NFL
Sports Interaction Staff
September 5, 2017

Falcons vs. Bears Point Spread: NFL Week 1 Odds, Prediction

Fresh off likely one of the most devastating Super Bowl defeats in history, the Atlanta Falcons look to return to the NFL championship beginning with a Week 1 encounter with the host Chicago Bears. The Falcons still boast one of the most imposing offenses in the game behind star quarterback Matt Ryan, while the Bears will look to surprise people with a completely retooled offense and an underrated defense.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears

Point spread: Bears +7

Date: Sunday, September 10, 1 p.m.

Soldier Field — Chicago, Ill.

Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Bears find themselves a one-touchdown underdog in Week 1 NFL odds according to Sports Interaction, with the total of 49.5 one of the highest on the Sunday schedule.

The Falcons made over betters very wealthy last season, posting a 13-2-1 O/U mark in the regular season and playing above the total in all three of their postseason games. Not much should change on that front, with all of Atlanta’s top weapons back in the fold. The Bears were an 8-8 team O/U in 2016, but went over in their last three games and might surprise some people if rookie Mitchell Trubisky can repeat his success from his stint with North Carolina – that’s if he gets on the field. Veteran Mike Glennon currently holds the No. 1 QB job while Trubisky is pegged as the backup.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are loaded for bear, but there are questions about how different the offense will look with Kyle Shanahan now in San Francisco and Steve Sarkisian taking over the offensive reins. One thing fans and bettors should expect: A lot more focus on Julio Jones inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. Jones, one of the top receivers in football, saw just eight red-zone targets last season; by comparison, Devonta Freeman saw 16 red-zone targets.

Chicago Bears

With the signing of Glennon and the drafting of Trubisky, the Bears’ quarterback situation could really go either way. Whoever becomes the long-term starter will face an uphill challenge after Alshon Jeffery bolted for Philadelphia and Cameron Meredith suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. The passing game should get a boost from a robust rush attack led by Jordan Howard, who should see plenty of work and will run behind a healthier offensive line.