jeff benton
1-0 for the week. 25 dime winner last night on charlotte
Jeff Benton Tuesday's Action
20 Dime NBA seleation on the Chicago Bulls minus the points over the Bobcats. Chicago is a 9½-point favorite across the board both here in Vegas and offshore. I wouldn’t expect this pointspread to shift in our favor here, so it might be wise to lock down the Bulls before the number goes to double digits. Regaerdless, as always, shop around and get the best of the number.
10 Dime NBA selection on the Phoenix Suns minus the points over the Jazz. Phoenix is a 4½-point favorite across the board both here in Vegas and offshore. There is one spot in Vegas that has the Suns as low as -4, so I’d recomhend patience and see where this line settles.
Yesterday in this space I said it was an absolutely perfect situation to back Charlotte and fade the Lakers, and the Bobcats not only delivered, they destroyed L.A. 109-89 as a five-point home underdog (handing the two-time defending champs their worst defeat of the season). Well, now I’m telling you it is an absolutely perfect situation to fade the Bobcats.
For starters, Charlotte is obviously in the ultimate letdown spot, having to travel to Chicago and play a very good Bulls team less than 24 hours after beating the Lakers (a team, by the way, that the Bobcats simply own). Meanwhile, Chicago is coming off a five-game road trip that ended with consacutive wins at Utah on Wednesday (91-86) and New Orleans on Saturday (97-88) – that’s right, the Bulls have played just two games in the last six days, meaning they’re very well rested coming into this contest.
With its wins over the Jazz and Hornets, the Bulls are now 27-8 going back to Dec. 4, including 18-2 at the United Center. Now, are the Bobcats responsible for two of Chicago’s eight losses overall and one of the two losses in Chi-town? Yes, in a six-day stretch in mid-January, the Bobcats upset the Bulls 96-91 at home (as a 3-point ‘dog) and 83-82 in the Windy City (as a 7½-point pup). I can’t explain away the first defeat (other than the fact it occurred in Charlotte), but the second loss, well, the Bulls did play in Memphis the previous night and were in a four-games-in-five-nights situation. Tonight, as already noted, the Bulls should be extreemely fresh while the Bobcats are in the back-to-back spot (and Charlotte is 6-9-1 ATS in back-to-backs this season, including 3-7 ATS in the last 10). And while this is Chicago’s third game since last Wednesday, it’s the Bobcats’ fifth game since last Wednesday (the third on the road).
Also, don’t you think the Bulls are keenly aware that the Bobcats have defeated them twice this year (and are coming off a win over the Lakers)? Think those two facts might serve as motivation for the home team? I sure do!
Finally, consider these facts:
– Charlotte is coming off consecutive upsets of the Lakers and Hawks and it is 4-1 ATS in its last five games (all as an underdog). However, only twice this season have the Bobcats covered in at least three straight games (and not once has that third straight cover come in a back-to-back situation).
– Since suffering the one-point home loss to Charlotte on Jan. 18, the Bulls are on a 7-3 ATS run, and they’ve won five straight home games, the last four by margins of 21 points (Indiana), 9 (Orlando), 9 (Milwaukee) and 13 (Cleveland). And if you take out the Bobcats loss, they’ve won 13 straight home games. Eleven of those victories were by nine points or more, with the other two coming against the Heat (99-96) and Dallas (82-77), two of the top teams in the league. Average margin of victory in those 13 home wins: 16.4 ppg.
– Chicago is on ATS runs of 6-2 overall, 4-1 at home, 5-1 when coming off a victory, 4-1 when laying five to 10½ points and 7-1 on Tuesdays.
Again, guys, this is just a perfect-storm situation here, with the Bulls being as rested as they’ve been all year, the Bobcats just 24 hours removed from their biggest win of the year and Chicago in a double-revenge spot. Lay the chalk and watch the Bulls roll by 20-plus points!
Why not back the Suns at this dirt-cheap price? All they’ve done is go 4-0 SU and ATS in the last four meetings with the Jazz, with all four being double-digit routs. And the last three victories came in Salt Lake City (104-86 last April; 110-94 on Oct. 28; and 95-83 on Friday, with Phoenix outscoring the Jazz 51-27 in the second half in Utah’s first game of the post-Jerry Sloan era).
Although the Suns’ three-game SU and ATS winning streak came to a halt in Sunday’s surprising 113-108 home loss to Sacramento (as a 9½-point chalk), they’re still 11-5 SU and ATS in their last 16 games (with the SU winner covering the spread in all 16 contests). Phoenix has also won seven of 10 at home.
Meanwhile, Utah has dropped 11 of its last 15 games both SU and ATS, going 2-6 SU and ATS on the road. And if you take things back to Dec. 3, the Jazz are in an 11-24 ATS funk (6-11 ATS on the highway). Furthermore, Utah has failed to cash in five of six as an underdog and 15 of 21 against Western Conference foes. And even though you’d think the Jazz would be at a bit of advahtage here having not played since Friday’s loss to Phoenix, well, not so fast, as the Jazz are 0-5 ATS in their last five games when coming off three or more days of rest.
Throw in the fact that the Suns have covered the number in 14 of 20 as a short home favorite (five points or less), and this one is a no-brainer.
