The Golden State Warriors are looking for a foundation for future success. Their next opponent will give them the perfect example of what it takes. While the Warriors are once again looking for the answer near the bottom of the Western conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are cruising alone atop the standings thanks to some impressive play both at home and on the road. Franchise cornerstones Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been complimented by some solid veteran pieces, establishing the Thunder as legitimate championship contenders this sports betting season.

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors
Friday January 27, 2012 – 10:30 PM ET
Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
NBA Sports Bet Line: Oklahoma City – 6.5

While the Thunder have clinched some blowout wins over the past 10 days, the Warriors continue to get burned by close losses, where a couple of specific plays can be keyed in on as having a huge impact on the final outcome. New coach Mark Jackson hasn’t lost faith, but he, like his players, is learning that winning in this league won’t come easy.

Betting On Oklahoma City Golden State Preview: Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City was considered powerful enough with the tandem of Durant and Westbrook each averaging over 20 points per game, but the addition of James Harden to that group has taken them to another level. Harden is averaging 16.7 points per game, with 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists, and he was a plus-32 against the Detroit Pistons while scoring 24 in a 99-79 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday. The Thunder is playing good basketball on both ends of the floor right now, and have developed a knack for the spectacular.

Betting On Oklahoma City Golden State Preview: Golden State

Another couple of close losses to the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies pushed the Warriors to 5-11 on the season, and it may take some time before they have what it takes to come out on top when it comes down to the wire. While an offense led by Monta Ellis’ 23.1 points per game ranks 13th in the NBA, the defense has struggled to get the job done when it counts the most, and it has turned potential wins in to losses. Golden State will need to work hard as a team and learn to bear down in order to play better when the game is on the line, and it will take time.

Betting On Oklahoma City Golden State Preview: Outlook & Pick

Regardless of their status as road best sportsbook favorites, the Thunder have gotten the job done away from home this year, and should have no problem making the trip to Oakland and picking up another W against a Warriors’ team still searching for consistency. Golden State has some nice young pieces that in the right situation could excel, but finding the veteran players to surround them with and the system to get the most out of them at both ends of the floor will take time, just like it did in Oklahoma City.

Betting On Oklahoma City Golden State Pick: Oklahoma City

Posted on January 26th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

The Big Three of the Miami Heat has been getting the job done as the Big Two of late with Dwayne Wade resting an injured ankle. Considering the play of the New York Knicks lately, perhaps they should give some rest to one of their starters. While the Heat have managed to remain near the top of the conference even with Wade on the sidelines, the Knicks continue to flounder with a losing record, and if they don’t turn things around soon their could be some big changes on the way. Miami enters this game as the best sportsbook favorites, but the Knicks are the team being weighed down by expectations.

New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
Friday January 27, 2012 – 8:00 PM ET
AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, Florida
NBA Sports Bet Line: Miami Heat

The Knicks went all-in that free agent-signing Tyson Chandler would be the missing piece that would elevate them to contenders in the Eastern conference, but with just six wins through their first 16 games that has hardly been the case. New York still has some time to right the ship and get on track, and a win at Miami would go a long way.

Betting New York Miami Preview: New York

A six-game losing streak that included losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets at home has Knicks’ fans beyond restless, and it doesn’t help that they now have to play four-straight on the road. Carmelo Anthony remains the face of the franchise with a team-high 25.7 points per game, but he is taking too many shots to get to that point and constantly needs the ball in has hands to create. Chandler is doing his job with 9.9 points per game and a team-high 9.7 rebounds, but the Knicks will need more from Amare Stoudamire and its bench if they are going to keep pace with the rest of the association.

Betting New York Miami Preview: Miami

Even without Wade, Lebron James averaged over 30 points per game and the Heat won three of four heading in to Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Miami without Wade looks a lot like Cleveland did with James as the King continues to do everything on his own, with Chris Bosh and company chipping in around him. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole appear to be a good fit as spot shooters that can hit off of James’ drive, but the team was expected to put up better numbers at their own end with the addition of Shane Battier to an already solid core.

Betting New York Miami Preview: Outlook & Pick

Based on the talent they have available there is no reason why the Knicks should be struggling this badly, unless of course that talent is overrated by sports betting bookies in the first place. Anthony and Stoudamire both seem to be having trouble with their conditioning in Mike D’Antoni’s offense, and that should be the difference again as Lebron and company to continue to put up big numbers with or without Wade back in the lineup.

Betting New York Miami Pick: Miami Heat

Posted on January 26th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

sports betting players who watched the New York Giants four years ago will definitely see the similarities between this season’s team and the one that shocked the world to end New England’s run at an undefeated season. The Patriots aren’t unbeaten, but the Giants are still the underdogs in your best sportsbook.

Offense

Quarterback Eli Manning said before the season started that he was an elite quarterback, and it’s hard to argue with him after the season he had. It was even more impressive when you realize that the Giants were fifth in passing during the regular season, but dead last in the league against the run, which means Manning had to put the team on his back (or better yet, his arm) for most of the season. The ground game started to pick up steam late in the season, which was a major key in their surge to the playoffs, but they struggled in San Francisco and Manning had to attempt 58 passes. He may have the best group of young receivers in the league in Victor Cruz (25 years old), Mario Manningham (25) and Hakeem Nicks (24), although with tight end Jake Ballard (24). The line was up and down this year, but they’ve stabilized down the stretch.

Defense

The New York defense was god-awful for most of the season, and they ended the season in 27th spot in the rankings, including 19th against the run and 29th against the pass. The secondary suffered a few injuries during the regular season and it was tough for the unit to get some continuity. However, the front four completely took over down the stretch and it’s safe to say that end Jason Pierre-Paul is going to be an NFL betting candidate for Defensive Player of the Year with 16.5 sacks and a number of big plays. Along with Chris Canty, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Pierre-Paul, the Giants may have the single most dominant unit in the Super Bowl up front and again, that is similar to four years ago. The back seven has managed to hold it together over the last month, but they’re aided by the power and speed of the front four.

Special Teams

Kicker Lawrence Tynes hit a 31-yarder in overtime in San Francisco to win the NFC title, and he also hit one in the NFC championship game four years ago, so it’s safe to say that he has ice water in his veins. The Giants are ranked in the bottom half of the league in both kick and punt returns, and right around the middle of the pack when it comes to covering returns, but the Patriots don’t really have any players that will scare you to that effect. Punter Steve Weatherford had a solid season, which is going to help in a battle of field position against a New England team that is potentially explosive.

Coaching

When it comes to respect, Tom Coughlin may receive the least of any head coach in the league. It seems like every year, Coughlin is on the hot seat, but a look at his numbers has to shut some of his critics up: a 74-54 record in New York, four seasons of 10 wins or more out of eight campaigns in the Big Apple, four trips to the postseason (and one 10-win season in which they missed out in 2010), one Super Bowl win and of course, this year’s appearance in the big game. He has seven career playoff wins on the road, tying him with Dallas legend Tom Landry, and throughout all the talk about his job, Coughlin never loses his cool (despite the perpetually red face) and his players respect that. At this point, you have to respect Coughlin’s resume and with another Super Bowl win, his critics wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

Intangibles

While this Giants team has been inconsistent for most of the season, they’ve managed to peak when it counts and now they’re in the Super Bowl; in fact, based on momentum, you’d be hard-pressed to state why they’re an underdog and that gives them added motivation. The Giants also beat the Patriots 24-20 in New England during the regular season, so they have the respect of their opponents, if not the fans and linesmakers. This is a veteran team that knows what they’re doing, particularly on defense, but they key may be their young receivers; will they continue to play to their standards under the bright lights of the Super Bowl?

It’s going to be a very interesting matchup in Indianapolis, but this New York team isn’t afraid of anyone and had to win a pair of tough road games just to get here. That road could lead them to another Super Bowl win as the sports betting underdogs.

Posted on January 25th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

New England was the sports betting favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl for most of the season, if not the entire campaign, and it should be no surprise that they passed all the major tests to get here, despite some critics complaining about their regular-season slate.

Offense

Tom Brady powers an offense that is pass-heavy, and the Patriots’ aerial attack is led by a pair of tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are matchup problems for any defense in the league, and head coach Bill Belichick now has Hernandez lining up in the backfield to make up for their lack of a running game. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is probably their best option, but the Patriots also have Danny Woodhead and Stevan Ridley to come out of the backfield. The line allowed 32.0 sacks during the regular season and has continued their strong play so far in the postseason. Don’t expect Brady to have another game like the poor performance he had against Baltimore in the AFC title game.

Defense

The Patriots’ defense had a single motto all season: bend, but don’t break. New England was 31st in the league in total yards allowed, but they managed to lead the AFC in turnovers, so that helped them get off the field. The Patriots were 31st in pass defense and even in the AFC championship game, receiver Julian Edelman played 27 snaps in the secondary to help them out with Baltimore’s receivers; you can expect him to play a similar role against the Giants, who has much better receivers. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork has raised his game in the postseason, while linebacker Brandon Spikes is fulfilling his potential alongside Jerod Mayo, but as always the secondary is scary, and not in a good way.

Special Teams

If the Patriots’ NFL betting chances depend on the foot of kicker Stephen Gostkowski, they should feel pretty good as he hit 28 of 33 attempts during the regular season, and then all four in the postseason. New England fans know all about resting their hopes on a kicker as they did for so long with Adam Vinatieri, but Gostkowski has hit over 84% of his career attempts. The Patriots aren’t going to scare anyone with their return teams, but they haven’t allowed a touchdown on special teams this year, either.

Coaching

Belichick is going to go to the Hall of Fame at some point and he has a chance to earn his sixth Super Bowl ring, including his fourth as a head coach. There may not be a more thorough coach in the league than Belichick, who handles every situation with the same deadpan expression and that has been passed down to Brady, his coach on the field, so the team never gets too high or too low. He knows what this time of year is all about and he’ll have the Patriots fully prepared for Super Bowl Sunday, and Belichick’s presence may be the biggest influence on New England’s NFL betting odds, with all due respect to New York counterpart Tom Coughlin.

Intangibles

This is an extension of Belichick as the Patriots are a very calm team, regardless of what the situation is, and that is going to serve them well in the Super Bowl. They have a lot of veterans that have been here before and with the culture of winning that has permeated this franchise over the last decade or more, this is something that the younger players have been trained for since they signed on in New England. It all starts at the top with Belichick and Brady, who may be the most successful coach-quarterback combination of all time if they win this one. They are also playing for the memory of Myra Kraft, the late wife of New England owner Robert, and they have a painting of her in their locker room, which will be brought to Indianapolis. They would also like to avenge the loss from four years ago, and you know Belichick and Brady have been praying for this rematch to happen since the last Super Bowl ended.

When it comes to preparation and motivation, you may not find a better team than the New England Patriots, a veteran team with plenty of leadership, a coach that looks for matchups to exploit better than anyone in his profession, a future Hall of Fame quarterback and a squad that is out for revenge. That is why the Patriots are the sports betting favorites for the Super Bowl in two weeks.

Posted on January 25th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

Staying young is about thinking young and that is one of the great things about the Triple Crown for all online best sportsbook bettors as all of the sophomore crop with any degree of talent have aspirations to star the first Saturday in May in the Kentucky Derby.

This season appears to be wide open and it’s possible the true leaders of the divisions are still in the background, but online players should be prepared to follow a few of the following youngsters as they try to grow into their skin.

The 2-year-old champion Hansen was as game as they come winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to remain unbeaten and although he has the advantage of proving himself at Churchill he was losing ground in the lane.

He started his sport betting comeback the day before Christmas and posted a solid 1:00 2/5 work at Gulfstream on January 7. Bred to roll long on the top being by Tapit, he is out of a three for 4 dam that was sprint only. Lone sibling Tapanna won twice, both at a mile on the synthetic at Turfway.

As brilliant as he is, he will muddle the pace if he shows in May but it’s hard to see him getting the classic distance at this point.

The runner-up in the Juvenile, Union Rags, had a rough trip that day and he started his regimen at Palm Meadows on January 11 and his style suggests he will thrive with more real estate.

Creative Cause has the blood to run long and he is obviously talented. By the Storm Cat sire Giant’s Causeway, he is out of a dam that is by a stout influence and the way he came away late winning the Norfolk last year at Santa Anita suggests he will be a true force.

The West Coast hopes will surround the improvement of Liason, a son of Indian Charlie who won the Cash Call Futurity. In the right hands of Bob Baffert, this guy cost nearly $300,000, he’s only lost once and he had an excuse that day and he has proven he has no problem passing horses.

Baffert is already cranking this guy up as he drilled in a best of 16 bullet workout of 1:11 flat at Santa Anita on January 19.

Gemologist, trained by Todd Pletcher, had a solid campaign last year and has a right to run till the cows come home as he is by 2-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow.

Sabercat won the Delta Downs Jackpot and we’ll learn more about him when he shows in the San Felipe Stakes.

Peruvian star Fly Lexis Fly takes his lessons from world-class horseman Neil Drysdale and will get tested for class in the Santa Anita Derby.

With Super Bowl betting in sight, you never want to go Out of Bounds, but the runner by that name was impressive taking the Sham Stakes and the pedigree screams distance as he is kin to Etched, who handled slop taking the 9 furlong Meadowlands Cup, won a Grade 2 at Monmouth at the same demanding distance and was compromised when he tired the Breeders’ Cup Classic when he broke slowly and had to rush up.

These are the prominent names but all that will change in the following weeks and we all need to pay attention.

More to come.

Posted on January 24th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

The Syracuse Orange finally lost a game after winning their first 20 this season. Will they allow themselves to get rattled, or will they fight back with a fury against West Virginia?
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Syracuse Orange – Saturday, January 28
Sports betting line: No line
Why West Virginia Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, it’s worth mentioning that while Syracuse is viewed as a national title contender, the Orange are going through one of those rough patches in the middle of a season, a stretch that can certainly make a team better for March… but not without short-term costs. Syracuse is fighting through its limitations right now. The Orange fell at Notre Dame this past Saturday, dropping a 67-58 decision without starting center Fab Melo, who was out with an injury. Melo is not a prolific scorer, but he doesn’t need to be a on a team loaded with them. Melo needs to be that rebounder-defender who anchors the Orange in the paint and provides just enough of an offensive threat to keep defenders honest. Melo was part of Syracuse’s winning mix, so the fact that Syracuse played so poorly without him is something of an alarm bell for SU and head coach Jim Boeheim.

Maybe Melo will play in this game against West Virginia, and maybe he won’t; what’s important to point out is that he won’t be 100 percent, which – in and of itself – raises questions regarding Syracuse’s level of performance. West Virginia big man Deniz Kilicli – a slow but intelligent player from Turkey who makes good decisions with the ball and plays high-level help defense – could have a big night against Syracuse, which would make the Orange a less effective team at the defensive end of the court. If Melo is not appreciably fit in this game – whether he plays or not – Syracuse’s wings will be smothered by West Virginia’s perimeter defenders, and the calculus will shift in West Virginia’s favor.

