Chicago Bears vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Best Bet
Chicago Bears (7-7 SU, 7-7 ATS) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-13, 6-8), 12/27/20
Time: 1 pm ET Sunday, Dec. 27
Where: TIAA Bank Field
TV: CBS
Point spread: Chi -7.5/Jax +7.5 (BetOnline – GREAT at getting credit cards to work for depositing!)
Over/Under: 47
The Chicago Bears cling to faint playoff hopes, heading into a game they should win Sunday afternoon against the Jaguars in Jacksonville. Chicago started great this season, then hit the skids for six weeks before winning its last two games to just stay alive in the postseason hunt. The Jags, meanwhile, can’t win a game, but they are covering spreads on a regular basis. How are we playing this game with our free NFL pick?
NFL Betting Odds
Week 16 NFL betting odds opened the Bears at -4.5 over the Jags, with an over/under of 47. Early betting action then steamed Chicago to -7.5.
Bears Betting Preview
Chicago started 5-1 this season, then lost six games in a row, but now owns back-to-back victories after beating Minnesota last week 33-27. The Bears, playing as three-point dogs on the road, drew first blood at 7-0 six minutes in and never trailed. Chicago led 20-10 at the half, allowed the Vikings to get within 20-17 early in the third quarter and 30-27 midway through the fourth but held on from there for the much-needed win.
The Bears got out-gained by Minnesota 407-397 but won the ground battle 199-158 and time of possession by a 33:27 split.
Chicago has been out-gained four times in its last five games, but it’s also out-rushed each of its previous three opponents.
Two weeks ago, the Bears bombed Houston 36-7. Three weeks ago, Chicago lost to Detroit 34-30 but should have won that game, blowing a late 10-point lead.
The Bears have also hit the 30-point mark three games in a row for the first time since 2011.
At 7-7 overall, Chicago trails Arizona by one game in the battle for the final NFC wild-card spot. The Bears finish their season next week against a Green Bay team that could already be locked into its playoff seeding, while the Cardinals finish with San Francisco this week and the Rams next week. So Chicago isn’t quite dead yet.
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Jaguars Betting Preview
Meanwhile, Jacksonville lugs a 13-game losing skid into Sunday after falling at Baltimore last week 40-14. The Jaguars, with Gardner Minshew back at quarterback, gave up a sack for a safety four minutes in and trailed 26-0 at the half. Jacksonville got within 26-7 early in the third quarter but could get no closer and came up well short ATS as a 13-point dog.
The Jags got out-gained by the Ravens 409-267 and out-rushed 159-62. So Jacksonville has now been out-gained each of its last six games and out-rushed each of its previous five.
Two weeks ago, the Jaguars lost to Tennessee 31-10, missing ATS at +7.5. But three weeks ago, Jacksonville gave Minnesota a very tough game and covered at +10, and just before that, the Jags gave Cleveland a good match and covered at +7. In fact, going back a bit further, Jacksonville is 4-3 ATS over its last seven games.
Still, at 1-13 in the real world, the Jaguars are playing out the string under a coaching regime that will probably be gone two Mondays from now.
These two teams last met back in 2016, a 17-16 Jags win at Soldier Field. But that’s already an eon ago for both these teams.
NFL Betting Trends
- Home teams are 111-112 SU, 107-115 ATS in the NFL this season.
- Favorites are 146-76 SU, 96-125 ATS (43 percent) in the NFL this season.
- Home dogs are 48-38 ATS in the NFL this season.
Totals Report
Unders are 8-6 in Bears games this season, which are averaging 45 total points.
Totals are split 7-7 in Jags games this season, which are averaging 50 points.
Overs played 10-6 in the NFL last week.
Overs are 111-109 in the NFL this season.
Free NFL Pick
The betting angle in this game is simple; With last week’s win by the New York Jets, the Jacksonville Jaguars are now in line for the number one pick in the 2021 NFL draft. There’s no way that they’re going to screw this up. The free advertising dollars alone, much less the value of a number one pick that they really need, will deter them from doing everything they can to finish last in the NFL. The Bears win and cover here! Bet your Week 16 NFL picks FREE by taking advantage of a 100% REAL CASH bonus offer on your first deposit of $100 to $300 at MyBookie Sportsbook! One of the player’s favs! You must type in bonus code PREDICT100 and sign up through this special link to get the bonus!
