WEDNESDAY TOP RATED NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

The Hawks are 20-12 ATS in all home games on the season and 5-2 SU and ATS as home favorites, including a 140-135 win over the Knicks on Feb 9. They've had a day off since defeating Charlotte in double overtime on Monday while the New York Knicks were in action last night when they took a 122-115 loss at Washington. The Knicks are 2-7 ATS when playing on back-to-back nights this season and 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games as a road underdog. I don't think the visitors will stand much of a chance in this one. 

10* play on Atlanta Hawks. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA) - TOP RATED TOTAL *MAJOR WAGER*

The Boston Celtics have allowed just 102 points per game over their last two contests, but they still lost both averaging 95 ppg. Bad time to run into an Indiana Pacers team that boasts a top 5 scoring defense while holding opponents to 105.4 ppg home at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. One of the few teams playing better D than the Pacers are the Celtics, limiting opponents to 106.8 ppg overall on the season. 

The Celtics are 21-13 to the under in games with a total of fewer than 118 points. 

10* play on UNDER. 

LATE NIGHT NCAAB BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The St. Mary's Gaels and the BYU Cougars have split two close games this season, but I like BYU to win and cover the spread in this West Coast Conference Tournament semifinal matchup in Las Vegas Monday night. 

The Gaels needed double-overtime to get past Pepperdine on Saturday while BYU put an 81-64 beating on that same Pepperdine team last time out on Feb 29. BYU should have plenty of energy saved up for this one while heavy legs could become an issue for the Gaels. 

The Gaels are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games overall and 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games as an underdog while the Cougars are 15-6 ATS in their last 21 games overall and 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games as a favorite.

10* play on BYU. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (XFL) - TOP RATED TOTAL *MAJOR WAGER*

The Tampa Bay Vipers are coming off a 25-0 shutout victory over the DC Defenders. They limited their opponent to 107 yards of offense in the triumph, and here they'll face a Los Angeles team that dropped a hard-fought contest 17-14 against the New York Guardians at Met Life Stadium last Saturday. 

The Vipers have scored the lowest amount of touchdowns (7) of all the eight teams in the league, but they've also only allowed nine, which is tied for second-best. 

Coming into Week 5, the under had hit 11 times in 16 games. I expect this to be another relatively low-scoring contest. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NBA) - TOP RATED SIDE *MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

The Houston Rockets have dropped three straight games following a nine-point loss as an 8.5-point favorite at Charlotte on Saturday. They're just 1-5 ATS in their last six games playing on zero days rest, and I think they're asked to cover way too many points in this matchup with Orlando. 

The Magic put a 132-118 beating on Minnesota last time out and they need all wins they can get as they're trying to hold on to a playoff spot in the East. 

Magic are 14-6 ATS in the last 20 meetings. Magic are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings in Houston.

10* play on Orlando Magic. 

TOP RATED NCAAB PLAY OF THE DAY

I like the Connecticut Huskies to come through as a favorite over the Tulane Green Wave in their AAC regular-season finale on Sunday. The Green Wave sit dead last in the conference at 4-13 while Connecticut owns a decent 9-8 record. 

The Huskies have closed out the season on fire, coming off four straight wins including a 77-71 upset win over Houston last time out. They've scored an average of 80 ppg during that winning streak while Tulane's offense is one of the worst in the nation with just 68.1 ppg on average throughout the season. 

While Connecticut was in action just three days ago, Tulane last played on Feb 29, a 74-67 OT loss to Memphis. I would not be surprised if the home team might take a while to get up to speed again, and by that time the Huskies should have already built up a sizable lead. UConn won the first matchup this year in Storrs 67-61, and I expect an even larger victory margin in this one. 

10* play on Connecticut. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER): TOP RATED PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE

Chelsea have only won one of their last six league games, but they're coming off a confidence-boosting 2-0 triumph over Liverpool in the FA Cup and I think they'll come through with a win against Everton on Sunday. 

The Toffees have lost eight of their 14 away league games and they've not held an away league clean sheet since the opening day of the season. With only 10 games left of the season they're stuck in the middle of the table with little to play for while Chelsea are in a tight race for the last Champions League spot with seven teams within six points behind them. 

Additionally, this is a revenge game for the Blues after dropping the first meeting of the season 3-1 at Goodison Park back in December. 

10* play on Chelsea. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB) - TOP RATED ACC TOTAL

The North Carolina Tar Heels have scored 85+ points in three straight games and they're 5-1 to the over in their last six. As for the Duke Blue Devils, they're coming off an 88-69 triumph over NC State and five of their last six games have gone over the total. Duke is 13-4 to the over in all home games on the season and 5-2 to the over when the total is 150 to 159.5 points. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): TOP RATED PAC-12 SIDE

The red hot UCLA Bruins head into this contest riding a seven-game winning streak and they're 5-1-1 ATS during that stretch and winning four of those seven straight up as underdogs. On the season, the Bruins are 8-4 ATS as an underdog and I think they'll keep it close here in this Pac-12 matchup with the USC Trojans. Note that at 12-5, UCLA is battling Oregon for the Pac-12 title while USC is "only" 10-7 in conference play. The Trojans are coming off back-to-back wins, but they had lost two consecutive games prior to the current winning streak and they're 9-8 ATS as a favorite this season. 

10* play on UCLA Bruins. 

TGIF MVC TOURNAMENT *TOP PLAY*

The Missouri State Bears have covered the spread in seven of their last eight overall, the lone exception a blowout loss at Valparaiso. Last time out they put an 84-59 beating on Southern Illinois and they're 9-0 ATS after allowing 60 points or fewer this season. As for Indiana State, while the team is coming off four straight wins (3-0-1 ATS), note that it took a 71-58 loss to Missouri State in the last meeting on Feb 16. I like the Bears to come through in this Missouri Valley Conference quarterfinal matchup. 

10* play on Missouri State. 

MAGIC @ WOLVES TGIF *TOP PLAY*

The Orlando Magic will be looking to put an end to a three-game losing streak when visiting Minnesota Friday night. They've covered the number in five of their last six games overall and they're 6-2 ATS in their last eight games as a road favorite. They'll face a Timberwolves team that is just 8-22 SU home at Target Center and 1-6 ATS in its last seven games as a home underdog. Unlike Orlando who is currently holding down the No. 8 seed in the East, the Wolves season is all but over already, and I like the visitors to come through in this one. 

10* play on Orlando Magic. 

LATE NIGHT RAPTORS @ WARRIORS *TOP PLAY*

This looks like a good spot to back the Toronto Raptors who will be looking to build on the momentum of a 123-114 win at Phoenix. The triumph put an end to a three-game losing streak for the Raptors, and they need to go on a run to keep the other contenders at bay at the top of the division. 

As for the Golden State Warriors, while they've won two of their last three, the team they put on the floor those days lacks talent. Big letdown spot for the Warriors in this one following a 16-point win over Denver, and we can note that Golden State is just 4-8 ATS off an upset win as an underdog and 11-19 ATS in all home games this season. 

10* play on Toronto Raptors. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA) - TOP RATED SIDE *MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

The Washington Wizards took a 133-126 loss at Sacramento last night.

