Arriving off of a powerful – but losing – playoff effort last season vs the Bulls, the Indiana Pacers came roaring back to begin the 2011-2012 season. The squad is going through its best early record in the prior eight years, but are still struggling vs the more skillful teams in the league. Whereas they’re 11-4 to date, simply four of those wins are vs teams with records above .500.
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With the Magic coming to visit on Tuesday, January 24, the Indiana Pacers will have a better task on their hands, and they will need the home court edge tonight. Indiana is undefeated at home this season and will look to stretch out their record to 6-0. If they’re able to pull out a win, it will likely be the first time the squad has opened up a season with 6 straight home wins since the 2002-2003 season.
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But the Magic are a fearsome adversary who are 11-5 on the season to date. And recent history is all on Orlando’s side. The Magic have defeated the Indiana Pacers in Indiana in each of the prior three matchups between the 2. Actually, Orlando has won these matches on the road in Indianapolis by around 13 points. The latest contest between the 2 was January 26, 2011.
The Indiana Pacers will additionally have to find a way to deal with Magic superstar Dwight Howard. Howard has led the squad to an 11-3 record over Indiana, and he has put up double-doubles in each one of these games. Even with the challenges ahead for the Indiana Pacers, the sports book posts them as the -3 favorites to defeat the Magic. The total is set at 182.5.
Both teams come into this game with a 7-3 record over their last 10 games. The Indiana Pacers have a 5-0 home record to date, while the Magic are 5-3 on the road. Watch for Orlando to make a remarkably powerful showing after their catastrophic 87-56 loss to the Celts a handful of days ago.
Number one ranked Kentucky against the NCAA competition hopefuls Georgia? Appears like a recipe for a crushing defeat, particularly as Kentucky barely regained that coveted No. 1 berth on the rankings for the first time in the prior 2 months. While the Wildcats are ahead of the rankings and enjoying an 11 game win streak, the Bulldogs can best be called inconsistent thus far in the season.
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Kentucky is 19-1 and 5-0 in the SEC. They are coming off of a particularly unpleasant game at home versus Alabama, where they garnered their previous fifteen points at the foul line. Thankfully, the team is fairly excellent from the free-throw line, where they landed 23-of-29 to hold onto the win, 77-71. That win, coupled with Syracuse dropping their first game of the season, put Kentucky back ahead. Their current 11 game win streak is furthermore their greatest since going 19-0 throughout the 2009-2010 season.
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Georgia will have its hands full facing the Wildcats on Tuesday, January 24. The Bulldogs garnered an invite to the NCAA competition for the first time in the last three years in 2011, but 2 of their main competitors advanced to the NBA. Since losing them, Georgia has lost much of their offensive touch, scoring just 61.9 points per game with a lousy 39.9 percent field-goal ratio. The Bulldogs are currently 10-9 total and 1-4 in the SEC.
With the Wildcats averaging 79.5 points per game, and the Bulldogs at 61.9, it is not surprising the sportsbook is favoring Kentucky by 12 points. It could be a bargain taking the Cats, as the game may wind up pretty effortlessly as a 15- or 20-point blowout. The total is established at 129, but and I would expect this game to go under the total. If Kentucky plays even a bit bit of defense, the Bulldogs’ offense might be properly shut down all evening.
The AT&T Center may get some long distance competition on Jan 13th as the Portland Trailblazers visit San Antonio to battle against the San Antonio Spurs. Portland is a youthful team trying to build up as the quick but electric Brandon Roy era formally came to a close with his retirement in December. Past #1 pick Greg Oden has additionally had frequent problems with his knees as Portland apparently can’t shake the ghost of Sam Bowie. The San Antonio Spurs look to defend their court with impressive plays from their regular dependable lineup. The San Antonio Spurs are liked by 8 points and this looks to be an awesome bet.
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Portland is led by SF LeMarcus Aldridge who has performed well without Greg Oden. Veteran SF Gerald Wallace presents defense at a high-grade for the Blazers with the backcourt rounded out by Raymond Felton along with Wesley Matthews. Star G Jamal Crawford presents some scoring and a deep risk for the Blazers. It is a time of transformation for the Trailblazers and this year they expect to make a run at the playoffs.
