The Detroit Lions (+4) are gearing up to host the Chicago Bears (-4) at Ford Field. This NFC North showdown kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET and CBS is in line to televise the action.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions Betting Preview
In this Thursday NFC game, Chicago is getting picked as the favorite and is currently giving up 4 points. The Bears are also receiving -170 moneyline odds while the Lions are +150. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 45 points, and if one team can create a bunch of points in the early stages, it would likely create a solid live betting opportunity.
The sharp action is siding with the Bears, as the line opened at 3. The game’s total has yet to move after it was set initially at 45.
The Bears are 7-3 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 2.2 units so far. The team has posted an O/U record of 7-3. The Lions have lost 2.5 units this season. The team is 6-4 ATS and the over has hit in six of its games.
The Bears are 7-3 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against NFC North opponents. The Lions are 4-6 SU overall and 1-2 SU versus divisional foes.
The Bears just got a 25-20 win over Minnesota in Week 11 where Mitchell Trubisky completed 20-of-31 passes for just 165 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Jordan Howard (63 yards on 18 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Trubisky (43 yards on 10 carries) mounted the ground attack. Taylor Gabriel (seven receptions, 52 yards) and Tarik Cohen (three catches, 23 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Detroit just earned a 20-19 win over Carolina a week ago. The defensive secondary let the Panthers air it out for 357 yards and three touchdowns. D.J. Moore shredded the defense, recording 157 yards on seven catches for Carolina. For Detroit, Matthew Stafford completed 23-of-37 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown. Kerryon Johnson (87 rushing yards on 15 attempts, one TD) mounted the running game while Kenny Golladay (eight receptions, 113 yards, one TD) and Bruce Ellington (six catches, 52 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Chicago has run the ball on 47.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Detroit has a rush percentage of 38.7 percent. The Bears have produced 123 rush yards per game (including 114 per game versus North opponents) and have 10 scores on the ground this year. The Lions are logging 100 rushing yards per game (79 in conference) and have six total rush TDs.
If the numbers so far this season are any indication, then it seems like the Bears might have the more disruptive lines up front. Their offensive line has yielded just 39 sacks while the D-line logged 42 sacks. The Lions, on the other hand, have allowed 47 sacks and their defense has forced only 35 sacks.
The Bears offensive scheme has averaged 247 yards in the air overall (230 per game against conference opposition) and has 20 passing TDs so far. The Lions have produced 262 pass yards per contest (218.7 against NFC competition) and have 17 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Chicago has allowed 78 rush yards and 257 pass yards per game. The Detroit D has given up 259.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 125.0 yards per game on the ground. The Bears are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.67 to opponents, while the Lions have allowed an 8.35 ANY/A.
Offensively, Trubisky has amassed 2,114 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has completed 187-of-291 attempts with 17 scores through the air and nine interceptions. He’s got a 6.27 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.90 over the past two games.
Matthew Stafford has completed 219-of-326 passes for 2,331 yards, 15 TDs and six INTs for Detroit. His ANY/A sits at 6.34 for the season and 4.81 across his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 12 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
NFL Pick: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
SU Winner – Bears, ATS Winner – Bears, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Bears offense has created eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Lions have put up three such plays.
Both teams have allowed seven pass plays of 40+ yards. The Chicago defense has given up 14 pass plays of 30+ yards while Detroit has given up 16 such plays.
The Chicago offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Detroit has created seven such runs.
The Bears defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Lions have given up seven such runs.
The Chicago defense has sacked opposing QBs 32 times this season. Detroit has produced 28 sacks.
As a team, Chicago has averaged 3.1 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.3 over its last two.
Detroit has averaged 3.2 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.4 over its last two.
Over its last three matchups, Detroit is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Chicago’s last game going into it was 44. The over cashed in the team’s 25-20 win over Minnesota.
In its last three contests, Chicago is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Detroit’s last game was 48. The under cashed in the 20-19 triumph over Carolina.
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