Below are free NBA Picks and basketball predictions for January 31st 2010 from Touthouse.com handicappers. If you are looking for free NBA basketball picks on a daily basis or premium picks from our NBA basketball betting experts visit Touthouse.com each day.

Free NBA Pick: Houston Rockets -3 (Jimmy Boyd)
The Suns have lost their last 5 road games, and I expect them to drop their 6th straight here against a Rockets team hungry to avenge 2 prior losses to Phoenix this season. Defensively, the Suns are awful, allowing 110.4 ppg on the road on 47% shooting. What’s even worse is that the Suns aren’t making up for their defensive deficiencies by coming up with a lot or turnovers. They are only getting 6 steals per game and Houston is on a 25-11 ATS run versus teams who average 7 or less steals per game in 2nd half of the season, defeating these teams by 9.3 points on average. Houston is also on a 38-18 ATS run versus poor pressure defensive teams forcing 14 or fewer turnovers per game in the 2nd half of the season, defeating these teams by an average of 8.6 points. We’ll lay the points.

Free NBA Pick: Magic vs. Pistons Under 187 (Dave Price)
First off, you have to like the fact that Plays Under on all teams where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points (Detroit in this case) in a game involving two average defensive teams (92-98 PPG) after 42+ games, and after a combined score of 165 points or less, are 70-36 since 1996. Plus, Orlando is 17-8 Under in road games this season. The Under is 6-1 in the Pistons’ last 7 overall, 5-2 in the last 7 meetings, and 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Detroit. We’ll bet the Under for 1 unit

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
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Two of the traditional powerhouse franchises in the NBA face off on the hallowed hardwood of Boston Garden on Sunday afternoon when the Los Angeles Lakers (36-11, 22-24-1 ATS) take on the Boston Celtics (29-15, 18-26 ATS). Basketball bettors and fans alike have had this one circled on their calendars for a long time. This is the seventh stop on an eight-road roadie for the Lakers, who have gone a very suitable 4-2 SU and ATS in the first six games on the trip. Boston is glad to be back home after losing in both Orlando and Atlanta to wrap up the work week. The C’s are just 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS in their L/7 NBA betting battles.

Rumors continue to swirl about whether the Lakers are going to make a big move at the NBA trade deadline or not. Even though their statistics aren’t quite as gaudy as they were when they won the championship a year ago, there’s still no shame in scoring 103.9 points per game against allowing just 96.8. As always, G Kobe Bryant has the ability to put the team on his shoulders and carry it to victory. The future Hall of Famer is averaging a team-high 28.2 points per game this year, and he’ll certainly be on the short list of MVP candidates by the time the season wraps up.

Something is clearly wrong with the Celtics right now, and it’s a hard puzzle to figure out. For a team that was built on defense and currently ranks #2 in the NBA allowing just 93.9 points per game, conceding almost 98.5 points per contest since right after Christmas is alarming. Boston is supposed to have this dominant team in the Eastern Conference, but its 6-10 SU and 5-11 ATS mark since that triumph in Orlando on Christmas Day has allowed the surging Raptors to claw back into the Atlantic Division Race.

The Lakers had failed to cover eight straight NBA gambling lines against the Celtics before sweeping the season series last year. Their 110-109 overtime victory at Boston Garden last February was the first SU or ATS win for the purple and gold in Beantown since January 2007, which included three games played there during the NBA Finals in 2008.

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Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs
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Your NBA betting Sunday kicks off at high noon (1:00 ET) in the Lone Star State, when the Denver Nuggets (31-15, 21-23-2 ATS) look to get the best of the San Antonio Spurs (27-18, 23-21-1 ATS). Denver’s eight-game winning streak went up in flames on Friday night in Oklahoma City, as the Thunder bested the Nuggets 101-84. That game was played without G Carmelo Anthony in the lineup though. It is still very questionable whether the league’s top scorer will suit it up on Sunday. As for the Spurs, they erased the memories of three straight surprising home defeats when they took out both the Hawks 105-90 on Wednesday night, and the Grizzlies 104-97 on Friday night.

Without a doubt, if Melo can’t go on Sunday, it will be a huge loss for HC George Karl and his Nuggets. The team just can’t fly up and down the court at the same pace it normally does with Anthony in the mix, which is bad news against a San Antonio team that loves to impose its will on the opposition. Beyond the Syracuse product though, Gs Chauncey Billups and JR Smith have the ability to pick up the scoring slack. The duo is combining for 33.9 points per game, but they are all that the Nuggets really have to consistently rely on from the outside if Anthony isn’t on the court.