They're however 7-1 ATS in the second leg of a back-to-back set this season, and I think they're catching way too many points here against a Portland team that is 2-6 ATS in its last eight overall.

Additionally, note that while the Blazers are coming off a 23-point win at Orlando, they're just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

10* play on Washington Wizards. 

TOP RATED NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY *MAJOR WAGER*

The Utah Jazz have struggled on the defensive end lately and they were forced to put up a ton of points in order to snap a four-game skid with a 129-119 win over Washington last time out. 

Facing the Cleveland Cavaliers could be just what the doctor ordered to get back on track, considering the Cavs average just 106.5 ppg (26th) and have been held to 104 points in back-to-back losses. 

Both teams rank in the bottom-third for pace (the number of possessions a team uses per game) and while this will be the first meeting of the season, note that the under is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): TOP RATED SUNDAY NIGHT SIDE *MAJOR WAGER*

This looks like a great spot to back an angry LA Lakers team who will be looking for a quick bounce back following a 105-88 loss to Memphis on Saturday. They face a Pelicans team that has won six of its last eight straight-up (5-3 ATS), but none of those games were against a team like the Lakers. 

There is a risk that LeBron James will get the night off in the second game of a back-to-back, but note that the Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite.

10* play on Los Angeles Lakers. 

PISTONS @ KINGS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Detroit Pistons have struggled to put points on the board lately and they had averaged just 98.4 ppg through a seven-game slide prior to a 113-11 win at Phoenix last time out. As for the Sacramento Kings, they defeated Memphis 104-101 last time out and they've held three of their last five opponents to 103 points or fewer. 

Under is 8-3 in Kings last 11 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings. Under is 13-3-1 in the last 17 meetings in Sacramento.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL) - FLYERS @ RANGERS *TOP PLAY*

The Philadelphia Flyers will enter Madison Square Garden looking for a sixth straight win. They'll face a NY Rangers team which had been almost equally hot with five straight triumphs prior to a 5-2 loss at Philadelphia Friday night. I think that loss took a lot of air out of this Rangers team, and they've had big troubles solving the Flyers lately dropping eight of the last nine meetings. I think the price is right to back the visitors in this one. 

10* play on Philadelphia Flyers. 

BIG EAST BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Butler Bulldogs are heading into the weekend off three consecutive losses, but I like their chances of not only winning straight up but also covering the number in this matchup with DePaul. This is a big bounce back spot for Butler who took an 81-59 beating at No. 11 Creighton last time out and it'll also look to avenge a 13-point loss at DePaul last month. The Blue Demons have won just two Big East games all season and they've covered the spread in only one of their last six games. 

10* play on Butler. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): TOP RATED NUGGETS @ CLIPPERS TOTAL

The Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers are involved in a battle for the second seed in the Western Conference and I expect a playoff-like and low-scoring affair when they clash at Staples Center Friday night. Additionally, both teams are more than capable of playing lockdown defense. The Clippers have allowed an average of just 94.5 ppg over their last two games while Denver held Detroit to 98 points last time out. 

Under is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 games as a home favorite and 7-1 in Nuggets last 8 games as a road underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

FRIDAY NIGHT SUN BELT BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Georgia Southern Eagles have won four of their last six games and put an 81-61 beating on Utah as a 5-point road underdog last time out. They average a healthy 75.1 ppg on the season, and I like them to keep even pace with the Georgia State Panthers in this one. Georgia State is coming off back-to-back road losses SU and ATS, and while it won by five points at Georgia Southern last month, note that it was losing straight up for most of the game and only managed to pull away late. 

10* play on Georgia Southern. 

THURSDAY NIGHT BIG TEN BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Northwestern Wildcats are just 4-10 SU (3-11 ATS) at home. Last time out they took an 83-57 beating by Minnesota here at Welsh-Ryan Arena and they're 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games following a double-digit loss at home. As for the Illinois Fighting Illini, they're coming off back-to-back triumphs, including a road win at Penn State. Illinois is 6-2 ATS in its last eight road games vs. a team with a losing home record and needs a win here to stay in the hunt for its first Big Ten regular-season title in 15 years. 

10* play on Illinois. 

LATE NIGHT CLIPPERS @ SUNS *TOP PLAY*

The LA Clippers snapped a three-game skid with a dominant 124-97 triumph over Memphis Monday night. They're 27-13 ATS in their last 40 games as a road favorite and I like them to win and cover in this matchup at Phoenix. 

Note that the Suns are a terrible 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 home games and in a tough spot with this being their fourth game in six nights, the previous three on the road. Last time out the Suns won 131-11 at Utah and they're just 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

10* play on Los Angeles Clippers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED BIG TEN TOTAL

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are an underdog at Penn State Nittany Lions Wednesday night, and for a good reason in my opinion. 

The Lions are third in the Big Ten despite back-to-back losses and can simply not afford to drop this one. On the season, Penn State is 12-2 (8-5-1 ATS) as a home favorite it'll be looking to avenge a double-digit loss to Rutgers on the road last month.

Penn State is holding opponents to 62.0 ppg home at Bryce Jordan Center, and while Rutgers is holding opponents to 62.2 ppg overall, note that the number jumps to 69.5 ppg allowed on the road where the team is just 1-7 SU. 

10* play on Penn State. 

TUESDAY NIGHT NBA BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Portland Trail Blazers are just 23-33-2 ATS on the season and playing without injured superstar Damian Lillard doesn't help matters. 

I don't see them keeping up a Boston Celtics team that is 34-20-2 ATS on the season and looking to bounce back from a narrow loss at LA Lakers last time out. 

The Celtics are 11-5 ATS off a loss on the season, including perfect 4-0 ATS on the road off a road loss. 

10* play on Boston Celtics. 

MONDAY NIGHT MAGIC @ NETS TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Orlando Magic are 29-24-1 to the under overall this season, no surprise considering their top-ranked scoring defense in combination with one of the worst scoring averages in the league. 

Additionally, they play at a very slow tempo (only 100.1 possessions/game) and I think they'll be allowed to dictate a slow pace for this contest. 

Note that the under is 22-7-2 in Magic's last 31 vs. a team with a losing straight up record and 11-5 in their last 16 games playing on two days rest. 

The Nets are coming off a 115-86 triumph at Charlotte; under is 7-2 in their last nine games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and 7-1 to the under in their last eight overall.

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED WEST VIRGINIA @ TEXAS NCAAB PLAY OF THE DAY,

The West Virginia Mountaineers have dropped four of their last five straight up and they're 2-6 ATS in their last eight games. On the season, they're 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS in true road games, and I think they're asked to cover way too many points against the Longhorns in Austin, Texas Monday night. 

Texas is coming off a solid 70-59 victory as a 5.5-point underdog at Kansas State to make it back-to-back wins. They've played terrific defense in recent weeks and should be to able to fend off the slumping Mountaineers.

10* play on Texas Longhorns. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Edmonton Oilers are in need of a win after dropping back-to-back games, most recently a 5-3 home loss to Minnesota. They're 9-3 in their last 12 after allowing five goals or more in their previous game and I like the price we get on the Oilers at LA on Sunday. The Kings have played fairly well lately with three wins in their last five games, but this is a tough spot following a 2-1 OT loss to Colorado on Saturday. With the Kings 5-11 in their last 16 games following OT on the previous day and 2-6 in their last eight home games, I'll recommend fading the home team in this one. 

