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Spot bets are classic handicapping practices that have proven
profitable no matter what sport you're betting. Whether it's a team
looking past this week's opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory,
or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their
spots. Expert Ben Burns points out his favorites:
Letdown spot
The
Washington Wizards put their strong start to the season to the test
with a Western Conference road trip this week. The Wizards opened with a
huge win in Houston Monday, but followed that with a letdown in Dallas
the next night. Washington was rolled 114-87 by the Mavericks, shooting a
dismal 4 for 12 from 3-point range and turning the ball over 23 times.
The
Wiz find themselves in a similar situation in the New Year, visiting
the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday night before making the overnight trek
to San Antonio to play the world champion Spurs Saturday. Washington has
a tough time keeping its offensive pace when it hits the highway,
averaging 96.8 points per road game - compared to 102.6 points at home.
Lookahead spot
The
UCLA Bruins are happy to see 2014 come to a close, finishing the year
with a disappointing three-game losing skid against stiff competition.
The Bruins were dealt defeats against Gonzaga, Kentucky and Alabama -
failing to cover the spread in each of those outings. UCLA has another
high-profile opponent ahead on the schedule, with a road trip to No. 12
Utah this Sunday.
But before the Bruins try to establish their
place in the Pac-12 versus the Utes, they have a game in Colorado Friday
night. The Buffaloes have been a solid play at home - 4-2-1 ATS as
hosts - and catch a road weary UCLA program playing it third of four
straight games away from Pauley Pavilion. Colorado can catch the Bruins
look past them and ahead to a ranked rival later that weekend.
Schedule spot
The
St. Louis Blue are longing for the friendly confines of the Scottrade
Center after their recent road woes. The Blues are currently on a
four-game road swing that spans the New Year, opening with a 3-2 loss in
Nashville Tuesday. It was St. Louis' fourth straight defeat away from
home and this road trip could add to that slide.
The NHL schedule
makers send the Blues westward with matchups in Anaheim and San Jose on
back-to-back nights - Friday and Saturday - before wrapping up against
Arizona Tuesday. St. Louis, which is in the middle of a goaltending
controversy with No. 1 Brian Elliot back from injury, allows 3.5 goals
per road game this season - a goal higher than when at home.
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