NBA Picks: Spurs vs Thunder 5/31/14

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NBA Playoff Record: 41-39-1 ATS

NHL Playoff Record: 4-1-1 

MLB Record: 2-4

NBA

San Antonio Spurs (+3.5) over OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: We see the Spurs motivated enough by Miami closing out their series to buck the trend of blowouts between them and the Thunder. At the very least, we think we'll finally get a good basketball game from start to finish tonight. This game comes down to adjustments and the lingering doubt in the Thunder's mind that they can win two games and the series. Those doubts will be enough for the Spurs to cover if not win this game. With 66% of the public backing OKC, we'll take the points and the UNDER 207.



May the Spreads Be With You,

Vinny and Marco

NBA Picks: Pacers vs Heat Game 6 - 5/30/14

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NBA Playoff Record: 41-38-1 ATS

NHL Playoff Record: 4-1-1 

MLB Record: 2-4

Sorry we missed out on yesterday's games - sometimes life just takes over and says, "No soup for you." 



NBA

INDIANA PACERS (+8) over Miami Heat: The Pacers have had early leads in almost every game in this series. Sure the stars aligned and LBJ got into foul trouble which allowed Indiana to force Game 6, but we believe the Pacers can do enough to keep this close into the final minutes. The Heat might win, but it will be by 5 or 6 not 9 or 10. The OVER has value only because of the late free-throws you'll see in elimination games like this one. Here's hoping we see a Game 7.

May the Spreads Be With You All,

Vinny and Marco

Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers - 5/28/14 Pick ATS

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NBA Playoff Record: 40-38-1 ATS

NHL Playoff Record: 3-1-1 

MLB Record: 2-3

NBA

INDIANA PACERS (+2) over Miami Heat: Fact - teams up 3-1 in a best of seven which go on to win game 5, win said series one million percent of the time. That's science. Tonight, the Pacers extend this series one last time before going down in a fizzling, moist flicker of glory back in Miami for Game 6. The Heat have owned the Pacers since the talk of home court advantage was brought up late in the season, and right now that advantage is back in the hands of Miami. This game, however, is in Indy and when these teams meet the home team almost always wins. We'll take the points and two chances to cover.



Stats of the Night

NBA | MIAMI at INDIANA
Play Against – Any team vs the money line (INDIANA) revenging a loss vs opponent of 10 points or more, off 2 or more consecutive road losses
206-94 over the last 5 seasons. ( 68.7% | 71.0 units )
23-14 this year. ( 62.2% | -1.3 units )

NBA | MIAMI at INDIANA
Play Under – Road teams where the first half total is between 90.5 and 95.5 points after 3 or more consecutive wins, well rested team – playing 6 or less games in 14 days
46-18 over the last 5 seasons. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
7-3 this year. ( 70.0% | 3.7 units )

NHL

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (-145) over Los Angeles Kings: We learned a long time ago that in the sports betting world knowledge is the opposite of power, which is why dating back to last season our hockey (a sport which I've only watched parts of games) picks have yielded an 11-3-1 record. We're rolling with the Blackhawks to extend this series. 

MLB

MLB | NY YANKEES at ST LOUIS
Play On – Home teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (ST LOUIS) excellent fielding team – averaging <=0.5 errors/game on the season, after 5 straight games where they had 10 or more hits
31-11 since 1997. ( 73.8% | 20.7 units )
0-1 this year. ( 0.0% | -1.0 units )

*Couple this stat with the fact that Kuroda has given up runs in the first inning of 4 of his last 5 and you've got a recipe for a Cardinal win.

May the Spreads Be With You,

Vinny and Marco

Spurs Thunder Pick Game 4 - 5/27/14

What's the opposite of prophetic? After boasting a 2-0 Sunday with a perfect hockey score prediction, Marco and I hit our first 0-fer in a couple of weeks, missing on the NBA, the NHL, and the MLB. I knew we should have gone with the WNBA. The Minnesota Lynx helped us win all of our early NFL losses back last year.

NBA Playoff Record: 39-38-1 ATS

NHL Playoff Record: 2-1-1 

MLB Record: 0-2

NBA

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (-2.5) over San Antonio Spurs: There's a lot of action coming in on the Spurs because of Coach Pop and his legendary ability to get his teams to bounce back. We believe the Spurs will win this series, but it's starting to have the feel of a long one and that means heading back to S.A. knotted at two. The favorite/home team is 12-3-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings and the Spurs are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 visits to OKC. With a playoff atmosphere, we don't see that changing. We're recommending laying the points and for totals players the UNDER is 8-3 in the last 11.



Random Stat of the Night: Play On – Home teams vs. the 1rst half line (OKLAHOMA CITY) when trailing in a playoff series, good team, winning 60-75% or more of their games on the season
152-91 since 1997. ( 62.6% | 51.9 units )
7-6 this year. ( 53.8% | 0.4 units )

MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers/Cincinnati Reds - UNDER 6.5: Greinke has been stellar all year and the Reds Alfredo Simon has not been seen by many Dodgers. All indications point to a low-scoring affair.

Toronto Blue Jays (-125) over Tampa Bay Rays: Mark Buerhle on the mound + Blue Jays playing some of the best baseball in the majors = W.

OAKLAND A's (-120) over Detroit Tigers: Sonny Gray baby, plus Max Scherzer's ERA on the road this year is approaching 4. That will be enough as Sonny continues to dominate the majors.

NHL

MONTREAL CANADIANS (-110) over New York Rangers: Montreal finds a way to send this series back to New York. No reason - just the way it's going to be.

May the Spreads Be With You,

Vinny and Marco

Indiana Pacers Miami Heat Pick ATS - 5/26/14

NBA Playoff Record: 39-37-1 ATS

NHL Playoff Record: 2-0-1 

MLB Record: 0-1

It's amazing when we feel prophetic. A perfect 2-0 night, including a pass on the NHL total because we assumed the final score would be 3-2, has us feeling as Landon Donavon...the day before he was cut from the U.S. World Cup roster - like the universe is in order and nothing bad can happen to us ever. In defense of the U.S. soccer team, Landon Donavon might be the most boring, vanilla, interview I've ever seen for any sport in any country. If you're trying to hype a fringe, fifth shelf sport in our country, you'd better add scoring, fighting, or personality. Sorry L.D. - time to get a mohawk, some tats, and an underwear commercial. 


"Don't look at the score, look at me."

Speaking of the World Cup, our friends at 1Vice are running a $2000 tournament for sports fans/bettors to enjoy this sacred tournament just that much more. That's right - $2000 to the winner. All you have to do is sign up, deposit $250 - get your 150% free play bonus on top or that, plus your 30% rebate on the first of the next month - and you'll be assigned a username/password to fill out your brackets. We'll have more information and a direct link to the rules tomorrow. For now, I'll include a summary at the bottom of this post. Now let's get on to the Memorial Day capping. 

Basketball 

Indiana Pacers (+6) over MIAMI HEAT: It's too bad the NBA doesn't play 40 minutes like they do in college because the Pacers would be up 3-0 in this series. Well, not quite, but if Indiana can actually string together 4 decent quarters, they should get the ATS cover tonight. We actually believe they pull of the upset, regain home court advantage, and make a series out of this thing. No stats support us, including the fact that 53% of the public agrees - that's scary - and the fact that Miami is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games and the Pacers have only covered once in their last 5 trips to Miami. For totals bettors, the OVER looks like a healthy proposition because it has hit in 7 of the last 9 meetings between these teams in Miami and 6 of the last 7 Heat games after an ATS win. We'll take the points here.



Stat of the Night: Play Over – Road teams where the first half total is between 90.5 and 95.5 points double revenge – 2 straight losses vs. opponent, well rested team – playing 4 or less games in 10 days
42-17 over the last 5 seasons. ( 71.2% | 23.3 units )
3-2 this year. ( 60.0% | 0.8 units )

Hockey

Chicago Blackhawks (+119) over LOS ANGELES KINGS: Hockey is a tough sport to gauge, and because we know very little about it, we're more comfortable rolling with the unpredictability. For example, the Kings have been playing outstanding hockey with their backs against the wall this post-season, which means they must first get their backs against the wall. A 2-1 series lead just won't do. Look for their guard to be let down just enough for the Blackhawks to regain home ice advantage. 

Baseball

Chicago Cubs @ SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - UNDER 7: Not a homer in this one, Bobby, but we do like the total to stay low with the anemic Cubs offense and our fantasy pitching stud Jeff Smardzija on the mound for Chicago.

Stat of the Night: MINNESOTA is 8-1 (+9.4 Units) against the money line after 3 straight games without a stolen base this season.

The average score was: MINNESOTA (4.7) , OPPONENT (3.3)

May the Spreads Be With You,

Vinny and Marco

Spurs vs Thunder Game 3 Pick - 5/25/14

I just realized that the beautiful post I wrote yesterday about the Heat being unbeatable in Game 3 at home and the Kings finally taking series lead before Game 7 never got published. Actually, truth be told I had the Kings losing at home in order to rebuild their come from behind mojo. C'est la vie - if it doesn't go to print, then I can't count the stats. That's the sports betting gods for you, and just so you know I'm being honest, I also took the UNDER in the NHL game. Please know, I did not mean to drop the ball, but in my haste to drive seven hours round-trip to a wedding I must have forgotten to press "Publish." The good news, I have my intro paragraph written already...

