Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
Read More
Expert Picks
The Bears have covered all three of their home games, and Mitch Trubisky has given the team new life. Carolina, though it had extra rest, will be playing without defensive leader Luke Kuechly (46 tackles, INT, FF, 2 passes defensed). Play on the home dog.
This Bears team has shown plenty of fight at home, covering against three potential playoff teams and winning one outright. Carolina gets the benefit of extra rest, but Luke Kuechly has been ruled out as he remains in the concussion protocol. That's a massive loss for the Panthers in a matchup where the Bears will be looking to pound the ball with Jordan Howard. Mitchell Trubisky is a liability still, but one that can be covered up with an effective rushing attack. I also like that most of the action has come on the Panthers so far, as that makes it clear Chicago is again being underestimated at home.
The Panthers excel on the road, having covered in five straight. Granted, the Bears do just as well ATS at home and, while the town can barely contain its giddiness over rookie QB Mitchell Trubisky, he has yet to confront a pass rush like Carolina’s. QB Cam Newton likely will be taking snaps from regular C Ryan Kalil (neck), who has missed a month, and is figuring out how to deploy rookie RB Christian McCaffrey, who caught 10 balls last Thursday. Three additional days to get ready further tips the scales to Carolina.
The Panthers had extra rest following their Thursday night home loss to the Eagles, while the Bears are coming off a grueling OT win in Baltimore. In my simulations, Carolina is covering 58 percent of the time. Look for the Panthers to cover their sixth straight road game.