MATT FARGO
10* Utah Jazz -2.5
Jeff Benton
15 Dime Orlando
Bob Balfe
Utah Jazz -2.5
The Jazz are one of the best home teams in the NBA and this 3-0 Laker lead should actually be a lot closer (especially compared to the Orlando-Atlanta series). Utah has a lot of good players and a great coach who will not allow them to lay down tonight. Look for the Jazz to win in virtually every category (particularly in the free-throw battle) and force a Game 5 back in Los Angeles. As always, Deron Williams is arguably the best point guard left in the playoffs and is the key to the success of the Jazz. He will lead them to a convincing victory tonight. Take Utah.
New York Mets -155
John Maine is starting to heat up and is the better pitcher in this matchup. The Mets have proven early in the season that they are for real and a viable contender in the NL East. They have a more potent offense and are playing some great baseball, especially at home. Take the Mets in an easy win.
Great Lakes
5* Orlando
4* Pitt
3* Milw
3* Angels
Jim Fiest
5* Orlando
3* Lakers
4* Mets
5* Sports
5* Lakers Under
3* Angels
KIKI SPORTS
1 Unit LA Lakers +3
3 Units LA Dodgers/Arizona OVER 10.5
1 Unit Tampa Bay -138
JR O'Donnell
3* Angels
Let's roll with the Angels tonight who are just as strong a play gang. The Los Angeles Angels have dominated the recently poor Tampa Bay Rays, looking at yesterday's perfect game being thrown against them. We feel that the betting public will be lining up '2' fisted on Tampa Bay & M. Garza. M Garza is 0-1 with a 6.50 ERA in three starts vs the Angels and was bombed last outing. We also note that the Angels are 5-1 the last 6 @ home and own 23 wins out of 27 vs. the Mighty Rays at home, they are averaging 6 runs and hitting close to .320 in that span, that's Jr O power boys.
King Creole
4* Los Angeles Lakers
Looks like the second round of the 2010 NBA post-season is all about the SWEEPS. Phoenix took out the broom last night against the Spurs. On Monday, both the Magic and Lakers are looking to close out their respective series' in 4-0 fashion as well. That's where our querying started in the Playbook NBA post-season database.
13-2 ATS since 1992: All NBA Playoff GAME FOUR underdogs who went 3-0 SU in the first 3 games of their series (LAKERS). Last night, the SUNS won outright in this situation. For ATS 'tighteners', we note that Western Conference teams in this confident situation have gone 8-1 ATS. And in the '2.4' game specifically (Round 2 / Game 4), the results have gone a PERFECT 9-0 ATS. Therefore, it's the Lakers on Monday.
Saturday's Game Four went right down to the wire as the Lakers won a close one by a score of 111 to 110.
9-1-1 since 2001: All NBA Playoff (any round / any game) underdogs of points (LAKERS).
9-3 ATS: All NBA Playoff GAME FOUR road teams... after scoring AND allowing 110 > points in their last game. UNDERDOGS of 4 points in each game (LAKERS).
EACH of the first 3 games of this series have gone 'OVER the Total'.
1-6 ATS: All NBA Playoff GAME FOUR favorites of 6 < points (Jazz)... if the first three games ALL went 'Over the Total'. For you Over / Under players, we note that the results are 1-10 O/ since 2000 for ALL Game Four home teams playing off 3 straight 'Overs'.....
Let's look at this particular Day of the Week:
2-15 ATS since 2001: All NBA Playoff WESTERN CONFERENCE home teams playing on a MONDAY (Jazz).
I also ran a query in regards to tonight's OU line range. At last look, the OU line for tonight's game was 206.5 to 207 points.
2-12 ATS: All NBA Playoff GAME FOUR home teams when the OU line falls in the range of 205 to 210 points (Spurs LAST night... Jazz TONIGHT).
I checked the database for ATS patterns and tendencies when a #1 SEED plays a #5 SEED...
