Cashing In

Your "Bad Beat" for Sunday is on:

Orioles (plus 140, first 5) at San Diego.

Baltimore was playing in a pitcher's ballpark at PETCO and plated four runs in the first inning. The Orioles had a young kid in Jake Arrieta on the hill who had made two high quality starts recently to begin his big league career so losing that first five was almost impossible to fathom against the still very mediocre San Diego lineup.

Or not.

The Padres scored one in the first and another in the second to cut the lead in half. Then the Friars bashed away scoring four runs in the third inning capped by a Will Venable three run jack.

SD tacked one on for good measure in the fifth to win the first five in comeback fashion 7-4.



Your winner for Monday is on:

3* Diamondbacks (plus 150) vs. New York.

A small terrible three game slate today. I certainly can't say that I love what I see but to be able to go against the ice cold AJ Burnett today plus this price has to be a play.

The New York righty has really struggled of late and now in interleague action could be in trouble once again. Burnett will have to step into the batter's box and maybe even run a base or two. He also will face an Arizona team that has not been that terrible at home and should bring some game with powerful boppers in Reynolds and Upton.

No doubt the Yankees are the much better team and when healthy the far more powerful lineup. But Arod and Posada are not 100% and may or may not play. The Yanks also lose a bat with the pitcher hitting and are in an unfamilar situation. If any team would be fine it is Joe Girardi's very professional club but it's still not a normal game for the Bombers and I'll take my chances against them.

Rodrigo Lopez is eh. He certainly is not a guy that I can hang my hat on or believe in but Lopez has been ok and is at home so take that for what it's worth. On this day the best game on the board is this home dog and as long as Burnett does not flip the switch and look great I feel we are getting a decent enough deal.

Your "Bad Beat" for Sunday is on:

Phillies (minus 115, first 5 innings) at Arizona.

A consolation prize to any Braves backers as they watched their team lose 1-0 after only 5 1/2 innings thanks to rain and the run came in on an error. That is pretty freakin bad.

But the "Bad Beat" of the day goes to the Fightin' Phillies who didn't do much fighting in the fifth inning. Kyle Kendrick was cruising and the defending National League champions had the 3-0 lead into the bottom of that fifth inning. In a first five inning play three more outs before three runs equaled a win. That should have been easy money for sure, right?

Wrong.

The pitcher Rodrigo Lopez led off the inning with a single and then Kelly Johnson homered all of a sudden making the score 3-2. Three batters later the powerful Mark Reynolds belted a three run home run and just like that the Diamondbacks owned the 5-3 lead and won the first 5.

Ouch!



Your winner for Monday is on:

3* Bucks (plus 1 1/2) vs. Atlanta.

Another amazing winning day on Sunday as my biggest play ever, a 6* on the Jazz rolled!



I don't love this Monday slate at all and especially not on the diamond as there is little value there. But I'm fine with the Bucks at home on the hardwoods and will back them.

Mike Woodson's Hawks are clearly the more talented team when compared with the Bucks. Milwaukee is obviously once again without its big man in Andrew Bogut and that is huge. But I'm not sold on Atlanta winning a big road game as they just seem to fail a lot more than they succeed in this type of a spot.

The Hawks have been in the playoffs now for three straight seasons and continue to lose game after game on the road. They beat Dwyane Wade and the Heat in one last season but I am pretty sure that has been it in terms of wins away from Philips Arena in about 9 tries.

I'm not saying that Joe Johnson and his 50 win plus team can't win this game because they have the talent to do so with Horford, Smith and Crawford but these guys have not really stepped up on the road and I'm not so sure they can just do it today.

Brandon Jennings has the makings of a superstar and we saw just that in game one of this series. The kid is awesome and in the end I will gladly back the Bucks at home not laying anything.

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Michigan State (over 28 1/2 first half team points) vs. Butler.

Before I get to the beat let me just say that I appreciate all of you who read this blog and I would love to hear from you so anybody who would like to post a comment, any comment, I wholeheartedly welcome it so please feel free to fire away down below.

As for the beat this is not your usual type of a beat but this was truly as bad as they come.

Some sites had first half team totals up yesterday and the Spartans over/under was 28 1/2. Tom Izzo's team came storming out of the gate nailing two three pointers right off the bat just a minute in. Things stayed hot as Korie Lucious and the fellas scored 18 points eight minutes into the game and had the 21-17 lead with literally 9 1/2 plus minutes to go in the first half. Therefore only a measley 8 points were needed in about a full 10 minutes of basketball, simple right?

