Thursday 1/17/19 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for Thursday's NCAAB, NFL & NBA games.
Matt Josephs
Jan 17 '19, 7:00 PM in 9h
NCAA-B | College of Charleston vs Northeastern
Play on: College of Charleston +4 -107 at betonline
The College of Charleston is probably the best team in the CAA, but Northeastern has one of the oddest homecourt advantages in Mathews Arena. It's a giant cavernous hockey rank that they use for basketball. Northeastern is a really hot and cold team who has already lost at home to Delaware and Boston U. They are led by Vasa Pusica who is a really good point guard. Jordan Roland is a nice complementary piece as well. Charleston has road wins at Towson, UNC Wilmington, Siena, VCU and Western Carolina. They have lost two of their last three, but I trust a team that puts Grant Riller and Jarrell Brantley out there on a nightly basis. Last year, these two teams played three times with the Cougars winning all three including the road tilt once again as a four point dog. Charleston has plenty of talent and I think they are a live dog in this one.
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Kenny Walker
Jan 17 '19, 7:00 PM in 9h
NCAA-B | Canisius vs Quinnipiac
Play on: Canisius +3½
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Ben Burns
Jan 17 '19, 7:05 PM in 9h
NHL | Blackhawks vs Rangers
Play on: Rangers -120 at pinnacle
This classic Original Six matchup has seen better days. If the playoffs were to start today, neither team would be involved. The Rangers are a lot closer though and the teams are currently going in opposite directions. The Rangers are off a 6-2 win, their second victory in three games. As for the Hawks, the reality is that they have a better chance of winning the draft lottery than making the playoffs. This is a Chicago team which allows more goals than any team in its conference; last time the Hawks allowed eight, their fourth straight loss. While the Hawks are 8-16 on the road, the Rangers are 12-11 at MSG. Really, the price could easily be higher. Consider NY.
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Steve Janus
Jan 17 '19, 7:30 PM in 10h
NCAA-B | Texas-San Antonio vs Middle Tennessee
Play on: Middle Tennessee +3½
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Bobby Conn
Jan 17 '19, 8:00 PM in 10h
NCAA-B | Georgia State vs South Alabama
Play on: South Alabama +6½
Hunter Price
Jan 17 '19, 8:00 PM in 10h
NCAA-B | IUPU-Indianapolis vs Green Bay
Play on: Green Bay -2½
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Totals Guru
Jan 17 '19, 8:00 PM in 10h
NCAA-B | Arkansas State vs Texas-Arlington
Play on: OVER 139
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Mark Wilson
Jan 17 '19, 9:00 PM in 11h
NCAA-B | Idaho State vs Weber State
Play on: Weber State -8½
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Larry Ness
Jan 17 '19, 9:00 PM in 11h
NCAA-B | San Francisco vs Pacific
Play on: Pacific +5 -110 at sportsbook
My 1* Free Play is on Pacific (9:00 EST).
San Francisco is 14-3 and Pacific is 11-8.
The Dons come in off a 96-83 loss to Gonzaga at home last weekend. Frankie Ferrari had 21 points in the setback. San Francisco has gone just 2-2 in its last four. Overall the Dons average 109.1 points per 100 possessions, while allowing 95.2 points per 100 possessions.
Note however that through four conference games San Francisco is allowing 111.8 points per 100 possessions.
Pacific got off the schneid last time out with a 65-57 win on the road over Portland, breaking a three-game conference losing streak. Lafayette Dorsey had 21 points. The Tigers are averaging 103.8 points per 100 possessions, while allowing 104.2 points per 100 possessions.
Off the loss to conference leading Gonzaga, this sets up as a natural “letdown” spot for the Dons in my opinion as they face a hungry Pacific team looking to build off its first conference victory.
Note as well that the Tigers are 9-4 ATS in their last 12 as a home dog or pick and 4-1 ATS in their last five off a road win vs. a conference rival.
Consider the home side in this one.
