NBA Betting Odds Analysis: Heat vs. Magic

The Miami Heat have become accustomed to running away with the Southeast Division in recent years, but without LeBron James, they have spent the entire season looking up at the red hot Atlanta Hawks, who look as though they will wear the division crown this year. The Heat are now clinging on to the 7th seed in the East, and will have to overcome a division foe in the form of the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night to maintain their current standing and keep favorable NBA betting odds. Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2015 Time: 7:00PM Venue: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida Spread: Miami -1

NBA Betting Odds Analysis and Game Preview

Everyone knew there was going to be a drop off when James decided to take his talents back to Cleveland, but I don’t think anyone though the fall would be this precipitous. Miami is sitting 7 games under .500 right now, and while they would have a playoff spot if the season ended today, there is still plenty of time for the teams breathing down their necks to play catch up. The Heat are on a pretty poor streak at the moment, having lost 7 of their last 10 games, allowing those teams sitting on the outside now to close the gap. They did have a solid outing against Philadelphia on Monday night, but now have to go on the road for a pair of games, starting with the match-up against the Orlando Magic. There has not been very much for the Magic fans to get excited about this year, as their team is currently sitting 6 spots out of the final playoff spot in the East. If there are any positives to be taken, it’s that the Magic are currently on a mild 3-game win streak, although it has come after a stretch where they dropped 12 of 13. Orlando are a team that have been struggling offensively all year, and who have really had to lean too heavily on the scoring of Nikola Vukevic, who is averaging almost 20 points per game. They are near the bottom of all the major offensive and defensive stats, and no-one is really getting carried away by this short little run of success that the team is experiencing.

Key Betting Trends

Orlando is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games Orlando is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando’s last 6 games Orlando is 3-6-1 ATS in its last 10 games at home Orlando is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home Miami is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami’s last 5 games Miami is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games on the road Miami is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 4 of Miami’s last 5 games on the road

What Should You Bet On?

The season series between these two is tied at 1-1, and on both occasions, it was the road team that was the victor. I think that is a trend that will be continued when they lock horns on Wednesday night. As well as the Magic have played of late, I just don’t think they have enough to overcome a Miami team that has a lot more to play for at this point in the season.