Posted on
1/2/2008 7:19:22 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Portland vs. Minnesota
By Charles Jay
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: PORTLAND -6, Total: 192
The Portland Trail Blazers (18-13 SU, 19-12 ATS) look to start themselves a brand new winning streak on Wednesday night, when they visit the Target Center in Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-26 SU, 13-17 ATS) in NBA action starting at 8 PM ET.
In the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds, the Blazers are a 6-point road favorite, with the total posted at 192 points.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* PORT has covered six of the last seven meetings
* PORT has won five of the last seven meetings SU
* The last four meetings have gone OVER the total
* Eleven of the last 16 meetings have gone UNDER the total
* PORT has covered four of the last five meetings as the visiting team
* MINN has won five of the last six meetings SU as the home team
* MINN has had the shooting edge in five of the last six meetings
* PORT has had the rebounding edge in six of the last seven meetings
Portland's 13-game winning streak was broken by the Utah Jazz in Monday night's 111-101 loss. The Blazers nonetheless shot 48% in that game. On the road the Blazers are averaging 93.2 ppg, and allowing 101.6 ppg. They have won only three road games this season, in 13 tries. Also:
* PORT has covered 12 of its last 14 games
* PORT has won 13 of its last 14 games SU
* PORT has covered four of its last six road games
* PORT has played seven of 13 road games OVER the total
Minnesota has lost eleven of its last 12 games. The T-Wolves are shooting 43.6% from the field as a team, and 71.8% from the free throw line. Minnesota allows 104 points per game in their home building. Overall, the T-Wolves have been outscored by an average of 8.8 points a game. Also:
* MINN has won three of its last 21 home game SU
* MINN has covered four of its last 23 home games
* MINN has played four of its last five games UNDER the total
Ordinarily we would be hesitant to back Portland here, since the Blazers compiled their winning streak mostly at the Rose Garden, and the fact is they have played rather poorly on the road (just three SU wins). And Minnesota would like to get revenge for a 109-98 loss at the Rose Garden (a Blazer cover) just five days ago. Believe it or not, this is Portland's maiden voyage as a road favorite this season.
But fundamentally, the Blazers have all the edges. And it is unlikely that poor-shooting Minnesota (below 41% in four of last five games) will go on many runs. The Wolves are so permissive at the Target Center (104 ppg) and have had such a problem covering games, going back to last year (just 4 of last 23) that it's not even like home. In a game between the NBA's worst team and the team that has been among the two or three playing the best basketball, we'll go with the more proven commodity.
So we lay points on the road with Portland, the six-point favorite in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: PORTLAND
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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)