Diehard Chicago Bears fans were disgusted when it was announced that both GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy would be given another chance to hold the reins of the franchise for at least one more season. Then all of a sudden, those frowns turned to smiles after Pace churned out arguably the best draft of his six-year employment with the franchise. Justin Fields – the quarterback of the future – and highly regarded offensive linemen Teven Jenkins more or less fell into their laps much to the satisfaction of Bears fans that’ve watched below average quarterback and offensive line play throughout the current regime’s reign. Will they be enough to propel the Bears into being a dark horse NFC North title contender and give the hated Packers a run for their money? The draft picks didn’t move the needle much at online sportsbooks with the team’s season win total odds lower than what they were a short season ago. That said, Chicago still has a Super Bowl worthy defense on its roster. Should excelled quarterback play put a jolt into the offense’s overall effectiveness and rhythm, anything can happen. So long as those calling the shots allow it to happen!
Chicago Bears Season Win Total: 7.5 Under -110
Chicago hit the betting board with a 7-game win total. After the draft concluded, the betting markets pushed it up a half game to 7.5 where it currently checks in with heavier juice attached to the low side of the impost. For reference sake, the Bears win total of a year ago closed at 8. Though the team bolted out to a 5-1 start to its 2020 campaign, Chicago would go on to drop its next six games. While it closed the year out with wins in three of its last four games, the effort was still only good enough to afford its win total backers and detractors a push. That makes it seven under cashes in the last eight years for one of the most historic franchises the NFL has to offer. It’s sickening to see Pace and Nagy still calling the shots even though the team’s win total has shortened up each of the last three seasons.
NFL Regular Season Wins Odds at BookMaker
Chicago Bears Football Schedule
Week 1: Bears at Rams, Sunday, September 12, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Week 2: Bengals at Bears, Sunday, September 19, 1 p.m. ET
Week 3: Bears at Browns, Sunday, September 26, 1 p.m. ET
Week 4: Lions at Bears, Sunday, October 3, 1 p.m. ET
Week 5: Bears at Raiders, Sunday, October 10, 4:05 p.m. ET
Week 6: Packers at Bears, Sunday, October 17, 1 p.m. ET
Week 7: Bears at Buccaneers, Sunday, October 24, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 8: 49ers at Bears, Sunday, October 31, 1 p.m. ET
Week 9: Bears at Steelers, Monday, November 8, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Week 10: Bye Week
Week 11: Ravens at Bears, Sunday, November 21, 1 p.m. ET
Week 12: Bears at Lions, Thursday, November 25, 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Week 13: Cardinals at Bears, Sunday, December 5, 1 p.m. ET
Week 14: Bears at Packers, Sunday, December 12, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Week 15: Vikings at Bears, Monday, December 20, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Week 16: Bears at Seahawks, Sunday, December 26, 4:05 p.m. ET
Week 17: Giants at Bears, Sunday, January 2, 1 p.m. ET
Week 18: Bears at Vikings, Sunday, January 9, 1 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears Season Win Total Analysis
It’s amazing that the Bears could be so blessed in the draft and make all the right moves, but then still muck it all up when it matters most. It already seems written in stone that Andy Dalton will be under center for Chicago when it kicks the 2021-22 campaign off on the road against the Rams. While Los Angeles is no joke; especially defensively - Bears fans already saw what middling quarterback play can do for them when running up against Aaron Donald and company last season. I say take off the training wheels and see what the kid’s got! But Chicago won’t do it and it’s possible Fields doesn’t log a single start until three losses are possibly absorbed leading up to the Week 4 home tilt against the rebuilding Detroit Lions. While that seems like the perfect spot to give the rook some burn, Pace and Nagy won’t have any sort of wiggle room should Chicago get out to a poor start. These guys should know their jobs will be on the line every passing week, so hopefully they make the right decision and throw Fields into the fire from the outset.
The schedule strength won’t be a walk in the park. Sharp Football Stats currently has the Bears schedule locked in as the sixth toughest in the league when going by expected win totals for the upcoming season. Along with running up against the defending champion Packers, up and coming Vikings and basement dweller Lions, Chicago will also lock horns with the NFC West and AFC North which boast Super Bowl worthy teams like the aforementioned Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. Along with those terribly tough bouts are standalone games against the Las Vegas Raiders, defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants.
For one reason or another, the Bears are being labeled as trendy NFC North dark horses mainly because of the unknown availability of a certain quarterback up north. I hate to break it to you Bears fans, but No. 12 will be suiting up for Green Bay this season. With that, you can throw these division title dreams out the window considering Green Bay’s won it each of the last two season and gone 17-3 SU and 15-5 ATS in the last 20 overall meetings. Honestly, I’m not even sold Chicago has what it takes to split with a Vikings team I believe should be getting a little more love from the betting markets. Fields might be the game changer this franchise has needed for decades, but the coaching staff and upper management doesn’t seem too enthused on allowing it to happen for one reason or another. Chicago wanted Pace and Nagy gone after last season. They just might have their wish granted this time around once it all blows up in their collective face!
Chicago Bears Season Win Total Prediction: Under 7.5
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