Hawks Visit Wizards in Meeting of Eastern Playoff Contenders

Wizards May Have Way With Depleted Hawks

The Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks both seem to have a grip on a playoff spot. The two will meet on Wednesday at 8PM ET in the nation’s capital.

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The Hawks aren’t a flashy team by any means. They’re one of the most balanced offensively in the league. They have six players, including Paul Millsap, averaging double digits for points. The Hawks must find a positive result without their leading man, as Paul Millsap will miss his third straight game with a left knee injury. Atlanta lost its past four games and is 3-7 in its last 10 games.

The Hawks may have to rely a little more on their tough defense. Atlanta's defense is sixth in opponent field goal percentage.

Atlanta's chances of home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs are in trouble. Sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, the Hawks are closer to ninth-place Detroit than fourth-place Toronto. The top eight teams reach the playoffs.

The Hawks will have their hands full with the Wizards. The Wiz are fifth in points scored. John Wall (23 points, almost 11 assists per game) and Bradley Beal (23 points) are finally fulfilling their promise in the backcourt. The Wizards’ defense still has some work to do though. They’re 22^nd in points allowed and could be a liability in the run into the playoffs.

Atlanta is 6-4 straight up and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Wizards. Wahsington has won two of three games against the Hawks this season. Atlanta won the first meeting 114-99 at home in October. The Wizards won 95-92 in Washington in November, and then 112-86 in Atlanta in January.

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Sweet 16 Bracket Contest Open Now at BetPhoenix

Place Your Entries

Sweet 16 Prize Pool

1^{st --} $2500

2^{nd --} $1500

3^{rd --} $1000

4^{th --} $800

5^{th -}  $600

6^th - 15^{th --} $300

16^th - 40^{th --} $170

41^st - 50^{th --} $125

Dead Last Place -- $100

*Prizes will be granted as free play money.

Bracket contest will close on March 23^th at 7:00PM ET.

 

Sweet 16 Bracket Contest

All accounts that have a deposit since November 11, 2016 will receive 1 courtesy free entry.

• Players can gain additional entries. One additional entry will be awarded for every $200 deposited to your account.


• The deposits have to have been made between February 1st, 2017 and March 23^rd, 2017. Tip-off of the tournament's first Sweet 16 game will be the deadline used to determine free entries.


• Each playersbracket entries must be received by March 23^rd, 2017 by tip-off of the first game.


• Once the Sweet 16 game times are posted, BetPhoenix will put the exact time the contest closes for new entries.


• Entries submitted after the cut off time will not be accepted.

Prizes will be awarded based on performance as follows:

• 1st Place - $2500


• 2nd Place - $1500


• 3rd Place - $1000


• 4th Place - $800


• 5th Place - $600


• 6th Place to 15th place - $300


• 16th Place to 40th Place - $170


• 41st Place to 50th Place - $125


• Dead Last Place  will win $100

BRACKET CONTEST CLOSING TIME: TIP-OFF OF THE TOURNAMENT’S FIRST SWEET 16 GAME.

• Entries earned by deposits to Bet Phoenix are eligible to win a Maximum Prize of: $2500.


• The top 50 performers in the contest are eligible for prize money.


• The absolute worst performer is also eligible for prize money.


• The finishing place will be decided by both selection accuracy and the time the entry was submitted.


• Clients may have multiple entries. Only under the same account number. Will be based on 1 free entry plus any entries resulting from deposits of $200 or more.


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• Prizes will be credited in the CB accounts. In order to access your account just log in by adding the CB prefix to your account number and use your regular password.


• The Prizes will be awarded on Monday, April 10^th, 2017.


• Bracket contest will be open on Monday, March 20^th at 2:00PM ET

 

NBA Tuesday Preview & Free Pick- Chicago at Toronto

Bulls on Outside Looking in for Playoffs

The Chicago Bulls kick off Tuesday night’s NBA double header of action on ESPN with a trip north of the boarder to face the Toronto Raptors. BetAnySports opened Toronto as a 6.5-point home favorite for this 7 p.m. (ET) tip with the total set at 203. The line now has the Raptors as 7-point favorites and the total is all the way down to 198.

Chicago (33-37) is on the outside looking in as far as earning a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. With just two straight-up wins in its last nine games, the Bulls need to turn things around. It did manage to get past Utah 95-86 on Saturday. They were a 6.5-point home underdog on BetAnySports’ closing line. It was just the third time the Bulls covered against the spread during this nine-game slide. The total stayed UNDER 192.5 points in that game. The total has stayed UNDER in eight of their last 10 contests.

The Bulls got a big effort from Bobby Portis off the bench in Saturday’s game. The come-from-behind upset had Portis scoring 22 points. Jimmy Butler once again led the way with a team-high 23 points to match his scoring average of the year. Chicago has failed to score more than 100 points in eight of its last 10 games and on the year it is ranked 25^th in the league in points per game (101.8).

Toronto May be Peaking at Right Time

Toronto is building some momentum for the post season with a 3-1 record in its last four games (SU and ATS) while winning all three contests by double digits. It hammered Indiana on Sunday 116-91 as a 2.5-point home favorite after beating Detroit 87-75 last Friday as a 3.5-point road underdog with BetAnySports. The Raptors are 41-29 SU on the year with a 23-12 record at home. They have covered in four of their last six home games with the total going OVER in three of their last five games at home.

DeMar DeRozan led the way against the Pacers with 22 points and all five of Toronto’s starters ended that game in double figures. In the recent victory in Detroit, Serge Ibaka posted 17 points and nine rebounds to help lead the way. Overall, the Raptors are the 10^th-highest scoring team in the NBA this season with 106.9 PPG. They have also been solid on defense with a points-allowed average of 103.1 points.

Toronto has already lost to Chicago twice on the road this season; however given the current form of both teams I would lay the 7 points at BetAnySports and take the Raptors both SU and ATS on Tuesday night.

 

UCLA and Cincinnati Battle in South Regional of NCAA's

UCLA and Cincinnati Vie for Sweet 16 Spot

The Cincinnati Bearcats and the UCLA Bruins will on Sunday at the Golden 1 Center. A spot in the South Regional Sweet Sixteen will be on the line. Both teams had relatively easy wins in their opening round matchups in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Bruins are vying for their third Sweet 16 bid in the past four years, while the Bearcats haven't been to the Sweet 16 since 2012.

Oddsmakers opened the Bruins as -3-point favorites versus the Bearcats, while the game's total opened at 153. The line has inched up to UCLA -3.5 and the total is at 153.5 at most sportsbooks.

UCLA was a 97-80 winner in its first round matchup against the Kent State Golden Flashes. They failed to cover the -19-point spread as favorites. TJ Leaf had 23 points and six rebounds for UCLA. Thomas Welsh had 16 points and eight rebounds. Lonzo Ball had 15 points with four rebounds and three assists. Aaron Holiday had 15 points and 11 rebounds coming off the bench.

Cincinnati won its first round matchup with a 75-61 route against the Kansas State Wildcats on March 17. They covered in that game as a -3-point favorite. Troy Caupain had 23 points and seven rebounds for the Bearcats. Kyle Washington scored 16 points. Gary Clark had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Betting Trends and Stats

Cincinnati:
Team record: 30-5 SU,18-14-1 ATS
Cincinnati is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Cincinnati is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games

UCLA:
Team record: 30-4 SU,16-18 ATS
The Bruins are 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The Bruins are 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of UCLA's last 11 games

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

UCLA and Cincinnati Battle in South Regional of NCAA's

UCLA and Cincinnati Vie for Sweet 16 Spot

The Cincinnati Bearcats and the UCLA Bruins will on Sunday at the Golden 1 Center. A spot in the South Regional Sweet Sixteen will be on the line. Both teams had relatively easy wins in their opening round matchups in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Bruins are vying for their third Sweet 16 bid in the past four years, while the Bearcats haven't been to the Sweet 16 since 2012.

Oddsmakers opened the Bruins as -3-point favorites versus the Bearcats, while the game's total opened at 153. The line has inched up to UCLA -3.5 and the total is at 153.5 at most sportsbooks.

UCLA was a 97-80 winner in its first round matchup against the Kent State Golden Flashes. They failed to cover the -19-point spread as favorites. TJ Leaf had 23 points and six rebounds for UCLA. Thomas Welsh had 16 points and eight rebounds. Lonzo Ball had 15 points with four rebounds and three assists. Aaron Holiday had 15 points and 11 rebounds coming off the bench.

Cincinnati won its first round matchup with a 75-61 route against the Kansas State Wildcats on March 17. They covered in that game as a -3-point favorite. Troy Caupain had 23 points and seven rebounds for the Bearcats. Kyle Washington scored 16 points. Gary Clark had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Betting Trends and Stats

Cincinnati:
Team record: 30-5 SU,18-14-1 ATS
Cincinnati is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Cincinnati is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games

UCLA:
Team record: 30-4 SU,16-18 ATS
The Bruins are 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The Bruins are 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of UCLA's last 11 games

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Kansas Faces a Gritty Michican State Team in NCAA's

Can Freshman Laden Spartans Shock Kansas?

