Announcement

**Croughn** · 01-13-2011, 02:35 PM

gl SB!

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 03:04 PM

James might not play against Denver

MIAMI HEAT (30-10)

at DENVER NUGGETS (21-16)

Tip-off: Thursday, 10:30 p.m. EDT
Line: Miami -4, Total: 205

The Heat could be without LeBron James when they travel to Denver on Thursday. James sprained his left ankle in Wednesday’s 111-105 loss to the Clippers and is listed as day-to-day.

Despite Wednesday’s defeat in L.A., the Heat are still 21-2 SU (14-8-1 ATS) in their past 23 games. Miami also ended its 13-game road win streak with the loss to the Clips, but is still 15-6 SU (13-8 ATS) on the road for the season. But Miami has not won in its past eight trips to Denver with its last victory coming on Jan. 29, 2002. The big three of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have all played well away from home this year, combining for 71.7 PPG on 50% FG shooting, 23.3 RPG and 13.5 APG. Bosh had 26 points and 13 rebounds in Wednesday’s loss and is averaging 19.8 PPG and 11.3 RPG in his past four games.

Carmelo Anthony has been the subject of trade rumors recently, but he remains in Denver, at least for the time being. Anthony has really enjoyed hosting the Heat, as he has averaged 27.7 PPG on 53.8% FG in six home games against Miami in his career. After scoring just eight points (3-11 FG) in a 96-87 home loss to New Orleans Sunday, Anthony bounced back with 28 points and 10 rebounds in a 132-98 blowout win over Phoenix on Tuesday. Arron Afflalo scored a career-best 31 points and pulled down nine rebounds as Denver connected on a season-high 55.7% FG versus the Suns. Although the Nuggets are 16-4 SU and averaging 109.1 PPG at home this year, they are only 7-11 ATS.

Despite the recent home dominance by Denver, these teams have been evenly matched since 1996, with the Heat 14-13 SU and the Nuggets 14-13 ATS. Denver has not been able to cover home spreads with any consistency this season and Miami should be able to bounce back from a subpar performance, even if James can’t play. The FoxSheets give two reasons to take Miami on Thursday:

Play On - Favorites (MIAMI) - good defensive team - shooting pct defense of <=43% on the season against opponent after a game where a team made 55% of their shots or better.(80-41 since 1996.) (66.1%, +34.9 units. Rating = 2*).

DENVER is 16-34 ATS (32.0%, -21.4 Units) after a game where they covered the spread over the last 2 seasons. The average score was DENVER 107.1, OPPONENT 105.7 - (Rating = 2*).

The FoxSheets also advises to bet the Under.

Play Under - All teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 (MIAMI) - in a game involving two good three point shooting teams (>=36.5%), in a game involving two average rebounding teams (+/-3 reb/game). (192-106 over the last 5 seasons.) (64.4%, +75.4 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 03:05 PM

Wizards look to snap 0-18 road skid at Minnesota

WASHINGTON WIZARDS (10-26)

at MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (9-30)

Tip-off: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Minnesota -4, Total: 208

Two of the worst teams in the NBA meet on Thursday when the Washington Wizards travel to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves.

Despite being winless (0-18) SU on the road, the Wizards have managed to go 5-13 ATS away from home this season. They are 14-22 ATS on the season and have lost five of their last six. Nick Young recovered from a seven-point outing against the Hornets on Saturday, to score a career-high 43 on 14-of-22 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 from behind the arc in a 136-133 OT win over the Kings on Tuesday.

Minnesota enters Thursday last in the Northwest Division and losers of five straight. The Timberwolves have been much better ATS than they have been SU this season, as they are 19-20 ATS while going 9-30 SU. Only the Suns have allowed more than Minnesota’s 108.1 PPG this season. Michael Beasley, the team’s second leading scorer at 20.9 PPG, is listed as doubtful for Thursday because of a sprained left ankle. Beasley’s absence should create more scoring opportunities for Kevin Love, who has an amazing streak of 25 straight double-doubles. Love, who is coming off his sixth 20-point, 20-rebound game of the season, has averaged 15.8 PPG and 10.3 RPG in four career meetings with Washington.

With Minnesota minus Beasley, the Wizards could finally win on the road. And if they can’t win, they should at least cover the spread, considering they are 8-1 ATS (7-2 SU) in the past nine meetings with Minnesota. I’m taking Washington.

The FoxSheets provide two more reasons to back the Wizards:

MINNESOTA is 17-35 ATS (32.7%, -21.5 Units) in home games vs. good free throw shooting teams - making >=76% of their attempts over the last 3 seasons. The average score was MINNESOTA 99.5, OPPONENT 106.4 - (Rating = 1*).

MINNESOTA is 20-37 ATS (35.1%, -20.7 Units) in home games after playing 3 consecutive games as an underdog over the last 3 seasons. The average score was MINNESOTA 96.7, OPPONENT 103.9 - (Rating = 1*).

