SPORTS N STUFF

I am thinking about placing a big bet based on which team has more players crying during the National Anthem and/or praying. Of course I will have to adjust my bet during the game using an online sportsbook as the numbers change.

I’m sure you can bet on that in Vegas.

lol!, they know what the superbowl is?

Couldn’t care for football. I don’t see how a bunch of buff men clashing into themselves is manly… American football isn’t even manly… You should watch Australian football.

The more they pray, the less they worry about messing up and/or losing. This means they perform better because a worried mind is inefficient. This is why there are virtually no elite Atheist athletes. They worry too much to be graceful because they have turned from the power of prayer.

No, because players on both teams pray to win, but only one side gets their prayers answered.

Ask the Broncos how well that works.. oops, never mind.

It only depends on God’s plan. :)

I would place the bet according to the talent and past performance of the players involved. Whether they cry or pray is irrelevant.

Who: Thoroughbreds Several up and coming stars
What: Horse Racing Betting Tips The Sunshine Millions Card
Where: Gulfstream
When: Saturday, January 28th

With tons of cash being offered at Gulfstream Saturday in the Sunshine Millions, lets take a look at some of the major players on the sports betting opulent card.

Six races are carded in this series and well kick it off with the SM Distaff at 9 furlongs on the main track and they all will have to have their running shoes on to whip Awesome Feather, who has not made a mistake in 8 races so far.

She has been freshened since taking the Grade 1 Gazelle at Aqueduct and brings a super stalk and pounce style to the party. Repeatedly proven fresh, the key to making any cash in this race is to try to find some value in the gimmicks.

The players to use under Feather are Tiz the Argument, who is shooting for her fourth straight win and Delightful Mary, who is one for one on the this track.

Seven will contend in the Filly and Mare Sprint and the race is headlined by Musical Romance, who will be making her first start since cashing in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The play here is a cold duck exacta with Pomeroys Pistol, who has won twice on this surface and has never been out of the money at Gulfstream.

Speed again will be the accent in the Sunshine Millions Sprint and a true horse for the course is the best best sportsbook ticket.

Apriority is three for three locally and ran his eyeballs out in defeat on New Years Eve. The pro is looking for revenge as he was second beaten a head in this race last year. He was a bit tough that day because he was cutting back in distance.

Key this guy on top with Soaring Stocks, Zero Rate Policy and Madman Diaries.

Nine will pit skills in the Filly and Mare Turf  and Romacaca is the one to deny. The mare has won 12 of 24 starts, 4 on this turf course and she has not raced since a wide third in a Grade 2 at Saratoga.

She has trained a hole in the wind for this and should sit a nice stalk and pounce trip. Key her first and second in the trifecta with Unbridled Humor, Trip for A.J., Speak Easy Gal, Askbut I Wonttell and Romin Robin.

The Turf at 9 furlongs is wide open but lets take a shot with a speed play in Little Mike. He has won 5 of his last 6 wins and has only lost once in 5 starts on the course. He can give you a sub :46 half in his sleep and may never look back.

Seven older horses will take a shot at the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at 9 furlongs. Adios Charlie will try to say goodbye to this group. The colt showed his class taking the Grade 2 Jerome last spring, is 2 for 2 locally, should be able to get a great garden trip and pounce in time.

Good luck with your sport betting and enjoy the sunshine.

Although it is still early in the NBA season, the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat will meet in a key Eastern conference matchups this weekend that could coincide with the return of one of the games biggest stars. Heat guard Dwayne Wade has missed the past couple of weeks after suffering a bad ankle sprain in a loss to the Denver Nuggets, but should be ready to return in time to take on the top team in the conference according to the NBA standings.

Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat
Sunday January 29, 2011 3:30 PM ET
American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
NBA Sports Betting Line: Miami Heat 1.5

The Heat will be eager to prove that regardless of what the numbers say, they are still the better team overall. Miami has won five of its last six games even with Wade out of the lineup thanks to the play of Lebron James and Chris Bosh among others, and should be even stronger with Wade back.

NBA Betting Preview: Chicago Bulls

According to the sports bet numbers, the Bulls are undoubtedly the most complete team in the association, ranking 10th in total offense, and first at the defensive end of the floor. The tandem of Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah lead a Chicago team that ranks first in the NBA in rebounds, while reigning MVP Derrick Rose continues to average 8.6 assists per game for a team that ranks third in average helpers. While their may not be any major holes in the Bulls team, they will need to prove they can step up and play their best against their best opponents, and a win at Miami would be a good start.

