November 6th, 2009

Hawks, Nuggets Off To Hot Starts

 

The sportsbook odds for Saturday's matchup between Denver and Atlanta have yet to be set as both teams play on Friday, but heading into those games, the Nuggets were one of two remaining unbeaten teams at 5-0, while the Hawks were 4-1. Who will come out on top?
 
Nuggets vs Hawks odds - Saturday, November 7, 7:00 PM ET
 
The Nuggets' online betting odds are tied to the exploits of Carmelo Anthony, who averaged 32.0 points throughout the first five games of the year. Chauncey Billups put up 21.0 points, but rookie Ty Lawson has surprised to average 11.8 points. In two games against the Hawks last year, the duo of Billups (22.0 points, 6.0 assists) and Anthony (19.5 points, 7.0 boards) led the way again.
 
If the Hawks are going to make some online betting noise, they'll have to be balanced, and Joe Johnson leads a group of six players in double digits with 22.8 points per game. Jamal Crawford, who came over from Golden State, is a much more dependable second option than Josh Smith. Johnson put up 25.5 points per game in two meetings with the Nuggets last year, while Marvin Williams added 21.5 points.
 
Online betting odds for this game should be relatively close, as the Nuggets have won three of their last five against the Hawks, but they've dropped three of their last four in Atlanta. Whatever the posted total is in your sportsbook, take a look at the over because these two are currently filling the basket at a tremendous pace (Denver leads the league in points scored, while Atlanta is fifth). Smith will probably get the task of guarding Anthony for the Hawks, but who is going to guard Johnson for the Nuggets? J.R. Smith is still suspended due to off-court problems, and Dahntay Jones left for Indiana. Also, take into account the previous night, as the Nuggets play in Miami, while the Hawks are in Charlotte, and that is definitely in Atlanta's favor. Combined with the homecourt advantage, take the Hawks' sportsbook betting lines.
 
Internet sports betting pick: Hawks
Posted by sportsbetting at 10:15 PM | Add a Comment

November 4th, 2009

Keys to Winning Game 6

NFL odds will be the only thing that matters in the City of Brotherly Love for a while unless the Phillies can stay alive in Game 6 of the World Series. In a matchup of World Series legends, Pedro Martinez gets the ball for the Phillies and faces Andy Pettitte, Major League Baseball's all-time playoff wins leader. Here are each team's keys to victory.

Phillies keys to victory

1. Score first. Everyone knows the "Who's your daddy" story by now; Pedro Martinez continuously struggles to beat the Yankees in the playoffs. In his last five starts and six appearances against the Bronx Bombers in the postseason he's winless. He also had a 5.66 road ERA this regular season versus 1.88 at home. Even though he was decent at Yankee Stadium in Game 2, allowing three runs over six innings, Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui each took him deep. The Yankee faithful were just starting to get to him before he got the hook. If New York scores first and the fans get inside Pedro's head, the Phillies' sportsbook odds of rallying will take a huge hit.

2. Don't be afraid to use any pitcher at any moment. If Cliff Lee wants to pitch, use him. If Cole Hamels wants to pitch, use him. At any point in the game. Brad Lidge clearly can't be trusted right now and the Phillies can't get cocky and "save" any starters for Game 7 if they're losing in Game 6. They have to take things one game at a time.

Yankee keys to victory

1. Pitch around Chase Utley. The Yankees have lefty Andy Pettitte taking the hill and they know Ryan Howard, who bats fourth, can't seem to solve lefties. He hit .207 against them in the regular season. There's thus no reason for the Yanks to pitch to Utley and risk allowing a sixth homer to him in this series -- which would set a new World Series record.

2. Let Mariano Rivera pitch as many innings as he wants. Like the Phillies, the Yanks shouldn't take Game 6 for granted. Rivera has allowed one earned run in 14.1 playoff innings this season -- none to Philly in the World Series. The Phillies can't figure him out; if Andy Pettitte pitches seven adequate innings, why bother giving the ball to shaky Joba Chamberlain? New York should go right to Rivera and let him pitch two innings.

Pick

Take the Yankees at -208 to win tonight. Andy Pettitte has pitched well at home this postseason so online betting fans should trust him -- and his run support -- with their MLB picks tonight.


Posted by sportsbetting at 09:47 PM | Add a Comment

November 3rd, 2009

NFL Betting - Week 9 NFC North Picks

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sportsbook Odds: Packers -10
 
The Green Bay Packers  get a much easier matchup this week than the one they had to deal with last week. In Week 8, the Packers had to welcome Brett Favre back to Lambeau Field to face one of the toughest teams in the NFC. This week, the Packers travel to Tampa Bay to face the 0-7 Bucs who are clearly one of the worst teams in the NFC.
 
Tampa Bay is coming off a bye week and they are going to turn the team over to first-round pick Josh Freeman. Freeman is considered to be a raw talent, which means that he's not a Matt Ryan or a Matt Stafford.
 
The Bucs have plenty of problems beyond a quarterback. Both their offense and defense are ranked 29th in the NFL. And since that's the case, it's tough to really expect them to do any serious damage.
 
