COMPS
John Fina
February 1, 2008
Selection: Pennsylvania -2.5 (-110)
Today Harvard will be on the road as they take on Pennsylvania. We will lay the points with Pennsylvania! Let's be honest... Both these teams (Harvard and Pennsylvania) are poor basketball teams that lack talent. However, there is value that can be found with Pennsylvania tonight. Pennsylvania will be playing at home tonight which has proven to put Harvard in a bad spot (Harvard is 0-10 when playing on the road this season). In addition, Pennsylvania has proven time-and-time again they are much better then Harvard. In fact, Pennsylvania is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 meetings against Harvard. We see Pennsylvania once again getting an against the spread win! Take Pennsylvania -2.5!
Bobby Maxwell
New Orleans is coming off a 12-2 January, both SU and ATS, and now are in Sacramento to take on a Kings' squad that has started to come on with all their players finally getting healthy and back in the lineup. But we're going to ride the Hornets in this one, lay the chalk and play them to win this one with ease.
The Hornets had a nine-game winning streak snapped Wednesday when Golden State went to New Orleans and scored a 116-103 win as nine-point underdogs. It was a shocking loss for the Hornets after they'd crushed all but one of their nine victims during the streak by 15 points or more.
New Orleans has been very effective on the highway this year, going 16-5 SU and 15-5-1 ATS. In fact, the Hornets have won eight straight (8-0 ATS) on the road dating back to Dec. 19. And last time the Hornets hit the road they crushed San Antonio 102-78 as 5 1/2-point 'dogs.
New Orleans has rattled off three straight wins in this series, including a 104-90 home win on the season's opening night as nine-point favorites. And last time they were in Sacramento (last April) they got a 125-118 win as 4 1/2-point underdogs.
The Hornets match up very well with the Kings in the backcourt and the big men should be able to get up and down the court better than Sacramento. We're playing the Hornets to win a high-scoring affair in this one.
4♦ NEW ORLEANS
MATT RIVERS
For Friday take the Raptors up North.
Without Andrew Bynum the Lakers are pretty much once again Kobe and a bunch of mediocre at the very best players. Lamar Odom is not bad and other guys have overachieved out of the gate in what has been so far a successful season but let's not kid ourselves, Kobe is the man and the bulk of this Los Angeles team and if he is not playing with fresh legs then the Lakers are in some trouble.. Here on the dreaded back-to-back with travel will make this exponentially difficult on Phil Jackson's squad here as they rely so much on their superstar unlike today's opponent who is fresher and more of a team.
The Lakers just played in MoTown against the Pistons on Thursday and now have to go north of the Border and face what is once again a pretty darn good Raptor squad and that's without TJ Ford who has been out for awhile. Jose Calderon has filled in brilliantly and Chris Bosh is pretty much as good as they come. Then throw in Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker and a few others and the rested and far fresher dinosaurs should come out roaring tonight in the solid win and cover
JIM FEIST
If it's one thing Charlotte has, it's youth. They have young legs that can run the court, and they will have to this game as Golden State is an uptempo team. Former Warrior Jason Richardson makes his return to Golden State, and he?s a far better offensive player than defensive one. Charlotte is on a 3-1 run over the total, while the Warriors, second highest scoring team in the NBA, are on a 6-1 run over.
Play the Bobcats/Warriors over the total!
This NY Knick defense is a joke, allowing 47.5% shooting by opponents ? dead last in the NBA. They are a long way from home, on a West Coast swing. This is a terrible situtaional spot for the Knicks, playing their fourth game in five nights, as well as the second of a back to back road spot, playing at Portland Friday. Seattle is rested and at home, on a 4-1 ATS run which included an upset of San Antonio.
Play the Sonics!
DAVE COKIN
It doesn't get much uglier than Dartmouth at Princeton tonight. There's no way I can really endorse the Big Green, but I definitely cannot see a woeful Tigers entry spotting anyone in the Brain Chain this number, even at home. This game should be tight all the way, and the number is high enough to warrant a call on Dartmouth."
Tony Mathews
Matchup: Columbia vs. Yale
Selection: Yale -6.5 (-110)
Explanation: We will lay the points with Yale as they face-off against Columbia in Friday's College Basketball contest.
Yale has the much superior offense. Yale (at home) is scoring an average of 76.2 points per game, while Columbia (on the road) is scoring an average of only 60 points per game. It's clear that Yale has the much superior offense.
Yale is 5-1 at home this season, while Columbia is 3-6 on the road this season.
Take Yale -6.5
BRAD DIAMOND SPORTS
Play on: LA Lakers plus over Toronto
Would normally not play against the Raptors in most settings, but this is the spot to clean the glass. With nagging injuries still surfacing, the traveling group (no rest..5-3 ATS)must take on Chris Bosh and the Raptors. However, must note teams out of the Atlantic Division (East) do not play well at home when booked as a chalk against Pacific Division (West) types. In fact, Toronto is just 1-8 ATS against teams with a winning road record. Now, if the Lakers did not lose a heart breaker last night (Detroit), would have valued this scenario much stronger.
Ross Benjamin
Harvard @ Penn 7:00 PM ET 2/1/2008
Play On: Penn -2.0
Any conference away underdog of 3.0 or less that is off a conference away underdog SU and ATS los by 17 points or more, Lost to their current opponent in both meetings last season, and their current opponent is off 3 or more SU losses in a row is 0-6 SU and 0-5-1 ATS since 1990. Play on Penn minus the small number
TRIPLE THREAT SPORTS
Canisius (+) over Fairfield
Golden Griffins are not a good team, but Stags far from great this year either and should not be laying this many points here. This series has been very close in Buffalo the last two seasons and that should be the case again!
Great Lakes
NBA Selection:
Orlando at Philadelphia 7:05PM EST Play on: Orlando Magic
The Magic has a nice 30-16 ATS record this year including 17-10 ATS as a favorite this year. The Magic is also 19-8 ATS on the road this year, and 6-2 ATS vs Atlantic division opponents this year. We look for the Orlando Magic to roll over the Philadelphia 76ers tonight for the road ATS Win & cover.
James Patrick Sports
Cornell vs.Brown 7:00 p.m. est.
The Ivy Leaguers are at it on Friday evening and Big Game James Patrick has a selection on #519 Cornell
NICK JONES
Philadelphia 76ers +3.5 -110
It is that time of year again and unfortunately I am not talking about time for March Madness Picks. Its that time of year when the Orlando Magic let things go down hill. Orlando is 8-19 ATS in February games over the last 3 seasons and they are 49-74 ATS in road games after playing 2 consecutive games as favorite since 1996. They are allowing over 100 points per game on the road and the 76ers are getting hot with back to back straight up and ATS victories in their last two games. I like Philly to take this game, but as usual we will take the home team points.
Marc Lawrence
Friday 2/1
Play On: Pennsylvania
Note: Quakers return home off a 16-point loss to host the Crimson knowing they are 11-0 SU & 8-2-1 ATS in this series. With Harvard struggling at 6-12 this season, and just 1-3 ATS away from home, look for Penn to return to their winning ways tonight.
Nelly
Toronto - over Los Angeles Lakers
This is a tough spot for the Lakers having played in Detroit Thursday night. The Lakers are struggling with just two covers in the last nine games and losing against the spread in each of the last three road games heading into the Detroit game. The Raptors are 13-7 ATS in 22 home games this season and Toronto has won and covered in each of the last six home games. Toronto has won each of the past four home games by double-digits and the Raptors are shooting over 50 percent in the last five games. Toronto owns a modest 25-20 record on the season but the Raptors have battled through the toughest ranked schedule in the entire NBA. The Raptors are in a good position for another big win as the Lakers are caught in a very taxing travel situation.
Jimmy The Moose
Game: New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils Feb 1 2008 7:05PM
Prediction: under
Reason: The Rangers have played under the total in 5 straight games. In their last 56 games vs. a team with a winning record the under is 36-17-3. This will be the Rangers 3 game in 4 night and the under is 17-7-3 in the last 27 games played in this situation. The under is 21-10-8 in their last 39 games. The under is 5-2-2 in their last 9 home games. The under is 17-5-4 in their last 26 games played after having 2 days rest. The under is 9-2-4 in the Rangers last 15 trips to New Jersey. The under is 20-6-6 in the last 32 meetings between the team's. Play the under.