NBA Betting Preview: Miami Heat

With Wade out of the lineup, James averages increased to make up for the gap, and he has played some of his best basketball over the past six games, averaging more than 30 points over that span. James also leads the Heat in average rebounds with 8.1 per game and assists with 7.1, but the story hasnt changed in regards to the one area that the King still needs to prove himself in. James has never been able to play his best basketball in the biggest games, but challenging the best defense in the association would be a good start. The potential return of Wade and the play of Bosh both down-low and from the perimeter with his ability to stretch the defense are two other crucial areas in Miamis favor for this game.

NBA Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

While James still needs to prove himself to those that doubt his ability to come up with his best in the Heats biggest games, this contest will mean much more to the sportsbooks underdogs, as they continue to work towards finishing with the best record in the conference. Rose still gets the majority of the attention in Chicago, but his supporting cast needs to be given more respect as they are one of the most underrated in the NBA.

NBA Betting Pick: Chicago Bulls

The Golden State Warriors are looking for a foundation for future success. Their next opponent will give them the perfect example of what it takes. While the Warriors are once again looking for the answer near the bottom of the Western conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are cruising alone atop the standings thanks to some impressive play both at home and on the road. Franchise cornerstones Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been complimented by some solid veteran pieces, establishing the Thunder as legitimate championship contenders this sports betting season.

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors
Friday January 27, 2012 10:30 PM ET
Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
NBA Sports Bet Line: Oklahoma City 6.5

While the Thunder have clinched some blowout wins over the past 10 days, the Warriors continue to get burned by close losses, where a couple of specific plays can be keyed in on as having a huge impact on the final outcome. New coach Mark Jackson hasnt lost faith, but he, like his players, is learning that winning in this league wont come easy.

Betting On Oklahoma City Golden State Preview: Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City was considered powerful enough with the tandem of Durant and Westbrook each averaging over 20 points per game, but the addition of James Harden to that group has taken them to another level. Harden is averaging 16.7 points per game, with 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists, and he was a plus-32 against the Detroit Pistons while scoring 24 in a 99-79 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday. The Thunder is playing good basketball on both ends of the floor right now, and have developed a knack for the spectacular.

Betting On Oklahoma City Golden State Preview: Golden State

Another couple of close losses to the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies pushed the Warriors to 5-11 on the season, and it may take some time before they have what it takes to come out on top when it comes down to the wire. While an offense led by Monta Ellis 23.1 points per game ranks 13th in the NBA, the defense has struggled to get the job done when it counts the most, and it has turned potential wins in to losses. Golden State will need to work hard as a team and learn to bear down in order to play better when the game is on the line, and it will take time.

Betting On Oklahoma City Golden State Preview: Outlook & Pick

Regardless of their status as road best sportsbook favorites, the Thunder have gotten the job done away from home this year, and should have no problem making the trip to Oakland and picking up another W against a Warriors team still searching for consistency. Golden State has some nice young pieces that in the right situation could excel, but finding the veteran players to surround them with and the system to get the most out of them at both ends of the floor will take time, just like it did in Oklahoma City.

Betting On Oklahoma City Golden State Pick: Oklahoma City

The Big Three of the Miami Heat has been getting the job done as the Big Two of late with Dwayne Wade resting an injured ankle. Considering the play of the New York Knicks lately, perhaps they should give some rest to one of their starters. While the Heat have managed to remain near the top of the conference even with Wade on the sidelines, the Knicks continue to flounder with a losing record, and if they dont turn things around soon their could be some big changes on the way. Miami enters this game as the best sportsbook favorites, but the Knicks are the team being weighed down by expectations.

New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
Friday January 27, 2012 8:00 PM ET
AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, Florida
NBA Sports Bet Line: Miami Heat

The Knicks went all-in that free agent-signing Tyson Chandler would be the missing piece that would elevate them to contenders in the Eastern conference, but with just six wins through their first 16 games that has hardly been the case. New York still has some time to right the ship and get on track, and a win at Miami would go a long way.

Betting New York Miami Preview: New York

A six-game losing streak that included losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets at home has Knicks fans beyond restless, and it doesnt help that they now have to play four-straight on the road. Carmelo Anthony remains the face of the franchise with a team-high 25.7 points per game, but he is taking too many shots to get to that point and constantly needs the ball in has hands to create. Chandler is doing his job with 9.9 points per game and a team-high 9.7 rebounds, but the Knicks will need more from Amare Stoudamire and its bench if they are going to keep pace with the rest of the association.

Betting New York Miami Preview: Miami

Even without Wade, Lebron James averaged over 30 points per game and the Heat won three of four heading in to Tuesdays game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Miami without Wade looks a lot like Cleveland did with James as the King continues to do everything on his own, with Chris Bosh and company chipping in around him. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole appear to be a good fit as spot shooters that can hit off of James drive, but the team was expected to put up better numbers at their own end with the addition of Shane Battier to an already solid core.

Betting New York Miami Preview: Outlook & Pick

Based on the talent they have available there is no reason why the Knicks should be struggling this badly, unless of course that talent is overrated by sports betting bookies in the first place. Anthony and Stoudamire both seem to be having trouble with their conditioning in Mike DAntonis offense, and that should be the difference again as Lebron and company to continue to put up big numbers with or without Wade back in the lineup.

Betting New York Miami Pick: Miami Heat

sports betting players who watched the New York Giants four years ago will definitely see the similarities between this seasons team and the one that shocked the world to end New Englands run at an undefeated season. The Patriots arent unbeaten, but the Giants are still the underdogs in your best sportsbook.

Offense

Quarterback Eli Manning said before the season started that he was an elite quarterback, and its hard to argue with him after the season he had. It was even more impressive when you realize that the Giants were fifth in passing during the regular season, but dead last in the league against the run, which means Manning had to put the team on his back (or better yet, his arm) for most of the season. The ground game started to pick up steam late in the season, which was a major key in their surge to the playoffs, but they struggled in San Francisco and Manning had to attempt 58 passes. He may have the best group of young receivers in the league in Victor Cruz (25 years old), Mario Manningham (25) and Hakeem Nicks (24), although with tight end Jake Ballard (24). The line was up and down this year, but theyve stabilized down the stretch.

Defense

The New York defense was god-awful for most of the season, and they ended the season in 27th spot in the rankings, including 19th against the run and 29th against the pass. The secondary suffered a few injuries during the regular season and it was tough for the unit to get some continuity. However, the front four completely took over down the stretch and its safe to say that end Jason Pierre-Paul is going to be an NFL betting candidate for Defensive Player of the Year with 16.5 sacks and a number of big plays. Along with Chris Canty, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Pierre-Paul, the Giants may have the single most dominant unit in the Super Bowl up front and again, that is similar to four years ago. The back seven has managed to hold it together over the last month, but theyre aided by the power and speed of the front four.

Special Teams

Kicker Lawrence Tynes hit a 31-yarder in overtime in San Francisco to win the NFC title, and he also hit one in the NFC championship game four years ago, so its safe to say that he has ice water in his veins. The Giants are ranked in the bottom half of the league in both kick and punt returns, and right around the middle of the pack when it comes to covering returns, but the Patriots dont really have any players that will scare you to that effect. Punter Steve Weatherford had a solid season, which is going to help in a battle of field position against a New England team that is potentially explosive.

Coaching

When it comes to respect, Tom Coughlin may receive the least of any head coach in the league. It seems like every year, Coughlin is on the hot seat, but a look at his numbers has to shut some of his critics up: a 74-54 record in New York, four seasons of 10 wins or more out of eight campaigns in the Big Apple, four trips to the postseason (and one 10-win season in which they missed out in 2010), one Super Bowl win and of course, this years appearance in the big game. He has seven career playoff wins on the road, tying him with Dallas legend Tom Landry, and throughout all the talk about his job, Coughlin never loses his cool (despite the perpetually red face) and his players respect that. At this point, you have to respect Coughlins resume and with another Super Bowl win, his critics wouldnt have a leg to stand on.

