Posted on
12/31/2007 2:43:35 PM
NBA Betting Odds – Raptors at Hornets
By Eric Williams
This young NBA season has been full of surprises all over the league. The Boston Celtics are red-hot after their huge trades, the Miami Heat are atrocious despite having D-Wade and Shaq.
The Portland Trailblazers have won 14 straight games while the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers are each hovering around the.500 mark despite coming into the season with legitimate championship hopes.
Even with all of these happenings taking place around the league, there may be no better story taking place than the one the New Orleans Hornets, (20-10 SU, 17-12-1 ATS, 10-20 O/U), are skillfully writing for themselves this season.
After finishing 39-43 last season and just missing out on a playoff berth, the Hornets are currently ten games above .500 and enter tonight’s contest looking for their sixth straight win for the first time in five years. Only the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns have better records in the Western Conference than the Hornets.
The Hornets take on the Toronto Raptors, (16-15 SU, 16-14-1 ATS, 14-17 O/U) tonight in a matchup of young teams looking to build on their respective futures.
After going 47-35 last season to win their first Atlantic division title, the Raptors have struggled in the early going, hovering around the .500 mark all season.
Toronto has dropped six of their last ten games, including a 91-79 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday. New Orleans beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 86-76 Saturday night.
Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my NBA Betting Free Picks.
Key Raptors Trends
The Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
The Raptors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Southwest.
The Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Key Hornets Trends
The Hornets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
The Hornets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
The Hornets are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Key Totals Trends
The Under is 6-0 in Raptors last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.
The Over is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600.
The Under is 4-0 in Hornets last 4 home games.
The Under is 4-0 in Hornets last 4 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Key Head-to-Head Trends
The Raptors are 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings in New Orleans.
The Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
The Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in New Orleans.
Analysis: The Hornets have won five straight games, each by double figures, with their lowest margin of victory being their 10-point win over the Cavs. I say take the red-hot Hornets to cruise to another ATS cover against the struggling Raptors.
NBA Free Picks: Hornets -6.5 Points/Over 182.5 Total Points
08:05 PM EST NBA Betting Odds
Toronto Raptors +6½ -110
New Orleans Hornets -6½ -110
Over 182½ -110
Under 182½ -110
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