To help kick off the season for most of the NBA, the Chicago Bulls (0-0) travel to take on the Detroit Pistons (0-0). The game is set to tip at 7 p.m. ET and will be held at Little Caesars Arena. Below, we look at the Bulls at Pistons odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Bulls made a strong move to add C Nikola Vucevic before the 2021 trade deadline. That didn’t help much. Now, they’ve retained the big man and added G DeMar DeRozan and G Lonzo Ball to go along with superstar G Zach LaVine.
This team is now laced with players that are both underrated and ultra-talented. They could realistically be a top-five team in the East.
They’ll open up against a team many thins will be a bottom team in the East. The Pistons added F Jerami Grant, their star, last offseason, and this offseason, they drafted G Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick. Cunningham will not play in the team’s home opener.
Excitement is brewing in the Motor City, but it’s still to be determined how much time is needed till this team can compete for a spot in the playoffs.
Bulls at Pistons odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:00 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bulls -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | Pistons +170 (bet $100 to win $170)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bulls -5.5 (-105) | Pistons +5.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 219.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Bulls at Pistons key injuries
Bulls
-
G Coby White (shoulder) out
Pistons
- G Cade Cunningham (ankle) out
Bulls at Pistons odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Bulls 114, Pistons 107
Money line
PASS on the money line.
While I think the Bulls will win, they aren’t that far superior. Along with being on the road, betting the -210 for a team that’s not the Bucks or Jazz, especially not at home, feels like a mistake.
There are far better value bets in this game. The Pistons aren’t a top-tier franchise, but they’re also not one to sleep on.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the BULLS -5.5 (-105) as the better bet. I don’t love it as the value is a tad bit high, but the Bulls have a roster that has been composed to compete with some of the best in the East.
LaVine has the best season of his career last year. Add in a pass-first Ball and a team-first DeRozan, and the Bulls have a team that should be able to dominant a lower-level opponent.
The Pistons have talent, especially down past Grant and Cunningham.
But, the jury is still out if G Killian Hayes can take that next step. Against a potent Bulls roster, I expect Chicago to come out on top, but it shouldn’t be by more than double figures.
Over/Under
BET on the OVER 219.5 (-107) as the best bet in this game. Having stayed away from Overs to kick off the season, this one gives good value. The Bulls are loaded with score-first players.
Especially with Ball’s increased ability to shoot, the Bulls can get out and get going. The Pistons will be able to hang with them behind Grant and Hayes.
F Saddiq Bey and G Hamidou Diallo could both get hot and help add to the scoring. With a deep Bulls roster and an underrated Pistons, seeing Over 219 hit wouldn’t be shocking.
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