How To Bet On Dodgers Rockies – Dodgers Look To Continue Hot Start Against Rockies In Colorado

With a new ownership group, and the best start in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been back in the sports betting spotlight early on this season for all the right reasons.  Every win has helped to make last year’s rough ride a thing of the past, and as the Dodgers head to Colorado to open up a three-game set against the Rockies this week, all that matters is to continue finding ways to put wins on the board.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
Monday, 8:40 PM ET

The Los Angeles has performed much better at home than on the road, and will need to find a way to put up some strong numbers in the high altitudes at Colorado if they are going to keep the Rockies from gaining on them in the National League West. Colorado has won games despite failing to record a ton of hits, so Dodgers’ starter Aaron Harang has to be better than he has been as he gets the call to open the series. Harang has allowed at least 3 earned runs in all four of his starts with the Los Angeles offense making the difference in whether he wins or loses, but Juan Nicasio is coming off of his best start of the season and could make things tough for the Dodgers’ bats as they get adjusted.

MLB Betting Pick: Colorado Rockies

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
Monday, 8:40 PM ET

The Dodgers rank 10th in the majors in runs scored, and the majority of that work belongs to early MVP Candidate Matt Kemp, who hit .449 with 10 home runs and 23 RBI through his first 19 games of the season. It’s obviously unlikely that Kemp will be able to continue to produce at such a torrid pace, which is why it is that much more important for depth guys like Mark Ellis and Juan Rivera to remain consistent, and the pitching continue to rank in the upper half of the league in nearly every category. Despite reigning NL Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw in the same clubhouse, veteran Ted Lilly has led the way early on for the starting rotation with just two earned runs allowed through 20 innings of work, picking up a pair of wins along the way. Lilly will get the call against Rockies’ pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, who has allowed at least three earned runs in three of his four starts this betting online season.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
Monday, 3:10 PM ET

The deciding online best sportsbook game of this series will feature the matchup that Los Angeles wants with Kershaw getting the call against Colorado’s Drew Pomeranz, a 23-year old second-year pitcher who has struggled with consistency early on in his career. Kershaw has opened this season the way that he finish last, allowing just four earned runs in four games to help the Dodgers win all four of the games that he has started. Kershaw had to go seven innings to get his first recorded victory of the season in a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros in his last start, so look for Los Angeles to get him some more run support early on and help him improve to 2-0.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers

Betting Tips On Tigers Yankees – Tigers Continue to Dominate AL in the Early Going

The sports betting experts expected the Detroit Tigers to be a contending playoff team this season, but the fast start that the Tigers have gotten off to is taking everyone by surprise. It was expected that the Tigers would have to spend time getting new players like Prince Fielder used to playing in a new stadium. But the Tigers offense and defense has stepped up so far.

The Yankees stumbled out of the gate but has been able to right the ship. In the early going, the Yankees were not getting the usual reliable performances from key players like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. But now that everything seems to be back on track in the Big Apple, the sports betting experts are interested to see how the Yankees handle the red hot Tigers in this weekend series.

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees – Friday, April 27 – 7:05PM

As expected, the Tigers will throw pitching ace Justin Verlander on the mound for the opening game of this important series. Verlanders 2-1 record and 1.72 ERA early in the season are giving every indication that he is on his way to another Cy Young performance. The Yankees will counter with the surprising Ivan Nova. Nova has a 3-0 record and a 3.72 ERA this season and has been pitching well. But Verlander is a strong pitcher from start to finish and that will be the difference in this game.

Pick: Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees – Saturday, April 28 – 4:05PM

While the Tigers have seen success early in the season, the team is still trying to find that second starter behind Justin Verlander. In this game, the Tigers may call up a minor league prospect to fill in for a staff that is struggling a bit and a little banged up as well. The Yankees will counter with fan-favorite Freddy Garcia. If Garcia wants to stay in the good graces of Yankees fans, then he will have to do better than his 0-1 record has indicated.

Pick: New York Yankees

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees – Sunday, April 29 – 1:05PM

The Tigers could very well put Rick Porcello on the mound for this game as Detroit is trying to put together a rotation that can play the entire season. Porcello is suffering from the same problems that every pitcher on the Tigers staff not named Justin Verlander is having, he has lost his control. Porcello is 1-1 on the season with an ERA of 6.32. While his start is speculation, it would be a help to the Tigers to get Porcello on the field and get a win under his belt. The Yankees will counter with their ace, C.C. Sabathia. While the betting sites are impressed with Sabathias 2-0 record, they are not impressed with his 5.27 ERA. But that ERA is based on one bad start, and it will shrink as the season goes on.

