Your Hoops and Horses Selections for Feb. 20-21

Welcome to ABR’s Hoops and horses column, where winners play!
Horse racing is Joe Kristufek’s means to an end, and he loves the sport like no other, but as a Chicago Bulls season-ticket holder for seven years and a feared participant in fantasy hoops, he also has his finger on the pulse of the NBA.
From growing up with the Flintstones of Michigan State, running March Madness pools out of his hidden manila envelope in high school, to attending conference tournaments, Sweet 16s and Final Fours ... college basketball runs in Derek Cooley’s blood.
Let’s sprint out on the fast break, spring the horses from the gate and pad our bankrolls!
Pro Hoops – by Joe Kristufek
All-Star Game final score: West 163, East 158

West covered -3 (thanks to a late foul/free throws)
Total went over 297.5 (never really in doubt)
One of our recommendations, Russell Westbrook (10-1) won the MVP with 41 points, second most all time in an All-Star Game behind Wilt Chamberlain.
Now to get the clean sweep, we just need my Bulls to win the NBA Championship at 11-1! 

Last Week: 3-0 (1.000)
Year to Date: 4-2 (.667)
RUSSELL WESTBROOK

Photo by Eric Drost/WikiMediaCommons
Friday, Feb. 20
Following the NBA All-Star break, most teams haven’t played in a game for more than a week and many have dealt for players who have yet to be implemented into the system. I like seeking out “unders” under such circumstances, so let me recommend a few.

Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers UNDER 187
Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons UNDER 195.5
Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves UNDER 210
Boston Celtics at Sacramento Kings UNDER 204.5
San Antonio Spurs (+7) at Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks (-2) vs. Houston Rockets – this is one of the rare occasions where I like the teams playing the second game of a back-to-back against fresh squad. Playing a game helps continuity and perhaps the “splash brothers” and James Harden will hit more iron than usual in this one.

College Hoops – by Derek Cooley
Saturday is always the best day for college hoops, with marquee matchups morning, noon and night. Weekly, I’ll provide a brief synopsis of what I see - as well as a final score “prediction” - which you can use as a guide to tackling the money line, spread and/or the over/under total.
Let’s take a look at how we faired against the spread and over/under the final totals according to last Saturday's score predictions, in comparison with the outcomes … as well as the upset selection.
Let’s build on that momentum into Saturday, which includes a couple of marquee matchups in the Big 12 … again. And a couple of upsets … again. If it isn’t broke, no need to fix it.
Against the Spread (last week/overall): (3-0) (5-1)
Over/Under: (3-0) (5-1)
Upset Pick: (0-1) (1-1)
Last Week: 6-1 (.857)
Year to Date: 11-3 (.786)
Saturday, Feb 21
#23 West Virginia @ #22 Oklahoma State  (2 p.m. ET, ESPNN)
The Cowboys look to reestablish themselves and their home court while welcoming in the West Virginia Mountaineers, who happen to be coming off a thrilling victory over Kansas in Morgantown. Just my opinion, but Perry Ellis needs to make that layup at the end … no excuses there. Oklahoma State has lost two in a row, one a pretty embarrassing loss at TCU and a closer home defeat to an excellent Iowa State squad. The Cowboys and their fans will be ready for this one, an important résumé game against a team coming off a huge W. This will be a dogfight, but LeBryan Nash and Phil Forte III will be the difference in the very end as they will be up for this game.
West Virginia - 67
Oklahoma State -70
Minnesota @ #5 Wisconsin (noon ET, ESPN)
This one is pretty simple, it’s just the margin of victory that separates our kind from the lands of victory and the depths of defeat. The Kohl Center up in Mad-town has eaten the B1G alive, and Minnesota will, without a doubt, be the next victim. The Golden Gophers have been pitiful on the road this year. Just a terrible combo if you are from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Wisconsin … easily.
Minnesota - 61
Wisconsin - 77
#14 Iowa State @ Texas (2 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
College Basketball tends to get crazy in the latter stages of February, and this game will be no different. You never truly know what you are going to get from Texas, in general, even though they’ve played some great games in Austin. The same goes for the Cyclones, especially on the road. Even though they went into Stillwater, Okla., and got a huge road victory (not so much for the résumé as they are solidly dancing, but for the psyche of this team), they are still capable of being the Cyclones that showed up against teams like Texas Tech and South Carolina (games away from home). This one will be a classic, just as the last matchup between these two squads (89-86 ISU victory). I think Myles Turner can be a major factor in this one, and Texas will avenge an earlier loss in Ames with an enormous win in front of the fans.  
I love home teams in February. Everyone does, you just have to pick the right situations at the right times.
Iowa State - 77
Texas - 79
Upset Watch:  #19 Butler @ Xavier (2:00pm ET)
Ponies – by Joe Kristufek
Last Saturday was one we’d rather soon forget. Conquest Typhoon ran third as the El Camino Real Derby favorite, but Code West put forth an uninspired performance in the Essex Handicap and, after fighting hard to the top of the stretch, Sweet Marini threw in the towel in the Santa Maria Stakes.
Last Week: 3-0-0-1 ($2 WPS * $18 wagered * $2.80 returned)
Season Total: 67-20-11-6 ($2 WPS * $402 wagered * $440.40 returned = $6.57 ROI)
Saturday, Feb. 21
Gulfstream Park – Hallandale, Fla.
Race 11 – Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2)
#4 Gorgeous Bird (morning-line odds, 6-1)
Although I think Frosted is the most likely winner, this gorgeous gray son of Unbridled’s Song is the value play. He’s improved with every start and simply looked awesome in winning a recent allowance race. He appears to be fearless and is blessed with a very efficient stride. I think he has a chance to be really, really good.
Fair Grounds – New Orleans, La.
Race 10 – Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G3)
#4 West Coast Belle (morning-line odds, 6-1)
A winner of three straight races to begin her career, including the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs, she was well beaten by Rachel Alexandra rival I’m a Chatterbox in in the Silverbulletday Stakes. She endured a tough trip that day, while the winner was advantaged on the lead. I’m a Chatterbox is a very nice filly, but she drew poorly outside with lots of speed inside of her. The tables can be turned.
Race 11 - Risen Star Stakes (G2)
#5 Imperia (morning-line odds, 7-2)
This royally bred son of Medaglia d’Oro made his early mark on turf, but he also passed his first dirt test with flying colors, finishing a fast-closing second behind the multiple stakes-winning El Kabeir. He returns fresh off a strong series of workouts and should have an honest pace to kick into in this one. If you’re looking for a longshot, give solid consideration to #3 Bluff (12-1) off a visually impressive local maiden breaker.
IMPERIA WINNING AT BELMONT PARK IN 2014

Photo by NYRA