Today’s NBA Betting Trends:
The following NBA betting trends are a collection of analytical data, betting systems and strength ratings featured on VSiN and qualified for the NBA games of Sunday, February 8, 2026. This report is meant to emulate the process that Steve Makinen and other members of the VSiN Analytics team undergo when handicapping each day’s NBA board.
AJ’s Angles
These are the top NBA betting trends and systems for today’s games, handpicked by VSiN Analyst AJ Makinen.
* NBA teams that won as favorites by a close margin (1-3 points) have gone 301-170 SU but just 196-262-13 ATS (42.8%) in the next contest when favored again.
System Match (FADE): BOSTON (-3.5 vs NYK)
* Under the total is 8-1 in the last nine of the Clippers-Timberwolves series
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): LAC-MIN (o/u at 223.5)
#1 TOTAL PROJECTION FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen Effective Strength Ratings: MIA-WSH UNDER 237.5 (projections have total at 231.5)
Schedule Situations Crucial for NBA Handicapping
The following is an expanded version of the article published in this year’s VSiN NBA Betting Guide, detailing scheduling situations in which teams have shown definitive patterns over the last few seasons. Typically, there are reasons that teams perform at varying levels based upon their schedules, whether that be from the amount of rest they’ve gotten before a game, how fatigued they are from a string of games, or how they deal with injuries/workloads based upon the schedule pressures.
* NBA teams playing on the road in One Day Rest scenario are 217-270 SU but 274-205-8 ATS vs. teams in 2 Days Rest games over the last four seasons
System Match (PLAY): INDIANA (+9.5 at TOR)
* NBA teams playing on the road in One Day Rest scenario are 57-49 SU and 61-43 ATS vs. teams in back-to-back away/home games over the last two seasons
* WASHINGTON is 6-40 SU and 15-31 ATS playing at home in 4th in 6 Days games since April 2022
System/Trend Match (PLAY): MIAMI (-11.5 at WSH)
* NBA teams playing on the road in One Day Rest scenario are 58-48 Over the total vs. teams in back-to-back away/home games over the last two seasons
System Match (PLAY OVER): MIA-WSH (o/u at 236.5)
Top Daily Head-to-Head Series NBA Betting Trends
Here are the top head-to-head series NBA betting trends in play for all of today’s games:
(563) NEW YORK at (564) BOSTON
* Over the total is on a 5-2-1 surge in the Knicks-Celtics divisional rivalry at TD Garden
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): NYK-BOS (o/u at 212.5)
(565) MIAMI at (566) WASHINGTON
* MIAMI is 4-2 SU and 4-1-1 ATS in the last six trips to Washington D.C.
Trend Match (PLAY): MIAMI (-11.5 at WSH)
(567) LA CLIPPERS at (568) MINNESOTA
* Road teams are 4-3 SU but 7-0 ATS in the last seven of the LAC-MIN set
Trend Match (PLAY): LA CLIPPERS (+8.5 at MIN)
* Under the total is 8-1 in the last nine of the series as well
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): LAC-MIN (o/u at 223.5)
(569) INDIANA at (570) TORONTO
* Underdogs are 5-1 ATS in the last six of the Pacers-Raptors series at Scotiabank Arena
Trend Match (PLAY): INDIANA (+9.5 at TOR)
NBA Team Strength Systems
The following handicapping information details betting systems for teams based on various team strength indicators or line scenarios. Unless noted, these are from the last five NBA seasons.
NBA Team Strength Betting System #1:
In games between two teams with 60%+ winning percentages, home teams favored in the -4.5 to -9.5 range are on a 182-68 SU and 146-103-1 ATS (58.6%) run.
System Match (PLAY): NONE YET BUT WATCH FOR BOSTON vs NYK, -3.5 CURRENTLY
NBA Team Strength Betting System #7:
Double-digit NBA games have produced some definitive results on totals over the last five seasons, dependent upon what type of matchup it was. In divisional games featuring double-digit lines, Under the total has gone 134-106 (55.8%). In non-conference games, Over the total was 247-208 (54.3%). And finally, in non-divisional conference games, Over the total was 332-263 (55.8%).
