The Bears have struggled to win games at Soldier Field. The 49ers are winless on the road.
Someone has to come out victorious in this matchup and its likely Chicago, coming off an impressive win in Green Bay on Thanksgiving. The Bears have more upside and can jump right in the thick of a cloudy NFC playoff picture.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chicago Bears -7
San Francisco 49ers +7
Over/Under 42
ODDS ANALYSIS
It’s been a rough road for the Niners – literally. They are 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in away games with four of the losses coming by at least 16 points. Chicago is good, but not a touchdown better considering their own difficulties at home. The total spiked a point to 43 and the under has some value in this matchup.
KEY INJURIES
Garrett Celek – Was carted off the field last week due to a left high ankle sprain and is doubtful to play on Sunday. The Niners starting tight end inherited the job when Vernon Davis was traded and is enjoying his finest season as a pro. Vance McDonald and Blake Bell are the only other tight ends on the Niners roster.
Martellus Bennett – Missed last week’s game with what the team called a ribs injury. But reports surfaced saying the star tight end is upset with his role in the offense. Either way, he is listed as questionable for Sunday. Zach Miller has stepped in during Bennett’s absence.
KEY MISMATCH
An Achilles injury derailed Willie Young's strong first season in Chicago in 2014, and he was forced to move from defensive end to outside linebacker in the team’s new 3-4 defense this offseason. He missed part of training camp due to his rehab, but he was able to play in three of Chicago's four preseason games. Young was used sparingly on defense in the first seven games, but he has been a major contributor in the last four weeks. After recording four tackles and one sack against the Broncos in Week 11, Young had another solid game against the Packers last week. He finished with three tackles, one sack, two quarterback hits and five quarterback hurries in 60 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Young has looked fluid when dropping into coverage in recent weeks, but he is still at his best when asked to pin his ears back and go after the quarterback. While he spends the majority of his time rushing the quarterback out of a two-point stance, he has occasionally rushed out of a three-point stance in obvious passing situations.
KEY STAT
13.8 – San Francisco’s NFL-low points per game average. The Niners will try and dent Chicago’s defense that surrenders 24.0 points per game and hasn’t allowed more than 19 in any of its previous four games.
BETTING ANGLE
Coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase faced the team they worked for last year when the Bears hosted the Broncos a few weeks back. It will be defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s chance to do the same this week. With the Niners in town, Fangio has the opportunity to scheme against the team he spent four years with before leaving in the wake of Jim Harbaugh’s departure. Fangio interviewed for the head coaching job that eventually went to Jim Tomsula, and said that Sunday’s game is about the Bears and not him. Fangio’s work is a big reason why the Bears have a chance to hit .500 as his installation of a new scheme has seen the Bears rise from one of the worst defenses in the league to the middle of the pack. The Niners haven’t won on the road this season going 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS. They came close in a three-point loss to the Giants, but other than that they haven’t come closer than 16 points.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Things are looking up in Chicago. Not only have the Bears won three of their past four games, they’re getting healthy, too. Matt Forte returned from a knee injury last week and the emergence of Jeremy Langford in his absence now gives them a formidable backfield to complement the strong play of Jay Cutler. Alshon Jeffery was not listed on the week’s first injury report for the first time all season and Bennett could be back after missing a game. These developments have fans in the Windy City excited about their football team, which can reach .500 and make another leap in the playoff standings. The Bears have struggled at Soldier Field, winning just once this season, but the Niners have been worse on the road, posting an 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS record. All but one of the defeats wasn’t close. The Bears aren’t printing playoff tickets just yet and they need a win to validate the optimism. They get it in a game that figures to be closer than the line suggests.
Chicago 25, San Francisco 20
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Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears square off on Sunday, December 6, 2015, at 1 p.m. ET at Soldier Field. The contest will be broadcast regionally on FOX.
