Brandon Lee

40* CELTICS/BULLS NBA SHARP STAKE (Celtics -5) 

I got no problem laying the 5-points with Boston on the road against the Bulls. The Celtics snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 141-103 blowout win at home against the Cavs on Sunday. While Boston will be on no rest here, they didn’t have a single player play more than 27 minutes yesterday and are also expected to get back one of their best players in Jason Tatum. 

The Bulls have been playing well, especially in terms of the spread, as they are 11-3 ATS in their last 14, but they did fail to cover last time out in a 90-101 loss to the Lakers. Bulls scored just 33 points in the first half and were down by 30 at intermission. They did make it look respectable with a decent 2nd half surge, but I just wonder if that wasn’t the start of a poor stretch for this team. They really didn’t shoot the ball well and I just don’t see Boston not getting up here having lost 3 of their last 4. Give me the Celtics -5! 

40* RAPTORS/PACERS NBA VEGAS INSIDER (Pacers -2) 

I like the Pacers to get their revenge against the Raptors in Monday’s rematch. These two teams played on Sunday and Toronto squeaked out a 107-102 win. Considering Malcolm Brogdon only had 12 points and Domantas Sabonis managed just 10 points and didn’t score in the 2nd half, that’s a pretty good sign that Indiana can flip the script. 

There’s also a chance Toronto could be down two of their better players as both Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam are listed as questionable after not playing on Sunday. More than anything, I just feel like Indiana is the better team and will be the more motivated side at home in this one. Give me the Pacers -2! 

PICK – Iowa State Cyclones +3 
RATING: 30*
ROT#: 862 

I will take my chances here with Iowa State as a 3-point home dog against Oklahoma State. At first glance you might wonder how a Cowboys team that is 9-4 is only a 3-point favorite here against a Cyclones team that is just 2-7 overall and winless at 0-5 in Big 12 play. 

A big reason for the low price is the fact that Oklahoma State is expected to be without star freshman Cade Cunningham and potentially one of their top reserves in fellow freshman Rodel Walker. Cunningham is a massive loss, as he’s by far the Cowboys No. 1 option on offense. Cunningham averages 17.8 ppg. The only other player in double-figures is Isaac Likekele at 11.8 ppg and Walker is 3rd on the team with 9.1 ppg. 

I just have a hard time seeing either play after both were held out of Saturday’s game at home against Baylor. Hard to believe they would miss a contest against the best team in the league and play 2 days later. 

As for Iowa State, they will have fresh legs as they play their first game since Jan. 9. I expect a big effort regardless of who plays for OSU as they want to get that first conference win. Also, their 0-5 start has seen 4 of the losses come against West Virginia, Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech. Give me the Cyclones +3! 

50* TEXAS TECH/W VIRGINIA BIG 12 PLAY OF THE MONTH (W Virginia -1.5) 

I love the value here with West Virginia at basically a pick’em at home against the Red Raiders. The Mountaineers are 10-4 with their 4 losses coming to Gonzaga, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. They were are one of the few teams to keep it close with Gonzaga (lost by 5) and 2 of their 3 conference losses are by 4 or fewer points. 

While West Virginia will be playing on just 1 day of rest compared to a full week off for the Red Raiders, note that the Mountaineers had a 2 week break before playing on Saturday against Kansas State. They also didn’t need to use a ton of energy in that win over the Wildcats, as they cruised to a 69-47 win. 

Last year West Virginia won 66-54 at home over the Red Raiders and are 7-1 SU in their last 8 home games against Tech. Give me the Mountaineers -1.5!