I think you know where this is going.

Butler turned up that defensive pressure and went into lock down mode. The Spartans' defense also took things up a notch as the Bulldogs only scored three points in the next six minutes but that really did not matter with this play as Michigan State was brutal in the second half of the first half. But Durrell Summers made a layup with 2:49 to go in the jalf and Sparty grabbed the 28-23 lead. Only one more point was needed.

"Only".

State missed three three's and turned the ball over late and this thing went into the locker room tied at 28!?!?

Yikes!!!!!!



Your winners for Sunday are on:

3* Nets (plus 3 1/2) at Washington.

2* Yankees (even) at Boston.

One Saturday play and it was an easy 4* winner on Duke.



The Wizards have won one game since February 28th and are as horrific as they come. Flip Saunders' team no longer has any of their big three in Arenas, Jamison and Butler and is the epitome of a shell of itself right now. Andray Blatche is their best player but he and Saunders pretty much hate each other. There really isn't much else there and for this team to be laying anything to anybody is too much to fathom.

New Jersey is much improved and won again last night destroying the Hornets by about 30. Lopez and Harris and Lee and others are starting to look like a team. Yes they have only won 11 games on the campaign which is about 12 less than the Wiz but that does not truly represent these current two teams.

The Nets are on a back-to-back with travel so fatigue could be an issue but it doesn't matter as they are the much better team and it will show in the end.



CC and the Bombers! The Yankees are the champs and I'll take my chances on them here at Fenway Park. Boston will be good this season as usual but I don't think they are Yankee good. In terms of pitching the boys from Beantown may even have the overall edge but the lineup goes to Joe Girardi's boys as Arod and the Bombers are awesome.

Sabathia and Beckett should both be firing away and holding their own but the champs are the champs and to not be laying anything with is fine with me here, even on the road.

When push comes to shove in a game between the Yankees and Red Sox with two stud pitchers on the hill my buck is on the Yanks.

Your "Bad Beat" for Tuesday is on:

Coyotes (over 5 1/2) at Vancouver.

A consolation prize to any Pacific hoops backers as the Tigers were getting 5 1/2 and up by 6 at the break only to get drilled and watch Missouri State cover the game.

But the "Bad Beat" of the day comes on the ice where Phoenix was tangling in Vancouver. The over looked to be the play as this thing was 3-1 Canucks after just one period and 4-1 mid-way through the second. That means half of the game was remaining and just one measley goal needed for the over.

I guess it wasn't that measley.

There were only 16 combined shots in the third period and no more goals as this thing stayed 4-1 and a winner for the under players.



Your winners for Wednesday are on:

3* Nets (plus 7) vs. Phoenix.

2* Lakers (plus 1) at Atlanta.

One Tuesday play and it came through in the end. 4* North Carolina was a pick and needed overtime but did win by one. That was much much needed!



If you have been reading this blog for awhile then you more than likely know my feelings on the Nets. New Jersey may only have 10 victories on the season but they are not that bad. I love Lopez and Harris and feel that Kiki's team has solid enough complimentary players led by Lee and Yi. Finally the Nets' talent has translated into victories as they have now won three of the last four games and three straight at home.

The Nets just upset the Spurs as a similar dog a few nights ago and tonight have another semi daunting task with the very very good Phoenix Suns in town. Nash and Stoudemire are great but the Suns are playing for a second straight night after the victory in the Windy City yesterday. Maybe a little fatigue for the Suns? It's certainly a possibility.

There's no doubt we're backing the inferior team here, no matter my feelings for the Nets and in the end we should lose this game. But a full touchdown at home with the fresher team that is playing its best ball of the season is enough for me.



Mike Woodson's Hawks are very good and at home at times are great. Meanwhile Kobe and the Lakers have been struggling of late but I don't care, if I can get the defending champs plus something then it's a no-brainer.

Andrew Bynum is banged up and Los Angeles is not firing away on all cylinders but Phil Jackson's team is still great and boasts one of the top two players on the planet in Bryant. Look for the superstar of all superstars to take this thing over with some help from Gasol and for the champs to get back in the saddle and take care of business here.

Horford, Smith and Johnson are awesome but these are the Lakers we're talking about.

Your "Bad Beat" for Thursday is on:

Kansas State (total of 150 1/2) vs. Xavier.

I hope you stayed up late last night for this one because it was incredible, an instant classic for sure.

