posted December 19, 2007 at 17:39 in NBA Articles
NBA Basketball Betting Odds – Orlando at Houston
The Orlando Magic (17-9 SU, 19-7 ATS), going through a bit of a lull right now, visit the Toyota Center in Houston on Wednesday night when they take on the Houston Rockets (12-12 SU, 9-14-1 ATS), which is looking to snap itself out of an offensive swoon.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* HOU has covered ten straight meetings
* HOU is 9-1 SU in the last ten meetings
* Six of the last nine meetings have gone OVER the total
* HOU has covered the last five meetings at home
* HOU has won four of the last five meetings SU at home
* Six of the last eight meetings at Houston have gone OVER the total
Orlando has averaged a shade under 104 points per game this season. The Magic is a perimeter-oriented team, sinking 9.2 three-point shots per contest (second in the league), but also possess the NBA betting best rebounder in Dwight Howard. Orlando has shot over 50% in each of the last three games. Also:
* ORL is 18-6 ATS in its last 24 games
* ORL has covered two of its last six games
* ORL has lost five of its last six games SU
* ORL has won 12 of its last 16 road games SU
Houston is shooting 44% from the field, and averages only 93.8 ppg. But the Rockets average 47.5 rebounds at home, which is the top figure in the NBA. Also:
* HOU has played eight of its last 11 games UNDER the total
* HOU has won 11 of its last 16 home games SU
* HOU has played four of its last five home games UNDER the total
* HOU is 4-5-1 ATS at home this season.
The Magic lost at Dallas two nights ago, but got the cover, meaning they are currently sporting a 14-2 ATS record on the road. Orlando is averaging 110 points in its last three, but the Magic has slowed down considerably, covering five of its last six games, dropping to 17-9 overall.
But Houston has been a major underachiever. Sitting at 12-12, the Rockets have not reached 90 points in their last four games, and that's surprising from a team with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady in the lineup. Point guard Rafer Alston says, "We don't have the energy, we don't have the hustle, we don't have the intensity," which is dangerous against a team that has played so well on the road.
Houston has Shane Battier as a defensive answer for Hedo Turkoglu, but McGrady has been bothered badly by a bruised right knee. If he tries to do too much against his former team, he could wind up hurting the Rockets here. And Dwight Howard (23.6 ppg, 15.3 rpg) has been playing better than Yao (21.8, 10.3). Neither team taking a heck of a lot of momentum into this one, but even though Houston's ten-game covering streak in this series sticks out like a sore thumb, this is a different Magic team they're facing. We'll take the team that has a formula for playing beyond expectations on the road. That's the Magic, the 3.5-point underdog in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: HOUSTON -3.5, Total: 194
JAY'S PLAY: ORLANDO
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)
