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TODAY I WILL VENTURE INTO A CONFERENCE THAT IS LOW ON MY BOARD IN TERMS OF DAILY AND WEEKLY PLAY—-THE BIG 12. AS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE SAME APPLIES TO THE HARDWOOD COURT. THE BIG 12 IS A BIT UNPREDICTABLE SO YOU NEED TO WAIT ON THE RIGHT PLAY. TODAY IT’S AVAILABLE BETWEEN KANSAS AND BAYLOR. WITH KANSAS SUDDENLY LIVING UP TO THEIR TALENT ODDMAKERS HAVE POSITIONED THEM AS SIZEABLE FAVORITES TODAY AGAINST THE BAYLOR BEARS.

I’D THINK IF THIS HAD BEEN A GAME SCHEDULED EVEN EIGHT TO TEN DAYS AGO THAT KANSAS WOULD ONLY BE 6-7 POINT FAVORITES. QUICK REACTION TO BAYLOR’S POOR LOSS AT HOME AGAINST A GOOD OKLAHOMA TEAM, AND KANSAS GREAT PERFORMANCE AGAINST OKLAHOMA STATE (NEARLY WITHERED AWAY) HAS THE LINE INFLATED AT 10.5. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE KANSAS IS STILL TOO YOUNG OF A TEAM TO GARNER MY MONEY AS A TEN POINT FAVORITE EVEN ON THEIR HOME FLOOR. THEIR PRONE TO LULLS OFFENSIVELY AND ARE NOT A HALF COURT OFFENSE.

FACING A TEAM SUCH AS OKLAHOMA STATE ALLOWED KANSAS TO DO WHAT THEIR BEST AT, AND THAT’S GET OUT AND RUN THE FLOOR. BAYLOR USE TO BE THAT TYPE OF TEAM BUT THEY’VE SCALED BACK THEIR FAST PACE APPROACH WITH THE PERSONNEL THEY HAVE THIS SEASON. SLOWING THE GAME DOWN AND FORCING KANSAS TO WORK FOR THEIR POINTS IS BAYLOR’S BEST SHOT AT HANGING IN THIS ONE.

IT’S ALWAYS INTERESTING SEEING HOW A TEAM PLANS TO GUARD BAYLOR’S BIG MAN ISIAH AUSTIN WHO LOVES TO GET OUT ON THE PERIMETER. THIS MAY POSE A SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO JOEL EMBLID WHO IS A FIERCE SHOT BLOCKER. KANSAS MAY TRY TO SHIFT PERRY ELLIS TO GUARD HIM. EITHER WAY I THINK THE MATCHUP HURTS KANSAS IN HALF COURT DEFENSE.

THIS ISN’T A MONEYLINE PLAY BY NO MEANS BUT A 10.5 POINT SPREAD THAT MAY PUSH TO 11 BY GAME TIME IS AN ADVANTAGEOUS LINE FOR A HANDICAPPER.

GET MY PREMIUM PLAYS TODAY BY CLICKING ON TODAY’S PICKS

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IT’S CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY AND WITH THAT COMES THE NEED FOR FOLKS TO WAGER ON ANY OTHER BASKETBALL GAMES TO TRY TO MAKE A BIG PROFIT IN ONE DAY. OH DO THE BOOKS LOVE THESE TYPE OF DAYS. CHANCES ARE THE MAJORITY ARE GOING TO GET SUCKED IN ON TAKING TEAMS THEY HAVEN’T TRACKED AND JUMPING ON FAVORITES. HERE IS MY WARNING AND I’LL OFFER A FREE PLAY UNDERDOG TO HELP ALLEVIATE THAT URGE.

