Arizona and UCLA Play Rubber-Game in PAC-12 Semifinals

UCLA and Arizona in Hunt for NCAA #1 Seeds

The UCLA Bruins and the Arizona Wildcats will meet in the PAC-12 semifinals on Friday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 3rd-ranked Bruins and the 7th-ranked Wildcats are still in the hunt for #1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. UCLA is 29-3 on the season while Arizona is 28-4 heading into tonight.

Arizona won 96-85 in Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 21. The Bruins dealt Arizona a rare home loss on Feb. 25, 77-72. That was Arizona's second defeat in the past 72 games in Tucson.

In their most recent meeting, UCLA outrebounded Arizona 35-28. That included a 14-4 edge on the offensive glass. The Bruins had a 20-4 advantage in second-chance points.

Oddsmakers opened UCLA as a 2.5-point favorite and the line has inched down to 2 at the moment. The total opened at 159 and has plummeted 4-points to 155 right now.

Last time out for Arizona, they were a 92-78 winner as they battled Buffaloes at home. They covered in the match as a -8-point favorite. Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier is averaging a team-best 16.6 points a game. He has scored at least 19 in five consecutive games.

In their last action, UCLA was a 76-74 winner at home against Trojans. They failed to cover the -10.5-point spread as favorites. The Bruins have won 10 consecutive games. That stretch ncludes two victories over USC, a win over Oregon and the triumph in Tucson.

Betting Odds Trends

UCLA Bruins
UCLA is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games
UCLA is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of UCLA's last 5 games
UCLA is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Arizona
UCLA is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Arizona

Arizona Wildcats
Arizona is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Arizona is 22-2 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona's last 7 games
Arizona is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing UCLA
Arizona is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing UCLA

 

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Notre Dame and FSU Meet in ACC Tourney Semifinals

Notre Dame Looking for 2nd Finals Trip in 3 Years

The fans at Barclays Center will see the Notre Dame Fighting Irish trying to make it back to the ACC Title game for the second time in three years. They will face the Florida State Seminoles, whose high-powered offense has led them to a 25 win season thus far.

Oddsmakers opened FSU as a 1.5 point favorite. That point-spread has slid up slightly to put the 'Noles as a 2-point favorite. The total is sitting at a firm 150 with a few scattered 150.5's out there.

Florida State was a 74-68 winner in the ACC Tournament quarter finals against the Virginia Tech Hokies. They failed to cover the -8-point spread as favorites.

Notre Dame was a 71-58 winner in their quarter final matchup against the Virginia Cavaliers. They covered the +3.5-point spread as underdogs. The Fighting Irish shot better than 50 percent against Virginia's vaunted defense. They will look to continue that trend against a Florida State team they've had success against offensively.

Betting Odds Trends

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Notre Dame is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Notre Dame's last 5 games
Notre Dame is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Florida State
Notre Dame is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Florida State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Notre Dame's last 5 games when playing Florida State

Florida State Seminoles
Florida State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Florida State's last 6 games
Florida State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Notre Dame
Florida State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Notre Dame
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Florida State's last 5 games when playing Notre Dame

 

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Notre Dame and FSU Meet in ACC Tourney Semifinals

Notre Dame Looking for 2nd Finals Trip in 3 Years

The fans at Barclays Center will see the Notre Dame Fighting Irish trying to make it back to the ACC Title game for the second time in three years. They will face the Florida State Seminoles, whose high-powered offense has led them to a 25 win season thus far.

Oddsmakers opened FSU as a 1.5 point favorite. That point-spread has slid up slightly to put the 'Noles as a 2-point favorite. The total is sitting at a firm 150 with a few scattered 150.5's out there.

Florida State was a 74-68 winner in the ACC Tournament quarter finals against the Virginia Tech Hokies. They failed to cover the -8-point spread as favorites.

Notre Dame was a 71-58 winner in their quarter final matchup against the Virginia Cavaliers. They covered the +3.5-point spread as underdogs. The Fighting Irish shot better than 50 percent against Virginia's vaunted defense. They will look to continue that trend against a Florida State team they've had success against offensively.

Betting Odds Trends

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Notre Dame is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Notre Dame's last 5 games
Notre Dame is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Florida State
Notre Dame is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Florida State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Notre Dame's last 5 games when playing Florida State

Florida State Seminoles
Florida State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Florida State's last 6 games
Florida State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Notre Dame
Florida State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Notre Dame
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Florida State's last 5 games when playing Notre Dame

 

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Hawks and Raptors in Key Playoff Matchup in Atlanta

Hawks and Raptors Meet for Last Time this Season

The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks rank fourth and fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. A Win means home-court advantage for a possible playoff series could loom large. They meet on Friday at Philips Arena for the last time this regular season.

Toronto hopes to move up in the standings despite the loss of standout guard Kyle Lowry to wrist surgery. Atlanta snapped a three-game losing skid by beating Brooklyn 110-105 on Wednesday. Even with that win the Hawks have won just three of their past nine games. Atlanta is actually closer to the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference than fourth. The Hawks trail the Raptors by three games and are just two ahead of sixth-place Indiana.

Oddsmakers opened the Hawks as -2.5-point favorites versus the Raptors. The spread now has the Hawks favored by three points. The game's total opened at 202.5 and has inched up to a solid 203.

The previous Raptors-Hawks games this season were during December in Toronto. The Raptors rolled to a 128-84 rout before the Hawks came back to win 125-121 two weeks later behind 27 points and 18 rebounds from Howard.

Atlanta won its last outing, a 110-105 result against the Brooklyn Nets on March 08. The Hawks failed to cover in that game as a -10-point favorite. The 215 combined points took the game UNDER the total. Dennis Schroder may have the team headed in the right direction. This, after a bounce-back game following his benching for most of the second half against Golden State because of an argument with center Dwight Howard.

Last time out for Toronto, they were a 94-87 winner as they battled the New Orleans Pelicans on the road. The Raptors covered in the matchup as a +3.5-point underdog, while 181 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Betting Odds Trends

Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Toronto is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Atlanta
Toronto is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Atlanta
Toronto is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Toronto is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Atlanta

Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Atlanta's last 10 games
Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Atlanta is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games at home
Atlanta is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Toronto
Atlanta is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing Toronto
Atlanta is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Toronto
Atlanta is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Toronto

 

Next up:
Toronto at Miami Saturday, March 11
Atlanta at Memphis Saturday, March 11

Get all your 2017 NBA Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook

Duke-North Carolina Meet Again in ACC Tourney

Only 5th Time Teams Have Met Outside Carolina

The Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels will meet in the ACC Tournament on Friday at Barclays Center. When the teams play tonight, it will only be the fifth time they have met outside of North Carolina. They met in Atlanta in 1929, 1989 and in 2001, and in New York City in 1971.

The two storied programs will meet for the 21st time in the ACC Tournament. Duke is attempting to win its first tournament title since 2011. The Blue Devils would have to win four games in four days to do so. That has never happened in this tournament.

Oddsmakers opened the Tar Heels as -2.5-point favorites versus the Blue Devils. UNC is not at a 4-point favorite. The game's total opened at 156.5 and has dropped to 154 with some 153.5's out there.

North Carolina won its last outing in the ACC Tournament with a 78-53 rout of the Miami Hurricanes. They covered in that game as a -8.5-point favorite.

Duke a 81-77 winner against the Louisville Cardinals in the 2nd round of the ACC Tournament. They covered in the match as a +1.5-point underdog. Jayson Tatum scored 25 points in the comeback win and Luke Kennard scored 24 points, 18 in the second half. Super-Brat Grayson Allen added 18 points in 28 minutes off the bench.

Betting Odds Trends

Duke Blue Devils
Duke is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Duke is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Duke's last 7 games
Duke is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing North Carolina
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Duke's last 7 games when playing North Carolina

North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games
North Carolina is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of North Carolina's last 6 games
North Carolina is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Duke
North Carolina is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Duke
The total has gone OVER in 5 of North Carolina's last 7 games when playing Duke

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Duke-North Carolina Meet Again in ACC Tourney

Only 5th Time Teams Have Met Outside Carolina

The Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels will meet in the ACC Tournament on Friday at Barclays Center. When the teams play tonight, it will only be the fifth time they have met outside of North Carolina. They met in Atlanta in 1929, 1989 and in 2001, and in New York City in 1971.

The two storied programs will meet for the 21st time in the ACC Tournament. Duke is attempting to win its first tournament title since 2011. The Blue Devils would have to win four games in four days to do so.  That has never happened in this tournament.

