Announcement

**daveyd** · 02-18-2010, 07:18 PM

Good Luck

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2010, 07:19 PM

Thursday's Tips

Gamblers have plenty of opportunities to bring home a profit tonight in college basketball. Syracuse and Georgetown will square off in Washington D.C., as both squad look to bounce back from surprising Valentine’s Day losses. Also in the Big East, Marquette hopes to pick up a key win when it takes on Pittsburgh.

In the SEC, Florida and Ole Miss are in dire need of victories to improve their sagging bubble profiles. The Gators will welcome Auburn to the O-Dome, while the Rebels will play host to Vandy at the Tad Pad.

Minnesota is more desperate than the pair of aforementioned SEC programs. The Gophers have to beat Wisconsin and then capture several more victories. Finally, Saint Mary’s can’t afford a bad loss when it hits the road in the WCC for a late-night televised affair against San Diego.

**Syracuse at Georgetown**

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Georgetown (18-6 straight up, 11-9 against the spread) as a two-point favorite. As of late this morning, most betting shops still had the Hoyas at two with a total of 144.

--Syracuse (24-2 SU, 15-7 ATS) is in bounce-back mode following Sunday’s 66-60 loss to Louisville as a 7 ½-point home favorite. The loss ended an 11-game winning streak for the Orange, who hadn’t tasted defeat since its Big East opener at home against Pitt back on Jan. 2. Wesley Johnson had 14 points and eight rebounds against the Cardinals, but he was a miserable 5-of-20 from the field.

--Georgetown is coming off Sunday’s stunning 71-68 loss at Rutgers as a 10 ½-point favorite. The 139 combined points stayed just ‘under’ the 140-point total. Hoyas’ sophomore center Greg Monroe played all 40 minutes in the losing effort, producing 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots.

--Jim Boeheim’s squad has only been an underdog twice this season, winning outright in both instances. The ‘Cuse won 72-71 at West Va. as a five-point ‘dog and beat UNC 87-71 at Madison Square Garden in NYC as a 1 ½-point puppy.

--Georgetown is 11-2 SU and 5-5 ATS at home this year.

--The ‘under’ has cashed in six straight Syracuse games and nine of its last 10. For the year, the Orange have watched the ‘under’ go 12-6 overall.

--The ‘over’ is 6-4 for Georgetown at home, 10-10 overall.

--When these long-time Big East rivals met at the Carrier Dome on Jan. 25, the Hoyas raced out to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes. However, Syracuse rallied to take a five-point lead by halftime. Then the Orange pulled away in the second half to collect a 73-56 victory as a 5 ½-point home favorite. Andy Rautins paced the winners with 15 points, six assists, six steals and just one turnover. Austin Freeman had a game-high 23 points for the Hoyas in defeat.

--Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

Wisconsin at Minnesota**

--LVSC opened Minnesota (14-10 SU, 9-14 ATS) as a 2 ½-point favorite. As of late this morning, most books had the Gophers reduced to one-point 'chalk' with a total of 124.

--Tubby Smith’s team is in desperation mode in terms of its hopes to build a resume worthy of consideration for an at-large berth come Selection Sunday. Minnesota, with its 5-7 Big Ten record and RPI ranking of 81, probably needs to win five of its last six regular-season games to legitimately be in the conversation. Four of the Gophers’ last six games are at home.

--Wisconsin (19-6 SU, 14-9 ATS) bounced back from a rare home loss to Illinois by spanking Indiana 83-55 Saturday as a 17 ½-point home ‘chalk.’ Senior guard Jason Bohannon erupted for a season-high 30 points, draining 7-of-11 attempts from 3-point range for the Badgers. Trevon Hughes added 16 points, six rebounds and three steals.

--Minnesota has lost eight in a row ATS, including Sunday’s 77-74 overtime loss at Northwestern in a pick ‘em affair. Lawrence Westbrook scored a team-high 22 points in the losing effort.