The Packers have plenty of offensive weapons and while Aaron Rodgers gets sacked a lot, he still moves the ball up and down the field to his talented group of weapons. The Packers are going to put plenty of points on the scoreboard while the Bucs will have trouble matching. Look for Freeman to have a few turnovers as well.
 
Online Betting picks: Packers -10
 
Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears
Betting Line: Bears -3
 
The Arizona Cardinals are a tough team to figure out. Believe it or not, but the team that struggled so badly on the road last year is 3-0 away from home to this point in the season. That figures to change this Saturday as they have a tough road trip to Chicago.
 
The Cardinals don't typically play well outdoors or in the Eastern time zone and in this case, they'll have to deal with both problems.
 
On top of that, they'll be facing a pretty good Chicago Bears team.  
 
The Cardinals had a very ugly performance last week as Kurt Warner threw five interceptions but the reality is that until they discovering a rushing attack, they can't really be trusted. Look for the Cardinals to score some points early but if the elements come into play - such as wind - they won't be able to rely solely on their passing game.
 
Sportsbook Review Picks: Bears -3
Currently listening to: 50 Cent
Posted by sportsbetting at 09:45 PM | Add a Comment

October 30th, 2009

NCAA Football Betting - Gators Should Regain Bite Over Bulldogs

The World Series betting line for Game 3 of the Fall Classic should be closer than the spread for Saturday's rivalry clash between No.1 Florida and Georgia the formerly-dubbed "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party". However, it'll be the Bulldogs that will be hung over come Sunday morning.
 
Georgia vs Florida Odds - Saturday, October 31, 3:30 PM ET
 
The Bulldogs (4-3, 3-2) snapped a two-game skid with a 34-10 win at Vanderbilt two weeks ago, and the key was a struggling game that came to life. Although they're 108th in the nation on teh ground, Georgia ran for 173 yards against the Commodores, which allowed them to win the time-possession battle. Joe Cox was 16-of-31 for 226 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, while A.J. Green had 95 receiving yards and a score for the Bulldogs. Still, they'll need a better performance for an online betting upset over the Gators, who have won eight of their last 10 meetings with Georgia.
 
The Gators (7-0, 5-0) came away with a 29-19 win at Mississippi State, overcoming a pair of picks by Tim Tebow that were ran back for touchdowns. Tebow ran for 88 yards and a score, but he was only 12-of-22 through the air for 127 yards, and Florida's passing attack is being exposed this year with the graduations of Percy Harvin and Louis Harvin. It's a good thing they have the nation's No.1 defense, and they forced three turnovers out of Mississippi State. The defense has also been banged up by injuries, but they may have up to four returning starters back for Georgia.
 
The Gators are favored by 14.5 points in your sportsbook in this neutral-site affair (Jacksonville has been the site since 1933), and everyone remembers last year's revenge match, when Florida called two late timeouts in a 49-10 rout after the Bulldogs celebrated a little too much during their 42-30 win in 2007. This doesn't have the same allure as most years, but it's an important game for the Gators, who have looked suspect lately. The Bulldogs are 90th in pass defense, which is perfect for solving the Gators' aerial problems.
 
College football predictions - Florida -14.5
Currently listening to: NWA
Posted by sportsbetting at 07:09 PM | Add a Comment

October 28th, 2009

NFL Betting - AFC West Picks

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens
World Series betting: Ravens -3.5
 
The Denver Broncos are one of the few undefeated teams left in the NFL but their task will be a tough one this week as they head out to Baltimore to face the Ravens. 
 
Baltimore was undefeated at one point in the season but they have lost three straight close games to even them off at .500. They are coming off a bye week and they have to figure out what has happened to their defense. Last year, and for the last decade, the Ravens defense has been one of the best in the NFL but since defensive coordinator Rex Ryan left, their defense has become a little soft. Aside from a game where they held the hapless Cleveland Browns to just three points, the Ravens have allowed an average of 25.4 points per game.
 
The Broncos are not exactly an offensive juggernaut but they are a smart offensive team that is going to nickel and dime you all day long. They don't make many mistakes, they move the ball and they take what the defense gives them. On the flip side, their defense has been fantastic so the Ravens will have their hands filled.
 
The Broncos are still underrated. They are 6-0 but are an underdog in this game. That's good value.
 
Racebook Picks: Broncos +3.5
 
Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers
NFL odds: Chargers -17
 
The Oakland Raiders are absolutely pathetic. Just one week after they had an impressive, inspired performance and topped the Philadelphia Eagles at home, they completely laid down for the New York Jets at home. The Raiders lost 38-0 to the Jets while giving up nearly 300 yards rushing. Worse yet, the Raiders were forced to pull quarterback JaMarcus Russell who again turned the ball over carelessly.
 
This week, the Raiders head to San Diego and are a huge underdog but they should be able to stick around within the spread. This is a rivalry so the Raiders should be a litte more inspired. 
 
San Diego has been very inconsistent this year and they don't deserve to be favored by this much against anybody. Even the horrible Raiders. If you are planning on playing a teaser, tease the Raiders up opposed to teasing the Chargers down.
  
World Series odds pick: Raiders -17
Currently listening to: Kanye west
Posted by sportsbetting at 09:22 PM | Add a Comment
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