New Orleans Pelicans Medium Favorite (-3.5 to -7) Betting Trend

The Pelicans' struggles as medium favorites stem from their inherent volatility as a franchise built around explosive but inconsistent talent. When laying 3.5 to 7 points, New Orleans faces the burden of proving they can control games against teams they should beat, yet their young core often plays to the level of competition rather than asserting dominance. The franchise has historically relied on individual brilliance from stars like Anthony Davis and now Zion Williamson, but translating that talent into consistent blowout victories requires the kind of systematic execution and defensive intensity that has eluded them. Their coaching carousel and frequent roster turnover have created an identity crisis that manifests most clearly in these medium spread situations. Against inferior opponents, the Pelicans often start slow, allowing underdogs to hang around and cover spreads even in eventual victories. The team's offensive firepower can mask defensive lapses in close games, but when expected to pull away, those same defensive breakdowns keep games closer than the betting market anticipates. Smart bettors should target fading New Orleans as medium favorites when they're coming off emotional wins or facing teams with nothing to lose. This trend carries the most weight during stretches when the Pelicans are fighting for playoff positioning but lack the veteran leadership to execute with required consistency.