Odds are up for the 2011 NBA playoffs from BetUs. First it’s series odds.

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 EST

Now to the odds to win it all, the NBA Championship 2011. The Miami Heat edge out the defending champion LA Lakers as the faves.

More playoff odds such as for each game, to win each conference and more are up at several sportsbooks.

No question the top picks against the spread will be at OffshoreInsiders.com

We shall allow others to defend or mock the NBA zigzag theory ad nausea. For the few not familiar, it basically says bet a playoff team off a straight up loss. However, we will list which playoff teams are best against the spread off straight up wins and straight up losses in 2010-11.

The top teams to bet on off a straight up loss:

Now to the best teams to bet against off a straight up loss:

Here are the best teams against the spread to bet on off a straight up win:

Perhaps, not surprising, the best teams to fade off a win failed to make the playoffs (Washington, Houston, Sacramento, Utah), but these are the best postseason teams to bet against when coming off a straight up victory:

OffshoreInsiders.com has now added Bill Tanner to their arsenal of handicappers. Tanner is the all-time winningest NBA handicapper on Power of 620 sports services behind every selection, the MasterLockLine, tracing back to the scorephone days of the early 1980s.

“Renamed “sweat meter” in Chad Millman of ESPN’s column, Margin of Cover (MOC) is similar to scoring margin, but it is measured by how much a team covers or fails to cover the point spread.

Many sports handicappers believe MOC is invaluable in isolating under and overvalued teams.

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has the free pick winner for Thursday is on the Phillies (-1.5) to Washington.

Reasoning: Yes Philadelphia at times can have a difficult time with this Washington squad. The Nationals are a division rival and overall not a terrible team. Jordan Zimmerman is a young kid with a bright future who may hold his own for a part of this game but after 9 innings I just see Lee dominating and the Fightin’ Phils being able to take care of business.

The Phillie left-hander struggled a bit in that last outing at Turner Field against the Braves. One bad inning and one bad play by Shane Victorino did Lee in in untypical losing fashion. I see the guy getting back on the horse here and dazzling as he does more times than not. Let’s face it, Cliff Lee is a an absolute star and a guy that is extremely trustworthy. When he has a rough outing like that last one it is not a bad idea to go right back to him and expect him to be focused and ready to turn it back around because that’s what great pitchers do.

The Nats are alright and took the first game fairly easily in this series before getting shut down a bit, save the 9^th inning, in the 3-2 loss last night to Roy Halladay. I have no issues at times taking back big numbers with this Washington team. But they will once again be without their leader in Ryan Zimmerman, which is a big loss and cannot be understated, and up against Lee are going to have a tough time at the plate.

I’ll take my chances with high quality lefty bats like Howard, Rollins, Victorino, Ibanez and others today against the young right-hander in Zimmerman while getting what should be a more than focused Lee who is ready to follow Halladay’s lead and twirl a gem.

I can see 4-1 in this thing in the end!

Top expert pick on this game: Philadelphia Phillies on the runline.

For more information: The numbers are gaudy and the funny thing is that on the super rare occasion that I have a losing night it’s only because my teams fall in either extra innings or by one run in the tightest of tight contests ala both the Reds and big dog Indians yesterday. When I win though it’s by a billion, like the 400,000* Brewers yesterday, and all in all that is the true sign of what a quality handicapper I am There will be a few losses but it’s the guy who is on it over and over and over again that you can trust and I have done a ton to build that trust with you for a long time now.

No hoops today but no problem, a pair on the diamond that will keep that Crookie crying. 300,000* St. Louis-Los Angeles along with a 200,000* Milwaukee-Pittsburgh. Absolutely bashing the man one more time here and now! Click now to purchase

Your comp winner for Wednesday from OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers is on the LA Dodgers (+135) to San Francisco Giants.

Reasoning: I liked Don Mattingly’s squad before the season and still like them now as the blue are a team that has a tremendous upside and yet are still well below the radar. The pitching staff is deep and well balanced from with high quality starters including a blossoming superstar in Clayton Kershaw to one of the better bullpens in the game anchored by Kuo and Broxton. Then you have an offense that has underachieved in recent years but also is no joke with guys like Ethier, Kemp, Loney and a few others. With all of that said I can’t help but make a play on a former All-Star in Ted Lilly and the Dodgers plus some coin here by the Bay.

The Giants are obviously the defending World Champions and Jonathan Sanchez is a guy with phenomenal stuff when he doesn’t lose that control point. But I’m just not buying the San Francisco offense and all in all I think the G-men are a bit overvalued. Let’s not forget how they lost a key cog in Juan Uribe who is now with today’s opponent and to be honest with you if this game was a pick I would still be fine with the Dodgers.

If Sanchez is on then he is going to be tough to hit but the same can be said for Lilly and overall when push comes to shove I just like Los Angeles better and believe they will get it done one more time in this series.

Top expert pick on this game: LA Dodgers

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Meanwhile, GodsTips has:

COLORADO (ROGERS +106) NY Mets (Neise)

Colorado is 7-1 their last eight. The Mets are playing like the Mets, losing 5-of-6. The Mets are 1-7 in Niese’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record and going back to last year, they have lost his last six home starts.

