The Toronto Raptors (23-22) head to the Windy City Wednesday to play the Chicago Bulls (29-17) at the United Center. The tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Raptors vs. Bulls odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Toronto has alternated between winning and losing over the past four games with the latest being a 125-113 beatdown of the Charlotte Hornets at home last night. The Raptors are 3-4 straight-up (SU) and 4-3 against the spread (ATS) over the past two weeks.
Chicago eked past the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 Monday sans SF DeMar DeRozan and pushing as 1-point road favorites. The Bulls are 2-6 SU and 3-4-1 ATS in the last 14 days.
The Bulls (-2) beat the Raptors 111-108 in their first meeting this season, Oct. 25, and the Over on a 213.5-point total cashed.
Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NBA January 26 breakdown
Raptors at Bulls odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:15 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Raptors +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Bulls -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Raptors +3.5 (-105) | Bulls -3.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 218.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Raptors at Bulls key injuries
Raptors
- PG Fred VanVleet (knee) questionable
- SF Scottie Barnes (wrist) questionable
Bulls
- PG Lonzo Ball (knee) out
- SG Alex Caruso (wrist) out
- C Nikola Vucevic (knee) probable
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Raptors at Bulls odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Raptors 113, Bulls 110
Money line
PASS with a heavy “lean” towards the Raptors (+140), and I’d sprinkle on Toronto’s money line if VanVleet plays. But, without VanVleet, I’ll just take the points with the Raptors.
Also, Toronto is 9-9 straight-up (SU) as a road underdog and Chicago is 13-4 SU as a home favorite.
Against the spread
BET the RAPTORS +3.5 (-105) for 1 unit because both teams have struggled recently, but the Bulls -3.5 (-120) have been downright awful.
Over the past two weeks, the Bulls are dead-last in both adjusted net rating (minus-14.4) and ATS margin (minus-8.1), according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
Furthermore, the absences of Ball and Caruso loom large for the Bulls. Each is key to Chicago’s previously elite defense that has tailed off recently.
For instance, in Jan., the Bulls has the second-worst adjusted defensive rating (per CTG) and rank 23rd in points off turnovers allowed per game and 24th in fast-break points per game (PPG) allowed.
Two of Toronto’s strengths are forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. The Raptors are second in points off of turnovers per game and fourth in fast-break PPG.
On top of that, there might be some additional value on Toronto here since it played last night, and the Raptors perform well on the second of a back-to-back. Toronto is an NBA-best 6-1 ATS on zero days rest with the best ATS margin (plus-8.6) and the third-best adjusted net rating (per CTG).
BET the RAPTORS +3.5 (-105).
Over/Under
PASS because the trends are pointing all over the place in this one, and all three referees assigned to this game have officiated more Unders.
That could have an impact since both teams have poor defensive FT/FGA rates, but I “lean” towards this game going Over 218.5 (-110).
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