Michael Alexander - Sports Handicapper

Rating: 2 Units

Sacramento State is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. While Idaho State is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 Monday games, 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall, and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Rating: 2 Units

Seems best not to be “that guy” who insists on stepping in front of Baylor, 30-4 SU when favored at home the last two-plus seasons. They’re scoring more, giving up fewer, than the Jayhawks. As noted here recently, can’t trust KU’s David McCormack to step up inside on a consistent basis, especially against the conference’s best

Rating: 2 Units

The two West Division rivals begin a back-to-back series in Las Vegas on Monday night that concludes on Wednesday night. Then it's off to Glendale, Ariz., where they play another back-to-back on Friday night and Sunday afternoon to end the four-game stretch. Both teams opened the season without a regulation loss in their first series. Arizona rallied to score a pair of goals in the final 3:30 of its opener to force overtime with visiting San Jose and gain a point in an eventual 4-3 shootout loss and then rebounded behind a pair of Phil Kessel goals and 31 saves by Antti Raanta to defeat the Sharks, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon. Vegas swept its two games with visiting Anaheim, but it wasn't easy. They scored three consecutive goals in the third period to win their opener, 5-2, and following that with a 2-1 overtime victory Saturday night. Consider that Vegas is 2-7 in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.

Rating: 2 Units

The large mass of human form resembling James Harden will encounter more defensive resistance than it did in its Nets’ debut vs. Orlando on Saturday. Bucks have had two off-days before coming in and have not been dealing with many personnel absences.

Rating: 2 Units

Spurs have long had problems in this building. Popovich seems to use it as a place to rest guys, test out new lineups, let somebody else coach (he’ll get himself ejected). Weird.

NBA Game of the Week

It’s a great “situation” for the T’Wolves, although they are the type of team that tends to not take advantage. The Hawks were out West last week, return home with only one day in between their 6-point loss at Portland (taking +5) and this assignment, for which they don’t even get a break with a night-time tip. It’s 2:35 pm, ET! Are we feeling a bit sluggish today? The T’Wolves haven’t played since Thursday night at home against Memphis. They figure to be the fresher and more in sync side, because if recently injured and absent Hawks come back for this, they may need a game under their belts before re-jelling with their mates (actually, with so many new players, they haven’t originally jelled yet). Atlanta is a mere 13-15 SU – that’s straightup -- when favored the last two-plus seasons. T’Wolves have a built-in excuse for blowing this, with Towns out again, and probably Juancho Hermangomez and Ricky Rubio, too. But their 0-5 SU road record has been compiled vs. Utah, LA Clippers and Lakers, Denver and Portland. All winners. So, if they don’t come through for us, then we can just hate on them and insult them and win some other games starting tomorrow.

Rating: 2 Units

Home invasion situation with the Magic having been in god-forsaken New York since Friday, where they competed well against Brooklyn on Saturday but were victimized by a large mass of human form who resembled James Harden, swishing threes from way downtown. The Magic have their issues and obstacles but they have been waiting for the Knicks to arrive so they can take well-prepped advantage of losing-streaking New York playing the second of back-to-backs, road to home.