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San Antonio looks to stay in the upper-tier of the west with Gregg Popovich again leading the team on the sideline. The San Antonio Spurs are led by their usual 3-man foundation of PF Tim Duncan, SG Manu Ginobili, as well as PG Tony Parker. Veteran SF Richard Jefferson presents an awesome alternate to Duncan’s inside prowess. C DeJuan Blair completes the starting lineup for the San Antonio Spurs. Parker is backed by veteran PG T.J. Ford who can supply points and assists on restricted minutes off of the sideline.
This looks to be an awesome match between these 2 squads with the San Antonio Spurs seeking their devotees to ratchet the noise levels up. Portland is a youthful team of modify trying to right the ship in a shortened season that looks to have a lot of worries about their future.
On Jan 12th, things get hot when the Cavaliers enter into Phoenix to battle against the Phoenix Suns. Two years ago, this would have been a stellar competition with LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire going head to head in a collision course. In the age of free agency however, times surely have transformed as this competition appears dramatically different. Phoenix is preferred by 6 points over the Cavaliers and this seems to be a secure bet.
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The Cavaliers have gone through quite a sea change in the last 3 years as a squad. With the leaving of LeBron James still wreaking havoc on the squad all this time later, the Cavaliers have struggled mightily to produce an excellent basketball squad to put on the court. The Cavaliers lost a record 23 consecutive competitions last year with the only bright spot coming by means of Baron Davis who helped the squad with a couple of late year wins. Baron Davis departed for New York just after the lockout concluded and the Cavaliers again are faced with the contender of a tough year. The Cavaliers are steadied by veterans PF Antawn Jamison and fan fave PF Anderson Varejao. SG Daniel Gibson along with PG Kyrie Irving comprehensive the backcourt for the troubled Cavaliers.
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The Phoenix Suns also are going through changing times in this current NBA landscape. Star PG Steve Nash is regularly asked about his future as Nash is in his final year under contract. The rumor is that the Phoenix Suns might possibly deal him to a challenger before the year ends. Even though both Nash and the Phoenix Suns front office reject those rumors, it is sure to be a slight diversion to the squad. Ageless SF 39-year old Grant Hill has skilled a revival of sorts in Phoenix. This resurgence has persuaded former all-star SG Michael Redd to sign with the Phoenix Suns at the nba minimum contract to stage a remarkable comeback after 2 distressing knee accidents over the past 3 seasons in Milwaukee. C Marcin Gortat and SF Jared Dudley are doing their best to compensate for the loss in frontcourt output because of Amare Stoudemire’s defection to the New York Knicks.
The United Center in Chicago will be on edge as the Wizards arrive in town to battle against the Chicago Bulls. In years past, this competition would have been the hardest ticket to get as the second comeback by Nike Jordan turned the Washington Wizards into media darlings throughout the nba. Jordan is now long retired however and the Washington Wizards have changed into an excellent young team with vast quantities of prospective waiting to be utilized. The sportsbook has the Chicago Bulls preferred by 8 points which looks correct and looks like a good wager with Chicago being cheered on at home.
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The Wizards enter into this year with an all new logo and a fresh uniform to portray a change of approach and perhaps a change of fortune. The Washington Wizards are a ways from the days of Gilbert Arenas hitting game-winning shots every other week. Youthful breakout stars SG Nick Young and PG John Wall who pace the Washington Wizards backcourt with standout play lead Washington. The Washington Wizards are rounded out by their frontcourt made up of PF Andray Blatche, C JaVale McGee, and veteran SF Rashard Lewis. Watch for the Washington Wizards to put up a good match against the Chicago Bulls in this one.
