No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers, St. John’s Red Storm open Big East action Saturday at Madison Square Garden on ESPN

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Feb 182011

It’s BracketBuster weekend and there are a couple of huge games in the Big East conference Saturday, starting with the No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers facing the tough St. John’s Red Storm at Madison Square Garden (12 pm ET, ESPN).

Pittsburgh (24-2 SU, 11-9 ATS, 12-1 Big East) is surging with five straight wins but St. John’s (16-9 SU, 11-13 ATS, 8-5 Big East) will give the Panthers everything they can handle at MSG.

The Red Storm, winners of three straight, have made a habit of beating ranked, favored teams this season, including the No. 9 UConn Huskies, the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils, the then-No. 9 Georgetown Hoyas, and the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Pitt is 8-2 straight up and 7-3 against the point spread in the past 10 meetings, with this matchup the first meeting of the season. The Panthers won both meetings last season, with the last clash on Feb. 27, when Pitt won 71-64 and covered as a 2-point road favorite. The score went over the total of 122.

Another Big East tilt Saturday has the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish facing the unranked West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum (1 pm ET, CBS).

Notre Dame (21-4 SU, 12-8 ATS, 10-3 Big East) are really rolling with seven straight wins, including huge victories over the No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers and the No. 15 Louisville Cardinals.

West Virginia (16-9 SU, 8-13 ATS, 7-6 Big East) is struggling with three losses in its past four games.

Head-to-head, the Irish are 6-4 SU and ATS in the past 10, and this is the first meeting of the season. The teams split their two games last year. West Virginia won the last meeting 53-51 on March 12, but failed to cash as a 5-point home favorite.

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No. 12 Connecticut Huskies visit Big East rival No. 16 Louisville Cardinals on ESPN

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Feb 172011

With the NBA All-Star Game on this weekend, College Basketball can hog the spotlight, and the NCAA has obviously decided to take advantage of that by scheduling a marquee matchup on Friday night, usually the preserve of mid-major games.

The No. 12 Connecticut Huskies and the No. 16 Louisville Cardinals clash in a key Big East conference matchup at the KFC Yum! Center (9 pm ET, ESPN).

UConn (20-5 SU, 12-7 ATS, 8-5 Big East) has won two straight while Louisville (19-7 SU, 11-9 ATS, 8-5 Big East) has three losses in its past five. Both teams trail the Big East-leading No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers by four games.

Louisville is 5-4 SU and 6-2-1 ATS in the past 10 head-to-head clashes. This is the second meeting of the season. Louisville squeaked past UConn 79-78 on Jan. 29, cashing as a 5.5-point road underdog.

NCAAB Betting and Basketball Picks fans could see a slow pace in Friday’s tilt, as both teams played Wednesday night.

UConn beat the Georgetown Hoyas 78-70 and cashed as a 2.5-point home favorite. The score going over the total of 136.5. Kemba Walker led the Huskies with 31 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Louisville lost 63-54 decision to the unranked Cincinnati Bearcats, as the slumping Cardinals failed to cover as a 1.5-point road underdog. The score stayed under the over/under total of 131.

Both teams will have a weapon that either wasn’t in the last meeting three weeks ago – or wasn’t firing well. The Cardinals will have third-leading rebounder Gorgui Dieng, who missed the first meeting with a head injury, while UConn forward Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, who had two points in 19 minutes in the first matchup, has been on fire with 24.5 PPG in his last two.

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San Antonio Spurs @ Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns on NBA on TNT

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Feb 162011

The last NBA on TNT doubleheader before the NBA All-Star break opens with the league-leading San Antonio Spurs battling the Chicago Bulls Thursday at the United Center (8 pm ET, TNT).

NBA Odds and Basketball Picks have the Bulls as a 2-point favorite.

San Antonio (46-9 SU, 34-19-2 ATS) is finishing off a nine-game road odyssey on which they are 6-2 SU thus far, including winning two straight in blow-outs. The Spurs beat the hapless New Jersey Nets 118-94 on Monday, cashing as an 8-point favorite.

