Anyone who likes to wager on the NBA is always looking for an edge, so it stands to reason that the more you know about a particular team, the better you will be able to predict its future results. I will be handicapping the Washington Wizards all season long and, in an effort to validate this betting strategy,I will also be releasing weekly free picks with the use of Doc's Sports Unit Betting System . My main goal is to earn a long-term profit betting Wizards' games this year.

Doc's will post my free picks on their homepage, so be sure to check the site to follow along with my progress. Washington has already gotten off to a fast start this season, and I remain confident that the Wizards will be one of the top teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference both on the court and at the betting window.

Washington Wizards Free Picks, Odds and Predictions

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m. EST (Verizon Center)

Washington welcomes the Southeast Division rival Atlanta Hawks to the Verizon Center this Tuesday night for the first meeting in this season's four-game series. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m., and it will be available on NBA League Pass.

The Hawks improved to 5-2 straight up in their last seven games with last Friday's 99-89 victory over Detroit as six-point home favorites. They are just 3-3 ATS during this run, and while the total stayed "under" the 197.5-point line against the Pistons, it had gone "over" in their previous three games.

It was a productive weekend for the Wizards with a 91-78 romp against Cleveland last Friday as 1.5-point home underdogs followed by a solid 111-100 road victory in Milwaukee as three-point favorites on Saturday. Washington is now two games ahead of Miami in the Southeast Division with a SU record of 9-3. It is an even 6-6 ATS, and the total has gone over in four of its last six games.

Atlanta at Washington Betting Storylines

The Hawks' 6-5 start has been a mixed bag, much like their overall record. They are averaging a respectable 102.3 points a game, which places them into the top half of the league, but defensively they are ranked 24^th in the league in points allowed (102.5). Atlanta is shooting a solid 46.6 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from 3-point range, but it has had its issues controlling the boards with just 39.6 rebounds a game, which is ranked 27 ^th in the NBA.

Paul Millsap leads the team in both scoring with 17.7 points a game and rebounds with 8.4. He is also leading the way in steals with 2.1 a game. The Hawks have done a great job moving the ball around with 24.4 assists a game, and Jeff Teague leads in that category with an average of 6.9 assists. He is also the team's second-leading scorer with 16.9 points. All told, Atlanta has six players scoring in double figures, including DeMarre Carroll (11.7 points), who returned to the lineup against Detroit after missing time with a strained groin.

The Wizards' offense received a huge boost last week with the return of Bradley Beal to its lineup after missing the first nine games due to injury. In three games, he has averaged 16.7 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from 3-point range. John Wall continues to lead the way with 19.4 points and 9.1 assists while shooting 43.1 percent from the field. The Wizards have five players with 10 or more points a game, and as a team they are shooting 46.4 percent from the field, which is ranked seventh in the league.

Washington's scoring average is slightly lower than Atlanta at 99.3 points a game, but it has been much better on the other end of the court with a defense that is ranked eighth in the league in points allowed (95.9). It is another team that spreads the ball around with 24.7 assists, and it has been strong under the boards with 43.0 rebounds a game. Marcin Gortat has been the big man in this category with 8.9 rebounds a game.

Atlanta at Washington NBA Betting Odds and Key Trends

BetOnline has opened Washington as a 6.5-point home favorite for Tuesday's division clash, with the total for the game set at 199.5.

The Hawks have gone just 1-5 SU in their last six road games, and they are 2-4 ATS. The total has stayed under in 10 of their last 14 games following a SU win.

The Wizards are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 division games and 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a SU win. The total has stayed under in six of their last eight games against a team with a SU winning record.

Head-to-head in this division clash, the underdog has covered ATS in six of the last nine meetings, and the total has stayed under in five of the last six games played in Washington.

Atlanta at Washington Free NBA Picks and Betting Predictions

As mentioned before, it has been a rough go of it betting with Washington so far this season, despite its ability to still win the majority of its games SU. I am looking for that trend to continue on Tuesday night with a 3-Unit play that while the Wizards get the SU win at home, the Hawks still play well enough to cover with the 6.5 points.

3-Unit Play- Take Atlanta (+6.5) over Washington

NBA Regular Season Betting Record: 1-3 (-$910)

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