The fans at BOK Center will see the young and gritty Michigan State Spartans battle the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 on Sunday. The freshman-laden Spartans are the No. 9 seed in the Midwest so college basketball fans get a battle between college basketball royalty in the second round.

Oddsmakers opened the Jayhawks as -8.5-point favorites versus the Spartans, while the game's total opened at 147.5. The line has fell to Kansas being a 7.5-point favorite and the total has climbed to 148.5 at most sportsbooks.

In their last action, Kansas was a 100-62 winner in the first round against the UC-Davis Aggies. They covered the -22.5-point spread as favorites. Kansas is led by Frank Mason III. He had 22 points and eight assists in the Jayhawks first-round win. Mason is joined in the starting lineup by

Michigan State was a 78-58 winner in their opening round matchup against the Miami Hurricanes. They covered the +1.5-point spread as underdogs. The Spartans overcame an early 12-point deficit and stormed ahead of the Hurricanes by 11 points at halftime. Michigan State then kept their foot on the gas pedeal in the second half and refused to let Miami back in the contest.

Betting Odds Trends

Michigan State Spartans (20-14 SU,18-15 ATS)
Michigan State is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Michigan State is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Kansas
Michigan State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Michigan State's last 5 games when playing Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks (29-4 SU,12-18-1 ATS)
Kansas is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Kansas is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas's last 6 games
Kansas is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Michigan State
Kansas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Michigan State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas's last 5 games when playing Michigan State

 

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Kansas Faces a Gritty Michican State Team in NCAA's

Can Freshman Laden Spartans Shock Kansas?

The fans at BOK Center will see the young and gritty Michigan State Spartans battle the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 on Sunday. The freshman-laden Spartans are the No. 9 seed in the Midwest so college basketball fans get a battle between college basketball royalty in the second round.

Oddsmakers opened the Jayhawks as -8.5-point favorites versus the Spartans, while the game's total opened at 147.5. The line has fell to Kansas being a 7.5-point favorite and the total has climbed to 148.5 at most sportsbooks.

In their last action, Kansas was a 100-62 winner in the first round against the UC-Davis Aggies. They covered the -22.5-point spread as favorites. Kansas is led by Frank Mason III. He had 22 points and eight assists in the Jayhawks first-round win. Mason is joined in the starting lineup by

Michigan State was a 78-58 winner in their opening round matchup against the Miami Hurricanes. They covered the +1.5-point spread as underdogs. The Spartans overcame an early 12-point deficit and stormed ahead of the Hurricanes by 11 points at halftime. Michigan State then kept their foot on the gas pedeal in the second half and refused to let Miami back in the contest.

Betting Odds Trends

Michigan State Spartans (20-14 SU,18-15 ATS)
Michigan State is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Michigan State is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Kansas
Michigan State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Michigan State's last 5 games when playing Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks (29-4 SU,12-18-1 ATS)
Kansas is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Kansas is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas's last 6 games
Kansas is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Michigan State
Kansas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Michigan State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas's last 5 games when playing Michigan State

 

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Wichita State and Kentucky Battle for Place in Sweet 16

Wichita State and Kentucky Have Been Here Before

The fans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse will the Wichita State Shockers and the Kentucky Wildcats battle again for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on Sunday. In 2014, No. 8 seed Kentucky ended No. 1 seed Wichita State's dream season. It also ended the Shockers 35-game winning streak. The Wildcats won 78-76 in second-round action.

Oddsmakers opened the Wildcats as -2-point favorites versus the Shockers, while the game's total opened at 153.5. The Wildcats are up to 3.5-point favorites now. The total has dropped to 150. It is still dropping in some places.

Last time out for Kentucky, they were a 79-70 winner as they battled the Northern Kentucky Norse in their 1st round NCAA game. They failed to cover as a -20-point favorite. Kentucky has won 12 in a row after Friday night's victory against No. 15 seed Northern Kentucky. De'Aaron Fox had 19 points. Kentucky also got 15 points and 18 rebounds from center Bam Adebayo.

Wichita State was a 64-58 winner in its first round matchup against the Dayton Flyers. They failed to cover the -6.5-point spread as favorites. The Shockers limited the Flyers to 31 percent field goal shooting (18 of 58) for the game. The Shockers have won 16 in a row. They shot only 39.6 percent but won the rebounding battle. They outrebounded Dayton 48-29, giving them a 19-8 advantage in second-chance points.

