Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears Week 1: Promos, Odds, Predictions, Picks & Best Bets

The Titans have an excellent opportunity to play spoiler against the Bears in Week 1. Tennessee is an underdog on the moneyline, and we’re backing the visitors in this game.

That said, it’s always difficult to win outright on the road in the NFL, so taking the points with the Titans is a more viable betting option.

Chicago’s expectations are too high heading into the season. Yes, the Bears have talent all over the field and didn’t lose a game in the NFL preseason. But their recent history hasn’t been good, and coach Matt Eberflus hasn’t shown the ability to win in the NFL through his first two seasons (10-24).

Good coaches find ways to win games, but Eberflus hasn’t done that consistently yet. Williams could change the trajectory of the whole franchise, but we expect there to be a learning curve.

Williams had a solid preseason and is dripping with potential. However, he only completed 50% of his passes against vanilla coverages. Tennessee defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson should have plenty of disguises ready for the young quarterback, which is why we’re fading Chicago in Williams’ NFL debut.

The Titans are a 3.5-point road underdog, but we trust them to cover the spread. This is our most viable betting pick of the three primary markets. We would take Tennessee down to +3.5.

Levis has been criticized since he was labeled a first-round pick during his senior year at Kentucky. He slipped to the Titans in the second round in 2023, but there is no denying his first-round talent.

At 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, Levis has all the physical tools to be an elite NFL quarterback. His skills are raw, but unlike Williams, he has experience against NFL defenses. Williams may have more pure talent than Levis, but it’s hard to go against experience in Week 1.

Levis threw for 1,808 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions last year, and Tennessee should be more pass-heavy this year without Derrick Henry.

The Bears have enhanced their defense, but they still allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game last season. If Levis gets comfortable, he could force Chicago’s offense to make mistakes by pressing the ball down the field.

The total is 44.5, and we’re leaning Under on this number. The Bears were slightly profitable to the Over at 9-8 last season, often thanks to their lousy defense and consistent turnovers.

We recommend playing the Under down to 42.5. These two offenses have a history of struggling in the red zone, so we’re willing to go Under on a lower total. If it rises, which isn’t expected, the Under becomes an even better pick.

Both offenses should be better this year compared to last year, but it will likely take some time for both young quarterbacks to hit their stride.

The Titans went 11-6 on the Under last season, largely due to their heavy run game and rookie quarterback.

Nevertheless, both teams should stay relatively neutral with their play-calling this week as they integrate their young quarterbacks. Look for both sides to establish the run early, which should lead to a low-scoring game.

Will Levis 225+ Passing Yards (-140) 

Levis surpassed 225 passing yards in four of nine games last season, which should only rise this season in a new era of Tennessee football.

The Titans added Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley to a receiving corps that already featured DeAndre Hopkins, which could create a dangerous trio.

Levis thrives on deep throws and has three downfield receivers, which should help him rack up passing yards against Chicago’s generous secondary (25th in passing yards allowed last year). The Bears had the NFL’s best run defense last season, which will force Levis to air it out and hit the Over on this prop bet.

Will Levis Over 8.5 Rushing Yards (-115)

Levis isn’t afraid to run the ball with his big frame. His receivers should run vertically, which will open up holes in Chicago’s defense as well.

When the secondary turns their back, we expect Levis to scramble, potentially surpassing this line in a single run.

• Titans Moneyline (+150): Take the Titans to win outright at plus odds. Levis has the experience needed to go win a game on the road, and Tennessee improved in the offseason. It’s always hard for rookie quarterbacks to find their way in Week 1.
• Titans +3.5 (-110): Titans +3.5 is our most viable betting option for this game. As we have seen in the past, the Bears could have trouble converting in the red zone. Meanwhile, Tennessee can quickly gain chunk plays thanks to its new receiving talent.
• Under 44.5 (-108): The under of 44.5 is an attractive play. Levis and Williams should make mistakes in this game, leading to missed chances. Coaches generally want to ease young quarterbacks into games, so we expect both sides to go with a more conservative run-first approach in the first half.
• Will Levis 225+ Passing Yards (-140): This is our favorite prop for this game. The Titans added Boyd and Ridley to complement Hopkins, which should help a downfield passer like Levis.
• Will Levis Over 8.5 Rushing Yards (-115): Levis can throw, but don’t forget about his legs. The Bears are great against the run, which should force the Titans to be unconventional. This may cause them to use Levis as a designed runner, which will help him pick up some scramble yards.

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