The Bum's 2016 NBA Best Bets-Trends-News-Stats !

[StarDust Bum]

NBA RECORD + BEST BETS: ( ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS )

OVERALL BETS AND OPINIONS
12/01/2016 7-5-0 58.33% +750
12/02/2016 7-10-0 41.18% -2000
12/03/2016 10-8-0 55.56% +600
12/04/2016 2-6-0 25.00% -2300
12/05/2016 12-8-0 60.00% +1600
12/06/2016 6-6-0 50.00% -300
12/07/2016 11-9-0 55.00% +550
12/08/2016 6-6-0 50.00% -300
12/09/2016 9-8-0 52.94% +100
12/10/2016 14-5-0 73.68% +4250
12/11/2016 6-4-0 60.00% +800
12/12/2016 8-6-0 57.14% +700
12/13/2016 4-8-0 33.33% -2400
12/14/2016 18-2-0 90.00% +7900
12/15/2016 7-2-1 77.78% +2400
12/16/2016 12-8-0 60.00% +1600
12/17/2016 7-6-1 53.85% +200
12/18/2016 6-6-2 50.00% -300
12/19/2016 4-6-0 40.00% -1300
12/20/2016 12-10-0 54.55% +500
12/21/2016 7-9-0 43.75% -1450
12/22/2016 4-6-0 40.00% -1300
12/23/2016 12-16-0 42.86% -2800

WLT PCT UNITS

TS Picks 215-215-8 50.00% -10750

O/U Picks 220-213-5 50.81% -7150

BEST BETS:

12/23/16 - 3 - 8 - 0 - 2900

ATS: 43- 44 - 2 - 2550

TOTALS: 47 - 36 + 3700

OCT/NOV
ATS: 98 - 93 - 4

OCT/NOV BIG PLAYS 4 - 3

DECEMBER BIG PLAYS: 36 -28


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BOS at NY 12:00 PM

BOS -2.5

U 212.5 *****

GS at CLE 02:30 PM

GS -2.0 *****

U 223.5 *****

CHI at SA 05:00 PM

SA -9.0 *****

U 198.5

MIN at OKC 08:00 PM

MIN +5.0 *****

U 209.5

LAC at LAL 10:30 PM

LAC -6.5 *****

O 213.5 *****

[StarDust Bum]

Christmas Day Trends
December 22, 2016

The NBA takes center stage over the NFL this Christmas Sunday with five games on tap on the hardwood as opposed to only two on gridiron.

Here is a basketball lover’s take on NBA action scheduled this season on December 25th.

Enjoy the games and the holiday and remember, with the Cavs and the Warriors set to take off in flight, a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

CHRISTMAS PAST

Here’s a breakdown of the 10 teams playing on Christmas Day this season and how they’ve performed in games played on Dec. 25 since 1990:

Boston Celtics: 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS and 3-4 O/U
1-4 UNDER last five games

Chicago Bulls: 10-2 SU and 8-4 ATS and 3-8-1 O/U
1-6-1 UNDER last eight games

Cleveland Cavaliers: 3-3 SU and 3-3 ATS and 1-5 O/U
0-5 UNDER last five games

Golden State Warriors: 3-2 SU and 1-4 ATS and 2-3 O/U
Trending: 0-4 ATS last four games

Los Angeles Clippers: 4-4 SU and 4-4 ATS and 3-5 O/U
4-1 ATS last five games

Los Angeles Lakers: 7-12 SU and 11-7-1 ATS and 5-12-2 O/U
0-7-1 UNDER last eight games

Minnesota Timberwolves: 0-0 SU and 0-0 ATS and 0-0 O/U
First-ever Christmas day appearance this season

New York Knicks: 3-7 SU and 2-8 ATS and 6-4 O/U
0-4 ATS last four games

Oklahoma City Thunder: 4-4 SU and 4-4 ATS and 3-5 O/U
4-2 ATS last six games

San Antonio Spurs: 3-5 SU and 3-4-1 ATS and 2-6 O/U
0-3 SUATS last three games

AND THE STOCKINGS WERE STUFFED

Most recent noteworthy trends wrapped inside each Christmas Day game…

Boston vs. New York:

Celtics 7-1 SU and 5-3 ATS last eight games in this series
1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS following Oklahoma City
Knicks 3-0 SUATS last three games on Sundays
1-9 UNDER last ten home games on Sundays
5 of the last 6 games in this series have played UNDER the total

Golden State vs. Cleveland:

Cavaliers 8-1 SU last nine games on Sundays
5-2 SU but 2-5 ATS vs. non-conference foes this season
Warriors 16-8 SU last twenty-four games in this series
0-4 ATS last four games on Sundays
3-9 ATS before the Raptors

Chicago vs. San Antonio:

Bulls 5-1 SU last six games on Sundays
10-3 SU before the Pacers
Spurs host 4-1 ATS last five games in this series
0-4 UNDER last four games on Sundays

Minnesota vs. Oklahoma City:

Timberwolves 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS following the Kings
0-3 SUATS vs. division opponents this season
4-25 SU last twenty-nine games in this series
Thunder 0-3 ATS Sundays vs. division foes / 4-8 ATS before the Heat

LA Clippers vs. LA Lakers:

Clippers 14-1 SU in this series, including 10-0 the last ten
0-3 SUATS last three games on Sundays
1-5 ATS following the Mavericks
Lakers 3-25 SU and 6-21-1 ATS vs. .400 or greater foes on Sundays
2-13 SU before the Jazz

DEFENDING CHAMPION DOLDRUMS

Christmas Day has not been a gifting experience for NBA’s defending champions.

That’s confirmed by their lousy 6-9 SU and 4-101 ATS overall mark since 1999, including 2-6 SU and 1-6-1 ATS vs. quality foes with a win percentage of .700 or greater.

The Cavaliers will look to add to that number when they host the revenge-minded Warriors at the ‘Q’ this Sunday.

UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Non-conference games certainly bring the best defensive effort out in teams on Christmas Day.

Of the 22 non-conference clashes played on Dec. 25 since 1991 involving Eastern and Western Conference foes, as these matchups have gone 4-17-1 UNDER.

Watch the intensity in the Bulls-Spurs and the Cavs-Warriors games on Xmas.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Christmas Day underdogs with a win percentage of .740 or more (see the Warriors – check the line) are 1-8 SU and ATS.