Picturing a playoffs without the Spurs in it seems almost sacrilegious. However, considering the fact that they are still behind the Mavs for the top spot in the Southwest Division and are only a couple games up on Houston, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City who would all be outside of the playoffs if they started today, that possibility may become reality if HC Gregg Popovich’s club doesn’t kick it into gear. Without G Tony Parker in the lineup, F Tim Duncan needs some support. The Demon Deacon is averaging 19.8 points and 10.7 rebounds on the season, but no one else on this team outside of Parker is scoring more than 12.9 points per game.

The Nuggs captured a 106-99 victory at the Alamodome back on December 5th in the first meeting of the season between these squads. Denver is a solid 5-2 ATS over the L/7 basketball betting clashes against the Spurs and has covered three straight in San Antonio.

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2010 NFL Pro Bowl: AFC vs. NFC
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The NFL may not have a truly meaningful game on the docket on Sunday, but for the first time in league history, Pro Bowl betting action will kick off the week between the Super Bowl and the AFC and NFC Championship Games. A total of 43 All-Stars from each conference will engage in this exhibition, which is traditionally a high scoring fun affair for one and all.

Current Odds: The NFC is currently favored by 2.5-points with the game ‘total’ set at 57.5 for this exhibition.

The AFC Pro Bowlers were certainly decimated by the fact that there are no Indianapolis Colts playing in this game. None of the three quarterbacks originally selected to play in the game are going to be on the roster when the game kicks off on Sunday afternoon. Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub clearly has the best numbers of any of the three on the roster, but aside from his 4,770 yards and 29 touchdown passes on the year, there just isn’t any allure in seeing either Jacksonville’s David Garrard or Tennessee’s Vince Young taking snaps. The AFC does have a fantastic set of skills players though, as it features three of the strongest young running backs in the game (Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson, and Ray Rice), and probably has the better set of receivers and tight ends of the two squads.

However, it’s hard to ignore just how good the NFC’s passing game really should be even though it doesn’t have the WR options that the AFC does. QBs Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, and Donovan McNabb all had stellar seasons, and each was deserving of his spot on the team, unlike Young, who wasn’t even starting at the beginning of the season, and Garrard, whose team is probably going to draft a quarterback to try to replace him in the near future. Keep an eye on the connection between Romo and his leading receivers Miles Austin and Jason Witten. Those two combined to catch 175 passes for 2,350 yards in the regular season, and the Cowboys trio could pave the way for a Pro Bowl wagering victory on Sunday in Miami.

The NFC has captured the L/2 Pro Bowls both SU and ATS, winning last year’s game 30-21. The teams had alternated wins and losses from 2003 to 2008, and the triumphant team has covered the football betting lines in each contest since 2000.

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Colorado vs. Iowa State
Free Pick: Iowa State -7 -110 odds
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Reasons why Iowa State covers:
1.) System Play. We’ll Play Against – Road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (COLORADO) – good foul drawing team – attempting >=25 free throws/game, slow-down team averaging 53 or less shots/game on the season. This is a 107-56 ATS System hitting 65.6% since 1997.

2.) It’s like night and day when you look at Colorado’s home/away numbers. The Buffaloes are 10-1 at home this season, and we’ve backed them at home a few times, but we’ll fade them on the road Saturday where they are just 1-8 away from home this season. Colorado is allowing 80.0 PPG on the road and home teams are shooting 49% against them. Iowa State is 9-3 at home this season, winning by 12.5 PPG. Bet Iowa State at home

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Loyola Chicago vs. Wright State
Free Pick: Loyola +17 -110 odds
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This is a very big spread for Wright State to have to cover Saturday, and we’ll take the points because of it. These teams have virtually identical record as Loyola-Chicago is 12-8 while Wright State sits at 13-8 this season. This line has been inflated due to Loyola’s performance earlier this week, a 20-point loss at Detroit. But Loyola is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) off a road loss by 20 points or more over the last 2 seasons. Loyola already beat Wright State, 53-52, at home earlier this season. This is a key factor because Wright State is just 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in home games revenging a loss where team scored less than 60 points over the last 3 seasons. The odds makers have missed their mark badly here. Take Loyola-Chicago and the points.

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Gonzaga vs. San Francisco
Free Pick: San Fran +12.5 -110 odds
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5* graded play on San Francisco as they host Gonzaga set to start at 9:30 EST. Gonzaga is coming off a game that they should have lost against Santa Clara. SC simply failed to complete the game and had double digit leads mid-way through the second half. Gonzaga is also showing signs of fatigue as they have been winning, but strugglig at times to win. They have lost three straight to the number and they certainly wear the conference bulls eye when playing on the road. In many ways this is SF’s Super Bowl and if they could some how knick of Gonzaga their season would be a huge success despite sporting a losing record. We expect Gonzaga to struggle during periods of this game as they only have returned 1 starter from last year’s team. Coach Few is still trying different bench/starter combinations and has yet to find one dependable combination. SF wil bring everything they have to this game and will keep it well within the 12.5 point spread. Take San Francisco.

