NBA Odds: Bulls at Cavs

December 5, 2009

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The young Chicago Bulls get to face a real test on Friday as they head into Cleveland to take on LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The NBA odds makers are not giving much hope to the Bulls as Cleveland is listed as a 12.5 point favorite with the sportsbooks, and the total has been set at 189.5. If you are looking to get in on the action, then head over to BetUS where our readers get the benefit of a $500 match bonus!

The Chicago Bulls (7-9 SU, 5-10-1 ATS, 5-11 O/U) have looked nothing like the up-and-coming young team they did last season when they took the Boston Celtics to seven games in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season.

Despite snapping a five-game skid their last time out, Chicago has been out of synch all season long and has had major trouble scoring the ball.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (13-5 SU, 9-9 ATS, 8-9-1 O/U) haven’t exactly looked like world-beaters themselves, but have maintained a consistent pace thanks to the often unbelievable all-around contributions of LeBron James and just enough offense from sidekick Mo Williams.

The division rivals will both be looking to pick up where they left off in their last outings when they meet for battle at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland tonight at 8 PM ET.

Chicago

* Bulls are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Central.
* Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
* Bulls are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.

The Bulls were badly outscored in the fourth quarter (28-18), but managed to hang on and defeat the Detroit Pistons 92-85 on Wednesday, getting a team-high 22 points from John Salmons in the win.

The Bulls failed to cover the NBA point spread, as 7-point home favorites in the win as second-year point guard Derrick Rose added 19 points.

Chicago has managed to cover the NBA moneyline just once in its last six games while going 3-6-1 ATS in its last 10 games overall.

Cleveland

* Cavaliers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Central.
* Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing SU record.
* Cavaliers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

A whopping seven players reached double figures for the Cavaliers as they defeated the Phoenix Suns 107-90 on Wednesday.

The Cavaliers covered the 7.5-point NBA moneyline as LeBron James nearly recorded a triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.

Cleveland has covered the NBA point spread in two straight games and three of its last four games while going a respectable 5-5 ATS over its last 10 games overall.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends and NBA betting odds, followed by my in-depth analysis and expert NBA Free Picks.

Analysis: The Bulls have somehow managed to go an impressive 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games against their NBA Central Division rivals, but I don’t think that fact is going to mean much after looking at Cleveland’s emphatic win over Phoenix the last time out.

The Bulls have gone 1-4 ATS in their last five road games and an embarrassing 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games against Eastern Conference opponents and that does not bode well with the Cavaliers going a blistering 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against NBA Central Division ballclubs.

With the home team going a consistent 16-7 ATS in the last 23 meetings and Chicago going an ugly 3-9 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Cleveland, I like the Cavaliers to win and cover the NBA moneyline in this matchup with room to spare.

Chicago’s inability to score the ball will hurt them immensely in this contest against the defensive-minded Cavaliers so with Eric Williams’ free NBA picks for Friday he’s playing the Cavs -12.5.

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