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Stephen Nover |
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I have had only two losing season in pro football in my handicapping career. I have the best sources in the business thanks to more than 25 years as a sportswriter, handicapper and analyst. |
| FREE PICKS | ||
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
| NCAA-B | Feb 02, 2023 James Madison vs. Old Dominion |
James Madison -119 at LINEPROS |
started |
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James Madison has way too much scoring for Old Dominion. The 15-8 Dukes rank 10th in the nation averaging 82.9 points per game. Old Dominion, by contrast, averages 67.5 points. The 13-9 Monarchs are a terrible shooting team and that includes free throw shooting, too, where they rank 324th. There's not much separation on defense either as both teams give up an average of 66 points per game. The Dukes are 5-5 on the road. Old Dominion is 2-5 ATS in its last seven home games. I consider James Madison the superior team. The KenPom ratings agree. They rank James Madison 85 spots ahead of Old Dominion. |
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| YESTERDAY'S PLAYS | ||
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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NBA | Feb 01, 2023 Thunder vs Rockets |
UNDER 232½ -105 |
Won $100 |
| Play Type: Premium | ||
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The Thunder should play with defensive intensity having lost six in a row, including giving up 128 points to the Warriors at home this past Monday. Oklahoma City ranks sixth in defensive field goal percentage. Houston is minus its leading scorer, Jalen Green (calf), and top assists guy Kevin Porter Jr. (foot). The Rockets have been playing better defense lately holding their last five foes to an average of 112.4 points. This is down from their season average of giving up 117.1 points a game. There were 223 points scored in the first meeting with the Rockets winning, 118-105, back on Nov. 26. It marked the sixth time in seven meetings the teams had gone Under when playing in Houston. |
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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NCAA-B | Feb 01, 2023 Pittsburgh vs North Carolina |
Pittsburgh +8½ -109 at linepros |
Won $100 |
| Play Type: Premium | ||
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The Panthers are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 road contests. They are 5-2 in road games this season with four of those wins coming versus ACC foes. Pittsburgh is off a 71-68 home win against ranked Miami this past Saturday. North Carolina hasn't played in more than a week. The rest is good for the Tar Heels, but it could come with some rust. The Tar Heels are 2-5 ATS the past seven times when meeting above .500 opponents. The Panthers beat North Carolina, 76-74, when the teams met on Dec. 30. Jamarius Burton had a monster game with 31 points. |
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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NCAA-B | Feb 01, 2023 Army vs Lehigh |
Lehigh -125 at circa |
Lost $125.0 |
| Play Type: Premium | ||
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I'm going to ride Lehigh's momentum and revenge in this matchup against Army. The Mountain Hawks have won eight in a row. They are 8-2 at home. Army has lost three of its last four games. Lehigh has a much stronger defense than Army. The Mountain Hawks also have played the tougher schedule. Army hosted Lehigh on Dec. 30 and won 80-78. Army shot better than 54 percent from the floor and 52 percent from 3-point range yet merely won by two points at home. |
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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NCAA-B | Feb 01, 2023 Minnesota vs Rutgers |
Rutgers -13½ -115 at Mirage |
Won $100 |
| Play Type: Free | ||
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Minnesota is averaging 54.6 points in its last five games, all losses. The Gophers couldn't reach 40 points against Purdue. They could struggle to break the 40-point barrier here on the road against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are in bounce-back mode after surrendering a season-high 93 points in an 11-point road loss to the Hawkeyes this past Sunday. Despite that Rutgers ranks seventh in the nation defensively allowing 58.7 points a game. The Scarlet Knights are No. 2 in the country in defensive efficiency. Rutgers has held six of seven top 100 teams to fewer than 57 points in regulation at home. The Scarlet Knights are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games and 5-0 ATS following a non-point spread cover. |
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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NHL | Feb 01, 2023 Hurricanes vs Sabres |
Sabres +145 at Ace |
Lost $100.0 |
| Play Type: Top Premium | ||
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Carolina is playing great. But the Sabres also are playing well with five wins in their last six games. The Hurricanes face a brutal scheduling spot here. So I'm going to take this big price on the home 'dog. Buffalo defeated the Penguins on the road this past Saturday night. The Sabres haven't played since. They should be well-rested and well prepared. Not so for the Hurricanes. Carolina gave its all in pulling out a 5-4 overtime home victory against the Kings Tuesday night after trailing by three goals entering the third period. The Hurricanes had beaten the Bruins in a huge revenge matchup this past Sunday in their previous game. So this marks their fifth game in eight days with three of their past four games having gone into overtime. Flying nearly 500 miles to Buffalo to play without rest is a horrible spot for Carolina. |
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| PICKS IN PROGRESS | ||
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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NCAA-B | Feb 02, 2023 William & Mary vs Hampton |
William & Mary +1 -110 at circa |
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| Play Type: Top Premium | ||
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I'm surprised William & Mary didn't open a mid-range favorite. I rate the Tribe much better than Hampton. William & Mary has a superior record - 9-14 overall, 4-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association - compared to the Pirates' 5-17 mark and 2-8 CAA record. The Tribe also proved that by defeating the Pirates, 81-65, as an 8-point home favorite on Jan. 11. William & Mary is statistically better than Hampton, too, on both sides of the ball. The Pirates rank last in the CAA in shooting percentage and second-to-last in defensive field goal percentage. They also rate last in the league in rebounding margin. But where William & Mary holds a significant edge is 3-point shooting. The Tribe is 38th in the country in 3-point accuracy while Hampton is 344th in 3-pt defense. The major concern about the Tribe is their lack of road victories. Some of this concern can be eased by the Tribe upsetting UNC Wilmington as a 12-point road 'dog on Jan. 14. Hampton hasn't been a good home team either going 1-5 ATS in its last six home contests. |
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SERVICE BIO |
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Sports gaming writer for Las Vegas Review-Journal 1984-1997. Professional handicapper since 1999. Author of three books - Las Vegas Sportsbeat, Sportsgaming Beat, Winning Fantasy Football. Taught sports betting at UNLV. Former co-host of the Sunday Night Stardust Line sports gaming radio show. Was part-time oddsmaker and analyst for Roxy Roxborough. Recognized NFL expert with 21 of 23 winning seasons. |
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