No. 9 West Va. lost at No. 14 Pitt Thursday night, 57-53. It was the 169th meeting between the two long time rivals, but the first meeting to be classified the two! The Mountaineers shot just 34% of the plant, including just 6-for-27 in three!

First it was Big West Va. loss this year, down the number of remaining undefeated in conference shortly SIX, heading into the weekend. In the only game involving two ranked opponents last night, No. 19 Ohio State won in Ann Arbor, Michigan, No. 22, 94-85!

My game is free on Friday for the Denver Nuggets on the Dallas Mavericks at 10:30 ET. My victory easy on the Kings last night, I get a 4-1 run to 80% in the NBA over the last seven days. Friday, I'm with two strong 10 * plays in the NBA. Do not miss my Eastern Conference Game of the Month in the Western Conference or my entire month. Best of all, you only have to pay after winning!

Three other Top 25 teams in action on Thursday and all three won. While the 13th UCLA scored only 50 points, the Bruins still won by 20! UCLA's 50-30 win in the State of Washington was his 13th consecutive victory in Pullman and the Bruins win 25th in their last 26 games with the Cougars.

No. 15 Georgetown won easily at home (64-41 of San Juan) and No. 21 USC beat Washington in Seattle, 87-73. Testing on one of the five schools remain winless in conference play, San Buenaventura lost his match in row 11 (tying a school), 81-70 at home against Fordham. That drops to 0-10 this year in the A-10.

College Basketball has only four games tonight, all in the Ivy League. Penn, 4-0 in the Ivy and one of the six remaining unbeatens in Division I conference will be at 3:15 tonight Dartmouth at 7:00 ET. The Quakers have a 14 with a total of 124 1 / 2.

As always, the weekend is full of basketball action college at least a dozen nationally televised games. There are four games this weekend with top-25 opponents. No. 13 UCLA at Washington is No. 21 and No. 18 Iowa is at No. 24 Indiana, both on Saturday. On Sunday, No. 9 West Va in Georgetown, No. 15 and No. 10 Illinois at 19 State Ohio.

The Mavericks crushed the Heat 112-76 last night and the Kings handled the Bulls 98-80, last night by double TNT boring. The victory extended the winning streak Dallas to a NBA season-high 13 games (11-2 ATS). The Mavs have held all 13 opponents under 100 points, allowing an average of only 86.5 PPG during the streak.

As for the Kings, who have won seven consecutive home games, including a house brand 4-0 SU and ATS since acquiring Artest. Also of note should be that in the seven games played Artest of Sacramento, the Kings have allowed opponents to shoot just 41 percent. That compares to 46 percent in the unit allows pre-Artest.

12-Friday night NBA game schedule is highlighted by a double from ESPN. The first game is the San Antonio Spurs over the New Jersey Nets (8:00 ET). The Nets will keep its 12 games (9-3 ATS) home winning streak on the line against the Spurs, a team that has been 1.11 since losing to the Pistons again on 12 January. However, Tim Duncan missed San Antonio's last game with the flu and is listed questionable. The Spurs are favored by 2 1 / 2 points with a total of 179.

In nightcap, Dallas puts its 13 game winning streak on the line in Denver against the Nuggets (10:30 ET). Talk about opposites! While Dallas as a team falls more hot League, Denver has lost six of their previous seven games and enters tonight in a nine-game losing ATS. That said, these two teams have played two matches very close this year. The Mavericks have the Nuggets edged Dallas 83-80 and 114-112 in the Old Testament, in Denver. Dallas is favored by four points with a total of 201.

Testing on the other game, go to the Celtics host the Trailblazers at 7:35 ET. Boston won its first game after seven-player trade with Minnesota, but has since gone 0-6 SU and ATS. Meanwhile, Portland enters this game an impressive 9-3-1 ATS their last 13 games. Boston is favored by 5 1 / 2 points A total of 184 1 / 2.

The Knicks will try to snap a seven-game losing streak in Oklahoma City against the Hornets at 8:05 ET. The Knicks have lost 13 of 14 overall (3-11 ATS), while the Hornets have done very well this year in "home games, going 14-9-1 SU and ATS 16.8. The Hornets are favored by six points with a total of 186 1 / 2. Finally, the Charlotte Bobcats have won a franchise high three straight games and will host the Raptors at 7:35 ET, a team that is a super 16-7-1 ATS on the road. Toronto is favored by two points with a total of 210.

Ness Notes is available by 1:00 ET Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday notes are ready by 9:00 ET.

Larry Ness is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at [http://www.procappers.com/Larry_Ness.htm].

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