[Doug Upstone]

By Doug Upstone

Today we have four interesting matchups in which there have been line moves in the NBA and college basketball. Like we say every day, understanding line moves can build your bankroll.

NBA – (711) INDIANA at (712) MINNESOTA 8:05 E ESPN

Minnesota is one of the puzzling teams in the NBA. Despite having the seventh-best points scored/points allowed ratios in the Western Conference at +3.7 (ahead of Phoenix and Dallas), they trail the Mavericks by five games for the last playoff spot. What has killed the T-Wolves all year is their play at crunch time with a hard to fathom 1-12 mark in games decided by four points or less. Those betting basketball are giving Minnesota the benefit of the doubt about their abilities and lowered them from +4 to +2.5. But given their record in close games would you trust the T-Wolves against the best team in the East? Doug's Dish – Lean Indiana

NBA – (715) BROOKLYN at (716) UTAH 9:05 E YES, ROOT-RM

Brooklyn has one mission the rest of the regular season; surpass Toronto for first place is the desultory Atlantic Division. This would prevent them from facing Indiana or Miami in the first round of the playoffs if they were to finish seventh or eighth and would assure them home court for the first round of the playoffs. Basketball bettors are calling for the Nets to get off to a good start, lifting them from -2 to -3.5 at Utah. The concern here is Brooklyn is just 8-16 on the road this season and is 3-6 SU and ATS as away faves. Doug's Dish – Lean Utah

CBB – (741) DEPAUL at (742) XAVIER 7:00 E CBSN

For years, Xavier has enjoyed one of the best home court advantages in college basketball and that has not changed this season with a 13-1 and 8-4 ATS record. Nonetheless, their recent indifferent play at 2-4 and 1-5 ATS, which included their lone home loss to Seton Hall, has given concern to those making basketball bets and the Musketeers have eroded from -14.5 to -13. It would take some Bill Raftery “onions” to back DePaul, since they are on an eight-game losing streak and have covered just twice in that span. Doug's Dish – Lean Xavier

CBB – (781) NEW MEXICO at (782) UNLV 11:00 E ESPN2

These are the second and third-best teams in the Mountain West Conference and they will do battle again this evening. UNLV won the earlier meeting 76-73 in Albuquerque and was established by sportsbooks as a one-point home favorite for tonight. By this morning, the tide had turned and the Lobos are now the one point choice. There are points to be made in either case, with New Mexico 9-0 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 and with the total at 139, the Runnin’ Rebels are 6-0 ATS at home when the total is between 135 to 139.5. This might be the real key, the SU winner is 7-0 ATS and 9-1 ATS since 2010. Doug's Dish – Lean New Mexico

Doug's Tasty Trends

NBA ATS Trend

Washington is 11-0 ATS in road games after playing a home game this season.

NBA Totals Trend

Detroit is 14-2 OVER after a home loss this season.

CBB ATS Trend

SMU is 9-0 ATS as a favorite or Pick this season.

[TwoWays]

doug, nice work. you've been handing out terrific info.

[jjgold]

Douglass like that Utah Pick

Good work

[Highsaac]

any guess on why PHX moved from -8 to -6? I can't seem to figure it out. Boston is a good road team ATS, but PHX is equally good ATS at home. No injury news other than bradley and Celtics seem more likely to make a trade affecting this game. My only thought was the public felt 8 was too high with PHX on a b2b, but the stats suggest 0 days rest doesn't affect their performance all that much. if anything their defense suffers slightly, but Boston is miserable in that regard.

[thunderous]

Didn't SMU just lose to Temple as a 5 point favorite?

[jforster101]

Didn't SMU just lose to Temple as a 5 point favorite?

Yes they did but as 8 point favorites

[georgek118]

Yes they did but as 8 point favorites

8.5 pt favs.. crushed my covers...unbelievable loss..makes me think of the NBA

[Doug Upstone]

thanks Two Ways, always trying

[Doug Upstone]

I did too JJ Gold, crappy fourth quarter was costly.

[Doug Upstone]

Highsacc, The reason were pretty much as you stated, but the betting public was accurate in taking it down, though the Suns were right if you waited until late. Thanks for reading.

[Doug Upstone]

I thought SMU would come to play given there poor showing at Rutgers, not the case.