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The Minnesota Timberwolves caught the Utah Jazz again Monday and now have won consecutive games as big underdogs. They’ll now face an extremely thin Houston Rockets team that has received the news that John Wall is done for the season. Effort from the Timberwolves should be downgraded from Monday’s performance as they are in a back to back scenario. Play the Rockets to start off well off a poor defensive effort from the Timberwolves.

The New York Knicks have covered a miraculous eleven straight games, and won their last ten. The peak may have been on Saturday when they crushed the Toronto Raptors by double-figures. With Phoenix in a back to back scenario look for the Suns to come out with aggression and utilize their depth advantage to end the Knicks streak. Play the Suns. 

Sunday, the Orlando Magic will attempt to end a four-game skid as they host the Indiana Pacers. Their Coach in Steve Clifford will be out as part of Covid-19 protocol. Expect an unorthodox rotation as a result that should be beneficial for the Magic’s young roster. Play Orlando plus the points to get another close result against the Pacers, as they did in a 111-106 loss on April 9th.

Tonight the Nuggets will face the Warriors in a repeat matchup from April 12th. That was the matchup where the Nuggets lost star player Jamal Murray in the final minute to a season ending injury. Look for the Warriors and Steph Curry to continue their hot shooting as they challenge the Nuggets four game win streak. Buy the hook to three and play the Warriors.  

The Memphis Grizzlies continue their west coast road trip Friday against the Portland Trailblazers. Portland has dropped consecutive games by a single point and lost five of their last six. Issues finishing games should continue tonight against a Grizzlies team bolstered by the recent return of Jaren Jackson Jr. Play Memphis.

The reeling Charlotte Hornets have lost five of their last six matchups. Mounting losses has dipped them below .500, as they have several main players out including Malik Monk and Gordon Hayward. Although the Bulls will be without star Zach Lavigne, they have a bigger veteran presence that will outshine the Hornets youth. Take the Bulls. 

The LA Clippers head into Wednesday’s matchup against Memphis winners of nine of ten. Minus Kawhi Leonard and in a back to back scenario figures to put their streak in jeopardy. Loo for the Grizzlies to continue to extend their ATS covers streak to six games. Play Memphis.

Wednesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves will attempt to sweep the Sacramento Kings. Tuesday they stormed back from an early fourth quarter deficit to outscore the Kings by eighteen points. The performance from the Kings is indicative of their end of season plight where they’ve dropped ten of eleven. Take the Timberwolves plus the points.

Over the weekend the San Antonio Spurs had one of the biggest lopsided upsets based on point spread movement. A 3.5 point line move against the Spurs was incorrect, as they trounced the Phoenix Suns. That’s posed value Monday for the Pacers who defeated the Spurs 139-133 earlier this month. Take the Pacers to sweep the season series. 

The Rockets organizational free fall in 2021 has been unbearable at times. They’ve lost five straight and have only three wins since February 4th. Sunday they’ll be without several players once again but should have the upper hand against a disorganized blended lineup of the Orlando Magic. Play the Rockets. 

The Miami Heat have faltered in consecutive games against Western Conference opponents in the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets. Friday, they’ll have a much easier matchup against the 14-42 Minnesota Timberwolves. Expect the Timberwolves to drop their third straight by a wide margin, as Miami gets back on track. 

Fielding an undermanned team has been the norm for the Toronto Raptors this season. Currently, they’re as depleted as they have been all year with the majority of their starters out, and keep in mind they traded away Norman Powell. Yet, they were able to defeat the Spurs in their last game, and will face a Magic team that has been in disarray since trading their away their core group of talent. Grab the Raptors.

The Boston Celtics have taken strides forward that you expect playoff contenders to do in April. They’ve won four straight games and should have a big edge against a depleted Lakers team coming off a lengthy road trip. Furthermore, this is a revenge spot in particular for guard Kemba Walker. Walker had one of his worst games of his career on January 30th, in which he shot 1 for 12 against the Lakers. Play the Celtics. 

Tonight a huge matchup will end the Tuesday NBA slate as the Miami Heat take on the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have won nine out of ten games, but the majority were against teams at or below .500. Expect the Heat to have answers defensively for the octane Suns, including former Heat team member Jae Crowder. Grab the Miami Heat.

