Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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04-07-21 | Jazz v. Suns +2 | 113-117 | Win | 100 | 12 h 25 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units People who go around saying that the Utah Jazz have been in the process of peaking too soon should stay consistent and pick the #2 team behind them in the Western Conference to beat them. You know those people – oh, wait, they is us! The Suns are suddenly only 2.5 games out of first place in the West, eyeing “NBA best record” territory. They’re a good defensive team, on their home floor, and they’ve already beaten the Jazz 106-95 in Utah. What’s not to like? |
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04-07-21 | Diamondbacks v. Rockies -102 | 0-8 | Win | 100 | 10 h 2 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Pitcher: Senzatela Former Giants’ ace Madison Bumgarner signed a five year, $85 million contract with the Arizona Suckerbac… er, Diamondbacks, before last season. He ‘followed through’ on it by totaling only 41 2/3 innings in nine starts, with a 1.44 WHIP and 6.48 ERA. Their best pitcher Zac Gallen has been hurt, so they allowed Bumgarner make his customary opening day start, in which he gave them more of the same slop for their money: 4 innings of 7-hit, 6-run ball with 2 home runs allowed at San Diego. He didn’t pitch in Coors Field last year. For the Giants in 2019, he totaled 11 innings in two starts at Coors, allowing 16 hits and 8 runs, and that’s when he was doing all right overall. Rockies’ starter Antonio Senzatela was owned by the Dodgers here last week. Who isn’t? In five home starts last season, he had a 2.10 ERA in this ballpark and draws an easier assignment this evening. NOTE: Do not play if pitcher is different than actual |
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04-07-21 | Mavs -11 v. Rockets | 93-102 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 37 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Experienced, trustworthy, productive guards are lacking on the home underdog, who happens to have the NBA’s worst pointspread record (16-34 ATS, 32.0%). Should you choose to go their way, against a decent bottom-feeder of a road favorite 7-3 SU last 10 games, who was also good enough to beat league-leading Utah the other night – as we expected – then good luck to you, for you shall probably need it. |
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04-07-21 | Hornets v. Thunder UNDER 213.5 | 113-102 | Loss | -106 | 7 h 25 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Losing LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward puts a major crimp in the Charlotte offense. Losing Shai Gilgeious-Alexander, Al Horford, having Lu Dort hurt all the time, puts a major crimp in the OKC offense. In their last five games, both teams are shooting only 41.5% overall, which is #28 and #29 in that span in a 30-team league. |
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04-07-21 | Pelicans v. Nets -8.5 | 111-139 | Win | 100 | 9 h 13 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units This is the third game in four nights for the Pelicans. Atlanta hosted New Orleans on Tuesday and Zion Williamson did his part with a monster game but the Pelicans missed Brandon Ingram in the defeat. New Orleans is 3 and 6 in the second of back-to-back games this season. And they lost to some challenged clubs like Houston and Chicago. Brooklyn had won 4 in a row before losing to Chicago last Sunday. James Harden tested his injured hamstring against the Knicks on Monday but he only lasted a few minutes before leaving the game for good and he will miss extended time. In that Monday win Jeff Green had a ‘glory days’ night with 23 points, 4 boards, an assist, a block and a couple of long-range bombs. Brooklyn can throw a lot of bodies at the Pelicans big men with Jeff Green, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan among others. The Nets are also expected to have Kevin Durant set for this game. |
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04-07-21 | Oilers -184 v. Senators | 4-2 | Win | 100 | 8 h 39 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Ottawa Senators have faced the Edmonton Oilers seven times this season, and seven times they have lost. The Senators will get two more chances against the Oilers, hosting matchups tonight and tomorrow night. Overall, Edmonton holds a 34-15 scoring edge and will look to tie a franchise record today for longest winning streak against one team in a season, set against the original Winnipeg Jets in 1983-84. Ottawa has one victory in its past four games and just four in 12 outings in the past month (4-5-3). Monday in Winnipeg, the Senators rallied from three goals down in the third period but still lost 4-3. Meanwhile, the Oilers are on a 5-1-2 run but are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss Monday in Montreal, a game in which they blew a 2-0 lead after two periods. Consider that Edmonton is 17-5 in their last 22 games as a favorite. |
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04-07-21 | Dodgers -157 v. A's | 3-4 | Loss | -157 | 5 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Pitcher: Bauer Could there be a more seemingly impossible scenario than being 0-6, getting hits doubled against you every night, runs doubled against you or more than doubled, and needing lefty Jose Lose-Ardo to come through for the team’s first win? Anything’s possible, but last night was a continuation of a terrible string of early games for Oakland (we’d call it “start” to the season but the start was over last week and now it’s Game 7), the latest of which was 5-1 Dodgers, who out-hit the A’s 11 to 5 last night. Oh, and we almost forgot, the pitcher they need to beat is Trevor Bauer, who had a 0.79 WHIP last season, 100-17 K-BB, and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits over 6 1/3 innings at Coors Field last weekend while making his first start in a Dodgers’ uniform. His new teammates push across nearly twice as many runs per game as the Reds’ batters did for him in 2020. Luzardo…ugh. Maybe he’ll improve, but for now the phrase, “Just put it over the plate and let ‘em hit it” seems to have been invented for him. NOTE: Do Not Play if Pitcher is Different Than Actual |
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04-07-21 | Brewers v. Cubs -111 | 4-2 | Loss | -111 | 3 h 30 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Pitcher: Hendricks After delivering a 2.88 ERA in 12 starts last season and finishing ninth in National League Cy Young voting, Hendricks will look to improve in his second home start. He did not have a start shorter than 4 1/3 innings last season. In 23 career starts against the Brewers, Hendricks is 9-6 with a sparkling 2.84 ERA over 136 1/3 innings. It is his most starts and innings pitched against any team in his career. Run support for Hendricks will be a priority after the Cubs had just a fourth-inning double from Kris Bryant on Tuesday. Peralta gave the Brewers five scoreless innings, Brent Suter had three and Brad Boxberger had a scoreless ninth in his Brewers debut. Consider that Chicago is 70-29 in their last 99 home games vs. a team with a losing record. NOTE: Do not play if pitcher is different than actual |
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04-06-21 | Ducks v. Sharks -170 | 5-1 | Loss | -170 | 14 h 36 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The San Jose Sharks look to extend their season-long winning streak to five games tonight as they host the Anaheim Ducks. It marks the sixth meeting of the season between the two teams and the first of three in San Jose over the next nine days. The Sharks lead the season series 4-0-1. San Jose, which is just three points out of playoff position, has swept its last two two-game series matchups against the Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings. In last weekend's series in LA, the Sharks outscored the Kings 6-2 over the two games. The Ducks, on the other hand, are looking to snap a three-game skid. In their last outing on Sunday, the Ducks had a 2-1 lead after two periods against the Arizona Coyotes before Arizona's Jakob Chychrun scored the tying goal with 4:51 left in regulation and then registered the game-winner 1:47 into overtime. Consider that Anaheim is 6-20 in their last 26 vs. West. |
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04-06-21 | Bucks -6 v. Warriors | 121-122 | Loss | -114 | 12 h 54 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units It’s a home invasion in the first degree, with Milwaukee having set up an Oakland base camp in full case-the-joint mode before the Warriors had even tipped it off 2,800 miles away in Atlanta on Sunday night. The Bucks are 3-1 on a six-game trip so far. A win would guarantee a winning Western excursion, always a good goal for a good team to achieve; Warriors have lost 12 of their last 16 and they haven’t been tanking games so they can surprise the Bucks with a revenge spanking for the 138-99 loss suffered in Milwaukee on Christmas Day. Sure, they might do it, but they haven’t been saving themselves for it. |
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04-06-21 | White Sox -136 v. Mariners | 10-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Pitcher: Giolito The White Sox destroyed lefty starters last season and are already 2-0 against them this year. Stats like that tend to fluctuate from year to year but hey, sometimes they stay the same for a while. Only three Mariners have ever faced Lucas Giolito, none of them since he got really good because the White Sox and Mariners didn’t play each other in 2020 and his last game against them was in April, 2019, his second start of that year, before he hit his best stride in what was his breakout season. NOTE: Do not play if pitcher is different than actual |
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04-06-21 | Dodgers -160 v. A's | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 10 h 16 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units What’d we say yesterday? Something about the winless Oakland A’s getting hits and runs doubled against them, right? By the end of last night’s game against the Dodgers, hits were 14 to 6 for LA, runs 10 to 3. Say, that’s more than doubled! Tonight, the Oakland batters must face Clayton Kershaw, who we hear has been a pretty good pitcher for most of his career. He is coming off a loss at Coors Field — not the first pretty good pitcher to have been hammered by the home team in that ballpark. Won’t be the last. Eventually, the A’s will stop losing games by 7 or 8 runs a night but until that begins to take shape, why expect Chris Bassitt to hound the Dodgers? |
