Find Your Edge! Scan our Expert Picks and click pick for analysis
The table above displays our sports betting computer’s picks based on the last 100 NBA games played – it gives basketball bettors a data-backed look into which games and NBA odds could hold some hidden value.
It can be tricky to nail down the “perfect” bet, but our expert predictions will teach you how to bet on basketball matchups with confidence.
Odds Shark Free Computer Picks
How to Use the NBA Computer Picks Table
Following the computer picks blindly is not a surefire way to make gains when betting on NBA action. If anything, it's merely a guide to place bettors in the best position possible to achieve success, whether you're betting moneyline, the spread, or OVER/UNDER.
We use statistical analysis and machine learning projections to create our selections, but don't forget to do your own research to find the best value!
Moneyline
Betting the moneyline means you're picking the winner of the game, no strings attached. If the team you bet on emerges victorious, then so do you.
| Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -120 |
| Golden State Warriors | +150 |
In this example, the Los Angeles Lakers are favorites to win the game as their moneyline odds have a minus sign (-) in front of the number. The favorites will have the minus sign present, and the underdogs will have a plus sign (+).
Betting $100 on the Lakers would pay you $180 -- your original $100 bet, plus $80 in winnings. If you bet $100 on the Warriors, since oddsmakers believe they're less likely to win this game, the payout would be $250.
Spread
Betting the spread provides more wiggle room to bettors for games that may appear one-sided on paper. Rather than simply picking the winner like you would with moneyline, you can instead pick the point differential on the scoreboard to give underdogs more of a fighting chance with your wagers.
| Team | Spread |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -4.5 (-110) |
| Golden State Warriors | +4.5 (-110) |
In this example, the Lakers are favored to not only win the game against the Warriors, but do so by at least 4.5 points. As a gentle reminder, the minus sign (-) determines the favorite for the game in question.
Should the Lakers win by five points, that would mean Los Angeles "covered the spread," resulting in a win for those who bet in their favor. However, if the Lakers won by four points, that would mean the Warriors "covered the spread" instead.
The -110 betting line enclosed in parentheses is fairly common for spread bets. That is the number bettors would follow to determine potential gains and losses, just like the moneyline.
Totals
An OVER/UNDER bet has nothing to do with which team wins the game. Instead, all that matters is the total combined score for that game and whether it exceeds a preset number established for oddsmakers.
| Team | Total |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | O 240.5 (-110) |
| Golden State Warriors | U 240.5 (-110) |
In this example, oddsmakers have set the total score for the Lakers and Warriors at 240.5 points.
As a bettor, you can select the OVER if you believe the two teams will combine to score more than 240.5 points (241 or more), or bet the UNDER if they'll score fewer than 240.5 points (240 or fewer).
If the set number was a whole number like 240 points, for example, and the two teams combined to score exactly that amount, then the result would be a push and you'd simply get your money back.
Find the Best NBA Picks Today
Our moneyline picks, point spread predictions, and over/under estimates are solid tools to start betting with -- don't glance over other tools though, especially NBA analytics. You can find a collection of resources below ranging from databases to NBA betting tips; browse through them and find the best value on every NBA sportsbook.
