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

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, October 26

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MIAMI (55 - 41) at ORLANDO (35 - 47) - 10/26/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ORLANDO is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 5-2 against the spread versus ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 6-2 straight up against ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DALLAS (43 - 44) at INDIANA (48 - 41) - 10/26/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 152-117 ATS (+23.3 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1996.
DALLAS is 348-281 ATS (+38.9 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
DALLAS is 464-384 ATS (+41.6 Units) in road games since 1996.
DALLAS is 148-111 ATS (+25.9 Units) in road games first half of the season since 1996.
DALLAS is 158-122 ATS (+23.8 Units) in road games in non-conference games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 4-0 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 4-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DETROIT (44 - 42) at TORONTO (66 - 36) - 10/26/2016, 7:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 5-2 against the spread versus TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 4-3 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
6 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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BROOKLYN (21 - 61) at BOSTON (50 - 38) - 10/26/2016, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 27-13 ATS (+12.7 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 210 over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 5-3 against the spread versus BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 5-3 straight up against BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MINNESOTA (29 - 53) at MEMPHIS (42 - 44) - 10/26/2016, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 5-2 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
MEMPHIS is 4-3 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CHARLOTTE (51 - 38) at MILWAUKEE (33 - 49) - 10/26/2016, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 4-3 against the spread versus CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
CHARLOTTE is 5-2 straight up against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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OKLAHOMA CITY (66 - 34) at PHILADELPHIA (10 - 72) - 10/26/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) against Atlantic division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) against Northwest division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 30-51 ATS (-26.1 Units) as a home underdog of 6.5 to 9 points since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 102-138 ATS (-49.8 Units) in home games first half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 3-1 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 4-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DENVER (33 - 49) at NEW ORLEANS (30 - 52) - 10/26/2016, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
DENVER is 4-3 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 4-3 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SACRAMENTO (33 - 49) at PHOENIX (23 - 59) - 10/26/2016, 10:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

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HOUSTON (42 - 45) at LA LAKERS (17 - 65) - 10/26/2016, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA LAKERS are 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 210 over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 53-80 ATS (-35.0 Units) in a home game where the total is greater than or equal to 210 since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 6-1 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 6-1 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's Tip Sheet
October 25, 2016

Heat at Magic (-4, 200) – 7:05 PM EST

The battle of the Sunshine State will showcase plenty of new faces in the opening matchup of the season. Dwyane Wade is off to Chicago, while Chris Bosh remains out with blood clots for Miami as the Heat will be challenged in their defense of the Southeast division title. Miami grabbed three of four meetings from Orlando last season, while riding a five-game winning streak in season openers since 2011. With Wade and Bosh not in the picture, the two leading scorers returning for Miami are center Hassan Whiteside (14.2 ppg) and point guard Goran Dragic (14.1 ppg).

Orlando has a brand new head coach in Frank Vogel after spending the last six seasons with Indiana, which included five playoff appearances. The Magic parted ways with former lottery pick Victor Oladipo, while acquiring veterans Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo to bolster their frontcourt. Orlando finished in the cellar of the Southeast with a 35-47 record, which included a 4-12 mark against division foes. However, the Magic started last season cashing its first seven games, although six of those covers came in the underdog role.

Mavericks at Pacers (-6 ½, 206 ½) – 7:05 PM EST

The clock on Dallas continues to tick as this veteran squad got younger in one aspect by inking former Warrior Harrison Barnes to a long-term deal. Dallas slumped to a 2-5 record in the preseason, while averaging 94 ppg, which ranked second-to-last in the Western Conference. The Mavericks finished tied for second place in the Southwest last season at 42-40, while winning seven of their final nine games to sneak into the playoffs. Dallas has covered four consecutive season openers, including a 3-0 ATS mark as a road underdog.

The Pacers are back in the discussion of a top-four team in the Eastern Conference behind the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Raptors. Indiana pushed the tempo in the preseason by averaging 107.2 ppg under new head coach Nate McMillan, while newly acquired point guard Jeff Teague put up 13 ppg in the preseason. The Pacers have won four of their past five season openers, while capturing each of the previous four matchups with the Mavericks since 2014.

Pistons at Raptors (-7 ½, 195) – 7:05 PM EST

Both these teams were knocked out by the champion Cavaliers in the playoffs last season as Detroit was swept by Cleveland in the opening round. The Pistons start this campaign without point guard Reggie Jackson, who is sidelined with a knee injury for at least a month. Detroit posted its first winning season since 2008 with a 44-38 mark in 2016, but won only 18 games away from the Palace of Auburn Hills. Last season, the Pistons jumped out to an impressive 5-1 SU/ATS record with all five wins coming in the underdog role.

The Raptors’ roster pretty remained intact with Bismack Biyombo being the lone departure to Orlando in the offseason. Toronto finished with one fewer victory than Cleveland for the top seed in the Eastern Conference before bowing out to the Cavaliers in the conference finals. The Raptors owned the second-best home record in the East at 32-9, while Toronto started 5-0 SU/ATS last season and eclipsed the 100-point mark in each of those wins.

Wolves at Grizzlies (-2, 199) – 8:05 PM EST

Minnesota is expected to turn heads in the Western Conference this season after hiring Tom Thibodeau as head coach and president of basketball operations. Thibodeau took the Bulls to five straight playoff appearances from 2011 through 2015 as he looks to lead Minnesota to its first postseason berth since 2004. The Wolves closed last season winning four of their final five games to finish at 29-53, while compiling a 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS record in their last nine road contests.

The Grizzlies flamed out in the opening round of the playoffs last season in a four-game sweep to the Spurs. Memphis is back to full health with center Marc Gasol and point guard Mike Conley in the lineup after each missed the final few months of 2016 due to injury. How bad was it for Memphis down the stretch? The Grizzlies made the playoffs in spite of losing 10 of their final 11 games to finish at 42-40, while compiling a 26-15 record at FedEx Forum. Memphis and Minnesota split four matchups last season as all four games eclipsed the OVER.

Thunder (-8 ½, 208) at 76ers – 8:05 PM EST

The post-Kevin Durant era begins in Oklahoma City as Russell Westbrook is the leader of this Thunder squad moving forward. OKC re-tooled its team heading into this season as the Thunder are not the favorites to win the Northwest after a 55-27 campaign and a Western Conference finals appearance. The Thunder won nine of 15 road games last season against Eastern Conference opponents, including a 111-97 victory at Philadelphia as 15 ½-point favorites.

Philadelphia won a grand total of 10 games last season, while losing 30 of its first 31 contests. The 76ers grabbed LSU phenom Ben Simmons with the top pick in the draft, but he’s sidelined with a broken bone in his right foot. Philadelphia began last season with a 2-9-1 ATS record in its first 12 games as a home underdogs, while winning its first game in the home ‘dog role in January against Minnesota.

Rockets (-6 ½, 223) at Lakers – 10:35 PM EST

Mike D’Antoni makes his return to the bench, taking over as Rockets’ head coach following an unsuccessful stint as head man of the Lakers from 2012-2014. The Rockets put up ridiculous scoring numbers in the preseason by averaging 118.6 ppg, including four games of 120 points or more. Houston swept the four-game series from Los Angeles last season with every victory coming by double-digits. James Harden averaged 31.5 ppg in the four wins over the Lakers as the Rockets own a 6-0 SU/ATS record in the past six visits to Staples Center.

The Lakers begin a brand new era following Kobe Bryant’s retirement after last season’s disastrous 17-65 mark. Luke Walton came over from Golden State to become the head coach, while Los Angeles signed veterans Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov to go along with emerging star D’Angelo Russell. The Lakers closed last season with four consecutive covers at Staples Center as Los Angeles seeks its first opening night win since upsetting the Clippers in 2013.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA RECORD + BEST BETS:

10/25/2016 3-3-0 50.00% -150

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 1-2-0 33.33% -600

O/U Picks 2-1-0 66.67% +450

BEST BETS:

ATS: 1 - 1

O/U: 1 - 1

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

DAL at IND 07:00 PM

U 205.5

MIA at ORL 07:00 PM

ORL -3.5 *****

BK at BOS 07:30 PM

BOS -11.0

U 211.5 *****

DET at TOR 07:30 PM

O 197.0 *****

OKC at PHI 08:00 PM

O 209.0

MIN at MEM 08:00 PM

U 199.5

DEN at NO 08:00 PM

O 207.0

CHA at MIL 08:00 PM

CHA -2.0

U 194.0

SAC at PHO 10:00 PM

SAC +3.0 *****

U 211.5

HOU at LAL 10:30 PM

HOU -6.0

[StarDust Bum]

NBA Capsules
October 26, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Myles Turner scored 30 points, tied his career high with 16 rebounds and made a 3-pointer with 1:18 left in overtime to start an 8-0 run that allowed the Indiana Pacers to close out a 130-121 victory Wednesday night over the Dallas Mavericks.

Three-time All-Star Paul George added 25 points, including another 3 with 55 seconds left to seal Indiana's fifth season-opening win in six years.

Deron Williams scored 25 points, while J.J. Barea and Dirk Nowitzki each added 22 as the Mavs lost their fifth straight in the series. They still haven't won in Indianapolis since February 2014.

Dallas didn't tie the score or take a lead until the fourth quarter, yet still forced overtime when Harrison Barnes' open 3-pointer made it 115-all with 2.3 seconds left.

Turner could have won it with a long buzzer-beating 3, but it bounced off the back of the rim.

NUGGETS 107, PELICANS 102

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Jusuf Nurkic scored 23 points, Will Barton added 22, and the Nuggets survived a dominant performance by Anthony Davis to defeat the Pelicans.

Davis had 50 points, 16 rebounds, seven steals, five assists and four blocks. His production helped New Orleans trim a deficit as large as 14 late in the second quarter down to two points in the waning minutes. He simply didn't have enough help.

The rest of the Pelicans combined to shoot 21 of 58. Tim Frazier scored 15 for the Pelicans. E'Twaun Moore added 10 points, but missed a 3-point attempt that could have tied it with 24 seconds left.

Danilo Gallinari scored 15 for Denver and Wilson Chandler added 12 points.

HORNETS 107, BUCKS 96

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 23 points and 14 rebounds in his return from a shoulder injury, Roy Hibbert added 15 points, and the Hornets opened their season with a victory over the Bucks.

The Hornets led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter before fending off a late charge from Milwaukee.

The Bucks, who looked lackluster for much of the game, drew energy from Greg Monroe's hustle in the paint and Jason Terry's floater that cut the lead to 93-85 with 5:08 left.

But the Hornets held on down the stretch, getting a straightaway 3 from Marvin Williams for a 12-point lead with 3:21 left.

The 7-foot-2 Hibbert had a couple of rim-rocking dunks in the third quarter that helped build the 20-point lead.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 31 points.

