The Houston Rockets are in Utah looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their series against the Utah Jazz. The Houston defense held the Jazz to 98 and 90 points respectively for an average of just 94 points per game in the first two games in Houston. If the Jazz look to make any kind of noise in this series, they are going to have to score the basketball on a consistent basis and there is no better time than right now as they take the floor at home. Houston defeated the Jazz twice in Salt Lake in the Western Conference semifinals last season allowing the Jazz just an average of 89.5 points per game over that span. The chances of the Jazz not being focused and prepared to play this game would certainly be slim. After losing in Houston to open this series and having dropped the two previous meetings here last season in the playoffs if the Jazz are not ready, they should all be fired. The TPR Index projects a point advantage of 7.06 points. The MM projects a point differential of 7.84 with a line range of -1.0 to -3.5. The Pace-Tempo Matrix has an offensive-defensive differential of 7.29 with a transitional average of 41.57 and a conversion rate range 46.65 to 48.83. The SIM Matrix has Utah with a 73.78 percent advantage against the spread in this contest. The Rockets as a conference underdog coming off back-to-back straight up and against the spread victories at home are only 7-18-1 ATS. Utah as a conference home favorite after losing back-to-back games as an underdog are 15-5-2 ATS. We want to play AGAINST NBA road teams in the current line range averaging 43.5 to 45.5 percent from the field facing a team that allows 43.5 to 45.5 percent from the field, following two straight games in which they made nine or more from behind the arc, 56-31 ATS. Play ON NBA favorites revenging a road loss of ten or more points, coming off two or more consecutive road losses, 49-21 ATS for 70 percent winners against the spread. Play ON NBA home favorites revenging a loss of ten or more points coming off two or more consecutive road losses, 53-21 ATS for 71.6 percent winners against the spread including a mark of 11-4 ATS the last fifteen qualifying contests. And finally, we note the Houston Rockets are 0-7 ATS on the road after leading their last two games by ten or more points at the half this season. Lay the short price with the host Jazz as they grab a SU and ATS victory on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

The Philadelphia Phillies must hate Coors Field they cannot seem to win here they have lost six in a row and nine of their last eleven in the Mile-High City. And yes, we are backing them tonight as the Rockies send Antonio Senzatela to the bump with his 1-0 SU record and his ERA of 1.35 on the season. The Phillies hang their hopes on Aaron Nola who is also 1-0 SU on the season but an ERA of 7.45. Last night’s win by the Rockies did not come easy in fact it took twelve frames to decide the winner. Bryce Harper gave the Phillies the lead in the top half of the 12th with an RBI double before Charlie Blackmon delivered his second career walk-off homer with two outs in the 12th inning. Our TPR Index projects a run advantage of 1.52 runs. Our next set of metrics look at the overall Starting Pitchers Power Ratings for tonight's contest. The Rockies Antonio Senzatela comes into this game with an average of 95 and the Phillies Aaron Nola has an average of 121 with 100 as the MLB league average. The SPMatrix has Antonio Senzatela with an average of 6.11 compared to Aaron Nola who has an average of 7.02. Our BHOR Matrix (Bases, Hits, Outs, Runs) has a projected run advantage of 1.59 in favor of the Phillies. Aaron Nola is 1-0 SU versus Colorado with the team record 2-0 SU in his starts he has an ERA of 1.98 and a WHIP of 0.878 over that span. Aaron Nola on the bump facing teams who strand an average of 6.9 or fewer runners on base his teams record is 14-1 SU in this situation the last two seasons. Philadelphia is 17-4 SU revenging a one-run loss the last two years. We are going to lay the short chalk with the Phillies as they finally get a win in the Mile High City on Saturday night.