Divisional Rivals Meet – Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls

NBA Betting – Game Match-Up (2/10)

Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls 8:30 ET

The Central Division of the Eastern Conference will be on display Tuesday night when the Detroit Pistons (27-22, 20-29 ATS) and Chicago Bulls (22-29, 24-26-1 ATS) lock horns in a sports betting affair at the United Center. Chicago currently sits as 2.5-point home favorites in tonight’s NBA betting match-up with a game ‘total’ of 190.5-points. The Bulls are 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS vs. divisional opponents this season, while Detroit counters with 7-2 SU & 4-5 ATS marks vs. Central Division opponents.

The Pistons and NBA bettor’s fortunes have fallen upon hard times after Allen Iverson and company managed just two SU and one ATS victory in their L/5 games played. They last took the court on Sunday night’s ESPN telecast against the Phoenix Suns and fell by a 107-97 final count as slim one-point home favorites. At five games over .500, the Pistons currently own the 5th seed within the Eastern Conference, but sit a lofty 12-games in back of the Central Division leading Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons have performed much better away from “The Palace” this season compiling 13-10 SU & ATS marks. That said; they’re a poor 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS as a road underdog of three points or less, and they’re 6-9 SU & 7-8 ATS as an underdog of any magnitude this season.

Tonight marks the Bulls first game action since they wrapped up their seven-game Western Conference road trip in Dallas on Saturday night. Though they fell to Dirk Nowitzki and company by a point in overtime (115-114), the Bulls went 4-3 SU and a perfect 7-0 ATS for their betting backers on the trip. The road trip was bookended by one-point overtime losses after they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves by a 109-108 final count as 4.5-point underdogs to open it up. At seven games under .500, Chicago currently sits outside the playoff picture, and trails the division leading Cavs by 18 games. The Bulls have won 13 of their 23 home games this season, but have cost their betting backers cash by posting a 10-13 ATS mark; they’re 1-2 both SU & ATS as a home favorite of three points or less this season.

HC Vinnie Del Negro has his guys playing at a frenetic pace that’s seen them score an average of 110+ in their L/5 games, while the defense has continued to surrender its seasonal average of 102 PPG. They’ve hit the 100-point plateau in seven of their L/10 overall, and with Detroit giving up points in bunches of late (98.8 PPG allowed L/5) look for Chicago to succeed at the offensive end of the court once again.  All three of the Bulls games went over the closing ‘total’ when they went off the board as favorites of three points or less this season, and the Pistons have played to the ‘over’ in six of their previous nine divisional games to date. The ‘over’ has also cashed in four of the L/5 meetings between these heated rivals, and I look for that streak to increase by one after tonight’s battle.

Rose’s Recommendation: 3* Detroit/Chicago over 190’

(Grading scale = 1* to 5*)