Quick Hitters: LSU fans pissed about DC hire

Published on Wednesday, 1/14/15, at 12:06 a.m. Eastern. 

–LSU announced the hiring of Kevin Steele as its new defensive coordinator last night. According to the Shreveport Times, the reaction in ‘Red Stick’ was one of immense disappointment, especially after false reports from Tuesday morning indicated Les Miles was on the verge of hiring Alabama DC Kirby Smart. A terrible loss to Notre Dame has apparently left LSU fans in a foul mood.

–Ohio St. won the 2014 national title with Monday’s 42-20 win over Oregon as a six-point underdog. Looking ahead to the 2015 schedule, it’s an absolute joke. After the Buckeyes open the year at Va. Tech, the rest of the non-conference slate consists of these three home games: vs. Hawaii, vs. No. Illinois and vs. Western Michigan. They don’t have to play Wisconsin during the regular season and get Michigan St. at home.

Al Horford was the catalyst in Atlanta's ninth straight win Tuesday night.

Al Horford was the catalyst in Atlanta’s ninth straight win Tuesday night.

–Al Horford posted his first career triple-double Tuesday night to lead Atlanta to a 105-87 win at Philadelphia. Horford had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Hawks, who have won nine in a row both straight up and against the spread. They are 23-3 in their last 26 games with a 21-5 spread record. Mike Budenolzer’s team returns to the court Wednesday night at Boston. The second-year coach rested starters Jeff Teague and DeMarre Carroll with game against the 76ers starting a stretch of four games in five days for the Eastern Conference leaders.

–Mo Williams scored a career-high 52 points to spark Minnesota to an upset win at Indianapolis. The Timberwolves, who snapped a 15-game losing, outscored the Pacers by 15 points in the fourth quarter to collect a 110-101 win. They won outright as 11-point underdogs, hooking up money-line supporters with a +525 payout (paid $525 on $100 wagers).

–Sacramento’s Rudy Gay sprained his knee in Tuesday’s overtime home loss to Dallas. He is considered day-to-day.

–Chicago’s Mike Dunleavy is ‘questionable’ tonight vs. Washington. The Wizards won for the fourth time in five games by knocking off the Spurs and taking the cash at home last night. The Bulls, who are 7-13 ATS at home, are looking to bounce back from Monday’s home loss to the Magic as double-digit home ‘chalk.’

–In college hoops, Miami ended Duke’s 41-game home winning streak by smashing the Blue Devils 90-74 as a 15.5-point underdog. The Westgate SuperBook had the Hurricanes with 10/1 odds to win outright.

–I’m not sure Virginia isn’t the best team in the country  here in mid-January. The Cavs covered as double-digit ‘chalk’ in a blowout home win over Clemson last night.

–Georgia will be short-handed tonight at Vanderbilt. Kenny Paul-Geno and Yante Maten are ‘out’ with injuries and Juwan Parker (Achilles) is expected to be a game-time decision. Maten, who has a team-high 26 blocks and scores 4.9 points per game, sustained a concussion when he was hit by a car in a pedestrian cross-walk in Athens yesterday . Parker averages 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs are 0-2 in SEC play after dropping a pair of heartbreakers last week. They blew a double-digit second-half lead at home against Arkansas, which snapped UGA’s six-game winning streak. Then in Baton Rouge on Saturday night, Mark Fox’s squad lost by three in overtime. The Commodores were 2.5-point home favorites as of early this morning.

–The trilogy between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler has been nixed. Hendricks will now face Matt Brown in the co-main event at UFC 185 in March. Rory MacDonald is scheduled to face Hector Lombard, so it appears that Lawler, the reigning champion by virtue of a win over Hendricks, will get some well-deserved rest.

–Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports reported last night that Manny Pacquiao has agreed to a 40/60 split of revenue to fight Floyd Mayweather at MGM Grand Garden Arena in May. Bob Arum told Iole that the Pacquiao camp is now waiting to hear back from Mayweather. I feel like we’ve been here before…..like 387 times! I won’t hold my breath.

–I’m on a 13-2 run with my NBA picks since Dec. 27. I have two plays already posted for tonight that you can check out here. I’ve been hitting NBA winners at a 64-percent clip so far this year.

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