Two teams heading in opposite directions and in very different positions. The Portland Trail Blazers are in third place in the West, have won 11 in a row but still only 4 1/2 games in front of the Clippers and Nuggets who are tied for ninth. The Detroit Pistons have lost eight of their last 10 to drop 5 1/5 games behind the eighth-place Miami Heat in the East (before Miami's game against the Lakers Friday).

Trail Blazers are 16-4-1 ATS in their last 21 home games. Pistons are 1-8 ATS in their last nine road games.

This spread doesn't scare me, and I see no reason not to back the red hot favorite in this matchup.

My selection is a 10* play on Portland Trail Blazers.