Sports Marketwatch
NBA Edition
1/18/2008 4:45 PM EST
By The Team at SportsInsights.com


Welcome to this week's edition of the Sports Marketwatch – NBA Edition, where the Team at SportsInsights gives sports fans unprecedented insight into the NBA point-spread marketplace. If you ever wanted to know what was really happening on the sportsbook side, you now have an all-access pass with Sports Marketplace! Initially, the NBA Edition of the Sports Marketwatch will be a weekly column published on Friday, normally by around 5PM, Eastern Time.

The staff at SportsInsights.com speaks directly with the line managers at some of the sports betting industry’s largest sportsbooks about which games the public is chasing and the Sharps are pounding. We’ll take a look at what’s in store for today’s NBA games.

Sports Marketplace – NBA Edition

Recapping Last Week’s NBA Action

In last Friday’s edition, we took Washington +3, Minny +11 and Seattle +9.  As we thought, the Wash-Atl game was a “barn-burner.”  Wash led most of the game, before giving up the lead late in the game – but held on for the win (in OT) and cover. 

“Ugly Minny” stayed ugly and got blown out by Houston.  We “seek” value and should profit in the long-term.  However, there will sometimes be ugly blowouts like Minny’s 30 point loss.  These blowouts help “skew” the numbers so that the point spreads and averages “make sense” – but that there is often value on taking dogs.  Seattle also failed to cover, so the NBA MarketWatch underperformed, going 1-2. 

2007-08 NBA Games to Watch: 2-3-0 = 40%

*Source: SportsInsights.com

NBA Sports Marketwatch 1/18/07 – Games to Watch

Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics

Our sportsbook contacts confirm “smart money” getting down on the 76ers.  This agrees with SportsInsights’ exclusive sports information that shows that with only 1 in 3 bets on Philly, the line has actually moved from Boston -12.5 to Boston -10.5. 

The Celtics have cooled off a bit while the 76ers have beaten the spread in two straight.   There is some big money coming in on Philly and we’ll join the “sharps” on this “live dog.”

Philadelphia 76ers  +11 (SportsInteraction)

Seattle SuperSonics vs. Memphis Grizzlies

MarketWatch also sees value on the Seattle SuperSonics.  Seattle is receiving just 33% of the bets and the line has moved from Memphis -5.5 to Memphis -6.5.  These teams have almost identical records, winning just 25% of their games - and are entrenched near the bottom of their respective divisions. 

Memphis has lost five in a row while Seattle has lost eight in a row.  This is truly a “battle of the basement-dwellers.”  This game should be “up for grabs” and we see it difficult for Memphis to cover the 6.5 points.  Take Seattle and the points for a good “value play.”  

Seattle SuperSonics +6.5

LA Clippers vs. Utah Jazz

Early “sharp action” on the LA Clippers has pushed the line from Utah -11.5 down to Utah -9.5.  The percentage of bets is about evenly split – but as our readers know, we like to be on the side of the “smart money.” 

Utah has played great at home so far this year, but they are just barely better than a .500 team.  The line is inflated a bit due to Utah’s home record (which we will “sell on a high”).  We see value (as do the “sharps”) on the Clippers plus double-digit points.  There are still some +10’s out there, and we’re taking that while it’s still there. 

LA Clippers +10

So, here’s a wrap-up of SportsInsights.com analysis for this week’s Games to Watch for the NBA.

Games to Watch (2-3-0)

Philadelphia 76ers  +11 (SportsInteraction)

Seattle SuperSonics +6.5

LA Clippers +10


It should be another exciting weekend in the sports marketplace. Keep Sports Marketwatch picks handy and your browser pointed to SportsInsights.com for the latest real-time updates, using our exclusive Sports Investing tools.

We’ll be back next Friday with the new edition of the Sports Marketwatch – NBA Edition.

Enjoy the games!

The Team at SportsInsights.com