Posted on
3/27/2008 4:41:42 PM
NBA Basketball Sportsbook Betting - Miami at Detroit
By Charles Jay
WHO: Miami Heat (13-58 SU, 27-43-1 ATS) at Detroit Pistons (50-21 SU, 38-32-1 ATS)
WHERE: The Palace of Auburn Hills, MI
WHEN: Thursday, March 27 at 8 PM ET
BetUS NBA betting odds: Detroit -22, Total 179.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:
* MIA has covered five of the last six meetings
* DET has won four of the last five meetings SU
* Eleven of the last 13 meetings have gone UNDER the total
* MIA has covered four of the last five meetings as the visitor
* DET has won eight of the last nine meetings SU as the home team
* Four of the last six meetings in Detroit have gone UNDER the total
* MIA has had the shooting edge in each of the last four meetings
* DET has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings
Miami has scored fewer points per game than any team in the league (92.6). On the road they are last in scoring as well. The Heat allows its opponents to shoot 47% from the field. Also:
* MIA has lost 12 of its last 14 games SU
* MIA has lost 20 of its last 22 road games SU
* MIA has covered six of its last nine games
* MIA has covered four of its last five road games
Detroit has yielded fewer points than anyone in the NBA on a game-by-game basis (91 ppg). The Pistons are stingy with the ball on offense, too, turning it over only 11 times per contest. Also:
* DET has won 17 of its last 25 games SU
* DET has covered four of its last 12 games
* DET has won its last four home games SU
* DET has won seven of its last eight home games SU
* DET has lost its last five home games ATS
* DET has played five of its last eight games UNDER the total
* DET has played six of its last eight home games OVER the total
A funny thing is happening as the Miami Heat stumbles toward the finish line. No, they aren't catching fire, nor would they with a roster that is composed largely of NBA Development League players who are in the Magic City on ten-day contracts. But the oddsmaker is setting the number so high that this team is covering. In fact, Miami has managed to cover four of its last five on the road and six of its last nine overall.
That might not be enough to keep front-runner Pat Riley from abandoning ship, but it may be enough to garner a recommendation against a Detroit team that is in something of a pointspread malaise at present. The Pistons have certainly not played very well on the road, scoring just 156 combined points in games against Washington and Cleveland last week, and lost at slumping Toronto last night. They have also failed to get the money in five straight home games.
Detroit has dispatched Miami twice this season, but it wasn't by much - well, not by Miami standards. Richard Hamilton sat out another game against Toronto with a hip injury, and in his place Rodney Stuckey scored 16 points, though only two of those came before the fourth quarter. Would Detroit bring Hamilton back in this "breather" game? We're not positive. But the Pistons could be forgiven if they look past this to a day of rest and prep for a meeting with the Cavs on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Miami is bad but keeps trying. the Heat took the Knicks into overtime last night before losing. They may keep this one closer than you think. I'm taking 22 points with Miami in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: MIAMI
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 http://www.eBookies.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)