We were on the Nets last time after their 50+ point loss to the Knicks when they faced the Celtics the next game, and they played much better and almost won outright. Then the Nets went out the next game and lost big to the Clippers. The Nets seem to play hard every other game, and they have alternated covers and non covers for seven games now. We feel they will play hard here tonight off the embarrassing loss to LA. The Suns have been one of the best ATS teams in the league this season but the word is out and now they arent getting the value in the lines anymore. They have covered just one of their last four. One of those games was a nine-point loss at Brooklyn. The Nets have actually covered in four of the last six meetings and won outright in their last two trips to Phoenix.

The Sharks will take any chance they can get to accumulate points in their hunt for the postseason and they will not hesitate to lay down a beating on a struggling Vancouver squad who is playing as bad as any team in the NHL lately. Vancouver has had their number the last couple years and now it is payback time. San Jose has won the last two meetings and looks to make it three in a row today.

3 Unit Play. Take #306657 Over in Alabama A&M @ Prairie View A&M (2p.m., Tuesday, January 27) The over has hit in the last two meetings and 6 of the last 10 meetings overall. Both teams went over the posted total in their last game scoring 175 points and 163 points (both in defeat).

Three of the last four meetings have gone under. The Rangers have had defensive problems lately but we have been impressed with their defense the last two games, and they even slowed down the Bruins last time out, snapping their long losing streak. You can remember they allowed Boston to 10 goals a couple weeks ago, so they are focusing a lot on defense and their goaltending has been better with their starter still out. The Islanders are one of the top under teams. Sorokin is a Top 5 goaltender, and the team is tied for third for goals allowed league wide. Both offenses are in the bottom 8 for scoring. This is also a big rivalry, so we expect both clubs to step up the defense.

Cleveland has won and covered the last two meetings and four of the last six. We really love what we have seen from the Cavs lately as they are rounding into midseason form. They have been one of the worst bets in the NBA as they had too high of expectations from the oddsmakers combined with a slow start and lack of chemistry. But they have won four straight and six of seven, and they have been covering on a more regular basis. The Lakers have been winning, too, but they have had a very easy schedule lately. They got handled by the Clippers in their most recent difficult matchup. Cleveland has shown they can score lately and they can match the Lakers on offense, but LA isn't a strong team defensively, and Cleveland is. They held the Lakers to 110 points the last two meetings, and both were double-digit blowouts. And the crowd should be really into this one tonight with their former franchise player coming back to town. It's always one of the biggest home games of the year for any team when the Lakers come to town. And we expect the Cavs to respond with a comfortable win tonight.

3 Unit Play. Take #708 Omaha +1.5 over South Dakota State (8p.m., Wednesday, January 28) Both teams are use to being at the top of the standing in the Summit and a loss tonight will knock them out of that. Both teams have been alternating wins and losses of late but I look for Tony Osborn to come up big tonight for the home team.

2 Unit Play. Take #735 Houston -7.5 over TCU (9p.m., Wednesday, January 28 ESPN2) TCU has not been the same team during Big 12 play and I see them losing this game to Houston by double digits in Fort Worth. The Cougars are coming off a tough loss to the Red Raiders over the weekend and they do not want to lose two games in a row. Houston has beaten TCU two straight times by an average of 18 points in those victories.