The New Orleans Saints are the offshore betting favorites against the Chicago Bears, but they may have become, given the latter’s newfound penchant for violence, martyrs when all is said and done. Either that or they will join the likes of Corbinian, Romedius, and Cerbonius as Saints who became famous for taming Bears. According to Steve Rosenbloom, Chicago’s defense is characterized by “the G force of their hits.” So the Bears are like Max Power, in that you just strap yourself in and feel the G’s.
- Date: Sunday, 29th October
- Time: 1:05 PM
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
- Sportsbook Odds:
Bears +9 (-110) 47½ (-110)
Saints -9 (-110) 47½ (-110)
The Bears defense, steadfast and Tru
Chicago is 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS in three starts with Mitchell Trubisky under center, but it’s the defense, which currently ranks 7th in total defense, 14th in scoring defense, 11th against the run, and 9th against the pass, and has not allowed an offensive touchdown in their last nine quarters, that has done the heavy lifting. Rookie defensive back Eddie Jackson, for example, returned a fumble and an interception 75 yards for TDs in Sunday’s 17-3 win over the Panthers, and the Bears sacked Cam Newton on five occasions.
.@EJackson_4 became the first player in @NFL HISTORY to have multiple defensive touchdowns over 75 yards in a game.
HISTORY, guys.
That deserves your "Rookie of the Week" vote: https://t.co/Qj5m4SPXVP pic.twitter.com/lOgDVhbvby
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 24, 2017
Tru’s completing 50% of his passes with two TDs and one pick, and has yet to throw for more than 128 yards in a single game (but he’s still better than Mike Glennon). Chicago has made up for their terrible passing game with a solid ground attack, especially Jordan Howard’s 560 running yards. Da Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last four games in October, and 4-1 ATS in their last five overall, but just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games, and 2-5 against the offshore betting spread in its last seven games following an upset win.
The sAinTS are coming
The Bless-You Boys are a rather strange bunch; they lost and failed to cover in their first two games but it was still their best start of a season in years. Thus, filled with the confidence that only the Saints could draw from an 0-2 record, New Orleans have gone on to win four straight, both SU and ATS, including a blowout of the Panthers, a shutout of the Dolphins, another shutout of the Lions, and a win over the admittedly Rodgers-less Packers. The Saints have won, and covered in, four of the last five meetings with Chicago. NOLA is, additionally, while the Saints are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games in October, 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 against the NFC, and 4-0 ATS in their last four overall, but just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 home games versus teams with a losing record. The total has gone over in 11 of the Saints’ last 15 games as favorite, but the Bears’ defense, should it continue to play the way it has as of late, stands a pretty good chance of keeping it under. What’s for sure is that someone’s straight-up and/or against the offshore betting spread streak is going to end.