Today's picks: Why Knicks will cover spread vs. Spurs, plus more NBA, NHL and college basketball plays for Tuesday

Jonathan Coachman is joined by top sports betting experts Mike McClure,  Zack Cimini and Larry Hartstein on the Early Edge podcast, powered by SportsLine. They reveal their favorite bets for the NBA, college basketball and the NHL for Tuesday, March 2. 

Mike and Larry open with essential injury info in the NBA and college basketball. Among Mike's teams to watch are the Celtics, Heat, Spurs and Nuggets. Larry has his eye on personnel issues in the Auburn-Alabama and Michigan-Illinois matchups. 

The Coach issues the SportsLine Play of the Day, going with the Under on Sabres-Rangers at 7 p.m. ET. 

With approval from Coach, Zack begins another Tuesday in the MAC, taking Buffalo -6 over Akron at 2 p.m. ET. He believes the Bulls will win easily. He is also on Northern Kentucky at -1.5 to cool off Detroit. Zack's featured NBA prop is Dillon Brooks Over 18.5 points and assists in Grizzlies-Wizards at 7 p.m. ET. 

Mike stays in the NBA, saying the wrong team is favored in Lakers-Suns at 10 p.m. ET, and he is riding with Phoenix +2 over Los Angeles. He is also backing the Clippers -4 over the Celtics on the road at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Knicks are Mike's "Dog of the Day", as he is taking New York +2 over San Antonio at 8: 30 p.m. ET. "I make the Knicks only [0.4-point] underdogs in this spot," he says. "The Spurs are on the second night of a back to back, and they are still dealing with injuries and COVID situations," Mike then reminds us of an important recent observation from Larry. "Give me the Knicks here. Elfrid Payton is doubtful. As the 'Maestro' told you a couple of days ago, we think the Knicks are better without Elfrid Payton." 

Larry then delivers his favorite college basketball play of the day, noting that Purdue is strong at home, so he is tabbing the Boilermakers at -2 over Wisconsin at 9 p.m. ET. The Wizards have covered eight of their last nine, so he likes Washington + 1 over Memphis. Larry also knows the Lakers will have much trouble handling DeAndre Ayton down low, so he is surely taking him to go Over 14.5 points. 

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