Tuesday’s Most Popular Public Bets

After a slow Monday night, hoops are back. Tonight's NBA slate is loaded with 11 games for bettors to navigate, and March Madness gets the ball rolling this evening with two play-in games, as well as some intriguing minor tournament matchups.

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Using our bet and money percentage data, let's take a look at the three games that have generated the most action from public bettors tonight.

Toronto Raptors (-9) vs. Brooklyn Nets

The Raptors are the most popular NBA bet of the night, receiving 78% of bets in tonight's third-most heavily bet game. But with only 67% of spread money landing on Toronto, this line has dropped a full point from its opening number.

Why the public loves Toronto: The Raptors are riding an eight-game win streak, sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, and playing the 13th-place Nets. It doesn't get much more attractive than that for a public bettor.

Boston College (+5.5) at Western Kentucky

Given the varying bet totals and percentages across these games, there's often some subjectivity in determining the "most public" college hoops bet of the night, but I'm giving this one the nod. Seventy-four percent of bettors have taken the Eagles in what should end up as a top five most heavily bet game tonight, and BC has drawn 80% of spread money. Despite that, the line has moved away from the public, going from its opening number of 5 to 5.5.

Why the public loves BC: After watching BC's impressive performance against some tough competition in the ACC Tournament, squares are probably pleasantly surprised to be able to grab the Eagles with 5.5 points in this opening round matchup.

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Cleveland Cavaliers (-7.5) at Phoenix Suns

This game opened with the Cavs favored by seven, but thanks to 77% of spread bets and 90% of spread dollars on Cleveland, books have adjusted by giving Phoenix another half point.

Why the public loves Cleveland: The Cavs have been horrible (21-44-1) against the spread this season, but that hasn't stopped bettors from backing them on a near nightly basis because of this player named LeBron James. Only six times this season has Cleveland received less than 50% of bets in a game.

Photo: Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan

Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports