The NBA season is down to less than 20 games for most teams. The battle for the 8 possible playoff spots in each conference is fierce and exciting. In the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference the Boston Celtics are 40-23. They lead 2nd place Toronto by 8 games but have lost 2 in a row. Never the less the Celtics should win this division easily and take their place in the top 5 of the conference.
In the Central division the Cleveland Cavaliers are 50-15 and have the best winning percentage in the league. They look like a cinch to be in the finals if they stay healthy. They have already clinched their division. In the Western division the Orlando Magic are 45-20 and lead Atlanta by 4 games. Orlando should win the division but will not go far in the playoffs.
The Dallas Mavericks lead the Southwestern division of the Western Conference. The Mavericks are the hottest NBA team right now having won 13 in a row. They are 45-21 and 6 games in front of San Antonio. Dallas will win the division and could put up a fight in the playoffs. The Denver Nuggets lead the Northwestern division by the closest margin in the NBA, only 1 game over the Utah Jazz. This one is going down to the wire. Denver is 43-21 and the Jazz could over take them and win this division easily.
The LA Lakers lead the Pacific division with a 47-18 record. Their winning percentage is only 2nd to the Cavaliers in the NBA. The Lakers lead Phoenix by 7 games. Phoenix is also a 40 game winner. The Lakers will win this division hands down and if there is any sense in sports they should meet the Cavaliers in the Finals. Of course we all know it is never over until that last buzzer sounds. Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
http://www.sportsbookgazette.com/nbabetting.php is the place to visit for your NBA betting needs.
Before the Big Dance begins next week there will be clashes in big conference tournament play as preparation for some March Madness attendees. The Big 12 conference is home to the number one ranked team in the country, the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas won the Big Dance just 2 years ago and they have won the Big 12 Championship a sweet 6 times in a row. They are almost a cinch to take the number one seed in the Big Dance but they are probably not going to be the only March Madness attendees from the Big 12.
Over a half dozen teams in the Big 12 seem to be headed for the NCAA Tournament next week. Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Missouri are all expected to attend as well unless they have a train wreck in the conference tournament. Texas was ranked number one in the country earlier in the season.
The Big East Conference is powerful as well. The Syracuse Orange are 28-3 on the year and also were ranked number one in the country at one time. They are favored to win the Big East tournament but there are some teams that might take exception to that. Pittsburgh finished 24-7, West Virginia ended up at 24-6 as did Villanova. Throw Marquette and Louisville in the mesh with 20 wins a piece and this one could be fun.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has taken a beating this year but the Duke and Maryland should still make things interesting. Duke finished 26-5 while Maryland earned a 23-7 record. Virginia Tech was also 23-7 while Clemson and Florida State both finished with 21 or more wins this season as well. Many believe the ACC has lost its edge but I would not ignore this conference. Those that shake them off may get surprised.
The Big 10 Conference looks good as well. Purdue finished 26-4 and Ohio State 24-7. Michigan State ended up at 24-7 as well and Wisconsin contributed a 23-7 season. Michigan State wound up playing the North Carolina Tar Heels for the NCAA Championship last year but came up empty. You can’t count these contenders down and out. One of these teams could easily make a run again. The excitement just keeps on building and it will continue to do so, you can bet on it. Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
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On Sunday, March 14th, 2010, NCAA Basketball fans will wait anxiously in front of their television sets for the 6pm announcement of the March Madness match ups. Hopes and dreams are waiting to be fulfilled once that bracket is set in stone. It seems obvious that the Kansas Jayhawks, the Kentucky Wildcats, the Syracuse Orange, and the Duke Blue Devils will find themselves number one seeds in the big dance. But does this necessarily mean that one of these teams will win the national championship?
What we do know is that over the past 16 years number one seeds have always exited the first round victorious. The great thing about this March competition is that there are no guarantee’s. Like in any sport anything can happen on a given day when one spirited group of players slide in under the radar and play with a vigor previously thought impossible. How sweet it is to watch double digit seeds surpass expectations in the first round while in pursuit of glory unimaginable. That is what March Madness is all about.