10* play on Edmonton Oilers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUNDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Indiana Pacers won 106-98 at New York in their first game back from the All-Star break while the Toronto Raptors defeated Phoenix 118-101. Two relatively low-scoring affairs, and I think the same will hold true for this one. 

The Raptors own the fourth-best scoring defense in the league allowing just 106.5 ppg, and Indiana is also in the top 10 holding opponents to 107.4 ppg. 

Under is 30-12-1 in Pacers last 43 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (XFL): MIKE'S DC DEFENDERS @ LA WILDCATS BEST BET

The DC Defenders will put their undefeated 2-0 record to the test against the winless Los Angeles Wildcats on Sunday.

Last time out they put a 27-0 beating on the New York Guardians, and the Wildcats defense is banged up and just plain bad (62 points allowed in two games) while the Defenders offense is humming under signal-caller Cardale Jones who leads the XFL with 511 yards passing. 

10* play on DC Defenders. 

BIG EAST BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Creighton Bluejays are red hot with eight straight-up wins in their last nine games and a 7-2 ATS record. That stretch includes impressive triumph over  No. 19 Marquette, No. 13 Villanova and No. 14 Seton Hall and I think they'll win and cover the spread against Butler on Sunday. 

The Bulldogs have not been at their best lately with just two wins in their last six games (1-4-1 ATS). This game means a lot for the Bluejays who sit only one game out of first place in the Big East, and it's also a revenge game after a 14-point loss at Hinkle Fieldhouse last month. 

10* play on Creighton. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED SATURDAY NIGHT SIDE

The Dallas Mavericks will be playing on the second day of a back-to-back situation, but I don't think they'll have any issues with Atlanta after rolling over Orlando Friday night. The Hawks have had just one day off since an upset win over Miami Thursday night and we can note that the Mavs are a solid 20-6 in all road games this season and 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games as a road favorite. Atlanta is 7-17 when playing against a team with a winning record, and it's one of the worst defensive teams in the league while Dallas has the third-best points per game average. 

10* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED SIDE FOR FEBRUARY

The Boston College Eagles have covered the spread in four of their last six overall, but they came up short in a 78-65 loss at Virginia last time out and I don't see them keeping pace with Clemson in this Saturday night matchup. 

The Tigers have averaged 83 ppg in impressive back-to-back upset wins over Pittsburgh and Louisville and they're one of the best defensive teams in the ACC while Boston College averages only 64.9 ppg on the season. 

We can also note that Clemson has had six days to prepare for this contest while Boston College last played two days ago and this will be the Eagles' third game in just seven days. Look for Clemson to run away with this game. 

10* play on Clemson Tigers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER): MIKE'S TOP RATED EPL *BEST BET*

We have a big game on our hands in the Premier League this Saturday with second-placed Manchester City visiting third-placed Leicester. Man City has won five of the last six meetings and I think we're getting a more than fair price on the visitors in this one. 

Leicester has just one win in their last five EPL games and Man C have won seven of their last nine road games all competitions combined. 

We can also note that Leicester is shorthanded in the central midfield with three holding midfielders (Wilfred Ndidi, Hamza Choudhury and Nampalys Mendy) missing for this contest.

10* play on Manchester City. 

TGIF NUGGETS @ THUNDER BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Denver Nuggets took an OT loss to the Lakers in their last game before the All-Star break. They're 9-1-2 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up loss and I like them to bounce back here against an OKC Thunder team they've dominated lately, winning nine of the past 10 meetings and they're 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings. 

The Thunder have been money against the spread this season, but not as a home favorite and they're 2-8 ATS last 10 as a home favorite. The Nuggets meanwhile are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog.

10* play on Denver Nuggets. 

TOP RATED HEAT @ HAWKS BOOKIE BREAKER

The Miami Heat headed into the All-Star break as losers of four of their last five, all on the road. They've been better at home than on the away from home all season, but I think they'll get the job done and win and cover when visiting Atlanta Thursday night. 

Note that the Hawks have allowed 127+ points in three straight games and Miami put up 135 points in an OT win over Atlanta back in December. 

Last time out, the Heat took a 116-101 loss at Utah. They've had more than a week to mull it over and are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight-up loss of more than 10 points. Additionally, we can note that the Heat are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 Thursday games while the Hawks are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 Thursday games.

10* play on Miami Heat. 

MIDWEEK MADNESS ACC ANNIHILATOR *TOP PLAY*

The No. 11 Louisville Cardinals are coming off back-to-back losses, first at Georgia Tech and most recently an embarrassing setback at Clemson. They had reeled off 10 straight triumphs before that and defeated Virginia 80-73 last time out home at KFC Yum! Center to improve to 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 as a home favorite. 

The Orange have lost four of their last five and took an 80-77 loss at FSU on Saturday. They're 1-5 ATS after allowing 80 points or more and this won't be easy against a Louisville team that averages 77.2 ppg in their own building and ranks 11th in the nation for 3-point shooting home & away combined. 

The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings between these two teams and I think the cardinals will put a real beating on Syracuse Wednesday night. 

10* play on Louisville Cardinals. 

NHL MONEYLINE MASSACRE *TOP PLAY*

The Penguins are a solid 21-5-4 at home on the season and they've won 10 of the last 14 matchups with the Leafs at Pittsburgh. Toronto is 16-13-1 on the road but 3-8 in its last 11 games as a road underdog. 

This is a tough spot for the Maple Leafs who have played a lot of hockey lately, and we can note that they are 2-11 in their last 13 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation and 0-8 in their last 8 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation. 

While Toronto has split its last six games, Pittsburgh is coming off a pair of dominant outings and I like the Pens to get the job done in this one.

10* play on Pittsburgh Penguins. 

MONDAY NIGHT CBB BOOKIE BREAKER TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Kansas Jayhawks put an 81-70 beating on Oklahoma last time out, but I predict a much lower-scoring contest when they host the Iowa State Cyclones Monday night. 

The Jayhawks have a truly elite defense that ranks eighth in the nation for points allowed, and I think they'll clamp down on the defensive end in this one after a subpar defensive outing against the Sooners. Kansas is 6-2 to the under when the total is 140 to 149.5 points this season and 16-8 to the under overall. 

The first meeting of the season back in January wasn’t pretty for Iowa State as Kansas put a 79-53 beating on the Cyclones. Iowa State is coming off an 81-52 rout of Texas, but points will be much harder to come by in this one and I expect to see the final score stay under the posted total.   

10* on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WASHINGTON @ VEGAS TOTAL

The Washington Capitals are coming off a pair of low-scoring affairs, but they're stil 36-21 to the over on the season and I feel confident that goals will come fast and easy for both teams in this matchup.

The Vegas Golden Knights registered a 1-0 victory over the NY Islanders last time out but they're 7-2 to the over in their last nine home games. Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings.

10* play on OVER. 

SUNDAY NIGHT NHL TOTAL BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Columbus Blue Jackets took a 3-1 loss to the NY Rangers Friday night. Four of their last five have gone under the total, and I predict a tight low-scoring affair when they visit the New Jersey Devils Sunday night.

The Devils took a 5-2 loss to Carolina last time out, but that was with Louis Domingue in net. Mackenzie Blackwood will be back in net for this one, and he's been red hot this month with two shutouts and just one goal allowed in three starts. As for Columbus, its netminder Elvis Merzlikins has held opponents to a total of six goals in his last five starts. 

Under is 7-1 in Devils last 8 Sunday games. Under is 5-1 in Blue Jackets last 6 Sunday games.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (XFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 2 SIDE 

The Houston Roughnecks opened the season with 37-17 comeback rout of the Los Angeles Wildcats. They dominated both sides of the ball and quarterback P.J. Walker led an offense that totaled 315 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per play. A total of 17,815 fans showed up to help the team overcome an early eight-point deficit, and we can expect a bigger and rowdier home town crowd carrying the home team in this one. 

While the St. Louis BattleHawks won 15-9 on the road at Dallas Renegades in their season premiere, I think they'll struggle to keep up with Houston's explosive offense. Houston has proved it can play defense as well as offense as it held Los Angeles scoreless in the second half while recording a total of five sacks in the victory. 

10* play on Houston Roughnecks. 

SUPER EARLY TOP RATED CBB PLAY OF THE DAY

The No. 16 Villanova Wildcats look like a solid road favorite in this non-league contest at Temple on Sunday. Nova is 0-3-1 ATS in its last four games, but at least it snapped an 0-3 SU skid with a 72-71 win against Marquette last time out. 

Getting a break from the Big East schedule could be just what the team needs, and here it'll face an Owls side that might feel a bit too good about itself after winning three of four. I'm not convinced the Owls will be ready for what Nova will throw at them. 

The Wildcats are 3-0 SU (2-1 ATS) as road favorites on the season and the favorite is 12-2 ATS in the last 14 head-to-head meetings with Temple. 

10* play on Villanova. 

LSU @ ALABAMA SATURDAY CBB *TOP PLAY*

The Alabama Crimson Tide have dropped four of their last five games after taking a tough overtime loss to Auburn on Wednesday. They've covered the number in only two of their last six and have had trouble stopping opponents from scoring. That does not bode well for this matchup against a dynamic LSU team that bounced back from road losses at Vanderbilt and Auburn with an 82-79 triumph over Missouri last time out. 

LSU is 3-0 ATS as a road underdog of 3 points or less or a pick'em on the season and 7-1 ATS in such spots over the last three seasons. Additionally, the Tigers put a 90-76 beating on the Tide as a 5.5-point favorite in Baton Rouge earlier this season. 

10* play on LSU Tigers. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL): MIKE'S BEST TOTAL FOR FEBRUARY

The San Jose Sharks took a 6-2 loss to Calgary lats time out, and they've scored just 13 goals through their last five games, six of those in win over Edmonton. The Winnipeg Jets took a 4-1 home loss to the Rangers on Tuesday and are scoring just 2.73 gpg at home on the season. At the same time, they've played decent defense lately allowing only 2.4 gpg over their last five contests. The Sharks average 2.41 gpg on the road and under is 9-3 in Sharks last 12 road games and 12-5-1 in Jets last 18 games as a home favorite.

Last but not least, this will be the third meeting of the season with the first two going under the total, both Jets wins at San Jose (3-2 & 5-1). 

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED NHL PLAY OF THE DAY

The Minnesota Wild have won four of their last five following an impressive 4-0 triumph over Vegas Tuesday night. They're one of the stronger home teams in the league at 17-8-4 home at Xcel Energy Center where they average 3.24 goals per game and converting at a 27% clip of their power play opportunities. Additionally, the Wild have stepped up their game on the defensive end lately with just nine goals allowed through their last five overall. 

The visiting New York Rangers have played well lately with five wins through their last seven games. All but two of those seven games were at home though, and I think they'll come up short against a Rangers team that is 13-6 in its last 19 games as a home favorite.

10* play on Minnesota Wild. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NBA BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading to New Orleans off back-to-back losses. They took a 114-106 home loss to San Antonio last time out and I think they'll struggle to contain a New Orleans team that ranks 4th in the league for points per game. The Pelicans are flying high at the moment, winning three in a row and six of their last eight, covering the spread in each win. They're a phenomenal 19-6-1 against the number in their last 26 games overall and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games as a home favorite. We can also note that this contest will mean a lot for the Pels who have dropped the first three head-to-head matchups with OKC this season.

10* play on New Orleans Pelicans. 

NCAAB BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Central Florida Knights are 8-4 SU at home this season but 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a home underdog. The visiting Wichita State Shockers are 3-3 SU on the road this season but 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. 

The Shockers have covered the number in only one of their last eight games overall while winning only three of those eight outright, but I think they should be able to keep a limited UCF offense at bay in this one, particularly after taking an embarrassing 76-43 loss at No. 19 Houston on Sunday. Central Florida on the other hand is in a potential letdown spot following two straight wins (both as favorites).  

Wichita State won the first meeting of the season 87-79 on Jan 25 and it has won four straight head-to-head matchups with UCF. 

10* play on Wichita State Shockers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED MIDWEEK TOTAL

The Washington Wizards are one of the worst teams in the NBA on the defensive end, giving up 120.3 points per game on average. 

Last night they defeated Chicago 126-114, and I predict another high-scoring affair when they visit the NY Knicks Wednesday night. 

The Knicks have one of the worst offenses in the league, but even they should be able to put up points against a drained Wizards team that has seen 47 of its last 68 games when playing on no rest go over the total. 

You never have to worry about Washington putting points on the board (5th in the NBA) and note that the over is 17-5-1 in the Wizards last 23 games as a road underdog and 3-1 in Knicks games with a total of 227 points or higher on the season.

10* play on OVER. 

BULLS @ WIZARDS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Chicago Bulls are 7-0 to the over in their last seven games and the total for this matchup with the Washington Wizards look a bit light to me. 

The Wizards have one of the absolute worst defenses in the league, but they're top 5 for points scored with 115.5 ppg. Last time out they took a 106-99 loss to Memphis but they're still 7-2 to the over in their last nine games. Chicago has allowed an average of 124.6 ppg through a five-game skid so I'm not concerned about the Wizards bouncing back putting points on the board, and even though the Bulls are among the lowest-scoring teams in the league I think they'll get plenty of open looks in this one. 

The Wizards are 17-9 to the over when the total is greater than or equal to 230 this season. 

10* play on OVER. 

PENN STATE @ PURDUE TOTAL BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Purdue Boilermakers own a top 10 scoring defense in the nation and they're also one of the slowest at just 67.8 possessions per game. They've allowed 68 or fewer points in three straight games and they're allowing just 57 points per game home at Mackey Arena on the season. Five of their last six overall have gone over the total, but I think the bookmakers have overadjusted the number for this one. 

The No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions are one of the hottest teams in the conference, but while they're capable of putting up but numbers, there's no doubt that the Lions can play D as well. Additionally, we can note that they're 4-1 to the under in their last five games. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S BAYLOR @ TEXAS *TOP PLAY*

The No. 1 Baylor Bears put a 59-44 beating on the Longhorns in Waco just over a month ago, and I predict another Baylor win at Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX Monday night. Baylor is holding opponents to 59.0 ppg on the season and Texas has struggled to score for the better part of the season, and even more so in recent games putting up just 58 and 57 points respectively in its last two contests. 

