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NBA Championship Favorites Clash In Spurs/Heat

There?s something symbolic about the upcoming Saturday night matchup between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, something that even the most skeptical NBA fans can look forward to. The two clubs, of course, lead their respective conferences in the standings.

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Not only do the two teams lead opposite conferences, the steps they?ve taken to get where they are have been drastically different. The results? More or less the same.

According to Bodog?s online sportsbook, the Miami Heat have 9/4 odds of winning the NBA championship this year. The Spurs aren?t far behind at 9/2.

It doesn?t so much matter that the Heat were constructed through free agency overnight while the Spurs spent years developing and maintaining their dynasty through the draft. This Saturday, the two clubs are on equal footing. The matchup will be the first of two between the clubs all season (the second coming 10 days later on Mar. 14).

Will LeBron James and company walk away with a much needed big win as the Boston Celtics breath heavily on their necks? When it comes to NBA betting, the Heat have been considered favorites in the league, let alone the East, ever since the season began in October.

But despite their preseason hype, perhaps a safer play when all is said and done will be the veteran squad in San Antonio. They?ve won it all four times in the past 12 years, all with Tim Duncan at the helm. Though they haven?t won a championship since 2007, they could very well find themselves with at least one more title before their leader calls it quits.

Bet on the potential NBA Finals showdown now.

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NBA Championship Favorites Clash In Spurs/Heat

The Carolina Hurricanes and the Chicago Blackhawks will both be gunning for a victory on Friday when they meet at United Center.

Oddsmakers currently have the Blackhawks listed as 210-moneyline favorites versus the Hurricanes, while the game's total is sitting at 5½.

Last time out for Carolina, they were a 3-2 winner as they battled the Sabres at home. Moneyline bettors who got the Hurricanes at -128 were rewarded, while the 5 combined goals moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

In their last action, Chicago was a 6-4 winner at home against the Flames. Bettors on Chicago at -190 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (10) sent OVER bettors home happy as well.

Chicago: Team record: 35-23-6 SU, ATS Current streak: won 6 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 6 games at home

When playing on Friday are 4-6 Before playing Edmonton are 6-4 After playing Calgary are 8-2 After a win are 6-4

Carolina: Team record: 31-25-9 SU, ATS Current streak: won 2 straight games.

is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road

When playing on Friday are 4-6 Before playing Boston are 3-7 After playing Buffalo are 5-5 After a win are 2-8

Next up: Carolina home to Atlanta, Wednesday, March 9 Chicago at Toronto, Saturday, March 5

 

 

NHL Preview: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Chicago Blackhawks

The UCLA Bruins and the Washington Huskies will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Edmundson Pavilion.

Oddsmakers currently have the Huskies listed as 8-point favorites versus the Bruins, while the game's total is sitting at 151½.

In their last action, UCLA was a 71-49 winner at home against Arizona. They covered the 3?point spread as favorites.

In their last action, Washington was an 80-69 loser at home against Washington State. They failed to cover the 12?point spread as favorites.

UCLA: Team record: 21-8 SU, 13-14-1 ATS Current streak: won 2 straight games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games on the road is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 6 games when playing on the road against Washington is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games on the road

When playing on Thursday are 7-3 Before playing Washington State are 8-2 After playing Arizona are 7-3 After a win are 8-2

Washington: Team record: 19-9 SU, 14-11-1 ATS

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against UCLA is 17-1 SU in its last 18 games at home is 6-1-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing UCLA The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 7 games at home

When playing on Thursday are 5-5 Before playing USC are 4-6 After playing Washington State are 6-4 After a loss are 7-3

Next up: UCLA at Washington State, Saturday, March 5 Washington home to USC, Saturday, March 5

 

NCAA Basketball Preview: UCLA Bruins vs. Washington Huskies

The Wisconsin Badgers and the Indiana Hoosiers will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall.

Oddsmakers currently have the Badgers listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Hoosiers, while the game's total is sitting at 126½.

Wisconsin won its last outing, a 78-63 result against Northwestern on February 27. They covered in that game as a 11-point favorite.

Indiana lost its last outing, an 82-61 result against Ohio State on February 27. They failed to cover in that game as a 17-point underdog.

Wisconsin: Team record: 22-6 SU, 14-10 ATS Current streak: won 3 straight games.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games on the road is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

When playing on Thursday are 9-1 Before playing Ohio State are 9-1 After playing Northwestern are 7-3 After a win are 7-3

Indiana: Team record: 12-17 SU, 9-13 ATS Current streak: lost 6 straight games.

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 5 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 7 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 6 games when playing Wisconsin is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games at home

When playing on Thursday are 5-5 Before playing Illinois are 4-6 After playing Ohio State are 3-7 After a loss are 3-7

Next up: Wisconsin at Ohio State, Sunday, March 6 Indiana at Illinois, Saturday, March 5

 

NCAA Basketball Preview: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Indiana Hoosiers

Pointspread: Heat -5

Over/Under: 199

The Orlando Magic will try and even the season series against the Miami Heat to two games apiece this Thursday night when these two Southeast Division foes clash at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on TNT.

Orlando closed the gap with the Heat in the division to 4 ½ games with three straight wins including an impressive 116-110 victory over the new-look New York Knicks as a seven-point home favorite this past Tuesday night. The Magic are currently 39-22 straight-up overall and 28-32-1 against the spread. They are in fourth-place in the Eastern Conference; 5 ½ games behind Boston.

Dwight Howard leads the Magic with 23.2 points and is second in the NBA in rebounds with 13.9 a game. Jason Richardson is second on the team with 13.4 points and Jameer Nelson has a team-high 6.2 assists. Orlando is ranked sixth in the league in point differential; scoring an average of 100.3 points a game while giving up 94.3.

Miami has not beaten a team with a winning record since its 104-100 victory over the Magic on Feb.3 as a one-point road underdog. The Heat are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games and 43-17 SU overall (29-30-1 ATS). They trail the Celtics in the East by one game.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are each averaging around 26 points and seven rebounds a game. The third member of South Beach?s big three, Chris Bosh is third on the team in scoring with 18.3 points a game and first in rebounds with 8.2. Miami has the best point differential in the league; scoring an average of 102 points a game while holding its opponents to 94.4.

The Heat routed Orlando 96-70 as a four-point home favorite earlier this season and while this game should remain competitive until the end, stick with Miami to find a way to win and cover the five-point spread this time around as well.

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NBA Betting Preview - Orlando Magic @ Miami Heat

Pointspread: Jazz -3

Over/Under: 209 ½

The Denver Nuggets square off against the Utah Jazz this Thursday night in the third of four meetings between these two teams this season. Tip-off from Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City is set for 10:30 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on TNT.

Denver has spent the past week adjusting to life after Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billips in light off last Monday?s blockbuster trade with New York. The new-look Nuggets have already posted victories over two winning teams with an 89-75 rout of Boston last Thursday as a 4 ½-point home underdog and a 100-90 win over Atlanta as a 6 ½-point favorite this past Monday. They are in fifth-place in the Western Conference at 35-26 straight-up (28-30-3) heading into tonight?s game against Charlotte.

Former Knick Wilson Chandler is off to a great start with his new team, averaging 17 points and 5.3 rebounds in three games. The Nuggets have averaged 98.3 points in those three games while giving up an average of just 90.7.

Utah is forging ahead without its All-Star guard Deron Williams, who was traded to New Jersey last week. The Jazz have not fared as well since he left with three losses in their last four games including a 107-102 loss to the Celtics on Monday as a 4 ½-point home underdog. They are now 32-29 SU overall (26-24-1 ATS) and in 10th place in the West.

Devin Harris, who came over from the Nets, has averaged 16.7 points with Utah which is slightly better than his season average of 15.1 points per game. Al Jefferson leads the team with 18 points and 9.2 rebounds a game, while Paul Millsap is second with 17.3 points and 7.9 rebounds. The Jazz have averaged 102 points in their last four games after averaging 99.6 points on the year.

Both teams are still trying to adjust to life without their franchiseplayer, but Denver appears to be much more determined to prove it is still a contending team in the West than Utah has. Stick with the Nuggets to take a 2-1 season series edge with a straight-up win on the road.

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NBA Betting Preview - Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz

The Nashville Predators and the Vancouver Canucks will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Rogers Arena.

Oddsmakers currently have the Canucks listed as 195-moneyline favorites versus the Predators, while the game's total is sitting at 5½.

Last time out for Nashville, they were a 2-1 loser as they battled the Oilers on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Oilers at +140 were rewarded, while the 3 combined goals moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Vancouver won its last outing, a 2-1 result against the Blue Jackets on March 1. Bettors who backed the Canucks at -200 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (3) sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

Vancouver: Team record: 40-15-9 SU, ATS

The total has gone UNDER in 7 of last 8 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing Nashville The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing at home against Nashville

When playing on Thursday are 7-3 Before playing San Jose are 5-5 After playing Columbus are 7-3 After a win are 5-5

Nashville: Team record: 32-23-9 SU, ATS

The total has gone UNDER in 7 of last 8 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing Vancouver The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing on the road against Vancouver The total has gone UNDER in 12 of last 17 games

When playing on Thursday are 6-4 Before playing Minnesota are 6-4 After playing Edmonton are 7-3 After a loss are 4-6

Next up: Nashville at Calgary, Sunday, March 6 Vancouver at Los Angeles, Saturday, March 5

 

 

NHL Preview: Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks

The Connecticut Huskies and the West Virginia Mountaineers will both be trying to pick up a win on Wednesday when they battle at WVU Colliseum.