Last year the number one ranked North Carolina Tar Heels defeated Michigan State in the championship game. This year the Tar Heels fell from grace leaving disappointed fans bewildered and wondering what a difference a year makes. This year’s number one ranked team Kansas won the championship the year before that. Will they win it for the second time in 3 years?
It is a possibility, Kansas is as strong as any team going into the tournament even though they did take a tough loss to Louisville last week. Kentucky has won at the big dance 7 times and would love to make it number 8. Duke has won it 3 times and although they will have to really shine, they could make it 4. Syracuse is a spirited team and you cannot count them out. Ohio State slipped into the number 5 spot in the country and they are ready for the run.
However, we know what the top 5 are capable of. It is the unknown that brings excitement to the big dance. Is there an unexpected twist about to unfold? Is there a team far from the spot light that will make a run for the record books in pursuit of reaching that pivotal magic moment that proclaims them to be the best the nation has to offer. Until we meet again, may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
Click here to bet on the 2010 NCAA Basketball Championship!
The after shocks have finally calmed down after the top 3 teams in the country Kansas, Kentucky and Purdue were upset this past weekend. Some of my colleagues seem to be more surprised about Purdue losing Robbie Hummel and the effects it will have on the Boilermakers but although that is stunning for Purdue fans good teams have to overcome injuries. Kansas and Kentucky lost without injuries and cannot afford to lose any more in the regular season.
Kansas and Kentucky should nail down number one seeds in the tournament unless they lose again. The Syracuse Orange, who moved up to number one in the nation after the shake up, should earn a number one seed as well as long as they don’t stumble. That leaves the fourth and final number one seed. Some seem to think that Kansas State might sneak in but they would have to beat Kansas on their court and I don’t see that happening.
The Duke Blue Devils who are now ranked 4th in the nation are probably the best choice right now. They are 14-2 in a weak division but in what what supposed to be a transition year they have competed rather well. The North Carolina Tar Heels star, Tyler Hansbrough, player moved on last year and they are struggling. Solid organizations find a way to win. There is no I in Team.
Talent is important in competition. However, other factors have to be figured in as well. Great coaching is essential as is the right attitude. They are all talented or they would not be on the court but sometimes a team that plays with heart and inspiration can play above their expectations. The 4 number one seeds should be Syracuse, Kansas, Kentucky and Duke but anything could happen in the last few games of the season. Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
The second half of ESPN’s Big Monday has Oklahoma visiting Texas. Neither team has played well of late but at least Texas can say they are going to make the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners don’t have much to look forward to as they probably won’t be making a college basketball betting post-season appearance. They have lost six straight overall and they are 1-8 in true road games this season.
Texas is a 13.5 point favorite at SBG Global with a total of 147.
Texas is coming off a 74-58 loss at No. 22 Texas A&M and they have lost seven of their last twelve. Oklahoma beat Texas last month in Norman by a score of 80-71.
That result seems unlikely on Monday considering the Sooners have not won a road game in the college basketball betting conference all year. In their last six losses they are giving up an average of 82 points per game. Oklahoma is led by freshman point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin who is averaging almost 20 points per game in his last 11 games. Willie Warren is still the team’s leading scorer but he has missed the last three games and is not expected to play on Monday.
Texas did not play well on Saturday against Texas A&M and guard J’Covan Brown strained his neck in that game and is listed as day-to-day. The Longhorns have already lost Dogus Balbay to injury so they have problems in the backcourt. The injury to Brown was just another thing that has gone wrong this college basketball betting season for Texas and head coach Rick Barnes is frustrated. “I look at it and it’s probably one of the — for whatever reason — as poor a coaching job as I’ve ever done because I haven’t been able to get the message across consistently,” Barnes said. “There’s nobody to blame for that but me. I can only tell you that I’m not going to quit trying because I do think that we’ve got the ability to put some things together and do what we think that we can do.”
