Preview and Pick for an NFC North Divison Showdown

It’s week 10 of the NFL season and the NFC North division might already be wrapped up. The Minnesota Vikings have a commanding lead in the division while the Lions, Bears, and Packers have all struggled to play any kind of consistent football. Two of those teams match up this weekend with the Detroit Lions heading to Solider Field to take on the Chicago Bears. We’ll go over a preview of the game and then get into betting information and picks.

Game Preview

The Detroit Lions enter this week off a divisional win against the Packers that brought their record to 2-6 on the season. The nine points they allowed on defense was the lowest total by far this year. Detroit’s defense hadn’t allowed anything lower than 24 points prior to last weekend and enter this week either last or close to last in a majority of defensive categories.

Detroit’s offense has shown flashes of immense potential but at times has also been nonexistent. Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift have led one of the league’s top rushing attacks and have combined for nine rushing touchdowns. They have a favorable match-up this weekend against a Bears defense allowing an average of 147.2 rushing yards a game and allowing their opponents to convert on third down 50.4% of the time.

One of the only teams that have been better at running the ball this season has been the Chicago Bears. Justin Fields has had back-to-back weeks of stellar offensive play and even set the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in one game last weekend. The Bears might rank last in most passing categories but there is optimism surrounding the passing game now with the recent play of Fields and the addition of Chase Claypool.

Whichever way the Bears decide to attack the Lions defense they should find success. The Lions allow an average of 417.3 total yards a game so the momentum Chicago’s offense has right now should be able to continue come Sunday.

Betting Analysis and Pick

The home team Bears opened at -2.5 but that has been bet up to -3 where it currently sits in most sportsbooks. The point total opened at 47 but that has also seen an increase as it now sits at 48.5 across the board.

When it comes to betting on this game I’ll be taking the over of 48.5. If there was any team to allow Justin Fields to outperform what he did last weekend it would be the Lions. Both teams' defenses can allow points in bunches whether through the air or on the ground and I don’t think a 27-24 final score will be that surprising come Sunday.

If the Lions find themselves falling behind because of the defense I trust Goff and the Lions receivers to be able to break a few big plays. Amon-Ra St. Brown can easily have a big day against this Bears secondary who got shredded last weekend against Miami. The over has gone 4-1 in the Bears last five games and I think that will continue this Sunday.