--Minnesota is 11-2 SU and 7-5 ATS at home this year. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is 4-2 versus the number in six Big Ten road assignments

--The ‘over’ is 6-5 in Minnesota’s home games, 11-11 overall. The Gophers have seen the ‘over’ cash in three of their last four games.

--The ‘under’ is on an incredible 13-3 run for the Badgers, who have watched the ‘under’ go 14-8 overall for the season.

--ESPN will have television coverage at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Pittsburgh at Marquette**

--LVSC opened Marquette (16-8 SU, 12-6 ATS) as a 5 ½-point favorite. However, as of late this morning, most spots had the Golden Eagles favored by 6 1/2 with the total in the 130-131 range. Bettors can back the Panthers to win outright for a plus-240 payout (risk $100 to win $240).

--Pitt (19-6 SU, 12-8-2 ATS) returns to the court for this spot following last Friday’s thrilling 98-95 win over West Virginia in triple overtime. Junior guard Brad Wanamaker led the Panthers to the outright victory as 2 ½-point home underdogs by scoring 24 points and dishing out 10 assists.

--Marquette is an interesting case to consider for the Selection Committee. The Golden Eagles have a 7-5 Big East record and an RPI rating of 59. They haven’t been beaten by double digits all season and have lost five games by seven combined points. Marquette has lost by one three times – 57-56 to FSU in Orlando, 63-62 at West Va. and 51-50 at Depaul.

--Buzz Williams’s team is 12-2 SU and 5-3 ATS at home. Meanwhile, Jamie Dixon’s squad is 4-1 versus the number in five road underdog situations.

--Pitt has beaten Marquette in three of the last four head-to-head meetings both SU and ATS, including last year’s 90-75 home win as a 9 ½-point favorite in the regular-season finale.

--The ‘over’ is 10-8 overall for Marquette, 4-4 in its home games. The ‘over’ is also 10-8 overall for the Panthers.

--The ‘over’ is on a 7-2 run in the last nine head-to-head encounters between these schools.

--ESPN2 will provide the telecast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Florida will play host to Auburn on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. LVSC opened the Gators as 11-point favorites. They have dropped back-to-back games (at South Carolina and vs. Xavier), making a victory mandatory for Billy Donovan’s team that’s trying to avoid a third straight trip to the NIT.

--Bettors have a televised late-night option Thursday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2. Saint Mary’s will travel to San Diego to take on the Toreros as a heavy road favorite. LVSC opened the Gaels as seven-point ‘chalk.’

--LVSC opened California as a seven-point favorite for Thursday’s game at Oregon St. Gamblers get a chance to back the Beavers as home underdogs yet again. They are 10-2 ATS as underdogs this year (regardless of the venue).

--Southern Cal owns a 7-1 spread record in eight games as an underdog this season. The Trojans are nine-point 'dogs tonight at Washington.

--I mentioned on Wednesday how I thought Siena at Butler (Saturday, 11:00 a.m. Eastern on ESPN2) was the premier BracketBuster game for this weekend. The second-best will be played Friday night at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2. That’ll be Old Dominion at Northern Iowa.

--Four bubble teams suffered crushing defeats last night: Northwestern, Rhode Island, Charlotte and Notre Dame.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2010, 07:59 PM

Thursday Tips

The Thursday NBA card provides bettors with just two games to wager on, but both matchups are nothing short of excellent. The first game showcases star power with LeBron James and the Cavs trying to extend their winning streak against Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets. The late game is a rematch of two old foes when the Lakers host the Celtics.

Nuggets (35-18 SU, 24-26-3 ATS) at Cavaliers (43-11 SU, 28-25-1 ATS)

Denver and Cleveland are the last teams to take the court after the All-Star Break, as the Nuggets head east for a two-game trip that starts at Quicken Loans Arena against the streaking Cavs.

The Nuggets ended the first half with a disappointing home loss to the Spurs, but Denver is still atop the very competitive Northwest Division. The team received very sobering news on Tuesday when head coach George Karl announced that he was diagnosed with neck and throat cancer. The cancer is treatable, as Karl will miss time eventually due to radiation and chemotherapy, but the coach is expected to be on the sidelines Thursday night.

