2-25-13

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DAVID BANKS

February 25, 2013

Boston Celtics vs. Utah Jazz The Boston Celtics (29-26, 23-29-2 ATS) should be a tired bunch on Monday night given a brutal travel week when they visit a very good home team in the Utah Jazz (31-25, 27-28-1 ATS) at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, UT at 9:05 ET on NBA TV. This is the final game of a five-game road trip vs. the Western Conference for the Celtics, but the real story is that it is the fifth game in seven days! That would be a tough schedule for just about any team, but the fact that we are talking about a veteran-laden team does not help matters, especially with this being the second game of the second back-to-back on this trip following a game in Portland on Sunday.The trip began with a covering seven-point loss at Denver last Tuesday, which was followed by an understandable double-digit loss to the Lakers the next night given that this aged team was on a back-to-back after playing in high altitude. After a needed day off Thursday, Boston responded with a rout of Phoenix on Friday. Now the Celtics are playing with no rest again before getting three days off until their next game at home vs. Golden State on Friday, so if there was ever a time to give the veterans some extended rest, this could be it and probably regardless of the score too. The Celtics have actually flourished since losing All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo for the season, going 9-3 both straight up and ATS in their first 12 games without him pending the result vs. the Trail Blazers on Sunday, but unfortunately, this is a case where they actually have two opponents in the Jazz and the schedule makers.Utah has always been a strong home team and the home/away splits for the Jazz this season appear to be as extreme as ever. Their last two games have been a microcosm of the entire season, as the Jazz beat the Warriors by 14 points here at home last Tuesday and then went on the road a lost by 13 points to the Clippers on Saturday. They are an excellent 21-6 straight up and 17-10 ATS at home, where they are averaging 100.9 points per game while allowing only 95.7 for an average winning margin of +5.1 points. It is rather amazing how those numbers are very nearly exact flip-flops of the Jazz's performance on the road, where they are 10-19 straight up and 10-18-1 ATS while averaging only 96.3 points and allowing 101.7 for an average losing margin of -5.4 points! The Jazz have been at their best vs. Eastern Conference opponents in Salt Lake City, going 7-1 against the opposite conference while winning by an average of +9.3 points, and this is also a revenge spot after losing to the Celtics 98-93 back in Boston way back on November 14th. The favorites are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six head-to-head meetings, and the Jazz are certainly the favorites here. The Celtics are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 road games overall and 4-9 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. teams with winning home records...
Pick: UTAH JAZZ-6.5...

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NBA Basketball Play of the Day February 25, 2013 6:25 AM by GT Staff

Boston Celtics at Utah Jazz -6½ at 6:05 p.m. PT on NBA TV

The Jazz catch the aging Celtics with no rest as they were losing to the Trailblazers last night in Portland, this is Bostons last game of their five game road trip and they are looking ahead to their flight back to Boston.

706 Utah Jazz -6½

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GamingToday’s Consensus Picks February 25, 2013 6:21 AM by GT Staff

NBA Basketball

702 Toronto Raptors -4½

701 Washington Wizards/Toronto Raptors OVER 189½

706 Utah Jazz -6½

705 Boston Celtics/Utah Jazz UNDER 191½

NCAA Basketball

714 Seton Hall +4½

716 Iowa State PK


Results

2012-13 NBA Sun (0-3-0) Overall Record: 197-199-5

2012-13 NCAA BK Sun (3-1-1) Overall Record: 189-221-12

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Betting Line Moves NCAAB 2/25

716 Iowa State +2

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Sweet jones

Toronto Raptors -1.5 1st Quarter

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Jimmy Boyd

3* Iowa St +1.5
3* Utah Jazz -7

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Robert Ferrringo's Picks For NHL Hockey

4-Unit Pick Take #60 Los Angeles (-1.45) over Anaheim (10:30 pm, Monday, February 25)

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Indian Cowboy's Picks For College Basketball


4-Unit Play. #711. Take Texas Tech +19.5 over Kansas State (Monday @ 7pm est).

4-Unit Play. #713. Take Villanova -4.5 over Seton Hall (Monday @ 9pm est).

4-Unit Play. #716. Take Iowa State +1 over Kansas (Monday @ 9pm est).