Assessing a team’s mentality in a back to back scenario can be tough to gauge in the latter stage of the NBA regular season. For the LA Lakers tonight should be a prioritized refocused effort, after a sloppy loss to the Knicks that featured twenty-five turnovers. Look for a vindicating effort from the Lakers who will end their seven game road trip with a win. 

The Chicago Bulls continue an upward climb having won three games in a row. Tonight they’ll be in a back to back scenario on the road against the Atlanta Hawks. Injuries and concerns with availabilities of Danilo Galinari and Clint Capela will likely shift this line right before game time. This occurred in the Hawks last game against the Grizzlies, and should be advantageous for a Bulls team playing solid basketball. Play the Bulls. 

The Phoenix Suns have ascended to the top spot in the Pacific West division thanks to seven straight wins. Tonight will be an ultimate test against the LA Clippers in a back to back scenario. While the Suns have been winning they’ve had a string of close results. Expect the Clippers to be geared up and take advantage of a Suns team playing in consecutive nights. Grab the Clippers.

The Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies will meet Wednesday for a back to back scenario for both teams. Memphis comes in after a big win Tuesday over the Miami Heat, extending their win streak to three games. Torrid shooting of fifty five percent carried the Grizzlies. Look for Memphis shooting to downgrade as the undermanned Atlanta Hawks outplay the Grizzlies for another win. Play Atlanta.

It’s become apparent that the Oklahoma City Thunder are closing out their season thinking of the future. Key players continue to remain out limiting their roster’s talent. As a result over their last three games they’ve lost by an average of thirty six points. Still the Hornets have had trouble with consistency as of late, and are in their fifth straight road game. Grab the home underdog here.

The Miami Heat will aim to boost a four-game win streak as they host the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis is coming off two big wins including defeating the 76ers on the road by double figures. This is a scenario where the Heat’s defense should dictate early, and make things difficult for four quarters for the Grizzlies. Take the Heat to extend their win streak and cover ATS.

Monday, we will find out who will cut down the nets between Baylor and Gonzaga. This was a game we almost had in early December but was cancelled due to Covid-19. Over their last three tournament games Baylor has been impressive and cashed in all ATS-wise against Villanova, Arkansas, and Houston. Yet, expect Gonzaga’s offensive talent and depth to pose a problem for the Bears. Take the Zags to finish off their undefeated season and cash ATS.

Several key players will be out for the Minnesota Timberwolves in Monday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings. This has increased the spread offering on a Timberwolves team that has won two of their last three home games. Look for Sacramento’s inconsistency on road trips to be a big factor here. Play the Timberwolves. 

The San Antonio Spurs have not been able to gain traction even amidst a lengthy home stand. Monday will be their ninth straight home game, in which they’ve produced just a 2-6 record. Even with the recent returns of Kevin Love, Matthew Dellavedova, and Taureen Prince the Cavaliers have continued to lose by double-figures. Take the Spurs tonight.

The Final Four is the stage when Cinderella stories come to an end. Expect that to be the case for UCLA whose had fortune to survive two overtime games, and several late game blunders from the Michigan Wolverines. The Zags will over power the Bruins, and make another big statement before Monday’s national title game.

Value exists on Houston as all four of their tournament wins have been against double-digit seeds. Yet, Baylor showed down the stretch of the Big 12 season and in March Madness warning signs of deteriorating play. They have lacked the ability to play for forty minutes and isolation half court sets will play into the hands of the Cougars. Take the points here.

The Bucks ended a three-game losing streak on Wednesday by defeating the short-handed LA Lakers. For Friday, they’ll continue their west coast road trip by playing a Portland Trailblazers team they defeated 134-106 on February 1st. Yet, in that game the Blazers were minus CJ McCollum. Expect a tighter game and for the Trailblazers to carry over their efforts from a successful road trip that featured four straight wins. Play Portland. 

The Atlanta Hawks have fared well ATS-wise against teams in back to back scenarios this season. Another occurrence is available Friday evening as they travel to face the San Antonio Spurs. This is the seventh straight home game for the Spurs, and for the Hawks this is their seventh straight road game. Follow the suggestion from oddsmakers, and take the Hawks to perform well at the back end of their road trip.

The New York Knicks are coming off a season-low eighty eight points in Monday’s loss against the Miami Heat. It was an uncharacteristic performance from the Knicks who also surrendered thirty-nine points in the third quarter. Wednesday, expect Coach Thibodeau to have his team dialed back in against the NBA’s worst team in the Timberwolves. Play Minnesota.

