12-6-12

[Can'tPickAWinner]

★ ★ ★ ★THE GOLDSHEET ★ ★ ★ ★

NFL- Denver 32 - OAKLAND 15—Any takers for Oakland? Raiders’ SU andspread losing
streak now at an ugly five, with rumors that Mark Davis might
channel his late papa Al and hit the “eject” button on first-year HC Dennis Allen,
whose familiarity with former employer Denver (where he was defensive
coordinator LY) sure didn’t help in Oakland’s 37-6 loss at Invesco Field Sept.
30. Leaky Raider secondary (24 TDP allowed) becomes even a bigger liability
vs. on-fire Peyton Manning, who was 30 for 39 for 338 YP and 3 TDs in the
first meeting, when he had enough time in the pocket to film another Buick
commercial. Denver remains motivated for chance at first-round playoff bye.
TV—NFL NETWORK

NBA- MIAMI 107 - New York 93—Payback time for Miami, which ran into a
Knicks haymaker at MSG back on Nov. 2 in 104-84 New York romp. But let’s
see Knicks hit another staggering 19 triples and shoot 53% again beyond the
arc in rematch. While Carmelo Anthony (26.3 ppg) continues to enjoy a
monster season and even plays defense like never before in his career, Knicks
remain very reliant upon threes (11.7 pg), and PG Raymond Felton’s recent upand-
down efforts confirm how important it is for Mike Woodson to be able to call
upon vet Jason Kidd (who has missed recent action with back spasms) as a
settling influence. Remember that Heat had little trouble with Knicks last
season, losing only once in 8 meetings (covering 6 of last 7) and easily
dispatching them in 5-game playoff cruise.

NCAAB- PROVIDENCE 73 - Rhode Island 72—With PC’s assist machine PG VincentCouncil
still sidelined with hamstring injury, depth-shy Friars hard-pressed to pull
away from scrappy RI squad feeling “good vibes” following its 78-72 double-OT
upset victory at Auburn Nov. 25. Rams’ sharp-shooting juco G Xavier Mumford
(poured in 33 pts. vs. the Tigers) pleasing first-year HC Dan Hurley, who quickly
resurrected the Wagner program before taking over Kingston TY. With better shot
selection, RI (30% FGs, 3 of 20 from arc) greatly improves on its rim-clanking
performance in 80-61 series defeat LY.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CAPPERS ACCESS
Broncos
Vanderbilt

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA TNT doubleheader: Knicks at Heat, Mavericks at Suns

New York Knicks at Miami Heat (-7, 202)

The Miami Heat and New York Knicks know a thing or two about winning at home. After all, the Eastern Conference leaders collectively have won all 15 such contests this season. The Heat, who are 8-0 at AmericanAirlines Arena, will have the home-court advantage on Thursday, when the Knicks pay a visit for a nationally televised game.

The Heat likely are still massaging their ego after woe-begotten Washington doubled its season win total at their expense. New York extended its winning streak to four games on Wednesday as J.R. Smith drilled a step-back jumper as time expired for a 100-98 triumph over Charlotte. Carmelo Anthony finished with 23 points before receiving stitches on the middle finger of his left hand after diving into the bench to save a loose ball. His status for Thursday is unknown, however, head coach Mike Woodson did tell reporters, “He’s going to play. He’ll be ready to play."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE KNICKS (13-4, 11-6 ATS): Coach Mike Woodson insisted after Wednesday's contest that Anthony would be able to play versus Miami. The electric forward cooled off the Heat with a team-high 30 points and 10 rebounds in New York's 104-84 victory on Nov. 2. As for Wednesday, Jason Kidd returned following a four-game absence due to lower back spasms. The veteran guard came off the bench to score seven points but logged nearly 25 1/2 minutes to provide a jolt for the Knicks.

ABOUT THE HEAT (12-4, 7-9 ATS): The inexplicable loss to Washington snapped a six-game winning streak for Miami. LeBron James did his best to put the setback in perspective, although his pair of missed 3-point attempts in the waning moments could have altered the outcome. Dwyane Wade insisted that the Heat will have no problem getting up for Thursday's tilt. "It'll be a good game for us," Wade said. "It's a game that we all look forward to. Obviously, we want to play better, and it's a good time for it (facing the Knicks)."

TRENDS:

* Under is 10-2-1 in the last 13 meetings.
* Home team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Favorite is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Knicks are 2-6 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Knicks are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings in Miami.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. New York is off to its best 17-game start to a season since the 1995-96 campaign. It also was 13-4 during that campaign.

2. Wade had 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field in the teams' first meeting. While it's an impressive performance to be certain, Wade has averaged 27.9 points in 25 career games versus New York.

3. The Knicks played their fourth game without C Marcus Camby, who is being plagued by plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns (-3, 199.5)

The Dallas Mavericks try to shake off an awful start to their road trip Thursday, when they take on the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. Dallas began its three-game trek Wednesday in Los Angeles, where it thoroughly was thrashed in a 112-90 loss to the Clippers. The Mavericks never led as they allowed the first seven points of the game and fell behind by as many as 24 late in the fourth quarter.

Phoenix returns home from a 1-5 road trip during which it lost the last four contests. After splitting the first two games of the trek, the Suns suffered a 40-point loss in Detroit on Nov. 28. They dropped close decisions in Toronto and New York before concluding the trip with a 10-point overtime setback to the league-leading Grizzlies in Memphis on Tuesday. Phoenix led by as many as 16 points before Rudy Gay forged a 94-94 tie with 15.9 seconds remaining in regulation.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Dallas), TNT

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (8-10, 7-11 ATS): Dallas trailed by 11 points after one quarter in Los Angeles on Wednesday but began the second with a 9-0 run to get within 29-27. That was as close as the Mavericks would get as they were down 18 points at halftime and never got the deficit to single digits in the second half. Guard O.J. Mayo entered the game against the Clippers second in the league with a 52.7 percent shooting efficiency from beyond the arc, went 0-of-4 and has gone without a 3-pointer in three of his last five contests.