Kansas State led most of the way but the Musketeers just kept hitting big shots to stay in it. The Wildcats' superstar guard Jacob Pullen made a pair of free throws to give K State a 72-69 lead with 9 seconds remaining. Coach Frank Martin obviously told his team to foul and not allow a three. Denis Clemente tried to foul but it wasn't called and then Chris Merriwether did the unthinkable fouling Terrell Holloway in the act of shooting a three with five seconds remaning.

Holloway is an 85% free throw shooter and made all three tying the game at 72. The under players needed a make here at the buzzer to avoid a bitter fate of overtime. Pullen though could not hit the long jumper and we were headed into an extra session tied at 72.

With these two offenses that easily meant an over and after two overtimes the Wildcats prevailed 101-96.

All under players were rather perturbed after this one I would say!



Your winners for Friday are on:

4* Tennessee (plus 4 1/2) vs. Ohio State.

2* Nets (pk) vs. Detroit.

Yuck and yuck is about the only way I can sum up the two losses on Washington and Cornell on Thursday.



Playing the University of Tennessee is always a risk because you just never fully know what you are going to get with Bruce Pearl's Volunteers. At times Wayne Chism, Scotty Hopson, Brian Williams and the orange look like a team that can contend for the National Championship and at other times they just look flat out awful.

Ohio State is really really good if not great as Evan Turner is the best player in the country but I don't fully trust the Buckeyes either. I don't consider Thad Matta's squad a true elite team. They are beyond capable but they are also lacking in depth and at times have issues on the boards.

Don't get me wrong Turner, Lighty, Lauderdale and Diebler are very very good. But Ohio State can easily lose this game as they almost and should have against both Michigan and Illinois in the Big 10 Tournament.

The Vols have had two very solid efforts in the Big Dance so far and to get a handful back has a big enough upside for me.



The Nets are not going the entire season without winning back-to-back games and this is by far the best spot for that to happen. Of course the season is a disaster as 8-73 is beyond pathetic but as I have been saying for awhile this team is just not that bad. Harris and Lopez are borderline All-Stars and after just pounding Sacramento at home New Jersey should take care of business here against an awful Pistons' squad.

Detroit still has pieces with Hamilton, Prince, Stuckey and a few others but collectively they have turned into a joke and complete mush. This is the perfect opportunity for New Jersey to get a second straight win and avoid having the worst record ever as a victory here and at worst they would tie the 76ers from way back having that dubious distinction. With 10 more games after this one my money is on them getting at least one more win after this to avoid any claim to that fame.

Look for Harris and Lopez to do their thing and Lee and a few others to defend their home court and win this game.

Your "Bad Beat" for Tuesday is on:

Wizards (plus 6) vs. Charlotte.

Washington is not very good and the Wiz returned home on the current 11 game losing streak. But give Javale McGee and the boys credit as they battled hard against a potential playoff team in Stephen Jackson and the Bobcats, even with their best player of late Andray Blatche not playing after the eighth minute of the game due to a tiff with coach Flip Saunders.

Washington led by six at the break and pretty much were in front for the rest of the way. But Charlotte scored late and this thing went into overtime.

In that extra session things went sour once again and the Wiz were outscored 13-4 in the 95-86 win and cover for Charlotte.

Yikes!



Your winners for Wednesday are on:

3* Nets (plus 1) vs. Sacramento.

2* Hornets (plus 6) vs. Cleveland.

One play on Tuesday and it was a 3* outright winner on North Carolina!



A couple of NBA plays today as I really do not see any value in the college games.

New Jersey has to win sometime, right? If they can't win today then they probably will never win and I don't see Brooke Lopez and Devin Harris finishing the season with only seven wins. That is just incomprehensible.

Sacramento is in town without their Rookie of the Year candidate in Tyreke Evans and are playing this thing very far away from Arco Arena. The 24 win Kings are not very good to begin with and asking them to be motivated in this spot is highly unlikely.

Kiki Vandeweghe's boys have been horrific this season but you know they will want to avoid the title of worst team ever and a win today would go a long long way to stopping that.

The Nets are a more talented team than their 7-63 record shows and they will win this game.



With Chris Paul back New Orleans is a much different and better team. Obviously LeBron and the Cavs are great and probably should be the road favorite but the Hornets just served notice in that last game upsetting Dirk and the Mavs, the first one with Paul back, that this team has not quit and will play out the string.

Cleveland should win this game as they very well may be the best team in the NBA, with or without Shaq, but to lay around half a dozen in the Big Easy against a team that is a lot better than their record indicates is setting up a value for us on this home dog.

