College Basketball Predictions: March 15th 2011
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Prediction: Boise State -8.5
Austin Peay played a solid season at 20-13. However, the Governors have trouble on the road at 8-8 away from home. The squad “stepped up” in class against Purdue and Memphis and lost both contests. To make matters worse, their top-scorer, TyShawn Edmondson injured his knee 2 games ago. Edmondson (averages 17.1 PPG) made a superficial appearance in the last game, a 68-49 beating at the hands of Morgan State. The Guard is not expected to play today. Austin Peay doesn’t have a single player that can take the ball to the hole against Boise State. The Broncos have won 9 of their L10 SU, going 6-2-1 ATS. They have a slew of talent, led by Guard La’Shard Anderson (15.5 PPG) and Forwards Arnold, Montreal, and Noonan (32.7 PPG combined). This is a very athletic team that will own the paint and the glass in this matchup. The Governors are 0-5 ATS their L5 games played on the road and 22-46-6 ATS their L74 non conference games. The Broncos are 5-1 ATS their L6 overall and 8-3 ATS their L11 non conference games. Take Boise State. Thank you. -Joseph D’Amico

Prediction: UAB +5
All the talk about how UAB doesn’t deserve to be in the tournament, is only going to light a fire under this team. The Blazers are more talented than people give them credit for. Outside of blowout loss to Duke and a bad road loss to Tulsa, UAB didn’t lose any other game by more than 5 points all season. UAB has played extremely well on the road this season, going 9-6 SU and 12-3 ATS. They are also a perfect 6-0 ATS in road games versus good teams – outscoring their opponents by 4+ points/game after 15+ games this season. The Blazers are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 neutral site games as an underdog, and 9-3 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games.

Prediction: Hofstra +2.5
The Hofstra Pride are looking to pick up a win and advance to the 2nd round of the CBI Tournament when they take on Evansville. I’m not a fan of Evansville at all this year. 5-11 vs. teams with winning record, 0-4 in their last 4 “tournament games”, and 6-5 against non-conference opponents. The MVC does not impress me, and I’m married to a Shocker Alum so I should be loyal to them! The Hofstra Pride are 10-4 while on the road this season, 15-5 against conference opponents, and 6-6 against non-conference opponents. On the road or neutral court, the Pride are averaging 69.6 scoring, and holding teams to 69.9 points scored on defense. The winner will face the winning side in the Austin Peay vs Boise St. game in the CBI qtr. finals. Trends I like in this one include, Hofstra is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games on the road, are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall, and are 19-6-3 ATS in their last 28 games as a road underdog of 0.5-6.5. Evansville is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games, and are 1-5 SU in its last 6 games. -Ray Monohan

Fairfield vs. Colorado State
College Basketball Pick: Colorado State -6.5 -110 odds – March 15th 2011
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Of all of the regular season conference champions that failed to win their tournaments and not make it to the NCAA Tournament, Fairfield has to be the biggest disappointment. The Stags had won 22 of 24 games before losing the season finale at Iona. After a win over Marist, Fairfield was upset by St. Peter’s by 14 points which killed any shot at the big Dance. Now the Stags have to try and regroup in a bad NIT draw as they have to travel west on short notice, something they are never used to doing.

Colorado St. also had hopes of a possible NCAA Tournament big but a slump at the end of the season ended those dreams. The Rams come into this game with losses in five of their last six games but to their credit all five losses came against teams that are currently in one of the postseason tournaments and only one of those losses came at home. It has been a great turnaround in Fort Collins as just two years ago, the Rams logged a 0-16 record in the MWC. Now they can continue to move up.

Fairfield coach Ed Cooley has done a tremendous job resurrecting the Stag program, and winning the regular-season title is quite an accomplishment. Closing the deal by winning the MAAC tournament was the ultimate judgment on the year and they were not able to get it done. Getting the top seed and hosting, set up Fairfield for its potential fourth NCAA tournament appearance in school history so the postseason was put on a platter and they failed to grab it and this is a very disappointed team.

Prior to the MAAC Tournament, Colley went on to say how important it was. “I hope we win this year,’ he said. “If we win, who knows, maybe we’ll be a 13 at best. I haven’t been to the NCAA in five years [since leaving Boston College as an assistant]. I want to get there.’ That makes playing in the NIT very difficult. The Stags are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six games following a double-digit loss at home while Colorado St. is 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games following an ATS loss. 3* (556) Colorado St. Rams

With Duke’s EASY Winner on Sunday in the ACC Championship Matt closed the weekend with a SMOKING 6-1 (6-0-1 for some) record with his hoops reports! This included a PERFECT 4-0 with his 10* TOP PLAYS as his TOP PLAY run is now a BLAZING 7-2 the last nine releases!

These runs are put to the test with TWO TOP PLAYS for Tuesday!

In the NBA, Matt is on a SCORCHING 26-14 NBA run even after yesterday’s setback with the Hornets. He bounces back as his HUGE run is extended once again tonight and if you are looking for a POTENTIAL BLOWOUT, this is it!

Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trailblazers
NBA Pick: Dallas Mavericks -1.5 -110 odds – March 15th 2011
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At 10:05 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Dallas Mavericks minus the points over Portland. Both teams come into this game off losses, but at least Dallas has an excuse: It lost to the best team in the league, or at least the team which is playing the best, and that’s the Lakers. In a preview of what will likely be the 2nd round Playoff match-up out West, Los Angeles showed Dallas that the road to the NBA Championship still goes thru Tinseltown, and the Lakers prevailed 96-91. Portland also lost on Saturday at Atlanta, as it shot just 35% from the field, and that was its second straight defeat, after a 5-point loss at Charlotte the previous night. These two teams have met twice already this season, with the Mavs winning both by single-digit margins. This game, though, will be the first at the Rose Garden, but the Mavericks are a solid 30-16 ATS their last 46 road games, including 14-2 ATS when the line has been 3 points or less. Take Dallas. Good luck, as always….Al McMordie.

Boston Bruins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Pick: Under 5.5 -110 odds – March 15th 2011
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I’m on a 10-2 run with my last 12 premium O/U plays, in all sports. That includes a perfect 8-0 mark with my basketball totals. Both losses have come on the ice – and they both were “unders,” where I was done in by an empty net goal.

One of those was last night. I had the Canucks/Wild game to go “under 5.5″ goals. The score was 3-2 until the Canucks scored an empty net goal with four seconds remaining in the game. (It cost me a 4-0 sweep on the night overall.)

Prior to that, the other loss in my current 10-2 O/U streak, came the last same time that these same Bruins were on the ice, back on 3/11. I had a play on Boston and the Islanders to go “under 5.5″ goals. Once again, the score was 3-2 in the closing seconds. Once again, however, an empty net goal was scored in the final 10 seconds of the game.

Of course, “that’s life” when you’re betting “unders” in hockey. It can’t stop one from pulling the trigger on the next opportunity …

The Bruins are back on the ice tonight and I feel the “under” is providing us with solid value. Even with the recent “heartbreaker,” the “under” still remains a very solid 42-28 the last 70 times that the Bruins played a road game with an O/U line of 5.5.

The Bruins are still only allowing 2.4 goals per game on the road. After allowing the Isles to score three in the third period, they should be determined to deliver an improved defensive effort. On the other hand, having had a few day’s off, the offense could be a little “rusty.” (*The last time that the Bruins played with three day’s off in between games, they won 3-1 at Vancouver on 2/22.)

The Bruins have seen the “under” go 9-5-1 the last 15 times that they were coming off a loss by two or more goals and 9-6 against teams from the West.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets have seen the “under” go a profitable 10-3 against teams from the East.

