Service Plays Tuesday 10/5/10

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The Rx.com Mod Team has created this Service Play sub-forum in order to supply an area for Rx Service Play Posters to expand upon their posting topics without creating a logjam in the main forum where the three principle threads are maintained..

Posters can track services here if they care to but we will need any trackers to do so in an accurate and civil manner. We did not create this area for posters to ridicule or bash any services..

You can also discuss who is hot and who is not. The general state of the pay for plays industry and any other subject or topic related to service plays.

You can also create individual threads about specific services and discuss them freely but civilly. Again bashing and abusive treatment of any services will not be tolerated.

Please remember, this forum is not here for regular posters who cap their own games to post ther daily plays. Please use our individual sport forums to post your plays. Professional cappers (those that sell plays) must remain in the Site Promotion Forum.

The Rx.com will not tolerate posters that post false records of any services they track. Please be truthful if you decide to track a particular service.

Lastly The Rx Moderators are appealing to you our everyday posters to report any promotional threads or posts that are made by services or individual touts. No links or contact information to an individual service will be allowed. Just the name of the service. Please report any threads or posts that are promotional attempts by services and touts to use this forum to promote themselves..

Posters can easily report a promotional post by using the triangular Report-a-Post Icon at the bottom left of all post boxes. The poster name of any poster who reports a post that is out of line will be kept strictly confidential.

I will leave this thread open for a month to take questions and do my best to answer them. I will check in daily but am off on Wednesday and Thursday.

I hope this additional Service Play Forum will satisfy those posters that would like to widen the scope of topics relating to service plays and the industry in general to have their own threads. Mods will be liberal as possible regarding topics but this forum was specifically created to allow you more freedom to express your ideas regarding service plays and related subject matter. No off topic threads will be allowed.

Thank you, wilheim




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Some handicappers do not mind having their plays posted, If we are asked by any company to not let their information be posted here, we will comply with the request and remove the information if we see it.
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What Bettors Need To Know: Troy At Middle Tennessee

Troy Trojans at Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (-3)
LINE MOVEMENT

Most books opened the Blue Raiders as flat 3-point favorites, but the line seems to be going back and forth between 3 and 3.5.

Keep in mind, the Trojans closed as 6-point favorites when these two teams hooked up last year and Troy hasn’t been listed as the underdog in this series since 2006.

Troy covered the number in its only opportunity as an underdog this season, losing by a field goal as a 13.5-point underdog at Oklahoma State. Middle Tennessee State has been favored in each of its first four contests, covering the spread only once.

THE DEFENSE RESTS

Defensive purists may want to look for something else to watch on Tuesday night, because this one could get ugly.

Troy checks in having allowed 32.5 points per game on 459 total yards per game of offense. It’s not as if they’ve been facing offensive juggernauts either. Throw away their matchup with the Cowboys in Stillwater and they’ve played Bowling Green, UAB and Arkansas State.

Middle Tennessee State is giving up under 24 points per game, but did get ripped for 33 by an FCS squad, Austin Peay. The majority of their opponents have forced the issue on the ground, while the Trojans will likely be airing it out early and often.

With all of that being said, the under has cashed in each of the last five meetings in this series dating back to 2005.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS

Both teams are coming off their bye week and will welcome back some key cogs on Tuesday night.

Of course the big news is the return of Blue Raiders QB Dwight Dasher. He almost single-handedly carried them to a Bowl appearance (and victory) last season, throwing for 2,789 yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while running for another 13 scores.

A suspension forced Dasher to sit on the sidelines for the first four games this season, but that ban has been lifted for this week’s contest.

Troy expects to have standout DE Mario Addison back on the field after he missed a pair of games due to a broken hand. He’s a key to this defense, replacing an all-star from a year ago, Cameron Sheffield.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Troy WR Jerrel Jernigan is far from a household name, but he’s one of the biggest playmakers in the Sun Belt Conference, and could find himself playing on Sundays next year. In the last two seasons, Jernigan caught 148 passes for nearly 2,000 yards and nine touchdowns, while running the ball for over 500 yards and a pair of scores.

So far in 2010, Jernigan has 384 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air, while picking up 7.6 yards per rush and a score on the ground. That’s not to mention the fact that he’s averaging 36.6 yards per kick return, including a 100-yard run back for a touchdown.

