Basketball Betting: NBA/NCAAB Weekend Top Game Preview and Analysis
by Bodog Sportsbook | Nov 19 2009
The biggest difference between
college basketball betting and the NBA version: volume. It's the first week of the 2009-10 season, and 218 of the 347 teams in Division I have already drawn action. A sharp handicapper can't help but fall in love with all these mid-major and low major teams. They're the ones bringing in the cash year after year.
As we go to press, the Loyola Marymount Lions (West Coast Conference) and the Samford Bulldogs (Southern Conference) are on top of the betting charts at 3-0 ATS. Another 24 teams are tied at 2-0 ATS. There are a few familiar majors in the mix, like the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns. But it's almost all minnows in the pond. The Ivy League is especially well represented here with the Cornell Big Red, Princeton Tigers and Yale Bulldogs cashing in twice. See, they might be going to Yale, but they're still working for you.
Because they're doing so well, our first hoops preview of the season will check in on those Loyola-Marymount Lions as they take on what's left of the USC Trojans this Saturday. All times are Eastern; make sure to visit Bodog Sports for the
basketball odds as they become available.
Saturday: Radford at No. 8 Duke (3:00 p.m.)
No doubt you're familiar with the Duke Blue Devils (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS). They've bulldozed three straight non-conference opponents so far, barely missing the 3-0 ATS mark in a 74-49 victory over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (+26.5). Fun fact: A chanticleer is a rooster from Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Duke's version of a chanticleer is coach Mike Krzyzewski, who continues to bring fresh talent into the program - although it's a bit thin in the backcourt this year. The Radford Highlanders (2-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) represent the Big South, ranked No. 28 out of the 32 conferences (including the independents as a group) last year using Ken Pomeroy's influential efficiency stats.
Saturday: Loyola Marymount at USC (8:00 p.m.)
The Lions were just 1-2 SU at press time, but they came very close to pulling off upsets over the Boise State Broncos (-7.5) and the Montana Grizzlies (-8) at the Grizzly Tournament. The WCC (which includes the Gonzaga Bulldogs) was one of the better mid-majors in college last year at No. 13 in efficiency. The Trojans (1-0 SU, 0-0-1 ATS) started the season with a push in a 77-67 win over the Big West's UC-Riverside Highlanders. The USC program has been gutted by the loss of several big-name players and coach Tim Floyd.
Saturday: Washington at San Antonio (8:30 p.m., NBA-TV)
The Wizards have started the season at 3-7 SU and ATS, but Wednesday was their first game with star power forward Antawn Jamison, who dropped 31 points and 10 rebounds in a 108-91 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers (-3.5 road faves). Take them seriously. The Spurs (4-5 SU and ATS) are 4-1 ATS at home and 0-4 ATS away; they're ranked No. 23 in the league by stathead John Hollinger in defensive efficiency.
Sunday: Boston at N.Y. Knicks (1:00 p.m., MSG)
Speaking of old teams, the Celtics (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS) have dropped the cash in six of their last seven games, in part because of their reputation and their six-game SU winning streak to start the season. Otherwise, this is in fact one of the very best teams in the NBA. The Knicks (2-9 SU, 3-8 ATS) might be the worst, but don't dismiss the value of center Eddy Curry's return. New York (+6 road dogs) beat the Indiana Pacers 110-103 on Wednesday as Curry provided 10 points and four rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench making his season debut.
Sunday: Detroit at Phoenix (8:00 p.m., NBA-TV)
The Suns continue to be the story of the early season at 10-2 (7-5 ATS). As long as they stay healthy, coach Alvin Gentry's return to the team's old “Seven Seconds or Less” offense should continue to yield results. Good health has not been on the side of the Pistons (5-7 SU, 7-5 ATS) this year. They've lost familiar veterans Rip Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (ruptured disc) from the starting lineup, but the younger subs aren't doing as badly as expected at 3-4 SU and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games.
