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**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 05:59 PM

Nuggets favored big over Gordon-less Hornets

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (2-6)

at DENVER NUGGETS (6-3)

Tip-off: Monday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: Denver -13, Total: 192

At 6-3, the Denver Nuggets are just in third place in the Northwest Division and will look to make up ground on the Blazers and Thunder by beating the Hornets, losers of six straight, on Monday night.

The Hornets are also in a rut against the lines, with ATS losses in three consecutive games and five of their past six ATS. The Nuggets are the opposite story, with an 8-1 mark ATS this season, winning six consecutive games against the lines. When these two teams faced off last Friday, the game was in New Orleans, so the Nuggets were only favored by 6.5 points, which they covered with an eight-point win. They did this despite an injured Nene Hilario, who attempted to play that game and overcome his foot injury, but managed only 22 minutes. He did not play in the Nuggets game the next day, and is an optimistic question mark for action on Monday night. Even though Denver now has to cover a double-digit margin against the Hornets, it should be able to do so. The Nuggets are 4-0 ATS at home, and have proven their mettle against Western Conference opponents, with a 7-1 ATS mark against them this season. On one day of rest the Nuggets are 4-0 ATS while the Hornets are 1-4 (SU and ATS). Play on the chalk, DENVER, to pull out this win in blowout fashion.

These two FoxSheets trends also favor the Nuggets on Monday:

Play On - Any team (DENVER) - very good shooting team - shooting >=48% on the season, after a game - allowing a shooting pct. of 55% or higher. (39-15 since 1996.) (72.2%, +22.5 units. Rating = 2*).

Play Against - Road underdogs of 10 or more points (NEW ORLEANS) - after failing to cover 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread against opponent hot team - having covered 6 or 7 of their last 8 against the spread. (36-13 over the last 5 seasons.) (73.5%, +21.7 units. Rating = 2*).

Watch out for Hilario’s status, but the Nuggets have shown they are just fine without him, winning ATS against the Spurs, Kings and Bucks already this season.

In a league built around stars, the Nuggets are proving that it is possible to win with depth, led by six players who average double-digit points per contest, but no player averaging more than 17 points. The surging player on Denver is Danilo Gallinari (16.9 PPG) who over his past two games has been deadly from the field (58% FG), scoring 54 points with six threes in that span. Ty Lawson has also been effective for the Nuggets all season (16.6 PPG, 6.3 APG) and will look to improve on his performance against the Hornets his last time out when he shot just 3-of-13 from the field and had five turnovers (but eight assists too), in Denver’s win.

While New Orleans had been hoping he would return sooner, star guard Eric Gordon has needed additional time to rest his knee and will remain out for the next two weeks. Without him, the Hornets have no depth at the guard position, which is quite a problem playing against the deepest team in the league. The backcourt in particular is thin, relying on Greivis Vasquez to handle serious time off the bench now, who has shown mixed results with just 6.0 PPG on 35% FG in his limited time. Leading them among the starters is Jarrett Jack (16.1 PPG, 7.7 APG), but he turns the ball over 3.1 times per game. The Hornets are a strong rebounding team though, ranking third in the NBA in rebounding margin (+6.3 RPG).

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:00 PM

Bulls try to beat Pistons for 13th straight time

DETROIT PISTONS (2-6)

at CHICAGO BULLS (7-2)

Tip-off: Monday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Chicago -13.5, Total: 176

The best and worst teams in the Central Division take the floor when the Detroit Pistons travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls, who have beaten them 12 straight times.

Chicago has posted a stellar 9-2-1 ATS mark during its win streak in this series. The Pistons have been just as bad ATS as they have SU this season with a 2-6 mark against the lines. Furthermore, they are winless (0-3 SU and ATS) on the road. The Bulls have been mediocre ATS (5-4) but are 2-1 ATS (3-0 SU) on one day’s rest this season, outscoring these three opponents by 18.7 PPG. In their first meeting this season, Chicago easily defeated the Pistons 99-83, with Derrick Rose tearing up the Detroit backcourt for a double-double (17 pts, 10 ast). Additionally, the Pistons are handling the lockout scheduling poorly, going 1-4 ATS on one day of rest. Play on CHICAGO, despite the heavy point spread, for the win and cover in this game.

These two highly-rated FoxSheets trends also favor the Bulls to win big on Monday:

Play On - Any team (CHICAGO) - good team - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game, after a blowout loss by 15 points or more. (123-73 over the last 5 seasons.) (62.8%, +42.7 units. Rating = 2*).

