Ben Burns Expert NBA Picks & Free Plays

The Bulls are off three straight close losses. Last time out, they lost by a single point to the defending champs. Prior to that, they lost by five, at Miami. That was preceded by a 2-point loss. Here, the Bulls have got both the venue and the schedule in their favor though which should allow them to break through with a much needed victory. They had yesterday off while the Hawks left it all on the floor, in losing an OT game at Miami. The last time that the Hawks played the second of b2b games? They lost by 49 points. Consider Chicago. 

Ben Burns started Tuesday with a WIRE-TO-WIRE DESTRUCTION on Davidson and he closed it with a BLOWOUT WINNER on Portland in the pros. (In between, he also won on the ice.) With those wins, top rated bball, pro &* college, is on longterm LEGENDARY $103,640 PROFIT SURGE. Amazing but true. Today, Ben steps out with his #1 NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK. Hit it NOW!

I'm playing on MISSOURI STATE. While the Red Wolves are off a to decent start, I believe that there's a talent gap in this one and I look for the Bears to provide a dose of reality. The Bears, who have played the tougher schedule, are rested and they're off consecutive victories. While the ATS wins haven't been there yet, they've been playing better since the return of (Gaige) Prim. While the Red Wolves did manage a win in the last meeting (at Arkansas State) the Bears have dominated the series for years. Playing at home, I say they pull away for a double-digit win. 

I'm playing on MEMPHIS. These teams met, at Memphis, at the beginning of November. At the time, the Suns were playing great basketball. A 114-105 win in that game brought them to 4-2 SU and 6-0 ATS on the season. The Grizzlies were not. That loss dropped them to 1-4 SU/ATS on the season. While wins have remained hard to come by, the Grizzlies are coming off a victory in their last game and come in with some positive momentum. The Suns did win big last time out. However, NONE of their previous 11 games resulted in a win of more than seven points. They're just 6-15 SU/ATS their last 21 at home, when the O/U line was set at 230 or greater. Grab the points and look for the revenge-minded Grizzlies to bring their "A game."

I'm playing on ORLANDO. Admittedly, the Lakers have been making it look easy lately. Its not always going to be that way though. The Magic are always quietly playing well and they've given LA problems in the past. The last time the Magic faced the Lakers, they came away with a 108-104 win, at LA. The last meeting here at Orlando saw the Magic win by a score of 130-117. Before that, was a 1-point game at LA. The previous game at Orlando? A 127-05 win? And the game here at Orlando before that? A 109-90 Magic win. Of course, this is a different LA team now, playing much better. The point is that the Magic are also playing their best basketball right now and that they always tend to get up for a visit from LA. They've covered four straight, winning three of those outright. Their last game here resulted in a 14-point with over the Suns. All things considered, the line is generous. Grab the points. 

I'm playing on CHARLOTTE. We're getting some extra line value with the Hornets, due to the fact that they played last night. That situation hasn't really bothered them that much though. Sure, they got blown out the last time that they played the second of b2b games. That was at Milwaukee though, one of the toughest venues in the league. Prior to that, the two previous times that they played the second of b2b games, they split a pair of 1-point games, winning 103-102 on the road and losing 116-115 at home. Prior to that, they lost by eight at Philadelphia, covering as a 14-point favorite. Before that? They covered against the Clippers. Thats a 4-1 ATS mark, when playing the second of b2b games. Playing with double-revenge, look for them to improve to 9-1 ATS, after having allowed 105 or more points in three or more consec. games. 

I'm playing on Chicago/Atlanta OVER the total. The Hawks went to OT last night, giving up 135 points when the smoke cleared. Knowing that fatigue could be a factor, the Bulls will look to push the pace tonight. Consider that the Hawks give up the fourth most points in the NBA, Chicago should put up a fairly big number. The Hawks should do the same though. They average 109 ppg and they score a little more on the road than they do at home. With the 121 they scored last night, they've now hit triple-digits in 17 straight games, 118 or more in each of their last three. They haven't forgotten a 113-93 loss, at Atlanta, to these same Bulls and will be coming in looking for payback. That 93 point effort was the last time they were held to double-digits and they've obviously been scoring a lot more since. Yet this O/U line is the same, roughly, as that one. Atlanta road games have been finishing above the total all season and that continues here. 

I'm playing on ARIZONA. The Mavericks are in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Though they haven't covered of late, this is a very talented Arizona team, arguably more so than in recent seasons. Here, the Wildcats are going to be in an angry mood, after having lost to Baylor. This team hadn't previously tasted defeat and will be looking to put the hurt on someone. the Mavericks figure to be the perfect opponent. Not only are they severely outmatched athletically and from a talent-perspective, but they're at the end their longest road stretch of the season. They've been putting on some serious travel miles and it figures to catch up and take a toll on them tonight. Look for the angry Wildcats to keep the pedal to the metal the entire way, blowing their road weary guests out of the building.