I thought about the Tech game a bit back and forth. But, at the end of the day getting 19.5 points on a total of 137 is important. Plus, Tech can play a half-court style you'd think and they fell short by about 10 points earlier this year at home so it is a revenge game of sorts on the road at Kansas State. Its a good public fade on a Monday as well as the public of course is on State who is a top 15 team. Kansas State also has Baylor on deck on the road and might be looking ahead. Plus, if Chris Walker's team can lose to Iowa State by 20, a team that has revenge against Tech from an earlier season loss, then I certainly think that Tech can hang within 20 against a Kansas State team who they have revenge against themselves at home. This is a game that Villanova can win going away. This is a team desperately need in the hung for a Big Dance bid and these are the type of contests that they have to win. This team still plays in arguably the best college ball conference in America and stands tall at 18-10 and 9-6 in conference play. Getting double-digit wins in Big East play is a big deal and this puts them at 10-6. These two teams have not met this year but do note that this team is now 5-1 of late in conference play and this team has not lost to a team outside the top 100 since December 1st. So, the contests such as Rutgers, Depaul, Delaware, South Florida are all comparable games to this contest against Seton Hall. Combine that with big wins against UConn, Syracuse, Louisville and Marquette and you have a fairly dynamic team playing well as they hook up against Seton Hall today who is outside the top 100. Seton Hall has lost 9 straight conference games and it seems that they very well might have packed it in for the season and with Villanova with much to play coming into this game, don't be surprised to see Villanova pick off this game on the road and win by about 8 points this evening. As per the Iowa State game, this is a big revenge game for Iowa State. They face a Kansas team who comes off a big win against Texas Christian which was a revenge game for them. I'm not a huge fan of going against Kansas, but this is a good public fade and there is a reason why this game stands at a pick-em. Iowa State and Fred Hoiberg's team is 19-8 right now and they need a big staple win to confirm their ticket to the dance. This team is 5-2 in conference play of late and lost to Kansas on the road in overtime earlier this year. This team does have plenty of senior leadership and the fact that this is the same State team that nearly beat Baylor on the road by 5 points, look for State to get some revenge here at home. This is a game that Iowa State has to have to punch their ticket to the dance and I suspect that motivation is there for them to do well and with the revenge angle works well for them here. Besides, you don't think the Big12 wants another team in the Dance? I'm not saying - but I'm just saying.


Indian Cowboy's Picks For NBA Basketball


4-Unit Play. #706. Take Utah Jazz -7 over Boston Celtics (Monday @ 9:05pm est).

4-Unit Play. #708. Take Denver - 7 over LA Lakers (Monday @ 9:05pm est).

Know what your thinking, why take favorites on Monday Night? Well, they are actually public fades if you look close enough. Both of these teams have motivation today. For starters, the Jazz lost to the Celtics earlier this year in Boston handily and in fact, quite a few teams did and they are all taking their turns against Boston on this road trip and beating them SU and ATS as well. With that in mind, Utah takes the floor against Boston as they come off a tough loss to the Clippers losing 94-107. Coming off that 13 point loss, look for this team to show some pride here at home where they typically play and play well against above .600% teams in particular covering spreads. Plus, this Boston's last game on this long road trip so they are likely ready to go back home and I like Utah to be up for this game and wouldn't be surprised to see them have a great effort today. I do like Boston to bounce-back against Golden State back at home when they return from this long road trip. The Lakers have revenge against the Nuggets but I still like Denver to do well here. If the Lakers were to have gotten revenge, they would have gotten it in their last game when they faced Denver and have lost back to back ATS and SU games to Denver. The Lakers come off a huge win against Dallas on the road as a small underdog and although they are meshing well, I still like Denver here at home to continue to lay the wood on LA. Denver has not been playing well and did bounce-back against Charlotte on the road and as good as the Lakers have been of late, the Lakers are just not as strong down low even with Howard. Look for the Lakers to finally have a let down before they head home here as they are just 1-6 ATS when facing teams who have a winning percentage of greater than 60% (remember Dallas is sub .500) and the Lakers are just 3-7 ATS against Denver in Denver of late - and this is a good public fade as well to boot.


Indian Cowboy's Picks For NHL Hockey


4-Unit Play. #60. Take LA Kings -145 over Anaheim (Monday @ 10:30pm est)
The Kings likely remember the 4-7 shalacking they took at the hands of Anaheim and now they return home. Ever wonder why a team that is 13-2-0-1 is essentially a +145 underdog today despite the fact they have won 6 contests in a row? The Kings have started to get things in a groove a bit winning 5 of their last 6 including defeating Colorado at home 4-1. Look for them to continue their recent tour of revenge games with Anaheim as this lineup is good enough to win and just needed some time to gel. Plus, its the Championship hangover if you will and I like LA to do well here at home and bounce-back as any time you give 7 goals up to an opponent they have the motivation to bounce-back and do well at home in particular. The Kings continue to step up against teams with a solid winning percentage as they are 6-1 against teams with a winning percentage of greater than 60% and 5-1 against teams facing the Western Conference as well.

