27.2.2010 Saturday - Ice Hockey Olympics
For Slovakia the bronze-match is a big achievement but they have achieved it by playing. They have fought well but since Finland is more rested to the match I dare not to play Slovakia even they have been so far the better team.
Finland comes to the match after humiliating 6-0 loss for USA in the first set. They have had good goalkeepers and now it is maybe a bit strange but they allow Kiprusoff to continue on the goal in the bronze-match too. I trust he will gather himself to this match. What comes to the offence of Finland there is no much hooray'ing. Some players start to be slow, they have no real shooters from the blueline. Against tougher teams (Sweden, Czech, USA) they have done only three goals. One to the empty net, one "lucky" goal and their goal against USA when USA was not playing anymore 100%.
Slovakia plays one of the most important match of their history and Finland should also want to win the bronze after the humiliating and for them it means discipline game. I wait no many goals in this battle.
Pick Under 5,5 goals 1.63 4/10
lauantai 27. helmikuuta 2010
Ernests Gulbis - Jarkko Nieminen
27.2.2010 Saturday - Tennis ATP
Delray Beach semifinal match offers pretty clear favourite. Gulbis has been convincing lately and his hard hits are poison for Nieminen on fast court who was once pretty good returner and was able to win the ballralls but nowadays his form has gone down the last years. This year he has won Rufin, Lindahl, Poerschke, Sela, Lorenzi and on the last roud Russian Korolev who was a good match-up against Nieminen but winning the last two sets 6-1 and 6-0 tells almost always more about the problems of the opponent than the quality of the winner. In other words Nieminen has proved nothing on this season and Gulbis has shown good game.
Pick Ernests Gulbis 1.60 5/10
Delray Beach semifinal match offers pretty clear favourite. Gulbis has been convincing lately and his hard hits are poison for Nieminen on fast court who was once pretty good returner and was able to win the ballralls but nowadays his form has gone down the last years. This year he has won Rufin, Lindahl, Poerschke, Sela, Lorenzi and on the last roud Russian Korolev who was a good match-up against Nieminen but winning the last two sets 6-1 and 6-0 tells almost always more about the problems of the opponent than the quality of the winner. In other words Nieminen has proved nothing on this season and Gulbis has shown good game.
Pick Ernests Gulbis 1.60 5/10
keskiviikko 24. helmikuuta 2010
Los Angeles Clippers - Detroit Pistons
24.2.2010 NBA
Clippers are playing well at home and their players seem to be in form. The odds are higher this time since Pistons has been strong in their last two matches too. Beating Spurs was impressive but not so impressive when you check how many matches Spurs had played in row on the road. Yesterday a win over Kings and now they have their 3rd match in four days and 6th in nine, Clippers have had easier so this favours them too. I am not so big fan of handicap this time because the game can go close and Clippers had their weaker period but they played in that against stronger opponents so I trust they will not fail but will be carefull too at the same time.
Pick Los Angeles Clippers 1.58 4/10
Clippers are playing well at home and their players seem to be in form. The odds are higher this time since Pistons has been strong in their last two matches too. Beating Spurs was impressive but not so impressive when you check how many matches Spurs had played in row on the road. Yesterday a win over Kings and now they have their 3rd match in four days and 6th in nine, Clippers have had easier so this favours them too. I am not so big fan of handicap this time because the game can go close and Clippers had their weaker period but they played in that against stronger opponents so I trust they will not fail but will be carefull too at the same time.
Pick Los Angeles Clippers 1.58 4/10
tiistai 23. helmikuuta 2010
Olympiakos - Bordeaux
23.2.2010 Tuesday - Football, Champions League
Neither of these teams are a real top team. Bordeaux is the stronger team out of the two teams but as many times in such situations the underdog knows their place to hit is at home. Bordeaux is not anymore as big defensive might than it once was but their defence still works well. Olympiakos sure tries to make some goals with big heart but they know giving Bordeaux a goal on the road is hard to overcome so I am waiting carefull approach by both teams to the game.
Pick Under 2,5 goals 1.58 7/10
Neither of these teams are a real top team. Bordeaux is the stronger team out of the two teams but as many times in such situations the underdog knows their place to hit is at home. Bordeaux is not anymore as big defensive might than it once was but their defence still works well. Olympiakos sure tries to make some goals with big heart but they know giving Bordeaux a goal on the road is hard to overcome so I am waiting carefull approach by both teams to the game.
Pick Under 2,5 goals 1.58 7/10
sunnuntai 21. helmikuuta 2010
Samuel Querrey - John Isner
Monday 21.2.2010 ATP Tennis
Two Americans meet each others in the final of Memphis indoors court. Querrey has been extrememly impressive so far in the tournament. His serve works and he has gotten his game forward, he reads the game well and moves better than before.
Isner is a serving machine and the court suits for his forehand but "new" Querrey seems too much for him especially when playing against his previous German opponent his concentration weakened and he had troubles to keep his first serve percentage high. Isner probably will not see many break oppurtunities and Querrey has capability to push more Isner's serve. We will see probably at least one tiebreak which are lotteries but 1.70 odds this time for Querrey are enough to play since keeping his edge over Isner at the moment in mind.
Pick Samuel Querrey 1.70 5/10
Two Americans meet each others in the final of Memphis indoors court. Querrey has been extrememly impressive so far in the tournament. His serve works and he has gotten his game forward, he reads the game well and moves better than before.
Isner is a serving machine and the court suits for his forehand but "new" Querrey seems too much for him especially when playing against his previous German opponent his concentration weakened and he had troubles to keep his first serve percentage high. Isner probably will not see many break oppurtunities and Querrey has capability to push more Isner's serve. We will see probably at least one tiebreak which are lotteries but 1.70 odds this time for Querrey are enough to play since keeping his edge over Isner at the moment in mind.
