The phrase "staying ahead of the power curve" is a common one in the business world, and it's certainly an important one. It is a theory that also pays big dividends in "this" business world which is sports handicapping and/or sports gaming. In this segment, we are focused in on the NBA and a couple teams that are poised to go on hot streaks as we enter the mid-January time frame.

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Team #1 to Watch: San Antonio Spurs- The Spurs have disappointed their San Antonio faithful throughout the holiday time period. San Antonio had covered just two of its last ten games heading into a January 10th showdown with the Detroit Pistons. However, just like in buying stocks, investing in good teams when they are selling low is the best thing you can possibly do. Finding the low point is the key and we feel that point is now for San Antonio. The Spurs finally have Manu Ginobli back in the mix, and with Tony Parker, Ginobli, and Tim Duncan, San Antonio has one of the most dangerous and effective trios in all of pro hoops.

The Spurs schedule coming up is going to be a key as well. The Spurs will be embarking on their annual "rodeo road trip" in late January, but this trip has traditionally been very good to them. We expect more of the same this season. After their game versus Detroit on January 10th, the Spurs play 12 of their next 17 games on the road. However, eight of their 12 road games are against the weaker East. The key with the Spurs is that we will also get line value in their road games, as the home court often tends to get too much respect from the odds makers. This opens up the door to plenty of upcoming covers in the next five weeks with a now-healthy Spurs club.

Team #2 to Watch: Utah Jazz - Similar to the Spurs, the Jazz are another solid team that has fallen out of favor with the betting public. That tends to happen when you've failed to cover 13 of your last 19 games. That is what has happened to Utah since the first month of this season. Once the calendar hit December, the Jazz struggled but we see signs of Utah turning the corner now and we feel its schedule will help that to continue. It all begins January 10th with a home game against Phoenix. The Jazz were fortunate to catch Phoenix off of an overtime win the night before. Regardless of what happens in that Jazz-Suns match-up on the 10th of January, the fact is that it is a game that is part of a stretch of eight home games out of 11. Already the Jazz have begun to turn things around, thanks to a schedule that started to favor home games after Christmas. Heading into their match-up with Phoenix on the 10th of January, the Jazz had covered three of their last five at home.

Note that Andrei Kirilenko should be returning from his back injury for the Jazz very soon. We also feel that the pickup of Kyle Korver from Philly is going to add some big value in the very near future. Korver is a streaky shooter that, when he gets hot from outside, can really light up the scoreboard. Matt Harpring is also capable of adding great value as a scorer. Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer give Utah a great inside-out combo. Also, Mehmet Okur is now back after missing a chunk of December with an injury. We also like a scrappy guy like Paul Millsap coming off the bench. The mix that Utah has - talent and grit - is a good one. They are also very well-coached and they are also flying under the radar at the present time. That means it's absolutely the right time to step in and make some money by backing the Jazz in the coming weeks! As always, best of luck in all your gaming from Scott Rickenbach.