Winning Sports Picks

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Pacers +4.5

Bottom Line: I'll grab the points with the superior defensive team.  The Pacers have held the opposition to 41.7% shooting or worse in 6 of their last 8 games.  Washington has held its opponents below the 41.7% mark just 2 times in its last 10 games.  Indiana gets in trouble when it gets too reliant on the 3-point shot.  It has diagnosed itself.  It only attempted 12 3's in Game 2 and made an extra-effort to go inside.  It paid off, and I expect the Pacers to stick with the same game plan.  The underdog has now covered each of the past 3 meetings and 5 of the last 7, and I expect this trend to continue.  Pound the Pacers.

5* Wiseguy GM2 *BEST BET* on Blazers +7

Bottom Line: Road teams that score an average of 103 points per game or more on the season are 39-12 ATS the last 18 seasons if they trailed by 20 points or more at halftime of their last game.  This system tightens up to 7-1 ATS the last 3 seasons.  Even with the Game 1 loss, the Blazers have still won 4 of the last 7 meetings.  And, they have lost by more than 7 points just twice in the last 8 meetings with the Spurs.  Pound Portland.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Rays -167

Bottom Line: The Rays are 8-2 in their last 10 games after losing the first 2 games of a series, and I expect them to build on this trend with ace David Price on the hill.  The Rays are an impressive 52-25 in his last 77 starts versus the American League East.  He's 7-2 with an ERA of 2.70 in 16 career starts versus Baltimore.  The Orioles are 0-4 in Jimenez's division starts this season, and he's compiled an ERA of 6.75 in these games.  Pound the Rays.

5* Wiseguy GM2 *BEST BET* on Thunder -5.5

Bottom Line: The Thunder have been an awesome investment when out for revenge for an upset defeat under coach Brooks, going 54-33 ATS in this spot.  In this spot at home the last 2 seasons, they are 17-7 ATS with an average winning margin of 10.9 points.  Teams headed up by coach Rivers are a dismal 36-59 ATS all-time following a road win of 10 points or more.  The Thunder, meanwhile, are 44-26 ATS under Brooks when out for revenge for a loss of 10 points or more.  Pound OKC.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Heat -7

Bottom Line: Despite losing each of the 4 regular-season meetings with Brooklyn, Miami is laying quite a few points.  That's because Miami will be extremely fresh following a week off and highly focused as it looks to make a statement to Brooklyn that the playoffs are a different animal.  This line is significant because favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points that are out for revenge for 2 straight losses to an opponent are 54-27 ATS the last 18 seasons if they are up against a team that is off an upset win over a division foe.  Additionally, favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points that are off 2 consecutive wins against a division foe are 39-16 ATS the last 5 seasons.  After a grueling 7-game series, the Nets will run out of gas in the second half.  Pound Miami.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Indians -149

Bottom Line: The Indians are 29-10 at home the last 2 seasons when priced at -125 to -175 and 16-4 at home during this span when playing against a team with a winning percentage of 46-49%.  The Tribe is 17-3 the last 3 seasons versus clubs starting a pitcher who strikes out an average of 3 batters per start of less.  Minnesota's Gibson isn't a high-volume strikeout guy, and the Indians have thrived against such pitchers.  Gibson has an ERA of 9.00 on the road this season, and he's given up 12 runs over his last 2 starts spanning just 9 2-3 innings.  The Twins are 0-4 in Gibson's last 4 starts on regular rest (4 days).  McAllister's last two outings were rough (not as bad as Gibson's last 2) but both were on the road.  He's been a different pitcher at home where he has a 1.32 ERA.  The Indians are 5-1 in McAllister's last 6 home starts, 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a favorite and 7-1 in his last 8 starts on 4 days' rest.  The Twins are 3-0 in McAllister's last 3 starts versus the Twins.  Gibson beat the Indians earlier this season, but the second time around won't go as smoothly now that they are more familiar with him.  Minnesota hasn't seen McAllister yet this season, and that is to his benefit.  The Twins are 2-7 in the last 9 meetings.  Pound Cleveland.

5* Wiseguy GM1 *BEST BET* on Pacers -4

Bottom Line: Home court has been huge when these teams get together.  The home team is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings with each of the wins coming by at least 8 points.  Home court has especially been huge for the Pacers when facing the Wizards.  Indiana is 12-0 in its last 12 at home versus Washington with all 12 wins coming by at least 4 points.  Pound the Pacers.

5* Wiseguy ESPN Sunday Night Baseball *BEST BET* on Cardinals -141

Bottom Line: The Cardinals are 68-31 in their last 99 games following a loss, 4-0 in their last 4 games after losing the first 2 games of a series and 26-4 in their last 30 when out for revenge for a loss as a road favorite.  They are 28-11 in Lynn's last 39 starts versus National League Central foes, 5-1 in his last 6 road starts and 16-6 in his last 22 starts following a team loss.  The Cubs are only 16-33 in their last 49 home games, 16-39 in their last 55 games following a win, 13-40 in their last 53 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game and 15-43 in their last 58 games versus a right-handed starter.  They are also just 3-7 in their last 10 versus St. Louis.  Pound the Cards.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Spurs -6

Bottom Line: Look for San Antonio to take care of business at home in Game 7.  The Spurs are 9-1 in their last 10 home games versus the Mavs with the wins coming by an average of 14.3 points.  The Spurs are 23-12 ATS off an upset loss over the last 2 seasons, winning by an average of 10.0 points in this spot.  They are also 64-46 ATS in home playoff games under coach Popovich, winning these games by an average of 7.0 points.  Pound the Spurs.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Grizzlies +8

Bottom Line: I believe odds makers aren't giving enough respect to a Memphis team that held Oklahoma City to 39.8% shooting or worse in Games 2-5.  Each of those 4 games went to OT, and I'm expecting another tight game with a place in the Western Conference Semis on the line.  Memphis has won or lost by fewer than 8 points in 12 of its last 16 versus the Thunder.  The Grizz are 14-6 ATS following a loss, 5-1 ATS following a loss of more than 10 points, 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 first-round playoff games and 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 at OKC.  The Thunder are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a win of more than 10 points and 1-3-1 in their last 4 in this series.  Pound Memphis.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Reds -153

Bottom Line: Riding the golden arm of Johnny Cueto here.  The Cincy right-hander has an ERA of 1.15 on the season and an ERA of 0.35 over his last 3 starts.  The Reds are 9-0 in his last 9 home starts versus teams with a winning record and 7-0 in his last 7 home starts versus the Brewers.  He has allowed 3 runs or fewer in each of these 7 wins (2 runs or less in 6 of them), which have come by an average of 2.6 runs.  Gallardo has a 4.35 ERA in 20 starts versus the Reds, and the Brewers are 3-8 in his last 11 starts in Cincinnati.  Pound the Reds.

5* Wiseguy AL Game of the Week on Royals -143

Bottom Line: The Royals are 40-17 when the money line is -125 to -175 over the last 2 seasons, and I expect them to build on this streak with Shields stepping to the mound.  The right-hander has a 2.02 ERA on the season and a 1.71 ERA over his last 3 starts.  The Royals are 21-8 in Shields' last 29 starts, 17-4 in his last 21 starts as a favorite, 10-2 in his last 12 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150 and 4-0 in his last 4 starts versus a team with a winning record.  Detroit's Porcello has an ERA of 3.96 on the season, an ERA of 4.91 over his last 3 starts and a 7.15 ERA on the road.  The Tigers are 5-11 in Porcello's last 16 starts versus a team with a winning record and 1-4 in his last 5 starts as an underdog.  The Tigers are a poor 4-10 in their last 14 games as an underdog and 2-5 in their last 7 games in Kansas City.  Pound KC.