Pick: New York Yankees

Betting Predictions Diamondbacks Marlins – New Attitude Not Enough in Miami

The Miami Marlins have a whole bunch of new stuff including a new name, new logo, new shortstop and a new stadium. But the sports betting results with the Marlins have been the same as they have always been. While it is still early in the season, the fans in Miami are already complaining that they are not seeing anything new in the play of the Marlins. The players themselves are asking for patience as everything starts to settle in with the roster.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are still a young and talented team that is playing pretty much the same way it played last year. The Diamondbacks stayed back in the NL West standings for most of the season until the online sportsbooks had pretty much given up on them. That is when the Diamondbacks made the move and won the West. With the way the Diamondbacks are playing, this season is starting to look a lot like last year for Arizona and Miami.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Florida Marlins – Friday, April 27 – 7:10PM

Jose Reyes was supposed to be the catalyst for a contending team in Miami, but that has not yet materialized. The Miami offense has been woeful so far this season, and no one knows that better than game one Miami starter Carlos Zambrano. His 0-1 record and 2.84 ERA are indicative of how well Zambrano has been pitching without run support. To make matters worse for Miami, the Diamondbacks are putting Joe Saunders on the mound for this game. Saunders 1.29 ERA is an indication of the kinds of problems he will give Miami in this game.

Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Florida Marlins – Saturday, April 28 – 7:10PM

Things do not get any easier for the Marlins in this series as the Diamonbacks put Ian Kennedy on the mound for this game. Kennedy is 3-0 on the season and has a 3.86 ERA. Kennedy was on the mound when the Diamondbacks broke its five-game losing streak last week, and Kennedy has not lost a regular season start since August 2011. If you bet on sports, then you are familiar with teams that do not have a response for the oppositions talent. Anibal Sanchez takes the mound for Miami in this game, and Sanchez can pitch against Kennedy. With his 1-0 record and 2.79 ERA, Sanchez has the stuff to beat the Diamondbacks. But, once again, Miami will not have an offensive answer for Kennedy in this game.

Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Florida Marlins – Sunday, April 29 – 1:10PM

The middle of the Arizona rotation is getting juggled a bit thanks to injuries and changes made by the team to see who can come out of the bullpen to start. This game may be the Marlins only chance at grabbing a win in this series as Josh Johnson looks to start for Miami. Johnson has been struggling this season, but he has been showing signs of life lately.

Pick: Miami Marlins

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Florida Marlins – Monday, April 30 – 12:40PM

Once you get past Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez on the Miami rotation, you start to get into pitchers that have been shaky and unreliable. The Diamondbacks will have a field day off of whomever winds up being the Marlins starter in this game, and the Arizona bullpen will continue to keep the Marlins offense down.

Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks

Capitals Bruins Betting Picks – Bruins And Capitals Face Off In The First Game 7 Of The Playoffs

The 2012 NHL Playoffs have been an unending thrill ride across the board, so its quite fitting that a Game 7 will be included in the first round. Washington visits Boston on Wednesday.

Game 7 – Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins – Wednesday, April 25  
Sports betting line: N/A

Why Washington Will Win

When you place your best best sportsbook on an NHL playoff series, goaltending is the first place to look. When this series began, the smart money suggested that Boston would run away with this series. The second-seeded Bruins brought Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Tim Thomas to this ice dance, while Washington – thanks to injuries suffered by No. 1 goaltender Tomas Vokoun and backup Michal Neuwirth – had to put third-string goalie Braden Holtby between the pipes. This matchup seemed like a lopsided one, but through six even-steven games between these teams, Holtby has been Thomas equal at the very least, and its credible to say hes been the slightly superior goalie. Its only because Boston stole a Game 1 win in overtime – on a night when Washington largely carried the run of play – that this series is tied through six games.

Holtby has won two of three road games in this series, so the prospect of playing Game 7 in Boston is not likely to faze him. Washington had been a highly-seeded team in each of the past three NHL postseasons, and the Capitals crumbled under the pressure of high expectations. Now, however, theyre relishing their underdog role. They had a few shots on goal this past Sunday in overtime of Game 6, shots that would have won the series had they gone into the net. Boston outfoxed Washington in sudden-death overtime, but the Capitals have to feel very confident going into this decisive tilt in Beantown.

Why Boston Will Win

There is always the possibility that as this NHL season enters the playoff stage, surprises will unfold. Frankly, they already have. One of the two teams to make the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals has already been dismissed from the 2012 playoffs. The Vancouver Canucks fell short against the Los Angeles Kings. Boston is certainly vulnerable in a Game 7 situation against Washington. However, what are the odds that both of the Cup finals participants will bow out in round one of the following postseason? Moreover, what are the odds that Braden Holtby will stand tall in a Game 7 situation?

Holtby has certainly been terrific in this series. Hes the biggest reason why the Capitals have made their way this far, gaining a shot to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions. However, Holtbys ability to handle the heat in his first playoff series might not carry over to Game 7, a crucible in sports which exists on another plane of intensity. In this kind of pressure cooker, its still smart to trust Tim Thomas over Holtby, especially in Boston.

Who Will Win?

Washington has a great chance to win this game; these two teams have played on even terms through six contests. However, if you were forced to make a pick on this game at gunpoint, you would have little choice but to go with Tim Thomas, a proven big-game goalie. The Bruins will escape the Capitals and advance.

NHL Online Betting Pick: Boston

Betting Predictions On Spurs Suns – Spurs Almost Certain To Rest Against Hopeful Suns

The San Antonio Spurs have just clinched the top seed in the NBAs Western Conference. The Phoenix Suns are desperately fighting for the eighth and last playoff spot in the West.

San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns – Wednesday, April 25 
Sports betting line: No line

Why San Antonio Will Win

The sports betting analysts who are studying this contest will calmly point out that even though the San Antonio Spurs have already clinched the top seed in the NBAs Western Conference, they still have a really good team when their non-superstar players take the court. San Antonio has been resting its veteran "big three" of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili against markedly inferior teams for the past few weeks if not longer. Just about every NBA head coach, in the face of this compressed 66-game schedule, has been forced to rest his starters for more games because of the relentless procession of games on the slate.

The Parker-Duncan-Ginobili trio has a lot of miles on its collective odometer, making it an easy call for head coach Gregg Popovich to sit out all three players on Wednesday against the Suns. This doesnt mean, though, that San Antonio should suddenly be written off. More than a week ago, the Spurs – resting each member of the big three – still carried a 30-point lead into the final minutes of regulation at Golden State before coasting to the finish line. Guys like Kawhi Leonard and Gary Neal have been brilliant for the Spurs this year, creating quality depth and balance in the San Antonio lineup. Even if the big three sit out this entire game – which is a very distinct possibility – the Spurs have the horses needed to get the job done. 

Why Phoenix Will Win

When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, youll note that the Phoenix Suns could be eliminated from the playoffs. Phoenixs Tuesday night game against Utah will determine if the Suns can clinch a playoff berth with a win in this game, or if it will be the final time theyll take the court this season. Either way, the Suns have a better than even-money chance of winning this game because of the fact that the Spurs have clinched the top seed in the West. Yes, San Antonios bench is excellent, but the key point to realize is that San Antonio has done the hard work of securing home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

Human nature being what it is, the Spurs are likely to relax and just go through the motions in their final two games of the season. San Antonio plays another meaningless game the night after Wednesday, traveling to Oakland to face Golden State on Thursday. Phoenix will either be motivated to make the playoffs, or it will try hard to win its final home game of the season in front of its fans. The calculus is in Phoenixs favor.

Who Will Win

It’s just not that complicated: San Antonio – even its bench – has little incentive to play particularly hard in this game. The Spurs will take a night off with the playoffs coming. They simply do not need to push themselves here. Phoenix will win.

NBA Basketball Betting Pick: Phoenix

Euro Cup 2012 Betting – Germany Wins Fourth European Championship This Summer

Every two years, online betting sharps know they’re getting a major soccer competition and even though the Olympics will be held in London this summer, the European Championship will likely steal its thunder in the world of soccer. Germany fell a little short at the World Cup in 2012, but they’ll replace the team that knocked them out in South Africa with a massive win in July.

What: Soccer Betting
When: June 8th-July 1st, 2012
Where: Various stadiums between Poland and the Ukraine; final takes place in Kiev
Pick: Germany

The Favorites

Spain (+225) was always going to be the soccer betting favorites as the defending champions in not only the European competition, but they’re the World Cup champions as well. “La Roja” is powered by their Barcelona foundation led by Xavi in the middle of the field, and they’re solid at the back as well, but what about up front? Fernando Torres hasn’t shown much at Chelsea and David Villa has been out all season because of a broken leg. It could be time for Pedro to step up, although the transition began when he was named to the starting 11 in the semifinals and finals of the World Cup.

