NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
USATSI

The Chicago Bulls host the Milwaukee Bucks in a Central Division clash on Thursday. Chicago is 2-0 against Milwaukee this season, and the Bulls enter on the second night of a back-to-back. The Bucks are 40-17 overall after 11 straight wins, and Milwaukee is 16-12 on the road. Chicago will be without six players on Thursday, including DeMar DeRozan (quad) and Alex Caruso (foot). Milwaukee lists Khris Middleton (knee) as out, along with Pat Connaughton (calf), Jae Crowder (reconditioning), and Bobby Portis (knee).

Caesars Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as a 7.5-point favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 229 in the latest Bucks vs. Bulls odds. Before you make any Bulls vs. Bucks picks and NBA predictions, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 55-29 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

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

  • Bucks vs. Bulls spread: Bucks -7.5
  • Bucks vs. Bulls over/under: 229 points
  • Bucks vs. Bulls money line: Bucks -320, Bulls +250
  • Milwaukee: The Bucks are 13-12-3 against the spread in road games
  • Chicago: The Bulls are 5-4-1 against the spread with no rest
  • Bucks vs. Bulls picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the Bucks can cover

The Bucks are dominating the competition in recent days. Milwaukee has won 11 straight games, giving up fewer than 1.08 points per possession and out-scoring opponents by 10.6 points per 100 possessions. The Bucks have offensive strengths, including top-10 marks in 3-pointers per game, offensive rebound rate, and second-chance points per game.

Milwaukee is even better on defense, ranking No. 2 in the NBA in defensive efficiency and giving up fewer than 1.1 points per possession. The Bucks are elite across the board on that side of the court, posting top-three marks in opponent shooting, free throw prevention, and defensive rebound rate. Milwaukee also projects to benefit from the struggles of Chicago's offense, with the Bulls ranking dead-last in 3-pointers per game and producing at a bottom-10 level in offensive efficiency and free throw creation.

Why the Bulls can cover

Chicago's defense provides a strong foundation. The Bulls are in the top 10 in defensive efficiency, and Chicago zooms into the top five of the league since the start of 2023. The Bulls excel on the defensive glass, leading the NBA in second-chance points allowed and landing in the top five in defensive rebound rate. Chicago is a top-10 team in opponent shooting and fast break points allowed, with Milwaukee ranking second-worst in the league in free throw accuracy (73.7%) and committing 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 create the fewest turnovers (12.1 per game) in the NBA.

How to make Bucks vs. Bulls picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, with 11 players projected to reach double-figures in scoring. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Bucks vs. Bulls? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Bucks vs. Bulls spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.