5* Wiseguy NBA "Total" DOMINATOR on Raptors/Nets UNDER 191

Bottom Line: Following their worst defensive performance of the series and staring elimination in the face, the Nets will put the clamps on defensively tonight.  The Nets needed to speed up the pace in Game 5 and look for three-point opportunities because these faced a huge deficit.  These two teams combined for 69 points from beyond the arc in the game.  They hadn't combined for more than 42 points from three in any of the other games of the series.  Both prior games played in Brooklyn in the series were played at a very slow pace, and we saw just 166 total points scored in Game 4.  We saw 200 total points scored in Game 3 despite the slow pace, but neither team was getting after it defensively the way they will in this elimination game.  The UNDER is 6-0 in the Nets' last 6 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  Toronto is 10-1 UNDER after a close win of 3 points or less over the last 2 seasons.  We have seen only 187.3 total points scored on average in these 11 games.  Pound the UNDER.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Warriors +1.5

Bottom Line: Home court has been too big to ignore when these teams get together.  The home team is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings with the 10 wins coming by an average of 17 points.  Golden State is 16-3 in its last 19 home games versus the Clippers, including 6-1 in its last 7.  Combine the 10-2 series home trend and the 16-3 Warriors home trend, and we have a convincing 26-5 trend in our favor.  Additionally, Golden State is 30-15 ATS under coach Mark Jackson after a loss of 10 points or more, including 8-1 ATS in this spot this season with an average winning margin of 15.9 points.  Pound the Warriors.

5* Wiseguy NBA "Total" DOMINATOR on Blazers/Rockets UNDER 214

Bottom Line: Playing the UNDER when the total is greater than or equal to 210 on all teams that have allowed 100 points or more in 3 straight games has resulted in a 31-12 record the last 5 seasons if they are taking on an opponent that scored 105 points or more last game.  Playing the UNDER when the total is greater than or equal to 200 on home teams that are out for revenge for a loss to an opponent has resulted in a 40-15 record the last 5 seasons if the opponent is off a home win of 3 points or less.  Playing the UNDER when the total is greater than or equal to 200 on road teams that are off a home win of 3 points or less and are playing only their 2nd game in 5 days has resulted in a 25-7 record the last 5 seasons.  Game 4 should have finished under the total as only 212 total points were scored prior to OT.  Even with OT, these teams combined for only 175 shots so the pace slowed considerably since Game 3 when they combined for 195 shots.  Pound the UNDER as I expect the defensive intensity to pick up in this elimination game.

5* Wiseguy NBA Western Conference Playoffs Game of the Week on Clippers -5.5

Bottom Line: The Clippers have been dealing with some off-court issues surrounding the team owner.  However, Sunday's 21-point defeat assures us they will be extremely focused and motivated tonight.  The Clippers are an impressive 19-7 ATS following a loss this season, bouncing back to win by an average of 9.8 points in these contests.  They are a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games directly following a defeat of more than 10 points.  They are also 13-2 ATS on the season following an upset loss and have responded to win by an average of 13.1 points in this spot.  Teams out for revenge for a road loss of 20 points or more that are off an upset loss of 15 points or more are 38-13 ATS the last 18 seasons.  Pound LA.

5* Wiseguy Eastern Conference 1st Round Game of the Year on Bulls -5

Bottom Line: The defense wasn't there for Chicago in Game 1 as it allowed the Wizards to score 102 points on 48.6% shooting.  Recent history tells us the defense will be there for the Bulls tonight.  Chicago is 8-0 ATS in its last 8 games after giving up 100 points or more in its previous game.  The last 7 of these covers were also straight up wins by an average of 12.9 points.  Pound the Bulls as they tighten the screws defensively and bounce back strong.

5* Wiseguy NBA Western Conference First Round Game of the Year on Clippers -7.5

Bottom Line: Playing favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points that average 102 ppg or more has resulted in a 52-22 ATS record since 1996 if they have combined with their opponents to score 205 points or more in 4 straight games and are up against a team that allows 98-102 ppg.  If the contest takes place 42 games or later into the season, this system explodes to 35-10 ATS.  Since Doc Rivers came to town the Clippers are an impressive 18-7 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses, and they have won by an average of 8.5 points in this situation.  They are also 13-3 ATS under Rivers when out for revenge for an upset defeat and have won in this situation by an average of 11.3 points.  Pound the Clippers.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Trailblazers +5.5

Bottom Line: Underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points that are playing 4 games or less in 10 days and are off at least 2 consecutive home wins are 53-28 ATS the last 5 seasons.  Portland has quietly been a terrific road investment all season, going 25-16 ATS overall and 4-0 ATS in its last 4.  The Rockets won the season series 3-1, but Portland took them to OT in Houston the last time these two met.  The Blazers are 20-9 ATS this season when out for revenge for a loss where they allowed 100 points or more.  The Rockets are just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games versus a team with a winning record, and the underdog is 11-5-1 ATS in the last 17 meetings.  Pound Portland, which enters the playoffs in better form.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Pacers -7.5

Bottom Line: Defense wins in the NBA Playoffs, and Indiana is arguably the best defensive team in the NBA.  It has allowed just 88 ppg at home this season while the Hawks have allowed 104.4 ppg on the road.  The Pacers held the Hawks to 90.3 points while averaging 108.7 in 3 home wins in last season's playoff series.  Indiana might have entered the playoffs overconfident, but it struggled down the stretch of the regular season and lost badly on this floor to the Hawks just under 2 weeks ago.  The Pacers will be highly motivation to crush the Hawks and any upset aspirations in Game 1 as a result.  The favorite is 25-9-1 ATS in the last 35 meetings.  Pound the Pacers.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Reds -144

Bottom Line: The Cubs are 0-5 in their last 5 games and 3-18 in their last 21 home games against the Reds, including 0-4 in their last 4.  They are 1-12 in Edwin Jackson's last 13 starts, including 0-6 in his last 6.  The Cubs are also 0-8 in Jackson's last 8 starts following a loss in their previous game.  Cincy's Tony Cingrani has quietly been one of the best hurlers in the bigs since making his first start last season.  He has allowed 5 hits or fewer in each of his 21 career starts.  Jackson has allowed at least 8 hits in 4 of his last 5 starts.  He's allowed 6 hits or more in 12 of his last 14 starts.  Pound Cincy.

5* Wiseguy NL Game of the Week on Rockies -144

Bottom Line: The Rockies ended their road trip by taking 2 of 3 in San Diego to head home with some nice momentum.  Coors Field has treated them well so far.  They have won 4 of 6 there while averaging 7.5 runs and batting .354.  Pettibone was crushed at Coors last season in his lone start against the Rockies.  Chatwood got the win that day, tossing a gem.  The Rockies are 4-0 in their last 4 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days, 4-0 in their last 4 home games versus a right-handed starter and 4-0 in Chatwood's last 4 starts in the opening game of a series.  The Phillies are 18-39 in their last 57 road games and 1-5 in Pettibone's last 6 road starts.  Playing against road dogs priced between +125 and +175 has resulted in a 107-37 record since 1997 if they are off a victory of 2 runs or less and are taking on a team that has scored 4 runs or less in 5 consecutive games.  Pound the Rockies.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Rays -165

Bottom Line: The Rays have won each of Price's first 3 starts while he's posted a 2.91 ERA.  They are 6-0 in his last 6 starts as a favorite and 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a favorite of -151 to -200. He's outdueled Sabathia time and time again, and the Rays are 8-1 lifetime when Price faces Sabathia as a result, including 3-0 the last 3 times.  Sabathia is struggling (6.63 ERA), and the Yankees are just 1-7 in his last 8 starts versus the Rays and 0-8 in his last 8 road starts versus the Rays.  Pound Tampa Bay.

