The Utah Jazz (35-37) will continue to try to fight their way into playoff position when they host the Milwaukee Bucks (52-20) Friday. Tip-off from Vivint Arena will be at 9 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Bucks vs. Jazz odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Bucks blew out the visiting San Antonio Spurs 130-94 Wednesday, easily covering the spread as 19-point favorites as they recorded a 2nd straight win. They’re now 7-3 in their last 10 games, have taken over the top spot in the Eastern Conference and have the best record in the NBA.
The Jazz are coming off a 127-115 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday despite being 5-point favorites. It snapped their 2-game win streak and they’re now a half-game out of the 10th spot in the congested Western Conference.
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Bucks at Jazz odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:34 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bucks -400 (bet $400 to win $100) | Jazz +325 (bet $100 to win $325)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks -9.5 (-102) | Jazz +9.5 (-118)
- Over/Under (O/U): 236.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Bucks at Jazz key injuries
Bucks
- F Jae Crowder (calf) out
- F Khris Middleton (knee) out
Jazz
- G Jordan Clarkson (hand) out
- F Rudy Gay (back) out
- G Johnny Juzang (hip) questionable
- F Lauri Markkanen (hand) out
- G Collin Sexton (hamstring) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Bucks at Jazz picks and predictions
Prediction
Bucks 122, Jazz 115
Moneyline
The Bucks (-400) are far and away the better team than the Jazz, but they’re not worth betting on at this number. The Bucks were favored by 12 against the Indiana Pacers last week and wound up losing outright. There isn’t enough reward to make the risk worth it here.
PASS.
Against the spread
The Jazz are one of the best teams in the NBA when it comes to covering the spread as underdogs. They’re 27-10-1 ATS as underdogs, including a 7-2 mark when getting at least 7.5 points.
This is another matchup with a large spread favoring the Bucks, but I don’t think Milwaukee will cover, especially with Middleton out. BET JAZZ +9.5 (-118) to cover, as they have in 6 of their last 7 games.
Over/Under
The Jazz have cashed the Over in 6 straight games and are 8-1-1 O/U in their last 10 games, so they’ve been scoring at a high clip lately. Even as short-handed as they are right now, I still like the trend of the Over to continue.
The Over is 3-1 in the Bucks’ last 4 road games.
BET OVER 236.5 (-105).
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