2014 NFL Week 5 Bears vs. Panthers Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
CHARLOTTE, NC (The Spread) – Both the Bears and Panthers are coming off ugly losses so which team will come out on top when the conference foes meet at 1:00PM ET today?
ODDS: According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Panthers are 2.5-point home favorites over the Bears for today’s game while the over/under total is currently sitting at 45.5 points.
LINE MOVEMENT: The Bears opened as 3-point road underdogs but the line has dipped to under the key number at most online and Vegas sports books. As for the total, it opened at 45.5 and that’s where it currently sits at most books.
SEASON RECORDS: Chicago enters play today with a 2-2 straight up record and a 2-2 mark at the betting window, while the over has hit in three of its first four games. Carolina is also 2-2 overall and 2-2 against the spread, while the over/under record for the Panthers is also 2-2.
NEWS: Bears receiver Brandon Marshall (ankle) remained a full participate in practice this week and should be ready to go. Jermon Bushrod is dealing with a knee injury but should play, while Shea McClellin has been ruled out with a hand injury. The Panthers, meanwhile, won’t have Jonathan Stewart, Mike Tolbert or DeAngelo Williams this week. That will leave a three-man rotation at running back that consists of Darrin Reaves, Fozzy Whittaker and Chris Ogbonnaya.
NFL FREE PICK: Take the under. According to latest NFL trends, the under is 9-0 in the Panthers’ last nine games versus the NFC and 9-1 in their last 10 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. The under is also 7-1 in the Panthers’ last eight games in Week 5, 9-2 in their last 11 games on grass and 11-3 in their last 14 games overall. On the other side, the under is 4-1 in the Bears’ last five games in Week 5, 6-2 in their last eight games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game and 7-3 in their last 10 games following a double-digit loss at home.
2014 NFL WEEK 5 FREE PICK: BEARS/PANTHERS UNDER 45.5