The following NBA betting trends are a collection of analytical data, betting systems and strength ratings featured on VSiN and qualified for the MLB games of Tuesday, October 21, 2025. 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.

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 teams perform at varying levels based on 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 on the schedule pressures.

 

We will be tracking 50 top scheduling situations all season long.

* Defending NBA champions are 5-1 ATS in their last six season openers
Trend Match (PLAY): OKLAHOMA CITY (-6.5 vs. HOU)

* LA LAKERS are 1-7 SU in their last eight season-opening games
Trend Match (FADE): LA LAKERS (+2.5 vs. GSW)

* HOUSTON is 1-9 SU in their last 10 season openers
Trend Match (FADE): HOUSTON ML (+230 at OKC)

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

(501) HOUSTON at (502) OKLAHOMA CITY
* Over the total is 5-1 in the last six of this series
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): HOU-OKC (o/u at 228.5)

(503) GOLDEN STATE at (504) LA LAKERS
* Over the total has converted in nine of the last 10 Warriors-Lakers matchups
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): GSW-LAL (o/u at 226.5)

Strategies using NBA DraftKings Betting Splits data

One of the most touted features on VSiN.com, 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 VSiN.com on opening day, Steve Makinen outlined 14 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 10:30 AM 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 full 2024-25 season, the sample contained 1,321 games, and to summarize, majority handle bettors were much more successful than majority number of bets groups on point spreads and totals, while both struggled on money lines. The full-season performance by the majority handle on totals last season in the NBA was better than any other sport I have covered. In fact, these were the results:

– Majority handle on point spreads: 660-614 ATS (51.8%), -15.4 UNITS – ROI: -1.2%
– Majority number of bets on point spreads: 618-645 ATS (48.9%), -91.5 UNITS – ROI: -7.2%
– Majority handle on money lines: 842-458 (64.8%). -123.18 UNITS – ROI: -9.5%
– Majority number of bets on money lines: 886-421 (67.8%). -137.95 UNITS – ROI: -10.6%
– Majority handle on totals: 708-594 (54.4%). +54.6 UNITS – ROI: +4.2%
– Majority number of bets on totals: 670-621 (51.9%), -13.1 UNITS – ROI: -1%

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 748-665 ATS (52.9%) over the last three seasons. This has produced a profit of +16.5 units and an ROI of 1.2%. This has been a very consistent system since I first found it, and for its simplicity, fairly successful. Remember, handle is the total amount of money on a game. When a good portion of the overall money is on a road team in the NBA, it wins more often than not.
System Match (PLAY): GOLDEN STATE (-2.5 at LAL)

Today’s NBA Strength Ratings

The following 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. LA LAKERS +2.5 (+1.2)
2. HOUSTON +6.5 (+0.6)

Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOG according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: LA LAKERS +2.5 (+1.0)

Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITE according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: OKLAHOMA CITY -6.5 (+1.0)

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. GSW-LAL UNDER 226.5 (-2.3)
2. HOU-OKC UNDER 228.5 (-0.3)

Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. LA LAKERS +2.5 (+1.4)
2. HOUSTON +6.5 (+0.5)

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches:
1. GSW-LAL UNDER 226.5 (-2.8)
2. HOU-OKC UNDER 228.5 (-1.9)

Unlimited access to betting splits and the NBA Analytics Reports is available to VSiN Pro subscribers.

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