After three surprising upsets by visiting teams to kick off the conference semifinals, the betting public finds themselves in a tough spot.

The series between the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers may offer a chance for redemption.

Cavaliers have been impressive, achieving significant victories over the Heat with margins of 37 and 55 points. This success has led many to favor the Cavaliers heavily in their matchup against the Pacers.

However, if there were doubts earlier regarding the matchup, consider this: The Pacers boast greater depth and health, making them a formidable opponent. If you didn’t catch the wave of confidence in the Pacers initially, there’s still an opportunity!

Cleveland has recently been beset by injuries. Darius Garland (toe) missed Game 1, and his substitutes — Sam Merrill and Ty Jerome — struggled significantly. They are usually strong rotational players, but the stakes in a conference semifinal are high.

Garland’s participation in Game 2 is uncertain, along with what lies ahead for him in the series.

Additionally, following Game 1, Cleveland received further injury reports: Evan Mobley, a crucial Defensive Player of the Year, has an ankle issue, and so does De’Andre Hunter (shoulder), known for his defensive prowess.

The opening Game 2 spread settled at Cavs -10 based on historical trends that favor bounce-back performances by major Game 1 favorites. However, after Mobley, Hunter, and Garland were all absent during practice, the line plummeted to -7.5.

The Pacers were swept in last year’s conference finals, but this experience might outweigh what the Cavaliers’ players have achieved, with the exception of Max Strus, who competed in the Finals with the Heat in 2023.

When it comes to experience: Advantage Pacers.

Though Kenny Atkinson is a remarkable coach, Rick Carlisle is a seasoned veteran, having lost in the conference finals three times and won a championship with the Mavs and Dirk Nowitzki in 2011.

Ultimately, the Pacers have the upper hand.

The Pacers are not only deeper but also possess the premier players in the series, like Tyrese Haliburton and superior defensive athletes such as Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard.

Just as the Celtics won’t consistently miss 45% of their three-point attempts, Indiana won’t maintain shooting 53% on threes in every game.

However, when it comes to the series outcome, I believe Indiana (+168) will come out on top.