Chicago (37-16 SU, 32-20-1 ATS) just finished a five-game Western road swing on the weekend. The Bulls are 8-2 SU in their past 10 and have won three straight, the last a 106-94 win over the Charlotte Bobcats in their first game back on Tuesday. Chicago cashed as a 9.5-point home favorite.

San Antonio is 6-4 SU and ATS in the past 10 meetings, and won the first meeting this season 103-94 on Nov. 17. San Antonio covered as a 7-point home favorite.

The second NBA on TNT Thursday game pits the Dallas Mavericks against the Phoenix Suns as Steve Nash hosts his old team at the US Airways Center (10:30 pm ET, TNT).

The Suns are a 1-point favorite in NBA Betting and NBA Picks.

Dallas is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 meetings and won the previous meeting this season 106-91 on Dec. 17, cashing as a 7-point home favorite.

Dallas (38-16 SU, 28-24-2 ATS) faced the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday. In their previous game Saturday, the Mavs finished a road trip with a 106-102 win over the Houston Rockets, cashing as a 1-point road favorite.

Phoenix (27-26 SU, 24-28-1 ATS) edged the Utah Jazz 102-101 on Tuesday, failing to cover as a 4-point home favorite.

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No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers visit No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers in Big Ten battle

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Feb 152011

The Ohio State Buckeyes are No. 1 no more, and unbeaten no more, paving the way for a possible raid on top spot in the Big Ten conference penthouse by the No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers and the No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers, who just happen to be squaring off Wednesday at the Mackey Arena (6:30 pm ET, Big Ten Network).

Wisconsin (19-5, 13-7 ATS, 9-3 Big Ten) and Purdue (20-5 SU, 14-7 ATS, 9-3 Big Ten) are tied for second in the conference, both 2 games back of the No. 3 Buckeyes.

Wisconsin has plenty of momentum, coming off its biggest win of the season as it handed the Buckeyes their first loss of the season Saturday, but the Boilermakers have only lost once to the Badgers at home in the past eight meetings.

Head-to-head, the Boilermakers are 6-4 SU and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The teams have met once already this season, when Wisconsin beat the Boilermakers 66-59 on Feb. 1. Wisconsin cashed as a 5-point home favorite and the score went under the total of 126.5.

Wisconsin beat the former No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, cashing as a 2-point home favorite. The score went over the total of 125.5.

Purdue beat the Illinois Fighting Illini 81-70 on Sunday, covering as a 2.5-point road underdog. The score went over the total of 135.

There is a string under trend, as seven of the past 10 meetings overall have gone under the total, as well as five of the past six at Purdue. And the total has gone under in 18 of Wisconsin’s last 24 games on the road, and in four of Purdue’s last five at home.

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SEC Championship game rematch, Big Ten matchup in spotlight in NCAAB action Tuesday

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Feb 142011

College Basketball Betting action on ESPN Tuesday kicks off with the Mississippi State Bulldogs battling the No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats in a rematch of the SEC Championship game at the Rupp Arena (7 pm ET, ESPN).

The teams last met March 14 when Kentucky won a 75-74 overtime nailbiter to take home its 26th SEC tournament title. John Wall, the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, led the Wildcats with 17 points, seven of them in overtime.

Kentucky (17-7 SU, 9-10 ATS, 5-5 SEC) has been slumping lately, dropping three of its past four. Mississippi State (13-11 SU, 5-12-2 ATS, 5-5 SEC) has lost four of its last seven.

Head-to-head, the Wildcats are 7-3 SU and 4-5-1 ATS in the past 10 meetings.

Later Tuesday, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes will look to rebound from their first loss of the season when they host the Michigan State Spartans in a Big Ten matchup at the Value City Arena (9 pm ET, ESPN).

OSU lost its No. 1 ranking Monday after losing its first game of the season against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday. The Kansas Jayhawks took over top spot. Ohio State (24-1 SU, 11-11 ATS, 11-1 Big Ten) lost 71-67 to the Badgers on the road.

Michigan State (14-10 SU, 7-15 ATS, 6-6 Big Ten) has not looked anything like the team that went to the Final Four for the second straight season last year, but managed a 75-57 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions to snap a two-game slide last Thursday.