Dwight Dasher gets all of the attention for the Blue Raiders, but RB Phillip Tanner is also an important part of the offense.

In Middle Tennessee State’s two victories this season, Tanner has run for 231 yards and four touchdowns. In their two losses, he’s gained only 78 yards and one score. The senior is trying to regain the form that saw him rush for 718 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2008. He was forced to the sidelines due to injury for much of last season.

KEY TRENDS

Troy is a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS against Middle Tennessee State over the last four seasons.

The Trojans also check in at an impressive 21-7 ATS over their last 28 Sun Belt matchups.

Not to be outdone, the Blue Raiders are a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last seven games against Sun Belt opposition.

Middle Tennessee State has been at its best in the month of October, currently riding a 14-5 ATS run in lined contests.
 
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BANG THE BOOK

Tuesday Best NCAA Bet

Troy Trojans vs. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

In a game that could ultimately prove to be the de facto Sun Belt championship, the Troy Trojans and Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders will duke it out in NCAA football betting action on Tuesday night.

For the Trojans, this game is one in which the offense is expected to roll. This Troy team just hasn’t lost a step offensively, which is why 34.0 points per game are hitting the board. It got off to a good start in Sun Belt play last week, beating the Arkansas State Red Wolves 35-28, but is hasn’t covered a college football spread since September 11th. The world will be introduced to one of the top statistical passers in the country on Tuesday night, as QB Corey Robinson will lead this team on the field. For the first time in awhile, the Trojans don’t have a dual threat of a quarterback, but Robinson is a fantastic drop back passer. He is completing 61.8 percent of his passes and has an 8/3 TD/INT ratio. Robinson, still just a freshman, has already thrown for 1,244 yards in just five games. The running game is split between three men, all of which are equally dangerous. Running Backs DuJuan Harris, Shawn Southward, and Chris Anderson have combined for 106 carries, 512 yards, and four TDs for Troy. The problem has been the woeful defense, which ranks in the bottom ten in the country in total yards allowed.

MTSU finally gets QB Dwight Dasher back in the lineup after a four game suspension that simply felt like it took forever to get through. Dasher put up some of the best numbers in the land last year, and many felt as though he could be good for 5,000 yards of offense and 50 TDs this year had he stayed out of trouble. Alas, you never know with Dasher exactly what you’re getting, as this is a man that threw for 24 TDs and ran for 13 more in 2009. This offense is already good at 427.8 yards per game, but with Dasher calling the shots, things are only going to be getting better and better. Once again, defense is a big problem. Though the Blue Raiders are a modest 60th in the nation in both total ‘D’ (351.5 YPG) and scoring defense (23.8 PPG), they really have played a modest schedule to date, with no bowl teams on the schedule. This week’s game against Troy and next week’s duel against Georgia Tech are clearly the two hardest games of the season for a team that many thought could run the table this year.

The oddsmakers have forgotten about just how good Dasher and the Blue Raiders can be when they are firing on all cylinders. This is the biggest game of the season in Murfreesboro, and MTSU is going to want to put on a significantly better show tonight than they did in their opener, a 24-17 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Blue Raiders can effectively win the Sun Belt on Tuesday night.

Selection: Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders -3.5
 
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Bettors' Best Friend (BBF): Tuesday's Wagering Tips

Lines To Watch

Troy at Middle Tennessee State (-3.5, 61.5)

Weather To Watch

Troy at Middle Tennessee State – no precipitation expected but there may be 11 mph winds out of the northwest by kickoff.

Who’s Hot

Troy has won and covered in each of its last four meetings with Middle Tennessee State.

Key Stat

37-21-3 – NFL underdogs’ record leading up to Monday night’s game between New England and Miami.

Injury That Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Josh Hamilton (fractured ribs) Texas Rangers – Hamilton played three games last weekend but woke up feeling “very sore” on Monday morning. He picked up three hits over the weekend and there’s little doubt he’d miss Wednesday’s Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays, but it’s something to keep an eye on as the series progresses.

Game Of The Day

Troy at Middle Tennessee State (-3.5, 61.5)

Notable Quotable

"I started believing when you could see the temperament of the club. They're so determined and have such a strong will. They knew what they needed to do to punch the clock. And this is doubly special because we needed to make a statement against these guys... We needed to win the division."- San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean on his team’s dramatic postseason berth.

