The Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears will kick off their preseason on Saturday morning. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Dolphins-Bears prediction and pick.
These are two of the most exciting teams in the NFL. The Dolphins are coming off of a season where they narrowly missed the playoffs, but their talented roster received a bunch of upgrades in the offseason. Miami will be looking to make their first playoff appearance since 2016, and they'll use this preseason to help determine who will be on the potential playoff roster. For Chicago, this preseason revolves around one man. It's already been announced that rookie quarterback Justin Fields will see some action in this game. Chicago knows that the franchise his in Fields' hands now, especially after trading up in the first round to get him.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the odds for Saturday's game.
NFL Odds: Dolphins-Bears Odds
Miami Dolphins +3 1/2 (-113)
Chicago Bears -3 1/2 (-107)
Over 35 1/2 points (-115)
Under 35 1/2 points (-105)
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Why The Dolphins Could Win
Head coach Brian Flores has clearly followed the Patriot Way when it comes to his defense. Flores has prioritized depth across all positions in his two-year tenure, and his efforts have paid off. Miami now fields a solid defensive depth chart, especially in the secondary.
The Dolphins have two exciting young players in Noah Igbinoghene and Jevon Holland, both of whom should see the field for plenty of snaps. Miami also has three more defensive backs that have played significant roles during the regular season for a multitude of teams. This intriguing secondary should be enough to make life difficult for any backup quarterback they face.
Speaking of backup quarterbacks, the Dolphins have one of the best in the business. Jacoby Brissett will handle most of the quarterbacking duties in this game. Brissett is a career-long backup who always gives his team a chance to win in regular season games, so it's fair to expect a good performance from him against a defense that will be filled with potential roster cuts.
Why The Bears Could Win
The Dolphins have a pretty solid backup in Brissett, but he doesn't compare to Justin Fields. Head coach Matt Nagy has already said that Fields could potentially play three quarters of the game. It's hard to believe that Nagy would put his prized asset on the field behind a backup offensive line for that long, so that should be taken with a grain of salt. However, if Fields does play for more than a quarter, the Bears should be able to lock up a win based solely off of how impactful Fields is.
Luckily for Fields, he'll have a plethora of weapons at his disposal no matter how long he plays. The Bears are surprisingly deep at wide receiver, using a mixture of veterans and up-and-coming young players to make up their depth. Damiere Byrd and Javon Wims both played big roles throughout last season, and rookie Dazz Newsome is an exciting prospect. Fields shouldn't have any trouble finding open receivers in this one.
Final Dolphins-Bears Prediction & Pick
Miami definitely has a stronger overall roster than Chicago, but Fields' presence will just be too much to overcome. The rookie should be able to carry the Bears to a preseason victory and a cover against a Miami team that doesn't have enough offense to keep up.
FINAL DOLPHINS-BEARS PICK: Chicago Bears -3 1/2 (-107)
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