Free Picks: Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers

The Chicago Bears have won their last three games and have a legitimate shot at making the postseason if they win against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17.  The Packers have already clinched a spot in the playoffs, but they are playing for the number one seed in the NFC, so they won’t be taking this game lightly either.  888sport has the Packers as -5 (-112).

If you would’ve told me a month ago that the Chicago Bears would have a real chance of making this year’s playoffs I would’ve called you crazy.  Here we sit though ahead of Week 17, and all the Bears need to do to make it is beat their bitter rivals, the Green Bay Packers.

Piece of cake, right? Of course not.

The Green Bay Packers currently sit at the top of the NFC standings and secure home-field advantage and a first-round goodbye with a win against their long-time favourite punching bag.  The Bears will be at home for this game, which may give them a slight advantage, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that Packers pretty much own the Chicago Bears.

The Packers are 8-2 SU in their last ten meetings with the Bears and 15-5 ATS in their previous 20.  In recent weeks, the Bears have been trending upwards as they are riding a three-game winning streak, which have all been blowouts in their favour. Their competition wasn’t the greatest in those last three games, but it’s still noteworthy that the Bears outscored their opponents 110-51 across that span.

888sport has the Bears as +5 home underdogs, and with home-field advantage on the line for the Packers, it’s very realistic that Packers come out guns a-blazin’.  Green Bay is 9-1 SU in their last ten games on the road against Chicago.

Chicago has looked great the past three weeks, so they’ll walk into their meeting with the Packers with their heads high.  Mitchell Trubisky has a great connection with WR Allen Robinson, and the run game has suddenly come to life with RB David Montgomery scoring four rushing touchdowns in his last three games.  The Packers are vulnerable against the run, so if the Bears can establish the run game early, it may spell trouble for the cheeseheads.

However, the Packers are the far superior team and have the Bears’ number (and Aaron Rodgers), so I expect them to win, but I’ll give the Bears the benefit of the doubt to cover the point spread.  With a playoff berth on the line, it’s totally feasible that the Bears keep it close enough to cover at home.

• Green Bay is 5-0 in their last 5 games
• The OVER has cashed in 4 of Green Bay’s last 6 games against an NFC North opponent
• Chicago is 8-7 ATS in their last 15 games this season
• The OVER has cashed in 4 of Chicago’s last 5 games