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- Apr 4, 2022
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By: Doug Upstone
The Milwaukee Bucks are the hottest team in the NBA, on an 11-game win streak and we talk about their win over Boston Tuesday. Notre Dame football had a chance to step forward, instead, they proved they are wannabe contenders for a national championship.
Spring Training starts in baseball and we break down what is new for bettors in 2023. Lastly, besides the usual free picks, we bring back a popular betting item from football and will start it for other current sports.
About Last Night…
NBA
Though Milwaukee failed to cover the -9.5 points against Boston once it was learned Jayson Tatum would not play, the Bucks won in OT 131-125, to match the Celtics for the fewest losses in the NBA at 17. Boston got great performances from Derrick White (28 points) and Malcolm Brogdon (26) but Jrue Holiday had 40 and Giannis added 36 for the difference. The Bucks have won 11 in a row.
Golden State lost on the road again, this time at the Clippers 134-124 as eight-point underdogs, dropping them to 7-22 and 9-20 ATS. The Warriors are 29-29 and 9th in the West standings.
NCAAB
If you missed #18 Creighton at #24 Providence, you missed one of the best games of the season. This contest went two OTs and if you had the Bluejays at -1 or the Friars at +1, you were living and dying on your wager for the last 10 minutes of regulation time and both overtimes. Providence prevailed at home 94-86 and a Crown Royal (or your favored beverage) was needed for the win or the loss.
Oklahoma was 2-10 in the Big 12 going into their game with Kansas State. The Sooners are very deliberate on offense, which is why they only average 67.9 PPG and 65 PPG in the Big 12. Yet, now and again they explode like last night. Oklahoma scored 79 points against the Wildcats in their victory and five games ago they posted 93 on now top-ranked Alabama. In between, the Sooners were 0-4 SU and ATS.
Trendy Talk
NBA
- Detroit is 3-18 ATS revenging a same-season loss.
- Houston is 0-9 ATS in road games versus teams scoring 116+ points a game.
- San Antonio is 7-19 ATS after three or more consecutive losses this season.
- Miami is 10-1 Under in road games when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%) this season.
- Utah is 17-6 Over revenging a loss where the opponent scored 110 or more points.
NCAAB
- Tulsa is 0-9 ATS after two straight losses by 10 points or more this season.
- Florida St. is 0-9 ATS in road games after allowing 80 points or more since last year.
- Bradley is 12-1 ATS at home after one or more consecutive wins.
- Mississippi St. is 17-1 Under as a favorite this season.
- Xavier is 10-0 Over after a game where they failed to cover the spread.
- Indiana St. is 10-0 Under off three straight wins against conference rivals since 2020.
NHL
- Chicago is 6-42 versus teams outscoring their opponents by 0.3+ goals a game.
- Anaheim is 3-26 against teams scoring 2.85+ goals a game in the 2nd half of the season since last year.
- Colorado is 10-0 Under off a home loss this season.
- Edmonton is 22-5 Over playing their 4th game in seven days.
What to Watch For and Win (Hopefully)
NBA
For Wednesday, we have the Heat vs. Nets and Pelicans vs. Lakers (ESPN) along with a sweet parlay and free prop plays.
With only three contests on the Thursday docket, we cover them all including the two on TNT, Bucks vs. Bulls and Clippers vs. Suns.
NCAAB
Two tilts definitely stand out on Hump Day, with #1 Alabama at #10 Tennessee (ESPN2) and the Big East’s two best clubs #16 Xavier at #11 Marquette (CBSSN) among the five games we have covered with free NCAAB picks.
On Thursday’s heavy slate, we have eight games in all for you including #3 Purdue having a rugged assignment at Maryland.
NHL
There are six matchups Wednesday and by the NHL odds, only one looks competitive with Colorado at Minnesota and we have it broken down. For Thursday we have props and best bets along with the Devils vs. Blues.
The Buzz
NCAAB – SEC Grabs Spotlight Tonight
No. 1 Alabama takes their 12-0 (10-2 ATS) conference record to Knoxville to face No. 10 Tennessee. The Vols are 1-3 and 0-4 ATS in their last four and desperately need a win and are a three-point favorite.
Interesting to note the total has exploded from 141 to 148 despite the fact these are the top two teams in Effective Field Goal Shooting defense in the country. This game is on ESPN2 at 7 ET.
Two other fascinating matchups have Arkansas at Texas A&M (-3.5) and struggling Kentucky at Mississippi State (-3), who have won five in a row.
MLB – Spring Training Commences
Officially today, pitchers and catchers report to all 30 major league teams.
We will have plenty of talk about the upcoming season, but here is information you should note about 2023.
Pitch Timer
- 15 seconds with the bases empty.
- 20 seconds with runners on base.
- 30 seconds in between hitters.
- Hitters get 1 timeout per plate appearance.
- Violations are automatic ball or strike.
- The four infielders must be within the outer boundary of the infield when the pitcher is on the rubber with two on each side of second base.
- The bases, which traditionally have been 15 inches square, will instead be 18 inches square.
- Division games have been reduced from 19 to 13 and every AL team will face every NL once and they alternate every other year so fans can see every team at home.
- This will mean more travel, but a more balanced schedule that is fairer to all teams.
NCAAF – Notre Dame Football – Talk Is Cheap
Notre Dame lost their offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to Alabama, unwilling to pay the going rate for top coordinators which those that have aspirations of winning national championships should do.
Yesterday, it was announced that Utah OC Andy Ludwig would remain at that school after interviewing at Notre Dame over the weekend. It was assumed Ludwig had the job, but Notre Dame was unwilling to pay for his 2.8 million buyout.
Notre Dame has not won a national championship since 1988 and went more than two decades without even being a potential contender. They were the next tier down under Brian Kelly and gave the appearance they wanted more.
However, this proves the university may say education and championships are what’s important, but leaving a still-learning head coach like Marcus Freeman out to dry and having to settle for a third or fourth choice to run the Irish offense in February speaks louder than words.
Top Betting System
NCAAB – South Florida (-4.5) at Tulsa
In AAC action, home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points like Tulsa, off two consecutive losses of 10 or more to conference rivals, a bad team (20% to 40% win percentage), playing a team with a losing record, they are 7-30 ATS the past five years, losing by 10.6 PPG.
Out the Door
NFL – Odds for 2024 Super Bowl
- Kansas City Chiefs (+550)
- Philadelphia Eagles (+750)
- San Francisco 49ers (+800)
- Buffalo Bills (+850)
- Cincinnati Bengals (+850)
XFL
One football window closes and another opens. The XFL returns with new ownership after closing its doors in 2020 after five weeks because of the pandemic. ESPN/ABC will be the main carriers of games. The games will commence this week with two each on Saturday and Sunday.Here are the latest XFL odds on who is expected to win the championship courtesy of BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review).
2023 XFL - Odds to Win Championship
- St. Louis Battlehawks (+375)
- Houston Roughnecks (+375)
- Seattle Sea Dragons (+500)
- San Antonio Brahmas (+550)
- Arlington Renegades (+700)
- Vegas Vipers (+700)
- DC Defenders (+750)
- Orlando Guardians (+1000)
What Bettors Like - Play or Fade?
NBA Top 3 Bets Placed by Percentage - Highest First
- Thunder
- Lakers
- Pacers
NBA Top 3 Totals Bets by Percentage - Highest First
- Mavs/Nuggets Over
- Bulls/Pacers Over
- Cavaliers/76ers Over
NCAAB Top 5 Bets Placed by Percentage - Highest First
- Florida
- St. Louis
- Boise State
- Bradley
- Indiana State
NHL Top 3 Totals Bets by Percentage - Highest First
- Rangers
- Oilers
- Maple Leafs
Let’s get some winners! See you back here Friday.
About The Author: My name, as it shows, is Doug Upstone and I come from where this website originated going back to 2007/08 when I was doing videos with Peter Loshak for years. Having been a sports betting writer since 2005, I was hired by this company in 2011 and have continued to do that now at BMR. If you Google my name, you will find I have been in the sports betting industry since 2002 and betting sports long before then.
The move to the Forum is an exciting one. I've been in plenty of them in the past and though not all the experiences were positive, all I ask is to treat me and others with respect and I’ll do the same. I’ll try to be informative to help you and maybe have a few laughs along the way.
