Announcement

**Udog** · 08-22-2020, 09:38 AM

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

Week 4 NFL odds
— Broncos @ Jets (-2.5)
— Colts @ Bears (-1.5)
— Jaguars @ Bengals (-3.5)
— Browns @ Cowboys (-4.5)
— Saints (-5.5) @ Lions
— Steelers @ Titans (-2)

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 174,924
Please wear a mask when you go out.

**********

Armadillo: Saturday's Den: Clearing out a cluttered mind…….

13) They were debating on FS1 Friday whether Russell Martin needs an NFL MVP award to be considered an all-time great QB. Let me say this…….

I’m an avid Rams’ fan, so I’ve been rooting against Russell Wilson his entire NFL career. Believe me when I say this: Wilson may not own an MVP trophy, but HE IS AN ELITE QB, one of the best ever. Reminds me a lot of facing Joe Montana, which means I can’t stand the guy. ��

12) Why I’m queasy about traveling to Las Vegas in the foreseeable future; this week, a brawl broke out on an American Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Charlotte— two women were going at it. What started out as an argument about seating became an argument about masks, and that led to fisticuffs.

The video is available on Twitter; people are overly tense in these trying times, so things get overheated more quickly. Hopefully 2021 will be better for all of us.

11) Prayers, best wishes to Washington Redskins coach Ron Rivera, who was diagnosed with lymph node cancer- apparently they caught it early and his prognosis is good.

10) Subway Series got postponed this weekend, because of Mets’ problems with COVID. Bronx has half their team on the injured list, so good timing for them.

9) In their first 19 games, Miami Marlins started eight different right fielders.

8) 1979-80 was the NBA’s first season with the 3-point shot; in their 16 playoff games that year, the champion Lakers tried 18 3-pointers. Total.

Friday against Toronto, the Nets were 16-51 behind the arc. In one game.

7) Why would someone pay $500,000 to get their kid into USC?
— It is illegal to do that.
— Is USC that great a college?
— Once they got into USC, are the parents paying off the professors to pass their kids?
— Why not spend some of that money on tutors so your kid can earn their way into a college?

6) Red Sox are 2-13 in games not started by Nathan Eovaldi/Martin Perez.

NBA playoff games (all Game 3’s):
5) Toronto 117, Brooklyn 92 (Raptors lead 3-0)
— Bad news for the Nets; they lost by 25.
— Good news for the Nets: they can go home Sunday, after they get swept.

4) Utah 124, Denver 97 (Jazz leads 2-1):
— This was the first time in 11 games in the bubble that a Denver game stayed under the total.
— Gobert/Conley combined to make 20-28 shots from the floor.
— Utah made 18-37 behind the arc.

3) Boston 102, Philadelphia 94 (Celtics lead 3-0):
— Celtics’ bench outscored Philly’s bench 20-9.
— Teams combined to make only 17-70 behind the arc.
— Harris/Embiid combined to make 13-39 shots from the floor.

2) Clippers 130, Dallas 122 (LA leads 2-1)
— Luka Doncic sprained his left ankle, very big blow for Dallas.
— Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points; grabbed 9 rebounds, had 8 assists.

1) If the baseball playoffs started today (they do not):
AL East- New York, Tampa Bay
AL Central- Minnesota, Cleveland
AL West- Oakland, Houston
AL Wild Cards- Toronto, Chicago

NL East- Miami, Atlanta
NL Central- Chicago, St Louis
NL West- Los Angeles, San Diego
NL Wild Cards- Colorado, Arizona

**Udog** · 08-22-2020, 09:42 AM

NBA public betting, line movement for August 22
Patrick Everson

Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard collide again Saturday for Game 3 of the Lakers-Trail Blazers series. The SuperBook has Los Angeles a 7-point favorite, and early action is on the Lakers.

NBA betting odds are up for Saturday’s contests, a quartet of Game 3s in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers are back at it in the marquee matchup, in a prime-time tipoff.

The SuperBook at Westgate provided insights on NBA opening lines and early line movement, sharp money and public betting for Saturday’s matchups.

NBA line movement

The top-seeded Lakers rebounded from a Game 1 loss by thumping the Blazers 111-88 as 7-point favorites Thursday night. For Game 3, The SuperBook opened Los Angeles -7.5 Friday morning, then moved to -7 for a short stretch Friday afternoon before going back to the opener. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET.

In a 6 p.m. ET start, the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder meet in Game 3, with the Rockets leading the best-of-7 series 2-0. The Rockets again won’t have Russell Westbrook (strained quad), though that hasn’t hindered Houston so far. James Harden and Co. opened 3-point favorites, and the line was stuck there Friday night.

Like the Lakers, the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks got upended in Game 1 against the Orlando Magic, then won Game 2 111-96 as 13.5-point favorites Thursday. The Bucks opened -12.5 late Thursday night and hadn’t moved by late Friday night, for a 1 p.m. ET tipoff.

NBA public betting

Derek Wilkinson, executive manager of operations for The SuperBook, said the early Lakers-Blazers action has provided zero surprises.

“As predicted, it’s been all Lakers money so far, both moneyline and spread. That line will probably go up more,” Wilkinson said, before moving on to Rockets-Thunder. “Hardly any bets so far, but it’s been a lot of small parlays with the Rockets and Over.”

The total opened 224, spent a few hours at 224.5, then went back to 224 Friday.

**Udog** · 08-22-2020, 09:47 AM

731MILWAUKEE -732 ORLANDO
MILWAUKEE is 12-3 ATS (8.7 Units) in road games when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%) - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

733INDIANA -734 MIAMI
MIAMI is 14-3 ATS (10.7 Units) in road games after 2 or more consecutive unders over the last 2 seasons.

735HOUSTON -736 OKLAHOMA CITY
HOUSTON is 10-0 ATS (10 Units) after 3 straight games being outrebounded by opponent by 5 or more in the current season.

737LA LAKERS -738 PORTLAND
LA LAKERS are 9-1 ATS (7.9 Units) in road games versus teams who average 7 or less steals/game on the season in the current season.

NBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, August 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE (57 - 18) vs. ORLANDO (34 - 41) - 8/22/2020, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
ORLANDO is 23-14 ATS (+7.6 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
MILWAUKEE is 96-72 ATS (+16.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 80-60 ATS (+14.0 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 220 over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 85-63 ATS (+15.7 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) on Saturday games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 51-37 ATS (+10.3 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 52-35 ATS (+13.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 77-58 ATS (+13.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 75-57 ATS (+12.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 11-22 ATS (-13.2 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
ORLANDO is 11-22 ATS (-13.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ORLANDO is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 7-5 against the spread versus ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
MILWAUKEE is 10-3 straight up against ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
8 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INDIANA (45 - 30) vs. MIAMI (46 - 29) - 8/22/2020, 3:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 87-61 ATS (+19.9 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive unders since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 8-5 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 7-6 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON (46 - 28) vs. OKLAHOMA CITY (44 - 30) - 8/22/2020, 6:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 43-30 ATS (+10.0 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) as an underdog this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 41-28 ATS (+10.2 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 33-24 ATS (+6.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
HOUSTON is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 53-34 ATS (+15.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 8-4 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 7-5 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
8 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LA LAKERS (53 - 20) vs. PORTLAND (37 - 40) - 8/22/2020, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA LAKERS are 22-8 ATS (+13.2 Units) when tied in a playoff series since 1996.
PORTLAND is 33-41 ATS (-12.1 Units) in all games this season.
PORTLAND is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
PORTLAND is 27-36 ATS (-12.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
PORTLAND is 23-34 ATS (-14.4 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 7-5 against the spread versus PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
PORTLAND is 7-5 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
6 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NBA

