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The Bears vs. Broncos spread opened at -3.5 in favor of Denver. This line has remained steady throughout the week. You can receive up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online betting account here.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Denver -3.5 & 35.5
Opening Line & Total: Broncos -3.5 & 36.5
It’s a tale of two quarterbacks as the ice-cold Caleb Hanie leads his Bears into Denver to face sizzling hot Tim Tebow and the Broncos.
The Bears are now fully aware that Hanie is not the answer at quarterback, which is why rumors of Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb have been swirling this week. Hanie led the team to a pathetic 181 total yards in the 10-3 loss to K.C. on Sunday. Unfortunately that is not the only issue for Chicago, as star RB Matt Forte is out 2-to-4 weeks with a sprained MCL. But the Bears should be encouraged that a rookie QB led Minnesota to 32 points on what was a red-hot Denver defense. Like most Broncos games these days, this will probably come down to the final possession. But how many times in a row can Tebow pull a rabbit out of a hat? He’s led his team to five straight wins (SU and ATS), but the magic ends this week against a strong Bears defense.
Hanie had a miserable Sunday, completing 11-of-24 passes for 133 yards, 0 TD and 3 INT. He will likely start this game, even if the team signs a veteran this week. Denver’s defense was atrocious in Minnesota, allowing rookie Christian Ponder to throw for 381 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings also rushed for 129 yards without star Adrian Peterson, so Forte’s replacements should be able to find some holes in the Broncos run defense as well. With Forte out, expect veteran Marion Barber (3.7 YPC) and seldom-used Kahlil Bell to earn the bulk of the carries. Barber rushed 11 times for 36 yards against K.C. while Bell (15 carries in 2011) ripped off a 26-yard run and finished with 34 yards on just four attempts.
Tebow continues to become a more polished passer, posting a season-best day through the air in Minnesota. He finished 10-for-15 for 202 yards, 2 TD and 0 INT, and now has thrown for 10 TD and just 1 INT this season. Both of his scoring strikes went to second-year pro Demaryius Thomas who finished with 144 yards on just four catches. Denver’s ground game has been the best in the league statistically (159 YPG), rumbling for at least 150 yards in seven of its past eight games. Willis McGahee has six 100-yard rushing games this season including two in a row. But the Bears have held seven straight opponents to less than 120 rushing yards, limiting them to 74 rushing YPG on 3.4 YPC over this stretch.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
