I don't always bet on sports, but if I did…
May 21, 2013 Leave a comment
San Antonio will need to beat Memphis by more than five points tonight in order to cover its fourth straight spread in the NBA playoffs.
Covering four spreads in a row is relatively rare, but the Spurs are playing so well that there is no reason not to keep betting them.
May 18, 2013 Leave a comment
It was nice to see the San Antonio Spurs comfortably cover the spreads in their last two games against Golden State, closing out the second-round NBA playoff series in six games.
Those were the type of games I envisioned from the beginning of the series, but as it turned out, the Spurs only covered three of the six spreads against the Warriors. That would not have resulted in any profit for a gambler, unless said gambler was shrewdly betting heavy on the last two games. ‘
The Spurs will carry a hot hand into a Western Conference championship series with a formidable Memphis squad. The Spurs are favored by 4.5 points at home in Sunday’s opening game.
I know very little about Memphis, but I’ve found studying in this situation rarely pays off for me. Every series takes on a life of its own, so we really can’t know what to expect until Game 1 gets underway.
If I had to bet Game 1, I’d ride with the Spurs and wait for a sign that I should switch my line of thinking. Even when the Spurs fail to cover, they always seem to have a chance to cover in a game’s final minutes, which at least give a gambler a sense hope throughout a game.
As long as Tim Duncan plays for them and Gregg Popovich coaches them, the Spurs will be one of my favorite bets in all of sports.
May 14, 2013 Leave a comment
The Golden State Warriors have covered three of the four spreads in an NBA playoff second-round series with San Antonio.
The money movement prior to Tuesday’s Game 5 is in favor of the Warriors, who opened as eight-point road underdogs and are now seven-point underdogs.
What does that mean?
The betting public is easily swayed by previous results.
Money moved on the Spurs for the first game of the series, but the Warriors covered. That caused the money to switch to the Warriors for Game 2, which they covered. Bettors continued to like the Warriors for Game 3, which they did not cover, causing bettors to wrongly favor the Spurs in Game 4.
Now, the wishy-washy bettors are back on the Warriors.
No other NBA series is the slightest bit appealing, but the Spurs and Warriors are fascinating. Good basketball is being played on both sides, which is more than can be said for the tackle fest that is the series between Miami and Chicago.
The Spurs dominated the early going in Sunday’s loss and seemed in such complete control that I turned the channel. I tuned back in just in time to watch the Warriors claw back into the game, force overtime and win.
My head was shaking and my jaw was on the floor.
There are plenty of good things to say about the Warriors, but I’ll save those for another post. They are no match for the Spurs on paper or in real life.
The Spurs remain the proper bet in each game of this series. Now, if only the proper bet would actually start winning.
May 12, 2013 Leave a comment
I was a little disappointed there weren’t any odds this morning on whether Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia would end up in a fist fight after the Players Championship.
Instead the primary golf bet for the day is whether Tiger or the field will win. Last I looked Tiger was +140, but I would take the field in this case.
The great thing about Sunday is the early action. The San Antonio Spurs are taking on Golden State in the NBA playoffs this morning, and apparently everyone is back on the Spurs bandwagon, because they have gone from 1.5-point underdogs to 2-point road favorites. Of course, I agree with the money.
New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey is coming off a great start the other night, when he flirted with a no-hitter. The start got a lot of headlines and put his name in the spotlight. Today, the Mets are a -200 favorite at home against the Pirates. Something tells me Pittsburgh is a good bet in this one.
May 11, 2013 Leave a comment
There is something gratifying about being right, even if money isn’t on the line.
The San Antonio Spurs finally ended Golden State’s sting of 11 covered spreads Friday night, winning 102-92 as 2.5-point road underdogs in Game 3 of a seven-game NBA playoff series.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry finally cooled off and the team playing the best overall basketball retook control of the series two games to one.
The Warriors covered the first two spreads in the series, winning the second game outright to cover their 11th straight spread. That’s the longest streak I’ve witnessed in the NBA, so I want to keep making note of it.
The teams play again Sunday and the Warriors are favored by 1.5.
Shocking, I know, but I like the Spurs in Game 4. I’ve liked the Spurs since the series started, and nothing has happened to make me change my tune, I was shocked at the result of the first two games and would be shocked if Golden State wins another game in the series.
May 10, 2013 Leave a comment
Thursday’s parlay picks were so much fun, I’ve decided to throw another four-pick out there for Friday. I didn’t look at any odds or stats or anything to help me logically decipher a winning card. I just glanced at the scoreboard and picked the first four teams that felt like winners.
Here they are:
L.A. Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers
Tampa Bay Rays
L.A. Angels
May 10, 2013 Leave a comment
For the second straight game, money is moving on Golden State in the NBA playoff series with San Antonio.
The Spurs started out as 1.5-point underdogs in Friday’s Game 3 and are currently getting 2.5 points at Golden State. The series is tied at a game apiece.
If it weren’t for the Houston Astros blowing a two-run lead in the final two innings against the L.A. Angels last night, a Spurs cover would complete a four-pick parlay of mine, which pays better than 10-1 odds. The New York Yankees and Mets were my two successful picks from Thursday’s baseball lineup.
Many would say I should know better than to expect the Houston bullpen to hold up, but baseball fans know that any pro team with a lead at home is firmly in the driver’s seat and should win.
Oh well, that’s gambling and I’m done venting.
As impressive as Stephen Curry has been for Golden State this week, I would stick with the Spurs on Friday. I still believe they are the better overall team and shooters always cool off. I will concede that Curry is more than just a shooter. He is a wizard with the ball in his hands and has shown the ability to drive to the rack, but I believe the Spurs will figure him out.
