Big Bucks for Buckets - Profiting with Basketball Picks

When considering sports picks, you cannot neglect the only major team betting unaffected by weather. Basketball is undeniably America's most popular indoor sport. It takes over the mindset of sports fans for nine months a year. So the more you know about basketball picks, including both professional basketball picks as well as amateur basketball picks, the more you can profit from your handicapping abilities.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is comprised of 30 teams, organized into six divisions of five teams each. Each team dresses for 12-13 preseason games and 82 regular season games between October and April. Half the games are played at home and half away. Each team schedule includes 52 match-ups against opponents within their own conference and 16 within their own division.

Rivalries within divisions will certainly be one focus of your NBA picks. Look for teams to play well at home against conference opponents, and choose underdogs whenever the spread looks favorable. Also keep an eye out for streaks. When a team gets hot, it can stay that way for weeks. The opposite is also true, as NBA franchises fall into slumps. NBA picks that include streaking teams tend to fare better that those that don't. Injuries, fatigue, attitude and coaching all come into play.

Many say the NBA regular season is only a preliminary to set the seeds for the playoffs. Indeed, fewer than half the teams are cut, as 16 advance to post-season play. This is when your knowledge of previous NBA picks, and sports picks in general, becomes most useful. Which teams have demonstrated their resolve to rise to the occasion in the home stretch? Which have been able to cover the spread when playing on the road?

Defense becomes more important than offense in the playoffs, as does home court advantage. By the time June rolls around and the conference champions are known, recreational bettors will jump into action heavily. If you've got a line on the underdog, look for odds to swing in your favor as sports books attempt to balance massive betting on favorites. If you've done well with your NBA picks up to this stage, you will be in position to press your bets as the season comes to a close, without risking your original bankroll.

Collegiate basketball offers even more action and basketball picks that the pros. NCAA Division I is comprised of 347 teams, divided into 32 conferences, plus a group of unaffiliated independents. There are also numerous teams in the lower divisions, II and III. This means you have college basketball picks by the hundreds to choose from each week. The amount of information available is staggering.

For that reason, it's best to focus attention on a few conferences or a single region. You can really become an expert if you limit your betting to a less extensive list of college basketball picks .

The NCAA teams play exhibitions and hold informal tournaments prior to their regular season, which runs from November to March. A collegiate season typically includes around 35 games, featuring seven a month. Just like in the pros, conference rivalries need to be watched carefully, as do records at home and away. You can get great insight into college basketball picks by remembering these are student athletes, who are not as used to travel and the demands of work on top of study. Big spreads are quite common.

After the regular season, March Madness ensues. That's when the national champion is decided through single-elimination post-season play-the NCAA Tournament. Many of the teams that don't make the grade participate in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), another opportunity to exercise your understanding of college basketball picks.

Both NBA picks and NCAA basketball picks can earn you profits for three-quarters of the year. As with all sports picks, the key is to study, keep records, look for opportunities and pace yourself. You'll have plenty of winners among your basketball picks if you remain patient and stick to your handicapping strategy.

Drew Cook is an owner of Prime Sports Picks. He founded his company in 2003 with a commitment to provide quality services of sporting news and related sports information. For more information please visit http://www.primesportspicks.com,