Columbia -8.0
Fri February 29 ’08 7:00p
This play is the result of a successful computer model that has allowed Bob Akmens Sports to finish in first-place in 152 different categories of documented monitored handicapping contests since 1978. The computer models I’ve developed for each sport look at the most-predictive variables that go into the winning and losing of games.

Several interesting factors in today’s play are as follows –
HARVARD bums you out and does NOT cover when they’re [all figures are ATS (against-the-spread)]:
A road dog of +6.5-9 points this year: 1-5 ATS last 6 games
Any kind of a road dog: 1-6 ATS last 7 games
Trying to get revenge for a home loss to the team they’re playing: 3-6 ATS last 9 games
Playing a team with any sort of winning record: 6-12 ATS last 18 games

COLUMBIA, on the other hand, makes you money and COVERS when they’re:
Playing anybody this year: 10-3 ATS last 13 games
Playing another Ivy team: 7-3 ATS last 10 games
Playing in the cold month of February: 6-2 ATS last 8 games
Playing a lousy team like Harvard with its 8-18 SU record (actually any team with a losing record): 5-1 ATS last 7 games
GO WITH COLUMBIA -8 IN THIS 700PM EST MATCHUP

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Houston Rockets -12.5
Fri February 29 ’08 8:35p
Since dumping Pau Gasol for pennies on the dollar, the Memphis Grizzlies have declined from ‘bad’ to ‘truly dismal’, the single worst team in the entire league. The Grizzlies woes have been on full display against quality teams in hostile environments. Since beating Indiana in Indianapolis on January 2nd, the Grizz have lost eleven consecutive road games. They’ve consistently lost by double digit margins against mediocre foes like Washington, Charlotte, Philadelphia and the LA Clippers. And when Memphis tries to step up in class against strong playoff caliber squads, their results have been even worse. New Orleans, Dallas, San Antonio, Golden State and Detroit have beaten the Grizzlies by an average of nearly 20 points per game.

Friday’s opponent, the Houston Rockets, have manhandled the Grizzlies with ease in both previous meetings this year, winning by 13 at home and 20 on the road. Houston is the hottest team in the NBA, winners of twelve straight, going 10-2 ATS in the process. The Rockets have enjoyed this tremendous run of success by pounding one weak foe after the next, beating Minnesota, Milwaukee, Indiana, Sacramento Atlanta, and Miami, covering big pointspreads repeatedly in the process. Yao’s season ending injury made headlines in Houston all week, but the reality is that their overall level of improved play has come due to the success of their role players –point guard Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, Luther Head and the recently acquired Bobby Jackson. Facing a demoralized foe with both limited talent and depth, we can expect the Rockets role players to have their way throughout as they cruise to victory. Take the Rockets.

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New Orleans Hornets -4.0 (-110)
Fri February 29 ’08 8:05p
Another crucial Western Conference clash takes place this evening when the (37-21) Utah Jazz invades the “Crescent City” to take on the (38-18) New Orleans Hornets. I always find it funny when these two clubs square off because its New Orleans that should be considered the Jazz and Utah’s state animal is the honeybee. Anyway, the Jazz come into tonight’s game sitting 2.5 games in front of the Denver Nuggets for the top spot in the Northwest Division, while the Hornets find themselves 1-game in back of the San Antonio Spurs for the lead in the rugged Southwest. Utah has been a poor road team this year evidenced by their 12-18 SU mark, and they’ve also been a solid proposition to bet against considering their ATS mark as a visitor is the same as their overall road mark. New Orleans has won 19 of their 29 overall games at home this year, and they’re starting to get bigger crowds as the season’s progressed. However, they’re ATS mark at home is mediocre at 16-13, but that won’t stop me from laying the points in this crucial revenge match-up. Utah steamrolls just about everyone in the comfy confines of their own arena, but they transform into something awful when on the road.

The home team is 5-1-1 ATS the L/7 meetings and New Orleans is 5-1 ATS their L/6 vs. the Northwest Division. Utah is also a pathetic 5-13 ATS on the road vs. a team with a winning home mark. Lay the points with confidence as CP3 and West let the Jazz know what it’s like to be on the other end of a woodshed beating!!!!

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Washington Wizards +5.0 (-110)
Fri February 29 ’08 8:05p
The Washington Wizards have continued to play hard and be competitive despite being without Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, while the Bulls have struggled at home this season.

Granted, the Wizards laid an egg at Houston vs. the Yao-less Rockets on Tuesday, but that came the night after they upset the red-hot New Orleans Hornets on the road, so we will grant Washington a Mulligan there. The Wizards are still 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games overall, and they are now an excellent 17-12, 58.6 percent ATS on the road for the season.

Now the Chicago Bulls were playing better soon after their coaching change, but they are now just 4-6 straight up in their last 10 games, and they are returning from a 1-2 road trip where their only win was at Indiana, which was the easiest on the three opponents. Chicago is still a very disappointing 12-14 SU at home this year, and they are a money-burning 10-16 ATS in those games.

Finally, this is a revenge spot for the Wizards, who lost outright at home to the Bulls as six-point favorites back in December.

NBA Free Pick: Wizards +5

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Free NHL Picks: Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens -122.0
Fri February 29 ’08 7:35p
The Montreal Canadiens enter into this tilt against the Buffalo Sabres , having lost 3 straight meetings in this series ,out scoring them during that span by a lopsided 11-3 count. I know the Habs have revenge on board , and are in good form, as is evident by winning 4 of their L6 , but the Sabres are no push overs at home, and will be ready to continue their domination of the eastern conference foes. Final notes & Trends: Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller, 10-3-2 with a 2.29 goals-against average in 15 career starts against the Canadiens. Montreal has also lost 21 of their 29 games in upstate NY. Home team s 7-1 L8 meetings in this series. Play on the Sabres

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Jacksonville State +4.0 (-110)
Thu February 28 ’08 8:15p
This game between the Jacksonville State Gamecocks and the Eastern Illinois Panthers may feature the two worst teams in Division IA, but that does not mean we cannot profit from this stinker of a contest.

First of all, the 5-22 Panthers are getting outscored by an average of -6.8 points per game overall, which is actually worse than the 6-21 Gamecocks’ average of -5.2 points. That fact alone means that Eastern Illinois is a terrible favorite vs. any opponent, and furthermore, they are just 3-8 straight up and a dismal 2-7-1 against the spread at home. This is the first time that the Panthers have been favored all season, but they have been in three Pick’em games and they lost all three times vs. Rice, Tennessee-Martin and Eastern Kentucky, with the smallest losing margin in those games being six points.

Now, Jacksonville State is 0-11 SU on the road, but they have managed to go 4-4 ATS in their lined road contests. In fact, they are 3-1 ATS in their last four games overall, and their last road contest was their best of the season, as they lost just 87-85 in overtime at Tennessee Tech as 13-point underdogs.

We feel that the Gamecocks get over the road hump tonight with the outright upset.

CBB Free Pick: Jacksonville State +4

USC +5.0 (-110)
Thu February 28 ’08 9:00p
Road teams have fared well in the Pac 10 this season and the USC Trojans fit nicely into that profile tonight at Arizona. The Trojans, who have covered eight of their past 11 games, are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 games as an underdog. Meanwhile, Arizona has only brought home the money once in its past six games against a team with a winning record. On the injury front, USC guard Daniel Hackett (back) practiced Wednesday and could see action against the Wildcats. Arizona will continue to be without the services of guard Nic Wise who is out due to injury. The underdog has covered the past five games in this series and I look for the Trojans to make it an even half-dozen tonight.

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Pittsburgh Penguins @ Boston Bruins u5.5 (-115)
Thu Feb 28 ’08 7:05p
The Pittsburgh Penguins may have trouble getting some offensive continuity the next few games considering all the new players they traded for at the deadline, and the Boston Bruins would be tough to score on in Beantown in any event.

Boston is allowing just 2.20 goals per game at home for the season, with the Under going a lucrative 19-10 in this rink. It helps to have an All-Star goaltender like Tim Thomas in net, as he has a good 2.41 GAA with a .924 save percentage. Most importantly, he recovered from one of his worst games of the season, when he was benched during a 5-4 win at Florida, by shutting out the high-octane Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Now the Penguins will eventually be explosive due to the acquisition of Marian Hossa from the Atlanta Thrashers, as Hossa is just one year removed from a 100-point season and he will make a formidable duo with Sidney Crosby soon. However, this is Hossa’s first game with the Pens and Crosby is not ready for game action just yet. Thus, Pittsburgh may again rely on the red-hot goaltending of Ty Conkin, who has a sensational 2.19 GAA in 27 games and who incredibly stopped 50 shots vs. the Islanders Tuesday, basically stealing the 4-2 win himself.

We look for both goaltenders to stay hot here in a relatively low scoring contest.

NHL Free Pick: Penguins, Bruins Under 5.5 (-115)

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2008 Arena Football League Picks

THIS IS MUST READ: Gamblers, we serioulsy offer the 3 best Arena Football Experts on the planet. This is not a joke, not hype, not crap – we are deadly serious, between Alex Smart, Mike Rose and Teddy Covers, our AFL is free money. Nothing we will do all year will make more money than any of these 3 guys and their Arena Football picks. OUR GUYS WILL MOVE THE LINES: This is the truth and is especially apparant when Teddy Covers and Mike Rose play and we are talking 3 point swings. Teddy literally lives in Vegas and the linemakers there consider him better at sharpening the lines then they are. Mike Rose actually works for the AFL as a beat writers and is one of the most knowledgable AFL experts in the world. Both Teddy and Mike have been offered countless jobs doing the AFL line making for off-shore casinos. They have steadfast refused to enter the darkside and for the 4th straight year will be selling their AFL Picks

When plays will be released.

For Rose and Teddy Covers: Starting Thursday February 29th at EXACTLY 1pm EST every Thursday, the AFL plays will be released.

For Alex Smart: The plays will be released the day off – early morning EST and if there are afternoon games by the night before.
This will be a rock solid time every week for the entire season and the plays will never be put up earlier, so as to avoid the plays sitting online without you getting them and the line moving.

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Bob Akmens’ is on a 38-22 NHL Picks Run – CLICK HERE TO BUY BOB AKMENS SPORTS PICKS
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This sport is why we begged Bob Akmens to join us. Mr. Akmens is one of the best NHL Expert in the world. Bob Akmens has finished on TOP of more categories of more documented sports handicapping contests than any service ever: 148 top finishes and still counting. This NHL season, he is on fire, winning 24 of his last 40 Cards, sitting on a 32-19 and 38-22 NHL Run and is over 60% in all his NHL Bets, making dime bettors $40,000 in profit.
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This is Ben Burns sport – period and he has been betting it for over a decade. This season he is up Big NHL Cash again and his run has just begun. Ben is having a monster year, going on a 42-28 Run and is 60-37 over his last 97 pucks plays. On the entire season, they are 64-42 on the year and rolling in pucks. And this is his usual year, as last year in NHL, he was #1 in profit and win %, earning 50 Units, and cashing in at OVER 61% of his NHL Bets.
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After one of the most thrilling National League seasons in recent memory – and one that featured the rise of several unlikely franchises such as the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies – the 2008 National League season promises to be even more exciting than last year’s roller coaster ride that enthralled fans from coast to coast.

Click Here for a Free Bet On Your Favorite Team To Win the 2008 World Series

This MLB preview will look at the 2008 National League Odds for each team while also giving the BetUS.com MLB betting community a brief glimpse into how each team should fare heading into what promises to be an outstanding – and highly-competitive baseball season all the way around.

With spring training games scheduled to start before we know it, haste makes waste so let’s get started.

2008 Odds to Win the National League

New York Mets Odds +200
The NY Mets went a very respectable 88-74 last season to finish in second place in the NL East but their 2006 season will always be remembered for their near historical collapse in which the Philadelphia Phillies passed them down the stretch to win the National League East – just before the San Diego Padres finished them off in a one-game playoff to knock them out of the postseason altogether. After obtaining overpowering lefty Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins, the Mets may have established themselves as the team to beat in the National League in 2008.

Los Angeles Dodgers Odds +750
The LA Dodgers went 82-80 last season to finish in fourth place in the NL West but brought in fabled former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre to lead this proud franchise back to the promised land. Though it certainly won’t happen this season, I will go on record right now to say that it is only a matter of time before Torre gets the Dodgers back in the postseason – and possibly into the World Series.

Chicago Cubs Odds +450
The Cubs went 85-77 last season to win the NL Central – and could be even better in manager Lou Piniella’s second season in the Windy City. BetUS.com MLB bettors should know that the Cubs have quietly put together a solid pitching staff that has at least five legitimate starters and likely six should one falter.

Colorado Rockies Odds +900
The Rockies caught fire down the stretch to finish at 90-73 before going on to overpower the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies to reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Though the Rockies will have the majority of last season’s familiar faces back in 2008, Colorado could be hard-pressed to repeat its magical run from last season.

Philadelphia Phillies Odds +650
The Phillies beat out the Mets in the National League East last season with one of the most historical late-season runs in MLB history. Despite Philadelphia’s stellar season in 2007 – and the fact that the last two NL MVPs are on their roster, (Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins), Philadelphia will enter 2008 with the same problems that have plagued the franchise since it won its first and only World Series waaaaay back in 1980 – a lack of quality pitching.

Arizona Diamondbacks Odds +800
The Diamondbacks went 90-72 to win the NL West last season despite being just the fifth team in Major League history to reach the postseason despite being outscored by their opponents over the course of the regular season. Say what you want about the Diamondbacks, all I’m going to say is that the young and hungry D-Backs were one of the most successful wagering teams, (along with the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox) for me last season in what was by far, the most successful MLB handicapping season of my career – and with the same everyday lineup back intact, the D-Backs could surprise again in 2008.

San Diego Padres Odds +1000
The Padres went 89-74 last season and lost a one-game playoff to the Rockies to miss out on the postseason altogether – just one game behind the Diamondbacks and Rockies in the NL West but have added several key veteran players, pitchers Randy Wolf and Mark Prior and centerfielder Jim Edmonds who they think can out them over the top in 2008.

Milwaukee Brewers Odds +1000
The Brewers recorded a decent 83-79 record last season as young first baseman Prince Fielder had a breakout season with 50 long-balls. Milwaukee’s terrific lineup however, will only go as far as the team’s mediocre pitching staff takes it.

Atlanta Braves Odds +800
The Braves went 84-78 last season and made several changes, including bring back former longtime starter Tom Glavine as well as watching former annual Gold Glove centerfielder Andruw Jones bolt for better-paying pastures. While the Braves could have the makings of a formidable rotation this season, there are still more question marks than answers in the ATL.

St. Louis Cardinals Odds +2000
The Cardinals went an uninspiring 78-84 last season and are clearly a team in transition at the moment despite manager Tony LaRussa’s vehement denials to the contrary. With veterans Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen and David Eckstein all gone, the Cards will be hard-pressed to reach the 78 victories they picked up last season.

Houston Astros Odds +3000
The Astros went 73-89 last season but will be hard-pressed to reach that number of victories in 2008 with so many question marks up and down their roster that the team resembles the infamous ‘Riddler’ of Batman fame. The Astros are counting on far too many young players to know exactly what to expect no matter what the team says. J.R. Towles is supposed to take over for veteran Brad Ausmus at catcher while young Michael Bourn is penciled in to start in center field. A mediocre Ty Wigginton, Kaz Matsui and aging Miguel Tejada may not help much either.

Florida Marlins Odds +5000
The Marlins went 71-91 last season but will be going with an extremely young team in 2008 while depending on unproven players like Cameron Maybin, Josh Willingham, Dan Uggula, Dallas McPherson and Mike Jacobs. If the Marlins win 70 games this season, it could be a miracle.

Cincinnati Reds Odds +3000
The Reds went 72-90 last season but manager Dusty Baker could be in serious need of some Pepto Bismol by midseason with question marks in centerfielder, Ryan Freel, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and catcher David Ross, three players who have yet to hit .300 in their respective careers.

San Francisco Giants Odds +4000
The SF Giants went a pitiful 71-91 last season but could surprise this season with a veteran outfield featuring hard-nosed centerfielder Aaron Rowand and corners, Dave Roberts and Randy Winn, not to mention a veteran group of infielders such as Rich Aurilia, Omar Vizquel and Ray Durham. The Giants pitching could also surprise in 2008 with Barry Zito getting more acclimated to the National League and young guns, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Noah Lowry all looking like they are ready to take another step toward stardom.

Pittsburgh Pirates Odds +5000
The Pirates went an atrocious 68-94 last season and are sorely in need of the likes of legends like Willie ‘Pops’ Stargell and Dave Parker. The Pirates have plenty of questions with youngster Nyjer Morgan slated to start in centerfield along with Jose Bautista at third base and Ronny Paulino at catcher, not to mention the multitude of pitching problems that could plague this team once again in 2008.

Washington Nationals Odds +5000
The Nationals went 73-89 last season and while I like their everyday lineup very much this season, any team that is rolling out a pitcher that went 4-5 last season as their number one starter, has serious pitching problems. Unless the Nats can somehow find some legitimate big league starters, they will be on the outside looking in come playoff time.