Bears vs. Broncos Total Prediction
New Broncos head coach Vic Fangio will host his former team on Sunday when Denver hosts the Chicago Bears at 4:25 p.m. ET. Will the game turn into a defensive struggle?
Game Snapshot
285 Chicago Bears (-2.5) at 286 Denver Broncos (+2.5); O/U 40.5
4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Public Betting Trends
According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Bears are receiving 65% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.
Chicago Bears Fantasy Spin
Mitchell Trubisky completed 26-of-45 passes for 228 yards and an interception while contributing 11 yards on three carries Thursday in the Bears’ Week 1 loss to the Packers. Trubisky was hammered for five sacks resulting in a loss of 20 yards. Coming off an uneven summer (at least in the estimation of beat reporters who covered him throughout training camp), Trubisky began his 2019 season with a thud, narrowly avoiding disaster on a number of reckless passes. The Packers dropped at least two sure picks in the first half, though former Bear Adrian Amos rectified that with a game-sealing interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter. That came on a throw Trubisky forced into tight coverage (Allen Robinson was his intended target). The UNC alum enjoyed some success throwing to Robinson (7-102-0 receiving line) and Tarik Cohen (8-49-0), but didn’t see the field well enough and was quick to tuck and run. Coach Matt Nagy’s suspect play-calling didn’t help matters in a game that featured more punts (17) than total points (13). Trubisky will try to put Thursday’s clunker behind him when the Bears travel to Denver for Week 2
Denver Broncos Fantasy Spin
Joe Flacco completed 21-of-31 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Raiders. It was a rough debut for Flacco, who was held without a touchdown until the Broncos’ final drive. He made some mental mistakes — taking an early sack that put the Broncos out of field goal range. With Drew Lock on IR, Flacco is locked in as the starter but isn’t going to be much of an upgrade on Case Keenum. Flacco’s willingness to take deep shots is good for Courtland Sutton’s ROS outlook.
NFL Betting Trends
Chicago
The under is 6-0 in the Bears’ last six games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Denver
The under is 4-0 in the Broncos’ last four games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Prediction
The under is a perfect 6-0 in the Bears’ last six games overall, is 8-2 in their last 10 games coming off a loss and is 9-4 in their last 13 road contests. The under is also 7-0 in the Broncos’ last seven home games, is 21-8-1 in their last 30 games overall and is 20-8-1 in their last 29 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Given the QB matchup (Flacco vs. Mitch Trubisky) and Fangio’s familiarity with Matt Nagy’s offense having coached in Chicago last year, I like the under.
NFL Week 2 Prediction: Bears/Broncos UNDER 40.5
