The intense NBA Playoff action has got off to a great start as most teams have at least played 2 games in their opening round match-ups. There have been few upsets and unexpected outcomes like the underdog Chicago Bulls upsetting the defending NBA Champions the Boston Celtics in the opening round. Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Boston are among the most heralded big names heading into the post-season as they are leading favorites to make it to the NBA Finals. However, we will take a look at few of the teams that could play the spoiler role and be the Cinderella type story usually only found in March Madness. If you also have any confidence that these underdogs may have what it takes to pull of big upsets, take advantage of betting odds now while you could really cash-in to make huge profits.

Chicago Bulls

Chicago upset over Boston may have opened a lot of eyes, but this was really not that big of a surprise. The Bulls rallied to close out the season winning 12 of their last 16 games which also included a victory over the Celtics. The emergence of Derrick Rose towards the end of the season has given the Bulls a much needed boost. Rose also dropped 36 in the opening round two point victory in Boston. Chicago’s ability to at least split the two games in Boston was better than expect considering how well the Celtics have played at home. The Bulls could really have a chance to put the defending Champions a way if they could take advantage of the home games. If the Bulls can indeed come out victorious in the series, they will get winner of Philadelphia and Orlando in the semi-finals. Both of those teams have been inconsistent and closed out the season poorly. Of course for anyone to make the NBA Finals out of the Eastern Conference they would have to find away to beat Cleveland at home. Still the +3500 odds are eye catching and even though it may seem nearly impossible for the Bulls to put together this type of run, it is definitely worth the consideration.

Denver Nuggets

Is it that surprisingly that Los Angeles is huge -450 favorites to win the Western Conference. Probably not considering how they have dominated the teams out West all season with a demanding 44-8 record in the conference. However, history tells us that the odds to make it back to the NBA Finals after losing in the Finals the year before are against you by a fairly good margin. Taking the consideration that something will happen to the dominate Lakers along the stretch; there is only one team that could really step up to challenge in the West and that is the Denver Nuggets. Sure the Lakers won 3 out of 4 over the Nuggets through the regular season and it would seem absurd to bet against them. However, Denver is rather streaky team that can put together strings of wins. After a dominating 113-84 victory in Game 1 over New Orleans, you would not expect their to be too much trouble in the series. The next series would include two tough post-season teams in Dallas or San Antonio. Here again Denver talent should prevail and keep building some confidence that will give them a new attitude with the Lakers when the opportunity for a championship is on the line. The +800 odds help make this scenario look better as well. It comes down to this, sure the Lakers are everyone’s favorites to win the West but if anyone can beat the Lakers then who would it be? We say Denver.

Orlando Magic

Think we would forget one of most dominant teams from earlier in the season? Sure Orlando gave up an 18 point deficit to Philadelphia in an embarrassing loss in game 1, but they may have been the best thing to happen for Orlando. Expect them to come out firing in Wednesday’s second game with the 76ers. Remember Orlando for large majority of the season contended with Cleveland and Boston for Eastern Conference supremacy. However, after the injury to Jameer Nelson midway through the season the Magic’s momentum took a crucial blow. Even without Nelson, Orlando handed Cleveland their biggest loss of the season when they blew out the Cavaliers 116-87 back on April 3rd. The most likely scenario that plays out in the Eastern Conference will be Orlando rallying back against Philadelphia and then taking down either Chicago or Boston in the semi-finals. This would set the stage for a classic 7 games series with Orlando and after that huge victory a few weeks ago does anyone really think the Magic will doubt if they can beat Cleveland? Dwight Howard ability to control the glass will make a big difference in the long run and if Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis can find away to score some points then rest assured you have not heard the last from the Magic.

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The most important time of the year for the NFL off-season is amongst us as we countdown the remaining week leading up to the 2009 NFL Draft. The draft along with off-season trades that usually go along with the draft selections is a huge aspect in turning teams from good to Super Bowl Champions. There will be 32 teams fighting over the best talent in the country that will be available out of the college ranks as always. One thing that many people may not realize is the NFL Draft is also a big betting event as well. We will not go into the detail of the teams and who they may select, but instead we will break down some exciting prop bets for this years draft and give some advice on how to take advantage of these fun betting opportunities.

Prop Bet #1 – Who will be selected as the first pick?

Aaron Curry +1000
Eugene Monroe +600
Jason Smith +300
Matthew Stafford -500

The number one selection in the NFL Draft is among one of the most popular bets every year mainly because as much as people would like to believe that a person is locked at number one there is always surprises. Sometimes the popular perception is right and sometimes it is way off. It may be hard to understand what exactly a team is looking for if you’re not on the inside of the organization. However, rest assured that the Detroit Lions have needs all over the field. After all a 0-16 record should be fairly self explanatory. Matthew Stafford is the heavy favorite to be selected number one. Stafford fits the mold perfectly of an NFL quarterback and can make all the throws on the field. While Detroit is likely eyeing the potential superstar, first pick quarterback selections in the past have usually turned out to be a bust. Plus new coach Jim Schwartz has hinted that he would like to build his team from the inside out, meaning one of the top offensive lineman in the draft may be more of a possibility than people believe. If that does turn out to be the case, laying a few extra bucks on Jason Smith may be a smart move. Smith was the most impressive of the entire big time offensive lineman group in the NFL workout sessions and if Schwartz decides Stafford is to big of a gamble it could be the most likely outcome. Still we stay with Stafford the safe bet.

Pick – Matthew Stafford

Prop Bet #2 – How many running backs will be selected in the first round?

Over 2.5 +140
Under 2.5 -180

The NFL Draft this season will feature many big names on the offensive side of the ball. There are a ton of offensive lineman and wide receivers that will overshadow the majority of the first round. However, the running backs have not gotten a lot of focus and this prop bet line grabbed out attention. Chris “Beanie” Wells out of Ohio State and Knowshon Moreno from Georgia are potential first round locks. Both players have great speed and can break plays open any given down. Heading into next weekend most believe these will be the only two players chosen in the first round as far as the running backs are concerned. However, Donald Brown out of Connecticut has been impressive in recent weeks in front of the scouts and could sneak into the first round. Brown led the nation in rushing yards posting a ridiculous 2,083 yards in the college level which is a rarity these days as most teams are throwing the football more. Brown has ideal size for a running back and strength. Over the last few weeks he has climbed up the boards due to strong workout showings and would not be surprised if Arizona or another team does not select him late first round.

Pick – Over 2.5

Prop Bet #3 – What position will OT Andre Smith be selected?

Over 6.5 -Even
Under 6.5 -140

Andre Smith was one of the early favorites to be selected number 1 in this year’s draft. However, some rather disappointing circumstances over the past few months have caused the offensive lineman out of Alabama’s stock to drop. Smith was the big time player if you remember that broke team rules right before the Sugar Bowl and was not allowed to play. Smith backed up those question marks by leaving in the middle of the NFL workout sessions without letting anyone know. The question surrounding Smith heading into next weekend is not his talent, but the big guy’s work ethic. Smith has the potential to be one of the best offense linemen in the NFL, but on the other hand also has the potential to be the biggest bust from this year’s first round group. Smith has fallen down many of the boards heading into next weekend. The talented Crimson Tide star has also a lot going against him considering there are so many big time offensive linemen in the 2009 class. A total of 4 offensive linemen could likely be gone in the top 15 selections. There may be someone who takes a gamble on Smith early, but I doubt it considering his behavior in the off-season.

Pick – Over 6.5

Prop Bet #4 – Who will be selected first?

Michael Crabtree -200
Jeremy Maclin +150

If you know anything about this year’s wide receiving class, your eyes may have lit up when you saw this betting line. Michael Crabtree has nearly been given the title to be the first WR selected this year. Crabtree stunned the college nation this season with big time catches that were a big part of that potent Red Raider offense. Jeremy Maclin is the speedster out of Missouri. Maclin seems to run faster in pads than the times listed and he broke an NCAA record as a freshman posting 2,776 all-purpose yards. However, Maclin has fallen into Crabtree’s shadow for the wide receiver class of 2009. Maclin could come on an be a legitimate threat for special teams right off the bat and work his way into a big time receiver. On the other hand Michael Crabtree has the potential to be a household name and do not see him being selected anywhere outside of the top 5. This line could be too good to be true or could it?

Pick – Michael Crabtree

Prop Bet #5 – Who will be selected first?

Percy Harvin -250
Hakeem Nicks +175

There was a player outside of Tim Tebow who electrified the Florida Gators National Championship offense last season and his name was Percy Harvin. Harvin was used in many different ways in the Gators offense. The speedy wide receiver lined up at wide out, in the slot, and even in the back field as a running back frequently. Harvin broke the game open with lightning quick speed. However, there are many scouts who question if he will be able to do the same in the NFL. Hakeem Nicks led the ACC last season with 1,222 yards of receiving while pulling down 12 touchdowns. While many would consider Harvin to be the big favorite by the way he ripped apart defenses at the college level, there are many others who believe Nicks will make the better wide out at the next level. One bad characteristic that could hold Harvin back is he lacks the size that most need in the NFL. Nicks on the other hand has solid size and an uncanny ability to turn plays from nothing into something. Depending on how people interpret Harvin’s size compared to his speed could determine how far up the wide receiver latter he is selected.

Pick – Hakeem Nicks

The official start of the 2009 Major League Baseball Season is well underway two weeks into the season. There are many teams who have got off to solid quick starts while other favored teams have gotten off to slow starts. We take a brief look at the Division breakdowns and current betting odds along with what to expect this season. Be sure to jump on these betting tips and current division odds located at the bottom of the page in time to get the most profit out of picking a division winner in 2009.

American League East
Talk about a stacked division the American League East is loaded with talent. In this division alone you could pick the majority of the AL All-Star team. Tampa Bay had the breakout season last year winning the division and making it to the World Series. The Devil Rays will have the dominant pitching rotation back again this season.. However, for them to win the division again this season they will have to hold off New York and Boston. The Red Sox have gotten off to a terribly slow 3-6 start, but expect them to get things rolling soon. The Red Sox signed the popular John Smoltz along with 5 other free agents in the off season that could give help. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester should make it tough for opposing teams. The Red Sox went 7 games with Tampa Bay last season barely missing out on World Series dreams. New York spent enough money in the off-season to pay off most teams’ entire rosters. The big signing with C.C Sabathia should be huge. The most talented team in baseball keeps throwing more money out every year, but still has not had the results Yankees fans have been expecting. Will this year be any different?

Pick – New York money finally pays off and they come on strong after the midway point of the season

American League Central
Welcome to the most wide open division in Major League Baseball. The AL Central could be up for grabs with every team in the division. The Central may not be the overpowering division considering after the first 9 games there is a first place tie with a .556 winning percentage. Chicago won the division last season, but there will be a lot of question surrounding how well they will swing the sticks in 2009. Minnesota has a lot of talent on the roster, but how the young lineup will perform is still a mystery. Cleveland was predicted to be a slight favorite by some entering the season. However, after a 2-7 start it looks like the tribe is headed back down another letdown type road. In Detroit, this will be the make or break season for manager Jim Leyland as the Tigers are feeling the pressure that they must put together some success after some big moves financially before last season. Sadly the AL Central could be taken down by a team that does not even reach the 100 wins barrier.

Pick – No Play Here

American League West
The Los Angeles Angels are the biggest favorites for any team in their respected division in the league. The Angels will have a load of weapons to swing the bats especially with the addition of Bobby Abreu. The Angels are off to a rather slow 3-4 start, but expect them to pick it up. Seattle jumped out to the early 6-2 record to lead the division. The Mariners defense should be strong, but how the pitching staff will hold up will be the biggest concern especially towards the end of the season. Oakland is expected to be solid in the West. However, the A’s were ranked in the bottom of nearly every offensive category last year and that much change if there is to be room for success. Texas should be a very strong team with the bats led by Josh Hamilton who had a big year in 2008. However, they are another team with pitching concerns that will determine how much success they achieve in 2009.

Pick – Angels

National League East
Usually when you have the defending World Champions in your division the following year you are considered a rather big underdog. However Florida, New York and Atlanta will make legitimate claims to the best team in the NL East this season in the toughest division in the National League. Amazingly 4 teams have a shot to win this division though surely we will see that narrow down as the season progresses. Atlanta signed Derrick Lowe and some other solid names to get the pitching rotation back to dominant form. Philadelphia’s chances of repeating likely may rely on the health of Cole Hamels. Philadelphia should be strong again, but it has been nearly 25 years since a NL team repeated as World Champions. New York brought in closer Francisco Rodriguez to help the bullpen who looked simply bad at the end of last season. The Mets should be solid with the bats as well. However, while not much is said about Florida they have jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead in the division. The Marlins are pretty similar to last year when they closed out the season winning 15 of their last 20 games and can definitely contend.

Pick – Take a gamble with Florida, they definitely can win in bunches.

National League Central
The National League Central may turn out to be a closer battle than many are predicting. The Chicago Cubs hold the advantage heading into the early part of the season with a strong offense and possibly the best rotation top to bottom. However, St. Louis was an upset pick to watch heading in and they are off to a quick 7-3 start. The Cardinals undoubtedly have the best defense in the division. St. Louis has some concerns surrounding the bullpen, but if Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter can remain healthy the Cardinals should be fine. Still the Cubs will be the team to beat, but expect St. Louis to be the surprise this year in the NL Central.

Pick – Surely Chicago can’t mess this one up

National League West
San Diego has jumped out to a quick lead in the National League West with a 6-2 record and winners of 5 straight games. However, they split their first series with the Dodgers who have the most balanced line-up in the division. The Dodgers have Rafael Furcal returning to the lineup after missing most of last season that should give them a good boost not to mention the renegotiating deal with Manny Ramirez that should keep the Dodgers as favorites. Arizona will have a super bullpen that should give them the ability to play with most. San Diego has a big star emerging in first baseman Adrian Gonzalez that should help the offense quite a bit. Still once the season gets into full swing it will be hard to bet against the Dodgers who could be the best in the National League.

Pick – Dodgers easily

Current MLB Divisional Odds as of 4/15/09 From BetUS Sportsbook & Casino:
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AL EAST:
Baltimore +5000
Boston +140
New York EV
Toronto +400
Tampa Bay +2500

AL CENTRAL:
Chicago +400
Cleveland +250
Detroit +275
Kansas City +450
Minnesota +300

AL WEST:
Los Angeles -125
Oakland +275
Seattle +900
Texas +500

NL EAST:
Atlanta +350
Florida +600
New York +110
Philadelphia +200
Washington +3000

NL CENTRAL:
Chicago -225
Cincinnatti +1700
Houston +1800
Milwaukee +800
Pittsburgh +3500
St. Louis +350

NL WEST:
Arizona +175
Colorado +800
Los Angeles EV
San Diego +1500
San Francisco +500

The NBA regular season will end later this week as we head towards the post-season. The Cleveland Cavaliers have locked up home court advantage throughout their Eastern Conference playoff run and are one game away from clinching home court advantage in the NBA Finals if they can make it that far in the playoffs. The Cavaliers are coming off a huge blowout win over the defending Champions the Boston Celtics 107-76 on Sunday. The Cavaliers big win over the number 2 ranked team in the East is actually Cleveland’s biggest victory in franchise history over the Celtics. The Cavaliers amazing home game run extended to a mark of 38-1 inside Quicken Loans Arena with the victory. The Cavaliers appear to be big favorites considering they will get the majority of the games at home were they have been unstoppable. However, the Eastern Conference has been extremely tough this year as Orlando blew out Cleveland a few short weeks ago similar to the Cavaliers big win over Boston. The 3 horse race all season out of the East will carry over to the post-season. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers are still the big favorites after a big win over Denver last Thursday night. The return of Andrew Bynum will only be more beneficial for the Lakers who have appeared as the top notch team in the West all season. However teams like Denver, Houston, and Portland have really closed out the year strong and could be teams to put together impressive runs in the playoffs. We give brief breakdown of the major contenders for the 2009 NBA Playoffs along with their odds to win it all.

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers (7/5)

The Cavaliers extremely impressive home record makes them big favorites in the NBA playoffs. Their 38-1 record is among the best ever string of runs by a home team in NBA history. Lebron James is averaged 28.3 points per game, but more importantly is getting a lot of help from the rest of the team. Cleveland only lost one game all season at home meaning for them to be beaten in the playoffs a team is going to have to win at least one game in Cleveland while sweeping the Cavaliers away from Cleveland. Good luck with that.

Boston Celtics (4/1)

The Celtics chances to repeat as NBA Champions took a big hit with their embarrassing loss to Cleveland. However, Boston has played very well to close out the season winning 8 of their last 10 games. The Celtics are another team that plays very well at home with a 34-6 record for the season. However, Boston is only 4-4 against Orlando and Cleveland on the year meaning they have been anything but dominant over the top teams in the East. Still the Celtics know what it takes to be Champions, but can they do it again?

Orlando Magic (8/1)

The Magic got the big win over Cleveland back in the first week of April, but they have now lost 3 of their last 4 games. Orlando got off to a tremendous start to the season, but really suffered a hit with the loss of Jameer Nelson despite putting together some solid winning streaks in recent weeks. Also, Rashard Lewis will likely miss the final games of the regular season with a knee injury and the Magic simply look to be too banged up down the stretch to be a legitimate threat as they appeared earlier this year.

Team to Watch – Chicago Bulls (100/1)

The Chicago Bulls have won 4 straight games and 12 of their last 15 games during that stretch. Chicago has put together a solid home record this season that is always crucial during the post season. If the Bulls can keep up the momentum and get some more big performances from Ben Gordon, they could really pull off a string off upsets and perhaps take down either Boston or Orlando who they will be likely playing in the opening round.

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers (8/5)

Thursday night’s victory over the emerging Denver Nuggets was icing on the cake for Western Conference bragging rights. The Lakers simply looked too strong for their closest competitors in the West and are big favorites at 4/9 favorites to make it to the NBA Finals. The Lakers got beat by a streaking Portland team on Friday 106-98, but they still appear to be too strong in terms of being beat in an entire series. The Lakers have had more problems with the teams in the Eastern Conference this season and until someone proves us wrong we will ride the Lakers bandwagon.

Denver Nuggets (20/1)

The Nuggets are really playing well to close out the season despite their setback to the Lakers last Thursday. Carmelo Anthony and J.R Smith are becoming a dynamic duo posting big figures every night. The Nuggets have put together wins in 13 of their last 15 games The Nuggets could face the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round if things were to stay the same. Denver would not mind the pairing considering they are a perfect 4-0 on the season against Dallas. If the Nuggets could keep the momentum rolling I am sure they will be eager to get their chance at a series with the Lakers.

Portland Trailblazers (25/1)

The Trailblazers are in a heated battle with the Houston Rockets for 3rd place in the West as both teams stand at a mark of 52-28. The Trailblazers and the Rockets have also both put on a solid 4 game winning streak as Portland will get the Thunder and the Nuggets in the final two games. The battle for 3rd dictates whether they will get New Orleans or San Antonio in the playoffs. The Trailblazers have played the most solid basketball the 2nd half of the season and they should give teams problems if they can stay hot.

Team to watch – Houston Rockets (20/1)

The Rockets have put together 4 straight wins along with Portland. The only difference is Houston beat up on the Trailblazers 102-88 to start their winning streak. The Rockets have what it takes to match-up with the other teams from the West in the playoffs giving them a chance to knock off some wins in the postseason. The only thing is the Rockets have failed to beat the Lakers once this season at 0-4 meaning any dream type run at an NBA Finals may be more of a dream than a reality.

This will be the first edition of a set of weekly articles that will come out just before every weekend breaking down the best proposition bets for the weekend. Basically, we will break down some of the most interesting and intriguing prop bets heading into the weekend for you to consider placing bets on to earn some cash on your days off work. We will be reviewing and studying every sport to give the best prop bet at the right time for your money while also trying to include the always popular prop bets as well. Take a look at these Top 3 Prop Bets for you to consider heading into the weekend..

Bet #1 – PGA Golf (The Masters)
Head to Head – Paul Casey (-130) vs. Sergio Garcia (Even) (Thursday)
The PGA Tour will make a stop in Augusta, Georgia this weekend to tee off for the first Major Tournament of the 2009 campaign. The Masters has been one of the most beautiful and exciting golf spectacles for many years now providing some great action for the PGA Tour’s first big event. Bodog Sportsbook has many great betting actions on the event from head to head matchups, opening round group odds, and more. We found a very interesting match-up between Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia. Garcia made the news earlier this season as he closed in on Tiger Woods number 1 ranking while Woods was still recovering from knee surgery. However, Garcia has been playing anything but strong over the past few weeks heading into the Masters. Garcia has played in 4 events and has not been in the top 10 once including a 77th finish in the Shell Houston Open last week. Casey on the other hand won the Shell Houston Open making it his first victory in the United States and jumped from 12th to 6th in the world rankings. Garcia has never been consistent at Augusta National and we expect some more of the same type performance this weekend. While Casey will be riding a wave of confidence and we expect him to play well. Consider placing an above average type bet on Casey. Pick – Casey -130

Bet #2 NBA (Denver at Los Angeles) (Thursday)
The Los Angeles Lakers host the Denver Nuggets late Thursday night at home in a showdown of front runners in the Western Conference. The Lakers are winners of 4 straight games and own a 2-1 record against the Nuggets so far this season. However, Denver is playing better than any team in the league perhaps winning 12 of their last 13 games and 7 straight. In the previous meetings these games have stayed unpredictably low in scoring despite both teams tendency to have high scoring averages. While nearly all indications point to the Lakers having a big night considering they are playing at home where they are 33-5 this season and Andrew Bynum will possibly return to the lineup. However, we are going to take Denver in this game considering how well they have been shooting the ball to be the spoiler this Thursday. J.R Smith and Carmelo Anthony have led the team in scoring every game since the middle of March. Both standouts are averaging right at 20 points per game over the winning streak. Even though Kobe Bryant has been stellar against the Nuggets this season, we expect Denver to have a similar outcomes as they did back in the previous meeting back in February when they got the victory 90-79 except this time there will be more points scored. Pick – Denver

Bet #3 – Kentucky Derby (May 2nd)
Whether you are a fan of horse racing or not, one thing is for sure that when you hear the Kentucky Derby you know it means something special. While most bettors tend to shy away from Horse Racing bets because they simply may not keep up with the sport, betting on a horse race may be the most profitable sport to bet on considering you always get great odds. The 2009 run for the roses is being hyped to be a very exciting spectacle mainly because there are so many great horses with legitimate shots to win this year. One of the horses to have your eye on is “I Want Revenge.” This California bred horse is a proven runner who captured a win just a few weeks back at the Gotham at Aqueduct. I Want Revenge is being posted as a 7/2 favorite to win the entire event this weekend. The horse is quickly emerging as the leading favorite to be covered in the blanket of roses after the most famous dash in horse racing on May 2nd. However, go ahead and get the odds while they are still reasonable and if you do not feel comfortable picking I Want Revenge as a winner be sure to place the horse for a bet to be a top 3 finisher. Pick – “I Want Revenge” (7/2)

The month of April is here and that means one thing for big football fans and that is NFL Draft Time. The one part of the off-season that really can make or break team’s chances to succeed next season. While many may be aware of the biggest names entering the NFL Draft, we will break down one of the most exciting positions on the field at wide receiver. Take a look as we rank the top ten wide outs in the 2009 class and their chances to make an impact on Sundays. This year’s receiving class is very talented and loaded with speed. The 2008 WR core was the only in nearly 20 years to not have at least one receiver drafted in the first round. However, the chances of that happening again this year are absolutely none as up to around 4-5 college standouts have the opportunity to be selected in the first round. Take a look at the biggest names on the board at the wide receiver position.

1. Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)
Crabtree exploded onto the college football scene last year with help of the Red Raiders early season success. The sensational sophomore really became a household name when he caught the game winning touchdown over Texas in the final two seconds of the ball game while tight roping the sidelines. However, Crabtree had long established his playmaking ability before the season defying play. The sophomore racked up over 3,000 yards in just two seasons at Texas Tech with a combination of strength, speed and size that makes him extremely difficult to defend. Crabtree has been hampered by injuries all during the NFL workout sessions, but is widely declared as the best receiver in the draft and will likely be gone if the first 4 selections.

2. Jeremy Maclin (Missouri)
Maclin will likely be the number two receiver to go in the 2009 class. The red-shirt sophomore out of Missouri terrorized the Big 12 this season in many different ways. Maclin set an NCAA record as a freshman posting over 2700 all-purpose yards. Maclin has great mobility, but only stands at 6’0 even. However, he could be a great fit to make an immediate impact for teams as a lookdown receiver and possibly be a potential returner on special teams as well. Look for the star receiver out of Missouri to go around the number 10 overall selection range.

3. Kenny Britt (Rutgers)
Britt may be the underdog in consideration of popularity, but he has been very impressive in the months leading up to the NFL draft through the workout sessions. Britt may be the best receiver in terms of long-term tenure to the NFL. The Rutgers standout has a considerable size advantage over the other top choices in the draft. Britt also contains very strong acceleration and catching ability which could make him a big play threat.

4. Darious Heyward-Bey (Maryland)
Heyward-Bey may be the most unpolished receiver in the draft with so much potential in store. The sophomore out of Maryland only caught a little over 600 yards last season for the Terrapins, but that was from an offense who struggled in the passing department. Heyward-Bey may have some issues with actually catching the ball, but his speed will be the big eye opener. The potential superstar posted one of the fastest NFL combine times at a 4.3 flat in his very first attempt, and if he can work on the route running along with other areas then he can definitely become a big time player.

5. Percy Harvin (Florida)
If you kept up with the Florida Gators National Championship season, then you can make a legitimate argument that Percy Harvin was possibly the biggest asset to the Gators offense and not the more popular Tim Tebow. Harvin was used in many different type scenarios and even lined up in the back field for some plays meaning his versatility is superior most others receivers. Game-breaking speed and play making ability jump right out, but his durability and size could hold him back a few spots despite his play at the college level.

6. Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina)
Hakeem Nicks led the ACC in total yards this season with over 1,200 receiving yards while adding 12 touchdowns. Nicks will be the first Tarheel selected in the NFL draft with other star wide out Brandon Tate likely to coming shortly after. Nicks ability to turn plays from nothing into something were a highlight of his college career. After a breakout junior season campaign, Nicks could possibly go as high as the late first round but will probably end up as a 2nd round selection.

7. Brandon Tate (North Carolina)
North Carolina will put their 2nd receiver in the draft with standout Brandon Tate given the slight chance Tate is selected ahead of Nicks. The downside to Brandon Tate is he suffered a season ending injury that needed surgery to repair an ACL and MCL. The electrifying wide receiver may have been a top 5 pick among wide outs in the draft if not for that injury, and the question everyone has is how will the injury affect him in the future?

8. Derrick Williams (Penn State)
Williams may well be the only receiver on the board drafted solely for being a returner on special teams. The former Nittany Lions return specialist averaged 18.5 yards in his career in Happy Valley on kick returns. Williams posted some disappointing 40 times in the NFL workouts and will likely not be used in the primary receiver role. However, his return skills may be enough for a team to gamble on in hopes to improve special teams play.

9. Brian Robiskie (Ohio State)
Brian Robiskie is one of those receivers in the draft that you just may not be able to measure the amount of potential. Robiskie was apart of the heavily run favored offense from the Buckeyes and there may be some talent just waiting to explode. The Ohio State senior has solid size, but the questionable aspect may be his speed. After some slower than average times at the combines, Robiskie could fall downwards.

10. Louis Murphy (Florida)
Louis Murphy was one of the lost names among the National Title roster that just may have been in the shadow of Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow. However, Murphy was a solid threat for the Gators passing attack and has the potential to become an NFL starter as well. Great size and speed give him lots of room to develop. Anybody not needing any direct impact on the field this year, may target Murphy as he appears to have a tremendous room to grow in the years to come.

The stage for the Final Four is set and we anxiously await one of the most famous spectacles in sports that will take place in Detroit, Michigan this Saturday. The road was definitely long and tough for the remaining teams left competing for a National Championship. Here at Bankrollsports, we nearly predicted all four teams in this year’s Final Four. The Louisville Cardinals were our pick out of the Midwest, but they fell one game short against Michigan State in the Elite Eight. However Connecticut, North Carolina, and our surprise team Villanova pulled through giving us a pretty impressive run. We will now turn the attention to the Final Four outlook and all the betting odds to take advantage of from the major sportsbooks like BetUS, Bodog, Justbet, and more. Take advantage of the final games of the season and close out the college basketball season by adding a few dollars to your wallet with considering some of these exciting prop bets.

