2-25-14

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Sports Wagers Soccer

UEFA - Champions League
Manchester United +125 @ OLYMPIAKOS

3:45 PM EST. It has been a difficult first season in charge of Manchester United for David Moyes and no one said it was going to be easy following in Alex Ferguson's footsteps. To say that has proven true would be an understatement, as Moyes finds his United side well off the pace in the Premier League and out of both domestic cup competitions. Nine points behind fourth placed Liverpool with eleven games to go in the league means Champions League involvement for United next season is looking ever increasingly unlikely. MU’s only hope of qualification for next year's competition might be to win this year's one but few would be backing them to achieve that. That being said, United travel to Greece with the intention of beginning the knock-out phase of their Champions League campaign on the right foot. Moyes's side won their group and have the benefit of the second leg at home but Old Trafford isn't the fortress it once was and United can't afford to be complacent in believing they can mop up any damage at home.
Olympiakos are having an outstanding season domestically sitting a massive twenty points clear at the top of the division and being unbeaten in 26 league games this season. However, the step up in competition from the Greek domestic league to Champions League is night and day and they'll need to be at their best to get a result at home. Their task made harder by the absence of experienced Argentine forward and top scorer Javier Saviola as well as Kostas Mitroglou who was sold in the January transfer window to Fulham and is now playing his trade in the Premier League. Both players accounted for half of Olympiakos's 10 goals in the group stage and their absence will be felt. United will be without the cup-tied Juan Mata but they have Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie fit and healthy to lead the attack.

There has been much talk from the Olympiakos camp of United feeling the pressure heading into this first leg, but ultimately the Premier League champions (although not for much longer) have the greater quality on the field and will look to take the sting out of the game early. As the match develops Olympiakos will find life tougher going forward without Saviola and Mitroglou and the difference on the night may well be Rooney and van Persie going the other way. There has been little for United fans to cheer about this season but we're backing them to go back to Old Trafford with a lead after a win in Greece.

Our Pick
Manchester United +125 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.50)

Last 30 Days	2	3	0.00	-2.00
Season to Date	5	7	0.00	-4.16

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LT Profits

Xavier +6½

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River City Sharps

3 Units Wyoming -8.5

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Maddux

San Jose St

1-0 Yesterday

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Don Best Consensus

New Mexico

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DOC SPORTS
CBB
4* St. Josephs -3.5

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Ecks and Bacon

Ben lee won in college basketball on Monday with Oaklahoma State -11/TCU.

For Tuesday E&B are going with a three team five point teaser in college basketball.

(1) Saint Johns from -6 to -1/Xavier

(2) Virginia Tech from 22.5 to 27.7/Duke

(3)Wake Forest from +2.5 to +7.5/Clemson

Ecks and Bacon is 1-0 +$50 for week eighteen and 57-76-2 -$1653.

All E&B selections will be for $50 unless noted

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GC: NBA Play

Tuesday card has 3 Big College Hoops plays led by the 22-1 Big 12 Game of The Month and a Big Blowout side with a 25-1 Indicator. NBA Which has been at or near the top al season has a 100% NBA Totals system that is perfect since 1995. Free NBA Play below.



On Tuesday the free NBA Power system play is on the Indiana Pacers. Game 506 at 7;05 eastern. The Pacers are a much better team here and are at home against an inept LA Team. The Lakers fit one of our solid league wide systems that plays against rested road dogs of 10 or more points with a total that is 190 or higher if they are coming off a game where they failed to cover as a home dog of 4 or less and are now taking on a team that scored 100 or more as a road favorite and had 15 or less turnovers. These road teams rarely cover in this system. The Lakers have failed to cove 6 of the last 8 as a road dog of more than 12 and have lost and failed to cover 3 of the last 4 in the series. The Pacers should coast here as they have covered in 4 of the last 5 as a home favorite from -12.5 to -15 and 7 of the last 9 on Tuesday. The Pacers will likely coast in this one. On Tuesday we have the 22-1 Big 12 Game of the Month and a Big Blowout play with a 25-1 Indicator. In the NBA We have been at or near the top all season and tonight the lead play is a Perfect 5* Totals system that dates to 1995. Jump on and cash out on Ruby Tuesday. For the free play take the Indiana Pacers. GC

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NCAAB

Tuesday, February 25

Iowa (-8.5) beat Minnesota 94-73 at home Jan 19, its 4th win in last five series games; Hawkeyes lost four of last five visits here, with the win by 4 in '12. Iowa won/covered its last three road games, by 26-7-12 points; they are 3-0 as road favorites. Minnesota lost six of its last eight games; they're 2-0 as home dogs- underdogs are 6-1 vs spread in its home games in league. Big Dozen home underdogs of 5 or less points are 6-9.

Kansas State (-9) beat Texas Tech 66-58 at home Jan 28, holding Tech to 34% from floor; Wildcats won last eight games with Tech, winning its last three visits to Lubbock by 19-22-9 points. Big X home underdogs of 5 or less points are 8-4 vs spread. Tech is 9-3 vs spread in its last dozen games, but lost last three games, by 6-1-22 points. K-State lost their last six road games- their only road win was at TCU.

St John's won five of last six games, is 8-1 vs spread in last nine; they got beat 70-60 (+5) at Xavier in Big East opener Dec 31, shooting 26% inside arc, 7-14 outside it. Red Storm won/covered its last four games at home, winning three by 15+. Big East home favorites of 7 or less points are 17-11 vs spread. Xavier is 3-5 in its last eight games after starting 5-1 in its first Big East season- they're 1-4 as a road underdog.

St Joe's (+5) won 60-57 at Dayton Jan 29, holding on after leading by 15 with 10:07 left. Flyers lost last four visits here by 14-6-1-14 points, but they're 5-3 in last eight series games overall. A-13 home favorites of 5 or less points are 12-13 vs spread. St Joe's won six of its last seven games, is 2-2 as home favorite, with only one home win by more than 9 points. Dayton won five of last six games, is 1-1 as a road underdog.

Clemson (-7.5) beat Wake Forest 61-53 Jan 18, outscoring Deacons 18-7 on foul line in 5th straight series win. Tigers are 4-4 on ACC road, 2-0 as road favorites, winning road games by 2-7-4-8 points. Wake lost seven games in row, losing by 33 in Chapel Hill Saturday; Deacons lost three in row at home, by 10-9-7 points, after winning first three. ACC home underdogs of 4 or less points are 4-11 vs spread.

Wright State (+4.5) won 62-45 at Valparaiso Jan 10, in brickfest where both teams shot 33% inside arc, just Raiders' second win in last eight series games; Wright won three of last four games overall, with last three games decided by total of 9 points- they're 3-3 as a home favorite. Valpo won eight of last 11 games, is 3-3 as road dogs. Horizon home favorites of 5 or less points are 4-17 against the spread.

Florida is 14-0 in SEC, 2-3 as road favorite, with no road wins by more than 11 points; their last two wins were by total of 9 points. Gators are 5-1 in last six games with Vanderbilt, losing four of last six visits here. Vandy won three of last four home games, with last four decided by 6 or less points- they're 2-3 as home underdogs. SEC home underdogs of 4+ points are 8-4 vs spread. Florida covered twice in its last seven games as the favorite.

Drake (-7) scored 55 points in second half, beat Evansville 94-66 (-7) in MVC opener Jan 1; Bulldogs won five of last six series games, but lost seven of eight Valley road games, with only win at SIU. Aces lost seven of last games, losing three of last four at home- they're 1-1-1 as a home favorite. MVC home teams are 9-8 vs spread in games where spread was 3 or less points. Drake covered twice in six games as a road dog.

Milwaukee (-1.5) won 67-63 at UIC Jan 16, after trailing by 3 at half; Panthers lost last three games, are 2-3 as home favorites, winning home games by 6-4-22 points. Flames lost last 17 games, are 0-14 in Horizon, 5-2 as road dogs-- visitors are 11-3 vs spread in their Horizon games. UIC lost last five visits here, three by 5 or less points. Horizon home favorites of more than 5 points are 15-12 vs spread.

Seton Hall won seven of last eight games with DePaul, beating Demons 86-69 (-8) at home Jan 25; it was 45-25 at half. Pirates lost four of last five games, three of last four at home- they lost at Creighton by a point Sunday. DePaul lost last ten games, is 2-5 as a home dog, with five of last six losses by 12+ points- they lost last game in OT to Marquette. Big Eaat home underdogs are 10-13 against the spread.

Indiana (+4) upset Wisconsin 75-72 at home Jan 14, its first win in last 13 games vs Badgers, but Hoosiers are 3-6 since that game, 1-3-1 as dog on road, losing away games by 3-5-5-6-18 points, winning at Penn St., Northwestern. Indiana lost its last eight visits to Madison, last six by 7+ points. Badgers won won its last five games, but failed to cover last five home games. Big Dozen double digit home favorites are 12-8 vs spread.

Georgia (+11) won 70-64 in OT in SEC opener at Mizzou Jan 8; Dawgs were down 5 in OT, won despite going 13-26 on line. Missouri lost six of last seven road games; they're 2-4 in games with spread of 3 or less. Georgia is 6-1 at home in SEC, winning last three by 13-1-12- they are 5-1 vs spread in SEC games with spread of 3 or less points. SEC home teams are 19-10-1 vs spread in games where spread was 3 or less.

New Mexico (+2) won 78-65 at Utah State Jan 28; Lobos won/covered last three games, cruising past Rebels/Aztecs in two sharp efforts last week- they've covered four of last five home games, eight of last 10 tilts overall. Mountain West double digit home favorites are 8-11 vs spread. Utah State lost last three games, covered three of last ten; they're 2-3 as road underdogs, losing away games by 1-8-4-20-17-15 points.

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NBA

Tuesday, February 25

Bank Shots: NBA's weekly betting news and notes

For the week of Feb. 17-23

Hottest ATS - Miami Heat (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS)

The Heat came into the week facing three straight statement games - including back-to-back showdowns with their opponents from the 2011 and 2012 NBA Finals, and an encounter with one of the top defensive teams in the league. All Miami did is earn a double-digit victory in Dallas, wallop the Thunder in Oklahoma City and return home to cruise past the Chicago Bulls despite playing without superstar LeBron James. The Heat are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine overall and expect James (broken nose) back this week.

Coldest ATS - Oklahoma City Thunder (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS)

The Thunder's week was short and anything but sweet, as they welcomed back point guard Russell Westbrook with a pair of clunkers against the Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. Oklahoma City struggled to do much of anything against the Heat, losing by 22 after going in as a three-point favorite. The Thunder ran into the opposite problem in an eight-point loss to the Clippers - they had no trouble scoring, but allowed Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Co. to hang a whopping 125 points on them.

Best Over play - Los Angeles Clippers (1-2 SU, 3-0 O/U)

No matter how much the over-under rises for Clippers games, Lob City continues to deliver on the "Over". It had a perfect week coming out of the All-Star break, losing a 113-103 decision to the San Antonio Spurs, dropping a 102-96 decision to the Memphis Grizzlies and combining with Oklahoma City to score 242 points in Sunday's shootout win. Chris Paul looks sensational in his return to injury, while Blake Griffin is averaging better than 30 points per game so far in February.

Best Under play - New Orleans Pelicans (0-3 SU, 0-3 O/U)

The Pelicans were expected to be one of the higher-scoring units in the NBA coming into the season, with three talented guards and a dangerous froncourt in Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson. That hasn't panned out due in part to injuries to Anderson and Jrue Holiday, and things reached a new low last week with New Orleans failing to break 93 points in any of its three losses. Davis has shown to be a star in the making, but the secondary scoring just hasn't been there of late.

Surveying the schedule

Don't look now, but the Golden State Warriors - yep, the Warriors - are in the top 10 in the NBA in fewest points allowed (98.6). That new-found commitment to the other end of the court will be put to the test, as the Warriors open a six-game Eastern Conference road trip Monday night against the Detroit Pistons. With games in Chicago, New York and Toronto to follow, Golden State could find the sledding tough before wrapping things up next week against Indiana and Boston.

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NBA

Tuesday, February 25

Knicks' guard Felton arrested on gun charges

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton was arrested early Tuesday morning on three counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

Felton is expected to be arraigned on charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second, third and fourth degrees. The charges stem from Felton possessing an unregistered gun.

