Sports Betting Picks – Monday, March 16
March 16, 2009
March Madness betting is finally here! How the hell is Arizona in the Tournament? Let’s bang the sportsbook and start look at March Madness betting and do our regular dose of NBA betting:
NBA betting: Toronto Raptors @ Charlotte Bobcats
Sportsbook odds: Bobcats -6.5
The Charlotte Bobcats are surging while the Toronto Raptors have folded like a cheap tent. To be honest, the fact that the Raptors defeated the lowly Indiana Pacers in blowout fashion to end a seven-game winning streak doesn’t even impress me. The Bobcats are focused and have a goal in mind. The Raptors are done.
Online betting pick: Bobcats -6.5
NBA betting: New Jersey Nets @ Denver Nuggets
Sportsbook odds: Nuggets -12
This is a huge line for the Nuggets and I know they play well at home, the Nets play better on the road. The Nuggets don’t play any defense whatsoever and they’ll be facing a team that has weapons. With Devin Harris, Vince Carter and Brook Lopez, the Nets will be able to match points. I think the Nets probably lose in the end but 12 points is too many to lay.
Online betting pick: Nets +12
March Madness betting: Binghampton vs Duke
Sportsbook odds: Duke -21.5
Binghampton: welcome to March Madness. This is the first time they are ever in the Tournament and they get to face Duke. But Duke has been pantsed in the last few tournaments, so they won’t be overlooking anyone. With their lethal three-point shot, they can cover this big number.
Online betting pick: Duke -21.5
March Madness betting: Radford vs North Carolina
Sportsbook odds: North Carolina -26.5
This is a key number. Check this out: if Ty Lawson doesn’t play, then I really like Radford. If Ty Lawson does play, then I’m really into North Carolina. They are by far the superior team and will roll big time.
Online betting pick: North Carolina -26.5
Sports Betting Picks – Monday, March 9
March 9, 2009
The NHL has been rough for us in the sportsbook, so we’ll shift our focus to things that we are better at, like March Madness betting and NBA betting:
NBA betting: Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Sportsbook odds: PICK
The Orlando Magic have won four in a row and are finding their stroke again with Rafer Alston in the lineup. Even so, they aren’t the same team without Jameer Nelson and they aren’t as big of a threat in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons have won of their last five games and are all of the sudden a cohesive, dangerous unit again now that Allen Iverson is not playing.
The Magic are off a huge win on Sunday, trampling Boston 86-79 so don’t expect back-to-back road wins.
Online betting pick: Pistons PICK
NBA betting: Houston Rockets @ Denver Nuggets
Sportsbook odds: Nuggets -3.5
The Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets are battling for playoff positioning and Monday night’s game is very key. Denver is coming unglued with losses in four of their last five games and seven of their last 10. Meanwhile, the Rockets have been the opposite, winning 10 of their last 12. The knee-jerk reaction is to like the Rockets but the Nuggets are still 23-7 at home and six of the seven losses in their last 10 came on the road. Nuggets get one back tonight.
Online betting pick: Nuggets -3.5
College Basketball betting: St. Mary’s @ Gonzaga
Sportsbook odds: NO LINE
Gonzaga owns the WCC and another conference title should be on the way. St. Mary’s is pretty good but without Patrick Mills, they aren’t as much of a threat. Look for the ‘Zags to handle their business tonight.
Online betting pick: Gonzaga
College Basketball betting: North Texas @ Western Kentucky
Sportsbook odds: Western Kentucky -4.5
The Mean Green don’t stack up with the Hilltopppers. WKU is among the best in the conference and should compete with Troy to win the thing, but the Mean Green are just so-so. I’ll stick with the proven product.
Online betting pick: Western Kentucky -4.5
Sports Betting Picks – Thursday, March 5
March 5, 2009
The Spurs were just two points away from covering, which left me two points short of a 3-0 night with the sportsbook, Back to NHL betting and NBA betting for tonight:
NBA betting: Dallas Mavericks @ New Orleans Hornets
Sportsbook odds: Hornets -6
The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Hornets are two of the softest teams in the West. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban called his team out and they finally performed well with a home win over the San Antonio Spurs. Cuban called them out after they lost in Oklahoma City the previous game.
Both teams are soft but I figure the line will be small for the Hornets and at home, I’ll take them if they have to win by just a small margin. They actually perform better at home against good teams and struggle at home versus bad teams.
Online betting pick: New Orleans Hornets
NBA betting: Portland Trail Blazers @ Denver Nuggets
Sportsbook odds: Nuggets -6
Both teams play much better at home so the original inclination is to go with the Nuggets. The Trail Blazers are without Oden and have been a bit soft inside.
Carmelo Anthony missed his last contest because of a team-imposed suspension and should be on fire tonight. The Nuggets have lost two straight and that streak should end tonight at home, where they are 4-1 against Portland in their last five meetings.
Online betting pick: Nuggets -6
NHL betting: Edmonton Oilers @ Ottawa Senators
Sportsbook odds: Senators -115
The Ottawa Senators are back to playing good hockey but the Edmonton Oilers just made a few good moves at the trade deadline, which should spark the team. It’s unclear whether the new Oilers like Kotalik and O’Sullivan will be in the lineup right away but the rest of the team should feel excited that management cares as much about this season as they do.
Online betting pick: Oilers -105
NHL betting: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Washington Capitals
Sportsbook odds: Capitals -290
The Capitals are a huge favorite tonight at home against the Maple Leafs and how can you blame the sportsbook oddsmakers? The Leafs have made it fairly clear: they are mailing it in. Meanwhile the Capitals, who are sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, weren’t exactly compelled to make a move at the trade deadline.
Online betting pick: Capitals -290
Wednesday Sports Betting Picks
March 4, 2009
2-1 night means profits for me and not for the sportsbook, Let’s do it up NHL betting and NBA betting styles today:
NBA betting: Milwaukee Bucks @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Sportsbook odds: Cavaliers -13
This is a huge number but I think the Cavaliers are capable of covering it. They worked the Bucks over on February 20th, when they won by eight at the Bradley Center. There was some beef in that game between Charlie Villanueva and Anderson Varejao, which might bleed over into tonight. Cavs are just so dominant tonight.
Online betting pick: Cavaliers -13
NBA betting: San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks
Sportsbook odds: Mavericks -2.5
I’m not laying any points with the Mavericks. I simply don’t trust them. They just lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were without Jeff Green and Kevin Durant. How is that even possible?
Online betting pick: Spurs +2.5
NHL betting: Detroit Red Wings @ Colorado Avalanche
Sportsbook odds: Red Wings -200
Trade Deadline
Not a ton happening in the NHL tonight but it’s hard not to like the Detroit Red Wings, even with their big price tag. The Red Wings are one of the best teams in the West while the Avalanche are the worst team in the West. The math seems pretty simple to me even at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
Online betting pick: Blue Jackets -165
Tuesday Sports Betting Picks
March 3, 2009
Good work, sportsbook, as I got taken for a ride yesterday with a few tough and close losses. Thanks to the Thunder and Heat for not showing up. Onwards and upwards to NHL betting and NBA betting today:
NBA betting: Indiana Pacers @ Sacramento Kings
Sportsbook odds: Pacers -2.5
My god. Pick your poison here. Fine, I will! I’ll take the Kings at home mostly because they are at home. The Indiana Pacers are a bad team themselves and I’m not laying points on the road with them anywhere, especially if Danny Granger is out. I’ll give the Kings a shot at home.
Online betting pick: Kings +2.5
NBA betting: Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Lakers
Sportsbook odds: Lakers -15.5
The Lakers are laying a huge number tonight and that number is so big because they are coming off a loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers were upended on Sunday on National television, which is why a lot of people feel they’ll bounce-back easily. I’ll take a shot with the Grizzlies to keep it somewhat respectable.
Online betting pick: Grizzlies +15.5
NHL betting: Los Angeles Kings @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Sportsbook odds: Blue Jackets -165
The Los Angeles Kings have been terrible all season long and they are in a pretty serious funk right now. They have won just twice in their last 10 games. The Columbus Blue Jackets are now a decent team and although in the past I wouldn’t be comfortable laying this huge number, this is now a playoff team who should be able to take care of business at home.
Online betting pick: Blue Jackets -165
Thursday Sports Betting Picks
February 26, 2009
I guess it’s that time to start thinking about NASCAR betting since the weekend race in Las Vegas is almost upon us. Cousin Carl won the race here last year but how do you go against Matt Kenseth at this point? Everything is humming for him, including his car, which has been the best this year.
I’ll take my chances with him on the Shelby 427 odds, even though he’s basically the co-favorite at +550.
For tonight specifically, I’ll look into some NBA betting and NHL betting.
Two games in the NBA, so let’s start there:
NBA betting: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Houston Rockets
Sportsbook odds: Cavaliers -2.5
I think on most nights, Cleveland would be a safe play here but on the road against a Western Conference opponent, I still don’t trust them. I think Yao Ming gives them some problems tonight as the Rockets win a tight one. As mediocre as the Rockets have been this season, they are still 23-6 at home.
Online betting pick: Rockets +2.5
NBA betting: Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns
Sportsbook odds: no line
This has complete mismatch written all over it as the Los Angeles Lakers are clearly the superior team. On top of that, the Suns will be without Amare Stoudemire for this contest and might also be without Steve Nash and Jason Richardson, who are both questionable. The Lakers will have a field day if that’s the case and the Shaq-Kobe storyline won’t even matter.
Online betting pick: Los Angeles Lakers
NHL betting: Colorado Avalanche @ New Jersey Devils
Sportsbook odds: Devils -210
It’s Martin Brodeur’s return and the Devils get a freebie as they face one of the worst teams in the league. The Avalanche are simply brutal and are more focused on their upcoming fire sale at the trade deadline than they are about any specific game. For the Devils, they’d like to give their star goaltender a warm welcome back so look for them to get a big win.
Online betting pick: Devils -210
