In game one of the Eastern Conference Finals the two seed Toronto Raptors will be on the road to take on the one seed Cleveland Cavaliers.  The game will be played on Tuesday, May, 17^th at 8:30 P.M. Eastern Time.  “The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Cavaliers 106.6 – Raptors 96.2 with an over/under of 202.8.  The Vegas Line has a final score of Cavaliers 106 – Raptors 95.5 with an over/under of 201.5.

Point differential: Cavaliers +6 (4^th) Raptors +4.5 (5^th)

Points per game: Cavaliers 104.3 (8^th) Raptors 102.7 (tied for 13^th)

Points allowed per game: Raptors 98.2 (3^rd) Cavaliers 98.3 (4^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Cavaliers 46% (10^th) Raptors 45.1% (15^th)

Three Point Percentage: Raptors 37% (tied for 4^th) Cavaliers 36.2% (tied for 7^th)

Free Throw Percentage: Raptors 77.7% (12^th) Cavaliers 74.8% (21^st)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Raptors 44.4% (11^th) Cavaliers 44.8% (14^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Raptors 12.1 (2^nd) Cavaliers 12.9 (8^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Cavaliers 12.9 (tied for 22^nd) Raptors 12.8 (tied for 24^th)

Rebounds per game: Cavaliers 44.5 (9^th) Raptors 43.4 (16^th)

Assists per game: Cavaliers 22.7 (tied for 13^th) Raptors 18.7 (29^th)

These teams are very evenly matched in most statistical categories with the Cavaliers holding the slight edge.  The caveat is that the Cavaliers have been playing lights out in the postseason and are the only team yet to lose a game.  Toronto is banged up having played back to back seven game series while the Cavaliers have been waiting for over a week.  The Cavaliers and Raptors have split their last ten head to head games.  The injury to Toronto center Jonas Valanciunas plays a major role because Toronto isn’t nearly as physical without him.  I like the Cavaliers to win game one by double digits.

**LISTEN HERE to Ryan Berger’s latest podcast “The Berger Shop”.  Ryan mentions The Crowd’s Line as growing platform and how their predictions are more accurate than the Vegas Line.  Also Ramona Shelburne from ESPN joins the show to discuss the NBA Playoffs.

Note: To be eligible to enter a Crowd’s Line contest you must be over 18 years of age, a resident of the United States/Canada, and submit your score prediction on our prediction tool (blog widget). The winner will be selected according to The Crowd’s Line scoring methodology.  If more than one entrant has the same winning score the winner will be selected by random drawing.  Only one prize will be awarded per contest and that winner will receive their prize in 5-7 business days.