My selection is on New York minus the points over San Antonio at 8:30 pm et on Wednesday.

There was a lot of distraction swirling around the Knicks in advance of Game 3 of this series on Monday. Most went into that game thinking New York was going to push San Antonio to the brink of elimination but of course we thought otherwise, backing the Spurs in their much-needed 115-111 victory. I do think we'll see the Knicks settle in a little better in Game 4 on Wednesday after so much bottled up anticipation was let out by the city as a whole in Game 3. Of course, a big difference in Game 3 was the foul shot discrepancy with the Spurs getting off 32 attempts from the stripe compared to the Knicks 22. That's obviously not something we can project here but I would at least expect a few more calls to go New York's way. The Knicks have been able to get their looks in this series, hoisting up 94, 89 and 88 field goal attempts through three games. The shots haven't necessarily been falling but I do think the door is open for a bounce-back performance here. The fact that New York is coming off a loss is notable as it has endured just three different losing streaks dating back to January 21st. And of course the straight-up winner has now gone an incredible 27-0 ATS in San Antonio's last 27 contests. Take New York (9*).

Finals Game of the Year. My selection is on San Antonio plus the points over New York at 8:30 pm et on Monday.

The Knicks have full control of this series as the scene shifts to New York for Game 3 on Monday. The fact that the Spurs have dropped the cash in each of the first two games in this series is notable as they've lost three straight games ATS just once dating back to January 2nd, that coming during a three-game ATS slide in mid-January, and only three times all season. As I've noted previously in this series, the Knicks are into uncharted territory as they're riding a season-high 13-game winning streak, not to mention the fact that they've now matched their season-high with eight straight ATS victories. The only other time they rattled off eight consecutive ATS wins was from January 21st to February 4th before losing by 38 points in Detroit on February 6th. Bettors figure to back the Knicks in droves at this short number but we'll go the other way and call for the Spurs to get back in the series. Take San Antonio (10*).

Finals Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between New York and San Antonio at 8:30 pm et on Wednesday.

We won with the 'over' in each of the Knicks last two games but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the 'under' as they travel to San Antonio to open the NBA Finals on Wednesday. Of note, the Knicks have produced just two 'over' streaks lasting three games or more dating back to January 2nd. I've said it many times before and it's worth stating again here, New York wants to dictate the pace and it wants that pace to be deliberate. The Knicks have opened their first three playoff series' by hoisting up 80, 84 and 88 (helped by overtime) field goal attempts in Game 1. The Spurs of course saw Game 7 of their series against the Thunder creep 'over' the total thanks only to a 'meaningless' and perhaps unnecessary dunk in the closing seconds. San Antonio has delivered just three different 'over' streaks since March 14th and only five going all the way back to December 13th. Both of these teams have been incredibly consistent defensively in these playoffs. The Knicks have held the opposition to 40 or fewer made field goals in 12 of 14 games while the Spurs have limited opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals in 16 of 18 contests. Take the under (10*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between San Antonio and Oklahoma City at 8:15 pm et on Saturday.

I admittedly was on the 'over' in Game 6 of this series on Thursday and it likely would have got there were it not for both teams emptying their benches in the fourth quarter of a lopsided affair. Despite being an elite defensive team, the Thunder haven't seen consecutive games stay 'under' the total since a four-game streak back in mid-March. With that being said, they have put together 11 different 'under' streaks over the course of this season. For the Spurs, 'under' results have had a tendency to come in bunches, even if that hasn't been the case recently. San Antonio has posted seven different 'under' streaks since February 23rd. While we have seen plenty of high-scoring Game 7 results recently with the 'under' trends certainly not as pronounced as it was in past years, I do think the adjustment to the total here is still warranted. The Thunder have absolutely clamped down defensively in these playoffs, holding the opposition to 41 or fewer made field goals in 13 of 14 games to date and I would expect nothing different in Game 7. This series has played out similarly to the NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers last year. That series saw both Games 6 and 7 stay 'under' the total and I'm anticipating the same outcome here. Take the under (10*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on San Antonio plus the points over Oklahoma City at 8:35 pm et on Tuesday.

The knee-jerk reaction is understandably to lay the points with the Thunder as they return home for Game 5 of this series following a blowout loss in San Antonio on Sunday. I'm going to go the other way, however, and grab all the points I can get with the Spurs. Incredibly, the straight-up winner has now covered the spread in 21 straight games involving San Antonio. That's its longest such streak of the season by far (its previous longest lasted only 12 games). While I do think the Spurs have a shot at winning this game outright, at the very least I'm confident they can take it down to the wire. The fact that the Spurs won and covered on Sunday is notable as ATS wins have had a tendency to come in bunches for them. They've put together five different ATS winning streaks dating back to March 23rd including three in these playoffs. Meanwhile, the Thunder have endured four different ATS losing streaks dating back to February 27th, going 15-19 ATS in their last 34 contests. While the Thunder are undoubtedly an elite team and 'should' bounce back here, I simply feel they're laying too many points. Take San Antonio (10*).

Eastern Conference Finals Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Cleveland at 8 pm et on Monday.

While the knee-jerk reaction may be to play the 'under' off Saturday's relatively high-scoring affair between these two teams, I'll go the other way and back the 'over' in Monday's potentially series-clinching Game 4 in Cleveland. The Knicks have essentially unlocked the Cavaliers defense over the last nine-plus quarters of this series. Whether aided by overtime on occasion or not, Cleveland has now allowed 24 of its last 32 opponents to knock down 40+ field goals. The Knicks only needed to hoist up 77 field goal attempts on Saturday, yet still scored 121 points on a blistering 55.8% shooting. I don't expect the Cavs to simply roll over in Game 4 at home. They did manage to connect on 42-of-84 field goal attempts in a losing effort on Saturday. They scored 108 points despite connecting on just 12-of-19 free throw attempts. I do expect to see a more aggressive game from Cleveland on Monday as it needs to get out on its front foot if it is to have any hope of extending this series. Note that 'over' results have had a tendency to come in bunches for both teams. While I do consider the Knicks an 'under' team by today's NBA standards, they've put together four 'over' streaks since March 9th with two of those coming in these playoffs (the 'over' is 6-3 in their last nine games). That's nothing compared to the Cavs, who have posted five different 'over' streaks since April 6th alone, including three in these playoffs. Take the over (10*).

Eastern Conference Finals Game of the Year. My selection is on New York plus the points over Cleveland at 8 pm et on Saturday. 

We've won with the Knicks in each of the first two games in this series and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play in Game 3 on Saturday. While the scene does shift to Cleveland for this contest, it hasn't really mattered all that much where the Cavaliers have played, they've been a bad bet going back to the latter stages of February (16-26 ATS over their last 42 games). While Cleveland has dropped the cash in consecutive games and we often look to go for streak reversals, it's worth noting that it has suffered four different ATS losing streaks lasting at least three games going back to March 8th. On the flip side, the Knicks have now reeled off four straight ATS wins. They have delivered five different ATS winning streaks lasting at least five contests this season so it's not as if they're entering uncharted territory. I don't know that there's a lot different the Cavs can do to turn the tide in this series. New York is brimming with confidence right now and has Cleveland beat on depth alone. The Knicks have now held an incredible 17 of their last 18 opponents to 40 or fewer made field goals. Take New York (10*).

Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on Oklahoma City minus the points over San Antonio at 8:35 pm et on Wednesday.

The Spurs took Game 1 of this series in 'upset' fashion in double-overtime so the pressure is now on the Thunder to rebound in Game 2 as they look to avoid an 0-2 hole before heading to San Antonio for Game 3. Of note, the straight-up winner has now covered the spread in 18 straight games involving the Spurs. I'm confident we'll see Oklahoma City bounce back on Wednesday. The Thunder got off to a very slow start in Game 1 and were ultimately chasing the game most of the way. You simply can't get caught in that type of scenario against a team as good, and confident, as the Spurs. San Antonio has now reeled off three straight wins both SU and ATS and that's notable as it has posted more than three wins in a row ATS just once previously this season, that coming during a seven-game ATS winning streak back in February. The Thunder have dropped the cash in back-to-back games. They've lost more than two games in a row ATS only once since February 1st and three times since the start of December. San Antonio has certainly had Oklahoma City's number this season but the Thunder's lone victory over the Spurs did come in lopsided fashion, by 21 points here at home back on January 13th. For San Antonio, there has to be a feeling of accomplishment after earning at least a split here in Oklahoma City. I expect to see a strong response from the Thunder on Wednesday. Take Oklahoma City (10*).

Western Conference Finals Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between San Antonio and Oklahoma City at 8:30 pm et on Monday.

Both of these teams shot the lights out in the second round with the Spurs eliminating the Timberwolves in six games and the Thunder cruising to a four-game sweep of the Lakers. Those were obviously favorable matchups but resistance figures to come in waves in this showdown between the league's two best teams, not just offensively but defensively as well. Note that the 'over' has cashed in each of the Thunder's last three games, matching their longest such streak going back to March 1st. The Spurs have seen the 'over' cash in five straight contests. That matches their longest streak going all the way back to November 14th and they have reeled off more than five consecutive 'overs' just once previously this season. Both meetings between these two teams in Oklahoma City during the regular season stayed 'under' the total we're working with on Monday but that's easy for most bettors to forget given they haven't matched up on this floor since January 13th. Take the under (10*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Detroit at 8 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Pistons in Game 6 of this series on Friday but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the Cavaliers in an underdog role on Sunday. Note that Cleveland has suffered consecutive losses just twice dating back to March 1st. Friday's setback only served to end its three-game SU and ATS winning streak. The Pistons on the other hand have only put together one winning streak in these playoffs - that lasting five games from Game 5 of their opening round series against Orlando to Game 2 of this series against Cleveland. They're just 6-7 ATS so far in these playoffs. Of course, the Cavs do own an identical ATS mark in the postseason but they're not the ones laying a handful of points on Sunday. I simply feel this line is an overreaction to the lopsided result on Friday. The Cavs would have been right there in that contest were it not for a poor shooting performance. In stark contrast, the Pistons shot the lights out - an effort I don't see them repeating on Sunday. Take Cleveland (10*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Minnesota and San Antonio at 8 pm et on Tuesday.

We missed with the 'under' in Game 4 of this series on Sunday but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play in Game 5 on Tuesday. We've now seen three straight games go 'over' the total in this series. That's notable as the Timberwolves have posted more than three straight 'over' results just once going all the way back to December 6th, that coming during a four-game streak from January 29th to February 4th. It's not all that different of a story for the Spurs. They've seen more than three consecutive games go 'over' the total only once since February 19th and twice going all the way back to November 14th. The oddsmakers have kept the totals relatively steady throughout this series despite the recent run of 'overs' and it's the right move in my opinion. Take the under (10*).

Western Conference Second Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between San Antonio and Minnesota at 7:30 pm et on Sunday.

We missed with the 'under' in Game 3 of this series on Friday as a high-scoring second half foiled our chances. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play on Sunday, however, as I feel the situation sets up even better for a relatively low-scoring result in Game 4. The Timberwolves certainly got away from their preferred game on Friday as they were forced to chase and ultimately hoisted up a whopping 99 field goal attempts (and made good on just 38 of them). OF note, they've now been held to 43 or fewer made field goals in eight of nine playoff games to date. On a positive note, they did limit the Spurs to just 85 field goal attempts and have held the opposition to 87 or fewer in eight of nine playoff contests. The Spurs have now limited opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals in all eight playoff games (and fewer than 40 in seven of those eight contests). The last two games going 'over' the total is notable for both teams. The Spurs have seen more than two straight games to 'over' just once since February 19th, that coming during a four-game 'over' streak in the first half of March. In fact, San Antonio has posted only two 'over' streaks lasting more than two games going all the way back to December 13th. Meanwhile, the T'Wolves have posted more than two straight 'over' results just once since February 6th and twice dating back to December 6th. Take the under (10*).

Central Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Detroit and Cleveland at 3 pm et on Saturday.

A lot of bettors are probably anticipating a rather sleepy, matinee affair between these two teams after the way the first two games in the series went. Both of those contests stayed 'under' the total with Game 2 comfortably so. I think we'll see a different story unfold as the scene shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday, however. Note that the Cavaliers were held to a woeful seven made three-pointers in Game 2 - the last two times they were held to single-digits in that regard their next game totalled 240 and 247 points. While I'm not expecting that level of scoring on Saturday, I do think we'll see this one find its way 'over' the reasonably-priced total. The Pistons check in having seen more than two games in a row stay 'under' the total only once dating back to March 8th, that coming during a three-game 'under' streak in mid-March (of note all three of those contests surpassed the total we're working with on Saturday). Meanwhile, the Cavs have posted more than two straight 'under' results just once going all the way back to January 30th. Both regular season meetings here at Quicken Loans Arena totalled at least 220 points. Take the over (10*).

