NBA Finals Betting Preview: Cavs vs. Warriors

For the third straight season the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors meet up in the NBA Finals, with the Warriors favored to get their revenge for last year.

With the Finals set to tip off on Thursday night the oddsmakers at the Bovada Sportsbook have listed Golden State as a -240 series favorite. The defending champion Cavaliers are a +200 underdog to repeat.

If you need a refresher on last year’s NBA Finals, the series went seven games with Cleveland delivering an upset win on the road in Game 7. Cleveland trailed 3-1 in the series before reeling off three straight victories, which included two as the underdog. The home team was 4-3 straight up and against the spread in the series

To get started on the right foot Cleveland will again need to win as the underdog in Game 1. The odds on the series opener at the Bovada Sportsbook have the Warriors listed as a 7-point favorite. Golden State is a perfect 12-0 SU through the postseason so far, which means they’re also undefeated at home at 6-0 SU, but they’re only 2-4 ATS.

During their playoff run the Cavaliers have only posted one loss and enter the NBA Finals at 12-1 SU and 7-4-2 ATS in the postseason so far. On the road they’re perfect at 7-0 SU, which includes a money-making 5-0-2 ATS. One important thing to note, the Cavaliers were a road favorite in all seven games. During the regular season, Cleveland was a disappointing 2-11 SU and 4-9 ATS when listed as a road underdog.

During the regular season Cleveland and Golden State faced off twice with the home team winning and covering the spread in both games. Back on Christmas Day Cleveland pulled off a 109-108 upset as a 3.5-point home underdog. When they clashed again on January 26 at Golden State the Warriors crushed the Cavaliers 126-91 as a 9-point favorite.

If you look back at the matchup for the last three seasons, including the playoffs, the Warriors have had the advantage. In 19 games against Cleveland the Warriors are 11-8 SU and 10-9 ATS.

Heading into the series the battle for the NBA Finals MVP is between three players according to the odds at the Bovada Sportsbook. Co-favorites on the NBA Finals MVP odds are LeBron James and Kevin Durant at +220. Right behind them at +230 is Stephen Curry.