Jim Feist – Sports Handicapper

 The Minnesota Timberwolves look to keep their heads above the .500 mark tonight as they play at Golden State. The Wolves are 24-23 overall both S/U and ATS. They have won two straight games including last game at Portland, 109-107 as a 3-point favorite. The Wolves are just 1-3 vs the spread their last four games and 2-5 ATS their last seven games. The Warriors have the second best record in the NBA at 35-13 S/U and 27-21 ATS. They have won three straight games including last time out vs Dallas, 130-92. The Warriors do well in the role of the favorite, going 16-7-1 their last 24 games. The Warriors have covered their last four in this series with the Timberwolves and I'll take them here again tonight. Play Golden State.

 The Lakers look to get above the .500 mark here tonight at Philadelphia. The Lakers are playing their fourth road game in a row and are 2-1 both S/U and ATS thus far after their win at Brooklyn on Tuesday, 106-96 as a 4-point favorite. The Lakers look to be fully healthy tonight as F Anthony Davis is probable with a knee injury. The Philadelphia 76ers are 28-19 on the season and 23-24 vs the spread. The Sixers have won two straight including last time over New Orleans, 117-107 as a 11-point favorite. They have covered just two of their last five games. The Sixers are also 8-13 ATS at home this season. I'll take the points with a healthy Lakers team tonight.

 Big 10 action has Purdue taking on Iowa tonight. The Purdue Boilermakers are 16-3 on the season and 10-9 vs the spread. Purdue has won four of their last five games including last time out over Northwestern, 80-60 as a 12-point home favorite. The Iowa Hawkeyes are 14-5 S/U on the season and 12-7 vs the spread. They are coming off a win at home over Penn State, 68-51 as a 10.5-point favorite. This will be the second meeting between these teams with Purdue taking the Dec 3rd meeting at home, 77-70 but failing to cover the 13-point line. Much more manageable line here tonight with Purdue laying 2-points. I'll take the visitors in this game.

The Rice Owls look to rebound from their loss last game at home to Charlotte, 64-67 as a 4.5-point favorite. The owls had won four of their last five games before that setback. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are 15-4 S/U and 10-5-1 ATS on the season. They are 10-1 at home and 4-3-1 ATS. The Bulldogs are coming off a loss at home to UAB, 76-83 as a 1-point favorite. That loss snapped a seven game win streak. They also have covered eight of their last 10 games. Big line though here tonight as Rice getting around 10-points. I'll take the big number here tonight with the visitors.

The East Carolina Pirates are 11-7 S/U on the season and 10-8 vs the spread. The Pirates have lost two straight games and four of their last five. However, as a dog in each of their last six games they have covered four of those contests. The Pirates are also 2-1 ATS as a road dog this year. The Memphis Tigers are 10-8 S/U and 5-12-1 vs the number. The Tigers are coming off a win at Tulsa, 83-81, but failed to cover the 3-point favorite line. That makes six straight games they have failed to cover the spread. They are also 4-10-1 ATS their last 15 games. Memphis has had issues covering spreads, yet here they are a double digit favorite. I'll take those points with East Carolina.

The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles look to rebound from their loss last Saturday to North Dakota State, 71-72 as a 7-point home favorite. That loss snapped a six game winning streak. The Eagles are 11-6 ATS on the season. They are 0-4 S/U and 2-2 ATS as an away dog this season. The Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks are 3-17 S/U and looking to snap a five game losing streak here tonight. They have done better vs the spread with a 4-2 ATS their last six games. Their three wins have come at home where they are also 5-4 vs the spread. Omaha getting around 13-points at home is a lot for a road team to lay. Especially when Omaha has proved they can cover spreads. I'll take the generous points with Nebraska Omaha.

The Nashville Predators have climbed into 2nd place in the NHL Western Conference with 57 points. They trail first place Colorado by 6-spoints. The Predators have won three straight games and are 6-3-1 their last 10 games. The Predators are coming off a win at Seattle, 4-2. The Edmonton Oilers have just 42 points and currently sit 11th in the West. They have won two games in a row including their last game at Vancouver, 3-2. The Oilers have won the last four in this series and the home teams is 4-1 the last five. Good value here with the Oilers tonight. Play Edmonton.