NBA Lock Alert – Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Bobcats

The Philadelphia 76’ers travel to Charlotte to take on the Bobcats in a game where the 76’ers could take the night off because they have already clinched a playoff spot. Of course, if the playoffs started today, the 76’ers would have to face the Orlando Magic in the first round. So maybe a victory, and at least an attempt to get them into a better a playoff seed, would yield good results. Straight-up, the 76’ers aren’t that great at 40 and 36. Their record against the spread is 35-39-2. Their ATS record on the road is 17 and 20.

The Charlotte Bobcats are battling for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. At 34 and 43 the Bobcats are 3 games behind the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons for the 7th and 8th spots in the playoffs. Charlotte probably won’t get there, but that doesn’t mean that it’s been a total waste of a year for the Bobcats. Straight-up, this team might not be winners but ATS they certainly are. Their ATS record overall is 45 and 32. Their record at home against the spread is 24 and 16.

Game-day: 4/7/2009

Tip-off: 7:05 pm est.

Here is the BetOnline online sportsbook NBA betting line for this game.

Philadelphia 76’ers +5 -110 O 184 ½ -110

Charlotte Bobcats -5 -110 U 184 ½ -110

Here are a few online wagering NBA trends for this game.

The Philadelphia 76’ers are 6 and 1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 5 to 10 ½ points.

The Over is 5 and 1 in the Philadelphia 76’ers last 6 games on the road.

The Charlotte Bobcats are 5 and 2 ATS in their last 7 games playing on a day of rest.

The Under is 4 and 1 in the Charlotte Bobcats last 5 games at home.

Another trend is that the home team is 10 and 2 ATS in the last 12 games between these two teams.

The 76’es only put up 67 points in their last game against the New Jersey Nets, but before that they had won 3 games in a row against Detroit, Milwaukee and Atlanta. Of course, all three victories were at home.

The last time these two teams played, the Bobcats beat the 76’ers 100 to 95. In that game, Raja Bell, who likely won’t play for Charlotte tonight put up 13 points.

Could Bell’s injury force an under in this game? Before the melt down in New Jersey, Philadelphia had scored 86, 105 and 95. Charlotte has scored 97, 92, and 109 in their last 3 games, all losses.

The BetOnline Total just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. Yes, Bell is hurt but if this is going to be a close game, and it probably should, then getting 92 points from each team looks more than possible.

Andre Iguodala scored only 5 points for Philly in their loss to New Jersey. That shouldn’t happen again. He puts up at least 20 against Charlotte on Tuesday night.

I’ll be wagering that the BetOnline Total goes over 184 ½ in this game.