Brandon Lee

10* FREE NBA PICK (Pelicans +1.5) 

I'll take my chances here with New Orleans as a short road dog against the Timberwolves. Minnesota won their first game after trading Jimmy Butler 120-113 at home over the Nets. Towns had a huge game with a 20-20 performance, but Minnesota shot 53% from the field and held Brooklyn to just 39.6%. I'm just not buying the win as a sign that the Wolves are fixed after the trade. Now they got to adjust their rotations even more with the additions of Covington and Saric. New Orleans has won 3 straight after losing 6 in a row and were all business in a 126-110 win at Toronto as a 9.5-point dog last time out. They are simply the much better team and it would be an added bonus here if either Mirotic or Payton returns from injury. Give me the Pelicans +1.5! 

50* NBA LATE NIGHT GAME OF THE MONTH (Blazers +3) 

I'll gladly take my chances here with Portland as a dog against LeBron James and the Lakers. The Blazers are simply the better team and should not be a dog in this fight. LA is and will continue to be a huge public play with James and are definitely going to be with them having won 3 straight and 5 of 6. The thing is, most of these wins have come against bad teams and 4 of the 5 have come by 4-points or less, which means this could easily be a completely different story. Portland is 3-1 SU and 3-1 ATS on the road, where they are outscoring teams by 8.5 ppg. Lakers are 4-3 SU and 1-6 ATS at home where they are getting outscored by 1.6 ppg. Give me the Blazers +3!

40* NBA UNDERDOG ATS SHOCKER (Knicks +9) 

I'll take my chances here with New York as a near double-digit dog against the Thunder. I just think this is a good spot to go against OKC with Westbrook not available. While they won at home over the Suns last time out, they lost by 15 the previous game at Dallas. New York isn't a good team, but there not horrible and I like them to give the Thunder a scare tonight. OKC just 2-5 ATS last 7 at home vs a team that's won fewer than 40% of their road games and NY 4-1 ATS last 5 after a double-digit loss at home. Give me the Knicks +9! 

40* NCAAB OVER/UNDER TOTAL KNOCKOUT (Under 138) 

I'll take my chances here with the UNDER in tonight's rematch of last year's championship game. These two only combined for 141 points in the title game last year and both suffered some pretty massive losses on the offensive side. Villanova parted ways with Brunson (18.9 ppg), Bridges (17.7 ppg), DiVincenzo (13.4 ppg) and Spellman (10.9 ppg), while Michigan lost Wagner (14.6 ppg), Abdur-Rahkman (12.9 ppg and Robinson (9.2 ppg). Don't get me wrong both teams reloaded and will be a force this season, but I expect defense to be the deciding factor in this one. Give me the UNDER 138!