This Week's Nest Spot Bet Opportunities
By Ben Burns
Covers.com
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. Covers Expert points out his favorites:
Letdown spot
Opening Day is a big deal for MLB clubs and brings with it plenty of jitters for Big League teams, some more than others. The Oakland Athletics seem to let those season debut butterflies get the best of them, losing 10 straight games on Opening Day. Oakland kicked off last year’s campaign with a 2-0 loss to Cleveland at home.
The A’s have been outscored 50-13 in that 10-season Opening Day drought. Oakland has had the misfortune of beginning the season against the Seattle Mariners and their staff ace Felix Hernandez in half of those games, including four straight years from 2010 to 2013. This time around, Oakland opens the 2015 season at home to the Texas Rangers Monday. Can they avoid another Opening Day letdown?
Lookahead spot
The Chicago Bulls are clinging to third place in the Eastern Conference, just a game up on Toronto in the standings. The Bulls have a monster matchup ahead on the schedule this weekend, visiting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Easter Sunday. But before then, the Bulls have a home date versus the Detroit Pistons Friday.
With the holiday weekend, the Bulls will be trying to cram in as much family time as they can around these games, which can often leave players unfocused – especially when you’re up against a non-contender like Detroit and staring down a showdown with the Cavs. The Pistons knocked off the Bulls 107-91 on March 21 and won 100-91 on February 20 with both games coming in Motown.
Schedule spot
The Washington Capitals are fighting to stay in the postseason picture, currently sitting in seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. They’re just three points ahead of No. 8 Boston and six points past Ottawa. The Capitals have a home stand against Carolina Tuesday then hit the road for a short three-game trip that could make or break their season.
Washington travels to Montreal Thursday to play the first-place Canadiens, then heads to Canada’s capital for a showdown with the Senators Saturday. The Capitals complete their 3-in-4 nights trek Sunday with a final stop in Detroit to take on a Red Wings team currently in sixth but tied with Washington at 92 points.