Chicago vs Toronto Betting Picks starts the Wednesday night schedule. The opener allows for a few options from maybe the defensive side of the equation. BetOnline online sportsbook gives us reasonable early plays. Get a boost from these great betting site bonuses on Wednesday to boost the bankroll.
Chicago vs Toronto Betting Picks for this Wednesday night give us the less glamorous side of the play-in round. The bad news for the winning team here is they get to play for two nights on the road. The good news lies in the fact that they are still playing. So, the pace may be slower in this game than in most. Both teams rank in the bottom third in terms of the metric, and lately, that has only intensified.
Now, ATS is interesting because of what has not happened as opposed to what has. Consider that Chicago and Toronto play a slower brand of basketball. Their last meeting on February 28th produced a game where getting to 100 points felt like a root canal. With a spot on Friday against the loser of the 7-8 game, expect the same kind of intensity. That creates a game where the under becomes more and more of a possibility.
Even that short-handed lineup gave Toronto two wins out of three versus Chicago. Consider that Pascal Siakam played in one of the three games—the last matchup combined for a mere 202 points, by the way. Wednesday night’s game total comes in at 214.5. Toronto knows their best defensive efforts must come this week, or the Raptors are going home.
When looking over a series of projections, thinking about the Under with a small wager is worth monitoring (-110). At 214.5, the number is a good one to take. However, this is more likely based on how Toronto plays at home. Again, the key is those offensive rebounding advantages that keep Chicago from garnering as many possessions. Yes, this is where underwhelming is okay.
Questions arise when it comes to Chicago vs Toronto Betting Picks? Few think Toronto is losing this game, even with Chicago playing better over the season’s final two months. Chicago did go 13-7 over their final 20 games and scored some pretty impressive road wins. However, a team maintains its identity. Also, one can argue a very slightly better version of themselves exists in Toronto.
VegasBetting enjoys chess matches like this, where old-school defense is more the norm than the exception. Some view mid-90s NBA basketball as a bully ball. However, it held its place in the annals of history. A few players in this game pay respectful honor to that foregone era. Toronto leads in offensive rebound differential at +3.5. They rank second in getting and allowing rebounds on that side of the glass. It bodes well for Wednesday.
It is something that the betting numbers have backed off some. The over/under came down from 217 to 214.5 and now the spread has increased from 5.5 to as low as 4.5 in a few places. Granted, where does this all end up is the most enticing question of all? Now, the fact boils down to some cold feet from the books. Can one take advantage of that good fortune?
NBA online betting sites bank on props. For this part of the equation, consider that at full strength, Toronto is more than capable of beating Chicago by a half dozen points or more. The Raptors must play the style that works for them. With that 28th-ranked pace at home, it makes sense to play it slow.
The Chicago vs Toronto betting picks bring about some quick prop bets one may not expect. This slate calls this game a bit unicorn among the first four play-in games. When it comes to the Bulls and Raptors, anything can happen. Arguably, Toronto has the game to win two contests to get into the playoffs. Do not expect anything pretty here, however.
Prop bets like Pascal Siakam at an over of 8.5 rebounds lie at +110. Then, there is Jakob Poeltl at EVEN to get double-digit rebounds on Wednesday night. Now, those are a few of our choices. From Chicago, Nikola Vucevic figures to top 11 rebounds at a reasonable -105. The latter drifting to Even or even plus-money remains a possibility, so keep alert.
Okay, what about a few more defensive choices? See about those blocks and steals props. These are underrated and a rare part of the equation. Again, these are wagers where a few dollars is more than enough. Do not go overboard.
Finally, let’s dig into some of these possibilities. Chicago vs Toronto Betting Picks involves taking unique but modest risks. Jakob Poeltl has a +155 at two or more blocks, while OG Annuyoby will pick up only one block. Do look into Fred VanVleet at two or more steals. Surprisingly, this one rolls in at only -125. VanVleet could potentially rack up three or four steals in this kind of game.
So, the idea of playing the loser is never easy. Again, out of these two teams, Toronto appears to be the most equipped to enter a hostile environment and come out as a winner. However, nothing is automatic when it comes to the NBA this season.
Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."