Though the Chicago Bears are the home team this Sunday, our partner Odds Shark has the Atlanta Falcons as three points favorites in this battle between the two seeds in the NFC Playoffs a season ago.
NFL Odds Week 1: Falcons Vs. Bears
The Chicago Bears are three-point underdogs to the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
This will be the 25th time the Bears and Falcons have met in the regular season, with the series currently tied at 12 wins apiece. The Falcons won the last meeting 21-14 in Atlanta on October 18, 2009, with the Bears winning the last meeting at Soldier Field 16-3 on frigid day (-3 wind chill) on December 18, 2005. Weather will not be a factor, as the forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures near 80 degrees in Chicago on Sunday.
No team in NFL history has won more home-openers than the Bears (62), but they'll have to contain a Falcons' passing attack that is determined to attack the back-end of opposing secondaries this season. Atlanta traded a King's ransom to move up in the first round to select Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. With the Bears having issues at the safety position -- two-time Pro Bowler Brandon Meriweather was signed off the scrap heap this week -- Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan could look to test them early.
For more on the opening lines, head over to Odds Shark. Be sure to check out the Bears coverage at Windy City Gridiron, and the Falcons at The Falcoholic.
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