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 03:06 PM

Magic try to continue dominance over Thunder

ORLANDO MAGIC (25-13)

at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (26-13)

Tip-off: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Orlando -1, Total: 205

Orlando looks to bounce back from a loss for the first time since before Christmas when they travel to Oklahoma City on Thursday. The Magic saw their nine-game winning streak snapped at New Orleans in a 92-89 overtime loss on Wednesday. But they have owned the Thunder franchise recently, with eight wins the past nine meetings.

Dwight Howard continues to carry the Magic with 29 points and 20 rebounds against the Hornets, but he missed two key free throws with 11 seconds left that could have given Orlando the lead. Howard will look to add to his gaudy career averages of 18.7 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 2.7 BPG and 61.5% FG in 12 games versus Oklahoma City. Hedo Turkoglu had an off-night in New Orleans (2-10 FG), but he is still averaging 12.2 PPG and 7.3 APG in his past six games. Orlando has been doing the job on the defensive end this season, ranking fifth in the NBA in both scoring defense (93.3) and FG Pct. defense (43.9%). The Magic have only allowed 100 points in three of their past 10 games in posting an 8-2 ATS record.

Oklahoma City has not been playing great defense lately, allowing 100+ points in seven of its past 10 games (102.6 PPG). The Thunder are going to have to bolster their inside game to contain Howard after allowing a season-high 70 points in the paint in Wednesday’s 118-112 win at Houston. OKC won that game due to its 51.2% FG and its 58-44 rebounding edge over the Rockets. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 30 points to increase his NBA-leading scoring average to 28.3 PPG. Durant is averaging 31.5 PPG on 52% FG in his past four games and 34.4 PPG in his past five home games. However, Durant carries a career-low 17.6 PPG and 37% FG in his five meetings with Orlando. Russell Westbrook has also had his shooting woes against Orlando, connecting on just 33.9% FG (19-for-56) in four meetings with the Magic. Westbrook had 23 points and 13 assists in the win at Houston, but is shooting just 35.3% FG in his past three games.

The FoxSheets give two reasons to expect Orlando to bounce back from Wednesday’s loss with a win and cover on Thursday.

Play On - All teams where the line is +3 to -3 (ORLANDO) - off an upset loss as a favorite, a good team (60% to 75%) playing a team with a winning record. (162-103 since 1996.) (61.1%, +48.7 units. Rating = 2*).

Play Against - Home teams where the line is +3 to -3 (OKLAHOMA CITY) - poor defensive team - allowing 99+ points/game on the season against opponent after a loss by 6 points or less. (140-84 since 1996.) (62.5%, +47.6 units. Rating = 2*).

The FoxSheets also side with the Under based on this trend.

ORLANDO is 16-3 UNDER (+12.7 Units) after 2 consecutive non-conference games over the last 2 seasons. The average score was ORLANDO 98.1, OPPONENT 94.3 - (Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 03:07 PM

Virginia Tech looks to keep win streak alive at UNC

VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (10-4)

at NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (11-4)

Tip-off: Thursday, 9:00 p.m. EDT
Line: North Carolina -6, Total: 140

Virginia Tech looks to extend its winning streak to seven games when it visits North Carolina on Thursday night.

Jeff Allen (13.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG), who's been bothered by a groin injury, had 18 of his season-high 24 points in the second half as the Hokies defeated Florida State 71-59 on Saturday for their sixth straight victory. Allen also finished with 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season, hitting 7-of-12 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. Allen is averaging 18.0 PPG and 12.7 RPG in his past three games. Virginia Tech's defense limited Florida State to just 35.5% shooting (22-of-62) and forced 19 turnovers. It continues a strong defensive stretch for the Hokies, who haven't allowed 70 points in a game since a 71-59 loss at UNLV on Nov. 28. Leading scorer Malcolm Delaney (18.6 PPG, 42.0% three-pointers) added 13 points against the Seminoles and has scored in double figures in 13-of-14 games this season.

North Carolina, which has won seven of its past eight games, also comes into the game on a winning streak, albeit a smaller one than Virginia Tech. The Tar Heels have won four straight after losing to Texas, 78-76, on Dec. 18. UNC defeated Virginia, 62-56, on Saturday despite shooting only 37% for the game. Tyler Zeller (14.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG) led North Carolina with 12 points, but shot 4-of-10 from the field. The Tar Heels have relied on their defense during the winning streak, limiting the four opponents (William & Mary, Rutgers, St. Francis-PA and Virginia) to 60 points or less in each game. Harrison Barnes, the only other player on the team who scores in double-figures (11.7 PPG), added nine points versus the Cavaliers.