Prop Bet #1 – Player to score most points

This prop bet is one that could be taken advantage of from many angles. Breaking down the way the Final Four is expected to unfold is that Michigan State and Connecticut could be in for a low scoring type game. While just on the other side, Villanova and North Carolina are extremely fast pace high scoring offenses that will likely rack up a lot of points. The game between North Carolina and Villanova is definitely best suited for a player to have a big night in scoring. While both teams have many weapons on offense, their guard play on both teams is extremely strong. We will take Tyler Hansbrough to be a big difference on the inside for the Tarheels. After all Hansbrough was the Player of the Year in 2008 and returned for his senior season to win a National Championship meaning now would be the perfect time for a veteran player to have a breakout performance.

Pick – Tyler Hansbrough (+200)
(Line @ BetUS Sportsbook – 100% Bonus Using This Link)

Prop Bet #2 – Team to score first 10 points first? (North Carolina or Villanova)

Here is a simple analysis of how both teams’ get started in basketball games. North Carolina tends to get off to slow starts despite their explosive potential. Villanova has really gotten off to strong starts the entire tournament outside of their very first game in round 1 against American. The Wildcats really play tenacious defense and fly around the ball. Villanova speed will be difficult for North Carolina to anticipate especially coming out of the gates. Take consideration that everyone is expecting the Tarheels to win the game and they are receiving heavy favoring odds in this prop bet. However, Villanova likely comes out surprising North Carolina with their quickness and gets to the 10 point mark first. North Carolina just may need some time to adjust and we believe they will lose the battle to 10, but may win the war.

Pick – Villanova (+120)
(Line @ Bodog Sportsbook – 10% “No-Commitment” Bonus Using This Link)

Prop Bet #3 – 10 three pointers Over/Under? (Connecticut vs. Michigan State)

Looking at the numbers on paper the under bet perhaps may look the most intriguing. Connecticut attempts less 3 point shots than any team left in the tournament while Michigan State is known to drain a few every outing. However, this match-up is expected to be a grudge match especially on the inside. Think about what usually happens in these types of game and that is the 3 point shot becomes the difference maker in the contest. Expect Michigan State to make their share of shots behind the arc, but also expect Connecticut to drain a lot more than normal as well.

Pick – Over 10 (-120)
(Line @ Bodog Sportsbook – 10% No-Commitment Bonus Using This Link)

Prop Bet #4 – Total Points for Kalin Lucas 13.5 O/U?

Goran Suton has been the most consistent performer for Michigan State throughout the tournament. Suton has posted right at 20 points against Louisville and Kansas in march to the Final Four. However, Suton will be meeting the 7’3 Hasheem Thabeet inside the paint in this particular match-up. While both players are extremely talented and can have big nights, expect them to make it difficult for the other. Without Suton posting big numbers, Michigan State will desperately need someone to step up. Kalin Lucas has led the team all year in scoring and this will be a perfect scenario for him to score some points. The question here is not if he will score over 13.5 points, but will he be able to score enough to get the Spartans the victory.

Pick – Over 13.5 -120
(Line @ Bodog Sportsbook – 10% No-Commitment Bonus Using This Link)

Prop Bet #5 – Odds to win the 2009 NCAA Tournament MVP

The final prop bet left on the board is likely the most exciting as well although difficult to predict. The Tournament MVP usually comes from a member from a team competing in the Championship game if not the National Championship team. Then you have to look at who is best suitable to be in the National Championship, who has played really well so far, and who is likely to play well in the Final Four. One name comes to mind that gives a check mark for all scenarios and this is Ty Lawson. Remember Lawson came into the Tournament hampered with an ankle injury. However, Lawson has really been the X factor for North Carolina in March and nobody has been able to defend the talented junior guard. Lawson is averaging 20 points per game in his 3 outings in the Tournament despite missing the first round. This pick revolves around a few expectations. First we are banking that the Tarheels overcome Villanova and make it to the Championship game. Second up to this point their has not been anyone more impressive than Lawson and who is playing better basketball at this point in the season. With that combination, Lawson should be fit for the MVP.

Pick – Ty Lawson 7/2
(Line @ Bodog Sportsbook – 10% No-Commitment Bonus Using This Link)