5* Wiseguy AL Game of the Month on Angels -113

Bottom Line: We missed with the Angels yesterday as they blew a 6-3 lead and lost in 11 innings, but I’m not hesitating to come back with them tonight.  Playing against AL road teams when the moneyline is +125 to -125 has resulted in a 114-59 record the last 5 seasons if they average 4.7 runs per game or less and allowed 8 runs or more last game.  I don’t trust Milone here as he’s allowed 4 runs or more in 4 of his last 5 starts against the Angels.  Oakland isn’t familiar with Skaggs, who is 2-0 on the moneyline with an ERA of 2.40 this season.  Pound the Angels.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Angels -110

Bottom Line: Angels are crushing right-handed starters this season, scoring 6.9 runs per game off them with a .343 on-base percentage. They should have little trouble getting to Straily, who is just 1-3 with an ERA of 5.82 in 6 starts against them.  He’s 0-3 in his last 3 starts against the Halos, and the A’s have been outscored 13-4 in these games.  Richards is ready to break through against the A’s. He had 2 great outings and 2 bad outings against them last season.   He’s 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA this season and should have success against an Oakland lineup that’s scoring just 4.3 runs per game against righty starters.  The A’s are 2-7 in Straily’s last 9 starts as an underdog and 0-4 in his last 4 starts in the 2^nd game of a series.  The Angels are 10-3 in Richard’s last 13 home starts and 8-2 in his last 10 starts as a home favorite.  Pound the Angels.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Suns -2.5
Bottom Line: I expect the Suns to stay in the playoff hunt with a win over the Grizzlies tonight. When the line is +3 to -3, home teams off 2 or more consecutive road losses are 65-32 ATS since 1996 if they have a win percentage of 51-60% and are playing a winning team. This system is a perfect 1-0 ATS this season. The Suns are 7-1 ATS this season as a favorite of 2.5 points or less, including 3-0 ATS in the role at home. The Grizzlies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games versus a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. Pound the Suns.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Reds -121
Bottom Line: The Reds got a big confidence boost with yesterday's 12-4 win over the Rays, and I expect them to keep right on rolling. Wandy Rodriguez has an ERA of 4.21 in 30 starts against the Reds, and the Pirates are 0-4 in his last 4 starts and 0-4 in his last 4 starts vs. the Reds. Homer Bailey has a 2.91 ERA in 16 starts against the Pirates, who are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter. They are also 0-4 in their last 4 games as a road underdog. Pound Cincy.

5* Wiseguy Interleague *BEST BET* on Reds -138
Bottom Line: Reds have big edge on the mound with Cingrani, who hasn't allowed more than 5 hits in any of his first 20 big-league starts and has allowed more than 3 runs just once in his career. The Reds are 7-1 in their last 8 games after losing the first 2 games of a series, 5-0 in their last 5 interleague games as a favorite and 9-1 in their last 10 interleague home games versus a team with a winning record. The Rays are 0-5 in their last 5 interleague games versus a left-handed starter. Pound Cincy.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Pacers -1
Bottom Line: I'll lay this small number with a motivated Indiana squad that is 34-6 at home. The Pacers are still in the running for home court in the East while the Thunder have already secured the two-seed in the West and can't catch San Antonio. Additionally, OKC pounded the Pacers back in December so this game will be about payback. The Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games versus a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. They are also 8-20 ATS in the 2nd half of the season the last 3 seasons against teams with a win percentage of 60-70%. Indiana is 22-11 ATS the last 2 seasons in home games after 1 or more consecutive losses. The Pacers have won by an average of 10.3 points in this spot. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Pound the Pacers.

5* Wiseguy Interleague Game of the Month on Tigers -135
Bottom Line: Verlander is 21-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 28 interleague outings and has won 10 consecutive decisions against the NL while posting a 1.72 ERA. Kennedy has gone 3-8 with a 5.84 ERA in 12 career interleague starts. The Tigers are 53-24 in their last 77 interleague games versus a team with a losing record, 20-6 in Verlander's last 26 interleague starts and 30-12 in his last 42 starts following a team loss in their previous game. The Padres are 24-49 in their last 73 interleague games as an underdog and 5-17 in their last 22 interleague home games versus a team with a winning record. Pound the Tigers.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* Blowout on Cavs -8
Bottom Line: Cleveland will be out to wash the sour taste of last night's loss in Milwaukee out of its mouth. It will also be out to make sure it doesn't get swept by Boston. Playing home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points that are off an upset loss and playing a 3rd game in 4 days are 67-40 ATS the last 5 seasons. Boston has been awful on the road where it is 8-31 on the season and has lost 13 straight. It's even 12-24 ATS in road games against teams with losing records over the last 2 seasons. Pound the Cavs.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Celtics +4.5
Bottom Line: This is a letdown spot for the Bobcats, who are coming off a very satisfying overtime win against Washington that moved them into a tie with the Wizards for 6th in the East and gave them the tiebreaker over the Wizards. Even though Boston won the last meeting between these teams, that was clear back in November, and this fatigued Bobcats squad will be looking to coast tonight. Charlotte has seen 4 of its last 7 games go to overtime, including its last 2. Boston isn't rolling over. It blew a 9-point lead with 5:44 remaining in Wednesday's 105-97 defeat to Atlanta and was outscored 30-16 over the last 12 minutes in its previous defeat, 115-111 to Detroit on Saturday. Those losses are not sitting well, and the Celtics will be motivated not to lose a 10th straight. I believe Rondo will be the key as he has given Kemba Walker fits in 4 previous head-to-head meetings. The Celtics won all 4. Home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points that have failed to cover 4 of their last 5 are 68-37 ATS since 1996 when they are matched up against a team that has covered 6 or 7 of their last 8. This system is 26-7 ATS the last 5 seasons. Pound Boston.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Orioles -140
Bottom Line: Tillman has already outdueled Boston's Lester and Detroit's Verlander, and I expect him to outduel McGowan as well. The Blue Jays are 10-25 in McGowan's last 35 starts as an underdog, 8-22 in his last 30 road starts and 5-18 in his last 23 starts as a road underdog. The Orioles are 11-4 in Tillman's last 15 starts as a favorite, 10-3 in his last 13 home starts, 9-2 in his last 11 starts as a home favorite, 6-1 in his last 7 starts as a home favorite of -110 to -150 and 12-3 in his last 15 series opening starts. The Blue Jays are 5-13 in the last 18 meetings in Baltimore. Pound the Orioles.

5* Wiseguy *BEST BET* Bailout on Warriors -10.5
Bottom Line: Denver spent itself in last night's win over Houston, and it won't have enough left in the tank to keep the score respectable versus a Golden State team that has had the last 3 days off. The Warriors also have a big motivational edge as they were defeated 123-116 at home the last time they faced Denver. They'll be out to avenge that loss as well as take a big step toward locking up the No. 6 seed. The Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing without a day of rest and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes the previous day. The Nuggets are 1-7 ATS in the last 8 meetings and 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings at Golden State. Pound the Warriors.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Yankees -158
Bottom Line: New York has the edge on the mound with Tanaka, who looks like the real deal. He struck out 8 and walked none in his first big league start. Gonzalez's first start wasn't nearly as sharp as he gave up 7 earned in 3 1/3 innings. The Orioles are 0-4 in Gonzalez's last 4 starts as an underdog and 0-6 in his last 6 starts as a road underdog. The Orioles are 0-3 in Gonzalez's last 3 starts versus the Yankees and 0-4 in his last 4 road starts versus the Yankees. Pound New York.

5* Wiseguy NBA Game of the Week on Wizards -5
Bottom Line: The Wizards blew a 16-point halftime lead in their recent 100-94 loss at Charlotte, and they'll be out for some serious revenge as a result. The Wizards are 48-26 ATS under coach Wittman when out for revenge for a loss where they allowed 100 or more points, including 19-5 ATS in this situation this season. Pound the Wizards as they have their revenge in impressive fashion.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Cardinals -137
Bottom Line: I'll get behind the Cards at home with Lynn on the rubber. The Redbirds are 11-1 in his starts the last 2 seasons versus teams averaging 2.75 or less extra base hits per game. They are 15-1 in his starts the last 3 seasons versus NL teams scoring 3.8 or less runs per game on the season. The Cardinals are 6-1 in Lynn's 7 starts against the Reds, including 2-0 in the home starts. The Reds are 5-13 in Bailey's 18 starts versus the Cardinals, including 1-7 in the road starts. Pound St. Louis.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Pistons +7
Bottom Line: In a game taking place at least 42 games into the season, playing against home favorites that led their previous game by 20 points or more at the half has resulted in a 23-3 ATS record since 1996 if the game involves teams that average 98-102 ppg. Additionally, road teams that give up 103 ppg or more and trailed by 10 points or more at the half in their last 2 games are 86-34 ATS since 1996. This system is a perfect 11-0 ATS this season. The Hawks are being overvalued following their big win in Indiana. Pound the Pistons.

5* Wiseguy Championship *BEST BET* on Connecticut +3
Bottom Line: Connecticut continues to be disrespected by oddsmakers despite 4 consecutive outright wins as an underdog. The Huskies have been doing it with defense, holding 3 of their last 4 opponents to 39.1% shooting or worse. Kentucky hasn't shown the same commitment to the defensive end as it has allowed 49.4% shooting over its last 4 games. I'll gladly take the better defensive team catching points, especially since that team has the best player on the floor in Napier. The Huskies are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 NCAA Tournament games, including 5-0 ATS this season. They are also 6-0 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games and 16-4 ATS as a neutral court underdog of 6 points or less or pickem since 1997. The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings. Pound the Huskies.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Cardinals -144
Bottom Line: The Cardinals finally get their home opener this afternoon, and home has been mighty good to them. They are 38-14 in their last 52 home games and 7-1 in their last 8 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days. It's been a slow start for St. Louis offensively as it has an on-base percentage of just .265, but that should change with the venue. And, the Cards are 17-1 in home games the last 3 seasons when they have an on-base percentage of .285 or worse over their last 5 games. They have broken out to win by an average of 4.2 runs in this spot. Cingrani won a duel when these 2 pitchers battled last Wednesday, but I like Wacha to come out on top at home where he is 3-0 in his last 3 and hasn't given up a single run. The Reds are just 17-37 in the last 54 meetings in St. Louis. Pound the Cards.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Kings +6.5
Bottom Line: Dallas is being overvalued in this one because it has won its last 4 on the road. Its last 2 wins over the Kings have come by just 4 and 3 points. The Kings will be looking to avoid the season sweep as well as save face following an embarrassing 102-69 loss at Golden State. The Mavs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a win of more than 10 points. The Kings are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a loss. The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings. Pound Sacramento.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on A's -148
Bottom Line: Favorites with a money line of -125 to -175 that had a very good bullpen last season (ERA of 3.33 or better) and a starting a pitcher who gave up 1 or less earned runs last outing are 44-12 since 1997. Additionally, Oakland is 21-5 since the start of last season in home games when it checks in with losses in 2 of its last 3. The Mariners are 0-6 in Ramirez's last 6 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150 and 0-3 in his starts against the A's. The A's are 4-0 in Gray's last 4 starts when he works on 5 days of rest. Pound Oakland.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Rockies -125
Bottom Line: Arizona is now 1-6 after getting hammered Friday, and I don't see it bouncing back against De La Rosa. The Rockies are 7-1 in De La Rosa's last 8 starts, 41-11 in his last 52 starts as a favorite and 9-0 in his last 9 home starts versus the D-backs. The D-backs are 1-5 in McCarthy's last 6 road starts and 1-6 in his last 7 starts as an underdog. He has an ERA of 6.00 in 3 career starts against the Rockies (all last season) while De La Rosa has an ERA of 2.53 in 16 career starts in the series. Pound the Rocks.

5* Wiseguy NBA Game of the Week on Cavs -3
Bottom Line: We rode the following system I'm about to unveil to a big win on the Rockets last night, and I'm going to ride it again here. When the line is +3 to -3, home teams playing with triple revenge are 69-35 ATS since 1996 when they are matched up against a team off 2 consecutive covers as a favorite. This system is 13-3 ATS the last 3 seasons. Cleveland is still in the playoff hunt, and I expect maximum effort from it tonight after a humiliating performance in Atlanta last night. Additionally, they will be out to make sure they aren't swept by Charlotte. Cleveland has won 14 of its last 16 at home against the Bobcats. Pound the Cavs.

5* Wiseguy Final Four GAME OF THE YEAR on Florida -6
Bottom Line: UConn handed Florida one of its 2 losses this season, but that game was played at UConn and a closer look at the numbers shows that the Huskies shouldn't have come out on top. I fully expect the Gators to have their revenge in this neutral floor battle. UConn needed a 17-foot jumper from Shabazz Napier as time expired to beat Florida despite shooting 45.8% (11 of 24) from 3-point range and holding a plus-24 advantage from 3. That's because Florida outshot the Huskies 49% to 43.4% for the game and outrebounded them 34-26. If Florida can do a better job of defending the 3-point line, it should walk away with a comfortable win, and I'm confident it will. Florida has won 30 straight since losing to UConn, and it has won 9 of its last 10 by 7 points or more, including each of its 4 NCAA tourney games by double digits. Pound Florida.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* (ESPN) on Rockets -2.5
Bottom Line: Not only have the Rockets lost their last 3 games, they've lost all 3 meetings with the Thunder this season. They'll be out for blood here as a result. When the line is +3 to -3, home teams playing with triple revenge are 68-35 ATS since 1996 when they are matched up against a team off two consecutive covers as a favorite. This system is 12-3 ATS the last 3 seasons. Additionally, Houston is 18-3 ATS under coach McHale in home games after failing to cover in 4 or 5 of their last 6. The Rockets have won by an average of 15.0 points in this spot. Pound Houston.

5* Wiseguy MLB *BEST BET* on Pirates -117
Bottom Line: I'll get behind Pittsburgh considering it has never lost to Shelby Miller. The Pirates are 4-0 against Miller, outscoring the Cards 24-1 in these games while Miller has posted a 5.32 ERA. The Pirates are 4-0 in Cole's last 4 starts as a favorite, 6-0 in his last 6 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5 and 4-0 in his last 4 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game. The Pirates are 5-0 in their last 5 games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600. Pound Pittsburgh.

5* Wiseguy NBA on TNT *BEST BET* Bailout on Mavs +4.5
Bottom Line: Not only will Dallas be motivated by losses in each of the season's first 3 battles, but it will also be motivated by a loss to Golden State last game as well as the tight playoff race it finds itself in. The Mavs should have more legs having had yesterday off. LA used a lot of energy in last night's late comeback in Phoenix. Dallas is 27-13 ATS under coach Carlisle in road games when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 70%). Pound Dallas.

5* Wiseguy AL Game of the Week on Yankees -138
Bottom Line: The Yankees are 42-19 in their last 61 games after losing the first 2 games of a series, and the Astros are 18-58 in their last 76 during game 3 of a series. The Yankees are 39-15 in Nova's starts as a favorite of -110 or higher, including 5-0 in his last 5 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. The Astros are 0-4 in Oberholtzer's last 4 starts, one of which was a loss to the Yankees. Pound NY.

5* Wiseguy CIT *BEST BET* on Murray State -7.5
Bottom Line: Terrible spot for Yale playing a 2nd road game in 3 days and a 4th straight game on the road overall versus a team that has been at home for the entire CIT. To make matters worse, Yale is expected to be without leading scorer and rebounder Justin Sears, who injured his wrist against VMI. Murray State is 11-1 ATS as a home favorite or pickem this season, 6-0 ATS off 2 or more consecutive home wins this season and 6-0 ATS in home games after a win by 10 points or more this season. The Racers are also 7-0 ATS this season in home games versus poor pressure defensive teams that force 14 turnovers or fewer per game. Pound Murray State.

5* Wiseguy NBA Western Conference Game of the Week on Suns -2.5
Bottom Line: Phoenix needs this game more than LA, and it will be out for blood following Sunday's humiliating loss to the Lakers. Explosive offensive teams like Phoenix that average 103.0 ppg or more are 147-79 ATS since 1996 if they trailed in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half. The Suns are a trustworthy 23-9 ATS in their last 32 games following a loss and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games against the Clippers. Pound the Suns.

5* Wiseguy MLB Game of the Week on Nationals -131
Bottom Line: The Nationals are an impressive 41-14 in their last 55 games as a road favorite and 12-0 in Gonzalez's last 12 starts as a road favorite of -125 or more. They are 6-0 in their last 6 games versus the Mets, 6-0 in Gonzalez's last 6 starts versus the Mets and 5-0 in Gonzalez's last 5 road starts versus the Mets. THe Mets are 14-48 in their last 62 games as a home underdog and 3-12 in their last 15 games versus a left-handed starter. Pound Washington.

5* Wiseguy CBI Game of the Year on Fresno State +1.5
Bottom Line: Fresno State lost the first game of the series despite shooting 47.8% and holding Siena to 33.3% because it didn't take care of the basketball or the glass. I fully expect the Bulldogs to sew up these things and come out on top tonight. They are 10-3 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses this season, 11-4 ATS in road games this season, 20-8 ATS as a road underdog or pickem over the last 2 seasons and 11-3 ATS in road games when out for revenge for a home loss to an opponent over the last 3 seasons. Pound Fresno State.