Oddsmakers opened the Tar Heels as -2.5-point favorites versus the Blue Devils. UNC is not at a 4-point favorite.  The game's total opened at 156.5 and has dropped to 154 with some 153.5's out there.

North Carolina won its last outing in the ACC Tournament with a 78-53 rout of the Miami Hurricanes. They covered in that game as a -8.5-point favorite.

Duke a 81-77 winner against the Louisville Cardinals in the 2nd round of the ACC Tournament. They covered in the match as a +1.5-point underdog. Jayson Tatum scored 25 points in the comeback win and Luke Kennard scored 24 points, 18 in the second half. Super-Brat Grayson Allen added 18 points in 28 minutes off the bench.

Betting Odds Trends

Duke Blue Devils
Duke is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Duke is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Duke's last 7 games
Duke is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing North Carolina
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Duke's last 7 games when playing North Carolina

North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games
North Carolina is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of North Carolina's last 6 games
North Carolina is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Duke
North Carolina is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Duke
The total has gone OVER in 5 of North Carolina's last 7 games when playing Duke

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Hawks and Raptors in Key Playoff Matchup in Atlanta

Hawks and Raptors Meet for Last Time this Season

The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks rank fourth and fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. A Win means home-court advantage for a possible playoff series could loom large. They meet on Friday at Philips Arena for the last time this regular season.

Toronto hopes to move up in the standings despite the loss of standout guard Kyle Lowry to wrist surgery. Atlanta snapped a three-game losing skid by beating Brooklyn 110-105 on Wednesday. Even with that win the Hawks have won just three of their past nine games. Atlanta is actually closer to the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference than fourth. The Hawks trail the Raptors by three games and are just two ahead of sixth-place Indiana.

Oddsmakers opened the Hawks as -2.5-point favorites versus the Raptors. The spread now has the Hawks favored by three points. The game's total opened at 202.5 and has inched up to a solid 203.

The previous Raptors-Hawks games this season were during December in Toronto. The Raptors rolled to a 128-84 rout before the Hawks came back to win 125-121 two weeks later behind 27 points and 18 rebounds from Howard.

Atlanta won its last outing, a 110-105 result against the Brooklyn Nets on March 08. The Hawks failed to cover in that game as a -10-point favorite. The 215 combined points took the game UNDER the total. Dennis Schroder may have the team headed in the right direction. This, after a bounce-back game following his benching for most of the second half against Golden State because of an argument with center Dwight Howard.

Last time out for Toronto, they were a 94-87 winner as they battled the New Orleans Pelicans on the road. The Raptors covered in the matchup as a +3.5-point underdog, while 181 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Betting Odds Trends

Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Toronto is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Atlanta
Toronto is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Atlanta
Toronto is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Toronto is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Atlanta

Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Atlanta's last 10 games
Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Atlanta is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games at home
Atlanta is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Toronto
Atlanta is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing Toronto
Atlanta is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Toronto
Atlanta is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Toronto

 

Next up:
Toronto at Miami Saturday, March 11
Atlanta at Memphis Saturday, March 11

Get all your 2017 NBA Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook

PAC-12 Tournament: Third Ranked UCLA and USC Square-Off

USC Looking to Avenge 32 Point Loss

The USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins battle in the quarterfinals of the PAC-12 Tournament on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The game is televised by ESPN and will tip-off around 11:30 pm.

The last time USC faced UCLA the Trojans were in the middle of a four-game losing streak. It was the Trojans' lowest point of the season. They lost 102-70 loss at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 18. That blowout loss was followed by getting swept on the road by Arizona and Arizona State.

Coach Andy Enfield's USC team is now 24-8. That is one win shy of tying the school record for a season. USC responded by sweeping the Washington schools at home. They then beat the Huskies again Wednesday in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament.

Oddsmakers have the Bruins a 10-point favorite in this PAC-12 matchup. The total is sitting at 167.

UCLA won its last outing, a 77-68 result against Cougars on March 04. They failed to cover in that game as a -23.5-point favorite. Freshman T.J. Leaf should be cleared to play in the Southern Cal game. He sat out last week's game against Washington State with a sprained left ankle.

USC won its last outing, a 78-73 result against Huskies on March 08. They failed to cover in that game as a -12.5-point favorite. USC sophomore forwards Chimezie Metu and Bennie Boatwright showed against Washington on Wednesday they can be a force in each game. Metu had 24 points and nine rebounds, and Boatwright added 13 points and five rebounds.

Betting Odds Trends

USC Trojans
USC is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
USC is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of USC's last 9 games
USC is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing UCLA
USC is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing UCLA
USC is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing UCLA
The total has gone OVER in 8 of USC's last 10 games when playing UCLA

UCLA Bruins
UCLA is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games
UCLA is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of UCLA's last 8 games
UCLA is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing USC
UCLA is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing USC
UCLA is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing USC
The total has gone OVER in 8 of UCLA's last 10 games when playing USC

 

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

ACC Tournament: Duke and Louisville Battle Again

Duke Looks for Consistency

The Duke Blue Devils and the Louisville Cardinals battle in the third round of the ACC Tournament on Thursday. Tip-off is set for around 2:30 pm at Braclays Center.  It follows the North Carolina and Miami (Fla) game that started the day off. The game is on national TV and will be broadcast by ESPN.

Duke coach, Mike Krzyzewski, isn't quite sure which version of his team will show up. Injuries have hampered the Blue Devils' effort all season.With the NCAA Tournament a week away, the story is still the same. There have been numerous different lineup combinations this year. A good bit  of controversy involving 5-year old brat acting, senior Grayson Allen. Duke has a traditionally staunch defense. This year the Blue Devils have not always put out the expected effort.

Oddsmakers opened the Blue Devils as 0-point favorites versus the Cardinals. The line now in this ACC Tournament matchup has Loisville favored by two points.  The game's total opened at 147.5 and has dropped to 146.

Louisville is Well Rested

Louisville was a 71-64 winner against Notre Dame to end the regular season. With the win they guaranteed they had a bye in the first two rounds of the tournament. They failed to cover the -7.5-point spread in the game. The Cardinals Donovan Mitchell more than doubled his scoring average from his freshman season. He raised his scoring from 7.8 points to 15.9 points a game. In conference play he raised his average more than four-points and has made nearly 42 percent of his 3-pointers.

In the 2nd round of the tournament Duke was a 79-72 winner at home against the Clemson Tigers. They covered the -6.5-point spread as favorites. Duke slogged its way through the first 20 minutes with the Tigers. They settled for a 33-33 tie at the half.  The Blue Devils then established a 13-point second half lead before having to fight off a huge surge by a Clemson team hoping to make a solid impression with the Selection Committee.

Betting Odds Trends

Duke Blue Devils
Duke is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Duke is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Duke's last 19 games

Louisville Cardinals
Louisville is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Louisville is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Louisville's last 9 games
Louisville is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Duke

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Celtics and Warriors Face off in Sacramento Wednesday

 

Celtics and Pacers Trying to Find Chemistry

The Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors battle on Wednesday at Oracle Arena. The game will be televised on national TV on ESPN and tip-off is at 10:30 pm EST.

Both teams are engulfed in question marks when the Boston Celtics continue a Western road trip against the Golden State Warriors. The Celtics have lost two straight after beginning the 5-game swing with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Now they find themselves clinging to a hold onto the 2nd seed in the East. Washington and Toronto are not letting up on the pressure for the #2 seed in the East.

Oddsmakers opened the Warriors as -7.5-point favorites versus the Celtics, while the game's total opened at 224.

Golden State won its last outing, a 119-111 result against the Atlanta Hawks on March 06. The Warriors covered in that game as a -6-point favorite, while the 230 combined points took the game OVER the total. The Warriors won two straight to wrap up what had been a troublesome Eastern swing. Like the Celtics, they now find themselves looking over their shoulder.  The red-hot San Antonio Spurs are closing in on the West's top spot.

Last time out for Boston, they were a 116-102 loser as they battled the Los Angeles Clippers on the road. The Celtics failed to cover as a +7-point underdog, while 218 combined points moved the game PUSH for totals bettors. Al Horford is expected back for the showdown with Golden State. He has missed the last two games with a sprained elbow.

Betting Odds Trends

Boston Celtics
Boston is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Boston is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 8 games
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 7 games on the road
Boston is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 9 games when playing Golden State
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Boston is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Golden State

Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
Golden State is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games
Golden State is 6-2-1 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Golden State is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Boston
Golden State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Golden State's last 9 games when playing Boston
Golden State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
Golden State is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Boston

 

Next up:
Boston at Denver Friday, March 10
Golden State at Minnesota Friday, March 10

Get all your 2017 NBA Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook