The Memphis Grizzlies welcome the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday to start the 2025-26 season. Tip from FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Pelicans vs. Grizzlies odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2024-25 season series: Grizzlies swept 4-0
New Orleans finished with a 21-61 record last season, in the basement of the Southwest Division, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in 7 years. The team lost G CJ McCollum (now with the Wizards) and C/F Kelly Olynyk (Spurs), while bringing in G Jordan Poole, F Kevon Looney and F Saddiq Bey, among others. They’ll pace the Pelicans while G Dejounte Murray is expected to be out until January as he recovers from an Achilles tear suffered last season. The Pelicans had a decent draft, taking G Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma) with seventh overall pick and C Derik Queen (Maryland) at 13.
Memphis finished 48-34 last season, good for second in the Southwest Division, but was swept in 4 by the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The Grizzlies lost C/F Marvin Bagley III (Wizards), G Desmond Bane (Magic) and G Luke Kennard (Hawks) in the offseason, but brought in G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and G Ty Jerome and drafted G Cedric Coward (Washington State) with the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Pelicans at Grizzlies odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:26 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Pelicans +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Grizzlies -185 (bet $185 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Pelicans +4.5 (-115) | Grizzlies -4.5 (-105)Over/Under (O/U): 236.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Pelicans at Grizzlies key injuries
Pelicans
F Kevon Looney (knee) outC/F Karlo Matkovic (back) outG Dejounte Murray (Achilles) out
Grizzlies
F Brandon Clarke (knee) outC Zach Edey (ankle) outG Ty Jerome (calf) outG Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) outG Vince Williams Jr. (heel) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Pelicans at Grizzlies picks and predictionsPrediction
Grizzlies 121, Pelicans 108
PASS.
There is minimal value on the Grizzlies (-185), who swept the season series last season, as I bet the spread instead. Plus, the Pelicans (+150) tied for the worst road record — with the Jazz and the Hornets — in the league last season at 7-34.
BET GRIZZLIES -4.5 (-105).
The Pelicans should perform better than last season, even without Murray, but with as many new pieces as they brought in over the offseason, growing pains are to be expected.
With the Grizzlies featuring G Ja Morant and F Jaren Jackson Jr., and playing in front of a home crowd, it will be a tough environment to play in, giving the home team the advantage. The Grizzlies covered the spread in 2 of the final 3 head-to-head meetings last season — and in 6 of the last 8 vs. the Pelicans.
BET UNDER 236.5 (-110).
Both sides lost key scoring pieces, with the Pelicans losing McCollum Jr. and the Grizzlies losing Bane and Kennard. Even with sloppy play that will create a quicker pace, which is to be expected with new players on new teams, this Over is just too high.
A less-experienced Pelicans team will try to increase the pace, while Morant and Co. will understand that poise and controlling the clock will be their easiest path to success.
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