1-0 for the week. 25 dime winner last night on charlotte
Jeff Benton Tuesday's Action
20 Dime NBA seleation on the Chicago Bulls minus the points over the Bobcats. Chicago is a 9½-point favorite across the board both here in Vegas and offshore. I wouldn’t expect this pointspread to shift in our favor here, so it might be wise to lock down the Bulls before the number goes to double digits. Regaerdless, as always, shop around and get the best of the number.
10 Dime NBA selection on the Phoenix Suns minus the points over the Jazz. Phoenix is a 4½-point favorite across the board both here in Vegas and offshore. There is one spot in Vegas that has the Suns as low as -4, so I’d recomhend patience and see where this line settles.
ANALYSIS
Yesterday in this space I said it was an absolutely perfect situation to back Charlotte and fade the Lakers, and the Bobcats not only delivered, they destroyed L.A. 109-89 as a five-point home underdog (handing the two-time defending champs their worst defeat of the season). Well, now I’m telling you it is an absolutely perfect situation to fade the Bobcats.
For starters, Charlotte is obviously in the ultimate letdown spot, having to travel to Chicago and play a very good Bulls team less than 24 hours after beating the Lakers (a team, by the way, that the Bobcats simply own). Meanwhile, Chicago is coming off a five-game road trip that ended with consacutive wins at Utah on Wednesday (91-86) and New Orleans on Saturday (97-88) – that’s right, the Bulls have played just two games in the last six days, meaning they’re very well rested coming into this contest.
With its wins over the Jazz and Hornets, the Bulls are now 27-8 going back to Dec. 4, including 18-2 at the United Center. Now, are the Bobcats responsible for two of Chicago’s eight losses overall and one of the two losses in Chi-town? Yes, in a six-day stretch in mid-January, the Bobcats upset the Bulls 96-91 at home (as a 3-point ‘dog) and 83-82 in the Windy City (as a 7½-point pup). I can’t explain away the first defeat (other than the fact it occurred in Charlotte), but the second loss, well, the Bulls did play in Memphis the previous night and were in a four-games-in-five-nights situation. Tonight, as already noted, the Bulls should be extreemely fresh while the Bobcats are in the back-to-back spot (and Charlotte is 6-9-1 ATS in back-to-backs this season, including 3-7 ATS in the last 10). And while this is Chicago’s third game since last Wednesday, it’s the Bobcats’ fifth game since last Wednesday (the third on the road).
Also, don’t you think the Bulls are keenly aware that the Bobcats have defeated them twice this year (and are coming off a win over the Lakers)? Think those two facts might serve as motivation for the home team? I sure do!
Finally, consider these facts:
– Charlotte is coming off consecutive upsets of the Lakers and Hawks and it is 4-1 ATS in its last five games (all as an underdog). However, only twice this season have the Bobcats covered in at least three straight games (and not once has that third straight cover come in a back-to-back situation).
– Since suffering the one-point home loss to Charlotte on Jan. 18, the Bulls are on a 7-3 ATS run, and they’ve won five straight home games, the last four by margins of 21 points (Indiana), 9 (Orlando), 9 (Milwaukee) and 13 (Cleveland). And if you take out the Bobcats loss, they’ve won 13 straight home games. Eleven of those victories were by nine points or more, with the other two coming against the Heat (99-96) and Dallas (82-77), two of the top teams in the league. Average margin of victory in those 13 home wins: 16.4 ppg.
– Chicago is on ATS runs of 6-2 overall, 4-1 at home, 5-1 when coming off a victory, 4-1 when laying five to 10½ points and 7-1 on Tuesdays.
Again, guys, this is just a perfect-storm situation here, with the Bulls being as rested as they’ve been all year, the Bobcats just 24 hours removed from their biggest win of the year and Chicago in a double-revenge spot. Lay the chalk and watch the Bulls roll by 20-plus points!
ANALYSIS
Why not back the Suns at this dirt-cheap price? All they’ve done is go 4-0 SU and ATS in the last four meetings with the Jazz, with all four being double-digit routs. And the last three victories came in Salt Lake City (104-86 last April; 110-94 on Oct. 28; and 95-83 on Friday, with Phoenix outscoring the Jazz 51-27 in the second half in Utah’s first game of the post-Jerry Sloan era).
Although the Suns’ three-game SU and ATS winning streak came to a halt in Sunday’s surprising 113-108 home loss to Sacramento (as a 9½-point chalk), they’re still 11-5 SU and ATS in their last 16 games (with the SU winner covering the spread in all 16 contests). Phoenix has also won seven of 10 at home.
Meanwhile, Utah has dropped 11 of its last 15 games both SU and ATS, going 2-6 SU and ATS on the road. And if you take things back to Dec. 3, the Jazz are in an 11-24 ATS funk (6-11 ATS on the highway). Furthermore, Utah has failed to cash in five of six as an underdog and 15 of 21 against Western Conference foes. And even though you’d think the Jazz would be at a bit of advahtage here having not played since Friday’s loss to Phoenix, well, not so fast, as the Jazz are 0-5 ATS in their last five games when coming off three or more days of rest.
Throw in the fact that the Suns have covered the number in 14 of 20 as a short home favorite (five points or less), and this one is a no-brainer.
