Let the record show that even though some fans may have lost confidence in the Chicago Bears after losses in Week 6 and 7, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas didn’t. And after watching the Buffalo Bills fall to the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, that’s not changing in Week 9.
After opening as an 8.5-point road favorite against the Bills when updated lines were moved after the conclusion of Monday Night Football, the Westgate Sportbook in Las Vegas has the Bears as a whopping 10-point favorite to win on Sunday. That’s a quick push by the public that shows faith in Chicago winning … and doing so with ease against an undermanned Buffalo bunch. Even then, the Bears as a double-digit road favorite just looks weird.
A 10-point spread isn’t just a big number for a road team to cover, it’s literally the biggest spread in Week 9. And it’s not like our friends in Vegas see a high-scoring affair on the horizon. Quite the opposite, in fact. The over-under has been set at 37.5, which is the lowest total in this week’s slate of games.
Between the Bears’ return to first place in the NFC North and the Bills coming off a lopsided loss and needing to turn to Nathan Peterman at quarterback while coming off a short week, this seemed inevitable. I mean, the Bills are a total mess right now and the Bears should be expected to win handily.
In short, oddsmakers and wagerers alike see a low-scoring, one-sided affair that goes the Bears’ way on Sunday. Chicago has been in its share of tight games this year, so another low-stress win wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Of course, anything can happen on any given Sunday. Just don’t let it be this Sunday.