Andrew Ortenberg
Show Bio
We made it through the NBA all-star break, and games are officially back. Basketball and hockey are in full swing and baseball is right around the corner. It’s a lot, and we’re grateful for it. There are some big contests coming up, which always create some big public sides. Let’s take a look at where the public money is going as bettors once again try to beat the ‘books, with the Timberwolves leading the way on Monday.
NBA: Timberwolves -2 @ Cavaliers
When the Timberwolves got off to their dreadful start, it didn’t look like they were going to be a public side too often this season. But Minnesota has turned things around, and now there’s a lot of excitement surrounding KAT and Anthony Edwards. Accordingly, 72 percent of the bets and 86 percent of the public money are laying the points with the T-Wolves as a short road favorite, per DraftKings’ internal numbers shared with us.
The Cavs are extremely banged up right now, so this could also just be a fade of Cleveland more than anything else. Darius Garland remains out, and he’s by far the most important player on the team. Caris LeVert is also now sidelined with a foot injury, leading to some recent offensive struggles from the Cavs. Check out our full game preview for Timberwolves vs Cavaliers to see if our expert agrees.
NBA: Pacers +1.5 @ Magic
Far more surprising than the Timberwolves being a public side is the Pacers being a public side. Indiana has been one of the worst teams in the league this year, but the Magic have arguably been the worst team in the league. As such I guess it shouldn’t be too shocking that the Pacers are getting 70 percent of the bets and 83 percent of the public money on Monday.
It’s rare to see a public underdog at all. But bettors aren’t going to stand for Orlando being a favorite over just about anybody. Markelle Fultz is making his return to the court for the Magic here, but clearly that isn’t enough to generate much interest. I’ve got this game as part of my Monday NBA mega parlay, which has odds north of 14/1!
NCAAB: #10 Baylor -1.5 @ #20 Texas
Shifting our attention from pro hoops to college hoops now. The college basketball regular season is winding down, and March Madness is so close we can practically taste it. There are some great matchups for the final week of conference play, including this one between Baylor and Texas. A total 71 percent of the bets and 80 percent of the public money are on Baylor as the shortest of favorites for this Big 12 clash.
The Bears started the season off a perfect 15-0, but they’ve gone a more mortal 9-5 ever since. Baylor is coming off a double digit win over Kansas, which could explain these splits. It also probably doesn’t hurt that Baylor won by 17 when these teams first played each other a couple weeks ago. Head over to our NCAAB page for breakdowns of all the day’s biggest games.
NHL: Maple Leafs -130 @ Capitals
Wrapping things up with some hockey. Oddsmakers have this game between the Maple Leafs and Capitals as pretty close to even, but bettors certainly don’t see it that way. A total of 84 percent of the bets and 84 percent of the public money are coming in on Toronto’s money line at around -130 on Monday.
The Maple Leafs are coming off a ridiculous game where they scored 10 goals in a win over Detroit, and there’s nothing the public loves more than chasing momentum, so this one isn’t too surprising. Be sure to peruse our free picks for every NHL game on Sunday before making your wagers! The Maple Leafs game is also part of our Monday NHL mega parlay with odds of +1097.
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