Daily public money update: Bettors still believe in the Lakers

It’s that special time of year when most of the major sports are in action. It’s a lot, and we’re grateful for it. There are plenty of crucial contests coming up, which always attract 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 Lakers leading the way on Tuesday.

NBA: Lakers -4 @ Kings

The public usually gravitates toward the biggest teams with the biggest stars. So if you had said before the season the Lakes would be a big public side, that wouldn’t have surprised anybody. But Los Angeles has been arguably the league’s biggest disappointment, clocking in at just 11-11. Still, bettors aren’t ready to hop off the bandwagon. 78 percent of the bets and 93 percent of the public money are laying the points with the Lakers as a short road favorite Tuesday, per DraftKings’ internal numbers shared with us.

This also could be more a fade of the Kings than an endorsement of the Lakers. Sacramento has been one of the most pitiful teams in the NBA, and they’ve already fired their coach only a little over a month into the season. The Lakers are still the far more talented team here, and I’ve got them as part of my Tuesday NBA mega parlay (+1232 odds!)

NFL: Cowboys -4.5 @ Saints

Let’s look ahead to Thursday Night Football now. The Cowboys are dealing with some COVID issues, with head coach Mike McCarthy being the latest to test positive, but bettors aren’t too concerned about it. 82 percent of the bets and 81 percent of the public money are taking Dallas on the spread for their primetime showdown in New Orleans.

The last time everybody saw the Saints they were getting demolished by the Bills on national television, so this one isn’t too surprising. New Orleans appears to be making the switch from Trevor Siemian to Taysom Hill, but that isn’t enough to get anybody excited. We agree; we’re taking the Cowboys, as well.

NCAAB: Indiana -2.5 @ Syracuse

Now we are turning our attention to the college basketball slate. The Big Ten/ACC challenge is bringing us several great games on Tuesday, including this one between Indiana and Syracuse. The Hoosiers have started off 6-0, and the public is expecting them to keep that momentum going. A total of 72 percent of the bets and 86 percent of the public money are laying the 2.5 points with Indiana.

Indiana hasn’t exactly played the toughest schedule, but it’s hard to argue with 6-0. Syracuse is 3-3, and they even lost by 15 to Colgate a few games ago. But the public has overreacted to a small sample size. This is Indiana’s first road game of the season, and they haven’t played anybody difficult. We’re fading the public and taking the home underdog.

NCAAB: Florida State @ Purdue over 142.5

One of the biggest games of the college basketball slate is this matchup between #2 Purdue and Florida State, also part of the Big Ten/ACC challenge. The Boilermakers’ offense has been absolutely unreal so far, so it’s not surprising the public is expecting a lot of points here. A total of 79 percent of the bets and 90 percent of the public money are on the over 142.5.

Incredibly, Purdue has scored at least 92 points in five of their six games. They still scored 80 in the only one where they didn’t. That’s just unbelievable output for a college hoops team. With the way they’ve been scoring we can’t disagree, we’re on the over as well.

NHL: Lightning -105 @ Blues

We are wrapping things up now with some hockey. Oddsmakers have this game between the Lightning and Blues as virtually even, but the betting public certainly doesn’t see it that way. They think the Lightning should be a clear favorite. 81 percent of the bets and 79 percent of the public money are on Tampa Bay on the road here over St. Louis.

Blues goalie Jorda Binnington has been struggling, and St. Louis is just 3-7 in their last 10 games. The Lightning on the other hand are 10-4 in their last 14. Pickswise NHL expert Chadwick Wetzel is also on the Lightning in this spot.

Pickswise is the home of free MLB predictions, NBA predictions , NHL predictions, and college basketball predictions.