Sports Handicapper Tom Macrina's Picks & Predictions

The line is likely to keep moving in favor of the New York Knicks, and for good reason—they're the clear side to back here at -11.5.
The Knicks have been dominant in spots like this: they're 4-1 ATS (80%) in their last 5 games against teams ranked in the bottom 10 for scoring defense. New York is playing excellent basketball overall, going 9-1 ATS and 9-1 straight up in their last 10 games, showcasing strong form at both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers are struggling badly, especially on the road. Their road record this season is dismal, and they've been particularly poor in extended away stints. The Pacers have dropped their last 4 games overall and failed to cover in their last 3. They're currently in the midst of a grueling 6 game road trip, with NBA All-Star Weekend (February 13-15 in Los Angeles) interrupting the schedule—adding fatigue, travel disruption, and potential roster distractions.
This matchup pits a surging, well rested home favorite against a depleted, road weary underdog. The Knicks momentum, defensive edge against poor offenses, and home court advantage at Madison Square Garden make them a strong play to cover.
Take Knicks -11.5

The North Carolina Tar Heels enter Tuesday's road matchup against the Miami Hurricanes riding excellent momentum. UNC has won their last five games straight, including a dramatic last second victory over rival Duke, showcasing their ability to close out tight contests and maintain focus in big ACC battles.
As favorites, the Tar Heels have been highly reliable lately: they've gone 11-2 straight-up in their last 13 games when favored (an impressive 84.6% win rate). While their against-the-spread (ATS) performance is more middle-of-the-pack overall (around 56% covers this season based on recent trends), they remain a solid team in favorable spots, particularly when carrying recent winning form.
In contrast, the Miami Hurricanes are showing clear signs of vulnerability on the ATS front. They've struggled to cover in recent outings, going just 2-6 ATS over their last eight games. At home in conference play, the issues are even more pronounced—they're 0-5 ATS in their last five ACC home games, failing to cover despite some outright wins. Miami is coming off a victory but has failed to cover in their last three games and in five of their last six opportunities overall, indicating they're often falling short against the number even when competitive.
This sets up a favorable spot for UNC to extend their streak with a road win. The Tar Heels current surge and historical success as favorites outweigh Miami's recent inability to cover, especially in Watsco Center conference tilts.
Best play: Take UNC -115