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04-06-21 | 76ers -1 v. Celtics | 106-96 | Win | 100 | 9 h 28 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Off 16- and 30-point wins on this floor vs. the perpetually addled Rockets and the suddenly semi-depleted Hornets, the Celtics could be in for a rude awakening as the healthy 76ers come to town with Joel Embiid in his second game back from his mid-season vacation spent while his teammates were going through the motions out West and actually, not disgracing themselves in the least. But they disgraced themselves when he sat out their second of home back-to-backs against Memphis the other night, shooting 8-for-34 on three-pointers in defeat. More than likely, he’ll be back and off that loss, and falling out of first place by a half game, with the memory of being outsted from the post-season by the Celtics still there… |
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04-06-21 | Bulls v. Pacers OVER 226.5 | 113-97 | Loss | -112 | 5 h 58 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units In an effort to make the playoffs, the Bulls acquired Nikola Vucevic from Orlando. He has not disappointed, scoring 21+ points in every game so far. Defense is optional in their first season under Billy Donovan. The available players have been changing since Day 1 because of injuries, etc. and now the trade. It’s hard enough to install a defensive system in Year One without having interruptions in the rotations. But they’ve got two guys who can go off — Zach Lavine and Vucevic — and Lauri Maarkenen isn’t chopped liver at 16.4 ppg. Malcolm Brogdon is an overlooked Pacer leading them in scoring at 21.2 ppg. Caris Levert joined them 12 games ago and averages 15.9 ppg. Nate Bkorkenen is another first-season head coach and he’s been wanting the Pacers to play more like the Raptors, which is what many new coaches do after they were assistants on teams that won. Better to do it with Raptors players better conditioned for it. Defense has been getting lost in the translation. |
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04-06-21 | Pirates v. Reds -152 | 1-14 | Win | 100 | 7 h 45 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Reds are going for their first 4-1 start since 2016. They've won three in a row and just opened this series with a seventh consecutive home victory over the Pirates, 5-3 yesterday. During the three-game win streak, the Reds have outscored opponents 26-10. Pittsburgh is 1-3 and hoping to avoid its first 1-4 start since 2015. They've lost three in a row and are widely expected to be the worst team in all of baseball. So betting against them early in the season (when prices are still relatively low) would be wise. They have scored all of 12 runs so far. Ke'Bryan Hayes, who was going to be the centerpiece of the lineup, is on the 10-day DL. Veteran Wade Miley is on the hill for the Reds today. Given the Pirates' issues scoring runs, this should be a relatively easy outing. The Reds' bullpen has also been great so far (2.55 ERA, 0.91 WHIP). Pittsburgh is 18-38 its L56 games vs. a LH starter. Trevor Cahill starts opposite Miley. He is 0-2 vs. Cincy in 15 career appearances and did not get in a lot of reps during Spring Training. |
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04-05-21 | Dodgers -150 v. A's | 10-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 12 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Pitcher: May The A’s pitchers allowed 8, 9, 9, 9 runs to the Houston hitters going 0-4 on this field last weekend and now the Dodgers are knocking on the door. Okay, good luck with that. Frankie Montas is a better pitcher than anybody we know personally but he’s a guy with a 1.51 WHIP from last season pitching against one of MLB’s top run producing lineups, backed by a bullpen that hasn’t done anything right yet . Moving from Coors Field to Oco Coliseum surely reduces the potential for the Dodgers to pile on the runs, but it hasn’t aided Oakland’s ability to produce them — only 9 in four games against the Astros. LA starter Dustin May was matched against Montas at Dodger Stadium last season in a game won by the Dodgers, 7-2, when they out-hit the A’s 11 to 5. Didn’t we win a game against the A’s a couple of days ago after noting that their hits were being doubled by Astros hits? Do Not Play if Pitcher is different than actual |
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04-05-21 | Astros +106 v. Angels | 6-7 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 13 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Pitcher: Garcia ‘Angels’ Jose Quintana dominating in Cactus League play.’ That’s nice, Cactus League references. But tonight, a guy who’d been injured in 2019, then made only one (1) start in 2020, makes his first start as an Angel, a franchise that will take a chance on any pitcher because none of them ever work out for them and they’ve been so desperate that they actually signed Matt Harvey two years ago, and went to Japan for a pitcher who also plays the field and bats. They will let anyone pitch for them in hopes he can get people out. Quintana faces the hottest lineup going. Hopefully, the 4-0 Astros won’t be in mourning about not being allowed to stay in Oakland to continue to pound that pitching staff into submission. Do Not Play if Pitcher is different than actual |
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04-05-21 | Baylor v. Gonzaga -4 | 86-70 | Loss | -115 | 8 h 0 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Gonzaga survived a miraculous effort from UCLA on Saturday night, as Jalen Suggs closed a terrific game with an all-time shot at the buzzer. The Bulldogs held off a UCLA offense that made an incredible amount of mid-range shots and produced 1.22 points per possession. Gonzaga was not at their best, making 7-of-21 three point attempts while missing eight additional free throws. Gonzaga’s ability to win such a game should bode well for their ability to close out their perfect season. Gonzaga’s 6’10 standout Drew Timme will continue to lead the way against a Baylor attack that is headlined by a group of guards. While the Bears backcourt is sensational, their frontcourt components lack a bit when stacking up next to Timme on this stage. The starting duo Flo Thamba and Mark Vital have shown to be the weak link of the Baylor chain this postseason. Timme has rolled through the NCAA Tournament, scoring at least 22 points in the last four games, converting on 70.1% of two point attempts during that stretch. Gonzaga’s guards are also well suited to negate the strength of Baylor’s defense as well. Gonzaga ranks 34th-best in turnover rate, while the Bears defense ranks 3rd in generating turnovers. Without doing so, Baylor’s defense only grades out as adequate, raking 113th in effective field goal percentage allowed. Gonzaga’s perfect season should be completed with Timme controlling the interior and the Bulldog guards keeping the offense humming. |
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04-05-21 | Avalanche -165 v. Wild | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 33 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The season series between the team wraps up with games Monday and Wednesday. Colorado has won four of the six games, losing one in overtime. With the end of the regular season rapidly approaching, the teams are battling for playoff positioning. The Avalanche lead the West Division and the Wild are in third, six points behind. The two games in St. Paul could either tighten the gap or expand it. If Minnesota is going to gain ground, it won't be easy. Colorado is 12-0-2 in its last 14 games, sweeping St. Louis on Friday and Saturday nights. Both wins were one-goal games, and Saturday night's outcome wasn't decided until defenseman Cale Makar's goal with 41 seconds left. Every line is producing for the Avalanche and the defensive corps is pitching in. Over the last 14 games, Colorado has outscored opponents 62-25 and has posted two shutouts. The Avalanche are the hottest team in the league and have justified the predictions that they have a good chance to win the Stanley Cup. |
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04-05-21 | Jazz -4.5 v. Mavs | 103-111 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 29 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Dallas has lost twice to Utah so far this season and neither game was pretty for the Texans. They came out flat in both contests and the ball stuck in both games with 22 assists in one loss and 20 in the other. That is not fluke. Only three teams have fewer assists nightly than the Mavericks. Utah figures to want this game with the next pair back-toback on the road against teams currently in solid playoff position. Utah just held Orlando to 2 for 23 from deep in the Jazz win on Saturday. The average winning margin of Utah’s victories over Dallas this season is 16 points. |
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04-05-21 | Knicks v. Nets -5 | 112-114 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Second of back-to-backs for the Nets while the Knicks are rested. But the Knicks, as you know, don’t beat good teams. Brooklyn must be a good team, because they are 34-16, tied for first place in the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia. We figured the Nets for a loss yesterday in what appeared to have been, and was, a circled game for the semi-desperate Bulls when tonight’s no rest, intra-city date was on deck for Brooklyn. The Knicks used the Pistons for false confidence the other night in New York’s most dominant win of the season, 125-81. They are due back on planet Earth. |
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04-05-21 | Pirates v. Reds -143 | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 8 h 2 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Nick Castellanos' strong start is a big reason the Cincinnati Reds won their season-opening series against the St. Louis Cardinals. He also has been very good against the Pittsburgh Pirates during his career. Castellanos looks to stay hot and help the Reds to a third straight win against the Pirates at home on tonight. Cincinnati totaled 27 runs, 30 hits and belted six home runs while taking two of three from NL Central Division-favorite St. Louis. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it's the third time the Reds have scored at least that many runs through the first three games of a season. It's an especially strong start after the Reds ranked last in the majors in batting (.212) and 28th in average runs per game (4.05) in 2020. Castellanos went 6-for-11 with a pair of homers, a double, triple, six runs scored and five RBIs during the opening set. |
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04-04-21 | Maple Leafs -151 v. Flames | 4-2 | Win | 100 | 12 h 11 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Goaltender Jack Campbell is on the verge of making some franchise history with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who open a two-game set against the host Calgary Flames tonight. Campbell has been the winning goaltender in all eight of his starts this season, most recently Friday night when he stopped 31 shots as the Maple Leafs (24-10-3) defeated the host Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in a shootout. The Flames (16-19-3), meanwhile, lost 3-2 to the host Edmonton Oilers Friday night. Connor McDavid scored the winning goal on a third-period power play. The Flames are 2-5-0 this season against Edmonton and 2-3-1 against Toronto. Consider that Toronto is 12-4 in their last 16 road games |
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04-04-21 | Pelicans v. Rockets +6 | 122-115 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 47 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Rockets have some pick-and-roll finishers now, with Christian Wood back from injury and Kelly Olynyk acquired via trade. Head coach Stephen Silas wants to experiment with both on the floor for short segments, which doesn’t exactly strike fear in anyone’s heart but could be something that confuses Stan the Man and his lazy, 7-14 SU on-the-road Pelicans enough to matter. A coach who cannot manage his personnel so that he can put a competitive team on the floor against an opponent playing an eighth straight road game (Atlanta, 23-point home loss for New Orleans despite no Trae Young, Danilo Gallinari and John Collins!) should be fired on the spot. That won’t happen. But it’s on the list of reasons why we think that Van Gundy is the worst. |
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04-04-21 | Hornets v. Celtics -8.5 | 86-116 | Win | 100 | 9 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Charlotte is just really banged-up with LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward out for quite some time and Malik Monk out of action with a sprained ankle. In their last 3 defeats, the Hornets failed to reach 100 points. If Boston is going to make a move, they have to get this game against Charlotte. Five of the next 6 Celtics games are against teams currently in position to make the playoffs. Even though Boston is clinging to the 8th spot in the East, they are only a game and a half of out of the 4th seed, now held by Charlotte |
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04-04-21 | Blue Jackets v. Panthers -164 | 0-3 | Win | 100 | 8 h 14 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Blue Jackets have dropped six of their past seven games, including Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Panthers. They are in seventh place in the Central division with 36 points, five points the fourth-place Nashville Predators. Saturday's Panthers victory featured the first career hat trick by ex-Blue Jackets forward Alex Wennberg, who also had the overtime goal that beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Thursday. Wennberg scored three goals on four shots to help the Panthers extend their season-best win streak to five games. The Panthers are now 17-0-1 when they have the lead after two periods. Consider that Florida is 38-14 in their last 52 vs. a team with a winning % below .400. |
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04-04-21 | Capitals -162 v. Devils | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 6 h 18 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Washington Capitals returned to form Friday night against an opponent with whom they are well acquainted. The result was far too familiar for the New Jersey Devils, who are down to their last chance this season to earn a win over the Capitals. The visiting Capitals will look to complete a sweep of the Devils this afternoon, when the East Division rivals are scheduled to finish a two-game series in Newark, N.J. Some late dramatics helped the Capitals remain perfect against the Devils on Friday night, when Dmitry Orlov capped a chaotic overtime by scoring with 21 seconds left to lift Washington to a 2-1 win. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Capitals, who allowed their most goals in more than two years in an 8-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday night. It was the first time Washington surrendered eight goals since an 8-5 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 20, 2019. Consider that Washington is 36-16 in their last 52 games as a road favorite. |
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04-04-21 | Pirates v. Cubs -173 | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 5 h 9 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller (1-1, 2.91 ERA in 2020) is scheduled to oppose Zach Davies (7-4, 2.73 ERA in 2020) in a battle of right-handers. Keller, who turns 25 today, is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts against the Cubs. Consider that Pittsburgh is 7-20 in the last 27 meetings in Chicago. |
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04-04-21 | Twins v. Brewers +102 | 8-2 | Loss | -100 | 5 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Twins’ ace Jose Berrios outdueled Brewers’ up-and-coming Corbin Burns yesterday in a 2-0 win but now Minnesota has used new closer Alex Colome in both games, making him a question mark for today. For our money, the Brewers had the better bullpen to start and would have the better bullpen to finish this particular game. The Milwaukee batters who’ve accumulated 73 at-bats against Michael Pineda have a .332 batting average, .520 Slugging Percentage, .887 OPS against him. An example of how good the Milwaukee bullpen can be: In Houser’s one start vs. Minnesota last season, a 4-2 loss, he allowed a third-inning grand slam to Edwin Rosario. Following Houser’s exit after 5 innings, Freddie Peralta pitched 4 innings of 1-hit, 8-0 K-BB shutout ball. |
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04-04-21 | Rangers v. Royals -163 | 7-3 | Loss | -163 | 5 h 52 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units w/ Singer The Rangers will send Jordan Lyles to the mound Sunday as he tries to prove his 1-6 season in 2020 was not the pitcher he can be. He finished 2019 with a 7-1 record in his final 11 starts with Milwaukee, prompting the Rangers to sign him as a free agent following the season. But Lyles struggled throughout 2020, with a 1.56 WHIP. Manager Chris Woodward has decided to use him in a "tandem" role, piggybacking him with another pitcher to use up the innings normally assigned to the starter. For the Royals, Brady Singer will try to prove that the high expectations that come from a first-round selection in the 2018 draft and his debut two seasons later was the right choice. Singer had a solid 2020, finishing with a 4-5 record and a 4.06 ERA. But he finished strong, winning three of his last four, including allowing just one hit in eight innings in Cleveland. He then backed it up with a strong spring, going 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA in four starts. In his last spring start, against Cleveland, he allowed just two hits -- only one out of the infield -- in five innings, striking out five against just one walk. Do Not Play if Pitcher is different than actual |
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04-04-21 | Nets v. Bulls +3.5 | 107-115 | Win | 100 | 5 h 48 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Bulls had 58 points in the paint through three quarters at Utah the other night, with no fear of Rudy Gobert. It was a good workout in advance of this game, in which Brooklyn’s interior defense, patched together on the fly after several trades, will be tested. Chicago has yet to win (0-4 SU) since acquiring Nikola Vucevic from the Magic but they are off 5- and 7-point losses at on-fire Western Conference clubs Phoenix and Utah, despite playing without Zach Lavine (at Phoenix), and Garrett Temple (at Utah). Vucevic has had 22-14, 28-12 and 34-10 games against Brooklyn already this season. |
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04-04-21 | Indians v. Tigers +115 | 9-3 | Loss | -100 | 4 h 55 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units w/ Skukal Indians starter Aaron Civale was 4-6 with a 4.74 ERA last season, during which — it is reported — he “led” the American League in hits allowed (80), highest batting average against (.282), and tied for the league “lead” in hits allowed per nine innings (10.0). A pitcher doesn’t want to “lead” the league in any of these categories. Cleveland was 5-7 in Civale’s starts last season. And yet, they are favored at Comerica after losing the first two games of this series while totaling only 4 runs on 13 hits. When Civale “beat” the Tigers 10-5 last season, he allowed 8 hits and 4 runs in 6 innings, K-ing only 3. He happened to be matched against Ivan Nova on a bad day for Nova, whose bad days are worse than most other guys’ bad days. Tarik Skubal has no grand following but as a 24-year-old lefty with minimum exposure to the ordinary-hitting Indians (for 2 1/3 of his 32 rookie innings last year, 3 hits and 1 run allowed with 5 Ks and 1 BB), why not him? Do Not Play if pitcher is different than actual |
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04-03-21 | Thunder v. Blazers -11.5 | 85-133 | Win | 100 | 9 h 21 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Men vs. Boys, Part II for Portland shortly after they did a number on the Pistons in Detroit, with last night’s loss to the Bucks in between to angry them up. The Blazers are a now-healthy, veteran group that has won 60.4% of their games. The Thunder is a young group headed nowhere special with its best scorer out, its veteran “leader” Al Horford shut down for the season, another alleged veteran leader (George Hill) traded, Lu Dort banged up. They play a second of road back-to-backs coming out of Phoenix last night, where, given our ***BEST BET on Phoenix, we expected them to get killed. They sure enough did, 140-113, losing two more quarters after the Suns’ 43-13 first. |
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04-03-21 | Magic v. Jazz -14.5 | 91-137 | Win | 100 | 8 h 22 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Few opponents take Orlando seriously, which poses a problem for handicappers/bettors. They are 4-0 ATS since trading away three mainstays and using a starting lineup including guys like Chasson Randle, Chuma Okeke, Khem Birch and Dwight (Save Our) Bacon. When some opposing coaches see them coming, they say, ‘Oh, I think I’ll rest my leading scorer, and my second leading scorer… and maybe one or two other guys! However, Utah rested Donovan Mitchell earlier in the week. Aha! The Magic shot 5-for-25 on threes yet still won outright by 5 points in their last game, at New Orleans, who showed up with essentially nobody. No such luck here, probably. |