Below are free college basketball picks and NCAA predictions for January 30th 2010 from Touthouse.com handicappers. If you are looking for free NCAA basketball picks on a daily basis or premium picks from our college basketball betting experts visit Touthouse.com each day. If you are looking for updated college basketball odds, be sure to visit our odds page daily.

Free Pick: Wyoming -1 (Rob Vinciletti)
On Saturday the free NCAAB Play is on the Wyoming Cowboys. Game 513 at 3:30 eastern. Wyoming has won and covered both times as a road favorite this year in this rage. When they have played losing teams they have won 15 of 19 times. Air Force is 0-9 vs teams who average 77 or more points per game and are 3-18 ats off 3+ ats losses. When the Falcons are a home dog in this range they are 1-4 straight up and against the spread. In a game that is virtually a pick,lean with the team with the better numbers. The Wyoming Cowboys. Those looking for something to pound today consider the NCAAB Non Conference Game of the Year with 42-5,25-4 Power angles or the Triple angle Big City Blowout side. I also have a Huge Triple system Mountain West Conference 5 star. Piping hot NBA will be up later in the day. Jump on and cash big all day and night. For the Free play Take Wyoming RV

Free Pick: Kansas -4 (Jimmy Boyd)
Yes, K-State knocked off Texas at home, but I strongly believe Kansas is a better team than Texas and won’t be denied here today. Kansas has won and covered each of the last 3 meetings in this series and is an awesome 11-1 SU & ATS at K-State since 1997. In all meetings dating back to 1997, KU is 28-2 SU & 21-9 ATS. Since the Jayhawks lost at Tennessee, they have been on a rampage, winning 5 straight with 4 of those wins coming by double digits. Kansas has rarely stumbled in conference play. In fact, KU is 16-4 ATS against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons and 18-3 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons. Kansas is as balanced a team as there is in the country, and that balance will be the difference today. Lay the points.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators
Free Pick: Ottawa -180 odds
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Normally I rarely recommend a favorite of this size, but “sometimes a favorite is a favorite for a reason”, as I expect the Senators to demolish the Habs and believe the “reward” well outweighs the “risk” in this situation:

Montreal has dropped five of seven overall and scored once during a two-game trip to Florida, losing 2-1 to the Panthers on Tuesday and 3-0 to Tampa Bay on Wednesday; it’s a horrible 1-4 its last five on the road.

On the other side of the rink: Ottawa has outscored opponents 27-8 during an eight-game winning streak that matches its run from Oct. 13-Nov. 6, 2007, as the best in franchise history. Those opponents haven’t been slouches, either. Two days after a 3-1 win over Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey, the Senators won 4-1 at defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Ottawa is 5-0 its last five and 14-5 its last 19 at home.

Bottom line: Two teams moving in opposite directions; when taking all of the above into account, laying the price with the home team is the prudent wager.

Siena vs. Marist
Free Pick: Siena -18 -110 odds
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One of my favorite college basketball betting strategies is to bet against true bottom feeders at home. The betting markets tend to factor in a home court edge that simply doesn’t exist. And make no mistake about it – the Marist Red Foxes are true bottom feeders. After another ugly 16 point home loss to Loyola Maryland last weekend, and an equally ugly 19 point loss at Iona during the week, Marist is now 1-20 SU this year.

Despite their ineptitude, the Foxes been able to cash in as a big road underdog, with a 5-1 ATS mark in that role. But when this team plays at home in Poughkeepsie, they’ve been getting crushed, game after game, week after week. Marist has played ten home games this year. They’ve lost nine of those games by double digit margins, including six straight here in January by 15 points or more; just 1-6 ATS on their home floor.

On the other side of the equation, another one of my favorite college basketball betting strategies is to bet on the best teams when they hit the highway. These teams have talent and experience, quite capable of winning by margin even in supposedly hostile environs.

MAAC powerhouse Siena fits this strategy to a ‘T’; a .500 ATS proposition playing in Albany, but a perfect 5-0 ATS as a road favorite in conference play. After being forced into overtime in three straight meetings on this floor, expect the Saints to take the Foxes seriously, which is all we need for a blowout win in this complete mismatch of a game. 2* Take Siena. (#679)