St. Louis Rams (1-10 SU, 5-5 ATS) vs. Chicago Bears (4-7 SU, 4-7
ATS), Week 13 NFL, 1:00 p.m. EST, Sunday, December 6, 2009, Soldier Field,
Chicago, Ill., TV: FOX
by Badger of Predictem.com
Point Spread: Rams +9/Bears -9
Over/Under: 41
Bet this game at a sportsbook that offers 20 point teasers, 15 team parlays, pleasers with huge payouts, oodles of props and more at 5Dimes.
Quarterback Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears will try and discontinue
their giving ways as the holiday season approaches, or fall further
down the NFC standings when they host the 1-10 St. Louis Rams this
Sunday in the Windy Citys Soldier Field.
Cutler was harassed and sacked four times, but he also threw two more
interceptions in the Bears 36-10 loss at Minnesota last weekend,
running his season total to 20 and the Bears season into the toilet
at the same time. The loss was the Bears fourth in a row and with
games still coming up against the Packers, Ravens and Vikings again,
the playoff picture in Chicago is looking like a mirage.
The Rams are still working on playing two complete halves of football
each Sunday, and last week they lost the second half at home to
Seattle and thus the game, 27-17. To quote ex-coach Denny Green, the
Rams are exactly who we thought they are! and thats a team in
the midst of a complete franchise makeover, including a talent-
limited roster. They battle hard and new head coach Steve Spagnuolo
has the attitude and culture turned around, they just cant hang in
the battle right now a full four quarters.
The point spread for this game depends on your location, because if
you live in Las Vegas or know someone who does they can get the Bears
as low as 8.5-point favorites on the board of the Hilton, Mirage and
Hard Rock.
The rest of the world and the offshore sportsbook community are all
moving the line the other way with the Bears as 9- or 9.5-point
favorites at a majority of them and 5Dimes.com as the lone site
offering a 10-point spread on the Bears.
The over/under total of 41 has held at a majority of the books since
it was released earlier in the week, but there are a few offshore
sportsbooks offering 41.5 and even a few at 40.5, so you can find a
point here or there if you want it.
If youre looking for some great offense on Sunday, then you may want to pass this game on your DirecTV tuner and go to a different one. Both teams have major personnel issues along multiple parts of their
offense, which is why if you watch this game youll be tuning in to
see the Bears 23rd-ranked unit take on the Rams 24th-ranked unit.
Cutler gets bagged on a lot for the Bears problems on offense, and
with 20 interceptions (9 during current 4-game losing streak) hes
certainly worthy of a little angst, but hes not the problem. The
Bears offensive line has underperformed and its caused the once-
heralded Bears running game and Matt Forte to drop to become the
leagues worst at just 85 yards per game.
The Rams have moved on to backup quarterback Kyle Boller now that
starter Marc Bulger is out for the season, but the Rams offensive
game plan is still the same ride Steven Jackson until he drops. Or
at least ride him until we get behind by multiple scores and then
throw on every down to prolong the pain.
St. Louis is 30th in scoring (11.8 ppg), and with names like Donny
Avery, Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson (the Rams starting receiving
core) as your main threats, its no secret why that is a fact.
Jackson and the Rams running game is good for 118.7 a game (12th),
but at least throw a brutha a bone now and then.
The Bears injury-riddled defense continues to mount casualties, since
starters Charles Tillman, Alex Brown and Lance Briggs are all listed
as questionable on the injury report this week. The Bears are 24th
against the run (125.6 ypg), so that will be the key matchup versus
Jackson and the Rams running attack on Sunday.
The Rams defense could be the remedy that Cutler needs for his
confidence, ranked 28th overall and 30th in scoring, allowing 27
points per game. Forte might be a great fantasy sleeper play this
week, since the Rams defense gives up 148.5 yards per game (28th).
Chicago has won the last two meetings between these two, a 27-3
triumph last November in the Edward Jones Dome and a 42-27 victory in
the same venue in 2006. But prior to that it was all St. Louis, as
they won the previous four of six meetings since 1998.
The Bears have also covered the point spread in the last four
meetings, making them 4-0 ATS since 2000 (both Ram covers were in
1990s).
Of those six games, only two have been played at Soldier Field and
both resulted in Bear losses on the scoreboard (23-21 in 2003; 20-12
in 1998).
BET BEARS GAMES USING YOUR CREDIT CARD AND TO GET
A GENEROUS 20% SIGN UP BONUS AT A SPORTSBOOK THAT OFFERS FREE WEEKLY FANTASY
NFL CONTESTS: BETUSA.
As far as betting trends go, theres not much to turn your head with
the possible exception of the under. The under is 4-1 in the Rams
last 5 road games, and its also 4-1 in the Bears last 5 overall. The
under is 4-2 in the series, but 1-1 at Soldier Field.
Badgers Pick: As bad as both teams have played lately, I dont feel
safe giving either side my wager. So if you must, Id recommend a
play on the over. Two banged up and bad defenses, a QB in desperate
need of a three TD game it all adds up to an over. It may be the
backdoor fashion, but this game will go over. Take the over of 41.
