You’ll agree that most sporting events today are pretty much a formality. Sure, people enjoy following the games, but there’s truly not much passion in most of those events. However, when the teams are more evenly matched, things can change. That’s when the fun begins. Naturally, you’ll want to participate in these little game plays, but you’ll also need to do your homework first so you can make informed bets. Let’s dive into how much money you can win betting on Miami vs Cleveland straight up (NBA Playoff Game 3).
The Basics
Before getting into the nitty gritty, let’s discuss some general sports betting rules. First, as the name implies, you should only bet on sporting events that are straight up. That is, the teams are not in the playoffs, and they are not facing each other in a series. Essentially, if the teams are in different leagues, or in different conferences, you should not wager on these games. These are the basic guidelines that you must follow. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting your wager contested, or worse, losing your money. The following example should make this pretty clear:
The Miami Heat are in the Eastern Conference, and they are currently facing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. After three games, the series is tied at 1-1, and now it’s on to game four. Did you know that this is an all-time great series? Well, it is. It’s tied at 1-1, and you’ve got two of the best teams in the NBA going at it. Naturally, you should join the party and bet on the outcome, which in this case is a toss-up. However, before doing so, you must verify the following: (a) both teams are in the same conference; (b) both teams have the same first round series (c) neither team is in the playoffs; (d) the series is not a best of five.
How Much Will the Heat Win?
So now that we have that out of the way, let’s dive into how much the Miami Heat will win in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals. Keep in mind that this is just a general estimation, and in no way is meant to be taken as Gospel. There are just too many variables to factor in, like experience, confidence, and so on. For that matter, let’s not even mention health. However, with all these uncertainties in mind, let’s still venture an educated guess. For that matter, here are the current odds (courtesy of online bookmakers):
- Miami: 1.73
- Cleveland: 2.15
Looking at these odds, it’s pretty clear that the favorite is Miami. The key word in that last sentence is “favorites.” In layman’s terms, this means that all the bookmakers currently have bet the Heat. If you’re looking for a long shot, go with Cleveland. However, as we mentioned above, this is just an estimation, and in no way is meant to be taken as fact. In the end, you’ll just have to bite the bullet and place a bet on whichever team you deem more probable to win. Just remember: nothing ventured, nothing gained. So don’t hesitate to wager on exciting sporting events just because they’re not technically a ‘favorite’ win according to the bookies. In case you were wondering, 1.73 is the decimal representation of ‘one point seven three’, which is how most people will probably remember how much Miami won in game three. So it’s pretty obvious that people think the Heat are due for a win in this game, especially since they are the home team. Furthermore, it’s pretty clear that the basketball world believes that LeBron James will have a big impact on the game. After all, he is playing his home tournament, and that’s a pretty big deal. For what it’s worth, he also has a ‘streak’ of 20 straight home wins. For the sake of argument, let’s just say that he does have a big impact, and he scores 50 points, which is quite a hike for a player of his caliber.
How Much Will The Cavaliers Win?
The same logic that applies to the Heat also applies to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That is, you should not wager on these games, as the odds are literally the same. In the event that you do wager on Cleveland, don’t do so blindly. Look at the current line (courtesy of online bookmakers):
- Cleveland: 2.15
- Miami: 1.73
Since both teams are essentially even, and the series is tied at one game apiece, this is a prime example of why you should not wager on these games. For the sake of argument, let’s say that James does have a big game, and he scores 30 points. That would be a fairly impressive performance, especially since he had only played three games prior to the start of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. That would put him tied for second in the Most Valuable Player Award voting behind only LeBron James, who is currently leading the league in scoring.
For what it’s worth, online bookmakers have the Cavaliers listed as slight underdogs. However, in today’s world of sports wagering, ‘underdogs’ is a term generally used to describe favorite teams who are playing at home, and that is certainly the case here. For all intents and purposes, this is an ‘underdog’ situation. If you’re looking for a long shot, go with Cleveland.
As mentioned above, nothing ventured, nothing gained. So don’t hesitate to wager on exciting sporting events just because they’re not technically ‘favorites’ according to the bookies. In case you were wondering, 1.73 is the decimal representation of ‘one point seven three’ which is how most people will probably remember how much Miami won in game three. So it’s pretty obvious that people think the Heat are due for a win in this game, especially since they are the home team. Furthermore, it’s pretty clear that the basketball world believes that Kevin Love will have a big impact on the game. After all, he is playing his home tournament, and that’s a pretty big deal. For what it’s worth, he also has a ‘streak’ of 19 straight home wins. For the sake of argument, let’s just say that he does have a big impact, and he scores 15 points.
For the record, online bookmakers have the Cavaliers listed as very long shots. However, in today’s world of sports wagering, ‘long shots’ is a term generally used to describe favorite teams who are playing at home, and that is certainly the case here. For all intents and purposes, this is an ‘underdog’ situation. If you’re looking for a long shot, go with Cleveland.
Additional Notes
Let’s run down some of the other things that you should know before betting on Miami vs Cleveland. First, remember that this is just an estimation, and in no way is meant to be taken as fact. Second, both teams can clinch a spot in the NBA Finals with a win in game four. However, the odds would still be in favor of Miami, as online bookmakers have them listed as slight favorites. Third, the Cavaliers will have to win three straight games to win the series. Fourth, the series is pretty much a forgone conclusion. As mentioned above, both teams can clinch a spot in the NBA Finals with a win in game four. So the series is basically a formality at this point. Just remember that you won’t be able to cash out your winnings until the NBA Finals are over, which is typically around June.
As for the fourth team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, they will have home ice advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals, which means that they will get to play the first three games in Tampa Bay, and the remaining two in St. Petersburg. However, other than that, the teams will play the same as in any other case. Remember: everything is just an estimation, so take this into consideration when cashing out your winning.
So there you have it. It is now possible to make some money playing sports, especially if you follow the basic guidelines described above. Just keep in mind that this is just a small sample of what is available, and you should seriously consider playing in a real money environment like BetOnline or DraftKings, where you can have fun while making money. Last but not least, make sure that you check out all the relevant laws and regulations before engaging in any form of wagering. That way, you’ll be sure that you are fully aware of all the rules, and you will not put yourself or your family in jeopardy. Good luck out there!