Posted on
2/20/2008 8:04:34 PM
NBA Hoops Betting Orlando at Toronto
By Charles Jay
WHO: Orlando Magic (34-21 SU, 34-20-1 ATS) at Toronto Raptors (28-23 SU, 29-22 ATS)
WHERE: Air Canada Centre in Toronto
WHEN: Wednesday, February 20 at 7 PM ET
BetUS NBA betting odds: TORONTO -4.5, Total 206.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* TOR has covered seven of the last eight meetings
* TOR has won four of the last five meetings SU
* TOR has won and covered six of the last seven meetings as the home team
* The road team has covered four of the last six meetings
* TOR has had the shooting edge in three of the last five meetings
* ORL has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings
* ORL has made more three-pointers in three of the last four meetings
Orlando is shooting a solid 46.9% from the field. The Magic places a special emphasis on the three-pointer, with both players at the forward positions able to hit from the outside. They make 9.2 three-pointers a game. Also:
* ORL has won 10 of its last 14 games SU
* ORL has won four of its last five road games SU
* ORL has played nine of its last 13 road games OVER the total
Toronto has made 7.7 three-point shots per game. The Raptors is second in the league in free throw shooting (81.3%). Also:
* TOR has played six of its last eight games OVER the total
* TOR has won and covered seven of its last ten home games
* TOR has played four of its last five home games OVER the total
* TOR has covered seven of the last eight meetings
* TOR has won four of the last five meetings SU
* TOR has won and covered six of the last seven meetings as the home team
Wow - did Orlando surprise us last night, running and hiding from the red-hot Detroit Pistons. Is it now again time to start talking about Orlando and its ability to win on the road? Let's review it, just for edification - Orlando is now 20-10 straight-up on the road, and even better against the number, at 21-9.
We realize that Toronto has covered seven of the last eight meetings. But look at this technical stat - the Magic has performed well in the back end of back-to-backs, especially on the road, where they have covered eight of nine in that situation.
Orlando has also been producing more from behind the three-point line, with 56 in the last five games. And the Magic has not been held below 46% from the field in any of those five games. We'll take the points with Orlando, the 4.5-point underdog in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
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 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)