Rating: 2 Units

Virginia Tech comes into this matchup looking to snap their six-game losing streak, but they have scored just 64 points or fewer in all six games. The Hokies are shooting 41.2% from the field, but I will say they have played a very solid schedule to start the year. North Carolina A&T has lost four games in a row and they have allowed at least 82 points in three of those four. The Aggies are the better offensive team 

Rating: 2 Units

I just don’t trust Virginia’s offense to blow anyone out of the water as this is a defense-first team that’s held onto those principles despite Tony Bennett leaving the program. 

Rating: 2 Units

South Dakota State has won 16 of its last 19 games against non-AP-ranked opponents. Nevada has lost three of its last four night games against non-AP-ranked opponents. South Dakota State has won the first half in four of its last five night games against the Mountain West Conference.

Rating: 2 Units

As for Bryant, they’ve been competitive in their last few games (a 2-1 run). Their only loss in that time was by one point to Brown, and the Bulldogs have hit 70 or more points in six straight games overall. I like Bryant to hang around

Rating: 2 Units

Defensively, San Diego tends to hold up, especially at home, where they hold foes to 69.6 points per game. Overall, the Toreros surrender 72.4 points per contest. They let opponents hit 42.7% of their field goals and 34.8% of their threes. San Diego surrenders 21.1 free throw attempts and 11.8 offensive rebounds per game. This defense's strength is forcing 15.1 turnovers per contest. 

Rating: 2 Units

Houston is better both offensively, scoring 4.6 points more than Troy, and defensively, allowing 12.3 points less. The Cougars are winning by an average of 20.6 points this season and have better-shooting percentages than Troy both in field goals and three-pointers. But Houston is 1-3 against the spread in their last 4 games, while Troy is 3-1 against the spread. The Cougars are third-best in 3-point percentage nationally and the Trojans are a top-100 team in field goal percentage. 

Rating: 2 Units

Orlando won for the eighth time in 10 games and earned their 10th straight win at home as they turned away the Suns Sunday. The Magic entered Monday 17-9 on the season and held a three-game lead over the Heat in the Southeast Division. Against Phoenix, Orlando trailed by as many as 12 in the opening quarter before slicing the gap to five at the end of one. The Magic were down five at the half, by as many as 11 in the third quarter and by three after three quarters. Orlando took the lead for good at 103-100 on a Jalen Suggs’ three-pointer with 5:04 to play and went on to the win. The Magic shot 47.7% from the field, including 12 of 36 from three-point range, and forced 19 Suns turnovers in the win. Suggs led Orlando with 26 points in the win.

Rating: 2 Units

Give me Penn State here. Rutgers is really struggling heading into this game and it’s not going to get any easier against Rutgers. Penn State is averaging 90.1 points and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. Rutgers will get another strong game from Dylan Harper but the rest of the offense isn’t going to be good enough. Back Penn State against the spread here. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Abilene Christian Wildcats have a 6-3 record this season and are coming off a 78-70 win in New Mexico State. The Wildcats are 4-3 against the spread, and 4-3 in over/under, while having a 2-2 road record this season. Offensively, Abilene Christian is averaging 78.2 points per game, which ranks 136th in the nation. Defensively, they are allowing 70.7 points per game (173rd). The Wildcats shoot 49.2% from the field (39th) and 34% from beyond the arc (168th). The Wildcats shoot 69.6% from the free-throw line (230th) and are grabbing 36 rebounds per game (210th).

Rating: 2 Units

The Raptors have not been one of the best teams in the NBA, but they have been one of the best teams against the spread. Toronto is tied for 2nd in the NBA with a 16-8 ATS record, and the lineup is finally getting healthy. Scottie Barnes and Gradey Dick both missed multiple games, and Kelly Olynyk is just being reintroduced to the lineup. Toronto has Barnes and Barrett as scorers on the wing, and Poeltl is a strong post player who is averaging a double-double on the season. Toronto has been home for five straight games, and picked up strong wins against the Heat and the Pacers during the stand. The Knicks just fell to the Pistons at home, and now have to head North where they will not be able to cover the spread. The Raptors have been excellent against the spread, and have most of their top talent healthy for this one.

Rating: 2 Units

Indiana comes into this matchup on a three-game winning streak and they are looking to start conference play with a home win here. The Hoosiers have two losses against Louisville and Gonzaga this season, but they have been rolling over the lesser teams that they have played. Minnesota has lost three of their last four games and they are shooting just 42.9% from the field. The Golden Gophers just lost by 18 points at home against Michigan State and their offense has been awful. Take Indiana at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Spurs have won each of the first two meetings with the Kings this season and in different styles of games. They shut down the Kings in their first encounter in San Antonio, holding the Kings to just 96 points. In the second meeting, in Sacramento, the Spurs were able to outlast the Kings in a 127-125 victory. Both teams will enter this game without rest. The Spurs are 2-2 this season on such occasions, while the Kings are 2-3. San Antonio will have the advantage of playing this game at home on both nights, while the Kings will travel for both games. The Kings have an efficient offense, ranked eighth in the NBA in that department. The Spurs are just 15th in offensive efficiency but a solid 12th in defensive efficiency. They are also 9th in scoring defense and 9th in field goal defense. That will bode well against a Kings team that has to travel from Memphis to San Antonio overnight and will be playing their third game in four days. The Spurs can quicken the pace in this one to further weaken the legs of the Kings, a team that is just 21st in pace of play this year. The Spurs should have Wembanyama rested and ready to go as well after the big man sits out Thursday night's game against Chicago. The third time will not be the charm for the weary Kings.

