12-20-13

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RTG Sports
NBA
Brooklyn Nets @ Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers +6*

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Al DeMarco
10 Dime NBA Release
Dallas Mavs

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Jeffrey James / Youwinnow
NBA
#809 Charlotte +6 (7:35 est)
The Bobcats have covered 9 of their last 11 road games and 8 of their last 9 against the Central
Division and not to mention the underdog in this series has covered 9 of the last 13. Just don't
see how the Pistons can be this big of a favorite here against a team that is hungry for a road
win and has some awesome ATS numbers going for it here

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Dr. Ed Meyer NBA Sides
double-dime bet - 813 TOR 6.0 (-110) vs 814 DAL
Possible upset. MTi's FORECAST: Toronto 94 DALLAS 92

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Erin Rynning 20*

Rockets

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Sammy P 20*

Jets

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Indian Cowboy's Picks For College Basketball


3-Unit Play. #837. Take Nebraska Omaha +15.5 over Minnesota (Friday @ 9pm est).

I know, hold your nose. Nebraska Omaha will be up for this game and this young program has really shown promise quickly. This is a team that won 11 games with Derrin Hansen at the helm and this year in his 3rd year has already posted 8 wins. And to this school's credit, for such a young program to lose by just 8 points to Iowa who is a top 20 power ranking team on the road, or lose to UNLV a top 100 team on the road by 3 points, or lose to Drake who is a top 110 team on the road by 8 points is really impressive. So after facing the likes of Iowa, UNLV and Drake, this team has lost by no more than 8 points to anyone all year which is impressive. And, I think the Iowa contest was considerably tougher than this contest will be. I think Minnesota will have their hands absolutely full today with Nebraska Omaha. I like Coach Hansen's team to give this team fits and Minnesota to have trouble from the start here as I would not be surprised if this is similar to the Arlington+17.5 a couple days ago as this is likely to be a close game. This is a great public fade to boot as the Mavericks of Nebraska Omaha are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games and the Gophers of Minnesota are 4-9 ATS when facing teams with a winning record.


Indian Cowboy's Picks For NBA Basketball


3-Unit Play. #804. Take Cleveland Cavaliers -8.5 over Milwaukee Bucks (Friday @ 7:35pm est).

Friday Night in Cleveland with a Cavs team that has revenge from an earlier November loss to this Bucks team by a score of 109-104. Combine that with Cleveland starting to play on the up tick covering 7 of their last 8 contests and the Cavs traditionally do well with revenge games (see the Heat game which we took them a few days back). This is a team that comes off back to back losses and looks to avoid 3 straight, combine that with the ability to beat the Knicks by 15 at home and the Clippers by 6, it's not that far fetched to think this Cavs team can step up today with revenge to avoid losing 3 straight. Note, this team beat the Bulls at home by 10 points as well as a Coach Brown team relies heavily on defense and after giving up 109 points to this team on the road, look for them to have a better performance here. The Bucks are 8-17 ATS thus far this year, 1-5 ATS when facing teams with a winning percentage of less than 40% and the Cavs to their credit are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games as well.


Indian Cowboy's Picks For NHL Hockey


3-Unit Play. #6. Take Under 5 Goals New York Islanders vs. NY Rangers (Friday @ 7pm est).

Whenever these two teams hook up it always seems like a competitive game and a defensive battle at that. The Under has played out the last 3 times these two rivals have played and 4 of 5 times overall. The line is a bit odd on the total considering that the Rangers have given up their fair share of goals all season long but I believe it is set this low to trap the public a bit. In a rivalry contest, a decent public fade on Friday Night with both teams coming off losses sets up for a decent under here. The Islanders have played to the Under in their last 5 contests against the East and the Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams. Look for a strong effort both squads today as goals will likely be tough to come by. This game likely has the touches of a 2-1 contest this eveing.

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Sports Cash System Play of The Day for Today: 12/20
NCAA College Basketball





UC Santa Barbara +3 Utah State
(Spread Bet)
Overall Record: 186-166

(System Record: 186-6, Lost last 2 games)

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The Hammer

100* COLLEGE BASKETBALL WINNER
#820 Wyoming -1.5 9:00 EST

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Chris Jordan

1000 Heat -10.5

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Intpicks

1* Indiana U.
1* Portland U.
1* Under Heat

Free play Wyoming

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Ken Thomson (21-5 Last 26 CBB Plays) - Cal Santa Barbara

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RTG Sports

Ended up 2-0 last night with our Halftime Plays, and looking to keep up the momentum going into the weekend.

Brooklyn Nets @ Philadelphia 76ers

Ok, this game has stinker written all over it, but I believe there is value with the home team tonight for a few reasons. Brooklyn has been slowly showing signs of improvement now that they are getting healthy, and Philadelphia has been a mess with Williams out, and now Thaddeus Young is adding his own drama with trade talks. So why back the 76ers? Let's dig a little deeper.

This will be a sandwich game for both teams. Brooklyn travels to Philadelphia for just this game, only to head right back home to face the Pacers. The 76ers came home from Brooklyn where they were demolished to face this team again, but will head back on the road to take on the Bucks in their next game. As mentioned, the Nets destroyed Philadelphia in their last meeting at home, and have Indiana to prepare for after this 1-game road trip. Could they possibly be looking ahead to their big home showdown against the Pacers? Hmmm

Meanwhile, the 76ers have been at home waiting for this rematch with 4 days of rest. Philadelphia will not be looking ahead to anyone, and you can bet they have revenge on their minds after being embarrassed in that blowout loss to the Nets a few days ago. Regardless of whether or not Young requested a trade, he is a 76er for now. Also, there is a good possibility Michael Carter-Williams will be playing tonight. He is listed as questionable, but he should be on the floor for this game.

The line is currently at 6 points favoring the road team. Really? Brooklyn seems to be getting it together, and Philadelphia has been inconsistent, but the situations here are steering me towards the team with more motivation tonight. I will take this home dog and all those points. Let's keep grinding .....

Philadelphia 76ers +6*

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NBA

Friday, December 20

Game of the day: Houston Rockets at Indiana Pacers

Houston Rockets at Indiana Pacers (-6.5, 195)

The Indiana Pacers are staring at their longest losing streak and are showing some cracks in their NBA-best defense. The Houston Rockets, who own the NBA’s second-best scoring offense, will take aim at those cracks when they visit the Pacers on Friday. Indiana had a win in hand over the rival Miami Heat on Wednesday before a breakdown in the last few minutes handed them back-to-back losses for the first time this season.

Indiana was outscored 12-2 in the final minutes at Miami to suffer a 97-94 loss but quickly turned the page to focus on the Rockets at practice on Thursday. “I don’t look at their record,” coach Frank Vogel said of Houston. “I look at them as a championship contender. … They’re very capable of putting it all together to beat a team that comes out of the West.” The Rockets surround Dwight Howard with 3-point shooters and drive-and-kick specialists and will see how that style plays against a pair of big front lines in their two-game trip through Indiana and Detroit.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, CSN Houston, FSN Indiana

POWER RANKINGS: Rockets (-10.5) - Pacers (-14.3) + Home Court (-3.0) = Pacers -6.8

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (17-9, 14-11-1 ATS): Houston has traded wins and losses over the last five games but is coming off a 109-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday in which Howard went for 23 points and nine rebounds while appearing to have little issue with the Bulls’ frontcourt. “We have to make sure we play our style of basketball, especially against teams that want to grind you to a pulp,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. That style includes pushing the pace and not letting teams like Chicago and Indiana get set in a half-court defense, and running Howard and James Harden through a series of pick-and-rolls.

ABOUT THE PACERS (20-5, 17-8-0 ATS): Indiana leads the NBA in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 90.2 points, but is allowing 98.3 points while going 4-4 over the last eight contests. The Pacers defense was missing a key component for long stretches on Wednesday with center Roy Hibbert dealing with foul problems, and Hibbert is struggling to averages of six points and three rebounds in the last two games. “It’ll be a tough game against the best center in the league right now,” Hibbert told reporters of the meeting with Howard. “He’s going to be a handful, I just have to keep him out of easy points and no easy dunks for him.”

