OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a free pick Thursday is on the Miami Heat (-4.5) to Philadelphia.

As I say often, laying points on the road is not the key to the mint but game two was very telling and even if the 76ers play hard and compete I’m hard pressed to believe they will stay within a handful by the end.

I played Philly plus the points in the first two games and looking back can say that I was fairly lucky to get one of them. Lebron, Wade and Bosh have really stepped up their game and appear to finally be having some fun out there. The regular season was a feeling out process and even though it at times appeared to be a disaster it still resulted in a phenomenal 58 victories.

Doug Collins made the statement after game two that the Heat are just the better team when they come to play. I like Collins and his candidness but I don’t think in any way shape or form that will help the Sixers, even back in the city of brotherly love. It’s almost a slap in the face to his franchise, even though he was being truthful and everybody knows it.

I do like this Philadelphia team and love how they improved greatly after the rough first month to the season. Iguodala, Williams, Holliday, Brand and the 76ers are all right and will fight in this thing but all right shouldn’t be enough after 48 minutes as the Heat flex their muscles once again in a win and a cover.

Top expert pick on this game: Miami

For more information: The 400,000* Hornets and 200,000* Grizzlies turn the trick in yet another winning day. This is the roll of a lifetime as I have now had 33 winning days compared to just 13 losing ones and the profit is almost an insane 10 million stars. Once again I say, just think about that for a second. My biggest play is only a 500,000* and that is released on extremely rare occasions. So to gain 9.4 million stars in about a month’s time when I play two or three plays max a day is virtually impossible. But when you are the best there is in an entire industry virtually impossible is possible.

Two more fire hot locks today as I hit that 10 million stars mark. 400,000* Phillies-Padres along with a 300,000* Bulls-Pacers. All I do is win and nothing at all changes today! Click now to purchase

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a baseball pick Tuesday and for the second straight day is on the Tampa Bay Rays (-102) to the White Sox.

Reasoning: I like John Danks and the White Sox are the definite superior lineup with the bigger bashers but Ozzie Guillen’s team has gone south in a hurry and until they are able to come back up for air I’ll fade them at this price.

Chicago was embarrassed at home by the Angels in that last series and did absolutely nothing last night against David Price. The confidence level is pretty low right now and Guillen is about to blow a gasket with the way his bullpen has been performing and the team as a whole.

Tampa Bay certainly isn’t the team they used to be with Crawford, Pena and the injured Longoria in the mix but give them credit as the last week has been much much better. Joe Maddon’s team has been winning games of late and Johnny Damon has been showing some signs of life coming through in the clutch. I don’t think the home squad is going to be much of anything in the end as they can’t compete anymore with the Yankees and Red Sox but right now at the Trop there is no reason why they can’t beat the struggling and ice cold ChiSox.

James Shields has some good stuff and it’s not like this plodding White Sox club can do much on the Tropicana Field turf with their style of play. There are pieces with Konerko, Dunn, Pierzynski and others but it hasn’t amounted to much ove the last little bit and I don’t see much changing today.

Danks should hold his own as the southpaw is pretty darn solid but I don’t see him getting that much support and the surging Rays should come out on top for the seventh time in the last eight games.

Top expert pick on this game: Tampa Bay from Matt Rivers

For more information: I did it one more time yesterday. The bigger play even lost and I still came through in the end. This is the single greatest run in the history of handicapping and if anybody said any different they would be a fool. 32 winning days vs. 12 losing days and 9.1 million stars of profit when the biggest play that I release is only 500,000* and that is extremely rare. Plus I only play a couple of games a night proving my greatness. It’s not too late to jump on board as this train just isn’t slowing down!

A trio of winners today led by a 400,000* on the diamond between the A’s and Red Sox. A pair of bonus winners including a 300,000* Knicks-Celtics (won game one on New York) and a 200,000* Indians-Royals (won last night on the Indians). Please don’t miss out, for your sake, please don’t.  Rivers entire card is up at OffshoreInsiders.com

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers Monday is on the Tampa Bay Rays (-113) to the White Sox.

Reasoning: It was a rough last series for Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox against the Angels and in revenge today I’ll make a play on David Price and the somewhat improving Tampa Bay Rays.

I have been bashing Joe Maddon’s regressing squad for a while now and I am still not all that high on today’s home squad but all of a sudden Chicago has hit the skids and their bullpen is horrific.

Edwin Jackson just recently won fairly easily at US Cellular against David Price and it’s the second phenomenal Jackson outing against his former team when you include that wild no-hitter last season. So the guy does pitch very well against the Rays, I get it. But Jackson is still not the blue chip Cy Young type hurler that David Price can be and after losing that last matchup I can’t help but take my chances back at the Trop on Price and the at least improving Rays.

Johnny Damon has shown some signs of life and despite having a less that stellar offense with the departures of Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena and the injury to Evan Longoria I have a feeling that Tampa will get a very good pitching performance from Price and scratch across enough to get it done in the end.

The Sox are far from a confident bunch right now and Guillen exploding isn’t all that far off. Plus the “good guys” are not exactly a dome type team that can play some small ball on the fast turf and run the bases.

I expect both starters to look very good and the Rays to continue the recent Sox misery.

Top expert pick on this game: Tampa Bay from Matt Rivers

For more information: I’ve had 31 winning days and 12 losing days. Just think about that. Then think about 9 million stars of profit when the highest play that I release, and it is not very often, is only a 500,000*. There are a ton of clowns out there but I am the real deal and will continue to be that deal.

Both NBA plays today; 400,000* 76ers-Heat (won game one on Philly) and a 300,000* Pacers-Bulls. Bonus 200,000* on the diamond involving the Indians and Royals. Three more plays and three more winners, it’s just that easy. Click now to purchase

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers  has an NBA lock Sunday and it is on the San Antonio Spurs (-7) to Memphis.

Reasoning: It’s funny because I really do like Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies and have faded the Spurs a ton this season citing their age as a negative. I still believe both are true but I also don’t see it happening for the inexperienced visitors in this spot.

Rudy Gay is still injured and today should be a bit of a different beast for this Memphis team. It’s playoff time and I can see some jitters for the Grizzlies as they go up against a very seasoned team, with or without Manu Ginobili. Of course I hope Ginobili is able to go but I don’t think he will and I’m all right with that. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have been there and done that and have enough in the tank right now to play at a world-class level. Throw in the likes of McDyess, Neal, Splitter, Jefferson, Blair and a few others and I just think this spot is going to be too much for the Grizz. In fact I can see the visitors be timid early and have that deer in headlights look as they fall behind in the vicinity of 32-15.

Don’t get me wrong, the series overall is not going to be a runaway four game sweep. San Antonio could have an issue or two with Conley, Randolph, Gasol and the rest of the talented 46 win Grizzlies. But game one in this particular spot is not the one that is conducive to a young Memphis team succeeding and overall this thing ends in a double-digit San Antonio victory.

Top expert pick on this game: San Antonio Spurs

For more information: Yup, that’s right, the only game I didn’t win was rained out. The 400,000* Braves minus 1 ½ runs in the first game plus 120 and the 300,000* on the 76ers once again buried that Crookie. It is truly just that easy. As I have been saying over and over and over again nothing at all changes today, nothing. Think about how large this sample has become, 30 winning days vs. 12 losing ones and a profit margin that is almost impossible to fathom!

And now to the biggest weapon in my entire arsenal, as in I’m hotter than the Burning Bush and today marks the highest rated play in the entire run. A 500,000* laugher is here in the NBA involving the Knicks and Celtics plus a pair of 200,000* on the diamond with the Mets and Braves and Marlins and Phillies. Here is what I am going to say in just a few hours, “bang, bang, bang, I did it again.” Are you? Click now to purchase

Odds are up for the 2011 NBA playoffs from BetUs. First it’s series odds.

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 EST

Now to the odds to win it all, the NBA Championship 2011. The Miami Heat edge out the defending champion LA Lakers as the faves.

More playoff odds such as for each game, to win each conference and more are up at several sportsbooks.

No question the top picks against the spread will be at OffshoreInsiders.com

We shall allow others to defend or mock the NBA zigzag theory ad nausea. For the few not familiar, it basically says bet a playoff team off a straight up loss. However, we will list which playoff teams are best against the spread off straight up wins and straight up losses in 2010-11.

The top teams to bet on off a straight up loss:

Now to the best teams to bet against off a straight up loss:

Here are the best teams against the spread to bet on off a straight up win:

Perhaps, not surprising, the best teams to fade off a win failed to make the playoffs (Washington, Houston, Sacramento, Utah), but these are the best postseason teams to bet against when coming off a straight up victory:

OffshoreInsiders.com has now added Bill Tanner to their arsenal of handicappers. Tanner is the all-time winningest NBA handicapper on Power of 620 sports services behind every selection, the MasterLockLine, tracing back to the scorephone days of the early 1980s.