Central Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Detroit at 7 pm et on Thursday.

The Cavaliers fell short in the opener of this series on Tuesday as they were essentially chasing that game from the opening tipoff. I expect a different story to unfold on Thursday as they look to even this series at one game apiece in Detroit. Of note, the Cavs have lost consecutive games just once since March 1st and only twice going all the way back to December 29th. Meanwhile, the Pistons have now won four games in a row and that's notable as they've won more than four straight contests just once since November 26th. As good as Detroit has been this season, it hasn't exactly been a pointspread darling since getting off to a hot start to the season from that perspective. The Pistons enter Game 2 on a three-game ATS winning streak but they've delivered the cash in more than three straight games only twice going all the way back to November 24th. The Cavs have shown they can win here, splitting two regular season meetings on this floor including a 21-point rout and a three-point overtime defeat (in a game where they were missing a number of key contributors and +8.5-point underdogs as a result). Take Cleveland (10*).

Western Conference Second Round Game of the Year. My selection is on San Antonio minus the points over Minnesota at 9:30 pm et on Wednesday.

We're being given a shorter pointspread to work with in Game 2 of this series after the Timberwolves staged an 'upset' victory in Game 1. San Antonio had an off shooting night on Monday, marking just the second time in its last 18 games that it was held to fewer than 40 made field goals. I'm confident we'll see the Spurs bounce back on Wednesday. Note that the T'Wolves have now delivered the cash in consecutive games. They have just one ATS winning streak lasting more than two games to their credit since February 2nd. Also of note, the straight-up winner has gone an incredible 26-1 ATS in Minnesota's last 27 games, so if we think the Spurs can even this series at a game apiece, we should be comfortable laying the points. San Antonio, while firmly on the public's betting radar, has still managed to avoid prolonged ATS skids in recent months. The Spurs have suffered consecutive ATS defeats just twice since January 22nd. We'll call for them to avoid that fate in Game 2 of this series on Wednesday. Take San Antonio (10*).

Atlantic Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Philadelphia and New York at 8 pm et on Monday.

I really like the way this play sets up on Monday as the 76ers and Knicks open their second round series and while the NBA can lack intensity these days, I do think this promises to be a good one. The 76ers check in off an 'upset' win in Boston on Saturday, completing a massive comeback to win that series in seven games thanks to reeling off three consecutive outright underdog victories. Saturday's contest also ended up being an 'over' result and that's notable. Philadelphia has recorded just two 'over' streaks - both lasting only two games - since March 1st. The Knicks saw their final two games against the Hawks go 'over' the total last round. New York is one of the slowest paced teams in the league and has posted just one 'over' streak lasting more than two games going all the way back to January 2nd, that coming during a three-game streak from February 10th to 19th. I think we'll see the totals come down as this series progresses so we're getting in at a good number in Game 1. Take the under (10*).

Atlantic Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Boston minus the points over Philadelphia at 7:30 pm et on Saturday.

We've wisely laid off the side in the last two games in this series but will go back to the well with the Celtics as they return home for Game 7 on Saturday. Boston has now dropped the cash in consecutive games - losing outright in both - and that's notable as it has lost more than two games in a row ATS only twice going all the way back to November 5th and not since January. Meanwhile, the 76ers have seen each of their last seven two-game ATS winning streaks stop there and have won more than two games in a row ATS just twice since January 5th. The shots simply haven't been falling for Boston over the last couple of games as it was held to exactly 36 field goals in both Games 5 and 6. I'm confident we'll see the C's bounce back and close out this series in convincing fashion on Saturday. Take Boston (10*).

Eastern Conference First Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Wednesday.

Game 2 of this series was about as ugly as it gets as the Raptors rallied late for a 93-89 victory to even things up at two games apiece. The Raptors actually got off a whopping 97 field goal attempts in that contest but made good on a woeful 32%. The difference ended up being Toronto's 36-23 edge in terms of free throw attempts, something I certainly don't see repeating as the scene shifts back to Cleveland for Game 5. The Raptors have now won and covered the spread in consecutive games. That's notable as they've posted just one ATS winning streak lasting more than two games going back to February 11th. The Cavs have lost more than two games in a row ATS on three different occasions but we're talking long-term, going back to January 10th. Of note, all three of those previous ATS skids included at least one game where they were favored by double-digits - a position they struggled to cover in this season (6-19 ATS). Expect Cleveland to rebound with a convincing victory here. Take Cleveland (10*).

Atlantic Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Philadelphia and Boston at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

We won with the 'over' in Game 4 of this series on Sunday as an incredibly high-scoring third quarter helped get us the cash. We'll go the other way on Tuesday as the 76ers face elimination in Boston. As expected, the Celtics bounced back offensively from a couple of subpar performances, shooting better than 48% from the field and knocking down a whopping 24 three-pointers in Sunday's blowout win. I'm not anticipating a repeat performance on Tuesday, nor do I expect the C's to play at as fast of a pace. The 76ers are obviously in tough having made good on 38 or fewer field goals in three of the first four games in this series. They managed to steal Game 2 here in Boston thanks to connecting on 19-of-39 three-point attempts but that's certainly not their game and it's highly unlikely we see them find similar success here in Game 5. Of note, Philadelphia has posted consecutive 'over' results just once going back to March 14th. Boston has done so three times since February 22nd but none of those streaks lasted more than two games. The 'under' is 37-15 over its last 52 contests. Take the under (10*).

Western Conference First Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Denver at 10:30 pm et on Monday.

Bettors figure to take interest in the 'under' in Game 5 of this series on Monday as the Nuggets have been held to 96 points in consecutive games while the Timberwolves will be without Anthony Edwards for the remainder of the series. Also notable ,but overshadowed by the Edwards injury, is the loss of Donte Divincenzo to a devastating injury as well. He's arguably a better defender than scorer so his presence will certainly be missed as Minnesota tries to lock down the Nuggets offense again on Monday. We'll go the contrarian route and back the 'over' in this spot, noting that the Nuggets are now on a two-game 'under' streak and they've posted more than two straight 'unders' only once going back to January 27th (that came during a three-game 'under' streak from March 17th to 20th). The Nuggets have connected on 38 or fewer field goals in all four games in this series. Prior to that you had to go back 19 games to find the last time they knocked down fewer than 40 field goals in a game. Simply put, I don't believe it's a sustainable trend. As for the T'Wolves, they made good on just 39 field goals on Saturday, ending their streak of seven straight contests with 40 or more made field goals. The Nuggets have now yielded 87 or more field goal attempts in 10 straight and 14 of their last 15 games overall so the scoring opportunities figure to be there for the T'Wolves. Take the over (10*).

Eastern Conference First Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between New York and Atlanta at 7 pm et on Thursday.

The first two games in this series stayed 'under' the total and that extended the Knicks 'under' streak to four games. That doesn't put them in uncharted territory, however, as they previously reeled off eight consecutive 'unders' earlier in the year. The Hawks have four 'under' streaks lasting longer than two games this season. While the series is even at a game apiece, New York can't be too disappointed as it has been played at its preferred pace, and that's slow. Of note, the Knicks have gotten off 87 or fewer field goal attempts in 10 of their last 12 games. Defensively, New York has been locked in for weeks now, holding 11 straight opponents to 42 or fewer made field goals and nine of those foes to 40 or fewer. You would have to go back five meetings now in this series to find the last time a matchup surpassed the total we're working with in Game 3 on Thursday. That came back in late-December when the Knicks were in the midst of a stretch that saw them hoist up 94 or more field goal attempts in six straight games (and allow 42 or more made field goals in eight straight contests). I'm anticipating a much different scoring environment than that on Thursday. Take the under (10*).

Western Conference First Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Houston minus the points over Los Angeles at 10:30 pm et on Tuesday.

The Rockets were stunned by the Lakers in the opener of this series on Saturday as Kevin Durant's late scratch certainly left them in shambles offensively. Houston actually got off 93 field goal attempts compared to Los Angeles' 66 in that series-opener. The Lakers quite simply shot the lights out (40-of-66 from the field) - something I don't expect them to repeat on Tuesday. Of note, Houston has still held four of its last five opponents to 40 or fewer made field goals. The shots weren't falling for the Rockets on Saturday but I like the way they've been pushing the pace (93 or more field goal attempts in four of their last five games) and think we'll see a bounce-back performance with Durant likely to return on Tuesday. The Lakers have now delivered the cash in four straight games and that's worth noting as they have only one ATS winning streak lasting four games or more going back to November 8th. The Rockets haven't lost consecutive games ATS since a four-game ATS slide from March 21st to 27th. Take Houston (10*).

Northwest Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over Denver at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

I can understand the support for the Nuggets in this series-opener on Saturday. After all, Minnesota still doesn't know whether Anthony Edwards will be able to play and the Nuggets are as hot as any team entering the postseason, riding a season-high 12-game winning streak SU and off back-to-back victories ATS. The Timberwolves played pretty well down the stretch also, even if there was little on the line, going 3-1 SU and ATS over its final four regular season contests. While Minnesota has been somewhat disappointing as a whole this season, it certainly has a shot at redemption in this series and I think it matches up well with Denver. Note that the T'Wolves were actually one of the league's best bets over the final month of the regular campaign, going 9-5 ATS over their last 14 games. Denver is laying points off consecutive ATS victories and it's worth noting that it has just one ATS winning streak lasting longer than two games dating back to January 29th (a three-game ATS winning streak from March 9th to 12th). We'll grab all the points we can get with Minnesota on Saturday. Take Minnesota (10*).

Play-In Tournament Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Golden State and Phoenix at 10 pm et on Friday.

We missed with the 'under' in the Warriors 126-121 win over the Clippers on Wednesday. That game was played at just as slow of a pace as we expected with the Warriors getting off only 83 field goal attempts and the Clippers hoisting up 86. The problem was, both teams shot the lights out. In fact, the Warriors connected on a blistering 56.6% of their field goal attempts including 46.3% from beyond the arc. I'm not counting on a repeat performance on Friday, however. Phoenix checks in having held four straight and seven of its last nine opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals. On the flip side, the Suns got off only 79 field goal attempts in their 114-110 loss to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. You would have to go back eight games to April 1st to find the last time the Warriors allowed an opponent to get off 90+ field goal attempts. The most recent meeting between these two teams totalled only 198 points on this floor but that was back on February 5th and has been long-forgotten by most casual bettors. Take the under (10*).

Play-In Tournament Game of the Year. My selection is on Orlando plus the points over Philadelphia at 7:30 pm et on Wednesday.

The Magic couldn't avoid the play-in tournament as they fell in 'upset' fashion on the road against a scrappy but undermanned Celtics team on Sunday. Off that disappointing setback, a lot of bettors are expecting them to simply fold the tent but I see it going the other way as they head to Philadelphia for Wednesday's 7-8 showdown. The pressure isn't quite as high in this matchup as the loser still gets another shot to advance to the first round of the playoffs, squaring off against the winner of the 9-10 game. Regardless, I feel the Magic are the better team in this matchup, even if the 76ers finished ahead of them by way of a tie-breaker. Prior to Sunday's stunning defeat, Orlando had won five games in a row SU and three straight ATS. Of note, it has suffered just one ATS losing streak going back to March 3rd and it hasn't lost consecutive games SU since a six-game slide in March. The 76ers have dealt with injury issues all season and were dealt a serious blow to their chances when Joel Embiid was forced to have an appendectomy last week. Philadelphia did manage to save face by winning its final two regular season games including a blowout win over the lowly Bucks on Sunday. However, they had dropped the cash in four straight games prior to Sunday's victory and are just 13-17 ATS over their last 30 contests. Home court advantage has meant little in this particular matchup this season with the road team taking two of three meetings. Take Orlando (10*).

Eastern Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Charlotte and New York at 6:10 pm et on Sunday.

The Hornets are coming off back-to-back 'under' results while the Knicks were involved in a 'snail's pace' affair against the Raptors on Friday, also resulting in an 'under'. I think a different story unfolds in Sunday's regular season finale. The Knicks won't start their regulars, apart from Mikal Bridges, who will only make a cameo appearance to keep his games played streak alive. I actually think we'll see New York play a little faster than we're accustomed to without Jalen Brunson running the point in this one, and the Hornets figure to oblige them. Charlotte has not played tough defense down the stretch, allowing four of its last five opponents to connect on 42 or more field goals despite a below-average pace. The Hornets will certainly want to bounce back here after suffering back-to-back losses in Boston and at home against Detroit. Charlotte shot poorly in both of those contests but we know this is a team that can score in bunches and the expectation is that we'll see its regulars for at least some of this game. The fact that the most recent meeting between these two teams were involved in a game that totalled only 217 points on March 26th also keeps 'over' bettors at bay here, giving us a reasonable number to work with. Take the over (10*).