TODAY’S FREE PLAY COMES IN COLLEGE HOOPS ON A LINE THAT I BELIEVE IS A TAD TOO HIGH. NOTRE DAME IS A TEAM THAT IS MOLDED TO HANG AROUND TEAMS. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY STANDOUT PLAYERS WHICH TOOK AN EVEN BIGGER DOWNGRADE WHEN JERIAN GRANT LEFT THE TEAM FOR ACADEMIC REASONS. LIKE I SAID THEY CAN STILL HANG AROUND WITH TEAMS(UPSET DUKE), BUT DON’T LET THAT DUKE WIN FOOL YOU. THEY’VE HAD THEIR STRUGGLES EVEN WITH GRANT IN THE LINEUP. LOSSES TO NORTH DAKOTA STATE AND A CLOSE WIN AGAINST BRYANT AND CANISIUS IN OVERTIME ATTEST TO THIS.

IN ACC CONFERENCE PLAY THEY HAVE LOST THREE STRAIGHT GAMES INCLUDING ONE TO A TEAM CONSIDERED TO BE THE ACC DOORMAT IN NC STATE AT HOME.

GOING UP AGAINST VIRGINIA TECH WOULD SEEM TO BE THE TYPE OF HOME GAME TO GET A TEAM OF NOTRE DAME’S EXPECTED CALIBER BACK TO FORM. I BEG TO DIFFER AS THE HOKIES SHOULD BE A VALUE PLAY HERE GETTING 10.5 POINTS. IT’S GOING TO BE A BATTLE FOR TECH BUT THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY I LIKE THE POINTS HERE. ONE IS THAT NOTRE DAME TRIES TO BEAT TEAMS ON THE INSIDE WITH A PRESENCE THAT IS NOT LIKE WHAT IT USE TO BE. IN PRIOR YEARS THEY HAD LUKE HARANGODY AND JAKE COOLEY ON THE INSIDE. PAT CONNAUGHTON AND GARRICK SHERMAN ARE SERVICEABLE BIG MEN BUT NOT STRONG SUITS INSIDE LIKE NOTRE DAME HAS HAD THE PAST FEW SEASONS. INSIDE WILL BE A BIG MISMATCH BUT LOOK FOR THE HOKIES TO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE IN SPEED, QUICKNESS, AND IN THE BACKCOURT.

THE MAIN REASON THE HOKIES LOOK LIKE A GOOD SPOT IS THE FACT NOTRE DAME LETS TEAMS STAY IN GAMES. THEIR IS A HUGE SIZE DISADVANTAGE FAVORING NOTRE DAME, BUT IN MATCHUPS AS SUCH NOTRE DAME HAS NOT LOOKED GREAT. AS IN GAMES AGAINST NC STATE, BRYANT, CANISIUS, AND INDIANA STATE.

TAKE THE POINTS AND TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY’S PREMIUM PLAYS BEING OFFERED

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YESTERDAY WAS A NICE PROFITABLE DAY FOR PREMIUM PLAYS ON A FOUR GAME PACKAGE. THE TWO FREE PLAYS OFFERED SPLIT. TODAY I WILL ONCE AGAIN FOCUS ON THE NBA FOR A FREE PLAY. DETROIT IS ONE OF THE TEAMS SUFFERING TREMENDOUSLY. RIGHT NOW THEY CAN’T FIND ANY BALANCE AND IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY. INSIDE THEY HAVE TWO EMERGING YOUNG STARS WITH GREG MONROE AND ANDRE DRUMMOND. BOTH HAVE A LIMITED SKILLSET THOUGH. AT THE GUARD POSITION THEY’RE EITHER TOO OLD OR YOUNG. WILL BYNUM, CHAUNCEY BILLUPS, AND RODNEY STUCKEY ARE AGING FAST AND HAVE BATTLED NAGGING INJURIES. AT THE SMALL FORWARD/SHOOTING GUARD POSITIONS WHAT CAN YOU TRULY GET OUT OF A COACH’S NIGHTMARE IN JOSH SMITH AND KYLE SINGLER.

