Bulls Underdogs at Home
The Chicago Bulls are coming off a loss against the Atlanta Hawks less than 24 hours ago and must now fend off the Milwaukee Bucks. With only one game separating them, the Central Division’s top spot is on the line. The NBA betting odds favor the Bucks, who have won two straight.
Bucks at Bulls Game Information
- Game: Milwaukee Bucks (38-25) at Chicago Bulls (39-24)
- Location: United Center
- Day/Time: Friday, 7:35 p.m. ET
- Television: ESPN
Bucks Staying Quiet
It has been a so-so 2022 for the Milwaukee Bucks. The team is just 14-12 in the new year, though it maintains a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference. To the Bucks’ credit, they have played one of the toughest schedules and have wins over Miami, Golden State and Memphis.
But judging by its record on the point spread (27-36), Milwaukee is hard to rely on the online sports betting lines. Part of the issue is Khris Middleton. He is supposed to be Milwaukee’s second-best player, but all of his stats are down and he shot terribly in February (41.9 percent). He has since picked up his play and the Bucks have reaped the benefits.
Milwaukee is 16-8 when Middleton shoots over 45 percent, which is around his career average. And he’ll need to continue picking up the slack as the Bucks need to start beating the good teams (13-15 versus teams at .500 and above) to get ready for the playoffs.
Predictable Bulls
It feels mean-spirited to call the Chicago Bulls “frauds.” They are one of the feel-good stories this season and are playing some exciting basketball. But there is no denying that this team does not have what it takes to beat the great teams in the NBA.
Chicago is just 2-9 against the top-five teams in the East. It is also just 12-17 against teams at .500 or better and is just 9-14 against the spread (ATS) as an underdog. The Bulls are fairly predictable to bet online and even when Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso return, their ceiling remains lower than teams close to them in the standings.
What the Bulls are elite at is beating the bad teams. Chicago is 27-7 against teams below .500 and is 27-12-1 ATS as a favorite, the second-best mark in the league. That’s mainly due to DeMar DeRozan, who is balling out of his mind. So even with their limited upside, Chicago is at least fun to cheer for.
#DeMVP behavior in February:
34.2 pts
6.2 reb
5.2 ast
55% FG
40% from three35+ points on 50%+ shooting in 8 straight games. pic.twitter.com/rPpG3ZDSgJ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 3, 2022
Bucks vs Bulls Head-to-Head
The Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls have only met once this season and Milwaukee won, though it was Chicago that covered. The Bucks have otherwise dominated the Bulls, having won nine of their last 10 meetings.
Bucks vs Bulls Prediction
We’re leaning on the Milwaukee Bucks here. True, the Bucks can be a shaky team to pick but they have already proven our NBA betting preview wrong by beating the Heat, which is no small feat. Milwaukee is a bad matchup for Chicago as the Bucks can lock down the Bulls defensively and no one on the Bulls has a prayer to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The “Greek Freak” put up 30 points and 12 rebounds in the Bucks’ win over the Bulls. Milwaukee is also 13-7 ATS as a road favorite. Chicago won’t go down easy here. The Bulls are still 7-5-1 ATS when on the second night of a back-to-back. But this team’s defensive flaws – it allowed 40 fourth-quarter points against Atlanta – will ultimately bite it in the butt.