Eastern Conference Underdog Game of the Year. My selection is on Washington plus the points over Chicago at 7:10 pm et on Thursday.

I can understand the trepidation about backing the Wizards at this point as they've won just once in their last 24 games and just dropped a 129-98 decision against these same Bulls two nights ago. With that being said, I look for Washington to bounce back and avenge that lopsided defeat on Thursday. Chicago's victory two nights ago only served to snap its own seven-game losing streak. The Bulls are 3-11 SU over their last 14 games and their current two-game ATS winning streak is their longest since reeling off three consecutive ATS victories in the first week of March (all three of those ATS wins came as underdogs). Tuesday's performance was dreadful even by the Wizards low standards as they connected on just 37-of-86 field goal attempts and made good on only 13-of-21 free throws. Note that prior to that contest they had knocked down 50 or more field goals in four of their previous six contests. Of course the Wizards defense has been matador-like over the last month. I'm just not convinced the Bulls can take advantage for a second straight game, noting that they had been held to 43 or fewer made field goals in five of their last six contests prior to Tuesday's outburst. Take Washington (10*).

Western Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Oklahoma City and Los Angeles at 10:10 pm et on Wednesday.

Both of these teams played last night with the Thunder rolling to a blowout win over the Lakers and the Clippers holding off the Mavericks. I think this is a spot where we see Oklahoma City take a bit of a breather after scoring a whopping 139, 146 and 123 points over its last three games. Keep in mind, two of those three contests came against the short-handed Lakers and the other against the matador-like Jazz. The Clippers do figure to offer a little more resistance on Wednesday. Los Angeles has uncharacteristically gotten off 92+ field goal attempts in three straight games entering Wednesday's action. I'm not convinced it will even approach that number on Wednesday noting that the Thunder have held four of their last seven opponents to 82 or fewer field goal attempts and limited the Clips to 80 and 76 in their two previous matchups this season. Los Angeles checks in sporting a 4-10 o/u record over its last 14 games. Meanwhile, the Thunder had a recent stretch that saw them cash eight 'unders' in nine games back in March and I think their recent schedule has had more to do with their recent string of high-scoring affairs than anything else. Take the under (10*).

Eastern Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Detroit and Philadelphia at 7:10 pm et on Saturday.

I think we'll see the rested Pistons throw everything they've got at the 76ers, who are on a back-to-back, on Saturday night in Philadelphia. The Sixers, while certainly playing better now that they're healthier, have played matador-like defense, allowing seven straight opponents to hoist up 90 or more field goal attempts. They earned a reprieve against the struggling Timberwolves last night, yet Minnesota still got off a whopping 101 field goal attempts in a losing effort. I don't expect Philadelphia to simply roll over here, even though it is a back-to-back situation. The Pistons have been involved in a few low-scoring games lately but keep in mid, their last four contests have come against the aforementioned T'Wolves (twice), Thunder and Raptors. Detroit, despite playing without Cade Cunningham, has settled in nicely offensively, connecting on 52, 48, 43, 41, 44 and 41 field goals over its last six games, albeit with two of those contests needing overtime to decide. These two teams just met on March 12th as the Pistons rolled to a 131-109 home win over an undermanned 76ers team. I expect a tightly-contested affair here and one that finds its way 'over' the reasonable total (by today's NBA standards). Take the over (10*).

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CBB Game of the Year. My selection is on Illinois minus the points over Connecticut at 6:05 pm et on Saturday.

While this looks like a toss-up to most, I think Illinois ultimately prevails and exacts revenge for its earlier 74-61 loss to Connecticut suffered way back in late November. Both teams are entering uncharted territory from a pointspread perspective. Illinois has reeled off a season-high four straight ATS victories while UConn has matched its season-high with three ATS wins in a row. I generally prefer to back a team coming off a win-and-cover as a favorite though rather than one off an outright 'upset' victory, as is the case with the Huskies. UConn is obviously very fortunate to be in this position as it looked like it was finished in the closing seconds against Duke on Sunday. Illinois endured a lull back in February, losing four of six games SU and ATS in Big Ten play. That culminated with a double-digit home loss to Michigan and it was considered an afterthought following that lopsided defeat. Since then, the Illini have undoubtedly played their best basketball of the season, going 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS over their last seven contests. While Illinois has been a pretty solid bet all season, going 22-14 ATS, UConn has generally been overvalued, logging a 15-23 ATS mark. Whether you like the way the Illini roster has been constructed or not, I think they're a team that's well-positioned to reach the National Championship Game at the very least. Take Illinois (10*).

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Eastern Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on New York minus the points over Chicago at 7:40 pm et on Friday.

The Knicks snapped their three-game slide with a 130-119 win but non-cover in Memphis two nights ago. New York elected to rest Jalen Brunson in that contest and the result was its fifth straight ATS loss. It owns just one ATS losing streak lasting longer this season (a seven-game ATS slide back in December). I like the way this spot sets up for New York as it has been a different animal at home and it can 'empty the tank' given it won't play again until Monday in Atlanta. Chicago has enjoyed moderate pointspread success lately but has lost five games in a row SU. The Bulls have been reasonably competitive in this matchup this season, going 1-2 SU but 2-1 ATS, however, two of those previous matchups came way back in October/November when they had a much healthier roster than they do now. Their most recent matchup came on February 22nd in the Windy City and both teams were in back-to-back situations with the Knicks travelling off a hard-fought two-point home win over the Rockets the previous night. New York's recent issues have stemmed from their lackadaisical defensive play. However, the Knicks defensive woes are nothing compared to the Bulls' as Chicago has allowed six straight and seven of its last eight opponents to connect on 47 or more field goals. New York at least continues to limit its opponents' scoring opportunities, holding four straight foes to 78 or fewer field goal attempts. Take New York (10*).

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NIT Game of the Year. My selection is on Tulsa plus the points over New Mexico at 7 pm et on Thursday.

We can finally step in and fade the red hot Lobos of New Mexico on Thursday as we finally get them away from 'The Pit' for this NIT semi-final matchup in Indianapolis. The Lobos are in uncharted territory already as they ride a season-high six-game ATS winning streak that goes all the way back to their regular season finale. Tulsa hasn't been nearly the pointspread darling, going 1-5 ATS over its last six contests. With that being said, the Golden Hurricane have won nine of their last 10 games and are still playing some of their best basketball of the season. This is a team that owns four previous ATS winning streaks lasting at least three games this season so it's not as if it has been a lost cause against the number. We've seen Tulsa win games despite struggling to find its shooting legs in this tournament but perhaps a change of scenery to Hinkle Fieldhouse will serve it well in this matchup. We know the Lobos are a different animal away from home and I simply feel they're laying too many points in this particular matchup. Take Tulsa (10*).

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Non-Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Cleveland and Utah at 9:10 pm et on Monday.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 149-point explosion in the back half of a home-and-home set against the Heat but that type of production serves as an outlier. Note that Cleveland has scored 115 points or less in three of its last five games and plays relatively slow by today's NBA standards. The Cavs are a terrific defensive team and bring excellent form, not to mention two full days of rest, into this contest on Monday. They've limited six straight and 11 of their last 13 opponents to 42 or fewer made field goals. Utah limps home off consecutive losses in Denver and Phoenix. The Jazz have held their own offensively but haven't exactly faced the toughest defensive opponents lately, going up against the Wizards, Nuggets and Suns over their last three contests. Utah has been matador-like at the defensive end of the floor but again, I am anticipating some regression from the Cavs offensively after that outlier performance on Friday. In a game that projects to be lopsided, I'm not convinced Cleveland will need to keep its foot on the gas for 48 minutes and it does have a tougher game against the Lakers on deck tomorrow night. Take the under (10*).

Elite Eight Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Tennessee and Michigan at 2:15 pm et on Sunday.

I like the fact that this game lands precisely in the pointspread range that leads to a high probability we see plenty of late scoring, regardless of the outcome. After a pair of lower-scoring games than expected in Elite Eight action last night, I don't think this contest will disappoint 'over' backers. Note that Tennessee has been consistently scoring in the 70's and 80's going back to start of the month. The Volunteers undoubtedly have the pieces to at least give the Wolverines a run in this contest. Michigan is of course rolling right now, having scored 101, 95 and 90 points in its first three tournament games. That comes after it endured a bit of a scoring lull during the Big Ten Tournament, which is well back in the rear-view mirror now. Of note, the Wolverines have allowed 80, 72 and 77 points in this tournament despite those three opponents shooting 42.9%, 44.3% and 36.2%, respectively, from the field. I think this game has the potential to develop into a 'pro-style' affair and expect it to cruise 'over' the reasonably priced total. Take the over (10*).

Elite Eight Game of the Year. My selection is on Purdue plus the points over Arizona at 8:45 pm et on Saturday.

Purdue has been good to us in this tournament, winning with it against Miami in the Round of 32, but we jumped off at the right time as the Boilermakers had their hands full and ultimately won on a last-second basket against Texas on Thursday. A lot of brackets will be depending on Arizona in this matchup as the Wildcats were one of the popular choices to cut down the nets in April. Arizona has now won four straight games ATS including each of its first three tournament contests (and we've been on board for all three of those wins). I think it's tough for favored teams like the Wildcats to run the table from an ATS perspective in the NCAA Tournament and can't help but think they're laying too many points in this matchup coming off an impressive blowout win over Arkansas two nights ago. Note that Arizona hasn't won more than four games in a row ATS since back in late November and into December. While the Wildcats do own the better overall record in this matchup this season, the Boilermakers have faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Purdue just isn't the same team that scuffled along at times during Big Ten play right now. Look for the Boilers to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Purdue (10*).

Non-Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Brooklyn and Los Angeles at 10:40 pm et on Friday.

The lone previous meeting between these two teams this season produced 234 total points back in early February. The Nets got off 94 field goal attempts in that game - a number they haven't come close to approaching in weeks - while the Lakers shot a blistering 54% from the field, a performance I don't anticipate them repeating as they return home on just one day of rest following a long, successful road trip. This is a game I fully expect to see Los Angeles' manage' as it gets its legs back under it following that lengthy road jaunt. After tonight's game the Lakers will have a couple of days off before continuing their three-game homestand on Monday against Washington. The Nets are about as bad as it gets by today's NBA standards having scored fewer than 100 points in six of their last eight contests. The lone true outlier over that stretch came in a game where they produced 122 points on better than 53% shooting against the lowly Kings. Take the under (10*).

Sweet 16 Game of the Year. My selection is on Connecticut minus the points over Michigan State at 9:45 pm et on Friday.

Connecticut looks like an unpopular short favorite on Friday's Sweet 16 board and that's not overly surprising as Tom Izzo's Spartans figure to garner plenty of support from a lot of bettors. We'll go the other way and back the Huskies. Remember, UConn went toe-to-toe with the likes of Arizona and Illinois during its non-conference schedule and gave those two Elite Eight-bound opponents all they could handle, splitting the two games straight-up. I came away most impressed by the Huskies defense as they limited those two opponents to a combined 44-of-114 (38.6%) shooting. UConn enters this contest having held four of its last five opponents to 21 or fewer made field goals and I do think this is a matchup it can handle as well. While the Spartans may be thought of as more of a defensive-minded team, it has been their offense that has shone this season and certainly of late. Defensively, I think Michigan State is vulnerable and the numbers bear it out as it has allowed five straight opponents to knock down 25 or more field goals. While the Spartans have gone 2-0 ATS in this tournament, they haven't delivered three or more consecutive ATS victories since mid-January. UConn certainly hasn't been a pointspread darling either, going 7-15 ATS over its last 22 contests. With that being said, it does check in off an ATS victory following a two-game ATS slide, and those pointspread victories tend to come in two's as the Huskies have put together five previous ATS winning streaks this season. Take Connecticut (10*).

Western Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Houston and Minnesota at 9:40 pm et on Wednesday.

With Anthony Edwards slated to miss at least one more game, we'll confidently back the 'under' as the Rockets challenge the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Wednesday. Houston desperately needs to tighten things up again after suffering a 132-124 'upset' loss in Chicago two nights ago. The Rockets have gotten away from what served them best earlier in the season and that was playing methodical offense and tough defense. While they have still won two of their last three games, even their last victory was of the high-scoring variety and came by the narrowest of margins (123-122 against Miami). I think this is a favorable 'get right' spot for Houston defensively as Minnesota, while coming off an 'upset' win in Boston on Sunday, has connected on fewer than 40 field goals in two straight and three of its last five contests. The T'Wolves have managed to tread water in Edwards' absence thanks to playing incredibly stout defense, limiting four straight and five of their last six foes to 40 or fewer made field goals despite all six of those opponents getting off 92 or more field goal attempts. I don't think we'll see Houston push the pace nearly as much here, noting that it has gotten off 86 or fewer field goal attempts in three of its last five games and 87 or less in 17 of its last 24 contests. The last meeting between these two teams totalled just 215 points but that came back in mid-January and has been long forgotten by most bettors. Take the under (10*).

Western Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Phoenix plus the points over Denver at 11:10 pm et on Tuesday.

We won with the Nuggets in their rout of the Trail Blazers on Sunday but I won't hesitate to go the other way and fade them as they open a back-to-back set with a trip to Phoenix on Tuesday. Sunday's lopsided victory has been the exception rather than the rule for Denver lately. That's especially true on the road where the Nuggets have been involved in a number of tightly-contested affairs recently. In fact, each of their last seven road games have been decided by seven points or less (the seven-point game was a loss in Memphis) with a pair of overtime contests in the mix. Going all the way back to January 29th, the Nuggets own just two ATS winning streaks, one lasting two games and the other three. The Suns snapped their five-game slide with a blowout win over the Raptors on Sunday. They're in a good spot to 'empty the tank' on Tuesday as they won't play again until Saturday when they host Utah. While the Suns have struggled lately, they've also faced a difficult schedule with four of those aforementioned five recent losses coming on the road against the Raptors, Celtics, Timberwolves and Spurs. We'll grab all the points we can get with the underdog Suns in this spot. Take Phoenix (10*).

Second Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Arkansas minus the points over High Point at 9:45 pm et on Saturday.

High Point pulled off one of the biggest 'upsets' of the first round, taking down Wisconsin by a single point in a classic 12-5 matchup. Perhaps the Badgers weren't quite as good as most thought and the fact that they were a five-seed ended up telling us all we needed to know. Regardless, I like the way this sets up as a fade spot for the Panthers. Of note, High Point has now covered the spread in consecutive games. That puts it into uncharted territory as it has yet to deliver three straight ATS wins at any point this season. While the Panthers do own the better overall record in this matchup this season, the Razorbacks have faced the considerably more difficult schedule. Arkansas didn't overlook Hawaii in the opening round, turning in a near-flawless 97-78 victory. The Hogs have delivered the cash in consecutive games and have three previous ATS winning streaks lasting three games or longer. They've quite simply been one of the best bets in the country over the course of the entire season and I'm not sure the oddsmakers can set this line high enough on Saturday as High Point is sure to draw plenty of dog-hungry backers. Take Arkansas (10*).

Non-Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Atlanta and Houston at 8:10 pm et on Friday.

The Rockets wasted a strong offensive performance in a 124-116 loss to the Lakers two nights ago. They're reeling on the heels of three losses in their last four games - four losses in a row ATS - and the red hot Hawks are probably the last team they want to see rolling into town on Friday. I do think this total will prove too high as Atlanta has the ability to match Houston step-for-step defensively. The Hawks enter this game having held five straight opponents to 42 or fewer made field goals. Their offense has been rolling but they've also faced an extended stretch of weak defensive opponents including a stop in Dallas two nights ago to open this brief two-game Texas road trip. This marks a step up in class against a Rockets team that held them to 34-of-93 shooting back in late January. Houston has gotten caught up in trying to push the pace more than usual lately and it has not worked out well. Here, I look for the Rockets to lean on their defense to try to keep this one close enough to scratch out a much-needed victory at home. Take the under (8*).

First Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Hofstra and Alabama at 3:15 pm et on Friday.

You have to figure that a lot of bettors gravitated to this 'over' when looking at the first round matchups. That's simply the knee-jerk reaction for most casual bettors when you see Alabama involved in a game. I'm not convinced Hofstra will be a willing or able dance partner to push this one 'over' the total on Friday, however. The Pride have connected on 30+ field goals just five times this entire season. Two of those games came against little-known non-Division I opponents in Molloy College and SUNY-Old Westbury. The other three ended up totalling 158, 143 and 122 points - all settling out below the number we're working with on Friday. The Crimson Tide are of course no strangers to track meets. While they do have an elite offense, they've also faced plenty of 'pro-style' offensive opponents that obliged them in high-scoring affairs in the SEC. On the flip side, most will look at Alabama's defense as vulnerable but keep in mind, the Crimson Tide have faced an incredible difficult schedule this season - one of the toughest in the entire country this season. This won't be a slugfest by any means, but I'm not convinced it will be a track meet either. Take the under (10*).

First Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Saint Louis plus the points over Georgia at 9:45 pm et on Thursday.

Saint Louis bowed out of the Atlantic-10 Tournament in a 70-69 loss to Dayton and enters this tournament on a four-game ATS slide. That actually serves us well as I think the Billikens could just as easily be favored in this game. Casual bettors will be quick to back Georgia as it admittedly faced the far more difficult schedule this season but feel the Bulldogs would be well-suited to be in the NIT. Georgia didn't exactly face the toughest non-conference slate, with its notable matchups coming against Georgia Tech, Xavier, Clemson, Florida State and Cincinnati. It went just 2-3 ATS in those five contests. Saint Louis doesn't have the benefit of having wins over ranked opponents on its resume but it did prevail in some sneaky-tough non-conference matchups against Grand Canyon, Santa Clara and San Francisco. Also of note, it swept the regular season series against eventual A-10 champion VCU. The Billikens obviously would have liked another matchup with the Rams in the A-10 Final but it wasn't to be. Instead they enter this tournament with an extra day of rest and I'm confident we'll see them snap their season-long four-game ATS slide. Take Saint Louis (10*).

Eastern Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Detroit and Washington at 7:10 pm et on Thursday.

These two teams met on this same floor two nights ago as Detroit rolled to a 130-117 victory, easily eclipsing the total. In fact, the Pistons are on a 6-0 'over' run while the Wizards have seen five of their last six contests go 'over' the total. Yet here we have a lower posted total than we saw in Tuesday's matchup. I think it's the right move. A lot had to go right for that game to sail into the 240's on Tuesday. Both teams shot right around 50% from the field. The Pistons were pushed just enough to get into the 90's in terms of field goal attempts. The Wizards shot 43% from three-point range. The pace wasn't necessarily there for such a high-scoring game. In fact, Washington has now been held to 87 or fewer field goal attempts in three straight games. A poor offensive showing is never far away for this Wizards team while Detroit's default mode hasn't been to really push the pace, hoisting up 90 or fewer field goal attempts in eight of its last nine contests. If this one gets out of hand the Pistons have reason to keep something in reserve energy-wise as they'll play again tomorrow night back home against the Warriors. Take the under (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Dallas plus the points over Atlanta at 8:40 pm et on Wednesday.

The Hawks are looking more and more like a dangerous team in the Eastern Conference as they check in off a big statement win at home against the previously red hot Magic on Monday. While Atlanta should be able to keep its winning streak intact on Wednesday night in Dallas, I think it is laying too many points. The Mavericks went through a recent slump - in fact, calling it a slump would be an understatement as they lost 18 games over a 20-game stretch. However, since then they've managed to split their last four contests both SU and ATS, alternating wins and losses. Off a blowout loss in a back-to-back situation two nights ago in New Orleans, I look for them to regroup and give the Hawks all they can handle on Wednesday. Atlanta will want to get this brief two-game Texas road trip off to a positive start but does have a tougher game looming in Houston on Friday. This will mark Atlanta's first road game since March 4th and only their second since February 20th. I think it might take the Hawks a little time to get their bearings, allowing the Mavs to keep things close at the very least. Take Dallas (10*).

Western Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on San Antonio minus the points over Sacramento at 10:10 pm et on Tuesday.

The Spurs narrowly avoided an 'upset' loss against a revenge-minded, albeit Kawhi-less Clippers team in Los Angeles last night. I'm not overly concerned about them laying points in this back-to-back situation though. San Antonio has the depth to contend with these type of spots and it helps that the opponent is the lowly Kings, coming off back-to-back wins, no less. Sacramento has actually reeled off five straight ATS victories putting it into uncharted territory as that marks its season-high (its previous high was four). Keep in mind, Sacramento's last five games have come against the Bulls, Pacers, Hornets, Clippers and Jazz with four of those contests coming at home - not exactly the toughest schedule. The Kings are home again tonight but I look for their run to come to an end. Despite shooting better than its season average in both previous meetings with the Spurs, they still lost by 13 and 17 points. The Spurs are off consecutive ATS defeats but haven't dropped the cash in three straight games since mid-January. Take San Antonio (10*).

Western Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and Houston at 9:10 pm et on Monday.

You have to go back to Christmas Day to find the last time these two teams squared off. It's easy to forget that the Rockets manhandled the Lakers in that one, securing a 119-96 road win. It's highly unlikely we'll see Houston bully Los Angeles in that same way here as the Lakers are playing much better now. With that being said, I do think Houston will look to slow things down as usual and I don't believe the Lakers will have a lot of success forcing the Rockets to change their approach. Houston has held its last five opponents to 83, 88, 78, 87 and 84 field goal attempts. Offensively, it remains a struggle as Houston has made good on 42 or fewer field goals in five straight games - an exceptionally low number by today's NBA standards. That's despite the fact that the Rockets have actually gotten off 97 and 94 field goal attempts in their last two games - a shot volume I don't see them approaching here. The Lakers have been on a scoring tear but we do have a catalyst for change at work here as they head on the road for the first time in six games. Take the under (10*).

MAC Tournament Game of the Year. My selection is on Akron minus the points over Toledo at 8 pm et on Saturday.

Toledo was set up well in yesterday's MAC Tournament semi-final as it took on a UMass team that was ripe for a letdown off its 'upset' win over previously undefeated Miami-Ohio. The Rockets took full advantage as they stayed red hot offensively in a double-digit win. Toledo enters this game having connected on 30+ field goals in an incredible seven straight games. They haven't faced a team as good defensively as Akron over that stretch in my opinion, however. The Zips have limited eight straight and 11 of their last 12 opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals. That's despite the opposition getting off 58 or more field goal attempts in seven of those games. Akron's offense has only been lukewarm through the first two games of this tournament but I think it will find its opportunities against a soft Toledo defense that has allowed three of its last four foes to knock down 50% or more of their field goal attempts. The Zips took the regular season meeting between these two teams by double-digits but failed to cover the lofty pointspread. We're dealing with a more reasonable number on a neutral court this time around. Take Akron (10*).

Eastern Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Boston minus the points over Washington at 6:10 pm et on Saturday.

The Wizards are in full-on 'tank' mode but did manage to take Orlando to overtime on Thursday, ultimately falling 136-131 for their 10th straight loss. This pointspread might look to be a bit much at first glance, but I still believe it will prove too short. Washington is quite simply in the wrong place at the wrong time as it heads to Boston to face a Celtics team that despite being short-handed personnel-wise managed to take the mighty Thunder down to the wire in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Boston actually controlled that contest much of the way before falling just short. We'll call for the C's to rebound in a big way on Saturday as they look to snap their brief two-game slide. Note that Boston hasn't dropped the cash in consecutive games since early-February, going 10-3 SU in 13 games since and 4-0 ATS off its last four ATS defeats. Take Boston (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over Dallas at 7:40 pm et on Friday.

We have a rare opportunity to fade the Mavericks as a popular underdog on Friday. Dallas took care of business as a road favorite in Memphis last night, taking advantage of an undermanned Grizzlies squad in a wire-to-wire victory. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg only made a modest contribution in that game. He doesn't appear close to 100% healthy and given this is a back-to-back situation, expectations shouldn't be placed too high. Khris Middleton poured in 35 points last night but he tends to disappear as quickly as he busts out in the boxscore. The Cavaliers have been idle since Wednesday's tough loss in Orlando. They've now lost three games in a row ATS - their longest such losing streak since a four-game skid in early January. I like the fact that they continue to limit their opponents' scoring opportunities, holding their last five foes to 75, 77, 84, 85 and 85 field goal attempts. Dallas on the other hand has played matador-like defense to go along with its pop-gun offense, allowing 95+ field goal attempts in five straight contests. It has yielded 47 or more made field goals in three of its last four contests. Take Cleveland (10*).

AAC Tournament Game of the Year. My selection is on Tulsa minus the points over North Texas at 3:30 pm et on Friday.

North Texas outlasted Florida Atlantic yesterday so it stands to reason the Mean Green Eagles will be a popular play catching what looks like a generous helping of points against Tulsa on Friday. The Golden Hurricane have of course been idle since wrapping up the regular season with a narrow win at home against Temple last weekend. Tulsa quietly put together a 25-6 regular season mark and not only that but it faced a more difficult schedule than North Texas by most metrics. These two teams split the regular season series but Tulsa's victory came in blowout fashion - one of the few teams that has managed to pull away from UNT this season. We'll lay the points here. Take Tulsa (10*).

Big Ten Tournament Game of the Year. My selection is on Purdue minus the points over Northwestern at 6:30 pm et on Thursday.

Bettors figure to be all over underdog Northwestern in this game after the Wildcats 'upset' Indiana yesterday and given that they just took Purdue down to the wire in a 70-66 home defeat last week. Purdue checks into this contest having lost three of its last four games including a 97-93 loss against Wisconsin at home on Senior Night last time out. The Boilermakers have had four days to stew over that 'upset' loss - their fourth straight defeat ATS - and I'm confident we'll see them come out and make a statement on Thursday. Of note, Purdue not only owns the better overall record in this matchup this season but has also faced the tougher schedule by most metrics - one of the most difficult in the country, in fact. Take Purdue (10*).

MEAC Favorite of the Year. My selection is on Bethune-Cookman minus the points over Prairie View A&M at 2 pm et on Wednesday.

While few have paid much attention, Bethune-Cookman has had a terrific season, enduring a difficult non-conference schedule before dominating in conference play. We've picked out spots wisely with the Wildcats and we'll back them again in this spot on Wednesday. Prairie View A&M got off to a horrid start against Alcorn State yesterday but rallied and ultimately covered the spread in a low-scoring affair. That actually marked its fourth straight victory SU and eighth in a row ATS. Needless to say, the Panthers are in uncharted territory as their previous season-high ATS winning streak lasted just four games. Of note, PVAM has faced one of the country's weakest schedules this season by most metrics. Despite that, it still owns an inferior overall record to Bethune-Cookman. Off a disappointing regular season-ending 'upset' loss at Florida A&M last week, we'll lay the points with the Wildcats on Wednesday. Take Bethune-Cookman (10*).

Non-Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between New York and Los Angeles at 10:10 pm et on Monday.

These are two of the league's slower paced teams right now and I think this total will prove too high on Monday. The Knicks did their best to stage a fourth quarter rally but ultimately fell by double-digits against the Lakers on Sunday. New York continues to play slow and run its half-court sets, hoisting up 88 or fewer field goal attempts in eight of its last 10 games. It's unlikely we see the Knicks suddenly start pushing the pace in this difficult back-to-back situation against a good defensive team in the Clippers. Los Angeles did score 123 points in Saturday's victory in Memphis. Keep in mind, that output was boosted by a ridiculous 45 trips to the free throw line. The Clips have gotten off fewer than 90 field goal attempts in 20 straight and 23 of their last 24 contests entering Monday's action. While they would certainly like to apply pressure against a tired Knicks defense, it's worth noting that New York has held nine straight opponents to 38 or fewer made field goals - an impressive run by today's NBA standards. Take the under (10*).

Southland Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Nicholls State plus the Points over Texas-Rio Grande Valley at 8:30 pm et on Monday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Nicholls State on Monday as it looks to stage an 'upset' against Texas-Rio Grande Valley. These two teams last met on February 9th and it was no contest as the Vaqueros avenged an earlier 'upset' loss at Nicholls State with a 92-72 victory. I don't think UTRGV is well-positioned to deliver another knockout blow here, however. The Vaqueros haven't really faced any resistance since February 23rd, when they lost at McNeese State. They closed out the regular season with consecutive layups at home against East Texas A&M and Northwestern State. While they do own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Nicholls State has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. The Colonels cruised to a 61-47 win over Northwestern State yesterday. They enter this game locked-in defensively having held their last four opponents to 20, 23, 23 and 14 made field goals. I like the fact that Nicholls State has shown the consistent ability to limit its opponents' scoring opportunities, allowing fewer than 60 field goal attempts in 14 of its last 15 games. The lone exception over that stretch came in a 91-83 'upset' win at Incarnate Word. Take Nicholls State (10*).

Southwest Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Houston plus the points over San Antonio at 8:10 pm et on Sunday.

While the wins haven't necessarily been piling up, I do like the way things have been clicking for the Rockets lately and think they can at the very least take the Spurs down to the wire in San Antonio. This is definitely a matchup Houston has had circled on its calendar after dropping a 111-99 as a home favorite against San Antonio at the end of January. The Spurs have taken two of three meetings between these two teams so it's up to the Rockets to make the necessary adjustments and answer back on Sunday. The Spurs had to 'empty the tank' in an emotional comeback win at home against the Clippers on Friday. We'll fade them here laying points in a game that could have limited possessions and a 'playoff-like atmosphere'. Take Houston (10*).

Eastern Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Orlando and Milwaukee at 8:10 pm et on Sunday.

The Bucks have seen three of their last four games stay 'under' the total and I like that trend to continue here as both teams play on back-to-back nights. The fact that Milwaukee scored 'only' 113 points against one of the league's worst defensive teams in the Jazz last night is concerning. The Bucks have slowed to a crawl, getting off 86 or fewer field goal attempts in each of ther last three games and 88 or fewer in six of their last eight contests. The Magic don't figure to shy away from the slow pace. Even with hoisting up 97 and 91 field goal attempts over their last two contests they still only managed to connect on 44 and 42 of those. On the flip side, Orlando is locked-in defensively having held an incredible (by today's NBA standards) 11 straight opponents to 43 or fewer made field goals. The two previous meetings between these two teams totalled 217 and 224 points. The latter affair would have gone 'over' tonight's total but the Magic needed to knock down 20 threes and the Bucks shoot a perfect 24-for-24 at the free throw line to get there. Take the under (10*).

Big West Game of the Month. My selection is on Cal-San Diego plus the points over Cal-Santa Barbara at 9 pm et on Saturday.

We'll back Cal-San Diego on Saturday as it looks to avenge an earlier 62-48 home loss against Cal-Santa Barbara. Despite that defeat against the Gauchos back in January, the Tritons still own the better overall record in this matchup this season and have also faced the tougher schedule by most metrics. I think the Gauchos are going to have a difficult time contending with a Tritons team that has connected on 30+ field goals in each of its last two games and 26 or more in six straight contests. It's been more of a struggle for the UCSB offense as it has knocked down 22, 25, 23 and 21 field goals over its last four contests and that's despite two of those games going to overtime. The Tritons aren't uncomfortable playing at a slow pace but they'll certainly be looking to make the necessary adjustments here after that earlier matchup between these two teams was as ugly as it gets (neither team made 20+ field goals). Off a 75-71 'upset' loss at Cal State-Fullerton two nights ago, we'll call for the Tritons to bounce back here. Take Cal-San Diego (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Milwaukee minus the points over Utah at 8:10 pm et on Saturday.

I think the Jazz are in the wrong place at the wrong time on Saturday. Utah checks in off an 'upset' victory over the Wizards on Thursday, marking its third straight ATS win. The Jazz shot exceptionally well in that contest but it's worth noting that they haven't knocked down more than 36 field goals in consecutive games over their last six contests so I think a letdown is in order here. Milwaukee finally broke out of its shooting slump on Wednesday against Atlanta. Unfortunately, the Hawks shot the lights out to hand the Bucks their fourth loss in a row both SU and ATS. I look for Milwaukee to snap that skid on Saturday and it's worth noting that the SU winner has covered the spread in each of the Bucks last 26 games. Take Milwaukee (10*).

Summit League Favorite of the Year. My selection is on Denver minus the points over North Dakota at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

North Dakota 'upset' Denver on the road 93-86 in the first meeting between these two teams this season but the Pioneers answered back in their next matchup, delivering a decisive 98-79 victory. The Pioneers and Fighting Hawks own virtually identical overall records this season but Denver has faced the tougher schedule by most metrics. We'll lay the points with Denver on Friday as I think they're well-positioned to ultimately pull away in this contest. The Pioneers enter this game on a scoring tear. They've made good on 28 or more field goals in seven of their last eight games, reaching 30+ successful field goal attempts on three occasions over that stretch, including against North Dakota. While their defensive play has left a lot to be desired this season, they've at least managed to slow their opponents' pace in recent weeks, holding four straight foes to 58 or fewer field goal attempts heading into Friday's clash. That could prove to be the difference in this one, noting that North Dakota has allowed four of its last seven opponents to hoist up 60+ field goal attempts and has been lit up for 27 or more made field goals in seven of its last nine contests. The Fighting Hawks had a nice scoring surge in January and early February but have now been limited to 24 or fewer made field goals in three of their last four games. That's despite getting off 60+ field goal attempts in three of those contests. Take Denver (10*).

Southeast Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Charlotte minus the points over Miami at 7:10 pm et on Friday.

Bettors still seem bent on fading the Hornets, even as they enter this game on a six-game winning streak and having delivered the cash in an incredible nine straight contests. That includes a blowout win in Boston two nights ago (we won with the Hornets in that game). The Heat are in a back-to-back situation after emptying the tank in a second straight blowout win over the lowly Nets. They're probably feeling pretty good about themselves after a perfect 3-0 homestand. It's interesting to note that while the Hornets are known for their offensive prowess, they've actually been locked-in defensively in recent weeks, holding four of their last five opponents to an incredible 35 or fewer made field goals and 15 of their last 17 foes to 42 or fewer. I think this is another matchup they can handle on Friday and I certainly don't think they're going to look past the Heat as they do still look up at them in the Southeast Division standings. For Miami, this is one of those difficult one-game road trips before they return home for four in a row. Take Charlotte (10*).

MEAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Coppin State plus the points over Morgan State at 8 pm et on Thursday.

We missed fading Morgan State last time out as it shot the lights out in a 90-84 'upset' win over Norfolk State. The Bears have had a couple of days off to pat themselves on the back following that victory while Coppin State has likewise been idle for the last two days but has to be stewing over consecutive losses including a blowout defeat at Howard on Monday. Note that prior to that brief skid, Coppin State had reeled off four straight wins and was riding a five-game ATS winning streak before Monday's defeat. While Morgan State does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Coppin State has faced the more difficult schedule. In fact, Morgan State has gone up against one of the weakest slate of opponents in the country by most metrics. Coppin State should relish the opportunity to get out and run a little bit in this one as Morgan State has yielded 60+ field goal attempts in eight of its last nine games. In fact, the Bears have been lit up for 30+ made field goals in three straight games. On the flip side, Morgan State has been held to 27 or fewer made field goals in 20 of its last 23 games with two of the outlier performances coming against little-known non-Division I opponents in PSU-Brandywine and Virginia-Lynchburg. Morgan State did take the previous meeting between these two teams by nine points at Coppin State on January 31st. The Bears shot exceptionally well (27-of-56 from the field) and got to the free throw line a whopping 38 times in that game though. Look for things to even out a bit in this rematch. Take Coppin State (10*).

Big Ten Game of the Month. My selection is on Purdue minus the points over Northwestern at 8:30 pm et on Wednesday.

Purdue figures to be in a foul mood after falling short in back-to-back difficult tests against Michigan State at home and Ohio State on the road. The Boilermakers take a step down in class on Wednesday as they take on Northwestern. Note that Purdue obviously owns the better overall record in this matchup this season and has also faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics - one of the toughest in the country, in fact. The Boilers enter this game having knocked down 27 or more field goals in four straight games and have held the opposition to 24 or fewer made field goals in six of their last nine contests. You would have to go back to January 17th to find the last time they allowed an opponent to hoist up more than 57 field goal attempts. The Wildcats don't figure to push the pace on them. Northwestern enters riding a three-game winning streak but has connected on 26 or fewer field goals in four straight and seven of its last eight contests. It has held up well defensively but that's had a lot to do with the opposition not really pushing the pace. I think we'll see a different story unfold with Purdue desperate to end its slide ahead of its regular season finale at home against Wisconsin on Saturday. The Boilers have gotten off 57 or more field goal attempts in two straight and 21 of 29 games this season. Take Purdue (10*).

Western Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Portland minus the points over Memphis at 8:10 pm et on Wednesday.

The Trail Blazers have had a couple of days to stew over consecutive losses on this road trip, including an embarrassing 135-101 defeat in Atlanta on Sunday. While Portland has lost back-to-back games it is still a positive 6-5 SU and ATS over its last 11 games. That stretch includes a pair of wins (1-1 ATS) over the same Grizzlies they'll face on Wednesday. Memphis 'emptied the tank' in last night's loss but ATS cover in Minnesota. The Grizzlies have now delivered the cash in three straight games but I think last night's defeat takes the wind out of their sails after they had strung together back-to-back victories. A lot had to go right for Memphis to keep things close last night as it actually got off only 79 field goal attempts. I'm not convinced it will be so fortunate against a rested Blazers team on Wednesday. Take Portland (10*).

Atlantic Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Toronto plus the points over New York at 7:40 pm et on Tuesday.

This will be the fourth meeting between these two teams this season with the Knicks taking each of the first three. The last time they squared off here in Toronto was on January 28th. The Raptors closed as a favorite in that contest and I'm not sure how much has really changed to flip them to an underdog here. In that spot, the Raptors were in tough, returning home following a five-game western road trip that saw them win the final four contests including an 'upset' victory at Oklahoma City in their previous game. It was an obvious letdown spot. This time around, Toronto comes in rested having played just once in the last five days (a 134-125 win in Washington on Saturday). We won with the Knicks on Sunday as they stunned the red hot Spurs in blowout fashion at home. I can't help but think New York is in for a letdown here, noting that it is still just 5-3 SU and 3-5 ATS over its last eight games. Take Toronto (10*).

