A new NBA season got underway last week, and in an effort to prove the value of specialization as a viable betting strategy for the games, I am exclusively handicapping the Washington Wizards all season long. To further state my case, I will also be releasing weekly free picks with the use of Doc's Sports Unit Betting System with the goal of earning a long-term profit betting Wizards' games this year.

Doc's will be posting my weekly free picks for the games, so be sure to check their homepage to follow along with my progress. Washington is touted as an up-and-coming NBA team in the Eastern Conference, so be sure to jump aboard what I plan on being a money train all season long.

Washington Wizards Free Picks, Odds and Predictions

Friday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. EST (Air Canada Centre)

Washington kicks off a two-game weekend road trip this Friday night with a stop at the Air Canada Centre in an Eastern Conference matchup against the Toronto Raptors. The tip in this one is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be available on NBA League Pass.

The Wizards' fast start out of the gate continued this past Wednesday night when they ran their current straight up winning streak to four games with a tight 96-94 victory against Indiana. Washington could not cover against the spread as a 9.5-point home favorite, and the total went "over" the 187.5-point line. It is now 4-1 SU (3-2 ATS), and the total has gone over in four of the five games.

Toronto has also come off the blocks hot with a 4-1 start both SU and ATS. It comes into this game fresh off Wednesday's 110-107 victory against Boston as a two-point road underdog. The total in that game went over the closing 203.5-point line, and it has now gone over in four of the Raptors' first five games.

Washington at Toronto Betting Storylines

The early stats for Washington are not all that special with a scoring average of 100.4 points that is ranked 14^th in the league complementing a defense that is allowing an average of 95.8 points, which is ranked 12^th. However, the net result has been extremely productive. The one area where the Wizards have excelled is spreading the ball around with an average of 24 assists a game. One area where Washington will have to improve is under the boards with an average of just 38.2 rebounds a game.

This team's success for both this Friday night and the entire season clearly revolves around point guard John Wall. The fourth-year vet is starting to really come into his own with an average of 21.4 points and 10.0 assists in his first five games. He is shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range. Marcin Gortat is second on the team in scoring with 15.6 points per game, and he has led the way in rebounds with nine a game.

The Raptors' fast start can be heavily attributed to a potent offense that is ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring with an average of 105.8 points a game. They have been able to eclipse the century mark in all five games. Their defense has not been as effective after allowing an average of 99.8 points in its first five outings, and Toronto has had its issues under the boards as well with just 37.8 rebounds that is ranked 29^th in the league.

The big guns on this team have been DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. DeRozan has led the way with 22 points a game, while shooting 39.8 percent from the field, and Lowry is adding another 19.6 points while hitting a rock-solid 50 percent of his shots from the floor. You also have to credit the play of Amir Johnson for the Raptors' fast start. He is averaging 15 points a game and he leads the team in rebounds with 7.5 a game.

Washington at Toronto NBA Betting Odds and Key Trends

BetOnline has opened Washington as a 4.5-point road underdog for Friday night's trip north of the border, and the total for the game is still "off the board".

The Wizards are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games and a highly-profitable 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games on the road. The total has gone over in four of their last five Eastern Conference games.

The Raptors are just 2-5-2 ATS in their last nine home games, and they are 6-0 ATS in their last six home games against a team with a SU winning record on the road. The total has gone over in 10 of their last 12 games played at home.

Head-to-head in this matchup, Washington has failed to cover in six of its last eight trips to Toronto, and the total has stayed under in four of the last five meetings at the Air Canada Centre.

Washington at Toronto Free NBA Picks and Betting Predictions

This should be a great matchup between two of the more exciting teams in the East. I think Washington has a good chance to win this game SU given its better all-around balance and depth, so the confidence level goes up even higher with the 4.5 points on the road. Even so, I am going with a conservative 3-Unit play given that this is still just the sixth game of the season for both teams.

3-Unit Play- Take Washington (+4.5) over Toronto

NBA Regular Season Betting Record: 1-0 (+$300)

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Read more articles by Dave Schwab