SPORTS WAGERS
Oregon State +5½/+210 over ARIZONA
We often talk about NHL teams' dreading the three-game trip to Western Canada and the Pac-12 has a similar version of it. Arizona's coach Sean Miller had this to say about last week's trip to UCLA and USC, “I don't know a conference in the country that has a team leave on a Wednesday and get back at 12 midnight on Sunday. "Every team in our conference has a segment of the season that's like that but it puts a lot of pressure on our team. That Thursday-Sunday (combination), if you're the road team in particular, is the biggest disadvantage our conference can offer”. Whether it's a ploy to challenge his team or not, the coach understands he's in a tough situational spot here against a solid Beavers club. Oregon State is fourth in the country in points scored and sixth in assists. They have some skewed numbers as a result of playing a bunch of marshmallows but they also took Stanford to 4 OT's before losing by a bucket. A two-point loss to the Commodores is another credible loss. Besides, who have the Wildcats played or beaten to warrant being this big a choice in this spot? They've played one ranked team and lost by six. They hosted Gonzaga and lost by 11. The Beavers have shown more consistency in their shooting, they certainly have the deeper bench and they're in a favorable spot too. Play: Oregon State +5½ (Risking 1.05 units to win 1) Play Oregon State +210 (Risking 1 unit).
Cleveland +7 over PHOENIX Pinnacle
The Suns have won three in a row at home with the smallest margin of victory being by nine points. In its last two home games, Phoenix beat the Bucks by 16 and the Trail Blazers by 25. What all that has created is an overpriced and overvalued team that really has no business being this big a favorite over any team that's not in a unfavorable spot. The Cavaliers didn't play last night so they'll come in here somewhat fresh. They've lost two in a row and three of four so there's no letdown spot either. There really isn't a lot that seperates these two in terms of talent but there is in hope. The Suns have none while the Cavaliers are going to be competitive in many more games this year and for years to come. So, recent results in the span of a week have the Suns at an inflated price against a team that is going to get better and better as the season progresses. Both teams come in with 4-5 records but the Cav's have an edge on the boards and in scoring and that's a combination that is more than capable of pulling off the upset. Play: Cleveland +7 (Risking 2.16 units to win 2).
Oregon State +5½/+210 over ARIZONA
We often talk about NHL teams' dreading the three-game trip to Western Canada and the Pac-12 has a similar version of it. Arizona's coach Sean Miller had this to say about last week's trip to UCLA and USC, “I don't know a conference in the country that has a team leave on a Wednesday and get back at 12 midnight on Sunday. "Every team in our conference has a segment of the season that's like that but it puts a lot of pressure on our team. That Thursday-Sunday (combination), if you're the road team in particular, is the biggest disadvantage our conference can offer”. Whether it's a ploy to challenge his team or not, the coach understands he's in a tough situational spot here against a solid Beavers club. Oregon State is fourth in the country in points scored and sixth in assists. They have some skewed numbers as a result of playing a bunch of marshmallows but they also took Stanford to 4 OT's before losing by a bucket. A two-point loss to the Commodores is another credible loss. Besides, who have the Wildcats played or beaten to warrant being this big a choice in this spot? They've played one ranked team and lost by six. They hosted Gonzaga and lost by 11. The Beavers have shown more consistency in their shooting, they certainly have the deeper bench and they're in a favorable spot too. Play: Oregon State +5½ (Risking 1.05 units to win 1) Play Oregon State +210 (Risking 1 unit).
Cleveland +7 over PHOENIX Pinnacle
The Suns have won three in a row at home with the smallest margin of victory being by nine points. In its last two home games, Phoenix beat the Bucks by 16 and the Trail Blazers by 25. What all that has created is an overpriced and overvalued team that really has no business being this big a favorite over any team that's not in a unfavorable spot. The Cavaliers didn't play last night so they'll come in here somewhat fresh. They've lost two in a row and three of four so there's no letdown spot either. There really isn't a lot that seperates these two in terms of talent but there is in hope. The Suns have none while the Cavaliers are going to be competitive in many more games this year and for years to come. So, recent results in the span of a week have the Suns at an inflated price against a team that is going to get better and better as the season progresses. Both teams come in with 4-5 records but the Cav's have an edge on the boards and in scoring and that's a combination that is more than capable of pulling off the upset. Play: Cleveland +7 (Risking 2.16 units to win 2).

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