DETROIT MAY WANT TO DECLARE ANOTHER STATE OF EMERGENCY. THE FREE PLAY IS NOT ON WASHINGTON AS I WILL NOT BANDWAGON CONSECUTIVE BLOWOUT PLAYS. WHERE I WILL GO WITH THIS FREE PLAY IS THE OVER. DETROIT’S FREE FALLING ON COURT PLAY HAS LOST THEIR DEFENSIVE PRESENCE. TEAMS ARE RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE COURT AND SCORING AT WILL AGAINST THEM. I THINK THIS HAS MORE TO DO WITH THEIR GUARDS NOT BEING FULLY HEALTHY AND LACK OF COMMITMENT FROM JOSH SMITH.

WASHINGTON EXCELS AT GETTING OUT IN THE OPEN COURT AND DOESN’T PLAY STELLAR DEFENSE ITSELF. GO AHEAD AND CASH THIS FREE PLAY AT THE TICKET WINDOW TODAY.

FREE NBA TOTALS AT A GLANCE FOR FRIDAY

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With twelve games in the NBA hitting a couple of totals should be on your radar. Mixing in totals with side plays is always a better recipe for a higher percentage evening over the long run. The frenetic pace of the NBA has been in rapid mode with several teams. The books have taken a bit of a loss with the way overs have hit over the last few weeks.

There are several factors to look at on why this occurred at such a high rate. One is that several key injuries have hit the NBA. Miami has been with and without Dwayne Wade, Phoenix-Eric Bledsoe, LA with their onslaught of injuries, the Clippers and Chris Paul, etc, etc. There are eight to twelve other teams I could list in detail here. Another high factor is the trades that have went through. Luol Deng was shipped to Cleveland, Rudy Gay to Sacramento, and a few other role players have shifted.

Not to mention that this year’s NBA rosters are counting on more first or second year players than ever. Defense has never been a customary skillset when it comes to a young athlete or the rigors of an NBA schedule. Several teams have just came off an expanded road trip or are about to embark on one.
Tonight ten out of the twelve games on the schedule are totals that hover over the 200 mark. That’s a spot that I will look to dig out two under totals as free plays for you.

The first under I would take (Check Your Lines At SportsBettingOnline.ag )is the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Both of these teams are coming off road battles on Wednesday night. Denver traveled to and won in Golden State, and the Cavaliers battled tough in Portland before stumbling in the late third and fourth quarter. 213 is just a high number in my mind from two teams that are still recouping their lineups. Denver’s is starting to get there and Cleveland’s is still in transformation having let Bynum depart and acquiring Luol Deng.

The second under that I will recommend comes between the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves. I always look to find a team that has played above their capabilities and is starting to come back down to Earth. Toronto would be that team currently. After a tremendous thirty days the Raptors finally succumbed in a bad loss on the road in Boston.

What has stood out in Toronto’s wins is their ability to defend. Offensively they have not impressed me. Poor shot selections and rushed attempts could of derailed a team, but their defense made up for it in spots. A young team that comes off a loss such as Toronto will have a rough time from the field in the next game. Their defense should stay strong but look for this game to sail under the total.

East Coast Road Warriors

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Underdogs have been thriving as of late in all sports. Not only as underdog covers but money line victors. To do so as consistently as teams have done it takes a tough mentality to win on the road. While the weather has been at a peak of discomfort on the East coast, it has spurred a riveting ascent for the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State came onto the NBA scene a year ago via the Splash Brothers. Mark Jackson the former player turned NBA head coach figured to be in a growing period with a great group of young talent. Injuries to big men Andrew Bogut and David Lee at times hampered the core talent on a day to day basis. Yet the improvement of Harrison Barnes month to month and sharpshooting of Curry/Thompson kept things in gear for the Warriors.

Their playoff performances as a team put them on serious stock watch for the 2013-2014 season. Who has provided an extra dimension to the Warriors has been free agent signee Andre Iguodala. Mark Jackson has wanted to bring more toughness on the defensive end, and that has been provided with Iguodala and a an aggressive defensive mentality from everyone.

There comes a point in a season where a team knows that they’re capable of defeating anyone. Golden State has that mantra now and it has been from a torch session through the Eastern Conference.

