03-08-12 |
Stanford v. California -4 |
|
71-77 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 14 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from just four days ago; Stanford won that game 75-70. In fact, this will be the third meeting between Stanford and California this season; the Golden Bears won the first game 69-59. California was in a terrible scheduling spot for their last game at Stanford as it was their third straight road game and they were also playing the Cardinal in their last home game of the season. Despite all the negatives they were up against, California still played a very good game as they out-rebounded and got to the free throw line eight more times. Those are two areas in which teams lose their way when in terrible situational spots, but the fact that California did not and actually won those areas is an extremely positive sign for tonight
|
03-08-12 |
Oklahoma State v. Missouri -11.5 |
|
70-88 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 58 m |
Show
|
Oklahoma State played last night and the Cowboys got an easy 76-60 win over Texas Tech. However, the Red Raiders are the worst team in the Big 12 and Oklahoma State
|
03-08-12 |
East Carolina v. Southern Miss -6 |
|
78-81 |
Loss |
-109 |
5 h 37 m |
Show
|
This will be the third meeting of the season between these two teams with Southern Miss owning a 2-0 record against East Carolina; they are also 8-2 ATS in this series versus today
|
03-07-12 |
Memphis Grizzlies +1 v. Golden State Warriors |
|
110-92 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 0 m |
Show
|
Memphis is playing terrific basketball right now. The Grizzlies have won four consecutive games and eight of their last nine games overall. Included in their recent wins was a 104-103 home victory over Golden State. That final score was a lot closer than the game actually was as Memphis held an 18-point lead at one point before the Warriors made a big run to get back into the game. The Grizzlies shot 50.7% (37-73) from the field in that game and they also got to the free throw line 38 times. They scored 44 points in the paint compared to just 22 points in the paint for Golden State. And they also had 15 fast break points to just 6 fast break points for the Warriors. So despite it being a one point game, Memphis dominated that game in every facet, and we can expect more of the same tonight.
Golden State returns home from a 5-game, post All-Star break East Coast road trip. The Warriors played terrible basketball as they went just 2-3 SU as their offense scored 85 points or less in four of the five games. Tonight will be Golden State
|
03-07-12 |
New York Knicks v. San Antonio Spurs -7 |
|
105-118 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 1 m |
Show
|
New York comes into tonight
|
03-07-12 |
Phoenix Suns +9.5 v. Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
104-115 |
Loss |
-109 |
11 h 31 m |
Show
|
Despite their 17-20 record, the Phoenix Suns are quietly playing some good basketball right now. Since the All-Star break, the Suns are a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS while averaging 93.7 points per game on offense and allowing just 87 points per game on defense. Phoenix was also playing good basketball before the break as they went 6-6 SU with four of their six losses coming by 7 points or less. Phoenix hasn
|
03-06-12 |
Los Angeles Lakers v. Detroit Pistons +5.5 |
|
85-88 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 51 m |
Show
|
This isn
|
03-04-12 |
Chicago Bulls v. Philadelphia 76ers +4.5 |
|
96-91 |
Loss |
-110 |
7 h 19 m |
Show
|
Chicago is one of the best teams in the NBA; the Bulls come into this game with a terrific 30-8 record. But 6 of their 8 losses have come on the road, including a 98-82 loss at Philadelphia back in early February. Chicago does not match-up well with the Sixers as they
|
03-04-12 |
Over v. Under +1 |
|
70-75 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 28 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from late January when California beat Stanford at home 69-59. Even though they lost, Stanford
|
03-04-12 |
Virginia Cavaliers v. Maryland Terrapins +4 |
|
75-72 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 58 m |
Show
|
Virginia comes in off a terrible home loss to Florida State in their last game. The Cavaliers were in a terrific scheduling spot for that game, and they held a 10-point lead with just over three minutes left to play. But they collapsed down the stretch and got out-scored 16-3 by the Seminoles and lost that game 63-60 on a last-second three. That type of loss will leave Virginia with a hangover, and since they already beat Maryland by 27 points this season (71-44), we do not expect much intensity out of the Cavaliers in this game this afternoon. Virginia also has a thin roster (just 8 scholarship players):
|
03-04-12 |
Kentucky v. Florida +5.5 |
|
74-59 |
Loss |
-110 |
4 h 59 m |
Show
|
Kentucky is the most talented team in the country, there
|
03-03-12 |
Indiana Pacers -5.5 v. New Orleans Hornets |
|
102-84 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 38 m |
Show
|
Indiana has played just one game since the All-Star break; New Orleans has played three games. The Pacers have the much fresher legs coming into tonight
|
03-03-12 |
Baylor v. Iowa State -1.5 |
|
72-80 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 24 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from three weeks ago when Baylor beat Iowa State 79-64 on their home court. The Bears were in a terrific situation for that game as they came in off back-to-back blowout losses to the two best teams in the Big 12; they lost at home to Kansas 68-54 and they lost at Missouri 72-57. Baylor was catching Iowa State off a 23-point win over Texas A&M after they came off a road loss at Oklahoma State. Everything was lined up for Baylor to get a solid win in that game, and they did just that. But the roles are reversed for tonight
|
03-03-12 |
Louisville +9 v. Syracuse |
|
49-58 |
Push |
0 |
6 h 18 m |
Show
|
Louisville was on a 6-game winning streak heading into their game against Syracuse back on February 13th; the Cardinals lost that game at home 52-51. Since that game, Louisville has alternated wins and losses in their last four games. They come into this game off an ugly 58-51 home loss to South Florida on Wednesday night. Head coach Rick Pitino has said that he will alter the lineup for this game because he was unhappy with the effort of his players on the defensive end of the court. That projected move caught the attention of the players, and reports have indicated that Louisville is sitting on a big effort. Overall, the Cardinals do play outstanding defense as they hold opponents to just 62 points per game on 37.8% shooting from the field and 32.2% shooting from three-point land. Louisville has held 23 of their 30 opponents to less than 70 points this season, and a low-scoring, half-court game is not what Syracuse wants.
