Rockets-Hornets Odds Preview

The Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Hornets will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at New Orleans Arena.
Oddsmakers currently have the Hornets listed as 4-point favorites versus the Rockets, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
The Rockets couldn't stop Tony Parker, losing 88-85 to the Spurs at the Toyota Center Saturday.
San Antonio covered as a 2.5-point road underdog while the final score played under the 182-point total.
The Hornets were swept away in the Windy City, losing 97-79 to the Bulls at the United Center Saturday night.
Chicago covered as a 2-point home underdog while the final score played under the 193.5-point total.
Team records:
Houston: 43-25 SU, 32-35-1 ATS
New Orleans: 41-24 SU, 28-35-2 ATS
Houston most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Detroit are 6-4
After playing San Antonio are 5-5
After a loss are 9-1

New Orleans most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Minnesota are 6-4
After playing Chicago are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing New Orleans
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games on the road
Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
New Orleans is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Orleans's last 6 games when playing Houston
New Orleans is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
Next up:
Houston home to Detroit, Wednesday, March 18
New Orleans home to Minnesota, Wednesday, March 18

Trail Blazers-Grizzlies Lines Preview

The Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at FedExForum.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Trail Blazers lost to Atlanta 98-80 as a 4-point underdog on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (188.5).
Brandon Roy led the Blazers with 29 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points in the loss.
The Grizzlies upset Detroit 89-84 as an 8-point underdog on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total( 183).
Mike Conley scored a game-high 20 points for Memphis and Rudy Gay added 15 points in the win.
Team records:
Portland: 41-25 SU, 33-33 ATS
Memphis: 17-48 SU, 29-35-1 ATS
Portland most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Indiana are 3-7
After playing Atlanta are 5-5
After a loss are 8-2

Memphis most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Denver are 3-7
After playing Detroit are 3-7
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Portland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Portland's last 6 games when playing Memphis
Portland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Memphis
Portland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Memphis
Memphis is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis's last 6 games when playing Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Memphis's last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 6 games when playing at home against Portland
Next up:
Portland at Indiana, Wednesday, March 18
Memphis home to Denver, Wednesday, March 18

Raptors-Bobcats Lines Preview

The fans at Time Warner Cable Arena will be treated to a game between the Toronto Raptors and the Charlotte Bobcats when they take their seats on Monday.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Raptors defeated Indiana 110-87 as a 3-point favorite on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (214.5).
Andrea Bargnani scored 27 points to go along with nine rebounds for Toronto, while Pops Mensah-Bonsu added 21 points and eight rebounds in the win.
The Bobcats fell short against the Timberwolves, losing 108-100 at the Target Center Saturday.
Minnesota covered as a 5-point home underdog while the final score played over the 190.5-point total.
Current streak:
Charlotte has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Toronto: 24-43 SU, 24-40-3 ATS
Charlotte: 28-38 SU, 39-27 ATS
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Charlotte are 2-8
After playing Indiana are 5-5
After a win are 5-5

Charlotte most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Sacramento are 3-6
After playing Minnesota are 4-5
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Toronto's last 9 games
Toronto is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games at home
Charlotte is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Charlotte's last 12 games when playing Toronto
Next up:
Toronto home to Charlotte, Friday, March 20
Charlotte home to Sacramento, Wednesday, March 18

March Madness 2009 Round 1 Previews For Big Dance Bettors

The world’s top March Madness picks and predictions site OffshoreInsiders.com presents a look at the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament from the standpoint of beating the bookmakers.

All quoted records are against the spread unless over/under records are specified. For the latest Big Dance Vegas odds and betting line check out the college basketball odds.

Radford-North Carolina

North Carolina is 26-6 off an straight up loss and 40-18 in nonconference games. They are 0-7 against teams with a winning record.

USC-Boston College

USC is 5-0 overall. Boston College is 22-8 on neutral courts and they’ve covered five straight NCAA Tournament games.

Butler-LSU

Butler is 37-15 in nonconference games. The Tigers are 5-0 off a double digit home loss, but 1-7 on neutral courts.

Michigan-Clemson

Michigan is 3-7 their last 10 on neutral courts.

Morgan State-Oklahoma

Morgan State is 3-9 nonconference games. Oklahoma is 0-5 against teams with a winning record.

Akron-Gonzaga

Gonzaga is 2-6 in the NCAA Tournament.

Western Kentucky-Illinois

The Hilltoppers are 16-5 on neutral courts and 40-17 their last 57 nonconference games according to the sportsbooks. Illinois

Binghamton-Duke

The Blue Devils have dropped four straight Big Dance games.

Minnesota-Texas

The Golden Gophers come in on a 4-11 slump. Texas is 3-7 against teams with a winning record.