Tonight they wrap up a seven game East coast road trip as they play against the Brooklyn Nets. And they’re coming in having won the previous six road games on top of their current win streak of ten wins. There is no sugar coating that the Eastern conference is depleted and in a serious transition phase. Still, teams on a heavy road trip such as the Warriors are, aren’t supposed to be able to win this many games in a row.

They’ve had some great finishes on the trip with an Andre Iguodala three pointer to defeat the Hawks at the buzzer, and a game against the Miami Heat in which they shot the lights out. Those are games that every fan pays attention to. What has drawn my attention is the defense they’ve displayed in stretches.

They’re not a team that is going to command a dominating defensive presence for four quarters. But they’re the type of team that can irritate teams on the offensive end by their ferocious hot shooting. Even in grade school or high school competition seeing the opponents shot reign in through the net time and time again has a psychological affect. Teams begin to rush their shot and not run their offense correctly.

Case in point the Washington Wizards were held to just fifteen third quarter points. They were held to just five points through the first ten minutes of the quarter. Guess how many points the Warriors ended up scoring in the third quarter? 34

Tonight the Warriors look to cruise to another victory on the road capping off their seven game East Coast road trip. You can count on it, and don’t be surprised to see their win streak surge past fifteen games.

Secret Up North

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Following a hectic few weeks post fantasy football, I’m back to deliver daily content. Everything now shifts to a quantum level in sports. Some may say it’s a down time but I beg to differ. College basketball offers up some of the premier highlights and recaps on a day to day basis. Comebacks, injuries, player issues, etc. all come to the forefront in conference play.

The NBA is a bit different but it has been for the last decade or when stability went awry amongst franchises. Development from the front offices seems to be without regard. Teams are pulling the plug on pieces worse than how NFL coaches get axed. Unlike the NFL, teams that have made drastic moves in the NBA have seen some success. Miami did it in an extreme way by grouping together megastars Chris Bosh and Lebron James. On a smaller scale teams like the Houston Rockets, Portland Trailblazers, OKC, and Memphis have done it with solid draft picks and adding high quality free agents that don’t break the bank.

This year’s team that has shocked many has been the Phoenix Suns. They’ve been steady for the first two and a half months of the season. Eric Bledsoe was their main acquisition in the offseason and he is proving to be worth every penny. Up north though there is a team that is cracking the relevant radar over their last eight games. That would be the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors had a strong west coast trip in which they narrowly defeated Portland, and upset Oklahoma City on their home court. That sparked a win streak of seven of eight games until last night’s loss to the Miami Heat. A game they hung neck and neck with the Heat for four full quarters but just couldn’t muster a better fourth quarter than the Heat.

No one could have seen the current stretch the Raptors are on coming. When the trade was announced to send Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings it figured to be the coup de grace to the Raptors 2013 NBA season. After all they had let Andrea Bargani, a key player for the Raptors, sign with the Knicks in the offseason. Plans to build for the future seemed to be the main signal from the front office.

Instead it has allowed the team to play better team basketball, as Rudy Gay isn’t taking the bulk of shots on the offensive end. Kyle Lowry, Demar Derozen, and Terrence Ross have been stellar. But the key player to their team has been Amir Johnson.

He isn’t the go to guy offensively every night, which means he may be the forgotten one on the scouting report. Last season he showed flashes but this season he is looking more like an NBA starter on a nightly basis. He is aggressive in a good way on the offensive end of the court. Using his foot speed and nimbleness he is becoming one of the better interior scorers in the NBA.

He is one of those players that does his best with an adequate amount of shot attempts. Around eight to ten a night suits him well. For a fantasy basketball team I’d consider trading for Johnson. He has more upside to come as he seems to be hitting that time frame in a young athletes career where more blossoming occurs. Remember, Johnson was the last player drafted out of high school. Even though his career tenure in the NBA is listed at eight seasons, the first four were spent honing his skills as a Detroit Piston.