Hot Lines
MLB
Toronto at N.Y. Yankees (-155, 9)
Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays mean business. On the first day of Spring Training, the ace stepped up and told his team that this year was going to be different, that settling for third place wasn?t acceptable anymore.
Toronto?s built to win now and with newcomers Scott Rolen and David Eckstein in Doc?s corner, it?s hard not to like the makeup of this team. The Jays believe they can compete with Boston and New York at the top of the division and don?t want to waste any time proving it.
Don?t expect yesterday?s rainout to bother the Doctor much ? he?s a complete professional and loves pitching on opening day, while after the way Chien-Ming Wang finished last season, it?s tough to know what you?ll get from him outside of a ton of sinkers.
Pick: Jays
N.Y. Mets at Florida (-190, 8 1/2)
The New York Mets? pitching staff entices a lot of low over/unders, but their lineup has enough pop top totals day in and day out.
Yesterday the Mets put up seven runs on their own to help bettors who played over the eight-run total. Johan Santana threw a gem in his debut, allowing just three hits over seven innings while striking out eight, but today?s starter, Pedro Martinez, isn?t known for being nearly as sharp out of the gate. He showed he could still paint the corners at the end of last year and into spring ball, but now at 36 years old, he?ll likely be on a pitch count today.
The 6-foot-5 Rick VandenHurk gets the nod for the Marlins.
Pick: over 8 1/2 runs
NBA
New Orleans at. Orlando (+1, 208)
The Hornets are on fire right now, but how long can they keep it up? This will be the club?s fifth consecutive road game over an eight-day span, including a game in Toronto on Sunday which involves the extra hassle of crossing the border and going through customs.
Despite the schedule, the Hornets have won and covered in eight of their last 10 games, but if Orlando were to win tonight, it wouldn?t be the first time they ended a New Orleans hot streak. The last time these two teams faced one another, the Magic took a 95-88 win as a 1-point home dog after the Hornets started off their season on a 9-2 run. But they were stunned by the inside dominance of Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis, who between the two of them scored 43 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in the win. This time, the Magic have the advantage of a three-day layoff while the Hornets are in the middle of a grueling trip.
Pick: Magic
Houston at Sacramento (+2 1/2, 202)
Everybody and their mother are on Houston in this game, but you might want to take a look at the home dog here. Even though the Kings aren?t having a winning season, Arco Arena is still a very tough place to play. Whenever you can get this team as an underdog in their own house, you have to take notice because they?re 11-4 ATS in that situation this season.
And there couldn?t be a better time to fade the Rockets. Back when they were in the middle of their winning streak, everybody was still found a reason to doubt the quality of the team ? and now they?re proving those doubters right. Since the streak ended, they?re 3-4 straight up and 1-5-1 ATS.
Pick: Kings
Phoenix at Denver (-5, 235 1/2)
When were at the offices we saw the total for last night?s game in Phoenix, we thought there was no way they could play over a number like that, but 81 second-half points from the Nuggets took care of that. Tonight, the total is actually a point higher than last night?s gargantuan number and you have a back-to-back travel situation to boot.
We realize the last five meetings between the Suns and Nuggets have played over, but this total is bordering on ridiculous (despite last night?s result). Even if both teams score their offensive average, that only takes them up to about 220. Regardless of the scoring onslaught that took place last night, as a rational, functioning sports bettor, you have to take the under in this game. You don?t have a choice.
Pick: Under