Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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03-13-15 | Miami Heat v. Toronto Raptors -5.5 | Top | 92-102 | Win | 100 | 12 h 48 m | Show |
Rickenbach NBA Game #808 - *10* Toronto Raptors -5.5 vs. Miami @ 7:35 ET – The Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat Friday. Toronto is back home desperate to stop an extended losing skid, dropping four straight games and picking up only one win in their last 10 outings. The Raptors have plummeted to fourth in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and can’t afford too many more losses if they want to fight for Top 3 seed. To Toronto’s defense, those previous four games have comes against Cleveland, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and San Antonio – all but the Hornets are sitting in a postseason spot. Miami comes in with six victories in its last 10 games but a closer look at that schedule reveals some very soft opponents. The Heat have beaten the likes of Philadelphia, Orlando, LA Lakers, Sacramento and Brooklyn in that span, unable to get over the hump against elite competition. Miami has struggled away from South Beach in recent outings and we also catch the Heat in a tough lookahead spot, with LeBron James and Cleveland up next on the schedule. Play Toronto -5.5 as a *10* selection. |
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03-13-15 | Baylor v. Kansas -1 | Top | 52-62 | Win | 100 | 12 h 51 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #868 - *10* Kansas Jayhawks -1 vs. Baylor @ 7 ET – The Kansas Jayhawks take on the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals Friday, coming off a close shave against the TCU Horned Frogs Thursday. Kansas found itself in a battle it did not expect in its tournament opener and we see that scare waking up the Jayhawks before this big matchup with Baylor. Kansas had a terrible shooting day against TCU, including going 0 for 8 from beyond the arc. This KU team isn’t as dominant inside as previous years and depends on those looks from distance to fall and open up space in the post. Part of the offensive power outage against TCU was that leading scorer Perry Ellis was sidelined with a knee injury. After an extra day of rest, the versatile 6-foot-8 forward is expected to return to play BU, and will be key in matching Baylor’s size. Ellis had 18 points and six rebounds in Kansas’ 74-64 victory over the Bears last month. Baylor hasn’t had much success against the Big 12’s gatekeeper with Kansas going 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings between these conference rivals. Play Kansas -1 as a *10* selection. |
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03-13-15 | Penn State v. Purdue -5.5 | 59-64 | Loss | -106 | 7 h 22 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #822 - *8* Purdue Boilersmakers -5.5 vs. Penn State @ 2:30 ET – The Purdue Boilermakers meet the upstart Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals Friday. The Nittany Lions stunned Iowa Thursday and is ripe for a letdown spot as its crosses over into this round filled with the Big Ten’s elite. Purdue has had plenty of time to study PSU’s first two games and will prepared for whatever the Nittany Lions bring, especially conference leading scorer DJ Newbill. He scored 37 points in his last meeting with the Boilermakers – an 84-77 overtime win for Purdue. The Boilermakers enter the Big Ten tournament on the NCAA bubble and can’t afford to lose to a lower-seed PSU squad before Selection Sunday. Unlike PSU, Purdue has a very balanced attack with six players averaging eight points or more this season. The Nittany Lions have been able to simply outgun offensive challenged teams in the first two games of the tournament and will come up short when spreading their defense thin against a deep Purdue offense. Play Purdue -5.5 +8.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-12-15 | USC v. UCLA -8.5 | Top | 70-96 | Win | 100 | 10 h 22 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #570 - *10* UCLA Bruins -8.5 vs. USC @ 5:30 ET – The UCLA Bruins open their Pac-12 tournament action against rival USC Thursday. The Bruins enjoyed an opening round bye and take on Southern Cal coming off a win over Arizona State in Round 1. Southern Cal, which was a 6.5-point underdog in that win over ASU, will be ripe for a letdown on short rest. The Trojans’ win was just their third victory in the past 10 games. They got a massive effort from Elijah Stewart, who buried six 3-pointers and helped USC overcome 17 turnovers. The Bruins won both meeting with Southern Cal this season, including an 85-74 victory in the regular season finale. UCLA took a three-game win streak into the Pac-12 tournament and looks to be ironing out issues that plagued the Bruins during conference play. They have a deep lineup and can overwhelm USC on sheer talent. The Bruins have covered in four of their last five clashes with Southern Cal and should cruise to an easy cover against this familiar foe. Play UCLA -8.5 as a *10* selection. |
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03-12-15 | Penn State v. Iowa -7 | 67-58 | Loss | -112 | 7 h 12 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #514 - *8* Iowa Hawkeyes -7 vs. Penn State @ 2:30 ET – The Iowa Hawkeyes face the Penn State Nittany Lions in Round 2 of the Big Ten tournament Thursday. Penn State is coming off a close win over Nebraska, edging the Cornhuskers by three points Wednesday and having to take the court on short rest against an Iowa team that brings a six-game winning streak into the postseason, including an 81-77 overtime win against PSU. The Nittany Lions’ snapped a three-year winless skid in the conference tournament and will be primed for a big letdown on short rest. The Hawkeyes defense, which ranks 57th in the country, will capitalize on that fatigue. Iowa has held six of its last 10 opponents to 60 or fewer points and won’t be taking Penn State lightly after their close call during conference play. The Hawkeyes throw different looks on defense, switching between man-to-man and zone. They will concentrate the bulk of their efforts on containing PSU star DJ Newbill, who is coming off a big game versus Nebraska. Play Iowa -7 as an *8* selection. |
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03-12-15 | West Virginia +3.5 v. Baylor | 70-80 | Loss | -105 | 5 h 23 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #543 - *8* West Virginia Mountaineers +3.5 vs. Baylor @ 12:30 ET – The West Virginia Mountaineers open the Big 12 tournament against the Baylor Bears Thursday. West Virginia comes into the conference tournament without its biggest gun, Juwan Staten, who is nursing a serious of injuries and his listed as doubtful for the tournament opener. However, WVU should have forward Gary Browne back in action after he missed time with a foot injury. The Mountaineers are able to absorb injuries like this better than most teams due to their deep rotation and scoring prowess. They have seven players scoring at least 5.7 points per game and rank 36th in the nation with 74.1 points per game. West Virginia proved it could pile on the points without those players in a season-ending 81-72 victory against Oklahoma State. Now, WVU has revenge on its mind versus BU Thursday, after dropping both meetings with the Bears this season. The Mountaineers play one of the fastest tempos in college basketball and will try to get Baylor on its heels. West Virginia hasn’t played its best ball versus the Bears this season, suffering a cold shooting night in their first meeting and playing without two starters in their second clash of the season. It’s very tough to beat a team three times in one season and West Virginia is going to leave it all on the floor Thursday. Play West Virginia +3.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-11-15 | Akron v. Western Michigan +2.5 | 58-45 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 51 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #760 - *8* Western Michigan Broncos +2.5 vs. Akron @ 9:00 ET – The Western Michigan Broncos battle the Akron Zips on the MAC tournament Wednesday. The Zips are coming off a one-sided win over Northern Illinois in the opener and is setting up for a letdown in Round 2. Akron picked up just one win in its final seven MAC regular season games and is being overvalued in this matchup with the Broncos. Western Michigan has won six of its last eight games, including a Round 1 victory over Ohio Monday. The Broncos have an explosive offense that puts up 71.8 points per game and has four players averaging more than 10 points per game on the season. Western Michigan lost both meeting with the Zips this season, getting edged 71-69 in their most recent encounter. The Broncos were dealing with injury woes at the time. This time around, it’s the Zips that are dealing with player issues. Point guard Noah Robotham is out for the year and center Pat Forsythe is dealing with turf toe, which has limited him greatly in the past two games. Beating a team three times in one season is very tough to do, especially with a spread so close. We expect WMU to get its revenge in a big way Wednesday. Play Western Michigan +2.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-11-15 | Los Angeles Clippers +7 v. Oklahoma City Thunder | Top | 120-108 | Win | 100 | 12 h 56 m | Show |
Rickenbach NBA Game #711 - *10* LA Clippers +7 at Oklahoma City @ 8:05 ET – The Clippers have some revenge in mind when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday. Los Angeles took a 131-108 beating on the chin the last time it visited the Chesapeake Energy Arena, and hasn’t been able to score wins against the elite teams in the Western Conference recently. The Clippers know how important this game is with San Antonio, Dallas, and OKC breathing down their necks for the No. 5 spot in the conference standings. The Thunder have been trying to simply outgun teams since Kevin Durant went down again, allowing 110.5 points per game in their last six contests, splitting those matchups 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS. We expect this game to take on a playoff feel and for the Clippers to reinforce their spot in the West with a statement performance. Play LA Clippers +7 as a *10* selection. |
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03-11-15 | Pittsburgh v. NC State -3 | Top | 70-81 | Win | 100 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #726- *10* North Carolina State Wolfpack -3 vs. Pittsburgh @ 7:00 ET – The Wolfpack are a dangerous team in the ACC tournament. North Carolina State has wins against big-name programs like Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville, and won five of its last six games to get off the NCAA tournament bubble at the end of the season. The Wolfpack ride that momentum into this Round 2 matchup with Pitt. In those final five victories, they limited foes to only 56 points per game and look to put the breaks on a Panthers team that struggled to score during a season-ending three-game slump. North Carolina State rolled Pitt 68-50 back in early January, holding the Panthers to just 32.7 percent shooting. That defense will show up again and help the Wolfpack not only advance but easily cover this spread Wednesday. Play NC State -3 as a *10* selection. |
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03-11-15 | Penn State v. Nebraska +2 | 68-65 | Loss | -117 | 8 h 22 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #754 - *8* Nebraska Cornhuskers +2 vs. Penn State @ 4:30 ET – The Cornhuskers sit near the bottom of the Big Ten but remain one of the better defensive teams in the conference. Nebraska nearly edged Maryland in the regular season finale and takes on a Penn State team that hasn’t been much better over the past month. The Nittany Lions snapped a six-game slide with a victory against Minnesota in their final Big Ten contest but this team is very fragile and basically can go only as far as leading scorer DJ Newbill will take them. Nebraska fell to PSU in their last meeting, losing 56-43 but slowing down Newbill to only 11 points. The Huskers are actually a deeper team on offense with Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields shouldering the scoring load, averaging a combined 33 points per game. Nebraska will focus on shutting down Newbill and leave the rest to Petterway and Shields. Play Nebraska +2 as an *8* selection. |
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03-10-15 | New Orleans Pelicans v. Brooklyn Nets -3 | Top | 111-91 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 6 m | Show |
