Doc’s Sports

Utah is almost an automatic play lately. This team started off slow like last season but is coming on strong now and one of the hottest teams in the NBA despite the loss last time out. That loss will keep them focused here, and they have a big time talent advantage over the Kings. The Jazz have not only been winning lately but when they win they have been covering as well, and we think this will be a double-digit win tonight as the Jazz stay hot.

We think the Thunder are the much better team here. They have lost two straight coming into this one, both against Eastern Conference opponents. Now they are back against a familiar divisional foe, and we think they will be very focused here. A two-game losing streak isn’t the end of the world, but a three-game slide starts to become concerning, and this team is going all out for a playoff bid after everyone wrote them off. This is a down year for Portland, one of the worst ATS teams in the NBA this season.

Orlando is the top defensive team in the NBA for scoring, but they haven’t been great recently in that area, allowing 112 or more in three straight. We think the Warriors have a chance to put up some points on them tonight, and we have a pretty low total here for a game involving the Warriors. Golden State has allowed 122 or more in their last three. Neither team is playing strong defense right now, and we think the pace here will be fluid on Saturday night.

The Sixers have been horrible on the road this season. But this is a good team and they will figure out their road woes at some point, and there is no better time than tonight against this horrible Knicks team. The Sixers are 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings. They are being punished by the oddsmakers because of their road record and the fact they are on a back-to-back, but they are 5-2 in back-to-backs this season and this is a good spot for them laying a short number tonight.

The Celtics come in off two straight losses, so they will be primed to get back on the winning track. And this is a great opportunity to do just that against a team they will have a talent advantage over. Over the last several years the Celtics have been one of the most trustworthy betting teams. They have covered in three of their last four despite the two straight losses, and we feel this line is short as well. Phoenix has covered in just one of their last six games. We think this is a great opportunity for a double-digit win for the Celtics.

5-Unit Play. #069. Take Vegas -125 over Montreal (Saturday at 7:00 pm).

As per your selection on Vegas, we believe this is a great spot for them to get their second win in a row under new coach DeBoer as they take on a HAbs side that is playing their third game in four nights and that is banged up and will ultimately be fatigued by the end of this one. Vegas got the wakeup call it needed in their loss to Buffalo which got Gallant fired and you have to believe they come out in this game after beating the Sens and go 2-0 in Canada. Montreal is coming off a win against Philly, but the Flyers are banged up at every position and that win was more about what Philly couldn't do as opposed to how Montreal played. We are going to take the better team in this one, who owns an 11-9-3 away record against a 9-12-4 home record for the HAbs. Take Vegas and enjoy another nice NHL winner!

7 Unit Play. Take #766 USC over Stanford (6:30p.m., Saturday, January 18 PAC12N) TOP COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAY OF THE DAY Both of these teams have good records, but Stanford has played a weak schedule thus far and having to sit around in Los Angeles for 3 days will doom them in tonight at the Galen Center. USC has good talent and should be able to take advantage of Stanford inside the paint. The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games between Stanford and USC. The Trojans are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played on Saturday.

2 Unit Play. Take #601 Ohio State over Penn State (12p.m., Saturday, January 18 ESPNU) Both of team are frauds to some degree but I have no confidence in Penn State. They just do not shoot it well enough from the 3-point line to be expected to compete in these games against the top teams in the Big 10. The road team has covered 5 of the last 7 games between Ohio State and Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 1-3 ATS (1 push) in their last 5 home games. Ohio State is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a victory in their previous game.

Free College Basketball Prediction From Doc's Sports : Take Villanova over Connecticut (12 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18) Connecticut has simply not been good enough to compete so far in the Big East. And this isn't the year to struggle with so many capable teams in the league. There aren't many easy wins. Playing 'Nova in Philly definitely is not a good matchup for a UConn team that has dropped three of four to begin the conference slate. In the last couple of weeks, the Wildcats have produced strong wins over Kansas, Xavier and Creighton. I don't think a struggling Connecticut team will be able to keep up for much more than a half. Villanova is getting it done on both ends of the court, and this afternoon they'll overwhelm an ill-equipped opponent. 'Nova by double figures in this one.

10 Unit Play. Take #634 Florida Gators over Auburn Tigers (1:30p.m., Saturday, January 18 CBS) The Gators opened as a favorite and an unranked team favored over a ranked team is usually a sign to play them. Auburn is a fraud this season and their 15-1 record is more about a weak schedule that they have played thus far. They got pounded last time out against Alabama, a team that will struggle to make the NIT. Now they are on the road for a second straight game against a team that has not played up to their talent at times this season. Florida has just as much talent as does Auburn and they need this one more to ensure they make the NCAA Tournament this season.