Bears-49ers Betting Preview: Bet $10 on Chicago +6.5, Get $200 FREE

The Chicago Bears will open up their 2022 season against Kyle Shanahan and his San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field this Sunday afternoon.
Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, September 11 | 1 PM EST | Soldier Field | Chicago, IL
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Bears – 49ers Odds via BetMGM
TEAM | SPREAD | MONEY | TOTAL |
Bears | +6.5 (+100) | +260 | O 40.5 (-110) |
49ers | -6.5 (-120) | -320 | U 40.5 (-110) |
Chicago and San Francisco are two teams trending in opposite directions. The Bears will enter the 2022 campaign with new head coach Matt Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles as they attempt to resurrect the once proud franchise from irrelevancy.
San Francisco, on the other hand, is fresh off a NFC Championship appearance and once again will have one of the strongest rosters in the NFL this season.
Though both teams are in completely different tiers entering the year, both squads will have to rely on the arm of their second-year quarterbacks, Justin Fields in Chicago and Trey Lance out in San Fran.
Key Matchup: Battle of the Sophomore Gunslingers
While the 49ers clearly have the talent to be Super Bowl contenders in 2022, Lance’s viability under center is still a huge question mark.
Shanahan hasn’t minced words in his evaluation of his young signal caller this offseason. The head coach decided to go with just six team captains this year, noticeably leaving Lance by the wayside. Even though the team has had seven captains in both 2020 and 2021, they decided on six this year despite Lance finishing seventh in the team vote.
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This move will make it easier for the team to shift to Jimmy Garoppolo if Lance struggles. It’s important to note that Shanahan has gone an abysmal 8-27 without Jimmy G under center during is head coaching tenure in San Fran. Lance went 1-1 as a starter during in 2021, while Garoppolo went 9-6.
Based on everything we’ve seen and heard from both teams this offseason, it’s clear that Chicago will have the superior quarterback in this Week 1 matchup.
Justin Fields was stellar during the preseason. He earned a 90.4 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus, while completing 76 percent of his passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns.
On paper, the Niners will have the edge at nearly every position on Sunday, except for quarterback. It’s a quarterback driven league and the Bears have enough playmakers to be dangerous if Fields reaches his first-round potential this season.
An outright win from Chicago is still a dicey bet. San Fran’s talent is good enough to keep them afloat even if Lance can’t put it together. But this game will be much closer than most fans expect. I like the +6.5 for Chicago this week.
The Bears have been told this entire offseason that they’re a hopeless team. If the 49ers don’t take Chicago seriously in Week 1, Fields is talented enough to rally this Bears squad and pull off an opening day shocker.
Key Trends for Sunday’s contest
- The Bears are 1-7 in their last eight season openers.
- Bears last Week 1 win came in 2020 against Detroit.
- Chicago has last two of their last three matchups against San Francisco.
- The teams have traded wins over those three matchups.
- Chicago’s last win against San Fran was in 2018.
- Justin Fields vs Trey Lance – Fields Revenge Game Following NFL Draft Snub?
- San Francisco has won five straight against the spread.
- Chicago went 6-11 against the spread last season.
Picks: Chicago +6.5 (+100) | U 40.5 point total (-110)
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Mandatory Credit: Sports Illustrated