Slumping Blue Jackets Take on Jets

Jets get Blue Jackets at Right Time

It looked like the Columbus Blue Jackets were going to put an end to their losing streak Tuesday Night. They surged back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game against the Buffalo Sabers. Once again the team was let down by spotty defensive play and ultimately fell 5-4. The Jets, on the other hand, managed to end a two-game slide of their own with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN-Plus, FS Ohio (Columbus), TSN3 (Winnipeg); Line: Jets -140; O/U: 6.5 Over -115.

As Winnipeg’s first line goes, so do the Jets. Tuesday night’s victory was no different. The combination of Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor put up two goals and three assists on the night. Together they’ve registered an astounding 163 points on the season. The trio will be a tremendous challenge for the slumping Blue Jackets. After failing to pick up a single point three games in a row, the Blue Jackets now have a slim one-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ll need to bounce back on Thursday if they hope to maintain their playoff positioning in the Metropolitan Division 

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Blue Jackets are 28-18-3 on the season. All-Star forward Cam Atkinson is on pace to shatter his career high of 35 goals. He set that in 2016-17 season. Atkinson scored for the fourth time in six games to boost his season total to 28. Linemates Pierre-Luc Dubois and Artemi Panarin matched him with two points apiece. Despite the three-game slide, Columbus is receiving stellar work from its penalty-killing units. They have smashed 25 straight short-handed situations. The killer play has let them not allow a power-play goal in 11 games.

The Jets are 32-16-2 on the season. Patrik Laine is tied for the team lead with 25 goals despite being mired in a slump. The slump has seen him produce one tally and two assists over the past dozen games. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Laine amassed 80 goals over his first two seasons and erupted for 18 tallies in the month of November before hitting a wall, managing only four goals over the past 26 games and bottoming out in Tuesday's win in Boston. Coach Paul Maurice had Laine on the bench for much of the second period and the third-year forward wound up playing a career-low 10:55 while failing to register a shot on goal.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Blue Jackets 3

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Bucks and Raptors for Eastern Supremacy

Bucks Lead Season Series 2-1 Against Raptors

The Milwaukee Bucks (36-13 SU, 27-19-3 ATS) are mere percentage points ahead of the Toronto Raptors (37-15 SU, 22-29-1 ATS) for first place in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks go into the meeting with a half-game lead in the East. The Bucks have taken two of the first three matchups against the Raptors, including a win at Toronto on Dec. 9.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, TSN 1/4/5 (Toronto) LINE: Raptors -2.5; O/U: 232.

They may be in a virtual tie in the Eastern standings, but Milwaukee has played the better basketball thus far. The Bucks have a league-best point differential of plus-9.7. That is well ahead of the Raptors, who are fifth overall, at plus-5.4. They also lead Toronto 2-1 SU and ATS in their season series. Milwaukee has superior stats on both offense and defense. Throw in they have a top MVP candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo, then it is real. The "Greek Freak" is putting up 26.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. He was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday.

The Raptors have been scraping by without center Jonas Valanciunas. He’s been out since mid-December with a dislocated thumb. They’re 14-8 SU and 8-14 ATS since Valanciunas went on the shelf. The Bucks are relatively healthy, but Toronto will have a rest advantage in this matchup. They have been idle since Sunday after playing four games in six nights. Milwaukee visited the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.

Milwaukee began its five-game road trip with a loss at Oklahoma City on Sunday. The Deer managed to maintain its record as the lone team in the league without back-to-back setbacks by knocking off the Detroit Pistons 115-105 on Tuesday. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo flirted with a triple-double and finished with 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in the victory. The Raptors avoided a third consecutive setback on Sunday. They closed a three-game road trip by edging the Dallas Mavericks 123-120. Now they get two at home before hitting the road again for three more. Toronto is enjoying a 10-game winning streak at home. The streak began after that 104-99 setback against the Bucks on Dec. 9.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Even though they have had relatively few injury issues, injuries are getting to the Bucks backcourt. Seldom-used reserve Pat Connaughton is making the most of the opportunity and sprang for 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 22 minutes Tuesday. It was a welcome site as he had not gotten off the bench in three of the previous four contests. Connaughton could be a key player again on Thursday with shooting guards Malcolm Brogdon (chest), Sterling Brown (wrist) and Donte DiVincenzo (heel) all day-to-day. C Brook Lopez is averaging 3.4 blocks over the last five contests. Antetokounmpo is averaging 31 points and 18.5 rebounds in two games against Toronto this season.

