Announcement

**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 07:34 AM

Wednesday's betting tips: Home is sweet for Blues

Who’s hot

MLB: The Cardinals have won their last five games vs. the Marlins, and 20 of 27 overall.

NBA: Charlotte is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 meetings with Atlanta.

NBA: The under is 10-3 in the last 13 Nuggets-Hornets games.

NHL: The home team is 5-0 in the last five Red Wings-Blues games. St. Louis is 30-5-4 at home this season.

Who’s not

MLB: The over is 4-11-1 in Florida pitcher Josh Johnson’s last 16 home starts.

NBA: The Heat is 0-7 ATS in its last seven home games vs. the Thunder.

NBA: Cleveland is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games vs. losing teams.

NHL: The over is 5-11 in the last 16 Lightning-Canadiens meetings.

Key stat

.188 – That was World Series hero David Freese’s batting average in the Grapefruit League. The Cardinals’ third baseman struck out 16 times in 48 at-bats, or one in every three. But he did club three homers and drive in 10 runs, prompting manager Mike Matheny to say: “We’ve seen some production, too. He has that knack of being able to drive in runs.”

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

Hornets guard Eric Gordon, who has not played since Jan. 4 due to a knee injury, could return Wednesday against the Nuggets. Gordon has only played in two games this season, but shined with a 21-point scoring average. He averaged 22.3 points for the Clippers last season.

Games of the day

St. Louis Cardinals at Miami Marlins (-167, 7)

Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues (-150, 5)

Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat (-3, 197)

Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers (NA)

Notable quotable

“I want to thank my knee for not hurting me too bad [Monday]. It felt way better [Monday] than it did [Sunday]. It’s just one of those things you have to manage.” – Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison, who missed most of the spring with swelling in his left knee but made a sparkling over-the-shoulder catch in Monday’s exhibition loss to the Yankees.

Notes and tips

Lakers center Andrew Bynum did not play Tuesday against the Warriors due to a sprained left ankle, and his status is uncertain for Wednesday's clash with the Clippers. Bynum, who was fined recently by the Lakers for multiple infractions of team rules, is averaging a career-high 17.9 points and 11.9 rebounds. He made his first All-Star appearance in February.

Kings leading scorer Marcus Thornton (18.7 ppg) missed Tuesday’s game against Phoenix with a calf injury, and his status is uncertain for Thursday’s game against the Clippers. Sacramento’s 6-4 guard was in serious pain after suffering the injury Monday, saying “it feels like my leg is about to explode.”

Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey is suspended for Wednesday’s showdown in St. Louis. Quincey’s skates left the ice as he went to hit Florida’s Tomas Kopecky on Sunday, and he made “excessive” contact with Kopecky’s head. Quincey was given a five-minute elbowing major and a game misconduct.

The T-Wolves likely won’t have guard Luke Ridnour (ankle) when they host Golden State on Wednesday. Ridnour was playing terrific basketball, having averaged 13.5 points, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals in March. The good news for Minnesota is that J.J. Barea is expected to return from his thigh injury on Wednesday.

**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 07:34 AM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

Top six college basketball teams for next year, according to espn.com

6) NC State—Honeymoon is over for Mark Gottfried. Now expectations will be unreal for the Wolfpack.

5) Ohio State—Lot depends on who comes back and who bolts for NBA.

4) Kentucky—Wildcats will be reason one-and-down gets repealed.

3) Kansas—Far exceeded expectations this year, which increases in 2013.

2) Louisville—Dieng figures to be a dominant force in the middle.

1) Indiana—Big Dozen hasn’t won national title since Michigan State in 2000. When recruiting is over, Kentucky might be back on top here.

***************

Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Random thoughts on a sunny spring day........

13) Naysayers claim baseball is dying in this country. Reds just gave Joey Votto $225M for 10 years, Giants gave Matt Cain $112M for five; that will buy you a lot of medicine.

12) Critics point to Cain’s 69-73 lifetime record; optimists look at his ERA the last three years: 2.89/3.14/2.88 and his durability and age (28). Over the last three years, Votto hit .363 with runners in scoring position. Both seem like solid investments.

11) Was it me, or did John Calipari look very uncomfortable on the podium, waiting to be awarded the national championship trophy? Not sure why, just thought he did. Hope he gets to enjoy it a little before recruiting starts.

10) Not to beat a dead horse, but the Samuels kid on Kansas State got suspended over a cruddy $200, while the NCAA sells the rights to being the official scissors and the official ladder to cut down the championship nets after the game Monday night. I’m not kidding, there is an officially licensed scissors for cutting down the nets.

9) Detroit Pistons’ coach Lawrence Frank has a rule for players: When talking to the media, you must always mention at least one teammate in a positive way. Frank would be an excellent college coach.

8) Out of the 6.45M brackets entered on espn.com, 35.1% of them had Kentucky winning it all.

7) How does a major league team not have a third baseman? Right now, the A’s are using a converted catcher there, after Scott Sizemore blew out his ACL during spring’s first workout. I’d try and trade for the Mets’ Justin Turner. If not, just make Wes Timmons the 3B; guy spent last winter as a substitute school teacher. Perfect for the low budget A's.

6) Redskins are reducing the capacity at Fed Ex Field for second year in row, taking out 4,000 seats; in 2010, capacity was 91,000; last year it was 83,000. This fall, it’ll be 79,000.

5) Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos has scored 46 goals with the Lightning at even strength, the most in a season by any NHL player since 1993.

4) Most college conference moves hurt a school’s basketball program, but Georgia State moving to the Sun Belt actually helps, moving the Panthers from the tough CAA to the much softer Sun Belt Conference. Former Alabama coach Bill Curry is Georgia State’s football coach.

3) CBSSports.com ran an interesting article this week on a guy in California who gets $200 a day to mentor college-age quarterbacks on the nuances of the position, hopefully getting them ready for the pros. Reminds me of the old TV show The Rockford Files, when James Garner got $200 a day (plus expenses) to figure out that week’s mystery.

2) If you like to wager on individual matchups in golf, Eldrick Woods is -$107 this week against Rory McIlroy, -$149 against Phil Mickelson, -$158 against Luke Donald and -$169 against Lee Westwood.

1) Average ticket price for a Red Sox game this year? $151.10, highest in the big leagues. Cubs are next at $108.70. Cheapest average tickets are in Milwaukee-Pittsburgh-Kansas City, all at $48.

**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 07:42 AM

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 4

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ST LOUIS (101 - 79) at MIAMI (72 - 90) - 7:05 PM
KYLE LOHSE (R) vs. JOSH JOHNSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 50-38 (+13.6 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 77-50 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 31-47 (-21.5 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 31-47 (-21.5 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 24-38 (-19.4 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 20-37 (-20.8 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

KYLE LOHSE vs. MIAMI since 1997
LOHSE is 2-2 when starting against MIAMI with an ERA of 5.85 and a WHIP of 1.516.
His team's record is 3-3 (-0.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-2. (+1.0 units)

JOSH JOHNSON vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
JOHNSON is 1-2 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 3.60 and a WHIP of 1.229.
His team's record is 3-2 (+0.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-2. (+0.0 units)

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MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 4

Not a lot of relevant info to give out this early in the season, but we'll do what we can.

They're opening the new stadium in Miami tonight, with world champ Cardinals in town for just this one game.

Lohse was 0-2, 8.76 in his last three starts LY; he was 0-0, 8.00 in two starts against Florida, giving up eight runs in nine IP.

Johnson was 3-1, 1.64 in his first nine starts LY, but got hurt and never pitched again after May 16; his only loss was 6-3 in St Louis May 5, as he gave up five runs in 7.1 IP.

MLB
Short Sheet

Wednesday, April 4

ST LOUIS at MIAMI, 7:05 PM ET ESPN
LOHSE: 11-30 TSR as underdog of +150 or higher
JOHNSON: 14-4 TSR as home favorite

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

MLB

Wednesday, April 4

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Trend Report
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7:05 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. MIAMI
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Miami
The total has gone OVER in 6 of St. Louis's last 8 games when playing Miami
Miami is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing St. Louis
Miami is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games

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MLB

Wednesday, April 4

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MLB Top 5: Best potential money pitchers in baseball
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Laying -200 or more on ace pitchers isn’t a long-term strategy for success. With that in mind, here are five undervalued starters who could help you turn a nice profit in 2012.

Mike Minor, Atlanta Braves

Batters hit .175 BA this spring against the 24-year-old lefty, who is slated to start the third game of the season versus the Mets. The general public might not expect much from Minor, who lost the No. 5 starter job last season to Brandon Beachy.

But Fangraphs.com notes Minor has a good strikeout rate and that his career 4.74 ERA is misleading. His career SIERA – a complicated stat that measures a pitcher’s underlying skill level more accurately than ERA – is 3.63.

In 24 spring innings, Minor allowed 14 hits while fanning 19 and walking 14. He had a fine WHIP of 1.17.

Minor was very vocal in Florida, saying he’d like a trade if he wasn’t in the rotation. He backed it up and could be a nice sleeper for bettors.

Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers

The 27-year-old right-hander posted the highest ERA, 4.43, in his four-year career last season yet still finished 19th in the money standings ($657). He was an underdog nine times.

Sabermetricians expect Scherzer’s ERA to drop this season, noting his ERA spike was due to two stats partly out of his control. He allowed a lofty .314 BA on balls in play, which doesn’t include home runs. And a whopping 12.6 percent of the fly balls he gave up went over the fence.

Because of those outliers, expect Scherzer to cut his ERA and keep cashing for bettors even if he doesn’t get the same run support he got last year (7.89, sixth in MLB).

Vance Worley, Philadelphia Phillies

As a rookie Worley went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 132 innings. He was the sixth-most profitable starter in MLB, bringing in $1,013 for $100 players, as the Phils won 16 of his 21 starts.

From a betting perspective, the highlight came when Worley cashed as a +161 dog against the Braves on Sept. 28. With Worley on the mound, the Philliess never laid more than -195.

Worley benefits from all the attention showered on Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. His most recent spring start also should help limit his buzz. He gave up 11 runs, five earned, in four innings against Minnesota last Wednesday as the Phillies simply wanted him to get his work in.

Anibal Sanchez, Florida Marlins

Sanchez will certainly be motivated, as he becomes a free agent at season’s end.

Did you know that only Brandon Morrow, Zach Greinke and Clayton Kershaw struck out more batters per inning last year than Sanchez?