Germany (+300) wasn’t expected to challenge seriously in South Africa because of their age; this was one of the youngest German sides we’d ever seen in an international competition. But “The Team” may have been the most entertaining squad in the World Cup, where they finished third after losing to Spain in the semifinals and another meeting with the champions may be on the horizon. They have a fantastic midfield led by Bastian Schweinsteiger, experience up front and as always, the Germans are organized at the back. There are a few questions about goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but he has a great team in front of him.

The Second Tier

The Netherlands (+700) will get an early chance to see how they match up with the soccer betting favorites as they’re in Group B with the Germans, and they didn’t fare well in their last meeting with Spain in the World Cup final, when they decided to play a more physical style (some would say dirty with examples to back it up) instead of the offensive football that they’re known for. Instead of trying to impose their will on Spain, Holland changed their style to suit Spain and it didn’t work out at all. There is still a lot of talent throughout the team, but their most important player may be striker Robin van Persie, who has shown for Arsenal that he is world class when he is healthy.

Oh, what to think about England (+850), who perennially disappoint their fans and they have been put in a tough position heading into this competition as Fabio Capello left the team due to media pressure, among other things. The Three Lions now don’t have a manager, which could either liberate the squad or blow up in their faces. Wayne Rooney leads the team from the front, but the back four is getting up there in age and the central pairing of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry have struggled in club play this season. They’ll be tested in a difficult group with France, Sweden and the Ukraine, one of the co-hosts.

The Darkhorses

Speaking of the French (+1300), they’ll come into this competition with a new regime after the disgrace in South Africa in which players revolted and didn’t go to training, and ended with Laurent Blanc replacing Raymond Domenech as manager. That means there are a lot of players who have hopes of breaking into the national-team picture and expectations shouldn’t be that high among “Les Bleus”.

The Italians (+1300) are also looking to spruce up their side after failing to get out of the group stages in South Africa, and they’re in the midst of injecting some young blood after years of riding a few certain players throughout all the major competitions.

However, Portugal (+1800) could be a team to watch as they feature Cristiano Ronaldo, who has had an amazing season with Real Madrid in La Liga, but he has never quite replicated the same form for his country. If he is scoring the way he has for the probable La Liga champions, Ronaldo could lead his country to their first major championship, although they‘re stuck in a group with Germany and the Netherlands.

How It Will Play Out

Spain had a nice run throughout the last four years, but a couple of vital cogs are getting a little older and aren’t at the height of their powers as they were over the last four years. The Netherlands constantly underachieve, as do England, Portugal is a one-man side and the Italians and French has some work to do.

That’s why it’s time for the Germans to grab the status of World Cup favorites by the throat by storming through the European Championships, and the scary part is, this nucleus is still getting better, which means they could dominate over the next decade. Take Germany with your sports betting pick for Euro 2012.

Euro 2012 Betting Pick: Germany

Betting On Angels Rays – Angels Look To Get On Track With Trip To Tampa Bay

After loading up on big-name free agents like Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson in the offseason, it seemed like an obvious conclusion that a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim team that was already competitive a year ago would be able to take that next step and contend for a division title. So far this best sportsbook season though things haven’t gone as planned on the west coast, as the Angels won just six of their first 16 games to fall to the bottom of the American League West. The Tampa Bay Rays’ incredible run was one of the biggest stories in baseball a year ago, and after a strong start to this season it appears as though Evan Longoria and company are set to compete for an AL playoff spot once again. The Rays host the Angels in a three-game set that begins on Tuesday, and while it is still early in the season, Los Angeles has to be anxious about turning things around before they fall too far back.

Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays
Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET

While the focus on the Angels heading in to this season was the big names they had signed, one of their biggest strengths was actually expected to be the solid starting rotation that was already in place, with Jared Weaver, Dan Haren, and Ervin Santana joined by Wilson. However, the LA pitching staff hasn’t lived up to expectations so far, with Santana experiencing the roughest start. The 29-year old is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA through three starts, and to make matters worse, he will be going up against David Price for the Rays in the series opener. Price has allowed more than three earned runs in any of his three starts, even though he hasn’t brought his best stuff so far this betting year.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays
Wednesday, 7:00 PM ET

Wilson has lived up to expectations so far with just five earned runs allowed through three starts so far, and he will need to bring his best stuff against Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson in order for the Angels to even up this series. Hellickson is 2-0 already, but was tagged for five earned runs in just five innings in a 13-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox in which he escaped with the no decision.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays
Thursday, 1:10 PM ET

This series will wrap up with a sports betting matinee game on Thursday, with a couple of struggling starters getting the call. Tampa Bay has lost all three games that Matt Moore has pitched, even though he gave up more than three runs just once so far this season. Meanwhile, Jerome Williams gets the call for Los Angeles after earning his first win in a strong performance that saw him go 6.2 with only seven hits and three earned runs allowed after he lasted only 2.2 innings in an 11-5 loss to the New York Yankees in his season debut.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Angels

Question about HOPKINS-DAWSON

Did anyone here take something away from the first fight? When it comes to how the rematch may go, did the first fight give YOU any idea as to who has the advantage?

