Cleveland Cavaliers As Favorite Betting Trend

Cleveland's struggles as a favorite stem from the franchise's historical tendency to play down to competition and struggle with expectations management. The Cavaliers have consistently shown a pattern of inconsistent effort when favored, particularly against teams they're expected to handle easily. This psychological dynamic reflects a young roster that often lacks the veteran leadership necessary to maintain focus against inferior opponents. The team's coaching staff has frequently rotated over this period, creating instability in game preparation and in-game adjustments that becomes magnified when Cleveland enters as the betting favorite. The Cavaliers tend to rely heavily on individual talent rather than systematic execution, which works against stronger opponents who force them to elevate their play, but fails against weaker teams where complacency creeps in. Cleveland's home court advantage has been inconsistent throughout this stretch, with the fanbase's energy directly correlating to playoff expectations. When the team is favored at home, particularly in regular season games, they've shown a troubling tendency to start slow and fail to cover spreads even in victories. This trend matters most during regular season divisional games and when Cleveland is favored by more than six points, where their historical underperformance becomes a significant betting opportunity for contrarian bettors.