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04-03-21 | White Sox v. Angels +112 | 3-5 | Win | 112 | 8 h 25 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Major League mercenary Lance Lynn, making his first start for his fifth team (fifth in last five seasons) faced the Angels three times last season. The White Sox haven’t faced Alex Cobb since Moby Dick was a minnow, or, May of 2019 to be exact. Before that, it was September of 2016. Lots o’ water under those bridges. The home underdog knows what’s coming at them better than the road favorite does. The current members of the White Sox have combined for only 24 at-bats against Cobb. The White Sox brutalized lousy lefty Andrew Heaney yesterday, continuing their southpaw-shellacking trend of 2020. But they lost 4-3 Thursday when the Angels started righty Dylan Bundy, who threw a quality start against them. Play only with Cobb |
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04-03-21 | UCLA v. Gonzaga -14 | Top | 90-93 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 8 m | Show |
Rating: 5 Unit Final Four Game of the Week Gonzaga has been full throttle throughout the NCAA Tournament, defeating Oklahoma by 16 points, Creighton by 18 and USC by 19. All three of those teams certainly would have been favored over this UCLA team before the Bruins magical run. While the Bruins have caught lighting in a bottle and are playing well, their lack of explosiveness on offense is going to make for an uphill climb against the Zags. UCLA’s Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez have been tasked with carrying the load for the Bruins, with marginal help from elsewhere. Gonzaga on the other hand has the luxury of multiple players who can create and make shots. Remarkably, Gonzaga now owns three of the Top 10 players in KenPom’s Player of the Year race. That trio of Drew Timme, Jalen Suggs and Corey Kispert will prove to simply be too much to keep up with. As best as he will try, Mick Cronin will be the next coach in line who unsuccessfully attempts to slow the tempo against Mark Few’s bunch. Look for UCLA’s three point defense to run out of luck, as the Bruins have been fortunate to see opposing teams during this run make only 27.7% of attempts from downtown. |
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04-03-21 | Cavs v. Heat -12 | 101-115 | Win | 100 | 7 h 26 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Cleveland may not know if they are coming or going. They just went 1 and 3 on the road, came home to Ohio to lose to Philly, and now travel for this game and 2 more on the highway. When Cleveland lost to Miami last month they were held to 29% from beyond the arc and JaVale McGee was 8 for 10 from the floor. McGee has moved on to Denver. The Cavaliers are dead last in the league in points per game. Miami is coming around. They have won three in a row and Victor Oladipo started in his Miami debut and it’s only a matter of time before he feels more comfortable in his new surroundings. Youngsters Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro have also heated up. They were 16 for 28 from the floor in the win over Golden State on Thursday. |
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04-03-21 | Wolves v. 76ers -12 | 113-122 | Loss | -106 | 7 h 24 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Going into Friday’s game vs. Memphis, Minnesota had won 4 of 10 games and 3 of the wins came against teams that are currently in the playoff pictures. A major problem for the Wolves is the matador defense they play as they give up 117 a game. Minnesota is 3 and 6 this season in the second of back-to-back games. In the Friday game Minnesota was horrible in the second half in the facile Memphis victory. Philly just went 4 and 2 on a road trip and the losses came against the current 4th and 5th seeds in the West. The Sixers kept their foot on the gas beating Cleveland on Thursday as they won every quarter. They were victorious despite the fact 2 Philly starters were just 3 for 16 from the floor. |
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04-03-21 | Flyers v. Islanders -173 | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 10 h 45 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The eight goals by the Islanders were tied for the most they've scored since coach Barry Trotz arrived prior to the 2018-19 season. New York beat the Detroit Red Wings 8-2 on Jan. 14, 2020. The win, despite a shaky defensive performance, was equally notable for the Islanders, who allowed more than three goals in a win for the first time this season Thursday. The Flyers were not in nearly as jovial a mood following the lopsided defeat to the Sabres, who'd lost their previous 18 games (0-15-3) dating back to Feb. 25 -- the 14th-longest losing streak in NHL history and the longest skid since the Pittsburgh Penguins lost 18 straight games in 2003-04, the season before the NHL instituted the shootout. The defeat Wednesday capped a tumultuous month for the Flyers, who went 6-10-1 in March and gave up 75 goals, the most surrendered in a single month in franchise history. Philadelphia lost four games by at least five goals and gave up at least four goals 11 times. Consider that New York is 20-7 in their last 27 home games. |
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04-03-21 | Astros -136 v. A's | 9-1 | Win | 100 | 4 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units On a very hot, dry day at the neutral site of Dodger Stadium, Houston’s Lance McCullers had a bad post-season outing against the A’s last October, giving up three home runs among 8 hits and 5 runs in 4 innings. But we can use yesterday’s rallying cry with a slight adjustment: ‘Who won the game? Houston!’ They simply out-hit the A’s that day, 16 to 8, and outscored them 10-5. Very nice ratio, twice as many hits and twice as many runs. In that Play only with McCullers |
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04-02-21 | Thunder v. Suns -13 | 103-140 | Win | 100 | 10 h 23 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units OKC head coach Mark Daigneault: "Where we are vulnerable is in details, and it shows up on both ends of the floor, and it takes time." Phoenix is the NBA’s most underrated team. They have the best pointspread percentage (31-16, 66.0% ATS) to prove it. They probably want to right a wrong: a 102-97 home loss to OKC, in which Al Horford had 21 points, 11 rebounds, Shai Gilgeous Alexander 21 points, and the Suns had a 10-point second quarter playing without Devin Booker. Horford has been "shut down for the season," SGA is out injured. Booker should be in. |
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04-02-21 | Flames v. Oilers -139 | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 4 h 21 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Oilers have pressed on with the task at hand, preparing to face the Flames for the seventh time this season. Edmonton has won four of the previous six games, the most recent a 7-3 shellacking on St. Patrick's Day. In those six games against Calgary, McDavid has racked up six goals and 14 points, and part of the preparation was to separate him and Leon Draisaitl to provide scoring depth. McDavid on Thursday practiced on a line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jesse Puljujarvi. Draisaitl skated with Dominik Kahun and Kailer Yamamoto. As much as the Flames had to adjust their plans on the fly, the more important quest is to cobble together a winning streak. Calgary has lost five of six games and is falling further outside a playoff spot. The Flames -- who are 10 points behind their Alberta rivals -- have been guilty of blowing leads and losing control of close games at the first sign of trouble. Consider that Edmonton is 19-9 in their last 28 vs. North. |
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04-02-21 | Hornets v. Pacers -4 | 114-97 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 25 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Charlotte was in Brooklyn on Thursday and they must have not been in the right frame of mind. The Hornets scored just 11 points in the first quarter and that doomed their fate. These teams splits the 2 games this season in January. In the Indy loss to Charlotte two of the Pacers starters were a combined 6 for 18 from the floor and the Pacers bench was outscored. Miami visited Indy on Wednesday and Indy was right there with 12 minutes to go but they lost the last stanza by 7 points and the game by 5. |
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04-02-21 | Mavs -6 v. Knicks | 99-86 | Win | 100 | 8 h 58 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Inconsistency has plagued the Knicks. They beat Milwaukee 6 nights ago and then they lost to the 12 and 36 Timberwolves last Wednesday. Both R. J. Barrett and Derrick Rose are iffy for New York with ankle issues. Dallas has won 2 of their last 3 games and the loss last Saturday was in the second of a back-to-back game when the Mavericks could not handle Zion Williamson. Look for Kristaps Porzingas to be primed to stick it to his former club. |
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04-02-21 | Rays +103 v. Marlins | 6-4 | Win | 103 | 8 h 20 m | Show | |
Rating: Units The Marlins were underdog darlings last season. But when a team makes the post-season with a -41 run differential, people tend to miss the negative run differential part and see only ‘Hey, they’ll definitely improve now, because, well, I don’t know why, just because!’ Tonight, the superior team that played in the World Series last season lays only a teeny bit against a teeny-tiny home dog with much to prove, especially at the plate. The Marlins haven’t scored a run yet. Hard to win if you can’t score. Joey Wendle didn’t play for the Rays yesterday. He’s not injured or sick. He figures to be in the lineup tonight against Miami starter Pablo Lopez, because he’s 4-for-8 against him with a double and a homer. Ryan Yarbrough pitched 6 2/3 innings of 4-hit, shutout ball on this field last August in a 2-0 Rays win. Don Not Play if Yarbrough does not pitch |
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04-01-21 | Hornets +2.5 v. Nets | 89-111 | Loss | -109 | 5 h 26 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units At #4 in the East, the Hornets are closer to #14 Toronto (6.5 games in front of the Raptors) than to #1 tie Brooklyn and Philadelphia (7.5 games behind). They beat the Nets at home, 106-104, in the third game of the season. ""We have to treat every team like it’s Brooklyn," Gordon Hayward said afterwards. "We had this sense of urgency." They figure to treat this opponent like it’s Brooklyn. Because it’s Brooklyn. The Hornets are 14-6 ATS as a road underdog; Nets are 2-7 ATS last nine games, during which their only two covers have been when they were +2 underdogs at Portland and Indiana. As the chalk in this span, they’re 0-6 ATS. |
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04-01-21 | Wizards -3 v. Pistons | 91-120 | Loss | -107 | 5 h 2 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Detroit has lost to some bad teams this season like Houston, Cleveland and Orlando. The Pistons try to defend but their offense kills them. They are 25th in scoring and rebounding. Detroit just lost to this club on Saturday despite Bradley Beal having to leave the game. Russell Westbrook just took over the game. Detroit hosted Portland on Wednesday and after competing for 12 minutes, the Pistons faded into sunset in the loss. Washington should have an edge in the middle with Detroit’s Mason Plumlee going against Alex Len and Robin Lopez. In the loss to Charlotte on Tuesday Alex and Robin combined for 26 points and 16 rebounds. |
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04-01-21 | 76ers -9.5 v. Cavs | 114-94 | Win | 100 | 5 h 58 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units A first-place team 32-15 overall (but 0-2 vs. Cleveland!) has lost the last two games of a six-game road trip in Denver and L.A., to a couple of 60%+ straight-up winners. The 76ers are 3-2 on this trip. Good teams take care of business in situations such as this. Doc Rivers was looking at his watch after the first quarter in Denver Tuesday night with the scoreboard 43-22 against his team, and let the bench players take it from there. The Cavaliers have used 22 different starting lineups in 47 games, and were without Larry Nance, Jr., Jarrett Allen, Matthew Dellavadova for the 39-point loss at Utah. Kevin Love didn’t play, either, but does he count anymore? |
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04-01-21 | Capitals v. Islanders -114 | 4-8 | Win | 100 | 5 h 4 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Its important to remember that not all "first game back" situations are equal though. Tonight, the Isles are playing their first home game since 3/20. In this case, however, they actually only played four road games (as opposed to seven) and, unlike the Jets, the Isles never had to leave their own time zone. Also, the trip was not entirely successful, as they lost the final two games. What I'm trying to say is that I don't expect them to struggle the way that Winnipeg did. Its worth mentioning that the Isles are a perfect 5-0 their last five home games, following a road trip of seven or more days. More? The Isles are also 9-1 their last 10, after allowing two goals or less, in their previous game. |
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04-01-21 | Rangers v. Royals -153 | 10-14 | Win | 100 | 2 h 53 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Play with Keller Both these teams finished near the bottom of the standings last year, and neither team is likely to be a factor in 2020. But the Royals got a boost from Brad Keller in 2020, who managed a 2.47 ERA in nine starts for KC (+$525). Texas was a dismal 6-24 outside of Arlington (-$1515) while the Royals were profitable vs. righties here at Kaufman Stadium. Look for the Royals to break through with an opening day win. |
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03-31-21 | Bucks -8.5 v. Lakers | 112-97 | Win | 100 | 4 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Like we said earlier, no good team ‘wants’ to lose three straight, but the Bucks have. They didn’t ‘want’ to lose five straight in January, but they did. They don’t ‘want’ to lose a fourth straight game tonight, and with the Lakers 2-4 SU since Lebron went down while Lebrow was already out, they probably won’t. The Lakers have scored 100 and 96 points beating downtrodden Cleveland and Orlando in their last two games. You’re probably aware that a 98 ppg average would be last in the NBA, which is why they were able to beat two depleted teams that are scraping Eastern Conference bottom. Over the last 10 days, which is five games for L.A., only Cleveland is averaging fewer than the Lakers’ 1.0 points per possession. The Bucks have revenge for 113-106 home loss when the Lakers were fully represented (A. Davis and L. James each played 38 minutes) and fully energized in the first game of an Eastern road trip. |
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03-31-21 | Mavs +2.5 v. Celtics | 113-108 | Win | 100 | 2 h 47 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Jaylen Brown missed the Monday game when the Celts lost to New Orleans. Jayson Tatum had 34 points but he takes a lot of tough shots and Boston allowed the Pelicans to shoot 51% from beyond the arc. Dallas has a number of quality wins against teams like Brooklyn, the Clips and Denver. The Texans beat Boston last month in the second of a back-to-back game when the Big Three from Boston all had excellent games. Luca Doncic returned from a back issue on Monday and he put in a good all-around performance. The important thing is that he only had to play 28 minutes. |
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03-31-21 | Flyers -191 v. Sabres | 1-6 | Loss | -191 | 2 h 30 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Leading 3-0 after two periods Monday night, Buffalo seemed headed to its first victory since Feb. 23. Instead, Kevin Hayes, captain Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier scored third-period goals, and defenseman Ivan Provorov came through 42 seconds into overtime, as Philadelphia completed a stunning 4-3 comeback victory. While the Flyers have won back-to-back contests for the first time since a three-game run from Feb. 24-28, the Sabres are mired in an 0-15-3 rut. That's NHL's longest such slide during the shootout era. The 1993-94 Winnipeg Jets were the most recent club to go 19 in a row without a win. Consider that Philadelphia is 24-8 in their last 32 games as a road favorite. |
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03-31-21 | Heat +0.5 v. Pacers | 92-87 | Win | 100 | 1 h 15 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Indy won both of the games this season against Miami but in one of the wins they got a bit of a break when 2 of the Miami starters were only 4 for 20 from the floor. In D.C. on Monday the Pacers could not keep up with the potent Washington offense. Trevor Ariza is starting to feel comfortable with Miami and he has championship credentials. The Heat were in New York on Monday and although he was rusty, Goran Dragic was back in action in the victory. Miami held New York to 28% from long range. |
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03-31-21 | Blazers -7.5 v. Pistons | 124-101 | Win | 100 | 1 h 10 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units After completing the 3-0 sweep of the Toronto franchise that fired him the year before it won the NBA title, Pistons head coach Dwayne Casey probably won’t have the screws too tight for this next affair. It’s a young team with the East’s worst record and young teams tend to be the most volatile in their form, anyway. The Blazers attempt to sweep a four-game Eastern road trip in what amounts to a Men vs. Boys scenario and the men don’t have to win by much to accomplish the task for their backers as well as themselves. These were the types of match-ups that Portland needed to win to stay in a good playoff place before McCollum and Nurkic came back. Now that they’re both back, it’s a game in which they should cruise. |
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03-30-21 | Magic v. Clippers -11 | 103-96 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 20 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units It’s the second of back-to-backs for the host Clippers (vs. rested Magic) after they entertained a more lucrative opponent, Milwaukee. But L.A. head coach Tyronne Lue is on record as saying that back-to-backs test your manhood. His players have taken his words to heart: 8-0 SU and ATS with no rest. The Magic relieved themselves of 59 starting points in their recent trades. They are out West on a wing and some prayers as non-miracle working head coach Steve Clifford attempts to figure it all out, while by no means safe from becoming an eventual victim of the ol’ teardown process himself. |
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03-30-21 | UCLA v. Michigan -6.5 | 51-49 | Loss | -109 | 6 h 43 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units We didn’t think Michigan guards would ever get comfortable on the perimeter against Florida State. Apparently, neither did Wolverines’ head coach Juwan Howard, his coaching staff and the players, because they just went into the paint for 50 of their 76 points while Leonard (Zzzz) Hamilton took another one of his frequent bench naps on company time. With 50 points in the paint and 15 on free throws, Michigan needed to make only 3 of 11 three-point attempts for a comfy-cozy win in which they allowed Florida State to get to the free-throw line for only 6 attempts. But this is a tougher defensive prep for both sides with only one day between games. Both offenses are good with ball security. Michigan’s 2-point defense (42.7%) is the best UCLA has faced. The Bruins were 0-2 vs. USC, who ranked four spots lower than Michigan’s #8 national rank in that category. |
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03-30-21 | USC v. Gonzaga -8 | 66-85 | Win | 100 | 9 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Many teams have been flummoxed by USC’s length and zone defense this season, and that has carried the Trojans to the Elite 8. However, they’ll now have to deal with the most skilled and diverse offense in the nation when taking on the Zags. Gonzaga is making 37.3% of three-point attempts this season and have multiple options to cycle through the middle of the Trojans’ zone. Drew Timme serves as an excellent option to be a decision maker, while they can surround the big man with quality shooting. Gonzaga has simply looked like they’re on a different level than anyone this year, as even Oklahoma and Creighton played respectable games and still ended up on the losing side by 17 and 18 point margins. USC would need to be at their best again to have a chance of staying within single digits. |
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03-30-21 | Hornets -3.5 v. Wizards | 114-104 | Win | 100 | 8 h 18 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Washington had lost 8 of 10 before hosting the Pacers on Monday. Bradley Beal didn’t play Monday but Washington won a taxing game behind a monster game from Russell Westbrook. Charlotte had a pretty rough road trip starting a couple of weeks ago when they beat Spurs in their final road game of that stretch to avoid going 0 for 4 on the journey. They had won 3 in a row before losing to Phoenix in overtime on Sunday. When the Hornets beat this team last month they won the battle of the boards and got efficient games out of both Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward. |
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03-30-21 | Blue Jackets v. Lightning -1.5 | 3-1 | Loss | -100 | 8 h 20 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Columbus enters off a poor 4-1 loss in Detroit on Monday and I have a hard time seeing it keeping up with the defending champs in this difficult road venue. The Jackets have lost four straight, allowing three or more goals over that span. Tampa's defense has been a bit shaky of late, but after two straight losses, clearly the Lightning will come in focused on the task at hand this evening. The Bolts are 7-1 in their last eight at home and I think they can not only win this game, but win by a sizeable margin. |