After a four-game east coast road trip the Phoenix Suns return home to host the Atlanta Hawks. This is a bet friendly spot for the Suns as the Hawks are in the midst of a eight game road trip. Look for Phoenix’s depth and ability to close out teams late to thrive ATS against the Hawks. Play Phoenix

Opportunity of new life exists once again for the UCLA Bruins. For the second time in four March Madness games they needed overtime to survive. Top seeded Michigan destroyed a likely over-seeded Florida State team, but UCLA has the balance and momentum on their side to thwart the Wolverines. Also look for the coaching edge to side with the Bruins and Mick Cronin. Play UCLA. 

Thus far the USC Trojans have had advantageous matchups in March Madness. All three wins were by double-figures against two under manned teams in Kansas and Drake, and a familiar Pac-12 opponent in Oregon. That changes today against a Gonzaga team that is too proficient for the Trojans zone defense. Expect Gonzaga to rattle the Trojans early and pull away in the second half. Play Gonzaga. 

Offensively against Villanova, Baylor did not look like a team that should be in the Elite 8. They made up for it with stout defense and the will to not panic amidst a trying first thirty minutes. After surviving that scare look for Baylor to sense the situation and step up their level of play against the Razorbacks. Play Baylor. 

Oregon State will aim to extend their improbable tournament run against the defensive minded Houston Cougars. The Beavers have the upperclassmen to match Houston’s experience, and interior presence to out rebound the Cougars. Look for the Beavers to continue to not play like a twelve loss team as they give the Cougars a battle. Take the points here. 

The Raptors free fall has featured ten of eleven losses. Dealing franchise player Kyle Lowry was expected but not did not happen. Retaining Kyle Lowry sends a message that the Raptors are going to work through their struggles. Look for a solid effort today against a Trailblazers team working in Norman Powell, and Jusuf Nurkic. Grab Toronto.

Florida State’s ability to play both ends of the floor has been uncanny compared to the rest of the field in March Madness. They limited both UNC Greensboro and Colorado to under thirty six percent shooting. It’s been a solid campaign from Juwon Howard and Michigan but look for the Seminoles to continue to hinder their opponent and advance to the Elite 8. 

In the past eight seasons, Villanova has been an underdog by today’s margin only one other time. That speaks to the incredible run of Jay Wright and his staff. Baylor’s elite level of play began November 2019, when they defeated Villanova 87-78. In the contest Baylor shot fifty-eight percent from three point range, got several Villanova players in foul trouble, and committed just five turnovers. The in-game adjustments of Jay Wright won’t be there to keep Baylor at bay. Take Baylor. 

The Lakers finally showed some fight Wednesday night, in a competitive 109-101 loss to the 76ers. Yet, it had more to do with the 76ers letting off the gas in the fourth quarter than the Lakers veteran roster showing growth. Take the Cavaliers with the points to be the latest team to give the Lakers problems minus Anthony Davis and Lebron James.

Last night’s loss to the Portland Trailblazers extended the Miami Heat’s losing streak to five. Tonight’s matchup against the Hornets is advantageous due to the Hornets adjusting minus Lamelo Ball and adjustments to the minutes of Bismack Biyombo and Cody Zeller. Look for the Heat to also take advantage of the Hornets returning from a five game road trip. Take the Heat. 

Thursday, an NIT Conference USA battle will take place between Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers had the best regular season record in the conference, but did not get the support from oddsmakers for the Conference USA tournament. In fact, Louisiana Tech was co-favorite with March Madness representative North Texas. Expect the Bulldogs ability to execute better in half court sets, and get the win over Western Kentucky. 

Down the stretch of conference play the Memphis Tigers turned the corner. In fact, all four of their losses since January 17th have been by three points or less. Thursday, they’ll face a well balanced Boise State team offensively, but look for the Tigers to continue to take another step forward into the 2021-2022 season. Take Memphis. 

NC State had one of the easiest wins thus far in any post-season college basketball tournament, defeating Davidson 75-61. The Wolfpack never trailed in the game as the power five representative showcased a clear edge over the Wildcats. Building off wins has been a huge problem for the Wolfpack, grab top-seeded Colorado State to expose the Wolfpack’s inconsistent play. Play Colorado State. 

A revenge spot exists tonight on the road against the Thunder for the Memphis Grizzlies. Ten days ago the Thunder defeated the Grizzlies 128-122, thanks to outscoring Memphis by sixteen points in the fourth quarter. Expect the Grizzlies to atone for that fourth quarter let down and take the season series 2-1. 

