Now that we have reached the month of January, college basketball is starting to take center stage. Conference games are currently taking place throughout the country, and those are typically the best matchups of the season. So many great matchups provide ample sports betting opportunities.
The AP Top 25 poll will continue to change over the next few weeks as teams start to build their resumes for the NCAA Tournament. There are already some teams that have emerged as locks, but other teams can still play their way into the field as well.
With so many college basketball games taking place each day, it’s important to look for the biggest games featuring ranked teams. Here are some of the top NCAA basketball games to watch for this upcoming week.
Loaded Big 12 Slate on Tuesday
Each conference seems to have a day in which they dominate the action, and that is Tuesday night for the Big 12 Conference. There are two matchups of top 25 teams on the schedule and another game that features a terrific rivalry.
The Baylor Bears host the Texas Tech Red Raiders in one of these games, and both teams should be in the NCAA Tournament this year. Baylor is still undefeated entering play on Tuesday night, and Texas Tech is looking to pull off this upset with defense.
The Kansas Jayhawks host the Iowa State Cyclones in another huge matchup, and both teams have just two losses on the year. Kansas was supposed to be this good, but Iowa State has been a major surprise all season long.
The other game to focus on for Tuesday night is a matchup of the Oklahoma Sooners taking on the Texas Longhorns. It always seems to be a battle when these teams take the floor.
Texas will take on Oklahoma in a battle of Big 12 rivals.
Plenty of Big Ten Drama
The Big Ten Conference is once again one of the best in the country, and this is a league loaded with terrific teams. Winning this conference will take a huge run by some team, but don’t expect the champion to have fewer than three losses at least.
Michigan State hosts Minnesota on Wednesday night, and both teams have played better than expected this season. The Spartans have climbed all the way up into the Top 10, but Minnesota will provide a big challenge in this matchup.
The Wisconsin Badgers host the Ohio State Buckeyes on Thursday night in a huge showdown. Both teams are ranked in the Top 25 but could have a ceiling as high as the Top 10 this season.
Big East Up For Grabs
The Big East Conference has been complicated to figure out this season, which has been the case in recent years. There are several ranked teams in this league, but it’s also a conference that sees upsets happen on any given night.
Creighton hosts Providence on Tuesday night, and both of these teams are good enough to win the league title this season. The Bluejays and Friars have also suffered some upset losses already, and they can’t afford many more losses to stay in the title race.
Wednesday night is a huge matchup in the Big East as the Xavier Musketeers host the Villanova Wildcats. This is a matchup of Top 25 teams, and each team is talented enough to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
The loaded Big East slate of games wraps up on Sunday with a matchup between the Georgetown Hoyas and the St. John’s Red Storm. This isn’t a game between ranked opponents, but it’s one of the best rivalries in the conference.
The College Football Championship Game is set for Monday, January 10, and it is a matchup that many want to see. The Alabama Crimson Tide will take on the Georgia Bulldogs in a rematch of the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama wasn’t as dominant during the regular season in 2021, but they looked the part in the CFP semifinals. The Crimson Tide picked up a 27-6 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats to give them a chance at winning their second straight title.
Georgia was the top-ranked team for much of the season, but that loss to Alabama in the SEC title game dropped them to number three. The Bulldogs defeated the Michigan Wolverines in the CFP semifinals by a score of 34-11.
The Bulldogs are slim 2.5-point favorites over the Crimson Tide on Monday night.
Crimson Tide Rolling on Offense
The Alabama Crimson Tide used to win titles by playing suffocating defense, but that is no longer the case. Now Alabama wins championships by having a roster full of talented offensive weapons, and the team this year is no exception.
Quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy this season, and he has already racked up 4,503 passing yards and 46 touchdowns on the year. Young has a ton of weapons at his disposal, but the Crimson Tide can also rack up yards on the ground.
Brian Robinson Jr. had 26 carries for 204 yards in the win over Cincinnati, and he is going to be looking for some holes in the Georgia defense. If Alabama can run the ball well, then it will open up more room for Young to exploit the Georgia secondary.
Georgia Has to Run it Well
The only way Georgia will win this game is by running the football well and then playing dominant defense. Georgia is averaging 194 rushing yards per game, but they face an Alabama defense that allows just 82 rushing yards per game.
Another big key will be the play of quarterback Stetson Bennett and the Georgia passing attack. Bennett threw seven interceptions this season, and a turnover against Alabama will prove to be costly.
