Betting Matchup Preview
Game Details
- Who: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
- When: Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022
- Time: 8:20 p.m. EDT
- Where: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
Betting Odds Summary
- Moneyline: Bears +350, Packers -450
- Point Spread: Bears +9.5 (-108), Packers -9.5 (-112)
- Total: Over/Under 42.5 (-106/-114)
Note: Odds and lines are current from FanDuel Sportsbook at the time of writing and subject to change.
Looking for an NFL game with a narrative? Your search ends here. The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have long been bitter rivals, and they both have something to prove heading into Week 2.
In some ways, this Bears-Packers meetup is a tale of two quarterbacks. Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers fell flat in Week 1 for the second straight year, managing just 195 passing yards with no touchdowns and one interception as Green Bay fell to the Minnesota Vikings, 23-7.
In Chicago, Soldier Field turned into a slip-and-slide beneath a day-long torrential downpour (that Arlington Heights dome idea is looking better than ever, eh?). Justin Fields weathered the storm (literally) and turned in an efficient performance with 121 passing yards and two passing TDs on just eight completions, guiding the Bears to a 19-10 upset over the San Francisco 49ers.
Rodgers enters the game looking to get back on track after another season-opening loss, while Fields will try to prove he can win in all kinds of weather.
Bears vs. Packers Total: Over 42.5 (-106)
We were initially leaning towards the Chicago point spread, but this feels a tad more reasonable as a straight bet (and we’ve saved the spread for later).
The Bears scrounged up 19 points in hurricane-like conditions last week, so fans are undoubtedly eager to see what Chicago’s offense can do without sheets of water falling from the skies. There is a chance of rain in Green Bay on Sunday, but it’s not looking nearly as bad as what the Bears endured last week.
Meanwhile, the Packers are returning home to Lambeau Field heated and ready to lock in their first win of the season. Most sportsbooks list the Packers as heavy favorites, but this writer can’t justify a bet on Green Bay.
Instead, let’s remove loyalty from the equation and hope the fire beneath both teams will ignite a scoring bonanza.
Even without Davante Adams, Rodgers still has plenty of weapons at his disposal. In particular, the Packers’ backfield tandem of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon is among the best in the league. Look for Green Bay to come out firing at home and for Rodgers to have a big rebound performance.
The Bears, meanwhile, have built a surprisingly solid offense around Fields and will have to keep pace with Rogers in a potential shootout at Lambeau.
A $100 bet on the over would pay out $194.34 (including your original wager) if successful.
Player Prop Bets: Bears Vs. Packers
- Aaron Jones To Score A Touchdown (-105)
Jones averaged a whopping 9.8 yards per carry during Week 1 and is coming off three straight seasons with double-digit touchdowns. He’s a TD machine and is typically Green Bay’s top option at the goal line, making him a consistent scoring threat.
At -105 odds, Jones is a viable option for NFL prop bettors. A $100 wager would pay out $195.24 (including your stake) if he finds paydirt.
- Darnell Mooney To Score A Touchdown (+380)
This is one of our spiciest picks of the week, but it could be a reasonable bet under the right conditions. Mooney did nothing in Week 1 with just one catch on three targets for eight yards, but that had more to do with the weather than his abilities. The Bears will have to throw a lot more this time around, and Mooney should benefit from that as Chicago’s top receiver.
Mooney’s odds to score are +380, so a $50 bet would return a profit of $190 plus your $50 bet back.
Our Same-Game Parlay
We offer a weekly same-game parlay for football bettors who like to combine bets. This week, we’re going for a spread and TD-scorer combo.
- Chicago Bears +9.5 (-108)
- AJ Dillon To Score A Touchdown (+120)
If our reasoning for the Over bet holds, we should expect a strong showing from both teams. This same-game parlay accounts for both.
We like the +9.5 spread on the Bears. Divisional games are usually close, and Green Bay did not look good in Week 1. Chicago is a young, scrappy team that will put up a fight against a Packers offense that’s still adjusting to life without Adams.
Meanwhile, Dillon is a strong candidate to score a touchdown. He scored Green Bay’s lone touchdown against Minnesota last week and will remain one of Rodgers’ top targets in Week 2.
This same-game parlay offers odds of +408, so a $50 bet would win you $204 in profits plus your $50 wager back.
