NBA Betting Preview: Odds, predictions, recommended wagers

Welcome to theScore's preview of the 2015-16 NBA season. Visit our season preview hub for comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams.

With the start of the season quickly approaching, the staff at theScore put on their prognosticator hats to offer up futures selections on some of the more notable offerings on the board.

Atlantic Division odds

Gino Bottero: When it comes to futures plays, bettors always have visions of pulling one over on the books by backing that overlooked team at long odds. Well, there's another way to make the books pay, and that's by claiming easy money. The Celtics are a threat in the Atlantic, but they're just not ready to catch an improving Raptors squad. Raptors to win Atlantic Division at 3-10

Joseph Casciaro: Barring a catastrophic injury or meltdown, the Raptors should win their third straight division title, but the betting world knows that, and so Toronto doesn't provide any value. The Knicks at their current price are the most intriguing option. They may very well lose 50-60 games, but they're also a borderline playoff team in the East if things break right. Knicks to win Atlantic Division at 18-1

William Lou: When healthy, Carmelo Anthony is easily the best player in the Atlantic Division. Anthony joins Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez, and Kyle O’Quinn as part of a revamped starting five on par with that of the Raptors and the Celtics. Knicks to win Atlantic Division at 18-1

Central Division odds

Bottero: Bettors that don't like free money at an understandably steep price should look elsewhere for value. But for those willing to pony up the cash, there are few plays on the board with as high a certainty of success as LeBron James guiding his team to a division title for an eighth consecutive season. Cavaliers to win Central Division at 9-50

Casciaro: It's going to once again come down to Cleveland and Chicago. Having the Big Three healthy from October through April would make Cleveland the easy choice, but with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love still facing question marks and the Cavs providing little value, the Bulls may be the way to go. Bulls to win Central Division at 9-2

Lou: The Bulls are a popular pick to surpass the Cavaliers, but Chicago’s chronically injured lineup is already short two starters. That puts a strain on head coach Fred Hoiberg, who is trying to implement a new playbook onto a group that was built for Tom Thibodeau. Expect Cleveland’s starpower, continuity, and superior health to win out. Cavaliers to win Central Division at 9-50

Southeast Division odds

Bottero: The days of the Big Three may be in the past, but what the Heat do have is a really solid starting five, with some nice complimentary pieces on the bench. If the team can get 65 games out of Dwyane Wade, they'll be in good shape with the top two teams in the Southeast primed for regression. Heat to win Southeast Division at 19-10

Casciaro: The Heat's health and the Wizards' depth are too much of a concern to justify them offering barely any additional value than the Hawks. Atlanta may have lost a valuable piece of a 60-win team in DeMarre Carroll, but between Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague, and Mike Budenholzer, it's still the safest bet of the Southeast's top-three. Hawks to win Southeast Division at 7-4

Lou: A pedestrian playoff performance dampened an otherwise stellar season for the Hawks, but let’s not forget that they won 60 games last season - 14 more than the second-place Wizards. And while losing Carroll to the Raptors will surely hurt, they have two capable replacements in Thabo Sefolosha and a battle-tested Kent Bazemore. Hawks to win Southeast Division at 7-4

Northwest Division odds

Bottero: Bettors should always take free money when it's there, but this line is just completely out of whack. Injuries have plagued the Thunder in recent years, making them hard to trust. The Jazz have the potential to be an elite defensive team and their young core offers a lot of promise. Jazz to win Northwest Division at 14-1

Casciaro: Though it's tough to see a healthy Thunder squad failing to win a weakened Northwest, and taking the leap from improving young team to playoff team is never a shoo-in out West, the Jazz provide intriguing value. Jazz to win Northwest Division at 14-1

Lou: The plucky Jazz had the league’s best defense after the All-Star break last season, but they’re woefully thin at point guard, and nothing - barring another season-ending injury to Kevin Durant - will keep the Thunder from reclaiming their throne atop the lowly Northwest. Thunder to win Northwest Division at 1-50

Pacific Division odds

Bottero: The Clippers' bench has really held the team back in recent years, but they added some nice pieces in the offseason to help solidify that unit. The Warriors certainly have the talent to run away with the Pacific for the second year in a row, but in a two-horse race, take the more favorable odds. Clippers to win Pacific Division at 163-100

Casciaro: The Pacific could be a two-team race between the rival Warriors and Clippers, but I'll stick with the champs a year after they finished 11 games up and outscored opponents by 10-plus points per game - even at steep odds. Warriors to win Pacific Division at 11-25

Lou: The Clippers’ starting five posted the highest plus-minus in the league last season, but their bench was terrible. Now, the likes of Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, and Lance Stephenson will join Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers in the second unit. Doc Rivers turned their only weakness into a strength. Clippers to win Pacific Division at 163-100

Southwest Division odds

Bottero: The Grizzlies are going left while the rest of the NBA goes right. As the league goes small with a focus on offense, the Grizzlies play big with attention to defense. They win games in bunches when they're healthy, so keeping their key faces on the court will be crucial. Grizzlies to win Southwest Division at 13-2

Casciaro: The Spurs are the class of basketball's toughest division, but in a Southwest race that will likely go down to the wire, you're looking for value among the three or four teams who can take the crown. Memphis finished one game behind Houston for first place last season, and I love the underrrated acquisition of Brandan Wright. Grizzlies to win Southwest Division at 13-2

Lou: One win separated the Rockets from the Spurs and Grizzlies last season. And while the Spurs made the biggest addition by signing LaMarcus Aldridge, playing the field is still the best bet. Grizzlies to win Southwest Division at 13-2

Championship odds

Bottero: They say a team has to lose before it can win, and the Raptors have experienced their share of losing in the last two postseasons. Toronto's come to camp extra-motivated, and Carroll is an addition that personifies everything the team's been missing. Raptors to win NBA title at 40-1

Casciaro: Getting through the Western Conference meat grinder two years in a row - let alone repeating as champions - is a tall task. But the chance to quintuple your money betting on a 67-win team that dominated the NBA like few others in league history doesn't come around often. Sprinkle a little on the Grizzlies, too, who probably provide the best bang for your buck. Warriors to win NBA title at 5-1

Lou: The Cavaliers are the favorite, and rightfully so. Not only do they have the league’s best player in LeBron James, but Cleveland also plays in the East, which means a guaranteed trip to the Finals. The same simply cannot be said for any of the Western Conference contenders. Cavaliers to win NBA title at 13-5

Win Total odds

Bottero: Phoenix didn't sign Tyson Chandler with an eye on the lottery. While a playoff spot may again elude them, the Suns figure to take advantage of the softer portions of their schedule to flirt with a .500 record. Suns over 36.5 wins at 4-5

Casciaro: The Wizards may have made back-to-back trips to the East semis, but they haven't won more than 46 games in 37 years, and in a stronger East, they haven't made the gains necessary to bet on them surpassing that total this season. Wizards under 47.5 wins at 10-11

Lou: Paul George is back and healthy, which is tremendous news, but he won’t solve the Pacers' problems, especially not when he’s being forced to play out of position at power forward. Indiana's problem is that they have no frontcourt players, which means rebounds and stops will be tough to come by. Pacers under 41.5 wins at 20-23

MVP odds

Bottero: Of the players in the top 10 of MVP odds, we've seen all but one play at his best. Anthony Davis is going to win the MVP award at some point. That may still be a ways away as he waits for a better supporting cast, but someone is going to emerge from that group, so why not The Brow. Anthony Davis to win MVP award at 4-1

Casciaro: If Ty Lawson can help propel the Rockets to even higher ground and James Harden is anywhere near as good as he was last season, The Beard could be in prime position to get the MVP award he feels he deserved last year. A great off-the-board bet, meanwhile, could be Kawhi Leonard, who can be found at 50-1 in some spots. James Harden to win MVP award at 15-2

Lou: Regardless of quality, the MVP award is about narratives, and who doesn’t love a comeback story? Durant is healthy, pissed off, and entering his prime. Look for the Slim Reaper to lead the league in scoring, and for the Thunder to reclaim their spot among the Western Conference elite. It’s Durant’s award to lose. Kevin Durant to win MVP award at 4-1

Rookie of the Year odds

Bottero: Kobe Bryant's played a total of 41 games over the last two seasons, so D'Angelo Russell's going to have the ball in his hands a lot in his first year as a Laker. That's a big stage for a talented player on a franchise desperate for something positive to cling to. D'Angelo Russell to win Rookie of the Year award at 11-2

Casciaro: The ever-rebuilding Sixers will be feeding their young big man early and often this season, giving Jahlil Okafor an opportunity few rookies receive. Jahlil Okafor to win Rookie of the Year award at 15-4

Lou: Ten of the last 11 Rookie of the Year winners have led rookies in scoring. Okafor will be asked to be the go-to scorer on a terrible 76ers team. No other rookie will get the chance to carry an offense. This one isn’t hard. Jahlil Okafor to win Rookie of the Year award at 15-4

(Odds courtesy: bet365)