UNC is 7-0 at home this season and will be aiming for its 300th career win at the Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series with Virginia Tech, 60-13, and are 7-3 against Va. Tech since the Hokies joined the ACC, including 2-1 in the Smith Center. Last season, the Tar Heels shot 65.2% in the second half while limiting Virginia Tech to 33.3% in the second half for a 78-64 victory at home. Larry Drew II (5.1 PPG, 3.9 APG) had 14 points and eight assists in that game. The Hokies returned the favor in Blacksburg in February, winning 74-70 behind Delaney's 21 points.

The Hokies are 7-4 ATS (3-8 SU) in the past 11 meetings with UNC and the Tar Heels have posted a woeful 10-25-1 ATS record against ACC foes over the past three seasons. Look for Carolina to survive a close call on Thursday night. The FoxSheets give two more reasons to expect Virginia Tech to at least cover the spread on Thursday.

N CAROLINA is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in home games after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 3 seasons. The average score was N CAROLINA 92.3, OPPONENT 75.0 - (Rating = 3*).

Seth Greenberg is 25-11 ATS (69.4%, +12.9 Units) off a home win against a conference rival as the coach of VIRGINIA TECH. The average score was VIRGINIA TECH 70.1, OPPONENT 69.5 - (Rating = 2*).

The FoxSheets also show a five-star trend backing the Under.

NORTH CAROLINA is 16-2 UNDER (+13.8 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons. The average score was NORTH CAROLINA 66.1, OPPONENT 70.9 - (Rating = 5*).

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 03:09 PM

WVU looks to continue dominance over Providence

PROVIDENCE FRIARS (11-6)

at WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (10-4)

Tip-off: Thursday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: West Virginia -9.5, Total: 152

After a big win against Georgetown, West Virginia looks to keep the momentum going when it hosts Providence on Thursday night.

The Mountaineers are coming off a 65-59 victory at Georgetown on Saturday, and were led by Casey Mitchell's (17.6 PPG) 28 points. It marked his 12th double-figure scoring game of the season and first 20-point output since Dec. 1. Mitchell was 10-of-19 from the field, including 4-of-7 on three-pointers. He shoots at a 38.8% clip from behind the arc and has connected on 18 of his last 39 attempts (46.1%) from long range. Kevin Jones (13.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG) added 15 points and eight boards, and West Virginia's defense forced the Hoyas into 18 turnovers. Darryl Bryant is third on WVU in scoring with 12.3 PPG, but he has shot only 7-for-25 in his past two games and had nine points versus Georgetown.

Providence brings a four-game losing streak to West Virginia, but two of those setbacks came at Syracuse, 81-74, and versus Pittsburgh, 83-79 with PC covering both games. The Friars have lost four Big East games by an average of 6.5 PPG. They dropped an 85-72 decision at Rutgers on Saturday after shooting just 25% (7-for-28) in the second half and 30.8% for the game (20-for-65). Despite the defeats, Marshon Brooks (23.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 50.4 FG%) continues to be a bright spot for Providence, ranking fifth in the nation in scoring. He tallied 29 points against the Scarlet Knights, marking the 11th consecutive game that he's had at least 20 points, and the 13th time he's done it this season. Vincent Council, second on the team in scoring with 15.2 PPG and 6.8 APG, had 14 points but shot just 2-of-13 from the field and 1-of-6 from the three-point line.

West Virginia owns a 15-11 edge in its all-time series with Providence, including an 8-1 mark in Morgantown. The Friars have lost six straight and 13 of the past 16 meetings (4-11-1 ATS) overall since 2000, with their last victory in the series, 64-61, coming on February 20, 2007. Last season, the Mountaineers won at Providence, 88-74, as Mitchell had two points in just three minutes of action, while Jones finished with nine. Council and Brooks each scored 13 for the Friars.

With Brooks leading the way, Providence knows how to score (24th in the nation with 79.2 PPG), so expect the Friars to give the Mountaineers all they can handle on Thursday. This FoxSheets trend likes Providence to cover the spread.

Play Against - Home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (W VIRGINIA) - off a win over a conference rival as an underdog of 6 points or more against opponent off a road loss. (25-5 over the last 5 seasons.) (83.3%, +19.5 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 03:10 PM

Purdue seeks 5-0 Big Ten start at Minnesota

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (15-1)

at MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (12-4)

Tip-off: Thursday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Purdue -4, Total: 135.5

When the college basketball season got underway, the Big Ten was perceived as having two legitimate Final Four contenders in Michigan State and Ohio State, three other tournament challengers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. And then there was Purdue, a squad that entered the season dealing with the question of “what if.” What if last year’s second-leading scorer Robbie Hummel had not suffered a season-ending ACL injury for the second time in nine months? How far could the Boilermakers have gone with its experienced trio of expected starters Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore? Not to say that the cupboard was bare for Matt Painter’s team, it just seemed too bare to contend for a conference title, or so it seemed. Well it’s the second week in January and that 4-0 team atop the Big Ten standings step for step with Ohio State is not Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois or Minnesota. It’s Purdue, 15-1 Purdue, winners of 10 straight games Purdue. Once again Painter is squeezing every ounce of blood, sweat and excellence out of a squad that many thought would be too short-handed to be this good. Thursday night, Painter will try and make it 5-0 in conference play when the Boilermakers look to steal a big road win in the noisy confines of Minnesota’s Williams Arena.

The Gophers have struggled early against some tough competition on the court, and a little bit of drama off of it. Three of the Gophers first four league games have been on the road against arguably the league’s best teams. While Tubby Smith’s squad has been valiant, they’ve dropped an eight-point game to Wisconsin, a nine-point game to Michigan State and a tough three-point loss Sunday to Ohio State. Off the court, Minnesota has had to deal with the arrest of co-leading scorer and top rebounder Trevor Mbakwe (13.4 PPG, 10.4 RPG). After a Monday arrest for an incident involving a former girlfriend, Smith decided that the incident did not warrant a suspension, but he has been removed from the starting lineup. Mbakwe tallied 16 points and 12 boards in Sunday’s 67-64 loss to the Buckeyes. Defensively, Minnesota is allowing 67.9 PPG, ranking them 10th in the conference, an unusual position for a Tubby Smith coached team.

While Johnson (19.4 PPG) and Moore (18.8 PPG) have carried the Boilermakers, they have hit a mini-slump of late. Johnson has scored below his average in his past three games and Moore has a combined 15 points in his past two contests with zero free-throw attempts. Enter junior guard Ryne Smith (7.4 PPG), who has sizzled in Big Ten play, picking up the slack for Johnson and Moore while supplying Purdue with that crucial third offensive option. Smith's season high was 11 points prior to the conference schedule, but he's averaged 17.0 PPG and shot 67% percent (18-of-27) from 3-point range in his last four games. Sunday night versus Iowa, Smith scored 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.

Purdue has won a school record 10 consecutive road games, and with a win, it will have started the season 5-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1989-90. Purdue has won five straight regular-season meetings, but the Gophers upset the Boilermakers 69-42 in last season's Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Although Purdue is 10-2 ATS this season (5-2 ATS on road, 4-0 ATS in Big Ten) and Minnesota is only 7-9 ATS (2-7 ATS on road, 1-3 ATS in Big Ten), the FoxSheets give two reasons to choose Minnesota to cover the spread at home.

Tubby Smith is 22-7 ATS (75.9%, +14.3 Units) in a home game where the total is 135 to 139.5 in all games he has coached since 1997. The average score was Smith 74.8, OPPONENT 59.5 - (Rating = 2*).

PURDUE is 39-63 ATS (38.2%, -30.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997. The average score was PURDUE 64.4, OPPONENT 69.4 - (Rating = 1*).

The FoxSheets also side with the Under based on this highly-rated trend.

Tubby Smith is 20-6 UNDER (+13.4 Units) when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 80%) as the coach of MINNESOTA. The average score was MINNESOTA 61.9, OPPONENT 64.0 - (Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 04:41 PM

Purdue invades Minnesota in NCAA betting

The resilient Purdue Boilermakers face their toughest test of the year Thursday night when they visit the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a Big Ten battle.

Purdue was a top candidate for the national title until shockwaves were sent through the program on Oct. 16. Star senior forward Robbie Hummel tore the ACL in his right knee and was lost for the season.

Hummel tore the same ACL last February to cut short last season, but coach Matt Painter and the Boilermakers didn’t pack in the towel. They won NCAA tournament games over Siena (72-64) and Texas A&M (63-61 in OT) before bowing to eventual champion Duke (70-57) in the Sweet Sixteen after trailing by just one at halftime.

Purdue (15-1 straight-up, 10-3 against the spread) has remained focused this year and is up to No. 8 in the latest Coaches Poll. Center JaJuan Johnson (19.4 PPG) and guard E’Twaun Moore (18.8 PPG) both spurned the NBA to return for their senior season and are putting up All-American type numbers.

The Boilermakers have opened up at 4-0 SU and ATS in the Big Ten and are 8-1 ATS in their last nine lined games. They’re scoring 76.2 PPG and allowing 57 PPG, both ranked third among Big Ten teams. Their 19.2 PPG scoring margin is second in the conference behind national No. 2 Ohio State.

That doesn’t mean Purdue is without questions. Minnesota is the first ranked team it has faced and the Big Ten opponents played (Iowa, Penn State, Northwestern, Michigan) were all predicted to finish at the bottom of the conference.

There’s also no consistent third scorer with Hummel gone. John Hart is next at just 8.4 PPG and he’s questionable (foot) Thursday after missing the last eight games. Guard Ryne Smith is averaging 17 PPG the last four games after shooting 18-of-27 (66.7 percent) from three-point land, but he can’t be relied upon.

Size is also an issue with the 6-foot-10 Johnson the only starter above 6-foot-5. The 6-foot-4 Moore is second in rebounding (6.0 RPG) behind Johnson (8.3 RPG). This could be a problem against the bigger and more physical conference teams.

The No. 25 Golden Gophers (12-4 SU, 7-9 ATS) have been in the news for the wrong reason lately with top scorer (13.4 PPG) and rebounder (10.4 RPG) Trevor Mbakwe arrested after violating a restraining order. He missed last season with an assault charge.

Mbakwe will not be suspended for this game according to coach Tubby Smith. The 6-foot-8, 240 pound junior forward provides a nice tandem up front with 6-foot-11 center Ralph Sampson III. Minnesota has a major size advantage in this game with 6-foot-10 Colton Iverson a decent ‘big’ off the bench.

The Golden Gophers are just 1-3 SU and ATS in the Big Ten. The three losses all came at ranked teams (Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State). The Ohio State game was last Sunday and Minnesota almost pulled off the upset (67-64) despite being 15 ½ point ‘dogs.

Point guard Al Nolen had 11 points against OSU and he’s a solid player along with starting shooting guard Blake Hoffarber (13.4 PPG) and small forward Rodney Williams (6.7 PPG). There’s a major lack of depth though with guard Devoe Joseph deciding to transfer and freshman big man Mo Walker (knee) out for the year.

The Golden Gophers are 8-1 SU at home this year, getting upset 87-79 as 13-point favorites by Virginia in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. They’re 2-7 ATS at home, failing to ‘cover’ in six straight.

Purdue and Minnesota each won on the other’s home court last year, with Minnesota going 2-0 ATS. The ‘under’ went 2-0 and is 12-1 in the last 13 meetings overall.

ESPN will have the tip-off from Williams Arena at 4 p.m. (PT). The telecast is followed by the ACC matchup pitting North Carolina against Virginia Tech from Chapel Hill.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 04:42 PM

NCAA Odds: North Carolina hosts Va Tech

The Virginia Tech Hokies and North Carolina Tar Heels meet just once on the regular season schedule. That makes Thursday's matchup doubly important.

Seth Greenberg brings Virginia Tech (10-4 straight up, 4-6-1 against the spread) into Chapel Hill riding a six-game win streak. The stretch started just after the Hokies cracked their ACC schedule on Dec. 5 with a 57-54 home loss to Virginia as eight-point favorites. Since then, Va Tech owns victories over Penn State, Mississippi State and Florida State, covering three of the four lined games in that span.

The Hokies are also on a four-game 'over' run after beginning the campaign 6-1 to the 'under.'

Last Saturday's 71-59 triumph over the Seminoles saw Virginia Tech close as 3½-point chalk. The Hokies took a 10-point lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to a late run to end the first stanza. The win snapped a three-game losing streak versus Florida State.

Jeff Allen led the way for Va Tech with 24 points, adding 11 rebounds for his third straight double-double and seventh of the season. The 6-foot-7 senior has seen his scoring increase while Malcolm Delaney's output has dropped off a bit. Delaney leads the Hokies with an 18.6 per game average, but has been finding open looks fewer and further between, scoring just 42 points in the last three games combined.

Allen's play has been key, but another big factor in Va Tech's string of wins has been guard Erick Green. The sophomore has stepped in to start all six games in the streak, taking over for Dorenzo Hudson who was lost for the season due to a foot injury. Green, averaging just over nine points a game for the season, is posting a 13.7 PPG mark during the win streak.

If the Hokies are to make it seven straight, they'll have to do it against a team they haven't had much luck against over the years. The Tar Heels own a 60-13 all-time lead in the series, winning 23 of the last 26 meetings between the two schools, and 27 of 32 in Chapel Hill.

North Carolina (11-4 SU, 5-7 ATS) hits the hardwood on a four-game winning streak. The Tar Heels have lost just once since opening 4-3, the lone defeat to Texas on Dec. 18 when the Longhorns scored a 78-76 win in Greensboro thanks to a late jumper by freshman Cory Joseph.

Roy Williams' squad will be looking to move to 2-0 in ACC play after beginning the conference portion of their schedule with a 62-56 win at Virginia this past Saturday. Down by seven at the break, UNC got its act together in the second half when the Heels outscored the Cavaliers, 32-19, just missing the 6½-point cover.

The Tar Heels overcame a poor shooting effort, hitting just 37 percent of their field goals, by controlling the offensive glass to set up second chances. North Carolina also held a big 19-8 scoring advantage from the free-throw line, netting just over 70 percent of the charity tosses.

Freshman Harrison Barnes has been very inconsistent for North Carolina, playing reasonably well for stretches during a game but yet to really have a breakout performance. His glass work has slacked off since the early stage of the season, and he's prone to taking ill-advised shots, hitting just 11 of his last 26 field goals.

