Bulls vs. Bobcats: Chicago PG Derrick Rose Is Still Bothered by Back Spasms

The Chicago Bulls (22-6) continue a season-long nine-game road trip in taking on the lowly Charlotte Bobcats (3-22) Friday night inside Time Warner Cable Arena.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Bulls as double-digit favorites for the third consecutive game, while the total has settled in at 183.

Chicago has tallied a 5-2 mark through the first seven games of its current trip, but the locker room may get caught looking ahead to Sunday's game against Eastern Conference rival Boston.

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has also been suffering from back spasms over the past two games—scoring just 10 combined points in just over 33 minutes of action (via the Chicago Sun-Times).

Last year's NBA MVP will be facing the Bobcats for the 12th time in his career, averaging 19.9 points and 6.6 assists per game.

Charlotte's main goal is to try and snap a 12-game losing streak and cover the spread for the third consecutive game.

The Bobcats have been hampered by numerous injuries that have caused key players to miss significant action—including point guard D.J. Augustin and shooting guard Corey Maggette, who have missed 27 combined games.

Sports bettors will find that they are getting tremendous value on the Bobcats in this contest, considering they haven't been home underdogs of 12.5 or more points since the franchise was created in 2004.

That type of situation doesn't come around very often, which fits nicely with the Bulls being 3-8 against the spread as favorites of 11.0 or more points.

Pick: Charlotte Bobcats +13.5