Thousand unit Power Plays

With the start of a new baseball season I've decided to change the way I rank my picks. My ratings will rank from 100 - 1000 units, incrementing by the hundred. Say I'm up 2200 units and you bet a dollar a unit, you would be up $2200. I'm thinking this will be an easier way for the both of us to keep track of how good/bad my profitably is.

Today I'm releasing two thousand unit plays.

$$$$$ 1000 $$$$$ Phillies -140 @ Colorado

Reigning CY young winner Cole Hamels is taking the mound for the Phillies, but more importantly, Jason Marquis gets the nod for the Rockies. Marquis posted a hittable 4.53 ERA last year with the Cubs which is right around his career average. He's a right handed pitcher who will try to make a living serving up meatballs in the smallest ballpark in the Majors, and he'll get the chance to do that today against a predominantly left hitting Phillies Club. You could give the 1 1/2 and get em at +130, but I'm going to play it safe here considering Colorado pummeled Brandon Webb last week.

$$$$$ 1000 $$$$$

Braves - 1 1/2 vs. Nationals

Derek Lowe had a great outing last week against the Phillies and should have no problem today with a poor Nationals club. Washington is off to an 0-3 start and the Braves jumped out of the gate quickly taking 2 of 3 in Philly last week. Lay the 1 1/2 as the Braves get it done with ease.

Opening Day

I think and hope that North Carolina wins tonight, but with the way State is playing it's hard to bet against them. Equally, it's hard to bet against North Carolina so I'm avoiding the biggest game in college basketball and putting some money down on the ball diamond.

$$$$ Dodgers +130 @ San Diego

Jake Peavy takes the mound for the Padres today but that doesn't bother me. Peavy struggled in the WBC and at the end of the season last year and overall San Diego can't match up with the Dodgers. Pitching match ups are the key to betting on baseball, and although Peavy is one of the best pitchers in baseball, LA righty Hiroki Kuroda who posted a 3.7 ERA last year (a .373 in one outing against the Padres) will throw enough strikes to get the win. And strikes is all you need to throw against a poor hitting Padres team. Play the Dodgers + the money line.

$$$$ Arizona - 1 1/2 vs. Colorado

I don't need to say much more than Matt Holiday is no longer a Rocky and Brandon Webb gets the start against Aaron Cook. You could play the D-backs to win straight up at -160, but they should be able to assemble enough runs to win by more than one. Play the D-backs in an opening day shellacking.

PICKing on State

I like Tom Izzo a lot and would probably vote for him if he ran for President (I'd definitely vote for him if he ran for Governor), but I can't stand State fans. See your average State fan is the same as your die hard State fan. There is no difference because all State fans are alike. They are overwhelmingly subjective, bee sting whiny, and ridiculously uninformed when it comes to common sports knowledge outside of East Lansing.

Nine consecutive State fans called into one of the local talk radio programs here in Grand Rapids to predict how the Spartans would fare this weekend. All nine predicted that State would walk all over UConn and trounce North Carolina Monday night. And the thing about it was, there was no doubt in their minds that this is going to happen. One fan even had the audacity to complain about the spread of the game, saying "I can't believe that State isn't favored in this game. I just don't get it."

Nor do I get you, State fan... nor do I get you.

But I do like their coach, and their defense, and for them to cover against Uconn.

$$$$ State + 4 1/2 vs. Uconn

Hasheem Thebeet will be a factor in this game whether you State fans want to admit it or not. His presence alone will play much more into this game than the 50,000 + State fans who will be packing Ford field with there green and white seat cushions and matching fanny packs. But State's defense and coaching, like it always does, will keep them in the game and could possibly catapult them into the title game where they will get waxed by North Carolina... AGAIN. Play Izzo's team in a tight one.

NBA...

$$$$ Bucks -7 vs. Grizzlies

The Bucks are a good team at home (or at New Jersey) and they're playing a Grizzlies club who's good nowhere. The Bucks have picked up there play of late and should be able to produce a butt kicking against the Grizz. Take the Bucks to walk all over Memphis.

back to the big leagues

2-1 on $$$$$ picks after Penn State dominates Baylor in the second half. Today it's back to the NBA.

$$$$ Bobcats - 4 1/2 vs. Miami

I've recently learned that while the Bobcats have a losing record, they are the 3rd best team when it comes to covering the spread. They beat the Lakers at home two nights and followed that up with a tough double overtime loss in Boston. They are 4-1 ATS in their last five and they have to keep winning to have a shot at the playoffs. I know how good Dwayne Wade is, but the Bobcats are playing too good for him to be a factor tonight. Take the Bobcats in a double digit victory.

$$$ Spurs - 4 1/2 @ Indiana

You'd think that the Spurs would be dominating teams with 6th man Manu Ginobli available, but they've struggled of late since his return. Tonight they don't need to play well against a bad Pacers team to cover, but they will. Take the Spurs in a route.

$$$ Lakers - 5 1/2 vs Houston

Houston is a solid ball club, but they can't match up with the Lakers, especially in L.A. They are 8-1 SU in their last 9 at home and will make it 9-1 after tonight's game. After a long road trip they finally get to relax on their home floor. Look for the Lakers to pull away late.

Five Star Release

$$$$$ Penn State + 3 1/2 vs. Baylor

Notre Dame is very similar to Baylor in that they both shoot the three well and don't play any defense. Penn State dominated Notre Dame yesterday with DEFENSE and should be able to get by a Baylor team who hasn't met a good defensive team in over a month. Play Penn State to win outright.

Quick Picks

$$$$ Bobcats + 8 1/2 @ Celtics

The Bobcats are in the playoff hunt and the Celtics are once again without Garnett. This should be a close one.

$$$ Pistons +1 @ New Jersey

The Pistons are finally healthy and did anyone see the Nets play the Bucks two nights ago?

Syracuse

The answer to yesterday's question was the Syracuse/Oklahoma game. Good news is nobody got it wrong. Bad news is nobody guessed. Today I'm thinking about taking the day off, but I'll consult a few buddies of mine to get their take on today's games. If I like something I'll post it by 5 PM ET.

Oh and by the way, if you had money on the Nets last night you're an idiot. They lost by 29. Talk about swinging and missing.

Question of the day

I have to admit, it was hard for me to watch basketball yesterday without having any money on the line. Sign of an addict? Absolutely. That's why I had to put money on the second half line of the North Carolina game. I took the Tarheels -2 which looked great until Oklahoma had a 9-0 run in 1:32 with under 5 to play. But in the end UNC got it done and won the second half by 3. It's never easy.

I often check out other sports books to see if they offer any "expert" advice on an upcoming game and one site I've found mildly appealing is thesportsadvisors.com. There are about 7 or 8 guys on here that do the same thing I do here on Trapline except they charge for their picks. They do however give away one free pick a day, usually on a game they like but don't have much confidence in. I'd say their free picks hit 60-40, which is better than flipping a coin. Anyway, the guy that runs the site is this genuine "bad ass" named Steve Budin. He's straight up gangster, as in the mafia gangster type. He's the type of guy that makes you wonder how many arms he's shattered and lives he's arranged to be taken. Regardless, Budin and his boys know what they're talking about and though I've never purchased their picks, it's not a bad investment for a clueless higher end gambler.

They're not perfect by any means though and nearly every guy on the site missed what Budin had as his Sweet 16 game of the year. This game according to Budin was a lock because a betting group (perhaps a fellow gang affiliate) who call themselves the "Cali Cartel," said it was a lock. Don't quote me on this, but Budin made it sound like the Cartel only release or bet on 15-20 games a year, games they are 100% in love with. Budin was 3-0 with his SPECIAL CALI CARTEL releases ($50 for the single pick) until he completely swung and missed over the weekend. So my question to you handful of Trapliners is... what game did Budin have as a lock?

Whoever gets the question right will get more free picks from me tomorrow.

Today I like one game and one game only.

$$$$ Nets -3 vs. Bucks

Here we have two teams that have been playing like garbage of late. The Bucks are 0-5 straight up and against the spread in their last 5, and the Nets are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 and 1-4 SU in their last 5. Couple kickers here that make me like the nets: 1. The Nets were the human cover until Devin Harris was injured almost a month ago. Harris returned to the starting lineup last week and should be close 100 % by now and back in the rhythm of things. 2. The Nets are at home and the Bucks don't play inspired ball on the road. Not only are the Bucks 0-5 ATS (2 were home games) in their last 5 games, they are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games on the road. Look for Vince Carter and Devin Harris to go off as they shoot down the hobbling Bucks in a route.

