Wednesday's Trends and Indexes - 3/5 (NBA, NCAAB, NHL, Misc.)

[Udog]

NBA

Wednesday, March 5


Mavericks-Nuggets favors the road team

In the last 13 meetings between the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets the road team is 11-2 against the spread.

The Mavs also have an amazing 21-11 ATS record this season on the road, while the Nuggets are a sub-par 11-19 ATS when at home.

The Mavs will travel to Denver as 4.5-point road faves Wednesday.


Rockets have had problems covering against Magic

It’s been a long time since the Houston Rockets have covered a spread against the Orlando Magic. The last time the Rockets covered against the Magic was April 7, 2009 and since then Houston is 0-8 ATS versus Orlando.

Earlier this season when the Rockets hosted the Magic, Houston failed to cover Orlando +13.5.

The Rockets will visit Orlando Wednesday and this game is currently off the board.


Hawks losing and not paying out to bettors

The Atlanta Hawks have been on a skid since the start of February, going 2-11 straight-up. Bettors have not found much solace in the Hawks as they are 2-10-1 against the spread during that time, including 0-6-1 on the road.

The Hawks will travel to Portland Wednesday. This game is currently off the board.

[Udog]

NHL

Wednesday, March 5


Flames to give Ortio second start Wednesday

The Ottawa Senators continue their West Coast road trip at the Calgary Flames and the home team will give 22-year-old Joni Ortio his second career start Wednesday.

Ortio made his NHL debut versus the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 27 and stopped 22 of 24 shots to keep the Flames in the game, but lost 2-0.

The Sens are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday and are +102 road dogs Wednesday night. The Flames are -110 faves with an Over/Under of 5.5.

[Udog]

NBA
Dunkel

Memphis at Brooklyn
The Nets host a Memphis team that is coming off a 110-104 win over Washington and is 7-0-1 ATS in its last 8 games after allowing more than 100 points in the previous game. Memphis is the pick (-1) according to Dunkel, which has the Grizzlies favored by 4. Dunkel Pick: Memphis (-1). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5

Game 701-702: Indiana at Charlotte (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 122.232; Charlotte 115.618
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 6 1/2; 200
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana by 4 1/2; 189
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (-4 1/2); Over

Game 703-704: Houston at Orlando (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 125.174; Orlando 116.683
Dunkel Line & Total: Houston by 8 1/2; 214
Vegas Line & Total: Houston by 6 1/2; 208
Dunkel Pick: Houston (-6 1/2); Over

Game 705-706: Utah at Washington (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Utah 112.586; Washington 124.149
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 11 1/2; 192
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 8; 199 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-8); Under

Game 707-708: Memphis at Brooklyn (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Memphis 121.300; Brooklyn 117.208
Dunkel Line & Total: Memphis by 4; 182
Vegas Line & Total: Memphis by 1; 189
Dunkel Pick: Memphis (-1); Under

Game 709-710: Chicago at Detroit (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 120.349; Detroit 121.626
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1 1/2; 196
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 3 1/2; 191 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+3 1/2); Over

Game 711-712: Golden State at Boston (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 121.003; Boston 114.375
Dunkel Line & Total: Golden State by 6 1/2; 193
Vegas Line & Total: Golden State by 5; 199 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Golden State (-5); Under

Game 713-714: Sacramento at Milwaukee (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Sacramento 113.894; Milwaukee 116.881
Dunkel Line & Total: Milwaukee by 3; 201
Vegas Line & Total: Sacramento by 3 1/2; 205 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (+3 1/2); Under

Game 715-716: New York at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New York 114.143; Minnesota 120.374
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 6 1/2; 217
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 8 1/2; 210 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New York (+8 1/2); Over

Game 717-718: Dallas at Denver (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 121.034; Denver 111.193
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 10; 214
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 4; 218
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-4); Under

Game 719-720: Atlanta at Portland (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 114.793; Portland 120.695
Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 6 224
Vegas Line & Total: Portland by 8; 217
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+8); Over

[Udog]

NHL
Dunkel

Washington at Philadelphia
The Capitals head to Philadelphia with a 12-13-5 record away from home and face a Flyers team that is 10-2 in its last 12 home games against teams with a losing road record. Philadelphia is the pick (-140) according to Dunkel, which has the Flyers favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-140). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5

Game 51-52: Toronto at NY Rangers (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 11.841; NY Rangers 10.850
Dunkel Line & Total: Toronto by 1; 5
Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-170); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+150); Under

Game 53-54: Washington at Philadelphia (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 11.041; Philadelphia 12.552
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia (-140); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-140); Over

Game 55-56: Ottawa at Calgary (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Ottawa 10.991; Calgary 10.103
Dunkel Line & Total: Ottawa by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Calgary (-110); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Ottawa (-110); Over

Game 57-58: Montreal at Anaheim (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 11.551; Anaheim 12.978
Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (-175); Under

[Udog]

NBA

Wednesday, March 5

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Best and worst NBA bets out of the break
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It’s been approximately 10 games since the All-Star break and we’re starting to get a sense of where everyone stands heading into the NBA’s stretch run.