Why Syracuse Will Win
The college basketball betting experts who follow the Big East Conference for a living know that while Syracuse is a team in flux due to the Melo injury, this is not an overwhelming West Virginia club. The Mountaineers have two players – Kevin Jones (averaging roughly 20 points and 11 rebounds per game) and Darryl Bryant (roughly 18 points per game) – who can hit big shots on an appreciably consistent basis, and that’s pretty much it. Coach Bob Huggins doesn’t have the quality depth he could turn to in 2010, when the Mountaineers made the Final Four and took down a star-studded Kentucky team in the East Regional final. This is a less potent West Virginia squad, and against Syracuse’s array of gifted scorers, the Mountaineers will have to muck it up as much as possible in order to win. That’s not likely – not in Syracuse’s Carrier Dome. 
Who Will Win
It’s not a lock, because Syracuse is working through issues, but an elite team such as the Orange will likely use a loss as mental fuel. Syracuse might sweat against an opponent that can match its talent at all five spots on the floor, but West Virginia is not that team. Take Syracuse.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Syracuse

Posted on January 24th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

The Detroit Red Wings have been perennial contenders in the Western conference over the past decade. The St. Louis Blues are trying to lay the foundation for similar success. When the Blues travel to Detroit this Monday, it will be a battle of two of the top teams in the conference, as St. Louis has climbed to second in the Central division, just one point back of the first-place Red Wings. New head coach Ken Hitchcock has preached fundamentals and responsibility, and the result has been a turnaround that has the Blues contending for a playoff spot in the west.

St. Louis Blues @ Detroit Red Wings
Monday January 23, 2011 – 7:30 PM ET
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
NHL Sports Betting Line: Detroit Red Wings – 130

The tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott have been crucial to St. Louis’ success, the same way that Jimmy Howard has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the league for Detroit. All three netminders rank in the top-six in the NHL in GAA, so expect this to be a hard-fought game centered around solid play in each team’s own end.

Blues Red Wings Betting Preview: St. Louis Blues

For as good as the Blues have been over the past two months, there is no denying they are still considered the best best sportsbook underdogs when matched up against Detroit, which still remain the team to beat from the Central division. But St. Louis deserves credit as one of the top contenders, and as long as Elliott and Halak are at the top of their game there is no denying that they can pull off the upset. David Backes leads a young group of forwards that are hungry to prove they can get it done, and with Hitchcock now there to get the most out of the talent at his disposal, the Blues have come alive.

Blues Red Wings Betting Preview: Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have been doing this for a long time, and have been absolutely dominant at home with an 18-2-1 record at the Joe Louis Arena. Detroit has the talent and depth to roll three lines that can get the job done at both ends of the ice, with a mix of speed and size that few teams have. Pavel Datsyuk leads the Red Wings with 51 points, including 38 assists, and has played the role of playmaker on a line with Johan Franzen, who leads the Red Wings with 18 goals. The one area where Detroit can stand to improve may be its penalty kill, but the truth about that is if they stay disciplined and avoid penalties they won’t have to worry about being down a man.

Blues Red Wings Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The best sportsbook favorites should be comfortable on home ice in this one, even against a hungry St. Louis team. While the Blues have made major progress to develop in to a contender over the past couple of months, they will still struggle to keep up with a powerhouse team like Detroit.

Blues Red Wings Betting Pick: Detroit Red Wings

Posted on January 21st, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

sports betting players are definitely watching the decline of this edition of the Boston Celtics, and general manager Danny Ainge has said that he won’t hesitate to trade one of the “Big Three” ahead of the deadline. But the Celtics still have some life left and they’ll show it on Monday in a huge Eastern Conference showdown with Orlando.

What: NBA Betting
When: Monday, January 23rd, 7:30 PM ET
Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
Pick: Boston Celtics

Why Bet On Orlando Magic (10-4 SU, 8-6 ATS, 5-2 ATS road)

The Magic should be rested as they have the weekend off after a Friday night meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers at home, and they would be coming off an 85-83 overtime loss at home against San Antonio, which snapped a five-game winning streak. Dwight Howard went off with 24 points, 25 rebounds and three blocks, while Ryan Anderson had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, but he was 1-of-6 from beyond the arc and the team was 4-of-21 from three-point land as a whole. Orlando shot a miserable 33.3% from the field, but they managed to outrebound the Spurs 60-41, including 18-4 on the offensive end. You could easily say that this game was lost during a bizarre moment in the third quarter, when Glen “Big Baby” Davis was called for a technical while protesting a foul call as he pulled his shorts down….yes, you read that right. Tony Parker would go on to hit the free throw, which may have been the point that tied the game for the Spurs.

Hedo Turkoglu (back) joined fellow forward Jason Richardson (knee) on the sidelines on Wednesday, although the San Antonio game was the third that Richardson had missed. The two are hoping to be ready for Friday’s game against the Lakers, but NBA betting players know that most teams are battling injuries right now because of the congested schedule, so there is no excuse. Their biggest concern surrounds Davis, who will be returning to Boston, where he spent the first four seasons of his career. Everyone knows Davis is an emotional guy, and the Celtics will try and goad him into a stupid play.

Why Bet On Boston Celtics (5-8 SU, 6-7 ATS, 3-5 ATS home)

The Celtics will also be in action on Friday night at home against Phoenix, and they probably played their best game of the season on Wednesday as they routed Toronto 96-73 at home to halt a five-game skid. Rajon Rondo hit seven of his eight field-goal attempts en route to a team-high 21 points, while Brandon Bass came off the bench with 13 points and nine boards for the Celtics, and even though it was only against the Raptors, the Celtics needed something to stop their slide. They passed the ball around nicely with 21 assists on their 34 field goals, they outrebounded the Raptors 45-38 and Boston turned the ball over just nine times as opposed to 16 for the Raptors. It was also good to get a blowout as Bass actually led the team in minutes played with 31, while Rondo and Ray Allen led the starters with 28. It was an impressive performance for a team that many NBA betting players are writing a eulogy for already, but that would be dangerous against an experienced team like the Celtics.

Rondo (wrist) should be ready for this game, although the Celtics do play on Sunday in Washington as well, and Keyon Dooling (knee) is also banged up, which means the Celtics may be forced to start Avery Bradley at the point. The Celtics will do everything in their power to get Rondo back to 100% (or as close as possible) before this meeting with the Magic, who are one of the teams that the Celtics are chasing. But Boston has larger problems, like not being in the playoff picture heading into the weekend. The Celtics really don’t care which seed they are going into the postseason, but first they have to get there.

How It Will Play Out

Boston should be the NBA betting favorites at home on Monday night, and they’re 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS in their last five at the new Garden against the Magic, with three games going under the posted total (along with a push). The Magic may have an edge because the Celtics play on Sunday, but Boston will be aiming to put the Wizards out of their misery early so their big guns will be rested for Monday night.

The Celtics have had their issues scoring points, and both teams are solid defensively, so this should be another low-scoring affair with plenty of physical play. We’re leaning towards the Celtics at home, where they have been much better this season and they should focus their attentions on Anderson, who has improved and is a solid No.2 option to Howard, who will get his points anyway. If they can take away the other options, the Celtics should be able to shut down the Magic for a victory in your sports betting book.

Magic Celtics Betting Pick: Boston Celtics

Posted on January 21st, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

The Alabama Crimson Tide are going to have a hard enough time beating the Kentucky Wildcats on the raw merits. What makes Alabama’s task even tougher is this year’s scheduling format.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Kentucky Wildcats – Saturday, January 21
Sports betting line: No line
Why Alabama Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, you have to realize that Alabama is the team far more likely to show that quality which becomes more and more apparent in college basketball as a season progresses: desperation. Yes, Kentucky has the athletes and the credentials and even home-court advantage at Rupp Arena in Lexington, but Alabama has a lot more at stake in this contest, and that’s a prime source of improved performance and increased defensive intensity in particular. If Alabama and Kentucky played a 10-game set or a best-of-seven playoff series, there’s no question that Kentucky would win. In one game, however, Alabama – with its length and athleticism near the rim – could stay in the ring against the wingspan of imposing Kentucky post players such as Antonio Davis.
Alabama’s Tony Mitchell has explosive vertical leaping ability, enabling him to play far bigger than his 6-6 frame. JaMychal Green is 6-8 but extremely long and agile, giving him a chance to match up against Kentucky’s big men within six feet of the basket. Alabama has had a tough time shooting the three this season, but if the Tide can find the touch on just one afternoon in Lexington, they can indeed pull through and win this game. It’s attainable for the Tide and coach Anthony Grant.
Why Kentucky Will Win
The college basketball betting experts who are focusing on the Southeastern Conference can make some very particular observations about this game not just because of the X and O considerations involved, but because of the timing of this game within the SEC’s regular-season schedule. This is a 12:05 p.m. Eastern time tip-off on Saturday, an early game for Alabama on the road in Lexington, Kentucky. The game also follows Alabama’s Thursday night home game against a solid Vanderbilt squad. Most of the time, the SEC’s midweek game is on Wednesdays. To accommodate national television, however, some games are played on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
When teams play on a Tuesday, they get extra rest in advance of the normal Saturday game. When they play on Thursday, however, they are pinched in terms of rest. For Alabama to play on a Saturday after a Thursday is challenging enough, but since the Crimson Tide are playing a very early afternoon game (as early in the afternoon as possible), they’re going to have a very short turnaround which includes a flight from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Lexington. They’re likely to have very little fuel in the tank by the time the middle of the second half arrives. Alabama can hang in for 30 minutes, but probably not for 40.
Who Will Win
It’s really simple – Alabama’s brutal schedule will not give the Tide the ability to physically recover in time for this game. Vanderbilt, win or lose, will take a lot out of Bama. The Tide won’t be able to keep pace with Kentucky, especially not on the road.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Kentucky

Posted on January 20th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »

Since the days of Kevin Garnett in Minnesota, the Timberwolves have been among the most irrelevant franchise’s in the NBA Western conference. While Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, and company work hard to try and turn things around for the franchise, their next opponent has taken a much different route to becoming a contender and legitimate sports betting option, as the Los Angeles Cliippers have surrounded emerging superstar Blake Griffin with a talented crop of guards that includes the offseason haul of both Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups. Those additions have had an instant impact on a Clippers’ roster that is challenging for first in the conference, and has emerged as one of the most exciting teams to watch.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Clippers
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Friday January 20, 2011 – 10:30 PM ET
NBA Betting Sites Line: Los Angeles Clippers – 4.5

The Timberwolves are hoping that their latest import Rubio can have the same effect as Griffin, and attract other talent from around the association to want to be a part of what is being built in Minnesota. Love offers the perfect big man presence for the T-Wolves’ offense, but they remain a young team still trying to put all of the pieces together.

Betting On Timberwolves Clippers Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves

For a young team looking to grow together, there are a lot of encouraging signs in Minnesota, particularly with the team’s commitment to playing hard at both ends of the floor. While Love and Rubio undoubtedly have a big hand in the offense, they are also getting back in time to make plays, as the Timberwolves rank ninth in rebounding and 11 in points allowed. The addition of JJ Barea to a team that already had Rubio and Luke Ridnour didn’t seem to make much sense at the time, but all three are averaging double-digit point totals, and doing an excellent job of bringing pace to the offense.

Betting On Timberwolves Clippers Preview: Los Angeles Clippers

Speaking of pace, the Clippers’ offense will challenge any other team as one of the most exciting in the association, with Griffin and Paul proving to be a highlight-reel tandem. The additions of Billups and Caron Butler have been just as important considering the secondary scoring that they have provided, and young center DeAndre Jordan has been a force down low, with 7.8 rebounds per game. Jordan was originally considered one of the most important pieces to the Paul deal with New Orleans, and Los Angeles really benefited from keeping him in town.

Betting On Timberwolves Clippers Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Clippers have lived up to the lofty expectations put on them, and emerged alongside the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs as one of the top teams in the west. Minnesota appears to be on the right track as well, but they may not be ready for a tough road game against Los Angeles just yet, so stick with the best sportsbook favorite.

Betting On Timberwolves Clippers Pick: Los Angeles Clippers

Posted on January 20th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook review | No Comments »