Intangibles

While this Giants team has been inconsistent for most of the season, theyve managed to peak when it counts and now theyre in the Super Bowl; in fact, based on momentum, youd be hard-pressed to state why theyre an underdog and that gives them added motivation. The Giants also beat the Patriots 24-20 in New England during the regular season, so they have the respect of their opponents, if not the fans and linesmakers. This is a veteran team that knows what theyre doing, particularly on defense, but they key may be their young receivers; will they continue to play to their standards under the bright lights of the Super Bowl?

Its going to be a very interesting matchup in Indianapolis, but this New York team isnt afraid of anyone and had to win a pair of tough road games just to get here. That road could lead them to another Super Bowl win as the sports betting underdogs.

New England was the sports betting favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl for most of the season, if not the entire campaign, and it should be no surprise that they passed all the major tests to get here, despite some critics complaining about their regular-season slate.

Offense

Tom Brady powers an offense that is pass-heavy, and the Patriots aerial attack is led by a pair of tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are matchup problems for any defense in the league, and head coach Bill Belichick now has Hernandez lining up in the backfield to make up for their lack of a running game. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is probably their best option, but the Patriots also have Danny Woodhead and Stevan Ridley to come out of the backfield. The line allowed 32.0 sacks during the regular season and has continued their strong play so far in the postseason. Dont expect Brady to have another game like the poor performance he had against Baltimore in the AFC title game.

Defense

The Patriots defense had a single motto all season: bend, but dont break. New England was 31st in the league in total yards allowed, but they managed to lead the AFC in turnovers, so that helped them get off the field. The Patriots were 31st in pass defense and even in the AFC championship game, receiver Julian Edelman played 27 snaps in the secondary to help them out with Baltimores receivers; you can expect him to play a similar role against the Giants, who has much better receivers. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork has raised his game in the postseason, while linebacker Brandon Spikes is fulfilling his potential alongside Jerod Mayo, but as always the secondary is scary, and not in a good way.

Special Teams

If the Patriots NFL betting chances depend on the foot of kicker Stephen Gostkowski, they should feel pretty good as he hit 28 of 33 attempts during the regular season, and then all four in the postseason. New England fans know all about resting their hopes on a kicker as they did for so long with Adam Vinatieri, but Gostkowski has hit over 84% of his career attempts. The Patriots arent going to scare anyone with their return teams, but they havent allowed a touchdown on special teams this year, either.

Coaching

Belichick is going to go to the Hall of Fame at some point and he has a chance to earn his sixth Super Bowl ring, including his fourth as a head coach. There may not be a more thorough coach in the league than Belichick, who handles every situation with the same deadpan expression and that has been passed down to Brady, his coach on the field, so the team never gets too high or too low. He knows what this time of year is all about and hell have the Patriots fully prepared for Super Bowl Sunday, and Belichicks presence may be the biggest influence on New Englands NFL betting odds, with all due respect to New York counterpart Tom Coughlin.

Intangibles

This is an extension of Belichick as the Patriots are a very calm team, regardless of what the situation is, and that is going to serve them well in the Super Bowl. They have a lot of veterans that have been here before and with the culture of winning that has permeated this franchise over the last decade or more, this is something that the younger players have been trained for since they signed on in New England. It all starts at the top with Belichick and Brady, who may be the most successful coach-quarterback combination of all time if they win this one. They are also playing for the memory of Myra Kraft, the late wife of New England owner Robert, and they have a painting of her in their locker room, which will be brought to Indianapolis. They would also like to avenge the loss from four years ago, and you know Belichick and Brady have been praying for this rematch to happen since the last Super Bowl ended.

When it comes to preparation and motivation, you may not find a better team than the New England Patriots, a veteran team with plenty of leadership, a coach that looks for matchups to exploit better than anyone in his profession, a future Hall of Fame quarterback and a squad that is out for revenge. That is why the Patriots are the sports betting favorites for the Super Bowl in two weeks.

Staying young is about thinking young and that is one of the great things about the Triple Crown for all online best sportsbook bettors as all of the sophomore crop with any degree of talent have aspirations to star the first Saturday in May in the Kentucky Derby.

This season appears to be wide open and its possible the true leaders of the divisions are still in the background, but online players should be prepared to follow a few of the following youngsters as they try to grow into their skin.

The 2-year-old champion Hansen was as game as they come winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile to remain unbeaten and although he has the advantage of proving himself at Churchill he was losing ground in the lane.

He started his sport betting comeback the day before Christmas and posted a solid 1:00 2/5 work at Gulfstream on January 7. Bred to roll long on the top being by Tapit, he is out of a three for 4 dam that was sprint only. Lone sibling Tapanna won twice, both at a mile on the synthetic at Turfway.

As brilliant as he is, he will muddle the pace if he shows in May but its hard to see him getting the classic distance at this point.

The runner-up in the Juvenile, Union Rags, had a rough trip that day and he started his regimen at Palm Meadows on January 11 and his style suggests he will thrive with more real estate.

Creative Cause has the blood to run long and he is obviously talented. By the Storm Cat sire Giants Causeway, he is out of a dam that is by a stout influence and the way he came away late winning the Norfolk last year at Santa Anita suggests he will be a true force.

The West Coast hopes will surround the improvement of Liason, a son of Indian Charlie who won the Cash Call Futurity. In the right hands of Bob Baffert, this guy cost nearly $300,000, hes only lost once and he had an excuse that day and he has proven he has no problem passing horses.

Baffert is already cranking this guy up as he drilled in a best of 16 bullet workout of 1:11 flat at Santa Anita on January 19.

Gemologist, trained by Todd Pletcher, had a solid campaign last year and has a right to run till the cows come home as he is by 2-time Breeders Cup Classic winner Tiznow.

Sabercat won the Delta Downs Jackpot and well learn more about him when he shows in the San Felipe Stakes.

Peruvian star Fly Lexis Fly takes his lessons from world-class horseman Neil Drysdale and will get tested for class in the Santa Anita Derby.

With Super Bowl betting in sight, you never want to go Out of Bounds, but the runner by that name was impressive taking the Sham Stakes and the pedigree screams distance as he is kin to Etched, who handled slop taking the 9 furlong Meadowlands Cup, won a Grade 2 at Monmouth at the same demanding distance and was compromised when he tired the Breeders Cup Classic when he broke slowly and had to rush up.

These are the prominent names but all that will change in the following weeks and we all need to pay attention.

More to come.

The Syracuse Orange finally lost a game after winning their first 20 this season. Will they allow themselves to get rattled, or will they fight back with a fury against West Virginia?
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Syracuse Orange – Saturday, January 28
Sports betting line: No line
Why West Virginia Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, its worth mentioning that while Syracuse is viewed as a national title contender, the Orange are going through one of those rough patches in the middle of a season, a stretch that can certainly make a team better for March… but not without short-term costs. Syracuse is fighting through its limitations right now. The Orange fell at Notre Dame this past Saturday, dropping a 67-58 decision without starting center Fab Melo, who was out with an injury. Melo is not a prolific scorer, but he doesnt need to be a on a team loaded with them. Melo needs to be that rebounder-defender who anchors the Orange in the paint and provides just enough of an offensive threat to keep defenders honest. Melo was part of Syracuses winning mix, so the fact that Syracuse played so poorly without him is something of an alarm bell for SU and head coach Jim Boeheim.

Maybe Melo will play in this game against West Virginia, and maybe he wont; whats important to point out is that he wont be 100 percent, which in and of itself raises questions regarding Syracuses level of performance. West Virginia big man Deniz Kilicli a slow but intelligent player from Turkey who makes good decisions with the ball and plays high-level help defense could have a big night against Syracuse, which would make the Orange a less effective team at the defensive end of the court. If Melo is not appreciably fit in this game whether he plays or not Syracuses wings will be smothered by West Virginias perimeter defenders, and the calculus will shift in West Virginias favor.

Why Syracuse Will Win
The college basketball betting experts who follow the Big East Conference for a living know that while Syracuse is a team in flux due to the Melo injury, this is not an overwhelming West Virginia club. The Mountaineers have two players Kevin Jones (averaging roughly 20 points and 11 rebounds per game) and Darryl Bryant (roughly 18 points per game) who can hit big shots on an appreciably consistent basis, and thats pretty much it. Coach Bob Huggins doesnt have the quality depth he could turn to in 2010, when the Mountaineers made the Final Four and took down a star-studded Kentucky team in the East Regional final. This is a less potent West Virginia squad, and against Syracuses array of gifted scorers, the Mountaineers will have to muck it up as much as possible in order to win. Thats not likely not in Syracuses Carrier Dome. 
Who Will Win
Its not a lock, because Syracuse is working through issues, but an elite team such as the Orange will likely use a loss as mental fuel. Syracuse might sweat against an opponent that can match its talent at all five spots on the floor, but West Virginia is not that team. Take Syracuse.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Syracuse

sports betting players are definitely watching the decline of this edition of the Boston Celtics, and general manager Danny Ainge has said that he wont hesitate to trade one of the “Big Three” ahead of the deadline. But the Celtics still have some life left and theyll show it on Monday in a huge Eastern Conference showdown with Orlando.

What: NBA Betting
When: Monday, January 23rd, 7:30 PM ET
Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
Pick: Boston Celtics

Why Bet On Orlando Magic (10-4 SU, 8-6 ATS, 5-2 ATS road)

The Magic should be rested as they have the weekend off after a Friday night meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers at home, and they would be coming off an 85-83 overtime loss at home against San Antonio, which snapped a five-game winning streak. Dwight Howard went off with 24 points, 25 rebounds and three blocks, while Ryan Anderson had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, but he was 1-of-6 from beyond the arc and the team was 4-of-21 from three-point land as a whole. Orlando shot a miserable 33.3% from the field, but they managed to outrebound the Spurs 60-41, including 18-4 on the offensive end. You could easily say that this game was lost during a bizarre moment in the third quarter, when Glen “Big Baby” Davis was called for a technical while protesting a foul call as he pulled his shorts down….yes, you read that right. Tony Parker would go on to hit the free throw, which may have been the point that tied the game for the Spurs.

Hedo Turkoglu (back) joined fellow forward Jason Richardson (knee) on the sidelines on Wednesday, although the San Antonio game was the third that Richardson had missed. The two are hoping to be ready for Fridays game against the Lakers, but NBA betting players know that most teams are battling injuries right now because of the congested schedule, so there is no excuse. Their biggest concern surrounds Davis, who will be returning to Boston, where he spent the first four seasons of his career. Everyone knows Davis is an emotional guy, and the Celtics will try and goad him into a stupid play.

Why Bet On Boston Celtics (5-8 SU, 6-7 ATS, 3-5 ATS home)

The Celtics will also be in action on Friday night at home against Phoenix, and they probably played their best game of the season on Wednesday as they routed Toronto 96-73 at home to halt a five-game skid. Rajon Rondo hit seven of his eight field-goal attempts en route to a team-high 21 points, while Brandon Bass came off the bench with 13 points and nine boards for the Celtics, and even though it was only against the Raptors, the Celtics needed something to stop their slide. They passed the ball around nicely with 21 assists on their 34 field goals, they outrebounded the Raptors 45-38 and Boston turned the ball over just nine times as opposed to 16 for the Raptors. It was also good to get a blowout as Bass actually led the team in minutes played with 31, while Rondo and Ray Allen led the starters with 28. It was an impressive performance for a team that many NBA betting players are writing a eulogy for already, but that would be dangerous against an experienced team like the Celtics.

Rondo (wrist) should be ready for this game, although the Celtics do play on Sunday in Washington as well, and Keyon Dooling (knee) is also banged up, which means the Celtics may be forced to start Avery Bradley at the point. The Celtics will do everything in their power to get Rondo back to 100% (or as close as possible) before this meeting with the Magic, who are one of the teams that the Celtics are chasing. But Boston has larger problems, like not being in the playoff picture heading into the weekend. The Celtics really dont care which seed they are going into the postseason, but first they have to get there.

How It Will Play Out

Boston should be the NBA betting favorites at home on Monday night, and theyre 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS in their last five at the new Garden against the Magic, with three games going under the posted total (along with a push). The Magic may have an edge because the Celtics play on Sunday, but Boston will be aiming to put the Wizards out of their misery early so their big guns will be rested for Monday night.

The Celtics have had their issues scoring points, and both teams are solid defensively, so this should be another low-scoring affair with plenty of physical play. Were leaning towards the Celtics at home, where they have been much better this season and they should focus their attentions on Anderson, who has improved and is a solid No.2 option to Howard, who will get his points anyway. If they can take away the other options, the Celtics should be able to shut down the Magic for a victory in your sports betting book.

Magic Celtics Betting Pick: Boston Celtics