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JEFFERSON-SPORTS OVERNIGHT RELEASE 2-3 yest
NBA
DENVER-5
NBA
DENVER-5
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Re: 3-5-09
Vegas Sports Experts
The VSE Thursday Hoops Power Plays are:
VSE Power Plays
10* Take Bowling Green (+7) over Miami-OH (NCAA Power Play)
Bowling Green
• 5-1 ATS when playing as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points
• 4-0 ATS in road games when the total is 129.5 points or less
• 9-2 SU over the last 11 games
10* Take Portland (+4.5) over Denver (NBA Power Play)
Portland
• 25-11 ATS after scoring 105 points or more
• 18-6 ATS after playing as a home favorite
• 6-2 SU over the last 8 games
Bonus Pays
5* Take Louisiana Tech (+4) over Idaho (NCAA)
5* Take Boston (-325) over Phoenix (NHL)Comment
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Re: 3-5-09
Winning Angle Plays for Thursday
NCAA
Play Tennessee (+2) over South Carolina* (Top NCAA Play)
Tennessee has won 5 of the last 6 games vs. South Carolina and they are averaging over 78 points a game this season. South Carolina has lost 23 of the last 32 games against the spread at home when the line is between +3 to -3.
Play Dayton (+10) over Xavier* (Bonus NCAA Play)
Dayton has won 12 of the last 13 games coming off an OVER the total and they have also won 14 of the last 16 games coming off a home win. Dayton is only allowing an average of 60 points a game on defense this season.
NBA Hoops
Play Portland (+4.5) over Denver* (NBA Top Play)
NHL
Play San Jose (-260) over Minnesota* (NHL Bonus Play)Comment
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Re: 3-5-09
Craig Davis
Thursday's Lineup
30 Dime ---- INDIANA STATE
10 Dime ---- NUGGETS
INDIANA STATE --- Remember, this game is part of a tournament and will start a little earlier than normal. The Drake Bulldogs were once considered a contender in the Missouri Valley Conference after winning last year’s conference tourney and starting the regular season 13-3, but after dropping 10 of their last 14 games, opinions have drastically changed. No longer are the Bulldogs considered a front-runner, and now they have to work their way up from 8/9 game where a suddenly hot Indiana State awaits them. Despite beating teams like Creighton and Northern Iowa on the road, they haven’t beaten teams like Indiana State, Bradley, Southern Illinois, or Evansville over the last few weeks. It’s almost impossible to figure this team out for most people… but not for me. Drake is falling apart at the seams because they can’t score anymore. I will give them credit for changing up their defense in the wake of this losing skid… and because they’ve been showing different looks on different possessions, it’s messing with their opponents offensive sets. But that doesn’t excuse them for their poor shooting and it will cost them today.
The Sycamores started the season as a complete joke, but somehow have figured out how to win six of their last seven and losing by just six to Wichita State in their only loss during this run. ISU has changed lineups several times this year, but it appears they have finally settled on one that’s been nothing short of a miracle. Jay Tunnell has committed to playing defense in the middle while G Harry Marshall is doing a little of everything (scoring, rebounding and dishing out assists), giving this team new life at just the right time. The last time these two hooked up was in Terre Haute, Indiana where the Sycamore limited Drake to just 34% shooting in a 69-57 rout. ISU has covered six of their last seven, four straight against teams with winning records and their last five as an underdog. Drake, meanwhile, has failed to cover just one of their last five as a small favorite1 of their previous five following an ATS win and 0 for 5 their last five vs. teams with a SU losing record. Guys, these are two teams headed in opposite directions, and although I don’t believe the Sycamores have enough to win the conference tourney, they do have enough to fight off Drake and grab a SUATS win.
DENVER NUGGETS --- Nugs get Carmelo Anthony back after a team-imposed one-game suspension. They’ll need him, too, to try and keep Brandon Roy from going crazy. I believe this is a great spot for Denver as they get to come back home from two straight road losses by nearly identical scores. The Nuggets are an impressive 22-7 at home while the Blazers are a disappointing 13-17 on the road and enter tonight’s game after having needed a major fourth quarter rally to hold off Indiana, 107-105 (Blazers outscored Indiana 29-19 in the fourth).
Prior to Denver’s two straight road losses, they were able to pummel the Lakers and beat Atlanta at home, only adding to their already impressive home record. With Greg Oden still out, the Blazers will need to continue to ride Pryzbrilla and Aldridge in the paint… and that’s simply not good enough to match up with Nene and Kenyon Martin. Portland won the last meeting between these two at home, 101-92, so you can bet Denver has their minds on the revenge factor tonight. Solid play on Denver giving only a small number to Portland. Lay it.Comment
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Re: 3-5-09
Scott Rickenback's Revenge Game of the Year!!
