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NBA Odds: Breaking Down the Favorites in the Southwest Division

Put on your cowboy boots because we are heading to Texas (and Memphis/New Orleans)! The NBA Southwest Division is primed to be one of the most competitive in the NBA next season. Although the division is the home to the defending Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, the NBA betting odds believe winning this division will be a battle. The NBA Southwest Division is brimming with young talent. Let’s dive into the Southwest Division odds and go over the possible contenders. 

NBA Odds: Breaking Down the Favorites in the Southwest Division

*All NBA Betting Odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook*

Dallas Mavericks: Reigning Western Conference Champions

Although it was relatively unexpected, the Mavericks made it to the 2024 NBA Finals. Riding on the back of Luka Doncic, they had their best playoff run since Dirk Nowitzki’s 2011 championship. Dallas won the division last year, starting the season off with +175 odds to do so. The Mavs won 50 games last season and entered the playoffs as the fifth seed before their NBA Finals run. 

This offseason, the Mavericks roster got a huge boost with the signing of Klay Thompson. They lost Tim Hardaway Jr., a staple of the Mavs roster, but overall the switch is an improvement. The Mavericks hope that a full season of having P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford on the roster, combined with Thompson’s Hall of Fame shooting, will keep them atop the NBA Southwest Division standings. Their odds of winning the division are +165. 

Memphis Grizzlies: Don’t Forget About Us

The Memphis Grizzlies took a step back last season. Controversial NBA star Ja Morant missed part of the season from suspension and the rest with injury. He only played in nine games in 2023-24. Arguably the second-best player on the Grizzlies roster, Desmond Bane, also missed half the season due to injury. 

Now, the Grizzlies roster is looking for redemption. They won only 27 games last season, and the expectations inside and outside their locker room are that they will return to playoff contention this season. They won the NBA Southwest Division back-to-back times before injuries got them last season, therefore the odds of them winning again are short. They are +230 to win the division. 

New Orleans Pelicans: NBA Southwest Division Sleepers

The Pelicans have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. Although question marks still linger about Brandon Ingram’s contract status, the Pelicans are coming into the 2024-25 NBA season with high expectations. They added a defensive point guard to complement Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum’s scoring abilities and have one of the deeper benches in the league. 

The Pelicans roster when healthy is formidable. If the Pelicans finally get a full healthy year from Williamson, the sky’s the limit. At +320 to win the NBA Southwest Division, there is some value to taking them for your NBA bet today. 

Houston Rockets: Solid but not Great

The Houston Rockets have turned things around. After a relatively short rebuilding phase, the Rockets roster is filled with young and veteran talent. They went 41-41 last season and were one of the better surprises of the first half of the season.

AJ Griffin joined the team this offseason and is now potentially quitting basketball. If Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun can continue to improve, expect another solid season from the Rockets. However, to compete in the NBA Southwest Division, you need to be a lot better than solid. Don’t take any NBA bets on the Rockets winning the division at +600.

San Antonio Spurs: Waiting on Wemby

Victor Wembanyama is already great. Wembanyama won Rookie of the Year last season, and it seems like he is already ready to impose his talent on the NBA. Wembanayama will once again headline the San Antonio Spurs roster, but they’ve made some offseason moves that will likely improve the team. 

Picking up veterans like Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul will certainly solidify the Spurs roster. The Spurs only won 22 games last year, so expect them to take a step forward this season. Even so, taking them to win the NBA Southwest Division at +3400 is only worth it if you make a parlay with a Wembanyama MVP bet.

Jeremy Kruger

Jeremy Kruger

"You're not tall enough to make the NBA," they said. They were right. But now Jeremy is doing the next best thing: sharing his passion for basketball with the world through his writing.

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