Indiana Pacers -5.5 (-118) at Philadelphia 76ers
Our handicapping approach includes output from two separate programs that each simulate games thousands of times. These computers predict a Pacers victory by an average of 9.5 and 10.7 points this evening at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Another pillar of our system is a quantitative methodology rooted in power rankings. By this assessment, Indiana is expected to triumph over Philly by 15.5 points.
As each factor in our system individually offers significant value versus the betting line (especially when we buy the line down to -5.5), playing the Pacers against the spread is an enticing proposition.
The 76ers are 4-6 in their last ten outings -- a big deal for a team that is 6-29 on the season. Further, Philadelphia is 2-1 in their last three games, inlcuding a win over the Nets just yesterday.
Indiana opened the season 7-17, but at 8-6, have been a winning ball club since. The Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their last five game 2's of back-to-backs, and 3-1-1 versus the number in their last five road games.
Bottom line: Our work sees the improved play of the Pacers as more than adequate to cover versus a Sixers squad that, though they have stolen a couple of wins recently, is still worst in the league by many measures.
Happy betting!!