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The Milwaukee Bucks will try to bounce back from an unlikely defeat when they square off against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. On Friday the Bucks fell 131-125 to the struggling Pelicans in New Orleans, but the game was not as close as the final score suggests. Milwaukee trailed by 14 points after the first quarter, trailed by as many as 29 and faced a double-digit deficit for much of the second half before its late rally fell short. On Saturday the Bucks (11-7) face an 8-11 Hornets team that beat Indiana 108-105 on Friday night in Charlotte. 

Tip-off is at 8 p.m. ET. William Hill Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as an 8.5-point favorite in the latest Bucks vs. Hornets odds, up a point from the opening line. The over-under for total points is set at 230.5, up 2.5 points from the opener. Before finalizing any Hornets vs. Bucks picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model is up nearly $8,100 over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it is also on a stunning 69-40 roll on top-rated picks against the spread, returning almost $2,500 on those selections alone. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Hornets. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Hornets vs. Bucks:

  • Bucks vs. Hornets spread: Milwaukee -8.5
  • Bucks vs. Hornets over-under: 230.5 points
  • Bucks vs. Hornets money line: Milwaukee -400; Charlotte +320
  • MIL: The Bucks lead the NBA in offensive efficiency (118.0 points per 100 possessions)
  • CHA: The Hornets lead the league in assist percentage (71.7)

Why the Bucks can cover

Giannis Antetokounmpo is having another standout season. The reigning MVP ranks sixth in the NBA in scoring (27.5 points per game) and ninth in rebounding (11.0 per game). In Friday's loss at New Orleans, he had 38 points (his second most this season) on 15-of-27 shooting, 11 rebounds and five assists.

In addition, Milwaukee is one of the best rebounding teams in the league. Led by Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, the Bucks average 48.5 rebounds per game, which ranks second in the NBA. According to NBA's Advanced Stats, they also get 52.6 percent of all rebounds, which ranks fourth.

Why the Hornets can cover

Gordon Hayward arguably is having his best season. He is averaging 23.6 points per game, which would be a career-high if the season ended today. He also is shooting the ball better than he ever has, making 50.3 percent of his shots from the field and 86.0 percent on free throws, which would be career highs if he maintains them over the course of the season. He also is shooting 42.4 percent on 3-pointers, which is the second-highest of his career, trailing only his rookie season when he shot 47.3 percent.

In addition, Charlotte shares the ball better than any team in the league. The Hornets have assists on 71.7 percent of their baskets this season, which leads the NBA. They also lead the league in assist ratio (20.0).

How to make Hornets vs. Bucks picks

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, with the teams projected to combine for 220 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50 percent of simulations. You can get that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Hornets vs. Bucks? And which side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Hornets vs. Bucks spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.