Ohio State is 6-4 SU and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings.

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No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks visit Kansas State Wildcats in Big 12 action on ESPN

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Feb 132011

The Kansas Jayhawks could wake up Monday to find themselves the new No. 1 team in the nation.

The one-loss Jayhawks (24-1 SU, 12-10 ATS, 9-1 Big 12), ranked 2nd heading into the weekend, could take over top spot courtesy of the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes suffering their first setback Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers.

But, somewhat ironically, the only thing standing in the Jayhawks’ way is the team that handed them their lone loss on Jan. 22 after they had opened with 18 straights wins, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns.

Kansas could find itself in the curious position of being No. 1 in the country but No. 2 in their conference, as Texas (22-3 SU, 10-0 Big 12) is unbeaten in the conference. Or there’s a chance Texas could be named No. 1.

No matter what, the Kansas State Wildcats (16-9 SU, 6-12 ATS, 4-6 Big 12) will be looking to rain on the Jayhawks’ parade when they host their state rival Monday at the Bramlage Coliseum (9 pm ET, ESPN).

Kansas has dominated KSU, going 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The Wildcats haven’t beaten the Jayhawks since a 84-75 win on Jan. 30, 2008. And Kansas State was blown out 90-66 in the teams’ last meeting Jan. 29. Kansas covered as a 10-point home favorite and the score went over the total of 143.

The Jayhawks helped their cause for No. 1 when they blew out the Iowa Hawkeyes 89-66 on Saturday, covering as a huge 19.5-point home favorite. The score went over the total of 153. The Wildcats lost 58-56 to the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, failing to cover as a 1.5-point road underdog. The score went under the total of 148.5.

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Miami Heat, Boston Celtics square off Sunday on ABC

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Feb 122011

LeBron James and the surging Miami Heat will be out to avenge a pair of losses to the Boston Celtics this season when the NBA Eastern conference powers clash Sunday at the TD Garden (1 pm ET, ABC).

After the Celtics (38-14 SU, 24-26-2 SU) had held top spot in the conference for most of the season thus far, Miami (39-14 SU, 26-26-1 ATS) inched ahead Friday with a win over the Detroit Pistons.

Miami has won eight straight and has rewarded point spread bettors with a 6-2 ATS record over those games. Boston is officially slumping, dropping three of its past four and going 1-4 ATS in its last five.

The Heat’s surge in the past few weeks is linked directly to the play of the Big 3, as LeBron James is averaging 26.4 points and 7.3 assists per game. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are holding their own, Wade averaging 25.2 PPG and Bosh 18.2 PPG.

The Celtics won the last clash 112-107 in Miami in November, covering as a 7.5-point road underdog with the score going over the total of 186.5. Boston beat Miami 88-80 in the season opener for both teams on Oct. 26. The Celtics cashed as a 1-point home underdog and the score stayed under the total of 189.

Boston is coming off a 92-86 home loss against arch-rival Los Angeles Lakers Thursday. LA cashed as a 2-point road dog.

The Heat beat the Pistons 106-92 on Friday, covering as an 8-point road favorite.

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College Basketball battles heat up as March Madness approaches

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Feb 112011

March Madness is fast approaching and this weekend features a number of great College Basketball battles, including the No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers facing the No. 10 Villanova Wildcats in a Big East matchup Saturday at the Villanova Pavilion (9 pm ET, ESPN).

NCAAB Odds and Basketball Picks have Villanova as a 3-point favorite and the over/under total at 139.

This is the first meeting between the conference rivals since Feb. 21 last season when Pitt beat Villanova 70-65, cashing as a 2.5-point home underdog. Both teams are 5-5 SU and the Panthers are 6-4 ATS in the past 10 meetings, eight of which have gone under the total.

The Panthers (22-2, 9-8 ATS, 10-1 Big East) have a 1.5-game lead over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Big East, while the Wildcats (19-5, 11-9 ATS, 7-4 Big East) are three games in arrears.

Pittsburgh beat the West Virginia Mountaineers 71-66 on Monday and cashed as 1-point road chalk, while Villanova lost 77-76 to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Wednesday, unable to cover as a 5.5-point road favorite.

