NFL Playoffs Wild Card Game Predictions - 2008 College Football Bowl Game Expert Picks

BetVega Experts News & Articles

Steve Merril's NBA Fullcourt Report (Friday, Nov 7)

By: Steve Merril Date: Nov 7, 2008
Print Article Send to a friend

Below are two NBA opinions for Friday night. You can also get tonight's strongest NBA Best Bet and NCAA Football Winner on Steve Merril’s Premium Selections page!

INDIANA +8½ (at Cleveland) – 7:35 pm ET #507

The Cavaliers are coming off two big wins versus Dallas and Chicago and the Cavs might overlook Indiana tonight, especially with another game at Chicago tomorrow.

The Pacers are better than their 1-2 SU record indicates as they have played a very difficult schedule this season with games versus Detroit, Boston, and Phoenix. Those three opponents are a combined 12-2 SU this year and Indiana has played well versus all three of them.

The Pacers are shooting 44.8% FG (versus opponents that allow just 43.1%) and Indiana is allowing just 44.7% FG (versus opponents that are averaging 48.9%). Indiana dominated Boston in an easy 95-79 win last Saturday and the Pacers held an 11-point lead versus Phoenix on Wednesday.

PHOENIX -4½ (at Chicago) – 8:35 pm ET #515

The Suns will rest center Shaquille O’Neal tonight, but this has actually created line value as my power ratings favor Phoenix by 6 points in this game and the Suns fit a solid 64-38 ATS momentum situation after their three straight high-scoring wins.

Phoenix is 4-1 SU/ATS this year and the team is averaging 106.4 points per game and shooting 55.4% from the field with 24 assists per game. They hold a huge offensive edge tonight versus a struggling Chicago offense that is averaging just 94.0 ppg and shooting only 40.0% FG with just 18 assists per game.

Phoenix has decided to rest Shaquille O’Neal tonight because they play again Saturday at Milwaukee, where they would want him to face Andrew Bogut. The Bulls do not start a true center with Drew Gooden and Tyrus Thomas as their starting big men. This means Robin Lopez and Grant Hill will start tonight in place of O'Neal and Matt Barnes, who is not with the team after leaving for the Bay Area on Wednesday for the birth of his twin sons.

The Suns still won and covered at Indiana on Wednesday, 113-103, without Barnes in the lineup and with Shaquille O’Neal only playing only 12 minutes, so the Suns are more than capable of performing well again tonight with a short-handed lineup.

Steve Merril
	Late-Night College Hoops Winner! Steve Merril's 26-11 run continues with the late-night college hoops winner for Monday - Louisiana Tech/Hawaii - 11:55 pm ET - Guaranteed Side that will finish your night right!

Click here to view all of Steve Merril's premium picks.

Social Bookmarking

Steve Merril: All Leagues 22-10 (69% for +$1134)
Zach Ziglar: All Leagues 9-1 (90% for +$795)
Zach Ziglar: NCAAF 6-0 (100% for +$600)
Bob Balfe: All Leagues 20-15 (58% for +$442)

All handicapper streaks shown above are based on the last 7 days of picks.

Free 3-Day Trial Sign Up:

First Name:

Last Name:

E-mail:


Yesterday Overall
Steve Merril	+$400
Jim Kruger	+$100
Zach Ziglar	+$95


Last 7 Days Overall
Steve Merril	+$1134
Zach Ziglar	+$795
Bob Balfe	+$442


2008-2009 NBA
Steve Merril	+$657
Mr. East	+$576
Ben Burns	+$119


2008-2009 NFL
Mr. East	+$1915
Steve Merril	+$1761
Zach Ziglar	+$729


2008-2009 NCAAF
Steve Merril	+$2222
Bob Balfe	+$2166
Mr. East	+$1755


2008-2009 NCAAB
Michael Alexander	+$687
Zach Ziglar	+$584
Craig Trapp	+$527

The 2008-2009 NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend is upon us here at BetVega-Experts.com. Last week we saw another amazing performance by the top football handicappers in the nation. Steve Merril continued his amazing NFL Picks season by moving his NFL run to 39-21 coming into Wild Card weekend NFL Game Predictions! Ben Burns continued his red hot run on the gridiron and the NBA! Mr. East continued to prove that he is the most consistent handicapper on BetVega Experts by ranking 2nd in the NFL Handicapper Rankings with +577 units! Make sure you are on board this week for all NFL Playoffs Experts Picks as the NFL Betting Picks week kicks off early on Thursday Night with the Jets vs. Patriots!

BetVega-Experts.com is pleased to welcome Ben Burns for the 2008 football season. Ben is an extremely successfull handicapper who has dozens of documented Top 3 finishes in football, basketball, baseball AND hockey, including numerous national seasonal titles. Competing against 150 of the biggest names in the business, in his years while at one of the most reputable and recognized sports monitors, Ben ranks as the #1 NFL handicapper of All-time. In fact, no one else is even close! At the same monitor, Ben is also the #1 documented NHL handicapper of All-Time! Ben is widely renowned as a “Totals Expert” in all sports. He also tends to particularly shine during the postseason. He entered Super Bowl XLII having gone 47-21 (69%) with his NFL playoff selections the past five years and a perfect 10-0 with his Super Bowl selections since making his picks available for the public.

Another big name in the sports handicapping industry is Steve Merril. Steve has been the #1 ranked handicapper at BetVega-Experts since he began posting picks here in 2008. His consistent winning record and hard working approach has provided many clients with a windfall of cash season after season. Steve Merril's record includes has numerous documented national No. 1 finishes in NFL, NCB football, MLB baseball, NBA, and NCB basketball; Won the inaugural $100,000 Insider's Handicapping Invitational.