BEST BET
*MILWAUKEE over PORTLAND by 9
Is the bloom off the rose already in the state of Wisconsin? It wasn’t realistic to expect a 19-year old rookie point guard to carry the team all season, especially with advance scouting the way it is in the 21st century. That being said, it’s been more about the hap- hazard availability of Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut than Brandon Jennings – howev- er, being home and having had two days to prepare should give the Bucks a good chance of taking down the Trail Blazers, who are playing the last game of a dreary road trip that took them through Indianapolis, Cleveland and Milwaukee in four days during the middle of December. Portland never looked so good! MILWAUKEE 97-88

BEST BET
*UCLA over MISSISSIPPI ST. by 9
Ben Howland knows that his team cannot compete toe-to-toe athletically with Mississippi St. So – he’ll ask them to slow it down and to play a “softer” man-to-man defense as Howland puts it. The Bulldogs come to town after playing DePaul at home on Thursday night – and the quick turnaround could be an issue for a team that relies on their “bounce”. After dropping four straight – including a well publicized home loss to Kansas last Thursday – the nation has thrown in the towel on UCLA. We’re not gonna wave the Bruin flag blindly – but Howland is an excellent coach, forward Dagovic is just now get- ting his legs under him after an early season suspension, and MSU is a team that tends to implode when things don’t go there way. UCLA, 69-60.

RECOMMENDED TOTAL
OVER
*DENVER over PHOENIX by 4
You can bet the Nuggets are happy to be home after four road games against four of the slowest paced teams in the NBA. Now they’ve had a day to relax and play host to the Phoenix Suns – these two teams rank three and four in the NBA in pace factor. This is the type of game that NBA players come to the arena looking forward to playing in – a treat for both participant and fan. Expect the points to fly tonight. DENVER 128-124

RECOMMENDED
*SACRAMENTO over MINNESOTA by 12
The upstart Kings play host to the Timberwolves off two full days of rest, while Minnesota straggles in playing their fourth game in five days, going from Toronto to Minneapolis, to Los Angeles then Sacramento. What more do you need to know other than a lousy team out on the road hasn’t had much time to focus on the foe? SACRAMENTO 107-95

RECOMMENDED
*INDIANA over KENTUCKY by 2
The record won’t show it, but the Hoosiers are a much better team this year than last. Coach Crean is preaching an up-tempo offense combined with tough, fundamentally sound defense. His is asking the youngsters to carry the load – much the same that Calipari at Kentucky is doing. Calipari’s bunch is certainly more talented – led by fresh- man point guard John Wall – but UK plays at UCONN on December 9th before their trip to Indiana. The Hoosier Nation will be waiting, as will the Hoosier team who will put every- thing they have into this ball game. INDIANA, 72-70.

RECOMMENDED
*WASHINGTON ST. over AIR FORCE by 28
Air Force likes to jack 3’s – actually they kinda have to, given their personnel. When they aren’t falling, their misses will serve as kindling to Washington St.’s fast break fire. WSU averages north of 80 points per game – with super sophomores Thompson and Casto averaging 39 ppg between them. They might combine for 50+ in this one. WASHINGTON ST., 87-59.