Posted at 1:00 PM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Orlando +135 over Charlotte

7:30 PM EST. Do you think the oddsmakers are idiots? Do you really believe that? Because that’s what you’d have to assume to ignore a number like this.

The entire market was on Philadelphia to beat Orlando on Wednesday, and just like the market expected, Philadelphia went gate-to-wire and easily covered. Everybody cashed their ticket. Everybody felt smart. Everybody celebrated. The narrative heading into that game was all about turmoil — locker-room dysfunction, a coach on the way out, players unhappy, chemistry issues — and the public ate it up.

And now the market is going to double down.

Nobody wants Orlando tonight because the situation hasn’t changed. The headlines are still negative, the stories are still circulating, and the perception remains that this team is broken. That’s exactly why the price has moved to a point where value exists. When the public is unanimous, the line almost always reflects emotion instead of reality.

Meanwhile, Charlotte is suddenly the trendy team. They just survived an overtime battle to get here, beating Miami in dramatic fashion, and now they’re being praised for their momentum and resilience.

They’ve also had success in this matchup during the regular season, winning three of the four meetings, which only adds fuel to the public narrative but momentum is one of the most overrated concepts in sports betting — especially in elimination games.

This is still a win-or-go-home situation, and Orlando is at home, where they went 25-15 this season, and where desperation and urgency tend to show up in full force. Teams in this spot do not roll over. They respond.

Charlotte already played its emotional game. They already had their moment. Now they have to do it again on the road, against a team facing elimination in front of its own crowd. That’s a much tougher assignment than the public realizes.

The market is reacting to headlines. We’re reacting to the market overreaction. Oddsmakers are fully aware of the negativity surrounding the Magic and have now dangled the proverbial carrot in front of everyone's eyes. Don't bite.

Take advantage of BET365's early NFL payout offer

Bet365 Early Payout – How It Works

Straight Bets:

If the team you back to win goes up by the designated number of points at any time during the game, BET365 will pay out your bet in full immediately, even if the opposing team later comes back and wins the game.

Parlays & Same Game Parlays:
If a team you’ve selected goes up by the designated number of points that selection will be marked as WON in My Bets. Any remaining legs of the parlay will continue to run as normal.

Once a selection is marked as won under the Early Payout rules, it cannot be reversed, regardless of what happens later in the game.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------