Rookies vs Sophomores

Friday February 12 at 9:00 pm EST

The Rookies have not won a game since 2002 and besides last game where they came within six points, they have been beaten every year by double digits and as many as 41. Readers know that the Rookies did get one item of good news this week as sophomore Derrick Rose will not play as he was selected to play in the All Star game.

Primetime Performers

Rookies: Tyreke Evans has played great for the Sacramento Kings all year and has shown that he was worth the 4^th overall pick last summer. Averaging 20.3 points, 5.1 assists and 4.8 boards he will be the best statistical player on the court on Friday. Playing the majority of the season without Kings star shooting guard Kevin Martin has not slowed him down and should be expected to put up a lot of points in a game that is notorious for lack of defence.

Sophomores: While the Clippers have been struggling this year, Eric Gordon has led the team and improved his game across the board. Scoring 17 a game and adding three boards and three assists, he should be the focal point in the offence. Those doing NBA betting should remember that in last year’s game he put up 19 points on six of eight shooting including three for four from downtown.

X-Factors

Rookies: Stephen Curry has finally been getting steady playing time in Golden State and has responded with a huge month in January. Scoring around 20 points, six assists and four rebounds a game since New Year’s he is joining Brandon Jennings in the race to catch Evans for rookie of the year. He also just rattled off a monstrous triple-double against the L.A. Clippers putting up 36 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds and three steals while playing against former All Star Baron Davis.

Sophomores: Marc Gasol is primed to have a monstrous game. He is the only player in the league averaging 15 points and 9.5 boards as a centre in the Western Conference and joins Andrew Bogut and Dwight Howard as the only players to do it in the entire NBA. Gasol also stands at 7’1” and will be likely be matched up with Duan Blair who stand just 6’8” since the rookie team’s tallest player is Jonas Jerebko, who stands just 6”10” and at just 231 lbs is not going to guard the 265 lb Minnesota Grizzlies player.

Matchup

The Rookies have only one player (Blair) who plays center and two (Taj Gibson and Jerebko) who play power forward, those doing sportsbetting should expect a lot of three guard line-ups. They have a huge speed advantage to make up for the lack in size and with the loss of Rose, the Sophomores have no chance of matching the Rookies in scoring from the backcourt. They will however dominate the paint as the Sophomores boast four players of 6’10” or more and should counter with a big group on the court.

Betting Recommendations

In the ten years of the Rookie versus Sophomore format of the Rookie Challenge, the Rookies have only won twice and this year should be no different as they are just too good down low.

Pick: Sophomores

According to gambling software, the Los Angeles Lakers are still one of the top favorites to win the NBA championship, but the defending champions have a couple of injury worries, notably to their star player. The Lakers will travel to Utah on Wednesday to face a red-hot Jazz team.

Lakers vs Jazz betting – Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 PM ET

Even without Kobe Bryant, the Lakers came away with a 101-89 win over San Antonio at home on Monday, and without Bryant, they had a balanced attack that moves the ball around. Pau Gasol led the way with 21 points, 19 boards and eight assists, while Lamar Odom added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who had 20 assists as a team. The Lakers were also missing Andrew Bynum, and this was a good win for a team missing two-fifths of their starting lineup, even if it was at home.

The Jazz had won eight in a row before their road game with the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, and they’re coming off a 116-106 win over Denver at home on Saturday night. Andrei Kirilenko and Deron Williams had 21 points apiece for the Jazz, while Carlos Boozer returned to the lineup to notch 19 points and 13 boards. The Jazz shot 49.4% from the floor and forced 20 Denver turnovers in the contest, and like they’ll have to on Wednesday against the Lakers, they were facing a short-handed team as the Nuggets were missing Carmelo Anthony.

The Jazz should be favored at home in your sportsbook, as they are 22-6 at EnergySolutions Arena. The Lakers have lost six of their last 10 in Utah, including a 102-94 loss back in December. They’ll have their hands full dealing with a streaking Utah team, especially with no Bryant (back, finger, ankle) or Bynum (hip), and the Bynum absence could be more important. This could allow Boozer and Paul Millsap to have their way in the post against the Lakers. Also, the Lakers have to find something to do at the point, namely, do they make the switch from Derek Fisher to Shannon Brown? Fisher has problems staying in front of the better point guards in the Western Conference, as shown by Tony Parker’s ability to penetrate against the Lakers at will. The Lakers got some help for Fisher in the second half, but if they wait until then to pick up Williams, it’ll be a long day for the Lakers, who are also 19-23 without Bryant in the lineup since the 2003-04 season. Look for the Jazz to keep their winning ways going.