Tips And Notes

Middle Tennessee State senior quarterback Dwight Dasher returns to the Blue Raider lineup Tuesday after serving a four-game suspension for accepting a $1,500 loan to play poker. Last year Dasher became the fourth NCAA player to throw for more than 2,500 yards and rushed for more than 1000 in the same season.

Kevin Slowey has only worked out of the bullpen four times in 86 career MLB appearances, but that’s where he’ll be stationed for the Minnesota Twins’ Division Series against the New York Yankees. He landed a spot in the bullpen by firing a scoreless inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

Mike Cammalleri will miss the opening game of the NHL season when his Montreal Canadiens face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night. Cammalleri flipped his lid on Nino Niederreiter Thursday night after a big hit. The left winger drew a five-minute major and a game misconduct and found out about the league’s decision today. Cammalleri only played 65 regular season games last year and still finished with 25 goals, and then went on to lead the playoffs in scoring with 13 more markers.
 
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ALDS preview and pick: Rangers vs. Rays

It’s must-see television when Cliff Lee and David Price square off on Wednesday afternoon.

SERIES ODDS: Tampa Bay Rays (-139) vs. Texas Rangers (+128)

PITCHING

Wednesday’s tilt between Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.18) and David Price (19-6, 2.72) represents the best series-opening pitching matchup of the first round. Lee was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts last year, but is 0-3 against the Rays this season. Price is 9-2 with a 1.96 ERA at Tropicana Field in 2010.

The Rangers will start C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis in games two and three respectively, while the Rays will counter with Matt Garza and Wade Davis. It’s been a long season for Davis, but he has pitched well down the stretch. In his last five appearances, the 25-year-old right-hander has allowed just eight runs in 28 2-3 innings of work.

Both teams are strong in the bullpen. Rays relievers led the American League with a 3.33 ERA, while the Rangers were second at 3.38. Rafael Soriano has been brilliant at the back of the Rays’ bullpen, recording a league-leading 45 saves in 48 chances. Neftali Feliz has been almost as good for Texas, saving 40 games in 43 tries.Feliz hasn’t allowed a run in his last 16 appearances, a stretch over which he’s surrendered only six hits.

It’s a close call, but we think Lee’s recent postseason success gives them the advantage.

Slight Edge: Rangers

OFFENSE

Speed is the name of the game for the Rays, who rank third in the majors in runs scored despite being last in the American League in batting average (.247). In Carl Crawford and BJ Upton, Tampa Bay has two of the league’s most dangerous threats on the base paths. By themselves, Crawford and Upton combined for more steals (89) than twelve major league teams. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Carl Crawford could earn himself a boatload of money if his performance in the playoffs is as good as it was in the regular season.

The Rays hope that Evan Longoria’s health isn’t an issue when the playoffs get underway. Longoria hasn’t played since Sept. 23 because of a strained quad. Manager Joe Maddon says that Longoria’s absence was precautionary, but the situation bears watching. Longoria will be in the lineup Wednesday night, but the Rays will really miss his pop if he is limited.

The Rangers have injury worries of their own. AL batting champion Josh Hamilton missed most of September with two broken ribs. Hamilton played in all three games of last weekend’s series against Anaheim. He collected three hits, including his 32nd home run of the season, but admitted feeling some tightness and soreness. Hamilton means as much to the Rangers as Longoria does to the Rays, if not more. If Hamilton’s sore ribs diminish his power at the plate, the Rangers are in trouble.

Vladimir Guerrero was essentially left on the scrap heap in the offseason when Texas signed him to a modest one-year deal with a mutual option for 2011. Guerrero has responded with a huge season, batting .300 with 29 homers and 115 RBI.

Texas excels at putting the ball in play. The Rangers are batting a major league-leading .276 and have the fourth-fewest strikeouts in baseball (986).

We respect Texas’ efficiency up and down the lineup, but Tampa Bay’s speed at the top of its lineup is lethal, especially late in close games, which this series figures to have plenty of.

Slight Edge: Rays

INTANGIBLES

The Rays have more playoff experience, and home field advantage is key considering the Rangers are three games below .500 on the road. Tampa Bay has an advantage in the late innings because of its ability to manufacture runs and its strong bullpen. We think the Rays capitalize on that and win a close series.

