It’ll be a NFC-NFC battle as the Chicago Bears (-6) are favorites against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs. Interested parties are able to catch the action live on NBC and this key late afternoon game is scheduled to start at 4:40 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles
In this Sunday NFC game, Chicago is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 6 points. The Eagles are also receiving +180 moneyline odds while the Bears are -220. It appears that there should be multiple good live betting possibilities in this game, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 41 points.
The game’s total has shifted lower after originally being set at 42. The opening spread has stayed firm.
Both of these teams have been profitable this season as the Eagles have gained 1.6 units while the Bears are up 6.9 units.
The Eagles have gone 9-7 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Bears are 12-4 SU.
The Eagles are coming off a resounding 24-0 victory over Washington in Week 17 where Nick Foles completed 28 passes on 33 attempts for 221 yards, two scores and one interception. Wendell Smallwood (53 rushing yards on 12 attempts) and Josh Adams (50 yards on 11 carries) led the running attack in the win while Alshon Jeffery (five receptions, 59 yards, one TD) and Nelson Agholor (five catches, 40 yards, two TDs) handled the receiving duties.
Chicago just earned a 24-10 win over Minnesota a week ago. The defense did its duty in the victory, holding the Vikings to only 132 passing yards and 63 rushing yards. Dalvin Cook had a productive showing in the loss for Minnesota, recording 21 yards on four catches. For Chicago, Mitchell Trubisky completed 18-of-26 passes for 163 yards. Jordan Howard (109 rushing yards on 21 attempts, two TDs) handled the ground game in the win while Trey Burton (five receptions, 33 yards) and Taylor Gabriel (four catches, 61 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Philadelphia has run the ball on 39.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Chicago has an overall rush percentage of 47.8 percent. The Eagles have run for 98.1 yards per game and have 12 scores via handoffs this year. The Bears are logging 121.1 rush yards per game and have 16 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Bears ought to have the advantage when it comes to RB efficiency, as their backfield has produced 4.1 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.8 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Eagles have tallied 3.9 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.7 to opponents.
The Eagles offensive scheme has averaged 282.8 yards in the air overall and has 29 passing TDs so far. The Bears have put up 234.2 pass yards per game and have 28 total pass scores.
Defensively, Philadelphia has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 96.9 yards and pass for 288.7 yards per game. The Chicago defense has allowed 240.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 80.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bears are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.12 to opposing QBs, while the Eagles have given up a 6.41 ANY/A.
Trubisky has completed 264-of-405 passes for 2,977 yards, 23 TDs and 12 INTs. Trubisky’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 6.49 for the year and 7.21 over his past two outings. In the other huddle, Foles has put up 942 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 106-of-146 attempts with three passing touchdowns and three interceptions. Foles has a 5.38 ANY/A for the year, although that number is 8.15 over the past two games.
When these two teams faced each other last year, Philadelphia won by four touchdowns 31-3.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Eagles, ATS Winner: Eagles, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Philadelphia’s last game was set at 42.5. The under cashed in the team’s 24-0 triumph over Washington.
- As a team, Philadelphia has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its past three outings and 3.3 over its last two.
- Chicago has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.0 over its last two.
- Chicago has lost 10 fumbles this season while Philadelphia has lost 12.
- Over its last three contests, Philadelphia is 2-0-1 ATS.
- Philadelphia has won six of its last seven games SU, with a December 9th defeat to Dallas accounting for the only loss over that span.
- The Over/Under for Chicago’s previous game was set at 40. The under cashed in the 24-10 win over Minnesota.
- In its last three matches, Chicago is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- Chicago has won 10 of its last 11 games SU, with a -3-point defeat to New York on December 2nd accounting for its only loss over that span.
- The Eagles offense has created nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Bears have put up 11 such plays.
- The Philadelphia defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Chicago has given up nine such plays.
- The Philadelphia offense has created seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Chicago has created 17 such runs.
- The Eagles defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bears have given up seven such runs.
- The Chicago defensive unit has created 50 sacks on the year while Philadelphia has just 44.