Southland Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Lamar and Houston Christian at 8:30 pm et on Monday.

I don't play many college basketball totals but I really like the way this one sets up in an 'under the radar' matchup on Monday. This is a rematch of an earlier low-scoring affair between Lamar and Houston Christian, which Lamar won 64-56. That game was played at an incredibly slow pace with Lamar hoisting up just 44 field goal attempts and Houston Christian countering with 53. Neither team shot particularly well. I think we'll see a different story unfold on Monday. Since that game, Lamar has knocked down 24 or more field goals in nine of its last 13 contests. It has gotten off 56 or more field goal attempts in four straight and 11 of its last 13 overall. On the flip side, the opposition has made good on 22 or more field goals in seven straight and 11 of Lamar's last 13 games. You can see the wheels turning for Houston Christian offensively, even if it is too little, too late this season. It has knocked down 23, 23, 25, 20, 27 and 23 field goals over its last six contests. Like Lamar, it has also been pushing the pace a little more lately, hoisting up 56 or more field goal attempts in three of its last four games. The problem is, Houston Christian has yielded 25 or more made field goals to the opposition in four of its last six and nine of 13 contests since that loss to Lamar on January 12th. This isn't going to be a track meet by any means, but I think the total will prove too low. Take the over (10*).

Pacific Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Sacramento and Los Angeles at 9:40 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the Lakers last night as they picked up a much-needed bounce-back win over the Warriors in San Francisco. Los Angeles' offense took center stage in that contest as it shot a blistering 48-of-90 from the field including 19-of-41 from three-point range. I think we'll see the Lakers lean on their defense in this back-to-back spot on Sunday as they catch the Kings patting themselves on the back after delivering an 'upset' win in Dallas on Thursday. I don't think this is a great spot for Sacramento as it checks in off a couple of off days following a 2-1 start to its current road trip. It will undoubtedly have one eye on a return home where it will begin a five-game homestand on Tuesday against Phoenix. While outlier performances are possible from the Kings, as we've seen on this trip, their potential floor remains incredibly low as well. Note that Sacramento has been held to 97 points or fewer in five of its last 10 road contests. I don't think this is a spot where we'll see the Lakers put their foot on the gas for 48 minutes. While they hoisted up 90 field goal attempts in last night's blowout victory, that marked the first time they eclipsed 87 since January 24th in Dallas (that game still totalled only 226 points). Finally, we'll note that the Kings have seen the 'over' cash in each of their last four games. That matches their longest such streak of the season, which they've reached three times previously before the 'under' cashed in their next contest each time. Take the under (10*).

MAAC Favorite of the Year. My selection is on Quinnipiac minus the points over Canisius at 1 pm et on Sunday.

We'll lay the points with Quinnipiac as it looks to rebound from three straight losses and wrap up the regular season on a positive note on Sunday at Canisius. Not only have the Bobcats posted the considerably better overall record in this matchup this season but they've also faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. While they did drop an overtime decision at Niagara on Friday, I did like the fact that they continued to push the pace and I think that can serve them well in this particular matchup. The last time they faced Canisius on February 5th, they couldn't get much going offensively (shooting 22-of-54 from the field) yet still won by 15 points (just missing out on covering the -15.5-point spread). Quinnipiac enters this contest having allowed its last two opponents to connect on exactly 31 field goals (boosted by overtime at Niagara on Friday). Keep in mind, prior to that it had limited four straight opponents to 22 or fewer made field goals. Canisius doesn't figure to threaten the Bobcats defense, noting that it has knocked down 24 or fewer field goals in eight straight games. The question is whether the Golden Griffins own defense can hang. They limited Merrimack to only 19-of-48 shooting in a stunning 'upset' victory on Friday. I think they'll be in tough here, however, as they try to slow a Bobcats team that generally finds its scoring opportunities, having hoisted up 60+ field goal attempts in 10 of its last 11 games. Canisius, while limiting its opponents' shooting volume, has still allowed 12 of its last 18 opponents to connect on at least 24 field goals. The only three previous times it held an opponent to fewer than 20 made field goals this season it lost its next game by 19, 18 and 17 points. Take Quinnipiac (10*).

Pacific Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Golden State at 8:40 pm et on Saturday.

Bettors have jumped ship when it comes to backing the Lakers after they lost their third straight game SU and fourth in a row ATS on Thursday in Phoenix. I actually like the way this spot sets up for Los Angeles, however, as it looks to salvage the finale of this brief two-game road trip. The Warriors are breathing a sigh of relief after they avoided an embarrassing 0-2 road trip with a win and cover in Memphis on Wednesday. Of note, Golden State hasn't covered the spread in consecutive games since a four-game ATS winning streak in mid-January. Since that stretch, the Warriors have gone a miserable 5-10 ATS. Also of note, the SU winner is 22-1 ATS over the Warriors last 23 games. Take Los Angeles (10*).

Big West Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Cal State-Fullerton plus the points over Hawaii at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab the points with the underdog Titans at home as they look to avenge an earlier double-digit loss against the Rainbow Warriors. Cal State-Fullerton is on an offensive tear right now having connected on 30, 25, 33 and 29 field goals over its last four games. Note that in the first matchup between these two teams this season - a 69-59 Hawaii victory - the Titans endured a dreadful shooting performance, particularly from beyond the arc where they knocked down just 3-of-19 three-point attempts. Here, Cal State-Fullerton enters having made good on double-digit threes in four of its last five games. Both teams have proven vulnerable defensively - in fact, I don't think there's a lot separating the two teams at either ends of the floor. Hawaii did hold Cal-Davis to just 22 made field goals in a narrow win on Thursday but prior to that it had allowed 28 or more successful field goal attempts in five of its last seven contests. Cal State-Fullerton has had a week to prepare for this rematch after delivering its second straight victory last Saturday against Cal State-Bakersfield. The Titans have sagged defensively in recent games but have still limited 10 of their last 11 foes to fewer than 30 made field goals so it's not as if they've been getting torched. Hawaii has displayed a fairly firm ceiling offensively, knocking down 28 or fewer field goals in six straight and eight of its last nine games. Finally, we'll note that while Hawaii does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Cal State-Fullerton has faced the more difficult schedule. Take Cal State-Fullerton (10*).

Eastern Conference Favorite of the Month. My selection is on New York minus the points over Milwaukee at 8:10 pm et on Friday.

This sets up as a smash spot for the Knicks as they've had a couple of days off to stew over Tuesday's blowout loss in Cleveland. The Bucks on the other hand enter this contest off consecutive home wins over the Heat and the aforementioned Cavs. Keep in mind, they caught Cleveland in a difficult back-to-back spot (without Donovan Mitchell) on Wednesday. Milwaukee has been playing well to be sure, going 8-2 SU and ATS over its last 10 contests but I don't like it as a popular underdog on Friday. The Knicks are coming off four straight ATS defeats and the last time that happened, they posted a 54-point rout of the Nets in their next contest. Of note, the SU winner has also covered the spread in 22 straight games involving the Bucks. Take New York (10*).

American Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Memphis minus the points over Wichita State at 9 pm et on Thursday.

Memphis has had a few days to stew over its most recent setback, a 78-67 home loss against UAB on Sunday. The Tigers have now dropped four straight games both SU and ATS although it is worth noting that their schedule has been relentless with consecutive matchups against North Texas, Utah State and South Florida on the road and UAB at home. I look for them to regain their footing here as they look to avenge an earlier 74-59 loss at Wichita State. The Shockers enter on the heels of three straight wins and that's notable as it marks a season-high in terms of wins in a row. While Wichita State does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Memphis has faced the considerably more difficult schedule. The Shockers have been producing offensively thanks to a high-volume approach in recent weeks but they'll be up against a Memphis squad that has limited the opposition to fewer than 60 field goal attempts in 10 of its last 15 games. Wichita State was lights out defensively against Temple in its most recent game but has yielded 24 or more made field goals in five of its last eight contests. Take Memphis (10*).

Southeast Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Atlanta minus the points over Washington at 7:40 pm et on Tuesday.

The Wizards appear to be a reasonably popular underdog with bettors on Tuesday as the Hawks have been too inconsistent to warrant much confidence lately. With that being said, we'll lay the points with Atlanta as I feel this sets up as a smash spot for the Hawks at home. Washington had won consecutive games over the Pacers before going back in the tank with a 129-112 loss to the Hornets on Sunday. Of note, the straight-up winner has now covered the spread in each of the Wizards last 12 games. That's key considering they've been double-digit underdogs on six different occasions over that stretch. Atlanta trailed Brooklyn entering the fourth quarter but rallied to not only win but cover the spread on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks do have the talent to turn it on against the league's weaker teams and I think we'll see that again on Tuesday. Since the All-Star break, the Hawks have 'upset' the 76ers on the road, been blown out by the Heat in a tough back-to-back spot and then beat the Nets by double-digits. I do think Atlanta is trending in the right direction and look for it to hold serve in the front half of this two-game home set against Washington. Take Atlanta (10*).

ACC Game of the Week. My selection is on N.C. State plus the points over Virginia at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

I don't think there's as much separating these two ACC foes as the pointspread indicates. Virginia does own the better overall record this season but N.C. State has faced the more difficult schedule. The Wolfpack have been idle since last Tuesday's blowout win over rival North Carolina. I don't think there's been a lot of patting themselves on the back since then, however, as they had been struggling prior to that contest, losers of consecutive games SU and four straight ATS. I do like the consistency the Wolfpack have shown offensively over the last month, connecting on 27 or more field goals in seven straight games. Unlike past editions of the Cavaliers, this Virginia team doesn't employ lock-down defense having yielded 25, 18, 27, 24 and 29 made field goals over its last five contests with the outlier coming in a narrow three-point victory at Florida State. In fact, both teams will give up their share of scoring opportunities with the opposition consistently generating 60+ field goal attempts in ACC play. With that in mind, I do think this one sets up as a potential high-scoring, back-and-forth affair. N.C. State has undoubtedly had this game circled on its calendar since dropping a 76-61 decision at home against Virginia in early January. The Cavaliers shot the lights out in that contest, particularly from beyond the arc. I look for the Wolfpack to close the gap this time around as they catch the Cavaliers in uncharted territory riding a season-high eight-game winning streak and off a come-from-behind victory over Miami on Saturday. Take N.C. State (10*).

MAC Game of the Year. My selection is on Eastern Michigan plus the points over Miami-Ohio at 6:30 pm et on Tuesday.

We missed with Eastern Michigan on Saturday as it was routed 94-75 at Toledo. It certainly hasn't been a banner campaign for the Eagles. They check in sporting a far inferior overall record to that of the undefeated Redhawks but it is worth noting that they've faced the considerably more difficult schedule. Saturday's game was an outlier for EMU in a sense. The Rockets simply shot the lights out on them (37-of-55 from the field) but those type of performances haven't been commonplace against this Eagles defense. EMU has still held five of its last seven opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. Going back further, it has limited 11 of its last 14 foes to 27 or fewer successful field goal attempts. On the flip side, while not an offensive juggernaut by any means, EMU has knocked down a healthy 25, 38, 24, 25 and 27 field goals over its last five contests. Miami-Ohio is an offensive juggernaut of sorts, that much I'll admit. However, the Redhawks have proven vulnerable defensively, yielding 28 or more made field goals in four straight and 12 of their last 16 contests. It's not as if they play at an exceptionally fast pace either, having hoisted up fewer than 60 field goal attempts in each of their last five games. While not likely to spring the 'upset', I do think there's a path for the Eagles to at least keep the Redhawks within arm's reach from start to finish on Tuesday. Take Eastern Michigan (10*).

Underdog Game of the Month. My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Stephen F. Austin at 7:30 pm et on Monday.

Both of these teams come into Monday's game playing well and there was very little separating them in their first matchup this season - a five-point Stephen F. Austin victory in New Orleans back on January 17th. I can't help but feel this line is disrespectful to the visiting Privateers. New Orleans has already won the first two games of its current three-game road jaunt with both victories coming in 'upset' fashion. In fact, the Privateers have reeled off four straight ATS victories. They've had little time to pat themselves on the back, however, after winning at Lamar on Saturday. Stephen F. Austin has won a season-high 13 straight games but narrowly avoided a big upset at home against Nicholls State on Saturday. The Lumberjacks have had a banner season and will likely be dancing in March. However, it's worth noting that they've faced a considerably weaker schedule than that of the Privateers. I like the way New Orleans has played down the stretch, particularly defensively as it has held four straight opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals and eight of its last nine foes to 26 or less. Stephen F. Austin has displayed a scoring ceiling of late, connecting on fewer than 30 field goals in six straight contests after eclipsing that number in three of its previous seven games. We've seen the Lumberjacks waver a bit defensively of late as they've allowed 29, 26, 22, 26 and 28 made field goals over their last five contests. Of note, while SFA won the first meeting between these two teams this season by five points, it got to the free throw line a whopping 30 times compared to New Orleans' 11 in that contest. It should own the edge in that department again tonight but perhaps not as pronounced. Take New Orleans (10*).