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Jimmy Boyd
Jan 17 '19, 9:35 PM in 12h
NBA | Lakers vs Thunder
Play on: Lakers +10
Mike Wynn
Free Play: Free San Diego -8½ Over Portland
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Razor Sharp
YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR THURSDAY: OLD DOMINION -5½ over Louisiana Tech
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Totals4U
Thursday's Free Selection: Southern Mississippi/Charlotte under 123
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Roz Wins
Roz's Thursday, January 17, 2019, Free Pick
01/17 06:35 PM NBA (551) LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS (552) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Take : Thunder
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Atlantic Sports
Thursday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: Delaware - 3
#1 Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Cleveland State Vikings + 9 1/2
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Platinum Plays
Free Pick: the Washington Huskies -10 over Stanford
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Sharp Bettor
SharpBettor FREE Play for Thursday, January 17, 2019
01/17 06:05 PM NBA (549) CHICAGO BULLS VS (550) DENVER NUGGETS
Take : Nuggets
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Easy Money Sports
Lee's Thursday Free Selection Is
BYU -4
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Nevada Sharpshooter
Your free winner for Thursday: Take UAB -8 over UTEP
Vegas Steam Line
Your free winner for Thursday: SAN DIEGO -8 over Portland
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Golden Dragon
FREE WINNER for Thursday
Arizona -4
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Hawkeye Sports
Thursday's Free Pick: Boston Bruins - 170
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Huddle Up Sports
Free Play: Wright State -5
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Teyas Sports
FREE PICK 1/17 CBB GONZAGA OVER 144
High Stakes Syndicate
Free Selection for Thursday: San Diego Toreros - 8
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Kenny Towers
FREE PLAY FOR THURSDAY - CHICAGO/DENVER OVER 212
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John Anthony Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Cal-Santa Barbara - 1
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Ray Chadwick
Talk about a spot for a team to get a bounce-back win, and a blowout win at that, tonight in Bowling Green looks like the right spot for the slumping Hilltoppers to open a can of whip ass on the Panthers of Florida International.
After playing a non-conference slate that included games against Washington, West Virginia, Arkansas, St. Mary's and Wisconsin, Rick Stansbury's team stands at just 8-8 thanks to 2 straight road conference losses, both is close fashion at Marshall and Old Dominion.
After playing their last 3 on the conference road, look for the return to their home court to give Western Kentucky a huge boost as the 'Toppers have won 4 of their 5 at home this year, and they are averaging a lofty 81.2 points per game this season at home.
FIU has alternated wins and losses over their last 9 games, as the up-tempo Panthers come into this game with a 81+ points per game average for the season. That being the case, it is a little curious to me that the oddsmakers have posted such a big impost on the host tonight?!!?
The Panthers are just 2-4 straight up in their true road games this season, and in this series they have had a tough go of it, as Western Kentucky has won the last pair, 5 of the last 6, and 7 of the past 10 meetings overall. The Hilltoppers have covered in 3 of the past 5 meetings, and are at 6-4 overall against the spread the last 10 times these schools have met.
At 8-8 for the year, there is not much more "wiggle room" for Western Kentucky. It is time for the Hilltoppers to start to play to their talent level, and tonight they do just that.
Big time blowout being handed out tonight. Take Western Kentucky.
2* WESTERN KENTUCKY
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Tommy Brunson
Potential postseason meeting on-tap tonight when Philly visits Indy.
This is round three between the teams, with the first pair of meetings both coming before Christmas, and both holding Under the total to run the series streak to 4 straight meetings between the rivals Under the posted price.
Forget about looking Under tonight though, as the 76ers just rang up 149-points on Tuesday night in their rout over the Timberwolves as Philadelphia made it a 4-1 Over run their last 5 games, and a 27-18 Over run for the season.
As for Indiana, the Pacers have been on a total offensive assault this month, as each of their last 9 games played have ALL landed Over the total. Indiana has posted no less than 105 points in any of their last 11 games, as the Over is 10-1 for those last 11 contests.
I know as well as you that the torrid Over clip Indiana is on is not going to go on forever, but tonight does not appear the night to be looking for a defensive battle, as Philadelphia has scored 106 points or better in each of their last 8 games played.
Going to look for the buckets to blossom in Indiana here on Thursday.
76ers and the Pacers to play Over the total.
4* PHILADELPHIA-INDIANA OVER
Chris Jordan
In a delayed home-and-home, I'm taking the Charlotte Hornets as my free play, over the Sacramento Kings. The two just met in Sactown on Saturday, when the Kings won 104-97.
They followed that with an impressive 115-107 victory over Portland on Monday, when we had a chance to see the Kings' depth and young talent.
But now they have to travel cross country, and face a Hornets team that is not happy after a 2-4 roaad trip that ended Monday with a win at San Antonio.
