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Today's best NBA bets

Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (N/A)

Boston's Rasheed Wallace has always had the mentality of a shooting guard trapped in a power forward's body. He never saw a 3-pointer he wouldn't take.

But the Celtics have called upon Sheed to show off his skills in the low post lately and will again tonight with center Kendrick Perkins out with the flu.

"Every guy in the league loves to watch that. They love him shooting 3’s," a Celtics assistant told the Boston Herald about Wallace's play in the paint. "Unstoppable. Unstoppable. He’s got so many moves down on the low block that you can’t stop him. That’s why we love to see him outside."

Since vowing to spend more time in the paint after the All-Star break, Wallace has attempted just 64 treys compared to 431 tries in the first half. He is shooting .342 from 3-point range but .518 from inside the arc.

"That’s where I was born at. That’s my bread and butter. That’s what I want," Wallace said of his inside game. "That’s what I want, but if that play design is for that 3, then that’s what I have to do."

Sheed should be extra motivated to return to Motown and play against former teammate Ben Wallace. Pistons centers Kwame Brown (flu) and Chris Wilcox (back) are listed as questionable. The Celtics welcome Paul Pierce back too.

Pick: Celtics


Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat (N/A)

The Miami Heat are taking one step forward while the Golden State Warriors are taking two steps back.

Dwyane Wade returned Sunday after missing four games with a calf muscle strain. He didn't have his A-game, scoring just 21 points on 6 for 17 shooting, but it was a good sign for the Heat, losers of four straight.

"I was a little rusty. I'm not back to where I want to be," Wade told the Orlando Sentinel following Sunday's loss to the Magic. "But I did some things that were positive, so I can move forward."

The Warriors wish they could do the same but put two more players to their growing list of walking wounded. Guard Monta Ellis, who averages 25.7 points per game, and forward Andris Biedrins (groin) did not make the trip with the team.

The Warriors start a five-game road swing tonight after losing their last six as visitors.

Pick: Heat

ICE PICKS

Today's best NHL bets

Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins (-175, 5)

Every Montreal player who participated in the Olympics - with the exception of Jaroslav Halak - was back at practice Sunday. But the Habs may have been happier to welcome a few injured players back into their lineup, such as Benoit Pouliot, Andrei Kostitsyn and Paul Mara.

Head coach Jacques Lemaire decided to keep things light during Saturday’s practice putting together a 3-on-3 scrimmage with one team representing Canada and the other representing the world followed by short track speed skating race.

Montreal is still without leading scorer Mike Cammalleri who spent part of the break in Florida getting treatment on his injured right knee. But even without Cammalleri, the Habs should be a much tougher opponent than the one Boston beat 3-0 at home on Feb. 7.

Pick: Canadiens


Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins (N/A)

As luck would have it, two days after Canada’s big win over the U.S. in the gold medal game, Sidney Crosby and Ryan Miller square off once again, this time in their respective NHL uniforms.

Miller was dominant in net throughout the tournament for the Americans earning the tournament MVP title, but Crosby came out on top, squeezing the puck past Miller in overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory and a gold medal.

Crosby won’t have much time to come back to reality after such a momentous win and the partying that no doubt ensued. Miller, on the other hand, should be focused and ready to shut down Sid and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Miller will fly directly from Vancouver to Pittsburgh Tuesday morning for the Sabres game against the Pens.