Rickenbach NBA Game #654 - *10* Brooklyn Nets -3 vs. New Orleans @ 7:35 ET – The Brooklyn Nets welcome the New Orleans Pelicans to the Barclays Center Tuesday. The Pelicans are coming off a win over Milwaukee Monday and have had to travel to New York overnight for this second stop of back-to-back games. Not only does this set up a tough spot for New Orleans on short rest but it is also open to a massive letdown spot after star center Anthony Davis poured in 43 points against the Bucks Monday. After putting the team on his back, there is bound to be a letdown and we’re capitalizing on this spot bet situation. New Orleans will also likely be without point guard Tyreke Evans, who suffered an ankle injury in Monday’s game. Evans averages almost 17 points and 6.5 assists per game. Brooklyn is desperate for a win after dropping three in a row at home. The Nets have suffered a bit of a hangover since beating Golden State but get a good situation to end that skid Tuesday. The home team has dominated the previous meetings between these clubs, covering the spread in each of the last four contests. The Nets are also 5-1-1 ATS versus the Pelicans at home. Play Brooklyn -3 as a *10* selection. |
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03-10-15 | Virginia Tech +4.5 v. Wake Forest | 81-80 | Win | 100 | 8 h 1 m | Show | |
Rickenbach March Madness Game #667 - *8* Virginia Tech Hokies +4.5 vs. Wake Forest @ 3:30 ET – The Virginia Tech Hokies battle the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the opening round of the ACC tournament Tuesday. The Hokies, despite winning only two games in conference play, remained competitive and loss five games by five points or fewer. Head coach Buzz Williams is known for getting the most from his players during the postseason, going back to his days with Marquette, and we expect a solid effort from this undervalued VT squad. The Demon Deacons have just one win in their last six ACC games and have floundered on defense in that span, allowing more than 76 points per game over those six games. Virginia Tech is no offensive juggernaut by any means but can fill the basket in a hurry with their touch beyond the arc. The Hokies rank 18th in the country from outside, knocking down 39.3 percent of their looks from distance. Virginia Tech averages 7.4 3-pointers per game and hit nine in a 3-point loss to Wake Forest, 73-70, as an 8-point road underdog back in late January. Play Virginia Tech +4.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-09-15 | New Orleans Pelicans +2 v. Milwaukee Bucks | Top | 114-103 | Win | 100 | 12 h 23 m | Show |
Rickenbach NBA Game #709 - *10* New Orleans Pelicans +2 at Milwaukee @ 8 ET – The New Orleans Pelicans continue their surge for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, winning seven of their last nine outings to climb to ninth in the standings – just one game back of the No. 8 spot in the West. The Pelicans have maintained their defensive prowess during this run and in those seven win they’ve limited opponents to just over 93 points per game. They look to continue that stingy play against a Bucks team that is mired in a terrible offensive skid. Milwaukee has just two wins in its last eight games, averaging only 88.5 points in that span. The Bucks have struggled versus Western Conference foes, covering just once in their last eight non-conference games. Milwaukee also has just one cover to its name in the last seven meetings with New Orleans. Play New Orleans +2 as a *10* selection. |
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03-09-15 | Washington Wizards +2.5 v. Charlotte Hornets | 95-69 | Win | 100 | 10 h 7 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA Game #701 - *8* Washington Wizards +2.5 at Charlotte @ 7 ET – The Washington Wizards visit a streak Charlotte Hornets team that has won five straight heading into Monday contests. The Hornets are in a tough situational spot, coming off a win in Detroit Sunday and playing the second night of back-to-back games – and their third game in four days – versus a Wizards team desperate to find their early-season form. Washington, which has just two wins in its last 10 games has slide back in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and will look to pick up the pace against a fatigued Charlotte squad Monday. Bradley Beal is expected to return to the lineup for the Wizards, who have shown flashes of their offensive brilliance in recent games, scoring 99 points in each of their two wins – going 2-2 SU over their last four overall. The Wizards do a good job of defending the key, allowing just 38.1 points in the paint per game – second lowest in the NBA – and will put the locks on Hornets post presence Al Jefferson, who has fueled his team’s winning streak. Play Washington +2.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-09-15 | Northern Illinois +6.5 v. Akron | Top | 52-76 | Loss | -106 | 11 h 17 m | Show |
Rickenbach March Madness Game #867 - *10* Northern Illinois Huskies +6.5 vs. Akron @ 7 ET – The Northern Illinois Huskies brings a ton of momentum into the MAC tournament, riding a four-game winning streak into this opening matchup against the Akron Zips. The Huskies’ streak included wins over the three top teams in the MAC West and saw a surge in offense, with NIU averaging more than 73 points per game on 49.8 percent shooting in that span. Northern Illinois is an aggressive team that attacks an opponent’s defense, drawing an average of 20.2 fouls per game. That sends the Huskies to the foul line 24.4 times per outing, where they pick up 25.3 percent of their total scoring – ninth most in the nation. Northern Illinois got to the stripe 42 times in their season finale versus Ball State and drew 17 personal fouls for 28 free throws in their 64-61 win over Akron back in January. The Zips stumble into the postseason with back-to-back losses and have just one win in its last seven games. Akron is dinged for 18.8 fouls per game, including 24 whistles in its season finale loss to Kent State. We fully expect red-hot NIU to dictate the pace and spoil the Zips rotation with foul issues Monday. Play Northern Illinois +6.5 as a *10* selection. |
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03-08-15 | Toronto Raptors +7 v. Oklahoma City Thunder | 104-108 | Win | 100 | 10 h 30 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA Game #811 - *8* Toronto Raptors +7 at Oklahoma City @ 7 ET – The Raptors hit the road looking to snap their current funk, with just one win in their last eight games. Toronto broke a five-game skid with a win over Philadelphia last week but have since dropped their last two games to Cleveland and Charlotte. Oklahoma City has gone 4-3 in its last seven games, however, a closer look at that schedule reveals the only quality victory came against the Indiana Pacers, with the other wins coming via Denver, LA Lakers and Philadelphia (in overtime). Russell Westbrook is garnering a lot of attention for his recent play but that’s only overvalued OKC during this span and oddsmakers are giving far too many points to a Raptors team that is still among the NBA’s elite. Toronto All-Star PG Kyle Lowry is working his way back into form after missing a handful of games and will be assigned to slowing down Westbrook. Lowry is a strong defender and will test OKC’s star on both ends of the floor. If Toronto can slow Westbrook, the rest of the Thunder won’t have the firepower to carry the team. Play Toronto +7 as an *8* selection. |
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03-08-15 | Wisconsin -1.5 v. Ohio State | Top | 72-48 | Win | 100 | 7 h 28 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #825 - *10* Wisconsin Badgers -1.5 at Ohio State @ 4:30 ET – With the Big Ten title wrapped up, Wisconsin is now focused on improving its chances of earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. A win over Ohio State in the conference finale would definitely boost the Badgers resume and give them great momentum heading into the Big Ten tournament. Wisconsin has rebounded from a loss to Maryland with back-to-back victories, including an impressive win at Minnesota this week. Unlike, Ohio State, Wisconsin has multiple options on offense. Seven-footer Frank Kaminsky is a handful but even if the Buckeyes collapse on him, the Badgers have other scoring options in Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes. Ohio State, on the other hand, goes with freshman star D’Angelo Russell. They’ve lost the games he’s struggled to score in, and Wisconsin’s methodical offense and hard-nosed defense won’t let OSU’s star player get into a rhythm. Play Wisconsin -1.5 as a *10* selection. |
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03-08-15 | Memphis v. Cincinnati -7 | 65-77 | Win | 100 | 4 h 44 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #818 - *8* Cincinnati Bearcats -7 vs. Memphis @ 12 noon ET – Cincinnati rides a wave of momentum into this finale matchup of the AAC schedule, winning four straight and staring down the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. The Bearcats are out for revenge in this game, after losing at Memphis 63-50 in mid-January. They’ll lean on their sixth ranked defense to slow down the Tigers and create transition buckets on the other end of the floor. Cincinnati has limited its last four opponents to an average of 51.75 points and won’t have to worry about Memphis leading scorer Austin Nichols, who is expected to miss at least two weeks with an ankle injury. Play Cincinnati -7 as an *8* selection. |
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03-07-15 | Delaware v. Northeastern -5.5 | Top | 64-67 | Loss | -113 | 13 h 31 m | Show |
Rickenbach March Madness Game #652 - *10* Northeastern Huskies -5.5 vs. Delaware @ 8:30 pm ET – The Northeastern Huskies clash with the Delaware Blue Hens in the Colonial tournament Saturday. The Huskies were one of four teams tied for the regular season lead and earned the No. 3 seed once the tiebreakers had their say. Northeastern enters the postseason playing some of its best basketball, picking up wins in six of its last nine contests. However, one of those blemishes came against Delaware, who knocked off the Huskies 73-68 in Boston back on Feb 7. The Huskies had a terrible shooting night and were just 3 for 16 from beyond the arc. Needless to say, Northeastern is out to erase that poor effort and advance in the conference tournament. Delaware comes into the tournament with some steam, having picked up victories in five of their last seven games. But this is a program that dropped its first 10 games of the season and go up against a Huskies squad that is used to the pressure of performing in the postseason – something that can cripple lesser teams. Play Northeastern -5.5 as a *10* selection. |
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03-07-15 | Portland Trail Blazers -4 v. Minnesota Timberwolves | Top | 113-121 | Loss | -104 | 11 h 13 m | Show |
Rickenbach NBA *10* Portland Trail Blazers -4 @ Minnesota @ 8:05 ET - We are getting some excellent line value here thanks to the Wesley Matthews injury for the Blazers. Note that Portland will have other players stepping up in this game as that is what so often happens in the first game after a key player is injured. Also, you don't have to worry about Portland overlooking the Timberwolves because the Blazers did lose in Minnesota in their most recent meeting back in mid-December. That road loss insures the full focus of Portland in this one. That said, the floundering T-wolves are in trouble. Minnesota has lost 4 straight games and has quickly returned to their losing ways after a slight uptick gave them some rare wins. Note that Minnesota is 6-12 ATS as a home dog of 3.5 to 6 points the last 3 seasons combined. Also, the Timberwolves are 16-25 ATS in divisional games the last 3 seasons. As for the Trail Blazers, they are 14-5 straight-up and 12-7 ATS when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. Also, the Blazers are 23-16 ATS in divisional games the last 3 seasons combined. Play Portland -4 as a *10* Top Play Saturday. |
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03-07-15 | South Carolina +5 v. Tennessee | Top | 60-49 | Win | 100 | 9 h 31 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #569 - *10* South Carolina Gamecocks +5 at Tennessee @ 4 pm ET – South Carolina hits the highway for its final game of SEC play, visiting the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday. The Gamecocks are fueled by revenge in this matchup, having been dealt a 66-62 loss at home to Tennessee back in January. The Volunteers will be vulnerable in this spot Saturday, snapping a five-game losing skid with a win against LSU last time out, setting up a letdown in the regular season finale. Tennessee averaged just 54.8 points during that five-game skid and takes on a South Carolina squad that leans heavily on its defense to get the job done. The Gamecocks give up only 62.4 points on 38.9 percent shooting on the year and force 13.5 turnovers per game. In their first meeting with Tennessee, South Carolina forced the Vols to cough up the ball 17 times. Tennessee is a terrible bet at home, going just 2-12-2 ATS in its last 16 games inside Thompson-Boling Arena. Play South Carolina +5 as a *10* selection. |
