The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears square off in an NFC North Division showdown to open Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season on September 6, 2019, at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The Green Bay Packers are looking to forget a 2018 season where they won just six games. After an injury-plagued 2017 season, Aaron Rodgers started behind center for 16 games but still, the Packers ended up with their fewest wins during a season in a decade. That debacle resulted in the firing of long-time coach Mike McCarthy and the hiring of Ryan La Fleur.
The Packers spent their offseason upgrading their defense but did little to improve the weapons around Rodgers. The depth behind Davante Adams at wide receiver is a big question with Randall Cobb gone. However, Green Bay still has tailback Aaron Jones and veteran tight end Jimmy Graham who could help Rodgers with the offense.
2018 will always be remembered as the season which ended in the infamous double-doink for the Chicago Bears. However, despite that unceremonious exit, 2018 was still overall a very successful first season under head coach Matt Nagy. That said, there is plenty to be excited about in 2019 if you’re a Bears fan.
Chicago lost safety Adrian Amos and tailback Jordan Howard but they added Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and drafted rookie David Montgomery to fill the void. It remains to be seen if these moves made them better but most likely, they will compensate. Chicago also improved its wide receiver position which was its weak spot, if any.
The Packers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played. Green Bay is 1-5 SU in their last six games played at home. The Bears are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played. Chicago is 4-1 SU in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Packers are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games against the Bears. Green Bay is also 8-1 in their last nine road games against Chicago.
The expectations are high in Chicago right now after a very successful 2018 season. The Bears’ season ended on a low note on that “double-doink” play in Chicago. Cody Parkey is a free agent and the Bears are moving on. A lot is expected from Mitchell Trubisky on offense, especially since the Bears already have a stout defense. Chicago is the NFL betting favorite here against Green Bay.
It will be interesting to see how Aaron Rodgers and new head coach Matt LaFleur can resurrect the Green Bay offense. For me, it was interesting how Green Bay focused their offseason on improving their defense while not doing much to upgrade the talent around Rodgers, who is their biggest asset.
The Bears were 7-2 SU at home last season while the Packers were just 1-7 SU on the road last year. I expect Rodgers to be healthy but I also expect Chicago’s defense to step up as well. Give me the home team here. I’m picking the Chicago Bears to beat the Green Bay Packers on opening week.
Green Bay is 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Packers are 2-3-1 ATS in their last six games played on the road. Chicago is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games played. Head to head, the Packers are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Bears. However, the Bears are 2-1 ATS in their last three games played in Soldier Field.
Packers
+3.5 (-110)
Bears
-3.5 (-110)
Odds were taken from Titanbet.com as of 7/15/19
The Packers are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games against an opponent from the NFC North Division and 2-4 ATS in their last six games overall. The Bears are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games against NFC North division rivals. Chicago is also 5-1 ATS in their last six games and 9-2 in their last 9 games overall. I think Chicago win by at least a pair of field goals here. Prediction: Chicago Bears -3.5
The total has gone under in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Packers. Green Bay has seen the total go under in four out of their last six games on the road. The total has gone under in six out of the last 10 games played by the Bears. The under is 3-2 in the Bears’ last five games played at home. Head to head, however, the over is 7-3 in their last 10 meetings.
Packers
O 46 -110
Bears
U 46 -110
Odds were taken from Titanbet.com as of 7/15/19
While the over is 7-3 in the last 10 games between these two teams, the average total score during their last three games was only 42.33 points per game. The total has gone under in four out of the Packers’ last five games against an NFC conference opponent. Green Bay has gone over 46 in just one out of their last six games played. The total has gone under in 10 out of the Bears’ last 15 games played in Week 1. The Bears have not reached a total of 46 in their last five games played and have topped 46 only thrice in their last 10 games played. I don’t expect the Bears to play as terrific as they did last season on defense but U think they will still be the same defensive minded-team. Prediction: Under 46
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