Betting Odds and Trends

Wichita State:
Team record: 31-4 SU,18-13-1 ATS
Current Streak: won 16 straight games.
The Shockers are 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
The Shockers are 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Wichita State's last 5 games

Kentucky:
Team record: 30-5 SU,17-17-1 ATS
Current Streak: won 12 straight games.
Kentucky is 6-13-1 ATS in its last 20 games
Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Kentucky's last 8 games

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

Wichita State and Kentucky Battle for Place in Sweet 16

Wichita State and Kentucky Have Been Here Before

The fans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse will the Wichita State Shockers and the Kentucky Wildcats battle again for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on Sunday. In 2014, No. 8 seed Kentucky ended No. 1 seed Wichita State's dream season. It also ended the Shockers 35-game winning streak. The Wildcats won 78-76 in second-round action.

Oddsmakers opened the Wildcats as -2-point favorites versus the Shockers, while the game's total opened at 153.5. The Wildcats are up to 3.5-point favorites now. The total has dropped to 150. It is still dropping in some places.

Last time out for Kentucky, they were a 79-70 winner as they battled the Northern Kentucky Norse in their 1st round NCAA game. They failed to cover as a -20-point favorite. Kentucky has won 12 in a row after Friday night's victory against No. 15 seed Northern Kentucky. De'Aaron Fox had 19 points. Kentucky also got 15 points and 18 rebounds from center Bam Adebayo.

Wichita State was a 64-58 winner in its first round matchup against the Dayton Flyers. They failed to cover the -6.5-point spread as favorites. The Shockers limited the Flyers to 31 percent field goal shooting (18 of 58) for the game. The Shockers have won 16 in a row. They shot only 39.6 percent but won the rebounding battle. They outrebounded Dayton 48-29, giving them a 19-8 advantage in second-chance points.

Betting Odds and Trends

Wichita State:
Team record: 31-4 SU,18-13-1 ATS
Current Streak: won 16 straight games.
The Shockers are 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
The Shockers are 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Wichita State's last 5 games

Kentucky:
Team record: 30-5 SU,17-17-1 ATS
Current Streak: won 12 straight games.
Kentucky is 6-13-1 ATS in its last 20 games
Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Kentucky's last 8 games

Get all of your College Basketball Odds at Bovada Online Sportsbook.

NBA on ABC: Cavs Travel to LA to Face the Clippers

Cavs Could be Without Irving and Shumpert

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers meet on Saturday night as ESPN has their NBA on ABC feature matchup. The game will be at STAPLES Center and tip-off is set for 8:30 pm.

Cleveland lost Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert in the third quarter against Utah. Irving left with tightness in his left knee. Shumpert sustained a left shoulder sprain. It may negate the return of Kevin Love. The Cavs were 7-6 without Love in the lineup.

This NBA on ABC matchup has the Clippers as a 2-point favorite. The total is sitting at 219.

Los Angeles lost its last outing, a 129-114 result against the Denver Nuggets on March 16. The Clippers failed to cover in that game as a +5.5-point underdog, while the 243 combined points took the game OVER the total. Although healthy, the Clippers are not totally well. They have lost three in a row. The latest was a 129-114 thrashing Thursday against Denver. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan did not play because coach Doc Rivers decided to rest them.

Cleveland won its last outing, a 91-83 result against the Utah Jazz on March 16. The Cavaliers failed to cover in that game as a -8.5-point favorite, while the 174 combined points took the game UNDER the total. The Cavaliers have enjoyed much success against the Clippers recently. Cleveland has won four of the last five meetings. That includes seven of nine at Staples. In their last game on Dec. 1, the Cavaliers won 113-94 in Cleveland. Irving scored 28 points.

Betting Odds Trends

Cleveland Cavaliers (45-22 SU,31-34-2 ATS)
Cleveland is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games
Cleveland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cleveland's last 11 games on the road
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Cleveland's last 8 games when playing LA Clippers
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
Cleveland is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers ( 40-29 SU,33-36 ATS)
LA Clippers is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
LA Clippers is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
LA Clippers is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
LA Clippers is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Clippers's last 7 games at home
LA Clippers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
LA Clippers is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Clippers's last 8 games when playing Cleveland
LA Clippers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
LA Clippers is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Cleveland

 

Next up:
Cleveland at Los Angeles Sunday, March 19
Los Angeles home to New York Monday, March 20

Get all your 2017 NBA Odds at celtada Online Sportsbook