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 Tuesday, January 27, 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. 

* Home teams are on an extended 19-5 SU and 19-4-1 ATS run in the last 24 meetings between LAC and UTA
Trend Match (PLAY): UTAH (+8.5 vs LAC)

* NBA teams playing in the 3rd in 8+ Days scenario are 35-14 Under the total vs. teams in 3rd in 4 Days games over the last three seasons
Systems Match (PLAY UNDER): MIL-PHI (o/u at 219.5)

* Teams that win outright versus divisional rivals as double-digit underdogs have trended sharply Under the total in the next game, going 64-39-1 (62.1%) in their last 104 tries.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): NOP-OKC (o/u at 233.5)

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 the 3rd in 8+ Days scenario are 16-36 SU and 18-30-4 ATS vs. teams in 4th in 6 Days games over the last three seasons
* PHILADELPHIA is 9-19 SU and 11-17 ATS playing in 3rd in 4 Days games since November 2024
System/Trend Match: 1 FADE of MILWAUKEE, 1 FADE of PHILADELPHIA

* NBA teams playing in the 3rd in 4 Days scenario are 51-26 Under the total vs. teams in 4th in 10+ Days games over the last two seasons
* NBA teams playing in the 3rd in 8+ Days scenario are 35-14 Under the total vs. teams in 3rd in 4 Days games over the last three seasons
Systems Match (PLAY UNDER): MIL-PHI (o/u at 219.5)

* NBA teams playing at home in the 3+ Days Rest scenario are 85-44 SU and 79-48-2 ATS vs. teams in One Day Rest games over the last four seasons
System Match (PLAY): DENVER (+7.5 vs DET)

* NBA teams playing on the road in the One Day Rest scenario are 211-266 SU but 269-200-8 ATS vs. teams in 2 Days Rest games over the last four seasons
System Matches (PLAY ALL): LA CLIPPERS (-8.5 at UTA), SACRAMENTO (+13.5 at NYK)

* NBA teams playing at home in the 2 Days Rest scenario were 50-24 over the total vs. teams in 3rd Straight Road games sincthe e start of last season
System Match (PLAY OVER): SAC-NYK (o/u at 230.5)

* BROOKLYN is 11-22 SU but 20-12-1 ATS playing on the road in the One Day Rest scenario since November 2024
Trend Match (PLAY): BROOKLYN (+8.5 at PHX)

* OKLAHOMA CITY is 42-8 SU and 35-14-1 ATS playing at home in the One Day Rest scenario since March 2024
Trend Match (PLAY): OKLAHOMA CITY (-14.5 vs NOP)

* NBA teams playing in A2A b2b scenario are 18-32 SU and 20-29-1 ATS vs. hosts in 2 Days Rest games over the last two seasons
System Match (FADE): PORTLAND (-7.5 at WSH)

* WASHINGTON is 20-7 Over the total playing at home in the 2 Days Rest scenario since December 2020
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): POR-WSH (o/u at 231.5)

Here are the top head-to-head series NBA betting trends in play for all of today’s games:

(529) PORTLAND at (530) WASHINGTON
* PORTLAND is 8-0 SU and ATS in their last eight cross-country trips to Washington D.C.
Trend Match (PLAY): PORTLAND (-7.5 at WSH)

(531) SACRAMENTO at (532) NEW YORK
* Favorites are on an extended 11-0 SU and ATS run in the Kings-Knicks series at Madison Square Garden since 2015
Trend Match (PLAY): NEW YORK (-13.5 vs SAC)

(533) NEW ORLEANS at (534) OKLAHOMA CITY
* OKLAHOMA CITY is 9-0 SU and 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings with New Orleans
Trend Match (PLAY): OKLAHOMA CITY (-14.5 vs NOP)

(535) MILWAUKEE at (536) PHILADELPHIA
* Favorites are 7-1 SU and ATS in the last eight of the MIL-PHI series
Trend Match (PLAY): PHILADELPHIA (-10.5 vs MIL)

(537) DETROIT at (538) DENVER
* Over the total is 5-1 in the last six of Pistons-Nuggets non-conference set at Denver
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): DET-DEN (o/u at 215.5)

(539) BROOKLYN at (540) PHOENIX
* Over the total is 12-3 in the Nets-Suns non-conference series at Phoenix dating to 2011
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): BKN-PHX (o/u at 210.5)

(541) LA CLIPPERS at (542) UTAH
* Home teams are on an extended 19-5 SU and 19-4-1 ATS run in the last 24 meetings between LAC and UTA
Trend Match (PLAY): UTAH (+8.5 vs LAC)

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 #5:
Home teams with a winning record that are underdogs of five points or more have gone 13-42 SU and 22-31-2 ATS (41.5%) in their last 55 non-conference games.
System Match (FADE): DENVER (+7.5 vs DET)

NBA Team Strength Betting System #7:
Double-digit NBA games have produced some definitive results on totals over the last five seasons, depending on what type of matchup it was. In divisional games featuring double-digit lines, Under the total has gone 133-105 (55.9%). In non-conference games, Over the total was 245-204 (54.6%). And finally, in non-divisional conference games, Over the total was 328-260 (55.8%).
System Matches (PLAY ALL): OVER – SAC-NYK (spread -13.5, total 230.5), NOP-OKC (spread -14.5, total 233.5), MIL-PHI (spread -10.5, total 219.5)

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. 