Day of rest

Well even after two losing days in a row I had the audacity to get a little cocky by going against the obvious and betting against a red Nova club. Whether it was Pitt up by four with three to play and the ball (Nova gets an and 1) or Nova's bone headed in-bounds pass with 10 seconds to go, both teams seemed to have the game won at one point or another. But in the end my team lost and my bankroll took a small hit. I did however make a little bonus cash on Abby's hockey pick in the Carolina Hurricanes. Thanks for that pick Abby and keep the hockey talk coming, especially since it's almost playoff time.

Today I think I'm going to sit back and root against Michigan State. I'm not confident in either of the games today and I've been focusing on college basketball so much that I haven't paid enough attention to bet on the NBA. That means no picks today, but i'll be back tomorrow with something.

Let us try this again

Ughh... disgusting picks the last two days. Let's see if we can chalk up a couple of wins today.


$$$$ UConn - 5 1/2 vs Mizz

The only thing that should hold the Huskies back from covering this spread is the fact that I have money on them. Missouri just isn't that good and they are finally going to play a team that won't give up 100 points. Take Uconn in a route.

$$$ Pitt -2 vs Nova

I think the world has their money on Nova today but I'm going to stick with the Panthers. Nova doesn't play well when they are at a size disadvantage down low, and today the biggest and most physical player on the court will be wearing a Pitt uniform in DeJuan Blair. Pitt will win a close one... again.

Swing and a miss

Yesterday was about as bad as it gets as far as bad predictions go. Purdue was never really in the game and Pitt doesn't like winning games that don't come down to the wire. Tonight we'll try again and see if we can at least nick something.

$$$$ Gonzaga + 8 1/2 vs. UNC

These teams are a lot alike. Neither play defense, both have a good Caucasian big man and a pesky black point guard. Jeremy Pargo is no Ty Lawson, but in all honesty he's close. Pargo will be able to contain a hobbled Lawson and the Zags shoot the ball well enough to keep them within double digits. If the Zags shoot really well then they could pull off the upset. Take the Zags losing a close one.

$$$ Oklahoma in a pick em vs. Syracuse

I've watched both these teams play a number of games this year and after minutes of pondering this matchup I've concluded that the Sooners have the advantage here. Syracuse is a solid ball club and Johnny Flynn is one of the better guards/game breakers I've seen all year, but I don't see the post players of the Cuse stopping Blake Griffin. The Syracuse big men are big and mildly athletic, but they can't catch, finish, or guard someone without fouling. They really have a tough time containing their retard strength and that's going to be a major problem against Godzilla Griffin. Also, Oklahoma shoots the ball well from the outside and Syracuse only plays zone defense. Take the Sooners in close one.

$$$ Arizona + 9 1/2 vs. Lousville

I have to admit I'm surprised Louisville has made it this far. I thought that of all the 1 seeds they were the weakest and have been overrated all year. The fact is if Terrence Williams doesn't hit some 3's tonight they will lose. Every game they play from here on out hinges on his performance. Arizona is athletic, shoots well, and has solid post play. They are good enough to give Lousville a game.

$$$ Kansas + 1 1/2 vs. Michigan State

State hammered Kansas earlier in the year meaning this is a revenge game for the Jayhawks. I remember watching Kansas struggle early in the year and thinking how bad they were going to be. But the second half of the season Jayhawks are a different and MUCH better team than they were during the first half. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldridge are twice the players of anyone on USC's roster, and it took State the entire 40 minutes to put them away. Play the Jayhawks winning outright.

Groin shot

Wow was yesterday frustrating. The Celtics cover in a comeback but the Jazz fail to stay within three thanks to the horrendous play of sloth-mo Mehmet Okur. He was BRUTAL! He missed three straight free throws and air balled the final two shots of the game. Parlay his play with the Knicks blowing a 16 point lead and we've got a pretty unlucky night. I will not bet on the Knicks EVER AGAIN. It's hard to tell when teams like the Knicks are going to take a shit or hit a homerun and I'm tired of guessing. They lose to the Clippers at home and beat the Heat on the road the night after losing in three OT's! I should know better than to bet on teams that are bad and bi-polar.

Tonight let's see if we can stop the bleeding and my bitching by betting on the BIG DANCE.

$$$$ Purdue + 7 1/2 vs. Uconn

Purdue just might win this game. For the first time in the tourny Uconn is really going to miss Dyson. Purdue will be in Husky shorts all night and Robbie Hummel will give a lazy Uconn defense fits. 6'10 JaJuan Johnson will do just enough to disrupt Thebeet and help the Boilermakers pull off an unexpected upset. Don't underestimate Purdue, dees boys can play.

$$$$ Pitt -7 vs. Xavier

Pitt's struggled a bit in their opening round games, but they won't struggle tonight against an average Xavier club. Xavier's defense looked great against Wisconsin because they were playing Wisconsin. They are outmatched at nearly every position and they won't have an answer for Blair. Look for Xavier to hang around in the first half before losing in double digit fashion.

Good teams getting points :)

We split yesterday as Baylor continued playing out of their minds and Penn State proved why the SEC only got three teams in the big dance compared to the Big Ten's 7.

Today we venture back into the black and sprinkled white world of the NBA.

$$$$ Celtics + 3 1/2 @ Orlando

Guess what? The Celtics are healthy again! And Jameer Nelson is still out for the Season for Orlando! And the Celts are still the defending champions! And they are getting points! Take the Celts and run with the points as Garnett gets enough playing time to help his team win outright.

$$$$ Jazz + 3 @ Phoenix

Simply put, the Jazz are a much better team than the Suns. As long as the Jazz are healthy they don't struggle on the road. And if your bookie offers it, take the over on Derron Williams for total points + assists. I got him at 32. He could be over that by halftime.

$$$$ Knicks - 7 vs. Clippers

The Knicks are coming off a tough loss at home against the Magic two nights ago and will be looking to put a beating on a Clippers team that's used to taking one. Take the Knicks in a lady of the night BLOWOUT.

Making the NIT interesting

Carmello was easy yesterday but we got really lucky with Billups barely going over his number of 27 1/2. For those of you who didn't see the game, the Nuggets were down by 3 with 6 seconds left and Billups sitting at 18 and 8 (26). Instead of letting the Nuggets shoot a three, the Suns fouled Billups intentionally and he netted both free throws. What a cover!

Tonight Tony Parker's player prop for points + assists is inflated to 31 1/1 because he's playing the Warriors. Like I said yesterday, Parker's gone OVER in six straight but this is the first game his number has been in the 30's. If I knew tonight's game were going to be close I'd jump all over Parker, but I have a feeling its going to be a blowout and Parker won't play much in the second half. Either way I don't think it's a bad bet.

The NIT has been doing a nice job of appetizing me until the big games on this weekend, and tonight I plan on betting on both of the quarter final games.

$$$$ Auburn -3 vs. Baylor

Up until the Big 12 tournament I had made a lot of money betting AGAINST Baylor almost every game they played on the road. I was probably 6-0 until I bet against them when they beat Kansas in the first round of their conference tournament. Since then they've been hot, murdering teams at home and on the road in the NIT. But this HAS TO STOP. And tonight it will against an Auburn team that has defended their home court as well as anyone the second half of the season. The Tigers are 13-2 ATS in their last 15 games and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 at home. Baylor's streak ends tonight in blowout fashion.

$$$ Penn State + 10 1/2 @ Florida

I know it's tough to play in Gainesville, but this line should be covered by a Penn State team who does something that no team in the SEC has seen all season. THEY PLAY DEFENSE. I think Florida will still win the game, but Penn State will slow the tempo and make it close. Look for Taylor Battle's last second heroics to fall short tonight as the Gators win by 2.

Player Prop Me

From the words of George Costanza, "I'm back in business baby!" Kind of. Two weeks away from this site has allowed me to recollect and think about where I make the bulk of my money betting. It all changes really, (as does my "bulk") but lately I've made some nice bank on NBA player props. Every night I bet on two players to go OVER their set line. Those two are Chris Paul, who's usually around 34 1/2 total points + assists, and Tony Parker at either 23 points or 28 1/2 points + assists. Paul has gone over 4 of his last 5 games and Parker has gone over in 6 straight! This is easy money! Paul will always get near his number, and Parker's gonna keep on scoring as long as Ginobli is out.

Since I don't like many games today I'll give you a few play props to think about.

$$$$ Chauncey Billups OVER 27 1/2 points + assists @ Phoenix

Billups has average a combined 30 in his previous two games against Phoenix. The thing about the Suns is they don't like defense, so, they don't play any.

For the same reason I also like...

$$$$ Carmello Anthony OVER 23 points @ Phoenix

Anthony should easily reach his 22.3 PPG average tonight and if he doesn't then Chauncey is a lock for his over. Betting two players to have a slightly above average night against the worst defense in the league is a good way to hedge. One of these guys should hit. If we go 1-1, ehh, fine. But I can't see the Suns keeping both of them under their average.

TRAPLINE NOTE

To all trapliners:

I've been swamped with work and a bothered by a relentless cold/flu/fever for over a week. This site will be up and running again by MONDAY. Sorry for the recent time off!!


-Miyagi

Quick Picks

Hot streak came to an end last night after going 1-3 yesterday.

$$$$ Bucks - 3 1/2 vs. Knicks

$$$ Mavericks + 6 1/2 @ Phoenix

Picks here... get em while they're hot!

2-0 yesterday and a solid 10-3 on the week after yesterdays two NBA quick picks hit.

Today let's continue rolling in the NBA.

$$$$ Hornets - 1 1/2 @ Atlanta

Since the return of David West the Hornets have been almost unbeatable. They are the winner of 5 straight and tonight they will extend that streak in a near pick em against an overrated Hawks squad. Bibby will struggle like every other guard when in comes to guarding Chris Paul, and David West will contribute with another ho hum double double. Look for the Hornets to pull away late in the fourth and win by 5.

$$$$ St Mary.s +7 1/2 vs. Gonzaga

This is the WCC and a near must win for St. Marys who now has their all-American in Patty Mills back in the lineup. These teams have already met twice this year, both times Gonzaga won (by 2 and 7) and both times Mills was out. Actually St. Marys was ahead by 8 @ Gonzaga before he broke his hand just before half time. Even though St. Marys looked horrific last night against Portland (the main reason why the line is at 7 1/2) I think they cover and win outright.

$$$ Pistons +2 vs. Orlando

Orlando is coming off an impressive win against the still Garnet-less Celtics, now they have to go play a Detroit team who they lost to at home just weeks ago. The Pistons are playing like they used to be known for (Protecting home court, losing close and sometimes winning on the road) and will have no problem beating the Magic for the second time in two weeks.

$$$ Lakers - 2 1/2 @ Portland

Portland is young and good, but LA is wise and better. Look for Kobe to bring his A game against Brandon Roy and lead his team to a double digit victory.

Quick NBA Picks

2-0 yesterday, here's who I like today.

$$$$ Spurs - 4 1/2 vs. Phoenix

$$$$ Nets - 4 1/2 vs. Knicks

Weekend Update

2-1 yesterday on my quick picks brings us to 6-3 on the week. I was too caught up in Michigan's miraculous comeback and tourny clinching victory over Minnesota to make my early picks, so here's who I like later today.

$$$$ Kansas -8 vs. Texas

Texas is overrated to begin with and Kansas will be looking to take some aggression out after getting embarrassed early in the week by Texas Tech. Kansas beat Missouri by 30 in the Jayhawks last home game and they could do the same today against a poor Texas club. Look for the Jawhawks to win in a blowout.

$$$ Nebraskas +5 1/2 @ Baylor

I've made a living off betting against Baylor this year and I don't see any reason to stop. Nebraska is a much better team at home but I think they can hang around in this game if not win outright.


*** WARNING TRAPLINE ***

LSU +2 @ Aburn

It's hard not to like the best team in the SEC getting points to anyone in-conference, but this line feels too good to be true. Auburn is a lot like Washing State in that they have poor records but can beat almost anybody on their home floor. Auburn might be the best play here, but I'd stay away.

Quick Picks

Sorry, I don't have time for any elaborate analysis today but here's who I like...

$$$$ USC - 13 vs. Oregon

$$$ Penn State +1 vs. Illinois

$$$ South Carolina - 2 1/2 vs. Tennessee

Nickle and Diming it

4-0 in the last two days and today we look to tip-toe to a sweet 6-0 with a couple of smaller picks. I'm not crazy about any games tonight so I'm only releasing two $$ bets. There's no need to get greedy right now...

$$ Kansas - 10 1/2 @ Texas Tech

Kansas has been one of my favorite teams to be on this year. They've been on fire down the stretch and should have no problem crushing a horrific Texas Tech squad. Any loss or slip up could cost the Jayhawks a lock as a 2 seed in the tournament, so don't look for a let down here.

$$ Florida in a pick em @ Miss St.

Florida has, HAS to have this game if they want even a shot to get into the big dance. Mississippi State has lost three straight and four of five, including a double digit loss at home to Auburn. Florida wins a close one.

We got ONE

Last night turned out to be easy as Notre Dame played like they have all season in route to a double digit loss against a solid Nova. Let's see if we can't win back to back days and get a bit of a winning streak going.

$$$$ Detroit -3 vs. Denver

Carmelo out means bad news for the Nuggets, Iverson out means good news for the Pistons. Chauncy Billups is back in town but him alone won't be enough to take down Rip and a gelling Detroit squad. Pistons pull away in the 4th and win by 10.

$$$ Ohio State -1 @ Iowa

As of right now Ohio State is in the tourny, but if they lose tonight it could put them on the outside looking in. They NEED this game, just like the NEEDED the Northwestern game they urinated away. Tonight they get up early and hang on in a close one.

$$$ Magic -7 vs. Suns

The Suns will be without their two best players in Nash and Stoudamire and they struggle against most teams on the road. Dwight Howard will humble Shaq in a double digit romping.

Weekend Suicide

I don't think we need a recap on what happened this weekend. 1-7 is bad, and if you still have a bankroll you're lucky.

Today I like one game, and one game only...

$$$$ Villanove +3 @ Notre Dame

Villanova lost to a poor Georgetown team this weekend and Notre Dame almost beat UConn. Those are the two reasons why Nova is getting points here. I'm just going to pretend those games never happened. Nova is a lot better than Notre Dame and they should win outright tonight.

Back in Action

We took a day off yesterday after going 1-3 on Thursday. As much as I love betting, sometimes taking a breather after a couple of bad beats (UCLA -5 1/2 and winning by 5 or UAB +4 and covering the entire game until the last two minutes) is a good thing. More than day off is ridiculous so today we're back to it.

$$$$ Villanova - 6 1/2 vs. Georgetown

I think Villanova is a dark horse final four team this year. They are a lot like Pitt in that they are tough at every position. They aren't as dominant as Pitt, but they will certainly make some noise in March... which means they shouldn't have a problem man handling a disappointing Georgetown squad. Maybe the Hoyas could cover this spread at home, but no way do they cover on the road. Take Nova in a double digit ball stomping.

$$$$ Miami Heat - 5 1/2 vs. New York

I think you all know my betting habit with the Knicks. They don't like playing outside of their home state or home stadium. Last night they wasted an abundance of energy erasing a 20 point deficit at home vs. the Sixers in a losing effort. You think they'll be up for a trip to Miami today? Probably not. Take the Heat in a route.

$$$ UConn - 11 1/2 vs. Notre Dame

No doubt this is a big game for ND, but it doesn't matter. They've had plenty of "big games" this year and rarely have they impressed. This game will be good practice in ND's preparation for the NIT and losing by less than 15 would be a good moral victory for them, but it's not going to happen. Uconn wins in a blowout.

$$ Colorado + 13 @ Baylor

Baylor finally gets to play a team they can beat, but the odds makers are still giving them too much credit. Colorado is amazing at covering the spread and are a must bet every game. It's rare when they win but, oddly enough, even rarer when they don't cover.

* WARNING TRAPLINE * LSU +4 vs. Kentucky

LSU has proven to be the only consistent and borderline quality team in the SEC while Kentucky has proven to be the complete opposite. The Wildcats are capable of losing to anyone by any amount, anywhere, and have very few quality wins on their resume. LSU should route em right? I'd like to think so, but I'm smelling something foul with this line. It looks awfully good, too good, and I'm staying away from it. LSU is a lock for the tourny and Kentucky has to win this game to earn "bubble status." LSU is hands down the better team but I'd advise you to hold off on the Tigers tonight.

Home Court Advantages

34-27 and up 2 more units of profit after going 2-1 yesterday. On a side note, I'm not betting on teams from Michigan anymore. I can't seem to figure them out.

$$$$ Cincinnati +5 vs. West Virginia

I'm shocked Cincinnati is getting points here. The Bearcats have to win this game to keep their tourny hopes alive while West Virginia appears to be in, barring a total meltdown. I think WV is a solid ball club, but it's tough to win big on the road in the Big East against a team who's playing for their season. Look for the Bearcats to cover and win a close one.

$$$$ UCLA -6 1/2 @ Stanford

UCLA is coming off an embarassing loss at home against Washington State and will be looking to put a beatdown on a Stanford Cardinal team who they already beat by 30 earlier in the year. UCLA's tourny seed will be based on how they play down the stretch and if they want to impress the comittee they can't teams like Stanford keep games close.

$$$ UAB + 4 1/2 vs. Memphis

I love betting on home dogs late in the year because these are when the biggest games are played and home court is at its highest worth. Tonight my 7th sense is feeling an upset, and when my 7th sense senses upset I don't even need my 6th sense (sense of covering). UAB would love to strengthen their tourny resume with a win against a Memphis team beat them earlier in the year by 13. UTEP played Memphis tough at home last week but couldn't seal the deal. Look for the Blazers to finish strong and humble the Tigers in court storming fashion.

$$$ Arizona +2 @ Washington State

Washington State is coming off a shocking win against UCLA but I don't think they can keep the momentum going. They are a .500 ball club and they've had trouble winning back to back games all year. They play up and down to their competition and Arizona needs this game too badly to let the Cougars get away with another big win. This game won't be easy, but I have to think Arizona can pull this one out.

Rolling Rolling Rolling...

I hope somebody had money on Iowa State because their cover yesterday was easy and gentle on the blood pressure. Thanks to the Cyclones we earned 5 more units of profit and improved our record to 32-26. We've won three of the last four days, going 7-3 and we're up a red hot 16 units in those games.

Today we keep it rolling with...

$$$$ Michigan State - 15 1/2 vs. Iowa

I don't like huge double digit spreads like this often, but I have faith in Tom Izzo and the Spartans. MSU is coming off an impressive win against Wisconsin and with that win people are talking about them as a possible 1 seed in the tourny. This means that if they want that 1 seed not only can they not slip up, they have to look dominant in games against garbage teams like Iowa. And Iowa is garbage. Look for State to take out the trash early in this one as they dump the Hawkeyes by 30.

$$$ South Carolina in a pick em vs. Kentucky

Speaking of garbage, welcome to the SEC. Aside from LSU, there isn't a team in this conference that can win on the road. Look for the Gamecocks to continue this trend and win a close one.

$$$ Dallas Mavericks - 7 1/2 vs. Milwaukee

Let's keep it simple... Dallas is good at home. Milwaukee isn't good, especially on the road.

!5 UNIT RELEASE!

Sherron Collins beat Oklahoma and saved me from purchasing a new television set, (mine nearly shattered when Oklahoma cut the lead to 3) and the injured Celtics defecated on the Nuggets by 38 to make us 2-0 yesterday, while profiting 7 units. Our overall record is now 31-26.

Tonight I like only like one game but it's a $5$ release.

$$$$$ Iowa State +2 1/2 vs. Baylor

Yes, you read it right. I like Iowa State to get off the snide and win outright against a Baylor team who's Michigan's mirror image when it comes to betting trends. Baylor can't win in-conference on the road and they can't win at home against a quality ball club. Iowa State has a stud named Brackins who might drop 50 tonight against a Baylor defense that is ranked 273rd in the country. Don't look at the records here, this game has the feel of the Michigan, Iowa game a couple of days ago. But in this case there will be no OT as the Cyclones get it done rather easily in regulation.

Back door woes

Days like yesterday are the kind that will make you never want to gamble again. It was looking like a 3-0 day until the tables drastically turned in the two games the Michigan teams played in. Michigan -1 1/2 was up by four with under a minute to play and managed to not cover and lose at the same time which for me was a one-two punch to the nuts, being a Michigan fan and all. At least failure in that capacity is somewhat expected of Michigan, but Wisconsin? Really Wisconsin? Up by 11 midway through the second half and you can't keep from losing by double digits?? Really Bo Ryan? I mean REALLY? The under looked amazing the entire game, but Wisconsin +8 1/2 looked even better! We still only lost a unit of profit but man, yesterday we were back doored more times than Jeff Garcia in his days with San Francisco. It's tough to come back and bet after a day like yesterday, but we must!

$$$$ Kansas + 2 1/2 @ Oklahoma

The Sooners All-American and player of the year candidate, Blake Griffin, is out tonight with a lingering concussion. This is bad, really bad for Oklahoma, but to be honest I think Kansas could beat Oklahoma even if Griffin was playing. The Jayhawks are playing the best they've played all year and they match up good against Oklahoma with Griffin playing, great when he's not. Also, Oklahoma doesn't have a true point guard or any great ball-handlers which means nobody will be able to guard Sherron Collins, and the Jayhawk defense will pressure the Sooners into a stampede of turnovers. If you can get a money line on this game drop some cabbage on Kansas. They win outright by 10.

$$$ Celtics -2 @ Denver

Denver has a nice record, but they smell against good teams and reek against better ones. Even without Garnett I still like the Celtics giving 2 points to 90 % of the teams in the league. Play Beantown to kidney shot the Nuggets right from the get go and cruise to a double digit win.

off the snide

Finally, after a four day drought we're back in the green as we went 3-1 yesterday and earned 6 units of profit. Also, Abby hit his/her pick on the nose as the Blackhawks won by 2 just as he/she predicted.

Today I like a couple of hardwood matchups and Abby will try and continue his/her hot streak on the ice.

$$$$ Wisconsin @ Michigan State UNDER 126 total points.

Neither of these teams -- like most of the Big Ten -- play stellar offense but each defense is well above average. This game will not reach 120. Wisconsin is one of the hottest teams in the country right now and they'll keep this game close because of their defense. That is why I also like...

$$$ Wisconsin +8 1/2 @ Michigan State

Big D defense defense, big D.

$$ Michigan - 1 1/2 @ Iowa

I hate betting on Michigan, but I have to think they can win this game. All Iowa has to play for is spoiler while Michigan HAS to have this game so they can keep delaying the inevitable of missing the field of 64. Play the Wolverines to win in similar fashion as they did last week at Northwestern.

$$$$$ Abby's Pick $$$$$

Avalanche + 125 @ Carolina

"I was going to lay off hockey on Sunday, but saw I could get 1.5x for my money betting on the Avs at Carolina. Carolina has the better record and they are at home, but Colorado beat a very good Capitals team at Washington Friday night, 4-1, and they’ve won 3 in a row—two of those on the road. This is the 2nd road trip game on a 6 game road trip, and assuming Granato has done his job preparing for the trip, they aren’t out of gas yet. Carolina has a good team, but is 1-2 in it’s last 3 at home and the losses were 5-1. So maybe this is a coin flip, but anytime you can bet $20 on a coin flip to win $30, you take it. "

Weekend Warriors

Amazingly we're still up, but our fourth consecutive day of losing dropped our record to 25-23 overall. Let's try to end this week on a high note with another barrage of Saturday hardball picks.

Also I'll be posting a special "Message Board pick" from commenter Abby Normal. This guy not only predicted I'd go 1-2 yesterday, he liked the Wings -1.5 and they won 5-2. Betting and hitting on a hockey game is very impressive and I think he deserves partial reigns to Trapline for a day. Plus I'm 4-10 over my last four days, so he really has no pressure.

And anyone else who wants to comment or make a prediction I happily encourage it. I'd like to hear what other people have to say. Outside perspective is great in the midst of a losing streak.

$$$$ Butler +4 1/2 @Davidson

This game offers two of the most overrated mid major teams in the country. Davidson just lost to the Citadel and Butler's been getting whacked around by teams in the Horizon. But when it comes down to it Butler is the better team here, especially with a hobbled Steph Curry. Look for Butler to cover and win by 10.

$$$$ Cincinnati +5 1/2 vs Louisville

Two things shant be underestimated in this game... 1. Cincinatti. 2. Home court advantage in college basketball. Parlay that with Louisville's road struggles and this should be an easy cover for the Bearcats.

$$$ Kansas - 12 vs. Nebraska

Nebraska can't play on the road and Kansas takes care of business on their home floor better than a bedless lady of the night. Play the Jayhawks to "rock chalk" the Cornhuskers.

$$$ Texas A&M -1 1/2 @ Texas Tech

I must be missing something here because this line doesn't make sense. Pat Knight is doing his dad proud by running a train wreck of a team in Texas Tech. A&M is easily the better team here and they have to win to keep their tourny hopes alive. Play the Aggies in a route.

$$$$$ ABBY'S Pick $$$$$
Today, bet the Black Hawks getting 1.5 at Dallas. Richards broke his wrist on Monday night and the odds-makers seemed to have missed that news. Giving Chicago 1.5 even if Richards was playing would be 2.5 too many. Look for Chicago to win by 2. GO BLACKHAWKS

WOW

Some bad lucky yesterday after Garnett gets injured just before halftime and doesn't come back. Not to mention the Celtics were covering the entire game until the last 4 minutes. Duke was also teetering the cover line most of the second half but couldn't find a way to put away a pesky (atrocious) St. Johns club.

After going 1-2 yesterday we're 24-21 overall. We're due for a couple of bounces our way...

$$$$ Knicks - 3 vs. Raptors

Knicks like playing basketball only in New York, and the Raptors are without their best player in Chris Bosh. The Knicks just beat the Spurs by 5 at home, you'd think they'd cover this game too.

$$$ Grizzlies -6 vs. Kings

Both of these teams are bad, but the Grizzlies are better here because of their home floor. The only people watching this game are the one's who have money on it... that's why gambling is great, it can make poop intriguing.

$$$ Lakers - 8 1/2 vs. Hornets

The Hornets are coming off a big win against the Magic, but don't look for them to suddenly turn their season around. The fact is the Hornets are still injured and Chris Paul isn't a good enough scorer to carry his team to a win against a team like the Lakers. Teasing this game down to 5 would be a great bet, but I still like the Lakers at 8 1/2.

losing streak

Ohio State's dismal second half performance against Northwestern's chess club cost us four units of profit while solitifying our first back to back losing days. Today we get some of it back with a couple of NBA picks.

$$$ Celtics -2 @ Utah

When the Celt's are completely healthy and a near pick em' against any team that doesn't have a Kobe, then they are a good bet. The Jazz are good at home, and home only, but they'll have to play one of their better games to have a shot against the world champs.

$$$ Spurs +1 @ Detroit

The Pistons stink! Okay? I said it. I think I saw Michael Curry playing with Legos during a timeout against the Bucks last night. He's the worst coach in the NBA, and tonight he's going against one of the best. The Spurs, even without Ginobli, are better than the Pistons right now. Not to mention they're coming off a two game losing streak, and they NEVER lose three in a row.

$$$ Duke -13 @ St. Johns

The reeling Dukies need more than a win to help cure their recent losing woes, they need a blowout, a drop kicking, a punching bag to make them feel like a top 5 team again. St. Johns is the perfect therapy. Take Duke in a blowout.

Must Win Wednesday

Eh, not a good day yesterday. 1-3 is never good. But today I'm confident we'll improve our 22-16 record and make up for yesterday's losses with a few solid college basketball picks.

$$$$ Ohio State + 1 1/2 @ Northwestern

Northwestern knows their chance of making it to the big dance was destroyed last week after losing to Michigan. This game means nothing to them. Ohio State however, knows that this game could hurt, maybe end their tourny bid and is a MUST WIN. Not to mention OSU is hands down the better team here and I'm shocked they are getting points.

$$$ Virginia Tech +1 @ Virginia

Once again I'm not sure what's going on with this line. Apparently Virginia's one and only good win last week against Clemson has the odds makers in a trance that is blinding them from seeing the Cav's 8-13 record. Regardless of what happens tonight Virginia has no shot to make the NIT even, where Tech on the other hand needs this game to keep their tourny hopes alive. Take VT in a close one.

$$$ Colorado +12 1/2 @ Nebraska

I said this last week and they stood strong against Texas, but all Colorado does is cover. They are 0-5 straight up but 7-1 ATS in their last 8. You never know what you're going to get out of the Cornhuskers, but you always know what to expect out of the Buffaloes... a big fat cover.

$$$ Illinois - 9 1/2 vs. Penn St.

At first glance this line looks pretty inflated for a solid Penn St. squad. But then you have to take into consideration this home court advantage thing that seems to determine the outcome of most games and spreads. Much like Penn St., Illinois dominates at home and struggles on the road. Look for the home team to win in a blowout.

Late Picks

Just a few late games to consider...

$$ Phoenix -7 1/2 vs. the Clippers

$$ Orlando - 8 1/2 vs Charlotte

$$ Spurs - 4 1/2 @ New York

My high school line of the day is...

$$$$$ Kalamazoo Central - 39 1/2 vs. Sturgis (Threaten to drop your bookie if he's not taking bets on this game)

The Roloff Edge

Pittsburgh covered easier than Kate Hudson's training bra, banking us 4 units of profit while improving are record to 21-13. Today we try to extend our three day winning streak to...

Four.

$$$ Michigan State + 2 1/2 @ Purdue

Michigan State is hands down the best team in the Big Ten. I don't care who they play, or where they play at, if they are GETTING points against an in-conference team they are a must bet. What scares me however, is this... These teams are very similar. They both play excellent defense and are at best average on the offensive side of the ball. From a defensive standpoint the game is a wash, but I'm giving State the edge of being "the tallest midget" on offense. Look for the Roloff Edge1 to get this game done for the Spartans as they win a close one.

1. Roloff, as in Matt Roloff, the star from TLC's hit show "Little People Big World." The Roloff Edge refers to a team or player who has an advantage over weak, sub par competetion. e.g., The smartest retard.

Stay tuned and check back later today for a couple more picks...

one-liner

After Virginia's 6-14 title wave crashed down on Clemson and any chance of the Tigers covering, Michigan, yes MICHIGAN calmed the waters and FINALLY got us a cover. Manny Harris and HIS Wolverines were covering and winning for most of the second half and their valiant attempt to give the game away weren't valiant enough as they not only covered, but won. And Louisville smoothly sailed to a measly 40 point victory and helped us gain another unit of profit while improving our record to a solid 20-13.

After a Hollywood scripted slam dunk contest and a Kobe/Shaq Dinsey tear jerker of an ending to last night's All-Star game, the NBA is taking a day off. But college basketball is alive -- even on a Monday -- and there is one big game matchup I really like.

$$$$ Pittsburgh +3 1/2 @ UConn

I think Pittsburg is the best team in the country and my personal favorite to win the National Championship. I've watched them play about 5-6 times this season and I haven't seen a place in their lineup where they are at a disadvantage. They are hands down the best rebounding team I have ever seen. If there was a team to out rebound them it would be UConn, but it's not happening tonight. Pitt plays better defense and will give Uconn's 7'3 stick monster Thabeet fits all night. Pittsburg covers and wins a close one.

Sunday Brunch

After yesterdays roller coaster we managed to go 3-2 and extend our bankroll by another unit while pushing our overall ATS record to 18-12.

I've recently discovered a trend in my betting where I bet against a team who covers, then bet on that team when they should cover and they don't. Michigan, UCLA, and Notre Dame are the three teams that always take me out back and steal my lunch money. I'm 0-3 betting on ND, 0-2 betting on or against Michigan, and 0-2 betting on or against UCLA. And not one of those games were close! Uconn wasn't close to covering at HOME against Michigan, nor was Michigan close to covering at HOME against State. And UCLA -- for anyone who watched and bet on them yesterday I apologize -- was down double digits the entire game against Arizona and they were giving 5 points!

Which leads me to my first pick....

$$ Michigan + 4 @ Northwestern

It's not that I don't learn from my mistakes (okay that's part of it) but eventually I have to get one of these right... right? Michigan has, HAS to win this game and some say win out to make the field of 64. How has Michigan faired in the past when their backs are up against the wall? They get kicked in the nuts and drop to the ground. They are terrible in big games, but, this is a different team, with a winning coach, and they are playing Northwestern! This is Michigan's last shot. If they don't cover this spread not only will I never bet on them again, I will leave this state and move to Florida.

$$$ Clemson -8 1/2 @ Virginia

The fact that this game is a rivalry game would alter my confidence in Clemson covering if Virginia wasn't garbage. Clemson is shooting 50 % from the three point line in their last three games and Virginia has been allowing teams to shoot over 40% outside the arch. Clemson won by 30 @ Virginia last year and if they don't do that again then the game is probably fixed. Seriously, this game shouldn't be close.

$$$ Lousville -21 vs DePaul

I never enjoying spotting a team 21 points unless Kalamazoo Central is at home against Sturgis (my hometown) or I'm playing my little brother in 1 on 1 (he plays for Sturgis, a 3-11 abortion clinic). But Lousiville is coming off an embarassing tail romping against Notre Dame and will be looking to take their agressions out as soon as the mongaloids from DePaul wobble off their short bus. Depaul bad, Lousville good. Covering this spread will be easier than selling a retard a turd sandwich.

$$$$$ Don't bet on this game if you believe in karma

5 pick combo meal

With a smorgous board of college basketball games to be played I thought I'd release a buffet of picks. Enjoy!

$$$$ UCLA -5 @ Arizona

I watched both of these teams play the other night and even though UCLA lost to my fickle Michigan Wolverines earlier in the year they are a much better team now. Arizona squeaked out a win against a mediocre USC team and UCLA will be looking to put another double digit shellacking on Arizona after losing a heart breaker to a ranked Arizona St. squad for the second time this season. UCLA's swarming D with lead the way to a ten point victory.

$$$ Nebraska +12 @ Missouri

A couple of things to consider here... Nebraska already beat Missouri by six at home, and Missouri is is coming off a huge comeback win against Kansas... Can you say let down game? Kinda. Missouri should be focused and ready to get revenge on the Corhuskers after losing to them earlier in the year, but a ballooned 12 point spread is one Nebraska should have no problem covering.

$$$ Memphis - 12 1/2 @ Southern Miss

If Memphis can win by 18 @ Gonzaga and Southern Miss can't stay within double double at home against UAB, then this game should be a no brainer. Unfortunately it's not always - never - that easy. The thing that scares me the most about Memphis is their ability to get up and play one pebble throwing David after another. What's encouraging is that they play great defense, and great defenses rarely break down, especially against bad teams. Look for Southern Miss to play off adrenaline for the first 15 minutes until the Tigers get annoyed and pounce their way to a 20 point victory.

$$$ Kansas -1 @ Kansas St

Huge rivalry game for both teams. Kansas is coming off a tough loss against Missouri and K State is riding a 6 game winning streak. This is a must win game for both but I think Kansas has more to play for. They lost to K State last year and would love to make a statement today and pick up a tough road win.

$$ Colorado +11 vs. Texas

Like most ranked teams in the Big 12 Texas is overrated and Colorado, well all Colorado does is play to cover. The Buffaloes are 1-8 straight up in their last 9, but 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games. They lost by a combine ten points @ #2 Oklahoma and @ Kansas. Look for the Buffs to hang around in a tight one and lose by 3.

Pat Rankings

Nothing to bet on today unless (I've said this before) you've got insider info on Cornell.

15-10 overall after going 1-1 yesterday...

Arizona defecated on an 18 point first half lead but still managed to cover in the end. Gonzaga on the other hand had four late possessions to add on to a 6 point lead but failed to do so. That, parlayed with a barrage of St. Mary's 3 balls with under a minute to go murdered the line and the Zags won by 1. I watched both games and was thankful to go 1-1. Gonzaga was losing most of the game and Arizona was down most of the second half. USC and Arizona are both garbage, but look out for St. Marys in the tourny. They are FOR REAL MATE. With Patty Mills back in March I already have the Gaels penciled into the sweet 16 team and wouldn't be surprised if they went further. They shoot the three, defend, rebound, and have a top 10 All American in Patty Mills.



When people see this guy play in March he'll be the second most talked about Patty in world right behind "Doug's" Patty Mayonnaise.

Patrick Swayze will drop a spot in the Pat rankings to third after his "I have cancer" publicity stunt didn't fool anyone.




Late Pat Morita, who played legendary Mr. Miyagi is now in a close fourth.




Patty Mills future fame will most certainly bump my friend Pat out of the top 10,000. He's in front trying to out homo Swayze, Morita, and Tennessee Vols head coach Pat Summit.

Last Minute Picks

Sorry for these late picks but I'm about to hit up the mall with my girlfriend. Today is "her day" which for me is what my uncle refers to as "having your balls in a genital clamp." I'm 14-9 after going 2-1 yesterday and profiting 4 more units.

Here are my quick picks with little explanation.

$$$ Gonzaga -5 @ St. Marys

St. Marys dominated Gonzaga the last time these teams met, until Aussie Pattie Mills broke his hand just before half time. Mills means about as much to St. Marys as Stephen Curry means to Davidson. St. Marys won't cover this spread without their all-star.

$$$ Arizona - 2 1/2 vs. USC

Arizona is hot, at home, and better than USC. This game should be easy.

Maize makes me blue

Even with Michigan clenching my genitals in a death grip we still managed to profit, going to 2-1 yesterday, including the $$$$ play on Golden State. Florida's cover canceled out Michigan's heroic efforts allowing us to squeak out 4 units of profit.

Not only will I never bet on Michigan again, I'm considering become a permanent Florida Gator fan. I take enough bad beats in online poker to give me an ulcer, and rooting for Michigan with money on the line only increases my odds of having a heart attack before I turn 25. I don't think I've seen a team that prides themselves on shooting the three miss so many. Actually, by the second half I was just rooting for Michigan to get a shot off every possession. State's suffocating defense and home cooking officiating (in Ann Arbor) was enough for them to get the job done. I guess Michigan's success at Uconn really duped me into betting on them and it made me realize how OVERRATED the Big East is. They have some legit teams, but any time Michigan covers a double digit spread in an away game I instantly lose respect for that team and its conference. On a side note, Duke and UCLA fans should be very worried.

On to my lock jockin picks.

12-8 after yesterday and we'll try keeping the wheels rolling today.

$$$$ Oklahoma -3 1/2 @ Baylor
Let me sum up the Baylor Bears for you... Good against bad, bad against good. They've managed to lose five straight in the mediocre Big 12 and are yet to beat a ranked opponent. And Oklahoma has a couple of big men who claim to be twins, human, and white, but are neither. Actually they are twins, but they are also freaks who will literally carry the Sooners on their backs in route to a double digit win and dinner at the Sizzler.

$$$ North Carolina - 2 1/2 @ Duke
Staying with the road team motif, I like North Carolina to obliterate an all too white Duke Blue Devils team. Carolina is quicker, faster, and downright better at every position. Let me break it down for you.

At PG we have Nolan Smith or Greg Paulus vs. Ty Lawson. Lawson wins both.
At SG we have Jon Scheyer vs. Wayne Ellington. Even Duke would agree that Ellington wins.
At SF we have Kyle Singler vs. Danny Green. Flip a coin.
At PF we have Gerald Henderson vs. Deon Thompson. Okay, we'll give this one to Duke.
You know the rest... Take Hansbrough's Heels to win big.

$$$ Lakers -1 @ Utah
Any time you get the best team in the NBA in a pick em you check the injury report or any article covering the game. I did that and found nothing that would lead me from believing that the odds makers got this one wrong. Take the Lakers against a beat up Jazz team.

Tip Toe Tuesday

2-0 yesterday on a couple of safe $ bets now brings my record to a respectable 10-7.

Today I'm releasing three games that have great looking spreads, but two of them feel like a trap and the other goes against one of my rules of betting. I'm confident in these picks, but bet carefully!

$$$ Michigan + 4 1/2 vs. Michigan State
They say never bet with your heart and for the most part I don't. I do the opposite. I bet against Michigan when they're on the road and the Lions every Sunday. But today, after watching many Michigan and State games this year, I'm taking the points and putting some cabbage on the Wolverines. Michigan is always tough at home and their 1-3-1 defense should give State fits. The teams who have had success against Michigan either have a dominant big man or shoot the three ball well. State doesn't have or do either. Look for Michigan to win outright and cover with ease.

$$$$ Golden State - 4 vs. Knicks
Golden State has been playing well since they've been healthy and the Knicks don't like to play basketball outside of MSG. Golden State wins by double digits.

$$$ Florida + 4 1/2 @ Kentucky
Every SEC team that makes the tournament will lose in the first round. Seriously, mark it down. The SEC smells of foul ball gravy. How Kentucky is giving 19-4 Florida points after losing three straight, two at home, one to Mississippi and one to Mississippi State, is beyond me. Florida isn't much of a team either, but I gotta think they can cover this spread. This would be a $$$$$ bet but it's one of those lines that appears too good to be true.

8-7

Well we got back on track a little yesterday after the Lakers won easily in Cleveland and covered our $$$$ bet. Penn State on the other hand never gave up and never gave hope as they trailed by six for what seemed like the entire game until the horn sounded and they lost by nine. 1-1 yesterday makes us 8-7 on the season.

Tonight I'm not a big fan of any games, but I'm still releasing a couple of $ picks for the addicts who can't take a bet off.

$ Pitt - 8 1/2 vs. West Virginia.
Pitt is arguably the best team in the country and they beat WV by 12 in Morgan Town the last time they met. Pitt's better and stronger at nearly every position and it's always nice to play on your home floor, especially in a rivalry game.

$ Charlotte -1 vs. Clippers
I love betting against bad teams. Unfortunately we have two in this matchup, so I'm going with the home team and the team desperate for a win. The Clippers are the perfect team to play when your club is looking to end a losing skid. The Bobcats will win and and become king crap of poop NBA teams.

Oh and 3

Let's be honest, Pamela Anderson has a better chance of covering her chest with a square of toilet paper than I did covering my picks yesterday. Michigan dominating their side of the spread and losing was the biggest kick in the nuts for me personally, but I'm not going to cry. The bankroll took a hit, as did my record as it's now dropped to 7-6. Today we fight back in the NBA, or at least go broke trying.

$$$$ Lakers + 4 1/2 @ Cleveland. What a game this is going to be. The new Kobe vs. Lebron rivalry will spark some passionate play and Cleveland fans might be in store to witness the Cav's first home loss. Plain and simple, I think the Lakers are a better team. Winning in Boston with a healthy Garnett is the best a team in the NBA can do, and that's what the Lakers accomplished a few days ago. I can assure you this game will not be a blowout. Both teams will be revved to play, but in the end clutch Kobe and Side Show Bob Gasol not only cover, they win.

$$$ Penn St - 2 1/2 vs. Wisconsin. I hate betting against Bo Ryan almost as much as I hate not betting on Penn St. at home giving a few points. Two things to factor in here... Wisconsin has struggled all year to win on the road, and Penn St. has struggled all year to lose at home. Look for this game to stay close throughout until the Nittany Lions ice the game at the stripe and win by 7.

7-3

Well we lost our first $$$$$ release a couple days ago, but that's not stopping us from releasing our second $$$$$ of the year.

Take Uconn -16 1/2 at home against Michigan. Michigan is losing on average by 15 every time they hit the road in the Big Ten, and Uconn is arguably their toughest game of the season. If Michigan wouldn't have came to play against Penn State in their last game this line probably would have been around 20. Look for Uconn to dominate this game from the opening tip.

In a $$$$ release take Duke at home -14 against a solid Miami squad. Two things to take into consideration here... Duke was just humiliated by Clemson, and Miami's coming off a huge win against Wake Forest. This is a let down game for Miami as they get pounced by a ticked off Dukies team in Cameron Indoor.

$$ Providence +11 at West Virginia. Providence always seems to play teams tough whether they're at home or on the road. West Virginia has struggled of late, dropping three of five, and I expect them to get off the shnide today as they pull away late from the Flyers but don't cover.

7-2

Sorry there were no picks last night. I had some car trouble on my way home from Grand Rapids and didn't get a chance to make a post.

Just to recap the games from two nights ago, I posted that I liked the Spurs +6 in Denver. A half hour before the game the line jumped to the Spurs +13. I scoured the Internet and all 33 ESPN channels to figure out why the line exploded and couldn't find a thing. It turns out that Papovich, due to a long road trip, decided to NOT PLAY Duncan, Parker, or Ginobli. Even with their scrubs the Spurs managed to cover the +13, but failed to hit the +6. I'm calling this game a wash, and apologize to anyone who banked on the Spurs.

My other game was Florida -8. The Gators were covering with under two minutes to play, but failed to get the job done. This brings my record to 7-2.

Tonight I'm releasing my first $$$$$, with the Washington Huskies as a pick em' at California. The Huskies have one of the best big men in the country in Jon Brockman and are coming off impressive wins against UCLA and at Arizona State. I watched Cal play last week, and their performance in no way reflected their at the time 16-4 record. From watching Cal I learned two things... bet against them when they play good teams, and the Pac 10 is pretty horrendous. Bank on the Huskies to get it done tonight.

* WARNING * TRAPLINE *WARNING*

I know Kevin Garnett is out tonight, but I still can't stop salivating over the Celtics @ Sixers line. Usually when the Celts are giving 4 against a mediocre sub .500 basketball team I ice my erection and bet big. But something's fishy about this line, there's something too easy about it. So I'm staying away from it. On paper it looks like the Celtics should win by double digits with or without Garnett. But the Sixers are an underrated team, especially at home, and if there is a time for the Celts nine game win streak to end, it could be tonight on the road without their best player. Does this mean I like the Sixers? No. Celts could win by fifty or lose at the buzzer. It's a pretty looking line, and even though I smell cheddar I'm staying away from it.


But I will be betting on a couple games tonight in and try to improve my 7-1 record. I hope someone out there has won a little cabbage with these FREE picks.

$$$ Spurs + 6 @ Denver
Anytime the Spurs are getting six points to a team in the Western Conference I like em. This is the last and toughest game of their road trip, but they should be able to hang if not beat Billups and the Nuggets.

$$$ In college ball I like the Florida Gator to get some revenge at home against South Carolina. The Gators are giving 7 1/2 and will be looking to spank the Gamecocks after getting beat at the buzzer the last time these two met.

Hardwood Picks

It takes a man with big balls and a fat bank roll to bet on the NBA every night. I'm not that man yet, but I'll continue to press my luck of a couple last second "meaningless dunk covers," until a team back-doors me. And being back-doored is never a good thing unless your name starts with an E. Elton, Ellen.... Eric... E's don't mind being a little faggy.

$$$ Butt jokes aside, I'll start with the streaking Portland squad getting 3 1/2 in New Orleans. I'm not crazy about this line unless you tease Portland and get them at 7 1/2 or 8. New Orleans has lost two straight and will continue to struggle against good teams as long as Tyson Chandler remains hurt. The last time these teams met in New Orleans, the Hornets won by double digits, but Portland was without their All-Star and ridiculously attractive cover boy Brandon Roy. I could see either team winning, but I'd play it safe and tease the Trailblazers.

$$ I also like the Miami Heat at home -10 against the Clippers. I know the Heat have struggled of late, but they always play well at home. And the Clippers, well, they suck.

Upset Special

I love tossing 5 bucks every now and then on the money line of a few games and trying parlaying that into some nice cabbage. Parlays are for suckers, but if you're getting good odds on a feasible bet then why not risk 5 bucks to win a hundred?

Here's my 3 teamer...

Knicks +210 vs. Lakers
Portland +135 @New Orleans
Golden State +175 vs. San Antonio

The Knicks could get drop kicked by the Bynum-less Lakers, but they're always capable of sucker punching teams when they play in the Garden. Portland could and in my opinion should beat the Hornets. And Golden State is now healthy and usually tough at home.

At 19 to 1 it's worth a buck.

LeBLOWme

Even though I had some money on the Steelers, I found myself rooting for the Cardinals after Dick Lebeau went into the Prevent D with 10 minutes to go. The Steelers deserved to lose this game. They controlled Fitzgerald and pressured Warner into mistakes the entire game until they got into the 4th quarter and decided to pull their safeties back 40 yards so nobody could see them wetting themselves. They also kept the Cardinal defense on their toes in the second half by running Willie Parker off tackle left or off tackle right on EVERY FIRST DOWN. Thanks to the Steelers "playing not to lose" mentality, and the Springsteen/Dennis Rodman halftime show, this turned out to be the best Superbowl I've ever seen.

