76ers vs. Raptors Betting Picks, Betting Odds & Predictions: Will Toronto Keep Up Its Win Streak?

76ers at Raptors Picks, Betting Odds & Predictions

• Spread: Raptors -7
• Over/Under: 216
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: ESPN

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There have been zero signs of a championship hangover in Toronto as the Raptors have thrived in the absence of Kawhi Leonard. They currently sit third in the East standings ahead of a home matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philly will again be down their star center, Joel Embiid, but have won five of the seven games he has missed including four straight since last Wednesday. With both teams hoping to push their respective win streaks to five games, which squad has an edge tonight?

Our NBA experts analyze the matchup and detail how they plan to bet this game below.

Betting Trend to Know

The Toronto Raptors have been excellent at Scotiabank Arena this season, especially against their Eastern conference foes. They are 10-3 against the spread when facing teams from the East at home.

When the Raps are favored by seven points or more in that situation like they are tonight against the Sixers, their record jumps to 7-0 ATS. — Malik Smith

Bryan Mears: Can't Trust the 76ers' Offense

I'm not entirely sure what the reason is, but it's hard to ignore: The Sixers just plain stink when they leave Philly.

• 76ers at home: +11.6 overall (3rd) | 114.0 Offensive Rating (6th) | 102.4 Defensive Rating (2nd)
• 76ers on road: -3.1 overall (15th) | 106.4 Offensive Rating (24th) | 109.5 Defensive Rating (8th)

There's a general trend of role-players performing way different at home vs. the road, but that's a humongous dip in performance. The defense has definitely seen a decrease, but the drop-off in offense is the most startling.

And it's hard to make the case things are really going to get much better. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers have the 28th-ranked expected eFG% mark on the road, mostly because they take very few shots at the rim or behind the arc. They go into hero-ball mode on the road, and they just don't have the one-on-one shooters and creators, especially without Embiid, to make those possessions efficient.

On the other end, they are fourth in expected eFG% allowed on the road, but have ranked 15th in that regard, showing their defense has gotten a little unlucky and likely doesn't have the same splits as the offense. They've given up just a 29.0% 3-point rate on the road, best in the NBA, which is good news vs. a Raptors team that takes them at a top-six rate.

And finally, for whatever reason the Sixers have been playing incredibly slow of late, ranking 24th in pace since the start of the new year. Combine a potentially luckier defense, a still-bad offense, the Raptors' awesome defense and a slow pace, and I think you know where I'm going with this: I lean toward the under. — Bryan Mears

Matt Moore: Fade the Sixers Without Embiid

Why does Bryan Mears hate me? He keeps forcing me to write about the (expletive) 76ers without (expletive) Embiid. What did I ever do to him except give him praise and good content?

Anyway, look, the Raptors are 12-7 against the spread as a home favorite this season, they’ve been remarkably consistent and they have more talent than the Sixers with Embiid out.

So of course I’m taking the Sixers, again, like an idiot.

This spread is +7 at the time of writing, that’s more than double the next longest spread they’ve been dogs as without Embiid this season. They are 1-4 ATS as an underdog without Embiid, so again, I don’t feel great about it, but I’m getting more than two possessions on a good team that is likely to play great defense and make this into a slog.

The total is down 2.5 points from open (I found it at 217) and the money is coming in on the under. In games where the Sixers were underdogs without Embiid this season, they’ve averaged 101.8 points.

If I’m right and the Sixers hang, it’s because they’ve swarmed the Raptors and drawn them into a rock fight. If I’m wrong and the Raptors handle it, it’s because the Sixers score in the 90s.

Finally, a matchup note, here. The Raptors’ biggest advantage vs. the Sixers is having Marc Gasol to match up against Embiid. That’s neutralized, and Al Horford vs. Gasol is a wash. The Sixers have a tall team at every position to match up with the Raptors, who are a little undersized in the backcourt.

So once more unto the breach, dear friends. I'll like the Sixers to cover the spread and the under. — Matt Moore

Editor’s note: The opinions on this game are from the individual writers and are based on their research, analysis and perspective. They are independent of, and may not always match with, the algorithm-driven Best Bets from Sports Insights.