Todd Bowles and his squad make their way to the Windy City, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET. It is time to continue the NFL odds series with a Buccaneers-Bears prediction and pick.
Tampa Bay enters the game sitting at 3-5. They suffered a brutal start, losing their first four games against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Green Bay Packers. The Buccaneers have since regained positive form, winning three of their last four games. They beat down the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons while losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Meanwhile, Chicago has a 6-2 record. They started the season with a 59-37 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. They lost in a 9-3 contest to the Minnesota Vikings before bouncing back with 27-7 and 23-12 victories over the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets. The Bears later lost 31-7 to the Green Bay Packers on the road then recovered with consecutive wins over the Atlanta Falcons (31-23), the New England Patriots (30-24) and the Seattle Seahawks (34-17).
Buccaneers vs. Bears Odds
Buccaneers: +6 (-110)
Bears: -6 (-110)
Over: 47.5 (-110)
Under: 47.5 (-110)
Buccaneers vs. Bears Key Injuries
Buccaneers- DL A'Shawn Robinson (Injured), WR Chris Godwin Jr. (Injured), OT Tristan Wirfs (Injured), RB Bucky Irving (Injured), QB Baker Mayfield (Injured), TE Cade Otton (Injured), RB Kenny Gainwell (Injured), LB Yaya Diaby (Out), S Tykee Smith (Injured), DL Elijah Roberts (Injured), WR Emeka Egbuka (Questionable)
Bears- RB Kyle Monangai (Questionable), LB D'Marco Jackson (Injured), CB Malik Muhammad II (Questionable), LB TJ Edwards (Injured), CB Tyrique Stevenson Sr. (Questionable), OG Joe Thuney (Injured), OG Theo Benedet (Injured), DL Grady Jarrett (Injured)
Buccaneers vs. Bears Betting Trends
- Home team is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
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Bears are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
- Bears are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Buccaneers last 4 games as a road favorite.
- Under is 5-1 in Buccaneers last 6 road games.
- Bears are 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Keys to Buccaneers vs. Bears matchup
The Buccaneers' offense will have to figure out how to create holes in the Bears' defense. Baker Mayfield has yet to regain his star form as he missed several games due to injury, but he will look to be effective in big moments throughout the game. He completed 68 out of 110 passes for 679 yards and three touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing 16 times for 80 yards. Bucky Irving looks to be explosive in the run game, racking up 147 carries for 728 yards and five touchdowns while catching 18 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Kenny Gainwell comes next with 58 rushes for 289 yards and three touchdowns, while Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka has combined for 55 catches for 483 yards and two touchdowns.
Article Continues BelowTampa Bay's defense will seek to be explosive with their playmaking against Chicago's offense, especially when Caleb Williams throws the ball into coverage. Josiah Trotter leads that side of the ball with 68 tackles, three pass deflections, three TFL, one sack, and one interception. Tykee Smith comes next with 43 tackles, three TFL. Alex Anzalone has been a standout in the secondary with 42 tackles, three interceptions, three pass deflections, and two TFL. Meanwhile, Davis Walker shines with his pass rushing with 22 tackles, six TFL and four sacks.
The Bears boast one of the best offenses in the entire league, building on their success from last season as they make a case for serious playoff contention. Quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for several weeks, but he has since returned to the fold to help Chicago flourish on offense. He has completed 112 out of 158 passes for 1,267 yards and six touchdowns and an interception while rushing 26 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns. D'Andre Swift leads the run game while being active as a pass-catcher. He has racked up 143 carries for 545 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 24 passes for 162 yards. Luther Burden III has broken out as the top performing receiver, making 42 catches for 547 yards and three touchdowns. Rome Odunze comes next with 28 receptions for 468 yards, while Colston Loveland has 33 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bears will be busy trying to hold off Tampa Bay's offense, especially on the ground. Dillon Thieneman leads that side of the ball with 52 tackles, five pass deflections, 2.5 TFL, and one interception. Devin Bush comes next with 44 tackles, five TFL, two fumble recoveries, and two sacks. Malik Muhammad II shines in the secondary with 21 tackles, five pass deflections, two TFL, and one interception. Meanwhile, Austin Booker excels with his pass rushing by putting up 23 tackles, five TFL, four sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Buccaneers vs. Bears Prediction and Pick
This matchup between the Buccaneers and the Bears stands out as an intriguing matchup. Chicago has excelled as an offensive squad, seeing Caleb Williams' activity on the field play a crucial role. Tampa Bay has ignited a spark through its defense, seeing that side of the ball pave the way for their latest victories to get back on track. If Baker Mayfield can get back on track, Chicago will be busy guarding their receivers. In the meantime, expect the hosts to defend homefield and be smart with their plays down the stretch. The Bears get the win in this one, while the under also hits.
Final Buccaneers vs. Bears Prediction and Pick: Bears -6 (-110) and under 47.5 (-110)