Indeed, there are just two series in this year’s first-round featuring a favorite that opened at less than 2-to-1.

Nevertheless, we offer our thoughts and predictions for the opening round series, which you can read up on here (we're hesitant to call these picks since, again, there are heavy odds to lay).

We do have picks, though, for this weekend’s eight Game 1s.

Nets at Raptors (-2, 194), Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

We’re taking a shot with the Raptors, who come in playing extremely well, winning nine of their last 11 games.  While they haven’t been covering many spreads – since their rating has spiked with their better play – the spread here is low enough where a win should equal a cash.

Warriors at Clippers (-7, 211), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

We like the Clippers to win the series, but expect plenty of tough battles along the way, including Game 1 on Saturday.  If the game is close, free-throw shooting could be an issue for L.A., and that generally bodes well for the underdog. Golden State + 7 is the play.

Hawks at Pacers, (-7.5, 186) Saturday, 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Pacers have dropped precipitously down our power ratings – from No. 1 not too long ago to ninth. The Hawks are on a role, covering seven of their last eight games, and the points here are too many to pass up.  Atlanta + 7.5.

Grizzlies at Thunder (-7, 191.5) – Saturday, 9:35 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Grizzlies have momentum coming into this series, as they’ve won five-straight playoff-like, do-or-die type of games, including over Miami, Phoenix and Dallas.  Memphis has given OKC fits over the last two seasons, making the points here awfully enticing.  We’ll take the dog and also make a correlation play on the OVER. 

Mavericks at Spurs (-8.5, 206), Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET, TNT

The Spurs have beaten the Mavs nine straight times and covered all four meetings this season.  San Antonio losing four of their last seven doesn’t concern us, as Gregg Popovich had his team in cruise control with the No. 1 seed pretty much in hand.  The way Dallas closed its season is more worrisome, as the Mavs lost two of its last three in games that mattered.  Also, both teams have been strong OVER plays this season, and both meeting in San Antonio went OVER totals higher than Sunday’s number.  Spurs and OVER.

Bobcats at Heat (-10, 189), Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

This is the most lopsided of the first-round series, according to the odds, but the Bobcats will be fired up and may be able to catch the Heat a bit flat in Game 1.  The points here look good. Charlotte plus the double-digit spread.

Wizards at Bulls (-4.5, 180.5), Sunday, 7:05 p.m. ET, TNT

Washington beat Chicago twice this season, but that was before the Bulls found themselves.  Now Tom Thibodeau has him team playing the most consistent ball in the East.  We’ll lay the points with a correlation play on the UNDER.

Trail Blazers at Rockets (-5.5, 214.5) Sunday, 9:35 p.m. ET, TNT

All four meetings this season have gone OVER the total, and two of those games had higher numbers posted on them than this one.  So the 214.5 isn’t scaring us, and we’ll ride the OVER trend.