The NBA has basically claimed Christmas Day as their own in the sports world the past decade or so as their quintuple-headers have become a staple during the holiday season. Being the only professional North American sport (typically when Xmas doesn't fall on a weekend and the NFL gets involved) gives the NBA a monopoly on action from a sports betting perspective and there are a few things basketball bettors should keep in mind for these NBA games.
Results / Fixtures
NBA Basketball Betting On Christmas Day
First off, because sports betting is a 365 days a year endeavor, some sports bettors can easily forget that these athletes are people too. They would love to be at home spending the holidays with their families, kicking back and enjoying the festivities. It is still a job for them after all and like any job, there will be days when these players don't want to be there. Basketball bettors see that all throughout the year when teams put up clunkers (usually during a long road trip or something), but playing on Christmas Day is arguably the one day of the year where bettors can count on many of the players not wanting to be there. That's especially true for the five unlucky teams in these quintuple-headers that have to play on the road as the whole element of traveling adds another level of disdain for these Christmas Day games.
It's along that thought process that bettors can capitalize on one main thing with these NBA Christmas Day games and it seems to happen year after year; low scoring games. Between the 10 Xmas Day games played in 2014 and 2015, nine of them (including all five in 2015) cashed 'under' tickets for bettors. These players are looking to get these games (aka work) completed as quick as possible and return home to their families. That means guys are bleeding down the shot clock, chucking up bad shots, not in rhythm because their routines are altered (for those early start times), or simply not up to playing there best because other things are on their minds.
NBA Christmas Day Spread Betting
From a point spread perspective, being at home is more of an advantage (lack of travel), but it's not as big as many bettors believe. NBA teams playing on their own floor on Christmas Day have to deal with a few more distractions with family/friends in town and sometimes that bleeds out onto the court. During that same two-year span mentioned earlier, home teams are just 6-4 against the spread. Underdogs could also be the side you should lean towards as it's a spot like playing on Christmas Day that those weaker teams could catch their opponent sleep-walking. Underdogs were 6-4 ATS on Xmas Day in 2014 and 2015 combined, including 4-1 in '15. Grabbing a much-needed win against a better opponent is always something NBA teams are looking to grab and there is no better scheduling spot for some 'dogs then playing on Christmas Day.
NBA Betting Strategies For Christmas Day
All in all, if you're a bettor that likes to look at past results to help predict future outcomes, Christmas Day in the NBA can be a lucrative one. Taking 'unders' blindly in all five games will produce a profit more often than not, but it's that side you should always be leaning towards in terms of totals. Betting point spreads is a bit tougher, but correctly analyzing the motivation factors for some of these contests can help you cash some nice odds on underdogs if you are willing to bypass the points entirely and look towards the moneylines.
Category : Online Betting News
Tag : basketball
, Christmas Betting
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, Golden State Warriors
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