Zack's Picks (1 Live)
Zack's Past Picks
The Phoenix Suns have been one of the bigger surprises to start the NBA season. Even with key injuries to Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks for a stretch they have played team basketball. Devin Booker is taking over but also involving his teammates which was not a possibility with Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. A day after Nico Harrison was fired expect the lowly Mavericks to falter as the organization continues it’s rough start to the season.
Trouble is lurking in the Warriors organization. This was a long time coming with Bob Myers leaving years ago, and somehow Golden State patched through it in spots. That is no longer the case as Golden State is 2-6 over their last eight games, and 1-6 on the road. The market is reading into Steve Kerr pulling his starters yesterday to preserve for tonight’s game against the Spurs, but this to me is a bottom out moment for the Warriors. Lay the number with San Antonio.
There are games early in the season you expect to be a true hard fought matchup. I expect that tonight between Santa Clara and Xavier. For Xavier they are learning on the fly under new Coach Richard Pitino and several transfers. While Santa Clara has maintained a program identity under Herb Sendek since 2016. That is the difference even with the long travel to Xavier as Santa Clara covers as road underdogs.
Both the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs began the season undefeated with 5-0 records. Each has now sustained losses, but the Spurs now have their missing piece in their lineup with De’Aaron Fox. The Bulls on the other hand have had severe scoring lapses in each of their last four games. Take the Spurs to cover and end the Bulls 5-0 home start.
Small school college hoops games are often times the most valuable this time of the year. Both Charleston Southern and Citadel were blown out in their lone matchups against division one schools. Today’s matchup looks like a road game for Charleston Southern, but both schools are in the city of Charleston. Look for the Buccaneers Big South style of scoring to give Citadel problems. Lay the number.
The LA Chargers have four different targets that have gone off this season with Quentin Johnston, Oronde Gadsden, Keenan Allen, and Ladd McConkey. Instead of it detracting value in the prop market I believe it presents value. Quentin Johnston after putting up a donut in Thursday Night football against the Vikings, bounced back with fifty three yards against the Titans. He also had forty four yards on just two catches against the Steelers defense a season ago, a game that Justin Herbert was hurt in. Take Johnston over on his receiver yards.
Consistency has been a fixture to Davante Adams throughout his career. His role this season for the Rams has not been as flashy as years past, but his route tree is a perfect matchup today against the 49ers. San Francisco is beat up, and expect veteran Matthew Stafford to continue to pepper Adams who has five touchdowns over the last two weeks. After four of five games having sixty yards or less, Adams gets it done in the yardage market.
Being traded mid-season as a wide receiver is typically a bypass in the prop markets for me. I’ll make an exception with Rashid Shaheed going from the Saints to the Seahawks. He enters a situation with one of the best deep ball passers in Sam Darnold, and a pass heavy offense that should get him an extra target or two. Additionally, Shaheed began the season facing the Arizona Cardinals, and may have a takeaway or two to give to Darnold. Take Shaheed’s over.
The Chicago Bears had it as easy as they could last week offensively, against the worst defense in football in the Cincinnati Bengals. Now they have won five out of their last six games, boosting their spread value against a Giants team that is 0-5 on the road. In the second half of last week’s loss Jaxson Dart showed some confidence and growth in the passing game down the field. Look for that to be an x-factor Sunday, as the Giants hang around against the Bears.
The Carolina Panthers have won four straight games with Bryce Young as quarterback. Last week was the big shocker winning as a double digit underdog on the road against Green Bay. Now they will face a Saints team that is 1-8 on the year, benched Spencer Rattler, and traded away Rasheed Shaheed. Still, look for Tyler Shough to play a bit better than his debut, and for the Panthers to have a back to reality game. Take the Saints.
There’s no doubt the loss of Dylan Raiola is going to impact Nebraska the rest of Big Ten play. Yet, this week is a matchup they can win with proper execution and running the football with Emmett Johnson. Johnson already has 1,000 yards on the season, and the Bruins defense is coming off giving up a season high fifty six points to Indiana. Take Nebraska to get by in their first game without Raiola.
The Chicago Bulls were once 5-0, now have dropped two out of their last three games. One could argue if not for a horrific Philadelphia 76ers melt down they would be on a three game losing streak. Now the Bulls will be in their first back to back spot to start the season, against a Cavaliers that has scored season highs each of their last two games. Lay the number with Cleveland.
An unheralded matchup presents value in the American Conference. Tulsa is winless at 0-5 in league play, and has just one division one victory on the season. Still, the offense has shown improvement in the last two weeks scoring 27 and 37 points. Both were season highs against division one schools. Look for that improvement to continue to show on the road against Florida Atlantic. Could be another loss overall, but they get the cover ATS.
The Golden State Warriors lineup continues to be in limbo. On the road they are just 1-4 on the season, and will face a Denver team looking to make amends from melting away the first matchup against Golden State. That was a game the Warriors heavily relied on Steph Curry’s shot making to get to overtime. This is also the Warriors first game in altitude which will threaten the pace of play they are accustomed to. Lay the number with Denver.