I’m asking this b/c on my sportsbook, the first fight Dawson was a slight favorite (around -120) and Hopkins was a slight underdog (around +110).

Now for the rematch, Dawson is a +400 favorite and Hopkins is a +325 underdog? It seems odd to me, the first fight was really short and had a sh*tty ending, but nothing really significant happened.

Hopkins landed a few nice right hands (should’ve got a knockdown at one point), and Dawson did a good job controlling with his jab. Still though, it’s hard for me to take something away from five minutes of fighting.

IMO, Hopkins was showing he ineffectiveness and his strategy turned to hit and hold. Dawson saw that pattern starting and dumped Hopkins on hiss a$$ intentionally. In fight #2.Dawson will need to counter these hit and hold rushes and his own cheap stuff. I see Hopkins gain a UD in a dull, but revengefull fight.

We cannot really draw something definite and conclusive, at least until the take-down, from that fight. Dawson had yet to establish his jab and Hopkins had yet to unravel the master’s game he employed in beating many of the pre-fight favorites he had met since his loss to Joe Calzhage.

There’s no doubt that Hopkins has earned his spot in the patheon of the greatest boxers of all time and there’s really no under-rating or under-estimating him. He has really re-invented himself since the Taylor and Calzhage defeats and has developed a highly cerebral style of fighting much like Muhammad Ali did in the mid to late 70s where experience, staying and taking power and excellent skill set more than compensated for the loss of speed, agility and punching sock attendant with aging.

Dawson is well advised not to take BHop lightly again for really there’s nothing to compensate for long experience and the habit of winning and upsetting the odds..

hopkins usual shoulder first, lunging right hand, clinching aint gonna work against dawson.
dawson is too strong to get handled like that.
i think dawson was better prepared for hopkins than hopkins anticipated.
based on the momentum of the fight, it was going to be very physical, with alot of referee intervention.
can hopkins fight a grueling fight like that for 12 rounds? i think dawson can.
it all boils down to IF hopkins age shows or not.
everybody here has unanimously agreed hopkins aint gonna win..
if he does win he needs to retire before he taints his legacy like roy jones did..

I guess the general view by oddsmakers is that Hopkins was a little bit younger in their first fight (I think once you get over 45 in boxing every few months its quite possible the boxer could really slow down) and he didnt seem to have anything and didnt seem to want it.

Since then Hopkins has gotten older (So has Dawson but he is much younger) so what can he bring now that he didnt in the first fight.

I think they have also taken in to account the reduced chances of this being a no contest etc if Hopkins resorts to some of his trademark “injuries”.The oddmakers therefore see we have an even older Hopkins who cannot use dirty tactics (or as many ass he would like) and when you view it like that,what chance does he have?

I feel somewhat left-out being the only one without a TC badge in this Q-A. But what I think happenned was that people felt that Hopkins had to fake an injury to get out of the first fight. And that translated to an impression that Hopkins was losing that first fight.

Still, hard to take away anything from that first fight. My guess is that some people would start seeing BHop would be a good bet and the gap would be closer as we come closer to the fight.

Hopkins only getting older and older…

Hopkins started slow in the first fight with Dawson, buuutt…. those know know Hopkins well, know that he has recently been starting off slow (eg. Pascal) against these Younger Opponents, and when he gets his tempo right, he puts on a clinic from the 4-5th round onwards.

Go Hopkins

Hopkins can win this fight, but i think the Judges will favour the younger and fresher fighter. in a close fight, Dawson will get the debefit of the doubt

Knicks Hawks Betting – Knicks And Hawks Offer A Clash Of Familiar Faces

The New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks will not have a very difficult time studying film or formulating their game plans for this Sundays contest. Their coaches know each other very well.

