For the first time in 50 years, the Milwaukee Bucks are the defending NBA champions. After losing the first two games in the 2021 NBA Finals, the Bucks roared back and won four straight over the Phoenix Suns.
Milwaukee’s offseason was quiet, to say the least. While other teams made splashy acquisitions, the Bucks kept their core mostly intact. They lost P.J. Tucker and Bryn Forbes in the offseason but acquired Grayson Allen, George Hill, Rodney Hood, and Semi Ojeleye to bolster their bench.
Heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, Milwaukee projects to finish in the top tier of NBA teams again. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the league’s most dominant players and a perennial MVP candidate. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are perfect wingmen for him, and the rest of the roster is loaded with terrific complementary pieces.
With that said, let’s take a look at our 2021 Bucks predictions. Please note that all 2021 Bucks bet picks, odds, and lines are current as of Wednesday, October 13.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
Looking to make some 2021 Bucks futures bets? BetMGM is one of our favorite sportsbooks for Milwaukee Bucks bets. We’re excited to let you know about their welcome offer: a fantastic $1,000 risk-free welcome for new signups who join using our promo code .
Read Anthony Cervino’s BetMGM Sportsbook review for more insight and get your welcome bonus below, or continue reading our 2021 Bucks predictions.
Bucks Win Total Prediction 2021-2022
Bucks Under 54.5 Wins (-105) at PointsBet
The Bucks should be good for at least 50 wins this year after averaging 54 over their past three campaigns, but I’m not sure they reach 55 for the Over to hit. They’re a strong team, but other teams in the Eastern Conference also got better.
While Milwaukee added a couple of reliable pieces to come off the bench and alleviate some minutes for the starters, they also lost two key players from their championship squad. The players they did add are solid but won’t move the needle enough for them to win 55+ games.
Bucks Win Total Pick 2021-2022: Under
The Bucks had 46 wins last year in a 72-game season, which translates to 52 victories in an 82-game season. They enter this year as one of the top teams in the East, but other competitors in the conference will give them a run for their money. Take the Under to be safe.
Bucks Make NBA Playoffs Prediction 2021-2022
Bucks To Make Playoffs (-8000) at DraftKings
The Bucks are the reigning champions and have earned a top 3 seed in each of the last three seasons. They’ve also made five consecutive postseason appearances.
Milwaukee’s new roster additions aren’t flashy, but they add much-needed depth to the bench that can keep starters fresh over the course of a long season.
Bucks Make NBA Playoffs Pick 2021-2022: Yes
A lot of bad luck and injuries would need to happen to keep the Bucks from returning to the playoffs, making this our NBA bet of the day.
Bucks To Win NBA Championship Prediction 2021-2022
Bucks To Win NBA Championship (+900) at BetMGM
There have been 23 instances in which the NBA champion has repeated the following year, so it’s not out of the question for the Bucks. The good thing for Milwaukee is that they return four of their starters from last year’s championship run.
After years of coming up short in the playoffs, Giannis and the Bucks finally got over the hump last year. He’s only 26, so he could very well have a few more titles in him.
Bucks NBA Championship Pick 2021-2022: Yes
Again, bringing back their core group is a huge plus for Milwaukee. This team has gone through plenty of failures and triumphs on the game’s biggest stage, and that experience should come in handy when they return to the playoffs this year.
- Read our full 2021-22 NBA Championship Odds & Predictions.
Fresh off an NBA title, can Giannis Antetokounmp and the Milwaukee Bucks run it back to win the 2022 NBA Championship? (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
Bucks & Player Prop Predictions 2021-2022
Giannis Antetokounmpo To Win 2021-22 NBA MVP Award (+900) at DraftKings
Giannis is fresh off of winning his first ring and a Finals MVP, so it’s safe to say he’s feeling good coming into this season. He’s coming off a monster Finals performance in which he averaged 35.2 points and 13.2 rebounds per game while shooting 61.8 percent from the field.
The two-time MVP winner keeps on getting better each year and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He’ll continue to post eye-popping stats for a winning team, which is always a good recipe for success when it comes to MVP voting.
- Read our full 2021-22 NBA MVP Odds & Predictions.
Bucks To Get No. 1 Seed In Eastern Conference (+175) at PointsBet
The Bucks were the No. 1 seed in the East two straight years before slipping to No. 3 last year, but they’re still talented enough to make a run at the top seed.
While their competitors in the East have gotten better, there’s uncertainty surrounding the statuses of several top players on contenders such as the Brooklyn Nets (Kyrie Irving) and Philadelphia 76ers (Ben Simmons). Meanwhile, Milwaukee has stayed consistent.
With their sights set on repeating as champions, the Bucks getting the top seed in the East will be their easiest path back to the Finals and should be their top priority during the regular season.
Thanks for reading our 2021 Bucks Best Bets & Predictions! For more NBA betting tips, check out our NBA gameday odds.
