BEN BURNS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
GEORGIA TECH
Game: Clemson vs. Georgia Tech Game Time: 3/6/2008 7:00:00 PM Prediction: Georgia Tech Reason: I'm taking the points with GEORGIA TECH. Clemson come in off a thrilling comeback win vs. Maryland. This is a big game, as the Tigers want another victory to further solidify their NCAA tournament chances. The Tigers are just 19-41 SU over the past decade when coming off a conference win though and second leading scorer Cliff Hammonds got banged-up in the Maryland game. He's currently listed as probable but can't be expected to be at 100%. Off the big win and with their home finale on deck, I won't be surprised if they're somewhat flat here. The Tigers easily beat the Yellow Jackets at Clemson. However, they've had real trouble here at Georgia Tech, losing eight of the last 10 as a visitor in the series. The most recent game here resulted here in an 80-62 romp for the home team. The Yellow Jackets have struggled down the stretch and lost a heartbreaker last time out. They're better than they've shown lately though and have hung tough with the likes of UNC, Kansas and Indiana (those three games were decided by an average of just 3.3 pts). Prior to the tough 76-74 loss to Virginia, they beat Wake Forest here, completing a sweep of the Deacons. They've also played well off a loss in conference play, going 5-2 ATS on the season. Additionally, this represents their final home game of the season, providing further incentive to really "go out with a bang." I expect a highly motivated effort from the revenge-minded Yellow Jackets and for them to improve to 12-3 ATS the last 15 times that they were listed as home underdogs of three points or less. *ESPN Game of the Week
NBA
UNDER mavs/rockets
BULLS
Game: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls Game Time: 3/6/2008 7:05:00 PM Prediction: Chicago Bulls Reason: I'm laying the points with CHICAGO. The Bulls badly need this game and they've got a few things working in their favor. For starters, they're playing with "revenge" as the Cavs beat them on national TV over the weekend. They're also playing at home, where they've won three of their past four games (3-1 ATS) and beaten the Cavs eight of the past 13 meetings. Additionally, they had last night off while the Cavs were busy beating up on the Knicks. That game was somewhat closer than the final score (119-105) indicates as the Knicks trailed by only two points entering the fourth quarter. In other words, it wasn't just a rout in which the Cavs were able to rest their starters. Indeed, Lebron didn't leave for good until there was 23 seconds left. After scoring 50 points, receiving a standing ovation and even having a fan come up to him, Lebron described it as one of the best nights of his life. Off that emotional victory, I look for them to struggle against what I expect to be an extremely motivated Bulls squad. The Cavs are 4-6 SU the last 10 times they played the second of back to back games and 8-11 the last 19. They're also just 1-6 ATS the last seven times they were coming off a double-digit win. The Bulls gave the Cavs all they could handle at Cleveland before suffering a meltdown in the final two minutes. Look for Lebron and co. to put together a complete game tonight, earning a convincing win and cover. *Blowout Game of the Week
NHL
VANCOUVER
Game: Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks Game Time: 3/6/2008 10:05:00 PM Prediction: Vancouver Canucks Reason: I'm laying the price with VANCOUVER. Vancouver has lost four in a row and has fallen out of the top eight spots in the Western Conference. The Canucks haven't lost five in a row in two years though and Nashville is one of the teams directly in front of them. That makes this an absolutely critical game and I expect them to respond with a massive effort. Recent results notwithstanding, both these teams are much better at home. The Canucks are 15-13-5 on the road and 17-11-5 at home. There's an even bigger gap for Nasvhille, as the Predators are 20-10-4 at home but just 14-15-4 (14-19 vs. the moneyline) on the road. Neither team played last night but the scheduling situation favors Vancouver. The Canucks, who have tomorrow off, haven't played back to back games (two games in two days) in nearly a month. They catch the Predators playing the fourth game of a season-high 6-game road trip. Note that the Predators, 4-8 the last 12 times they played the front end of back to back games, play at Calgary tomorrow night. The Canucks come off a 2-1 loss to Colorado on Tuesday. They're 16-6 (+8.2) after playing a divisional opponent this season though and they're 8-4 after scoring one goal or less in their previous game. Looking back further and we find them at a profitable 30-18 (+11.4) in that situation the past three seasons. Look for them to snap their skid tonight, improving to 14-7 the past three seasons after having lost three or more consecutive games. *Western Conf. GOM
