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**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 08:36 AM

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

Six most popular picks and six least popular picks in LVH handicapping contest, which has 700+ contestants, all of whom who pick five NFL games a week against the spread. They put up $1,500 each, so these are serious handicappers........

Here's how those picks made out this week......

6) New Orleans Saints, 172-L
5) San Diego Chargers, 206- L
4) Miami Dolphins, 216-W
3) Washington Redskins, 220-L
2) New Jersey Giants, 295-W
1) Philadelphia Eagles, 303-L

26) Cleveland Browns, 83-W
27) Pittsburgh Steelers, 81-W
28) Tennessee Titans, 79-L
29) Chicago Bears, 73-L
30) St Louis Rams, 68-L
31) Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-W

*******

Armadillo: Monday's List of 13: Wrapping up an NFL Sunday..........

13) Quite an ending in Giant-Dallas game, where Cowboys appeared to score the winning TD with 0:06 left, but Dez Bryant’s hand landed out of bounds before the rest of him hit in the end zone, so the Giants escaped with another close call, 29-24 at JerryWorld. Cowboys dropped back to pass 66 times, ran it 17 times in a game the Giants led 23-0 early.

12) For second week in row, there were only two 4:00 NFL games; not sure why, but its not good. League got lucky today with the finishes in Foxboro/ Dallas the last two weeks, but too easy to get two clunkers in late afternoon.

11) Miami Dolphins had a successful onside kick and a blocked punt for a TD against the Jets…..in the first quarter. Miami was outgained by 127 yards and won 30-9. Go figure.

10) Rams’ WR Chris Givens has a catch of 50+ yards in his last five games; that’s the only positive I can find from the game in London.

I know NFL owners are greedy, rich dudes who try to scrape every last nickel out of every corner of the globe (globes are round and don’t have corners, but I digress) but I dislike the games in London. People over there don’t seem to care that much, anyway.

9) Chiefs are unspeakably bad; they need to sign a QB this week, since Brady Quinn got knocked goofy and Matt Cassel got tossed around like a piñata. KC might actually need to sign two QBs this week. Oakland has now won its last six visits to Arrowhead, as Hank Stram turns over in his grave.

8) The Steelers’ throwback uniforms were really bad, terrible. Looked like prison garb.

7) Carolina outgained the Bears 416-210, converted 10-19 on 3rd down, forced three turnovers (+1) and still lost 23-22 on the last play of the game. Cam Newton threw a pick-6 with a 19-14 lead that hurt a lot.

6) Changing defensive coordinators didn’t help the Eagles, who got waxed 30-17 at home by unbeaten Atlanta. Game was 24-7 at half. Home fans weren’t happy. Many booed.

5) Chargers lost 7-6 in rainy, dreary Cleveland, with bad luck, a passing team playing on a dismal day against a team that is cruddy in any weather. That was a game San Diego needed.

4) Rams/Redskins both took a step back this week after having shown improvement so far this season. Surprised how easily the Steelers dispatched Washington.

3) Detroit converted 12-16 on 3rd down, had three TD drives of 80+ yards and scored with 0:20 left to nip Seattle 28-24 in one of the better games of the day.

2) Colts/Titans continue to play close games, with Indy winning this one 19-13 in OT. Tennessee has three wins, but none by more than 3 points.

1) For the week, home teams went 3-9 against spread this week, favorites 4-8, over was 7-5. AFC won two of three against the NFC.

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 08:37 AM

College football odds: Week 10 opening line report

With the exception of Alabama, Kansas State, Notre Dame and Oregon, it was a rough week to be undefeated.

Saturday began with 11 remaining undefeated teams and ended with six as Florida, Oregon State, Mississippi State, Rutgers and Ohio all suffered defeats. And for the moment, the race for the national title is unclear with Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame in contention for the BCS championship game

Here’s a look at four key games in Week 10, with a thank you to Pete Korner, founder of The Sports Club, the premier oddsmaking service in Las Vegas:

Oregon (-6) at USC

Oregon is No. 2 for the sixth straight week after a dominating offensive performance in which it put up 56 points by the half on Colorado.

“They’re so powerful (Oregon), but this one is going to be tight game,” Korner says. “I would have liked to have gone a little higher on this game because the public’s attention span is one week.”

The Trojans suffered their second loss after being upset by Arizona on Saturday and will surely be fired up for this one.

Oklahoma State at Kansas State (-7)

Kansas State found the cracks in the Texas Tech defense and still found time to play its backups in a 55-24 win. Collin Klein continued his Heisman bid, passing for 233 yards, running for 83 and accounting for four touchdowns. Korner says his oddsmaking team varied between 6.5 and 7.5, so they decided to set the spread right in the middle at the key number of 7.

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (-20)

Notre Dame was an 11-point dog at most books heading into Oklahoma on Saturday. The offense came alive and the defense was once again stellar as the Irish handled the Sooners, 30-7.

“Such an impressive win,” Korner says. “Notre Dame will have its backers as usual and I expect a significant amount of money to pour in on the Irish.”

Korner took the highest number suggested by his team this week because of Notre Dame's offensive outburst against a stout Oklahoma defense last week.

Pittsburgh picked up its first back-to-back wins over FBS teams since the final two games of 2010 with a convincing 47-17 win over Temple on Saturday.

Alabama (-7.5) at LSU

Alabama is No. 1 for the ninth straight week and is looking unstoppable after rolling over Mississippi State, 38-7. Korner’s team had Alabama as low as 3 and as high as 10-point favorites this week.

“I don’t want Alabama money,” Korner says. “LSU can pull a surprise…I wanted the extra hook.”

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 08:37 AM

NBA Southeast Division preview: Heat head and shoulders above all

The defending NBA champs are huge favorites to top the Southeast Division, big chalk to win the Eastern Conference and the oddsmakers’ choice to repeat their NBA title. But while all eyes are on the Heat, there could be hidden value below them in the standings.

