Word is that the Timberwolves’ betting chances are taking a hit with each day Ricky Rubio stays in Spain. Of course, they weren’t that high to begin with, but having Rubio in the fold would help a lot, both on the court and off, where they could raise the price per head of a ticket…just a little, though.

Now Rubio is saying that he wants to leave Spain regardless of whether he can pay the $8.2 million buyout that is in his contract with DKV Joventut or not. The Timberwolves can only contribute $500,000 to that buyout, leaving Rubio between a rock and a hard place. It’s doubtful he can return to Joventut after all that has gone on (think of the Dany Heatley saga currently going on the NHL), and it appears that Real Madrid and Barcelona are ready to step in and offer him a place to play if he doesn’t make it to the NBA.

(Side note: it’s funny to see Madrid and Barca’s names being mentioned with basketball instead of soccer, but we know Madrid has the money after they bought Cristiano Ronaldo for the price of a good-sized country)

So, will the kid really have an impact in your offshore sportsbook? Well, you can judge for yourself in the following video. I do know that I was impressed by what I saw of him in Beijing, and the Americans were very complimentary towards him. At least if he’s with Minnesota, I wouldn’t take watching paint dry over watching the ,Northbet favorite, Timberwolves. Still not making them one of my sports picks, though.

Just because my March Madness betting is over, doesn’t mean I’ll stop watching and giving the scoop on each game. But really……Memphis deciding to give up on defense just ahead of the Final Four makes me sick to my stomach. I have a buddy who’s a UConn fan, and we were all ready to throw down on Saturday.

Missouri vs Connecticut – Saturday, March 28, 4:40 PM ET

The Huskies have a March Madness betting spread of 5.5 over the Tigers, who made Memphis look like a high school team. The Tigers will try to get UConn in a track meet, but the Huskies will focus on their size advantage, mainly with Hasheem Thabeet, who was a monster against Purdue. Take UConn to cover their March Madness betting spread against the pesky Tigers.

Villanova vs Pittsburgh odds – Saturday, March 28, 7:05 PM ET

The Panthers are 2-point March Madness betting favorites in this contest of Big East rivals, and they’ll be out to avenge a 10-point loss at ‘Nova back in January. Pitt still hasn’t played their best basketball, but it’s coming, as they showed in the second half of their win over Xavier. ‘Nova has been destroying the competition since their first-round scare, but San Young and DeJuan Blair are due to have a big game at the same time. Bet on Pitt to cover their March Madness betting spread for the first time this year.

March Madness betting took a break after an exciting weekend, but it all starts up tomorrow night. This is how you should make your sportsbook picks, beginning

Purdue vs Connecticut (West) – 7:07 PM ET

The top-seeded Huskies are 6.5-point favorites, and while the No.4 Boilermakers have one of the toughest defenses in the country, UConn was probably the best team in the Tournament’s first weekend. If Hasheem Thabeet stays out of foul trouble, the Huskies win running away. If he doesn’t, they’ll still cover the March Madness betting spread.

Xavier vs Pittsburgh (East) – 7:27 PM ET

The top-seeded Panthers have a 7-point spread over the No.4 Muskateers, who will be able to match Pitt’s physical play. Pitt’s stars will be the difference, especially Sam Young, who is one of the toughest players in the country to guard. Bet on Pitt, but they won’t cover the March Madness betting spread.

Missouri vs Memphis (West)  – 9:37 PM ET

No.2 Memphis is a 4.5-point favorite over No.3 Missouri in this battle of the Tigers, and while Mizzou has one of the top offenses in the country, they’re running into a Memphis team that regained their swagger in a romp over Maryland, and they may be the best defensive team in the nation. Memphis will harass their way to a win while covering the March Madness betting spread.

Villanova vs Duke (East) – 9:57 PM ET

The No.2 Blue Devils are a 2-point favorite against the No.3 Wildcats, who romped all over UCLA in the second round. Duke were a bit fortunate to beat Texas, but Villanova will have too much in the post for the smaller Blue Devils to handle. Go with ‘Nova in a March Madness betting upset.

If an NBA betting player would have told me that the Miami Heat would be above .500 almost 60 games into the season back before the Beijing Olympics, I would have ordered them to seek therapy.  But that was before I watched Dwayne Wade, finally healthy, absolutely tear apart the competition and help lead the United States to a gold medal as the sportsbook favorites.

Sportsbook odds would have to consider D-Wade as one of the top MVP candidates, along with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. As of March 3, D-Wade is leading the league in scoring with 29.2 points, along with 7.4 assists, 5.0 boards, 2.22 steals and 1.42 blocks, which is phenomenal for a guard. But the big thing is that he has his explosiveness back. When he led the Heat to the title in 2006, Wade got to the hoop any time he wanted (the foul calls are another post), and he also had this when he made many March Madness betting players angry by carrying underdog Marquette to the Final Four in 2003. After battling various injuries from 2006 to 2008, it appears as though the Heat are players again, and they can thank their captain. However, Pat Riley will have to show D-Wade that he’s willing to improve the team before the 2010 sweepstakes, in which Wade will be a major figure. If so, the Heat will automatically become one of the NBA betting favorites.

LeBron James could probably have an NBA betting category all his own. The Cavs are already a sportsbook favorite to win the championship, and the threat of a James triple-double could be one of the daily NBA props. The legend of “King” James just keeps growing, too. Witness this February 20th destruction of the Bucks, in which James ended up with 55 points:

Then there was his pre-game entertainment for the fans in Memphis on February 24th:

And if you’ve never seen his dismantling of Detroit in 2006-07, when he hit for 29 of the Cavs’ final 30 points in a double-overtime win:

Seriously, if you bet on sports, James is coming up on that Michael Jordan status…..you know, where he gives you the look like, “bet against me, I dare you”. NBA betting players could be ready to annoint the Cavs as the kings of the East, and the scary thing is…..he’s only 24.  That’s insane.

NBA betting players will feel a bit better knowing that the owners of the league are in tough times as well. A report has trickled down that the NBA plans to borrow $175 million, and $11.66 million of that will go to 15 teams that are struggling with money troubles.

Sounds like karma for someone giving Steve Francis $19.8 million to do essentially nothing. Don’t get me started on Jermaine O’Neal’s $21.4 million, and you all know how I feel about Starbury. But at least he’s only getting the league minimum when he goes to Boston. I’m not saying give the players less, I’m saying evaluate better who deserves it. If these guys are making that, then don’t be surprised when LeBron James asks for half of your city in 2010.

NBA betting fans don’t know what to think of Stephon Marbury’s impending move to Boston, which has been more than two months in the works (see here). “Starbury” went to arbitration to get out of his contract with the Knicks, and it’s rumored that he had to give up at least $2 million. Of course, when you’re making over $20 million for essentially doing nothing.

If Marbury lands in Boston, he has to buy into the team concept there, or he’ll be gone. He’ll back up the ever-improving Rajon Rondo at the point, but the thought of Marbury in a backcourt with Eddie House must make the Boston big men a little nervous, as these two have never seen a shot they didn’t like. However, with injuries to Tony Allen, and Kevin Garnett’s recent knee injury, the Celtics need some backup if they are going to hold off Cleveland in the East. This trade probably won’t raise Boston’s NBA betting chances, but it won’t hurt them, either, unless Marbury goes crazy (which wouldn’t surprise anyone, especially former Minnesota teammate Garnett).

Side note: on the milk carton, LOL at “Last seen: missing a layup at the buzzer”.

Elton Brand of the Philadelphia 76ers will have plenty of time to go over his March Madness odds, as the former Blue Devil who won Player of the Year honors at Duke is being shut down for the rest of the season. It could be karma as Brand allegedly convinced Baron Davis to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, only to sign with the 76ers a few days later. It’s been an awful couple of seasons for the big power forward, who was sidelined all of last season with an Achilles injury, and now it’s a separated shoulder that is forcing him to go under the knife once again.

The best part? He can afford nice suits while sitting on the sidelines, as he makes an average of $29.1 million a season. I need his agent (but not his luck).

I’d like to know what they are putting in the water down in Phoenix. Cardinals odds in this Sunday’s online super bowl betting matchup are hinging on the arm of 37-year-old Kurt Warner, who was thought to be done when he left New York for the desert. Now, the Phoenix Suns are being led, not by 26-year-old Amare Stoudamire, who is still putting up solid numbers at 21.1 points and 8.1 rebounds.

No, the Suns should be favored to make the playoffs in the tough West because of a rejuvenated 36-year-old Shaquille O’Neal, who has 18.2 points and 9.1 boards as the Suns head towards the All-Star break. The most surprising aspect of Shaq’s season is that he is knocking down foul shots at an outstanding (for him) 62.8%, including a 9-of-10 performance in yesterday’s win at Washington. If Shaq can continue to knock them down from the charity stripe, the Suns could be the team no one wants to play in the postseason.