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The Chicago Bears will try to beat the Dallas Cowboys for the fourth straight time when they meet in the Week 14 Thursday Night Football matchup. The Bears have won their last two home games, both as favorites, but they are just 1-7 straight up and against the spread in their last eight as home underdogs.
Point spread: The Cowboys opened as 4.5-point favorites; the total was 51 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)
NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 27.2-15.9 Cowboys
Why the Cowboys can cover the spread
The Cowboys have been known to swoon in December when the weather gets colder and they have to hit the road to play teams like Chicago. This year is supposed to be different, though, and they will need to prove it at Soldier Field after losing badly at home to the Philadelphia Eagles as three-point favorites on Thanksgiving Day.
Last year when Dallas visited the Bears, running back DeMarco Murray rushed for 146 yards on 18 carries but did not find paydirt. Murray has totaled 100 yards or more on the ground in 10 of 12 games this season and should be primed for another big performance here.
Why the Bears can cover the spread
Chicago has nothing to really play for down the stretch, which is when some teams are the most dangerous. The Bears still possess a ton of offensive talent and looked good early on in an eventual 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions as seven-point road underdogs on Thanksgiving Day.
They jumped out to a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter with quarterback Jay Cutler connecting with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery on a pair of touchdown passes. Cutler’s backup Josh McCown shredded the Cowboys secondary for 348 yards and four touchdowns in last year’s 45-28 home victory, so there’s no reason he can’t do the same thing and lead Chicago to another win over Dallas.
Smart Pick
Neither defense played well last Thursday in divisional matchups when teams are supposed to be more familiar with their opponents. They surrendered a combined 67 points between them and should have a similar outcome this week.
The over has cashed in the last four meetings between the Cowboys and Bears, and the winner has averaged 35 points per game. Dallas has also seen the over go 4-1 in its past five games as a road favorite.
Chicago has struggled against some of the top offenses in the NFL this season, surrendering an average of nearly 47 points to its last three opponents with a winning record in the Lions, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. Watch for a high-scoring game with each team possibly topping 30 points in a shootout.
Betting Trends
Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark—follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
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Point spread: The Cowboys opened as 4.5-point favorites; the total was 51 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)
NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 27.2-15.9 Cowboys
Why the Cowboys can cover the spread
The Cowboys have been known to swoon in December when the weather gets colder and they have to hit the road to play teams like Chicago. This year is supposed to be different, though, and they will need to prove it at Soldier Field after losing badly at home to the Philadelphia Eagles as three-point favorites on Thanksgiving Day.
Last year when Dallas visited the Bears, running back DeMarco Murray rushed for 146 yards on 18 carries but did not find paydirt. Murray has totaled 100 yards or more on the ground in 10 of 12 games this season and should be primed for another big performance here.
Why the Bears can cover the spread
Chicago has nothing to really play for down the stretch, which is when some teams are the most dangerous. The Bears still possess a ton of offensive talent and looked good early on in an eventual 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions as seven-point road underdogs on Thanksgiving Day.
They jumped out to a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter with quarterback Jay Cutler connecting with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery on a pair of touchdown passes. Cutler’s backup Josh McCown shredded the Cowboys secondary for 348 yards and four touchdowns in last year’s 45-28 home victory, so there’s no reason he can’t do the same thing and lead Chicago to another win over Dallas.
Smart Pick
Neither defense played well last Thursday in divisional matchups when teams are supposed to be more familiar with their opponents. They surrendered a combined 67 points between them and should have a similar outcome this week.
The over has cashed in the last four meetings between the Cowboys and Bears, and the winner has averaged 35 points per game. Dallas has also seen the over go 4-1 in its past five games as a road favorite.
Chicago has struggled against some of the top offenses in the NFL this season, surrendering an average of nearly 47 points to its last three opponents with a winning record in the Lions, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. Watch for a high-scoring game with each team possibly topping 30 points in a shootout.
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in five of Dallas's last seven games when playing on the road against Chicago
- The total has gone under in four of Chicago's last five games at home
Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark—follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...