NBA Power Rankings: Best Teams ATS & NBA Title Odds Week 2

Mark Strotman

October 23rd, 2018

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NBA betting fans be sure to check in every week for the latest trends, moving lines and analysis on potential contenders.

NBA ATS Power Rankings & Title Odds

Golden Nuggets

The Nuggets were one of our favorite picks to go over their season-long win total, and they’ve started the season in dominant fashion, winning and covering three straight games. They’re led by Nikola Jokic, who is quickly becoming an early MVP candidate. This offense is on an incredible roll.

The Knicks are just 1-3 in the standings but have kept things close against the spread. Close losses to both Brooklyn and Boston give some semblance of hope while Kristaps Porzingis is on the bench. They also had Milwaukee on the ropes before Giannis Antetokounmpo took over the fourth quarter, resulting in a push. David Fizdale deserves a lot of credit here.

Our favorite team to outplay expectations this season was the Pelicans, but even we didn’t see this coming. They’re 2-0, are averaging 140 points per game and are fully healthy.

Yes, it’s a small sample size but this is the best team in the NBA through a week of play. Anthony Davis should be considered the MVP frontrunner, averaging 28.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists.

If New Orleans is the best team in the West, Toronto gets the nod in the East. Kawhi Leonard has had no issues acclimating to his new team, Kyle Lowry can’t miss (60 percent from the field, 57 percent from deep) and they’ve won all four games by an average of 49 points. They won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

Death, taxes and a hot start from the Magic. Last season this group began the year 8-4 overall before going 17-53 the rest of the way. This year’s squad is 2-2, including a one-point road loss to the 76ers, and is 3-1 against the spread. Perhaps new head coach Steve Clifford has unlocked something in this young group. Or perhaps regression is coming very quickly.

Underdogs Are Keeping Things Close

The first couple weeks of the NBA season is always wild, but so have the upsets against the spread. Teams with losing records against the spread include Utah, Oklahoma City, Boston, Philadelphia and Houston (all 1-2), Golden State and Minnesota (both 1-3) and the 0-3 Lakers.

Games have been much closer than oddsmakers anticipated, making underdogs good plays in the early going. That trend may not continue as teams level out, but for now those underdogs are keeping games close, and the against the spread standings reflect it.