Spread & Over/Under Predictions for Magic at Hornets

Can the Hornets cover the spread?

Each game day, we at All Hornets will release an article on our thoughts on the spread and the over/under of Charlotte Hornets games. The star ratings next to the play describe the overall confidence in that particular play.

Star ratings:

1 Star - Not very confident

2 Star - A little confident

3 Star - Fairly confident

4 Star - Very confident

5 Star - Should be a lock to happen

Spread: Magic -8.5

3 star play on the Magic -8.5. Has any semblance of Charlotte basketball in the last week and a half given you confidence to take the Hornets tonight? Charlotte has been handled by short-handed Sixers and Raptors teams, and tonight they face a red-hot Orlando Magic who have shredded non-playoff teams like Charlotte. Sure, the Hornets are at home, and it's a divisional battle against a team head coach Steve Clifford knows well, but the deck is stacked against the Hornets. I'm taking Orlando -8.5 and will be pleasantly surprised if the game ends up closer than that.

Over/Under: 207.5

4 star play on u207.5: This is a shockingly low O/U by modern NBA standards, but these are two bottom five offenses. Charlotte had a moment where they seemed to be turning the corner offensively, but the buckets have dried up in recent weeks. Both defenses are turning in elite performances post-All Star break, and I expect that to continue tonight. Look for a slow, plodding performance and for Orlando to grind out a low-scoring, fairly easy victory on a sleepy Tuesday night in Charlotte.