Why Bettors Should Know Tonight’s Grizzlies-76ers Officiating Crew
Steve Mitchell – USA TODAY Sports
At 7 p.m. ET tonight, the Philadelphia 76ers host the Memphis Grizzlies, the most hated team in the DFS industry, in a game that's not expected to be close.
Philly opened as a 12.5- to 13-point favorite across the market and is expected to win the game with ease, but spread bettors should take notice of the trio of zebras, as the officiating crew was perhaps the worst possible draw for 76ers backers.
One would imagine that most officials are biased towards the home team. Don't want boos raining upon them, right?
Well that is the case for some, but the three officials in Philadelphia tonight are just the opposite. These thick-skinned refs can handle the booing, the taunting, and the throwing of beers, brats, and batteries.
Here is how home teams have fared against the spread when each of these officials have been on the court, since 2005:
- Ben Taylor: 122-151 (44.69%)
- Mitchell Ervin: 66-79 (45.52%)
- Tony Brothers (pictured above): 332-380 (46.63%)
- Total: 520-610 (46.0%)
In over 1,000 total games, home teams have covered just 46% of the time. Taylor and Ervin don't have the lengthiest track records, but Brothers is a veteran. Units-wise, he's been the second most profitable ATS ref for away teams in our database.
In fact, early sharp wagers have been coming in on the Grizzlies, though it's impossible to know whether or not the officials played a factor in those bettors' decisions.
The Grizzlies are seeing just 34% of the bets, but a whopping 85% of the dollars. This gap will surely get smaller as the number of bets increases throughout the day.
With a couple of factors pointing towards Memphis, it would be tough for me to back Philly in this situation.
Photo via Steve Mitchell – USA TODAY Sports
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