Bears vs. Steelers Point Spread: NFL Week 9 Odds, Prediction
Two of the NFL’s most popular teams face off on Monday night to close Week 9 as the Chicago Bears visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh opened as a 6.5-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a small total of 40 points.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Bears-Steelers should do tremendous TV ratings and betting action simply because of the popularity of both franchises. That’s about all they have in common – well, both are largely knows for their defence — because the Steelers have been one of the most stable, successful teams in the NFL over the years while the Bears have struggled.
Chicago leads the all-time series 19-7-1 but they have never met in the playoffs and aren’t going to this season, either. The most recent meeting was in 2017 in Chicago and the Bears won 23-17 in overtime.
Note that the NFL Trade Deadline was Tuesday afternoon so both teams might have made a move or two by then – the Bears could sell off a few pieces.
Chicago Bears
How down are Bears fans on head coach Matt Nagy? They were thrilled that he missed Sunday’s game in COVID protocols and Chicago’s offence actually did look better without him in a 33-22 home loss to San Francisco, the team’s third straight loss but most points scored since Week 4. Rookie QB Justin Fields was a major bright spot in throwing for 175 yards and a TD and rushing for 103 yards and a beautiful 22-yard TD. The rest of the season is basically all about developing Fields. Nagy should be back this week but almost surely not back next season. Top running back David Montgomery remains out injured but rookie sixth-round pick Khalil Herbert has been a nice find in his place with at least 72 yards rushing in four consecutive games. Star pass-rusher Khalil Mack missed Week 8 injured and it’s not clear if he will play Monday. Chicago is 1-7 ATS in its past eight as an underdog.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh won its third in a row Sunday, upsetting the Browns 15-10 in Cleveland. The defence has really stepped up in that run; T.J. Watt is second in the NFL with 8.5 sacks. The Steelers couldn’t attempt a field goal or extra point in the second half because kicker Chris Boswell was blown up on a trick play and left with a concussion. Not clear if he will be ready for Monday. Boswell has been the NFL’s most accurate kicker since 2019, making 94 per cent (60 of 64) of his attempts. Tight end Eric Ebron missed the game with a hamstring injury. Pittsburgh ranks 28th in the league in passing, 29th in scoring and 30th in rushing. The Steelers are 4-1 ATS in their past five November games.
CHI
PIT