Kentucky Derby morning line odds are on top of everyone's mind at the sportsbooks and OTB betting parlors. But NBA spread winners have put a hurting on the bookmaker. The first free sports pick is from ScoresOddsPicks.
Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers (-7.5) – Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET
Cleveland coasted to a 4-1 series victory over the Chicago Bulls in round one. The Cavaliers delivered a lackluster performance on NBA odds, though, going just 2-3 against the spread. The team is 8-2 in its last 10 games in Cleveland, although its only 3-7 against the spread in that span—including just one cover in the past five games.
Boston is also nice and rested after disposing of the Miami Heat in five games. Unlike Cleveland, the Celtics were also quite reliable at the sportsbook, going 4-1 against the spread in their first-round playoff series. Boston's lone loss of the series came in Miami, and the Celtics are just 5-5 both straight up and against the spread in their past 10 games against from home.
The Celtics and Cavaliers have split their last 10 meetings with each other. The Cavs have dominated on the spread, however, winning seven of those games on NBA betting odds. Boston won the last game, but Cleveland was resting its starters for the postseason.
The Celtics looked sharp in the first round and they'll put up a big fight in Game 1—especially with LeBron James possibly a little tentative from an elbow injury. Cleveland will win it, but they won't cover.
Pick: Boston at SportsBook
Top expert picks on today's card: It's from Center of the Handicapping Universe GodsTips. The bookmakers have been screaming "mayday" for years and today's Game 1 between Boston and Cleveland is another reason for the sportsbooks to be distressed about. How much do we love this game? For the first time this year and just the eighth time in four years we have a Wise Guy on the side and total on the same postseason NBA game. Oh, all the Center of the Handicapping Universe has done so far is nail 7-of-8 NBA Wise Guy plays! We also have the Kentucky Derby one through four horses.
On Sunday, April 18 Florida +185 was the Dandy Dog of the Week. Dandy Dogs are underdogs of 140 or more. Just the second Dandy Dog of the Week all season goes today among three MLB winners, all underdogs and two Wise Guy plays. Click now to purchase
Now to Matt Rivers, who was the winningest handicapper ever—nobody came close—on a large network of sites. He says go with the Washington Nationals. They are getting 141 to Florida according to Just Bet Sportsbook
Don't look now but this Washington team is not that terrible. They won't win the World Series and after 162 games shouldn't beat out the Marlins in the division but to get a healthy number back here is more than enough for me.
Both Stammen and Volstad are young guys with potential. Neither has exactly overachieved and neither should throw a no-hitter but each of them have solid stuff and could look alright today.
Hanley Ramirez and the fish at home should win this game more than they lose but the Nats are playing spunky ball led by a couple of boppers in Zimmerman and Dunn and are much improved from last season's debacle. Just yesterday in game one of this series we saw the big dog Nats rise up and play well. I'm not saying things will be easy today at all but there is no reason why this game isn't winnable, that's for darn sure.
In betting on baseball one needs to find a game that is very winnable and close to 50-50 yet has a number that is a bit higher than it should be. This game is the epitome of that and therefore the Nats plus this number is a no-brainer.
For more information: Rivers is on an18-9 run and over 3.14 million* of profit! Get a 300* in the NBA and two additional MLB burials. Click now to purchase Matt Rivers card.
