Sports Marketwatch - NBA Edition 2-15-2008

By The Team at SportsInsights.com 

Welcome to this week's edition of the Sports Marketwatch – NBA Edition, where the Team at SportsInsights gives sports fans unprecedented insight into the NBA point-spread marketplace. If you ever wanted to know what was really happening on the sportsbook side, you now have an all-access pass with Sports Marketplace!  The NBA Edition of the Sports Marketwatch will be a weekly column published on Friday, normally by around 5PM, Eastern Time.

The staff at SportsInsights.com speaks directly with the line managers at some of the sports betting industry’s largest sportsbooks about which games the public is chasing and the Sharps are pounding.  We’ll take a look at what’s in store for today’s NBA games.

The Sports Marketwatch swept the board last week, going 3-0.  The Knicks blew a lead they held for much of the game but held on for “the cover.”  Minny and Sacramento also covered, getting the NBA Marketwatch back on track. 

With the NBA “off” for its All-Star Break, we thought we would take this opportunity to scan the “boards” for plays in the other sports.  Overall, it’s a light night in the world of sports, but here are some selections that should be of interest to value “sports investors.”  Note that the selections listed below won’t count in the “official” NBA Marketwatch record – but DO follow the Marketwatch philosophy of betting against the public and/or betting with smart money and/or seeking value.

 2007-08 NBA Games to Watch: 6-9-0 = 40% *Source:

SportsInsights.com Sports Marketwatch 2/15/08 – Games to Watch NHL –

Florida Panthers over Washington Capitals The Florida Marlins in the NHL are on our radar screen because they are receiving less than 33% of the moneyline bets at the time of this writing.  In the NHL, the moneyline is the most popular type of bet (as opposed to the goal line).    Although the Panthers are receiving a small minority of the bets, the line is actually moving MORE in favor of Florida, indicating the presence of big, smart, money on Florida.  Take Florida as a slight favorite in this game.  Note that SportsInsights’ NHL Square Plays have done very well this season. 

Florida Panthers -130

NCAAB – Marquette -4.5 over Pittsburgh In College Hoops, Marquette is an interesting play.  The Sports Marketwatch philosophy often results in plays on underdogs.  However, Marquette shows indications of smart money landing on this slight Home Favorite.   With around 38% of the bets coming in on Marquette, early sharp money on Marquette drove the line from Marquette -4 to -5.  There is still a -4.5 available; give the -4.5 and go with the smart sports investors.

Marquette -4.5  

It should be another exciting weekend in the sports marketplace.  Keep Sports Marketwatch picks handy and your browser pointed to SportsInsights.com for the latest real-time updates, using our exclusive Sports Investing tools.  We’ll be back next Friday with the new edition of the Sports Marketwatch – NBA Edition.  

Enjoy the games! 

The Team at SportsInsights.com