The NBA’s New York Knicks and the NCAA’s Oregon Ducks are both looking to make statements tonight. The Knicks are riddled with troubles on and off the court, while the Ducks could use a big win against a ranked team to solidify their at-large bid as the clock ticks towards March Madness.
Both the Knicks and Ducks are underdogs, but can either flip the script and come out on top? Read on for everything you need to know about two excellent games to bet on in Thursday night’s sports schedule.
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Top Games to Bet On
New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat (8:00PM EST)
Line: New York Knicks (+9.5) at Miami Heat (-9.5); Total: 202.0
Betting on the New York Knicks
The New York Knicks can’t seem to get a break these days. Their latest loss summed up their misfortunes when Dirk Nowitzki buried an improbable game-winner to hand them their third straight defeat on Monday, 110-108. The Knicks are 1-6 SU in their last seven games.
Despite his team’s woes, Carmelo Anthony continued to contribute brilliantly, scoring 44 points against Dallas. It was his fourth straight game scoring at least 35 points.
The Knicks have played well against the Heat this season, winning both match ups, and continuing that trend against LeBron and company could give the Knicks a much-needed spark going forward.
Betting on the Miami Heat
Not even a broken nose will stop LeBron James from playing on Thursday night against the struggling Knicks. That’s good news for the Heat, who are looking to extend their five-game winning streak.
James missed the Heat’s 93-79 win over the Bulls on Sunday, but other players stepped up to cover the missing production of the league’s reigning MVP. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade scored 28 and 23 points, respectively, while Mario Chalmers contributed 12 points.
The spread opened up with the Heat labelled as 10-point favorites. It’s a bad sign for Miami bettors, especially considering the Heat are 0-4 against the spread when they are laying eight points or more. Being at home should help: the Heat are 7-1 SU in their last eight home games.
Prediction
The Knicks may be a disaster but they did beat the Heat in their last meeting, a 106-91 home victory back in February. As mentioned, Miami has had troubles covering big spreads, so taking the Knicks and the points could be a smart move.
With Anthony on a tear, the Knicks have scored at least 98 points in each of their last three games. They could have a tough time scoring that many points against Miami’s eighth-ranked defense. Don’t be surprised if the total score of this game goes Under 201.0.
Oregon Ducks vs. UCLA Bruins (11:00PM EST)
Line: Oregon Ducks (+7.5) at UCLA Bruins (-7.5); Total 155.0
Betting on the Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks are under a lot of pressure to come up big in this game, having played themselves into the March Madness conversation over the last few weeks with three straight wins. However, the Ducks remain without a win against a Madness-bound team, and catching UCLA right after their loss to the Stanford Cardinal last Saturday may be the perfect fit.
The key for the Ducks will be pairing their potent offense, which ranks 11th in the nation, with decent defensive play. The Bruins are a premium offense if their own right (ranked 10th in the nation), so the Ducks will need to bring the defensive effort that allowed them to hold Washington State to 32.6% shooting in their last game.
Betting on the UCLA Bruins
The Bruins path to the big dance is assured, but they will be hungry for this one for different reasons: they sit just two games back of No. 3 Arizona for the top spot in the Pac-12. They had won four straight before their loss to Stanford on the weekend, and need to get back on track if they hope to catch the Wildcats.
A key for the Bruins will be shutting down the Ducks’ Mike Moser, who has averaged 13.3 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game, but was held scoreless in the teams’ last match up, a 70-68 UCLA win in January.
Prediction
The Bruins will come in confident in this one and get their points, but so will the Ducks. While the Bruins may sneak out a win with more consistent defense down the stretch, the Bruins will help push the total over 155.
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