Cavaliers vs. Hornets line, picks: Advanced computer NBA model releases selections for Friday matchup

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets square off in a battle for playoff positioning at 7 p.m. ET on Friday. Charlotte is favored by 5.5 points at Caesars Sportsbook, while the Over-Under is set at 216.5 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our NBA odds page). 

Before making any Cavaliers vs. Hornets picks, you NEED to check out the NBA predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 16 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 62-32 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,500. Anyone following it has seen HUGE returns.

The model knows the Cavs are very stingy on the defensive end. Cleveland is No. 3 in the NBA in defense, giving up 105.5 points per 100 possessions. The Cavaliers are No. 1 in the league preventing free-throw attempts, allowing only 18.4 per game, and opponents are shooting just 44.2 percent against Cleveland. The Cavaliers are in the top five in 3-point defense, 2-point defense and assists allowed this season.

The model also knows the Hornets are elite on offense. Charlotte is scoring more than 1.12 points per possession, a top-five figure in the NBA. The Hornets are averaging 27 assists per game, No. 4 in the league, and Charlotte produces 2.07 assists for every turnover. Charlotte commits a giveaway on only 12.8 percent of possessions, and the Hornets are excellent in transition, producing 16.2 fast- break points per game. Charlotte also puts pressure on the rim, averaging 49.7 points per game in the paint.

Now, it has set its sights on Cavaliers vs. Hornets. We can tell you the model is leaning under the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any NBA picks.

Who wins Cavaliers vs. Hornets? And which side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Cavaliers vs. Hornets spread you should be all over Friday, all from the model on a roll on NBA picks!