Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Prediction, Best Bets, Odds, Depth Charts (9/17/23)

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicks off this Sunday at 1:00pm EST in Tampa Florida as a home game for the Buccaneers. Chicago is currently a +3 underdog and +128 on the moneyline while the total is set at 41. Read on for more Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers best bets and predictions as points may come at a slow pace in this matchup.

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction & Best Bet

After an offseason full of hype for the Chicago Bears, they fell flat on their face with a week one loss to the Green Bay Packers. Their offense failed to show any sign of progression, even with the addition of DJ Moore who was expected to open the pass game as a true number one target. Fields found himself struggling yet again as he threw for as many touchdowns as he did interceptions, serving as a short game passer instead of stretching the field.

As for the defense, they did a respectable job at re-tooling the unit throughout the offseason. While some questioned the amount of money thrown at the linebacking unit, it immediately paid off as they made a major stride in limiting the ground game by holding Aaron Jones to just 41 yards and AJ Dillon to 19. This was a unit that ranked near dead last in Def Rush DVOA last season.

As for Tampa Bay, they faced a much more high-powered offense as they had to deal with the trio of Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, and Jordan Addison. Defense is expected to be their strong suit and they did just exactly that while giving their own offense ample opportunities to maintain their lead.

The defensive line generated pressure to the backfield, forcing the ball out of Cousins hands early and often while limiting Jefferson’s second half receiving production to near nothing. The pressure from the defensive line will be on display once again as they take on a very weak Bears o-line. This will force Field into scrambling situations, containing his rushing with their linebackers and making him throw over the top as a very inaccurate passer.

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction & Best Bet: Under 41

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Odds

The term overreaction dominates week two lines as the Bears opened as a -1.5 favorite on the lookahead and now find themselves as a +3 underdog. Bettors have since bought back on Chicago, taking them back down to +2.5 in some shops as of writing. It’s a tale of two different stories as the Bears failed to live up to their hype early while the Bucs far exceeded their expectations.

As for the total, points are expected to be scored at a moderate pace as oddsmakers opened the number at 44 on the lookahead line. Bettors have since bet the under, crashing the number down to 41 since their week one results. Even down a few points, the game script still calls for the under as short throws and a heavy dose of the run are expected against two respectable defenses with talent at linebacker.

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Key Injuries

Both starting units come into this one fairly healthy as only Kyler Gordon for the Bears is out while Calijah Kancey and Carlton Davis III are listed as questionable for the Bucs.

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Key Matchups

Can the Bears limit the duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin?

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Vs. Bears Secondary

While the passing production has certainly taken a step back with Baker Mayfield under center, he at least finds himself with one of the best receiving duos in the NFL. The step back in quality of passer relieves some pressure off of opposing secondaries, yet it still remains to be a tall task to limit the star duo.

Chris Godwin ices the game, Bucs Win 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cK7UHSYWgW

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 10, 2023

As for the Bears, they are already without Kyler Gordon as he deals with an injury. In order to help out their corners, Eddie Jackson may be used in shadow coverage as Mike Evans tries to exploit the gaps. The linebacking unit may also have to resort to anchoring the middle, using less blitz packages and throwing more coverage across the middle.

The extra coverage may turn into more turnover worthy plays, killing any momentum that the Bucs passing game generates.

Chicago Bears Depth Chart

QB: Justin Fields
RB1: Roschon Johnson
RB2: Khalil Herbert
LWR: DJ Moore
RWR: Chase Claypool
SWR: Darnell Mooney
TE1: Cole Kmet

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Depth Chart

QB: Baker Mayfield
RB1: Rachaad White
RB2: Sean Tucker
LWR: Mike Evans
RWR: Trey Palmer
SWR: Chris Godwin
TE1: Cade Otton

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