Bears vs. Packers Odds, Picks & Prediction for Sunday Night Football
Bears vs. Packers Odds
| Bears Odds | +10.5 |
| Broncos Odds | -10.5 |
| Over/Under | 41.5 |
| Date | Sunday, Sept. 18 |
| Time | 8:20 p.m. |
| TV | NBC |
The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers will battle on Sunday Night Football in an intra-division Week 2 matchup. The Bears earned a surprise victory in their season opener over the San Francisco 49ers, and will be looking to stay undefeated. The Packers were embarrassed in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, but oddsmakers are expecting Green Bay to get in the win column in this spot, pricing them as 10-point home favorites on the spread.
Let’s take a deeper look at the matchup to see where NFL bettors can find value at sportsbooks in this contest.
Chicago Bears
The Bears are undeniably one of the worst teams in the National Football League, but they should cover more than they don’t in 2022. In Week 1, Chicago managed to win outright as a touchdown underdog in sloppy playing conditions. The Bears offense was still anemic, totaling only 204 yards, and converting only 5-of-15 first downs. However, they took care of the ball and played well situationally in the win.
Defensively, Chicago could be better than many people are giving them credit for heading into the new campaign. The Bears lack elite talent anywhere on the defensive side of the ball, but they recorded multiple sacks against the 49ers, and the secondary played better than expected. Former second round draft pick Jaylon Johnson appeared more technically sound in the season opener, and graded as the fourth best cover cornerback in the NFL in Week 1, per Pro Football Focus. Eddie Jackson had a strong first game of the year as well at safety. Playing a talented-depleted Green Bay offense, Chicago could surprise again in this one.
Green Bay Packers
In Week 1, the Packers were without both of their starting tackles, which played a significant role in Green Bay’s offensive struggles against the Vikings. Both David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins practiced in a limited capacity during the week, and are reportedly on track to suit up this evening. Still, the interior of Green Bay’s offensive line is on the interior, with Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, and Royce Newman occupying the three positions in the middle of this unit. Expect Aaron Rodgers and the offense to emphasize the quick passing game in this contest, while balancing their approach with a heavy dose of the run game in an attempt to mitigate the impact of this porous offensive line.
Defensively, many pundits asserted that Green Bay would have the best defense in the NFL in 2022. However, they failed to live up to the billing in their season opener, allowing 23 points, including 126 yards on the ground. Jaire Alexander is often talked about as one of the best coverage cornerbacks in football, but he did little to slow down Justin Jefferson last weekend, who torched the Packers’ secondary unit for 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Green Bay’s defense will benefit from a weaker opponent this weekend, but this group has a lot to prove before bettors should feel comfortable trusting them to keep points off of the board – in any matchup
Buccaneers vs. Saints Picks & Predictions
In previous seasons, the Green Bay Packers have helped their defense outplay their talent level, due to the offense’s ability to consistently convert on third downs, which enabled them to dominate the time of possession battle – keeping the defense fresh late into games. In Week 1, Green Bay lost the time of possession battle by nearly four minutes. Factor in that the Packers’ have a less than elite offensive line, without the benefit of star talent at the skill positions – and it is going to be difficult for them to cover double-digits on the spread. Take the Chicago Bears to cover.
PICK: Bears +10.5 (-110, FanDuel)
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