Fortunately for the Magic, they’ll face some lighter competition during a three-game trip that begins Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Orlando (23-8) moved two games ahead of Atlanta in the Southeast by winning four times on its season-high five-game homestand, which concluded with Wednesday night’s 117-92 victory over Milwaukee.

The Timberwolves look to build on their 6-1 ATS record in their last 7 games as a home underdog. Minnesota is the pick (+8 1/2) I have the Magic favored by only 7.

The Atlanta Thrashers, meanwhile, are sorely in need of a fresh start in 2010.

What has begun as a disastrous road trip continues in Buffalo on Friday night for the Thrashers, who have lost six straight overall but will be trying to win their seventh consecutive meeting with the Sabres.

Atlanta’s seven-game trip is its longest of the season, and the Thrashers (18-17-4) have no points to show for the first four stops. They’ve dropped a season-worst six straight overall and are 1-8-0 in their last nine road games after starting 9-2-1 away from home.

The Sabres look to take advantage of an Atlanta team that is 0-5 in its last 5 road games. Buffalo is the pick (-180), I have the Sabres favored by 69%

› Odds: 1.32 @ Bet24

› Vejle home: 3-1-2 13-7
› Vejle form: 3-1-2 7-6
› Home form: 3-1-2 13-7

› Kolding away: 0-3-3 11-19
› Kolding form: 1-1-4 11-16
› Away form: 0-3-3 11-19

› Trend @ Hometeam: Vejle is 2-0-0
› Trend @ Hometeam L 3 years: Vejle is 1-0-0

Looks like a homewin in the danish viasat divisjonen. Vejle has a perfect H2H record and are decent at home. Kolding concedes a lot of goals and should struggle here.

› Odds: 1.88 @ 10Bet

› Botafogo home: 5-6-5 22-23
› Botafogo form: 3-1-2 7-5
› Home form: 2-2-2 7-7

› Coritiba away: 2-5-9 15-28
› Coritiba form: 2-2-2 8-9
› Away form: 0-3-3 5-11

› Trend @ Hometeam: Botafogo is 3-0-2
› Trend @ Hometeam L 3 years: Botafogo is 1-0-0

Coritiba is not a good awayteam and is facing Botafogo in an uptrend. Odds seemes decent for the hometeam.

› Odds: 1.57 @ Bet365

› Thun home: 4-1-1 21-8
› Thun form: 4-0-2 10-6
› Home form: 4-1-1 21-8

› Servette away: 0-4-2 6-9
› Servette form: 0-3-3 7-11
› Away form: 0-4-2 6-9

› Trend @ Hometeam: Thun is 5-1-0
› Trend @ Hometeam L 3 years: Thun is 1-0-0

Thun owns Servette based on H2H. They are a good homeside and even though the odds isn’t much I expect a homewin.

› Odds: 1.70 @ Bwin

› Midtjylland home: 3-1-3 9-11
› Midtjylland form: 3-2-1 11-9
› Home form: 3-0-3 9-11

› Randers away: 0-2-4 4-12
› Randers form: 0-3-3 4-10
› Away form: 0-2-4 4-12

› Trend @ Hometeam: Midtjylland is 8-0-1
› Trend @ Hometeam L 3 years: Midtjylland is 4-0-1

Excellent H2H stats from Midtjylland. They are in an uptrend versus a very poor awayteam. 1.70 for the homewin looks good.

› Odds: 1.67 @ BetPhoenix

› Eskisehirspor home: 2-0-0 5-3
› Eskisehirspor form: 2-4-0 8-6
› Home form: 4-0-2 11-10

› Denizlispor away: 0-0-2 1-7
› Denizlispor form: 0-2-4 3-12
› Away form: 0-0-6 1-15

› Trend @ Hometeam: Eskisehirspor is 1-0-0
› Trend @ Hometeam L 3 years: Eskisehirspor is 1-0-0

Denizlispor is just a terrible awayteam and the homeodds is surpricingly good.

› Odds: 1.50 @ Betway

› Beroe home: 2-4-0 5-3
› Beroe form: 2-3-1 5-4
› Home form: 2-4-0 5-3

› Botev Plovdiv away: 0-1-5 3-17
› Botev Plovdiv form: 1-1-4 4-8
› Away form: 0-1-5 3-17

› Trend @ Hometeam: Beroe is 5-0-0
› Trend @ Hometeam L 3 years: Beroe is 2-0-0

Things are not looking good for Botev when they are so crappy away. Beroe is in an uptrend, are perfect on H2H and haven’t lost at home.

› Odds: 1.36 @ Betsson

› Monaco home: 4-0-1 8-2
› Monaco form: 4-0-2 11-6
› Home form: 4-1-1 9-3

› Grenoble away: 0-0-5 1-8
› Grenoble form: 0-0-6 3-15
› Away form: 0-1-5 2-9

› Trend @ Hometeam: Monaco is 1-0-0
› Trend @ Hometeam L 3 years: Monaco is 1-0-0

Grenoble has been just awful this season and just one goal away in their 5 awaymatches. They should get their hands full in this match away to Monaco.

› Odds: 1.65 @ William Hill

› DAC 1904 home: 3-3-1 10-7
› DAC 1904 form: 2-4-0 6-4
› Home form: 3-2-1 9-6

› Dubnica away: 0-3-4 3-15
› Dubnica form: 2-0-4 3-11
› Away form: 0-2-4 2-14

› Trend @ Hometeam: DAC 1904 is 1-0-0
› Trend @ Hometeam L 3 years: DAC 1904 is 1-0-0

Dubnica is struggling away with just 3 goals and 15 allowed goals. DAC is decent at home, in an uptrend and won the only H2H.