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03-07-15 | LSU +6.5 v. Arkansas | 81-78 | Win | 100 | 7 h 32 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #531 - *8* LSU Tigers +6.5 at Arkansas @ 2 pm ET – The Louisiana State Tigers hit the road for a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks in their SEC schedule closer Saturday. The Tigers are sitting on the NCAA tournament bubble heading into this finale, needing a win to help boost their standing with the selection committee. A win over a ranked Arkansas squad would go a long way and we expect LSU to go all out with their tournament chances hanging in the balance. Louisiana State was building momentum with a three-game ride but was upended by Tennessee last time out. The Tigers have been a solid bet, going 6-2 ATS in their last eight SEC games overall. A win over Arkansas would also set LSU up for a double bye in the SEC tournament, so there’s no lack of motivation for the Bayou Bengals. Louisiana State is a tough matchup for Arkansas, throwing defensive stoppers Jordan Mickey and Jarrell Martin at Razorbacks star Bobby Portis. Portis hasn’t faced many frontcourts that can match his size inside but the Tigers rank seventh in the country in blocks – 6.3 per game – and will make life tough on the Hogs 6-foot-11 SEC Player of the Year candidate. Play LSU +6.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-07-15 | Northwestern v. Iowa -11.5 | 52-69 | Win | 100 | 5 h 58 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #634 - *8* Iowa Hawkeyes -11.5 vs. Northwestern @ 12 noon ET – The Hawkeyes have plenty to play for Saturday when they host the Northwestern Wildcats in the Big Ten regular season finale. Iowa can secure a Top 4 spot in the conference and a double bye in the Big Ten tournament, kicking off next week. The Hawkeyes roll into Saturday on a five-game winning streak and have been dealt just three losses in their last 10 games. They’ve gone 4-0-1 ATS during this current winning streak and have covered in five of their last seven versus Northwestern. The Wildcats has some revenge coming their way as well, with Northwestern stunning Iowa 66-61 in overtime back on February 15. The Wildcats are very dependent on the 3-ball to keep pace with their opponents, picking up 33.5 percent of their total offense from beyond the arc. Purdue will get their heels above the 3-point line and force Northwestern to beat them to the basket, not giving up those chance from deep, after NW hit nine of their 20 triples in their first meeting. Play Iowa -11.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-06-15 | Detroit v. Cleveland State -5 | Top | 53-70 | Win | 100 | 15 h 50 m | Show |
Rickenbach MARCH MADNESS Game #862 - *10* Cleveland State -5 vs. Detroit Titans @ 9:30 ET – Cleveland State faces Detroit as part of the Horizon League tournament in Valparaiso, Indiana Friday night. The Vikings enjoyed a first-round bye after placing fourth in the conference while the Titans are coming off a 10-point win over Youngstown State Tuesday. Cleveland State has had some added time to prepare for Detroit and won’t be taking the Titans lightly after losing to them in their most recent meeting, a 66-65 loss on the road. Cleveland State was right in the mix for the Horizon League regular season title before losing its final two games of the year. It is one of the better defensive teams in the country, limiting opponents to just 61.6 points per game and slowed down Detroit’s potent offense in both meeting this season. However, Cleveland State does have pop on offense thanks to its 3-point shooting. The Vikings are knocking down 36.8 percent of their looks from outside and hit seven from distance in the season-ending loss to Valparaiso. They also sunk eight from beyond the arc in their last meeting with Detroit. Leading scorer Trey Lewis broke school records from outside and went 4 for 7 from 3-point land and finished with 23 points at Detroit the last time he faced the Titans. That ability to hit the big shot will put the distance needed between these teams to cover the spread. Play Cleveland State -5 as an *10* selection. |
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03-06-15 | Cleveland Cavaliers v. Atlanta Hawks +2 | 97-106 | Win | 100 | 13 h 35 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA Game #812 - *8* Atlanta Hawks +2 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:35 ET – Only against a public-driven team like Cleveland could you get the best team in the Eastern Conference as a home underdog. And here we find the Atlanta Hawks getting the points as a host Friday night. The Hawks stumbled a bit out of the blocks following the All-Star break but have found their form in the past five games, winning all five – most recently an impressive win over Houston. Atlanta has toughened up on defense during this span, limiting opponents to just under 90 points per game. The Hawks have depth on offense as well, something Cleveland doesn’t possess. Atlanta is getting almost 31 points per game from its reserves, complementing a deep starting five that can spread the scoring load around. The Cavs lack a scoring punch when they go to the bench, ranked last in the league in production from their reserves and averaging only 23.5 points off the bench per game. Atlanta has won the past two meeting with Cleveland, covering in both, and have come away with the cash in 13 of their last 19 head-to-head encounters. Play Atlanta Hawks +2 as an *8* selection. |
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03-05-15 | Wisconsin v. Minnesota +6.5 | 76-63 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 17 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #506 - *8* Minnesota Golden Gophers +6.5 vs. Wisconsin Badgers @ 7 ET – The Minnesota Golden Gophers host the Wisconsin Badgers Thursday. Minnesota is coming off a big win over Michigan State, putting to rest a three-game losing slide. That skid involved a 10-point loss to Wisconsin two weekends ago – game that Minnesota remained competitive in and covered as 15-point road underdogs. The Golden Gophers are building on that momentum of Saturday’s win over the Spartans and hoping to catch the Badgers looking ahead to a season finale on the road at Ohio State. Wisconsin may have gotten off easy the last time it played Minnesota, with the Gophers’ leading scorer Andre Hollins putting just two points on 1-of-8 shooting. Hollins will be out to redeem himself in front of the home crowd. Minnesota has covered in five of its last seven versus the Badgers, as well as going 3-1-1 ATS versus Wisconsin inside Williams Arena. Play Minnesota +6.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-05-15 | Arkansas -2 v. South Carolina | Top | 78-74 | Win | 100 | 10 h 16 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #509 - *10* Arkansas Razorbacks -2 at South Carolina Gamecocks @ 7 ET – The South Carolina Gamecocks host the Arkansas Razorbacks Thursday night. The Razorbacks can lock up a high seed in the SEC tournament and get a two-round bye this postseason with a victory over South Carolina. The Hogs fell 84-67 to Kentucky last Saturday, putting an end to their seven-game winning streak. That stretch included a blowout victory over South Carolina, winning 75-55 as 8-point home favorites. The Razorbacks held the Gamecocks to 27.9 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers in that win. Arkansas is one of the top offensive programs in the country – putting up more than 79 points per game. South Carolina was able to put up 81 points against Mississippi State last time out but struggled to score in the four games prior, averaging just over 52 points in that span. The Hogs offense can easily overwhelm USC and cruise to an easy cover and win. Play Arkansas -2 as a *10* selection. |
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03-04-15 | Miami (FL) +3 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 67-63 | Win | 100 | 12 h 30 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #749 - *10* Miami Hurricanes +3 at Pittsburgh Panthers @ 8 ET – The Pittsburgh Panthers host the Miami Hurricanes in a battle of two bubble teams in the ACC. Both the Panthers and Hurricanes are on the edge of earning an at-large NCAA tournament bid and win Wednesday will go a long way. Miami is 3-2 SU in its last five games, with those two losses coming against Louisville and North Carolina. This is a must-win situation for the Canes, who will leave it all on the floor Wednesday. Miami could be without starting PG Angel Rodriguez, who is nursing a wrist injury, but has had more time off than Pitt to prepare and rest up for this matchup. The Panthers have found themselves playing to its opponent’s level this season, getting caught up in close games. That’s left Pitt to go 8-17-1 ATS on the year and 9-19 ATS in their last 28 home stands. Play Miami +3 as a *10* selection. |
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03-04-15 | Ohio State v. Penn State +5 | 77-67 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 31 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #728 - *8* Penn State Nittany Lions +5 vs. Ohio State Buckeyes @ 6 ET – The Penn State Nittany Lions host the Ohio State Buckeyes Wednesday. We are expecting Ohio State to be looking ahead to their Saturday showdown with Wisconsin and not focusing on a dangerous PSU team. The Buckeyes could come out flat and unfocused, allowing the Nittany Lions to pounce on them inside Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State is hungry for a win, having dropped five in a row, and will looking to Big Ten leading scorer D.J. Newbill to snap that skid. Newbill is averaging 20.4 points per game and is a do-it-all guard for PSU. Ohio State has some troubles away from home and is just 2-6-1 ATS in true road games this season. Penn State has some size inside and can intimidate scorers with its shot blockers. The Nittany Lions swatted seven shots in the overtime loss to Iowa and are averaging more than five swats per game in their last three outings. They’re holding opponents to just 39.9 percent shooting in that three-game span. Play Penn State +5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-03-15 | Rhode Island +3.5 v. Dayton | Top | 59-75 | Loss | -106 | 11 h 7 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #517 - *10* Rhode Island Rams +3.5 at Dayton Flyers @ 7 ET – The Dayton Flyers host the Rhode Island Rams Tuesday night. This is a battle for control of the Atlantic 10 conference, with seeding for the conference tournament on the line. The Rams are playing their best basketball of the season, picking up wins in eight of their last 10 outings, going 6-4 ATS in that stretch. Dayton is playing well despite some serious issues to its rotation, winning five of its last six outings heading into this matchup. Rhode Island is one of the best defensive teams in the conference, limiting opponents to 58.5 points and doing a good job taking away the deep looks. Dayton is running with a short seven man rotation and may run out of options if Rhode Island’s defense slows down its top scorers. The Rams have covered in each of their last six clashes with the Flyers and have gone 5-1 ATS in their last six visits to Dayton, Ohio. Play on Rhode Island +3.5 as a *10* selection. |
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03-02-15 | Oklahoma v. Iowa State -4.5 | Top | 70-77 | Win | 100 | 13 h 23 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #718 - *10* Iowa State -4.5 vs. Oklahoma Sooners @ 9 ET – The Iowa State Cyclones host the Oklahoma Sooners Monday night. The Cyclones are desperate for a win after dropping their last two outings to Baylor and Kansas State, putting a dent in their Big 12 tournament plans and likely dropping ISU a few seeds in the NCAA tournament as well. Iowa State can give itself a boost with a home win against the ranked Sooners. This is a big revenge game for the Cyclones, who fell 94-83 in Norman last month. Iowa State is one of the toughest home teams in the land, averaging 82.1 points in Ames while allowing visiting teams to score an average of just 65.6 points against – compared to 73.7 points against on the road. The Sooners have a similar home/away split and have covered in just two of their last seven road games and have just two ATS wins in their last eight trips to Ames. Oklahoma’s scoring drops by 10 points when it hits the highway, putting up just 67.5 points per game away from home. The Sooner could also get caught looking ahead to a season-ending home stand versus the Kansas Jayhawks this week, so there are plenty of reasons to fade OU in this weekday spot. Play Iowa State -4.5 as a *10* selection. |
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03-02-15 | Golden State Warriors v. Brooklyn Nets +6.5 | 108-110 | Win | 100 | 12 h 59 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA Game #706 - *8* Brooklyn Nets +6.5 vs. Golden State Warriors @ 7:35 ET – The Brooklyn Nets welcome the Golden State Warriors to the Barclays Center for the Warriors’ final stop on a six-game road trip. Golden State will be looking ahead to getting back to the Western Coast, especially after a close call against the Boston Celtics Sunday (which we cashed in on) in which the Warriors had to battle back from a 26-point hole. Golden State could be a little worse for wear in this matchup, having played the night before and we see great value on the home side. Brooklyn just wrapped its respective road trip and is back home for the first time February 6. The Nets are coming off an impressive 104-94 road victory over the Dallas Mavericks and come into this home stand well rested and prepared for the Warriors. Brooklyn is making a push for the final playoff spot in the East and every win counts at this point in the season. The Nets have done well in non-conference games, covering in five of their last six versus Western Conference opponents and they are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games versus Golden State at home, going back to the New Jersey days. Play Brooklyn +6.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-02-15 | Virginia -5.5 v. Syracuse | 59-47 | Win | 100 | 11 h 24 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #711 - *8* Virginia Cavaliers -5.5 @ Syracuse Orange @ 7 ET – The Virginia Cavaliers visit the Syracuse Orange Monday. The Cavaliers are trying to lock up the ACC title for the second straight year, holding a two-game lead over Duke with two more conference games to go. Virginia can boost their resume with a win in Syracuse and help secure a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament. The Cavs returned point guard London Perrantes to the starting lineup after he suffered yet another broken nose, getting 11 points and six assists from Perrantes in the win over Virginia Tech. Virginia has won eight in a row heading into Monday and is 15-5-1 ATS in its last 21 tilts away from home, presenting great value inside the Carrier Dome against an overrated Syracuse team. The Orange can’t go to the postseason due to self-enforced bans, so their motivation in these final games will be questioned – especially after a 73-54 blowout loss to Duke this past weekend. Virginia’s defense will locked down an offensively challenge SU squad that could just fold like tent if it gets down early. We’re projecting an easy win for Virginia as it looks to close out the season with a bang. Play Virginia -5.5 as an *8* selection. |
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03-01-15 | Purdue v. Ohio State -9 | 61-65 | Loss | -106 | 12 h 49 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #826 - *6* Ohio State Buckeyes -9 vs. Purdue Boilermakers @ 7:30 ET – The Buckeyes desperately need a resume-building win to secure their spot for an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament, making Sunday’s home date with Purdue a must-win for OSU. Ohio State rebounded from two road losses to Michigan and Michigan State with a one-sided win over Nebraska. The Buckeyes are a much better offensive team in Columbus, averaging 83.2 points on 54.3 percent shooting – tops in the country for home field goal percentage. This is also a big revenge spot of OSU, which fell 60-58 at Purdue last month. The Buckeyes were without then-suspended Marc Loving for that game. Loving has been inconsistent in his three games back from banishment but the 6-foot-7 forward will come in handy against Purdue size, giving Ohio State some scoring punch off the bench. The Boilermakers have a big lineup and have dominated the paint and won rebounding war against the majority of conference foes. However, the Buckeyes held their own against Purdue’s frontcourt in the first meeting, despite only getting to the foul line nine times. Ohio State has dominated this series with Purdue, covering in 19 of its last 29 games versus the Boilermakers. Play Ohio State -9 as a *6* selection. |
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03-01-15 | Golden State Warriors v. Boston Celtics +9 | 106-101 | Win | 100 | 10 h 24 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA Game #808 - *6* Boston Celtics +9 vs. Golden State Warriors @ 6 ET – The Celtics are hoping to catch a Golden State squad coming off two big games – a loss to Cleveland and a big win over Toronto – opening up value for a letdown spot when the Warriors come to Boston Sunday. The Celtics, despite their space between Golden State in the overall NBA picture, matchup up well with the league’s top team. Boston is one of the few teams that can matchup the Warriors’ frantic up-and-down pace, ranked fourth overall with an average of 98.8 possessions per game. The Celtics have turned up the tempo even more with an average of 101.7 possessions in their last three games, producing an average of 112 points per game in that span. The Celtics are the hottest bet in the NBA right now thanks to that offensive firepower, covering the spread in eight of their last 10 games. Boston has held its own against the Western Conference this season, going 12-4 ATS in its last 16 non-conference matchups. Play Boston +9 as a *6* selection. |
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03-01-15 | Michigan State +9 v. Wisconsin | 61-68 | Win | 100 | 8 h 20 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #827 - *6* Michigan State Spartans +9 @ Wisconsin Badgers @ 4 ET – The Michigan State Spartans are visiting Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers Sunday afternoon. The Spartans may show up on some of the national polls but this MSU team still sits on the NCAA bubble and desperately needs a win over one of the Big Ten’s elite to secure a place in the field of 68. The Spartans looked to locking down an at-large bid, with four straight wins, but dropped a 96-90 overtime loss to Minnesota at home Thursday. However, MSU doesn’t have to wait long to get that bad taste out of their mouths and will be chomping at the bit for a better defensive showing Sunday. The Badgers, surprisingly, are also off a loss. Wisconsin was defeated 59-53 by Maryland this week and the offense looked lost without PG Traevon Jackson leading the way. Jackson was hoping to return this weekend from a broken foot but has yet to be cleared. Michigan State is a tough matchup for Wisconsin, throwing big men Gavin Schilling and Matt Costello at Badgers star center Frank Kaminsky. Play Michigan State +9 as a *6* selection. |
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02-28-15 | San Antonio Spurs v. Phoenix Suns -1 | 101-74 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 49 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA *10* Phoenix Suns -1 vs San Antonio @ 9:05 ET - Fantastic scheduling edge for Phoenix here. While the Suns were off last night the Spurs went toe to toe with the Kings in Sacramento. The Spurs have some aging stars whose knees don't like back to back situations. Though San Antonio got that win over the Kings last night that doesn't mean they are ready for what the Suns bring to the court! The Spurs have gone 1-6 straight-up and 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning record! They now face a rested and fired up Phoenix team. The Suns lost by 5 points at San Antonio back in early January and it's now payback time. Note that the home team has taken each of the last four meetings between these teams and the Spurs have only swept one back to back situation since December 7th. It will be tough for the aging team to notch a back to back sweep here for sure. The Suns are 15-5 ATS the last 3 seasons in home games with a posted total between 205 and 209.5 points. They will roll again here in that same situation as the scheduling edge here is a massive difference-maker. Play Phoenix -1 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-28-15 | Mississippi State +9.5 v. South Carolina | Top | 68-81 | Loss | -112 | 10 h 9 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game # 617 - *10* Mississippi State +9.5 @ South Carolina @ 6 ET – The Mississippi State Bulldogs visit the South Carolina Gamecocks in SEC action Saturday. The Bulldogs continue to be one of the more undervalued teams in the country, going just 3-6 SU but 5-3-1 ATS in their last nine contests. Books keep handing over big spreads – like Saturday’s number – and MSU continues to exceed those expectations. The Bulldogs are coming off a challenge in their last game, running with Kentucky for a good chunk of that matchup before running out of gas. That high-level of competition will give Miss State an edge against South Carolina, which is counting the days until the season is done. The Gamecocks have lost two in a row and have just three wins in their last seven games. However, unlike MSU, South Carolina isn’t covering during this skid, with a 2-8 ATS mark in those 10 games. Miss State is looking ahead to the SEC tournament and knows it can better its standing in the postseason with a closing stretch against some of the conference’s weaker teams. As long as Miss State keeps fighting, there will be betting value with the Bulldogs. Play Mississippi State +9.5 as a *10* selection. |
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02-28-15 | Iowa State -3.5 v. Kansas State | 69-70 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 28 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game # 595 - *8* Iowa State -3.5 @ Kansas State @ 4 ET – The Iowa State Cyclones come to the “Little Apple” to take on the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan Saturday. Iowa State is looking to take advantage of a huge situational spot in this Big 12 battle, with Kansas State coming off a huge upset over rival Kansas in their last game. The Wildcats, who haven’t had much to cheer for this season, run the risk of coming out flat in this home game – something you can’t do against a team as explosive as the Cyclones. Iowa State is hungry for a win after losing to Baylor last time out. It recently proved it can win away from Ames with victories in Stillwater and Austin, and look for another victory in the role of visitor Saturday. The Cyclones can fill it up in a hurry, averaging 79.4 points per game, and will overwhelm a KSU squad that will be a little fat and happy Saturday. Books are making ISU a slim favorite on the road and not accounting for the inevitable letdown coming from the Wildcats. Play Iowa State -3.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-28-15 | Northern Iowa +6 v. Wichita State | 60-74 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 42 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game # 547 - *8* Northern Iowa +6 @ Wichita State @ 2 ET – Missouri Valley superpowers and ranked mid-major programs Northern Iowa and Wichita State do battle this Saturday. The Shockers are set as sizable home favorites for a matchup of this magnitude and there is terrific value on the Panthers, thanks in large part to WSU name-brand appeal among the betting market. Northern Iowa already has a win over Wichita State this season, dominating the MVC gatekeeper with a 70-54 victory back on January 31. The Panthers limited the Shockers to 35.4 percent shooting and forced 11 turnovers in that win, but the biggest difference was NIU’s scoring depth. The Panthers got a massive game from Seth Tuttle, who dropped 29 points on WSU but nine of the 10 players who saw time for the Panthers registered points. On the year, Northern Iowa has eight players averaging five or more points and four players hitting at a 47 percent clip from the field. As good as Wichita State’s defense is, it will be tough to slow down all of the Panthers options in this game. Play Northern Iowa +6 as an *8* selection. |