Oklahoma has been abysmal on the road recently. They are 16-36-3 ATS in their last 55 road games. Overall, the Sooners are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games. The Sooners are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings at Texas.
Texas has not played well either as they are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games. They haven’t been very good at home either as they are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games. The one positive for Texas is that they are 27-11 ATS in their last 38 Monday games.
Click here to bet on the 2010 NCAA Basketball Championship!
All top 5 ranked NCAA teams are playing this weekend. The shock waves are beginning to be felt as #2 Kentucky falls to #19 ranked Tennessee. The Volunteers shook the Wildcats 74-65 at home in Tennessee today. DeMarcus Cousins poured in 15 points for Kentucky but J.P. Prince upstaged him with 20 of his own. Will Kentucky still be #2 on Monday?
The after shocks from that one are nothing compared to the ones that will be spreading out from Oklahoma St. if #1 Kansas falls to the unranked Cowboys who are 7th in the Big 12 but leading the Jay Hawks by 14 with 6 minutes to play. James Anderson has already sunk 20 points for the Cowboys.
The #3 ranked Purdue Boilermakers host the #14 ranked Michigan St. Spartans tomorrow. This game has become even more important for Purdue with the #2 ranked team already defeated and the #1 team being shocked as well. Purdue won their first match up with the Spartans 76-64.
The #4 ranked Syracuse Orange host #7 Villanova later this evening. The Wildcats of Villanova won their last match up with Syracuse last year 89-86. The Orange need to pull this one out at home if they want any chance of increasing their rankings.
The #5 ranked Duke Blue Devils host the unranked Virginia Cavaliers tomorrow night. Duke won their last confrontation last February 79-64. Duke has a chance to come out smelling like a rose in this top 5 shake up is over and the after shocks have subsided.
The road to March Madness just keeps getting better and better. Will all of the top 5 lose this weekend? It is not likely but it is nice to feel the hair tingle on the back of your neck as you wonder what lay in the unknown. Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
Thursday night the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled into Boston to take on the Celtics with a monkey on their back. They had lost 9 straight in Boston including the playoffs. The Celtics lead their division are still a major force to reckon with in the NBA. The Cavaliers are 45-14 this season and are number one in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics are 36-20 and are tied for 3rd over all with the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Cleveland came into town 19-10 on the road. They desperately wanted to make it 20.
The game began with the Celtics showing why they are one of the most famous franchises in the NBA. Things even looked worse for the the Cavaliers when O’Neil hurt his thumb in the second quarter. The losing streak in Boston seemed destined to become 10 and then Cleveland woke up in the second half and outscored Boston 60-32. LaBron James ended up with 36 points and the Cavaliers won their 20th away game and snapped the 9 game losing streak in Boston 108-88.
The Cavaliers wound up sinking 10 of their last 13 baskets showing Boston that Cleveland could still click. It is hard to imagine anything but a Cavaliers-Lakers Finals match up but stranger things have happened. Cleveland has yet to get over that final hump and prove they are the best in the NBA. This could be the year that they do. Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
March Madness is just around the corner so we thought it might be time to talk about the top 5 teams in the NCAA today. There have been some surprises in the NCAA this year. Last years National Champions the Tarheels of North Carolina are struggling while their rivals the Blue Devils of Duke are in the hunt.
The Duke Blue Devils are ranked 5th in the nation with a 23-4 record. They are in 1st place in the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference. They are fresh off of a 67-55 victory over Virginia Tech on Sunday. Coach K continues to work miracles with this team. Kyle Singler had 25 points against Virginia Tech and is the spiritual leader on this team which should do well in March.
The Orange out of Syracuse are 26-2 and lead the Big East Conference. They are ranked 4th in the nation. They defeated Providence last night 99-85. Rick Jackson dumped in 28 for the big orange. Syracuse likes their chances in March and are up for the pressure.
Ranked 3rd in the nation are the Boilermakers of Purdue. Their 23-3 record provides them with 1st place in the Big Ten Conference. They beat Illinois 75-65 on Saturday night. It was a strong overall effort with Mike Davis contributing 16 points. Purdue is now in the drivers seat after passing Michigan State for the conference lead over the weekend. Purdue runs the floor well and could be very competitive in March.
The Wildcats of Kentucky are ranked 2nd in the nation. At 26-1 and leading the Southeastern Conference the Wildcats are the real deal. However, on Saturday Kentucky struggled to get by Vanderbilt 58-56. DeMarcus Cousins found the net for 19 points but Vanderbilt held this powerhouse to less than 36% accuracy from the floor. Never the less, the Wildcats will be hard to corner in March.
The Kansas Jayhawks are ranked number 1st in the nation. They have a 27-1 record and are 13-0 in the competitive Big 12 where they are 1st in the Conference. Kansas stumbled on Monday and were embarrassed by the Oklahoma Sooners 81-68 providing them with their first loss of the season. Xavier Henry found the hoop for 23 points but too much on this day. Kansas clinched the Big 12 and are still the team to beat in March.
There is nothing quite like March Madness in the NCAA. Once again the competition will be fierce. It should be a lot of fun to watch. Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
The first half of the NBA season is history. The All-Star game was a huge success in Arlington. Now it is time to take it too the hoop all they way to the championship. It is time for those flash in the pan teams that have hung on with all their glory to move to the wayside and let the good times roll.
The L.A. Lakers have won 4 straight since the all-star break and have done so without Kobe Bryant. That is a pretty good sign that the Lakers are for real and should be expected to repeat but anything can happen in the NBA on a given day. The Lakers are 42-13 on the year and 26-4 at home. That is pretty impressive. Right now Phoenix is a safe 9.5 games behind them in the Pacific Conference.
The Denver Nuggets lead the Northwest with a 35-18 record and are equally as impressive at home with a 23-5 record. However, they are 12-13 on the road. The Utah Jazz are only 1.5 games back with 2 other teams only a few games back in the race. This one will not be over until it is over but look for the Jazz to make a move.
In the Southwest the Dallas Mavericks are 33-21 and 15-9 at home. They are 17-12 on the road which is second to only the Cleveland in the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs have always been a spur in their saddle and are only a game back. The Mavericks will need to pull an ace out of their hat to hold onto this one.
In the Southeast Orlando is 36-18 with a record of 20-5 at home. Atlanta is 1.5 games back with a 21-6 record at home. The Magic better keep the magic going or some Hawks might just soar in for the kill. In the Central the Cleveland Cavaliers are 43-11 holding the best winning percentage in the NBA, who said O’Neil and James could not play together? They are 24-3 at home and 19-8 on the road. They have won 13 straight and are on their way to the NBA Championship. The Bulls are second and 16 games back.
In the Atlantic the Boston Celtics are 33-18 with a home record of 15-9. The Toronto Raptors are 4.5 games back. The Celtics are hanging on but are not playing to their potential. Lucky for them they lead a weak division. At 9-1 the Celtics have the best division record in the NBA. I will be very surprised if the Cavaliers and the Lakers do not face off in the Championship this year. Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
Sunday night was a huge night in Arlington, Texas. Cowboys Stadium, which cost over 1 billion dollars to construct, was filled to the gills. Over 108,000 fans grabbed a seat to watch a major sporting event and got a chance to see the famed Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders as a bonus. No, it was not the Super Bowl, although that game will be played there in 2011, it was the NBA All Star Game and history was in the making.
To be exact 108,713 people were present to watch the NBA East get by the West 141-139. It was the biggest crowd to ever watch a basketball game. The former record was 78,129 set back in 2003. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, joined with Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, to put this event together. Both were over joyed.
Dwyane Wade won the All Star MVP scoring 28 points. Players were a little concerned that their perception might be a little off with so much space behind and around the baskets but it would not be the case. The players were as impressed with being part of history as were the fans. The game may have been over shadowed by the history making attendance hype but overall everyone got what they came for. The NBA needed a boost and they received it Sunday Night in Arlington. Now the NBA needs to take it to the basket just as hard the rest of the season. Until we meet again may your betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.
