Betting Matchup Preview
Game Details
- Who: San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears
- When: Sunday, Sept. 11
- Time: 1:01 p.m. ET
- Where: Soldier Field (Chicago, Illinois)
Betting Odds Summary
- Moneyline: 49ers -295, Bears +245
- Point Spread: 49ers -7 (-105), Bears +7 (-115)
- Totals: Over/Under 40.5 (-105/-115)
Note: Odds and lines are current at the time of publishing and subject to change.
Well, here we are. Week 1 approaches and the question on every Chicago Bears fan’s mind resonates through the Chicagoland area: What’s this season going to look like?
The collective hope, of course, is that the Bears will pick themselves up by their bootstraps, unite under a reshuffled coaching staff and maybe even squeak into the playoffs.
True fans of the Monsters of the Midway know there’s only one productive mindset when it comes to cheering on Chicago: hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
As Week 1’s matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers looms, so does a cascade of uncertainties for the Bears. Quarterback Justin Fields begins his second season after a tepid showing last year under former head coach Matt Nagy. Matt Eberflus took over as the franchise’s 17th-ever head coach after an expected ouster kicked Nagy to the curb. Linebacker Roquan Smith butted heads with the front office during negotiations, leaving his future with the team in limbo before settling on (at least) one more season with Chicago.
Plus, the Bears are flirting with a relocation to Arlington Park, the now-defunct Arlington Race Track site.
The team is at odds with, well, everything: lingering mistrust of a ramshackle coaching staff, the larger fandom’s caution to get excited about a new team and a potential move out to the suburbs.
Oh, and then there’s the actual game against the 49ers to contend with.
In short, Chicago is juggling quite a bit as an organization, but the team showed promise in the preseason. We won’t be so bold as to assume that this begets regular-season success, but (and that’s a big but, mind you), the team on the preseason field looked more composed and in better control than past iterations. Week 1 is a different ballgame, but we’re hoping the Bears take to Soldier Field with a well of confidence, ready to trounce San Francisco.
Speaking of the 49ers, they offer the Bears an ideal test. San Francisco has all but confirmed Trey Lance will start at QB with WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle on the field as top targets. Jimmy Garoppolo remains on the roster, though, brewing some uncertainty among SF fans as to the team’s faith in Lance.
The Bears finished third in the NFC North last season with a 6-11 record, beating out only the miserable 3-13-1 Detroit Lions.
The 49ers, on the other hand, placed third in the NFC West with a 10-7 record, earning a Wild Card playoff spot and losing the conference championship to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
Predictably, sportsbooks favor the 49ers in this season opener.
Point Spread: Chicago Bears +7.5
We like the Bears +7.5, with odds of -115 at DraftKings Sportsbook. At these odds, it’s a reasonable selection, provided you have some faith in the Bears.
This bet requires minor mental gymnastics, considering the Bears are slated to lose at every sportsbook. But the 7-point spread gives Chicago a touchdown of wiggle room. If we see the same measured, disciplined Bears we witnessed in the preseason, the team could cover the spread. You’re also reading a picks post by a lifelong Chicago fan, so tail with a healthy dose of caution.
A $100 bet on the Bears to cover would earn you $186.96 (a $86.96 win plus your original bet).
49ers vs. Bears Player Prop Bets
Football betting has props galore, and we’ve selected a few picks we think are viable for the Week 1 showdown between the 49ers and the Bears.
- Deebo Samuel to score a touchdown (-105)
Deebo Samuel is expected to be a top-10 WR this season, so long as San Francisco can pick a starting quarterback to stick with. He should be Trey Lance’s number one target on any passing play, making Samuel a threat for at least one TD against Chicago.
A $20 bet on Samuel to score would earn you a $39.05 payout, nearly doubling your money if it hits.
- Justin Fields over 0.5 passing TDs (-255)
Fields has a good eye, and WR Darnell Mooney has been chomping at the bit to show fans what the new Bears are capable of. We expect the third-year receiver to take the field hungry for a touchdown. A single passing touchdown is more than reasonable if Fields can channel that same energy and connect with Mooney. Betting $100 on this prop would earn you $139.22 back on a success.
Our Same-Game Parlay
Each week, we select a same-game parlay for football bettors. Combining these wagers gets you a higher possible payout than any of the individual bets.
- Chicago Bears +7.5 (-120)
- Over 41.5 (-105)
Here, we give Chicago enough insurance to lose by a touchdown. A scoring spree also seems likely, as both quarterbacks have something to prove and should be more comfortable during their second NFL seasons.
A same-game parlay combining these wagers has odds of +285 , so a $100 wager would win you $385.
