1st Quarter Betting – Detroit Pistons at New Jersey Nets

1st Quarter Betting – Detroit Pistons at New Jersey Nets

My 1st quarter picks have been on the money the couple two days: Orlando was a half point favorite and won by five on Monday, and yesterday the 76ers were a half point favorite and won by 12!. If you haven’t done so already, you’ve got to check out the BetOnline sportsbook’s 1st quarter NBA lines.

Today I’ve got another great pick for you NBA sportsbettors here at BetOnline. The Pistons and the Nets hook up tonight in the Meadowlands. The Nets are all but eliminated from the playoff chase, while the Pistons are right in the thick of things fighting for position. Rasheed Wallace should be out with a one game suspension after picking up his 16th tech last night, while Devin Harris will appear in his fourth game since coming back from injury. He’s struggled scoring the ball since his return, with an ugly 10pts on 11fga and only 3 assists in the Nets’ last game, against Milwaukee. Before we get into the final analysis, let’s check out the current lines and some of the important numbers and betting trends relating to this 1st quarter matchup:

Spread:

• Detroit Pistons +0.5pts -115
• New Jersey Nets -0.5pts -115

Moneyline:

• Detroit Pistons Ev
• New Jersey Nets -130

1st Quarter Betting Trends:

• The Pistons have a +0.1 point differential in the 1st quarter this season.
• The Nets have a -1.3 point differential in the 1st quarter this season.

• The Pistons have a -0.5 point differential on the road in the 1st quarter.
• The Nets have a -1.2 point differential at home in the 1st quarter.

• The Pistons are 2-0 against the Nets in the 1st quarter this season.
• The Pistons have a +8.5pt differential in the 1st quarter in those two matchups.

Analysis: The Pistons are being outscored on the road by an average of half a point a game, but the Nets are a worse than average team. They’re getting outscored by 1.2 points in the first quarter at home. In fact, the Nets don’t really take advantage of home court at all. Compare their -1.3 differential overall with their -1.2 differential at home. That’s why it’s its puzzling that the oddsmakers have the New Jersey as a favorite. When you throw in the two teams’ history this season: 4pt and 13pt 1st quarter losses for the Nets, the Pistons look even better. Also, the Pistons have more motivation, being deep in the playoff race while the Nets are all but eliminated. All of those factors more than compensate for the lack of Rasheed Wallace. The only question is whether you want to take the moneyline or the spread. I don’t expect a first quarter blowout and I think there’s a semi-decent chance of a tie, which makes me like the spread, but giving up -115 basically evens it out. Both lines are a solid bet.

Pick:

• Detroit Pistons +1/2 -115 (1st Quarter Handicap)
• Detroit Pistons Ev (1st Quarter Moneyline)