HEAT 108, MAGIC 96

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Miami center Hassan White had 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots and point guard Goran Dragic added 16 points as the Heat cruised to a season-opening victory over the Magic.

The Heat, taking advantage of the one-game suspension of Orlando center Bismack Biyombo, dominated inside all game with Whiteside and Willie Reed off the bench. Neither Nikola Vucevic nor Serge Ibaka could match the athleticism and strength of the 7-foot Whiteside inside.

The new-look Heat, playing without Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh this season, outscored the Magic in the paint 74-36 and outrebounded them 52-44.

Vucevic finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds while Evan Fournier added 20 points. Ibaka, making his debut with the Magic, managed 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting.

CELTICS 122, NETS 117

BOSTON (AP) - Isaiah Thomas had 25 points and nine assists, Jae Crowder added 21 points and Al Horford pitched in 11 in his Boston debut as the Celtics survived a late scare to beat the Nets.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 21 for Brooklyn, including a 3-pointer to make it 120-117 with 47 seconds left after the Nets erased most of a 23-point deficit against the Boston bench. But he missed one with a chance to tie it after Joe Harris intercepted Thomas' cross-court pass, and the Celtics were able to hold on.

Justin Hamilton came off the bench to score 19 points and grab 10 rebounds for the Nets in coach Kenny Atkinson's debut.

RAPTORS 109, PISTONS 91

TORONTO (AP) - DeMar DeRozan scored 40 points and Jonas Valanciunas added a career-high 32 as the Raptors opened their season with a victory over the Pistons.

DeRozan made a career-high 17 field goals on 27 shots and was a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line, while Valanciunas was 10 for 15 from the field to go along with 11 rebounds. Valanciunas' previous career high was 31, also against the Pistons, on Jan. 12, 2015.

Tobias Harris had 22 points and Marcus Morris had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the eighth time in their last 11 games against Toronto.

DeRozan broke Vince Carter's opening-night record of 39 points, set against the-then New Jersey Nets in 2003. Alvin Robertson is the only other Toronto player to record a 30-point opening-night game, in the franchise's first-ever game, also against New Jersey, in 1995.

GRIZZLIES 102, TIMBERWOLVES 98

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Mike Conley scored 24 points, Marc Gasol added 18 and the Grizzlies overcame a slow start for a victory over the Timberwolves.

Conley and Gasol led a push down the stretch as the Grizzlies erased a 90-86 deficit the final 2:44. Zach Randolph had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis.

Andrew Wiggins led the Timberwolves with 25 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21. Zach LaVine added 19 points.

The game was the debut of two coaches with new teams, Tom Thibodeau for Minnesota and former Miami Heat assistant David Fizdale with Memphis.

Both teams had big runs in the game, Minnesota at the start and Memphis to open the second half. Then the game settled into a tight affair in the fourth quarter.

THUNDER 103, 76ERS 97

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Russell Westbrook had 32 points, 12 rebounds and took over late to lead the Thunder to a victory over the 76ers.

Westbrook scored the decisive points on opening night for the Thunder in their first game since franchise star Kevin Durant left in free agency and signed with the Golden State Warriors.

Joel Embiid scored 20 points in 22 minutes in his first game for the Sixers since they made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Embiid had sat out the last two seasons with foot injuries. He received a roaring ovation when he was introduced and fans went wild on every shot.

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s six-pack

— 30 of Carlos Santana’s 34 homers this year were hit lefthanded.

— Last grand slam in World Series? Paul Konerko for the White Sox in Game 2 of ’05 Series.

— Opening Day rosters of the 30 NBA teams: 113 foreign players, 43 white Americans.

— Kevin Harlan is a busy broadcaster; he did the NFL game in London Sunday, then flew to Oakland for the Spurs-Warriors game Tuesday night.

— In their last three road games, Jets scored only one TD on 30 drives.

— Former Wyoming hoop coach Larry Shyatt is now an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.


Thursday’s List of 13: NFL knowledge and our top 7

Some notes about how NFL teams have done on the first drive of each half this season: in my mind, the first drive of each game goes to how coaches prepare for their opponent each week.

First drive of the second half goes to halftime adjustments, as much as can be done in 10-12 minutes. Through seven weeks, here is some information:

13) Dallas Cowboys, in six games, have three TDs, two FGs and a missed FG on their first drive of the game, averaging 66.7 yards/drive, by far the best in the NFL thru seven weeks.

12) Three teams have yet to score on their first drive of a game: Arizona, Jacksonville and the Giants, who have only 79 yards on 27 plays on the first drive of their seven games.

11) Saints/Chargers both have four TDs on their first drive, though Saints did that in six games and Chargers seven; New Orleans averages 54.2 yards/first drive, San Diego 47.1.

10) Most surprising that I’ve found so far: Denver has allowed four TDs and a FG on opponents’ first drive of a game- their 31 points allowed on the first drive is 2nd-worst in the NFL.

9) Less surprising is Cleveland’s defense allowing five TDs on its seven game opening drives, with foes gaining an average of 55.9 yards/drive.

8) Giants have been outscored 30-3 on each team’s first drive of each half; Jets have been outscored 35-16. For the Giants, 66 plays, 210 yards (3.2 yards/play) on the first drive of their 14 halves is very poor.

On to the NFL’s top 7 for this week:

7) Chiefs— Andy Reid is this generation’s Chuck Knox— very good coach, wins a lot of games, just not any Super Bowls. Nothing wrong with winning a lot of games.

6) Raiders— 4-0 on the road and all four games were east of Mississippi; this week is #5.