The Pac-12 has been the hottest topic of discussion for March Madness. The sixth seed USC Trojans shot fifty percent from the field, and limited Drake to twenty nine percent shooting. Yet, similar to yesterday’s Texas Tech and Arkansas matchup, the six seed is improperly favored. Grab Kansas to have a proficient game and have answers for the Trojans in-game adjustments. 

The return of key players for the Houston Rockets with John Wall, Christian Wood, and the insertion of Kevin Porter Jr. has made the Rockets more formidable on paper. On the court though they’re still struggling. The Toronto Raptors should be the latest to hand the Rockets a substantial loss. Grab the Raptors to hand the Rockets their 21st straight loss. 

The Big Ten’s shocking downgraded play has left few teams left. Top seed Michigan will aim to keep the hopes of the conference alive against an LSU team that’s won five of their last six. Down Isaiah Livers the Wolverines will showcase their depth and pedigree over a poor defensive LSU squad. Grab Michigan.

The Wizards below average season had one monumental win. That came earlier this season against the Brooklyn Nets, with a miraculous late flurry that featured a Russ Westbrook three pointer on a steal in the final seconds. Brooklyn may have Blake Griffin, but expect the Wizards to have confidence with Kevin Durant off the floor. Play the Wizards.

One of the hottest teams in college basketball has been the Texas Longhorns. Loaded with NBA talent they are finally starting to emerge as a true contender. Yet, they’ll have their hands full with a well rounded Abilene Christian team. Look for the Longhorns to show vulnerability as they did in January through mid February. Play Abilene Christian. 

The Philadelphia 76ers have become accustomed to being without key contributors. That is the case once again Saturday as they will be without Joel Embiid and Seth Curry. They’ll take on a Kings team that has won consecutive games, but is in a back to back spot. Expect a poor effort in what is their fifth straight road game. 

The Indiana Pacers will aim to get back on track Friday against the Miami Heat. A prolonged ten game slump for the Pacers has featured a 2-8 record. Settling in Miami for three days for a two-game series should benefit Indiana. Expect a concerted effort and the Pacers to finish within the spread. Grab Indiana. 

A team that sneaks into the big dance is typically one of the most confident. North Texas escaped with a dramatic come from behind in the Conference USA final to topple Western Kentucky. A favorable matchup against Purdue and confidence should spark a solid effort from the Mean Green. Take North Texas.

The experience of Wisconsin is a key attribute to a tournament team’s success. The Badgers boast four senior starters and senior Micah Potter off the bench. Yet, the Badgers have not been able to shake the inability to finish off games, with a string of close losses. Look for Tar Heels starting freshman guards in Caleb Love and Kerwin Walton to rise to the challenge. Play North Carolina. 

A great play-in game exists Thursday between UCLA and Michigan State. The Bruins come into the tournament on a four game losing streak, but have the intangibles to give Michigan State trouble. Expect Mick Cronin to have his team fully engaged as questions get raised on if Michigan State should have been a participant. Play UCLA. 

One of the best NBA comebacks of the season happened two nights ago as the Trailblazers stormed back from a seventeen point deficit to defeat the Pelicans. The deflating loss for the Pelicans should give the Trailblazers an edge Thursday. Expect the Trailblazers to take advantage of a quarter of down play from the Pelicans, and get another win. Play Portland.

The SMU Mustangs never got traction in-conference because of ten games being cancelled. As a result they played just sixteen games total. In fact, they have played just one game over the last thirty eight days. Seek the value on the Mustangs led by Kendric Davis, and the experience of senior Ethan Chargois who scored sixteen points in a win over Boise State his freshman year. Play SMU. 

Expectations for post-season aspirations were preset for St. Mary’s. An up and down year meant the NIT was their likely destination. On the contrary, Western Kentucky was two minutes away from representing Conference USA as an at large seed, but surrendered a 48-41 lead to North Texas. Look for motivation to be on the side of St. Mary’s led by senior Tommy Kuhse. Play St. Mary’s. 

The Sacramento Kings woeful February and March road trips on the east coast have resulted in a 1-6 overall record. In Monday’s loss against the Hornets the Kings had full control until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Minus Marvin Bagley who injured his hand expect the Wizards to end their four game losing streak. Play the Wizards.

Tuesday, the Bulls have a revenge spot against the Oklahoma City Thunder. On January 15th the Bulls surrendered an eighteen point halftime lead, and lost in overtime to the Thunder. With Oklahoma City limited depth-wise, expect the Bulls to take advantage and push past the number. Play Chicago.

By parting ways with Lamarcus Aldridge the San Antonio Spurs have suddenly shifted to their younger core talent. Yesterday, with Demar Derozan out the Spurs lost by a whopping thirty-five points to the Philadelphia 76ers. The outing will serve as a wake up call as the Spurs and Coach Popovich take it to a Pistons team that’s lost three straight games. Grab the Spurs. 

Oregon State’s veteran senior backcourt tandem of Ethan Thompson and Zach Reichle have sprung the Beavers to the Pac-12 title game. They’ll face a Colorado Buffaloes team that has had two close calls against California and USC in the Pac-12 tournament. Expect the Buffaloes to raise their level of play and defeat Oregon State handily for the third time this season. Play Colorado.

Tired legs were evident Friday for North Texas in their narrow victory over Louisiana Tech. Saturday the Mean Green will play their sixth game in eight days as they take on conference leader Western Kentucky. Expect North Texas to continue to play stingy defense and rely on timely baskets and get an at large March Madness bid. Play North Texas. 

Two teams that have had prolonged losing streaks will face off tonight in Houston versus Sacramento. The Kings have lost eleven of their last thirteen games, while the Rockets have lost thirteen straight. Sacramento’s lack of consistency in their rotation should leave the Rockets opportunities to finally play a close game. They may not win outright but the points are worthy backing. Grab Houston.

Thursday, the Chicago Bulls will face an undermanned Philadelphia 76ers team minus Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. This should give the Bulls an advantage considering Joel Embiid scored fifty points against the Bulls on February 19th. Take the Bulls to cover and even the season series against the undermanned Philadelphia 76ers.

Mid-February Indiana looked like a team that had March Madness aspirations. Unfortunately a bad stretch resulted in the Hoosiers losing their final five games, which also correlated ATS. The grind of conference play wore them down, but they can play spoiler starting with today’s matchup against Rutgers. Look for the Hoosiers to play an inspired game and get their first cover in over three weeks. 

UTSA turned around their season thanks to winning nine of their last eleven games. Wednesday, they’ll face a Charlotte team that has lost eight straight games and not won since the month of January. Yet, Charlotte’s guard heavy lineup matches up well with UT San Antonio. Grab the value here on the underdog in the first day of action for Conference USA’s tournament. 

Arizona State ended the regular season with one of the worst head scratching defeats. They fell at the hands of the Utah Utes 98 to 59. Several Covid pauses never allowed the roster to fully develop, along with injuries to star freshman Josh Christopher and Marcus Bagley. With limited depth look for ASU seniors Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge Jr. to carry the Sun Devils today against Washington State. Play ASU

Marquette goes into the Big East tournament having won four of their last five games. Wednesday they’ll face a Georgetown team that played Marquette tough in a 64-60 loss on January 2nd. In the performance the Golden Eagles erased a sixteen point halftime deficit. Expect those second half adjustments made by Coach Wojciechowski and a proper game plan to lead Marquette to a better all around performance today. Take Marquette.

On a point spread line dip take Cal State Fullerton. They’ll face off in the first round of the Big West conference tournament agains Cal Poly. Over Cal Poly’s last six games they’ve went 5-1 ATS, but it does not take away from their overall record of 3-19. Expect a lethargic performance from Cal Poly and Cal State Fullerton to take advantage. Play Cal State Fullerton

The Miami Hurricanes have began adapting to their limited roster. They played competitively against Clemson and Virginia, and finally ended their losing streak by defeating Boston College. Expect another close game as the Hurricanes look for revenge against a Pittsburgh team that defeated them by fifteen earlier in the season.

Appalachian State has had a mini spurt down the stretch of the season. This began by erasing a huge deficit in a comeback win over Georgia Southern last week. They used that to erase a deficit yesterday and defeat Texas State in overtime. Expect Appalachian state to carry their momentum over against Coastal Carolina as this is the first time they’ve faced each other this season. Play App State.

Sam Houston State’s one kryptonite this season has been the upper echelon of the Southland conference. In fact, their lone two conference losses have come against Abilene Christian and today’s opponent in Stephen F. Austin. Expect the Bearkats to go toe to toe with the Lumberjacks four starting seniors, and get a confidence boosting win heading into conference tournament play.

