Charlotte Bobcats- Washington Wizards Preview

March is the month of March Madness odds, but the NBA is also heating with the playoffs approaching.

After winning seven of eight to start the month of March, the Bobcats have dropped consecutive decisions yet still find themselves in the seventh playoff spot in the Eastern conference after 69 games. With less than a month to play in the National Basketball Association’s regular season, Charlotte will have an excellent opportunity to further solidify a postseason position Tuesday when it tips off with the lowly Washington Wizards, who are just 12-22 at home this season.

Charlotte Bobcats @ Washington Wizards

Tuesday March 23, 2010- 7:00 PM ET

Sportsbook Reviews Odds: Bobcats -220

With so much focus on college basketball betting, enthusiasts may overlook the winning potential in this match up between a team fighting for its playoff lives, and a team that has been out of contention for months. The Bobcats come in to this game, losers of consecutive games, and have failed to capitalize on the opportunity to pass the Miami Heat, currently a half game ahead of them in the sixth spot in the east. Although Charlotte is a lowly 10-26 away from home this season, it did beat the defending NBA finalist Magic in Orlando 96-89 on March 14, and is tipping off with an opponent that is just as terrible on home court. With just 13 games remaining, the Bobcats will need to take advantage of two meetings this week against the association’s fourth-worst team.

After a fire sale at the deadline that sent star forward Antawn Jamison among others out of town, the Wizards have already begun their transition in working towards the future before picks were even made. After a season of turmoil, including the infamous locker room transgressions between guard Gilbert Arenas and forward Javeris Crittenton over the winter holidays that resulted in the suspension of “Agent Zero” and the dismissal of Crittenton. Now Washington is mired in a massive 11-game losing streak and positioned only ahead of the lowly New Jersey Nets in the east standings. Those are the same Nets that still have the potential to set the all-time record for worst win percentage in the history of the NBA.

Pick: Charlotte

Betting Lines: Over/ Under 185

The Wizards are averaging just over 95 points per game at home on the season, but that includes the first couple of months of play when they still had a couple of recognizable names in their starting line up. Surprisingly, the Bobcats are one of just three teams in the association with a worst average points per game than their opponent, and yet still have an average point differential of +1, a testament to the team’s work on the defensive side of the ball. The fact that a defensive minded team is traveling while in a fight for a postseason spot, playing a team that lacks offensive firepower and has struggled both at home and on the road is the perfect combination for sports betting enthusiasts to capitalize by taking the under in this game.

Pick: Under