NBA: Bulls vs Cavaliers Predictions Against the Spread 10/24/17
Will the Bulls cover the spread as a double-digit road underdog when they visit the Cavaliers at 7:00PM ET?
The Odds: Bulls at Cavaliers, 7:00PM ET, Tuesday
According to oddsmakers, Cleveland is a 14.5-point home favorite tonight against Chicago. The Cavs opened as a 15.5-point home favorite before the line dropped a full point. The total, meanwhile, now sits at 205.5 points after hitting the board at 207.5.
Chicago has started the season 0-2 straight up and 1-1 against the spread. As for Cleveland, LeBron and Co. have started the season 2-1 straight up but just 1-2 against the number.
Chicago Bulls
Kris Dunn will not play tonight due to a finger injury. That said, coach Fred Hoiberg said that he is hopeful Dunn may return for Thursday’s game versus Atlanta. Dunn returned to practice on Monday and is clearly moving in the right direction to return.
Zach LaVine, meanwhile, said he thinks he’s ready to be cleared for contact. He’s currently dealing with a knee injury but said recently that he has no soreness or symptoms in that surgically-repaired left knee. He’s reportedly ahead of schedule.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reports that Cedi Osman would start at shooting guard tonight if J.R. Smith is unable to play. Smith is dealing with a sore back and was unable to participate in a shootaround Tuesday morning. The Cavs are hopeful that Smith will be able to suit up.
Tristan Thompson also did not practice on Monday. He’s dealing with soreness in his knee and coach Tyronn Lue is fully expecting him to play against Chicago. Derrick Rose (ankle) will also miss tonight’s game with an ankle sprain. The Cavs won’t bring the guard back until he’s 100 percent.
Our Prediction
The Bulls have covered the spread in 13 of their last 16 trips to Cleveland. In their last 30 games versus the Cavs overall, the BUlls are also 23-7 against the number. The road team, meanwhile, is 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 meetings. Finally, the underdog is 17-4 against the spread in the last 21 meetings between these two teams.
This is a big point spread to cover for a Cleveland team that enters the night severely banged-up.
Tuesday NBA Prediction: Chicago Bulls +14.5
