Service Plays Thursday 1/14/21

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pro Stats

Eastern Illinois -6

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Micah Roberts

BYU @ SAINT MARY'S | 01/14 | 11:00 PM EST
BYU +1
ANALYSIS: Both these teams come in with the same 9-3 record, but are they really equal as the spread suggests? The home-court edge is nothing becase of the empty arena. BYU’s leading scorer Alex Barcello (16.3 points per game) shoots 57.9 percent from the field and a crazy 60.0 from 3-point land. The senior is 30-of-50 from downtown. The defense has also been aided by 7’3” Purdue transfer Matt Haarms (11.2 points and 1.8 blocks per game). Saint Mary’s has lost two of its last three, the last being a bad home loss to Santa Clara (+9). BYU is the play.

+1079 13-2 IN LAST 15 CBB PICKS
+192 3-1 IN LAST 4 BYU ATS PICKS
+169 5-3 IN LAST 8 MARYCA ATS PICKS
3:41 PM

PEPPERDINE @ GONZAGA | 01/14 | 9:00 PM EST
GONZAGA -27
ANALYSIS: This will be Pepperdine’s first WCC game of the season, while the undefeated Zags are playing their fourth. The Zags are taking smart shots as usual and hitting 55.6 percent. This is the highest I can remember from a Gonzaga squad, but their defensive pressure isn’t as good as past teams. Pepperdine has been getting gutted by teams like Northridge, UCSB and Bakersfield -- 0-3 ATS their last three lined games. Look for the Zags to cover the big number Thursday.

+1079 13-2 IN LAST 15 CBB PICKS
3:33 PM

BYU @ SAINT MARY'S | 01/14 | 11:00 PM EST
OVER 133.5
ANALYSIS: BYU got off to a slow start in its last game against Gonzaga with the Cougars going down 20-2 before they knew what hit them. But then they played square the rest of the way in an 86-69 loss that pushed +17 and stayed Under 163 points. Before that, they went Over in five straight as they scored at least 70 points in all of them. The BYU average score is 78-68. This total suggests Saint Mary’s will be controlling the pace. I bet they wouldn’t and took the Over.

+1079 13-2 IN LAST 15 CBB PICKS
2:19 PM

[rocky57]

The Swami
The 'R' Factor (CBB) - Montana State/Portland State Under 150.5

[rocky57]

H&H Sports
NBA - Triple Dime Golden State Warriors +5.5

CBB
Triple Dime - St Mary's -115 (Moneyline)
Triple Dime - Oregon State +8.5
Double Dime - Purdue +4.5
Dime Play - Gonzaga -27

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Indian Cowboy

4 - Toronto -8

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Paul Leiner

*2500. Over 131.5. UCLA/Washington state

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Matt Severance

PEPPERDINE @ GONZAGA | 01/14 | 9:00 PM EST
PEPPERDINE +27
ANALYSIS: Needless to say, who wins this game isn't in question. The Waves haven't played since Dec. 23 -- hey, well-rested! -- due to COVID issues. The lone reason I am taking so many points is that the Zags might be looking ahead to their annual toughest WCC game of the season: At Saint Mary's on Saturday. Coach Mark Few will get his starters out as early as possible in this one to gear up for the Gaels. Pepperdine is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

+765 33-23 IN LAST 56 CBB ATS PICKS
4:41 PM

HOUSTON @ SAN ANTONIO | 01/14 | 7:30 PM EST
SAN ANTONIO -7
ANALYSIS: Larry Hartstein and are in agreement that the Rockets are going to be better via addition by subtraction of malcontent James Harden, but I just don't think that happens tonight because obviously Houston is down Harden, the key player they got back for him in Victor Oladipo as well as injured John Wall and Eric Gordon, plus glue-guy starter Danuel House in the health protocols. San Antonio, meanwhile, will have DeMar DeRozan after he missed the past couple of games for personal reasons. The Spurs are 3-0-1 ATS in the past four meetings.

