National Consensus Report
CBB - Va Commonwealth -11.5
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Dwayne Connors
Dallas has not been able to stop too many teams from scoring lately, and so even though 3 of their last 4 games have played Under the total, I am going to play this Friday night game in Orlando against the Magic Over the posted total.
The Mavericks have allowed 111 points or more in 8 of their last 9 games, so expect this Magic team that is scoring at just under 106 points per game for the year to a least pump their offense up by 3 more baskets tonight.
Meanwhile, Orlando has played Unders in 2 of their last 3 games, but they have also allowed an average of 111 points per game over those last 3 contested. Do note, those last 3 games I just mentioned all came on the road, Orlando has landed Over the total in 3 of their last 4 played on their home hardwood.
This will be the second meeting of the year between the teams, the first did land well Under the total in their meeting in Dallas back on December 10th, as the Magic could only muster a paltry 76 points in that meeting. Tonight I think you can expect way more than 76 points to be scored by the home team, and for that matter by the visitor as the Over is 7-1 the last 8 times the teams have played in Florida.
Orlando is harboring some playoff aspirations, while Dallas is playing for the future. With the Mavs defense being so yielding of the defensive end lately - 11 straight games with their opponents posting 101 points or more - I expect the Magic to do the majority of the scoring and the Mavericks to be not that far behind.
Let's go ahead and play Dallas and Orlando Over the total.
2* DALLAS-ORLANDO OVER
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Bob Valentino
To give you an idea how bad the Southeast Division is, consider that Miami is in first place in the division, yet they own a record of 30-34 this year!
Miami is currently last of 8 in the Eastern Conference standings, just one game ahead of both Orlando and Charlotte in the playoff standings.
Cleveland is nowhere near the playoff radar, but the Cavaliers are at least providing some value at the betting window as we head down the stretch, and I believe they provide a little more value as the big dog this Friday night in South Beach.
The Cavaliers are 4-5 straight up over their last 9 games, but they have made good against the spread in each of their last pair of games, and in 6 of those 9 games overall.
The Heat appear to be out of the funk they were in - 2-7 straight up slide - as they have followed that 2-7 slide with with in each of their last 3 games straight up. Still, Miami has dropped 4 of their last 5, and 7 of 9 overall when installed as the favorite.
Miami has won all 3 series meetings this year straight up, but Cleveland did cover in the last meeting between the teams back on January 25th, as the Cavs lost by 6 points as the +8 1/2 point home dogs.
With the Cavaliers playing some competitive hoops of late, and the Heat on that money-costing 2-7 against the spread run when installed as the favorite, going to look for Cleveland to be inside of this roomy impost tonight.
Free play winner on the points and the Cavs for Friday.
3* CLEVELAND
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