Atlanta Hawks (2011-12: 40-26 SU, 36-28-2 ATS)

Odds to win division: +1,400
Season win total: 43.5

Why bet the Hawks: Atlanta has overhauled its roster and we see that as a good thing. The Hawks were getting too complacent with the guys they had and they just got stagnant. Atlanta went as Joe Johnson went, but he is now gone and the Hawks will be more of a team this season.

Why not bet the Hawks: Defense. The Hawks ranked sixth in overall defensive efficiency last season, but they will decline this year. Atlanta is a small team and, with a wealth of scorers, the Hawks will likely need to outscore opponents to win. The Hawks will play at a faster pace, so transition defense will be a key.

Season win total pick: Over 43.5

Charlotte Bobcats (2011-12: 7-59 SU, 23-43-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +15,000
Season win total: 21.5

Why bet the Bobcats: There’s nowhere to go but up for Charlotte. The Bobcats won just seven of 66 games last season - that’s no misprint. Charlotte went 7-59. The Bobcats overhauled the coaching staff and they’ve added five new players to the roster. They have a fresh start and they will be catching a lot of points on most nights this season.

Why not bet the Bobcats: Bad. A simple adjective is all that is needed to describe Charlotte. With a new system plugged with recycled players, there’s going to be a lot of losing once again. New head coach Mike Dunlap is a defensive strategist, but he’s going to need a couple of years to get the right players in place.

Season win total pick: Under 21.5

Miami Heat (2011-12: 46-20 SU, 32-34-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: -2,500
Season win total: 60.5

Why bet the Heat: The defending NBA champs should be even better this season. Miami is a loaded team and when it plays small, it’s virtually impossible to beat. The Heat added Ray Allen and he brings two major upgrades with his 3-point shooting and his free-throw shooting.

Why not bet the Heat: Health. Teams were able to attack Miami inside last season, especially when Chris Bosh was out with injury. He’s a fragile guy and if he misses time, the Heat could slip up a bit. Dwyane Wade will also be playing on an unstable knee and Ray Allen is coming off ankle surgery.

Season win total pick: Over 60.5

Orlando Magic (2011-12: 37-29 SU, 34-32-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +7,000
Season win total: 24.5

Why bet the Magic: Orlando won’t have the Dwight Howard drama to deal with anymore and without that distraction, the Magic will be able to focus on basketball. Their offense should be more dynamic and the team, as a whole, will be unselfish. New head coach Jacque Vaughn also brings new life to Orlando.

Why not bet the Magic: Losses. Despite the negative attention he brought, Dwight Howard was still a dominant player. And you just can’t replace that type of talent. Orlando’s defense will be easy to score upon and since it’ll be playing with youth in a rebuilding year, the Magic will struggle.

Season win total pick: Under 24.5

Washington Wizards (2011-12: 20-46 SU, 26-36-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +5,500
Season win total: 31.5

Why bet the Wizards: Washington has low expectations once again this season. The Wizards do
have plenty of talent on hand and they got rid of the headache known as Andray Blatche. Washington will have a much-improved defense which will keep it competitive in a lot games this season.

Why not bet the Wizards: Offense. Washington’s offense will struggle to score points as it simply doesn’t have enough high-powered offensive players. That weakness will be glaring without John Wall on the court. He will miss about six weeks with a stress injury in his left knee. If he has a setback, the Wizards are in the danger zone.

Season win total pick: Over 31.5

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 08:37 AM

NBA Atlantic Division preview: Celtics lead a tight race

The Atlantic Division is one of the most wide-open groups in the NBA, giving some true value to those preseason futures odds. Take a look and why and why not to bet these five teams and get our NBA expert's pick for each clubs' season win total.

Boston Celtics (2011-12: 39-27 SU, 34-30-2 ATS)

Odds to win division: +165
Season win total: 51.5

Why to bet the Celtics: Boston has the premier point guard in the NBA with Rajon Rondo. The Celtics go as he goes, and as long as he stays healthy this team is dangerous. Boston still has veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and they added 3-point specialist Jason Terry.

Why not to bet the Celtics: Age. Aside from Rondo, the Celtics main contributors are 36 (Garnett), 35 (Terry), and 34 (Pierce). They wore down noticeably last season despite the shortened schedule and going back to 82 games this year will be a major challenge for Doc Rivers to keep his guys fresh for the playoffs.

Season win total pick: Under 51.5

Brooklyn Nets (2011-12: 22-44 SU, 28-38-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +350
Season win total: 43.5

Why to bet the Nets: Brooklyn has a deep roster with quality depth at every position. The Nets will be an explosive offensive team led by the backcourt duo of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. The Nets also have Brook Lopez inside, who is one of the league’s best low-post scorers.

Why not to bet the Nets: Defense. The Nets will have to out-score their opponents to win this season. Avery Johnson is a defensive-minded coach, but Brooklyn is loaded with veteran guys who have proven to be offense first. Those guys will also need time to adjust to their new teammates and new system.

Season win total pick: Under 43.5

New York Knicks (2011-12: 36-30 SU, 27-39-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +240
Season win total: 45.5

Why to bet the Knicks: New York finally has the depth it’s longed for. The Knicks don’t need to rely heavily on their starting unit so they should be a fresher team late in games. The Knicks seemed to play hard for head coach Mike Woodson when he took over last season, so they should do the same from the get-go.

Why not to bet the Knicks: Chemistry. Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire are not a good fit. And now the Knicks have a completely revamped roster coming into this season with the additions of Marcus Camby, Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, Kurt Thomas, and Rasheed Wallace. The one variable they all have is old age - four of those five guys are 38 or older.

Season win total pick: Under 45.5

Philadelphia 76ers (2011-12: 35-31 SU, 33-32-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +400
Season win total: 47.5

Why to bet the 76ers: Philadelphia was an exciting team to watch last season, especially after it changed to an up-tempo offense. The 76ers are a youthful team and they’ve added two more offensive weapons in Jason Richardson, who will start, and Nick Young off the bench. Andrew Bynum gives Philadelphia a big guy in the paint which should help Spencer Hawes’ production.

Why not to bet the 76ers: Losses. Philadelphia traded Andre Iguodala and they lost Lou Williams to free agency. Iguodala and Williams were the 76ers best players last season, so now they must rely on newcomers (Bynum, Richardson, and Young) to catch on quickly to a new system. It’s going to take some time and bettors really don’t know if the pieces are going to fit together.

Season win total pick: Under 47.5

Toronto Raptors (2011-12: 23-43 SU, 28-38-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +8,000
Season win total: 31.5

Why to bet the Raptors: Toronto has just 43 wins to 103 losses over the last two seasons. That alone creates plenty of value and the Raptors have some potential. They will be changing their offensive philosophy to more of an up-tempo team. Head coach Dwane Casey is well respected, and if the Raptors don’t forget to play defense, they will be much improved.

Why not to bet the Raptors: Turnovers. With Toronto changing the way they play, there are going to be some growing pains. There’s going to be sloppy play and reports out of training camp say the Raptors are “throwing the ball all over the gym.” Until they get into rhythm, Toronto’s defense will suffer because of their offense.

Season win total pick: Over 31.5

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 08:38 AM

NBA Northwest Division preview: Thunder's league to lose

The Northwest Division is a one-horse race with the defending Western Conference champs set as big favorites to win the division crown. But some up-and-coming teams provide plenty of long-shot value behind the Thunder.

Denver Nuggets (2011-12: 50-32 SU, 44-34-4 ATS)

Odds to win division: +1,000
Season win total: 49.5

Why to bet the Nuggets: Denver is loaded with offensive talent, but it added a strong defensive piece in Andre Iguodala. He is a terrific perimeter defender and his addition was a major coup for the Nuggets. Wilson Chandler only played in eight games last year, but fully healthy, he and Iguodala improve Denver’s defense a bunch.

Why not to bet the Nuggets: Injuries. Denver can never seem to stay healthy for an entire season. And those injuries seem to occur in clusters. The Nuggets’ second unit is also young and they struggle to score at times. It will take time for them to gel as head coach George Karl is still mixing and matching their minutes.

Season win total pick: Over 49.5

Minnesota Timberwolves (2011-12: 17-65 SU, 36-46-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +2,500
Season win total: 38.5

Why to bet the Timberwolves: Minnesota was in the playoff hunt last year before injuries derailed them. But if the T-Wolves stay healthy and the team’s new additions of Andrei Kirilenko and Brandon Roy can contribute, they will be fighting for a playoff spot once again. Minnesota has built their team unity nicely during camp.

Why not to bet the Timberwolves: Point guard. Minnesota would have little to worry about if point guard Ricky Rubio was healthy. Rubio isn’t slated to return until at least late December or early January, and his absence is the only real hole this team has. Luke Ridnour will play in his place, but he’s dealing with back spasms and Minnesota has little else if he also goes down.

Season win total pick: Over 38.5

Oklahoma City Thunder (2011-12: 55-27 SU, 43-38-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: -900
Season win total: 60.5

Why to bet the Thunder: Oklahoma City has one of the top duos in the NBA with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Both are bona fide scorers and opponents have difficulty in shutting them both down in a game. Overall, the Thunder have an excellent offense which led them to the Finals last season. That experience will be extremely valuable this season.

Why not to bet the Thunder: Defense. Oklahoma City couldn’t stop the good offensive teams last season, and once again its defense looks suspect on paper. The Thunder can certainly out-score any team, but playoff games are won with defense. Unless Durant and Westbrook buy into defense, the Thunder will disappoint once again.

Season win total pick: Under 60.5

Portland Trail Blazers (2011-12: 48-34 SU, 43-36-3 ATS)

Odds to win division: +2,800
Season win total: 35.5

Why to bet the Trail Blazers: Portland has some young, exciting talent on hand this season. Rookie point guard Damian Lillard leads the way and if he lives up to the hype, the Trail Blazers can build around him. Portland also has three solid veterans (Aldridge, Matthews, and Batum) for Lillard to work with, so this team isn’t without hope.

Why not to bet the Trail Blazers: Mystery. Portland made some questionable moves this offseason and its roster is basically a mixed bag of youth and washed-up veterans. There’s too much uncertainty after the starting five and the Trail Blazers may have to blow up their roster for salary cap reasons once they fall out of the playoff chase.

Season win total pick: Under 35.5

Utah Jazz (2011-12: 39-43 SU, 34-46-2 ATS)

Odds to win division: +2,800
Season win total: 42.5

Why to bet the Jazz: Utah surprisingly made the playoffs last season and it should build off that this season. This is one of the biggest teams in the NBA and when head coach Tyrone Corbin went to his big lineup, the Jazz played exceptional. Their defense needs improvement but their offense will get them some wins this season.

Why not to bet the Jazz: Youth. Utah is still a relatively young team. Aside from Al Jefferson and veteran Mo Williams, three main contributors are all 22 years old or younger. In order to win, Utah needs those guys to develop and improve off last season, but that is never a certainly in the fickle NBA.

Season win total pick: Under 42.5

James Harden was traded from Thunder to Rockets on Sunday.

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 08:39 AM

NBA Central Division preview: With no Rose, Bulls must hold off Pacers

The Central Division’s biggest star is a question mark for the start of the season, providing the Pacers a chance to build some momentum before Derrick Rose returns to the Bulls lineup.

Chicago Bulls (2011-12: 50-16 SU, 38-27-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: -190
Season win total: 47.5

Why bet the Bulls: Chicago will enter the season as a forgotten commodity. With Derrick Rose’s ACL injury sidelining him until at least February, the Bulls have low expectations this season. But head coach Tom Thibodeau is terrific and the Bulls have won without Rose in the past. They will rely on their strong defense to win games this season.

Why not bet the Bulls: Bench. Chicago’s second unit is a work in progress. The Bulls had a cohesive bench over the last couple of years in which five guys would play together for 15 minutes per game. This year’s version is a mishmash unit and it’s likely the Bulls will only play an eight or nine-man rotation.

Season win total pick: Over 47.5

Cleveland Cavaliers (2011-12: 21-45 SU, 31-35-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +5,000
Season win total: 32.5

Why bet the Cavaliers: Cleveland has one of the future stars of the NBA on their team in Kyrie Irving. The kid (he’s only 21 years old) is exciting and a bona fide superstar in the making. He can carry this team to some surprising wins on his own and as long as he’s on the court, the Cavaliers have a shot to win.

Why not bet the Cavaliers: Youth. The Cavaliers are a young and inexperienced team that will need time to develop. Their core talent is either in their second-year guys or rookies, and all of them are 25 years old or younger. Cleveland’s defense was bad last season and with all of its youth, don’t expect it to be much better.

Season win total pick: Under 32.5

Detroit Pistons (2011-12: 25-41 SU, 32-33-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +5,000
Season win total: 32.5

Why bet the Pistons: Detroit played much better basketball than its 25-41 record indicates. Remember, the Pistons started the season at 5-20 which means they went 20-21 the rest of the way. It took time for them to gel and with a full training camp, we expect more consistency from the start.

Why not bet the Pistons: Defense. Head coach Lawrence Frank will get the Pistons better on that end of the floor and Andre Drummond will certainly help. But young and talented offensive players don’t like to guard and it will take Frank some time to get the Pistons to defend game in and game out.

Season win total pick: Over 32.5

Indiana Pacers (2011-12: 42-24 SU, 32-34-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +130
Season win total: 51.5

Why bet the Pacers: Indiana is a young team on the rise. The Pacers won 42 games last season and they should improve off that success. Indiana has a wealth of talent on its roster and it goes beyond just the starting five. The Pacers flew under the radar last season and the same thing may happen this season simply because they don’t have big-name players.

Why not bet the Pacers: Matchups. Indiana has one defensive weakness and that is the fact it can’t defend athletic forwards. The Pacers are too slow-footed down low to contend with quick big men and against particular teams, Indiana is simply overmatched.

Season win total pick: Under 51.5

Milwaukee Bucks (2011-12: 31-35 SU, 29-37-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +2,800
Season win total: 36.5

Why bet the Bucks: This is Milwaukee’s make-or-break season. The Bucks have finished just out of the playoffs the last two years and it’s time for them to finish in the Top 8. Their offense took off when they acquired Monta Ellis and they should be even better this season.

Why not bet the Bucks: Pressure. Milwaukee has to win this year or else major changes will be on the horizon. Head coach Scott Skiles is in the final year of his contract and Brandon Jennings will be entering that territory next season. Their defense slipped big time and if they want to be contenders, they must fix that weakness as well.

Season win total pick: Over 36.5

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 08:40 AM

NBA Pacific Division preview: Lakers, Clippers in battle for L.A.

It’s a battle for Los Angeles in the Pacific Division, with the Lakers and Clippers in an arms race. Both L.A. teams loaded up on talent this offseason, leaving the bottom three teams to fight amongst themselves.

Golden State Warriors (2011-12: 23-43 SU, 36-29-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +5,000
Season win total: 34.5

Why bet the Warriors: Golden State now has center Andrew Bogut and, if he’s healthy and remains that way for the entire season, the Warriors have a puncher’s chance. Bogut will make the Warriors defense much better than they’ve been and since this team has better bench depth, Golden State may surprise some teams.

Why not bet the Warriors: Coaching. Insiders say Mark Jackson simply is not the right coach for this team. Jackson only has one year of experience and his defensive philosophies don’t match the personnel. Their offense is predicated on the outside shot and if those shots aren’t falling, the Warriors are not good enough defensively to overcome that.

Season win total pick: Under 34.5

Los Angeles Clippers (2011-12: 40-26 SU, 33-33-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +320
Season win total: 48.5

Why bet the Clippers: Los Angeles has a solid duo with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. That combo landed the Clippers in the playoffs last season and they should have no problems returning this season. Los Angeles added a nice complimentary piece in Grant Hill and if their other reaches pan out (Lamar Odom), then this team likely gets a No. 3 seed in the West.

Why not bet the Clippers: Defense. The most glaring weakness this team has is defending the two-guard spot. The Clippers simply can’t matchup at that position with the heavyweights of the West, and in the playoffs that will be their downfall. They also need their second-team defenders to become better scorers but that may be asking for too much.

Season win total pick: Over 48.5

Los Angeles Lakers (2011-12: 41-25 SU, 28-38-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: -425
Season win total: 59.5

Why bet the Lakers: The other team in Los Angles is simply loaded and one of the favorites to represent the West in the NBA Finals. The acquisitions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash make this team quite formidable and opponents are going to earn every win against the Lakers.

Why not bet the Lakers: Chemistry. It’s more difficult than it seems for superstars to mesh when playing on the same team, especially when they are learning a new style of offense. The Lakers will run a hybrid of the Princeton offense, so it will take time for them to work out the kinks. Watch their bench closely as well. The second unit isn’t all that good.

Season win total pick: Under 59.5

Phoenix Suns (2011-12: 33-33 SU, 34-32-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +6,600
Season win total: 34.5

Why bet the Suns: Phoenix will be an afterthought out West, which means it will be significant underdogs in the majority of its games. The Suns are always dangerous on their home court and when catching teams in bad scheduling spots, this team may be able to pull off a few upsets along the way.

