Cavaliers-Bulls Who Will Cover?

If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Friday when the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls meet at United Center.

NewBodog oddsmakers currently have the Cavaliers listed as 4½-point favorites versus the Bulls, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

LeBron James returned from injury on Wednesday to lead Cleveland with a game-high 33 points, as the Cavaliers defeated the Nets 104-83. The Cavaliers covered the 7.5-point spread, but the combined 187 points fell UNDER the posted total of 196.

James shot 11-for-22 from the field with seven rebounds and eight assists, while four others reached double figures in the win.

The Bulls were crushed 115-83 by the Magic last time out, as 9.5-point road underdogs. The combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total of 206.5.

Kirk Hinrich shot 7-for-12 from the field with a team-high 19 points in the loss.

Current streak:
Chicago has lost 3 straight games.

Team records:
Cleveland: 43-35 SU, 36-42 ATS
Chicago: 30-48 SU, 33-45 ATS

Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Miami are 7-3
After playing New Jersey are 4-6
After a win are 5-5

Chicago most recently:
When playing on Friday are 9-1
Before playing Orlando are 5-5
After playing Orlando are 7-3
After a loss are 5-5

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 7 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games at home
Chicago is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland

Next up:
Cleveland home to Miami, Sunday, April 13
Chicago home to Orlando, Sunday, April 13

Stevie Vincent is the founder of the ground-breaking betting science of forensic handicapping and the former Executive Editor of the Freescoreboard Tailgate Party. His BetOnSports360 sports betting plays are available exclusively at OffshoreInsiders.com