Packers vs. Bears Prediction
Will frigid temperatures keep the Green Bay Packers from rolling against the Chicago Bears when the two meet today at 1PM ET?
According to the oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Packers are favored on the road in this game, as they are getting odds of -5.5 points against the Bears. The over/under total is currently listed at 38.5 points. Green Bay won the lone meeting this year, 26-10 at home back on Oct. 20. Green Bay has won and covered the spread in five of the last six in this series.
The Packers are on a three-game winning streak to move to 7-6 on the year, but still on the outside looking in for the playoffs. They are coming off an impressive 38-10 win at home of the Seahawks to jump to 7-6 with the over on the year and 7-5-1 against the spread. They have also covered the spread in three straight as the offense has finally started clicking. Green Bay is now averaging 25.6 points and 371.4 yards per game for the season. Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 3,529 yards and 32 touchdowns this season with just seven interceptions. He is battling calf and hamstring injuries though, that have hampered his mobility. Those injuries could be amplified by the cold temp for this game, which is supposed to be well below zero. It could lead to more from the Green Bay ground game, which features a slew of options. Defensively, Green Bay is giving up 24 points and 366.4 yards per game on the season, but they have held their last three opponents to a combined 36 points. The unit could still be without sack leader Nick Perry due to a hand and finger injury. He has eight sacks in 2016. Clay Matthews is also listed as questionable to play because of his shoulder injury.
The Bears are coming off a 20-17 loss at Detroit last week to fall to 3-10 on the season. They did cover in the loss and have covered the spread in four straight. Chicago is now 6-7 against the spread. The Chicago defense has been pretty solid in 2016, giving up just 22.3 points and 342.2 yards per game, including only 235.1 passing yards per contest. The front line applies a lot of pressure, as they have 33 sacks. Willie Young, Akiem Hicks and Leonard Floyd each have 7 sacks this season, which makes it tough for opposing lines to key in on any one player. Offensively, Chicago is only putting up 17 points and 355.5 yards per contest, but the unit gets back Alshon Jeffery from a four-game suspension this week. Matt Barkley has looked respectable thus far under center. He has thrown for 801 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. Jordan Howard looks to be a reliable running back, as he has rushed for 969 yards and five scores.
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A lot is being made of the cold temps for this game, but that shouldn’t really impact the Packers. Green Bay is accustomed to playing in very cold games at Lambeau, so this is nothing new. If anyone should be impacted by this cold, it is Barkley. He comes from USC, where he’s never had to play in something like this. I would expect these extreme temps to bother his ability to throw. Green Bay should be able to jump on that and Prediction up a comfortable win.
NFL WEEK 15 PREDICTION: GREEN BAY PACKERS -5.5