Teddy Covers
MLB Padres/Marlins Over 9 3 units
NBA Jazz/Lakers Under 213 4 units
Bob Akmens
NBA 3* BOSTON / ATLANTA UNDER 189.5
MLB: 7* TOP-PLAY: MILWAUKEE (SHEETS) -150 vs Houston (Sampson)
MLB: 4* MILWAUKEE / HOUSTON OVER 9.0
MLB: 4* LA ANGELS (SAUNDERS) -175 vs Baltimore (Trachsel)
NHL: 3* PITTSBURGH -170
NHL: 3* PITTSBURGH / NY RANGERS UNDER 5.0
JB Sports
2 units Atlanta +14
2 units Lakers -7
KB Hoops
NBA
5 units Boston -14.5
5 units Boston UNDER 190
MLB
4 units NY Mets -120
4 units Pirates -110
4 units Boston -125
GAMBLERS WORLD
TIP OF THE DAY
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
Current Line: -7 Over/Under: 213.5 Reason: The Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers will both be gunning for a playoff victory on Sunday when they meet at STAPLES Center. Oddsmakers currently have the Lakers listed as 7-point favorites versus the Jazz, while the game's total is sitting at 213½. The Jazz had seven players reach double figures on Friday, as they defeated the Rockets 113-91 and took that Western Conference first-round series in six games. The Jazz covered the 7.5-point spread, and the combined 204 points sailed OVER the posted total of 180.5. Deron Williams had 25 points with six rebounds and nine assists in leading the Jazz. Mehmet Okur chipped in with 19 points in the Game 6 victory. Kobe Bryant had 31 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as the Lakers handled the Denver Nuggets 107-101 last Monday night to win their Western Conference quarterfinal series 4-0. Los Angeles covered as 4-point road favorites as the teams played under the 228-point total listed by oddsmakers. Team records: Utah: 54-28 SU, 46-36 ATS Los Angeles: 57-25 SU, 47-34-1 ATS Utah most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing LA Lakers are 9-1 After playing Houston are 7-3 After a win are 5-5 Los Angeles most recently: When playing on Sunday are 7-3 Before playing Utah are 6-4 After playing Denver are 6-4 After a win are 9-1 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 6 of Utah's last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Utah's last 6 games on the road Utah is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games Utah is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games LA Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home LA Lakers are 12-2 SU in their last 14 games when playing at home against Utah
Nite Owl Sports
Game: Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics -
Pick: Boston Celtics -14
Coming off of our biggest win of the NBA playoffs, for +5 units last night on the New Orleans Hornets over the SA Spurs (3 units on our ATS pick, and two on our money line pick), we now turn our attention to game 7 in this surprisingly competitive series between the top seeded Boston Celtics and the #8 Atlanta Hawks. This game is a good news bad news story. First let's get the bad news out of the way -- as is obvious from our 3 unit pick on Boston to wrap things up in game 6, we never thought this series would go this far. And while we don't like to make excuses when we lose, we can't just "let it go" about the officiating, with home loving Hawks getting to FT line 43 times compared to Boston's 25. If David Stern really wants to restore credibility about NBA officials being "neutral and impartial," in the wake of the major betting and game fixing scandal involving a now dismissed NBA referree who was officiating games as recently as last year, he should tell the "head official" to have his "crews" do a better job (than they did Friday night in Atlanta) evening out the calls between home and road teams. But it's OK with us if he waits until Monday to do that. In any event, all of that bad news from game 6 leads to the good news, which is that we now have a game 7 and another opportunity to pound the Celtics back home in Boston, where they have creamed the Hawks in all 3 series home games, most recently by 25 in game 5. And like they were in game 5 after losing games 3 and 4 in Atlanta, the Celtic players will be angry about losing game 6, but even more so this time, given the way that game 6 loss happened (getting "jobbed" by the refs), and they will again take it out on the Hawks, who seemed to 'fly around" aimlessly when on the road for pretty much the entire season, especially when visiting A teams like Boston, against whom they were a pathetic 4-12 ATS on the road, with an average MOL (margin of loss) of 15 PPG. And it's this revenge factor that we believe will prevent any "back door cover" by the Hawks, despite the large spread, as Celtics kept their "foot on the gas pedal" for the full 48 minutes in game 5, and we expect nothing less in this key game 7.
