Sports betting: Vegas Vic’s rolling with the Blazers and the D’backs
Double V is opening his wallet with Kevin Durant on the bench. Likes a pitching matchup out West.
Inquirer handicapper Vegas Vic lays out his plays for tonight.
NBA
Las Vegas -- Double V is looking at the Blazers +8 points over the Warriors.
Don’t have to speculate about Kevin Durant 'cause he is OUT! Golden State is still a very healthy 7.5 or 8-point favorite depending on where you shop. Before jumping on a side, let’s see what happened during the regular season.
The first meeting was in Northern Cali and the Warriors (-1) smoked the Blazers, 125-97. The over/under total was posted at 218.5 and was an easy Over. Oh yea, KD played 38 minutes, scored 32 points, had 9 boards, 7 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals.
In the next game, GSW (-9) lost to Portland at home, 110-109, with the posted total of 227 going Under. KD played 42 minutes, scored 26 points, had 10 boards, 11 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.
Quick turn around up in Portland two days later, the Dubs (-5) beat the Blaze, 115-105. The O/U total was 226.5 and went Under. Of course you want some KD? Gotcha. He played 34 minutes, scored 25 points, had just 2 boards, 5 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.
In the final meeting in Portland, the Warriors (-2.5) took one on the chin, losing 129-107. The posted total was 235 and went Over. Durant played 33 minutes, scored 32 points, had 4 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 0 steals. So, obviously, Durant is a YUGE factor, and without him, the Dubs are stretched a bit thin.
However, we do remember that they won a ring WITHOUT KD back in 2014-15, so there’s that. But GSW has been covering at an anemic pace, cashing only three tickets in the last nine outings. Tough call, but if we find a snowman, we’ll take a bite plus the eight, and drop $55 to win $50. And if we have to buy the extra half-point, we’ll do that too.
>>READ MORE: Trail Blazer-Warriors preview
Baseball
On the MLB board, Vic is on the Snakes with Luke Weaver over the visiting Pirates (9:40 p.m.).
Weaver had one good season with St. Louis (7-2) and two lousy ones (1-4, 7-11). Apparently, there’s something in the Arizona air because he is 3-1 this season with a pretty tight 2.98 ERA. The other arm in this matchup, Joe Musgrove, has been comic book-bad. In his last three starts, Musgrove has been roughed up for 19 hits and 16 earned runs in just 12 innings of work. When you see an ERA right around 12.00, yea TWELVE, you gotta go the other way.
Gimme $70 to win $50 on the D’backs.
>>READ MORE: Pirates-Diamondbacks preview
NHL
>>READ MORE: Bruins-Hurricanes preview