Over in NBA Odds Total Likley When Thunder Host Grizzlies on Feb. 8th

Going over versus the NBA odds total in the sports book might be the basketball bet to make on Tuesday, February 8th, when the Oklahoma City Thunder hosts the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies go into their game versus OKC after having dropped a home contest to the L.A. Lakers, 84 to 93, on Monday.  The hot Grizzlies had gone 5 and 1 against the spread leading up to that game.  Because it’s tough for a team to turn it around in the sports book and start covering spreads again, it might be a good idea for hoops handicappers to take a look at wagering on the total on Tuesday night.

Memphis Grizzlies (27-26) at Oklahoma City Thunder (33-17)

Where:  Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
When:  Feb. 8th, 2010 at 8:00 pm EST
TV:  Sports South/FSOKHD

NBA Betting Lines

Memphis Grizzlies                  +7 ½ -110        O 206 -110

Oklahoma City Thunder         -7 ½ -110         U 206 -110                                         

Check out some total trends for this matchup.

• The Over is 9 and 3 in the Memphis Grizzlies last 12 versus a team with a winning straight up record.
• The Over is 5 and 0 in the last 5 meetings between these two in Oklahoma City.
• The Over is 6 and 1 in the Oklahoma City Thunders last 7 games following a straight up victory.
• The Over is 38-15-1 in the Oklahoma City Thunders last 54 games as the favorite.

The last time these two teams faced each other, on January 8th, they combined for 209 points in the online sportsbook.  The Thunder produced 109 and the Grizzlies produced 100.

I don’t see much changing between these two on Tuesday night.  If anything, Memphis should be able to shoot at a higher percentage than the 43% they shot against the Thunder in the first game.  I expect Memphis to raise that percentage u 2 percentage points to 45% but it might even get up to 46%.  The Thunder shot 47% in that contest.  Oklahoma City averages 46%. So, they might shoot worse, but, more than likely, they’ll shoot around 47% again.

Why do I feel that Memphis gets better from the floor on Feb. 8th?  OKC allows, on average, teams to shoot 46.8% from the floor against them and to score 102.6 points per game against them.  The Grizzlies had scored 100 points or more in 4 straight games, over the total was 3 and 1 in the online sports betting book, but failed to hit the century mark versus both the Houston Rockets and the Lakers in their last 2 games.

Memphis should bounce back with a much better offensive game on Tuesday night.  Oklahoma City has scored at will versus teams like New Orleans, Phoenix and Utah.  They’ve scored 101 points or more in 7 out of their last 8 games and have hit double-digits in scoring, 110 points or more, in 4 out of their last 7 games.

With both teams putting up a ton of points on Tuesday night, I just don’t see how this game goes under the total NBA betting line of 206.  Both Memphis and Oklahoma City should run up and down the court and put the ball in the basket in this contest.

I’m backing over the total in the game versus the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Feb. 8th.

NBA Basketball Betting Pick:  Over 206

Check out NBA odds in the sportsbook!

Sources:  espn.com, covers.com