NBA Marketwatch Edition 2 2007-08

Sports Marketwatch
NBA Edition
2/29/2008 3:33 PM EST
By The Team at SportsInsights.com

Welcome to this week’s edition of the SportsMarketwatch – NBA Edition, where the Team at SportsInsights gives sports fansunprecedented insight into the NBA point-spread marketplace. If you ever wantedto know what was really happening on the sportsbook side, you now have anall-access pass with Sports Marketplace! Initially, the NBA Edition of theSports Marketwatch will be a weekly column published on Friday, normally byaround 5PM, Eastern Time.

The staff at SportsInsights.com speaksdirectly with the line managers at some of the sports betting industry’s largestsportsbooks 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 LastWeek’s NBA Action

Last week, we went 1-1, with Charlotte “pushing,”as the Bobcats lost by one point in overtime. The Bulls won their game outrightfor our winning selection. However, the resurgent 76ers couldn’t get it doneversus Orlando. Overall, the NBA Marketwatch is still under water – but isclimbing back to respectability.

2007-08 NBA Games to Watch: 7-10-1 =41.2%

*Source: SportsInsights.com

Sports Marketwatch 2/29/08 – Games to Watch

Sacramento Kings +9.5 overDallas Mavericks

As our readers know, we sometimes need bad teamsto do good things against good teams. This matchup is shaping up to be one ofthose “Pepto Bismol” games. It’s not that Sacramento is that horrible; they areactually just below .500. However, Sacramento is a very weak 9-21 on the road –while Dallas is tied with Utah for the best record at home in the NBA thisseason!

Dallas is fighting for first place in their division and boastsan impressive 24-3 record at home. So why do we “like” Sacramento in thismatchup? SportsInsights’ sports marketplace statistics show that with only 30%of the bets landing on the Kings, the line actually decreased from the opener ofSacramento +9.5 to Sacramento +9.

This is an indicator of “smart money” betting on Sacramento to stay closeenough to Dallas – to cover the game. As usual, we’ll join the “smart money” andtake the Kings at a “recent low” (they’ve lost three in a row) and “sell” theMavs at a “home high.”

Sacramento Kings+9.5

Indiana Pacers +10.5 over TorontoRaptors

At first glance, these teams look like they are headed inopposite directions. Toronto has won 7 of its last 10 while Indy has lost 7 ofits last 10. Toronto is firmly established as a playoff contender while Indianahas dropped into a tie for last place in its division.

However, when youtake a closer look, you can see that recent performance has magnified thedifferences between these two teams. That is, up until a few weeks ago, Indy wasplaying better than .400 ball while Toronto was just barely above .500. Thatmakes us feel that getting double-digit points on Indy is a goodvalue.

This game falls into our “buy low, sell high” value category.Let’s “buy” the Pacers at a “low” and “sell” the Raptors at a “high.” With only30% of the bets coming in on Indy, the line increased from an opener of Indy +10to Indy +10.5.

Indiana Pacers +10.5

Washington Wizards +5.5 over ChicagoBulls

SportsInsights’ premium analytical tools helped us tocircle this game. The sports marketplace shows that about 70% of the bets arecoming in on the lowly Chicago Bulls. The “Public” may be fading the Wizardsbecause of their recent poor play (dragging them below .500!).

However,we love taking the Wizards plus the points against an inferior Chicago Bull team(that is only above .400 ball due to a win in their last outing)! As usual,we’ll “Bet Against the Public” – and take the side of thesportsbooks.

Washington Wizards +5.5

Games toWatch: 7-10-1 = 41.2%

Sacramento Kings +9.5
Indiana Pacers +10.5
Washington Wizards +5.5

It should be another exciting weekend in the sports marketplace. Keep SportsMarketwatch picks handy and your browser pointed to SportsInsights.com for thelatest 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