NBA betting free picks: Utah Jazz @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Added on Dec 30, 2009 by Jack Thurman in

In some of our recent NBA coverage we’ve talked about how tough the Western Conference is this year, and how good teams will try to get ‘easy’ wins whenever and wherever they can find them. The Utah Jazz head to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they’ll look to take care of business against one of the West’s bottom feeders.

Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves
December 30, 5:05 PM Pacific

Sports betting experts have long considered the Utah Jazz a good team to bet on at home, but a bad ‘investment’ on the road. To some extent, that characterization is correct but we like the Jazz in this matchup. Utah is currently in 8th place in the Western Conference, holding on to the final playoff spot by 1/2 game over Oklahoma City. The Jazz have gone 7-8 against the Western Conference this season, in large part due to a woeful 1-4 SU/ATS record against the Northwest Division. Two of those losses have come in December to this very Minnesota team.

We don’t think Jerry Sloan is going to let them lose three times to a 7-25 team. For that reason, this game will demand more of the Utah players’ focus than usual. Note that the Jazz have been off since Saturday night and they’re money in the bank when so well rested. They’re 2-0 SU/ATS with 3+ days rest this year and 10-2 ATS over the past three years. Minnesota, meanwhile, lost last night at San Antonio putting them in the second of back to back games here.

Minnesota has performed fairly well for sportsbook fans as an underdog this year, with a 16-14 ATS mark. The exception to that has been as a home underdog in this price range: as a home underdog of 6′ to 9 points the Timberwolves are 1-4 ATS this year and 5-16 ATS over the past three years. Utah has the talent to name the score here, and they’ll enter this game focused and well rested with all the makings for a Jazz blowout victory.

Bet Utah Jazz -7 over Minnesota Timberwolves