Detroit (11-12, 14-8-1 ATS) at Houston (13-10, 14-9 ATS)
The Pistons take a season-best five-game SU and ATS winning streak into the Toyota Center, where they kickoff a three-game Southwest Division road trip with a contest against the Rockets.
Detroit has followed up a seven-game losing skid by winning six of its last seven (6-0-1 ATS), including the last five in a row. After three straight narrow victories over Washington, Philadelphia and Denver by a total of 10 points, the Pistons finally got a comfortable win at Golden State on Saturday, rolling 104-95 as a 5½-point road chalk. Detroit has held seven straight opponents under 100 points, giving up just 92.9 ppg.
The Pistons snapped a five-game road losing skid (2-2-1 ATS) in their most recent trip on Wednesday, knocking off Philadelphia 90-86 as a 4½-point underdog. Still, they’re just 3-8 as a visitor this year (but 5-4-1 ATS).
Houston went to Toronto on Sunday and fell to the Raptors 101-88 as a two-point road favorite, ending a modest two-game SU and three-game ATS winning streak. The Rockets are still 5-2 SU and ATS in their last seven games, but their offense has gone cold lately, averaging just 92 ppg in the last four contests. Also, Rick Adelman’s squad has dropped three of five at home (1-4 ATS).
Houston swept the season series from the Pistons last year, but the teams split the cash. The Rockets prevailed 108-105 in Detroit as a three-point pup and survived 106-101 in overtime at home, but failed to cover as a 9½-point favorite. Houston is 4-1 SU in the last five meetings, but the Pistons are 11-4-1 ATS in the last 16 clashes, including 3-1-1 in their last five trips to the Toyota Center.
In addition to their current 6-0-1 ATS roll, Detroit is on positive pointspread surges of 3-1-1 on the highway, 15-7-1 against the Southwest Division and 5-1-1 when playing on two days of rest, but it is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 on Tuesday. The Rockets are in ATS ruts of 1-4 at home, 0-5 on Tuesday and 3-7-1 against the Central Division, but they’re on pointspread upticks of 5-2 overall, 9-4 when going after one day of rest, 41-20 following a loss, 12-3 when coming off a double-digit defeat and 4-1 against the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons carry “under” trends of 3-1-1 on the road, 3-1-1 on Tuesday, 20-8-1 against the Southwest Division and 35-17-1 when playing after two days of rest. Houston has stayed under the total in eight straight games overall and is on additional “under” stretches of 4-1 against Eastern Conference teams, 5-0 when playing on one day of rest, 6-1 after a SU loss, 4-0 after a double-digit loss and 23-8-1 after a non-cover.
Finally, six of the last seven battles between these squads have stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DETROIT and UNDER
San Antonio (12-9, 10-11 ATS) at Phoenix (16-8, 14-10 ATS)
The Spurs shoot for their fourth consecutive victory overall, including their second straight on the road, when they visit America West Arena for a battle with the Suns, who are unbeaten on their home floor this season.
San Antonio blasted the Clippers 115-90 as a 5½-point road favorite on Sunday. The Spurs’ three-game run follows a three-game losing skid, and they’ve cashed in back-to-back contests after an 0-5 ATS funk. San Antonio has found its offense over the past five games, averaging 107.4 ppg while shooting 53.6 percent overall and 50.6 percent from three-point land. Despite Sunday’s win in Los Angeles, the Spurs are just 2-5 SU and ATS on the road this season.
Phoenix has been idle since Saturday’s 105-99 loss at Denver, falling to 2-5 SU in its last seven games (with all five defeats coming on the road). On the bright side, the Suns covered as a nine-point underdog against the Nuggets, improving to 3-0 ATS in their last three after going 0-4 ATS in the previous four. Also, Phoenix is 8-0 at America West Arena (5-3 ATS), averaging 116.5 ppg (51.7 percent shooting) while surrendering 103.6 ppg (44.5 percent).
The Suns scored a five-point road win over the Spurs in last year’s season opener, but San Antonio came back to win the final three meetings (3-0 ATS). In Phoenix, the Spurs prevailed 91-90 as a 2½-point underdog last Christmas Day and 114-104 as a 1½-point pup a month later. San Antonio is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five clashes in this rivalry and 12-5-1 ATS in its last 18 trips to the desert. Also, the visitor is on a 3-1-1 ATS roll in this series, and the ‘dog is 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 battles.
The Spurs have covered in four of five against the Pacific Division, five of seven after a SU win and five straight after a double-digit victory, but they’re in ATS slumps of 2-7 on the road, 2-5 overall, 1-4 on Tuesday and 5-12 against winning teams. Phoenix is riding positive ATS runs of 12-5 at home, 5-1 against the Southwest Division, 7-3 following a SU defeat, 5-1 after a spread-cover, 7-2 after two days of rest and 14-4-1 at home against an opponent that sports a losing road mark.
San Antonio has topped the total in four straight games overall, four straight on Tuesday, four straight against the Pacific Division and four straight when playing after one day of rest. On the flip side, the Suns are on “under” runs of 11-1-2 overall, 3-1-1 at home, 4-0-1 against the Western Conference, 5-0-1 after a SU defeat, 4-0-1 after an ATS win and 4-0 on Tuesday. Lastly, six of the last eight Spurs-Suns tussles in Phoenix stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO and UNDER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Wyoming (5-4, 4-1 ATS) at (9) Tennessee (7-1, 3-2-1 ATS)
The Volunteers shoot for their fourth consecutive win overall and try to remain unbeaten at home when they welcome Wyoming to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
Tennessee has ripped off three straight double-digit victories since suffering a 73-72 loss to then-No. 7 Purdue in the Paradise Jam championship game in Puerto Rico on Nov. 23. Most recently, the Volunteers pounded Middle Tennessee State 75-54 in Nashville on Friday, barely covering as a 20-point favorite. They’ve scored at least 72 points in seven of their eight games, averaging 85 points per game while shooting 50.7 percent from field. Defensively, Tennessee gives up just 60.5 ppg (37.8 percent shooting), yielding less than 70 points in all seven wins.
Like Tennessee, the Cowboys have won three in a row, the last two by identical 76-70 scores over Loyola Marymount (covering as a four-point home favorite) and Northern Colorado (cashing as a one-point neutral-site ‘dog). Wyoming can fill the bucket, putting up 75.4 ppg (41.7 percent), but the Cowboys don’t play much defense, allowing 70 points or more in seven of eight contests for an average of 74.1 ppg (41.2 percent).
The Cowboys’ only true road game this year came at Denver on Nov. 25, and they lost 80-77 but covered as a 6½-point underdog. Tennessee is 4-0 at home (1-1 ATS in lined action).
Wyoming has failed to cover in five of six games on Tuesday, but otherwise the Cowboys are on ATS runs of 4-1 overall, 4-1 on the road, 4-0 after a SU win, 7-2 after a spread-cover and 8-3 against opponents with a winning record. Conversely, the Vols have failed to cash in nine of 12 after a spread-cover and they’re 0-3-1 ATS in their last four against winning teams.
The Cowboys are on “under” runs of 13-3 overall in lined action, 6-1 on the highway and 5-0 after both a SU and ATS win. Likewise, Tennessee is on “under” streaks of 16-5 overall, 4-0 in non-conference play, 7-1 after a SU win, 22-8 after a spread-cover and 4-1 on Tuesday.
Sports Advisors 12/15
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