Why You Need to Bet on C.J. McCollum in the Pelicans Play-In Game

The NBA Play-In Tournament is underway, with the 7-10 seeds in each conference battling their way into the 16-team playoffs. The Lakers and Hawks have already punched their respective tickets with last night’s victories. Tonight, we see the Bulls take on the Raptors and the Thunder face the Pelicans, as we turn our attention to New Orleans.

C.J. McCollum has been an integral part of the Pelicans since coming over from the Trailblazers last season. Averaging 20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, he’s been a consistent contributor all season long, and our model anticipates another big night from the shooting guard in tonight’s play-in matchup.

RELATED: Thunder vs. Pelicans Prediction and Picks

Before you place any wagers tonight, make sure you’ve got an account at the best books available in your state. Currently, both FanDuel and DraftKings are offering new users $150 in bonus bets for placing just a $5 wager, while BetMGM is offering up to $1,000 back in bonus bets for your first wager. Head on over to our Best Sportsbooks page to see how you can capitalize on these exclusive offers.

RELATED: NBA Same Game Parlay for Bulls-Raptors 

Why you should bet on C.J. McCollum vs. Thunder

In the Pelicans' last meeting with the Thunder, C.J. McCollum turned in a line of 26 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds, on just 8-20 shooting. If McCollum can replicate this performance and see some regression to his usual shooting percentage, he should find himself stuffing the stat sheet easily.

The Thunder are a young team that surprised many on their run to qualify as the Western Conference 10-seed. Despite their young squad, they were the fifth-highest-scoring offense in the league this season, which means the Pelicans will have to keep their foot on the gas to keep pace.

Additionally, the Thunder rank in the bottom third of the league in defensive points allowed per game, so any way you slice it, this is a matchup that bodes well for C.J. McCollum.

RELATED: Bulls vs. Raptors Prediction and Picks

Which bets should you make?

Our model has identified three C.J. McCollum props with an edge tonight:

BET: C.J. McCollum Over 22.5 points (-105 on DraftKings)

Our Projection: 26.3   Edge: 6.6%

Although McCollum’s posted line is above his season average in points, our model still projects him to exceed that number and coupled with a solid 6.6% edge in the odds, makes this a great play in tonight’s matchup.

BET: C.J. McCollum Over 5.5 Assists (-113 on FanDuel)

Our Projection: 7.6   Edge: 8.6%

DimersBOT loves a player who dishes out dimes, and we see an even higher edge at 8.6% against the sportsbook on McCollum’s assists prop. His line is set right at his season average (5.7 assists per game) and the model has identified great value at FanDuel.

BET: C.J. McCollum Over 2.5 Turnovers (+105 at BetMGM)

Our Projection: 3.4   Edge: 12.9%

We know, why would we target C.J.’s turnovers prop if we’re already backing him to score and dish out the ball? Because of a massive 12.9% edge in his line over at BetMGM. Even the most prolific scorers are prone to turnovers, and in a competitive game with McCollum hopefully passing the ball heavily, this is a big opportunity to cash in on both sides. And at plus-money odds, you’ve got yourself a fine hedge against his assists prop if he struggles in that area.

For more insights into tonight’s NBA play-in matchups and beyond, check out our Game Predictions, Best Props, profitable Trends and Futures odds.