NBA Betting Preview: Saturday Jan 30th, 2010

With all of the focus this time of the year on Super Bowl odds and everyone’s NFL predictions, it is easy to overlook some easy bets to make in other sports. This Saturday, there are three games that can be taken advantage of in the NBA if you take a close look.

Game 1)

Portland Trail Blazers (27-20, 6th in west) @ Dallas Mavericks (30-16. 3rd in west)

Sportsbook outlook:

Spread: Dallas -8

Total: 193

Money lines: Dallas -180, Portland +160

This matchup, which would be a first round playoff series if the season ended today, is more one-sided than it looks on paper. Portland has made a yeoman’s effort this season while dealing with injuries to both centers (Greg Oden, Joel Pryzbilla) and to forward Nic Batum who only now just came back. Just lost to the Blazers is All-Star SG Brandon Roy who is irreplaceable on this squad. Dirk Nowitzki is having an MVP-caliber season (if LeBron wasn’t in the league), and cannot really be stopped.

Prediction: Dallas 94- Blazers 81

Game 2) New Orleans Hornets (25-20, 9th in west) @ Memphis Grizzlies (25-19, 7th in west)

Sportsbook outlook: (*approximation)

Spread: Memphis -5

Total: 206

Money Lines: Memphis – 160, New Orleans + 140

The New Orleans Hornets are led by All-Star guard Chris Paul and CP3 has been terrific once again this season with 20.5 PPG, 11.1 APG, 4.6 RPG with 2.27 steals a contest. The players around him however, have been merely average. F David West has been bothered by an ankle of late but has been solid averaging 17.7 PPG and 7.6 RPG. New Orleans has begun starting rookie guard Marcus Thornton after a trade of former starter Devin Brown to the Bulls. Memphis has looked like a machine recently and All-Star Zack Randolph leads the way for this young team that features Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Memphis is 17-5 at home this season and New Orleans is 9-16 on the road. Expect Memphis to ride the rejuvenated Zeebo Randolph to the W.

Prediction: Memphis 101- New Orleans 90

Game 3) Charlotte Bobcats (22-22, t-7th in east) @ Sacramento Kings (16-28, 3rd from the cellar)

Sportsbook outlook:

Spread: Charlotte - 1

Total: 196

Money Lines: Charlotte – 115, Sacramento -105

This under the radar matchup is listed for one main reason: The Bobcats stink on the road. Charlotte is 4-17 away from home while the Kings have 13 of their 16 wins in Sacramento (13-9). Kings G Tyreke Evans is the odds on favorite for rookie of the year and with former all-star Kevin Martin back from injury, provide for a lot of scoring. The Kings are a good young team battling growing pains this season, but have lots of promise. If they can ship Martin for a first round pick, they would be smart. Charlotte is led by first time All-Star Gerald Wallace and his high flying ways. Expect to see little defense and some spectacular plays in this potential, and likely let down game for the Bobcats.

Prediction: Sacramento 112- Charlotte 105

Gambling Advisor: If you parlay these three games, you will be in good shape to start the weekend. Take the money lines in games 1) and 2) and the spread for the Kings in game 3).

Udinese Eliminates Milan from Italy Cup

Udinese's, eliminate Milan of the online football betting Italian Cup by defeating home today 1-0 to advance to the semifinals.

The Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inlar authored the game-winner in the 55th minute after a pinpoint pass from Sanchez. Chile striker rounded off a great game, not just in attack, but was sacrificed in the defense, which does not happen often.

Udinese, who is in 16th place and close to the relegation zone in the online sports betting Italian league, could have retired with a much more succulent booty in front of a computer that is in second place in the standings with 40 points and seven behind leaders Inter.

Particularly in the first half, Udinese had several reasons to retire to rest with a result that would have allowed him immediately to ensure victory.

The occasion was clearer Sanchez in the 25th minute when he was alone in front of Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, the best of his team and his shot hit a stick.

The coach of the Rossoneri, Brazilian Leonardo, played for the reserves because their priority is the championship, the only set that from a distance, he is fighting the Scudetto to Inter.