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03-29-21 | Arkansas v. Baylor -7.5 | 72-81 | Win | 100 | 6 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Arkansas has had a bad habit of falling behind early all season long. In fact, the last five Razorback wins have all come after trailing by double digits. However, if that trend continues, there will be no recovering from it against an elite Baylor team. The Bears have the ability to shut down a fairly uncreative Arkansas offense and take advantage in transition. Perhaps no duo of guards left in the country are as dangerous on both ends as Baylor’s Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell. Arkansas has had an advantage against most teams with their ability to go small, that will not be the case against the Bears. The Bears are in a position to thrive in a small-ball game. |
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03-29-21 | Ducks v. Avalanche -1.5 | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 5 h 21 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Off a 3-2 overtime win in St. Louis just last night, we think the Ducks, who have won two in a row now, are going to have a predictable letdown here in this difficult road venue and in the second game of the back-to-back. Despite yesterday's win, note that the Ducks have still scored two goals or less in six of their last nine games. And although Anaheim was decent on the defensive end vs. St. Louis yesterday, it's still allowed four or more goals in six of its last tne games. Off a 3-2 OT loss to the Knights, the Avs will be eager to take advantage of this favorable spot. Despite losing last time out, Colorado has still scored four or more goals in seven of its last eight games. The Avs have also turned things around in net, conceding one goal or less in seven of their last ten outings. Anaheim is only 1-4 in its last five road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of more than .600. Everything is in place for the Avalanche to not only win tonight, but to win big. |
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03-29-21 | Mavs -11 v. Thunder | 127-106 | Win | 100 | 4 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units The Mavericks held the Thunder to 78 points on March 3. On March 11, at OKC, in the second of back-to-backs after having beaten San Antonio at home the prior night, head coach Rick Carlisle opted to rest both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. They trailed 35-19 after the first quarter and lost the game. Oopsie! Won’t do that again! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was 11-for-22, game-high 32 points for OKC in their win. He’ll take a non-recorded 0 tonight. Meanwhile, there will be no rest for the non-weary dynamic Dallas duo as the Mavericks are off two losses, with a day between games, and every game has playoff-making implications for the West’s current #8 team until they don’t. |
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03-29-21 | Heat -4.5 v. Knicks | 98-88 | Win | 100 | 4 h 40 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units The Knicks’ outright win at Milwaukee would have been a tough one to ignore had Milwaukee actually been trying. But starters Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Donte DiVincenzo and Jrue Holiday sat, as did sixth man Bobby Portis. New York comes back home with a false sense of confidence off three straight wins, four in the last five, as Miami is desperate. The Heat have lost three games vs. Indiana and Charlotte in the last 10 days which triggered a drop in the standings into a #8 tie with the Pacers, 2 games behind the #4 Knicks. It didn’t help when Western Conference winners Phoenix and Portland were scheduled to hit their town in between those losses. They’ve lost six straight and are 5-14 against opponents with winning records. Let’s make it 6-14. |
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03-29-21 | Oregon State v. Houston -7.5 | Top | 61-67 | Loss | -110 | 3 h 23 m | Show |
Rating: 4 Unit Midwest Region Play of the Day Houston is likely to again face a bunch of zone defense when they take on the upstart Oregon State team. Houston has seen nearly every type of zone imaginable after having played in a zone heavy American Athletic Conference and having just taken down Syracuse’s 2-3 attack. The Cougars will again attack the offensive glass, where they’re elite, as the Beavers rank 228th in defensive rebound rate. Houston guard DeJon Jarreau is also a terrific candidate to shut down Oregon State leading scorer, Ethan Thompson. Jarreau frustrated and shut down Syracuse’s Buddy Boeheim on Saturday, and his leadership continues to lead the way for the Cougars. Along with Jarreau, Houston guards Marcus Sasser and Quentin Grimes have proven to give Houston enough perimeter ability to successfully create offense that is efficient enough given their prowess on defense and on the glass. |
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03-29-21 | Pacers -5 v. Wizards | 124-132 | Loss | -101 | 3 h 12 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Washington makes it hard on themselves because they don’t defend. They give up the most points in the Association. Bradley Beal was iffy for the win over Detroit on Saturday but he suffered a hip contusion, left the game, and didn’t return. Davis Bertans is out with calf issues. Davis is 38% from downtown this season. Beal has missed only 3 games for Washington this season and the Wizards have lost all of them. Indy has won 4 of 5 and the loss during this span came against the high-scoring Milwaukee club when the Pacers were playing the second of a back-to-back game. Caris LeVert will really help Indy in the second half of the season. |
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03-28-21 | Magic v. Lakers -6.5 | 93-96 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units One game prior to leaving for this first of a five-game Western trip, the Magic traded a good share of their points production away – Center Nikola Vucevic, forward Aaron Gordon, guard Evan Fournier. They were already missing three injured guys they’d been counting on to be key players in 2020-21, guards Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony, forward Jonathan Isaac. Terrence Ross is now the “best” player on what appears to be a much worse team as Tankathon 2021 begins, an event the Lakers are not participating in. L.A. is, however, prepared to take out the violins and fiddle a sad tune for Orlando while using the Magic’s situation to help relieve some of the desperation within their own little issue, which is being Lebron- and Lebrowless. |
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03-28-21 | Oregon v. USC -2 | Top | 68-82 | Win | 100 | 32 h 14 m | Show |
Rating: 4 Unit West Region Play of the Day USC is proving to be too big and too athletic for many teams to contend |
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03-28-21 | Florida State +2.5 v. Michigan | 58-76 | Loss | -110 | 27 h 28 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton maintained all season long that his team had another level to get to, and it appears the Seminoles are starting to do so. Florida State didn’t always bring defensive intensity throughout the year, but are doing so now. “That’s just kind of what we were supposed to do the whole year,” said center Balsa Koprivica. “It’s always our emphasis. But now everything is on the line, and it’s win or go home. We’re just all focused, talking to each other. And this is what we have to do to win these types of games. Because not every game is going to be a good shooting night.” Florida State’s overall length and athleticism will cause fits for Michigan’s more traditional lineup. |
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03-28-21 | Blue Jackets -160 v. Red Wings | 1-4 | Loss | -160 | 6 h 31 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Detroit snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory on Saturday. The Red Wings had mustered just one goal during the slide, and that goal came in a 7-1 thrashing by the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Columbus was starting a six-game road trip. With two games apiece against Central Division leader Tampa Bay, followed by a pair against Florida, the game today takes on added importance. "Unacceptable, but what good is it for me to sit here and start saying all these things?" Foligno said. "We just have an opportunity (today) to rectify that and learn from it and know that we gave one away today, which better (upset) some guys off in that room, because we don't have any games to give away. We don't have any cushion right now." Consider that Detroit is 9-22 in their last 31 vs. Central. |
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03-28-21 | Creighton v. Gonzaga -12.5 | 65-83 | Win | 100 | 3 h 24 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Gonzaga, 28-0, cruised through the season without being a serious participant in basketball’s mass movement towards being heavy on the three-point shot. They average 7.6 makes on 20.4 attempts per game, below average in volume (but an above-average 37.5% in accuracy). They’ve zeroed in from inside the arc, but not with the frowned-upon 2-point jumpers. At a high 75.1 possessions per game, the ’Zags have attempted 48.7% of their shots near the rim, sending an amazing 72.5% of them through the net with a top 30 free-throw rate attached. They’ll get their threes on hoop and harm and put opponents in foul trouble while doing it. 34.9% of their shots have come in transition, where their Effective Field Goal % (factoring both twos and threes) is a national-high 65.9%. Creighton isn’t built to slow down opponents into half-court games and if they were, there’s the matter of Gonzaga’s national-high 58.4% Effective Field Goal % in non-transition. |
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03-28-21 | Suns -6 v. Hornets | 101-97 | Loss | -114 | 2 h 10 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units When Charlotte beat this team last month LaMelo Ball had 20 points, 8 assists and a couple of steals. He is likely out for the season. Charlotte is in the bottom half of the league in scoring and allowing points and they allow clubs to shoot 47% from the floor, 23rd overall. Phoenix no longer sneaks up on anybody. They are the real deal. Chris Paul makes sure they take good shots and Devin Booker is liable to go off on any given night. The Suns have won 4 of 5 and the loss during this span came when they blew a fourth-quarter lead in Orlando after beating Miami 24 hours earlier. |
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03-28-21 | Mississippi State v. Memphis -4 | 64-77 | Win | 100 | 3 h 34 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Unit NIT Championship Cash Mississippi State is again expected to be without starting forward Tolu Smith, making the Bulldogs a bit smaller and without one main offensive option against a swarming Memphis defense. Memphis has put things together down the stretch this season, as their only two losses since February 1st have come in two narrow defeats against Houston. The Tigers defense is relentless, ranking 28th-best nationally in turnover rate. Their pressure will create a major |
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03-27-21 | Cavs +7.5 v. Kings | 98-100 | Win | 100 | 12 h 2 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Cavaliers lost 119-105 to the Kings at home on Monday. They take the floor with revenge in a second of back-to-backs coming out of Laker Land last night. Cleveland’s leading scorer for the loss vs. the Kings was Javale McGee, which should tell us all something, given that McGee was traded to Denver three days later – they were showcasing him. The guy scored 18 points in 19 minutes and Denver snapped him up. The Cavaliers aren’t good, but it’s hard to believe that the starters for that game – Larry Nance, Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen, Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, are truly as bad as their -25, -18, -24, -25 and -26 plus-minuses for that game, compared to their opposite numbers on Sacramento. |
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03-27-21 | Syracuse v. Houston -6.5 | 46-62 | Win | 100 | 12 h 15 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Houston will have a full week to prepare for Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, and the Cougars won’t be unfamiliar with such a look. Houston played against a bunch of zone this season in the American Athletic Conference, as there are several teams in that conference that opt to play such a style. Houston has capable guards and their frontcourt is relentless in attacking the offensive glass. Houston ranks 2nd-best nationally in offensive rebound rate, an area where Syracuse’s defense always struggles. Consider that Houston is 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. |
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03-27-21 | Celtics -9 v. Thunder | 111-94 | Win | 100 | 11 h 3 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Hamadou Diallo hadn’t been playing while injured for OKC, and then they traded him to Detroit. Their heart-and-soul motor, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will be out for a while. With the absences and castoffs, Darius Bazley is now a top three scorer for them and he was out with an injury in their last game. The Celtics play with playoff-making urgency in just about every game, until they don’t anymore. They got a good reminder of how good they can be these last few days when, after 96 minutes at Milwaukee, they were +6 in points against a team with a 67% straight-up win percentage that’s 7.5 games ahead of them in the standings. If newly acquired Evan Fournier can step in and hit a few buckets, the fight would be even more unfair. |
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03-27-21 | Pistons v. Wizards -3.5 | 92-106 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units The Pistons had lost 9 of 12 before facing Brooklyn on Friday. The wins in that span came against the 12 and 31 Rockets, the Raptors when three key Toronto players were 7 for 27 from the field and the Raptors again when Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam didn’t play. On Friday Detroit could not contain James Harden and the Pistons lost a heart breaker. The emphasis for Washington will be to play the entire 48 minutes. They were leading New York by 11 points Thursday night with 12 minutes to go but lost the last stanza by 15 and the game by 4 points. Look for both Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal to be pumped after going just a combined 11 for 38 from the floor Thursday. |
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03-27-21 | Oral Roberts +11.5 v. Arkansas | 70-72 | Win | 100 | 9 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Oral Roberts, a double digit underdog, have already shown once this season that they belong on the same floor as Arkansas. Oral Roberts held an early 12 point second half lead on the road at Arkansas back on December 20th. While the Golden Eagles did fall by an 11 point margin, they did so despite shooting 8-for-29 from long distance. Furthermore, star guard Max Abmas had an off game, playing just 32 minutes due to foul trouble and going 4-of-11 from the field. Consider that Oral Roberts is 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. |
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03-27-21 | Villanova v. Baylor -7.5 | Top | 51-62 | Win | 100 | 8 h 38 m | Show |
Rating: 4 Unit South Region Play of the Day This will be Villanova’s first real test without point guard Collin Gillepsie, and a terrific Bears backcourt is waiting to pounce. Baylor’s Davion Mitchell is one of the best defensive players in the country and will be ready to hound Villanova’s replacements at the guard spot. Baylor ranks 3rd-best nationally in turnover rate on the defensive end and has the ability to disrupt the Wildcats offense. The Bears backcourt is too good, too versatile and too experienced to not handle this mismatch. Villanova’s only chance will come from post player Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to dominate inside, but Baylor’s physicality will provide a strong test. |
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03-27-21 | Golden Knights v. Avalanche -174 | 3-2 | Loss | -174 | 6 h 36 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Vegas and Colorado viewed their two-game set in Denver as a prelude to a possible postseason clash later in the spring. After one game, it's the Avalanche who look playoff ready and have the Golden Knights looking for answers. Colorado dominated the first matchup, winning 5-1 Thursday night with a big second period that turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead. While players talk about moving on after a loss, it won't be so easy for Vegas. The Avalanche have been outclassing their opponents lately, winning eight of their last nine and earning at least a point in all nine of those games. The games with Vegas come a week after another key matchup against Minnesota, and Colorado won both of those games by a combined score of 11-1. Consider that Colorado is 40-15 in their last 55 games playing on 1 days rest while Vegas is 10-25 in their last 35 games as a road underdog. |
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03-27-21 | Oregon State +7 v. Loyola-Chicago | 65-58 | Win | 100 | 4 h 15 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units In hindsight, Wayne Tinkle was always a good one-and-done NCAA Tournament underdog when he coached Montana. But he and his Eager Beavers have really outdone themselves recently. They enter the Sweet 16 with five straight wins as the outright underdog. What were the odds of such a run? Oh, less than 1%. If they advance to the Elite Eight, then they’ll have pulled off a greater than 1,000-1 shot of six straight outright wins taking two or three possessions worth of points. They are an over-the-top 16-4 ATS as the dog. |
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03-25-21 | 76ers -5.5 v. Lakers | 109-101 | Win | 100 | 11 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Obviously missing LeBron and Anthony Davis changes the entire Lakers structure but they also will be without the steadying force of Marc Gasol. Philly has won 9 of 10 and the loss in this time frame was by 4 points to Milwaukee when the Sixers were playing the second of a back-to-back game. They beat the Lakers in January after losing in Detroit 48 hours earlier. In that win over L.A. LeBron had 34 points and Davis chipped in with 23. That’s a lot of points for the Lakers to find for this game. |
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03-25-21 | Golden Knights v. Avalanche -172 | 1-5 | Win | 100 | 10 h 1 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Prior to losing 5-4 in Arizona on Tuesday, the Avalanche had put together arguably the best six-game run we've seen from any team all season. They won all six games by a combined score of 27-7 and did so by completely dominating shots on goal: 42-31, 55-20, 36-22, 41-28, 46-18 and 46-14. They outshot the 'Yotes 39-32 in that loss Tuesday, which went to a shootout after falling down 0-2 in the first period. We look for the Avs to bounce back on home ice this evening. They are playing the first place Golden Knights, not an easy matchup by any means, but Colorado being such a sizable favorite here should tell you what the oddsmakers think of them. A win tonight would pull the Avs even with the Knights and we think they get the two points. |
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03-25-21 | Boise State v. Memphis -4.5 | Top | 56-59 | Loss | -110 | 4 h 35 m | Show |
NIT Game of the Week Memphis has improved considerably since the start of February, with their only two losses during the last seven weeks coming at the hands of Houston. Even then, the Tigers were competitive, covering both games against the Cougars. Penny Hardaway has stated that his defensive system is now fully installed, and it’s paid dividends for his Memphis team. The Tigers defense now ranks 2nd-best nationally in defensive efficiency rating. |
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03-25-21 | Lightning -165 v. Stars | 3-4 | Loss | -165 | 9 h 28 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Andrei Vasilevskiy is pretty much unbeatable right now. The Tampa Bay goaltender set a franchise record with his 12th straight win in the Lightning's 2-1 victory Tuesday at Dallas in a rematch of last season's Stanley Cup Final. Vasilevskiy is two shy of the NHL record as the Lightning enter today's rematch against the host Stars. The 26-year-old Russian had to make just 16 saves Tuesday to eclipse Louis Domingue's franchise record of 11 consecutive victories from Nov. 29, 2018, to Feb. 19, 2019. After defeating the Stars in six games in last season's Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning have won each of the first four games against them this season. Tampa Bay is only the fourth defending champion in NHL history to accomplish that feat, joining the Montreal teams of 1944-45, 1957-58 and 1976-77. |
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03-25-21 | Mississippi State -2.5 v. Richmond | Top | 68-67 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 0 m | Show |