5) Seahawks— Lost 9-3 in LA, tied 6-6 at Arizona, their two games on grass. Won the other four games. Not sure how bad Wilson’s leg injuries are, but if he doesn’t start running around soon, I’ll lose faith in Seattle.

Related point; NBC’s Cris Collinsworth actually grouped Wilson with Brady and Roethlisberger as a pocket passer during Sunday night’s game. Um, no. Not even close.

4) Cowboys— Is it easier for a rookie QB to be without Dez Bryant and not have him calling for the ball all the time? What Jason Garrett has done in the first six games is tremendous- their offensive line is just super.

3) Broncos— Little queasy about having them at #3, but they’re the defending champs and they’re 5-2. I wouldn’t bet your money on them on win the Super Bowl this year.

2) Vikings— Sam Bradford began his NFL career with the Rams, so pardon me if I’m skeptical he can lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl. He just doesn’t stay healthy.

1) Patriots— They head into heir bye week with an actual revenge game this week; Bills beat them in Foxboro in Week 4, the last week of Brady’s suspension and also in all probability, the last NFL action Jacoby Brissett will ever see.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA knowledge
Not much to go on for 7-10 days, but we’ll share the info we have.

Thursday’s games

Hawks won five of last seven games with Washington; three of last four series games went over total. Wizards lost three of last four visits to Atlanta, losing by 15-1-16 points. This is the season opener for both teams.

Chicago is 7-3 in last ten games with the Celtics; six of last seven series games went over total. Boston lost four of last five visits to Windy City (2-3 vs spread). Celtics beat Nets 122-117 last night, in their home opener.

Portland KO’d Clippers from LY’s playoffs in six games, after losing first two; under is 5-2 in last seven series games. Clippers lost last three visits to Portland by 8-14-3 points (under is 3-2 in last five). This is Clippers’ season opener. Blazers beat Utah by 9 Tuesday in their home opener.

Sacramento christens its new arena against Spurs team that whacked Golden State by 29 in its opener Tuesday. Spurs won last six series games, covering four of last five; last four series tilts stayed under total. Kings beat Suns in Phoenix in their opener last night.

[StarDust Bum]

Handicapping CFP Odds
October 26, 2016

Sportsbook.ag has released lines for potential matchups in the finals of the College Football Playoffs. As you would undoubtedly expect, top-ranked and unbeaten Alabama is a favorite over all of its possible opponents.

The oddsmakers at the offshore shop agree with my placement of Michigan at No. 2 in this week’s VegasInsider.com rankings. The Wolverines, who are also undefeated and dealing out beatdowns on the regular just like the Crimson Tide, are listed as 9.5-point underdogs to Alabama.

Nick Saban’s team is a double-digit favorite over everyone else, including a 10-point ‘chalk’ over once-beaten Ohio State. Since the Buckeyes still have Michigan on their schedule, they still have a great chance of going to the CFP despite last week’s loss at Penn State.

I’ll say the same about Clemson. Even if the Tigers lose at Florida State this week, they’ll still control their destiny to get to the ACC Championship Game and will be in great shape to go back to the CFP if they win out. Dabo Swinney’s team is an 11.5-point underdog vs. Alabama.

When these schools met in the finals this past January, Alabama won a 45-40 decision. However, Clemson took the cash as a 6.5-point underdog when Deshaun Watson threw a TD pass with 12 seconds left to secure the backdoor spread cover.

Alabama would be a 14.5-point favorite versus both Washington and Louisville. This is a line I’ll take issue with. Our VI Rankings have Louisville at fourth ahead of the unbeaten Huskies, who will face their toughest test of the year Saturday at Utah. I would take Louisville as a double-digit underdog against any team in the country at an venue.

Let’s also note that Sportsbook.ag has Alabama as a 10-point favorite for its Week 10 showdown at LSU. For the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa, the offshore book has the Tide favored by 17 over Auburn. Gus Malzahn’s team was a 19.5-point underdog for this game last week, but its 56-3 mauling of Arkansas clearly caught the eyes of oddsmakers.

Although Sportsbook.ag has Ohio State as a 4.5-point home favorite vs. Michigan in the regular-season finale at The ‘Shoe, it has the Wolverines as a 2.5-point ‘chalk’ over the Buckeyes at a neutral field. Ohio St.’s stock clearly took a hit with the loss at PSU because it was favored by seven over Jim Harbaugh’s bunch at this time last week.

Michigan is favored by 2.5 over Clemson and 3.5 in potential matchups against both Washington and Louisville. I would love to be able to lay such a small number on Harbaugh’s squad against the Huskies.

Ohio State is a pick ‘em vs. Clemson and would be favored by 3.5 points over both UW and U of L. In that scenario, I would love Lamar Jackson and Co. catching the 3.5 points and to beat the Buckeyes outright with a money-line play. I would also be bullish on Clemson at pick ‘em against Ohio St.

Clemson would be a 2.5-point favorite over both UW and U of L, while the Huskies and Cardinals would be a pick ‘em against each other. And that would be my favorite play of all – Louisville at pick ‘em vs. Washington!

Other notable Games of the Year at Sportsbook.ag include a slew of rivalry games on Nov. 26.
FSU -7 vs. Florida
Ole Miss -13.5 vs. Mississippi State
USC -11.5 vs. Notre Dame
Oklahoma -13.5 vs. Oklahoma State

Who are the other candidates left out by Sportsbook?

Well, let’s be clear that I’m not implying these teams will make the CFP, but there are definitely a number teams in play if they win out.

Five of those schools are from the SEC. They include Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn and Tennessee.

Florida and LSU will face each other in Baton Rouge on Nov. 19. The Gators have only one loss, a 38-28 setback at Tennessee when UF was without starting QB Luke Del Rio and allowed a 21-0 lead to get away.

LSU has two losses but a win over Alabama and then winning the SEC Championship Game would bolster its resume enough to get past narrow losses at Wisconsin (at Lambeau Field, actually) and at Auburn.

Auburn’s two defeats came at home vs. Clemson and Texas A&M, who have one loss (at Alabama) combined between them. Most important, Auburn winning out would include a victory at Alabama.

Texas A&M has quality win at Auburn and vs. Tennessee and its lone defeat came at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where it actually held the lead briefly in the second half. The Aggies would love for UCLA and Arkansas, teams they have already beaten, to finish strong. They can still add quality victories at home vs. Ole Miss and LSU.

Tennessee’s losses have come vs. Alabama and at Texas A&M (in double overtime). The Vols have quality wins vs. Va. Tech, vs. Florida and at Georgia. Their hopes hinge on UF losing and then winning in Atlanta against the SEC West champ.

Let’s not forget Wisconsin, either. There’s no shame in its two defeats, 14-7 at Michigan and an overtime loss to Ohio St. The Badgers have quality wins vs. LSU and at Iowa, and they can add scalps vs. undefeated Nebraska, at Northwestern and Michigan or Ohio St. at the Big Ten Championship Game.

I clearly think Nebraska is a pretender and will go down for the first time at Camp Randall this weekend. Also, unbeaten Baylor and West Virginia are likely to lose at least once in the coming weeks. With that said, that trio of teams is clearly alive and we can’t quite eliminate Oklahoma from the equation, either.

Listed below are the Possible Championship Matchup odds at the offshore outfit.

NCAA Football Possible 2017 Championship Matchup - per Sportsbook.ag

Ohio State +10
Alabama -10

Michigan +9.5
Alabama -9.5

Clemson +11.5
Alabama -11.5

Washington +14.5
Alabama -14.5

Louisville +14.5
Alabama -14.5

Michigan -2.5
Ohio State +2.5

Clemson PK
Ohio State PK

Washington +3.5
Ohio State -3.5

Louisville +3.5
Ohio State -3.5

Michigan -2.5
Clemson +2.5

Washington +2.5
Clemson -2.5

Louisville +2.5
Clemson -2.5

Michigan -3.5
Louisville +3.5

Washington PK
Louisville PK

Washington +3.5
Michigan -3.5

Odds Subject to Change - Updated 10.26.16

[StarDust Bum]

Inside the Paint - Thursday
October 27, 2016

After watching the favorites start the NBA season on Tuesday with a 2-1 record both straight up and against the spread, bettors watched the underdogs strike back Wednesday.

The pups went 7-3 against the spread and five of them won outright, which included the Lakers’ 120-114 win over the Rockets as six-point home underdogs. That game easily went ‘over’ the eye opening number of 224 ½ and scoring has been the early theme through the first two days of the season.

Including that result, the ‘over’ has gone 10-3 (77%) the first two days with only seven teams (out of 26) have been held under 100 points.

Four games slated for Thursday, which includes the nationally televised TNT double-header.

As mentioned in Tuesday’s ITP, I’d suggest you tread lightly until the season really picks up. Tonight’s action has two teams facing back-to-back spots plus this is the opener for half the teams in action.

Washington at Atlanta (7:35 p.m. ET)

This is the opener for both clubs and it looks like a toss-up with the Hawks listed as 3 ½-point home favorites over the Wizards. Despite losing Jeff Teague and Al Horford, I still believe Atlanta can win the division with Dennis Schroder taking over point guard duties but the role players need to step up and hopefully Dwight Howard provides some production.

Washington still has a solid nucleus in John Wall, Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat but like Atlanta, the depth issues are a concern. It will be interesting to see if new head coach Scott Brooks can find the right formula.

These teams split their four regular season meetings last season with each club earning one victory on the road while the ‘over’ went 3-1. The Wizards have gone 1-3 in their last four openers while Atlanta has gone 0-3 the last three years and the Hawks defense have surrendered an average 105.6 PPG in those setbacks, which has helped the ‘over’ go 3-0.

Boston at Chicago (TNT, 8:00 p.m. ET)

The Celtics opened the season last night with a 122-117 shootout win at home over the Nets and failed to cover the healthy number (-11 ½). Boston was very sloppy (19 turnovers) and let up in the fourth quarter and Brooklyn kept the game close by draining 15 bombs from 3-point land. Last season, Boston went 12-7 in back-to-back spots and five of those losses came on the road.

Chicago is listed as a short home ‘dog (+1 ½) for this matchup and it will be unveiling plenty of new faces. Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo will form the new backcourt while Robin Lopez will start at center. Plus you have point guard Michael Carter-Williams coming off the bench and rookie Denzel Valentine out of Michigan State. Add all the pieces to All-Star Jimmy Butler and your guess is as good as mine on how successful they could be.

These teams met three times last season and the home team won and covered all of those games while the ‘over’ went 2-1. Chicago went 5-5 as a home ‘dog last season while Boston was 11-9 as a road favorite.

L.A. Clippers at Portland (TNT, 10:30 p.m. ET)

The Trail Blazers beat the Clippers 4-2 in the first round of last year’s playoffs but that outcome was marred by injuries for Los Angeles, who didn’t have Chris Paul and Blake Griffin for the final three games. When the Clippers were healthy, they went 3-1 versus Portland in the regular season and captured the first two games of the aforementioned postseason series.

