Chicago Bulls Medium Favorite (-3.5 to -7) Betting Trend

The Bulls' struggles as medium favorites stem from a franchise caught between rebuilding phases and playoff aspirations, creating an identity crisis that manifests in inconsistent effort levels. When laying moderate chalk, Chicago often faces teams with nothing to lose while carrying the psychological burden of being expected to win comfortably. This dynamic has historically exposed their lack of a true alpha scorer who can take over games when opponents inevitably make runs. Chicago's coaching instability during much of this sample period contributed to poor game management in crucial moments. The Bulls frequently built early leads that attracted betting action, only to see their intensity wane as they assumed victory was assured. Their defensive schemes, while occasionally effective against elite opponents who demand full focus, often broke down against scrappy underdogs who attacked with pace and urgency. The franchise's perpetual "win-now" pressure from ownership creates additional stress in these spots, as players and coaches understand that comfortable wins against inferior competition are expected, not celebrated. This expectation paradoxically leads to tight, overthinking performances rather than natural basketball flow. This trend carries the most weight when Chicago faces sub-.500 teams on the road, where the combination of travel fatigue and overconfidence creates perfect storm conditions for disappointing covers.