The defense for the Bulldogs has led the way all season long as they are giving up just 9.5 points per game. Georgia did give up 41 points to Alabama in the first meeting, and that performance has to be better in this one.
Finding a way to get pressure on Bryce Young will give the secondary for the Bulldogs a fighting chance to get some stops. Georgia wants to keep this game in the 30’s, even though they average nearly 40 points per game.
Alabama Continues to Own the Bulldogs
Georgia is going to keep this game much closer than the SEC Championship Game, but they won’t be able to get over the hump against Alabama. Nick Saban and his team have dominated the entire SEC over the past decade, and it’s hard to see that changing in this one.
The Bulldogs have been a dominant defense all season long, but Alabama is one team that didn’t have any trouble solving them. Bryce Young and the Crimson Tide offense will put up some big numbers in this game, which will be the difference.
This is clearly a matchup of the two best teams in college football, but the most dominant program will add another title to the dynasty. Take the small upset and bet on the Alabama Crimson Tide Moneyline to win another College Football Championship.
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There is just one week remaining of the NFL regular season, and there are some big games on tap this weekend. Most of the playoff spots have been claimed by NFL teams, but some spots are still up for grabs.
Since the NFL has added a seventh playoff spot in each conference, it has kept more teams in the postseason race for longer. This has created more drama, and Week 17 was filled with plenty of big games.
The real fun will begin in two weeks when the actual playoffs begin, but this will be a nice warmup in Week 18. With so many seeding possibilities still left on the table, many teams won’t rest their players or take this week off.
The NFC appears to have things more figured out than the AFC, but things can always change in a hurry. Here is a look at the 2022 NFL playoff picture heading into Week 18.
Work Left in the AFC
The Tennessee Titans are holding on to the top spot in the AFC heading into Week 18, but they will have to win the season finale to remain in that position. Kansas City is currently in second place with a record of 11-5, and a win would lock them into a top-two spot.
Three teams enter Week 18 with a record of 10-6, and that is where things really start to get interesting. After that, there are three teams with identical 9-7 records, and there are just two spots left open.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders face off in Week 18, and the winner will likely earn the final playoff spot in the AFC. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are still alive, but they need some help.
NFC Shaping Into Focus
The NFC playoff picture is a little more clear, especially at the top. The Green Bay Packers have clinched the top seed in the conference, but the next few spots could be up for grabs in the final week.
The Green Bay Packers have clinched the top seed in the NFC.
The Los Angeles Rams enter Week 18 with a 12-4 record, and the Arizona Cardinals come in at 11-5. This means that the NFC West is still up for grabs, and the winner of that division could significantly impact the rest of the standings in that conference.
The New Orleans Saints are currently 8-8 and on the outside looking in. A win by the Saints in Week 18 and getting some help could allow them to sneak into the field.
Super Bowl Betting Odds
Now that the playoff picture has started to come into focus, the Super Bowl betting odds have been updated as well. The betting favorite has changed several times throughout the year, but there is a clear favorite heading into the season’s final week.
By earning the number one seed in the NFC, the Green Bay Packers have moved up to the betting favorites at +380. According to the odds below, oddsmakers favor the Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC and face the Packers in the Super Bowl.
These betting odds don’t have any factor in what takes place on the field once the postseason begins, but it provides a measure of how teams stand heading into the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Buffalo Bills are next on the list at +750, and they will be tough teams to eliminate as well.
The NFL MVP betting odds have been changing pretty drastically throughout the regular season. There was a new player as the betting favorite heading into Week 17, and he will likely stay on top heading into the season finale.
These betting odds will remain open until the final regular season game is played, but there are much fewer betting options now than when the year started. Team success plays a role in this award as well, but it’s given to the best player in the NFL.
Who will walk away with the 2021 NFL MVP Award?
The NFL MVP Award has also turned into an award handed out to the best quarterback in the league each year. Other positions are eligible, but the voters tend to stick with the best player at the most important position in the league.
Even though the list is short, there is still some drama as the calendar has flipped to 2022. Here is a look at the most recent list of NFL MVP betting odds.
Rodgers Running Away With It
Aaron Rodgers is the reigning MVP in the NFL, and it appears as if he is going to win this award again. Betting odds don’t always reflect how the final vote will go, but Rodgers is now a clear betting favorite at -190.
The fact that Rodgers once again has the Green Bay Packers in line to be the top seed in the NFC has definitely played a role in the odds. Beyond that though, Rodgers just keeps putting up numbers that other quarterbacks in this league just can’t match.
There was some debate about the state of Rodgers heading into the year, but he made it to Green Bay in time to get the season going. Rodgers has shown no signs of slowing down, even if he has hinted at retirement or moving on from the Packers at some point in the future.
Brady, Taylor Keeping the Pressure On
If Rodgers doesn’t win the award, you can expect Tom Brady or Jonathan Taylor to steal it. Brady is no stranger to winning the NFL MVP Award, but Taylor is a brand new option making a serious run.
Both Brady and Taylor entered Week 17 with odds set at +500 to win the MVP, and they will give the voters something to think about. Brady and the Buccaneers have not looked as sharp lately, and that will affect how voters consider the future Hall of Fame QB.
Taylor has put up ridiculous rushing stats for the Indianapolis Colts, and he is trying to snap the current run of quarterbacks to win the MVP Award. Derrick Henry couldn’t get it done a season ago, but Taylor just might have what it takes this season.
Other Quarterbacks Fell Off
Before the season started, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs were big favorites to win this award. Those two young quarterbacks are the future of the NFL, and it looked as if they would compete for this award for years to come.
Heading into the final two weeks of the season, both Allen and Mahomes had odds set at +1200 to win it. Basically, they have no chance to win the award, and it was recent play that really kept them from staying in the mix.
Matthew Stafford was another popular pick in the preseason, but his odds fell to +5000 heading into Week 17. Cooper Kupp (+2500) and Joe Burrow (+5000) were two players that were trending in the right direction, but they just ran out of time to win the MVP award.
College football is going to dominate the action on Friday and Saturday, but then it is all about the NFL again on Sunday. There are just two weeks remaining in the regular season, and a bunch of playoff spots are still up for grabs.
There are only a handful of games that don’t have some big storylines attached to them, and it’s going to make Week 17 a great weekend to watch. Here are five Week 17 NFL games that you should be watching this weekend:
Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals
The 11-4 Chiefs head to Cincinnati to take on the 9-6 Bengals, and this could be a potential playoff preview. Kansas City was supposed to be really good this year, but the Bengals have been a major surprise.
Patrick Mahomes has the Chiefs offense cruising once again, but it has been the Kansas City defense that has turned things around. Kansas City looked beatable early in the year, but they have been dominating teams of late.
The Cincinnati Bengals just put up 41 points in a win over Baltimore, but now it’s time for them to prove they can compete with one of the best in football. This game should feature a ton of points which will make it even more exciting.
Miami Dolphins at Tennessee Titans
The 8-7 Dolphins visit the 10-5 Titans, and both teams are hoping to pick up a playoff spot in the AFC. Miami has been on a remarkable run while Tennessee is trying to hang on and win the AFC South Division.
Both teams have really struggled to find offense this season, and points could be pretty hard to come by. Since both teams have a great chance of making the playoffs, these teams could meet up again soon.
This will be a game to watch this weekend.
Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts
The Raiders head into Indianapolis needing a win, and they are catching a massive break. The Colts will be without quarterback Carson Wentz, and that could potentially shut down the Colts’ offensive attack.
Stopping the run will be a major key for the Raiders as Jonathan Taylor is one of the best in football. The Colts will be running the ball a ton in this game, and Las Vegas has to find a way to get stops at the line of scrimmage.
Both teams are desperate for a win, and that should make this a fun game to watch in Week 17.
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
The reeling Cardinals head to Dallas to take on the surging Cowboys. Both of these teams have spent time near the top of the betting favorites list to win the Super Bowl.
Arizona just can’t seem to snap this losing streak, and playing in Dallas isn’t going to help things. The Cowboys just continue to get better, and they look like a threat to win the NFC.
This game will have a playoff feel to it as each team will be trying to prove their worth in this matchup.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC North rivals meet up on Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 17. Both teams still have an outside chance at reaching the postseason, but this game will be important for an entirely different reason.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is nearing the end of his career, and this could be his final start in Pittsburgh. It has been a Hall of Fame career for Roethlisberger under center, but it hasn’t gone well this season.
Cleveland will need two straight wins to have any chance of making the playoffs. The Browns were in a great position before injuries, and COVID-19 really derailed their run over the last few weeks.
Keep up with your latest NFL news coverage and sports betting previews at SportsGambling.US.
It has been a pretty crazy college football bowl season, and there have been a ton of games canceled along the way. It still appears as if the two most important college football games of the season will take place as the College Football Playoff will begin on New Year’s Eve.
The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will take on the fourth-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats in the Cotton Bowl Classic to kick off the CFP. Georgia and Michigan are will be playing in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
The winners of each game will meet up for the College Football Playoff Championship on Monday, January 10, at Lucas Oil Stadium. The betting odds clearly favor a rematch of the SEC Championship Game, but there have been plenty of upsets in the past.
Current Odds to Win CFP Championship
Since there are just four teams remaining, the CFP betting odds have those same four teams left as well. The odds to win the CFP Championship have been changing throughout the season, but there won’t be much changing of these odds before the games kick off on New Year’s Eve.
Georgia spent the entire regular season as the betting favorite once Alabama lost, but those teams have now flipped once again. There is a clear one-two in terms of betting favorites to win the title while the other teams are pretty far down the list.
After the semi-finals are played, the odds will update one more time. If it’s Georgia and Alabama taking each other on in the CFP Championship, then the odds will likely look very similar heading into January.
Alabama Crimson Tide +120
Georgia Bulldogs +140
Michigan Wolverines +600
Cincinnati Bearcats +1400
‘Bama Big Favorites Over Bearcats
The 1-4 matchup has produced some terrific games over the years, but oddsmakers aren’t giving the underdog much of a chance in this one. Alabama is a 13.5-point betting favorite even though Cincinnati comes into this game without a loss on the year.
The Crimson Tide come into this matchup scoring over 42 points per game, and they have done that against some very good defensive teams in the SEC. Quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy this season after throwing 43 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
Cincinnati has been a dominant defensive team in 2021, holding teams to just 16.1 points per game. Much of that work did come against much weaker teams, and there is some question about the ability of the Bearcats to defend the Crimson Tide.
The Bearcats are going to have to win the time of possession battle if they want to keep this game close at all. Alabama can put up points in a hurry, and the Bearcats have to find a way to give their defense a break at times.
With all that said, Alabama is a pretty clear favorite in this game, and it’s hard to see Cincinnati staying within two touchdowns.
Can Wolverines Win Against Georgia
The second game of the day should be much better, even though Georgia is a 7.5-point betting favorite. These are two traditionally strong college football programs, and there is going to be plenty of attention on this matchup.
Georgia is giving up less than 10 points per game this season, but that defense got roughed up in the loss to Alabama. The Bulldogs are going to have to control the game with the defense if they are going to take control of this matchup.
Michigan wants to run the football, and Hassan Haskins has racked up more than 2,000 yards on the year. The Wolverines will give up some points, but they are comfortable playing in a game that is much higher-scoring.
If you are looking for a close game in the CFP, then this is the matchup to watch.
The 2021-22 NBA season is off to a fast start, but COVID-19 has started to affect the schedule and the action on the floor. A number of teams have been dealing with an outbreak of positive cases, and that has affected some outcomes.
With the calendar almost ready to flip to 2022, now is a great time to look at the playoff race in each conference. There is going to be plenty of movement over the next few months, but some trends have already started to emerge.
The NBA is once again hosting a play-in tournament for the final two playoff spots, and that will keep more teams in the playoff race for longer. Here is a look at the current playoff picture with some betting odds included.
Clear Top Four Teams
There are four NBA teams that have emerged as the clear favorites to win the betting title, with two coming from each conference. Here are the current odds to win the NBA Championship:
Brooklyn Nets +260
Golden State Warriors +550
Milwaukee Bucks +700
Phoenix Suns +850
Brooklyn has been the betting favorite since the beginning of the season, and the Nets currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks are the defending NBA champion, and they are keeping pressure on the Nets and are in third place in the East.
The Chicago Bulls are the biggest surprise in the NBA this season, and they are currently in second place in the East. Miami and Cleveland are in fourth and fifth, respectively, and should stay in the race as well.
The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns have just six losses apiece to lead the Western Conference, and it looks like a two-team race is shaping up. The Utah Jazz are 3.5 games out of first place in the West, but the oddsmakers don’t like their chances at winning a title.
Bottom of the East is Crowded
There are currently eight teams within 3.5 games of each other for the 6-10 spots in the Eastern Conference. Fans were expecting this conference to be more competitive in 2021-22, but it appears that five teams are breaking away from the pack.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards currently are tied for 6th place in the East, but they have a number of teams chasing them. It would be the Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics, and Atlanta Hawks joining the play-in tournament in the East if the season ended today, but a lot can change over time.
The Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons are the only two teams in the Eastern Conference that appear to have no shot at reaching the postseason in the Eastern Conference.
Surprises in the West
The Western Conference has just four teams within 7.5 games of first place, and some teams are already down in the standings. It is the Memphis Grizzlies that are currently holding on to the fourth spot, but some very talented teams are already out of the race.
The LA Clippers, DenverNuggets, and Los AngelesLakers are currently in the 5th-7th positions, and each of those teams were expected to compete for the Western Conference crown. Both Denver and the Lakers are actually under .500 after Christmas, and it’s going to take a major push to keep them out of the play-in tournament.
The Houston Rockets are currently in last place in the Western Conference, but the New Orleans Pelicans are only slightly ahead of them. With so many teams failing to live up to expectations in the Western Conference, it’s going to form a competitive race for the final few spots.
We have reached Week 16 of the NFL season, which means that playoff races are heating up throughout the league. The other race heating up is the MVP race, and things have really tightened up in the last few weeks.
There is a new favorite to win the MVP Award, and it’s a name that won’t be much of a surprise to fans that follow the league. It seems as if there are only a couple of players with a real shot at winning the award, but a big three weeks could change things once again. Of course, sports bettors could wager on who they believe will come away with the award.
Here is a look at how the MVP race is shaping up and which players seem to have the inside track to win the award.
Veterans Lead the Way
A pair of veteran quarterbacks are leading the way when looking at the betting odds, but they have changed positions. Aaron Rodgers is now the betting favorite to win the MVP Award at +140, while Tom Brady is right behind him at +185.
Currently, Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the favorite to win MVP.
Just a few weeks ago, it appeared that Brady was going to run away with this award, but he just hasn’t put up big numbers lately. On the other hand, Rodgers is playing his best football of the season, and his Green Bay Packers team has been on a roll as well.
Rodgers won the MVP Award a season ago, and he has seemingly been in the mix throughout his entire career. Winning back-to-back MVPs in the NFL is not something that happens often, but Rodgers has enough talent to get it done.
Brady can play himself back in the conversation with three big weeks to finish the year, and voters will have a tough decision to make. Just when you think these two quarterbacks are getting close to retirement, they continue to dominate the league.
Can A Running Back Win It?
Quarterbacks have dominated the NFL MVP Award in recent years, but there is a great running back choice this season. Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts has odds set at +850 to win the MVP Award, and he has climbed up the leaderboard.
The last running back to win the MVP Award was Adrian Peterson back in 2012. Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans had a monster season in 2020, but he couldn’t snatch the title away from Rodgers.
Taylor is putting up stats that are certainly worthy of MVP consideration, but it’s going to come down to how the voters view this award. If the running back slump is going to be broken, Taylor will be the player who does it this season.
Ready to Make a Run
Even though things seem to be wrapped up, some other players can still get back into the mix. These three quarterbacks should have their team in the NFL Playoffs, which will matter with the voters.
Here are the three other quarterbacks with an outside chance:
Matthew Stafford +900
Patrick Mahomes +1100
Josh Allen +1500
Many NFL betting experts pegged Allen as the MVP betting favorite before the season began, but he has not played as well as a year ago. If Allen can lead the Bills to an AFC East title, that will help his chances.
Stafford and Mahomes will get some votes, but they haven’t put up the stats like Brady and Rodgers have. Mahomes has won this award in the past, while Stafford is having a monster season as a new member of the Los Angeles Rams.
Just three weeks are remaining in the 2021 NFL season, and there are still 13 playoff spots available. The addition of an extra Wild Card spot has added some intrigue, but there has also been a ton of competition within each division this season.
Injuries and COVID-19 will affect some of the action over the final three weeks, but the league is doing all it can to get the games in as scheduled. A majority of the games in Weeks 16, 17, 18 will impact the playoff race, and about 20 teams will remain in the race until the end of the year. So much parity in the NFL gives fans plenty of sports betting opportunities.
If the regular season is any indication of how competitive the playoffs are going to be, then it is going to be a great month of January.
Packers In, Three Teams Are Close
Through Week 15, the Green Bay Packers are the only team that has clinched a division title as they have won the NFC North yet again. It makes sense that the Packers were the first to win the division because they have dominated the North over the past two decades.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have clinched the NFC North.
Three other teams are close to wrapping up a division title, including one that blew a great chance at winning that title in Week 15. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just one win away from capturing the NFC South crown, but they suffered a 9-0 loss at home to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.