6-0 ATS since 2003: In ALL NBA Playoff games... when a #1 Seed teams is an UNDERDOG (LAKERS) against a #5 or HIGHER Seed (Jazz).
Utah was a favorite of -4.5 in Saturday's close SU loss...
0-6 ATS last 5 years: All NBA Playoff favorites (any round / any game) off a SU loss of 2 4 points (Jazz).
Both teams went 6 GAMES in their previous Playoff series...
7-1 ATS: All NBA Playoff GAME FOUR road teams (LAKERS) vs a fellow conference opponent (Jazz)... when both teams went 6 games in their Previous Playoff series.
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS -170
As they did in their first round matchup against the Senators (a game which I had), I believe the Penguins will win on on the road in Game 6 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals:
Pittsburgh will look to take advantage of Canadiens team that lost another defenseman as Hal Gill was forced to leave Saturday night's game after he was sliced on the back of the leg.
“We expect desperation on their part, and we have to make sure that we are prepared to play our best game of the series,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said following Saturday night’s 2-1 win at Mellon Arena.
Pittsburgh has played its best hockey of the post-season on the road; 5-1 its last six on enemy ice.
On the other side of the rink: In complete contrast to that, the Habs are just 2-4 their last six at the Bell Center.
Marc-Andre Fleury became the first goalie to shut out Montreal on home ice in the playoffs in 27 years in Game 3. He made 18 saves in the Penguins’ 2-0 win in Game 3, ending the Canadiens’ streak of 118 home playoff games without being held scoreless.
Fleury has bounced back nicely after a couple of sub par efforts and I believe he'll be the difference tonight for the Penguins.
Bottom line: Montreal's cinderella story ends tonight; Jaroslav Halak has secured his spot as the Habs #1 next year, but I believe will succumb this evening to the superior, more skilled and deeper team; *6* play on the PENGUINS!
Lenny Del Genio
TORONTO BLUE JAYS +160
The Jays were swept by the Red Sox earlier this season, but this is a very good spot to play on the Jays tonight. Boston comes into this game off a 3-game series against their arch rival Yankees, and could be in for a little let down tonight. Toronto has been playing very good baseball winning seven of their last eight games. Toronto has been a very good team to play on away from home posting a 12-4 road record. The Red Sox have been bad bets against righties this season posting an 8-12 record. Lackey gets the start for Boston and he has a losing record pitching against the Jays with a 5-6 team start record. Morrow has looked good in his last two starts and presents excellent value here tonight. Play on Toronto.
Champion Sports
Orlando vs. Atlanta
Orlando -5.5
Just a bad matchup for the Hawks who are now on a 1-9 series dive SU/ATS. Orlando has won by 43, 14, and 30 points already, and their winning streak now stands at 13 in a row SU and 12-1 ATS. A few extra points on the impost don't scare us away. Hawks are outmatched and can't put it together as a unit to win one against a much better team.
NY Yankees @ Detroit
NY Yankees -118
Tampa Bay @ LA Angels
Tampa Bay -139
Tampa Bay with M. Garza on the mound has cashed 5 of his 6 games this year. Angels' J. Pineiro - he has been very hittable of late with a 9.98 ERA over his last three starts.
Boston Blackie
5* LAKERS
The Lakers are a victory away from sweeping the Utah Jazz and want to lock up a third straight trip to the Western Conference finals as soon as possible. Game 4 is Monday night in Utah, where the Lakers edged the Jazz 111-110 on Saturday for a 3-0 series lead.
The Lakers have knocked the Jazz out of the last two playoffs, starting in 2008 with a 4-2 win in the second round. Last year it was 4-1, so 4-0 and a possible long break before the Western finals is sounding pretty good.
Under is 12-5 in LAL last 17 games as an underdog
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Look for solid defensive game
MARC LAWRENCE
3 Units LA Lakers +3
Rocketman
3* Phillies