Play Against - Road underdogs of 10 or more points (DETROIT) - after failing to cover 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread against opponent after having covered 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread. (54-24 over the last 5 seasons.) (69.2%, +27.6 units. Rating = 2*).

Bulls’ shooting guard Richard Hamilton (12.4 PPG) injured his groin earlier in the season and attempted to rush back in order to play against the Pistons (his former team) on January 4. He worsened the injury then, however, sitting out Chicago’s past two games. He is doubtful for action on Monday, a potential advantage for the underdog Pistons.

Derrick Rose is the oil of the Chicago offense, with the young point guard setting the pace and tone of every possession. The Bulls (23.3 APG) have the second best passing offense in the NBA because of Rose (8.4 APG), and he should have no problem moving the ball against a Detroit backcourt that can score, but can be lackadaisical on the defensive end. No player on the Pistons averages a full steal per game. Still, the true test for Chicago may be defending the post against 6-foot-11 sophomore center Greg Monroe. C Joakim Noah (7.7 PPG) and PF Carlos Boozer (14.0 PPG) will need to be sharp and always know where he is to make sure he doesn’t get any easy buckets. And for the Bulls to cover, they need a better effort out of second-leading scorer Luol Deng (15.2 PPG), who had just two points on 1-of-6 FG in Detroit last week.

Monroe (15.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG) leads the Pistons in both scoring and rebounding. SG Ben Gordon also averages 15.6 PPG in a starting role, but he leaves something to be desired as a defender, a problem against the passing talents of Rose. Both Monroe and Gordon are improving steadily this season though, with Monroe exploding for 19 points, 13 rebounds and five assists against the Bulls last Wednesday. Gordon connected on just 2-of-10 FG attempts against his former team. The Pistons do not have the backcourt defense to compete against the Bulls, however, so play against them even with the heavy points.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:02 PM

UConn tries to stop 2-game skid hosting WVU

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (12-4)

at CONNECTICUT HUSKIES (12-3)

Tip-off: Monday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Connecticut -5, Total: 139

The Connecticut Huskies look to bounce back from two consecutive losses when West Virginia visits Hartford for a Big East battle on Monday night.

The Mountaineers—4-1 ATS over their past five games—are flying high after a big 74-62 win over No. 9 Georgetown in Morgantown on Saturday. WVU features the Big East’s leading scorer and rebounder in 6-foot-8 senior forward Kevin Jones (19.8 PPG, 11.9 RPG), whose ability to score inside and beyond the arc creates a serious matchup problem for opponents. UConn (3-7 ATS) has lacked energy and rhythm in its back-to-back road defeats—failing to score 65 points in either game. The Huskies turned the ball over a season-high 20 times in Saturday’s 67-60 loss to Rutgers, and rank last in the Big East in 3-point defense with opponents scoring at a 36% clip from behind the arc. And even though a return home should provide a boost to Connecticut, the off-campus XL Center always lacks the boisterous crowds that usually give home teams an advantage. With the Mountaineers playing better ball right now, take WEST VIRGINIA to keep this one close and cover the spread.

This pair of FoxSheets trends also favors the Mountaineers:

Play On - A road team (WEST VIRGINIA) - average 3PT shooting team (32-36.5%) against an average 3PT defense (32-36.5%), average ball handling team (14.5-17.5 TO) vs. a poor pressure defense (<=14.5 TO) after 15+ games. (254-171 over the last 5 seasons.) (59.8%, +65.9 units. Rating = 2*).

CONNECTICUT is 6-16 ATS (27.3%, -11.6 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons. The average score was CONNECTICUT 66.5, OPPONENT 67.1 - (Rating = 1*).

West Virginia features a terrific one-two punch with Jones and senior guard Darryl “Truck” Bryant (18.4 PPG—3rd in Big East). The Mountaineers also get solid contributions from 6-foot-9 Turkish forward Deniz Kilicli (10.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG). Against common Big East opponents, WVU got blown out at Seton Hall, but followed that game up with a 21-point rout at Rutgers. Conversely, UConn followed its 12-point loss to Seton Hall with another lackluster effort, falling to the Scarlet Knights by seven.

