Sports Handicapper Jimmy Boyd's Picks & Predictions

3* NBA - Over/Under Total DESTROYER on Hornets/Bulls under 211½ -110

I just look for the Bulls and Hornets to have a difficult time scoring enough to eclipse the mark set by the books. These two of the worst offensive teams in the league in terms of efficiency. In fact, both are tied for the 26th worst mark in offensive efficiency for the season. 

Factor in the slow tempo that Charlotte likes to play at (ranks dead last in pace) and the laundry list of injuries that the Bulls are dealing with right now and it's just hard to see either offense doing a lot in this one. These two did just play a couple months ago (12/13) and that game finished with a mere 156 points, as Charlotte won 83-73. Take the UNDER! 

1* Free Pick on Stanford/Washington over 130

I'm confident the Cardinal and Huskies will eclipse the total tonight. These two combined for 116 points in an earlier meeting at Stanford (Jan. 9th), but the two couldn't have shot any worse. I think that result is giving us value. 

The Huskies were 20 of 52 (38.5%) from the field, 3 of 17 (17.6%) from 3 and 12 of 25 (48.0%) from the free throw line. The Cardinals were able to go 11 of 30 (36.7%) from 3, but were just 22-57 (38.6%) from the field and a mere 50% from the charity strike. 

I get these aren't two great offensive teams, but no way they both have that bad a night from the field. There's also reason to expect scoring. Both rank in the top half of the Pac-12 in tempo and are the two worst in offensive turnover pct. 

It's also worth noting both defenses aren't exactly in great form coming in. Stanford is giving up just 64.8 ppg in conference play, but are allowing 70 ppg over their last 5. Washington is giving up 74 ppg in their last 5 and they are only allowing 66.2 ppg in league games. Take the OVER! 

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4* NCAAB - Late Night Total NO-BRAINER on Santa Clara/BYU under 153½ -110

I really like the value with the UNDER in tonight's WCC action that has Santa Clara visiting Provo to take on the Cougars. There's going to be some scoring in this one, but nothing like what the number is suggesting. 

Santa Clara is a team that is prone to foul trouble. They are 9th out of 10 in the WCC in defensive foul rate. Good news for them is BYU is the worst in the conference at getting to the free throw line and it's not close. When the Broncos have faced similar teams who struggle to get to the line, the games have been much lower scoring than anticipated. UNDER is 8-1 in Santa Clara's last 9 vs a team that's attempting 18 or fewer free throws a game at least 15+ games into the season. 

Santa Clara also doesn't figure to score a ton in this one. The Broncos only average 67.5 ppg on the road, where they are shooting a miserable 40% from the field. In their last two games they failed to score more than 61 points. Take the UNDER! 

3* NCAAB - Over/Under Total ANNIHILATOR on Ohio State/Iowa over 143 -105

I like the value with the OVER between Ohio State and Iowa. The Hawkeyes are coming off an extremely low-scoring game by their standards, as they won 58-55 at Minnesota on Sunday. The previous low for points scored by Iowa on the season was 67 in a win over Maryland.

As for the defense allowing 55, that's just not who the Hawkeyes are. Iowa is giving up 75 ppg in Big Ten play. I just think with the way the Hawks like to push the tempo and the likelihood that they shoot well at home, this thing is going to approach 150 points. 

Ohio State should definitely score. Buckeyes are an excellent 3-point shooting team (No. 1 Big Ten) and Iowa gives up a ton of good looks from deep. The Hawks also offer little resistance inside. OVER is 4-1 in Iowa's last 5 vs a team that's won more than 60% of their games and 14-6 in Buckeyes last 20 vs a team with a winning record. Take the OVER! 

5* NCAAB - Big Ten Total PLAY OF THE MONTH on Michigan State/Nebraska over 151 -110

This might seem like a big total for what figures to be a lopsided matchup between the Cornhuskers and Spartans. I don't think it's high enough. I look for these two to fly past the number. 

I don't care how bad Michigan State is playing coming into this game, they aren't going to lose this game because they can't score. Nebraska just gave up 81 on their home floor to Wisconsin, who likes to play at a snails pace. In their last 5 games the Cornhuskers are giving up 80.8 ppg. A lot of that is bad defense, but it's part of the pace they like to play at, as they lead the Big Ten in tempo. 

I know Nebraska's offense isn't great and Michigan State's defense is one of the top units in the Big Ten. I just don't see the Spartans being 100% locked in defensively with how easy it will be for them to score and just how much more talented they are. These two played last March to a combined score of 167 in a 91-76 Spartans win. I could see something similar here. Take the OVER!