+300 3-0 IN LAST 3 HOU ATS PICKS
4:32 PM

CHARLOTTE @ TORONTO | 01/14 | 7:30 PM EST
CHARLOTTE +8.5
ANALYSIS: Should the two-win Raptors be 8.5-point favorites over anyone right now? Absolutely not. Remember, they are playing "home" games in Tampa. Yes, the Hornets are in the second of a back-to-back and leading scorer Gordon Hayward left Wednesday's loss to Dallas with a hip injury, but he's expected to play here. Charlotte has covered 16 of its past 21 as a dog.

12:31 PM

N.Y. ISLANDERS @ N.Y. RANGERS | 01/14 | 7:00 PM EST
N.Y. RANGERS -110
ANALYSIS: Thursday will be the NHL debut of highly-touted rookie and 2020 No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere of the Rangers. Lafreniere will make history as the franchise’s only other first overall pick, Andre Veilleux in 1965, never made it to the NHL. With Henrik Lundqvist gone, Igor Shesterkin takes over as the primary Rangers goaltender and was 10-2-0 as a rookie with a 2.52 GAA. He hasn't faced the Islanders, who go with Semyon Varlamov. The Russian wasn't good vs. the Blueshirts a season ago, going 0-2-1 with a 4.64 GAA. The Islanders are 1-4 in the last five meetings.

9:39 AM

CAROLINA @ DETROIT | 01/14 | 7:30 PM EST
UNDER 6.5
ANALYSIS: Remember when the Red Wings were the marquee franchise in the NHL? Those days are LONG gone. They finished with by far the fewest points in the league last season, also last in goals allowed and in goals scored. I do think Detroit will struggle to score again this year, but the Wings should be much better in net with a 1-2 punch of Jonathan Bernier and Thomas Greiss. Carolina is a decent offensive team, but 6.5 goals seems too high here because Detroit could easily be blanked. The Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Detroit.

YESTERDAY 4:28 PM

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kyle Akins

MIAMI @ PHILADELPHIA | 01/14 | 7:00 PM EST
MIAMI +10.5
ANALYSIS: Running the game through their young wings due to all the COVID absences Tuesday, Miami took Philadelphia to the brink. While this eight-man Miami roster is not a recipe for long-term success, the Heat have the playmaking and shooting to keep this matchup close again. Miami is playing its third straight road game and second straight in Philadelphia. The Heat are 6-0-1 ATS on the road coming off a road game.

+600 6-0 IN LAST 6 NBA PICKS
12:18 PM

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Tierney

PRESBYTERIAN @ CAMPBELL | 01/14 | 7:00 PM EST
CAMPBELL -7
ANALYSIS: Campbell's 6-7 record is misleading. All but two of those outings came on the road. The well-traveled Fighting Camels will relish a taste of home. The Blue Hose have fallen by double digits in their only away games. Since New Year’s Eve, they have suffered four postponements without playing and have suited up just six times. Their kenpom.com ranking is 345th, ahead of just a dozen teams. Campbell covers.

+61 5-4 IN LAST 9 CBB ATS PICKS
4:10 PM

TAMPA BAY @ NEW ORLEANS | 01/17 | 6:40 PM EST
NEW ORLEANS -3
ANALYSIS: Many Tampa Bay backers are leaning on the old saw that it’s difficult to knock off a team three times in a season. Pshaw. History does not support the theory, especially when the combined score of the first two meetings is a lopsided 72-26, as is the case here. The Saints also swept the series in 2019, making Sean Payton 4-0 straight-up against a Buccaneers team coached by Bruce Arians. New Orleans QB Drew Brees’ reduced ability to throw downfield is offset by an array of top-flight receivers and superb RB Alvin Kamara. The Saints' defense is superior and could exploit the absence of Tampa Bay G Alex Cappa (ankle.)

