Pelicans vs. Grizzlies odds, line: 2020 NBA picks, Feb. 1

It’s a battle of the top two picks in the 2019 NBA Draft when Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies visit Zion Williamson and the host New Orleans Pelicans in a Western Conference matchup on Friday in New Orleans. The Grizzlies (24-24), who are 16-15 against conference foes, have won four in a row, while the Pelicans (19-29), who are 12-19 against the West, have won two straight.

Tip-off from the Smoothie King Center is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Pelicans are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Pelicans vs. Grizzlies odds, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 240.5. Before making any Grizzlies vs. Pelicans picks, check out the NBA predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and last season it returned a whopping $4,280 on its top-rated NBA spread and money line picks. It’s already returned almost $3,000 in profit on all top-rated NBA picks during the 2019-20 season and entered Week 15 on a blistering 33-16 run on all top-rated NBA spread picks. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Pelicans vs. Grizzlies. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Grizzlies vs. Pelicans:

Grizzlies vs. Pelicans spread: Pelicans -5.5
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans over-under: 240.5 points
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans money line: Grizzlies +181, Pelicans -221
MEM: Fourth in the league in field-goal percentage at 47.4
NO: Third in the NBA in 3-point percentage at 37.3

Why the Pelicans can cover

The Pelicans have had the Grizzlies’ number of late, winning three of the last four meetings, including a 126-116 victory Jan. 20 at Memphis. New Orleans is 13-0 against Memphis when it scores 110 or more points. In the first meeting this year, the Pelicans connected on a franchise record 21 3-point field goals, with guard Jrue Holiday connecting on a career-high seven. He finished with 36 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Forward Brandon Ingram leads the New Orleans offense, averaging 25 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. In the first meeting at Memphis, Ingram poured in 25 points, dished out six assists and grabbed four rebounds. He’s had two 40-plus point games this season, including a 49-point performance against Utah on Jan. 16. Williamson is averaging 18 points and 8.3 rebounds in his four games since debuting on Jan. 22. He’s seen his minutes increase each game.

New Orleans also won’t have to worry about Jaren Jackson Jr. in this matchup after the talented second-year Memphis player was suspended for his role in an altercation with the Knicks earlier this week.

Why the Grizzlies can cover

Even so, the Pelicans aren’t a lock to cover the Grizzlies vs. Pelicans spread. That’s because Memphis has been red hot on the road, winning two straight and four of five. The Grizzlies are 10-11 away from home this year. Memphis is 8-1 against the spread in its last nine games following an against the spread win.

Morant have carried the offensive load for the Grizzlies, averaging 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He recorded his eighth career double-double on Wednesday when he scored 18 points and dished out 10 assists in a 127-106 win over the New York Knicks.

How to make Grizzlies vs. Pelicans picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total as the Pelicans get 15 or more points from four players, while the Grizzlies have three players score 17 or more points in the simulations. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in nearly 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.