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Even at 4-1, the Bears Are Still Getting No Respect in Super Bowl Odds; Are They Worth Betting?

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated Oct 9, 2020 · 6:29 AM PDT

Khalil Mack rushing the paser
Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack sacked Tom Brady twice on Thursday as the 4-1 Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-19. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire.
  • The Chicago Bears are off to a 4-1 start for the first time since the 2012 season
  • Chicago rallied for a 20-19 victory over the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday
  • Read below for updated Super Bowl odds and analysis for the 2020 NFL season

Five weeks into the NFL season, it still seems as though there are more questions than answers regarding the Chicago Bears.

Are they as good as their record indicates? Is Nick Foles about to work his magic and lead another improbable run? And most of all, should you be investing in a Bears betting market?

The price is right.

Thursday’s 20-19 home-field win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enabled Chicago to improve to 4-1 on the NFL season. Despite the success, Chicago’s being shown no love and little respect from the oddsmakers.

The Bears are still available at a betting line of +5000 at BetMGM in the 2020 Super Bowl odds. That ties them for 16th place in the Super Bowl futures market.

Super Bowl 55 Odds

Team Odds
Kansas City Chiefs +325
Baltimore Ravens +700
Seattle Seahawks +700
Green Bay Packers +1000
New Orleans Saints +1200
Arizona Cardinals +5000
Chicago Bears +5000
Philadelphia Eagles +5000

Odds taken Oct. 9 at BetMGM

Chicago’s only victory in the big game came in Super Bowl 20.

Second (Half) City

Thursday marked the third time in four victories that Chicago rallied in the second half for a victory. It was also the third time that the Bears have overcome a double digit-point deficit.

Tampa Bay led 13-0 in the first quarter. In Week 4, Chicago trailed the Atlanta Falcons 26-10 in the fourth quarter before scoring 20 unanswered points for a 30-26 triumph.

During their season opener, Chicago downed the Detroit Lions 27-23. The Bears entered the fourth quarter down 23-6 and scored 21 unanswered points.

They never trailed in their 17-13 victory over the New York Giants in Week 2.

Is It Nick’s Time Again?

Is Nick Foles kryptonite to Brady? Before Thursday’s game, Brady was 5-0 in his NFL career against the Bears. But now he’s 0-2 lifetime against Foles.

In 2018, Foles replaced an injured Carson Wentz and led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title. He beat Brady and the New England Patriots in the big game.

 

Thursday was the first win by Foles as Chicago’s starting QB. He came off the bench to replace Mitchell Trubisky in the comeback victory at Atlanta.

Let’s not forget that the last time the Bears went to the Super, they did so with Rex Grossman at QB.

Mack Sack Attack

Not to be forgotten in Thursday’s victory is the performance of Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack. He sacked Brady twice in the game. That gives Mack 3.5 sacks through five games.

It was the first time that Mack recorded a pair of sacks going back to Week 3 of last season against Washington. That’s a 17-game stretch.

In 2018, Mack posted 12.5 sacks and the Bears went 12-4 and won the NFC North. Last season, he recorded 8.5 sacks and Chicago finished the season 8-8.

Which Bears Are These?

Thursday, the Bears entered the game 3-1 for the third season in succession and the fifth time since 2012.

Last season, they embarked upon a four-game losing streak starting with Week 5 and never recovered.  In 2018, they lost two in a row but rebounded to win nine of their last 10 and take the division.

A 3-1 start in 2013 also ended up like last season, in an 8-8 outcome. The year prior, Chicago rolled to a 7-1 start. They ended up 10-6 and missed the playoffs. They were the first NFL team to open 7-1 and not be postseason participants since Washington in 1996.

Does Chicago Deserve More Respect?

The 1-3 Dallas Cowboys (+3000) and the COVID-infected Tennessee Titans (+4000) are both currently given better odds to win the Super Bowl than the Bears.

That doesn’t seem fair but casting Chicago as a legit contender also isn’t rational at this juncture. Tampa Bay was the first team to fall to the Bears with a winning record. Their other three victories were all against NFL tire fires.

They get Carolina next week, another potential free spot. After that, we’ll find out who the real Bears are. They’ll face the Rams, Saints, and Packers over a five-week span.

At this stage, it’s unwise to invest in a Bears market at any price.

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