NBA Playoff Predictions 2012: Miami Heat Will Blow out Indiana Pacers in Game 1

The Miami Heat are only in the second year of the "Big Three" era, but the team has always taken care of business when playing its first home game of a playoff series with its talented roster. 

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Heat as 8.5-point home favorites in Sunday's Game 1 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Indiana Pacers, which isn't nearly enough given the situation at hand.

Miami has played in five postseason series since Chris Bosh and LeBron James joined Dwyane Wade in South Beach, winning the first game played at AmericanAirlines Arena in decisive fashion, including a 100-67 victory over the New York Knicks as nine-point favorites in Game 1 of their recently completed first-round series on April 28.

The Heat have won all five of those contests by an average of 11.8 points per game, producing a 4-1 against-the-spread (ATS) record in the process.

In closing out its previous series against the Knicks in five games, Miami allowed itself to gain a valuable amount of rest before taking on the Pacers. The team won two games by large margins over the Portland Trail Blazers (107-93) and the San Antonio Spurs (120-98) when playing on three or more days rest. 

Sports bettors will want to shy away from taking the points in this contest, considering the Pacers are 9-26 ATS as road underdogs of 6.5 to 9 points over the last two-plus years.

Lay the number with confidence.

Pick: Miami Heat -8.5

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