I can't remember who's playing, but I'm pretty sure the NBA playoffs continue this weekend with a pair of critical Game 3's. And since we still have $100 of risk-free, no obligation, no commitment money to play around with thanks to our friends at 1Vice (click on the logo to the right for your money), we may as well lay a few dollars on some NBA and NHL action.

Poetry right? Or clear evidence I was in a hurry. Or neither. Or both.

NBA Playoff Record: 38-37-1 ATS

NHL Playoff Record: 1-0-1 

Basketball

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (-2) over San Antonio Spurs: Ibaka or no Ibaka - which is why it's hard to find an open line right now - if the Dallas Mavericks can beat the Spurs three times then surely the Thunder can find a way to win the all-important Game 3. If they don't, they can start packing for the off-season, and we expect an MVP and MVP2 performance from the OKC superstars. All they need after that is a little bit of help from a third scorer, one of the best home crowds in the league, a brilliant defensive effort, and a letdown game by San Antonio. We think  they get those things. We'll give up the small chalk with OKC.



Hockey

Montreal Canadians @ New York Rangers Game 3: We don't have a great feel for hockey, so I've started doing some research to explore the various ways you can bet on a game. It's not so different from baseball with runs being given to the dogs or taken away from the favorites. We believe the New York Rangers find a way to win this game at home, but coming into the series the Canadians were the favorites, had a better regular season, but sadly lost their premier goalie. All that being said, we like the Puck Line (just looked it up) in this game. Take The Canadians (-190) PUC and we'll stay away from the total because it will probably yield a 3-2 push again. 


 "Yes - lost by less than two. Sweet." 

May the Spreads Be With You All,

Vinny and Marco

Canadians Rangers Game 3 - 5/22/14

What? TSZ does hockey? Who's the Ice Guru? Vinny, the guy who has never been to an NHL game in his life? Or is it Marco who says he played hockey so much as a kid he almost didn't graduate? It doesn't matter - our record speaks for itself. Last year when the NBA decided to schedule what feels like six weeks off between games (I mean are they walking from Indiana to Miami?), Marco and I started to take a stab at the psychology of hockey and finished out the Stanley Cup finals with an 8-4 record backing teams and totals.



Tonight, we pick up where we left off. Why? Because we have $100 of free money to play with thanks to our friends at 1Vice. That's right - if you click on the 1Vice icon to the right and sign up for an account, they will start you off with $100 worth of risk-free, no obligation, no commitment bets on your favorite sports. Now that sounds like the perfect dating experience if you ask me. Don't tell my wife I said so. Or my mistress. Or her sister. But seriously. If you enjoy the occasional online gambling experience and are tired of Internet dating, try our friends at 1Vice and enjoy their great competitive lines, their always available customer service, and their fast payouts.



*Also, if you sign up for the free account today, you can enter their baseball contest on Facebook and win another free $100 just by picking the team that wins by the largest margin. That's easy money.

HOCKEY

NHL Record to Date: 8-4

Montreal Canadians (+155) over NEW YORK RANGERS: Rumor has it, goalies are very important to the success of hockey teams. This has been evident in this series with the Canadians loss of their goalkeeper, Corey Price who has been ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs. Montreal is down 2-0 in the series and hitting the road for a crucial Game 3 in New York. Hockey, however, is super duper unpredictable. With everyone jumping on the Rangers bandwagon now when the Canadians were the favorites heading into this series, it appears to us that Montreal has some good value here. Sure their defense will have to step up its game and the aura of Rangers keeper Lundqvist will have to be penetrated, but we believe the Canadians who had the superior regular season record and are 4-2 in their last six road games will find a way to get the job done in New York. Take the Canadians and the UNDER in a defensive battle in Madison Square Garden.



BASEBALL

Toronto Blue Jays/BOSTON RED SOX Under 8.5 runs: With Jon Lester's 2.16 home ERA going up against Mark Buerhle's 1.25 road ERA, the Under seems like a great, even in a hitter's park like Fenway.



San Francisco Giants (+110) over COLORADO ROCKIES: Call me a homer, but Tim Hudson is on the mound and on his way to the All-Star game with his 2.09 ERA and his ability to keep balls in the park. Colorado came into this series averaging 7 runs/game at home and batting .350 as a team at Coors Field. Yesterday the Giants held them to 1 run and 5 hits. In an important early-season rubber match between the first and second place teams in the National League West, we'll take the find-a-way-to-win Giants over the suddenly cooling Rockies.



May the Spreads Be With You,

Vinny and Marco

Thunder - Spurs Game 2 - 5/21/14

How confident are you in your Thunder Spurs Game 2 pick? Do you believe the San Antonio will continue to roll towards an inevitable rematch of the 2013 NBA Finals with the Miami Heat? Or do you think the Oklahoma City Thunder will make a push towards a 2012 rematch? Do you think the loss of Serge Ibaka is too much to overcome, or did the Thunder show you enough to back them with the points in Game 2? Most importantly - would you bet your life on it? No? Me neither. That would be really dumb?



