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One of the NFL’s oldest rivalries comes to Thursday Night Football tonight as the Green Bay Packers take on the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. These two teams are definitely in different places right now, but they always seem to be able to put on an entertaining match-up when they play each other. Green Bay is just 12-11 against the spread against the Bears since 1992 so these two teams could play a close one like they did in both games last season.
The Bears come into this one desperate for a win. They are just 1-5 on the year and are averaging a low 16.8 points per game while allowing 23.8 per. This is definitely a transition year for the Bears who may be without Jay Cutler tonight, he is listed as questionable.
For Green Bay, there are definitely question marks surrounding this team. Last week’s home loss to the Cowboys was an ugly one as there were numerous blown opportunities. Despite a 3-2 record with both losses coming to first place teams, many fans are calling for the head of coach Mike McCarthy. A loss here and they just might get it.
NFL Betting Tips:
This game comes down to the Packers offense. If they show up and play like everyone believes they are capable of, then they win this one easily. If they don’t, it could be a struggle. The Bears are exactly the kind of team that they need to be beating up on and they can’t afford a poor performance here.
For the Bears, it’s about putting points on the board. In four of their six games this season they have put more yards on the board then their opponent, but only have one win to show for it. That is not a winning formula. If they are going to potentially pull the upset they need to limit their turnovers and finish their scoring chances.
Of the two scenarios laid out above, the Packers offense showing up seems far more likely. They have more weapons and the far better quarterback. The line on this one is a bit high, but honestly we should be more surprised that it isn’t in the double digits. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Packers -7.5 is a good value play.
College Football Betting Tips:
If the NFL game gets out of hand, thankfully we have some college football action to switch over to. The top game on the slate is Miami and Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes are in a rough spot after losing two in a row by a combined eight points. They were in position to win both, and thus be undefeated, but are now fighting for their season.
This is as close as a match-up as you’ll see. The team yardage and points per game starts are nearly identical, separated by just 1.4 yards on offense, and they play very similarly. So much so that it’s hard to pick a winner in this one. The total, however, is a great place to pick a side on the total. These teams both play great defense and can be slowed down on the offensive side. The total on this one seems a bit high considering this should be more of a defensive battle. Under 51 points seems like a strong play.
