Sports Betting: NBA – NCAAB – Soccer + Olympic Hockey Betting Preview And Analysis
It’s a big world out there. Our latest look at the week ahead in online sports gambling takes us across the globe, from the basketball courts of the United States to the verdant (and soggy) soccer pitches of England.
VIEW OUR TOP CAPPERS PICKS FOR THIS WEEK’S FOOTBALL MATCHUPS —–>
Speaking of soggy, we’ll even make a special visit to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. All times are Eastern, and you’ll find updated odds just a click away at Bodog Sports.
1. NBA: Boston at L.A. Lakers (Thursday, 10:30 p.m.)
The NBA comes out of the All-Star break with the Lakers (41-13 SU, 25-27-2 ATS) leading the Western Conference and the Celtics (32-18 SU, 19-30-1 ATS) fourth among the four elite teams in the East. But this might be Boston’s chance to get some revenge after losing 90-89 to Los Angeles (-1 at the Garden) last month. Kobe Bryant (ankle) and Andrew Bynum (hip) are both listed as day-to-day; Bryant was forced to sit out the All-Star Game, while Paul Pierce was healthy enough to win the 3-point contest despite a sprained left foot. The NBA odds for this matchup will depend heavily on Bryant’s status. Boston has dropped the cash in four straight games and 10 of the last 13.
2. NCAAB: Purdue at Ohio State (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.)
You remember the Big Ten, don’t you? The most historic of the six major conferences has fallen well behind the ACC and the Big East when it comes to college hoops notoriety, but two of the best teams in Division I will go at it Wednesday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center (aka The Schott). It’s the Boilers (21-3 SU, 11-12-1 ATS) and the Buckeyes (20-6 SU, 13-13 ATS) in what should be an impressive frontline battle. Ohio State took this contest 70-66 last month in Purdue as a 9-point puppy. The Boilers are back on track with a seven-game winning streak (4-3 ATS), while OSU is 6-0 SU and 3-3 ATS in its last six.
3. NBA: New York at Chicago (Tuesday, 8:00 p.m.)
Both these teams could have a different look before this game starts. The Knicks (19-32 SU, 23-28 ATS) have fallen six games behind the Bulls (25-26 SU, 24-25-2 ATS) for the last playoff spot in the East; 
one of the trade deadline rumors has New York sending Al Harrington (23.7 points, 7.5 rebounds per 40 minutes) to Chicago in a package deal for Tyrus Thomas (15.1 points, 10.8 rebounds/40). The Knicks split a pair of games home and away with Chicago in December, but have lost six of their last seven overall at 2-5 ATS. The Bulls have hit a speed bump at 2-4 SU and ATS in their last six.
4. Soccer: Liverpool at Manchester City (Sunday, 10:00 a.m.)
As if things weren’t tight enough atop the Premiership table last week. Arsenal downed Liverpool 1-0 on Wednesday to keep the Reds (13 wins, eight losses, five draws) in fourth place; however, fifth-place Manchester City (12 wins, four losses, eight draws) has the same number of points at 44 with two games in hand. The Blues are also 9-3 at Eastlands, while the loss to Arsenal (their third in three matches this year) leaves the Reds at 4-6-3 on the road with a goal differential of minus-4. These two sides played to a 2-2 draw at Anfield in November. Another draw this week would pay +230.
5. Olympic Hockey: United States vs. Switzerland (Tuesday, 3:00 p.m.)
Are you ready for some chalk? Not so fast, there. Switzerland hasn’t won a medal in men’s hockey since 1948, but did well just to finish sixth at the 2006 Games in Turin. That run included a 2-0 win over Canada in the first round and a 3-2 victory over the Czechs. Meanwhile, Team USA finished eighth in 2006 after winning just one of its five opening-round games (4-1 against Kazakhstan). Having Jonas Hiller (.919 save percentage with the Anaheim Ducks) in net instantly makes the Swiss a difficult team to put away.
Honorable Mentions
NBA: Cleveland at Orlando (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.)
NCAAB: Syracuse at Georgetown (Thursday, 9:00 p.m.)
Olympic Hockey: Czech Republic vs. Slovakia (Wednesday, 11:55 p.m.)
Soccer: Manchester United at Everton (Saturday, 7:45 a.m.)
MMA: Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping, UFC 110 (PPV card begins Saturday, 10:00 p.m.)
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