Bulls vs. Cavaliers prediction, odds, line, spread: 2022 NBA picks, March 12 best bets from model on 74-47 run

The Cleveland Cavaliers visit United Center to face the Chicago Bulls on Friday evening. The Central Division rivals meet for the third time this season, with a split in the first two contests. Cleveland (38-28) enters on the second night of a back-to-back, and Jarrett Allen (finger) and Caris LeVert (foot) remain out, while Lauri Markkanen (ankle) is listed as questionable. Chicago is 40-26 overall and 24-10 at home in 2021-22, and Zach LaVine (knee) and Alex Caruso (wrist) are listed as questionable. Lonzo Ball (knee) and Patrick Williams (wrist) are out for the Bulls.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Chicago as the five-point home favorite for this 8 p.m. ET tipoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 220 in the latest Cavaliers vs. Bulls odds. Before making any Cavaliers vs. Bulls picks, you need to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 74-47 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Cavs vs. Bulls, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine  now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Bulls vs. Cavs:

• Cavaliers vs. Bulls spread: Bulls -5
• Cavaliers vs. Bulls over-under: 220 points 
• Cavaliers vs. Bulls money line: Bulls -220, Cavaliers +180
• CLE: The Cavs are 8-4 against the spread in Central Division games 
• CHI: The Bulls are 7-5 against the spread in Central Division games

Why the Cavaliers can cover

Cleveland is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA this season, allowing only 1.07 points per possession. The Cavaliers are also in the top six of the league in free-throw prevention, 2-point shooting allowed, field-goal percentage allowed and second-chance points allowed. However, Cleveland also has clear offensive advantages in this matchup. The Cavaliers are in the top 10 of the NBA in offensive rebound rate, points in the paint, field-goal percentage and assists this season. 

Cleveland is also fantastic inside the arc, making 54 percent of 2-point attempts to rank in the top five of the league. Chicago’s defense is porous overall, landing in the bottom third of the NBA in efficiency. The Bulls are No. 28 in 3-point defense, with the No. 23 mark in field-goal percentage allowed and the No. 25 mark in turnover creation rate.

Why the Bulls can cover

Chicago is very good on the defensive glass, securing 73.7 percent of available rebounds to rank No. 7 in the NBA. The Bulls should also benefit from Cleveland’s ball security issues (No. 27 in NBA), and the Cavs are just No. 23 in the league in free-throw accuracy. 

On offense, the Bulls are established in the league’s top tier, scoring more than 1.13 points per possession. That is good for a top-six mark in the NBA this season, and Chicago’s shooting carries the load. The Bulls are No. 2 in overall shooting efficiency, leading the NBA in making 48.4 percent of all field-goal attempts. Chicago is also in the top three of the league in 3-point accuracy (37.4 percent) and free-throw accuracy (81.4 percent). The Bulls also take care of the ball well, committing only 12.9 turnovers per game, and Chicago produces 1.87 assists for every turnover, a top-eight ratio in the NBA.

How to make Cavaliers vs. Bulls picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting 226 total points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s Bulls vs. Cavaliers pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Cavaliers vs. Bulls? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Cavaliers vs. Bulls spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.