Chicago Blackhawks (149)
Sun Apr 6 ’08 12:35p
The Chicago Blackhawks enter into this original 6 contest having won 4 straight games, and will be primed to upset their long time rivals , the Detroit Red Wings . The Wings have nothing left to play for, and will be more focused on remaining healthy , then winning, as their play off destiny is sealed. Play on Chicago as underdogs on the moneyline

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Free MLB Baseball Picks: Arizona Diamondbacks (-115)
Sat Apr 5 ’08 8:05p
Brandon Webb has always been a fast starter while Jeff Francis did not pitch well in his seasonal debut that, fortunately for him, did not count due to a rainout, so the Arizona Diamondbacks get the call as small road favorites tonight.

Webb is always a Cy Young candidate, and he has been virtually unhittable during the month of April. The Diamondbacks are 14-4 as a team in all of Webb’s April starts over the last three seasons plus Opening Day of this one, when he allowed two runs and just three hits in six innings of a 4-2 win at Cincinnati, and he has an April ERA of 2.85 over this period. Also, if we flash back to last season when the Rockies won 21 out of 22 games before getting swept in the World Series, their only loss during that unbelievable stretch came to Webb 4-2 right here in Colorado.

Francis is the ace of the Rockies staff, but he did not look like it in St. Louis on opening day when he allowed five runs in 2.1 innings, only to have the outing wiped out when the rains came and the game could not be resumed. He has also been mediocre in his last four home starts vs. Arizona, with two good outings and two shaky ones. The end result was 13 earned runs and 35 baserunners allowed in 23.2 innings of work.

We look for Webb to continue his April dominance here at a rather modest price.

MLB Free Pick: Diamondbacks -115

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Memphis @ UCLA u133.5 (-110)
Sat Apr 5 ’08 6:05p
The Memphis Tigers have been running up some scores lately, but we expect the stingy defense of the UCLA Bruins to slow the Tigers down here, resulting in a much lower scoring game than many people expect.

UCLA has one of the best defenses in the country, and they will no doubt make a concerted effort not to let Memphis get their running game going, as the Bruins know that the Tigers are capable of running away with this game if they are not at least slowed down. The Bruins are allowing just 58.9 points per game this season while holding their opponents to 42.0 percent shooting, and they have been downright suffocating lately, surrendering 55.4 points per on a miniscule 35.3 percent shooting to their last five opponents.

While the Tigers are known for their exciting offense, many people overlook their excellent defense which is holding opponents to 38.8 percent shooting over the entire year. Considering that the Bruins will slow the pace of this game when they are on offense also, we think that the Memphis defense should have no trouble keeping UCLA around 60 points or so at the most here.

The bottom line is that if UCLA is successful in containing the Memphis transition game, we do not see this contest getting out of the 120s.

CBB Free Pick: Memphis, UCLA Under 133.5

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Free NBA Picks: Philadelphia 76ers -6.0
Sat April 5 ’08 7:05p
Iguodala scored 30 points to lead his Philadelphia 76ers to a hard fought 109-104 win at Atlanta on Friday night, and in the process clinched a play off spot for his team. But do not expect a let down from the Sixers as they still have plenty to play for, as they are tied for Washington for the 5th seed, and Toronto just one game behind in 7th. Atlanta is still hoping for a post season appearance, but after last nights loss, maybe a little disheartened in let down situation tonight. Final notes & Key Trends: Philly 14-3 ATS L/17 against a team with a losing record, winning SU by an average of 14.8 PPG. Play on the Sixers – Courtesy of Alex Smart

Free NBA Picks: Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers Over 206
Sat April 5 ’08 6:05p
NBA action won’t garner much attention or headlines tonight, at least not until SportsCenter dominates our TVs following the second game of the Big Dance between Kansas and North Carolina. BUT the Prez has a double-dip NBA System Play-II — between the 76ers and Hawks — a 62 percent winning combination over the last five seasons that’s keyed by a team clinching a postseason birth, something the 76ers did on Friday night.

The Hawks entered last night’s game, the first half of a home-and-home series against the 76ers, with a five-game win streak. While the five-game run came to an end, Atlanta found easy buckets against Philadelphia’s defense, and did so on a night when their floor general, Mike Bibby, shot poorly. Atlanta is still clinging to that No. 8 postseason-seed, and travel to Philadelphia for the backend of the double header.

Despite losing their previous two games against the Hawks this season, the 76ers found a way to win on the road — and clinch a playoff spot. Sixers’ Andre Miller was asked to be more aggressive offensively by his head coach in January, and just recently, Cheeks asked Miller to push his teammate even harder. The result has the veteran guard averaging 12.0 assists in the past four games, this after averaging only 5.9 helpers in the eight previous affairs.

