The Chicago Bears (8-8) visit the New Orleans Saints (12-4) for a 4:40 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday of NFL Wild Card Weekend. Below, we preview the Bears-Saints betting odds and lines and make our NFL picks and predictions.
Bears at Saints: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 7:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bears +375 (bet $100 to win $375) | Saints -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Bears +10 (-115) | Saints -10 (-105)
- Over/Under: 47.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Bears at Saints: Game notes
- The Bears snuck into the postseason as the NFC’s No. 7 seed. Despite losing 35-16 to the Green Bay Packers in the regular-season finale, they earned the conference’s final playoff spot when the Arizona Cardinals lost the same day.
- This is the Bears’ second postseason appearance in the last three seasons but only their third in the last 11 – their last playoff win was at the end of the 2010 season.
- The Saints won the NFC South behind a 9-game win streak in the middle of the season and a sweep of QB Tom Brady and the division runner-up Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- This is the Saints’ fourth consecutive postseason appearance. They were upset in a home Wild Card game by the Minnesota Vikings 26-20 in overtime last season. The year before, they lost a controversial 26-23 OT game, also at home, to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
- Midseason offensive line adjustments by the Bears, who were 5-7 after Week 13, resulted in giving QB Mitchell Trubisky (2,055 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, 8 interceptions) enough protection. It also opened holes for the running attack as RB David Montgomery ran for 598 of his 1,070 rushing yards in the final six games.
- Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 2,942 passing yards with 24 touchdowns against 6 interceptions in 12 games – he missed four games after suffering a punctured lung and broken ribs in Week 10. RB Alvin Kamara (team-high 932 rushing yards, 16 TDs) didn’t play last week due to COVID-19 protocols but is expected back Sunday.
- New Orleans won 26-23 in overtime at Chicago in Week 8 as Brees threw for 280 yards and 2 TDs in the victory. QB Nick Foles started for the Bears and finished with 272 passing yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception.
Betting stats:
- ATS: Bears 8-8 | Saints 9-7
- O/U: Bears 8-8 | Saints 10-6
Bears at Saints: Key injuries
Bears
- WR Darnell Mooney (ankle) questionable
- WR Cordarrelle Patterson (personal) questionable
- WR Allen Robinson (hamstring) questionable
- CB Buster Skrine (concussion) questionable
- LB Roquan Smith (elbow) questionable
- CB Jaylon Johnson (shoulder) questionable
Saints
- G Nick Easton (concussion) questionable
- DE Trey Hendrickson (neck) questionable
Bears at Saints: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Saints 30, Bears 13
Money line (?)
AVOID. The Saints will win, but the -500 price is not worth the risk.
Against the spread (?)
NEW ORLEANS -10 (-105) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. Not only do the Saints have the fifth-best scoring offense, averaging 30.1 points per game, but their defense also ranks fifth in points allowed (21.1 PPG).
Breaking it down more, the defense yields just 93.9 rushing yards per game to rank fourth and 217.0 passing YPG to rank fifth. Chicago, which is fortunate to even be in the postseason, will struggle on both ends of the ball.
Over/Under (?)
The UNDER 47.5 (-115) is the way to go. The Bears will have trouble finding the end zone against the Saints defense.
Keep an eye on the injury report. If LB Smith and CB Johnson are both unavailable for Chicago, this play turns into a half-unit wager as the New Orleans offense could put up 35 or more points.
Want action on this NFL game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Also see:
- Bet Slippin’ Podcast
- 3 keys for Chicago’s offense vs. New Orleans (Bears Wire)
- WR Sanders shares what HC Payton told him after $500K reception (Saints Wire)
| Johnny’s 2020-21 NFL record / Strongest plays | 28-26-2 / 14-11-1 |
| 2019-20 NFL record / Strongest plays | 17-10-1 / 7-4 |
| 2021 overall record (all sports) / Strongest plays | 15-8 / 8-4 |
| 2020 overall record (all sports) / Strongest plays | 178-147-4 / 87-61-1 |
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