[LT Profits]

Listen up, basketball experts. Starting Wednesday (Jan 2) we will commence with a Hoops Parlay Contest with the monthly grand prize a 22” widescreen LCD monitor. The rules are simple:

1. Check in the NBA BASKETBALL HANDICAPPING FORUM each day for the daily thread to be posted by LT Profits. Lines will be posted by 11:00 a.m. (ET) each day. Plays may be posted before that, but the official posted lines will be used for grading.

2. Posted spreads and totals are the only eligible plays for grading. Both NBA and NCAA games included.

3. Two-game parlay picks, laying 10 to win 26. Post entire parlay at same time, no open parlays.

4. Here’s the catch: Your play must include a write-up, doesn’t have to be long, just a sentence or two about why you’re making your play. Here’s a THREAD from last year’s contest to be used for an example.

5. And here’s the fine print:

• One entry per household and IP address.
  
• Must use lines posted in daily thread by LT Profits
  
• Maximum one parlay pick per day, minimum 15 parlay plays needed to be eligible for monthly prize.
  
• Tiebreaker - Win % of individual parlay legs. If still tied, combatants will carry on a head-to-head parlay match until winner determined.
  
• All decisions made by SBR with regards to this contest are final.
  
• SBR employees eligible to participate but are not eligible to win the monthly prize.

[LT Profits]

If you'd like, you can start posting your picks now. Official grading lines will be posted at around 11:00am ET, and early posts will be based on those lines. Keep in mind that CBB Totals will likely be omitted, unless the books suddenly start putting them up early.

Good Luck to All!

[McRich]

North Carolina to cover vs. Kent State.

NC is 10-1 against the spread. They are number one in the country and want to keep it that way. Roy Williams believes in running up the score. Kent State averages 64 points on the road and North Carolina averages 101 points at home. NC is also better at free throws which helps a team cover at the end of a game.

Wisconsin to cover Michigan ( or as I like to refer to them as scUM).

Wisconsin is coming off a huge victory against Texas on the road. Do not expect a let down. This is the first Big Ten game of the season and Wisconsin will want to keep their momentum. scUM is a really bad team. They gave UCLA a great first half, but the real scUM team showed up when the second half ended and UCLA covered.

[louisvillekid]

Detroit Pistons -5 : they may have lost 2 to the Wizards last season, but this is a new season and Detroit has been a money making machine against ATS, and with Arenas out for Wash., the Wizards are just treading water to stay afloat.

VCU -3 : I know James Madison is loaded with Sr.'s and Jr.'s and have a play maker in transfer J.Abdulai, who's scoring around 16 a game, but I can't overlook the fact that VCU has just owned J.M. the last couple years. Now VCU might be loaded with Freshmen, but they all have contributed nicely, but the key to this game is the guard combo at VCU, Maynor and Schuler are a 1-2 punch.

[Wrigley]

Play Detroit Pistons
Detroit: 9-0 ATS off BB covers as a favorite
Washington: 52-84 ATS as home underdog of 6 points or less

Play Charlotte Bobcats
Chicago: 13-24 ATS when the line is +3 to -3
Charlotte: 48-29 ATS revenging same season loss

[maestrobobcobb]

Selections for 1-2-08:
Drake -4.5 over So. Illinois: "Love The Drake" Salukis much better at home. last two road games were losses: Drake to cover the 4.5

UTEP -2 over New Mexico: UTEP 6-0 at home where as New Mexico's only two losses coming on the road UTEP to cover the two tonight

Thanks Good Luck To All

[LT Profits]

NBA Basketball

Wed 1/2 701 New Jersey Nets +6 Over 198˝
7:05PM (EST) 702 Orlando Magic -6 Under 198˝

Wed 1/2 703 Detroit Pistons -5 Over 193
7:05PM (EST) 704 Washington Wizards +5 Under 193

Wed 1/2 705 Chicago Bulls -1 Over 191˝
7:05PM (EST) 706 Charlotte Bobcats +1 Under 191˝

Wed 1/2 707 Atlanta Hawks +5 Over 184˝
7:05PM (EST) 708 Cleveland Cavaliers -5 Under 184˝

Wed 1/2 709 Memphis Grizzlies +6˝ Over 210˝
7:05PM (EST) 710 Indiana Pacers -6˝ Under 210˝

Wed 1/2 711 Houston Rockets +11˝ Over 180˝
7:35PM (EST) 712 Boston Celtics -11˝ Under 180˝

Wed 1/2 713 Milwaukee Bucks +3 Over 193
7:35PM (EST) 714 Miami Heat -3 Under 193

Wed 1/2 715 Sacramento Kings +3˝ Over 191
7:05PM (EST) 716 New York Knicks -3˝ Under 191

Wed 1/2 717 Portland Trailblazers -5 Over 192
8:05PM (EST) 718 Minnesota Timberwolves +5 Under 192 -110

Wed 1/2 719 Golden State Warriors +5˝ Over 213
8:35PM (EST) 720 Dallas Mavericks -5˝ Under 213

Wed 1/2 721 Philadelphia 76ers +9 Over 196
9:05PM (EST) 722 Utah Jazz -9 Under 196

Wed 1/2 723 New Orleans Hornets -4˝ Over 184
10:35PM (EST) 724 Los Angeles Clippers +4˝ Under 184


NCAA Basketball

Wed 1/2 725 George Mason -11˝
3:00PM (EST) 726 Georgia State +11˝

Wed 1/2 727 TCU +20
5:00PM (EST) 728 Texas -20

Wed 1/2 729 Houston U +5
7:00PM (EST) 730 Massachusetts -5

Wed 1/2 731 Va Commonwealth -3
7:00PM (EST) 732 James Madison +3

Wed 1/2 733 Delaware +6
7:00PM (EST) 734 William & Mary -6

Wed 1/2 735 Hofstra +14˝
7:00PM (EST) 736 Old Dominion -14˝

Wed 1/2 737 St John's +11˝
7:00PM (EST) 738 Syracuse -11˝

Wed 1/2 739 Rutgers +11˝
7:00PM (EST) 740 South Florida -11˝

Wed 1/2 741 Wisconsin -7˝
7:00PM (EST) 742 Michigan +7˝

Wed 1/2 743 Akron +6˝
7:00PM (EST) 744 Dayton -6˝

Wed 1/2 745 Creighton -3
7:00PM (EST) 746 Indiana State +3

Wed 1/2 747 Northeastern -2
7:00PM (EST) 748 Towson +2

Wed 1/2 749 Duquesne -6
7:00PM (EST) 750 Bowling Green +6

Wed 1/2 751 Portland U +6
7:00PM (EST) 752 Yale -6

Wed 1/2 753 South Alabama -9˝
7:00PM (EST) 754 Florida Atlantic +9˝

Wed 1/2 755 Middle Tenn State +15˝
8:00PM (EST) 756 Western Kentucky -15˝

Wed 1/2 757 NC Wilmington +3˝
7:00PM (EST) 758 Drexel -3˝
\
Wed 1/2 759 Pennsylvania +21
8:00PM (EST) 760 Miami Florida -21

Wed 1/2 761 LSU pk
9:00PM (EST) 762 Tulane pk

Wed 1/2 763 Kent State +20˝
8:00PM (EST) 764 North Carolina -20˝

Wed 1/2 765 Bradley +8˝
8:00PM (EST) 766 Missouri State -8˝

Wed 1/2 767 Evansville +12
8:00PM (EST) 768 Northern Iowa -12

Wed 1/2 769 Southern Illinois +4˝
8:00PM (EST) 770 Drake -4˝

Wed 1/2 771 Arkansas Little Rock +5
8:00PM (EST) 772 New Orleans U -5

Wed 1/2 773 San Jose State +12
9:00PM (EST) 774 Boise State -12

Wed 1/2 775 New Mexico +2 -110 +115
9:00PM (EST) 776 UTEP -2 -110 -135

Wed 1/2 777 Indiana U -10˝
9:00PM (EST) 778 Iowa +10˝

Wed 1/2 779 Penn State +1˝
9:00PM (EST) 780 Northwestern -1˝

Wed 1/2 781 UL Monroe +2
9:30PM (EST) 782 Denver U -2

Wed 1/2 783 New Mexico State -8˝
10:00PM (EST) 784 Idaho +8˝

Wed 1/2 785 Cal Riverside +15˝
10:00PM (EST) 786 Pacific -15˝

Wed 1/2 787 Eastern Kentucky +3˝
8:30PM (EST) 788 SE Missouri State -3˝

[The HG]

Indiana/Memphis over 210.5 - These guys are going to run all night long I think, it's a high number but I'll take it.

Sacramento/Knicks over 191 - I don't see a whole lot of D likely to be played here, I see it as more of a selfish/easy basket type of game.

[accuscoresucks]

orlando -vs- n.jersey
ORLANDO -6/orl avg 11 pts more per game and they are a 5 seed,against a 20 seed with home .advtg.
sacramento @ new york
SACRAMENTO +3.5/better paced by 4 pts per game brings more scoring situations,seed 8 places better than ny

[jeffries]

Grizzlies/Pacers OVER 210.5 - Both clubs put up high points. Indiana is Averaging a little over 103 ppg at Home and the Grizzlies are averaging around the same mark. Either this one is going to be very close to the 210 mark or its gonna be way over

Detroit Pistons -5, Washington +5 - Detroit definitly has the more talented roster here with guys who have been playing together as teammates for years. Detroit has very few turnovers per game, they have excellent defense and have already defeated the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics. This is something I don't believe the Wizards have the capability to do. My pick, Detroit -5

[Junkyard Dog]

719 Golden State Warriors +5˝ - gs knows how to win in big d, and are 19-7 after slow start at beginning of season.

779 Penn State +1˝ - claxton will have a big game, ps is the bigger more talented team.

[pavyracer]

Dayton -6.5

Is on a hot streak right now and will outrebound Akron at home due to better athletes and coach.

New Orleans -5

ALR does not play well away from home and New Orleans outside shooting and ferocious defense will be too much for ALR to keep up.

[pokernut9999]

Detroit -5 Pistons on a roll and may be the best team in the East. Dont like laying points on the road but if you do, Detroit is one to do it with.

Golden State +5.5 They are playing well after slow start and seem to have the Mavericks number.

[triplecrown]

duquesne-6 northeastern-2 i like duquesne with their talented offensive squad. i like northeastern to cover because to me their a far better team.

[Willie Bee]

Texas -20 vs. TCU
Hate laying this much chalk on anyone, but especially the Horns right now in their little funk at home in lined games, plus the fact they've yet to have a line this big to cover this season. On the other hand, TCU is not a good team at all and already were blown out on their home court by Oklahoma this year.

UTEP -2 vs. New Mexico
Love Steve Alford and the job he's doing and going to continue to do with the Lobos. But this is a big game for the Miners, should have an absolutely crazy home gym crowd this evening before traveling to play Bobby Knight and Tech this weekend. Would like to be in El Paso to see this one.

[HedgeHog]

Hou U +5: Winners of 10 straight. In fact, their only loss this year was by 1 point to VCU.


MO St -8.5: 6-0 at home. Also, Bradley comes in off three straight double-digit losses. MO St wins big here.

[sofos]

Orlando Magic -6
The Nets are in disarray. This is a play against them
714 Miami Heat -3
Milwakee on the road is hopeless.

[JT16]

T Wolves +5
The Portland line will get alot of square action. Alot of media attention has been coming their way and this line is set up for Portlland action.

Under Dallas/Golden State 213

Over is always popular especially in Golden State games. Lets see if Dallas learned their lesson and NOT run with them.

[20Four7]

Portland -5

Looking for them to get back on track after losing in Utah. Ride the streak they've had going with 13 and 3 ATS.

Bulls Under 191.5

Under is 4 and 1 in the last 5 meetings between these 2. Under is 11 and 4 in bobcats last 15 after a days rest.

[regularguy]

Drake -4.5
The Salukis have had trouble on the road, with losses to St. Louis and Western Michigan last month. They are ranked 340th in scoring on the road. Drake is ranked 21st in home defense. I expect Drake to be motivated to make a statement at home about their place in the MVC this year.

Boise State -12
Boise State has dominated San Jose State for years. In their last ten games, the Broncos are 10-0, 7-3 ATS. The Broncos are coming off an impressive win over BYU. This is their WAC opener. It’s a mismatch. San Jose State has improved a bit, but still has serious problems, especially on the road. They lost by 20 at San Diego, and I think they will lose by 20 at Boise State.

[kdmfox]

New Mexico +2 Allows 10 less points on defense than UTEP ... Has an abysmal record SU (1-4) and ATS (0-5) when playing at UTEP ... Going against conventional wisdom here.

Houston +5 ... Can't argue against 10 wins in a row ... Defense is 11 ppg better than UMass ... Taking the generous points.

[dizzyd]

Knicks -3.5 over Kings
Artest is out of this one and the Kings will struggle on the road without his energy and D.

Iowa +10.5 over Indiana
Indiana is the more talented team, but Iowa does play good D and should keep this one close. This is too many points for Indiana to be favored by going on the road in a confrence game.

[Crayzee]

indiana/memphis-over 210-1/2

dallas/gs-over 213

just because these are 200 + total lines

i go over on all 200+ nba games

[MJFtheGenius]

Golden ST +5.5
Warriors just matchup with the Mavs almost better then every team in the league. In the first meeting this season between the two team Mavs did beat the Warriors but Stephen Jackson did not play due to suspension. Stephen jackson is the MVP equally with baron Davis for this Warriors team and I expect the warriors to win outright.

Timberwolves +5
Timberwolves played the Blazers tough for 3 quarters at Portland. Blazers are a bad road and not even close to the level of play they perform at home. This one goes down to the wire because Portland will have problems scoring tongiht.

[Ballin]

Northeastern -2

While both teams record is exactly the same (4-7) the level of competition that each school has respectively played is on different ends of the spectrum. Northeastern has by far played a more difficult schedule giving some good teams all they could handle on the road. Meanwhile Towson lost their last home game
to Lafayette by 10 points. Northeastern is the better and more talented team and will prevail tonight.

Indiana -10.5

Indiana is finally starting to get healthy and Iowa on the other hand is just downright bad. Iowa has only shot above 50% from the field in just 1 game. Meanwhile IU has shot less than 45% from the field in only 1 game. IU will look to start conference play with a convincing road win versus a poorous Iowa team. I don't see this game all that close, if IU can go into Southern Illinois and beat a much better Saluki team by 13, they should have no problem disposing of the Hawkeyes tonight.

[EaglesPhan36]

UNC-Wilmington +3.5
Duquesne -6

Simple reasoning in both for me. Both teams have better offensive options vs. lesser teams.

[Data]

711 Houston Rockets +11˝
The Rockets are a good team that should not be receiving that many points. The line is inflated as the public loves the Celtics.

718 Minnesota Timberwolves +5
The line is inflated here as well. The Trailblazers have been hot but my numbers tell me they are not good. My take on them is that they have been lucky winning a few close games while their opponents were frequently missing key players.

[evilgenius]

celtics -11.5...no tmac and houston got ran out of the building by golden state by 20+ points...celtics are better then golden st.

over 213 in the gs/dallas...golden st scores more points when they play good teams and dallas and golden st have a new nba rivalry...may even go into overtime.

[bbyhill]

Golden State Warriors +5 1/2
Milwaukee Bucks +3

flipped a coin

[Mr KLC]

Wisconsin -7.5
In eight of the nine losses that Michigan has suffered ATS, they lost the FG% part of the game. In the last 5 games of each team, Wisconsin has shot 47.91% to Michigan's 41.10%. Throw in that Wisconsin opponents have shot 37.4% for the season, and you're looking at a long night for the Wolverines.

Chicago Bulls -1

Since Jim Boylan was formally made the interim haed coach, the Bulls have been 2-1 straight up and ATS. They have picked up the pace offensely and that has brought more energy and stronger rebounding. I think they are at the start of a roll and would probably look at taking the Over on this game also.

[awhitejackson]

Wisconsin -7.5....John Beileins Michigan team has not picked up on the finer points of his system but have suceeded in exploiting its weaknesses of streak shooting and terrible rebounds...Simply put Michigan cannot hang with any decent program this year.
Tulane -1... While both teams defenses allow mid 60's, the offense of Tulane scores average of 18 more points per game.. LSU Road trips have been terrible this year including a 20 pt loss to Witchita State in a game that was over in the first five minutes.. 5 star pick here

[juuso]

726 Georgia State +11˝

Altough 3-8, Georgia State has been playing decently with many close games. I like their chances of keeping this within 10 in a conferece game against George Mason.


Sacramento Kings / New York Knicks

Artest missing for Sacto should have more effect on their defense and having talented shooters, their best chance of winning this might be forcing uptempo game. Knicks are talented bunch, but have been very hard team to cap. They do have solid shooters and should have some success against sacto's defense. over 191 is not too big of a number to try here.

[harsh506]

Syracuse -11.5
The main point I like here is that Syracuse is scoring close to 90 points at home vs. a St.Johns team that puts down about 60 on the road.

Bucks +3
Miami cant play well with shaq,and j williams, I just dont believe they can keep the Bucks centers away/

[tevari]

Sacramento Kings +3 1/2 @ NY: Can't trust New York, even at home against a gimpy Kings squad. Sac's role players have been stepping up this season in Udrih, Garcia, and Mikki Moore.

Memphis Grizzlies +6 1/2 @ IND: Gay, Gasol, Miller & co should keep this one close against a Tinsley-less Pacers squad.

[indy62]

detroit -5...9-0 ats in last 9 chicago -1.... i will stay with the new coach theory