Saturday, August 22

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Milwaukee @ Orlando
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Orlando
Milwaukee is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Orlando
Orlando
The total has gone OVER in 18 of Orlando's last 22 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Orlando's last 5 games when playing Milwaukee

Indiana @ Miami
Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 5 games
Indiana is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Miami
Miami
Miami is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
Miami is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Indiana

Houston @ Oklahoma City
Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
Oklahoma City
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
Oklahoma City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston

LA Lakers @ Portland
LA Lakers
LA Lakers is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Portland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 5 games when playing on the road against Portland
Portland
Portland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Portland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Udog** · 08-22-2020, 10:44 AM

NBA
Dunkel

Saturday, August 22

Milwaukee @ Orlando

Game 731-732
August 22, 2020 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Milwaukee
125.550
Orlando
109.538
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Milwaukee
by 16
233
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Milwaukee
by 12
225
Dunkel Pick:
Milwaukee
(-12); Over

Indiana @ Miami

Game 733-734
August 22, 2020 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Indiana
111.791
Miami
124.896
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami
by 13
218
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Miami
by 5
214
Dunkel Pick:
Miami
(-5); Over

Houston @ Oklahoma City

Game 735-736
August 22, 2020 @ 6:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
118.164
Oklahoma City
112.757
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 5 1/2
229
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
by 3
223 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(-3); Over

LA Lakers @ Portland

Game 737-738
August 22, 2020 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Lakers
118.057
Portland
118.240
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Portland
Even
220
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Lakers
by 7 1/2
225
Dunkel Pick:
Portland
(+7 1/2); Under

**Udog** · 08-22-2020, 11:33 AM

Game 3 Odds: Pacers vs. Heat
Michael Crosson

The Indiana Pacers face a must-win situation on Saturday afternoon when they look to avoid a 3-0 deficit to the No. 5 Miami Heat as the pair meet in Game 3 of their opening round series in the Eastern Conference from the NBA Bubble.

Betting Resources

Matchup: Eastern Conference Game 3
Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT

Betting Odds – Pacers vs Heat

The Miami Heat covered a four and a half point spread in consecutive games to open the series, and now sit as five-point favorites for their Game 3 tilt with the Indiana Pacers on Friday afternoon, as Malcom Brogdon and company try to avoid going down into a 0-3 hole in the playoff bubble.

After cashing the ‘under’ in back-to-back games, the oddsmakers have decided to match these teams highest point total so far in this series, setting the total points OU at 214.

Indiana has fallen to +1100 underdogs to advance to the second round of the playoffs heading into Game 3, as the Warren-Oladipo-Brogdon scoring trio has been stifled so far in this series.

Spread: Miami -5
Money-Line: Miami -210, Indiana +180
Total: 214
Updated Series Price: Miami -2500, Indiana +1100

Miami has won and covered each of its first two matchups against the Pacers and its favored to win Game 3 on Saturday. (AP)

Game 2 Recap

The Game 2 matchup between the Pacers and the Heat was the same song, just a different dance, as Miami covered and the ‘under’ cashed for the second straight contest in this series.

Indiana may be the higher seed in this matchup, but it hasn’t looked like it at all, as Miami has been the wire-to-wire better team over the first two games.

Coming into the series, all the talk was about Butler vs. Warren, but Jimmy Buckets put a quick end to that conversation, aggressively asserting himself as the best player on the floor, averaging 23 points in the first two contests while clamping his counterpart. Butler has stepped up and taken this series by the horns so far.

If somebody doesn’t step up and go nose-to-nose with him in Game 3, there is no doubt the Pacers will find themselves in grave danger of a first round sweep following Saturday.

Game 2 Betting Results

Thursday's matchup saw both teams come out of the gates slow but they managed to pick up the pace in the second-half and that helped bettors chasing 'over' tickets. Similar to the Game 1 outcome, Miami made more clutch shots and that earned the club another win and cover in this series.

