Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks Prediction & Betting Picks (November 7th, 2025)
The Chicago Bulls will look to stay in first place in the NBA’s Central Division on Friday night, when they risk their stellar 6-1 record at Fiserv Forum against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Chicago is off to a blazing start thanks to what looks like a career year out of star point guard Josh Giddey, but they’ll enter Mil-town as +146 underdogs with a +4 spread attached to them.
Milwaukee is no slouch at 5-3, and they have big man Giannis Antetokounmpo playing as well as ever, as the former MVP comes into this one averaging 32 points per game.
Will the Bucks get the win and inch closer to first place, or will Chicago show once again they’re the team to beat in the Central Division? I’ll point you to the right answer as I inspect the latest odds, highlight my preferred bets, and hand out a Bulls vs. Bucks prediction.
Game Details
- Matchup: Chicago Bulls (6-1) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5-3)
- Date & Time: Friday, November 7, at 7:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI
- How to Watch: Chicago Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin and NBA League Pass
Early Season Performance & Trends
Chicago Bulls
Chicago has been one of the most exciting teams in the NBA to start the 2025-26 season. Not only do they have an impressive (and shocking) 6-1 record, but they’ve been dazzling on offense, scoring at least 110 points in every game while pushing the pace (12th) and executing efficiently (10th).
Josh Giddey is what makes this offense go, as he’s presently almost averaging a triple-double with an insane 23-10-9 stat line.
Chicago plays fast, is efficient, and checks all of the important boxes. The Bulls come into this game ranking 7th in scoring, but more importantly, they are putting pressure on defenses in transition (10th in fastbreak points per game), and they are playing team basketball (5th in assists).
Giddey isn’t completely on his own, as center Nikola Vucevic (19 points and 12 rebounds per game) is as good as ever, while four more Bulls players are averaging double figures in scoring.
As great as this team’s offense is, it’s their defense that is shockingly effective. Despite their fast pace and high scoring numbers, they rank 12th in defensive scoring, are 14th in efficiency, and they are defending the long ball (7th) as well as anyone.
The sample size is small, but the Bulls seemingly run a hyper-efficient offense with a high ceiling, but don’t get so lost that they forget to play sound defense. That’s the mark of a legit playoff contender. The only question is if they’re actually for real, and if they can keep it up against a solid Bucks team on the road on Friday night.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks will probably only go as far as The Greek Freak will take them. Giannis Antetokounmpo faced plenty of questions involving trade rumors during the offseason, but he’s silenced the skeptics with sensational play, and has Milwaukee on the brink of being one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee has battled several injuries, of course, and despite a solid start, could begin slipping back into the murky waters of mediocrity with a loss on Friday. A big reason why that fear could be realized is a lack of reliable support beyond Giannis, but it’s also not impossible that he could will the Bucks to victory.
Ryan Rollins could be the guy to help Giannis, though, as he’s off to a blazing start, putting up 16 points and 5.6 assists per game. If center Myles Turner can show up more in the scoring department, a Bucks team that ranks 10th in scoring may have a trio good enough to hang with the best teams in the East.
Giannis allows the Bucks to dominate on the inside, but he’s still mostly a one-man show. If he doesn’t bring his A-game (and sometimes even if he does), Milwaukee can suffer.
Head‑to‑Head / Historical Context
The Bulls and Bucks know each other quite well, as they play against each other in the Central Division four times a year. They’ve met 271 times during regular-season play, with the Bulls holding a narrow 137-134 edge.
The two sides split their season series 2-2 last year, with the Bulls winning the most recent meeting in December of 2024. The Bucks dominated the series (3-1) the previous year.
In the last eight meetings, the two sides have both reached 100+ points six times, and they’ve battled their way to two different overtime thrillers.
Key Matchup Breakdown
Josh Giddey pushes the pace offensively and sets up most of the offense. He has done a fantastic job scoring on his own, as he can take the rock inside or hit open threes. His playmaking and ability to run the offense at a high level is his strong point, though, as he knows how to find the weak spot in a defense and can set his teammates up beautifully.
Chicago is a serious problem on offense, as they can hurt you with multiple players and they can execute both in the halfcourt game and in transition. They are very effective at working inside and getting easy buckets, while their outside game has been on point (3rd in three-point shooting percentage) as well.
So far, they don’t have a glaring weakness on offense outside of consistently getting to the charity stripe (24th in free throws attempted per game). If their efficiency wanes, a lack of freebies could impact them in a close game.
Milwaukee’s process is pretty simple; give the ball to Giannis and get out of the way. Not having Kevin Porter Jr. on the floor takes away another skilled playmaker and scorer, but Ryan Rollins has stepped up as a decent #2 behind Giannis.
Still, this is The Greek Freak’s team, and he continues to dominate. Giannis remains a monster inside, and that’s helped the Bucks rank 15th in scoring inside the paint, while the Bucks also own the league’s best effective field goal percentage.
The attention Giannis attracts when he penetrates creates open looks on the outside, and so far, the Bucks are translating that into the 6th-best three-point shooting squad. Milwaukee does not hesitate to let it fly from long range, either, and they rank 5th in made threes per contest.
