Sports Handicapper Alex Smart's Picks & Predictions

My College basketball selections are indepthly researched with no stone left unturned in bringing long term winning selections to my clients. Injury reports, trends, coaching tendencies, systems, matchup discrepancies , as well as line movement and mathematical line advantages are all used to make an intelligent well thought out investment decision.

With Raptors getting healthy and Kyle Lowry back in the lineup and active the Raptors are a dangerous side to face at home where they have lost only one game this season, and that was in OT. Meanwhile, the Rockets despite of being explosive offensively are ranked 25th in ppg allowed and that just wont get it done 4 out of 5 times against a top tier defensive team like the Raptors that ranked 5th in defensive efficiency in the league and have been hard on opposing teams top scorers like Harden. 

Houston lost last time out in a high scoring affair, and are just is 3-12 ATS after a combined score of 245 points or more over the last 2 seasons.

NBA Road teams vs. the money line (HOUSTON) - off an upset loss as a road favorite, a good team (60% to 75%) playing a team with a winning record are 12-43 SU L/5 seasons for a go against  77% conversion rate for bettors.

Play on the Toronto Raptors to cover 

The Philadelphia 76ers Im betting will grab their fifth straight win when they visit the banged-up Washington Wizards on Thursday night.Philadelphia has won eight of its last nine tilts overall and are off a 103-94 win over the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center. We all know the Wizards run and gun with wreckless abandon, and because of that their defence is always vulnerable. Tonight Im betting the Sixers 4th ranked D, will slow the Wizards flow down which will put the Wizards at a further disadvantage as the Sixers capable offence does more than enough damage to get us the cover.  

Play on Philadelphia to cover 

My College basketball selections are indepthly researched with no stone left unturned in bringing long term winning selections to my clients. Injury reports, trends, coaching tendencies, systems, matchup discrepancies , as well as line movement and mathematical line advantages are all used to make an intelligent well thought out investment decision.

OU leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage, making 76.6% of its shots from the foul stripe. Im betting we see North Texas  in constant foul trouble as this game progresses and for the Sooners to make them pay through their strong conversion rates, which will help buoy this combined score over the total. I know North Texas has played terffic D, but against this Big 12 foe Im betting their numbers will get corroded. 

 Play OVER 

The Gaels offensive rating is 15 points higher than the Huskies (117.9. )which ranks then fifth in the country. They also rank 5th in the country in shooting percentage at 61.5 percent and simply outgun N.Illinois by a value margin. In N,Illinois's only really test this season they lost by 17 to Iowa State , and Im betting they will be lucky  to keep this under 20 points margin. 

Play on St.Marys Gaels to cover 

The  Northern Illinois Huskies are 152nd in the nation in offensive rating with 102.7 and are 200th in pace of play in the country with 70.1 possessions per 40 minutes. They will once again look to grind it out vs a top teir Gaels side, that is not stranger to physical  defensive minded basketball, as only 1 of their 8 opponents this season have eclipsed the 66 point plateau against them. My own projections estimate that the visiting Huskies  will not breach the 60 point plateau, while their own defence grinds this game down into a sleepy affair that remains on the low side of the total. 

ST MARYS-CA is 29-8 UNDER  after 4 straight games forcing opponent to commit 14 or less turnovers over the last 3 seasons.ST MARYS-CA is 20-8 UNDER (as a home favorite of 12.5 to 15 points with a combined average of 127 ppg scored.

Play UNDER 

The Bruins  enter this game with a great W/L record by have a 45.6% expected goals rate at 5-on-5 and they are converting  at below 50% on the season. Recently in their L/5 games, the Bruins are scoring 3.6 gpg while allowing an average of just 1 gpg. Its their defence that makes them the top tier team they are and nothing will change tonight as they look to suffocate the visiting Blackhawks, as side that has averaged just 1.8 gpg in their L/5 overall. With Chicago trying to get out of a recent 3 game slide, Im betting they will also play conservatively out of transition against a dangerous opponent. Note:CHICAGO is 8-0 UNDER  after 2 or more consecutive losses this season.CHICAGO is 7-1 UNDER (+6.2 Units) off a home loss this season with a combined average of 5 gpg scored. 

Exhausted BOSTON is 7-1 UNDER  when playing their 4th game in 7 days this season with a combined average of 4.6 gpg scored. 

Play UNDER 

Both these teams are struggling , but the more desperate and fresher side New Orleans is on a 6 game losing streak, and now have an opponent that my power rankings suggest they can handle as was the case when they went into Phoenix Nov 21st and came out with a 124-121 victory.Im betting on a  Rinse and repeat situation tonight in the Bayou vs a Suns side on tired legs after playing last night in Orlando. 

Suns are 2-7 ATS in the last 9 meetings. Pelicans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.

NBA teams where the line is +3 to -3 (PHOENIX) - after going over the total by more than 18 points in their previous game against opponent after going under the total by 54 or more points total in their last ten game are 14-36 ATS L/5 seasons for a go against 72% conversion rate for bettors.

NBA Road underdogs (PHOENIX) - after a road game where both teams score 100 or more points, with a winning percentage of between 40-49% on the season are 78-130 ATS L/5 seasons for a go against 62% conversion rate for bettors. 

Play on New Orleans to cover 

GOALTENDERS: MINNESOTA - ALEX STALOCK, TAMPA BAY - ANDREI VASILEVSKIY

Dallas is. strange team, as they are only 6-6 on the season, but rank high in both offence and defensive numbers, and have out-gained all their opponents but one this season. This team just does not know how to win consistently and can't be trusted to come out here and perform at a high level as road chalk vs a Bears team finally starting to up trend with 3 wins in their L/4 games. Value resides with the home dog. 

Cowboys are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 Thursday games.Cowboys are 5-12-2 ATS in their last 19 games in Week 14.

Garrett is 8-18 ATS  versus poor rushing teams - averaging 90 or less rushing yards/game as the coach of DALLAS.

Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in December.

NFL Favorites (DALLAS) - with a poor turnover defense - forcing 1 or less turnovers/game, after 3 consecutive games with a turnover margin of -1 or worse are 9-28 ATS L/10 seasons for a go against 76% conversion rate for bettors.

Play on the Chicago Bears to cover