If you bet NBA playoffs, you’ll remember last year’s meeting in the Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic in what was a very entertaining series, with the Lakers pulling it out. These two have their first-round series lined up, and they will stay on track for a rematch.

Lakers vs Thunder odds

The Lakers will be the definite favorites in this series for a number of reasons. They’re the top seed in the West, they have far more playoff experience than the Thunder, and they have homecourt, which is the most important factor in this series when you realize that the Thunder have won just one of their last 13 trips to the Staples Center. If the Thunder are going to pull out one of the biggest sportsbetting upsets of all time, they’re going to need Kevin Durant, who led the league in scoring, to drop at least 35 points per game, and that still may not be enough. Russell Westbrook has the quickness to make life tough for the Lakers’ guards, but the Lakers will have Andrew Bynum back in the middle, and that will be a huge boost for them. The Thunder should avoid a sweep, but we’re taking the Lakers, who have taken three of four with the Thunder this season.

Magic vs Bobcats odds

The Magic will be the favored team in your sports book here as the second seed, and they won three of four against the Bobcats, who led the league in points allowed, while the Magic are fourth. Orlando has the dominant player in the series in Dwight Howard, who can dictate this series at both ends of the floor, but it’s imperative that he is aggressive on the offensive end of the floor as Charlotte’s best defenders, Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace, may have to help, which opens up the floor for Orlando’s three-point bombers. A big off-court factor could be the news that Charlotte coach Larry Brown may be ready to move on after leading the Bobcats to the first postseason in their history, and you have to wonder how this will affect a team that has embraced Brown, who has a history of doing this. Even without the distraction, though, the Magic have enough tools to take this series rather easily. The Bobcats are awful in Orlando, losing 10 of their last 12 games, and overall they’ve dropped eight of their last 10 against the Magic, who have went against the grain and played their starters down the stretch to maintain their rhythm, and they look like the best team in the East right now, but that could change once Cleveland decides to play LeBron James again. Take the Magic in your NBA betting picks.

Sportsbook players may have watched Boston and Milwaukee set a tone for a possible first-round series with a physical matchup on Saturday that was full of trash-talking and technical fouls. The two will meet up again on Wednesday for their season finale in Boston, and it could be more of the same.

Bucks vs Celtics odds – Wednesday, April 14, 8:00 PM ET

The Bucks dropped their second straight game on Monday, falling 104-96 at home to Atlanta despite 28 points from John Salmons. Brandon Jennings was next with 21 points, but the rookie showed some poor decision-making by jacking up three-pointers when it wasn’t going to be his night, and he ended up going 2-of-11 from beyond the arc. The Bucks’ sportsbetting chances already took a hit with the injury to center Bogut, but if Jennings is going to continue to hoist up long-range bombs, even though he shots a decent percentage, the Bucks could find themselves out of the first round very quickly.

The Celtics still have to go to Chicago on Tuesday night for a tough game against a team that needs a win to get into the playoffs, so they could be fatigued by the time they face Milwaukee on Wednesday. They better be, because the Bucks will be ready after Boston romped to a 105-90 win in Milwaukee that ended with Bucks coach Scott Skiles getting ejected, three technicals and a flagrant foul. Paul Pierce had 24 points, while Ray Allen added 21 for the Celtics, who played with an intensity that we’re used to seeing from them, but that intensity hasn’t always been there this season. The Celtics held the Bucks to three fast-break points and beat them 40-28 in the paint.

The Celtics should be the NBA betting favorites in this contest as the Bucks have dropped four in a row and seven of their last 10 meetings overall in the TD Banknorth Garden.  The Celtics have won two of their three meetings with the Bucks this season, and a game like this could be the spark that Boston needs to head into the playoffs. We all know that with their talent and experience, the Celtics can play with anyone in the league, but right now, everyone is talking about Cleveland, Orlando, and even Atlanta being above the Celtics. Meanwhile, the Bucks now have to figure out their identity with the loss of their big man in the middle, and there’s a lot of pressure on Salmons and Jennings to produce. That’s a lot of pressure for a journeyman guard and his rookie partner.

Basketball betting pick: Boston

The Chicago Bulls might be in desperate need of a victory Thursday night as they host the Cleveland Cavaliers, but if the talent differential is substantial enough, the urgency of a given situation is not enough to make a sportsbook tilt the betting odds in favor of an underdog. If you value your NBA betting sanity, you won’t want to out-think yourself.

Cleveland @ Chicago

Thursday, April 8

Bookmaker Odds: No line (as of yet)

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a complete novice at sports betting, you need to do some basic homework when researching a given matchup. The Chicago Bulls might need to win a lot more than the Cavs do in this nationally-televised tilt (on TNT), but that reality can only do so much for coach Vinny Del Negro’s team when it steps on its home court at the United Center. The Bulls are a banged-up team. They’re getting healthier, but they’re still in poor shape. Center Joakim Noah is playing with a foot injury. Guard Kirk Hinrich sprained his ankle in a March 30 loss to Phoenix. Luol Deng is recovering from a calf strain and has said that his body is still very sore. Superstar guard Derrick Rose is in the lineup and playing reasonably extended minutes, but he’s missed chunks of the season with injuries and has been a magnet for physical punishment all season long. This is just not a team that’s blessed with a fresh tank of energy for a grueling NBA home stretch. Chicago got two days off on Sunday and Monday of this week, but the Bulls – after dealing with Milwaukee on Tuesday – get only one day off before this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t figure to be very merciful.

LeBron James and his teammates are steaming mad after losing at Boston on Sunday afternoon, and coach Mike Brown wants his team to be sharp heading into the playoffs. The Cavs have not been ravaged by injuries the way the Bulls have, so it’s hard to expect the team with the NBA’s best record to leave Chicago with a loss. One thing that could have helped the Bulls in this game was the schedule; perhaps Cleveland could have entered this game playing the second half of a back-to-back set. However, that’s not the case. The Cavs took on Toronto on Tuesday and then got a break on Wednesday. If the Bulls had added rest, the scales could have evened out for this Eastern Conference clash, but with equal amounts of recuperation time, Cleveland has to be considered the favorite.

Just as the Masters odds aren’t going to favor an obscure golfer, so it also stands that basketball bettors shouldn’t be thinking about an upset on Thursday night. LeBron should be able to get to the rim at will, and the Cavs should be able to get a high-quality look at the basket on most of their possessions as a result. Chicago’s injuries have certainly hurt, but the loss of John Salmons to Milwaukee has also detracted from the ballclub that extended the Boston Celtics to seven games in last year’s epic NBA Playoff series.

Online basketball betting pick: Cleveland

On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks will host the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center, in Dallas, Texas. For fans of basketball betting, the matchup pits the number one team in the Southeast against the number one team in the Southwest, and is expected to be a tough test for the road-weary Magic, who have been struggling with injuries as of late. Could Thursday’s game be a preview of our 2010 NBA Championship?

The good news for the Magic, is that SF Mickael Pietrus is expected to be back in the lineup. Pietrus missed the last two games for Orlando, after spraining his left ankle in a game against the Atlanta Hawks last Wednesday. Stan Van Gundy, head coach for the Magic, indicated to reporters that Pietrus will be back, and is healthy to play the Mavericks.

Vince Carter, veteran SG for Orlando, has also indicated he is hopeful for a return against the Mavericks. Carter jammed the big toe on his right foot on Sunday, while playing against the Denver Nuggets. The injury forced Carter from the game after just one and a half minutes. Carter told reporters that the toe is still bothering him, but that he would “try to make an appearance” against the formidable Mavericks.

Carter has plenty of motivation to play for his team on Thursday. Fans of NBA betting know that the Mavs present a tough matchup for Orlando, a team looking more and more road-weary and banged up. It is unknown whether or not PG Anthony Johnson, who was out of practice earlier this week with flu-like symptoms will be in the lineup. Point guards Jason Williams and Jameer Nelson are also question marks, with foot and thumb injuries, respectively. Orlando’s age is starting to show – three of their starters are more than 30 years old. Williams and Johnson off the bench are also in their mid-thirties. With the rest of the season hanging in the balance, coach Van Gundy doesn’t believe his more aged players will be getting any more rest than usual.

The Mavericks, for their part, will look to capitalize on the Magic’s perhaps fragile state. In fact, even a 100% healthy Orlando team could still have a great deal of trouble with the surging Mavericks.

In looking at NBA odds, Dallas has what it takes to win the championship this season. They can beat the dynamic Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. They can also beat the sportsbook favorites from the Eastern Conference, notably the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers – and yes, possibly the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. Will we see a potential championship preview on Thursday night? Regardless of how the playoffs actually unfold, the Magic will have to be on their game and not give up an inch to Dallas.

Online betting isn’t as simple as a straight line, at least not when the Final Four is concerned. In only three of the past 10 Final Fours have all three games been won by the higher-seeded team. This year, Michigan State enters college basketball’s showcase event with a number of weaknesses, while a healthier Butler team will be playing not only in its home state, but its home city. This scenario is tailor-made for a Butler victory, but will the hometown Bulldogs survive this national semifinal?

What: NCAA Basketball Betting

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

The Story

If a sportsbook indicated that one of these teams was likely to win by anything more than five points, a federal investigation would be necessary. If one outcome is particularly likely in the Final Four’s first game, it’s that Butler and Michigan State will play a very close contest over the course of 40 minutes (and maybe overtime).

The Bulldogs and Spartans own a blue-collar identity and have maintained a lasting commitment to the no-glory aspects of basketball. Coach Brad Stevens demands lock-down defense for a Butler team making its first appearance in the Final Four, while Michigan State coach Tom Izzo insists on effort and toughness from his Spartans, who are making their sixth Final Four trip in the past 12 seasons.

Offensive Edge

Sports betting experts would certainly say that Michigan State has a better offense than Butler does. MSU sharpshooter Durrell Summers has once again elevated his game in March. The potent perimeter performer scored 21 points on just 10 shots in Sunday’s 70-69 win over Tennessee. Summers – along with teammates Raymar Morgan and Delvon Roe – can play above the rim and dunk the ball in traffic. Only Butler swingman Gordon Hayward can do the same for the Bulldogs.

Defensive Edge

Michigan State’s defense is terrific, but Butler’s defense is unquestionably better. The Bulldogs took on the top two seeds in the West Region over the past weekend, and throttled both of them thanks to suffocating on-ball pressure that clogged passing lanes and restricted good ball movement. Against top-seeded Syracuse and No. 2 Kansas State, Butler held a pair of high-octane offenses to fewer than 60 points.

Injuries

Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas is out (torn Achilles). Michigan State forward Delvon Roe (torn meniscus) will play. Michian State shooting guard Chris Allen (strained arch in his foot) will play.

Prediction

Expect this game to come down to the final 30 seconds. Why pick Michigan State? Tom Izzo very rarely loses as a favorite at the Final Four. In his previous five semifinals, Izzo has a 2-3 record. Only once – in 2001 against Arizona – did Izzo’s MSU team fail to uphold its status as a semifinal favorite. (MSU was a semifinal underdog in 1999, 2005 and 2009; it was a favorite when it defeated Wisconsin in 2000.)

Those checking out March Madness odds should be scouts for two teams that could be in the lottery for next year’s draft, as Houston will welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to Texas on Thursday night. The Clippers have pretty much sewn up their spot in the lottery, but the Rockets still have an outside chance if they can go on a hot streak.

Clippers vs Rockets odds – Thursday, March 25, 8:30 PM ET

The Clippers’ 106-96 loss in Dallas on Tuesday was their ninth in 10 games, and their starters held their own, but the bench was simply awful. Drew Gooden had a huge 26-point, 20-rebound night, and he’s played well since he was traded from the Mavericks, but the Clippers’ bench were outscored 43-5. They also allowed Jason Kidd to run wild from the perimeter, as he nailed six three-pointers on his 37^th birthday. Kidd is still a good player and all, but the Los Angeles guards should be ashamed of themselves. Look for them to check out the March Madness favorites for next year’s draft pick, although players should be warned when looking at last year’s pick, Blake Griffin, and the rest of the Clippers’ draft history.

The Rockets fell 98-88 in Chicago on Monday, shooting a miserable 33.7% from the field. Luis Scolla had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who are five games behind Portland as of Wednesday, and the Trailblazers are holding onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. However, they’ll need more production from Aaron Brooks, who was 3-of-17 for nine points against the Bulls, and he’s cooled off after a pair of 31-point games last week. The Rockets still have play in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.

The Rockets should be favored at home by sportsbook odds (sportsbook reviews) as the Clippers have lost eight of their last 10 in Houston, including five in a row. The Rockets have won both meetings so far this season by an average margin of 13 points, but their leading scorer against the Clippers, Carl Landry, is now in Sacramento. They’ll need the backcourt duo of Brooks and Kevin Martin to step up and lead the way, and they should feel encouraged by the way that the Clippers handed Kidd on Tuesday. The Rockets have more incentive to play in this game as well, while it looks like the Clippers are just playing out the season so they can roll the dice in the lottery. They’re also a putrid 7-29 away from home, and even though the Rockets are playing on Wednesday night, it’ll take a collapse to lose to the Clippers. Take the Rockets before making your March Madness betting picks on Thursday.

When the king calls, all golfers answer. Well, all golfers except for the best in the world who is waiting for the Masters to make his not-so-triumphant comeback. The sports betting on the Arnold Palmer Invitational always revolves around fan favorites, and this year is no different.

When you are researching your March madness odds, spend some time looking at how many times Phil Mickelson has been favored to win a tournament in 2010. The answer is once, and that is this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. The online super casino experts have been shying away from Lefty this season because of his ongoing personal distractions with his wife’s health. But in this tournament he is a 10 to 1 favorite, and it is highly doubtful that he is ready to live up to that just yet.

When you bet March madness you pick the teams that you think will win based on factual information, but the Arnold Palmer Invitation seems to avoid that. Looking at the top five favorites to win you have Mickelson at 10 to 1, Steve Stricker at 16 to 1, Ernie Els at 18 to 1, and Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk at 20 to 1.

You can eliminate Vijay Singh. Until Vijay learns how to putt again, he will not be contending for any tournament. Steve Stricker has a habit of getting close but then fading away in the final round. Ernie Els is always a fan favorite, but he has had trouble putting tournaments away and his driving has been erratic lately.

Of these top favorites the best pick would be Jim Furyk. He is coming off of a win last week at the Transitions Championship, and he beat a very good golfer in South Korean K.J. Choi. Furyk has the most unconventional swing in all of golf, and his backwards putting grip makes him an unlikely PGA winner. But he knows how to use the gifts he has, and he is starting to establish himself as a regular winner on the tour.

Two more names to keep an eye on for this tournament are the aforementioned K.J. Choi and Retief Goosen. K.J. Choi has 25 to 1 odds, but his performance in the Transitions Championship last week was no fluke. His driving failed him on the final nine, but if Choi can maintain his swing he will give anyone a run for their money.

Retief Goosen is a 25 to 1 favorite as well, and it just feels like Goosen is on the cusp of having a great season. He has four top ten finishes this season in only six tournaments played. He hasn’t won yet, but look for Goosen to start making waves in 2010.

The long shot pick for the Arnold Palmer Invitational is Bubba Watson. He is a 66 to 1 pick to win this tournament, and that would normally scare any betting person away. But Bubba has a second and third place finish this year, and he is 18^th on the Fedex Cup points list. His scoring average is below 70 and he has yet to win a tournament. It is highly unlikely that Bubba Watson will start tearing up the PGA tour, but he is definitely due for at least one win and that win could be in this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Even though March Madness betting begins on Thursday, you should still find some time to squeeze in some NBA action from the state of Florida, where Orlando and Miami will do battle in the first half of TNT’s weekly doubleheader.

Magic vs Heat odds – Thursday, March 18, 8:00 PM ET

The Magic will face San Antonio at home first on Wednesday, but prior to that, Orlando had an eight-game winning streak snapped with a 96-89 loss at home to Charlotte on Sunday. The Magic were hammered on the boards, getting outrebounded 46-34, and they were 12-of-21 from the foul line. Dwight Howard led the way for 27 points and 16 rebounds, while Vince Carter was next for 23 points for the Magic, who are moving up the sportsbook ladder in the Eastern Conference, and you could argue that it’s Orlando, not Cleveland, who are the favorites to win represent the East in the NBA Finals.

The Heat hosted San Antonio on Tuesday, falling 88-76 to the Spurs despite 28 points from Dwyane Wade. Jermaine O’Neal added 13 points for the Heat, who shot a miserable 38.5% from the field, and they were just 3-of-16 from behind the three-point line. Michael Beasley came back into the lineup after missing two games with a thigh injury, but he had just six points on 3-of-10 shooting in 19 minutes of action for the Heat, and the injury was tough because he was just starting to put together a good run for Miami, who desperately need some help for Wade before he leaves town this summer in the free-agent bonanza of 2010.

The Heat should be favored at home in this contest according to US sportsbook odds (US sportsbook review), and the Magic have won seven of their last 10 against the Heat, although two of those losses have come this year. Carter has averaged 16.3 points in three meetings with the Heat this season, while Wade has put up 23.3 points for Miami, who are trying to stay in the playoff picture. As of Wednesday, the Heat were in seventh place, with a 1.5-game lead over Toronto, and a win over the Magic would be a boost. They have a bit of an edge as they have Wednesday off to work on some things in practice, while the Magic will be taking on a red-hot San Antonio team, and Orlando is 6-7 in the second half of their back-to-back games this year. This also kicks off a three-game road trip for the Magic, who head to Philadelphia and Atlanta as well, but they’ve had some big problems with the Heat this year. Go with Miami in your sportsbook before you bet on college basketball on Thursday.

We’re only two days away from March Madness brackets being due and while the 2010 March Madness odds are the main focus, the NBA action on Wednesday presents a matchup of a potential playoff preview in the Eastern Conference when Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks fly up to Canada to take on Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors.

Atlanta Hawks (42-23, 3^rd in Eastern Conference) @ Toronto Raptors (32-33, 8^th in Eastern Conference)

NBA Odds: (*note lines are approximations as they have not been posted at the time of writing)

Spread: Hawks -6.5

Over/Under: 214

Money Line: Hawks -275, Raptors +180

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are 8-3 in their last 11 games and are hitting a light part of their schedule. The Hawks have developed in the last couple of years from a fringe playoff team, to losing surprising seven-game battle with the eventual champion, Boston Celtics, as an eight seed, to having a better regular season but being swept in the 2^nd round by LeBron and the Cavs to now being a legitimate contender for the NBA Finals this year. Perhaps it is because the missing link was found in Jamal Crawford. Crawford, coming off the bench, has averaged 17.5 points in 30.6 minutes a game and is a favorite for sixth man of the year. Those numbers have been even better in March as Crawford has scored 20.1 points and averaged 3.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds a game in only 28.7 minutes. Crawford is shooting an incredible 49% on both two’s (92 attempts) and three’s (47 attempts) improving on his season averages significantly.

The Hawks also boast All-Stars Joe Johnson and Al Horford and perhaps the last man left off the Eastern Conference team, Josh Smith. Those guys match up well with the Raptors who rely upon Chris Bosh inside for most of their scoring. Horford is one of the best in the game on the defensive end and Smith is an elite shot-blocker. Joe Johnson however, will be the best player on the court and will not be able to be guarded by rookie Demar Derozen or Sonny Weems.  With Johnson able to score in bunches, and the Raptors being significantly less physical than the Hawks, the Hawks should win easily.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto is on a 1-9 slide and has fallen under .500 for the first time in a while and is in danger of slipping out of the final playoff spot. If the Bulls were not so banged up, they probably would have overtaken the Raptors by now. The cause for the slide has been curious as Chris Bosh returned six games ago and the Raptors have still been winless. Bosh has ripped his teammates for playing with no heart and not fighting as they have lost badly to awful teams on this stretch. Bosh is likely going to be playing elsewhere next season and the team is on the verge of a complete late season collapse.

5dimes Review: Prediction

The Raptors are fighting within the team, they’re playing with no heart and Bosh’s numbers have been down too on this losing streak. The Hawks present a challenge that the Raptors, in their current state, cannot compete with and this game will not be close, even in Toronto where the Raptors are 22-10 on the year.

Final: Hawks 118 – Raptors 103

While you’re filling out your March Madness Bracket , take Atlanta -6.5.