Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears
Sunday, 10/17/10, 1:00 PM EDT, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Chicago -6
Current Betting Line: Chicago -6.5
Opening Total: 37
Current Total: 37.5
Current Moneyline: Chicago -275 / Seattle +235
Seattle is looking to avoid its third consecutive 0-3 start on the road and is coming off a bye week that was filled with personnel moves. The Seahawks acquired running back Marshawn Lynch from Buffalo and dealt wide receiver Deion Branch to the Patriots. “I feel this change is a great opportunity for me, not only in football, but in life as well,” Lynch commented. “Everything that happened to me I feel is an opportunity.” The team is averaging just 79.5 yards per game and 3.6 a carry and will go against a Bears defense that has given up 78.6 rushing yards and 3.5 per carry. This will be the 12th regular-season meeting between the squads, with the Seahawks holding a 7-4 series lead, including winning three of the last five contests. The Bears won last year’s game at Qwest Field 25-19. Seattle is 3-10 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record and 1-4 ATS versus the NFC North.
The Seahawks have two serious weapons on special teams with Leon Washington leading the NFL with a 40.4 kickoff return average and rookie Golden Tate pacing the NFC with an 18-yard punt return average. Those weapons may mean nothing if Seattle’s defense can’t improve upon its pass defense that is allowing 302 yards a contest. Even though the unit has given up a ton of yards, the Seahawks are tied for fourth in the league in red-zone defense, allowing only six touchdowns in 18 possessions inside their own 20-yard line. The team has been unable to create turnovers on the road, with one of its eight takeaways coming away from Qwest Field. This could prove pivotal due to Chicago’s sharing the NFL-lead with 14 forced turnovers.
Chicago earned a 23-6 win over the winless Panthers on the road last week and now get set to welcome back its starting quarterback. Jay Cutler suffered a concussion in the Bears’ 17-3 loss to the Giants two weeks ago due to being sacked a career-high nine times. He has been cleared to play and ready to go. “It feels good,” Cutler commented. “It was a long week last week, tough to watch the game.” In his absence, running back Matt Forte stepped his game up in rushing for a career-high 166 yards, after averaging 33.5 rushing yards over the first four games. Sunday’s opponent will offer a major test to the resurgent running game, as the Seahawks rank second in the league against the rush at 72.8 yards allowed per game. The squad is 9-9 ATS at home and the total is 8-10 Over/Under.
The Bears will once again have a makeshift offensive line in a group that has featured eight different starters. Chicago is dead last in percentage of sacks allowed, 23rd in rushing and 20th in average gain per rush. Left tackle Chris Williams is expected to return to the starting lineup, but at left guard, a position he hasn’t played since his sophomore season in college. A key in this matchup may be the club’s 0-for-9 mark from their opponents’ one-yard line this year. “The goal line has been a real frustration for us,” offensive coordinator Mike Martz stated. “We have to continue to address that and make sure we’re doing the right things.”
Bettors will certainly be interested in finding the Seahawks with a 8-16 ATS mark as an underdog and 20-47 ATS record in October. Chicago has a dismal 15-20 ATS mark as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points and the total is 20-16 O/U in those games.