System Match (PLAY): UNDER – MIA-WSH (spread +11.5, total 236.5)
NBA Divisional Systems/Trends
The following handicapping information details betting systems for divisional games.
Eastern Atlantic Division Betting System #1:
In Eastern Atlantic divisional games, single-digit favorites have gone 95-40 SU and 79-63-3 ATS (55.6%) since the start of the 2022-23 season.
System Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-3.5 vs NYK)
NBA Extreme Stats Next Game Systems
These systems search for extreme statistical performances in NBA games and detail the results of the follow-up game for the teams. These systems are from the last five seasons unless noted.
Close wins haven’t provided for momentum going forward
NBA teams that won as favorites by a close margin (1-3 points) have gone 301-170 SU but just 196-262-13 ATS (42.8%) in the next contest when favored again.
System Match (FADE): BOSTON (-3.5 vs NYK)
Unusual shooting performance systems
NBA teams off a game in which they were granted 35 or more free throw attempts trended Under the total the next game, 384-333 (53.6%) since 2021.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): LAC-MIN (o/u at 223.5)
NBA Streak Systems
The following handicapping information details betting systems for teams on winning or losing streaks of at least four games in the NBA.
NO QUALIFYING STREAK PLAYS TODAY
Strategies Using NBA DraftKings Betting Splits Data
One of the most touted features on the VSiN.com website, and a feature that we believe to be a fantastic resource for bettors, is the betting splits pages. These are the pages that we have built utilizing the data that DraftKings so graciously provides to us, detailing the breakdowns of the money and ticket splits for point spreads, money lines, and totals.
In an article published on the VSiN.com website on opening day, Steve Makinen outlined 14 different systematic strategies for successfully using the DK Betting Splits Data that were developed in the last three seasons. Here are the systems and qualifying plays for today’s games as of 11:00 a.m. ET. These can and will change, so continue to track and qualify the systems up until tip-off for best usage.
To summarize the findings from the first half data of the 2025-26 season, the sample contained 633 games, and for the most part, majority bettors have lost on all six point spread, money line, and total categories. In fact, this has been the worst half-season they have endured since I started studying this subject a few years ago. Here are the results:
– Majority handle on point spreads: 291-335 ATS (46.5%), -77.5 units – ROI: -12.4%
– Majority number of bets on point spreads: 287-323 ATS (47%), -68.3 units – ROI: -11.2%
– Majority handle on money lines: 379-247 (60.5%). -123.2 units – ROI: -20.2%
– Majority number of bets on money lines: 404-227 (64%). -113.7 units – ROI: -18%
– Majority handle on totals: 306-310 (49.7%). -35 units – ROI: -5.7%
– Majority number of bets on totals: 307-318 (49.1%), -42.8 units – ROI: -6.8%
DK NBA Betting Splits system #1: When 63% or more of the handle was on the side of a home team playing as a 4-point favorite or less (or as an underdog) on ATS wager, this “super” majority group has gone 211-174 ATS (54.8%) over the last 3+ seasons, good for +19.6 units of profit and an ROI of 5.1%. This is a fairly profitable system that the public seems to get right consistently. If you see nearly 2/3 of the handle backing a host in an expected competitive NBA game this season, it’s a solid bet to follow it.
System Match (PLAY): BOSTON
DK NBA Betting Splits system #2: When 59% or more of the handle has been on the road side of an ATS wager, this “super” majority group has gone 868-785 ATS (52.5%) over the last 3+ seasons. This has produced a profit of +4.5 units and an ROI of 0.3%. This has been a very consistent system since I first found it, and for its simplicity, fairly successful. However, it is down over 20 units so far in ’25-26 so perhaps tread lightly. Even still, remember that handle is the total amount of money on a game and is generally considered sharper. When a good portion of the overall money is on a road team in the NBA, it wins more often than not.
System Match (SLIGHT PLAY): INDIANA
DK NBA Betting Splits system #4: In another somewhat rare situation but when there was a majority handle backing the team with fewer wins on the season in the NBA over the last 3+ seasons, that group produced a 456-412 ATS record (52.5%), good for +2.8 units of profit and an ROI of 0.3%. This is another system that has dropped a bit this season but has still outperformed the normal levels by a decent amount. We’ll see if it can stay positive in the second half of the season.
System Match (SLIGHT PLAY): INDIANA
DK NBA Betting Splits system #9: There has been a massive disparity of success levels for majority groups on handle when they back the home or road team on money line wagers. On home teams, these majorities have gone 1454-663 over the last 3+ seasons but for -277.83 units and an ROI of -13.1%. On road teams, these majorities have gone 1113-757 but for -72.73 units and an ROI of -3.9%. This 9.2% disparity warrants outright fading ML majorities on home teams until something definitively changes.
System Matches (FADE ALL): MINNESOTA ML, TORONTO ML
DK NBA Betting Splits system #11: One of the best, simplest, and most frequent angles I have been able to uncover is when a majority of handle bettors were backing the Under in an NBA game. It is generally believed that most NBA bettors prefer taking Overs. When any majority number have favored the Under option over the last 3+ seasons, the results have been strong, with Under the total on these games going 484-393, good for 55.2%, +51.7 units, and an ROI of +5.9% since January 2023.
System Matches (PLAY UNDER ALL): LAC-MIN, IND-TOR
DK NBA Betting Splits system #12: There has been some decent success for number of bets majorities when they don’t get too heavily invested. In fact, majorities on either side of the total (Over or Under) of 57% or less have gone 409-367 (52.7%) for +5.3 units and an ROI of +0.7% since January 2023.
System Match (PLAY): UNDER – MIA-WSH
DK NBA Betting Splits system #13: The average NBA game total since January of 2023 has been a bit more than 228. In NBA games with “low” totals, or those less than 220, majority handle bettors have gone an impressive 408-345 (54.2%), while majority number of bets groups are a bit less at 398-359 (52.6%). Both groups have proven profitable regardless of which side of the total they have chosen.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): OVER – NYK-BOS
DK NBA Betting Splits system #14: Majority handle Under bettors have been successful when sticking to their guns despite DraftKings raising total off of its opening number. These Under majorities have gone 200-153 (56.7%) since January ’23 by not getting baited into this totals trap. This has been the most profitable angle of all in terms of ROI, producing +31.7 units of profit for 9%.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): IND-TOR
Today’s NBA Strength Ratings
The following NBA betting trends are taken from today’s MAKINEN DAILY RATINGS page under the NBA tab on VSiN.com. Listed by team, current line, and difference between rating and current line (in parentheses).
Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1(tie). LA CLIPPERS +9.5 (+1.5)
INDIANA +9.5 (+1.5)
Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITE according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: MIAMI -12.5 (+0.3)
Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. WASHINGTON +12.5 (+2.8)
2. INDIANA +9.5 (+0.2)
Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. MINNESOTA -9.5 (+0.3)
2. BOSTON -3.5 (+0.1)
Today’s TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. LAC-MIN OVER 222.5 (+3.5)
2. NYK-BOS OVER 211.5 (+2.6)
3. IND-TOR OVER 225.5 (+0.3)
Today’s TOTAL PROJECTION FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: MIA-WSH UNDER 237.5 (-6.0)
Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. INDIANA +9.5 (+2.5)
2. LA CLIPPERS +9.5 (+2.1)
Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. MIAMI -12.5 (+0.5)
2. BOSTON -3.5 (+0.2)
Today’s TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. LAC-MIN OVER 222.5 (+3.7)
2. IND-TOR OVER 225.5 (+3.1)
3. NYK-BOS OVER 211.5 (+3.0)
Today’s TOTAL PROJECTION FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: MIA-WSH UNDER 237.5 (-5.1)