Rating: 3 Unit NIT Play of the Day Richmond will at least be without starting center Grant Golden, and starting guard Blake Francis remains as a game-time decision. The Spiders will have to deal with a physical and big Mississippi State team without Golden. The Bulldogs should own the rebounding battle as well as the paint. Mississippi State will be led on the offensive end by starting guard D.J. Stewart, who produced 20 points and six assists in an impressive six-point victory over Saint Louis in the opening round of the NIT. |
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03-24-21 | Jets -140 v. Canucks | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 9 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Canucks may fight hard in this one. However, they're badly short-handed. The Jets have been dominating them here, making it a home away from home. The teams last met Monday and Winnipeg won 4-0. That loss was costly, as Vancouver lost captain Bo Horvat to injury. They're calling him day-to-day but if you saw the injury, it'd be surprising if he goes tonight. Keep in mind that Sutter didn't play last game either and that the Canucks were already without Pettersson and Beagle. There are other injuries, too. However, I mention those guys as all four are centers. That's going to make things tough. |
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03-24-21 | Grizzlies -4.5 v. Thunder | 116-107 | Win | 100 | 7 h 51 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units These teams split the 2 games this season but Memphis should have won both of them. In the Memphis loss 10 nights ago, the Grizzlies had a 10-point lead with 12 minutes to go but lost the game by 6. Memphis is sometimes challenged to score but they share the ball and they play solid defense holding teams to 111 a night, 12th overall. When Memphis can start Ja Morant, Grayson Allen, Dillion Brooks, Kyle Anderson and Jonas Valanciunas they are the best starters in the league allowing points per 100 possessions. |
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03-24-21 | Suns -9.5 v. Magic | 111-112 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 49 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units When Orlando lost to Phoenix in February the Magic were just 17% from beyond the arc. That is no fluke as Orlando is 20th in the league from downtown. Orlando hosted Denver on Tuesday in a game that Aaron Gordon played like a guy that wanted to get traded. He had a meaningless 13 points in the defeat. Phoenix is 7-1 this season in the second of back-to-back games including a win over Orlando last month 24 hours after beating the Sixers. Phoenix played last season’s Eastern Conference champs on Tuesday and in that game in Miami was down 15 in the first half and they could not rally. |
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03-24-21 | Cavs v. Bulls -6 | 103-94 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 47 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units When Orlando lost to Phoenix in February the Magic were just 17% from beyond the arc. That is no fluke as Orlando is 20th in the league from downtown. Orlando hosted Denver on Tuesday in a game that Aaron Gordon played like a guy that wanted to get traded. He had a meaningless 13 points in the defeat. Phoenix is 7-1 this season in the second of back-to-back games including a win over Orlando last month 24 hours after beating the Sixers. Phoenix played last season’s Eastern Conference champs on Tuesday and in that game in Miami was down 15 in the first half and they could not rally. |
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03-24-21 | Coastal Carolina v. Pepperdine -4 | 61-84 | Win | 100 | 7 h 45 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units It took a talented Pepperdine squad some time to come to life in both of their opening CBI games, but eventually their talent was able to take over in wins against Bellarmine and Longwood. Now situated in a title game, the Waves should be motivated from the start. Pepperdine big man Kessler Edwards has proven to be a mismatch this week, as the 6’8 junior has totaled 50 points in 65 minutes through two games. With the pair of Edwards and guard Colbey Ross, the Waves will have the two best players on the floor on Wednesday night. |
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03-24-21 | Nuggets -2.5 v. Raptors | 111-135 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 14 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units What the? They lost in Houston, these Raptors? In a blowout! They have all their guys back. They’re supposed to make a run towards the bottom rung of the Eastern Conference playoff ladder! Our initial impression of the Raptors early this season was “Fade the Raptors!” and it was a good take, for a while, until they started to win a few games. But now, we’re back to, “Fade the Raptors!” as their losing streak has hit nine. Some say they’ve “hit bottom” after losing to an opponent on a 20-game losing streak but after they lost to the worst team goin’, and haven’t won since Feb. 26, they’re probably still approaching bottom. |
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03-23-21 | Nets v. Blazers -3.5 | 116-112 | Loss | -102 | 10 h 34 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units The last Brooklyn trip out West went 5-0, including outright wins as the underdog at Phoenix, LA Lakers and LA Clippers, three teams above the Blazers in the Western Conference standings. That’s the all-too-logical approach for picking the Nets with the points tonight. It might still work. But, the Blazers’ big scorers all tanked vs. Dallas here in their last game, and the Nets will be without Kyrie Irving (of course!) and Kevin Durant (of course!). These two guys obviously don’t care about whether or not they finish first in the East. |
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03-23-21 | Avalanche -1.5 v. Coyotes | 4-5 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 27 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Avalanche hammered the Coyotes last night and more of the same expected tonight. Arizona has lost 6 of its last 7 games. Also, 6 of the Coyotes last 8 losses have come by a margin of 2 or more goals. In fact, the average margin of defeat in Arizona's last 8 losses is 3 goals! Colorado is a big money line favorite here for a reason but where we get the value is the puck line. By laying the 1.5 goals, the Avalanche are actually available at a plus money return (currently in the +115 range) and that is a great value when you consider the above trending for the Coyotes. Also, the Avalanche have won 7 straight games and each of the last 6 have been decided by a multiple goal margin. Those 6 victories came by an average margin of 3.8 goals per game! |
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03-23-21 | Suns -1.5 v. Heat | 110-100 | Win | 100 | 8 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Miami’s Goran Dragic has been nursing a bad back and is iffy for this game but don’t be shocked if he plays. He left the Phoenix organization with some bad blood. The Heat have lost 3 in a row. Before this losing streak Miami had won 5 in a row but none of the teams they beat during this time frame have winning records. The disturbing stat about Miami is that they are 29th in the league shooting the ball from downtown. That makes it a bit easier for opponents to scheme for the Heat. The Suns were unbeaten in the bubble last season and that momentum has carried on. They did get lucky on Sunday against the Lakers as L.A. missed their pair of superstars. Phoenix has won 8 of their last 10 games and they do it on both sides of the ball. They are just outside the top 10 in scoring and only 2 teams allow fewer points nightly. |
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03-23-21 | Pepperdine v. Bellarmine +4.5 | Top | 82-71 | Loss | -105 | 8 h 56 m | Show |
Rating: 3 Unit CBI Tournament Play of the Day Pepperdine didn’t show much excitement to be in the CBI Tournament |
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03-23-21 | Nuggets -7.5 v. Magic | 110-99 | Win | 100 | 7 h 36 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units From March 18-21 the Magic flew from Orlando to New York, then from New |
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03-22-21 | Avalanche -229 v. Coyotes | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 11 h 24 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Arizona Coyotes earned a chance to celebrate a win for the first time in nearly two weeks when they beat Anaheim on Saturday. If they want to keep celebrating, they'll have to figure out how to stop Colorado when they host the Avalanche tonight. It's the first of two games between the teams in Arizona on consecutive nights, and it's a tough task for the Coyotes coming off of a 5-1 road win. The win capped a tough, seven-game trip for Arizona that started with a 3-2 win over Colorado on March 8. The victory was followed by five losses - the first against the Avalanche - with two coming in overtime. Now, they're home for four games after 16 days away from Glendale. The 28 shots Raanta faced Sunday might be a fraction of the total Colorado could throw at him over the next two nights. The Avalanche are averaging 44.3 shots on goal during their current six-game winning streak and completely dominated a Minnesota team that had won five straight before being outscored 11-1 in two losses. Consider that Colorado is 38-15 in their last 53 games playing on 1 days rest. |
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03-22-21 | USC +1 v. Kansas | 85-51 | Win | 100 | 9 h 20 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Points will be hard to come by for the Jayhawks when they take on one of the nation’s best defenses. USC ranks 10th-best in defensive efficiency and 2nd-best when it comes to defending inside the arc. 7’0 star freshman Evan Mobley has been a difference maker this year and will own a sizable advantage against Kansas’ David McCormack. Kansas ranks 181st in finishing from two-point range, a major problem when going against Mobley and the Trojans. |
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03-22-21 | Raptors -8.5 v. Rockets | 99-117 | Loss | -109 | 5 h 12 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units Once again, the piñata known as the Houston Rockets has been fastened to the tree branch, hanging low enough for the tall kids to have at it with their bats, bust it open and enjoy all the goodies that rain down upon them. The Raptors have pretty much been made whole again. And yet, they’ve lost eight straight. But they’ve arrived to play against a home underdog that has lost 20 straight, and has no strengths to speak off, just a lot of weaknesses. There’s always somebody in worse shape than you. But in the NBA, they don’t force you to feel sorry for them. They encourage you to beat them down again like everyone else has. |