NBA betting pick: Utah

Minnesota Timberwolves (+6.5) vs Philadelphia 76ers Minnesota Timberwolves (+6.5) to win at (  1.952)
Dallas Mavericks/Denver Nuggets (Over 210.5) points at (  1.952)

Statistic: 138/279 50%

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BOS Bruins v BUF Sabres BUF Sabres  to win at 1.70
CAL Flames v OTW Senators under 5 goals at  2.00

Statistic:

179/308 58,1%

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We are only days away and the Super Bowl odds are up and we’re down to our last week of NFL picks. In this year’s contest the New Orleans Saints, led by quarterback Drew Brees, will vie for the Vince Lombardi trophy against MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

Sunday, February 7^th 2010

Spread: Colts -4.5

Total: 56.5

Money Line: Colts -200, Saints +170

Key Storylines

Injury to Dwight Freeney

If anyone has been watching the line this week they know that it has fallen a point or a point and a half in some cases. The main reason for this is the injury to Colts DE Dwight Freeney (ankle). Freeney suffered a third degree sprain (which includes a torn ligament) in his ankle with two minutes left in the AFC Championship game. The Colts star DE will be a game-time decision but his effectiveness will surely be in question with a bad wheel.

The loss of Freeney could be a major factor in this game as the Saints will be able to have another receiving option available on pass plays if a running back or tight end isn’t needed to double or chip on the All-Pro. Giving Drew Brees more options is usually not a good recipe for success.

Colts Rookie CB Jerraud Powers

Powers has been a great surprise for a Colts secondary that has suffered through injuries to key players this season. Powers has excelled in his first year out of Auburn but was a scratch for the AFC Championship game with a bad foot. Powers has claimed that he is okay and will play, but it remains to be seen if he can cover the athleticism and speed of the Saints receiving core in his condition.

Saints TE Jeremy Shockey

Shockey still has a bitter taste in his mouth from having to watch his old team gel in his absence and go on a Super Bowl run. Shockey demanded a trade from the Giants following their Super Bowl victory and has been a man on a mission this season. Shockey is one of the best all around tight ends in the game with both solid blocking and receiving skills. Shockey is a mismatch for most teams and the Colts will have to game-plan for his unique abilities. That is of course if Shockey’s health holds up. Shockey has been having trouble for most of the postseason with various injuries and has been pretty banged up. Expect this warrior to keep on battling, but his ability to get open may be limited by injuries.

Peyton Manning vs. Gregg Williams’ Defense

This looks lopsided just writing it, like a mid-80’s Tyson boxing match. Gregg Williams is considered to be a very good defensive coordinator. Well Peyton Manning just chewed up and spit out the Jets number one ranked defense last week and they threw the kitchen sink at Manning. The Saints run a 4-3 base with tons of blitz schemes and try to hit the quarterback early and often. Peyton Manning has a +100 QB rating against the blitz this year and eats 4-3 defenses for breakfast. If Gregg Williams thinks he can hit Peyton, he would be the first one this year to accomplish this feat. Manning has impeccable timing with releasing the ball and always seems to know when to get rid of it and hasn’t made a big mistake in what seems like an eternity.

The Saints were lucky that the Vikings coughed the ball up against the Saints more than the Colts will for sure.

Peyton Manning is the only four-time MVP in NFL history. It won’t be his last, expect him to add a second Super Bowl MVP trophy to his collection, as Drew Brees just falls short on a historic performance by Peyton Manning.

Colts 38 – Saints 30

Super Bowl 44 odds have been out for over a week now, but the first significant move has happened with Indianapolis’ advantage decreasing a little bit. However, an injury shouldn’t hurt the Colts’ chances against New Orleans too much.

Saints Colts betting – Sunday, February 7, 6:20 PM ET

The Saints come into this game healthy, and that’s a good thing because they’ll need all the help they can get. However, there are some questions that have been raised about New Orleans on both sides of the ball. They gave up a ton of yards against Minnesota, and only five turnovers from the Vikings got the Saints to this point. During the second half of that game, the Saints had problems moving the ball against the Vikings, who took Reggie Bush out of the game.

The Colts have a big injury worry as defensive end Dwight Freeney has torn ligaments in his ankle. Freeney, who has an outstanding motor and speed coming off the edge, would be a huge boost to the Colts’ defense, who have to deal with one of the fastest offenses in the league. But as long they have Peyton Manning on the other side of the ball, the Colts feel like they could be in a super casino and come out rich. Manning won his fourth MVP award this year, beating Brees by a wide margin, and he’s taken his game to another level in the playoffs, particularly against the New York Jets. The Colts have also won seven games this year in the fourth quarter, and if you give Manning late chances, he’ll burn you.

The Colts have dropped a half-point to 5-point favorites according to betting services, and the absence of Freeney up front shouldn’t hurt the Colts too much. Indy has a lot of experience, and whenever someone gets hurt, or is ineffective, they have players who can step up. They have enough team speed on defense to handle the Saints, and they have another good end on the other side in Robert Mathis. Offensively, the Colts won’t make the same mistakes that the Vikings did, especially with Manning under center.

NFL picks: Colts -5

The countdown to the Super Bowl Sunday has begun and Super Bowl XLIV odds are up as are countless NFL predictions across the web. With all this going on, it is easy to overlook some key NBA matchups that have both playoff and sports betting implications.

Memphis Grizzlies (25-19 7^th in Western Conference) @ San Antonio Spurs (26-18, 5^th in Western Conference)

Spread: Spurs -4

Total: 198

Money Line: Spurs – 150, Grizzlies +120

Top Storylines

Bronze Medal: O.J. Mayo vs. Manu Ginobili

O.J. Mayo has emerged in his sophomore season as a very good shooting guard. Averaging 18.1points a game and his ability to guard most guards with his athleticism makes him a player coaches now have to game-plan for.

Manu seems like he’s been in the league for ever. I’ve seen his bald spot grow and develop in front of my eyes for a decade now and it seems like Manu is slowing down a bit. Nagged by various injuries this season Manu has struggled to find consistency. The Spurs will need him to play like his old all-star self in this one as they will most likely be without Tony Parker (ankle).

If Manu can score on O.J. Mayo in this game with banged up shins slowing him down, I would be pretty surprised. He is still a player with great awareness in the game and he will need it in this one. Mayo should be able to score at will on Ginobili in his state and that may well be the Grizzlies game plan in this one.

Silver Medal: Tim Duncan vs. Zack Randolph and Marc Gasol

Tim Duncan has been one of the top 5 players in the NBA for over a decade running now and while he has looked a little slower and older, was still able to put up 21 points and a career high 27 rebounds with 6 assists in a domination of the 29-15 Atlanta Hawks. He will have to be that good again as he is taking on two players with improving and diverse games.

Zeebo has all but clinched either Comeback Player or Most Improved Player of the year, whichever one they want to give him. He has averaged 21 ppg and 11.6 rpg this season and is a sure fire all-star. Marc Gasol has developed into a low post threat and is averaging 15.1ppg and 9.6 rpg. The two of them play different styles with Zack’s mid range game and crashing of the boards (4.6 offensive boards a game) while Gasol plays a more traditional post-up game. This big man flexibility has been nightmares for opposing teams.

Duncan will get some help from DeJuan Blair and Antonio McDyess but don’t make a mistake on who will get the assignments in crunch-time. I expect Duncan to be able to shut down Gasol, but Randolph will just step out on him. The battle on the boards in this one promises to be epic and is a reason to watch the game all in its own. Will it be the young hot-shots or the future hall-of-famer who shows more resolve in this midseason matchup? It’s a toss-up, but I would give Timmy D the benefit of the doubt.

Gold Medal: How the Spurs replace Tony Parker

Tony Parker suffered a badly sprained ankle driving to the hoop on Wednesday. George Hill and Keith Bogans will likely share PG responsibilities in this one with Manu Ginobili bringing the ball up often. Parker is the main cog in this offense and creates shots extremely well for his teammates. He is virtually un-guardable by guards the same size as him, like Memphis’ Mike Conley Jr., and his loss will be felt in this game.

Prediction: To win, the Spurs will have to put up a valiant effort on their home court in this game and Tim Duncan will have to be great. I think he will be very good and the Spurs will fall just short against a streaking young and athletic Grizzlies team.

Final: Grizzlies 92- Spurs 88. Take the Grizzlies and the under.

Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Rangers New York Rangers to win at (  1.625)
Detroit Red Wings vs Minnesota Wild Detroit Red Wings to win at (  1.870)

Statistic:

179/306 58,4%

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NBA Wednesday Preview:  Utah Jazz (26-18) @ Portland Trail Blazers (27-19)

With most of everyone’s attention being on the Super Bowl odds, various prop bets and NFL picks , many are overlooking the NBA that has some interesting midseason matchups to bet on.

This Wednesday Deron Williams leads the Utah Jazz into Portland to face LaMarcus Aldridge and the Blazers.

Sportsbook outlook:

Spread: Jazz -2.5

Over/Under: 195.5

Money Lines: Jazz -150, Blazers +125

Let’s take a look at the matchups in this one:

PG: Deron Williams vs. Andre Miller

Deron Williams has been one of the best point guards in the game since he joined the league from the University of Illinois. He has a gold medal as a part of the “Redeem Team” two summers ago. This season has been more of the same from Williams who is averaging 18.9 points, 9.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds with a steal per game for the Jazz. His on ball defense is a big part of his value.

Andre Miller has been well traveled in the NBA and many thought that he would have a hard time adjusting to Portland’s slow-paced methodical half-court approach. Well, after Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla went down for the season and now without Brandon Roy for the forseable future, Miller gets to play his style. He has always been a great passer, but has rarely been accused of being a great teammate.

Advantage: Utah

SG: Ronnie Brewer vs. Rudy Fernandez

If the Jazz have a weakness, it’s at shooting guard. Brewer has been platooning with Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews at this spot mainly because of his lack of range on his shot (7-27 from 3 this season). Brewer offers the best defensive option at the position but his name has been floated around in trade talks, most notably with Memphis, who is looking for bench depth.

Rudy Fernandez remains an enigma in the NBA. After dazzling everyone with dunks and threes in the Olympics for Silver medalist Spain, Fernandez has never really gained any consistency at the highest level. With star guard Brandon Roy, out with a hamstring (and getting experiemental plasma treatment to it), Rudy finally gets a chance to start and show why he was the second best player in Spain behind Pau Gasol.

Advantage: Blazers

SF: Andrei Kirilenko vs. Martell Webster

AK-47 has been in the Jerry Sloan’s doghouse for his uninspired play for most of the season. Recently, Kirilenko was moved to the starting lineup and has two 25+ point games in his last three contests. The former all-star is regaining his form and is always tough defensively.

Webster has been a revelation for the Blazers with all the injuries to the team. Nic Batum came back from a shoulder injury against the Hornets Monday but played only10 minutes. Webster will have his playing time cut into, but is playing too well right now to be demoted back to the bench, especially for Batum. Still, neither player will be able to do much against the presence of AK-47.

Advantage: Jazz

PF: Carlos Boozer vs. LaMarcus Aldridge

Boozer is a perennial all-star and has put up another solid season for the Jazz. Averaging 18.9 points and 10.8 rebounds with 3.5 assists a steal and 54% shooting from the field. He is a premier power-forward with numbers backing it up.

Aldridge has emerged as a force and Portland’s best player for most of the season. Aldridge is averaging just over 16 points and 8 rebounds. Being forced to cover every team’s big man without a true center left on the roster, Aldridge has been putting in Yeoman’s work this season, but doesn’t appear to have the stats to make the trip to Dallas for the all-star game

Advantage: Jazz

C: Mehmet Okur vs. Juwan Howard

Memo Okur has seen his numbers fall off a bit from last season, but that is not that significant as his number have fallen to his carrer averages. Still shooting 38% from downtown, Memo stretches the defense and makes for a dynamic inside-outside game with him, Boozer and Deron Williams.

Juwan Howard should not be in the NBA anymore

Advantage : Jazz

Bench: Paul Millsap, Wesley Matthews, Ronnie Price, C.J. Miles, Kyle Korver vs Jeff Pendergraph, Dante Cunningham, Jerryd Bayless, Steve Blake

The Blazers are decimated by injuries. They have no true center on the roster. Rookie Dante Cunningham has shown he hassome skill, but is still very young. Bayless and Blake are both point guards, a position filled by Andre Miller.

The Jazz have perhaps the best backup power forward in the league in Paul Millsap as well as shooters that can come off the bench.

Advantage: Jazz

Prediction: The Jazz seem to have too much man power for the beaten up Trail Blazers. I expect the Jazz to take this one handily: Utah 108- Portland 92

NBA Picks: Take the Jazz and the under

NAS Predators v CBS Blue Jackets  NAS Predators to win at 1.87
PHX Coyotes v DET Red Wings over 5 goals at 1.72

Statistic:

179/306 58,4%

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