Lakers open up as heavy title favorites

Sportsbooks have installed the Los Angeles Lakers as considerable favorites to beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. The early betting action, though, has been on the underdogs, and the odds are on the move. The Lakers are -400 favorites at William Hill U.S. sportsbooks, with the Heat listed as +320 underdogs. Early support for Miami has caused the odds to move at some sportsbooks.

As of Monday morning, 17 of the first 18 bets on the NBA Finals were on the Heat at the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas. The Lakers' odds have gone from -450 to -360 at the SuperBook since the price was posted late Monday night after the matchup was set.

Source: David Purdum of ESPN

ANALYSIS: Nobody could have predicted the Miami Heat would be in the Finals before the season started, so it comes as no surprise that they are heavy underdogs in this matchup with the Lakers. Jimmy Butler has said over and over the Heat do not feel like underdogs and they belong where they are, and that is now the NBA Finals.

Everybody loves an underdog story though, which is why the early betting has been on the 5th seeded Heat.