Sunday's Trends and Indexes - 1/8 (NFL, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, Misc.)

[Udog]

NBA
Long Sheet

Sunday, January 8

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MINNESOTA (2 - 5) at WASHINGTON (0 - 7) - 1/8/2012, 1:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 8-24 ATS (-18.4 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 41-23 ATS (+15.7 Units) in road games on Sunday games since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 34-55 ATS (-26.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 27-47 ATS (-24.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 37-63 ATS (-32.3 Units) as a home underdog of 3 points or less since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 267-331 ATS (-97.1 Units) in home games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 2-2 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 2-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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ORLANDO (5 - 3) at SACRAMENTO (3 - 5) - 1/8/2012, 6:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ORLANDO is 40-55 ATS (-20.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 17-29 ATS (-14.9 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 24-44 ATS (-24.4 Units) against Southeast division opponents since 1996.
SACRAMENTO is 10-23 ATS (-15.3 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 15-32 ATS (-20.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 2-2 against the spread versus ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
ORLANDO is 3-1 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (6 - 2) at OKLAHOMA CITY (7 - 2) - 1/8/2012, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 10-25 ATS (-17.5 Units) on Sunday games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 5-2 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 6-1 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MILWAUKEE (2 - 5) at PHOENIX (3 - 4) - 1/8/2012, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 31-15 ATS (+14.5 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 102-71 ATS (+23.9 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 2-2 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 3-1 straight up against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CLEVELAND (4 - 3) at PORTLAND (5 - 2) - 1/8/2012, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) against Northwest division opponents over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 2-1 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
PORTLAND is 2-2 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MEMPHIS (3 - 4) at LA LAKERS (5 - 4) - 1/8/2012, 9:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA LAKERS are 101-64 ATS (+30.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1996.
MEMPHIS is 63-38 ATS (+21.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 31-17 ATS (+12.3 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 36-21 ATS (+12.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 91-113 ATS (-33.3 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 20-32 ATS (-15.2 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 157-197 ATS (-59.7 Units) after a division game since 1996.
LA LAKERS are 13-24 ATS (-13.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MEMPHIS is 4-3 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 4-3 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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[Udog]

NHL
Long Sheet

Sunday, January 8

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PHILADELPHIA (24-11-0-4, 52 pts.) at OTTAWA (21-15-0-6, 48 pts.) - 1/8/2012, 5:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 64-69 ATS (-71.9 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 5-5 (+1.7 Units) against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
OTTAWA is 5-5-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.8 Units)

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DETROIT (25-14-0-1, 51 pts.) at CHICAGO (24-13-0-4, 52 pts.) - 1/8/2012, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 88-91 ATS (-53.0 Units) in January games since 1996.
CHICAGO is 10-1 ATS (+8.4 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 295-319 ATS (+735.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
DETROIT is 13-3 ATS (+9.3 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 8-5-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
9 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.5 Units)

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COLUMBUS (11-24-0-5, 27 pts.) at ANAHEIM (11-22-0-6, 28 pts.) - 1/8/2012, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLUMBUS is 11-28 ATS (+48.1 Units) in all games this season.
ANAHEIM is 18-10 ATS (+5.1 Units) in January games over the last 3 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 30-19 ATS (+50.6 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 146-127 ATS (-8.9 Units) after a non-conference game since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 10-28 ATS (+45.7 Units) in all games this season.
ANAHEIM is 4-15 ATS (-12.1 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
ANAHEIM is 1-6 ATS (+7.2 Units) on Sunday games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLUMBUS is 6-3 (+3.1 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
COLUMBUS is 6-3-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.1 Units)

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[Udog]

NHL
Dunkel

Philadelphia at Ottawa
The Flyers look to build on their 7-3 record in their last 10 road games. Philadelphia is the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the Flyers favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-120). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8

Game 51-52: Philadelphia at Ottawa (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 11.720; Ottawa 11.358
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia (-120); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-120); Under

Game 53-54: Detroit at Chicago (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 12.012; Chicago 10.599
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-120); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+100); Over

Game 55-56: Columbus at Anaheim (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Columbus 11.570; Anaheim 10.916
Dunkel Line & Total: Columbus by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-145); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Columbus (+125); Under

[Udog]

NHL
Short Sheet

Sunday, January 8

PHILADELPHIA at OTTAWA, 5:00 PM ET
PHILADELPHIA: 16-2 SU after winning their previous game in overtime
OTTAWA: 22-12 OVER off a road loss

DETROIT at CHICAGO, 7:30 PM ET
DETROIT: 91-75 SU in January games
CHICAGO: 10-1 SU after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games

COLUMBUS at ANAHEIM, 8:00 PM ET
COLUMBUS: 0-6 SU after allowing 1 goal or less in their previous game
ANAHEIM: 21-12 SU off a home win

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

[Udog]

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, January 8

Hot teams
-- Senators won four of last five games, allowing 11 goals. Philly won three of its last four games.

Cold teams
-- Blackhawks lost four of their last five home games. Detroit is 4-7 in its last 11 road games.
-- Blue Jackets lost eight of their last ten games. Anaheim lost seven of nine.

