Betting Matchup Preview
Game Details
- Who: Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat
- When: Wednesday, Oct. 19
- Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Where: FTX Arena (Miami, FL)
Betting Odds Summary
- Moneyline: Bulls +250, Heat -310
- Spread: Bulls +7.5 (-110), Heat -7.5 (-110)
- Total: Over/Under 216 (-110/-110)
Note: Odds and lines are current at the time of writing and are subject to change.
The Chicago Bulls kick off their 2022-23 NBA season on Wednesday night on the road against Eastern Conference rival the Miami Heat. The Heat have dominated the Bulls in the 20+ years since Michael Jordan donned the red and black. Miami went 4-0 against Chicago last season and is 13-3 in their previous 16 meetings dating back to 2017.
But Chicago made some moves this offseason that could shift the tides of this rivalry. Notable additions include C Andre Drummond, G Goran Dragic and G Dalen Terry. Chicago also re-signed Zach LaVine, but he, along with PG Lonzo Ball, will sit out of the season opener.
While the Bulls are hoping to make the playoffs, the Heat have their sights set on an NBA title and are a better team all-around.
Spread, Moneyline, Total: Bulls vs. Heat
If the Chicago Bulls started the season with Ball and LaVine healthy, this game would end up being wildly different. But Chicago has to live with the harsh truth of starting the year without two of their best players on the court against a bitter conference rival. The Bulls, as it stands, are lacking defense in the starting lineup with Ball on the shelf. Their defense, it should be noted, is expected to be worse this season when at full strength. So, this depleted roster could get smoked by a talented Heat offense.
Miami impressed many last season by bouncing back and winning the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Miami eventually lost to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Conference Finals. But most of the team is returning, and Miami is primed for another run to the title as an odds-on favorite.
Miami boasts not only an offense headlined by Jimmy Butler, Victor Oladipo, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro, but also a phenomenal defense. In 2021 the defense allowed an impressive 104.6 points per game and dominated the East on that side of the court.
With spread odds of -110, a $100 winning wager on Miami would return $90.91 plus your original stake.
Player Prop Bets: Bulls vs. Heat
- Tyler Herro 3+ Made Threes (+134)
We tip off the season with a risky, but profitable, bet on Miami’s Tyler Herro to hit at least three shots from behind the arc. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year winner averaged 2.7 three-point (3PM) per game last season and will be the most talented long-range shooter on the court tonight.
The Bulls, meanwhile, ranked 27th in perimeter defense last season with an opponent three-point rate of 36.7%. Chicago is also down a few defenders due to injury.
With odds of +134, a $100 winning wager on Herro would pay out $134 plus your initial stake.
Our Same-Game Parlay
Same-game parlays are a way to increase the odds and potential payout as opposed to making bets separately. For more information, check out our guide on how to bet on a same-game parlay.
Here are the three prop bets we’ve selected for Wednesday’s Chicago vs. Miami same-game parlay:
- Tyler Herro 20+ Points (-136)
- Nikola Vucevic 10+ Rebounds (-132)
- DeMar DeRozan 4+ assists (-205)
We are doubling down with Herro props tonight as we expect him to have a big season debut and go over 20 points. If we are banking on him to make 3+ three-pointers, it makes sense that he would surpass 20 points if successful from downtown.
The second leg of our NBA same-game parlay features Nikola Vucevic getting double-digit rebounds in his first game. Chicago’s big man is a rebounding specialist and finished the season tied for 8th in 2021 with an average of 11 boards per game. In four games against the Heat last year, Vucevic went over this total twice and averaged 9.5 rebounds.
Finally, DeMar DeRozan is our anchor leg on Wednesday night. He is a sure bet to earn four or more dimes thanks to the absences of Ball and LaVine. The former led the Bulls last season with 5.1 assists per game, while LaVine ranked third behind DeRozan with 4.5. DeMar will need to pick up the slack with his teammates out with injuries.
