Oddsmakers have finally released a line on the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers game. NFL betting odds on this matchup were off due mostly to the quarterback situation in Chicago. The line opened at Green Bay -5 ½ and has since dropped to -3 ½ just about everywhere including Diamond Sports International
It's interesting that the Bears actually have an edge in a number of key areas including points per game, yards gained and yards allowed, yet they come into this one as a +3 ½ underdog. The away team has won 7 of the last 10. The Bears have won 5 of the last 6.
In the NFC North, longtime rivals Chicago and Green Bay are both striving for first place.
The Bears look to at least keep a share of the division lead, while the Packers try to tighten up the race by avoiding their third straight loss when the teams meet for the 175th time Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Why have the Packers struggled this year? "Look at Ryan Grant' numbers. That's what is different from the roll they were on late last season."
Chicago (5-4) is tied atop the North with Minnesota, while Green Bay (4-5) is one game back. The Bears had a one-game lead in the division going into last Sunday, but they lost 21-14 to Tennessee while the Vikings rallied for a 28-27 win over the Packers, who have lost two straight and five of seven.
"It's all about Chicago for us right now," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "Everybody knows what the standings are and everybody knows everybody else's record, so there is a lot of football left. We've got to keep working to get better."
Either Green Bay or Chicago has won the NFC North since it was created in 2002 when the NFL switched to eight divisions.
Despite taking the title last season after the Bears won the previous two, Green Bay lost both meetings with Chicago in 2007. The Bears have won six of the last eight games versus the Packers, including four straight at Lambeau Field. This is Chicago's longest winning streak at Green Bay since winning five in a row there from 1984-88.
"This is what you play for: To play Green Bay, to play your division rivals in November," Chicago Kyle Orton said. "We're in first place, and these are huge games from here on out. This is what I put the effort in for, so I can do everything I can to be out there."
The Bears have gone 8-2 ATS in the last 10 following a straight up loss.
This is still a tough game to call considering all the question marks surrounding both teams. When Green Bay has beaten the Bears, it was by a lot more than the current spread.
Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
