NBA Expert Picks – Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs

NBA Expert Picks – Spurs Look to Bounce Back at Home Against Jazz

Jazz (+5) at Spurs (-5)
(O/U) 197½
Tonight at 8:30 PM ET

The Utah Jazz (5-6 SU, 5-6 ATS, 7-4 O/U) and San Antonio Spurs (4-5 SU, 4-5 ATS, 5-4 O/U) are driving their respective heads coaches, fans – and likely themselves, absolutely crazy.

The Jazz have alternated wins and losses in a whopping eight consecutive games while the Spurs have not won a single road game so far this season.

Now, the Western Conference title contenders will take to the court tonight, trying to find some semblance of consistency.

Jazz at a glance
Utah has won two of three while covering the spread in three straight games, including their 104-91 smackdown of the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Utah got 22 points from Carlos Boozer and 20 points from Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko to cover the NBA point spread as 7.5-point home favorites.

Spurs at a glance
The Spurs have dropped two straight games including their 99-94 road loss to Dallas on Wednesday. San Antonio made my pick in the BetUS NBA Locker Room yesterday pay immediate dividends as they failed to cover the NBA point spread as 3-point road underdogs, giving up a game-high 41 points to Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki in the loss.

Do’s and Don’ts
The Jazz need to try playing some defense as they’ve given up at least 104 points in each of their last three losses and four of their last five losses overall.

The Spurs need better offense despite the fact that they are averaging 101.0 points per game this season. San Antonio has failed to reach the 100-point plateau in each of their five losses this season while head coach Gregg Popovich tinkers with his lineup.

• Spurs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• Jazz are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games following a S.U. win.
• Jazz are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
• Jazz are 3-13 ATS in the last 16 meetings in San Antonio.
• Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
• Over is 11-1 in the last 12 meetings in San Antonio.

Analysis: It’s a sad day when the only reason you’re picking one team to cover a spread is because the other team is even more atrocious than the one you’re picking to win, but hey, it is what it is.

Having said that, I’m picking the San Antonio Spurs to win this contest and cover the spread with just a bit of room to spare.

The Spurs have gone 4-1 ATS in their last five home games – and the Jazz have gone a pathetic 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games following an SU win. Utah has also gone 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings against the Spurs and a woeful 3-13 ATS in the last 16 meetings in San Antonio.

The Over is looking like the best pick of all BetUS NBA betting enthusiasts, having gone a perfect 5-0 in the last five meetings and 11-1 in the last 12 meetings in San Antonio.

Play the Over first and foremost and the Spurs to cover the NBA point spread if you must.

NBA Free Picks: Over 197½ Total Points/Spurs -5 Points