The Chicago Bears are just 2-5 SU and ATS over their last seven games, but they still have a shot at a playoff spot with a win this Sunday at Ford Field over the slumping Detroit Lions.
Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions betting odds, preview, picks
Chicago has all the motivation in this Week 17 matchup with the Lions, but Detroit wants Calvin Johnson to reach 2000 yards. The Bears are road favorites.
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Chicago was a 3-point road favorite earlier in the week at most sportsbooks tracked by OddsShark.com.
It has been a tale of two seasons for the Chicago Bears in 2012. The Bears started the season off 7-1 SU and 5-2-1 ATS and looked to be well on their way to an NFC North Title and a potential first round bye.
But since then, the Bears are just 2-5 SU and ATS, averaging just 16.1 points per game on offense over that stretch while looking vulnerable on defense since losing Brian Urlacher to a season-ending injury. Still, with a win and a Minnesota loss this week, the Bears can sneak into the playoffs with a Wild Card berth.
Calvin Johnson set the single-season record for wide receiving yards last week with 1,892 on the year, and is 108 yards away from becoming the first wide receiver in NFL history to eclipse 2000 receiving yards. Unfortunately for the Lions, Johnson has been just about the only bright spot on the team this year.
Detroit is 4-11 SU and 4-10-1 ATS on the season, currently mired in a seven-game losing streak with a 1-6 ATS record. On top of earning Johnson that elusive mark of 2000 yards, the Lions can also play spoiler this week and eliminate the Bears from playoff contention with a win.
Chicago is 8-1 SU and 4-4-1 ATS in its last nine games against Detroit. The Lions are 1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS in their last two games against the Bears at home, however. The total has gone OVER in five of Chicago’s last six road games and in six of Detroit’s last nine games overall.
Neither team is playing well at the moment and on paper this is a pretty even matchup. But on one side, you have a Chicago team that still believes in itself and is fighting for a playoff spot, and on the other you have a Detroit team that has lost seven straight and looks to have given up on the season since being blown out by lowly Arizona.
Slight edge goes to the Bears.
Pick: Chicago -3.0
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