Sports Betting Picks – Wednesday, March 18
March 18, 2009
The countdown for March Madness betting is down to one days ! Let’s take some more from the sportsbook and continue to look at March Madness betting and do our regular dose of NBA betting:
NBA betting: Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Bobcats
Sportsbook odds: Bobcats -12.5
The Sacramento Kings have simply packed it up and packed it in. They were neck-in-neck with Atlanta last night until they simply mailed it in in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats are playing really well right now and this is their chance to gain some ground in the playoff race. Expect them to take advantage.
Online betting pick: Bobcats -12.5
NBA betting: Portland Trail Blazers @ Indiana Pacers
Sportsbook odds: Trail Blazers -1.5
It’s hard for me to lay points with the Trail Blazers when they needed a miracle to escape with a win against the Pacers at home just a couple of weeks ago. I’ll take a shot with the Pacers at home.
Online betting pick: Pacers +1.5
March Madness betting: Western Kentucky @ Illinois
Sportsbook odds: Illinois -4.5
The difference between these two teams is experience. Illinois’ whole squad has barely played a second in this tournament while Western Kentucky went to the Sweet Sixteen last year. I’ll go with the team who won’t have butterflies.
Online betting pick: Western Kentucky +4.5
March Madness betting: VCU vs UCLA
Sportsbook odds: UCLA -7
The magic is gone for VCU and Eric Maynor – I don’t care what they did about Duke a couple of years back. UCLA is going to route these guys even though UCLA isn’t that strong overall.
Online betting pick: UCLA -7
NHL betting: Chicago Blackhawks @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Sportsbook odds: Blue Jackets -130
The Jackets have been playing very well of late but the Chicago Blackhawks will have some revenge on their minds tonight. The Blue Jackets are 4-1 in their last five but one of those wins came at the hands of Chicago, who will return the favor tonight.
Online betting pick: Blackhawks +110
Sports Betting Picks – Friday, March 6
March 6, 2009
Alexander Ovechkin missed the contest last night, which makes me think the you should be able to list players in NHL betting as well as baseball. Tonight we hit the sportsbook hard so let’s get back to our bread and butter, NHL betting and NBA betting:
NBA betting: Atlanta Hawks @ Charlotte Bobcats
Sportsbook odds: Bobcats -2
Something is seriously wrong with the Atlanta Hawks. In the NBA playoffs last year, they looked so strong and carried it over early into this season but since the new year has started, they have been very average. The Hawks are 13-17 in the new year and have been very uncomfortable playing on the road. Bobcats were 11-22 on January 2nd, are now 15-13 since. I’ll stick with them as they trend upwards.
Online betting pick: Bobcats -2
NBA betting: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics
Sportsbook odds: Celtics -1.5
This is a very important game for the Boston Celtics. They are behind in the Eastern Conference standings for the top seed but a win tonight closes that gap to one. If it extends to three, the Celtics might not catch the Cavs for the rest of the season.
The Cavs have clinched a playoff spot but they know what this game means. The Celtics will get the job done tonight in front of their home crowd.
Online betting pick: Celtics -1.5
NHL betting: Montreal Canadiens @ Atlanta Thrashers
Sportsbook odds: Canadiens -155
The Thrashers are a home underdog tonight but they should probably be an underdog in almost every game the rest of the season. The Canadiens have won four of their last five games and should be able to handle the feeble Thrashers tonight.
Online betting pick: Canadiens -155
NHL betting: Dallas Stars @ Anaheim Ducks
Sportsbook odds: Ducks -150
The Dallas Stars are reeling right now, with just one win in their last six games. Meanwhile, the Ducks are not a powerhouse but at least they are a decent team right now. the Stars have too many injuries up front to really compete.
Online betting pick: Ducks -150
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
