Game Time: Friday, December 26, 2025 at 7:40 PM ET
Location: United Center, Chicago
Okay, Iโm not going to lieโI had to check the calendar twice to make sure I was reading this right. The Chicago Bulls have won FOUR games in a row. Four. Consecutive. Wins.
If youโve been following this team all season, you know this is basically a miracle. Weโre actually favored at home against the 76ers on Boxing Day, and for once, it doesnโt feel completely delusional to think we might cover.
Current Betting Lines
Spread: Bulls -1.5 (-107)
Moneyline: Bulls -116 | 76ers +102
Total: 239.5 points
Weโre laying 1.5 points at home, which is about as close to a pickโem as you can get. The oddsmakers are basically saying โflip a coin,โ but Iโm here to tell you why the Bulls side of that coin is shinier.
Bulls Momentum: This Is Actually Happening
Let me paint you a picture of where weโre at:
5-5 in our last 10 games (perfectly mediocre, as expected)
Four-game winning streak (what is this feeling?)
4-0 ATS during the streak (weโre not just winning, weโre COVERING)
6-4 ATS in last 10 games (actually profitable!)
Games trending under (6 of last 10)
This isnโt a fluke. Weโre playing actual defense, guys are hitting shots, and for the first time all season, we look like we believe we can win games. Itโs weird. Iโm not used to feeling optimistic about Bulls basketball.
Whatโs Changed?
Honestly? Everything just clicked at the right time. DeMar and Zach are finally on the same page. Vooch is playing like he remembers heโs a professional basketball player. Our defense has been surprisingly competent.
Weโre not championship-caliber or anything crazy like that, but weโre playing like a team that belongs in the playoff conversation. And after the disaster we endured earlier this season, Iโll take it.
The 76ers: Good, But Vulnerable
Philadelphia comes in at 6-4 in their last 10, which sounds solid until you realize they just lost their last game and failed to cover. Hereโs what weโre dealing with:
6-4 straight up in last 10 (respectable)
6-4 ATS in last 10 (theyโve been covering too)
Currently on a 1-game losing streak
Games trending under heavily (6 unders, 3 overs, 1 push)
Playing on the road the day after Christmas
The 76ers are talented, no question. But theyโre coming into the United Center on December 26thโthe day after Christmas, when everyoneโs still in a food coma and traveling is miserable. Meanwhile, weโre at home, riding high on a four-game win streak, and the crowd is going to be electric.
Why the Bulls Have the Edge
1. Momentum Is Real
I know, I knowโโmomentumโ is one of those sports clichรฉs that makes analytics nerds roll their eyes. But having watched this team all season, I can tell you that confidence matters. When youโve won four straight and covered all four, you play differently. You make the extra pass. You rotate on defense. You believe the next shot is going in.
The 76ers just lost. Theyโre trying to stop a skid. Weโre trying to extend a streak. That psychological difference matters.
2. Home Court Actually Means Something Right Now
The United Center has been rocking during this win streak. When the crowd gets into it, our guys feed off that energy. Philadelphia is good, but theyโre also 6-4 on the road in their last 10 away games (Iโm assumingโthey donโt break it down, but their overall road record canโt be amazing).
Playing at home on the second night of a holiday weekend when weโve got all the momentum? Thatโs a real advantage.
3. Weโre Covering Spreads Like Itโs Our Job
Four straight ATS wins. Thatโs not luckโthatโs a team thatโs executing and finishing games. Even if some of these wins have been close, weโre getting it done when it matters. The 76ers are good ATS too (6-4), but they just failed to cover in their last game.
4. The Total Screams Under
Both teams have been playing under-heavy basketball lately. Weโve got 6 unders in our last 10. Theyโve got 6 unders in their last 10. The total is set at 239.5, which feels high for two teams that have been grinding out defensive games.
If thereโs a bet I feel most confident about, itโs the under.
The 76ersโ Strengths (Unfortunately, They Have Some)
Letโs not get too cocky. Philadelphia is legitimately good:
Joel Embiid โ When healthy, heโs one of the best players in the league
Tyrese Maxey โ The man can score in bunches and stretch defenses
Solid ATS record โ Theyโve been covering spreads consistently
Experience โ Theyโve been in big games and know how to close
If Embiid is feeling it and Maxey gets hot, this game could get away from us quickly. The 76ers have the kind of talent that can erase a lead in three minutes if you let them.
My Picks and Predictions
Hereโs where Iโm putting my (hypothetical) money:
Best Bet: Bulls -1.5 (-107)
Weโre at home. Weโve won four straight and covered all four. Weโve got momentum, energy, and a crowd thatโs going to be fired up. Philadelphia is good, but laying 1.5 points with this Bulls team right now feels like the safest bet on the board.
Strong Lean: Under 239.5 (-108)
Both teams are playing defensive basketball right now. Six unders in our last 10, six unders in their last 10. Unless something changes dramatically, this stays under. Iโd bet this with confidence.
Risky Play: Bulls Moneyline -116
If you believe in the streak (and Iโm starting to), taking the Bulls straight up at -116 isnโt crazy. Weโre better than a coin flip right now, and the price reflects a much closer game than I think weโre going to get.
What the Model Says
The simulation has us winning 122-116, which would cover the 1.5-point spread and stay comfortably under 239.5. For once, the model and my gut agree.
Keys to Victory
For the Bulls to win and cover:
Keep the defensive intensity up
Donโt let Embiid dominate the paint
Hit free throws in crunch time (weโve been better at this lately)
Get 20+ from either Zach or DeMar
Win the turnover battle
What could go wrong:
Embiid goes off for 40
Maxey catches fire from three
We get complacent and let them back in
Free throws betray us in the clutch
The refs decide to make this about them
The Honest Take
Look, Iโve been hurt by this team too many times to be overly confident about anything. But right nowโin this momentโweโre playing the best basketball weโve played all season. Weโre at home. Weโve got a crowd thatโs going to be loud. Weโre facing a good team, but one that just lost and is playing on the road after Christmas.
If we canโt win THIS gameโat home, on a four-game streak, against a team traveling on a holidayโthen we donโt deserve to make the playoffs.
My Prediction: Bulls 118, 76ers 112
We cover the 1.5, the under hits, and we extend the streak to five. Book it.
(Please donโt make me look stupid, Bulls. Please.)
Prediction Summary
Spread: Bulls -1.5 โโโ (High confidence)
Moneyline: Bulls -116 โโ (Solid play)
Total: Under 239.5 โโโ (High confidence)
The Bulls are the play tonight. Ride the streak, trust the home court, and enjoy watching this team actually play with confidence for once.
Letโs go Bulls. Make it five in a row.
The post Bulls vs 76ers Preview & Prediction Game Today December 26: Riding a Four-Game Win Streak on Boxing Day appeared first on UrbanMatter.