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a free pick Tuesday is on the San Antonio Spurs (+7) LA Lakers.

Top expert pick on this game: Is it too simplistic to say that the Lakers are struggling mightily and the Spurs have the best record in the NBA therefore to get around half a dozen here with San Antonio seems silly? I am not dismissing the notion that it may just be as the visitors from San Antonio do not need this game in the slightest unlike the Lakers who are jockeying for that second seed in the west but the way the Lakers have completely lost it of late I’ll grab the points and take my chances.

I would say not to make this play until close to game time just in case Greg Popovich decides to pull a Doc Rivers and rest his main guys which quite possibly may not be known until 30-45 minutes before tip-off. If that is the case this number will certainly rise and get a lot closer to double digits.

There is no doubt that LA needs this game pretty badly for seeding purposes and for their own psyche. It is also obvious that no matter how lean the last few weeks have been Phil Jackson’s squad is still loaded with talent led by the superstar of superstars in Kobe and a trio of bigs down low. So every single thing does point in the way of the Lakers, I understand that, but I just cannot help but take my chances fading the team that is in the midst of one of their worst runs in a long long time.

LA has now dropped five in a row games and they are doing it in embarassing fashion. They lost outright at home as literally a two touchdown favorite to the Jazz last week and just the other day were completely outclassed by the Thunder at home. In between were ugly displays as well and with this still not being the quote unquote playoffs I’ll fade them and expect little improvement.

San Antonio had a great season and all in all is a borderline great and experienced team. I’m not fully sold on the Spurs though as they are getting a bit long in the tooth but if they put any effort in this thing combined with the Lakers struggles of late I will scoop up as many points as I can and expect a tight enough game.

Top expert pick on this game: San Antonio from Matt Rivers

For more information: People can say they are hot, but far more than likely they can’t ever say they have experienced the run that I am currently on. I am hotter than the Burning Bush and once again I am going to repeat myself, nothing at all is going to change, nothing!

I have literally won 28 days vs. 9 losing ones and have now accumulated a beyond belief 8 million plus * of profit. Yesterday the 400,000* Wizards took care of business along with the 200,000* on the Cavaliers outright and absolutely nothing at all can stop me as I am in the zone of all zones. Another monster 400,000* is here from PNC Park between the Brewers and Pirates along with a 300,000* late night dog that will knock your socks off. Click now to purchase

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a free pick Monday is on the Los Angeles Dodgers (-103) to San Francisco.

Reasoning: Madison Bumgarner is certainly a good young kid but he is no Clayton Kershaw and to get Kershaw and not really have to lay much of anything in this spot is more than enough for me to give it a go. I am extremely high on the Los Angeles southpaw and think that when all is said and done this guy is going to be an All-Star and potentially in the Cy Young award discussion. Today he goes up against a San Francisco offense that frankly just does not scare me. Yes the Giants are the defending World Champions and Bruce Bochy is a tremendous manager who boasts a team that can pitch the daylights out of the baseball but I’m just not believing all that much in them and especially not in this spot.

I will admit that I don’t love how the Giants lost three of four in Chavez Ravine to start the season and are looking for a little payback today but they just do not have the horses in my opinion to do all that much against Kershaw. Of course in this one small 9 inning baseball game the home Giants can win this game but I don’t think they win it at the rate of around half the time and therefore this constitutes a deal and a must play in the end.

The Dodgers are a scary team that has a great upside. The ownership divorce is not good and the team as a whole has underachieved mightily in recent seasons. But with a high quality and well balanced staff that is led by Kershaw along with one of the better bullpens in the game with Broxton, Kuo and Guerrier and high quality hitters like Ethier, Kemp, Loney, Furcal and Uribe I will take my chances on the visitors and expect a fourth victory in the series.

Top expert pick on this game: Los Angeles Dodgers

For more information: Bang, bang, bang, I remain the hottest and greatest capper on this planet, bar none. 400,000* Rockies, 300,000* Astros and 200,000* Cardinals yesterday for just under another cool million* of profit. I’m now up 7.5 million* of profit in the last month plus. Think about it, 27 winning days vs. 9 losing days and I am up literally a full 15 times my rarest and biggest play which is a 500,000*. Plus I only release a few plays max a day so the potential to get so far ahead would seem almost impossible.

More winning today for sure including yet another fire hot 400,000* NBA Underdog that may win outright along with a bonus 200,000* pup in the Association and one on the diamond. Three plays in all, all go at night and just another 3-0 sweep! Click now to purchase

Sunday’s Masters leader board, tee times, and betting odds are up. But sports handicappers are especially profiting in MLB.

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a free pickSunday is on the Atlanta Braves (-120) to the Philadelphia Phillies.

I will readily admit that the Phillies are the superior overall team when compared to the Braves that will go farther in the end and very possibly win the World Series. In fact I even played Philadelphia in the first game of this series but Cole Hamels is an extremely streaky pitcher and when the guy is off he can be really off. That about sums up his first start and consequentially the ERA above 20 and to get a red hot Derek Lowe at home at not much more than a pick is worth a shot today.

Lowe is similar to Hamels in that he can be feast or famine himself and the righty has been great thus far in his pair of starts. Of course if that sinker isn’t sinking there could be a ton of problems against Howard, Victorino, Ibanez, Rollins and the Phils but so far things have been phenomenal for Lowe and I therefore like him in this spot.

The Braves have made some quality moves including bringing in Dan Uggla and are a legitimate threat in the NL. They are a well balanced team that overall does not have the insane pitching of the Phillies but Lowe is more trustworthy than Hamels right now and Atlanta at the Ted is definitely good enough to win this game and take the series.

Top expert pick on this game: Atlanta

For more information: I’m beginning a new winning week in style today as I deliver on a trio of plays. A couple of subpar days in the last few but still feeling great as a 14 inning extra inning one run loss along with a defeat by allowing two in the 9^th in a one run loss with a big time dog won’t faze me one bit. I’m still very much on it and that’s all that counts.

Three winners today including raising that bar with a 400,000* between the Rockies and Pirates plus a 300,000* Marlins-Astros and a 200,000* Cardinals-Giants. 3-0 no doubt about it! Click now to purchase

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a Friday pick and it is on the LA Clippers (+9) at Dallas.

Reasoning: I like what the Clippers are doing right now and I’m going to roll with them tonight against the suddenly scuffling Mavericks. When healthy this Los Angeles team is very competitive and that is exactly what they have been of late. Meanwhile the Mavericks are a beat up squad that is suddenly limping into the postseason. Both Jason Kidd and Tyson Chandler are banged up and things have not been all that great of late for Marc Cuban’s squad.

The Clippers have a lot of pieces to work with led by a beast in Blake Griffin. Throw in the now healthy Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon along with Randy Foye and Mo Williams and these guys have a great shot to win this game. The Clips beat Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder in comeback fashion at home on Saturday, then again won outright at Memphis as the monster dog on Tuesday and followed that up with another solid outing and cover the next night at Oklahoma City. LA was a 10 ½ point dog in that last game and was tied in the waning seconds before losing by four points. The oddsmakers are just not believing or more importantly catching up with the times.

The Mavs at home in the regular season are always very good and they may be very good today. But things have not been hunky dory of late in this four game losing streak as the offense has been pretty bad and the defense has been even worse.

It’s as if these two teams are going in opposite directions with the Clippers the one that is on the way up and the Mavs the team that seems to be on the way down. Road or not I’m rolling with Blake and the boys.

Top expert pick on this game: LA Clippers

For more information: Absolutely nothing at all can slow me down right now, nothing! I am in the midst of quite possibly the greatest run in the history of sports gambling and I mean that literally. 26 winning days compared to 7 losing days and the profit is north of 8 million*. To put that number in perspective my highest rated play is only a 500,000* and those are ultra-rare.

A 400,000* on the White Sox, 5-1 turned the trick yesterday and now I am full steam ahead into Friday as I begin another Crookie smacking weekend. A whopping four plays including not one, but two NBA 400,000* along with a pair of 200,000* baseball plays. All of the plays go at night with the earliest at 7:35. 4-0 and going over 9 million*? You better believe it! Get his great card

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers Thursday is on the Boston Red Sox (-1.5, -110) to the Cleveland Indians.

Reasoning: There is no debate that Terry Francona’s Sox have been terrible thus far in the 2011 season but settle down because Boston is still a great team and Jon Lester is still a great pitcher.

The boys from Beantown do not have a victory, which is very hard to believe, but they also haven’t played at Fenway Park yet and are going to be just fine. Their southpaw is a stud who beat Cancer and has shined when the lights are brightest and is the perfect guy to get things going up against a well inferior Cleveland team. I’ll give the Tribe credit for looking like the superior team so far in this series but that is not close to being the case and to get the road Sox with all 9 at bats and lay around 110 by giving up an extra run is fine with me in this spot. Boston is extremely due to bust out and not only win but do so going away something like 11-2.

Fausto Carmona and his sinker had one great season about four years ago but injuries and regression have killed him ever since and right now this guy is not even average. He is going to get smacked around here by Gonzalez, Crawford, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Ortiz and others and the Sox are no longer going to be winless.

I can see one of those vintage Lester complete game gems tonight after not looking great in his first start. Cleveland has potential with Choo, Santana and Hafner but in reality they are still only about a 75 win team at best and the more complete and sound team is going to get in the win column today.

Top expert pick on this game: Boston Red Sox on the runline.

For more information: Yet another monster 2-1 winning Wednesday as the 500,000* on the Clippers covers easily in the end to go along with the 200,000* on the Angels, 5-1. It’s almost becoming silly and to be honest with you a little unfair to that Crookie. Actually, scratch that about it being unfair. Screw him. Think about what I am in the midst of, 25 winning days compared to seven losing days, yes seven, and the net profit is north of 8 million* when the biggest play I release and that is rare is only 500,000*.

Just more of the same today but due note that both of my baseball games go pretty early in the afternoon so get them ASAP. 400,000* White Sox-Rays and 300,000* A’s-Blue Jays. I am the best and will be just that one more time! Click now to purchase