Syracuse comes into today
|
03-03-12 |
Georgetown v. Marquette -4 |
|
69-83 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 56 m |
Show
|
Georgetown comes in with an impressive 22-6 record, but the Hoyas have played an extremely easy schedule as of late; 10 of their last 12 opponents represent the bottom half of the Big East. On the road, Georgetown has struggled this season and they are just 1-3 SU away from home their last four tries, including two losses by 12 points or more. Their overall numbers take a major dip on the road, especially their defense. Overall, Georgetown allows 58 points per game on 38.3% shooting from the field and 27.8% shooting from three-point land. On the road, those numbers fall to 65 points per game on 41.9% shooting from the field and 29.7% shooting from three-point land. Their offense also struggles to score consistently; they
|
03-03-12 |
Southern Miss v. Marshall -2.5 |
|
75-79 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 34 m |
Show
|
If you just look at these two teams at face value, then you may be inclined to think that Southern Mississippi is the superior team. The Golden Eagles come into today
|
03-02-12 |
Drake v. Creighton -8 |
|
61-68 |
Loss |
-106 |
7 h 16 m |
Show
|
This is a conference tournament game being played in St. Louis and not on the home floor of any team. The Missouri Valley is a top heavy conference with the two best teams way ahead of the others. Wichita State and Creighton were the two best teams in this league all season, and we can expect that to show once again in this tournament. Creighton went a terrific 25-5 during the regular season, including a 14-4 record in conference play. Their offense is spectacular as the Bluejays average 79.7 points per game on 50.8% shooting from the field and 42.8% shooting from three-point land. Creighton
|
03-02-12 |
Memphis Grizzlies v. Toronto Raptors +4 |
|
102-99 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 11 m |
Show
|
Memphis is a good team that comes into tonight
|
03-01-12 |
Miami Heat v. Portland Trail Blazers +5 |
|
107-93 |
Loss |
-105 |
13 h 23 m |
Show
|
The All-Star break did not come at a good time for Miami. The Heat were on a roll prior to the break; they won eight consecutive games all by 12 points or more. Their offense was incredible in those games as they scored 102 points or more in seven of the eight games. However, the All-Star break disrupted their momentum, and Miami
|
03-01-12 |
Florida State v. Virginia Cavaliers -4 |
|
63-60 |
Loss |
-105 |
11 h 8 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from early February when Florida State beat Virginia 58-55. But the Seminoles were playing much better basketball back then as they came into that game on a 6-game winning streak. Things are different tonight as Florida State comes into this game on a 2-game losing streak. The Seminoles
|
02-29-12 |
UNLV v. Colorado St +3 |
|
59-66 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 16 m |
Show
|
UNLV comes into tonight
|
02-29-12 |
Marquette v. Cincinnati -1.5 |
|
61-72 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 13 m |
Show
|
Marquette comes in off a draining comeback win at West Virginia in their last game. The Golden Eagles trailed that game by 19 points in the second half but they rallied for the improbable 61-60 win. What
|
02-29-12 |
Buffalo v. Akron -6.5 |
|
74-70 |
Loss |
-101 |
9 h 2 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from mid-January when Buffalo beat Akron 82-70. The Bulls were coming off a 2-game road losing streak while the Zips came into that game on a 4-game winning streak with three of their wins coming on the road. That was a terrible spot for Akron and a terrific spot for Buffalo, and the Bulls took advantage as they brought their best effort and won the game. Tonight
|
02-29-12 |
Oklahoma City Thunder v. Philadelphia 76ers +4.5 |
|
92-88 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 53 m |
Show
|
The All-Star break did not come at a good time for Oklahoma City. The Thunder took an NBA best 27-7 record with them into the break. Oklahoma City was on a 5-game winning streak in which their offense was playing spectacular basketball as they averaged 111 points per game on 48.7% shooting from the field and 35.2% shooting from three-point land in those five games. But all five of those games came on their home court, and the All-Star break disrupted their momentum. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook did not get any rest over the break because they both played in the All-Star game. And those two guys make up the majority of the Thunder
|
02-28-12 |
Florida v. Vanderbilt -3 |
|
67-77 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 9 m |
Show
|
The SEC is a top-heavy basketball conference this season. Kentucky is the best team in the league, and then Florida and Vanderbilt make-up the second tier with everybody else filling out the rest. This will be the second meeting of the season between the Gators and Commodores; Florida won at home 73-65 earlier this month. With tonight
|
02-28-12 |
Toronto Raptors +9.5 v. Houston Rockets |
|
85-88 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 30 m |
Show
|
The All-Star break came at the perfect time for a team like Toronto. The Raptors needed some time off to rest and get healthier in order to get some of their players back on the court. Toronto has been off since last Wednesday, and the time off has allowed Linas Kleiza
|
02-27-12 |
Notre Dame +6.5 v. Georgetown |
|
41-59 |
Loss |
-105 |
10 h 9 m |
Show
|
Notre Dame has seemingly come out of nowhere this season. The Irish were supposed to be in a down year, a rebuilding season after losing a lot of their key personnel from last year