5* Wiseguy NIT Game of the Year on FSU -1
Bottom Line: I expect FSU to advance to the NIT championship by avenging an earlier loss at Minnesota. The Seminoles are on a 45-32 ATS run when out for revenge for a road loss, and the Golden Gophers haven't been the same team when stepping away from their home court. They've dropped 8 of their last 10 on foreign courts while FSU has won 4 of its last 5. The Seminoles are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 neutral site games while the Golden Gophers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games. Pound the Noles.

5* Wiseguy NBA "Total" Blowout on Rockets/Nets UNDER 210
Bottom Line: This line opened at 208 but has been bet up to 210 in some places creating even more value. Because of where the line opened the following system applies. Playing the "Under" on home teams when the total is 200-209.5 has resulted in a 50-16 record the last 5 seasons, provided they have gone over the total by 48 or more points in their last ten games and have won between 51% and 60% of their games on the season. We have seen just 198.3 total points scored on average in this situation. Pound the UNDER.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on T-Wolves +2.5
Bottom Line: Minnesota has lost 8 straight to the Clippers but has been very close to ending the skid this season. The T-Wolves haven't lost by more than 4 points in any of the season's 3 meetings with one of the losses coming by 2 points and the other coming in OT. With this in mind, I think we are getting a good number, especially since Blake Griffin is doubtful. The T-Wolves fell by double digits in Brooklyn yesterday but are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 games following a loss of more than 10 points. They are also 7-1 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game. Pound Minnesota.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Knicks +7.5
Bottom Line: The Knicks are still fighting for a playoff spot, and I expect them to rebound following Friday's ugly loss to Phoenix. The Warriors are banged up. Their biggest concern is getting to the postseason as healthy as possible. The Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS win, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Sunday games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games when playing on 1 day of rest. Pound the Knicks.

5* Wiseguy Elite 8 *BEST BET* on Michigan +2.5
Bottom Line: Experience is huge this time of year, and Michigan has a decisive edge in terms of experience after making a run to the championship game last season. As you might recall, Kentucky lost the first game of the NIT last season. John Beilein is one of the most underrated coaches in all of basketball. Since 1997, his teams are 18-4 ATS in the NCAA tournament. Kentucky has the edge inside, but so has many of the teams Michigan has played and the Wolverines keep right on winning. That's because Nik Stauskas and Caris LeVert are legit. The Wolverines are great at spreading teams out and penetrating to create open three-point shots, and they shoot over 40% from beyond the arc. They've been destroying teams from deep all season, and I expect no different in this one. Michigan is 7-0 ATS under Beilein after 5 straight games with 31 or less rebounds and it has won these games by an average of 5.9 points. So clearly it has found ways to make up for its shortcoming on the glass. Pound the Wolverines.

5* Wiseguy Elite 8 GAME OF THE YEAR on Arizona -2.5
Bottom Line: Wisconsin was my Sweet 16 Game of the Year, and it came through against Baylor behind a strong defensive effort. In my report for that game, I highlighted that the best defensive teams tend to make the best investments at this stage of the tournament. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, it isn't the best defensive team in this matchup. While Wisconsin's 63.8 points allowed per game is impressive, it falls considerably short of the 58.4 points per game Arizona allows. Plus, the Wildcats are the more athletic team and will have more fan support with this one being played in Anaheim. Arizona has outdefended good defensive teams since Sean Miller took over. In games played 15 games or more into the season, the Wildcats are 15-5 ATS under Miller in road/neutral court games against good defensive teams that allow 64 ppg or less. They have won these contests by an average of 8.7 points while holding the opposition to 61.6. The Wildcats are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 NCAA Tournament games and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 versus Big Ten opponents. Pound Arizona.

5* Wiseguy NBA Western Conference Game of the Week on Rockets -2
Bottom Line: The Rockets have yet to beat the Clippers this season, but they are primed to do it tonight. They catch the Clippers at a great time as LA is playing its 3rd road contest in 4 nights. Plus, Houston has been in a great rhythm offensively, and that bodes extremely well for us. The Rockets are 15-4 ATS under coach Kevin McHale after 4 straight games of making 47% of their shots or better. They have won by an average of 10.0 points in this spot. Houston has won 11 straight at home with wins over Portland, Indiana, Miami and San Antonio during this stretch. The Clippers have shown some vulnerability on the road where they have lost 2 of 3. Pound the Rockets.

5* Wiseguy Friday Big Dance *BEST BET* on Louisville -4
Bottom Line: Kentucky won 73-66 at home during the season, but the Louisville Cardinals are an impressive 37-18 ATS when out for revenge for a road loss to an opponent under coach Pitino, and they have won by an average of 9.9 points in this spot. The Cards are also 9-1 ATS as a neutral floor favorite of 6 points or less or pickem over the last 3 seasons, winning these games by an average of 9.9 points. The Cards are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 NCAA Tournament games, and I look for them to get a little revenge against their rivals tonight. Pound Louisville.

5* Wiseguy NBA Game of the Week on Wizards +3
Bottom Line: Expect a letdown from Indiana as it hits the road following a big win over the Heat. The Pacers have lost 3 in a row and 6 of 8 on the highway. They are 6-21-1 ATS in their last 28 games overall, 4-17 ATS in their last 21 road games, 2-12 ATS in their last 14 games following a win and 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games versus a team with a winning record. Washington has lost its last 2 games and has been buried twice by Indiana this season so it will be lacking no motivation. Plus, it wants to hold onto the 6th spot in the East to avoid Indiana and Miami in the first round. Pound Washington.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Clippers -1
Bottom Line: Dallas has lost both meeting with the Clippers this season, and it catches them at a bad time. Off last night's ugly loss in New Orleans, LA will be out for blood. Playing against home teams in a double revenge spot has resulted in a 69-36 ATS record the last 5 seasons if the team they are out for revenge against is off an upset loss on the road. Plus, the Clippers are a perfect 9-0 ATS since Doc Rivers took over in road games following a road loss. They have won these games by an average of 9.4 points. Additionally, the Mavs are a poor 11-23 ATS as a home dog under Rick Carlisle. Pound LA.

5* Wiseguy Sweet 16 Game of the Year on Wisconsin -3.5
Bottom Line: At this stage of the game, superior defensive teams tend to make the best investments. Wisconsin is the far better defensive team in this matchup. In road/neutral court contests, Wisconsin is allowing just 64.1 ppg on 42.7% shooting. Baylor is allowing 71.2 ppg on 44.9% shooting. Baylor couldn't miss against Creighton and is getting too much respect in this one as a result. I expect Wisconsin to put the clamps on defensively, especially since it didn't defend very well against Oregon. Wisconsin is now 5-0 ATS in its last 5 against non-conference foes and 7-1 ATS in its last 8 versus Big 12 opponents. The Badgers are also 5-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA tourney games. Pound Wisconsin.

5* Wiseguy ESPN *BEST BET* BAILOUT on Jazz +8
Bottom Line: The Jazz will be looking to bounce back following a 114-94 home loss to Detroit. They will also be out for revenge for a pair of 10-point losses to Memphis this season. Both of those games were on the road, and I expect things to go much differently in Utah where the Jazz are 10-1 in the last 11 meetings. The Jazz are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games following a double-digit loss at home and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 home games versus a team with a winning road record. Utah is 11-2 ATS the last 2 seasons after failing to cover in 4 of its last 5 games. The Grizzlies are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 meetings in Utah. Pound Utah.

