Here's a betting trend that's been printing money all season: fade the Cleveland Cavaliers against the spread.

Despite being a winning team with a 15-14 overall record, the Cavs are an absolutely brutal 8-21 against the spread — the worst mark in the entire NBA. If you've been betting Cleveland to cover, you've been lighting your money on fire.

The Quick Hit

• ATS record: 8-21 (worst in NBA)
• Last 5 games ATS: 0-5
• ATS as 7+ point favorites: 3-12
• Home vs. road ATS: 5-12 at home, 4-8 on the road

The Numbers Are Staggering

Let's break this down. Cleveland has covered the spread in just 27.6% of their games this season. That means if you had blindly bet against them in every single game, you'd be up massive money right now.

The Cavs haven't covered in five straight games. They're 3-12 ATS when favored by 7 or more points, meaning oddsmakers consistently overvalue them against weaker opponents.

Even more damning: Cleveland has just two ATS wins in eight games as a favorite of 9.5 points or more. When the books expect them to dominate, they rarely deliver by the margin required.

Why Are They So Bad Against the Spread?

A few theories:

1. The public loves them. Cleveland has been a popular pick all season. Good team, fun to watch, recognizable names. That public money inflates the lines beyond what the Cavs can actually deliver.

2. They play down to competition. The Cavs have a habit of sleep-walking through games against lesser opponents. They'll win, but they won't cover. That's death for ATS bettors.

3. Pace and style don't help covers. Cleveland isn't a team that runs up the score. They're methodical, which means they often win games by comfortable but not cover-worthy margins.

The Charlotte Exception

Even against bad teams, Cleveland struggles. They lost to Charlotte in overtime on December 14th, 119-111 — as heavy favorites. The Hornets have been one of the few teams to exploit Cleveland's inconsistency.

Speaking of Charlotte, they've covered the spread in four of their last six games and are 3-1 ATS when entering as an underdog of 9.5 or more points. The Hornets have been the anti-Cavs this season.

How to Bet This Trend

The playbook is simple: fade Cleveland, especially when they're laying big numbers.

If the Cavs are favored by 7 or more, the historical data says to take the other side. They simply don't have the killer instinct to blow teams out consistently.

One caveat: Don't get too cute with moneylines. Cleveland still wins most of their games. This is strictly an ATS play.

The Bottom Line

The Cleveland Cavaliers are proof that a good team and a good bet are two completely different things. They're winning games, but they're destroying the bankrolls of anyone backing them to cover.

Until something changes, the smart money says to fade the Cavs. The numbers don't lie.