Up to NBA Free Picks

posted January 10, 2008 at 15:05 in NBA Free Picks

The Detroit Pistons (26-9 SU, 23-10-1 ATS) are coming off two straight losses, the latest a particularly disappointing outing against the Dallas Mavericks, so they're looking for some redemption as they roll into the AT&T Center to face the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs (23-10 SU, 17-16 ATS) in the first half of the TNT doubleheader tipping off at 8 PM ET.

In the BetUS NBA betting odds, the Spurs are listed at -3.5, with the total posted at 180.5 points.

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:

* DET has covered four of the last six meetings

* The road team has covered five of the last seven meetings

* Four of the last five meetings have gone UNDER the total

* SA has held the rebounding edge in five of the last seven meetings

Detroit is allowing 89.3 points per game, which is second best in the NBA. The Pistons are very careful with the ball, turning it over only 10.9 times per contest. They average just under 100 ppg on the road. Also:

* DET has won 11 of its last 13 games SU

* DET is 13-2-1 ATS in its last 16 games

* DET has played 10 of its last 14 games UNDER the total

* DET has won nine of its last 11 road games SU

* DET is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 road games

San Antonio has yielded 92.5 points per game, third fewest in the league right behind Detroit. The Spurs are a good perimeter team, hitting 8.1 three-pointers per game and 46% field goals overall. Also:

* SA has covered two of its last ten games

* SA has played nine of its last 13 games UNDER the total

* SA has covered two of its last six home games

I guess one could argue that in last night's game against Dallas, the Pistons were caught in a bit of a sandwich, coming off the Boston game and looking ahead to the Spurs tonight. Whatever the reasons, they have shot a combined 40% against the Celtics and Mavericks, scoring 171 total points in those games.

Does the scheduling dynamic here favor San Antonio? The Spurs, coming off their own disappointment in losing to the Golden State Warriors on Monday, have had a couple of days off. But Detroit shouldn't be worn, considering the Pistons had three days of rest leading into the encounter with the Mavs. And besides, Flip Saunders' team has covered six of eight in the back end of back-to-back games.

San Antonio has been boosted with the recent return of Manu Ginobili, who adds an awful lot of firepower to the bench. And you can't underestimate the development of center Fabricio Oberto, who has averaged 5.8 rebounds in just 21 minutes a game.

But if we believe the Pistons are for real (and we do), we would have to expect a big effort here from them. It's one thing to get up for Boston, which has the NBA's best record, or Dallas, which had the NBA's best record last year. But it's quite another to lift yourself for a showdown with the defending world champs. Let's stay loyal with the Pistons, the very live underdog at BetUS Sportsbook.

BetUS NBA betting odds: SAN ANTONIO -3.5, Total 180.5

JAY'S PLAY: DETROIT

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!

(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)