NFL Week 2 Predictions: Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers

Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, 9/14/14, 8:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: San Francisco -7
Current Betting Line: San Francisco -7
Opening Total: 48
Current Total: 47.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick should have a big game offensively versus the Chicago Bears

Chicago dropped a 23-20 overtime decision to the Buffalo Bills as seven-point home favorites last week, as it won the statistical battle by 67 yards, while going UNDER the betting total of 47. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, but he was also picked off twice in the loss. The team is hoping to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2003. Chicago is 3-9 SUATS as underdogs the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 7-5 in that situation.

The Bears have lost their last seven road games against the 49ers, as they’ve been outscored by an average of 27.6 points. Cutler has some big-time weapons to target in the passing game, with Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall combining for 13 catches and 142 yards last week before Jeffery spent most of the second half on the sideline with a hamstring injury.

San Francisco is ready to play its first regular season game at the $1.2 billion Levi’s Stadium on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, as it looks to build off a 28-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys as 3.5-point road favorites in Week 1. The 49ers will look to play a physical brand of football in this affair, especially since Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde combined for 116 rushing yards at AT&T Stadium, which is important to consider when making your NFL predictions. San Francisco is 4-2 SUATS as home favorites of 3.5 to 7 points over the last two-plus seasons, with no clear edge in terms of the betting total (3-3 Over/Under).

The 49ers should be able to move the football throughout this contest, considering the Bears have allowed the most yards on the zone read in the NFL dating back to the start of the 2013 campaign. San Francisco signal-caller Colin Kaepernick paces the league with six rushing touchdowns on zone-read plays since 2012.