Vaughn Dalzell shares his best bets for the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls matchup.
Bulls to Bucks (-9): O/U 227.5
To kick off the week and try to extend our winning streak to three games in the NBA, let’s direct the first half prop to the Bulls at the Bucks matchup.
Chicago played last night and beat Detroit, 119-108. After a slow start (trailing 31-22), Chicago rallied behind six double-digit scorers. That effort will have to translate into an overnight trip to Milwaukee to face a Bucks team that has lost two in a row.
In the loss, the Bucks scored 56 and 62 points in the first half this season and won both games by five and eight points. In the past two losses, Milwaukee scored 60 and 49 points in the first half, so expect a hearty effort to avoid a bad start and three straight losses.
Milwaukee scored 49 points (no rest for each team), 61, 55, and 62 points in the first four halves of last season’s meetings against Chicago. While the Bulls are not resting, and the Bucks are resting for at least one day, Milwaukee scored 61 points in the first 24 minutes, which is the situation here.
Since 2020, the Bucks have had four turnovers against the Bulls and have scored 62, 57, 59, and 61 in the first four halves.
Chicago’s defense ranked 18th in the first half in field goal percentage at 46.8%, 16th in three-point percentage (36.1%), and 28th in three-point attempts (20.2). The Bulls are 26th and last in defense in a full game against three-pointers and attempts.
This is a good place for Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Milwaukee to return home after two losses to the Pacers and Magic. Milwaukee’s 1H Team Total is set at 58.5 and we’ll go with -108 odds right at 59.5.
Select: Bucks Team 1H Overall Over 58.5 (1u)
Season record: 8-4 (66.6%) +4.35 units
Bet the Edge is your daily source for sports betting. Catch all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick Tuesday through Saturday at 6AM ET there then wherever you get your podcasts.
