Toronto vs Chicago Free NBA Pick

Much of the attention in the Eastern Conference has been on what the Cleveland Cavaliers are up to on any given night. The fact that the second-placed Toronto Raptors aren’t getting a lot of press is probably something that suits the team from north of the border just fine. They have quietly crept to within 3 games of King James and his Cavaliers, and will be looking to make a surge in the second half. Their current form should see them as favorites for their NBA odds match-up with the banged up Bulls, but history might suggest that the Raptors are not going to have an easy time coming away with the win in the Windy City.

Toronto Raptors Vs Chicago Bulls NBA Odds and Game Info

When: Friday, February 19, 8:00 PM ET Where: United Center, Chicago TV: CSN Radio: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN Live Stream: CSNChicago NBA Odds: TBA

Why bet on the Toronto Raptors

If you haven’t been paying attention to what the Raptors (35-17) have been doing of late, you may well have missed out on some great wagering opportunities. This is a team that is going very well at the moment, and who have a legitimate shot at winning the Eastern Conference. They closed out the first half of the season on a run that saw them win 8 of their last 10 games. They were on the road for 5 games heading into the break, and they were 3-2 during that stretch. Overall, the Raptors are a very healthy 17-11 on the road, and they have also made short work of their conference opponents this year, going 24-8 this point in the season. Many of their wins have come against the better teams in the league, as the Raptors record against teams with a winning record is currently 18-8. Toronto are averaging 101.8 PPG, and are giving up 97.4 PPG.

Why bet on the Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls (27-25) are a team that seems to get crippled by injuries every single year, and this season is no exception. It is Jimmy Butler who has been their biggest loss so far, and the Bulls are sinking like a stone without his contributions. The Bulls are just 3-7 in their last 10 games, and they closed out the first half on a 4-game losing skid. They have now dropped all the way down to 7th in the Eastern Conference, and could fall all the way out of the playoffs if they don’t get things turned around quickly. The good news for the Bulls is that they have won their last 7 meetings against the Raptors, but the majority of those came with a full squad of players to choose from. Chicago are averaging 101.2 PPG, and are giving up 101.9 PPG.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The 7 straight wins against the Raptors is the sort of trend that usually has bettors drooling, but I believe that streak will come to an end on Friday night. It’s hard not to like a Raptors team playing great ball against a Bulls team that is limping into the game. Toronto Raptors 105 Chicago Bulls 98