The San Francisco 49ers (2-4, 2-1 away) travel to the midwest to take on the Chicago Bears (3-4, 2-1 home) in an NFC showdown with both teams desperate for a victory. San Francisco enters the week having lost four straight, while the Bears are on a two-game slide of their own.
Sunday’s showdown is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. EST inside Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. San Francisco is a 4-point favorite, and the over-under total is at 40 points.
What to Know – San Francisco 49ers
The Niners are trying to find the answers after dropping four in a row, three of those losses by single digits. San Francisco needs a win Sunday because its schedule doesn’t get any easier with home contests against Arizona and the LA Rams back-to-back.
San Francisco has used both veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Trey Lance under center this season, with Garoppolo starting the last game with Lance out with an injury. The rookie signal-caller is expected to practice in a limited capacity this week, but his status for Sunday’s contest is unclear.
Tight end George Kittle is sidelined on the injured reserve, so wide receiver Deebo Samuel has seen over 33% of the targets in the passing game, hauling in 38 receptions for 648 yards and four touchdowns. Elijah Mitchell leads the backfield, carrying the ball 63 times for 296 yards and two touchdowns in place of injured starter Raheem Mostert.
San Francisco is 1-5 against the spread this season but 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games against the Bears. The Niners are 1-2 ATS on the road in 2021.
What to Know – Chicago Bears
Chicago needs a short memory after getting taken behind the woodshed last weekend in Tampa. The Bears’ offense has scored just 17 points over the last two games and ranks at the bottom of the league in total yards.
Justin Fields is getting a taste of life as a rookie quarterback in the NFL. Fields is getting heavily pressured by opponents, causing six interceptions and 22 sacks this year. The rookie threw three interceptions in last week’s loss to Tampa Bay.
One of the bright spots for Chicago’s offense in recent weeks has been the play of rookie running back Khalil Herbert. The sixth-round pick has stepped into the starting role due to a slew of injuries, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and hitting 100-yards on the ground for the first time last week.
The Bears are 3-6 ATS in their last nine games and 2-4 ATS against teams from the NFC West. Chicago is 3-4 ATS this season and 2-1 ATS at Soldier Field.
The Pick is In
One of the least anticipated contests on the Week 8 slate, the tilt on the shores of Lake Michigan, is vital for both of these teams. Vegas is telling us to anticipate a low-scoring snoozer, and we like Chicago’s chances of keeping it close if neither team is scoring points.
Chicago might win this outright, but we will take the safe play with the home team and the points.
Betting Pick: Chicago Bears +4