Toronto has its own superstar forward in Kawhi Leonard. He has scored at least 20 points in each of the last 22 games. Leonard, who sat out four straight as part of an injury maintenance program, averaged 32.5 points in two games since his return. He recorded a double-double, with 33 points and 10 rebound,s in Sunday's triumph at Dallas. Center Serge Ibaka recorded a double-double in the win as well. That was his season-best fourth straight. PG Kyle Lowry is 7-of-23 from the floor over the last two games.

PREDICTION: Raptors 121, Bucks 115

NBA Betting Odds & Trends

Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Milwaukee is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Milwaukee's last 11 games
The Bucks are 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Milwaukee's last 14 games on the road
Milwaukee is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
The Bucks are 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 6 games when playing Toronto
Milwaukee is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The Bucks are 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto

Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games
Toronto is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
The Raptors are 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games at home
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Milwaukee
The Raptors are 18-7 SU in its last 25 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing Milwaukee
Toronto is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
The Raptors are 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

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The Gambling Capital of the World

Macau is a top Destination for Gambling Around the World

Jan 31, 2019

Lying on the south coast, Macau is one of the
special administrative regions (SAR) of China. Once a Portuguese colony, Macau
has Portuguese taste in almost everything from architecture to daily lifestyle.
The place is well renowned as a perfect blend of tradition and modernism. Here
at Macau, the past meets the present. Raised inside the big skyscrapers are the
big casinos which are a big hit in this region.

Macau - The Gamblers Joint

Macau is a hidden gem in the world of casinos and gambling. Housing a great number of high-class casinos, the place has been an ideal travel destination for the gamblers worldwide.

A rich cultured lifestyle and picturesque
beauty of the region calls out for gamblers who are looking to bet on their
luck and prove their skills among the many others. Every year, a lot of
international and native tourists are reported to hit the casinos in Macau and
this figure keeps on increasing year by year.

Gambler’s Attractions in Macau

Macau has a total of 38 casinos, out of which 23 casinos lie on peninsula Macau. 10 casinos lie on the Taipa island. The Venetian Casino Resort, The Sands, Wynn and The Grand Lisboa are the few among the biggest casinos in Macau and the world. Different casinos have different themes and games in them. Some of the most famous casinos in Macau are the Las Vegas-styled Casinos. It also hosts bingo sites that are some of the best online bingo sites UK.

Games offered

From the classic casino games to the modern-day video slots, Macau has games for everyone’s liking. The most demanded games in casinos are Blackjack, Baccarat, Rummy, Keno, Mahjong, Roulette, Tan, Poker, video slots and the best online bingo. Texas hold’em variant of poker is widely played here in Macau

Poker is played widely here in Macau with many
competition held annually. A live poker competition is held here frequently.
The place has some of the unique variants of the popular games that are quite
popular among the players. Bingo is another favourite here in Macau
with exciting winning prizes.

Must Visit Casinos in Macau

Besides exquisite food and picturesque natural beauty, the region is home to some of the finest casinos in the world. These casinos provide a once-in-a-lifetime gaming experience that no one should miss out at. Here is a look at some of the best casinos in Macau.

• The
  Venetian:It is a high-end casino
  resort with a 39 story building and world-class facilities. This is the world’s
  biggest casino with a whopping number of 3400 slot machines and 800 live casino
  tables.
• The
  Grand Lisboa: Another big glamorous building standing at
  261 metres tall, this place is one of the best casinos in the world. This is
  the tallest building in Macau and is well renowned for its live Texas hold’em
  poker tables.
• Wynn
  Macau: Spread over a huge 25400 sq metres, this high-end casino resort has
  close to 1000 luxury suites in it. The place also provides high-quality spas
  and restaurants. Wynn is known to house the best collection of slot games.

Latest Super Bowl LIII MVP Odds: Tom Brady still betting favorite

Tom Brady is the frontrunner to win the award

Jazz Sports has betting odds on the Super Bowl LIII MVP and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the front-runner to win the award yet again.

Brady has won the Super Bowl MVP award four times and it's obvious
that sportsbooks expect him or Jared Goff to win, which isn't surprising since
quarterbacks have been named Super Bowl MVP 29 times and only two non-QBs have
won it since the 2010 season and both were defensive players, Malcolm Smith of
the Seahawks in 2014 and Von Miller of the Broncos in 2016.

Recent history suggests that a quarterback will win the award,
most likely from the winning team. Chuck Howley was the only player to win
Super Bowl MVP from a losing team (he was also the first defensive player to
win the honor), when the Cowboys fell 16-13 against the Baltimore Colts in
Super Bowl V in a game with little to no offense. Howley's two interceptions
gave the Cowboys a chance to win and there were no significant numbers from any
other players.

Tom Brady always shines on the biggest stage and although the
Patriots lost the Super Bowl last year, he broke his own record after passing
for 505 yards. Brady has 2,576 passing yards and 18 touchdowns in eight career
Super Bowls and it's hard to deny his talent.

Unlike the Patriots, the Rams lack experience in big games but that doesn't mean they can't win their first Super Bowl with the team in Los Angeles.

Jared Goff and Todd Gurley are second and third favorites on the odds board. Goff had a strong season and he played well in the NFC Championship Game in New Orleans, so his surrounding won't faze him. At +800, Todd Gurley is an intriguing alternative, he was having a monster season but he ran for just 10 yards on four carries against the Saints, although he did score a touchdown but many people wonder if his knee issues are bothering him.

A value NFL pick to consider is Patriots rookie running back Sony Michel at +800. Michel has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and he has five touchdowns in those games.

Aaron Donald is the favorite among defensive players at +1000. Players on that side of the ball usually don't put up big stats but Donald is known for making big plays and the Rams need him at his best to have a chance in this game, so it wouldn't surprise me if he's the first defensive lineman to win the award since Richard Dent in Super Bowl XX.

Super Bowl LIII MVP Odds at Jazz Sports

Tom Brady -125

Jared Goff +200

Todd Gurley +800

Sony Michel +800

Aaron Donald +1000

C.J. Anderson +1500

Julian Edelman +1800

James White +2000

Rob Gronkowski +2000

Brandin Cooks +2500

Robert Woods +2500

Ndamukong Suh +4500

Josh Reynolds +5000

Aqib Talib +5000

Dante Fowler +5000

Rex Burkhead +5000

Marcus Peters +5000

Cory Littleton +5000

Trey Flowers +5000

Chris Hogan +5000

John Johnson +5000

Kyle Van Noy +5000

Cordarelle Patterson +5000

Michael Brockers +5000

Field (any other player) +500

Check odds here: Jazz Sports

Lakers favored to land Anthony Davis before 2019-20 season

The Anthony Davis Sweepstakes Have Begun

On Monday morning, Anthony Davis requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. Agent Rich Paul informed the Pelicans that Davis will decline his inevitable super-max extension offer from the organization this summer and that he wants to be traded to another team.

Jazz Sports posted betting odds on where Anthony Davis will play next season. Oddsmakers have the Lakers (+125) and Celtics (+200) as the favorites. Teams are already starting to line up to try to get Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and it's not difficult to see why.

Davis is set to make his sixth straight All-Star appearance and
fourth All-NBA First Team. He's averaging 29.3 points and 13.3 rebounds in 41
games while playing high-level defense with 2.6 blocks and 1.7 steals per game.

