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
This Week In College Basketball
February 19, 2009
Take a break from your UFC 95 picks and let’s focus on March Madness betting for a minute.
This has been an interesting week in college basketball betting. The North Carolina Tar Heels won again, which puts them at 10 straight wins. Also, the Memphis Tigers won again, which puts them at 17 straight wins.
The big news here is that these teams still are not receiving the type of attention that they are used to.
NCAA basketball betting fans couldn’t stop talking about North Carolina at the beginning of the season but after a stretch of two losses in three games, they’ve been back-seated by other schools like Pittsburgh and UConn.
Memphis followed a different path, but they also aren’t talked about at all. Nobody even considered that the Tigers would factor in final four lines but they have won 17 straight after starting just 6-3. Freshmen sensation Tyreke Evans is now a player, opposed to early in the year when he was raw and inexperienced.
Keep an eye on both of these teams. They are experienced and well coached, and more importantly, they are playing their best ball as the season moves closer to the Tournament. They might make it to the final four point.
If you want more UFC 95 picks, check out Dirty Harry’s Backyard and for more basketball news check out Roy Jordan.
March Madness; Still Too Many Days Away
February 6, 2009
Does anyone have any Final Four props up yet? The NBA season is kind of boring right now and the NHL season is still – what seems like – two months away from finish the first half.
I’m look at the Final Four odds at this point in the March Madness betting season and the odds-on favorites is North Carolina, even though they are not a top seed, Pittsburgh, UConn and Duke.
North Carolina looks like a good play to me at +250 for an NCAA bet. To me, it’s the Florida Gators (NCAA Football) effect. They looked unstoppable early, were upset a couple of times, but now are back on their winning pace. I expect them to bring their A-Game in the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAAB betting price on them is the lowest of any team, but I genuinely think they are the team to beat.