Totals
-- Last four Ottawa games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Detroit games stayed under total.
-- Five of last six Columbus games stayed under total.

Series records
-- Flyers lost seven of last eight visits to Ottawa.
-- Red Wings lost five of last six games against Chicago.
-- Blue Jackets won four of last five visits to Anaheim.

Back-to-Back
-- Philadelphia is 2-3 if it played the day/night before. Senators are 1-3 if they lost the day/night before.
-- Red Wings are 2-3 on road if they played the night before.
-- Columbus is 1-5 if it played the night before.

[Udog]

NBA
Short Sheet

Sunday, January 8

MINNESOTA at WASHINGTON, 1:05 PM ET
MINNESOTA: 8-24 ATS after a non-conference game
WASHINGTON: 38-19 ATS after 6 or more consecutive losses

ORLANDO at SACRAMENTO, 6:05 PM ET
ORLANDO: 42-27 UNDER as a road favorite
SACRAMENTO: 10-23 ATS in home games in non-conference games

SAN ANTONIO at OKLAHOMA CITY, 7:05 PM ET
SAN ANTONIO: 15-5 OVER as a road underdog
OKLAHOMA CITY: 10-25 ATS on Sunday games

MILWAUKEE at PHOENIX, 8:05 PM ET
MILWAUKEE: 31-15 ATS when playing on back-to-back days
PHOENIX: 11-2 UNDER in home games after covering 2 of their last 3 against the spread

CLEVELAND at PORTLAND, 9:05 PM ET
CLEVELAND: 1-9 ATS against Northwest division opponents
PORTLAND: 26-10 ATS after playing a game as a road favorite

MEMPHIS at LA LAKERS, 9:35 PM ET
MEMPHIS: 27-15 ATS as a road underdog
LA LAKERS: 19-31 ATS after playing a game as a home favorite

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

[Udog]

NCAAB
Short Sheet

Sunday's Top College Basketball Trends

SIENA is 1-14 ATS as a favorite (vs Siena)

MICHIGAN is 14-2 ATS after 3 consecutive conference games (vs Wisconsin)

MINNESOTA is 0-9 ATS after scoring 65 points or less 2 straight games (vs Purdue)

USC is 0-9 ATS in home games after scoring 55 points or less (vs Arizona)

VILLANOVA is 0-9 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite (vs Depaul)

DREXEL is 8-0 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 (vs VA Commonwealth)

[Udog]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, January 8

Hot Teams
-- Kings are 3-2 at home; home side covered six of their eight games.
-- Spurs won last three games, by 6-22-4 points; home side won all eight of their games. Spurs lost both road games, by 20-10 points.
-- Phoenix won its last two home games, by 11-25 points.
-- Portland is 4-0 at home, 3-1 as home favorite, winning by 4-22-9-11 points. Cavaliers won three of last four games; they're 3-1 as a road dog.
-- Lakers won their last five home games (3-2 as home favorite).

Cold Teams
-- Wizards are 0-7, 2-5 vs spread, losing home games by 6-8-3 points. Minnesota lost five of its first seven games.
-- Orlando lost two of its last three road games.
-- Milwaukee is 0-5 on road, 1-4 vs spread.
-- Grizzlies lost three of four road games (1-3 as road dog).

Totals
-- Four of last five Minnesota games stayed under total.
-- Under is 6-1-1 in Orlando games this season.
-- Last four Thunder games stayed under total. Three of last four San Antonio games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Milwaukee games stayed under total.
-- Three of last four Cleveland games stayed under total.
-- All four Memphis road games stayed under the total.

Wear and Tear
-- Wolves: 3rd game/5 nites. Wizards: 3rd game/5 nites.
-- Magic: 3rd game/5 nites. Kings: Had last two days off.
-- Spurs: 5th game/7 nites. Thunder: 3rd game/3 nites.
-- Bucks: 5th game/7 nites. Suns: 3rd game/5 nites.
-- Cavaliers: 4th game/6 nites. Blazers: 3rd game/4 nites.
-- Grizzlies: 4th game/6 nites. Lakers: 6th game/9 nites.

[Udog]

NFL divisional playoffs odds: Opening line report

We talked to sportsbook oddsmakers to get their thinking behind opening lines for the NFL divisional playoffs.

No. 3 New Orleans Saints at No. 2 San Francisco 49ers, 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Wynn Las Vegas opening line: Saints -3 (-120), 46.5

BetOnline.com line as of late Sunday: Saints -3.5, 47

Wynn sportsbook manager John Avello expects another flood of Saints money.

"We were thinking 3 and then we went to -3 (-120) after Saturday's performance," Avello told *********** after the Saints broke the postseason record with 626 total yards in their 45-28 thrashing of Detroit. "I don't know how we keep bettors off this team right now. I bet you I'll be at 3.5 pretty soon.

"The public loves the Saints, they see this offense and they just think they can score at will," he continued. "They're going to overlook the Niners because that team hasn't been in the playoffs in a while. They're the No. 2 seed, but in reality everybody believes the Saints are the No. 2 seed. I just think we're going to need San Fran. But we'll see how it turns out."

New Orleans has won and covered nine straight. With Drew Brees breaking records on a weekly basis, the Saints have averaged 44.3 points over their last four games.

Lions-Saints just soared over a record total for an NFL playoff game. Still, Avello said he opened Saints-Niners at 46.5 for two reasons: San Fran's No. 2-ranked defense (14.3 points allowed per game) and the style the Niners must play.

"San Fran cannot get into a shootout," he said.

No. 4 Denver Broncos at No. 1 New England Patriots, 8 p.m. ET Saturday

Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook opening line: Patriots -13.5, 50.5

BetOnline.com line as of laste Sunday: Patriots -13.5 (-120), 51

Some books already moved to 14.

Jay Kornegay, director of the Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook, expects to follow suit.

“Looks like the money is going to push it to 14, but the question is where does it go from that point?” he told ***********.

Kornegay gave Denver its props, especially for its play-action passes, but noted the Broncos faced a depleted version of the Steelers on Sunday.

“It was a great win, but I’m not really sold on the Denver Broncos making a run to the Super Bowl,” he said.

When New England visited Denver on Dec. 18, the Pats rallied from a 16-7 deficit to win 41-23, covering as 7-point favorites. The game sailed over the 47.5 total.

Tom Brady threw for 320 yards and two TDs, and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski combined for 13 catches and 182 yards.

No. 3 Houston Texans at No. 2 Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. Sunday

Caesars Palace opening line: Ravens -7.5, 38.5

Wynn Las Vegas opening line: Ravens -7, 38.5

BetOnline.com line as of late Sunday: Ravens -9 (+115), 37.5

Oddsmakers didn't overreact to Houston's 31-10 wild card win over Cincinnati.

"I'm still not sold on the Texans," Todd Fuhrman, senior race and sports analyst for Caesars Entertainment, told ***********. "The game wasn't nearly as lopsided as the final score indicated."

He opened Texans-Ravens at 7.5 because "the Ravens coming off a bye is worth at least one full point, and I think the hook will give us better balance than opening at just a TD."

Offshore books that opened the game at 7 quickly moved higher as Baltimore money poured in.

Avello also wasn't swayed by the Texans' first-ever playoff win.

“Arian Foster looked pretty good, that’s for sure,” he said. “But the Texans played at Baltimore in the middle of the season, the line was 7 and they lost by a couple touchdowns. It’s going to be tough for the Texans, and for T.J. Yates. He’ll find the going much more difficult.”

Avello based his opening line primarily on power ratings.

“I really don’t vary much by going with a lot of opinion at this point,” he said. “Our ratings say 7. The total has got to be on the low side. You can’t think there’s going to be a whole lot of scoring, not with the way the Ravens play at home. I think we’re where we need to be.”

It’s a matchup of Top-5 defenses. Baltimore allows 16.6 points per game (3rd), Houston 17.4 (4th).

When the teams met in Week 6 in Baltimore, Houston led 14-13 in the third quarter. But the Ravens dominated from that point, winning 29-14 as 7-point favorites. The score fell a half-point shy of the 43.5 total.

Joe Flacco threw for 305 yards, Ray Rice ran for 101 and Baltimore held Houston’s vaunted ground game to 3.7 yards per carry.

Matt Schaub quarterbacked the Texans that day. This time it will be the rookie Yates facing Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and company.

Yates played efficiently on Saturday, going 11 of 20 for 159 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He did throw one ill-advised pass Chris Crocker should have picked off.

Foster, who ran for 153 yards Saturday, was held to 49 yards on 15 carries in the Oct. 16 loss in Baltimore.

No. 4 New York Giants at No. 1 Green Bay Packers, 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday

Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook opening line: Packers -9, 51.5

BetOnline.com line as of late Sunday: Packers -9 (-105), 51.5

Offshores that opened anywhere but 9 quickly fell into line.

At first glance this seems like a big number. The Giants dismantled Atlanta on Sunday, their defense not allowing a point. And New York nearly upset Green Bay in Week 13.

But oddsmakers aren’t buying that it’s 2007 all over again.

“The Packers are going to be a little more creative than the Falcons,” Kornegay told ***********. “The Giants played well but I’m not going to get too excited about them because they haven’t put a string of good games together all year.

“Green Bay still remembers what happened a few years back [losing the NFC championship game 23-20 at home to New York],” he continued. “The Falcons were very conservative and didn’t make the right adjustments. We know the Packers are better coached than that.”

Kornegay said a total of 51 would “be on the short side and we’ll probably stay on the high side throughout the week, unless weather comes into play.”

In Week 13, these teams played a thriller at MetLife Stadium. Green Bay won 38-35, failing to cover as a 7-point favorite. The game went over the 53.5 total by nearly 20 points.

They combined for 53 first downs and nearly 900 yards of offense.

Although it was their fourth straight loss, the Giants took heart from pushing the then-undefeated Super Bowl champs to the limit.