Thursday 1/14/21 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Bob Valentino

Thursday free play in college buckets on #1 Gonzaga as they welcome Pepperdine to their place in Spokane.

Mark Few's team has played a dozen games now this season and not surprisingly they have won ALL 12 games played. How are they doing against the spread? Glad you asked, the Bulldogs have gone 5-1-1 in their lined games and I suspect after tonight you will see the Zags improve to 13-0 straight up and 6-1-1 against the spread.

Pepperdine is not terrible as they enter at 4-5, but they have not played since December 23rd due to COVID-19 issues and not having seen live action in 3 weeks is going to be an issue against a Gonzaga team that likes to push the pace and comes in scoring 96.1 points per game on the year!

Corey Kispert, Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs should be stuffing the stat sheet early and often against the rusty Waves.

Gonzaga has won each of the last 10 series meetings, but are 5-5 against the spread in those wins. Yes, it's a big number, but with Pepperdine idle for so long, I think they are going to get run over in this one tonight.

Lay it with the 'Zags.

4* GONZAGA

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Gus Augustine

The Gonzaga Bulldogs continue to dominate teams, and will do so once again when they host the Pepperdine Waves.

When you look at this roster, and the scoring depth, knowing they have 11 guys who can step on the floor, there is much more impressive analytics than the points per game averages.

Two of their key reserves rank No. 4 and No. 5 in points per minute, and those players come off the bench.

You have Corey Kispert (21.1), Drew Timme (18.5) and Jalen Suggs (13.8) leading the team in scoring, while Oumar Ballo ranks seventh on the team with 4.4 points per game and Julian Strawther is eighth with 4.1 ppg.

But following Kispert (.74), Timme (.68) and Suggs (.52) with points per minutes played, Ballo checks in at .50 while Strawther is fifth at .47.

Coach Mark Few gets quality minutes from his entire roster, and that's what makes this team special this year. You never know who is going to lead the offensive surge, and that stretches to the 10th player - fifth off the bench.

Pepperdine doesn't have the talent to keep up. Lay the number.

3* GONZAGA

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Trace Adams

Thursday comp play on the Over in the Warriors-Nuggets game.

Yeah, I know Golden State brings Unders in their last 4 games into this meeting in the Mile High City, but I have a feeling the points are going to be accruing in a hurry against a Denver team that likes to play them high,

The Nuggets just played Over on Tuesday night to bring their Over/Under mark this season to 9 of 11 having landed in the Over column. Denver averages 116.5 points per game while giving up 113.6 points per game, while the Warriors are posting a solid 112 points per game but have given up a troubling 115.5 points.

You get the feeling that Steph Curry who is not quite out of his shooting funk might be able to break out a little tonight? I sure do!

The teams will be meeting for the first time this season after a 1-1 Over/Under split in their pair of meetings last season. Going to look for this first meeting between these Western Conference foes to play Over Thursday night in the Mile High City.

2* GOLDEN STATE-DENVER OVER

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Mitchell Newman

NHL free play for this second opening night of the season is the Capitals and the Sabres to get the offense in gear and head Over the total.

Just too much offensive talent on the ice with the likes of Ovechkin, Vrana, Wilson and Oshie who will now be joined be Zdeno Chara and Trevor van Riemsdyk for the visiting Capitals, while the Sabres boast the always-dangerous Jack Eichel who will now be joined by free agent Taylor Hall who sported solid numbers last year with the Coyotes. Another offensive gun, Eric Stahl was added from Minnesota to give depth to Buffalo's second line and I think all of these additions will pay off with plenty of goals being scored tonight.

4 of the last 6 series meetings between the teams have played Over the total and I will go with this opening night showdown on Buffalo ice to also land Over the total.

Thursday freebie, Over in Washington-Buffalo.

3* WASHINGTON-BUFFALO OVER

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Chris Jordan

My free play for Thursday is Washington against the Buffalo Sabres, marking the third time in franchise history the Capitals have opened their season against Buffalo.

The Capitals have a 22-21-1-1 record all-time in season openers and are 4-0-2 the last six seasons.

Alex Ovechkin has recorded 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists) in 15 season-opening games. His 11 goals in season lid-lifters are the most among active players.

Nicklas Backstrom’s 14 assists in 12 season-opening contests are the most among active players - two shy of tying Gary Suter and Joe Sakic, each with 16, for 10th place on the NHL’s all-time list.

Buffalo doesn't have the firepower the Caps do, and won't be able to exchange tempo with high-octane Washington.

Lay the cheap number.

3* CAPITALS

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Rk	Sports Services	Free Sports Picks
1.	NSA(The Legend)	NBA – Heat +10.5
2.	Gameday Network	NBA – Trailblazers -3
3.	VegasSI.com	CBB – Sacred Heart -3.5
4.	Vegas Line Crushers	CBB – LIU Brooklyn +1.5
5.	Sports Action 365	CBB – N.C Asheville -10
6.	Point Spread Report	NBA – Raptors -9
7.	Lou Panelli	NBA – Rockets under 220.5
8.	Gerry “Big Cat” Andino	CBB – Arizona -8.5
9.	VegasSI.com Platinum Info Club	CBB – Morehead St over 133
10.	William E. Stockton	NBA – Trailblazers under 228
11.	Vincent Pioli	NBA – Heat +10.5
12.	Steve “Scoop” Kendall	CBB – Tennessee Tech +13.5
13.	SCORE	CBB – No. Colorado -6.5
14.	East Coast Line Movers	NBA – Warriors +5
15.	Tony Campone	NBA – Raptors -9
16.	Chicago Sports Group	CBB – Portland +12.5
17.	Hollywood Sportsline	CBB – Florida Atlantic +5.5
18.	VIP Action	NBA – Heat over 221
19.	South Beach Sports	NBA – Warriors +5
20.	Las Vegas Sports Commission	CBB – Pacific +3
21.	NY Players Club	CBB – Temple over 136
22.	Fred Callahan	NBA – Warriors +5
23.	Las Vegas Private CEO Club	NBA – Raptors -9
24.	Michigan Sports	CBB – Pacific +3
25.	National Consensus Report	CBB – Purdue +3.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Wynn

Free Pick: Jacksonville St -7½ over Tennessee St

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Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp Pick, THURSDAY JANUARY 14, 2021
1/14 06:00 PM PT / 9:00 PM ET

CB (741) SAN DIEGO STATE VS (742) UTAH STATE

Take: UNDER

Reason: San Diego State Aztecs are 9-2 S/U and 5-5 ATS after 11 games. They are coming off a sweep of Nevada at home, 69-67 and 65-60, failing to cover both wins. They are now 7-2 S/U and 3-5 ATS at home. This team is very good defensively, as usual. They have allowed 70 points or more just two times this year; first in a loss at Colorado State, 67-70 and at home in a loss to BYU, 62-72. Not surprisingly, their two losses have come in those games. The Utah State Aggies are 9-3 S/U and 8-3 ATS on the season. The Aggies just swept New Mexico in a 2-game series, outscoring them 159-91 in the process. This Aggies team can score and that will be put to the test here tonight. This looks to be a defensive game and the best opponent Utah State has faced thus far. Your Free play is on the UNDER tonight.

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Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR THURSDAY: SAN FRANCISCO -12 over Portland

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Totals4U

Thursday's Free Selection: Colorado State/San Jose State under 155 1/2

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Roz Wins

ROZ's THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021
FREE CBK
741. San Diego St +2 (6 PT / 9 ET)

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Atlantic Sports

Thursday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: Southeast Missouri State + 7

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#1 Sports

Thursday's Free Play: Washington Huskies + 14 1/2

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Platinum Plays

Your Free Pick: the UCLA Bruins -10½ over Washington St

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Sharp Bettor

SharpBettor FREE Play THURSDAY, January 14, 2021
FREE NBA
570. Raptors -8 (4:35 PT / 7:35 ET)