The Longhorns have dropped five of their last seven, and while Baylor hasn't been at its best in the last two games (2-0 SU, 0-2 ATS) I expect the Bears to come motivated for this one. 

Bears are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 9-2 ATS away from home on the season. Longhorns are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 3-10 ATS in their last 13 home games.

10* play on Baylor. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED MONEYLINE

The white-hot Tampa Bay Lightning travel to Ohio riding a six-game winning streak, and I think they'll extend it with a triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Columbus is 12-2-1 since New Year, but it has won only three of its last five while scoring a total of just nine goals during that stretch. Such anemic offense won't cut it against a Tampa Bay side that ranks second in the league for goals scored while boasting the fifth-best power play percentage. 

The Blue Jackets are one of the better teams in the league on the defensive end, but this is a less than ideal spot as they'll be playing their third game in four nights and I don't see them stopping the Lightning who are 18-2-1 since December 23rd. 

10* play on Tampa Bay Lightning. 

OHIO STATE @ WISCONSIN BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Wisconsin riding a three-game winning streak. They've held opponents to 59, 59 and 58 points during that stretch and are 10-1 ATS after allowing 60 points or less on the season. 

As for the Badgers, they've dropped three of their last four after taking a 70-52 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday, They're 1-5 ATS after scoring 60 points or less this season and they've covered the spread in only one of their last seven games overall. 

The Buckeyes will be well up for this one after dropping a 61-57 decision to the Badgers in Columbus last month, and I expect them to get revenge today. 

10* play on Ohio State. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (SOCCER): MIKE'S TOP RATED EPL BET FOR FEBRUARY

Sheffield United are coming off a pair of road victories, and I think they'll carry that momentum into this home game against Bournemouth.

The visitors have dropped eight of their last 10 away from home and while they're battling to avoid relegation, note that Sheffield United are in contention for a Europa League/Champions League spot.

Five of Sheffield United's seven Premier League losses on the season have come against teams in the top three in the table, and I think they'll have no trouble to take care of business against the Cherries in this one. 

10* play on Sheffield United. 

LATE NIGHT SPURS @ KINGS TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off three straight defeats, and they've allowed 125+ points in each of the last two. The bookmakers expect the Spurs to end the skid as a small favorite at Sacramento Saturday night, and we can note that the Over is 7-3 in Spurs last 10 games as a favorite and  6-1 in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. As for the Kings, they're 8-2 to the over in their last 10 games as an underdog and 10-2 to the over in their last 12 overall.

Over is 12-6-1 in Kings' games with a total closing at 223 points or more this season while the Spurs are 16-8 to the over in such games. 

10* play on OVER. 

WEST VIRGINIA @ OKLAHOMA BIG 12 BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The West Virginia Mountaineers have a top-20 scoring defense in the nation and have held their last two opponents to an average of 59 points. They're 15-7 to the under on the season and 6-2 to the under in their last eight road games. 

As for the Oklahoma Sooners, they've struggled to shoot the ball lately (63.2 ppg average last five games). Eight of their last 10 overall and each of their last six games closing as an underdog have gone under the total. I think they'll struggle to get open looks against this solid West Virginia team and that we'll see the final score stay under the posted total with quite some margin. 

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED TGIF NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

Both the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors are very accomplished on the defensive end, but note that they're both 27-23-1 to the over on the season. 

The Raptors defeated Indiana 119-118 in Toronto just a couple of days ago (total closed at 216) to push their winning streak to 12 games, and I expect this to fly over as well. 

Over is 7-2 in Raptors last 9 road games. Over is 5-2 in Pacers last 7 home games and 6-1 in their last 7 games as an underdog.

10* play on OVER. 

MARYLAND @ ILLINOIS BIG TEN BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

There is a lot at stake in this contest as with both teams at 8-3, the winner of this one will take sole command of the Big Ten conference. 

No. 21 Illinois took a 72-65 loss against 17th-ranked Iowa on Sunday, its first setback in a month. The Fighting Illini are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a straight up loss and I like them to bounce back here. The No. 9 Maryland Terrapins have won five straight following a 56-51 triumph over Rutgers, but it wasn't pretty and the Terps trailed by five at the half. 

The Terps won the first meeting 59-58 win Dec. 7, but they're 1-3-1 ATS in their last five road games vs. a team with a winning home record and Illinois should be able to put up an even better fight in its own building. 

10* play on Illinois. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): TOP RATED TOTAL *MAJOR WAGER*

I expect to see a relatively low-scoring affair when the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Thursday night. 

Louisiana Tech owns a top-25 scoring defense in the nation on the season, and the total for this contest is inflated after four straight overs through a four-game winning streak. Five of its previous six had gone under though and under is 25-12-1 in the Bulldogs last 38 road games. 

As for the Hilltoppers, they've alternated over and unders through their last four games, and we can note that they're 11-4 to the under in their last 15 games as a home underdog (WK is a 1.5-point dog at the time of this pick). 

Louisiana Tech came away with a 62-50 home win against Western Kentucky in the lone meeting last season and while more points is expected for this one, I doubt it'll reach the posted total.

10* play on UNDER. 

PELICANS @ BULLS THURSDAY NIGHT TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

While the Chicago Bulls are on the lower end for offensive efficiency, I think they should be able to put up a fair amount of points against a New Orleans Pelicans side that is allowing 117.2 ppg on the season and took a 120-108 loss to Milwaukee last time out. The Pels are 14-5 to the over in their last 19 overall and 7-2 to the over in their last nine games as a favorite. As for the Bulls, they've allowed an average of 131 points through their last two games and each of their last five has gone over the total. 

10* play on OVER. 

BIG EAST BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The No. 13 Seton Hall Pirates are 3-1 SU and ATS as favorites of fewer than five points this season, and I like them to win and cover at Georgetown Wednesday night. We can also note that they'll be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 74-62 home loss as an 8.5-point favorite against Xavier to close out a three-game road trip and that Seton Hall is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 road games following three or more consecutive home games and 7-0 ATS in its last seven games following a double-digit loss at home.

As for the Hoyas, they just snapped a three-game SU and ATS skid with a 73-72 upset win at St. John's which sets up a potential let down spot tonight. 

10* play on Seton Hall. 

GRIZZLIES @ MAVS NBA TOP RATED TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY

The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a 96-82 win over Detroit. I think buckets will come a lot easier for both sides when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. Memphis is 6-2 to the over through its last eight on the road and the over is 6-1-1 in its last eight vs. a team with a winning straight up record. Additionally, the Grizzlies are 12-7 to the over in games with a total of 225 points or higher while the Mavs are 11-6 to the over in such games. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL): BEST NHL MONEYLINE FOR FEBRUARY

I like the Arizona Coyotes to end a five-game slide and come through with a win when they host the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night, particularly, as the visitors might feel a bit too good about themselves after winning four of their last five and defeating Calgary 8-3 on the road last time out.

The Yotes have had two days off since a disappointing 3-2 shootout loss to Chicago and they're 5-0 in their last five games playing on two days rest. With motivation and urgency favoring the home team, I think this is a no brainer spot to back Arizona. 