Rating: 2 Units

Chicago's defense has a nice matchup in this one since Indiana only averages 109.5 points on the road. The Bulls can stifle their three-point shooting, keep them off the free throw line, and dominate the defensive glass. Expect a solid defensive effort from the Bulls. That'll be more than enough to win comfortably. The Pacers don't force missed shots and allow a lot of free throws. Chicago, a team that's fourth in true shooting percentage, will take advantage of it. Anticipate an eighth straight road loss for Indiana, and it won't be close

Rating: 2 Units

Last Sunday, the Clippers beat the Denver Nuggets 126-122 at home to bounce back from that tough loss in Minneapolis and added another win last night vs Portland. James Harden dropped 39 points on the Nuggets. He had 11 assists and nine rebounds, while Norman Powell added 28 points. Powell has missed the previous six games due to a hamstring injury. He’s been outstanding so far this season, averaging 23.6 points on 49.6% shooting from deep. The Clippers were 22nd in the league in adjusted offensive efficiency (111.3 points per 100 possessions) and sixth in adjusted defensive efficiency (109.0) 

Rating: 2 Units

George Washington has a +88 scoring differential, topping opponents by 11 points per game. It is putting up 78.8 points per game to rank 125th in college basketball and is giving up 67.8 per contest to rank 110th in college basketball. George Washington is 255th in the nation at 31.6 rebounds per game. That’s 1.2 more than the 30.4 its opponents average. The Revolutionaries make 7.9 three-pointers per game (175th in college basketball), 1.3 more than their opponents (6.6). They are shooting 31.2% from beyond the arc (272nd in college basketball) while allowing opponents to shoot 31%.

Rating: 2 Units

Wagner faced off against Georgetown in the last game and they scored only 41 points. Wagner’s defense gave up only 66 points, but their lack of scoring let them down. No one for Wagner scored in double figures and that is going to need to be changed here. Two games ago against Springfield, Wagner scored only 46 points while the defense gave up 81 points. Wagner on the season is averaging 57.3 points while their defense is giving up 59.6 points The offense is ranked 360th in the league while the defense is ranked 15th. Wagner will play against MD Eastern Shore and NJIT following this game.

Rating: 2 Units

Mavericks are 12-8-1 against the spread this season, and 12-9 to the over/under. Dallas is fourth in the NBA in offensive rating and eighth on defense. Doncic (28.6 ppg) and Irving (24.8 ppg) lead the team in scoring, and P.J. Washington is grabbing a team-best 8.6 rebounds per game. Doncic also leads Dallas with 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Dereck Lively II is the rim protector with 1.6 blocks per contest.

Rating: 2 Units

Northwestern has played solid basketball in non-conference play but the fact remains that they haven’t had much in the way of success against Iowa in recent years. The Wildcats have dropped nine of the last 10 meetings and will have a tough time slowing down a Hawkeyes offense that has been extremely effective shooting the ball. If this game was in Evanston, you’d like Northwestern’s chances a little better but they are just 3-18 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has had a week to prepare for this one after rolling past USC Upstate and that breather, plus home court, gives the advantage to the Hawkeyes in this game.

Rating: 2 Units

Washington State has won each of its last 10 Monday games against non-conference opponents. Washington State has won the first half in each of its last nine games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Rating: 2 Units

The Chicago Bulls’ shaky form continues. They haven’t won consecutive games since October and are 4-6 SU over their previous ten outings at any location. After a 127-108 road victory over the lowly Washington Wizards on November 26, the Bulls have dropped two straight games against the Orlando Magic 133-119 on the road and the Boston Celtics 138-129 at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Hawks are only 3-7 against the spread at home this season and 2-4 in their last six overall. Atlanta is 19th in offensive efficiency and 20th on the defensive end. Trae Young leads the Hawks with 21.4 points and 12.1 assists per game. Jalen Johnson is second on the team with 20.1 points and a team-best 9.9 rebounds per game. Johnson led the team with 20 points and 15 rebounds in the victory over the Hornets.

Rating: 2 Units

The bottom line is that the Celtics attempt threes more frequently than the rest of the league. A Cavaliers team that is 29th in three-point defense can only pray that Boston has an off night. Considering all of the other things that the Celtics do well offensively, hence the NBA's best offensive rating, it won't work in Cleveland's favor. When Boston is defending, they won't allow many free throw attempts or offensive rebounds. All of the pressure is on the Cavs' efficient three-point shooting to beat one of the best three-point defenses. It won't work enough, and the Celtics will consistently counter with scores of their own. Take Boston to win again and cover the tight spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Wofford has lost six of its last seven games against non-conference opponents. While North Alabama has won three of its last four day games.

Rating: 2 Units

The Tigers hit a shooting slump in Friday’s overtime loss to Kennesaw State, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field with 5-of-28 (17.9 percent) from 3-point range. Towson did notch 52 rebounds and hung around for most of the game against a pretty solid Owls team, though. That said, it’s the third game in a row with fewer than 65 points for the Tigers. They’ve got to find some offense.

Rating: 2 Units

Doncic has missed four straight games and is doubtful to play against Utah. Both Gafford and Thompson are considered day-to-day, and the Mavericks will continue to lean on Kyrie Irving, who’s averaging 27.3 points and 6.0 assists over his last three outings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Phoenix Suns have been struggling. Following a 127-117 loss to the Nets, the Suns have only one victory in their last seven games. Injuries have hurt the Suns in the early going. Devin Booker (24.6 ppg) has started all 18 games this season, but Kevin Durant (27.4 ppg) and Bradley Beal (18.2 ppg) have missed seven games each. Fortunately for Suns fans, the team is 9-2 with Durant in the lineup, even though he dropped 30 points in the loss to Brooklyn on Wednesday.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Toledo is 6-1 in their last 7 meetings against Oakland, and are 3-1 against the spread in their last 4. Under is 4-1 in their last 5 meetings. In this Oakland Golden Grizzlies vs Toledo Rockets Prediction, Toledo is coming as a -7.5 home favorite. Toledo is better offensively, scoring 21.7 points more than Oakland, while the Grizzlies are better defensively, allowing 7.8 points less. Oakland is terrible offensively, as they have the 8th-worst offense in the nation, the worst 3-point percentage, and are bottom-30 in field goal percentage. The value here lies with the home team, so take the Toledo Rockets and lay the points at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Charlotte Hornets are battling for wins, they just cannot find any recently. They come into this game on a four-game losing streak, but lost their last game to the Knicks by just one point, and the previous game to the Heat by just four points.

Rating: 2 Units

Pepperdine’s offense sure impressed on Friday against New Mexico State. Pepperdine scored 82 points and they ended up winning by 12 points. Stefan Todorvic had a strong game putting up 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists. There were four different players that put up at least 11 points. Two games ago against Cal State Fullerton, they scored 72 points and they ended up winning by nine points.

Rating: 2 Units

Rider is 4-2 in their 6 previous meetings against Delaware, and are 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 meetings. In this Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens vs Rider Broncs Prediction, Delaware is coming as a -1 road favorite. Delaware is better offensively, scoring 16.7 points more than Rider, but the Broncs are better defensively, allowing 8.7 points less. Rider is struggling mightily with their shooting this season, ranking in the bottom 40 of the nation both in field goal and in 3-point percentage, while Delaware is the 7th-best team in the nation in free-throw percentage. The value here lies with the road team, so pick the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens and lay the points on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

Arizona State ran their win streak to four games as they rallied in the late stages of the contest to come up with the win over New Mexico Thursday night. The Sun Devils improved to 6-1 on the season and now look to pick up a marquee win here. Against New Mexico, Arizona State played well for most of the first half, leading by as many as 13 with 5:48 to play before intermission.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pacers have won three straight games while the Pistons have lost three of their last five games. Indiana is the better offensive team, and they have the edge in this game because they’re shooting the ball well at the moment, scoring more than 116 points per game in their last three games while making over 48 percent of their shots. They’ve also done a better job at the charity stripe, making over 76 percent of their free throws. They’re rebounding the ball better as well and grabbed more than 12 offensive rebounds per game in their last three games, which will give them more scoring chances. They also cut down their turnovers and won’t give the Pistons a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Pistons aren’t very good defensively and they gave up more than 114 points per game in their last three games

Rating: 2 Units

Brooklyn upset Phoenix in its last game, shooting 50.6 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and 95.5 percent at the charity stripe. The Nets assisted on 32 of their 44 made field goals, scored 24 fast break points and added 24 points off Suns turnovers.

Rating: 2 Units

On the other end, LA is 22nd in offensive rating. Thanks to a below-average tempo, they're 24th in scoring. With Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell banged up, James Harden and Ivica Zubac are leading the charge. The Clippers are solid but unspectacular at every shooting level. Accordingly, they're 16th in true shooting percentage. Their greatest flaw is ball security, as they flew to Minneapolis ranked 28th in turnover rate.

