NBA Basketball Betting: Hottest Teams Against the Spread (Feb. 12th 2009)

Below is a list of NBA basketball’s hottest teams to bet on against the spread (updated February 12th 2009) according to Alex Smart, a professional basketball handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting on NBA basketball this season be sure to check out Alex Smart’s NBA betting analysis each day at Touthouse.com.

1) Orlando Magic (38-12) (33-16-1 ATS) (6-4 ATS L/10 +$160): With just one game left on their schedule before the break (vs. Denver 2/11), the Orlando Magic can potentially close out the first half of the 2008-09 NBA betting season as the most lucrative team in the league. Not too shabby for head coach Stan Van Gundy’s crew, who just so happened to make NBA bettors decent coin by posting a 50-29-3 regular season ATS mark last season; not a bad year-and-a-half stretch for Magic backers! Orlando’s been good to its supporters regardless of venue; they currently own a 16-9 ATS mark at home, but most impressive is the fact that they’re 17-7-1 ATS away from Amway Arena. They’re also a perfect 10-0 ATS when installed as an underdog between 1-7.5 points. With the league’s 7th ranked offense averaging a shade fewer than 103 PPG and the 6th ranked defense (94.3 PPG), the Magic are sure to cover plenty more point spreads as the regular season comes to a close. The big three of Dwight Howard (20.6 PPG & 14.1 RPG), Hedo Turkoglu (17.2 PPG & 4.9 APG), and Rashard Lewis (18.6 PPG & 5.9 RPG) form quite the dynamic trio that can certainly give Boston’s big three headaches once the postseason rolls around. It’s a shame PG Jameer Nelson went down with a season ending shoulder injury, but the Magic’s roster is stacked with viable guards that can feed the rock into the team's playmakers.

2) Cleveland Cavaliers (39-11) (32-18 ATS) (4-6 ATS L/10 -$260): Even though the Cavs have dropped six of their last 10 for NBA bettors, the Cavs will either tie the Magic or come in second place in the overall ATS standings at the break after hosting Phoenix on Wednesday night. A tip of the cap is certainly in order for head coach Mike Brown, whose club finished eight games under .500 in last year’s final regular season point spread standings with a 37-45 ATS mark. From November 3rd to December 12th, the Cavs were pretty much an automatic bet after they went on an impressive 17-3 ATS run; that mark included an 11-game SU & ATS winning streak. The Cavs have suffered their fair share of injuries throughout the first half of the season, and will certainly continue to be a force in the East come playoff time once they get to work with a completely healthy roster.

3) Oklahoma City Thunder (13-39) (33-19 ATS) (5-5 ATS L/10 -$50): The Thunder might sit 26 games under .500 at the halfway point of the season, but they’ve been a lucrative surprise for sports bettors. Oklahoma City could finish up the first half of the regular season with the most ATS wins if indeed they stay within the point spread at Portland on Wednesday night. They’ve gotten the job done for their supporters both at home (17-11 ATS) and on the road (16-8 ATS), and have been point spread gold when installed as a road underdog of 12.5 or more points (6-1 ATS). Keep an eye out for them in the second half of the season when playing on two days rest, as they’ve already churned out a $$$-making 8-1 ATS mark in their nine lined games.

4) Milwaukee Bucks (25-29) (30-22-2 ATS) (4-6 ATS L/10 -$260): Head coach Scott Skiles must be commended for molding this Bucks outfit into a competitive group after the franchise suffered through a 26-56 SU & 34-47 ATS season just a short year ago. That said, I’m not sure how this club will continue its point spread excellence with Michael Redd gone for the year, and Andrew Bogut continuously riding the pine with a new injury every other week. Milwaukee has lain the hammer down on a number of teams at the Bradley Center this year to earn a 14-10 ATS record, and has been profitable as a visitor as well compiling a 16-12-2 ATS mark. They currently hold the 8th and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, and will need to cover many more games in the second half of the season if they’re to qualify for the post-season for the first time since 2006.

And the rest….
4) Charlotte Bobcats (20-31) (29-22 ATS) (6-4 ATS L/10 +$160):
5) Denver Nuggets (35-17) (29-22-1 ATS) (7-3 ATS L/10 +$370):
6) New York Knicks (21-30) (29-22 ATS) (7-3 ATS L/10 +$370):
7) Boston Celtics (42-11) (29-24 ATS) (6-4 ATS L/10 +$160):