While everyone in New Orleans is looking ahead to Super Bowl betting, the New Orleans Hornets have a chance to win their way back into a playoff spot against the Memphis Grizzlies. When these teams hook up on Saturday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, it will pit two of four teams that are ranked sixth to 10^th in the Western Conference; all of whom are within a game of one another.

New Orleans is coming off a game last night at home against Chicago, and with the last meeting with Memphis ending in a tight 113-111 win, the Hornets will be hard pressed on the road. Chris Paul is again leading the Hornets to a winning record almost single handily. Leading the League in assists (11.1) and his team in points (20.5) and steals (2.3), the Wake Forest product is on a short list of MVP candidates yet again. Emeka Okafor and David West anchor a solid frontcourt however neither are a dominant force that can win a game without the skills of West. Scoring over a point less a game then their opponents and being just 9-16 on the road, this will be a tough game for the Hornets.

Memhis is the Cinderella story of this season. Expected to be in another rebuilding season and struggling for wins, the young group has pulled together and is in the heart of the playoff race. They are coming home after a game in San Antonio however being as young as they are, it should not have a large effect on them. Zach Randolph has gotten back to his dedicated ways and is joins Chris Bosh as the only players in the league averaging over 20 points (21) and 10 rebounds (11.6) and has garnished All Star recognition. Along with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo, who are averaging 20.4 and 18.1 points, this is a very young group of players, average age of 24.4, that is making noise in the deepest division in basketball.

This game should be hotly contested and the people doing 5dimes reviews know that being at home and being on the hot streak that they are the Grizzlies should be able to pull this one out and put some distance between them and the Hornets.

While everyone was watching the Super Bowl spread, Steve Nash was doing some spreading of his own en route to his 8,000^th career assist. On Monday night Nash had 15 points and 15 assists in a losing effort as the Phoenix Suns were out gunned 124-115 in Utah by the Jazz. Coming into the game needing just two assists to reach the mark, he left no chance.

The Victoria, BC native is averaging a league high 11 assists per game and became just the eighth player to reach the 8,000 mark. The 35 year old Nash joins the likes of John Stockton, Marc Jackson and Magic Johnson on a very distinct list of which only the two active players are not yet in the Hall of Fame. Jason Kidd is the only other active player with over 8,000 assists (10,594).

Nash is having a great season and his numbers of 18.4 points and 11 assists are very similar to his two MVP years in the 2004/5 and 2005/6 seasons. If he continues on his pace of roughly 800 assists per year, he should be able to pass Isiah Thomas and Gary Payton by the end of next season to move into sixth all time. Utah fans need not worry because at his current pace, Nash would need 10 more seasons to surpass Stockton’s career record of 15,806.

Next up for the Suns is a two game home stretch against the Charlotte Bobcats and Nash’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks. One looking for betting tips can be assured that after a short recognition of achievement ceremony for him before the game, he will continue on distributing the ball early and often as he has done over his 13 year career.

While everyone checks out their Super Bowl odds for this weekend, take a look at a very good NBA matchup that will take place on Saturday night as Oklahoma City heads to Cleveland to meet the Cavaliers.

Thunder vs Cavaliers odds – Saturday, January 23, 7:30 PM ET

This will be the last of a four-game road trip for the Thunder, and for a young team, they’re great defensively, coming in sixth in the league. Combine that with Kevin Durant, who is third in the NBA in scoring, and the Thunder could be scary in the playoffs.

The Cavaliers are coming off a big win over the Lakers on Thursday, but LeBron James will have a bigger load to carry. Mo Williams will be out for 4-6 weeks thanks to a shoulder injury, and he was their second scoring option. This means Delonte West and Anthony Parker have to step up to help James.

The Cavs should pull out the win, as the Thunder play Friday night in Memphis, and they’re 4-4 in the second half of back-to-back games. James and the Cavs have the defense and experience to jump on the Thunder when they falter.

Internet sports betting pick: Cleveland

NFL betting players will get to wager on the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl, and the NBA will coming up on their All-Star Game next month. Boston’s Ray Allen, who is a nine-time All-Star thinks fans have too much say in who plays, particularly in who starts. Is he right?

He might be, actually. The fact that Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson and Houston’s Tracy McGrady will probably start makes a mockery of the All-Star Game, and takes spots away from players that probably deserve it. Iverson (my favorite player of all time, by the way) left Memphis after three games because he couldn’t start, and he hasn’t had an impact in Philadelphia. McGrady has played bits and pieces of the season due to injury, and the Rockets have sent him home until they can find someone to take his monster of a contract. People say, oh well, these guys used to be great, and cite the example of Michael Jordan in his final All-Star (ironically, McGrady and Iverson both offered their starting spots). I think both of these players would say that they’re not on Jordan’s level. What do you think the bookmaker odds (bookmaker reviews) are they give their spots to someone more deserving? Not likely.

Even though NFL betting will be the main course on the menu this weekend, check out this intriguing NBA betting matchup between Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers, who have surprised some sportsbook players this season.

Cavaliers vs Clippers odds – Saturday, January 16, 10:30 PM ET

The Cavaliers were stunned by a late three in a loss to Utah on Thursday, so you know they’ll be hungry to come out and play on Saturday. LeBron James should be headed for another MVP award if he keeps putting up huge numbers, and the King has averaged 34.4 points, 8.0 boards and 8.0 assists in his last five games.

The Clippers had lost two straight games before playing the Lakers on Friday, but prior to that, they had a four-game winning streak. Baron Davis has been playing well, averaging 19.4 points and 10.2 assists in his last five games.

The Cavs will probably be favored on the road with eight wins in their last nine meetings with the Clippers, who have to face Cleveland and the Lakers in back-to-back nights. The Clippers are 4-4 in the second half of back-to-back games this year, but against the toughest teams in the league? It doesn’t look good.

US sportsbook pick (US sportsbook reviews): Cleveland

An NFL betting player who likes underdogs would probably look at Wednesday’s NBA matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans, a pair of teams that are playing better than anyone expected them to this year.

Clippers vs Hornets betting – Wednesday, January 13, 8:00 PM ET

The Clippers had won four in a row prior to Tuesday’s game in Memphis which kicked off a three-game road trip, and they finally look to be getting everyone back and healthy, which is key to their rhythm. Baron Davis has averaged 16.6 points and 10.8 assists over his last five outings, and Chris Kaman is getting support as a possible All-Star, averaging 20.4 points and 9.4 boards for the Clippers.

The Hornets have won seven of their last eight, and guess who is leading the way? Chris Paul has scored more than 20 points once in the last five games, but he’s averaging 13.8 assists, while David West is averaging 19.8 points during that span. The Hornets need West to be more consistent to take some pressure off of Paul.

The Hornets should be the sports betting favorites at home, where they are 14-3, and they thumped the Clippers 112-84 in Los Angeles back in November. The Clippers didn’t help themselves, shooting 55% from the line. This should be a closer game than before, but the Clippers are 5-10 on the road as of Tuesday, and West Coast teams have problems with the time change.

US sportsbook pick (US sportsbook reviews): New Orleans