The Milwaukee Bucks (48-30) travel to the Windy City Tuesday to play the Chicago Bulls (45-33) in a Central Division showdown. Tip-off at the United Center is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Bucks vs. Bulls odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Milwaukee is just 2-3 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in the last 5 games, including back-to-back home losses to the Los Angeles Clippers Friday (153-119) and Dallas Mavericks Sunday (118-112).
Chicago is 3-2 SU and ATS in the last 5 games, but got pummeled 127-109 Saturday by the Miami Heat.
The Bucks are 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS versus the Bulls and the total is 0-3 Over/Under (O/U). Also, Milwaukee is 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings with the Bulls and 10-1 ATS in the last 11 visits to Chicago.
- Money line (ML): Bucks -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | Bulls +170 (bet $100 to win $170)
- Against the spread: Bucks -5.5 (-105) | Bulls +5.5 (-120)
- Over/Under: 233.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
Bucks at Bulls key injuries
Bucks
- SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) probable
Bulls
- PG Lonzo Ball (knee) out
- SG Alex Caruso (back) questionable
- SG Zach LaVine (knee) probable
Bucks at Bulls odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Bucks 122, Bulls 111
Money line
PASS even though the Bucks (-210) should trample the Bulls (+170) who have notoriously played terrible against elite opponents this season.
Chicago is 4-20 SU versus teams in the top-10 of net efficiency with a minus-11.4 adjusted net rating (ranked 26th) and a minus-6.7 ATS margin (ranked dead-last), according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
However, I’d rather bet Milwaukee’s spread than lay it with the Bucks (-210).