Free Analysis: Chicago vs Orlando

My Thursday Opinion on New York lost. My Basketball Best Bets have won 9 consecutive weeks, which is what's really important to me, and I'm 25-18-1 on my Free Best Bets. However, it's been a strange losing season with the opinions, which are just 58-75-5 on my free opinions this season.

I was 49-38-1 on my Free Best Bets and 548-487-19 on my free opinions the previous 5 seasons.

Monday NBA Opinion
Chicago (-4.5) over ORLANDO

Rotation #501 – 4:05 pm Pacific
Chicago is still fighting for playoff positioning and the Bulls are usually at their best off a couple of losses (43-24-1 ATS). Chicago also applies to a very good 83-26-2 ATS road bounce-back situation that is based on those two losses. However, Chicago is also just 6-25 ATS this season when favored by more than 3 points and they’ve been bad in that spread range this season even after a loss or two. Orlando is only 14-25-1 ATS at home this year, which nearly balances out Chicago’s negative team trend. Orlando’s median home result is a 6 point loss and the Bulls are a better than average road team, which is evidence that they should be able to win by 5 points or more even with the lack of rest after playing in Miami yesterday. The key to this game may be the status of Taj Gibson, who has missed a lot of games recently but could return tonight. The Bulls have struggled without Gibson but it is reported that Gibson and Noah will both play tonight. I’d favor Chicago by 5 points with Gibson playing his normal minutes with his normal effectiveness (although that may not be the case in his first game back and trying to get used to a knee brace). I’ll lean with Chicago at -5 or less. 

Situations also apply in favor of Golden State and Utah but the line on the Warriors game appears to be over-adjusted for the Spurs resting players and the Jazz line is inflated - especially if Pekovic plays for Minnesota.

What an Upset: Michigan v Kansas

 

Michigan had been down for the majority of the game. With three minutes remain thunderous cheers filled the stadium. Trey Burke in the final seconds of the game sank a three point shot sending it into overtime.

    Kansas had dominated the first half scoring most of their points in the paint. Still the Wolverines held on and only trailed by 10. In a blink of an eye they were down by six. Morale soared and we watched as Michigan did what had seemed impossible.

    Mitch McGary, Michigan’s forward, scored 25 points. Burke had 23 of his point after halftime. With Kansas out, Louisville is the only number one seed left remaining. Michigan plays Syracuse next, and I can’t help but be excited. What will Michigan do next?

I'll be posting a free analysis later today after 3 pm. Be sure to check out my Best bets as well, as I have won seven weeks in a row now.