Game: Heat Win, Heat Cover (-4), Under 217.5
First Quarter: Pacers Win (24-22), Pacers Cover (+1), Under 55
First-Half: Heat Win (51-46), Heat Cover (-2), Under 109.5
Second-Half: Heat Win (58-54), Heat Cover (-0.5), Over 107

Pacers vs. Heat

Inside the Stats

Overall: 45-30 SU, 39-31-5 ATS, 37-37-2 O/U
Bubble: 6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS, 3-7 O/U

Pacers Betting Outlook

It’s time to press the panic button if you are the Indiana Pacers as they have officially fallen into a 0-2 hole following their second straight performance under 102 total points to start the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

I’m not sure who ticked off TJ Warren during the NBA shutdown, but the scoring rampage he was on in the re-seeding games appears to have been forcefully put to an end by Jimmy Butler and company as he scored just 14 points on Thursday afternoon.

Brogdon and Oladipo’s struggles have been overshadowed by Warren’s explosions for the majority of the time in the bubble so far, but now that TJ has returned to earth, the Pacers are having a lot of trouble scoring the basketball.

VO and Brogdon are going to need to take back control of their team in Game 3 if they want any chance of making this a competitive series.

Heat Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 46-29 SU, 38-36-1 ATS, 43-32 O/U
Bubble: 4-6 SU, 4-6 ATS, 4-6 O/U

The Miami Heat find themselves up 2-0 heading into Saturday, following their 109-100 victory on Thursday afternoon, and Eric Spoelstra’s team would love nothing more than to get all the rest they possibly could before their potential second round series matchup with Milwaukee.

Miami has gotten it done with its defense so far in this series, holding the Pacers to an average of just 100.5 points over the first two games of the opening round. Duncan Robinson led the way for the Heat in Game 2, tallying 24 points on seven of eight from 3-point territory.

Look for him to stay hot again tonight, because when it rains for Robinson, it typically pours.

Key Injuries

Indiana

PF Domantas Sabonis: Foot - Out
SG Jeremy Lamb: Knee - Out

Miami

SF KZ Okpala: Personal - Game Time Decision
PG Gabe Vincent: Shoulder - Game Time Decision

There is no doubt the Pacers have missed All-Star, Domantas Sabonis dearly in this series as they have struggled to get anything going on the offensive side of the ball against the Heat.

Myles Turner has averaged just 13 PPG. so far in this series, and its really a shame we didn’t get the privilege of seeing this series with Sabonis in it, because I really believe this series would’ve been more competitive in the first two games if Turner would’ve had his partner in crime down low with him.

**Udog** · 08-22-2020, 11:37 AM

Game 3 Odds: Lakers vs. Trail Blazers
Michael Crosson

An intriguing Game 3 will take place Saturday night when the No. 1 L.A. Lakers will meet the No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers in their first-round series, which is all locked up at 1-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference matchup.

Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference Game 3
Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC

LeBron James and the Lakers will be looking to take control of their first round series against Portland on Saturday in Game 3. (AP)

Betting Odds - Lakers vs. Trail Blazers

After routing the Blazers 111-88 to in Game 2, the Lakers head into the third game of this set as seven and a half-point favorites, eyeing a 2-1 series lead in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs.

These teams connected on the ‘under’ in consecutive games, and the opening total for Saturday’s contest is still set in the same neighborhood of 225 total points for this Game 3 rubber-match.

Damian Lillard has been cleared to play Saturday’s contest with medical protection on his hand, after dislocating his finger on Thursday night. Portland sits at +265 on the money line if you think it will be "Dame-Time" in Game 3 following his injury.

Spread: Los Angeles -7.5
Money-Line: Los Angeles -300 Portland +250
Total: 225
Updated Series Price: Los Angeles -800, Portland +550

Game 2 Recap

The numbers don’t even paint the whole picture of how bad the Lakers were offensively in Game 1 of this series, shooting 5 of 32 from 3-point territory and 35% shooting as a team in their 100-93 loss on Tuesday night.

But the Lakers rebounded in a big way in Game 2, stifling the Blazers to 88 points and just dominating in all aspects of the game, led by Anthony Davis who went for 31 points and 11 rebounds across 29 minutes in the contest.

Lillard was the key behind Portland’s Game 1 victory in the series, but he left the 3rd quarter of Game 2 with a dislocated finger, ending whatever hope was left for the Blazers in that game.

Coach Terry Stotts said on Friday that the All-Star will play in Saturday’s contest, but likely with a protective splint on, which is a sigh of relief for Portland fans.

Game 2 Betting Results

The Lakers posted a wire-to-wire cover for bettors in Game 2 and they cashed tickets in both the first quarter and first-half, plus they held on for the second-half win and cover with a big third quarter.

The 88 points scored by the Trail Blazers was the lowest offensive output for them this season and it was just the eighth time that the club was held under 100 points in the 2019-20 campaign.
Outcome: Lakers 111 Trail Blazers 88

Game: Lakers Win, Lakers Cover (-6.5), Under 230.5
First Quarter: Lakers Win (27-19), Lakers Cover (-2.5), Under 58.5
First-Half: Lakers Win (56-39), Lakers Cover (-4), Under 117.5
Second-Half: Lakers Win (55-49), Lakers Cover (+2.5), Under 112.5

Lakers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 53-20 SU, 37-35-1 ATS, 34-39 O/U
Bubble: 4-6 SU, 128 ATS, 5-5 O/U

The Lakers defense has been phenomenal so far in this series, limiting this high-powered Blazers offense to an average of 94 points over the opening two matchups.

LeBron James and company had no business being within reach down the stretch of Game 1, but the way they stand defensively keeps them in games, even on their worst shooting nights.

King James has been nursing a sore groin for the majority of his time in Orlando so far, so I would look to AD again here to go over his player prop totals again in this Game 3 tilt, as he has tallied 28 and 31 points in the opening matchups.

The Lakers had the lowest average points per game in the eight re-seeding games in the bubble and are now 12th out of the teams remaining 16 teams in scoring in their first two playoff games.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel is going to need to figure out a new strategy offensively moving forward as his team is going to need to be more efficient in the near future.

Trail Blazers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 36-40 SU, 33-41-3 ATS, 45-32 O/U
Bubble: 8-3 SU, 6-4-1 ATS, 8-3 O/U

Hopefully Lillard is actually okay and not just trying to be a tough guy, because if he isn’t able to produce at the level he has been producing at prior to this hand injury, Portland is in big trouble.

Dame being legitimately injured would be the worst possible thing for this series as Los Angeles would cruise to the second round, after showing us how great this series could’ve been in Game 1. Hopefully, that is not the case. I’m sure we will learn more leading up to game time regarding the severity of Lillard’s injury.

The big man trio of Davis, Javale McGee, and Dwight Howard combined for 50 points down low for LA in Game 2.

Jusuf Nurkic and the frontcourt are going to have to step up defensively for Portland in Game 3 if they want any chance of holding off the Lakers, now that they have to compensate for their superstar being banged up.

Key Injuries

L.A. Lakers

PG Rajon Rondo: Thumb - Game Time Decision

Portland

PG Damian Lillard: Finger - Game Time Decision
PF Zach Collins: Ankle - Out
SF Nassir Little: Illness - Out

Obviously, the real story here is Lillard dislocating his finger in Game 2 and still being left on the injury report for Game 3. Portland’s coach has confirmed he will play on Saturday night, possibly with medical protection on his injured hand.

The Blazers did get bad news on Friday when they learned Zach Collins needs season-ending ankle surgery.

Rajon Rondo is listed as a game-time-decision for the Lakers, as there is a chance LA may get to add some depth to their backcourt heading into the third game of this seven-game set.

Announcement

Saturday's NBA Trends and Indexes - 8/22

Saturday's NBA Trends and Indexes - 8/22

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment