NBA Thursday Night Play of the Day: Bulls

The Bull and Mavs tonight at the United Center.

The teams sport almost identical records, but the Bulls have an impressive 18-4 record at home.

Can they cover the 3.5 they are giving Dallas?  I say yes.  The Bulls are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record and 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 vs. NBA Southwest.

The Bulls aren't sure if Carlos Boozer is going to play in this game, but it shouldn't make a difference with the Bull being at home and Dallas having lost 6 out of their last 7.

Day 3: Australian Open Match of the Day

Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Janko Tipsarevic(SRB)	vs.	Fernando Verdasco(ESP)[9]

This is a great 2nd round match between two guys who have played three previous times.

Tipsarevic owns a 2-1 lead in head-to-head action.  All three matches were played on hard courts and Verdasco won the last meeting back in 2009 in Valencia.

Both players should have rooting sections from their respective countries in Serbia an Spain.

Tipsarevic likes playing in Australia, almost beating Roger Federer here in 2008.  Verdasco has played well in the Australian Open, reaching the semis in 2009.

It will be a minimum 4 set war, possibly 5 sets, but Tipsarevic will come out on top this time.

*Upset alert - In a second round women's match Rebecca will take Francesca Schiavone to the limit and win.

Day 1: Australian Open Match of the Day - Wickmayer and Groth

Women's Singles - 1st Round
Yanina Wickmayer(BEL)[21]	vs.	Jarmila Groth(AUS)



A good match to open the first night session of the tournament.

These two are two of the most athletic players on the circuit.  They have only met once before with Wickmayer winning in three tough sets back in 2009.

They both have improved since then, and this should be another close three-setter.  Groth will be a bit of an underdog, but she will have the support of the crowd.  Wickmayer likes playing in Australia.

Prediction:  Wickmayer in 3 sets.

*Upset alert or Monday's play:  I don't like the matchup for Mardy Fish playing Victor Hanescu of Romania  out on Court 3.  Not sure what the state of Fish's game is right now, but he will have his hands full in this one.  I say Hanescu pulls off the upset in 4 sets.

Sunday's NFL Divisional Playoff Play of the Day

No surprise here... The New England Patriots

Depending on where you look, New England is favored by 9.5 to 10 points over the Jets.  It won't be that close.

New England is on an 8 game winning streak and they like to do their talking on the field.  The Jets have been erratic the last month or so and they like to do their talking, well they talk all of the time.

This 51-year-old rivalry has been dead even over the years – including two New England wins in the playoffs, the series is tied 51-51-1 – and it has been as heated as ever since the outspoken Ryan took over the Jets last season. But the Patriots' play did the talking in the most recent meeting, a 45-3 blowout in Week 13 that avenged New York's 28-14 home victory in Week 2.

The home team is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings in this series.  Look for the New England tight ends to have a big game.

Take the Patriots and give the points.

* Bonus play - The Over, which is only 44 pts right now.