NBA: Lakers a Bad Bet?
The Los Angeles Lakers are flowing with confidence on a four-game winning streak but they may be a bad bet tonight.
Sportsbook.com has Los Angeles as 11-point favorites with a Total of 196, but they haven't fared well as big chalk this year. Tip-off is set for 10:30pm ET.
L.A. thrashed San Antonio 99-85 as 7 ½-point favorites on Sunday. The contest was so lopsided, Kobe Bryant only got off the bench in the fourth quarter for timeouts.
It was the Lakers 14th win in their last 17 games (10-7 ATS) and they have everyone as healthy as they have been all season with Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom and Sasha Vujacic all back to add incredible depth.
Charlotte (18-26, 27-17 ATS) has been playing with a great deal of confidence, winning five of seven and giving NBA bettors a sense of invincibility with seven straight covers.
The Bobcats opened a five game road trip in Indiana on Sunday and lost 98-93 as 5.5-point underdogs. Though Charlotte ultimately covered the spread, coach Larry Brown was not happy that his team was out-rebounded by 16.
Despite the loss, the Bobcats are still 17-8 ATS after playing two consecutive games as an underdog this season.
The Lakers (35-8, 21-22 ATS) are 5-2 ATS off a double digit win in their last seven tries and 26-13 ATS in home games after covering two of their last three against the spread.
However Phil Jackson's team is not always interested in games like this. The Lakers are 28-4 when favored by 7.5 or more points this season, but a cringing 12-20 ATS. They have the third best home record in the NBA at 22-3, yet are a less than sterling 13-13 ATS.
Charlotte has been dynamite on the road for sports bettors despite only five wins in 18 contests. The Bobcats are 12-6 ATS as visitors and 22-12 as underdogs.
Whichever way one might feel about what is the correct side, the Total is a potential match for a parlay. L.A. is 16-6 Over as a favorite of 10 or more points this season.
If Charlotte has the look catching this many points, they are 22-11 UNDER as an underdog this season, with the Total maxing out at just over 194.
The Lakers have been a disinterested participant against Charlotte with a 4-4 record all-time and just two covers. Los Angeles will be embarking on a six-game road trip after this contest, and they might get caught looking ahead.
StatFox Power Line - Lakers by 10
Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
