Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears
The Detroit Lions cruised into their bye week by hammering the Broncos. They were nicked up a bit before but they should be fresh now heading to rival Chicago to try and cool the warm (I refuse to think they are hot) Bears.
Soldier Field – Chicago, IL
Sunday November 13 – 4:15PM
Moneyline:
Spread (ATS): Chicago -2.5
Over/Under: 45.5
Odds courtesy of 5Dimes
Detroit
Normally you would think there would be all sorts of scheme preparation but I think Chicago is pretty vanilla these days so there may not be as much of an advantage with the extra time as there is for other opponents.
Against Denver last time out the Lions showed us the team we have grown to love on offense. Matthew Stafford to Megatron is the most lethal combination in the league…and when Jahvid Best is in the lineup too, it is hard to argue that anyone has a better compliment of weapons than Detroit (You gotta love TE Brandon Pettrigrew). The Lions are not nearly as healthy as they were the first time these two met and that might be a factor, especially running the football.
This is a critical game for both teams and a great statement opportunity for Detroit. Win and they go two games up on the Bears and remain out in front in the playoff race, lose and they are tied with Chicago and maybe the Falcons too. It is easy to say that the Lions have turned a corner but this might be the best example of that…if they win. I think as long as the weather doesn’t alter their game plans they should be able to do just that. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Chicago
No matter how much I doubt them, the Chicago Bears continue to win football game. Last week’s Monday night victory over Philadelphia had serious implications for the NFC playoff picture and they have another huge game this weekend against Detroit. Revenge will certainly be a factor but as much as anything they need this one to continue to stay in the race.
I feel like a broken record when I say that I don’t know how the Bears win. Other that Matt Forte they don’t seem to have any skill players in their prime and their defense is not what it used to be only a few years ago. Is the threat of a killer punt return by Devin Hester enough? Funnily, in some games it is which is an interesting perspective on this Bears team and how it is composed.
Because I don’t understand Chicago I have trouble getting behind them. They haven’t done much for the betting public either with just a 4-4 ATS record this season including an ATS and SU loss at Detroit on a Monday night in October. As a favourite they are 2-1 ATS this year though…and even though the Bears had owned the Lions up to the earlier season meeting they were just 3-7 ATS over their last 10 in the series.
ATS Pick: Detroit +2.5
Over/Under Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Detroit 28 – Chicago 20
