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The Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls will clash in the NBA preseason tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.
The Bulls are 2.5-point favorites over the Grizzlies on the spread, with the over/under set at 239.5 total points. Chicago is listed as -152 moneyline favorite to win outright, while Memphis is a +124 underdog to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Grizzlies vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks for Friday, October 9.
Grizzlies vs Bulls Prediction
- Grizzlies vs Bulls pick: Grizzlies Moneyline (+124)
My Grizzlies vs. Bulls best bet is Memphis moneyline (+124), with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Grizzlies vs Bulls Odds
- Grizzlies vs Bulls spread: Bulls -2.5 , Grizzlies +2.5
- Grizzlies vs Bulls over/under: 239.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Grizzlies vs Bulls moneyline: Grizzlies +124, Bulls -152
Grizzlies vs Bulls NBA Betting Preview
Memphis Grizzlies Betting Preview
The Grizzlies enter Friday night's exhibition having shown plenty of offensive firepower across their initial preseason action.
Memphis operated at the seventh-fastest pace in the NBA last season (101.3). That high-octane tempo has translated directly into their early exhibition schedule, where the Grizzlies exploded for 132 points in a victory over Atlanta (132-123) before posting 118 points in a tight battle against Orlando (122-118).
Taking the floor at the United Center as +3.5 underdogs, Memphis brings established rhythm and deep scoring production into this matchup. With young roster pieces pushing the ball in transition and competing for rotation spots, the Grizzlies have demonstrated they can thrive in high-scoring track meets regardless of preseason minute restrictions.
Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
The Bulls opened their preseason slate on Wednesday with a 124-117 victory over the Suns, picking up right where they left off last season in terms of play style.
Chicago ran at the second-fastest pace in the entire league last year (102.5) while ranking 12th in scoring at 116.3 points per game. However, defensive lapses continue to define this squad; the Bulls allowed 121.5 points per game last season (28th in the NBA) and posted a 118.1 defensive rating (22nd).
Chicago's price tag is mainly based on home-court advantage in this spot. But in a fast-paced, high-possession environment where they will be experimenting with deep bench lineups, the Bulls' defensive vulnerabilities make them susceptible to streaky scoring runs.
Grizzlies vs Bulls Pick, Betting Analysis
This matchup triggers our Bet Labs system titled "Sky Rocket 'Dogs (Preseason)," which targets underdogs in exhibition games when early market action pushes the game total higher from its opening line.
The total for this contest opened at an already lofty 237.5 and quickly climbed to 239.5. The system's theory dictates that when the betting market projects an unusually high-scoring environment, the resulting increase in game pace and possession count inflates overall variance.
Increased variance tends to work in favor of the underdog because transitional basketball neutralizes perceived talent gaps between rosters.
Both teams play at a top-seven regular season pace (Chicago 2nd, Memphis 7th) and have consistently eclipsed 120-point thresholds in their early preseason outings.
In what is expected to be a wide-open shootout where defense takes a back seat to rotation evaluation, the Grizzlies offer exceptional value to pull off an outright win at +124.
Pick: Grizzlies Moneyline (+124)