NBA Team Strength Betting System #5:
Home teams with a winning record that are underdogs of five points or more have gone 13-42 SU and 22-31-2 ATS (41.5%) in their last 55 non-conference games.
System Match (FADE): DENVER (+7.5 vs DET)

NBA Team Strength Betting System #7:
Double-digit NBA games have produced some definitive results on totals over the last five seasons, depending on what type of matchup it was. In divisional games featuring double-digit lines, Under the total has gone 133-105 (55.9%). In non-conference games, Over the total was 245-204 (54.6%). And finally, in non-divisional conference games, Over the total was 328-260 (55.8%).
System Matches (PLAY ALL): OVER – SAC-NYK (spread -13.5, total 230.5), NOP-OKC (spread -14.5, total 233.5), MIL-PHI (spread -10.5, total 219.5)

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 L5 seasons unless noted.

Teams losing despite scoring well are dangerous
NBA teams coming off back-to-back losses in which they scored 115+ points have bounced back extremely well in the next outing when installed as underdogs, going 110-68-1 ATS (61.8%) since the start of the 2018-2019 season.
System Match (PLAY): SACRAMENTO (+13.5 at NYK)

Close wins haven’t provided momentum going forward
NBA teams that won as favorites by a close margin (1-3 points) have gone 299-166 SU but just 194-258-13 ATS (42.9%) in the next game when favored again.
System Match (FADE): NEW YORK (-13.5 vs SAC)

Divisional upsets can lead to Unders
Teams that win outright versus divisional rivals as double-digit underdogs have trended sharply Under the total in the next game, going 64-39-1 (62.1%) in their last 104 tries.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): NOP-OKC (o/u at 233.5)

Unusual shooting performance systems
NBA teams that have made 50% or more of their 3-point field goal attempts in a game have responded the next time out by going just 333-345 SU and 307-363-8 ATS (45.8%) in the next game over the last five seasons.
System Match (FADE): DETROIT (-7.5 at DEN)

Unusual defensive performances
NBA teams that hold an opponent to 36% or less field goal percentage in any given game have produced well in the next game as well, going 173-113 SU and 162-117-7 ATS (58.1%) since 2021.
System Match (PLAY): LA CLIPPERS (-8.5 at UTA)

Massive rebounding differentials
NBA teams that had a -15 or worse rebounding differential have struggled to tighten up in a back-to-back situation, going Over the total at a 104-69 (60.1%) rate since 2021, including 49-26 (65.3%) to the Over in the last 75.
System Match (PLAY OVER): MIL-PHI (o/u at 219.5)

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.

NBA Streak Betting System #7:
Teams that have lost at least their last four games and are facing an opponent on 2+ Days Rest have had their games go OVer the total at a 134-95-2 (58.5%) rate since the start of the 2020-21 season.
System Match (PLAY OVER): SAC-NYK (o/u at 230.5)

NBA Streak Betting System #14:
Teams reaching winning OR losing streaks of seven games or more become play-against teams in general, going 291-333-4 ATS (46.6%) in the next outing since 2020.
System Match (FADE): WASHINGTON (+7.5 vs POR)

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 11:30 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 #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 Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): PORTLAND, DETROIT, LA CLIPPERS

DK NBA Betting Splits system #6: In NBA non-conference games (East versus West) of the last 3+ seasons, DK super majority handle groups of 62% or greater have been mildly successful, as they are 461-417 ATS (52.5%). If you consider that the overall majority numbers showed just over a 50% success rate, they were about 2.5% improved on these more-rare games. This simple angle has produced +2.3 units of profit and an ROI of 0.3%.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): PORTLAND, NEW YORK, DETROIT, PHOENIX

DK NBA Betting Splits system #7: The number 63% or higher has been a key super-majority number in non-divisional conference games over the last 3+ seasons, with handle groups of that size boasting a 579-508 ATS record, good for 54.2%. This is over a 4% improvement on the overall majority figures and has netted +20.2 units of profit and an ROI of 1.9%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): OKLAHOMA CITY, LA CLIPPERS

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 1,454-663 over the last 3+ seasons but for -277.83 units and a 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): NEW YORK ML, OKLAHOMA CITY ML, PHILADELPHIA ML, PHOENIX 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 has 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): POR-WSH, NOP-OKC

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 Unver) of 57% or less have gone 409-367 (52.7%) for +5.3 units and an ROI of +0.7% since January 2023.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): OVER – SAC-NYK
UNDER – NOP-OKC

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 – MIL-PHI, DET-DEN, BKN-PHX

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 Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. NEW YORK -13.5 (+4.4)
2. DETROIT -7.5 (+3.4)
3. PORTLAND -7.5 (+2.5)

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. BROOKLYN +8.5 (+1.6)
2. DENVER +7.5 (+1.2)
3. SACRAMENTO +13.5 (+0.5)

Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1 (tie). PHILADELPHIA -10.5 (+0.5)
LA CLIPPERS -8.5 (+0.5)

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. DET-DEN OVER 215.5 (+0.9)
2. NOP-OKC OVER 233.5 (+0.4)

Today’s Top 3 BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. BKN-PHX UNDER 210.5 (-2.7)
2. MIL-PHI UNDER 219.5 (-1.4)
3. SAC-NYK UNDER 231.5 (-0.7)

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. NEW YORK -13.5 (+5.3)
2. DETROIT -7.5 (+2.6)
3. PORTLAND -7.5 (+2.2)

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. NOP-OKC OVER 233.5 (+5.7)
2. DET-DEN OVER 215.5 (+2.4)

Today’s Top 3 TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. BKN-PHX UNDER 210.5 (-2.6)
2. MIL-PHI UNDER 219.5 (-0.9)
3. SAC-NYK UNDER 231.5 (-0.7)

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