There's time for a deal to be made before this year's trade deadline
but the Pelicans are apparently not taking calls for Davis. The Celtics have
the necessary assets and potential desire to make something happen but they
can't trade for him until July 1, unless Kyrie Irving is involved in the trade.

A deal without Irving would fall into "The Rose Rule" (a
player finishing his rookie contract can make 30 percent of a team's salary cap
— up from 25 percent — if he's twice been voted an All-Star starter, twice been
voted All-NBA or won an MVP award and you can't trade for a second Rose Rule
player while there's someone on the roster already contracted under these
terms), so, unless Irving is involved in the trade, the Celtics are out of the
running until the summer.

The Lakers are among the NBA teams that can put together a decent offer before the trade deadline and they're likely the frontrunners in the summer because Davis and Rich Paul reportedly plan to tell teams that the Lakers are his No. 1 choice and that he doesn't plan to sign an extension with any other team before the summer of 2020, when he will become a free agent.

Where will Anthony Davis play in Game 1 of the 2019-20 season?

Odds provided by Jazz Sports

Los Angeles Lakers +125

Boston Celtics +200

New Orleans Pelicans +500

Toronto Raptors +600

New York Knicks +800

Philadelphia 76ers +1200

Golden State Warriors +1500

Houston Rockets +2000

Oklahoma City Thunder +2500

San Antonio Spurs +2500

Field (All others) +2500

Check odds here: Jazz Sports

Anthony Davis Asks for Trade from Pelicans

The NBA trade deadline is just around the corner, and it looks like Anthony Davis wants to be in a new team before that date arrives. The Pelicans superstar asked for a trade from the team. NBA analysts are expecting many teams to submit their offers in the next couple of days.

While most people are looking forward to the upcoming Super Bowl, NBA fans are anticipating which team Davis will be playing for the rest of the season. Most sports betting software experts think that the LA Lakers will add him to their roster.

Although the Celtics have been pursuing the player for a long time, they can’t trade for him as long as they have Kyrie Irving in their roster. Both Davis and Irving signed Rose Rule extensions. As a result, they can’t be on the same roster at the same time.

Where Will Anthony Davis Go?

The Los Angeles Lakers is the most logical choice for Anthony Davis. The team has a great amount of young talented players who can complement Davis’ playing style. In addition, Rich Paul represents Davis and LeBron.

According to the sports news grapevine, the Lakers can offer Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Ivica Zubac, and a first round pick for Davis. However, the Pelicans are not in the position to dictate offers. As a result, the Lakers are most likely to keep Kuzma. Instead, the Lakers might consider giving up Brandon Ingram and Caldwell-Pope.

There are talks that the Knicks might also try to get Davis. The best bookie pay per head predicts that they might give Kristaps Porzingis for the Pelican big man. With Davis on board, the team hopes that they can lure big-name free agents in the summer, including Kevin Durant, Kemba Walker, or Kyrie Irving.

At present, the Pelicans are not making any moves to trade him. Only time can tell where Anthony Davis will be playing for the rest of the season.

Texas Tech Hosts TCU in Big 12 Hoops

Texas Tech Faces Dangerous TCU Squad

The TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Tech Red Raiders meet on Monday at United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech has struggled some of late and face a very dangerous TCU team in Big 12 action.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN LINE: Texas Tech -5.5; O/U: 132.

After losing its third straight game, and scoring the fewest points since the 2014-15 season, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard expressed his desire for finding options to help leading scorer Jarrett Culver. Davide Moretti answered the call Saturday. The Italian scored a career-high 21 points in a win over Arkansas. The 6'-3" guard will try to continue increasing his production as the 13th-ranked Red Raiders battles visiting TCU on Monday night Big 12 basketball action.