UNC and Va Tech split their two regular season matchups a year go, each winning at home. The Tar Heels covered as nine-point favorites, 78-64, with the Hokies pushing their four-point line in a 74-70 victory in Blacksburg. Both games finished 'under' the total, but just barely.

ESPN will broadcast the 6 p.m. (PT) tip from the Dean Smith Center, with the Big Ten Purdue-Minnesota contest leading into this ACC battle.

Up next the Tar Heels have a Sunday date in Atlanta with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Virginia Tech returns home with just a day off before hosting Wake Forest on Saturday.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 04:47 PM

NBA Odds: Wizards seek road win at T-wolves

The Washington Wizards are looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves this Thursday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. (PT) and the game is available nationally on NBA League Pass.

Washington only won three games in the month of December but can match that total for the new year with a win. The Wizards are coming off a wild 136-133 victory over Sacramento on Tuesday night as a seven-point home favorite and they beat New Jersey 97-77 as a five-point home favorite last Friday night.

The only problem is they have yet to win a game this season on the road. Washington is 10-26 straight-up overal, 0-18 SU on the road. It is 14-22 against the spread and 5-13 ATS away from home.

The Wizards’ leading scorer is Andray Blatche, who is averaging 16.1 points per game and closely followed by Nick Young and rookie guard John Wall. Both Young and Wall are averaging just under 16 points a game and Wall leads the team in assists with 8.8. The Wizards also recetly added Rashard Lewis, who has averaged 13.4 points and 8.2 rebounds since joining the team in December.

Blatche is currently listed as day-to-day with a shoulder injury, but is expected to ready to go for Thursday night.

Washington is ranked 23rd in the league in scoring with an average of 96.6 points per game and 21st in points allowed; giving up an average of 102.5. It’s 43.9 shooting percentages from the field is also one of the worst in the league and the Wizards are shooting just 34 percent from three-point range.

Minnesota opened the New Year by crushing New Jersey 103-88 as a five-point home favorite, but followed it up with five straight losses. The Timberwolves did throw a scare into San Antonio last Sunday in a 94-91 loss as an 11 ½-point road underdog, but lost to the Spurs 107-96 as a six-point home underdog on Tuesday night in the back half of a home-and-home series. They are currently 9-30 SU on the year but a respectable 19-20 ATS.

Kevin Love and Michael Beasley are the top two scorers for Minnesota. Love is averaging 21.1 points per game and leads the league in rebounds with 15.8 per game. Beasley is averaging 20.9 points and adds 5.8 rebounds per game. He is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury but is expected to play.

Scoring has not been an issue for the Timberwolves who are ranked eighth with 102.2 points per game. The problem has been the 108.1 points per game they are giving up which rank them second to last. Love has Minnesota at the top of the league in rebounds with 45 per game while holding its opposition to 42.4, but these positive stats have yet to equate to wins.

Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games and 1-5 ATS in its last six games overall. The total has gone ‘over’ in three of its last four games.

Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last five games at home and 1-3 ATS in its last four games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in four of the last six games.

Head-to-head, the Wizards have won five of the last six games SU and are also 5-1 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in three of the last four meetings.

The actual opening line for this game will hinge of both the health of Blatche and Beasley, but look for Minnesota to be a slight home favorite either way. Taking the Wizards on the road is a risky proposition no matter what the spread is, so stick with the home team in this game.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 04:48 PM

Heat, Nuggets cap TNT Thursday twinbill

The Miami Heat have won their first five games of January, with a 3-2 spread record. Erik Spoelstra’s squad plays the second night of a back-to-back spot in Thursday’s road duel against the Denver Nuggets, who are 1-3 ATS in their last four games.

Miami escaped with its second straight overtime win in Sunday’s 107-100 triumph as a five-point road favorite against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Heat staged a late 9-2 run in the final 1:46 of the fourth quarter to tie the game, 93-93, before outscoring the Blazers in extra minutes, 14-7.

Heat forward LeBron James notched team-highs of 44 points and 13 rebounds, finishing with a second straight double-double. The two-time league MVP hit 17-of-26 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.

James’ mate Dwyane Wade logged 34 points and five assists. The 28-year-old added one of his team’s three blocks, while failing to grab a steal for the first time in three games.

The lengthy affair’s combined 186 points in regulation time leaped above the ‘total’ of 183, making the ‘over’ 5-1 in Miami’s last six games. The Heat outscored Portland in fast break points, 23-12, while being outrebounded, 43-41.

Miami improved to 13-7 ATS in their first 20 road games, with the ‘under’ dropping to 12-8. Wade and Co. have allowed a stingy 91.6 PPG in that span.

The Heat will visit Denver on no rest after playing Wednesday’s contest against the Los Angeles Clippers. Miami is 5-4 ATS in the second game of its first nine back-to-back spots, with the ‘over’ also going 5-4.