Led by senior Storm Murphy the Wofford Terriers exceeded expectations with a 12-5 regular season in the Southern Conference. Saturday, they’ll take on a tough team in the Mercer Bears. The Bears are an up and coming team with several scorers that should give Wofford problems. Take the points here as the Bears aim to avoid a three-game season sweep from Wofford. 

The Mean Green will have a chance to avenge a Friday loss to UAB, 65-51. The loss was North Texas’s first double-digit loss against a non-power five school all season. Fifty-one points was twenty points below their season average. Expect a better all around effort as North Texas redeems themselves in a big way. Play North Texas. 

Out in the Missouri Valley eyes have been on Drake and Loyola Chicago. A team that is more than fully capable of contending with both of those teams is Missouri State. Friday, the Bears will aim to complete a three-game season series sweep over Valparaiso. The prior two wins Missouri State won by double-digits. Expect a third win as the Bears  have their eyes set on advancing and getting an automatic bid. 

 The Thundering Herd have a dynamic back court with Andrew Taylor, and Taevion Kinsey that should be a supreme advantage over Charlotte. The 49ers at times have shown the ability to hang around with opponents but lack the fire power to play for forty minutes. Expect the Herd to resemble the team that won five of six conference games by double-digits in January to mid-February. Take the Herd.

ACC conference play has been dreadful for both Miami and Boston College. Friday, expect a motivated Hurricanes team to aim to avenge a January 12th, 84-62 loss against Boston College. Additionally, senior day for starters Kameron McGusty, Nysier Brooks, and Elijah Olaniyi should boost the level of play for the Hurricanes.

A featured top twenty-five matchup exists Thursday between Texas and Oklahoma. The Longhorns are playing in their third straight road game, but matchup well against the Sooners. Expect their offense to pick up where it left off against Iowa State, as the Longhorns make a late season push up the polls. Grab Texas. 

Conference struggles are not customary for Murray State. This year they were .500 in the Ohio Valley at 10-10, including two losses against Jacksonville State. Yet the pressure is now on the Gamecocks for a third win. Grab Murray State to get the win that matters most and advance in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

Thursday, the New York Knicks should be able to replicate Sunday’s 109-90 blowout win at Detroit. In the contest the Pistons shot just 39 percent from the field and received just forty-seven points from their starting lineup. A victory also would put the Knicks over .500 heading into the All-Star break. Grab the Knicks who should be motivated from start to finish. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves head into Wednesday on an eight game losing streak. One of their closest losses occurred against the Charlotte Hornets, 120-114. With the Hornets on a current six game road trip this may seem like a fade worthy spot. Instead look for the Hornets to add to the Timberwolves woes. Grab Charlotte.

Amidst several postponements, Wichita State has endured for a five game winning streak. In their last outing they upset the Houston Cougars, and the win removed the interim label for Coach Isaac Brown. Look for a bit of rust today as Tulane looks to spoil the Shockers tournament aspirations. Play Tulane.

Stakes are high today in the ACC between Duke and Georgia Tech. Both teams are on the back end of potential March Madness aspirations. On January 26th, during a 2-6 stretch of Duke’s season they mustered a 75-68 victory over Georgia Tech. Grab Duke to bounce back and continue their late tournament surge. 

The Atlanta Hawks will now have Nate McMillan as their new interim coach. They’ll face a Miami Heat team Tuesday that may be without Jimmy Butler, but look for the Heat to continue to build off the success they had last outing against the Hawks. Their retooled lineup and boosted bench play will be the difference. 

The Buffalo Bulls are playing their best basketball of the season. They’ve won three consecutive games by double-digits. Expect their momentum to continue against an Akron Zips team that’s lost consecutively by double digits. Take the Bulls in an early MAC Tuesday game.

A program that has stepped backwards this season has been East Tennessee State. Their matchup today against UNC Greensboro was one of the former top matchups of the Southern Conference. Yet, East Tennessee State is in the midst of losing four of their past five. A positive is their games have remained competitive. Look for East Tennessee State to play tough as they close out the regular season strong. 

Tonight the Charlotte Hornets will continue their west coast road trip as they take on the Golden State Warriors. On Wednesday, they toppled the Phoenix Suns 124-121. Contributions were made up and down the roster as seven players scored in double-figures, led by 29 points off the bench by Malik Monk. Take the Hornets to cover for the second time in a week against the Warriors.

