Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks open ESPN NBA doubleheader

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Mar 312011

The Boston Celtics will be in a tough spot Friday when they visit the Atlanta Hawks in a nationally televised NBA matchup at Philips Arena (8 pm ET, ESPN).

The Celtics will be playing the second game of a tough back-to-back situation, while the Hawks will be well rested and are riding a three-game win streak.

Boston (51-22 SU, 33-38-2 ATS) has struggled mightily recently, and have fallen out of first place in the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta (43-32 SU, 35-40 ATS) has been inconsistent this season but has put together a modest win streak, as well as covering the spread in four straight.

Head-to-head,  the Celtics are 6-4 straight up and 4-6 against the spread over the past 10 meetings. This is their third meeting this season, and Boston has won and covered both previous games, including a 102-90 win on Dec. 16, when the Celtics cashed as a 7-point home favorite.

The Celtics faced the Spurs in San Antonio on Thursday. Atlanta beat the Orlando Magic 85-82 in its last game Wednesday.

Later Friday, the free-falling Utah Jazz face the surging Los Angeles Lakers at the Energy Solutions Arena (10:30 pm ET, ESPN).

Utah (36-39 SU, 31-42-2 ATS) has lost six straight and eight of its past 10, and is now completely out of the Western Conference playoff picture. Its latest loss may have been its most demoralizing: a 100-95 home-court setback against the Washington Wizards, the NBA’s worst road team (2-35 SU)

Conversely, the Lakers (53-20 SU, 35-38 ATS) have won seven in a row and an astounding 15 of their past 16 games. The two time defending NBA champion Lakers are looking like they’re ready for another long playoff run. They also look like they’re aiming for first place in the Western conference, as they trail the San Antonio Spurs by just 3.5 games headed into action Thursday.

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Boston Red Sox an early World Series favorite in MLB Betting

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Mar 302011

The 2011 Major League Baseball season gets underway Thursday and it could be a very good year for the Boston Red Sox.

MLB Betting and Baseball Picks have the Red Sox as +350 favorites to win the 2011 World Series.

The Red Sox are a team many expect could return to their glory years this season when all the changes the team’s made over the winter are taken into account.

Boston finished the 2011 campaign at 89-73, third in what was a fairly weak American League East division last season. The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, with the 3rd and 2nd best records in the majors, respectively, finished ahead of the Red Sox.

The Red Sox were plagued with injuries, especially to key players Josh Beckett and Jacoby Ellsbury.

General Manager Theo Epstein made some bold moves in the offseason, starting with the signing of coveted Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford to a 7-year, $142-million contract. Crawford was a 2010 Gold Glove winner.

Boston also made one of the biggest trades of the offseason, acquiring first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from the San Diego Padres for a number of prospects, including pitcher Casey Kelly, free-agent 1B Anthony Rizzo and OF Reymond Fuentes.

The Red Sox boast one of the best starting lineups in MLB: Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, 2B Dustin Pedroia, 3B Kevin Youkilis, SS Marco Scutaro, OF Jacoby Ellsbury, OF Carl Crawford, OF J.D. Drew, and, entering his 15th season, designated hitter David “Big Papi” Ortiz.

And Boston’s starting rotation is equally formidable, and includes Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and reliever Tim Wakefield.

Posted by admin at 9:46 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

New Jersey Nets visit New York Knicks on ESPN

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Mar 292011

Atlantic division rivals the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks clash at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday (7:30 pm ET, ESPN).

NBA Odds and Basketball Picks will have the struggling Knicks favored in this matchup.

New Jersey (23-49 SU, 34-38 ATS) has lost two in a row, the latest a 98-87 setback against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The Nets failed to cover as a 9.5-point road underdog and the score went under the total of 187.5.

New York (36-38 SU, 41-31-2 ATS) snapped a six-game slide with a 113-106 overtime win over the Orlando Magic on Monday, covering as a 2-point home underdog. The score went over the total of 206.

Head-to-head, New York is 6-4 SU and 6-3-1 ATS in the past 10 meetings between the teams. Seven of the past 10 have gone under the total.

This is the third meeting of the season between the teams, and the Knicks are a perfect 2-0 SU and ATS. New York won the last meeting 105-95 on Feb. 12 and covered the spread as a 2.5-point road favorite. The score was under the total of 206.5. The Knicks won 111-100 on Nov. 30 and covered as a 4.5-point home favorite. The score went over the total of 205.

Posted by admin at 7:09 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

LeBron James, Miami Heat visit Cleveland Cavaliers

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Mar 282011

LeBron James makes his second homecoming of the season to Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday, when the Miami Heat face the Cleveland Cavaliers (7 pm ET, NBA TV).

Miami (51-22 SU and 33-39-1 ATS) beat the Houston Rockets 125-119 on Sunday but failed to cover as an 8-point home favorite. The score went over the total of 209. The Heat are again red-hot, winning five straight and eight of its last nine, while

Cleveland (14-58 SU, 29-40-3 ATS) is stumbling along toward the offseason, and after beating the Detroit Pistons to end a four-game losing streak on Friday, the Cavs are in a position to start a new skid after losing 99-83 to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. The Cavs failed to cash as a 5-point home underdog and the score went under the total of 188.5.  

The game Tuesday marks James’ second visit to Cleveland since he opted to leave the Cavaliers as a free agent and sign with the Heat last summer.

When the Heat visited Cleveland Dec. 2, James, in his first game back, was booed relentlessly. But he responded with 38 points as the Heat hammered his old team 118-90.

They’ve met twice since then. Miami has won both, starting with a 101-95 win at home on Dec. 15, when they fell well short of covering as a 16.5-point favorite. The Heat made up fop that when they again routed the Cavs in their most recent meeting, winning 117-90 on Jan. 31. The Heat cashed as a 17.5-point favorite.

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Philadelphia 76ers face surging Chicago Bulls on NBA TV

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Mar 272011

NBA Betting action Monday features the Chicago Bulls hosting the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center (8 pm ET, NBA TV).

Philadelphia (37-36 SU, 43-29-1 ATS) faced the Sacramento Kings on Sunday for the second time in nine days, and fell 114-111 in OT, unable to cash as an 8.5-point favorite.

Chicago (53-19 SU, 45-25-2 ATS) began the weekend with a 99-96 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. The Bulls failed to cover as a 9-point favorite. On Saturday, the Bulls were trailing the Milwaukee Bucks 87-83 with under three minutes left before mounting a 12-0 run to pull out a 95-87 win. Chicago cashed as 5.5-point road favorite and the score was over the 178-point total.

The 76ers are 4-6 SU in its past 10 games and sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Philly has pretty much wrapped up a playoff spot in the East.

The Bulls continue to improve on its first-place position in the Eastern standings with a 9-1 SU record in their past 10. Chicago has won four straight and holds a 2.5-game lead over the second-place Boston Celtics.

Head-to-head, the Bulls are 6-4 SU and ATS in the past 10 meetings, eight of which have gone over the total. This is the third meeting of the season and the teams have split the first two, each 1-1 straight up and against the point spread. The 76ers won 105-99 in their last meeting on Jan. 7, cashing as a 1-point home underdog.

Posted by admin at 8:54 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Dallas Mavericks visit Phoenix Suns on ESPN

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Mar 262011

The Dallas Mavericks face the Phoenix Suns in a nationally televised NBA Matchup on Sunday at the U.S. Airways Center (10:30 pm ET, ESPN).

Head-to-head, the Mavericks are 8-2 straight up and 7-3 against the spread in the past 10 meetings. The teams have met twice already in 2010-11, with Dallas at 2-0 SU and ATS, including a 112-106 win in their last meeting Feb. 17 in Phoenix. The Mavs cashed in that game as a 2-point road favorite.

Dallas picked up its second win in a row Thursday with a 104-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Mavericks could not cash as a 15-point home favorite. Phoenix beat the Toronto Raptors 114-106 on Wednesday and covered as a 7.5-point home favorite.

Dallas (50-21 SU, 36-33-2 ATS) was one of the hottest teams in the NBA up until about three weeks ago. The Mavericks have struggled at 5-5 SU in their past 10, although they are still in a good position at 3rd in the Western Conference, one game back of the 2nd-place Los Angeles Lakers, and three games ahead of the fourth place Oklahoma City Thunder.

Phoenix (36-34 SU, 34-34-2) is in a much more desperate situation and is in real danger of missing the NBA Playoffs. The Suns are 4-6 SU in their past 10 and sit three games back of the 8th place Memphis Grizzlies and one game behind the 9th place Houston Rockets.    

Phoenix, which is 4th in points per game and 3rd in assists, has won three of its past four but will need at least nine wins in its last 12 games of the season to have a chance at the postseason.

Posted by admin at 6:32 pm Tagged with: , , , , ,

Butler Bulldogs face Florida Gators in Elite Eight on CBS

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Mar 252011

College Basketball Betting on Saturday features the No. 8 seed Butler Bulldogs trying to advance to the Final Four for the second straight year when they tackle the No. 2 seed Florida Gators in an Elite Eight matchup at the NCAA Tournament at New Orleans Arena (4:30 pm ET, CBS).

March Madness Odds and Basketball Picks have the Gators as a 3.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 132.

As they again make their way through March Madness, the Bulldogs (26-9 SU, 18-4-1 ATS) are again knocking off top seeds, last week the No. 1 seed Pitt Panthers and on Thursday the No. 4 seed Wisconsin Badgers. Butler beat Wisconsin 61-54 and cashed as a 4.5-point underdog in their Sweet 16 matchup. The score stayed under the total of 124. The win was Butler’s 12th straight.

Florida (29-7 SU, 17-14-1 ATS) beat the upstart BYU Cougars 83-74 Thursday, covering as a 2-point favorite for its third straight win.

The last time Butler and Florida met was the 2007 NCAA Tournament, when Florida beat Butler 65-57 in the Sweet 16 en route to its second straight national title.

The second Elite Eight game Saturday has the No. 5 seed Arizona Wildcats facing the No. 3 seed Connecticut Huskies at the Honda Center in Anaheim (10:05 pm ET, CBS).

UConn is a 2-point favorite against Arizona and the over/under total is 145.

Arizona (30-7 SU, 19-15-1 ATS) pulled off the biggest upset of the Big Dance when it beat the No. 1 seed and defending NCAA Basketball champion Duke Blue Devils 93-77 on Thursday.

Connecticut (29-9 SU, 21-11 ATS) beat the San Diego State Aztecs 74-67 in their Sweet 16 matchup Thursday, cashing as a 2-point underdog. Kemba Walker led UConn with 36 points.

Arizona and Connecticut have met just twice since 2002. UConn is 2-0 SU and ATS, and won 79-70 the last time the teams met Nov. 22, 2005, covering as a 1.5-point home favorite.

Posted by admin at 6:29 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

No. 1 seeds North Carolina Tar Heels, Ohio State Buckeyes look to advance to Elite Eight on CBS

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Mar 242011

The Big East had a record 11 teams in the NCAA Tournament, and the lowest of those seeds, the No. 11 Marquette Golden Eagles, is now one of just two remaining teams from the conference going into the Sweet 16 round.

The Golden Eagles take on the No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels in an East Region semifinal at the Prudential Center in Newark on Friday (7:15 pm ET, CBS).

NCAAB Odds and Basketball Picks have the Tar Heels are a 4.5-point favorite and the over/under is at 149.5.

Marquette (22-14 SU, 18-12 ATS, 9-9 Big East) has won four of its past five while North Carolina (28-7 SU, 15-16-1 ATS, 14-2 ACC) has won 11 of its past 12.