Pick: Under

Arthur Ralph Sports
406 - 290 run 58 %

Free Play Tues Southern Miss -11

SPORTS ADVISORS

TUESDAY, MARCH 2

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

(9) Villanova (23-5, 17-10 ATS) at Cincinnati (16-12, 7-16 ATS)
Villanova returns to the court for the first time since Saturday’s humiliating loss at Syracuse when it travels to Fifth Third Arena for a Big East battle with the Bearcats, who are in need of a marquee win to boost their Tournament resume.
The Wildcats jumped out to a quick lead at Syracuse but couldn’t sustain it and eventually got rocked 95-77 as a 4½-point road underdog. Villanova has followed up a 12-game winning streak – including nine consecutive Big East victories – by going 3-4 over its last seven contests, including 1-3 SU and ATS on the road. Also, the Wildcats are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games after starting the season by cashing in 15 of their first 19 contests.
Cincinnati has failed to gain any traction since opening the Big East season with consecutive wins over UConn and Rutgers, dropping nine of its last 15 games (3-11 ATS in lined action). On Saturday, the Bearcats went to No. 8 West Virginia and built a six-point halftime lead, only to fall 74-68, though they did cover as a 13-point road underdog. Cincy is 5-3 in Big East home games, but 0-8 ATS. Going back to Dec. 10, Cincinnati has failed to cover in nine straight lined contests at Fifth Third Arena.
The home team has won the last three meetings in this budding rivalry and is 4-0 ATS in four clashes since Cincinnati joined the Big East in 2005-06. Last year, Villanova rolled 71-50 as an 11½-point chalk. The Wildcats have won three of the four meetings (2-2 ATS), all as a favorite.
Not only is ‘Nova 1-4 ATS in its last five games (all in conference), but it has failed to cover in five of its last seven versus winning teams. Similarly, Cincinnati is mired in a slew of pointspread slumps, including 7-20 overall, 0-9 at home, 5-18 versus Big East foes, 1-10 after a SU loss, 0-4 after a spread-cover, 4-14 against winning teams and 1-4 on Tuesday.
The high-scoring Wildcats are on “over” streaks of 16-6 overall, 6-1 on the road, 6-2 after a non-cover and 7-2 after a SU defeat. The over is also 4-1 in Cincy’s last five at home, but the Bearcats are also on “under” runs of 5-2 on Tuesday, 7-3 after a defeat and 9-4-1 following a non-cover. Finally, the last three meetings in this rivalry have stayed low.

ATS ADVANTAGE: VILLANOVA


(13) Vanderbilt (22-6, 14-12 ATS) at Florida (20-9, 13-11 ATS)
The Commodores hit the road for the second time in three days when they head to the O’Connell Center looking to damage Florida’s Big Dance hopes in a key SEC clash.
Vanderbilt suffered a heartbreaking two-point home loss to then-No. 2 Kentucky on Feb. 20, but it rebounded last week with consecutive league wins over Georgia at home (96-94 in overtime on Thursday) and Arkansas on the road (89-72 on Saturday). In the victory over the Razorbacks, the Commodores cashed as a two-point road favorite, but they’re still just 3-6 ATS in their last nine games.
The Gators ran their winning streak to three in a row with last Tuesday’s 75-62 home rout of No. 19 Tennessee to move off the Tournament bubble. But they got right back on that bubble Saturday by losing 78-76 at Georgia as a two-point road favorite. Although Florida has failed to cover in four of its last six games (following a 6-1 ATS run), Billy Donovan’s squad is still 9-3 SU in its last 12 conference games.
The Commodores are 8-5 away from home (7-5 ATS in lined games), including 5-2 SU and ATS in SEC road games (with the winner covering the spread in all seven games). The Gators are 13-3 at the O’Connell Center (6-6 ATS), including six straight conference home wins (4-2 ATS) since losing to Kentucky 89-77 in their first league contest in Gainesville.
Vanderbilt had little trouble with Florida when these teams met in Nashville on Jan. 9, winning 95-87 as a 5½-point home favorite. That ended the Gators’ two-game SU and four-game ATS winning streaks in this rivalry. Florida is still 7-3 SU in the last 10 meetings (6-3 ATS in the last nine), and it has cashed in five of the last seven clashes in Gainesville.
The Commodores have failed to cover the spread in four straight games when coming off an ATS triumph, but they’re on positive pointspread rolls of 5-2 on the highway (all in the SEC), 9-3 on Tuesday and 9-4 versus winning teams. Florida is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games against winning teams, but 3-7 ATS in its last 10 on Tuesday and 6-15 ATS in its last 21 after a SU defeat.
Vanderbilt, which averages 79.1 ppg, are on “over” runs of 10-2 overall, 10-2 on the road, 20-7 in SEC play and 7-2 after a SU victory. The Gators have topped the total in four of their last five SEC outings and 19 of 28 after a SU defeat, but the under is 12-5 in their last 17 home games. Additionally, four of the last five series battles at Florida have stayed under the total.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE


Georgia Tech (19-9, 13-8-1 ATS) at Clemson (20-8, 13-12 ATS)
Two ACC squads looking to enhance their March credentials hook up at Littlejohn Coliseum, where Clemson hosts the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech bounced back from a tough two-point loss at Maryland by taking out Boston College 73-68 on Saturday, but failed to cover as a 7½-point home favorite. The Yellow Jackets are just 3-4 in their last seven games (2-4-1 ATS), and they’ve lost five straight ACC road games (2-2-1 ATS). However, three of those five were two-point road setbacks. For the season, Georgia Tech is 3-7 in true road games (5-4-1 ATS).
The Tigers continued their late-season surge with Sunday’s 53-50 come-from-behind victory at Florida State as a five-point road underdog. Clemson has won four of its last five games overall and five of its last seven, including four straight home wins. However, the Tigers are just 4-7 ATS in their last 11 (all in the ACC), alternating spread-covers in their last eight outings. Clemson is 13-2 and 9-3 ATS at Littlejohn Coliseum, where it outscores visitors by nearly 17 ppg (76.3-59.4).
Clemson went to Atlanta on Jan. 19 and lost 66-64 to the Yellow Jackets as a one-point road underdog, which kick-started a three-game losing skid that preceded the Tigers’ current 5-2 run. Georgia Tech has won the last two meetings (including a five-point victory as an 8½-point underdog in last year’s ACC tournament), but the home team is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in the last eight regular-season clashes, including Clemson’s 73-59 home win as a 13-point chalk last season.
Also in this rivalry, the favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last seven, with the SU winner covering the spread in each of those contests.
Georgia Tech carries ATS trends of 17-8-1 overall, 9-4-1 on the highway, 3-1-1 after a SU victory and 5-1-1 following a non-cover. Clemson has cashed in nine of 11 at home and five of seven on Tuesday, but it is 1-5 ATS in its last six after a SU victory and 0-4 ATS in its last four after a non-cover.
The under is on runs of 5-2 for the Jackets on Tuesday, 5-1 for the Jackets after a non-cover, 13-6 for the Tigers overall, 19-7 for the Tigers at home and 5-1 for the Tigers versus winning teams. Also, the last two series meetings at Clemson have stayed low.

ATS ADVANTAGE: CLEMSON and UNDER


NBA

Boston (36-21, 21-35-1 ATS) at Detroit (21-38, 25-32-2 ATS)
The slumping Celtics, coming off consecutive home losses, try to regain momentum when they trek to The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., for an Eastern Conference contest against the Pistons.
Boston blew an eight-point lead to Cleveland on Thursday, getting outscored 60-32 in the second half of a 108-88 loss as a 2½-point home underdog. Things got even worse Saturday, though, when they hosted the Nets (5-53) and lost 104-96 as a 10½-point home favorite. Going back to Dec. 27, Boston is just 13-16 SU and 8-20-1 ATS, including 4-15-1 ATS in its last 20 and 0-4 ATS in the last four. On the bright side, Doc Rivers’ squad still sports one of the best road records in the NBA at 20-10 (15-15 ATS).
Detroit returns home after a four-game Western Conference road trip that started with a 101-89 victory in Sacramento as a 2½-point underdog last Tuesday but ended with three consecutive losses (1-2 ATS) to the Clippers, Nuggets and Warriors by 6, 5 and 7 points. The Pistons have dropped 12 of their last 18 games (6-11-1 ATS), going 3-7 in their last nine at home (2-7-1 ATS). Going back to mid-December, they’re 10-26 SU (11-24-1 ATS), including 6-12 at The Palace (5-12-1 ATS).
One of Detroit’s recent home victories came against Boston on Jan. 20, when the Pistons rolled 92-86 as a six-point underdog. They’ve won the last two in a row in this rivalry (SU and ATS) following a 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS run by the Celtics. That said, the visitor is has won and covered four of the last six meetings; the visitor is 14-5 ATS in the last 19; the underdog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10; Boston is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 trips to Motown; and the SU winner has covered in each of the last six meetings and 14 of the last 15.
In addition to their current 8-20-1 ATS slump overall, the Celtics are in pointspread ruts of 0-6 in Eastern Conference games, 0-4 versus the Central Division, 0-4 versus losing teams, 0-4 on Tuesday and 5-15-1 when coming off a SU defeat. The Pistons have cashed in six straight Tuesday contests and they’re 3-1-1 ATS in their last five against Atlantic Division teams, but from there, they’re on ATS slides 2-6-1 against the Eastern Conference, 2-5 versus winning teams, 25-51-1 after a SU defeat and 23-50-1 after an ATS setback.
Boston has topped the total in four straight games overall, and the over is 18-8-1 in its last 27 following two days off. However, the under is 5-1 in its last six on the road and 5-1 in its last six against Central Division opponents, while Detroit is on “under” runs of 10-3 against the Eastern Conference, 5-1 versus opponents with a winning record and 4-1 on Tuesday.
Finally, 16 of the last 21 meetings between these rivals have stayed low, including the last seven in a row in Detroit.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

