If you can get them at +3.5 or better, consider the Chicago Bulls for your NBA picks when they host the Milwaukee Bucks this Friday.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls
Friday, March 04, 2022 – 07:30 PM EST at United Center
Who are the real Chicago Bulls? Is it the team that leads the Central Division at 39-23 SU and a tasty 36-25-1 ATS? Or is it the team that’s dropped three games in a row, capped by Thursday’s 130-124 loss to the Atlanta Hawks (–2 away)? The truth probably lies somewhere in between, but if you’re willing to buy the dip, Chicago looks like the right NBA pick for Friday’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks (38-25 SU, 27-36 ATS).
Bulls in a Heat Wave
That’s assuming you can get the Bulls at +3.5 or better, which is where they stand at BetMGM as we go to press.
Other top-rated sportsbooks have Chicago at +3. Every half-point counts, of course, but they’re even more important for this contest, with the Bulls playing on zero days of rest and traveling from Atlanta as well.
This team will be much better once they get Lonzo Ball (knee) and Alex Caruso (wrist) back in uniform, probably sometime later this month. In the interim, they’re leaning heavily into DeMar DeRozan’s mid-range game, and while it was successful during Chicago’s recent six-game winning streak (5-1 ATS), that was built mostly at home against weaker opposition.
This past week has been a different animal. Losses to the Memphis Grizzlies (–2.5 away) and the Miami Heat (–5 at home) preceded Thursday’s result, knocking the Bulls out of first place in the Eastern Conference and down to third – just one game ahead of Milwaukee, who have been idle since Wednesday.
Milwaukee Light
This may be a tough spot for Chicago, but it’s one they can handle. The Bucks are in a slump of their own at 3-4 SU and 1-6 ATS over their past seven games, including Wednesday’s 120-119 win over Miami, where we recommended the Heat as 5.5-point road dogs in this space.
Everything that was going wrong for Milwaukee then still applies now. Their so-so defense against Miami helped the Over get beyond 225 points and cash in for the ninth time in the past 10 games. It might be tempting to hit up Friday’s total once it hits the NBA odds board – we’re still waiting for those overs/unders at press time – but Chicago has the Under at 6-2 in their last eight, so maybe not.
Then you have the last time these teams met back on January 21, when the Bucks won 94-90 (Under 227) while Chicago cashed in as 11.5-point road dogs. The Bulls still had Caruso in the lineup at that point, but Milwaukee had both George Hill (neck) and Pat Connaughton (hand), neither of whom will be available Friday night. Bet accordingly.
NBA Pick: Bulls +3.5 (–110) at BetMGM
