SPORTS WAGERS
Dallas -½ +1.31 over CAROLINA
It’s not like the Stars are going good and can take a breather here. They need points and this is the best place in the league to get them. Dallas has lost three of four although all four games have gone to OT. Still, they’re sinking in the standings and now sit in ninth place in the West and ninth does not qualify for the playoffs. The Stars are coming off games against the Kings and Sharks and after playing those two, this one should appear in slow motion. As for the Canes, well, they’re still a dumpster-fire and look no better now than they did when they were losing about 20 games straight. In fact, over its last four games they’ve been outshot, 39-25, 40-19, 31-23 and 32-21. So, not only do they lose but they’re managing just a handful of shots on net per game. When you’re allowing about four goals against a game and are only mustering up about 20 shots on net, are badly outplayed every period, it’s not rocket science as to why they’re losing. If this ticket gets ripped up, so be it. Betting against the Canes is usually the right thing to do and only bad luck can prevent this ticket from cashing because the play of the Canes sure can’t. Play: Dallas -½ +1.31 (Risking 2 units).
ATLANTA +1.03 over Florida
The Panthers are almost always a live dog but in the role of the chalk, they have very little appeal and at home they have even less appeal. In fact, in 15 home games this season, Florida has five wins. They also return home from a successful four game road trip in which they picked up five of a possible eight points. They’ll return home to a completely lifeless arena and the small crowds they attract has to be one of the reasons they struggle in their own joint. The Thrashers are always tough. Despite two straight wins they’re laboring a bit and were badly outplayed in its last game in New York. They won that game, which is a good sign because they did not play well and you can expect a much better effort here. The Panthers are always vulnerable at home and you can double that after returning home from a trip. Play Atlanta +1.03 (Risking 2 units).
Phoenix +1.14 over TORONTO
The Leafs are another team that is much more appealing in the role of the dog than they are as a favorite. The Leafs are coming off two big wins over the Caps and Sens and they were rather fortunate to win either of them. Jason Blake (one of the more useless players in the league) scored a lucky goal to open the scoring and the Leafs won 3-2 and the Leafs caught an exhausted Caps team on Saturday. The Sens and Coyotes play a very similar style in that they’re both defensive minded and that’s not a style the Leafs prefer. Again, the Leafs have shown a huge propensity for falling behind in the first period by a goal or two and against teams like this they’ll find it a lot more difficult to come back against. Phoenix is so tough to beat, as they work their asses off every shift of every game and they’ll be extra pumped up playing in Toronto while the Leafs have the Sabres on deck after playing the Sens. Play: Phoenix +1.14 (Risking 2 units).
Memphis +9½ over ATLANTA
Yeah, the Grizz are just 10-14 but in no way is this number warranted. Not only are the Grizzlies one of the most improved teams, they’re getting better each game and they’re playing with a ton of confidence. In fact, despite losing to the Celtics in their last game, they played perhaps its best game of the year and only the outstanding and near flawless game by the C’s prevented them from winning that one too. That game had to be inspiring for the Grizzlies and you can just see it in their body language that they’re “feeling it”. The Hawks are coming off three blowout wins over the Bulls, Raps and Nets. Combined, the Bulls and Nets have about two wins in the last 30 games and the Raps get blown out once every two games. Not to take anything away from the Hawks but its recent blowout wins along with the public’s perception of the Grizzlies being a weak squad has caused this line to be extremely inflated. Not only should the Grizzlies cover but they can win this one outright. Play: Memphis +9½ (Risking 2.12 units to win 2) Play: Memphis money line +4.08 (Risking 0.5 units).
MILWAUKEE +1.79 over L.A. Lakers
The Lakers are just the class of the league and they’ll basically be on cruise control the entire year. Even when they don’t play well they’re still very tough to beat. If they’re juiced up they’re near impossible to beat. Having said that, the chances of them being jacked up for this one is slim. The Bucks, on the other hand will be extremely jacked up and so will the house. The Bucks are coming off two straight wins and they’re well rested, having been off since Saturday. The Lakers on the other hand played last night in Chicago and will play its third consecutive on the road. The Lakers are 19-4, they have the Nets and Detroit up next to finish off the trip and frankly, there’s just nothing to get excited about for them. The Lakers have lost two of its last three game at this venue and it’s one of the rare places they have trouble at. Bucks come out completely fired up with a damn good chance to win against what could very well be a disinterested monster. Play: Milwaukee +1.79 (Risking 2 units).
OKLAHOMA CITY +1.11 over Dallas
The Mav’s are a good team to be sure. However, unlike some of the other top teams, Dallas will pull a bunch of no shows throughout the year and this sure looks like it could be one of those times. The Mav’s have won four in a row but you can see the downward spiral unfolding. They had a nice win over Phoenix followed by a win over the Heat in Miami and then back-to-back wins at home over Charlotte and New Orleans by a combined five lousy points. They had a chance to put the Hornets away a few times but failed to do so and that’s a sign of a team on the verge of a low. The Thunder’s last three losses have been to Cleveland, Denver and Boston and they also have a recent loss to the Lakers. That’s perhaps the toughest quartet in the league and it makes them so much more battle tested. The Thunder has played one of the more difficult schedules in the league, yet they’re still a game above .500 and they’re absolutely not an easy out. Play: Oklahoma City +1.11 (Risking 2 units).
