Big Easy Believer
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: Betting guide in Toronto Raptors rematch

By Jason Reed

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 26: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors participates in warmups prior to a game prior to a game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on October 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 26: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors participates in warmups prior to a game prior to a game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on October 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New Orleans Pelicans already lost to the Toronto Raptors once this season and take them on for the last time in 2019 at home on Friday.

The New Orleans Pelicans got a much-needed break from games and hopefully will use that time to iron out some of the kinks on the team to win some basketball games. The Pelicans had three days off in between games, the first time that has been the case all season.

The Pelicans definitely needed it as the team has underperformed thus far in the year. While they are battling injury, the Pelicans’ 1-6 start is a bit concerning and definitely starts to derail the outside hope that the team would be a playoff team.

The biggest positive through seven games thus far for the Pelicans has been Brandon Ingram, who has emerged not only as the best scorer on the Pelicans but one of the best in the league.

More from Big Easy Believer

Ingram ranks 11th in the league, averaging 25.9 points per game, which includes a seven-point game where Ingram only played 13 minutes due to a head injury. If Ingram would have scored 27 in that game then he would be averaging 28.7 points per game, which would be the sixth-highest.

Ingram is going to look to continue his ways while the rest of the Pelicans attempt to flip the script. The team takes on the Toronto Raptors on Friday in what is a rematch of the first game of the season, where the Pelicans took the defending champions to overtime but could not get the job done.

This is an interesting game as the Pelicans are back home now after a close first game. However, that advantage is wiped away by the Raptors’ strong play (5-2), mixed with the Pelicans’ poor play.

Here is how I would bet this game against the spread, although you might not want to take my advice during a cold streak.

The pick: New Orleans Pelicans +2.5 (Record: 3-4)

The New Orleans Pelicans are 2.5 point underdogs in this game as the home team, according to the Action Network, which makes sense. The Pelicans have been poor this season, could easily be winless and the Raptors have been great.

However, since I have been so bad at gambling here recently, I am going opposite of what my gut feeling is telling me. My gut feeling is telling me to pick Toronto -2.5, but the fact that this line is so low concerns me.

Vegas always knows something and I would have thought that the Pelicans were getting five points instead of 2.5, which is going to prompt the public to hammer money on the Raptors. I know how this game works.

After three days with no game action and after a close first game, the Pelicans are going to be able to devise a more effective gameplan and are ultimately going to hold on for a close win and not go to overtime.

Next. Pelicans desperately need Zion. dark

And hey, while it would suck to see the Pelicans lose, they can still lose by two or fewer points and my bet would hit, so that would not be that bad.

Home/New Orleans Pelicans