Sanchez appears to have put his shoulder concerns behind him.

The 28-year-old right-hander suffered from a lack of run support last year, ranking 82nd in the majors. The retooled Marlins should provide more support. Newly-signed shortstop Jose Reyes is the reigning NL batting champ and improves the team’s defense up the middle.

Henderson Alvarez, Toronto Blue Jays

He won’t turn 22 until April 18, but this 6-foot-1 right-hander could pitch like a No. 2 starter this season. Alvarez throws in the mid-90s and has a power sinker with sharp downward movement. He can fool batters with his changeup as well.

After a rapid rise through the farm system, Alvarez went 1-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 10 starts for Toronto last season. He pitched at least six innings in each of his final eight outings.

Alvarez, who spent the offseason refining his slider, walked just eight batters in 63 2-3 innings last year.

Ride him early while he’s still under the radar.

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MLB

Wednesday, April 4

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MLB Opening Night: Cardinals at Marlins
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St. Louis Cardinals at Miami Marlins (-168, 7)

THE STORY: The Cardinals open defense of their improbable World Series title against the most active team this offseason. The re-vamped Marlins debut a new first name for the franchise (Miami), a new stadium (Marlins Park), a new shortstop (Jose Reyes), a new manager (Ozzie Guillen), and even a new first name for their right fielder (it’s now Giancarlo – not Mike – Stanton). Most of all, the Marlins feature a new attitude, one that has Florida believing it can contend in the NL East. St. Louis also turns the page on the past, after Albert Pujols signed with the Angels in the offseason and new manager Mike Matheny takes over for the retired Tony LaRussa.

Lance Berkman, who experienced a resurgent season in right field at age 35 in 2011, takes over at first base for St. Louis after hitting .301 with 31 homers. For the second spring in a row, a St. Louis ace is hurting. Adam Wainwright is back after missing last season with Tommy John surgery, but the Cardinals have shut down Chris Carpenter with a bulging disk in his neck. Florida counts on Reyes to anchor a much-improved offensive lineup with Hanley Ramirez (shifting from short to third) and Stanton, who has 56 career home runs in just 250 games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (2011: 14-8, ERA 3.39) vs. Marlins RH Josh Johnson (2011: 3-1, ERA 1.64)

With Carpenter out, Lohse will have to pick up the slack. The right-hander set career-best marks in ERA and WHIP (1.17), making 30 starts. Lohse lost twice with a 7.82 ERA in the postseason, and gave up eight runs on nine hits in 13 innings against the Marlins last season. Johnson endured injury woes in 2011, making just nine starts before missing the rest of the season with right shoulder inflammation. The right-hander made six strong starts in spring training, striking out 24 in 22 1/3 innings while hitting 96 mph with his fastball.

TRENDS:

* Cardinals are 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Cardinals are 20-7 in the last 27 meetings in Miami.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Stanton missed most of spring training with injuries to his left wrist and left knee.

2. The Cardinals open defense of their title with a three-city, seven-game road trip. After the season opener against the Marlins, St. Louis plays three at Milwaukee and three at Cincinnati before its home opener April 13 against the Cubs.

3. Marlins Park features a retractable roof, which should prevent the nearly daily South Florida rain showers from delaying games this season. The roof can be closed in 12-to-14 minutes.

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**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 07:47 AM

NBA
Dunkel

LA Lakers at LA Clippers
The Lakers look to take advantage of a Clippers team that is coming off a 94-75 win at Dallas and is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games following a SU win of more than 10 points. The Lakers are the pick (+3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Clippers favored by only 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: LA Lakers (+3 1/2). Here are all of today's picks

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4

Game 701-702: Indiana at Washington (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 121.514; Washington 118.337
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 3; 207
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana by 8; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+8); N/A

Game 703-704: Toronto at Philadelphia (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 116.155; Philadelphia 121.836
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 5 1/2; 188
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia by 8 1/2; 183
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+8 1/2); Over

Game 705-706: San Antonio at Boston (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 126.593; Boston 123.933
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 2 1/2; 187
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 1; 192
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-1); Under

Game 707-708: Charlotte at Atlanta (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 106.752; Atlanta 121.163
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 14 1/2; 192
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 13; 186
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-13); Over

Game 709-710: Oklahoma City at Miami (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 122.080; Miami 126.381
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 4 1/2; 204
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 3; 197
Dunkel Pick: Miami (-3); Over

Game 711-712: Denver at New Orleans (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 119.199; New Orleans 113.044
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 6; 189
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 4 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-4 1/2); N/A

Game 713-714: Golden State at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 111.554; Minnesota 115.206
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 3 1/2; 190
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 7 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Golden State (+7 1/2); N/A

Game 715-716: Cleveland at Milwaukee (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 103.816; Milwaukee 124.906
Dunkel Line & Total: Milwaukee by 21; 202
Vegas Line & Total: Milwaukee by 11; 206
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (-11); Under

Game 717-718: Memphis at Dallas (8:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 114.350; Dallas 1121.867
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 7 1/2; 193
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 6 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-6 1/2); N/A

Game 719-720: Phoenix at Utah (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 116.348; Utah 124.592
Dunkel Line & Total: Utah by 8; 197
Vegas Line & Total: Utah by 6 1/2; 201 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Utah (-6 1/2); Under

Game 721-722: New Jersey at Portland (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 114.742; Portland 119.562
Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 5; 199
Vegas Line & Total: Portland by 8; 196 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Jersey (+8); Over

Game 723-724: LA Lakers at LA Clippers (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Lakers 120.454; LA Clippers 122.009
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Clippers by 1 1/2; 191
Vegas Line & Total: LA Clippers by 3 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: LA Lakers (+3 1/2); N/A

**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 07:51 AM

NBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 4

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INDIANA (31 - 21) at WASHINGTON (12 - 41) - 4/4/2012, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 6-4 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 8-2 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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TORONTO (18 - 35) at PHILADELPHIA (29 - 23) - 4/4/2012, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 3-14 ATS (-12.4 Units) as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 23-38 ATS (-18.8 Units) in road games revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 76-62 ATS (+7.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 5-3 against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 5-4 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (36 - 14) at BOSTON (30 - 22) - 4/4/2012, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 31-18 ATS (+11.2 Units) in all games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 14-2 ATS (+11.8 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 190 and 194.5 points over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 20-7 ATS (+12.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) in home games against Southwest division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 33-50 ATS (-22.0 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 13-26 ATS (-15.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 38-62 ATS (-30.2 Units) in home games off an upset win as an underdog since 1996.
BOSTON is 14-31 ATS (-20.1 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 2-2 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 3-1 straight up against SAN ANTONIO 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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CHARLOTTE (7 - 43) at ATLANTA (31 - 23) - 4/4/2012, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHARLOTTE is 18-31 ATS (-16.1 Units) in all games this season.
CHARLOTTE is 18-29 ATS (-13.9 Units) as an underdog this season.
CHARLOTTE is 10-25 ATS (-17.5 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
CHARLOTTE is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ATLANTA is 86-116 ATS (-41.6 Units) versus poor offensive teams - scoring <=91 points/game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHARLOTTE is 6-4 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 6-4 straight up against CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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OKLAHOMA CITY (40 - 13) at MIAMI (37 - 14) - 4/4/2012, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 132-105 ATS (+16.5 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 81-56 ATS (+19.4 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 69-48 ATS (+16.2 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) in road games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 19-7 ATS (+11.3 Units) against Southeast division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in non-conference games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 20-8 ATS (+11.2 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 42-26 ATS (+13.4 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
MIAMI is 35-57 ATS (-27.7 Units) in home games in April games since 1996.

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

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DENVER (29 - 24) at NEW ORLEANS (13 - 40) - 4/4/2012, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW ORLEANS is 6-4 against the spread versus DENVER over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 6-4 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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GOLDEN STATE (20 - 31) at MINNESOTA (25 - 30) - 4/4/2012, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 6-2 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 6-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CLEVELAND (17 - 33) at MILWAUKEE (25 - 28) - 4/4/2012, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 10-19 ATS (-10.9 Units) second half of the season this season.
CLEVELAND is 35-48 ATS (-17.8 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 121-98 ATS (+13.2 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 30-14 ATS (+14.6 Units) after scoring 105 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 60-40 ATS (+16.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 54-33 ATS (+17.7 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 34-18 ATS (+14.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 15-30 ATS (-18.0 Units) as a home favorite of 9.5 to 12 points since 1996.
MILWAUKEE is 139-176 ATS (-54.6 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 7-3 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
MILWAUKEE is 7-4 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MEMPHIS (29 - 22) at DALLAS (30 - 24) - 4/4/2012, 8:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MEMPHIS is 6-3 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
MEMPHIS is 5-4 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PHOENIX (26 - 26) at UTAH (28 - 26) - 4/4/2012, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UTAH is 100-72 ATS (+20.8 Units) in home games after a division game since 1996.
UTAH is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) off an upset win as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 45-26 ATS (+16.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points since 1996.
PHOENIX is 64-40 ATS (+20.0 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 5-3 against the spread versus UTAH over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 6-2 straight up against UTAH over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW JERSEY (19 - 35) at PORTLAND (25 - 29) - 4/4/2012, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 60-74 ATS (-21.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 25-38 ATS (-16.8 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 22-36 ATS (-17.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 3-1 against the spread versus PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
PORTLAND is 3-1 straight up against NEW JERSEY 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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LA LAKERS (33 - 20) at LA CLIPPERS (32 - 21) - 4/4/2012, 10:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA CLIPPERS is 7-3 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 6-4 straight up against LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 07:53 AM

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 4

Hot Teams
-- Pacers won three of last four games; they're 4-7-1 as road favorites.
-- Raptors won three of last four games. are 13-7 as an underdog of 4+ points.
-- Boston won its last eight home games, covered last seven. Spurs won their last eight games (6-2 vs spread).
-- Miami won its last five home games, but is 7-9 vs spread in its last 16 at home. Thunder won/covered five of last seven road games.
-- Nuggets won three of last four games, all on the road.
-- Warriors covered eight of their last nine road games.
-- Grizzlies won five of their last six games.
-- Suns won three of their last four road games.
-- Nets covered five of their last six games (4-2 SU).
-- Clippers won their last six home games (5-1 vs spread).

Cold Teams
-- Wizards lost seven of their last eight games.
-- 76ers lost seven of their last eleven games.
-- Atlanta is 5-10 as home favorite of 4+ points. Bobcats lost last eight games, but covered three of last four.
-- New Orleans lost six of its last seven home games.
-- Minnesota lost its last three games, by 21-13-8 points.
-- Milwaukee lost three of its last four home games. Cavaliers lost last eight games, failed to cover last seven.
-- Mavericks are 3-7 vs spread in their last ten home games.
-- Jazz lost five of their last six games.
-- Portland covered only three of last ten home games.
-- Lakers are 0-9 vs spread in last nine games at Staples Center.

Wear-and-Tear
-- Pacers: 6th game/8 nites. Wizards: 5th game/7 nites.
-- Raptors: 3rd game/4 nites. 76ers: 2nd nite in row, after two off.
-- Spurs: 2nd nite in row, after two off. Celtics: Last 2 nites off.
-- Bobcats: 2nd nite in row, after two off. Hawks: Last 3 nites off.
-- Thunder: 3rd game/4 nites. Heat: 5th game/7 nites.
-- Nuggets: Last 2 nites off. Hornets: Last 2 nites off.
-- Warriors: 3rd game/4 nites. T'wolves: 3rd game/4 nites.
-- Cavaliers: 2nd nite in row, after two off. Bucks: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Grizzlies: 3rd nite in row, 5th/6 nites. Mavericks: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Suns: 3rd game/4 nites. Jazz: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Nets: 2nd nite in row, after two off. Trailblazers: 5th game/7 nites.
-- Lakers: 4th game/5 nites. Clippers: 4th game/6 nites.

Totals
-- Last three Indiana games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Toronto road games went over the total.
-- 11 of Spurs' last 12 road games went over the total.
-- Four of last five Atlanta games went over the total.
-- Four of last five Thunder games stayed under the total; four of last five Miami games went over.
-- Over is 5-2-1 in Denver's last eight games.
-- Six of Warriors' last eight road games stayed under total.
-- Over is 7-2 in Milwaukee's last nine home games.
-- Seven of last eight Memphis games stayed under total.
-- Six of last nine Phoenix road games went over the total.
-- Last five Portland games went over the total. Five of last seven New Jersey road games stayed under.
-- Three of Lakers' last four games stayed under the total.

Back-to-Back
-- Pacers are 5-4 vs spread if they won the night before.
-- Raptors are 1-4 vs spread on road if they played at home night before. 76ers are 3-4 vs spread if they lost the night before.
-- Spurs are 2-7-1 vs spread on road if they played night before.
-- Charlotte is 4-7 vs spread on road if it played night before.
-- Miami is 5-10 against spread when it played the night before.
-- Warriors are 6-2 vs spread on road if they played night before.
-- Cavaliers are 3-5 vs spread on road if they played night before.
-- Memphis is 6-1 vs spread on road if it played night before.
-- Suns are 9-6-1 vs spread if they played the night before.
-- Nets are 4-3 vs spread on road if they played the night before.
-- Lakers are 2-3 vs spread at Staples if they played night before.

**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 08:16 AM

NBA

Wednesday, April 4

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

7:00 PM
TORONTO vs. PHILADELPHIA
Toronto is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Toronto's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games at home
Philadelphia is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home

7:00 PM
INDIANA vs. WASHINGTON
Indiana is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Indiana is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington's last 8 games when playing Indiana
Washington is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Indiana

7:30 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. BOSTON
San Antonio is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston
San Antonio is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games when playing Boston
Boston is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against San Antonio
Boston is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against San Antonio

7:30 PM
CHARLOTTE vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Charlotte's last 12 games when playing Atlanta
Charlotte is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Atlanta is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Charlotte
Atlanta is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Charlotte

8:00 PM
CLEVELAND vs. MILWAUKEE
Cleveland is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games at home
Milwaukee is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games

8:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. MIAMI
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games on the road
Oklahoma City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Miami
Miami is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City
Miami is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City

8:00 PM
GOLDEN STATE vs. MINNESOTA
Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Golden State's last 7 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Golden State

8:00 PM
DENVER vs. NEW ORLEANS
Denver is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing New Orleans
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Denver's last 13 games when playing New Orleans
New Orleans is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Denver
New Orleans is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Denver

8:30 PM
MEMPHIS vs. DALLAS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis's last 6 games on the road
Memphis is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing Dallas
Dallas is 20-3 SU in its last 23 games when playing at home against Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Dallas's last 11 games when playing at home against Memphis

9:00 PM
PHOENIX vs. UTAH
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing on the road against Utah
Phoenix is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Utah
Utah is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
Utah is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games

10:00 PM
NEW JERSEY vs. PORTLAND
New Jersey is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Portland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Jersey's last 6 games when playing Portland
Portland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Portland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

10:30 PM
LA LAKERS vs. LA CLIPPERS
LA Lakers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of the LA Clippers last 11 games at home

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**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 08:19 AM

NBA

Wednesday, April 4

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capping the NBA Atlantic Division race
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They were the darlings of the early portion of the shortened NBA season. Armed with new owners, a new energy, and a new philosophy overall, the Philadelphia 76ers looked like they were back.

But the problem with this version of 76ers is that, while diverse, deep and balanced, there is no Allen Iverson. No Moses Malone. No Julius Erving. No superstar to turn to at crunch time. And they’ve paid for it.

As a result, there’s quite a race going on in the Atlantic. Philadelphia, no longer in first place, has to rally, gain momentum, and find someone who can make a clutch shot, if it’s going to overtake resurgent Boston down the stretch.

Heck, if the Sixers continue their inconsistent ways, the short-handed Knicks may even overtake them for second place.

As the season takes a turn for home, let’s look at the three candidates for the Atlantic crown and what’s in store for them the rest of the way.

The division champ, remember, is guaranteed a Top-4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Statistics and records through Monday.

Boston Celtics

RECORD: 30-22
ATS RECORD: 26-26
ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDING: First
ODDS TO WIN DIVISION: -225

THE SKINNY: No longer looking old and tired, the veteran Celtics have put it all together late in the year. Entering Tuesday, they had won five in a row and seven of their last 10. Who says the Big Three is done? Paul Pierce (19.1), Kevin Garnett (15.6), and Ray Allen (14.6) are Boston's leading scorers, and Rajon Rondo is averaging 11.1 assists.

The schedule isn’t easy the rest of the way, though. There are two more dates with Miami, as well as a pair versus Atlanta. But coach Doc Rivers is pushing the right buttons and everyone in green seems happy, which is bad news for the rest of the division.

Philadelphia 76ers

RECORD: 29-23
ATS RECORD: 26-25-1
ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDING: Second
ODDS TO WIN DIVISION: +225

THE SKINNY: Philadelphia fattened up on home games during the dead of winter. The 76ers had 13 home contests in the first month of the year and they won 11. But the opponents (Washington, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Toronto, among others) didn’t offer much resistance and now that teams are punching the Sixers in the face, they aren’t responding.

The 76ers are in absolute must-win mode because of the Celtics’ run, and were just 2-2 in their previous four games heading into Tuesday's date versus Miami. That's fine if you're willing to except a No. 7 seed and a date with a top-tier team in Round 1. But if Philadelphia wants a decent seed and a true chance to advance, it needs more consistency in a hurry. For that to happen, leading scorer Lou Williams (15.3 ppg) needs a little help.

New York Knicks

RECORD: 27-26
ATS RECORD: 27-26
ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDING: Third
ODDS TO WIN DIVISION: +500

THE SKINNY: Jeremy Lin and Amar'e Stoudemire are on the shelf, and though the latter is expected back this week, it’s a tough road ahead for the Knicks. Though they are hanging tough in the division race, having won four of five headed into Tuesday’s game versus Indiana, at some point, the roster turnover and the hovering uncertainty has to catch up to this team. After all, the Knicks have changed point guards, changed coaches, changed starting lineups, etc etc. And as fluid a league as the NBA is, you don’t see many hodge-podge rosters winning division titles these days.

Carmelo Anthony - averaging 20.6 points, six rebounds, and 3.7 assists - can change all that, if he truly takes over this team and carries it home. But that seems unlikely when the Knicks have seven road games in the season’s final month, including stops at Orlando, Chicago and Atlanta.

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**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 08:22 AM

NBA

Wednesday, April 4

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pick 'n' roll: Wednesday's best NBA bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

San Antonio Spurs at Boston Celtics (1, 192)

Two of the NBA's hottest teams clash when the Spurs visit the Celtics. San Antonio routed the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday for its eighth consecutive win and 11th in 12 games and trails Oklahoma City by just two games for the best record in the Western Conference. Boston enters with a five-game winning streak and has won seven of eight while taking over first place of the Atlantic Division.

Boston has won four games by 12 or more points during its winning streak and the most impressive performance was Sunday’s 91-72 thrashing of the Miami Heat. Point guard Rajon Rondo had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season.

San Antonio has received numerous contributions from its bench during its winning streak and the easy 125-90 victory over Cleveland was just the latest example. The Spurs received 62 points from reserves against the Cavaliers to follow up a much more competitive victory over Indiana in which the bench tallied 52 points.

The Spurs are 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings in Boston.

Pick: Spurs

Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Hornets (NA)

The Nuggets finish their season-long seven-game road trip against the Hornets on Wednesday. Denver is 3-3 on the trek. The Hornets welcome the return of guard Eric Gordon, who has missed all but two games this season because of a knee injury.

Denver is seventh in the West, one-half game ahead of Houston and 1½ clear of ninth-place Utah. The Nuggets, who have won three of their last four, lead the NBA in bench scoring at 41.7 points per game, and their depth is a big reason why they also lead the league in fast break points (20.1). Ty Lawson has scored 25 or more points in three of his last five games and has averaged 21.2 during the span. He is also averaging 9.3 assists in his last three games.

New Orleans has lost three straight and five of six, but the return of Gordon should provide a spark. Gordon, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Chris Paul trade, has a career average of 18.1 points. The Hornets own the worst record in the West and have struggled with injuries and illness.

Denver is 7-2 ATS in its last nine road games against teams with losing home records.

Pick: Nuggets

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**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 08:31 AM

NBA
Dunkel

LA Lakers at LA Clippers
The Lakers look to take advantage of a Clippers team that is coming off a 94-75 win at Dallas and is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games following a SU win of more than 10 points. The Lakers are the pick (+3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Clippers favored by only 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: LA Lakers (+3 1/2). Here are all of today's picks

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4

Game 701-702: Indiana at Washington (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 121.514; Washington 118.337
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 3; 207
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana by 8; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+8); N/A

Game 703-704: Toronto at Philadelphia (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 116.155; Philadelphia 121.836
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 5 1/2; 188
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia by 8 1/2; 183
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+8 1/2); Over

Game 705-706: San Antonio at Boston (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 126.593; Boston 123.933
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 2 1/2; 187
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 1; 192
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-1); Under

Game 707-708: Charlotte at Atlanta (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 106.752; Atlanta 121.163
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 14 1/2; 192
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 13; 186
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-13); Over

Game 709-710: Oklahoma City at Miami (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 122.080; Miami 126.381
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 4 1/2; 204
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 3; 197
Dunkel Pick: Miami (-3); Over

Game 711-712: Denver at New Orleans (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 119.199; New Orleans 113.044
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 6; 189
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 4 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-4 1/2); N/A

Game 713-714: Golden State at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 111.554; Minnesota 115.206
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 3 1/2; 190
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 7 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Golden State (+7 1/2); N/A

Game 715-716: Cleveland at Milwaukee (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 103.816; Milwaukee 124.906
Dunkel Line & Total: Milwaukee by 21; 202
Vegas Line & Total: Milwaukee by 11; 206
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (-11); Under

Game 717-718: Memphis at Dallas (8:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 114.350; Dallas 1121.867
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 7 1/2; 193
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 6 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-6 1/2); N/A

Game 719-720: Phoenix at Utah (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 116.348; Utah 124.592
Dunkel Line & Total: Utah by 8; 197
Vegas Line & Total: Utah by 6 1/2; 201 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Utah (-6 1/2); Under

Game 721-722: New Jersey at Portland (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 114.742; Portland 119.562
Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 5; 199
Vegas Line & Total: Portland by 8; 196 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Jersey (+8); Over

Game 723-724: LA Lakers at LA Clippers (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Lakers 120.454; LA Clippers 122.009
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Clippers by 1 1/2; 191
Vegas Line & Total: LA Clippers by 3 1/2; No Total
Dunkel Pick: LA Lakers (+3 1/2); N/A

**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 08:41 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Detroit at St. Louis
The Red Wings look to take advantage of a St. Louis team that is coming off a 5-2 home loss to Columbus and is 1-5 in its last 6 games following a home loss of 3 or more goals. Detroit is the pick (+130) according to Dunkel, which has the Red Wings favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+130). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4

Game 51-52: Tampa Bay at Montreal (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 10.498; Montreal 11.678
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 53-54: Detroit at St. Louis (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 11.684; St. Louis 10.224
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1 1/2; 4
Vegas Line & Total: St. Louis (-150); 5
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+130); Under

NHL
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 4

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

TAMPA BAY (37-35-0-7, 81 pts.) at MONTREAL (29-35-0-15, 73 pts.) - 4/4/2012, 7:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 6-5 (+0.7 Units) against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
TAMPA BAY is 6-5-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.2 Units)

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

DETROIT (47-27-0-5, 99 pts.) at ST LOUIS (48-21-0-10, 106 pts.) - 4/4/2012, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 7-13 ATS (-9.9 Units) in road games second half of the season this season.
DETROIT is 3-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in road games vs. division opponents this season.
ST LOUIS is 29-10 ATS (+17.4 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 15-3 ATS (+9.6 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
ST LOUIS is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in home games when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 16-4 ATS (+11.1 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 14-25 ATS (-14.1 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 8-9 (+1.5 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 9-8-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
11 of 15 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+7.5 Units)

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

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 4

Hot teams
-- Lightning won five of their last seven games.

Cold teams
-- Montreal lost six of its last seven games.
-- St Louis lost six of its last nine games. Red Wings lost their last seven road games.

Totals
-- Five of last six Tampa Bay games went over the total.
-- Last five Detroit-St Louis games stayed under the total.

Series records
-- Lightning lost three of last four visits to Montreal.
-- Red Wings won last three games vs St Louis: 3-2/3-0/3-1.

Back-to-Back
-- None.

NHL

Wednesday, April 4

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

7:30 PM
DETROIT vs. ST. LOUIS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing St. Louis
Detroit is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of St. Louis's last 9 games when playing at home against Detroit
St. Louis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit

7:30 PM
TAMPA BAY vs. MONTREAL
Tampa Bay is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Tampa Bay's last 16 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Montreal's last 16 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Montreal's last 7 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay

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

NHL

Wednesday, April 4

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ice picks: Wednesday's best NHL bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues (-150, 5)

The Blues will start Brian Elliott in goal on Wednesday, posing a daunting challenge to the Red Wings. Elliott has not allowed a regulation goal in his last three starts. He leads the league in save percentage (.943), goals-against average (1.48) and is second in shutouts (nine).

After a sloppy 5-2 loss to Columbus on Saturday, coach Ken Hitchcock intensified practice with two separate sessions on Monday.

“It was much longer than usual, but for good reason and to jump-start us back on track,” said Blues captain David Backes, who leads the team with 54 points. “I think it was good work by everyone and hopefully it has its effect.”

St. Louis is an incredible 30-5-4 at home, while the Red Wings are 16-21-3 on the road. The Blues need to win to keep their hopes alive for the Presidents’ Trophy.

Pick: Blues

Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens (NA)

Steven Stamkos and 42-year old goalie Dwayne Roloson are making the Lightning’s final stretch of the season interesting.

