| The Nets proved the Pistons can be beat last | | | | best defensive team in Memphis. The Grizzlies |
| night, as New Jersey ended Detroit's 11-game | | | | allow just 87.1 PPG, compared to Dallas' average |
| winning streak with 91-84 victory in the | | | | of 93.7 PPG. The Mavs, 18-6 on the road this |
| Meadowlands. It marked New Jersey's NINTH | | | | year, are favored by 1 1/2 points with a total of |
| straight home win but the Nets are back on the | | | | 180 1/2. |
| road tonight in Cleveland, one of 13 games in a | | | | As mentioned yesterday, Northern Iowa (at No. |
| busy NBA schedule. | | | | 25) was ranked for the first time in its 106-year |
| New Jersey owns five straight wins over | | | | history. That ranking won't last long though, as the |
| Cleveland (two this year) but has lost its last five | | | | Panthers lost 63-55 last night to Creighton (10th |
| road games (0-5 ATS), while the Cavs enter on a | | | | straight loss in Omaha to the Blue Jays). Another |
| six-game winning streak (5-0-1 ATS), in which | | | | Panther team, Pitt, lost at No. 1 U Conn, 80-76. |
| LeBron has averaged 36 PPG. Cleveland is | | | | While Panther bettors 'covered', Pitt has still never |
| favored by 6 1/2 points with a total of 187 1/2 | | | | beaten a team ranked No. 1 in its 100-year |
| (7:05 ET). | | | | history (0-13). |
| My free play on Wednesday is in college hoops. | | | | There are 43 games on the college 'board' |
| Take Kentucky over Miss St at 8:00 ET. I have a | | | | tonight, highlighted by doubleheaders on both |
| HUGE Wednesday! In CBB, I have two 20* GOY | | | | ESPN and ESPN2. Also, Southern Illinois, tied with |
| plays (MWC / C-USA) and a Triple 10* Game of | | | | Illinois and Gonzaga for the nation's longest current |
| the Month Report. In the NBA, it's just my second | | | | home winning streak (at 33), will host an Indiana |
| LEGEND Play of the season (won 1st)! Get it all | | | | State team at 8:00 ET, which has lost 11straight |
| and pay only AFTER you win! | | | | games (Salukis are favored by 16 points with a |
| Other games of note in tonight's NBA are | | | | total of 114). |
| Minnesota at Detroit (7:35 ET), Atlanta at | | | | No. 11 West Va will host Notre Dame at 7:00 ET |
| Charlotte (7:35 ET) and Dallas at Memphis (8:05 | | | | on ESPN. Notre Dame has opened 1-6 in the Big |
| ET). Flip Saunders won in his return to Minnesota | | | | East, its worst start since joining the conference |
| back on 1/24 (107-83) but the T-wolves are 12-4 | | | | in 1995-96. However, the Irish have beaten the |
| versus the Pistons since the beginning of the | | | | Mountaineers 11 straight times! West Va, the Big |
| 1997-98 season. Detroit's loss ended an 11-game | | | | East's lone unbeaten team in conference play |
| winning streak, just the team's SIXTH loss this | | | | (6-0), will be trying to beat Notre Dame for the |
| year. How have the Pistons fared after their first | | | | first time since 1999. West Va is favored by 7 1 |
| five losses? Just fine thank-you, winning by an | | | | 2 points with a total of 143. At 9:00 ET, it's No. 2 |
| average of 12.8 PPG. Detroit is favored by 8 1/2 | | | | Duke at No. 15 Boston College. BC opened 0-3 in |
| points with a total of 184 1/2. | | | | its first year in the ACC but has won four |
| Charlotte tries to end the league's longest current | | | | straight. Duke is favored by 5 1/2 points with a |
| losing streak (12 straight), when the Bobcats host | | | | total of 150. |
| the Hawks. The Bobcats are missing leading | | | | ESPN2 opens with No. 23 Iowa at Purdue (7:00 |
| scorer Gerald Wallace plus last season's | | | | ET) and follows with No. 7 Texas at Missouri (9:00 |
| rookie-of-the-year (Okafor) and have averaged | | | | ET). Purdue is just 1-7 in the Big-10 (last place) |
| just 89.5 PPG during their losing streak. The good | | | | and has lost 13 straight games to ranked |
| news is Atlanta is just 3-17 on the road this | | | | opponents. Iowa is an eight-point favorite with a |
| season. Atlanta is favored by 1 1/2 points with a | | | | total of 125. Texas, which saw its nine-game |
| total of 200 1/2. | | | | winning streak stopped by Oklahoma on |
| With Detroit's loss, Dallas now owns the league's | | | | Saturday, takes on a Missouri team which has lost |
| longest winning streak at nine straight. The Mavs | | | | three straight games, all by double-digits. Texas is |
| have held all nine opponents to less than 100 | | | | favored by 11 1/2 points with a total of 135 1/2. |
| points in the streak but tonight face the league's | | | | |