The Huskies have struggled to find an identity in the post-Kemba Walker era. Sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb (18.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG)—a preseason All-America selection—ranks fourth in the Big East in points, but was held to just eight points in Saturday’s loss before fouling out. UConn’s success hinges on the play of sophomore point guard Shabazz Napier (14.7 PPG, 6.2 APG). When the going gets tough, Napier tends to dribble too much and chuck up ill-advised shots instead of running the offense. During the past two games, he is 7-of-26 from the floor (27%) with more turnovers (nine) than assists (seven). Napier’s leadership has also been questioned by head coach Jim Calhoun, and this could get ugly if UConn is trailing late in the second half on Monday. Junior forward Alex Oriakhi (6.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG)—a key piece on last year’s national championship team—has also struggled mightily this year, drawing the ire of Calhoun, who has cut the big man’s playing time to just 19.1 minutes per game. Last year, Oriakhi averaged 29.1 MPG, 9.6 PPG and 8.7 RPG.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:03 PM

No. 11 Georgetown hosts Cincinnati Monday

CINCINNATI BEARCATS (12-4)

at GEORGETOWN HOYAS (13-2)

Tip-off: Monday, 9:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Georgetown -6.5, Total: 124.5

Two Big East foes take center stage when the Cincinnati Bearcats travel to Washington, DC to take on the No. 11 Georgetown Hoyas.

The Bearcats crushed Georgetown twice last year, winning by 12 points on the road and then prevailing by 22 points at home 10 days later. Cincinnati has been particularly strong away from home this season, going 3-1 (SU and ATS), including victories at Georgia and Pittsburgh. Georgetown is just 2-2 ATS at home and has three straight ATS defeats. A key for the Bearcats in this game is Yancy Gates returning to form. The 6-foot-9 forward missed six games in the middle of the season due to a suspension following the brawl at Xavier. He returned to action in Cincinnati’s past two games, but only played 20 MPG. Look for him to get more minutes Monday night, considering he dropped 17 points with 11 rebounds in the win at Georgetown last season. Receiving a fair amount of points, play on underdog CINCINNATI against the spread.

This highly-rated FoxSheets trend also likes the Bearcats to cover on Monday.

Play On - Road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (CINCINNATI) - off a close loss by 3 points or less to a conference rival, playing with one or less days rest. (42-17 over the last 5 seasons.) (71.2%, +23.3 units. Rating = 2*).

In addition to Gates, Cincinnati (12-3) is led by athletic guard Sean Kilpatrick, who averages 15.7 PPG and 5.1 RPG. At 6-foot-4, he is quick on the outside, but willing to take his game into the interior, creating matchup troubles for guards unaccustomed to that. 6-foot-0 guard Cashmere Wright runs the offense, however, and even though he averages just 10.8 PPG, his passing (4.9 APG) greases the entire offense. When Wright is off his game, as he was on Saturday in the Bearcats’ loss to St. Johns (0 assists in 26 minutes), the offense does not run smoothly. With a bounce-back performance from Wright and a statement game for Gates, the Bearcats should be in good shape to pull off the upset.

Georgetown is led by two very strong scorers in Jason Clark (15.5 PPG) and Hollis Thompson (14.3 PPG). Thompson’s play will be key for the Hoyas though, likely matching up against Gates. At 6-foot-8, Thompson is not a great rebounder for his size (5.5 RPG) but he creates matchup problems with his size as a great scorer from long range (1.9 three-pointers per game). The Hoyas have struggled recently, with their loss to West Virginia and narrow wins over Marquette and Providence, making them an unfavorable choice in this matchup.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:04 PM

Hoyas And Huskies Headline Monday Hoops Schedule

UConn is off a pair of road losses to host the Mountaineers on Monday.
Alabama and LSU will play for the college football championship on Monday night, for those who may not have heard about that game. For those who have heard about the BCS Championship and may have already overdosed on the bowl season, the college basketball schedule has a few crucial games on tap to keep you from having to watch Jersey Shore reruns or the latest nonsense among the Republican presidential candidates.

The relatively light slate includes just two contests involving ranked clubs, and both take place in the Big East which has gotten off to about as messy a start as the GOP. Top-ranked and undefeated Syracuse is certainly doing its part to uphold the conference's tradition on the hardwood, but the rest of the group is in a bit of turmoil after three ranked clubs from the league went down in defeat this past Saturday. Two of those three will be looking to quickly bounce back into the win column as the NCAA hoops campaign begins its 10th week of action.

