Get out the name tags in the Windy City. The Chicago Bears have plenty of new faces all over the place, including an overhaul in the front office and sideline where Matt Eberflus takes over as head coach.
Chicago’s offensive and defensive playbooks also get a makeover with new coordinators, systems, and talent. The Bears’ NFL odds project a long hard season with so much of the team’s success tied to second-year quarterback Justin Fields, who in turn has his success tied to a shoddy offensive line.
Realistically, Chicago’s benchmark in the NFC North is keeping pace with Detroit. So, you can see how bad it is for the Bears. Here’s our Chicago Bears 2022 NFL betting preview.
Chicago Bears futures odds
| To win Super Bowl | +15,000 |
| To win conference | +6,500 |
| To win division | +1,400 |
| Season Win Total O/U | 6.5 (Under -150) |
| To Make Playoffs | Yes +400 / No -500 |
Best futures bet: Under 6.5 Wins -150
For those really down on the Bears, you can also get Under 6 wins at +110, and no one would blame you. If any team is in full restoration mode in 2022, it’s Chicago.
From a new GM to a slew of new coaches and coordinators – none of which have any NFL head coaching experience – the franchise has flushed the floaters of Matty Nagy’s tenure down the tubes. Last year’s team won six games versus the third-toughest strength of schedule in 2021, two of which came against the Lions.
This year’s overall schedule makes it easier with the 29th-ranked SOS and sits 28th in my QB SOS. That said, this team could be in tank mode by Halloween with one of the roughest starts to 2022 and the lookahead lines setting Chicago as a favorite in just 2.5 games (depending on where you bet).
Chicago Bears betting overview
What will win bets: Ice-cold inflated lines
As hinted at above (and dissected below), Chicago has a very steep climb in the first two months of the season. That sked could compound the obvious growing pains this team will undergo as it adjusts to all the new personnel and schemes.
That said, the winter months could see value bubble up for the Bears, who play four of their final five games in chilly Soldier Field and get a bye in Week 14. If Chicago stinks as much as oddsmakers think, those late-season lines will be as puffed up as the winter coats in the Windy City.
What will lose bets: Defensive depth
The cons stack up for Bears backers in 2022. The coaching revamp with all the new systems and a big flip in personnel strip any continuity from last season. Chicago is starting from scratch, including a move to the 4-3 from the 3-4 defense, but is thin on talent to fit those schemes.
Eberflus and new defensive coordinator Alan Williams come over from Indianapolis, which ranked high in defensive metrics the past few seasons. But part of that success came with an assist from a plodding offense that ran the ball and chewed up possession ever since Andrew Luck retired. The Bears simply don’t have the same talent in the run game to do the same for Eberflus.
And that’s just one of the deep-dish issues in Chicago this season.
More Covers NFL betting analysis
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Chicago Bears game-by-game odds
The Bears’ overall SOS ranks among the weakest in the NFL, with the likes of Detroit (twice), Houston, both New York teams, and Atlanta on the calendar. Despite those bottom-tier foes, Chicago’s lookahead lines project at best 2.5 wins (Week 11 at Atlanta from PK to +1) with seven other contests pegged at +3 or shorter.
Chicago plays five of its first eight away from home and has some sticky schedule spots in the season’s first two months. The Bears were 3-6 SU and ATS as visitors last season, regressing from a sound road record in the first three years under Nagy (14-10 SU on road).
Bad teams are tough to handicap, even for oddsmakers, and Chicago has notable line discrepancy from book to book: none more evident than Week 13 home stand with the Packers. This lookahead line ranges from Bears +4 to +7 across the mainstream market.
| 1 | vs. San Francisco | +6.5 | 42 |
| 2 | @ Green Bay | +10 | 46 |
| 3 | vs. Houston | -3.5 | 42.5 |
| 4 | @ N.Y. Giants | +3 | 43.5 |
| 5 | @ Minnesota | +6 | 46.5 |
| 6 | vs. Washington | +2.5 | 44.5 |
| 7 | @ New England | +6.5 | 42.5 |
| 8 | @ Dallas | +7.5 | 47.5 |
| 9 | vs. Miami | +3 | 43.5 |
| 10 | vs. Detroit | -2.5 | 43.5 |
| 11 | @ Atlanta | +1 | 46 |
| 12 | @ N.Y. Jets | +2.5 | 44 |
| 13 | vs. Green Bay | +7 | 46.5 |
| 14 | BYE | ||
| 15 | vs. Philadelphia | +3 | 43.5 |
| 16 | vs. Buffalo | +7.5 | 45.5 |
| 17 | @ Detroit | +1.5 | 44 |
| 18 | vs. Minnesota | +2.5 | 42 |
Chicago Bears Pro betting insights
Hitman, professional bettor (@Hitman428)
The Bears are a dark horse to have the first pick in the draft next season. Justin Fields is set up to fail due to a lack of weapons and a weak offensive line aside from Darnell Mooney.
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