
Sixers, Flyers Both Tuesday Night Underdogs
The Sixers and Flyers are underdogs of two different varieties on Tuesday night.
The Sixers, who will once again be without Joel Embiid, are an 11-point dog against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Flyers are a short road underdog against the Columbus Blue Jackets on the second leg of their back-to-back. They won on Monday at home against the Florida Panthers.
So let’s dig into both games during our very brief Eagles reprieve.
Thunder (-11) at Sixers (Over/Under: 219)
Hoooooo buddy this one could be rough.
If the Sixers can’t beat the New Orleans Pelicans at home, what makes you think they can take down the 32-6 Thunder?
I think it’s fair to say hope is officially gone within most of the Sixers fan base, and a lot of people will probably watch the Flyers, or catch up on their favorite shows (The wife and I will likely be watching the new season of Traitors tonight – best reality competition show on TV right now by the way).
If you are so inclined to bet the game, you should probably fade the Sixers.
Not only are the Thunder one of the best teams in the NBA, but they are one of the top teams against the spread. OKC is 25-12-2 ATS, while the Sixers have a second-worst ATS mark of 13-23-1.
The Sixers have not been more than a nine-point underdog all season. They are 2-3 ATS as an underdog between six and nine points. OKC is 9-5 ATS as a double-digit favorite.
If you bet player props, I’d look into OKC rebounding. The Sixers allowed 41, 44, and 51 rebounds in the last three games with the size disadvantage being what it is without Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond.
Isaiah Hartenstein is averaging 11.9 points and 12 rebounds per game. He’s -110 to record a double-double and that’s the bet to make.
Most of OKC’s starters played less than 30 minutes on Sunday in a blowout win over Washington, so not only do they hold the matchup advantage, but the Thunder are fresh as well.
Flyers (-105) at Blue Jackets (-115) (O/U: 6.5)
The outlook is much better with the Flyers.
And that’s considering the fact they’re on a back-t0-back and had to travel last night to Columbus.
The Flyers have reversed course and are now on a two-game winning streak, and credit to them for knocking off the Panthers at home last night. They also have two wins this season over Columbus, including one in Ohio despite the Blue Jackets owning a 14-5-3 home record.
Now, here’s the bad news: the Flyers are 1-6 on the second leg of back-t0-backs this season.
Columbus is one of the hotter teams in the NHL right now on a four-game winning streak.
The Blue Jackets aren’t exactly playing great defensive hockey, though, as the over hit in three of those four games and there’s been at least six goals in five of their last six games.
Morgan Frost, Owen Tippett, and Travis Konecny all have multiple goals against the CBJ this season. Frost has a three-game scoring streak and is coming off a seven-shot night.
I’d look into a point parlay, which certain sportsbooks allow, of either Frost, Tippett or Konecny with CBJ’s Zach Werenski, who has eight points in five games in January. And if one or more of these games is scaring you off, you can use our online casino bonuses to put your money into online slots or something else.