Later Friday, the marquee matchup of March Madness so far has the No. 4 seed Kentucky Wildcats facing the No. 1 seed Ohio State Buckeyes at the Prudential Center in Newark (9:45 pm ET, CBS).

March Madness Picks have the Buckeyes as a 5.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 140.

While this is the fifth meeting between the teams since 1980, it’s the first in 15 years, since the Wildcats beat the Buckeyes 81-65 in 1996.

Kentucky (27-8 SU, 15-14-1 ATS, 10-6 SEC) has won eight in a row while Ohio State (34-2 SU, 18-15 ATS, 16-2 Big Ten) has won nine straight.

Kentucky beat the West Virginia Mountaineers 71-63 in the round of 32 on Saturday, cashing as a 3.5-point favorite. Ohio State hammered the George Mason Patriots 98-66, easily covering as an 11.5–point favorite.

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College Basketball Betting action enters Sweet 16 round

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Mar 232011

College Basketball Betting action on Thursday has the No. 8 Butler Bulldogs facing the No. 4 seed Wisconsin Badgers in a Southeast Region matchup in the Sweet 16 round (9:45 pm ET, TBS).

NCAAB Odds and Basketball Picks have the Badgers as a 4-point favorite and the over/under total at 124.

Butler (25-9 SU, 17-14-1 ATS) upset the Pittsburgh Panthers 71-70 in the round of 32 on Saturday, cashing as an 8-point underdog. Wisconsin (25-8 SU, 17-12 ATS) beat the Kansas State Wildcats 70-65 in their round of 32 game Saturday, covering as a 3.5-point favorite.

Another Sweet 16 matchup has the Florida Gators taking on the BYU Cougars in a Southeast Region game (7:30 pm ET, TBS).

The Gators are a 2.5-point favorite and the total is 149 in College Basketball Odds.

BYU beat the Gonzaga Bulldogs 89-67 and covered as a 1.5–point favorite on Saturday. Florida was a 73-65 winner against the UCLA Bruins and covered the 5–point spread as favorites.

And the Arizona Wildcats face the No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils at the Honda Center in Anaheim (9:45 pm ET, CBS).

The Blue Devils are an 8.5-point favorite and the over/under total is 144.5.

The Wildcats (29-7 SU, 18-15-1 ATS) pulled off one of many upsets in the round of 32, beating the Texas Longhorns 70-69 on Sunday. They covered s a 5.5-point underdog.

The Blue Devils (32-4 SU, 20-15 ATS) beat the Michigan Wolverines 73-71 on Sunday in their round of 32 game. The Blue Devils couldn’t cash as a 12.5–point favorite.

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NBA Betting: Orlando Magic @ New York Knicks on ESPN

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Mar 222011

The struggling New York Knicks host the streaking Orlando Magic in NBA Betting action Wednesday at Madison Square Garden (8 pm ET, ESPN).

NBA Odds and Basketball Picks have Orlando as a 1-point favorite and the over/under total is 202.

The teams are headed in opposite directions, Orlando winning three straight and the Knicks losing three in a row and six of their past seven.

Head-to-head, Orlando is 8-1 SU and 5-5 ATS in the past 10 meetings. This is the third meeting of the season and Orlando has won both games, which were both in Orlando.

Orlando (45-26 SU, 29-40-2 ATS) beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 97-86 on Monday but could not cover as a 12.5-point road favorite. The score went under the total of 193.5. The win moved the Magic to within 3.5 games of the third-place Miami Heat and 4.5 games ahead of the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks.

New York (35-35 SU, 40-28-1 ATS) lost 96-86 to the Boston Celtics on Monday, a game in which they had a 51-37 lead at halftime. New York failed to cover as a 1.5-point home underdog and the score stayed under the total of 199. The Knicks are seventh in the East and face the prospect of playing one of the top three teams – the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat – in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Posted by admin at 10:38 pm Tagged with: , , , , , ,
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