NFL Week 8 Picks: Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots
Sunday, 10/26/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: New England -6.5
Current Betting Line: New England -5.5
Opening Total: 49
Current Total: 51
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Chicago Bears have a major weapon with RB Matt Forte

Chicago has dropped three of its last four games, including a 27-14 defeat to the Miami Dolphins as three-point home favorites Sunday, while going UNDER the betting total for a second consecutive contest. The Bears will need to get running back Matt Forte involved in the offense, as he’s the league’s fifth leading rusher with 448 yards on the ground, which can’t be ignored when making your Week 8 NFL betting picks. He’s also a threat in the passing game in grabbing 52 balls for 436 yards. Chicago is 1-2 SUATS as road underdogs of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 2-1 in that situation.

The Bears were out-gained by a significant 393-224 margin in their last setback, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting lines, but they’ve managed to win three of their four games away from Soldier Field in 2014. Chicago will need quarterback Jay Cutler to take care of the football, as he’s thrown seven picks in the franchise’s four losses, while also committing two fumbles in those contests.

New England has won three games in a row, including a 27-25 victory over the New York Jets as 9.5-point home favorites on Oct. 16, while going OVER the betting total for a fourth consecutive affair. The Patriots are going to attract a majority of the betting action in this matchup, as they’ve won 12 straight games at Gillette Stadium, while also proving victorious in all three all-time meetings in this particular series when playing at home. New England is 6-1 SUATS as home favorites of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Patriots are certainly deserving to be favorites against the Bears, as signal-caller Tom Brady has thrown for 964 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions in winning all three of his career starts in the series. New England is a banged up football team, as it expects to be without the services of sack leader Chandler Jones, while also continuing on for the rest of the 2014 campaign without linebacker Jerod Mayo and running back Stevan Ridley.