Service Plays Monday 12/28/20

[dawggy]

OSKEIM SPORT


Game: (837) Michigan State at (838) Minnesota
Date/Time: Dec 28 2020 8:00 PM EST
Betting Line Provider: Consensus Line
Play Rating: 4%
Play: Minnesota +3.0 (-110)

Minnesota was one of the most underrated teams in the nation last season because the Golden Gophers finished the regular season with a losing record. However, Minnesota played the most difficult schedule in program history and became the first team in KenPom history to finish in his Top 30 despite owning a sub.-500 record. The Gophers played sixteen games against ten Big Ten Conference teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament last year and their non-conference slate was equally challenging.

Despite losing the best player in program history in center Daniel Oturu, head coach Richard Pitino brought in three talented transfers who have paid immediate dividends. Drake junior Liam Robbins and Utah junior Both Gach have cracked the starting lineup and are projected to be future NBA draft picks. Pitino also welcomed back junior point guard Marcus Carr, who returned from the NBA draft process and will be playing in the Association next year.
Minnesota is averaging 84.7 points per game this season against teams that would combine to allow 71.5 points per game to mediocre offensive squads. The Gophers are a perfect 8-0 SU at home this season (6-2 ATS) where they are averaging 87.1 points per game. The Gophers should have success against a subpar Michigan State defense that has been 0.7 points per game worse than average in 2020 (74.7 points per game to teams that would combine to average 74.0 points per game against a mediocre defense).

The matchup is favorable to the Gophers as they are 6-0 ATS at home versus up-tempo teams averaging 62-plus shots per game over the last three seasons. Michigan State arrives off back-to-back SU and ATS losses, which is significant in that the Spartans are 2-9 ATS after failing to cover the point spread in two or more consecutive ATS losses since 2018. With the home team standing at 11-4 ATS in the previous fifteen meetings in this series, grab the points with Minnesota and invest with confidence.

[Duncan]

MIDWEST CAPPER

Houston Rockets/Denver Nuggets Over 223

[Duncan]

National Sports Service
4* Wisconsin -9.5 over Maryland (NCAAB)
3* New England +7 over Buffalo (NFL)

[onetrikpony]

Allen Eastman
2*Det under 223
5* Lakers -3

[onetrikpony]

Doug Upstone
6* Nets -6.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Scott Spreitzer

6 - Unit Play: Take 837 Michigan St. -2.5 over Minnesota (8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

Tom Izzo's troops have dropped back-to-back games and we expect a bounce back on Monday. The Spartans will face a Gophers' squad with impressive wins over St. Louis and Iowa in its last two games. Having said that, they trailed Iowa by a 7-8 point margin well into the second half before two things made the difference. The Hawkeyes crashed and burned and Western Michigan-transfer Ben Johnson was the outlier of the week. Johnson had averaged 6 ppg through his first seven games for Minnesota, making 20% of his 3-point attempts. Johnson scored 26 against Iowa and made 8 of 9 treys. Most of all, we have Michigan State power rated a few points above the spread. Minny enters having covered just 3 of its last 12 off a SU win and the chalk is on a 7-0 ATS run in this series. I'm laying the points with Michigan State on Monday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Vernon Croy
6-Unit Play - #832 Wisconsin -9 -110 over Maryland (Monday, December 28, 2020 at 7:00 PM)

(Line available at William Hill, WynnBet and Circa)

Take Wisconsin ATS as my top college basketball pick for Monday night. This pick falls into one my top college basketball systems and Wisconsin is hands-down the superior team here especially at home. Wisconsin is the superior team defensively holding opponents to just 59.6 points per game this season and 56.1 points per game at home with opponents shooting just 35.3% against them. Maryland has shot just 46.9% as a team from the lion on the road this season and just 41.7% overall in their only 2 road games this season. Wisconsin has shot 47% as a team at home this season averaging 79 points per game which is 19 points per game more than Maryland has averaged on the road. Wisconsin had shot 43.8% as a team from beyond the arc at home this season and 76.2% from the line. This is a Wisconsin team that just beat Michigan State by 9 points and I expect them to take care of business against a Maryland team who lost by 16 points at Clemson and 3 points on Christmas at Purdue. Play Wisconsin ATS

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Alan Harris

7 Unit Play. Take #839/840 Northern Arizona vs Gonzaga Over 156.5 (9:00 PM, Monday, December 28)

Gonzaga has posted a 4-1 record to the over in their last five at home where they faced a team with a losing record on the road and they have gone an excellent 7-1 to the over in their last eight games where they faced a team with a winning % of .400 or lower. They have also gone up and over the total in 20 of their last 26 games following a straight up win by 20 points or more and they are a lights out 36-15 to the over in their last 51 off a straight up win overall. Throw in the fact that the Zags are also 16-5 to the over off a game where they scored 90 points or more along with the fact that they are 38-13 to the over in their last 51 games overall and that's where we'll have our play as we believe they are going to run like they have all season long. They've yet to allow an opponent to dictate the pace of a game and that's unlikely here as our numbers have them hitting the century mark, easily putting this one over the number in Spokane on Monday night.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Docs Sports

4 Unit Play. Take #831 Maryland +9 over Wisconsin (7p.m., Monday, December 28 FS1) Wisconsin is coming off an emotional win Thursday and Michigan State and it would not surprise me if a letdown occurred in this spot. They will win this game but if they are not shooting a high percentage from the arc, I do not see a double-digit blowout. Maryland is 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games played on Monday.

