Hawks At Bucks Preview: A Bettors Perspective
Jan 23rd, 2012 by PJ LaFerla
Betting Line:
Atlanta Hawks (-1)
Milwaukee Bucks (+1)
Over/Under 183
Game Time 8:05 EST
Today’s feature matchup comes out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin where the Bucks play host to the visiting Atlanta Hawks. If momentum and momentum alone is the deciding factor that will determine which team comes away with a victory, then one of these teams is in a great spot. More on that point later into the article.
GAME ANALYSIS:
The Atlanta Hawks (12-5) come into this matchup playing the first game of a five game road trip. Their play on the road after eight games has produced a 4-4 record, but three of those wins came against teams with losing records. Despite their .500 mark on the road, the Hawks dominate play at home (8-1) has them in the midst of a three way battle for first place in the Southeast division with a slim 1/2 game lead over the Heat and only trailing the Magic by percentage points. The Hawks are holding there own in the ATS category with a 9-8 record, but as a road favorite of three points or less they are 1-0 this season. They lost their last game on the road against the 76ers, but bounced right back with a blowout win at home against Cleveland.
The Milwaukee Bucks (6-9) come back home after two consecutive road wins against Miami and New York; which also happens to be their first two road wins of the season. That is the momentum booster I was referring to earlier! But, will that be enough? Well, you can add in the Bucks 4-1 record at home thus far, not to mention their always stellar defense, and now the momentum is starting to look more and more like a team with something to prove. They are however, failing to produce against the spread – matching their overall won/loss record at 6-9, but they do have a winning (conservative) record at home with the Odds Makers at 3-2.
WHO TO BET ON?
In the NBA when it comes to placing wagers, making your play on the better team (sometimes or most times) does not give you a better chance at winning. This cannot be more evident with this matchup. You look at a team like the Hawks who suffered a blowout loss on one night only to come back in their very next game to return the favor to another team. Then you have the Bucks who couldn’t buy a win on the road only to come away with two consecutive in a span of three days, beating a perennial contender in the process. For me the line is too cheap not to make a play on the Hawks. Atlanta has much more talent on both sides of the ball and while I stated at times a lower level team can beat better teams at any given time, this is not the night for Milwaukee. This game is a gift at -1 for the Hawks and should be decided before we reach the fourth quarter.
Make your play on the Atlanta Hawks to cover the point spread!
SOME OTHER INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS GAME:
~ Atlanta and Milwaukee split their four meetings last season, with each team winning once on the road.
~ Atlanta is 4-3 against the spread versus Milwaukee over the last 3 seasons.
~ The total has gone OVER in 5 of 7 games in this series over the last 3 seasons.
PREDICTION:
Hawks 95, Bucks 89
PJ Laferla is a practicing freelance writer, professional handicapper, and the founder of SportsInput.com. If you are interested in hiring PJ Laferla for freelance writing or for winning picks against the spread, please submit all inquires to PJ@sportsinput.com.