Both teams want to push the ball — and over the last six games they have. The Hawks are averaging 113 points per game. Philly has averaged 110 points in their last six wins. The Sixers have won two straight and 21 of their last 28. Both teams limited their bench in Friday’s contest. Only seven players from each team received any real court time (more than 15 minutes).

Don’t expect either unit to be at their best defensively tonight. Not during the second game of a home-and-home series that plays itself out 75 games into a long and grueling season. -Courtesy of The Prez

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Free NBA Picks: San Antonio Spurs @ Utah Jazz u197.5 (-110)
Fri Apr 4 ’08 8:05p – Basketball Odds

This posted total between the San Antonio Jazz and the Utah Jazz seems very high when you consider that none of the last 21 head-to-head meetings between these clubs here in Utah have surpassed 192 points.

As usual, the Spurs have been an excellent Under team this season, with the Under going 43-31-1 overall including an excellent 23-14, 62.2 percent on the road. Those road contests are averaging a combined 187.2 points, about 10 points less than this posted total. Furthermore, only three of their last 13 road games vs. Western Conference opponents have exceeded 197 points.

Now granted, the Jazz have been a great Over team the last couple of years, but the Spurs are one of the few teams that has been able to slow them down somewhat. These teams have met five times here in Utah since the start of last season including the playoffs, and those five games have averaged just 179.6 points combined.

The Jazz won the only meeting here so far this year 97-91, and we expect the total output in this game to about the same 188 points as that first encounter. Courtesy of LT Profits

NBA Free Pick: Spurs, Jazz Under 197.5

Free NBA Pick: New Orleans Hornets -15.5
Fri Apr 4 ’08 8:05p – Basketball Odds
The only team that the Knicks have beaten since the beginning of March is the lowly Miami Heat (twice), and even in those rare victories, the Knicks failed to cover the spread either time. In fact, the Knicks have only covered the spread four times in their last 17 games, a team that is clearly just playing out the string of another long, dismal season. The Knicks have been particularly bad on the road facing an opponent with a winning record, including losses by 26 at Orlando and by 29 at Dallas.

When New Orleans visited Madison Square Garden in early March, the Knicks kept the game competitive for 46 minutes, but allowed the Hornets to score the final ten points of the game for a 12 point victory. Playing in New Orleans, I wouldn’t expect this game to be nearly as close. After all, the Hornets have been absolutely dominant against weak foes at home, 24-13 ATS in New Orleans and a 33-18 ATS mark as a favorite.

Byron Scott’s squad has now won straight up and covered the spread in nine straight home games, winning eight of those games by double digit margins. As a big favorite of nine points or more (we can expect the Hornets to be laying doubles in this ballgame), the Hornets have gone 11-4 ATS, consistently taking care of business against their weaker foes. Look for that trend to continue in another blowout win on Friday Night in the Big Easy. Take New Orleans.  – Courtesy of Ted Sevransky

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Free MLB Picks: Boston Red Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays u9.0
Fri April 4th ’08 7:15p – Baseball Odds
In 25 starts last year, right-hander Shaun Marcum of Blue Jays finished with 11-4 record and a stable 3.91 ERA and an impressive .733 winning percentage. He will face veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield,who almost always makes his team competitive when he takes to the hill. With two very capable hurlers on the hill today, an two viable bull pens supporting them Im expecting a fairly low scoring game that fails to eclipse the number. Final notes & Key Trends: Under is 7-0 in Wakefields last 7 road starts vs. Blue Jays . Play under – Courtesy of Alex Smart

Free MLB Picks: Houston Astros @ Chicago Cubs u9.0 (-110)
Fri April 4th ’08 2:20p – Baseball Odds
Houston will give the ball to Chris Sampson Friday afternoon in the hopes that he’ll be able to build off of last season’s decent effort. He went 7-8 with a 4.59 ERA and career-high 51 strikeouts in 24 appearances for the Astros last season. Sampson’s been brilliant against the Cubs in his career winning both of the games he’s started against them allowing 0 runs and only allowing 6 hits in 12 total innings of work. The under cashed with ease in both starts.

He’ll square off against lefty Rich Hill who went 11-8 last season with a 3.92 ERA. He allowed only 170 hits in 195 innings of work with a stellar K/BB ratio of 183/63. He did have a problem surrendering the long ball though (27 overall). Hill’s fared well against his opponent in his career. He’s 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA, but the Cubs are 2-1 in his three career starts against the division rival Astros. The under cashed in two of those three starts. – Courtesy of Mike Rose

Free MLB Picks: Toronto Blue Jays (-110)
Fri Apr 4 ’08 7:15p – Baseball Odds
This is the home opener for the Toronto Blue Jays, who just lost two out of three at Yankee Stadium, and we look for them to emerge victorious here vs. the Boston Red Sox.

