Sports Wagers Basketball Tracking

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

MINNESOTA -6½ over Sacramento  -206.00

The Kings appear to be on the rise with three consecutive wins and that allows us an opportunity to cash in on what most perceive as “too many points”, especially with Kevin Love suspended. Frankly, we'd be surprised to see Sacramento stay within double-digits of the Timberwolves. Two of the Kings three wins came at home against visiting Portland and Golden State, the former by three points and the latter in OT. They also defeated the (4-21) Hornets in New Orleans last night in a game they trailed by 13 at the half. Prior to those three wins, the Kings lost to Golden State and Utah, both by just three points. The Kings have played five straight intense games. Now they'll play their fourth game in six days, third game in four days and tail end of back-to-backs. For sound teams, that's a daunting task. Sacramento is anything but sound. They rank 30th in the Association in both points allowed and assists per game. Meanwhile, Minnesota has won five of seven with only two losses over that span coming against the Lakers and Pacers. Look for the Timberwolves to give a little extra here in support of Love, who will serve the first game of his suspension. The T-Wolves have been off since Saturday and they really should have little trouble disposing of this weak intruder right from the tipoff. Play: Minnesota -6½ (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers CBB

Purdue +14 over OHIO STATE Pinnacle
The Buckeyes are among the best teams in the country and are a true threat to reach the Final Four this season. They are currently ranked #3 with a 20-3 record and an impressive 8-2 mark in the Big-Ten, where they've now won five in a row. Obviously, they are capable of crushing the inferior Boilermakers but in this scenario, we’re doubtful that they do. OSU is coming off two huge wins over #22 Michigan and #20 Wisconsin. They have second place and #12 Michigan State on deck and this one sits right in the middle of those three. After a two-point loss to Michigan and a two-point win in Northwestern, the Boilermakers can be excused for a lame showing against Indiana on Saturday. They have a slew of close losses this season against Alabama, Xavier, Butler, Wisconsin and Michigan, not to mention some notable wins as well. Purdue may be a class below some of its conference mates but they are battle tested and in a good situational spot here. Play: Purdue +14 (Risking 2.02 units to win 2).
+200.00

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

Indiana +140 over ATLANTA  -200

The Hawks previous 16-5 record has now turned into a 16-8 record after they dropped three straight at home to Memphis, Philly and Phoenix. The Pacers are superior to any of those three teams and they catch the Hawks at the perfect time. As lame as this may sound, losing is different than winning. When a team is winning, they're loose and having fun. The coach is working on less things because if it ain't broke, why fix it? That's the difference between a veteran coach and a neophyte. Hawks coach Larry Drew spent years with the Pistons, Wizards and Nets before heading to Atlanta. Losing was the norm and Drew didn’t acquire the experience to turn a drought around. Now, he’s being asked to. With this group, we’re not sure he can do it. As mentioned numerous times this season, Atlanta is an imposter. It's no mystery as to why they're suddenly losing at home to teams like Phoenix. Atlanta's bench is awful. Its strength of schedule is ranked 23rd in the league and they've developed a false sense of security when defeating weak teams. They're an average rebounding team that is likely going to be dominated on the boards tonight by the Pacers. Indiana can beat you in so many ways. Unlike the Hawks, who rely heavily on Joe Johnson and Josh Smith for scoring, the Pacers have five guys averaging double figures per game and two others right on the verge of 10 per game. The Pacers are 17-7 and they have every edge tonight, outside of home court. Play: Indiana +140 (Risking 2 units).

Detroit +153 over NEW JERSEY  +306

The Pistons are widely regarded as one of the three worst teams in the NBA and they've lived up to that with six wins in 26 games. That said, respectability is not that far off. They've had many close games in which they were in a position to win. Closing out games is a lesson that they're slowly learning and have done so in two straight games with wins over Milwaukee and New Orleans. They have recent three-point losses to the Heat, Trail Blazers and these same Nets in New Jersey exactly one week ago. The Pistons also have a recent OT loss to Atlanta in a game they led by six with 34 seconds remaining. In reality, the Pistons could easily have six wins in their last 10 games. New Jersey is banged up and they've dropped three in a row and five of six. They're considered to be the better team, playing at home, but there's a reason the odds makers made them such a enticingly short price. With Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks and Deshawn Stevenson on the rack, this Nets teams that lacks strength in all aspects of the game is nowhere close to being better than they were two weeks ago. The Pistons are. Play: Detroit +153 (Risking 2 units).

CLEVELAND +6½ over L.A. Clippers  +200

Chauncey Billups value vastly exceeded the 14.9 points, 4.0 assists and  2.5 rebounds he averaged per game. The Clippers can replace his numbers but they can't replace his experience and steadying presense on the court. Billups is out for the season after he ruptured his left Achilles' tendon in his last game. Losing a player is no big deal, as it happens every day. Losing an impact player for the season is another story, as adjustments that have to take place are permanent. The Clippers have won six of seven and are coming off an OT win in Orlando. They'll play their third straight on the road here and will continue their six-game trip in Philadelphia on Friday. The Clip Joint are sure to have a hiccup on this trip and cahnces are good it occurs here. The Cavaliers are coming off a misleading 16-point loss in Miami last night. They were down by just six going to the fourth and hung around all game until late in the fourth. The Cavs last five games have come against Boston twice, Orlando, Dallas and Miami. They went 2-3 in that set and didn't look a bit out of place in any of them. Fatigue should not be an issue, as Cleveland was off for two days prior to last night's game and they're 3-3 against the spread on zero days rest. Upset possibility. Play: Cleveland +6½ (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).

+306.00

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers

RICHMOND +106 over La Salle Pinnacle  +212
There's no denying that the Explorers are the superior team here. However, each season it becomes more evident that situational betting in this sport has a stronger influence on the outcome of games than any other sport. We see it almost daily and it landed here on this day as we uncover another unfavorable situation for a small road favorite. La Salle comes in with a 17-7 overall record and a 6-3 conference record. The Explorers are just a half game back of Temple for first place in the A-10, tied with UMass, Xavier and Saint Louis. After this game, they have Saint Louis, UMass and Temple on deck in what is their most crucial three-game set of the year. La Salle is just 4-6 on the road and this is surely it's most vulnerable road game of the season. Richmond has dropped five of its past six games and is going nowhere this season. However, they will relish the spoiler role in an attempt to make life miserable for these conference rivals. The Spiders are 8-3 at home and with just three host games remaining after this one against George Washington, Charlotte and Dayton, this one instantly becomes the one they want most. Play: #552 Richmond +106 (Risking 2 units).

Adding the following games:
 
WILLIAM & MARY +10½ over Old Dominion Pinnacle
Play #532 William & Mary +10½ (Risking 2.16 units to win 2).  -216

ST JOSEPH'S +138 over Saint Louis Pinnacle
Play #592 St. Joesph's +138 (Risking 2 units).  -200

-204.00

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers

Philadelphia -4 over L.A. Clippers  Pinnacle  -206
We routinely see totals in the low 180's but when the Clippers play, the total is rarely under the mid 190’s. That's because they Clippers are the 4th highest scoring team in the league. They're coming off a loss in Cleveland and despite a 5-5 road record, they have lost to almost every respectable team they've played on the road. After beating the Warriors on the road to open the year, L.A. then dropped consecutive away games to San Antonio, Portland, Utah and the Lakers. They've won four of its last five road games but two of those came by less than two baskets and the other was in OT. They could conceivably be 2-8 on the road and now they'll play one of the best defensive and top home teams in the league. The Clippers are poor defensively and they're poor on the boards, as they rank 25th in both categories. By contrast, the 76ers rank second defensively and 7th in rebounding. They're also 13-4 at home after losing to San Antonio in their last game. A closer look reveals that Philly's last six games have come against Orlando, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, the Lakers and San Antonio. They exceed the Clippers in almost all categories and even though they score less they hit a higher percentage of their shots. The 76ers are 15-2 when they lead in shot percentage. They're also 10-2 when they out-rebound their opponents and you can count on that hapenning here. Being 15-8 and now without Chauncey Billups, the Clippers’ record is significantly better than they are. Play: Philadelphia -4 (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).

Indiana +106 over MEMPHIS Pinnacle  -200
The Grizzlies are a somewhat respectable 13-13 thus far. However, they've lost seven of their past 10 games and they're too erratic to trust giving away anything to quality opponents. The Pacers are pure quality. They come in here with a 17-8 record. On one day's rest like they have here, Indiana is 11-4 while the Grizzlies are just 10-9. We also like the fact that Indiana has lost four straight to this opponent and all four games were double-digit losses, including last year's 21-point loss here. Guaranteed that the Pacers are aware of the way the Grizzlies have handled them but for the first time in a while, Indiana is the superior team now and you can expect a response. Roy Hibbert is a beast in the middle, as he and the whole front court can seriously fill it up. The Pacers have few weaknesses while the Grizzlies have many. One figures the Pacers to want this one more simply due to the fact that they have four straight double digit losses to this host. Play: Indiana +106 (Risking 2 units).

UTAH +100 over Oklahoma City Pinnacle  -200
The Thunder are scary good. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are the league's most dynamic duo next to LeBron and D-Wade. On an even playing field they would absolutely bury this enthusiastic Jazz bunch but this near impossible situation for the Thunder screams for a play on the Jazz. OKC played in Sacramento last night. They played in Portland on Monday and Golden State on Tuesday. This will be its fourth game in five nights, its sixth game since last Friday and its final game of a five-game trip. Westbrook and Durant played 38 and 42 minutes respectively last night. Not only wll it be the Thunder's fourth in five and sixth game since Friday but one can't ignore the difficulty of playing in the high altitude in Utah under these extreme conditions. After this game, the Thunder will be off all weekend and won't play again until Tuesday. No question they'll be looking forward to three full days off, thus the Jazz and their 11-4 home record should be able to take full advantage. Play: Utah +100 (Risking units).

-606.00
 

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

IOWA STATE -7½ over Texas A&M +200

4:00 PM EST. The Aggies have played better lately but it’s not showing up in the win column. A 2-4 record in their past six is not as weak as it may seem after facing some top tiered teams. They basically did what was expected record-wise but they did stay close to some of the top teams in the country. Now they'll travel to Iowa State after that difficult set of games. The Aggies are leaving the conference after this season so that last game against Texas was a farewell if you will. Texas/Texas A&M is one of the most historic rivalries in all of sports and the intensity level for the entire 40 minutes was extremely high. They have Texas Tech on deck, followed by a home game against Mizzou. The Aggies can't have much left in their tank right now. They also have key injuries to two of their best players and even if one or both go today, it's unlikely to matter. The Cyclones are right in the thick of this thing with a 7-4 conference mark. They're home for the first time since Jan 31, where they're 12-2. ISU just split its two-game trip to Oklahoma/Oklahoma St and can't afford to leave this one in doubt for a second. This is a quality Cyclones squad that can score and rebound. They should have little trouble beating an Aggies team that they manhandled on Jan 7th by a 70-54 count and against a visitor that is on an 0-5 road run, coming off its biggest game of the season. Play: #586 Iowa State -7½ (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).

Pass NBA

[pokerstar]

SPORTS WAGERS

IOWA STATE -7½ over Texas A&M

4:00 PM EST. The Aggies have played better lately but it’s not showing up in the win column. A 2-4 record in their past six is not as weak as it may seem after facing some top tiered teams. They basically did what was expected record-wise but they did stay close to some of the top teams in the country. Now they'll travel to Iowa State after that difficult set of games. The Aggies are leaving the conference after this season so that last game against Texas was a farewell if you will. Texas/Texas A&M is one of the most historic rivalries in all of sports and the intensity level for the entire 40 minutes was extremely high. They have Texas Tech on deck, followed by a home game against Mizzou. The Aggies can't have much left in their tank right now. They also have key injuries to two of their best players and even if one or both go today, it's unlikely to matter. The Cyclones are right in the thick of this thing with a 7-4 conference mark. They're home for the first time since Jan 31, where they're 12-2. ISU just split its two-game trip to Oklahoma/Oklahoma St and can't afford to leave this one in doubt for a second. This is a quality Cyclones squad that can score and rebound. They should have little trouble beating an Aggies team that they manhandled on Jan 7th by a 70-54 count and against a visitor that is on an 0-5 road run, coming off its biggest game of the season. Play: #586 Iowa State -7½ (Risking 2.1 units to win 2). +200

Pass NBA

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

Northwestern +6½ over PURDUE  -220.00

The Boilermakers stock soared this week after they went into Ohio State as a 14-point pooch and nearly won outright. Every game has its variables and that was a bad spot for OSU, as the game against Purdue was sandwiched between Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan State. That near miss against the #3 team in the country has the Boilermakers overpriced here. These two have virtually identical records. They're both 5-6 in the conference and they both have 15 wins overall. The difference is that the Wildcats are in better from with three straight wins while Purdue has lost four of its last five. Losing takes much more out of a team than winning. We also look at the Wildcats schedule and what we see is games against a lot of tough competition. The Wildcats strength of schedule is ranked 12th in the country and that's something that should never be overlooked. Purdue deserves to be favored, as Northwestern is just 2-5 on the road. However, the Boliermakers have no other advantages in this game and the only reason they're favored by this much is because of that close game against a semi-uninterested Buckeyes club. Wildcats can win this one outright. Play Northwestern +6½ (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS  NBA

NEW ORLEANS +4/+166 over Utah +166

It's not easy to pull the trigger on the Hornets and their 4-23 record. Only the Bobcats have less wins. Slightly better is New Orleans’ 10-17 against the spread and they play the final game of a four-game home stand before embarking on a six-game trip. We expect them to dig down deep. We've seen the Hornets compete against some good teams. While losing is both frustrating and contagious, the Hornets haven’t given up. We get as good an effort from them as we do most teams on most nights. The Jazz are 14-12, largely aided by an 11-5 home mark. On the road, they have just three wins in 10 games. They had two wins prior to last night's win in Memphis and will now play its third game in four days here. The Jazz also play in Oklahoma City tomorrow night after losing to them in Salt Lake on Friday. The Jazz are a huge risk as road chalk under good conditions. Under these tough conditions, that risk increases. Play: New Orleans +4 (Risking 1.06 units to win 1) Play: New Orleans +166 (Risking 1 unit).

Minnesota +193 +5½ over ORLANDO -105

The Magic are a talented bunch and have been for years. Over the past five years, you would be hard pressed to find a team with a better overall record in the East. This season, Orlando is 17-11 despite the Dwight Howard ordeal hanging overhead. Still, Orlando has taken more nights off this season than most. Find them in an undesirable spot and chances are you'll cash your ticket. With five wins in seven games, including a win over the Heat and with the 76ers on deck, this could certainly be one such spot. Orlando played in Philly less than two weeks ago and scored a paltry 69 points. The final score read 74-69 but Philly was up 21 with three minutes to go. A game against the Western conference Timberwolves is unlikely to get their juices flowing. Minnesota comes in erratic but very dangerous. They have all the right pieces in place with a strong coach in Rick Adelman, a thunderous power forward in Kevin Love, an outstanding rookie at PG in Ricky Rubio and a strong center in Nikola Pekovic. The T-Wolves are just two games under .500 and appear to be on the verge of something good. Against what should be a semi-interested Magic squad here, they can certainly come in and steal a win. Play: Minnesota +5½ (Risking 1.05 units to win 1) Play: Minnesota +193 (Risking 1 unit).

+61

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers NBA (Pass CBB)

TORONTO +5/+180 over New York Pinnacle  push
Reagrdless of the outcome here, we're going with the best of it by betting against the suddenly overhyped New York Knicks. Some have compared Jeremy Lins' arrival and subsequent heroics to that of Tim Tebow. Lin is getting the same amount of press, as the media continues to blow everything out of proportion. Had this game been played before that hype and without Carmelo Anthony and Baron Davis in the lineup, as they are here, the Raptors would've been a 5-point favorite. All the Raptors have done is beat the Celtics and come from 20 down to against the Lakers to force L.A. into a last second shot to beat them. The Raptors are continually improving. Three of their last five games have come against Miami, Boston and the Lakers. They went 1-2 against that trio but did not look out of place in any of them with biggest margin of defeat being by six points in Miami. Win or lose, we now get to take advantage of a bad line because of the inflated “Lin” factor. Play: Toronto +180 (Risking 1 unit) Play: Toronto +5 (Risking 1.05 units to win 1).

OKLAHOMA CITY -12½ over Utah Pinnacle  +200
The Thunder have played the least amount of home games in the Association. They're 12-5 on the road and they're 9-1 at home. Playing their fifth game in seven nights on the road, the Thunder went into Utah on Friday and beat them by 14. The Jazz played last night in New Orleans and lost. Utah will now play its third game in three successive nights against one of the best and highest scoring teams in the league. The Jazz have just three road wins in 11 tries. They're a middle of the pack team in terms of scoring, rebounding and defense but on the road they drop off significantly. They played as good as they could against an exhausted Thunder team last Friday and were ultimately put away in the second half. Playing their third game in three nights and playing in the Thunders house against a rested Thunder squad, the Jazz have about as much chance of covering this number as “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” does of winning best picture at the Academy Awards. Play: Oklahoma City -12½ (Risking 2.16 units to win 2).

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

NEW JERSEY +139 over Memphis  -200.00

The Nets stock has dipped dramatically with six straight losses. Their last two defeats have been by 17 and 14 points respectively. Toss in a 21-point loss to the Bulls and back-to-back losses to the then 4-21 Pistons and it makes it hard to pull the trigger on them here. The Grizzlies come in winners of three of four. They beat the Rockets last night by 10 and they beat the Pacers last Friday. However, the Grizz will play their third game in four nights here. They've played five straight at home and after this single game, they will host the Nuggets on Friday. This game becomes nothing but a nuisance and one that we may find Memphis disinterested in against a perceived weak team from the East. The Grizzlies have just five road wins in 14 games and the Nets are much better than their recent run indicates. They have some healthy bodies back, they're rested and they'll be ready to go tonight in this favorable spot. Play: New Jersey +139 (Risking 2 units).

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers CBB

ST. BONAVENTURE +102 over Temple Pinnacle  -200
Temple is coming off that big win over Xavier. Combine that with the Owls current eight game win streak and they appear to be one of the better bets of the night. Most of those victories were of the blowout variety. However, most of them were against the bottom feeders in this conference and there's always a price to pay when you win easy against poor competition The A-10 is so tight right now with as many as seven teams having a chance to finsh first in the conference. So when we have one in that group team favored on the road against another in that group, we'll confidently endorse the host. The Bonnies are just two games back of first place Temple. They have just one loss at home (9-1) all season and that was a narrow two-point defeat to a very good N.C. State team. The Bonnies have not lost a conference home game all year. They play a strong brand of defense and in what has to be viewed as their biggest game in a while, expect nothing less than a full and inspired effort. Play: #557 St. Bonaventure +102 (Risking 2 units).

We're also playing the following games:

N. ILLINOIS +8 over Western Michigan Pinnacle
Play: #562 Northern Illinois +8 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).  -210

TULANE +7½ over Memphis Pinnacle
Play: #574 Tulane (Risking 2.16 units to win 2).  -216

-626.00

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers CBB

West Virginia +135 over PITTSBURGH Pinnacle +270
When the Panthers recently beat the Mountaineers in Morgantown, it came on the heels of that heart-breaking loss WVU suffered against Syracuse. In other words, it was a tough loss to swallow and the Mountaineers have not recovered since. They've now lost two in a row and three of four with only win since that day coming in OT against Providence. It's time to put that all behind them now and get back to the business at hand. West Virginia has to be considered a bubble team right now. They need big wins on the road and this is one that can help to make a case for them if it should come down to that. Bog Huggins is a master at getting the most out of his players in situations just like this one. They'll play a Panther squad that has dropped two straight and that is not better than they are. Expect the Mountaineers to shake off this bad run and completely focus in this crucial game. Of course they can win. Play: West Virginia +135 (Risking 2 units).

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

Milwaukee +7½/+273 over ORLANDO  -215

The Magic have beaten the Bucks four straight and seven of eight including a game in Milwaukee just six days ago. As a result, Orlando has no score to settle here. The Bucks do and we’re confident they can pull it off. The schedule has had a huge impact in wagering on the NBA this season. It's something we must always consider and we could have found a glitch here against the home side. The Magic will play their fifth game in seven nights. After this game, they embark on a five-game trip that starts Sunday with the first of four games in five nights. That game Sunday is against the Heat in the second game of a nationally televised double-header on ABC. For a Magic team that has been caught napping on several occasions this season, this one has all the same warning signs. This one is not about talent and stats. It’s about the situation that bodes well for our purposes. With Orlando’s eye off the ball here, an upset would not surprise. Play: Milwaukee +7½ (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5) Play: Milwaukee +273 (Risking 0.5 units).

Washington +11 over UTAH  -220

This line is just plain ludicrous. The Wizards are widely regarded as one of the least talented and most dysfunctional team in the NBA. That was very true when the season began and the Wiz were constantly getting blown out. A lot has changed in a short while. Flip Saunders was fired and the club is now 5-8 under Randy Wittman and 3-3 over its last six. The Wizards’ only losses over their past six games have been to the red-hot New York Knicks and division-leaders Miami and the Clippers. They won their first two games on this five-game road trip against Detroit and Portland by a combined 36 points. They're also displaying a different mentality on the court, as they are now winning as a team and losing as one. Getting 11 points against a talented but green Jazz club is a gross overlay. Teams like Miami, Philly, Oklahoma City and Chicago are favored by 11 points, not teams like Utah. The Jazz are a .500 club at 14-14 and they'll be hard pressed to remain at .500. Sure, they play well at home but they return to Salt Lake after a three-game trip. Any complacency or taking this unfamiliar intruder lightly could result in not only an easy cover for the Wizards but an outright win also. Play: Washington +11 (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).

-435.00

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

DEPAUL +10½ over Louisville  +200

12:00 PM EST. We all saw what happened to West Virginia after its heartbreaking loss to Syracuse and a similar fate could await the Cardinals. Louisville is coming off a similar 52-51 loss to the Orange in a game that was theirs for the taking but it somehow slipped away. Louisville went scoreless for the final 3½ minutes in that contest. It's hard to bounce right back from a loss like that. It took the Mountaineers six games to recover. The Cardinals are being asked to spot 10½ road points in their first game since that difficult defeat. They did beat DePaul in Louisville in mid-January by 17. That was after a game against Providence. The dynamics for this one are so much different. The Blue Demons have nothing to lose and as a result, they'll be loosey-goosey. DePaul is a decent scoring team and if Louisville's shooting is off again, they could get upset here. The Blue Demon's stock is very low at the moment while Louisville's is high after that great defensive effort against the Orange, not to mention that was its only loss in eight games. The sell high, buy low philosophy is in full effect for this one.. Play: #510 DePaul +10½ (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).

Seton Hall +6½ over CINCINNATI  +200

On January 31 and riding a four-game losing streak, Seton Hall went into Marquette and had them on the ropes for most of the game. They eventually lost by seven and subsequently got blown out in its next game. We can accept that as the Pirates have recovered with three straight wins, capped off by a 30-point win over the Johnnies. They're likely going to have to run the table for any chance of getting into the tournament and it has to start here. Not much separates these two, making the line for this one somewhat suspect. The Bearcats are likely going to have to run the table as well. The difference, aside from home court, is that the Pirates are in better form at the moment and they're taking back some generous weight. Upset possibility. Play: #557 Seton Hall +6½ (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).

We're also playing the following game:

AIR FORCE +4½ over San Diegi State Pinnacle +200
Play: #546 Air Force +4½ (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).

+600.00

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS Hoops

Sacramento +114 over CLEVELAND   -200

Usually we don't put a lot of emphasis on key players being out because it's figured into the line. However, Anderson Varejao out for the Cavaliers is a huge blow because he's the heart and soul of the team and the defense. Minus Varejao, the Cavs' defense goes from decent to lousy in a heartbeat. Antawn Jamieson and Omri Casspi play no defense and this high scoring act from Sacramento should be able to come in here and get terrific looks all day. The Kings have lost four straight but they played in New York and Chicago and lost by just six to the Bulls. Prior to that they had won four of five and that includes a win over the Thunder. All five starters for the Kings can put up double digits. If two guys are cold, three others are not. This is as good an offense as any in the league right now and we just don't see how the Cavs are going to defend them without Varejao or keep pace with them. What makes this dog so appealing is that if Varejao were in, the Cavs would be about the same price. Oddsmakers have this one incorrect. Play: Sacramento +114 (Risking 2 units).


RUTGERS +10½ over Syracuse  +200

The Orange has lost one game this season. That one loss occurred about a month ago in Notre Dame. Syracuse comes in ranked #2 in the country, on a six game winning streak and having beaten Rutgers 10 straight. Overall, Rutgers has dropped four straight and six of seven. Three of its last four losses have been by double digits. All this doesn't make for an easy case of pulling the trigger on the home team. However, you're going to pay a premium for wagering on the Orangemen today and that seldom comes recommended. We've seen this situation far too often. That being a ranked team laying significant road points in a conference matchup and not covering. Syracuse is coming off that very fortunate win over Louisville. They were also fortunate to beat both Georgetown and West Virginia. They're good, but they've also had every bounce go their way. The Scarlett Knights have underacheived. They were supposed to be better than this. They're loaded with bigs and they've played tremendous defense from time to time. The problem is too many minutes of unfocused basketball. This is a game they should have no problem getting up for and staying focused for 48 minutes. The Scarlett Knights have had a lot of good games this year that include a 2-point loss at Georgetown, a double OT loss to Florida, and wins over Cinci and UConn. This is the perfect spot for another strong showing. Play: Rutgers +10½ (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).

Penn State +15 over WISCONSIN  +200

The Badgers are ranked #17 in the country but we're not convinced that's accurate. They're ranked 17th because of their defense only. In terms of their offense, Wisconsin is one of the worst in the country among major programs. The Badgers rarely blow out anyone. Of their last seven wins, six have been by seven points or less. They've lost every big game they've played this season (North Carolina, Marquette, Michigan State (twice), Michigan, Ohio State and they even lost to Iowa. Penn State is not going to come in here and win. The Nittany Lions offense is actually worse than the Badgers. Penn State has recently lost eight of nine but they're feeling a whole lot better after consecutive wins over Nebraska and Iowa. PSU is certainly out of this thing. With no pressure on them whatsoever and confidence higher than its been in a while, expect the Nittany Lions to hang around for most of the game. With a total of just 112 and with Wisconsin having lost two of three, grabbing the points here makes sense. Play: Penn State +15 (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).

+200.00

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers CBB

DePaul +210/+5½ over ST. JOHN'S Pinnacle  -205
Prior to beating UCLA on Saturday by three, the Johnnies' last win was in DePaul by six points on Feb 1. The Blue Demons have lost six of seven and 10 of 11. Their last win was over Rutgers by five points. Why then, is St, John's just a 5½-point favorite over a seemingly reeling and weak club? The reason is that the Johnnies are a weak club too and laying points with teams of this calibre seldom works out well. Besides, the Blue Demons aren't as bad as perceived. They had Louisville on the ropes on Saturday in a game they eventaully lost in OT. They can score, they get solid guard play and they'll face a very erratic St. John's team that is basically down to a six-man rotation. The Blue Demons are a team to watch out for next season, as all those talented sophomores become juniors. In this ESPN featured game, the Blue Demons get a litle redemption and end their funk. Definite upset possibility. Play: DePaul +210 (Risking 1 unit) Play: DePaul +5½ (Risking 1.05 units to win 1).

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

NBA
Washington +6 over PHOENIX  -210
The Lakers/Suns game was the last game on the board yesterday. The Lakers closed as a 3½-point choice and all those waiting to close out parlays were stunned to see the Suns score 63 in the first half and lead by 27. Game, set, match. After blowing away the heavily bet Lakers, the Suns now play a team that rarely gets bet and they're just a six-point favorite. One must consider “situational betting” at all times. Phoenix is coming off back-to-back games against the Lakers. They'll play their third game in four days and fifth game in seven days. The Wizards are never featured anywhere. We're not even sure if their games are televised anymore. This is the least talked about team in the Association. However, they're playing much better under new coach, Randy Wittman. JaVale McGee and John Wall are dynamic players that make hi-lite film plays on a regular basis. Nonetheless, it's hard to get too excited about this team until guys such as McGee, Nick Young and Jordan Crawford figure out that a 20-point, 0-assist performance in which they give up 115 points doesn't constitute a "good" night. Randy Wittman is changing that and in this favorable situation, expect a less-than-average Suns team to be semi-interested at best.
Play: Washington +6 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).

NEW YORK -9½ over New Jersey -210
Rarely are we comfortable laying such a big number but this one calls for it. On the surface, the Nets look more appealing taking back these big points than the Knicks do spotting it. We know better. First off, the Knicks are very likely to get back Carmelo Anthony tonight. Tyson Chandler returned yesterday and played 36 minutes. Those are two impact players. Secondly, the Knicks are hot and the Gardens is once again electrifying. When you compile all the positives in New York right now and then match up against these Nets, the task at hand seems difficult at best. The Nets played on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and now this one. That's three games in consecutive nights and their fifth game since last Wednesday. What makes this assignment even more trying is that all of those games were close with biggest margin of defeat being seven points. Now Melo joins Chandler in playing with the NBA's newest sensation against a team running purely on fumes. Make room on the bandwagon today because we’re purchasing a fare.
Play: New York -9½ (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).

GOLDEN STATE +127 over L.A. Clippers  +254
The NBA opened on Christmas Day with five featured games on television and a huge audience to go with it. One of those games was this matchup, the Clippers at Golden State. The Clip Joint came in as a highly hyped team and a six-point favorite. The entire betting world was on them and they didn't disappoint, blowing out the Warriors by 19. Fast forward to today and not much has changed. The Clippers hype was warranted, as they own one of the best records in the league. The Warriors have dropped three straight and they're just a game ahead of Sacramento for last place in the Pacific. All that being the case, can someone explain why the Clippers are 3-points less of a favourite than they were for the opener? That raises some red flags from our desks. What we know is that the Warriors last three losses were to Portland, Memphis and Oklahoma City. They lost by a point to Memphis and two points to Portland. The games against the Grzzlies and Thunder were on the road. Prior to that, Golden State had won three in a row. Since that opening day defeat, the Warriors are a different team. They have home wins over Chicago, Miami and Portland, not to mention a slew of close calls. The line says they can compete here and we're in total agreement
Play: Golden State +127 (Risking 2 units).

-156.00

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers NBA


PORTLAND -4 over San Antonio Pinnacle  +200.00
The Spurs were involved in a close one last night in Utah. It was tight throughout and came right down to the wire. Prior to that one, San Antonio won in OT against the Clippers. They've been involved in four close games in a row. They've also played six road games in a row and this is their seventh. In summarizing, the Spurs have gone from Toronto to Los Angeles to Utah and now to Portland. That's four different time zones in four successive games. It's also the Spurs third game in four days and fifth in seven. They'll play this one with no sense of urgency whatsoever but they'll play it as a tired and rather satisfied group. That opens the door for a solid Blazers team to take advantage of. Portland will ruin any team that comes into the Rose Garden not ready to play at full speed. They also owe the Spurs one from a 16-point loss they took in San Antonio in mid January. The Trail Blazers have won 12 of 17 home games and after losing to the Lakers last night in a game they trailed by 30 at one point, they won't be in any kind of gracious mood tonight. Play: Portland -4 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers

NEW JERSEY +213 +6½ over Orlando Pinnacle  -205
Playing its third game in three days and fifth game in six days, the Nets went into MSG on Monday as a 9½-point pooch and promplty disposed of the Knicks in very impressive fashion. In the first game of that three in three days, they went into Chicago and beat the Bulls as an 11½-point dog. Now on a days rest, this confident and very undervalued team is taking back significant home points against this overvalued road club. The Magic have won five of six but three of those wins were against the Bogut-less Bucks. All three games were close and all three could have ended in losses. Orlando has beaten the Nets in eight straight so a feeling of complacency could be present and that will cost them, as this is not the same Nets team they've been accustomed to beating. Under new no-nonsense coach Avery Johnson, the Nets are coming on with a lot of good parts in place. There's not a PG in the game that's playing better than Deron Williams is playing. The Nets are just 3-12 at home but 7-12 on the road. That's an anomaly that will be corrected, as this host is too good to be playing .200 ball at home. Good chance that number will start to even out beginning here. Play: New Jersey +213 (Risking 1 unit) Play: New Jersey +6½ (Risking 1.05 units to win 1).

Golden State +153 over PHOENIX Pinnacle +306
Things are anything but sunny in Phoenix. This team has been transitioning for a couple of years now and will continue along this path into next year when both the aging Steve Nash and Grant Hill depart. Currently, the Suns are coming off back-to-back wins for just the fourth time this season. In three of those four times, they failed to extend to three games and in the one extension, they beat Milwaukee by two for their only three-game win streak of the season. Any properly prepared team is supposed to take care of this motley Phoenix crew on a given night. Golden State is exactly that. What they lack in experience, they make up for with their enthusiastic approach, hard work and willingness to learn under new head coach Mark Jackson. The Warriors have won four of its last seven with losses over that span coming to Portland, OKC and Memphis. The Warriors are an exciting and talented young club that usually beat the teams they're supposed to beat. No longer are they the most entertaining team in the league that won or lost games 130-125. They've made a commitment to defense and to learning how to win at this level. The Warriors embark on a six-game outing beginning here and Jackson will have them ready once again to play hard in the crucial first game of a prolonged trip. Anything but a solid effort and a good result would be more shocking than not. Play: Golden State +153 (Risking 2 units).

+101.00

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers

West Virginia +135 over NOTRE DAME Pinnacle  -200.00
Let's go back to Thanksgiving when the first glimpse that many people had of the Irish was an 87-58 blowout loss against Missouri. Fighting Irish star Tim Abromaitis played in that game against the Tigers but subsequently was lost for the season. The common assumption was that the Irish were in for a long year. That assumption still looked good as recently as mid-January even after a thrilling double-overtime win at Louisville. Notre Dame was just 3-3 in the Big East at that point. They were coming off back-to-back losses and trending in the wrong direction. Brey's team was beaten soundly at home by Connecticut 67-53 and then fell on the road at Rutgers 65-58. Then the 20-0, #1 ranked Syracuse Orange came to South Bend and left with a 67-58 loss, courtesy of the Irish. That game proved to be the turning point in Notre Dame's season. The win against Syracuse tipped off what is now an 8-0 streak, one that has lifted ND into a second-place tie in the Big East standings with Marquette. Heading into tonight's game against West Virginia in South Bend, the Irish are nationally ranked and projected to be a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. Great story indeed but once again we lean to our sell high philosophy, as Notre Dame has accomplished more than expected and a breather or poor outing is forthcoming. The Mountaineers are a team that everyone should fear. Their stock is low with five losses in seven games but they're coming off that confidence building, 20-point win over Pittsburgh. WVU's defense is scary good. They can dominate on the boards and they can hit shots too. They went through their rough stretch already and they're over it. The small line for a ranked team at home strongly suggests the Irish could be in trouble here and we couldn't agree more. Play: West Virginia +135 (Risking 2 units). 

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers

IOWA +5/+183 over Wisconsin Pinnacle  +283.00
Wisconsin has split its last four games, losing to Ohio St and Michigan State while beating Penn State and Minnesota, the latter in OT. The Badgers have lost to every good team they've played this season. They come in as the 15th ranked team in the country but they're ranked 264th in points per game, 170th in rebounding, 268th in assists per game and 230th in FG percentage. Those are Nebraska-like numbers, not the numbers of a top ranked outfit. The Badgers are strong defensively but that's the only reason they're ranked. Truth be told, there are prtobably 50-60 teams that are better than they are and the Hawkeyes could certainly be one of them. Iowa is 12-5 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena with recent wins over Michigan State by 16 and Indiana by 12 among others. On Dec 31, the Hawkeyes went into Wisconsin and beat them by seven. The Badgers simply don't blow out good competition. The Hawkeyes are in an offensive groove right now and that sets this one up nicely for an upset. We get significant points and a a significant money-line takeback in a game the Hawkeyes can and probably will win outright. Play: Iowa +5 (Risking 1.09 units to win 1) Play: Iowa +183 (Risking 1 unit).

