NFL Divisional Spherical Report: Bears Motion Changing into ‘Unprecedented’

[ad_1] There are many fascinating storylines in NFL Divisional Spherical odds. Amongst these is the uncommon case of a No. 1 seed, the Broncos, sitting as a house underdog.

However maybe the larger story: The Bears’ cardiac comebacks — most not too long ago on Wild Card Weekend vs. the Packers — are strongly resonating with the general public betting lots.

In brief, Chicago is a well-liked crew.

"The quantity of Bears motion we’ve seen the previous month is unprecedented," Caesars Sports activities head of soccer buying and selling Joey Feazel mentioned.

Oddsmakers and sharp bettors serve up their insights on all 4 matchups, as we roll out NFL Divisional Spherical betting nuggets.

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Candy Dwelling Chicago

Twice prior to now 4 weeks, the Bears mounted large fourth-quarter comebacks to publish thrilling wins over the Packers.

In Week 16, Chicago was a 1-point dwelling favourite and erased a 13-3 fourth-quarter deficit to win 22-16 in extra time. Then on Wild Card Weekend, the Bears — as 1.5-point dwelling underdogs — trailed 21-6 within the fourth quarter and pulled off an exciting 31-27 victory.

In NFL Divisional Spherical odds, Chicago is once more a house underdog, this time getting 4 factors vs. the Rams. That runs counter to the Bears being the No. 2 seed and the Rams being the No. 5 seed, which tells you what the oddsmakers take into consideration this 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday showdown.

Nevertheless, the general public lots disagree.

"L.A. is our No. 1 power-rated crew," Feazel mentioned. "However we’re in sort of a singular spot the place we're seeing extra Bears cash. They wager the Bears final weekend, and there’s simply extra pleasure for the Bears this week."

Caesars opened the Rams as 3.5-point favorites and has already toggled as much as Rams -4 a number of instances this week, even with the Bears getting a good quantity of point-spread play.

However extra so, bettors are banking on Chicago to publish one other outright upset.

"The motion proper now on the Bears is extra on the moneyline. Motion is a bit more balanced on the unfold," Feazel mentioned. "We’re gonna want the Rams. The Rams are an excellent [Super Bowl] futures place for us.

"We’d wish to see the Rams win, and the Bears cowl."

Chicago enters the sport at 12-6 straight up (SU) and 11-6-1 in opposition to the unfold (ATS). Equally, the Rams are 13-5 SU/11-7 ATS).

Frigid Air

Additionally value noting within the Rams-Bears matchup: bone-numbing climate in Chicago on Sunday night time. Temperatures could possibly be within the low teenagers, maybe even single digits, and with winds of 15-25 MPH, the actual really feel could possibly be subzero.

That’s impacting the whole, with early motion bringing the quantity down. Caesars opened at 51 and as of Wednesday was at 48.5.

"There’s much more Below cash up to now this week. It’s gonna be chilly, and the Rams are a West Coast indoor crew," Feazel mentioned. "However once we get to sport day, you’re all the time gonna see Over motion. Individuals need to see excessive scoring and numerous motion."

NFL Rocks on FOX

On Saturday night time, the sixth-seeded 49ers and top-seeded Seahawks step into the FOX prime-time highlight, for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff.

These two groups simply met in Week 18, with the NFC’s high seed on the road. Seattle’s protection stuffed San Francisco in a 13-3 highway win, with the Seahawks a 2.5-point favourite.

This time, the Seahawks are at dwelling and well-rested coming off a bye, so the unfold is considerably bigger. Caesars opened at Seattle -7, frolicked at -7.5 early within the week and on Wednesday was at Seahawks -7 (-114).

San Fran, coming off a 23-19 highway upset as 5.5-point underdogs vs. the Eagles, is 13-5 SU/12-6 ATS. Seattle is 14-3 SU/12-5 ATS, tying the Jaguars for the NFL’s greatest spread-covering report within the common season.

"There was heavy sharp motion in opposition to the 49ers on Wild Card Weekend, taking the Eagles. And that was the flawed aspect," Feazel mentioned. "This time, sharp motion is slightly bit extra on the 49ers."

San Fran can be getting a good quantity of public motion, extra so in Caesars’ Nevada market, which Feazel famous is a haven for 49ers bettors. So the e book is hoping for a Seahawks win by lower than a landing.

