3 Point Contest 2019 Odds
With celebrities and NBA All-Stars set to converge on Charlotte this coming weekend, I'm going to try my hardest not to get caught up in all the glitz and glamour of All-Star Weekend. Instead, I'm going to try and turn a profit, much like I've done throughout the first half of the NBA season. The first event I have my eye on is this year's Three-Point Contest.
Curry opened as the +190 fave in Three-Point Contest odds. Finally, the Skills Challenge will assess competitors in dribbling, passing and shooting drills through an obstacle course, with Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic opening as the +200 favorite. Doncic competed in this event in 2019 but lost in the second round to Trae Young. Brooklyn Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris will be named to the 3-point Contest at All-Star Weekend, according to a league source. The contestants won’t be officially announced until Tuesday.
A field of eight sharpshooters enters this year's contest, including the reigning and defending champion Devin Booker. In last year's event, Booker went off for 28 points - a new contest record. He bested one-half of the splash brothers in Klay Thompson and will now look to defend his title against another seven of the league's top snipers.
In my honest opinion, this year's competition may very well be the best event on the All-Star Weekend schedule. You have a young and brash defending champion, you have the best three-point shooter in the game, Steph Curry, Curry's brother, Seth, a legend in Dirk Nowitzki, two high-profile point guards in Kemba Walker and Damian Lillard, and a player who's turned his game around completely in Buddy Heild.
The field for this event is comprised of Steph Curry (+275), Buddy Heild (+325), Devin Booker (+450), Seth Curry (+550), Joe Harris (+600), Damian Lillard (+750), Danny Green (+800), Khris Middleton (+1000), Kemba Walker (+1000), Dirk Nowitzki (+1500).
All odds are courtesy of our friends at Bovada
Favorites:
Steph Curry (+275) and Devin Booker (+450)
Don't shoot the messenger, but Steph Curry changed the way the game is played. Teams no longer dish the ball inside and let the big men go to work. Instead, they build their team with perimeter shooters and live and die by the long ball. Curry is widely accepted as the greatest three-point shooter in history, and he's still playing. That tells you all you need to know. Curry comes into this event shooting 44.9 percent from beyond the arc, which is better than his career average of 43.7 percent. What makes Curry even more dangerous in this event is that he's won it before, so he will know how to prepare in order to give himself the best chance at winning it again.
With all due respect to the second favorite, Heild, I believe the defending champion should be mentioned amongst the favorites for the obvious reason - he's already won this event. Booker comes into this event shooting a lousy 32.9 percent from beyond the arc. However, in a contest where 'getting hot' at the right time can lead you to victory, Booker can do just that (case in point, last year's event). Booker already knows how to win this event, and I feel as if he has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove considering he plays for Phoenix.
Sleepers:
Joe Harris (+600) and Danny Green (+800)
Let's start with Danny Green - the new Raptor has fit into his newest surroundings well this season, shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc, which is well up from his career average of 39 percent. He should have the experience, being in his 10th NBA season, so he understands how to make the most of this opportunity and potentially win this event. We like the long-shot odds of 8/1, and there is nothing wrong with taking a flyer on a likely scarcely bet player.
As for Joe Harris, he doesn't quite fit the model of an NBA player as he has no real fan base considering he plays for the Brooklyn Nets. However, Harris is quietly stroking the ball this season, shooting 46.5 percent from beyond the arc, which is good enough for third in the entire NBA. If there was any indication that Harris is ready to break out and compete toe-to-toe with the likes of Curry and Booker, it's when Harris drained seven triples on just eight attempts on Monday versus the Raptors.
Longshots:
Dirk Nowitzki (+1500)
Why not go with the future Hall of Famer in this spot? Dirk has been on the farewell tour the entire season, and what could be more fitting than to hang up the sneakers with winning a contest on NBA All-Star Weekend amongst your peers (aside from winning a Championship).
Look, Dirk isn't what he used to be in terms of his ability, but he can still shoot the ball well. He's shooting just 32.5 percent from beyond the arc this season, but that's his lowest output since his rookie season. If Dirk can find it within himself to turn back the clock for one night, I believe Dirk could be a potential dark horse in this competition.
Pick:
The Warriors are going to win the NBA Title once again this year, and we don't really see a way that Steph Curry loses this event. He is the hottest and most prolific shooter of this generation, and getting open looks at the basket for 25 attempts seems to fit right into his game. We don't like the price of +275, but the price doesn't matter when you are cashing your ticket and receiving funds. Take Curry in this spot, and perhaps a sprinkle on Nowitzki if you are feeling nostalgic.
Game: UNLV Runnin' Rebels vs Fresno State Bulldogs
Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Location: Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA
TV: SNRM
Odds/Point Spread: Fresno State -4.5
Total/Over-Under: 129
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels head to Save Mart Center to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. The opening line for this game has Fresno State as 4.5 point favorites.
UNLV heads into this matchup with a mark of 3-6. They currently have a point differential of 1.0 as they are averaging 68.1 points per contest while giving up 67.1 per game. Fresno State has an overall record of 2-4. They are averaging 70.3 points per game and surrendering 67.5, good for a point differential of 2.8.
Valuable UNLV Runnin' Rebels Betting Trends
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are 4-5-0 against the spread this season
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are 3-6-0 against the over/under this year
Important Fresno State Bulldogs Betting Trends
The Fresno State Bulldogs are 1-4-0 against the spread this season
The Fresno State Bulldogs are 4-1-0 against the over/under this year
Key UNLV Runnin' Rebels Injuries
11/29/19 G Jonah Antonio Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Cincinnati
Key Fresno State Bulldogs Injuries
No key injuries to report
Player Spotlight
Elijah Mitrou-Long averages 12.9 points per contest in 36.1 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.8 assists per game and 4.0 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 85%. Amauri Hardy comes into this game averaging 17.7 points per contest while playing 37.2 minutes per night. He grabs 3.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is 79%.
Player Spotlight
Nate Grimes averages 11.7 points per game and he sees the court an average of 26.2 minutes per game. He also hauls in 9.5 rebounds per game and dishes 0.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 64%. Jarred Hyder scores 17.8 points per contest while playing 32.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.5 rebounds per contest and has 2.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 85%.
Useful Team Statistics
The Runnin' Rebels allow 67.1 points per contest which is 154th in the country. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 220th and 112th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 31.2 rebounds a game which ranks 48th, and they allow 13.3 assists per game which puts them in 242nd place in D-1. They force 13.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 105th in Division 1. UNLV averages 68.1 points per contest, which is 259th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 1.0 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 223rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 133rd in the nation. They average 37.0 boards per contest and 12.3 assists per game, which ranks them 164th and 236th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 55th with 15.9 per game.
Useful Team Statistics
The Bulldogs give up 67.5 points per game, which ranks them 164th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 149th and 130th in those defensive statistics. They rank 206th with 12.7 dimes allowed per game and 107th with 33.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulldogs are 14th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 10.8 per contest. Fresno State is 223rd in the country with 70.3 points per contest this season. They are 211th in D-1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 2.8. They shoot 33% from beyond the arc, which is good for 196th in the country. They are 153rd in the nation in rebounding with 37.3 boards per contest and 227th in assists per game with 12.5. The Bulldogs are 208th in turnovers per contest with 13.2.
Advanced Statistics
The Runnin' Rebels have an offensive rating of 100.2, which is ranked 208th. They are 335th in college basketball in pace with 65.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 185th. As a unit they are 180th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 86th in D-1. UNLV is 34th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 19.9 times per 100 possessions.
3 Point Contest 2019 Odds Ncaa Basketball
Advanced Statistics
Fresno State is 177th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions. The Bulldogs are 159th in the country in offensive rating with 102.7. In terms of pace they are 311th in Division 1 with 67.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 131st. As a team they are 158th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 52% of their shots, ranking 1st in the nation.
So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?
Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take UNLV +4.5 and over 129 total points
3 Point Contest Odds 2019
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