10* play on Arizona Coyotes. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): TOP RATED BIG TEN SIDE *WHITE HOT 11-0 RUN*

The No. 9 Maryland Terrapins have won four on the bounce and seven of their last nine games, including an impressive 82-72 victory against No. 17 Iowa on Thursday. They're 6-2-1 ATS during that nine-game stretch and I think they'll win and cover the line when hosting Rutgers in Big Ten action Tuesday night. 

The Scarlet Knights took a 69-63 loss to Michigan last time out and while their defense is one of the best in the conference, they'll find it hard to slow down a Maryland team that is humming on all cylinders and has scored 77 points or more in three straight games. 

The Terps are a perfect 5-0 ATS as a home favorite of fewer than 10 points on the season and I'm counting on them to remain perfect after this contest.

10* play on Maryland Terrapins. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): TOP RATED SIDE FOR FEBRUARY

The Indiana Pacers are far from their best at the moment. They've dropped two of their last three games and took a 92-85 home loss to the lowly New York Knicks last time out, but I like them to bounce back to win and cover the number when hosting the Dallas Mavericks Monday night. 

While the Pacers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight-up loss, the Mavs are 3-9-2 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight-up win, which they are following a 123-100 win over Atlanta on Saturday. 

Indiana is 7-0 ATS as a home favorite of five points or fewer on the season. 

10* play on Indiana Pacers. 

SUPER BOWL LIV BEST BET

I like the San Francisco 49ers to take down the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. 

KC has a scary good offense, but let's not forget that San Francisco ranked eighth in the NFL in scoring defense (19.4 ppg) during the regular season, and it gave up just 30 combined points against the Vikings and Packers. Additionally, the Chiefs do not have much of a Plan B (no running game) if the Niners figure out how to stop QB Patrick Mahomes. 

On the opposite side of the ball, the 49ers have the firepower to match the Chiefs' explosive offense. QB Jimmy G is no Showtime Mahomes, but San Fran's running game averaged the second-most rushing yards per game through the regular season (144.1) and the team averaged 235.5 rypg in their two playoff wins. Note that the Chiefs' run defense is just 25th in the league and they are 2-3 in games where they gave up 150 yards rushing or more this season.  

10* play on San Francisco 49ers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED BULLS @ RAPTORS SIDE

The Chicago Bulls are 1-4 ATS through their last five games and they travel to Toronto off back-to-back road losses. The Bulls are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games as an underdog while the Raptors are 17-8 ATS in their last 25 games as a home favorite. Toronto is on fire as it will try to push its winning streak to 11 in a row, and I expect a blowout win for the defending-champion Raptors in this one. Chicago does simply not have the firepower to threaten a Toronto team that is elite on the defensive end of the hardwood. 

10* play on Toronto Raptors. 

WOLVES @ CLIPPERS TOTA *MATINEE MASSACRE*

The over is 12-3 in the last 15 meetings at Staples Center and the posted total for today's matinee matchup looks a little light. Minnesota has been abysmal on the defensive end all season long and it has surrendered 130+ points in two of its last three games. The Clippers have the fifth-best points per game average in the league and should be well up for this contest after taking a 103-124 loss to Sacramento last time out. 

Over is 7-1-1 in Clippers last 9 games as a home favorite. Over is 4-0 in Timberwolves last 4 games as a road underdog.

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): TOP RATED TOTAL *MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

The Toronto Raptors will be playing on no rest following a 115-109 win at Cleveland on Thursday. We were on the wrong side of the total backing the under in that game, and I expect to see this contest fly over the total as well.

The Raptors are now 7-1 to the over in their last eight on the road, and while they're one of the best defensive teams in the league, heavy legs could become an issue in this one.

As for the Detroit Pistons, they're 8-1 to the over in their last nine overall and 7-0 to the over in their last seven home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NCAAB): MIKE'S REG SEASON SIDE *MAJOR WAGER*

The Illinois Fighting Illini are coming off back-to-back underdog wins on the road, and now they return home to State Farm Center where they're 11-1 SU on the season. 

They've failed to cover the spread in two straight games in their own building, but I think the Illini will get the job done here against a Minnesota team that has lost two of its last three, has failed to cover the number in both losses and averaged only 56.6 ppg through those three games. 

The Gophers are 2-6-1 ATS in their losses on the season while Illinois is 9-4-1 ATS in its victories. As I expect Illinois to win this game outright, I think it's a fair assumption that they'll cover the spread. 

10* play on Illinois. 

TOP RATED NBA PLAY OF THE DAY *MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing some great basketball lately and had won and cover the spread in five straight games prior to a 107-97 loss to Dallas last time out. They're 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a double-digit loss at home and 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record, and I like their chances of bouncing back at Golden 1 Center Wednesday night. 

The Sacramento Kings are coming off back-to-back road wins at Chicago and Minnesota, but this is a tough spot as they return home from a five-game road trip. With the Kings 4-9 ATS in their last 13 home games following a road trip of seven or more days and 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 home games overall, I really like OKC to come through for us in this one. 

10* play on OKC Thunder. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT NCAAB *MAJOR WAGER* TOP PLAY

The No. 23 Penn State Nittany Lions are 10-1 SU at home on the season and 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 home games. Here they'll host an Indiana team that is 1-3 SU and ATS on the road on the season and most likely not in a good mood after taking a home loss to Maryland last time out. 

The Nittany Lions' offense ranks top 50 in the nation and they are coming off back-to-back underdog wins over Ohio State and Michigan. "I really think we’re starting to play our best basketball heading into February," Penn State coach Patrick Chambers told reporters. "We’re really starting to click and play well."

The home team is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five head-to-head meetings and Penn State will be well up for this after losing the last four matchups straight up, including a tough two-point home loss last year. 

10* play on Penn State Nittany Lions. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED BIG EAST BOOKIE BREAKER

The No. 17 Butler Bulldogs snapped a three-game skid with an 89-85 OT win over Marquette last time out. I think they'll make it two in a row when visiting the Georgetown Hoyas Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win and they'll face a Hoyas side that has lost three of its last four and two on the bounce. Georgetown put up just 57 points in a nine-point loss at Xavier last time out and points won't come easy against this Butler team that has held opponents to 59.4 (8th) ppg on the season. 

Additionally, we can note that the road team is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 head-to-head meetings and that Butler has won four straight games at Georgetown. 

10* play on Butler Bulldogs. 

WISCONSIN @ IOWA BIG 10 BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes are 11-1 SU at home on the season and they had covered the spread in seven straight home games prior to a push in an 85-80 win over Rutgers last time out. Here they'll host a Wisconsin team that took a 70-51 beating at Purdue Friday night and the Badgers are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games. Wisconsin has a top 20 defense in the nation, but I think the team will struggle to slow down an Iowa side that averages 80.2 ppg. 

10* play on Iowa Hawkeyes. 

MAGIC @ HEAT SUNSHINE STATE RIVALRY *TOP PLAY*

The Miami Heat took a 122-117 loss to the Clippers on Friday. That was their mere second loss in 22 home games on the season, and I expect the Heat to bounce back when hosting the Orland Magic in this Sunshine State rivalry game Monday night. 

While the Heat will be playing on two days rest (they're 6-1 ATS in their last seven games playing on two days rest), the Magic will be playing the second game of a back-to-back situation after losing to Toronto on Sunday. The Magic are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games playing on no rest and 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.

Additionally, note that Miami is 19-0 SU and 12-6-1 ATS as a home favorite on the season. 

10* play on Miami Heat. 

NETS @ KNICKS CROSS-BRIDGES RIVALRY *TOP PLAY*

The Brooklyn Nets snapped a five-game losing streak with an OT win at Detroit last time out, but I think they'll come up short here as they head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks on Sunday. The Knickerbockers have covered the spread in four straight games and they're 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a favorite. Brooklyn, on the other hand, is 0-7 ATS in its last seven as a road underdog and we can note that the Knicks have covered the line in eight of the last 10 matchups with the Nets at MSG. 

10* play on NY Knicks. 

RAPTORS @ SPURS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Toronto Raptors recorded a 118-112 win at Madison Square Garden on Friday and they're 5-1 to the over through their last six games. Here they'll face a San Antonio team that is 27-17 to the over on the season and 8-2 to the over through its last 10 games following a straight up loss, which the Spurs are after taking a 103-99 loss to Phoenix Friday night. 

Toronto owns the third-best three-point shooting percentage in the league while San Antonio ranks seventh. I think we can count on a high-scoring contest at AT&T Center on Sunday. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED MAVS @ JAZZ TOTAL

The Utah Jazz are one of the best defensive teams in the league, but note that the over is 5-1 in their last six games overall and 4-1 in their last five after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game. Last time out, Utah put a 129-96 beating on Golden State and I predict a high-scoring affair when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. The Mavs have scored 120+ points in four of their last five games and won 133-125 at Portland on Thursday. They have the third-best scoring average in the league and are 27-17 to the over on the season. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL

The West Virginia Mountaineers and the Missouri Tigers are both 12-6 to the under on the season, and both teams rank in the top 30 in the nation for points allowed. Additionally, Missouri has struggled to score points through a 1-5 slide and it'll face a West Virginia side that has held four of its last five opponents to fewer than 60 points. 

Under is 6-0 in Missouri games when the total is 130 to 139.5 points and 3-0 in West Virginia's games fitting the same criteria. 

10* play on UNDER. 

LATE SUNS @ SPURS TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The San Antonio Spurs are 27-16 to the over on the season and both of their last two games have seen a total of 238 points scored. Here they'll host a Phoenix Suns team that took an 112-87 loss to Indiana last time out, but it had been involved in a couple of high-scoring contests prior to that. Over is 6-2 in the Suns last 8 games as an underdog and 18-6 in Spurs last 24 games as a favorite.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED MAVS @ BLAZERS *BEST BET* ATS

The Portland Trail Blazers have been awful against the spread all season and they're 3-12 ATS through their last 15 games. Here they'll host a Dallas Mavericks team looking to bounce back from a 110-107 loss to the LA Clippers last time out. Note that the Mavs are an outstanding 20-6-2 ATS in their last 28 road games and 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up loss. Additionally, they've covered the spread in six of the last seven head-to-head meetings with the Blazers at Portland. 

10* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

Two of the worst teams in the league will battle it out at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland Thursday night, but I think they'll entertain the crowd with a high-paced high-scoring contest. 

The Washington Wizards rank dead last for points allowed with 120.1 ppg, but they're also top five for points scored. They should be particularly poor on defense here, playing on no rest after taking a 134-129 OT loss at Miami last night. 

As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, they're 8-3 to the over in their last 11 overall and 9-4 to the over in their last 13 as a home favorite while the over is 8-2 in the Wizards last 10 games as a road underdog.

10* play on OVER. 

CLIPPERS @ MAVS NBA NO BRAINER *TOP PLAY*

The LA Clippers are coming off a 133-130 win at New Orleans, but they still failed to cover the spread and are 2-5 ATS through their last five overall. 

Additionally, the Clippers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight-up win and they'll face a Dallas Mavericks team that will be looking to avenge a 114-99 loss to the Clip Show here at American Airlines Center back in November. 

The Mavs are 8-3 ATS when avenging a home loss against an opponent this season and I don't think they'll make the home town crowd happy this time around. 

10* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

NCAAB MLK DAY TOP PLAY - LATE START

The Baylor Bears have the sixth best scoring defense in the nation, allowing just 58.6 ppg. They're coming off a high-scoring 75-68 win at Oklahoma State but had played four straight unders prior to that. Here they'll face an Oklahoma team that also had played four straight unders prior to an 83-63 loss to TCU. Under is 7-3 in Sooners last 10 games as a road underdog and 6-1 in Bears last 7 games as a home favorite.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SIDE

The Green Bay Packers took a 37-8 beating at San Francisco in Week 12, but if anything that was a wake-up call for the team. The Packers are undefeated SU and 4-2 ATS in their six games since, including a solid 28-23 win over Seattle in the Divisional Round. 

I think this matchup will be a lot closer than the first meeting of the season. While the Niners are a formidable team and a well-deserved favorite, winning by more than a touchdown in the playoffs just ain't easy. 

The Packers have a veteran QB in Aaron Rodgers who knows this might be his last chance to win another ring, so he'll be ready to do just about anything to win this game. 

Packers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 playoff games. 49ers are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 games as a favorite and 0-4 ATS giving more than a touchdown this season. 

10* play on Green Bay Packers. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL): MIKE'S CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOTAL *BEST BET*

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a wild 51-31 win over Houston in the divisional round, but I think we'll see a much lower-scoring game when they take on the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game.

Tennessee's two playoff games have seen just 33 and 40 points respectively, and we can note that the under is 5-2 in the Chiefs' last seven games.

The Titans will rely on running back Derrick Henry to move the ball, and while he's likely to have decent success, it will also drain the clock and keep the ball out of KC QB Patrick Mahomes' hands.

While the Chiefs are capable of explosive plays as seen in last week's shootout, note that the Titans have held their last two opponents to 12 and 13 points, despite facing the Pats and the Ravens! 

10* play on UNDER. 

MAGIC @ WARRIORS SUNDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

Only three teams in the NBA have a lower pace factor than the Orlando Magic who average only 100.5 possessions per game while the Golden State Warriors are second to last for offensive efficiency. Last time out, Orlando was held to 95 points on 39 percent shooting from the field in a loss at LA Clippers while Golden State has been held to 104 points or fewer in seven of its last eight games, the lone exception a 134-131 OT loss to Denver on Thursday. 

Under is 9-3 in Magic last 12 games as a road favorite. Under is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 games as an underdog and 9-2 in their last 11 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game. Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED MONEYLINE

The Winnipeg Jets have dropped six of their last seven home at Bell MTS Place, but I absolutely love the price we get on the Jets when they host Tampa Bay Friday night. 

Note that the Lightning will be playing on no rest (and third game in four nights) after taking a 3-2 loss at Minnesota on Thursday while the Jets have had two full days to recover from a 4-0 triumph over Vancouver. 

The home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings and the underdog is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

10* play on Winnipeg Jets. 

