Eight games will tipoff in the NBA on Wednesday night. Of them, sharp bettors have made an impact on more than half.
Wiseguys have hit five games in particular tonight, totaling six actual bets on matchups ranging from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. ET. Among them are some of the evening's most heavily bet games, including Mavs-Knicks and Hawks-Kings.
Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat
7:30 p.m. ET
Sharp angle: Bulls (moved from +10.5 to +10)
The first play on tonight's report comes from South Beach, and as they often do, wiseguys are betting against a home favorite.
The 11-40 Bulls are attracting only 38% of overall bets, but they've fallen from +10.5 to +10 around most of the market. Obviously, sportsbooks aren't looking to give their customers an edge, so a move toward the unpopular side, such as this one, is usually a result of sharp action.
Sure enough, Sports Insights' Bet Signals confirm three cases of professional money hitting the Bulls (twice at +10.5 and once more at +10) and helping to drive this line down.
Dallas Mavericks @ New York Knicks
7:30 p.m. ET
Sharp angle: Under (moved from 217 to 215)
While overall bets are a bit more split on this total, it's seen a similar pattern to that of the Bulls-Heat point spread.
In this case, 46% of bets are on the under, but they've generated 65% of actual money being wagered on the total. That means bigger bets — the ones more likely to be made by sharps — are playing the under.
SI Bet Signals have also tracked four cases of sharp action, and oddsmakers have responded by dropping this number two points from its opener.
Charlotte Hornets @ Boston Celtics
8 p.m. ET
Sharp angle: Under (moved from 218 to 214.5)
Make it two unders on tonight's sharp card so far, and this one features an even more impressive bets vs. money discrepancy. The 40% of bettors taking this under have accounted for 92% of actual dollars wagered.
With much bigger bets on the under, as well as a monetary liability, sportsbooks have let this line fall from 218 to 214.5.
As for Bet Signals, this under triggered five, as many as any other single play on tonight's NBA board.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET
Sharp angles: Grizzlies (moved from +5 to +4), Under (moved from 211 to 208.5)
One bet wasn't enough for wiseguys in tonight's Grizzlies-T'Wolves matchup.
They started with the total, triggering two Bet Signals on the under this morning, and immediately causing oddsmakers to reduce the line despite only 37% of bettors in agreement on that play.
While both signals came at a total of 211.5, the movement has continued throughout the day thanks to that minority of bets generating 78% of the money — another indication of wiseguy activity.
Shortly after hammering away at the under, sharps moved onto the side, as evidenced by four Bet Signals on Memphis from late morning into the afternoon.
Like the under, the Grizzlies have also made up for a large majority of actual money despite a relatively small backing. Their 30% of bettors have accounted for 77% of the money.
Atlanta Hawks @ Sacramento Kings
10:30 p.m. ET
Sharp angle: Hawks (moved from +6.5 to +5)
Getting only 25% of bets, the Hawks are among the least popular teams on tonight's board. Despite that, they too have fallen significantly from their opening number.
Sharps hit the Hawks three times at +6, and twice more at +5.5, making them the other play to total five SI Bet Signals tonight, and causing the 1.5-point line move..
