Location and Time: Soldier Field @ 1 pm EST Television: Fox Sports Current Spread: Packers -6 (-115) at SportsBetting.ag
The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers is one of the most storied in the NFL. Leading up to Sunday’s matchup in Chicago, the Bears currently are ahead in all-time series with a 93-91-6 record.
I expect the game will have huge bursts of offense from each side, but for the Bears these bursts might come fewer and farther between than the bursts that will come from the Packers. Scroll down for further analysis and my betting tips for this big-time NFC North showdown.
Betting on the Packers to cover the spread at -6
This will more likely than not be one of the easier picks of the NFL’s opening kickoff weekend. If you’re a fan of money then you should sign up for an account at SportsBetting.ag and bet the Packers -6 (-115) to cover against the Bears.
Yes, the Packers have a few things going against them, the biggest being that they will be without stud wideout Jordy Nelson for the year, as he tore his ACL against the Steelers earlier in the preseason. Although Aaron Rodgers will be without his top target he still has his OTHER stud wideout Randall Cobb, emerging standout Devante Adams and of course his cowbell running back Eddie Lacy to shoulder the additional offensive burden left behind by Nelson.
Life is a lot easier with an elite QB like Rodgers behind center not much will change other than the Pack putting up a few less points a game compared to last 2014. He should be able to pick apart a Bears defense that has seen better days in seasons past. It’s important to note that Jay Cutler also has just a 1-10 record against the Packers since joining the Bears in 2009.
Why I like betting the Total Points on Packers-Bears
I’ll start off by saying that if you don’t have a SportsBetting.ag account already then take 2 minutes and get one already! You get a 50% instant bonus up to $500 and you can bet the OVER 49 (-110) before kickoff at 1 pm EST.
I like this bet a lot for a lot of reasons. Both teams have great quarterbacks. Both teams have suspect secondary units on defense. Oh, and both teams have running backs that are absolute touch monsters. Mix it all together and you have a possible shootout in the making.
Last year, the Packers threw up 42 points on the Bears in the FIRST HALF. That’s not a typo – 42 points by halftime! Mind you that was a game where Rodgers had a healthy Jordy Nelson and everything was clicking for Green Bay on both side of the ball. I don’t think it gets that out of hand in this year’s matchup but there should be plenty of points to go around.
Rodgers will be feeding a steady diet of deep balls to the always-deadly Randall Cobb and he will mix it up with play action a ton. The Bears will have no choice but to buckle down on Eddie Lacy – and when they do expect Rodgers to make them pay downfield. The Packers, even sans Jordy Nelson, should be able to at least throw up 31 points on Sunday.
Jay Cutler and the Bears won’t necessarily be out to make a statement when the Packers come to town, but they will be determined enough to not get completely bulldozed like they were last season. With new faces at the head coach and offensive coordinator positions I see a lot of the offense revolving around running back Matt Forte. Alshon Jeffrey will be stepping into the #1 WR role for the first time in his career and should have a big game against the Packers defense. Slot receivers like Eddie Royal look to make a huge impact and the Bears have one of the best tight ends in the league in Martellus Bennett.
I see the game creeping into the 50+ point area between both teams, with defense not meaning all that much to either of these two NFC North rivals. Expect an aerial show of the finest variety come Sunday folks, and sit back and enjoy the ride like I’ll be doing that day. If you’re still hesitant about betting the game, don’t forget one of our top sportsbooks at SportsBetting.ag – they offer a free $50 mobile bet once you sign up – what do you have to lose?