Another big NCAAB tilt Saturday has the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes taking on the No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers  in Big Ten action at the Kohl Center (2 pm ET, ESPN).

Ohio State (24-0, 11-10 ATS, 11-0 Big Ten) leads the Big Ten by three games over the Badgers and the No. 12 Purdue Boilermakers. Wisconsin (18-5, 12-7 ATS, 8-3 Big Ten) has three straight wins, and many feel the Badgers could hand the Buckeyes their first defeat Saturday.

This is their first meeting this season. OSU won 60-51 on Jan. 16 last year, covering as a 5.5-point home favorite.

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Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks kick off NBA doubleheader on ESPN Friday

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Feb 102011

The Los Angeles Lakers battle the New York Knicks in the first game of an NBA doubleheader on ESPN Friday at Madison Square Garden (8 pm ET, ESPN).

Los Angeles is a 3-point favorite and the total is 211.5 in Basketball Odds and NBA Betting.

The Lakers (36-16 SU, 23-29 ATS) faced the Boston Celtics in their second meeting since last season’s NBA Finals Thursday in Boston, and before that had won two straight. LA beat the Memphis Grizzlies 93-84 on Monday, cashing as a 3-point road favorite.

New York (26-25 SU, 31-18-2 ATS) lost 116-108 to the other Los Angeles NBA team, the Clippers, on Wednesday, failing to cover as a 7.5-point home favorite.

Head-to-head, the Lakers are 8-2 SU and 5-5 ATS in the past 10 meetings, with their last clash coming a month ago, when the Lakers blew out the Knicks 109-87. Los Angeles cashed as a 6.5-point home favorite and the score went under the total of 212.

The second matchup of the ESPN doubleheader has the Phoenix Suns taking on the Utah Jazz Friday night at the Energy Solutions Arena (10:30 pm ET, ESPN). 

Utah is a 6.5-point favorite and the over/under is 208 in NBA Odds and Basketball Picks.

For the first time in 23 years, Utah head coach Jerry Sloan will not be at the Jazz bench after abruptly announcing his retirement Thursday.

Utah (31-23 SU, 24-29-1 ATS) lost 91-86 to the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night, unable to cash as a 1-point favorite.

Phoenix (24-25 SU, 22-26-1 ATS) faced the Golden State Warriors in the second game of a home-and-home series Thursday, after beating the Warriors 104-92 in the first meeting Monday. The Suns covered as a 5-point road underdog.

This is the second meeting of the season. Phoenix won 110-94and cashed as a 7.5-point road underdog on Oct. 28.

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NBA’s biggest rivals Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics meet on NBA on TNT Thursday

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Feb 092011

The fiercest and longest rivalry in the NBA is renewed Thursday when the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics meet at the TD Garden in NBA on TNT action (8 pm ET, TNT).

The Celtics are a 3.5-point favorite in NBA Odds and Basketball Picks and the over/under total is 187.

Los Angeles (36-16 SU, 23-29 ATS) is trying to disprove critics who point to several mini slumps this season and an apparent inability to beat elite teams.

Boston (38-13 SU, 24-25-2 ATS) is on a mission to make up for last season’s Game 7 loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals, and to show it is capable of topping the Miami Heat and its Big 3 in the Eastern conference.

The teams are even in the head-to-head series, both at 5-5 SU over the past 10 meetings, but Boston has a 6-3-1 edge against the point spread. The Lakers have a lot of trouble covering the spread in Boston, at 2-6-1 ATS in the last nine visits. Their matchups have trended “under” recently, with the under at 4-0 in the last four in Boston, and 5-1 in the last six meetings overall.

The Lakers and Celtics had their first meeting since the NBA Playoffs 10 days ago when the Celtics won 109-96 and covered as a 3-point road underdog. The score went over the total of 185.5.

Paul Pierce had a team-high 32 points while Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 41.

In its last game, Los Angeles beat the Memphis Grizzlies 93-84 on Monday, covering as a 3-point road favorite. The score went under the total of 193.5.

Boston lost 94-89 to the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday, failing to cover as a 4.5-point road favorite. The score went over the total of 182.5.

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