Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers Prediction, Pick and Betting lines for SNF

• The 49ers are 3-point favorites over the Bears on Sunday Night Football
• San Francisco has been the NFL’s second most efficient offense since Week 11
• See my Bears vs 49ers prediction below, plus the latest betting lines for SNF

A pair of NFC teams fighting for the No. 1 seed square off on Sunday Night Football, as the Bears (11-4) visit the 49ers (11-4). Anytime you get a matchup between offensive gurus Ben Johnson and Kyle Shanahan, a shootout is likely, and online sportsbooks expect fireworks per the latest SNF odds. This game features a 52.5 point total as of writing, the second-highest on the Week 17 slate.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 pm ET from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, with NBC providing the broadcast coverage.

Here is my Bears vs 49ers prediction and pick, as well as the latest betting lines for SNF.

Bears vs 49ers Prediction and Pick

I’m taking San Francisco -3 as my Bears vs 49ers pick, as this line would look a whole lot different had Chicago not pulled off a miraculous comeback in Week 16 versus Green Bay. The Bears erased a 10-point deficit with three minutes to go, recovering an onside kick and converting a 4th and goal at the end of regulation, before winning it in OT.

The victory was the latest in a long line of Chicago wins that could have easily been a loss. It was their eighth one-score victory, and their sixth win after trailing in the final 2 minutes of the fourth quarter, the most since the merger.

I’ll give Caleb Williams and Johnson their flowers for putting together a much-improved offense from a season ago, but like the old saying goes, “they can’t keep getting away with this”.

Also working against Chicago in this potential shootout is a banged-up receiving corps. Number one wideout Rome Odunze remains out, while emerging rookie Luther Burden is banged up.

The Bears’ offense is built on running the ball and play action, and as bad as San Fran’s defense has been lately, those are two areas they defend well. The Niners are third in rushing yards against since Week 11, and held Jonathan Taylor to only 46 yards on the ground last week.

As for their play action defense, they rank eighth in EPA/play action against and 14th in success rate.

Offensively, the 49ers have the look of a Super Bowl odds contender these days. Since Brock Purdy’s return in Week 11, they rank second in EPA/play, success rate, and EPA/drop back. San Fran has reeled off five straight wins with Purdy back under center, all by double-figures.

49ers Offense Since Week 11

Speaking of Purdy, he’s playing like an NFL MVP odds contender over the last few weeks. He’s thrown 8 TD passes in his last two starts alone, and should find success against a vulnerable Bears secondary, even if George Kittle sits due to his ankle injury.

Chicago has allowed the fifth most passing touchdowns this season, and the third most TD to opposing wideouts. The Bears can also be had on the ground, signaling a potential big game for Christian McCaffrey. Chicago ranks 21st in EPA/rush allowed and has yielded the eighth most rushing yards.

CHI Bears vs SF 49ers Betting Lines

Before making any Sunday Night Football wager, be sure to consult the best football betting apps. If you’re on the 49ers like me, make sure to visit DraftKings. They’re currently offering San Fran -3 at -112 odds, while most other commercial books have moved the spread to Niners -3.5.

Total-wise, the consensus over/under is 52.5, a number that five of the 49ers’ last seven games have eclipsed.

Odds as of Dec. 27. New customers can claim the DraftKings promo code and get a bonus to bet on SNF.

Per the NFL public betting percentages, these are two of the better teams against the spread this season. Chicago is 10-5 ATS so far, while San Fran is 9-5-1. The Niners have covered in four of their last five overall, beating the spread by an average of 12 points per outing.