+450 22-16-3 IN LAST 41 NFL ATS PICKS
+390 5-1-3 IN LAST 9 TB ATS PICKS
3:38 PM

SO. UTAH @ E. WASHINGTON | 01/14 | 9:05 PM EST
SO. UTAH +5.5
ANALYSIS: An influx of transfers has lifted the Southern Utah program. Latest case in point: G Tevian Jones, averaging 19.2 points a game. The Thunderbirds cruise in on the momentum of a nine-game straight-up high, whereas Eastern Washington has zero momentum. The Eagles were last seen in action on Dec. 19 and have had 10 of 16 scheduled games scrubbed at least temporarily. The T-birds excel on the road, at 9-4 ATS going back nearly a year ago.

+61 5-4 IN LAST 9 CBB ATS PICKS
12:34 PM

SANTA CLARA @ PACIFIC 10 | 01/14 | 5:00 PM EST
SANTA CLARA -3
ANALYSIS: It’s virtually the season opener for Pacific. The Tigers have played four times but just once since Dec. 2 -- against somebody named Westmont. The relevant numbers: nine games postponed or canceled and seven practices over a 40-day stretch. In normal conditions, the Tigers underachieve at home, going 4-9-1 ATS since early last season and have yet to cover in this start-and-stop one. Santa Clara -- 7-2 straight-up, with losses to Colorado State and Southern Cal -- is not an envious foe when emerging from a hiatus.

+61 5-4 IN LAST 9 CBB ATS PICKS
12:31 PM

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bill Marzano
VETERAN HANDICAPPER
1:29 PM

CAROLINA @ DETROIT | 01/14 | 7:30 PM EST
CAROLINA -1.5
The Red Wings were the worst team in the NHL last year and may be one of the worst teams again this season. They ranked among the league’s worst in several categories. They did try to shore up the defense by bringing in Tomas Greiss. Carolina has two solid goalies and a dangerous offense that can score often. The Hurricanes won all three meetings last year by two or more goals.

+448 11-7 IN LAST 18 DET ATS PICKS
+275 3-1 IN LAST 4 CAR ATS PICKS

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Zack Cimini

BRYANT @ ST. FRAN.-PA. | 01/14 | 7:00 PM EST
BRYANT -7.5
ANALYSIS: The Bryant Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS, which includes a tough one-point loss against the Syracuse Orangemen. On Thursday, they’ll take on a St. Francis (PA) team whose 1-7 record could make this a letdown spot for the Bulldogs. Instead, expect the Bulldogs to come out strong and avenge two losses a season ago by 20 points or more against the Red Flash. Take Bryant on Thursday.

+300 3-0 IN LAST 3 CBB ATS PICKS
4:04 PM

GOLDEN ST. @ DENVER | 01/14 | 10:00 PM EST
DENVER -5
ANALYSIS: The Denver Nuggets nearly swept their East Coast trip, but fell after blowing a double-digit lead to the Brooklyn Nets. On Thursday, they return home to take on a Warriors team that has adjusted well with a new-look lineup. Yet, they’ve declined in points output in each of their last three games. Expect Denver to pull through and get back to .500.

+300 3-0 IN LAST 3 NBA ATS PICKS
+718 16-8 IN LAST 24 DEN ATS PICKS
3:59 PM

[Can'tPickAWinner]

John Bollman
THE EXECUTIVE
10:23 AM

WASHINGTON @ BUFFALO | 01/14 | 7:00 PM EST
WASHINGTON -135
Ilya Samsonov was 16-6-2 last season with a 2.55 GAA and .913 save percentage before he injured for the season. Linus Ullmark was 17-14-3 last season with a 2.69 GAA and .915 save percentage, but the Caps have won 12 of their last 17 games straight up against the Sabres. Jack Eichel has been kept in check against the Caps with only three goals and five assists in 11 career games, and the Caps core has been together longer so no preseason should benefit them.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Stephen Nover

Total of the week

Usc under 140

[Bettenguy]

Mile High Sports Thursday's NCAAB Card
$1000 Dollar Play - Bryant -6.5

1-0 Yesterday
9-12-1 Last 10 Days
-26.4 units Last 10 days

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Robert Ferringo NBA

2 - Charlotte +8.5
2 - Portland-3
2 - Houston over 218