The ‘under’ went 7-3 in the 10 games between the pair last season yet the pair are staring at a high total (210) for this game.

Los Angeles matches up very well with Portland, especially in the frontcourt with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The backcourt still has Chris Paul, and the team added some veterans that can score off the bench in Marreese Speights, Brandon Bass, Alan Anderson and Raymond Felton.

The Trail Blazers have one of the best backcourts in the league and that unit helped the team defeat Utah 113-104 on Tuesday as six-point home favorites. PG Damian Lillard dropped 39 in the win and the team shot 68 percent (13-of-19) from 3-point land.

It’s not surprising that Portland plays much better at the Moda Center but it tends to notch a lot of wins against inferior clubs. As a home ‘dog last season, the Blazers went 9-7 which includes a 3-1 mark in the playoffs, two wins versus these Clippers.

San Antonio at Sacramento (10:35 p.m. ET)

The Spurs opened as the largest favorites (-8 ½) on Thursday and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the number go up based on the form and head-to-head history. San Antonio caught everybody’s attention on Tuesday when it blasted Golden State 129-100 as an 8 ½-point road underdog in wire-to-wire fashion.

Meanwhile, Sacramento will be playing with no rest after it racked up an impressive 113-94 win over Phoenix as a three-point underdog. Dave Joerger is a very good NBA coach and even though the matchup was versus the Suns, you can see what he wants to defensively and this team will likely mirror the Memphis squads we’ve seen in the past.

Sacramento struggled to a 4-15 record when playing on no rest last season but did manage to be somewhat competitive with an 11-8 ATS mark in those games.

The Kings will be opening up their new arena (Golden 1 Center) tonight and the place looks incredible but I’m not sure if that should make you lean to the home squad. San Antonio has owned Sacramento over the years, going 27-3 SU in the last 30 encounters and the Spurs swept all four games last season (3-1 ATS) and every victory came by double digits while the ‘under’ went 4-0.

The better look for Sacramento as a home ‘dog might be on Saturday when it hosts Minnesota, who is receiving a ton of respect from the oddsmakers and pundits.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

— 30 of Carlos Santana’s 34 homers this year were hit lefthanded.

— Last grand slam in World Series? Paul Konerko for the White Sox in Game 2 of ’05 Series.

— Opening Day rosters of the 30 NBA teams: 113 foreign players, 43 white Americans.

— Kevin Harlan is a busy broadcaster; he did the NFL game in London Sunday, then flew to Oakland for the Spurs-Warriors game Tuesday night.

— In their last three road games, Jets scored only one TD on 30 drives.

— Former Wyoming hoop coach Larry Shyatt is now an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

**********

Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: NFL knowledge and our top 7

Some notes about how NFL teams have done on the first drive of each half this season: in my mind, the first drive of each game goes to how coaches prepare for their opponent each week.

First drive of the second half goes to halftime adjustments, as much as can be done in 10-12 minutes. Through seven weeks, here is some information:

13) Dallas Cowboys, in six games, have three TDs, two FGs and a missed FG on their first drive of the game, averaging 66.7 yards/drive, by far the best in the NFL thru seven weeks.

12) Three teams have yet to score on their first drive of a game: Arizona, Jacksonville and the Giants, who have only 79 yards on 27 plays on the first drive of their seven games.

11) Saints/Chargers both have four TDs on their first drive, though Saints did that in six games and Chargers seven; New Orleans averages 54.2 yards/first drive, San Diego 47.1.

10) Most surprising that I’ve found so far: Denver has allowed four TDs and a FG on opponents’ first drive of a game- their 31 points allowed on the first drive is 2nd-worst in the NFL.

9) Less surprising is Cleveland’s defense allowing five TDs on its seven game opening drives, with foes gaining an average of 55.9 yards/drive.

8) Giants have been outscored 30-3 on each team’s first drive of each half; Jets have been outscored 35-16. For the Giants, 66 plays, 210 yards (3.2 yards/play) on the first drive of their 14 halves is very poor.

On to the NFL’s top 7 for this week:

7) Chiefs— Andy Reid is this generation’s Chuck Knox— very good coach, wins a lot of games, just not any Super Bowls. Nothing wrong with winning a lot of games.

6) Raiders— 4-0 on the road and all four games were east of Mississippi; this week is #5.

5) Seahawks— Lost 9-3 in LA, tied 6-6 at Arizona, their two games on grass. Won the other four games. Not sure how bad Wilson’s leg injuries are, but if he doesn’t start running around soon, I’ll lose faith in Seattle.

Related point; NBC’s Cris Collinsworth actually grouped Wilson with Brady and Roethlisberger as a pocket passer during Sunday night’s game. Um, no. Not even close.

4) Cowboys— Is it easier for a rookie QB to be without Dez Bryant and not have him calling for the ball all the time? What Jason Garrett has done in the first six games is tremendous- their offensive line is just super.

3) Broncos— Little queasy about having them at #3, but they’re the defending champs and they’re 5-2. I wouldn’t bet your money on them on win the Super Bowl this year.

2) Vikings— Sam Bradford began his NFL career with the Rams, so pardon me if I’m skeptical he can lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl. He just doesn’t stay healthy.

1) Patriots— They head into heir bye week with an actual revenge game this week; Bills beat them in Foxboro in Week 4, the last week of Brady’s suspension and also in all probability, the last NFL action Jacoby Brissett will ever see.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, October 27

Not much to go on for 7-10 days, but we’ll share the info we have.

Thursday’s games

Hawks won five of last seven games with Washington; three of last four series games went over total. Wizards lost three of last four visits to Atlanta, losing by 15-1-16 points. This is the season opener for both teams.

Chicago is 7-3 in last ten games with the Celtics; six of last seven series games went over total. Boston lost four of last five visits to Windy City (2-3 vs spread). Celtics beat Nets 122-117 last night, in their home opener.

Portland KO’d Clippers from LY’s playoffs in six games, after losing first two; under is 5-2 in last seven series games. Clippers lost last three visits to Portland by 8-14-3 points (under is 3-2 in last five). This is Clippers’ season opener. Blazers beat Utah by 9 Tuesday in their home opener.

Sacramento christens its new arena against Spurs team that whacked Golden State by 29 in its opener Tuesday. Spurs won last six series games, covering four of last five; last four series tilts stayed under total. Kings beat Suns in Phoenix in their opener last night.




NBA

Thursday, October 27

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

7:30 PM
WASHINGTON vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone OVER in 16 of Washington's last 22 games when playing Atlanta
Washington is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games at home
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Washington

8:00 PM
BOSTON vs. CHICAGO
Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games at home
Chicago is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Boston

10:30 PM
LA CLIPPERS vs. PORTLAND
LA Clippers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Portland
LA Clippers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Portland
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Portland's last 8 games
Portland is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers

10:30 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. SACRAMENTO
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Antonio's last 5 games on the road
San Antonio is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Sacramento is 1-14 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against San Antonio
Sacramento is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing San Antonio

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Thursday, October 27

San Antonio @ Sacramento

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

Dunkel Rating:
San Antonio
133,526
Sacramento
117.806
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Antonio
by 15 1/2
202
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Antonio
by 8 1/2
205 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
San Antonio
(-8 1/2); Under

LA Clippers @ Portland

Game 505-506
October 27, 2016 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Clippers
129.947
Portland
125.905
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Clippers
by 4
213
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Clippers
by 2
208 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
LA Clippers
(-2); Over

Boston @ Chicago

Game 503-504
October 27, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
115.396
Chicago
119.206
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Chicago
by 4
215
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
by 2
210 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago
(+2); Over

Washington @ Atlanta

Game 501-502
October 27, 2016 @ 7:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
121.580
Atlanta
122.535
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Atlanta
by 1
201
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Atlanta
by 3 1/2
204 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(+3 1/2); Under




NBA
Long Sheet

Thursday, October 27

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

WASHINGTON (0 - 0) at ATLANTA (0 - 0) - 10/27/2016, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 168-209 ATS (-61.9 Units) vs. division opponents since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 8-5 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 9-5 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
10 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

BOSTON (1 - 0) at CHICAGO (0 - 0) - 10/27/2016, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 210 over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 210 over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 25-11 ATS (+12.9 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 242-294 ATS (-81.4 Units) first half of the season since 1996.

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

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

LA CLIPPERS (0 - 0) at PORTLAND (1 - 0) - 10/27/2016, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PORTLAND is 55-34 ATS (+17.6 Units) as a home underdog of 3 points or less since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 7-7 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
LA CLIPPERS is 8-6 straight up against PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

SAN ANTONIO (1 - 0) at SACRAMENTO (1 - 0) - 10/27/2016, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 955-833 ATS (+38.7 Units) in all games since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 763-645 ATS (+53.5 Units) as a favorite since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 285-231 ATS (+30.9 Units) after scoring 105 points or more since 1996.
SACRAMENTO is 32-48 ATS (-20.8 Units) in home games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 4-3 against the spread versus SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 6-1 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

NBA POWER LINES

7:35 pm 10/27/2016
(501) WASHINGTON @(502) ATLANTA
Play Line: WASHINGTON 5
BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON +4
Edge On: WASHINGTON 1

8:00 pm 10/27/2016
(503) BOSTON @(504) CHICAGO
Play Line: BOSTON 1.5
BTB PowerLine: BOSTON +1
Edge On: BOSTON 0.5

10:30 pm 10/27/2016
(505) LA CLIPPERS @(506) PORTLAND
Play Line: PORTLAND 2.5
BTB PowerLine: PORTLAND -5
Edge On: PORTLAND 7.5

10:35 pm 10/27/2016
(507) SAN ANTONIO @(508) SACRAMENTO
Play Line: SAN ANTONIO -9
BTB PowerLine: SAN ANTONIO -10
Edge On: SAN ANTONIO 1

[StarDust Bum]

NBA RECORD + BEST BETS:

10/26/2016 5-8-0 38.46% -1900

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 3-5-0 37.50% -1250

O/U Picks 5-6-0 45.45% -800

BEST BETS:

ATS: 2 - 2

O/U: 2 - 2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

WAS at ATL 07:30 PM

WAS +4.0

O 202.5

BOS at CHI 08:00 PM

CHI -1.5 *****

O 209.5 *****

LAC at POR 10:30 PM

POR +2.5 *****

U 208.5

SA at SAC 10:30 PM

SAC +8.5 *****

U 202.5 *****

[StarDust Bum]

NBA Capsules
October 28, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) Dwyane Wade scored 22 points in a triumphant Chicago debut, Jimmy Butler had 24 and the Bulls won their season opener, beating the Boston Celtics 105-99 on Thursday night.

Wade nailed a 3 from the corner in the final minute to make it a five-point game. Taj Gibson added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the new-look Bulls got off to a winning start after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008.

Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 25 points. Avery Bradley had 16, and Jae Crowder 14 points, but the Celtics came up short after opening with a win over Brooklyn the previous night.

The Bulls remade their roster in the offseason, jettisoning one hometown superstar and welcoming another when they traded Derrick Rose to New York and signed Wade to a two-year deal worth about $47 million in a move that stunned Miami.

The three-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star is off to a good start with the Bulls after 13 seasons with the Heat. Wade hit 4 of 6 3-pointers in this game after making just seven all of last season.

HAWKS 114, WIZARDS 99

ATLANTA (AP) - Dwight Howard dominated the boards in his Atlanta debut, Paul Millsap scored 28 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. ignited the new-look Hawks in a victory over Washington.

Howard grabbed 19 rebounds to go along with 11 points, just what the Hawks expected from their new center, and it certainly wasn't unusual for three-time All-Star Millsap to lead the way in scoring.

But Hardaway's performance was totally unexpected given the way he struggled in his first season with the Hawks, when he was largely confined to the bench and even forced to spend time in the D-League.

He scored 21 points, matching his high in an Atlanta uniform, and broke open a close game with back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth. The Hawks, who led only 81-80 heading to the final period, outscored the Wizards 33-19 over the final 12 minutes.

SPURS 102, KINGS 94

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and San Antonio spoiled the regular season opener at Sacramento's new downtown arena.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points as the Spurs clamped down on defense in the second half led by Leonard's strong play to win their second straight game to open the season. San Antonio spoiled Kevin Durant's home debut for Golden State on Tuesday before sending Kings fans home unhappy on what began as a celebratory night in Sacramento.

The arena was raucous pregame for its first game that counts as there was plenty of emotion from fans who remembered how close the franchise was to moving to Seattle before Vivek Ranadive bought the team in 2013 and reached a deal to build the arena.

It didn't end as well despite a strong night from DeMarcus Cousins, who led Sacramento with 37 points and 16 rebounds.

CLIPPERS 114, TRAIL BLAZERS 106

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Blake Griffin had 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead Los Angeles.

It was a contentious game that had fans booing the officials after two flagrant fouls on Portland players in the fourth quarter. Chris Paul hit a 3-pointer that gave the Clippers a 102-90 lead with 4:07 left and the crowd headed for the exits.

Damian Lillard's layup got the Blazers within 107-102 with 35.9 seconds left but the rally fell short.

It was the season opener for the Clippers, the last team in the Western Conference to start the season. Portland opened at home on Tuesday with a 113-104 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Paul also finished with 27 points for the Clippers. Lillard led the Blazers with 29 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday’s six-pack

Some NFL trends to ponder on a Friday

— Arizona is 22-11-1 vs spread in last 34 non-divisional games.

— Buccaneers are 1-7 in last eight games as a home favorite.

— Detroit is 5-10 in its last 15 games against AFC teams.

— Denver is 20-9 vs spread in its last 29 divisional games.

— Cowboys are 7-19 as a home favorite vs NFC East teams.

— Minnesota covered 10 of its last 12 as a favorite.


Friday’s List of 13: Things I’m looking for this weekend…….

13) Average total in Falcons’ games this year is 61.1; Packers were held to 14-16 in their two losses, scored 23+ in their wins. You do the math.

12) Don’t sleep on Navy-South Florida Friday night; Middies run the ball down your throat but USF has really good speed, so we’ll see. Tough to prepare for the Navy option game. Navy is also 24-10 as a road underdog.

11) Houston is 4-0 at home, 0-3 on the road; Texans have a short week after losing in Denver Monday night. Every Detroit game is close; they’re fun to watch. All seven Lion games were decided by 7 or less points.

10) TCU beat Texas Tech 55-52/82-28 last two years; not like the Red Raiders are any better on defense now, but Horned Frogs are lot younger- they struggled to beat Kansas 24-23 two weeks ago.

9) Jimmy Graham was a great player for the Saints, but in Seattle? Not so much. Seahawks are in the Superdome this week. Interesting game.

8) World Series visits Wrigley Field for first time since 1945. Teams split first two games in Cleveland. Schwarber sits; no DH in NL parks.

7) New England actually has a revenge motive this week in Buffalo. Bills blanked Patriots 16-0 in Week 4, the last game of the Jacoby Brissett era in Foxboro.

6) Baylor-Texas are not friendly rivals; lot of chirping goes back/forth on the recruiting trail. Unbeaten Bears might send Charlie Strong packing with a win in Austin.

5) Cleveland Browns signed QB Joe Callahan this week, who played college ball at D-III Wesley College in Delaware; he had been with Packers/Saints this year and if McCarthy/Payton have an interest in a QB, this kid may be pretty good. Browns have used six QBs in seven weeks, so not like the kid could be any worse.

4) Nebraska is unbeaten and a 9-point underdog in Madison, where they were smoked in last two visits. Badgers have played a very tough schedule so far.

3) Eagles-Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, with two rookie QB’s. Teams that were hot going into their bye week have stumbled a little coming out of the bye. This should be a good game.

2) Clemson-Florida State in Tallahassee is an ACC classic; Seminoles are thin on defense, but coming off a bye (which they badly needed) am curious to see how FSU does. Last time Clemson went to Tallahassee as the higher-rated team? 1989.

1) Huge trap game for the Vikings in Chicago Monday night, with Jay Cutler expected back for the Bears. Minnesota was sloppy (four turnovers) in Philly last week; need to right the ship.