4 Unit Play. Take #837 Michigan State -2.5 over Minnesota (8p.m., Monday, December 28 BTN) These are the type of games Michigan State always seems to win over the coaching tenure of Tom Izzo. The Spartans have yet to win a conference game this year and this is an important game for them. Minnesota is coming off a miraculous win over Iowa and I believe they will come back down from that reality tonight. The favorite is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 games between Michigan State and Minnesota.

4 Unit Play. Take #840 Over 156.5 in Northern Arizona @ Gonzaga (9p.m., Monday, December 28) Huge line in this game and one would assume if Gonzaga is going to blow them out, they will come close to 100 points in this game. That would set up a strong angle for the over to hit. Gonzaga has a ton of angles favoring the over hitting like they have gone over the posted total in 21 of their last 26 home games.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Doug Upstone
5 Unit Play. Take #559 Brooklyn -6.5 over Memphis (7:35 p.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 28)

With Brooklyn having played and losing to Charlotte by two points yesterday, the expectations are that either Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving will sit this game out today, though that is not for certain in either case. My anticipation one will sit this one out and the spread IMO suggests that to be the case. Early returns suggest the Nets will be a very good offensive team by points scored and at the same time, Memphis is struggling on the defensive end. Yes, it is only two games, but the Grizzlies have allowed 126.5 PPG and with that the Nets' main strength, not sure how Memphis will overcome this. While one such player sitting is important, it's one game and bettors tend to overreact. Also, teams like the Nets off a road loss, in the first six games of the season, after closing out last season with four or more straight losses, are 36-14 ATS and they win by 10.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Allen Eastman

5 Unit Play. Take #550 L.A. Lakers (-3) over Portland (10 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

I will go with the Lakers. Los Angeles is healthy and playing great. They are coming off back-to-back blowout wins over Minnesota (-127-91) and Dallas (138-115). Portland is off to a slow start. They are 0-2 ATS in their two games and this is their first game on the road. The Lakers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games against Portland and had no problem taking care of the Blazers in the playoffs in August. This is an even better Lakers team now. Portland is just 1-5 ATS in its last six games and the Lakers are 6-1 ATS when playing the second game on back-to-back.

2-Unit Play. Take 'Under' 223.0 Detroit at Atlanta (7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

This total has already come down three points. The sharp money is on the 'under' in this one and I think that it will hit. The Hawks have gone 'under' in both of their games and this team is working harder on the defensive end. Detroit went 'under' in its first game. They went 'over' in their second game because of overtime. The 'under' is 5-2 in Atlanta's last seven games overall and I like them to go 'under' here.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Indian Cowboy

5 Unit Play. #545. Take Utah Jazz -8.5 over OKC Thunder (Monday @ 8:05pm est)

Note, Soccer is on a 14-4, 16-5 and 29-11 Run for +6500. We will run a Soccer Promo Code of "ICSOCCER365" until Tuesday at Midnight for those who want 25% off the Entire Season. We have 3 Bowl Selections that go off on Wednesday and we have a 7*CBB Selection that goes off tonight which we are excited about. Be sure to check the daily video of course for a Free Selection on some other CBB / NBA / MNF Game. Per this selection, we like the Jazz here to get it done over the Thunder. The Jazz had 18 turnovers last game, and they played like horse poop in their last contest against Minnesota and not only failed to cover the 9 points, but lost outright. Mike Conley specifically talked about not playing with a sense of urgency in that game which cost them to lose a game they should have won. OKC managed to win their first game despite shooting less than 30% from 3 point land against and I think they come back down to earth here. The Jazz beat the Blazers by 10 points earlier this year and I think that is the team you will see here rather than the team that laid a big egg against Minnesota. I think OKC was great against Charlotte, they have a new coach and they play hard to their credit, but I think the Jazz come out focused today. Remember, the Jazz were down by 15 at the half against Minnesota, I think they start this game fast, OKC will make its run but then the Jazz will pull away for a likely double-digit win here.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Docs Sports
1-Unit Play #542 Take Brooklyn -5.5 over Memphis (7 p.m. EST, Monday Dec 28)

The Nets are coming in on a back-to-back and are being punished too much for the fact by the oddsmakers. They lost to Charlotte last night, and we think this could be the best team in the NBA and they aren't going to lose many games this season, so we think they will bounce back nicely here. This is early in the season, so B2B's don't really matter that much, and we expect Brooklyn to bring some nice energy in a potential double-digit win.

3-Unit Play #543 Take Detroit +10 over Atlanta (7:30 p.m. EST, Monday Dec 28)

2-0 team against an 0-2 team, but this line is simply too big. Detroit will come to play tonight to give themselves the best chance to avoid going 0-3. This isn't a good team. But we are not convinced that the Hawks are good, either, as they have beat up on two mediocre teams to start the season. We had this line handicapped at 7.5, so we think there is some nice value here as we expect the Pistons to put up a fight and keep this one within double digits.

4-Unit Play #549 Take Portland +3.5 over LA Lakers (10 p.m. EST, Monday Dec 28)

One of the best bets and the strongest trends in the NBA since we began handicapping almost 20 years ago is the Blazers ATS against the Lakers. They have covered 21 of the last 19 meetings in LA, and no matter the strength of the teams, they always bring their A Game when playing the Lakers. The Lakers are on a B2B, Anthony Davis is banged up, and this team is always overrated by the oddsmakers. We think the Blazers can win this one outright.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Robert Ferringo

2 Unit Play. Take #827 UC-Santa Barbara (+1) over UC-Irvine (7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

Irvine hammered UCSB yesterday, winning 75-56. I'm looking for a bounce back effort from the Gauchos today, though. I still thinkt hey are the better, more experienced team. But they weren't ready to play yesterday, fell behind early, and were really never in that game. I don't think that Santa Barbara is going to shoot 3-for-25 (12%) from 3-point range again and I think that they will defend a bit tougher in the post.

2-Unit Play. Take #832 Wisconsin (-9) over Maryland (7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

The Badgers have been a wrecking ball over the last several weeks - every since their ridiculous loss to Marquette - and they have won five straight games all by nine points or more. They are coming off a convincing win over Michigan State and right now this looks like one of the best teams in the country. Maryland has lost a boat load of talent over the last two offseasons. They have a decent crop of role players but lack the top-end talent that they've had over the last several seasons. The Terps have dumped three of four and were blown out at Clemson and Rutgers, two teams on par with the Badgers. I think they will fade late in this one.

3-Unit Play. Take #836 Colorado State (-9) over Fresno State (8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

Fresno State has had all kinds of issues over the past month. They have only played two games because of coronavirus issues. Those two games have come against D-II competition, so they haven't been able to prepare for the start of conference play. The Bulldogs have played exactly one game - a 78-65 win over Fresno Pacific - in the last month. Colorado State got off to a late start to the year as well. But they have played three games over the last two weeks and have been able to get things in order. The Rams have four of five starters back from last year and a solid home court advantage. Colorado State hammered a better Fresno team in both meetings last year and has won three in a row in the series. I don't see anything that's going to stop them from doing it again.

1-Unit Play. Take #837 Michigan State (-2.5) over Minnesota (8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

I just don't trust Dickie Pitino. And after two really good wins over St. Louis and Iowa I think that the Golden Gophers are going to fall flat here at home. I also can't see Michigan State starting 0-3 in conference play. They didn't play poorly against Wisconsin in their loss on Friday; the Badgers just played better. I think the Spartans will clean up some things on the defensive end and they will find a way to get into the win column and back into the Big Ten fight here with a close, hard-fought four-point win.

1-Unit Play. Take 'Over' 138.5 Illinois State at Loyola-Chicago (7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

1-Unit Play. Take 'Over' 156.5 Northern Arizona at Gonzaga (9 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

2-Unit Play. 5-POINT TEASER: Take #832 Wisconsin (-4) over Maryland (7 p.m.) AND Take #836 Colorado State (-4) over Fresno State (8 p.m.)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Robert Ferringo

2-Unit Play. Take #542 Brooklyn (-5.5) over Memphis (7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

I'm looking for a bounce back effort here from the Nets after they fell flat yesterday against Charlotte. I don't see them dumping two games in a row here. I won't be surprised if Brooklyn decides to rest a starter or two here. But they have a deep team and I think that they will be fine. Memphis has not looked good at all in its two games and I don't expect things to go any better on the road here.

2-Unit Play. Take #545 Utah (-8.5) over Oklahoma City (8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28)

1-Unit Play. Take #547 Houston (+6.5) over Denver (9 p.m., Monday, December 28)

The Nuggets have limped into this 2020 start and have looked tired and unmotivated while losing their first two games. There is no reason to believe that Denver won't be one of the teams challenging the Lakers in the West but they certainly need to play better to do so. Houston showed so heart in their opener taking the Blazers to OT only to fall short 128-126. James Harden is the ultimate question mark right now because with him they have a shot to contend but if he is shipped out, they will be trying to figure out their identity. This should be another tough contest so take the points.