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This Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears betting preview is for the 2011 Week 3 game. Remember you can always find the latest odds at Sportsbook.com, currently offering up to $250 in free cash when you sign up today.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Green Bay -3.5 & 46
Opening Line & Total: GB -3.5 & 45.5
The Packers and Bears are looking for early control of their division when the two NFC Championship participants from a year ago clash in Chicago.
The teams split their two matchups, SU and ATS, at Soldier Field in 2010. The Bears won a Week 3 matchup 20-17. Green Bay outgained Chicago 379-276, but racked up a whopping 18 penalties for 152 yards. The Packers then won the NFC Championship in January. Chicago’s bend-but-don’t-break defense has allowed QB Aaron Rodgers to throw for more than 250 yards just once in the past five matchups, and held him below 200 twice. The Bears had major protection problems against the Saints blitz last week, allowing six sacks, which doesn’t bode well against a blitz-happy Packers D. However, all this blitzing has weakened the pass defense, as Green Bay has surrendered 800 passing yards in two games, easily the most in the NFL.
Green Bay has won eight straight games including last year’s playoffs, and the offense is still clicking as Rodgers has 620 passing yards and 5 TD already. The time-share RB duo of James Starks and Ryan Grant has gained 207 yards on just 36 carries (5.8 YPC). But all is not well with Green Bay’s defense, which allowed 477 yards to the Saints and 475 yards to the Panthers. Some of that is due to injuries to CB Tramon Williams (shoulder), S Nick Collins (neck, out for year) and DE Ryan Pickett (foot). The Pack have enjoyed playing in Chicago recently, going 15-5 SU (14-6 ATS) in their past 20 visits to Soldier Field.
Chicago QB Jay Cutler, who exited the 21-14 NFC Championship defeat due to a controversial injury, has yet to thrive against Green Bay. He is 1-4 lifetime versus the Pack with 5 TD and 9 INT in the five meetings. Cutler also had a rough game in New Orleans last week, connecting on just 19-of-45 attempts in Chicago’s 30-13 loss. He will have to lean on Matt Forte (324 total yards) to help jump-start an offense ranked 23rd in yardage (312 YPG), and 27th in rushing (74 YPG) this year. Chicago will miss massive rookie OT Gabe Carimi for the next two weeks due to a partially dislocated knee. Two other players listed as questionable for Friday include S Major Wright (neck) and WR Earl Bennett (chest).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