Rating; 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Ole Miss performed well in the opening game of this Invitational, scoring 96 points with an overtime victory against BYU. The Rebels shot 48.4% overall and 29.4% from long distance. The Rebels hit 80.6% of their free throws, sinking 29 of 36. Jayden Murray scored 27 points for the Rebels and has taken over the team lead in scoring with Sean Pedulla now second. Purdue won despite shooting just 42.6% against NC State and used superior play on the boards, out rebounding the Wolfpack by 10, but will face a tough Ole Miss side that grabbed 39 rebounds on Thursday. Ole Miss showed how explosive they can be with 19 points in overtime and Purdue will not be able to keep pace with the Rebels.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Cleveland dropped the first matchup between these teams on Wednesday, as defense wasn't a priority for either ballclub. The Cavaliers surrendered 135 points, as the Hawls knocked down 20 three-pointers and were 23-for-25 at the foul line. Cleveland scored 52 points in the paint but was 15-for-48 (31.3%) from three-point range in the 11-point defeat.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

New York lost for the second time in three games as they were drubbed by Dallas in their previous contest on the road Wednesday night. The Knicks fell to 10-8 on the season and stood second in the Atlantic Division, five games behind the Celtics for the top spot. Against Dallas, New York found themselves down 23-7 nine minutes into the game and never recovered. The Knicks were down 13 after the opening quarter and never got closer than 10 the rest of the way. 

Rating: 2 Units

They may be a smaller school in name, but Wichita State is the better team in this matchup. The rebounding and turnover battles should be even on Thursday. These defenses are on equal footing. The major difference is that the Shockers are actually an offensive threat. Wichita State's field goal percentage and free throw percentage are much higher and more reliable. They're also a team that's beating the spread, whereas the Golden Gophers have been in dogfights during games that were supposed to be blowouts. Back the Shockers to win and cover

Rating: 2 Units

The Thunder allow 12.5 triples per 100 possessions (6th in the NBA) on a 34.1 percentage clip (tied-3rd). They will be fired up to slow the Warriors down and get revenge. OKC misses Chet Holmgren (hip), but Isaiah Hartenstein is back from a hand injury.  Hartenstein had a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double in his season debut against the Trail Blazers last week. He posted 19 points and 10 boards against the Kings, and Hartenstein’s presence in the paint is a massive boost for the Thunder on both sides of the floor. 

Rating: 2 Units

Washington State faced off against Fresno State on Tuesday. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but they ended up winning by 11 points. At halftime, they were only up by three points, but in the second half, they pulled away. Nate Calmese had a strong game putting up 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. There were four different players that put up at least 12 points. Washington State on the season is averaging 87.1 points while their defense is giving up 76 points per game. 

Rating: 2 Units

Kevin Durant returned to the Phoenix lineup and the Suns immediately returned to their winning ways. Phoenix is 9-1 this season when Durant has been on the floor. The Suns will look to add another victory to the ledger when they host the Brooklyn Nets tonight. The Suns went 1-6 with Durant sidelined for seven games due to a strained left calf. Bradley Beal also returned from a five-game absence because of his own left calf strain. Phoenix lost all five games he missed.

Rating: 2 Units

Denver has struggled defensively, giving up 116.6 points per game. They gave up 145 points in their last game and won’t win too many games if they don’t play better.

Rating: 2 Units

The Dallas Mavericks aim for another win without Luka Doncic tonight when they host the New York Knicks. Doncic has missed the last three games with a sprained wrist and is expected to be reevaluated later this week. The Mavericks, ninth overall in the Western Conference, have won five of their last six, and are 2-1 since Doncic was hurt. Dallas has swept the season series from the Knicks in each of the last two seasons. 

Rating: 2 Units

Like Orlando, Chicago could get some extra help on Wednesday, as guard Lonzo Ball hopes to make his return following a 15-game absence caused by a right wrist injury. Ball came off the bench in three games earlier this season and averaged 4.7 points.

Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers saw their five-game winning streak snapped on Monday with a 126-94 loss to the Boston Celtics. Los Angeles is still sixth in the Western Conference, which is solid considering Kawhi Leonard has not suited up yet this season, and they lost Paul George in the off-season.

Rating: 2 Units

I’m taking Creighton in this one. The Aggies will need a good bounce-back effort here, though. In their Tuesday loss to Oregon, Texas A&M rebounded quite well with a 44-38 advantage (21-11 offensive) and shot reasonably (11-of-35 for 31.4 percent) from 3-point range. Trouble is, the Aggies hit a dismal 32.4 percent from the field and had 13 turnovers while gradually fading toward a second-half collapse. The 70 points were Texas A&M’s second-lowest total of the season, eclipsed only by their opener breakdown versus UCF (61).

Rating: 2 Units

Josu Grullon leads the Skyhawks in scoring with 18.2 PPG along with 4.3 RPG while Tarence Guinyard has 11.7 PPG with 5.2 RPG as the only other double-digit scorer for UT-Martin so far this season. Afan Trnka has 9.7 PPG with a team-high 3.2 APG to lead the Skyhawks in assists and Vladimer Salaridze has 8.2 PPG with a team-high 9.3 RPG to lead the Skyhawks on the glass. As a team, UT-Martin is averaging 73.7 PPG on 40% shooting from the field, 28.7% from three and 71% from the foul line this season. UT Martin has won 11 of its last 13 day games.

Rating: 2 Units

Things got wild during the first round of the Maui Invitational, but it has given us a tremendous Day 2 matchup between the Auburn Tigers and North Carolina Tar Heels. Both teams were left for dead at halftime on Monday, trailing by almost 20. Auburn managed to rally against #5 Iowa State, dominating the second half 50-32 and winning on a late basket. North Carolina was awful in the first half against a Dayton team that refused to miss, posting 51 points in the first half. Yet the Tar Heels also rallied in the second half, posting an eye-popping 59 points of their own to win by 2. Both teams expended a ton of energy, and one wonders how the legs will be on Tuesday night, as this game may become an early test of endurance and fatigue. For my Auburn vs North Carolina pick though, I am going to go with N. Carolina +4.

Rating: 2 Units

LeBron and company are slowing down a bit after their hot start to the season. They are just 3-4 SU in road games and have covered the spread only once in 6 home games. Phoenix gets their two superstars back, with their impressive 7-1 SU record in the last 8 home games vs the Lakers, I think backing them is the way to go here.

Rating: 2 Units

The Jazz, fresh off a win against the Knicks, will look to leverage their healthy lineup and home-court advantage at the Delta Center. Expect a strategic battle as both teams vie for crucial NBA Cup standings.

Rating; 2 Units

Minnesota has lost their last 2 games to drop to an 8-8 record. Point guard Mike Conley missed the last game and is day-to-day right now. The fact that they almost won at Boston without him might mean that this team is turning a corner. Rookie guard Rob Dillingham scored 14 points off the bench, giving their second unit a spark. This team just does not have a lot of life to it on some nights, even with high flyer Anthony Edwards. Houston is a team that the league wants to believe in. I do too, but they are inconsistent, so even though they have been solid in underdog roles this season, I am not sure I want to put my money on them here. Minnesota is far from a sure thing but it should have no trouble covering this short spread tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

I’ll probably end up just staying with Georgetown here. The Hoyas didn’t have too much trouble versus St. Francis PA despite dragging their feet a bit in the first half. Georgetown ended up shooting 43.5 percent from the field with just nine turnovers but did get out-rebounded 41-36 along the way. This will be a good opportunity for the Hoyas to reassert themselves on the glass. As for Wagner, they’ve been below 61 points in four of their six games so far. To be fair, however, the Seahawks have played a few tricky teams in that stretch. Still, I don’t think Wagner will keep a cove pace on Georgetown if the Hoyas are playing to their capabilities (and rebounding better).

Rating: 2 Units

Much of the luster has worn off the Huskies following their Monday defeat. In that one UConn gave up a whopping 54.7 percent from the floor and 54.5 percent from 3-point range (12-of-22) to Memphis and simply couldn’t keep up with the blistering pace in the end. Perhaps the Huskies’ easy start over the first four games failed to prepare them for a Tigers team that’s been pretty great so far this year. Whatever the case, UConn’s got to start from scratch here.

Rating; 2 Units

The Panthers shot a ridiculous 70.2 percent from the field with 32 rebounds and 15 team assists in their latest win over North Carolina Central. The 15 turnovers were the only real blemish. Georgia State has scored 71 or more points in all three of their wins, and 67 or fewer in the two losses. As for Austin Peay, they’re coming off a middling 40 percent from the field and a 35-30 rebounding deficit in their latest loss to Morehead State. The Governors have been below 69 points in four of five games so far. 

Rating: 2 Units

San Diego State hasn’t played in over a week, and I think that will play a big role in today’s matchup as they try to shake off some rust.  Sure, you may argue that San Diego State just lost by 13 to a powerful Gonzaga team, but the Aztecs haven’t played anyone else this season to give me confidence to back them.  As for Creighton, sure the loss to Nebraska was ugly, but they’ve played well against other teams, plus they have Ryan Kalkbrenner who’s averaging 21.4 points, and 9.0 rebounds per game.  The Aztecs have Jared Coleman-Jones who is 6 ’10 and is comparable in size to Kalkbrenner who is 7′ 1, but I think Kalbrenner is way more talented.  Creighton is shooting 48.8% from the field, and San Diego State is shooting 43.9%. Even if Creighton is without Ashworth, I think they’ll find a way to get Kalbrenner open and he’ll have a huge game.

Rating: 2 Units

Isaiah Hartenstein's return to action came at a good time for the Oklahoma City Thunder. With star center Chet Holmgren out with a fractured pelvis, Hartenstein is a pivotal player for the Thunder. Hartenstein will look to follow a strong season debut when Oklahoma City visits the Sacramento Kings. Hartenstein missed the Thunder's first 15 games due to a broken left hand.

Rating: 2 Units

The Knicks left for their five-game road trip on a winning streak and brimming with confidence. Those good feelings evaporated in a loss against the host Utah Jazz on Saturday night, and now New York moves on to Denver to face the Nuggets. New York will have to figure it out quickly against a Denver team that is scoring at a high rate. The Nuggets are tied for fifth in the NBA in scoring average at 117.5 points per game despite not having Aaron Gordon for three weeks and having Nikola Jokic miss three games for the birth of his second child. The burden of trying to stop Jokic, the three-time and reigning MVP, will fall on Karl-Anthony Towns, who is familiar with Denver from his nine seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rating: 2 Units

Iowa State is well rested as well as they haven’t taken the floor since last Monday when they blew out IU Indy at home. The Cyclones improved to 3-0 on the season and look to earn their signature win of the early season as they take the floor. Against IU Indy, Iowa State roared to a 14-2 lead less than four minutes into the game and didn’t look back from there. The Cyclones held a 49-29 advantage at the half and didn’t let the Jaguars closer than 19 the rest of the way en route to the win. Iowa State shot an even 50% from the field, including seven of 25 from three-point range, forced 19 turnovers and controlled the boards by a 40-29 margin. Curtis Jones had 20 points and six rebounds off the bench to lead the Cyclones in the win.

Rating: 2 Units

The North Texas Mean Green have four wins on the season, but two of them came against teams from outside of Division I. They beat Evansville in their opener, but did have a strong win over Minnesota on the road. Oregon State will be the biggest program they have hosted so far this season. In their last game, they played Texas Wesleyan out of the NAIA, and only won by seven in a game they likely should have won by more. In that game, they were led by Atin Wright with 19 points and three made threes in the win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pacers will win and cover the spread in this one, as they lean on their offense to get revenge for the loss earlier this month. For New Orleans, they are battling injury woes and without key starters, they won't have the scoring depth to match Indiana in this one. The Pacers rank top ten in a few key offensive metrics and considering New Orleans has been one of the league's worst teams defensively, it isn't a great matchup at this point in time. The Pelicans only have one road win this season, while Indiana has been elite at home, as those trends carry over into Monday night's action, resulting in an easy Indiana win.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Vanderbilt Commodores are 6-0 this season after they defeated Seton Hall by a score of 76-60 in their last game. Vanderbilt led 38-28 at the half and they pulled away in the second half for the double-digit win. The Commodores shot 51.9% from the field, 37% on three-pointers, and 83.3% on free throws in the game. Tyler Nickel led Vanderbilt with 24 points and four rebounds in the win. Prior to that game, the Commodores defeated Nevada by a score of 73-71, while also beating Jackson State and California before that. Vanderbilt has scored 85.8 points per game and they have allowed 70 points per game, while also averaging 38 rebounds and 16.2 assists per game this season. Jason Edwards is averaging 16 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, while Vanderbilt is shooting 48.7% from the field, 69.9% on free throws, and 30.5% on three-pointers.

Rating: 2 Units

Key Towson vs Morgan State stats: The +10 line has been covered by Morgan State in all of their last 5 games at home. The +10 line has been covered by Morgan State in 9 of their last 10 games at home. The +10 line has been covered by Morgan State in 6 consecutive games at home. The -10 line hasn’t been covered by Towson in 8 of their last 10 games on the road. The -10 line hasn’t been covered by Towson in 4 of their last 5 games. The -10 line hasn’t been covered by Towson in 4 consecutive games on the road. The +10 line has been covered by Morgan State in 2 of their last 3 games against Towson. 

Rating: 2 Units

It's hard to see Minnesota coming into TD Garden and dominating the defending Champions.  However, Minnesota seems to be finding it's grove and 8 points it a lot for a roster that boasts all-star caliber talent.  Minnesota should cover the number in what should be a tightly contested game.  Consider as well, that the Celtics have a 5-2 home record but 2-5 against the spread, with a +5.3-point differential.

Rating: 2 Units

Bryce Thompson leads the Cowboys in scoring with 13.2 PPG while Marchelus Avery has 13 PPG with a team-high 5.4 RPG to lead OK State on the glass. Abou Ousmane has 12.3 PPG with 5 RPG to round out the trio of double-digit scorers for OK State so far this season. Arturo Dean also has 5.8 PPG with 4.2 RPG and 3.4 APG as well on the year. As a team, Oklahoma State is averaging 82.4 PPG on 42.9% shooting from the field, 35.7% from three, and 75.2% from the foul line this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Key Eastern Illinois vs Valparaiso stats: The +6.5 line hasn’t been covered by Eastern Illinois in any of their last 5 games on the road. The +6.5 line hasn’t been covered by Eastern Illinois in 7 of their last 10 games on the road. The +6.5 line hasn’t been covered by Eastern Illinois in 5 consecutive games on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

Kennesaw State beat Abilene Christian by six points in its last game, a WAC/CUSA Challenge matchup. The Owls shot 53.7 percent overall, including 7-for-16 (43.8%) from three-point distance, and got to the foul line often (33-for-41 FT shooting). They also dominated on the boards (+13 rebounding margin) and scored 30 points in the paint, but costly miscues (19 turnovers leading to 30 Wildcats points) prevented KSU from pulling away.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rams haven't lost yet at home. Their offense is hyper-efficient, hence their 94.5 points per game. The Cougars allow plenty of free throws and don't force missed shots well. Rhode Island's offense should feast again. Meanwhile, Rhode Island's defense will have a field day forcing turnovers against a Charleston offense that averages 14.6 per contest. The Rams are also holding foes to 35.0% shooting (30.4% on threes), so they can limit the Cougars' offense outside of Brzovic. Take the Rams to handle business at home again.

Rating: 2 Units

Key Wofford vs Portland State stats: The +5.5 line has been covered by Portland State in 8 of their last 10 games at home. The +5.5 line has been covered by Portland State in 16 of their last 20 games at home. The -5.5 line hasn’t been covered by Wofford in 4 of their last 5 games. The -5.5 line hasn’t been covered by Wofford in 7 of their last 10 games on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

The Los Angeles Lakers put an end to their six-game winning streak last Thursday. They lost to the Orlando Magic 119-118 in front of the home fans. The Lakers had a three-point lead with 1:17 remaining in the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold on. 

Rating: 2 Units

Lavine has been their leading scorer with 22.0 PPG, and has been shooting well from the outside with 3.2 made threes per game on 43.2% shooting. Lavine also adds 5.2 RPG and 4.2 APG and has scored 25 or more in each of his last two games. Nikola Vucevic has been holding down the paint for Chicago for five seasons now, he is getting 20.3 PPG and 9.6 RPG as one of the most underrated big men in the league. Coby White continues to increase his scoring, he is getting 19.5 PPG and 4.6 APG. White leads the team with 3.5 made threes per game on 39.2% shooting. Josh Giddey came over from the Thunder and adds 11.8 PPG and a team-high 6.4 APG.

Rating: 2 Units

New York is 23rd in the league in rebounding as they collect 42.3 rebounds per game while they are 9th in the league in assists by dishing out 27.7 dimes per contest. The Knicks are 13th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 111.9 points per contest.

Rating: 2 Units

Long Beach State is No. 294 at Bart Torvik, and Fresno State is right behind at No. 295. That tells you a lot about this matchup. It feels like a coin flip, and I’m going with the Bulldogs, who have shown some positive things in their game. Fresno State’s defense is 73rd in the nation in turnover percentage (20.8%), and Long Beach State turns the ball over on 20.4 percent of its possessions (275th). The Bulldogs hold their rivals to 28.0% shooting from deep, though they make only 26.7% of their 3-pointers. The Beach lack the depth behind Devin Askew (16.2 PPG, 4.6 APG). They shoot 29.8% from downtown (255th) and 41.9% from inside the arc (324th).

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Marshall Thundering Herd have won three of four games on the season. They are having no issues generating points, sinking at least 80 in three of four games. The Purdue Boilermakers just had two games against ranked opponents in Alabama and Marquette and this could be more of a trap game where they glance past the Herd and onto NC State who they play next. The Herd have the defense to stay in this game. They are only conceding 104.2 points per 100 possessions compared to 98 points per 100 by the Boilermakers. Also, the Boilermakers' defense has been shaky. They have conceded an average of 79 points in their last three bouts. Purdue has won by only eight and nine points in their previous two games, making this spread more than reasonable.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pacers are 18th in NET rating, including 7th in offensive rating and 24th in defensive rating, per Dunks and Threes. They rank 10th in strength of schedule. Indiana has struggled to obtain second-chance scoring opportunities (29th in offensive rebounding), but that hasn't stopped it from scoring a ton of points. Indy ranks 6th in eFG%, including 3rd in rim FG%.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bulls have plenty of scoring options but their success typically relies on their success shooting it from deep. They are third in the league in attempts and tenth in percentage, as they look to regain their form from behind the arc. Atlanta's defense is last in the league in defending the three, which will be good news for the home team.

Rating: 2 Units

Boston put an end to Cleveland's undefeated start on Tuesday night. The Celtics dominated the NBA Cup game, making a statement that they're still the Eastern Conference's top dog. Jayson Tatum scored 33 points and added 12 rebounds, hitting six of Boston’s 22 three-pointers. The Celtics ended the first half on a furious rally, as their five-point lead ballooned to 17 at the break. The Cavaliers cut a 21-point deficit to two points in the third, but it was too much too soon.

Rating: 2 Units

We’ve got a serious clash of styles here in this semifinal matchup. Seton Hall has yet to score 70 points in a game this season and finally cracked 60 points in their win over VCU Thursday. One has to wonder when the Pirates will find some secondary scoring to help Jenkins. On the flip side, the Commodores are averaging almost 88 points a game this season and their 73 points against Nevada was their lowest point total so far this season. Vanderbilt has capable scoring depth and several options that can contribute offensively with regularity.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

This one is going to be interesting as Seton Hall has relied on defense so far this season. The Pirates lead the nation in scoring defense while ranking fifth in field goal percentage defense (33.3%) and 10th in two-point defense (37.9%) this season. That’s a double-edged sword as they have been brutal offensively, ranking third-worst in Division I, and they have yet to score more than 57 points in a game this season. VCU is a solid offensive team that has held their own on the defensive end as they are 11th in the nation in scoring defense. Given what we’ve seen from both teams this season, give the advantage to VCU here as they have better scoring depth than the Pirates at this point of the year.

Rating: 2 Units

Orlando’s winning streak will eventually come to an end, and the Magic will have a tall task to beat the Clippers at Intuit Dome. The Clippers are a solid defensive team. They have the firepower to contain the Magic on the glass, and Orlando is one of the best rebounding teams in the league. After beating Utah and Golden State in the back-to-back set, the Clippers will be fired up to knock the Magic down. LA will need to make some shots from deep, and the 3-point defense is probably the weakest link in Orlando’s sturdy D. Also, the Magic’s 3-point shooting has been terrible thus far. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Pacers hope to right the ship on the road against a very formidable Rockets team. The Pacers come into this game ranked 13th in the NBA in scoring this season. They are fourth in field goal shooting and 7th in 3-point shooting. They haven't relied heavily on the 3-ball, ranked just 15th in 3-point field goals per game. The Pacers are 12th in offensive efficiency.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Phoenix put up an average of 86 points per game, putting them 55th in scoring offense so far this season. Elon collects an average of 41 rebounds per contest while dishing out an average of 14.3 assists per game, which is 234th in the nation. The Phoenix are below average on the defensive end of the floor as they are 308th in scoring defense as they allow 78.7 points per contest.

Rating: 2 Units

The Spurs have adjusted to life without Holmgren by playing solid team defenses and rarely making mistakes on the offensive end. They are first in the league in the fewest turnovers and simply don't waste possessions. Expect more of the same in this matchup.

Rating: 2 Units

Last year, DePaul's season lasted 128 days and the Blue Demons amassed just three wins. DePaul needed just 12 days to hurdle that miniature benchmark this season. Not only has new coach Chris Holtmann directed DePaul to a 4-0 start heading into Tuesday night's home game against Eastern Illinois (1-3), the Blue Demons have strung together three consecutive wins by 25-plus points for the first time in 30 years.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

It’s an interconference clash on the hardwood as a pair of teams looking to pick up a victory take the floor in the Valley of the Sun. The Orlando Magic are on the road as they travel to take on the Phoenix Suns tonight. Orlando comes in off a 98-86 win over Philadelphia at home Friday night in their previous game, covering the line as a 2.5-point favorite. Phoenix was in action on the road Sunday afternoon as they took on the Timberwolves in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Rating: 2 Units

Utah State rolls into this game looking to start the season with four straight wins, and they have scored 107 points per game so far this year. The Aggies are shooting over 57% from the field and they have won by margins of 64, 29, and 55 points. Montana has yet to defeat a D-1 team this season and they have lost to Tennessee and Oregon by margins of 35 and 31 points. I don’t have much faith in this Montana defense getting many stops and I think Utah State can flirt with 100 points once again.

Rating: 2 Units

The North Alabama Lions got out to a strong start to their 2024-2025 campaign with three straight wins. The program has only been competing in Division I since 2018, and are now a member of the Atlantic Sun conference. This season they were projected to finish third in the 12-team conference by the Coaches' Preseason Poll. They opened the season with a strong win, traveling to Air Force as 5-point underdogs, but pulling out a 73-57 victory. In their most recent game, they lost by one in overtime despite getting 32 points from Jacari Lane.

Rating: 2 Units

The Houston Rockets will pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks today for an East-West NBA clash at Fiserv Forum. Tip-off is at 8:00 p.m. ET. Houston (10-4 SU, 9-5 ATS and 6-8 O/U) played at Chicago on Sunday night. The Rockets won their last five games, including the dismantling of Chicago. Milwaukee (4-9 SU, 4-8-1 ATS and 5-8 O/U) lost 115-114 to Charlotte on Saturday. The Bucks are 2-3 in their last five games. Houston and Milwaukee split their two meetings last season. The Bucks are 6-4 straight-up and 4-5-1 against the spread in their last ten meetings with the Rockets.