Kemba Walker, who leads Charlotte with an average of 25.2 points per game, was brilliant in scoring 31 during Saturday's loss to the Kings. I think in this return engagement, with an energized crowd fueling the Spectrum Center, we're going to see Walker erupt and lead the Hornets to a revenge victory.
The Kings allow a whopping 117.8 points per game on the road, and that won't bode well against a team that has won three of the last four meetings.
With only two games at home before heading back on the road, the Hornets will be gunning for a huge win tonight. Lay the chalk.
2* HORNETS
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Gus Augustine
Wrong place and the wrong time tonight for the visiting Chicago Bulls to be ending their 5 game road trip, as they will be facing a Denver Nuggets team that just allowed an NBA record 51 first quarter points at home on Tuesday to the Golden State Warriors in a 142-111 ass-kicking royale.
I would think Denver will want to get that taste out of their mouths right quick, and the 10-34 Bulls who have lost 8 in a row, and are playing their 5th road game over the past 9 nights. Chicago is just 2-4-1 against the spread in their last 7 games, and just 4-10 against the spread for the season when they are installed as +10 point dogs or better.
As for the Nuggets, they have now dropped 2 of their last 3 straight up, and the blasting they took at the hands of the Warriors dropped them to 18-4 straight up at home, and 14-8 against the spread in those home games.
The Nuggets have been a double-digit favorite 4 times this season, and they have made good for their backers in 3 of those 4 games.
This will be the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The first was all the way back on Halloween night in the Windy City, as Chicago pushed Denver to overtime before losing by just one point as the +8 point home dog. The win was the Nuggets 6th straight in the series, and they have covered in 4 of those 6 victories.
Cannot imagine Coach Malone allows his team to take their foot off the gas pedal tonight, especially since Denver will only face the Cavaliers at home on Saturday night.
Blowout time in the Mile High City.
Nuggets by at least 18 points.
5* DENVER
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ASA
Jan 17 '19, 7:05 PM in 4h
NHL | Blackhawks vs Rangers
Play on: Blackhawks +108 at betonline
ASA PLAY ON Free Pick: Chicago at NY Rangers, Thursday @ 7:05 PM ET
The Blackhawks are off an embarrassing 8-5 loss at New Jersey. The last 3 times that Chicago has lost a game by a margin of 3 or more goals they have won their next game very single time. The Rangers are off a huge 6-2 win versus Carolina. New York is 0-3 the last 3 times they were off a win by a margin of 2 or more goals. You can see why, even though Chicago has been struggling, they're offering solid underdog line value in this spot given the situation. Also, New York had lost 17 of their 23 games prior to the win over the Hurricanes. The Blackhawks also have won each of the last 3 meetings with the Rangers and we look for another dominating win here as each of the 3 prior Chicago victories in this series have come by a 3-goal margin. Free Pick: Chicago Blackhawks in early evening action Thursday.
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Brandon Lee
Jan 17 '19, 7:05 PM in 4h
NBA | Kings vs Hornets
Play on: Hornets -3 -108 at pinnacle
10* FREE NBA PICK (Hornets -3)
I'll take my chances here with Charlotte as a small home dog. I want to start off by saying I really like this Kings team and have been on them a lot here of late. However, I think the fact that Sacramento has won 4 of 5 and are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 has them getting a little too much love on the road.
Charlotte has not been playing great basketball. The Hornets are just 6-10 in their last 16, but come in off a 108-93 upset win at the Spurs, where the players rallied around veteran Tony Parker, who was playing his first game back in San Antonio since leaving the team. I think that's something they can carry over into this game and there's extra motivation here with revenge. Hornets just lost at the Kings on Saturday.
Hornets are 10-2 ATS at home when they go into the contest having lost 2 of their last 3, while the Kings are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs a team with a winning home record. (Charlotte is 14-8 at home compared to 6-15 on the road). Give me the Hornets -3!
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Mike Lundin
Jan 17 '19, 7:05 PM in 4h
NHL | Devils vs Islanders
Play on: Islanders -151 at pinnacle
34-24 L58 NBA SIDES ~ +$18,000 TOP PLAY RUN
This looks like a more than reasonable price on the red hot New York Islanders who have won nine of their last 11 overall.
Here they'll host a New Jersey side that has lost four of its last six and is in a tough spot playing its fourth game in six nights (0-5 in its last five in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation).
The Islanders have won nine of the last 10 meetings in their building, and that's a trend more than likely to continue here Thursday night.
Free pick on New York Islanders.