Pick: Rays in five games.
 
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ALDS preview and pick: Yankees vs. Twins

The Yankees lead the majors in runs scored, but will shaky starting pitching derail their hopes of a repeat?

SERIES ODDS: New York Yankees (-184) vs. Minnesota Twins (+169)

PITCHING

It’s a safe bet that the Yankees will send C.C. Sabathia to the mound in Wednesday’s series opener. Outside of that, nobody knows exactly what Joe Girardi’s postseason rotation will look like. We suspect it will be a three-man rotation featuring Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, and Phil Hughes, in that order. If so, that’s a dangerous proposition for the defending champs.

After spending two months on the disabled list with a strained groin, Pettitte returned to go 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts down the stretch. He beat the Twins in last year’s ALDS and has a long history of postseason success, but has not looked like himself lately.

The Twins will go with a four-man rotation, headlined by Game 1 starter Francisco Liriano. Liriano has had a big season for Minnesota but is just 1-3 with a 6.98 ERA in his last four starts. He will be followed by Carl Pavano, Brian Duensing, and if a Game 4 is necessary, Nick Blackburn. You can bet Pavano’s reception at Yankee Stadium for Game 2 will be less than friendly. The man dubbed “American Idle” by the New York tabloids made just 26 starts in a four-year stint as a Yankee from 2005-2008.

The incomparable Mariano Rivera gives the Yankees a slight edge in the bullpen. Rivera has blown three saves in his last seven chances, but when the money’s on the line, we still trust him more than any closer in baseball.

The bottom line is that the lack of reliable depth in New York’s rotation should have Yankee backers more than a little nervous.

Edge: Twins

OFFENSE

The Twins’ title hopes took a blow on Monday when they announced that Justin Morneau would not return for the playoffs. Morneau, who has been out since early July with a concussion, had hoped to return in time for a potential ALCS matchup.

While we’d never suggest Minnesota is better off without Morneau, his teammates deserve credit for stepping up in his absence. The Twins averaged 4.7 runs per game with Morneau, but are scoring 5.0 runs per game since his injury. Since the All-Star break, Joe Mauer is batting a torrid .373 and Jim Thome is hitting .313 with 15 homers. Delmon Young’s 54 second-half RBIs are the third-most in the American League.

For the second straight season, the Yankees led the majors in runs per game (5.3). Their lineup is as devastating as it is deep, especially now that Alex Rodriguez has hit his stride. Since Sept. 1, A-Rod is batting .309 and leads the team with 26 RBIs.

This has been a breakout year for Robinson Cano. Cano is hitting .319 on the season and has piled up 29 homers and 109 RBIs, both career highs. He is batting a team-best .322 with runners in scoring position and has played Gold-Glove caliber defense at second base. We think this is the year that Cano, a lifetime .217 postseason hitter, makes his mark in October.

Edge: Yankees

INTANGIBLES

Make no mistake: the aura of the pinstripes can be intimidating. Gardenhire’s teams have played fundamentally sound baseball over the years, but they looked unfocused while being swept by the Yankees last October. In fact, the Yankees are 54-18 against Gardenhire’s Twins since 2002, a disparity we can’t overlook.

Minnesota had a better September than New York, but that doesn’t outweigh the Yankees’ postseason experience.

Edge: Yankees

Pick: Yankees in five games.
 
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NLDS preview and pick: Phillies vs. Reds

The Reds have been a feel-good story this season but will their no-name rotation cost them against the two-time defending National League champs and World Series favorites Phillies?

SERIES ODDS: Philadelphia Phillies (-270) vs. Cincinnati Reds (+245)

PITCHING

The Phillies did themselves a huge favor by putting up the National League’s best record. Not only will Philadelphia have home field throughout the playoffs, but its status as the top seed allowed the club to choose an eight-day schedule for its NLDS matchup. That means the Phillies can go with an intimidating three-man rotation of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels without having any of them pitch on short rest.

The Reds will go with Edinson Volquez in Game 1 followed by Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto. Volquez missed the first half of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and struggled on his return but has looked much better lately. He’s allowed just six runs over 27 2-3 innings while racking up 31 strikeouts over his last four starts.

The Reds and Phillies have both been very average in relief, but we give Philadelphia a slight edge because its group is fresher. Philadelphia relievers pitched an MLB-low 415 innings this season – a testament to the ability of its starters to work deep into games.

