Toronto Raptors Home Favorite Betting Trend

The Raptors' struggles as home favorites stem from a combination of organizational volatility and the psychological burden of elevated expectations in Toronto. Throughout this period, the franchise underwent significant roster turnover, coaching changes, and the eventual departure of their superstar in Kawhi Leonard after 2019. This instability created inconsistent team chemistry, particularly problematic when facing the pressure that comes with being favored at home. Toronto's playing style during much of this era relied heavily on defensive intensity and role player contributions, which proved less reliable when opponents game-planned specifically to counter their strengths. Home crowds in Toronto, while passionate, often created additional pressure rather than providing genuine advantage, especially during playoff-caliber matchups where expectations ran highest. The team frequently played tight in crucial moments, leading to poor shooting performances and defensive lapses against supposedly inferior competition. The most actionable insight for bettors is recognizing that Toronto's home favorite struggles intensified against teams with winning records or during nationally televised games, where the spotlight amplified their tendency to underperform relative to expectations. This trend matters most when Toronto is favored by 4-7 points against playoff-contending teams, particularly in games with playoff implications during the final months of the season.