The New Orleans Pelicans (3-20) and Brooklyn Nets (5-17) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. EST from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The game will broadcast live on YES.
The Nets are 3.5-point favorites over the Pelicans on the spread (Nets -3.5), with the over/under set at 227.5 total points. Brooklyn is a -160 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New Orleans is +135 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pelicans vs. Nets predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, December 6.
My Pelicans vs Nets Prediction
- Pelicans vs Nets pick: Pelicans +3.5 (-110)
My Nets vs Pelicans best bet is on the Pelicans to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Pelicans vs Nets Odds
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 227.5 -105o / -115u | +135 |
| Nets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 227.5 -105o / -115u | -160 |
Pelicans vs Nets NBA Preview
In a matchup between two of the worst teams in the NBA this season, there's value in backing the lowly New Orleans against the spread.
Although the Pelicans have lost five games in a row, they didn't suffer a blowout in any of them.
Only one of those five defeats was by more than nine points (against the Lakers, by 12), and all their opponents were much better teams than the Nets.
On top of that, the Pelicans are 13-9-1 against the spread this season, while the Nets are 10-11-1 ATS.
This aligns with our Bet Labs system recommendation to back New Orleans on the spread.
Pelicans vs Nets Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Unfamiliar Dogs system targets NBA road underdogs in non-division matchups early in the season, where unfamiliarity often creates inefficiency in the betting market.
When teams face opponents they do not see often, defensive schemes and matchup tendencies are less predictable, leveling the playing field for the underdog.
Facing an opponent that did not make the postseason the prior year also limits the motivational edge or perceived superiority that typically inflates the line.
Early in the season, when teams are still finding rhythm and rotations, these games tend to be more volatile and less defined by reputation.
The result is that visiting underdogs often keep games close or win outright, capitalizing on inflated spreads in spots where public bias and lack of familiarity work in their favor.
Pick: Pelicans +3.5 (-110, BetMGM)
