Wednesday NBA: Nuggets (35-17) at Magic (38-12)

Two teams with NBA title hopes but generally regarded as the No. 3 team in their respective conference meet Wednesday in Orlando, with the Magic opening as 7.5-point favorites over the Denver Nuggets on WagerWeb.com.

Orlando certainly will have the rest advantage, having not played since beating the Nets on Sunday. Denver is in the midst of a three-week road trip and won 99-82 at Miami on Tuesday night.

After being blown out at home by the Magic 106-88 on Jan.17, the Nuggets have won eight of their past 11 and are in first place in the Northwest Division. Star Carmelo Anthony missed that first game with Orlando with a metacarpal fracture in his right hand. Hedo Turkoglu had 31 points in that one, and Dwight Howard had 20 rebounds.

And in that first game the Magic had All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson, which won’t be the case tonight. Orlando is 2-2 without Nelson since he went down with a shoulder injury (that second loss includes the game in which he was hurt) that likely will cost him the season. The bad news for Orlando is that some opposing point guards have had big nights against the Magic with Nelson out, including the Pacers’ T.J. Ford (21 points) and New Jersey’s Devin Harris (28 points).

Denver point guard Chauncey Billups terrorized the Magic when with the Pistons; he was probably the main reason Detroit ousted Orlando from the playoffs in back-to-back years. In January the Magic held Billups to 18 points on just 6 of 17 from the field. But he could have a big night against new Magic starter Anthony Johnson.

“Chauncey is an all-star-caliber point guard,” Johnson said. “He’s a guy of size and is able to post up a little bit. One thing I want to do is try to make it as uncomfortable as possible for him.”

Billups had 23 points and five assists in the win over the Heat on Tuesday. However, Denver has lost 15 consecutive games in Orlando and is 2-18 all-time there. The Magic have won seven of the last eight meetings by at least nine points.

“I don’t have that answer (why), other than they are a good team,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “I think most of the time we have played back-to-backs. And I think every organization kind of has their nightmare city.”

Howard has 16 straight double-doubles and has scored at least 30 points in two of Orlando’s last three home games.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Southeast.
* Nuggets are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Nuggets are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Nuggets are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 0 days rest.
* Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
* Nuggets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Magic are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Northwest.
* Magic are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
* Home team is 11-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Orlando.
* Nuggets are 5-12 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
* Nuggets are 0-8 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Orlando.

NBA Betting at WagerWeb.com

Wednesday NCAA: Syracuse (18-6) at Connecticut (22-1)

Hard to imagine Syracuse upsetting top-ranked and red-hot Connecticut on Monday night, as the Orange enter having won just two of their past seven games, while the Huskies have won 11 in a row.

UConn has opened as an 11.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com.

Syracuse’s lone victories in the past month have been against skidding Notre Dame and average West
Virginia, both in the Carrier Dome. Plus the Orange have allowed more than 100 points in two of the past three games, a 100-94 loss to Providence and a 102-85 loss to Villanova on Saturday. In coach Jim Boeheim’s first 32 years, his teams have allowed 100 or more points just seven times. And the Orange have lost four in a row on the road.

Still, the Orange do have a great backcourt in Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf. They combined combined for 43 of the squad’s 85 points against Nova. Devendorf has four straight 20-point games, the longest streak of 20-point games in his career. The Orange average 78.5 points in Big East play, second only to Marquette, and shoot a conference-best 38.3 percent on threes

“They can put points on the board, I think, faster than anybody in this league,” Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said of SU’s fast pace. “I don’t want us to get caught in that type of game. Syracuse, in a [ratty] game, is the best team in the league. … We’re not as an explosive team as Syracuse, and we’re going to try to make sure it doesn’t become that kind of game.”

Connecticut comes in off a 69-61 over Michigan. Senior forward Jeff Adrien had tallied nine points and 14 rebounds against the Wolverines to become the fifth player in Connecticut history to reach 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Hasheem Thabeet scored 17 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and had six blocks. It was the 11th double-double of the season for Thabeet, averaging 13.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 blocks. Thanks to Thabeet, UConn is among the nation’s leaders in rebound margin (+9.0) and blocked shots (7.3).

The Huskies have outscored their opponents at home by an average margin of 22.1 points.

The Huskies are the first top-ranked team the Orange has faced since it defeated then-No.1 Connecticut, 86-84, in overtime on its way to the 2006 Big East Tournament title. The Orange have actually won three of the last five meetings since the Big East tournament and are 17-16 all-time in games played on the Huskies’ home floor.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Orange are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Wednesday games.
* Orange are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Orange are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Orange are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Orange are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big East.
* Orange are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Orange are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
* Orange are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Huskies are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Big East.
* Huskies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
* Huskies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Huskies are 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Huskies are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games.
* Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Connecticut.
* Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.
* Favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
* Orange are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Connecticut.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com

Sean Avery back in hockey but not a Ranger … yet

Loudmouth but talented Sean Avery is back on the ice, having been assigned to Hartford of the AHL by the Dallas Stars, who have long said they won’t be taking Avery back after his infamous “sloppy seconds” comment and subsequent suspension.

The New York Rangers have long been mentioned as the team that would allow Avery to return to the league, and Hartford is the Rangers’ AHL affiliate. Avery, who cleared waivers on Monday and has the rest of this season and three more years remaining on his $15.5 million contract, could eventually be recalled and pass through waivers again.

The Stars would still be committed to half his salary, and the Rangers, or any club below the Rangers in the standings, could claim Avery and pay the other half. The Stars could still try to trade him, although that market has few suitors and they would likely have to agree to eat some of his salary. Or Avery could spend the rest of the season in the minors and the Stars could buy him out.

“Dallas has given me a great opportunity to come and play here right now,” Avery said at the Wolf Pack’s practice facility Tuesday. “I’m just worrying about today and happy that I’m back playing. That’s the important thing.”

The Stars don’t have a minor-league affiliate and had to find one to take Avery. It’s no coincidence that was a Rangers’ affiliate.

“Sean and the Dallas Stars approached me looking for an American Hockey League team for him to resume playing, and I am happy to provide him with the opportunity to continue his career,” Rangers General Manager Glen Sather said. “Sean was a good player for the Rangers during his time here and has worked extremely hard off the ice over the last two months. He remains under contract to and property of the Stars, therefore, any further comment would be inappropriate.”

Avery hasn’t played since his NHL suspension in December for making a crude remark about other hockey players dating his former girlfriends. He completed treatment in a league counseling program last weekend. He spent part of two seasons with the Rangers before signing with Dallas.

“Sean’s a good hockey player. He can help anybody he plays for, there’s no question about that,” Rangers coach Tom Renney said. “This is a guy who could play and was a great teammate, and was always there for his teammates and laid it on the line every single night. How could you not admire that?”

Avery had three goals and seven assists in 23 games this year and was a plus-2 for Dallas.

NHL Betting at WagerWeb.com

How will A-Rod react this season to steroid mess?

The circus comes to Tampa in a little more than a week, and I don’t mean Ringling Bros. No, I mean Yankee spring training and all the fuss that will no doubt be surrounding Alex Rodriguez.

I’m sure you know by now that A-Rod has admitted taking performance-enhancers from 2001-2003 while with the Texas Rangers. He swears he has been clean since and has asked fans and history to judge him on his production before and after that stretch of years.

While he averaged almost 55 home runs and 139 RBIs during his first two seasons with the Rangers, Rodriguez claimed the first of his three American League MVP awards after the 2003 campaign, when he hit .298 with 47 homers and 118 RBIs.

On Tuesday, the Baseball Writers Association of America said it wouldn’t attempt to take that 2003 MVP back. In addition. Congress won’t be going after him either.

Most seem to think A-Rod did the right thing by admitting he did cheat in that interview with Peter Gammons. Guys like Jason Giambi (sort of) and Andy Pettitte both apologized and both were basically forgiven by the masses. But A-Rod is a different breed here, because everyone thought he was the savior from Barry Bonds holding the home run record.

Many fellow major leaguers have supported A-Rod’s decision to fall on his sword, while fellow Yankee Derek Jeter said Tuesday he wasn’t going to address the issue until the Yankees reported for spring training in Tampa next week.

“I’m not addressing Alex’s situation until everybody’s here,” the Yankee captain said. “If you’ve got baseball questions, I’ll do that. “You know where I’m coming from, right? I don’t want to talk to you guys today and have three more people show up tomorrow. It’s better to get everyone together.”

Rodriguez and the rest of New York’s position players must report to spring training by next Tuesday. Pitchers and catchers are due in Friday.

Frankly, Jeter looks even better right now among the Yankee faithful, although no one is above suspicion any longer.

So what does this mean to the 2009 Yankees, who are the +225 World Series favorites on WagerWeb.com?

Well, they aren’t going to try to get out of that contract with Rodriguez, and he won’t be disciplined by Major League Baseball. So on the field, on the surface, nothing changes.

But it was ego that drove A-Roid to choose to take steroids, and I believe it will be that same ego that pushes him to a huge season. He wants, needs to be loved by everyone. Well, that’s not going to be the case any longer, but he can put the first major imprint on the new Yankee Stadium. So he will turn to his numbers this season and going forward – clean numbers – to regain the respect of the fans and his peers. Yes, his postseason record hints that he doesn’t succeed under pressure, but I think this focuses him that much more during the season.

MLB Betting at WagerWeb.com

Mets’ Santana likely out of WBC

As of right now, Venezuela is a decent long-shot bet on WagerWeb.com to win next month’s World Baseball Classic, but those odds (currently +1000) are likely to go up a bit now that presumed staff ace Johan Santana won’t be participating.

Santana told The New York Post that he plans to decline an invitation to pitch for his native Venezuela in the upcoming tournament at the request of the Mets, who want to be careful with his recovery.

“I’ll do what they ask me to do,” Santana said Monday after a conditioning workout at the Mets’ spring-training complex in Florida. “I just want to get ready for the season.”

Santana underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Oct. 1 to repair a torn meniscus, four days after a great outing against the Marlins during the second-to-last game of the 2008 season. He shut out Florida on three hits to allow New York to avoid elimination for a day. That start was on three days’ rest — rather than the normal four days — after throwing a career-high 125 pitches in his previous start. The left-hander’s knee had become an issue earlier in September.

Santana’s first season in the National League produced a 16-7 record, the lowest ERA (2.53) in the NL, an NL-high innings total of 234 1/3 and a third-place finish in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

He threw 18 pitches off a mound Tuesday for the first time since that surgery. Santana said he plans to follow that on Thursday with his first official bullpen session, a 25-30 pitch outing.

After Tuesday’s outing, he still held out hope of playing in the WBC.

“Right now I’m playing. But again, I haven’t talked to Omar (GM Omar Minaya) personally. I think it’s coming up this weekend. So it’s about getting together, seeing where we are and gong from there. I would love to play but I’m not going to go against any decisions that they take. I’m an employee here,” he said.

No way Minaya lets him go. Mets camp will be missing several stars because of the WBC. Among Among the Mets scheduled to play in the WBC are David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and new closer Frankie Rodriguez.

MLB Betting at WagerWeb.com

Tuesday NCAA: Florida (19-4) at Kentucky (16-7)

Despite having lost three games in a row, Kentucky can jump into a first-place tie in the SEC East by beating Florida on Tuesday night in Lexington.

The Wildcats are 4.5-point home favorites on WagerWeb.com.

Frankly, no one wants to take charge in the entire SEC, which remains without a ranked team. UK looked like it might be that team before losses to Mississippi, South Carolina and Mississippi State – not exactly the best teams in the conference. Florida, meanwhile, has played just twice since Jan. 31.

The Gators (+165 on the WagerWeb.com money line) have won seven of the past eight meetings between the two schools but lost the last meeting 75-70 last March in Lexington. The home team has covered in the past four.

As long as UF is defensively strong on two players tonight, it should win. Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks (28.4) and forward Patrick Patterson (16.1) are scoring 44.5 points per league game. The rest of the team is only adding an averaging of 27.5 points per outing. Meeks broke the Kentucky single game record by scoring 54 points against Tennessee on Jan. 13.

In last Tuesday’s 66-57 home loss to Mississippi State, Meeks and Patterson combined for 52.6 percent of the scoring, tallying 15 points each. The rest of the team hit just 9 of 32 shots. In last week’s 78-77 home defeat to South Carolina, the duo combined for 62.3 percent of the scoring.

“If they sag off me or sag off some other guys, we still have to find a way to help Jodie and Patrick,” point guard Michael Porter said.

A loss tonight would be crushing for Kentucky. Frankly, it would put the nation’s all-time winningest program in serious jeopardy of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991.

Perhaps most significantly, a loss would be Kentucky’s fourth straight in conference play, matching the second-longest slide in the team’s decorated history. Three of those losses would have come at Rupp Arena, where Kentucky was unbeaten during league play last season.

“We’ve got to understand, we’re going to get Kentucky’s best effort,” UF coach Billy Donovan said. “They’re going to play their best game of the year. That’s how we’ve got to approach it.”

Florida has been a one-man show in many games, with sophomore point guard Nick Calathes running the offense and leading the team with 18.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Thus UK will focus on him.

“To be honest, I think our backs are against the wall, too,” Calathes said. “We need this win more than them because this would put us first in the SEC.”

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Gators are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Tuesday games.
* Gators are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 90 points in their previous game.
* Wildcats are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games following a ATS loss.
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Southeastern.
* Wildcats are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Tuesday games.
* Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Kentucky.
* Gators are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com

Tuesday NCAA: Michigan State (19-4) at Michigan (15-9)

After routing Minnesota and Indiana last week, it appears that Michigan State’s mini-funk is over, although they will be tested tonight at unranked Michigan in the teams’ only scheduled meeting of the season.

The Spartans are 4-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.

There are two main reasons why this could be a Wolverine upset. The first is that MSU second-leading scorer Raymar Morgan, who didn’t play at all last week and hasn’t been a factor in about a month, is not expected to play again because of his lingering illness, which is now being called mono.

“It’s probably 97 (percent Morgan’s not playing) to 3,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “Even as the strong Greek god he is, his conditioning (has been affected).”

Tonight’s game is MSU’s only one this week, so Izzo is hoping Morgan can be back in the lineup Feb. 17 in a potentially important matchup at Purdue.

The second reason why MSU is on upset alert is that it has struggled in Ann Arbor lately. The Spartans haven’t won at Crisler since a 64-49 triumph on Feb. 12, 2005, and U-M has been competitive against ranked teams this season, not to mention 12-2 at home this year..

Yet MSU has won 15 of the past 18 in the series and is 6-0 in true road games this season, including 5-0 in the Big Ten. In those five road Big Ten wins, the Spartans are averaging 74.8 points, led by Kalin Lucas at 20.0 ppg. And they are out-rebounding opponents by a +16.2 margin. The Spartans are also committing just 12.6 turnovers per game.

In the last 12 games, Lucas is averaging 17.9 points and shooting shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from 3-point range and 86.1 percent from the foul line. He and Ohio State’s Evan Turner are probably the two leading candidates for Big Ten Player of the Year.

The Wolverines have lost six of eight games, including at No. 1 Connecticut on Saturday. Michigan freshman Stu Douglass had 20 points and went 6-for-8 from 3-point range against UConn, while leading scorer Manny Harris added 15 for the Wolverines, who led by one at halftime.

The Wolverines lead the Big Ten with 8.63 made 3-point field goals per game, including eight games where they have made 10 or more. They also lead the conference in free throw shooting.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Spartans are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Spartans are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
* Spartans are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten.
* Spartans are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
* Spartans are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.
* Spartans are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Spartans are 1-4-2 ATS in their last 7 road games following three or more consecutive home games.
* Spartans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Tuesday games.
* Wolverines are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.
* Wolverines are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 Tuesday games.
* Wolverines are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. Big Ten.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com

Tuesday NCAA: Michigan State (19-4) at Michigan (15-9)

After routing Minnesota and Indiana last week, it appears that Michigan State’s mini-funk is over, although they will be tested tonight at unranked Michigan in the teams’ only scheduled meeting of the season.

The Spartans are 4-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.

There are two main reasons why this could be a Wolverine upset. The first is that MSU second-leading scorer Raymar Morgan, who didn’t play at all last week and hasn’t been a factor in about a month, is not expected to play again because of his lingering illness, which is now being called mono.

“It’s probably 97 (percent Morgan’s not playing) to 3,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “Even as the strong Greek god he is, his conditioning (has been affected).”

Tonight’s game is MSU’s only one this week, so Izzo is hoping Morgan can be back in the lineup Feb. 17 in a potentially important matchup at Purdue.

The second reason why MSU is on upset alert is that it has struggled in Ann Arbor lately. The Spartans haven’t won at Crisler since a 64-49 triumph on Feb. 12, 2005, and U-M has been competitive against ranked teams this season, not to mention 12-2 at home this year..

Yet MSU has won 15 of the past 18 in the series and is 6-0 in true road games this season, including 5-0 in the Big Ten. In those five road Big Ten wins, the Spartans are averaging 74.8 points, led by Kalin Lucas at 20.0 ppg. And they are out-rebounding opponents by a +16.2 margin. The Spartans are also committing just 12.6 turnovers per game.

In the last 12 games, Lucas is averaging 17.9 points and shooting shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from 3-point range and 86.1 percent from the foul line. He and Ohio State’s Evan Turner are probably the two leading candidates for Big Ten Player of the Year.

The Wolverines have lost six of eight games, including at No. 1 Connecticut on Saturday. Michigan freshman Stu Douglass had 20 points and went 6-for-8 from 3-point range against UConn, while leading scorer Manny Harris added 15 for the Wolverines, who led by one at halftime.

The Wolverines lead the Big Ten with 8.63 made 3-point field goals per game, including eight games where they have made 10 or more. They also lead the conference in free throw shooting.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Spartans are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Spartans are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
* Spartans are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten.
* Spartans are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
* Spartans are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.
* Spartans are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Spartans are 1-4-2 ATS in their last 7 road games following three or more consecutive home games.
* Spartans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Tuesday games.
* Wolverines are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.
* Wolverines are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 Tuesday games.
* Wolverines are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. Big Ten.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com

Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch

Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should improve significantly or do well next time out, won six times, ran second five times and finished third four times since Dec. 2. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when developing your betting strategy.

AQUEDUCT

Study Abroad: Raced ninth and last early, moved to eighth 14 lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced to fourth in stretch, closed fast to make up 5 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at a mile on the inner track Feb. 1.

FAIR GROUNDS

Belle City Boy: Raced more than 13 lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, angled out for the drive, closed gamely to make up more than 3 ¾ lengths in stretch and gained second by a neck at a mile on Feb. 5.

GULFSTREAM PARK

Prime Delivery: Raced ninth and last more than 11 lengths behind after a half-mile, came into stretch three wide, rallied from eighth to make up more than 4 ¾ lengths and finished third by a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Feb. 5.

LAUREL PARK

Johannesburgaffair: Broke seventh and last, trailed by more than seven lengths after a half-mile, swung six wide into stretch, rallied from fourth to make up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Jan. 31.

OAKLAWN PARK

Levitating: Raced 11 lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, angled in on far turn, blocked repeatedly in upper stretch, moved outside and finished second beaten by a nose at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 6; advanced to first when winner was disqualified for impeding several times nearing furlong marker and placed second.

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Stay Safe: Went right to the lead just off rail, led by two lengths after a half-mile, increased margin to five lengths in stretch and drew off in handy fashion to win by eight lengths going 1:10 3/5 for six furlongs on Feb. 7.

RETAMA PARK

Control Freak: Broke ninth, dropped to 10th and last more than 15 lengths behind after a half-mile, made a middle move to sixth picking up 6 ½ lengths after six furlongs, rallied outside in stretch to make up 4 ¼ lengths and finished third by three lengths at a mile on Feb. 5.

SANTA ANITA

Haka: Raced sixth early, dropped to seventh more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came four wide into stretch and gained more than 2 ¾ lengths to finish second by a neck at a mile on Feb. 7.

TAMPA BAY DOWNS

Privy Seal: Raced more than three lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, boxed and blocked from far turn to mid-stretch, altered course to find racing room outside and closed fast late to finish second beaten a neck at a mile on the turf Feb. 6.

TURF PARADISE

Zee Topper: Broke 10th and last, trailed by more than 13 ½ lengths after a half-mile, rallied from seventh in the four path to make up more than six lengths and finished second nosed out at a mile on Feb. 3.

TURFWAY PARK

Senorita’s Secrets: Raced 7 ½ lengths behind in seventh after three-eighths of a mile, angled out for drive, rallied from fifth to make up more than five lengths and finished second full of run beaten a half-length at 5 ½ furlongs on Feb. 6.

Horse Racing Betting at WagerWeb.com

Monday NBA: Suns (28-21) at 76ers (25-24)

You’ll want to be very careful betting on the Phoenix Suns at WagerWeb.com for the next 10 days as the team is reportedly shopping Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O’Neal in an effort to shed major payroll, so this team could change in a hurry and cost you some money.

So will that duo be in the lineup on Monday? Well, it’s possible that Shaq won’t be, as he often sits out the second half of a back-to-back, and Phoenix enters off a win in Detroit on Sunday.

However, coach Terry Porter said O’Neal likely will play in Philadelphia, the third time in a row that the Suns won’t hold him out of a game in a back-to-back set after doing so four times this season.

“I’m ready to go; whatever it takes,” O’Neal said.

Phoenix is a 3-point underdog on WagerWeb.com.

Steve Nash fell one short of his career high with 21 assists in the Suns’ 107-97 victory at Detroit. It was the highest assist total recorded against the Pistons in any of the franchise’s 2,250 home games. The Suns also had 66 points in the paint just a game after posting an NBA season-best 72 points in the paint against Golden State.

Fourteen of Nash’s 21 assists set up layups or dunks. Nearly half of those points in the paint were because of 31 fast-break points.

“We’re starting to run a little bit more now,” said Stoudemire, who scored 18 points. “I think the game plan has changed over the last couple days, and we’re starting to run and get more into our offense.”

The 76ers are playing their sixth consecutive home game, going 3-2 so far with two wins in a row after Saturday’s 94-84 victory over Miami. Philadelphia continues to play better without Elton Brand, who was lost for the season last week. That win over the Heat made the Sixers 12-8 without Brand.

Point guard Andre Miller, who averaged 20.5 points and 11.0 assists against the Suns last season, had 15 points Saturday for Philadelphia. Andre Iguodala is averaging 17.8 points and 5.3 assists.

The teams split the season series in 2007-08, with each winning on the other’s home floor.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Suns are 19-39-4 ATS in their last 62 games following a ATS win.
* Suns are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games as a road underdog.
* Suns are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog.
* Suns are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Suns are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Monday games.
* Suns are 4-10-2 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
* Suns are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.
* Suns are 8-21-2 ATS in their last 31 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Suns are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Suns are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a S.U. win.
* Suns are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Atlantic.
* 76ers are 7-1-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win.
* 76ers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.
* 76ers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* 76ers are 11-4-2 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
* 76ers are 5-2-2 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
* 76ers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
* 76ers are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a S.U. win.
* 76ers are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
* 76ers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.
* 76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* 76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Monday games.
* Favorite is 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
* Suns are 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

NBA Betting at WagerWeb.com

Monday NCAA: Kansas (19-4) at Missouri (20-4)

Great matchup on Monday night between Kansas and Missouri, otherwise known as the Border War. The Jayhawks are 8-0 in the Big 12 for the first time since 2005, while Mizzou’s 7-2 start in the conference matches its best ever.

Missouri is a 4-point favorite for tonight’s game on WagerWeb.com.

The Tigers are unbeaten at home and 2-0 against ranked teams this year. In a 15-game home winning streak, Missouri is averaging 90.5 points per game. The Tigers’ average of margin of victory at home during that run is 28.5 ppg. But KU has won the past two meetings at Missouri and five in a row in this series overall. The Tigers have been held to less than 75 points in three of their last four games against Kansas at Columbia.

Mike Anderson appears to have Missouri turned around, as the team hasn’t appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 2002-2003. The Tigers have had a losing conference record each of the past four seasons. That will mark the first time since 2003 that KU and MU were both ranked coming into a Border War game.

“There’s a buzz about this game, more so than in the past,” Anderson said. “We’re in the hunt for a championship. This is a big game.”

The Tigers are led by senior forward DeMarre Carroll, the only player in the Big 12 to rank among the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage and steals. He had a career-high 31 in Saturday’s win over Iowa State.

KU seems to go as point guard Sherron Collins goes. In KU’s four losses, Collins has hit 35 percent of his shots and 31 percent of his three-pointers. In the 19 victories, he has made 45 percent of his field-goal attempts, 39 percent of his three-pointers.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Jayhawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Jayhawks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 Monday games.
* Jayhawks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Jayhawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
* Jayhawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Jayhawks are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. Big 12.
* Jayhawks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win.
* Jayhawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
* Jayhawks are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games as a road underdog.
* Jayhawks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a road underdog of 0.5-6.5.
* Jayhawks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as an underdog.
* Jayhawks are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Jayhawks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.
* Jayhawks are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 games overall.
* Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
* Tigers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Tigers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
* Tigers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
* Tigers are 18-37-1 ATS in their last 56 vs. Big 12.
* Tigers are 8-20-1 ATS in their last 29 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.
* Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Missouri.
* Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
* Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
* Underdog is 9-4-2 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
* Jayhawks are 2-6-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings in Missouri.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com

Monday NCAA: West Virginia (16-7) at Pittsburgh (21-2)

West Virginia and Pittsburgh renew the Backyard Brawl on Monday night, with both entering off easy wins on Saturday.

The Panthers beat WVU earlier this season and are 7.5-point favorites tonight on WagerWeb.com.

Pitt has won three games in a row since a double-digit loss to Villanova. On Saturday, DeJuan Blair was a one-man wrecking crew against DePaul, scoring a career-high 32 points and adding 14 rebounds in the 92-69 victory.

West Virginia crushed Providence on Saturday, 86-59, behind senior Alex Ruoff’s game-high 24 points, including six-for-seven from 3-point range. Ruoff had been struggling from the field - after hitting a school-record nine 3-pointers Dec 23, Ruoff is shooting just over 30 percent from long range during Big East play.

Pitt won the first meeting 79-67. There were 11 ties and 10 lead changes. The Panthers shot 60 percent from the field in the first half and 53.6 percent for the game while limiting WVU to 41.1 percent. The Mountaineers did win the rebounding battle, 34-31, but committed 13 turnovers to just nine for Pitt. WVU now has lost five of the last six meetings and 12 of the last 17. The Mountaineers

WVU starting forwards Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks will have their work cut out against Blair, who reminds some of Charles Barkley. He had 11 rebounds and 16 points during that first meeting. Pitt junior Jermaine Dixon has made 16 of his past 32 shots from behind the 3-point arc after missing 36 of his first 43. are 1-5 against ranked Big East foes this year and they last won at Pitt in 2005.

But Pitt coach Jamie Dixon is worried about his defense. Big East opponents are shooting 42.8 percent from the field, which, if it stands would be the highest opponent shooting percentage since Dixon became head coach.

“We have to get better on defense,” Dixon said.

Offensively there are no issues. The Panthers have scored 90 or more points in each of their past three games. Louisville and Villanova, the only teams to beat Pitt this season, were able to hold them to 61 and 57 points, respectively. The Panthers are 14-0 in Petersen Center this season.
WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Mountaineers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
* Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
* Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
* Mountaineers are 14-4-1 ATS in their last 19 games as a road underdog of 7.0-12.5.
* Mountaineers are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5.
* Mountaineers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Monday games.
* Mountaineers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.
* Panthers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
* Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 7.0-12.5.
* Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big East.
* Panthers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Panthers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Panthers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
* Panthers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite.
* Panthers are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 Monday games.
* Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
* Favorite is 10-4-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
* Mountaineers are 5-12-1 ATS in the last 18 meetings.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com

Risen Star May Yield a Kentucky Derby Contender or Two

Preps for the 135th Kentucky Derby are off and running. There are many — some dating back before the world wars. Others are relative new like the $200,000 Risen Star Stakes that will be staged for the 36th time at Fair Grounds.

Navajo won the inaugural when the race was known as the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes in 1973 – the year Secretariat won the Triple Crown. In ’88, Risen Star scored in the 15th running before the son of Secretariat captured the Louisiana Derby.

After Risen Star ran third in the Kentucky Derby, he triumphed in the Preakness and Belmont. The following year, the Louisiana Derby prep was named for him.

Since then four other 3-year-olds that won the Risen Star repeated in the Louisiana Derby: Pyro, last year; Repent, ’02; Comic Strip, ’98; and Dixieland Heat, ’93, when it was run in two divisions.

However, only two made the Run for the Roses and didn’t perform up to expectations: Pyro finished eighth and Dixieland Heat ran 12th. The last Risen Star winner to win the Kentucky Derby was Grindstone in ’96.

The 1 1/16-mile contest is wide open this year, but may produce a contender or two en route to Louisville. The baker’s dozen field will include Friesan Fire and It Happened Again, both trained by Larry Jones.

“Both horses have talent and both should are still learning the game,” he told Brisnet.com. “It’s up to them which one wants to become a major player and step up to the plate.”

Friesan Fire looks like he can coming off a 1 ½-length victory in the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 10 at Fair Grounds after getting blinkers. A trio that finished behind the son of A. P. Indy are in the hunt: Au Moon, third; Uno Mas, fourth; and Indygo Mountain, sixth.

It Happened Again won the Triple Sec. Stakes on Jan. 16 at Deltra Downs, defeating another starter, Code of Honour, who finished third.

Indygo Mountain, another son of A. P. Indy, is the hard-luck sophomore so far this year. The Bret Calhoun trainee missed an allowance contest when it was canceled because of a freak snowstorm in New Orleans and then a hoof bruise cost him another start.

His most recent outing at Fair Grounds following an impressive maiden victory last fall at Churchill Downs was a nightmare from the start when he hit the gate from the ninth and outside post. He draws post 2 Saturday and jockey Jamie Theriot returns.

Au Moon wasn’t so lucky. The son of Malibu Moon will break from the outside 13th post. Next door is Flying Pegasus, who ran a strong second in the Belmont Park Futurity last September finishing ahead of Friesan Fire.

But since then the son of Fusaichi Pegasus has been out of action because he required surgery to repair an injured hind ankle.

Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out Dumar, a first-level allowance winner last month at the track along with Uno Mas.

Others in the field are Summer’s Empire, an Illinois-bred stakes winner at 2; Theregoesjojo, who captured an allowance race at Gulfstream; and Nowhere to Hide, a maiden winner that was scratched from the Holy Bull.

The entry going for Jones, who is retiring after the end of the year, looks like the horses to beat. He could use a little luck since his Derby horses were runner-ups two of the past three years: Hard Spun in ’06 and Eight Belles last year when she broke down and had to be euthinized.

Horse Racing Betting at WagerWeb.com

Wednesday NBA: Lakers (38-9) at Raptors (19-31)

Look, the Lakers should beat the Toronto Raptors easily on Wednesday night. After all, the Lakers are a stellar 15-5 on the road and have won three straight games overall, while Toronto has dropped three in a row and is just 9-14 at home. And Los Angeles is a 7.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com.

But what everyone wants to see if what Kobe Bryant does as a follow-up to the 61 points he put up against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Monday night. I say there’s no chance he approaches even 50 tonight. Remember that Monday as a perfect storm for Kobe to go off: He wanted to prove he could lead his team despite the loss of Andrew Bynum and he loves playing in the Garden. I’m not sure his motivation will be quite so high in Toronto.

Of course, this Raptors team is the one that Kobe torched for 81 once. But coach Phil Jackson doesn’t want Kobe to be carrying that much of the offense.

“We don’t want him to because we have so many other players that can contribute,” Jackson said. “Obviously with Andrew [Bynum] out, we’re missing a piece of scoring there that’s been effective for us. At the end of the game [against New York], Pau [Gasol] was feeding Kobe and finding him in certain situations where he probably could have persisted in the post himself.”

In the previous 24 games Bryant had scored at least 50 points, three times he came back with at least 50 in his next outing. Overall, he has averaged 34.4 points in his next game after 50-plus.

Other than that incredible 81 on Jan. 22, 2006 (at Staples Center), Bryant had 46 points in the Lakers’ last visit to Air Canada Centre, a 121-101 win on Feb. 1, 2008. He had 23 and Gasol scored a game-high 24 as Los Angeles beat Toronto 112-99 at home on Nov. 30.

Yet despite Bryant’s brilliance on Monday, the Lakers are 25-0 this season when he’s scored 27 points or fewer.

The Raptors have lost five of their last six at home and 10 of 13 overall.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.
* Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite.
* Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Atlantic.
* Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
* Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
* Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
* Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
* Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite.
* Lakers are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
* Lakers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
* Lakers are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games as a road favorite of 5.0-10.5.
* Lakers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
* Lakers are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Lakers are 7-21 ATS in their last 28 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Lakers are 4-14 ATS in their last 18 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Raptors are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes of the previous day.
* Raptors are 17-35 ATS in their last 52 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Raptors are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 vs. NBA Pacific.
* Raptors are 6-14-2 ATS in their last 22 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Raptors are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. loss.
* Raptors are 6-16-1 ATS in their last 23 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.
* Raptors are 6-16-2 ATS in their last 24 vs. Western Conference.
* Raptors are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Raptors are 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 games as a home underdog.
* Raptors are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Raptors are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
* Raptors are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
* Raptors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Wednesday games.
* Raptors are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
* Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
* Lakers are 7-3-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Favorite is 7-3-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings.

NBA Betting at WagerWeb.com

Wednesday NCAA: USC (15-6) at UCLA (17-4)

Since a 64-60 loss to crosstown UCLA on Jan. 11, the USC Trojans have looked impressing, winning five of six games, and they can take a share of the Pac-10 lead for at least a night by beating the Bruins in the rematch on Wednesday.

UCLA has opened as an 8.5-point “home” favorite on WagerWeb.com.

In that first meeting this year, Southern Cal led by six with about 10 minutes to go but UCLA went on an 8-0 run and never looked back. The Bruins’ Darren Collison led all scorers with 18 points and a game-high six assists. Collison leads UCLA with a 14.6 average and with 5.4 assists per game and has a free-throw percentage of 94.4 percent (68-for-72) this season, which leads the nation and is second on UCLA’s single-season charts. He has made six career starts versus USC, averaging 37.3 minutes and 15.0 points a contest. Collison has played 39 minutes in each of the last two meetings.

Nikola Dragović has made at least one three-point field goal in each of the last eight games for UCLA. He’s shooting 46.0 percent (23-for-50) from long range in Pac-10 games (7th in the league) and is hitting 48.8 percent (20-for-41) from three-point range as a starter - he started his first game in that last USC meeting.

UCLA is again a defensive club. The Bruins have held 10 opponents in 2008-09 to fewer than 60 points, going 9-1 in those games.

Four of USC’s five starters are averaging 13 points per game in Pac-10 play: Taj Gibson (13.9), Dwight Lewis (13.7), DeMar DeRozan (13.2) and Daniel Hackett (13.2). Gibson has averaged 14.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in USC’s first 21 games, including 11 double-doubles. The last Trojan to average a double-double was Jaha Wilson in 1994-95.

This is the 228th meeting between UCLA and USC with the Bruins leading the series 127-100. UCLA is 60-20 against USC at home since 1947 and 36-9 at Pauley Pavilion 36-9. But the Trojans did win there last year and have split the last six meetings there.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Trojans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog of 7.0-12.5.
* Trojans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5.
* Trojans are 18-6 ATS in their last 24 games as a road underdog.
* Trojans are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Trojans are 24-9 ATS in their last 33 road games.
* Trojans are 23-9 ATS in their last 32 games as an underdog.
* Trojans are 39-19 ATS in their last 58 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Trojans are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.
* Bruins are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a home favorite of 7.0-12.5.
* Bruins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
* Bruins are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Bruins are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Bruins are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS win.
* Bruins are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.
* Bruins are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
* Trojans are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in UCLA.
* Trojans are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
* Underdog is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
* Road team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com

Wednesday NCAA: Duke (19-2) at Clemson (18-2)

No one can ever accuse Duke of having a soft schedule, because when the Blue Devils face Clemson on Wednesday night, it will be their fourth game against a Top-10 opponent this year, with all coming on the road. Duke is 2-1 in those games, beating Purdue and Xavier but losing last week to Wake Forest, which knocked the Blue Devils from the top spot in the polls.

And Clemson simply can’t beat Duke during the regular season: Duke has won 20 straight regular-season meetings against Clemson, including nine consecutive at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Thus the Blue Devils have opened as 4-point road favorites tonight on WagerWeb.com.

Junior Gerald Henderson led the Blue Devils in scoring for the sixth time in the last seven games on Sunday against Virginia as Duke rebounded from that Wake loss. Henderson scored 18 points, including 16 in the first half, and added a team-high four assists in the win over the Cavaliers. Henderson is averaging 15.0 points per game this season, but has averaged 20.4 points in the last seven contests while shooting 59.8 percent from the field and going 12 of 20 from 3-point range.

Duke posted a 29-2 edge in points off turnovers in the win over Virginia. The Blue Devils have outscored the opposition, 464-241, in points off turnovers this season.

Duke is allowing 54.6 points per game in league action and has held six of its seven ACC opponents under 60 points, including two opponents to under 50 points.

The Tigers have dropped 19 consecutive games against teams ranked in the Top 5, and 36 of their last 37.

Clemson leads the ACC in three-point goals made per game. K.C. Rivers has made 17-31 three-point shots in ACC play and the .548 percentage is best in the ACC. Rivers had 29 points and seven 3-pointers in Clemson’s last game, a win over Virginia Tech. Rivers has had at least 10 points the last four times he’s played against the Blue Devils.

This is the second time this year (Wake-Clemson), but just the sixth time in school history two top 10 teams have met at Littlejohn Coliseum.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Blue Devils are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a road favorite of 0.5-6.5.
* Blue Devils are 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 Wednesday games.
* Blue Devils are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a ATS win.
* Blue Devils are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Blue Devils are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.
* Tigers are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.
* Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
* Tigers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. Atlantic Coast.
* Tigers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog.
* Tigers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.
* Tigers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a home underdog of 0.5-6.5.
* Tigers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Tigers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
* Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
* Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Clemson.
* Road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com

Wednesday NCAA: Minnesota (18-3) at Michigan State (7-4)

Surprising Minnesota can grab a share of first-place in the Big Ten by upsetting Michigan State on Wednesday night in East Lansing.

The Spartans, who have lost a shocking two in a row at home for the first time in more than a decade, have opened as 8-point favorites on WagerWeb.com. MSU opened conference play at Minnesota on Dec. 31, taking a 70-58 victory. The Spartans are playing the third of five games in a 13-day span.

With former leading scorer Raymar Morgan battling an illness for the past few weeks (he won’t play tonight), Spartan sophomores Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers have combined for 123 points in the past three games as Summers is averaging 18.7 points, and Lucas is averaging 22.3. Lucas is leading the Big Ten in scoring in league games at 19.2 ppg and had 24 vs. Minnesota the first time around. Morgan, who averages 12 points and six rebounds, had 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. the Gophers back in December.

Center Goran Suton leads the Big Ten in rebounding in conference games at 9.9 rpg and had 12 in the first meeting with Minnesota this season. The Spartans lead the nation in rebound margin and thrashed Minnesota on the boards in the first game.

If State hits 70 points, it is money. The Spartans are 13-0 when scoring 70 or more points, but just 4-4 when scoring fewer than 70. The Spartans are third in the Big Ten, shooting 46.7 percent, and are scoring a league-high 75.5 points per game. Defensively, MSU is 15-0 when allowing fewer than 70 points, but 2-4 when allowing more than 70.

The Gophers have lost four in a row in this series. The Gophers haven’t won in East Lansing since a 79-74 victory during the 1989-90 season.

Minnesota is led by junior guard Lawrence Westbrook, who is averaging a career-high 13.9 ppg but is the only Gopher in double figures. Minnesota is 15-3 this season when Westbrook reaches double-figures and 9-0 when he leads the team in scoring.

The Gophers have won six of eight games since the MSU loss, including impressive victories over Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois. They enter off a 23-point win over those Illini last Thursday (so they had plenty of time to prepare for MSU). It was the Golden Gophers’ first win against the Fighting Illini since Feb. 3, 1999, and their largest margin of victory over a ranked team. Minnesota, second in the Big Ten in field goal defense, held Illinois to 29.4 percent from the floor.

WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Golden Gophers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Golden Gophers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a S.U. win.
* Golden Gophers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
* Golden Gophers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Golden Gophers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
* Golden Gophers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5.
* Golden Gophers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog of 7.0-12.5.
* Golden Gophers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
* Spartans are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. loss.
* Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
* Spartans are 23-10-1 ATS in their last 34 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
* Spartans are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Spartans are 41-20-1 ATS in their last 62 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
* Spartans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games.
* Spartans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
* Spartans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Spartans are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 7.0-12.5.
* Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Michigan St.
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
* Golden Gophers are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Michigan St.
* Golden Gophers are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

NCAA Basketball Betting at WagerWeb.com