[1:00 PM] Bears @ Buccaneers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Bears (2-6)

@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)

 

Current odds:

Chicago Bears: (-130)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (+110)

 

• ESPN simulations have Tampa Bay as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Tampa Bay to win as (TBD) favorites.

• The line for this game is Bears by 2 points.

• Jay Cutler returned from a thumb injury and led the Chicago Bears to a win two weeks ago, and the team only got healthier over its bye week. Cutler will try to make it two in a row Sunday, when he goes up against a struggling defense in the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

• The best news from Chicago coming out of the bye week was on the injury report, where nose tackle Eddie Goldman (ankle), guards Kyle Long (triceps) and Josh Sitton (ankle) and wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe) all were listed as limited but participated in practice. The returns of Long and Sitton should help an offensive line that dominated the Vikings and gave Jordan Howard enough room to run for 153 yards. Royal’s return would open the outside for Cutler, who spent more time cutting up the middle of the field with tight end Zach Miller and running backs Howard and Jeremy Langford in his return than he did throwing wide to Alshon Jeffery (four catches, 63 yards).

• Tampa Bay is allowing an average of 29 points – 29th in the NFL – and 398.9 yards (28th), and was carved up for 344 yards and four TDs by Matt Ryan in a 43-28 home loss to Atlanta last week. Winston threw three scoring passes without an interception in the setback and finished the game on the bench after suffering a knee injury but insists he is physically ready to go this week. Winston could get some help in the running game this week from Doug Martin (hamstring), who returned to practice for the first time since Week 2 and is questionable.

• Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (concussion) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday but is not yet out of the league’s protocol.

• Chicago CB Bryce Callahan (hamstring) is a limited participant at practice and is questionable.

• Cutler went 20-of-27 for 156 yards, one TD and no interceptions in a 26-21 win at Tampa Bay last season.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Chicago Bears

Confidence: 5/10

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