Up to NBA Betting Trends

posted January 23, 2008 at 16:04 in NBA Betting Trends

Two Eastern Conference contenders who are playing pretty well collide on Wednesday night when the Washington Wizards (22-17 SU, 25-13-1 ATS) visit the Quicken Loans Arena to play the home standing Cleveland Cavaliers (22-18 SU, 18-22 ATS) in NBA action slated to begin at 7 PM ET.

In the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds, the Cavs are listed at -3.5, with the total posted at 188 points.

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:

* CLEV is 3-2-1 ATS in the last six meetings

* CLEV has won five of the last six meetings SU

* WASH has covered four of the last five meetings as the visiting team

* CLEV has won five of the last six meetings SU as the home team

* Eight of the last 11 meetings at Cleveland has gone UNDER the total

Washington has averaged 99.3 points per game on 45% shooting. The Wizards make 6.5 three-pointers per game and commit 13.3 turnovers per contest. they are 29th in the NBA in allowing 7.8 three-pointers per game. Also:

* WASH has won and covered five of its last six games

* WASH has played 14 of its last 20 games UNDER the total

* WASH has covered five of its last six road games

* WASH has covered 12 of its last 16 road games

* WASH has won four of its last six road games SU

* WASH has played four of its last six road games OVER the total

Cleveland averages 13.2 offensive rebounds per game. The Cavs commit 14.1 turnovers per contest and score 100.1 ppg at home. Also:

* CLEV has covered five of its last seven games

* CLEV has won eight of its last nine games SU

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

* CLEV has covered two of its last six home games

* CLEV has won its last five home games SU

* CLEV has played five of its last seven home games UNDER the total

Cleveland has won eight out of its last nine games to bring itself four games above the .500 mark for the first time this season. The team continues to get yeoman efforts from reserve big man Anderson Varejao, who had ten rebounds on Monday in Miami, and LeBron James is, well, LeBron James. He was not available for the earlier meeting with the Wizards, in which Cleveland was blown out by 19 points (on Dec. 5). The Cavs do bring a head of steam into this one.

All of a sudden, though, Washington has turned into a defensive-minded team. The Wizards have limited the opposition to just 89 points per game over the last eleven contests. The results have showed, as Washington has won eight of those games, including a 106-84 blowout of Dallas on Monday where they held the Mavs to just 41% shooting.

Washington has had to go without Etan Thomas and Gilbert Arenas for much of the year. No third offensive option has really been found, as the scoring is still dominated by Caron Butler (21.7 ppg) and Antawn Jamison (21.5 ppg). And Jamison has picked up some of the rebounding slack (10.7 per game). And maybe the Wizards still have it in for a Cav team that dusted them off in four straight games in last year's playoffs. remember, Cleveland is only 6-12 ATS at home this season.

We'll take the points with Washington, the 3.5-point underdog in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds, which has demonstrated its strength on the road recently.

BetUS NBA betting odds: CLEVELAND -3.5, Total 188

JAY'S PLAY: WASHINGTON

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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)