Notifications
Clear all

Free Picks: Free Service Plays for Friday, February 24th, 2017

37 Posts
1 Users
0 Likes
1,937 Views
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Free Picks for Friday, February 24th, 2017, from some of the nations best and worst handicappers

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:51 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

DAVE COKIN

OAKLAND AT GREEN BAY
PLAY: OAKLAND -1

I’m landing on what is going to be a very heavy public side on Friday evening. I don’t think there’s any question the Grizzlies will be as square as it gets here. It’s an obvious spot, as Oakland is a hot team, they’re in revenge from the earlier home loss to Green Bay, and all the Grizzlies have to do to cash a ticket is win the game.

Nevertheless, this Oakland team is back to playing the best ball in the Horizon, and they have lots of incentive tonight. The Grizzlies are still one game behind Valparaiso for the conference title with each team having two games remaining. Valpo has to get through Wright State and Northern Kentucky on the road, or hope that Oakland loses twice. If the two teams were to end up tied, the Grizzlies would own the tie breaker because they swept the season series.

Actually, Green Bay is still in the hunt as well as the Phoenix have quietly moved into third place and they’re only two games back of Valpo. So this is a big game for both teams.

I still can’t figure out what happened to the Grizzlies in their one bad stretch that saw them lose four out of five, with shocking home losses to Detroit and Cleveland State in that mix. But whatever the issue was, it has cleared up and the team is on a roll.

I don’t think this is that easy as the Phoenix have lost just two home games all season, and only one in league play, But I’m also of the belief that if Oakland brings its “A” game, they’re the best team in the league. Square to be sure, but I grabbed Oakland at pick ’em to get the win tonight.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:52 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Ray Monohan

Hawks -3½

Miami enters play after finishing the first half extremely hot, but they run into an Atlanta team that is far better than they are. Atlanta is a solid 16-11 at home, while Miami has struggled on the road going just 12-18.

The Hawks have the edge in almost every position and Dwight Howard will really be able to control the paint here.

Some trends to note. Hawks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing
road record. Hawks are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS loss.

Expect the Hawks to really control the tempo here in this one and shut down the paint, which really leads to Miami struggling.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:53 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Stephen Nover

Celtics vs. Raptors
Play: Raptors -3

If the Raptors are serious about winning the Atlantic Division - and they indeed are trading for Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker - they need to win this home game. Toronto trails Boston by four games in the division. It's a crucial matchup for the Raptors. All-Star break came at a good time for the Raptors, who were reeling with 11 losses in their last 16 games. The team was tired with stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowery overworked and defense lacking. Ibaka, Tucker and the return of power forward Patrick Patterson from a knee injury should shore up the defense. Ibaka will make his Toronto debut, but has been on the team for the last 10 days. Tucker is questionable after being acquired on Thursday. Boston is 11-2 in its last 13 games. The Celtics stood pat at the trade deadline even though there were rumors Paul George and Jimmy Butler were available. It would have been a huge morale boost for Boston to have acquired one of those stars. But the Celtics, despite an abundance of draft choices, stood pat. Celtics management must think their team is better than the Cavaliers. The Celtics aren't. I don't think the Celtics are even better than the Raptors. Toronto has won six of the past seven meetings during the past two seasons, including the last one played in Toronto, 114-106 on Jan. 10 with DeRozan scoring 41 points. The Raptors were 5 1/2-point favorites in that one. This line is less. DeRozan and Lowery are going to get their points against defensively-challenged Isaiah Thomas. Now the Raptors have a big rebounding edge on Boston with Ibaka. They should play with a tremendous sense of urgency. The Raptors are 14-6-1 ATS the past 21 times hosting foes that have a winning road record. The Celtics need Avery Bradley to help slow down DeRozan and Lowery. Bradley has missed 20 of the last 21 games due to an Achilles injury. Bradley is not expected to play today. Certainly it's debatable if the Raptors are better than the Celtics. But what should be for sure is the Raptors need this game more, should be highly motivated and have improved at the trade deadline while Boston didn't. I want the Raptors going for me here.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:53 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Marc Lawrence

Heat vs. Hawks
Play: Heat +3½

Edges - Heat: 7-1 ATS with five or more days of rest. Hawks: 0-5-1 ATS with five or more days. With the Heat 5-0 ATS in their last five games against .575 or greater opponents this season, and 6-0 ATS the last six games in this series, we recommend a 1* play on Miami.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:54 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Braxton Myles

Dayton vs. Davidson
Play: Dayton -2

I am going all in on the Flyers here in this one. Dayton is 8-3 ATS on the road this season and an amazing 10-4 ATS in conference play. The betting public is all over Dayton in this one and I cant disagree on this one with Dayton being 6-0 ATS on Friday nights this season I see them taking this game. This should be a great game between conference opponents with Dayton taking the game with their 70% free throw shooting on the road.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:55 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Ben Burns

Lakers vs. Thunder
Play: Thunder -9

The Williams/Brewer trade isn't about to make the Lakers any better. Not anytime soon, at least. A 36-point loss at Phoenix, prior to the break, dropped LA to 7-25 on the road. Meanwhile, the Thunder are off an 11-point win against the Knicks. That brought them to 20-8 at home. All signs point to another double-digit win here.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:55 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

TJ Masterline

Pennsylvania vs. Cornell
Play: Pennsylvania -5

This is not your daddies Cornell teams of the past. They have 18 losses already! Play on Penn! Here's why we like them. Quakers are 5-0-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings. Quakers are 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Cornell. Quakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall. Quakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Ivy League. Quakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5. Quakers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games as a road favorite. Quakers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite of 0.5-6.5. Big Red are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. Big Red are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog. Big Red are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:56 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Jim Feist

Phoenix at Chicago
Pick: Chicago

The Suns (18-39) are 8-21 on the road and play no defense, on a 3-10 SU run. They come off a rare win over the hapless Lakers but are 9-26 ATS after a win. Phoenix is #29 in the NBA in points (112.4) allowed, last at defending the three (.388). Chicago is home where they are 17-11, #7 in the NBA in points allowed. And the Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 8:57 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Indian Cowboy

Brooklyn / Denver Over 231

There will be a lot of scoring here as note that the Nets are one of the better offensive teams in the league, which will surprise you. This is a team that is ranked 16th in the league in offense and 30th in the league in defense. This is a squad that beat Denver 116-111 at home in December earlier this year and the Nuggets will definitely want revenge. Remember, this is the same Nets team that dropped 125 points on Milwaukee, so given their offense and given that the Nuggets want revenge, it should yield an 'Over'. Note, the Nuggets have the 4th best offense, were held to less than 100 points in their last game against the Timberwolves and this was after scoring 132 points against the Warriors at home in a blowout win. Let's roll with the Over here as both teams have strong motivation for a great offensive output on Friday night.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 10:59 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

David Banks

San Antonio at Los Angeles
Play: Los Angeles

The Clippers finished the first half of the season with a four-game winning streak beating New York, Charlotte, Utah, and Atlanta before the All-Star break. Now, Los Angeles will attempt to get back to business facing San Antonio as Friday, one night after having played at Golden State. Back-to-back games against the Western Conference’s best will prove if the Clippers are ready to make a move in the season’s second half.

The Clippers will still be without point guard Chris Paul, who is recovering from a thumb injury. Paul’s 17.5 points and 9.5 assists per game have been missed but the return of Blake Griffin has helped to ease the pain. Griffin’s 21.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game are an integral part of the Clippers success thus far this season. Los Angeles is currently fourth in the West at 35-21, just a half-game ahead of Utah. J.J. Redick has been solid all year long averaging 15.1 points a game and DeAndre Jordan is one of the best big men in the league averaging 12 points and 13.8 rebounds (third best in the league).

The Clippers seem to have the Spurs’ number this season recording two victories in two tries over San Antonio. Los Angeles won big, 116-92, on Nov. 5 and 106-101 on Dec. 22. The Spurs will continue to rely heavily on its frontcourt of Kawhi Leonard (25.9 ppg) and LaMarcus Aldridge (17.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg). Point guard Tony Parker continues to be the glue that holds the team together though in the four games prior to the All-Star break, Parker scored a total of just 19 points including none in 31 minutes against the Knicks on Feb. 12.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 11:02 am
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Wunderdog

Los Angeles @ Oklahoma City
Pick: Los Angeles +10.5

The Oklahoma City Thunder have never been shy about making moves to improve their team. They did so again by acquiring Taj Gibson, and Doug McDerrmott from Chicago. Amazingly, they now have just seven players left on the roster since their loss to Golden State in the playoffs less than a year ago. While the trade may help long term, in the present they are going to have a couple players that are going to need time to work into the system. That situation presents the Lakers with an opportunity, and a high price put on the Thunder. They are favored more tonight than they have been all season. The Lakers are 8-3 ATS on the season as a dog from +8.5 to +11, and should hang close in this one.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 1:55 pm
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

SPORTS WAGERS

Edmonton +185 over WASHINGTON

OT included. The price on the Oil here is a bit insane but it’s all because the Capitals are being advertised as the greatest show on ice. That greatest show on ice just lost back-to-back games to New York and Detroit and then got outshot by Philadelphia in a 4-1 victory. The Caps could also be in a very vulnerable spot here. You see, Washington just played three on the road and now they’ll come home for just one game before heading back out to play in Nashville tomorrow night at Coach Trotz’s old stomping grounds. Every player on that Capitals bench loves their coach and every player has to fugure that Trotz would love a win tomorrow night. It need not be said, as it is understood. Aside from all that, the Caps have a few key injuries for the first time all season, which means more minutes for some of their castoffs that nobody talks about, which includes Daniel Winnick, Brett Connolly, Justin Williams, Lars Eller and Taylor Chorney among others. We’re getting ready to fade the Caps in the playoffs again but now that they’ve cooled off, we’re just as happy to take back a price like this against them right now. Why wait?

Edmonton has one of the hottest goaltenders in the game going here and that alone makes taking back this price so appealing. Cam Talbot has posted save percentages of .912, .974, .920, 1.000, .926, .970 and .954 in seven of his past 11 games. The Oilers have really cut down on shots allowed too, which helps to keep their goals allowed lower than it’s been in years. Edmonton has won four of its last five, which includes victories over Chicago and Florida but the best news is that they’re scoring goals after a dry spell for a few weeks. At the end of the day, Washington’s Braden Holtby can steal a game on his own too but the difference is that Holtby’s team is a 2-1 favorite while Talbot’s team is taking back a massive price. Great price in a very good spot for the Oil.

Calgary +145 over FLORIDA

OT included. Florida remains a big threat to make the playoffs. With a win here, the Panthers will tie the Islanders and Bruins for the final Wild Card spot and pull a full five points ahead of the Flyers. The Panthers just returned home from a five game road trip, where they reeled off victories in every game. Upon returning, they lost to the Oilers, 4-3 but they were not flat at all. Very often, if a team isn’t flat in its first game back from a long trip, they are flat the second time out. Furthermore, said trip included three games on the West Coast, bookended by games in Nashville and St. Louis. A close look reveals that the Panthers were more lucky than good in those victories. Florida scored four times on its first 16 shot on Pekka Rinne before chasing him in a 7-4 victory. In San Jose, the Panthers scored six times on 22 shots and beat the Sharks 6-5 but got badly outshot, 36-22. The Panthers were outshot by Anaheim and badly outshot by Los Angeles before wrapping up their trip in St. Louis. The results of the road trip say “great efforts” but the performances do not, as the Panthers scored on a high percentage of their shots while getting some hot goaltending. They outplayed nobody. The Panthers aren’t likely to get hot goaltending from either one of their average goaltenders and they are not likely to score on a high percentage of their shots either, as that is simply not sustainable. Great underdog yes but as the chalk in this range, Florida has little appeal but once again the market sees wins while we see performances.

What a sweet win for the Flames last night in Tampa and there was nothing fluky about it. Calgary was rock solid from start to finish and even had a 3-1 lead with just over a minute to go. Calgary is playing outstanding defense right now and they’re scoring goals too. While the Panthers are getting all the accolades for getting back into the race, the Flames have been in it all year, they’re hot as hell and they moved four points ahead in the Wild Card race after last night’s win. Another victory here and the Flames would have a six-point lead, which has to be inspiring and hugely motivating too. Playoffs are now a true reality for Calgary and it is playing like it wants it. The Flames have won seven of their past 10 games. Two of their three losses over that span were by one goal with one of those going into OT. The other loss occurred when the Flames were coming off their bye week. Much of the market is also going to fade the Flames because of the “back-to-back” angle but winning increases energy and it also makes coming to the rink very enjoyable. It’s a short trip from Tampa to Sunrise and we’re suggesting that it’ll be the Flames and not the Panthers that bring most of the energy into this one.

Arizona +201 over DALLAS

OT included. The Dallas Stars have two chances of making the playoffs – slim and none and slim just left the building. Dallas now comes off their bye week a full 10 points out of a Wild Card spot but the more concerning issue is that they have to leapfrog OVER four teams to get there and that is not going to happen. Teams’ coming off their bye are now 4-16. However, one of those losses was Toronto’s in New York against the Rangers coming off their bye so that makes it a wash. Thus, teams’ coming off their byes are 3-15. The Stars have other issues too. They have underachieved all year due to disastrous goaltending. Soft goals deflate everyone and that deflation takes a toll over time when it happens so often. As the Stars get set to awaken from their late winter slumber party, rumors around Dallas are centered on trade talks. One or both goalies will be moved but chances are none will because nobody wants them. Dallas management is desperate to move its goalies so they may have to trade a strong asset and use one of their goaltenders as a throw in. In other words, if you want so-and-so, you have to take Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi. For 90% of the players in that Stars’ locker room, it’s an unnerving time of year because nobody is immune from being traded. Only the Avalanche and Jets have surrendered more goals than Dallas this season. The Stars also have just three wins in their past 10 games.

Arizona played last night in Chicago and lost 5-3 but Chicago is on fire and Arizona still scored three goals. The Coyotes are playing their best hockey of the year with eight wins in their past 13 games. In a highly entertaining game, the Coyotes skated with Chicago and came at them hard in the third period. Arizona actually out-attempted the Blackhawks 64-53 on the night but most of the surplus came in a score-affected third period after the damage had been done. Still, it shows the ‘Yotes are not quitting. It shows character and heart and if they bring that same intensity into this one, they’ll have a great chance to win. We also love that the Coyotes have a bunch of ex-Stars in their lineup. Dallas has beaten Arizona seven straight so motivation for the visitor should not be a problem. Lastly, these two met once earlier this year and Dallas won 3-2 but Lehtonen stopped 35 of 37 shots and that game occurred when Arizona was playing its worst hockey of the year. Things are a little different now.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 3:20 pm
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

SPORTS WAGERS

DAVIDSON +126 over Dayton

After three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the Dayton Flyers are one of the most recognizable teams in the Atlantic 10. The Flyers have a 22-5 record and are #24 in RPI, which is a formula used by the NCAA to measure wins, losses and strength of schedule. It all looks impressive on paper but those numbers do nothing but inflate Dayton's value as a top “second-tier” program. The A10 sent three teams to The Big Dance last season (Dayton, VCU and St. Joe's) so it's not like the Flyers are going to have to run the table to a conference championship to stake their claim. Adding to their increased value is the fact that the Flyers have won nine of their last 10 games. Dayton is second in the A10 but they have a very high profile game with first place VCU on deck next Wednesday. This trip to Davidson might not be anything more than an inconvenience for the Flyers. While they aren't quite the “blue bloods” we talk about when handicapping NCAA basketball, these high profile mid-majors can actually be more overvalued than some of their “Power Five” conference brothers. The reason for that is because their opponents are often unknown to casual bettors.

Enter the Davidson Wildcats, a team who likely gets confused for “Dayton” more than they get recognized as their own program. The Wildcats are 14-12 and are in search of signature wins and a conference championship to guarantee their spot in The Main Event. Tonight is a big night on the Davidson campus, as the ESPN2 camera's will be in the John M. Belk Arena to broadcast this contest to the nation. National TV exposure is huge for even the biggest program, so when a mid-major like Davidson gets to host a high profile game like this, they are unlikely to be flat. It looks like the Wildcats are coming up against a buzz saw in Dayton but this line tells us a much different story. Davidson is being given just two points at home against one of the premier teams in the conference. The last time Davidson was a dog at home was just over a month ago when first place VCU strolled into JMB Arena and were beat outright as a 2½-point road favorite. That effort against VCU shows us that these Wildcats can not only hang with the A10's best, but they won’t be intimidated and they can beat them too. Therefore, that’s how we’ll play it. The home dog gets this outright call.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 3:21 pm
(@blade)
Posts: 318493
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

Bruce Marshall

Pennsylvania -6

The talk of the Ivies (such as it is) has suddenly turned toward surging Penn, winner of four straight and looking like it might be able to land the final spot in the first-ever Ivy Tourney (which takes the top four finishers) in two weeks at the Palestra. The Quakers continue to get big production from frosh starts F AJ Brodeur & G Ryan Betley, the latter scoring 28 when Penn battered Cornell 82-63 in Philly on Feb. 12.

 
Posted : February 24, 2017 3:21 pm
Page 1 / 3
Share: