I have spent the NBA regular season concentrating my handicapping efforts on the Washington Wizards in an effort to prove the value of specialization when it comes to betting on the NBA. With the use of Doc's Sports Unit Betting System, I have also been releasing weekly free picks in an effort to return a solid profit with my unit plays. It has been a roller-coaster ride so far that has added up to an even 10-10-1 record on the year.

Doc's has been posting my weekly free picks for these Washington games on its homepage, so be sure to check the site to follow along with my progress. The Wizards are trying to make a move in the East to build momentum for the playoffs, and I will continue to try and make a move towards returning a profit with my picks.

Washington Wizards Free Picks, Odds and Predictions

Friday, March 27, 7 p.m. EST (Verizon Center)

The Wizards continue their current five-game homestand by welcoming the Southeast Division rival Charlotte Hornets the Verizon Center this Friday night with a scheduled tip of 7 p.m. (ET). The game will be available on NBA League Pass.

The Hornets come into this division clash with just one straight up win in their last six games following a 91-88 loss to Brooklyn this past Wednesday as 3.5-point favorites at home. They are 3-6 against the spread in their last nine outings, and the total has stayed "under" in five of their last six games.

Washington lost to Indiana 103-101 on Wednesday night as a three-point home favorite following a four-game road trip out west. The Wizards went 1-3 (SU and ATS) on that trip, and they are now 0-4 (SU and ATS) in their last four contests. The total went "over" the closing 188.5-point line against the Pacers after it stayed under in three of their previous four games.

Charlotte at Washington Betting Storylines

Charlotte is just a half a game in back of Boston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite posting a SU 3-7 record in its last 10 games. The Hornets are 30-40 on the year. And while they have a 14-21 SU record on the road, they are 20-13-2 ATS. They come into Friday night's matchup ranked 28^th in the league in scoring with an average of 94.6 points per game, but defensively they are still ranked near the top of the NBA in points allowed (96.9).

Both Al Jefferson and Gerald Henderson posted 23 points in Wednesday's loss to the Nets, but the Hornets shot just 39.6 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range. On the year, Charlotte is hitting 42.3 percent of its shots while going just 31.5 percent from beyond the arc. It did pull down 51 rebounds in that game as opposed to a season average of 44.2 a game that is ranked ninth in the league.

The Wizards are holding down the fifth spot in the East at 40-32, and they have gone 25-11 SU at home. Betting on this team has been a whole other story with a 28-43-1 record ATS that includes a costly 16-20 mark ATS at home. Washington basically mirrors its division rival in this matchup with a scoring average of 98.2 PPG that is ranked 19^th in the league complemented by a defense that is ranked eighth in points allowed (97.7).

Shooting guard Bradley Beal has been hampered with injuries off and on throughout the season and he remains doubtful for Friday night after tweaking his ankle in Wednesday's loss. In his absence, point guard John Wall has basically carried this team with an average of 17.4 points and 9.8 assists a game. Against the Pacers, he scored a game-high 34 points while dishing out six assists in the losing effort. Center Marcin Gortat had 16 points and seven rebounds in that game, and he leads the team in rebounds this season with 8.5 a game.

Charlotte at Washington NBA Betting Odds and Key Trends

BetOnline has listed the Wizards as 3.5-point home favorites for Friday night's Southeast Division tilt. The betting odds on the total remain "off the board".

The Hornets are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games following an ATS loss, but they have failed to cover in five of their last seven games played on a Friday. The total has stayed under in their last five division games.

The Wizards are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games against a team with a SU losing record and they are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games against a division opponent. The total has gone over in their last five home games.

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The road team in this matchup is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings, and the total has stayed under in all seven games. Charlotte is 5-1 both SU and ATS in the last six meetings.

Charlotte at Washington Free NBA Picks and Betting Predictions

One of these teams has to win this game despite their current form, and since it looks like Beal will be unable to go I would have to give the edge to the Hornets. The recent betting trends in this matchup also favorite Charlotte, so I am going with a small 2-Unit play on the Hornets covering with the 3.5 points.

2-Unit Play-Take Charlotte (+3.5) over Washington

NBA Regular Season Betting Record: 10-10-1 (-$430)

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