First up at 7:00 p.m. (ET) are the Connecticut Huskies who were upset twice on the road last week and now face the West Virginia Mountaineers who are coming off an upset victory of their own. ESPN2 will provide the broadcast from Hartford's XL Center where the Huskies are 5½-point favorites.

Connecticut (12-3 straight up, 3-7-1 against the spread) started last week ranked eight by the writers and coaches before suffering a pair of losses at Seton Hall and Rutgers. Jim Calhoun's squad shot poorly in both games, especially from long range where the Huskies went 11-41 combined in the two clashes, and committed 20 turnovers in Saturday's 67-60 loss to the Scarlet Knights.

The Huskies have been a poor play at the college basketball betting window since early-December, a 'push' among their last five games their closest thing to a cover. The good news is they are a perfect 9-0 between their two home courts, winning all three played so far at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs and all six in Hartford.

West Virginia (12-4 SU, 9-4 ATS) has been building a solid resume with bettors this season and is off to a 3-1 start in the conference standings following Saturday's home win over the previously ninth-ranked Georgetown Hoyas. Bob Huggins' boys have scored with relative ease the past two games, including finding the net at nearly a 57 percent clip last Wednesday on the road at Rutgers. The two wins were preceded by a horrible performance at Seton Hall, however, and consistent play away from home has been an issue for the Mountaineers who are 4-3 SU and ATS outside of Morgantown.

This series has been dominated by UConn (14-5 all-time) and the Huskies have never lost to WVU at home. The last three meetings have finished under the total which is 137 for tonight's tilt.

The second key matchup in the Big East for Monday finds the Hoyas at home to face the Cincinnati Bearcats (9:00 p.m. ET). Both teams just saw winning streaks stopped this past Saturday, and Georgetown is laying 6½ according to the Don Best odds, with 124½ for the total.

Cincinnati (12-4 SU, 4-6 ATS) was embarrassed at home in a 57-55 buzzer-beating loss to St. John's. The Bearcats were strong 11½-point favorites but forgot to bring their offense to the game, hitting just 26.3 percent from the field overall and an even worse 7-for-32 (21.9%) from beyond the arc. Mick Cronin's crew is just now getting back to a full roster complement following suspensions stemming from the Dec. 10 brawl with Xavier. Senior forward Yancy Gates has looked a bit out of sync since coming back from his 6-game vacation.

Georgetown (13-2 SU, 7-3 ATS) just saw an 11-game win streak snapped at West Virginia, the 74-62 loss as 3-point underdogs magnifying a recent 3-game skid vs. the spread for the Hoyas. Like some of their Big East counterparts mentioned already, the Hoyas have had trouble hitting the trey after managing to sink only 2-of-14 from beyond the arc against the Mountaineers and going just 11-of-49 from that distance the past three contests.

The Bearcats won and covered both of last year's meetings, and have triumphed each of their last two trips to Washington DC's Verizon Center. The last five battles have finished 'under' the closing totals that ranged from 125 to 134½.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:06 PM

Indiana Pacers Visit Philadelphia 76ers On Monday

Chicago is a hefty 13½-point favorite for Monday’s tilt vs. the Pistons.
Believe it or not, the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers would be seeded third and fourth in the Eastern Conference playoffs if the NBA regular season ended now.

Ok, the 2011-12 season is already short enough without wandering into the "if" scenarios this soon on the abbreviated schedule. It remains something to keep an eye on, however, especially with the Pacers and Sixers meeting in what amounts to Monday's marquee NBA matchup at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia (7:00 p.m. ET).

Philadelphia is presently leading the Atlantic Division while Indiana is just a half-game behind the Chicago Bulls in the Central. Oddsmakers opened the 76ers as 4½-point favorites with 183½ for the total.

Both teams are coming off easy home wins Saturday night, each playing the tail-end of back-to-backs. Just a night after dispatching the Celtics in Boston, Indiana (6-2 straight up, 5-3 against the spread) poured it on Charlotte during the second half for a 99-77 triumph as hefty 10-point home chalk. Philadelphia (5-2 SU, 6-1 ATS) was having an even easier time with the Toronto Raptors, coasting to a 97-62 victory while also laying 10 points on the NBA betting board.

The Sixers' win marked their fourth straight, covering each time as favorites in that span, while the Pacers were picking up their third dubya in the last four games, beating the number in all but the blowout defeat at Miami during the short stretch.

