The Chicago Bears (-550 to win the NFC North) continue to have success with or without Mitchell Trubisky. Owners of a five-game win streak, the Bears will try to extend their unbeaten run with a matchup against the careening New York Giants this coming weekend. The Giants are still hoping they could make the playoffs, but that seems more like a pipe dream than a realistic ambition as of the moment. The Giants are +12,500 to win the NFC East.
The Bears are running way with the top spot of the NFC North after improving to 8-3 following a 23-16 win over the Detroit Lions on the road on Thanksgiving. And they did that without quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who missed the game due to a shoulder injury. In his lieu was Chase Daniels. Daniels was surgical in his performance in the Detroit game, passing for 230 yards and two touchdowns with zero picks thrown on 27-of-37 completions. Trubisky is not yet a lock to start against the Giants, so Daniels might just get another turn under the limelight as starter. It’s no secret, however, that the Bears’ identity is their defense that is allowing just 19.2 points and only 316.1 total yards per game, ranked second and fourth in the NFL, respectively. Khalil Mack and the Bears’ pass rush also couldn’t wait to get their hands on Giants QB Eli Manning. The Giants have allowed the second most sacks in the league with 38. On the flip side, the Bears are tied for fourth in the NFL with 34.0 sacks.
The Bears are 2-0 ATS in their last two road games.
Betting on the New York Giants (3-8)
The Giants looked like they were on their way to making a statement by upsetting the defending Super Bowl champions when they erected a 16-point lead in last Sunday’s meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles on the road, but squandered that cushion to fall prey to Carson Wentz and company, 25-22. Eli Manning threw for 297 yards and a touchdown with an interception while completing 26 of 37 passes, while running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. The Giants have been too dependable on Barkley even though they have a talented receiving corps, led by Odell Beckham Jr., but they will have to continue riding the shoulders of the rookie, who will be a problem to any given defense. That means learning from their mistake of giving Barkley just five touches in the second half of the Philly game. The same is true for Beckham, who had 85 receiving yards on five receptions and nine targets in the loss to the Eagles.
The under is 4-2 in the Giants’ last six home games.