Western Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Portland minus the points over Phoenix at 8:10 pm et on Sunday.

The Suns are probably breathing a sigh of relief after they avoided a third straight loss with a buzzer-beating double-overtime win over the Magic yesterday afternoon. This was already going to be a difficult back-to-back situation against a rested Trail Blazers team but Phoenix, already without Devin Booker for the next week, will now have to play without Dillon Brooks as well after he suffered a broken hand on Saturday. The Blazers figure to be in a foul mood off Friday's inexplicable 157-103 home loss against Denver. That final score certainly grabbed headlines but it still only counts as one loss. I look for Portland to bounce back in this spot, noting that it will be looking to avenge a 130-125 home loss against Phoenix suffered on February 3rd. The Blazers do check in 4-2 over their last six games and this is a key one-game trip before returning home to host the Timberwolves on Tuesday. Look for Portland to make the most of it. Take Portland (10*).

Big West Game of the Year. My selection is on Cal-San Diego plus the points over Cal-Irvine at 10 pm et on Saturday.

Cal-Irvine tends to gain plenty of support from casuals in the betting marketplace as it carries a certain reputation following March runs of the past. Here, it faces a difficult test at home against Cal-San Diego, noting that while these two teams own identical overall records this season, the visiting Tritons have faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics and they'll be looking to avenge an earlier 61-59 'upset' loss at home against the Anteaters. Cal-Irvine has been producing consistently from an offensive standpoint but UCSD figures to offer some resistance. The Tritons have held four straight and eight of their last nine opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals. Contrast that with the Anteaters, who have played matador-like defense at times, allowing three straight opponents to hoist up 66 or more field goal attempts and 11 of their last 13 foes to get off 60+. UCSD doesn't mind pushing the pace and has been efficient offensively over the course of the season, connecting on 24 or more field goals in all but four of their 27 contests to date. Take Cal-San Diego (10*).

ACC Underdog Game of the Month. My selection is on Stanford plus the points over California at 6 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams had much different results when they last took the court last Saturday as Stanford dropped a 68-63 decision at Wake Forest, ending its two-game winning streak, while California rolled to an 86-75 win at Boston College to span its two-game losing skid. This is undoubtedly a game that Stanford has had circled on its calendar after getting 'upset' at home against the Golden Bears back on January 24th. That was part of a five-game losing streak for the Cardinal. Since then, they've gone 2-1 and check in 4-2 ATS over their last six contests. it's certainly worth noting that while Cal does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Stanford has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Note that the Cardinal have held all but four of their 26 opponents to fewer than 60 field goal attempts this season. They check in off a poor shooting performance against a good Wake Forest team but had knocked down 27, 31, 24, 33 and 26 field goals in their five contests previous to that. Cal continues to play matador-like defense, allowing five straight opponents to connect on 27 or more field goals. The Bears have shot well in their last couple of games but I don't think it's sustainable, noting that prior to that they had made good on 26 or fewer field goals in five straight contests. Take Stanford (10*).

Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Milwaukee at 8:10 pm et on Friday.

We've been waiting for the opportunity to fade the Bucks after they 'upset' the Thunder for their second straight victory both SU and ATS prior to the All-Star break. Despite not dealing away Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline, this is still a Milwaukee team that's going nowhere this season. The Pelicans aren't a good team by any means, but they went into the break quietly riding a 7-3 ATS run and having won two of their last three games SU. They were actually favored in Milwaukee back on February 4th but dropped a 141-137 decision in overtime. With the scene shifting to New Orleans for this rematch, we'll call for the Pelicans to get their 'revenge'. Take New Orleans (10*).

Horizon League Game of the Month. My selection is on Wisconsin-Milwaukee plus the points over Detroit at 7 pm et on Friday.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee will have 'revenge' on its mind on Friday after it suffered a disappointing double-digit home loss against Detroit on February 4th. The Panthers have gone 2-1 SU and ATS since that setback. They held off Green Bay 75-72 last time out despite shooting a miserable 19-for-45 from the field. That type of performance has been the exception rather than the rule. Note that they've connected on a consistent 24 or more field goals in 17 of their last 19 games, giving them a solid floor entering this matchup with a vulnerable Detroit defense. While Green Bay was able to slow the Milwaukee offense last time out, Detroit has been far more forgiving, allowing six of its last eight opponents to get off more than 60 field goal attempts. The Titans have allowed 11 of their last 12 opponents to connect on 25 or more field goals. Detroit does own the better overall record in this matchup this season but Milwaukee has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. We'll grab the points with the visitors here. Take Wisconsin-Milwaukee (10*).

Northeast Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Le Moyne plus the points over Central Connecticut State at 7 pm et on Thursday.

We'll grab the points with a revenge-minded Le Moyne team after it dropped a 69-59 'upset' decision at home against Central Connecticut State last month. The Dolphins roll into this game off three straight wins but they're not yet in uncharted territory as they did previous reel off four straight victories earlier this season. Note that their loss in the first meeting between these two teams essentially boiled down to the Dolphins failing to take advantage of their wealth of scoring opportunities, knocking down just 20-of-61 field goal attempts, and getting badly outscored at the free throw line. Le Moyne enters this contest having connected on 27 or more field goals in three of its last four games, despite playing at a slow pace (53 or fewer field goal attempts in all four contests). On the flip side, they've held two straight and 10 of their last 15 opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals. Central Connecticut State has eclipsed 26 made field goals in just three of its last 12 contests. The Blue Devils have allowed 27, 24, 24, 25 and 16 made field goals over their last five contests, despite holding four of those five opponents to fewer than 60 field goal attempts. Finally, we'll note that while the Blue Devils do own the better overall record in this matchup this season, the Dolphins have faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Take Le Moyne (10*).

Conference USA Game of the Month. My selection is on Florida International plus the points over Liberty at 6 pm et on Thursday.

While few paid much attention, Florida International gave Liberty all it could handle in the first matchup between these two teams this season, dropping a 97-94 overtime decision back on December 28th. The Panthers are catching double-digits in Thursday's rematch and that's understandable as Liberty owns a 22-3 record this season and hasn't lost since December 10th against N.C. State. Off another satisfying win (and cover) against UTEP on Saturday, I think the Flames are in for a letdown here, however. It's worth noting that Florida International has faced a more difficult schedule than Liberty this season and it has navigated it admirably with a 12-13 record. I think the Panthers have a lot of upside right now as they enter Thursday's contest having made good on 26 or more field goals in six of their last seven games (they did need overtime to get there in one of those). On the flip side, they've allowed 26 or fewer made field goals in two straight and five of their last six contests. While the opposition has been able to run on the Panthers, the Flames don't generally go up-tempo, hoisting up 54 or fewer field goal attempts in 12 of their last 13 games. Liberty's last five opponents have connected on a healthy 23, 26, 27, 30 and 24 field goals. Take Florida International (10*).

West Coast Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Saint Mary's and Seattle at 9 pm et on Wednesday.

The first meeting between these two teams this season produced a whopping 169 points as Saint Mary's ran away for a 93-76 victory. We'll call for a different story to unfold in Wednesday's rematch. Saint Mary's is an elite defensive team. It has held four straight opponents to 23 or fewer made field goals and seven of its last eight foes to 24 or less. The lone opponent to eclipse that mark over that stretch was Gonzaga and that contest still reached 'only' 138 total points. On the flip side, the Gaels have been lights out offensively in recent games, pushing the pace and connecting on 30, 32, 31 and 26 field goals over their last four contests. I do think they'll face a challenge here, however, noting that Seattle has limited eight of its last 10 opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals. The Redhawks have done a good job of limiting their opponents' pace since that blowout loss at Saint Mary's, holding seven of their last nine foes to 58 or fewer field goal attempts. Considering Seattle has connected on 26 or fewer field goals in three straight and 14 of its last 16 contests, it's doubtful that it will want to get involved in another track meet here. Take the under (10*).

Big 12 Game of the Month. My selection is on Houston plus the points over Iowa State at 9 pm et on Monday.

Bettors seem to be confidently backing Iowa State after it delivered a blowout win at home against Kansas on Saturday. The Cyclones can breathe a sigh of relief as they opened a difficult stretch on their schedule with that lopsided victory, avoiding a second straight loss in the process. I think things are going to be tougher for Iowa State on Monday, however, as it hosts Houston. The Cougars not only own the slightly better overall record in this matchup this season but they've also faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Offensively, I think these two teams match up fairly evenly. With that being said, it has been Houston that has consistently afforded itself more scoring opportunities for much of the campaign. Recently, the Cougars have gotten off 64, 61, 60 and 59 field goal attempts over their last four games, thriving in an up-tempo environment. On the flip side, I'll give the edge to Houston. The Cougars are undoubtedly elite defensively. They enter this contest having held five straight opponents to 21 or fewer made field goals. They've allowed 20 or fewer made field goals on an incredible 13 occasions - more than half of their games - this season. Iowa State has been locked-in defensively over its last couple of games as well, limiting TCU and Kansas to 21 and 19 successful field goal attempts, respectively. Prior to that, however, it had allowed 23 or more made field goals in five of its last seven contests. This figures to be a nip-and-tuck affair all the way but I like catching points with what I feel is the better team in Houston. Take Houston (10*).

CAA Game of the Month. My selection is on Towson plus the points over Monmouth at 7 pm et on Sunday.

Towson will have 'revenge' on its mind after it suffered a 62-48 home loss to Monmouth in the first meeting between these two teams this season. The Tigers actually got off a whopping 66 field goal attempts (compared to the Hawks' 47) in that game but couldn't take advantage, knocking down only 18 of them. That matchup took place during a serious lull for the Towson offense but we have seen the wheels start to turn lately as it has connected on 25, 24, 27, 30, 16 and 26 field goals over its last six contests. On the flip side, the Tigers have limited 10 of their last 15 opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals and have done a good job of keeping a lid on the opposition by allowing fewer than 60 field goal attempts in 19 of 26 contests. Monmouth wants to get out and run, noting that it has hoisted up 60+ field goal attempts in four straight games entering Sunday's action. Of note, the Hawks knocked down 31 field goals in their most recent game - a 93-73 rout at Drexel on Thursday. They've followed up their previous five 30+ made field goal performances this season by knocking down only 22, 22, 19, 25 and 28 (helped by overtime) field goals in their next game. There's not much separating these two teams in terms of overall records this season - in fact, Towson owns the slightly better mark thanks to playing on extra game - and the Tigers have faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Take Towson (10*).

Summit League Game of the Year. My selection is on Denver plus the points over Nebraska-Omaha at 1 pm et on Sunday.

There was virtually nothing separating these two teams in their first matchup this season as Nebraska-Omaha staged an 84-82 'upset' win in Denver on January 31st. The two teams own identical overall records this season but Denver has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. We'll grab the points with the visiting Pioneers on Sunday as they look to avenge that earlier loss. While few are paying much attention, Denver has been on an incredible offensive tear since the second week of December. The Pioneers have made good on 28 or more field goals in an unreal 16 of their last 18 games. They do play at a fast pace but that should continue against a Nebraska-Omaha team that has played matador-like defense lately, yielding 60 or more field goal attempts to six straight opponents. The case can be made for these two teams heading in opposite directions defensively in recent contests. Denver, despite playing at that up-tempo pace, has held four of its last five opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals. Meanwhile, Omaha had a terrific stretch of defensive basketball in January but has now allowed three of its last four opponents to knock down 30+ field goals. Of course, the Mavericks have shot the lights out at times including in their last two games but I look for the Pioneers to make the necessary adjustments and secure a revenge-fuelled win in this rematch. Take Denver (10*).

Southern Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Western Carolina plus the points over Chattanooga at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

I think the case can be made for the wrong team being favored in this matchup. Chattanooga defeated Western Carolina 90-82 on the road in the first meeting between these two teams this season. There's little separating the two teams in terms of overall record but Western Carolina has faced the more difficult schedule. The Catamounts snapped their three-game SU and ATS losing streak with a decisive 87-49 win at The Citadel on Wednesday. Chattanooga on the other hand has had a difficult time getting on track, going 1-6 SU and 3-4 ATS over its last seven games since that win at Western Carolina on January 17th (that marked its third straight victory at the time and was part of a four-game ATS winning streak). I like the consistency Western Carolina has showed offensively, connecting on 25 or more field goals in 12 straight games entering Saturday's action. Chattanooga has knocked down more than 25 field goals just once in its last seven games and that came in an 'upset' loss at home against The Citadel. On the flip side, the Mocs are coming off a stellar defensive effort against East Tennessee State last time out but they still lost that game by double-digits. They've had a tough time stringing together consecutive strong defensive showings. After holding an opponent to 21 or fewer made field goals they've allowed 25, 26, 30, 30 and 29 in their last five tries in that situation. Take Western Carolina (10*).