Stamkos is two goals away from becoming the second player in 16 years to reach 60 in a season. Roloson has won four of six, including triumphs over the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals. He’s averaging 32.5 saves in those six starts, with a .907 save percentage.

Montreal has dropped four straight and seven of eight.

Goalie Carey Price reportedly is suffering from headaches and is likely to miss the final three games. The Canadiens have mustered just six goals in their last four games, and are a pathetic 3 of 34 on the power play over the last 10 games.

The Canadiens are 3-7 in their last 10 home games, while the Lightning is 5-2 in its last seven overall.

Pick: Lightning

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**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 08:43 AM

NBA

Wednesday, April 4

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game of the day: Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat (-3, 197)

THE STORY: It was only 10 days ago that the Miami Heat went into Oklahoma City and were dominated by the Thunder. Now the Heat get a chance for some revenge. Miami has struggled with a number of top teams recently but finally coaxed an MVP performance out of LeBron James on Tuesday. Oklahoma City had its six-game winning streak come to an end on Monday but tends to step up against contenders.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSOK (Oklahoma City), SUN (Miami), ESPN

ABOUT THE THUNDER (40-13, 30-23 ATS): Oklahoma City crushed Miami, 103-87, on Mar. 25, as Kevin Durant piled up 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. The Thunder, known primarily for their offense, forced 21 turnovers and held the Heat to 38 second-half points in that contest. Oklahoma City has held each of its last five opponents under 100 points, with wins over the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers thrown into that mix. After beating the Bulls on Sunday, the Thunder ran out of gas on Monday, falling short in a 94-88 decision against the Memphis Grizzlies. Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to shoot 13 for 36 in the setback.

ABOUT THE HEAT (38-14, 25-27 ATS): James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 15 turnovers in the game against Oklahoma City. Miami, which has also lost to Orlando, Chicago and Indiana in the last three weeks, looked ready to fall off after getting dismantled, 91-72, at Boston on Sunday. The Heat shot 35 percent in that one, with Bosh and Wade combining to go 8 for 28. But Miami did not stay down long, bouncing back behind their superstar on Tuesday. James scored 14 straight points in the fourth quarter and finished with a season-high 41 in a 99-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

TRENDS:

* Thunder are 7-0 ATS in the last seven meetings in Miami.
* Thunder are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Over is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.
* Underdog is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Road team is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Oklahoma City won at Miami, 96-85, last season behind 29 points from Durant.

2. Wade (knee) missed Tuesday’s game and is day-to-day.

3. The Heat clinched a playoff berth with Tuesday’s win.

PREDICTION: Thunder 106, Heat 101

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**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 10:21 AM

NBA
Short Sheet

Wednesday, April 4

Indiana at Washington, 7:05 ET
Indiana: 1-7 ATS off BB ATS wins
Washington: 7-1 Over after allowing 110+ points

Toronto at Philadelphia, 7:05 ET
Toronto: 3-14 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points
Philadelphia: 17-6 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points

San Antonio at Boston, 7:35 ET
San Antonio: 15-7 ATS after playing 3+ games as a favorite
Boston: 5-17 ATS at home off a home win by 10+ points

Charlotte at Atlanta, 7:35 ET
Charlotte: 5-14 ATS playing with same-season revenge
Atlanta: 25-8 Under vs. division opponents

Oklahoma City at Miami, 8:05 ET ESPN2
Oklahoma City: 23-8 ATS off a home loss
Miami: 13-5 Under at home off a win

Denver at New Orleans, 8:05 ET
Denver: 16-5 Under off a win by 3 points or less
New Orleans: 10-2 ATS off BB games scoring 90 points or less

Golden State at Minnesota, 8:05 ET
Golden State: 19-7 Under playing thier second road game in two days
Minnesota: 3-13 ATS in April

Cleveland at Milwaukee, 8:05 ET
Cleveland: 0-7 ATS off BB games scoring 90 points or less
Milwaukee: 30-14 ATS after scoring 105+ points

Memphis at Dallas, 8:35 ET
Memphis: 8-1 ATS after making 50%+ of their three-point shots
Dallas: 1-5 ATS after scoring 80 points or less

Phoenix at Utah, 9:05 ET
Phoenix: 18-8 Under in road games
Utah: 9-21 ATS off BB road games

New Jersey at Portland, 10:05 ET
New Jersey: 3-12 ATS away off ATS wins in 4 or 5 of ther last 6 games
Portland: 21-12 Over in the second half of the season

LA Lakers at LA Clippers, 10:35 ET ESPN
LA Lakers: 4-13 ATS off a win by 6 points or less
LA Clippers: 17-10 ATS playing with revenge

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

**Udog** · 04-04-2012, 10:29 AM

NHL
Short Sheet

Wednesday, April 4

Tampa Bay at Montreal, 7:35 ET
Tampa Bay: 22-5 Over off an Under
Montreal: 7-20 SU playing their second game in five days

Detroit at St. Louis, 7:35 ET
Detroit: 1-7 SU away off a win by 1 goal
St. Louis: 15-3 SU at home playing with revenge

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

Announcement

Wednesday's Trends and Indexes - 4/4 (NBA, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

Wednesday's Trends and Indexes - 4/4 (NBA, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

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