The other two teams that should wrap up a division title soon are the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs. Dallas has a big lead in the NFC East Division, and the Chiefs have pulled away from the pack in the AFC West.
These four teams should all factor into the Super Bowl race once the playoffs begin, as all four have been the betting favorites since the season started.
AFC North Race is Complicated
The other four divisions that don’t have a clear winner will all be fun races to follow, but none are as crazy as the AFC North. A new team seems to emerge as the betting favorite to win the AFC North after each week is completed, and it’s hard to predict who wins this title.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens are now in the lead at 8-6 on the year, and it feels like the Bengals have more momentum than the Ravens. Cincinnati also holds the tiebreaker as they are 3-1 in divisional play while the Ravens are just 1-3.
The Pittsburgh Steelers enter Week 16 with a 7-6-1 record, while the Cleveland Browns are still in the mix at 7-7. All four teams can still win the AFC North Division title, and each team can still miss out on the playoffs entirely. There will be plenty of drama over the final three weeks in that division.
Wild Card Battles Heating Up
The goal for every team is obviously to win the division, but there is also a path to the playoffs by being a Wild Card team. The Wild Card race in the NFL is always crazy every year, but there is some extra drama this season.
In the AFC, there are currently nine teams battling for the three Wild Card spots, and tie-breaking scenarios will come into effect this season. The AFC has 13 of the 16 teams with a record of at least .500 entering Week 16.
The NFC isn’t quite as jumbled as there are only nine teams with a serious shot at reaching the postseason. Some teams at 6-8 can still make a run, but the bottom of the NFC is not nearly as strong as the bottom of the AFC.
The NBA season is nearly two months old, but the league hasn’t garnered much attention since the NFL is always dominating the headlines. This has also been a pretty crazy NBA season, and the odds to win the NBA Championship have been adjusted a number of times.
Here is a look at the updated odds to win the NBA Finals with a breakdown of some of the teams in the mix.
Favorites
Brooklyn Nets +260
Golden State Warriors +600
Milwaukee Bucks +700
Phoenix Suns +900
The Brooklyn Nets have been the betting favorites to win the NBA Finals since the odds were first announced, and they have remained in that position since. Brooklyn is still at the top of the Eastern Conference, and rumor has it that Kyrie Irving is about to join the team soon.
Golden State has been playing the entire season with Klay Thompson and James Wiseman, but both players are going to make their debut in January. That will make the Warriors a serious threat to win the Western Conference and then become a threat to win the title.
Milwaukee and Phoenix are both included as well with the group of favorites, but each team still has some serious flaws that will need to be fixed before they win the title. The Bucks are the defending champions, but they have some work to do before they are the favorites in the East.
Contenders
Los Angeles Lakers +1000
Utah Jazz +1100
Miami Heat +1200
It’s pretty hard to separate the favorites from the contenders when it comes to the NBA betting odds, but there are three teams that need to be considered as in the mix. All three of these teams could easily win the championship this season, but a little bit of luck might be needed.
The Lakers were one of the top betting picks to begin the year, but the odds have fallen all the way down to +1000. The Miami Heat are another team that should be a threat to win it all, but those odds are currently at +1200.
Darkhorses
LA Clippers +2100
Philadelphia 76ers +2400
Denver Nuggets +2400
Chicago Bulls +3000
All four teams in the darkhorse category are legitimate title contenders, but there is one team that really sticks out above the rest. The Chicago Bulls have come out of nowhere this season, but that roster has what it takes to win a title.
The NBA is not like other sports in that underdogs don’t typically make a run at the NBA Championship, but this is not a normal year. You need to keep a close eye on every team on this list, but the Chicago Bulls appear to be the team with the best chance to surprise and win an NBA Championship.
Longshots
Dallas Mavericks +3600
Atlanta Hawks +3600
Boston Celtics +6500
Memphis Grizzlies +8000
New York Knicks +8000
When it comes to other professional sports, looking at the list of longshots actually presents a pretty solid betting opportunity. This isn’t usually the case with the NBA as there aren’t typically a number of major upsets in the NBA Playoffs.
The one team on this list of longshots to keep an eye on is the Boston Celtics at +6500. Boston has been in the Eastern Conference Finals as recently as two seasons ago, and that is still a roster that is full of exciting talent.
The rest of the teams on this list have enough talent to make some noise in the NBA postseason, but winning the title just doesn’t seem like a realistic option.