Moretti averaged 12.3 minutes in 37 games last season, is averaging 10.4 points this season in 29.8 minutes. He has averaged 13.3 points in his last eight games and connecting on 39.7 percent of his shots from beyond the arc overall. TCU is coming off a 55-50 win over Florida in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday. They held the Gators to three points in the first 11:35 of the game to build an 18-3 lead. Texas Tech has been exceptional at home this season. They have posted an 11-1 record and limited its opponents to 52 points per game and a 32.8 shooting percentage. TCU is 1-3 in true road games this season.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The TCU Horned Frogs are 15-3 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12. Forward Kouat Noi scored 22 points and guard Desmond Bane added 17 against Florida as the Horned Frogs improved to 10-1 at home this season. Bane ranks seventh in the Big 12 with 15 points per game. Noi, who has drained a 3-pointer in 18 straight contests, ranks ninth at 14.7 ppg. Guard Alex Robinson is third in the nation at 7.7 assists per game. His dishes this season has left him 10 away from matching Corey Santee's school record of 575 assists. The Horned Frogs are averaging 76.9 points. That ranks third in the Big 12, and are top 50 in both offensive (40th) and defensive efficiency (18th) in the nation.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are 16-4 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12. Culver had 15 points, four assists, three steals along with four 3-pointers against Arkansas. He leads the Red Raiders with 18.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Guard Matt Mooney added 12 points in the victory and is third in scoring at 10.3 ppg. Tariq Owens has chipped in eight points per game and is one of the nation's blocked shot leaders at 2.5 bpg. The Red Raiders have limited opponents to a nations best 35.7% from the field. They also rank second in the country in scoring defense at 56.3%, and are third in 3-point shooting defense 26.1%

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 67, TCU 63

Big 12 Basketball Betting Odds & Trends

TCU Horned Frogs
TCU is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
TCU is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of TCU's last 6 games
TCU is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of TCU's last 6 games on the road
TCU is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Texas Tech
TCU is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Texas Tech
The total has gone OVER in 6 of TCU's last 8 games when playing Texas Tech
TCU is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Texas Tech
TCU is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Texas Tech
The total has gone OVER in 6 of TCU's last 9 games when playing on the road against Texas Tech

Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech is 1-8-1 ATS in its last 10 games
Texas Tech is 16-4 SU in its last 20 games
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Texas Tech's last 21 games
Texas Tech is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Texas Tech is 14-1 SU in its last 15 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas Tech's last 5 games at home
Texas Tech is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing TCU
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Texas Tech's last 8 games when playing TCU
Texas Tech is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against TCU
Texas Tech is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against TCU
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Texas Tech's last 9 games when playing at home against TCU

Next up:
TCU at Baylor Saturday, February 2
Texas Tech at Kansas Saturday, February 2

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Jets and Flyers Square off Following the All-Star Break

Flyers Look to Slow Down High Octane Jets

In their first game back since the All-Star break, the Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets will look start the final leg of the season strong. With just 34 games remaining in each of their schedules, every point counts.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, TSN3 (Winnipeg), NBCS Philadelphia; Line: Jets -145; O/U: 6.5 Over -115.

The Winnipeg Jets are in a good position past the halfway point of the season. They own a two-point advantage over the Nashville Predators for first in the Central Division, with three games in hand. They’re third in the NHL with a plus 33 goal differential and sit in the top ten in nearly every major category. As the most important games in the schedule approach, coach Paul Maurice will look for his players to buckle down and take two points against a Flyers team that has struggled so far this season. Philadelphia had high hopes entering 2018-19. With proven offensive stars up and down the lineup, Flyers’ ownership expected more than the 44 points the team has mustered thus far. But when a team has seven starting goalies on the books due to injury and poor performance, it’s not surprising Philly has struggled. Since putting their newest goaltender, Carter Hart, between the pipes, they’ve received reliable goaltending for the first time all year. With that, the Flyers will look to turn the season around beginning with a big game against the Jets.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Jets are 31-15-2 on the season. Captain Blake Wheeler boosted his team-leading totals in assists (52) and points (61) by collecting eight and 11, respectively, over his last eight games before the Break. He then punctuated his All-Star experience by scoring once and setting up three others. While Wheeler scored in the first encounter with Philadelphia, Mark Scheifele notched three assists in the second period of that contest. He enters Monday's tilt with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) this month, while his 25 goals ties him for the team lead. Patrik Laine, who also has 25 goals, has been limited to just four points (two goals, two assists) in his last 15 games. The Jets' fourth-ranked power play converted on three of six opportunities in the previous encounter against the Flyers' 28th-ranked penalty kill.

The Flyers are 19-23-6 overall. James van Riemsdyk and Nolan Patrick have broken out of their respective slumps to start the season. The former has scored six times in his last five games. It was needed as he provided little in the means of dividends since signing a five-year, $35 million contract. Patrick, who was the second overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, scored four goals and set up two others in his last three contests. He had mustered just five tallies and six assists in his previous 38. Jakub Voracek, who scored Philadelphia's lone goal versus Winnipeg, is riding a four-game assist streak. C Sean Couturier (team-leading 19 goals) has four goals and six assists during his six-game point streak. F Claude Giroux, who leads the club in assists (38) and points (52), has scored one goal and set up five others in his last six games.

NHL Betting Odds & Trends

Winnipeg Jets
The Jets are 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Winnipeg is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The Jets are 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Winnipeg is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The Jets are 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Philadelphia
Winnipeg is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia

Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The Flyers are 4-9 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games
Philadelphia is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games at home
The Flyers are 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Winnipeg
Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Winnipeg

Get your NHL odds at Bovada today.

SEC/Big 12 Challenge: Kansas vs. Kentucky

College Basketball Blue-Blood Programs Battle Again

Saturday afternoon we have a epic battle of College Basketball Royalty, Blue-Blood programs, if you will. Kentucky's 22-9 record against Kansas accounts for the bulk of the 14-game difference that exists between the two college basketball programs with the most all-time victories. The Jayhawks' recent success in the series has helped to close the gap. The Wildcats lead college basketball with 2,278 victories, while Kansas is second with 2,264.

The ninth-ranked Wildcats attempt to end their recent woes against Kansas when they host the 10th-ranked Jayhawks as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The Jayhawks have won 13 consecutive regular-season games against AP top-10 opponents. The last such setback was the 32-point loss to Kentucky in 2014.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN LINE: Kentucky -5.5; O/U: 144.5.

Since crushing the Jayhawks 72-40 at the Champions Classic in Indianapolis in 2014, Kentucky has dropped three straight to Kansas. Every single one of the games have been decided by no more than six points, including a 65-61 loss in Chicago early last season. Jayhawks coach Bill Self is the only Kansas coach to own a winning record against the Wildcats. He is 6-3. Kentucky enters this contest on a five-game winning streak. They are coming off consecutive wins versus ranked opponents. They have beaten No. 15 Auburn and No. 22 Mississippi State. The Jayhawks avenged an earlier loss to 25th-ranked Iowa State on Monday. They have struggled away from home so far this season. They have fallen to 1-3 in true road games following last Saturday's 65-64 defeat at West Virginia.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Kansas Jayhawks are 16-3 overall this season. Traditionally Bill Self's teams get better as the season wears on as they build towards March Madness. That may be a scary thing for the rest of the nation this season. Dedric Lawson ranks second in the conference in scoring at 19.5 points per game. He is eighth in the country in rebounding, which is a Big 12-best 10.9 rpg. Lawson posted his second straight double-double Monday with 29 points and 15 rebounds. That gives him 13 for the season, which is tied for second in Division I. Lagerald Vick is seventh in the league in scoring at 15.0 ppg, leads the Big 12 in 3-point field-goal percentage at 47.1%, and has knocked down at least two triples in every conference game. Guard Marcus Garrett (7.7 points) has emerged as a key third offensive contributor over the last three contests. He has averaging 17 points, by providing at least 15 in each outing. He never scored more than 13 in any of his first 54 career games.

The Kentucky Wildcats are 15-3 on the season. After a slow start, John Calipari has this team looking at a national title run if they continue to improve. Forward P.J. Washington is averaging 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks per game. He enjoyed his first 20-point game in over a month with 21 against the Bulldogs. He also tied a season high with four blocks. Guard Tyler Herro, who averages 13.7 ppg, shot only 2-of-7 inside the arc Tuesday. He did convert all three of his 3-point tries and each of his five free-throw attempts to finish with 18 points. That helped to send the Wildcats to 10-0 when he scores at least 15. Ashton Hagans managed only two steals against the Bulldogs. That put an end to a seven-game streak with at least three pocket picks. That is the longest streak for a freshman in a major conference since Chris Paul in 2003-04. He did tally a season-high nine assists.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 72, Kansas 69

SEC/Big 12 Challenge Betting Odds & Trends

Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Kansas is 16-3 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone OVER in 16 of Kansas's last 23 games
Kansas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Kansas is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Kansas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Kansas's last 24 games on the road
Kansas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Kentucky
Kansas is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Kentucky
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas's last 6 games when playing Kentucky
Kansas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Kentucky
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas's last 5 games when playing on the road against Kentucky

Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games
Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Kentucky is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kentucky's last 7 games at home
Kentucky is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Kansas
Kentucky is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Kansas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kentucky's last 6 games when playing Kansas
Kentucky is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Kansas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kentucky's last 5 games when playing at home against Kansas

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NBA Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Houston Rockets

Toronto Raptors vs. Houston Rockets NBA Preview

Friday, January 25 at 8:00 PM ET

Toyota Center

Coverage: ESPN; Line: Raptors 3.5; O/U: 229.

The Toronto Raptors visit the Houston Rockets on Friday night in a
potential NBA Finals preview.

Raptors get Leonard and Anunoby back

The Raptors lost 110-106 to the Pacers last Wednesday but they
were without Kawhi Leonard (rest), OG Anunoby (personal) and Jonas Valanciunas
(thumb). The Raptors were 8-1 in their nine games before that defeat and they're
9-3 in January despite using constant rotation changes.

The defeat still proved that the Raptors have incredible depth as they were on the second night of a back-to-back and still erased almost all of a 15-point deficit. OG Anunoby will return against the Rockets. He can be a difference-maker on defense because of his wingspan and quickness. This is especially formidable when combined with Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam or Serge Ibaka.

Harden has career night

James Harden scored a career-high 61 points while adding 15
rebounds, five steals and four assists in Wednesday's 114-110 win against the
Knicks. Harden's 61 points matched Kobe Bryant for the most scored by a
visiting player since Madison Square Garden was renovated.

The Rockets are now 6-5 in January. Harden became the first player in NBA history to attempt 20 free-throws and 20 3-pointers in the same game. He is also the first player with 60 points and 15 rebounds in the same game since Shaquille O'Neal on March 6, 2000.

Harden has five 50-point games this season, three over his last five and he's averaging 52.2 points per game in those contests. Despite this the Rockets are struggling as Chris Paul and Clint Capela are still out. Paul (15.6 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 26 games) practiced yesterday and he's questionable for this game.

NBA Trends:

The Under is:

4-0 in Toronto's last four games overall

4-0 in Toronto's last four games after scoring 100 points or more
in their previous game

7-3 in Toronto's last 10 games following a straight up loss

17-7 in Houston's last 24 games against a team with a winning
percentage above .600

7-3 in Houston's last 10 games following an ATS loss

The Raptors have one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Tonight they have a rested Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Pascal Siakam, and the returning OG Anunoby can try to slow down James Harden. There's a significant talent discrepancy between these two teams and the Rockets don't have many weapons on offense besides Harden.

Team rankings based on defensive efficiency:

Raptors – 6th (104.4 points allowed per 100 possessions)

Team rankings based on pace:

Rockets – 27th (99.9 possessions per game)

Toronto's high defensive efficiency + Houston's slow pace = a game
that will go Under a high total.

NBA Pick: Under 229 (-110) at
Jazz Sports

Check odds here: Jazz Sports