5* Wiseguy CIT Game of the Year on Yale +5
Bottom Line: After upsetting Valpo on the road, Columbia took care of business at home with a win and cover against E. Michigan. Those covers set up a great wagering spot as the Lions are 0-6 ATS in home games after successfully cover the spread in 2 or more consecutive games under coach Kyle Smith. Yale won the season's first matchup by 10 at home but was then crushed 62-46 at Columbia. That loss brought a 7-game win streak to an end, and the Bulldogs couldn't regain momentum in time to seriously challenge Harvard. Yale did win at Harvard this season, and that win is a clear indication of what it is capable of. I love the Bulldogs chances of revenge here as they are 8-1 ATS the last 3 seasons when out for revenge for a loss where they were held to less than 60 points. Pound Yale.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Magic +5
Bottom Line: The Blazers covered in Miami last night, erasing a 17-point 4th quarter deficit before LeBron James ripped their heart out. The Blazers, who are only 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a cover, will have a hard time pulling themselves off the floor after that heartbreaker. The Magic are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600. They are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 home games, losing only twice by more than 5 points during this stretch. The Magic are 5-2 SU and ATS in their last 7 home games against Portland with one of these losses coming by less than 5 points. Pound Orland.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Pelicans +2.5
Bottom Line: Bad spot for Brooklyn playing a 2nd road game in as many days, especially since yesterday's contest went to OT. The Nets are just 14-20 on the road this season, including 3-7 when playing without a day of rest. New Orleans hasn't quit on the season. It has won 6 of 9, including its last 2, with the most recent win coming against Miami. The Pelicans should also benefit from having had a day off prior to this contest. Home teams that shoot 45.5-47.5% and have a +/-3.0 rebounds per game margin are 74-35 ATS since 1996 when they are matched up with a team that holds opponents to 43.5-45.5% shooting and has a -3 to -5.5 rebounds per game margin. This system is 6-1 ATS this season. Pound the Pelicans.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Mavs -4.5
Bottom Line: This game means more to a Dallas team that is sitting 7th in a tight Western Conference playoff race. Plus, Brooklyn hasn't been the same team on the road where it is 5-6 in its last 11 and averaging just 94.8 ppg in these contests. It will have a tough time keeping pace offensively against a Dallas team that is averaging 111.0 points on 50.5% shooting over its last 5 games. Playing against road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points that are off a win of 10 points or more over a division rival has resulted in a 53-24 ATS record since 1996 if their opponent is off a home win of 10 points or more. Pound Dallas.

5* Wiseguy Big Dance *BEST BET* on North Carolina +2
Bottom Line: Huge blow for ISU losing Niang to a broken foot. Ejim received Big 12 Player of the Year, but anyone who has followed the Cyclones much at all would tell you that Niang is their X-factor. His versatility and big body make him a tough matchup almost every night. Without Niang, the Cyclones find themselves at a major disadvantage in the paint. He is, without question, their best back-to-the-basket post player. I expect Carolina to win the points in the paint battle and also the free throw battle given their superior size with McAdoo, Meeks and Johnson. The other thing I like about Carolina is that it doesn't turn the ball over. That cuts down on ISUs fast-break opportunities. Paige has better than a 2-to-1 assist/turnover ratio. The Heels are 55-28 ATS under coach Williams after a stretch of committing 14 turnovers or less in 4 straight games. Pound Carolina.

5* Wiseguy NCAA Tournament 3rd Round Game of the Year on Wisconsin -5
Bottom Line: Playing close to home in Milwaukee, all the red in the arena will make this feel like a home game for the Badgers. Even though Wisconsin will have the crowd behind it, this isn't a team that needs any extra help. This Wisconsin team has shown it can play any way, and that makes it extremely dangerous. Oregon is more reliant on its offense because it give up 73.8 ppg. Wisconsin allows just 63.6 ppg. The Badgers have a 6-point win over #1 overall seed Florida. They also have a 10-point win at #1 seed Virginia. They've defeated Michigan State and Michigan with the Michigan win coming on the road. That's quite a resume and Oregon's doesn't stack up. Wins over UCLA and Arizona are impressive, but they came after losing to them the first time around. Those are also conference wins, and teams are very well scouted in conference play. Wisconsin's 56-50 win over Florida and 48-38 win at Virginia is more impressive than anything Oregon has done. Oregon needs to play fast and score a lot of points to be successful. Wisconsin has shown it can win that way, but it has also shown it can take the air out of the ball. I expect it to slow Oregon down, and that spells big trouble for the Ducks. Playing neutral court favorites or pickems after 2 straight games of committing 11 or less turnovers has resulted in a 96-51 ATS record since 1997 if they are up against a team that committed 8 or less turnovers last game. Teams fitting this system have won by an average of 8.4 points. Pound Wisconsin.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Bobcats +1
Bottom Line: Charlotte has been outstanding in the 2nd half of the season at home where it is on an 8-1 ATS run and outscoring opponents by 8.1 points. Plus, the Bobcats are 11-3 ATS this season as a home dog of 6 points or less, winning these games by 3.2 points on average. Portland is one of the best rebounding teams in the league but likely won't have leading rebounder LaMarcus Aldridge tonight. Besides, the Cats are 8-0 ATS versus teams who average 53 or more rebounds per game in the 2nd half of this season, defeating these teams by 10.8 points on average. Pound the Bobcats.

5* Wiseguy NBA Blowout Game of the Week on Mavs -7.5
Bottom Line: Dallas is off a home loss to Minnesota and has lost all 3 matchups this season with a Denver squad that has won 4 of 5 (2 of the wins over the Heat and Clippers), yet it is laying 7.5 points? Obviously, the books are expecting Dallas to take care of business in this highly motivated spot, and I completely agree. Not only will the Mavs be out to avoid the season sweep, but they need every win they can get as they fight to hang on to a playoff spot. With several tough games ahead, this is one Dallas really needs. The Mavericks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 versus the Western Conference and 37-14 ATS in their last 51 games following a loss. Pound Dallas.

5* Wiseguy Friday Big Dance *BEST BET* on Oklahoma State -1.5
Bottom Line: This Gonzaga team isn't as good as last year's team, which was a big disappointment in the NCAA Tournament. It struggled against Southern in its first game, winning by 6 as a 21.5-point favorite, and then was upset by Wichita State in the next round. The Zags went 0-2 ATS in those games and are just 4-9 ATS in their last 13 in the Big Dance. They closed the season strong with big wins over St. Mary's and BYU, but they are 0-7 ATS in road or neutral court games after 2 consecutive covers as a favorite over the last 3 seasons. While the Bulldogs have typically been able to advance past their first game in the tournament, they got a bad draw here. Oklahoma State is much better than a 9-seed and it will be hungry after a poor showing and quick exit in last year's NCAA Tournament. That loss was a rare exception to the rule as the Cowboys are on an 18-7 ATS run in opening tournament games. They have won these by an average of 6.9 points. Pound the Cowboys.

5* Wiseguy NCAA Tournament Game of the Year on Syracuse -12.5
Bottom Line: Syracuse wilted down the stretch of the regular season, but I expect the Orange to be re-energized and ready to make a Final Four run. Western Michigan relies on getting to the foul line to generate offense, but Syracuse doesn't foul very much. The Orange are 8-0 ATS this season versus good foul-drawing teams like W. Michigan that attempt 25 free throws per game or more. The Orange have won these games by an average of 13.9 points. The Broncos enter off an impressive 98-77 victory over Toledo in the MAC championship, but they are 0-8 ATS the last 3 seasons in road or neutral court games after a combined score of 155 points or more. They have lost by an average of 14.5 points in this spot. The Broncos are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game. The Orange are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. MAC opponents. WMU's upset win over Toledo has it in the Dance for the first time since 2004 so it's just happy to be here. Syracuse, on the other hand, has championship aspirations and will be in a foul mood after finishing the regular season poorly. The Broncos are 4-13 ATS off an upset win by 10 points or more under coach Hawkins. They are on a 19-37 ATS slide as an underdog of 10 or more points, losing these games by 16.4 points on average. Pound Syracuse.

5* Wiseguy Big Dance *BEST BET* on Iowa -2
Bottom Line: Iowa went from looking like a team that could beat anybody to looking like a team that could lose to anybody, but I'm not ready to give up on the Hawkeyes. They enter the NCAA Tournament absolutely disgusted with the way they finished the season, and we should get maximum effort from them because of it. Tennessee, on the other hand, enters feeling pretty good about the way it closed, and I don't see it playing with the same level of desperation as Iowa. The Hawkeyes should also benefit from getting away from the Big Ten. Teams they beat the first time around in conference play were getting them down the stretch. It will be to their advantage playing a team that isn't very familiar with them. Iowa is on an impressive 16-5 ATS run in non-conference games. The Hawks are 18-7 ATS the last 2 seasons versus teams with a win percentage of .600 to .800. Tennessee is 2-9 ATS the last 2 seasons versus excellent ball handling teams that committing 12 turnovers per game or less. The Vols are also on a 33-52 ATS slide in neutral court games and a 29-52 ATS slide in all tournament games. Pound Iowa.

5* Wiseguy NBA Game of the Week on Bobcats +6
Bottom Line: The Nets are being overvalued because they have won 9 straight at home and defeated Charlotte by 16 at home last month. Despite that win, Brooklyn is laying less here than it did in that game (-7.5). Obviously, the books are expecting Charlotte to put up a lot more of a fight this time around, and I look for the Bobcats to take the Nets down to the wire. Charlotte is 9-1 ATS this season versus teams with a win percentage of 51% to 60%, and it has defeated these teams by an average of 3.4 points. The Bobcats are also 15-7 ATS this season when out for revenge for a double-digit loss. They have lost these contests by just 3.1 points on average. Pound the Bobcats.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Raptors -3
Bottom Line: Atlanta won in Charlotte last night, but it hasn't fared well in the 2nd game of a back-to-back. The Hawks are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games when playing without a day of rest and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes the previous day. Toronto won by 21 when it hosted the Hawks last month, and it will be motivated to crush them again following an upset loss to Phoenix last game. The Raptors are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a loss and 12-3 ATS in their last 15 road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Hawks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games. Playing against home teams when the line is +3 to -3 that are out for revenge for a loss to an opponent has resulted in a 92-50 ATS record the last 5 seasons if they are off a win on the road. Playing against home underdogs that are out for revenge for a road loss of 20 points or more has resulted in an 87-49 ATS record since 1996 if they're opponent is off an upset loss. Pound Toronto.

5* Wiseguy NIT *BEST BET* on Florida State -10.5
Bottom Line: It's a letdown playing in the NIT for FGCU after all the success and national attention it received as a Cinderella in last year's Big Dance. Plus, this is not quite the same team that made a run to the Sweet 16. This year's Eagles lost 79-55 at Nebraska, 82-62 at NC State, 72-61 at Florida International and 66-53 at Mississippi State. While FSU had its ups and downs in conference play, it was one tough cookie in non-conference action. The Seminoles defeated VCU 85-67 and UMass 60-55. They played Michigan to a 2-point game and Florida to a 1-point game. FSU is 8-2 ATS in non-conference games this season, winning them by an average of 12.7 points. Pound FSU.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* Bailout on Nuggets +4.5
Bottom Line: Denver was fortunate to cover at Atlanta in its last game as it trailed by 21 points in the contest. That poor performance bodes well for us tonight. Consider that underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points that average 103 ppg or more are 37-14 ATS since 1996 if they trailed by 15 points or more at the half last game. The Nuggets have been a terrific investment at home against elite competition, going 9-1 ATS there the last 2 seasons versus teams with a win percentage over .700. They have defeated those teams by an average of 5.1 points. Pound the Nuggets.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* Bailout on Clippers -11
Bottom Line: The Clippers have taken care of business against poor teams lately going 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games versus teams with a winning percentage below .400. They'll be lacking no motivation here as they look to pay Cleveland back for a 6-point upset loss in the season's first matchup. LA is 11-3 ATS this season when out for revenge for an upset loss this season. Playing against double-digit road dogs that have beaten the spread by 24 or more points total in their last three games has resulted in a 61-31 ATS record since 1996 if they have a winning percentage of .250 to .400. These teams have lost by an average of 16.0 points in these contests. Pound the Clippers.

5* Wiseguy Big 10 Championship *BEST BET* on Michigan State -2.5
Bottom Line: Michigan State lost both regular season matchups with the Wolverines and the defense was lacking in both as they allowed 80 and 79 points, respectively. Highly motivated by those defeats, I expect the Spartans to have their revenge with defense as the catalyst. Favorites out for revenge for two straight losses to an opponent where they allowed 75 points or more has resulted in a 34-10 ATS record the last 5 seasons if their opponent is off 2 straight wins against conference foes. Pound Michigan State.

5* Wiseguy NBA Blowout Game of the Year on Hawks -6
Bottom Line: This is the last game of a long 5-game road trip for Denver, and it comes after arguably its biggest win of the season. In other words, this has letdown written all over it for the Nuggets. Atlanta will be the more rested team. Plus, it will be highly motivated as it looks to hold off teams for the last playoff spot in the East. The Nuggets are a terrible 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games when playing without a day of rest. They are also 1-11 ATS in the 2nd half of the season versus teams with a win percentage of 40-49% over the last 2 seasons. Pound the Hawks.

5* Wiseguy Big 10 *BEST BET* on Michigan State -120
Bottom Line: Michigan State has won 5 straight against Wisconsin by an average of 9.4 points before losing by two on a last second shot in the regular season meeting. The Spartans still covered the spread in that game and are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 versus Wisconsin. What can't be overlooked is that Michigan State was without Brandon Dawson and Keith Appling in that game and Gary Harris had arguably his worst game of the season, and it still too Wiscy down to the wire. The Michigan State defense was locked in last game, and that's a great sign. The Spartans are 6-0 ATS in road of neutral court battles after allowing 25 points or less in the first half last game over the last 2 seasons. They have won by an average of 11.0 points in these contests. Pound Sparty.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Jazz +9.5
Bottom Line: Off a big win over Golden State, it's going to be mighty tough for the Clippers to get up for the lowly Jazz. Utah hasn't quit and continues to be competitive at home where it has lost by double digits just twice in its last 12 games. The Jazz are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600 and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games versus a team with a winning road record. This is the Clippers' first trip to Utah since 12/28/12, and they typically haven't fared well there. The Clippers are 4-17 ATS in the last 21 meetings in Utah. Pound the Jazz.

5* Wiseguy SEC Tournament Game of the Year on Kentucky -4.5
Bottom Line: We are getting tremendous value with Kentucky because it is on a 0-5 ATS slide and failed to cover 4 times during this stretch as a double-digit favorite. I expect to see the Wildcats give more effort in this game than we've seen from them in a long time, especially on the defensive end. They will be highly motivated because of how poorly they performed down the stretch. They will also be extremely focused because they split with LSU and the win was far from impressive. The total is significant because college teams headed up by John Calipari are 10-2 ATS since 1997 in neutral court battles where the total is 145 to 149.5. His teams have won these games by an average of 10.7 points. The total is a good indicator of how odds makers see a game playing out, and a total in this range clearly favors Kentucky. Factoring in the spread, odds makers are expecting LSU to score around 70 points. The Wildcats are 12-1 in their last 13 games when holding opponents to 70 points or less. The lone loss came to Florida ans the 12 wins all came by at least 7 points. Pound Kentucky.

5* Wiseguy NBA on TNT Game of the Month on Bulls +3.5
Bottom Line: I think Houston will still be holding on to Tuesday's loss to the Thunder. That was a game it really wanted, and I don't see it being able to get up for a Bulls team it defeated by 15 earlier this season. Plus, the Rockets are just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games versus a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. The Bulls suffered a letdown against San Antonio following a huge win over Miami, but they are 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games following a loss. They are also 10-1 ATS in the 2nd half of the season the last 3 seasons when playing against good teams that have a Win Pct. of .600 to .700. Also, Chicago is 13-4 ATS this season when out for revenge for a double-digit loss to an opponent. Pound the Bulls.

5* Wiseguy Big 10 Tournament Game of the Year on Penn State +5
Bottom Line: Penn State is happy to have another shot at Minnesota since it lost by 18 to the Golden Gophers in the regular season finale. That effort is not sitting well with the Nittany Lions since they played the Gophers to a 3-point game in the first meeting. I expect Penn State to take Minnesota right down to the wire with a chance to win this one outright. Playing against neutral floor favorites or pickems that have gone under the total by 42 or more points in their last 7 games has resulted in a 49-15 ATS record since 1997 if they have a winning record on the season and are playing a team that has a losing record. This system is 5-0 ATS on the season. Additionally, the Golden Gophers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games. Pound Penn State.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Bobcats +5.5
Bottom Line: Washington is being overvalued at home, where it is 11-18-2 ATS this season, against a Bobcats team that will be out for revenge for a disappointing 14-point loss in the first matchup. The Wizards are a soft 9-19 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 2 seasons. The Wizards are also 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 home games versus a team with a losing road record. Charlotte is one of the best defensive teams in the league and has been solid in transition defense. That's why it's 8-1 ATS in the 2nd half of this season versus up-tempo teams like Washington that average 83 shots or more per game. The Bobcats have won these games by an average of 9.3 points. Pound Charlotte.

