Bulls vs. Celtics Pick
Are the Chicago Bulls and host Boston Celtics going to keep the final score under the betting total when they meet tonight at 7:30PM ET?
509 Chicago Bulls at 510 Boston Celtics, 7:30PM ET
CURRENT ODDS
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Celtics are a 10-point favorite on the spread line. The total sits at 201 points.
Bet NBA Action For Friday, April 6, 2018
LINE MOVEMENT
Boston opened as an 11-point favorite before the line dropped a point, while the total has gone up slightly from 200.5. The Celtics are a 10-point favorite at nearly every book, but can be found at -10.5 if you shop around. The over-under is at 201 at all sportsbooks.
PUBLIC BETTING
As of Friday afternoon, 66 percent of public bets are siding with the visiting Bulls. Online wager info also shows that 53 percent of bets are being placed on the over.
INJURY TO WATCH
Chicago power forward Noah Vonleh (calf) is questionable to play tonight. Small forward Paul Zipser (foot) is out indefinitely. Point guard Zach LaVine, small forward Denzel Valentine (knee), point guard Kris Dunn (toe) and shooting guard Antonio Blakeney (wrist) are out for the season. For the Celtics, it was announced Thursday that star point guard Kyrie Irving (knee) will miss the remainder of the season. Point guard Shane Larkin (illness) is questionable. Point guard Marcus Smart (ithumb) is out until mid-May. Power forward Daniel Theis (knee) and small forward Gordon Hayward (ankle) are out for the season.
BETTING STRATEGY
Boston received devastating news on Irving, which is a huge blow in its quest to become Eastern Conference champions despite heading into the playoffs as the second seed. After losing by 23 points to the Bulls in Chicago back on Dec. 11, the Celtics have won the last two meetings handily. Irving was out the last meeting, a 105-89 Boston win in Chicago on March 5 which was far more lopsided than the final score indicates. Two of the three meetings have gone under this season and Boston has played unders in seven of its last 10 contests overall. Go with the under again here.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: BULL/CELTICS UNDER 201
Will the Baltimore Orioles cap off their series with the Oakland Athletics with a win when these two meet today at 4:05PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Orioles are favored on the road today, as they are getting odds of -120 to win. The Athletics are listed with a money line of +100 to win, while the over/under total for the game has been set at 9.5 runs.
The pitching matchup for today has Jeremy Hellickson (1-1, 2.08 ERA) on the mound for Baltimore to face Kendall Graveman (2-3, 4.97) of the Athletics. Hellickson is making his third start with Baltimore. He has allowed three runs over 13 innings in his two prior starts with the team. This season he has 77 strikeouts with 32 walks, a 4.45 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Graveman has struggled recently, allowing 17 runs over his last four starts, a total of 20 innings. He has 34 strikeouts with 16 walks over 10 starts and a 1.42 WHIP.
Baltimore has won two of three in this series thus far, picking up a 7-2 win on Thursday and a 12-5 win on Saturday. Oakland had a 5-4 win on Friday. The Orioles now sit at 58-59 overall and 23-36 on the road. Oakland is 51-66 overall and 32-29 at home.
Saturday saw the Orioles post seven runs in the opening inning and never look back. Baltimore finished with 20 hits. Sean Manaea was pulled after recording just one out. He allowed six runs on six hits to take his seventh loss of the season. Dylan Bundy was able to cruise with the run support, allowing three runs in six innings to get his 12th win of the season. The Orioles managed all of their runs without a single home run. Tim Beckham led the way with four hits and three RBI while Adam Jones had three hits and drove in three. Khris Davis connected on his 32nd home run of the season to lead Oakland.
Baltimore has shown itself to be the better team at the plate in this series and I think the Orioles have the edge on the mound today as well. Hellickson seems to be settling in nicely with Baltimore and can produce another good start against a lackluster Oakland offense. The Baltimore hitters should be able to get to Graveman, who has looked really rough in recent starts.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: BALTIMORE ORIOLES -120
