Tuesday Trends and Indexes 12/16 (NBA, NCAAB, NHL, Misc.)

[pm530]

Trends and Indexes

Tuesday, December 16

Good Luck on day #351 of 2008!

For College Football and the NFL, look for separate threads to be posted and updated:

• “NCAAF Bowl Season Trends and Indexes 12/20 through 1/8”
• “NFL Week 16 Trends and Indexes 12/18 through 12/22”

For now, the balance of the sports menu in this thread will consist of the NBA, College Basketball, and the NHL until their seasons are played out. Also, general sports news and notes will still be posted here.

NOTE:
As information becomes available, we will attempt to post the trends and indexes as soon as possible.
Information is posted from what we believe are reliable sources.
Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the posting member or BettorsChat.
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[pm530]

Daily Sports Roundup

Tuesday, December 16

Tracy McGrady and his Rockets will be looking to bounce back on Tuesday night when they play host to the Nuggets. Here's a look in your Daily Sports Roundup.

The Gridiron Spotlight

The tightest division race in the NFL? That'd be the AFC East, where each of the Patriots, Jets, and Dolphins sit with a 9-5 straight-up record. Those three teams all won on Sunday as well; New England bounced Oakland 49-26, while Miami edged San Francisco 14-9, and New York got past Buffalo by a 31-27 final score.

So how does the schedule look for those three teams over the final two weeks? The Dolphins and Jets are both on the road this Sunday, but they get to play in Kansas City and Seattle, respectively. The Patriots are at home, but they'll get a visit from the playoff-bound Cardinals. Week 17 then sees the Dolphins and Jets battling each other in New York, while the Patriots will be on the road in Buffalo.

Other Notable Events

The Rockets got 19 points from McGrady in their road game against the Clippers on Saturday, but it wasn't enough as they fell by a final score of 95-82. That result dropped Houston to 15-9 straight-up on the season, and an even 12-12 against-the-spread. Yao Ming added 24 points and 13 rebounds in the loss, while Ron Artest sat out with a sore ankle and Rafer Alston left with a hamstring injury.

So Houston will be trying to get back into the win column on Tuesday night when they get a visit from Carmelo Anthony and his Denver squad. That's just one of six games on the NBA's schedule for Tuesday; other matchups include Chicago at Charlotte, New Orleans at Memphis, Sacramento at Portland, and New York at the Lakers, while the Clippers will travel to Oklahoma City for the evening's dud.

The Rest of the Schedule

The Philadelphia Flyers are 7-2-1 over their past 10 games, and they'll be looking to continue to rise up the standings on Tuesday night when the Avalanche come to town. The Flyers doubled up on the rival Penguins 6-3 on Saturday afternoon, and they now sit at 16-7-6 on the season. Jeff Carter picked up his 21st goal of the season in that contest, while Martin Biron stopped 23 of 26 Pittsburgh shots.

There are eight other games around the NHL on Tuesday, with Montreal at Carolina, Washington at the Islanders, Atlanta at Ottawa, New Jersey at Toronto, Phoenix at Dallas, Calgary at St. Louis, and Chicago at Edmonton. As well, the Rangers will head out to the west coast for a 10:00pm ET game against Anaheim.

The biggest college hoops game on the Tuesday slate sees Marquette playing Tennessee at the Sommet Center. The Golden Eagles (8-1 SU, 2-3 ATS) got past IPFW by a score of 69-50 last time out. The Volunteers (6-2 SU, 5-2 ATS) fell 88-72 to Temple in their last game. Ranked Texas is also in action on Tuesday night, as they will host Texas Southern in Austin in a 8:00pm ET tip-off.

News from the Wire

Alston is listed as doubtful for the Rockets' game on Tuesday night, while Artest missed the entire weekend road trip but could be back against the Nuggets . . . the Stars have decided to part ways with controversial forward Sean Avery, but might have a hard time getting another team to take him off their hands . . . Canadiens netminder Carey Price has been missing time with a lower-body injury.