And you can't feel too bad for the Cardinals. Kurt Warner played like an MVP, Boldin didn't cry, and Brenda Warner has a full head of hair. They played great in the 4th quarter and if it wasn't for that pick 6 to close out the first half who knows what would have happened... I do. The Steelers still win because Lebeau isn't going into the pussy Prevent D in a tight game.

And one more thing... To anyone who actually put money on Jennifer Hudson and the over of 2:01 for the National Anthem, you're welcome moron. Not only did she go over, the unnoficial time (compliments of my uncle Dean) was 2:10 on the nose. To understand the significance of 2:10 click on my last post and never expect that out of me again.

And if you've been keeping track or bet with us yesterday, Cclantz and I went 3-0 with our picks and are now 5-1 overall (not counting Hudson's easy cover).

Insider Information

To anyone who's betting on the " Which Super Bowl commercial will have a higher rating on USA Today's annual Ad Meter?" line, I have some advice for you. Bet Coca Cola. I was watching a Superbowl commercial special on CBS and they had a top 100 countdown of the greatest commercials of all time. #1 was Coke's Mean Joe Green bit.

At the end of the show CBS went behind the scenes of Coca Cola remaking this legendary commercials with Troy Palamalu playing Mean Joe Green's part. This commercial will be airing tomorrow night during the Super Bowl.

Coke is getting 21-4 odds, and they're bringing back the greatest commercial in Super Bowl history. Budweiser doesn't have the frogs to pull off best commercial, not this year baby!

Super Bowl Picks

In all honesty I'm not rally sure if I'll be betting on the Super Bowl. I think the Steelers win, and if I had to bet I'd say they cover, but the bulk of my money is going on the OVER for how long it takes Jennifer Hudson to sing the National Anthem.

The line is set at 2 minutes 1 second. I watched a video of Hudson performing the Anthem at the Democratic National Convention and she appears to sing for an approximate 2:02. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cJNnS7cQvg

Hudson is known for belting out notes whenever she's on stage, and after a good meal. She often sings with an outstretched "Hallelujah" arm, which means she's singing with emotion. And her emotions have been soaring since losing her aunt and nephew just months ago.

Don't be nervous if she's only at 1:45 with the last stanza left. The long and drawn out finish is where Hudson makes her money, and it's where were going to make ours. Take Hudson and the OVER as she comes close to the 2:10.

Here's another good line I came across. "How many times will Madden and Michaels refer to Ben Roethlisberger as Big Ben?" Over/Under is 5.

The odds makers really messed this one up. I think Madden alone is capable of covering that spread in one sentence. There's always a chance of Roethlisberger making a big play and Madden saying something like, "You see that's Big Ben being Big Ben. He always makes big plays, that's why they call him Big Ben." There's three right there. Michaels is good for one, maybe two, but count on Madden to cover this bet with ease.

This line also made me wonder if any gamblers have approached Madden or Michaels about reference Big Ben. If Michaels accidentally calls Warner, "Big Ben," on the last drive of the game, or Madden simply says, "Big Ben," before time expires, something is not right. Better yet, if Madden doesn't say "Big Ben" one time then he's obviously been paid off.

Here's a few more lines worth taking a look at.

Super Bowl XLIII - How many food items will John Madden mention during the game? Over/Under is 1 1/2. Here's a better question to ask your friends... Would you rather be John Madden's underwear or Warren Sapp's jockstrap?

Super Bowl XLIII - Who will be tackled by his hair first in the game? Troy Polamalu or Fitzgerald? Fitzgerald is -400 on the money line, probably not a good bet.

Super Bowl XLIII - What Color will Bill Bidwill’s bow tie be? Red is -700. Any other color is +425. If this guy's not wearing red he's making some major bank on some offshore sportsbook.

Super Bowl XLIII - Who will the Super Bowl MVP of the Game thank first?
This one depends on the person. If you're banking on Warner to get the MVP, then my money is 2 to 1 on God.

2-1 yesterday

Well I swung and missed badly on the Kings/Bulls game, but got my money back on a meaningless last second dunk by the Cav's who were already up 15 and giving 15 1/2. That last second dunk almost made up for the Polamalu interception in the Ravens/Steelers game. Cclantz and I had cabbage on the Ravens +6 which looked like a lock until Polamalu tribal danced 25 yards through a sea of fluttering Ravens. Honestly, how do you not tackle that guy? Grab his perm, trip him, do something!

Cclantz nailed his only bet with the Lakers covering easy at Minnesota. We are a combined 2-1 on the season. For the youngsters reading, that brings me to 1-1 on the season, Cclantz is 1-0.

$$$$ Today I like Purdue - 11 1/2 at home against my Michigan Wolverines. I'm arguably one of the biggest Michigan fans in the state which makes me very aware that they CAN'T PLAY ON THE ROAD. Their most recent loss was to an average Ohio State team by 18. Their two previous away games they lost by 15 at Penn State and 18 at Illinois. Today they play Purdue, who's not only streaking right now, but are hands down better than all three of those teams.

$$$$ I also like teasing down the points in the Ohio State/Indiana game. Teasers can be a tease, but if you play them right they can be profitable. Indiana's lost 5 straight, and well, they are down right bad. But Tom Creen has kept them competitive, just not enough to get many W's. The current line is OSU -7. Teasing the Buckeyes to -3 or below should get the job done.


Cclantz is currently in bed playing online poker, so I will relay his pick of the day for him.

$$$$ He likes Oklahoma -9 1/2 at Iowa State. Other than Texas no one in the Big 12 is even in the same league as Oklahoma. Iowa State will keep the game close in the first half before the Griffin brothers and Johnson completely take over the game and roll to an easy double digit victory.

Hey guys, CClantz here. Due to the small board I'm only playing one game today. I like the Lakers giving 7 in Minnesota. Phil Jackson will have the Lakers ready to play after coming off a home loss to the thunderous Bobcats. I know the T-Wolves have had one of the better records in the league since the new year, but any time the best team in the conference is laying 7 to a 16-28 squad who just lost by 9 at home to a struggling Pistons team you ride the favorite like Seabiscuit. Bottom line Kobe, Gasol, and co roll to a double digit win.

$$$ Lakers - 7

Welcome betters

Hello kids and addicts of all ages, welcome to Trapline. This site is dedicated to building bankrolls, bank accounts, and me my staffers self esteem through daily doses of our sport picks and tips.

Let's be honest, nothing feels better than profiting and looking like a prophet after your bet holds up. So each day me and the guys on my staff will compile the day's best lines and the day's biggest trap line (If there is one). For you youngsters, the trap line is like the hot transvestite -- she's perfect and awing until you find out she's a man. It's the line that looks like easy money, the line that is probably too good to be true.

Our goal is to help you spot this sucker bet before you tell your friends and relatives to bet the bank on it.

We also hope you enjoy our Friendly Side Bet picks. These lines are strictly fictitious and set by us. Odds are you won't find Vegas offering these spreads.

RATING SYSTEM

Our rating system is based on a $ - $$$$$ confidence level. The more dollar signs the more you bet.

Today's Picks 1/30/09

It's Friday which means there aren't any college basketball to bet on unless you're an alumni of Cornell and you know their players throw games. The NBA let's the officials do this in the post season, and because the playoffs are still months away I'm mildly confident in a couple of games tonight.

$$$ I like the Cav's giving the giant 15 1/2 points at home against the Clippers. Giving over 15 is never a good thing unless the Circus Clippers are in town. The Cav's are coming off a loss to the Magic and will be looking to beat up an already hideous Chris Kaman Clipper squad.


Friendly Side Bet -- The over/under for how many children cry while Kaman signs pregame autographs is 9. Over/under for how many children he consumes is 3.

$$$ I also like the Kings in a pick em at home against Chicago. Yes the Kings have lost five straight but (I hate to say this) they are due for a win. They are coming off a respectable 9 point loss at Boston after losing by just 7 at Cleveland. And in two of their previous three home games they lost by a combined 5 points. Parlay that with a dismal Bulls squad I predict the Kings to win easily.