We, like everyone, are concerned for Damar Hamlin and are remarkably impressed with the world and how it has responded since Monday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was a beast last night against Washington and we provide the details. In college basketball, we discuss a couple of upsets, cover tonight’s top trends, and look at a really dumb suggestion regarding March Madness. In the NFL, Jim Harbaugh is attracting attention and we have line movement with Week 18 quarterback changes. This and more from The Pulse.
About Last Night…
Damar Hamlin
The Buffalo safety remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital. How this has been handled by all those in the sports world has been remarkable, reporting the news and leaving speculation alone. And the outpouring of humanity to support Hamlin’s charity is dumbfounding, now over 6 million dollars as of this morning.
Let’s pray that Hamlin has the same kind of outcome hockey player Chris Pronger had after being hit in the chest with a puck and collapsing in a very similar fashion years ago. (There is a video, but we won’t show it here.) Pronger went on to play 12 more years and was a multiple-time All-Star. Our sincerest prayers are for Hamlin.
NCAAB
When we first saw the final score of Kansas State and Texas, we assumed the contest went several overtimes, as the Wildcats upset the No. 6 Longhorns 116-103 as 8.5-point road underdogs. As it turns out it was a standard 40-minute contest. What drove up the score was incredible foul shooting with K-State 31 of 33 and the Horns 22 of 26. This turned out to be a historic effort by Kansas State.
No. 11 Virginia was also saddled with a defeat, upset at Pittsburgh 68-65 as 6-point road favorites according to the NCAAB odds. Pittsburgh has won 10 of 11, its best stretch of play in 7 years, and they and Miami are atop the ACC at 4-0.
NBA
It might be time to revive the “Greek Freak” for Giannis Antetokounmpo after he put 55 on Washington Tuesday in the Bucks’ 123-113 victory. It turned out Milwaukee needed all those points from Giannis to cover the – 7.5 spread against the Wizards. Giannis joins a shocking list this season.
What is the deal with Boston? Any team can have a bad night, but to lose by 33 at Oklahoma City and concede 150 points (franchise best for OKC), that’s pathetic defense. The Thunder shot 49.8% and was 20 for 40 from deep.
Trendy Talk
NBA
- Golden State is 27-7 ATS in home games after allowing 130 points or more.
- Memphis is 19-5 ATS after 3 or more consecutive Unders.
- Cleveland is 17-5 ATS off a home win by 10 points or more.
- Phoenix is 19-6 Under off a road loss.
- L.A. Lakers are 14-3 Over against Southeast Division opponents.
NHL
- New Jersey is 10-1 in road games against teams averaging 5 or more assists per game.
- Minnesota IS 13-2 when facing Tampa Bay at home.
- Dallas is 11-2 Under in road games when playing on back-to-back days.
NCAAB
- UNC-Wilmington is 25-6 ATS after a game where they covered the spread since last season.
- N.C. State is 0-9 ATS after a loss by 10 points or more.
- Tulsa is 0-8 ATS after one or more losses this season.
- Georgia is 1-9 ATS after a game where they made 13 or more 3-point shots.
- SIU – Illinois is 12-1 Under at home when playing a third game in a week.
- Missouri St. is 8-0 Over after 3 or more consecutive wins.
NFL
- Kansas City is 1-10 ATS against conference opponents this season.
- Cincinnati is 8-0 ATS after playing their last game on the road.
- San Francisco is 9-0 ATS off a non-conference game.
- Minnesota is 8-0 Over having won 2 out of their last 3 games this season.
NCAAF
- Georgia is 7-0 ATS as a favorite of 10.5 to 21 points.
- TCU is 10-3 ATS this season.
BMR Betting Pulse
NBA
On Wednesday we have the Spread, Money Line, and Totals free picks and top props. For Thursday, we have the complete breakdown of all 4 games including those on TNT, which are the Celtics vs. Mavericks and later the Clippers vs. Nuggets.
NCAAB
By now you know we have daily free picks on point spreads, money lines, and totals in college buckets. Also, look for our game breakdowns on Baylor vs. TCU (Wed.) and USC vs. UCLA (Thur.).
NHL
Hockey wagering continues to grow with more television access and we have our NHL Daily Picks best picks for ML, Puck Line, and Totals along with quality prop picks.
NFL
It is the final week of the regular season and we have all 16 games covered for you. On Thursday, we will offer a top parlay and our Best Bets for Week 18.
NCAAF
One game left, the national championship between TCU vs. Georgia and we will cover every which way and have free picks!
Note: Review all our popular prop plays in all the sports.
The Buzz
NCAAB – The First Truly Dumb Idea of 2023
Something called the – NCAA Division I Transformation Committee – submitted a report that will be looked over by the power brokers. Among its ideas was altering the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to as many as 90 teams.
That would turn the first few days of March Madness into – March meow – bringing in a host of 18-15 teams that would add nothing other than revenue to the universities and TV providers.
Think of it as the first round of the NBA Playoffs, a few good games, but rarely any true series upsets.
This is not a done deal, as universities would have to approve it. Still, when money is involved, we know what happens.
NBA – What Teams Are Burying NBA Bettors?
NBA – Zion Williamson Sidelined Again
New Orleans has been among the best surprises in the NBA this season and survived injuries to do so. Unfortunately for them, Zion will be out for at least 3 weeks with a right hamstring strain he suffered Monday.
Football Focus
NFL – Jim Harbaugh Attracting Interest
Carolina owner David Tepper was quoted as saying he spoke to Harbaugh about becoming the Panthers’ head coach. Tepper said it was not an interview. Denver reportedly also wants to speak to Harbaugh.
If you wondered about that contract he signed last year at Michigan, his first-year buyout is “only” 3 million, but it has a mid-January expiration date. Stay tuned.
NFL – Week 18 QBs
Today we have learned that Nathan Peterman will start for the Bears and Washington will give rookie Sam Howell a run Sunday. Both point spreads went higher on Chicago and the Commanders for this week.
NCAAF – Bowl Games Betting Trends (Almost Final)
- Favorites are 26-15 SU and 18-22-1 ATS.
- Underdogs of 3.5 to 7 points are 11-6 ATS.
- Favorites of 7.5 to 10 points are 3-0 ATS.
- Underdogs of 10.5 or more points are 5-2 ATS.
Out the Door
Golf
In case you missed it, The Masters sent an invite to this year’s tournament to the wrong Scott Stallings. What a blunder!
NBA
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton wanted a max contract and finally got it in July. This season with the Suns ravaged by one injury after another, it is the perfect time for Ayton to emerge as a force. So what has he done, not much?
Almost every key stat is slightly down from previous years and if you watch him play, there is little growth in his game and Ayton still disappears in big moments. He wanted the money and is giving nothing in return.
Who Is Right?
The battered Phoenix Suns finish up their 6-game road trip in Cleveland. The Suns are 1-4 and 2-3 ATS to this point and they are +5, which is unchanged since the opening NBA odds.
At 03:00 PM EST today, 65% of the bets placed were on Phoenix, however, 68% of the money is rising with the Cavaliers. What is your thought on this clash?
Let’s get some winners! See you back here Friday!
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