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The Milwaukee Bucks will host the Philadelphia 76ers in a huge Eastern Conference showdown on Saturday afternoon. The Bucks (36-20) and 76ers (39-20) also faced off on Thursday, with Milwaukee prevailing by seven points at home. Philadelphia will be aiming to stop a three-game losing skid, while Milwaukee has won four of the last six games. Ben Simmons (illness) is out for the 76ers, with Joel Embiid (shoulder) and Furkan Korkmaz (ankle) officially listed as questionable.

Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m. ET in Milwaukee. The latest Bucks vs. Sixers odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Milwaukee as a 7.5-point favorite. The over-under for total points is set at 228. Before finalizing any Sixers 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 has returned over $9,200 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up over $1,200 on its top-rated picks this season, and dating back to last year, it entered Week 18 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 96-60 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on 76ers vs. Bucks. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Bucks vs. 76ers:

  • 76ers vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -7.5
  • 76ers vs. Bucks over-under: 228 points
  • 76ers vs. Bucks money line: Bucks -325, 76ers +265
  • PHL: The 76ers are 0-5 against the spread in the last five games
  • MIL: The Bucks are 4-6 against the spread in the last 10 games

Why the Sixers can cover

Philadelphia is tremendous defensively, ranking second in the NBA in allowing only 107.2 points per 100 possessions. The 76ers are a top-five team in effective field goal percentage allowed (52.4 percent), 2-point accuracy allowed (51.0 percent), turnover creation rate (15.2 percent), steals (8.9 per game) and blocks (6.3 per game), illustrating their overall effectiveness. Philadelphia is also elite at keeping its opponents away from the offensive glass, tying for the NBA lead in second-chance points allowed (11.2 per game). 

From there, the 76ers use size and acumen to limit assists (23.5 allowed per game) and points in the paint (46.0 per game), and they match up well with Milwaukee's offensive attack. On the opposite end, Philadelphia leads the NBA in free throw creation, and the Sixers are also physically imposing. That also manifests in a top-tier offensive rebound rate of 27.9 percent, and Milwaukee ranks just 25th in the NBA in turnover creation rate defensively.

Why the Bucks can cover

Milwaukee is led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time NBA MVP is averaging 28.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, and he also helps to transform the Bucks into a tremendous defensive team. In support, Jrue Holiday is a two-way force in the backcourt, and Khris Middleton is averaging 20.3 points per game while making 43.0 percent of his 3-pointers. 

The Bucks are a top-tier team on both ends of the floor, ranking second in the NBA in 3-point shooting (39.4 percent) and first in the league in preventing free throw attempts (17.9 per game) defensively. Milwaukee can also exploit some weaknesses of the 76ers. Philadelphia is 23rd in turnover rate (14.5 percent) and 24th in assists per game (23.3) offensively, leaving vulnerability to Milwaukee's defense. On the other end, the 76ers are just 25th in free throw prevention, and the Bucks could buoy their efficiency at the free throw line.

How to make Bucks vs. Sixers picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 230 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can get that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Bucks vs. Sixers? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a roll on NBA picks.