Sports Marketwatch
NBA Edition
3/10/2010 5:30 PM EST
By The Team at SportsInsights.com

Welcome to the NBA edition of Sports Marketwatch, where the Team at SportsInsights gives sports fans an unprecedented glimpse 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 Marketwatch! Initially, the NBA Edition of Sports Marketwatch will be a weekly column published on Wednesdays, normally around 5PM, Eastern Time.

The staff at SportsInsights.com analyzes the marketplace, and especially the sports betting industry’s largest and most reputable sportsbooks, to identify which games the public is chasing and which ones the Sharps are pounding. Let's take a look at what’s in store for tonight’s NBA games.

Sports Marketplace – NBA Edition

Marketwatch finally got back to .500 last week, and now we have our sights set on the magic number of profitability.  Denver came through for us in a big way on Wednesday, dominating the game from start to finish.  Carmelo paced the Nuggets with 30 points, and Oklahoma City put up just 12 in the third quarter to effectively seal the deal.  The final tally was 119-90... We'll take a 23-point cover any day of the week.

2009-10 NBA Games to Watch: 16-16, 50%*
*Source: SportsInsights.com

Detroit +6.5 over Utah Jazz

The Jazz put a hurting on the Bulls in Chicago last night, as Deron Williams blew up for 28 points and 17 assists en route to a 132-108 victory.  Since mid-January, Utah is 22-5 and have moved just 2 games out of the second seed in the Western Conference.  Overall, they are 41-22.  Far on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Pistons are 22-41 and in twelfth place in the East.  Rodney Stuckey is out after collapsing last Friday and is being tested for a number of different conditions.  Big-money offseason acquisitions Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are both coming off the bench, and... Kwame Brown gets playing time.

Yes, I realize I haven't convinced you to bet on the Pistons yet.  The visiting Jazz opened at -7 at CRIS and have been getting solid Public support, specifically 68% of spread bets, 82% of moneyline bets and 82% of parlays and teasers.  It doesn't appear, though, that the line has been responding to Public money.  It has dropped to Utah -6 at most offshore books.  We've seen Sports Insights Betting Systems trigger four overall plays from books that have a .500 record or better, including one from WagerWeb (+1.5 Units Won).  We like playing on a proud, rested home team keeping it close against a huge Public favorite.  That's screaming value, and we're ready to capitalize.  Go find an extra half point at SportsInteraction (SIA).

Detroit Pistons +6.5 (SIA)

 

Sacramento Kings -110 over Toronto Raptors

Toronto pushed the Lakers to the limit last night in Los Angeles, and the short-term memory Public is sure to know that it took another Kobe buzzer-beater to defeat them.  Tonight, they travel upstate to face young Sacramento, whose star has dimmed a bit after a promising early part of the season.  Both have recently gotten a star back from injury, with forward Hedo Turkoglu back in the Raptors lineup and big man Jason Thompson back in the paint for the Kings.  The Kings didn't play terribly themselves last night, ultimately falling at Portland in a low-scoring affair.  In the last three and a half weeks, Toronto's only wins have come against the Knicks, Nets and Wizards.

The struggling Raptors opened as 1.5-point favorites and are getting 55% of spread bets, as well as 81% of moneyline and 70% of parlay wagers.  Public money hasn't made this line move, though, as the Kings are now favored by 1-point at most sportsbooks.  Though the Raptors have finally broken through into the public awareness and are relatively likely to make the playoffs this season now that they are healthy, they haven't been a good road team and are certain to be demoralized after last night's stunning defeat.  We've seen two positive Smart Money plays triggered on Sacramento, and we think Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes can neutralize Chris Bosh & co.  You can get the game at a pick 'em at SportsInteraction (SIA).


Games to Watch: 16-16 = 50%
Detroit Pistons +6.5
Sacramento Kings -110

It should be an exciting night 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 Wednesday with the new edition of the Sports Marketwatch – NBA Edition.

Enjoy the games!

The Team at SportsInsights.com