Packers
vs.
Bears
Week 15
NFL Pick
12/18/16
The Packers have won 3 in a row after their 4 Game slide, but they are still on the outside looking in on the playoffs. They have some ground to make up, which will not be easy since their last 3 Games on the road. Still, Aaron Rodgers has said the team can run the table and facing a 3-win Bears’ team is a good way to keep that prediction ring true. Green Bay is coming off a HUGE blowout win over the Seattle Seahawks where they had fewer overall yards, but the defense came up with 6 turnovers iNCluding picking off Russell Wilson 5 times.
The Bears’ season is over and they can just play spoiler for the rest of the way. They did not play badly in their last Game and new starting QB Matt Barkley has shown some signs of being a legit starting QB. Their D ranks a respectable 15th in the league in opponents’ points per Game, but the offense only ranks 30th in points per Game. Earlier this season in Green Bay the Bears lost to the Packers 26-10.
The favorite is 10-2 ATS in the last 12 Games between these NFC North rivals.
In their last Game the Packers blew out the Seattle Seahawks 38-10 where they easily covered the spread as a 3-point home underdog.
The Bears lost to the Detroit Lions 20-17 in their last Game where they covered on the road as a 6.5-point underdog.
Rodgers had a solid Game in the win over Seattle going 18/23 for 246 yards with 3 TD and 0 INT, but he did not get much help from a rushing offense that only GAined 93 yards. It was obviously the defense that won the Game with their 6 forced turnovers and 5 picks.
The Bears have the league’s 6th ranked pass defense, and 19th ranked run defense, and they had 2 picks of their own in their last Game facing Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions. That secondary will be key in this Game, as if they let Rodgers have a big Game Chicago will be chalking up another loss.
Barkley was 20/32 for 212 yards with 1 TD and 0 INT and he has not been picked off in his last 2 Games. He came in for relief in the first match up with the Packers and was only 6/15 for 81 yards with 0 TD and 2 INT. He will have star WR Alshon Jeffery back in this Game, as he has completed his 4-Game suspension. Rookie RB Jordan Howard rushed for 86 yards in the loss to the Lions in the last Game and he ranks 9th in the league in rushing yards.
Green Bay ranks 19th in the league defending the pass and 9th defending the run.
Green Bay is 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 Games following a straight up win, 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road Games vs. a team with a losing home record, and in their last 7 Games the posted total has gone Over 5 times.
Chicago is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Games overall, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home Games, and in their last 5 Games at home the posted total has gone Under 4 times.
Jason’s Pick – The Bears have been a solid bet as of late and have been playing decent, but facing a hot Packers’ team that will change. Rodgers will have a big Game and the Packers will easily win in the Windy City and cover the spread.