The Bears (+3) are prepared to greet the Los Angeles Rams (-3) at Soldier Field. The key Sunday Night game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET and NBC has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams
Chicago is playing the role of underdog and is currently getting 3 points in this Sunday NFC game. The Rams are also receiving -150 moneyline odds while the Bears are +130. This NFC matchup should provide several decent in-game betting opportunities, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 52.5 points.
The sharp action is siding with both the Bears and the under. The line initially opened at 4.5 and the total was placed originally at 54.
Each of these teams has been profitable this year as the Rams have gained 9.6 units while the Bears are up 1.7 units.
The Rams are 11-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Bears are 8-4 SU.
The Rams are coming off a resounding 30-16 win over Detroit last week. Jared Goff completed just 17 passes on 33 attempts for 207 yards, along with a TD and an interception. Todd Gurley II (132 rushing yards on 23 attempts, two TDs) led the ground attack in the win. Robert Woods (five receptions, 67 yards, one TD) and Brandin Cooks (four catches, 62 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Chicago narrowly fell 30-27 to the Giants in Week 13. The defense let the Giants eat up the clock by running for 141 yards on 29 rush attempts. Saquon Barkley had a solid outing in the win, posting 125 rushing yards on 24 attempts for New York. For Chicago, Chase Daniel completed 26-of-39 passes for 285 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Jordan Howard (76 rushing yards on 16 attempts) mounted the ground game in the defeat while Cohen (12 receptions, 156 yards) and Allen Robinson II (five catches, 79 yards) led the receiving corps.
In terms of offensive play-calling, each of these teams sports a strikingly similar (45-55) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Rams have run for 139.4 yards per game and have 17 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Bears haven’t been quite as productive, as they’re totaling 115.4 rush yards per game and have 11 total rushing TDs.
The Rams offense has averaged 313.8 yards in the air overall and has 27 passing TDs so far. The Bears have recorded 249.4 pass yards per outing and have 24 total pass scores.
Los Angeles has let opponents rush for an average of 118.4 yards and pass for 271.8 yards per game. The Chicago defense has given up 251.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 85.8 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bears are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.57 to opponents, while the Rams have given up a 6.83 ANY/A.
Offensively, Goff has already put up 3,341 passing yards this year, and has connected on 67 percent of his 365 attempts with 23 passing scores and only seven interceptions. He’s got an 8.70 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.07 over the past two outings.
Chase Daniel has completed 26-of-39 passes for 285 yards, one TD and two INTs for Chicago. His ANY/A sits at an ultra-pedestrian 4.25 for the year and 5.24 over his last two outings.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears Free NFL Pick
SU Winner: Bears, ATS Winner: Bears, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Chicago defense has produced 37 sacks on the year while Los Angeles has 33.
- The Chicago offense has lost seven fumbles this season while the Los Angeles offense has let four get away.
- Each team has produced nine pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Rams have have made 21 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Bears have accounted for 20 such plays.
- The Los Angeles defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Chicago has given up nine such plays.
- The Los Angeles offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Chicago has created 12 such runs.
- The Rams defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Bears have given up five such runs.
- Los Angeles, as a team, has averaged 5.1 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.5 over its last two.
- Chicago has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.3 over its last two.
