Lions vs. Bears Free Pick
NFC North rivals will battle each other in the Windy City this weekend when the Chicago Bears host the Detroit Lions. Let’s breakdown the matchup.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Bears 7-point favorites over the Lions in Week 1, while the over/under total has been set at 43.5 points.
Lions Win If:
The secondary steps up and overachieves. Louis Delmas is a future star at the free safety position, but the Lions have major issues at both cornerback spots and at strong safety, where C.C. Brown is brutal in coverage. The Bears have a couple of young playmakers in Devin Hester and Johnny Knox in their new offense and Chris Houston and Jonathan Wade will be tested in coverage. The front seven now has a couple of playmakers in rookie Ndamukong Suh and free agent Kyle Vanden Bosch, who will both help generate pressure on Jay Cutler. But unless the back seven comes to play, then it’s going to be a long day in Chicago.
Bears Win If:
Cutler can limit the turnovers. Cutler’s issues with interceptions last year are well known and things may only get uglier now that he’ll be expected to throw even more than he did last year. Mike Martz is usually quick to abandon the run, which means Cutler needs to protect the ball and not force passes into coverage. He has more than enough weapons to beat a bad Detroit secondary, but not even he throws a couple of picks to keep the Lions in the game.
Prediction:
I like the Lions. The Bears are going to be a boom or bust team, but I’m not entirely convinced that Cutler is the right fit for Martz’s offense. He could come out and throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns, but if he also throws three interceptions than the Lions are going to keep this game within a touchdown. I’m intrigued by rookie Jahvid Best and Matthew Stafford should be better in his second year now that he has some starting experience under his belt. I also think Calvin Johnson can take advantage of a porous Chicago secondary. I don’t know if the Lions win outright, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do and I expect a somewhat surprising shootout.
2010 NFL Week 1 Free Pick: DETROIT LIONS +7 & OVER 43.5