Sports Betting: Games To Bet On
These are heady times for handicappers. The NBA landscape has changed courtesy of the trade deadline, the Olympic Games continue in Vancouver, and it’s time once again for Champions League action across the pond.
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We’ll focus on the best of the best in this week’s online sports gambling preview; all times are Eastern, and fresh odds are available 24/7 at Bodog Sports.
1. NBA: Cleveland at Boston (Thursday, 8:00 p.m.)
The Cavaliers have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 43-14 SU and 28-28-1 ATS. The Celtics have the best record in the Atlantic Division at 35-19 SU and 21-32-1 ATS. Both teams made important trades at the deadline; the Cavs added Antawn Jamison (20.8 points, 9.1 rebounds per 40 minutes) at power forward, while the C’s found their much-needed back-up point guard in Nate Robinson (21.7 points, 6.1 assists/40). Robinson has the flu and has yet to make his Boston debut. Jamison struggled in his first game with Cleveland, shooting 0-for-12 against the Charlotte Bobcats, then found his range with a 9-for-14 performance against the Orlando Magic. The Cavs lost both games regardless and are now in an 0-3 SU and ATS mini-slump against the NBA odds.
2. NCAAB: Villanova at Syracuse (Saturday, 9:00 p.m.)
And everything was going so well for the Wildcats. They lost a tough 70-65 battle at Pittsburgh (+2.5) on Sunday afternoon to sit at 22-4 SU and 16-9 ATS. Villanova has fallen a full game behind Syracuse (25-2 SU, 16-7 ATS) in the Big East after the Orange marched into Georgetown (-2) on Thursday and held on for a dramatic 75-71 victory. The Wildcats have enough problems on defense to make the OVER a very healthy 16-9 on the season and 7-2 on the road. Syracuse, on the other hand, has that tight 2-3 zone defense and the UNDER at 12-7 (6-1 during the last seven games).
3. NBA: Denver at L.A. Lakers (Sunday, 3:30 p.m.)
These are the two best teams in the Western Conference. 
The Lakers (42-14 SU, 25-29-2 ATS) have had some injury issues lately with both Kobe Bryant (29.0 points per 40 minutes) and Andrew Bynum (19.4 points, 10.5 rebounds/40) missing time this month, but Bynum is back, and the Lakers are expected to have Bryant in action this Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies. Los Angeles went 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS without Bryant, sending the UNDER to the pay window in all five games. Denver (37-19 SU, 26-27-3 ATS) visited Staples earlier this month and pasted the Lakers 126-113 as 8-point puppies. Bryant had 33 points in that game; Chauncey Billups topped him with 39.
4. Soccer: Chelsea at Internazionale (Wednesday, 2:45 p.m.)
The Champions League has entered the knockout stage, and the tastiest match of the week has Chelsea (first in the Premiership with 19 wins, four losses and four draws) making the trek to the Giuseppe Meazza to face Inter (first in Serie A at 16-2-7). The home side is a very slight favorite in this matchup at +160 to Chelsea’s +170, with the draw priced at +215. The Blues have just one loss (2-1 at Everton) in their last 16 matches across all competitions. Inter is undefeated in its last 16 since losing 2-0 at Barcelona during the group stage.
5. NASCAR: 2010 Shelby American (Sunday, 3:00 p.m.)
NASCAR pays its regular visit to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the third points race in the Sprint Cup series – known last year as the Shelby 427, which Kyle Busch won from the pole position. Jimmie Johnson is a three-time champion at this race and is coming off a victory this past Sunday at the Auto Club 500 in Fontana, Calif. Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports brethren might be challenged this year by Earnhardt Ganassi; surprise Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray had the pole last week and was joined on the front row by teammate Juan Pablo Montoya.
Honorable Mentions
NBA: Dallas at Atlanta (Friday, 7:00 p.m.)
NCAAB: Syracuse at Georgetown (Thursday, 9:00 p.m.)
Soccer: Barcelona at Stuttgart (Tuesday, 2:45 p.m.)
Tennis: Elena Dementieva vs. Ekaterina Bychkova, Malaysian Open (Tuesday, 9:00 p.m.)
Olympic Hockey: Quarterfinals (beginning Wednesday, 3:00 p.m.)
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