The Chicago Bears go on the road to take on the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday.
This could have been the preview of the NFC championship game but the year has not gone as planned for both teams. The Bears are the reigning NFC North champions but are just 4-5 SU this season. Chicago snapped a four-game losing streak with a 20-13 victory over the Detroit Lions in their last outing. The Rams are the defending NFC champions but they are only 5-4 SU this season. Los Angeles is coming off a 12-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, their worst offensive game of the year.
Relying on Their Rushing Game
The Chicago Bears have struggled with their offense all season long but in the last three weeks, they have found some success by relying on their rushing game. David Montgomery has rushed for 235 yards with three touchdowns in their last three games. However, Montgomery is a doubtful starter on Sunday with an ankle injury.
In their last game against the Detroit Lions, Mitchell Trubisky completed 16 out of 23 passes for 173 passing yards with three touchdowns. However, Trubisky struggled against the Rams last season with a passer rating of 33.3%. He will face a stiff challenge again with Aaron Donald and Dante Fowler.
The Bears rank 30th in passing at 181.7 yards per game this season and they are also 27th in the league in rushing at just 80.6 yards per outing. Chicago is 27th in the NFL in scoring at 18.0 points per game. They are also allowing their opponents to score 17.4 points per game this season.
Worst Offensive Performance of the Season
The Los Angeles Rams head to this game coming from their worst offensive performance of the season. The Los Angeles offense failed to score a touchdown in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers during their last game. They also converted on only one out of 14 third downs and committed four turnovers in that game.
Jared Goff had an off night against the Steelers as he threw two interceptions and completed just 53% of his passes. He will have a chance to bounce back against a Chicago defense which allows 253 passing yards per contest. Cooper Kupp didn’t have a catch after playing well in their previous two outings.
The Rams are 6th in the NFL in passing at 279.6 yards per game and they are 20th on the ground with an average of 96.2 rushing yards per contest. Los Angeles is 10th in the league in scoring at 25.1 points per game and they are allowing opponents to score 21.2 points per game this season.
Who Wins?
Chicago is 1-4 SU in their last five games played. The Bears are 2-2 SU in four games on the road this season, 13-5 SU in their last 18 games against the NFC Conference, and 5-1 SU in their last six games played against the NFC West Division. Los Angeles is 2-4 SU in their last six games played. The Rams are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games played at home, and 2-8 SU in their last 10 Week 11 games. Head to head, the Bears are 6-1 SU in their last seven games against the Rams.
The Bears struggled to pass against a Lions defense that allows more than 400 yards per contest. Trubisky could only muster 173 yards against Detroit and their rushing game only gained 3.4 yards per pass attempt. The Bears have averaged just 19.2 points per game scored in their last five games and their offensive woes never seem to end.
The Rams are coming off a loss to Pittsburgh after their bye week. But while the offense faltered against the Steelers, Los Angeles won back to back games by an aggregate score of 61-20 before they went on break. Cooper Kupp should have a bounce-back game after he came up empty the last time out but the Rams will be without Brandin Cooks who suffered a concussion.
The Bears will look to run the football here but the Rams have a stout rush defense. Chicago has been excellent against the run but the Rams rely more on Goff’s passing. This Chicago squad has struggled because its offense can’t seem to get things going this season. The Rams have their share of problems on offense but the Bears are just worse. Chicago is 3-15 SU in their last 18 games as road underdogs.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams
Other Bets to Make
Chicago is 1-5 ATS in their last six games played and the Bears are 1-3 ATS in four road games played this season. Los Angeles is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games played and 2-2 ATS in four home games played this season. The Rams are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against the NFC Conference. Head to head, the Bears are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Rams. Chicago is also 4-1 ATS in their last five road games against Los Angeles.
Bears
+6.5 (-117)
Rams
-6.5 (-117)
Odds from BetOnline as of 11/15/19
The Bears have outscored the Rams by 2.7 points per game in their last 10 meetings and by four points per game in their most recent three encounters. Chicago’s offense relies on its running game and that plays to the advantage of the Los Angeles defense. Trubisky is going to be miserable with Donald and Fowler. Los Angeles is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as NFL betting favorites. I like the Rams to win by at least a touchdown here.
Prediction: Rams -6.5
The total has gone under in 11 out of the last 14 games played by the Bears. The under is 4-2 in Chicago’s last six road games. The total has gone under in four out of the last five games played by the Rams. The under is also 3-1 in Los Angeles’ four home games played this season and the under is also 4-1 in the Rams’ last five games against the NFC North. Head to head, the total has gone under in six out of the last 10 games played by the Bears and Rams.
Over
40 (-110)
Under
40 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 11/15/19
These teams have combined to score 41.5 points per game in their last 10 meetings and 44.67 points per game in their most previous three encounters. The Rams will be forced to throw here with their rushing game held to fewer than 100 yards in six out of their nine games played. However, Goff has thrown six interceptions against only three touchdowns in games where he’s had at least 40 pass attempts. Meanwhile, Chicago continues to miss on offense and these point to a low-scoring game.
Prediction: Under 40