Insider Sports Report

North Carolina 4*
Florida 3*
OK city 3*

free pick Villanova

CAPPERS ACCESS

Vanderbilt
S. Florida

SPORTS WAGERS

BOSTON -½ +1.00 over Montreal

The “second season” starts tonight and these Bruins are in no position to take a night off. They’ll face a team that is as beatable as any in the business and chances are great that the Bruins come out raring to go and determined to make the playoffs. The Bruins are in seventh place right now just a point ahead of these Canadiens and just two points ahead of the Lightning. So yeah, they’re close in the standings but that’s where the similarities end, as comparing these two teams in terms of talent is like comparing the scent of cinnamon and sewers. The Habs are on the bubble too and they’ll want to win just as bad, however, they come in banged up and with a lack of both offense and defense. Incidentally, Carey Price will start but does it really matter? The Bruins love to beat this team more than any other and losing to them is this crucial spot is not an option. Play: Boston -½ +1.00 (Risking 2 units).


SAN JOSE -½ +1.06 over New Jersey

Father Time catches up with everyone and there’s not a damn thing anyone can do about it. Now, 38 isn’t ancient by any stretch but when you play 70 games a year for almost 20 seasons and you’re on the ice for almost two hours a night, it takes its toll and that’s what’s happening to Marty Brodeur. We saw signs of it last year and there are clearer signs this year. The man will go down as one of the best ever but just like Curtis Joseph’s skills and reflexes began to diminish, so are his. It’s not an aberration and it’s not just a bad game here and there. Brodeur has let in a ton of softies this season and a ton more of his saves have been pure luck. Furthermore, the Devils dropped its last six on the road and nine of its last 10 before the break and that includes losses in Carolina, Toronto and the Islanders among others. Brodeur was pulled from his last NHL game and we all know what happened in the Olympics so his confidence is also an issue. Some think that the Sharks big trio of Thornton, Marleau and Heatley along with Boyle will suffer a letdown here but I’m not buying that. Those four are sharper and more inspired than ever before and they don’t play for the Devils. Play: San Jose -½ +1.06 (Risking 2 units).


ATLANTA -½ +1.23 over Florida

The Thrashers really have a great chance to make the playoffs, as they’re just two points behind the Habs for the eighth spot. Despite losing three of five before the break, they looked a lot sharper than that record indicates. Those three losses were as follows: a 5-4 loss to the Blackhawks in OT, a 4-3 defeat to the Av’s in OT in a game they were robbed in and against Washington in a 5-2 loss, they were the better team but ran into a hot goaltender. They made a great deal for Kovalchuk and while the perception by the oddsmakers is that they’re worse, the fact is they’re not. They received a front-line d-man in Johnny Oduya, a great looking rookie in Niclas Bergfors, outstanding junior prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick. Pretty sweet for one guy and frankly, they haven’t missed a beat without Kovalchuk and actually look better but it’s been very quiet. Meanwhile, the Panthers have dropped six straight and they can’t score goals. In fact, Florida has been held to two goals or less in an incredible 13 straight games and it’s unlikely that a two-week break is going to cure that. Nathan Horton remains out, the Panthers are in losing mode and they’re playing a team that is going to open some eyes the final six weeks of the season. Play: Atlanta -½ +1.23 (Risking 2 units).

Matt Fargo

**10** CBB *TOP* C-USA REPORT

Marshall

Teddy Covers

Big Ticket Youngstown St.

Minnesota

Celtics

PowerPlayWins
Villanova -4

south florida -2.5

la lakers -11.5

Marc Lawrence
Indiana Pacers +11.5

Nick Parsons
San Jose Sharks

SPARTAN | CBB Sides Tue, 03/02/10 - 8:00 PM
***triple-dime bet*** 535 Missouri -5.0 (-110)

Analysis: I've watched these teams do battle since Norm Stewart and Johnny Orr were on the bench and trust me on this one, sometimes they were more entertaining to observe than the actual games. I've been watching to see how this game would set up and things have lined up just right. Now there is no question the Cyclones can be a total pain in the butt for most anybody when dealing with them at home in Hilton. BUT, frankly I expect a result this time around similar to last season when the Tigers went into Ames and prevailed by a very convincing 82-68 final score. It is pretty much common knowledge in the Big 12 circles that this season the bottom feeders are Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa State Already Mizzou has handled Nebraska and colorado with ease in their arenas. Actually going into this past weekends action the top 3 teams at the time, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri had combined for 25 straight wins. Not the usual parity in this seasons schedule. As things played out Missouri had some payback offered up as K-State avenged an earlier loss to Mizzou by rallying to defeat the Tigers in Manhattan saturday night. Here's the deal guys, Mizzou has a season finale on deck at home this weekend against Kansas and I'm guessing the odds makers are figuring the Tigers will be caught looking ahead to their battle with their arch rival Jayhawks. BUT, with the loss against the Wildcats the Tigers still realize they could sure use another conference win to assure things for the big dance. Iowa State meanwhile has little to play for except pride. A huge factor here is that anybody who follows Missouri, and I live right here in Columbia and routinely watch these kids practice, know full and well that they only know one gear. Mike Anderson's kids are like junkyard dogs, nobody in the country plays harder for 40 minutes than the Missouri Tigers. Now I've bet against this group every bit as much as on them so rest assured this in absolutely no homer call. I call it the way I see it. I expect the Cyclones to come out and compete hard at home but the Tigers relentless style should wear on their weaker opponent and I see the Tigers clearing this number for us, similar to last years 14 point victory up there. Missouri plays with incredible heart and the key will be whether or not they are filling the net, they can tend to run hot and cold but with their swarming defense they do tend to create a ton of turnovers and some easy baskets.
The Tigers are well aware of the Kansas game looming but that is not until this weekend, it's a tuesday game and after the loss at Kansas State there are real stakes involved for them. Of course nothing is guaranteed and locks are a total myth, but I feel very confident Anderson will have his team totally dialed in and focused on the task at hand. I've watched this club all year long, up close and personal and feel this five point number is just flat out wrong. I only have one, single college game of the year and this is the one. Take the Missouri Tigers to wear down Iowa State and come home with a solid victory setting up the border war against hated Kansas in Columbia this weekend!

10*: BURNS NBA TOTAL BLUE CHIP: UNDER-188 (Detroit Pistons @ Boston Celtics)
9*: BURNS PERSONAL FAVORITE MAJOR BLOWOUT ALERT: BOSTON CELTICS -5
8*: 100% NHL RUN BURNS DIVISIONAL GAME OF THE MONTH: DALLAS STARS ML
8*: BURNS TOP NHL TOTAL OF THE WEEK: UNDER 5 1/2 (NJ Devils @ SJ Sharks)

BURNS 3-GAME ULTIMATE REPORT (ALL 3 at 7:00 PM ET)

8*: FLORIDA -3 vs Vanderbilt
8*: MARSHALL -1 1/2 vs UTEP
8*: UNDER 125 1/2 (Minnesota @ Michigan)

C-Star Sports

1000 Units Sacramento/Oklahoma over the total
1000 units Marquette over Louisville
1000 units Air Force/Wyoming under the total

doc

3-Unit Play #501 Take Boston/Detroit UNDER 189 1/2
4-Unit Play #503 Take Golden State/Miami UNDER 200 1/2

Jack Burnet

75,000 Dime Baylor
25,000 Dime Wyoming
25,000 Dime Thunder

Accu Picks

5* Villanova
3* Ill Chi +12.5
3* Boston -4.5