So, the online betting season for NBA fans tipped off on Tuesday with a massive matchup between two of the title contenders, Boston and Cleveland. How did these two fare in Game No.1?

The Cavs got off to a quick start in the first quarter before the Celtics’ veteran experience kicked in, and they outscored Cleveland 30-17 in the second quarter. The Boston reserves outscored their counterparts 26-10, thanks in large part to Rasheed Wallace, who notched 12 in his debut. The pickup of Wallace is seen to be a boost to the Celtics’ NBA odds, as he can spell Kevin Garnett, who had 13 points and 10 boards. Paul Pierce has 23 and 11 boards to lead the way for the Celtics.

How about the Cavs, one of the trendy sportsbook picks this year? It was similar to last year. LeBron James had 38 and eight assists, but the next highest Cav was Mo Williams with 12, and he was only 3-of-8 from the field. Shaquille O’Neal had 10 and 10 in his Cleveland debut, and that’s all they really need from him. But they need secondary scoring, preferably from Williams and Anthony Parker.

So, what can we take away from this game? Not much. It’s the first game in a long, long season. All we know is, these two will be there at the end of the season, and this is just a prelude to a rivalry that’s gone from budding to full-on.

PS: I’m going to throw in World Series picks as much as I can. Take the Yankees in Game 1. Sabathia edges Lee in a pitcher’s duel, while Cleveland Indians fans slit their wrists.

College football betting is my main focus until the NBA season heats up, even though many are dying to make a World Series bet, so here’s my three picks to watch this weekend, with odds from BetOnline.com:

No.13 Penn State vs Michigan – Saturday, October 24, 3:30 PM ET

BetOnline.com odds: Penn State -4.5

The Nittany Lions have lost five straight trips to the “Big House”, and they’re facing a Michigan team that is getting better each and every week. With two road losses by a combined eight points (one in overtime) and coming off an almost-criminal 63-6 destruction of Delaware State, the Wolverines have momentum. With the charges rallying behind Tate Forcier, bet on the home underdogs.

No.1 Florida vs Mississippi State – Saturday, October 24, 7:30 PM ET

BetOnline.com Odds: Florida -22.5

The Gators haven’t come close to being as good as they were last year, and they were gambling with their 16-game winning streak last week with four turnovers in a last-second win over Arkansas. They’ve lost their last two trips to Mississippi State as road underdogs, and their play hasn’t been convincing at all, it’s like Urban Meyer is in a gambling ring or something. Florida may squeeze out another win, but there’s no way in this world they’re covering that spread.

No.3 Texas vs Missouri – Saturday, October 24, 8:00 PM ET

BetOnline.com Odds: Texas -12.5

Colt McCoy says he’s fine after getting beaten up all over the field in last week’s 16-13 win over Oklahoma in the “Red River Rivalry”, and he’s surely better off than Sooners’ counterpart Sam Bradford, who re-injured his shoulder, is now out for the season, and may need to go into employment as a district attorney after turning down last year’s guaranteed NFL money. The Tigers have dropped two straight and are starting to show their stripes. They’re a very young team, which is usually  something to stay away from when you make a bet on sports. However, their defense is quick but small, and they’re starting to wear down. The Longhorns will make it six in a row over the Tigers, easy enough to cover in your sportsbook.

Oklahoma City’s NBA odds are awful in the first place, but then, Henry Abbott came out with an column on ESPN that said Kevin Durant is hurting his team. Okay, here goes:

I’m not going to look at the numbers, because I’m sure they’re all very pretty and Abbott probably did a lot of research, but really? Kevin Durant hurting the Thunder? The kid averaged 25.3 points and 6.5 boards last year, and I’m pretty sure there is no way to quantify the load that Durant had to carry last year. You know: pretty much an entire franchise on the back of a 21-year-old (then 20). Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook are great wingmen, but they couldn’t carry the team like Durant, who is moving up the sportsbook ranks as an MVP candidate.

Let’s not even mention that he makes going to a Thunder game worth the price per head (most of the time, anyway). Durant does more for that franchise than what is shown in the box scores and stats (and he fills those, too). So if you see Henry Abbott out and about, don’t let him make any of your sports picks for you.

This weekend’s big matchup comes the Florida vs LSU odds, and the No.1 Gators are favored by a touchdown at Death Valley. However, they began as 9.5-point favorites in your sportsbook, and it’s all because of the health of one man.

Tim Tebow is a game-time decision due to the concussion he suffered two weeks ago at Kentucky, and the former Heisman winner (as well as one of this year’s favorites) hasn’t participated in any contact drills yet. Contact is basically the most important part of Tebow’s game, and this will change Florida’ place dramatically. However, he has to consider if future as one of the top NFL picks next year, and he shouldn’t do anything stupid.

LSU has won 32 Saturday night games in a row at Death Valley, and they can’t be happy about being an underdog at home. The Tigers are coming off a big win at Georgia, yet they still haven’t played to their expectations. They’ll make a statement and blow the championship race wide open with a win. Regardless, the atmosphere alone in Tiger Stadium will be well worth the price per head.

Since NBA betting season is upon us, and the preseason is underway, we’re going to look at…..a feud between LeBron James and a football player.

James has been busy over the summer, pushing his documentary “More Than A Game” (shouldn’t you win a title first before making a documentary?) and making a guest appearance on “Entourage” (which was understated and funny). But he also found time to get into a little trouble, indirectly. Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver Braylon Edwards is being accused of punching James’ friend at a nightclub, and James called Edwards “childish”, stating that Edwards must be jealous of him and his friends.

Shoot, why wouldn’t he? Edwards plays for a team that you couldn’t pay people to bet on in your offshore sportsbook. James has great hands, Edwards drops more than he catches. Edwards doesn’t have a movie out. It would be funny to see Edwards and James fight, although I’m betting management of the Cavs fail to see the humor in it.

Nothing will happen here, and everything will be fine….except for Edwards, who continues to be a part of a squad whose Super Bowl odds were flushed before they started.