CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE EXPERT NBA & NCAA BASKETBALL PICKS 

Free Pick: UL Lafayette +12.0 (-110)
Tue Dec 11 ‘07 7:00p
The UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns may be off to a 1-4 straight up start, but we feel that they are very capable of hanging within single-digits when they visit the Central Florida Golden Knights tonight.

Yes, the Cajuns are coming off of a bad 98-70 loss at Tennessee, but that was their first double-digit loss of the season, and this Central Florida team represents a huge drop in class from that Volunteers squad. Sure, Lafayette has lost some nice players to graduation the last couple of years, but the young tandem of Chris Gradnigo and Elijah Milsap could match baskets with just about anyone. The problem has been that the Cajuns have been a two-man crew to this point, but if they could get anything out of their peripheral players tonight, that should be enough to stay inside this inflated spread.

Besides, Central Florida is not accustomed to being this big of a favorite vs. anyone. They have been the chalk just twice in eight games this season, and although the covered both spreads, they were both as very small favorites (-2, -1.5). The Knights are only outscoring the opposition by an average of +3.5 points this season, not nearly enough to cover this spot, and they are simply not playing well right now, coming in on a two-game losing streak with the latest defeat coming here at home vs. Mississippi 76-67 on Saturday.

UCF has only been favored by more that eight points three times in the last two years, and they are 1-2 against the spread in those contests. Look for them to falter in this unfamiliar role again tonight.

Free Pick: Portland Trail Blazers @ Utah Jazz u203.5 (-110)
Tue Dec 11 ‘07 9:05p
The Utah Jazz are obviously very capable of lighting up the scoreboard, but we do not feel that the Portland Trail Blazers will do enough here to put this game Over a total that is set this high.

After all, the Blazers average a very pedestrian 93.7 points per game overall, an average that drops to a downright poor 89.8 points per game on the road. Sure, Portland has gone over 100 points in three straight games, but two of those contests came at home, and the third one was vs. the defenseless Memphis Grizzlies. We look for a return to normalcy here, considering that the Blazers have averaged a pathetic 85.6 points in their last five visits to Utah with their highest output during this span being just 93 points.

Now granted, the Jazz play as such a fast pace that they allow over 100 points per game overall. However, they have actually played much tighter here at home, where they have allowed only 94.1 points per contest, and you may be able to shave a few points off of the average here considering the opponent.

The Under is now 8-1 in Portland’s last nine conference games, and more importantly, the Under is 8-2 in all Blazers games that have had a posted total greater than 200 this year, and we look for those patterns to continue tonight.

Free Pick: New Jersey Nets -6.5 (-110)
Tue Dec 11 ‘07 7:35p
The Nets opened as 7-point home favorites with the ‘Total’ set at 184. The Clippers own a 3-5 SU and ATS mark on the road this season, while the Nets have been downright awful in the Continental Airlines Arena winning just 4 of their 12 games SU and killing their backers in the process going a poor 2-9-1 ATS (18%). Against sub .500 Western Conference opponents at home, the Nets are a combined 4-19 ATS (17%)…PATHETIC!!! They haven’t covered a game in their own gym in nine straight!!! However, the Clippers own a losing mark ATS in this scenario as well. They’re a combined 7-10 ATS (41%) on the road against sub .500 Eastern Conference opponents. They’re also a perfect 0-7 ATS the L/7 times they’ve made the trip to Jersey, and 1-4 ATS the L/5 overall meetings.

Neither of these teams are worth a large investment here in this spot, but I’m more inclined to have history on my side. The home team and favorite are a combined 13-2 ATS (87%) the L/15 times these teams have met, so back the home team and lay the small chalk as they look to put an end to their 3-game losing streak…
 
Free Pick: Seattle SuperSonics +8.5 (-110)
Tue Dec 11 ‘07 8:35p
The Bulls opened as 7.5-point home chalks with the ‘Total’ set at 189. The Sonics sport a 2-8 SU mark on the road and have gone 4-6 ATS in their 10 games, while the Bulls own a 3-5 mark SU & ATS in the United Center. Against sub .500 Eastern Conference opponents on the road, the Sonics are a combined 8-14 ATS (36%), while the Bulls are a poor 7-12 ATS (37%) at home vs. sub .500 Western Conference opponents. Seattle has covered in 6 of their L/7 trips to the “Windy City” and the road team has padded their backers wallets going 10-4 ATS (71%) the L/14 times these teams have met.

The Sonics have been playing much better ball of late, and I advise grabbing the points and having the series’ history on your side….
 
Free Pick: San Antonio Spurs @ Golden State Warriors o213.0 (-110)
Tue Dec 11 ‘07 10:35p
The Spurs opened as 3-point road chalks with the ‘Total’ set at 214. San Antonio has won 5 of their 8 road games to date and have gone 4-4 ATS in those contests, while the Warriors own a 5-5 SU and ATS mark in their own house. Against +.500 non-divisional Western Conference opponents on the road, the Spurs are a combined 8-7 ATS (53%), while the Warriors come in at an even 12-12 ATS (50%) combined against +.500 non-divisional Western Conference opponents at home. The ‘Over’ is a perfect 5-0 ATS the L/5 times these teams have locked horns, and is 9-1 ATS the L/10 times they’ve squared off in the Bay.

The Warriors will look to set their high paced tempo in this match-up looking to take advantage of a gimpy Duncan, but the Spurs’ offense has been electric of late surpassing the 100-point plateau in 7 of their L/10 overall. Look for them to accept the task of running with the Warriors in this spot, and for the ‘Total’ to soar over the closing number….

CLICK HERE TO BUY TODAY’S EXPERT NBA PICKS