A Peek at the Future

A busier Wednesday around the NBA features nine games, including Boston at Atlanta, Dallas at Toronto, and San Antonio at New Orleans . . . the West-leading Sharks are back on the ice on Wednesday night, as they'll play in Columbus . . . Syracuse will host Canisius at the Carrier Dome in college hoops action on Wednesday, while Duke will take on N.C. Asheville at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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[pm530]

Six-pack for Tuesday

-- For gas station owners, profit margins at the gas pump stay at around 23 cents a gallon, regardless of the price per gallon.

-- Fuel accounts for about 70 percent of sales in the industry, but only about 30 percent of the gross profits-- tobacco/beverage sales are the big thing for the station owners.

-- It is illegal to pump your own gasoline in New Jersey.

-- There is a car, Mercedes S65AMG, that costs $194,000. Yikes.

-- Gilligan's Island was filmed at same location as South Pacific.

-- If you put a raisin in a glass of champagne, it will keep floating to the top and sinking to the bottom. Seriously, it will.

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[pm530]

Tuesday's List of 13: Our NFL List of 13.............

13) Jets-- Very, very lucky The Three Stooges were calling plays for the Bills Sunday, or they would have had third straight hideous loss. They're 0-3 on west coast this season, and on their way to Seattle.

12) Vikings-- QB controversy waiting to happen, but at least its one where both guys are pretty good, instead of both guys being awful. One of the Williams brothers is out (shoulder); that hurts defense.

11) Cowboys-- Lord am I sick of them, all the drama, the bad apples getting big contracts, the egotistical owner craving publicity, but their defense is really good, as it showed the last two weeks.

10) Eagles-- Andy Reid has terrific record in December; they're on a roll the last three weeks, so if they make it to playoffs, they're going to have lot of momentum when they get there.

9) Patriots-- Interesting to see what happens with Brady's knee; if the infection isn't gone, he has to get operated on again, which means Patriots have to give Cassel a big contract and keep him. Otherwise, Mr Cassel is going to be really, really rich next spring.

8) Dolphins- Haven't allowed a TD in last three games, albeit against terrible teams, but they haven't turned ball more than once in a game this season, which is am amazing stat.

7) Falcons-- Finish up with sadsack Rams, so a win vs Vikings this week puts them in a strong position to make playoffs; who would have thought that at this time last season?

6) Ravens-- Red flag is their sub-.500 passing in three of the last four games; during that time, their defense allowed a total of 33 points.

5) Colts-- Rod Marinelli used to work for Dungy in Tampa; not that Colts took it easy on Detroit Sunday, but, well........they did just did the minimum to get the win and continue their winning streak.

4) Giants-- Starting to suffer some injuries; tackle McKenzie got hurt Sunday night. Finish up with Panthers/at Vikings; no guarantee they even get a first round bye.

3) Panthers-- Are hot team right now; have running game to succeed in cold weather, which is good since thats where they're headed this week, to the Swamp in New Jersey for a huge Sunday night game.

2) Steelers-- Won in Baltimore despite Ravens having 20-yard edge in average field position. All they do is find ways to win games.

1) Titans-- Can clinch home field thru AFC playoffs Sunday, but the two best defensive linemen they have won't be playing.

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[pm530]

National Basketball Association – Write up

NBA
Write-up


Tuesday, December 16

Hot Teams
-- Bulls won three of their last four games.
-- Memphis won, covered their last four games. Hornets won eight of their last ten games.
-- Clippers won three of last four games, covered seven of last nine.
-- Nuggets won seven of their last eight games. Rockets won their last four home games (3-1 vs spread).
-- Knicks covered last six games and eight of last nine. Lakers are 19-3 SU, but are 0-6-1 vs spread in last seven games.

Cold Teams
-- Bobcats lost their last seven games (3-4 vs spread).
-- Oklahoma City has only two wins all year, but they're 9-3 vs spread in their last dozen games.
-- Portland lost its last three games, are 0-7 vs spread in last seven tilts. Kings lost 13 of their last 15 games (3-7 vs spread in last ten).

Totals
-- Under is 17-7-1 in last 25 Charlotte games.
-- Over is 5-2-2 in last nine New Orleans games.
-- Four of last five Clipper games stayed under the total; over is 7-3 in last ten Thunder contests. .
-- Eight of last eleven Denver games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Portland games went over the total.
-- Seven of Knicks' last eight games stayed under the total.

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[pm530]

National Basketball Association – Trend Sheet

NBA


Tuesday, December 16

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Trend Sheet
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7:00 PM CHICAGO vs. CHARLOTTE
Chicago is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Chicago is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Charlotte is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Chicago
Charlotte is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Chicago


8:00 PM LA CLIPPERS vs. OKLAHOMA CITY
LA Clippers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games
LA Clippers are 6-19 SU in their last 25 games
Oklahoma City is 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
Oklahoma City is 18-7 SU in their last 25 games when playing at home against LA Clippers


8:00 PM NEW ORLEANS vs. MEMPHIS
New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
New Orleans is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Memphis is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Memphis's last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans


8:30 PM DENVER vs. HOUSTON
Denver is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Denver is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Denver
Houston is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Denver


10:00 PM SACRAMENTO vs. PORTLAND
Sacramento is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Portland
Sacramento is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Portland
Portland is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games at home
Portland is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games at home


10:30 PM NEW YORK vs. LA LAKERS
New York is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
New York is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games
LA Lakers are 20-3 SU in their last 23 games


7:00 PM BOSTON vs. ATLANTA
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Atlanta
Boston is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
Atlanta is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games


7:00 PM DALLAS vs. TORONTO
Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Dallas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Toronto is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Dallas


7:00 PM GOLDEN STATE vs. INDIANA
Golden State is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Golden State is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Golden State
Indiana is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Golden State


7:00 PM MILWAUKEE vs. PHILADELPHIA
Milwaukee is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Milwaukee is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Milwaukee
Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Milwaukee

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[pm530]

National Basketball Association – Hot lines

NBA


Tuesday, December 16

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Pick ‘n’ Roll: NBA bets
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Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder (+4.5, 199)

With victories over the Houston Rockets and Portland Trailblazers last week, the Clippers have put together their first winning streak of the campaign.

Up next, the struggling Thunder.

In their first meeting with Oklahoma City, the Clippers rolled to a 20-point road victory behind 25 points and 14 rebounds from center Chris Kaman (13.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG).

But the Clippers big man won’t be the difference maker Tuesday. Kaman has missed the last six contests due to a partially torn tendon in his left foot and will not play against the Thunder.

But even without Kaman, L.A. has enough post talent to quiet the Thunder. Zach Randolph (22.1 PPG, 11.3 RPG), who was recently acquired from the New York Knicks, had 38 points and 11 rebounds against Portland and had 30 points and 13 rebounds against the Rockets.

It gets even worse for Oklahoma City.

Forward Chris Wilcox (8.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG) will miss up to two weeks with a dislocated finger and center Robert Swift (3.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG) is out indefinitely with a sore lower back.

Pick: Clippers



Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Bobcats (NA)

What do you get when put Bulls leading scorer Ben Gordon and rookie Derrick Rose in the same backcourt? You get 39 points a night.

Rose and Gordon have only been teaming up for a little over a month, but the combination has proven successful for the Bulls.

In their last four contests, the Bulls are 3-1 thanks to the play of Rose and Gordon. The duo is averaging 39 points and 12 assists in that period.

Even opponents can't help but praise the Bulls. Nets guard Devin Harris saw firsthand how tough the Bulls backcourt can be, especially rookie point guard Rose.

“He's a solid player,” Harris told reporters after the Nets 113-104 setback in Chicago. “He reminds me a lot of myself. We did a lot of the same things. I think he is going to be a great player.”

Rose scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to sink the Nets. Gordon led the Bulls with 29 points.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats have lost six of their last seven overall and are 3-13 straight up (SU) against the Eastern Conference.

Pick: Bulls

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[pm530]

College Basketball – Long Sheet

NCAAB
Long Sheet


Tuesday, December 16

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S FLORIDA (3 - 4) at VANDERBILT (6 - 3) - 12/16/2008, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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FLA ATLANTIC (4 - 5) at DENVER (2 - 6) - 12/16/2008, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
DENVER is 2-0 against the spread versus FLA ATLANTIC over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 1-1 straight up against FLA ATLANTIC over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MARQUETTE (8 - 1) at TENNESSEE (6 - 2) - 12/16/2008, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TENNESSEE is 21-6 ATS (+14.4 Units) in all home games over the last 3 seasons.
TENNESSEE is 21-6 ATS (+14.4 Units) in home lined games over the last 3 seasons.
TENNESSEE is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) in home games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
TENNESSEE is 10-1 ATS (+8.9 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
TENNESSEE is 63-40 ATS (+19.0 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
TENNESSEE is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
MARQUETTE is 78-50 ATS (+23.0 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 68-44 ATS (+19.6 Units) in road games since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 68-44 ATS (+19.6 Units) in road lined games since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 64-41 ATS (+18.9 Units) after a non-conference game since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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TENNESSEE TECH (6 - 2) at FLORIDA ST (9 - 1) - 12/16/2008, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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PORTLAND (5 - 3) at N COLORADO (2 - 5) - 12/16/2008, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PORTLAND is 24-39 ATS (-18.9 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
PORTLAND is 24-39 ATS (-18.9 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
PORTLAND is 38-60 ATS (-28.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
PORTLAND is 8-22 ATS (-16.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game since 1997.
N COLORADO is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.

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

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[pm530]

College Basketball – Write up

NCAAB
Write-up


Tuesday, December 16

Notes on today's games.............

Vanderbilt is 6-3, 2-3 vs spread as favorite; they're 6-0 if they score 64+ points. South Florida is 3-4, losing last three games by 1-8-15 points; they lost at home to Niagara Sunday, are 2-0 vs spread as an underdog. Bulls allowed 78-71-70 points in last three games. SEC home favorites are 14-10 vs spread; Big East underdogs are 7-4 on the road.

Denver (+4) lost 70-68 in OT at Florida Atlantic LY; Pioneers are 2-6 so far this season, winning by 2-4 points over Tex-Arlington/S. Dakota St. Denver is favored in lined game for first time. FAU is 3-5, 0-4 on road, with losses by 13-16-5-16 points. Owls are 3-0 as road dogs; underdog is 4-0 vs spread in their lined games this year.

Tennessee got waxed at Temple Saturday; Prince didn't play (ankle) and is doubtful here. Marquette is 8-1, rallying from behind to beat Badgers 61-58 (-5), losing 89-75 on neutral floor to Dayton. SEC home favorites are 14-10 vs spread; Big East underdogs are 7-4 on the road. Tennessee is 6-2 but lost two of its last three games, also losing to Gonzaga.

Florida State is 9-1, with last three win all by five or less points- they're 1-1 as favorite. Tennessee Tech is 4-2 but lost its first conference game by 16 at home to Jacksonville State- their other loss was by 13 at home to East Tennessee State. ACC home favorites are 14-13 vs spread; OVC road dogs are 16-11 vs spread.

Northern Colorado lost last three games by 11-7-19 points; they're 2-5, 0-1 vs spread when a favorite. Portland is 5-3, with wins over Nevada and Washington- they're 3-0 vs spread on road, winning at Cal-Davis, losing at Portland State, BYU. Big Sky home favorites are 4-4 vs spread. WCC road dogs are 15-5.

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[pm530]

College Basketball – Trend Sheet

NCAAB


Tuesday, December 16

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Trend Sheet
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7:00 PM NORTH FLORIDA vs. CLEMSON
No trends available
Clemson is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Clemson is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home


7:00 PM SOUTH FLORIDA vs. VANDERBILT
South Florida is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
South Florida is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games on the road
Vanderbilt is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Vanderbilt is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games at home


7:00 PM TENNESSEE TECH vs. FLORIDA STATE
Tennessee Tech is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Tennessee Tech is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games on the road
Florida State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Florida State is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games


8:00 PM NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL vs. SOUTH CAROLINA
No trends available
South Carolina is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
South Carolina is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games


8:00 PM TEXAS SOUTHERN vs. TEXAS
No trends available
Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Texas is 22-2 SU in its last 24 games at home


9:00 PM FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. DENVER
Florida Atlantic is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Florida Atlantic is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Denver is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games at home
Denver is 2-13 SU in its last 15 games


9:00 PM WESTERN STATE vs. WYOMING
No trends available
Wyoming is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Wyoming is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home


9:30 PM MARQUETTE vs. TENNESSEE
Marquette is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
Marquette is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Tennessee is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games
Tennessee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home


9:30 PM PORTLAND vs. NORTHERN COLORADO
Portland is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Portland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Northern Colorado is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games


10:00 PM SEATTLE PACIFIC vs. OREGON STATE
No trends available
Oregon State is 1-15 ATS in its last 16 games at home
Oregon State is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games at home


10:05 PM SEATTLE vs. UC IRVINE
No trends available
UC Irvine is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of UC Irvine's last 6 games at home

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[pm530]

College Basketball - Tips & Trends

NCAAB


We will update when projected scores are available.

Tuesday, December 16

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Tips and Trends
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South Florida vs. Vanderbilt [ESPN2 | 7 PM ET]

South Florida: The Bulls are coming off a 70-55 loss to Niagara on Sunday, their third straight setback following a 3-1 start. They worked Mike Mercer and Augustus Gilchrist into the lineup for the first time, and head coach Stan Heath admitted it will take some time for them to jell with their teammates. “We knew chemistry was an issue – like trying to cram for an exam in two days and take it – would be very hard," Heath said. "That’s what we saw tonight – a team that was a little bit discombobulated, didn’t have a clear understanding of their roles and the intensity level we need to play at. I think that this was a huge message that slapped us right in the face and we’ve got to wake up in a hurry with the quick turnaround to Vanderbilt.”

South Florida is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 lined games.
The UNDER is 7-3 in South Florida's last 10 road games.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: TBD

Vanderbilt (-8): The Commodores snapped a two-game losing streak with a 78-55 rout of Alabama A&M last Wednesday. That brief skid followed a four-game winning streak, and the extra rest should help them regain their focus. Freshman Jeffrey Taylor scored 18 points to lead Vandy past the Bulldogs, earning him SEC Freshman of the Week honors. The Commodores are hoping to see the return of another talented freshman against South Florida, as Lance Goulbourne has missed the last eight games with mononucleosis.

Vanderbilt is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 lined games.
The UNDER is 5-1-1 in Vanderbilt's lined games this season.

Key Injuries - G/F Lance Goulbourne (mono) could return.

PROJECTED SCORE: TBD



#23 Marquette vs. #19 Tennessee [ESPN | 9:30 PM ET]

Marquette: The Golden Eagles have won eight of their last nine games and saw an impressive performance from Lazar Hayward in a 69-50 rout of IPFW on Saturday. Hayward scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds, causing head coach Buzz Williams to a couple of NBA legends. “I thought Lazar was Ben Wallace on the glass,” Williams said. "He’s similar to Dennis Rodman in regards to the way he follows the flight of the ball as soon as they shoot it. It is almost an innate talent. I don’t know that it is something you can teach.”

Marquette is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 road games.
The UNDER is 3-1 in Marquette's last 4 lined games.

Key Injuries - C Chris Otule (foot) is OUT.
F Joe Fulce (ankle) is OUT.

PROJECTED SCORE: TBD

Tennessee (-7.5): The Vols haven't lost two straight regular-season games since 2007 and will have a tough battle here against Marquette in the Big East/SEC Invitational. Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl was disappointed with his team's effort in an 88-72 loss at Temple on Saturday and will be relying on the home court in this one. “We’re ranked too high,” Pearl said. “We have a long way to go. Our reputation is we’re a team that plays hard and (against Temple) I don’t think we played that hard.”

Tennessee is 21-6 ATS in its last 27 home games.
The UNDER is 9-4 in Tennessee's last 13 non-conference games.

Key Injuries - G J.P. Prince (ankle) is doubtful.

PROJECTED SCORE: TBD

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[pm530]

National Hockey League – Write up

NHL
Write-up


Tuesday, December 16

Hot teams
-- Washington won three in row, seven of last nine games.
-- Avalanche won three of their last four games. Flyers won their last four games, scoring 18 goals.
-- Devils won nine of their last eleven games. Toronto won its last two games, allowing total of three goals.
-- Dallas won three of its last four home games.
-- Chicago won its last four games, outscoring foes 16-5. Oilers won four of their last five games.
-- Ducks won seven of their last ten games.

Cold teams
-- Hurricanes lost eight of their last ten games. Canadiens lost three of their last four games.
-- Islanders lost six in row, eight of last nine games.
-- Thrashers lost eleven of their last thirteen games. Senators lost three of their last four games.
-- Flames lost their last three games, outscored 11-6. Blues lost three in a row, seven of last ten games.
-- Coyotes lost six of their last eight road games.
-- Rangers are 3-4 in their last seven games.

Totals
-- Seven of last nine Carolina games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 9-1-1 in last eleven Islander games.
-- Three of last four Colorado games went over the total.
-- Under is 9-2-1 in New Jersey road games this season.
-- Nine of last ten Atlanta games went over the total.
-- Five of last seven Calgary games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last seven Phoenix games went over the total.
-- Five of last seven Chicago games went over the total.
-- Four of last five Anaheim games went over the total.

Series Records
-- Carolina is 14-6 in its last twenty games against Montreal.
-- Islanders won five of last seven games against Washington.
-- Colorado won last three games against the Flyers: 4-3/2-1/5-2.
-- Devils won four of last five games against Toronto.
-- Senators won four of last five games against Atlanta.
-- Flames won eleven of last twelve games against St Louis.
-- Stars won three of their last four games against Phoenix.
-- Oilers won four of last five games against Chicago.
-- Road team won last two Anaheim-Ranger games.

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[pm530]

National Hockey League – Trend Sheet

NHL


Tuesday, December 16

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Trend Sheet
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7:00 PM COLORADO vs. PHILADELPHIA
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Colorado's last 18 games
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado
Philadelphia is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Colorado


7:00 PM MONTREAL vs. CAROLINA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games when playing on the road against Carolina
Montreal is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing Carolina
Carolina is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Carolina's last 9 games


7:00 PM WASHINGTON vs. NY ISLANDERS
Washington is 4-11 SU in their last 15 games when playing NY Islanders
Washington is 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
NY Islanders are 6-17 SU in their last 23 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 10 of the NY Islanders last 14 games at home


7:30 PM ATLANTA vs. OTTAWA
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Ottawa
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
Ottawa is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Ottawa's last 10 games at home


7:30 PM NEW JERSEY vs. TORONTO
New Jersey is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Jersey's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Toronto's last 12 games when playing at home against New Jersey
Toronto is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games


8:30 PM CALGARY vs. ST. LOUIS
Calgary is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Calgary is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing St. Louis
St. Louis is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing at home against Calgary


8:30 PM PHOENIX vs. DALLAS
Phoenix is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Phoenix's last 15 games when playing Dallas
Dallas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Dallas's last 15 games when playing Phoenix


9:00 PM CHICAGO vs. EDMONTON
Chicago is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games on the road
Edmonton is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Chicago
Edmonton is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games


10:00 PM NY RANGERS vs. ANAHEIM
NY Rangers are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 5 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Anaheim is 8-4 SU in their last 12 games when playing NY Rangers
Anaheim is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

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[pm530]

National Hockey League – Hot lines

NHL


Tuesday, December 16

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Ice Picks: NHL Bets
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Phoenix Coyotes at Dallas Stars (-130, 5.5)

So it’s official, Sean Avery will no longer be wearing the Dallas Stars uniform. Representatives for both the team and Avery said that his return would not be in the best interest of either party.

“Sean needs to focus on his own well-being while the Stars hockey team must focus on playing hockey and competing for a playoff spot,” co-general manager Brett Hull told reporters. “We do care about Sean and what is best for him. We’ve agreed to do what we can to help find him a place to play hockey once he addresses his personal issues”

Hull’s days as co-general manager may also be numbered. He was instrumental in getting Sean Avery to Dallas during the off-season. If the Stars can’t find anyone to take Avery off their hands they will have to provide him with $11.5 million. That’s a high price to pay for three goals, seven assists and 77 penalty minutes.

But the Stars’ problems don’t stop there. They hold the worst record in the Western Conference; they have lost three of their last five games; they are 3-for-51 on the power play since Nov. 22; and they have six of their lineup regulars, including Sergei Zubov and Brenden Morrow, on the injured list.

Pick: Phoenix



New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs (+105, 5.5)

The Leafs will be well rested for this game having played last on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. It was the first time in 12 years the Leafs didn’t play on Saturday night. Although this may have felt strange for most players, they took the opportunity to unwind and prepare for their upcoming game against the Devils.

The Buds looked flat in their last outing and were lucky to leave Buffalo with a win. They'll need to put in a more valiant effort in order to beat the New Jersey Devils who, even after losing Martin Brodeur to a bicep injury, have managed to win eight of their last 10 games.

The Devils will probably give Scott Clemmensen the nod over Kevin Weekes after they lost to the Sabres last Saturday night in what was Weekes’ first start since Nov. 21. Although the entire team was uncharacteristically less than sharp during that game, Weekes also failed to impress. Expect things to get back to normal with Clemmenson in net and a well-rested squad on the ice.

Pick: New Jersey

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[Udog]

NBA
Dunkel


Sacramento at Portland
The Kings look to take advantage of a Portland team that is just 1-6 ATS against Pacific Division teams this season. Sacramento is the underdog pick (+11 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Blazers favored by only 9 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (+11 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16

Game 701-702: Chicago at Charlotte
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 114.999; Charlotte 118.140
Dunkel Line & Total: Charlotte by 3; 183 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 703-704: New Orleans at Memphis
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 121.926; Memphis 115.742
Dunkel Line & Total: New Orleans by 6; 188
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 4 1/2; 192
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (-4 1/2); Under

Game 705-706: LA Clippers at Oklahoma City
Dunkel Ratings: LA Clippers 117.748; Oklahoma City 110.379
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Clippers by 7 1/2; 194
Vegas Line & Total: LA Clippers by 4 1/2; 199
Dunkel Pick: LA Clippers (-4 1/2); Under

Game 707-708: Denver at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 122.775; Houston 122.390
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 200 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 709-710: Sacramento at Portland
Dunkel Ratings: Sacramento 111.781; Portland 121.120
Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 9 1/2; 205
Vegas Line & Total: Portland by 11 1/2; 199
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (+11 1/2); Over

Game 711-712: New York at LA Lakers
Dunkel Ratings: New York 116.885; LA Lakers 127.053
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 10; 2133 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 13; 225
Dunkel Pick: New York (+13); Under