[StarDust Bum]

Warriors add C Jones before Cavs rematch
December 24, 2016

The Golden State Warriors called up rookie center Damian Jones ahead of Sunday's Christmas Day rematch of last year's NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jones, a 21-year-old who was the 30th overall pick in this year's draft, has played one game with Golden State. He committed two turnovers and a pair of fouls in nine minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 10.

The former Vanderbilt standout averaged 5.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in nine games with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League.

Jones is not expected to see significant playing time against the Cavaliers.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA Capsules
December 25, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) Kyrie Irving dropped a fadeaway jumper over Klay Thompson with 3.4 seconds left and the Cleveland Cavaliers came back to beat Golden State just as they did last June in the NBA Finals, 109-108 on Sunday.

The Cavs trailed 94-80 early in the fourth quarter before rallying before a rowdy Christmas crowd. Irving made the biggest basket, as was the case in the Finals when he hit a late 3-pointer in Game 7.

Golden State had one last chance but Kevin Durant was tripped coming off a screen and couldn't get off a shot as time expired.

LeBron James had 31 points, and Irving added 25 for the Cavs. They were down 3-1 in the Finals before winning three straight and the championship - the first for a Cleveland team since 1964.

Durant had 36 points in his first appearance in the league's hottest rivalry.

THUNDER 112, TIMBERWOLVES 100

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Russell Westbrook had 31 points and 15 assists in Oklahoma City's victory over Minnesota.

Westbrook had 10 assists in the second half, but fell short of becoming the first Thunder player to score at least 40 points in four straight games.

Steven Adams added 22 points, and Enes Kanter had 20. Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 26 points, and Andrew Wiggins had 23.

CELTICS 119, KNICKS 114

NEW YORK (AP) - Isaiah Thomas scored 27 points, Marcus Smart made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 47 seconds left after Boston blew a late lead, and the Celtics beat New York.

The Knicks wiped out a late nine-point deficit with an out-of-nowhere 11-2 run in a little more than a minute, but Smart answered with his shot and Avery Bradley and Al Horford also made big defensive plays.

Jae Crowder and Kelly Olynyk each had 16 points to help the Celtics win for the fifth time in six games. Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and Derrick Rose had 25 for the Knicks. They fell to 22-29 in their NBA-record 51 Christmas appearances.

SPURS 119, BULLS 100

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - LaMarcus Aldridge had a season-high 33 points and San Antonio beat Chicago.

Kawhi Leonard added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Tony Parker had 13 points and eight assists.

Chicago rallied from a 20-point deficit to lead by three points midway through the third quarter but could not sustain the push, taking its third straight loss. Dwyane Wade led the Bulls with 24 points, including 10 in the final quarter. Jimmy Butler added 19 points.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA ATS update at 30-game mark
December 25, 2016

Although the Warriors bring 27 wins to the table on Sunday afternoon as they look to improve to on the league's best record, Friday's win at Detroit dropped them to 15-15-1 against the spread. Golden State ended a run of five consecutive games without a cover in Saturday's romp 135-90 rout of Portland, so oddsmakers have done a nice job pricing games out of range for the superteam.

They've been a double-digit favorite in 16 of the last 18 games and seven of their last nine road stops, but they're closing out a three-game road swing at Cleveland where they'll be favored by -2.5, their lowest figure of the season, eclipsing the -4 they laid at the Clippers on Dec. 7.

With one-third of the regular-season in the books, what better time than now to examine how NBA teams have fared against the spread? Favorites typically haven’t fared well, although there have been a few that have shined. Here's a team-by-team look:

Atlanta: The Hawks started 9-2 overall and 8-3 ATS, but have gone 6-13 against the number since. With Paul Millsap back from a hip injury and Dwight Howard re-emerging a force, look for this group to start turning things around to climb over. 500, somewhere they haven't been since December began.

Boston: The Celtics were the betting favorite to not only win the Atlantic, but also to finish second to the Cavs in the Eastern Conference. They’ve won consecutive games, but had basically been a .500 team straight up and against the spread before putting together a four-game winning streak last week that ended Friday night against the Thunder at home. Boston is just 6-6 (3-9 ATS) at TD Garden and have failed to cover in six of its last seven there. They'll have plenty of chances to bolster that mark since 15 of their next 20 between now and Feb. 5 will come at home.

Brooklyn: Despite being projected to supplant the 76ers as the NBA’s worst team, the Nets covered six of their first seven and have only had one streak of failed covers, a five-game skid from Nov. 18-27, prior to last week's losses to Golden State and Cleveland.

Charlotte: The Southeast Division leaders snapped a season-high four-game skid without a cover by pulling off an upset at Atlanta and now have a chance to notch a season-high five-game winning streak as a road favorite at Brooklyn and Orlando this coming week. The Hornets will be home for their last two games of 2016, hosting the Cavs on New Year's Eve. They're 0-2 (0-1-1 ATS) against Cleveland this season, but will be hosting for the first time.

Chicago: The Bulls open the week having dropped nine of 11 against the number since Dec. 3, a rough stretch that has seen them go 3-8 outright entering their visit to San Antonio. We’ll see if Chicago’s lack of collective athleticism continues to be a hinderance. The under has come in six straight times and is 20-9 in Bulls games entering Christmas Day.

Cleveland: The Cavs have been streaky in covering the number, putting together runs of five consecutive games failing to do so and five straight where they dominated and cashed. They're 4-5 as a double-digit favorite and have assembled an NBA-best 15-2 mark and been favored at home all season until the Warriors game. They'll wrap a three-game stretch at the Q against Golden State but will be back home one last time before the new year, hosting Boston on Dec. 29.

Dallas: The Mavericks are 10-5 ATS since Nov. 27 after opening 4-12. With Dirk Nowitzki finally back, look for this group to continue improving. The under has prevailed in 17 of 30. Owners of the West's worst road record, the Mavs close the month with three of four on the road but have plenty of momentum after scoring outright upset wins over the Blazers and Clippers.

Denver: The Nuggets covered 10 of 14 to start the season and have seen the over prevail in seven straight entering their Dec. 26 visit to the Clippers. With Gary Harris back, this is a group that should continue improving as they emerge as a factor in the race for the West's No. 8 seed.

Detroit: The Pistons are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, their worst run of the season. They covered against the Warriors in Friday's 119-113 loss to snap a stretch of four consecutive double-digits losses. With division mates Cleveland and Milwaukee up next, Detroit has to get its act together or risk falling deeper into the Central basement.