Having Sunday off should help both squads' centers recover from minor injuries this past weekend. Indiana's Roy Hibbert, who scored 20 in the win over the Bobcats, twisted his right ankle Saturday and left the game for a bit but returned later and should be ready to go tonight. Philly's Spencer Hawes missed most of the second half vs. Toronto with a sore back. He's officially listed as probable for the contest.

This is the first of four meetings between the two this season, the next coming in Indiana on March 14. The clubs split their four games last season, both straight up and against the spread, each going 1-1 on their home floor.

Bulls In Bounce-Back Mode Hosting Pistons

Home today, gone tomorrow will fit the Chicago Bulls M.O. over the next couple of weeks as they alternate games at home and on the road. They will begin a back-to-back-to-back in Chicago on Monday night (8:00 p.m. ET) against the Detroit Pistons as hefty 13½-point favorites with 176½ for the total.

The Bulls (7-2 SU, 5-4 ATS) saw their 6-game win streak snapped Saturday in Atlanta, dropping a 109-94 decision to the Hawks who were getting six points on their home court. The upset loss came just four days after the two met in the Windy City where the Bulls needed a huge fourth quarter to eke out a 76-74 win while surrendering 11 on the NBA odds.

Chicago could still be a bit thin in the backcourt on Monday with both Richard Hamilton (groin) and CJ Watson (elbow) on the mend. Watson definitely won't play, leaving John Lucas to spell Derrick Rose at the point. Hamilton is officially doubtful on the Don Best Sports injury report, and quite honestly, shouldn't be needed against the lowly Pistons.

Detroit (2-6 SU & ATS) has skidded into the loss column the past three games, failing to stay inside the spread each time. The streak started at home against the Bulls on Jan. 4, a 99-83 setback with Chicago favored by 6½ and the final just scooting over the 180½-point mark.

The Pistons are also dealing with a key guard on the sideline as Rodney Stuckey is questionable with a groin injury he suffered in last week's loss to the Bulls. That could yield a third career start at the point for rookie Brandon Knight.

Three games on successive nights is tough enough on any team, but Tom Thibodeau's troops have the added task of traveling to Minnesota for Tuesday's game before returning home to meet Washington on Wednesday. Detroit also will be back on the floor Tuesday when the Pistons host the Dallas Mavericks.

Hornets, Nuggets In Quick Rematch

Second in the league in scoring, and No. 1 in the hearts of their backers, the Denver Nuggets begin a big week at home with a visit from the New Orleans Hornets on Monday (9:00 p.m. ET). Denver will be laying 13 in the game that began with a 191½-point total.

Denver (6-3 SU, 8-1 ATS) starts the week 1.5-games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in third place of the Northwest Division, and has covered six straight after just staying inside the spread in Saturday's 121-117 loss at San Antonio (-4½). That contest went well past the 199½-point total, snapping a 5-game run for the 'under' in Nuggets affairs despite Denver averaging 104 points per game and giving up 96.

The Nuggets were without Nene Hilario in the Spurs contest, and their big center is questionable for Monday's game with a left heel injury.

New Orleans (2-6 SU, 3-5 ATS) is in the throes of a 6-game losing streak, going 1-5 vs. the number in that stretch. The Hornets will be without Eric Gordon who has answered the bell just twice so far this season as he deals with a bad knee. Forward Trevor Ariza (groin) is also questionable.

The two squads just saw each other last Friday in New Orleans, a 96-88 win and cover for Denver (-6½) that closed with a 190-point total. Danilo Gallinari paced the Nuggets with 23 points with Denver outscoring the Hornets at the free-throw line, 17-8.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:08 PM

Vancouver Canucks Road Chalk At Florida Panthers

The Chicago Blackhawks lost their fourth straight game Sunday, losing at home to the Detroit Red Wings on a Pavel Datsyuk game-winner in overtime. With the overtime win, Detroit is now in first place in the Central Division by virtue of tiebreaker; the Red Wings, St. Louis and Chicago all currently have 53 points. The Central Division is just one of many that should come right down to the wire this season.

There are only two games on the NHL betting card Monday evening and both pit a Western Conference team against an Eastern Conference team. The Florida Panthers (20-13-8) host the Vancouver Canucks (26-13-3) at 7:30 p.m. (ET) and the Los Angeles Kings (20-15-7) host the Washington Capitals (21-16-2) at 10:30 p.m. (ET).

