Photo: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Memphis Grizzlies @ Chicago Bulls
United Center, Chicago, Illinois
February 13, 2019, 5:00 PM PDT
We are sure absolutely no one will see this post, as it pertains to the least interesting game of the day...not surprisingly, given the featured teams rank 25th and 27th by record, the Grizzlies @ Bulls has garnered fewer bets than any other game on today's NBA docket as of the time of this writing.
Nonetheless, our charge is merely to lead the horse to water (which, by the way, sometimes we find, and sometimes we don't). We can not make him drink. Alternately stated, we endeavor to identity opportunity, wherever it may exist-- even amongst the most overlooked and uninteresting contests.
With that preamble out of the way, on to the business at hand...
The several independent computer simulation routines we employ all like the Grizzlies for the road cover Wednesday. Consistent with this play, we note several corroborating near-term, team-level trends:
The Bulls are 6-4 ATS this season vs teams that rank in the bottom quartile, but 1-3 versus the number giving points to these teams,
Chicago is 10-18 ATS this year at the United Center and 0-3 laying chalk at home, and
Memphis is 4-3 ATS vs. bottom quartile competition, with an average margin of victory of better than +6 points
On the other hand, there are also a couple of team-specific trends in play that favor the Bulls this afternoon:
The Grizzlies are 14-19 ATS off a loss this season, and
Memphis is 2-5 ATS so far in 2018-19 in the second game of back-to-backs
Sharp and square bettors appear to be split on this game. At present, 55% of spread wagers tracked by The Action Network are behind Memphis, however 85% of ATS dollars bet are down on Chicago. As a result of wiseguys pounding the Bulls, the spread is up to the Grizzlies +2.5, from +1.
Notably, per Rotoworld, the Bulls' starting Point Guard, Kris Dunn, is listed as Questionable after sustaining a tailbone injury Monday.
The Grizzlies primary PG, Mike Conley, missed Tuesday's action, but there is no word yet on his availability this afternoon (which we interpret as good news). for Memphis backers).
Happy betting!