With that in mind, we look at six teams – three hot and three cold – bettors may want to take notice of over the season’s final 20 games.

The Hottest

Milwaukee Bucks

This is a weird one.

For the first 50 games it looked like the Milwaukee Bucks were captaining the S.S. Tankapaolooza but now that they’re within sight of shore and it seems they’ve decided to play some basketball. The result is a 3-4 SU record since the break and an impressive 5-2 record ATS.

They’ve played so well they’ve even crept within a couple of games of Philadelphia for second-last overall which makes one think management will have a talk with coach Larry Drew to quell any mutiny before they reach land.


Chicago Bulls

Tom Thibodeau may be Bulls’ management’s worst nightmare.

See, the notion around the NBA is that you have to have a superstar to win and the easiest way to get a superstar is to bottom out and acquire him in the draft. But Thibs continues to make lemonade out of lemons and despite losing his one bonafide star - Derrick Rose - for the season, he just can’t let the Bulls go gently into the night. Case in point is a recent 10-game stretch that has seen Chicago go 8-2 both SU and ATS.

They currently sit third in the East and you can bet the reason the Pacers and Heat want to secure first in the conference is as much about avoiding Chicago in the second round as it is homecourt throughout the playoffs.


Miami Heat

Yeah, yeah, yeah…the Heat as one of the NBA’s hottest teams is certainly not news to anyone. But it’s the manner in which they’re playing right now that has to be ominous for the rest of the league.

Case in point was Monday’s win over the Charlotte Bobcats in which Dwyane Wade sat and Leron James decided to drop 61 points on a Charlotte team that is one of the NBA’s better defensive teams and had been playing some decent basketball. This result came close on the heels of a win over the previously mentioned Bulls in which LeBron sat so Chris Bosh and Wade combined for 51.

The Heat are now going as many as 12 deep on any given night, have won 10 of 11 going 7-2-2 ATS, and one gets the sense they are just getting started on something special. The rest of the league better watch out.


The Coldest

Atlanta Hawks

One could’ve easily put the Philadelphia 76ers on this list, what with them having lost 14 in a row and covering just three in that span.

But then we’d be overlooking an Atlanta Hawks team that has been in free fall going 1-5 since the All-Star break and dropping 13 of 14 overall. What’s incredible is that they’re still in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, three games up on the Detroit Pistons.

But this might not be the case for long as the Hawks currently have four games left on a western road trip. All told they are 9-21 SU away from home this season and 11-18-1 ATS.


Denver Nuggets

Breaking the Eastern Conference’s strangle hold on hottest and coldest teams are the Denver Nuggets. After all, a run that has seen you go 1-9 SU (3-6 ATS) just can’t be ignored.

There were rumblings that the team and first-year head coach Brian Shaw weren’t getting along with the bench boss going as far as calling out his players after the team’s 117-89 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 21.

"I felt like we had some guys that just decided they weren’t going to play tonight," Shaw told reporters after the game. "It’s unfortunate. We’re professionals, and as a staff we have to beg guys to give effort when they play."

Well the public admonishment seemed to light a fire under exactly no one as the Nuggets have dropped all five since including three in a row at home. Now with two more in the Mile High before a five-game road swing there’s no indication the SU streak will end. However oddsmakers may have begun adjusting to Denver’s downturn as the Nuggets have covered two in row despite losing both SU.


New York Knicks

If you thought Knick fans were angry before the All-Star break, imagine the dismay at their team since New Orleans.

The Knicks are a hideous 1-8 SU (3-6 ATS) over their last nine games, a streak in which they’ve lost by as many as 26 and 23 to Miami and Golden State respectively. The piece de resistance may have been Tuesday night when, after building a 14-point lead on the Detroit Pistons, the Knicks shot only 37 percent and scored 41 points in the second half en route to a 96-85 loss to the league’s 22nd best defense.

"At this point, man, I’m kind of running out of comments to talk to you guys about," Carmelo Anthony told reporters after the game. "It seemed like it’s becoming repetition, saying the same thing over and over. We got to try to find something else to talk about."