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers NBA

MIAMI -9 over New York Pinnacle  +200.00
The two biggest stories, the Miami Heat and Linsanity, collide tonight on National TV the night before the all-star break and there's not a bigger ticket anywhere. Miami is an event town and this certainly qualifies, as some court-level seats are pushing $10,000 according to Twitter. The game itself could get lost in all this hype but let's call a spade a spade, shall we? The Knicks caught a little lightning in a bottle when Jeremy Lin first came on the scene. The kid is good and he makes the Knicks better but he doesn't turn them into a contender. Over their past four games, the Knicks have lost to both New Orleans and New Jersey. They whacked a Joe-Johnson less Hawks club last night. They still play Mike D'Antoni basketball and against the ferocious Heat, that style will get torn apart. Miami doesn't get up for a lot of games. This team has barely broken a sweat in dominating the regular season while waiting for the playoffs to begin. Unlike most nights, this game will get the Heats’ attention. This is what LeBron had to say, “Everyone knows the history between the Knicks and Heat, then you bring in the Jeremy Lin Linsation, you bring in the Miami Heat, Carmelo Anthony and those guys and Amare Stoudemire, Spike Lee, Pat Riley and all that and it’s a huge game.” You don't see us playing the Heat very often because they're usually overpriced. However, this is a spot in which they are not. The Knicks continue to attract money. They opened as a 10-point dog and it's been bet down. Expect the Heat to deliver a personal message tonight that says, “You're not even close to being on the same level as us”. Play: Miami -9 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).

[TheGame]

Sports Wagers

OKLAHOMA ST. -3½ over Texas A&M Pinnacle  +200
2:00 PM. This is a big underlay. The Cowboys schedule has to be considered one of the toughest in recent memory, yet they're 13-15 overall and 6-9 in the conference. That doesn't look great on paper but when you consider that the Cowboys played Stanford, Pitt, Tulsa, New Mexico, Alabama and Va. Tech twice before conference play began, it's really not that bad. It would be difficult to find another team in the country with a more difficult out-of-conference schedule. Then there's the conference schedule that has seen OSU play Mizzou, Iowa State and Baylor twice each and Kansas and K-State once. Ken Pomeroy, widely regarded as a top authority on college basketball, ranks Oklahoma State's strength of schedule as #1 in difficulty. Now the Cowboys will take on an Aggies team that they lost by 15 to back on Jan 28. However, that contest was after OSU played Iowa St, K-State and Mizzou. Now the Aggies are coming off back-to-back home games against #3 Missouri and #5 Kansas in which they lost by just 9 and 8 respectively to give them more credibility than they deserve. Again, those two games were at home. On the road, Texas A&M has one win this year and it came against 1-14 Texas Tech. The Aggies are not only in a letdown spot after two big games, they simply lack intensity on the road. This is a bad visitor in a bad spot against a passionate team playing in front of a passionate fan base. This has blowout written all over it. Play: #526 Oklahoma State -3½ (Risking 2.08 units to win 2).

DEPAUL -1½ over Providence Pinnacle  -210
2:00 PM EST. Last place in the Big East is up for grabs here, as both clubs are 2-13 in the conference. The difference is that the Blue Demons are at home and they're undervalued because of seven straight losses. However, they had a 15-point lead on Louisville a week ago after games against Marquette, Notre Dame and UConn. They played at St. John's on Monday and led most of the way before falling by seven. This is really a great opportunity for them to snap this futility streak against a Friars team that has been sitting idle for a full week. Providence closes out its home schedule on Tuesday against the Huskies and that's a game that will bring a lot more focus to than this one. The Friars have dropped seven straight on the road and with virtually nothing to play for anymore, we envision them being here in body only. The Blue Demons shooters are superior, as is their PG play and Providence does not nearly bring the requirements needed here for a win against a motivated host. Play: #530 Depaul (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).

We're also playing the following game:

DUKE/Virginia under 138  Pinnacle  +200
12:00 PM EST Play: #503 Duke/Virginia Tech under 138 (Risking 2.14 units to win 2).

+190.00

[TheGame]

SPORTS WAGERS

Cincinnati +2½ over SOUTH FLORIDA  +200.00

The Bulls are warm with four wins in their last five games. Their only loss came in their last game at Syracuse in which they lost by eight but gave the Orange a serious scare. South Florida is 5-0 against the spread in their last five games overall, 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 home games, and 4-0 against the spread against a team with a winning record. In other words, its stock is high and it sure doesn't hurt that they own the best defense in the Big East with just 58 points allowed per game. However, this is a matchup problem for them. The Bearcats have four players averaging double digits. They've quietly won five of six and they have some nice road wins recently too. Cinci has recent wins at Georgetown, UConn and St. John's. They have a “good” OT loss at WVU. Additionally, Big East teams have not fared well the game after playing Syracuse and USF backers really have to be concerned about the Bulls 314th ranked offense, as the Bearcats play outstanding defense too. Lastly, the Bearcats have played the tougher schedule, their have more signature wins than the Bulls and they average 10 more points per game. Play: Cincinnati +2½ (Risking 2.16 units to win 2).