WIZARDS @ RAPTORS FRIDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Toronto Raptors are coming off a 130-21 win at OKC. The over is 20-7 in their last 27 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and I think they'll be involved in another high-scoring contest when they host the Washington Wizards Friday night. The Wizards are 22-17-1 to the over on the season and 6-2 to the over in their last eight games as a road underdog. They love to push the tempo and Toronto should be confident enough in its scoring ability to not mind a shootout. 

10* play on OVER. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT NCAAB TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The No. 16 Wichita State's explosive offense averages 77.6 ppg on the season and the Shockers have poured in points through a nine-game winning streak. Here they'll take on a Temple side that has dropped three straight games and surrendered 70+ points in two of those contests. While Temple is a fairly low-scoring team, Wichita State has weaknesses on the defensive end that can be exploited. 

Over is 9-1 in Shockers last 10 overall. Over is 6-2 in Shockers' last 8 games as a road favorite. Over is 6-0 in Owls last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

10* play on OVER. 

SPURS @ HEAT WEDNESDAY NIGHT NBA *TOP PLAY*

The Miami Heat are a splendid 17-1 SU home at American Airlines Arena on the season and 14-4-1 ATS in their last 19 home games. They'll be desperate for a win following back-to-back road losses at Brooklyn and New York, and we can note that the Heat are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up loss and 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 games as a home favorite. As for the visiting San Antonio Spurs, while they've won three of their last four with impressive triumphs over Milwaukee, Boston and Toronto, I think this looks like a letdown spot. They defeated the Raptors as a 4.5-point dog last time out but are 6-21 ATS in their last 27 games following a straight up win.

10* play on Miami Heat. 

TUESDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The New York Knicks have been involved in several high-scoring affairs lately. They've surrendered an average of 124.8 points over their last five games and five of their last six have gone over the total. The Milwaukee Bucks have scored 122+ points in back-to-back games and they average a solid 119.2 ppg on the season. I don't see how the Knicks will be able to slow down arguably the best team in the league, and I think the final scoreline for this contest will fly over the total with ease. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED NBA SIDE FOR JANUARY

The red hot Utah Jazz are winners of nine straight and 14 of their last 15 after opening a three-game road trip with a 127-116 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. They're 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall and I like them to come through here in Brooklyn on Tuesday.

The Nets picked up a 108-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Kyrie Irving's return from injury on Sunday, but they're still just 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.

While Irving no doubt will give Brooklyn a boost, I don't see them keeping pace with the Jazz who are 16-6 ATS in the last 22 meetings, including 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Brooklyn.

10* play on Utah Jazz. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NCAAF): MIKE'S CLEMSON VS. LSU TOTAL *BEST BET*

The Clemson Tigers top ranked defense limited the powerful Ohio State Buckeyes to 23 points in the Fiesta Bowl. That was the most points they've allowed all season, and I think they'll make life difficult for LSU in the NCAA Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. 

The Tigers put up 63 points in their win over Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl, but the Sooners defense was extremely underwhelming. LSU QB Joe Burrow shredded Oklahoma with 493 passsing yards and seven(!) touchdown passes while also adding 22 yards and a score on the ground, but with two weeks to prepare you better believe Clemson coach Dabo Swinney will have done his homework on the Heisman trophy winner. 

As for the Tigers offense, that's not where the team's strength is. Sure, their 45.3 ppg ranks fourth in the nation, but that's against much worse teams than LSU. They can afford to turn this into a shootout, and I think the value is on the under in this matchup. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR JANUARY

The Montreal Canadiens snapped an ugly eight-game losing streak with a 2-1 overtime win at Ottawa on Saturday. Goals have been extremely hard to come by for the Habs lately and here they'll face a Calgary team that has allowed a total of six goals through its last three games. 

Under is 6-1-1 in Flames last 8 games as a road favorite and 18-6-3 in their last 27 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 6-1 in Canadiens last 7 overall. Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED SEAHAWKS @ PACKERS SIDE

The Seattle Seahawks have been dinged up all season long, and a tough Wild Card matchup against the Eagles did not make the team any healthier. Here they'll face a well-rested Green Bay Packers team, and I expect a blowout win for the home side in this one. 

Seattle has struggled to stop the run all season, and that doesn't bode well for this matchup. Green Bay's running back Aaron Jones led the entire NFL with his 19 touchdowns (16 rushing TDs) and I think he'll enjoy plenty of success in this one.

The Seahawks can't put all focus on stopping Jones though, as that would open up for veteran QB Aaron Rodgers who finished the regular season with a superb 26-to-4 TD/INT ratio. Rodgers is desperate for another Super Bowl ring, with the time running out. "I'm 36, I know what this is all about. This is an important opportunity for us. I feel like I got a lot of really good years left, but you never know. A lot of things happen from year to year. We've had some great teams that have been an injury away or a play away from being special, so I want to make the most of this opportunity."

Seattle QB Russell Wilson has bailed out the team with his magic on several occasions this season, but he'll face an extremely hostile environment on Lambeau Field on Sunday. We can also note that the Wilson can't really rely on the ground game to pick up the slack with the team missing its top three running backs and GB was fairly effective stopping the run down the stretch.  

The Seahawks are 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings at Lambeau and the Packers are 7-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

10* play on Green Bay Packers. 

WARRIORS @ GRIZZLIES TOP PLAY

The Golden State Warriors have dropped seven straight games and they've been held to 100 points or fewer in five of their last four. A date with Memphis could be just what they need to get on track offensively with the Grizzlies allowing 116.4 ppg (27th) on the season. The Grizzlies have been red hot on the offensive end in recent games, averaging 125.7 ppg through their last seven games. 

Over is 10-1 in Grizzlies last 11 home games and 6-1 in their last 7 overall.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED NBA TOTAL

The Dallas Mavericks took a 129-114 loss at LA Lakers Friday night. Heavy legs won't do them any favors on the defensive end here, and I think this will be another high-scoring contest for the Mavs who are 23-14 to the over on the season. As for the Philadelphia 76ers, they limited the Celtics to 98 points in a triumph last time out, but note that the over is 4-0 in the Sixers' last four trips to Dallas.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED DIVISIONAL ROUND TOTAL

The San Francisco 49ers defense was dominant at the start of the season but got worn down and faded down the stretch. They will be fresh and healthy following a bye week and I expect to see a low-scoring contest in their divisional-round matchup with Minnesota. 

The Vikings held Drew Brees and the Saints to 20 points in their wild-card matchup last week and the team ranks 6th in the NFL for points allowed. The Niners defense ranks second in the NFL for points allowed and no team is better at stopping the pass with the team holding opponents to 169.2 passing yards per game. 

Additionally, Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has a tendency to choke in big games and I don't trust Niners' signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo to have a big game in his first postseason outing. 

Under is 8-3-1 in Vikings last 12 playoff games. Under is 17-8-1 in Vikings last 26 games as a road underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NCAAB: MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR JANUARY

I think we'll see a relatively low-scoring game when the Ohio State Buckeyes visit the Indiana Hoosiers in college basketball action Saturday afternoon. The Buckeyes are 4-1 to the under through their last five games and 10-5 to the under on the season. They've been held to fewer than 60 points in three straight contests and shot just 31% from the field in a 55-67 loss to Maryland on Tuesday. As for Indiana, it defeated Northwestern 66-62 last time out to make it 4-0 to the under through its last four games. 

10* play on UNDER.