EZ Winners
1 STAR: (723) FAIRFIELD (+3) over Iona
(Risking $110 to win $100)
Fairfield has dominated this series. The Stags have beaten the Gaels in eight out of the last ten meetings and Fairfield is 7-2-1 against the spread in those games. Home court advantage doesn't mean anything in this matchup. Both of these teams have losing records, but Fairfield actually has a better road record than home record and Iona is only 5-15 against the spread in their last twenty home games. The Stags are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven road games and I look for them to get the win here. Take the points!
NBA
2 STAR: (720) GOLDEN STATE (PICK) over Chicago
(Risking $220 to win $200)
I don't think the Bulls have the firepower on offense to keep up with the Warriors. Chicago is only 1-7 against the spread in their last eight home games and a horrible 6-21 against the spread in their last 27 games against the NBA Pacific division. Kirk Hinrich is also out for this game and that will hurt them becuase they need all the scoring that they can get to keep up with Golden State. Chicago will need a hell of a defensive effort to win this game. I don't think that will happen and the key stat here is that the Bulls are 1-14 against the spread this season when they allow 100 or more points. Warriors take this one!
Gator Report
NBA
Friday: Play Under NBA home teams where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points after having covered 4 of their last 5 against the spread, playing their 3rd game in 4 days 44-15 Under the last 5 seasons (74.6%) PLAY: Atlanta / Toronto UNDER 187
Mighty Quinn
Blazers -2 1/2
Marc Lawrence
Portland Trail Blazers at Miami Heat
Hard to believe but the Heat return home off a 30-point home loss with same season revenge against Portland tonight. With that we note that NBA home dogs with a win percentage of points, are 34-13 ATS when hosting a non-conference foe. Look for Miami to put up their best effort here tonight.
Alex Smart
Memphis Grizzlies -6.5
Seattle enters into this contest against their hosts the Memphis Grizzlies on a 8 game losing streak, and with a equally ugly 4-16 road record losing by an average 11.1 PPG. Memphis is not a team you can get excited about, losing 5 straight, but have been very competitive against some quality teams. With Grizzlies looking at this contest as a very winnable confrontation you can bet they will come out here with a very determined effort on their own home floor! Play on the Grizzlies
BRAD DIAMOND SPORTS
Play on: Boston over Philadelphia
Loved the way the Celtics hung on Wednesday night for the win and cover against visiting Portland. But, they do receive a test from Atlantic Division upstart Philadelphia who is trying real hard since Eddie Stefanski took over as President. Hopefully, the former Nets advisor can inspire the club much like former Sixers President Pat Croce. The fundamental issue this evening will be the inside defense of Philly needed to offset the skills of Boston center ?KG? who has been splendid this year. The Celtics have a positive assist to turnover ratio, while the Sixers falter in that area versus +.500 teams. That is another key. Technically speaking, we find conflicting data as the road team is 5-0-1 ATS in the series, while the underdog is 9-4 ATS. With just one day of rest the 31-6 Celtics are 8-1 ATS and, therefore, should be ready to handle the Philly charge evening.
Tony Mathews
Matchup: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Utah Jazz
Selection: Utah Jazz -10.5 (-110)
Explanation: We will side with the Utah Jazz as they face-off against the Los Angeles Clippers in Friday's NBA contest.
The Utah Jazz hold a huge advantage on the offensive end against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Utah Jazz are scoring an average of 104.9 points per game, while the Los Angeles Clippers are scoring an average of only 92.7 points per game. It's clear that the Utah Jazz hold a huge advantage on the offensive end.
The Utah Jazz have already shown us they can beat the Los Angeles Clippers. In fact, the Utah Jazz are 6-2 ATS In their last 8 meetings against the Los Angeles Clippers (when playing in Utah).
Take the Utah Jazz -10.5!
VEGAS SPORTS PICS
Fairfield Stags + 3 over (at) Iona Gaels
Iona (6-12) is 8-40 since the start of last season. Fairfield (5-11) is 3-2 last five road games including a 53-52 win at (now 11-6) Siena on 01/08. Stags are 4-1 at Iona over the last five seasons.
COMPS
JIM FEIST
The Celtics got their groove back the last game, ending a 2-game skid with an impressive 10-point win over surging Portland. Boston is whipping opponents by 14 ppg at home! They take on a rival here in the 76ers. Philadelphia has a small team, one the bigger Celtics can take advantage of. And they always get up to play the 76ers, going 5-0 ATS the last five meetings. Philadelphia is on a 1-6 SU, 2-5 ATS run.
Play the Celtics!
A pair of teams with bad records meet, but they are headed in opposite directions. Charlotte plays well at home at 13-11 Su, 13-10-1 ATS. They have been on a hot streak the last two weeks, winning 4 of 6 games while covering the numbers in all 6. Even more impressive, they were an underdog in all 6 games! A very beatable team comes to town as Memphis is a mess, especially on the road at 4-15.
Play the Bobcats!
Dave Cokin
713 Kings @ 714 Pistons
Play: Kings +11
The Pistons lost their earlier meeting with the Kings, and the quick reaction is to expect big revenge. But that hasn't been the case for Detroit when in this scenario. The Pistons have actually been awful the last couple years in this setting, and they're a pretty amazing 0-8 vs. the number when facing a squad that topped them when they were road favorites in the prior meeting. The Kings are finally healthy and look to have enough value at the big number to justify a play.
Sports Gambling Hotline
Don't look now, but the Knicks ride a season-high 3 game winning streak into Washington this Friday night. Included is an underdog outright win over Washington 105-93 on Tuesday as the 2 point home dog.Maybe the Knicks won't record another outright on the road tonight, but we do like them plus the generous impost against a Wizards team that does have a date with the Dallas Mavericks on deck.Series numbers show the Knickerbockers with outright wins in the last pair of meetings, covers in 3 in a row, and 4 of the last 5.This is the Knicks best stretch of the season, and we will ride them plus the points to get their 4th straight cover.
Play on New York.
Cappers Access
Heat
Bulls
LT'S LOCK
The LOCK: The Bulls PK
Vegas Experts Tip of the Day
Charlotte Bobcats at New Orleans Hornets
New Orleans has been as impressive as the Bobcats lately, winning and covering six-of-seven. Its last was a plus 30-point (123-92) win over Seattle and it also beat the Bobcats in Charlotte in late December 99-85. However, CHARLOTTE is 52-31 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent over the last 3 seasons and NEW ORLEANS is 17-35 ATS off a home win by 10 points or more since 1996.
Play on: Charlotte
THE SPORTS MEMO
New York at Washington
Recommendation: Washington
Jimmy The Moose COMP
Game: Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins Jan 18 2008 7:35PM
Prediction: under
Reason: The Lightning have played under the total in 2 of their last 3 games. Tampa can score goals but tonight they face a hot Penguins goalie. Pittsburgh has played under the total in 5 straight games and 7 of their last 8. The under is 11-5 in their last 16 home games. Pittsburgh has played the under in their last 4 games following a win. The team's have played the under in 4 straight meetings and in 5 of their last 6. Play the under.
THE GOLD SHEET
GOLDEN STATE by 11 over Chicago
COMPS
HUDDLE UP SPTS
Charlotte +9
MIKE WYNN
Free Pick: Detroit -10½ Over Sacramento
TOTALS 4U
FRIDAY'S FREE WINNER: GOLDEN STATE/CHICAGO OVER 210
#1 SPORTS
FRIDAY'S FREE WINNER: SACRAMENTO KINGS + 11
VEGAS STEAMLINE
Free Winner for Friday: Take Philadelphia/Boston Under 183
Insider Sports Report
Phoenix -14.5 over Minnesota (NBA)
RAZOR SHARP SPTS
YOUR FREE WINNER FOR FRIDAY: CHARLOTTE/NEW ORLEANS Over 193
Karl Garrett
Hard to find fault with the Bobcats latest tear, as Charlotte heads to the Big Easy having won their last pair of games, and 4 of their last 6 straight up, while covering in ALL 6 of those games!The G-Man will go to the well one more time tonight, as this seems like a lot of points for the Hornets to be laying. True, New Orleans is on a tear of their own, as the Hornets have won 3 in a row, and 6 of their last 7 both straight up and against the spread, but the Hornets know they can probably go on cruise control in this one and still come away with the home outright.Most of the Hornets spread-covering damage has been achieved on the road, as New Orleans is 14-5-1 against the spread away from home, but just 9-9 against the math in their home games.G-Man is calling for a New Orleans win, but more importantly a Charlotte cover - their 7th in a row.
3* CHARLOTTE
Bobby Maxwell
We're going to play the Warriors to be able to easily handle the Bulls in this one.
Even with the Warriors coming into Chicago for their third road game in four nights, we're going to play Golden State in this one as they can put up so many points the Bulls won't be able to keep up.
Golden State has scored 104 points or more in six of its last seven games but seem to light up the scoreboard against bad teams. And right now, the Bulls are a bad team. The Warriors lost in Indiana 125-117 on Wednesday, falling as two-point underdogs, but it was a brutal fourth quarter for the Warriors as they allowed 46 points.
Chicago is just 1-7 ATS in its last eight home games and 6-21 ATS in its last 27 against Pacific Division teams. There is something wrong with this team that seemed just a step or two away from winning the Eastern Conference last season and now can't seem to beat anybody. The Bulls are just 5-12 ATS at home, not good news for the home fans.
The Warriors are 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings and we've got no worries about this team putting up the points, scoring 105.2 per game on the road.
Let's back the high-flying Warriors in this one. They can score enough to make things very hard on the Bulls.
3* GOLDEN STATE
Michael Cannon
Take the points with the Knicks tonight when they travel to take on the Wizards.
New York is actually playing decent, having won and covered three straight. They have a great shot tonight staying within this number as the Wizards really don't have the ability to bury a team without Gilbert Arenas.
The Knicks have covered the last three against the Wizards and four of the last five.
Take the points with New York as they continue their good run with a cover tonight.
2* NEW YORK
Sports Gambling Hotline
Don't look now, but the Knicks ride a season-high 3 game winning streak into Washington this Friday night. Included is an underdog outright win over Washington 105-93 on Tuesday as the 2 point home dog.
Maybe the Knicks won't record another outright on the road tonight, but we do like them plus the generous impost against a Wizards team that does have a date with the Dallas Mavericks on deck.
Series numbers show the Knickerbockers with outright wins in the last pair of meetings, covers in 3 in a row, and 4 of the last 5.
This is the Knicks best stretch of the season, and we will ride them plus the points to get their 4th straight cover.
Play on New York.
1* NEW YORK KNICKS