Bears Blitz

Published by OddsShark.com on October 1, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

With their 0-3 start to this season both straight up and against the spread, the Chicago Bears now own an eight-game losing streak, going just 2-6 ATS during that span. The Bears look to break out of their funk when they host the Oakland Raiders on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.

Point spread: The Raiders opened as one-point favorites; the total was 44 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 21.1-19.4 Bears

Why the Raiders can cover the spread

Oakland just snapped an 11-game road losing streak last week with a 27-20 victory at Cleveland, winning outright as a three-point road dog. The Raiders led 17-3 at the half and 27-10 in the fourth quarter and then held on from there. Charles Woodson picked off Browns quarterback Josh McCown in Oakland territory on the final drive of the game to secure the victory.

The Raiders outrushed Cleveland 155-39, as running back Latavius Murray went off for 139 yards, quarterback Derek Carr threw for 314 yards and two scores with zero interceptions, and the Oakland defense recorded five sacks.

So following an ugly season-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Raiders have won back-to-back games for the first time in three seasons and stand at 2-1 both SU and ATS on the season. If Oakland can pull off a repeat performance this week, it will own its first three-game winning streak since 2011.

Why the Bears can cover the spread

Chicago just lost out at Seattle last week 26-0, and the only silver lining may be that it wasn’t worse. The Bears trailed only 6-0 at the half but gave up a 105-yard kickoff return for a score to open the second half and couldn’t mount a comeback with backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen subbing for the injured Jay Cutler.

Chicago opened this season with a good effort, a 31-23 loss at home to the Green Bay Packers, and then lost to the Arizona Cardinals 48-23. The Bears actually outgained both the Packers and the Cardinals, but turnovers and special teams miscues proved costly.

Cutler and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery have both missed recent action with pulled hamstrings, but there’s a chance they both could return this week. If Chicago can get the running game going with Matt Forte, who ran for 141 against Green Bay, and clean up the mistakes, it could pick up its first victory under new head coach John Fox this week.

Smart pick

The last time Oakland went off as a favorite on the road came back in Week 2 of the 2012 season; the Raiders lost that game at Miami 35-13. This Oakland team may be improving, but giving points with the Raiders on the road still seems like an iffy proposition. The smart choice here is with the Bears.

Betting trends

The total has gone over in the Raiders’ last six games against the NFC North.

The Raiders are 4-19 SU in their last 23 games on the road in October.

The Bears are 4-15-1 ATS in their last 20 games at home.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.

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