Top Seeded Team Given -120 Odds to Win NBA Championship; Eastern Conference Team Given Heavy -500 Odds for Home Court
- Bucks, Lakers best chance of a top-ranked team winning the NBA Championship in 2020
- Eastern Conference heavy favorites to get home court advantage for NBA Finals
- Last two NBA champions have been second-ranked teams – read below for our top bets for the top seeds
Top-seeded teams have dominated the NBA Finals over the last five years — mainly a back and forth battle between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, the last two NBA champions have not been number one seeds, including last year’s Toronto Raptors. The year prior, the Warriors took the NBA crown as the second seed out of the West.
A series of enticing prop bets have been released, including whether a number one seed will win the NBA title in 2020, with Yes coming in as the -120 favorite. Is there value in betting on No, which is currently at +100?
2020 NBA Championship Prop Odds
| Top-Seeded Team To Win NBA Title In 2020 | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -120 |
| No | +100 |
| Second-Seeded Team To Win NBA Title In 2020 | Odds |
| No | -600 |
| Yes | +450 |
| Home Court Advantage In NBA Finals | Odds |
| Eastern Conference | -500 |
| Western Conference | +400 |
| Team With Home Court Advantage Wins NBA Championship | Odds |
| No | -170 |
| Yes | +150 |
Odds taken on Feb. 17
Looking at the NBA Championship odds, if the playoffs began today, the Milwaukee Bucks would be the top seed in the East, while the Los Angeles Lakers would be number one in the Western Conference.
With a victory, the Lakers would snap a 10-year championship drought dating back to when Kobe Bryant led the team to back-to-back crowns in 2009 and 2010. In both instances, the Lakers were the top seed.
MAY WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE 👑
(📺: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/Lghq6sUjYJ
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 13, 2020
Of course, with a lot of regular season left, there could very well be movement in both conferences. The defending champion Raptors are 6.5 games behind the Bucks in the East. In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets are within four games of catching the Lakers for first place.
The pick: Number 1 seeded team to win NBA Finals: No (+100)
Can a Second Seed Win the NBA Championship Again?
When Kawhi Leonard left the Raptors as a free agent, it was believed it would be a rough season for the defending champs. However, the Raptors are 40-15 and very much in the conversation to win another NBA title — even without the Klaw.
Oddsmaker have released odds for a second-seeded team to capture the NBA Championship, with No coming in as the heavy -600 favorite. But there is plenty of value in betting on Yes, with lengthy +450 odds.
If Toronto cannot catch the Bucks for first, there’s a good chance — barring a collapse — the team finishes second in the East. Toronto proved last season it could defeat the Bucks, who often rely too much on star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo at times.
How about in the West? The Nuggets currently hold second place, but look for the Clippers to likely move back into that spot by the end of the season. Both LA-based teams could very well meet in the conference finals based on how the season has gone so far.
The pick: Number 2 seeded team to win NBA Finals: Yes (+450)
Bucks are the perfect fit for Giannis Antetokounmpo – everybody wins, literally. #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/cfcth9Ns4Q
— Bucks Nation (@BucksNationCP) February 17, 2020
East Heavily Favored to Get Home Court Advantage
Assuming the Bucks reach the NBA Finals, they will most likely get home court advantage. With 28 games left this season, it’s not crazy to suggest the Bucks could reach 70 wins.
This is why sportsbooks have also released a prop bet on which conference will get home court advantage in the NBA Finals, with the East heavily favored at -500. Is there value in betting on the West getting home court advantage at +400?
Another classic. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/65kgk912Nb
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 13, 2020
If the Bucks fail to reach the NBA Finals for a second straight season, home court in the championship round will be there for the taking.
The pick: Home court advantage in finals: Eastern Conference (-500)
There is also has a prop bet on whether the team with home court advantage will win the championship, with No coming in as the -170 favorite.
The pick: Team with home court advantage wins championship: No (-170)
Angelo Montilla is a writer, visual design instructor and graphic designer based on the East Coast. As a journalism graduate, his experience in the media industry spans more than 15 years and includes work with Nation Network, SportsBreak, Featurd, Hockey Writers and the Windsor Star.
