Posted on
1/23/2008 5:23:50 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Orlando at Memphis
By Charles Jay
The Orlando Magic (26-17 SU, 28-15 ATS), one of the NBA's best road clubs, strolls into the FedEx Forum on Wednesday night to take on the Memphis Grizzlies (12-29 SU, 20-21 ATS) in an NBA game set to tip off at 8 PM ET.
In the BetUS NBA betting odds, the Magic is listed at -3, with the total posted at 212 points.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* MEM has won and covered five of the last six meetings
* Five of the last seven meetings have gone UNDER the total
* MEM has won and covered the last five meetings as the home team
* Four of the last five meetings in Memphis have gone UNDER the total
* MEM has had the shooting edge in five of the last six meetings
* ORL has had the rebounding edge in six of the last seven meetings
* MEM has made more three-pointers in five of the last six meetings
Orlando is averaging 103.1 points per game. The Magic shoots poorly from the free throw line (72%), but is third in the NBA with 8.9 three-pointers made per game. Also:
* ORL has covered four of its last five games
* ORL has covered 18 of 25 road games
* ORL has covered two of its last six road games
* ORL has lost four of its last five road games SU
* ORL has played six of its last eight road games UNDER the total
Memphis is one of the league's worst defensive teams, allowing 105.1 points per game and 46.3% shooting (which ranks it third from the bottom). The Grizzlies turn the ball over 15.6 times per game. Also:
* MEM has won six of its last 25 games SU
* MEM has played four of its last six games UNDER the total
* MEM has won and covered four of its last 13 home games
Memphis put forth a nice effort last time out, beating the Bulls by 14 points. In that one, Mike Miller and Rudy Gay both had 24 points. Pau Gasol had 12 points and 10 rebounds, but is hampered by a sore back right now.
Generally speaking, Memphis does not play very much defense; the 90 points they allowed against Chicago was the only time in the last ten that they've held the opponent below 100. That won't likely get it done against the Magic, which has tallied 100 or more in seven of the last eight.
And even though Orlando is going through a bit of a road lull right now (losing four of its last five), it is still one of the NBA's elite when it comes to covering numbers away from home (18-7 ATS). That statistic takes on added strength when you consider that Memphis has not "held serve" very well at th FedEx Forum (just 4-19 SU & ATS in last 13).
It's hard to tell how much team ball is rally being played by the Grizzlies right now, especially considering a few of them particularly Gasol, are padding their stats to make for more attractive trade bait.
At this manageable number, we're going to lay the points on the road with the Magic, the three-point favorite in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: ORLANDO -3. Total 212
JAY'S PLAY: ORLANDO
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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)