Frank Sawyer

At 8:10 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Indiana Pacers (534) plus the points versus the Brooklyn Nets (533). THE SITUATION: Indiana (10-7) had their five-game winning streak snapped in a 115-101 loss to Minnesota as a 1.5-point underdog on Wednesday. Brooklyn (9-10) has won three of their last four games after a 112-98 victory as a 2.5-point favorite at Toronto on Wednesday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PACERS PLUS THE POINTS: Indiana played their worst game of the season on Wednesday. Their 38.5% shooting percentage was the worst offensive effort of the season. They allowed the Timberwolves to make 61.0% of their shots in that game which was the worst defensive performance of the new season. But Indiana has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up loss. While many expected this team to tank after beginning a rebuild when they traded Domantas Sabonis midseason last year, they are playing well. They may have the Rookie of the Year in Benedict Mathurin who they drafted as the sixth pick in the NBA draft from Arizona. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton has been a dynamic floor general and scorer for the team. And while they may still deal Myles Turner and Buddy Hield for draft assets before the trade deadline, those are two nice complementary players in the meantime. Indiana has covered the point spread in 7 straight games after winning two of their last three games. They have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games this month. Furthermore, they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games against teams with a losing record — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games as an underdog getting 3.5 to 9.5 points. The laptops like them a lot as they rank 11th in the league in net Adjusted Efficiency Margin. They rank 8th in the NBA in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and now they host a Nets team that can lack effort on defense and ranks 19th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Sacramento scored 153 points against them earlier this month. The Nets have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a win against a divisional rival — and they are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after a double-digit victory. Furthermore, Brooklyn is 12-31-1 ATS in their last 44 games after a point spread win. This team is playing better under new head coach Jacques Vaughn — and Ben Simmons’ productivity has improved. But Simmons is still an issue for the team since he can lack aggressiveness on offense to avoid getting fouled — and the team lacks interior size on defense. The Nets have failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight games with the Total set in the 230s. And in their last 40 games as an underdog getting 3.5 to 9.5 points, Brooklyn has failed to cover the point spread in 28 of those contests.

FINAL TAKE: Indiana looks to avenge a 116-109 loss in Brooklyn to the Nets on October 31st — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games when they have the opportunity for revenge. The Nets were 7.5-point favorites in that game — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games against the Pacers. 25* NBA Eastern Conference Underdog of the Month with the Indiana Pacers (534) plus the points versus the Brooklyn Nets (533). Best of luck for us — Frank.

FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR FRIDAY, 11/25:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Friday is with Under the Total in the game between Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. Central Michigan (4-7) had their two-game winning streak snapped in a 12-10 upset loss to Western Michigan as a 9.5-point underdog last Wednesday. The Chippewas have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss. They have also played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total on the road. Eastern Michigan (7-4) has won three of their last four games after a 31-24 upset win at Kent State as a 7.5-point underdog as a 7.5-point underdog last Wednesday. The Eagles gained 459 yards in that game — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after gaining at least 450 yards in their last game. They have also played 5 of their last 7 games at home Under the Total. Take the Under. Best of luck — Frank.

Frank Sawyer’s Hollywood Sports enjoys a 14 of 21 (71%) Football Game of the Year/Month mark after DELIVERING their 25* NFL NBC-TV Game of the Month with Minnesota last night! Frank CA$HED his Big 12 Underdog Game of the Year last Saturday with Baylor’s point spread cover against TCU to help further his 34 of 53 (64%) college football run — and now he furthers his 15 of 23 (65%) CFB sides streak with a 25* CFB Conference Game of the Year Friday afternoon! DO NOT MISS OUT!

At 12:00 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Central Michigan Chippewas (117) plus the points versus the Eastern Michigan Eagles (118). THE SITUATION: Central Michigan (4-7) had their two-game winning streak end in a 12-10 upset loss at home against Western Michigan as a 9.5-point favorite last Wednesday. Eastern Michigan (7-4) has won three of their last four games after their 31-24 upset victory at Kent State as a 7.5-point underdog last Wednesday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CHIPPEWAS PLUS (OR MINUS) THE POINT(S): The Eagles are bowl eligible with seven victories — but they cannot win the Mid-American Conference West Division since they trail Toledo by one game with the Rockets controlling the tie-breaker after beating Eastern Michigan earlier in the season. So while they would love to beat one of their in-state rivals that handed them a 31-10 loss last season, the urgency level is not extreme. Frankly, the Eagles have been overachieving all season after benefitting from winning five of their six games decided by one scoring possession — and they have pulled off four upset wins this year. They are getting outscored on the year — and they are getting outgained by -25.3 net Yards-Per-Game. The Eagles have failed to cover the point spread in 28 of their last 42 games after an upset victory — and they are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games after a point spread win. Furthermore, they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after winning three of their last four games. And in their last 11 games when playing with eight or more days between games, they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of these contests. They return home to Ypsilanti where they are just 2-3 while getting outscored by -7.2 net Points-Per-Game and getting outgained by -104.0 net YPG. Eastern Michigan has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games at home — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 35 of their last 51 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. The Eagles have also failed to cover the point spread in their last 5 games played on a Friday. Central Michigan lost their (realistic) chances to qualify for a bowl last week in their upset loss to the Broncos. That game was a mess — starting with a power outage that delayed the game to the Chippewas committing too many penalties and enduring a -2 net turnover margin. There remains a chance that earning their fifth win could set up the possibility of securing a bowl bid despite their losing record, but the probability of that is low. This game is likely the de-facto bowl game for head coach Jim McElwain’s team after a 9-4 campaign with a bowl victory against Washington State last season. Central Michigan has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a loss at home — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a loss at home to a MAC rival. And while they gave up 255 rushing yards to Western Michigan last week, they have then covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after allowing at least 200 rushing yards in their last contest. McElwain has made a change at quarterback by not relying on sophomore Daniel Richardson who is a pocket passer. Instead, he has been giving snaps to two redshirt freshmen dual-threat quarterbacks, Bert Emanuel, Jr., and Jade Bauer. Emanuel, Jr. is averaging 140 rushing YPG himself — and the Chippewas have won all four of their games when they gain at least 160 yards on the ground. Eastern Michigan allows 159 rushing YPG — and they have given up 160 or more yards on the ground in five of their games this year. Central Michigan has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 7 straight games on the road in the second half of the season. They have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 19 of their last 26 games in November. The Chippewas have also covered the point spread in 4 straight games played on a Friday.

FINAL TAKE: Central Michigan has covered the point spread in 5 straight meetings with the Eagles — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti. 25* CFB Mid-American Conference Game of the Year with the Central Michigan Chippewas (117) plus the points versus the Eastern Michigan Eagles (118). Best of luck for us — Frank.