Packers vs Bears 2019 NFL Week 1 Odds & Preview

The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears are two of the original titans of the National Football League, dating all the way back to November 27, 1921. The teams have met 198 times, and the series is virtually even, as Green Bay has won 97 times, the Bears have won 95, and there have been six ties. The Bears won the most recent meeting, 24-17, in December 2018, and the teams tied in their first meeting a year ago. The two teams meet in the prime-time opener this season, as Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be looking for redemption after a pair of disappointing seasons, while the Bears will look to repeat as NFC North champions. Take a look at our NFL betting preview for this classic rivalry game before you lock in any wagers.

Packers vs Bears 2019 NFL Week 1 Odds & Preview

#Packers remove 16 players from the injury report headed into #GBvsCHI 📝https://t.co/97nIDtfC7K

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 4, 2019

When: Thursday, September 5, 2019, 8:20pm ET Where: Soldier Field, Chicago TV: NBC Radio: Westwood One Live Stream: ESPN+ NFL Week 1 Odds: Chicago -3 / O/U 46.5 

Why should you bet on Green Bay?

Green Bay finished just 6-9-1 in 2018, firing head coach Mike McCarthy in the middle of the season — the first time in the history of the franchise that the team had dismissed a coach before the end of a campaign. Now Matt LaFleur takes the reins as the 15th head coach in franchise history. Green Bay put up a 2-2 record in the preseason, beating Houston and Kansas City but losing to Baltimore and Oakland, although the loss to Oakland took place on an 80-yard field in Canada and featured none of the Green Bay starters. Your biggest reason to bet on the Packers here is the quarterback duo — Aaron Rodgers for the Packers and Mitch Trubisky for the Bears. Rodgers is one of the storied quarterbacks of the game, with a knack for putting the team on his back and carrying them to victory. Trubisky, at least for now, is more of a game manager, avoiding turnovers and leading a run-first offense down the field. In that sort of battle, especially in prime time, you have to like the Packers, especially as the underdog. As we saw in the Bears’ shocking playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, it is possible to shut down the Bears’ offense, even without an elite defensive unit, and the Packers have enough talent to slow down Chicago.

Why should you put your money on Chicago?

Chicago rolled to a 12-4 record last year, including an upset over the Los Angeles Rams, and won the NFC North as Green Bay and Minnesota both had down seasons. In the preseason, Chicago went 1-3, beating Indianapolis in Week 2 but losing to Carolina, the Giants and Tennessee in their other matchups. The strengths of the Bears include a bruising defense and a grinding running game that wears down the opposition. Chicago has covered in seven consecutive games against NFC North opponents and in nine of their last 11 games overall, as well as in 16 of their last 22 games at Soldier Field. There are high expectations in the Windy City this year, as fans expect the Monsters of the Midway to roll all the way to the Super Bowl.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The three-point line in favor of Chicago basically means that the bookmakers see this is an even match; the home team generally gets a three-point margin factored into point spreads. This is obviously a classic rivalry, and while Chicago has the better defense, I just don’t see Trubisky & Company outdueling a Green Bay offense that has a new look and a rejuvenated quarterback. I see Aaron Rodgers leading a fourth-quarter comeback as the Packers rally for a 27-24 victory.