But would you bet $100 on it? Me, too. When you feel confident about a team or a pick and things have been going so well the ATS lines become transparent, a $100 bet can feel like a sound investment. Now what if I were to sweeten the pot and tell you that someone else were going to foot the bill for your bet, back you on a $100 wager, at absolutely no risk or commitment on your part. You'd jump at the offer, right? Absolutely.



Well, our friends at 1Vice are doing just that. Seriously!! They are offering a free $100 risk-free trial. If you feel confident in your pick for tonight's game or any other game(s) on the sports betting schedule, just click on the link the the right, sign up for a 100% free account and a 100% free $100 with which to roll the 100% accurate hypothetical/metaphorical dice. There are standard rollover rules if you win, but it's the rare situation in life where if you lose it's at no cost to you. Bet it all at once or spread it out over a few games, but most importantly - have fun at 1Vice and enjoy their friendly customer service, competitive lines, and quick payouts. Check 'em out.

2014 Overall NBA Playoff Record: 38-36-1 ATS

Our $100 pick for tonight's match-up...

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (+6) over San Antonio Spurs: Although the Spurs pulled away late and showed us the regular season record between these two teams has little bearing on the playoffs, we like the Thunder to bounce back in Game 2 and at the very least cover this large spread. The Thunder are not the Nets and they will show more fight than Brooklyn did against Miami. It would not surprise us to see this series head back to OKC tied at 1. Look for a more defensive battle, which gives the UNDER 210 some value here, too.

May the Spreads Be With You,

Vinny and Marco

Daily Reminders 

1. We love comments. If you have anything to say about our picks our posts our font choice, please light up the comments section even if it's just to say



2. We love coffee. If you've done well with our picks or you just appreciate what we or you just want to buy our silence, please use the Coffee for Vinny and Marco button on the right.

3. Don't forget to check out our friends at 1Vice. We get our lines from them and we highly recommend them for your online sports betting action. They have terrific customer service, great sign up bonuses and free play, and fast payouts. They running a special on the Kentucky Derby as we speak. They were also kind enough to send us an odds page, which we've included at the bottom of The Spread Zone.

Heat vs Pacers Pick ATS - 5/20/14

2014 Overall NBA Playoff Record: 38-35-1 ATS

Conference Championships: 1-1 ATS

INDIANA PACERS (+2.5) over MIAMI HEAT: It's hard to imagine the two-time defending champs going down 0-2 in a series. In fact, I'm not sure it has ever happened. However, after seeing how their red uniforms inspire the play of the Indiana Pacers, it's also hard to imagine this not being a close game one way or the other. My heart says Indiana, my mind says the Heat, so I'll take the points and have to shots with the Pacers. The home team has dominated this series of late going 7-2 ATS and the Heat are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 trips to Indy. Take the points.

May the Spreads Be With You,

Vinny and Marco

Thunder - Spurs - 5/19/14 - Pick ATS

Yours truly is hitting the road for a dad-daughter road trip, but since Marco and I like to finish what I start Round 3 - or the Conference Finals - picks will be short but sweet. Don't forget, we get all of our lines from 1Vice and right now they're offering tremendous sign-up/deposit bonuses, including a free $100 bet. Click on the logo to the right and check them out.

NBA Playoffs Round 2 Record: 13-8-1 ATS

2014 Overall NBA Playoff Record: 37-34-1 ATS

Sunday

INDIANA PACERS (+2.5) over Miami Heat: This is what the Pacers have been waiting for since last May. So they got a little ADHD over the second half of the season and the early part of the playoffs. No chance they dig themselves a hole in this one. Look for the Indiana Bigs to dominate inside and the Pacers to not only cover but win Game1 at home.



Monday

Oklahoma City Thunder (+5.5) over SAN ANTONIO SPURS: The Thunder are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Spurs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games and 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games following a ATS win. The real biggy, however, is the fact that the Thunder have absolutely owned the Spurs, going 10-1-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings vs. the Spurs.

 

May the Spreads Be With You,

Vinny and Marco

Daily Reminders 

1. We love comments. If you have anything to say about our picks our posts our font choice, please light up the comments section even if it's just to say



2. We love coffee. If you've done well with our picks or you just appreciate what we or you just want to buy our silence, please use the Coffee for Vinny and Marco button on the right.

3. Don't forget to check out our friends at 1Vice. We get our lines from them and we highly recommend them for your online sports betting action. They have terrific customer service, great sign up bonuses and free play, and fast payouts. They running a special on the Kentucky Derby as we speak. They were also kind enough to send us an odds page, which we've included at the bottom of The Spread Zone.