Bruce's Picks (3 Live)
Bruce's Past Picks
The angle we've been taking with the Grizzlies effectively remains the same...if Ja Morant is out (which is likely the case again this afternoon), we go with Memphis. Morant, dealing with a strained calf (a more bothersome injury than it sounds), has been out since November 15, but the Griz have not coincidentally started to take flight since, winning six of their last eight to revive hopes for this season. Morant, who will be actively shopped at the deadline, has seen his numbers plummet this season anyway...his absence is a plus for Memphis. Meanwhile the Blazers continue on their long road trip and have been laboring, dropping 9 of their last1 2 games. Play Grizzlies
There are Iowa transfers populating the rosters of both of these in-state sides who have their annual battle on Sunday in Lincoln. Last year it was the Huskers who had the edge 74-63 in Omaha, and to this point Fred Hoiberg's 8-0 team looks a bit further along, not to mention getting more out of its Hawkeyes transfer (G Pryce Sandifort at 16.1 ppg) as opposed to the Bluejays' ex-Iowa G Owen Freeman (just 10.1 ppg). Hoiberg's side also has a unique scoring threat in 6-10 Reink Mast (17.9 ppg), while Greg McDermott's Creighton is adjusting to life without the defensive presence of Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is now blocking shots in the NBA. Play Nebraska
A heavy price here on the Billikens, which they could handle, but over might be the preference on Sunday. Saint Louis certainly has the offense to move the scoreboard, scoring at 90 ppg as Josh Schertz's troops hit from all angles, including a unique threat in bespectacled 6-10 Robbie Avila (14 ppg), who does much of his business out on the perimeter. The Bills also hit 50% from the floor with five double-digit scorers led by Xavier transfer G Trey Green (also 14 ppg). We have to wonder about CMU if it lost contact vs. a downgraded Loyola-Chicago earlier this week, but also note that game landed on 155 points vs. a Ramblers side with limited weaponry. Play CMU-SLU Over
It's results in seven straight for Juve since Luciano Spalletti was appointed manager in late October and no better time to get another on Sunday in a slow and steady climb up the Serie A table and perhaps into European qualifying territory. Spalletti's recent form chart also shows two unbeaten in the Champs League, which renews again on Wednesday vs. Pafos, finding goals lately from Kekan Vildiz and Filip Kostic to fuel the offense...and one goal might be all the Old Lady needs on Sunday. Meanwhile Antonio Conte's brand of anti-football at Napoli has resulted in getting blanked three times in seven, suggesting this one is ripe for Juve to at least get a result. Juve on Asian Spread +0.25 goals
Every season we see examples of a sort of anti-basketball in the Metro Atlantic and they usually involve Saint Peter's. The excitement meter likely doesn't budge this afternoon in jersey City for the visit of Niagara, as the Purple Eagles limp in after absorbing an 83-54 beating at the hands of Siena on Friday night. Calvin Murphy isn't walking thru the door anytime soon; Niagara is scoring at barely 62 ppg thus far, hits barely 40% from the floor, and leading scorer G Justin page only registers at 10.9 ppg. The Peacocks aren't much better, in fact they might shoot the ball worse, only 37% from the floor and 29% beyond the arc. Few options beyond G Brent Bland (16.6 ppg). Play Niagara-Saint Peter's Under
How about 3-0 with...and 1-8 without. No, we're not talking about cheese steaks (at least for the moment), but that's the Bengals' record in games with Joe Burrow starting at QB, and games without Burrow starting at QB. Burrow is back and starting at QB again on Sunday at buffalo. There's more, but the Cincy argument always circles back to Burrow, especially in December, when the Bengals rallied min 2021, 2022, and 2024, all with Burrow at the helm (he missed December 2023 with injury). Not sure dominating a fading Pittsburgh last week and running roughshod over an tired Steelers defense was really a buy signal on the Bills, who have had their problems vs. Cincy in recent years. Play Bengals
For the Commanders we think the return of Jayden Daniels is a plus; for the Vikes, the return of JJ McCarthy,...we're not so sure. Te Commanders' seven-game losing streak has lasted long enough, especially as the team hasn't looked so bad behind Marcus Mariota in recent weeks. While the playoffs seem a lost cause, Dan Quinn's squad might have found something in last week's gallant OT loss to Denver, utilizing more quick-hitters on offense and improved schemes on defense. Nothing this season has suggested that the return of JJ McCarthy to the Vikings' lineup is going to be a plus save for the fact he'll likely be an improvement upon last week's rookie starter, Max Brosmer. Play Commanders
The Colts look to be leaking oil, dropping three of their last four and in the process the lead in the AFC South, the offense suddenly looking less potent as QB Daniel Jones has been starting to resemble his old Giants form. Jones wasn't all that bad last week vs. Houston but unlike the first half of the season when making all of the big plays, Jones and the rest of the offense have bene unable to consistently generate winning plays the past month as the downturn has endured. Meanwhile, the Jags are stirring, with wins in three straight, and a defense full of ballhawks ready to pounce on the next Jones mistake. The last three wins have been by a combined 87-33. Play Jaguars
Either something is wrong with the Ravens, or they're not that good. For several weeks, despite a recent 5-game win streak, we have suspected the same, much of it to do with QB Lamar Jackson and his return from a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for a month. Jackson has lacked the same electric burst from the pocket that he made famous in recent years. Baltimore still has Derrick Henry, however, and that might be enough to push past the Steelers, who have looked miserable in recent weeks. The old Steel Curtain defense is also showing real signs of wear and tear, such as allowing 249 rush yards last week to the Bills in the latest loss. Play Ravens
Recent form suggests West Ham can soon exit the relegation fight and get a result Sunday on the south coast. Nuno's men have picked up points in four straight games,. including Wednesday at Old Trafford when a late Soungoutou Magassa strike leveled matters vs. Man United. Though a bit limp last Sunday vs. Liverpool, West Has looked incisive in its other recent matches and has importantly found some scorers to step forward and relieve Jarrod Bowen of single-handedly carrying the troops. Meanwhile, wondering how Brighton might respond after galling midweek setback vs. Aston Villa when surrendering an early 2-goal lead. Play West Ham on Spread
It's getting desperate for first-year coach Adam Foote as the losing continues for the Canucks. For Vancouver, it's losses in four straight, seven of eight, and ten of twelve as the offense has mostly grinded to a halt. More of the same last night vs. Utah which rolled into Rogers Arena and skated away with a 4-1 win, the third straight game the Canucks have scored just one goal, and wasting some decent efforts in goal by Kevin Lankinen. Nikita Tolopilo will likely be in the net tonight for the Canucks, while Jesper Wallstedt has been a revelation in goal for the Wild with his 1.74 GAA and .944 saves in ten starts, and likely goes tonight. Play Wild-Canucks Under
Eric Olen (via UCSD) has his new-look Lobos performing better than many expected, with several frosh stepping into the spotlight including G Jake Hall (14.4 ppg). Santa Clara, however, might present a problem as the Broncos are off to an 8-1 start, their best beginning to a campaign in six years. There's a c hance top scorer G Christian Hammond (16.6 ppg) won't make the post tonight in Albuquerque, but Herb Sendek has a deep bench and SCU still was able to put up 90 points in a spirited midweek win over Utah Tech. The Broncos bounced back smartly from their bitter 1-point loss in Palm Springs vs. Saint Luis to beat Minnesota more handily than the 86-75 scoreline suggested. Play Santa Clara