The Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams will clash in primetime on Sunday Night Football. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Bears-Rams prediction and pick based on Bears Rams odds.
The Bears enter this game as one of the most intriguing teams in football. They have an exciting rookie quarterback in Justin Fields sitting on the bench, a great defense, and solid offensive weapons. Chicago also has the oldest roster in the league and plays in the NFC North, where the Green Bay Packers have dominated the division for years. This game will be a good measuring stick for the Bears to figure out who they are and what level they can compete at. The Rams, on the other hand, know exactly what level they can compete at. Los Angeles believes that they are a Super Bowl-caliber team, and proving it starts with this game.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the lines for this matchup.
NFL Odds: Bears-Rams Odds
Chicago Bears +9 (-125)
Los Angeles Rams -9 (+105)
Over 46 1/2 (-115)
Under 46 1/2 (-105)
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Why The Bears Can Cover The Spread
Unsurprisingly, the Bears will again lean on their defense to lead them wins in this season. It's not a bad strategy because of just how good this defense is. It may never reach the heights of the 2018 Bears, but this is still a top-ten unit easily. Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, and Robert Quinn form a fantastic trio on the defensive line, and linebacker Roquan Smith is one of the best in the business. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson is hugely underrated coming into his sophomore season, and safety Eddie Jackson is still a great player. Scoring on this defense is a tough task for anyone because of the pure talent assembled at all three levels of the defense.
Another huge factor when thinking about Chicago's ability to cover is how much the spread has moved. The Bears opened this week as seven-point underdogs, and they should probably be about 7 1/2 or eight point underdogs. The public has started throwing plenty of bets on the Rams which has moved the line to an unrealistic nine points. Chicago shouldn't be a nine-point underdog to anyone in the first week of the season, where teams are notoriously volatile and unpredictable.
Why The Rams Can Cover The Spread
Chicago has assembled an impressive defense, but the Rams have them beat in that category. Los Angeles was the best overall defense in the NFL last season, led by surefire Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey is the best secondary player in the league, and the rest of the defensive starters are decent at the very least. The Rams' defense will regress this season, but they're more than good enough to deal with Andy Dalton and a questionable offensive line.
New Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is a big reason why Los Angeles thinks of itself as a title contender. Stafford is perennially one of the most underrated players in the NFL, consistently performing well on poor Detroit Lions teams. Now Stafford is surrounded by a great supporting cast, led by wide receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. The offensive line isn't great, but they aren't a weakness. Head coach Sean McVay has proven himself to be one of the best offensive minds in football, and his play-calling ability is another huge weapon for Stafford. This offense will be explosive, and it should be the best Rams offense in the last three seasons. Even the Bears will have their hands full in this game.
Final Bears-Rams Prediction & Pick
The way the public betting has gone pretty much forces the Bears to be the pick. They shouldn't be nine-point underdogs, but it's time to take advantage of the fact that they are. Take Chicago to cover with confidence. The under is also a solid play in this one.
FINAL PICK: Chicago Bears +9 (-125)
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