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Stephen Nover | NBA Sides - Monday, Feb 25 2013 9:05PM
706 UTA-6.5(-110) Bookmaker.com vs 705 BOS double-dime bet

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Wunderdog Sports Free Play

Game: Villanova at Seton Hall (9:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Game Total UNDER 130 -110
The Villonova Wildcats are off a huge win at home vs. Marquette, which will probably position them just inside the bubble. They should be focused here against a very beatable Seton Hall team, bitten by the injury bug. The surge by the Wildcats has been spearheaded by a sticky defense that, over the last few games, is allowing a stingy 57.6 ppg. The Hall has gone over a month without placing one in the win column. They have gone 13 straight games without topping the 67 point mark and have been held in the 50s in eight of their last 12. The pace here is going to be slow. The Wildcats are an impressive 10-1 to the UNDER in their last 11 roadies vs. a winning home team, while the Hall is 8-2 to the UNDER in their last ten on home hardwood. Play this one UNDER the total.

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Brian Rosica

NO PLAY TODAY

13-3 run out of the box

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Brandon Lang:

20 dimes Marquette +1.5

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Sports Cash System Play of the Day:

Iowa State +1 over Kansas (NCAA College Basketball)

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Sports Cash System Free Pick for 2/25

Marquette +1.5 over Syracuse (NCAA College Basketball)

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Kelso

Chairman's Club Basketball
Monday, February 25, 2013
Chairman's Club
25 Units
Marquette (+1½) over Syracuse
7:00 PM -- BMO Harris Bradley Center
MARQUETTE (19-7) +1 ½ over Syracuse (22-5)
Prediction: Marquette by 6-7
Comments: For openers, both these teams are in positive bounce-back mode, with Syracuse come into this game off a 57-46 home loss to Georgetown in a game that snapped a 38-game home winning streak while Marquette lost 60-56 at Villanova. There is no doubt this is a signature game for Marquette which needs a big win to upgrade its NCAA Tournament seed and there also is little doubt the talent levels of these two teams is dead-even, with neither having an edge. That puts the outcome with the biggest single factor in basketball handicapping, the home court bias, and Marquette certainly has it. The Golden Eagles have won 23 straight on their home court, are primed to get the signature win and my figures say they will get it.

Best Bets Club
10 Units
Kansas (-2) over Iowa State
9:00 PM -- James H. Hilton Coliseum
Kansas (23-4) -2 over IOWA STATE (19-8)
Prediction: Kansas by 7-8
Comments: The easiest call in this game would be to take what will be an inspired Iowa State team that is longing for national recognition and that has won 22 straight at home, but Kansas is nobody’s easy out. The Jayhawks are loaded with blue-chip talent from the starting five to those on the bench and proved its toughness again two games ago by winning at 15th-Oklahoma State (20-6), 68-67, as a one-point underdog. Talent and experience carries Kansas which starts four seniors (three of them 5th year seniors) and one red-shirt freshman, guard Ben McLemore who leads the team in scoring who has its best player leads the team in many categories, including scoring where he averages 16.2 points per game. Other elements pushing Kansas is the fact they are working overtime to get a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament, are tied for first place in the Big 12 Conference Stands with Kansas State, which has an easy home game tonight against Texas Tech, and let’s not forget a win tonight for the Jayhawks tonight would be the 500th of coach Bill Self’s career. Iowa State will be no pushover but Kansas has the depth and experience to overcome the powerful home court bias and get it done. It also is of some note the wiseguys were all over Kansas early today.

Best Bets Club
15 Units
Villanova (-4½) over Seton Hall
9:00 PM -- Prudential Center
Villanova (18-10) -4 ½ over SETON HALL (13-15)
Prediction: Villanova by 9-10
Comments: Villanova has finally put it all together, is 5-1 in its last six games (with road wins at Connecticut, 70-61, and at DePaul, 95-71, included in that run), comes into this game off a 60-56 win over 17th-ranked Marquette and is meeting a down-and-out Seton Hall team that is 0-9 in its last nine games, 1-13 in its last 14 with its only win in that span a 55-47 home win over a bad South Florida team on a night the Pirates hit a rare 52.5% of its field goals. Villanova is at the top of its game, has recently specialized in a lock-down defense, and should have its way tonight.