Cal State Northridge-Memphis

Memphis is 11-2 their last 13 against teams with a winning record. The Matadors are 7-2 off straight up win.

Maryland-California

California 1-5 overall run.

Mississippi State-Washington

Mississippi State is 6-0 overall. Washington is 7-0 off a loss.

Northern Iowa-Purdue

Northern Iowa is 7-2 to the Big 10 yet 2-10 their last 12 nonconference overall. Purdue is 0-6 to the Missouri Valley.

Texas A&M-BYU

Texas A&M is 10-1 off a ATS loss and 46-22 opponent winning percentage of .600 or greater. BYU 1-6 off ATS loss.

Chattanooga-Connecticut

Connecticut has dropped seven straight NCAA Tournament games.

Robert Morris-Michigan State

The Spartans are 9-0 off straight up loss.

For March Madness 2009 picks, predictions and spread winners, it’s always OffshoreInsiders.com   

President Obama Announces 2009 NCAA Tournament Stimulus Plan

President Barack Obama has announced a stimulus plan for the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Under the proposal, the most successful teams will have wins removed from them and redistributed to the most inept squads.

At a rally to promote his plan, Obama told a citizen merely identified as “Joe the Face Painter” that the successful teams must “share the victories.”

The 2009 Big Dance brackets see Yeshiva College as the top seed in the Eastern Regional. The Reverend Jesse Jackson immediately demanded a boycott of all Yeshiva games noting that the school has no black rabbis on their staff.

The surprising top seed in the Western Regional is Trinity Washington University. When conservative commentator Laura Ingraham pointed out that Trinity Washington does not even have a men’s basketball team and that they may have been given top seed because it’s the alma mater of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Vice President Joe Biden was quick to respond.

Biden retorted, “When the stock market crashed, I recall President Franklin Pierce going on ESPN and reassuring America that their bracket office pools would get a New Deal.”

Obama also announced creation of the Gerrymandered grouping, the “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Pacific Ocean Region” in which Sacramento State was given top seed. When posed as to why the Hornets are going to the Big Dance with a 2-27 record, Obama commented that head coach Brian Katz should not be help accountable for the fact the team has only deteriorated under his leadership because the program he inherited had problems “wrapped in a big red bow when he got there”.

Hence Sacramento State will be granted a free pass for four years and possibly eight if the New York Times plan succeeds. Wright State was given the top seed in the Midwest because Obama likes the name.

In a related note, President Obama’s choice for Selection Committee Chair, Dave Bliss has come under fire. Apparently unknown to the White House vetting committee is the fact that Bliss was fired as Baylor head coach when he tried to cover up circumstances surrounding the death of player Patrick Dennehy. Selection Sunday Spokesperson Jim Harrick called it “a minor transgression” and blamed the controversy on Rush Limbaugh.

This year’s NCAA Tournament will be broadcast exclusively by MSNBC with radio play-by-play being handled by Air America.

Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews will handle objective commentary on television while Arianna Huffington of the Huff and Puffington Post does the radio chores.

Nets-Clippers Odds Preview

The New Jersey Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at STAPLES Center.
Oddsmakers currently have the Nets listed as 2-point favorites versus the Clippers, while the game's total is sitting at 202.
Devin Harris went for 27 points, eight assists, and seven boards for New Jersey in its 109-100 loss to Portland on Friday night.
Portland covered as 7.5-point home favorites as the teams played over the 196.5-point total listed by sportsbooks.
The Clippers were defeated 107-94 by the Nuggets last time out, as 12.5-point road underdogs. That game's 201 points fell UNDER the night's posted total of 206.
Steve Novak and Eric Gordon each had 17 points in a losing effort for the Clippers.
Current streak:
New Jersey has lost 2 straight games.
Los Angeles has lost 7 straight games.
Team records:
New Jersey: 28-37 SU, 34-30-1 ATS
Los Angeles: 15-50 SU, 25-40 ATS
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Denver are 4-6
After playing Portland are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6

Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing Golden State are 2-8
After playing Denver are 2-8
After a loss are 2-8
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 11 of New Jersey's last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Jersey's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Jersey's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
LA Clippers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against New Jersey
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Clippers last 6 games when playing at home against New Jersey
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games when playing New Jersey
LA Clippers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games when playing at home against New Jersey
Next up:
New Jersey at Denver, Monday, March 16
LA Clippers at Golden State, Tuesday, March 17

Suns-Warriors Odds Preview

The division rival Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors are set to renew hostilities on Sunday when they meet at Oracle Arena.
Oddsmakers currently have the Warriors listed as 1½-point favorites versus the Suns, while the game's total is sitting at 243.
The Suns rallied with 34 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Thunder 106-95 on Saturday. The Suns covered the 7.5-point spread, while the 201 points fell well UNDER the posted total of 233.5.
Leandro Barbosa netted 22 points and hauled down five rebounds, and Steve Nash added 18 points in the win.
Stephen Jackson finished with 31 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds to lead the Warriors over the Mavericks 119-110 on Friday night.
Golden State covered as 1-point home favorites as the game played over the 223-point total posted by sportsbooks.
Current streak:
Golden State has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Phoenix: 35-31 SU, 26-39-1 ATS
Golden State: 23-42 SU, 31-33-1 ATS
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Philadelphia are 6-4
After playing Oklahoma City are 7-3
After a win are 4-6

Golden State most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing LA Clippers are 4-6
After playing Dallas are 5-5
After a win are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Phoenix's last 8 games when playing Golden State
Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Golden State's last 8 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games at home
Golden State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Phoenix
Next up:
Phoenix home to Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 18
Golden State home to LA Clippers, Tuesday, March 17

Kings-Wizards Lines Preview

The Sacramento Kings and the Washington Wizards will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Verizon Center.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Kevin Martin led Sacramento with 34 points and six boards in its 126-123 overtime loss to Cleveland on Friday night.
Cleveland failed to cover as 10.5-point road favorites as the teams played over the 198.5-point total listed by oddsmakers.
Antawn Jamison had 36 points and six boards for Washington in its 112-103 loss to Orlando on Friday night.
Orlando covered as 8-point road favorites as the game played over the 197.5-point total listed by sportsbooks.
Current streak:
Sacramento has lost 2 straight games.
Washington has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Sacramento: 14-51 SU, 31-34 ATS
Washington: 15-51 SU, 23-41-2 ATS
Sacramento most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Atlanta are 4-6
After playing Cleveland are 2-8
After a loss are 3-7

Washington most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Utah are 1-9
After playing Orlando are 5-5
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Sacramento's last 12 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Sacramento's last 5 games when playing Washington
Sacramento is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Sacramento is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Sacramento
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Washington's last 12 games when playing at home against Sacramento
Washington is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Sacramento
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games
Next up:
Sacramento at Atlanta, Tuesday, March 17
Washington at Utah, Tuesday, March 17

Jazz-Magic Odds Preview

The fans at Amway Arena will be treated to a game between the Utah Jazz and the Orlando Magic when they take their seats on Sunday.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Deron Williams had 30 points and 13 assists for Utah in a 140-129 triple overtime loss to Miami on Saturday afternoon.
The Jazz failed to cover the 2-point spread, while the final score played well OVER the posted total of 203.5.
Mickael Pietrus went for 21 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists to lead the Magic over the Wizards 112-103 on Friday night.
Orlando covered as 8-point road favorites as the game played over the 197.5-point total listed by sportsbooks.
Current streak:
Utah has lost 2 straight games.
Orlando has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Utah: 41-25 SU, 35-31 ATS
Orlando: 48-17 SU, 41-23-1 ATS
Utah most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing Washington are 7-3
After playing Miami are 3-7
After a loss are 6-4

Orlando most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 8-2
Before playing Cleveland are 3-7
After playing Washington are 7-3
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Utah is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Utah's last 8 games
Utah is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Utah is 12-6 ATS in its last 18 games
Orlando is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Orlando is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Orlando is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Utah
Orlando is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Utah
Next up:
Utah home to Washington, Tuesday, March 17
Orlando at Cleveland, Tuesday, March 17

Knicks-Cavaliers Odds Preview

The New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Quicken Loans Arena.
Oddsmakers currently have the Cavaliers listed as 10½-point favorites versus the Knicks, while the game's total is sitting at 211.
Nate Robinson had 25 points, seven assists, and six rebounds to lead the Knicks over the Timberwolves 102-94 on Friday night.
New York covered as 4.5-point road favorites as the game played under the 218-point total posted by sportsbooks.
LeBron James scored 51 points and dished out nine assists to lift the Cavaliers over the Kings 126-123 in overtime on Friday night.
Cleveland failed to cover as 10.5-point road favorites as the teams played over the 198.5-point total listed by oddsmakers.
Current streak:
New York has won 3 straight games.
Cleveland has won 4 straight games.
Team records:
New York: 28-37 SU, 37-27-1 ATS
Cleveland: 52-13 SU, 41-24 ATS
New York most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing New Jersey are 2-8
After playing Minnesota are 4-6
After a win are 5-5

Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Orlando are 6-4
After playing Sacramento are 7-3
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New York's last 7 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 17 of New York's last 21 games
New York is 4-0-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New York's last 8 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Cleveland is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Cleveland's last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 7 games when playing New York
Next up:
New York home to New Jersey, Wednesday, March 18
Cleveland home to Orlando, Tuesday, March 17