Brad Lidge has been nearly unhittable in the second half of the season. Since the All-Star break, Lidge has converted 21 of 23 save opportunities while holding opposing hitters to a .157 average.

Edge: Phillies

OFFENSE

Cincinnati’s lineup is one of the most potent in the National League in 2010. They lead the league in a host of offensive categories including batting average (.271), home runs (187) and runs per game (4.9). Joey Votto has had an MVP-caliber season batting .324 with 37 homers and 113 RBIs. Votto is hitting .393 against the Phillies in 28 at-bats. The Reds are batting an NL-best .278 with runners in scoring position.

The Phillies’ lineup is smoking hot, averaging 5.6 runs per game since the start of September. Over that same stretch, the Reds have averaged just 4.2 runs per game.

Jayson Werth had a big September belting eight homers and piling up 20 RBIs. Werth is Philadelphia’s most dangerous batter against righties, hitting a team-high 20 home runs off right-handed pitching. With Cincinnati using three right-handed starters to begin the series and Werth playing for a new contract, we think this could be his time to shine.

The Reds have had the more productive lineup over the course of the season, but you can’t ignore the fact that the Phillies are red hot at the right time and their lineup is full of players who’ve come up with big hits in October.

Slight Edge: Phillies

INTANGIBLES

The gritty, battle-tested Phillies have ample playoff experience while many of the Reds’ key players are playing in their first ever postseason. To make matters worse for Cincinnati, the Phillies have all the momentum. At 21-6, Philadelphia had the best record in baseball in September. The Reds have good talent, and we think there’s postseason success in Cincinnati’s future – but not this year.

Pick: Phillies in three games
 
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RAS

Rotation: 302
Middle Tenn. St. (-3)
Rating: 1.00
Game Time: 10/5 5:00pm PST
Released: 10/4 12:25pm PST
 
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2011 NBA Finals Odds To Win – Heat Favored By Oddsmakers

With LeBron James set to go to Miami, the odds have finally been released as to which team will win the 2011 NBA Finals, and the Heat are at the top of the list.

With the addition of James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh Miami is considered the favorites to win it all next season in the NBA.

Miami has been given 7/4 odds win according to the online sports book SBGGLOBAL. Other short odds to win are the L.A. Lakers (11/4), Orlando (10/1), and Boston (12/1).

Miami won its only NBA Championship in 2006, but with the three-headed monster it now has, the Heat will clearly have the most talented starting lineup of any team in the league. The key concern for Miami will be in depth as it has little money to fill up the roster. If one of the big three gets injured, the Heat could go downhill in a hurry.

The Lakers have won the last two NBA titles and have 17 world championships in franchise history. L.A. has a solid team led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol and also key role players like Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, and Derek Fisher. Having Phil Jackson as a coach doesn’t hurt either, as the Zen Master has 11 NBA titles to his credit and he has never not won three titles in a row after getting the first two.

Orlando reached the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history in 2009, but were dropped in the Eastern Conference finals by Boston this season. Still led by Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson, the Magic have the talent to contend with the Heat, but will need help scoring from Rashard Lewis.

Boston won the NBA title in 2008 and has 17 world titles to its credit. The Celtics reached the finals this year before coming up short against the Lakers in seven games. The Celtics have a strong starting group in Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, and Kendrick Perkins. Boston’s bench was a big key this season as well, but they are losing Rasheed Wallace to retirement, but recently signed Jermaine O’Neal as a replacement.

For complete odds to win the 2011 NBA Finals, see below.

Odds To Win The 2011 NBA Finals

Atlanta Hawks 25/1
Boston Celtics 12/1
Charlotte Bobcats 50/1
Chicago Bulls 15/1
Cleveland Cavaliers 60/1
Dallas Mavericks 18/1
Denver Nuggets 18/1
Detroit Pistons 100/1
Golden State Warriors 75/1
Houston Rockets 45/1
Indiana Pacers 100/1
Los Angeles Clippers 100/1
Los Angeles Lakers 11/4
Memphis Grizzlies 50/1
Miami Heat 7/4
Milwaukee Bucks 35/1
Minnesota Timberwolves 150/1
New Jersey Nets 150/1
New Orleans Hornets 35/1
New York Knicks 35/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 25/1
Orlando Magic 10/1
Philadelphia 76ers 100/1
Phoenix Suns 35/1
Portland Trailblazers 35/1
Sacramento Kings 150/1
San Antonio Spurs 28/1
Toronto Raptors 150/1
Utah Jazz 30/1
Washington Wizards 50/1
 
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NBA Betting Preview
By Bodog



It’s only the biggest experiment in the history of the NBA. We’re about to see if three MVP-quality players can co-exist on the same team. If so, the Miami Heat will toy with the NBA odds all season long. If not, there’s a ton of money to be made from fading Miami. Which will it be?