Denver wrapped up the first half going just 2-3 SU and 2-2-1 ATS, but three of those games were played without Anthony, who was suffering from a sprained ankle. The Nuggets are 4-1-2 ATS the last seven as a road underdog, as each game was with Anthony sidelined.

The Cavs are riding a 13-game winning streak, while owning a profitable 8-5 ATS mark during this run. Cleveland has captured 15 of its last 16, with the lone loss coming on the Sundiata Gaines' buzzer-beater at Utah on January 14 by one point. Prior to that heartbreaking setback, the previous defeat for Mike Brown's club came at Denver on January 8, as the Nuggets knocked off the Cavs, 99-97 as four-point 'dogs. Anthony sat out that game with his ankle injury, but Chauncey Billups picked up the slack with 23 points.

Thursday's contest wraps up a seven-game homestand for the Cavs, who have beaten one substantial team in this stretch. That club was Orlando last Thursday prior to the All-Star Break, a wild 115-106 victory in which the Cavs cashed as six-point favorites. Cleveland is 5-2 ATS the last seven home games, with the two non-covers coming as heavy 'chalk' of at least 12 points against the Knicks and Nets.

The Cavs made that expected large splash prior to the trade deadline by acquiring forward Antawn Jamison from the Wizards in a three-team deal that sent center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to Washington. Jamison is 'questionable' for tonight's contest.

The Nuggets own a perfect 6-0-1 ATS mark as an underdog of at least four points, while going 6-1 SU in this pointspread range. The Cavs are 6-4 ATS this season as single-digit home favorites, including covers over the Lakers, Magic, Suns, and Mavs. Denver is 8-5 ATS and 10-3 SU playing the first game of a back-to-back, as the Nuggets head to Washington on Friday to battle the Wizards.

Celtics (33-18 SU, 19-31-1 ATS) at Lakers (42-13 SU, 25-28-2 ATS)

There's not much fluff surrounding this matchup, just basically Celtics and Lakers locking horns for the second time this season. The first matchup lived up to the classic billing with Kobe Bryant nailing the game-winning shot in the final seconds to give Los Angeles a 90-89 victory in Beantown.

The Lakers have played each of the last four games without Bryant, who is resting a sprained ankle suffered against the Bobcats on February 3. The Champs haven't missed a beat, winning all four games, while covering three times. The only non-cover came in Tuesday night's home victory over the Warriors, 104-94 as 13-point 'chalk.'

The Celtics edged by the Kings on Tuesday, 95-92, but failed to cash as 5 ½-point road favorites. That non-cover was the fifth straight ATS loss by Boston, all when laying points. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen returned in Sacramento, as Pierce missed four games prior to the break and Allen sat out at New Orleans due to injury.

Both these teams have played to plenty of 'unders' recently, with the Lakers nailing the 'under' in seven of the last nine, while the C's are riding a run of 'unders' in six of the previous seven. Boston has scored 100 points or less in 13 of the last 14 games, but only two of the Celtics' opponents have broken the century mark.

Since falling in the Finals in six games back in 2008, the Lakers have beaten the Celtics three times. The last two victories have each come by one point, including a 110-109 overtime triumph by the Lakers last February in Boston.

Bryant is listed as 'doubtful' for Thursday's matchup, as the Lakers will be off for four days following this contest, traveling to Memphis on Tuesday.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-18-2010, 11:58 PM

Southern Utah - 8:00 PM ET Western Illinois -9 500 ( POD )
Western Illinois - ( WINNER )

**StarDust Bum** · 02-19-2010, 12:17 AM

Southern Utah - 8:00 PM ET Western Illinois -9 500 ( POD )
Western Illinois - ( WINNER )

Pittsburgh - 9:00 PM ET Pittsburgh +6 500 ( BIG EAST UNDERDOG PLAY )
Marquette - ( WINNER )

Announcement

The Bum's Thursday's Best Bets + POD'S !

The Bum's Thursday's Best Bets + POD'S !

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment