Handicappers Picks

Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Free Pick: Sacramento +2.5 (March 31st 2010 – Jack Jones)
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost 16 straight games, and should not be favored over Sacramento Wednesday. “Just go out there and continue to play hard,” Kevin Love said following Tuesday’s practice. “It seems like I say the same thing every time but that’s really it. Keep your head up, keep battling, bite your lip, grit your teeth, just go out there and get it done.” Well if they keep saying it all the time, and they aren’t getting the job done, then this is a clear sign that the Timberwolves don’t have what it takes mentally to go out there and get it done. It’s also a sign that they just continue going through the motions, knowing that this is a lost season. Tyreke Evans returned to the line-up last night for the Sacramento Kings and this is a completely different team with him out on the floor, running the show. Evans had 29 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds in a 114-100 win over the Timberwolves earlier this month. He has to be licking his chops at another chance to play Minnesota tonight as he looks to cement his spot as the Rookie of the Year. Sacramento has won 5 of the last 6 meetings in this series. Minnesota is 5-21 ATS versus teams who average 7 or less steals/game on the season this season, losing in these spots by 15.4 PPG. Take the Kings.

New York Knicks vs. Portland Trailblazers
Free Pick: Over 200 (March 31st 2010 – Doc’s Sports)
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Free NBA Pick for Wednesday from Doc’s Sports (15-7 current run and 33-17 long-term run and Doc’s has three strong plays on the board for Wednesday, including a 5-Unit NBA Totals Game of the Week as they look to extend their 10-2 NBA totals run) – #525 Take New York/Portland OVER 200 (10 p.m. EST, Wednesday) The Knicks have really been pushing the pace lately and we just think that the sky is the limit on how many points Portland can score tonight. The Knicks have allowed an average of 109 PPG in their last five contests and none of those games went into OT, as one might expect with defensive numbers that bad. Although not the most explosive offensive team in the league, the Blazers do average 98 PPG at home and they have shown the ability to score well against tempo-pushing, bad defensive clubs. We expect them to have a really good night offensively and we think the Knicks will be able to put up some points tonight and we would probably lean towards them on the line too since we think they should get close to 100 as well. When the Knicks play the Western Conference the totals always tend to be high and 10 of their last 14 meetings with Western Conference teams have gone over the posted number.

Washington Wizards vs. Houston Rockets
Free NBA Pick: Washington +7 (March 30th 2010 – Jack Jones)
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Houston is deflated right now, knowing that their chance of making the postseason have gone out the window. Washington is obviously struggling right now, but it’s not like they haven’t been competitive during their dreadful 15-game losing streak. Usually a road team that has lost 15 straight would be a heavier underdog than 7 points to a team with a .500 record like Houston. This is a trap, and we’re not biting as we’ll side with the underdog Wizards who will be much more motivated heading into this one, trying to end their skid. The Rockets are 0-4 SU & 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

This play also falls under a system that is 79-46 (63%) ATS since 1996. It tells us to bet on road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (WASHINGTON) – after 8 or more consecutive losses. These teams tend to be great to back when they get on these long losing streaks, because there becomes overwhelming value against the spread. Houston has a plethora of injuries right now as well with Shane Battier, Jared Jeffries, Kevin Martin and David Andersen all watching from the sidelines. Take the Wizards.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Free Pick: Lakers -5.5 (March 29th 2010 – Jack Jones)
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The life has been sucked out of the Hornets as we near the end of the season. New Orleans knows they have no shot of making the playoffs, and they have started to quit competing on a nightly basis because of it. New Orleans is 3-12 SU & 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games overall. Chris Paul has returned, but the Hornets’ coaching staff isn’t going to push him considering there’s no need to chance re-injury when they have no chance to make the postseason. Not only is this team losing of late, but their last 6 losses have all come by double-digits. So they really haven’t even been all that competitive. The Lakers have won 8 of their last 9 games overall and they are trying to clinch the #1 seed in the Western Conference with a couple more victories. This play also falls under a system that is 50-15 (77%) over the last 5 seasons. It tells us to bet on road favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (LA LAKERS) – after a road game where both teams score 100 or more points, second half of the season. Bet the Lakers.

San Antonio Spurs vs. New Jersey Nets
Free Pick: New Jersey +8 (March 29th 2010 – Big Al McMordie)
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At 7:30 pm, our complimentary selection is on the New Jersey Nets + the points over San Antonio. Last night, we cashed a big High Roller selection on the Spurs over Boston (we’re now 5-0 our last 5 High Rollers), but the Spurs were in one of their best roles on Sunday (they were on the road, playing with revenge); tonight, they’re in one of their worst. And that is to play AGAINST San Antonio if it is playing without rest, and is PK or Favored off back-to-back wins. Since 2005, the Spurs have been very poor in this situation. With San Antone off back-to-back BIG wins over Cleveland and Boston, look for the Spurs to stumble a bit vs. the league’s worst team, New Jersey. And, of course, it certainly wouldn’t hurt if Gregg Popovich decided later in the day to rest Timmy Duncan (this is one of only a few “back-to-backs” left on San Antonio’s schedule, which Coach Pop likes to utilize to rest Timmy). That would make our pointspread, here, look even more attractive. So, this is also a play where it makes sense to get down earlier, rather than later. Good luck, as always…Al McMordie.

Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons
Free Pick: Detroit -2 (March 28th 2010 – Big Al McMordie)
At 6:05 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Detroit Pistons minus the points over Chicago. Detroit comes into this Sunday evening game off seven straight losses, but this is a perfect spot to step in and take the home team. Earlier this season, Chicago routed Detroit 120-87, and the Bulls have won the last six meetings overall. But Detroit has been installed as a 2-point home favorite here, and that number is key, as we note that, since 1990, NBA home favorites of -2 or more points, are a solid 31-10 ATS if they’re playing with revenge from a 25-point (or worse) defeat, and are off a SU/ATS loss, while their opponent is off a SU/ATS win. With Chicago in off a blowout win over New Jersey last night, and Detroit off (coincidentally) to a loss to that same New Jersey team on Friday, we’ll play on Detroit here as the small home favorite. Good luck, as always…Big Al McMordie.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Free Pick: Pittsburgh PL (March 28th 2010 – Nick Parsons)
Both teams are playing the second game of a back-to-back; for a number of different reasons I expect the Penguins to smoke the Leafs today: No doubt about it, Toronto has been playing much better of late; its won nine of its last twelve. It’s coming off a hard fought come from behind 3-2 victory over the Rangers. Jonas Gustavson has been a major reason for Toronto’s turn around, however J. S. Giguere is scheduled in net today. On the other side of the rink: The Pens stopped a three-game slide yesterday with a dominating 4-1 victory over the Flyers which was the first game of a six-game home stand. With that victory, Pittsburgh moves into a tie for first in the Atlantic with New Jersey; however the Pens have one fewer victory and are currently in fourth in the Eastern Conference; it goes without saying that every point from here on out down the stretch is crucial for this club. Captain Sidney Crosby will be looking to break out of a seven-game goal-scoring drought.

Bottom line: Pittsburgh lost to Toronto at home back on the 9th of January, 4-1, so will also be looking to avenge that embarrassing effort. But, more than anything, Pittsburgh needs wins to end the season. It needs to enter the playoffs on a high if it expects to defend its title. A dominating performance in front of the home town crowd against a team that played less than 24 hours previous is a good way to start that process; I’ll lay the 1 1/2 here for the + $.

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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
Free Pick: LA Lakers -6 (March 27th 2010 – Mike Lineback)
Lakers will come out “angry focused” tonight, after getting their butts kicked last night vs. Oklahoma City. Houston are seriously banged up. Battier is out. Kevin Martin hurt his shoulder and missed Thursday’s game, and this is on top of Anderson, Hill & Jeffries injuries, All may miss this game as well. Regardless. Houston can’t matchup with Los Angeles. In particular, Kobe, Gasol & Odom, and LA’s overall size advantage. In addition, Houston are not a good defensive team, and don’t have anybody to slow Kobe. Kobe & team assert their offensive & defensive will early.

Portland Trailblazers vs. New Orleans Hornets
Free Picks: New Orleans Hornets +3 (March 27th 2010 – Black Widow)
The Hornets know their chances of making the playoffs have basically gone out the window, but they’d love to play the role of spoiler tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight. New Orleans has been a solid home team all season, going 22-13 on their home floor. The Blazers are just 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) off a home win this season. Portland is 8-24 ATS (-18.4 Units) versus terrible defensive teams – shooting pct defense of >=48% since 1996. Chris Paul has returned to the line-up for New Orleans, and he will help them close out the season strong. The Trail Blazers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win of more than 10 points. The Hornets are a superb 25-8 ATS in their last 33 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Take New Orleans and the points.

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Utah Jazz vs. Washington Wizards
Free Pick: Jazz -9 (March 27th 2010 – Big Al McMordie)
At 7:05 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Utah Jazz minus the points over Washington. The Jazz must be scratching their heads after last night’s loss at Conseco Fieldhouse to the Pacers. Utah was winning by 12 midway thru the 3rd quarter, but Indy stormed back and, on the heels of a 28-3 run, blew out the Jazz. Utah certainly was reminded that it’s a 48-minute game, and I expect the Jazz to play its best tonight, and have a “take no prisoners” attitude. Washington, surely, will be motivated to win, as it has lost 14 in a row, but the sad truth is that Flip Saunders just doesn’t have the horses now, after the trades that sent Antawn Jamison to Cleveland and Caron Butler to Dallas (not to mention Gilbert Arenas’ suspension due to legal difficulties). Also, since 1990, .601 (or better) road favorites, priced from -5 to -11 points, are a terrific 158-93 ATS off a loss vs. .399 (or worse) non-division foes. Look for the Jazz to rout the Wizards in our nation’s capital tonight. Good luck, as always…Big Al McMordie.

New Jersey Nets vs. Chicago Bulls
Free Pick: Nets +9 (March 27th 2010 – John Ryan)
We have had strong success with New Jersey recently and nailed them as a 10* Titan winner last night as they defeated the Pistons to match the all-time worst record set by Philadelphia at 9-73. They have actually played well and as unreal as it seems this is their first 2 game winning streak of the season. They have won 4 road games this season and the first as in Chicago. Our proprietary sports handicapping model and simulator shows a high probability that NJ will lose this game by fewer than 10 points. Supporting this graded play is a system that has produced a record of 35-12 ATS for 75% winners since 1996. Play against home favorites of 10 or more points after going under the total by 30 or more points total in their last three games and with a winning percentage of between 45-55% on the season. Take New Jersey.

New York Islanders vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Free Pick: Blue Jackets -145 (March 27th 2010 – Ben Burns)
The Islanders beat Columbus by a score of 2-1 in this season’s only other meeting. That was at Long Island though, where the Blue Jackets have lost three straight. Today’s rematch is at Columbus. That’s noteworthy as the Jackets are 5-0 (+5.7) the last five times that they hosted the Isles and 5-0 with one tie, all-time. The Jackets have a winning record (19-11-7) at home. The Isles are 10-21-7 on the road. Note that the Jackets have outscored teams by a 17-8 margin their last three games here. Regarding the earlier loss at Long Island, note that the Jackets held a 42-25 edge in shots on goal. While the playoffs are no longer a reality, the Blue Jackets are 5-2-1 since March 8. They blew out a very good Chicago team by a score of 8-3 last time out and are currently playing some of their best hockey of the season. Consider laying the wood.

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Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Free Pick: Milwaukee -2.5 (March 26th 2010 – Doc’s Sports)
Confidence in the Bucks for bettors is at a low point right now after this team laid an egg against a really bad Philadelphia team last time out on this same court. The Bucks were favored by 10 in that game but lost by 15. And then Miami goes to Chicago last night and blows out the Bulls that were favored and that many public bettors were behind. So the general consensus is that Miami will roll tonight. But if you have followed our plays you know we don’t follow the public sentiment. This Bucks team deserves a bad game every now and then but this team has played its best lately against playoff competition and this squad has been playing some of the best defense in the NBA, which will give you a chance to win every night, even when your offense is not clicking. Miami comes into this game on a back-to-back and they are just 6-9 ATS in these situations this season. Andrew Bogut for the Bucks was a late scratch and will miss this game but we think that this team will rise up in his absence and that the home crowd will push this team through. Milwaukee has won and covered three straight in this series and we think they have the Heat’s number again tonight.

Detroit Pistons vs. New Jersey Nets
Free Pick: Detroit +1.5 (March 26th 2010 – Big Al McMordie)
At 8:05 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Detroit Pistons + over the New Jersey Nets. With KiKi Vandeweghe’s men closing in (possibly) on the worst season record in NBA history, it’s awfully hard to back them as a favorite — even against this dreadful Detroit Piston club. New Jersey did win its last game, 93-79 vs Sacramento, but dating back 20 years, NBA teams with a win percentage less than .300 off a win in the last 24 games of the season, are a poor 56-112 (33% ATS) at home. Take the Pistons on Friday night. Good luck, as always…Big Al McMordie.

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Purdue seems to in fine shape after surging past Texas A&M in the second round. Even without Robbie Hummel, the name most often used in March Madness betting debates, injured for the entire tournament the fourth-seeded Boilermakers have been making plenty of noise in the South Region. If they can somehow find a way to muscle past Duke, everyone will stop thinking that this team can’t make it to the promised land without the versatile Hummel.

Small ball almost never wins in March Madness betting, but has successfully rolled out a lineup that boasts a lineup of guys under 6-foot-6 to victory. Entering the tournament with a 0-6-1 ATS record did nothing to bolster any hopes that Purdue would be any match for their opponents in the tournament or the oddsmakers.

But here they stand at 2-0 SU/ATS overcoming a +2.0 line against them in a 63-61 victory over a sternly talented Aggies team. They’ve shown the type of resolve that you’d hope and expect out of a champion, and all the while they’ve done so with a chip on their shoulder.

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Yet Duke has been a team that has feasted on teams that don’t pose any true threat in the frontcourt. While it’s easy to hope that Purdue will keep the good times rolling for their basketball betting backers, their March Madness championship dreams are headed towards nightmare territory. The Blue Devils are matchup nightmare for any team that wishes to play small ball with them.

The biggest threat to Purdue’s continued perseverance stands at 7-foot-1 and is named Brian Zoubek. The vindictive center for the Blue Devils scored 14-points and hauled down a game-high 13 rebounds against the California Golden Bears. Zoubek’s mere presence is going to make the thought of dishing the ball underneath, or driving the line, unthinkable.

Zoubek isn’t alone in the height department. Brothers Mason and Miles Plumlee, along with forward Ryan Kelly, all stand at 6-foot-10. Rebounding will be a struggle for the Boilermakers. They ranked just 259th in the country with only 32.2 rebounds per game on foreign territory.

So if Purdue wants to make this a shootout, they’re going to have to be red hot. Senior guard Jon Scheyer is a very capable point man, and he’s a lethal shooter when he gets going. Though he’s only averaged 10.0 points per game in March Madness, he hasn’t really needed to take over games since Duke is playing so damn well. They’ve beaten both of their opponents so far by an average margin of 22.0 points.

Duke is also 2-0 SU/ATS thus far in the tournament and the oddsmakers have just missed the mark when pegging a betting line for the Blue Devils. Scheyer and company covered a -24.5 point line in the first round with a score of 73-44. Then they more than doubled the spread against California, a -6.5 point line that was cleared by +8.5 points.

As far as bets go, Duke looks like one of the best bets thus far. They have a pancake South Region to compete in and have decimated all comers so far. With Hummel, this would be a completely different lineup, but until Duke give me a reason to doubt them in March Madness betting, they clearly have my vote.

Furious Free Pick: Duke -8.5 (OVER)
Article Written By: Tim Furious
Source: Betus.com Rss Feed

Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls
Free NBA Pick: Chicago Bulls -1 (March 25th 2010 – Black Widow)
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With Derek Rose back on the floor, the Bulls have won their last 2 games since he returned from injury. They went on the road to beat the 76ers by 14 and handled the Houston Rockets at hom by 10. Now they’ve had 2 days’ rest to prepare for the Miami Heat, one of the teams they are trailing in the Eastern Conference standings. Chicago sits in 9th place in the East and are they are looking to finish off the season with a bang to sneak into the playoffs. Home-court advantage has really been a big factor when Miami and Chicago get together. The home team is 5-0 SU L5 & 8-1 SU L9 meetings in this series. The Bulls are a completely different team with Rose running the show, and they can beat anyone in the league when he’s in there. The Heat are just 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog of 4.5 points or less. Take Chicago and lay the points.

Los Angeles Kings vs. St. Louis Blues
Free NHL Pick: Los Angeles Kings -110 (March 25th 2010 – Rocky Atkinson)
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Los Angeles is 21-7 this year when playing against a team with a losing record. St Louis is 6-19 this year at home when the total is 5 1/2. St Louis is only 11-23 SU at home this year. Kings are 6-0 in their last 6 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation. Kings are 4-0 in their last 4 games playing on 0 days rest. Kings are 11-1 in their last 12 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation. Kings are 6-1 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400. Kings are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a road favorite. Kings are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a favorite of -110 to -150. Kings are 20-6 in their last 26 vs. a team with a losing record. Kings are 12-4 in their last 16 games as a favorite. Kings are 9-4 in their last 13 road games. Blues are 7-15 in their last 22 home games. Blues are 23-50 in their last 73 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Blues are 2-5 in their last 7 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Blues are 4-11 in their last 15 games playing on 0 days rest. Blues are 2-6 in their last 8 games as a home underdog. Blues are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a home favorite. Blues are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. Western Conference. We’ll recommend a small play on Los Angeles tonight! Thanks and good luck, Rocky

West Virginia vs. Washington
Free Pick: Under 141 (March 25th 2010 – Jimmy Boyd)
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Plays Under on neutral court teams where the total is between 140 and 149.5 points, WVU in this case, after allowing 60 points or less 3 straight games, against an opponent that has scored 75 points or more 2 straight games, are 26-7 since 1997, 16-4 the last 5 seasons and 13-2 the last 3 seasons. We are only seeing 135.3 total points scored in these games on average. West Virginia’s defense has really tightened its screws, holding its last 5 opponents below 60 points. The Mountaineers have also held 5 of their last 6 opponents to below 40% shooting from the field. WVU’s defense has even succeeded against good shooting teams this season. In fact, WVU is 6-0 Under when playing away from home against good shooting teams, like Washington, who make 45% or more of their shots, after 15+ games this season. Take the Under.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Free Pick: Under 191 (March 24th 2010 – Doc’s Sports)
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Well, what do we have here? We have a team that has been playing some of the best defense in the NBA at home against a team that has been really struggling to score. The Bucks average 96 PPG allowed at home on the season but even that number can be misleading because this team has been playing the best defense of the season over the last month or so. Philly has failed to get out of the 80s in four of their last eight games and they have reached the Century Mark just once during that span. This team has some playmakers banged up right now and they weren’t very good offensively to begin with. We really feel like this team may struggle to get out of the 80s again tonight. Even if Milwaukee gets their share of points we have a hard time believing this one will get over 190. We had this number pegged at 188 and we would have leaned towards the under at that number as well. The under is 7-3 in Milwaukee’s last 10 overall, and with some of the shrinking totals they have faced that is a real testament to the defense this team is playing.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Free Pick: Los Angeles Lakers +1 (March 24th 2010 – Big Al McMordie)
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At 9:30 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Los Angeles Lakers plus the point over San Antonio. The Spurs are playing their best basketball of this not-so-young season, so from coach Gregg Popovich’s perspective, it’s “better late than never.” They went into Oklahoma City on Monday and upset the Thunder, and that qualified as their biggest win of the year — even more than their 20-point blowout of the Lakers earlier this season. And that’s because San Antonio rebounded from a heartbreaking overtime loss at Philips Arena on Sunday, so they showed a lot of mettle in winning at OKC when playing on the road without rest. But even though the Spurs are finally playing well, they will be without Tony Parker tonight, and his quickness over Derek Fisher was one of the few, if any, matchup advantages the Spurs had over the Lakers. Surely, Duncan is, at best, a break-even proposition against Gasol. And San Antone has nobody who can guard either Lamar Odom or Kobe Bryant. The Lakers only “negative” in this game is that they might lack the requisite motivation, given they’re firmly locked into the #1 seed out west. But Los Angeles generally gets up to play the Spurs, and we’ll take L.A. as the small underdog here. Good luck, as always…Big Al McMordie.