Zack's Picks (2 Live)
The Minnesota Timberwolves hit a low point two games ago when they matched a season worst twenty seven point loss against Orlando. The offense was not there once again in last night’s loss to the Lakers where they had Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVencenzo, and Anthony Edwards struggle from the field. Even if tonight’s another struggling game offensively, the Timberwolves showed just two weeks ago they can overcome that. They defeated the Clippers 94 to 88. Grab the Twolves as the underdog in a back to back spot.
Jackson State pulled off an upset in yesterday’s win over Grambling, cashing outright on today’s spread offering against Florida A&M. A Rattlers team that Jackson State had their largest margin of victory in conference of 20 points, and also beat them by at point at Florida A&M. The blowout was a bad travel spot for the Rattlers traveling from Saturday to Monday, and the one point loss they blew a nine point halftime lead. Expect a different outcome today with the Rattlers on six days rest.
One of the trends that has cashed ATS is teams playing for their coach that is on his way out. We have seen Arizona State, Oregon State, San Diego, amongst others cover spreads with their coaches exiting. Tarleton State’s Billy Gillespie was announced a few weeks ago they they will part ways. The Texans have lost four straight, but did play Abilene Christian well last month. They beat them in overtime, and had a double digit lead in the second half in the other February matchup. Two games that their star player Dior Johnson missed. Lay the number with Johnson in the lineup.
The Orlando Magic have won four straight games, and are off back to back wins of twenty points or more for the first time this season. Yet, they find themselves as a home underdog against a Cavaliers team that defeated them by fourteen and sixteen points in late January. With Cleveland just .500 over their last eight games this figures to be a closer game, but take the Cavs to outlast the Magic and go three for three ATS against Orlando.
One of the coldest teams ATS have been the Houston Rockets. They have not covered in five straight games, and are coming off giving up 145 points to the San Antonio Spurs. That was a season high in points allowed for the Rockets, and also their third game in four days. Off a day off look for a refocused Rockets team against Toronto. Lay the number.
Wright State put on a show in yesterday’s win over Northern Kentucky where they scored 103 points. That marked three straight games of scoring 90 points or more for the Raiders. That was also a tighter spread than today’s offering against Detroit. A Mercy team that has played Wright State well, earning a split in two games decided by four points or less. Grab Detroit plus the points.
Memphis has listed several players doubtful for tonight’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. That makes an already thin roster dependent more so on backups against a Brooklyn team coming off a comeback win over the Detroit Pistons. The first matchup was also the fewest point scored in a Memphis game this season a 103 to 98 matchup. Take Brooklyn.
San Francisco had as poor of a stretch as any team in conference when they went 3-8 up until last Saturday’s win over Pacific. With yesterday’s win over Portland the Dons have their first two game win streak since January 4th. Look for the Dons to be motivated off their worst loss of the season when Oregon State beat them on their home floor, 90-63 on February 12th.
In tournament action winning the first game in dramatic fashion can be the spark to get a team on a run. Southeast Missouri State won yesterday thanks to Lindenwood’s poor shooting at the free throw line, and got a last second basket to prevail. Their Coach Brad Korn, already was looking forward to tonight’s matchup against Morehead State in the postgame interview. A team in Morehead State that he mentioned has had a full week off. Look for that to have an impact early, as most teams that have played so far have struggled to shoot in the first half adjusting to the Ford Center arena.
The Indiana Pacers have lost seven straight games, and four straight games by 19 points or more. Much of the personnel that they are using are backup and third unit players. Yet, Pascal Siakam did return Wednesday after nearly two weeks off and scored 29 points. The Lakers respond off last night’s loss to Denver but fail to cover the big number.
Brown is better than their overall Ivy League record of 3 and 10. ATS wise they have covered in four out of their last five games, and won two games during that stretch. Yet, they are getting to much benefit on the spread today as a near pick em against Penn. A Quakers squad that has won six out of seven games. Take Penn.
Lindenwood survived yesterday’s win over Arkansas Little Rock after nearly blowing a 27 to 9 lead. They will take on a Southeast Missouri State team that is 10 and 2 over their last 12 games. One of their worst halves all season was against Lindenwood where they trailed 45 to 18 at halftime. This is one of those games where the lower seed could very easily be the favorite. Tail Lindenwood as the slight underdog.
The Detroit Pistons are coming off a loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and have not lost two games in a row since December 28th. One of their weaknesses I’ve touched on is their poor ATS record against Western Conference teams, which includes a recent home loss against the San Antonio Spurs on February 23rd. Look for that to be an edge for Detroit tonight that faces a Spurs team returning from their longest road trip of the season in five games. Tail Detroit.