The Bum's Wednesday's Best Bets + News and Notes !

[StarDust Bum]

Notre Dame, Georgetown accent NCAA betting slate

The Georgetown Hoyas and Notre Dame Fighting Irish have their Big East Conference opener Wednesday night with a top-25 matchup from South Bend, Indiana.

Big East play began Monday with No. 4 Connecticut losing at No. 6 Pittsburgh (78-63) as 7 ½-point ‘dogs. There are an amazing seven conference teams ranked in the Coaches Poll top-20, including No. 9 Georgetown and No. 15 Notre Dame.

The Hoyas are 11-1 straight-up, but also 9-2 against the spread, one of the best marks in the country. Their last game was Thursday, an 86-69 road win at No. 17 Memphis as four-point favorites.

The senior guard combination of Austin Freeman and Chris Wright combined for 43 points, while forward Julian Vaughn had 15 points and 10 rebounds. The 155 combined points scored went ‘over’ the 145-point total. The ‘over’ is 5-1 in Georgetown’s six road and neutral site games this year.

Coach John Thompson III has a perimeter oriented offense after losing center Greg Monroe to the NBA. Georgetown Hoyas would have been a top-5 preseason team if the big man returned for his junior year.

Georgetown’s three-guard lineup of Freeman, Wright and Jason Clark combine for 57.5 percent of its 80.5 PPG (ranked 18th nationally). Team field goal shooting is a very impressive 52.5 percent (second in the nation).

It’s important for Thompson to keep getting offensive contributions from the 6-foot-9 Vaughn (9.5 PPG) and 6-foot-7 forward Hollis Thompson (8.5 PPG). Freeman won’t continue to shoot 56.8 percent from the field in Big East play and more inside scoring will be needed.

The Hoyas are certainly battle tested at 6-1 SU and ATS in non home games. The only loss was 68-65 as two-point favorites at Temple on Dec. 9. They beat then No. 8 Missouri 111-102 in OT in a ‘neutral site’ pickem game in Kansas City.

The Irish (11-1 SU, 4-3 ATS) weren’t expected to be a top-25 team after losing leading scorer and rebounder Luke Harangody (21.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG), one of the most productive players in Big East history. The veteran leadership of point guard Tory Jackson (5.3 APG) was also a big loss.

Notre Dame is making up for its lack of star power with five senior starters, four of them ranging from 6-foot-7 to 6-foot-8. There isn’t a true starting point guard with Ben Hansbrough more of a combo. He leads team in assists (4.0 per game), with each starter scoring between 9.6 PPG and 16.1 PPG.

The Irish last played on Wednesday against winless Maryland-Baltimore City. The 93-53 win didn’t have a pointspread, one of five non-lined games this year. Notre Dame is 8-0 SU at home, but just 1-2 ATS. The only tough home game was an 83-79 win over Gonzaga on Dec. 11, failing to ‘cover’ the 8 ½-point spread.

Notre Dame has seen other tough opponents, including neutral site games against Kentucky (72-58 loss) and Wisconsin (58-51 win).

Depth is a concern for the Irish with freshman point guard Erik Atkins the only sub averaging over 11.2 minutes per game. Georgetown does have a quickness advantage in the backcourt and Atkins will need to be paired with Hansbrough often.

The Irish finished strong in the Big East regular season and tournament last year, 6-2 SU and 8-0 ATS. That allowed them to make the NCAA Tournament (first round loss to Old Dominion).

Notre Dame is 2-0 SU and ATS in the last two games against Georgetown. The only game last year was Feb. 27, a 78-64 road win as 10 ½-point ‘dogs.

ESPN2 will have the tip-off from Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center at 4 p.m. (PT).

[StarDust Bum]

Clippers host Utah Jazz on NBA odds slate

The Los Angeles Clippers haven’t had too many great players in their prime during their 26-year history. Well, actually, maybe none.

The Clippers have one now, though, in second-year forward Blake Griffin.

Griffin is rapidly ascending to superstar status in his first full season after missing all of last year with a broken kneecap. He has recorded 19 consecutive double-doubles, ranks No. 3 in the NBA in rebounding averaging 12.4 per game and is 17th in scoring averaging 21.2 points.

Griffin’s double-double streak is the longest in the NBA this year.

The Clippers are no longer a convenient punch line as they prepare to host Utah Jazz Wednesday night at 7:30 (PT).

After opening 1-13, the Clippers are 5-1 in their last six games going 4-1-1 ATS.

Los Angeles nipped Sacramento, 100-99, as one-point road favorites this past Monday behind 31 points from Eric Gordon and 24 points and 14 rebounds from Griffin. The combined 199 points went ‘over’ the 195 ½-point total.

The Clippers are 8-1 ATS following a victory and have covered in 15 of their last 20 Western Conference matchups.

Utah is off a 97-91 home loss to Portland also on Monday losing as 7 ½-point favorites. The combined 188 points dipped ‘under’ the 191 ½-point total.

Deron Williams had 31 points in the losing cause on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor, including making six 3-pointers. Williams, though, suffered a right wrist injury and is ‘day-to-day.’

Williams ranks fourth in the league in assists and is 12th in scoring at 22.6 points a game.

Forward Andrei Kirilenko also was hurt in that game, leaving with a lower back strain. He’s ‘questionable’ for the Clippers matchup.

The Jazz did get back big man Mehmet Okur, who played 17 minutes returning from an ankle injury. Okur has missed much of the year recovering from last season’s Achilles injury before twisting an ankle.

Utah is 27-12 ATS in its last 39 games following a pointspread loss. However, the Jazz are 1-6 ATS during their past seven contests versus Western Conference foes.

This is the third meeting between the two clubs. Utah nipped Los Angeles, 109-107, at home on Nov. 6. The Jazz were 11 ½-point favorites. The combined 216 points flew ‘over’ the 201 ½-point total.

Williams had 30 points and seven assists in that victory. Eric Gordon led the Clippers with 27 points. Center Chris Kaman had 23 points. Kaman is out with an ankle injury. The Clippers are thin in the frontcourt with Kaman, Craig Smith and Brian Cook all sidelined.

The Clippers hosted the Jazz on Nov. 28 and lost 109-97 as six-point ‘dogs. The combined 206 points went ‘over’ the 197 ½-point total. Williams paced six Utah players in double figures with 26 points as the Jazz shot a blistering 58.6 percent from the floor. Griffin had 35 points and 14 rebounds.

It was Utah’s third straight win against the Clippers. Los Angeles split two home meetings with the Jazz last season.

The Jazz just can’t worry about Griffin. Gordon has become one of the more underrated players in the league. He’s ninth in the league in scoring averaging 23.9 points a game.

Because of their slow start, the Clippers are 10-22, the third-worst record in the Western Conference. But their confidence level is rising and they rank a respectable 18th in scoring and are 19th in defense. They are 8-10 ATS at home.

Utah leads the Northwest Division with a 21-10 mark in a dogfight with Oklahoma City. The Jazz have covered in 10 of their 14 away matchups. The Jazz are 11th on defense and 12th offensively averaging 100.2 points per contest.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL Betting Preview: Devils host NY Rangers

To say the New Jersey Devils have fallen on hard times would be a huge understatement. The once proud franchise, owners of the league’s worst record, will attempt to snap a five-game losing skid Wednesday when they host the New York Rangers.

The Devils have scored just one goal in each of those last five outings to solidify a league-worst offense that has notched a meager 61 goals through the first 35 games (1.7 GPG). The club has been outscored 24-5 during the five-game slide.

Things got so bad that the Devils fired coach John MacLean two days before Christmas and replaced him with Jacques Lemaire, who is on his third stint as New Jersey’s head man. MacLean was fired after going 9-22-2 in his rookie campaign.

Lemaire’s first two games didn’t go as well as hoped. The Devils dropped a 5-1 decision to the Islanders in Lemaire’s debut before coming out on the short end of Sunday’s 4-1 loss against Toronto.

Both games were played at home, dropping New Jersey’s home ledger to a league-worst 5-10-1-1. The club is getting outscored at home by an average of 3.1 to 1.7.

Martin Brodeur, the all-time NHL leader in goalie wins, is having a horrific season. Brodeur is a dismal 5-17-1-0 with a bloated 3.08 GAA and a putrid .884 save percentage. He has managed three shutouts.

The Devils must go 34-15 the rest of the way to reach 88 points, the fewest ever to make the playoffs since the shootout was introduced. That means if they reel off a 19-game winning streak, they must play .500 hockey in the other 30 games to have hope of postseason play.

The Rangers snapped a two-game losing skid Monday by belting the Islanders as hefty 215 home favorites, 7-2. Though the combined nine goals soared ‘over’ the NHL odds, the ‘under’ is still 20-16-1 through the Rangers’ first 37 efforts.

Defenseman Matt Gilroy broke a long scoring drought with his first two-goal game to lead a Rangers squad that recorded a season-high 52 shots on goal. Gilroy, taking the place of scratched defenseman Michael Del Zotto, had gone 64 games without a goal. He now has six goals in 91 career NHL games.

Marian Gaborik, Brian Boyle, Brandon Dubinsky, Ruslan Fedotenko and Derek Stepan also scored for the Rangers. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped 18-of-20 shots to register the victory and raise his record to 15-12-1-1. He has a 2.46 GAA, a .918 save percentage and five shutouts.

The Rangers have won both meetings against the Devils this season, including a 3-0 shutout victory on Nov. 5 in the lone game at New Jersey. The win lifted the Rangers to 10-4 in the last 14 series meetings.

The Rangers closed as 145 road underdogs, with the combined three goals dipping ‘under’ the closing total. That allowed the ‘under’ to improve to 7-3 in the last 10 head-to-head matchups.

Playing away from Madison Square Garden has not been a burden for the Rangers, evidenced by their 12-6-0-0 road ledger. The ‘under’ is 11-7 in those 18 road dates.

New York is ranked ninth in the league offensively, averaging 3.1 GPG. The squad is 10th defensively, allowing 2.6 GPG.

Center Jacob Josefson injured his hand during Monday’s victory. The Don Best Sports injury report lists him as “out indefinitely.”

John Tortorella’s Rangers are off until New Year’s Day when they travel to Tampa Bay to play the Lightning. The Devils conclude their four-game homestand on New Year’s Eve against the Atlanta Thrashers.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAA Odds: UCLA Bruins host Washington State

The Washington State Cougars saw a five-game winning streak end with Saturday’s 84-68 setback as two-point favorites against the Butler Bulldogs. Ken Bone’s crew returns from Hawaii’s Diamond Head Classic championship contest to open Pacific-10 Conference play in Wednesday’s road game against the UCLA Bruins, who are 1-4-1 against the spread in their last six games.

Cougars guard Klay Thompson piled in a team-high 31 points in Saturday’s loss, while adding five rebounds. The junior drained 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, while going 7-for-7 at the foul line.

Thompson’s mate Reggie Moore struggled, hitting 1-for-6 from the field en route to finishing with six points. The Seattle native added three assists and one steal.

The lopsided affair’s combined 152 points soared above the ‘total’ of 136, making the ‘over’ 4-0 in the Cougars’ last four games. Washington State allowed Butler to connect on 50 percent of its field buckets, while being outrebounded by the Bulldogs, 33-28.

The Cougars dropped to 4-2 ATS in their first six games away from home, with the ‘over’ moving to 5-1. Moore and Co. went 3-6 ATS in their nine road matchups against conference foes during last year’s regular season, with the ‘under’ going 5-4.

UCLA Bruins have had five days off since Thursday’s 74-73 win as a 15-point home favorite against the UC Irvine Anteaters. The Bruins were outscored in the second half, 44-35 after having a 39-29 halftime lead.

Malcolm Lee and Lazeric Jones both notched a team-high 20 points. The duo each hit 4-of-8 from three-point range, while uniting for eight boards.

Bruins center Joshua Smith grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while logging three of his squad’s nine blocks. The freshman finished with 14 points, connecting on 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-5 at the foul line.

The close battle’s combined 147 points ducked below the closing ‘total’ of 148, bringing the ‘under’ to 2-0 in UCLA’s last two games. The Bruins went 12-for-23 at the foul line, while both squads united to hit 17-of-32 from three-point land.

UCLA plunged to 2-5-1 ATS in its first eight home dates, with the ‘under’ moving to 4-3 in the last seven matchups of that stretch. The Bruins went 4-5 ATS in their nine home games last year against conference rivals, with the ‘over’ cashing at 5-4.

UCLA’s Tyler Honeycutt missed the game due to a shoulder injury and is listed as “questionable” by DonBest.com to return Wednesday. The sophomore leads his squad in scoring (14.9 PPG) and rebounding (8 RPG).

The Bruins are 3-0 ATS in their last three meetings against Washington State, with the ‘under’ also collecting at 3-0.

UCLA won last January’s matchup between the foes, 74-62, as a 2 ½-point home favorite. Lee logged a team-high six assists for the Bruins, while Washington State was held to 35.6 percent shooting from the field.

Wednesday’s tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. (PT), with Fox Sports West providing television coverage.

Both squads will have one day off before resuming action as part of Friday’s college hoops schedule. UCLA remains home to face the Washington Huskies, while Washington State continues on the road against the USC Trojans.

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
12/28/10 9-5-0 64.29% +1750 Detail
12/27/10 12-8-0 60.00% +1600 Detail
12/26/10 6-7-1 46.15% -850 Detail
12/25/10 3-7-0 30.00% -2350 Detail
12/23/10 3-3-0 50.00% -150 Detail
12/22/10 8-10-0 44.44% -1500 Detail
12/21/10 10-2-0 83.33% +3900 Detail
12/20/10 7-11-0 38.89% -2550 Detail
12/19/10 4-6-0 40.00% -1300 Detail
12/18/10 7-9-0 43.75% -1450 Detail
12/17/10 8-12-0 40.00% -2600 Detail
12/16/10 2-3-1 40.00% -650 Detail
12/15/10 11-11-0 50.00% -550 Detail
12/14/10 10-4-0 71.43% +2800 Detail
12/13/10 5-5-0 50.00% -250 Detail
12/12/10 8-3-0 72.73% +2350 Detail
12/11/10 11-5-0 68.75% +2750 Detail
12/10/10 10-12-0 45.45% -1600 Detail
12/09/10 3-3-0 50.00% -150 Detail
12/08/10 9-13-0 40.91% -2650 Detail
12/07/10 5-9-0 35.71% -2450 Detail
12/06/10 7-6-1 53.85% +200 Detail
12/05/10 9-7-0 56.25% +650 Detail
12/04/10 5-7-0 41.67% -1350 Detail
12/03/10 9-16-1 36.00% -4300 Detail
12/02/10 2-2-0 50.00% -100 Detail
12/01/10 11-13-0 45.83% -1650 Detail
Totals 194-199-4 49.36% -12450

Wednesday, December 29Game Score Status Pick Amount

Cleveland - 7:00 PM ET Charlotte -7.5 500
Charlotte - Over 197.5 500

Indiana - 7:00 PM ET Indiana +2.5 500
Washington - Under 195.5 500

Golden State - 7:00 PM ET Golden State +7 500
Atlanta - Over 204.5 500

Boston - 7:30 PM ET Boston -6 500
Detroit - Under 186 500

New Jersey - 8:00 PM ET New Jersey +9 500
Oklahoma City - Under 196 500

L.A. Lakers - 8:00 PM ET New Orleans +3 500
New Orleans - Under 190 500

Denver - 8:00 PM ET Minnesota -2 500
Minnesota - Under 218.5 500

Miami - 8:30 PM ET Miami -5 500
Houston - Under 198.5 500

Philadelphia - 9:00 PM ET Philadelphia +5.5 500
Phoenix - Under 206 500

Memphis - 10:00 PM ET Memphis -4 500
Sacramento - Over 194 500

Utah - 10:30 PM ET L.A. Clippers +2 500
L.A. Clippers - Over 194.5 500

==============================================

Wednesday, December 29Game Score Status Pick Amount

Duke - 7:00 PM ET Duke -33.5 500
NC-Greensboro - Under 155 500

Towson - 7:00 PM ET La Salle -13 500
La Salle -

East Carolina - 7:00 PM ET East Carolina +15.5 500
Clemson -

St. John's - 7:00 PM ET West Virginia -9 500
West Virginia -

Georgetown - 7:00 PM ET Georgetown -2 500
Notre Dame - Over 143 500

Jacksonville St. - 7:00 PM ET Jacksonville St. +17.5 500
South Carolina -

Boston College - 7:00 PM ET Boston College +1 500
Rhode Island -

Wake Forest - 7:00 PM ET Wake Forest +16.5 500
Richmond -

George Mason - 7:00 PM ET Dayton -2 500
Dayton -

Tenn-Martin - 7:00 PM ET Tennessee -29 500
Tennessee -

Bradley - 7:05 PM ET Indiana St. -4.5 500
Indiana St. -

Wofford - 7:30 PM ET VCU -6.5 500 ( POD )
VCU -

Pennsylvania - 7:30 PM ET Pennsylvania -8 500
Marist -

Hofstra - 7:30 PM ET Iona -10 500
Iona -

Furman - 7:30 PM ET Furman +13 500
Central Florida -

SE Missouri St. - 8:00 PM ET Southern Methodist -12.5 500
Southern Methodist -

Tennessee St. - 8:00 PM ET Tennessee St. +7 500
Middle Tennessee St. -

Missouri St. - 8:00 PM ET Missouri St. +1.5 500
Northern Iowa -

New Mexico - 8:00 PM ET Texas Tech +2.5 500
Texas Tech -

Georgia Southern - 8:00 PM ET Auburn -11.5 500
Auburn -

Louisiana State - 8:00 PM ET Louisiana State +3 500
Rice -

Creighton - 8:05 PM ET Illinois St. -1 500
Illinois St. -

Southern Illinois - 8:05 PM ET Southern Illinois +0 500
Drake -

Evansville - 8:05 PM ET Evansville +13 500
Wichita St. -

Delaware - 9:00 PM ET Delaware +7.5 500
Santa Clara -

Marquette - 9:00 PM ET Marquette +7 500
Vanderbilt -

Texas-Arlington - 9:00 PM ET Kansas -33 500
Kansas -

Illinois - 9:05 PM ET Illinois -4.5 500
Iowa -

Weber St. - 9:05 PM ET Weber St. +2 500
Montana St. -

Hawaii - 9:05 PM ET Hawaii +20 500
Utah St. -

Northeastern - 9:30 PM ET Princeton -4.5 500
Princeton -

Air Force - 9:30 PM ET Texas-El Paso -14 500
Texas-El Paso -

Northern Colorado - 10:05 PM ET Northern Colorado +1 500
Portland St. -

New Mexico St. - 10:05 PM ET New Mexico St. +2 500
Idaho -

Sacramento State - 10:05 PM ET Sacramento State +10 500
Eastern Washington -

Louisiana Tech - 10:15 PM ET Louisiana Tech +14 500
Boise St. -

Washington - 10:30 PM ET Southern California +3 500
Southern California -

San Jose St. - 11:00 PM ET San Jose St. +2 500
Fresno St. -

Washington St. - 11:00 PM ET Washington St. +3 500
UCLA -

St. Mary's - 11:00 PM ET St. Mary's -15 500
Mississippi St. -

Fordham - 11:15 PM ET Fordham +4 500
American U. -

==============================================

Wednesday, December 29Game Score Status Pick Amount

NY Rangers - 7:00 PM ET NY Rangers -128 500
New Jersey - Over 5 500

Pittsburgh - 7:00 PM ET Pittsburgh -195 500
NY Islanders - Over 5.5 500

Carolina - 7:30 PM ET Ottawa -139 500
Ottawa - Under 5.5 500

San Jose - 8:00 PM ET Minnesota +118 500
Minnesota - Under 5.5 500

Detroit - 8:30 PM ET Dallas -113 500
Dallas - Over 5.5 500

Los Angeles - 9:00 PM ET Phoenix +109 500
Phoenix - Over 5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Krzyzewski goes for win #880 at UNCG


DUKE BLUE DEVILS (11-0)

at UNC-GREENSBORO SPARTANS (13-0)


Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Duke -33.5, Total: 155

No. 1 Duke looks to extend its winning streak to 22 games when it visits winless UNC Greensboro on Wednesday night. The Blue Devils have won 21 consecutive games and 29 of 30 overall, while the Spartans have lost 12 straight, including 11 in a row this season.

Freshman point guard Kyrie Irving will miss his fourth straight game with a right big toe injury, but his absence hasn't affected Duke, which has now won nine of its 11 contests by double-digits. Only Marquette (82-77) and Michigan State (84-79) have managed to stay within striking distance of the Blue Devils at the final buzzer. Duke last played on Dec. 20, when it defeated Elon, 98-72. The Spartans, who have the fifth-worst scoring defense in the nation (84.4 PPG), will have a tough time containing the Blue Devils' explosive offense.

Duke is third in the nation in scoring (89.0 PPG) and sixth in field-goal percentage (50.0%) and are led by Nolan Smith's 17.1 PPG, 5.4 APG and 4.6 RPG. Smith has scored at least 22 points in three of the past four games, but scored only two points on 2-of-8 shooting against Bradley on Dec. 8. Kyle Singler averages 17.0 PPG and 5.5 RPG and has scored in double-figures in 10 of Duke's 11 games, including nine straight.

Five of UNC-Greensboro's 11 losses have come against ACC competition (Florida State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Wake Forest and Clemson), and 10 of those defeats have been by double-digits. The only exception was a 69-67 loss at Wake Forest on Dec. 15. The Spartans are coming off a 63-53 setback to Richmond on Dec. 22, which was their 26th defeat in 27 non-conference games. They cut the margin to five with six minutes remaining, but couldn't get any closer for the remainder of the game.

Some of UNC-Greensboro's struggles can be attributed to its inability to hold onto the ball. The Spartans have committed more turnovers than they've had assists in 10 games this season. Trevis Simpson (8.0 PPG) led UNC-Greensboro with 14 points against the Spiders, and Aloysius Henry (11.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG) finished with his second double-double of the season (12 points and 10 rebounds), but he also committed five turnovers. Kyle Randall, who is second to Henry in scoring with 11.4 PPG, was only 2-of-10 from the floor for seven points.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski can break a tie with former North Carolina coach Dean Smith for second place on the all-time wins list with a victory. Krzyzewski and Smith both have 879 wins.

The two teams met in last season's opener, which Duke won in a blowout at home, 96-62. The Blue Devils shot 59.7% for the game, and were led by Singler's 20 points. Duke has outscored the Spartans by an average of 37.8 PPG in winning all eight meetings. And UNC-Greensboro has struggled mightily against Top 25 teams, going winless in 20 games and losing by an average of 30.5 PPG since the start of the 1996-97 season. The Blue Devils have also won 46 consecutive games over Southern Conference opponents. Their last loss to a Southern team came by two points to Davidson on Dec. 29, 1981. Don't expect the final result to change on Wednesday.

This FoxSheets trend likes Duke to win and cover the massive spread.

Play On - Road teams as an favorite or pick (DUKE) - in non-conference games, off a home blowout win by 20 points or more. (119-74 over the last 5 seasons.) (61.7%, +37.6 units. Rating = 2*).

Play Against - Home teams as an underdog or pick (UNC-GREENSBORO) - off a cover where the team lost straight up as an underdog, with just one or fewer starters returning from last season. (43-18 over the last 5 seasons.) (70.5%, +23.2 units. Rating = 2*).

This three-star FoxSheets coaching trend thinks the game will finish Under the Total.

Mike Krzyzewski is 20-5 UNDER (+14.5 Units) versus poor defensive teams - shooting pct defense of >=45% as the coach of DUKE. The average score was DUKE 85.6, OPPONENT 61.9 - (Rating = 3*).

[StarDust Bum]

Illinois favored by 4.5 at Iowa


ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI (10-3)

at IOWA HAWKEYES (7-5)


Tip-off: Wednesday, 9:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Illinois -4.5, Total: 131.5

It would appear that this would be the perfect time for the 25th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini to begin Big Ten conference play -- against an Iowa team that it has beaten four straight times, and 14 of the last 18. This same Iowa team averages a pedestrian 70.8 PPG, with a leading scorer tallying only 11.7 PPG. Of course, after losing its past two games to an in-state rival (University of Illinois-Chicago 57-54) and a border-state rival (Missouri 75-64), taking on a Big Ten conference rival right now might be the last thing Bruce Weber’s team wants to do.

The Illini posted their two lowest point totals of the season in their past two games, and shot a horrid 36% FG combined in those losses. One reason for the recent struggles has been the inconsistent play of the Illinois big men. Mike Tisdale is averaging 10.2 PPG, but only totaled 11 points in the two losses. Forward Mike Davis had 17 points and eight rebounds versus Missouri, but that was after only scoring four points against UIC. Demetri McCamey leads Illinois at 15.3 PPG, and his assist-to-turnover ratio is nearly 3-to-1. Despite its recent shooting struggles, the Illini 46.6% FG ranks them in the upper echelon in Division I. It stands to reason that they can’t miss shots forever.

The young Hawkeyes are led by junior guard Matt Gatens (11.7 PPG), sophomore swingman Eric May (11.2 PPG, 45.5% 3-point FG) and junior guard Bryce Cartwright (10.3 PPG, 4.4 APG). While Iowa hasn’t exactly short-circuited the scoreboard with its scoring, first year coach Fran McCaffery’s team has played its opponents very closely, with four of its five losses coming by single digits, and three of them by six points or less. The start of conference play represents a merciless portion of the schedule for the Hawkeyes. Five of its next six games (Illinois, Ohio State twice, Purdue and Minnesota) are against teams all ranked in the Top 25. A win over a suddenly struggling Illinois team would get the Hawkeyes off on the right foot in Big Ten play. A loss could trigger an avalanche that could do to Iowa's season what last weekend’s blizzard did to New York city: smother it.

Despite Illinois’ recent dominance in the series, the FoxSheets side with home underdog Iowa to at least cover the spread, and possibly win straight up:

ILLINOIS is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%) over the last 3 seasons. The average score was ILLINOIS 64.0, OPPONENT 62.6 - (Rating = 2*).

[StarDust Bum]

11-1 Georgetown travels to 11-1 Notre Dame


GEORGETOWN HOYAS (11-1)

at NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (11-1)


Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Georgetown -2, Total: 144.5

Wednesday night Notre Dame can take a big step towards answering this whole contenders/pretenders conundrum when it hosts ninth-ranked Georgetown in the Big East conference opener for both.

Georgetown enters this game with an impressive collection of non-conference victories, beating Old Dominion, Missouri, Memphis and N.C. State. Save for a possession or two at Temple, they could be undefeated entering this game. The Hoyas three-guard tandem of Austin Freeman, Jason Clark and Chris Wright have been as good as advertised. Freeman averages 18.9 PPG and is shooting a blistering 56.8% from the field, incredible for a guard who lives on the perimeter. Wright and Clark each average 13.7 PPG, with Wright leading the team in assists at 6.3 APG. Georgetown is in the Top 20 in scoring, is 10th in assists and second in FG Pct. If the Irish can defend a John Thompson III team, they can defend anyone.

With five seniors in its starting lineup and four players averaging double-figures in scoring, the Irish are deep, experienced, and on paper, the type of team you would want to stay away from at tournament time. Forward Tim Abromaitis leads the team at 16.1 PPG (7.5 RPG) with guard Ben Hansbrough just behind him at 15.1 PPG. In addition to its maturity, the Irish also protect the ball, ranking second in the nation in team assist-to-turnover ratio. Throw in the fact that Notre Dame has outscored its opponents 245-118 at the FT line, and you have the profile of a team that realizes that old mantra: take care of the little things, and the big things take care of themselves. Notre Dame defeated Georgetown last season 78-64 in a game where Abromaitis, Hansbrough, and Carleton Scott combined for 57 points, while Austin Freeman was limited to five points in a reserve role. With all of those players healthy and both teams at full strength, expect a much tighter game Wednesday night in South Bend.

Georgetown is 9-2 ATS this season, while Notre Dame is 1-3 ATS in its past four games. The Hoyas are also 5-3-1 ATS in the past nine games in South Bend. These two FoxSheets trends also expect Georgetown to get the big road win:

Mike Brey is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) after a game with 51 or more rebounds as the coach of NOTRE DAME. The average score was NOTRE DAME 81.9, OPPONENT 72.2 - (Rating = 3*).

GEORGETOWN is 14-3 ATS (+10.7 Units) after 3 straight wins by 15 points or more since 1997. The average score was GEORGETOWN 75.4, OPPONENT 60.3 - (Rating = 2*).

This highly-rated FoxSheets trend thinks the game will finish Over the Total.

Play Over - Home teams where the total is between 140 and 149.5 points (NOTRE DAME) - after leading their last 2 games by 10+ points at the half against opponent after scoring 80 points or more 2 straight games. (38-12 since 1997.) (76%, +24.8 units. Rating = 3*).

[StarDust Bum]

Celtics try to stay hot in Detroit


BOSTON CELTICS (24-5)

at DETROIT PISTONS (10-21)


Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
Line: Boston -6.5, Total: 188.5

Boston looks to expand on the best record in the Eastern Conference when it visits Detroit on Wednesday night.

The 24-5 Celtics defeated Indiana on Tuesday, 95-83, for their 15th win in 16 games. Paul Pierce (18.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG) scored 21 points and added seven assists and five rebounds, Kevin Garnett (15.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG) had 11 points and 13 rebounds for his 14th double-double and Ray Allen (16.9 PPG, 3.3 APG, 41.7% on three-pointers) chipped in with 17 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter. Pierce had struggled with his shot in the previous two games (10-of-29 FG), but found his stroke by hitting 8-of-14 field goals against the Pacers.

Boston's only loss since Nov. 22 came in an 86-78 setback at Orlando on Christmas, which ended its 14-game winning streak. Rajon Rondo (11.2 PPG, 13.8 APG, 2.4 SPG) missed his fifth straight game with a sprained left ankle, but the Celtics are 4-1 without him and lead the NBA with 25.0 APG as a team. Rondo will not play at Detroit.

Boston's defense once again led the way, limiting the Pacers to 37.2% shooting for the game. After holding a two-point lead (47-45) at halftime, Indiana scored only 36 points in the second half, including 16 in the fourth quarter. The Celtics are second in the league in points allowed, allowing only 90.9 PPG, and their last five opponents have not scored more than 90 points.

Don't expect the Pistons to reach the 90-point mark, either. The Celtics have held Detroit to 87.3 PPG in their last 11 meetings. The Pistons, who have lost two straight and nine of 13 in December, will try to rebound from a 105-100 loss at Charlotte on Monday.

Rodney Stuckey leads Detroit in scoring and assists (16.3 PPG, 5.3 APG), but was limited to only six points on 1-of-6 shooting versus the Bobcats. Charlie Villanueva (13.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG) led Detroit with 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting, and it looks like he's found some consistency on offense, scoring at least 17 points in six of the last seven games. Richard Hamilton (14.3 PPG, 40.9% three-pointers), who was recently moved to the bench, had nine points after scoring 50 in his previous two games combined.

The two teams have already met once this season at The Palace, with the Celtics claiming an easy 109-86 victory on Nov. 2. Garnett scored a game-high 22 points in that game, and Pierce added 21 for the Celtics, who played without Shaquille O'Neal (bruised knee). Austin Daye (5.7 PPG) scored 16 points and was one of five Pistons in double figures, but Detroit had no answers for Boston's efficient offense, which shot 51.9% from the field and compiled 33 assists, including 17 by Rondo. Villanueva added 17 points and seven boards, and Stuckey finished with 15 points. Hamilton did not play because of a sore right foot. Boston has won the last eight meetings with the Pistons when Garnett is in the lineup, and he's averaging 14.5 PPG during that stretch. They lost the two games he missed due to injury.

Boston is playing too well right now, and should keep the good times rolling in Detroit, considering it is 4-1 (SU and ATS) in its past five trips to the Motor City. This FoxSheets trend also likes the Celtics to win and cover the spread.

Play Against - Home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (DETROIT) - avenging a home loss vs. opponent of 10 points or more, with a losing record. (52-22 over the last 5 seasons.) (70.3%, +27.8 units. Rating = 2*).

This FoxSheets also side with the Under:

Play Under - Home teams where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points (DETROIT) - after having covered 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread, well rested team - playing 4 or less games in 10 days. (69-34 over the last 5 seasons.) (67%, +31.6

[StarDust Bum]

Lakers look to end 3-game losing skid


LOS ANGELES LAKERS (21-10)

at NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (18-13)


Tip-off: Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Los Angeles -3, Total: 190.5

The Lakers can’t seem to find a rhythm lately and lost their third game in a row (SU and ATS) with a 97-82 defeat in San Antonio Tuesday -- marking just the fifth time in franchise history that they’ve lost three straight games by 15+ points.

Kobe Bryant (25.3 PPG, 4.5 APG) scored 21 points on 8-of-27 shooting, as L.A. shot a season-low 35.4 percent (29-82 FG). Bryant has been dismal over the past five games, averaging 17.6 points on 39.0 percent shooting and making just 4-of-17 from three-point range. Perhaps a trip to New Orleans will improve his numbers as he’s averaged 31.1 points in the past 10 road games against the Hornets franchise.

New Orleans has also been struggling to play well consistently after its 11-2 start on the season. The Hornets return home after suffering their seventh road loss in a row in a 113-98 defeat in Minnesota on Monday. David West (19.3 PPG, 7 RPG) led the team with 23 points, and Chris Paul added 22 points and 13 assists. New Orleans only shot 42.4 percent and was outscored 42-30 in the paint.

A return to the Big Easy bodes well for the Hornets where they are 13-3 straight up (10-6 ATS). They won at home 108-100 in the last meeting against the Lakers on March 29, but they are only 2-5 straight up (4-3 ATS) against L.A. over the past three seasons. Paul has also played well in the past eight home games against the Lakers (New Orleans only won three), averaging 23.8 points and 11.6 assists.

Recent struggles aside, the Lakers are still averaging 103.9 PPG and holding opponents to 97.8 PPG. With the Hornets continuing to struggle offensively (94.5 PPG), they are having to rely heavily on their high-ranking defense (92.4 PPG). L.A. has been solid on the road this year with an 11-6 mark (9-8 ATS), and despite its recent losing skid, the Lakers have been successful against the Hornets. They are 25-11 straight up (18-18 ATS) overall since 1996, making them my pick to win and cover.

These FoxSheets trends also pick Los Angeles to cover the spread:

Play On - Road favorites (LA LAKERS) - good team - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game, after a blowout loss by 15 points or more. (48-17 over the last 5 seasons.) (73.8%, +29.3 units. Rating = 3*).

NEW ORLEANS is 9-21 ATS (30.0%, -14.1 Units) versus explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ points/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 101.5, OPPONENT 108.0 - (Rating = 1*).