Friday, out in the Sun Belt Arkansas-Little Rock will aim to end a six-game losing streak. They’ll face a UL Lafayette team that is streaky offensively led by guard Cedric Russell. Yet, their bench has taken a hit as Devin Butts has seen his minutes reduced since returning from suspension. Grab UALR to gain the season-series edge 2-1 over Lafayette.

Bowling Green continues to show signs of the team preseason prognosticators predicted would finish near the top of the MAC. They’ve won three consecutive games and are coming off a big comeback win over Eastern Michigan. With confidence on their side look for the Falcons to sidestep their fourth straight road game, and gain another cover against Akron.

The Northwestern Wildcats have one of the longest in-conference losing streaks at thirteen games. Thursday, they’ll face a Minnesota Gophers team that has free failed from the top twenty-five to the bottom of the standings in the Big Ten. This is an opportunity for the Wildcats effort to outdual an unmotivated Gophers. Grab Northwestern. 

Pre All Star break high caliber teams tend to lose their motivation. On the road tonight look for the Clippers to falter slightly against the Memphis Grizzlies. A poor stretch from the starters or second unit will spark a run from the Grizzlies to cover a large spread. Take Memphis. 

On Tuesday the Sacramento Kings lost their eighth straight contest as they fell to the Brooklyn Nets. Yet, they hung around the spread for the majority of the game until the waning minutes. Another positive was Harrison Barnes return as he scored eighteen points. Take the Kings in a buy low spot on a small number against the Knicks.

On January 10th, Xavier defeated Providence thanks to a last second three point shot, 74-73. The loss for the Friars spoiled a career-high seven made three pointers by guard David Duke. Xavier’s record may be 12-4 overall, but they are just 5-4 in the Big East. Take the Friars to avenge January’s loss.  

One of the best under the radar matchups today lies with Sam Houston State and Abilene Christian. As home underdogs back on January 20th, the Bearkats defeated the Wildcats, 64-57. It was a sloppy outing from Abilene Christian who shot below forty percent from the field, and fifty-eight percent from the free throw line. Expect a higher degree of efficiency from both ends of the floor as Abilene Christian regains the top spot in the Southland conference. 

The Butler Bulldogs appear to be a team worn down by Big East conference play as the season winds down. They’ve lost six of eight and have dropped their scoring output in each of their past four losses. Look for the Pirates to sweep the season series and topple the spread late at the free throw line. Play Seton Hall. 

Bowling Green has bounced back with consecutive wins after losing the prior six. Tuesday, they’ll face an Eastern Michigan team that’s just 1-8 overall in-conference. Expect Bowling Green to continue their upward momentum and cash ATS in their third straight road game. 

The Richmond Spiders will host UMass in an Atlantic 10 Tuesday matchup. The Minutemen have not played in seventeen days due to Covid-19, while Richmond just played three days ago. Expect UMass to tire out late as Richmond does enough to push past the number in the final minutes.

Out in the Northeast conference Bryant will meet Merrimack for a second consecutive day. Saturday, the Bulldogs outlasted Merrimack for a close two point victory. The win came after a long stretch off that is a value indicator to go against Sunday. Grab Merrimack to make slight adjustments and get the win against Bryant. 

Typically one does not see a team that has lost five straight home games a favorite on the road. Yet that’s the case with the Sacramento Kings as they travel to face the Chicago Bulls. In their prior matchup the Kings had seven players score in double-figures. Expect their offense to overwhelm the Bulls as the Kings finally get back in the win column. 

Eastern Kentucky is in the middle of a jam packed road stretch. Saturday will mark their sixth straight road game as they take on Southeast Missouri State. The Colonels have not skipped a beat on the road trip with octane offense that averages 83 points per game. Grab the Colonels to overwhelm Southeast Missouri State.

Ball State has shown the ability to play to the level of other MAC opponents, it just hasn’t translated to wins. They’ve went just 1-5 over their last six games. Yet, the one win was over conference leader Toledo. Friday’s opponent in Akron routed Ball State by thirty-two points, and also limited the Cardinal to forty-two points. It won’t be as easy this time but grab the Zips.

A team that has had an extended layoff in the Sun Belt has been Appalachian State. They have not been on the floor in twenty days. That’ll make it tough tonight as they host conference leader South Alabama. The Jaguars have won six straight games but five straight have been decided by seven or less. Take Appalachian State as they thrive on slower pace close games.