In case you missed it, LeBron James and Chris Bosh have joined Dwyane Wade in Miami. All three took a little less money as free agents in order to play together; that also allowed the Heat to sign Mike Miller and retain the services of Udonis Haslem, among others. But the focus is on the Big Three, aka the Super Friends. Here’s how they ranked in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) last year:

1. James (31.19)
2. Wade (28.10)
3. Kevin Durant (26.23)
4. Bosh (25.11)
5. Tim Duncan (24.79)

Now we begin to see the enormity of the situation. When the Boston Celtics put together their Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, there were concerns about how the trio would interact on the court. They ended up dominating the league at 66-16 SU and shredding the basketball betting lines at 52-28-2 ATS. But these were not three of the truly best players in the NBA. For comparison sake, here are some PER numbers from 2006-07, the year before they won the championship with the Celtics:

1. Wade (29.04)
6. James (24.56)
8. Garnett (24.20)
17. Bosh (22.72)
23. Pierce (21.73)
24. Allen (21.70)

This is why the Heat are 2-3 favorites to win the Eastern Conference and 7-4 to win the title. The Celtics won’t go away quietly, though. They’ve kept their Big Three together for one more year, adding a pair of O’Neals in Shaquille and Jermaine to bolster the frontcourt while Kendrick Perkins recovers from torn knee ligaments. Shaquille O’Neal (17.92 PER) has been roundly criticized for not bringing championships to Phoenix and Cleveland, even though he played at an astonishingly good level for his age. If he can maintain his output (a legitimate concern for a 38-year-old center), the Celtics will be a strong value pick coming out of the East at 5-1 to win the conference and 11-1 for the title.

But like Ric Flair says, to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. The Los Angeles Lakers are the man right now, and they made some positive moves of their own during the offseason in search of yet another three-peat for coach Phil Jackson. Joining the proven championship core will be point guard Steve Blake, forward Matt Barnes and center Theo Ratliff. All three are upgrades over the men they replace: Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell and D.J. Mbenga. This is an important step forward for a team whose primary flaw last year was bench strength.

The Lakers managed to beat the Celtics for the title in 2009-10 even without Kobe Bryant (21.95 PER) and Andrew Bynum (20.26 PER) at their best because of knee problems. Both had surgery in the offseason; Bryant is planning to play only 12-16 minutes in L.A.’s first preseason game Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves in London, while Bynum isn’t expected to see any action until late November. It could be a rough go during the regular season (the oft-injured Lakers were 33-46-3 ATS last year), but come playoff time, L.A. is 4-5 to win the West and 5-2 to complete the three-peat.

The only other team in the West getting much buzz is the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have Durant, who has established himself as an MVP-caliber player. They have point guard Russell Westbrook (17.90 PER) on the verge of becoming an All-Star in his third year as a pro. And they have a talented and deep supporting cast at their disposal. But it was a fairly quiet offseason for the Thunder, so matching last year’s 50-win total won’t be easy. Given a clean bill of health, though, Oklahoma City is in position to move past the Lakers should the champions falter. The Thunder are second favorites at 6-1 to win the West, plus 14-1 for their first title since the Seattle SuperSonics of 1978-79.
 
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Hondo

Hold your nose, HondoNation! The smell of rotten Fish is permeating the area, a result of last night's brutal loss to the Pats that caused Mr. Aitch's debt to grow to a sickening 2,705 krones.

Today, the time seems right for a track attack, courtesy of Anthony Affrunti, The Post's Puny Pony Picker. Thus, Hondo will take the AA-train to Philly Park and plop a pair of five-unit win wagers on Queenameina in the 5th and Wild Geese in the 7th.
 

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