Pick Samuel Querrey 1.70 5/10
Orlando Magic - Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday 21.2.2010
This is important match for both teams. Cavaliers wants to end their two match lasted losing streak but Magic has more stakes in the game. They have revenge from the match played 11.2 in Cleveland and they lost their last homematch against Mavericks. The team should have great motivation in this game.
Why the motivation of Magic is bigger than the motivation of Cavaliers? At the moment the game of Cavaliers is trying to find the right system for players to play so against a tough hometeam with quality the chances to win drop dramatically.
Cavaliers lost last season in play-offs against Magic mostly because of the match-ups. That is the reason why Shaquille O'Neal came to the team and why Jamison was traded in few days ago.
The public loves Cavaliers in this match because they are a top-team and top-teams will not lose often three matches in row. This time the situation is harder, I wait comfortable win for Magic.
Pick Orlando Magic 1.96 10/10
This is important match for both teams. Cavaliers wants to end their two match lasted losing streak but Magic has more stakes in the game. They have revenge from the match played 11.2 in Cleveland and they lost their last homematch against Mavericks. The team should have great motivation in this game.
Why the motivation of Magic is bigger than the motivation of Cavaliers? At the moment the game of Cavaliers is trying to find the right system for players to play so against a tough hometeam with quality the chances to win drop dramatically.
Cavaliers lost last season in play-offs against Magic mostly because of the match-ups. That is the reason why Shaquille O'Neal came to the team and why Jamison was traded in few days ago.
The public loves Cavaliers in this match because they are a top-team and top-teams will not lose often three matches in row. This time the situation is harder, I wait comfortable win for Magic.
Pick Orlando Magic 1.96 10/10
keskiviikko 10. helmikuuta 2010
Toronto Raptors - Philadelphia 76ers
10.2.2010 Wednesday NBA
Two hot teams meet each others in a match what is the last match before the break for both teams so it is important for both teams, especially Raptors listed their game before and after the all-star break to be their one of their the most important games.
The schedule favours Raptors. They have had time to rest at home when 76ers arrives to Canada from Minnesota. Normally this would be big advantage for Raptors but in this situation I do not see it like that. At first 76ers had easy win yesterday, they did not need any bigger effort and the second reason is that they have the momentum and this is their last game before the break. Usually when a team gets the spirit on, it is many times better to play many games than having easy schedule because as fast as the momentum comes, as fast it can die.
The results of Raptors have been good but 76ers are the team who have something to prove before the break. They have totally underachieved compared to the predictions before the season, after all this team has potential and they are young. The rotation of 76ers seems to work finally and since Toronto has not the strongest defenses in the league I think if 76ers can stay in the pace (Raptors surely will keep it high) and are able to score with the help of their high confidence we might have a surprise here and the visitors exiting the game with 6 wins in a row.
Pick: Philadelphia 76ers 3.32 3/10
Two hot teams meet each others in a match what is the last match before the break for both teams so it is important for both teams, especially Raptors listed their game before and after the all-star break to be their one of their the most important games.
The schedule favours Raptors. They have had time to rest at home when 76ers arrives to Canada from Minnesota. Normally this would be big advantage for Raptors but in this situation I do not see it like that. At first 76ers had easy win yesterday, they did not need any bigger effort and the second reason is that they have the momentum and this is their last game before the break. Usually when a team gets the spirit on, it is many times better to play many games than having easy schedule because as fast as the momentum comes, as fast it can die.
The results of Raptors have been good but 76ers are the team who have something to prove before the break. They have totally underachieved compared to the predictions before the season, after all this team has potential and they are young. The rotation of 76ers seems to work finally and since Toronto has not the strongest defenses in the league I think if 76ers can stay in the pace (Raptors surely will keep it high) and are able to score with the help of their high confidence we might have a surprise here and the visitors exiting the game with 6 wins in a row.
Pick: Philadelphia 76ers 3.32 3/10
tiistai 9. helmikuuta 2010
Indiana Pacers - Chicago Bulls
9.2.2010 Tuesday NBA
Bulls have extremely bad history in the home-stadium of Pacers. They are 3-17 there since 1999.
Pacers are at home 12-13, they have usually good home support so they have underachieved a bit in my opinion. Bulls are better team but 9-17 road record is not too promising for them either.
Deng plays probably for Bulls today but his shoulder form hardly is strong. Anyway if he plays it is good for Bulls since he can guard Granger. For Rose this looks like a high scoring game against a team like Pacers but at home Pacers definitely have the edge and if their streaky 3-point shooters get the shoots to go well, the numbers might get big.
Also the schedule favours Pacers. This is their last match and it is at home before the all-stars break when Bulls will host tomorrow Magic where the minds of the players might already partly be.
Pick Indiana Pacers -2 1.95 4/10
Bulls have extremely bad history in the home-stadium of Pacers. They are 3-17 there since 1999.
Pacers are at home 12-13, they have usually good home support so they have underachieved a bit in my opinion. Bulls are better team but 9-17 road record is not too promising for them either.
Deng plays probably for Bulls today but his shoulder form hardly is strong. Anyway if he plays it is good for Bulls since he can guard Granger. For Rose this looks like a high scoring game against a team like Pacers but at home Pacers definitely have the edge and if their streaky 3-point shooters get the shoots to go well, the numbers might get big.
Also the schedule favours Pacers. This is their last match and it is at home before the all-stars break when Bulls will host tomorrow Magic where the minds of the players might already partly be.
Pick Indiana Pacers -2 1.95 4/10
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