NBA Handicapping Shortened Schedule

First time March Madness betting enthusiasts looking for tips on how to handicap a shortened season, need look no further then the NBA shortened schedule. After a ridiculous near five-month layoff, the NBA came back to work on Xmas Day and have 66 games per team. As a result of the layoff, the all 30 teams have to play 42 of their 66 scheduled games on back to back nights. As college basketball betting enthusiasts will show you, the March Madness tournament is all about playing on short rest. Today we will look at how to handicap a shortened schedule.

The shortened schedule is resulting in major consequences on the betting line. Probably the biggest repercussion is the fact that every team has to play at least two weeks of the schedule, where they have three games in three nights. For some teams, they may have four games in five nights. Meaning to say, how a team performs at the start of this ridiculous schedule may not be the same as at the end. As it relates to NBA betting, handicappers may in fact be looking to take a team to cover the spread in the third game of the three in three. What the bookies have found, is that when bettors take the team to cover the spread in the third game, they have come out with a record of nine wins and seven losses, which for all intents and purposes is a very respectable record.

Another issue to take into account this season more then ever, is the depth of every team. In the past, the teams that have won the championship have relied heavily on three or four guys to carry them. Yet, this season, having all 10 to 13 guys on your roster contribute, can’t be stressed enough. Especially, with up to 42 back-to-back games, it stands to reason that a good bench can be the difference between turning a profit and losing a lot of money.