"We’re in all probability going to need Seattle to win and San Francisco to cowl," Feazel mentioned.

Public Patriots

Because the season progressed, the second-seeded Patriots (15-3 SU/13-5 ATS) flipped from a stay-away crew to an auto wager for the general public lots. New England is a money-making 12-3 ATS in its final 15 outings, together with a 16-3 victory as 3.5-point dwelling favorites vs. the Chargers within the wild-card spherical.

Feazel doesn’t anticipate the general public to again off this week in Sunday’s 3 p.m. ET matchup vs. the fifth-seeded Texans (13-5 SU/12-6 ATS). Houston is driving a 10-game win streak (7-3 ATS), together with a 30-6 wild-card rout as a 3.5-point favourite at Pittsburgh.

"It’s a shorter week for the Texans, since they performed on Monday night time. And Nico Collins is questionable," Feazel mentioned, alluding to the Houston wideout being in concussion protocol.

"Motion isn’t as one-sided because the Broncos-Payments sport, however there’s extra money on the Patriots."

NFL Sharp Aspect

Skilled bettor Randy McKay is on a four-game run within the NFL, together with a win on Texans -3 vs. Steelers within the wild-card spherical. As famous above, Houston posted a 30-6 blowout, with its vaunted protection scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

That’s sufficient to maintain McKay on the Texans this week, this time as a highway underdog. He already wager Houston +3.5, and he nonetheless likes the Texans at their midweek odds of +3 (even).

"This protection jogs my memory of the 2001 Baltimore Ravens," McKay mentioned. "Hopefully, C.J. Stroud doesn’t mess it up like he did in opposition to the Steelers."

Stroud misplaced two fumbles and threw an interception vs. Pittsburgh. However the Texans’ D bailed him out time after time. McKay expects Houston’s offense to get extra in on the act this week.

"I consider the Texans’ offensive line is best and can have success that the Chargers didn’t. And I consider Houston’s expertise will win out," he mentioned.

Prime Canine an Underdog

The Broncos (14-3 SU/7-10 ATS) earned the AFC’s high seed. But the sixth-seeded Payments (13-5 SU/9-9 ATS) are brief highway favorites in Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

Caesars opened Buffalo as a 1.5-point favourite, and the Payments have been at both -1.5 or -1 up to now. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was Payments -1 (even).

An enormous purpose Denver is the uncommon dwelling underdog in NFL Divisional Spherical odds: energy scores.

"The sentiment with the Broncos getting numerous shut wins, is that their report doesn’t mirror their energy score available in the market," Feazel mentioned. "The Payments have the highest energy score amongst AFC groups.

"So the Broncos doubtlessly going off as a ‘canine wouldn’t be stunning."

The sport continues to be a couple of days out, so there’s an opportunity the purpose unfold might flip and Denver might shut as a brief dwelling favourite. Feazel isn’t relying on that, as a result of the lots are on Josh Allen & Co.

"We’re gonna see sharp motion are available in on the Broncos, and the general public on the Payments," he mentioned. "I don’t see that altering, particularly on sport day. The Broncos will in all probability be our largest want of the weekend."

I Like Huge Bets and I Can't Lie

Via 12 weeks of the common season, the Bears have been a stunning 8-3 SU. However oddsmakers nonetheless weren’t offered on coach Ben Johnson’s speedy reversal of Chicago’s fortunes.

Forward of the Bears’ Week 13 Black Friday sport at Philadelphia, BetMGM nonetheless had Chicago at +6600 to win the Tremendous Bowl.

A high-roller then took a shot, placing $50,000 on the Bears. Chicago adopted with a 24-15 win over Philly. And with that, the Bears lastly shed their long-shot standing.

As famous above, Chicago is a house ‘canine vs. Los Angeles on Sunday night time. If Chicago wins and Seattle wins, the Bears will certainly be sizable highway underdogs within the NFC Championship Sport.

And the Bears will virtually assuredly be Tremendous Bowl underdogs, in the event that they get that far.

But when Chicago runs the desk, then that bettor hauls in a hefty $3.3 million.

That’s the biggest potential payout on any Tremendous Bowl wager up to now.

Right here’s hoping it survives the weekend!

Patrick Everson is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He's a distinguished journalist within the nationwide sports activities betting house. He’s primarily based in Las Vegas, the place he enjoys {golfing} in 110-degree warmth. Observe him on X: @PatrickE_Vegas.

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