LeBron James and the Cavs could be ripe for a letdown spot following their Christmas Day matchup with the Warriors.

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Spot bets are classic handicapping practices that have proven profitable no matter what sport you're betting. Whether it's a team looking past this week's opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory, or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their spots. Covers Expert Ben Burns points out his favorites:

Letdown spot

The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Golden State Warriors in the main event on NBA Christmas Day, a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals. The Warriors have been rolling through the competition since knocking off LeBron James and the Cavs in the finals and Cleveland has had this one circled on the calendar, looking to make a statement to open the second half of the season.

Win or loss on Dec. 25, Cleveland is wide open for a letdown spot the following night visiting the Portland Trail Blazers. The Cavaliers will also have two days off following the Portland game, in which the team will likely scatter and spend time with their families after missing the Christmas holiday on the road. That letdown – coupled with a possible unfocused Cleveland team – makes for a dangerous spot on Dec. 26.

Lookahead spot

You could say the Montreal Canadiens are in an extended lookahead spot, counting down the days until goaltender Carey Price returns, which won’t be until the New Year. Until then, the Habs are mired in a nasty losing skid, dropping three straight coming into the week and picking up just two wins in their last 10 games.

The Canadiens desperately need some time away from the ice to heal and clear their heads. Montreal has a hectic schedule before the holiday break, playing in Nashville Monday and Minnesota Tuesday before some much-needed down time. Beware of the Habs looking past these opponents and to time away from their losing skid this week.

Schedule spot

The Texas Southern Tigers see light at the end of the tunnel as it pertains to their road-heavy non-conference schedule. The Tigers have played five in a row away from home and have two more road games before a homecoming on New Year’s Eve. Most of Texas Southern’s games have gone unlined, outside of matchups with Washington State and Mississippi State in which it failed to cover as a double-digit dog.

The next stop on the Tigers’ whirlwind tour is the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York on Dec. 27. Mike Davis’ squad has had 10 days to prep for the Orange but have to make a more than 1,600-mile trip to upstate New York, just a couple days after Christmas. Two days later, Texas Southern is back in the Lone Star State playing Baylor in Waco.

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