A Central Division showdown has the Chicago Bulls (26-28) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (35-17) squaring off on Wednesday. The Cavaliers are currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Chicago is sitting in the ninth spot. Cleveland seems to have the Bulls number as of late as it's won six straight games over Chicago. On Jan. 15, the Cavaliers defeated the Bulls 109-91. Patrick Williams (foot) is out for Chicago, while Alex Caruso (toe) is questionable. Darius Garland (illness) is questionable for Cleveland.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. The Cavs are 9-point favorites in the latest Bulls vs. Cavaliers odds, per SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points is 222. Before making any Cavaliers vs. Bulls picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 17 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 55-35 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $1,800. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Bulls vs. Cavaliers. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Cavaliers vs. Bulls:
- Bulls vs. Cavaliers spread: Cleveland -9
- Bulls vs. Cavaliers Over-Under: 222 points
- Bulls vs. Cavaliers money line: Cleveland -422, Chicago +327
- CLE: The Cavaliers have hit the money line in 34 of their last 48 games
- CHI: The Bulls have hit the 3Q money line in 36 of their last 61 games
- Bulls vs. Cavaliers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Cavaliers can cover
Forward Evan Mobley continues to be an asset in the frontcourt. Mobley bangs down low to secure rebounds and owns a soft touch around the rim. The USC product logs 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and shoots 58% from the field. He's tallied three straight double-doubles, and in his last game, Mobley finished with 14 points, 10 boards, and four blocks.
Center Jarrett Allen is another athletic presence down low. Allen's reach is outstanding and allows him to be extremely effective as a shot blocker and rebounder. The Texas product ranks seventh in the league in rebounds (10.6) and fifth in field-goal percentage (64.5%), with 15.6 points per game. On Feb. 12, Allen had 21 points and 10 boards. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the Bulls can cover
Forward DeMar DeRozan thrives as the main option for the Bulls. DeRozan relentlessly attacks the mid-range area with good awareness as a passer. The USC product has the offense run through him as he leads the team in scoring (22.7) with 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. On Feb. 8, he recorded 30 points and eight boards.
Center Nikola Vucevic is an active presence in the frontcourt. Vucevic fills up the stat sheet and has a knack for piling up rebounds. The 13-year veteran is eighth in the NBA in rebounds (10.6) with 17.6 points per game. He's recorded 29 double-doubles thus far. In his last game, Vucevic notched 24 points and 11 rebounds. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Bulls vs. Cavaliers picks
The model has simulated Cavaliers vs. Bulls 10,000 times and is leaning Over on the total, projecting 230 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