Knick fans certainly wish that were the case.


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[Udog]

NHL

Wednesday, March 5

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Maple Leafs at Rangers: What bettors need to know
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Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers (-163, 5.5)

After cruising into the Olympic break on torrid stretches, the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs have cooled considerably in three games following the lengthy hiatus. The Original Six rivals look to turn around their recent fortunes when they meet at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday. The Rangers upended reigning Stanley Cup champion Chicago last Thursday before suffering setbacks to Philadelphia and Boston over the weekend, while Toronto has dropped three straight (0-1-2) since the Sochi Games.

"The three losses hurt because we had points available to us on the road," Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. "That's the hard part, losing two overtime games on the road when we had one-goal leads in both games." Toronto was done in by a former Ranger on Monday as Artem Anisimov scored for the third straight contest to lead Columbus to a 2-1 triumph. New York has won both meetings with Toronto this season - including a decisive 7-1 triumph on Jan. 4 - and six of the last seven matchups overall.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS2 (Toronto), MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (32-23-8): United States Olympians Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk saw their respective four-game point streaks come to an end on Monday. The former had collected 13 goals and 18 assists in his previous 17 games, but the Maple Leafs have sputtered to a 4-17-2 mark when Kessel fails to record a point. Van Riemsdyk has recorded four goals and three assists in the last five games, although he was held off the scoresheet in both meetings with New York this season.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (33-26-3): Brad Richards scored in New York's 6-3 setback to the Bruins on Sunday to increase his point total to six (three goals, three assists) in his last seven games. The veteran also tallied in the rout against the Maple Leafs in January. Henrik Lundqvist received the night off in that contest but has yielded 10 goals in two losses since returning from Russia after leading Team Sweden to a silver medal.

TRENDS:

* Over is 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings in New York.
* Maple Leafs are 1-6 in the last seven meetings.
* Rangers are 9-1 in their last 10 Wednesday games.
* Under is 11-5-4 in Rangers last 20 vs. Atlantic.

OVERTIME:

1. Rangers LW Mats Zuccarello (hand) could return to the lineup as early as Friday against Carolina, coach Alain Vigneault told the New York Daily News.

2. Toronto has failed on all 13 power-play opportunities over its last six games.

3. New York is 2-for-8 with the man advantage in its last three contests after going 2-for-18 in the previous seven.


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[Udog]

NBA

Wednesday, March 5


Stumbling Knicks face tough task as 8.5-point dogs vs. T-Wolves

The New York Knicks will have a tough task if they want to end their seven game slide Wednesday night. They opened as 8.5-point road dogs when they visit the Timberwolves in Minnesota.

During their current losing streak the Knicks have been just as bad to their backers, going 1-6 against the spread.

Meanwhile, the T-Wolves are playing some of their best basketball of the season winning six of their last seven games straight up, putting up a 5-2 ATS mark.


Rockets open as 7-point faves as Howard returns to Orlando

The Houston Rockets opened as 7-point road faves when Dwight Howard returns to Orlando to face the Magic Wednesday night.

The Rockets have the Association's best record since the calender flipped over to 2014, compiling a 20-6 straight up record, but are only 14-12 against the spread in that stretch.

Surprisingly the Magic have covered in the last eight meetings with the Rockets.


Nets keep Collins with another 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets signed center Jason Collins to a second 10-day contract on Wednesday.

The NBA's first openly gay player had signed the first 10-day deal with the Nets on Feb. 23. Players are allowed to sign two 10-day contracts but then must be signed for the remainder of the season if a team wishes to keep them on the roster.

Collins, a 13-year NBA veteran. has played in five games for the Nets and totaled three points and five rebounds in 36 minutes. He previously was with the team from 2001 to 2008.

[Udog]

NHL

Wednesday, March 5


Sens acquire Hemsky from Oilers, re-sign Phillips

The Ottawa Senators acquired right winger Ales Hemsky from the Edmonton Oilers for a third round pick in the 2015 draft and a fifth round pick in this year's draft.

The 30-year-old Hemsky, who has nine goals and 26 points this season, will leave the Oilers after 11 seasons after having scored 142 goals and 335 assists in 652 career regular-season games.

Hemsky is in the final year of a deal with a $5 million per year salary cap hit.

In other news, Senators signed 35-year-old stay-at-home defenseman Chris Phillips a two-year, $5 million contract extension and lost forward Cory Conachar on waivers to the Buffalo Sabres.


Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings - Ques Thurs

Detroit Red Wings C Pavel Datsyuk missed Tuesday's game against the Devils due to a knee injury and was absent from practice Wednesday. He is questionable to return Thursday against the Avalanche.


Callahan-St. Louis trade gives Rangers' odds a boost

With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, the first blockbuster deal of the day has been made as the New York Rangers send Ryan Callahan to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Martin St. Louis.

"This deal definitely helps the Rangers," says Michael Stewart of CarbonSports.ag. "Before the trade they were 25-1 to win the Cup and 9-1 to win the East. I could see them going to 20-1 for the Cup and a small move to 8-1 to win the East. This will hurt the odds on the Lightning as they lose their Captain and top scorer."

[Udog]

NCAAB
Short Sheet

Wednesday, March 5

NEBRASKA: 17-32 ATS in road games in March

INDIANA: 6-0 ATS when playing only their 3rd game in a week

MASSACHUSETTS: 15-6 ATS after allowing 80 points or more

DUQUESNE: 1-12 ATS in home games after 2 or more consecutive unders

FORDHAM: 0-7 ATS in a road game where the total is 140 to 149.5

RHODE ISLAND: 8-1 ATS after 3 games forcing opponent to commit 14 or less turnovers

DUKE: 8-2 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread

WAKE FOREST: 3-10 ATS after 3 consecutive conference games

LOUISVILLE: 20-9 ATS in road games after 3 consecutive conference games

SMU: 1-10 ATS after 2 straight games where they attempted 50 or less shots

RUTGERS: 1-8 ATS when the total is 130 to 139.5

CONNECTICUT: 19-10 ATS after 2 consecutive conference games

MISSISSIPPI ST: 8-19 ATS in road games against conference opponents

GEORGIA: 21-9 ATS after playing a game as a road underdog

TEXAS TECH: 3-11 ATS as a road underdog of 10 or more points

KANSAS: 14-5 ATS after playing a road game

OLE MISS: 16-4 ATS after having lost 5 or 6 of their last 7

ARKANSAS: 4-13 ATS after scoring 85 points or more

[Udog]

NBA
Short Sheet

Wednesday, March 5

Indiana at Charlotte, 7:05 ET
Indiana: 15-2 ATS after 2 or more consecutive unders
Charlotte: 1-8 ATS after a game where both teams scored 105 points or more

Houston at Orlando, 7:05 ET
Houston: 10-4 ATS in road games after 2 consecutive non-conference games
Orlando: 2-21 ATS after playing a game as favorite

Utah at Washington, 7:05 ET
Utah: 7-3 ATS after allowing 110 points or more
Washington: 3-8 ATS after having won 5 or 6 of their last 7

Memphis at Brooklyn, 7:35 ET
Memphis: 15-3 ATS after 3 or more consecutive overs
Brooklyn: 2-12 ATS at home where where the total is between 185 and 189.5

Chicago at Detroit, 7:35 ET
Chicago: 13-4 ATS in road games after a loss by 10 points or more
Detroit: 21-37 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders

Golden State at Boston, 7:35 ET
Golden State: 35-21 ATS in a road game where the total is 200 to 209.5
Boston: 30-50 ATS at home revenging a close loss vs opponent of 3 points or less

Sacramento at Milwaukee, 8:05 ET
Sacramento: 15-5 OVER after having lost 3 of their last 4
Milwaukee: 1-8 ATS off an upset win as an underdog

NY Knicks at Minnesota, 8:05 ET
NY Knicks: 24-13 ATS revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points
Minnesota: 34-54 ATS after a combined score of 225 points or more

Dallas at Denver, 8:05 ET
Dallas: 11-3 ATS off a road loss
Denver: 26-14 OVER after a game where both teams scored 105 points or more

Atlanta at Portland, 10:35 ET
Atlanta: 8-0 ATS after a game where they allowed a shooting pct. of 55% or higher
Portland: 2-11 ATS after 3 or more consecutive unders

[Udog]

NHL
Short Sheet

Wednesday, March 5

Toronto at NY Rangers, 7:05 ET
Toronto: 9-3 SU revenging a home loss versus opponent
NY Rangers: 2-7 SU in home games after allowing 4 goals or more

Washington at Philadelphia, 8:05 ET
Washington: 0-7 SU after scoring 3 goals or more in 4 straight games
Philadelphia: 16-8 SU after having won 2 of their last 3

Ottawa at Calgary, 9:35 ET
Ottawa: 12-17 SU as a favorite
Calgary: 77-74 SU after scoring 2 goals or less in 3 straight games

Montreal at Anaheim, 10:05 ET
Montreal: 17-30 SU after having won 2 of their last 3
Anaheim: 15-4 SU when playing only their 2nd game in 5 days