Heat vs. Pelicans prediction and odds for Wednesday, January 18 (Trust home underdog)

The New Orleans Pelicans host the Miami Heat on Wednesday night with both teams trying to shake off Monday losses.

The Pelicans continue to tread water in the crowded Western Conference as they await the return of both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram from injury. The team has gotten a big lift from the rest of their deep team, including guard C.J. McCollum, but are listed as home underdogs against the Heat. Miami still trying to find its form from last season, in which the Heat were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Are the Heat overvalued as road favorites? Let’s check out the odds and dive into it:

Heat vs. Pelicans odds, spread and total

Heat vs. Pelicans prediction and pick

Miami continues to be billed in the market as a strong team, but the Heat haven’t come through for bettors this season, 11-18-3 against the spread as favorites. Now they travel to a Pelicans team that has one of the deepest rosters in basketball, still 26-18 despite shuffling in and out rotation players due to injury.

The Pelicans are hovering right around league average over the last two weeks, 3-4 in that time span. The Heat meanwhile continue to play elite defense, top five in points allowed per 100 possessions per Cleaning the Glass, but their offense is still bottom 10 overall.

Simply put, this Pelicans team has found a way to be competitive in spite of injuries throughout the season. The team is a truly elite one that has as much depth as anyone in the league. McCollum has steadied the ship in place of Williamson and Ingram, averaging 28 points per game to go with five assists in seven January games.

I’m taking the more trustworthy team as home underdogs.

Track all of Reed’s bets at Betstamp HERE!

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.