10 Noteworthy NBA Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers could be the team to make you a lot of money.

A month into the 2013-14 NBA season and BettingSports.com decided it was time to part with some wisdom.

Below you’ll find 10 current NBA betting trends that are well worth taking into account when you look at Monday’s (or any other day’s) betting lines. These are all very basic trends but could soon see your winnings mount up.

If you want some seriously in depth head-to-head trends, be sure to check out the individual game matchups we publish on a daily basis. You can find these by clicking through to our NBA odds page and picking the matchup of your choice.

So, without further ado, here are 10 NBA betting trends you should take note of.

1. Indiana Covers the Spread

The Indiana Pacers are not only the best team in the NBA in terms of current standings but also the league’s best team against the spread. Frank Vogel’s side has posted a 13-4-0 ATS record so far this season, making them one of the most reliable teams for bettors to back.

The Pacers will look to cover the spread for a 14th time on Monday as they visit the Portland Trail Blazers, another team that has been efficient against the spread this season. The Blazers are tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for most games covering the spread (11).

The showdown between the conference leaders is the highlight of Monday’s NBA schedule.

2. Cleveland Doesn’t Cover the Spread

At the other end of the spectrum, the Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled greatly against the spread, amassing a 4-13-0 ATS record early in the season. Along with the New York Knicks (see below) and Sacramento Kings, the Cavs have covered the fewest times in the league this year, which makes them a reliable team to bet against.

3. New York is Terrible Against the Spread, Especially at Home

Like the Cavaliers, the Knicks have covered the spread just four times this season. Here’s the real kicker though; not one of those times came in a game played at Madison Square Garden. No other team in the league has failed to beat the spread at least once at home or on the road, making this a very special Knicks team indeed. With the Knicks back at MSG this coming weekend, bettors might want to consider backing the road team to cover the spread.

4. Portland and Phoenix Could Be Punching Above their Weight Class

Like Portland, the Phoenix Suns have dumbfounded bookmakers and fared well against the spread. Going into Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Suns are 11-4-2 ATS. But both teams could be in for a bit of a rude awakening.

It takes a lot of imagination to see both the Blazers and Suns continuing their current run of good form. Sitting tied atop the Western Conference, Portland has well and truly over-achieved early in the year. Can this young lineup remain consistent? Meanwhile, Phoenix sits just outside of a playoff berth with one of the weakest rosters in the league, something that surely won’t continue. While both look good against the spread right now, it’s worth proceeding with caution here.

5. The Lakers Are Better Against the Spread Than You Might Think

Things haven’t been great for the Los Angeles Lakers as they await the return of Kobe Bryant. But then again, they haven’t been awful either. The Lakers currently sit at .500 which would be good for third-place were the team a member of the Eastern Conference. Sadly, the Western Conference is strong this year. Really strong.

But the Lakers are proving fairly reliable when it comes to covering the spread this season, having posted a 10-6-0 ATS record. The odds makers will continue to flirt with the Lakers’ favorite/underdog status, which means there’s money to be won here.

6. Philadelphia Favors the Over

If you like to bet the over/under and are on the lookout for a team to back, look no further than the Philadelphia 76ers. The team may be mired in the anemic Atlantic Division but it has certainly been consistent when it comes to the over/under. The total has gone over in 13 of 18 games involving the Sixers.

7. New Orleans Favors the Over

Out West, New Orleans is fast becoming a solid over pick. The Pelicans have seen the total go over in 11 of 16 games so far this season, the highest ratio for any Western Conference team. The Blazers have also seen the total go over 11 times (from 17 games).

8. Boston Favors the Under

The Boston Celtics have watched the total go under an incredible 13 times from 19 games this season, making the team a reliable under bet. With little expected from the team and even less going right, at least the Celtics offer a reward of some degree.

9. Indiana Favors the Under

Much of the Pacers’ success is built around the team’s defensive prowess. Sunday’s 105-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers marked only the second time this season that an opponent has scored 100 or more against the Pacers. Unsurprisingly then, the team has favored the under this season, with the total going under in 12 of 17 games.

10. Milwaukee is Just Plain Awful

With a 3-13 record, the Milwaukee Bucks aren’t exactly bastions of good basketball but you might be surprised to learn their shortcomings stretch far beyond the final box score. The Bucks are a paltry 5-11-0 against the spread, which at least makes them a reliable team to bet against. And with an average of just 89.2 points per game, it’s unsurprising that the team has favored the under, watching the total go under in 10 of 16 games. So, if you were to pick the Bucks to fail to cover the spread and for the total to go under, nobody would even bat an eyelid.

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