The Nuggets ended a three-game losing streak with Tuesday’s 132-98 spanking as 4 ½-point home favorites against the Phoenix Suns. Denver trailed by as many as 14 points, while surging to as much as a 38-point lead.

Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo notched team-highs of 31 points and two blocks. The California native went a perfect 7-for-7 at the foul line, while draining 2-of-4 from three-point range.

Denver’s Carmelo Anthony finished with 28 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, picking up his first double-double in four games. The three-time All-Star connected on 9-of-17 from the field.

The lopsided battle’s combined 230 points soared above the ‘total’ of 218 ½, bringing the ‘over’ to 4-3 in the Nuggets’ last seven games. Denver shot 55.7 percent from the field, while holding the Suns to 36.8 percent.

The Nuggets moved to 7-11-2 ATS in their first 20 home dates, with the ‘over’ lifting to 11-8-1. George Karl’s crew has put up a scorching 109.2 PPG in that stretch.

Denver is 7-2 ATS in its last nine meetings against the Heat, with the ‘under’ going 5-4.

The foes have not met since December 2009, when the Nuggets notched a 114-96 win as nine-point home favorites. Denver drained a stellar 9-of-17 from beyond the arc, while the Heat hit a lowly 20-of-31 at the foul line.

Thursday’s tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (PT), with TNT providing the national television coverage.

Both squads have one day off before resuming action as part of Saturday’s league slate. Miami will complete its five-game road journey against the Chicago Bulls, while Denver remains home to face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 04:49 PM

Canucks and Rangers top NHL odds slate

The Vancouver Canucks will bring their league-leading 62 points into Madison Square Garden for a Thursday showdown with a New York Rangers squad that has seen the ‘under’ cash in seven straight outings.

This will be Vancouver’s second stop on a five-game road excursion, with the puck dropping at 4:05 p.m. (PT).

Vancouver’s trip started Tuesday with a 4-3 shootout victory as 225 road favorites against the New York Islanders. The win was Vancouver’s ninth in its last 10 games and raised its road ledger to a sparkling 13-5-2-1. The club is outscoring the opposition on the road by an average of 3.24 to 2.52.

Vancouver has now registered at least one point in 17 straight games, going 14-0-3 during that span.

The combined seven goals skipped above the 5 ½-goal closing total, leaving the ‘over’ 21-20 in the Canucks’ first 41 outings and 11-10 in their initial 21 road dates.

Alex Burrows, Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa scored for the Canucks in regulation against the Islanders. Roberto Luongo made 38 saves to register the win and raise his ledger to 20-8-1-3. He also has a sizzling 2.34 GAA, a .922 save percentage and two shutouts.

The Canucks have now amassed three goals or more in eight of their last 10 contests. The outburst has moved Vancouver’s offense into the No. 2 spot in the league at 3.4 goals per game. Most of that success can be attributed to the league’s second-best power play that is clicking at a 24.7 percent success rate.

But the Canucks are not just out-slugging their opponents. The defense has also been stellar. That is evidenced by Vancouver yielding just 2.4 GPG, which ranks fifth. The Canucks’ penalty killing unit ranks fourth, with an 85.1 percent success rate when they are shorthanded.

The New York Rangers had their three-game winning streak snapped during Tuesday’s 2-1 loss against the Montreal Canadiens. The Rangers closed as 130 home favorites and saw their home ledger slip to an unimpressive 10-9-1-1. They are outscoring the opposition at Madison Square Garden by a slim average of 2.95 to 2.48.

The combined three goals in the Montreal game enabled the ‘under’ to cash in New York’s last seven contests. The Rangers have not scored or yielded more than two goals in six of those seven attempts. The ‘under’ is now 27-16 in New York’s first 43 efforts, but just 11-9 in its first 20 home encounters.

The low-scoring affairs have influenced New York’s offensive and defensive rankings. The Rangers are 13th in the league offensively, averaging 2.8 goals per game. They are allowing an average of 2.5 GPG, which is the league’s sixth best mark.

Most of the stellar defense can be attributed to netminder Henrik Lundqvist, who is 18-13-2-1 with a nifty 2.32 GAA and a .924 save percentage. He also has five shutouts, which ranks fifth among goalies. Lundqvist is 11-5-2 with a 1.81 goals against average and .938 save percentage since Thanksgiving.

Wojtek Wolski, who was acquired by the Rangers from Phoenix earlier this week, almost was the hero against the Habs. Wolski's shot from the left side with just under three minutes left in regulation beat Montreak goalie Alex Auld, but hit the near post. When the puck bounced into the crease, the Canadiens were able to clear it away and preserve the one goal victory.

The Rangers hit the road Saturday for a quick rematch with the Canadiens. The Canucks continue their five-game road excursion Friday with a stop in Washington to play the Capitals.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-13-2011, 04:51 PM

Thursday Tip Sheet

January 13, 2011

I’ve never been in a spot to rush the court in college hoops, but always seemed like a bad idea. My thinking was always that some overzealous security guard would find me to be a great test subject to try out his new taser.

Could that have happened last night in Tallahassee, where the Seminoles pulled off a huge 66-61 upset as 7 ½-point home pups to top-ranked Duke. It’s the third time that Florida State has beaten the Blue Devils when they were No. 1 in the land at home since 2002. The ‘Noles cashed in at plus-285 (risk $100 to win $285) for the upset.

Ohio State did its level best to give away a shot at the No. 1 ranking last night in a 68-64 win in Ann Arbor against the Wolverines. While the Buckeyes got the win, Michigan covered as a 11-point home underdog.

So what does Thursday night hold for us in college basketball? Well, ranked upsets are going to be held to just two chances at seeing kids go crazy on the floor. Let’s look at both of those matchups.

Purdue at Minnesota

The Boilermakers are listed as four-point road favorites with a total of 137.

Purdue (15-1 straight up, 9-2 against the spread) was supposed to be dead in the water without Robbie Hummel in the lineup. But here the Boilermakers are, having won all four of their Big Ten tests by an average margin of victory of 18.5 points per game. And the gambling public has enjoyed backing them with four straight ATS wins.

The Boilermakers are winning because of great defense, allowing teams to score just 57.0 PPG this year to rank seventh in the country. A big reason for that success on the defensive side of the court is not letting the opposition get second shots. They’re grabbing 38.3 rebounds per game, while giving up 32.9 boards per match.

JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore have been the go-to forces for Purdue to put up points, scoring 19.4 and 18.8 PPG respectively. The Boilers have found another scorer to count on so far in conference play in Ryne Smith. The junior out of Toledo, Ohio has averaged 17.0 PPG since getting in the Big Ten portion of the schedule.

Minnesota (12-4 SU, 6-8 ATS) looked like they were going to be a power this year under Tubby Smith. And they still could be said power…the Golden Gophers just didn’t’ enter the Big Ten schedule with a lot of zeal. Smith’s club has dropped three of their first four games in conference action. But they did nearly pull of the stunner of the year by falling 67-64 at Ohio State as 15 ½-point road pups on Sunday.

Trevor Mbakwe (13.4 PPG), Blake Hoffarber (13.4 PPG) and Ralph Samson III (10.7 PPG) are your top targets on the Gophers. And that trio will be what dictates how they contend in this and any other game. Devoe Joseph has not played in the last two games with Minnesota. Don’t look for Joseph to return either after his mom noted he has left the school altogether.

Minnesota has enjoyed the home court advantage by going 8-1 SU. Gamblers don’t care for them, however, evidenced by a 2-7 ATS record.

The Boilermakers have been road warriors this season with a 4-0 SU and ATS record in true road tests. The ‘over’ is 3-1 in those battles as well.

Recent history between these two teams has seen the visitors go 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS. The ‘under’ is 3-1 in that time frame.

You’ll be able to see this game on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Washington at Stanford

Washington (12-3 SU, 9-4-1 ATS) comes into this contest as a seven-point road favorite with a total of 140.

The Huskies are rolling through the Pac-10 thanks to one of the deeper rosters in college basketball. Washington has three players averaging double digits in scoring, with Isaiah Thomas leading the way with 16.0 PPG. But they’re getting more production out of freshman Terrence Ross, who has averaged 19.5 PPG in his last two starts with Abdul Gaddy out of the lineup with a torn ACL.

It also doesn’t hurt for the Huskies that they’re shooting 49.1 percent from the field, which ranks them 14th in the country. Plus, Washington is holding teams to just 39.4 percent from the field.

The result of that info is a team that has won all four of its Pac-10 matches, failing to cover the number just once.

Stanford (9-5 SU, 6-6 ATS) comes into this game wanting to prove that they can hang with the best the Pac-10 has to offer. The problem is that they are fresh off a 67-57 setback at Arizona last Sunday. The plus is the Cardinal covered as 11 ½-point road ‘dogs, putting them on a 4-0 ATS run.

The Cardinal shot just 2-for-12 from beyond the arc in that game against Arizona. Should we be surprised by this? Not really since Stanford is 117th in the land at shooting three-pointers with a 35.9 percent success rate.

There is not much going for Stanford in this game in terms of history. Washington is on a 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS run since 2009. The Huskies are just 2-2 SU in their last four trips to Palo Alto. However, they are 4-0 ATS in those games.

The Cardinal does have one saving grace for themselves in the fact that they are 7-0 SU and 4-1 ATS at home this season.

Washington is just 2-1 SU and 2-0-1 ATS in its three true road matches during the 2010-11 campaign.

Tip-off for this contest happens at 10:00 p.m. EST.

Announcement

The Bum's Thursday's Best Bets NHL-NBA-NCAAB !

The Bum's Thursday's Best Bets NHL-NBA-NCAAB !

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment