Bet On NCAA Basketball: Hawkeyes Look To Knock Out Spartans

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NCAA Basketball OddsMarch Madness betting players have seen Michigan State spiral out of control from a Final Four contender to a possibility of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997, and a loss in the first round of the Big Ten tournament would surely be the final nail in the coffin. The Spartans face off against Iowa, and this rubber match won’t be easy to get through.

Iowa vs. Michigan State Betting – Thursday, 4:30 PM ET

The Hawkeyes (11-19, 4-14) lost six in a row before a major upset of Purdue at home, and they could use that big win to gain some momentum for this game. They’ll need it because the Hawkeyes aren’t a good team, ranking 207th in points scored and 186th in points allowed. Matt Gatens is one of three players to average in double figures for the Hawkeyes, who do shoot a decent 44.1% from the field, but only 31.1% from the three-point line. If the Hawkeyes were an online horse betting option, they would be a longshot but at the same time, they have nothing to lose and can play relaxed.

On the other hand, the Spartans (17-13, 9-9) have everything to lose in this game, and it’s been a weird season in East Lansing. It began with a brutal non-conference schedule, while guard Kalin Lucas had to battle back from another injury, and fellow guard Korie Lucious was kicked off the team. The Spartans still rebound well and they block shots, but they’re not as good defensively as they normally are, ranking 147th in points allowed, and they’re terrible at defending the three-point shot, ranking 280th in three-point defense.

We’re going to bet 5dimes that the Spartans will be the favorites in this Big Ten clash, as they are 4-1 SU and 2-3 ATS in their last five meetings with the Hawkeyes. Their two meetings this year were both routs as Iowa won by 20 at home on February 2nd, while the Spartans avenged that with a 19-point victory at their place a month later. The Spartans still have enough talent to beat the Hawkeyes, but they’ve played well below their standards this season. Lucas, in particular, has to take this team on his back and lead the way, but freshman Keith Appling scored 18 in the win at East Lansing, and if he doesn’t, someone else will have to step up. The Spartans have a size advantage in the post as well, and they should use that to maximize their chances. The Hawkeyes are going to give the Spartans a scare and this will be a close game, but we’re sticking with Michigan State in our best online sportsbook.

NHL Odds Preview for Wednesday March 9, 2011: Los Angeles Kings vs. Detroit Red Wings

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Hockey OddsSports Bet Overview

The betting on March Madness has yet to really get underway, but the sports betting bonus on which NHL teams will make the playoffs is in full swing. When the NHL season started, the Hockey Training Tips observers thought that the Los Angeles Kings would rule the league. The Kings got off to a very fast start that put them at the top of the Western Conference and battling for the top spot in the league. But, as the season wore on, the Kings came crashing down to Earth and found themselves looking up at the top eight teams in the Western Conference. The Kings have battled back and are now in the thick of the Western Conference playoff battle again, but they will have to keep winning to stay in the hunt.

The Detroit Red Wings are so happy with goaltender Jimmy Howard that the team signed Howard to a three-year contract extension in the middle of this season. In what is sure to be deemed a coincidence, Howard has gone 1-2-2 in his last 10 starts. The Red Wings will probably not catch the Vancouver Canucks for first place in the Western Conference as they trail the Canucks by seven points. But if the Red Wings are not careful, the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks could pass them and knock the Red Wings out of the top three in the Western Conference standings.

Los Angeles Kings

For many teams in the NHL, now is “do or die time.” The Kings are managing to put together some good streaks to maintain their hold on eighth place in the Western Conference. In the last 10 games the Kings are 6-3-1, and that has helped to put them back into the playoff race. But their last start was a critical Western Conference loss to the Canucks in Los Angeles. The Kings are getting some great goaltending from Jonathan Quick, but they will need to pick things up in the goal-scoring department if they want to be playing in the NHL post season.

Detroit Red Wings

For all of his recent flaws, Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard is having a very good season. His season record is 31-12-5 and his save percentage is .907. The knock against Howard is that he lets in easy goals at the most inopportune moments. But when a goalie has 31 wins on the season, it is hard to argue with his technique.

The Red Wings are the top scoring team in the league outscoring goal-producing machines such as the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. It is the offense of the Red Wings that makes up for the goaltending, and even the Detroit defensemen get in on the goal-scoring act. This is not the best Detroit team we have seen in a while, but it is one of the most offensively consistent teams in the league.

The Bottom Line

The Kings have problems with teams that can score goals. Jonathan Quick keeps the Kings in games as he can, but until players like Anze Kopitar start putting the puck in the net, the Kings will have problems beating the better teams in the league.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Detroit Red Wings

 

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