Jimmy Garoppolo’s time to lead the New England Patriots in the regular season is quickly approaching. He will get another tune-up in Week 2 of the preseason against the Chicago Bears. Garoppolo will step in for the suspended Tom Brady for the first four games of the season. He has never started an NFL game and is hoping to get up to speed quickly. He hopes to excel against Chicago, and Garoppolo’s performance could swing the outcome in NFL betting.
This Week 2 preseason matchup will be held on Thursday, August 18th, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
Even though the Patriots aren’t hellbent on winning, they have a masterful coach in Bill Belichick, and that always helps. Tom Brady’s playing time is key. Could he get more work than usual since a four-game suspension is looming in the regular season? Brady was excused from the opener because of a personal matter and Garoppolo got a lot of playing time, so it will be interesting to see how it breaks down. The Bears’ Jay Cutler likely won’t need a ton of time under center, and his team seems on its way to being an underdog in this matchup.
Quarterback Rotation
Jimmy Garoppolo had a nice showing in his preseason debut, completing 11-of-18 passes for 168 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Brady figures to excel if he plays for a quarter or more, and while Belichick may keep his plans close to the vest, it’s imperative to check in for any playing time information.
New England’s Jacoby Brissett could see some regular time in this one. He completed 7-of-13 passes for 63 yards in the opener.
The Bears should begin with Cutler, who was 3-of-4 for 18 yards in the team’s 22-0 loss to the Denver Broncos in their preseason opener. Brian Hoyer finished the game 7-of-10 for 81 yards and an interception, and he could be in line to see the most playing time of any signal-caller.
David Fales finished the opener 4-of-8 for 30 yards, while Connor Shaw was 2-of-4 for 17 yards as he battles to make the team.
Coaching History
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is no stranger to preseason games, and he is 37-30 in his career throughout the exhibition slate. Belichick hasn’t had a losing record in the preseason since 2012 and New England got off to an impressive start this year.
Bears coach John Fox is 31-26 in his preseason career. Fox has gone 3-1 in each of the past two preseasons but would need to run the table the rest of the way in 2016 in order to keep that streak going.
Free ATS Pick
If there is anything definitive on Tom Brady’s snap count, that’s a huge help for the betting line. But if not, gamblers should feel confident that Garoppolo will get a fair amount of work. On the flip side, Cutler is a steady veteran who doesn’t need to see a bunch of work. The Patriots played well in their opener and have the benefit of being at home for this contest. New England might watch its point spreads drop in the first four games without Brady but could be favored in this one.
NFL Odds: Patriots 22, Bears 17
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! In Week 2 of the preseason, the New England Patriots will host the Chicago Bears on Thursday, August 18th, 2016, at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