Why not bet the Suns: Rebuilding. Phoenix will basically have a whole new team this season. The Suns lost the face of their franchise with Steve Nash now in LA. The Suns lack talent and they’re counting on injury-prone guys like Michael Beasley and Jermaine O’Neal to carry them. Phoenix has no defense either and it will need to outscore teams to win.

Season win total pick: Under 34.5

Sacramento Kings (2011-12: 22-44 SU, 29-37 ATS)

Odds to win division: +10,000
Season win total: 29.5

Why bet the Kings: Sacramento can do two things really well: It runs a fast-paced offense and when the shots are falling, it is incredibly difficult to beat. The Kings also have one of the best rebounding teams in the league and that prowess allows them to hang around in games against superior teams. When both of those areas are on, the Kings are a tough out.

Why not bet the Kings: Talent. Sacramento has one all-around solid NBA player in DeMarcus Cousins. But his attitude sucks. Tyreke Evans has regressed after showing so much promise early on. Other than those two guys, the Kings don’t have much else. Head coach Keith Smart will have to work some magic for Sacramento to be competitive.

Season win total pick: Under 29.5

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 08:43 AM

NBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 30

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WASHINGTON (20 - 46) at CLEVELAND (21 - 45) - 10/30/2012, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

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BOSTON (50 - 36) at MIAMI (62 - 27) - 10/30/2012, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) in road games against Southeast division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 87-121 ATS (-46.1 Units) in home games first half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 12-8 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 10-10 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
12 of 20 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DALLAS (36 - 34) at LA LAKERS (46 - 32) - 10/30/2012, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 264-209 ATS (+34.1 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
DALLAS is 12-1 ATS (+10.9 Units) in road games first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 31-45 ATS (-18.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 6-5 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 6-5 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

NBA

Tuesday, October 30

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. CLEVELAND
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games on the road
Cleveland is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing Washington

8:00 PM
BOSTON vs. MIAMI
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Miami is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Miami is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Boston

10:30 PM
DALLAS vs. LA LAKERS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games
LA Lakers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games when playing at home against Dallas

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**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 01:05 PM

Bank shots: NBA betting news and notes

The NBA is back to its 82-game format Tuesday night when three games open the 2012-13 season. Before teams tipoff, take a quick look at our NBA betting news and notes for the upcoming schedule:

A look back

Best ATS team 2011-12: San Antonio Spurs - 42-20-4 ATS
Worst ATS team 2011-12: Charlotte Bobcats - 23-43-0 ATS
Best over team 2011-12: San Antonio/Milwaukee - 39-26-1 over/under
Best under team 2011-12: Memphis/Phoenix – 26-40-0 over/under

Win totals

A good gauge of a team on the rise – or decline – is looking at how they stacked up against expectations last season. Take a look at the teams that topped and flopped when it came to their season win totals in 2011-12:

Toppers

San Antonio Spurs – Season win total 41.5/Win total 50
Utah Jazz – Season win total 27.5/Win total 36
Indiana Pacers – Season win total 36.5/Win total 42
Toronto Raptors – Season win total 16.5/Win total 22

Floppers

Charlotte Bobcats – Season win total 17.5/Win total 7
Dallas Mavericks – Season win total 43.5/Win total 36
Golden State Warriors – Season win total 30.5/Win total 23
Portland Trail Blazers – Season win total 37.5/Win total 28

Benches

Plenty of times, your wager doesn’t come down to the superstars but the guys in between. Here are the best and worst benches from last season, with help from hoopsstats.com:

Best benches

San Antonio Spurs - +12.6 Efficiency Difference
Denver Nuggets - +11.7
Milwaukee Bucks - +11.0

Worst benches

Orlando Magic - -11.4 Efficiency Difference
Sacramento Kings - -11.2
Los Angeles Lakers - -9.4

Key injuries

The NBA season hasn't even begun and already some of the league's top players are watching from the sidelines:

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks - Out until mid November after undergoing minor knee surgery.
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves - Out until early December after breaking his hand.
Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks - Out until mid December after suffering a ruptured cyst in his knee.
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls - Out indefinitely while recovering from a torn ALC suffered last postseason.
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics - Out indefinitely after offseason shoulder surgery.
Andrew Bogut, Golden State Warriors - Out indefinitely after offseason ankle surgery.
Al Harrington, Orlando Magic - Out indefinitely after offseason knee surgery.
Nene, Washington Wizards - Out indefinitely while recovering from plantar fascitis.

Making moves

Unlike most other sports, one player can have a huge impact on how a team fares SU as well as ATS. Here are some notable player moves and their possible impact on how teams play this season:

Los Angeles Lakers – Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison

Los Angeles swaps a good center for a great center but the key pieces are Nash and Jamison. Nash gives L.A. its first great PG since Magic and Jamison is a cut from the same mold as Lamar Odom, stretching the defense with his scoring inside and out.

Houston Rockets – Jeremy Lin, James Harden

The jury is still out on Lin, but at least he doesn’t have Carmelo Anthony putting the freeze on him in Houston. Harden is another roll of the dice and it will be interesting to see how the once-great sixth man does without Durant and Westbrook freeing up space.

Miami Heat – Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis

In theory, Allen should be able to score 15 points a night in his sleep. With the drive-and-dish coming oh-so easy in South Beach, Jesus has ample room with defenders collapsing on LeBron and Wade. Lewis should see similar benefits from beyond the arc.

Los Angeles Clippers - Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Ronny Turiaf, Matt Barnes

The Clippers were trying to keep up with the Joneses this offseason, bringing in a few bigger names. Three of those guys are former Lakers, and outside of maybe Odom, none of them will have any impact on L.A.'s odds.

Toronto Raptors – Landry Fields, Kyle Lowry, John Lucas III

Fields’ escape from New York could prove profitable for Raptors backers and Lowry, when healthy, is one of the best all-around players in the league. The addition of Lucas provides a Plan B at point. Toronto also gave itself a shot of energy with draft picks Terrence Ross and Quincy Acy.

Brooklyn Nets - Joe Johnson

The Nets took the scoring load off Deron Williams by acquiring Johnson and resigned some key cogs. However, those players led Brooklyn – formerly New Jersey – to only 22 wins in the shortened season. Haven’t we seen this before with the Miami Marlins this summer - new name, same ole team?

Denver Nuggets - Andre Iguodala

Iguodala becomes the closest thing to a superstar on a team with no superstars. His energy and defense fits the mold of an underrated Denver team.

Philadelphia 76ers – Andrew Bynum, Jason Richardson, Nick Young

Does anyone else get the feeling the Lakers sold the Sixers a lemon? Bynum is a nice piece to have in the paint, especially on defense, but his knees are already an issue. Richardson and Young are two trigger-happy guards that can hurt more than help.

New coaches

Charlotte Bobcats - Mike Dunlap
Orlando Magic - Jacque Vaughn
Portland Trail Blazers - Terry Stotts

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 02:34 PM

NFL odds: Week 9 opening line report

We usually save our “Lines that make you go hmmm…” for later in the week, but Week 9’s Monday night matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints has everyone – from books to bettors – scratching their heads.

“This is a really tough game,” Peter Korner, founder of the Nevada-based odds service The Sports Club, told Covers. “The initial perception is that this is going to be a really good game, exciting with lots of scoring. But, in reality, it’s looking like a 17-14 game.”

Korner’s crew of oddsmakers sent out a suggested spread of Saints -5. Online books opened the game as low as New Orleans -3. Regardless of the opening line, it’s safe to say Week 9’s marquee Monday Night Football game features the two most disappointing teams of the 2012 season.

New Orleans, hindered by all the offseason drama of Bountygate, is 2-5 SU (3-4 ATS) and coming off an embarrassing 34-14 loss to the Denver Broncos Sunday night. The Eagles are also limping into Week 9, falling to 3-4 SU (1-5-1 ATS) after a 30-17 flogging by the undefeated Atlanta Falcons.

“I’m lost on this game,” laughs Korner. “One team will have to win, in that case we’ll go with the home team.”

Korner was baffled by the betting patterns for the Falcons-Eagles game, which saw Philadelphia open as the favorite and draw action throughout the course of the week. He’s even more surprised that many online books have opened this week’s spread as low as a field goal.

Korner admits New Orleans hasn’t performed much better, but the Saints are far from the hot mess that has become the Eagles’ season.

Quarterback Michael Vick continues to limit the offense, which has scored just 17.1 points per game (30th in the NFL). Rumors are picking up momentum that head coach Andy Reid – whose job is on the chopping block - may look to backup QB Nick Foles in an attempt to save the season and his job.

“I think Reid’s time is coming to an end,” says Korner.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers (-9.5, 42.5)

By now, we’ve all read the cringe-inducing stats regarding the Chiefs and their futility this season and you could make an argument that Kansas City is the worst NFL team we’ve seen in some time.

The odds for Thursday night’s meeting between the Chiefs and Chargers are teetering on double digits at some markets while others have this standalone game as low as Bolts -8.

Korner says two of his oddsmakers brought spreads of 7.5 to the table while others had it as high as 10. He’s suggesting keeping this number as high as possible and sent out San Diego -9.5, even suggesting a move to -10 or above.

“You don’t want to be cheering for Kansas City come Thursday night,” he says.

Korner is throwing out the Chargers’ 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns Sunday, believing the bad weather had a lot to do with San Diego’s lack of offense. Quarterback Philip Rivers went just 18 for 34 and finished with 154 yards and no touchdowns.

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants (-3.5, 47)

The Giants escaped a second-half collapse versus the Dallas Cowboys Sunday to improve to 6-2 and now return home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat up on New York’s NFC East rivals, the Washington Redskins, in Week 8.

Korner sent out the G-Men at -5 while online books are offering the defending champs as low as a field goal. He says people are thinking about New York’s dreadful second half in Dallas and forgetting the one important thing.

“New York won that game,” says Korner. “The Giants just plain win. For them to be 3-point favorites in Dallas, it should warrant them being bigger than 3-point favorites at home to a Pittsburgh team that isn’t the same ole Pittsburgh team.”

“It’s a really good game, and the Giants seem to always win these big games”

Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons (-5, 47.5)

Korner believes football bettors are getting a deal on the Falcons as 5-point favorites, after sending out the lone unblemished squad as touchdown chalk at home on Sunday night.

“This is cheap,” says Korner. “(Atlanta) has firepower, it’s explosive, it’s playing good defense. If they can handle Philly on the road, they can surely handle Dallas at home.”

Korner says a lot of the parlay money for Sunday will be tied into this Sunday nighter, making it one of the deciding games of the Week 9 slate.

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 11:05 PM

NBA Southwest Division preview: Aging Spurs still favorites

The Western Conference’s best record resided in the Southwest last season, with the Spurs proving there is plenty of tread left on the tires. Can San Antonio find the fountain of youth again - this time during an 82-game slate - and win the division in 2012-13.

Dallas Mavericks (2011-12: 36-30 SU, 32-34-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +525
Season win total: 45.5

Why bet the Mavericks: Dallas won with defense last season as its offense was one of the worst in the NBA. The Mavericks have overhauled their roster this season and if the eight new players gel, Dallas should make the playoffs with relative ease. But it will have to rely on defense to do it once again this season.

Why not bet the Mavericks: Uncertainty. Dallas is on the brink of a rebuilding season in the next couple of years. With Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman dealing with injuries and Jason Terry now in Boston, there are a lot of unknowns with the Mavericks. If they struggle early, they may decide to start their rebuilding process sooner rather than later.

Season win total pick: Under 45.5

Houston Rockets (2011-12: 34-32 SU, 32-34-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +3,500
Season win total: 30.5

Why bet the Rockets: Houston has been teetering on the playoffs for a few seasons now and eventually it is going to crack the Top 8. GM Daryl Morey revamped the roster and the Rockets look significantly different with the headliner being the acquisition of Jeremy Lin. Houston also landed Omer Asik, who is their first true center since Yao Ming.

Why not bet the Rockets: Youth. Houston has become one of the youngest teams in the NBA after its offseason moves. While the Rockets will be an exciting group to watch, their inexperience will certainly have them go through growing pains. In the loaded West, they will be up against it versus most teams.

Season win total pick: Under 30.5

Memphis Grizzlies (2011-12: 41-25 SU, 29-37-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +300
Season win total: 48.5

Why bet the Grizzlies: Memphis has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but it will need everything to break right this season. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are a dynamite duo and they are formidable pair for most teams except the Lakers. Memphis plays strong defense and with its big inside presence, the Grizzlies are always a tough out.

Why not bet the Grizzlies: Shooting. The Grizzlies can’t shoot straight and their offensive efficiency leaves a lot to be desired. And the loss of O.J. Mayo is of big concern for this team since he was their best perimeter player who could create his own shot. There are too many offensive questions and if injuries occur, the Grizzlies have an uphill battle on their hands.

Season win total pick: Under 48.5

New Orleans Hornets (2011-12: 21-45 SU, 35-31-0 ATS)

Odds to win division: +5,000
Season win total: 25.5

Why bet the Hornets: New Orleans instantly became better when it drafted Anthony Davis with the No. 1 overall pick. The Hornets also have other exciting youngsters ready to breakout and they certainly have the talent to steal some wins throughout the season. This team will be getting plenty of points in most games so they can be dangerous in certain spots.

Why not bet the Hornets: Inexperience. New Orleans is building for its future as it has youth throughout the roster and also on the bench. Head coach Monty Williams is young and still learning on the job and, since he has to develop the young talent, the Hornets will go through some extended losing spells.

Season win total pick: Under 25.5

San Antonio Spurs (2011-12: 50-16 SU, 42-20-4 ATS)

Odds to win division: -175
Season win total: 55.5

Why bet the Spurs: San Antonio was incredible in the regular season last year. It had the best record with 50 wins. In fact, the Spurs have won 50 games or more in 13 straight seasons. The Spurs offense is dynamic and with the focus on up-tempo basketball, this is one tough team to beat.

Why not bet the Spurs: Age. San Antonio is old. The Spurs best players are all over the age of 30 with three of them over 34. While they are still productive, the league’s better teams are all younger than San Antonio. They got by with the shortened season last year, but with a full 82-game schedule this year, the Spurs can be vulnerable.

Season win total pick: Over 55.5

**Udog** · 10-29-2012, 11:24 PM

NBA
Dunkel

Boston at Miami

The Celtics look to build on their 8-3 ATS record in the last 11 meetings with Miami. Boston is the pick (+6 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Heat favored by only 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Boston (+6 1/2). Here are all of today's picks

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30

Game 501-502: Washington at Cleveland (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 110.629; Cleveland 116.914
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 6 1/2; 184
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 5; 188 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-5); Under

Game 503-504: Boston at Miami (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston 126.097; Miami 130.822
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 4 1/2; 190
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 6 1/2; 186
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+6 1/2); Over

Game 505-506: Dallas at LA Lakers (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 117.030; LA Lakers 121.889
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 5; 191
Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 9; 186
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (+9); Over

NBA

Tuesday, October 30

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NBA Opening Night: What bettors need to know
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Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers (-5, 188.5)

A pair of young teams looking to improve upon last year's disappointing campaigns clash to open the season, but only one will have its star point guard running the show when the Washington Wizards travel to Cleveland to start a new campaign against the Cavaliers. The teams combined for just 41 wins in the shortened 2011-12 season but are optimistic about the future with talented young point guards at the helm.

The Wizards, however, will be without 2010 No. 1 pick John Wall, who is expected to miss the first month of the season with a stress injury in his left knee, and forwards Nene (plantar fasciitis) and Kevin Seraphin (strained right calf) also will miss the opener . Kyrie Irving, the 2011 top pick, is expected to start for Cleveland despite being listed day-to-day after having his four wisdom teeth removed last week. Washington won two of three meetings last season, including a 96-85 win in the only game in Cleveland.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio, Comcast SportsNet

LINE: Cleveland opened as high as 5.5 and has since been bet down. The total has moved from 190 to 188.5.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (2011-12: 20-46, 29-36-1 ATS): Washington closed last season on a six-game winning streak but will have a hard time replacing Wall, who averaged a team-high 16.3 points and 8.0 assists last year. A.J. Price and Jannero Pargo will fill in at the point, and the Wizards will lean on rookie Bradley Beal, the No. 3 overall pick out of Florida, to pick up some of the scoring slack. New additions Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor will start in the frontcourt with second-year forward Trevor Booker.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (2011-12: 21-45, 31-35-0 ATS): The Cavaliers have gone 40-108 since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, but Irving represents a brighter future. The reigning Rookie of the Year averaged 18.5 points, 5.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds last season. After adding Irving and power forward Tristan Thompson two years ago, the Cavs continued rebuilding through the draft by picking shooting guard Dion Waiters and center Tyler Zeller this year. They also have veteran center Anderson Varejao back after missing the final 41 games last season with a fractured wrist, and they added forward C.J. Miles to provide a spark off the bench.

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Cleveland.
* Underdog is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
* Road team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Washington SG Jordan Crawford scored 49 points in two games against the Cavaliers last season.

2. The average age of Cleveland's opening night roster is 24.9 years, and the starting five averages 23.7 years.

3. Waiters has earned a spot in the starting lineup for Cleveland, marking his first start since high school. Waiters came off the bench for two years at Syracuse.

Boston Celtics at Miami Heat (-6.5, 186.5)

LeBron James and the host Miami Heat will get to watch their NBA Championship banner be raised to the rafters on opening night while the team on the other side tries not to focus on what went wrong in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Boston Celtics, who held a 3-2 lead on the Heat in that series before crumbling in Games 6 and 7, will get a chance for immediate revenge on Tuesday night.

The Celtics reloaded over the summer, re-signing forward Kevin Garnett and bringing in backcourt veterans like Jason Terry, Leandro Barbosa and Courtney Lee to fortify the bench. Miami did not rest on its laurels either, adding to its own team and possibly weakening Boston by signing away guard Ray Allen. While Allen is a nice piece to the puzzle, the Heat will go as far as James will take them. The reigning MVP won a gold medal with Team USA over the summer and told reporters recently that he wants to be the best player of all-time.

Over the past 10 seasons, the defending NBA champions are 7-3 SU but only 2-8 ATS in the season opener the following season. Even more surprising is the fact that reigning NBA champs have failed to cover on opening night in each of the past six seasons. The Mavericks, Lakers (twice), Celtics, Spurs and Heat have all fell victims to the ATS hangover.

TV: 8:00 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE: Miami opened as high as -8 in Las Vegas and has since been bet down to -6.5. The total has climbed from 184.5 to 186.5.

ABOUT THE CELTICS (2011-12: 39-27, 34-30-2 ATS): That Boston came within a game of making the finals last spring was somewhat of a shock. Allen and fellow No. 2 guard Avery Bradley were out or limited throughout the playoffs and Jeff Green missed the entire season. The Celtics are healthy at the moment and will use a deep rotation to keep players like Garnett, forward Paul Pierce and Green from wearing down. Point guard Rajon Rondo, who averaged 20.9 points and 11.3 assists in the seven-game series against Miami last spring, has drawn praise from his teammates and coaches and appears ready to step up as the leader of the team.

ABOUT THE HEAT (2011-12: 46-20, 32-34-0 ATS): Any questions about whether or not James was able to handle pressure situations were answered against the Celtics in Game 6 last spring. On the road and with his team against the wall, James crushed Boston’s celebration plans by putting up 45 points on 19-of-26 shooting and adding 15 rebounds. He went on to average a double-double in the finals and earn his first ring. Still only 28 years old, James will be aiming for his fourth MVP award in five seasons. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who both sat out the Olympics with injuries, played the preseason and are ready to go on Tuesday.

TRENDS:

* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Over is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings in Miami.
* Celtics are 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
* Home team is 15-7 ATS in the last 22 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Miami Heat coach Eric Spoelstra is making his offense more fluid and doing away with rigid positions. James will likely handle the bulk of the ball handling.

2. Boston took three of four from the Heat in the 2011-12 regular season, including a 115-107 victory in Miami in which Rondo piled up 18 points and 15 assists. That snapped a five-game losing streak in Miami.

3. James twisted his right ankle and took a kick to the face in Friday’s final preseason game but expects to play against the Celtics.

Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers (-9, 186)

Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki won’t play and Los Angeles star Kobe Bryant is doubtful when the visiting Mavericks and the retooled Lakers open the season on Tuesday. Nowitzki had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Oct. 19 and will likely miss the first month of the season. Bryant injured his right foot in a preseason game on Oct. 21 and hasn’t practiced since. Point guard Steve Nash and center Dwight Howard both make their Los Angeles debuts.

The Lakers acquired Nash from the Phoenix Suns and Howard from the Orlando Magic after their second straight second-round playoff exit. Pairing the two stars with Bryant and forward Pau Gasol will give the Lakers a four-star quartet hard to defend. Dallas is also recharging after winning the 2011 NBA title. The injured Nowitzki and veteran forward Shawn Marion are the only two remaining players from the title-winning squad.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE: Los Angeles opened as high as -10 and has since been bet down to -8.5. The total has moved from 187.5 to 186.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (2011-12: 36-30, 32-34-0 ATS): Marion will be the only familiar face in the starting lineup of the revamped squad. The other scheduled starters are forward Elton Brand and recently acquired center Eddy Curry in the frontcourt and O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison in the backcourt. “This is what we got. That’s the way it is,” Marion said. “We can’t harp on it all day.” Center Chris Kaman (calf) will miss the game and his recent injury necessitated the signing of Curry.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (2011-12: 41-25, 28-38-0 ATS): Bryant didn’t participate in Monday’s practice and afterwards, the team termed his possible availability as a game-time decision. Bryant is noted for playing through pain but even some of his teammates doubt he will be able to play. “I know he’s a little down right now,” Howard said. “He seems down because he can’t get out there and practice with us.” Offseason acquisition Jodie Meeks is expected to start if Bryant can’t go.

TRENDS:

* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Mavericks are 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Road team is 15-7-1 ATS in the last 23 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Los Angeles won all four games against the Mavericks last season and 14 of the last 17 regular-season meetings. However, Dallas swept the Lakers in the second round of the 2011 playoffs.

2. The Lakers went 0-8 in the preseason and five of the losses were by double digits.

3. The Mavericks waived troubled guard Delonte West on Monday. West was suspended twice this month for detrimental conduct.

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Announcement

Monday's Trends and Indexes - 10/29 (NBA, NCAAB, CFL, Misc.)

Monday's Trends and Indexes - 10/29 (NBA, NCAAB, CFL, Misc.)

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