Golden State: The Warriors are 11-12 ATS as a double-digit favorite, but have won their last two home games by a combined 75 points. The Warriors' five largest wins this season have all come at Oracle, which is something to keep in mind when they get back from Cleveland since nine of 10 from Dec. 28-Jan. 18 will be played at home.

Houston: The Rockets have been fantastic for most of the season. They won 10 consecutive games entering last week before suffering tight losses against the Spurs and Grizzlies. With five of its next six games between Dec. 26-Jan. 5 coming at home, it's worth knowing that Houston has been most vulnerable at the Toyota Center (10-3 SU, 6-5 ATS).

Indiana: This group opened 2-10 against the spread, but had been at about .500 since then until their current run of three straight failures that they'll take into their second and final Chicago visit of the season. If Myles Turner continues improving, they should become reliable, but still haven't covered more than two straight games all season.

L.A. Clippers: After a 10-1 start where they covered the number nine times, the Clips have come back down to earth and have actually had three separate runs of four games or more where they failed to cover the spread. Life has gotten far more complicated without Blake Griffin, so judging by the fact they're just a 6.5-point favorite against the Lakers, the days of seeing them as a double-digit favorite are over until their All-Star power forward returns. They're 5-5 in that role.

L.A. Lakers: The Lakers opened the season on a fantastic run, covering in eight of 10, but opened December by failing to cover in eight straight games, all outright losses. They snapped that streak with a Dec. 16 win in Philly, but enter the Christmas clash with the Clippers 1-12 on the month (3-10 ATS).

Memphis: Even without Mike Conley, the Grizzlies persevered and have been one of the NBA’s best surprises as David Fizdale has hit the ground running in his first year as head coach. Now that Conley has returned, huge wins in Detroit and home against Houston suggest the team responded positively to Fizdale's criticism of the team's veteran leaders. Eight of Memphis' last nine games entering the week have gone under the posted total.

Miami: Fizdale was a long-time assistant here before moving on, and the Heat certainly miss him, among others. Despite their struggles, the Heat have had a pair of four-game streaks where they were able to cover the number despite not having a single run of more than two outright wins.

Milwaukee: As has been the case straight up, the Bucks have been a .500 team but continue on the rise since Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker are making tremendous progress. After sweeping the Bulls and being swept by the Cavs in a series of home-and-homes, the Bucks will attempt to complete another sweep against Washington as they close 2016 with four road games in six nights. The over has prevailed in seven of the last nine Milwaukee games.

Minnesota: Tom Thibodeau’s squad failed to cover in five of their first six and have had three separate streaks of three or more where they didn’t come through for backers. The Timberwolves put together a five-game run of covers that ended in Friday's home loss to Sacramento and hope to continue a resurgence as an underdog at Oklahoma City on Christmas Day. They've covered their last four as a 'dog, barking enough to win outright twice.

New Orleans: Now that Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans are healthy, Anthony Davis has help. The Pelicans are 4-9 over their last 13, so they’re way behind in digging out of the hole they've been in. New Orleans is 1-1 on its current homestand and willl close the month against the Mavs, Clips and Knicks. This would be a good time to make a move.

New York: The Knicks had a run of covers in 10 of 12 from Nov. 20 through Dec. 11 and are looking forward to a playoff chase they haven’t been a part of in years. Derrick Rose’s back issues must be monitored, but the team seems to have hit their stride and go back out on the road following their Christmas home date against Boston, playing five of seven outside Madison Square Garden from Dec. 28-Jan. 7. This should provide a true test of where New York is since it has struggled mightily on the road (5-9 SU, 7-7 ATS).

Oklahoma City: The Thunder had a six-game run of prosperity covering the number from Nov. 25-Dec. 5, but are entirely reliant on Russell Westbrook, who had shown signs of wearing down before his recent surge that has led to covers in road wins at New Orleans and Boston. Victor Oladipo has been greatly missed, but should be back from his wrist injury sooner than later. Following the Christmas clash with the Wolves, the Thunder begin a stretch where they'll play 14 of 18 outside OKC between now and Feb. 1.

Orlando: The Magic have only covered more than two straight games once and have just two three-game winning streaks to boast of, but got to 7-7 for the month of December after handling the Lakers on Friday night. Orlando will end the month at home with games against the Grizzlies and Hornets that it will likely be a short underdog in, but can secure its first .500 month since December of '15 with a single upset. Elfrid Payton's improved jump shot has been instrumental to the team's success.

Philadelphia: The NBA’s long-time laughingstock has had two streaks of three straight covers, but enter the week on a five-game run where they’ve failed to cover. They'll close the year on the road at Sacramento, Utah and Denver and have seen the under come in during seven of their last nine games.

Phoenix: The Suns snapped a season-high run of four consecutive failed covers by defeating the 76ers at home, so they may not be out of the woods just yet. Four of their next five are on the road against the Rockets, Spurs, Jazz and Clippers, so things could get even uglier before they improve. The lone home date comes against surging Toronto.

Portland: The Blazers have been awful against the spread all season, failing to cover in seven straight from Nov. 8-17 and five consecutive games since Dec. 15. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum may be a top backcourt, but a lack of defense has been an issue all season and may ultimately make the difference in Portland missing the playoffs.

Sacramento: DeMarcus Cousins’ team goes as he does, so it’s no surprise they’re under .500 and have been remarkably inconsistent. Still, he's put together some fantastic nights this month and has the Kings on the cusp on their first four-game winning streak since they won five in a row way back in January. Sacramento will be favored at home against Philadelphia and are currently the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, a position it can strengthen in Portland on Dec. 28.

San Antonio: The Spurs matched that 29-point win in the season opener at Golden State by blasting Brooklyn 130-101, then beat Boston and Phoenix before Tim Duncan’s jersey retirement ceremony to begin their most profitable stretch of the season, a run of six of seven San Antonio takes into the Christmas contest against the Bulls.

Toronto: The Raptors enter Monday's visit to Portland 13-2 in their last 15 games and have been the NBA’s most reliable team against the number all season (20-8-1). DeMar DeRozan continues breaking out, and Toronto opened a season-long six-game road trip in style with a 104-98 win at Utah. The Raps will face the Warriors and Spurs on this excursion.

Utah: The Jazz have Derrick Favors back to aid Rudy Gobert inside but have lost three straight entering a Dec. 27 visit to the Lakers. They should be able to right the ship with home games against the 76ers and Suns before the calendar year ends. They'll open 2017 on a five-game road trip and are 8-6 SU/ATS outside Salt Lake City.

Washington: John Wall’s squad has been disappointing due to an awful bench, but have started putting things together and covered five consecutive games before the bottom fell out in Friday's 123-96 loss to the Bucks. They'll be home for games against Milwaukee, Indiana and Brooklyn to end the calendar year, giving them an opportunity to reach .500 before 2017 begins.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA RECORD + BEST BETS: ( ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS )

OVERALL BETS AND OPINIONS
12/01/2016 7-5-0 58.33% +750
12/02/2016 7-10-0 41.18% -2000
12/03/2016 10-8-0 55.56% +600
12/04/2016 2-6-0 25.00% -2300
12/05/2016 12-8-0 60.00% +1600
12/06/2016 6-6-0 50.00% -300
12/07/2016 11-9-0 55.00% +550
12/08/2016 6-6-0 50.00% -300
12/09/2016 9-8-0 52.94% +100
12/10/2016 14-5-0 73.68% +4250
12/11/2016 6-4-0 60.00% +800
12/12/2016 8-6-0 57.14% +700
12/13/2016 4-8-0 33.33% -2400
12/14/2016 18-2-0 90.00% +7900
12/15/2016 7-2-1 77.78% +2400
12/16/2016 12-8-0 60.00% +1600
12/17/2016 7-6-1 53.85% +200
12/18/2016 6-6-2 50.00% -300
12/19/2016 4-6-0 40.00% -1300
12/20/2016 12-10-0 54.55% +500
12/21/2016 7-9-0 43.75% -1450
12/22/2016 4-6-0 40.00% -1300
12/23/2016 12-16-0 42.86% -2800
12/25/2016 3-7-0 30.00% -2350

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 217-218-8 49.89% -11400

O/U Picks 221-217-5 50.46% -8850

BEST BETS:

12/24/16 - 2 - 5 - 0 - 1750

ATS: 43- 47 - 2 - 4350

TOTALS: 50 - 37 + 4650

OCT/NOV
ATS: 98 - 93 - 4

OCT/NOV BIG PLAYS 4 - 3

DECEMBER BIG PLAYS: 36 -28[/B]

[StarDust Bum]

Monday's Bowl Tip Sheet
December 25, 2016


**Miami (OH.) vs. Mississippi State**

-- The MAC and the SEC will tangle at The Trop in St. Petersburg, Fla., for the St. Petersburg Bowl. This game is scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. Eastern kickoff on ESPN.

-- As of Christmas Day, most books had Mississippi State (5-7 straight, 5-7 against the spread) as a 14.5-point favorite with a 58.5-point total. The RedHawks were available to win outright for a monster +475 payout (risk $100 to win $475). The Bulldogs opened as 11.5-point ‘chalk’ before quickly moving to 13. Over the last five days, the number as inched up to 14 and just a bit north of there at this point.

-- Dan Mullen’s team became bowl eligible thanks to a strong APR that allowed it to go to the postseason despite being under .500 in regular-season play. MSU twice won outright in November as a 10-point underdog to secure the bowl bid. First, the Bulldogs held off Texas A&M by a 35-28 count and next, they won 55-20 at Ole Miss,.

-- MSU sophomore QB Nick Fitzgerald absolutely went off in the blowout win over the Rebels, throwing three touchdowns passes without an interception. Even more impressive, he rushed for 258 yards and two TDs on 14 carries. Aeris Williams also schooled Ole Miss for 191 rushing yards and a pair of TDs on 25 attempts. Cedric Jiles added a 74-yard pick-six in the beatdown.

-- For the season, Fitzgerald has completed only 54.5 percent of his passes for 2,281 yards with a 21/10 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has rushed 177 times for 1,243 yards and 14 TDs while averaging 7.0 yards per carry. Fitzgerald’s favorite target is Fred Ross, who has 69 receptions for 890 yards and 12 TDs. Donald Gray has 38 catches for 674 yards and five TDs.

-- Williams has rushed for 656 yards and four TDs while averaging 5.2 YPC.

-- Mississippi State has posted a 0-3 spread record with one outright defeat (21-20 to South Alabama at home in the season opener) in three games as a double-digit ‘chalk.’

-- This is MSU’s school-record seventh straight trip to a bowl game on Mullen’s watch. The Bulldogs blasted N.C. State 51-28 as 4.5-point favorites at last year’s Belk Bowl.

-- Miami (OH.) (6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS) lost its first six games, only to win six in a row afterward to become bowl eligible. This is the first time a team has pulled such a turnaround in NCAA history. During the six-game slide, the RedHawks lost three on-possession games. During the six-game surge, however, they have won four of six games by double-digit margins.

-- The key to Miami’s turnaround has been the insertion of sophomore QB Gus Ragland into the starting lineup. He has led the RedHawks to six straight wins by throwing 15 TD passes without an interception. For his career, Ragland has an 18/0 TD-INT ratio. He has nine TD passes in the last three games, including three in a 21-20 non-covering win over Ball State. It was the first non-cover since Ragland took over as the starter.

-- Ragland has completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,274 yards. He also has 151 rushing yards for a pair of scores. He distributes the ball to three main passing targets, including James Gardner, who has 40 catches for 658 yards and five TDs. Jared Murphy (42, 532, five) and Rokeem Williams (22, 463, three) also get their fair share of balls thrown to them.

-- Miami (OH.) has a pair of featured backs in Alonzo Smith and Kenny Young. Smith has 689 rushing yards and three TDs with a 4.3 YPC average, while Young has run for 490 yards and a pair of scores with a 6.2 YPC average.

-- Miami (OH.) has been an underdog eight times, compiling a 6-2 spread record with three outright wins. The RedHawks have posted a 3-1 spread record in four games as double-digit ‘dogs.

-- The ‘under’ is 8-4 overall for the RedHawks, although the ‘over’ is 3-2 in their last five games. They’ve watched their games average combined scores of 47.8 points per game. This is the second-highest total they’ve seen this year.

-- The ‘over’ is 7-5 overall for the Bulldogs, who have seen their games average combined scores of 64.6 PPG. They’ve seen the ‘over’ cash in each of their last six contests.

**Maryland vs. Boston College**

-- The Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit will feature a pair of former ACC adversaries in Maryland and Boston College. The Terrapins have moved on to the Big Ten and are bowling after a one-year hiatus from the postseason.

-- As of Christmas Day, most spots had Maryland (6-6 SU, 4-8 ATS) installed as a two-point ‘chalk’ with a total of 44.

