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Last night saw the end of the NBA regular season and the start of the NHL playoffs. It was a great night of sports with Kobe Bryant saying goodbye by going for 60 points. Did the Jazz really try when he had the ball? Did the refs ignore things for the story? Who cares? It was great to watch and a fun sendoff for one of the NBA’s all-time great ballhogs. Fifty shots in his final game is a record that may never be matched.
For those of you who were on our future bets back at the All-Star Break, congratulations on the nice little profit. It took until the last game of the season and some weird tiebreakers, but the Heat won the Southeast division at +145 odds. We also won the Blazers make the playoffs at +100 bet, but lost the Rockets miss the playoffs +110 bet. Thanks to the Kings for “resting” players who aren’t in the playoffs for that one. What are you resting them for? More rest?
Tonight we turn our attention to the baseball and the NHL playoffs. Two of the Stanley Cup favorites are in action tonight as the Kings and Capitols both open at home. For baseball, we have the two 7-1 teams in action tonight as the Cubs host the Reds and Orioles face the Rangers. Baseball is a long season, but starting the season +6 in the win column can carry you a long way. They could be joined in that club by the Nationals who play this afternoon.
MLB Betting Tips:
The sad sack Braves are yet to win a game this season and for their troubles they get to face Stephen Strasburg and the 6-1 Nationals today. The Nationals are naturally a huge favorite today and should grab the W, but we’re looking at the total on this one. Strasburg could easily go long in this one, holding the Braves to one or two runs, and we kinda like Julio Teheran as a starter. This seems like a good bet for Nats/Braves under 7 runs. Day baseball, travel day, ace pitchers; what’s not to like? Note: This game starts at 3:10 eastern time.
The Baltimore Orioles are the surprise of baseball thus far at 7-1 and they are in for a challenge today against the Texas Rangers and their ace Cole Hamels. For the Orioles, it’s Chris Tillman who has looked great early in the season by only allowing one run and four hits in seven innings. They need a big season from him if they want to contend this year. Despite the two seemingly tough pitchers, the total on this one is set at 8.5 runs. The Texas heat always has an effect, but I think these pitchers can get it done today and send Texas/Baltimore under 7 runs.
The Cubs are great. The Reds are bad. Cubs -159 before it gets higher.
NHL Playoff Betting Tips:
If there is one thing we learned last night (save for one game), it’s that scoring can be difficult in the playoffs. If it wasn’t for a puck bouncing off a skate in the Blues/Blackhawks game that one might still be 0-0.
Tonight, I really like the Isles/Panthers under 5 goals. These two teams struggled to hit five goals per game as an average in the regular season and I only expect that to get worse tonight.
We’re also on the Kings -140 tonight. The Kings have beat the Sharks in the playoffs the last two years out and it feels like they could do it again here. This just feels like one of those series where you want to be on the home team for every game. This should be a great one.