|
02-26-12 |
WEST ALL STARS v. EAST ALL STARS -3.5 |
|
152-149 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 59 m |
Show
|
The oddsmakers incorrectly priced this game when they opened the East as a 1-point favorite as sharp money immediately came in on the East and we certainly agree with that move. The Eastern Conference has the better overall teams in the NBA this season, and they certainly have a better roster than the Western Conference in this game.
The East has a formidable starting five with familiarity as the Miami Heat is represented by LeBron James and Dwayne Wade; the other three starters are Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard. The East also has a powerful second unit that knows each other real well since there are two Celtics on the roster in Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. Their second unit also features another player from the Heat, Chris Bosh, and another guy from the Bulls in Luol Deng. Not only that, but the East will also be coached by Chicago
|
02-26-12 |
California v. Colorado +3 |
|
57-70 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 57 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from early January when California beat Colorado at home 57-50. Even though they lost, Colorado
|
02-26-12 |
Wisconsin +9.5 v. Ohio State |
|
63-60 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 41 m |
Show
|
Wisconsin has been more inconsistent this season than they
|
02-25-12 |
UTEP +7 v. Central Florida |
|
45-63 |
Loss |
-110 |
9 h 25 m |
Show
|
If you just look at these two teams at face value, then you may be inclined to think that Central Florida is the superior team. The Knights come into tonight
|
02-25-12 |
Temple v. St. Josephs +2.5 |
|
72-82 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 9 m |
Show
|
This is a Big 5, in-city rivalry game (154th meeting) that has been lopsided recently. Temple has won the last ten meetings between the two teams as the Owls have simply had the much better team in those games. But that
|
02-25-12 |
North Carolina v. Virginia Cavaliers +4 |
|
54-51 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 29 m |
Show
|
North Carolina will be facing a style of basketball in this game that they do not like at all. Virginia wants to grind this game in the half court, and considering head coach Tony Bennett
|
02-25-12 |
Vanderbilt +11.5 v. Kentucky |
|
74-83 |
Win
|
100 |
3 h 11 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from two weeks ago when Vanderbilt lost at home to Kentucky. The Commodores were right in that game until the end before losing 69-63. There
|
02-24-12 |
Butler +1 v. Valparaiso |
|
59-71 |
Loss |
-105 |
10 h 13 m |
Show
|
This is an important game for Butler while it is a meaningless game for Valparaiso. With a win, the Bulldogs will get the #2 seed in the upcoming Horizon League tournament, and along with that comes an advantageous first round bye. Valparaiso has already clinched the #1 seed in the tournament, so a loss by the Crusaders tonight will not hurt them. This is also a rematch game from way back in early December; Valpo won that game 77-71 at Butler in overtime. That was when Butler was playing terrible basketball and still trying to establish their identity for this year
|
02-23-12 |
Alabama v. Arkansas -2 |
|
79-68 |
Loss |
-108 |
8 h 46 m |
Show
|
Alabama comes into tonight
|
02-22-12 |
Southern Miss v. UTEP +1.5 |
|
68-76 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 2 m |
Show
|
If you just look at these two teams at face value, then you may be inclined to think that Southern Mississippi is the superior team. The Golden Eagles come into tonight
|
02-22-12 |
Wichita State v. Illinois State +6 |
|
68-55 |
Loss |
-110 |
8 h 58 m |
Show
|
There has been no team in the country more impressive than Wichita State over the last two weeks. The Shockers are a perfect 4-0 and ATS during that time winning by 25, 21, 15, and 17 points. Wichita State
|
02-22-12 |
West Virginia +3 v. Notre Dame |
|
44-71 |
Loss |
-110 |
8 h 7 m |
Show
|
West Virginia snapped their recent 1-5 slump with an impressive 66-48 win at Pittsburgh last Thursday night. The Mountaineers will be playing just their second game over the last eleven days so they are fresh as can be for tonight
|
02-21-12 |
North Carolina v. NC State +7 |
|
86-74 |
Loss |
-110 |
10 h 35 m |
Show
|
North Carolina is one of the most talented teams in the country, there
|
02-20-12 |
New Orleans Hornets +11.5 v. Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
93-101 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 8 m |
Show
|
We played against Oklahoma City last night and we
|
02-19-12 |
Denver Nuggets +8.5 v. Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
118-124 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 7 m |
Show
|
Denver was in dire straights for the first week of February; the Nuggets lost five consecutive games straight-up and against the pointspread. We went against Denver in three of those games and we were fortunate enough to get three wins. Since their slide, the Nuggets have gone 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS. They could actually be 3-1 SU if not for their loss at Memphis on a last-second tip-in. Injuries decimated the Nuggets, and that was the reason for their struggles. But guys have been returning to the lineup, and the biggest return came at Memphis when center Timofey Mozgov played over 15 minutes in that game. Expectedly, he was a bit rusty but head coach George Karl expects Mozgov to be more effective tonight.
|
02-18-12 |
Ohio State v. Michigan +5.5 |
|
51-56 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 45 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from late-January when Ohio St beat Michigan 64-49 on their home floor. But that game was close for the first 30 minutes before the Buckeyes went on a late-game run to pull away and win by double digits. Michigan shot the ball terribly in that game as they hit just 35.8% (19-53) from the field and 32% (8-25) from three-point land. The Wolverines only had 4 free throw attempts in that game while the Buckeyes shot 18. But with tonight
|
02-18-12 |
Florida -5 v. Arkansas |
|
98-68 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 7 m |
Show
|
Florida comes in off a confidence building win at Alabama on Tuesday night. That win snapped a mini 2-game losing streak for the Gators. Florida has had three full days to get ready for the
|
02-16-12 |
West Virginia +3 v. Pittsburgh |
|
66-48 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 8 m |
Show
|
Both teams come into tonight
|
02-16-12 |
Vanderbilt -4 v. Mississippi |
|
102-76 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 16 m |
Show
|
Vanderbilt comes in off a home loss to Kentucky on Saturday night. The Commodores were right in that game until the end before losing 69-63. There
|
02-15-12 |
Portland Trail Blazers v. Golden State Warriors -5 |
|
93-91 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 35 m |
Show
|
Portland is a mess right now. The Blazers come into tonight
|
02-15-12 |
Denver Nuggets +7 v. Dallas Mavericks |
|
84-102 |
Loss |
-105 |
11 h 8 m |
Show
|
Denver was in dire straights over the last two weeks. Injuries decimated the Nuggets, and we were able to take advantage and play against Denver a few times. However, the tide has turned in Denver
|
02-15-12 |
Temple v. St. Bonaventure +2.5 |
|
76-70 |
Loss |
-110 |
9 h 32 m |
Show
|
Temple comes into this game with St. Bonaventure with the more impressive record; the Owls are 19-5 while the Bonnies are just 13-9. However, if their schedules were flipped, the records would be opposite. Temple has played an easier schedule because all of their tough opponents have come on their home court. The opposite is true for St. Bonaventure as their toughest opponents were all played on the road. Tonight is the first game that the Bonnies will host a tough conference opponent on their home court, and we expect them to take advantage of their opportunity.
St. Bonaventure plays on an extremely strong home court; the Bonnies are 9-1 at home this season. Their lone home loss came way back on December 1st which means they are a perfect 5-0 at home in conference play. St. Bonaventure plays exceptional defense at home as well as they hold opponents to just 58 points per game on 39.6% shooting from the field. They held four of their five conference opponents to 56 points or less, including three of those teams to 51 points or less. Temple has won 8 consecutive games, but their offense was able to score at will in those games as they scored 73 points or more in every game. Their last loss came on the road at Richmond in a game in which Temple scored just 65 points. And in fact, the Owls two other true road losses also occurred when they where held to 65 points or less. St. Bonaventure should not be the underdog in this game so we
|
02-14-12 |
Virginia Commonwealth v. George Mason |
|
61-62 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 44 m |
Show
|
The CAA has three good teams this season: Drexel (21-5), VCU (22-5), and George Mason (21-6). Those three teams are tangled in a three-way tie for first as they all own 13-2 records in conference play. All three teams have also locked up first-round byes in the conference tournament, so this game is all about the regular-season title, seeding and getting into the discussion for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. There
|
02-14-12 |
UNLV v. Texas Christian +8.5 |
|
97-102 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 1 m |
Show
|
UNLV comes into tonight
|
02-14-12 |
Miami Heat v. Indiana Pacers +2.5 |
|
105-90 |
Loss |
-105 |
10 h 21 m |
Show
|
Miami has won their last three games in blowout fashion; they beat the Wizards by 17 points, the Hawks by 20 points, and the Bucks by 18 points. But those types of blowout wins over inferior opponents are expected by the Heat. Tonight
|
02-14-12 |
Virginia Cavaliers v. Clemson -1.5 |
|
48-60 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 27 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from two weeks ago when Virginia beat Clemson 65-61. The Cavaliers shot the ball incredibly well in that game as they hit 55.8% (24-43) from the field and 42.9% (6-14) from three-point land. Virginia also connected on 73.3% (11-15) of their free throw attempts. Clemson did not shoot the ball well in that game as the Tigers hit just 40.7% (22-54) from the field and 38.1% (8-21) from three-point land. Despite the shooting discrepancies, Virginia was only able to win that game by 4 points on their home court. That tells us that these two teams are much closer than their record and rankings may indicate, and it provides us with some value in taking Clemson as a small home favorite in this game tonight.
Virginia is also dealing with a major injury to one of their best players. Joe Harris broke his non-shooting hand in the Cavaliers loss at North Carolina on Saturday. His availability will be a game-time decision, but even if he plays, how effective will he be with a cast on? Virginia was already playing with a thin roster (just 8 scholarship players):
|
02-13-12 |
Syracuse v. Louisville +3.5 |
|
52-51 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 8 m |
Show
|
Syracuse comes into tonight
|
02-12-12 |
Evansville v. Drake |
|
54-78 |
Loss |
-105 |
9 h 7 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from back in early January when Drake went into Evansville and won 69-60 as 5-point road underdogs. The Bulldogs shot the lights out in that game as they hit 61.4% (27-44) from the field and 58.3% (7-12) from three-point land. But a major part of that offensive outburst came from Drake
|
02-12-12 |
Northwestern +6.5 v. Purdue |
|
77-87 |
Loss |
-108 |
7 h 8 m |
Show
|
Northwestern has never been to the NCAA tournament, and this season was going to be their best shot to make it. The Wildcats started the season off strong by winning 10 of their first 11 games. But Northwestern hit a major rough patch once conference play began and they lost 7 of their next 9 games. The Wildcats have turned things around since as they come into tonight
|
02-11-12 |
Kentucky v. Vanderbilt +5.5 |
|
69-63 |
Loss |
-109 |
18 h 33 m |
Show
|
Kentucky is the most talented team in the country, there
|
02-11-12 |
Portland Trail Blazers +4.5 v. Dallas Mavericks |
|
94-97 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 10 m |
Show
|
Both teams played last night, and they both won road games so neither has a scheduling advantage coming into tonight
|
02-11-12 |
Alabama v. LSU +3 |
|
58-67 |
Win
|
100 |
16 h 33 m |
Show
|
If you just look at these two teams at face value, then you may be inclined to think that Alabama is the superior team. The Crimson Tide come into tonight
|
02-11-12 |
Wichita State +1.5 v. Creighton |
|
89-68 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 34 m |
Show
|
The two best teams in the Missouri Valley Conference will play the rematch game from back on New Year
|
02-10-12 |
Oklahoma City Thunder v. Utah Jazz +1.5 |
|
101-87 |
Loss |
-110 |
14 h 60 m |
Show
|
We played against Oklahoma City last night and notched a solid win on the Sacramento Kings. We
|
02-10-12 |
Chicago Bulls v. Charlotte Bobcats +13.5 |
|
95-64 |
Loss |
-105 |
7 h 33 m |
Show
|
Chicago has been steamrolling teams recently; the Bulls have won four straight games all by 20 points or more. The impressive thing about is the fact that all four of those games have come on the road. However, the Bulls are playing on the tail-end of a 9-game road trip with a spotlight game in Boston on deck. This is the ultimate flat spot for Chicago, a chance for them to lay off the gas and get in some much needed rest for their big game against the Celtics. Derrick Rose will be a game-time decision tonight with a sore back; he only played 22 minutes in Chicago
|
02-09-12 |
Washington v. Oregon +1 |
|
57-82 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 60 m |
Show
|
This is a pretty big game in the Pac 12 as Oregon needs to win to stay within shouting distance of the teams at the top. Washington is one of those teams at the top, and with a 9-2 record in conference play, the Huskies feel secure with their position. But a loss tonight and a couple of more ahead could spell doom for Washington. Both teams come into tonight
|
02-09-12 |
Oklahoma City Thunder v. Sacramento Kings +7 |
|
101-106 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 2 m |
Show
|
Oklahoma City has the best record in the NBA as the Thunder come into tonight
|
02-09-12 |
Golden State Warriors +6 v. Denver Nuggets |
|
109-101 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 35 m |
Show
|
Golden State comes into this game at just 8-14 on the season, but the Warriors have played much better basketball than that record indicates. The Warriors have been involved in a lot of close games, and in fact, five of their last six losses have all come by single digits. Head coach Mark Jackson altered his starting lineup and the team took notice.
|
02-09-12 |
Los Angeles Lakers +3.5 v. Boston Celtics |
|
88-87 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 32 m |
Show
|
Los Angeles comes into tonight
|
02-08-12 |
Dallas Mavericks +1.5 v. Denver Nuggets |
|
105-95 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 17 m |
Show
|
Dallas is on a 3-game losing streak, but the Mavericks were in a difficult scheduling stretch for those games. Dallas was playing on the backend of a 5 games in 7 nights and 3 games in 4 nights sequence, including a back-to-back home to road set to finish off the week. However, the Mavericks have had a full 3 days off to recuperate from that unfavorable schedule so they should be well-rested and ready to get back into the win column tonight. Dallas will also be looking to avenge an ugly 22-point home loss (117-93) to the Nuggets from back in late-December so they certainly have plenty of motivation for this game tonight.
Denver is struggling mightily right now; the Nuggets have lost three straight games and five of their six games overall. There are two major reasons for their recent bad play. The first is the scheduling fact that the majority of their opponents lately have had extended rest before playing in the thin air and altitude of Denver. And that is the exact case tonight for the Mavericks. The second reason is the slew of injuries the Nuggets have right now as starters Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov are out with left ankle sprains. Corey Brewer took a leave for a personal matter while Nene, Aaron Afflalo, and Rudy Fernandez are all game-time decisions tonight. The Nuggets have no togetherness right now with all of the missing pieces, and since Dallas is looking to snap their losing streak, we
|
02-08-12 |
Tulsa v. UTEP +1.5 |
|
55-64 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 3 m |
Show
|
If you just look at these two teams at face value, then you may be inclined to think that Tulsa is the superior team. The Golden Hurricane come into tonight
|
02-07-12 |
Oklahoma City Thunder v. Golden State Warriors +2.5 |
|
119-116 |
Loss |
-105 |
15 h 41 m |
Show
|
Oklahoma City has the best record in the NBA as the Thunder come into tonight
|
02-07-12 |
Phoenix Suns v. Milwaukee Bucks -7 |
|
107-105 |
Loss |
-108 |
12 h 11 m |
Show
|
Phoenix comes in off a 99-90 win in Atlanta last night. The Suns shot the lights out as they hit 51.9% (41-79) from the field and 45.8% (11-24) from three-point land. That big offensive performance sets the Suns up in a negative situation tonight, especially when we consider their scheduling spot. Phoenix is playing their fourth game in five nights, and it
|
02-07-12 |
Utah Jazz v. Indiana Pacers -8.5 |
|
99-104 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 11 m |
Show
|
Indiana continues to fly well under the radar right now. The Pacers come into tonight
|
02-06-12 |
Texas v. Texas A&M +2.5 |
|
70-68 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 47 m |
Show
|
This will be the last meaningful game played between these two rivals as Texas A&M will be leaving the Big 12 conference for the SEC. And since Texas won the first meeting 61-51 in Austin, the Aggies of Texas A&M are quite focused on handing their rival a loss in this game tonight. In that first meeting, Texas
|
02-05-12 |
NY Giants v. New England Patriots -2.5 |
|
21-17 |
Loss |
-115 |
237 h 29 m |
Show
|
New England once again put together a terrific regular season as the Patriots went 13-3 SU en route to a divisional title and the #1 overall seed in the AFC. Since losing to the Giants back on November 6th, the Patriots have won 10 straight games coming into this Super Bowl. The majority of the talk is that New York is the hottest team coming into this game because they
|
02-04-12 |
Los Angeles Lakers v. Utah Jazz -2 |
|
87-96 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 9 m |
Show
|
The Lakers came through for us last night in their 93-89 win at Denver as 4-point road underdogs. Los Angeles was in a terrific scheduling spot for that game as they had a full two days to prepare while they were catching the Nuggets on a back-to-back set. However, the Lakers are now the team in the negative scheduling spot for this game tonight as they are playing on a back-to-back road set while Utah was off last night. Los Angeles will also be playing another game in the thin air and altitude, and considering four of their five starters played more than 33 minutes last night, we can anticipate the Lakers to be a bit fatigued in the second half in this game.
Utah comes into this game off back-to-back losses, including a loss in their last home game. The Jazz are also looking to avenge a pair of losses to the Lakers this season, including a 90-87 home loss in overtime three weeks ago. Kobe Bryant played over 42 minutes in that game and he took a whopping 31 shots. It
|
02-04-12 |
Iowa State +2 v. Oklahoma |
|
77-70 |
Win
|
100 |
16 h 0 m |
Show
|
Iowa State continues to fly well under the radar this season. The Cyclones keep on winning, but they are getting very little recognition for what they
|
02-04-12 |
South Florida +9 v. Georgetown |
|
45-75 |
Loss |
-102 |
10 h 32 m |
Show
|
South Florida is quietly playing some good basketball in the Big East right now. The Bulls are 6-3 in conference play with two of their three losses coming by a combined 14 points. Overall, South Florida is 13-9 on the season with half of their losses coming by 4 points or less. The Bulls have played solid defense all season as they are holding their opponents to just 60 points per game on 41.7% shooting from the field and 32.2% from three-point land. South Florida also plays at an extremely slow pace as they rank #341 in the country in that category; they
|
02-03-12 |
Los Angeles Lakers +4 v. Denver Nuggets |
|
93-89 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 21 m |
Show
|
Los Angeles is finally playing all-around good basketball right now. The Lakers have won back-to-back games after going just 2-5 over their previous 7 games. The offense has finally come together as the Lakers have scored 106 points in each of their last two games. We expect their offense to continue their scoring ways tonight in Denver as the Lakers will be facing a Denver team that likes to play at a fast pace with little regard to defense. Los Angeles will also be fresh for tonight
|
02-03-12 |
New York Knicks v. Boston Celtics -6.5 |
|
89-91 |
Loss |
-106 |
8 h 45 m |
Show
|
New York has been through a rough and tumultuous season; the Knicks come into tonight
|
02-02-12 |
Denver Nuggets +1.5 v. Los Angeles Clippers |
|
112-91 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 44 m |
Show
|
These two teams just met on Sunday night with Los Angeles winning 109-105 at Denver as a 6-point road underdog. We played the Clippers in that game because they were catching the Nuggets in a terrible scheduling situation. However tonight, we
|
02-01-12 |
Illinois State +11 v. Creighton |
|
74-102 |
Loss |
-101 |
9 h 5 m |
Show
|
Illinois St is quietly playing solid basketball this season. The Redbirds come into tonight
|
01-31-12 |
Sacramento Kings v. Golden State Warriors -7.5 |
|
90-93 |
Loss |
-106 |
11 h 55 m |
Show
|
Sacramento has been non-competitive for the majority of the season. The Kings come into tonight
|
01-31-12 |
Seton Hall +8.5 v. Marquette |
|
59-66 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 52 m |
Show
|
Seton Hall opened the season at 15-2 and that earned them a national ranking. But since then, the Pirates have lost four straight games and they
|
01-30-12 |
Portland Trail Blazers +2 v. Utah Jazz |
|
89-93 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 7 m |
Show
|
Portland won for the ninth time in ten tries at home when they thrashed the Suns 109-71 on Friday night. The Blazers have not played since that game so they come into tonight
|
01-29-12 |
Los Angeles Clippers +6.5 v. Denver Nuggets |
|
109-105 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 21 m |
Show
|
The Los Angeles Clippers are now back to the team they were at the beginning of the season. Chris Paul has returned to the court for the last two games after missing the previous fives games with a hamstring injury. Paul is back to 100%, and his presence alone makes the Clippers a tough out in every game for any team. Memphis coach Lionel Hollins called the Clippers
|
01-29-12 |
Indiana St v. Evansville -4.5 |
|
90-81 |
Loss |
-104 |
10 h 16 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from January 10th when Indiana St beat Evansville 80-78. That win by the Sycamores was their only win over a 7-game stretch before they beat Northern Iowa 59-54 on Wednesday night. Needless to say, Indiana St is not in good current form right now and since they
|
01-29-12 |
A F C v. N F C -4 |
|
59-41 |
Loss |
-106 |
69 h 51 m |
Show
|
The Pro Bowl is in its third year of being played a week before the Super Bowl. That scheduling dynamic means that the selected players from the Giants and Patriots will not play in this game tonight; a total of 8 New England players will miss this game compared to only 2 New York players. That certainly gives a major edge tonight to the NFC team, especially considering the caliber of players that the Patriots would have had represented.
The NFC will be coached by Green Bay
|
01-28-12 |
Washington v. Arizona -5.5 |
|
69-67 |
Loss |
-105 |
17 h 1 m |
Show
|
This is a pretty big game in the Pac 12 as Washington needs to win to stay atop the conference standings while Arizona needs a win to get into that bunched group at the top. Washington comes in off a win at Arizona State on Thursday night. What was peculiar about that win for the Huskies was the fact that they actually won a slow-paced game that was played in the half court. Washington won that game 60-54, but the Huskies usually get waxed when held to less than 70 points; they own 13 and 18 point road losses in such games this season. Washington is going to face another slow-paced team tonight as Arizona ranks 245th in pace compared to Washington ranking 21st in pace this season. The Huskies were able to overcome the slow pace at ASU because the Sun Devils lack a strong offense, but that will not be the case tonight against the Wildcats.