Vancouver is currently a road favorite of -155 on the Don Best odds screen with Florida +135 on the take-back. Both teams have been going in noticeably different directions; Vancouver is 17-4-2 in its last 23 games, including an 8-2-1 stretch in the most recent 11 capped off by an impressive 4-3 win Saturday on the road over Boston. Florida meanwhile is just 4-5-4 in its last 14 games, translating to just 4-9 from a betting perspective.

The Canucks and Panthers have met just five times since 2007, and Vancouver holds a 4-1 SU edge. The last two games between these two teams were played in 2010; Vancouver won both and each game went ‘under’ the total. Tonight’s total is currently set at 5½ goals with the ‘over’ at +110 and the ‘under’ at -130. Vancouver -1½ is +200 on the puck line (Florida +1½ is -240).

The Los Angeles Kings are 5-1-3 under new head coach Darryl Sutter and have allowed just 1.33 goals against per game over that stretch. But the offense that has eluded the Kings all season continues to struggle under Sutter as the Kings have averaged only 1.42 goals per game and mustered one goal or less in four of the last five.

Los Angeles will likely need more than one goal going up against the potent Washington Capitals, who are ninth in the league in scoring with 2.9 goals per game. It has been a disappointing season for the Capitals so far, but they appear to be building some momentum on a 4-1 SU run during their last five games. Washington has struggled on the road this season though, going 7-11-1 and just 1-4 in its last five road games.

While the Capitals have enjoyed more regular season success than the Kings over the last few seasons, the Kings are 4-0 SU in their last four meetings with the Capitals since the 2008-09 season. The total went ‘under’ in each of the last two games between the Kings and Capitals. With an elite defense and the worst offense in the NHL, Los Angeles is 9-25-8 on the ‘under’ this season.

The Kings are currently a -140 moneyline favorite on the Don Best odds screen as Washington is +120 as an underdog. Los Angeles -1½ is +215 on the puck line (Washington + ½ is -255). The total for tonight’s game is set at five goals with the ‘over’ at -115 and the ‘under’ at -105.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:11 PM

Hoop Trends - Monday

January 9, 2012

SU TREND OF THE DAY:

The League is 0-12 ATS (-5.3 ppg) since March 25, 2011 at home after playing the Raptors. Active with Indiana.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Pistons are 12-0 OU (16.7 ppg) since February 02, 2010 with at least one day of rest after a game in which they shot less than 40% from the field.

PLAYER BASED TREND OF THE DAY:

The Pistons are 7-0 OU (10.7 ppg) since February 13, 2011 after losing the previous matchup in which Ben Gordon scored fewer than 10 points.

CHOICE TREND:

The Knicks are 9-0 ATS (4.5 ppg) since January 19, 2009 at home on Monday after playing on Friday and Saturday.

TODAY’S TRENDS:

The Nuggets are 0-7-1 OU (-9.5 ppg) since March 16, 2010 when playing the first game of at least a three game home stand.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:20 PM

Three Games in Three Nights

January 7, 2012

This shortened NBA season has many bettors scrambling through the first two weeks as things are starting to settle. Many teams are playing back-to-backs and four games in five nights, but what about the newly-instituted three games in three nights? In order to condense as many contests as possible over the next four months, every team will play at least one set of three consecutive games in three days.

It may seem that these teams would be tired and their legs would go in the final game of this sequence. However, that's not the case as six teams in this situation have won and covered, all at home. Let's take a look back at these five squads and the scenario they endured to pick up a victory.

TEAMS PLAYING 3RD GAME IN 3 NIGHTS
DATE TEAM LINE ATS RESULT

12/27 LAL 96, UT 71 -5.5 W
12/31 HOU 95, ATL 84 -1 W
1/2 DEN 91, MIL 86 -4.5 W
1/5 SAC 103, MIL 100 +3 W
1/7 ATL 109, CHI 94 +6 W
1/8 OKC 108, SA 96 -6.5 W

The Lakers began the season with this grueling stretch, as Los Angeles was desperate for a win after losing the first two games to Chicago and Sacramento. The Purple and Gold returned to Staples Center and dominated the Jazz, 96-71 as 4 ½-point favorites, while the 71 points allowed is the fewest this season by Los Angeles.

The Rockets ran through a gauntlet of divisional contests against the Spurs and Grizzlies, followed by a non-conference matchup with the Hawks in the third game. Houston dominated Atlanta in a 95-84 triumph as short home favorites, while leading from start to finish for their second win of the season.

The Nuggets are turning into a bettor's best friend through the first two weeks of the season, especially with a 4-0 SU/ATS mark at the Pepsi Center. One of those wins came after two hard-fought games with the Lakers, as the rested Bucks invaded Denver. The Nuggets rallied late to knock off Milwaukee without Nene, 91-86, while barely cashing as 4 ½-point 'chalk.'

The Kings kept this trend perfect by erasing a 21-point deficit in a 103-100 home victory over the Bucks. Sacramento lost the first two games at Memphis and Denver in blowout fashion, but the Kings woke up in the second half against Milwaukee, while also cashing as +140 underdogs on the moneyline. The Kings were the first 'dog listed in this situation, as the next 'dog will likely be the Timberwolves against the Bulls on January 11.

The Hawks endured the toughest test after playing consecutive overtime contests against the Heat and Bobcats, including a three-overtime home loss to Miami. Atlanta pulled it together to take care of Chicago in a revenge spot, 109-94 as six-point home 'dogs, avenging a road defeat at the United Center on last Tuesday.

The Thunder became the first team to win all three games in this scenario, beating the Rockets twice, followed by a rout of the Spurs on Sunday night. Oklahoma City also picked up its first victory with no rest this season (1-4 ATS).

Below is the rest of the three games in three nights situation this season:

UPCOMING 3/3 NIGHT SITUATIONS
DATE TEAM
1/10 MIN vs. CHI
1/11 CHI vs. WSH
1/11 PHI at NY
1/11 TOR vs. SAC
1/14 CHA vs. GS
1/18 LAC vs. DAL
1/18 ORL vs. SA
1/23 NJ at CHI
1/25 POR at GS
2/1 DET at NJ
2/4 NY vs. NJ
2/4 DEN at POR
2/14 MIA at IND
2/14 UT at OKC
2/15 PHX vs. ATL
2/16 POR vs. LAC
2/16 IND vs. NJ
2/20 NJ at NY
2/22 NO at CLE
3/1 MIN at PHX
3/10 DAL at GS
3/16 PHX vs. DET
3/22 LAC at NO
3/24 MIL vs. IND*
3/25 ATL vs. UT
3/25 SA vs. PHI
3/26 WSH vs. DET
4/4 MEM at DAL
4/6 WSH at NJ
4/15 BOS at CHA
4/15 CLE vs. ORL
4/18 PHI at CLE
4/18 SA at SAC
4/19 DET vs. MIN
4/22 GS at MIN

*BOTH TEAMS PLAYING 3/3 NIGHTS

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:23 PM

Games to Watch

January 9, 2012

NCAA Men’s Basketball Betting Guide- January 9 The 2011-2012 men’s college basketball season presses on this week with a full slate of quality conference matchups. There have already been a few major upsets and some thrilling finishes as every team in Division I continues their drive to March Madness.
Each game on the schedule from now until the individual conference tournaments at the end of the season becomes another opportunity for the top teams in the country to build a resume that automatically punches their ticket to the big dance.

The following is a brief look at the top matchups for each day this week along with a few facts and figures to help handicap the games.

Monday, Jan. 9 - West Virginia Mountaineers vs. No. 8 Connecticut Huskies

West Virginia comes into this game riding high after a 74-62 victory over No. 9 Georgetown as a two-point home favorite this past Saturday. The win raised its overall record to 12-4 straight up and a healthy 9-4 against the spread. The total has gone ‘over’ in nine of the 13 games with a posted line.

Connecticut has lost its last two games as a road favorite including a stunning 67-60 loss to Rutgers on Saturday as a six-point favorite. It is 12-3 SU on the year but a costly 4-7 ATS. The Huskies will be glad to be back home for this one where they are 9-0 SU (3-2 ATS) this year. They have been opened as 4 ½-point favorites for this game.

Tuesday, Jan. 10 - No. 4 Baylor Bears vs. No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats

Baylor moved to a perfect 15-0 SU with Saturday’s 73-60 victory over Texas Tech as a 14-point road favorite, but it has failed to cover in its last four games to fall to 4-4 ATS. The Bears are shooting 48.4 percent from the field and averaging 76.2 points a game.

Kansas State bounced back from last week’s 67-49 loss to then-No. 15 Kansas as a 10-point road underdog with a solid 75-59 pasting of No. 6 Missouri this past Saturday as a one-point home underdog. The Wildcats should once again open as slight underdogs but they have beaten the Bears three straight times both SU and ATS.

Wednesday, Jan. 11 - No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers

Kentucky improved its overall record to 15-1 SU with a 79-64 win over South Carolina on Saturday, but failed to cover as a 21-point home favorite. The Wildcats have now failed to cover the spread in their last 12 games and are a woeful 3-11-1 ATS on the year. The total has stayed ‘under’ in nine of the 15 games.

Auburn was crushed by Vanderbilt 65-35 this past Saturday as a 16-point road underdog. The loss dropped the Tigers to 10-5 SU and 2-6 ATS. They are 2-4 SU in their last six games overall, but a perfect 9-0 SU at home this season. Auburn is averaging 66.2 points a game while the Wildcats are averaging 80.9.

Thursday, Jan. 12- No. 21 Virginia Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Duke Blue Devils

Virginia has been one of the early surprises in the ACC with 14 wins in its first 15 games. The Cavaliers failed to cover as 7 ½-point home favorites on Saturday in a 52-51 squeaker over Miami (FLA) but is still a profitable 7-3 ATS. The win over the Hurricanes extended their current SU winning streak to 12 games.

Duke quickly erased the memory of a shocking 78-73 road loss to Temple last Wednesday as a 7 ½-point favorite with an 81-74 victory over Georgia Tech this past Saturday as an 11 ½-point home favorite. The Blue Devils are 13-2 SU overall and 7-0 SU at home. They are 6-9 ATS overall and 4-3 ATS at home.

Friday, January 13- Creighton Bluejays vs. Illinois State Redbirds

Creighton’s 92-83 win over Bradley on Saturday as an 11-point road favorite boosted its overall record this season to 13-2 SU. It is 8-3 ATS overall and 4-2 ATS on the road. The Bluejays are ranked seventh in the nation in scoring with 83.2 points a game and first in shooting with a field goal percentage of 51.3.

Illinois State is 3-1 SU in the Missouri Valley Conference and 11-4 SU overall. They Redbirds face Wichita State this Tuesday and are coming off a 75-73 victory over Evansville this past Saturday, but failed to cover as 7 ½-point home favorites to fall to 6-5 ATS overall and 2-3 ATS at home. They are averaging 69.3 points a game and shooting 44.7 percent from the floor.

Saturday, Jan. 14- Providence Friars vs. No. 1 Syracuse Orange

Providence is 11-6 SU overall (5-6 ATS) but has lost its first four games in the Big East including an 87-73 loss to Syracuse last Wednesday as a 13 ½-point home underdog. The Friars tackle No. 11 Louisville this Tuesday and Saturday’s rematch against the Orange will be their fourth game in their last five against a ranked opponent.

Syracuse continues to hold the top spot in the polls behind a perfect 17-0 SU start. This past Saturday, it knocked-off No. 20 Marquette 73-66 as an 11 ½-point home favorite to run its record in the conference to 4-0 SU. The Orange are 11-5 ATS overall and 7-4 ATS at home. They are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-09-2012, 06:38 PM

NBA

Monday, January 9

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Minnesota - 7:00 PM ET Minnesota +3.5 500
Toronto - Under 187.5 500

Indiana - 7:00 PM ET Philadelphia -4.5 500
Philadelphia - Over 183.5 500

Atlanta - 7:30 PM ET Atlanta -5 500
New Jersey - Over 178.5 500

Charlotte - 7:30 PM ET New York -11 500
New York - Under 203.5 500

Detroit - 8:00 PM ET Detroit +13.5 500
Chicago - Under 175.5 500

New Orleans - 9:00 PM ET Denver -13 500
Denver - Over 191.5 500

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NHL

Monday, January 9

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Vancouver - 7:30 PM ET Vancouver -144 500
Florida - Over 5.5 500

Washington - 10:30 PM ET Los Angeles -125 500
Los Angeles - Over 5 500
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NCAAB

Monday, January 9

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Oklahoma - 7:00 PM ET Oklahoma St. -2.5 500
Oklahoma St. - Under 130.5 500

West Virginia - 7:00 PM ET West Virginia +5 500
Connecticut - Over 138 500

Florida Atlantic - 8:05 PM ET Arkansas St. +1 500
Arkansas St. - Under 118 500

Cincinnati - 9:00 PM ET Georgetown -6.5 500
Georgetown - Under 125 500

Idaho State - 9:00 PM ET Wyoming -18 500
Wyoming - Over 118 500

San Francisco - 10:00 PM ET San Francisco +17 500
St. Mary's - Over 144.5 500

Announcement

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

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

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