It's home opener night in Toronto, and I'm riding with its new-look squad as part of my Bulls vs. Raptors predictions.
The Toronto Raptors host the Chicago Bulls as 10.5-point favorites at Polymarket, and I still don't believe that's a big enough spread. We'll invest in Darko Rajakovic's team as a result.
Tap into my NBA picks for Wednesday, Oct. 21, and let's start the season off on the right foot.
TOP PICK
Bulls vs Raptors prediction: Raptors -10.5
These Toronto Raptors have the personnel to give opposing offenses nightmares.
The length and defensive versatility of Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes will be a handful for Chicago, especially with the Chicago Bulls lacking frontcourt depth in the absence of Nic Claxton.
Toronto has the depth, defensive firepower, and home-court advantage to turn this into a double-digit victory. Throw in Darko Rajakovic, who has a legitimate case for Coach of the Year, and there's plenty to like about this Raptors squad heading into the season.
Looking for more spread plays? Dive into my NBA picks against the spread for the entire slate.
COVERS INTEL: The Raptors were the seventh-best team in defensive efficiency last season and only bolstered their outlook by adding Leonard. Expect them to crack the top five this year.
Bulls vs Raptors combo
Barnes averaged 7.5 rebounds per game last year, and against the Bulls, he won't have much competition down low with Claxton out. In a high-tempo tilt, I expect him to routinely clean the glass.
Meanwhile, I'm riding Norman Powell on the Bulls to drop 19 or more points. With the Bulls lacking depth, the offense will funnel through the shooting guard, who should be Chicago's top scorer tonight after averaging nearly 22 points per game last year — one of the best offensive years of his career.
Bulls vs Raptors combo
- Raptors -10.5
- Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
- Norman Powell Over 18.5 points
Bulls vs Raptors player props
Bulls player prop: Norman Powell Over 18.5 points
Powell has the ability to generate offense from multiple areas of the floor. He's a dangerous catch-and-shoot threat, can attack closeouts, and doesn't need to dominate the ball to put together a productive scoring night.
The key tonight will be his shot volume. If Powell gets consistent touches, finds opportunities in transition in a fast-paced game, and earns trips to the free-throw line, a 19-point game is within reach.
Raptors player prop: Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
Barnes averaged 7.3 rebounds in three meetings with Chicago last season, including a nine-rebound performance on Feb. 19. His ability to crash the defensive glass and push the ball in transition should keep him involved on both sides of the floor.
With the Bulls thin up front, expect Barnes to make his presence known — especially if he plays around 33 minutes, which he averaged last season.
Bulls vs Raptors odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Spread: Bulls +10.5 (51%) | Raptors -10.5 (50%)
- Over/Under: Over 237.5 (51%) | Under 237.5 (50%)
- Moneyline: Bulls 21% | Raptors 80%
For the full slate of NBA matchups, check out our NBA odds board!
Bulls vs Raptors trend
The Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a favorite. Find more NBA betting trends.
How to watch Bulls vs Raptors
| Location | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON |
| Date | Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 |
| Tip off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Sportsnet, Amazon Prime |
Bulls vs Raptors latest injuries
Check out our NBA injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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