With Paul out guys like Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison really grew up and matured into quality basketball players. That can only be a good thing with the superstar back and I expect this team to play better than people realize for the near future.

Your "Bad Beat" for Sunday is on:

Ball State (plus 5 1/2) vs. Ohio.

The Cadinals of Ball State led the entire game and I mean thee entire game, well save 2-1 that is. It was 7-2 right off the bat and then 22-13. Ball State had the 36-33 lead at the half and then liteally never trailed the entire half.

But Armon Bassett's layup with 54 seconds remaining tied the game up at 69 sending this thing into overtime.

I think you know where this is going from here.

It was 79-77 Bobcats with just over half a minute remaining. Then came the fouling game and Ohio nailed all six free throws and Ball State did not score in their final three possessions.

Final score: 85-77 Ohio!



Your winners for Monday are on:

3* William & Mary (plus 8) vs. Old Dominion.

2* Nets (plus 9) at Memphis.

One play on Sunday and it was a clear cut 3* loser on Michigan.



William & Mary has had an unbelievable season, for their standards, yet are being talked about by nobody. I am not saying they are as talented or as good as Old Dominion, because they're not, but the Tribe are now 22-9 overall and 12-6 in a decent enough Colonial Conference.

You may say yeah but who the heck has this perennial doormat beaten? How about Maryland, Richmond and Wake Forest! Pretty freakin impressive, huh?

Plus Tony Shaver's team plays solid defense resulting in low scoring games which we saw yesterday in the 47-45 upset of Northeastern. Bill and Mary have now won three in a row play games in the 50's and 60's when not in the 40's and are catching quite a number here.

Blaine Taylor's Monarchs are 25-8 and probably the best in the Colonial with Gerald Lee leading the way but they just played an extra five minutes yesterday in the overtime win over VCU and are going to have some trouble today and possibly some tired legs in this back-to-back tournament type setting plus the overtime.

This thing is going to be ugly but tight and that is the bottom line.



Memphis has not done much of anything over the past month and the Nets have got to win back-to-back games at some point. New Jersey just upset the Knicks at Madison Square Garden and I just cannot see New Jersey going a full season without winning two in a row.

The Nets have two studs in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez and are just not that bad. Throw in a Courtney Lee and a Kris Humphries along with a Jarvis Hayes and I will go to my Grave believing this team is better than 7-55 or whatever.

The Grizzlies are very talented and being at home won't hurt but things have gone south of late as they have lost 7 of their last 19 games after starting the season at 25-19 and looking like a possible playoff team. Zach Randolph has been great and OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay will fill it up but to get almost double digits in this spot with the underrated Nets is fine with me.

Your "Bad Beat" for Monday is on:

Mavericks (minus 9 1/2) vs. Indiana.

Short but sweet right here.

Dallas easily outclassed Indiana on Monday. Dirk and the Mavs built the 91-72 lead with only two minutes to go. At that point covering 9 1/2 should have been no problem at all.

"Should have been".

Dallas was goosegged in the final few minutes and outscored 10-0 as the game ended 91-82 and resulted for many in an amazing Pacers cover.



Your winners for Tuesday are on:

5* Hofstra (plus 11) at Northeastern

3* Nets (plus 7 1/2) vs. Portland.

One play on Monday and it was a 3* loser on West Virginia. Still a very nice run that continues today.



Tom Pecora's Pride have won seven of eight and are currently playing their best ball of the season. Hofstra is not as good as its opponent in Northeastern and being on the road is always difficult but this number is too sweet to pass up. Plus it appears that the price is doing nothing but going up which is never a bad thing.

The Huskies are up there in the Colonial Conference at 13-3 and are a team that has a shot to get to the NCAA Tournament for sure but that last game was a clunker losing at home to Louisiana Tech and the last few weeks have been far from impressive not covering any of their last four games.

I do think that the home Huskies prevail in the end but with some rejuvenation of late I do believe that the Pride will show some pride and stay in this thing enough for that cover.



I'm rolling with my Nets. I don't care that they have a paltry 5 wins all season long and are up against a pretty good Portland team. New Jersey is not terrible and is going to break through again at some point very soon.

The talent advantage is with Aldridge, Roy and the Blazers but Portland is only six games over .500 and not exactly an overachieving bunch overall. Plus they are on the road on the east coast and up against at least two quality players in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez.

New Jersey did blow that last game in horrendous fashion as they led by 18 and lost by 10 to Memphis. These guys though are still pros no matter how dreadful the record is and to get a handful plus at home is enough for me.

Your "Bad Beat" for Thursday is on:

Celtics (over 188) at Los Angeles.

There were no really bad bad beats on Thursday but anybody who played the over between Boston and Los Angeles, even if Kobe Bryant was out of the lineup, has to be left in a little bit of shock.

It was 53-48 C's at the break equaling 101. So only 87 or so points needed in the second half, very very doable. The teams did slow down a bit in the third quarter netting only 44 combined. But the over players were still in fine shape.

Or not.

The offenses went stagnant and in the end the Lakers outscored the Celtics a skimpy 17-11 in the final period as Boston won the game 87-86 and kept this thing head scratchingly well under that total.



Your winners for Friday are on:

4* Yale (plus 12) at Princeton.

2* Nets (plus 2) vs. Toronto.

All great things must come to an end as did this 9-0 run after the 0-2 Thursday. I'm ready to get back at it right now after losing on both Georgetown and Oregon, a couple of home favorites that wet the bed in the end.



I'm all about the Yalies today plus this way too large number. This matchup is certainly not Duke vs. North Carolina in their prime but to be honest with you on a small Friday slate I really like this game.

The Tigers have really stepped things up this season trying to return to their winning ways of Pete Carril and just took Cornell down to the wire in that 48-45 loss. A win in that thing would have almost wrapped up the Ivy League in shocking fashion. But the Big Red won in the end and have the inside track to the title as they should.

It's asking a ton here for the offensively challenged Tigers to bounce back against a decent enough Bulldog team and do so in blowout fashion. Princeton just does not score enough points on a regular basis to cover this game. Plus Yake has won two of their last three on the road and also took a quality Harvard team into overtime in a cover a few weeks ago.

This game should be ugly but that's just fine with me.



I'm going to continue to roll with Kiki Vandeweghe's Nets. New Jersey still does not win many games, as they have only five under their belts, but these guys have become money making machines of late. All New Jersey does is cover every single game. It's something like 11 of 14 right now meaning to me that they are a better team than the linesmaker seems to believe.

As usual the Nets are the inferior team on the court today but if Chris Bosh misses which he may as the All-Star is listed as doubtful than I'm not so sure.

Devin Harris and Brooke Lopez are very very good and Courtney Lee and a few others are alright as well.

I've been saying it for awhile now, with the way the Nets have been competing it's just a matter of time before they really start winning some games.

Your "Bad Beat" for Tuesday is on:

NC Wilmington (plus 9) vs. Northeastern.

A simple Bad Beat here but an effective one.

Wilmington played a great first half and was actually winning 35-24 at the break. For a bad team in a bad season this had to give the Seahawks a shot in the arm in the second half to go out and try and win a rare game. The lead was even widened to 14 only 10 seconds into the second half.

And then the world came crashing down.

Northeastern outscored Wilmington 41-18 in the final 19:50 and won 65-56 basically pushing the 9.

Yikes!



Your winners for Wednesday are on:

4* Georgia (plus 12) at Tennessee.

3* Miami (plus 7 1/2) vs. Duke.

2* Nets (plus 7) vs. Miami.

A perfect 3-0 Tuesday led by the 4* on Wake Forest to go along with the 3* Nets Outright as the 11 point dog and a 2* winner on Kentucky! Now a 6-0 run and 18* of profit over the past three days!



Seriously, who is Tennessee right now? I really do not think all that much of the Volunteers to be honest and believe they are well overrated. On the other hand the Georgia Bulldogs have been overachieving and playing much better ball than anybody thought.

Mark Fox has brought in a great attitude for the Bulldog nation (as if there is one in basketball) and guys like Leslie, McPhee, Thompkins and a few others have really held it together all season long. I am not expecting another blowout victory as things in Knoxville will be a lot more difficult here than in Athens but UGA has competed on most nights, covering a ton of games and I can see a hard fought effort once again.

Tennessee has had problems this season and with Wayne Chism now questionable I just do not see this team winning going away. The Vols were embarassed in Vandy and just fell apart at Rupp in losing and failing to cover in the end. Bruce Pearl's team is not the top 10 or so squad we thought we knew a few months ago after the Kansas victory and right now is just struggling just to win a game, no less cover such a heavy inpost.

UT should pull this thing out but not by the number that the linemaker says.



Frank Haith's Hurricanes are not in the midst of one of their better seasons as losing guys like Jack McClinton has hurt the program but at home plus this number against the fairly overrated Dookies is fine with me.

Coack K's squad is very good but they are not elite. Jon Scheyer is a total stud who can fill it up but I'm not completely sold on this team as Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith and a few others are a little inconsistent. Plus the Blue Devils have issues in the paint defending big men as Brian Zoubek and his big lunky frame is just not the answer.

Duke should win this game as they are clearly the better team but I see this game being similar to last week's at Chestnut Hill against Boston College. The Eagles played hard until the final whistle and lost by three I believe. Duke just does not leave Cameron and blo out many teams and I think that turns out to be the case here once again.



I'm rolling with my Nets. New Jersey is certainly not a good team but they are not nearly as bad as that record and have covered something like 8 of 10. Kiki Vandeweghe's squad just opened up the second half with a shocking in at Charlotte yesterday as the double digit dog and do have some quality players in Harris and Lopez along with good players like Lee and Humphries and a few others. These guys are just not terrible, they're not.

New Jersey is not as good as Dwyane Wade and the Heat, I fully realize that but to get a touchdown at home is too good to pass up. Miami is fairly mediocre overall and with both teams on the tough back-to-back it won't be easy for Wade and the visitors to travel and have legs that can win going away today.

The Nets are going to start winning some games, as we saw last night and shhh, this may be another one of those.

Your "Bad Beat" for Monday is on:

Western Carolina (under 145) at NC Greensboro.

The total was fairly high at 145 and with the score 29-23 Western Carolina at the half all of the under players were rejoicing.

Only 52 points at the mid-way point meant there needed to be 93 in the final 20 minutes and barring a few overtimes this thing appeared to be a clear cut under.

Or was it?.

The teams went batty offensively in the second half and combined for 16 points in the final two minutes of play leading to the 75-70 Catamount victory.

You do the math. 75 plus 70 equals...

Yup, over it was!



Your winners for Tuesday are on:

4* Wake Forest (plus 5 1/2) at Virginia Tech.

3* Nets (plus 11) at Charlotte.

2* Kentucky (minus 2 1/2) at Mississippi State.

One play on Monday, a 3* winner on Texas A&M!

There is no doubt that Seth Greenberg's Hokies have been a ton better than anybody would have imagined. Malcolm Delaney has led this team to that 20-4 record and being in Blacksburg certainly is an advantage for Virginia Tech but I like the way Wake Forest has stepped up their game and an outright would not be all that shocking making me fine with this handful plus.

Ish Smith, Aminu, Harris, Stewart and McFarland form a team that is no joke themselves at 17-5 and winners of three in a row and five of six. The Demon Deacons have not been nearly as stellar on the road but nobody really is. I don't see them getting blasted here at all though as the Hokies are not really an up and down type of a team that can lay a big number.

Tech plays a lot of games in the 60's and 70's and is still more of a grind it out squad that wins in tight fashion. Look for another tight contest that is decided late, maybe even in the last possession.



It's a new season for the Nets, maybe. New Jersey ended the first half with four wins and is a complete dreadful mess. There is no way around that last sentence but with that said I still believe that Kiki Vandeweghe's squad is too talented to be this bad.

Devin Harris and Brooke Lopez are borderline All-Stars and others like Jarvis Hayes, Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas-Roberts are not bad at all. This team will win some games and even if that is not tonight I don't see a good but nothing more Bobcats squad winning going away.

Charlotte is certainly an improved team with some talented pieces like Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson and even a rejuvenated Nazr Mohammed but they are also far from being a squad that can lay such a number to anybody.

The Bobbies are the better team and should win the game but I do think riding the Nets, who have covered a ton of late, is the smart way to go and will prove to be fruitful today.



Just too cheap of a price on Kentucky. I know all about the road chalk and how it is almost a curse but the Wildcats already had that bad road loss at South Carolina and with the far better team should take care of business today.

Miss. State is pretty good with a total monster down low in Jarvis Varnado and some other players like Dee Bost but they don't truly compare to John Wall, Eric Bledso, Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins and what these 'Cats bring to the table.

John Calipari really does have a special team that may be young but when they come to play are insanely great. This team could compete for a half against some bad NBA teams right now.

Without a doubt Kentucky should win this game and at this price that's almost all they need to do. Once again, just too cheap!

Your "Bad Beat" for Thursday is on:

Youngstown State (plus 4) at Loyola,Chicago.

A hearty runner up to any Wright State backers as the Raiders were up by 11 with 2 minutes to play and could not cover the 5 1/2 thanks to Valparaiso burying some late three's for the backdoor. Maybe Bryce Drew came back for a day?

Also anybody who had the under on the ice from Minnesota should be a little steaming right about now. The Oilers and Wild were scoreless after one period and tied at only one after two. Then four combined goals in the third put it over the 5 1/2 as the Wild won 4-2. Yikes!

But the "Bad Beat" of the day comes from Loyola where the underdog Penguins of Youngstown State built up a 53-45 lead at the half. The visitors had the lead for the bulk of the second half but in unlucky fashion it went to overtime tied at 78.

The Ramblers picked up their play in the extra session doubling up the Pens 14-7 in winning and covering the contest, 92-85.



Your winners for Friday are on:

3* Nets (plus 13) at Boston.

2* Canisius (plus 8) at Niagara.

A small winning 1-1 Thursday as the 3* Hoosiers from Indiana take care of business unlike Georgia Tech who vomited on themselves a few too many times at Cameron.



It's certainly tough to back the 4-44 Nets as they are horrific this season but without Paul Pierce and not exactly playing all that well of late I'll fade the Celtics at this price.

New Jersey may not be winning games but believe it or not they have actually covered four of their last five. Devin Harris is a borderline great point guard and Brook Lopez is no joke in the middle. Throw in a guy in Courtney Lee who was very good in the finals last season for the Magic and I can see the Nets hang here in the end.

Boston is clearly the much better team and I can see Rajon Rondo have another quality game leading the way but Pierce is injured and I just can't imagine the C's being pumped up to play this game after just facing over the past week or so the Lakers, Magic and Hawks.

I can see Doc Rivers' squad go through the motions a bit, get guys some rest and pull out the blah single digit victory.



Niagara is a .500 club that has lost six of their last eight games and just cannot be laying the number that they are. Canisius is probably the inferior team on the court here and are on the road which is never easy but they are without a doubt the right side tonight.

Joe Mihalich' team certainly can score points as they boast four players who score in double figures but the defense has been very sketchy and just last week fell to these same Golden Griffins, 73-70.

The Purple Eagles may get their revenge in terms of the outright but a cover seems very unlikely to me!

Your "Bad Beat" for Thursday is on

Tennessee Chatanooga (minus 1 1/2) vs. The Citadel.

The Citadel led by a point 54-53 in the waning seconds. Zach Urbanus missed what should have been the clinching three with 8 seconds remaining and then Cameron Wells missed a layup with 3 seconds remaining. Chattanooga grabbed the rebound and called a timeout.

Now this isn't the NBA so the Mocs had to inbound from under their own basket, as in 90 feet away. That didn't matter though as Keegan Bell nailed the triple at the buzzer for the fairly incredible 56-54 win and cover!



Your winner for Friday is on:

2* Pacers (minus 3) at New Jersey.

One play on Thursday and it was an easy 3* outright on the Chicago Bulls!



Another fairly gross slate for Friday as I get ready for a great Saturday! One small play today and it's fading the dreadful New Jersey Nets.

New Jersey will win some games as they are just not 3-35 type bad but until they do these Nets are were they are. Brook Lopez has become very good and Devin Harris was always very good but the culture around this franchise right now is as dreadful as I have ever seen.

Indiana is far from being good at all but with Danny Granger back they are without a doubt the better team today and are laying a small price, even on the dreaded road which is never easy.

I'm not saying this is the easiest game ever or a mortal lock but the Pacers are the better team right now and behind about 30 points from Granger should get this win and cover.

Your "Bad Beat" for Sunday is on:

Rams (plus 16 1/2) at Arizona.

The St. Louis Rams went into the desert without their starting two quarterbacks in Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller and then found out that star running back Steven Jackson was not going to be able to go. The line shot up as high as 16 1/2.

Arizona jumped out to the 14-0 lead in the second quarter and it looked as if things were going to get ugly. But Steve Spagnuolo's team fought hard and Josh Brown banged home a 33 yard field goal to get within the number at 24-10 mid way through the fourth quarter.

The game remained a 14 point margin and the Rams had the ball at midfield with just over three minutes to go. The cover wasn't fully in the bag for the underdog visitors but it was going to take some pathetic luck for them to not grab that cash.

Bang!

Keith Null showed why he is a third stringer and threw a pick that was run back to about the 10 yard line and a few plays little Beanie Wells rumbled in from three yards out for the 31-10 victory and very late and lucky frontdoor cover.