Three straight meetings between these teams have stayed below the total. Those games averaged only three combined goals. Consider the Under

San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat
NBA Prediction: Miami Heat -4.5 -110 odds – March 14th 2011
Visit Touthouse.com for more expert NBA predictions from Rob Vinciletti

On Monday the free NBA play is on the Miami Heat. Game 506 at 8:00 eastern. This game would have made the late phone cut if not for the team trends of the Spurs. Miami fits a nice system that cashes 74% of the time that plays on home favorites of 9 or less off a win of 28 or more provided they were not a home dog of 8 or more prior to the big win. Miami has not fared well vs the top teams in the NBA This season. However this appears to be a statement game as they were blown to pieces by 30 points no too long ago in San Antonio. Miami is 13-0 this season after allowing 85 or less and 21-5 off a win of 10 or more points. The Spurs are just 3-7 ats in the second half vs winning teams. For the free play take the Miami Heat. On Monday I have 3 big NBA Plays. The NBA 97% Blowout of the Month from a system that wins by 17 points per game + Dominator side with 5 Angles, two of which are perfect. And finally and NBA Total from a 14-2 system that averages 212 points per game. For another free Play listen online to the weekly Monday night sports talk radio show at 7:10 eastern on 88.9 wsia.fm as we break down some of the early NCAAB Tournament games. For the free play take Miami. RV

NBA Picks: March 14th 2011
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Pick: Sacramento Kings -1
The Kings have lost 6 in a row, but they have played some good teams very tough during this stretch. They played Orlando to a 4-point game at home, and they played San Antonio to a 5-point game on the road. As if 6 straight losses aren’t enough motivation, 2 losses to the Warriors this season will add more fuel to the fire. The Kings were competitive in both of those games, especially the OT loss at Golden State in January. The Warriors are just 9-23 on the road and recent losses at Minnesota and New Jersey lead me to believe the Kings will have an excellent shot in this highly motivated spot. Plus, Golden State, which enters off back-to-back covers, is just 3-13 ATS after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games this season. It is losing by an average of 9.8 points in this situation. The Kings have won 20 of their last 28 at home against the Warriors, and I expect them to come out on top again this evening. -Jimmy boyd

Pick: Memphis Grizzlies -5.5
The Clippers are 26-41 straight up this year. The Clippers are 6-14-1 ATS their last 21 road games. The Clippers are 18-42 ATS their last 60 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Los Angeles is 3-8 ATS after scoring 100 or more points in their last game. The Clippers are 16-34-2 ATS their last 52 Monday games. Memphis is 36-31 straight up this year. The Grizzlies are 17-5 ATS their last 22 games off a straight up loss. Memphis is 12-5 ATS after allowing 100 or more points in their last game. The Grizzlies are 23-6 ATS their last 29 Western Conference games. Memphis is 13-3 ATS their last 16 games off an ATS loss. PLAY ON MEMPHIS – Tom Freese

Penn State vs. Ohio State
Conference Tournament Pick: Over 125.5 -110 odds – March 13th 2011
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The Big 10 has been a higher scoring conference this season than in the past. Almost all of the teams have very efficient offenses while all but four teams (Ohio St, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Illinois) play bad, inefficient defense. Penn St certainly belongs in the efficient offense – inefficient defense group. And it just makes sense that when they play strong offensive teams, their games tend to be higher scoring.

The two meetings between Penn St and Ohio St both went Over the total this season. The Buckeyes swept the season series with a 69-66 home win and an 82-61 blowout win at Penn St. The Nittany Lions’ defense could not stop Ohio St in either game as the Buckeyes combined to shoot 52.3% (56-107) from the field and 52.3% (23-44) from three-point land. Penn St’s offense was also able to score on Ohio St’s defense pretty easily; the Nittany Lions shot 52.1% (49-94) from the field in the two games. Look for both offenses to be efficient here, and for this game to be a bit higher scoring than expected.