NBA Gambling: Magic vs Pelicans
The NBA preseason is officially behind us, the first game on the 2014-15 regular season slate is the Orlando Magic taking on the New Orleans Pelicans. Cappers Picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long, so check back often for our 4* Free plays.
NBA Betting Odds
Orlando vs New Orleans
Date/Time: 8:00 PM ET, Tue, Oct. 28, 2014
Smoothie King Center
Broadcast: Local
NBA Betting Spread Odds: New Orleans -9.5
NBA Betting Over/Under Odds: 197
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Last season, the Orlando Magic went 23-59 en route to a 13th-place finish out East. For those keeping track, that’s only better than the lowly Philadelphia 76ers and the league-worst Milwaukee Bucks.
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When it comes to New Orleans, the team also missed the playoffs, but in more impressive fashion. The team was still 12th in its respective conference, but it did it with 24-48 record, going up against the brutal competition out West.
Also noteworthy about the Pelicans’ 2013-14 campaign is that it was ravaged by injuries. Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon all missed significant time, and having those players on the floor for a whole year would have made a big difference.
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Once this competition kicks off, you’ll see fresh faces on both sides of the floor. For Orlando, the team has brought in rookies Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton to help bring in a new era, while veterans Ben Gordon and Luke Ridnour could also get some run.
Unfortunately, there will also be a few players for the Magic that we won’t see. Newcomer Channing Frye is out until late November, while last year’s rookie standout Victor Oladipo is out indefinitely because of a recent facial fracture that took place in preseason practices.
For the Pelicans, we’ll see newcomer Omer Asik in the starting lineup alongside Davis. These two have a chance to become one of the most intimidating defensive tandems across the entire Association, and they’ll do it on the defensive side by blocking and altering shots throughout the entirety of most contests.
Recent NBA Betting Trends
- ORL are 4-21-2 ATS in their last 27 road games.
- Under is 25-7 in ORL last 32 road games.
- Under is 10-4-2 in ORL last 16 Tue. games.
- NO are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.
- NO are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 Tue. games.
- Over is 10-4 in NO last 14 Tue. games.
- ORL are 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
- Underdog is 22-8-1 ATS in the last 31 meetings.
Free NBA Prediction:
As much as we’d like to see a close game in the first contest of the year, don’t expect that in this one.
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There will be two other games on the night that should have better results, but this one should come down to the talent of New Orleans dominating the talent of Orlando.
The question, of course, is: Will the Pelicans win by double digits? At this point, consider ‘yes’ to be the safe answer. Orlando is simply too young, and without veteran leader Channing Frye in the game (not to mention Oladipo), this one comes down to Davis and crew finding an easy win to start off the year.
Moving forward, look for the Pelicans to have some growing pains with this being the first real year the entire roster hopes to stay healthy. The team is a long shot to make the playoffs, but crazier things have certainly happened.
But with our sights set on the short term, this one should be a walk-away victory.
4* Free Pick: New Orleans -9.5
The Magic are struggling with injuries and inexperience at the moment, and that’s hardly a recipe for success on the first night of a new season.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
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