New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks – Sunday, April 22 
Sports betting line: No line

Why New York Will Win

The professional basketball analysts who will be assessing this contest will tell you that in a late-season push, the sports betting calculus shifts in favor of the team thats playing for outright survival as opposed to a higher seed in the playoffs. The Knicks are that team, not the Hawks, due to the fact that theyre tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, just two games ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks at the present moment. New York was in a more precarious position a week and a half ago, but the steady downfall of the Philadelphia 76ers, combined with a New York win over Milwaukee last week, has considerably brightened the Knicks outlook.

Nevertheless, New York still has work to do in its attempt to lock down a playoff spot, and that should give the Knicks a strong jolt of intensity and energy as they head down to the state of Georgia for a Sunday afternoon tip-off. One other reason to go with the Knicks in this game is that their star player is acting like one. With Jeremy Lin and Amare Stoudemire out of the lineup, Carmelo Anthony is answering the call for head coach Mike Woodson. Anthony is scoring in the mid-30s to the low 40s on several occasions, taking this team on his back and asking for the ball in crunch time.

It might not be elegant basketball, but in the star system of the NBA and a culture which demands that the best-paid players take the majority of the shots in big situations, Anthony is doing enough to bring the Knicks to the postseason. He should play well against Atlanta and give New York a very good chance to win in the fourth quarter.

Why Atlanta Will Win

When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, one thing to keep in mind is that the two coaches in this game know each other well. New York bench boss Mike Woodson was Atlantas coach for a few years before getting fired after the 2010 season. The man who stepped in to fill the void as the Hawks new head coach was Woodsons right-hand man, assistant coach Larry Drew. When this season began, Woodson was a New York assistant under head man Mike DAntoni, but when DAntoni got fired this past winter, Woodson became the interim head coach.

When these two teams play, theyll know that their coaches are acutely aware of each other. The thought process here is that this will favor the Hawks. Atlantas players will want to show that they can defeat their former coach. The Knicks wont experience that same emotional dynamic on Sunday. It will make a difference.

Who Will Win

It’s a small and nuanced element of this contest, but it could very well mean something. Atlanta will want to win this game for Drew against Woodson. The Hawks will feel more motivated; theyll view Sundays contest in a more personal way, and that matters to a professional athlete. Take Atlanta in this contest.

NBA Basketball Betting Pick: Atlanta

Betting On Yankees Rangers – Rangers Look To Continue Dominant Start With Yankees In Town

After coming so close to bringing home a World Series Championship last season, many online betting fans were curious to see how the Texas Rangers would respond starting over at the bottom of the ladder. Any doubts that fans had about the Rangers being a legitimate contender this season disappeared after the team won 11 of its first 13 games, and all eyes will be on Texas early this week as they host Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees in a three-game set.

New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers
Monday, 7:00 PM ET

While the Rangers have the best record in baseball through the first couple of weeks, the Yankees have stumbled out of the gate with a record that has hovered around the .500 mark. New York split its first six road games, and will be in tough for its first game in Texas when it sends Hiroki Kuroda to the mound opposite Derek Holland. Holland has allowed just two earned runs in each of his last two starts, both of them wins, and is settling down nicely among a group of young starting Rangers’ pitchers that rank among the best in baseball. Kuroda on the other hand has allowed at least four runs in two of his three starts, and is coming off a horrible performance against the Minnesota Twins, in which he allowed eight earned in just 4.1 innings of work.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers
Monday, 8:05 PM ET

The Yankees might not be feeling any more comfortable about the second pitching matchup in this series, as Phil Hughes will get the call against Yu Darvish for Texas. Hughes last 5.1 innings against the Twins for his first win of the season in his last outing, but that was his longest of three appearances so far, and when he isn’t throwing strikeouts he is giving up far too many hits. Darvish has settled in nicely for the Rangers after appearing shaky in his debut, and that’s probably because the Texas bats have given him a ton of run support with 27 runs combined to win all three best sportsbook games he has started.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers
Monday, 8:05 PM ET

The scariest part about this best best sportsbook series is that while the Rangers have the pitching edge in each of the first two games, their best starter of the three so far this season won’t get the call until the finale. 26-year old Matt Harrison allowed just a single run through his first 14 innings of work to win his first two starts, and has the best ERA in the American League with a 0.64 mark. If New York is going to have any chance at avoiding the sweep, they are going to need to find a way to manufacture some runs against the lefty, with the 2-0 Ivan Nova providing his best outing of the year to keep the Rangers’ from getting too many runs of their own. That could be easier said than done at this point, as Texas continues to play like a team desperate to get back to the World Series.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers