Today's blog starts with the NBA playoffs moving into the conference championships with the Nuggets-Lakers series starting tonight and the Magic-Cavaliers on Wednesday. It should prove to be two interesting series. The Lakers and Cavaliers have been the favorites to reach the NBA Finals for a long time, but I don't see either as being a lock against the upstart Nuggets and Magic.

Before we get to today's plays, I want to post a reminder to tune into tonight's ViewFromVegas.com Podcast at 8 p.m. Pacific Time at: http://www.lvrocks.com/details.php?id=149 (be sure to click on the Cam & Chat to read/take part in the lively discussion that is often as entertaining as the actual show). We'll be giving the ViewFromVegas of Rachel Alexandra's victory over Mine That Bird in the Preakness, plus an update of our Triple Crown contest, plus a look at the NBA and NHL playoffs and everything else that is going on in the world of sports, including a discussion about Delaware approving sports betting last week. If you miss the live show, you can always catch it afterward or in the coming days in the archive at the above site (but with no live chat or webcam).

And now onto the picks:

NBA PLAYOFFS (11-15 for a net loss of 5.5 units)
Nuggets-Lakers UNDER 215 (slight lean to Nuggets +6.5)
Magic +8 vs. Cavaliers (Wednesday)

NHL PLAYOFFS (11-19 for a net loss of 2.45 units)
Blackhawks +300 series price vs. Red Wings (better than taking +180 in Game 2)

MLB UMPIRE TOTALS (43-31-2 on the season and a net profit of 7.8 units)
No plays Tuesday...the best home-plate ump going on last year's stats was Dale Scott, who is working the Mets-Dodgers game tonight, at 20-13 with the under, but he's 3-5 this year with the under, plus the total is at 8 with Maine vs. Billingsly, so I have to pass.

MLB UNDERDOGS (41-56 for a net profit of 1.34 units)
Pirates +135 vs. Nationals
Giants +135 vs. Padres
Tigers +115 vs. Rangers
Angels +140 vs. Mariners

Good luck, everyone.  And don't forget to check the Forums each day as plays will be posted in the Tuley the Tout thread. Plays also are getting sent more often (and in a more timely fashion) to followers of twitter.com/viewfromvegas and I expect that to become even more common as I can post from my cell phone without having to log on to a computer or laptop. 

        

First off on the Tuley the Tout docket this weekend is my Preakness breakdown that I did for Bodoglife.com. Normally, if I miss out on a longshot, I don't like betting them back the next race as a lot of people get on the bandwagon too late when the value on the horse is long gone (like Win Willy in the Arkansas Derby), but in the case of Mine That Bird, a lot of people aren't giving him his due respect after his Derby upset, so I think there could be value on him in the Preakness. Click here if you want to sign up at the Bodog Racebook and get a 10% Bonus.

On Friday, I lost with my lone MLB umpire total as I had the Orioles-Royals UNDER 8.5 and the Royals won 8-1 (so close but yet so far); however, I made up for that with 2 MLB underdogs pulling the upset with the Dodgers +120 vs. the Marlins and the Mets +155 vs. the Giants


MLB UMPIRE TOTALS (42-28-1 on the season and a net profit of 9.9 units)

Phillies-Nationals UNDER ???...they were rained out Friday and the scheduled umpire for Saturday was supposed to be Chuck Meriwether (21-12 with the under last year and 5-3 this year), so I want to bet the game he is behind the plate...I'll update this play Saturday in the ViewFromVegas.com Forums and to followers of twitter.com/viewfromvegas
Twins-Yankees UNDER 10...Marty Foster was 22-10-2 with the under last year, 4-2 this year
Royals-Orioles OVER 10 EV...Jerry Meals was 22-12 with the over last year, 5-1 this year


MLB UNDERDOGS (38-53 for a net loss of 0.11 units)

Diamondbacks +115 vs. Braves
Indians +150 vs. Rays


NBA PLAYOFFS (11-15 for a net loss of 5.5 units)

Magic-Celtics UNDER 186 points (Sunday)
Rockets +13 vs. Celtics (Sunday)


NHL PLAYOFFS (11-17 for a net loss of 0.45 units)

Blackhawks +170 vs. Red Wings (Sunday)
Hurricanes +180 vs. Penguins (Monday)

        

This post has a preview of this weekend's sporting action with plays on MLB baseball and the NBA & NHL playoffs . . .<< MORE >>

It's Derby Weekend, but there's a lot more going on with the NBA & NHL playoffs as well as a full slate of Major League Baseball plus the Hatton-Pacquiao fight on Saturday night. I'll be posting my picks in this thread thread throughout the weekend, starting with my Kentucky Derby breakdown that I did for Bodoglife.com along with Steve Davidowitz: http://www.bodoglife.com/horse-betting/expert-face-off/ . . .<< MORE >>

First, things first, don't miss the ViewFromVegas Podcast at 8 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday night at lvrocks.com (including what should be a lively chat room), or at least catch the archive, which will be available shortly after 9 p.m. and through the week. Crick from our ViewFromVegas Forums will be our special guest to go over the Kentucky Derby field and offer his opinions on the race. We'll also have other guests on, plus discuss the NBA and NHL playoffs and baseball as well. It should be an information-packed show.

Now to the touting. I didn't have any official MLB umpire totals plays yesterday as all but one series was starting anew (note: I did offer up one play to those who Twitter -- the hot, new popular instant messaging website that uses text messages to send people fast updates. The play lost, so this isn't the greatest endorsement, but those who want me to send them last-minute suggested plays can sign up at twitter.com and agree to follow twitter.com/viewfromvegas or go through the link on the ViewFromVegas.com home page).

Otherwise, I had a profitable day on Monday. I split my 4 baseball underdog plays but showed a profit of 0.3 units as the Cardinals +130 and Red Sox EVEN won. In the NHL, I won with both the Blackhawks +120 and the Ducks +110 as they closed out their respective series, and added a win in the NBA with the Nuggets +2.5 as they routed the Hornets 121-63.

TUESDAY'S PLAY

MLB umpire totals (23-10-1 for a net profit of 10.8 units)

Nationals-Phillies UNDER 9.5 -120...Dana DeMuth was 20-13 with unders last year, though 2-3 this year
Marlins-Mets OVER 9.5...Jerry Meals was 22-12 with the over last year, 2-1 this year
Pirates-Brewers UNDER 8.5...Wally Bell was 19-11-6 with unders last year, 2-1 this year
Rays-Twins UNDER 8...Bill Hohn was 16-10 with the under last year, 2-1 this year

MLB underdogs (26-28 but still a profit of 5.26 units)

Pirates +135 vs. Brewers
A's +135 vs. Rangers

NHL playoffs (6-7 for a net profit of 2.3 units thanks to the power of plus-money)

No plays...just going to enjoy the Game 7 drama...plus totals are shaded the right way with Rangers-Caps over and Canes-Devils under

NBA playoffs (6-4 for a net profit of 1.6 units)

Good luck, everyone...and be sure to check the ViewFromVegas.com Forums for my Tuley the Tout threads every day.

        

It's Saturday, and the NFL Draft is about to start, but there's lots of other sporting action going on today. Inside, I have MLB, NHL and NBA picks . . .<< MORE >>

I had a near perfect day on Thursday (5-0 in MLB and 1-1 in NHL with a +190 winner) and hope to continue it this weekend with two plays apiece in MLB, NHL and the NBA . . .<< MORE >>

After going 3-1 and +2.9 units on Friday with my underdo, I went 3-1 again on Sunday for +2.45 units . . .this blog has 5 baseball plays for Sunday, April 12 . . .<< MORE >>

Monday is a changing of the seasons in a way as the NCAA basketball season comes to a close as North Carolina faces Michigan St. for the national title, while Major League Baseball starts its season with opening days around the country (OK, so the season technically opened Sunday night in Philadelphia, but I'm sticking to the theme here!!!).

North Carolina is favored by 7.5 points at most Las Vegas sports books as of Sunday night with the Leroy's chain of books holding the line at 7. The total ranges from 152 to 153 depending on where you shop. I have no opinion on the total. Most readers of mine know I love underdogs, but I can't see the Spartans staying with the Tar Heels the entire game. However, I do think Michigan St. can stay close early with the help of what could be a pretty good home-court advantage (despite the fact these teams played earlier in the year on this same court and NC romped 98-63), so I think the best play of the night is Michigan St. +4 in the first half.

If you're looking for more help, check out the ViewFromVegas.com Forums where you can find the picks of the top 3 handicappers in our spread/total contest as their competition comes down to the final game as well as checking out all the prop bets offered here in Vegas.

If you had been on the site Sunday, you would have seen I gave out the Braves +120 to upset the Phillies in the first game of the baseball season. Here's my picks for some of Monday's games as I think you have to look for the dogs to bark early as the oddsmakers don't always know which teams are going to jell at the start of the season:

Dodgers +120 vs. Padres
Rockies +155 vs. Diamondbacks
Rays +135 vs. Red Sox
A's +135 vs. Angels

We have a bunch of other handicappers looking at baseball every day in the Forums, too, so be sure to check out the other threads, as well as our upcoming coverage of the Masters (the odds are already posted, and we're going to have our very own Mr.OutsideVegas filing a report from Augusta this week).

I also challenge any website to match the amount of winning horse plays given out lately (our members have shared in big-price winners, exactas, trifectas and pick 4s time and time again this past week). ViewFromVegas is the place to be for day-to-day horse racing threads as well as getting everyone ready for the Kentucky Derby. Follow along with our hot handicappers and join in the discussion.

Yours truly,
Dave Tuley

P.S. Don't forget to tune into our live podcast each Tuesday night at 8 p.m. VFV Time by clicking the link on the ViewFromVegas.com home page or going directly to lvrocks.com. If you can't listen live, you can download the archive anytime after the show ends.

        

This has been a very profitable NCAA tournament for yours truly, Dave Tuley, as my top plays have gone 14-6 (70 percent) against the spread as posted in the ViewFromVegas.com Forums. I've also done well in the other tourneys, and before we get to Saturday's Final Four in Detroit, I also have a play in Thursday's NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden in New York;

Thursday:
Baylor-Penn St. UNDER 138 points (I've done well with Big 10 teams with the under in postseason games and see no reason to stop now)

Saturday:
Michigan St.-UConn UNDER 134 (same as above)
Villanova +7.5 vs. North Carolina (Villanova plays better defense than N.C., and the Wildcats have many weapons and catch match the Tar Heels depth-wise...also worth a look on the money line as many books are dealing +300 on the underdog


Are you a poker player? Ever dream of playing in the World Series of Poker? If so, read on . . .

The Bodog poker site is hosting a big WSOP qualifer on Sunday and ViewFromVegas.com has been offered a chance to host a pre-qualifer on Friday, April 3, at 5:05 p.m. VFV Time (for the unitiated, that's Pacific time/8:05 p.m. Eastern/7:05 p.m. Central).

Unlike our last free contest, this one will cost $11 to play ($10 buy-in plus $1 entry fee). The top two finishers will earn a $270 ($250+20) seat into the actual WSOP qualifier on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. VFV Time in which Bodog will award WSOP packages worth more than $12,000 (which includes $10,000 entry fee into the WSOP Main Event at the Rio starting on July 3 plus $2,000 in travel expenses) to the top four finishers. Bodog will also provide updates of its qualifiers on its website throughout the WSOP so family/friends can follow along, and I'll also do that at ViewFromVegas.com if we can get someone in the field.

If you're already a member of Bodog and have the poker software downloaded, you can proceed straight to the SCHEDULED TOURNAMENTS area and look under the PRIVATE tab for the "WSOP ViewFromVegas Pre-Qualifer" tournament and sign up. When you go to pay the $11 (which can be done in tournament credits for regular players at Bodog, it'll ask you for the password, which is tuley.

If you don't have an account, you'll have to register at Bodoglife.com and make a deposit. Some credit cards won't be accepted; I've found the VirtualPin option works just fine. You'll need to look to see what works for you.

Note: I know it's short notice and I tried to pick Friday's starting time to accommodate those back East as well as making it doable for those on the West Coast. If for some reason you can't start playing at that exact time, keep in mind that you can pull a Phil Hellmuth. He is known for showing up late at the start of tournaments. All you need to do is pre-register and when the tourney starts, the software will automatically seat you and just rake the blinds, which start out pretty small. It still might be worth your while to take a shot with such a low entry fee and such a high possible payday.