Game #743 - 2* (Top Play) Illinois Illini (- 1.5) @ Penn State @ 9 PM ET –
We knew we’d get line value in this spot. After all, the Illini are “just” 5-4 on the road this season while the Nittany Lions are a solid 14-3 at home. However, how much of a help will the Bryce Jordan Center even be in this game? The Nittany Lions three home losses this season have come against Temple, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. That’s the same Spartans team that the Illini just went toe to toe with on Sunday as Illinois very nearly got the home win against the best team in the conference. Here, the Illini are looking to avenge their most embarrassing game of the season. Penn State marched into Illinois and handed the Illini an embarrassing 38 to 33 loss last month. It was the first time a team had been held without a free throw - Illinois had no attempts - in the 46 year history of Assembly Hall in Champaign, Illinois. Look for the Illini to do a much better job of creating opportunity on the offensive end in this rematch against the Nittany Lions! Illinois was led by 7’1 center Mike Tisdale when they made their comeback against the Spartans in the second half of Sunday’s game. Tisdale and 6’10 Mike Davis can lead the way in the paint against Penn State. What these big guys so is allow the Illini to stay strong on the perimeter against the Nittany Lions. Penn State really doesn’t have the size/talent inside to do much damage in there and, as the Lions do get some penetration, the Illini are big enough inside that the perimeter defenders don’t have to collapse in to help on defense inside. In other words, Illinois will be able to stay strong against the Nittany Lions outside scoring threats and we just don’t foresee Penn State enjoying much success inside in this game. Illinois needs this win to secure one of the top three seeds in the Big Ten Conference and this is a key heading into the Tournament that starts next week. Heading into the game against Michigan State, the Illini had won five of their last six and the only loss was the ugly one suffered at the hands of Penn State. In other words, it’s definitely payback time and we were impressed with the way the Illini had been playing before losing to the Spartans as well as they solid performance that Illinois gave against Michigan State on Sunday! Big man Tisdale played better than expected in the second half against the Spartans and this gives him some momentum to carry into this crucial game. When he’s focused, Tisdale really can be a factor for the Illini. The Nittany Lions had lost three of four before defeating Illinois on February 18th. Also, Penn State followed up the win over the Illini with a 14 point loss at Ohio State and then an ugly 3-point win over Big Ten cellar dweller Indiana on Saturday. Note that Penn State has only averaged about 53 points per game in their last seven games! As for Illinois, they’ve scored at least 60 points in five of their last seven games. We’re also completely confident in Illinois Coach Bruce Weber and his ability to make the proper adjustments against Penn State in this rematch. Keep in mind the Illini did have a 9 point lead with about 10 minutes to go in that game last month. They saw that whittled away and then ended up losing ugly and the response to that will be a strong one today! The Illini have senior leadership and they are well aware of what’s at stake here. It’s Penn State that can overtake them for earning one of the top three spots in the Big Ten so the Nittany Lions are certainly not without motivation too. However, in their last three games the Nittany Lions have gone cold from 3-point land. They’ve made just 19 of 63 three-pointers and that 30% mark is bad news against an Illini team that is unlikely to let Penn State get much scoring from anywhere else on the floor. The Illini will seal things off on the inside and the Lions will continue to struggle from beyond the arc. The result will be a very solid road win! Play Illinois minus the points as a Top Play selection.Comment
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Re: 3-5-09
Stephen Nover
NBA Game of the Week
Denver -5 vs Portland
Expect a prime effort from the Nuggets at home. Denver has been struggling on the road where it has played 10 of its past 13 games.But at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets are 6-1 in their last seven with their only defeat coming to Boston. The Nuggets beat the Spurs, Jazz and Lakers, holding them to a season-low 79 points, during this span.Carmelo Anthony should be pumped for a big performance after being suspended during the Nuggets' last game, a loss at Detroit, for insubordination.The rested Nuggets catch Portland off a tough home game on Wednesday night against up-tempo Indiana.The Trail Blazers are an outstanding home club, but just 13-17 on the road. They have lost five of their past six away contests, including losses at Golden State and Oklahoma City.Portland also is 0-2 in the second of its last two back-to-back games. The Trail Blazers lost by 15 at San Antonio on Feb. 25 and by seven at Golden State on Feb. 12.Comment
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Re: 3-5-09
Bob Donahue
California at Arizona
Pick: Over 143
Look for Arizona to continue to adopt their uptempo strategy, as evidenced by their last two home games where they scored 83 against USC and 84 against UCLA. California is not afraid to run with these guys, and this game should finish in the mid 150's, easily surpassing the total.Comment
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