Bears Colts Odds
-Brad Marchetti
Chicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts:The Bears would like to execute some payback from the 29-17 Superbowl loss to Indy from two years ago when the game kicks off Sunday night at 8:15 ET. Peyton Manning hasn’t thrown a pass in a game in over 8 months so it will be up to the Bears to welcome him back with a smack in the mouth. The Bears are going to need to make this game a slugfest early on or else they could be eating the cleats of the Colts during a blowout on the road. The NFL betting odds for the Chicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts game is at Indianapolis -9.5 chalk.
The decision to go with Kyle Orton over Rex Grossman as QB is the better choice for the Bears offense, which is built on ball control. Orton is a winner that can manage the game the way the Bears need, but his O-line will have a hard time giving him the time needed to throw against the Indy pass-rush. New Bears rookie RB Matt Forte has impressed in the preseason with his versatility. Forte could find some success against the Indy run defense. With Colts strongside linebacker Tyjuan Hagler out and an unproven interior line, Indy has does have some question marks. In the passing game Orton will need one of his wideouts to step-up and provide a threat that will keep the defenses honest. TE Greg Olsen can be Orton’s safety blanket with his soft hands and toughness over the middle. The real x-factor here will be WR Devin Hester. Hester has 4.20 40-speed and could be a major deep threat if he ever develops as a wideout. The Colts secondary has one of the best players in the NFL in SS Bob Sanders who changes games by himself. The rest of the Colts secondary is also very talented and they will hold a big edge over the Bears mediocre core of wideouts. The NFL betting odds OVERUNDER for the Chicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts game is at a modest 44 points.
Peyton Manning might not be quite 100% healthy in the opener but even Manning at 80% is still a top-5 NFL QB. Despite not playing in the preseason, Mannings game preperation should help him shake off the rust in a hurry. Until the Bears show that they have returned to their 2006 form Manning should have plenty of time to throw. The Bears Cover-2 defense is built on the D-line collapsing the pocket but they really haven’t shown their fangs upfront in a while. Manning will look to test the Chicago secondary, they can be had early and often with his elite group of receivers. Bears star MLB Brian Urlacher has been plagued by injuries. The Bears will need Urlacher desperately to stop Colts RB Joseph Addai. WLB Lance Briggs is a stud that will also be counted on to stop the explosive Addai from breaking some huge gains. The Colts O-line is missing some key components, but Addai has the all-around talent to make plays on his own if the blocking breaks down. One of the key factors in this game will be special teams. The Colts have one of the worst special teams units in the NFL while the Bears special teams are arguably the best in the NFL. Can Peyton step in and play at his elite level in his first game back? Do the Bears have enough playmakers on offense to keep pace with the turbo charged Colts?
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