Service Plays Wednesday 2/24/21

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Matt Fargo

10 Arkansas
10 Houston rockets

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Will Rogers

10 Miss st
10 Hornets

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Zack Cimini

SAN ANTONIO @ OKLAHOMA CITY | 02/24 | 8:00 PM EST
OKLAHOMA CITY +1
ANALYSIS: On Jan. 12, the Thunder let a close game against San Antonio slip away. They scored just two points in the final three minutes to lose, 112-102. On Wednesday, with the Spurs returning after 10 days off, there should be opportunities for Oklahoma City on the offensive end. Take the Thunder.

+500 16-10 IN LAST 26 NBA ATS PICKS
+1079 13-2 IN LAST 15 OKC ATS PICKS
+597 17-10 IN LAST 27 SA ATS PICKS
12:48 PM

SAM HOU. ST. @ ABILENE CHR. | 02/24 | 8:30 PM EST
ABILENE CHR. -8.5
ANALYSIS: One of the best under-the-radar matchups today is Sam Houston State vs. Abilene Christian. As home underdogs back on Jan. 20, the Bearkats defeated the Wildcats, 64-57. It was a sloppy outing from Abilene Christian, which who shot 37.7 percent from the field, and 53.3 percent from the free throw line. Expect a higher degree of efficiency from both ends of the floor as Abilene Christian regains the top spot in the Southland Conference.

+185 3-1 IN LAST 4 CBB ATS PICKS
12:44 PM

XAVIER @ PROVIDENCE | 02/24 | 9:00 PM EST
PROVIDENCE +1.5
ANALYSIS: On Jan. 10, Xavier defeated Providence, 74-73, thanks to a last-second 3-pointer. The loss for the Friars spoiled a career-high seven 3-pointers by guard David Duke. Xavier’s record may be 12-4, but the Musketeers are just 5-4 in the Big East. Take the Friars to avenge January’s loss.

+185 3-1 IN LAST 4 CBB ATS PICKS
+400 4-0 IN LAST 4 PROV ATS PICKS
+90 2-1 IN LAST 3 XAVIER ATS PICKS
12:40 PM

SETON HALL @ BUTLER | 02/24 | 7:00 PM EST
SETON HALL -7.5
ANALYSIS: The Bulldogs appear to be a team worn down by Big East play as the season winds down. They’ve lost six of eight and have dropped their scoring output in each of their past four losses. Look for the Pirates to sweep the season series and topple the spread late at the free throw line. Play Seton Hall.

+185 3-1 IN LAST 4 CBB ATS PICKS
+77 3-2 IN LAST 5 SETON ATS PICKS
12:36 PM

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Micah Roberts

CHARLOTTE @ PHOENIX | 02/24 | 9:00 PM EST
OVER 225
ANALYSIS: The Hornets have gone Over the total in their last seven games as road underdogs. Both teams have gone Over in their last four overall contests. The Over has hit in nine of their last 11 meetings. Charlotte is coming off a 22-point loss at Utah. The Suns are playing their best basketball in two decades and put up points fast. The Over is the top play on Wednesday.

+525 14-8 IN LAST 22 NBA PICKS
12:42 PM

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Big Al NHL

blues

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Matt Severance

CINCINNATI @ TULSA | 02/24 | 9:00 PM EST
TULSA -1.5
ANALYSIS: The various models out there, including SportsLine's, believe that Tulsa should be around a 4-point favorite so we'll jump on this now giving just 1.5 points -- I've seen it already up to Tulsa -2 at books other than William Hill. The Golden Hurricane won 70-66 at Cincinnati on Jan. 2. They are 8-0 this season when leading at the half. The Bearcats come off a humiliating 90-52 loss at Houston on Sunday -- UC's worst loss in a decade. Cincinnati is 5-16 ATS in its past 21 games as a road underdog. The home team is 8-2 ATS in the past 10 in this series.

+1661 74-52 IN LAST 126 CBB ATS PICKS
+190 3-1 IN LAST 4 TULSA ATS PICKS
1:05 PM

DALLAS @ FLORIDA | 02/24 | 5:00 PM EST
FLORIDA -140
ANALYSIS: Pretty short price on the Panthers considering they are an excellent 12-3-2 and are 12 points ahead of the Stars (5-4-4) in the Central Division. Dallas also enters on a six-game skid and was outshot 52-25 in a 3-1 loss at Florida on Monday. Chris Driedger (7-1-1, 2.20 GAA) has been great this year for the Panthers and will be in net again. He likely won't allow more than two goals against a struggling Stars offense (2.92 gpg). Dallas also has just one road win.

+1304 40-18 IN LAST 58 NHL ML PICKS
+50 2-1 IN LAST 3 DAL ML PICKS
+40 2-1 IN LAST 3 FLA ML PICKS
12:33 PM

CAROLINA @ TAMPA BAY | 02/24 | 5:00 PM EST
TAMPA BAY -135
ANALYSIS: Carolina hasn't lost back-to-back games yet this season but comes off a 4-2 home loss to the Lightning on Monday as their series shifts to Tampa for the front end of a back-to-back Wednesday. The Canes have announced that inexperienced Alex Nedeljkovic (2-1-1, 2.44 GAA) will be called up from the taxi squad to start in net. That alone is reason to back the Bolts at home, but Carolina is also without winger Teuvo Teravainen (nine points, plus-4) due to injury. Tampa has won nine of the past 10 at home in the series.

+1304 40-18 IN LAST 58 NHL ML PICKS
+80 2-1 IN LAST 3 CAR ML PICKS
11:04 AM

N.Y. RANGERS @ PHILADELPHIA | 02/24 | 7:00 PM EST
PHILADELPHIA -125
ANALYSIS: This is terrific value on the Flyers even though they were just blown out in Lake Tahoe on Sunday vs. Boston -- the Bruins simply own the Flyers this season, so I don't take too much from that. Plus, it will be Brian Elliott in net here and he's 3-1-0 with a 2.25 GAA. Also, the Flyers may get top forward Claude Giroux back. He's finally off the COVID list, but it will depend on his conditioning. This is more about the Rangers, who are down three top forwards in Artemi Panarin (took a leave of absence this week), Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil -- plus blueliner Jacob Trouba. Philly has won nine of the past 11 in the series.

+1304 40-18 IN LAST 58 NHL ML PICKS
+500 5-0 IN LAST 5 PHI ML PICKS
8:55 AM

MINNESOTA @ CHICAGO | 02/24 | 8:00 PM EST
CHICAGO -188
ANALYSIS: Should Chicago cover a 4.5-point number against an awful Timberwolves team playing the second of a road/road back-to-back? No question, but the Bulls have been very untrustworthy ATS at home (5-7-1) so we will take the moneyline. Look for a big game from former Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine after being named to his first All-Star team on Tuesday. He's averaging 32.8 ppg in his past 10 as it is. Wouldn't stun me if the T-Pups rested star Karl-Anthony Towns in the second of a B2B and then this spread/moneyline would rise quite a bit.

+105 4-2 IN LAST 6 NBA ML PICKS
8:29 AM

SAN ANTONIO @ OKLAHOMA CITY | 02/24 | 8:00 PM EST
OKLAHOMA CITY -2
ANALYSIS: OKC has burned me over and over this season and this is my last time backing the Thunder if they do it again. No, they aren't very good and have been largely terrible at home, but the Spurs haven't played since Feb. 14 due to a COVID outbreak and will for sure be without DeMar DeRozan, Derrick White, Rudy Gay, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Quinndary Weatherspoon due to protocols/personal reasons and perhaps LaMarcus Aldridge too due to injury. OKC as least will have Al Horford after he at Monday and the team burned me at +7.5 vs. Miami, losing by 14 despite up 9 at the half and only down 2 entering the fourth. But I'm not bitter ...

+83 6-4 IN LAST 10 NBA PICKS
8:24 AM

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Top Flight Sports

Bulls -3.5 Smash 50,000 units

Dayton -8.5 50,000 units

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Here are the UEFA Champions League picks from Martin Green:

Monchengladbach vs. Manchester City picks (Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET)

Manchester City to win (-300)
Manchester City -1.5 goals (-110)

Manchester City will aim to extend its 18-game winning streak when it heads to Hungary to face Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday.

Monchengladbach ostensibly is the home team, but the game actually will be played at a neutral venue in Budapest due to a COVID-19 travel ban between Germany and England. That could make Monchengladbach's task even more difficult as it bids to contain this extremely talented Manchester City team.

Pep Guardiola's men barely broke a sweat as they beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. That helped Man City preserve its 10-point lead over Manchester United atop the Premier League standings, and it now can fully focus on conquering Europe.

Competition Equals Consistency

Guardiola received a boost when star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne returned from injury last week. He joined Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez in an outrageously creative midfield for the game against Arsenal.

The squad's depth was highlighted by the presence of Phil Foden, Rodri, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Ferran Torres and Kyle Walker on the bench. Guardiola could rotate a few players on Wednesday, and we could see either Gabriel or Aguero lead the line on attack.

Competition for places in the Man City's starting 11 is fierce. Foden has been sensational this season, but Guardiola regularly can afford to leave him out of the lineup. Laporte was Man City's best defender last season, but John Stones and Ruben Dias have formed such a strong defensive partnership that he cannot get on the pitch.

This level of competition has led to Man City's magnificent run of results. It finished comfortably atop its Champions League group, scoring 13 goals and allowing just one in six games. It has won every match since a 1-1 draw with West Brom on Dec. 15 and has not lost since Nov. 21.

Monchengladbach Endures Poor Run of Results

Monchengladbach is going through a difficult spell. It suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Mainz on Saturday and has gone four games without a win in the Bundesliga. That has left it stranded in the middle of the standings, 16 points behind league-leading Bayern Munich.

It did well in a very competitive Champions League group, which also featured Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter Milan. It opened its European campaign with back-to-back 2-2 draws against Inter and Real Madrid, and then thumped Shakhtar 6-0 on the road and 4-0 at home.

However, Monchengladbach then lost 3-2 to Inter and 2-0 to Real Madrid, and it ultimately scraped through after finishing below Real Madrid and even in points with Shakhtar. It has recorded only eight wins in 22 Bundesliga games this season, compared to 20 in 34 matches last campaign, so it seemingly has regressed.

It has a strong core of players, including Lars Stindl, Alassan Pléa, Matthias Guinter and Nico Elvedi, but it is not at the same level as Man City.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

UEFA Champions League picks from Martin Green:

Atalanta vs. Real Madrid picks (Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET)

Real Madrid draw no bet (+100)
Both teams to score (-190)

Real Madrid will be without a number of key players for its trip to Bergamo to face Atalanta on Wednesday.

Captain Sergio Ramos, top goal scorer Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard all are injured, as are fullbacks Marcelo and Dani Carvajal. Talented winger Rodrygo also is on the treatment table, along with midfielder Federico Valverde and backup defender Alvaro Odriozola.

Los Blancos therefore will be significantly weakened for this game, which could explain why it is the underdog. It is very rare to see Real Madrid as the underdog against a team of Atalanta's stature. A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable.

Real Madrid won the Champions League three times in a row from 2016 and 2018, completing the most dominant spell in modern history. But Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus and Real Madrid has regressed, while Atalanta has improved tremendously.

The Great Entertainer

Atalanta emerged as the great entertainer in Italian soccer during the 2018-19 season. It was the top scorer in Serie A that campaign, but it conceded 46 goals and finished third. It doubled down on that reckless approach last season, scoring an astonishing 98 goals but conceding 48 and placing third yet again.

It also went all the way to the Champions League quarterfinals last year. Atalanta was on the verge of beating PSG in that round, but it conceded twice in stoppage time and lost 2-1.

Gian Piero Gasperini's men have banged in 53 goals in 23 games so far this season. They also have allowed 31, and that poor defensive record once again has been their undoing. Atalanta sits fourth in the Serie A standings, 10 points behind league-leading AC Milan.

Its game against Napoli on Sunday was the perfect example of Atalanta's chaotic approach. It scored four goals of the highest quality, but defensive errors made it 4-2 and ensured a nervous end for Gasperini's team.

It lost key playmaker Papu Gomez to Sevilla in January after he fell out with Gasperini, but it remains a force with which to be reckoned on attack. Colombian striker Luis Muriel has 14 goals in 21 games, and he has formed a strong partnership with Duvan Zapata.

Can Real Madrid Overcome Injury Problems?

Real Madrid's makeshift defense, which is deprived of Ramos, Marcelo and Carvajal, could struggle to contain that dynamic duo on Wednesday.

However, write off Real Madrid at your own peril. Its experienced midfield trio of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro was at the heart of its three consecutive Champions League titles. Nacho is a decent deputy for Ramos alongside Raphael Varane on defense, while Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vazquez provide energy down the flanks.

Benzema will be the biggest missing piece on attack, as Mariano is an underwhelming understudy, but Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio are significant goal-scoring threats, and they should be able to exploit Atalanta's extremely leaky defense. Real Madrid knows how to grind out results in Europe and still has enough quality to get something against Atalanta.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Doug Upstone

4* BULLS -4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

carmine bianco

5% play Atalanta +135

4% play Manchester City -1.5 -120

[rocky57]

The Swami
Courtside Junkie (CBB) - 10* Top Play South Carolina +6

[rocky57]

Matt Blunt - VegasInsider

NHL
Philadelphia -125
LA Kings/St Louis Over 5.5

[rocky57]

Jonathan Willis
VegasInsider NBA
LA Lakers vs Utah Jazz
TV: ESPN - Time: 10:05pm

Best Bet - Lakers/Jazz Under 219

[rocky57]

Michael Crosson
VegasInsider NBA
Golden State Warriors vs Indiana Pacers
TV; ESPN - Time; 7:35pm

Best Bet - Warriors +2

NBA Player Prop Best Bet - June Holiday Over 11.5 Points (-108)