Call this one “The Beard and the BetCast.” NBCSports Philadelphia and NBC Sports Chicago teamed with PointsBet to present “BetCast,” an alternate live sports betting-focused simulcast of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls game on Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus.
The Bulls-76ers BetCast marks NBC Sports Regional Networks’ first dual-market sports betting telecast. Throughout the broadcast, on-screen live odds by PointsBet will show:
- Spread, Over/Under
- Moving moneylines
- Futures odds and player props
- Real-time data on enhanced graphic overlay surrounding the regular live-game coverage
NBC Sports paired with PointsBet as its official sports betting partner in August 2020.
Sixers popular with bettors, a favorite with oddsmakers
Since acquiring James Harden in a trade deadline deal to pair with Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia Sixers odds to win an Eastern Conference Championship and NBA Championship have improved. The hype around the hirsute Harden seems to be real and the Sixers are 3-0 in their first games with him.
Sam Garriock, Trading Manager at PointsBet, commented to Playin Pennsylvania:
“We think that the addition of James Harden has made them more likely to win the Eastern Conference than the Brooklyn Nets. The collective basketball intelligence of Harden and Joel Embiid has allowed them to figure things out very quickly, which has made them the favorites to make the finals out East in our eyes.”
The Sixers were 10.5-point favorites when they hosted the New York Knicks on March 2. At PointsBet, 94% of the money was on the Sixers to cover the spread.
“Philly faithful is all in in on the Sixers,” added Garriock.”
Sixers vs. Bulls betting broadcast
Sports betting talk tips off with ‘Bet the EDGE GameTime” a special edition of the podcast hosted by Matt Bernier and Drew Dinsick from 6-7 p.m. ET, that leads into the game.
You can choose to watch the Sixers vs. Bulls two ways:
- BetCast on NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus
- Traditional live-game coverage on NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Philadelphia
The BetCast features announcers mixing play-by-play and commentary through a sports betting lens.
BetCast announcers include:
- NBC Sports EDGE host Sara Perlman
- Jim Lynam, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s 76ers analyst
- NBC Sports Chicago’s Bulls analyst Kendall Gill
- Jay Croucher, Head Oddsmaker at PointsBet,
As part of the BetCast, the NBC Sports Predictor App is running a special ‘Pick n’ Roll’ contest for the game with a guaranteed $50,000 jackpot.
Philadelphia Sixers vs. Chicago Bulls betting preview
The Sixers (38-23) and Bulls (39-24) have near-identical records as of March 4. They are jockeying for the No.2 and No. 3 spots in the Eastern Conference while trying to chase down the top seed Miami Heat.
Sixers futures odds at PointsBet Sportsbook PA:
- NBA Championship +600
- Eastern Conference +300
- Atlantic Division -300
The Sixers are entering a tough stretch of games in addition to Monday’s matchup with the Bulls.
- March 4: Cleveland Cavaliers (36 – 26) vs. Sixers
- March: Sixers vs. Miami Heat (42-22)
Sixers vs. Chicago Bulls betting odds
Harden and Embiid player props
Lead image Frank Franklin II/AP
