After an upset victory over the Packers last week, the Chicago Bears are looking to keep things rolling on Sunday. (Getty)
Things are getting a little bit crazy in San Francisco. The team announced several front office shakeups earlier this week and on the field Blaine Gabbert is set to make his third start for the injured Colin Kaepernick.
But wait, there’s more.
The 49ers face off against a Chicago Bears squad that is nothing short of confident, particularly after a victory over the Green Bay Packers on the road last week. That, of course, is why the Bears come into this afternoon’s tilt as 8.5-point favorites according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.
Chicago’s offense has worked out its early-season kinks thanks to the successful play of quarterback Jay Cutler. Although he was limited in practice on Friday because of illness, Cutler is expected to play this week, riding a wave of serious success. Cutler has tossed 14 touchdowns and just six picks and his 92.5 QB rating is a career-best.
There’s also plenty of betting reason to feel confident in the Bears chances this afternoon. Chicago is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games and 6-1 SU in its last seven games when playing at home against the 49ers.
Still, Soldier Field hasn’t been particularly kind to its squad recently. The Bears are just 1-7 SU in their last eight home games and 2-7 ATS in their last nine games at home in December.
It’s hard to pick against Chicago on Sunday, though, particularly with the way the 49ers are performing this year. San Francisco ranks 31 in road run defense and is giving up, on average, 276.82 YPG through the air.
That’s a big reason why the 49ers are 1-4 SU in their last five games and 1-6 ATS in the last seven games on the road.
The total for Sunday afternoon’s San Francisco and Chicago matchup is set at 42 points according to the sportsbooks. The total has gone UNDER in four of the 49ers last five games, but OVER in four of their last five games on the road. Meanwhile, the total has gone OVER in six of Chicago’s last eight games against the 49ers.
The OddsShark computer is predicting a 13.4 – 31.2 Chicago victory.
San Francisco vs. Chicago pick: Chicago SU & ATS