“Renamed “sweat meter” in Chad Millman of ESPN’s column, Margin of Cover (MOC) is similar to scoring margin, but it is measured by how much a team covers or fails to cover the point spread.

Many sports handicappers believe MOC is invaluable in isolating under and overvalued teams.

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has the free pick winner for Thursday is on the Phillies (-1.5) to Washington.

Reasoning: Yes Philadelphia at times can have a difficult time with this Washington squad. The Nationals are a division rival and overall not a terrible team. Jordan Zimmerman is a young kid with a bright future who may hold his own for a part of this game but after 9 innings I just see Lee dominating and the Fightin’ Phils being able to take care of business.

The Phillie left-hander struggled a bit in that last outing at Turner Field against the Braves. One bad inning and one bad play by Shane Victorino did Lee in in untypical losing fashion. I see the guy getting back on the horse here and dazzling as he does more times than not. Let’s face it, Cliff Lee is a an absolute star and a guy that is extremely trustworthy. When he has a rough outing like that last one it is not a bad idea to go right back to him and expect him to be focused and ready to turn it back around because that’s what great pitchers do.

The Nats are alright and took the first game fairly easily in this series before getting shut down a bit, save the 9^th inning, in the 3-2 loss last night to Roy Halladay. I have no issues at times taking back big numbers with this Washington team. But they will once again be without their leader in Ryan Zimmerman, which is a big loss and cannot be understated, and up against Lee are going to have a tough time at the plate.

I’ll take my chances with high quality lefty bats like Howard, Rollins, Victorino, Ibanez and others today against the young right-hander in Zimmerman while getting what should be a more than focused Lee who is ready to follow Halladay’s lead and twirl a gem.

I can see 4-1 in this thing in the end!

Top expert pick on this game: Philadelphia Phillies on the runline.

For more information: The numbers are gaudy and the funny thing is that on the super rare occasion that I have a losing night it’s only because my teams fall in either extra innings or by one run in the tightest of tight contests ala both the Reds and big dog Indians yesterday. When I win though it’s by a billion, like the 400,000* Brewers yesterday, and all in all that is the true sign of what a quality handicapper I am There will be a few losses but it’s the guy who is on it over and over and over again that you can trust and I have done a ton to build that trust with you for a long time now.

No hoops today but no problem, a pair on the diamond that will keep that Crookie crying. 300,000* St. Louis-Los Angeles along with a 200,000* Milwaukee-Pittsburgh. Absolutely bashing the man one more time here and now! Click now to purchase

Your comp winner for Wednesday from OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers is on the LA Dodgers (+135) to San Francisco Giants.

Reasoning: I liked Don Mattingly’s squad before the season and still like them now as the blue are a team that has a tremendous upside and yet are still well below the radar. The pitching staff is deep and well balanced from with high quality starters including a blossoming superstar in Clayton Kershaw to one of the better bullpens in the game anchored by Kuo and Broxton. Then you have an offense that has underachieved in recent years but also is no joke with guys like Ethier, Kemp, Loney and a few others. With all of that said I can’t help but make a play on a former All-Star in Ted Lilly and the Dodgers plus some coin here by the Bay.

The Giants are obviously the defending World Champions and Jonathan Sanchez is a guy with phenomenal stuff when he doesn’t lose that control point. But I’m just not buying the San Francisco offense and all in all I think the G-men are a bit overvalued. Let’s not forget how they lost a key cog in Juan Uribe who is now with today’s opponent and to be honest with you if this game was a pick I would still be fine with the Dodgers.

If Sanchez is on then he is going to be tough to hit but the same can be said for Lilly and overall when push comes to shove I just like Los Angeles better and believe they will get it done one more time in this series.

Top expert pick on this game: LA Dodgers

For more information: People can say they are hot, but far more than likely they can’t ever say they have experienced the run that I am currently on. I am hotter than the Burning Bush and once again I am going to repeat myself, nothing at all is going to change, nothing!

I have literally won 28 days vs. 10 losing ones and have now accumulated a beyond belief 8 million* of profit. Another monster 400,000* is here from PNC Park between the Brewers and Pirates along with a 300,000* Reds-Padres and a 200,000* Indiana-Angels. I’ve been great and will continue to be great! Click now to purchase

Meanwhile, GodsTips has:

COLORADO (ROGERS +106) NY Mets (Neise)

Colorado is 7-1 their last eight. The Mets are playing like the Mets, losing 5-of-6. The Mets are 1-7 in Niese’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record and going back to last year, they have lost his last six home starts.