Month

Yesterday 5-1, let’s try again

NBA

NYK @ UTA: The Knicks surprised everybody but themselves knocking off the Warriors yesterday, and let’s be honest the Warriors thought they were going to cruise up early and beating Memphis before that.  The Jazz have beaten Orlando and that’s it for 10 games so let’s be simple here. Lean Knicks -3.5

MEM @ DEN: This would be an easy play if the Grizzlies didn’t get mauled in Portland (as I said on Twitter, LMA really improves that team now). Denver just got whacked and Memphis made it close in the end which might leave them a little lax. Lean DEN+4.5

Kings REG -105
Kings 1p Under 1,5 -170

Phillies -106
Cards -120

College Basketball information
Monday’s game
Fresno State lost back/back OT games in late January, was 8-13 at time; since then, they’re 12-3, winning six of last seven at home, losing only to San Diego State. Bulldogs have only one senior starter, but are in top 10 in country at protecting ball- they’re 10-6 outside Mountain West, with three OT wins. Siena won seven of last eight games, but November loss at Purdue was Saints’ only game this year outside the eastern time zone; they’re 7-7 outside the MAAC, are 11th-least experienced team in USA. This is first of best-of-3 series, with last two games in my hometown. Siena turns ball over 20.5% of time, #311 in country.

NBA information
Hot teams
— Spurs won last 17 games, covered 10 of last 11.
— Raptors won four of their last five games. Miami won three of last four games, covered last three.
— Bulls won three of last four games, but covered once in their last five home games.
— Clippers won 15 of their last 17 games. Timberwolves won four of last five home games.
— New Orleans won five of its last six games.
— Knicks won 10 of their last 13 games.

Cold Teams
— Charlotte lost four of its last six games. Wizards lost four of their last seven games (2-5 vs spread).
— Pacers lost four of their last five games.
— Atlanta lost its last six games (1-5 vs spread). 76ers lost 26 of last 27 games, covered five of last seven.
— Bucks lost nine of last ten games, covered four of last six. Detroit lost eight of its last nine.
— Celtics lost nine of their last ten games.
— Kings lost six of last eight games (6-2-1 vs spread in last nine).
— Grizzlies lost three of last four road games (0-4 vs spread). Denver lost four of its last five games.
— Jazz lost 15 of their last 17 games.

Series records
— Wizards won four of last six visits to Charlotte.
— Pacers won by 11 in San Antonio Dec 7, ending 9-game series skid.
— 76ers lost four of their last five games with Atlanta.
— Pistons won five of last seven games with Milwaukee.
— Heat won last 14 games with Toronto (6-2 vs spread in last eight).
— Bulls won nine of last 12 games against Boston.
— Clippers won their last eight games with Minnesota.
— Kings won three of last four games with New Orleans.
— Grizzlies lost last three visits to Denver, by 5-7-3 points.
— Knicks won their last five games with Utah.

Totals
— Last four Washington games stayed under the total; four of last five Charlotte games went over
— Five of last six San Antonio games stayed under.
— Seven of last ten Philly games stayed under total.
— Over is 48-25 in Detroit games, 25-13 at home.
— Five of last six Miami games stayed under total.
— Four of last five Boston games went over total.
— Seven of last nine Clipper games stayed under total.
— Eight of last nine King-Pelican games went over total.
— Five of last seven Memphis-Denver games stayed under.
— Three of last four Utah games went over the total.

Monday’s baseball knowledge
Hot pitchers
— Liriano is 2-1, 2.84 in his last six starts.
— Strasburg is 2-0, 3.33 in his last five starts. Gee is 1-2, 4.21 in his last seven.
— Gallardo is 4-1, 2.58 in his last eight starts.
— Fernandez is 4-1, 1.13 in his last six starts. de la Rosa is 6-0, 4.34 in his last seven starts.
— Bumgarner is 2-0, 1.80 in his last four starts.

— Verlander is 1-1, 0.26 in his last five starts. Shields is 3-0, 1.24 in his last four starts.
— Lester is 4-1, 1.56 in his last five starts.
— Dickey is 5-1, 3.35 in his last seven starts.
— Weaver is 2-0, 2.84 in his last three starts.
— Gray is 2-1, 2.48 in his last five starts.

— Lee is 3-2, 2.08 in his last five starts.

Cold pitchers
— Samardzija is 0-2, 5.79 in his last six starts.
— Teheran is 2-2, 6.64 in his last four starts.
— Cueto is 2-3, 6.10 in his last five starts. Wainwright is 0-3, 3.79 in his last three starts.
— McCarthy is 1-2, 3.96 in his last four starts.

— Tillman is 0-2, 4.33 in his last four starts.
— Nolasco is 0-3, 12.38 in his last four starts. Sale is 0-2, 4.82 in his last three.
— Price is 2-3, 3.99 in his last seven starts.
— FHernandez is 0-5, 6.42 in his last six starts.
— Masterson is 1-2, 4.68 in his last six starts.

— Scheppers is first pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 to make first MLB start on Opening Day; he was 6-2, 1.88 in 76 relief appearances LY. .

Hot teams
— Mariners won their last seven season openers.

Cold teams

Totals
— Last four Samardzija starts stayed under the total; five of Liriano’s last seven starts went over.
— Over is 5-1-1 in last seven Strasburg starts.
— Seven of last ten Teheran starts stayed under total.
— Five of last seven Cueto starts stayed under the total.
— Last three de la Rosa starts went over the total.
— Under is 4-0-2 in last six Bumgarner starts.

— Four of last five Shields starts went over the total; Verlander’s last five starts stayed under.
— Eight of last nine Tillman starts stayed under the total.
— Seven of last nine Sale starts went over the total.
— Six of last eight Price starts went over the total.
— Under is 3-1-1 in last five Weaver starts.
— Five of Gray’s last six home starts stayed under.

— Under is 6-2-1 in Lee’s last nine starts.

Monday’s baseball knowledge
Hot pitchers
— Liriano is 2-1, 2.84 in his last six starts.
— Strasburg is 2-0, 3.33 in his last five starts. Gee is 1-2, 4.21 in his last seven.
— Gallardo is 4-1, 2.58 in his last eight starts.
— Fernandez is 4-1, 1.13 in his last six starts. de la Rosa is 6-0, 4.34 in his last seven starts.
— Bumgarner is 2-0, 1.80 in his last four starts.

— Verlander is 1-1, 0.26 in his last five starts. Shields is 3-0, 1.24 in his last four starts.
— Lester is 4-1, 1.56 in his last five starts.
— Dickey is 5-1, 3.35 in his last seven starts.
— Weaver is 2-0, 2.84 in his last three starts.
— Gray is 2-1, 2.48 in his last five starts.

— Lee is 3-2, 2.08 in his last five starts.

Cold pitchers
— Samardzija is 0-2, 5.79 in his last six starts.
— Teheran is 2-2, 6.64 in his last four starts.
— Cueto is 2-3, 6.10 in his last five starts. Wainwright is 0-3, 3.79 in his last three starts.
— McCarthy is 1-2, 3.96 in his last four starts.

— Tillman is 0-2, 4.33 in his last four starts.
— Nolasco is 0-3, 12.38 in his last four starts. Sale is 0-2, 4.82 in his last three.
— Price is 2-3, 3.99 in his last seven starts.
— FHernandez is 0-5, 6.42 in his last six starts.
— Masterson is 1-2, 4.68 in his last six starts.

— Scheppers is first pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 to make first MLB start on Opening Day; he was 6-2, 1.88 in 76 relief appearances LY. .

Hot teams
— Mariners won their last seven season openers.

Cold teams

Totals
— Last four Samardzija starts stayed under the total; five of Liriano’s last seven starts went over.
— Over is 5-1-1 in last seven Strasburg starts.
— Seven of last ten Teheran starts stayed under total.
— Five of last seven Cueto starts stayed under the total.
— Last three de la Rosa starts went over the total.
— Under is 4-0-2 in last six Bumgarner starts.

— Four of last five Shields starts went over the total; Verlander’s last five starts stayed under.
— Eight of last nine Tillman starts stayed under the total.
— Seven of last nine Sale starts went over the total.
— Six of last eight Price starts went over the total.
— Under is 3-1-1 in last five Weaver starts.
— Five of Gray’s last six home starts stayed under.

— Under is 6-2-1 in Lee’s last nine starts.

Rays
Cubs
Royals
Rangers
Braves
Cards
Marlins
Dbacks
Angels

Here is post #1 that will look at a few games that catch my eye on the card.

NBA:

CHI@BOS: Bulls coming off of a huge loss to the Blazers, should outdo the possibility that the Celtics would be ready to grind out a win after a tough loss to the Raptors the other day.  The Bulls are better coached and rarely lose 2 in a row and coming down on playoff time you would expect them to put together a strong effort. Lean Bulls-4.5

MIN@BKN: There’s something strange about BKN at home, they keep winning. Catching a good spot with the Twolves likely relaxed after a HUGE win over the Lakeshow, and BKN needing to keep up with the recently playoff bound Raptors should lend itself to a strong Nets win.  Lean Nets-4

UTA@OKC: We all know OKC is going to win this game, but in what fashion? The Thunder will start strong and coast through the remainder probably until the playoffs or unless they play some tough competition. Lean OKC 1H

MEM@POR: Memphis absolutely owns the Blazers over the last 7 games (6-1) which basically says that when pressed the Blazers can’t handle their offense.  LMA is back and sparked the team to two recent wins so this is the perfect time for Memphis to flex some muscle after a tough loss to GS. Lean MEM+1.5

NCAAB:

UCONN v MSU: Napier and UCONN are shooting lights out, and MSU brings 2 seniors that could be the first ever 4 year Spartans since Izzo started coaching there not to reach the final four.  You have to believe in the Huskies offence at this point, but they haven’t really been tested defensively until this matchup with MSU. The Spartans showed an inability to execute down the stretch and that’s why the Huskies are dangerous, in the end it’s almost impossible to stop a number of hot shooters in the clutch. Lean UCONN+5.5

UK v MICH: 6 Freshman versus one of the best sets of shooters in the tournament. An 8-seeded favorite over the #2 seed (this must be a subtle jab at the selection committee, although I will maintain that Wichita was robbed by the refs anyways).  That being said, Kentucky has proven they won’t die so no matter what happens in the first half, they will press Michigan with their rebounding and size.  Sometimes you just have to trust the oddsmakers. Lean UK-2

Rangers -155 x2
Bruins -110
Flames +120

2013-14 NHL information……..
Hot teams
— Bruins won 14 of their last 15 games. Philly won six of its last eight.
— Calgary won three of its last four games.
— Lightning won seven of their last nine games.
— Rangers won five of their last six games.

Cold teams
— Senators lost seven of their last nine games.
— Red Wings lost three of their last four games.
— Pittsburgh lost six of last nine games. Blackhawks lost three of their last four.
— Predators lost five of last eight games. Washington lost three of its last four.
— Edmonton lost three of its last four games.

Totals
— Over is 21-11-3 in Boston home games.
— Seven of last ten Ottawa games went over total.
— Six of last seven Tampa Bay games went over.
— Eight of last ten Chicago games stayed under the total.
— Last four Washington road games stayed under total; four of last five Nashville games went over.
— Four of last five Edmonton games went over the total.

Series records
— Bruins won ten of last thirteen games with Philadelphia.
— Flames won three of last five games with Ottawa.
— Lightning is 4-0 vs Detroit this year, allowing five goals.
— Blackhawks won three of last four games with Pittsburgh.
— Predators lost six of last seven games with Washington.
— Rangers lost last two games with Edmonton, 2-0/2-1.

College Basketball information
Sunday’s NCAA games
Since 1987, there have been 11 regional finals without a top-3 seed from that region; underdogs went 8-3 vs spread in those games. UConn beat Michigan State 66-62 LY on an Army base in Germany that started the season; Napier had 25 that day, but its lot harder facing an Izzo team in March than November. Huskies will have home crowd edge in regional final; UConn is 14-1 outside AAC, beating shorthanded Iowa State last game. Michigan State won last six games after going 5-7 in last 12 regular season games- they also lost to UConn 70-67 in 2010 Maui Classic.

Over last 11+ years, underdogs are 30-16 vs spread in this round. 8-seed Kentucky is highest-seeded team to be favored in regional final; 7-seeds Florida (-1.5) in ’12, Tulsa (-2.5) in 2000 both lost. Logic says its tough for young Kentucky squad to bounce back 41 hours after beating its rival Louisville in stirring comeback (trailed 18-5 early). Michigan is 25-48 on arc last two games; they’ve won 10 of last 11 games, holding on to beat Tennessee by hoop Friday, after leading by 11 at half. Wildcats lost by 4 to Michigan State, in its only game against a Big Dozen team this year.

NBA information
Hot teams
— Oklahoma City won five of its last six games.
— Cavaliers won three of their last four games.
— Brooklyn won eight of its last eleven games. Minnesota won its last two games, by 24-36 points.
— Raptors won three of their last four games. Orlando won its last two games, after losing previous nine.
— Warriors won four of last five games, covered two of last seven.
— Grizzlies won five of their last seven games. Portland won seven of its last nine home games.
— Suns won their last six games (5-1 vs spread).

Cold Teams
— Jazz lost 14 of their last 16 games.
— Pacers lost three of their last four games.
— Boston lost eight of last nine games, covered four of last six. Bulls covered once in their last seven games.
— New York lost three of its last four games.
— Lakers lost six of their last eight games.

Series records
— Thunder won nine of last twelve games with Utah (8-3-1 spread).
— Pacers won their last eight games with Cleveland.
— Timberwolves won seven of last nine games with Brooklyn.
— Raptors won their last six games with Orlando.
— Bulls won eight of their last eleven games with Boston.
— Knicks lost seven of last nine games with Golden State.
— Grizzlies won their last five games with Portland.
— Lakers lost seven of last nine games with Phoenix.

Totals
— Eight of last ten Jazz-hunder games stayed under.
— Last seven Indiana games stayed under the total.
— Last six Brooklyn games, five of last six Minnesota games went over.
— Six of last eight Toronto games went over total; five of last six Magic games stayed under.
— Six of last seven Chicago games stayed under total.
— Seven of its last ten New York games went over total.
— Seven of last nine Memphis games stayed under total.
— Six of last seven Phoenix games stayed under total.