But for those who are concerned about giving so many points, we have a suggestion, if you have access to individual team totals, and that's to bet under for the total # of points to be scored by atlanta in this game. While official individual team totals have not yet been released as we post this pick on Sat afternoon, we are confident that the number will be around 88, as it has been near that for games 1,2 and 5, and that's what we come up with using the point spread of Boston -14 and the full game total of 190 (102 +88, with difference of 14, equals 190). When Celtics are motivated, as they surely will be for this game, they can be counted on to "lock down" on defense, as they have in holding Hawks to 87, 81 and 85 points in ganes 1, 2 and 5 in Boston. This way, if even if Boston does not shoot the lights out like they did in game 5, and they win by something like 97-84 w/o covering, we still win on the Atlanta under 87. But since we believe both bets will win, our recommendation is to use this individual team totals play in addition to, not instead of, playing Boston at -14 or better. So if you have access to individual team totals, we suggest putting 3 units on Boston at -14 or better and 3 units on under 88 or better for # of points to be scored by Atlanta., for a total of six units. If you don't have access to individual team totals, we suggest putting 5 units on Boston at -14 or better.
Mike Rose
2* CWS +160 (CONTRERAS) VS. TOR (HALLADAY)
MLB 2* HOU +125 (SAMPSON) VS. Milw (SHEETS)
MLB 3* AZD +108 (HAREN) VS. Mets (SANTANA)
NBA 2* UTAH/LA LAKERS OVER 212.5
AJ Apollo
NBA 3* Utah Jazz +7.5 vs. LA Lakers
MLB 3* Tampa Bay Devilrays +110 vs. Boston Red Sox Kazmir vs. Lester
3* Cincinnati Reds +120 vs Atlanta Braves Arroyo vs Glavine
Steve Budin
25 DIME RELEASE
Lakers vs. Jazz
From The Baltimore Crew
That Went 7-0 in the NFL This Year
La Lakers
Bob Balfe
NBA
Atlanta +14 over Boston
The Home team has won and covered each game so far in this series. Game Sevens are very funny and anything can happen. I do think Boston advances, but this young Atlanta team is more athletic and will not be as windy in the second half. If Atlanta keeps it close in the first half they have a great shot at winning. As always, you will probably see a phantom call on the Hawks late in the game to ensure they do not win outright. I don't think its good for basketball to have the Celtics lose in the first round. Look for a tighter game then usual. Take the Hawks.
Jazz +7 over Lakers
The Lakers breezed right on through the Nuggets. Utah will not let them score at will and can shoot the balls very well themselves. The Jazz have shooters to make this a series. The Lakers might be a little over confident. Look for the Jazz to make this a possible upset. Take Utah.
LT Profits
Tampa Bay Rays (105) / 2 units
Minnesota Twins (-105) / 2 units
Arizona Diamondbacks (105) / 2 units
Paul Leiner
500* NBA Over 212.5 LAL/Utah
50* MLB Tigers even
10* NBA Hawks +14.5
10* MLB Rays +110
free play 10* MLB Mets -115
Frank Rosenthal
NBA PLAYOFFS
532 CELTICS-14 SB
UNDER 190 SB+
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
706 LAKERS-7 SB
UNDER 213 SB
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
901 PADRES+105 SB
914 DBACKS+105 SB
915 CUBS UNDER 9 SB+
922 YANKS-125 SB
924 BOSOX-115 SB
Mr A's
NBA Playoffs
Sunday, May 4, 2008 (Eastern Time)
Games Mr. A's Selections
Atlanta at Boston, 1:00 p.m. Boston Celtics - 14?
Utah at LA Lakers, 3:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers - 7?
MLB
Sunday, May 4th, 2008 3:35 p.m. est.
Baltimore Orioles (16-14) at Los Angeles Angels (19-13)
(R) Steve Trachsel (1-1) vs. (L) Joe Saunders (5-0)
The Angels have won 11 of the last 15 meetings against the Orioles and four of the last five at home, including Saturday?s 3-1 win.
Los Angeles will send Joe Saunders to the hill. The lefthander is 5-0, with a 2.08 ERA. The Angels are 9-3 in Saunders' last 12 home starts. Baltimore counters with Steve Trachsel. The right-hander is 1-3, with a 6.08 ERA. The Orioles are 1-7 in Trachsels last 8 road starts
Take Los Angeles at Angel Stadium with southpaw Joe Saunders at the wheel. The struggling Orioles have dropped three of their last four games and five of their last seven.
Los Angeles Angels - 180
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
TOP RATED HOME RUN BASEBALL WINNER
Oakland with Smith -147
ROUND TWO NBA PLAYOFF GAME OF THE YEAR
LA LAKERS -7