Daily public money update: Bettors have that Mile High feeling

It is a busy Sunday in sports, with the NBA, NHL, and college basketball all having plenty to offer. On the PGA Tour links, the Genesis Invitational is wrapping up at Riviera. We also have NASCAR and English Premier League action taking place. For now, let’s take a look at where the betting money is going so far when it comes to the major American sports.

NBA: Denver Nuggets -3 vs. Atlanta Hawks

Per Draft Kings, bettors are all over the Denver Nuggets as they prepare to visit the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. A whopping 92 percent of the money and 85 percent of the bets are coming in on Denver -3. Bettors like the money line (-143), as well, with 93 percent of the handle and 75 of the wagers backing the Nuggets.

There is no disagreement from us when it comes to Denver vs. Atlanta. Jamal Murray scored 50 points without attempting a single free-throw on Friday and Nikola Jokic delivered another triple-double. The Hawks are once again bad defensively now that De’Andre Hunter is sidelined, so they have little chance of stopping the Murray-Jokic duo.

NBA: New York Knicks ML over Minnesota Timberwolves

Punters are also hammering the New York Knicks, who have been undervalued more often than not during this 2020-21 campaign. The bandwagon has remained full, with 90 percent of the money and 67 percent of the bets picking New York (-141) to take care of business against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves. As for the -4 spread, 83 percent of the handle and 83 percent of the bets are tipping the Knicks. It’s safe to say the public is not afraid of Anthony Edwards!

OMG. ANTHONY EDWARDS. CAUGHT A BODY. ‼️ pic.twitter.com/D7WhBovjuA

— ESPN (@espn) February 20, 2021

We will happily give the points and take the Knicks. In fact, it is our favorite NBA bet of the day. Granted, it has more to do with Minnesota than it does with New York. The Timberwolves have been little more than hopeless this season and they did not even reach the 90-point mark against Toronto despite Edwards’ dunk of the year.

NHL: Montreal Canadiens -1.5 vs. Ottawa Senators

Bettors’ favorite NHL play of the day—by a wide margin—is the Montreal Canadiens against the Ottawa Senators. A whopping 92 percent of the handle and 86 percent of the bets are coming in on Montreal’s money line (-215). However, punters aren’t scared of the puck line—which has better value. A total of 90 percent of the money and 84 percent of the wagers are backing the Canadiens -1.5.

We are doing the same. The Senators are a bit depleted (they may be without top defensemen Thomas Chabot, who is listed as questionable) and they are not even a good team even at 100 percent. Ottawa is the worst defensive club in the entire NHL. As for the Habs, they are an impressive 6-0-2 on the road this season.

NHL: Winnipeg Jets vs. Vancouver Canucks Under 6.5 goals

In the eyes of the public, the best Over/Under bet for Sunday’s NHL slate is Under 6.5 goals in this showdown between the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks. As its stands right now, 74 percent of punters are throwing 81 percent of the total money on the under.

We are totally on board with the public here. Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck has found his game and is playing up to his Vezina Trophy-winning status with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage this season. Vancouver certainly isn’t a team that is going to strike fear into Hellebuyck.

NCAAB: Wisconsin Badgers ML over Northwestern Wildcats

On the heels of another jam-packed Saturday schedule on the college hardwood, Sunday’s slate is small by comparison. But the public can always find value when it looks hard enough and bettors have done so with Wisconsin. The Badgers (-265) are getting a ridiculous 98 percent of the money and 92 percent of the bets for their date with Northwestern. Punters are readily giving the six points, too, as 77 percent of the handle and 82 percent of the wagers are on Wisconsin ATS.

We agree that the Badgers are going to find the win column, but six points may be enough for Northwestern. Wisconsin has lost two in a row and Illinois is on deck, so this could be a trap game.

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