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Just a little over a couple of weeks ago these two teams played in Memphis on TNT. It was a slower paced game that Memphis had full control of until midway through the fourth quarter. As Houston has done in numerous games this season, they were able to rally late and somehow cover. In that game they were heavier favorites on the road (-7.5) than they are at home tonight (-6). Of course at the time the Grizzlies were injury riddled playing without Marc Gasol.

The pace of that game would figure to get automatic heads to nod in favor of the over tonight. Instead look for the under to happen as it did a few weeks back. Memphis is going to slow things back down with Tayshaun Prince, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph all on the floor, and Houston has shown that they can slow things down if tempo is controlled by the other team.

A number close to 200 is too high in my estimation and a good number to take the under on.

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It is preseason week two with four games on the schedule today. My free play focus comes with the Cleveland Browns at home against Detroit, in which Cleveland is a slight favorite of just 1.5. I like the Browns in this scenario, as the team is feeding off the new atmosphere under first year head coach Rob Chudzinski. Brandon Weeden in limited action looked solid and comfortable in week one action against St. Louis. Detroit on the other hand has been vulnerable in many areas over the last year and a half. They have a lot to prove in multiple positions, and there is pressure mounting on Matt Stafford and Jim Schwartz. This is a good spot even in the preseason to ride a young team like Cleveland, that has no expectations and is at home. They’ll win the turnover battle amongst the starters and backups. Revamping is needed in Detroit and it will be ever glaring the entire season.