by The Milwaukee Bucks jeopardized the NBA’s longest active winning streak Thursday night. The Bucks visit the United Center to take on the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee is 40-17 this season. Chicago is on the second night of a straight set and is leaving uncertainties with its injury report, despite the Bulls being 2-0 to the Bucks this season. Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is likely for the Bucks, with Pat Connaughton (calf), Jae Crowder (reconditioning) and Bobby Portis (knee) ruled out.
Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. ET in Chicago. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Bucks as 8-point straight favorites, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas believes will be scored, is 230 in the latest Bucks vs. Bulls odds. Before you start making Bulls vs. Bucks tips and NBA predictions, check out SportsLine’s trusted computer model NBA predictions and betting advice.
The SportsLine projection model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has generated well over $10,000 in profits for $100 players for the past 4+ seasons with its top-tier NBA picks. The model enters Week 18 of the 2022-23 NBA season with a stunning 55-29 throw on all of this season’s top NBA picks, grossing nearly $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Bulls and just laid out its picks and NBA predictions. You can now go to SportsLine to see the model selection. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Bulls vs. Bucks:
- Bucks vs. Bulls Spread: Bucks -8
- Bucks vs. Bulls over/under: 230 points
- Bucks vs. Bulls moneyline: Bucks -345, Bulls +270
- Milwaukee: The Bucks are 13-12-3 against the spread in street games
- Chicago: The bulls are 5-4-1 against the spread with no rest
- Bucks vs. Bulls tips: See tips at SportsLine
Featured Game | Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee is the hottest team in the NBA, having won 11 straight games, and the Bucks have one of the best defenses in the league. Milwaukee ranks No. 2 in the NBA with just 109.7 points per 100 possessions and shoots just 45.4% of opponents off the field against the Bucks. These include top four in 3-point defense (34.6%) and 2-point defense (51.6%), with the Bucks in the top three in defensive rebound rate (74.9%). and free-throw prevention (21.2 attempts per game) rank ).
Milwaukee concedes just 13.1 second chance points per game, and the Bucks are in the top 10 in the league in fast break points allowed (12.9 per game) and shots blocked (4.9 per game) . The Bucks also face a scuffling Bulls offense that ranks in the bottom 10 in the league for offensive efficiency, offensive rebound rate, and free throw creation. Chicago is also making fewer 3 points per game than any other team in the NBA this season.
Why the cops can cover
Chicago’s defense provides a strong foundation. The Bulls are in the top 10 for defensive efficiency, and Chicago has moved into the league’s top five since early 2023. The Bulls excel at defensive glass, leading the NBA in second-chance points allowable and finishing in the top 5 in defensive rebound rate. Chicago is a top-10 team in terms of opposing shooting and allowing quick break points, while Milwaukee is second-worst in the league in terms of free-throw accuracy (73.7%) and commits more than 15 turnovers per game.
The Bulls also have strong offensive bonafides, including top 10 marks in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and turnover rate. Chicago should also benefit from Milwaukee’s conservative defensive nature, as the Bucks have the fewest turnovers (12.1 per game) in the NBA.
How to make Bucks vs. Bulls tips
SportsLine’s model is below average overall, with only seven players expected to score 11 points or more. The model also says that one side of the variance is true in well over 60% of the simulations. You can only see the tips at SportsLine.
So who wins Bucks vs. Bulls? And which side of the spread applies in well over 60% of the simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Bucks vs. Bulls spread to jump to on Thursday, all from the model who smashed his NBA picks and find out.
