If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Game: Michigan at Ohio State (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Ohio State -165 (moneyline) at 5Dimes
The Ohio State Buckeyes were a perfect 15-0 to start the season, and then the wheels fell off. The Buckeyes' ensuing six games saw them go a miserable 1-5. They have since gotten things back together, and own a three game winning streak as they take on Michigan tonight at home. Michigan is now the team in question. After winning 10 straight games, the Wolverines have fallen prey to the loss column in two of their last three contests. They have fallen hard, as they have lost each by double-digits. The Buckeyes seem to be the "healed" team here while Michigan has to be feeling a loss of confidence right now. This game could be close, but the home team has the winning attitude, and is playing better right now. Play Ohio State on the moneyline.
NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers
NBA TV has a great matchup from the west coast late Tuesday night when the
top seeds in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder (41-12, 31-22
ATS), pay a visit to the third seeded Portland Trail Blazers (36-15, 28-23
ATS) at the Moda Center at 10:05 ET. The Thunder bounced back from an upset
loss at Orlando by trouncing the Knicks 112-100 on Sunday. The Trail Blazers
are returning home from a four-game road trip where they went 2-2, a trip
that ended with a 117-110 win over the depleted Timberwolves in Minnesota on
Saturday.
This is actually a big game for both teams as the Blazers have won two of
the first three meetings between these clubs this season including one win at
Oklahoma City, and this marks the final regular season meeting this year.
Of course, that becomes a moot point for the Thunder if they maintain their
lead in the conference, which stood at three games over the second seeded San
Antonio Spurs and four games over these Blazers entering play on Monday.
However, the Blazers are apparently not going away like many expected and the
last thing Oklahoma City wants to do is allow Portland to clinch the
tiebreaker here if things come down to that, so the Thunder can be expected to
bring their best effort. And, with no disrespect to the Indiana Pacers and Miami
Heat, the Thunder at their best could be the best team in the NBA due to
battling the stronger teams in the Western Conference night in and night out,
and they are extremely well balanced ranking sixth in the NBA in points
scored and fifth in offensive efficiency, as well as seventh in the league in
points against and third in defensive efficiency.
Now the Blazers have always been tough at home and they are 19-5 here in
Portland this season. Luck has also been on the Blazers' side though as they
have avoided serious injuries and have been able to start the same five
players in every game this season. That is crucial to the Blazers because they
have one of the weakest benches in the NBA, ranking second to last in bench
points this season after ranking dead last in that category last season. With
the starters carrying that enormous load, the Blazers lead the NBA in
scoring at 108.0 points per game and they are second in three-point shooting at
38.1 percent. The difference between these teams though is on the defensive
end, as Portland is lax in that department ranking 27th of 30 NBA teams in
points against at 103.5 points per game, and having to deal with Kevin Durant
without the freedom to substitute much in an attempt to rotate the players
defending him is never an easy task.
The Thunder are 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 head-to-head meetings. The Thunder
are also 20-7 ATS in their last 27 road games vs. teams with winning home
records and 7-0 ATS in their last seven road games vs. teams with a home
winning percentage of greater than .600. The Trail Blazers are 7-15 ATS in their
last 22 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game and
2-5 ATS in their last seven games vs. teams with winning straight up
records.
PICK: PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS-1
CBB S ILLINOIS at WICHITA ST
Play Against - Home favorites of 10 or more points (WICHITA ST) average 3PT shooting team (32-36.5%) against a poor 3PT shooting team (<=32%), good ball handling team (<=14.5 TO's) against a poor pressure defense (<=14.5 TO's) after 15+ games
201-120 since 1997. ( 62.6% 69.0 units )
16-12 this year. ( 57.1% 2.8 units )
CBB XAVIER at BUTLER
Play On - Road favorites vs. the money line (XAVIER) bad pressure defensive team - forcing <=12 turnovers/game, after a game committing 8 or less turnovers
107-34 since 1997. ( 75.9% 46.9 units )
22-16 this year. ( 57.9% -11.8 units )
CBB FLORIDA at TENNESSEE
Play Against - A home team vs. the 1rst half line (TENNESSEE) after scoring 45 points or more in the first half last game, with just one or fewer starters returning from last season
46-18 over the last 5 seasons. ( 71.9% 26.2 units )
10-6 this year. ( 62.5% 3.4 units )
NBA MIAMI at PHOENIX
Play Under - Home teams where the total is 200 to 209.5 after going over the total by 48 or more points total in their last ten games, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team
52-22 over the last 5 seasons. ( 70.3% 27.8 units )
9-10 this year. ( 47.4% -2.0 units )
NBA DALLAS at CHARLOTTE
Play Against - Home underdogs vs. the money line (CHARLOTTE) off a cover where the team lost the game straight up as an underdog, with a losing record
157-49 over the last 5 seasons. ( 76.2% 62.0 units )
16-6 this year. ( 72.7% 4.8 units )
NBA OKLAHOMA CITY at PORTLAND
Play On - Road underdogs vs. the 1rst half line (OKLAHOMA CITY) explosive offensive team - scoring 103+ points/game on the season against opponent after a combined score of 205 points or more 2 straight games
129-72 since 1997. ( 64.2% 49.8 units )
13-9 this year. ( 59.1% 3.1 units )
Comment