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The Atlanta Braves look to bounce back and get the series win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The reigning World Series champs have had difficulty stringing wins together so far this season, following up a 3-1 win over Chicago on Tuesday to falling to the visitors 6-3 on Wednesday. On the other side of the diamond, the Cubs are looking for their second series win of the season before heading to Milwaukee to face the NL Central-leading Brewers.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Atlanta as the -215 money-line favorite (risk $215 to win $100) for this 7:20 p.m. ET first pitch. The total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is eight in the latest Cubs vs. Braves odds. Before making any Braves vs. Cubs picks, you need to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times and it is off to a sizzling start to the 2022 season. It's on a 25-11 roll on top-rated MLB money-line picks through three weeks, returning almost $1,100 for $100 players. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Braves vs. Cubs, and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Cubs vs. Braves:

  • Braves vs. Cubs money line: Braves -215, Cubs +185
  • Braves vs. Cubs over-under: 8 runs 
  • Braves vs. Cubs run line: Braves -1.5 (-115)
  • CHI: The Cubs are 4-4 on the road 
  • ATL: The Braves are 5-7 at home

Why you should back the Braves

Atlanta has had an up-and-down start to their 2022 season, but are getting an offensive, and emotional, boost on Thursday with the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. The star outfielder is making an earlier-than-expected return to the lineup after missing the second half of last season with a torn ACL. Prior to being injured, Acuna Jr. slashed .283/.394/.596 with 24 home runs and 52 RBI on 84 hits in his 2021 campaign. He was hitting well in the minors on his rehab assignment this year before being called back up to the MLB, so having his bat back in the lineup could be what the reigning World Series champs need to get the series win over Chicago.

The Braves also have extra confidence in their pitching on Thursday with Kyle Wright on the mound. The former top prospect appears to have figured things out from the last few seasons and is off to a hot start, going 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 17.0 innings pitched. Opposing starter Drew Smyly may be a more seasoned pitcher, but he is off to a less stellar start going 1-1 over three starts with a 2.45 ERA and nine strikeouts over 14.2 innings pitched.

Why you should back the Cubs

Chicago is probably still flying high after besting Atlanta 6-3 on Wednesday evening. In that game, the Cubs took a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning before the Braves rallied for two and eventually push the game into extra innings. A double from Willson Contreras and a home run from Patrick Wisdom sealed the deal for Chicago in the 10th inning.

Contreras and Wisdom are two of the Cubs' best hitters early in the season and are spread out through Chicago's lineup on Thursday, batting fourth and eighth respectively against Atlanta. Add in team home-run leader Seiya Suzuki batting second, and the Cubs have power spread out through their starting lineup to keep Braves starter Kyle Wright on his toes.

How to make Braves vs. Cubs picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the run total, projecting 10.1 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's MLB picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Braves vs. Cubs? And which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of Braves vs. Cubs you need to jump on Thursday, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.