There was six NBA Finals teams, down 3-2 within the series, favored in Game 6 since 1991. Only one of these favorites managed to cover, finishing 1-5 ATS (3-3 SU).

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The Cleveland Cavaliers have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fireplace after avoiding elimination with a surprising 112-97 road win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

The Cavaliers, who're now down 3-2 to the soldiers within the championship series after twin 41-point efforts from LeBron James and Kyrie Irving Monday, find themselves not just fighting a motivated Golden State squad (one with star forward Draymond Green getting back from suspension), but in addition battling an eye-opening NBA betting trend as sportsbooks currently have Cleveland pegged as a 2.5-point home favorite for Game 6 Thursday.

The Cavs are a unprecedented betting favorite facing elimination within the NBA Playoffs, a situation that has produced a 50-72-2 ATS record (71-53 SU) going back to the 1991 NBA Playoffs, with those faves covering the spread just 41 percent of the time. Narrowing down those numbers to simply favorites down 3-2 within the series, and that NBA chalk is a measly 26-41-0 ATS (35-32 SU) – a 39 percent ATS belly ache. 

Betting history continues to pile on LeBron & Co. heading into Game 6. Looking exclusively on the NBA Finals, there were six teams, down 3-2 within the series, favored in Game 6 of the finals previously 25 years. Only one of these favorites managed to hide the pointspread (2010 L. a. Lakers), finishing 1-5 ATS (3-3 SU).

The size of the spread has also played a significant component in terms of favorites facing elimination. Favorites of -3 or less (Cleveland opened -2 and moved to -2.5) have gone a collective 12-25-0 ATS or 32 percent (14-23 SU), with teams stuck in a 3-2 hole producing a 9-17-0 ATS mark (10-16 SU) for a 35 percent success rate on the window. Those favorites of -3 or less down 3-2 within the NBA Finals was outscored 94.5-92.4 in Game 6 since 1991, equaling a 10-16-0 Over/Under count.

On the season, the Cavaliers are 7-5 SU and ATS as favorites of -3 or less including the postseason. The Warriors, at the other hand, was betting underdogs just 10 times this season, boasting a 7-3 ATS record as pups including a 2-1 ATS mark within the playoffs.

Golden State is 3-2 ATS within the 2016 NBA Finals and has covered the spread in seven of its last 10 games versus Cleveland, including a 4-1 ATS record in its last five contests inside Quicken Loans Arena. 

Over/Under note: Favorites facing elimination within the NBA Playoffs have produced a 56-66 Over/Under record previously 25 years (32-35 O/U in Game 6 situations), with faves trailing 3-2 within the NBA Finals finishing with a 2-4 O/U mark in Game 6. 

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