How to bet Philadelphia-Chicago
NFL Vegas Experts
Special to ESPN.com
ESPN INSIDER
ESPN Chalk's Vegas experts are here to provide analysis and best bets for all Week 2 games, including the Philadelphia-Chicago matchup on Monday night.
Note: Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday morning.
Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
Spread: Opened Chicago -2.5; now Chicago -3
Total: Opened; 42.5 now 42
PickCenter public consensus pick: 58 percent picked Philadelphia
Public perception: The Bears haven't been a public team for a while, so it's not surprising the public is siding with the Eagles after rookie quarterback Carson Wentz's impressive debut -- though it was against the Browns.
Wiseguys' view: This line opened Chicago -2.5 at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and several other Vegas and offshore books, and as low as -1 at offshore giant CRIS. Early sharp bettors jumped on the Bears, laying under a field goal. Some books went to 3.5, and that's where those who like the Eagles jumped in. The current line of Chicago -3 (-120) is where the books are getting the most balanced action.
Dave Tuley's take: The NFL Vegas Rankings that we're a part of at ESPN Chalk have the Eagles as half a point better than the Bears on a neutral field, so with Chicago's home-field advantage, we made the argument that the Bears should only be favored by a point or two and that there's value on the Eagles +3 (and obviously even better if you can get +3.5, which was still available at some books on Sunday morning and on most parlay cards). However, I can make a case that the Bears shouldn't be getting any points for home-field advantage.
Last year, they were 1-7 straight up and 1-6-1 ATS at home. In addition, in the only two games where the Bears were home favorites (against San Francisco and Washington), they lost both games outright. My only ATS loss in Week 1 was the Bears, and I'll probably take them as underdogs down the line, but I have no problem fading them as undeserving home faves in this spot.
The pick: Eagles +3 (EVEN)*.
Erin Rynning: Both of these teams expect much better results on the defensive side of the football in 2016. Last year, the Eagles finished 30th in the NFL, allowing 402 yards per game, but former coach Chip Kelly's tempo grinded away at the stop-unit's bite. There's still talent on this defense, led by Fletcher Cox as new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will again field a much stronger unit.
Meanwhile, the Bears radically changed direction under new coordinator Vic Fangio last season. They finished 25th, allowing 5.6 yards per play, and the personnel simply didn't fit the scheme. The Eagles will most likely play a conservative brand of football on the road with Wentz. Last week, the Eagles ran the ball 34 times and as this offensive line is much stronger this year. I think the Eagles will take the load of Wentz leading to a lower scoring field-goal type contest.
Pick: Under (and lean Eagles)
[h=3]63.5 receiving yards by Jordan Matthews (O/U -110)[/h]Wentz's debut left a lot of room for optimism, but it was just one game -- and one game against the Cleveland Browns, who had over one-third of its roster making its NFL debut last week. Still, there's no denying the target share for Jordan Matthews, who saw 13 targets on Wentz's 37 passes last week (35 percent); the next-closest Eagle was Zach Ertz (7 targets, 19 percent). Matthews did nothing to discourage further attention from Wentz -- the opportunities translated to 7 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.
A similar workload can be expected for Matthews on Sunday. The Bears have a more veteran defense than the Browns, but they had their own problems against the Texans. Houston wide receivers put up 167 yards on Sunday, including 107 yards by rookie Will Fuller. Using a 7.6 yards per target average means Matthews would need 9 targets against the Bears, putting Wentz at 26 attempts at a 35 percent share. Philadelphia wasn't shy about throwing in Week 1 -- they shouldn't be Monday night either.
The play: Over
[h=3]233.5 passing yards by Jay Cutler (O/U -110)[/h]
ESPN Chalk's Vegas experts are here to provide analysis and best bets for all Week 2 games, including the Philadelphia-Chicago matchup on Monday night.
Note: Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday morning.
Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
Spread: Opened Chicago -2.5; now Chicago -3
Total: Opened; 42.5 now 42
PickCenter public consensus pick: 58 percent picked Philadelphia
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<offer style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bears quarterback Jay Cutler started 16 games over the past two seasons, with an even 8-8 split on over/under 233.5 pass yards. Eagles pass defense splits under Kelly are completely useless, given his reliance on up-tempo offense that artificially inflated opponents snap counts and time of possession. How different is Philadelphia's philosophy under Peterson? In Week 1, the Eagles had an 18:40 advantage in time of possession, an unheard-of stat under Kelly.
How often will Cutler be on the field? The Bears gave up 129 rushing yards in Week 1 against the Texans, including allowing Lamar Miller to be one of only two players to top the century mark on the ground. Once he gets on the field, he's still dealing with an inconsistent Kevin White and Eddie Royal (one 50-reception season since 2011) to take the pressure off Alshon Jeffery.
The play: Under
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NFL Vegas Experts
Special to ESPN.com
ESPN INSIDER
ESPN Chalk's Vegas experts are here to provide analysis and best bets for all Week 2 games, including the Philadelphia-Chicago matchup on Monday night.
Note: Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday morning.
Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
Spread: Opened Chicago -2.5; now Chicago -3
Total: Opened; 42.5 now 42
PickCenter public consensus pick: 58 percent picked Philadelphia
Public perception: The Bears haven't been a public team for a while, so it's not surprising the public is siding with the Eagles after rookie quarterback Carson Wentz's impressive debut -- though it was against the Browns.
Wiseguys' view: This line opened Chicago -2.5 at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and several other Vegas and offshore books, and as low as -1 at offshore giant CRIS. Early sharp bettors jumped on the Bears, laying under a field goal. Some books went to 3.5, and that's where those who like the Eagles jumped in. The current line of Chicago -3 (-120) is where the books are getting the most balanced action.
Dave Tuley's take: The NFL Vegas Rankings that we're a part of at ESPN Chalk have the Eagles as half a point better than the Bears on a neutral field, so with Chicago's home-field advantage, we made the argument that the Bears should only be favored by a point or two and that there's value on the Eagles +3 (and obviously even better if you can get +3.5, which was still available at some books on Sunday morning and on most parlay cards). However, I can make a case that the Bears shouldn't be getting any points for home-field advantage.
Last year, they were 1-7 straight up and 1-6-1 ATS at home. In addition, in the only two games where the Bears were home favorites (against San Francisco and Washington), they lost both games outright. My only ATS loss in Week 1 was the Bears, and I'll probably take them as underdogs down the line, but I have no problem fading them as undeserving home faves in this spot.
The pick: Eagles +3 (EVEN)*.
Erin Rynning: Both of these teams expect much better results on the defensive side of the football in 2016. Last year, the Eagles finished 30th in the NFL, allowing 402 yards per game, but former coach Chip Kelly's tempo grinded away at the stop-unit's bite. There's still talent on this defense, led by Fletcher Cox as new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will again field a much stronger unit.
Meanwhile, the Bears radically changed direction under new coordinator Vic Fangio last season. They finished 25th, allowing 5.6 yards per play, and the personnel simply didn't fit the scheme. The Eagles will most likely play a conservative brand of football on the road with Wentz. Last week, the Eagles ran the ball 34 times and as this offensive line is much stronger this year. I think the Eagles will take the load of Wentz leading to a lower scoring field-goal type contest.
Pick: Under (and lean Eagles)
[h=3]63.5 receiving yards by Jordan Matthews (O/U -110)[/h]Wentz's debut left a lot of room for optimism, but it was just one game -- and one game against the Cleveland Browns, who had over one-third of its roster making its NFL debut last week. Still, there's no denying the target share for Jordan Matthews, who saw 13 targets on Wentz's 37 passes last week (35 percent); the next-closest Eagle was Zach Ertz (7 targets, 19 percent). Matthews did nothing to discourage further attention from Wentz -- the opportunities translated to 7 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.
A similar workload can be expected for Matthews on Sunday. The Bears have a more veteran defense than the Browns, but they had their own problems against the Texans. Houston wide receivers put up 167 yards on Sunday, including 107 yards by rookie Will Fuller. Using a 7.6 yards per target average means Matthews would need 9 targets against the Bears, putting Wentz at 26 attempts at a 35 percent share. Philadelphia wasn't shy about throwing in Week 1 -- they shouldn't be Monday night either.
The play: Over
[h=3]233.5 passing yards by Jay Cutler (O/U -110)[/h]
ESPN Chalk's Vegas experts are here to provide analysis and best bets for all Week 2 games, including the Philadelphia-Chicago matchup on Monday night.
Note: Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday morning.
Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
Spread: Opened Chicago -2.5; now Chicago -3
Total: Opened; 42.5 now 42
PickCenter public consensus pick: 58 percent picked Philadelphia
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<offer style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bears quarterback Jay Cutler started 16 games over the past two seasons, with an even 8-8 split on over/under 233.5 pass yards. Eagles pass defense splits under Kelly are completely useless, given his reliance on up-tempo offense that artificially inflated opponents snap counts and time of possession. How different is Philadelphia's philosophy under Peterson? In Week 1, the Eagles had an 18:40 advantage in time of possession, an unheard-of stat under Kelly.
How often will Cutler be on the field? The Bears gave up 129 rushing yards in Week 1 against the Texans, including allowing Lamar Miller to be one of only two players to top the century mark on the ground. Once he gets on the field, he's still dealing with an inconsistent Kevin White and Eddie Royal (one 50-reception season since 2011) to take the pressure off Alshon Jeffery.
The play: Under
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