Chicago Bulls @ Toronto Raptors - January 31, 2025

Alright, here we go! The Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors are set to clash at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night, and I’m feeling the vibes for an upset. The oddsmakers have opened with the Raptors favored by -3.5 points, but I’ve got a hunch that the Bulls will not only cover that spread but also take home the win.

Let’s break this down. The Bulls come into this game with a record of 20-28 SU and have struggled recently, sitting at 2-8 SU in their last ten games. However, when you look deeper, they average a solid 116.7 points per game while shooting nearly 47% from the field and hitting over 37% from beyond the arc. Their free throw shooting is impressive too, sitting at just over 80%. In contrast, Toronto has been putting up only about 111.3 points per game with similar shooting numbers but slightly lower efficiency from three-point range.

Now let’s talk defense. The Bulls do a decent job on their end of the floor as well; they snag about 45.8 rebounds per game and allow around 115 points on average—underwhelming for sure but still better than what we’ve seen from some teams lately. They commit fewer fouls compared to their opponents which gives them an edge in maintaining defensive discipline.

Toronto comes in riding high with a five-game winning streak and they’ve covered the spread in all those games—surely a sign that they’re finding some form? But here’s where I see potential for Chicago: Toronto’s overall record is still bleak at just 15-32 SU despite that recent success, indicating they might be overperforming against weaker competition.

The key factors tonight will hinge on how well both teams can capitalize on offensive possessions while limiting turnovers—Bulls lose about 15 turnovers per game vs. Raptors’ nearly 16—and whether Chicago can bring enough energy to disrupt Toronto’s rhythm after their recent hot streak.

I predict Chicago will surprise everyone tonight by pulling off an outright victory while also covering that spread given their superior scoring ability and slightly better rebounding stats. Also worth noting—the total has gone UNDER in many of Chicago’s games lately; however, I feel like tonight’s matchup could flip that script due to both teams’ potential offensive firepower when it matters.

So here’s my bet: Take the Bulls straight up for an upset win, take them to cover +3.5, and let’s ride this game OVER the total of 231.5 because I believe we’ll see more fireworks than expected from both sides tonight! Betting rituals? Don’t forget your lucky socks—I’ve seen crazier things happen when you stick to tradition!