Sports Handicapper Jimmy Boyd's Picks & Predictions

3* NBA Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE on Hornets -

Easy play here on Charlotte at basically a pick'em at home. I think we are getting big time value here with the Hornets because of the fact that the Kings come in having won and covered 3 straight, including a win and cover against these very Hornets on their home floor. 

Charlotte won at San Antonio, but finished up their 6-game road trip at 2-4. I think whenever a team struggles on a long trip, they end up showing some decent value in their first game back home. Add in the revenge angle here and I not only like the Hornets to cover, but I got them winning this game in a blowout. 

Kings are just 1-4 ATS last 5 road games vs a team with a winning home record and Kings head coach Dave Joerger is a mere 44-68 ATS last 112 when working on 2 or more consecutive wins. Take Charlotte! 

4* NCAAB Big West GAME OF THE WEEK on Riverside +

The Highlanders showing big time value here as a double-digit dog at Cal State-Fullerton. Riverside is 0-2 in Big West action, but have covered the spread in both games, including a cover as a double-digit dog at US-Santa Barbara last time out. 

Going back to last season the Highlanders are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs conference opponents and have gone 3-0-1 ATS last 4 off a SU loss. The Titans have no business laying this many points. Last time out they lost at home by 17 as a mere 3.5-point dog to UC-Irvine. That's after losing by 11 as a 3-point dog at Hawaii. Fullerton is 2-8 ATS last 10 overall, 1-4 ATS last 5 at home and 1-6 ATS last 7 off a loss. Take UC-Riverside! 

4* NCAAB Situational VEGAS INSIDER on Manhattan +

We are getting a great price here on the Jaspers in Thursday's road slate at St. Peter's. It's been a rough go for Manhattan, who is just 3-13 on the season and 1-3 in league play, but it's not been a whole lot better for the Peacocks, who have won a mere 5 games. 

Road team has had the edge in this series, covering 4 of the last 5 and the Jaspers are a red-hot 6-1 in their last 7 trips to St. Peter's. Last year they won 68-57 as a very similarly priced 5.5-point dog. Take Manhattan! 

3* NCAAB No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT on Omaha -

The Mavericks should have no problem leaving Western Illinois with a win, making them an easy play for me as a small road favorite. Nebraska-Omaha comes in with a respectable 9-8 record and are off to a 3-1 start in league play. 

The Mavericks are an offensive force to say the least. Omaha has scored at least 83 points in 7 straight games, eclipsing 90 in each of their last 2. the Leathernecks are giving up 79.6 ppg and allowing teams to shoot 51.1% from the floor in their 1-4 start to conference play. Western Illinois simply doesn't have the offensive fire-power to keep it close. Take Nebraska-Omaha! 

5* NCAAB Vegas NO LIMIT Top Play on Towson +

This series has been dominated by the road dog. The road team has covered 8 of the last 12 and the underdog has cashed in 11 of the last 17. Towson is 4-1-1 in their last 6 trips to Drexel. I not only like them to keep it within the number, but I think the Tigers win this game outright. 

Thees are two of the worst teams in the Colonial Athletic and there's just not any home court edge for a team like the Dragons. One area where Towson should have a big edge is on the boards. Tigers are outrebounding opponents by an average of 6/game. Dragons are 2-9 ATS last 11 games vs a team that averages +4 or better rebound margin and have lost these game by an average of 10 points. Take Towson! 

5* NCAAB Heavy Hitter GAME OF THE MONTH on James Madison +

The Dukes should have no problem covering the small number here at Delaware, as I got them winning this game outright. James Madison comes in off two strong games, as they beat Towson 74-65 as a 4-point favorite and won 69-58 at home against College of Charleston as a 8.5-point dog. 

As for the Blue Hens, they just lost at College of Charleston by 13, snapping their 4-game win streak. I look for Delaware to struggle again here, as they are just 5-15 ATS last 20 at home after going 4-1 in their previous 5 games.

The Dukes are also 9-3 ATS in their last 12 vs a quality team that's won more than 60% of their games and 8-2 ATS last 10 on the road after playing 3 or more consecutive games at home. Take James Madison! 

1* Free NBA Pick on Los Angeles Lakers +10

I like the value here getting double-digits with the Lakers. LA comes in off a much-needed win at home against the Bulls, as the Lakers have not played great since James went down. They have played hard and I think that effort can at least keep them in the game against a struggling Thunder team. 

Something clearly isn't right with OKC. The Thunder just lost by 16 at Atlanta as a 10.5-point favorite, giving up 142 points in the process. OKC is now 1-4 in their last 5, which includes home losses to both the Timberwolves and Wizards. 

You might be thinking the Thunder are primed for a bounce back performance after that ugly loss to the Hawks. However, OKC is a mere 1-9 ATS over the last 2 seasons when coming off a loss as a double-digit favorite. Lakers are also 21-9 ATS in their last 30 after failing to cover the spread in two straight games. Take Los Angeles!