Lakers vs Jazz odds – facing Jazz music to Lakers’ ears
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Lakers vs Jazz odds heavily favor L.A., and for good reason. This is a rematch of last year’s Western Conference semifinals, when Utah actually had a chance on sports betting lines, and the Jazz still lost in six. This year, Los Angeles won the season series 2-1 and it is a team with a mission Kobe Bryant and Co. appear determined to avenge last season’s loss in the NBA Finals.
Lakers vs Jazz odds: Lakers will make quick work of Jazz
- WHO: Lakers vs Jazz odds
- WHAT: Best-of-Seven Western quarter-finals
- WHEN: Game 1 begins Sun. April 19 at 3 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
- KEY STAT: Lakers won regular season series 2-1
- THE PICK: Lakers in five
Last year, Jazz odds to win the series were much greater as they were an incredible 37-4 at home and 54-28 overall. This year, the Jazz are six games worse in the win column but their team chemistry, demeanor and lack of momentum indicate this will be a quick series.
When the Jazz were at their peak, the Lakers odds still couldn’t be cheap enough as the Lakers beat Utah in six games. Now the Lakers might be even better with a full year of Pau Gasol in their system along with Andrew Bynum, who missed last year’s series.
The two teams met three times in the regular season with the Lakers winning twice on their home court and falling once in Utah. The Lakers won in both of the contests that the sportsbook odds had them favored.
The Lakers odds will be high in this series because they are the top team in the Western Conference. While the Jazz were slipping and sliding down the standings, the Lakers had their playoff spot clinched on March 27. The Jazz finished up the season with only seven wins in their last 21 games, while the Lakers had only seven losses in their last 30 games.
Since the NBA playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984, No. 8 seeds have gone 3-47 in the first round, which doesn’t bode well for the Jazz. Utah’s efforts on the road also hurts them, after going just 15-26 away from home this year, tying them for the fewest road wins by any current playoff team.
CRAIG’S PICK: The Lakers are humming right now while the Jazz are simply out of sync. The Lakers vs Jazz odds weren’t close last year when the Jazz were peaking, which means that they won’t be much better this year. The Lakers will take the Jazz seriously given their pedigree but they also won’t take long to dismantle the stumbling squad. Bet on the Lakers.
For Lakers vs Jazz odds and NBA betting picks, tips and insights on all eight first-round series, check out betonline.com.
Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions?