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The Chicago Bulls have wished for returning to the glory days of the 1990′s. They have had great young stars enter into the organization such as Tyson Chandler, Ben Gordon, Jamal Crawford, and Kirk Hinrich. The Chicago Bulls this year are headed by star PG and 2010-11 Mvp Derrick Rose who’s helped the Chicago Bulls prominently since being drafted in 2008. Veterans SF Luol Deng and PF Carlos Boozer supply some power on the inside game. C Joakim Noah has been the most talented center that the Chicago Bulls have had in a long time. Veteran SG Rip Hamilton covers the 2 berth wonderfully for Chicago in its’ mission to pursue farther into the playoffs.
The Kings are facing an uphill battle when they take on the Rockets in Houston on January 13th. This is a condition of both teams rebuilding for the future as both teams look nothing like their early 2000′s heydays. The Sacramento Kings look to return to their past prominence in the west with stellar play from their young stalwarts. The Rockets are still handling the fallout from the retirement of Yao Ming. The Rockets are preferred by 3 points by the oddsmakers and this looks to be a tough game to call.
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Sacramento is paced by G Marcus Thornton and PG Tyreke Evans, which supply a young nucleus for the Sacramento Kings to build on. The frontcourt is bolstered by PF DeMarcus Cousins and his steady play. The Sacramento Kings are additionally helped by the veteran presence of SG John Salmons coming off the sideline as a deep menace. Former Indiana Hoosier great Keith Smart coaches the Sacramento Kings.
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The Rockets look dramatically diverse from the days of Yao Ming and Steve Francis running the show. Youthful PG Kyle Lowry runs the offense with aid from PF Luis Scola and PG Goran Dragic. Veterans help the Houston offense with fellow SG’s Courtney Lee and Kevin Martin contributing when they can. Ex- Celtics great Kevin McHale leads the Rockets at head coach.
Only a while back, this matchup might have been all over television with the likes of Mike Bibby, Vlade Divac, Chris Webber, and Bobby Jackson pacing the Sacramento Kings. The Rockets had Yao Ming, Steve Francis, Robert Horry, along with Tracy McGrady in it. The times have definitely changed things for both teams as the age of free agency and salary caps have made long-term dynasties practically obsolete.
This ought to be an amazing matchup between these 2 once-mighty teams with the game itself too tight to call.
Saturday night on January 14th, the New York Knicks come into Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder in this major match between these two squads. It is a tale of two squads as the Thunder come up with a dependable team of young guns against the Knicks who it appears from year to year always enters into play with a lot of modifications going on. The Knicks are preferred by 4 points and this might hold unless Durant has one of his ordinary killer games.
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The Knicks have had a soap opera in the previous 15 years or more in the nba. From nearly winning it all with Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston to Allan Houston’s famous 100 Million-Dollar contract and his following knee injury and that just covers the tail end of the 1990′s. The Isiah Thomas era of the Knicks will go down in nba history as one of the most devastating campaigns in recent recollection. With such downfalls in past seasons, the Knicks seemed to make a splash in the offseason and they did after they secured Amare Stoudemire from the Suns. The Knicks are paced by superstar SF Carmelo Anthony and the previously mentioned Amare Stoudemire at power forward. C Tyson Chandler produces presence as well as veteran leadership at center whilst young guns G Iman Shumpert and PG Toney Douglas round out the squad.
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The Thunder have had fantastic promise over the last several seasons with celeb SF Kevin Durant breaking out and owning enemy squads with his play. Oklahoma City is composed of a youthful squad behind Durant with G James Harden, PG Russell Westbrook, and PF Serge Ibaka taking up the slack. PG Nick Collison is the only anchor from the old Supersonics team, which moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. The Thunder are currently on top of in the rankings in this youthful season with fantastic promise to finish out the season ahead.
The Staples Center will come alive on Jan 11th when the Miami Heat takes on the Los Angeles Clippers. The Heat comes in with one of the best records in the NBA supported by an awesome roster of stars. The Heat lead the NBA as a team in points scored and assists. The sports book has the Heat favored by 8 points and with the backcourt they have, it is apparently a sure bet. Let’s take a closer look at the Heat this season and the things they bring to the table.
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Miami brings non-stop scoring with superstar SF LeBron James guiding the way. SG Dwyane Wade furthermore brings potent scoring at the 2 slot with PF Chris Bosh’s steady play at the 3. PF Udonis Haslem and PG Mario Chalmers bring up the rear with a steady supply of assists and rebounds to strengthen the Heat attack. After almost winning it all last year, the Heat look to go deep in the playoffs this season.
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Under the ownership of Donald Sterling, the Clippers have a long history of mediocrity. But with large stars such as Blake Griffin changing the landscape for Los Angeles’ “other team”, things have changed in the last couple of seasons. The Clips appear to be content for a playoff spot this year in the always-challenging Pacific Division. L . A . is headed by celebrity PF Blake Griffin who has continued to be a menace to the basket and the boards. Free Agent additions SG Chauncey Billups and celebrity PF Chris Paul offers veteran leadership that had been sorely missing with the departures of Baron Davis and Chris Kaman. The Clippers are furthermore benefited by the standout play of SF Caron Butler and C DeAndre Jordan. Watch for this to be an awesome game between the proved stars of Miami versus the young guns of the Clippers Staples Center will be electrified for this game.
These two squads have been doing comparatively well this season. This shouldn’t be a shocking to any person as both of these colleges are well noted for their share of triumphs in basketball for many years. When Western Virginia visits Connecticut these two squads will be at it out on the court on January 9.
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The Mountaineers is arriving off an extraordinary 21 point win against Rutgers Scarlet Knights, where the senior Darryl Bryant took the Scarlet Knights to school by dropping 29 points on them, together with Kevin Jones who had a nice game with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Connecticut alternatively lost their prior game against the Seton Hall Pirates by 12 points. Jeremy Lamb was still extraordinary even so with 19 points.
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Comparison between these two squads is that West Virginia is only a better squad than Connecticut offensively. Defensively, Connecticut is the better squad, but you have Kevin Jones who averages a double-double for the season and Darryl Bryant who is only a monster offensively, which will help West Virginia get the advantage over Connecticut. Kevin Jones is among the better rebounders in the league this year and he will leap over individuals to get that rebound. The Connecticut Huskies do not have any person that can box this kid out. I would not say that this match up in the clash of the titans or anything of that sort, but it should be an interesting game to watch.
Considering the Connecticut Huskies do not have any person on the squad that can guard both Kevin Jones and Darryl Bryant, if I were gambling on this match, I would bet for the Mountaineers winning against the Huskies. Both of them can make you pay if you leave them undefended. One of these will certainly have a major game on Monday January 9.
While this specific matchup may not have the same depth that its football version does, the Jan 9 – Oklahoma at Oklahoma State game still has its own kind of anticipation. With the conference basketball season just arrived, both the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys will attempt to established the tone for the rest of their season with this game. In Oklahoma’s case, they will be looking to continue what has been a quality start as they concluded the non-conference slate with a 10-2 record.
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Oklahoma State, on the other hand has fought mightily against their out of conference schedule, putting up a meager 7-6 record to date. It does not mean their victory is a foregone conclusion just considering the Oklahoma Sooners seem to be rather a bit a lot better than the Oklahoma State Cowboys right now. When you check out this game through a gambler’s eye, predicting who will win and by the amount becomes even harder. Neither Oklahoma nor Oklahoma State has precisely set the world on fire with regards to competing vs the spread. In reality, when you check out the two squad’s records vs the spread, the one thing that is obvious is that neither team will almost certainly play in addition to those laying money on the game would hope.
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Offensively, the Oklahoma Sooners have depended seriously on junior guard Steven Pledger. Pledger has averaged 18.8 points per game to date this year and is shooting a massive 48.4 percent from three-point land. It is not surprising that in Oklahoma’s two non-conference losses, Pledger had trouble, shooting 33 percent, and averaging just 11 points in those competitions.
For the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the offensive attack has depended on several players, with Keiton Page being the principal go-to person. Page has average 13.6 points per game in the non-conference slate. Oklahoma State’s number two scorer, Le’Bryan Nash is scoring an average of 11.7 points per match. Both players will need to step up in order to have a shot at the Oklahoma Sooners.