NFL Betting – Chicago Bears Prep For Ugly Season
Internet sportsbook odds - 2008 Chicago Bears Betting
- Who will start at quarterback, Kyle Orton or Rex Grossman?
- Can the offensive line hold up for a whole season?
- Will Chicago Bears take advantage of a weak division?
The online betting community isn't watching the Chicago Bears quarterback competition too closely. After all, it's not exactly Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning.
In one of the worst quarterback competitions – possibly in the history of the sport – Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton are seriously vying for the starting job. In most cases, two quarterbacks of this caliber should be fighting for the No. 3 role. This tandem combined for seven touchdowns, nine interceptions and eight fumbles last year.
Compounding the problems will be a decrepit offensive line, which just lost first-round pick and projected starting left tackle, Chris Williams, for an extended period of time.
The backfield behind the muddled quarterback situation is unproven. Rookie Matt Forte appears to be the starter and although rookie running backs tend to develop quickly, there's no guarantee that Forte can be an impact player given the situation around him.
The receiving corps is a group of washups, but for the Bears, that still might represent an upgrade. Marty Booker, Brand Lloyd, Mark Bradley (if he's healthy) and rookie Earl Bennett, who is the all-time leading receiver in SEC history, should be a better group than last year.
The Bears offense is clearly bad and the defense will once again have to carry them. The question is can they do it?
The defense is still solid but is not at the Super Bowl caliber it was a couple of years ago. Online betting sharps noticed this defense take a big step backwards last year. That was partially due to injuries, but even so, the Bears have some holes.
Starting with the positives, the Bears do have an excellent defensive line. Tackle Tommie Harris is MVP-caliber while ends Alex Brown, Mark Anderson and Adewale Ogunleye are a good trio.
The linebacking corps is still strong with Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, while the cornerbacks are solid with Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman.
Safety figures to be a problem as Mike Brown is back, but he is now 30-years-old. He's a leader but he's only participated in 21 games over the last four years because of injuries. His partner, Brandon McGowan is decent but unspectacular.
The one hope for the Bears is that their division is weak. The Detroit Lions are rebuilding while the Green Packers and the Minnesota Vikings might have holes at quarterback. Even so, the Vikings now have a better defense and the Packers are better all around. Even the Lions might be a superior team than the Bears, who have fallen off the face of the Earth after appearing in the 2006 Super bowl.
Stan Simmons' Pick: Bears under 8 wins
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Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions?
