Big Easy Believer
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New Orleans Pelicans: Betting guide vs. Miami Heat

By Jason Reed

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 31: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on October 31, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 31: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on October 31, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off of a big win against the Los Angeles Clippers and are heading to South Beach to take on the Miami Heat.

The New Orleans Pelicans were improbable underdogs against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday and managed to rain on the Clippers’ parade in Paul George‘s first game of the 2019 season.

Granted, Kawhi Leonard did not play as it was the second game of a back-to-back but the Clippers still impressed behind a great effort from Jrue Holiday. New Orleans had its fair share of injuries as well as Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and of course, Zion Williamson did not play.

That is all of the young assets that are sparking the excitement for this new era of Pelican basketball, so it is safe to say that this win was a surprise.

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Heck, I even went out on a limb and predicted the Pelicans to get dominated in this game. I predicted that the Clippers would cover their 4.5-point spread with easy and that they would easily win by double digits.

I could not have been more wrong, which seems to be a trend this season as I attempt to guess the Pelicans game against the spread.

I get another crack at it today as the Pelicans are taking on the Miami Heat and are eight-point underdogs, according to the Action Network. Only one odds provider is currently available, though, so the “consensus” line could shift a tad before tip-off.

Regardless, it is the eight-point spread that I am going off of and here is what I would be if I was forced to bet the Pelicans in Las Vegas.

Against the spread prediction (3-6-1): Miami Heat -8

I really wanted to take the New Orleans Pelicans in this game but I have been so bad this season that I decided to go against my gut feeling to make this pick. And upon looking at the Miami Heat results this year, I probably made the right choice.

The Miami Heat has only had one game all season that was decided by fewer than nine points, win or lose that was the team’s 131-126 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Every other game this year has had at least a nine-point margin, which is a very telling story for this game. The Heat have either won definitively or lost definitively, so really, I tried treating this as a pick ’em.

As impressive as the Pelicans were on Thursday, it is hard for me to buy in on a banged-up team that is playing its second game of a three-game stretch over four days. They got the big win on Thursday, now they are due for a dud on Saturday.

dark. Next. Saints facing bigger injuries than Drew Brees

I think it will be a relatively close game all game long and then the Heat will pull away late to cover the spread and continue the trend.

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