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NBA Betting Advice: Teams with Wagering Value to Start the Season

by Spencer Toth - 10/17/2025

NBA betting advice teams with wagering value Trae Young Atlanta Hawks

The 2025-26 NBA season is right around the corner, and it is time to lock in our futures bets for the upcoming season. Future bets can be one of the most profitable ways to make money in the NBA, as with the right research, you can come out on top more often than not. It won’t be one bad beat or lucky bounce that alters the trajectory of your future bet. The 82-game season is a massive sample size, so if you can correctly identify value, you will be rewarded. Here are the five most underrated teams this season in the NBA, and how you can find value on their season-long betting lines. 

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Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have the fourth-highest win total in the Eastern Conference at 46.5, and have +950 odds to win the Eastern Conference and book their spot in the NBA Finals. While there is a lot to like about the Knicks, Cavaliers, and Magic, it is hard to justify the Hawks being a tier below that trio. Trae Young continues to perform at a truly excellent level on the offensive end, and crafty offseason signings for the Hawks have them primed to contend. Kristaps Porzingis is a massive upgrade over Clint Capela, whose rigidity hindered the Hawks on both ends of the floor. Porzingis will stretch the floor on offense with his shooting, which will open up even more lanes for Young to exploit. The Hawks also acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker, an excellent 3-and-D wing. Not only that, but Atlanta will also be getting Jalen Johnson back from injury after he missed the second half of last season. Johnson is a crucial member of the squad on both ends, aiding Young on defense while consistently scoring on offense. The Hawks have a much better squad than they did last season when they finished in the play-in tournament. As long as Young continues to play at a superstar level, the Hawks will have no problem blowing past their win total. I always hunt for plus money prices when tying up my bankroll for months on end, which is what we will be doing here, too. Take the Hawks to win 50+ regular-season games at +165 and 55+ games at +470. When the Hawks cruise into the playoffs, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win the Eastern Conference at odds of +950. All three of these have value, so sprinkle your wager across the trio for a potentially large payout. 

Pick: Atlanta Hawks 45+ Wins +165

Pick: Atlanta Hawks 50+ Wins +470

Pick: Atlanta Hawks to Win the East +950

Dallas Mavericks

Why have the Dallas Mavericks been written off? Losing Luka Doncic is obviously a massive blow, but the Mavericks still have an incredibly talented roster with the incoming Cooper Flagg set to make an instant impact. They have a 41.5 win total and are favorites to finish in the play-in tournament positions this season. However, I expect Dallas to secure a top-six seed in the West en route to a deep playoff run. Anthony Davis is a truly dominant player when healthy, and he is feeling better than ever heading into the new season. His partnership with Cooper Flagg down low will take away easy buckets for their opposition. If Kyrie Irving can regain his form when he returns from an injury of his own, the Mavericks will be legitimate threats to upset in the West. Their regular season win total isn’t something I want to touch since Irving won’t be back for a couple of months, but I do expect the Mavericks to make a deep playoff run. This could age poorly, as I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Dallas stumble out of the gate and be out of playoff contention by the time Irving comes back. They are the perfect ‘boom or bust’ candidate this season, which is exactly what we are looking for with season-long futures. Skip the standard win total and instead go for 50+ wins at +430. Additionally, the best way to attack the Mavericks this season is to sprinkle on their championship odds. They reached the Finals just two seasons ago, and it is hard to say this roster is much worse than that one was. At +3500, it is worth a sprinkle. 

Pick: Dallas Mavericks 50+ Wins +430

Pick: Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA Finals +3500

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are one of the Western Conference favorites this season, and rightfully so. Their defense is strong, Anthony Edwards is playing dominant basketball, and continuity will allow them to hit the ground running this season. While I don’t see much value in them in the regular season or playoffs, they are an excellent pick in the NBA Cup. On first glance, the Timberwolves being in a group with the Thunder looks like a death sentence. However, the Kings, Suns, and Jazz are all terrible, and the Timberwolves will be able to squeak into the knockout stages if they do lose to OKC. They are +320 to win the group, and could even do that, but I am confident their point differential against the aforementioned bottom feeders will get them into the knockout stage if not. Chemistry is crucial for these NBA Cup games, and the Timberwolves have exactly that. Their strong defense will be hard to unlock in the single-game format, and they are bursting with value as the Thunder are expected to win the group. 

Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves to win the NBA Cup +1800

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers were a trainwreck last season. They had an abysmal 24-58 record after being plagued by injuries. While the oddsmakers expect an improvement from the 76ers, they still aren’t being given enough credit. Joel Embiid is a former MVP, and the trio with Paul George and Tyrese Maxey is the best in the conference. Injuries and a lack of depth are certainly a concern, but the 76ers will be a dangerous team in the playoffs. Embiid is a dominant force when he is on his game, and the development of Tyrese Maxey makes the 76ers a legitimate contender. I don’t like touching their 42.5 win total, as I am not confident their stars will suit up often enough to string together wins. However, the East is lacking other contenders, and the 76ers will be dangerous in the postseason. If everything falls into place, the 76ers could march to a championship. If not, it will be another disaster that finishes with an eager draft lottery selection. Skip the regular season and shoot for the stars with a 76ers championship. 

Pick: Philadelphia 76ers to win the NBA Finals +3500

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors were out of playoff contention by February last season, but that was due to a long list of injuries. A healthy Raptors starting five can make waves in the East, and is one of the most underrated teams heading into the new season. They have +115 odds to make the playoffs, and a win total of just 40.5. The lack of competition in the East makes them a great candidate for a playoff spot. Their starting five is the fifth-highest paid in the league, and while they are missing a true superstar, their depth will allow them to thrive in the regular season. Quickley-Barnes-Ingram-Barrett-Poeltl is a stacked starting five, and the lack of legitimate competition in the East makes this pick even better. Toronto is much better than the Heat, Bulls, Pacers, and Celtics, all of which have similar odds this year. The Raptors to make the playoffs at +115 could be my favorite bet of all, as this team is poised for a strong season north of the border. 

Pick: Toronto Raptors to Make the Playoffs +115

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