Your winners for Monday are on:

3* Texas A&M (plus 6 1/2) vs. Georgia.

2* Bears (plus 8) vs. Minnesota.

2* Nets (plus 6) vs. Oklahoma City.

A small losing 1-2 day as Kentucky not covering thanks to that late turnover hurt.

Why not take back around a touchdown with Jerrod Johnson and the Aggies? A&M is very feast or famine and do have a battle on their hands with a Georgia team from the big bad SEC but Mike Sherman is the former Green Bay Packers coach and will have his team ready.

A&M looked great in that last game against Texas and has athletes that can make plays. It took them deep into the season for these guys to learn they are capable but right now they are just that.

Georgia has been up and donw themselves this season and in the finale pounded rival Georgia Tech in that fairly sizable upset. Joe Cox can be good but also can throw his share of int's. The Dawgs always have a stable of running backs and despite not having their best season on the ground proved against the Yellow Jackets that they can rumble with the rock.

This isn't my favorite play ever because I do think that UGA has the superior athletes but it's a weird matchup and in the end Johnson is by far the best signal caller on the field and that could be a huge difference.



Da Bears! Jay Cutler has proven not to be the answer and the season is a bona fide disaster for the boys from the Windy City but Lovie Smith will have his team prepared today against the suddenly regressing Vikings.

It's a national tv game and you know the Chicago players will not let themselves get embarassed. They may be injured and down some bodies but Cutler still has to be respected for his potential and to get this number at home is a no-brainer.

If Brad Childress can get on the same page as Brett Favre and get the offensive line to block once again for Adrian Peterson than the win and cover should go Minnesota's way. But that has not happened away from the Metrodome lately as the losses in both Arizona and Carolina were ugly and on the road one more time shouyld not heal the issues.



The Nets are not as bad as the record indicates and are starting to play a bit better, even if they have just two meadley wins. New jersey covered in that last game against Houston and I expect Devin Harris and Brook Lopez to prove they are semi studs and cover again, if not win outright.

I like what Oklahoma City is building as this Thunder team is pretty young and athletic led by a star in Kevin Durant along with other quality pieces like Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and James Harden but it's still going on the road which is never easy and New Jersey is well overdue for a win.

I see a New Jersey team that is well undervalued creating a value here at the swamp.

Your "Bad Beat" for Tuesday is on:

Michigan State (plus 9) at Texas.

To be honest there really wasn't any terrible beat on Tuesday from what I can tell. But anybody who rolled with the national runnerups from a season ago plus the healthy number certainly is disappointed right about now.

Michigan State was getting right around 9 points in Austin and Tom Izzo's squad led outright 37-34 at the break. With 13 and change to go State led by five. Things fell apart though from there as Texas came back for the win and the narrow narrow cover, 79-68.

To add salt to the wounds of Sparty backers Draymond Green missed a free throw in the final minute and then Kalin Lucas missed a three at the end for all of the marbles.



Your winners for Wednesday are on:

3* Cal (minus 3) vs. Utah.

2* Nets (minus 3) vs. Minnesota.

*

A dreadful 0-3 on Tuesday, no other way to describe it.



It's tough to back another Pac-10 team today against a Mountain West squad after seeing the debacle yesterday by Oregon State against BYU but I liked the Golden Bears ever since this matchup came out and I am going to stick to my guns.

Jahvid Best is probably going to miss this game but Shane Vereen has done great filling in and Kevin Riley is a very solid quarterback who can kill you with his arm and his feet.

Utah is a well coached good team that will come to play today. I just think though that Jeff Tedford's squad is too talented and in the end will repesent the conference a lot better than the Beavers did last night.

This game is in San Diego giving us a little bit of a homefield advantage and in the end the price is cheap enough to back the Bears.



I'm all about the Nets here in revenge. Look back to the opener of the season when New Jersey was up big and somehow blew that game very very late in Minnesota. After that neither team won a game for literally a month as the Nets set the NBA winless streak to start a season.

This New Jersey team is better than Minnesota, I don't care of the Nets only have a pathetic two victories on the season as they really are not that bad. I love Al Jefferson but that really is about all that the Timberwolves have even if they do own the slightly better record.

Devin Harris is a total stud and Brook Lopez is becoming one, if he is not already. Chris Douglas-Roberts is banged up and probably will not play today which isn't great but in the end the Nets at home seem to be the right side to me.