Sure, it’s just a preseason game, but it’s still is an NFL game and the nation is positively PUMPED for the return of football. This Thursday’s annual Hall of Fame Game match between the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens kicks off the preseason phase of the NFL calendar, and it figures to be a very interesting one even though many starters are not expected to take part. Will the Bears open up the preseason with a victory? Or will the Ravens torch Chicago? Read on for a preview of this contest.
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Betting Preview for the Chicago Bears vs Baltimore Ravens NFL Preseason Hall of Fame Game on August 2, 2018
Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton Ohio
When: Thursday, August 2, 2018, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Chicago Bears (+2) vs Baltimore Ravens (-2) – view all 2018 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: NBC
Betting on the Chicago Bears: Point Spread +2 / Moneyline +105
It’s the second year of the Mitchell Trubisky “era”, and a lot is expected of last year’s second overall pick under center for the Bears. That said, fans may not be able to see much of Trubisky this Thursday – if he even suits up at all –, as the Bears could opt to give the backups more opportunity to show what they got. That likely means more snaps for backup quarterbacks in Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray. Daniel appeared in just one game last season for the New Orleans Pelicans and five over the last three campaigns. Daniels signed a two-year deal with the Bears back in March, and this game against the Ravens is an opportunity for Daniels to prove he’s ready to step up in the regular season should anything cause Trubisky to miss contests. Also watch out for tight end Adam Shaheen to capitalize on his snaps this Thursday. The tight end was drafted in the second round in 2017, but did not see much action last year because of the arrival of Trey Burton.
Betting on the Baltimore Ravens: Point Spread -2 / Moneyline -125
Ravens head coach seemed to have selected the quarterbacks who will lead the team this Thursday against the Bears but opted not to reveal it. “I never really talk about that, Harbaugh said of his choice of signal-callers to roll out in the Hall of Fame Game, per Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun. “We just go do it. But we have the quarterback rotation set, and then we’ll organize the rest of it in the next day or two,” Harbaugh added. In any case, it would be interesting to see what the pair of rookie Lamar Jackson and Robert Griffin III could do on the field. Jackson, who was selected 32nd overall by Baltimore in this year’s NFL Draft, is currently behind Joe Flacco in the depth chart, while another former Heisman Trophy winner in Griffin is third in the pecking order. Speaking of Harbaugh, it seems that the head coach is taking preseason games a tad more seriously than other coaches, as evidenced by his 4-0 record in his last four games in August.
Writer’s Prediction
Baltimore wins, 21-17.
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