Week Betting Preview: Top matchups on Tap
The new NBA season tipped off last week, so along with the NFL, college football, and the NHL there is plenty of action on 5Dimes’ current board for anyone who loves to wager on the games.
The big game on Monday’s NBA slate is an early-season showdown between two of the top favorites to win the Western Conference this season - the 3-0 Houston Rockets will pay a visit to the Staples Center in Los Angeles to play the 2-1 Clippers. The Clippers have been opened as 5-point home favorites at the books with the total set at 207.5.
There are only two games on Monday’s NHL schedule starting with the Anaheim Ducks on the road as -120 favorites against the New York Rangers, who are listed as +100 home underdogs. The total for this game has been set at five. The other matchup has the Detroit Red Wings on the road against the Winnipeg Jets. The Red Wings have been opened as -140 favorites with the Jets listed as +120 underdogs at home. The total for this contest has been set at 5.5.
There are some huge matchups in college football this week starting with a Thursday night Big 12 clash between Oklahoma and Baylor in a game that has major conference title implications. The Bears are favored by 14.5 points at home. Later that night we turn our attention to a huge showdown in the Pac-12 between Oregon and Stanford. The Ducks have been opened as 10.5-point road favorites for that contest.
Saturday’s featured game is an SEC showdown between LSU and top-ranked Alabama in an 8pm ET start from Tuscaloosa. This game sets up to be the Crimson Tide's toughest test to getting back to this season’s BCS title game. They have been opened as 11-point home favorites over the Tigers.
The NFL heads into Week 10 this week and the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens are probably just one or two losses away from missing the playoffs this season at 3-5. This Sunday they will be home against the AFC North division leader Cincinnati Bengals in close to a must-win matchup. This game has been opened as a pick'em with the total set at 44.5 points.