Southland Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Houston Christian at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

We'll back New Orleans on Saturday as it looks to avenge an earlier 85-76 'upset' loss suffered at home against Houston Christian. That was a somewhat stunning result but it came relatively early in the season in the first week of December. We've seen these two teams go on divergent paths since with the Privateers owning the better overall record and having faced the more difficult schedule. New Orleans checks in off a dismal offensive showing last time out but it still managed to outlast Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in overtime. Houston Christian is one of the country's weakest offensive teams. It enters this contest having connected on 24 or fewer field goals in six straight games, eclipsing that mark just twice since December 15th. On the flip side, Houston Christian's opponents have been 'filling it up', making good on 26 or more field goals in 15 of its last 19 contests. Take New Orleans (10*).

Sun Belt Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on James Madison plus the points over Appalachian State at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Appalachian State is clearly in uncharted territory right now as it has won a season-high seven straight games. The Mountaineers will try to beat James Madison for a second time this season after delivering an 80-65 victory at home back on January 15th. The visiting Dukes couldn't get anything going offensively in that contest but I look for a different story to unfold here. Appalachian State has certainly been tough defensively but James Madison can take some solace in the fact that it did generate 60 field goal attempts in the first meeting and the Mountaineers last two opponents have made some headway, knocking down 25 and 24 field goals. The Dukes can play some defense as well. They've allowed their last two foes to connect on 28 and 27 field goals but the latter affair went to overtime. Prior to that two-game stretch they had held their last four opponents to 19, 22, 21 and 23 made field goals. It's not as if Appalachian State has been rolling offensively. It has knocked down 23 or fewer field goals in five of its last six games. Look for James Madison to get its revenge here. Take James Madison (10*).

MAAC Underdog Game of the Month. My selection is on Rider plus the points over Mount St. Mary's at 7 pm et on Friday.

Mount St. Mary's owns the better overall record in this matchup this season but Rider has faced the more difficult schedule and the hometown Broncs will have revenge on their minds on Friday as they look to get back at the Mountaineers after suffering a 71-61 loss on the road on January 24th. In that contest, Rider actually got off a whopping 63 field goal attempts compared to Mount St. Mary's 46. The Broncs simply weren't able to take advantage. While Rider is coming off an ugly blowout loss at home against Merrimack last time out, prior to that it had connected on 23 or more field goals in 10 of its last 12 games. It has found a way to push the pace a little bit and should be able to do so again with Mount St. Mary's checking in having allowed seven of its last eight opponents to get off 59 or more field goal attempts. The Mountaineers aren't exactly thriving offensively. They've made good on 25 or fewer field goals in seven straight and 11 of their last 12 contests. That's not a great recipe for laying points on the road against a revenge-minded foe. Take Rider (10*).

Northwest Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Portland and Minnesota at 8:10 pm et on Thursday.

The Trail Blazers enter this game on the heels of five straight 'over' results. We have a 'catalyst for change' at work here, however, as all five of those games were played at home. While Portland really pushed the pace over that stretch, that hasn't been the case on the road recently, where they've gotten off 83 or fewer field goal attempts in four of their last five games. Lost in the Blazers recent offensive surge has been the fact that they've played some pretty good defense as well, holding three straight and 12 of their last 17 opponents to 43 or fewer made field goals. The Timberwolves went off for 55-of-92 shooting in a blowout win over Atlanta last time out. Keep in mind, prior to that they had been limited to 40 and 37 made field goals over their last two games. Atlanta got off a whopping 99 field goal attempts against Minnesota on Monday but that was a product of the lopsided nature of the contest. Prior to that, the T'Wolves had limited six of their last seven opponents to fewer than 90 field goal attempts. You can see the wheels turning for Minnesota defensively right now as it has held its last three opponents to 43, 39 and 40 made field goals. Take the under (10*).

Atlantic Sun Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on Queens-Charlotte minus the points over Austin Peay at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

Austin Peay enters this game red hot on the heels of six straight wins, going 4-2 ATS over that stretch. Of note, the Governors are entering uncharted territory as they've covered the spread in consecutive games. As well as they've played, they've yet to deliver three straight ATS victories this season. While they do own the better overall record in this matchup this season as well, Queens-Charlotte has faced the more difficult schedule. The Royals have put a recent three-game SU and ATS slide behind them, delivering back-to-back wins and covers. You'd be hard-pressed to find a team as locked-in offensively as the Royals have connected on 27 or more field goals in an incredible 11 of their last 12 games. They've knocked down 30+ field goals in two straight and 11 of their last 12 contests. Here, they'll face a Governors team that has been vulnerable defensively, allowing 25 or more made field goals in nine of their last 10 games. Queens-Charlotte wants to push the pace and Austin Peay has been matador-like in that regard, allowing four straight opponents to hoist up more than 60 field goal attempts. On the flip side, Queens-Charlotte has held seven straight opponents to 57 or fewer field goal attempts. Only three of the Royals last 11 opponents have connected on more than 26 field goals. Take Queens-Charlotte (10*).

Western Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and Houston at 8:10 pm et on Tuesday.

This total is low for a reason as I think this Western Conference showdown will have an 'old school' feel to it on Tuesday night. The Clippers are coming off back-to-back wins to open their current road trip. I question whether they can continue to shoot with the level of efficiency we've seen from them in recent games. Note that they've gotten off 80 or fewer field goal attempts in four straight games - unheard of by today's NBA standards. Yet they've shot the lights out in three of those four contests. The Rockets figure to clamp down defensively, noting that they've held four of their last six opponents to fewer than 40 made field goals. Like the Clippers, the Rockets have been playing slow, hoisting up 83 or fewer field goal attempts in three straight games. Unlike the Clips, they've been struggling to find their footing in terms of shooting efficiency, knocking down 40 or fewer field goals in four straight and six of their last seven contests. Take the under (10*).

SWAC Game of the Month. My selection is on Florida A&M minus the points over Prairie View A&M at 7 pm et on Monday.

I really like the way this one sets up for Florida A&M as it looks to end its four-game SU and ATS slide. While Prairie View A&M does own the slightly better overall record in this matchup this season, Florida A&M has faced the more difficult schedule. The Rattlers are coming off three consecutive poor shooting performances, making good on just 20, 23 and 18 field goals over that stretch. The good news is, they'll be taking a step down in class here to face a Prairie View defense that has yielded 27 or more successful field goal attempts in six straight games. While the Rattlers don't generally push the pace all that much, they may take advantage of the opportunity to get loose here, noting that the Panthers have allowed five of their last seven opponents to get off 60+ field goal attempts with a low-water mark of 58 over that stretch. The Rattlers recent struggles have had little to do with their defensive play. They've held six of their last seven opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. Prairie View has connected on 24, 28 and 27 field goals over its last three games but that's thanks to hoisting up 65 or more field goal attempts in all three contests. Florida A&M figures to keep a lid on the Prairie View offense, noting that it has held an incredible 10 of its last 11 foes to 55 or fewer field goal attempts. Take Florida A&M (10*).

Mountain West Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Nevada minus the points over Fresno State at 10 pm et on Saturday.

We'll lay the points with Nevada as it returns home off an overtime loss at Boise State on Tuesday. Fresno State comes off a thrilling 98-96 win over UNLV on the same night. The Bulldogs rode a blistering shooting performance to that 'upset' victory. I think they'll be hard-pressed to repeat that effort here. Note that prior to that 'outlier' offensive performance and before that a game against a bad Air Force team, Fresno State had connected on 18, 24, 21, 21 and 16 field goals over a five-game stretch. The Bulldogs are a good defensive team, but not a great one, and I think they can be exploited in this matchup. Nevada has knocked down 27, 29, 25, 21, 29 and 32 (boosted by overtime) field goals over its last six games. It still won the outlier by six points against a good Grand Canyon team in overtime. On the flip side, I see this as a 'get right' spot for the Wolf Pack defensively. They're just two games removed from a stretch that saw them hold five straight and 14 of 17 opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. Finally, we'll note that Nevada not only owns the better overall record in this matchup this season but it has also faced the more difficult schedule. Take Nevada (10*).

ACC Favorite of the Year. My selection is on Stanford minus the points over Georgia Tech at 8 pm et on Saturday.

Stanford has inexplicably dropped five straight games following a 14-4 start to the season. I say 'inexplicably' although it has a lot to do with a very difficult stretch of ACC opponents. I think the Cardinal will welcome the opportunity to 'get right' against a weaker foe in Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets have lost four games in a row but did cover the spread in a five-point loss at California on Wednesday. Note that Stanford not only owns the better overall record in this matchup this season but it has also faced the tougher schedule. Georgia Tech stayed within arm's reach of Cal thanks to getting off a whopping 71 field goal attempts on Wednesday. It will be hard-pressed to approach that number against a disciplined Stanford defense that has limited eight straight and 12 of its last 13 opponents to 58 or fewer field goal attempts. We've actually seen the wheels start turning again for the Cardinal offense lately as they've connected on 27, 31 and 24 field goals over their last three contests. I like the matchup here as the Yellow Jackets have played matador-like defense at times, allowing five of their last six and 13 of their last 15 foes to get off more than 60 field goal attempts. They've yielded 25 or more made field goals in two straight and 15 of their last 18 contests. Take Stanford (10*).

Eastern Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Miami plus the points over Boston at 7:40 pm et on Friday.

We successfully faded the Heat three nights ago as they were routed by the Hawks on their home floor. I think Miami is set up well to bounce back and at the very least take Boston down to the wire on Friday, however. The Heat have certainly played an uneven brand of basketball lately but their inconsistency can actually work in our favor off Tuesday's 'upset' loss. Note that Miami hasn't lost consecutive games since a three-game slide from January 6th to 11th. It hasn't dropped the cash in back-to-back games since a two-game ATS losing streak during the same stretch. The Heat enter this game a healthy 8-6 ATS over their last 14 contests. The Celtics return home feeling satisfied off a perfect two-game road trip and carry a four-game winning streak both SU and ATS. Note that they haven't won more than four games in a row SU or ATS since early December. While their defensive play has been terrific, it's worth noting that they've connected on 42 or fewer field goals in five of their last six contests - not exactly a recipe for covering lofty pointspreads. Take Miami (10*).

MAAC Game of the Month. My selection is on Saint Peter's minus the points over Manhattan at 7 pm et on Thursday.

While there's not much at all separating these two MAAC teams in terms of strength of schedule so far this season, Saint Peter's does own the better overall record and I look for it to bounce back after Sunday's 'upset' loss suffered at Rider. The Peacocks will look to salvage a split of their two-game road jaunt here before returning home for a tough game against Siena on Saturday. It's worth noting that Saint Peter's has played a more up-tempo style offensively this season than we're accustomed to seeing but it hasn't come at the expense of its defensive play. The Peacocks have hoisted up more than 60 field goal attempts in six of their last 11 games and should be afforded plenty of scoring opportunities against a Manhattan team that has played matador-like defense for much of the season. The Jaspers have yielded 60+ field goal attempts in two straight and 19 of 24 contests this season. While Saint Peter's has held an incredible 14 straight opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals Manhattan has allowed 22 of its last 23 opponents to connect on 25 or more field goals. On the flip side, the Jaspers have made good on 23 or fewer field goals in four of their last six contests. Take Saint Peter's (10*).

Big East Game of the Month. My selection is on St. John's minus the points over DePaul at 8 pm et on Tuesday.

We'll lay the points with St. John's on Tuesday as it looks to stay red hot in a road matchup with DePaul. The Red Storm took the first meeting between these two teams at home back in mid-December but failed to cover the spread (they won by 13 points). It was a loosely-played affair with DePaul getting off a whopping 69 field goal attempts to keep within arm's reach. I look for a different story to unfold here. Note that St. John's has held five of its last seven opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. On the flip side, you would be hard-pressed to find a team as locked-in offensively as the Red Storm right now. They've connected on 30+ field goals in two straight and eight of their last 10 contests. While the Blue Demons have played well at times defensively, they've generally thrived by limiting their opponents' tempo. That will be difficult against a rested Red Storm team that has hoisted up 60+ field goal attempts in eight of its last 10 games. Finally, we'll note that St. John's not only owns the better overall record in this matchup this season but it has faced the more difficult schedule - one of the toughest schedules in the country by most metrics, in fact. Take St. John's (10*).