Bulls vs. Bucks: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks (Jan. 1)

Our prediction for Bulls vs. Bucks on New Year’s Day.

The Milwaukee Bucks host the short-handed Chicago Bulls on New Year’s Day, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The game tips off at 8:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on Fox Sports Wisconsin (MIL) and NBC Sports Chicago (CHI).

The Bulls (2-3) scored back-to-back wins over the Wizards after starting the season 0-3, but are on the second night of a back-to-back and traveled to Milwaukee short-handed, as Lauri Markkanen, Tomas Satoransky, Ryan Arciadiacono and Chandler Hutchison are out due to the health and safety protocol. The Bucks (2-3) most recently split a series with the Heat – though one of those games was a 47-point romp.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Bucks -14.5
  • Money line: Bucks -1100 / Bulls +700
  • Over-under: 234.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

It’s never a sure bet that the East-leading version of the Bucks will show up early in the season, but this game has all the makings of a potential blowout. The Bulls are down several players and tired. The Bucks are at full-strength and have made a habit of shellacking the Bulls, winning all four meetings last season by an average of 14.25 points. I like the Bucks to fire a lot of threes, take control of the game early and pull away throughout. Bucks -14.5 and Bucks -8.5 first half are strong plays, as is taking the over 234.5. The Bucks have surpassed that total in all but one game this season, and both the Bulls and the Bucks are top-10 in the league in pace rating.

Prediction: Bucks 132, Bulls 107

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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