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02-28-15 | Missouri +12 v. Georgia | 44-68 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 58 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #521 - *8* Missouri Tigers +12 @ Georgia Bulldogs @ 12 ET – The Missouri Tigers hit the road to face the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday, getting a healthy handful of points from the oddsmakers. The Tigers snapped their 13-game losing skid with a victory over Florida last time out and take that momentum into the weekend. Georgia is in a tough situational spot here, coming off two big road wins to improve its NCAA situation and has a massive game with No. 1 Kentucky up next. The Bulldogs are on the tournament bubble and need a big-name win on their record to secure a spot in the NCAA. They will get caught looking ahead to the Wildcats and not focusing on a Missouri team that has a taste for victory. The Tigers were aggressive on defense and offense versus the Gators, and got to the foul line 27 times. Georgia sent their last opponent, Ole Miss, to the stripe 27 times and have handed over an average of 24 foul shots in their last three games. Missouri will take advantage of the foul-happy and unfocused Bulldogs and keep this one within that massive spread. Play Missouri +12 as an *8* selection. |
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02-27-15 | Los Angeles Clippers +5 v. Memphis Grizzlies | 97-79 | Win | 100 | 12 h 10 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA - *8* Los Angeles Clippers +5.0 @ Memphis Grizzlies @ 8 ET – The Clippers know that if they’re going to make it through the Western Conference, they’ll have to go through the Memphis Grizzlies. Los Angeles hasn’t had great success with Memphis, most recently losing a 90-87 grinder Monday, but this matchup offers a great motivational revenge spot for the Clippers, who are desperate for a victory after dropping their last two games. Los Angeles will look to turn up the tempo with a smaller lineup and get the Grizzlies lumbering frontcourt on its heels. Memphis had a tough time slowing down the Sacramento Kings in their last outing, losing 102-90. The Kings sucked the Grizzlies into their pace, forcing them to commit 17 turnovers – a noticeable jump from their season average of 12.9 turnovers per game. The Clippers will use that game as a blueprint Friday night. With a loss in that most recent meeting, the market is overacting to that result and we’re getting terrific line value with the visitor. Play LA Clippers +5.0 as an *8* selection. |
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02-27-15 | Minnesota Timberwolves +6.5 v. Chicago Bulls | Top | 89-96 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 9 m | Show |
Rickenbach NBA - *10* Minnesota Timberwolves +6.5 @ Chicago Bulls @ 8 ET – The Timberwolves have been one of the best sleeper teams in recent weeks, going 5-2 ATS in their last seven games. Injuries plagued this team earlier in the year, stalling any chemistry. But now that Ricky Rubio is back, as well as forward Shabazz Muhammad, Minnesota is playing some of its best basketball. The T-Wolves got an injection of veteran leadership and intensity with Kevin Garnett coming back to Minnesota at the trade deadline. He’ll want to pick up a win with the team heading to his home town of Chicago Friday. While the Timberwolves improve, the Bulls are once again looking to fill the massive hole left by Derrick Rose’s knee injury. Chicago’s offense was out of whack in a 98-86 loss to Charlotte Wednesday, with Rose’s replacement Aaron Brook going 4-12 from the field. Without Rose, the Bulls don’t have a natural point guard and will continue to struggle when it comes to scoring in transition and running the offense. These two teams are heading in different directions and we’re getting tremendous value with the visitor, which has covered the spread in six of the last seven meetings between the Bulls and T-Wolves. Play Minnesota +6.5 as a *10* selection. |
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02-26-15 | UTEP +5 v. Louisiana Tech | Top | 60-77 | Loss | -106 | 11 h 54 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #531 - *10* Top Play UTEP Miners +5 @ Louisiana Tech @ 8 ET - What was UTEP's worst performance this season? That's an easy call to make. It was a HOME game where they were embarrassed by Louisiana Tech last month in early January. The Miners haven't forgotten that game where they were held to just 45 points on their home floor and you can bet they will give a huge effort tonight in this revenge opportunity. UTEP is riding a 7 game winning streak and they catch Louisiana Tech off of a road loss at Old Dominion that will be tough to bounce back from. That's because that opened the door for UTEP to overtake the Bulldogs in the conference standings as each team enters this game with three conference losses. Note that UTEP is 16-7 ATS as an underdog the last three seasons. That includes a perfect 3-0 ATS this season. Additionally, as a road dog of 3.5 to 6 points, the Miners are 4-0 ATS the last 3 seasons. UTEP is the better shooting team as well as the better rebounding team and they will make a huge statement in Ruston, La tonight. Play UTEP +5 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-26-15 | Minnesota +8.5 v. Michigan State | 96-90 | Win | 100 | 10 h 55 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #507 - *8* Minnesota Golden Gophers +8.5 @ Michigan State @ 7 ET - Minnesota catches the Spartans at the perfect time to spring the upset. Michigan State has a huge game up next as they head to Madison to face Wisconsin on Sunday. The Badgers are atop the Big Ten and the Spartans can't help but have that huge match-up be a distraction to this game tonight. The Golden Gophers will take full advantage as their overall record does not give proper credit to how competitive they've been all season. Minnesota is off of a loss but a cover at Wisconsin on Saturday. Note that, prior to that loss to the Badgers, the Golden Gophers prior 9 losses had seen 7 of the games decided by 6 points or less! 4 of the Spartans last 8 wins have come by a margin of 7 points or less. Michigan State certainly has a great history against the Golden Gophers, particularly in home match-ups, and the Spartans have also had the much better season - including from an ATS standpoint. But this is a bad scheduling spot for the home team on the Golden Gophers will take advantage. Play Minnesota +8.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-25-15 | Los Angeles Clippers v. Houston Rockets -3.5 | 105-110 | Win | 100 | 11 h 7 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA *8* Houston Rockets -3.5 vs LA Clippers @ 8:05 ET - The effect of the absence of Blake Griffin will truly be felt by the Clippers in this tough road test. The Clips are playing right into the teeth of revenge here as LA has beaten Houston in each of their last six meetings. Now the Rockets will take advantage of the injury situation of the Clippers. Houston has won 6 of their last 7 home games and every single victory came by a margin of at least five points. Not surprisingly, the Rockets went 6-1 ATS in those games. The Clippers are just 13-22 ATS this season when facing teams that average 99+ points per game. Overall, the Clips are just 10-16 ATS in road games. The Rockets are a solid 23-14 ATS as a favorite this season and the short line tonight is a great value considering the Rockets home court edge and the fact that Griffin is out. Yes, the Clippers recently beat the Rockets when LA was without Griffin but that game took place out west...tonight's game is in Houston. The Rockets will get their revenge in a big way here. Play Houston -3.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-25-15 | Wichita State v. Indiana State +9.5 | Top | 63-53 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 1 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #740 - *10* Indiana State Sycamores +9.5 vs Wichita State @ 7 ET - The Shockers are in a huge lookahead spot here. Wichita State's season finale is coming up on Saturday against Northern Iowa in a battle of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference. That said, this is the perfect spot to fade the Shockers with a very lively home dog. Indiana State is a rock solid 10-5 at home this season and 32-10 at home the last 3 seasons. The Sycamores have had this game circled on their calendars because they were demolished at Wichita State by 17 points two weeks ago and because the Shockers knocked Indiana State out of the conference tourney by 14 points last March. That makes this a double revenge spot for the Sycamores and the last time they hosted the Shockers, Indiana State outrebounded and had 9 more shots from the field than Wichita State but they fell short by 7 points due to a poor shooting game. In their previous home match-up with the Shockers, the Sycamores rolled Wichita State by 14 points and Indiana State was a home dog in that one too. The Sycamores are a solid 10-5 ATS in conference action this season. The Shockers are 3-1 in their last 4 road games but two of those three road wins came by a combined margin of just 9 points .The spread will prove to be too much here as Wichita State looks ahead to their match-up with the Panthers. That said, the Sycamores are in this one all the way and just might pull off the upset! Play Indiana State +9.5 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-25-15 | Kentucky v. Mississippi State +18.5 | 74-56 | Win | 100 | 10 h 1 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #754 - *8* Mississippi State Bulldogs +18.5 vs Kentucky @ 7 ET - Does Kentucky win this game? Of course they do! They are 27-0 on the season and they're taking on a Bulldogs team that is only 12-15 on the season. However, there are key situational advantages that have me grabbing the big points with Mississippi State. The Wildcats have a huge game on deck. Coming up on Saturday, Kentucky is hosting Arkansas in what is truly the last regular season challenge to the Wildcats perfect season. This lookahead situation means that even if the Wildcats do get up by a substantial margin in this game, they will certainly turn things down a few notches in the latter stages of this one. That equates to this being a mountain of a spread for the Wildcats to cover and I simply do not see that happening here. As a road favorite of 12.5 or more points, Kentucky is just 1-4 ATS the last three seasons. Overall on the road, Kentucky is just 10-20 ATS the last 3 seasons combined. Additionally, as you can see from the low total posted on this game, the Bulldogs are known for keeping the tempo down in games and they know that's their best shot to hang with Kentucky as long as possible in this one. With that said, the Wildcats ability to cover a large spread in a lower-scoring contest will certainly be a challenge. Mississippi State is off of a tight home loss to Arkansas on Saturday and the Bulldogs are 6-2 ATS this season when off of a conference loss. All eight of Kentucky's true road games this season have come by a margin less than the 18.5 currently available in this one. In fact, 4 of those 8 wins have come by a single digit margin! Factoring that in along with the lookahead to the Razorbacks and you have great line value being offered here. Play Mississippi State +18.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-24-15 | Texas A&M +7.5 v. Arkansas | Top | 75-81 | Win | 100 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #535 - *10* Texas A & M Aggies +7.5 @ Arkansas @ 9 ET - The Aggies are catching the Razorbacks at the perfect time. Arkansas has a huge game at Kentucky on deck. It's impossible for the Razorbacks to not be looking ahead to the Wildcats game and that means covering the big spread against the Aggies is going to be a problem. Texas A & M is a rock solid 9-5 ATS in conference action this season. Also, the Aggies have plenty of confidence as they are off of a road win at South Carolina and Texas A & M is a solid 7-2 ATS this season when they are off of a conference win. Overall, the Aggies have won 10 of their last 12 games and though Arkansas has won 9 of their last 12 games note that 5 of those 9 wins came by a margin of 5 points or less. The Razorbacks have covered the spread just 5 times in their last 12 games. Arkansas has allowed an average of 72 points per game in their last 4 games. Conversely, the Aggies solid, consistent defensive efforts have led to Texas A & M holding 9 of their last 10 opponents to 62 points or less! Play Texas A & M +7.5 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-24-15 | LSU -5 v. Auburn | 84-61 | Win | 100 | 9 h 8 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCB #529 - *8* LSU Tigers -5 @ Auburn @ 7 ET - LSU was a double digit home favorite against Auburn back on the 5th of this month and Louisiana State lost the game outright. That makes this a huge revenge spot for LSU and one can fully expect that Louisiana State is highly motivated for this one. LSU is a solid 6-3 ATS in road games this season. Louisiana comes into this game off of a win and cover versus Florida and this brings LSU to 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. They are visiting an Auburn team that has lost 8 of their last 10 games. All but one of those losses came by a margin of at least 7 points. Auburn's defense has been atrocious of late as 4 of their last 5 opponents have shot 53% or better from the field. Conversely, LSU has held 3 of their last 5 opponents under 37% from the field! Also, all of LSU's last five opponents have been held under 31% from three point land. Auburn is off of a blowout loss to Kentucky so some may be looking for a bounce back effort here but it is highly doubtful. That's because Auburn is 9-27 straight-up and 12-23-1 ATS when off of a loss in conference action. Play LSU -5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-23-15 | San Antonio Spurs -5 v. Utah Jazz | Top | 81-90 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 52 m | Show |
Rickenbach NBA *10* San Antonio Spurs -5 @ Utah @ 9 ET - The Spurs are fired up as Coach Popovich has laid into them hard after back to back losses. San Antonio has had two straight off days to simmer about their poor return from the All Star break. Now the rested legs of the Spurs are in Utah and ready to take on a Jazz team whom they have dominated in recent seasons. Over the last 3 seasons the Spurs have won 7 of their last 9 meeting with the Jazz. San Antonio also has taken 2 of the last 3 meetings in Utah. The Jazz are off of a big divisional win over Portland and note that Utah is an ugly 0-7 straight-up and 0-7 ATS this season when off of a game against a divisional foe. In home games with a posted total between 185 and 189.5 points the Jazz are 4-8 ATS the L3 seasons. The Spurs are 86-16 straight-up the L3 seasons in games against teams with a losing record and that's certainly strong enough for me to lay the relatively small number with the Spurs in this one. 9 of the Spurs last 10 wins have come by at least 6 points. Looking at the last 10 losses the Jazz have there have been a number of blowout defeats and the average margin of defeat in this span has been 9.7 points. The Spurs will also win this one going away. Play San Antonio -5 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-23-15 | Kansas v. Kansas State +6.5 | Top | 63-70 | Win | 100 | 12 h 26 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB *10* Kansas State Wildcats +6.5 vs Kansas @ 9 ET - After coming up just short at West Virginia, Kansas got the win versus TCU on Saturday but it was another non-cover for the Jayhawks. They have been over-valued recently and this match-up Monday appears to continue that trend. Kansas is being asked to cover a spread in the range of a half-dozen points even though they are on the road and facing an in-state rival who will treat this game as their "Super Bowl" of this season. They will be fired up, to put it mildly, in Manhattan tonight and the Wildcats are a solid 10-4 in home games on the season. Kansas State's four home losses have come by an average margin of just 4 points per defeat and not a single home loss has come by more than 6 points. Kansas State is ready to scratch and claw their way to a win in this one and though they are off of an ugly performance on the road, the Wildcats have played much better at home this season. Kansas State has shot 45% from the field in home games including 40% from 3-point land while holdiing opponents to just 41% from the field and a meager 29% from beyond the arc. The Wildcats are 8-4 as an underdog this season and Kansas is on an 0-3 ATS run as a road favorite of 6.5 to 9 points. Overall, the Jayhawks are just 17-13 straight-up (and 12-18 ATS) in their last 30 road gams. Play Kansas State +6.5 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-23-15 | Minnesota Timberwolves +9.5 v. Houston Rockets | 102-113 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 53 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA *8* Minnesota Timberwolves +9.5 @ Houston @ 8 ET - The Timberwolves have one of the worst records in the NBA so, at times, one can find great value in backing Minnesota. Tonight features one of these nice spots to back a Minny team that is currently on an 8-4 ATS run. The Timberwolves enter this game with revenge for a tough 2-point home loss to the Rockets in early December. Note that Minnesota is 12-4 ATS this season when playing a game with home loss revenge. Additionally, this is a nice scheduling advantage for the Timberwolves as they are playing just their 2nd game since the All Star break and they've been off since Friday. Conversely, the Rockets are playing their 3rd game in 4 nights plus they are in a lookahead situation as they have a big game with the Clippers on deck. Note that the Rockets are off of a home win against the Raptors but had failed to cover 5 of their prior 8 games. Additionally, Houston held Toronto to just 76 points but the Rockets are an ugly 1-4 ATS this season when off of a game where they held their opponent to 85 points or less. In fact, the Rockets are also 1-4 straight-up in this situation. That said, and with the big game against the Clips on deck, don't be surprised if the T-wolves pull of the shocking upset tonight but I'll certainly grab the big points being offered. Play Minnesota +9.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-23-15 | Louisville v. Georgia Tech +4.5 | 52-51 | Win | 100 | 10 h 26 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B *8* Georgia Tech +4.5 vs Louisville @ 7 ET - The loss of senior guard Chris Jones is a significant blow for the Cardinals and is not being properly factored into this line. The Yellow Jackets can absolutely spring the upset here and the fact they are getting a handful of points is a great value. Georgia Tech's 8-6 record on the season in home games is not all that impressive but note that their six home losses have come by an average of 2.7 points per game and not a single defeat came by more than 4 points! The Yellow Jackets have been in every single game on their home floor this season and I see no reason for that to change tonight. This is especially true with the added turmoil for Louisville of Jones being dismissed from the team. Louisville enters this game off of a tight two-point win over Miami where they held the Hurricanes to just 53 points. The Cardinals, however, are 4-8 ATS this season when off of a game where they held their opponent to 60 points or less. Overall this season, as a favorite, the Cards have gone just 8-14 ATS. Georgia Tech is 8-4 ATS as an underdog this season. The Yellow Jackets are off an embarrassing road loss at North Carolina but the Jackets are 7-4 ATS this season when off of an ACC loss. Also, the Yellow Jackets are a solid 10-6 ATS this season in games against teams with a winning record. Play Georgia Tech plus the points as an *8* selection. |
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02-22-15 | Washington +1 v. Washington State | Top | 87-84 | Win | 100 | 11 h 57 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAA-B *10* Top Play Washington Huskies +1 @ Washington State @ 8:30 ET - The return of big man Jernard Jarreau is a key for the Huskies tonight. Washington has been on a losing streak but this is a big rivalry game tonight and Jarreau's return is going to help spark a big effort from the visitors here. The Huskies have revenge from a home loss suffered at the hands of the Cougars last month. Now it's payback time. While Washington has struggled of late, Washington State has certainly not been a powerhouse either. The Cougars have lost 7 of their last 9 games and the only two victories they notched in this span came by a total margin of just 4 points. Washington State got drilled by Arizona in their most recent game and the Cougars are an ugly 1-6 ATS this season when off of a game where they were held to 60 points or less. Washngton State is also an ugly 2-6 ATS this season (and 3-9 ATS the last 3 seasons) when they are off of a game where they allowed 80 points or more. A high scoring game is expected here and the Huskies are 6-1 ATS the last 3 seasons in a game with a posted total of 150 to 159.5 points. Washington is also 2-0 straight-up this season and 14-5 the last 3 seasons in their games against teams with a losing record. In road games with a posted total of 150 to 154.5 the last 3 seasons the Huskies have gone a perfect 4-0 ATS. They get their revenge tonight. Play Washington plus the points as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-22-15 | Florida State +15.5 v. Virginia | 41-51 | Win | 100 | 9 h 58 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B *8* Florida State Seminoles +15.5 @ Virginia @ 6:30 ET - The Noles are being given a lot of points here considering a number of factors. One is that this is a revenge spot for Florida State as the Cavaliers eliminated them from the ACC Tourney last spring. Another is that the Noles rarely get beat by a large margin and the Cavs rarely win by a huge margin. The fact is that too much weight is simply being given to the fact that Virginia Tech has a stellar record on the season while Florida State has only been medicore. Diving into the numbers a little will help shed light on my angle here. The Seminoles 12 losses have featured 9 losses by a single digit margin. Only twice this season has Florida State lost a game by more than 13 points. As for the Cavaliers, only twice since Christmas have they won a game by more than 15 points. In fact, the Cavs have seen 5 of their ACC wins come by a tight margin of 6 points or less. Florida State is 9-5 ATS in conference action this season. Virginia has become overvalued as the season has gone on and I will take advantage of that here. Note that the Cavs have covered just once in their last seven games. The Noles have covered 8 of their last 9 games! Play Florida State +15.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-22-15 | Atlanta Hawks -4.5 v. Milwaukee Bucks | 97-86 | Win | 100 | 6 h 58 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA *8* Atlanta Hawks -4.5 @ Milwaukee @ 3:35 ET - The Hawks were embarrassed on Friday night as they lost by 25 points to the Raptors even though the game was in Atlanta! Needless to say this is a bounce back situation for the Hawks and there are technical edges to support that a bounce back will happen. The Hawks shot just 33% from the field on Friday. That was the worst shooting performance they have had this season and note that Atlanta is 4-1 straight-up and 3-1-1 ATS this season when they are off of an upset loss as a favorite. The Hawks are a stellar 20-5 ATS this season against teams with a winning record. Atlanta also is a fantastic 18-7 ATS in road games this season. Against Central Division opponents the Hawks are 11-2 straight-up and 9-3-1 ATS this season. The Bucks are currently on a hot streak but note that Milwaukee is just 1-5 ATS this season (and 2-10 ATS the last 3 seasons) when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. Milwaukee held Denver to just 81 points on Friday but the Bucks are an ugly 2-9 ATS this season when they held their prior opponent to 85 points or less. All signs point to the Hawks in a huge bounce back effort in this one! Play Atlanta -4.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-21-15 | Georgia +3 v. Alabama | Top | 66-65 | Win | 100 | 12 h 13 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #627 - *10* Top Play Georgia Bulldogs +3 @ Alabama - The loss of Ricky Tarrant for the Crimson Tide has been significant. It is expected that he will miss his 7th straight game today. Alabama is coming off of a win but they have not been able to win back to back games without Tarrant. In fact, the Crimson Tide were just 3-7 in their last 10 games before knocking off the Tigers at Auburn. Alabama is just 2-3 in their last five home games and one of those wins came by a margin of just two points. Now the Crimson Tide are hosting a Georgia team that is 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 road games. The Bulldogs have shot the ball well on the road and they've also defended well in their away games this season. Look for the Crimson Tide to drop to 2-7 ATS in Saturday games this season while Georgia improves on a solid 11-4 ATS this season in their games against teams with a winning record. In road games with a posted total between 120 and 129.5 points this season the Bulldogs are a 4-0, 100% PERFECT ATS this season! Play Georgia +3 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-21-15 | Penn State v. Northwestern -1.5 | 39-60 | Win | 100 | 7 h 14 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #560 - *8* Northwestern Wildcats -1.5 vs Penn State @ 3 PM ET - The Wildcats have revenge on their minds after the extreme embarrassment they suffered in their last match-up with the Nittany Lions. That meeting took place in the final home game of the season for Northwestern last year and they suffered an ugly 59-32 defeat which they will look to avenge today. The Nittany Lions have lost 11 of their last 14 games and they are visiting a Northwestern team whose confidence has grown with back to back wins. The Wildcats have knocked off Iowa and notched a victory at Minnesota in their last two games. Northwestern is 5-2 ATS in Saturday games this season. Penn State is just 3-5 ATS in Saturday games this season. The Nittany Lions straight-up record as an underdog the last 3 seasons is 8-39 and I'll gladly lay the small number with a Wildcats team seeking revenge and playing with renewed confidence. Play Northwestern -1.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-21-15 | South Florida v. East Carolina -6 | 60-73 | Win | 100 | 3 h 14 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #512 - *8* East Carolina Pirates -6 vs South Florida @ 11 AM ET - This is a revenge spot for the Pirates as they lost by 8 at South Florida in early January. East Carolina suffered a poor shooting effort in that game against the Bulls but that is unlikely to be the case today. The Pirates are shooting a solid 47.5% from the field in home games this season. East Carolina is also playing solid defense at home this season as opponents are shooting an ugly 39.3% when visiting the Pirates this season. This dichotomy in numbers has played a big role in East Carolina's solid 7-1 ATS mark this season and I look for them to add another W to that record today. South Florida has been hurt by the absence of Chris Perry and the Bulls are an ugly 7-11 ATS as an underdog this season. In February games, South Florida is 6-13 ATS the last 3 seasons while East Carolina is a stellar 15-3 ATS the last 3 seasons in February games! After beating the Pirates on January 3rd, the Bulls had did not win another game until knocking off Houston on Tuesday of this week. That said, look for South Florida's losing ways to quickly resume here as they face a Pirates team that is on a red hot 7-0-1 ATS run but off of back to back straight-up losses. The Pirates are happy to be back home where they've won 3 straight game by an average margin of victory of 11 points. Play East Carolina -6 as an *8* selection. |
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02-20-15 | Toronto Raptors +4.5 v. Atlanta Hawks | 105-80 | Win | 100 | 22 h 7 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA *8* Toronto Raptors +4.5 @ Atlanta @ 7:35 ET - It's revenge time for Toronto as they suffered an embarrassing home loss by a 21 point margin at the hands of the Hawks just 5 weeks ago. The Raptors had previously won 4 of their last 5 match-ups with Atlanta and note that the Hawks certainly have cooled off in comparison with the red hot run they were still in the midst of back in mid-January. Atlanta has failed to cover 6 of their last 10 games. As for Toronto, they are being given a handful of points here and they have won 9 of their last 11 games. The Raptors come out of the All Star Break with plenty of confidence and Toronto is 13-9 ATS on the road this season and a solid 60-45 ATS on the road the past 3 seasons combined. Atlanta has some unbelievably impressive ATS stats on the season but, as you can see from their recent 4-6 ATS run, they are starting to come back down to earth after their "other-worldly" ATS run! The Raptors get their revenge tonight. Play Toronto plus the points as an *8* selection. |
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02-19-15 | Ole Miss v. Mississippi State +5.5 | Top | 71-65 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 35 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #544 - *10* Top Play Mississippi State Bulldogs +5.5 vs Ole Miss @ 9 ET - Mississippi State already got the cash against their hated rival in their first meeting this season and they will do it again here. The Bulldogs lost by 6 at Ole Miss last month as a 12.5 point dog. Getting about a half dozen points here on their home floor is too much. The Bulldogs will be fired up for revenge after the loss last month as well as the fact that their hated rival knocked them out of the SEC Tourney last spring as the Rebels won by a dozen points. Ole Miss has now won three straight games over Mississippi State but the Bulldogs have won each of their last two home meetings with the Rebels. Ole Miss is off of a heartbreaking one point loss versus Arkansas on Saturday and those types of losses are the toughest to bounce back from. So playing on the road against a hated rival only exasperates this situation for the Rebels. Mississippi State rolls into this game with plenty of confidence as they shot an incredible 56% from the field in their win at Missouri on Saturday. Though the Bulldogs gave up 74 points in that game, they had held their four prior opponents to an average of 62 points per game and they've been defending the 3-ball especially well in recent weeks. Mississippi State has covered 7 of their last 10 games and this is a big game for them as they would love nothing more than to knock off their hated rival. The Bulldogs are 6-2 ATS this season when they are playing with revenge from a road loss. Play Mississippi State +5.5 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-19-15 | Dallas Mavericks +6 v. Oklahoma City Thunder | 89-104 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 36 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA *8* Dallas Mavericks +6 @ Oklahoma City @ 8:05 ET - This year featured an extended All Star Break. That said, teams are not likely to come out of the break hitting on all cylinders. This gives some strong value to solid teams that are sizable underdogs. Dallas certainly falls into that category. Dallas is 36-19 on the season and catching about a half dozen points at Oklahoma City. The Mavericks went into the All Star Break having won 6 of their last 8 games. Even though the Thunder are better than their season record would indicate (due to key injuries early in the season), note that Oklahoma City lost 5 of their last 11 games heading into the All Star Break. They also face a Mavericks team likely to be bolstered by having Chandler, Stoudemire, and Rondo all available tonight as they are each listed as probable in the injury report. The Mavs have won each of their last 3 meetings with the Thunder and that includes a win in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are just 5-7 ATS the last 3 seasons when playing with 3 or more days of rest. Under the same parameters, the Mavericks have gone 6-3 ATS. Also over the last 3 seasons, the Mavs are 72-41 ATS in road games and I expect these "road warriors" to again get the cash Thursday. Play Dallas +6 as an *8* selection. |
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02-19-15 | Southern Mississippi +16 v. Old Dominion | 38-64 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 6 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #505 - *8* Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles +16 @ Old Dominion - If you just look at the records here this game looks like a complete mismatch. That said, it is the situational edges and the fact that this spread is over-inflated that has led me to back Southern Mississippi in a big way in this one. Note that Old Dominion has a huge game on deck with a home game versus Louisiana Tech on Saturday. It's simply impossible for the Monarchs not to look ahead to that game. At the same time, Old Dominion is also off of a big battle with UTEP, another top tier team in Conference USA and now, in between these two huge games, the Monarchs take on a Golden Eagles team that is in the bottom tier. That said, huge value with the big points here as Southern Mississippi will be fired up for this game. The Golden Eagles face a Monarchs team that has gone 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games. As for Southern Miss, they have covered 6 of their last 10 games and the Golden Eagles have not suffered a loss by more than 15 points in any of those games. In fact, 4 of the last 8 straight-up losses for Southern Mississippi have come by an average margin of defeat of just 3 points! The Golden Eagles have shot the ball quite well of late and so they also have backdoor potential here for the cover should Old Dominion surprise me and get a very large lead in this game. I truly look for this one to be tight all the way based on the situational edges. Southern Miss has the added confidence of having won here by 15 points last season. Old Dominion is just 3-9 ATS this season and 15-33 ATS the L3 seasons in conference action. Play Southern Mississippi +16 as an *8* selection. |
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02-18-15 | Detroit +11 v. Green Bay | 76-96 | Loss | -106 | 12 h 31 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #745 - *8* Detroit Titans +11 @ Wisconsin-Green Bay @ 8 ET - Based on records alone this, of course, looks like a complete mismatch. However, this game should prove to be anything but that! None of the last four match-ups between these teams was decided by more than 10 points. That includes a 6 point home loss for the Titans last month. Detroit is 6-3 ATS the last 3 seasons combined when they are playing with home loss revenge. The Titans are off of a tight loss at Oakland where they did allow 83 points but they are 9-6 straight-up and ATS the last 3 seasons when they are off a game where they allowed 80 points or more. Also note that, after getting drilled in their conference opener at Wright State way back on January 2nd, the Titans have not lost a game by more than 11 points in Horizon League action. Green Bay is in a tough sandwich spot here and that's what we're taking advantage of. The Phoenix just lost a tight one against a Valparaiso team that is just above them in the standings. On deck for Wisconsin-GB is a tough match-up with a Cleveland State team that is just behind them in the standings. That said, Green Bay isn't as focused on the Titans as they should be and that spells trouble tonight. The Phoenix have failed to get the cash in five of their last six games. That trend continues here. Play Detroit +11 as an *8* selection. |
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02-18-15 | Wisconsin v. Penn State +9.5 | 55-47 | Win | 100 | 11 h 31 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #702 - *8* Penn State Nittany Lions +9.5 @ Wisconsin @ 7 ET - The Nittany Lions have covered each of their last four meetings with the Badgers. The last two meetings in State College have been decided by a total of just 8 points. Penn State is 7-1 ATS as an underdog this season. The Badgers are a fantastic basketball team but one should not be surprised if they overlook the Nittany Lions. After this game, Wisconsin's wraps up the season with a pair of match-ups against Minnesota plus games against Maryland, Michigan State, and Ohio State. No matter how disciplined the Badgers are, it's difficult for them to be fully focused on this game. That could certainly spell trouble for Wiscy as Penn State is a solid 10-3 straight-up at home this season and those three losses all came by a single digit margin. The Nittany Lions gained confidence by going toe to toe with Maryland on Saturday and they're excited about hosting Wisconsin Wednesday night. Play Penn State +9.5 as an *8* selection. |
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02-17-15 | Texas +6.5 v. Oklahoma | Top | 69-71 | Win | 100 | 13 h 6 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #523 - *10* Top Play Texas Longhorns +6.5 @ Oklahoma @ 9 ET - The Longhorns have lost three straight to the Sooners and that includes an ugly 21 point beatdown in Austin last month. With that said, and with knowing the huge rivalry that this is, you can bet that Texas is fired up for some revenge tonight. The Longhorns come into this one on a 3 game winning streak and the Horns have shot well in four straight games and they've also defended extremely well in four straight games! Texas is allowing an average of just 51.5 points per game in their last 4 games. The Sooners come into this game off of a tough 3-point loss at Kansas State on Saturday. Bouncing back from a tight loss like that is often tough to do. And to do it when facing a rival who has had this game circled makes it even tougher. The Horns are going to give a valiant effort tonight and getting points in the range of a half dozen here is a great value. Oklahoma has a great ATS history at home in recent seasons but that is what is helpoing to drive this line up too. That means great line value for underdog backers in this one. Note that the dog has gotten the cash in 3 of the last 4 meetings in this rivalry. The Longhorns are 6-2 ATS on the road this season and they are 8-3 ATS this season after allowing 60 points or less in their prior game. The Horns have stepped up against tougher competition this season as they are 11-6 ATS this season in games against teams with a winning record. Play Texas +6.5 as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-17-15 | St. John's +7 v. Georgetown | 57-79 | Loss | -112 | 11 h 6 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #509 - *8* St John's Red Storm +7 @ Georgetown @ 7 ET - The Red Storm are playing with a ton of confidence right now. St John's has won 3 straight games and shot better than 50% from the field in all 3 games. On defense, the Red Storm have held the opposition to 42% or less from the field in 7 of their last 10 games. Georgetown is off of a big win at Seton Hall but, prior to that game, the Hoyas had lost 3 of their last 4 games. Georgetown is 6-3 in their last 9 home games and 3 of those 6 home wins came by a margin of 6 points or less. That said, there is great value in the considerable points being offered to the Red Storm in this one. St John's is a perfect 2-0 this season as a road dog of 6.5 to 9 points. The Red Storm is also on an 8-4 ATS run in match-ups with Georgetown but they've lost each of their last two match-ups here by a double digit margin so they are looking to atone for those defeats with a strong effort tonight. The Hoyas are just 5-9 ATS against Big East opposition this season and, off of their win against the Pirates, it's certainly noteworthy that Georgetown is 2-5 ATS this season when off of a win in conference action. Play St John's +7 as an *8* selection. |
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02-16-15 | Kansas -1 v. West Virginia | Top | 61-62 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 58 m | Show |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #707 - *10* Top Play Kansas Jayhawks -1 @ West Virginia @ 9 ET - West Virginia has the well-earned reputation of being a tough place to play. However, half of the Mountaineers 6 losses this season have come on their home floor. I have not been impressed by the way West Virginia has played in Big 12 action. The Mountaineers four most recent losses have all come by a margin of defeat of at least 18 points! West Virginia, to put it bluntly, has been drilled when facing stiffer competition. That is the case again Monday as they take on the Jayhawks. Making matters even worse for West Virginia is that Kansas enters this game with revenge on their minds. The Jayhawks lost to the Mountaineers by 6 last March. Though the final margin made the loss seem more respectable, Kansas got down huge early in that game and had to battle back just to bring the final margin into single digits. Kansas was embarrassed in that game and they will look to atone for that defeat tonight on Monday. On deck for Kansas is TCU so there is certainly no lookahead factor here. The Mountaineers have the full attention and focus of the Jayhawks and that's bad news for West Virginia because this Mountaineers team has been unable to step up in big games this season. The only win for West Virginia in their last four games came against Kansas State by 4 points, The other three games were losses by a combined 57 points. By the way, their most recent Big 12 defeat prior to these three came by 27 points to the Longhorns! I love taking the Jayhawks without having to lay points here and just asking them to get their revenge. I am sure they will do just that. When off of a win against a conference rival the Jayhawks are 32-9 straight-up the last 3 seasons. When off of a loss against a conference rival the Mountaineers are 9-17 ATS the last 3 seasons. Play Kansas as a *10* Top Play. |
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02-16-15 | Clemson v. Georgia Tech -2.5 | 52-63 | Win | 100 | 11 h 59 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAAB Game #706 - *8* Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -2.5 vs Clemson @ 7 ET - Clemson won both meetings with Georgia Tech in 2013. In 2014, not only did the Tigers do it again, they also beat the Yellow Jackets a third time when they knocked them out of the ACC Tournament. That makes this a huge revenge spot for Georgia Tech as they certainly remember what happened last March and they also are fully aware of the fact that they haven't defeated Clemson a single time the last two seasons. It's payback time and I'll gladly lay the small number with the Yellow Jackets as they defend their home floor tonight. Georgia Tech's record on the season is certainly unimpressive but they've suffered a number of tight losses. In fact, 12 of their 14 losses have been by 7 points or less this season and half of those 12 losses have been by 3 points or less! In a big revenge match-up like this, I don't see the Yellow Jackets losing another close one. It's a nice scheduling edge for Georgia Tech too as they catch the Tigers looking ahead to their next game, a match-up at Duke! In true road games this season Clemson has gone just 3-4 and those 4 losses have come by an average margin of defeat of 16 points! Each of these teams is allowing under 64 points per game on the season and when facing teams that fall into that category Georgia Tech has gone 8-3 ATS this season while Clemson has gone 10-16 ATS the last 3 seasons. Play Georgia Tech as an *8* selection. |
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02-15-15 | California +18 v. Utah | Top | 61-76 | Win | 100 | 14 h 36 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 10* (Top Play) on California +18 at Utah @ 8:30 p.m. ET |
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02-15-15 | Arizona v. Washington State +16 | 86-59 | Loss | -106 | 12 h 37 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington State +16 vs. Arizona @ 6:00 p.m. ET |
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02-15-15 | Iowa -6.5 v. Northwestern | Top | 61-66 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 7 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Iowa -6.5 at Northwestern @ 3:00 p.m. ET |
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02-15-15 | Illinois +13.5 v. Wisconsin | 49-68 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 8 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Illinois +13.5 at Wisconsin @ 1:00 p.m. ET |
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02-14-15 | CS-Fullerton +10 v. Hawaii | Top | 61-81 | Loss | -106 | 17 h 38 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Cal State Fullerton +10 at Hawaii @ 11:59 p.m. ET |
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02-14-15 | Oklahoma State -3 v. TCU | Top | 55-70 | Loss | -112 | 11 h 54 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma State -3 at TCU @ 6:00 p.m. ET |
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02-14-15 | Mississippi State +2.5 v. Missouri | 77-74 | Win | 100 | 9 h 54 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Mississippi State +2.5 at Missouri @ 4:00 p.m. ET |
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02-14-15 | Virginia Tech +8.5 v. Clemson | 54-75 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 55 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Virginia Tech +8.5 at Clemson @ 12:00 p.m. ET |
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02-13-15 | Cleveland State v. Detroit +4 | Top | 65-66 | Win | 100 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 10* (Top Play) on Detroit +4 vs. Cleveland State @ 8:00 p.m. ET |
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02-13-15 | Wisconsin Green Bay v. Valparaiso -3 | 59-63 | Win | 100 | 13 h 35 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Valparaiso -3 Green Bay @ 7:00 p.m. ET |
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02-12-15 | Michigan v. Illinois -6.5 | Top | 52-64 | Win | 100 | 14 h 59 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Thursday 10* (Top Play) on Illinois -6.5 vs. Michigan @ 9:00 p.m. ET |
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02-12-15 | Minnesota +7 v. Iowa | 64-59 | Win | 100 | 12 h 22 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Minnesota +7 at Iowa @ 7:00 p.m. ET |
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02-11-15 | Memphis Grizzlies +6 v. Oklahoma City Thunder | Top | 89-105 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 30 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Memphis +6 at Oklahoma City @ 8:00 p.m. ET |
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02-11-15 | Villanova -4.5 v. Providence | Top | 74-68 | Win | 100 | 12 h 24 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Villanova -4.5 at Providence @ 8:00 p.m. ET |
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02-11-15 | Georgia +3.5 v. Texas A&M | 62-53 | Win | 100 | 11 h 24 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Georgia +3.5 at Texas A&M @ 7:00 p.m. ET |
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02-10-15 | Kentucky v. LSU +11 | Top | 71-69 | Win | 100 | 11 h 51 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on LSU +11 vs. Kentucky @ 7:00 p.m. ET |
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02-10-15 | Towson v. Drexel -3.5 | 49-53 | Win | 100 | 10 h 52 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Drexel -3.5 vs. Towson @ 6:00 p.m. ET |
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02-09-15 | Iowa State +6.5 v. Oklahoma | Top | 83-94 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 31 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Monday 10* (Top Play) on Iowa State at Oklahoma @ 9:00 p.m. ET |
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02-08-15 | USC +14 v. Stanford | 62-70 | Win | 100 | 14 h 43 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #841 - 6* USC Trojans +14 @ Stanford @ 8:30 ET - regular write-ups resume tomorrow |
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02-08-15 | Los Angeles Clippers +4 v. Oklahoma City Thunder | 108-131 | Loss | -115 | 6 h 16 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NBA 6* Los Angeles Clippers +4 @ Oklahoma City @ 1:05 ET - regular write-ups resume tomorrow |
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02-08-15 | Michigan +8 v. Indiana | 67-70 | Win | 100 | 6 h 14 m | Show | |
Rickenbach NCAA-B Game #819 - 6* Michigan Wolverines +8 @ Indiana @ 1 ET - regular write-ups resume tomorrow |
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02-07-15 | Utah v. Colorado +5.5 | Top | 79-51 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 3 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Colorado vs. Utah @ 10:00 p.m. ET |
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02-07-15 | Mississippi State +12.5 v. Arkansas | 41-61 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 19 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Mississippi State at Arkansas @ 4:00 p.m. ET |
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02-07-15 | Wyoming -2 v. Air Force | Top | 50-73 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 35 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Wyoming at Air Force @ 2:00 p.m. ET |
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02-07-15 | Baylor v. West Virginia -4 | 87-69 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 51 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on West Virginia vs. Baylor @ 12:00 p.m. ET |
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02-06-15 | Philadelphia 76ers +7 v. Boston Celtics | Top | 96-107 | Loss | -103 | 12 h 34 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at Boston @ 7:35 p.m. ET |
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02-06-15 | Cleveland Cavaliers v. Indiana Pacers +5.5 | 99-103 | Win | 102 | 11 h 5 m | Show | |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Indiana vs. Cleveland @ 7:05 p.m. ET |
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02-06-15 | Dayton +3 v. George Washington | Top | 64-65 | Win | 100 | 11 h 58 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 10* (Top Play) on Dayton at George Washington @ 7:00 p.m. ET |
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02-05-15 | Los Angeles Clippers +5 v. Cleveland Cavaliers | Top | 94-105 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 22 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* (Top Play) on LA Clippers at Cleveland @ 8:05 p.m. ET |
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02-05-15 | UTEP -6 v. Florida Atlantic | Top | 63-56 | Win | 100 | 12 h 16 m | Show |
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Thursday 10* (Top Play) on UTEP at Florida Atlantic @ 8:00 p.m. ET |