Clippers vs. Bobcats: Will Chris Paul Deliver in Unfamiliar Spot?

The Los Angeles Clippers (16-8) are definitely a different team due to the offseason acquisition of point guard Chris Paul, which has caused Las Vegas oddsmakers to place them in an unfamiliar spot versus the Charlotte Bobcats (3-23) Saturday night.

Paul and his teammates were established as 9.5-point road favorites, but that number has risen by a half-point in most spots while the total has plummeted six points to 185.

The Clippers haven't had to lay 9.5 to 12.0 points away from southern California since at least the 1995-96 season while the Bobcats are 6-1 against the spread (ATS) as a home underdog in that point range over that time period.

A letdown from the visitors is certainly possible when considering this is the fifth game of a six game road trip—sandwiched in between a 78-77 win over the Philadelphia 76ers last night and an upcoming affair against the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.

Paul may provide the emotional lift necessary for the franchise to come away with a victory in this contest, considering he's a native of Winston-Salem, NC, averaging 20.0 points in five games when playing in Charlotte.

Charlotte isn't going to attract much action at the betting window after getting blown out by the Chicago Bulls by 31 points last night as 13.5-point underdogs inside Time Warner Cable Arena. The loss moved Charlotte's losing streak to 13 games—just one short of the franchise record.

I'm going to take the points due to the home team being 27-9 ATS versus Pacific Division opponents in its last 36 tries.

Pick:  Charlotte Bobcats +10