Jim Feist

Lone Star state battle here tonight has the Houston Rockets hosting the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are just 17-30 S/U on the season and 24-23 against the spread. The Spurs have lost two straight games including last time out against Philadelphia, 109-115 as a 1-point dog. The Spurs will be looking to avenge their Jan 12 loss at home to the Rockets, 124-128 as a 7-point favorite. Houston not having a good season either at 14-33 overall. and 20-26-1 vs the spread. The Rockets are coming off a loss to Golden State 103-105 as a 11-point dog. The Rockets have covered three straight but are just 5-12 ATS their last 17 games. The Spurs are 5-2-1 ATS the last eight meetings with the Rockets. I look for them to take this one also. Play San Antonio.

Iona has been the powerhouse of the Metro Atlantic Conference this year with a 16-3 S/U record. Rick Patino has done wonders with this Gaels team. They have won five straight games and 10 of their last 11. They haven't been quite as good vs the spread with a 3-4 mark their last seven games. The Siena Saints don't look to win this game here tonight at Iona. However, with a 15-point dog line that is a big number for this Iona team to cover. The Saints have won and covered four of their last five games, but lost last time out at Manhattan, 68-75 as a 2-point dog. For me, this is too many points and while Iona should win easily, I expect a Siena cover.

The Wright State Raiders are 11-8 overall on the season and have won two straight games. They are coming off a win at Illinois Chicago, 97-81 as a 2.5-point favorite. In fact, they have played four straight on the road and have a 3-1 S/U and 2-2 ATS mark. The Raiders have also won nine of their last 10 games overall. Meanwhile, Northern Kentucky will look to build on their modest two-game win streak and improve on their 7-9 overall record. The Norse are just 4-11 vs the number this year and 1-5 vs the spread at home. This game is about two points on Wright State and that means we just need little more than outright win here tonight. Play Wright State.

Big 10 action here tonight has 15-3 Michigan State taking on Illinois. The Spartans rebounded from their Jan 15th loss at home to Northwestern with a win at Wisconsin on Friday, 86-74 as a 3.5-point road dog. That makes the Spartans 10-1 S/U their last 11 games and 5-4 ATS the last nine games. Illinois is 13-5 S/U but has lost two straight games after their setback at Maryland last games, 65-81 as a 4.5-point favorite. Illinois is 8-2 S/U and 6-4 ATS at home. Illinois center Kofi Cockburn is questionable tonight. He averages 21.1 ppg this season. Illinois laying points here tonight might be too much against this Michigan State team, especially if their center is hurting. Play Michigan State.

The Colorado Buffaloes are 12-6 S/U and 5-12-1 ATS on the season. The Buffs are just 1-2 S/U and 2-1 ATS on the road. They have lost two straight games after their loss at home to UCLA on Saturday, 65-71 as a 4-point dog. That makes them just 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 games. The Buffs are now just 16-35 in their last 51 games as dog and 22-52-1 their last 75 games on the road. Oregon looks to extend their six-game wining streak here tonight at home. The Ducks are 12-6 S/U overall and 7-11 ATS. They have covered three straight and four of their last five games. The favorite has dominated this series, going 13-3 ATS the last 16 meetings. The home team has also done well with a 15-2 ATS mark the last 17 meetings. Oregon is both the favorite and home team. Looks pretty strong on their side. Play Oregon.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 13-5 S/U this season with a 10-8 spread mark. The Bulldogs hit the road for their game at Kentucky tonight. They have only two true road games and are 0-2 both S/U and ATS in those games and being outscored 72-81 on average. The dogs are coming off a win over Ole Miss, 78-60 last time out as a 11-point favorite. The Kentucky Wildcats are 15-4 S/u on the season and 9-10 vs the number. They are a perfect 12-0 S/U at home with a 7-5 spread mark and outscoring their visitors by a 88.3 to 60.7 average. The Cats are coming off a loss at Auburn, 71-80 as a 4-point dog. I look for Kentucky to rebound here tonight at home where they have yet to lose. Play Kentucky.

The Fordham Rams look to stay above the .500 mark tonight as they travel to Dayton to face the Flyers. The Rams also try to snap a 3-game losing streak after losing their last game vs Davidson, 66-69, covering the 11.5-point dog spread. The Rams are 10-6 ATS on the season and 7-2 ATS over their last nine games. Dayton is 12-7 S/U on the season and 10-9 vs the spread. The Flyers are 7-4 S/U and 5-6 ATS at home this season. They had their four-game win streak snapped last game in a loss at George Mason, 49-50 as a 1.5-point favorite. Fordham getting double digits here today for a team that has been covering spreads looks good to me. Play Fordham.