Locks
NBA (0.75 Unit) LA Clippers -4 First Half @ Toronto Raptors (-110; Odds via Caesars): 6:30 PM CT on TSN
This is an interesting scheduling spot for the Clippers as they start a long road trip. They have a big revenge game in Boston tomorrow night, so that look-ahead is likely to have some kind of impact on this contest. I think it probably creates a situation where LA leans on their strength early in games to get some rest for the starters late, making them a good bet in the first half.
The Clippers are third in the NBA for average first-half margin, and are actually better on the road with a plus-4.4 average margin before halftime. Their offense is just too good and too hot right now, especially for a Raptors team with a subpar defense. Toronto’s early-January shine has worn off in a big way, and they’re only scoring 106.7 PPG the past 6 games. That’s not going to allow them to keep pace with LA at all, especially with no Immanuel Quickley or Jakob Poeltl, so I expect the Clips to dominate early on.
NCAA Basketball (0.75 Unit) Michigan State @ Wisconsin -2.5 (-110; Odds via Caesars): 7:00 PM CT on FS1
Does anyone remember when Michigan State started the season ranked 4th in the AP poll? It sure seems like the betting market remembers it fondly, because they keep giving this Spartans team the kind of credit you’d give to a top-5 team. It’s just not deserved at this point though, and I think Wisconsin is in a great spot to win by margin here.
Michigan State has particularly struggled on the road in conference play against teams that can outpace them offensively. That’s exactly what Wisconsin can do here with the country’s 6th-best offense by adjusted efficiency, so they should pull away from a Spartans team averaging just 68.2 PPG in true road games.
The Badgers would be doing it again in fact, as they already went in and beat MSU handily in early December. The scoring issues that plagued Sparty early in the season have not gone anywhere, so this extremely balanced Wisconsin team should pull away for a comfortable win tonight.
Degenerates
NBA OKC Thunder +2 @ New Orleans Pelicans (-110; Odds via Caesars): 7:00 PM CT on Bally Sports OK
(Parody account) I like Thunder.
Tiny Nick is 1995-1784 ATS (+101.5 Units) on his Locks since joining Zone Coverage.
Every day he will offer his Locks and Degenerate picks. Locks are the games he’s confident in. Degenerates are entertaining but riskier picks.