Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers predictions and pick against the spread

Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers predictions and pick against the spread: Who wins?

This year the NBA Playoffs have a twist. The NBA play-in series is going to make the postseason, even more exciting. The Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies will face off in this inaugural edition to the playoffs. This is a can’t-miss NBA match up. With such a unique situation doing your homework before making your Grizzlies vs Blazers predictions and pick against the spread will pay off.

What’s the play-in all about?

The play-in is relatively simple. Since the Trail Blazers hold the No. 8 seed all they have to do is win the first game and they advance. If they lose the first game to the Grizzlies they will have to come back and play again on Sunday. The winner on Sunday will advance. The winner of the play-in series will not have much time to rest as they will join the rest of the Western Conference and play against the top-seeded LA Lakers. The rest of the NBA playoffs bracket is locked and ready to go.

Free picks against the spread for the biggest games in the NBA playoffs can be found here.

The NBA play-in schedule

The NBA playoffs start on Monday so they have to get in the play-in series before that tips-off. You won’t have to wait long to see the outcome of this series. Here is the schedule:

Game 1: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET

Game 2 (if necessary): Sunday, Aug. 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET

Breaking down the 2020 NBA Playoff Bracket predictions for every series and your printable brackets!

Series play-in odds

The NBA odds for this series are set and it is very clear that the Trail Blazers are the favorite. In the first game, the Blazers are listed as (-6) point favorites, which seems high. This is partly due to how hot the Blazers and Damian Lillard has been in the bubble. Lillard is easily the best player in the NBA restart and will be treating this series like the NBA Finals.

Bet on the NBA Playoffs and the series-play in and double your first deposit and get a free $10 NBA bet right here!

Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers predictions and pick against the spread

So who wins? The easy pick is the Trail Blazers because the top sportsbooks have labeled this team as the favorite, but they have some issues. The defense is worrisome as they have allowed 124 or more points in five of the last eight games that they have played in. Defense does win ball games, but in this game Dame is just willing his team to win. The Grizzlies put up a fight, but in the end, the Trail Blazers advance in two games.

Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers predictions and pick against the spread: Trail Blazers in two games.

Pittsburgh Steelers betting preview

Pittsburgh Steelers betting preview: Bet on a return to glory!

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the best teams in the National Football League. This is a team that has played in eight Super Bowls and has won six of them. This includes winning four in a six-year span.  Lately, the team has had trouble getting by the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens, but that is about to change. Our Pittsburgh Steelers betting preview shows that this team is ready for a return to glory!

Big Ben is Back!

One good sign for the Steeler fan base is that Ben Roethlisberger is healthy and will be back under center. Better yet he is relishing the rare role of being the underdog.  Last year, without Roethlisberger, the Steelers were No. 30 in total offense, the lowest they have placed ever. Roethlisberger is an upgrade to the quarterback position and will instantly add to what will be a potent offense this season. Ben has a combined record of 63-20-1 against the rest of the AFC North.  His leadership and his veteran presence will provide an element that the Steelers were missing last year. A motivated Big Ben is the kind that Steelers fans want to see.

Betting on Black and Yellow

The Steelers are underrated by the top sportsbooks who posted the win totals and futures odds on Pittsburgh.  They are (4-to-1) to win the AFC North, (12-to-1) to win the AFC, and (25-to-1) to win Super Bowl LV. According to the 2020 NFL win totals the Steelers are projected to win 9-9.5 games. Last year the team managed an 8-8 season, mostly carried by an incredible defense.MB NFL 320x50 Jpg

The defense can get better

The defense last year was incredible. They were among the best in the league against the pass and the run and they were the best in the NFL in turnovers (38). The numbers did not stop there. They led the NFL in sacks (54) and tied for fifth-fewest defensive points allowed per game (18.9). Despite those gaudy numbers defensive coordinator Keith Butler still thinks they can get better.

“Hopefully, we will be better wholly than last year,” Butler said last week.

2020 Steelers schedule

Like any team, the Steelers do have a few hurdles on the 2020 schedule. They play three of the last four games on the road, but overall it looks pretty good. They get a bye week after playing the Ravens and before they go and play at Dallas against the Cowboys. That bye comes in the middle of the season and that will benefit this team.

Time to bet big

The Steelers are going to avoid their first three-year playoff drought and win big this year. They will get 11 wins and win the AFC North and I am betting on it. Steeler fans rejoice! This is going to be a great year!