BEN BURNS
PERSONAL NBA FAVORITE
I'm laying the points with CHARLOTTE. It's important not over-react to the starts off both teams. The Bobcats struggled in preseason and are off to an 0-1 start. They've got a top tier coach (Larry Brown) now though and they're not without talent. Additionally, their lone game was on the road vs. a powerful Cleveland team, so it's no surprise that they lost that one. They've had a day off in between games now though and they return home to take a step down in class to face the Heat. While the Heat looked good last night and will surely be improved from last season, they're already 0-1 on the road and are now a dismal 2-27 SU their last 29 road games. The Heat have also struggled here at Charlotte, going 2-5-1 ATS all-time on the road vs. the Bobcats. In fact, the last three meetings here ALL resulted in double-digit victories for the Bobcats. Additionally, the Heat are 3-17 the last 20 times they played the second of back to back games, including an 0-6 mark their last six in that situation. The last five of those losses all came by double-digits and by an average of more than 21 points. While the Heat were terrible on the road last season, the Bobcats were competitive at home. They won their home opener and finished above 500 here for the season. The Bobcats are 14-5 SU and 11-6-2 ATS the last 19 times they were favored by four points or less. Look for them to improve on those stats with a solid victory in their home opener. *Personal Favorite
Best Bet
I'm taking the points with DENVER. I believe that the betting public is over-reacting to Denver is coming off an OT game last night. Yes, that was a hard-fought game. However, the fact that the Nuggets earned a great comeback win should help compensate for some of the fatigue that they might have otherwise been feeling. Additionally, Carmello Anthony didn't play at all (due to a suspension) so he'll provide the Nuggets with some fresh legs tonight. Note that the Nuggets have played a home game after playing the second of back to back games just four times since last November. Those four games all came against solid opponents from the Western Conference (Houston, Phoenix, Portland, LAC) and the Nuggets went 3-1 with the lone loss coming by single-digits. Looking back to last season's three series meetings here and we find that the Nuggets were favored in two games and were four point underdogs in the other. Tonight's line is much bigger, which I feel provides us with plenty of value. The fact that the Lakers won all three of those games (and swept the series overall) should provide the Nuggets will plenty of motivation tonight. Despite those results, the Nuggets are still 5-5 the last 10 series meetings here and they lost only one of those 10 games by more than six points. Additional motivation will be provided by the fact that this is the Nuggets' home opener. The Nuggets are 35-17 SU (31-21 ATS) the last 52 times they were coming off a double-digit win and 13-5 SU (12-6 ATS) the last 18 times they played a home game with an over/under line ranging from 205-210. Look for them to build some momentum from yesterday's big comeback as they give the Lakers all they can handle and earn at least another cover. *Best Bet
Larry Ness
Las Vegas Insider-NBA
Phoenix Suns
Weekend Wipeout Winner-NBA
Dallas Mavericks
Weekend Wipeout Winner
South Carolina
Any Rocketman NHL? Thanks!
OC Dooley
5* Nebraska/Oklahoma Under
Fairway Jay
20* UTEP +3
Bestsportspicks
MINN
UTAH
PHX
KB Hoops
5* Milwaukee -1
JEFFERSONSPORTS
CHARLOTTE-2
MILWAUKEE-1
Nick Bogdanovich
2* Hornets -4
The Hoops Guru
NBA TRIPLE PLAY WINNER
Phoenix -8
Anyone with nsa 20*TENNESSEE @ SUTH CAROLINA TODAY AT 7 PM EST ON ESPN2?
NSA Added
20* Tenn
10* Tenn/SCar Under
Dr Bob
3 Star Selection
Philadelphia (+3) over ATLANTA
The 76ers won big for me last night, bouncing back from their opening game loss, and now the Sixers apply to a 103-40-1 ATS road underdog momentum situation that is an even better 43-10 ATS for teams that played the previous night. My ratings favor the 76ers by only 1 point and I’ll take Philadelphia in a 3-Star Best Bet at +2 ½ points or more and for 2-Stars at +2 points.
3-Stars at +2 1/2 or more, 2-Stars at +2
2 Star Selection
Miami (+3) over CHARLOTTE
Charlotte’s poor game 1 performance is not a good omen for them tonight, as the Bobcats apply to a negative 14-46-1 ATS early season indicator. My ratings favor Charlotte by 2 ½ points, so the line is fair. And I’ll take Miami in a 2-Star Best Bet at +2 points or more and for 3-Stars at +3 ½ or more.
2-Stars at +2 or more, 3-Stars at +3 1/2 or more.
2 Star Selection
Washington (+10) over DETROIT
Washington applies to a 35-9-3 ATS subset of a 72-31-3 ATS early season indicator and Detroit applies to a the Pistons apply to a negative 24-49-2 ATS early season angle. Detroit tends to let up as a big favorite and rested teams tend to take advantage of that. In fact, the Pistons are just 8-26 ATS as a regular season favorite of more than 9 points against teams with rest while Washington is 25-9 ATS as a regular season road underdog when they didn’t play the previous night. My ratings favor Detroit by 11 points, so the line is a bit low, but I like the situation enough to play the Wizards at +10 or more. I’ll take Washington in a 2-Star Best Bet at +10 points or more and for 3-Stars at +11 or more.
2-Stars at +10 or more, 3-Stars at +11 or more.
3 Star Selection
Dallas (-5) over MINESOTA
Dallas is coming off an opening game loss to a very good Rockets team but the Mavericks apply to a very good 53-7-1 ATS early season indicator. Minnesota is an improved team with Mike Miller joining a young cast with potential, but my ratings favor Dallas by 5 points, so the line is fair. I’ll take Dallas in a 3-Star Best Bet at -6 points or less, for 4-Stars at -4 or less, and for 2-Stars at -6 ½.
3-Stars at -6 or less, 4-Stars at -4 or less, 2-Stars at -6 1/2.
4 Star Selection
PHOENIX (-8) over Portland
The Suns won at San Antonio before losing at home to a very good Hornets squad on Thursday night. I’ll look for Phoenix to bounce back tonight based on a 53-7-1 ATS early season indicator that applies to the Suns. Portland is coming off an exciting 1 point win over the Spurs last night and it will be tough for them to be ready for Steve Nash and the Suns tonight. Nash has a history of exploiting unrested teams and the Suns are 32-15 ATS with Nash in the lineup when not favored by more than 9 points against a team that played the previous night. My ratings favor the Suns by 9 points, so there is a bit of line value to go with the great situation. I’ll take Phoenix in a 4-Star Best Bet at -8 points or less and for 3-Stars from -8 ½ to -9 ½ points (2-Stars at -10).
4-Stars at -8 or less, 3-Stars from -8 1/2 to -9 1/2 and 2-Stars at -10.
The Hoops Guru
NBA TRIPLE PLAY WINNER
Phoenix -8
NBA DOUBLE PLAY WINNER
Dallas -4
The Hoops Guru
NBA TRIPLE PLAY WINNER
Phoenix -8NBA DOUBLE PLAY WINNER
Dallas -4
NBA DOUBLE PLAY WINNER PART TWO
Orlando -10
The NHL has been left out by the cappers.. :'(