Betting Matchup Preview
Game Details
- Who: Washington Commanders at Chicago Bears
- When: Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Where: Soldier Field (Chicago, Illinois)
Betting Odds Summary
- Moneyline: Commanders -110, Bears -110
- Point Spread: Commanders +1 (-115), Bears -1 (-105)
- Total: Over/Under 38 (-110/-110)
Note: Odds and lines are current from DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Bears fans rejoice! Chicago enters this Week 6 matchup a narrow favorite over the Washington Commanders (what a downgrade from Washington Football Team that name is, though).
All eyes are probably glancing toward any other matchup this week. The 2-3 Bears are still in the thick of everlasting rebuild pangs while the 1-4 Commanders can’t seem to work any magic following a single win in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, this is your only choice if you’re craving some Thursday Night Football. This writer will be at the game, hoping Chicago brings home a much-needed win over Washington.
It’s not the most exciting matchup, but this game still has plenty of betting fodder to consider.
Spread, Moneyline, Total: Commanders vs. Bears
There’s lots to unpack this week based on the DraftKings lines for this game, but let’s start with the point spread.
The Bears are favored by one point over the Commanders, but a single measly point isn’t going to do much in the face of a touchdown or even a field goal. Don’t sacrifice a chunk of your potential payout by stooping to this line, especially if you’re looking to bet on Washington to win. After all, -115 on the spread won’t pay as well as -110 on the moneyline.
Our recommendation is to steer clear of the point spread on either side. The value you would get from sacrificing or gaining a point doesn’t amount to much.
How about the moneyline? If you believe the sportsbooks, this game is a coin flip, also known as a pick’em. Both sides have the same odds at -110, so it’s hard to make a case for either one to win outright. Both have floundered against middling opponents and lost big to superior opponents. This matchup pits two of the league’s weakest teams against each other, and our moneyline recommendation—insofar as we can make one—is to lean on your fandom.
Even the over/under presents a head-scratching conundrum. A total of 38 is very low for an NFL game, but it tracks given both teams’ offensive woes. Washington ranks 26th in scoring at 18.0 points per game, while Chicago is right behind them at 27th with 17.2 points per game. Neither defense is anything to write home about, however, so perhaps we’ll see some sparks fly. The over looks like a viable play here, if only because the total is so low and both defenses might have a hard time stifling each other.
Player Prop Bets: Commanders vs. Bears
Plenty of player prop bets are available for this contest. Here are a few of our favorites:
- David Montgomery Anytime TD Scorer (+115)
David Montgomery returned from an ankle injury in Week 5 to play against the Minnesota Vikings. While he only managed 20 yards on 12 carries, he still found the end zone for the first time this season. Montgomery may not be back to full strength, but he remains a solid red-zone threat. The Commanders have allowed 14 offensive touchdowns through Week 5, and Montgomery is a strong contender to add to that total.
- Justin Fields Over 0.5 Passing TDs (-225)
Justin Fields notched his first passing touchdown since Week 1 last week and has a shot to do it again this week, Washington has surrendered 11 touchdowns through the air so far, which is the fifth-most in the NFL. If this game ends up having more points than anticipated like we expect, Fields should be able to connect with one of his receivers in the end zone.
Our Same-Game Parlay
Here’s our same-game parlay for this week, which combines multiple wagers for a better possible payout.
- Terry McLaurin Anytime TD Scorer (+260)
- Justin Fields 150+ Passing Yards (-215)
These bets combine for an SGP with odds of +360. The bet assumes we’ll see some passing and scoring plays on both sides of the ball.
Terry McLaurin was one of Carson Wentz’s top targets in Week 5 versus the Tennessee Titans, nabbing five receptions for 76 yards. He’s an instant threat if the Commanders enter the red zone, and we expect Wentz to look to McLaurin for a touchdown at Soldier Field.
Fields threw for 205 yards against the Vikings last week and recorded 174 yards the week before that, so 150+ seems reasonable against a Washington defense that’s allowing 235 passing yards per game. Fields might be a sophomore QB, but 150 yards feels completely doable against a 1-4 Commanders squad.
