Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 1 Picks, Predictions & How to Watch

• The Cavaliers are 8-point favorites over the Raptors in Game 1 of their 1st Round playoff series
• Toronto is 4-12 SU and ATS in Game 1 of a postseason series dating back to the 2014 postseason
• See below for my favorite Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 1 picks and predictions, plus how to watch this contest

The NBA postseason officially gets underway Saturday with a four-game slate. First up, we’ve got the Raptors vs the Cavaliers, with Cleveland earning major respect in the NBA odds. Online sportsbooks have pegged them as 8-point favorites over Toronto, in a game with a 220 point total.

The Raptors were 3-0 versus the Cavs this season, but the two teams haven’t met since November. A lot has changed since then, especially on the Cavs roster, and I’m banking on Cleveland getting off to a fast start in this matchup.

Keep reading for my favorite Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 1 picks and predictions, plus how to watch this Eastern Conference playoff matchup.

How to Watch Raptors vs Cavaliers

Tip-off for Game 1 of the Raptors vs Cavaliers series is set for 1 pm ET from Rocket Arena, in Cleveland, OH. The action will be broadcast exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in the United States, while Sportsnet will handle Canadian TV duties.

Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 1 Picks and Predictions

• Cleveland Cavaliers -8 (-112 at FanDuel)
• Under 220 (-105 at Caesars)

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My favorite bet in Game 1 is Cleveland -8. The Cavs finished the regular season on an absolute heater, going 11-4 down the stretch. They boast the fifth best offensive rating since acquiring James Harden at the trade deadline, and Toronto simply doesn’t have anyone who can match Donovan Mitchell’s scoring prowess.

The Raptors started the season with their hair on fire, racing out to a 14-5 start. However, they went just 31-31 the rest of the way, and struggled badly against quality competition. Toronto was 22-30 versus teams with an above .500 record, and 2-16 versus the East’s top-three teams. Sure, Cleveland wound up as the fourth seed, but they’ve looked like as much of a NBA Championship odds contender as the Pistons, Celtics and Knicks over the last month.

The Raps bread and butter is their defense, ranking fifth in defensive rating. While their play at that end of the court is impressive, I have zero confidence they can keep pace with the Cavs offensively. Yes Brandon Ingram can get hot, and Scottie Barnes is an alien, but don’t forget this a team that finished with fewer points than the Jazz and Grizzlies who are in the lottery.

As for the trends, one sticks out more than all the others. Toronto is 4-12 both straight up and ATS in Game 1 of a playoff series going back to the 2014 postseason. Give me Cleveland to cover the spread.

I’m also backing under 220, leaning heavily on Toronto’s recent low-scoring games. The over has hit in just 2 of the Raptors’ last 6 games. Even more tellingly, the over hit in only 2 of their last 8 games against opponents with a winning record. They struggle to score on good teams, which explains their horrible track record versus top competition.

Raptors vs Cavaliers Odds

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Raptors vs Cavaliers Betting Splits

Shifting to the NBA public betting splits, where the point spread market presents a much tighter battleground. The tickets currently favor the road underdogs, with 54.2% backing Toronto to cover. However, the more valuable money metric slightly leans the other way, with 50.3% of the overall stake resting on Cleveland.

The total market is where the most dramatic split resides. An astonishing 94.8% of the tickets are riding on the over. More importantly, an overwhelming 97.9% of the money is backing a high-scoring affair. Both the general public and the heavier bettors are entirely aligned here in their wildest dreams of an offensive shootout.

This heavily lopsided action sets up a stark contrast with my pick. Fading a market with nearly 98% of the money on the opposite side requires conviction, but given the Raptors defensive numbers combined with their offensive ineptitude versus good teams, I’m happy to take a contrarian stance.