Bears-Steelers Same Game Parlay Picks and Props
Are you ready for some football? Monday Night Football’s ninth installment of the 2021 season should be an absolute slugfest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears. These squads both feature above-average defenses, strong running games, and shaky quarterback play. It’s a tough game to analyze on a standard spread/over-under scale, but a great opportunity to put together a Same Game Parlay with Bears-Steelers prop picks.
A Same Game Parlay basically just means a parlay consisting of multiple correlated wagers from one specific game. It provides bettors with good options to bet a game—and piece together props into a parlay within that game—beyond just the standard spread, moneyline, and over/under totals.
Here’s an example of my Same Game Parlay recommendation for the Sunday Night Football matchup between Indianapolis and San Francisco two weeks ago:
- Indianapolis Colts Total – Over 20
- Total – Over 42
- Away Team Total Points Bands – Indianapolis Colts 21-30 Points
- Quarterback Passing Yards – Carson Wentz Over 197.5
- Running Back To Get – Jonathan Taylor To Get 50+ Rushing Yards
Total Odds: +541
Like so many of our Same Game Parlays this season, we came one pick short of cashing in. Inclement weather put a damper on Wentz’s yardage total, and we womp-womped our way into Monday. We’re looking for a different kind of Monday emotion tonight, one that involves jumping up and down as SportsCenter begins. So, without further ado, here’s our PointsBet Same Game Parlay of the Day.
Steelers-Bears Same Game Parlay
- Pick Your Own Spread: Bears +10.5 (-230)
- Pick Your Own Total: OVER 35.5 (-240)
- Margins 13.5: Steelers 1-13 (+110)
- Receiving Props: Najee Harris To Get 25+ Receiving Yards (-180)
Total Odds: +470
Pick Your Own Spread: Bears +10.5 (-230)
Since Sunday and Monday Night Football have become “Undie Night Football,” with Super Bowl contenders getting throttled by squads without their best players, I’m done betting the favorites anywhere near their listed spread. PointsBet allows you to pick your own spread for either the favorite or underdog, with varying odds at each spread. I’m going with Chicago +10.5, because the Steelers should have trouble running away with this one. The Bears have a great defense, and veteran Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is a shell of his former self as a passer. Bears rookie QB Justin Fields should be prepared in what will mark his seventh NFL start, and coach Matt Nagy and company should have a good game plan against the Steelers with an extra day of preparation. Fields has yet to look crisp, so to speak, often committing careless turnovers or forcing the ball into heavy coverage. But in his defense, he has faced four of the top ten sack and pressure-generating teams in the NFL. Of course, Pittsburgh’s front-seven won’t be a vacation from that reality for Fields. The Steelers rank fifth in sacks per game (2.7) and seventh in sack percentage (7.25%). But I’m banking on a breakout for Fields in the second half of the season, as his athleticism and playmaking-ability cannot be contained forever. Pittsburgh hasn’t won by more than 10 points all season, and has won its last two games by an average of four. I’m confident Steel City emerges victorious, but I’d be shocked if the winning margin was 11 or more points.
Pick Your Own Total: OVER 35.5 (-240)
With Same Game Parlays, it seems to make sense to play the spread and over/under with extra caution. The OVER in primetime games started as a game-in, game-out lock this season, but since Week 4 the UNDER has stormed back to relevance. In a game pitting two strong defenses against each other, the majority of bettors will probably be inclined to take the UNDER of 39.5 total points set by oddsmakers. But thanks to PointsBet, I’m able to lower the total by four points, and take the OVER. Many reasons go into this way of thinking. For one, these teams combine to allow 44.7 points per game. Pittsburgh has scored at least 23 points in two of the past three weeks, while the Bears managed 22 points against San Francisco last week. Fields and Big Ben are mistake-prone—especially against above-average defenses—but that often translates to good field positioning or increased scoring opportunities. So, while sharp betting reports suggest low is the way to go, we’re buying a few points and rooting for the OVER. Teams always play better when they’re playing other bad teams—it’s science!
‘Margins 13.5: Steelers 1-13 (+110)
I always seem to get sunk when I pick a straight winner in primetime games, so approach this one at your own risk. But I genuinely think the Steelers will win this game at home against a shaky Chicago offense. Picking a 13-point winning margin range works perfectly for us, as we have Pittsburgh winning but potentially not covering the seven-point spread. All we need is to avoid a straight win by the Bears—something they haven’t achieved in a month—and a Steelers win of 14 points or more—something they haven’t done all season. Again, if you’re weary of another Monday Night Football upset, stay away and go with something like a Tri Bet 10.5. Under a Tri 10.5, you could bet that neither team wins by 10.5 points or more (-165). That would yield a lower total payout, but it would have much better odds.
Receiving Props: Najee Harris To Get 25+ Receiving Yards (-180)
Here’s my favorite leg of the parlay, which feels like a stone-cold lock. The rookie Harris has been exceptionally productive for the Steelers this season, averaging 68.4 rushing yards and 39 receiving yards per game. He has received at least three targets in every game this season, and reached 29 receiving yards in five of Pittsburgh’s last six games. When the Steelers’ offensive line fails to contain the pocket, and Roethlisberger faces pressure under center, the veteran QB often dumps off to a back or tight end. Big Ben doesn’t have the arm strength to launch the ball 75 yards downfield to wideout Chase Claypool —he needs his security blanket. That’s Najee Harris, who should easily eclipse 25 receiving yards against a Bears front-seven that will be without Khalil Mack. I’ve got Harris posting a banner game, and the Steelers beating the Bears for the first time since Jerome Bettis was ground-and-pounding back in 2005.
Image Credit: Imagn