The start of the NBA season is upon us and the online sportsbooks wasted no time posting the odds on which basketball franchise will win this time around. Today we will take a quick look at the future betting odds on which NBA team will win the 2016/17 Championship, as well as delve a bit deeper into other betting options offered by the popular online sportsbooks.
By just taking a quick look at the odds tables at the sportsbooks it’s clear that the oddsmakers are once again betting this Championship to be a two-horse race. All over the internet, sportsbooks have the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors as the top two teams to once again contend for the NBA Championship title. The exact odds however, would have Stephen Curry smile and LeBron James cringe. The online sportsbooks are showing no love to LeBron and the Cavs, having the Warriors as nearly a sure thing this season. But let’s review the actual betting odds published by two of the most popular online sportsbooks.
Starting with out best sportsbook, Bookmaker, we find the Warriors offering little value as the favorite NBA franchise to get the trophy once more, holding -145 odds to win again in 2017. The Cavaliers are distant second with odds +295. Clearly the betting websites are not too enthusiastic about LeBron this year, looking at the vast difference in the betting odds. Of course compared to the odds on the rest of the NBA teams, the sportsbooks appear to have shrugged all others with the exception of maybe the San Antonio Spurs, who are holding +708 odds to upset the filed this basketball season. Everyone else is paying on extremely long odds of 4- and 5-digits, the L.A. Clippers at forth place in the odds’ table at +2789. You want to get the most return for $1? Go with the Brooklyn Nets, who would net you +100,000 money line return.
The situation isn’t much more different at another sportsbook we consulted for the 2017 NBA Championship. At Bovada Sports, however, the favorites would pay out on slightly better betting odds. The Golden State Warriors are the top contender here, as well, but at Bovada the money line is more conservative -125, while the chances of the Cavaliers are a tad worse compared to Bookmaker, posted at +300. The Spurs hold a +900 money line and everyone else would pay extremely well with odds in the high 4 and 5 digits.
If you aren’t sold on the Cavs – Warriors replay this season, we suggest comparing the odds per conference, to see what else of value is out there. Following the money (i.e. the sportsbooks), right now in the Eastern Conference we have the Cavs favorite at -215, with the Boston Celtics as main competitor with odds +500 to deliver an upset in the Eastern. Toronto, Atlanta and Chicago follow behind those two. In the Western Conference, naturally the Warriors are top bet with the sportsbooks at -250. The main rivals for a trip to the finals appear to be the Spurs at +450, followed by the Clippers with distant +1200 to win the conference.
Overall, looking at the future betting odds offered by the online
sportsbooks, if you don’t believe in another Warriors-Cavs replay this
NBA season, there is a ton of value out there. It’s only a matter of
getting it right early to secure some insane payout odds.