The Orlando Magic impressed in 2022-23, thanks in large part to the presence of do-it-all forward Paolo Banchero. The 2022 No. 1 overall pick led the team in scoring and received genuine All-Star consideration as a rookie.
Now, Banchero is looking to build upon his strong debut and lead the Magic back to a place they’ve been just twice since the 2011-12 season: the NBA Playoffs.
Here are my favorite Orlando Magic prop bets to make ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season.
Magic Odds 2024
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Magic Prop Bets 2024
NBA lines are current as of Friday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. ET. To see updated Magic odds and lines, use the widget above.
Magic: Over 36.5 Wins (-135)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 2 Units
It won’t take much of an improvement for the Magic to surpass this line in 2023-24. Orlando notched 34 wins this past season, and that was after starting the year at a paltry 5-20.
And while the Magic had a relatively quiet offseason — their biggest signings came via the NBA Draft — the franchise didn’t necessarily need to go out and land a star. Rather, Orlando is developing its own All-Star talent in Banchero and Franz Wagner.
With another year of experience, this duo — supported by a solid supporting cast that includes Wendell Carter Jr. and Cole Anthony — could easily push for 40 wins or more. At 36.5 wins, taking the Over at this price is an excellent value and a great way to use your NBA bet of the day.
Magic: Make NBA Playoffs (+145)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The Magic won’t get a free pass to the playoffs this year, but it does help that other, more competitive teams in the Eastern Conference appear to be taking a step — or multiple steps — in the wrong direction.
The Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers are all likely to underperform in 2023-24 compared to what they accomplished last year, as noted in the latest NBA Eastern Conference odds. That may open the door for a new playoff challenger to step in.
Orlando does need to make some offensive adjustments to get the job done — improving upon a bottom-five offense will be paramount — but this team has the proper personnel to make a considerable leap in 2023-24 and return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
Magic: Make NBA Play-In Tournament (+115)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 2 Units
If you’d rather go with a safer choice than picking the Magic to make the playoffs outright, a wager on Orlando to qualify for the NBA Play-In Tournament could be the way to go.
To get in, the Magic will need to finish as the No. 7-10 seed in the Eastern Conference. They landed at No. 13 this past season, but their 29-28 record over the final 57 games is an encouraging sign of what’s to come in 2023-24.
It may end up being a tight competition between Orlando and the Indiana Pacers or Chicago Bulls, but I like the Magic to prevail and clinch a spot in a play-in game. At (+115) odds, this is easily one of the best bets you can make ahead of the NBA season.
Magic Betting in Florida
Although sports betting is not yet legal in Florida, it’s never too early to start getting familiar with how it all works. Consider reading up on our Florida sports betting guide to learn about the top sportsbooks, promotions, sign-up bonuses, and more.
How to Bet on Magic Games 2024
How to Bet Magic Moneylines
If you’re a beginner when it comes to sports betting, moneylines are an excellent starting point. To win this type of wager, all you need to do is correctly pick the winner of a game. When your team wins, your bet cashes out.
Moneyline betting was a mixed bag with the Magic last year, as Orlando started at a meager 5-20. However, the team went 29-28 the rest of the way and scored quite a few upsets in the process, making them a profitable squad to back.
The Magic figure to be an improved team in 2023-24, but there’s a good chance that they’ll still be listed as underdogs in a good chunk of their games. This could make Orlando one of the most profitable betting teams of the season if Banchero and co. can deliver.
- 2022-23 Magic Moneyline Record: 34-48
How to Bet Magic Spreads
Spread betting removes winners and losers from the equation and instead focuses on how well a team stacks up against expectations. With this type of wager, you’ll bet whether you believe your team will win (or lose) by a predetermined number of points, which essentially serves as a projected margin of victory.
For example, if the Magic were taking on the Miami Heat, Orlando might be listed as a 6.5-point underdog. In this case, the Magic would either need to win the game or lose by fewer than 6.5 points to cover the spread.
Orlando went 45-35-2 against the spread last season, which was one of the best records in the league. Generally speaking, teams that exceed expectations end up posting a better record against the spread, while those that underwhelm struggle to cover.
- 2022-23 Magic Against the Spread Record: 45-35-2
How to Bet Magic Over/Unders
If you’d rather not think about whether a team will win or lose or how well they’ll perform, Over/Under bets could be the way to go. The focus here is entirely centered on how many points will be scored in a given game and whether or not it will be higher or lower than the projected total.
In that same game against the Heat, the total might’ve been set around 218.5 points. In this case, the Over would hit if more than 218.5 total points are scored, while the Under would be the winning bet if it comes in below that mark.
When dealing with these types of bets, it’s important to make sure you’ve read up on the injury report. A game that is projected to be deceptively low-scoring could be hiding the fact that a star player is slated to sit out, for example.
- 2022-23 Magic Over/Under Record: 40-40-2
