Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal, 57-43-3 (overall record)
Today’s best bet: Phoenix Suns-LOS ANGELES LAKERS (over 196)
Seven of the last eight meetings have gone over 199 points. The Lakers have been averaging 106 points in their past five games, but so have the Suns. Los Angeles is giving up 97 points and Phoenix is allowing 101. Andrew Bynum is expected to miss this game. That will open up the middle for the Suns.
Mal Van Valkenburg
Houston furniture store owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale placed bets on Texas a few days before he underwent successful open-heart surgery Dec. 10 in Houston.
A Las Vegas man was arrested Sunday in connection with a fraudulent sports betting scheme involving an NBA player who planned in advance to withdraw from games.
The Vikings are 2½-point favorites over the Rams in Monday’s NFL wild-card playoff game in Arizona. Minnesota was a 1-point favorite before the game moved locations.
The Bills are consensus 1-point favorites over the Ravens in Sunday’s divisional round playoff game at Buffalo. It’s a rematch of Baltimore’s 35-10 win over Buffalo in Week 4.
Cleveland resident John Teel, using the alias “The Brown Clown,” earned $100,000 for winning the last-place booby prize in the Circa Million contest.
Daniel Skubal entered the Circa Million contest as an afterthought after buying into the $14.3 million Circa Survivor. The decision was worth $1 million.
Pro sports bettors and handicappers will try to improve on their profitable run against the spread on weekend best bets in the Review-Journal.
Professional handicapper Scott Kellen (@SixthSenseNFL) won the Las Vegas Review-Journal NFL Challenge with a 51-37-2 record against the spread (58 percent).
Bruce Marshall is a handicapper for CBS Sportsline. He provides the Las Vegas Review-Journal with NFL betting notes and trends.
Bruce Marshall is a handicapper for CBS Sportsline. Here are his notes and trends for the College Football Playoff semifinals.