ABOUT THE SUNS (7-12, 6-12-1 ATS): Phoenix has not had much success against Dallas of late, losing eight of the last nine meetings between the teams. In fact, the Suns snapped an eight-game skid in the all-time series in their last encounter as they posted a 96-94 triumph at US Airways Center on March 12. It was the team's second win in the last 13 matchups and snapped its three-game home losing streak against the Mavericks. Center Marcin Gortat has started 96 consecutive games and appeared in all 140 contests since being acquired by the Suns from Orlando on Dec. 18, 2010.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 9-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
* Mavericks are 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Phoenix.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Gortat leads the Suns with six double-doubles.

2. Mavericks rookie F Jae Crowder is 3-of-26 from the field over his last four games.

3. The Suns have trailed by double digits in 15 of their 19 contests this season.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

PAUL LEINER

100* Creighton -7.5

50* Syracuse -20.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA

Hot Teams
-- Miami won six of its last seven games (4-4 as HF). Knicks won their last four games (3-2 as an U).

Cold Teams
-- Mavericks lost four of last five games (2-6 as AU). Suns also lost four of last five games (1-4 as a HF).

Totals
-- Over is 5-2-1 in New York's last eight games.
-- Four of last five Dallas games stayed under the total.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CBB

-- 2-6 Rhode Island won two of last three games; their last three losses are all by 5 or less points, or in OT; home team won seven of Rams' last eight games with Providence- URI lost last four visits here, by 13-1-29-7 points. 6-2 Friars have 7 scholarship guys; losses are vs teams ranked #94/131- they've won last four games, allowing 54.8 ppg.
-- 7-0 Cincinnati beat Alabama by hoop last game, now enters soft part of schedule; their four wins vs teams not in top 100 were by 23-42-54-19 points. Bearcat opponents are making 36% inside arc, 29.5% outside it. Ark-Little Rock is 0-2 on road, losing by 18 at Louisiana Tech, by 40 at Ole Miss. Sun Belt double digit road underdogs are 4-10 vs spread.
-- Inexperienced Vanderbilt lost four of last five games; their three losses vs top 100 teams are by 26-13-10 points. Xavier won 83-70 in OT LY at Vandy; Musketeers are surprising 6-1, winning by 6 at Purdue in last game. Vandy lost its only road game by 26 at Oregon. A-16 double digit home favorites are 6-11 vs spread. SEC road underdogs are 11-16.
-- Home teams won seven of last ten Creighton-Nebraska games, but the Bluejays lost last three visits here, by 5-2-12 points. First road game for Creighton, which beat Wisconsin/Arizona State on neutral floor, but also got beat at home by Boise State. Cornhuskers are 6-1, allowing 63 points or less in its wins, 74 in its loss. Big Dozen dogs are 10-9, 2-0 at home.

-- Long Beach State overschedules in pre-conference play every year; so far this year, they lost to North Carolina by 15, at Arizona by 22. Trip to central NY in December seems extreme for Long Beach- they get 34% of points behind arc- this is in a dome. 6-0 Syracuse leads country in steals, #3 in blocked shots. Big West double digit underdogs are 11-4.
-- Inexperienced (#329) UCSB is 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing by 28-16-28 points; they lost 76-75ot to San Diego State LY, Aztecs' 4th straight series win, with 90-64/68-51 wins here. Gauchos are 0-3 on road, with a 14-point loss at LSU. Aztecs beat UCLA/USC in last three games, are off for nine days after this game, better not overlook well-coached foe.
-- Green Bay lost four of last five games, losing all three road games by 2-10-16 points; UWGB won both games vs teams not in top 200, with wins by 5-12 points. Tennessee Tech lost last three games vs D-I teams; they turn ball over 23.5% of time. Horizon League favorites are 6-9 vs spread, 2-8 if laying 5 or less points. OVC home underdogs are 2-4.
-- Idaho-Eastern Washington split last 10 meetings; Vandals lost twice in last three visits here. Idaho is 2-6, losing road games vs top 100 teams by 15-9 points. EWU allowed 84+ points in its five losses, 70-75 in its two wins. WAC road favorites are 5-0 vs spread. Big Sky underdogs of less than 5 points are 4-7 vs spread, 2-4 at home.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NFL

Broncos (9-3) @ Raiders (3-9)—Oakland lost last five games (0-5 vs spread), allowing 37.8 ppg; they’re 1-3 as home underdog this year, 9-14-1 since ’08. Denver won last seven games (5-2 vs spread), scoring 30+ points six times, with road wins by 11-8-22-8 points; they’re 2-1 as road favorites this year, 6-4 since 2009. Fox’s defense is creating shorter fields for his offense; eight of last 11 Denver TD’s were on drives of less than 60 yards. Broncos (-6.5) crushed Raiders 37-6 in Week 4, outrushing Oakland 165-56 (TY 503-237)- they were 10-16 on 3rd down, Oakland 1-12. Manning was 30-39/338 passing. Denver won three of last four visits here, but haven’t swept Raiders since ’06. Eight of last 10 series games were decided by 14+ points. AFC West home teams are 3-5 vs spread in division games; home dogs are 1-2. Six of last eight Denver games, five of last seven Bronco games went over the total. Note: Raiders' coach Allen has been away from team this week, due to the death of his father.