The New York Islanders are a hefty favorite in this Friday night matchup with the Detroit Red Wings, but I think they'll prove well worth the money and rout the visitors.

Detroit is coming off a 4-3 win over Montreal, but it had been outscored 16-5 through a four-game skid prior to that, losing each of the last three games by at least three goals. Here the Wings will face an Islanders team desperate to put an end to an 0-4 road trip behind it as the team seeks to remain in the playoff picture.

The Islanders are 14-6 in their last 20 games as a home favorite and they've won seven of the last 10 head-to-head meetings with Detroit, including an 8-2 triumph last month.

8* play on NY Islanders.

The Denver Nuggets took an OT loss to the Lakers in their last game before the All-Star break. They're 9-1-2 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up loss and I like them to bounce back here against an OKC Thunder team they've dominated lately, winning nine of the past 10 meetings and they're 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

The Thunder have been money against the spread this season, but not as a home favorite and they're 2-8 ATS last 10 as a home favorite. The Nuggets meanwhile are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog.

10* play on Denver Nuggets.

The Indiana Pacers took down the Milwaukee Bucks just before the All-Star break, and I think they'll have no trouble to take care of business against the NY Knicks in this one. They've covered the spread in five straight games as road chalk and 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games overall. As for the Knickerbockers they took a 114-96 beating by the hands of Washington last time out.

8* play on Indiana Pacers.

The Buffalo Bulls are 7-0 to the under in their last seven games and limited Ball State to 59 points on 36 percent shooting from the field last time out. As for Kent State, it was held to 49 points in a 21 point loss at Eastern Michigan last time out and it has scored fewer than 54 points in three of its last four games while four of its last five have stayed under the total.

Both teams are capable of putting up plenty of points on their day, but this total looks too high considering their recent struggles.

8* play on UNDER.

The Charlotte Hornets are playing at the slowest tempo in the league averaging only 98.7 possessions per game. Here they'll visit a Chicago team that is 8-0 to the over in its last eight games, but neither team is shooting the ball well and that should be the case with the teams most likely coming out rusty from the All Star break.

Free pick on UNDER.

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The Miami Heat headed into the All-Star break as losers of four of their last five, all on the road. They've been better at home than on the away from home all season, but I think they'll get the job done and win and cover when visiting Atlanta Thursday night.

Note that the Hawks have allowed 127+ points in three straight games and Miami put up 135 points in an OT win over Atlanta back in December.

Last time out, the Heat took a 116-101 loss at Utah. They've had more than a week to mull it over and are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight-up loss of more than 10 points. Additionally, we can note that the Heat are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 Thursday games while the Hawks are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 Thursday games.

10* play on Miami Heat.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the best defensive teams in the nation, but their defense will truly be put to the test here against an Iowa Hawkeyes team that averages 78.2 ppg overall and 81.8 ppg home at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Last time out, Iowa State played a low-scoring affair when it won 58-55 at Minnesota, but I expect to see more fireworks in front of the home town crowd.

8* play on OVER.

The Chicago Blackhawks have dropped six of their last seven games, most recently a 3-2 setback at Winnipeg on Sunday. Returning home to United Center is no guarantee for success as the Hawks are just 12-12-4 in their own building on the season, and they'll host a Rangers team that is 14-11-2 on the road. The Rangers had won four straight (three of them on the road) before taking a 3-1 home loss to Boston last time out. They're 4-1 in their last five games as an underdog and I really like the price we get on the visitors in this matchup.

8* play on New York Rangers.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have won two of their last three and looked sharp in a 72-57 triumph over Illinois last time out. They've been dominant at home all season long and are2-0 ATS as a home favorite of 3 points or less or pick and 6-1 ATS when the total is 130 to 139.5 points.

Here they'll host a Michigan side that has won five of their last six games overall, but it is only 2-5 on the road on the season and note that the Wolverines are 0-2 ATS as a road underdog of 3 points or less or pick.

8* play on Rutgers.

The No. 11 Louisville Cardinals are coming off back-to-back losses, first at Georgia Tech and most recently an embarrassing setback at Clemson. They had reeled off 10 straight triumphs before that and defeated Virginia 80-73 last time out home at KFC Yum! Center to improve to 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 as a home favorite.

The Orange have lost four of their last five and took an 80-77 loss at FSU on Saturday. They're 1-5 ATS after allowing 80 points or more and this won't be easy against a Louisville team that averages 77.2 ppg in their own building and ranks 11th in the nation for 3-point shooting home & away combined.

The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings between these two teams and I think the cardinals will put a real beating on Syracuse Wednesday night.

10* play on Louisville Cardinals.