Charlotte Hornets Large Favorite (-7.5+) Betting Trend

The Hornets' struggles as large favorites stem from a fundamental mismatch between their roster construction and the requirements of closing out games decisively. Charlotte has historically built around explosive offensive talent like Kemba Walker and LaMelo Ball, but these high-variance lineups often lack the defensive consistency and veteran leadership needed to maintain large leads. When favored heavily, the Hornets face an expectation to control games from start to finish, something their young, offense-first core struggles to execute. Charlotte's fast-paced style works against them in blowout situations. Their tendency to play up or down to competition means they rarely sustain the killer instinct required to cover large spreads. The team's defensive lapses become magnified when they're expected to dominate, as opponents often find renewed energy against a favored Hornets squad that can appear disinterested or overconfident. The psychological element cannot be ignored either. Charlotte's franchise history lacks the championship culture that breeds consistent dominance, making them prone to letdown spots when the betting market expects them to steamroll inferior competition. Bettors should be particularly wary of backing the Hornets as large home favorites against struggling teams, where the combination of complacency and their defensive limitations creates the perfect storm for backdoor covers.