Oddsmakers currently have the Mountaineers listed as 5-point favorites versus the Huskies, while the game's total is sitting at 131.

Connecticut was a 67-59 winner in its last match on the road against Cincinnati. They covered the 3.5?point spread as underdogs.

West Virginia won its last outing, a 65-54 result against Rutgers on February 27. They covered in that game as a 4-point favorite.

Connecticut: Team record: 21-7 SU, 13-9 ATS

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games on the road is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against West Virginia is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road

When playing on Wednesday are 9-1 Before playing Notre Dame are 8-2 After playing Cincinnati are 5-1 After a win are 6-4

West Virginia: Team record: 18-10 SU, 10-14 ATS

is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 9 of last 11 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 6 games when playing Connecticut is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home

When playing on Wednesday are 4-6 Before playing Louisville are 7-1 After playing Rutgers are 3-7 After a win are 4-6

Next up: Connecticut home to Notre Dame, Saturday, March 5 West Virginia home to Louisville, Saturday, March 5

 

NCAA Basketball Preview: Connecticut Huskies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

NCAA Men?s Basketball Betting Previews

New Mexico Lobos vs. No.3 Brigham Young Cougars

Pointspread: BYU -12

Over/Under: 149

The New Mexico Lobos will try and play the role of spoiler when they take on the BYU Cougars tonight at the Marriott Center in Provo. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast regionally.

New Mexico snapped a recent four-game losing streak with an 80-70 victory over TCU as a 7 ½-point road favorite this past Saturday. The win pushed the Lobos to 18-11 straight-up on the year and 12-13-1 against the spread. They are currently tied with Utah for fifth-place in the Mountain West with a 6-8 SU conference record.

Dairese Gary leads four New Mexico players scoring in double-figures with 14.5 points and is averaging a team-high 5.5 assists a game. Drew Gordon leads the team with 10.3 rebounds a game and is the second leading scorer with 12.5 points. The Lobos are shooting 46.5 percent from the field and scoring an average of 74 points a game.

BYU is riding-high after its second dominating victory of the season over conference rival No.9 San Diego State. The Cougars beat the Aztecs 71-58 on Jan.26 as a 5 ½-point home favorite and then completed the sweep on the road this past Saturday with an 80-67 win as a 4 ½-point underdog. BYU is currently 27-2 SU overall (12-13 ATS) and 13-1 SU in the Mountain West.

The primary reason for the Cougars? success this season has been the stellar play of Jimmer Fredette. He leads the nation in scoring with 27.3 points a game while leading the team in assists with 4.3. One interesting development to keep an eye on for this game is the recent suspension of Brandon Davies, who is averaging 11.1 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds a game.

The loss of Davies should not affect BYU in this game as it puts the finishing touches on a spectacular regular season. Stick with the Cougars to win and cover the 12 points at homeas they avenge an earlier 86-77 loss to the Lobos in a game they were favored by 2 1/2-points on the road.

 

NCAA Basketball Preview: New Mexico Lobos vs. No.3 Brigham Young Cougars

The Phoenix Suns and the Boston Celtics will both be trying to pick up a win on Wednesday when they battle at TD Garden.

Oddsmakers currently have the Celtics listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Suns, while the game's total is sitting at 199½.

Phoenix won its last outing, a 104-103 result against the Nets on February 28. The Suns failed to cover in that game as a 2.5-point favorite, while the 207 combined points took the game OVER the total.

The Celtics were a 107-102 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Jazz. They covered the 4?point spread as favorites, while the total score (209) made winners of OVER bettors.

Phoenix: Team record: 31-27 SU, 27-30-1 ATS Current streak: won 4 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games The total has gone UNDER in 7 of last 9 games on the road

When playing on Wednesday are 6-4 Before playing Milwaukee are 6-4 After playing New Jersey are 7-3 After a win are 7-3

Boston: Team record: 43-15 SU, 28-28-2 ATS Current streak: won 2 straight games.

is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games is 20-4 SU in its last 24 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games at home The total has gone OVER in 7 of last 9 games when playing at home against Phoenix

When playing on Wednesday are 8-2 Before playing Golden State are 3-7 After playing Utah are 6-4 After a win are 5-5

Next up: Phoenix at Milwaukee, Friday, March 4 Boston home to Golden State, Friday, March 4

 

 

NBA Preview: Phoenix Suns vs. Boston Celtics