TRENDS:

* Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Indiana.
* Under is 15-7 in the last 22 meetings.
* Rockets are 2-7 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Rockets are 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings in Indiana.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. The Pacers have taken three straight in the series and took the two meetings last season by an average of 9.5 points.

2. Houston G Jeremy Lin (back) missed the last two games but returned to practice on Thursday and is expected back on Friday.

3. Indiana F Danny Granger (calf) is expected to make his season debut and will come off the bench.

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NCAAB

Friday, December 20

Wyoming won 59-56 at SMU LY; Mustangs were 0-5 from arc in that game- both teams shot 52%+ in low possession (60) game. SMU is 9-2 with one win (Texas A&M on neutral floor) vs team ranked higher than #176. Cowboys haven't beaten anyone ranked higher than #196; their last two games (1-1) were decided by total of 4 points. SMU is holding opponents to 37.8% inside arc, #1 in country.

Cal-Riverside is 2-6 vs D-I teams, with four losses by 4 or less points; UCR turns ball over 22% of time, makes just 29.4% from arc, 61.9% on foul line; they lost 59-52 at UIC LY, making 4-17 from arc. UIC is 3-6 vs D-I teams, with two losses to teams ranked #275 or lower- teams are shooting 54.8% inside arc vs UIC. Big West home favorites are 6-10.

Jacksonville State is 3-8 vs D-I teams, with only win vs #314 Alabama State; Gamecocks are making 44.3% inside arc, 64.6% on line- beat team they've beaten is #290 Central Michigan. Ark-Little Rock is 1-6 vs D-I teams, with only win in OT vs #245 Southern; Trojans are shooting 29% from arc, 40.5% inside it- their eFG% is in bottom ten in country.

Oddity: Troy is 1-6 vs D-I teams; they scored exactly 52 points in each of last four losses; Trojans turn ball over 20.6% of time, make 26.5% on arc, 62.1% from line. Western Illinois was outscored 25-7 on line in 68-52 loss at Utah State last nite, home team in 6-team event. Troy lost last three games, is 3-6 vs D-I teams, shooting just 27.2% from outside arc.

UCSB is 6-3 vs #36 schedule in country, winning last three games; they are 2-3 vs top 100 teams, losing 7-8-13 points to Colorado-Utah State- UCLA. Gauchos make 43.6% from arc, 56.2% inside it- they used two guys more than 28:00 last night, surviving Trpy's 12-28 shooting on arc in 57-54 win. Host Utah State was 10-21 from arc in 71-64 win Nov 16 at Thunderdome- they led by 10 at half, coasted home.

Portland is 6-4 vs #340 schedule; they had awful home loss to Montana State in last game; Pilots are 5-2 vs teams outside top 200. Bradley lost three in row, five of last six games; they're making just 26.1% from arc, turning ball over 20.1% of time. WCC neutral court favorites are 3-4 vs spread; MVC neutral court underdogs are 3-4. This tournament is being held at South Point casino's arena; good Steak 'n Shake in the casino.

Princeton is 8-1 with only loss by 3 at Butler; Tigers won last four road games since that loss. Tigers make 38.9% from arc, are #2 team in nation on defensive boards- they've got two top 100 wins (Bucknell/Penn St). . Ivy League underdogs are 12-10 vs spread. 8-1 Pacific's only loss was at Oregon by 23- they've won games at Nevada/Utah State, tough places.

Georgia Southern is 3-6 vs D-I teams, with no wins vs anyone ranked higher than #338; home side won their last four games with Georgia St, with both losses here by 20 points, both wins at home in OT. State lost five of last six D-I games; they're #2 in country at protecting ball, their last four D-I games were all decided by 6 or less points, or in overtime.

Omaha lost by only 8 at Iowa, 3 at UNLV, won at Nevada, so they are not bad; Mavericks scored 86 ppg in winning last three D-I games- they force turnovers 20.8% of time, playing #8 tempo. Minnesota is forcing turnovers 20.4% of time; they're 6-0 vs teams ranked outside top 150, with all six wins by 10+. Big Dozen home favorites are 26-19 vs spread.