A Knicks spokesperson said the team had no immediate comment on the issue. The Knicks next game is Thursday at Miami.



The Magic can't do it on the road

The Orlando Magic have been pretty awful this year, but they have been even worse when you just look at their road record against the spread. The Magic are 9-20 ATS on the road this season, but they have not covered a road game since Dec. 16.

The Magic will get 9.5 points when the face the Wizards Tuesday.



Raptors and Cavaliers open with lowest line Tuesday

The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers open with the lowest line on the NBA schedule Tuesday. In the last four meetings between these teams they have gone Under all four times and averaged 194.25 ppg.

The Raptors and Cavs open with an O/U of 192.5.

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NCAAB

Tuesday, February 25

Florida tops in the nation, not at the betting window

Florida has finally ascended to the top of the national rankings, and all the Gators had to do was win 19 games in a row to get there. Syracuse’s two-game skid allowed the Gators (25-2 SU) to take the top spot.

However, as impressive as Florida’s SU run has been, the results at the betting window haven’t matched up. The Gators are just 11-11 ATS this year, and during their 19-game win streak, they’ve cashed just eight times, including ATS losses in their last two starts, against Auburn and at Mississippi.



New Mexico sizzles ATS in last 10 games

New Mexico is coming off a statement victory over then-No. 6 San Diego State on Saturday, ripping the Aztecs 58-44 as a 4-point home chalk. But the Lobos have been making statements on the floor and at the betting window for the past five weeks.

Entering a Jan. 18 contest at Fresno State, New Mexico was 12-4 SU and a meager 3-9 ATS. Since then, the Lobos have gone on a 9-1 SU and ATS spree.



Duke faces its biggest spread since the New Year

The Duke Blue Devils will face a spread larger than 20 points for the first time since Dec. 16. The Blue Devils are 2-3 against the spread when it is 20 or more points this season.

Duke will welcome the Virginia Tech Hokies as a 21.5-point home favorite.



Minnesota opening as a small home-dog against Iowa

The Minnesota Golden Gophers, who have been stellar at home, are only getting 2.5 points against the No.19 Iowa Hawkeyes. In the past three meetings between the Gophers and the Hawkeyes, Minnesota averaged 59.6 points per game while Iowa averaged 76 ppg.

When these teams met earlier this year, Minnesota lost 94-73.


Five struggling SU teams thriving ATS

If you look at the top 10 teams in the nation against the spread (ATS), you'll notice that a team doesn’t have to be lights out straight-up (SU) in order to be a good bet.

Five of the top 10 ATS teams already have 10 or more SU losses, including Cleveland State (19-10 SU), which is tied with Wichita State for first with a 19-6-1 ATS mark. Tulsa (15-12 SU, 17-7 ATS), Nebraska (16-10 SU, 17-8 ATS), Pepperdine (15-13 SU, 17-8 ATS) and Portland (15-13 SU, 18-9-1 ATS) have all lost 10 or more SU while still getting the job done at the betting window.

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Cappers Access

Texas Tech -1
Vanderbilt +8
Missouri +1.5

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Big Al
Opinion in NHL - Carolina Hurricanes

Pass in Hoops

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Wunderdog Sports Free Pick

Game: Utah State Aggies @ New Mexico Lobos
Time: Tuesday 02/25 9:00 PM Eastern
Pick: New Mexico -11.5 (-105) at 5Dimes

The New Mexico Lobos have an NCAA Tourney caliber team ready this season. Over the past eight years, this team has been one of the best teams at getting the money. They have posted a stellar 127-87-3 ATS mark, good for getting the money 59.3% of the time on the blind. That goes up to 67-43-3 ATS at home at The Pit where they are very tough to beat. Bring them into a game as a big chalk from -9 or more and they are 46-24-2 ATS, covering an amazing 65.7% of all games. Utah State has had some strong teams over the years, but this is not one of them. They are struggling right now, losing three straight, and against strong teams (those better than .600), they have fallen hard at 1-6 ATS in their last seven. Lay the points here and play on New Mexico.