The Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans will play in the final week of the preseason on Saturday afternoon. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Bears-Titans prediction and pick.
Wins count for nothing in the preseason, so the primary focus in these games is player development. The Bears feel like they're having a great preseason in that aspect of the game. All of the lights have been focused on rookie quarterback Justin Fields, and he has delivered. He had a great first game and a decent second game, which should be good enough for Chicago to count this preseason as a success.
The Titans, on the other hand, have been one of the best all-around teams throughout these last couple of weeks. Tennessee has notched two blowout victories in a row and will be looking for a third against Fields and the Bears.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the lines for Saturday's game.
NFL Odds: Bears-Titans Odds
Chicago Bears -1 1/2 (-112)
Tennessee Titans +1 1/2 (-108)
Over 36 1/2 points (-110)
Under 36 1/2 points (-110)
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Why The Bears Could Cover The Spread
Andy Dalton isn't playing in this game because he's the Week 1 starter, but rookie phenom Justin Fields has proven that he can perform well in preseason action. Fields should see a good amount of playing time before likely turning things over to veteran Nick Foles, giving Chicago's offense a huge leg up on the third- and fourth-string defenders that the Titans will deploy for most of the game.
Chicago's defense has had its ups and downs in the preseason, but one unit that has remained consistent is the defensive line. Bears linemen have racked up seven sacks over two games, along with plenty of tackles for loss and additional quarterback hits. Expect a similarly good performance on Saturday when the Bears face a Titans offensive line that has allowed three sacks in each of their games.
Why The Titans Could Cover The Spread
Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel hasn't played starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill at all in the preseason, but his backup signal-callers have played quality football. Logan Woodside and Matt Barkley aren't highly regarded backups, but they've been playing great football throughout the entire preseason. They should be able to continue to play efficient, mistake-free football against a Chicago defense that just had 41 points dropped on them by the Buffalo Bills.
The Titans' defense has been one of the best units in the league during this preseason. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's unit has allowed a total of six points over two games. Tennessee's depth throughout the roster has played extraordinarily well, as they've pressured opposing quarterbacks with ease while also playing airtight coverage. That combination has resulted in eight sacks and three interceptions over their two appearances. The Titans have more sacks than they do points allowed. That's an insane, unsustainable statistic, but it's not unreasonable to expect another strong performance from Tennessee's defense.
Final Bears-Titans Prediction & Pick
It's tempting to pick the Bears and rely on their advantage at quarterback for a win, but the Titans are the correct choice here. Tennessee's defense has been elite, and the offense hasn't been making costly mistakes. That's a recipe for winning in the regular season, so it'll definitely work against a bunch of backups in the preseason.
FINAL PICK: Tennessee Titans +1 1/2 (-108)
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