-- Maryland won its first four games to start D.J. Durkin’s first season as head coach. Since then, however, the Terrapins have won just twice more, a 28-17 win over Michigan State as three-point home underdogs and a 31-13 victory over Rutgers as 15.5-point home ‘chalk.’ In the win over RU, RB Ty Johnson rushed 11 times for 168 yards, while Kenneth Goins ran for 81 yards and one TD on 10 totes.

-- Senior QB Perry Hills missed two games and parts of four other with a shoulder injury, but he played well when healthy. Hills connected on 66.0 percent of his throws for 1,235 yards with 10/3 TD-INT ratio. He also rushed for four TDs.

-- Johnson rushed for 845 yards and four TDs while averaging 8.9 YPC. Lorenzo Harrison ran for 633 yards and five TDs with a 7.2 YPC average.

-- Hills’s top throwing options include D.J. Moore, who has 38 receptions for 597 yards and six TDs. Teldrick Morgan has 40 catches for 407 yards and three TDs, while Levern Jacobs has 37 grabs for 368 yards and one TD. Johnson added 14 catches for 191 yards and one TD.

-- Maryland lost outright in both of its single-digit favorite spots during the regular season.

-- Boston College (6-6 SU, 5-6 ATS) has won three in a row over Maryland both SU and ATS, including a 29-26 win as a two-point road underdog in the last encounter in 2013. The Eagles have won eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings.

-- Boson College has been an underdog seven times this season, going 2-4-1 ATS with a pair of outright wins at Wake Forest (+3) and at N.C. State (+16).

-- Just like in 2015, BC fielded one of the nation’s elite defenses and worst offenses in 2016. The Eagles are ranked eighth in total defense and eighth at defending the run. However, they are No. 127 of 128 FBS teams in total offense, No. 121 in passing, No. 101 in rushing and No. 123 in scoring (19.1 PPG).

-- BC’s defense is led by junior LB Connor Strachan, who has recorded 70 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one QB hurry. Junior DE Harold Landry produced 47 tackles, 20.5 TFL’s, 15 sacks, seven forced fumbles, five QB hurries and a pair of passes broken up.

-- After four QBs combined for an 8/9 TD-INT ratio in 2015, the hope for Steve Addazio’s squad was that Kentucky grad transfer Patrick Towles would solve the team’s signal-calling woes. It just didn’t happen, though. Towles has completed merely 51.0 percent of his passes for 1,579 yards with a 10/6 TD-INT ratio. He has rushed for 280 yards and four TDs.

-- Jeff Smith led BC in receiving yards (391) with 26 catches and three TD grabs. Michael Walker has 30 receptions for 357 yards and three TDs.

-- Jon Hilliman led BC in rushing with 463 yards and five TDs, but he averaged a meager 3.0 YPC.

-- BC has lost five consecutive bowl games dating back to 2008. After a 3-9 campaign in 2015, the Eagles are in the postseason for the third time in four seasons under Addazio. They lost 31-30 to Penn State in overtime at the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl and fell 42-19 to Arizona at the 2013 AdvoCare V100 Bowl.

-- Both teams have seen the ‘under’ go 8-4 overall. BC’s games have averaged combined scores of 43.7 PPG, while the Terps have watched their games average combined scores of 54.4 PPG.

-- ESPN will have the broadcast at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

**Vanderbilt vs. North Carolina State**

-- This SEC/ACC showdown will take place in Shreveport, LA., where the Independence Bowl will go down at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. As of Christmas Day, most books had N.C. State favored by 5.5 or six points with a total of 45.5. The Commodores were +200 on the money line (risk $100 to win $200).

-- Both of these teams closed the regular season in style with wins over their arch rivals. Vanderbilt (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS) won back-to-back games and four of its last six to get bowl eligible for the first time during Derek Mason’s three-year tenure. There were three monster victories in regular season, including at Georgia (17-16), vs. Ole Miss (38-17) and vs. Tennessee (45-34).

-- There were also heartbreakers galore that went against Vandy. A 55-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter allowed South Carolina to nip the Commodores 13-10 in the season opener. There were three additional losses in one-possession games vs. Florida (13-6), at Kentucky (20-13) and at Auburn (23-16). The Auburn defeat was especially controversial as an early third-quarter play completely shifted the momentum of the game. With Vandy holding a 10-7 advantage and Auburn driving just inside of Vandy territory, All-SEC linebacker Zach Cunningham stripped Kamryn Pettway and recovered the fumble. That was the ruling on the field and there didn’t seem to be anything whatsoever on replay to initiate a reversal of the call. Nevertheless, the call was inexplicably reversed and Auburn scored a TD two plays later.

-- The key to Vandy’s late-season surge was the improvement of the passing game. Kyle Shurmur threw for 221 yards or more in each of the last four games, including a 416-yard effort against UT. Shurmur completed 21-of-34 throws for two TD passes on the Volunteers. Trent Sherfield had nine receptions for 184 yards, while Caleb Scott had four catches for 117 yards. Ralph Webb rushed 21 times for 114 yards and two TDs.

-- Despite battling a lingering ankle injury that should be much improved after several weeks off, Webb still ran for a team-high 1,172 yards to become the school’s all-time rushing leader. The true junior from Gainesville, Fla., averaged 5.1 YPC and had 12 rushing TDs. Khari Blasingame rushed for 447 yards and nine TDs with a 4.7 YPC average.

-- Shurmur has completed 56.2 percent of his passes for 2,251 yards with a 9/7 TD-INT ratio. He had four TD passes with only one pick in the last two games of the regular season. Sherfield had 31 receptions for 448 yards and one TD, while C.J. Duncan had 38 catches for 447 yards.

-- Cunningham was a first-team All-SEC selection after tallying 119 tackles, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles, 16.5 TFL’s, three PBU and one blocked field goal.

-- Vanderbilt has thrived as an underdog, compiling a 6-3 spread record with four outright wins, including a 31-30 win at Western Kentucky in overtime.

-- N.C. State (6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS) started 4-1 with its only loss coming by a 33-30 score at East Carolina. Then on Oct. 15, Dave Doeren’s squad went to Death Valley and played then-unbeaten Clemson dead even for nearly 60 minutes. The Wolfpack had a chance to pull the stunning upset as a 20-point underdog on the final play of regulation, but Kyle Bambard’s 37-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right. Then in OT, Clemson prevailed 24-17.

-- The gut-wrenching loss at Clemson turned into a four-game losing streak. N.C. State was destroyed 54-13 at Louisville the following week and then dropped a 21-14 decision to Boston College as a 16-point home favorite. Next, the Wolfpack led FSU most of the way, only to lose 24-20 when the Seminoles rallied back late in the fourth quarter. After splitting a pair of games with a win at Syracuse (35-20) and a loss vs. Miami (27-13), N.C. State closed the season in Chapel Hill as a 10-point underdog.

-- Needing a win over the Tar Heels to get to the postseason, N.C. State sprinted out to a 21-0 lead with 10:33 left in the second quarter thanks to a pair of Matt Dayes’ TD runs. After leading 21-7 at intermission, the Wolfpack extended the advantage to 28-7 on a four-yard TD run from Jaylen Samuels, who had a 59-yard TD pass off a trick play. The Pack would hold on to collect a 28-21 victory. Dayes was the catalyst with 104 rushing yards and two TDs on 26 attempts.

-- N.C. State went 2-1 both SU and ATS in three games as a single-digit favorite this season.

-- N.C. State QB Ryan Finley completed 60.2 percent of his passes in the regular season for 2,815 yards with a 15/8 TD-INT ratio. Samuels was his favorite option in the aerial attack, as the junior first-team All-ACC selection in 2015 caught 49 balls for 461 yards and four TDs. Samuels also ran for 180 yards and six TDs on 31 carries for a 5.8 YPC average. Stephen Louis had 33 receptions for 657 yards and two TDs, while true freshman Kevin Harmon had 26 catches for 458 yards and five TDs.

-- Dayes rushed for a team-high 1,119 yards and 10 TDs while averaging 4.7 YPC. The senior RB also had 31 catches for 254 yards.

-- N.C. State is ranked sixth in the nation in run defense, 28th in total defense and 32nd in scoring (23.2 PPG).

-- Vandy is ranked 26th in the country in scoring defense, giving up just 22.6 PPG.

-- Despite back-to-back ‘over’ appearances, the ‘under’ went 6-5-1 overall for the Commodores. They saw their games average combined scores of 46.1 PPG.

-- The ‘under’ is 7-4-1 overall for N.C. State after cashing in five straight and seven of its last eight. The Wolfpack have seen its games average combined scores of 49.1 PPG.

-- These programs met in the 2012 Music City Bowl in Nashville, where Vandy won by a 38-24 count as a 7.5-point favorite.

[StarDust Bum]

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

M-OH at MSST 11:00 AM

M-OH +14.0 *****

O 58.0 *****

MD at BC 02:30 PM

BC +2.0 *****

U 43.5 *****

NCST at VAN 05:00 PM

VAN +6.0 *****

U 45.0 *****

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

Odds to win the college basketball national title:

3-1: Duke, Kentucky

5-1: UCLA

7-1: North Carolina, Kansas

8-1: Villanova

12-1: Baylor

15-1: Louisville-Indiana-Gonzaga

**********

Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Nobody asked me, but…….

13) Cowboys 42, Lions 21— How does a team that has trailed in 4th quarter in 14 of 15 games still have a shot to make the playoffs? First half of this game was great but then Cowboys won going away, winning easily in a game they didn’t need.

Redskins are happier than hell; they’re in playoffs if they beat the Giants Sunday except for one incredible scenario. If Packers/Lions tie Sunday, they both make the playoffs. Imagine if that game goes overtime and both teams play cautiously, just to make playoffs? Wow.

12) Did Edwin Encarnacion turn down more money from the A’s than he took from Cleveland?

I can feel my blood pressure going up; A’s were going to sign him, then if they weren’t in the pennant race in July, trade him to a contender for prospects, the way they traded Matt Holliday and Ben Zobrist. Oakland’s starting pitching is better than it has been in couple years, so they could contend this year, if everything goes well.

Not often a player turns down more $$$ to sign elsewhere, especially if elsewhere is Cleveland.

11) Note to self; next year, when the Broncos play the Chiefs, there will be hard feelings, moreso than usual in this divisional rivalry, after Dontari Poe’s TD pass in the last 2:00 of Sunday nite’s win. Mr Poe is a defensive end who weighs over 300 pounds; him throwing a TD pass was the kind of stunt that gets remembered for a long time. Hopefully we can take advantage of that next year.

10) I was surprised by this: the mayor of New York City makes $225K. The governor of the state of New York only makes $179K. Shouldn’t a governor make more than a may0r?

9) Ravens’ WR Steve Smith was 11th wide receiver taken in the 2001 NFL Draft; the graduate of Santa Monica College and Utah is the only one of those 11 WR’s who is still playing in the NFL.

8) Houston Texans have been outscored by 42 points this season, but are in the playoffs.

7) When Jay Ajayi had his big run in overtime that set up the Dolphins’ game-winning FG Saturday, Buffalo only had ten men on the field. That kind of stuff gets coaches fired.

6) Matt Ryan has thrown TD passes to 13 different players this season, most in NFL history in one season.

5) Derek Carr is going to be the first-ever NFL QB to win 12+ regular season games but not make a playoff start- thats how unusual the timing of his injury was.

4) San Diego State 62, San Francisco 48— Aztecs win the Diamond Head tourney in Hawaii.

3) Nuggets 106, Clippers 102— No Paul, no Griffin, no Redick……no good.

2) Pistons 106, Cavaliers 90— Handicapping the NBA means you have to keep close tabs on who is “resting” that night. Lebron James “rested” last night and the Cavaliers got killed. Go figure.

1— 16 NFL games this Sunday, the way it should be. Most of the important games are at 4:00, except for the Detroit-Green Bay game, which is the night game. Should be quite a day.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, December 27

Utah @ LA Lakers

Game 507-508
December 27, 2016 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Utah
122.000
LA Lakers
115.149
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah
by 7
195
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah
by 4 1/2
204
Dunkel Pick:
Utah
(-4 1/2); Under

Houston @ Dallas

Game 505-506
December 27, 2016 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
123.322
Dallas
121.251
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 2
218
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
by 6 1/2
210
Dunkel Pick:
Dallas
(+6 1/2); Over

Oklahoma City @ Miami

Game 503-504
December 27, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Oklahoma City
118.127
Miami
119.647
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami
by 1 1/2
199
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oklahoma City
by 2 1/2
205 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Miami
(+2 1/2); Under

Memphis @ Boston

Game 501-502
December 27, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Memphis
120.086
Boston
123.682
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 3 1/2
187
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
by 6 1/2
198
Dunkel Pick:
Memphis
(+6 1/2); Under




NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, December 27

Celtics won three of last four games with Memphis; five of last six series games went over the total. Grizzlies lost by 3-20 points in last two visits to Beantown. Memphis got whacked last nite in Orlando; they’re 3-5 in last eight games overall, 5-5 as a road underdog- three of their last four games went over the total. Boston won five of last six games; they’re 4-5 as a home favorite (0-4 in last four)- their last four games went over.

Thunder won four of last five games with Miami; they lost three of last five visits to South Beach. Last six series games stayed under the total. Oklahoma City won four of its last five games; they are 2-2 as road favorites- last four Thunder games went over the total. Heat lost four of their last five games; they’re 3-5 vs spread as home underdogs. Four of last six Miami games stayed under the total.

Houston won five of last six games with Dallas, splitting last four games in this building; five of last six series games stayed under the total. Rockets won 12 of last 14 games, are 6-4 as a road favorite, 5-1 if they played night before. Last three Houston games went over. Mavericks won three of last four home games, are 6-6 as a home underdog (3-0 in last three). Over is 5-5 in their last ten games.

Lakers lost six of last seven games with Utah; Jazz won three of last four series games played here. Three of last four series games went over. Utah lost its last three games, by 30-1-6 points; they’re 7-0 as a road favorite (favorites are 13-1 vs spread in their road games). Under is 6-2 in their last eight games. Lakers lost eight of last ten games, are 5-4 as home underdogs; four of their last five games went over total.




NBA

Tuesday, December 27

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:30 PM
MEMPHIS vs. BOSTON
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Memphis's last 6 games when playing Boston
Memphis is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Boston
Boston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Memphis
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Boston's last 11 games when playing at home against Memphis

7:30 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. MIAMI
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oklahoma City's last 9 games when playing on the road against Miami
Oklahoma City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Miami's last 9 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City
Miami is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City

8:30 PM
HOUSTON vs. DALLAS
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Houston's last 9 games on the road
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Dallas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
Dallas is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Houston

10:30 PM
UTAH vs. LA LAKERS
Utah is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Utah is 7-18 SU in their last 25 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 9 of the LA Lakers last 12 games at home
LA Lakers are 2-12 SU in their last 14 games

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, December 27

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEMPHIS (20 - 13) at BOSTON (18 - 13) - 12/27/2016, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 46-33 ATS (+9.7 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 19-7 ATS (+11.3 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 51-29 ATS (+19.1 Units) in road games against Atlantic division opponents since 1996.
MEMPHIS is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) after allowing 105 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 19-42 ATS (-27.2 Units) in home games against Southwest division opponents since 1996.
BOSTON is 121-159 ATS (-53.9 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1996.
BOSTON is 99-133 ATS (-47.3 Units) in home games after allowing 105 points or more since 1996.
BOSTON is 98-135 ATS (-50.5 Units) in home games after scoring 105 points or more since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 3-2 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 3-2 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OKLAHOMA CITY (19 - 12) at MIAMI (10 - 21) - 12/27/2016, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 55-41 ATS (+9.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 126-167 ATS (-57.7 Units) in home games first half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 4-1 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 4-1 straight up against MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
5 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON (23 - 9) at DALLAS (9 - 22) - 12/27/2016, 8:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 360-298 ATS (+32.2 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
HOUSTON is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 210 this season.
HOUSTON is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in road games this season.
HOUSTON is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 210 this season.
HOUSTON is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) first half of the season this season.
HOUSTON is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) after allowing 105 points or more this season.
HOUSTON is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
HOUSTON is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 11-5 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 12-4 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
11 of 16 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UTAH (18 - 13) at LA LAKERS (12 - 22) - 12/27/2016, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UTAH is 37-24 ATS (+10.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
UTAH is 34-21 ATS (+10.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 14-27 ATS (-15.7 Units) against Northwest division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 195-240 ATS (-69.0 Units) after a division game since 1996.
LA LAKERS are 13-28 ATS (-17.8 Units) after scoring 105 points or more over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH is 6-3 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
UTAH is 7-2 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

Inside the Paint - Tuesday
December 27, 2016

After taking off Christmas Eve this past Saturday, the NBA returned to the hardwood on Sunday and bettors saw the favorites go 3-2 both straight up and against the spread on the holiday.

It looked like another chalky day yesterday as five of the first eight favorites on the board won and covered but the underdogs rallied with three covers in the late-night games on Monday despite losing. Through two days of action this week, favorites are 11-5 SU and 8-8 ATS while total bettors have seen the ‘under’ go 8-7-1.

Make a note that home underdogs went 5-0 ATS on Monday and are 7-1 ATS the last two days. We mention that because tonight’s card has three teams catching points at home.

Memphis (20-13 SU, 17-16 ATS) at Boston (18-13 SU, 17-13-1 ATS)

These teams met last Monday in Memphis and Boston came away with a 112-109 overtime win as a 2 ½-point road favorite. The Celtics have now won and covered three of the last four versus the Grizzlies and they’re favored (-6 ½) in Tuesday’s matchup.

Even though Boston has won and covered five of its last six, you could be hesitant to back the club at home based on what we’ve seen this season. The Celtics are 6-6 at TD Garden and that includes a 6-4 SU and 4-6 ATS mark as home favorites. Some pundits believe Boston is a contender but I look at them as a bully who wins games against sub .500 teams (13-5) and fails to get over the hump against elite opponents (5-8).

Despite getting run 112-102 at Orlando last night, Memphis owns a winning road record (8-6 SU, 7-7 ATS) this season. For those of you believing fatigue will be a factor, the Grizzlies are 8-0 (7-1 ATS) this season when playing on no rest and the ‘under’ has gone 6-2 in those games.

Memphis has gone 8-8 versus the Eastern Conference while Boston has struggle to a 4-8 mark against foes from the Western Conference which includes a 3-4 mark at home.

Oklahoma City (19-12 SU, 16-14-1 ATS) at Miami (10-21 SU, 16-15 ATS)

The Thunder dropped the Heat 97-85 as 5 ½-point home favorites in the first meeting this season on Nov. 7 and Oklahoma City has been installed as a short road ‘chalk’ (-2 ½) in the rematch.

Oklahoma City has won and covered three straight and four of its last five games and the one loss came by two points at home to Atlanta. The Thunder offense is averaging 114.4 points per game over this span with the majority of the damage coming from All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, who is averaging a triple-double (31.7 points, 10.9 assists, 10.4 rebounds) this season.

Miami has struggled to a 5-11 record at home and that includes a 2-8 mark (4-6 ATS) when catching points. The Heat haven’t played since Friday when they lost a 91-87 decision at New Orleans, which dropped their record to 5-8 (8-5 ATS) against teams from the West.

The expectations for OKC have obviously been lowered this season with the loss of Kevin Durant yet the club still remains a solid wager against the NBA minnows. The Thunder are 14-7 versus teams below .500 and they’ve gone 4-1 both SU and ATS when listed as road favorites this season.

The total on this game opened 205 and was steamed up to 206 early Tuesday morning. The ‘under’ has cashed in the last four encounters between the pair and OKC has been a solid ‘under’ wager (8-4-1) as a visitor.

NBATV will provide national coverage of this game at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Houston (23-9 SU, 21-11 ATS) at Dallas (9-22 SU, 14-17 ATS)

The Rockets have been installed as six-point road favorites for this matchup and it’s hard to make a case for the home squad unless you’re playing the contrarian angle. Houston hasn’t swept a season series from Dallas since 1998 but can do so tonight when it visits American Airlines Center. The Rockets have gone 2-1 ATS in the first three wins and that includes a 106-98 victory in Dallas on Oct. 28 as two-point road favorites.

Both clubs played on Monday and that factor could have you leaning to the favorite as well knowing Houston (6-0 SU, 5-1 ATS) has thrived on zero days rest while Dallas is winless (0-5 SU, 1-4 ATS) in back-to-back spots.

Despite being short-handed to injuries all season, the Mavericks have played hard for head coach Rick Carlisle and are a respectable 5-8 SU and 6-7 ATS as home ‘dogs. Dallas has won three of its last four in this role and the defense (92.3 PPG) has been great in those matchups.

Houston’s pace dictates larger totals but Tuesday’s number (208 ½) is low for its standards because the Mavericks play slow, ranked 29th in shots per game (81.9). The ‘under’ cashed in the first three meetings between the pair this season.

Utah (18-13 SU, 15-15-1 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (12-22 SU, 15-18-1 ATS)

Similar to Boston and OKC, the Jazz have been inconsistent against winning teams (5-8) this season and better versus the cellar dwellers (13-5). The Lakers fall into the latter and that’s why they’re catching five points at home on Tuesday.

Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing skid on Christmas Day with a 111-102 victory over the short-handed Clippers. That victory was just their second in the last 14 games and it's hard to imagine a victory on Tuesday knowing the club is 3-8 SU off a win this season.

Before you run to the counter and bang the Jazz, be aware that they’ve dropped three straight games albeit two of them came to upper echelon teams in Golden State and Toronto. Utah has beaten the Lakers twice already this season, which includes a 107-101 win on Dec. 5 as a 4 ½-point road favorite.

Going back to the bully angle, Utah has delivered in a big way when installed as a road favorite this season. The club is a perfect 7-0 both SU and ATS with four of the wins coming by double digits. The offense is averaging 101.9 PPG in those situations and that’s helped produced a 6-1 ‘over’ record.

Even though Utah plays the slowest pace (77.2 shots per game) and owns the best scoring defense (95.2 PPG) in the league, the team has watched the ‘over’ go 17-14 this season. The Jazz have only had seven totals close in the 200s and the ‘over’ went 4-3. Tonight’s number is hovering around 204 and the Lakers have been a great ‘over’ bet (10-3-1) at home this season.

This game tips at 10:35 p.m. ET with NBATV providing national coverage.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA RECORD + BEST BETS: ( ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS )

OVERALL BETS AND OPINIONS
12/01/2016 7-5-0 58.33% +750
12/02/2016 7-10-0 41.18% -2000
12/03/2016 10-8-0 55.56% +600
12/04/2016 2-6-0 25.00% -2300
12/05/2016 12-8-0 60.00% +1600
12/06/2016 6-6-0 50.00% -300
12/07/2016 11-9-0 55.00% +550
12/08/2016 6-6-0 50.00% -300
12/09/2016 9-8-0 52.94% +100
12/10/2016 14-5-0 73.68% +4250
12/11/2016 6-4-0 60.00% +800
12/12/2016 8-6-0 57.14% +700
12/13/2016 4-8-0 33.33% -2400
12/14/2016 18-2-0 90.00% +7900
12/15/2016 7-2-1 77.78% +2400
12/16/2016 12-8-0 60.00% +1600
12/17/2016 7-6-1 53.85% +200
12/18/2016 6-6-2 50.00% -300
12/19/2016 4-6-0 40.00% -1300
12/20/2016 12-10-0 54.55% +500
12/21/2016 7-9-0 43.75% -1450
12/22/2016 4-6-0 40.00% -1300
12/23/2016 12-16-0 42.86% -2800
12/25/2016 3-7-0 30.00% -2350

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 217-218-8 49.89% -11400

O/U Picks 221-217-5 50.46% -8850

BEST BETS:

12/24/16 - 2 - 5 - 0 - 1750

ATS: 43- 47 - 2 - 4350

TOTALS: 50 - 37 + 4650

OCT/NOV
ATS: 98 - 93 - 4

OCT/NOV BIG PLAYS 4 - 3

DECEMBER BIG PLAYS: 36 -28

[StarDust Bum]

Hoop Trends - Tuesday
December 27, 2016

ATS TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Rockets are 11-0-1 ATS (11.08 ppg) on the road with no rest after they had 20+ turnovers since Dec 27, 2006.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Thunder are 12-0 OU (11.96 ppg) as a road favorite off a home game since Jan 08, 2016.

PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Rockets are 7-0-1 OU (13.62 ppg) since Nov 25, 2016 on the road after James Harden was the Rockets’ high scorer.

CHOICE TREND:

-- The Heat are 10-0 ATS (7.75 ppg) as a dog after they shot under 60% from the free throw line since Nov 17, 2014.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Lakers are 0-9 ATS (-8.78 ppg) off a home game after a win in which their high scorer had fewer than 20 points since Nov 05, 2013.

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MEM at BOS 07:30 PM

MEM +6.5

U 200.5 *****

OKC at MIA 07:30 PM

MIA +4.0 *****

U 204.5

HOU at DAL 08:30 PM

HOU -5.5 *****

O 210.0 *****

UTA at LAL 10:30 PM

UTA -5.0

O 204.5 *****