The Bucks have their backs against the wall and this is a do or die spot so lay the points with Bucks at home tonight right? We can't unsee what we saw in the first two games and it’s hard to make an argument against the Suns who have now covered in 12 of their last 15 games. Sure the Bucks could come out hot and cover but my money just feels safer getting the better team and 4 points. Even if Bucks win I think it's going to be close.
Pretty much a do or die game for ATL and once again the Hawks getting no resect from the oddsmakers. Bucks are the better team here but 7 points just feels like too many. Score: BUCKS 108, HAWKS 105
Hawks have been tougher team at home but I’ll lay the points with Bucks here. IMO Atlanta’s victory to open this series felt much flukier than Milwaukee’s dominant performance in Game 2 on Friday.
I have a hard time Harden is playing tonight, he wasn't expected back this soon...rushing him out sooner than expected only because Kyrie is out and I don't think it ends well.
Atlanta still has yet to play their best game in this series, but I'm not sure even their best is good enough. Philly dusted the Hawks by 16 points in both Games 2 and 3. I don't think it's that big of blowout tonight but I still think Philly wins a 115-110 type of game.
Atlanta beat the brakes off of New York 105-94 as a 4.5-point home favorite in Game 3 and PG Trae Young was an offensive maestro for his third consecutive game. Julius Randle has been silent this series but I expect him to show up today. This still feels like a 7 game series so I'll take the points and NY.
While Davis should fair better after a subpar performance in which Ayton outplayed him, the Suns got little offensively outside of Booker and Ayton in Game 1. The rest of the starting lineup combined for 25 points on 10-for-30 shooting. Was it bad shooting or great defense?
I've got Phoenix in another defensive game 105-101.
The 76ers have won four in a row, but didn't look real convincing in their 106-103 win over the Los Angeles Clipper on Friday night. My problem with Philly right now is they are missing Curry and Paschall and rely too heavy on Embiid.
This line is 7.5 because Stephen Curry tweaked his ankle at the end of the Boston game, but I think he will play and start tonight. 7.5 just feels a bit heavy here.
OKC has lost 12 of their past 13 games and 11 of those 12 losses were double-digit blowouts. The Thunder played Detroit tough on Friday night and faded in the final 2 minutes to lose and not cover. The Raptors have been in poor form themselves and Gary Trent Jr. has been ruled out while Fred VanVleet is listed as questionable. Toronto should win this game but taking the 11.5 points is too tempting.
The Raptors have won back to back games after previously losing 7 of their last 8 games. The injury-ravaged Lakers have been able to handle inferior opponents of late while going 3-2 across their last five games.
The Lakers shouldn’t be underdogs against a 20-30 team on the second half of a back-to-back. Toronto could get VanVleet back in the lineup tonight but even with VanVleet on the floor I'm still taking the short handed Lakers to get the W.
Florida State survived the first-round but have been on shaky ground with three losses in their last six games. They have been inconsistent on offense during that stretch. Colorado is playing with passion and energy and made a huge statement in the first round. The Buffaloes have strong guard play and don't make a ton of mistakes, give me the free 1.5 points.
OHIO +7 - The Bobcats have the offensive weapons and up-tempo style to make noise in this NCAA Tournament. I'm putting Virginia on upset alert. BEEP BEEP BEEP.
The Salukis are a solid basketball team and have had good success against the number as well this season, but the Drake Bulldogs are a completely different animal across the board and have been an ATM machine against the spread. Drake is elite at both ends of the floor and are 10-0 ATS in their last 10. No reason to quit on them now.
I'm not buying the hype, Notre Dame’s good enough to beat Clemson no matter who’s at quarterback because it’s more than capable of controlling both lines, as it did on Nov. 7. The Irish find a way to get this one done, and perhaps secure a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoffs. Taking the 10 points and putting $25 on the ML.
Eastern Michigan played a good Kent State team to a 4 point game last week, losing 23-27. Ball State gave up 422 yards to Miami-Ohio last week in a 31-38 losing effort so I think EMU will have success against Ball State's defense. We will know more about these teams after tonight but 9 1/2 points is too tempting in this spot.
If Kenny Pickett doesn’t play for Pitt today then the Panthers offense will severely limited in what it can do. The Seminoles’ offense will be tested with Jordan Travis at the helm, but I have a feeling that the bye week will do him a ton of good in getting healthy. I like FSU to do enough to win this game and get the cover.
UPSET ALERT - That's right I'm putting Wake Forest on upset alert today against the Orange. I’m purely basing this prediction on the assumption that Sean Tucker and Trill Williams plays. I think the presence of both of those guys is enough to turn the tide in SU’s favor. If even one of those guys can’t go on Saturday, it’s a Syracuse loss, easily. We know the two problem areas the Orange need to focus on: controlling Wake Forest’s run game and doing their best to contain Carlos Basham Jr. Tucker and Williams greatly help in both of those areas, and just having them on the field could help Syracuse do just enough to surprise here today and squeak out a win
Georgia’s offense is rested and playing at an all-time high, averaging 33 points per game. Coming off a loss to Alabama where they had 3 critical turnovers but they looked good in that came minus the costly interceptions. If they take care of the football today I think they flex their muscle and win this game by 20 or more points.
Following the trends and taking the OVER 214.5 here. The over has now cashed in six of Miami’s last nine games this postseason. Davis’ slight injury will likely hamper him more on the defensive end than the offensive end. Role players like Robinson and Caldwell-Pope got going in Game 5, which makes the over a much better play. Dragic could return and provide even more offense for Miami.
