody does it better than the Eagles. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Saints go 2-0 SUATS to start the season by a winning margin of 91-19. Then they lost seven games in a row, going 1-6 ATS, only to follow that mess up with a recent 2-0 SUATS win skein. On the flip side, the Rams start the season 1-4 SUATS, only to come out of the Bye going 4-1 SUATS before falling to the Eagles last week. The Rams are 2-5 ATS away in Domes and 2-5 ATS against foes coming off a Bye, while the host in this series is 10-0 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

Wofford has lost six of its last seven games against non-conference opponents. While North Alabama has won three of its last four day games.

Inter-Conference Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

Since entering the NFL in 2020, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has 19,627 passing yards and can surpass Jameis Winston (19,737 passing yards) for the second-most passing yards by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (20,618 passing yards) has more. Falcons QB Kirk Cousins checks in at 11-4 ATS in his NFL career as a dog when his team is coming off back-to-back losses, including 9-1 ATS in the last ten games. Not only is Atlanta 5-1 ATS when coming off a Bye week, but the Chargers are 1-10 ATS versus foes coming off a Bye week.

AFC Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

The Steelers are 5-0 this season against teams that are currently above .500, but just 3-3 against teams that are under .500. Adding salt to the wound, over the past 30 years, NFL teams were 107-1 when holding their opponent to one or fewer first downs and forcing at least three turnovers while also totaling at least 350 yards of offense. The Steelers did all those things on Thursday night and still lost, which means that the NFL teams are now 107-2 in that situation. With the 4-7 Bengals one loss from having the final nail pounded into its coffin by the 8-3 Steelers, we need to consider that Pittsburgh is 0-4 ATS against foes coming off a Bye week while Cincinnati is 3-0 ATS when coming off a Bye week

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Tigers hit a shooting slump in Friday’s overtime loss to Kennesaw State, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field with 5-of-28 (17.9 percent) from 3-point range. Towson did notch 52 rebounds and hung around for most of the game against a pretty solid Owls team, though. That said, it’s the third game in a row with fewer than 65 points for the Tigers. They’ve got to find some offense.

Rating: 2 Units

Doncic has missed four straight games and is doubtful to play against Utah. Both Gafford and Thompson are considered day-to-day, and the Mavericks will continue to lean on Kyrie Irving, who’s averaging 27.3 points and 6.0 assists over his last three outings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Phoenix Suns have been struggling. Following a 127-117 loss to the Nets, the Suns have only one victory in their last seven games. Injuries have hurt the Suns in the early going. Devin Booker (24.6 ppg) has started all 18 games this season, but Kevin Durant (27.4 ppg) and Bradley Beal (18.2 ppg) have missed seven games each. Fortunately for Suns fans, the team is 9-2 with Durant in the lineup, even though he dropped 30 points in the loss to Brooklyn on Wednesday.

CFB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

Marshall is only 3-7 ITS (In The Stats) this campaign, while JMU is 9-2 ITS. Hmm, something looks off here. Meanwhile, Jimmy is plenty mad just about now, sporting the better numbers while looking up at Marshall in the Sun Belt standings. While they can’t make it to the title game, they can get a large measure of revenge in their Last Home Game from a 26-2 loss they suffered here as double-digit chalk when the Herd last visited in 2022. The Mad Men are 2-0 SUATS in regular season finales since joining the FBS, winning by an average margin of 41 points per game. FYI: Last season, they dropped their LHG, 26-23, as a double-digit favorite to Appalachian State. They won’t make the same mistake this year since Marshall is 2-10 SUATS in the second of consecutive away games, including 1-8 SU and 0-9 ATS versus sub .750 foes

Rating: 2 Units

The Buffalo Sabres are playing better but have only won five of 10 road games on the season. I expect a desperate Islanders team here who need some wins before they dip too far out of a playoff spot. They were competitive in a tough OT loss against the Capitals on Friday. The Sabres have not been scoring many goals which is not ideal against an Islanders squad that is usually sharp defensively. Buffalo has only scored 11 goals in its last five games. The Sabres will have backup James Reimer in the cage. He has a weak 3.67 GAA.  The Islanders already beat the Sabres 4-3 last month and I expect another win.

Rating: 3 Units

It’s not good news for the Longhorns. Not only is Bevo a ghastly 2-11 ATS as a favorite of 21 or fewer points versus SEC opponents, but Steve Sarkisian’s bunch is just 1-4 ATS in their most recent five tries as conference road chalk. Not so for the Aggies, who are 7-2-1 ATS their last ten versus an .800 or better conference opponent and have cashed tickets in five of the last series showdowns. Hey, if any coach in America can rally his team after a crushing defeat, it’s A&M’s Mike Elko, and his squad hasn’t lost back-to-back games all season. Elko also chips in with a 6-2 ATS mark as a conference dog, including 3-0 ATS at home. Finally, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is 6-10 SU and 5-11 ATS away off a SU conference home win, including 0-6 ATS in the last six games.

Rating: 2 Units

The last foe to tag the Ducks with a defeat was – you guessed it – the same Washington Huskies that are coming to Eugene. The Bad Dogs took the Ducks down two times last season, including a 34-31 win as a 10-point dog in the Pac-12 championship game. That loss kept Oregon from being one of the final four playoff teams last year, and U-Dub will likely pay the price here. Don’t be concerned about OU scoring a season-low 16 points in their win over Wisconsin, as Camp Randall Stadium is a snake den for many visiting teams. Consider Oregon’s 6-1 ATS record after failing to score 20 points in the previous game and its 8-3 ATS mark off a SU win of 3 or fewer points when facing a sub .700 foe. The Huskies limp into town with an awful 1-6-1 ATS ledger after a week of rest and a money-burning 2-11 ATS as a conference road dog of 13 or more points. Folks, this is the best Oregon team we’ve seen since they ditched the ho-hum Green & Gold uniforms of old and hired the costume designer from “Flash Gordon” to put a futuristic spin on their duds. Washington is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Lightning are having a great season with their offense leading the way, scoring 3.81 goals per game. Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel have scored 21 goals and 38 assists but the entire offense has been great. Anthony Cirelli, Jake Guentzel, and Brayden Point have combined for 33 goals and 30 assists while Victor Hedman and JJ Moser have added six goals and 21 assists from the point to put the offense over the top.

Rating: 2 Units

The home team has won each of the Flames' last 11 games. The Flames have lost each of their last six road games. The home team has covered the puck line in eight of the Flames' last nine games. The Flames have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 11 road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Rating: 2 Units

The Senators have two wins in a row and look to pull off the upset but the Kings look to take over this one on their home ice. The Kings should create plenty of scoring chances with Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes. The Kings, who allow only 2.78 goals per game, should limit the Senators offense with Michael Anderson, Brandt Clarke, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender David Rittich to make plenty of big saves. The Kings should win the game with a strong performance on their home ice.

Rating: 3 Units

Fan sentiment toward coach Kelly is not running high – especially with his choke-on-a-bone $61 million contract buyout likely ensuring his return next season. As for this evening’s showdown in Red Stick, Kelly stands 0-3 ATS as a career favorite of fewer than seven points in Last Home Game situations. Worse, his team enters on a 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS run and is flatter than Louisiana roadkill. The Sooners only have momentum from the win over Bama, as this will be their first chance to register back-to-back victories since the beginning of the 2024 campaign. But compared to lifeless LSU, it’s enough for us considering that Oklahoma is 21-7 SUATS in regular season finales, including 5-0 ATS as a dog of 4 or more points.

Rating: 2 Units

Toledo is 6-1 in their last 7 meetings against Oakland, and are 3-1 against the spread in their last 4. Under is 4-1 in their last 5 meetings. In this Oakland Golden Grizzlies vs Toledo Rockets Prediction, Toledo is coming as a -7.5 home favorite. Toledo is better offensively, scoring 21.7 points more than Oakland, while the Grizzlies are better defensively, allowing 7.8 points less. Oakland is terrible offensively, as they have the 8th-worst offense in the nation, the worst 3-point percentage, and are bottom-30 in field goal percentage. The value here lies with the home team, so take the Toledo Rockets and lay the points at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Charlotte Hornets are battling for wins, they just cannot find any recently. They come into this game on a four-game losing streak, but lost their last game to the Knicks by just one point, and the previous game to the Heat by just four points.

Rating: 2 Units

Pepperdine’s offense sure impressed on Friday against New Mexico State. Pepperdine scored 82 points and they ended up winning by 12 points. Stefan Todorvic had a strong game putting up 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists. There were four different players that put up at least 11 points. Two games ago against Cal State Fullerton, they scored 72 points and they ended up winning by nine points.

CFB Mismatch of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

The Dame is 0-3-1 ATS in the last four as favorites of 10 or fewer points, 1-5 ATS with single revenge, and 3-6 ATS in this series with a .900 or greater win percentage. Ugh. While USC  is 7-2 ATS in Last Home Games and 8-3-1 ATS as a dog in Last Home games, including 6-0 ATS with a sub .600 win percentage. Don’t forget about head coach Lincoln Riley, who stands 9-4-1 ATS as a dog, including 4-0-1 ATS with a sub .700 win percentage. Consider that playing against Notre Dame in its final game of the regular season if they own a .900 or greater win percentage and they are facing a foe who allows fewer then 22 PPG is 6-0 ATS.

Rating: 3 Units

Boston College is looking to make amends for last year’s 24- 16 loss while sporting a 22-10 ATS record when seeking revenge for a conference loss. That spread record (since 2016) includes a 5-0 ATS mark against foes coming off a pair of losses. Pitt, meanwhile, has lost four straight after a 7-0 start, getting crushed 37-9 by Louisville on Saturday, as the Cardinals knocked Panther QB Eli Holstein out of the game in the first quarter and eventually outgained Pitt, 509-365. It’s all part of a 1-7 nosedive by these Cats in their final five games of the season for the past two seasons.

Rating: 2 Units

Rider is 4-2 in their 6 previous meetings against Delaware, and are 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 meetings. In this Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens vs Rider Broncs Prediction, Delaware is coming as a -1 road favorite. Delaware is better offensively, scoring 16.7 points more than Rider, but the Broncs are better defensively, allowing 8.7 points less. Rider is struggling mightily with their shooting this season, ranking in the bottom 40 of the nation both in field goal and in 3-point percentage, while Delaware is the 7th-best team in the nation in free-throw percentage. The value here lies with the road team, so pick the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens and lay the points on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

Be careful here, folks. Tennessee is 1-5 versus conference revenge in the last two seasons and 1-4 as road favorites of more than six points. The cuffs and collars just don’t match. Besides, Vandy is 6-2 ATS in their last eight games when they have a winning record (including 3-1 SUATS) and 4-1 against the number when playing an SEC foe with a better-than .800 win percentage. We love how well Vandy teams have gone toe-to-toe with the Vols. Head coach Clark Lea has this program moving in the right direction – the Commodores won just nine games in the previous four seasons, and now they are guaranteed to finally complete the regular season at or above the .500 mark in this campaign.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Arizona State ran their win streak to four games as they rallied in the late stages of the contest to come up with the win over New Mexico Thursday night. The Sun Devils improved to 6-1 on the season and now look to pick up a marquee win here. Against New Mexico, Arizona State played well for most of the first half, leading by as many as 13 with 5:48 to play before intermission.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pacers have won three straight games while the Pistons have lost three of their last five games. Indiana is the better offensive team, and they have the edge in this game because they’re shooting the ball well at the moment, scoring more than 116 points per game in their last three games while making over 48 percent of their shots. They’ve also done a better job at the charity stripe, making over 76 percent of their free throws. They’re rebounding the ball better as well and grabbed more than 12 offensive rebounds per game in their last three games, which will give them more scoring chances. They also cut down their turnovers and won’t give the Pistons a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Pistons aren’t very good defensively and they gave up more than 114 points per game in their last three games

Rating: 2 Units

Brooklyn upset Phoenix in its last game, shooting 50.6 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and 95.5 percent at the charity stripe. The Nets assisted on 32 of their 44 made field goals, scored 24 fast break points and added 24 points off Suns turnovers.

Rating: 2 Units

On the other end, LA is 22nd in offensive rating. Thanks to a below-average tempo, they're 24th in scoring. With Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell banged up, James Harden and Ivica Zubac are leading the charge. The Clippers are solid but unspectacular at every shooting level. Accordingly, they're 16th in true shooting percentage. Their greatest flaw is ball security, as they flew to Minneapolis ranked 28th in turnover rate.

Rating; 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Ole Miss performed well in the opening game of this Invitational, scoring 96 points with an overtime victory against BYU. The Rebels shot 48.4% overall and 29.4% from long distance. The Rebels hit 80.6% of their free throws, sinking 29 of 36. Jayden Murray scored 27 points for the Rebels and has taken over the team lead in scoring with Sean Pedulla now second. Purdue won despite shooting just 42.6% against NC State and used superior play on the boards, out rebounding the Wolfpack by 10, but will face a tough Ole Miss side that grabbed 39 rebounds on Thursday. Ole Miss showed how explosive they can be with 19 points in overtime and Purdue will not be able to keep pace with the Rebels.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

It’s an interconference clash on the ice as a pair of teams looking to move up the standings in their respective divisions take the ice in the Buckeye State. The Calgary Flames are on the road as they travel to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday afternoon. Calgary comes in off a 2-1 overtime loss to Detroit in their previous contest Wednesday night. Columbus was downed 4-3 in overtime at home by Montreal in their previous game Wednesday night. In the last 10 meetings between the teams, the Flames own a 7-3 advantage but the Blue Jackets have won two straight matchups. That includes a 5-2 road win in the most recent matchup on January 24, 2024.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Cleveland dropped the first matchup between these teams on Wednesday, as defense wasn't a priority for either ballclub. The Cavaliers surrendered 135 points, as the Hawls knocked down 20 three-pointers and were 23-for-25 at the foul line. Cleveland scored 52 points in the paint but was 15-for-48 (31.3%) from three-point range in the 11-point defeat.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

New York lost for the second time in three games as they were drubbed by Dallas in their previous contest on the road Wednesday night. The Knicks fell to 10-8 on the season and stood second in the Atlantic Division, five games behind the Celtics for the top spot. Against Dallas, New York found themselves down 23-7 nine minutes into the game and never recovered. The Knicks were down 13 after the opening quarter and never got closer than 10 the rest of the way. 

Rating: 3 Units

The Dolphins have reappeared with Tua back behind center, riding a 3-0 SUATS win skein. The problem tonight, though, is the weather is expected to be freezing in Green Bay, with temps in the 20s at kickoff. That’s not good news for the Frozen Fish, who has a record of 25-46-1 in outdoor games where the temperature is 40°F or colder. Miami is also 1-6 ATS in its last seven Thursday road games and 1-6-1 ATS in its previous eight games against the NFC North. Green Bay is two games behind first place Detroit in the NFC North and has held three of its last five foes to season-low yardage. The bottom line is the Packers are one of only five NFL teams rushing the ball better than 50% of the time per game this season, along with the Eagles, Steelers, Lions, and Ravens. Is it surprising that these teams are 35-9 SU and 30-13-1 ATS overall this season? Finally, the Packers are 19-5 SU and 18-6 ATS at home in non-division games when not favored by more than seven points under Matt LaFleur, including 8-1 SUATS versus .454 or fewer opponents.

Rating: 2 Units

The Lions are 17-5 SUATS at home when coming off wins in each of their previous three games, including 11-2 SUATS when they sport a .690 or greater win percentage. Thanksgiving Day favorites of more than 7 points are 20-3 SU and 17-6 ATS when facing .500 or fewer foes, including 7-0 SUATS when coming off consecutive SUATS wins. The Bears have defeated the Lions three times in a row on Turkey Day but are 1-3 SUATS on Turkey Day when coming off a loss of three or more points, and 0-8 SU and 2-5-1 ATS in this series when Detroit is coming off successive SUATS wins. Finally, the Lions are 17-1 ATS in games when coming off a double-digit ATS win since 2020.

Rating: 2 Units

They may be a smaller school in name, but Wichita State is the better team in this matchup. The rebounding and turnover battles should be even on Thursday. These defenses are on equal footing. The major difference is that the Shockers are actually an offensive threat. Wichita State's field goal percentage and free throw percentage are much higher and more reliable. They're also a team that's beating the spread, whereas the Golden Gophers have been in dogfights during games that were supposed to be blowouts. Back the Shockers to win and cover

Rating: 2 Units

The Thunder allow 12.5 triples per 100 possessions (6th in the NBA) on a 34.1 percentage clip (tied-3rd). They will be fired up to slow the Warriors down and get revenge. OKC misses Chet Holmgren (hip), but Isaiah Hartenstein is back from a hand injury.  Hartenstein had a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double in his season debut against the Trail Blazers last week. He posted 19 points and 10 boards against the Kings, and Hartenstein’s presence in the paint is a massive boost for the Thunder on both sides of the floor. 

Rating: 2 Units

Los Angeles will look to some of its most veteran players to help turn things around against Winnipeg. Anze Kopitar has 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in his past seven games. He already has accumulated 25 points for the 19th time in his career, becoming the 32nd NHL player to accomplish that feat. Adrian Kempe had two assists against the Sharks for his 77th multipoint game, tying Jari Kurri for the 19th-most multipoint games in team history. 

Rating: 2 Units

Washington State faced off against Fresno State on Tuesday. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but they ended up winning by 11 points. At halftime, they were only up by three points, but in the second half, they pulled away. Nate Calmese had a strong game putting up 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. There were four different players that put up at least 12 points. Washington State on the season is averaging 87.1 points while their defense is giving up 76 points per game. 

Rating: 2 Units

Kevin Durant returned to the Phoenix lineup and the Suns immediately returned to their winning ways. Phoenix is 9-1 this season when Durant has been on the floor. The Suns will look to add another victory to the ledger when they host the Brooklyn Nets tonight. The Suns went 1-6 with Durant sidelined for seven games due to a strained left calf. Bradley Beal also returned from a five-game absence because of his own left calf strain. Phoenix lost all five games he missed.

Rating: 2 Units

Denver has struggled defensively, giving up 116.6 points per game. They gave up 145 points in their last game and won’t win too many games if they don’t play better.

Rating: 2 Units

The Dallas Mavericks aim for another win without Luka Doncic tonight when they host the New York Knicks. Doncic has missed the last three games with a sprained wrist and is expected to be reevaluated later this week. The Mavericks, ninth overall in the Western Conference, have won five of their last six, and are 2-1 since Doncic was hurt. Dallas has swept the season series from the Knicks in each of the last two seasons. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Canucks are going to be on tired legs here after a tough game on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins. Two games ago against the Ottawa Senators, the Canucks were able to secure the 4-3 victory. Jake DeBrusk scored two goals and added one assist. Kevin Lankien started in goal and saved 26 of the 29 shots that he faced. The Canucks on the season are averaging 3.21 goals while their defense is giving up 3.21 goals per game. The offense is ranked 14th in the league while the defense is ranked 23rd. Quinn Hughes has scored four goals and added 15 assists. On tired legs the one thing that can’t happen is they fall behind. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won four straight games. The Florida Panthers have lost four straight games. Toronto is 7-1-0 in its past eight games. Florida is 1-6-0 in its past seven. On Wednesday night, those trends will be tested as the Panthers will host the Leafs in Sunrise, Fla. Oddly, Toronto is on this hot streak despite playing without seven-time All-Star Auston Matthews, who had led the NHL in goals in three of the previous four years.

Rating: 2 Units

Like Orlando, Chicago could get some extra help on Wednesday, as guard Lonzo Ball hopes to make his return following a 15-game absence caused by a right wrist injury. Ball came off the bench in three games earlier this season and averaged 4.7 points.

Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers saw their five-game winning streak snapped on Monday with a 126-94 loss to the Boston Celtics. Los Angeles is still sixth in the Western Conference, which is solid considering Kawhi Leonard has not suited up yet this season, and they lost Paul George in the off-season.

Rating: 2 Units

I’m taking Creighton in this one. The Aggies will need a good bounce-back effort here, though. In their Tuesday loss to Oregon, Texas A&M rebounded quite well with a 44-38 advantage (21-11 offensive) and shot reasonably (11-of-35 for 31.4 percent) from 3-point range. Trouble is, the Aggies hit a dismal 32.4 percent from the field and had 13 turnovers while gradually fading toward a second-half collapse. The 70 points were Texas A&M’s second-lowest total of the season, eclipsed only by their opener breakdown versus UCF (61).

Rating: 2 Units

Josu Grullon leads the Skyhawks in scoring with 18.2 PPG along with 4.3 RPG while Tarence Guinyard has 11.7 PPG with 5.2 RPG as the only other double-digit scorer for UT-Martin so far this season. Afan Trnka has 9.7 PPG with a team-high 3.2 APG to lead the Skyhawks in assists and Vladimer Salaridze has 8.2 PPG with a team-high 9.3 RPG to lead the Skyhawks on the glass. As a team, UT-Martin is averaging 73.7 PPG on 40% shooting from the field, 28.7% from three and 71% from the foul line this season. UT Martin has won 11 of its last 13 day games.

Rating: 2 Units

Things got wild during the first round of the Maui Invitational, but it has given us a tremendous Day 2 matchup between the Auburn Tigers and North Carolina Tar Heels. Both teams were left for dead at halftime on Monday, trailing by almost 20. Auburn managed to rally against #5 Iowa State, dominating the second half 50-32 and winning on a late basket. North Carolina was awful in the first half against a Dayton team that refused to miss, posting 51 points in the first half. Yet the Tar Heels also rallied in the second half, posting an eye-popping 59 points of their own to win by 2. Both teams expended a ton of energy, and one wonders how the legs will be on Tuesday night, as this game may become an early test of endurance and fatigue. For my Auburn vs North Carolina pick though, I am going to go with N. Carolina +4.

Rating: 2 Units

LeBron and company are slowing down a bit after their hot start to the season. They are just 3-4 SU in road games and have covered the spread only once in 6 home games. Phoenix gets their two superstars back, with their impressive 7-1 SU record in the last 8 home games vs the Lakers, I think backing them is the way to go here.

Rating: 2 Units

The Jazz, fresh off a win against the Knicks, will look to leverage their healthy lineup and home-court advantage at the Delta Center. Expect a strategic battle as both teams vie for crucial NBA Cup standings.

Rating; 2 Units

Minnesota has lost their last 2 games to drop to an 8-8 record. Point guard Mike Conley missed the last game and is day-to-day right now. The fact that they almost won at Boston without him might mean that this team is turning a corner. Rookie guard Rob Dillingham scored 14 points off the bench, giving their second unit a spark. This team just does not have a lot of life to it on some nights, even with high flyer Anthony Edwards. Houston is a team that the league wants to believe in. I do too, but they are inconsistent, so even though they have been solid in underdog roles this season, I am not sure I want to put my money on them here. Minnesota is far from a sure thing but it should have no trouble covering this short spread tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

I’ll probably end up just staying with Georgetown here. The Hoyas didn’t have too much trouble versus St. Francis PA despite dragging their feet a bit in the first half. Georgetown ended up shooting 43.5 percent from the field with just nine turnovers but did get out-rebounded 41-36 along the way. This will be a good opportunity for the Hoyas to reassert themselves on the glass. As for Wagner, they’ve been below 61 points in four of their six games so far. To be fair, however, the Seahawks have played a few tricky teams in that stretch. Still, I don’t think Wagner will keep a cove pace on Georgetown if the Hoyas are playing to their capabilities (and rebounding better).

Rating: 2 Units

Much of the luster has worn off the Huskies following their Monday defeat. In that one UConn gave up a whopping 54.7 percent from the floor and 54.5 percent from 3-point range (12-of-22) to Memphis and simply couldn’t keep up with the blistering pace in the end. Perhaps the Huskies’ easy start over the first four games failed to prepare them for a Tigers team that’s been pretty great so far this year. Whatever the case, UConn’s got to start from scratch here.

Rating; 2 Units

The Panthers shot a ridiculous 70.2 percent from the field with 32 rebounds and 15 team assists in their latest win over North Carolina Central. The 15 turnovers were the only real blemish. Georgia State has scored 71 or more points in all three of their wins, and 67 or fewer in the two losses. As for Austin Peay, they’re coming off a middling 40 percent from the field and a 35-30 rebounding deficit in their latest loss to Morehead State. The Governors have been below 69 points in four of five games so far. 

Rating: 2 Units

San Diego State hasn’t played in over a week, and I think that will play a big role in today’s matchup as they try to shake off some rust.  Sure, you may argue that San Diego State just lost by 13 to a powerful Gonzaga team, but the Aztecs haven’t played anyone else this season to give me confidence to back them.  As for Creighton, sure the loss to Nebraska was ugly, but they’ve played well against other teams, plus they have Ryan Kalkbrenner who’s averaging 21.4 points, and 9.0 rebounds per game.  The Aztecs have Jared Coleman-Jones who is 6 ’10 and is comparable in size to Kalkbrenner who is 7′ 1, but I think Kalbrenner is way more talented.  Creighton is shooting 48.8% from the field, and San Diego State is shooting 43.9%. Even if Creighton is without Ashworth, I think they’ll find a way to get Kalbrenner open and he’ll have a huge game.

Rating: 2 Units

Isaiah Hartenstein's return to action came at a good time for the Oklahoma City Thunder. With star center Chet Holmgren out with a fractured pelvis, Hartenstein is a pivotal player for the Thunder. Hartenstein will look to follow a strong season debut when Oklahoma City visits the Sacramento Kings. Hartenstein missed the Thunder's first 15 games due to a broken left hand.

Rating: 2 Units

The Kraken will be without forward Jordan Eberle, their captain, for the next three months after he underwent surgery on his pelvis Friday. The Ducks lost 3-2 in overtime Friday at home to the Buffalo Sabres, ending Anaheim's three-game winning streak.

Rating: 2 Units

The Knicks left for their five-game road trip on a winning streak and brimming with confidence. Those good feelings evaporated in a loss against the host Utah Jazz on Saturday night, and now New York moves on to Denver to face the Nuggets. New York will have to figure it out quickly against a Denver team that is scoring at a high rate. The Nuggets are tied for fifth in the NBA in scoring average at 117.5 points per game despite not having Aaron Gordon for three weeks and having Nikola Jokic miss three games for the birth of his second child. The burden of trying to stop Jokic, the three-time and reigning MVP, will fall on Karl-Anthony Towns, who is familiar with Denver from his nine seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rating: 2 Units

Iowa State is well rested as well as they haven’t taken the floor since last Monday when they blew out IU Indy at home. The Cyclones improved to 3-0 on the season and look to earn their signature win of the early season as they take the floor. Against IU Indy, Iowa State roared to a 14-2 lead less than four minutes into the game and didn’t look back from there. The Cyclones held a 49-29 advantage at the half and didn’t let the Jaguars closer than 19 the rest of the way en route to the win. Iowa State shot an even 50% from the field, including seven of 25 from three-point range, forced 19 turnovers and controlled the boards by a 40-29 margin. Curtis Jones had 20 points and six rebounds off the bench to lead the Cyclones in the win.

MNF Game of the Month

Rating: 5 Units

By all accounts, it was the Ravens’ worst offensive showing of the year. On the other side of the field, the Chargers blew a 21-point lead but rebounded late to pull out an exciting 34-27 win with a last second field goal. The good news for the Bolts is that they are 10-1 ATS in games after battling the Bengals. They are also 16-6 ATS on Monday Nights versus non-division foes, including 7-0 ATS when the foe enters off a win. Grab the points and consider that the Chargers’ head coach Jim Harbaugh is 38-15 SU and 35-15-2 ATS in his NFL career versus non-division opponents, including 13-3 ATS versus .700 or greater opponents.

Rating: 2 Units

The North Texas Mean Green have four wins on the season, but two of them came against teams from outside of Division I. They beat Evansville in their opener, but did have a strong win over Minnesota on the road. Oregon State will be the biggest program they have hosted so far this season. In their last game, they played Texas Wesleyan out of the NAIA, and only won by seven in a game they likely should have won by more. In that game, they were led by Atin Wright with 19 points and three made threes in the win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Islanders have won two of their last three home games while the Red Wings have lost three straight road games. New York doesn’t have a high-scoring offense, but they’re playing well offensively, scoring 10 goals in their last three home games. They also played well on special teams, converting 25 percent of their power play opportunities during that stretch. The Red Wings are the worst in the league in penalty kills and they’re not playing well defensively, giving up 15 goals in their last three road games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Islanders.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pacers will win and cover the spread in this one, as they lean on their offense to get revenge for the loss earlier this month. For New Orleans, they are battling injury woes and without key starters, they won't have the scoring depth to match Indiana in this one. The Pacers rank top ten in a few key offensive metrics and considering New Orleans has been one of the league's worst teams defensively, it isn't a great matchup at this point in time. The Pelicans only have one road win this season, while Indiana has been elite at home, as those trends carry over into Monday night's action, resulting in an easy Indiana win.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Vanderbilt Commodores are 6-0 this season after they defeated Seton Hall by a score of 76-60 in their last game. Vanderbilt led 38-28 at the half and they pulled away in the second half for the double-digit win. The Commodores shot 51.9% from the field, 37% on three-pointers, and 83.3% on free throws in the game. Tyler Nickel led Vanderbilt with 24 points and four rebounds in the win. Prior to that game, the Commodores defeated Nevada by a score of 73-71, while also beating Jackson State and California before that. Vanderbilt has scored 85.8 points per game and they have allowed 70 points per game, while also averaging 38 rebounds and 16.2 assists per game this season. Jason Edwards is averaging 16 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, while Vanderbilt is shooting 48.7% from the field, 69.9% on free throws, and 30.5% on three-pointers.

Rating: 3 Units

The Rams’ defense is suddenly standing tall these days. They pressured New England QB Drake Maye on 47.8% of his drop backs, with 11 defenders generating at least one pressure. Jared Verse generated a team leading five pressures, with four coming in less than 2.5 seconds. When pressured, Maye was 11 of 18 for 96 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The Eagles, who appear ready to give the Lions a run at the No. 1 seed, have won six games since their Bye week. They are, however, just 1-6 ATS in the last seven games against the NFC West and could be peering ahead to the Ravens. In addition, the Eagles' 1-5 ATS away record on Sunday Nights when coming off a win seals the deal.

NFC Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

Frisco is 6-1 ATS after hosting a division foe and 5-0 SUATS in Game Eleven of the season. Green Bay counters at 9-0 ATS in its last eleven games against AFC West opposition and 6-0 ATS after playing on the division road in its previous game. The Niners shine in underdog roles, going 63-26-4 ATS when taking points in games where they rushed for 110 or more yards. Finally, when San Francisco is an underdog and rushes the ball for 150 or more rush yards, they zoom to 36-4-1 ATS. And that’s where we’ll be this today

Rating: 2 Units

Nix has kick-started the Denver offense and is suddenly in the talk of NFL Rookie of the Year following last week’s season-high 307 yards and four touchdowns in the Broncos’ 38-6 burial of the Falcons. And the Denver defense hasn’t always received the credit it deserves, yet it ranks No. 3 overall in the league. Meanwhile, the Raiders ride a six-game losing streak into this game and look like a team running out of gas. That’s not good news, mainly when Denver head coach Sean Payton feasts on the road, going 52-34-2 ATS in all games, including 10-1 SUATS when coming off a win of more than 18 points. 

Rating: 2 Units

Key Towson vs Morgan State stats: The +10 line has been covered by Morgan State in all of their last 5 games at home. The +10 line has been covered by Morgan State in 9 of their last 10 games at home. The +10 line has been covered by Morgan State in 6 consecutive games at home. The -10 line hasn’t been covered by Towson in 8 of their last 10 games on the road. The -10 line hasn’t been covered by Towson in 4 of their last 5 games. The -10 line hasn’t been covered by Towson in 4 consecutive games on the road. The +10 line has been covered by Morgan State in 2 of their last 3 games against Towson. 

Rating: 2 Units

It's hard to see Minnesota coming into TD Garden and dominating the defending Champions.  However, Minnesota seems to be finding it's grove and 8 points it a lot for a roster that boasts all-star caliber talent.  Minnesota should cover the number in what should be a tightly contested game.  Consider as well, that the Celtics have a 5-2 home record but 2-5 against the spread, with a +5.3-point differential.

Rating: 2 Units

Bryce Thompson leads the Cowboys in scoring with 13.2 PPG while Marchelus Avery has 13 PPG with a team-high 5.4 RPG to lead OK State on the glass. Abou Ousmane has 12.3 PPG with 5 RPG to round out the trio of double-digit scorers for OK State so far this season. Arturo Dean also has 5.8 PPG with 4.2 RPG and 3.4 APG as well on the year. As a team, Oklahoma State is averaging 82.4 PPG on 42.9% shooting from the field, 35.7% from three, and 75.2% from the foul line this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Key Eastern Illinois vs Valparaiso stats: The +6.5 line hasn’t been covered by Eastern Illinois in any of their last 5 games on the road. The +6.5 line hasn’t been covered by Eastern Illinois in 7 of their last 10 games on the road. The +6.5 line hasn’t been covered by Eastern Illinois in 5 consecutive games on the road.

Rating: 3 Units

Not surprisingly, Detroit piled up a 475-yard advantage over Jacksonville when the Lions achieved a franchise-record 645 yards of offense, scoring seven offensive touchdowns in a 52-6 victory over the Colts. The sticking point is that the Mouth That Roars is 10-2 ATS away in other Domes. The Colts counter at 11-4 SU and 12-3 ATS against the NFC North. In an anticipated Lions letdown, we need to consider that the Colts are 10-0 ATS against .800 or greater opponents.

Rating: 3 Units

With Tua healthy and back behind center and Tyreek Hill with touchdowns in consecutive games, winning its tenth straight game in November doesn’t figure to be a problem for Miami today. Tagovailoa completed 28 of his 36 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns in Week 11 against the Raiders and was pressured on a season-low 16.2% of his drop backs. The Fish have fried the Pats in this series, going 7-1 SU and 8-0 ATS in the last eight matchups. They are also 7-1 ATS as single-division home chalk. On the other side, New England is 1-5 ATS in its last six division road games.

Rating: 2 Units

Kennesaw State beat Abilene Christian by six points in its last game, a WAC/CUSA Challenge matchup. The Owls shot 53.7 percent overall, including 7-for-16 (43.8%) from three-point distance, and got to the foul line often (33-for-41 FT shooting). They also dominated on the boards (+13 rebounding margin) and scored 30 points in the paint, but costly miscues (19 turnovers leading to 30 Wildcats points) prevented KSU from pulling away.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rams haven't lost yet at home. Their offense is hyper-efficient, hence their 94.5 points per game. The Cougars allow plenty of free throws and don't force missed shots well. Rhode Island's offense should feast again. Meanwhile, Rhode Island's defense will have a field day forcing turnovers against a Charleston offense that averages 14.6 per contest. The Rams are also holding foes to 35.0% shooting (30.4% on threes), so they can limit the Cougars' offense outside of Brzovic. Take the Rams to handle business at home again.

Rating: 2 Units

Key Wofford vs Portland State stats: The +5.5 line has been covered by Portland State in 8 of their last 10 games at home. The +5.5 line has been covered by Portland State in 16 of their last 20 games at home. The -5.5 line hasn’t been covered by Wofford in 4 of their last 5 games. The -5.5 line hasn’t been covered by Wofford in 7 of their last 10 games on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

The Los Angeles Lakers put an end to their six-game winning streak last Thursday. They lost to the Orlando Magic 119-118 in front of the home fans. The Lakers had a three-point lead with 1:17 remaining in the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold on. 

Rating: 2 Units

Lavine has been their leading scorer with 22.0 PPG, and has been shooting well from the outside with 3.2 made threes per game on 43.2% shooting. Lavine also adds 5.2 RPG and 4.2 APG and has scored 25 or more in each of his last two games. Nikola Vucevic has been holding down the paint for Chicago for five seasons now, he is getting 20.3 PPG and 9.6 RPG as one of the most underrated big men in the league. Coby White continues to increase his scoring, he is getting 19.5 PPG and 4.6 APG. White leads the team with 3.5 made threes per game on 39.2% shooting. Josh Giddey came over from the Thunder and adds 11.8 PPG and a team-high 6.4 APG.

Rating: 3 Units

VPI head coach Brent Pry is just 1-7 SUATS against foes coming off a double-digit win. On the flip side, the Devils will be hitting the alleys for the third straight season, this time under veteran first-year head coach Manny Diaz. Yes, we get the fact that the Dukies are a mind-blowing 2-32 outright in Game Eleven of the season, but they are also 7-2 ATS as Game Eleven home dogs when seeking revenge (lost 47-45 and 38-35 in the past two seasons to the Heels). With that, we need to consider that Duke head coach Manny Diaz is 9-2 ATS as a dog of 11 or fewer points, including 5-0 ATS versus sub .600 opponents.

Rating: 2 Units

Winning faceoffs show a massive ability to control the puck and dominate the game. The Blues are 23rd in the NHL with a 48.3 faceoff win percentage while the Islanders are best in the sport with a 55.5 faceoff win percentage. These defenses have been playing well but there is a difference lately as St. Louis is allowing 3.2 goals in their previous five games while New York is giving up 2.25 goals in their last four games played. All in all, go with the New York Islanders to win at home here.

Rating: 2 Units

This will be a great game between two of the best teams in the NHL. The Devils look to control this game but the Capitals look to step up on their home ice and take over this one. The Capitals, who average 4.16 goals per game, should pile on the goals with Dylan Strome, Connor McMichael, and the rest of the forward unit establishing a strong offensive zone presence and creating open shots with quick passes. The Capitals, who allow only 2.74 goals per game, should limit the Devils' offense, with John Carlson, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone while limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Logan Thompson to make plenty of big saves. The Capitals should win the game and provide great odds in the process as home Underdogs.

Rating: 2 Units

The Utah offense has let them down but the defense has also struggled, allowing 3.32 goals per game. Michael Kesselring and Mikhail Sergachev have combined for 5.5 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. 

Big-12 Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

After a puzzling 27-3 loss to Arizona, the 4-4 Cougars will need to pull off a pair of wins in their final two games to take first-year head coach Willie Fritz to a bowl game – a win here and next week at BYU. This will be Houston’s last game at TDECU Stadium, and that’s a plus for the Cats, who are 9-3 SU and 8-4 ATS in home finales, including 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS when they surrender fewer than 24 points per game. The real trouble for the Bears is a defense that has allowed 36 points per game in its last seven games. Now, coming off four consecutive revenge wins in a row, we need to consider that playing against any college football team from Game Ten out coming off three consecutive revenge wins in a row if they are facing a .400 or greater opponent is 18-37-2 ATS in this role. When dressed as favorites of 8 or fewer points, they slip to 9-27-1 ATS, including 1-12 ATS if they won three or fewer games last season.

Rating: 2 Units

New York is 23rd in the league in rebounding as they collect 42.3 rebounds per game while they are 9th in the league in assists by dishing out 27.7 dimes per contest. The Knicks are 13th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 111.9 points per contest.

Rating: 2 Units

Long Beach State is No. 294 at Bart Torvik, and Fresno State is right behind at No. 295. That tells you a lot about this matchup. It feels like a coin flip, and I’m going with the Bulldogs, who have shown some positive things in their game. Fresno State’s defense is 73rd in the nation in turnover percentage (20.8%), and Long Beach State turns the ball over on 20.4 percent of its possessions (275th). The Bulldogs hold their rivals to 28.0% shooting from deep, though they make only 26.7% of their 3-pointers. The Beach lack the depth behind Devin Askew (16.2 PPG, 4.6 APG). They shoot 29.8% from downtown (255th) and 41.9% from inside the arc (324th).

Rating: 2 Units

The Kings have won two of their last three home games while the Kraken have lost four straight road games. Los Angeles has the advantage in this game because they’ve played well offensively at home where they scored nine goals in their last three games. They haven’t been as good on special teams, converting 14 percent of their power play opportunities. The Kraken usually play well defensively, but they struggled in recent road games, giving up 11 goals in their last three road games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Kings. The Kraken won’t be as successful offensively because they struggled in recent road games, scoring only three goals in their last three road games, all of which came in their last road game. They’ve also struggled on special teams, converting 16 percent of their power play opportunities. The Kings played well in recent home games, giving up only four goals in their last three home games, so expect them to keep Seattle’s offense in check. Go with Los Angeles to cover the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

The Flames have won four straight home games while the Wild have won three of their last four road games. Minnesota has the edge offensively because they’re playing well at the moment, scoring seven goals in their last three home games. They’ve also done a good job on special teams, converting 20 percent of their power play opportunities during that stretch. The Wild are 21st in the league in penalty kills and they gave up seven goals in their last three road games, so expect the Flames to play well offensively. Even though the Wild play well offensively, expect them to struggle in this game because the Flames are playing very well, killing six straight penalties in their last three games while giving up only three goals. Go with Calgary to cover the money line.