Anyway, to try to change the fortunes of the party, Leonardo court ordered some of his senior players like Andrea Pirlo and Marco Borriello, but it was Udinese who had more chances.

The attack was the veteran Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi, who was the shadow of the big striker was, without even once pulling the bow.

Island also played a great game, but overall his team did a great level.

Udinese will play the semi-final with Roma, who qualified by winning Catania 1-0 yesterday. The semifinal round will be played on February 3 and the return on 10 February.

NFL Betting – Super Bowl Prop Picks

Team To Use First Timeout

Super Bowl 2010 Odds: Colts -115, Saints -115

Although both offenses are very smart with their timeouts, it’s surprising to see both teams even on the odds in this prop.

The Colts are always lineup well and very rarely are surprised by anything that the opposing defense presents. They usually have all three of their timeouts when they head into the two-minute warning each half, so they have an edge in this one. Bet the Saints to be the first to use a timeout.

Will The First Touchdown Of The Game Happen Via Run Or Pass?

Super Bowl Betting: Pass -200, Run +160

With two passing teams, this appears to be an obvious one. The Colts had 33 passing touchdowns this year and just 16 rushing while the Saints had 34 passing touchdowns and just 21 rushing. When you do the math, the pass is the play here.

Both teams struggle in the red zone as well so they will be looking to pass it in even if they get up close.

Will There Be A Special Teams Or Defensive Touchdown?

Super Bowl Prop Betting: Yes +150, No -180

No is an excellent play on this line, which seems surprisingly low considering the two teams that are playing. Both teams are very efficient with the football and with two Pro Bowl quarterbacks, the defenses are going to have to make an amazing play to cause a takeaway. Furthermore, there are far more playmakers on the offensive side than on defense, which means not only forcing a turnover but taking it to the house is going to be a tall order.

As far as special teams go, neither team is known for their returns. This whole prop is essentially “Will Reggie Bush score a special teams touchdown?”.

-180 looks good for ‘no’.

The First Turnover Of The Game Will Be…

Bodog Review: Fumble +125, Interception -155, No Turnover +800

It’s not often that an NFL game goes without a turnover, but bettors have to be curious about the 8-to-1 odds offered up for two fairly efficient teams.

Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are about as careful as can be with the football and when consider how sloppy the Minnesota Vikings were in the NFC Championship Game, both teams will be preaching to be careful. +800 looks like some good value.

NFL Betting – NFC’s Quarterbacks Superior To AFC Backups

While most people are already looking forward to the Super Bowl betting line, keep in mind that we do have one more week of football before we get to the big game. The Pro Bowl has moved to the week before the Super Bowl, which means we won’t be entirely football-free this week. Here is a preview of the NFL’s All-Star Game, which will take place in Hawaii this year.

2010 Pro Bowl

NFC @ AFC

Gambling Advisor blog Pick : NFC -2

NFL Betting Total: 58.5

Normally, the week between the AFC and NFC Championship Games, and the Super Bowl, is fairly dull. We get excited on the Monday when we find out what the matchup is, handicap it for a couple of days and then by the end of the week, we are tired of all the different speculating and are craving the game already.

This year, Commissioner Roger Gooddell has implemented a change in the hopes that the Super Bowl off week isn’t a dry week, and that NFL fans have something to look forward to this week – regardless of how small – to distract us a little bit from the big game.

This year’s contest lacks luster as the changing of the date has had a big ripple effect on the contest. With the Pro Bowl being played in the week before the Super Bowl, the players on either of the teams in the Super Bowl will not be partaking in the Pro Bowl. Generally speaking, that’s a big deal since the two teams in the Super Bowl are the two best.

It has had a big impact on this year’s roster in particular as the AFC will be without all three of its originally three pick quarterbacks. Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning will not participate in the game, which thrusts Matt Schaub, Vince Young and David Garrard into the spotlight.

The NFC has a real edge at quarterback as they’ll have Aaron Rodgers, Donovan McNabb and possibly Brett Favre. After the beating Favre took, he’ll likely sit this one out but even so, the NFC has a big edge at the most important position on the field.

The total is tough to handicap but based on the quarterback rotations alone, the pick here has to be the NFC.

Free Sports Betting Pick: NFC -2