Golden State returns to the NBA Western Conference Finals for a 4^th consecutive year. Their opponent will be Houston who owned the NBA’s best regular season record at 65-17 (.793). Comparatively speaking, the Golden State Warriors were next best at 58-24. It will be one the more highly anticipated NBA Conference Finals series in quite some time. At this present time, a consensus of all major offshore sportsbooks has Golden State as a money line favorite of -200 to win the Western Conference crown and Houston is +170.

Regular Season Matchups

Houston faced Golden State 3 times during the regular season and went 2-1 SU&ATS in those matchups.

Despite losing 2 of those 3 to Houston, Golden State shot a blistering hot 53.0% from the field and made 47.9% of its 3-point shots during those contests. Each team made a combined 46 three-point shots throughout those 3 head to head confrontations. The average total in those contests was 231.0 and there were a cumulative 235.0 points scored per game.

Home/Away Splits

Heading into these 2018 NBA Western Conference Finals, Golden State had gone 31-14 straight up and 20-25 ATS during away games this season. Conversely, the Warriors were 35-12 straight up and 18-29 ATS at home.

Meanwhile, Houston is an outstanding 39-8 straight up and 20-27 ATS at home throughout their 2017-2018 NBA campaign. On the flip side, the Rockets are an impressive 34-11 straight up and 27-18 ATS during away games.

Double-Digit Favorite Kings

Golden State has been a closing double-digit favorite in 44 of 92 (47.8%) games this season. Moreover, the Warriors were a double-digit favorite during 35 of its 47 (74.5%) home games. If not for a late for a late season injury to Stephen Curry which extended into the playoffs, the Warriors percentage ratio of being heavy chalks would’ve increased even more.

The Houston Rockets have closed as a double-digit favorite in 33 of their 92 games (35.9%) this season. Furthermore, Houston has been a favorite of 10.0-points or more during 29 of their 47 (61.7%) home games. Additionally, since 11/22/17, Houston has gone a very profitable 8-2 ATS as a home favorite of 9.5-points or less.

Unless one of these teams sustains a plethora of injuries to key personnel, there aren’t going to be any double-digit favorites in this upcoming conference final. It will be interesting to see how both these teams respond to not being huge favorites on a regular basis.

Final Analysis and Take

I’ve been saying it for the last 3 months now, Houston is well equipped to defeat Golden State in a 7-game series, and they’ll go on to winning their first NBA title since 1995. The NBA odds of +170 on the Rockets are too good to pass up. Especially considering this is a Rockets team that was 7.0 games better than Golden State during regular season action, and presently has no significant injury issues.

Pick: Houston Rockets +170

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter: @RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com