SPORTS ADVISORS
NBA
Detroit (37-13, 29-20-1 ATS) at Atlanta (22-26, 23-24-1 ATS)
The Pistons take an eight-game winning streak down south to Atlanta looking to sweep the season series from the Hawks.
Detroit capped a perfect five-game homestand with Sunday?s 113-87 rout of the Bobcats, cashing easily as a 12-point home chalk. Although the Pistons have won eight in a row, they?re just 2-4 ATS in their last six and 6-11 against the number since a remarkable 18-0-1 ATS streak that stretched from late November to early January.
Atlanta has followed up a three-game winning streak (2-0-1 ATS) with consecutive losses, falling to the Cavs on Friday 100-95 as a four-point home favorite and getting drilled at Houston on Saturday 108-89 as a 9?-point road underdog. The Hawks have won six of nine at home (5-3-1 ATS).
The Pistons are 3-0 against the Hawks this season (2-1 ATS). They squeaked out a 92-91 home win as a 7?-point favorite back in the season?s first week, then posted double-digit routs at Atlanta (106-95) on Dec. 4 and back at home (91-81) on Dec. 14, cashing in both contests. Detroit is 8-2 SU in the last 10 meetings and 7-3-1 ATS in its last 11 visits to Philips Arena.
For the season, Atlanta is 16-10 SU and 14-11-1 ATS at home (4-2-1 ATS in the last seven), with the winner going 22-1-1 ATS in those 24 contests. However, the Hawks are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight as an underdog and 1-6 ATS in their last seven on Tuesday.
Although Detroit is 17-9 on foreign turf this year (14-11-1 ATS), it has split its last eight on the highway, going 1-5 ATS in the last six. On the bright side, the Pistons are on ATS runs of 11-6 when laying 6? points or less, 14-4 when playing on one day of rest, 12-4 following a double-digit win and 17-8 against the Eastern Conference.
During their eight-game winning streak, the Pistons have held six opponents under 90 points, Meanwhile, the Hawks have reached triple digits in scoring just once in their last eight games.
The over is 4-0 in the last four series clashes in Atlanta, 4-1 in the Hawks? last five as an underdog, 6-0 in Detroit?s last six against the Southeast Division, 7-0 in Detroit?s last seven on Tuesday and 15-6 in Detroit?s last 21 games as a road chalk.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DETROIT and OVER
New Orleans (34-15, 30-18-1 ATS) at Chicago (20-30, 21-29 ATS)
The Bulls return home from an unsuccessful six-game road trip, and awaiting them are the Hornets, one of the NBA?s best teams both overall and on the road.
Chicago went 2-4 on its road swing, alternating losses and wins in the last five games. On the bright side, the Bulls have cashed in a season-high five consecutive games, including on Saturday at Utah, where Chicago fell 97-87 as a 12-point pup.
The Hornets have been extremely streaky over the last month, winning nine in a row (9-0 ATS), then losing three in a row (0-3 ATS) before winning their last two (1-1 ATS). However, in Saturday?s 112-99 rout of Memphis, New Orleans came up just short as a 14-point home chalk, ending an amazing string in which the straight-up winner had covered the pointspread in 25 consecutive Hornets games.
Chicago has won three straight meetings in this rivalry (2-0-1 ATS) and is 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight clashes (3-1 ATS at home). Finally, the favorite is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six matchups.
The Hornets have been road warriors all year, going 17-7 SU and 16-7-1 ATS. In fact, dating to last year, they?re on a 23-7-1 ATS tear on the highway. They?re on further positive pointspread streaks of 5-1 against the Eastern Conference and 4-1 on Tuesdays.
The Bulls are just 10-13 SU at the United Center, going 8-15 ATS, including 4-10 ATS in the last 14. They?ve also failed to cash in five straight against teams from the Southwest Division.
The over is on streaks of 9-3 for New Orleans overall, 4-1 for Chicago overall, 18-8-1 for New Orleans versus the Central Division, 22-9-1 for Chicago against the Southwest Division and 8-2 in this rivalry (3-2 in Chicago). However, the under is 4-0-1 in the Bulls? last five at home.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NEW ORLEANS and OVER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(9) Butler (21-2, 11-9-2 ATS) at Wisconsin-Milwaukee (12-10, 9-9-1 ATS)
Butler hits the road for the third time in a week when it battles Wisconsin-Milwaukee in a Horizon League contest.
The Bulldogs are riding a five-game winning streak, including consecutive road wins at Valparaiso last Tuesday (71-68 as a three-point favorite) and at Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday (62-57 as a six-point chalk). Although Butler sits atop the Horizon standings at 10-2, it is just 2-8-2 ATS in conference, including 0-5-2 ATS on the road.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee has followed up a 9-1 run with two straight losses, both on the road at Horizon League foes Detroit (72-61) and Wright State (53-51). In its most recent contest at Wright State 10 days ago, the Panthers shot just 34.5 percent from the field, but still managed to cover easily as a seven-point road underdog.
Butler has won three straight in this rivalry, cashing in the last two. That includes a 72-56 rout as a 15-point home chalk back on Jan. 12. However, the Bulldogs are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight trips to Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Wisconsin-Milwaukee is 7-5 in the Horizon League (6-5-1 ATS) and has alternated spread-covers in its last seven contests.
The Panthers are 7-4 at home, but only 3-5 ATS in lined games. Dating to last year, they?ve failed to cover in eight of their last 11 at home. On the flip side, Wisconsin-Milwaukee is 7-2 ATS as an underdog of 12 points or fewer this season.
Going back to last season, Butler is 2-10-2 ATS in the Horizon League.
The under is 5-2 in Butler?s last six overall, 12-3 in its last 15 on the highway and 6-1 in the last seven series meetings overall (3-0 in the last three) and 4-1 in the last five clashes at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
(10) Michigan State (20-3, 8-9-2 ATS) at (19) Purdue (19-5, 12-9 ATS)
One of the best games of the week takes place tonight inside Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind., where the red-hot Boilermakers host Michigan State.
Purdue has won nine in a row, with its most recent victory being the most impressive: Saturday?s 72-67 upset at Wisconsin as a 10-point underdog. The Boilermakers, who on a 9-1 ATS spree, became just the second visitor to ever win at Wisconsin?s Kohl Center as they took over first place in the Big Ten at 10-1 SU (9-2 ATS), with the only loss coming last month at Michigan State.
The Spartans bounced back from a stunning loss at Penn State with a tougher-than-it-looks 70-55 victory over Northwestern, failing to cash as an 18?-point home chalk. Michigan State is 8-2 in league play, but just 3-7 ATS (2-2 ATS on the road).
Since starting the season 5-1-1 ATS in lined action, Michigan State is 3-8 against the number.
These teams played a thriller in East Lansing, Mich., on Jan. 8, with the Spartans escaping with a 78-75 victory. Purdue, which got outshot 61 percent to 41.3 percent and outrebounded 33-22 in the defeat, easily cashed as a 13-point road underdog. The Boilermakers are 3-0 ATS in the last three meetings, but the home team is 6-1 SU in the last seven series battles.
Despite Purdue?s spread-cover at Michigan State last month, the favorite is on an 8-3 ATS roll in this rivalry.
The Spartans are mired in ATS funks of 4-10-2 on Tuesdays, 3-9 against the Big Ten and 2-5 following a non-cover.
In addition to its current 9-1 ATS roll, Purdue is 4-1 ATS in its last five at home, 20-6 in its last 26 against the Big Ten and 5-0 ATS on Tuesdays.
These schools topped the total in their meeting last month, ending a 6-0 ?under? streak in this series. The under is still 5-1 in the last six battles at Purdue, 3-0 in Purdue?s last three overall, 9-2 in Michigan State?s last 11 on Tuesday and 11-5 in Purdue?s last 16 on Tuesday. However, the over is 3-0 in Michigan State?s last three on the road.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PURDUE and UNDER
Kentucky (12-9, 9-8-1 ATS) at (24) Vanderbilt (20-4, 11-12 ATS)
The streaking Wildcats go for their sixth consecutive SEC win and spread-cover, and try to sweep the regular-season series from Vanderbilt, when these two league rivals clash at Memorial Gym in Nashville.
Kentucky opened SEC play with a 79-73 overtime win over Vanderbilt as a one-point home chalk on Jan. 12, then proceeded to lose their next two at Mississippi State (69-64) and at Florida (81-70 in overtime). Since then, however, the Wildcats are on a 5-0 SU and ATS tear, including Saturday?s 62-52 victory over Alabama as a 6 ?-point home favorite.
Kentucky is only outscoring its opponents 68-62 during the five-game winning streak, but it is outshooting them 53 percent to 38.8 percent (44 percent to 29 percent from three-point land).
Last month?s loss at Kentucky sparked a 1-4 slump for the Commodores, but they?ve since rallied to win three in a row, including Saturday?s 66-65 victory at South Carolina as a two-point road underdog. Vandy has cashed in back-to-back outings after going 1-6 ATS through its first seven SEC contests.
The Wildcats snapped a four-game losing skid to Vanderbilt with the six-point overtime win at home on Jan. 12. Kentucky is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 battles, including 4-1 at Vandy. Meanwhile, the underdog had been on a 4-0 ATS roll in this rivalry before the Wildcats cashed as a one-point chalk last month.
Vanderbilt is 27-1 in its last 28 games inside Memorial Gym, including a perfect 14-0 this year, but just 5-8 ATS in lined contests. That includes 3-0 SU and 1-2 ATS when hosting SEC foes. However, the Commodores are 5-0 ATS as a short favorite this season (seven points or less)
Kentucky started the year 0-5 away from Rupp Arena (1-4 ATS) before winning and covering in its last two at Georgia (63-58) and Auburn (66-63).
The under is 6-2 in the last eight series meetings, including 3-0 in the last three overall. Also, the under is on current runs of 5-0 for Vandy and 4-1 for Kentucky. Conversely, the Commodores have topped the total in 36 of their last 53 home games, going 9-4 ?over? at Memorial Gym this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: KENTUCKY and UNDER
