Panthers vs. Bears Prediction
The Panthers are a major public team today but will they cover the spread versus the Bears at 1:00PM ET?
Who Oddsmakers Like: Carolina. According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Panthers are 3-point road favorites versus the Bears, who also opened as 3-point home underdogs. As for the total, the number hit the board at 41 and that’s where it currently sits at the majority of online sports books.
Who the Public Likes: Carolina. In fact, public bettors love the Panthers. As of this writing, nearly 80% of public bettors are laying the points with Cam Newton and Co. They’re the biggest public team of the day, with the Bills (-3 vs. Bucs) a close second. The Bears are coming off a win but public bettors clearly are not buying into the home dog here.
Who the Trends Like: Carolina. The Panthers are 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six games versus the Bears and are 4-1 against the number in their last five trips to Chicago. The road team is also 4-1-1 at the betting window in the last six meetings. The only trend in favor of the Bears is this one: The underdog is 5-1-1 against the spread in the last seven meetings between these two teams.
Who We Like: Carolina. I really want to fade the public here and take a Bears team coming off a win and that has been very good at home this season (3-0 against the spread). But I can’t do it. Not when I only have to lay a field goal on a Panthers team that received extra rest having played last Thursday night and who is 4-2 and atop the NFC West. The Bears have been competitive this season – more competitive than anyone thought they’d be. But they’re so limited offensively and their secondary could get torched by Newton and Co. this afternoon.
NFL WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS: CAROLINA PANTHERS -3