The Jays could have easily swept the Yankees, as they held late leads in all three games but lost a couple of 3-2 decisions. Today’s starter Shaun Marcum was a revlation last season as one of the most pleasant surprises in baseball, and he pitcher very well against the Red Sox. He allowed just five earned runs in three starts vs. Boston, and he was brilliant in his only start against them here in Toronto, hurling eight scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and posting 10 strikeouts.

The ageless Tim Wakefield takes the start for the Sox, and while he too was brilliant at times last year, he was his usual inconsistent self with some awful outings also added in the mix. He did not pitch particularly well in is last two starts vs. Toronto, allowing a total of eight earned runs and 16 hits in 12 innings.

At close to a pick’em price, we will back the surer commodity in Marcum here at home. – Courtesy of LT Profits

MLB Free Pick: Blue Jays -110

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Free MLB Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Cincinnati Reds Under 9.5
April 3rd, 2008 12:35PM – Click Here for MLB Odds

Yesterday’s 2-3 All Sports mark (1-2 in baseball) wasn’t one of my greatest moments, especially after leaving two winners on the edit room floor; but that’s the beauty of sports investing, you lose some and you win more – or you find another profession.

The Wednesday UNDER play on the Reds and D’backs was doomed by one player, who will go unnamed, but investing below-the-number was the right side to be on. The reality of the situation is that the ‘under’ should have been one of those plays pitched (pun intended) to the floor in the editing room.

So, we’re back at it today, with a getaway game from Great American Park. There’s a strong wind blowing in from left center; one inconsistent pitcher with a terrific record at GAP and against the Reds, and a rookie arm that is a relative unknown.

Arizona’s Doug Davis allowed two runs and five hits in six innings of a 3-2 victory over the Reds on April 9 of last year, but did not factor in the decision. The left-hander is 6-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 14 career starts against Cincinnati (1-1), and 4-1 with a 3.26 ERA in seven starts at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds send Johnny Cueto to the mound. The rookie was a non-roster invite to Cincinnati’s spring training, but won a spot in the rotation after an encouraging showing in the Grapefruit League. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed 10 earned runs, struck out 19 and walked 12 over 17 2-3 innings over six outings in the spring. Cueto depends on his better than average change-up, something that should be effective against the light hitting and young D’backs lineup.

Key Trend: It’s a getaway day for Arizona and the umpires, while the Reds stay at home this weekend. The umpire for today’s game, Jim Hoye (19-13 in 2007) has a larger strike zone than his 2007 record indicates. He is a great fit 

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Houston Rockets -6.5 (-110)
Thu April 3 ’08 10:35p – Click Here for NBA Betting Odds

We are not usually in the habit of giving points on the road, but the Houston Rockets have all the motivation here vs. the sinking Portland Trail Blazers.

The Rockets are still jockeying for playoff position in the ultra-tight Western Conference, so they need to beat the teams that they should beat in order to improve their seeding. The Rockets are 4-0 straight up in the last four head-to-head meetings with Portland, and their three wins against them this season were all by more than this posted line. Houston beat the Blazers by nine and 12 points respectively at home, and they won by 10 points in their last visit here. More importantly, all three of those wins came while Portland was still in the playoff hunt.

That is not the case now, as the Blazers have plummeted over the second half of the season since being the talk of the NBA in the first half. Their early-season 13-game winnings streak is long forgotten, as Portland is now just one game over .500 at 38-37 SU, and they are now virtually out of the playoff race. They have lost four of their last five games SU including an embarrassing 93-85 home loss to the Charlotte Bobcats the last time they played here, and the Blazers are now just 3-13 against the spread in their last 16 home games.

Look for another double-digit Houston victory in this series.

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Chicago Cubs (-130)
Thu April 3 ’08 2:20p – Click Here for Baseball Odds

The Chicago Cubs look to avoid getting swept at home in their season opening series when they host the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon.

Milwaukee starter David Bush has been a slow starter in recent seasons, as his teams are just 4-11 in all of his April starts the last three years and he has a high 5.11 ERA in those outings. More importantly, Bush has failed to record a Quality Start in his last three appearances vs. the Cubs, allowing a total of 14 earned runs in 18 innings while surrendering 21 hits and a ghastly 15 walks.

Ryan Dempster returns to the starting rotation this season after bombing as the Cubs closer last season, and we feel he is much better suited for this role. Remember that he began his career as a starter and showed great promise when he came up with the Cincinnati Reds, and we feel he will be very serviceable once he is stretched out after a few starts. He should get in five or six decent innings today, which may be good enough for the victory as long as Bush’s April woes continue.

Look for the Cubs to salvage this win to avoid the home sweep.

MLB Free Pick: Cubs -130 – Click Here to Buy LT Profits Expert MLB Picks