The big issues, naturally, are if Giannis isn’t feeling it, or if the outside shots aren’t falling. To this point, Milwaukee hasn’t proven they’re good enough to overcome either of those things happening.
Despite a fast pace, the Bulls are currently defending well overall. They are still giving up over 115 points per game, but they have stifled opposing defenses on the perimeter.
Unfortunately, Chicago has been bad in transition (24th) and weak on the interior (24th). Those could be less than ideal weak points on the road against a team with one of the best interior scorers in the NBA.
For Milwaukee, they have the offensive aptitude to hang with the Bulls and run all night. They aren’t inside the top-10 in a lot of key categories, but they aren’t far off, either. If they can dominate inside and hit their outside shots, they could crack Chicago’s defense.
The Bucks aren’t a scary team on defense, though. They allow over 119 points per game and are letting teams get to the free-throw line too often. They do a good job inside, defend the long ball well, and limit easy buckets in transition, however.
- Run All Night: The Bulls will look to push the pace, but it might actually lead to their demise. Giannis is a fastbreak nightmare, while the Bucks have been good in transition on defense. Milwaukee actually plays faster than the Bulls (9th in pace), potentially leading Chicago into a trap.
- Giannis vs. Chicago’s Interior D: The Greek Freak is tough for anyone to handle, but a defense that struggles on the break and can’t defend the paint? This could be a brutal spot for the Chicago defense.
- 3-Point Barrage: Both teams want to run and will let it fly from long range, while both defend the perimeter pretty well. The Bucks are a better shooting team, while Chicago ranks 3rd against the three. Something may have to break here.
Health favors the Bulls in this matchup. Milwaukee lost Damian Lillard to a torn Achilles last year. They somehow parlayed that debacle into Myles Turner, but he’s yet to pan out, and their replacement – Kevin Porter Jr. – is sidelined.
Too much of the offensive load is on Giannis and a band of no-namers. It’s possible they still thrive in a decent spot at home, but not guaranteed.
Both of these teams are well rested. Neither side has played since November 4th, giving them three days to get their bodies right. This is Chicago’s third road game of the year and the start of six road games in seven games. It’s worth noting their only loss was away from home.
Betting Odds & Market Interpretation
Check out the latest Bulls vs. Bucks betting odds (via FanDuel):
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Bulls | +4 (-108) | +144 | Over 240.5 (-110) |
Bucks | -4 (-112) | -172 | Under 240.5 (-110) |
What the Market Suggests
The Bucks get the nod at home, where they are 3-1 so far this year. The line doesn’t necessarily tell us how the sportsbooks feel about either team, but the spread is reasonably tight, which is fair since the Bulls have looked quite good during a 6-1 start.
The game total is also appropriately priced, as both teams are top-10 in scoring. Chicago’s defense is efficient, but they still have their limitations. Overall, it’s a healthy total that suggests plenty of points will be scored thanks to a fast-paced setting.
From a Bettor’s Lens
The point spread looks good if you are interested in betting on the Bulls. Chicago has obviously been winning a lot to start the year, but they weren’t expected to. They have defied all odds, going 6-1 against the spread and 4-1 ATS as the underdog.
Milwaukee has lost three of eight games, and two of them were games they were supposed to win. They’re still 5-3 against the spread overall, but just 1-2 ATS when favored.
The matchup points to a close game with shootout potential, but the contrast in styles favors the Bucks if they execute in the areas where they typically excel.
Situational Considerations
Kevin Porter Jr. remains out for the Bucks, so they are shorthanded at guard. Chicago has been missing guard Ayo Dosunmu lately, and he’s questionable to suit up.
Chicago has also been without star shooting guard Coby White all year, and he is not expected back yet. The Bulls have been putting up better numbers so far and have more overall star power, but Milwaukee is the healthier team.
Best Bets & Confidence Levels
| Bet | Recommendation | Confidence Level |
|---|---|---|
Over 240.5 (-110) | Both of these teams are inside the top 12 in pace and top 10 in scoring. The defenses aren’t good enough to make me believe in the Under. I’m hammering the Over with confidence. | 8/10 |
Milwaukee Bucks -172 | The Bucks need to win this game to stay with the Bulls at the top of the division. They’re at home, and Giannis should feast in this matchup thanks to Chicago’s weak transition and interior defense. | 7/10 |
Chicago Bulls ATS +4 (-108) | This game is going to be a fire fight. There is a lot at stake early in the season, and the Bulls have been very good ATS to start the year. | 7/10 |
Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks odds are moving fast — stay ahead of every line shift and compare spreads now at our best sports betting sites before tip-off.
Final Score Prediction & Closing Thoughts
Final Score Prediction: Bucks 122, Bulls 120
This game is going to yield a ton of points. If you are looking for the best Bulls vs. Bucks prediction, it’s that you’re going to get a fast-paced game with a ton of scoring; so much so that even with a big 240.5 total, the Over is going to deliver.
A big reason why we’ll get there is both teams can get easy buckets and fill it up from long range. But the biggest mismatch is with Giannis inside, as the Bulls don’t defend the fastbreak very well, and they also have nobody down low that can contain The Greek Freak.
While we’re getting loads of points and the Bucks own the matchup edge, Chicago has still been very good. Look for the Bulls to keep it interesting until the very end in what should be a barn burner.