Arizona has alternated wins and losses over their last four games. They come into tonight
|
01-28-12 |
St. Joseph's +6.5 v. Temple |
|
60-78 |
Loss |
-110 |
14 h 2 m |
Show
|
This is a Big 5, in-city rivalry game (153rd meeting) that has been lopsided recently. Temple has won the last nine meetings between the two teams as the Owls have simply had the much better team in those games. But that
|
01-28-12 |
Middle Tenn. St. +8.5 v. Vanderbilt |
|
77-84 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 2 m |
Show
|
Middle Tennessee St is probably the best
|
01-27-12 |
Oklahoma City Thunder v. Golden State Warriors +4.5 |
|
120-109 |
Loss |
-110 |
12 h 10 m |
Show
|
Oklahoma City has the best record in the NBA as the Thunder come into tonight
|
01-26-12 |
Colorado v. USC -1.5 |
|
74-50 |
Loss |
-104 |
10 h 30 m |
Show
|
Colorado has been an easy team to handicap in conference play so far this season. The Buffaloes are a perfect 5-0 at home in Pac 12 play and 0-2 on the road against conference opponents. Colorado is playing their first year in the Pac 12 after leaving the Big 12, and their big home advantage comes in the fact that their opponents aren
|
01-26-12 |
Boston Celtics +8.5 v. Orlando Magic |
|
91-83 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 18 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch game from Monday night when the Celtics throttled the Magic in Boston 87-56. The knee-jerk reaction for tonight
|
01-25-12 |
Portland Trail Blazers v. Golden State Warriors -3.5 |
|
93-101 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 11 m |
Show
|
Portland is in a tough scheduling spot for this game tonight. This will be the Blazers third game in three nights, and since they won the previous two games, we do not expect much effort or energy tonight. Portland has also struggled on the road this season; the Blazers are just 3-6 on the highway versus a strong 8-1 at home. And they
|
01-25-12 |
Minnesota +9.5 v. Michigan State |
|
52-68 |
Loss |
-110 |
5 h 52 m |
Show
|
Minnesota is having a good season considering they lost one of their key players early on. The Golden Gophers come into tonight
|
01-25-12 |
Indiana Pacers +9 v. Chicago Bulls |
|
95-90 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 49 m |
Show
|
Indiana is flying well under the radar right now. The Pacers come into tonight
|
01-24-12 |
San Diego St v. Wyoming |
|
52-42 |
Loss |
-110 |
10 h 1 m |
Show
|
San Diego St is in another tough scheduling spot for this game tonight. The Aztecs survived their home game on Saturday against Air Force after beating UNLV as a 3
|
01-24-12 |
South Florida +10.5 v. Marquette |
|
47-67 |
Loss |
-102 |
10 h 30 m |
Show
|
South Florida is quietly playing some good basketball in the Big East right now. The Bulls are 5-2 in conference play with their two losses coming by a combined 14 points. Overall, South Florida is 12-8 on the season with half of their losses coming by 4 points or less. The Bulls have played solid defense all season as they are holding their opponents to just 59 points per game on 41.5% shooting from the field and 31.1% from three-point land. South Florida also plays at an extremely slow pace as they rank #342 in the country in that category; they
|
01-23-12 |
Memphis Grizzlies v. Golden State Warriors -1.5 |
|
91-90 |
Loss |
-114 |
8 h 52 m |
Show
|
Golden State comes into this game at just 5-10 on the season, but the Warriors have played much better basketball than that record indicates. In seven of the Warriors' ten losses, they were losing by 3 points or fewer during the final 5:15 of the game, and in four of those games, the Warriors lost a lead in the final 6:10 of the game. This team has been close in the majority of their games, and head coach Mark Jackson senses that his team is ready to breakout.
|
01-23-12 |
Syracuse v. Cincinnati +5 |
|
60-53 |
Loss |
-110 |
11 h 34 m |
Show
|
Syracuse comes into tonight
|
01-22-12 |
NY Giants v. San Francisco 49ers -1.5 |
|
20-17 |
Loss |
-115 |
80 h 42 m |
Show
|
This is a rematch from a meeting in San Francisco on November 13th in which the 49ers won 27-20 as a 4-point home favorite. The most interesting aspect of this rematch is how quickly the public perception of these two teams has changed. San Francisco has done nothing wrong to warrant going from a 4-point favorite over the Giants two months ago to laying less than a field goal in this game. The 49ers are 14-3 SU this season, and the Giants are 11-7, yet the public consensus is backing the Giants today because of what happened last week in Green Bay.
New York is in a very difficult scheduling situation for this game since they are basically playing their fourth straight playoff game in a row as their regular season finale against Dallas was a play-in game. The Giants also had a big underdog win versus the Jets in Week 16 and of course their home playoff win versus the Falcons. Not only that, but the Giants also have to fly across the country for this game after their trip to Wisconsin last week. It is very difficult for a team to bring their 'A' game every week, especially on the road against a team that had one of the best records in the league.
The 49ers
|