5* Wiseguy Big East Tournament Game of the Year on Seton Hall -140
Bottom Line: I really like Seton Hall to win this game so I'm going to take the Pirates on the money line at a reasonable price. Butler had just 4 conference wins, and 2 of them came against Seton Hall. One of them was a 71-54 victory at home in the regular-season finale. That loss is not sitting well with a Seton Hall team I believe is flat out better. The Pirates played tourney-bound Oklahoma and Creighton to one-point games this season on foreign courts. They also played bubble team St. John's to one-point games twice. They've performed better than Butler against quality competition, and I'm confident they break through here. Seton Hall is 6-0 ATS in road or neutral court games when out for revenge for a road loss to a team the last 3 seasons. Butler is 0-7 ATS after 2 consecutive covers as a favorite the last 3 seasons. It is also worth mentioning that Kevin Willard teams are 15-5 ATS in road or neutral court games when out for revenge for two straight losses to a team. Pound the Pirates.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Pacers -11
Bottom Line: Look for the Pacers to bounce back at home, where they are 29-4 on the season, against a Boston team that has struggled on the road and has struggled against the Pacers. The Celtics are 8-22 on the road this season, including 0-4 in their last 4. They've lost 3 straight to the Pacers with two of the losses coming by 15-plus. They lost by 27 in the game played in Indiana. Cold teams like Indiana that have failed to cover the spread in 12 or more their last 15 games are 68-30 ATS since 1996 if they are up against an opponent that has covered the number in 5 or 6 of its last 7 games. This system is a perfect 5-0 ATS this season. Additionally, playing against road underdogs that are out for revenge for a home loss to an opponent has resulted in a 165-103 ATS record the last 5 seasons if their opponent is off a road loss. The Pacers are 28-11 ATS off a road loss the last 2 seasons. Pound Indiana.

5* Wiseguy NCAAB *BEST BET* on Ball State +13.5
Bottom Line: Ohio is home following back-to-back wins and covers on the road, but home hasn't been good to the Bobcats lately. They are 0-3 SU in their last 3 home games and 0-4 ATS in their last four at home. They are just 4-13 ATS in home games against conference opponents under coach Jim Christian. They are 1-12 ATS off a road win over a conference foe and 0-11 ATS after playing a game as a road favorite under Christian. This season, the Bobcats are 1-8 ATS in home games after playing a road game and 0-6 ATS in home games after a game where they covered the spread. Road underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points off 2 straight losses against conference foes are 111-65 ATS since 1997 if their opponent is off 2 or more consecutive road wins. Road dogs of 10 or more points that are out for revenge a loss where they were held to less than 60 points are 166-105 ATS since 1997 if they are also off 2 consecutive losses of 10 or more in conference play. Pound Ball State.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Pacers -1.5
Bottom Line: Despite 3 consecutive defeats, the Pacers are still 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a loss, and I fully expect them to bounce back strong here. Friday's loss at Houston brought the Pacers the kind of humiliation that will elicit a response. The Pacers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a loss of more than 10 points. They are 29-15 ATS under coach Frank Vogel off a road loss of 10 points or more. The Mavs picked up a much needed win over Portland last game to end a 3-game skid, but I don't see them being able to match defensive intensity with an Indiana team that has shown it can put the clamps on. The defensive effort hasn't been there for Indiana the past 2 games, and the results were ugly, so I expect them to do something about it. The Pacers are 10-2 ATS this season versus good shooting teams that make 46% of their shots or more. The Mavs are 5-17 ATS under Rick Carlisle in home games versus good defensive teams with a shooting percentage defense of 43% or better. The Pacers are 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings and 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Dallas. The road team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings. Pound the Pacers.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Cavs -1.5
Bottom Line: The Knicks crushed Utah last night, but they are a pathetic 1-10 ATS in road games after a blowout win by 20 points or more over the last 3 seasons and have lost in this spot by an average of 10.5 points. The Knicks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games when playing without a day of rest, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games versus a team with a losing home record and 0-7 ATS in their last 7 versus the Eastern Conference. It is also worth mentioning that the Knicks are just 11-24 ATS as an underdog this season. The Cavs dropped a 3rd straight game last night, but they are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games versus a team with a winning percentage below .400. They are also 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games when playing without a day of rest. The Knicks embarrassed the Cavs 117-86 in late January, and that loss will provide plenty of fuel here. Pound Cleveland.

5* Wiseguy NCAAB Game of the Year on St. Bonaventure +10.5
Bottom Line: VCU can earn a share of the A-10 title with a win and a Saint Louis loss to UMass tomorrow so it has plenty to play for. However, asking the Rams to lay double digits in this spot is asking too much. VCU just played a tough game at Richmond Thursday so fatigue will be an issue. This means its press won't be as effective. It also means that it has had only one day to prepare. This is significant because it hasn't seen the Bonnies previously this season. Plus, the Bonnies have had a week to prepare. St. Bonaventure's 4-8 road record looks bad, but consider that 7 of the losses came by 8 points or less. It played UMass to a 5-point game on the road and Saint Louis to a 6-point game on the road. The Rams are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games versus a team with a losing road record. They are also 14-24 ATS as a home favorite of 10 or more points under Shaka Smart. Plays on road underdogs of 10 or more points that have failed to cover in 5 or 6 of their last 7 games has resulted in an 83-35 ATS record the last 5 seasons when they're matched up with a team that has covered in 4 of its last 5. This system is 10-2 ATS this season. Pound St. Bonaventure.

5* Wiseguy NBA Blowout Game of the Week on Mavs -2
Bottom Line: Playing on teams like Dallas that average 103.0 ppg or more and trailed in their previous game by 15 points or more at the half has resulted in a 140-76 (65%) ATS record since 1996. Additionally, Dallas is 10-1 ATS the last 3 seasons after trailing by 15 points or more at the half of its last game. The Mavs came out very flat in their last game against Denver but won the second half by 12 points. What they did in the second half gives them some momentum heading into this one. Mentally, they know if they can come out strong that they have an excellent chance to come away with a victory. I expect Dallas to get off to a strong start tonight against a Portland team that is giving up 105.3 ppg. You might recall that Portland won by 16 in this building in January so the Mavs will be lacking no incentive. Pound Dallas as it explodes to a double-digit win.

5* Wiseguy NBA *BEST BET* on Suns +6.5
Bottom Line: The Suns have been a terrific investment this season at 38-21-1 ATS. They are 21-12 ATS when catching points. Phoenix went down to the Clippers last game, but it is 19-7 ATS in its last 26 games following an ATS loss. The Thunder are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 versus the far more challenging Western Conference. They are also 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games versus teams that have a winning record. The Suns played the Thunder to a 7-point game on the road early in the season, and I expect them to keep this one even closer. The last time they hosted OKC, they were handed a 97-69 defeat. That loss assures us they will be highly motivated.

5* Wiseguy SEC Game of the Month on Auburn +4.5
Bottom Line: Tennessee is on the bubble and needs this game, but I believe Auburn will want it just a little bit more. The Tigers have dropped 6 straight in the series and will be out for blood in their last home game of the season as a result. Home court has been huge in the series with the home team on a 13-3 ATS run. Plus, the Vols are on a 0-4 ATS slide road games versus teams that have a winning home record. Auburn is a strong 12-5 at home this season and will have a good opportunity to upset Tennessee tonight. Pound the Tigers.

5* Wiseguy NBA Game of the Week on Celtics +5
Bottom Line: This is a huge letdown spot for the Warriors following last night's last-second victory in Indiana. This is also a highly fatigued spot for the Warriors who are playing their 6th straight road game and 3rd in 4 days. Boston has had 3 days off so it will undoubtedly be fresher. I also expect the Celtics to be motivated as they were done in by a Stephen Curry jumper with 4 seconds left back on Jan. 10. The Warriors are a poor 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a win. They are also 0-4 ATS this season in the last game of a road trip lasting at least 3 games. Boston is 5-0 in its last 5 and 8-1 in its last 9 home games in the series with the loss coming by a single point. Pound the Celtics.