Atlanta is very shorthanded coming into the December 27th Bulls at Hawks betting matchup, but at the same time Chicago is playing on the back to back following a win over Indiana on Sunday. Chicago opened as a -5.5 favorite, but the line is moving towards Atlanta who is down to a +4.5 underdog.
Chicago is still down a couple players like Lonzo Ball (illness) and Alex Caruso (foot) but still have much more of their core available compared to Atlanta. The Hawks have 10 players in the health and safety protocols, so is the fact that the Bulls are getting 85% of the public betting (and the line is moving away from them) indicate that a trap is in the works for an Atlanta win?
Bulls Too Fatigued?
Is Chicago playing on the back to back enough to count them out in the December 27th Bulls at Hawks betting matchup? Zach LaVine returned from health and safety protocols to score 32 points in the 113-105 win against the Pacers in a manageable 33 minutes. LaVine had been out since December 11th in health and safety protocols, but ending up missing just two games due to postponements.
DeMar DeRozan had 24 points vs. Indiana, his third straight with 24+ after spending time in COVID protocols himself. Nikola Vucevic also had 15 rebounds vs. the Pacers, his third time grabbing 12+ in the last five games.
Chicago is still missing Lonzo Ball at the PG position, and the Indiana win was his first out of the lineup. The Bulls have now rattled off three straight wins but each of those were at home. Chicago didn’t look great in their last two road games, falling 115-92 in Cleveland and 118-92 vs. the Heat in South Beach.
Shorthanded Atlanta a Risky Wager
The line is moving towards Atlanta even though an alarming number of public bets are on Chicago. That would seem to indicate that the Hawks somehow pull this one off but there’s one big question – how?
The Hawks lost 101-87 against the Knicks on Christmas Day in Madison Square Garden. They’ve since lost two starters from that game, with John Collins and Delon Wright – who combined for 40 points against New York – being added to health and safety protocols.
Collins and Wright join a list that includes Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Lou Williams, and Danilo Gallinari among those out of the lineup due to health and safety protocols. Atlanta did get big man Clint Capela back on Saturday against the Knicks but he finished with just 6 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Cam Reddish are going to have to pick up the scoring load vs. Chicago.
Free December 27th Bulls at Hawks Betting Pick
Is this a trap game or a classic case of overthinking? It’s possible the Bulls could come out quite flat in this game playing on the back to back, but Atlanta is just so shorthanded. Even so, when the line tells you a game looks to good to be true, you listen to it. Have to fade the public and go Atlanta here.
Hawks 116 – Bulls 106
Free Pick: Hawks +4.5
